Category: Ballydaly

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Drake and Moynihan going to Coffs Harbour Rally

The Rallyschool.com.au Irish duo of Charlie Drake (Derinagree) and Eoin Moynihan (Ballydaly) are counting down the days until the next round of the Australian Rally Championship gets under way in Coffs Harbour on the 14th – 16th May. The pair are fired up after recording their best ever result in a NSW State Championship round, the Lithgow event, where they finished third overall.

“We were really happy with the result in Lithgow and to finish third overall was a great boost for our confidence. We were seeded car 16 so to have a joint fastest stage time and be consistently in the top three was really encouraging, so now we are really looking forward to Coffs,” Charlie said.

[read more …] “Drake and Moynihan going to Coffs Harbour Rally”

The City Mass


On a very busy weekend we recorded quite a few events to share on our website. We had the visit to Millstreet on Saturday by participants from the Rally of the Lakes (with an excellent and much praised service centre at Green Glens). On Monday we had the very successful Cloghoula N.S. Sports Day. But we begin our sharing with an annual event at Shrone near Rathmore in the sacred setting known as “The City”. Seán Murphy, Brendan Murphy and I arranged to record and to transmit (almost live) the celebration of Mass which took place at 2.00 p.m. on Sunday and by 5.03 p.m. Seán Murphy had the completed recording ready for Dan Joe Kelleher in Carriganima for broadcast to thousands of appreciative viewers. Mass was celebrated by Fr. Larry Kelly who ministers in Rathmore. The historic oil truck we noted in Rathmore village on our way home. Later in the week we shall have pics. of the Rally and Cloghoula Sports.
See all the photos below (by Seán Radley for www.millstreet.ie and LTV2 Millstreet)
[read more …] “The City Mass”

When I Was Younger And Lived In Millstreet

When I was younger and lived in Millstreet far north of here even by sky
I used to climb to Clara Mountain on pleasant evenings in July
The hill overlooking the old fields just west of the Town of Millstreet
I often picked and ate whortleberries from the heather the small blue fruits tasted so sweet,
The skylark above me was carolling like a tiny musical speck as upwards he flew
I recall I could still hear him singing even though he had gone from my view,
Overlooking the Town of Millstreet and the countryside for miles around
The scenery of Sliabh Luachra and Duhallow breathtaking when viewed from the higher ground,
Kippagh and rugged Caherbarnagh and Gortavehy and it’s face of stone,
The mountain ranges of east Kerry and the legendary Paps of Shrone,
The green countryside of Duhallow of Cullen, Boherbue and Derrinagree
And back along by the Cork-Kerry border from Rathmore to high Knocknagree
The past has gone to the forever though the Happy memories we retain
And only in fancy on the slopes of Clara I do eat whortleberries again.

by Francis Duggan

The Cails

From Kippagh Mountain Lake downhill it does travel
It splashes around rocks and scurries down the gravel
In fields of Ballydaly swelled by rills and drains it grows to a small river
As onwards it does flow with a babble in it’s quiver.
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Through Feirm and Annagloor in Millstreet in Duhallow
It’s natural destiny it is destined for to follow
Through Shannaknock, Liscreagh and Claraghatlea to a bigger river growing
Where it joins the Finnow to the Blackwater flowing.
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The Cails is not renowned in song and in story
To be born in Kippagh is it’s great claim to glory
But long before the first human, beast or bird came to Ballydaly
The Cails from the hills to the Finnow has babbled on gaily.
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Unlike the great waterways it does not have a rating
But I feel that the Cails is one worth celebrating
With the Finnow it flows to the Blackwater to it’s sea destination
A very old river in a very old Nation.

by Francis Duggan

Ballydaly’s Gaelic Football Glory Days

I’ve heard that Ballydaly does not have a football team
Which puts a cloud on Tommy Tucker’s dream
That they might win Duhallow for third time
And give some bard another chance to rhyme.
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They won their first Duhallow title more than forty years ago
Some time back in the fifties that I know
Though of my dates I’m not too very clear
I think ’twas fifty seven was the year.
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When Ballydaly had their first big win
And their footballers were celebtated men
And John Twomey wrote of Ballydaly Boys
And west of Millstreet bonfires lit the skies.
[read more …] “Ballydaly’s Gaelic Football Glory Days”

