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LOCAL NEWS ARCHIVE - MARCH 2004
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The Annual General Meeting of Cornafean Community Development Association will be held on this Thursday night, 11th March in McSeains, starting at 9.00pm. sharp. The Community Development Association has done much good work in the locality in recent years and new members are encouraged to attend the AGM. All existing members are also requested to attend.
The meeting will be addressed by historian Eugene Markey
who will deliver a talk on Colonel Patrick O’Rorke, the Drumbess native who
became a famous military hero in the US Civil War and who died in action in the
1863 Battle of Gettysburg. Later this year Colonel O’Rorke will be
commemorated when a major new bridge, named in his honour, is opened in the US
district of Rochester, New York0
Cornafean enjoyed a very good night at the 2004 Scór County Finals in Killeshandra on last Saturday night when the local club won two competitions as well as the "Best Club" Overall Award for the year.
The event attracted a capacity audience to Killeshandra Community Centre, including large numbers of Cornafean supporters. Indeed the large attendance proved once again how the popularity of Scór has remained at such a high level over the years. There was a tremendous standard of entertainment in all eight competitions
Cornafean had representatives in six categories on the night: Solo Singing, Set Dancing, Instrumental Music, Novely Act, Recitation, and Question Time, and it was in the latter two competitions where the Reds' representatives took county honours. In the Question Time, the Cornafean team of Tommy McGibney, Brian Doyle and Michael Dinneny overcame strong opposition from Arva, Drumalee and Ramor while n the Recitation, Cornafean's Michael McGibney produced a great performance win the competition.
There was further joy for Cornafean when they won the coveted Overall Best Club Shield for 2004. The Shield was presented by County GAA Board Vice-Chairman Padraig Mahon to Ciaran McSeain, on behalf of the Cornafean club
The winning acts now go forward to the Ulster Semi Finals which will be held on this Saturday night at a Co. Monaghan venue.
The Ballinagh branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann is holding “Music In the Air”, an outdoor music session on Main Street, Ballinagh on St. Patrick’s Day at 4.00pm. We invite singers, musicians and dancers from the Cornafran and surrounding areas to join us on stage. A good day’s entertainment is guaranteed.
The tragic death in an accident on Wednesday 3rd March of Thomas (Tommy) Leddy, Corlismore brought great sadness and grief to the entire local community. Tommy, who was 30 years old, was a very well-known and popular figure in the locality. A farmer by occupation, Tommy regularly did small contracting work for farmers in the area and he was renowned for his decent and obliging nature. He was also a noted footballer and was a stalwart in defence for Lacken Celtic for many years right up to the time of his death. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.
We express our heartfelt sympathy to his parents Tommy and Patricia, brother P.J. sisters Sheila, Breege, Eileen, Rosemary, Colette, Aisling and Anne, and to his other relatives.
The entire GAA world was deeply shocked by the sudden and tragic death last week of the great Tyrone footballer and All Ireland medallist Cormac McAnallen. Apart from his exploits on the field of play for the O’Neill County, many local people will also remember Cormac for his participation in Scór down through the years, where was famed for his expertise in Question Time competitions.
In 1994, Cormac was part of the Eglish quiz team that were narrowly beaten by Killeshandra in a memorable Ulster Scór na nÓg Quiz final. The following year, Cormac and Eglish went on to win the All Ireland title in the same competition. Together with his brother Donal, Cormac soon graduated to senior Scór and featured a number of times in Ulster Scór semi-finals in recent years.
When Cornafean’s Michael McGibney took part in the 2002 All Ireland Scór Finals in Killarney, Cormac wrote a very interesting article in the official programme for that event, recounting many of his varied experiences in Scór. In the article, he mentioned that his twin ambitions in life were to win an All Ireland Senior Football medal, and also to win an All Ireland Scór Tráth na gCeist title. Notwithstanding the awful tragedy of his death, it is fitting that he was spared long enough to achieve his first ambition. Given his trademark dedication, intelligence and ability, there is no doubt that he would have also had achieved his second aspiration had he not died so tragically.
A meeting of Cornafean Active Age will be held in McSeains, Cornafean next Friday evening, 12th March at 9.00 pm to discuss arrangements for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Dancing and painting classes continue on Tuesday 23rd March at 9.00pm. All are welcome. Active Age Awards will be presented on Wednesday 31st March in the Lavey Inn. For details of transport to this event contact Tommy O’Rourke on 049 4337205 or Maura Sheridan on 049 4337469 before Saturday 20th March.
There has been much excitement and debate in recent days among the many GAA followers in the locality after the draws were made on last Monday night for the Hotel Kilmore County Football Championships for 2004.
