CAHIR NOTES A LETTER TO HIS CONSTITUENTS A Chara I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very happy, holy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.  As we look forward to 2008, I feel it is also appropriate to look back at the historic accomplishment that you and others helped me to achieve on 24th May when I successfully won a seat in Dail Eireann for the people of South Tipperary and West Waterford. The only reason that I am able now to represent you in the highest level of Government is because of the confidence that you placed in me by your support in the General Election, and for this I shall be eternally thankful. Since the convening of the 30th session of the Dail, I have had the opportunity to meet with fellow Deputies from constituencies throughout the country. Also, in the past couple of months I have been privileged to be appointed to three important Joint Oireachtas Committees:  Communications, Energy & Natural Resources – of which I am the convenor;  Social & Family Affairs, to which I was appointed Secretary recently; as well as Agriculture & Food. My participation on these Committees will provide me with yet another opportunity to deliver for you, my constituents, ensuring that your voice is hear. I made my maiden speech to Dail Eireann on 10th October, when I spoke on the Charities Bill. I have also spoken on a number of issues recently, including the Budget, Drugs and Youth Issues, as well as raising a number of Parliamentary Questions.  I have arranged a number of deputations from groups in Tipperary South, to discuss different issues, such as childcare, with the relevant Ministers. I also arranged for Mr Brian lenihan TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to visit the constituency where he Officially Opened the new childcare facility “Cahir Bears” in Cahir. He also launched the “Good Morning South Tipperary” Elderly Support Service. Once again, I thank you for your support and look forward to serving you to the best of my ability in the future. I have opened a constituency office in Clonmel that is available to serve you five days a week from 9:30am to 5:30pm, and can be contacted on 05229155. Otherwise, feel free to contact me on my mobile or by e-mail. I will continue to listen to you, the voter, and to work diligently on your behalf, to deliver for the people of South Tipperary and West Waterford. Is mise le meas, Mattie McGrath. MIDNIGHT MASS There will be Midnight Mass in St Paul’s Church on Christmas Eve, starting at 11:30pm and ending at about 12:30 with refreshments. All are welcome. Cahir Choral and Cantabile sang in St Paul’s Church last Sunday, when they were joined by Thomas Grogan of Cashel, the boy soprano, who sand a superb rendition of O Holy Night.  There was a good crowd present for this annual service. NEW YEAR’S DAY TEA DANCE There will be an afternoon Tea Dance in The Glen Hotel, Glen of Aherlow, on 1st January, from 3:30 to 6pm. Dancing will be to ‘Oliver & Tony’. There will be freshly brewed tea and coffee, fruit scones, preserves and fresh cream at 4:30, and admission is €15.  This will be a great afternoon of dancing, so go along early. DAY CARE CENTRE NOTES After the excitement of their “Christmas Party”, they are back into the regular routine of fun and games.  The Whist winner last week is Josie White, with 38 points, and second were Tommy Morrissey & Maggie Slattery, who each had 35 points. The in-house raffle was won by Mary Meehan, Maureen Cleary and Greta Cunningham.  The Bingo Jackpot of €80 is waiting to be won! .. a bonanza Christmas for a lucky member. RETURNING TO EDUCATION Cllr Seanie Lonergan wishes to remind certain social welfare recipients, who are considering returning to full time education, that what is termed the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) may be available to them. The BTEA is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed people, long parents and people with disabilities who are in receipt of particular payments from the Department of Social & Family Affairs.  The allowance may also be available to those who have received statutory redundancy. Participants in the scheme receive a standard weekly rate of payment equivalent to the relevant Social Welfare payment of which they were in receipt, prior to participation in the scheme. Cllr Lonergan is advising potential applicants to contact their local Social Welfare Office in respect of eligibility criteria. CLOSING TIMES OVER THE HOLIDAYS (Although in the case of the Duneske Leisure Centre, it is OPENING hours – they are opening for a while every day except Christmas Day itself!) Christmas Eve – 9am to 5pm; Christmas Day – CLOSED; St Stephen’s Day – 10am to 6pm; Thursday 27th – 9am to 10:30pm; Friday 28th – 9am to 10:30pm; Saturday 29th – 10am to 6pm; Sunday 30th – 10am to 6pm; New Year’s Eve – 9am to 5pm; New Year’s Day – 11am to 5pm; Wednesday 2nd January – Back to normal hours.  