LOCAL NEWS ARCHIVE - MARCH 2001

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Cornafean Local News 26-3-01

Cornafean had a good night in the Cavan County Finals of Senior Scor, which was held in Killeshandra Community Centre last Saturday night. The local club had acts competing in five of the eight competitions and, and won two county titles

Cornafean’s first victory of the night came in the Question Time, when Brian Doyle, Michael Dinneny and Tommy McGibney emerged victorious over Kingscourt, Arva and Drumlane in an entertaining quiz. In the Recitation & Storytelling competition, Michael McGibney won Cornafean's second county title with an excellent recitation of “Mary Anne McGee”, which drew a great reception from the capacity audience.

Cornafean teams also took part in the Ceili Dancing, Instrumental Music and Ballad Group competitions, each of whom performed very well, but the honours in these categories went to our neighbours Killeshandra, Templeport and newcomers Ramor United respectively.

There was great delight for the Cornafean supporters when it was announced that the “Reds” had won the “Best Overall Club” award for 2001, despite strong competition from Drumlane, Ramor United and other clubs. Cornafean last won this award two years ago. The “Best Club” Shield was presented by George Cartwright, Chairman of Cavan County Board to Eloise Leddy, on behalf of the club.

The Ulster Semi-Final of Scor, featuring the county champions of counties Cavan, Fermanagh and Donegal will take place next Saturday night, again in Killeshandra Community Centre. No doubt, there will again be a strong turnout from Cornafean in Killeshandra to cheer on the local acts.

Cornafean travelled to Pair Droichead Ui Dalaigh in Mountnugent on Sunday last to play the locals in the first round of the 2001 Lakeside Manor League, but lost by two points in a closely-contested game. Everything looked rosy for Cornafean as they burst into a three-points lead midway through the first half and they held onto that lead (0-6 to 0-3) at half-time. However, Cornafean faded dramatically on the restart and Mountnugent scored six points without reply to take a commanding lead. There was no way back for Cornafean and they were two points adrift at the finish, with the final scoreline reading Mountnugent 0-11 Cornafean 0-9.

This is a big setback for the club’s hopes of doing well in this year’s league. Next Sunday, 1^st April, they have a home game against Castlerahan, and they will need to raise their game significantly to be in the running against the visitors.

There is strong local interest in the annual Cavan Person of the Year awards which are jointly sponsored by Cavan Rehab and the Anglo Celt, as no less than three local individuals are among the ten nominees this year. Mrs Kathleen Armstrong, Gartinadress has a long record of service in the Irish Countrywomen’s Association and other voluntary groups, while Dessie Harrington, Drumkeeran, has been active in many areas over the years, including the Cornafean Community Development Association and the local Vintage Ploughing Association. The third nominee Mrs Ada Vance, Corhanna, is currently President of the County Federation of the ICA, and is also active at national level within that organisation. The Awards ceremony, which was previously postponed due to the Foot & Mouth crisis has been re-scheduled for next Monday night, 2nd April at 9pm in the Hotel Kilmore, Cavan. We congratulate each of the three local nominees and wish them every success on Monday night.

There was deep sadness in the area on the recent death of Eugene McCormack, Snakiel, Kileshandra, who died suddenly last week. A native of Lahard, he was an accomplished footballer with Cornafean in his youth and was a regular on the club’s senior team in the 1950’s. The highlight of his career was in 1956 when he starred at wing-back alongside his brother John on the Cornafean team that defeated Bailieboro in the county senior final. He keenly followed the fortunes of the Cornafean footballers through thick and thin down though the years and the club formed a guard of honour at the removal of his remains to St. Brigid’s Church Killeshandra last week. Sympathy is extended to his wife Rose, sons, daughters, grandchildren, brothers, sisters and other relatives.

There was widespread sadness in the locality on the death of Eileen McKiernan, Corlismore whose funeral took place on Monday last in St. Michael’s Church, Potahee. Eileen was well-known in the locality as she and her brother John owned two shops and general stores in the Corlismore area. She was a very hardworking woman, who was renowned for her obliging nature and her devotion to religious and charitable causes. Sympathy is extended to her brothers John and Francie, sisters Maura and Kathleen and other relatives.

Death of Eugene Martin
There was widespread sadness in the area last week on the death of Mr. Eugene Martin, Quivy, who died on Monday 12th March in St. Christopher's Hospice, Cavan. Although he had been in declining health for some time, his untimely death came as a great shock to everyone in the community.

Eugene will be remembered as one of nature's gentlemen. He was a remarkably friendly, kind and obliging man, with a wonderful sense of humour and a great outlook on life. He was a regular and welcome visitor to many households in the area where he made daily or weekly calls and carried out various tasks and chores wherever required. Eugene was particularly attentive to the needs of the elderly and to those living alone. Over the years, he also worked for many farms and other business people in the locality.

