CAHIR NOTES TIPPERARY FARMERS’ HUNT RAISES €9,000 FOR CHARITIES The members of the Hunt Club wish to thank all those who took part in their recent Hunter Trials at Kedrah Castle. A special thank-you goes to all those who gave of their free time to help to run the event. It was a great sporting success and was enjoyed by all.  To date, the Tipperary Farmers’ Hunt Club has donated a total of €9,000 to both national and county charities: Bothar, Tipperary Cystic Fibrosis, and both the North and South Tipperary Hospices. The Hunt Club has also donated monies to a number of parish organisations. This new Hunt Club has achieved all this since it was formed last Christmas, by those who hold great enthusiasm in their hearts for fox hunting, the hunt country and its people. Great hunting, jumping and craic was had by all in their first season and they look forward to seeing you all again and meeting new friends in the 08/09 season. They would like to take this opportunity to thank, once more, the farmers and landowners over whose land they hunt. The photo shows the presentation of cheques to both Hospices and to Tipperary Cystic Fibrosis, at Kedrah Castle.    Left to Right are Ann Meagher, Jean Meagher, Sinaida Jansen (South Tipp Hospice),  JR McGrath, Tom O'Brien, James O'Donnell(Huntsman), John Breen, Bridie & Michael Hickey (Tipperary Cystic Fibrosis), Pat Meagher, Eddie Doran (1st Whip), Amber & Shannen Doran, Joanne O'Connor, Mattie Ryan (North Tipp Hospice), John Cummins. Cyril Smith, Tom O'Dwyer, Ronald Fox WELL DONE … to the members of the Youth Club who helped in the Tidy Town Clean-up recently: Kim, Michelle, Stacey, Ronan, Joseph Coughlan, Jason Carey, Stephen and Maurice Quinlan. Great job – well done everyone. COFFEE MORNING FOR HOSPICE A Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday 14th June from 10am to 1pm at Costigan’s, on the Clonmel Road. This fundraiser is in aid of the South Tipperary Hospice, and your support will be greatly appreciated. SUPPORT TIPPERARY RACECOURSE Local Td Tom Hayes has called on all locals and horse-racing fans to support Tipperary Racecourse in the coming months. While rumours are rife that Horse Racing Ireland is looking for another all-weather venue in the County, the craic and quality racing continue unabated at Tipperary Racecourse. This racecourse is located almost beside Tipperary Junction train station, which means that it brings visitors from far and wide, and is key to the local economy. The first recorded race meeting of Tipperary Races at Barronstown Course was on March 27th 1848, but at the current Limerick Junction track it was in September 1916 that a meeting first took place. It remained Limerick Junction until the name was changed to Tipperary in 1986 and over the last couple of decades some of the best horses this country has ever produced have raced here. A dozen meetings are held at Tipperary each year, the first in mid-April and the last in early October, with the majority of fixtures being mixed. “I know that people have expressed concern that the possibility of a new racecourse in the County will be at Tipperary Racecourse’s expense. However, I genuinely believe that Tipperary people appreciate this fantastic amenity on their doorstep. Once we take care to support it in coming months, as we always have, then there can be no doubt that it will be a social and economic fixture that will always be part of our landscape” Tom Hayes concluded. WELCOME TO A NEW VENTURE Franchesca Sutherland has now completed her training in Reiki Holistic Therapy, and has established a lovely space for this therapy in her home at 10 Galtee View, in Cahir. (That’s to the right as you drive up Butler’s Court from the Clonmel Road). I had to admit that I didn’t know exactly what Reiki is, and referred to her leaflet:  “Reiki is ancient hands-on healing, used to enhance the body’s natural ability to heal itself; and to enhance the body’s natural ability to maintain good health.” Apparently the energy channelled during a treatment induces profound relaxation and a feeling of peace, while healing at a deep level. There are too many benefits of this therapy to list here, but I know that one of Franchesca’s brothers goes to her every week after soccer to have his bad knee sorted out, and she is keeping him fit and able to play. Franchesca has a really beautiful quote from Mother Teresa in her leaflet: “There is a light in this world … a healing spirit much stronger than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force … where there is suffering, too much pain. Then suddenly the spirit will emerge … through the lives of ordinary people and answer in an extraordinary way”. For appointments or enquiries about treatments, which are usually half-an-hour for sports injuries or one-hour sessions for from 4 to 6 weeks, you can telephone her at 087 928 5859. Best of luck, Franchesca - with this and also with your great ‘Frankie’s Nails’ service. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO This week the Jackpot stands at €4,450, and as there was no winner last week, the five Lucky Dip winners, each of whom received €30, were: Jack Bell, Mill Cottages; Michael Hearne, Knockagh; The Hennessy Family, Ballydrehid; Paul Breheny, Avondale Court, all in Cahir; and Joe Considine, Dawson Villas, Tipperary. Last week’s draw, witnessed by Peter Fahy, produced numbers 9, 12, 22 and 24. Ticket for the weekly draw can be purchased at many local outlets and, up to noon on Wednesdays (the last minute) from the Business & Training Centre in Cahir. All the profits from the Community Lotto go to the Duneske Leisure Centre. VERY GOOD FOOD IN AN ATTRACTIVE SETTING I made my first, and long-awaited, visit to Spice Garden (just opposite SuperValu) last week, for lunch, and it was delicious. I have always loved Indian cooking, and really missed it when I first came to Cahir. However, we are now being well looked after, and I am happy to welcome Anjan and Nipa, and long may they stay. Just in the interest of research, you understand, my companion and I had a Starter that was a selection of five different tasters. This would normally be plenty for lunch, but we continued and had another tasting selection of Main Course offerings, which included one or two dishes that were new to me. My companion is something of a connoisseur of cooking from the sub-continent, and she enjoyed it all as much as I did. It really was first-class. This was my first visit because it has become a long walk for me - and my one and only complaint is that they don’t deliver.  Maybe they will when they have enlarged their customer base, and I am sure this won’t take long. STRAWBERRIES AT THE MARKET Fresh strawberries from Con Traas have arrived at the Farmers’ Market, heralding summer time at last.  Keith and Jim have a great selection of fresh greens, with lettuces picked just before leaving on Saturday morning, fresh cut flowers bouquets and lots of healthy veg. Now is the time to get the bedding plants sorted, and David O’Connell has a great selection, as well as fee range eggs. There are also fresh fish; organic meat and a fine selection of cheeses, pat?s, confectionary, breads, cakes, juices and, believe it or not, much more. However, you do need to get there fairly early if you are to benefit from the full selection. I arrived at about 11am last week, and a couple of stalls were cleaned out already. This Saturday, the lovely plant people from Clare will be there too, and I WILL get up earlier, as I want one or two plants that I know they will have. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION Portugal. This trip will now take place starting on 14th September and extra places are available. Contact Rosalyn Morrissey at Fogarty Travel. Autumn Break. This will take place on 31st August, to the ever-popular Galway Bay Hotel, for three nights plus many leisure activities. Dinner. A dinner will be held in the Catherine McAuley Room on Wednesday 9th July at 7pm. The limited number of places were filled at the Monthly Meeting. Congratulations, Mary Fitzgerald, on your completion of the Dublin Mini Marathon. Fr Davy will be well pleased with the monies you collected for the new class rooms in Kenya. Sr Mary McCormack Many thanks, Mary, for your enlightening talk on the works of the lat John O’Donahue. You have a gift of helping a person to see life from a completely different perspective. Bowling takes place at Cahir Park Soccer’s All-Weather Pitch each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at 2:30 pm. Anyone who is interested in this is invited to join in. Many members are becoming skilled and a note of healthy competition permeates the play. 21 Results The results of the game played on Friday 6th June are as follows:  the winners, with 11 games, were Josie Quinlan and Joe Ahern; second with 10 games, were Peg Reidy and Agnes Hyland. The Lucky Table was won by Ciss O’Neill, Willie O’Donnell, Betty Collins and John O’Connor. The Raffle winners were Mary Whelan and Agnes Hyland. The next game takes place this Friday at 8:30pm in the Catherine McAuley Room. All are welcome to enjoy this pleasant evening out. Light refreshments will be served as usual. NIALL MELLON TOWNSHIP TRUST 2008 Congratulations to Vera and Eoin Halley from Clogheen, both of whom have been allocated a place on the Niall Mellon Township Trust 2008 trip. They will be travelling to a township on the outskirts of Cape Town called Khayelitsha on 28th November. This Trust is an Irish Charity which was set up in 2002 and since then has built thousands of houses for those living in poor and overcrowded conditions in the townships. The Trust itself works all year round in Cape Town and for one week, a group of volunteers travel there to take part in the building blitz. They give of their time, labour and expertise. Each volunteer also raises €5000 to cover the cost of travel and building supplies. This year they aim to have 2008 volunteers travelling. Eoin will be travelling there from Perth, Western Australia, where he is now living. He Began his fundraising campaign last week with a Table Quiz in the Irish Club in Perth and received great support. Vera, who lives in Cahir, began her campaign as part of a relay team in the Cork City Marathon, and would like to thank all those who sponsored her so generously. This is a very worthy and deserving charity, so watch this space for upcoming events and please do be generous in y9ur support of Vera and Eoin’s fundraising. We would all like to wish them both the very best for their trip. CAHIR CAMOGIE NEWS Our U10 team had a great day out on Sunday June 1st.when they travelled to NewInn to take part in their annual festival. The team played three games with a loss to Moyle Rovers, but then had two good wins against St. Mary's and Boherlahan.   The pannel included : Jessica Coffey, Roisin McCarthy, Rachel O Donnell, Andrea O Donnell, Emma Quirke, Lauren Noonan, Sarah Bourke, Eileen Flannery, Dervla Buckley, Emma O Donnell, Sarah Carroll, Lauren Enright, Shauna Bourke, Ashling Moloney, Emma Halley, Megan Ward.   Well done to all and to Margaret McCarthy and her able assistants Karl and Seamus who looked after the girls on the day.   