Ballydaly in Early February

A cold start to another cold Winter’s day
From the overnight frost the old fields looking gray
A cold wind is blowing from Caherbarnagh Hill
And the Cails bank high from Kippagh flows with a will
To join with Finnow In flood waters of brown
In Claraghatlea a mile from Millstreet Town
As a result of yesterday’s heavy rain
Flood waters are babbling in the roadside drain
And hungry redwings chirping on the leafless trees
In temperatures of minus one degrees
In the farmyard in galvanize cattle shed
The hungry cows and bullocks bellow to be fed
And February is blowing out a cold chill
In the harsh wind from Caherbarnagh Hill.

from Francis Duggan

Millstreet Matters 18th Feb 2010

Ballydaly is a community that holds a strong identity and sense to its name. Through its many organisations down through the years, Ballydaly has maintained and developed the area as a vibrant community.

Behind Ballydaly’s vibrancy is its Community Hall — that’s the hub centre to local life. And when the Hall reached its 50th Anniversary, friends and associates convened to honour the special occasion.

Through Chairman Tom O’Sullivan and Secretary Ritchie O’Connor, the Hall remains in active use and splendidly kept. The foresight to Ballydaly Hall surfaced on the endeavours of a committee coming together to construct a meeting place.

[read more …] “Millstreet Matters 18th Feb 2010”

Mary Brigid Ring

The gift of memory is a marvellous thing
I still remember Mary Brigid Ring
In all weather sunny, windy, wet and cold and cool
From Coolinarne she cycled to and from the Millstreet Secondary Convent School.
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A few years older than me far as I know
Her wavy hair dark as wing of a crow
She had great warmth in her cheerful hello
I am going back some fifty years ago. [read more …] “Mary Brigid Ring”

Concern for jobs in Cadbury’s

http://www.blisstree.com/chocolatebytes/files/2008/09/cadbury.jpgThere is concern for the jobs in the chocolate crumb producing plant in Rathmore, as the implications of Kraft’s $13 billion takeover of Cadburys come into focus. It appears that Kraft want to strip away any excess cost, which could see the end of the Cadbury plants in Ireland. There are a number of Millstreet people who work in the factory.

The below story appears in the Irish Examiner 4-Feb-2010

—— The Story ———–
Workers at the Cadbury plant in Rathmore, still do not know if the takeover of the company by US food giant Kraft will affect their jobs.
Last year, SIPTU agreed to rationalisation proposals resulting in the loss of 28 jobs in Rathmore. The plant now has a workforce of around 80.

Cadbury Ireland Ltd employs almost 1,600 people, including 1,100 at its plant in Coolock, Dublin, and the remainder at plants in Tallaght, west Dublin, and Rathmore.

Chocolate crumb, a basic ingredient of Cadbury’s internationally known chocolate bars, is produced in Rathmore and …….. (see the Irish examiner for the full story)

Millstreet Matters: Concern for Ballydaly National School

RATHDUANE NATIONAL SCHOOL: The future of Rathduane National School is under the spotlight as parents and friends go all out to save their local rural based primary school base.

Concerned associates from the greater Ballydaly catchment area are hoping to offset dwindling numbers.

Rathduane National School is an excellent example of a primary school establishment that flourished and adapted to the changing fortunes of time. It has been and, hopefully to parents and friends, will remain a focal point for learning in their small community.

This is a sniplet from the Millstreet Matters column on the Corkman website, which also contains all the other news from the Millstreet area.

