|
|
LOCAL NEWS ARCHIVE - MAY 2001
[Main
Local News Page]
The internet revolution is well and truly underway in Cornafean with
the launch last Friday night of Cornafean Online, www.cornafean.com,
the local community website produced by Cornafean Community
Development Association.
The website is a massive undertaking for a community of the size of
Cornafean. It stretches to some forty-three pages in total, including
over 150 photographs, most in colour, including many of days gone by.
Much of the website focuses on the role of the GAA and other sporting
organisations in the area, both past and present. There is much
coverage of organisations sch as the Vintage Ploughing Association,
the Cornafean Ceili Group, and the Shancor Hunt Club that have kept
many of the traditions of the locality alive over the years.
A special section of the site includes a number of poems by the
renowned local bard Sean Masterson, as well as other local songs and
poems. Generous coverage is given to the international achievements
of some famous local people, including Colonel Patrick Henry
O’Rourke, a hero of the battle of Gettysburg in the US Civil War,
Bishop Gibney of Perth, who played a big role in the Ned Kelly Siege
in Glenrowan, Australia in 1880, the famed Boston publisher Patrick
Donahoe, and of course the athlete Catherina McKiernan. Much coverage
is also given of local history, including the history of various
churches in the area, the story of Bishop Bedell, and other items of
historical interest. There are also features on local visitor
attractions, a local business directory and local maps and other
items.
A unique feature on the site is a page which allows the user to
search the internet on three of the leading international search
engines, Google, AltaVista and Yahoo. Normally, these facilities can
only be accessed on separate web pages, leading to a fair deal of
delay and duplication of work when using the internet. This is a
fairly unique facility on a locally-focused website and will be very
useful to all visitors to the site, whether they are from Cornafean
or elsewhere. Simply click on the “Search the Web” option on the
www.cornafean.com homepage.
The launch was performed by Mr. George Cartwright, Chairman of the
Cavan GAA County Board at a function in McSeain’s, which attracted a
large attendance of local people and invited guests.
Mrs. Anna Corcoran, Bean a Ti for the night, initially invited Mr.
Dessie Harrington, Chairman of Cornafean Community Development
Association to address the gathering. Mr. Harrington welcomed those
present, including, Dail Deputies Brendan Smith and Andrew Boylan,
Mr. Turloc Smith, Chairman of Cavan County Council, Council Vice
Chairman Charlie Boylan and Councillors Maura Maguire-Lynch and
Diarmuid Wilson. He also welcomed the various local religious and
community leaders including Rev. Harry Bouchier (Coronea), Dean David
Godfrey of Kilmore and representatives of the various sporting,
social and cultural groups and associations in the area.
He said that we live in a world populated by computers and the rise
of the PC has been one of the greatest successes of the 20th century.
The growth of the internet since the 1960’s until the current
explosion of the World Wide Web has been phenomenal. He welcomed the
fact that the community in Cornafean was now joining this global
phenomenon.
Mr Harrington paid special tribute to a number of people who have
facilitated the Community Development Association since its
foundation in 1997, including Mr. Jason Donaghy, former training
officer with the Workers Education Association; Ms. Tina Tully,
former Development Officer with the Peace & Reconciliation Fund; Ms.
Anne Foster of the Cavan Partnership organisation; Ms. Colette Nulty,
community facilitator; Ms. Margaret Malone of the Cavan/Monaghan
Rural Development Association; Mr. Joe McLoughlin, Development
Officer, and Ms. Michelle Boyle, Heritage Officer and Walks
Consultant.
Mr. Harrington also thanked Tommy McGibney, PRO of the Community
Association who developed the website, Tom and Art McSeain for the
use of their premises for meetings and for the launch itself, as well
as Cornafean GFC for their financial contributions and continued
support for the activities of the Community Association
Representatives of the local Community Development organisations I,
Mr Jim Hannon, Treasurer of the Community Association traced the
development of the Association during the past four years, and
reflected on its various achievements during that time including the
Millennium Monument project, the compilation of a Time Capsule for
storage in the Monument until the year 2100, the website project
which is now coming to fruition and the Association’s work in
developing walking trails in the area, which will be opened later
this year.
