Date: 24/02/2010
From: Tom Hayes T.D.

South Tipperary T.D. last night spoke in the Dáil about ongoing problems with water supply in the Mullinahone, Fethard, Cloneen and Drangan areas with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

"The Council have applied for emergency funding of €8 million to fund mains replacement in the Mullinahone-Fethard area. In the past ten years during the summer months, but also the winter, the area suffers desperate water shortages. The locals have lobbied the local authority and it has been raised at council meetings. People who are paying water rates, many of whom are in rural areas, are extremely frustrated with the service. The council is now under fierce pressure to carry out remedial works but cannot do so unless the Department sanctions €8 million to replace the pipes.

"When a new round of funding is announced, which I expect shortly, the Mullinahone area must be given particular attention. I request the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to sanction the money on behalf of the people of Mullinahone. This is an urgent request."

In reply to Tom Hayes T.D., the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government highlighted that prevention of leaks and water mains replacement were very much a priority for the new Water Services Investment Programme, and that Councils were requested to target those most important projects for prioritisation. The Minister confirmed that his Department has received proposals for water mains replacement for Mullinahone, Fethard Town, Killenaule, Cloneen and Drangan. He has confirmed that the Council will be contacted in the very near future about these projects. An announcement is expected in coming weeks.

_ _ _

ENDS

For further information, please contact Tom Hayes, T.D. on (087) 8105016 or Sarah O'Connor, Parliamentary Assistant to Tom Hayes on (087) 2225995.

Last year, the GAA in general celebrated 125 years of its foundation. This year 2010, the spotlight shifts to the clubs of the GAA. Among the clubs founded in 1885 was Mullinahone. As a result, this year Mullinahone GAA Club completes 125 years of membership of the Gaelic Athletic Association. This is an extremely long period of time. The only organisation which has a longer history in the parish of Mullinahone than the GAA is the Catholic Church. The history of our club can be divided neatly into five chapters. First, we have the 25 years from 1885 to 1910. This was the time from 3 years after the death of C.J. Kickham. All through the Land War which came to an end (or truce) in 1909. It was the generation which saw the tenant farmers of the area become the owners of their farms.

It was the time when Mullinahone Co-Op (the present sponsors of the Club) was founded and also the time 1899 when the first County Council was elected in South Tipperary. The first GAA team in Mullinahone was a football team in Ballycullen. It was 1908 before the first Mullinahone footballer lined out for Tipp.

This was (Black) Bill Vaughan. Tradition has it that, in those days, the famous “Dyke Rourke” was good enough but could not be persuaded to play for the County. Perhaps, in those years, the land question kept Mullinahone eyes off “the big ball”. The next quarter century was a turbulent one in Ireland and also in Mullinahone.

Nationalism and the fight for freedom flared up. The War of Independence and the Civil War took place. Right in the middle of everything was “Bloody Sunday” in Croke Park and Mullinahone’s huge part in same. County football titles and All Ireland medals were won. It was the golden age of Mullinahone football. The third 25 years 1935 – 1960 were tough years in the parish, but the club struggled on. The infant Irish State struggled into the Economic War. World War II came and went and then the club was hit hard by the emigration of the 1950s. We kept going but the club’s golden football age was fast fading. A chance to purchase the club’s own football field was lost for want some say of j50. For personal memories of this 25 years, two of your best bets are John Vaughan and Tony Nolan. The fourth era was from 1960 to 1985. The era began with a blaze of glory for Tipperary hurling just before the “Famine” set in.

It was a glorious era in which Mullinahone didn’t have an active role. The club struggled along. It wasn’t a great time for winning, but we did in the 1960s and 1970s supply a number of local players to Tipperary minor, under 21 and even senior football teams. Society changed in the 1960s with the advent of television. The horizons of the youth of the parish were broadened and this caused problems for the club which may have taken time to come to terms with. A bright spot in the darkness was the winning of a County Junior football title in 1973.
This team may not have been the greatest ever footballers, but it did give more administrators to the Club than any other team to my knowledge.

