Tour of Ireland 2009 is Coming!

On Saturday August 22nd at approx 1:20pm, one hundred and twenty of the worlds best cyclists will pass through Millstreet in Stage 2 of the Tour if Ireland. The cyclists will be coming from Rylane, over Mushera, into Millstreet, out on a loop over Curragh mountain, back to Millstreet, and on to Killarney.

The leading rides are seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong who brings his Astana team to Ireland for the first time, and six times Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish (Columbia – HTC), who won three stages here last year, and an amazing six stages in this years Tour de France.

Of course roads will be closed for some short time, but hopefully lots of people will come out and cheer on the cyclists, like previous times the race passed through, when it was known as the Nissan Classic.

Rathcoole Rovers FC

Without doubt, this has been the most successful season ever for double winning Rathcoole Rovers. This memorable year they managed to do what they had been trying to do for the past 8 seasons and went and won 1A.

For Rathcoole home form was a major factor, along with a few wins on the road. Every member of the squad played his part but special mention though for top goalscorer Tadhg Browne, who in a fine season, bagged 33 goals in total, 23 of them in the league.

[read more …] “Rathcoole Rovers FC”

Millstreet storm past Newmarket

MILLSTREET turned on the style in the second half to dispose of Newmarket in the second round to the Kanturk Credit Union Duhallow JAFC played in Boherbue on Monday evening.

Once Millstreet got into their stride upon the resumption, they possessed far too many aces in the pack for a second string Newmarket combination. Newmarket held their own for the opening 30 minutes but after a promising start, they lost their way.

Read the full article here: http://www.corkman.ie/sport/gaelic-football/slicker-millstreet-storm-past-newmarket-1837406.html

Cullen Old Time Threshing

Old Time Threshing & Vintage Rally: – . Brilliant sunshine helped boost the attendance at the 10th revived annual Harvest Afternoon in Cullen on Sun. July 20th. Weather conditions were excellent after the inclement weather conditions of previous weeks, the Lord smiled on us for the occasion with a bright sunny day. This year we again decided to honour our own patron saint by holding it on Laitiarian Sunday. The huge crowd attending was a clear indication of its popularity. The occasion was for the display of vintage machinery including, cars, tractors, steam and stationary engines, which were even bigger and more interesting than last year with a variety of items on display.

In Passing – June 2009

Two Centenaries

Both Drishane and Kilcorney Feis Centenaries were celebrated in a very impressive and memorable manner during May 2009. Over the next few weeks visual records of the historic events will appear on www.millstreet.ie . The “Buίochas” DVD produced for the Drishane Centenary is truly excellent with some rare historic film footage, brilliant editing and production. The pageant which preceded the celebration of Mass at Green Glens on Saturday, 16th May was most memorable and gave a very creative insight into the history of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus. The symbolic features within the setting were so tastefully illustrated such as the symbols of the farm, the brush factory, the missions etc. [read more …] “In Passing – June 2009”

Rathcoole Rovers U14 League Champs

Rathcoole Rovers U14 Won the Cork Schoolboys League Division 3 2008-2009 League title. They improved as the year went on and thoroughly deserved the win with a record of Played 14, Won 12, drawn 1, lost 1, scored 55, conceded only 8 goals. The next season will see them in division 2, where opposition will be stronger, but hopefully they will continue to improve.

The team above is (back row) Robert Kelleher, Donal Linehan, Matthew O’Shea, Alan Murphy, Frank Dineen, Kevin Sheehan, Diarmuid Frazer, Cian Dennehy. (front row) Mark O’Donovan, Kevin Crowley, Denis Breen, Colm Fitzpatrick, Len Murphy (capt) Paul Sheehan, Fachtna Murphy, Alex Buckland. (Click on the photo above for better quality)

