Category: Millstreet Town

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Millstreet Panorama from Church…Part One

We bring you on a visit to view the excellent ongoing work presently being carried out at St. Patrick’s Church, Millstreet. Thanks to the very kind co-operation of Buckley Brothers of Ballydesmond …especially Tadhg Buckley… we join the ever obliging Foreman, Kieran O’Riordan (a native of Killowen, Millstreet) having donned my hard hat and hi-viz jacket to comply with health and safety rules. On this first visit on 9th July 2008 Kieran takes us to the top of the Church where some wonderful parnoramic views are experienced. We also note the splendid new developement next to the Church…the new Respond! Housing Association building programme at St. Joseph’s Gardens ( formerly Presentation Convent). On the various scaffolding levels of the Church we get a close-up of the highly skillful
work being undertaken especially on the roof of this hugely important building. The original Church was built in 1840 and reconstructed in the early 1930s. Our second trip on high took place on 1st August 2008 when some nine levels of scaffolding brought up to the very top of the cross and allowed us to ring the bell! The images of that trip will follow in Part
Two in a few days time. (Seán Radley reporting from the roof of St. Patrick’s Church)

Train Station Award

The Twelve Counties Railtour MkII at Millstreet Train Station. Picture: (c) Finbarr O'Neill

At the 16th annual Waterford Crystal-sponsored Iarnród Éireann Best Station Awards (2008)  [1], held in Croke Park recently, Millstreet Train Station has been awarded second place in the Intercity Halts Category.

It is a credit to those that work there that it is so well kept.

Mallow won the Best Major Station, Kent Station (Cork) received a conservation award, and Fota won the most improved unmanned station, while the best overall station went to Greystones (Wicklow). [read more …] “Train Station Award”

MILSTREET TOWN PARK

The Town Park Committee continue to make improvements to this very valuable amenity over the last few years. The concentration was in upgrading the football pitches and installing a first class children’s playground. A half mile circuit of cinder track is the most used area. The latest venture of pathways, landscaping, fences and a lovely water feature will add to the beauty of the area.
At times three matches are playing at the same time. Millstreet is very lucky.

All these improvements needed a large amount of funds: Our thanks to all who participate in our local Lotto, to the great help we got from The National Sports Lottery Fund. I.R.D. Duhallow funded our improvements in the past and it is with this help we are in a position to carry on our present attractive feature.

(John O’Keeffe – Millstreet Town Park Committee)

An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stops in Millstreet

bertie2 by Fionn2006.An Taoiseach Berti Ahern passed through town this evening about 4:30pm on his way between party functions in Macroom and Kanturk. He was greeted in the square by Fianna Fáil party members, and the general public. He had a brief word with some of the locals, a quick interview with LTV2, shook everyones hand, but was swiftly on the road again, because he was running late for his kanturk function.

His stop is only seven weeks after Enda Kenny visited Millstreet where he visited the school. He was also doing some pre-election campaigning around Cork North-West.

Maybe it’s the first time in a while where the political powers that be actually think that we’re important to them. It’s probably because the constituency lines for Cork North-West have been changed for the upcoming elections, and it’s rearing up to be a real dogfight.

MILLSTREET YOUTH CLUB Notes (to 2006)

Millstreet Youth Club would like to thank Elaine Hooper for all her hard work given much freely and generously.

Without Elaine there will not be a youth club in Millstreet Town.
Yours sincerely
Eileen Murphy and all at the club

Elaine Hooper Youth worker
Millstreet Youth Centre writes:

Started towards the end of 2002 and meets each Friday night in the Youth Centre from 8pm – 10pm.
Along with another local club in Dromtariffe, Millstreet Youth Club is part of the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service (KDYS). This means we can participate in all of the youth services activities which include youth games, matches, monthly discos, Youth Forum and skills training. The yout club season runs from Sept/Oct until April and finishes with a big celebration “Youth Day” in Killarney where all the clubs come together for a day of dance, drama, drumming, bands, arts and games workshops.

