Phoenix Like John Walsh's Village forge set to rise from New Foundations.
MEMORIAL FOR ALICE: A memorial ceremony in the community centre in Tullahought on Thursday evening linked a life span of ninety five years and both sides of the Atlantic. It celebrated and recalled the life and times of Alice Johnson nee Murphy of Mullinakill who passed away last December. The ceremony performed by her daughters Coleen and Sister Kathleen and granddaughter Nora, was a homely mix of bible readings, reflections and hymns. In addition it brought together people from all parts of Ireland who were mutual acquaintances and had never previously met. It recalled the death of her father at a young age, the inaugural trans-Atlantic flight of the Spirit of St. Louis and of her emigration to London. In her nursing life Alice saw the devastation on life and property of the World War Two blitz on the city and the evacuation of Dunkirk. In addition it sparked a love affair with an American G.I. and a subsequent life time in America. For over fifty years Alice retained her love of Ireland through her long summer trips home with her husband Ralph family Pat, Maureen (R.I.P), Kathleen and Coleen. Initially they were to the Tullougher area and then were based at her house (formerly Kirwan’s) in Tullahought. On her annual holidays traveling to meet friends and relations, the pattern day in Mullinakill, a game of Bingo were among the highlights. However all had to be dropped for the Thursday and Sunday night visits to John Delaney’s for the regular traditional sessions of music and song. The memories were fondly recalled as neighbours relations and friends from Dublin, Galway and Dungarvan made a rare and for many their first visit to the village. In the Washington area her Irishness was legendary in supporting arrivals from home with a bed and a start in their new lives. A co-founder of the first St. Patricks day in Washington D.C. in 1971, Alice was involved in numerous Irish and Church groups. In 2001 Alice was honoured as Gael of the Year in and as Grand Marshall seven years later. The evening culminated with tea and chats as new friendships were made whilst celebrating Alice’s memory.
FORGE: Work commences to rebuild an exact replica of the old village forge frontage on Saturday next. Last worked by the smithy John Walsh, it will see a team of volunteers carry out the work under the eye of stone mason Seamus Davis. The project is a partnership between Windgap Community Development, and the Carlow Kilkenny Education and Training Board
CEAD MLE FAILTE ROMHAT: Following the recent Clerical changes in the Diocese Fr. Fergal O’Farrell celebrated his Masses as Parish Priest in Tullahought at 9am and at 10am in Windgap on Sunday morning. A native of Johnstown Fr. Fergal was on the teaching staff in the Mater Dei Institute in Dublin, served as a curate in Kilmoganny and recently worked as the Diocesan Archivist in St. Kieran’s College. A keen hurling supporter and historian
LOCAL DERBY: Once the top of the bill in County and Southern Junior hurling championships, local sides Windgap and Piltown clash in Windgap on Saturday evening in this year’s county title chase. Currently sharing the bottom positions in the league, Windgaps tighter defence sees them just ahead on scoring difference of a freer scoring Piltown side. Once led by senior inter county stars Pat Walsh and Liam McCarthy the clubs strive against two extremes of the changing times. In one case retaining an identity against falling population and in the other with maximising the benefits of a population boom. The closeness of the communities sees an almost one way trail of Windgap people living in Piltown with the Kenny’s, Doyle’s and Norris’s all playing major roles in the Piltown GAA Clubs. The loss, generations ago of the upper-hill side of the sparsely road between the cross of Skough and the Ballinacroney-Glencommon junction reflects the on-going population trends of both parishes. It was agreed at the time between the Parish Priests of Templeroum and Windgap to save the duplication of slow and long horse and trap journey’s that the Piltown Parish would look after it. In recent times the area along the mile and a half stretch of road has mushroomed residentially in Piltown's favour. Despite the demographic anomalies, the game should attract a fine attendance to see a keenly contested tie where pride of parish will play no little part. The throw in is at 7.30pm.
