CAHIR NOTES SCOUTS’ DEN It is now well over a week since the momentous Open Meeting in Cahir House Hotel when the proposed plans for the new Scouts’ Den at Duneske were revealed. Cahir Development Association has donated part of its land at Duneske to the Scouts, so they will finally have a wonderful facility, after seven homeless years since the supporting wall of the car park next to the Craft Granary collapsed onto their Den. Once again, thank heavens there was no one there at the time. In return for the gift of land, the Scouts are installing some much-needed facilities that will be for the use of the community as a whole. However, use of these facilities will be by agreement with them, and the building will belong to them. There will be a large hall, with demountable seating and an area where a stage can be erected. There will also be two meeting rooms, as well as all the facilities the Scouts need for themselves and their gear. At last they will be able to host visiting Scouts again. All this will be right next to the Leisure Centre, with a covered pathway between. (I hope there is room on this page to show the plan.) I have some concern about the size of the hall, which is currently planned to be 10m short of a full basketball court - again! (The Colaiste was built with a similar -sized facility too, against the wishes of all the staff). As this is probably Cahir’s last chance to have a competition-size basketball court, it would be a great pity not to grasp it with both hands. Another concern is with the acoustics. We have a real live expert in Cahir in the person of Brendan Davis, with plenty of experience, including large jobs done in this country since he came here. I wasn’t lulled into any feeling of confidence by the engineer’s pronouncement that they have someone who will deal with this aspect. For a start, the hall, as planned, is almost square, and that, acoustically, is the worst shape to deal with. Hopefully there will one day be professional concerts and theatrical productions in this hall, as well as the wonderful shows put on by the Colaiste, so let’s give the performers the best we can, while we can. When all is said and done, it was a great night for the Scouts, and I hope they will be very happy in their new home, which should be ready in two years. The amount of money to be raised locally (after Grant Aid) is €      . It was decided to do this by subscriptions of €600 per person over two years. This can be paid outright, or in two amounts of €300, or by Direct Debit over one year or two. This was the way the great proportion of the funds for Duneske was raised and it worked a treat. Once more, it is intended to open the Den will all debts paid, as was done at Duneske. So, if you want to be part of this terrific development, contact any of the Scout Leaders or Tim Shanahan of Cahir Development, and sign on the dotted line. The grey areas are the proprosed new Scouts' Den, the yellow are the all-weather pitches and the Leisure Centre. CELEBRATING  SUMMER The Management of Cahir House Hotel seems to be determined to celebrate Summer, whether we have one or not, and are planning two events early in June to put us all in the holiday mood. On Sunday 1st June, Mad Patsy will be present in the Beer Garden, from 3 to 6pm, with plenty of music and craic. The Beer Garden is looking lovely now, with plenty of seating in shade and in the sun. If you still feel like partying after that, put on your dancing shoes and dance the night away with Golden Sound, in the Ballroom, from 10pm to 1am. Jon Kenny’s ‘Back to Front Show’ is booked for Saturday 14th June, and should really draw the crowds. The doors will open at 8pm, with the show starting at 8:30. Tickets are priced at €25. PRIMARY SCHOOLS PROJECT NEEDS APPROVAL Local TD Tom Hayes has called upon the Government and the new Minister for Education, Batt O’Keefe, to take action on the Primary School amalgamation project here. While on a constituency visit with Brian Hayes TD, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Education, Deputies Brian and Tom Hayes visited Cahir Boys’ NS and Scoil Naomh Mhuire na Trocaire to investigate the schools and hear how the school amalgamation project is proceeding. Both schools are keen to go ahead with this, with a staggering 95% of parents in favour of it, and this level of support is fantastic. The schools have been promised amalgamation since 2001 and are still awaiting a move forward from the Government. Mary Hannifin, as Minister for Education, said in January of this year that it was necessary to purchase land for the project and that this was ongoing. However, one of the schools has not been getting funding under the Summer Works Scheme for essential repairs, because the amalgamation project is considered imminent, despite the fact that they have been waiting for years. “Students and staff are now working in over-crowded, inadequate facilities, which has a huge impact on the quality of education that children receive. Students with warm, comfortable, well-furnished schools do much better than students without these basic requirements. It is incredibly unfair and disappointing to see the Government dragging its heels on essential project like this. I am calling on the Government to take action, prioritise this essential project and get the site purchase