KDYS work with young people on the understanding that the service should aim to enable young people to gain for themselves the knowledge, attitude and skills necessary to meet their own and others developmental needs. We do this in many different ways such as having an accessible youth club and through a variety of projects. Because we believe that young people can, with the right opportunity and support, make a positive contribution to their communities, KDYS has helped develop and support many such initiatives in Millstreet often in association with others in the community such as the Community School, Canon O’Donovan Centre and Presentation Convent.

The training and support given to young people involved in these projects have produced some spectacular results such as the Tir Na Nog mural in the girls national school; the Aidan Burke memorial garden in the Youth Centre; two award – winning community play schemes in 2002 and 2003, an inter-generational dance project between Canon O’Donovan Centre and girls from the Presentation Convent; a Peer mentoring project with Millstreet Community School as well as the Youth Club.

There is a huge lack of resources for young people in many rural areas and we are lucky in Millstreet that someone somewhere had the vision and commitment to convert the old boy’s school into a youth centre. Over the years it has developed a community gym, an after-schools service and is well used by a variety of community groups for meetings and classes. It is also available for hire for children’s parties.

It is very important in youth work that all projects are supported by adults in the community and the youth club has a committee which includes both parents and student leaders and youth workers. Parents take an active role in supervision, support and fundraising for the club and this voluntary commitment is crucial to success.

Youth Club members are aged between 13-15 years. All out members are boys at present. Girls are very welcome and many attempts have been made to encourage them to join but not much success so far.

Older students are encouraged to become involved as youth leaders and they complete a six week KDYS Youth Empowerment Course to qualify. To date over 20 young people in Millstreet have completed this accredited course. The training offers students the opportunity to develop some important life skills in communication, group work, leadership, self esteem and assertiveness.

For the past 2 years the Youth Club has participated in a Peer Education Outdoor Activity summer camp where leaders have an opportunity to put their youth work skills into practice and support the younger members in participating in all of the activities which this year included abseiling, canoeing, caving and boogie-boarding in the Burren.

The student leaders we have at present are incredibly committed and have contributed enormously to the success of their club. They are John Fitzgerald, Con Dennehy, Connie Roche and David O’Sullivan. We are very pleased when this month one of them Connie Roche was an overall winner in the West Cork Garda Youth Award which he received in Balyvourney last week. A well-deserved award for Connie’s courage and commitment and a popular youth leader. Congratulations to him.

Another anchor of the club is Sean Mannix who is a trained youth worker and who has been with the club since the beginning. Sean plans to spend a year working and traveling in New Zealand in February 2005 so we had plan a big send-off for him as he will be badly missed.

I am doing the 2nd year of a Diploma in Non-Formal Guidance at UCC which roughly translated as a training to deliver drugs education in the community, which is interesting and I hope useful in future youth work.
That is us in a nutshell!!

We are really pleased to be asked to participate in Millstreet web experience and the plan is for further news and updates to be done by the young people themselves.

December 2004

More fun images to be added later this week, showing the various activities of the very successful youth club!!

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KDYS YOUTH EMPOWERMENT TRAINING

CASTLEISLAND

JANUARY 2005

I recently completed this programme along with 10 other young people from clubs in Cork and Kerry. The training was full of experience, ideas and knowledge about many aspects of life. It was also hard work and a lot of fun!

Before the course started I was a bit worried about what would be involved but once we were all introduced we talked about what we wanted to get from the course and we shared our anxieties which was reassuring.

The training was held on two Saturdays in Castleisland. The first day we did exercises around communication skills, leadership skills and the role of the Youth Worker in the community. In the second week we looked at organisational skills and programme planning; conflict in groups and ways of dealing with it. At the end of each session we had time to reflect on what we had done so far. We had time to exchange ideas and get to know each other.

Overall I gained a lot of new skills and ideas from this training. For instance, I became more confident in speaking out. By the end I wasn’t afraid to express my own ideas. I was able to think of new ideas and I felt empowered and encouraged to become a useful leader in my own community.

I recommend this training. No-one who does it will go back empty handed!

