13-04-2002
Clonaslee and Mountmellick chasing Cup doubles
Longford army side Connolly FC are the next obstacle between Clonaslee United and a possible Cup double.
Clonaslee are fighting a battle on three fronts as the season draws to a close. Still in contention for the Counties Major Division title, they are also in the semi-finals of both the Counties Cup and Whiteley Cup.
The Counties Cup semi-final draw has kept them apart from Mountmellick United and they will be fancied to see off the challenge of Connolly, who beat Midland Celtic in the quarter-final.
By the same token, Mountmellick United, who are aiming for a treble of their own - Counties Major title, Counties Cup and Sheeran Cup - will be expected to be too strong for the other Longford side, FCFC. The Counties Cup semi-finals are provisionally fixed for Sunday, April 28.
Clonaslee have a home draw against Castlejordan in the Whiteley Cup semi-final. Abbeyleix Athletic await the winners of the Tullamore/FCFC quarter-final, which is fixed for Sunday week, April 21.
Meanwhile, the Clonaslee United second team face Portlaoise C in the Division Three Subsidiary Cup, while Trumera Rovers, who are climbing up the Division Three table, travel to Esker in the other semi-final.
Counties Cup semi-finals
Mountmellick Utd (Major) v F.C.F.C. (Division 2 Longford)
Clonaslee Utd. (Major) v Connolly F.C. (Division 1 Longford)
Provisional date for Counties Cup semi finals - Sunday, April 28.
Mountmellick dumping 'disgrace'
Indiscriminate dumping in beautiful rural areas around Mountmellick was a
disgrace, Deputy Co Manager Declan Byrne told the Town Council monthly meeting
last week.
He rejected the argument that high waste collection charges were causing the
problem.
Illegal dumping would, he claimed, still take place-even if the Kyletalisha
tiphead were "free."
Cllr Gerard Doody said less than 30% or 40% of households in some parts of the town had bins. Which, he noted, posed the question: where was refuse being disposed of? Obviously, some was ending up on the roadside. Refuse that, he pointed out, included such items as old cookers and washing machines.
Chairman Marc Connolly: "The Co Council are going to extreme lengths to catch illegal dumpers."
Cllr Denis O'Meara: "The problem is that the dumping is taking place at night when Council staff are off duty. The drain on the Bay Road-you could walk across it now, there's so much rubbish in it. A few months ago, if you fell into it, you could be drowned."
Cllr Helen Hanson: "It's a disgrace-every ditch in the country."
She complained of a "shocking scarcity" of litter bins in Mountmellick.
Manager Byrne appealed to people to report illegal dumpers who would, he vowed,
be prosecuted.
Cllr Hanson: "Farmers should be reminded to be responsible for black plastic they take off bales."
Cllr Paddy Bracken described the waste collections charges as "exorbitant"-way beyond the inflation rate. He declared: "I would love to know the margins the (waste collection) contractors are getting." He told of seeing three street litter bins full of domestic refuse.
Chairman Connolly: "I don't think the cost factor would be the reason
for people dumping illegally."
Cllr Bracken: "The question is why have people given back bins in the
numbers they have?"
Manager Byrne: "It's irresponsible people who are dumping illegally."
Cllr Michael Gormley: "It's not old age pensioners and poor people who are dumping."
Cllr Doody told of how he and others had removed 80 tonnes of rubbish from
a bog-and that, he revealed, was long before the rise in waste collection
charges. The rubbish had reappeared within six months, he revealed.
"It (illegal dumping) is gone to epidemic proportions at this stage,"
he added.
Cllr Hanson: "I think the policy of the polluter pays is not being enforced."
Report illegal dumpers, and possibly win a weekend break. That was Town Clerk Jer Scully's message.
He said people could use a free telephone "hotline" to alert the County Council to illegal dumpers and litter louts-and by doing so, could "qualify" for a weekend break.
O'Moore Street roundabout move
THE County Council road design section is to consider the provision of a
roundabout in an effort to ease traffic congestion in O'Moore Street, Mountmellick.
Senior Engineer Mary White gave a commitment to this effect at the Town Council
monthly meeting last week.
Cllr Helen Hanson claimed cars parked all day were the problem. "One car can disrupt all the traffic in the town," she added.
Chairman Marc Connolly said O'Moore Street businesses were employing 13 people.
Cllr Michael Gormley wondered why a roundabout couldn't be put into the area.
They were "everywhere" in Portlaoise, he maintained.
Cllr Patrick Bowe: "I would be 100% behind a roundabout. There's not much point in we coming in here as public representatives if the County Council is not going to listen to us. I would not approve of restricted parking in this area (O'Moore Street)."
Cllr Gormley: "Surely to God it is not a big problem to instal a roundabout on a temporary basis? If it does not work, we will look at something else. I will oppose (parking) by-laws until the Co Council provides off-street parking."
Cllr Hanson said she didn't want to deprive anyone of a living. But, she asserted, people couldn't purchase meat or whatever because there was a line of cars in O'Moore Street.
Cllr David Conroy supported the call for a roundabout.
Chernobyl Children Quiz
A table quiz in aid of the Chernobyl children is being held in The Mellick Inn on Wednesday, April 16 at 9.30pm. Questions by Michael Linehan. All support welcomed.
Mountmellick Angling Association
Mountmellick Angling Association will hold a trout fishing competition on Sunday, April 14 on all club waters, open to senior and junior anglers. Entry fee €4, senior and €2 junior.
Entries to Victor Cox's shop or Tommy Quigley or in the square between 10.30am and 11am on Sunday. Weigh in at the square at 6pm. All club rules apply.
Mountmellick Game and Gun Club
A clay shoot - 50 bird sporting, will be held on Sunday, April 14 t Gorman's Bog, Tullamore Road from 10am - 6pm
