Cornafean News 26^th May 2003

Active Age Group Day Tour

The recently-formed Cornafean Active Age Group have organised an exciting Coach Trip to Dublin on Wednesday 18^th June. The trip will include a tour of two well-known Dublin landmarks, Dail Eireann and the Guinness Brewery visitor centre. Anyone interested in travelling are asked to book their seats early to avoid disappointment as spaces will be reserved on a first-come-first-served basis.

To book, please contact Maura Sheridan (049 4337469)  Tommy O’Rourke (049 4337205) or Catriona Laheen at 087 7763857. A deposit of €8.00 will be required t o secure a place on the bus. The organisers promise a great day out for one and all!

Car Boot Sale

A Car Boot Sale will be held in the carpark of Ballinagh Community Centre on next Saturday, May 31^st. All proceeds are in aid of the Restoration Fund at Ballintemple Parish Church and will be used to help finance the current programme of essential repairs to the Church. All support towards this deserving cause will be greatly appreciated.

Ecumenical Service As Gaeilge

A unique Ecumenical Service in the Irish language will be held in St. Feithlimidh’s Cathedral, Kilmore on Sunday 8^th June at 3.30pm. The service is a celebration of the life and work of Bishop William Bedell, who served as Bishop of Kilmore from 1629 until his death in 1642 and who is remembered for his saintly life and his work of translating the scriptures into the Irish language. All are welcome to attend. Further information can be obtained from An Tor ar Lasadh/Glor Bhreifne at 087 6401682.

 Another Derby Game

 Last Saturday evening the footballers of Cornafean were in action against neighbours Arva in the Cathal Brady Reserve League, and after an entertaining and keely-contested game in Pairc Naoimh Fionnain, the side finished level. This was the second time in as many weekends for the local footballers to be involved in a local derby game and after the seniors’ narrow defeat against Ballinagh the previous week, Cornafean were anxious to put on a strong performance.

Next weekend, the senior side are back in action in Round 7 of the Hayes Electrical Intermediate League with a home fixture against Drumlane. Cornafean will go into this game as underdogs against a Drumlane team that have made quite an impact in Intermediate ranks since winning the 1999 Junior Championship, but the local team will be anxious to record their first league win of the year in this match and we wish them, and their manager Martin Clyne, every success.

GAA Monthly Meeting

The Monthly Meeting of Cornafean GAA club will be held on this Wednesday night, 28^th May, in the clubrooms at 9.30pm.  All members are asked to attend.

School Enrolment

The local National Schools in Corlis and Coronea are currently accepting applications for enrolment of pupils for the 2003/04 school year. Parents of children interested in attending Coronea NS are asked to contact the school Principal Patrick Kerrigan NT, and parents of children intending to enroll in Corlis NS should contact Principal Claire Ryan NT.

Silver Jubilee Celebrations

The forthcoming Cornafean Ceili Group Silver Jubilee Celebration weekend on 20^th – 22^nd June next is already promising to be one of the highlights of the year in the locality. The organisers have been very busy in recent weeks continuing their preparations for the weekend’s celebrations, the highlight of which will be the launch of a special commemorative CD entitled “The Cornafean Ceili Group – 25 Years On”.

There already has been a very enthusiastic response to the news of the forthcoming celebrations, particularly among the many local people who were involved in the local Marching Band, Tops of the Town, Ceili Group and Scor efforts over the years and who are gathering for a special reunion on the weekend. Each and every one of these people are heartily welcomed to the event. At this stage the organisers are in the process of contacting as many households as possible in the locality to publicise the occasion. However as it will be next to impossible to contact everyone directly, a general Cead Mile Failte is extended to one and all. The organizing committee are asking readers to tell their friends and relations living in other parts of Ireland or abroad about this special event and to pass on their invitation to the weekend’s celebrations.

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Cornafean News 19th May 2003

Welcome Back Catherina

Catherina McKiernan’s success in last Sunday’s Annalee AC Road Race in Cavan town was met with delight among her many friends and supporters in Cornafean. We congratulate Catherina on her impressive victory in the Ladies Race, where she recorded a finishing time of 34 minutes 17 seconds.

A large contingent of her local supporters were among the attendance at the event, the first time that she has competed in a local competitive race in her native county in well over a decade.