DAVID AWE
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MEMBERS REPORTS

April 2005

Jamie Hooper, Millstreet Youth Club Candidate, Dáil na Nog 2005 writes:

Dáil na nOg Elections

On the 16th of March, I attended the Comhairle na nóg in the Tralee Youth Centre.  This was an evening event where four speakers from three areas of Kerry had to speak for two minutes about two issues which affect Young People today, either Facilities for young people, or acohol and drug misuse.
From each area one candidate was to be elected by the other people there and there was also a “Wild Card” vote which I think the Jundges elected which could be from any area.
The people elected would then go to Dáil na nOg on the following Saturday in Dublin.  Two candidates from Gaeltacht areas had been pre-elected.
We each had to have an election slogan.  Mine was “Mol an óige agus tiocfidh si”
The judges included two people from Kerry who had gone there before, Fr Jerry Godly, Director of KDYS and a journalist from “Kerryman”.
I was one of the candidates to have to speak but first there was a social meeting in which we had Pizza and drinks in the Youth Café and then we were split into two groups to discuss and debate the topics.
In these groups the teenagers decided what we would like to see being done in our areas.  Ideas ranged from Drop-in-Centres to Swimming Pools and even a Roller-Disco.
Then came the time when we had to speak.  The Killarney group (my group) was first to speak, and I was third to speak.  I had never spoken in public before.  My speech was mainly about how the lack of good facilities for young people results in alcohol and substance abuse.  Well my turn came around after listening to two okay speeches.  I read it as best I could, but I hafe to habit of looking down at the sheet and not into the crowd.  When I had finishes Fr Godly congratulated me.
Next up was Shirley Somers from Killarney who did a brilliant speech not having it al written down and mostly in her head.  Then it was time for people from the other areas to vote on a ballot card which one from Killarney would go to Dublin.  I had a fear that my speech didn’t revolve around the issues enough and that all the others would be far more in depth than mine.  My fears were not realised however as candidate after candidate came to the microphone and talked about themselves for two minutes straight.
On and on about why they deserved to have a free trip to Dublin and I thought damn I didn’t sell myself enough. But then I thought sureley with speeches like that they don’t have a chance but one person frim each area had to be elected.
Then the results came out.
From my group, as predicted, Shirley Somers was elected, I was pleased because she had put a lot of work into it.
I was annoyed that the one other person who did speak about the issues did not get elected and I had hoped that if not me, he would get the “Wild Card” but it was neither.  Just another one of the people who spoke about himself got the “Wild Card”.
So I left the thing thoroughly disappointed but the man from the Kerryman did day he was happy that some people spoke about the issues.
I am not sure if I’ll try again next year but I suppose it can’t be hard to write a speech about myself, can it?

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January 2005

Hi

Just and update on what we have been up to at the youth club.  We have been busy since we came back from our Christmas break.  Every year KDYS organise inter club competitions.  We had two soccer teams, one under18 and under15.  We also have a quiz team and there is a chess and drafts day coming up.

All our members did us proud and a good time was had by all.  We also attended a disco held be Cordal Youth Club Co Kerry, which was a great night.  The next disco is being held by Dromtariffe Youth Club in March.  So we are really looking forward to that.

There was a training day held in Tralee.  Sox pf us went.  There were arts and crafts, computers, drama, out-door sports and co-operative games.  It was absolutely a fantastic day.

We learnt lots and I thought you might like to try some of the games. We had some laugh doing them.  ENJOY!!!!!!

EILEEN MURPHY

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In Passing March 2005

In Passing
by Seán Radley

CORK 2005

January 8, 2005 saw the official opening of Cork as the European Capital of Culture for 2005.    What a colourful firework display was witnessed on that Saturday.   On the Sunday an occasion which had a direct link with Millstreet took place in Cork City Hall at a spectacular Tea Dance. The famous Pádraig Pearse Harp which had been presented to Drishane Convent many years ago by Senator Margaret Pearse (sister of Pádraig) had, in turn, been given to the Cork School of Music where it would continued to be played rather than be a Museum display item.   In recent years it has been superbly restored. It was officially played for the first time since restoration at Cork City Hall with the Cork Pops Orchestra on Sunday, 9th January as a very significant cultural event of Cork 2005 – European Capital of Culture.