LOCAL COMMITTEES: The November AGM saw a number of changes to the Windgap Community Development committee when founding members John Ryan, Nicholas Hawe, Breda O’Shea and Séan Power stepped down. They were replaced as Directors by Fr. Nicholas Flavin, Brian O’Rourke, Noel Smith, Shay Power, Julie O’Brien, Rachel Murray and Tony Doyle. The continuity of the committee who organised the lease of ground to create the Walk and Amenity Area is retained through the remaining founders Helen Walsh, Simon Brophy and Jimmy Walsh.
Windgap Parish Pastoral Council: Eileen Grace, Margaret Mackey, Joan O’Gorman, Joan Downey, Helen Hawe, Bridget Comerford, Eamon Doyle, Mary Egan, Kitty Egan and Ann Foley.
Windgap Parish Finance Committee Richie Barry, Mary Egan, Kathleen O’Shea, Tom Comerford, Tom Mackey and Peter Purcell.
Windgap National School Board. Kathleen Moran, Gerard Doyle, Julie O’Brien, Therese Walsh, Margaret Lowry, Ann Malone, Fr. Nicholas Flavin and Shay Power.
ONE WALL HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Windgap Handball Club play host to the County One Wall Championships on Sunday next. The now annual one day event will cater for ladies and gents with the master’s grades being the most popular.
CLAY PIGEON SHOOT: Tullahought and District Gun Club hosted a successful Clay Pigeon shoot in Kilmacoliver on Saturday last. Using six traps the winners were 1st. Mark Phelan of Bonnetstown. 2nd Davey O’Brien, Callan. 3rd. JJ Darcy, Callan. The club wishes to thank local land owner John Cunningham on whose land the event was held.
SECOND FEILE TITLE: Recent reports that the recent Féile Handball title was the clubs first was a result of fading memories. The inaugural honour went to William Phelan, Darragh O'Shea, Emmet Landy, Paraic and Niall Walsh. The team under managers Pat Walsh and Michael O’Shea won the title in Cullohill during the Féile held in Laois and Offaly.
CLUB NEWS: Club player Niall Walsh lined out at corner forward in Kilkenny’s last minute Provincial minor hurling final victory in Croke Park on Sunday. The game saw the return of the Club Bus to Croke Park when thirty stars of the future visited the iconic venue and saw Kilkenny win both games. On the day the Windgap Boys and Galmoy girls Féile winning Handball sides were featured in the match programme.
MYSTERY CAR: A week after the silver 11 D Ford Kuba was left on the roadside opposite the old village school on the main road through Windgap, it was removed. The mystery of its initial presence and its removal eventually allayed the fears of local residents that the owner may have got injured or fallen sick whilst visiting the area.
TIDY TOWNS: Work took place on clearing the bed of the stream feeding the lake and wildlife area in Tullahought to prevent flooding. In Windgap work continued till dusk on Saturday evening on the rebuilding of the wall by the lake on the main road.
SAD TIMES: Hopes of a young emigrants return to Ireland were thwarted when potential employment was found in the capital city. The resultant cost of renting an apartment and having a simple lifestyle outstripping the income to be earned saw the potential return of a young immigrant dashed.
WALKING GROUPS: Three years on the walking groups in Tullahought and Windgap continue on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings respectively. All are welcome.
CAMOGIE NEWS: In the All County Senior League the seniors play Thomastown in the next round. Congratulations are extended to the under 8's and under 10's on playing very well in their blitz's. Congratulations too to Catherine Foley, Denise Gaule and the Senior Camogie team that beat Derry at the weekend, they now face Tipperary at a Kilkenny venue on Saturday.
LONG POC: Well done to Deirdre Purcell who won the county long puck competition, she now goes on to represent Kilkenny in the Leinster Finals on the11th July at the Beann Eadair GAA Club in Howth, County Dublin.
CLOTHES COLLECTION: Windgap Camogie Club wish to thank everyone that supported recent clothes collection and made it a great success.
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 and photos visit the local website windgap.ie
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