The Corkman newspaper this week has run a summary of the headlines of the Millstreet Matters column for the years 2000 – 2001. What happended ten years ago doesn’t feel that long ago at all. It is in two parts, and can be read on their website:
2000-2004 – Reeling in the years
2005-2009 – Celtic tiger changes the face of Millstreet
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2000
Revellers take to the streets to welcome in the new millennium.
Denis “Toots” Kelleher selected on Cork Football team of the Millennium.
Sean Barrett retains National Lightweight Boxing Championship title. Millstreet website initiated.
On Track 2000-Iarnrod Eireann Investment programme on MallowTralee rail line begins.
Millstreet acknowledge sPeople of the Year in Jack Lane, Denis “Toots” Kelleher, Kenneth Brennan, Johnny McCarthy, John Tarrant, Millstreet Town Park and Sean Barrett.
Lisa O’Donoughue wins All Ireland Scór na nOg title.
GAA salutes Jim Cronin’s elevation to Chairman of Co. GAA Board.
Oonagh Twomey elected Chairperson to Millstreet Community Council.
Disney on Ice spectacle opens at Green Glens.
National Pilgrimage Day marked by Mass on Clara Mountain.
Millstreet Celtic defeat Rathcoole Rovers in playoff to win Cork AUL Div 2 Championship.
An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD visits Alps Electric.
Diocese Kerry Millenium Pageant Dance of Life draws huge crowds to Green Glens.
Millstreet lift historic Co. Minor Hurling Championship title.
2001:
of
Cullen Friends of the Handicapped host 21st Anniversary Dance.
Billy Coleman accepts The Corkman Hall of Fame Sports Star Award.
Millstreet pays tribute to People of the Year Margaret Bourke, Brenda O’Sullivan, Pat Breen, Tommy Burke, Millstreet Minor Hurlers with Noel C Duggan selected as Millstreet Millennium Person.
Foot and Mouth outbreak in Northern Ireland postpones March Horse Fair and National Dairy Show.
Cullen Pipe Band celebrate 60th Anniversary on participating in New York Parade on St Patrick’s Day.
Green Energy Company seeks planning permission to erect 90 wind turbines on Boggeragh Mountains.
Colman Culhane captures gold medal at National Photographic Finals.
Millstreet Quiz team wins All Ireland Scor Finals.
Millstreet Pipe Band celebrates 50th Anniversary.
Green Glens hosts Coca Cola Form and Fusion Awards.
National Mourning Day Recognises New York/Washington atrocities.
James Last Orchestra plays Green Glens. Millstreet dancers collect gold at Manchester International Festival.
2002
The Euro currency comes into place.
Cork Football lost one of its most ardent champions on the death of the legendry Denis “Toots” Kelleher.
Millstreet born Tim O’Callaghan confirmed as new Chief Superintendent for North Cork.
Large crowds turnout for Parish Mission.
Garda Sylvie Murphy retires.
Millstreet People of the Year-Service to the Community: Millstreet Pipe Band; Caring Award, Cullen and District Friends of the Handicapped; Humanatarian Award: Fr. Con Kiely; Youth Award: Elaine Hooper and Transition Year Students; Sport: Kevin Hickey.
Monsignor Timothy Carroll SMA appointed to the position of Apostolic Vicar for the vicarite Of Kontagora located in the north west of Nigeria.
Penalty points introduced.
Millstreet Tidy Towns Tourism Association initiate new street name plates, finger post direction signs and two tourist information boards.
350 year old Battle of Knockbrack remembered on the unveiling of a monument at a site on the Banteer/Rathcoole road.
Millstreet’s new stateof-the-art crèche opens.
Rathcoole horse and pony racing revived for the first time in 70 years.
The Chernobyl Childrens Project benefited from the release of a new CD “Thru My Tears”by Nellie Healy.
2003
John P Kelleher wins a Nissan car in Millstreet Town Traders Promotional Draw.
Millstreet Athletic Club celebrate Golden Jubilee.
Norma Carroll’s gold medal in the Irish Taekwon Do Championship, bronze in the World Championships and reaching the podium in Britain and Germany earns the Female Competitor of the Year and a Sports Bursary in CIT.
Millstreet pays tribute to its People of the Year :Caroline Dowling, Alan Short, Radley Engineering, Liam O’Connor, Billy Coleman John and Lena O’Keeffe .
Throngs skate into Millstreet for the Disney on Ice spectacular.
The prized Duhallow magazine Seanchas Duthula lives on and its 13th edition is launched in Cullen Community Centre.
Belarussian Orphanage Project present Pop Stars Micheal Leonard and Brian Ormond in the Wallis Arms Hotel.
Geraldine Galvin becomes first female Manager to Millstreet Bank of Ireland branch.
