BREAKFAST SETTING: An early morning of grass frost, bright sunshine and clear blue skies dissected by the soaring flights and almost celebratory flights of the returned house martins set the scene for an event with a difference in Windgap on Easter Sunday morning. It all added to the euphoria of the arrival of twelve fluffy drown ducklings that were hatched by their wild parents at the lake in Tullahought a couple of days earlier. From eight o’clock, the fragrance of cooking sausages and puddings being prepared for the communities first Full Irish Breakfast wafted their way from the Parish hall out into the village street.
SETTING THE SCENE: Inside the hall the hard work of the previous days was to be seen as its newly built tables were laid out in a banquet style for the occasion. Warm and colourful its walls and tables were covered in decorations and flower arrangements in the Easter colours. On the stage a remeberance tree was also provided by the youth club. By the kitchen an array door an array of stainless steel containers were used to keep the food at the perfect temperature, Just inside it a frying pan big enough to cook rashers off of a whale was being prepared. Elsewhere car parking stewards and carloads bearing food and acouplements were arriving. The fundraising brainchild of Nicholas Hawe, he was assisted by a team of cooks, waiters, waitresses and volunteers of all ages too numerous to mention. The group using the GAA Club Rooms as a back up kitchen had the show was quickly on the road.
NEXT: Throughout the morning the individual diners and family groups arrived in waves from milking, from early morning mass in Tullahought and after the ten o’clock mass in Windgap. Their numbers were swelled by passers by and visitors from far and near, as the miracle of the bacon and sausages was resolved by the nearby supermarkets in Callan. For many of the early arrivals it was away to Limerick for the day on a full stomach for the Hurling League semi finals as the volunteers who toiled all day just made it home to see the two o’clock throw in. With them went the noise and banter of a memorable get together day for all involved.
NEW TABLES: Supporting every breakfast that was served was an array of sponsors who were listed on each table that had been made for the occasion by Andy O’Neill, Shane Doyle and Pat Walsh.
EASTER RESULTS: "Local" product was a strong theme in this weekend's event, from the scores of homemade brown breads supplied by volunteers to the door prizes on display in the hall. The Prize winners and prizes were;
1st prize a handmade patchwork quilt by Bridget Comerford went to Walter Power, Nine Mile House.
2nd prize the Easter bunny extravaganza cake created by Pauline O'Shea from 2 nice 2 Slice went to Kathleen O'Shea, Windgap.
3rd prize, a still life painting by local artist Sheila Cross was won by Joan O'Gorman, Skough.
4th prize a trailer load of firewood from Simon Brophy went to James Fahy c/o Leo Conalty
5th prize was a turned lamp by john Ryan which went to Robert Meagher Kiltrassy.
6th prize a fruit hamper to Eileen Hawe, Coolhill
7th prize an Easter egg to Rory Dullard
8th prize a fruit hamper to Detty Byrne
9th prize a box of sweets to Katie Daly
10th prize was the Easter Bunny Hamper to Babette Conalty
11th prize an Easter egg hamper to Gavin Cleere
THANKS: Thanks are extended to all who provided sponsorship, raffle prizes, prepared the hall, and those who contributed to, and helped on the day, but most particularly to the local community for the remarkable attendance, creating a wonderful feel-good factor and for providing funding. For all the photos visit windgap.ie
HURLING NEWS: Windgap received a walk over in the All County Junior Hurling League at the weekend. In a quiet week the school side play Clogh Mooneenroe, whilst the Junior B travel to Graiguenamanagh to play the home side in Dr Tierney Park the minors ply John Lockes o9n Monday in Windgap
DOUBLE WIN: The boys and girls of Windgap Hurling and Camogie Clubs recorded a double in Windgap on Thursday night when the boys defeated O Loughlin Gaels and the girls had a victory over Lisdowney
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS: An election story with a difference sees an independent candidate from Ballyhea, that consists of a shop and church on a crossroads in North Cork set out to be elected in the Southern half of the country, A current national sports journalist and a passionate live long hurling fan Diarmuid O’Flynn is seeking to lead the region on the road to Europe. This follows their three year long weekly Saturday morning march in Ballyhea against Austerity and the problems it has caused. A surveyor in the construction industry for over twenty years, Diarmuid and his community have taken up the battle for the ordinary citizen who has suffered from carrying the debt burden incurred by others. Like many others Diarmuid, his family and community was hit by the necessity of emigration across every generation with himself and eight of his sisters and brothers departing Ireland in search of work. Closer to home in Windgap, the local hurling and camogie sides that have depended on players working and studying in various parts of England, Scotland and Wales to make the commitment to continually return for the league and championship games looks like being further hit. The new seasonal issues arise through the reduction in the Summer Jobs market for students. The result will apparently see more of them stay away or move away for the main months of the Hurling and Camogie seasons. Having lined out in the National league for his county and played on his return with his club until he was fifty. Diarmuids story is synonymous with many a local tale. His life experiences and his decision to run in the forthcoming European elections may eventually help to turn the tide for both all communities across the country.
LOCAL ELECTIONS: Following the lifting of the embargo on election posters Johnny Maher of Fine Gael was the first out of the blocks in the Southern Area followed by John Burke the Independent runner. At the other end of the Parish in the Western area a plethora of posters including European ones are to be seen. Locally the election sees two candidates Matt Doran and Brendan Fennelly both living within a few fields of each other in the South area in Kilmoganny contest the West and South areas respectively. To date canvassing has been thin on the ground.
TIDY TOWNS: Following the clean up of the Tullahought area the previous week the main Carrick on Suir Road to Callan and the motorway in Knocktopher between Billy Hawes Cross and the Slatequarries continues to be heavily littered by passing vehicles. Elsewhere the hope is the Kilmacoliver Loop one of the most popular of the Kilkenny walking trails is to re-open.
RE-CYCLING: There was a great turnout of materials for recycling at the WEEE Ireland free re-cycling day held at the Car Park in Windgap on Thursday last.
CLUB NEWS: This Weeks Winning Numbers Lotto Numbers were 6, 11, 21, 27 and Bonus number 3. The numbers brought a match three cheque to Eamon Doyle. This Weeks Prize fund is €8,450.
YOUTH CLUB: The club are holding a Community evening planting flowers and doing up flower pots and containers for the village on Friday next from 3pm to 5pm. For further information contact any Youth Club leader.
NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to [email protected] by Sunday evenings at 6pm. For all the local news visit the parish website windgap.ie