SPECIAL FEATURE:
This page features all special articles from The Durrow Parish Newsletter and local newspapers. This Special Feature page is updated intermittently.
CURRENT FEATURE:
CANON CARRIGAN COMMEMORATION
RECENT PUBLICATIONS:
DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES
DURROW PRIMARY SCHOOL
RETIREMENT OF GARDA LIAM FOLEY
GER BROPHY TWENTY YEARS A HERO
DURROW COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP
PLANNING APPEAL IS TURNED DOWN
ATTANAGH VILLAGE INTO THE FUTURE
ATTANAGH YOUTH CLUB
OLIVER STANLEY BEHIND THE WHEEL
CANON CARRIGAN COMMEMORATED IN DURROW:
This article is courtesy of Denis Bergin.
The parish where Ossory historian Canon William Carrigan spent almost half of his life celebrated his memory on Sunday last. Durrow Development Forum sponsored the launch at Castle Durrow of a booklet containing the full text of Canon Carrigan's account of the parish of Durrow from his major work on the diocese, first published exactly one hundred years ago. The Ballyfoyle-born priest came to Durrow as curate in 1897 and worked on the final production of his history there for eight years.
He became parish priest of Durrow in 1909 and died there in 1924 at the age of 64. The Durrow celebrations also included a talk by Durrow-born writer Denis Bergin on the priest's life in the Laois village during the turbulent years of the Great War, the 'Troubles' and the Civil War. The talk covered his relationships with bishops, priests, scholars, and the people of his parish, and was based on material compiled from local sources about life in Durrow in the early years of the 20th. century. This material is published as an introduction in the booklet, which was funded by Durrow 'exiles' and is being distributed free to every household in the parish areas of Durrow and Cullohill.
The Durrow celebrations also honoured the families of Canon Carrigan and four others who were committed to preserving and promoting the history and traditions of Durrow in the spirit of Canon Carrigan. These included Canon Richard Aylward, a native of Glenmore who succeeded Canon Carrigan as parish priest in Durrow (award accepted by his nephew, also Richard Aylward, of Ballinaclare, Glenmore); Dr. Liam Ó'Banáin, doctor and community leader in Durrow for over sixty years until his death in 1997 (award accepted by his daughter Máirín Dunlea); Durrow-born author and broadcaster Seán J. White (award accepted by his grand-daughter Eleanor White); and Ned O'Brien, author of An Historical and Social Diary of Durrow 1708-1992 (award accepted by his widow Lil).
The present parish priest of Durrow, Canon Seán O'Doherty, himself a noted antiquary and historian, launched the booklet and also received an award.
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DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
DURROW Community Services can proudly boast they provide a quality service to the people of Durrow and the surrounding areas. As it transpires it is also one of the biggest employers in the area.
Durrow Community Services is comprised of local groups with an inclusive committee of representatives from the Harps GAA Club, Lady’s Meadow Primary School, Durrow Angling Club, Durrow Tidy Towns’ Committee, the 3rd Laois Durrow Scout Group, Durrow Hall committee, Durrow Community Play group, Lions Soccer Club, the Church of Ireland and area representatives from Attanagh, Cullohill and Durrow.
The Community Services headquarters is located in the old primary school on the Kilkenny Road. They operate a Community Employment project with 15 workers and a supervisor, down from 20 workers last year.
Those employed on the project work 19.5 hours per week. They are; JJ Drennan, Pat Cashin, Sean Kavanagh, Teresa Donoghue, Sheila Kavanagh, Michael Walsh, Patricia Kavanagh, Johnny Cooney, Jim Dwyer and Noel Cooney all from Durrow. There are also three men employed on the scheme from Cullohill, Michael Maher, John Hennessey and Seán Cahill. The administration needs of the scheme are looked after by Angela Drennan. The day-to-day management of the scheme falls on the capable shoulders of supervisor Ann Munnelly.
The community employment project has served Durrow well since it was first initiated in the town well over 15 years ago. It is estimated 25 per cent of those who worked on these schemes in Durrow have gone to obtain full-time employment.
Apart from creating employment is also serves to enhance the area and cement community and social bonds.
