Past News

Welcome to Innishannon

News from previous Weeks

Memorabilia

An ad hoc committee invites Innishannon/Knockavilla parishioners and extended community members, past and present, to submit photographic memorabilia of family, friends and events that may have been taken in the last one hundred years or more. The submissions will form the basis of an eagerly-awaited publication, the proceeds of the sale of which will be donated to the Innishannon/Knockavilla Church Restoration Fund. The intended publication of a book of photographs at a later date is designed to be a cherished record of the families featured. The committee guarantees that all photographs will be returned safely after copies have been made of same. Those submitting photographs are asked to include a stamped-addressed envelope so that no error would be made in the return of items submitted. Photographs, together with relevant text of who features in them, when and where, may be handed into the sacristies at Innishannon and Knockavilla after Masses or may be dropped into: Ms Maureen Bowen, Crossbarry; Ann Nicholson, Rose Lodge, Garryhankard; Sean Collins, Ceol na nEan, Innishannon or Niamh Ryan, Chemist Shop, Main Street, Innishannon. The cooperation of all parishioners would be greatly appreciated. If you have any query, telephone 086-1672174 or 021-477527l (after 6 p.m.)

Regal Roy’s joy in Kinsale Point to Point
The Corkman - June 8th 2006

THE point to point season of 2006 ended on a high note at Fort Arthur, Kinsale at the weekend in glorious weather conditions.

The two-day meeting opened on Saturday evening before a fine attendance. The meeting will always have a special significance for 20-year old jockey Roy Tyner from Coolmoreen, Innishannon, who produced a brilliant riding performance on his own mare Regal Jones to outpoint current point to point champion rider Derrek O’Connor in the most exciting finish of the day which had the crowd on their feet with sheer excitement.

The winner was reaping the rewards of consistency as she was only narrowly denied recently at Dawstown.

Roy took his sweet jumping partner to the front from Flag Fall and gave a superb exhibition of fencing. Racing to the third last he was challenged by Sporting Rebel and Derek O’Connor, but getting a great response from his willing and well schooled partner, Roy did not panic and displaying a maturity far beyond his years got a brilliant leap at the last and in the finish of the day showed style and excellent judgement to win by a head for his first ever victory in point to point racing.

Roy, nephew of national hunt trainer Robert Tyner from Shippool, Kinsale, is a carpenter by trade and regularly rides out for his uncle Robert. His parents Francis and Ernest Tyner, who are well known in Munster racing circles.

Roy is yet another successful product of the hugely successful horse and pony racing circuit in Munster where he commenced his racing career, winning many feature events in that particular sport. To complete a great family day the winner is trained by his brother Derek, who was himself a leading pony racing rider earlier in his career. Roy impressed many good judges on Saturday and can look forward with confidence to next season and many more winning opportunities.

Liscarroll amateur, Michael O’Connor and Dromtariffe, Mallow, jockey Damien Murphy were each in double winning form, O’Connor winning with The Dark Destroyer in the Four and Five Year Old Geldings Maiden and Ballyviniter Pearl in the Open Mares Winners Race, while Murphy completed his double aboard Sadie’s Lane in the Five Year Old Maiden and Kilmeaden in the Six Year Old Maiden.

On Sunday, Michael O’Connor scored his third win of the Kinsale festival with Bring Brook in the concluding Seven Year Maiden.

Martin Hickey from Halfway, Ballinhassig, was victorious on Andiamo in the Open Lightweight.

March 15th 2006 Mystery €1million donation a godsend to Cork parish

A €1MILLION cheque from a mystery donor has answered the prayers of an Irish country parish.

News of the massive godsend was revealed by Rev. Fr John Kingston from Innishannon and Knockavilla parish in Co. Cork.

He confirmed a local family had donated a whopping €1million to the parish fund. He said: “We really appreciate and we thank God for their generosity.”

The money will go towards two major church renovation projects valued at over €3million for which parishioners have been fundraising for the past five years.

The 206-year-old St. Mary’s Church in Innishannon has already undergone a complete renovation.

The work included the repointing of its steeple and the installation of new seats and a new public address system.

Fr Kingston said the focus would now switch to St. Mary’s Church in Knockavilla, which was built around 1790 and needs a complete revamp.

Fr Kingston told Massgoers about the donation last week and said he had never before seen such a generous donation to a parish fund. He described it as a wonderful contribution to the people of the parish.

20/01/06

Couple fall for €4m Kinsale home

It has been converted and conserved to world-class standards with respect for old materials and modern technology integrated by developer Richard Good-Stephenson. Click here for full story in the Examiner.

06/01/06

Record planning applications for 1,800 houses in past week

Innishannon is being earmarked by locally-based developer Bernie O’Mahony who wants to build 91 homes at Laherfineen, a recycling facility and a playing pitch. more...

