New Chemist in Mullinahone:-

Back in the 1950's when the correspondent was a boy growing up in Mullinahone the late Milo Maher RIP was a legendary chemist in the village. Milo kept in close contact with the men who looked after animals and his advice was often sought and nearly always taken. Of course when one is young and does not suffer from feelings or signs of mortality and doctors or chemists in a village are not regarded as items of prime importance. As the years advance a change of attitude is wrought and parenthood and middle age bring medical needs into focus. Mullinahone has always been lucky with both its doctors and its chemists. Milo Maher was succeeded by O'Sullivans chemists Fethard and Breda Hall of Kyle ran their shop in Mullinahone for many years. When Breda retired in the 1990's there was trepidation locally that this would see the closure of the village chemists shop. Help arrived from an unexpected source and Graham Davies (a Welshman) came to us out of retirement from West Cork. There is an old Irish saying "cometh the hour, cometh the man" and the old adage was proved true once more when it came to Graham's turn to retire (again). This time Mullinahone got help out of the East in the person of Akram Hanna. Mr Hanna as the name implies is from much further east than Wales. In fact Mr Hanna is a native of Egypt. Of far greater importance is the fact that he is a qualified chemist in Ireland as well as his native land. He is the owner of the Mari Mena chain of pharmacies. This is a small chain scattered around some of the small towns of East Munster in such places as Lismore and Ardmore in Co. Waterford and Rathcormack in Co. Cork and now in Mullinahone. Our new chemist has taken over in Mullinahone and presently the shop is getting a make over. He plans to have Mullinahone open 6 days a week from 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and to greatly expand the service. We are delighted to welcome the Mari Mina Pharmacy to the village and wish them every success in carrying on a vital service to the village and surrounding area. We would also like to thank Graham Davies for his years of service and wish him a long and happy retirement. Some have enquired about the name of the new pharmacy. It is called after St Mina the Miraculous Mina was a martyr and saint of the Christian Contic Church in Egypt. He among other things was the patron saint of healing. We will be delighted to see the pharmacy living up to its name and continuing the proud tradition of chemist in Mullinahone. For the moment we say Cead Mile Failte.

Hard Luck Donal:-

No luck yesterday in Semple Stadium for Donal Cody of Poulacapple. Donal was a member of the St Kierans squad which went down to St Flannans in the All Ireland Senior Colleges Hurling final by 2-15 to 2-12. Donal thus fails to join the list of local colleges medal winners at All Ireland level begun by the late Tom Vaughan RIP in 1948. The colleges football final yesterday was won by Knockbeg College the alma mater of the late Mick Cahill RIP who was the first Mullinahone player to play championship hurling for Tipperary.

Youths on the Double:-

Sports fans celebrated the victory of the Mullinahone Under 18 soccer team on Saturday as they retained the Tipperary youths cup which they had won for the first time last year. Tommy Forristal now joins an elite group of managers who have led their team to back to back success. It is a particularly difficult task at underage level as each year players move out of an age group and a new team must be built.

Soccer sidelines are usually the preserve of a few hardy supporters but a good crowd came on Saturday to cheer the team on. Those who had seldom if ever attended a soccer match could only have been impressed with the performance of these lads who combined skill, commitment teamwork and pride. John Vaughan one of Mullinahone GAA clubs ardent supporters who advocated the dropping of rule 42 was an interested spectator. He enjoyed the game and the banter. This was a day that transcended any perceived sporting rivalries. Most of the team will now spend the summer wielding camans and the soccer club wishes them well. The game itself was a close encounter. Moyglass were determined to pull back the one goal deficit from the first leg. Mullinahone knew that preserving their lead would be a difficult task. At the interval the teams were deadlocked at nil all five minutes after the break. Damien McCormick skipped down the wing and sent a pinpoint cross towards the goal mouth. Adrian Doheny met the ball first time and volleyed to the roof of the net putting Mullinahone 2-0 ahead on aggregate. There were anxious moments from then on as Moyglass attacked relentlessly. Glen O'Meara in goal pulled off some tremendous reflex saves. Time after time Enda McEnry who had an outstanding second half cut off the supply of the ball to the Moyglass forwards. Kevin Dempsey superbly Marshalled the back line of Kevin Bolger and Ned Tobin seldom put a foot wrong. Michael Cooper held the ball up well and for the other forwards, while Doheny and McCormick treated the crowd to a Keane and Duff impersonation after the goal. It was above all a team performance and all of the players played thier part in ensuring that the cup stayed in Mullinahone. Mikey Egan and James Carroll assisted Tommy Forristal on the line. Richie Power treasurer of the Tipperary League presented medals to the runners up Moyglass and then to the victorious Mullinahone team. There was a huge cheer when team captain Kevin Bolger accepted the cup on behalf of his squad. It was a day to savour and remember for the players, mentors, parents supporters and the resilient bunch who have often struggled to keep soccer afloat in Mullinahone. Well done to all.