We celebrated our own centenary in 1985, when the present club chairman was manager of a junior hurling team which won a South Tipp Junior hurling title. The following year 1986, saw us win our first underage hurling title. The great change had begun. We have much to be proud of in the last 25 years. The early days of the hurling revolution took our minds off the gloomy economic days of the late 1980s and 1990s. It is fitting that this last 25 years should end with our own Eoin Kelly, the captain of Tipperary’s senior hurlers and his county’s leading championship scorer of all time. There is much for Mullinahone to celebrate this year. It is good to see the club trying to involve as many parishioners as possible as members for the club has always been part of the parish fabric and a source of parish pride. C.J. Kickhams GAA Club Mullinahone is both Irish and local. It has great tradition and history behind it. What better reason does one need to become a member in this very special year!

When the weather softens
The Knocknagow Retired Social People’s Club is preparing to swing back into action again shortly. The club which meets every second week closed for its Winter break after its Christmas Party in early December. Now that Spring is in the air, the club is about to re-open. This will be in early March though we haven’t a date as yet. Watch these notes and the parish newsletter for further information. No doubt, the weather will be a little bit softer by then.

Local Lotto
The last draw took place on Monday February 15. The numbers drawn were: (10, 17, 19, 27). There was no jackpot winner but we did have three winners who shared the Match 3 prize of j150. Congratulations to Frank Holden, Deirdre, Aine, Eimear and Billy Carroll. Well done to all. Next draw will be on Monday March 1 when the jackpot could be worth j2,350. However, to win, you must first be in.
Devotions will include Stations of the Cross and Benediction.

Parish Newsletter
Devotions will include Stations of the Cross and Benediction.

All organisations and families are asked to keep the following dates free towards the end of Lent:

Sunday, March 28, Penitential Service, Thursday April 1, Holy Thursday, Friday April 2 Good Friday and Saturday April 3, Easter Vigil.

Congratulations and best wishes to Patrick Crowe, Kickham Place and Orla Hickey, Cashel who were married recently.

Condolences to the family of Danny Brett, Modeshill, whose unexpected death took place and condolences also to Michael Kenny, Ballyvoneen on the death of his brother Eamon Kenny, Ballingarry.

Anniversary Masses next weekend

Saturday February 27, 8pm, Anniversary Liam Hogan, Briarsfield

Sunday February 28, Michael White, Clonlaghy, his sister Catherine White

The income from the weekly envelopes and standing orders support the work of the Church at home and abroad. Last year diocesan administration and diocesan needs received j5,040, education of priests received j794, Peters Pence received j1,155, Propagation of the faith j1,371, Holy Places in Jerusalem j1,000, Trocaire j5,000, Kenya and other Third World needs j9,941, Forthcoming Eucharistic Congress j1,000. Boxes of envelopes for the coming year are available for collection in the Church. The New Year begins in March.

Thank You

Thank you from the South Tipperary Branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association to all those who subscribed to their churchgate collection last weekend. Thanks also to the volunteers who manned the collection points. Buiochas daoibh go leir.

Mullinahone GAA Club:

Juvenile Club.
At our meeting last Friday night Chairman Johnny Kennedy presented Rita Curran and Eddie McCarthy with some crystal in appreciation of their work with the juvenile club over the years. Rita served as treasurer while Eddie served as secretary. All juvenile players must be registered before March 31. Registration nights will be held on Wednesday, March 3 and Thursday 4 between 7-00 and 9-00pm in the sports complex to facilitate parents. All existing parents and players as well as newcomers are welcome.

Gym Membership.
All members from 2009 will be contacted over the next two weeks with a view to renewing their membership. You can renew by contacting me Jackie Bolger on 086-8341843.

Club Membership.
Club membership is now due from all players and can be paid to Eddie McCarthy. Membership is also welcomed from the general public. You will be issued with a special 125 club membership card marking our 125 year.