In the Intermediate Championship, Cornafean have been drawn against Cootehill, Lavey, Swanlinbar, Kill, Drung and Cuchullains with the top four teams advancing to the quarter-finals. Their opening game of the Championship campaign will be against Swanlinbar, and this game is scheduled for the weekend of 24th & 25th April.
Last Sunday the Cornafean seniors had a good workout in a challenge game against Templeport in Pairc Naoimh Fionnain and preparations are continuing well for the start of the All County Football League on Sunday 28th March. Our Cornafean/ Killeshandra minor side are also in flying form at present having recorded a series of impressive wins in recent weeks, the most recent against Ballinagh last Saturday.
The following were the winners of the Whist Drive in Cornafean on Monday night, 1st March. Top Score Robert Fegan 1st Lady Beatrice Burns 2nd do. Anna May Brady 3rd do. Norma Faulkner 1st Gent Martin Clyne 2nd do. Mervyn Phair 3rd do. Jimmy Smith Other winners were Geraldine Reilly, Eva Kirk, Sean Keogan, Cathal Fitzpatrick, Tessie Fitzpatrick and Pat McKiernan.
The next Whist in Cornafean is on next Monday night 15th March.
Cornafean took part in the first round of Scór 2004 last Friday night
in Killeshandra Community Centre, and put up good performances in
each of the eight competitions. There was a good local attendance
among the large audience which braved the wintry weather conditions
and frosty roads for an enjoyable night’s entertainment.
On Saturday night, the first-round winners were announced and there
was some satisfaction for Cornafean, who qualified for the County
final in six categories, Ceili Dancing, Set Dancing, Novelty Act,
Instrumental Music Recitation, and Question Time. The County Final is
on next Friday night 6th March again in Killeshandra Community
Centre, and no doubt there will be huge attendance there, for an
event which is always special for followers of Irish music, dance,
song and general entertainment.
The local Vintage Tractor Club in Cornafean are holding a meeting
this Friday night, 6th March in the Loughbawn Hotel, Killeshandra at
10.00pm sharp. All members are asked to attend.
There was widespread sadness in the locality on the death of Mr.
Aiden Barry, Navan and formerly of Drumbess whose funeral took place
in Navan last week. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family.
Local viewers of the RTE Late Late Show on last Friday night were
surprised and delighted when local lady Elisha Leddy was announced as
the winner of an audience competition organised by RTE and VHI
Healthcare to publicise the VHI’s new travel insurance service.
Elisha who was accompanied in the Late Late Show audience by her
sister Mrs Marie Sheridan and Pauline Smith won a fantastic prize of
two luxury holidays, with a combined value of €6,000.
The Friends of Bóthar, the third world charity are presenting a
showcase of artistes, both past and present from Elvis to Abba, Dolly
Parton, the Pogues and many more on Wednesday March 10th in the Lavey
Inn at 8.30pm. Attractive door prizes and numerous spot prizes will
be on offer. The special guest adjudicators include Margo, Mick
Flavin and Chuck & June. All support is greatly appreciated.
Deepest sympathy is extended to the McSeain family, Cornafean on the
recent death in Canada of Mrs. Maeve Kilkenny nee McSeain. Maeve, who
lived in Canada for many years, was predeceased by her brother Seos
less than a year ago.
A very special Benefit Dance in aid of a very worthy cause will be
held in McSeains on this Friday night, March 6th. Entertainment will
be provided by the popular Eddie Fitzsimons and all support will be
much appreciated.
Congratulations to Catherina McKiernan on her impressive win last
Sunday in the 6km Ras na hEireann staged in Dundalk Racecourse.
Catherina had seventeen seconds to spare over Limerick athlete
Rosemary Ryan. This was Catherina’s second high-profile win in as
many weekends following her victory at the AAI National Cross-country
Championships in Roscommon last Sunday week. Catherina produced a
confident run to defeat a strong field, 16 seconds ahead of her
nearest rival Maria McCambridge. This was Catherina’s fifth National
title in this competition and her first since her win in the Phoenix
Park in 1993. We wish Catherina every success in her continuing
preparations for the World Cross Country Championships in Brussels
next month.
Meanwhile congratulations to Cavan’s latest international sportstar,
Mullahoran’s Paul Brady who recently recorded a fairytale win in the
international Professional Handball Association Ultimate Handball
Showdown tournament in Seattle, Washington. Paul’s impressive victory
over World No. 1 David Chapman was televised by the Fox Sports
Network and beamed into fifty million homes nationwide. Following
this victory and his recent World Championship win, Paul, a member of
the famous ‘Gunner’ Brady clan, now seems set to put Mullahoran on
the world sports map in the same way as Catherina has done for
Cornafean since the early 1990’s. We wish him every continued
success.
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