Ballydaly is a community that holds a strong identity and sense to its name. Through its many organisations down through the years, Ballydaly has maintained and developed the area as a vibrant community.
Behind Ballydaly’s vibrancy is its Community Hall — that’s the hub centre to local life. And when the Hall reached its 50th Anniversary, friends and associates convened to honour the special occasion.
Through Chairman Tom O’Sullivan and Secretary Ritchie O’Connor, the Hall remains in active use and splendidly kept. The foresight to Ballydaly Hall surfaced on the endeavours of a committee coming together to construct a meeting place.
The cost to materials for the original building cost £300 with voluntary labour contributing significantly and allowing for the centre to be opened in January 1960. Behind the concept were a founding committee headed by Chairman Jack Hickey; Vice Chairman Johnny Philpott; Secretary John O’Brien; Treasurer Denis Tucker and a committee comprising Jim Murphy, Jerry Horgan, Jerry Corkery, Dan Vincent O’Sullivan, Connie Buckley and Tommy Tucker.
Down through the years, the Centre has been of huge benefit to many organisations including GAA, ICA, Macra, Athletics, Tennis, Comhalthas Ceiolteoirí Eireann, IFA and Ballydaly Social Group.
A Whist Drive held a huge popularity and currently a 45 Card Drive continues on each Sunday night.
Continuous developments adds to the comfort of patrons with an extension, car park and new heating system welcomed refurbishments. Helping to finance the ventures were IRD Duhallow, Clár, Cork County Council and the Ballydaly community.
A golden jubilee celebratory function recalled the past fifty years with music, song and dance continuing into the night.
SCÓR NA NOG: Millstreet supporters take the trip to Athlone this Saturday on the staging of the All Ireland Scór na nÓg Finals. Teams from Millstreet and Boherbue take to the stage of the famous John McCormack Memorial Hall in search of ultimate honours in the hotly competitive national finals.
Promoting the cultural wing of the GAA, the diverse programme of music, song, dance to novelty act draws participants from all four provinces.
Cork seeks accolades on an impressive involvement with Millstreet offering a competent showing in the instrumental music category per a quintet of
remainder of the programme confirmed for the Edel Quinn Hall, Kanturk.
SENIOR SCÓR: Millstreet will be represented in the Co. Senior Scór Finals on a hosting in the Eire Og GAA Pavillion, Ovens on Sunday night with the programme underway at 7pm.
Competing at instrumental music are Jayme and Conor Linehan. At novelty act, Cian O’Mahony and Jerry Doody are involved while Jerry Doody, Pat Sheehan and John Tarrant compete in the question time.
DAY CARE CENTRE: Millstreet Day Care Centre host their annual church gate collection this weekend in Millstreet, Ballydaly, Cullen and Dromagh.
The Millstreet Day Care Centre welcomes senior citizens and retired people from Millstreet town and catchment area, to attend the centre.
Patrons can enjoy the social interaction, mid-day meal, entertainment – bingo, cards, sing-a-long, exercises, arts and crafts, etc.
Nursing services also available as are assistance with showers, laundry, chiropody, hairdressing and physiotherapy.
Meals-on-Wheels can be delivered to your door five days a week, Monday to Friday at a very reasonable cost. Healthy, wholesome three course meals are cooked here in the centre and delivered in a sealed hygienic container, can be eaten immediately or microwaved later.
If you yourself would like to attend the day-centre or if you would like a parent or relation to attend, please ring the centre at 029-70926.Transport can be organised.
COFFEE MORNING: A Coffee Morning in aid of the Millstreet Church Restoration Fund, Haiti and Baby Jacob Fund takes place on Friday, Alanna Barry, Kelly Murphy, Cian Dennehy, Donal and James Linehan.
In the long forty year history of Scór na nÓg, Cork have become a dominant force at instrumental music. Millstreet will be keen to add to the record and in doing so, Millstreet endeavour to continue some outstanding performances from recent years.
Every success are extended to Millstreet in their pursuits with best wishes also to Boherbue in their quest for All Ireland accolades.
SCÓR NA BPAISTÍ: Millstreet hosted a semi final to the Duhallow Scór na bPaistí last Sunday in the presence of a large attendance. Faring well at instrumental music were Killian Linehan, Ava Barry, Cathal Crowley, Patrick Dineen and Danny Buckley. Likewise enjoying success were a Ballad Group of Bridelle Cronin, Billy Cronin and Siobhan Cronin. At question time a Millstreet football team of Killian Linehan, Alan Murphy and Patrick Dineen are joined by a Millstreet hurling trio of Cathal Crowley, Danny Buckley and Darren Kiely.
Also advancing are Sarah Dennehy and Biily Cronin in solo singing. Millstreet continued on their successful ways at recitation per recitation with Chloe Collins with James Linehan and Denise Healy advancing in solo music.
The Duhallow finals take place over two stages, the recitation and novelty act goes ahead in Lismire with the February 26 in Millstreet GAA Hall between 9am and 2pm. GRAMOPHONE CIRCLE: The monthly presentation of Millstreet Gramophone Circle takes place on this Friday night at 8.15pm in the Canon O’Donovan Centre. This month’s presenter is Rita Scannell from Killeagh. All are very welcome to attend.
CONCERT: Annmarie O’Riordan and her group perform in the Briery Gap, Macroom on this Friday night at 8.30pm. For bookings contact the Briery Gap at 026 41793.
PANTO: The Rathmore Marian Players presentation of ‘ Snow White and the Big Seven Dwarfs’ continues this weekend in Rathmore Community Centre. On reaching their 23rd presentation, those associated in the production are maintaining a long and valued theatrical tradition from the Sliabh Luachra Region of North West Cork and East Kerry.
The plummeting temperatures last month deferred preparations but proceedings opened last Sunday with an all star cast from both sides of the county bounds on board in serving up the classic story but in the truest sense of pantomime, there are surprises in store to keep everybody on the edge of their seats.
The cast is sees familiar faces in addition to new talent from Rathmore, Gneeveguilla, Barraduff, Glenflesk, Millstreet, Ballydaly, Cullen, Rathcoole, Derinagree and Knocknagree.
JUVENILE GAA: Millstreet Juvenile GAA commenced their season with their under 16 footballers taking on Blarney on Friday last. For the first time Millstreet are competing in the Muskerry division and defeated Blarney 3-11 to 4-07 in the town park.
Their next game is on Thursday against Kilmurry in Kilmurry at 3pm. The u14 footballers had a challenge game against a strong Clyda Rovers side in preparation for the upcoming County Feile competition.
Millstreet start the football with an away game to Castlehaven on Sunday, March 14 and the hurlers take on neighbours Dromtarriffe away on Saturday, March 27. The Millstreet Juvenile GAA AGM thanked Pauline Sheehan for her huge efforts to the club over recent years and who has stepped down as assistant treasurer.
Anyone who has not returned their membership forms and monies is asked to do so immediately as these are now overdue. Forms can be given to secretary Mairead Daly or to relevant coaches. Players that have not paid their membership will be unable to train or play games for insurance purposes.