British Pipe Band Championships 2009

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The Cullen Pipe Band on the 27th of June 2009 competed in the British Pipe Band Championships 2009 in Bandbridge Co Down. The band came 7th out of 24 competing bands.
Back Row (Left to Right) Alan Grace, Andrew Stainthorpe, Arthur Bass, Sean Maloney, Con houlihan, Robert Moriarty, Alan Moriarty, Hugh O Keeffe. Front Row (Left to Right) Margaret Dunn, Tommy Carroll, Conor Sinclair, Ursula O Keeffe, Caitlin Houlihan, Aishling O Riordan, Katelyn Murphy, Brian Kenny, Collette O Connor (pic. Hugh O Keeffe, PRO Cullen Pipe Band)

Principal replacing prefabs with bricks

A MILLSTREET school principal has saved the Dept of Education at least €14.6 million after putting forward a proposal to use grant money to build new classrooms rather than waste it on renting prefabricated units.

Joan O’Mahony recently learned that her proposal will now be rolled out nationwide by the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe who hails from nearby Cullen.

The very humorous principal told The Corkman that Millstreet Convent NS has been allowed use its grant aid of €240,000 to build two new classrooms rather than buying prefabricated units.

“We are a country school and know the value of money, and I could not justify spending €240,000 on prefabricated units when I’d have two fine classrooms for it instead,” said Joan O’Mahony.

The school, with over 200 students, was built during the famine.

Read the full article here: http://www.corkman.ie/news/millstreet-principal-leads-drive-to-replace-prefabs-with-bricks-1789574.html

Millstreet claim county U12 football champions

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MILLSTREET added a glorious chapter to its underage ranks on capturing the County U12 B Football Championship by virtue of a thrilling 5-9 to 2-9 victory over Thomas Russells of Kilshannig in Mallow last Sunday night.

At the end of a glorious run, Millstreet emerged as a polished combination, their ferocious desire for victory confirmed on an outstanding team performance and greeted with rapturous acclaim at the full time whistle.

All through the contest, Millstreet put together a terrific work ethic, an assured defence formed an unyielding division, midfield established a firm control and the attack reaped a handsome return of scores.

The determination and the inspiration of the team was matched only by the enthusiasm of the team’s willing band of supporters that saluted Millstreet team captain Thomas Walsh on landing the county trophy.

Delirious supporters welcomed home the new county kingpins to a victory parade. Millstreet Pipe Band led a parade from Minor Row to a reception in the club’s Community Hall.

Club chairman Noel Crowley told those present that everybody was proud of Millstreet’s achievements and the feats of the side had passed their expectations. He thanked the players, management, parents and supporters for their huge encouragement.

Divisional Secretary Steven Lynch congratulated Millstreet on a fantastic win for the club and Duhallow. He applauded the work generated on the promotion of gaelic games in coaching, schools of excellence and summer camps.

The triumphant Millstreet panel consisted of Dylan O’Leary, Alan Murphy, Eric Barrett, Patrick Dineen, Danny Buckley, Sean Og O’Connor, Billy Cronin, Cathal Crowley, Darren Kiely, Shane Hickey, Thomas Walsh, Maura Ellen O’Connor, James Linehan, Alex Lee, Killian Linehan, Bill Kelleher, Danny O’Callaghan, Darragh McSweeney, Conor Corkery, Niall Murphy, Padraig Moynihan, Colm O’Leary, James Cronin, Sean O’Keeffe, Tomasz Ozaist, James O’Connor and Jack Brady.

The team management featured Noel Crowley, William Kiely, Niall Buckley, Jerry Pat O’Leary and Con Linehan.

Millstreet & Around June 2009

Millstreet & Around June 2009

By John F. Kelleher

Millstreet & District Farmers Calf Sale In Aid of St Patrick’s Church Restoration Project

The fundraising venture by Millstreet farmers has beaten the recessionary doom and gloom to donate €24,331 towards their Church Restoration Project.

