This led to a great interest in local drama productions. With no drinking and no dancing it was a case of take to the boards or twiddle your thumbs.

This era left a legacy of local drama in the Spring as people waited for the brighter, longer evenings. Mullinahone was a place where drama took a firm hold and its legacy still remains. Following the recent success of the Fionn MacCumhaill Players with a strong Mullinahone backbone recently attention turns towards home over the coming weeks.
Two of our local schools are taking to the stage with productions and the local Anner Players are also in rehearsal. One might well say that in the middle of Lent we are about to have a drama week in Mullinahone. We bring you notice of the forthcoming productions.

Once again the great benefit of having a school hall of your own is being employed by Mullinahone NS next week. Parents and the general public are invited to a school production of the old fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. This will take place in St Michael's NS school hall on March 15.

The boys and girls are very excited at taking to the stage and no doubt some new talent will explode onto the scene in Mullinahone. Mention of a stage also means mention of KHS Engineering (Tommy O'Sullivan and Michael Scott) who are building a new stage for the hall for this and future productions.

On the following night, March 16 it will be the turn of the pupils of Kilvemnon NS to demonstrate their wares. Rehearsals are well advanced for the school's variety concert. This will take place in the Knocknagow Community Centre, Mullinahone, on March 16 at 8pm.

The children from junior infants to sixth class will take part in a night of ceol, drama, poetry and dance. Highlights of the evening will be Snow White and the 13 Little People brought to life by the junior room pupils and The Witches of Slievenamon an original play written by the senior room.

This play was adapted from a short story written by Lady Jane Wilde (mother of Oscar) concerning the goings on in the woods near Carraigmoclear. I seem to remember Kathleen Holden as Snow White and Sean Brett learning to waltz for the ball. The Whites – Jim and Paul, were also involved. We look forward to a new generation. The school hopes to see you all there and of course your support would be much appreciated.

 

ANNER PLAYERS – The long established Anner Players or is it New Anner or Newest Anner, are also in rehearsal. Their play We Three Angels is reputed to be very funny. More news of Mullinahone's Three Angels next week.

 

BOXING – Down through the years there has always been a considerable interest in amateur boxing in Mullinahone. Sometimes we have had our own club and some times we have been involved with neighbouring Callan, where lads learned 'the noble art of self defence'.

Whether in Callan or Mullinahone, Jimmy Walsh of Callan has nearly always been involved. Even today things have not changed. Back the years Joe O'Gorman of Ballylanigan was one of the well known fighters. He made a TV appearance on a programme called, I believe Ringside. Later along came Mick Quirke and after him Francis Cahill.
All these were big men but we produced the lighted boxers as well. Eddie Madden was one of the most skilful Mullinahone boxers to lace on the gloves. Around his time also was the late Michael Shelly of Clonagoose. With the arrival of the 1980s it was back to the big men again and Noel Guiry became Irish heavyweight champion.

The local club then went into decline but a revival took place in conjunction with Marble City in the 1990s. One of the heroes of that era was the late Frank O'Meara of Ballydonnell.
Clonmel boxing club also prospered around that time with Mullinahone native Timmy O'Connor lending a helping hand.
Earlier this year there was a revival of interest in Mullinahone with a group of local schoolboys taking up the sport in Callan. Among those were Robert Reilly, Jack McCarthy, Denis Connolly, Jason Grace and Jack Shelly. Jack is son of Johnny Shelly and nephew of the aforementioned Michael Shelly RIP.

According to Jimmy Walsh who has a high regard for Mullinahone boxing, the local crop have done very well in their first season or so. The recent Kilkenny - Carlow - Laois championships were held in Callan and our lads acquitted themselves very well there. So well in fact that Jason Grace who now lives in Ballingarry and Jack Shelly were entered in the Leinster championships which were held in Newbridge, Co Kildare, last weekend.

Jason and Jack qualified for the finals which take place next weekend. Jack will box an opponent representing Brosnia, Co Meath, while Jason faces a Wexford opponent. Best of luck boys.
Next week we will have a report on both finals. Perhaps Mullinahone is again about to raise its head in the boxing world.

CONGRATULATIONS – Well done to Michaela Reilly, a fifth class pupil in St Michael's NS, Mullinahone, who was selected as the Tipperary winner of the SPAR for Life Kids competition winner. She will spend a day (Monday) in Dublin with the other county winners with the coaches Sean "g " hAilpín and Devala O'Rourke, two of Ireland's most famous sports personalities.
FOR"IGE – It is hoped to revive For"ige in Mullinahone. A rota of parents is required to supervise and transport the members to events. For"ige is an excellent youth organisation. If you can assist please contact Sean Walzer.

