On The Passing Of Dan Leary

Dan Leary was a legend of old Millstreet but he’ll never more be seen in Millstreet Town
Or in the Town Park on a Summer’s evening With a pair of greyhounds walking up and down
He was a sterling corner back in his prime a stalwart of Millstreet Gaelic Football
Fearless and hard but fair he never shirked a challenge as those who played against him do recall.
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For many years he was a Millstreet butcher the Learys of the West End were well known
And Dan the Millstreet schoolboys of the fifties did look up to we were so proud he was one of our own
In Cork County Championship Games in Coachford and in Macroom Dan Leary at his best was often seen
One of his Club’s greatest defensive players it was with pride he wore the Millstreet green.
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It was with sadness I read of his passing in the flesh one that we never more will see
But for as long as I have the power to remember he surely will live in my memory
He was so down to earth and unassuming and to his friends he always remained true
‘Tis not because he’s dead I sing his praises in words I only give the man his due.
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Dan Leary a legend of Duhallow Gaelic Football now with the dead of Millstreet Parish lay
‘Tis sad to think we never more will see him but good memories of him with us bound to stay
The best forwards in Cork Gaelic Football against him always found it hard to score
It was with pride he wore the green of Millstreet and may he rest in peace forever more.

by Francis Duggan

A note of interest is that Dan was in the 1930s the first child baptised in St Patricks Church following its opening after two years of restoration.

Family Fun at Dromtarriffe

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A most enjoyable Family Fun Day with “Crafts & Creatures” was held at Dromtariffe Centre on Bank Holiday Monday, 26th October 2009.   A host of marvellous activities took place including a wonderful exhibition of Capoeira by Testa and an opportunity to view rare and beautiful animals. The fascinating event was co-ordinated by Marie & Brendan of “The Animal Road Show” & Friends.  Here we share a selection of pictures we took at the end of the excellent event (see below).  Do be on the look out for future such events…..A must-not-miss truly worthwhile occasion!  (Seán Radley for millstreet.ie)
[read more …] “Family Fun at Dromtarriffe”

Baby Jacob

BabyJacobSpare a thought for baby Jacob Nowak who was born in Millstreet in September with a very rare condition called Anophthalmos which is a congenital absence of one or two eyeballs resulting in severe malformations of the facial skeleton. Early treatment is necessary and there will be fundraising for this to help his family pay for the procedures. At the start of December there will be a concert in the Chapel in Drishane to help little Jakob. There is a superb lineup of performers and those confirmed are : Marina Cassidy – foremost Irish harpist/soprano; Millstreet Church Choir; Music Group “Sceal Eile”; Polish Choir from Cork; Claire O’Leary, fiddle soloist; Louise Bourke, soprano and Niall Moylan, pianist; Siobhan Forde, organist; and the Drishane Gospel Choir. Tickets can be putchased locally. Full concert details are given below :

For more information, visit the website for Baby Jacob.

[read more …] “Baby Jacob”

Annmarie O’Riordan Singing

Annmarie O’Riordan our traditional Irish singer from Rathcoole has a newly revamped website located at  http://www.annmarie.ie. Give it a visit! Below are some of her songs from her three albums which you can listen to:


Cooraclare

There’s more songs to listen to below!!

[read more …] “Annmarie O’Riordan Singing”

Malpaso – Black and White

malpaso-monday
A quiet Monday evening in the Malpaso Bar

A dark but nevertheless interesting photo taken in the Malpaso Bar last year. It was taken by Shaun Downey who was on holiday here.  His mother Nora Mary O’Sullivan (Noreen ‘Sal’) originally comes from Main Street, and was staying in Clara View. The picture was posted on his blog The Poor Mouth as a featured photograph.

[read more …] “Malpaso – Black and White”

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]

First Mass in Drishane Chapel in 17 Years

Joan O’Mahony & Jackie Kent at Drishane on the recent occasion of the celebration of a Polish Mass in Drishane Chapel (first Mass celebrated there in 17 years) followed by a special Polish celebratory evening
Joan O’Mahony & Jackie Kent at Drishane on the recent occasion of the celebration of a Polish Mass in Drishane Chapel (first Mass celebrated there in 17 years) followed by a special Polish celebratory evening

More photos below:
[read more …] “First Mass in Drishane Chapel in 17 Years”

Forgotten Maggies – Sunday Independent

JUSTICE: Maureen O'Sullivan's case was major milestoneIn yesterdays Sunday Independent there was a long article on the good work done by Millstreet film maker Stephen O’Riordan in unearthing the official confusion as to what happened to many women that were in the Magdalen Laundries, when researching for the film “The Forgotten Maggies”. Here is an extract from the article:

MORE THAN 16 years after their remains were controversially exhumed from a forgotten corner of a Dublin convent, the 155 Magdalens of High Park Convent are again in the news as the barring of Magdalen survivors from the Redress Board causes uproar.

Documentary-maker Steven O’Riordan unearthed the full level of official confusion about who exactly these women were and when they died during his research for a forthcoming film, The Forgotten Maggies.

Go and read the full article on the Sunday Independent website

Eily Buckley

Long before she wrote for the Clara News
And years before I even knew the taste of booze
For her love of people she became well known
And the fame of Eily Buckley has since grown.
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For years she drove the school bus up and down
The roads of Millstreet to and from the Town
And perhaps many of the kids she drove to and from the school today
From Millstreet Parish now live far away.
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Miles from Cloghoula her own countryside
Her Cloghoula notes in Clara News read far and wide
In big cities far from Millstreet County Cork
In Sydney, Melbourne, London and New York.
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Can’t say that I knew her that well at all
Though she is one I readily can recall
For her’s is such a well known and loved face
In Millstreet Parish still my favourite place.
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A friendly person untouched by conceit
And one of the best loved people in Millstreet
She’d never ignore you as she drove by
She’d always smile and wave a friendly hi

by Francis Duggan

Millstreet Debs 2009

Millstreet Debs 2009 took place on 25th August 2009. A full report on this occasion later, pictures are by Elaine Kelleher. A special mention to Ava and Clodagh two little girls who dressed up for the occasion.

fron the Corkman:

Millstreet Community School pupils replaced school uniforms with glittering ball gowns and dapper tuxedos for their debs ball.

The Millstreet school pupils and friends were out in force at their hosting in the Vienna Woods Hotel, Glanmire.

A distinct air of glamour surrounded the event as beautiful young ladies accompanied by handsome young men had a night to remember as they dined in style and danced to the beat on their big social event of the year.

[read more …] “Millstreet Debs 2009”