Lily Guerin

A woman who was indeed larger than life
Lily, John Justice’s daughter who became Dan Guerin’s wife
A beautiful down to earth person untainted by guile
She had such great warmth in her wonderful smile.
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One might say of her in a class of her own
The woman of the shop there was well liked and well known
By all in Ballydaly three miles from Millstreet
As nice a person as one could wish to meet.
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One known for her kindness and generosity
In Ballydaly she raised her family
Her family and friends will farewell her in tears
But good memories of her will outlive her by years.
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In the shop where for many years she did reside
Amongst family and friends and relations Mrs Guerin died
To be kind and loving and hospitable her claim to fame
A Lily by nature and a Lily by name.

by Francis Duggan

Death Notice: Lily Guerin (née Justice) of the Shop Ballydaly

The death has occurred of Lily GUERIN, (née Justice) of The Shop, Ballydaly, Millstreet, Cork

Removal from her residence at Ballydaly today (Tuesday), at 8pm to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ballydaly. Requiem Mass tomorrow, Wednesday, at 1pm. Funeral afterwards to St Mary’s Cemetery, Millstreet. Date of death: Monday, January 18, 2010

2006 Census: Millstreet – sex, age, marital status

Census2006_millstreetpopulation_sex_age_married
Breakdown of the population of Millstreet Town (the town only) from the 2006 census. (click on the table above to see a bigger clearer table)

That’s a total of 1,401 people (744 male, and 657 female) just for Millstreet Town itself. Listed below also are the number of people in each of the Local Electoral Divisions that are in the Millstreet catchment area, which gives an idea of how many people live in our general area.

Male Female
Coomlogane 436 395
Drishane 853 809
Keale 161 156
Cullen 204 212
Kilcorney 152 163
Crinnaloo 108 92
Rathcoole 211 215
Skagh 225 208
2350 2250

See below for more details and some analysis of the census information for Millstreet:

[read more …] “2006 Census: Millstreet – sex, age, marital status”

Far North Even By The Short Route

I was born and raised in Claraghatlea near Millstreet Town
Though that hardly would rate as a claim to renown
Far north even by the short route as the birds choose to fly
From where I live now thousands of miles of sky
Where the Cails from Kippagh to the Finnow does flow
By ditches and through old fields where rank rushes grow
In that old countryside mine was a known face
But now I might be a stranger in the old Homeplace
A countryside that inspired the long dead bards to rhyme
Years before I was born that is going back in time
Through green Ballydaly by night and by day
The Cails from Kippagh ever babbles it’s way
Through Feirm, Annagloor, Shannaknock, Liscreagh and Clarghatlea where Finnow it does meet
In the old rushy fields near the Town of Millstreet.

by Francis Duggan

Schools Closed until next Monday

It was announced last night that due to the treacherous nature of the roads, footpaths and concreted areas, all schools in Millstreet will remain closed until next Monday (11th January). This includes Presentation Convent, Boys National School, Millstreet Community School, Ballydaly National School and Cloghoula National School. There is no information on the other schools. With the freezing weather set to continue into next week, this will have to be reviewed in due course for the first few days of next week.

The schools have now been  off for three weeks over the Christmas period, as they were closed for two days before Christmas for the same reasons. I wonder are the kids happy to be off still, or would they prefer to be back with their friends?

Ballydaly Christmas Party Cancelled

Ballydaly Christmas Party (also celebrating the 50th anniversary of Ballydaly Hall) which was scheduled for tonight at 8:30pm has been canceled and rescheduled to next Saturday night the 9th January due to the cold weather and dangerous roads.

It has begun snowing today, and with no thaw expected during the day, and another freezing night, the roads are going to be deadly tonight, so expect most things to be canceled tonight.

Cloghoula National School – Whole School Evaluation

The Department of Education and Science have published an inspection report on Cloghoula National School. We have added the conclusion below, but the whole report is available to read on the Department’s website. Also available are older reports for all the other schools in the Millstreet area, which are also listed below:

Conclusion:

The school has strengths in the following areas:

  • A highly motivated and dedicated principal and staff.
  • A proactive board of management.
  • A collaborative approach to the work of the school
  • A high quality of education is provided
  • The school environment is happy and stimulating.
  • The children are well-behaved and cooperative.
  • The school is an important focal point in the community and a positive reflection of local customs, practices and expectations.

[read more …] “Cloghoula National School – Whole School Evaluation”

O’Briens of Ballydaly

Hello,
I was just inquiring about the history of the O’Briens of Ballydaly, Millstreet. My great-grandfather John O’Brien left his farm there and came to America. He later returned and married Cathleen Moynihan who used to live in a little yellow house on the main drag. Last time I was there it was a flower shop.
Matthew O’Brien
If anyone has anyinforrmation, please leave a comment below, or send an message using our Contact Us page, and we’ll forward the information.

