
THE BIG QUESTION: For the Planning for the Future committee and sub committees set up to investigate the proposed Playground Development, the tennis court refurbishment, the amalgamation of walkways and the re-development of the Hall in Windgap a common theme has developed. With potential funding available from State Agencies and the County Council, the big question has arisen as the current thoughts of all involved are will all their hopes, dreams, aspirations, time, research, efforts and the wishes of the community since the first public meeting where over ninety parishioners attended be all wasted if it is not answered shortly!.
THE GATHERING: Amongst the rumoured surprises of the forthcoming Gathering could be an outdoor performance of a Gospel Choir. If you have old photographs or items of memorabilia for the Gathering exhibition in The League House please contact Tess Cross, Kate Moloney or any committee member.
STUDENTS EXAMS: A mass for all students sitting exams will be celebrated in St. Nicholas’ Church, Windgap on Sunday next 2nd June at 10.00 am.
CAMOGIE: The under fourteen girls played Ballyhale on Wednesday night and won by 5-6 to 1-1. On the night a big thanks was extended to goalkeepers Laura Foley and Sarah Doherty and coaches Claire Kirwan, Anthony Dunphy and Pat Foley.
CLUB MERCHANDISE: A new supply of hurling club Hoodies and Jerseys in all sizes has been purchased. For further details contact any committee member.
TIDY TOWNS: Work continued in Tullahought during the week with the ongoing painting of entrances by the residents. It also included the continued clean up of the lake area and grass maintenance on the approach roads. The commitment to retain the villages bronze medal was to be seen at all hours as one resident was out sweeping up windswept leaves in the village well before 8.30am. In addition the Tidy Towns entry form was submitted for this years competition.
FIRST COMMUNION: This years first communicants at the ceremony performed by Father Nicholas Flavin at a special midday Mass in Tullahought were Emer Barron, Sarah Cullen, Nathania Jackson, Emer Smith, Victoria O' Brien, Abbey Walsh, Orlaith O' Shea, Jack O' Shea, James Purcell, Michael Butler, Cillian Kirwan, Killian Enright and Liam Conalty, The ceremony was enhanced by the school choir from 1st 3rd 4th 5th and 6th Classes and their 2nd Class Teacher and musician Mrs Malone.
BRIDGE RESULTS: Winners of the Bridge Club game in the Olde House in Killamery were 1st. Rita Townsend and Stella Tennyson. Best Gross Alice Lanigan, Peggy Vaughan 2nd. Helen Lanigan, Catherine Burke 3rd Kitty Meagher, Rita Houlihan. 4th. Finoula Walsh Rita Phelan
HURLERS DRAW: Supporters of the local club can win any of five cars or an array of holidays and cash prizes. Tickets are also available from local committee members and players.
OASIS OF LIFE: Watching the hive of activity around a small pool of water illustrated the importance of the liquid for so many. After travelling thousands of miles it alone provided the house building material for up to twenty house martins in the dry arid conditions of recent weeks. Accessed over a six bar gate a constant stream of birds flew gracefully in, dropped the air from their wings and began busily mixing the clay and water at the edge of the pool. Not as graceful on terra firma as in flight, they bobbled and balanced and almost tipped over as they busily worked. After collecting sufficient material they immediately made a beeline for residences hundreds of yards away to build homes for nesting. As the day passed the water became muddier in colour as the nests grew taller with the darker damper colour showing the new addition. Similarly attracted over the winter months similar pools became the birth place of tadpoles before the drying easterly winds evaporated the water leaving their oasis of life all dried up.
OUT POINTED: The junior "B’s" travelled to Slieverue on Saturday evening with a three to one chance of qualifying for the play off stages of the league, for the first time in a number of years. For them a win, a draw or a small defeat would suffice. On the day short a number of the leaving certificate students they started slowly and rallied well. Approaching the finish the local side saw, the qualifying line back in sight with two goals and a point. However after the final whistle the analysis saw Slieverues 1-20 to 3-6 win move them to the top of the table to take the first qualifying spot. The result left the local side level with the Rower Inistioge on five Points apiece for the second qualifying place. The decision of who was to qualify was then left to the result of the game between the sides, which was also a draw in Inistioge. The next qualifying step saw the scoring difference come in to play. Again it was level, so it was back to the aggregate scores to see who had the best forwards over the entire league campaign. On a quick glance the Rowers poweress in front of goal saw them through as the young local side were left to reflect the outcome if a single point had been prevented or another scored over the four match league campaign.