Explained Ms Munnelly: “A major part of community employment is project training. This allows the participants on the scheme to carry out maintenance, renovations and decorating of community buildings in the town and in the Attanagh and Cullohill areas. While undertaking the developments each participants is learning about the various aspects of the job, for instance carpentry, tiling, painting, decorating and hard-walling.”
Some of the improvements that have taken place included the renovation of the new IT Centre, the maintenance and painting of Cullohill Community Centre, the renovation of the grotto and the provision of a car-park at Dunmore Wood.
Workers on the scheme also assist the Tidy Town’s committee with the planting of shrubs and part-time maintenance in Lady’s Meadow school. Another two workers assist with the community crèche which operates five morning per week, while, two more work-ers are employed assisting the local GAA club.
Each of the workers also receive specific skills training which includes computer training, coach driving lessons, back to education courses run in conjunction with FÁS and Laois VEC or child care courses.
Angela Drennan has been employed on the work programmes for the past two years. The reason why she sought employment from Durrow Social Services was because, “the kids had grown up and left home.
“Rather than sitting down at home I wanted to get out. It’s great for social contact. It was also a means of getting back to work after spending 22 years away from the work force. The scheme was great because there’s very little employment in the town,” she said. Ms Brennan is taking computer courses in the new IT Centre and is “hoping to surf the net shortly”.
Ms Munnelly said the scheme has proved an enormous benefit to the town. “The pound used to be a derelict and unsightly area of the town. We got involved with a lot of voluntary help from the town and it looks very well now. That typifies the approach in the town. If it had to be done people are not slow about going out and doing it themselves. We are now planning to complete the renovation of the grotto. There’s a water feature to be installed at it also.”
She added: “One huge project we undertook in 2000 was the provision of a car-park at Dunmore Wood. This was always a local attraction and many people visited it to walk the ‘Leafy Loop’. There was a problem with parking cars in the area and the committee responded to a local need. It’s now a beautiful picnic area. A lot of people go out walking there. The work was a joint venture with Coillte and FÁS. Liam Hyland MEP officially opened the car-park extension in 2000.”
Ms Drennan informed: “It’s not an area for big employment. A number of locals are employed in the two hotels and the Copper Kettle restaurant, as well as the garden centres which would be the main sources of employment. A lot of people who do work travel to either Kilkenny or Portlaoise or on to Dublin. We could do with some industries in the area.”
The groups decide at monthly meetings what works needs to be done. The work is normally carried out in a planned way but urgent repairs or renovations are speedily dealt with should the need arise.
“The work of the Tidy Towns committee is always an on-going process and we assist them when they need us. We plan to paint the Harps GAA dressing rooms,” said the supervisor.
On the cut-back in CE schemes Ms Munnelly said: “I think it will have an impact in some areas. Here we still have the same amount of work to do even though we are five short from last year. But, I suppose we’re no different to anywhere else.
“I would hate to see the schemes go. Take a look around anywhere in Ireland. Every area has been enhanced through the work of CE. What groups have created would never be maintained if CE disappeared.”
She added: “I would like to thank all who supported us over the years particularly local clubs and businesses.
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DURROW PRIMARY SCHOOL:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
THE Presentation Sisters in Durrow made a £1,800 investment in 1929 when they bought Durrow Castle.
Now, 74 years on, the purchase still delivers a huge return to community life in the area.
On April 26, 1983, the Sisters opened a primary school. Seven years later, the school closed. A section of the grounds was then handed over to the parish to be used for the same purpose when the Sisters left the castle.
Originally known as Our Lady’s Primary School, it changed its name to Our Lady’s Meadow Primary School because of the area in which the school is situated.
The school is located in a part of the castle grounds, which has to be one of the most scenic and serene locations for a school. It nestles just off the town square of Durrow, surrounded by the old rampart of the castle walls. It is a modern premises with a staff comprising of four highly qualified teachers: deputy principal Helen Kelly, Ann Purcell, Sinéad Curran and Margaret Gregg, supported by school principal Mary Collins. The pupil population numbers 119, from 87 local families.
Complementing the full-time staff, the school also boosts high-quality tuition from teachers’ assistants, Ina Meagher and Eimear Lennon; resource teacher Catherine Freeman and support teacher Marian Phelan.
