news stories from clogh/moneenroe and surrounding areas
Local News
As collected by our editors or submitted by local clubs, organisations, and residents
22/6/08
ST.PATS RESURRECTION
A Special meeting will take place in Clogh Parish Centre on This Thursday night at 8.30 pm in relation to the re-formation of St Pats United Soccer Club. St Pats spent 27 years in the KDL. It is hoped to form a new committee and management structure to allow the Club to play in the KDL. Former Chairman and manager John Brennan is to Chair the meeting and stated that he is hopeful of a positive outcome to the meeting. Cllr Brennan stated that their are enough players in the Parish of Clogh and Moneenroe and is calling on all players to have pride in their Jersey and Parish and is requesting that all players attend this important meeting to ensure that Pats will be back to their glory days again.
OFFICIALLY OPENING
The official opening of the houses for the elderly will take place on Friday night next at Old School Crescent, The Islands, Moneenroe. The ceremony will be performed by Mr. Tom Maher Chairman of Kilkenny Co. Council after 7pm mass in Moneenroe Church. Chairman of the Colliery Christian Housing Assocation Cllr John Brennan stated that is a great day for the Parish and thanked all the members of the Housing association for their great voluntary contribution in insuring the success of the project.
After the opening ceremony, refreshments will be provided in the Railyad Football Club building. The Colliery Christian Housing Association is made up of Rev. Tom Sherlock, Fr. Martin Tobin, John Brennan MCC, Dick Brennan (Roe), Patsy Barcoe, Mary Morrissey, Tom O’Reilly, Margaret Dowd, Seamus O’Connor, Maurice Shortall MCC and Mai Dormer (Secretary).
CHURCH REVOVATIONS
Plans are now complete for the first of two phases of renovation to the parish church in Clogh. Phase one includes the replacement of rainwater gutters and downpipes, pointing, insulation and ancilliary works. Tender documents are available from the architects M/s. Bluett & O’Donohue, Tel. 056 7762907. The deadline for completion of this work is the end of September. The second phase is for an internal revamp and the plans for this will be displayed shortly.
JUBILEE
The parish celebrates at this time the Golden Jubilee of Sr. Frances Darragh of the Convent of the Holy Family in Moneenroe.
STRAWBERRY TEA DAY
A strawberry tea day will be held at the rectory, Cross Hill from 2 to 5 pm on Saturday 5t July. The event will include a bring and buy stall, a raffle and lucky dip. Proceeds will go to Castlecomer District Hospital and Rectory restoration.
CHERNOBYL
Parishioners will be reminded next weekend of the fabulous night last winter when the Portlaoise Gospel Choir gave a concert in the Parish Church on the occasion of handing over a cheque for €11,000 to Adi Roche of the Chernobyl Children’s Project. Several children from that stricken area are holidaying locally at present and will attend Sunday’s Mass t 11 am.
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Adi Roche in Clogh
On the coldest night of the Winter, in fact it was officially the first day of Spring, Friday 1st February, Clogh Parish Church was filled with a warmth and sense of joy. Despite the treacherous road conditions and biting wind, the congregation turned out in great numbers to participate in the handing over of the proceeds of a parish fund raiser for the Chernobyl Childrens Project.Breda Murphy, represesenting the Parish Liturgy Committee addressed the congregation and informed them that this winter’s Advent Appeal was launched on December 15th with the ain of raising €2000 towards providing a nurse for the child Victims of the world’s worst nuclear disaster. The generosity of local parishioners was boosted by contributions from the North Kilkenny Hunt and the St.Pats Utd. charity game on St.Stephen’s Day the fund reahed a very impressive €11,000. A cheque for this amount was presented by Maureen Lawler and Helen Whelan to the National Director of the Chernobyl Project, Adi Roche.
In an eloquent response, Ms.Roche expressed her gratitude to the people of Clogh that all people are members of the one human family that included the suffering children of Chernobyl. She made particular reference to the mental institution of Vesnova which she visited about eight years ago and what she saw there left an indelible impression on her. He graphically recalled the horrific conditions in which children were forced to live there. She referred to the fact that the people of Clogh had chosen February 1st, the Feast of St. Bridgid to make their donation, recalling that the Sint was a great role model and a great give. She reminded the congregation that it was officially the first day of Spring when life returned to the earth. She thanked the people of Clogh Parish for the kindness of their hearts and reminded them that their generous contribution would make a genuine impact in the provision of new and greater care for the children of Vesnova. She also reminded the attentive audience hat the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster was approaching and this should cause people to reflect on the massive consequences it caused. A presentation was made to Mai Dormer who had stepped down from her role on Parish Pastoral Council and a further presentation was made to Nora Close and Betty Hardy fo their long service to the Church in Moneenroe. Master of Cermonies Gerard Egan welcomed all who braved the bad night to turn up and then introduced Trish Carroll who gave a wonderful rendition of Danny Boy, Moon River and Will you go Lassie, Go. This was followed by two sessions of soul and gospel singing by the impressive Portlaoise Gospel Choir who began with ‘ Sing when the Spirit says Sing’ and finished with ‘Can’t give up’.
A nice side issue was he story of a member of the audience, local man Joe Lalor who has been a member of local voluntary groups who visited Chernobyl. Joe returned there last month to marry a Belarus girl who in the not too distant will be coming to Clogh as Mrs. Olga Lalor.
MASS CHANGES
Now that the parish has only one priest, changes had to be made to the weekly timetable of services. Following a survey of parishioners, the Pastoral Council has issued the new time table which is effective immediately. Saturday evening masses will be at 7.30 in Moneenroe on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays of each month and on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays and the eve of Holy Days in Clogh.
Sunday morning Masses remain as before 10 o’clock in Moneenroe and 11 o’clock in Clogh.
CLOGH COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Elected were Brid Doyle (Chairperson), Billy Love, Ollie Maher, Mai Dormer, James Hennessy, Martin Doyle, Theresa Ryan, Sheila Hosey, Breda Murphy, Charlie McCarthy, Donal Brennan, Seamus Delaney, Larry Lyng, P.J. Kelly, Bridgid Kelly, John Paul O’ Neill, Edward Mahon, Olivia Delaney, Paddy Cooney.
A Needs Survey questionnaire which accompanied the voting papers has certainly thrown up some varied and interesting subjects for the new group to take into consideration. Among the most sought after facilities are the restoration of services at the Parish Centre with Childcare and meals for seniors topping the list. There is also serious demand for development of facilities at the Community Field, Community Alert and Youth Activities. Three sub committees to look after these three issues have been put in place.
Hey Murph - Who's that behind you ? and in front of you, it's Heartbeat ?
(left to right)Julia Doyle of Clogh, Bridget "Bridie" Glendon of Letterkenny,county Donegal,and Frances Browner, editor of 'While Mem'ry Brings Us Back Again', published by the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers, New York. The book, launched at the Irish Consulate in New York,documents the experiences of 35 men and women who left Ireland for America between the years of 1927 and1964. Julia Doyle, who lives inThe Bronx, New York,emigrated in 1951 from Clogh,
Cynthia Jirak (US) pulling a pint in Kavanagh's with Martin. Rory Delaney in his Kilkenny/Laois jersey.
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The Parish Plan Group . L/R Joe Mooney, John Brennan, Monica O'Shea, Patsy Barcoe, Richard O'Gorman,Catherine Brennan, Fr.Dan Bollard and Charlie McCarthy.
The finished plan was officially launched on Thursday 7th December 2006.