finalised and the next step in the process under way. I will be raising the issue with Minister O’Keefe in the Dail” Deputy Hayes said. CAHIR YOUTH CLUB They had a fantastic night in Cahir House last Friday for their Summer Disco. It was great for the organisers to see the young people enjoying themselves and many thanks go to the other Club who joined the Youth Club, the Leaders who supervised, the Hotel Staff and the DJ who played on the night. There are limited places available for the Summer Outing to Kilfinane next Saturday, 24th May. This only costs €25 per member and places must be paid for in advance, as no monies will be taken on the morning of departure. However, money will be collected outside the Colaiste at 3:30pm this Friday. Ring 086 267 1646 for details. MATCH ATTAX TRADING This coming Saturday, 24th May, Chris Richards will be at Cahir Park Soccer Club for the final Match Attax Trading Day. It will be between 3 and 5:30pm and this will be a final opportunity to trade those remaining few cards that are proving difficult to find. There are children with Match Attax Extras also, so bring those along too. The All Weather Pitch will be available, so any child with a little spare energy during trading can have a break and a kick-around. For those who don’t know, Cahir Park Soccer Club is situated on the Ardfinnan Road out of Cahir, about 400 yards on the right, just beyond the GAA pitch. One small tip for children; write down the players that you don’t have on a separate sheet of paper and cross them off as you trade them. There will be a draw for a football on the day for all the children that attend. Chris is looking forward to seeing you there. CAHIR FLOWER & GARDEN CLUB The Club’s monthly meeting on Wednesday 28th May in the Catherine McAuley Room at 8pm. There will be a Poetry Reading by local poet Margaret Calvin, who will read her own poetry about local places and local people. The trip to gardens in Carlow is to take place on Saturday 28th June. A €15 should be paid at or before the next meeting. CAHIR CAMOGIE CLUB The warm summer heat from the early days of the week might have abated somewhat by last Thursday , but  that same evening at around 7.30pm the temperature was starting to rise again with a spectacular game of camogie between our U12 girls and their opponents on the day, Thurles.    With Thurles opening the scoring with a goal, and Cahir at sixes and sevens out in the pitch, it wasn't looking to promising. However, after around ten minutes Roisin Howard capitalized on a fine ball and rattled the back of the Thurles net and from that puckout, Ashling Moloney returned the sliothar with a great point from play. This seemed to settle the Cahir girls down somewhat but  Thurles were not left wanting and sent over a point to level the scoring once again.   At midfield, Aoife Corcoran seemed to be on automatic pilot! What this girl lacks in stature she makes up for in sheer determination and guts, no matter where the ball was or the size or skill of the opposition she faced, it did not faze her one bit. Clara O' Donnell is another player whose work rate has really improved and was blocking and clearing great ball at the half back line. With the sliothar finding its way up into the Thurles back line our girls were working hard to keep it there and an excellent pull on the ball from Eadaoin O' Gorman saw the back of the net rattled for the second time in the game.  Another fine point from a free by Ashling Moloney and another excellent goal by Roisin Howard saw the score at half time Cahir 3-2 to Thurles 1-1.   Although the score line looked as though Cahir were having it all their own way the opposite was happening on the field. Thurles have some fine players and they demanded plenty of work from the Cahir girls. Roisin O Donnell in the half forward line was making good inroads into the Thurles defence and a great pass by her into Eadaoin O Gorman saw the corner forward make no mistake, as she thumped home another fine goal. Cahir's goalie Keeley Halpin was getting fantastic distance into her puckouts, some going well into the half forward line and giving the spectators great excitement as they watched both sides work so hard for their respective teams.   Three more free's from the hurley of Ashling Moloney were all successfully pointed but with about five minutes to go Thurles again made their way through our defence and scored a fine goal. Roisin Howard was then fouled as she made her way in through the Thurles defence and executed a fine point from her free. The referee's whistle brought the game to an end with the final score line of Cahir 4-6 to Thurles 2-1.    