The school also benefits from the experience of secretary Annastacia Kavanagh while the building is kept in pristine condition by their cleaning lady Lilly Mooney.
Other vital key personnel who give their time voluntarily to the school are former Laois Minor hurling team player John Brophy, who puts the children through their paces in sporting tactics, and Liam Clancy, who helps out in training the pupils in the skills of indoor hurling.
The school still upholds the ethos of its founders, the Presentation Sisters, and the ideals of their foundress Nano Nagle. This ideal is apparent from the school’s ongoing charity work. The school continues to sponsor two Filipino children as part of this work.
The school still enjoys the support of past pupils, who maintain regular contact and also assist in extra-curricular activities, complementing the teaching staff with their skills which they bring to the classrooms.
Many of their pupils have gone on to third-level education both at home and abroad, where they fulfil worthwhile roles in society.
The school has a very active parents council, which works in tandem with the board of management, teaching staff, the pupils and the local community.
The entire community of Durrow is singularly focused on the main goal -the provision and delivery of the best education facilities to their children.
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RETIREMENT OF GARDA LIAM FOLEY:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
A gala occasion attended by nearly 500 people was held in the Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow, on Friday night last to mark the retirement from the gardaí of Garda Liam Foley, who has been stationed at Durrow.
A native of New Ross, Co. Wexford, he joined the force on the 15/1/’64, commencing his training in the old garda depot in the Phoenix Park, and transferring to Templemore during his training.
In May ‘64 he was allocated to Rathdowney station, moving in February ‘67 to Ballylinan and in July ‘72 to Durrow. Thus he has served in the one garda district, Abbeyleix, all his working life, only departing for temporary duty on the border at Lifford and Clones in the early seventies.
A presentation of a large screen tv and video was made to Garda Foley on behalf of his colleagues, while he was also presented with two beautiful crystal lamps, one from the Durrow/Cullohill community and the other from the Community Alert organisation, in which he had been involved. Garda Foley was also presented with the millennium garda medal.
The popular Liam told the gathering, which included his wife, Marie, a native of Ballylinan, son, Trevor, an accountant in Cork, daughter, Zoe, who is a student, two brothers and a sister, that he had enjoyed his years in the force and had the height of praise for people in the various areas in which he had served. Music was provided at the buffet dance by “Largo” and a good night was had by all.
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GER BROPHY TWENTY YEARS A HERO:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
A MEMBER of the Durrow Fire Brigade has been honoured for his 20 years of dedicated service to the Laois Fire Services.
Mr Gerard Brophy, Swan Road, Durrow, received his medal from the Minister for the Environment and Local Government Mr. Martin Cullen at a function in Moran’s The Red Cow Inn, Dublin, on Monday, November 11.
Gerard, who is a plasterer by trade, joined the Durrow Fire Services over 20 years ago. His late father, John Brophy and his uncle Alfie Brophy, were both members of the fire service. Both men were involved when volunteers ran the fire service in their local communities
In his capacity as driver/mechanic of a fire appliance, Gerard has witnessed some very scary moments. Two call outs that particularly stand out in his mind are the Coliseum Cinema in Portlaoise that was destroyed by fire in 1985 and the more recent fire that gutted the Cleland Supermarket Store in Rathdowney earlier this year.
Gerard has the overall responsibility for the maintenance of the Durrow fire vehicle and has to make sure that all equipment is in proper working order. Gerard says he enjoys his work to a point but stresses that it can have a serious element to it as well.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony Minister Cullen said, he was delighted to be celebrating and honouring the long service, unselfishness and dedication to duty by members of the Fire Services. He also said, he was delighted to acknowledge the role played by the family members of the service and the support, which enabled the recipients to provide a vital service to the community.
Gerard is married to Sarah and they have four children, John, Justin, Conor and Claire.
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DURROW COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
CHILDREN in Durrow, as young as three-years of age, are learning inter-social skills and a sense of community, thanks to the efforts of Durrow Community Play group.
On a visit to the bright play school last week I found up to 25 children, aged between three and five, busying themselves with educational toys and books.
The play school is located in the old school on the Kilkenny Road and is run for the community by people living in the community.