In his address to the gathering, Mr. George Cartwright, Chairman of
Cavan GAA County Board, and a Cornafean man himself, welcomed the
advent of the Cornafean website and strongly praised its usefulness
for the community in Cornafean and for Cornafean people all over the
world. He said that Cornafean people had made their mark in all
corners of the globe, with people such as Bishop Gibney of Perth,
Australia and Colonel Patrick Henry O’Rourke of US Military fame
achieving great fame in their adopted countries. He also spoke of the
great sporting connections between Cornafean and distant parts of the
globe, of the five Cornafean footballers who travelled to the US with
Cavan teams in the famed GAA “invasions” in 1934 and 1936, of the
influence of Cornafean people in the emigrants communities in San
Francisco and elsewhere through the generations, of John Joe
O’Reilly, hero of the Polo Grounds All Ireland victory in 1947, and
in more recent times, of Catherina McKeirnan who has achieved victory
at the very highest level of competitive athletics in places like
Boston, Budapest, Bilbao, London, Berlin, Newcastle and Amsterdam.
Having had an opportunity to preview the website shortly before its
launch, he said it was one of the highest quality, a website that was
up there with the very best on the world wide web.
Mr. Tommy McGibney, the Community Association PRO, who developed the
website for the Association, paid tribute to his colleagues on the
committee who had assisted in the website project. He said the
project had been in the pipeline for the better part of a year and he
thanked everyone in the community and overseas who had contributed
articles, photographs and information for inclusion on the website.
He paid special thanks to his wife Bridget and brother Jimmy for
their assistance and paid special tribute to George Cartwright, whose
book “Up the Reds – The Cornafean Achievement” had been the
foundation for much of the material on the website. He also thanked
the local media for their generous coverage of the launch of the site
and expressed the website would be a source of education and
entertainment for the entire community.
At this point, Geroge Cartwright formally clicked on the “mouse” to
launch the site on the World Wide Web. After the launch, Tommy
McGibney then gave a short demonstration of the site and its contents
to the audience. Judging by the keen response on the night, the
website is sure to be a roaring success in Cornafean and further
afield.
In the future, the website will be regularly be updated, on a weekly
basis, or sometimes more often. Anyone with an interest in any aspect of life in
Cornafean can keep up with what’s happening in the area by clicking on www.cornafean.com on
the internet.
The Drumcor Old School Committee are currently running a
raffle in aid of the Old School re-development project. Three monthly draws will
take place over the next three months, and a subscription of £20 will entitle
the subscriber to take part in each three draws. The first draw, which was
originally planned to take place next Tuesday night in the Old School, may
be postponed for a few weeks. Check locally for further details.
Website
Launch
On next Friday night, 25th May, the Cornafean Community Development Association will launch their new Cornafean Online internet website, at a function in McSeain’s. The website has under construction for the last seven months and there is already great a great deal of interest in the local community in the project, which will be the first internet website dedicated to the Cornafean area.
The launch will be performed by the Chairman of the Cavan County GAA Board, George Cartwright, following which there will be a demonstration of the various pages on the website. The organisers are hoping for a large turnout of local people, both young and old, at the launch, and they stress that everyone is welcome to attend. The event will commence at 9.30pm.
Following the launch on Friday night, the site will be available to the general public on the internet address www.cornafean.com. It will include detailed features on many items of local interest, including features on all the sports clubs and voluntary organisations in the area as well as accounts of the rich sporting, musical and cultural traditions of the locality and profiles of a number of local people who have achieved fame at home and abroad. These include the athlete Catherina McKiernan, footballers such as Big Tom and John Joe O’Reilly and others, and historical figures with local connections such as Bishop William Bedell of Kilmore, Bishop Gibney of Perth, Australia and the US military hero Colonel Patrick Henry O’Rorke. The site will also contain many photographs of local interest, including many pictures of local scenery, visitor attractions and landmarks.
Football
The Cornafean senior and junior footballers had a busy weekend in the Lakeside Manor Divison 3 League and the Cathal Brady Reserve League. The seniors continued their Division 3 league campaign on Friday evening last when they travelled to St. Aiden’s Park, Bawnboy to play Templeport. The game finished in a draw, with the teams deadlocked at 0-11 each. There was little between the teams in the first half and the home team led by 0-6 to 0-5 at half time. Cornafean squandered numerous scoring opportunities in the second half, including two missed penalties, and a determined Templeport effort was enough to give them a share of the league points.