Weather:-

April the month of showers has gone to be replaced by May which according to the old saying if wet and windy will "fill the haggards with corn and hay". It seems to be making a good start anyway. April finished with 98.1mm (nearly 4") of rainfall on 19 days. This was below the magic 100mm mark which has only happened twice in August 2004 and November 2004 since November 2003. As the weather softens and ground heats up we look forward to a spurt in growth.

Well Done:-

Well done to St Michaels N.S. On Friday last they got their schools hurling championship off to a good start with a good win over Drangan NS. They play their next game against Fethard NS on Thursday / Friday of this week. A good beginning is half the work.

Local Services:-

Services are the backbone of every local community. Without these services a local community can wither and die. With these services acting as a backbone communities can prosper and grow. One of these services is a post office. One has only to look around at the damage the loss of a village post office has done to some communities in our locality. An Post keeps a close watch on local post offices and the extend to which they are used. it seems to be the era of use it or lose it. The general public can help keep local post offices open by a) using the services they provide ; b) helping any campaigns that are mounted to keep the post offices open. Public pressure is always an important consideration.

May Devotions:-

There will be May devotions in St Michaels Church on Sunday evenings during the Month of May. Devotions began on Sunday evening last. Devotions start at 7pm.

First Holy Communion:-

First Holy Communion in Mullinahone will take place during a special childrens mass in St Michaels Church on Saturday May 21st at 11am. In preparation for First Holy Communion a First Confession Ceremony will take place on this Thursday night May 5th at 7.30pm.

Credit Union:-

As Credit Union members make their way towards the splendid new credit union offices now nearing completion in KIllaghy Street on Thursday night next May 5th they might ponder that 27 years previously on May 5th in 1978 Mullinahone credit union opened its doors to the general public for the first time in a room provided in the Community Centre by Mullinahone Community Council. Then the local credit union was worth £421. Now the Mullinahone Credit union has assets worth nearly EU3 million.

Happy Birthday:-

This week we wish Sally Brennan of Ballyduggan every blessing on celebrating her 90th birthday with a party in Carrick-on-Suir. It must be a healthy road because just up the road Sallys neighbour Buddy Hawe has completed 91 years. Happy Birthday to them both.

Local Lotto:-

The jackpot was not won in the draw on Monday April 25th. The winning numbers were 18, 20, 25 and 26. Eleanor Quirke of Gurteen was the sole winner of the match 3 prize of EU150. Congrats Eleanor. the next draw is on Monday May 9th and the jackpot could be a most attractive EU3700. Remember to win you must first be in.

Irish Cancer Society:-

The Irish Cancer Society will hold their annual church gate collection in Mullinahone before all masses this coming weekend May 7th and 8th. Every contribution is welcome.

Callan Parish Cells:-

The nearby town of Callan will open its homes to a flood of pilgrims on May20th to 22nd. All are welcome to a weekend seminar with a theme of Reaching Out in Faith, Hope and Love. The principal speaker will be Don Pi Gi Perini who in 1986 travelled to Miami Florida to "witness a parish on fire" thanks to a cell system. Inspired Don Pi Gi Perini returned to St Eustorgio Milan to revitalise his parish. At the time only 5% of his parishioners were attending mass. In 1993 Fr Joe Delaney who was then parish priest of Callan experienced the Cell movement in Ballinteer Co.Dublin. On his return to Callan he encouraged six volunteers to attend the National Cell Seminar in Ballinteer. They reported on the seminar and 18 people offered to form 3 groups and these were the first cells in Callan. Over the intervening ten years the 3 cells have multiplied to nine. For further information contact Mary Aylward at 056-7755034 or e-mail callancells@eircom.net.