CAHIR NOTES INTERNATIONAL CANADIAN DAY By the time you read this, International Canada Day will  probably be over, as it is on Tuesday 1st July. The first I heard about it was a phone call from Aaron Birchell (Tipp FM) asking me if he could give me a ring, as I am the only Canadian-born person that he had been able to track down. I checked it up on my calendar, but all it says is “Good Food Magazine” on sale - so you know where that came from. (A lovely recipe for each month!) Anyway, it’s nice to know we have a special day, and I’ll phone my sister in Montreal to celebrate.  A MUSICAL TRAIL THROUGH IRELAND Rather like the first swallow, Seisiun 2008 is a happy harbinger of summer - I hope! Even if it is still very unlike summer, in the friendly and comfortable surroundings of ‘Jack’s Bar’ in Hotel Minella, the evenings of music, song, dance and storytelling will transport everyone into another world. Starting on Thursday 3rd July, Seisiun Ceolta Feasa (Comhaltas Powerstown Lisronagh and Cathair Dun Iascaigh) will perform every Thursday evening until 21st August, when they will appear for the last time this year. The tickets cost €10, and it is advisable to book in advance. Enquiries to 086 313 6053 / 087 924 3832. The show starts at 9pm. This show is now in its fifth year and is produced by Michael Harty. It has awakened a wonderful enthusiasm in music, song and dance. It presents top talent and will provide young performers - in partnership with the more seasoned players - with an outlet for their exceptional talents. Locals and visitors alike will co-operate to make the experience a truly bilingual one, as well as being an important contribution to recognition for the Irish language. As so many of those appearing are from this area, I am going to list them for you - the Musicians are: Michael Harty, Concert Flute (and an All Ireland winner, although he doesn’t say so very often) and Accordion; Madhbh Johnston (Clonmel) Concert Flute; Michael Perigo (Clonmel) Concert Flute and Tin Whistle; Emma Lacey (Clonmel) Concert Flute; Sheila Hunter (Ballylooby) Fiddle; Kaylie O’Brien (Clonmel) Fiddle; Keevie O’Sullivan (Clonmel) Fiddle; Lorraine & Jennifer Murphy (Newcastle) Banjo and Accordion; Maedhbh Quentin (Clonmel) Concertina; Donal Bowe (Templetuohy) Singer and the show’s M.C; Anne Marie Cavanaugh (Borrisoleigh) Singer. Donal has been with the group since the beginning and now his two talented daughters are joining them as dancers. The Dancers are: Jack Jeffries (Cahir), from the Michael Ryan School of Dancing; Claire McAleavey, Kiya Donnellan, Cliona Higgins and Katie McCarthy (Cahir), who are with the Anne Whelan School of Dancing.  Donal Bowes’ two little girls are from the Anne Callaghan School of Dancing, and all three of these dancing teachers, together with Michael Harty, were early Seisiun members. CHURCH GATE COLLECTION There will be a collection in aid of the Heart Foundation this coming weekend, 5th and 6th July. Please be as generous as ever for this worthy cause. SOUTH TIPPERARY GARDEN WEEKEND As mentioned last week, there are six magnificent gardens to visit over the weekend of 12th and 13th July. This Garden Trail is sponsored by the Clonmel Garden Centre at Glenconnor, which is Munster’s only 4 Star Award Winning Garden Centre for 2007; Kilcoran Garden Centre, Cahir and O’Driscoll’s Garden Centre in Thurles. In alphabetical order, I notice from the ‘flyer’, the gardens are: Maureen Ahern’s at New Haven in Cahir, who is opening her garden in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Society (052 41508/ 087 231 9639); Pauline Hegarty, Kilmacomma, Clonmel, with the proceeds going to the local Alzheimer Society (052 22525); Trish Hyde, Camas Park, Cashel, whose monies go to the South Tipp Hospice (062 61010); Joe & Mary Johannes, Ballyhist, Ardfinnan, who are raising funds for CARE - Cancer Aftercare Relaxation & Education (052 66788); Tom & Kathleen Sheedy, Turtulla, Thurles, in aid of Multiple Sclerosis Society (0503 21839); Mildred Stokes, Killurney, Clonmel, who will be donating to the Multiple Sclerosis Society (052 33155). These are six lovely and very different gardens, that can be viewed in many different ways. I am always looking for ideas and new plants, as well as enjoying the setting and the presentation of each place, and I am sure that everyone will find something special of their own to remember in the depths of winter.      