 

LINKS TO THE ANTARCTIC – Scoil Mhuire, Kilvemnon, are at present involved in a very exciting project. They are following on the internet the adventures of Antarctic explorer Katherine O'Connell as she travels from Chile to Antarctica on board the 'Seal'.
Katherine has created a website www.antarctica2007.com where she writes up daily blogs and posts photos chronicling their progress. Students from Kilvemnon have emailed her questions about Antarctica and the yacht and she has emailed back. When Katherine comes back from her travels, the school are hoping that she will visit Kilvemnon NS.
One of the questions that Katherine has answered was Q. "What animals are you hoping to see?'' (Karen Mackey).

 

A. "First we are hoping to see penguins. Penguins of course are flightless birds whom early explorers easily mistook for fish. They are tremendous swimmers, hoppers and walkers and we hope to see them going about their daily business and raising their young''.

The area of Antarcticawhich we will be visiting, the Antarctic Peninsula has at least three species of penguin we should see for sure, the Emperor, Gentoo and Adelie penguins. There are 17-18 species of penguin (scientists differ) on Antarctica. If we are lucky we see Chinstrap, Macaroni and Rockhopper penguins too. We will tell you about the differences in appearances and sizes of species as we see them for ourselves.

We also hope to see albatrosses, the greatest birds of flight. They spend most of their time in the air, however, they return to land to breed and take turns raising their chicks so we are hoping to see some of this summers youngsters. In fact we are looking forward to seeing many species of several types of birds of flight, petrels, fulmars, prion, shua and tern to mention a few.

We are also hoping to see many species of seal, whale, some dolphins and various fish through the clear unpolluted Antarctic waters. Whatever we see you can be sure that we will tell you about it. If you would like to find out more and to track the voyage via sattelite log on to www.antarctica2007.com.
By coincidence the children's teacher in Kilvemnon NS is also called Kate O'Connell. Just imagine being able to visit the Antarctic from the comfort of your own home or school. The marvels of modern technology.

LOCAL LOTTO – The local Lotto jackpot was not won on February 26. We didn't even have a match 3 winner so the committee drew five 'lucky dips' who shared the match 3 prize of @150. Congratulations to the lucky dippers who are Michael Neary, Mary Grant, Patrick Walsh and Josie O'Brien. The numbers drawn were 17, 21, 22 and 25.
For the next draw on Monday the jackpot could have grown to @4,100. If you want to win you must first be in.

THANK YOU – The Tipperary branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association recently held a church gate collection in Mullinahone. The association would like to thank the people of Mullinahone for their generosity. The sum collected locally was @840. The committee would also like to thank those who helped out with the collection.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL DRAW – The results of the Community Council Draw for February which took place recently was as follows: @150: Mary O'Halloran, Glenwood; @70: Hilary Collins, Gurteen; @25: David Lonergan, Poulacapple; @25: Nellie Shelly, Clonagoose; @20: Jo Hogan, Ballinacloghy.

 

KEEP FREE – The Parents Council of Presentation secondary school, Ballingarry, are holding their annual fundraising night with a table quiz on Monday in the Community Hall, Ballingarry, at 9pm. Table of four, entry fee is @20. Student table entry fee is @12.
The proceeds of the quiz will go to fund sport, drama and extra-curricular activities in the school. Refreshments will be served.

 

PARISH NEWS – Stations of the Cross and Benediction continue each Sunday evening in St Michael's at 7pm during Lent.
Sympathy to Jim Clarke, Bawnavrona, on the death of his sister Mary Flynn in Holycross.
Anniversary Mass is next weekend, Saturday, 8pm, anniversary – Annie and Jimmy Hawe, Kilvemnon.

 

GREETING – Did you practice the Knocknagow Greeting? The greeting is "God save all here''. The answer to the greeting is "God save you kindly''. We are encouraged to use this greeting and response at Mass. All together now!

 

MEDAL PRESENTATION – Presentation of championship winners medals to our intermediate and minor footballers and to our senior and under-21 hurlers will take place in the Sports Hall on next Saturday night after evening Mass. Light refreshments will be served.

By holding this event in the Sports Hall family members young and old will be enabled to attend. People are encouraged to bring along cameras and use the opportunity to take your photograph with some of Mullinahone's and Tipperary's finest hurlers and footballers. All are welcome.