November 7th 2005

IRISH eyes were smiling last Sunday at the unveiling of ‘The Innishannon Blacksmith’ by local sculptor Don Cronin in memory and honour of the late Billy O’Connell and other members of his family who worked at the forge which was for many years a famous landmark and "social centre" on the road to West Cork.

The unveiling of the much admired bronze sculpture was performed by Billy’s sister Kate Anne McCarthy who resides in Bandon and the ceremony also featured the performance by Michael O’Brien from Butlerstown of a specially-written song, ‘The Village Blacksmith.’

The large attendance was warmly welcomed on behalf of ‘Friends of the Forge’ by Alice Taylor, who declared it as a great day for Innishannon. "After Denis, Jack and Paddy, Billy was the last of the O’Connell blacksmiths and this corner will always have memories for so much of his kindness and goodness".

Innishannon Forge, said Alice, was for many decades "a social centre" for neighbours, people waiting for the bus, but especially children: "It was a creche before people knew the meaning of the word!" Located just across the bridge over the River Bandon, it was here that children going to and from school would watch at Billy at work, see the hot coals and dry their shoes. There were wonderful memories and everyone was received so kindly by the blacksmith, who was able to trace their ancestors."

The unveiling of the sculpture of a blacksmith working at the anvil with a hammer and tongs was performed by Kate Anne McCarthy, after which she was presented with drawings by Don Cronin.

Guest speaker was Fr. John Power, OSA, brother of Mrs. John Blake, with whom Billy’s brother Paddy (later the school bus driver in Innishannon) stayed when he worked as a blacksmith in The Curragh of Kildare. In defiance of a rain shower he began by singing ‘When Irish eyes are smiling’ and spoke of how important the event was in reminding this and future generations of a former Irish way of life. It was also a special day for the O’Connell and McCarthy families and the local community, because the sculpture would always remind people of Innishannon on their journeys in West Cork.

He congratulated Don Cronin for "a wonderful sculpture" and paid tribute to the ‘Friends of the Forge’ and all others associated with the event, including his long-time friend Alice Taylor, whom he first met at Lough Derg. The unveiling, he pointed out, was taking place on the feast of all the saints of Ireland and they included Michael, John, Paddy, Jack, Denis, Jane, Kate and Billy O’Connell.

"Let us remember the forge, the fire, the sparks, the anvil, the talk, the fun, the celebration and the joy of this day and the wisdom and beauty of God which is the reason where are here," said the Augustinian, who predicted ‘The Innishannon Blacksmith’ sculpture would once again serve as welcome stop on the road at a village where it was a privilege to live. He concluded with an Irish blessing and a reprise of ‘When Irish eyes are smiling,’ by which time the sunshine had again returned.

Alice Taylor said a fire went out the day Billy O’Connell died in 1992, but when Don Cronin came to live in Innishannon and a group came together to plan for this day, it was re-lit. She acknowledged the generous support of Cork County Council through amenity and urban and village renewal grants, the equestrian community and local people, who displayed so much goodness and kindness in a fund raising campaign which began with the proceeds of the village’s annual magazine ‘Innishannon Candlelight’ She also thanked the O’Connell family, Richard Good-Stephenson of Cor Castle and Lochplace for the landscaping and site works, Michael O’Brien of The Rectory for the sound and, especially, two former "children of the forge" Mary Nolan-O’Brien and Paddy Sweetnam who originated the idea and saw their dream fulfilled.

Recalling the preparation work at the site leading up to the ceremony by council and FÁS workers and volunteers, the internationally-acclaimed author said it made her say to herself: "God bless Innishannon" and reflect on a great place and a wonderful community.

A special treat was the performance by Michael O’Brien, Butlerstown, of his specially written song ‘The Village Blacksmith’. Dedicated to all blacksmiths, he was invited to do this by the ‘Friends of the Forge’ who were inspired by a County Sound radio programme on the subject.

Michael said that a craft, dating back around 3,000 years to the Iron Age, only faded out in recent times, due mainly to the advent of the engine, but it was fondly remembered in many poems, most notably by Longfellow from Springfield, Massachussetts, USA, who interestingly lived not too far from what was to become the home of the Ford Motor Company with its strong County Cork connections. He concluded by taking the opportunity to pay his tribute to the era of the horse and the blacksmith by also singing ‘The Bridle Hanging on the Wall’.

A most convivial outdoor ceremony, during which traffic was marshalled by Sgt. Colin Collins and Gda. Liam Lane, concluded with excellent fare served up by Elaine Walsh of West Cork Catering, Bandon, assisted by Mary Desmond in the Lochplace warehouse.

