Kilkenny woman goes home -
The death took place recently in Green Hills Nursing Home, Carrick-on-Suir of Sarah Brennan. Sarah, better known as Sally or Sal, lived in Ballydavid for the last 60 years.
At the time of her death she was in her 91st year and had celebrated her 90th birthday in style with her family, friends and neighbours in the Carraig Hotel early last Summer.

Until her final illness Sally was in good health and lived alone since the death of her husband Phil in 1988. She was a member of the Walsh family of Tullaroan. Another of her sisters was the late Mrs Kelly of The Square.

Sally's late husband Phil Brennan was also a Kilkenny native. They came to Ballydavid and began to farm there just before the end of World War II. Both Sally and Phil took an active role in running the farm.

Over the years Sally had an interest in vegetable growing and also to a greater extent in flowers which she passed on to her daughter Anna.

Sally was an honest hard working woman known for her plain speaking. She was waked at home and then the remains reposed at Brett's Funeral Home prior to removal to St Michael's Church, Mullinahone. Here they were received by Fr John McGrath who was a regular visitor to see Sally during her spell in hospital.

Fr McGrath also said her funeral Mass assisted by Fr Gear and Fr O'Donoghue. Prior to her funeral Mass the following items portraying Sally's long life were displayed to the congregation. A toy dog, flowers, a family photo, a rosary beads and a copy of Ireland's Own.

The mementos were displayed by two young friends Dean Hallinan and Catherine Connolly. Sally had been a guest at Dean's First Communion party. The rosary beads showed Sally's commitment to prayer and to religion. The family photo her deep interest in family and extended family. The dog and flowers symbolised her love of animals, her own dogs and all growing things.

Perhaps Ireland's Own was the most symbolic of all. Sally loved reading the newspapers. Her principal interest was in a way of life certainly on the wane as portrayed in Ireland's Own. The readers at her Mass were Lena McNamara (family friend) and her nephew Pat Brennan. Though Sally and her husband Phil had only one child they also reared Pat Brennan and Denis Brennan (both nephews of Phil) when their mother died. The prayers of the faithful were recited by Joseph and Noel Brennan (sons of Denis and Pat), Noreen Bambrick and Martina Clancy (nieces), Tommy Nolan (nephew) and Celia Commins (granddaughter).
The gifts were presented by Sally's immediate family Anna and John Commins and Brendan and Celia Commins. Following her requiem Mass, Sally's remains were returned to Ballykeeffe cemetery for interment and to be united with her late husband.
Sally is survived by her daughter Anna Commins grandchildren Brendan Commins and Celia Commins and her son-in-law John Commins of Breanormore, Nine Mile House.
She is also survived by her brother Mick Walsh (Tullaroan), sister-in-law Kitty Walsh (Tullaroan) and brothers-in-law Paddy Brennan (Kilkenny) and Tom Brennan (Australia).
She is further survived by a large number of nephews and nieces, other family members, neighbours and friends.

County Title Won - There is an old saying that God never closes a door but he opens a window. In football in Mullinahone's case, this proved eminently true last week.
On the Sunday Mullinahone's intermediate football team went down badly to Moyne in New Inn in the County football final.

On Tuesday in Killenaule, St Michaels NS, Mullinahone were appearing in their third Tipperary Primary Schools football final in recent years. They had lost their two previous finals. This time the result was different. Maybe it was a case of third time lucky.
The referee for the game was John Kelly who was the knight of the whistle when Mullinahone defeated Knockavilla in the County intermediate semi-final recently. This time Clonoulty NS were providing the opposition. Mullinahone opened the scoring with an Eoin Fennelly point but Clonoulty equalised.

Then after scoring a point Jack Shelly caught a ball sent in by Colin Fitzgerald, rounded his man and goaled. Luke Mullally then got in a good clearance when Clonoulty hit the post. Denis Connolly then pointed a free sandwiched in between two Clonoulty points. This left the half time score Mullinahone 1-3, Clonoulty 0-3.