So there is no excuse for any extra ounces this year! The Business & Training Centre will close at 1pm this Friday, 21st December, and will re-open on Wednesday 2nd January 2008. WHAT’S HAPPENING AT DUNESKE? Sports Injuries Therapist Martin Doyle is now working on conjunction with Duneske, and anyone interested can telephone 087 243 5299 for an appointment. John Campbell of The Massage Hut will also be available at Duneske for Holistic Massage and Reflexology – 085 769 7211. The Management and Staff would like to take this opportunity to thank all their customers for their continued support, and to wish you and all your families a Merry Christmas and an energetic, prosperous New Year. GETTING TO KNOW YOU John Campbell and Michael McGrath, who have The Massage Hut in Tubrid, took over the premises next to The Lazy Bean for a week from last weekend, to give people an opportunity to meet them both and find out more about their treatments. So far it has been a great success, with their Vouchers selling well, and what a nice present they make; several massages being given (behind the screen!) and bookings being made. I am really looking forward to my treatment out at Tubrid, as the Massage Hut – there really is one – sounds lovely. There may be photographs of the Hut available later in the week, if you care to pop in for a look. CARE ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION The Committee wishes all members, friends and families a very happy, holy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. The results of the cards on Friday 14th December are as follows: 1st, with 12 games – Maurice Condon, Timmy Fitzgerald;  Joind 2nd with 10 games – Lexie Sheehan, Ted Dillon, Dave White, Willie O’Neil, Tom McGrath, Bob Condon. The Lucky Table (20) was won by Mary Fitzgerald, Ted Clarke, (19) Peg Reidy, Kitty Slattery/  The Raffle was won by Mary English (Barnora), Lexie Sheehan. N.B. The next game will take place on Friday 4th January 2008 and all are most welcome. Members will meet for the next monthly meeting on Wednesday 2nd January 2008 at 2:30pm in the Catherine McAuley Room, when membership for the New Year will be due. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO €5,050 is the Jackpot total for the Draw that takes place this Wednesday, 19th December at 12 noon. Tickets can be bought from the Business & Training Centre up to the last minute. As there was no outright winner last week – numbers 3, 11, 24 and 25 were drawn – the five Lucky Dip winners, each of whom received €30, were:  Karen O’Donovan, The Square; James & Barbara Quinn, Clonmore South;  Joseph Kelleher, Rosemount; Nellie Burke, Tincurry; and C & H Murnane, Lisava, all in Cahir. All the profits from the Community Lotto go to the Duneske Leisure Complex.  COLAISTE DUN IASCAIGH CAROL SERVICE  Get into the spirit of Christmas on Thursday night, 20th December at Colaiste Dun Iascaigh. Enjoy a festive feast of carols, stories and poems for all the family. Entrance is free and the performance begins at 7.30p.m. A choir of forty students, featuring soloists, Kate Donovan, Grainne O'Donnell and Aaron Kelly will help to create the atmosphere of the season. Aaron has just released a CD featuring "Walking In The Air" and "What A Wonderful World" so it will be a wonderful opportunity to hear him live. Don't miss this unique opportunity to enjoy, with family and friends, the varied talents of the Colaiste Students 2007. GRANDPARENTS VISIT THE COLAISTE.  1st Year Class welcomed their own grandparents to the school for the launch of their book that they had written. These students wrote about their grandparents, typed up their work, assembled and published their final product. They presented their work to their grandparents over tea and buns in the Colaiste on Friday last. The grandparents were very touched by the generosity of the students and by their skill as young writers. Colaiste Girls Capture Regional Title In Style  Colaiste Dun Iascaigh 1-10 Ursuline, Thurles 0-3    The Senior Ladies Gaelic Football team from Colaiste Dun Iascaigh. Cahir was crowned Tipp/Watterford regional champions on Monday 10th December. Having lost the the previous two years at this stage of the competition, the girls were very determined not to suffer the same fate again. They started the game well and two good points from Ann-Marie O’Gorman helped them into an early lead. A pointed free opened Thurles’ account but a fine score from Rebecca Maher restored the two point lead. The sides then exchanged points with Colaiste’s score coming from Edith Carroll. Despite dominating possession, Colaiste Dun Iascaigh were finding it difficult to get scores, in fact in was the girls from the Ursuline who were creating the better chances. They had two great chances and only for the excellent defending from the Colaiste rearguard, they would have taken a commanding lead. Instead they just added one further point, which was scant reward for their fantastic battling efforts, and indeed this was cancelled out by another point from Ann-Marie O’Gorman, leaving the halftime score 0-5 to 0-3 in favour of the Colaiste. The second half was barely under way when the decisive score of the game arrived. Some neat approach play afforded Rebecca Maher a goal opportunity and she didn’t disappoint, sending the ball into the top left hand corner of the net. This was just the start the Colaiste wanted and they began to take control all over the pitch. Two superb long range points from Eimear Myles extended their lead and they were now creating numerous scoring opportunities. They added three further points two from Maher and the final score of the game from O”Gorman, leaving Colaiste Dun Iascaigh as comprehensive winners on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-3. John Cummins, manager of Tipperary U-14 team presented the trophy to captain Nicki Gilmore. It was a great victory for the girls over a gallant Ursuline side who never gave up. They now go on to face St. Marys Charleville in the Munster º final after Christmas. Their coach Mr Shane Ronayne was very pleased with the win and delighted with the attitude of the whole squad.  