38
COUNTY NEWS
Dungarvan Observer | Friday, 29 April, 2016
Ardmore Ardmore Tidy Towns SPRINGTIME Spring is in the air and it’s wonderful to see the whole country apparently busy tilling, sowing, planting, gardening etc, after the foul winter weather. Lovely too to observe wildlife as the Brent Geese and others depart to colder regions for their breeding season and the swallows and others return to lighten up our skies for the summer. If you’re out and about too you’ll notice the various species coupling and mating, observe the occasional bitter battle between rival males especially among the robins and the pheasants as both will do battle to the bitter end. If you’re really sharp you’ll hear the call of the vixen and sometimes even see the pair of foxes, especially late in the evening or early in the morning. Keep an eye out for these beautiful sightings and encourage the youngsters to reflect on how lucky we are to be able to enjoy them in this rapidly changing world. TIDYING UP Spring too spells a particularly busy time for all of us in Ardmore Tidy Towns. Every we corner we turn someone will suggest something needs a touch up and we are so fortunate that so many of our locals and visitors are willing to lend a hand and in particular, give their own properties and area a cleaning and a lick of paint here and there as well. Keep up the good work and if there’s something you can’t manage yourself, give us a shout. FLOWERS I must mention the huge work load this time of year places on Mary Hennessy and her sister Nora. At the moment they are preparing and nursing the plants and flowers for the
nearly 200 window boxes, hanging baskets and planters as well as all the flower beds in the area. This amounts to about 3,500 flowers and plants that all get individual care! Everything will be planted out and watered daily through the summer and they are a real feature of our village at this stage. Mary and Nora, with the help of many of their neighbours and friends, such as Marian, Kathleen, Rose, Ann, the two Margarets, John, Richard, the two Michaels, Bernie, Marie and many, many more have been doing this for nearly 40 years now! When the grow tunnel is empty they will disinfect and prepare for next year and then when the window boxes are taken down they start storing what can be used for the following year and off they go again.Takes a minute to write it down and read it but it’s an average of approx 20 hours per week – 52 weeks of the year!! BACK IN ACTION A walk around the village will quickly tell you that Bernie Stilwell has thankfully returned to full health and is knocking the place into shape again. He’s been active on the Dungarvan Road recently and one of his tasks there has been the constant care that the ‘airdmhor’ box hedge requires. I’m not sure how many years he has been tending that hedge, probably close to twenty, but because of the slow growing nature of box hedges, it’s only now that it’s really resplendent. Beautiful! N25 CLEAN-UP SATURDAY On Saturday morning a group of locals will do a litter pick along the N25 from Rath to Kiely’s Cross. Our neighbours in Kinsalebeg have already cleaned their section and you can
notice the difference. We appeal to all local residents to come out at 10 am on Saturday morning and lend a hand. Many hands make light work. Please wear Hi-viz clothing and gloves. We will assemble at Grange Church at 10.00 a.m. and disperse from there. If you plan to do some picking in your own area before or after that please let us know so we don’t allocate someone to that area. Please ring 0868785222. POKER RESULTS The first prize at the poker at The Round Tower Hotel on Wednesday last was won by Redmond Foley with Damien Gleeson & Jason Lenane in the minor placings. Patrick Reardon won the duffer stake and Billy Harty was runner-up there. Game continues this Wednesday night beginning at 9.30 pm sharp. I.W.D.G. I notice from the whale and dolphin sign board that nearly 100 common dolphins and 4 porpoise dolphins as well as 1 fin whale were spotted from Ram Head late in February. Our thanks to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and to Andrew Malcolm in particular for continuing to update this sign. THE SAMSON On the same stroll along the Cliff Walk I noticed the gib of The Samson has finally bowed its head under water. Just shows how dangerous this old wreck is now that it’s so corroded with rust – it came in there just before Christmas 1987. SYMPATHY We extend our sympathy to the extended family of Louis Fitzgerald late of Waterford City and Bawnacomera, who died recently.
Dungarvan Community Games Swimming – Members of the Dungarvan Community Games Swimming team show their medals following the County Swimming Final in Waterford. All seven swimmers who participated came home with medals, 5 gold and 2 silver. Congratulations to the whole team and best of luck to those who will represent Waterford in the National Finals in Athlone in August. Pictured (l. to r.): Back row Fiadh Colleran, Katie Hickey, Jason Flanagan-Tobin and Mark McGarry. Front: Sarah Gaffney, David Gaffney, Daithí Colleran.