Our Lady Of Mercy Primary School Camoige Team  Mini 7’s Winners 07/08   Front Row: L-R Roisin Costigan, Caral Casey, Keeley Halpin, Aoife Corcoran, Roisin Howard. Back Row: L-R Mary Howard, Marie Casey, Katie Farrell, Clara O’ Donnell, Ashling McCarthy, Emma Buckley, Martin Halpin . (missing from photo Rachel O’ Dwyer)    Our Lady Of Mercy Primary School Football Team Mini 7’s Winners 07/08 Front Row: L-R Caral Casey, Roisin Costigan Keely Halpin, Roisin Howard, Aoife Corcoran. Back Row: L-R Pat O’ Malley, Katie Farrell, Emma Buckley, Ashling McCarthy, Kirsty Downey, Ashling Armitage, Martin Halpin. PUB LEAGUE Chris Richards will be organising the Pub League this year. The idea is to run a League system, with the Final on the August Bank Holiday Sunday. This will allow teams a few games each, so even with one bad game you can still qualify for one of the four Semi-Final positions. This League was always about fun and therefore the idea is to have no registered players and at least two women players on a panel of twelve. This is not set in stone by any means, but in the spirit of the Pub League, Chris feels this would provide a welcome return of the fun element. He will be calling around to the Pubs over the coming week or so, or Chris can be contacted on 085 703 3509 if you wish to be included or have any comments about the format. On the day of the Final, he wants to make it a fun day with bouncy castles and other sideshows for children and parents alike, so put Sunday 3rd August in your diary. FUNDAY SUNDAY It seems appropriate to follow the news of Chris Richards’ plans with my own. The Funday this year will be the last Sunday in August, in the Castle Inch as usual. There are plans for all sorts of events, as well as the traditional Fun Dog Show. So, another date for your diary. If any community groups want to raise money for themselves, please contact me with your ideas - or maybe I can come up with something for you to do - it all adds to the entertainment value. All the money raised this year, by donations and from the Dog Show, will go towards replacing the two wildlife signs that were destroyed by vandals. So please put your thinking caps on and help to make this a really good day out. There may not be a Fair this year, but these two days in August will provide a lot of entertainment for adults and children alike. Two Cahir girls share the same birthday.on the 12th May, Emer Kennedy is a 100 years young and Ruth Lonergan is 10 years old TIPPERARY LADIES’ SOCCER LEAGUE Division 1 - Saturday 17th May at Cahir Park FC. Cahir Park 1 Clerihan 1 In a very entertaining game, played on an excellent surface before a sizeable attendance, Cahir created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the 90 minutes. Clerihan scored in the 43rd minute when a speculative shot deceived the Cahir goal-keeper and trickled into the net. In a thrill-a-minute 2nd half, Cahir forced several corners and Stephanie Elliott drilled in the equaliser in the 53rd minute. An excellent Park defence contained the Clerihan attack. A brilliant shot by Alison Lonergan rebounded from the crossbar in the 80th minute. Clerihan conceded a penalty in the closing minutes, but the spot-kick went off the goal-post and wide.  In the final minute, a volley by the Clerihan winger sailed over the bar. The Player of the Match was Stephanie Elliott. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION The results of the ‘25’ card game held last Friday are as follows: Joint 1st, with 9 games - Rena O’Conner and Breda Ryan; Paddy Holleran and Bob Condon. The Lucky Table - Peg Reidy and Margaret Quinlan; Mary English and Bridgid Condon. The Raffle was won by Tom Morrissey and Tom Burke. The next card game will take place this Friday, 23rd May. JIM O’CALLAGHAN BRIDGE CLUB The Tuesday Night Bridge season came to a close with their Annual Dinner and presentation of Prizes to the competition winners, in Cahir House Hotel. The Management was thanked for a wonderful meal. A sincere thank-you is due to Brid Roycroft, Aileen Cashman and Eileen Ryan for organising the beautiful prizes. Thanks too to Eamon Murphy and Von Coffey for the tremendous amount of work they put into the smooth running of the Club. Finally, the Treasurer, Graham Scott, must not be forgotten, working quietly in the background, keeping their finances in order. CAPTION FOR PIC: Von Coffey presenting the Perpetual Trophy to Eamon Murphy and John Roycroft, winners of the Club Championship for 2007/2008. COLAISTE DUN IASCAIGH NOTES A Celebration of Music, Song and Dance On Thursday 22nd May at 8pm the college will host “A Celebration of music, and dance”. The first half of the show will consist of many different variety acts, including singing, dancing and drama. The second half will be given over to extracts from “Joseph and his amazing Technicolour dream coat”. A good night’s entertainment is guaranteed. Tickets will be available on the night at the door. Colaiste Dun Iascaigh Sports News Munster 1st Year Football Semi-Final C.D.I.   1-11                 Midleton V.S.  3-3 In Glanworth on Tuesday night last, Cahir had a deserved win over Midleton in a well contested semi-final. Cahir were well on top in the first half, despite missing many scoring opportunities Cahir had 0-6 to 0-1 at half time.  