For much of the past four years, Catherina was sidelined from competitive action by injury problems and it is very encouraging to see her return to action, obviously revitalized and refreshed after such a long absence.

Having achieved so much in her earlier career, Catherina already ranks as one of the leading athletes of her generation. Memories are still fresh of the many highlights of her career so far, ranging from her initial World Cross Country Silver medal in Boston in 1992, her successive triumphs in the same competition in Amorebieta, Budapest and Durham in the following three years, her Gold medal success in the 1994 European Cross-country Championship in Northumbria, and most prominently her trailblazing victories in the Berlin, London and Amsterdam marathons later in the 1990s.

It is both heartening and fitting that Catherina was able to relaunch of her competitive career in her native Cavan. It is obvious from the manner of her success on Sunday that Catherina still has all the trademarks of a world-class athlete and hopefully it will not too long before she is once again returning to Cornafean and celebrating a major victory on the world stage. In the meantime, we wish Catherina the very best of luck in her renewed career.

Derby Defeat

Last Sunday was a busy day all round for local sports enthusiasts as Cornafean took on their neighbours and rivals Ballinagh in the Intermediate Football League. Ballinagh went into the game as hot favourites, both by dint of their home advantage and their unbeaten record to date in this year’s league but they were made to fight all the way by a determined Cornafean side. In the end Ballinagh won out on a scoreline of 2-9 to 1-8, and Cornafean will no doubt rue a couple of missed chances that could easily have turned the game in their favour.

Next Sunday the attention turns once again to the county scene and Cavan’s opening game in this year’s Ulster Senior and Minor Championship, away to Antrim in Casement Park, Belfast. This year, Cavan’s championship preparations have been very low-key in comparison to the ballyhoo which surrounded their appearance in last year’s Allianz League Final. Hopefully the Cavan lads will play to their very best on Sunday and book their place in the provincial semi-final against either Tyrone or Derry. Certainly the events in the two opening games in this year’s Senior championship would seem to indicate that the provincial title is very much “up for grabs” this year and if Mattie Kerrigan’s side can come away from the Casement cauldron with a victory on Sunday, it might just be the start of an exciting summer for their loyal supporters.

Silver Jubilee Celebrations

In recent weeks, recording has been completed for the Silver Jubilee Celebration CD which has been planned to mark the 25^th anniversary of the founding of the Cornafean Ceili Group. The CD will feature a diverse range of local talent including of course a number of newly recorded tunes performed the Ceili Group itself. Preparations are continuing for the special weekend of celebrations, including the launch of the CD, on the weekend of 20^th – 22^nd June.

It is hoped that this weekend will entail a reunion of the many, many people who took part in the local Marching Band, Tops of the Town, Ceili Group and Scor efforts over the years and it promises to be a very special occasion.. Each and every one of these people are heartily welcomed to the event. At this stage the organisers are in the process of contacting as many households as possible in the locality to publicise the occasion. However as it will be next to impossible to contact everyone directly, a general Cead Mile Failte is extended to one and all. The organizing committee are asking readers to tell their friends and relations living in other parts of Ireland or abroad about this special event and to pass on their invitation to the weekend’s celebrations.

 Wedding Bells

Congratulations to local man Graham Mills and Sylvia McGuigan, Laragh who were married last Saturday in Kilmore Cathedral. A reception was held afterwards in Crover House Hotel, Mountnugent.

Whist Drive

The next Whist Drive in Cornafean will be held on next Monday night, 26^th May in McSeains Lounge. All support is greatly appreciated.

 Minister Visits Corliss

Monday 12^th May was a red-letter day in the 135-year history of Corlis School as the Minister for Education and Science, Noel Dempsey TD visited the School to perform the official re-opening following its recent refurbishment. The  ceremony was attended by a large gathering of parents, pupils, members of the Board of Management and community leaders. Among the assembled dignatories present was the Bishop of Kilmore Most Reverend Doctor Leo O’Reilly who blessed the school following the re-opening.

In a wideranging address to the assembled gathering, Minister Dempsey paid tribute to the quality of the new facilities at the school and remarked that it would ensure a the continuation of a long tradition of achievement in education in the school. He also remarked on the great tradition of sports in the locality, most prominently Cornafean’s longstanding position as a well known GAA stronghold, stemming back to the halcyon days of past pupils of Corliss NS such as the Gallant John Joe O’Reilly, Big Tom O’Reilly and Willie Young. He also recalled the origins of education in Corlis back to the mid-19^th century when behind the existing school lay the site of the Hedge School where Master Davy Phair educated the local children.