History has again been made by the girls of Our Lady of Mercy primary school by not only winning the county U11 final, but also going on to win the U13 final as well. The Cumann na mBusnscoil games took place last week in Semple Stadium.   The U11 game was on Thursday against St. Mary's of Nenagh and the team had quite a comprehensive victory, with all the panel contributing to the win.   The U13 final was on Friday with the same school as their opposition, but this was a much stronger game with excellent levels of skill from both sides. Although Cahir opened the scoring and were looking as though they might clinch this title easily, Nenagh weren't long about setting the record straight, and were leading by 5 points going into the second half.   An early goal by Nenagh looked like doom for the Cahir girls, but some strategic changes to the line-out saw Cahir turn the corner and go on to win in great style.   Over the course of the two days Roisin Howard and Alina Newmeritisky were singled out for great play in the U11 game while Emma Buckley and Emma Corcoran received the accolades in the U 13 game. On saying this, all girls put in great efforts to ensure victory for their school.   U11 Team: Keely Halpin, Laura Casey, Roisin Costigan( Captain), Alina Newmeritisky, Roisin Howard, Aoife Corcoran, Carl Casey, Niamh O' Brien, Joye Arbuckle, Shauna Bourke, Ciara Quinlan, Aoife Collins, Katie Farrell, Kirsty Arbuckle, Megan Ward.   U13: Sadhbh O Donnell, Clara O' Donnell,  Emma Corcoran, Ciara Lonergan( Captain) Heather Lambert, Ashling McCarthy, Emma Buckley, Carl Casey, Aoife Corcoran, Roisin Howard, Claire Kiely,Rachel O Dwyer, Keely Halpin, Alina Newmeritisky, Roisin Costigan, Katie Farrell. Congratulations to School Principal Pat O Malley and the school trainers Martin Halpin, Mary Howard and Marie Casey. TIPPERARY LADIES’ SOCCER LEAGUE DIVISION I Friday 6th June at Ferryhouse, Clonmel. Clonmel Celtic 2, Cahir Park 3. Cahir Park had an impressive victory, for which many congratulations. No room for details this week, I am afraid – more next week. THE  PUNTERS REST The Square, Cahir Having always thought that I knew Cahir fairly well, readers can imagine my astonishment when I was asked to cover the story of ‘The Punters Rest’ for this Special Feature. I still think of this pub as ‘Pat Peters’, although it morphed into someone else’s for a while. However, let’s all give a warm welcome to Caroline O’Brien Conran, who opened her Punters Rest on 11th May. I have seen some quick transformations in my time but, with the help of her brother Hughie O’Brien, the façade was transformed from serious black to a striking red; flowers baskets went up; and a new sign appeared almost overnight. Inside, there have been few changes, and the clientele has remained faithful. But then they have know Caroline for a long time. She started collecting glasses at the Earl of Glengall when she was 13; worked part time at The Phoenix and the Castle Arms and then did a two-year Bar Course at Youghal, interspersed with the work experience that is a module of the course. Caroline then came back to Cahir and worked for Tom at The Granary. However, she tells me that the only pub she ever wanted for herself is the one of which she is now the Licensee. She plans to enlarge the interior slightly, but it’s more a matter of better use of existing space than a drastic change. Caroline, who has the complete support of her husband John, hopes that this will become the real family pub of her dreams. As I have said, she has a great and very loyal customer base and with the extras that she offers, I am sure her dream will become reality. For instance, on Sundays she provides finger-food, so there is no need for a mad dash home, and everyone can relax. Children are very welcome, particularly since Caroline and John have two of their own - Dean, who is 10, and 1½ year-old Simone - and don’t forget Sprocket, their tiny terrier. As well as Sunday Snacks, Caroline plans to have Karaoke Nights; 60s, 70s and 80s Nights with a DJ, and has already got a ‘house guitar’ so that anyone feeling like a sing-along can step right up, and there have already been two really good sessions, one with John Boyle, which doesn’t happen every day. Probably the focal point of The Punters Rest is the ample provision for watching sports on all channels and three screens. This means that there is no arguing over who watches the racing, the soccer, the hurling or whatever. Satanta Sports and UK Racing are on tap, as it were, and if everyone is tired of TV, there is a Juke Box too. (Actually, the real focal point is the regulars’ interest in sport, isn’t it?  For instance, I’ll be there when I have finished this to watch The Oaks, from Epsom. It is much more fun watching big events with others). Sunday 15th May is the Official Opening Night, with both Eddie Costeloe and The Cotters appearing during the evening. Everyone is very welcome to drop in from 5pm onwards and cheer Caroline on. I don’t think she really believes what she has done, yet, but the penny will surely drop soon and she will realise that the dream really is become reality. So here’s wishing Caroline and her super staff: Tina (who used to work for Pat Peters); Fiona; Leon and Laura the very best. Not forgetting John, the children, and Sprocket. READERS’ NEWS & VIEWS As always, welcome at 10 Market Yard / 086 840 5020 and at the e-mail address above. Please remember the earlier deadline and get your information to me on Fridays, if possible – IN A LARGE PRINT SIZE if you use e-mails.