CAHIR NOTES CHELTENHAM CHALLENGE The final totals of money won by the Ticket Holders and money going to the Christmas Lights are:  Prize Money of €2,100 was given out;  €2,600 was made for the Lights. Paul Burke still has to be given the bronze horse’s head which was donated for the Top Tipster, and this will be done this week, hopefully. CAHIR YOUTH CLUB The annual Church Gate Collection for the Club was held recently and the substantial amount of €890.54 was raised. Sincere thanks are sent to all who contributed so generously and all who assisted at the tables. A small, hard-working and dedicated Committee is actively working to provide a resource facility for the young people in Cahir and the surrounding areas. With the obvious lack of facilities in the town and the mounting pressure facing young people today, this facility is much overdue. The Committee is working closely with the agencies involved and hopes to see its dedication come to fruition in the very near future. Any local businesses or individuals who are interested in contributing to this very worthy project should contact the Chairperson - Anne Heffernan on 086 267 1646 or the Treasurer - John Brady on 086 306 5822. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO The Jackpot now stands at €2,800, and tickets can be purchased up to noon on Wednesdays from the Business & Training Centre. The numbers drawn last week were: 2, 3, 17, 18, witnessed by Kathleen Moloney. The five Lucky Dip winners, each of whom received €30, were: Bernie O’Donnell, Ballydrehid; James Butler, Mountain View Drive; Breda Burke, Hillcrest, Croughatour, Ballylooby; E & J Vincent, Clonmore; Mary McCarthy Barrack Street. All the profits from the Community Lotto go to the Duneske Leisure Centre. CAHIR FLOWER & GARDEN CLUB The monthly meeting will be held in the Catherine McAuley Room on Wednesday 26th March (publication day) at 8pm. A Demonstration will be given by Ann Fitzpatrick of Clonmel on “Spring Flowers”.  All are welcome. TINCURRY REMEMBERED Cllr Seanie Lonergan wishes to remind readers that a plaque to commemorate the children who died at Tincurry Workhouse, Cahir, during the Great Famine of the 1840s, will be unveiled this coming Saturday, 29th March, at 2pm. The Councillor is urging locals to attend this important event. CAHIR PARK SOCCER CLUB The Club is holding a Table Quiz in the Castle Arms this Thursday, 27th March.  This will be Brian Costigan’s last Table Quiz at this venue. Seanie Lonergan is setting the questions. Cahir Park is raising money to send the u-12s and u-16s to Germany for a Soccer Tournament. The money raised will go towards reducing the cost for the children. Participation in this Tournament is hoped to become an annual one for these age groups – i.e., this year’s u-11s and u-15s will be eligible next year, and so on. Posters are already up around the town, so don’t forget to support this event. YOGA CLASSES Drop-in Yoga Classes will commence again at the Cahir Community Hall on Wednesday 2nd April at 11am. All ages and levels are welcome. Just turn up and bring a mat. For more information, contact Mary on 086 359 3024 / 062 54963. CAHIR CAMOGIE Just a reminder to all that Outdoor Training for all ages resumes on Wednesday 2nd April at 7pm in Duneske.  Membership for adults and players is now due and membership forms can be obtained from the Club Treasurer, Jo Burke, or from any of the Team Managers. Players’ membership is €10 while the adult fee is €20. Helmets are also available to purchase at a cost of €40. Pictured from left, John jefferies (sponsor) Eric Colman (most improved Cahir GAA U10 hurler and Barry O Brien Co Vice Chairman CAHIR& DISTRICT LADIES’ CLUB Members are going to The Riverhouse Café for a meal on Friday 28th March at 7:30pm. Anyone who has not told Tricia or Sharon that they are going, but would like to do so, please contact them so that the numbers can be confirmed. Everyone is looking forward to trying out the evening meal and lovely bar there. The next meeting takes place on Monday 31st March. CDC Red Sea Trip 2008 On the very cold morning of 6th March, members of CDC and their families met at Dublin airport to set out on their long anticipated trip to the Red Sea. The main topic of conversation after checking in was how much everyone had been charged for excess baggage. With most people bringing their own diving gear (and the kitchen sink – Garrit!) it was very difficult to stay under the 20kg weight allowance. When the group finally got to their destination of Sharm El Sheik there was a huge obstacle to overcome at the airport. On that particular day it was not an easy task to get into Egypt, with the huge queues for buying visa’s and then the even longer ones for immigration. The group, who were understandably tired and hungry upon reaching the resort, (Holiday Village, Red Sea) quickly found the rooms, restaurant and then the bar for the first of many ‘meetings’. The beer was sampled, found to be very satisfactory and a great night cap. After a great night’s sleep the hardy divers awoke early (some who hadn’t found the blackout blinds a bit earlier than others). Anxious to get into the water and see what the Red Sea