Tipp and Kilkenny.
Many of our members travelled to Thurles last Saturday night to see new captain Eoin Kelly lead Tipp onto the field. However heavy snowfall caused the game to be postponed. All was not lost as one man in the parish goaled on the night. While crossing the field local legend Mick Mullaly from Lismolin took a hurley and ball and realised a lifetime ambition to score a goal in Semple Stadium. He said he burst the net.

However local witness Paddy Power said the ball was an inch over the line.

U21B Football

Our footballers will play their second game in the championship this Saturday against Knockmealdown Gaels. Check papers for times and venue.
There will be Devotions in St. Michaels’ Church every Sunday evening at 7pm during Lent.

About 150 years ago back in about 1860, a large group of Mullinahone men went off to Italy to defend the Papal States. They formed part of the Irish Brigade. They fought extremely well but were not successful and the Papal States fellto the forces of the Italian Nationalists. The defeated soldiers returned home and were greeted as heroes when they marched back into Mullinahone. To greet them on their way into the village was a huge banner which by tradition had the above words inscribed on it. Fifty years later, Mullinahone had its own pipe and drum band. They were always preceded by a banner and this time their motto was "Mullinahone never wanting in a good cause", which I am sure was plucked from the soldiers of earlier times. This time the banner was fact and not just tradition. In the century that has elapsed since, the parish has always lived up to its motto as proclaimed by the old banners. This is true even to the present day. Recent Haiti and other appeals have met wit a generous response from the people of Mullinahone.

To date, Haiti Disaster appeals have raised almost or more than E10,000 in the parish. A cake raising sale in St. Michael's N.S. raised almost E2,500. The offertory collections at weekend masses raised E6,000 and a recent Table Quiz in T.J. Mac's raised nearly E950. This is a total of almost E9,500. I am sure that a few private donations have raised that figure to the magic E10,000 mark. Once again, the generous spirit of the local people has been stirred. The words of the old banner are still true today, "Mullinahone, never wanting in a good cause".

Wheelchair Association
The Tipperary branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association will hold their Annual Church gate collection before all masses next weekend Saturday, February 20 and Sunday 21 in Mullinahone.

St. Michael's N.S.
Enrolments are now taking place for Junior Infants starting school in Mullinahone N.S. in September 2010. Please call to the school for an enrolment form. Office hours are from 9.30pm to 1pm. After office hours, please call to Marie Clancy at the Resource Room. If you have already filled out an application form, just telephone the school to confirm same. School telephone number is 052 9153304.

Under 12s became Under 21s
Looking at our Under 21 Footballers in action against St. Pat's on Saturday last in Ballingarry revived memories of those very same footballers as under 12s back in 2001. In charge of that bunch were Edward O'Brien, Liam Gahan and Ricky Sheehan. After defeating St. Pat's in the semi-final, the team went on to defeat Killenaule after a replay in the South Final. Later in the season, they completed the double, winning the hurling title as well. The Mullinahone magazine 20th edition records the panel.

For the record, that was Michael Lonergan, Mark McCann, Thomas Collins, Kieran O'Shea, Kevin Walzer, Brian Treacy, Andy Needham, Paul Ryan, Sean Quirke, Nigel O'Brien, Eoin Egan, Chris Horan, Niall O'Brien, Joe O'Meara, Niall Cronin, Paul Gahan, Dominic Crowe, Richie Morrissey, Pat Carroll, Chris Delaney, Sean Curran, Danny Luttrell, Shane Lawlor, Danny Gallagher, Michael Cooper, Brian O'Halloran, Eoin Reilly, Andre Hicks and David Carroll. It would be interesting to compare the list of players with the twenty who lined out on Saturday last. We'll leave that to the statisticians. Our list from the past includes no player who would be eligible to play minor grade this year. Perhaps, somebody could come up with a list of those who no longer line out with the "Green above the red". Last Saturday, our lads began with a good victory. So too did Killenaule. Could we be shaping up for a repeat of nine years ago. Interesting also to see how our present under 21s performed as U.14s in 2003, as U. 16s in 2005 and as minors in 2007.