CLUB NEWS: Amongst the inter-club and inter-county events coming up in the coming weeks are Poc Fada and Féile. On Saturday the 6th of July the boys and girls handball teams will attend the national Féile in Limerick whilst the Leinster "U-14 Hurling Féile": festival will he hosted in Kilkenny the same weekend. For the clubs adults the Kilkenny Poc Fada competition that takes place in Nowlan Park on Wednesday 12th of June. The winning numbers in the weekly lotto were 6, 15, 27, 28 and bonus number 3. Next weeks prize-fund is €7,300
SCHOOLS SEMI FINAL: In the Allianz Cumann na mBunscoil eleven a side hurling league quarter final St. Nicholas School Windgap played Johnstown in Danesfort on Thursday last. Ahead 1-3 to 0-2 at half time after playing with a strong wind the side held on to run out winners by 3-5 to 2-5. The side now plays Tullaroan in the semi final in Kilmanagh on Monday next. The team was Robert Culleton, Molly Walsh, Oscar Young, Jack Hayes, Sean Dunne, Sean Purcell, Kallie Young, Patrick O'Callaghan, Eoin O'Brien, Jack Doyle, Mark McCoy, Sean Barron, Adam O'Shea, Blade O'Gorman, Hugh Horgan, Kyle O'Callaghan, Leah Murray, Emear Dunphy
The team looked after by Simon Brophy, Denis Callaghan and Jimmy Purcell
GOLF SOCIETY: Kilmoganny Golf Society's first outing of the year this Friday, 31st May, to Ballykisteen Golf Club in Tipperary. The society is made up of golfers from Kilmoganny, Dunnamaggin, and Windgap and further afield, of all ages and abilities. The outings are as much social events as golf competitions where members can get together for a chat and a coffee as well as enjoy different golf courses. We are always looking for new members to join us (contact either Dermot O'Shea (087) 4193229 or Peter Moran, Moran's Shop, Kilmoganny). This years-other outings include West Waterford, Enniscorthy, Mountrath, Gowran and Bunclody Golf Clubs.
COMMUNITY ALERT: Aware of the ongoing problem of break-ins in the community and in surrounding areas a decision was made at the public meeting held in Windgap Hall on Wednesday to implement Texting as part of the Community Alert programme in the area. As a result all are invited to join by filling out a form of consent and submit it together with a contribution to any committee member. With the late commencement of the growing season, the use of various forms of portable fences to maximise grass usage has resulted in them being targeted and stolen.
CLANCY FESTIVAL: The legacy of the Clancy Brothers will be celebrated in Carrick-On-Suir this June Bank Holiday weekend. Included in a range of cultural treats will be Damien Dempsey, Charlie McGettigan and Jimmy Crowley with support from local songwriters. There will also be a Songwriting workshop, a folk club, Walking Tour, River Festival, Farmers and a Festival of Food. This year’s play is "The Pot of Broth" by WB Yeats and the weekend the town including Powers of Tullahought are set to be filled with the sounds and talents of musicians from near and far .
CYCLING CHALLENGE: On Sunday the Bobby Power’s Carrick Wheelers Challenge Sportive 2012 covers three counties and the toughest climbs in the South East. As usual should prove a very colourful spectacle. It commences at Carrick Swans GAA at 9am and hits out the Cregg Road and travels via Skough Hill, Tullaghought loop, Skough, Faugheen, Gap of Rathclarish , Glenbower, Ballypatrick, Grangemockler, Glenbower, Kilsheelan, Tikincor the Nire Valley loop and to Rathgormuck for a tea stop. It then travels via Mahon Bridge, Mahon Falls loop, Kilmacthomas, Carroll’s Cross, Portlaw, Curraghmore Estate and Crehana before finishing back at the Swan club. Incorporating amazing scenery and seriously testing climbs it will also have a touch of continental cycling added with the cobbles on a three mile off road stretch Curraghmore Estate.
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