On Saturday 14th March the Millstreet and district farmers Calf sale in aid of the Millstreet Restoration Fund reached its conclusion with close to hundred calves sold at Macroom Mart

The Proceeds from the sale goes towards the St Patrick’s Church Millstreet Church Restoration Project that’s currently in the height of a major €3 million development. The concept spurred from the Aubane Farm Discussion Group and farmers felt it was the ideal opportunity for those in Millstreet and the surrounding district to support the cause. On Saturday night 23rd April at Millstreet GAA Hall the proceeds from the Calf sale were handed over to the Church Restoration Committee.

Chairman John Twomey “thanked the farmers and those who supported the venture. He also thanked his excellent committee”.

“The additional support of Cork Marts and the Millstreet Parish Restoration Committee ensured everybody was 100 per cent behind our efforts”, he said.

Five collection points allowed calves to be collected at Cloughoula, Ballydaly, Cullen, Aubane and Millstreet and transported by local hauliers to Cork Co-op Mart in Macroom.

“We were delighted to be associated with a task that will be recalled and perhaps repeated again”, said Macroom Mart representative Tim McSweeney.

Richie O’Connor presented a cheque for €24,331 to Millstreet Parish Priest Canon Declan O’Connor. Denny Lane Chairman of the Church Restoration Committee also expressed his thanks to everyone who was part of the Calf Sale and he said they would welcome any other fundraising ideas. Canon Declan O’Connor also spoke on the work that has already been done on the church and he also expressed his thanks to everyone who supported the venture and to the committee who organised the Calf Sale. “A marvelous amount of money has been collected from this venture” Jerry Buckley from the Church Restoration Committee gave an account of the work that has been done on church to date.

Mt Brandon and Sister

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The 952m mountain and it s dramatic sister the 840 Brandon Peak are flanked by water to the North, East and South. There are multiple approaches to the mountain. Brandon peak to the left above seems higher than Brandon itself. St. Brendan is the patron Saint of Kerry and so this mountain is named after him. We went by Faha, east of the mountain. Turn left on a minor road, where you can park beside renovated cottages.

[read more …] “Mt Brandon and Sister”

Presentation Sisters, Millstreet

Since the Presentation Order arrived in Millstreet in 1840 the Sisters have so very generously provided all-important education at both Primary and Post-Primary level for generations of Millstreet people and beyond.  (The very fact that I can type this section of our Millstreet website is entirely thanks to the late Sr. Assisi Fitzgerald, a Presentation Sister from Tralee who spent her religious life in Millstreet Convent and  who was a true expert in teaching the art of typing!)  Their influence has been enormous on our local community as they shared the Christian vision of their renowned foundress,  Nano Nagle.

Our pictures relate to a special commemorative day in the 1980s at Ballygriffin near Mallow, the home of Nano Nagle.

We also view Sr. Celestine near the portrait of Nano.

In 1993 the “Cork Examiner” took the picture of the Millstreet Presentation Community as they watched Niamh Kavanagh win the Eurovision Song Contest.

We extend our heartfelt best wishes to the Presentation Community on the Order’s  Feast Day which in on Sunday, 21st November, 2004.

We thank Sr. Mercedes for the following text which provides an excellent insight into the spirit of the Presentation Order:

A Little Girl Grew Here

A little girl grew here

For her, brownstone house was home,

Its fireside love and peace.

The blossoming hedgerows sang freedom,

The rivers told stories of places far away,

While beyond, dreaming mountains called.

(R. Consedine 1983)

Nano Nagle, foundress of the Presentation Congregation

on 24th December, 1775

Nano belongs to Ballygriffin, Mallow, Co. Cork, Ireland.   We know that she was born there in 1718, the eldest child in a family of seven of Garrett and Ann Nagle.   We remember them now.   A plaque marks the place where their home stood, looking out on the very beautiful landscape.   It is easy to believe that Nano would have been such a child of wonder as she played there and touched, tasted and smelled the various creations of the natural world around her.   It takes little effort to discover that, in the gentle care of her parents, she knew the happiness of childhood and by them she was taught to take her first steps in the love of God (T.J. Walsh).   She was of an exuberant, enthusiastic disposition, which proved too much for her mother sometimes!   Her father had other thoughts and declared emphatically “Poor Nano will be a saint yet” (Coppinger 1974).    It was in Ballygriffin also that Nano was nurtured through the uncertainties, sorrows, risks and dangers of 18th Century Ireland.   Must not a seed of grief have taken root in her heart, grief that even one of God’s children should be oppressed, deprived or hungry?

