EACH SECOND weekend in August since 1983 the village has hosted the Kickham Country Weekend Festival.

This festival sprang out of the Kickham Centenary Week held in Mullinahone in August 1982. It is one of, if not the principal cultural festival of the year held in Co Tipperary.

This year’s festival is the 23rd year of the event and the weekend has well withstood the ravages of time. The weekend attracts a very loyal band of followers and these are always augmented by interested people from Mullinahone and the surrounding parishes.

By now the Kickham Country Weekend has a tried and trusted formula which includes many old friends meeting each other during what used to be the holiday season. The ever popular lectures to which the organisers try to give a local flavour or “blas” take place on evenings which are just starting to draw in for Autumn leaving the long Summer evenings behind.
This year’s festival (the 23rd) will be officially opened on Friday August 12 at 7.30pm in the Knocknagow Community Centre, following a cheese and wine reception, by Dr Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly.

A lecture on “The Leahys; a Family of Engineers (the lives and careers of the father and three brothers of Archbishop Patrick Leahy) will follow at 8.30pm. The lecture will be delivered by Mr Brendan O’Donoghue MRIA. On Saturday afternoon there will be a bus tour of the historic sites of Galmoy led by Dr Patrick Vaughan. The second lecture of the weekend will be delivered that evening after Mass at 8.30pm, again in the Knocknagow Centre. This lecture will be on “The Life and Work of Canon William Carrigan - Historian of the Diocese of Ossory (1860-1924)”.
This lecture will be delivered by Fr Fergus O’Farrell.

Sunday as always is Commemoration Day. The 11.30am Mass in St Michael’s Church will be offered for CJ Kickham and his first biographer James Maher.
The Mass will be followed by the laying of wreaths and the oration will be given by well known Thurles native Senator Des Hanafin.

On Sunday afternoon weather permitting there will be a poetry reading and music session in the Walled Garden of Killaghy Castle. The guest poet will be Patrick Moran (Templetuohy).
In the event of inclement weather this event will be moved indoors.

The survival of this festival into the 21st century is quite remarkable and illustrates the country person’s love for his/her roots and his/her desire to hang onto vestiges of the past and their heritage.

Sometimes it is only when this heritage is gone that people want to retain it and then it may be too late. To quote an old saying “You’ll never miss the water until the well runs dry”.

July Weather -
Rainfall locally in July was normal. 62.2mm fell on 18 of the 31 days. The middle of the month was the driest part with only 1.4mm of rainfall on three of the 13 days from July 9 to 21. That spell began with eight sunny days from July 9 to 16. In the middle of that spell came St Swithins Day, July 15. It was rainless that day so tradition dictated that we would have the following 40 days fine. No sign of tradition kicking in yet. July 23 was a very wet day, 22.2mm of rain fell. This was about 30% of the month’s rainfall on one day.

It was the third wettest day of the year so far. The July total was a long way off the 100mm monthly total. We haven’t had one of these very wet months since October 2004 and prior to that November 2003.

Courthouse Restaurant -
A number of locals are anxious to know the operating times of the local Courthouse Restaurant. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays the Courthouse is open from 5.30pm to 10pm. It is closed on Wednesdays. Opening hours on Friday and Saturday 5.30pm to 12.30am. Sunday openings 5.30pm until 11pm.

Mari Mina Pharmacy -
Next week we hope to have official good news concerning the Mari Mina Pharmacy in Kickham St, its chemist and its opening hours. We would like to congratulate the owner Akram Hanna on the service he has been providing up to now and wish him the best as he goes about improving this service. The phone number of the Mari Mina Pharmacy is 052-53535.

Pilgrimage -
The annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock takes place on Sunday.
garda station - The following are the opening times for Mullinahone Garda Station this week for the renewal of firearm licences.
Today (Wednesday) 6 to 10pm; Thursday 6 to 10pm; Friday 6 to 10pm; Saturday 10 to 10pm; Sunday 8 to 10pm. All firearms licences must be renewed this week.

Belarus Bound -
Local girl Tracy Lonergan travelled to Belarus on Saturday. Tracy has gone there for two weeks as a volunteer aid worker. She will be working with over 100 children from three orphanages.

If anyone would like to make a donation to the project it would be much appreciated. Funds are currently being raised towards providing footwear for the children. Donations can be left into Lonergan’s shop or given to Tracy’s sister, Lisa, or any member of her family.

On a happier Belarus note many locals will remember Sasha who worked in our local butchers. Recently I saw some beautiful wedding photos of Sasha and his lovely bride. The photos were taken with plenty of snow in the background. We wish Sasha and his wife the very best of luck in their marriage.

Local Lotto -
The local lotto jackpot was not won on July 25. The winning numbers were 6, 11, 13 and 28. We had one match 3 winner who won e150. Congratulations to Margaret Scott of Bawnavrona. The jackpot on Monday night could be e2,800.

Community Council -
The 400 club draw on behalf of the local community council is ready to take off again. Entry fee for the full 12 months is e20. This may be paid in total or in two lots. The draw may also be entered on a monthly basis. This monthly draw is the principal fundraiser of our community council.

Football Final -
The minor footballers who have done well to reach the South Tipp final will play that final on Sunday evening. We hope to see some posters around the village with details later on in the week.

The footballers lost only one game in their path to the final. That was against St Patrick’s Gaels. “The Gaels” will be the opponents in the final and will be favourites.
This is hardly surprising as they have won every game up to now and are a combination team from the parishes of Drangan /Cloneen and Grangmockler/Ballyneale.

However fans will travel to the final hoping for a surprise and that the good form shown in the semi-final win over Fethard will be repeated and even improved upon. We wish the lads and their mentors every success.