Local Lotto
The last draw took place on Monday February 8. The numbers drawn were (4, 10, 14, 25). There was no jackpot winner but we had one Match 3 winner of the E150 Match 3 prize. Congratulations to John Lanigan of 6 Fethard Street. The next draw will take place on Monday February 22 when the jackpot could be worth E2,100. However, to win you must first be in.

Parish News
The children preparing for First Communion 2010 will celebrate their First Confession on Friday March 12 at 7.30pm. During 11.30am Mass on Sunday lat the children in question learned the value of saying "I am sorry".

Condolences to Theresa Dorban, Ballycullen on the death of her mother Patricia Mary Stroud of Earlshill. Condolences also to the family of Danny Brett, Modeshill whose death took place last weekend.

Anniversary masses next weekend:
Saturday February 20, 8pm Anniversary Thomas Healy, Ballyduggan.
Sunday February 21, 9.30am Anniversary Peg Scott, Ballyrichard
11.30am Anniversary Dick Neary, Modeshill

Looking Back
This week we continue with our look back at the events of 2009 as seen through the pages of the Mullinahone Parish Newsletter.

Early August is always Kickham Country Weekend in Mullinahone.

Last year's weekend concentrated on events and personalities in the Grangemockler/Mullinahone area. The upcoming GAA Golf Classic was advertised for August 21 and 22 in Slievanamon Golf Club. The weddings took place of Sandra O'Keeffe, Mullinoly to Michael O'Brien, Cork and of Orla Comerford, Kilvemnon to Kevin Gallagher, Armagh.

We had word of local ladies depicting local scenes in an Art Exhibition in Callan. One of the most spectacular events to take place in Mullinahone during 2009 was the Honda 50 Run on August 16 in aid of the Richie Quirke Support Fund. Congratulations to Lorraine O'Shea who was on the Tipperary Under 16 Ladies Football team which beat Roscommon in the All Ireland Final.


Marathon Man Simon McGowan was training for a triathlon in Westport, Co. Mayo. Best of luck was wished to Louise Fallon who represented her County in the All Ireland Community Games Finals in Athlone. It was almost Back to School time and Mullinahone Community Playgroup held an Enrolment Evening on August 27th.

Sympathy was extended to the relatives in the parish of Peggy Hyland nee Brett, Modeshill and Jim Lanigan, Grangemockler.

On August 24 the local lotto jackpot was won by Brian and Granny. They won E3,000. Our senior hurlers had a great one point win over Killenaule in the South Tipp Final.

GAA
Club Membership 2010.
Every effort is being made this year to register as many members as possible in our parish to mark our 125 year anniversary. All members who pay their membership before March 31 his year will be entered into a draw for one night's B&B in the Red Cow Inn, Dublin and one years free membership of the club. Membership can be paid to Secretary Eddie McCarthy who will issue you with a special edition 125 membership card. Players 50 Euro, Students and Minors 25 Euro, Senior Citizens 15 Euro and general public 30 Euro.

Vodafone Club.
This is an ideal and simple way by which you can help your club financially and at no cost to yourself. All you have to do is register your Vodafone mobile number with the club and a percentage of your monthly bill will be refunded to the club. To register send your name and number to Victor Direen on 086-8254074 or on-line at www.supportyourgaaclub.ie. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

Juvenile Club.
The juvenile club will hold their adjourned AGM this Friday night at 9-00pm. It is hoped that at least one parent from each players family attend.

Senior Club.
Our U21B Footballers started the season with a good win over St. Patricks last Saturday. Well done to all the players involved and to manager Declan McNamara and his selectors Niall Curran and Noel O'Shea. You can read the full report in the sports section of The Nationalist. Training for all adult players starts this Monday night in the sportshall and players are asked to bring runners. A medal presentation for our seniors and juniors will take place in the complex on March 20.

Eoin is Tipperary Captain.
Everybody in the parish is very proud this week with Eoin Kelly being named Tipperary Senior hurling captain for 2010. It is just reward for the commitment and dedication shown by Eoin over the years. Indeed it's not only an honour for Eoin but also his parents Jimsie and Mary and his brother Paul and his club. Well done Eoin and we look forward to supporting you and your team mates in 2010.