Author: Seán

Derry warmly welcomes Cork Group

A Civic Reception in the historic Guild Hall, Derry City from Mayor Colm Eastwood and Nobel Prizewinner, John Hume for the Cork group who travelled last week on a superb five-day tour of Northern Ireland with Kealy's Coaches, Cullen. Here we see half of our group enjoying the wonderful Derry welcome. We recorded the entire trip on digital images and by LTV2. Next week we shall upload a full feature on this quite amazing visit. (Seán)

Welcome to our Friends from Pommerit-le-Vicomte

Our twelve Friends from our Twin Town, Pommerit-le-Vicomte in Brittany pictured at Macroom Road, Millstreet on Saturday, 18th Sept. 2010 following the tree planting ceremony and the unveiling of a special plaque marking 25 years of twinning between our two communities. (Seán)

Breaking News! – Cork’s 2010 Official Song Chosen – “A Rebel’s Cry”

We are delighted to share the wonderful news,  just phoned in by Seán Moylan,  that his Band’s superb Cork supporting song “A Rebel’s Cry” has just won the competition making it now Cork’s Official Song for the 2010 Season – perfect timing for Sunday’s All Ireland Football Final in Croke Park – Cork v. Down.    Sincere congratulations to Seán & all the splendidly enthusiastic members of “Loose Connection”.   One can listen to the song and view the video on:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHszrnhKhtk .   Undoubtedly the excellent song will be played on many radio stations and television channels during the coming week….and, who knows, perhaps an appearance on “Up for the Match” might well become reality.   What a mighty achievement for the superbly talented song writers, musicians and musical arrangers!   Every success to All the members of “Loose Connection” –  Cian Daly, Denis Meade, Neil Moylan, Mick Tobin and Seán Moylan.     (Seán Radley for www.millstreet.ie )
[read more …] “Breaking News! – Cork’s 2010 Official Song Chosen – “A Rebel’s Cry””

“A Rebel’s Cry” song by “Loose Connection” proving very popular

Almost 2,000 hits already on YouTube for the superbly talented Duhallow based “Loose Connection” Band who have just released a truly fantastic song entitled “A Rebel’s Cry” in honour of Cork’s All-Ireland Football Championship Match with Down at Croke Park on Sunday, 19th September 2010.    This is a splendidly lively and hugely appropriate song with Seán Moylan as main vocalist.   It is performed with mighty enthusiasm by the very popular Band.       Judge for yourself as you can now view the excellent video and hear the brilliant song. Now available on YouTube on  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHszrnhKhtk “A Rebel’s Cry” is written by Seán Moylan, produced by Neil Moylan at EQUINOX STUDIOS and performed by “Loose Connection”.   Members of the Band: Cian Daly, Denis Meade, Neil Moylan, Mick Tobin and Seán Moylan.     (Seán)

Niamh Kavanagh very much at home in Millstreet

Niamh Kavanagh, Eurovision Winner Supreme at Millstreet in 1993 is very impressed by John Tarrant's headline in this week's "Corkman" newspaper which indicates that Niamh's return to Millstreet was to participate in an Australian directed major television documentary entitled "The Secret History of the Eurovision Song Contest" - scheduled to be broadcast before Eurovision 2011. Niamh is pictured at Green Glens Arena, Millstreet on Friday afternoon, 10th September following a very comprehensive interview by Director, Stephen Oliver of the Australian Film Crew. (Seán)

Niamh Kavanagh & Television Crew Visit Presentation N.S., Millstreet

Eurovision 1993 Winner Supreme, Niamh Kavanagh and the Australian Television Crew are accorded a royal and true Irish welcome at Presentation N.S., Millstreet on Friday, 10th September 2010. (Seán)

Australian Television Crew & Niamh in Millstreet

Stephen (Director), Ashley (Sound), Jim (Camera) - The highly presigious Australian Television Crew presently in Millstreet filming important footage for a major Documentary on Eurovision. The renowned Niamh Kavanagh is also in Millstreet to participate in this hugely significant event. (Seán)

A Reunion of Minor Row Friends

A wonderful reunion in Church Street, Millstreet today when (second from left) Eamonn McSweeney (Cork) met with Ron O'Connor (Australia) together with his brother Joe (Millstreet) and sister Margaret (Millstreet). All four (including yours truly behind the camera!) are all natives of Minor Row, Millstreet where we all grew up in the 1950s,1960s and 1970s. Note the exquisite view of Clara Mountain in the background. (Seán)

Sports Ability Day at Banteer

IRD Duhallow in conjunction with Cork Sports Partnership will hold a Sports Ability Day on Saturday 25th September from 10am – 12pm in Banteer Community Centre.  The Sports Ability Day aims to promote Sport & Physical Activity to people with a disability in Duhallow.  On the day IRD Duhallow in conjunction with Cork Sports Partnership will demonstrate the sports available to people with any type of disability.  This event will provide people with the opportunity to try out a wide variety of sports and physical activities.  The Sports Ability Day will be open to everyone including people with a disability, coaches, special needs assistants, parents, youth club leaders, carers, facility managers and anyone with an interest in promoting sport and physical activity for people with a disability.  From this Sports Ability Day, it is hoped to demonstrate that there is a sport out there for everyone to participate in and we would hope to set up some new clubs and make existing clubs within the Duhallow area more inclusive.

