CAHIR NOTES SO MUCH FOR WEATHER FORECASTS! However, I am still glad that I postponed the Funday last Sunday as, on doctor’s orders, I spent the weekend with my feet up.  Very boring. As soon as I have checked on the dates of other local events, the new date for the Funday will be set. Please watch this space, as the day is in aid of Special Olympics Ireland and Maria Shine’s fundraising for this charity. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN! Many Happy Returns to Nathan Grimson, who is 15 today.  Nathan is one of Chichi Caplice’s grand-children, son of Francesca and Keith and I have known him all of his life.  Have a great day, Nathan. “REAL” FOOD AT THE BELL This is the catchy name for Michael Real’s new venture at The Bell, in Pearse Street.  I had dinner there last Friday, and when my companion and myself looked at the menu, our first reaction was “quite uninspired”.  However, knowing Michael’s cooking from his last place, I was not surprised to find that the reality was far from uninspired. Being really hungry, we made the mistake of having some garlic bread to start with. My first course was that old favourite, Deep Fried Brie, which I adore.  And it was perfect, all lovely and gooey right through.  My friend had Barbecued Ribs, and of course I had a taste – lovely and meaty and perfectly cooked. On to Penne Pasta with Salmon & Broccoli, in a cream sauce. This too was excellent – the best dish of this sort I have had in many a year.  My companion (perhaps I should adopt Michael Winner’s style and call her “the blond”) had Tandoori Chicken, which she enjoyed.  And, believe it or not, neither of us had room for a Dessert.  However, four friends were at another table, so we joined them – all in the interest of research, you understand – and tasted theirs.  The Pear & Cinnamon Crumble with Custard was scrumptious. The balance of the fruit and the spice was just right and I really liked the custard, which is something I am fussy about.  The Banoffi Pie was gorgeous beyond words. And I think I have more or less run out of superlatives. There were eight Starters, a choice of eight Main Courses, three Pasta dishes, three types of Burger, several Side Orders and four Desserts, and all quite modestly priced.  I understand that Michael will be changing the menu regularly.  The Lunch Menu looks interesting, and I am promised Michael’s special Lamb Shanks in the not-too-distant future. COMINGS & GOINGS OF LOCAL DOGS I am happy to say that the English Pointer that left home in a hurry because of the thunder, has been found and is back where she belongs, so that is one happy family. The flip side of the coin is that a couple from Riverdale are missing a female West Highland White Terrier, two years old, with a bit of red attached to her collar (naughty girl!)  She was last seen on Friday evening, and if anyone has news of her, would you please telephone 087 217 9637. KNOCKGRAFFON ART GROUP This Group is holding their 2007 Exhibition at Cahir House Hotel on Sunday 5th August from 10am onwards. Members of the Group will be present to discuss their work, some of which are scenes of  Tipperary beauty spots.  All the work is for sale. The Group comprises enthusiastic and talented local people who have worked hard to produce this show, so go along and see them while enjoying the Holiday Sunday in Cahir. CONGRATULATIONS TO RICHARD & KAREN The marriage of Karen Haide and Richard Caplice took place on Saturday 21st July, followed by a lovely Reception at The Kilcoran Lodge Hotel. Fr Pat Butler officiated at the wedding and made it a very special occasion.  The fact that the two families know each other well added to the general enjoyment, and I understand the dancing finally finished at 7:30am … and I wasn’t particularly surprised to hear this. A nice touch was that of making a donation to Crumlin Hospital, instead of having wedding favours. A great idea. Mr and Mrs Caplice are honeymooning in Mexico. DRAIOCHT NA FAILLE DEIRGE Enjoy an enchanting evening of music, song and dance, directed and choreographed by Michael Ryan.  Experience the lyrical magic of traditional song; succumb to the mysterious melodies and wonder at the intricacies of the dance.  Leave all yo9ur cares behind, as you enter the mystical experience of this show, on Tuesdays j7th, 14th and 21st or Thurtsdays 9th, 16th and 23rd in St Paul’s Community Centre, Clogheen.  The doors open at 8:15pm, with the Curtain at 9pm sharp.  Tickets cost €12 for adults and €8 for children.  Hotline 086 224 3323. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO Another week has gone by without a  Jackpot winner, and the total going on to this week is €2,050. Kitty Saunders witnessed last week’s draw, which produced numbers 2, 9, 10 and 13.  The five Lucky Dip winners, each of whom received €30, were:  Patrick Caplice, Church Street;  Aiseiri;  Damien O’Connor, Rosemount View;  Eddie Murphy, ountain Viuew Drive;  Pat Long c/o Moloney’s, Poulmucka. Tickets can be bought up to the last minute – noon, this Wednesday, from the Business & Training Centre.  All the profits from the Community Lotto go to the Duneske Leisure Complex… CAHIR LADUES’ GAELIC FOOTBALL CLUB The Club would like to thank everyone who contributed generously to their Church Gate Collection last Sunday. The Tipperary U-16 Ladies’ Football team was unlucky to be beaten by Cahir in the Munster B Final last Wednesday night, played in Ennis. The team members can be proud of their performance. Tipperary had a great first half and led at half time on a scoreline of 4-3 to 0-7. On the resumption of play, Clare came out and played some great football, to win 4 – 11 to 4 – 4. One of the highlights of the night was the excellent goalkeeping by Cahir’s Nicola Armitage, who pulled of some great saves.  Cahir’s Gillian O’Keefe, Ann Marie O’Gorman and Emma Barrett all contributed a goal each. Other Cahir girls on the team were Aoife Casey, Bronagh Higgins, Geraline O’Donnell and Jane O’Donnell.  