The historic event featured recently on LTV2.

WEB

Over 21,000 hits on http://www.millstreet.ie/ in the first eleven days of January is certainly uplifting news for Hannelie O’Connor and all those involved with the newly revised Millstreet website.   This proves the popularity of the website with an increasing number of new visitors who become regular browsers of the site.   Feedback to our email address <email> is wonderfully encouraging with lots of suggestions like the inclusion of a street map of Millstreet and continuation of photographic galleries of life in our parish.    We’ve even had web visitors from Austria, Hungary and lots from emigrants in the five continents.   This month’s website Personality of the Month is John Kelleher, Aubane.   We encourage you to inspire your relatives abroad to log into our website at least weekly for updates of their native Millstreet and to visit our “Links” on the site which includes Fr. James McSweeney’s excellent spiritual site http://www.todayismygifttoyou.ie/ which changes daily.   The valuable assistance of Michael Cashman, Tullig in the ongoing development of our local website is deeply appreciated.   We especially appeal to those abroad who regularly visit http://www.millstreet.ie/ to let us know by sending us a brief email to <email>

LTV2 MILLSTREET

We’ve now reached Programme 10 with our signal continuing to improve.   Response has been enthusiastic.  One of the easiest ways of receiving the Local Channel is to tune into Channel 4 (UK) on the Seán O’Connell,  Knocknagree multichannel service (should one already have this system in place) on Thursdays from 10.00 to 11.00p.m. with a repeat on Sundays from 8.00 to 9.00p.m..   The Local Channel just logs into the UK Channel 4 for those two hours weekly.   Alternatively (but a more complicated approach) one may also get both LTV and LTV2 (Millstreet & Macroom) by arranging to automatically tune into the VHF (just above RTE 2) signal from Mushera or UHF (Channel 50) from Tullig but this is, however, dependent on correct direction of the aerial system in one’s home.

The present LTV2 service is being provided free of charge through the voluntary group of enthusiasts who believe in the tremendous potential of a Local Channel which is community based and non-commercial.    While lots of necessary equipment has been voluntarily bought by members of the core group the cost of transmission aerials and broadcast equipment used on the mountains and in the studio is quite substantial and will need public financial support if the weekly broadcasts are to continue. In the near future ways by which the funding of such projects will be suggested.

MUSEUM  NEWS

The famous “Irish Examiner” photograph taken by photographer Denis Minihan continues to reappear consistently in the newspaper in its promotion of its professional prints service of past pictures of the national paper.   It was taken  in Millstreet’s Carnegie Hall in the 1980s and features Rosemary Healy, daughter of Denis and Nora who lived in Church Street at the time.    The child is seen reading a book in front of the beautiful stained-glass door at the entrance of the
Carnegie Hall.
We thank Maurice Walsh of Ickenham for much appreciated copies of the “Irish Post” which included an excellent photograph of Tony and Delia Barrett receiving a presentation in recognition of their splendid work for the London Cork Association.
To James O’Shea of Cork we also extend thanks for extra very interesting information relating to his remarkable research into the history of the O’Shea Family who originally came from Carrigacooleen, Millstreet.   A splendid Clan Gathering took place at the Duhallow Park Hotel last Summer.   Members of the Family were very much involved in the construction of some of Cork’s most famous buildings including the renowned Opera House.

One of the most significant presentations to Millstreet Museum took place recently when Seán & Catherine Buckley together with Nora Creedon arranged to donate the many historic Cups and a Shield associated with the very famous Kilcorney Feis.   The important occasion was recorded by John Tarrant and has received much newspaper coverage.   It will also be shown on LTV2 Millstreet.    Míle buíochas to the Kilcorney Feis Committee for such a generous gesture.   The valuable items will be on display for generations to come.