Chairperson of the play school committee Mary Doyle explained the school was opened in September 1998 with capacity for 25 children.
In 2000 the school was on the point of closing because of lack of funding but assistance came from FÁS and the Department of Justice under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme and since then the play school has gone from strength to strength.
At present the school is staffed by two FÁS workers, childcare assistants Sheila Kavanagh and Theresa Donoghue. The play school leader, Andrea Waite, is employed directly by the Durrow Community Play group.
The management committee is comprised of parents who have children attending, or who will be attending in the future. Secretary is Brendan Murphy, treasurer is Stephanie Phelan.
“It’s a very handy facility for parents who are working to drop in their kids. We used to open four days a week, but parents requested we open another day. We get children from Cullohill, Rathdowney, Johnstown and of course Durrow.” said Ms Doyle.
She was proud of the fact that 16 of the children who are now in the play school will be attending the local primary school, Our Lady’s Meadow, this September. She also said because the play school has proved so successful for the first time it will be open during the summer months from July onwards.
Ms Doyle added: “The teachers in the local school can tell which children have attended play school and which have not. The school builds up confidence in the children. They socialise better when then go on to primary school and they seem to settle better. There’s a vast difference in them. It allows them the opportunity to mix with one another. They love to share.”
The children who attend the play school learn through activity. These activities range from arts and crafts, puzzle books, jigsaws and painting as well as song and dance.
According to Ms Doyle: “Last year we had the children make Valentine cards with chocolate sweets attached. I think most parents got the cards minus the chocolates! The children also made Christmas cards. We had Santa visit us and the children are still talking about him.”
The play school receives 44,000 staffing grants from the department under the three-year programme, the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme. In 2001 the Durrow Community Council raised funds during the Durrow Festival and the proceeds went to the play school. This money was spent on furniture.
Because of the low fees charged to parents Ms Doyle says it encourages parents to avail of the facility. “Some parents who do not go out to work can afford to drop off their children for the few hours. It allows them time to themselves. It also allows parents to return to part-time work or to avail of training courses. We also have grandparents dropping off the children and collecting them when the parents of the children go to work. Its really benefits the whole community.”
Sounds of rattling crisp bags, hissing mineral bottles being opened and the rattle of cellophane wrapping paper being torn from sandwiches distracted me from my conversation with Ms Doyle. I was informed “The children are stopping for elevenses.”
Taking the opportunity I approached some of the children to enquire of them what they thought about the play school.
Four-year old triplet Stephanie O’Dea said she thought the school was, “good”.
“If you are bold you are not allowed to go out and play. I’m never bold. I like the yoghurt and biscuits for my lunch.”
Her sister Lorraine said, “I don’t know what I’ll be when I grow up. But I’d like to be a fireman.
Third sister Shauna interjected: “You can’t be a fireman that’s only for boys. Joe Stanley’s going to be a fireman.”
Not so according to Joseph Stanley. “I’m going to be a builder. Joseph said, “My mammy got a new baby and will be bringing her (Alicia) back home.”
Four-year old Aoife Phelan said she was from “Durrow, County Laois.” She then said: “My mammy was a tomboy when she was growing up and used to work on my granddad’s farm. Her name is Stephanie Phelan. I’m going to be a nurse first when I grow up and then a mammy.”
“Ciaran Michael Doyle is my name actually,” came another eager voice through the sound of children, earnestly swapping yarns. “I have a M and M bar with M and Ms on it. I like playing with the boys and making jigsaws.”
Kayla Newman (4) said she lived in “County Laois.” “The best thing I like in school is Aoife Phelan,” (her pal), she said
Childcare assistant Sheila Kavanagh has been employed on the scheme for the past two years. Before that she worked as a carer. She received her certificate in child care through a FÁS foundation course.
“I love working alongside the children. They are all good characters. They all have their own individual characteristics.”
Former dental technician Theresa Donoghue said she liked “the challenge of working in the play school.
“I get a lot from the children. They are great in their innocence and are harmless. But, unfortunately are vulnerable to outside influences. The staff here get on well with each other.”
Ms Donoghue said she was hopeful of sending her two youngest children, Jade (16 months) and Brent (two and a half years) to the play school when they reach the age.
“I really enjoy myself here, It’s just great.”
