Mullinahone.net

Just prior to Halloween 2008, Richie Quirke of Poulacapple received a serious head injury chile on a night out with friends in Kilkenny. He then spent three months in a coma in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. He has since returned to St. Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny where he is making significant progress. This development has been welcomed not only by his parents and family but by the whole local community among whom 24 year old Richie is well known. He now requires rehabilitation and support. This will take place in either Ireland or the United Kingdom.

 

Towards this end, a local committee has been organised to raise funds towards Richie’s rehabilitation. The first major event in the committees fundraising campaign is a musical feast. This will take place in St. John’s Church, Kilkenny on this Thursday night April 16th. St. John’s Church is the one opposite McDonagh Junction Shopping Centre. To those somewhat older it is the church which was opposite the old entrance to Kilkenny Railway Station. The concert cum music feast will begin at 8pm.

 

Tickets costing j15 each will be available at the door if you haven’t already purchased them locally. Singing their hearts out on the night will be the Castlecomer male voice choir, The Thukolo Gospel Choir, Noelle Morrissey, Brendan Hackett and other special guests. A fund account has already been set up in AIB Bank, Callan, Co. Kilkenny. The fund committee consists of Bridget Forristal (Chairperson) Mary Byrne (secretary) Tom Butler (joint treasurer) John Quirke (Joint treasurer) and Ann Marie Butler P.R.O. Committee members Joanie Treacy, Patricia Butler, Breda Quirke, Richard Butler, Noreen Stafford, Andrew Byrne and Thomas Forristal.

 

The committee are anxious to broaden the support base of the committee. Donations can be made to the fund in AIB, Callan. The name of the account in the bank is the Richard Quirke Support Fund. The account number is 047 79057 and the bank sort code is 93 30 90. All support would be gratefully appreciated. Already a number of events locally have shown support for the fund. At the recent presentation, to our under 21 hurlers and footballers a raffle took place and the proceeds were handed over to the fund. Great support was also forthcoming at a local birthday party night. It is hoped that Thursday nights musical feast will be well supported.

 

For those who might not be totally familiar with Richie. He is the second eldest son of Kevin and Triona Quirke, Poulacapple. He was very involved in Sports in the Mullinahone and Callan areas. Though from Poulacapple Ritchie has strong associations with Balllingarry Parish being the grandson of Richard (Dick) Butler of Tinnock. Richies mother Tina sometimes has a crisis of conscience at Mullinahone V Ballingarry games though her loyalty to green above red in recent years is above question. We wish Richie all the best in his slow recovery and all our prayers are with the family.Faoi scath a cheile a mhaireann na daoine.

The Local Lotto Jackpot was not won on Monday April 6th. The winning numbers were (10,12,13, 28). We did have two winners who shared the Match 3 prize of €150.

Congratulations to Maura Morris and the Taliban. I take it the winnings will not go to Afghanistan. Next draw will be on April 20th when the Jackpot could be worth €5,150.

The first three months of the year are over and the weather is as complex as ever. In January the rains flooded down to the tune of 192.1mm. February and March though dried up a fair bit, February only had 21.9mm of rain while 37.8mm fell in March. In all the first quarter of the year gave us 251.8mm of rainfall. If this trend were to continue for the year, we would have over 1000mm or 40". This would be slightly above average. Unlike the government tax revenues we don't expect a big fall in the totals before years end.

The very heavy January rainfall must have been due to a big washout in Heaven after Christmas. Perhaps their local water supply was having water cuts in February and March. Things seem to be getting back to normal in April with rainfall up. Certainly we have plenty of April showers and we had March many weathers but I think that was in early April. Like the lady with clothes on the line, our weather takes a lot of watching.

The Easter Ceremonies were once again very well attended in St. Michael's Church. Matters got off to a good start with the Penitential Service on Palm Sunday evening. Five priests took part. We are grateful to the four visitors and to Fr. McGrath P.P. for assembling the team.

Holy Thursday night, Good Friday and Easter Saturday night all had full houses. This seems to be a change in the trend of recent times. Perhaps in poorer times people tend to think more on religion. Anyway, well done to Fr. McGrath in having everything carried out so well.

A number of weeks ago, we published the first two verses of a poem "Mullinahone" written by S. J. Dunleavy over one hundred years ago. We forgot to come back with the second half of the poem (verses 3 and 4) so here goes.

3 "Let me kneel in the dew, or the rain or snow

when the sun to the west has gone

By the grave where the ashes of Kickham rest

In the heart of an Irish lawn.

For I'd cling to the hope for which Kickham died

To the faith that he made his own

When his head to the Angelus bell he bared

In the evens at Mullinahone.

4. Sure tis grand to be there with old Slievenamon

In the light of the bright noontime

When the blue of an Irish sky looks down

on the joys of mountainside

and the Anner is crooning a requiem

For the buried at Kilvemnon.

Ah God! for a sight this summers night

Of the firesides of Mullinahone

S. J.

Dunleavy, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.

The Easter weekend was not a good one for water supplies in the local area. Of course, the timing of the cuts (breaks) didn't help. First signs of distress came on Holy Thursday and as we went into Good Friday some householders were in trouble. Pressure was definitely down and falling. At least, the complaint seemed to be general with these towards the end of lines suffering most. Of course, local authority staff were now off and it was impossible to get information as to the state of play. Surely it would have been possible to use the airwaves of local radio to inform the general public. The fact that Easter Monday was a bank holiday didn't help either. In this era of general cutbacks it doesn't help the public mood if the water supply is cut back as well especially when the man above is certainly not cutting back on the supply from the sky.

Our U21 double champions were presented with their medals at a function in the Stack of Barley recently. They were also presented with gear bags and polo shirts to mark their achievement. Guests of honour on the night were Dick Egan,South board chairman and Kilkenny All-Ireland winning captain and James Stephens clubman Jackie Tyrell. Dick Egan complimented the players on their historic win and urged them to go on and represent the club long into the future at South and county level. Jackie Tyrell reminded us all how important our club is to us and how priviledged we are to play with those we've grown up with. After the presentations everybody was treated to fine food by the ladies in our club for which we are all very grateful. A raffle was also held on the night for the Richard Quirke rehabilitation fund. A committee has been set up to support Ritchie in his illness and also to aid his recovery. Everybody on the night can be proud of their contribution. A total of j500 was handed over to the fund chairperson Bridget Forristal who expressed the committee's delight and thanks for the amount collected. There will be more events through-out the coming weeks.

Our county footballers hve grabbed the headlines recently with their promotion and commitment on the playing field. Two local players have played their part. Alan Curran is a member of the present squad and his brother Niall has been a regular with Tipperary footballers in recent years. Niall is presently recovering from a serious knee injury and thankfully is back in training with club and county. Congrats to both Alan and Niall.Jack played a big part when called into action scoring two goals and by all accounts unlucky for a third. Best of luck also to Jack Shelly who in the coming weeks will be trying to win a third All-Ireland boxing title.

As part of the GAA's 125 year celebrations May 10th has been set aside as national club day. It is intended to run events on this day to mark our club's contribution to the GAA. We hope that all families associated with the club past and present will take part. A full list of events will be published shortly.

The ladies club will hold their presentation night in the sports hall next Saturday night at 7-00. Everybody is welcome.

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3.21 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."