Dungarvan Dramatic Club members at the Merry’s Gatsby themed night on Sunday, April 17th.
Dungarvan Dramatic Club DUNGARVAN Dramatic Club was delighted to contribute to the recent West Waterford Festival of Food by taking part in Merry’s Gatsby themed night on Sunday, April 17th. With “the air alive with chatter and laughter”, members of the Club brought to life one of Jay Gatsby’s famous parties! As narrator Nick Carraway (played by Patrick Curran) set the scene, “among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars”, a variety of characters from the classic book arrived
at the party. Jordan Baker (played by Margaret Dennehy) entered “looking with contemptuous interest down into the garden”. Two girls (played by Caroline O’Connor and Orla Glascott) were having a fine time at the bar “stocked with gins and liquors and with cordials”. Other guests “who came and went like moths” at the party and enjoyed the “champagne served in glasses bigger than fingerbowls”, were played by Lisa O’Sullivan, Deirdre Collender, Joe Kelly, Padraigín Ní Chadhla. The Orchestra Leader (played by David Mansfield) introduced “Vladimir Tostoff ’s latest sensation Jazz
History of the World”, which increased the hilarity and produced some fashionable dancing from the female guests! The host of the party, the elusive Jay Gatsby (played by Pat Power), prompted much gossip among his guests, with one girl even being overheard whispering, “I bet he killed a man!” And so with “the bar in full swing and floating rounds of cocktails”, DDC helped to set the scene for a thoroughly magical, entertaining and memorable night at Gatsby’s party. Many thanks to Emeline Stafford and her staff from Merrys Gastro Pub for all their help and encouragement.
Touraneena SLIABH gCUA LOTTO The jackpot of €2,600 was won in last Sunday nights draw in Dunne's Bar, Touraneena. The lucky winner was Kathleen Connor. Many congratulations and we wish Kathleen all the best with her big win. The winning numbers were 5, 11, 17. As the jackpot was won, there was no draw for the 5 x €20. Next weeks jackpot will return to €200. The promoter’s prize of €20 was won by Nuala Dunne. Next week’s draw will be held in Hanrahan's Bar, Ballinamult on Sunday night 1st May, 2016. Tickets are €2 each and can be purchased from local retail outlets, committee members and designated promoters. ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE Best wishes to the Waterford senior hurlers who will take on Clare next Sunday for the final of the Allianz Hurling League in Semple Stadium. Throw-in is at 3.30 p.m. PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK The annual Diocesan pilgrimage to Knock will take
place this Sunday, 1st May. The train leaves from Waterford City with stops at Carrick On Suir, Clonmel and Cahir. For further information, please contact your local church. 1916 COMMEMORATIONS Many events were held last weekend throughout the country to mark the 1916 rising and there are many events lined up throughout the year. An upcoming local event is on Saturday, 25th June at Plunkett Train Station, Waterford. A specially cultivated flower named after Plunkett will be put in place at the station with planters made by the Mount Sion CBS students. The commemoration event includes the launch of the special hybrid rhododendron, bred at Mount Congreve and will be named the Joseph Mary Plunkett rhododendron. There will also be the unveiling of a memorial garden which Iarnrod Eireann have built at the end of the main platform at the station and into which the Mount Congreve staff
will plant 7 red Camellias, one for each of the seven signatories to the Proclamation. There will be an address by Donnacha O’Ceallachain, Curator of Waterford Museum of Treasures, about the life of Joseph Mary Plunkett. Plunkett was considered to be one of the master tacticians of The Rising and the event will serve as a poignant remembrance of the life and sacrifice of Joseph Mary Plunkett. All members of the public are invited and welcome to attend. DEISE DRAW Reminder that the Deise draw is on this Friday night, 19th April in Gaultier. Tickets are available from committee members. For further details please contact either Tom Condon (087) 4161773 or Brendan Tobin (087) 701947. SLIABH gCUA LADIES CLUB Next monthly meeting will be on Tuesday, 3rd May at 8.00 p.m. Our guest speaker on the night will be Midi Walsh who will give a demonstration of crafting.