CAHIR NOTES UNTIDY TOWN! The general state of Cahir is really making me wish that I hadn’t agreed to be involved with the National Tidy Towns Competition once more. All the lovely planting that is being done around the town by Grangemore is reduced to nought by the litter that is so evident. A friend of mine telephoned last week to say that the Inch was in a terrible state. The day after he first noticed this, he took two plastic bags down there and filled them - and the bags nearly filled the two bins by the little bridge. When he asked a Council worker who was meant to care for the Inch, he was told that it is the Cahir Development Association - which it is NOT. This friend was also told by a Gard that the By-Laws about drinking in public do not apply outside the large cities. Again, this is NOT THE CASE. It seems that drinking outdoors is a cultural thing for some of our foreign residents, and it is essential that they are informed, in however many languages necessary, that the same culture does not exist here. The litter I mentioned a few weeks ago up by the Dovecote is now much worse, with cans inside the Dovecote and even more rubbish at the bottoms of the hedges up there and in the Car Park behind Cahir House. These are just the worst cases - I could go on much longer, but will refrain from boring readers any more. However, I would like to hear of any particularly bad sites for litter, please. There are still no litter bins in The Square and, luckily, the water in the “fountain” (if it can be called that when there is no flow of water) is so green and turgid that the litter therein can hardly be seen. I am having very serious doubts as to whether Cahir should be entered into the competition this year. CHARITY FASHION SHOW The South Tipperary Autism Support Group, in conjunction with Scoil Aonghusa Special School in Cashel, are holding a Fashion Show on Wednesday 9th April in O’Keefe;;s (Hearn’s Hotel) Clonmel. The Cheese and Wine Receptiuon at 7:30 will start the evening off. Fashion from Ryan Design, Nest and Tony Connolly Menswear, all in Clonmel, and shoes and accessories from Interior Concepts, Cahir, will be shown. West End Hair Stylists are very generously doing the models’ hair and Lorna Flynn’s Beauty Salon in Cahir will be responsible for the make-up. Lorna has kindly agreed to attend on the night so that all the girls will be picture-perfect. There will be local celebrity models - I have heard mention of a Pride of Tipperary - and fantastic spot prizes to be won.  Also Teresa Callaghan has donated one of her gorgeous picture hats to be auctioned on the night. It is hoped to raise enough to provide insurance coverage for the children’s social outings. The cost of the insurance is approximately €6,000 for the year for the wheelchair-bound children, and for the children with special needs. These children need social outings. The Department of Education and the Department of Health have refused the Group’s appeal for help “due to budget restraints”, so the burden is left back onto the parents of the special needs children to provide the necessary funds. If you are a past pupil of Scoil Aonghusa or an SNA or teacher, or parent, please go to O’Keefe’s next Wednesday. Tickets are available at Ryan’s Design, Nest, Tony Connolly’s Menswear, Clonmel; Scoil Aonghusa Cashel - 062 62644; PJ Condon’s Pub, Cahir - 052 41216 or Event Organiser Maura Loner an - 086 313 9053, or can be obtained at the door on the night. See you there - I am happy to say four of Maureen’s Models will be involved. ROSEMOUNT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION The monthly of this ambitious group will be held this Wednesday, 2nd April at the Shamrock Lounge at 8pm. C.T.I. ART & CRAFTS AT CRAFT GRANARY   C.T.I. Senior College Art & Craft Exhibition will be open from April 1st to April 8th in the Craft Granary, Cahir. It showcases the work achieved by the students over the duration of the course. CAHIR COMHAIRLE CENNTAIR The AGM took place on Thursday, 13th Mar, at which the following were elected: Hon President - Con Donovan; Vice-President - Sean Byrne; Chairman - Gerry Bell; Vicer-Chairman - Martin Lonergan; Secretary - Paddy Kelly; Treasurers - Josie Treacy and John English; PRO/Youth Officer - Sandra English. There was a huge att endance and the guest speakers were Mattie McGrath, TD, Martin Mansergh TD, Councillor Andy Moloney and Councillor Michael Anglim. Votes of sympathy were expressed to any members who had recent bereavements in their families. This was a very informative meeting, with the forthcoming EU Treaty Referendum being discussed. Also noteworthy, as it is some time since there has been a sitting TD from the Cahir area, namely Mattie McGrath. A FEAST OF SONG And indeed, this was an excellent description of a great night’s entertainment in a lovely setting. The Clogheen community is to be congratulated for the way the initiative by Artswave Ireland and the South Tipperary Rural Arts Group has been grasped with both hands. This is not the first of their concerts that I have attended, although it is certainly the best to date. The setting, too, is lovely, with the stained glass windows at the back of the stage creating a most attractive backdrop. The acoustics are really good because, I assume, of the beams and wooden ceiling, as in Cahir Castle. Indeed, the four singers who entertained us  on 27th March would have been very at home there too. I am puzzled as to why this group kept being referred to as the “Welsh singers“, as although there were two from Wales, there was one from Ireland and one from Spain. And the really excellent pianist was American. The repertoire was very well chosen, with many wonderful and familiar pieces by Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and Offenbach. After the interval, we were treated to an extract from Lehar’s Merry Widow, the Cat Duet by Rossini (great fun!) and a selection of Gershwin, Cole Porter, Bernstein and Lloyd Webber. All four singers delighted the audience and as I was with a Spaniard, you can imagine her  reaction to the gorgeous voice - and person - of the Spanish Tenor! I really must congratulate the organising committee on the trouble they take with the hall, always full of candles, and the delicious nibbles that went with the generous supply of wine. Thank you for a great time. For posterity, as I am sure