had to offer, the divers headed off to the dive centre. The check dive was the first order of the day, but Aidan was so enthusiastic to get in there first, he had a little run in with a sea urchin. The sea urchin won the battle leaving his black marks on Aidan’s thumb. Once all the others had geared up (including their gloves!) they had a great taster for what was ahead for the week’s diving with the clear waters feeling like you could see for miles. It was described as being like swimming in a giant fishbowl! Most of the group had a fantastic dive not even realising how deep they had got (approx 30M), seeing as the water was just that little bit clearer and warmer than Helvick! On that first dive all those with new underwater camera’s had so much to test out their photography skills on, but the highlight of that dive had to have been the Giant Moray who swam amongst the group like it was one of them. Everyone who saw it was so amazed the camera’s stopped clicking. The following day saw the first of two trips to the Straits of Tiran. This was the morning that Mary and Tess were relaxing in the foyer thinking that they were early (for a change!) when everybody else was sitting waiting patiently on the bus. When the group got back to the resort that evening there was a very important birthday to be celebrated, Nathan’s first birthday! On the third day the group got to visit the National Park of Ras Mohammed. This was the better of the reef diving. One of the dives involved a swim through a cave at the start and the second dive ended in the toilets! With an amazing day’s diving behind them the divers were really looking forward to their night dive and barbeque on the boat with their families. After a hair-raising bus journey through the desert everyone was delighted to kick back, relax and enjoy a leisurely night cruise and dinner on the boat. The last day’s diving was what all the divers had been waiting for, the dive to the infamous world war 2 wreck, The Thistlegorm. On one of the nights when he got a good night’s sleep, John O’Brien had been having dreams of the Thistlegorm sinking – well dreams do come true. It may have been choppy on the surface that day but no amount of medication could help Johnny’s sea legs. He even managed to look green whilst diving. The sea-sickness was quickly forgotten as soon as the wreck was spotted. With so much to be seen, like stonefish, wellies, boxes of ammunition, guns, tyres, the cabins, even sharks the 15L tanks just were not enough. Whilst reliving the experience back on the boat, Garrit aka Gary almost fell overboard in the swell. One diver was left very red-faced that day after dishing out some advice about sun creams to the others all week, then getting burnt herself! The Dunraven was the second dive that day (and as it turned out, the last of the trip). This wreck, although not as impressive as the Thistlegorm, was a fantastic end to the week’s diving. Mick who was the last diver out of the water was the only one to spot a shark, by himself! The boat crew looked after the club extremely well. After eating many slices of their cake, Tess then decided she did not like it (something to do with flies!). Maureen became so attached to the crew, that she promised one of them her daughters hand in marriage, not for camels as many of them offer, but so that she could have free holidays to the Red Sea! Can we all come? On the day before the return flight home the divers got to sample what the non divers had been reluctantly doing during the week, staying at the hotel sampling the copious amounts of wine, ice cream and food. It was so tough! Darragh and Luke showed everyone their best moves in the splash pools, and Luke got to test out his new snorkel and fins and develop his love for diving. But it wasn’t enough, even though the diving was finished there was so much more fun to be had! That evening most of the group headed off to go quad biking in the desert at sunset. Katie took the lead, showing the group how it was done, with Karl following closely behind, nearly getting sued for whiplash (twice!). Rebel John O’Brien learnt how to play the game pretty quick; he kept holding back claiming engine trouble then shooting forward and overtaking everyone. Boys will be boys. On returning to the resort, the hippies of the group headed straight to the beach for a barbeque (all inclusive of a peace-pipe and some traditional dancing). Upset to be leaving,, Mary and Tess who had not been charged for excess luggage on the way out, ended up paying for the little Egyptians (Ahmed & Hoss), they squeezed into their cases on the way back! Side slung ‘Sean’ would have been invited back to Helvick for a real dive but he tried to rob Diarmuid’s weight belt so he will have to make do with Japanese waters. The most romantic couple award definitely went to Stuart and Maureen who held hands under the water during every dive! (Ah!) However the biggest award goes to Diarmuid and Carrie, without whose organisational skills, the trip would not have been possible. A big huge thank you from everyone who was there! Thank you, thank you & thank you. Here’s to CDC Red Sea Trip 2009!   