Community Games 2005 are Underway:-

Community games are underway in Mullinahone once again. The 2005 parish art and model making competitions took place recently. The results were as follows:

Girls under 6: 1. Kate Gleeson: 2. Emer Guiry: 3. Emily Gahan: Under 8 1. Kelly Hickey; 2. Shauna Kennedy; 3. Nicole Shelly: Under 10: 1. Olivia Gallagher; 2. Michaela Reilly; 3. Rachel Brett; Under 12 1. Sarah O'Brien; 2. Stacey O'Brien; 3. Kathy Quirke; Under 14: 1. Meghan Vaughan; 2. Shoshi Winstanley-Brown; 3. Shannon Fullbrook.

Boys Results: Under 6: 1. David Whelan; 2. Andrew Gleeson; 3. Daniel O'Neill; Under 8: 1. Stephen Reilly: 2. Cathal Kavanagh; 3. Michael Cody: Under 10: 1. Edward Dunne; 2. Pat O'Halloran; 3. Graham Horan; Under 12: 1. Diarmuid O'Halloran; 2. Eoin Fennelly; 3. Colin Fitzgerald; Under 14 1. Matthew Brennan; 2. Ben Reilly; 3. Cathal Horan.

Model Making Under 14 girls: 1. Meghan Vaughan; 2. Eileen Croke.

Well done to all the winners. Our representatives took party in the county finals in the Ballroom Fethard on Saturday last April 2nd at 1pm. Results to follow.

First Victory:-

The honour of scoring Mullinahones first competitive victory for 2005 in adult board competition goes to our minor footballers. On Saturday evening in Carrick-on-Suir they defeated Kilsheelan / Kilcash by 2-8 to 1-8. This was a much improved display on the previous week when the team had gone down to St Patricks Gaels in their first outing. The lineout on Saturday showed two changes in personnel from the previous week with Kevin Walzer and Damien Hickey replacing Kieran Gahan and Brian Forristal. The side on Saturday had to battle hard for victory. They began badly and fell four points behind. A goal from Damien Hickey helped them come back and be level at half time. The first ten minutes of the second half were even and then a Kevin Walzer point lead. This in turn helped Mullinahone to hang on in the final minutes. For the second game in a row Enda McEnery had a good game in goal. Joe O'Meara held the full back line together. Ned Tobin had some very good spells at centre back with assistance from Niall Mullally and Eddie Phelan. At midfield Shane O'Brien had a stead hour with assistance from both Adrian Doheny and Kevin Walzer. Up front Niall O'Brien replaced John Murphy during the first half. Eoin Egan tried hard while at full forward David Hennessy was involved in some good moves. Both Donal Cody and Damien Hickey both got on the score-sheet. Mullinahones conquerors of the previous week St Patricks Gaels also had a big win over Fethard who were also winners the previous week. If Mullinahone continue to improve they will certainly figure in the final stages of the championship. One area where improvement could come about is in defence where large holes can appear due to slack marking and backs are inclined to dive in and give away soft frees.

Underage Begin Well:-

The South Tipp Under 12 and Under 16 championships got underway for our footballers last week. Both began well with the under 12's winning at home against Swan and the Under 16's winning in Kilsheelan against Kilsheelan / Kilcash. Further details next week.

Reflection:-

No one is perfect, that is why pencils have erasers.

Community Council Draw:-

The Mullinahone Community Council 400 club draws for February and March took place recently. The results were as follows:

February: EU150 Willie McGrath, Briarsfield; EU70 Ned Tobin, Mullinoly; EU25 Sean Walsh and Francis Tobin, Clonagoose; EU25 Peggy Houlihan, Carrick Street; EU20 Gertrud Schuller c/o Peg Bermingham.

March: EU150 Edna Morris, Modeshill; EU70 Sheila Foley, Parkmore; EU25 Mary O'Halloran, Glenwood, EU25 Mai O'Brien, Kylenagrannagh; EU20 Breda Power, Poulacapple.

Lotto Draw:-

The local lotto jackpot was not won on Tuesday night March 29th. The draw was postponed until Tuesday night as is customary when there is a bank holiday on Monday. The winning numbers were 12, 17, 24 and 26. We had no jackpot winner but we had four match 3 winners, these shared a prize of EU160. Well done and congratulations to those. The jackpot on Monday night next April 11th could be EU3100 so we might be playing for in excess of EU3000 again. However if you are not in you won't win.

GAA Under 10's:

Training will take place in the GAA sports field on Wednesday April 13th at 6.15pm. Boys and girls welcome.

Gun Club:-

At this time of the year most of the clubs efforts are put into fund raising to keep the club solvent. The annual Easter Raffle was again a success and thanks are due to the effort selling or even buying tickets. Glad to report that the majority made good use of their allotted tickets. Winners were EU250 Nick Brett, Mullinahone; EU150 Paddy Joe Scott, Jamestown; EU100 Martin Dunne, Callan. Easter Eggs went to Philip Britton, Eoin Reilly, Ray Fives (Clonmel) and Theresa Kelly. Grateful thanks again to Geraldine and Theresa who extended a large helping hand. This is much appreciated. On the birds front there has been a noticeable increase in cock pheasant numbers in the area of late. These adult birds were purchased last month and immediately released into the wilds. They seem very happy in their new surroundings (at least until November). All these birds have been ringed so if you see any wild pheasants with one ringed leg you can hold the gun club responsible. The next open clay pigeon shoot will be held on the May Bank holiday Sunday. This is the last chance for the club to raise funds before game birds arrive for next years shooting season. Names will shortly be married to jobs for the Sunday shoot. At least fifteen members will be needed to keep the show on the road. Even an hour or two of members time would be helpful. Don't forget that you can check out the gun club, its history and associated events on the parish website mullinahone-parish.com.

Credit Union:-

Work is drawing to a close on the refurbishment of the front part of the credit union offices in Killaghy Street. The new offices out the back have been in operation since pre-Christmas and recently the old offices which opened onto the street have been extensively remodeled. The new format has a waiting room opening off the main hall. This opens into a new credit committee room which in turns exits back into the main hallway. The other part of the front building features a fine board room which can double as a meeting room which can hold 40-50 people. At present the credit union canteen or kitchen has to double as a credit committee room but this will soon come to an end. On the financial front the credit union continues to grow an the eEU3million assets target at the end of the credit union year in September is certainly viable. In recent months loans to members have increased and a new more efficient loans repayment policy has been implemented.

Weather Update:

March is over and April is now with us. March may or may not have come in like a lion and gone out like a lamb, but rainfall during the month was relatively light with 65.6mm of rain falling on 14 days. However 70% of this rainfall was confined to two days, March 20th and 21st ( the days of the equinox). The early days of April have been nice and so far April hasn't got into its showery mode. As many people remember - Aprils showers bring forth May flowers. No doubt the showers will be shortly arriving maybe even before these notes.

Community Council:-

A meeting of Mullinahone Community Council took place recently at which treasurer Michael Larkin produced accounts of the last year. Overall the council hasn't been doing too badly with substantial contributions from the 400 club draw and also from the Anner Players. Future private developments in the village area were discussed. The onus to examine these projects falls on those individuals they may effect.