He said “it is just reward for their dedication and hard work since September”. He also thanked Cahir for the pitch, referee Martin Doyle, his assistant coach Kevin Murray and all those who helped out on the day. Scorers: Rebecca Maher 1-3, Ann-Marie O’Gorman 0-4, Eimear Myles 0-2 and Edith Carroll 0-1. Team:  Nicola Armitage, Kelly Maher, Nicki Gilmore(capt), Ruth Cummins, Geraldine O’Donnell, Samantha Lambert, Jane O’Donnell, Eimear Myles, Edith Carroll, Niamh Myles, Ann-Marie O’Gorman, Olivia McCarthy, Bronagh Higgins, Rebecca Maher, Cliona Higgins. Subs: Sarah Fahy for Nicola Armitage, Saoirse O’Flynn for Geraldine O’Donnell, Aisling O’Conner for Cliona Higgins, Aisling Higgins, Emma Tobin, Michelle Walsh Emma Sweeney, Shauna O’Donnell, Avril Hearne. CAHIR CAMOGIE NOTES The final of the iIndoor Tournament took place on Wednesday evening December 12th and what entertainment these young girls gave us in the two games they played. Niamh Murphy's Knights came out on top to take first prize in the competition. Niamh took her role as captain very seriously and kept control of her defence line with perfection for the full game. She was ably helped by Lauren Murphy, whose game since the start of the tournament had improved tremendously. Goalie Sophie Sheehan can only be described as magnificent with sliding saves and great clearances that would be worthy of someone twice her age. Goal scorer supreme Rachel O Donnell was on fire scoring goals left, right and centre! Lauren Noonan will be a force to be reckoned with and she has a calmness about her and an eye for the ball which just comes naturally. In second place came Dervla Buckley's Divas and with Dervla herself playing super camogie with a great talent for the game. Her team played solidly for the complete tournament with Jessica Coffey really upping her game and proving her ability to play in all parts of the field. Rebeka O Dwyer has also improved tremendously over the competition, with her confidence growing with each game she plays; Katie Noonan was fantastic with terrific clearance along with super Emily O Donovan who gave us some tremendous scores throughout the tournament. In third place came Roisin McCarthy's Rascals with captain Roisin showing great leadership to her team of Eileen Flannery and Emma Quirke who between them both were saving and scoring with superb ability. Along with Andrea O Donnell who can whip the ball around the field like lightning and Ciara O Neill who, although relatively new to the game has come on in leaps and bounds over the last four weeks. In fourth place were Emma O Donnell's Angels, with Emma again giving her all to her captain's role. Emma was well assisted by Shauna Burke, who flies around the field with fantastic skill, Orla Cashman who has an excellent eye for the ball and another natural to the game. Sarah Burke defended her team with fantastic ability along with Tori Downey who showed us how to save goals with a talent that is exclusively hers! Alanah Donaghey who, while only in first class at school, was a tremendous help to all the teams over the weeks and played substitute with great skill for all the teams at one stage or another. We are extremely proud of all these players and they are a lovely bunch of girls to work with. The Christmas Card sales are doing extremely well and some are still available from committee members. We would like to thank Ned Lonergan from the Craft fair who allowed us to sell the cards at the fair on Sunday Dec. 9th, also many thanks to John and Carmel Dolan of Dolan's Supervalu Cahir, for allowing us to fundraise there over the weekend with a Pack-and-wrap. As we have come to the end of another year in Camogie, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas and hope that Santa will have packed some hurleys and sliothars for some very special people this Festive Season. Beannachtaí na Nollag duit go léir. CAHIR TOWN LANDSCAPING PLAN I enjoyed the Launch of this Plan so much! It may even be unique in the country! Anyway, the nitty gritty is that the Cahir Area Office of South Tipperary County Council and Grangemore Plants, in association with the Cahir Development Association, have got together and Grangemore has undertaken to plant and maintain the “public” beds around the town, as well as replanting some areas. People will have noticed where the grass at the side of the Clonmel Road has been sprayed – these areas will be planted with groundcover that will need next to no care. At present, there are far too many little patches of grass to be mowed. Grangemore will also be giving Cahir’s trees much needed professional care. So don’t worry when you see the Chestnuts in the Square being pruned, as this will revitalize them and prolong their lives by up to another 100 years, according to Nial Grogan.  