In the first half both Diarmuid O'Hallaran and Luke Mullally had made many fine clearances. Clonoulty began the second half well but missed an early free. A good Mullinahone move involving Eoin Fennelly, Sean Walzer and Jack Shelly ended with a Shelly point. Two more points followed from Denis Connolly (free) and Eoin Fennelly.

Then came the turning points. First Jack Shelly goaled, then Clonoulty replied in kind and then Jack goaled again to open a big gap. This gap remained, due to good saves by Niall Walsh in goal and fine clearances from Richard Walsh and some of the other backs. Mullinahone won on the scoreline 3-9 to 1-3. The cup was presented to the Mullinahone captain Eoin Fennelly by county hurling selector John Leahy on behalf of Cumann na mBunscoil.

Eoin gave an excellent victory speech, among other things thanking those who had helped to prepare the team. Player of the match awards went to Niall Walsh and Jack Shelly.
Team: Niall Walsh, Luke Mullally, Richard Walsh, Killian Skorka, Diarmuid O'Halloran, Colin Fitzgerald, Eoin Fennelly, Denis Connolly, Jack Shelly, Sean Walzer. Subs who started on the bench David Walzer, Robert Reilly, Jack McCarthy, Niall Kennedy, David Dunne, Aaron Hayden, Conor Vaughan, Keith Guiry, Ciera Walsh and Conor McGrath. Again well done to all.

Magazine - The 23rd or 2005 / 2006 edition of the Mullinahone Magazine has hit the newstands. At least if it is not available at all news agencies or railway stations in the country it is definitely on sale in all the shops in Mullinahone.

Once again great credit and congratulations are due to the editor Mick Larkin on compiling a fine account of the year 2005 in Mullinahone and a number of other very interesting articles.

All Stars - Well done to Paul and Eoin Kelly on once again winning All Star hurling awards. Eoin has now won four such awards and at 23 seems set to catch even the great Nicky English who heads the Tipp All Star winners list with 6 wins.

Reflection - Too many people miss the silver lining because they are expecting gold,
" Dreams, Schemes and Miracles" - Last year the Anner Players had a wonderful three nights run in Mullinahone with an original Willy Egan play "The Winter of '69".

It was the general opinion that this success would not be repeated, so when Willy turned up this year with his second play "Dreams, Schemes and Miracles", the response among the Anner Players was muted and there was some difficulty in assembling a cast.
However fair play to Willy, he pressed ahead and last weekend in Mullinahone's, Knocknagow Centre, Willy's second play and the newest Anner Players production was declared a remarkable success.

There were full houses on Saturday and Sunday and opening night on Friday in spite of awful weather was also well filled. Better still all who attended were well pleased.

" Schemes" is set in an Achill public house in the Summer of 1989. It is a play dealing with relationships over, failed, budding and otherwise. For the keen ear there are a number of sharp observations on life and its many twists and turns.

The play centres around the publican's son Brian McDonagh who has recently returned to stay with his grieving father (Tim) in Achill, to take time out to reflect on his failed life.
On reflection (mature) the play will strike a chord in many lives and this is the strength of the work.

With a good foundation to work on, the Anner Players rose to the occasion once again in splendid style. Once more new talent was introduced to the stage and once again the wider casting of the net yielded spectacular dividends.

The pensive role of Brian McDonagh was well portrayed by Derek Dooley.
Derek carried the show and can be well pleased with his performance. He can also be pleased with the conduct of his fan club from St Grennan's Thomastown who attended on Sunday night and merited A Plus on the night.

Mary O'Brien-Buggy played the role of Hilda, the estranged wife. Her character would give social welfare officers a bad name. Their son Gavin was played by local young man Eoin Pollard who for a first major role did very well.
We will follow his blossoming career with interest. Louis Keating (McDonagh Snr.) was the grieving owner of the bar. A man with his feet on the ground.