Play school leader Andrea Waite moved to Durrow five years ago from Britain and has now set up home in Durrow. She had worked in the childcare profession before moving to Durrow.
Her duties included “the smooth running of the school on a day to day basis”. She joked: “I love cracking the whip.”
Ms Waite thinks the regulations relating to child care in Ireland compared to Britain are “tightening up a bit more,” which she welcomed.
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PLANNING APPEAL IS TURNED DOWN:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
AN appeal to An Bord Pleanála against a decision of Laois County Council, which refused permission for a development comprising the construction of an integrated wetlands system and storage facility for bio-solids at Graceswood, Durrow, has been turned down, a meeting in Abbeyleix was told on Thursday.
The development had been opposed by a local environmental group. The meeting was attended by Cllrs John Bonham and John Joe Fennelly and Deputy Seán Fleming. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Liam Houlihan.
The application was made by Michael Butler, c/o Hayes Higgins of New Street, Kilkenny. Documents submitted to the planning office by engineers on behalf of Mr Butler, said that it was “submitted that raw materials are taken from the following plants in County Laois - Meadow Meats (30% of total compost input), Stone Arch and First and Distillers (approx. 25% of reed bed input)”.
They added: “We are informed by Mr Butler that the Environmental Protection Agency is satisfied in principle that this development may proceed.”
An Bord Pleanála said: “The site is accessed via a minor road, which is seriously substandard.... The subject site is immediately adjacent to the Abbeyleix Woodlands... and is close to the River Nore. It is considered that the proposed development would, by reason of its visual impact and the disturbance resulting from activities generated by the development, seriously injure the amenities of the area.”
It was decided at the meeting to spend £200 raised locally at the time on doing up Watercastle Bridge, including upgrading an inscription on it.
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ATTANAGH VILLAGE INTO THE FUTURE:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
THE picturesque and historic village of Attanagh is located near Durrow on the border with Kilkenny. In fact, while very much a Laois village in every respect, Attanagh is in the Kilkenny parish of Ballyragget, an unusual situation that must have positive aspects as well.
Last week, I met members of the Attanagh Residents’ Association which, to its credit, has taken a proactive approach to the further development of its village and the members were anxious to discuss development matters. They have clearly looked at many issues crucial to progress.
As well as they themselves being clearly proud of their village, they point out also that there is a great community spirit in general. This they hope to build on to ensure success for the area.
One of the most positive developments in recent years has been the opening of the Irish Flyfishers and Game Museum by Walter Phelan, as featured prominently in this paper some months ago. This fine museum has proved very popular and is attracting a good number of visitors.
The village has also been expanding and now has about 45 houses, serviced by a shop and post office. There is also a small industry in the village in the form of Grennatta Plastics Ltd, a trader and plastic granulator established in 1987.
They also mention that the village is proud of the success musically of the Sheeran family. John Sheeran is a prominent member of their association and the family has become known far and near for its singing prowess.
The residents’ association is not a new phenomenon, being about 30 years up and running and working away as best it can for the village. It is the parent association for the water scheme, a very successful effort which has provided a great service for the area, and which was recently further refurbished at a cost of 45,000. It surely must be one of the best group water schemes in the country, now modernised with computers and so on.
It shows what can be achieved when people work together for a greater good and the members now hope to use this to develop other aspects of the village.
They feel that progress is now being made, boundaries are being increased and a water and sewerage scheme is being sought - this would further enhance the quality of the water and help it cater for further growth in the population of the area.
As this paper has pointed out at various times, sewerage schemes are now a necessity in many parts of rural Laois - they are important for further development. The difficulty, of course, is getting finance to carry these out but it is something the Government will have to look at far more carefully if it is serious about allowing these rural areas to increase and thrive.
A point made by one of those present, Rose Whiteford, was that getting further business or industry into the area would be very important from the point of view of keeping young people in the region, continuing to give it life and potential for progress.
The association’s members have done a lot of work themselves, such as working on approach roads on which they have spent 2,000. They have also managed to get grant aid through their Tidy Towns efforts and are to use this to put further trees in place in the village.
In general, they felt strongly that the roads on the Kilkenny side of the border were being looked after better than those on the Laois side and hoped that the council would work to redress that.