“A Rebel’s Cry” – Cork All-Ireland Song by “Loose Connection”

The superby talented Duhallow based “Loose Connection” Band have just released a truly fantastic song entitled “A Rebel’s Cry” in honour of Cork’s All-Ireland Football Championship Match with Down at Croke Park on Sunday, 19th September 2010.    This is a splendidly lively and hugely appropriate song with Seán Moylan as main vocalist.   It is performed with mighty enthusiasm by the very popular Band.    Hopefully it could very well feature on RTE’s “Up for the Match”.   Judge for yourself as you can now view the excellent video and hear the brilliant song. Now available on YouTube on  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHszrnhKhtk (Google YouTube Music and search for A Rebel’s Cry by Loose Connection.)   “A Rebel’s Cry” is written by Seán Moylan, produced by Neil Moylan at EQUINOX STUDIOS and performed by “Loose Connection”.   Members of the Band: Cian Daly, Denis Meade, Neil Moylan, Mick Tobin and Seán Moylan.  Having viewed the video and heard the song it’s surely a case of “Up Cork!” … and… “Every Success on 19th September”.   (Seán)

Noel Collins, Clara Road, Millstreet (a true Kerryman) is supporting Cork in this year's All-Ireland.

Presentations at Millstreet Library

The culmination of the wonderfully successful "Summer Reading Challenge" which took place throughout Summer 2010 at Millstreet Library, was marked this Saturday evening with the presentation of Certificates to the many young participants. Pictured here are some of the enthusiastic readers receiving their personalised Certificates from Librarian, Breda O'Leary who coordinated the excellent scheme and by Kathleen Moynihan (Raheen, Rathmore), Storyteller supreme and Book Club Facilitator. Appetising refreshments were provided for everyone to mark the celebratory occasion. A Book Club is organised on a Saturday throughout the year on a monthly basis. Lots of updates on Millstreet Library happenings on http://twitter.com/corkcolibrary (Seán)

Eurovision Memories Recalled

Marking the 10th anniversary of the Millstreet Eurovision a very impressive Street Display Unit was put in place at West End, Millstreet in 2003. Lots of Eurovision memories will be evoked on this forthcoming Thursday and Friday when a prestigious Australian Television Crew will be filming in the area. Winner of Eurovision 1993, Niamh Kavanagh, will visit Millstreet on Friday, 10th September to participate in this highly significant Documentary which deals with the History of Europe from the First Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and onwards to 2010. (Seán)

Millstreet Country Park Update

Summer is almost over and sadly Millstreet Country Park is fast approaching its end of season for 2010. End of season is Sunday 3rd October and we are calling on all seasonal ticket holders and general visitors to plan that final trip now! Millstreet Country Park will continue to open daily for September from 10am – 7pm, Restaurant and café hours for September are 12.30am – 6pm mon – Sat and 12.30am – 6.30pm sun. Visitor Centre and Restaurant will be closed from 3rd October. Grounds will however be available to those with annual membership.

(Joanie McAuliffe at Millstreet Country Park)

Shannon Cruise – Part One

Beautiful Killaloe Harbour from where we began our River Shannon Cruise

We invite you to join us for Part One of a recent  Darren Kealy’s Coaches day tour to the River Shannon and beyond.  Here we share images of our arrival at Ballina, Co. Tipperary where some 51 people enjoyed a very warm welcome at the Lakeside Hotel from Manager, Eoin Little and his very friendly Staff who served delicious scones with coffee and tea.   With William Fitzgerald as Driver of our coach and Charlie Drake as a very helpful Guide/Co-ordinator we then proceeded to the nearby very scenic Killaloe Harbour, Co. Clare where

[read more …] “Shannon Cruise – Part One”

Jim Walks the Banks of Blackwater

Jim’s Plan for Walk.
Day 1. Monday 30th Aug: Muinganine to Millstreet.
Day 2 Tues 31st: Millstreet to Mallow.
Day 3. Wed, 1st Sept: Mallow to Fermoy.
Day 4. Thur: Fermoy to Lismore.
Day 5. Fri.: Lismore -Cappoquin – Strancally/Knockanore
Day 6. Sat, Knockanore – Youghal.