Who are you, little girl Nano?

What will you make of your inheritance?

Where will your heart find its pathway?

The seed sown in Ballygriffin and bearing abundant fruit later in her life, attracted Nano totally to the person of Jesus and revealed how sensitively and deeply affected she became by the awful situation of poverty of people around her.   Dr. Coppinger (1784) wrote of her:  “In her schools, ever laborious, patient, vigilant and judicious, she studied the dispositions of her pupils, the degree of capacity they possessed;  she adapted her instructions accordingly;  she watched their countenances which long experience had taught her to read, and proceed or turned back, or explained or repeated, as she found them impressed by what she said”.   What great gentleness and compassion from a heart with its roots in her Ballygriffin childhood experience!  Her way of relating to the children expresses the spirit of a woman aware of God’s love being poured into the hearts of all people by the Holy Spirit.

Presentation Sisters went “to the ends of the Earth” and responded to basic human problems.    Nano died on 26th April, 1784.   She had led such a life that it can only be done justice to by saying that it was the Gospels perfectly translated to practice.

Let us continue to pray for her Canonization one day.

Millstreet take Duhallow u12 Football title

A sharper Millstreet regained the Duhallow on a merited win over Kanturk in the Duhallow U12B Football Championship Final played in Newmarket.

From a competitive encounter, Millstreet didn’t have matters all of their own way but a better balanced team effort landed the ultimate spoils. However weren’t it for a series of magnificent saves in both halves by Millstreet ‘keeper Dylan O’Leary, Millstreet might well had been troubled early in the game.

Defences dominated a low scoring opening twenty minutes before Millstreet proceeded to raise the tempo. Darren Kiely kicked a trio of points before Shane Hickey netted a goal to allow Millstreet enjoy a 1-4 to 0-2 advantage at the break. Kanturk resumed with renewed urgency yet they had reason to regret some wasted possession and the heroics of Dylan O’Leary between the Millstreet posts thwarted their efforts.

Millstreet held the facility to respond and a delightful chipped goal from Thomas Walsh appeared good enough for Millstreet to record a comprehensive win.

Kanturk never gave up and a late flourish yielded a pair goals that came too late to alter the outcome.

Millstreet lined out as Dylan O’Leary, Alan Murphy, Eric Barrett, Patrick Dineen,
Danny Buckley, Sean Og O’Connor, Billy Cronin, Cathal Crowley, Darren Kiely,
Shane Hickey, Thomas Walsh, Maura Ellen O’Connor, Bill Kelleher, James Linehan, Killian Linehan.

Presentation National School Fundraising

‘CHERISHING THE PAST…BUILDING THE FUTURE’

These two images introduce us to a new webpage which will outline the building programme at the school, the fund-raising efforts, the progress of the actual building and how the challenging task is being addressed with courage and inspiring dedication.

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A dedicated team of helpers (mainly parents of children who are, have or will be attending the school) preparing the fund-raising literature at Presentation N.S., Millstreet on Tuesday, 2nd june 2009.

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Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe on Tuesday, 2nd June 2009 reviews progress of the current Building Programme at Presentation N.S., Millstreet. Regular updates will appear on the rapid advancement of the important project.

The Presentation Sisters provided education for the children of Millstreet since the 1840’s. The first school was built as a result of strong conviction, great courage and tremendous sacrifice. Since then, generations of parents continued to make sacrifices for the good of their children. Today, that faithful tradition continues in the people of Millstreet. It is also reflected in the school staff, as they strive to continue working in the spirit of Nano Nagle who said: “Look after the children.”