Minister Dempsey also paid tribute to the major progress which had been achieved in more recent decades at the school, through the endeavours of the present Principal Mrs. Claire Ryan, assisted by Mrs. Anna Coyle, and also of a former Principal Tomas O’Raghallaigh who was also in attendance on the day. As the Minister said, it has been a long journey from the days of the pot-bellied stove and the dry toilets.

The major refurbishment programme at the school includes such amenities as a new all-purpose room, a set down/pick up zone for traffic and a resurfaced play area. The existing building has also been renovated and upgraded and a new sewerage system has been installed. The improved facilities will greatly enhance the educational environment for present and future pupils and will ensure that Corlis will continue its proud tradition as a long-established centre of learning for the local community.

END

Cornafean News 5th May 2003

Championship Defeat

Last Saturday evening the Cornafean footballers started off their 2003 Intermediate Championship campaign with a narrow defeat to Kill, in an entertaining and tightly-contested game in Butlersbridge. Cornafean went into the game as rank outsiders following Kill's convincing victory when these sides met in the Intermediate League a few weeks ago but Cornafean tore up the script with a determined first-half performance, to lead by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.

When Art McSeain extended Cornafean's lead to three points just after the restart, the large Cornafean following present began to sense that an upset might be on the cards. However, the more experienced Kill team began to take control as the second half wore on. In fact Cornafean failed to score another point for the remainder of the game, a statistic that tells its own story.

In contrast, Kill gradually reduced Cornafean's lead before eventually going ahead and they led by five points as the game neared its end. Cornafean's "never say die" attitude was once again evident as they besieged the Kill goals in those final minutes and they won a temporary lifeline when Val Sheridan scored a late goal to reduce the margin to two. Unfortunately from a Cornafean viewpoint, the Kill defence held firm in those final moments to secure a narrow victory for the Shamrocks.

In the coming weeks, Cornafean will face Laragh United and Denn in the further games in their first round group. On the basis of Saturday's performance, the local lads are still well capable of making an impact in this year's Championship. No doubt manager Martin Clyne and his players will be putting in a big effort in the next few weeks in preparing for these games and we wish them the very best of luck in their efforts.

Narrow Defeat in Final

A large number of local supporters were in Kingspan Breffni Park on the Bank Holiday Monday afternoon for the final of the Riverfront Hotel Division 3 Minor League, where the Cornafean/Killeshandra team took on Kildallan. At the end of an exciting game, Kildallan had a point to spare over the gallant local team. We congratulate the Cornafean and Killeshandra lads for their spirited performance in the final and indeed throughout the whole campaign. Their success in reaching the final certainly bodes well for the future fortunes of both clubs and we congratulate one and all on their achievement.

The late Canon Dessie O'Dowd.

The recent death of the Very Rev Canon Dessie O'Dowd, Maudabawn was met with deep sadness among his many friends and relatives in the locality. Throughout his long life, Canon Dessie had very close links with the Cornafean area. Following the untimely death of his mother, his father Tom married Susan Young, Drumgoon, and Canon Dessie, then a young boarding student in St. Patrick's College, Cavan came to Drumgoon to live during his holidays from school. A keen football enthusiast, he was an avid follower of the great Cornafean teams during their heyday of the 1940's and early 1950's when heroes such as Big Tom O'Reilly, Josie Martin and the Maguire brothers graced the local playing fields. 

He made many lifetime friends in the locality and his associations with the area continued long after he entered the priesthood 54 years ago. Throughout his lifetime he greatly cherished the times he spent in Cornafean and he was always keen to emphasise his great love for the Cornafean area down through the years.

Canon Dessie leaves behind him a tremendous legacy of achievement in so many parishes and on behalf of so many good causes in each of the various areas in which he served. We extend our deepest sympathy on his passing to his sisters Sheila, Mariann and Cepta, his brothers John and Mattie and to his other relatives and many, many friends.

Whist Drive

The next Whist Drive in Cornafean will be on next Monday night, 12^th May, in McSeains. All are welcome.