Guests included Kate Anne McCarthy’s son, Denis, and wife, Anne, and her nephews, Dan, John, Fintan and Patrick; Senator Peter Callanan, county councillors Veronica Neville and Kevin Murphy, Bandon town councillors John Desmond and Pat Connolly, former councillors Stanley Bolster and Jerry Deasy, Peter O’Donoghue, Jacqueline Mansfield and Frank Good of the county council; Michael Manning of Cork-Kerry Tourism and his brother, Sean; Don Cronin’s wife, Ruth, and his parents, Pat and Anne; former GAA president, Con Murphy; Gabriel Ó Murchú, Richard Good, Conor Moloney, John O’Donovan, Oliver O’Mahony, Sheila Callanan, Neilius O’Riordan, Paddy O’Sullivan, Sean Crowley, Paudie Palmer, Jerry Larkin, John McCarthy, Gavin Falk, Bob Jennings, Eamon and Maureen Lankford.

* Don Cronin is also sculptor of the much acclaimed Bandon 400 birds sculpture in Bandon, the bull in Macroom, the Fastnet memorial in Cape Clear Island museum and the statue of Eamon Kelly in Co. Kerry.

The busy junction at Innishannon Bridge, which is currently being upgraded, has attractive riverside features provided by the local Tidy Towns committee and a floral boat provided by Kingston Marine, Kilmacsimon. Above it is the wonderfully-restored Cor Castle.

November 6 2005: congratulations to Valley Rovers Under 14 footballers! CLICK HERE

October 2005

Congratulations to Elaine Burke, captain of the victorious cork camogie tea, All-Ireland champions 2005, also Lucy Hawkes member of the panel from Valley Rovers Camogie club.

Juvenile Club: is holding a Race Night on October 28th at 8pm in Innishannon House Hotel. We ask for your support by advertising in the programme, by buying a Horse or Jockey, sponsoring a race or making a donation.Contact any of the following:

Margaret O'Sullivan 021-4775934

Ann Lynch 087-9555345

Michael Lynch 021-4775021

Seamus McCarthy 086-8092450.

We would also like parents to help out on the night so please come to our next meeting on Monday September 26th at 9pm.

Gurrane National School Parents Association present cookery demo by Master Chef with ceol, craic agus comedy in aid of Gurrane National School at the Community Hall Innishannon on Thursday September 29th at 7:45 pm. Free Spot Prizes raffle on door ticket. Tickets €10 per person from Gurrane NS Clare O'Shea on 086-3470503 or Trish O'Leary on 086-6088470. Admission by ticket only. All are Welcome.

Innishannon / Knockavilla Church restoration Fund - the parish has been successful in its request to raise funds at the National Ploughing Championships at Moggely, Midleton Sept 27th - 29th. At the match we will be selling tickets for €5. The main prize will be €5,000cash plus a number of additional prizes. The raffle will take place in Mogeely on September 29th. If you wish to support this raffle tickets will be on sale after Mass.

Return of Tax Forms for 2004 is down on last year. If you are a PAYE taxpayer and contribute €250 per annum to the Parish Fund the parish can claim your tax back. Last year the parish received €14,200 from this source. Chy2 tax forms are available in the sacristy.

The Brinny Inn - car, Bike & Tractor Road Run - on Sunday September 25th in aid of Bandon Community Hospital. Run leaves Brinny at 12 noon entry fee €20 per car.

YOGA Classes at Innishannon N.S. Monday 7:30 to 9:00 pm starting October 3rd for 10 weeks. Info Roma 4776031

Badminton commences Innishannon Hall monday 3rd October 9pm.

Knockavilla Bridge Club meets in St Patricks Upton on Tuesdays at 7:45. Classes for beginners will also be organised and anyone interested should contact Dolly Cotter on (021)7331591 or Claire Cuffe on (021) 4885274.

Innishannon General Area - Draft Local Area Plan - your submissioins on this plan have been approved and are available on the Cork County Council website at www.corkcoco.ie look for Bandon Electoral area. Your representative are Veronica Neville, Kevin Murphy and Alan Coleman if you have any queries.

Innishannon Macra na Feirme recommences on Tuesday September 20th at 9pm in Innishannon parish hall. All members requested to attend, new members very welcome. For further information contact Martin on 087-2886955 or Norma on 087-9755484. Website: www.innishannonmacra.com

Candlelight - its that time of year again! Send in your memoirs, articles or photographs to Mary Nolan O'Brien, Maureen Bowen and Alice Taylor. Deadline September 30th.

September 2005

Friday September 23rd at 8pm: Coffee Evening at Kearneys Mishells in aid of Marymount Hospice.

Castlelack ICA are holding a Whist drive on Sunday night September 18th at 9pm sharp.

Candlelight - its that time of year again! Send in your memoirs, articles or photographs to Mary Nolan O'Brien, Maureen Bowen and Alice Taylor. Deadline September 30th.