Coachford Public Meeting
Michael Creed TD will host a public meeting in Coachford GAA hall on Thursday October 1st at 8.30pm. The Macroom based Dail Deputy is keen to hear people’s views and ideas on how Coachford can be better, what next steps should be made in securing the economic recovery and how everyone can make the government more responsive to the needs of rural communities. Everyone with an interest in securing the future of Coachford and its environs is invited to the meeting. Deputy Creed said” Politics is a two way street, come along and get involved. I’m here to represent you and I’m looking forward to hearing people’s views and how we can work together to ensure the future of Coachford and the Lee Valley. There has been much fiction about this Governments record in rural Ireland. The facts betray the myths.”
Huge gains for tidy towns
Coachford Tidy Towns gained 25 points in the 2015 year’s competition. This was the highest jump since the group first entered the competition four years ago and sees a real improvement by the hard working committee. Big gains were achieved in litter control, approach roads and the built environment and streetscape. The appearance of the Coachford Childcare Centre, Coachford national Scholl and Coachford College received positive remarks. Dairygold Co-Op, O’Callaghan’s Bar, O’Riordan’s Bar were commended for their floral displays. Cooney’s Garage, the Grotto and the old church and graveyard also received special mention. The welcome to Coachford sign and Boat near O’Donovan Engineering were also praised in the report. The small plaques describing the Cooper and his trade was described as a wonderful feature. The work carried out making the old Carpet shop received a lot of praise as did the committees work on the approach roads and planting. Commenting on the judging, Chairperson of Coachford Tidy Towns, Martha McCaffery said,” We are delighted with this year’s score and the judges remarks. A lot of what we did was noticed by the adjudicator and we are thrilled that the work that the Foróige club carried out with us on Brosnan’s caught their eye. The work that the local businesses and schools put into making their premises more presentable was appreciated by the judges and they must be thanked for their efforts. Michael O’Riordan’s work on the Cooper signs and the homeowners in Knockanowen shows what individuals can do to make their own homes interesting and beautiful and we would encourage everyone to do a little bit more to make our village even more beautiful and tidy. It is disappointing to lose marks due to careless spraying of herbicide but we hope to address that over the next 12 months. We realise that although receiving this high mark that we still have a lot of work to do in many areas of the village but this is a great boost to us and we look forward to continuing on and trying to make the village more presentable and a nicer cleaner and more environmentally area to live in.” The full report and marks can be viewed at http://www.tidytowns.ie/u_reports/2015 in the Cork West category.
Jack & Jill Fundraiser
A ‘Gifts and Bric-a-Brac Sale’ in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation will take place in Coachford GAA Hall on next Sunday , October 4th from 10.30am to 1pm. This fundraiser is being held in memory of Baby John Foley (late of Oldcastle Coachford)by his family to mark Baby John’s 10th Birthday. There will be a huge variety of new and excellent quality used goods for sale at great prices e.g. picture frames, paintings, candles, lamps, vases, pottery, children’s soccer kits, Sylvanian Families, Fancy dress costumes, toys, books and lots more. Come along and pick up a bargain, enjoy a cuppa and some gorgeous baking and support a very worthy cause. There will also be a raffle on the morning with some great prizes to be won. Please contact Tanya Foley on 087 9962208 for queries or any further information.
Give them a cheque
The Broomhill Vintage Club will present cheques to nine charities from the proceeds of the Coachford Autumn Festival over next weekend. Macroom Hospital and Sullane Haven will receive €1,500 each on Friday evening at Macroom Hospital. On Saturday night at 10pm in O’Riordan’s Bar Coachford, Suicide Aware, Marymount Hospice, Coachford, Aghabullogue and Rylane National School Parents Associations, Coachford Tidy Towns, and Coachford Christmas Lights will receive their cheques. “ it’s the best part of the whole festival, we love being able to donate the money to the various charities. We all look forward to giving away the money. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. We had a great festival this year, everyone who came to the various events really enjoyed themselves and once again it proved to be a fabulous community event with something for everyone. We cannot thank the Sponsors enough and also everyone who supported the festival and of course Aghabullogue GAA who provided the excellent facilities.” Said Tadgh Murphy Chairperson.
Aghabullogue survive
Aghabullogue will be playing Intermediate hurling again next year having defeated Barryroe in the relegation playoff final last Sunday in Brinny on a score of 2-11 to 1-11. The game was far from a classic but was close at times and the result was in the balance right up to the final whistle. The win means that once again Aghabullogue will be one of the few clubs who will have both a football and hurling team in the intermediate grade. Meanwhile Dripsey continue to prepare for the County Intermediate Final on Sunday October 25th. The Village is festooned with blue and red flags and buntings and the area is full of excitement in advance of the eagerly awaited game.
College takes part in pilot project
Coachford College is to be part of a pilot project to support the development of a new model for allocating additional teaching resources to schools for pupils with special educational needs. The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan TD, announced that a pilot of a new model for allocating additional teaching resources to schools to support children with special educational needs, as recommended by the National Council for Special Education, will take place in 47 schools during the 2015/16 school year. Following a selection process designed to ensure that as full a range of schools as possible would be represented, to take account of disadvantaged classification, gender mix, school size and sector,47 Schools (28 primary schools and 19 post primary schools) have agreed to participate in the pilot project on a voluntary basis. This is a very positive development for parents of children with special educational needs in the catchment area.
Soccer academy
32 children turned up to the first soccer academy training day last Sunday. The academy offers coaching to under 7s, 8s and 9s. The next training day takes place on Sunday October 11th at the Glebe Soccer grounds from 11am to 12.15pm and new players are always welcome.
Soccer Fixtures
Coachford and Rylane enjoyed wins in the first round of the FAI Junior Cup tournament last weekend and both teams are again in action this Sunday in the second round of the Munster Junior Cup. Coachford travel to Temple park to take on North side club, Glenvale at 10.45am while Rylane make their way to Grangevale park to take on home side Grangevale also at 10.45am. The Killanardrish/Coachford under 15s also play away this weekend as they take on Greenwood at 1pm on Saturday
Coachford News 