Millstreet native Neilus Healy receives Gold medal for first placed student in Ireland for Mathematics in 2002 Leaving Certificate.
Iarnrod Eireann celebrates the 150th Aniversary of the Mallow-Killarney rail line.
Super girl group, Atomic Kitten play Millstreet’s Green Glens.
The fascinating story of the legendry O’Sullivan Bere march commemorating the 400th anniversary of their trawl in the height of the winter in 1602/03 and its re-inactment met with an overwhelming response in Millstreet and Carriganima.
Millstreet defeat Dromtariffe to capture Duhallow JAFC title. New lighting at
Millstreet Town Park wins favour on staging of divisional and county games.
2004
Positive response to Mná Dúthalla Calendar 2004.
Government Minister Eamon O’Cuiv TD launches Aubane Historical Society’s “Seán Moylan in His Own Words”.
Sadness on death of Cork and Millstreet football great Din Connors in Boston.
Blackwater Valley Gun Club celebrate 40th anniversary.
Duhallow People and Sports Star Awards won by Millstreet Set Dancers and Millstreet Junior Football team. Millstreet pays tribute to its People of the Year Donie O’Mahony, Gerard Walsh, Donal Garvey, Under 12 Hurling team, Con Houlihan and Fr. James McSweeney.
The eyecatching and ice spectacular “Disney on Ice, 100 Years of Disney Magical Moments” comes to Green Glens.
Jerry Doody comperes the proceedings at All Ireland Scór Finals in Castlebar.
Smoking ban comes into force.
Millstreet people support work of Bishop Tim Carroll in Kontagora and Sister Mary Lucey of Presentation Sisters in Zambia.
FBD Milk Ras Cycle Ras stage end finishes in Millstreet.
Hannah Lucey
celebrates her 100th birthday.
Acute disappointment on the announcement that the Creche and Youth Centre facilities are to close.
Liam Fitzgerald retires as Principal to Cullen National School.
Gallant Millstreet bow to a sharper Kilbrin in a thrilling Duhallow JAHC Final.
Inclement weather conditions failed to dampen the successful staging of the Duhallow JAFC Final hosted by Millstreet GAA as Cullen bridge 37 year gap to better Dromtariffe. Signing completed of a €1.5 million contract for a civic amenity site at former Cork Marts premises.
2005
THE special collection for the victims of the Tsunami Diaster taken up in Millstreet Parish reached in excess of €18,600.
LTV Committee formed under chairman Chris Murphy and joint secretaries Mary Ankettell/ Kathleen McAulliffe.
An appeal to assist Rathcoole native nun Sr. Mary Lucey in her endeavours to assist the less fortunate in the African mission fields came up trumps highlighted on the presentation of a €18,000 cheque.
Pop group Westlife attract bumper attendances to Green Glens.
Nell Og Kelleher celebrates 100th birthday.
The Treble Years success by Millstreet u21 football teams between 1984-86 celebrated.
Gramophone Circle inspired by Tadgh O’Driscoll launched at Canon O’Donovan Centre.
Millstreet pays tribute to its People of the Year Margaret Doherty, Millstreet Camoige Club, Norma Carroll, Gerdie Buckley, and Hannelie O’Connor.
Polish community supported by Millstreet people combine to host procession to mark death of Pope John Paul.
Jim Cronin’s new publication “Making Connections” records the lives of celebrated figures in Cork gaelic games.
Level crossing gates at Millstreet Station replaced by Automatic Lifting Barriers.
Millstreet bow to a sharper Freemount in a closely contested Duhallow JAHC Final.
Carriganima unveil memorial in salute of Whiteboys.
Shock on death Humphrey Kelleher.
Millstreet Community School students complete fundraising to purchase two fully equipped fishing boats at a cost of €6,000 for Tsunami appeal.
Popular response to nature wildlife calender produced by Fr James McSweeney.
2006
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First Polish Grocery shop in Millstreet opens at Minor Row called Joannes Shop.
Millstreet pays tribute to its People of the Year Sporting Achievement, David Barrett; Service to the Community, The Parish Choir; Unsung Heroes, Liam Coffey and Tim O’ Shea, founder members of our Pipe Band; Drama Awareness Award, drama section of Millstreet Community School; Entertainment LTV2 and service to sport Sharon Lane.
Millstreet marks the 90th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising and those involved in the War of Independence at the official refurbishment of its National Monument in the Town Square.
Construction continues.
Millstreet strongly represented in Cardiff to salute Munster’s historic win in Heineken Cup.
Census confirms Millstreet holds the highest ratio of Polish population in Ireland with 14%.
Glorious weather greets Green Glens staging of European Juggling Convention with representatives drawn from 41 countries.
Summer temperatures reach 30 Degrees celcius.