Jim O’Malley ends his first day of his River Blackwater Walk from where it rises near Ballydesmond down to Youghal.   Denis Burns from UCC accompanied Jim on Day One.  Brendan Murphy and I recorded the historic event for LTV2. (Seán)

Author Tom in Millstreet


Meeting with author Tom Grainger (on right) at the Wallis Arms  Hotel today.   Tom’s excellent book “A War Baby – Rags to Riches” (See Tom’s splendid website  www.tomgraingerbooks.com ) is now in its second edition and will soon be available at “Wordsworth” Bookshop, The Square, Millstreet.   Tom has many wonderful connections [read more …] “Author Tom in Millstreet”

Millstreet at “Gaelforce West 2010”

"Gaelforce West" is the largest one day adventure race of its kind in the world. The 2010 event took place on Saturday August 21st. It is a multi-sport adventure race involving cycling, running, hiking and kayaking. The course of approximately 65km stretches from the stunning Glassilaun beach to Westport. En route there are some significant obstacles to cross, including Killary Harbour and the famous holy mountain of Croagh Patrick. Pictured above (from left): Diarmuid Curley, Eamonn O'Keeffe, Mick Mullane, Mike Healy & Chris Murphy. (We thank Catherine Pomeroy-Murphy for splendid picture and very comprehensive caption)

Eamonn O’Keeffe actually won the short course version of Gael Force West which didn’t include Croagh Patrick, but all the others [read more …] “Millstreet at “Gaelforce West 2010””

Lilies Galore!

Planted by Noel Collins these supremely amazing Lilies have grown at his home in Clara Road, Millstreet. Here we meet (from left) Noel's wife, Eileen with Breeda Tarrant and Anna Enright (Eileen's sister from Cork). Eileen and Anna are natives of Ballydesmond and are thrilled with Donncha O'Connor's sporting performance in Croke Park yesterday when Cork qualified for the All-Ireland Football Final on 19th Sept. 2010. We thank Eily Buckley for alerting us to the truly gigantic beautiful Lilies still in magnificent bloom at Clara Road. (Seán)

Pipe Band at Béal na mBláth

Millstreet Pipe Band not only featured in the main RTE news bulletins on Sunday but also in many of today's national newspapers including this picture in the "Irish Daily Star". The Band has dedicatedly been attending the annual Béal na mBláth commemoration for many years and adds enormously to the atmosphere of the national historic event. We thank Patsy McAuliffe for alerting us to the above picture and to "Centra" for acquiring a copy for us before closing time. (Seán)

[read more …] “Pipe Band at Béal na mBláth”

Twinning Twirl

Not so much a dancing but a talking "twirl" by members of Millstreet Twinning Association who had a very pleasant get together at McCarthy's Bar, The Square, Millstreet on this Sunday evening (22nd August) in the knowledge that Cork are now in the All-Ireland Football Final. Our Friends from Pommerit-le-Vicomte will be arriving in Millstreet on 18th September 2010 marking the 25th Anniversary of the official twinning of our two communities. (Seán)

Fr. Con’s Presentation in Ballydaly

Fr. Con Kiely is presented on Friday, 20th August 2010 at Ballydaly Community Hall with a cheque in excess of €10,000.00 in support of his wonderfully dedicated missionary work in Ecuador, South America. Included with Fr. Con and Josephine Kiely who is presenting the money which is the result of a recent fund-raising project within Millstreet Parish are Fr. Con's sisters (from left) - Mary Dillon, Mairéad Sherlock and Sr. Agnes Kiely. More pics. to follow later during the week. (Seán)

Bernard’s Splendid Choices

Bernard O'Donoghue, Cullen & Oxford (centre back row) with just some of the large attendance at his presentation of this month's Millstreet Gramophone Circle's meeting in the Canon O'Donovan Centre, Millstreet on Friday, 20th August 2010. Bernard's Classical and Irish musical choices were universally applauded. Maurice Linehan expressed splendid words of thanks and appreciation. (Seán)

“Hot Country” on Sky 201

A reminder that the “Hot Country” music programme is transmitted on the Showcase Channel (Sky 201).     Hugh O’Brien,  Co-ordinator of this wonderfully popular Country and Western broadcast which includes  lots of  Irish inputs , indicates that the weekly one hour programme may be seen on Sundays (8-9pm), Mondays (8-9pm), Tuesdays (2-3pm) and Saturdays (2-3pm).  (Seán Radley for www.millstreet.ie)