all three singers, as well as their accompanist, will become very well known indeed, they were: Ros Evans Soprano, Owen Webb Baritone, Carlos Osuna Tenor and Alison Dunne Mezzo Soprano. The American Philip Voldman played a fiendish piece by Rachmaninov, as well as accompanying the singers, which he did most sympathetically. GIRLS’ SOCCER IN CAHIR Following the success of the FAI Soccer Sisters programme, which concluded recently in Cahir Park All Weather Pitch, the Park is pleased to announce that soccer training for girls aged 7 - 12 will continue on Friday nights from 6 to 7pm. New players are always welcome. BOOK 3 & GET A SURPRISE! Three what? Why, three of Teresa Callaghan’s lovely hats of course. A family booking three for that special occasion will receive a lovely surprise parcel. Doesn’t Tessie come up with some great ideas? MATCH ATTAX TRADING DAY This is a day for children who wish to trade their Match Attax Cards and are unable to do so in school,, or wish to meet other children who may have different cards to trade, and will take place  in Cahir House Hotel this Saturday, 5th April from 5:30 to 8pm. Children must be accompanied by either a parent/guardian or other responsible adult. There will be a small charge to cover the room hire, and every child will be given a ticket. The first ticket drawn gets a football. SPONSORED HEAD/BEARD SHAVE There is always someone you know who has received care from the South Tipperary Hospice, and none of us know when we or our loved ones may need them, so you are being asked for your support. On Saturday 5th April at about 9pm at The Old Shanbally, Burncourt, there is to be a Sponsored Shave of Head and/or Beard. To date three brave men and women have volunteered to have their heads shaved. Dr Durack and his practice nurse are two of these very brave people, also Chris Fitzpatrick, who is heading this fundraising evening. Chris is looking for prizes for the Raffle and sponsors for the participants. The evening promises to be good craic with refreshments, music and a raffle. You can contact Chris on 087 4137077. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT The monthly meeting of the Association will take place in the Catherine McAuley Room on Wednesday 2nd April at 2:30pm. Prospective members are welcome to attend. The results of the Progressive Twenty Fives game on Friday 28th March are as follows:  Winners, with 13 games - Gieran O’Brien, Red Burke;  Second with 10 games - Rena O’Connor, Breeda Ryan. Lucky Table - Dave White, Willie O’Neil, Maurice Condon, Timmy Fitzpatrick. The Raffle was won by Tom McGrath and Teresa Duggan. The next game will take place this Friday, 4th April at 8pm. There will be light refreshments as usual, and all are welcome. EU LISBON REFORM TREATY The provision of this Treaty does not affect Ireland’s position on abortion, and those claiming otherwise are scare mongering, according to Fianna Fail TD for Tipperary South, Mattie McGrath. “The EU Lisbon Reform Treaty will not alter the protection of fundamental rights within the EU, nor will it replace the Constitutions of the member sates of the EU. “This Treaty provides important safeguards, as the EU’s competences are more clearly defined than at present and national parliaments are being given a greater role in assessing draft legislative proposals. “Ireland has an additional safeguard regarding abortion as Ireland’s domestic position is already protected by the Maastrick Protocol (1992) on the right to life of the unborn. “This Protocol guarantees that nothing in the EU Treaties or any future treaties amending them ‘shall affect the application in Ireland of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution of Ireland’. The Protocol is unchanged by the Reform Treaty, respecting of the right to life of the unborn guaranteed by the Irish Constitution. “The Treaty makes it clear that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights does not extend to European Union law as defined by the treaties. “Those who claim that this Treaty can affect our abortion laws in Ireland are simply scare mongering and they are clutching at straws in a desperate effort to try to de-rail the ratification of this EU Treaty. “One of those making this outrageous claim is Jens Peter Bonde, from Denmark, the Head of the Independence and Democracy Group in the European Parliament. This grouping includes the UK Independence Party, who want #Britain to leave the EU and destroy the whole European Union project” concluded Deputy McGrath. CAHIR DAYCARE CENTRE The winners of this week’s Whist were:  1st, Kitty Saunders with 55 points; 2nd Peggy O’Connell with 54 points. It was nice to see the men figuring in the inhouse raffle, won by Mossie King and Paddy Quinn. Here are some dates for members:  17th April - Memorial Night for Michael in Dungarvan - a great night is guaranteed, all are welcome to the party;  1st May, Tea Day at the Centre for the Alzheimer’s Association  - details to follow; 18th June - Day trip to the Dail. With the weather improving, everyone is looking forward to starting the Bowling Club. CAHIR FLOWER & GARDEN CLUB Club Members wish to thank Dairygold for their kind donation of Vouchers to the Club. Everyone wishes them all the best with their new shop on the Clogheen Road. NATIONAL SPRING CLEAN Deputy Mattie McGrath is urging all community groups and organisations to get active and involved in the 2008 Spring Clean. “National Spring Clean has been operated by An Taisce since 1999, in partnership with the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government and Local Authorities, and is sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland, the Wrigley Company Limited and, more recently, Repak. The size and scale of National Spring Clean has grown steadily and significantly over the years. “The effort and enthusiasm of the National Spring Clean volunteers has ensured the campaign’s real triumph and success. As National Spring Clean has become a fixed date on the school and community calendar, this partnership can hopefully look forward to an even greater success for many years to come”. READERS’ NEWS & VIEWS As always, your comments and information are very welcome at 10 Market Yard / 086 840 5020 and at the e-mail address above. If calling at the house, do not be put off by the dogs - they gave up eating the mail some time ago!