Millstreet Museum / Tourist Information Centre is open on Tuesdays from 10am to 3.30pm and on Wednesdays/Fridays from 10am to 5.00pm.    Our e-mail address is <email> while our telephone number is 029-20844.

Our  Faithful  Departed

The very special tribute delivered in such a heartfelt manner at the funeral of the late Seán O’Riordan, Church Street, Millstreet by Jerry Doody appears under the GAA webpage on http://www.millstreet.ie/ .   We also very especially remember the most memorable 40th Anniversary to the Priesthood of the late Fr. Michael Cashman of Tullig who recently went to his Eternal Reward in New Zealand where he has so dedicatedly ministered for many years.   The late Timothy Duggan, West End was such a wonderful Barber who shared a wealth of fascinating stories and humorous tales in such a welcoming manner.

We also extend our sincere sympathy to the relatives of Mary Goggin, Priest Cross;  Jim Fitzpatrick, Carrigaline, Rathmore;  Christopher (Sonny) Byrne, Dublin & Rathcoole;  Liam Miller’s two daughters who died in a road accident in France….Liam had directed Eurovision ’93 in Millstreet;  Michael O’Connor, Coolikerane; Denis (Denny) Murphy, Shanaknuck;  Denis Sheahan, Glenbeigh Village, Co. Kerry (father of Billy, Wallis Arms, Millstreet);  Adrian Ryan, London & West End, Millstreet (brother of Marie,  “Moyne Hill”, Station Road);  Anne Lehane (mother of Michael of LTV Macroom);  Helena Hegarty, Churchtown,  Dublin (mother of Edel Fraser, Claraghatlea, Millstreet);  Sr. Pius Singleton (Drishane Sister)  of Cullen and the English Mission;  Hannah McSweeney, Meenskehy East.

May they all rest in peace.

BRIEFLETS

We extend heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to John Kelleher, Aubane on his recent retirement following many years of wonderfully dedicated service to the Millstreet Branch of Cork Co. Council.   As Martin Corcoran, B.E. who made one of the many presentations to John at a hugely attended special retirement function at the Duhallow Park Hotel, stated John’s utter commitment to such major projects as the construction of the new Keale Bridge, was of enormous importance.   John recently presented very generous financial support for the work of LTV2 Millstreet.

We congratulate Eilish O’Rahilly, Killarney Road, Millstreet on her recent engagement to Brendan Breen, Beaufort, Co. Kerry.

When the ever-popular dog “Rooter”, at the age of fifteen, died recently it marked a very real change at the Square, Millstreet.  Owned by the Manley Family, the black dog became a favourite pet not only to Anthony, Ursula and Family but became such a popular animal friend throughout the town.  He used even win the local Lotto Draw!   He used to recognise my car or even the sound of it when I lived at the Square and make his way over to patiently wait for his favourite biscuits.

Two excellent articles appeared in recent “Ireland’s Own” issues (January, 2005)…. one on the history of Kilcorney Feis beautifully written by Mary Gaffney, Killarney Road, Millstreet and featured a colour picture of Seán Buckley, Kilcorney.   The other very interesting article related to the Showband series when the featured Band was “Pat Max and the Specialists” with its members from Ballydaly, Rathduane, Rathmore and Millstreet.

Thought for reflection:  When considering the Country Code – Take nothing but photographs – Leave nothing but footprints!

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VAUGHAN INSPIRES THE MILLSTREET HEROES