On Sunday afternoon, the spotlight turned to the Cornafean reserves who entertained visitors Drumlane in Pairc Naoimh Fionnain. The youthful Cornafean side enjoyed a good win in this game, on a scoreline of 3-9 to 2-3. Among Cornafean’s stars were Joe McKiernan, Val Sheridan, Shane Hanley and goalie Mark Johnston.
Whist Drive
A Whist Drive will be held in Cornafean on Monday night 28th May. All support will be greatly appreciated.
Football
Win
The Cornafean footballers enjoyed their first win of their current Division 3 league campaign on Sunday afternoon last when they had too much to spare for visitors Corlough in Pairc Naoimh Fionnain. Cornafean suffered a setback in the opening minutes when they lost midfielder Ciaran Martin due to injury but a number of good early scores soon put them in the driving seat and they enjoyed a comfortable lead at the break with the score reading Cornafean 1-10 Corlough 0-5.
Cornafean were again the better of the two sides in the second half and their first half goalscorer Thanasie Kaldanis consolidated their lead with a second goal. In the end the home side had ten points to spare, with the final score Cornafean 2-17 Corlough 1-10. Overall this was an encouraging win for Cornafean, who will be hoping for a good run of form in the coming weeks after a disappointing start to the season. Next weekend, they travel to Templeport to take on the west Cavan side in their next league game and all the local supporters will be hoping for further success on that occasion. This game
was postponed some weeks ago due to Templeport's participation in the All Ireland Scor finals.
Confirmation
On Sunday afterooon last, a total of ten boys and girls from the Coronea and Corlis National Schools made their Confirmation at a special ceremony in St Brigid's Church, Killeshandra. The seven children from Coronea NS were Killian and Joanne O'Reilly, Drumbess; Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Drumkeeran; Patrick Cox, Coronea; Mark Sheanon, Corran; Ciaran Coyle, Bruse and Terry Masterson, Bruse. The three boys from Corlis NS were Kyle Duffy, Derries, Ciaran O'Donoghue, Corr and Francis Cunningham, Cornafean. We extend corngratulations to all ten pupils and to their families.
Website
Launch
On next Friday week, 25th May, the Cornafean Online internet website will be launched by the Cornafean Community Development Association at a reception in McSeain's. The launch will be performed by the Chairman of the Cavan County GAA Board, George Cartwright.
Juvenile
Football
Over the past few weeks, the local juvenile footballers have been busy competing in the Cavan under-12, under-14 and under-16 leagues. Last week, the local St Joseph's under-16 team drew with Belturbet in an exciting Division 2A game in Rory O'Moore Park, Belturbet, while the youthful Cornafean under-12 and under-14 squads have been putting up some fine displays in their recent league games.
Successful Irish
Night
The Irish Night organised by Cornafean GFC in McSeain's last Saturday night was a great success with a capacity attendance enjoying a wonderful variety of Irish music and entertainment. The special guest on the night was Eugene Leddy, the veteran traditional entertainer, renowned as the leader of the famed Eugene Leddy Ceili Band, who were a very popular attraction in Cornafean and other halls around the country for many years. Eugene, who was accompanied by several members of his family, was in fine form on the night and was glad to meet many of his old friends in Cornafean. Other entertainment included the Shannon Gaels Set Dancers who made the long trip from Blacklion, the Lords of the Lake Dancers from Killeshandra, Brian and Geraldine McCaffrey, as well as a host of local talent in singing, music, dancing and recitation.
Football
Defeat
On Saturday evening last, the Cornafean footballers travelled to Butlersbridge to take on the local team in the Lakeside Manor Division 3 league. The conditions were ideal for football on a warm, sunny evening and the two teams served up a very exciting game. Cornafean were much the better of the teams in the first half and by half time they looked almost certain to take the league points as they held a six-point lead. However, Butlersbrigde fought their way back into the game in the second half and Cornafean found themselves struggling to hold onto an increasingly slender lead. Cornafean's worst fears were realised in the final minutes when the home side took the lead after scoring a late goal and the visitors were a point adrift at the final whistle, on a scoreline of Butlersbridge 1-8 Cornafean 1-7.
Next Sunday, Cornafean have a home game against Corlough in the league. This is a vital game for Cornafean to win, as they continue to prepare for the forthcoming championship. Certainly, Cornafean will not want to experience a repeat of their last meeting with Corlough two years ago when they were at the receiving end of a proverbial hammering by the West Cavan side in a game played in Teemore. The throw-in on Sunday is scheduled for 3pm