A Millstreet delegation visit Breton twin town Pommerit le Vicomte Millstreet to mark 21st anniversary.
Cullen Pipe Band celebrate 65 years in existence at function in Wallis Arms Hotel.
2007
boom
X Factor winner Shayne Ward performs at the Green Glens Arena with a double gig.
Willie Neenan chosen as the worthy recipient of The Corkman Hall of Fame Sports Award.
Disney on Ice returns to Green Glens Complex as audiences far and wide get the chance to escape to a world of make-believe for “Princess Classics”.
Dolly Parton concert cancelled.
The years melted away at the Golden Jubilee celebration of Millstreet ICA.
Cloghoula Pattern Day marked by silver jubilee and celebratory dance at Wallis Arms Hotel.
Five Murphy brothers step forward for a head shave in an overwhelming success for Parkinsons.
A relaxed festive atmosphere prevails for The 73rd International Camping and Caravanning Rally that returns to the Green Glens location. 37 camping and caravanning clubs from 24 different countries attend, over 3300 visitors descend on Millstreet for the duration of the rally.
Cullen celebrates the centenary of the 100th anniversary of its Church of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary with dignity and a great sense of elation.
25th National Dairy show hosted in Green Glens Complex.
Fr James McSweeney launches his new book titled “A Year in Reflection”.
Regret in death of former county councillor John B “The Shamrock” Murphy.
2008
Patrons either side of the County Bounds take the trip to the Rathmore Marian Players 21st Anniversary pantomime “Puss n Boots”.
Molex closes Millstreet plant.
Thousands from all parts of the country descend on the Green Glens Complex to view the wonderful Highschoolon Ice.
One of Scór’s longest famines comes to an end, with Millstreet sweeping home impressive Al Ireland Scór na nOg winners in the set dancing category.
Carnegie Hall undergoes major renovation incorporating greater accessibility throughout the building involving the installation of a lift.
Construction on new fire brigade station begins.
Millstreet Museum avail of kind gesture from Noel C Duggan to store diverse artefacts.
A step in the restoration of St Patrick’s Church sees the signing of contract in Millstreet Presbytery.
Cullen pays tribute to Batt O’Keeffe TD on his appointment as Minister for Education.
Cloughoula folk come out in force for the retirement of national school principal Annablle O’Sullivan.
Cullen and District Special Needs Association cloak themselves in glory to collect the €10,000 prizemoney in the AIB Better Ireland Programme.
Night at the Dogs supports Church Restoration Fund. Millstreet and the greater community was left saddened by the death of one its most respected personalties Tadhg O’Drisceoil of the Square.
Millstreet plays central to the Irish Holstein Friesian Association on hosting the World Holstein Friesian Show.
K and L selected top Haulage company.
2009
A New Year’s Day charity swim at the Boeing aids Millstreet Hospital.
Alter Girls introduced to serve at masses for the very first time.
Millstreet Mother and Toddler group celebrate 10th birthday.
The Millstreet and district farmers calf sale in aid of the Millstreet Restoration Fund reaches a conclusion on the sale of upwards of 100 calves at Macroom Mart.
Millstreet Community Council elect new team under Chairman Councillor Noel Buckley.
Millstreet Comhalthas Ceolteoiri Eireann host their 30th Annual Feile Cheoil.
Peter Lane celebrates 30 years in the music business.
Millstreet politicians enjoy mixed joy in the Kanturk Electoral Area. Cllr Noel Buckley retains FG seat while there is no joy for outgoing Cllr Marie “The Shamrock” Murphy of FF nor Sinn Fein newcomer Donie Kelleher. Millstreet Pipe Band mark 50 years at Rose of Tralee.
Stephen O Riordan’s documentary at the Galway Arts Festival on The Magdelin Sisters merits international attention.
“Old Dog, New Trick” is a new published collection of poems by Roger Casey.
The Cork and Kerry clash in All Ireland senior football final sees RTE cameras visit Millstreet Presentation Convent National School for a slot in RTE’s Up for the Match programme.
Ballydaly celebrates 80th anniversary of the blessing and opening of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Mi l lstreet Development Group launched.
Nibbles Restaurant proprietor Eleanor Leahy sampled outright accolades on winning a Gold Medal at the Final of the National Irish Food Awards.
Millstreet personality Seán Radley acknowledged in Ireland Involved Awards
The Parish Pastoral Council co-ordinate vote on Mass Synchronisation in Millstreet, Cullen and Ballydaly.
A Night at the Castle supports Baby Jacob.
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Marian Finucane pictured at the graveside of her ancestors in Ballydesmond in November 2000 during the wreath laying ceremony to the memory of her aunt, teacher and Credit Union pioneer, Nora Herlihy. The man in the photograph is historian, Seán Radley from Millstreet. 27-11-2000