06-04-2002
Warden call for Mountmellick schools
A School Warden for St Joseph's NS and St Patrick's NS should be provided, agreed Mountmellick Town Councillors at their monthly meeting.
Town Clerk Roisín Walsh said St Joseph's NS Vice Principal Sheila Coyle had written to her requesting the appointment of a School Warden for one hour a day and had estimated the annual cost at £2,000.
Cllr Michael Gormley: "Send it (request) to the Co Council and see if we can have a reply for the next meeting."
Cllr Paddy Bracken: "My understanding is that the Co Council is not funding a School Warden. I was contacted by parents about this. At one stage we were optimistic that there would be permanent pedestrian lights at the schools."
Deputy Co Manager Declan Byrne said he and the Town Clerk would look at the costings involved in the issue. He added: "I will discuss the various options with the appropriate people in the Co Council."
Cllr Bracken wondered could a Council staff member be diverted to work as a School Warden in the short-term?
Cllr David Conroy: "It seems to be a very reasonable request-to provide a School Warden for an hour a day."
Mountmellick students fashion fundraising success
A CAVALCADE of fashion wear was modelled in Mountmellick on Wednesday, March 20 as a fund raising venture to help improve facilities in Mountmellick Community School.
Held in the sports complex, the clothing was modelled by students, staff and parents, and was generally regarded as an all round success.
Among the shops displaying their Spring/Summer collections were:
- No. 1 Boutique (Mountmellick)
- Jazz Japan
- Dunnes Stores
- Miss Emg (Tullamore)
- A.J. Flynn
- The Loft
- Satellite Sports (Portlaoise)
- Caroline's Debs Hire (Clonaslee).
Hairstyles for the evening were done by Shades Hair Studio in Mountmellick.
As the various fashions were paraded, the large audience who turned up on the night were treated to a selection of song and dance routines by first and second year students. Solo singing and traditional music was also performed - all of which was choreographed by Ms Francis Kerry, the music teacher.
One of the highlights of the night was the guest appearance of Mountmellick's very own '6', who performed their latest hit with gusto under the guidance of Clara Mc Evoy.
Eurolites from Portlaoise took care of the lighting and sound processing for the event. M.C. for the evening was Caroline Birmingham, a transition year student, while Yvonne Ryan and Marilyn Byrne filled the compere duet role.
Thanks were expressed afterwards by organisers Paula Kinnarney and Kathleen O' Loughlin to the transition year groups for their help with the preparations, as well as to the shops for the use of their clothing ranges. The Parents' Council, the committee of the sports complex and local business were also thanked.
Davis double keeps Mountmellick on treble trail LFL Counties Cup quarter-final
Abbeyleix Athletic 0 .......................Mountmellick Utd 3
MOUNTMELLICK United are still on the treble trail as a result of this win over Abbeyleix Athletic.
Two goals from Jody Davis and another from starlet striker Robbie Hibbitts dumped Abbeyleix Athletic out of the Counties Cup and powered Mountmellick into the semi-finals.
Abbeyleix had been hoping to upset the Major Division leaders and the game, played on a near perfect pitch with a strong breeze blowing, was a typically tight cup contest. Abbeyleix were the brighter side after the kick-off but their use of the long, high ball was dealt with well by the visitors' defence.
Indeed, the visitors themselves used a long-ball tactic too, and also to little effect. Towards the end of the first half Mountmellick got to grips with the game and the home 'keeper made a fine save from Niall Lynch, leaving the interval score 0-0.
The second half was a more exciting affair and again, Athletic came out with all guns blazing. Donie O'Mahony had to save Mountmellick twice to keep the home side at bay. The goalkeeper then set up the first goal after 55 minutes. A wind assisted punt from O'Mahony flew over the Abbeyleix defence's heads and Jody Davis was the first to react, dispatching the ball to the net with a fine finish.
That goal pointed the way for Mountmellick to play some fine ground football and when Paddy Delaney linked up with the overlapping full-back Kevin Conroy, the latter's excellent cross was finished to the net by Davis.
Abbeyleix never gave up but the visitors' defence repelled everything that the home side threw at them and 15 minutes from time the excellent Davis put Robbie Hibbitts in on goal and the youngster made no mistake. To their credit Abbeyleix never gave up and with two minutes left they were awarded a penalty. However, the spot-kick was booted wide, proving it was not going to be the home side's day and Mountmellick marched on to the last four of the Counties Cup.