The team now goes on to play in the All Ireland Quarter Finals. The Intermediates start their Championship games this Thursday night against Brian Boru’s at Clogheen.  On Monday night 6th August, they play Moyle Rovers in Monroe.  Support will be most welcome on both nights. There will be a Club meeting in the GAA Clubhouse on Wednesday 1st August at 9pm. The best of luck to the Cahir  Community Games Ladies’ Football Team, who are preparing for their trip to Mosney in their quest for All Ireland glory. CONGRATS TO THE SENATOR Cllr Seanie Lonergan has expressed his delight at the recent election of his Labour Party colleague Phil Prendergast to the Senate.  The Councillor will work very closely with Senator Prendergast to ensure that local communities have a voice in Leinster House.  Senator Prendergast has assured him that she is available to all locals as issues arise. I would like to take this opportunity to add my congratulations to Seanie’s, and everyone who knows or has met Phil will be aware that she means it when she says she is available to all. MUSICAL EVENING WITH A DIFFERENCE The South Tipperary Rural Arts Group, in association with the Clogheen Homecoming Festival, presents an interesting musical evening, featuring Grace McMahon & Jazz Band Epistrophy and Monorail, fronted by singer/songwriter Seamus Hennessy. This event will take place on Friday 3rd August at 8pm in St Paul’s Community Centre.  The Tickets cost €10, which includes a Cheese and Wine Reception, and are available from Ger Flynn and Lynn on 086 608 6638. TINCURRY CHILDREN’S WORKHOUSE This, and the Cildren’s cemetery, are the places to be marked by a special plaque, which has been arranged by Cllr Seanie Lonergan, after hearing from Ed O’Riordan about the history of the area..  Ed has sent me the following, which he wrote in 1995, and which I feel sure many readers will find of interest. “At the height of the Great Irish Famine, on 13th November 1847, the Clerk of the Clogheen Union was instructed by the Board of Guardians to inform Mr Walpole that his offer of the disused factory and twelve acres at Tincurry, at a rent of £80 per year, was acceptable to the Guardians.  The premises would now be inspected by Samuel Barton, Lord Suirdale, and Joshua Fennell. This Examining Committee reported later that the house and the adjoining buildings could be made suitable for the 400 children and the Officers of the house at little cost and would cost approximately £192 per year to run. “One hundred paupers were sent over from Clogheen workhouse to assist in scouring the floors. Thomas Dobbins and Jeremiah Daly were hired to carry out the necessary repairs and the following appointments were made:  Edmond O’Brien was to be the first Master and Mary O’Donoghue was the Matron.  The job of Porter went to David Farrell. Rev Henry Palmer applied for the position of Protestand Chaplain, but because there were no Protestants among the children, his request was turned down. “Furniture was soon put in place, including the beds from the now closed Ardfinnan Fever Hospital, which were to be used in the Infirmary, and on 23rd January 1848 the schoolmaster left Clogheen with the boys who were not at trades. “From the outset, the Master had trouble looking after ‘the boys of Tincurry’. They frequently went missing, most returning within a few days, others disappearing.  On one of his periodic visits to the house, Mr Fennell, on calling the roll, discovered that Thomas Doherty and John Lonergan of Tincurry, together with James O’Brien, were missing.  They returned shortly afterwards with ‘turnips in their possession’. “Mr Fennell was very critical of the Master and the Porter, and it was reported that the practice of stealing turnips was very prevalent in the neighbourhood.  It was decided that the boys were to be punished, as corporal punishment was permitted under restrictions laid down by the Commissioners in Dublin. “Later in the year, John Murphy was caught stealing turnips and it was directed that ‘he be well whipped by the schoolmaster’. In March, the police notified the Guardians that paupers continued to stray about the country and that they had met with five of them on the previous night’s patrol at Scart. “By February 1848, the education of the boys at Tincurry was being looked after. An agricultural Instructor was employed to teach them and to direct them in the tilling of the twelve acres. Boys as young as eight, using spades and mattocks with ‘short handles’ cleared furze, dug drains, trenched, double-trenched and manured the land and planted crops. “The Tincurry Report at the end of February stated that they had begun to clear the land:  ‘…many of the  boys are found to engage in it  cheerfully, while others are lazy, idle and awkward…’ At one point the Master complained that some of the children being sent over from Clogheen workhouse to Tincurry were dressed in rags and appeared unfit to have left the probationary ward. “At the end of 1848, it was reported that there was a great falling off in cleanliness at the Tincurry Children’s Workhouse. The medical officer there reported a very malignant form of scarlartina and requested that no more children should  be sent there for the time being.  During these outbreaks of scarlatina and measles, numbers of children died, but in the measles outbreak of February 1849, in the last week of that month, 13 boys, 13 girls and 6 babies died. Some of these children died at Tincurry and some in Clogheen, where they had been sent to hospital. By 6th March 1849, Tincurry was home to 529. That week, 11 boys, 9 girls and 6 babies under 2 died from measles. “The site of the little cemetery is still pointed out by locals in the Tincurry area.” Readers’ news and views are always welcome at 10 Market Yard / 086 840 5020 and at the e-mail address above. Remember that these Notes (courtesy of South Tipp Today) plus photographs for which there is no room on this page, and lots of info on Cahir, can be found on the community website:  www.cahirnews.cahirda.com.