[read more …] “Presentation National School Fundraising”

Trek to Base Camp Mt. Everest

Start 26.04.09 Finish 9th May 2009

DAY 1 – Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: Arrival in Kathmandu.
Kathmandu is a fascinating almost medieval city full of extraordinary temples, monuments, and colorful street life. There are endless small streets jam packed with stalls selling cloth, pots and pans, spices, souvenirs, saris and a myriad of other merchandise. Scooters carrying families of 5, bicycles, taxis and pedestrians all compete for space and there is always something to marvel at. It was a shock initially as we were being drive through the streets of Kathmandu from the airport I was not expecting the streets to be so small or the people either!

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[read more …] “Trek to Base Camp Mt. Everest”

U14 Hurling win Duhallow title

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Millstreet captured the Duhallow U14B Hurling championship title by virtue of a 4-10 to 1-5 triumph over Newmarket in Lismire.

From a game of two contrasting halves, Millstreet sprang into action upon the resumption to dictate matters. Little separated the sides in the opening spell, an early Newmarket goal answered by Robert Kelleher that helped to keep Millstreet in the frame to trail 1-5 to 1-4 at the break.

With the backing of the fresh breeze, Milstreet proceeded to dominate matters and two goals in quick succession from Robert Kelleher and Lyn Murphy confirmed their superiority.

There was no denying Millstreet upperhand and the issue was put beyond doubt from a fourth goal netted by Daniel O’Brien.

Millstreeet lined out as Eoin O’Callaghan, Donal Lenihan, Gavin Sheehan, Sean O’Donoughue, Beircheart O’Connor, Alan Murphy, Cian Dennehy, Lyn Murphy, Paul Sheehan, Mark O’Donovan, Diarmuid Fraser, Tomas Sheehan, Tadgh O’Callaghan, Daniel O’Brien, Robert Kelleher. Subs. Donal O’Connor, Rory O’Connor.

Minor hurlers enjoy County success

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Millstreet savoured the taste of victory in the Co. non exam minor hurling league 12 aside final by overcoming Courcey Rovers 2-10 to 1-6 played in Ovens. The contest was delayed 15 minutes owing to rain sheeting down on the proceedings. Despite the slippery conditions, there could be no disguise the superiority of Millstreet.

All through, Millstreet hurled with the greater confidence and that was good enough to keep the Carrigdhoun side at bay. Owing to the conditions, scoring was at a premium early on and the prematch cloudburst ensured the early exchanges were bereft of free flowing hurling.

However Millstreet’s cause was boosted in the 9th min on a probing delivery by Michael Vaughan saw Michael Murphy get a stick to flick to the Courceys net.

A follow up point from Barry O’Reilly confirmed Millstreet’s stature. Courceys did open their account yet all the initiative stemmed and drive stemmed from Millstreet. They kept a foothold on the game thanks to the tenacious play of Dean Desmond, Tim Fitzgerald, Mark Ellis, Michael Vaughan and Darren Sheehan.

Two points in quick succession to Vaughan confirmed Millstreet’s supremacy yet they were jolted on a Courceys goal. However, Millstreet bounced back immediately and though Michael Vaughan was denied of a possible goal, Michael Murphy was on hand to steer the rebound home.

ourceys did answer to narrow the arrears 2-3 to 1-3 at the break.

Millstreet took up the running upon the resumption on quick fire points by Michael Murphy and Darren Sheehan.

Courceys attempted a comeback yet all they could show to their interval tally was three pointed frees. Territorially, Millstreet dominated and though some wayward shooting limited progress, their persistence paid off with points from Michael Vaughan, Darren Sheehan and David McCaul.

Millstreet lined out as Pa Rohan, Jamie Kelleher, Dean Desmond, Tim Fitzgerald, Mark Ellis, Liam Curtin, David McCaul, Barry O’Reilly, Michael Vaughan, Darren Sheehan, John Buckley, Michael Murphy. Sub. Tony Cronin.