DUNGARVAN
OBSERVER Vol. 103
WAT E R F O R D CAMOGIE R E TA I N S ALL-IRELAND
Friday, 4th September, 2015
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WHAT’S ON VIEW
PLEASE GO TO PAGE 9 FOR THE FULL LIST OF PROPERTIES ON VIEW THIS WEEK WITH SHERRY FITZGERALD REYNOLDS
Ballymac’ opens €1.7m community building THE community of Ballymacarbry and the wider Nire Valley area celebrated last Friday evening as they officially opened their impressive multi-purpose €1.7m Community Centre, writes Paul Mooney. The building was constructed in three phases thanks to fundraising by the local community, along with grant aid from Waterford Leader Partnership. The decision to build a brand new community centre for Ballymacarbry was taken back in 2005 and over the next ten years, there was a lot of hard work carried out, which was led by the five member committee ‘Ballymacarbry Community Centre Committee’ comprising of Mick Fenton, Chairperson; Sean Guiry, Secretary; Daniel O’Rourke, Treasurer; Dick Guiry, Assistant Treasurer; and Pat Ryan, Assistant Secretary. MC for the grand opening, Michael Ryan, acknowledged that it was “truly a fantastic feat and project”, resulting in the building which stands at over 16,000 ft at a cost of just over €1.7m. Mr. Ryan acknowledged the “serious leadership” shown by the Committee, as well as their “vision, hard work, meticulous planning and constantly keeping in touch with the community”. He also commended Pat Melody and the rest of the Melody family for making such a fantastic contribution to the community, by making the site available at a realistic price - “only for that, this facility wouldn’t be here”, said Mr. Ryan. Mr. Melody was invited to the event as
main VIP to cut the ribbon to officially open the centre. “It is a great pleasure for me to be here,” Mr. Melody said. He said that while he was invited to cut the ribbon, “it could be any one of you in the community of this great valley who should be cutting the tape”. Mr. Melody said he was cutting the ribbon on behalf of the community, to loud applause. He also commended the work of the committee and the leadership they have shown in getting to where they are today, with a finished, well-used facility for the whole community. Chairman, Mick Fenton, spoke about the history of the project and commended the former landowner of the site, Pat Melody for “coming to the fore and willing to sell us half of the field”. “The field was what was needed to put this facility in place,” said Mr. Fenton. He said the committee were “astonished by the level of support from the community”, particularly when the project was still only a ‘plan on paper’. He complimented the Waterford and Lismore Diocese, as well as former Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Bishop Emeritus, Dr. William Lee, as well as former Parish Priest, the late Father Tobin, in relation to a generous donation received following the sale of St. Patrick’s Hall, which was the former community building. Continued on page 14
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The ‘Welcome Team’: Eleanor Cairnes, Rachel Cairnes, Daisy Miller and Grace Cairnes, pictured at “Fortwilliam making a Song and Dance for Barnardos” at Fortwilliam House, Glencairn, Lismore, last week. Over 300 people gathered at Fortwilliam, Lismore to help raise funds for vulnerable children and families in Ireland. Head of Barnardos, Fergus Finlay was in attendance, who explained the importance of Barnardos working to help families and children in the Waterford and Dungarvan areas. It is expected there will be in excess of €10,000 raised and donations are still being accepted. For any one wishing to contribute to this worthy cause to help children in need, contact 058-54251, or email: fortwilliamoffice@gmail.com. [Dan McGrath/Editorial Images]
Award for film made on Nemeton TV Diploma course A BILINGUAL film, developed on the WIT / Nemeton TV Higher Diploma course in TV Production, has won Best Short Documentary Award at the Underground Film Festival in Cork last weekend. The festival screened over 100 films in 15 categories, with entries from 35 countries. The film, ‘Spiorad na Samhna’ – Spirit of Samhain, is about Ireland's biggest Hallowe’en Carnival in Derry and was edited by Ciara Ní Fhearghail from An Rinn, with filming at UCC by Éadaoin Breathnach from Waterford City. The film can be
viewed online at: https://vimeo.com/10139 8600. In addition to the award, the project has learned that the film has been recommended to teachers of Religious Education in England. Ed Pawson, Chair, NATRE, National Association of Teachers of Religious Education, has described it as “an exciting resource to widen our understanding of the diversity and origins of religion, beliefs and customs today”. The film traces origins of Ireland's biggest Hallowe’en Carnival in Derry back to troubled years of 1980s. It also traces origins of
Hallowe’en itself to the Celtic festival of Samhain. Dr. Jenny Butler from the Folklore Department of University College, Cork narrates over footage. There are scenes from the spectacular 2013 Inferno show, produced by LUXe, based in Donegal. It is directed by Dessie Baker and edited by Ciara Ní Fhearghail. The script is by Dr. Seán Ó Duinnshléibhe. The interview with Dr. Jenny Butler at UCC was filmed by Éadaoin Breathnach. It was developed out of a film making course, run by WIT / Nemeton TV and funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
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