
K2 CORRIDOR: The meeting hosted by the Faugheen against Pylons group was led by Pete Smith and Breege Phelan. The local group is part of a community Alliance called the Suir Valley Action Group who have many personal and environmental concerns for the Lingaun and Suir valleys along the K2 Corridor. In a co-operative way it is looking at joining the Pylon Alternative Alliance led locally by Robert Duggan. The P.A.A. is an umbrella group for many of the concerned community Groups along the entire Eirgrid Route. Its main aim is to share information and co-ordinate the efforts of the many volunteers and their communities.
URBAN AND RURAL POWER: Amongst the aims of the group is to highlight the concerns of the residents of the rural areas where the route is planned to the residents of the more populated areas that use the countryside for social and recreational purposes and are not as directly affected by proposed developments.
POLITICAL POWER: Highlighted too was the power of the people in the run up to the local and European politicians. This comes at a time where the amalgamation of Tipperarys North and South County Councils, altered boundaries in Kilkenny, and the changing of the Leinster European constituency into a Southern one take place. In addition the reduction in seats in some areas has major implications for sitting and hopeful to be elected representatives and their parties. Having gone past the submission stage for the Eirgrid project the ultimate power now lies with the local and regional politicians.
OVER POWERERED: The new route with an apparent capacity to almost treble the peak power requirements has also worried the communities. Its substantial over capacity is seen as potential to take on additional power from yet to be announced wind farms that would spread out from it across local valleys and hillsides.
KILLURNEY 2B EMPOWERED; The next information meeting of the Suir Valley Action Group on the Eirgrid proposals takes place in Killurney on the 4th of February
WHATS ANOTHER YEAR: Further Disappointment was expressed in the locality after the four years work of community members on plans to provide a playground in the area suffered another setback. The latest update received that it will be at least another year before the project will be even in the queue for potential Grant Funding. Owing to the delays of some parties getting their ducks in line on the proposed parish site, the intuition of the volunteers now led by Marie O'Shea, Barbra Kelly and their committee that the funding bus had left a year ago, in February 2013 were well founded.
COUNTY COUNCIL VISIT: In a major work of co-operation, County Council Chairman Pat Dunphy led a maintenance crew from the Callan Area Office and joined local resident Eamon Doyle to review a number of road infrastructure issues in the area. These included a dangerous situation following the collapse of a stretch of a roadside ditch into a dyke on the busy Kilmoganny to Piltown road in Glencommon. Also reviewed on the Carrick on Suir road to Callan and the motorway in Knocktopher were the outcrops of rock on tight corners on the edge of the roadway in Birchwood. Following the review the protruding rock opposite the Victoria Bridge that has destroyed many tyres over the years is to be removed. Nearby the much larger rock face closer to Delaney’s Public House is to be painted to highlight it as a hazard to oncoming motorists. Since the visit work has commenced on the road in Glencommon and two further visits have been made to the flooded road are at the Lake in Tullahought where the road dissects the townslands of Kilmacoliver and Poulrone.
FOOTBALLERS WIN: A young wind assisted Windgap side built up a match winning lead in the first round of the Junior League championship in Carrigeen on Sunday. With a brace of goals from corner forward Niall Walsh and another from Gary Lyons the side extended their first half lead to run out winners. A feature of the game played on good ground conditions was the atrocious weather conditions and the size of the panels with over forty players togged out between both sides. In the era of the new black card the side is to be complemented for not incurring one. The Windgap side was Michael Power, Edward Cunningham, Shane Walsh, Paraic Walsh, Peter Landy, PJ O'Keeffe, Sean Foley, Jim Power, Peter Hennessey, Adrian Landy, Aidan Mackey, Darragh O'Shea, Gary Lyons, Gerard Purcell and Niall Walsh. Substitutes at half time were Phillip Lonergan, Emmet Landy with Noel Power, James Murray and Mathew Enright also being introduced. The panel was completed by Tommy Lonergan and Valentine. Gavin Quilty was the referee. The side has a bye this weekend and training is planned in the Sportsfield in Tullahought in preparation for the next three games.
WINDGAP JUNIOR CLUB: The first Junior Club get together takes place in Windgap Community Centre on Friday 28th of February from 3 to 4pm. To participate a person has to register and pay the €10 registration fee to any committee member. The group will meet fortnightly and a €2 fee is required to cover costs. Club rules and consent forms are being organised and will be sent to each registered member by Friday 21st. They can be returned to the organising committee of Lena Young, Helen Walsh, Triona Moloney Michelle O'Brien and Mairead O'Rourke
CARD RESULTS: Winners at the Hurling Club Progressive Twenty Five Card game held in Guinans on Friday night were 1st. Niall Lanigan and Mattie Enright with thirteen games. 2nd place with ten games went to John Kenny and PJ Barron. The winner of the Table Prize was John Bambrick and Laurence Foley. Other prizes went to PJ Barron, John Kenny, Seamie Hawe, Michael Power and Robbie Meagher.
EMERGENCEY SERVICES: Twice in two nights the Fire Brigade was in the Tullahought area. This followed the closing of roads through fallen trees on Saturday night and a fire in a shed in the locality on Sunday evening.
LOTTO: This Weeks Winning Numbers were 5, 17, 18, 19 and bonus number 24. Next weeks Prize fund is €5,300. Tickets available from any local committee member.
BRIDGE: Winners at the Killamery Bridge Club game held in the Olde House were 1st. Moira Hickey, and Catherine Bourke. Best Gross: Elizabeth Murray and Rita Phelan. 2nd Margaret Comerford and Helen Lanigan. 3rd Peggy Vaughan and Rita Houlihan. 4th: Noreen Hayes and Stella Tennyson.
NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm. For all the local news visit the parish website windgap.ie