14-09-2002

Mountmellick TC welcomes Courthouse plan

A long awaited plan for the Mountmellick courthouse was outlined at the Town Council monthly meeting on Monday night.

Deputy Co Manager Declen Byrne said the front part of the building would be "developed" for the Town Council and County Council.

Upstairs would be suitable for the TC, he believed, an administrative office could be located downstairs.

Investigations would continue to find the best possible use for the main part of the building, he stated.

Mr Byrne added, "It is now a question of sourcing funding to do the work."

Chairman Michael Gormley: "when would the work commence?"

Mr Byrne: "I cannot give a commitment. We will working very hard on this."

Cllr David Conroy stressed the importance of preserving the Courthouse's architectural features. He enthused "Its good news that the town council is to get a home of it's own."

Cllr Bracken: "At last we are getting somewhere. I hope that the work starts soon."

Pointing to refurbishment proposals for Stradbally and Borris-in-Ossary courthouses, he wondered how Mountmellick was "so far back." He emphasised the need to improve conditions in the courthouse for the road overseer.

Cllr Patrick Bowe: "It's not before time that the Town Council will have it's own facilities."

Cllr Helen Hanson: "We should take the ball on the hop now. The building is deteriorating every year."

Mr Byrne said the County Council had examined a number of options for the courthouse. One was that a voluntary housing organisation would develop the rear of the building for dwellings while the front would be used by the local authorities.

Another option, he continued, was that the County Council would use the main part of the courthouse, leaving the front to the Town Council. The voluntary housing organisation had indicated it wasn't in a position to become involved.

Mr Byrne explained: "Now it has been decided that irrespective of what happens to the main part of the building, that the front is going to be developed for the Town Council and County Council."

He said Duchas and An Taisce had approved the project on condition that the County Council should treat the courthouse in a particular way.

Mountmellick's Adieu to 'Loved & respected' priest

Wanted, a large removal van. For Fr Pat Hennessy. Or, to be precise, for all the treasures that were presented to him at a packed function in The Owenass Hall, Mountmellick, last Wednesday night (Sept 4).

During the function, and earlier at a concelebrated mass in St. Joseph's Church, the people of Mountmellick said goodbye to Fr Hennessy who had served them as a curate since 1995. They accorded him a standing ovation.

A native of Knockbawn, Spink he has been appointed parish priest of Mountrath and Ballyfin, the first person to hold the combined position. He will reside at the latter location.

Speaker after speaker paid tribute to Fr Hennessy. They referred to is kindness and to his diligence in carrying out his priestly duties.

As Kilcaven GAA stalwart Jack O'Brien noted: "The attendance at the church and here shows what people think of him. He is very much loved and respected"

On a lighter note, Mountmellick rector Rev Olive Donoghue, representing the Church of Ireland, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations, thanked Fr Hennessy "for all the chocolate he made me eat." She revealed: "He has a box of Cadbury's snacks in a cupboard."

Mountmellick GAA club's Teddy O'Shea said Fr Pat had always been with them in spirit. "An honourable man," was how Brendan McEvoy, of St. Patrick's NS and St Joseph's NS parents councils, described him.

Quipped Macra's Leo Dunne: "He is always away from Mountmellick and getting two parishes."

Local Parish Priest Fr Francis McNamara told Fr Hennessy: "the people of Mountmellick really, really appreciate you. We wish you happiness and contentment and, above all, fulfilment in Ballyfin and Mountrath."

Fr Hennessy declared: "It would be an understatement to say that I'm overwhelmed by your love, generosity and good wishes."

He recalled the welcome and hospitality Mountmellick people had given him when he arrived in the town seven years ago.

He went on: "The generosity of the people here is deep and comes from the heart. Mountmellick will always be a memorable and happy chapter in my life. Mountmellick-a beautiful people and a beautiful place.

For me it has been a privilege and a joy to serve you as a priest. You ministered tome and I ministered you."

Fr Hennessy thanked the function organisers and all who had helped him over the years, including his family, Fr McNamara, Bishop Laurence Ryan, teachers, Sr Rosario and the Presentation Sisters, Fr Joe Whittle and housekeeper Peggy Peake.

He praised the dedication of the matron and staff in St Vincent's Hospital, and specially welcomed to the function his Aunt Brigid.

Padraig McCabe, substituting for Michael Gormely who was on holiday, was MC at the function, the ladie's committee prepared and served refreshments, Present were Fr Hennessy's brothers, Tom, James, William and Martin; his sisters, Mary, Ella and Margaret; and his cousins Fr Wm Hennessy and Sr Ellie Comerford.

Those who made presentations to Fr Hennessy: John Dowling (Pioneers), Michael Burke (Ivy Chapel Group), Bridie Gorman (Our Ladie's Sewing Guide); Teddy O'Shea (Mountmellick GAA), Tony Monahan (Soccer Club), Ann Hanlon (Lourdes Club), Marie Fennelly (St Vincent de Paul), Leo Dunne (Macra), Jack O'Brien (Kilcaven GAA), John Joe McEvoy (Clonaghdoo community), Brendan McEvoy (St Joseph's NS and St Patrick's NS Parent's Councils), Bridie Dunne (Clonaghdoo Parish Council),Goreti Whelan (Clonaghdoo NS), John Morell (St Patrick's NS Board of Management), Sr Mary Nunan (St Patrick's NS Board of Management), and Liam Ahern (The Rock NS).