Cahir Parent & Toddler Group participating in The Danone Big Toddle for Barnardos 2008   FILM CREW IN CAHIR I’ve just had a call from Liam Roche to tell me that a film crew from KTO TV Catholique in France has been staying with him while working on a film about the life and Times of Edel Quinn. They have asked Liam to thank Fr O’Dwyer and the Nuns for all their help with the project. They were very impressed with Cahir, and what is even more important, they say they will be back! CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO There was no Jackpot winner again last week in the draw witnessed by Joan Loughman. The total for this week therefore stands at a whopping (for us!) €4,900. The five Lucky Dip winners were: Machi, c/o Sheila Marnane, Cahir; Eileen Hennessy, c/o Cahir Bingo; Clogheen Community Council; Elisabeth Jeffires, Mullaney Gardens and Terry Looby, Garden Grove. Tickets can be purchased up to noon on Wednesdays from the Business & Training Centre. The Profits from the Community Lotto go to servicing the purchase of the land on which the Leisure Centre is built, with a contribution to the Christmas Lights Loan. FUNDRAISERS FOR THE NIALL MELLON TOWNSHIP TRUST A Table Quiz will be held in the Castle Court Hotel on Friday night 4th July, starting at 9:30pm, as part of the fundraising efforts of local volunteers Vera and Eoin Halley for the Niall Mellon Township Trust. The format is teams of four, so go along and enjoy an evening of fun while supporting this very worthy charity. There is also a really brilliant Raffle. If you would like to be in with a chance to WIN A TRIP FOR TWO TO PARIS, kindly sponsored by Rosaleen Morrissey of Fogarty Travel in Cahir, or a SIGNED TIPPERARY JERSEY, donated by the 2008 Tipperary Senior Hurling Team, plus many more prizes, this is your chance to but tickets. The Draw will take place on 16th August and the winner will have the choice of these two top prizes. All the proceeds go to the Trust, of course. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION The three-day break at the Galway Bay hotel will take place on 31st August. Portugal. This trip will now take place on 14th September and extra places are still available. Contact Rosalyn Morrissey at Fogarty Travel. The Results of the Final Progressive 25 Card Game of the season, last Friday, are as follows: Joint Winners with 12 games, were Tom McGrath, Tom O’Mahoney, Chichi Caplice and Sadie Caplice. The Lucky Table winners were Bridget Fannery, Mary Fitzgerald, Josie Quinlan and Joe Ahern. The Raffle was won by Bridget Condon and Tom Burke. There will be a Members’ Meeting on Wednesday 22nd July at 2:30pm in the Catherine McAuley Room and those interested are most welcome to attend. There will be an Epicurean Dinner at the Catherine McAuley Room on 9th July at 7pm - a special treat for the Members. (And if Ted Clarke doesn’t increase the size of the print on his e-mails, I will stop putting these notes in!) CAHIR & DISTRICT LADIES’ CLUB The ladies are meeting at 8:15am on Sunday 5th July at the Castle Car Park for their Summer Outing to Killarney. There is a stop-off on the way for breakfast and on the way home for a meal. Thanks are expressed to Tricia Brunnick for all the organising throughout the year, again. It is a difficult job to please everyone, but she has done great for the second year as Chairperson. Keep up the good work, Tricia. (By the way, ladies, if you take some photos of your outing and let me have them, either as photos or by e-mail, they will go onto the Community Website www.cahirnews.cahirda.com even if there is no room in the paper. Have a good time!) CAHIR PARK LALDIES’ SOCCER Co Tipperary League Division I at Duneske Sports Complex. Cahir Park 3 Killenaule 4. In a thrilling and sporting game, The Park lost out to a youthful Killenaule team. Jennifer Grant scored in the 20th minute to give Cahir an interval lead. A fast-starting Killenaule equalised through their No 7 within a minute of the restart and their No 6 shot in the second in the 3rd minute. It was all-out attack for Cahir Park and Claire Carroll equalised from a 30-metre free in the 59th minute. A hard grafting Cahir team set up some impressive moves and left-winger Alison Lonergan angled in the 3rd goal in the 72nd minute. Killenaule went level in the 78th minute, availing of a mix-up in The Park’s defence. Both sides went all out for the winner. However, defences help firm. In the 83rd minute a high centre into the Cahir penalty area resulted in a collision between two defenders and the ball ended up in the net, to give Killenaule a fortuitous winning goal. The Player of the Match was Claire Carroll and the Player of the Month Trophy for May went to Sinead O’Donnell. The Cahir Park XI were: Ania Gordzieyczyk, Sinead O’Donnell, Julie McMahon, Elaine Devereaux, Claire Carroll, Catriona Nagle, Jennifer Grant, Alison Lonergan, Claire Peters, Bronagh Higgins and Nikola Armitage. The Referee was Gerald Ward (Tipperary SDL). CAHIR FARMERS’ MARKET There is plenty to celebrate at this time of year, and this week it is the arrival of the new potato season, for which the Market will host a “Potato Day”. Catherine and Michael English will be selling their crop of fresh, new season, local Cahir potatoes. They have Duke of York Earlies and in a few weeks time, British Queens will be available. There will be samples of potato dishes on offer from various Stall Holders, including Catherine’s Potato Salad. Welcome back to Stall Holder Ann O’Connell, who has been absent from the Market for a while, and the members