There were large attendances at the Removal of his remains to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Coronea, on Tuesday evening last, and at the Funeral Mass, concelebrated by Fr. McGoldrick, Fr. Bouchier and Fr. Clarke, on Wednesday, with burial in the adjoining cemetery. Deepest sympathy is extended to his brother Benny, sister Brigid, and his other relatives.

Earlier this month, the county finals of Senior Scor were postponed due to fears of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The County Final has now been re-fixed for next Saturday night 24th March in Killeshandra Community Centre. This promises to be a great night out for anyone interested in Irish music, dance, song and general entertainment. Cornafean will take part in five categories, Ceili Dancing, Ballad Group, Rectitation, Instrumental Music and Question Time. No doubt there will be strong local support in attendance to cheer on the Cornafean teams.

Football
On Sunday next, the Cornafean footballers emerge from their long winter hibernation when they open their Division 3 league campaign with an away game against Mountnugent. After their great achievements in 2000, the team will be hoping to make a good impression in Division 3 this year, but they will face a stiff challenge on Sunday from a strong Mountnugent side. When these two teams last met in the league in May 2000, they produced a very close and hard-fought game, at the end of which the teams were level. Sunday's game is likely to be just as evenly balanced.

Last weekend, Cornafean played a challenge game against Gowna in Pairc Naoimh Fionnain This was the first game for some time in the locality due to the restrictions imposed as a result of the "foot and mouth" crisis, and the reigning Cavan senior champions had a little to spare over the home side in an entertaining game.


^{Vintage Association}

The Cornafean Vintage Ploughing Association are holding a Meeting next Wednesday night, 28th March, in McSeains, starting at 9.30pm. All members are

 requested to attend.

Membership Deadline
The deadline for membership of Cornafean GFC for 2001 is 31st March next. Anyone wishing to become a member is asked to contact Seamus Doyle (registrar) before that date. The membership fee is £5 for adults and £3 for students. New members are always welcome.

Next Sunday, 18th March, marks the centenary of the death of Patrick Donohoe, a native of Monery, who became achieved fame as a pioneer of publishing in the USA during the 19th century. He was the founder of The Pilot, America’s oldest surviving Catholic newspaper. 

He was born on 7th March 1811, the son of Terence and Jane (Christy) Donohoe, Monery. His mother died while he was an infant and, when he was ten years old, he emigrated to the US with his father. They settled in Boston where he received his education. After leaving school, he entered the printing trade, which he soon mastered. In 1835 he established a very successful ship passenger and foreign

exchange business. However, his main interests lay in the publishing world, and he worked closely with George Pepper, a well-known publisher who in 1829 had founded the Catholic journal The Jesuit, later known as the Irish and Catholic Sentinel. 

In 1836, Donohoe published the first edition of his own newspaper, The Pilot. This was to become the most influential Catholic newspaper in the US, and remains to this day, America’s oldest Catholic newspaper. It catered for the interests of Irish American Catholics, many of whom had fled to the US to escape the horrors of the Great Famine. Donohoe traveled all over the US building up the circulation of the newspaper among the hundreds of thousands of newly-arrived Irish immigrants.

Among its contributors were several well known Irish writers. These included Thomas D’Arcy McGee, who served as Assistant Editor for three years before being appointed Editor in 1846. McGee was to play a leading role in the Young Ireland movement which led the abortive rising in Tipperary in 1848. Another was the Fenian leader John Boyle O’Reilly who had escaped from prison in Fremantle, Australia in 1869, before arriving in the US and settling in Boston. O’Reilly served as editor of The Pilot from 1870 until his death in 1890.

By now a man of great wealth and influence, Donohoe opened several new business ventures including his own bank, “The Emigrant Savings Bank”. He also worked tirelessly to improve the lot of the Irish immigrants in the US. He secured work for many immigrants on their arrival and helped many more until they could support themselves. He generously paid the passages of many of these people. Among his other charitable works included the founding of the “Home for Destitute

Children” in Boston, his generous support of many Church and  charitable institutions, including Father Matthew’s temperance crusade.

His business fortunes declined sharply after the great Boston fire on 1872 which destroyed his publishing plant and other properties, and which precipitated an economic depression. In 1876, financial difficulties compelled him to sell his newspaper, to Archbishop Williams and John Boyle O’Reilly. He later founded Donohoe’s Magazine, a widely-circulated monthly periodical dedicated to Catholic and Irish American interests. In 1891 he repurchased The Pilot, having earlier restored his banking business. 

He died, one hundred years ago, on 18th March 1901, aged 90. His

 funeral in Boston was a massive event, with the Pope sending his Apostolic Benediction and the Irish-American community gathering in throngs to honour his memory. Following his death, The Pilot was taken over by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. It remains, to this day, the most influential Catholic publication in the Boston area.

Congratualtions to Gerry McIntyre and Miranda Crowe who were married in Potahee Church on Saturday last, with a reception afterwards in the Hotel Kilmore, Cavan.

Cornafean news 6 March 2001