In the second-half Midleton came more into the game, as Cahir squandered many good scoring chances. A couple of Midleton goals left only a point separating the sides. However, Cahir held on and had the final score of the game, a point from Conor Casey. Scorers: D. O Brien 1-2, S. Lowry 0-4, C. Casey 0-2, C. Lambert 0-2, J. Tobin 0-1 Team: S. Tobin S. Lambert, B. Hyland, L. Howard G. McCarthy, A. Condon, Capt. C. Ryan. B. Hyland,   C. Casey D. Burke, B. Littleton, M.Burke Sub used: C. Lambert Munster Final: Cahir now play Abbeyfeale in the final   IRISH VETERAN & VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE CLUB This Club had their 13th Annual Slievenamon  Run last weekend. The participants stopped off in Cahir House Hotel for their lunch, where Maria Taylor had the chance to meet with Sean Whyte, the Club’s President and long time organiser of the Run. Sean told her that the Run always starts from the Clubhouse in Kilkenny and after visiting a few different towns each year, winds up back in Kilkenny again. It runs for a whole weekend every year in mid-May and anyone who wants to participate can contact Sean on 01 831 3371. All you need is a pre-1930 motorcycle to participate. It is all for a bit of fun, to give the bikes a bit of a viewing and an airing and probably also for the owners of the bikes to discuss problems and maintenance. There really was quite a smell of engine oil. Participants travel from all over the country for this Run and even from England and Wales. This year there were 58 entrants, including one lady called Sally Williams. Sally was driving a beautifully restored 1929 500cc Ariel. There were many carefully restored bikes on display, all the proud owners standing next to them.     THE STEAK HOUSE ROCKS!  by Maureen Calvert Many congratulations to Joe Ahern who, after a break away from Cashel, has not only reopened The Rock House but added Steak House Rock, right next door. The Rock House has now got added value in the form of an Internet Café, and a Carvery from 9am to 4pm, seven days a week, plus all the lovely home baking that has always been available. And I mustn’t forget the Gift Shop, in that fantastic situation just below the Rock itself. A catering service is now on offer, and the business can also cater for in-house group reservations both day and night. This has always been a great stop-off for coaches, and now that there is access direct from the Rock Car Park, which is clearly marked, it will be even more in demand. The Steak House Rock has a nice little bar - fully licensed of course - and attractive outside seating, as well as the restaurant itself. Joe told me that he is trying to fill the niche that exists a little below the likes of his more expensive neighbours, with an informal atmosphere, so that people feel that they can drop in and have a relaxed and informal evening, without  any fuss. However, they can’t just drop in on a Saturday any more, as then the place is always fully booked - which is a great start. The Head Chef at The Steak House Rock is Liam Boland, who gave me the following statement:  “After spending many years training and then working around the world, it’s such a delight to be back in Ireland - not only because of the great craic to be had on any given night out, and the great people I have met here in Cashel, but also to come home to the fantastic ingredients that are on offer here. From a vast selection of local artisan producers of cheeses and organic vegetables, to the tender local beef on offer from our very own Martin O’Dwyer here in Cashel. He is as passionate about his beef and lamb as I am about cooking it. “We have a small restaurant, which allows us to take as much time on each dish as it deserves.  I am in love with the local pork that Martin supplies, to make our signature starter dish Belly Pork Ribs in Our Own Barbeque Sauce. The meat really does melt in the mouth after being cooked with 46 different ingredients for six hours! “I highly recommend the Rib Eye Steak with wild mushrooms and mature Cashel Blue cheese, for a rich, full-of-flavour choice. This can be ordered from 7oz to 17oz and cooked just the way you like it.  For a lighter option I recommend the Fillet of Sea Bass in Oriental Herbs and Spices, backed in a paupiette. We get a fresh delivery of fish daily, so you are guaranteed freshness. “We have just started a new light snack menu, which can be enjoyed in our heated garden, overlooking the Rock of Cashel. Some of the dishes that range from €5.95 up to €12.95 are Fillet Steak, Ardsallagh Goats Cheese, Spring Onion, Roasted Vine Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic Butter and Fresh Basil, served on our homemade brown bread or Fire Roasted Red Peppers, Roasted Mushrooms & Onions, Basil, St Tolla Hard Goat’s Cheese Shavings, drizzled with hand-pressed olive oil, also served on our own bread. [I am assuming that this is Joe’s bread, as he is a master of the art of break making.] “Also on offer is a wide selection of Gluten Free and Vegetarian dishes. I look forward to you joining us here at Rock House and hope you find loads to tempt you to come back time and time again. Remember, you are always welcome to pop your head into the kitchen to say hello to me and my team, Chris, Marcin, Kasia, Craig and Anna”. The nice thing is that I know Liam means this invitation, as he is a very outgoing and friendly guy, who loves to talk food. Best wishes to Joe, Liam and everyone else. READERS’ NEWS & VIEWS As the paper is now available in local shops on Tuesday evenings, it is essential that I receive as much of your news as possible as early as possible! Only reports of sporting events and so on that are held on Sundays will be acceptable on Mondays. Please note that if your photographs do not make it onto these pages, they will appear on the Community Website:  www.cahirnews.cahirda.com, thanks to the permission of the Management of South Tipp Today. P.S. THE NEW PAVING FROM THE SQUARE AROUND THE SIDE OF THE ENTERPRISE CENTRE IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!