Mountmellick parish's gift to Fr Hennessy is artist Gemma Guihan's study of the interior of St Joseph's Church.

Fun days conclude in Kirwin Park

Over 100 children from Kirwin Park/Harbour court, Mountmellick participated in three fun days run by Kirwin Park Resident's Association over the last three Wednesdays in August in conjunction with the Mountmellick development Association (MDA), Laois County Council and Laois Sports Partnership and the events took place in Kirwin Park Estate.

The idea originated last May when committee members of the Residents Association conducted house to house survey and asked people what summer activities they would like to see for the children in the area.

Activities included side wall art, song and mime, scavenger hunts, face paintings, ball games, water games and parachute games. A highlight of the final day was the bouncing castle and ball play centre.

"It was a great opportunity for the children of the park to play in an organised environment and to mix well before the school term commences," said Mairead O'Mara, secretary of the Kirwin Park/Harbour Court Residents Association, who was one of the organisers of the day.

Mairead recently raised funds for Kirwin Park in the recent Lord Mayor campaign and some of these funds were used to cover the costs of the fun days. Funding was also received from Laois County Council.

Supervision on the days came from the residents of Kirwin Park, from staff and youth leaders of the Mountmellick Youth Development Centre (MDA), students attached to the student summer scheme in the MDA, and from Laois County Council.

Feedback from parents was very positive. "It was great fun, everybody joined in and it fostered a great sense of spirit in the Park." Said Joan Kelly. Caroline Garry said it was a great idea and hoped that it would expand next year.

"There are great advantages to organised play," She said. "The children stayed in their own age groups, were completely occupied during the days, and it gave younger shyer, children an opportunity to develop their self confidence and to get to know their neighbouring families," she added.

"The experience of the fun days will ease the transition from home to school life," noted Liz Stapleton, liaison officer with Mountmellick Youth Development Centre.

LFL Youths Division

Farrell makes Mountmellick pay penalty
Mountmellick Utd 1 …………………… Portlaoise 1

Portlaoise grabbed a point in this season's LFL Youths opener when Brian Farrell fired home a second half penalty.

Home side Mountmellick United, back in the LFL Youths division after a one season absence, will look back on this game at Smith's Field as two points dropped instead of one gained.

A Lee Collins goal 15 minutes before the break gave them a lead they thoroughly deserved and they piled on the pressure in the second half.

But despite creating chance after chance in the wet conditions, Mountmellick failed to add the crucial second goal they needed to get a firm grip on the game.

Mark Grennan had a shot blocked by Brendan Fingleton and then when the impressive Collins carved the opening, Portlaoise goalkeeper Declin O'Loughlin advanced to smother the ball.

O'Loughlin turned in a man of the match performance for Portlaoise who won spot kick in the 67th minute in a rear attack.

Mark Turner took down substitute Joe Brophy as he ran into the square on the right and referee Alan Lynch, had no hesitation in awarding the penalty.

Farrell gave Mountmellick Keeper Ross Morrissey no chance at all with a brilliant rising kick from the spot to the left.

Mountmellick pressed again in the closing minutes but Ger King came to the visitors rescue and when the home side won a late free kick Daragh Hanlon fired it too high to trouble O'Loughlin.

LFL Counties Major Division

Mountmellick trounce Coolraine in 13-goal thriller
Mountmellick Utd 9 ……………………. Coolraine 4

Fourteen goals in two games. Now that's a dramatic start to the league campaign if there ever was one.

Mountmellick followed up last week's 5-0 trouncing of Gallen United wit even a more comprehensive defeat of Collraine, a tougher outfit on paper then the Ferbane side.

The game had everything, poor defending, great scores and some super action, not to mention 13 goals and a penalty crashed against the crossbar by losers Coolraine.

On ten minutes, Niall Lynch opened the scoring after the visiting goalkeeper and defender collided going for the same ball.

But in the next five minutes Mountmellick were rocked when their defence was caught square and clinical scoring resulted in Coolraine getting two goals to go into a shock lead.

Mountmellick hit back with three goals in the next ten minutes, the best being a Padraig Goodwin chip to go 4-2 up with only half an hour gone.

There were no further goals before the break bur direct from the restart Coolraine went on the attack and within a minute a mix-up in the home defence let the visitors pull a goal back.

Coolraine were now piling on the pressure and only a top class save from Donie O'Mahony kept the score at 4-3.

Mountmellick weathered the storm and a cross shot from Ray Farrell put them 5-3 up and great wing play from Paul Lee led to Padraig Goodwin getting his second and Mountmellick sixth.

Robbie Hibbits then scored a lovely seventh by lobbing the keeper and Lee Collins, a star with the Youths the previous day, hit goals eight and nine, two identical finishes where the forward's pace outstripped that of the defenders to fire unstoppable shots to the net.

But credit to Coolraine who forced a penalty, which they missed, and then recovered to grab a fourth goal from a super free kick.

Mountmellick started the game with a reshuffled defence due to injury and this caused some uneasiness at the back which led to mistakes but as the game wore on they got their act together.

Most impressive for Mountmellick, who will be without Eoin Smith, Jody Davis and Paddy Delaney this season, were Kevin Conroy, John Kerry and the man of the match, Robbie Hibbits.