Maureen Calvert’s PASSION FOR FASHION It has taken a lot longer for the new season’s fashions to arrive in the shops than I expected. When I did my first tour of South Tipp’s main towns, the boutiques were just beginning to get their stock in, and only one or two were displaying anything much. I also had a look at Penneys and Dunnes - Penneys was bright and inviting, but I defy anyone who hasn’t got time to spare to actually buy anything there. Long queues and few assistants aren’t a good mix. Dunnes had no Spring feeling at all, but were displaying what I think of as their (very good) basics, and I have no doubt have now got brighter garments on show. As I expected from my study of the haute couture catwalk photos, everyone has latched onto the wonderful, clear colours that were the major theme throughout the collections. And these lovely shades give a great opportunity to indulge in some of the new season’s make-up, of which more later. The other theme that has been picked up in many boutiques is the HUGE prints - so big that just one spray of beautiful flowers may go all the way up one side, or the front, of a dress. These prints are stunning, most of them in the clear colours already described. They are as suitable for someone small as a tall person, as long as the proportions are right. There are also a lot of more ordinary prints, but these are  hardly new. Shown is a dress by Diane von Furstenberg, the  colours softly flowing lines of which typify what I love about this season‘s fashions. Safari style was something I was looking out for, as I loved this look the first time round, in the 50s, and Derek Lam, Lanvin  and Donna Karan had featured their takes on it in the s/s ‘08 shows. The up-to-date version is softer, sometimes in silk or teamed with silk. Anyway, if there are any similar pieces in the shops, I missed them. For the autumn/winter shows, I will be bolder, and commit myself to what I think will appeal to buyers, as soon as the photos are available - while keeping my fingers crossed. So watch this space and see if you can catch me out. Now, back to the Spring colours in make-up. I am a huge fan of Isa Dora as they provide genuinely non-allergic products in a great range of colours. The non-allergic bit is very important to me, as if I use the wrong eye-shadow I very soon need anti-histamines so that my poor swollen eyes can open. The same with lipsticks, as the Duck Billed Platypus look isn’t great, either. Over the last few years I have become increasingly irritated by the way some companies discontinue colours after one season, no matter how popular they were. However, in Isa Dora’s case at least, there is now a larger range on sale, with many of the previous seasons’ favourites back again, for which many thanks. Most people have their favourite brands, but do look out for new makes and experiment a little. There are so many testers and samples available nowadays that it can be fun and ultimately useful, literally to “try and see“. Gosh was a new name to me a couple of years ago, and their lipstick colours were so great that I had to have a go, even if I was risking a lot. And, bless them, I was able to add another name to the ones I can use safely. Something to watch out for when on holiday is that your make-up, and particularly lipstick, that is great at home can become a liability in a hot climate. For instance, the only place I wear Dior lipstick is in the tropics, as at other times I do not like the texture. However, they do have great colours. Of course, in the sun your moisturiser becomes your best friend, with your sun screen on top of it, if the moisturiser hasn’t got a high SP factor. When properly moisturised, your skin will tan more evenly. But please do take care of your lovely Irish complexions - you are not built for extremes of temperature and your great asset can become a liability if you don’t mind it. It isn’t actually shameful to wear make-up, and your skin will say thank-you for the protection by not becoming weather-beaten and wrinkled. And do drink plenty of water, not just in the Summer.                It has been quite extraordinary how many people have asked me to publish another photo of myself from the 60s, so here you are. Second picture (That’s me, on the left). The occasion was the launch of Emmanuelle Khan’s first Ready-to-Wear collection, in Milan. The actual show took place on the stage of La Scala, and had the most bizarre choreography you can imagine. It was great fun to be a part of the occasion, which was acclaimed by the Italians. However, I don’t think the collection was a huge success, even if it was manufactured by Missoni. The skirts shown were daringly short for Italy at that time. When I went to Milan to work I had to lengthen my London look by at least three inches. That’s it until next time. This has become an “occasional” rather than a regular piece, so keep your eyes peeled.   Readers News & Views Always welcome at 10 Market Yard , Cahir or 086 - 840 5020 and at calvertmaureen@hotmail.com    I am still receiving emails in tiny print.  it is not difficult to increase the print size, so please please do so, before i go blind!!!  As I have said before if you don't know how, ask a child.