Scoil Mhuire Millstreet 2-8
St Mary�s B.N.S.Carrigtwohill 0-4

The sun came out and the dark clouds lifted when the teams came out to contest the boy�s F4 final which was the second match on the Allianz Sciath na Scol football programme at P�irc Ui Rinn yesterday.
With wind advantage Millstreet built up a six point lead by half-time, which was to prove too much for a gallant Carrigtwohill side, whose failure to score from play when winning possession was to prove costly.
The East Cork school opened with a point from an Alan Goggin free in the first minute, but he was to prove their only scorer in the first half when adding two more frees. Millstreet�s best player on the day, midfielder Michael Vaughan scored three points from frees as well as playing outstanding football.
The only goal of the first half came to the North Cork school�s half forward Eric Hickey who beat the busy Carrigtwohill goalkeeper Kieran Baverstock after five minutes. Hickey kicked another good point from 25 metres, with Alan O Connor and half back John O Mahony also scoring to help their side into a 1-6 to 0-3 half-time lead.
St Mary�s made a positional change at the start of the second half, with full-back P�draig Hogan moving to midfield joining the hard-working Cian Buckley with Colm Cronin switching to full-back. These three players won an amount of ball, but the forwards failed to convert possession into scores.
After 11 minutes of close football that did not yield a score, the stylish Vaughan set up Kieran Fraser for a point and when Millstreet scored their second goal through Daniel Daly 13 minutes into the second half, it silenced the Carrig following.
When Shane Devlin scored his only score from play in stoppage time it was just a consolation as Scoil Mhuire Millstreet deserved their win.
Scorers
Millstreet; E Hickey 1-1, D Daly 1-0, M Vaughan 0-3 f, J O Mahony, A O Connor, K Fraser, M Buckley 0-1 each.
Carrigtwohill; A Goggin 0-3 f S Devlin 0-1
MILLSTREET; E Harmon, P Looney, S Cronin, M Desmond, J O Mahony, B O Reilly, K Sheahan, J Kelleher, M Vaughan, E Hickey, A O Connor, K Fraser, D Daly, M Buckley, D Tarrant. Subs S Cotter, P Murphy, E O Callaghan, M Fitzgerald.
CARRIGTWOHILL;K Baverstock, S Casey, P Hogan, C McCarthy, K Murphy, P Deane capt, S Keating, C Cronin, C Buckley, W McCarthy, J Hayes, A Barrett, J Buttimer, J Leahy, A Goggin, R Manley, K O Sullivan, P Ahern, S Devlin, J Kidney, C Keegan, J McCarthy, J Barden, S Rohan.
Referee; David Nolan Douglas.

GAA News – June 2003

GAA News
by
John Tarrant

Homepage

MILLSTREET LIFT DUHALLOW HURLING LEAGUE TITLE

Millstreet held their nerve to fashion a worthy 3-13 to 2-9 triumph over Kilbrin in the Duhallow Junior A Hurling League Final played in Meelin last Friday evening

Operating with fluency and confidence, Millstreet superior team work shone through for much of the hour though a brave comeback by the defending holders Kilbrin cut an eight point deficit to the minimum.

However Millstreet regained their earlier momentum and a productive finish yielded telling scores to allow team captain Donal Twomey accept the League trophy for the second time in three seasons.

Playing against the strong breeze in the opening half, Millstreet got off to a lightning start with Brendan Quirke goaling inside the opening min.

Millstreet proceeded to gain a commanding position and points to John Lehane and the McCarthys confirmed Millstreet’s sharpness and greater hunger andthey were well worth their interval advantage of 1-5 to 0-5.

And Millstreet set the trend upon the restart –a deflected goal by Tadgh Collins and three points from Kevin McCarthy and John Lehane extended their hand to lead 2-8 to 0-6.

Kilbrin rose to the challenge brillantly and the games complexion turned in dramatic fashion and a 2-1 tally without reply trimmed the arrears 2-8 to 2-7 at the three quarter mark.

And Millstreet were forced to weather further Kilbrin pressure before regaining their earlier composure with Brendan Quirke, Stephen Barrett and Kevin McCarthy adding points. Fittingly Millstreet finished on the ascendency and a finely struck goal by Kevin McCarthy sealed the destination of the league title.

Millstreet: Finbarr Corcoran, Donal Corcoran, John Moylan, Gerard McCarthy, Brian Sheehan, Donal Twomey, Donough McCarthy, Denis Kiely, Sean Barrett, D.onal Cashman, Stephen Barrett, Kevin McCarthy, John Lehane, Tadgh Collins, Brendan Quirke.

– from the old Millstreet Website: http://homepage.eircom.net/~millstreetupdate/gaa.html

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