are delighted to have her returning to them, selling her home baked goodies with Mary Davis. The Market has received a donation of a polished limestone monument, kindly donated by sculptor Philip Quinn, from Holycross. It is a three feet high Oat Grain and is part of three pieces that were commissioned by the County Council in a funded Art Project. The other two pieces are in other locations around the town. Why not have a look at this on Saturday? The Stall Holders are very grateful to Philip for his piece. CAHIR OUTREACH GROUP This Group, for the Chernobyl Children’s Project International, are currently hosting visitors from Belarus, who are in their third week in Cahir. They are enjoying themselves immensely with their host families. During their marvellous holiday, they travelled to Splashworld and Fota Wildlife Park. Special thanks to Margaret and Hughie from The Shamrock, who entertained the children to a beautiful evening meal on their return from Splashworld. Also thanks to Supermac’s of Cahir, who provided a meal for the children on their return from Fota. They have also given the visitors vouchers to eat at Supermac’s any time while they are in Cahir. On Wednesday the children were entertained at Veronica Spicer’s home at Garranlea House, New Inn. Their holidays are nearly at an end, and next Sunday they will return to their homeland after having the holiday of a lifetime. They have made many friends, especially with the children from their host families. Their memories of their stay with us will stay with them for a long time. If you wish to become involved with the Project in Cahir for 2009, please contact Geraldine Byron or Committee Members Brid O’Malley, Anne Burke, Marie Marnane, or Teresa Mcloughlin. 40TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Many congratulations to Monica and Tony Prendergast, who celebrated this huge milestone in their lives last weekend. Monica and Tony live in Mountain View Drive, and the party was held at their daughter Karen Murphy’s house, which  must have been pretty full, accommodating the 120 well-wishers who turned up. The celebrations were a huge success, ending with breakfast on Sunday!  Best wishes to the couple from all who know them and their lovely family - and especially from the family, of course. NEW MENU AT THE BELL When my son and I had dinner at The Bell recently, we had a chat with chef Michael Real (‘Real Cuisine’) about the menu and how difficult it was to change it, as anything that he proposed to take off aroused a storm of protest from everyone who loved that particular dish. I suggested that he might have a ‘Special’ each day, and just clip the details onto the menus. I now have the new menu in front of me, and it makes interesting reading. I nearly had a fit when I saw that there were no more Golden Fried Pieces of Brie (I am just as bad as everyone else when it comes to my favourites) but, lo and behold, there is a Pastry Tartlet instead - filled with Brie cheese, red onion & cranberry marmalade. That should do the trick. Also new in this section are Potato Gnocchi & Tomato Sauce; and Nachos, topped with a sweet chilli sauce, jalapeno peppers & cheddar cheese.  (No more pork spare ribs - could be dangerous!) The selection of burgers remains the same-ish, with Hot & Spicy in place of the Classic. The pasta dishes are unchanged, and Salads have been added.  In the Main Courses, the 8oz Irish Sirloin Steak has an added baked potato, and the Side Orders have been removed, which is probably a good move. The steak plus the spud actually costs less than previously with the potato as a side order. Added to the Main Courses are Traditionally Made Irish Stew, Baked Fillet of Salmon and Pork Schnitzel. Altogether, this is a great menu. I am told that there will be daily Specials, too - I sincerely hope that  this will be Mike’s gorgeous Lamb Shanks occasionally, which are to die for. (I hope to be told when this is on, in case I miss it). F.A.I. SOCCER SCHOOL UPDATE With seven weeks to go, the Soccer Camp to be held at Cahir Park AFC on the 18th to 22nd August has less than 10 places remaining. If you are thinking of booking in to the Camp, it is advisable to do it immediately. Once the Camp is full there can be no additions to the numbers and no Registrations on the day that the Camp starts. With 15 girls already booked in, Chris Richards is looking to reach 20, so come on girls, if you book immediately you can join the other 15 for a great week. Book on the website www.fai.ie or ring the Irish-based call centre on 1890 653653. If you have any queries regarding any of the above, Chris can be contacted on 085 703 3509 (leave a message if necessary and he promises to return your call). READERS’ NEWS & VIEWS These are welcome, as always, at 10 Market Yard / 086 840 5020 or at the e-mail address above. I am always happy to receive photographs and even if there is no room for them in the paper, they will appear on the Community Website - www.cahirnews.cahirda.com.