Richie O'Connor on the 9pm News

Richie O'Connor from Ballydaly was on the 9pm News on RTE representing farmers who were staging protests across the country
Richie O'Connor from Ballydaly in a short interview on the 9pm News on RTE, where he was representing farmers who were staging protests across the country, about cuts in Government support and falling prices for farmers.

He said: “It’s making 18-20 cents. My side of the country in Duhallow, West Duhallow in particular it’s costing 27 cents per litre to produce it”

You can see the clip on the RTE website here http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1057468, just move the video forward to 11 minutes. [video only available in Ireland]

Plastic Kerrymen

When the Cork teams are playing
your heart would fill with pride
what a shame to be a plastic
and support the other side
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From dear old Ballydaly
back to the county bounds
a strange little creature
in some places can be found
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So, if you can’t support your own county
we don’t need you anymore
go ahead and pack your bags
and buzz off to Rathmore
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They’ll send you to Killorglin
a lovely town of note
you’ll be very welcome
they always need a GOAT!

by Jerry Lehane

Transcript recited by Chloe Collins on RTE last Saturday night. Of course there’s lots of them Plastics appearing out since the match last Sunday. “C” reg cars with their kerry flags out the window. To be avoided 😉

On the Passing of Dee Dineen

The news has spread far beyond Duhallow’s borders that Dee Dineen has passed away
In St Mary’s cemetery in Millstreet Town his last remains now lay
He was a marvellous character likeable in every way
But the journey through life for us all must end one night or day.
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Characters like Dee Dineen was are glorified in song and rhyme
He wore the Ballydaly colours when he was in his prime
He was far from an old man in his late fifties or early sixties maybe
And sad to think that in the flesh him we never more will see.
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In Duhallow he enjoyed the status of a character of renown
He will be missed in Ballydaly, in Cullen and Millstreet Town
And all through Duhallow and Sliabh Luachra where he was known quite well
A biography of his life in book form thousands of copies would sell.
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He will be missed by his many friends as well as by his family
And sad to think that in the flesh him we never more will see
So likeable and kind hearted fond memories of him will remain
The likes of him in Ballydaly may not be seen again.

by Francis Duggan

Millstreet duo compete in WRC Australia

Charlie Drake and Eoin Moynihan compete in their Subaru Impreza WRX during the Repco Rally of Australia Special Stage 32 on September 6, 2009 in Kingscliff, Australia.
Charlie Drake and Eoin Moynihan compete in their Subaru Impreza WRX during the Repco Rally of Australia Special Stage 32 on September 6, 2009 in Kingscliff, Australia.

Eoin Moynihan (Ballydaly) and Charlie Drake (Derinagree) are currently taking part in group N of WRC Australia (3rd to 5th September). The two have been in Australia for a few years, and have started rallying recently, under Charlie’s own motorsport team Celtic Motorsport. They are driving a Subaru Impreza WRX N4 for this race.

[read more …] “Millstreet duo compete in WRC Australia”

1911 Census for Millstreet

An example of a local Census Return Form from 1911
The 1911 Census Return for the O’Riordan family who lived at the corner of Mill Lane and Main Street, Millstreet

Recently I became aware that the 1911 Census has been published online at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie. So if you would like to find who was in your house the night of that census, or if you would like to trace your ancestors then this is an interesting place to look. Personally, I have found my own four grandparents and my 7 great grandparents that were still alive then, and some more interesting facts too.

In this census, Millstreet Town is not a district, but is split into two separate DEDs (District Electoral Divisions): Coomlogane and Drishane from the days of the great houses in town. The full list of local DED’s are:

Caherbarnagh, Coomlogane, Drishane, Kilcorney, Crinaloo,  Rathcool,
Keale, Cullen, Skagh (Derinagree), Knocknagree, Rosnalee, Doonasleen

note: the Derragh DED which was in the 1901 census is now gone and is part of the Cullen DED in 1911.

The census was taken on April 2nd 1911.

[read more …] “1911 Census for Millstreet”