The trees outside the Library, that have been neglected and got out of shape, are to be removed (and planted where they can recover) and replaced with yellow-leafed Gleditsia, which has a nice feathery look to it.  Should be nice! After the refreshments at the Launch, we were treated to a talk by a Tidy Town Adjudicator. Only respect for the organizers of the event stopped me from walking out, as this gentleman kept referring to “last year’s marks”. Cahir was one of the towns that did not enter the competition in 2007, because the place was looking so bad. And then SuperValu Head Office entered Cahir themselves. So you can imagine what last year’s Report was like. However, I managed to keep my mouth shut – or nearly – and towards the end of this talk, some interesting facts emerged, like there not being so many window boxes and flower baskets expected nowadays. And I hope someone was listening to the description of curbs and the places where buildings meet pavements being clogged with weeds, and the points that can be lost thereby. So thank you, South Tipp Co Co and Grangemore, for a wonderful Christmas present. What is even better is that all the work will be completed really quickly. CHIRSTMAS LIGHTS Congratulations to Cahir Development on the erection of the lights, at exactly the right time, and looking lovely. However, there has been a minimal response to the request for support for the lighting from the Traders of the town. Unless a good sum is received in the near future, Cahir Development cannot to continue to carry the financial burden, and will have to sell the lights. If I have anything to do with it, they will not be involved further, either. The Association is a Charity and has far too many more important irons in the fire to carry a burden like this, which for this year alone will amount to between €5,000 and €6,000. This figures does not include the purchase. There is always an outcry when there are no lights, but if they are to continue, someone is going to have to do something about it. SLOW PROGRESS CONDEMNED Deputy Mattie McGrath, in a hard-hitting statement, has condemned the slow progress with the ongoing traffic  calming works on the N24, Abbey Street, Cahir and Bansha Village. “These works were approved almost two years ago, and it is a crying shame that work did not commence until early winter this year. Clearly, these works should have been carried out and completed in either the spring or summer, or at the very latest before the days shortened, so as to allow the contractors to carry out the work from early morning to late afternoon”. The Deputy continued “We are now in the situation where the days are short and we are in the run up to Christmas, it is unfair to the residents, business people and indeed the traveling public to have these works carrying on for so long, especially at this busy time of year”. Deputy McGrath has received numerous calls from householders and business people who are affected by the works. He believes that they are at their wits’ end because they can’t get answers as to when the works will be completed.  He is also very skeptical about the nature of the works, which contain hard landscaping. “Large numbers of parking spaces are being lost because of hard landxcaping, which to me is beyond belief, especially in the town of Cahir, where we have a new north eastery by-pass. Elderly and vulnerable people who wish to enter or leave their homes, cannot be pi cked up at their gates. Now if a car, or indeed any service, such as Meals on Wheels, an Ambulance oor Taxi Services, ;have to stop, they have to do on the main carriageway of the N24, thereby blocking the road if they are to carry out a set-down or drop off a resident or even make a delivery of any nature” Deputy McGrath stated. These issued have been raised by the Deputy at senior management level and he has got little satisfaction. He feels that it is a quite appalling situation, with no end in sight. The fact that people are not able to park in front of their homes, or have a set-down area provided, is of major concern. He is seeking explanations and he also intends to contact the Minister for the Environment regarding the nature of these works. Deputy McGrath believes that it is a totally unsatisfactory situation. The business people, who are mainly the rate payers, are being squeezed harder and harder because customers cannot access their businesses, and it is totally the wrong time of year to carry out this work. HAPPY CHRISTMAS Very best wishes for a peaceful, happy and healthy Christmas to all those on whom the community depends, regardless of the weather:  The Gardai, the outdoor workers with the Council, the milkmen and postmen and ambulance drivers, as well as the firefighters. And I really hope the great River Rescue team is not needed!  Thanks to you all, and have a very happy New Year too! READERS’ NEWS AND VIEWS Always pleased to hear from you at 10 Market Yard / 086 840 5020 or at the e-mail address above. Please continue to leave a contact telephone number with your comments!