As one of the group’s younger members, Brendan Phelan highlights the tourism possibilities as being one that should be further developed.
Buildings such as the old mill and assets to the area such as the River Ouveg, the museum, the old railway station and church, walking and fishing possibilities have all to be developed to ensure progress, he says.
Brendan also made the point that because they were near Ballyouskill, they tended to take a lot of services from there -the community hall and Catholic church is located there - while as regards sport, three clubs could chose from Attanagh while there are also three schools local children can attend. This led to a dispersion of a local sense of community and this needs to be continually addressed.
There are eight public lights in the village and they feel this could be increased considerably -again this depends to a great degree on the council. Another problem is that cars are speeding too much, in particular on the Durrow road, they point out, and that also needs to be addressed.
The association funds its activities through a regular ‘25’ game from October to March which is popular and well supported and has been running now for about 12 years.
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ATTANAGH YOUTH CLUB:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
THE Attanagh Residents’ Association is very keen to introduce more activities to cater for local people in the future.
As such, one of its members, Anne Marie Scully, a second-year student at the NUI Maynooth, has had the initiative of setting up a summer camp, based at Ballyouskill Hall. This is to be followed by the setting up of a youth club.
The idea originally came to her having been involved in the nativity play and a local choir and so she set up the first phase of the project last summer.
The camp met every Wednesday for nine Wednesdays last summer. The children are up to 13 years old and she and her helpers were able to cater for 40 children on Wednesdays. They brought 50 on day trips, heading for places such as Clara Lara adventure park, Kilkenny city and Dublin Zoo.
It is a voluntary camp and they only have a minimum charge to cover cost. They have greater numbers that they can cater for at the moment for this summer.
Among the activities they have are table quizzes, walks, volleyball, art and crafts, games, and so on. They are having a karaoke cabaret disco at The Wheel Inn on July 18 to raise funds for these efforts, which the residents’ association see as being very important to the area.
With the help of people such as Brendan Phelan, she hopes to set up the youth club to meet regularly in the autumn, hoping this group will then grow up together and integrate even more strongly than previous generations of young people, thus contributing to an even greater sense of community in the area.
“It takes a lot of time to organise such activities but you enjoy it and being with the children,” commented Anne Marie cheerfully.
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OLIVER STANLEY BEHIND THE WHEEL:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2002)
OLIVER Stanley from Durrow has won the final round of the 2002 Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship and secured second position overall.
The atmosphere at the start of the Galway event was electric as mathematically any of the top five crews still had a chance of winning the title if the others failed to finish. Oliver in the Perry Motors Ford Focus had to win the final round with his nearest rival Colm Murphy (Limerick) finishing lower than third to win the inaugural title.
The West 2002 International Rally greeted the crews with atrocious weather conditions, torrential rain and extremely treacherous slippery stages with a lot of stonewalls. Oliver with nothing to lose attacked on stage one to try and wrestle control of the rally, however three miles in it went all wrong, as Oliver got caught out under braking and slid up a bank, beaching his Ford Focus. Luckily there were enough spectators to push the car back onto the road, but the resulting time loss dropped him to fourth and handed the lead to Colm Murphy.
However the Durrow man fought back magnificently setting fastest Focus stage time on stages four and five to reduce Murphy’s lead to 44 seconds. Oliver attacked on stage six but mud had been pulled out onto the road which caused him to slide off and narrowly missing a huge gate post, after his second near miss of the day Oliver decided to play a waiting game as the final three stages of the event were to be held in darkness and would provide a real sting in the tail for all competitors.
Oliver was proved right as Murphy got caught out on stage nine the first night stage allowing Oliver to take the lead. The final two stages were cancelled for safety reasons and Oliver secured his second victory of the year.
“I competed in the Ford Ireland KA Rally Championship for two years and I was fourth overall in 1999, third in 2000 and second in the 2002 Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship, if it keeps going this way I will have to win next year.”
“However I am delighted to win in Galway, it was my second victory of the season but I am also disappointed that I did not win the championship it was that close all year,” he said.
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PHOTOS:
This page features all special articles from The Durrow Parish Newsletter and local newspapers. This Special Feature page is updated intermittently.
CURRENT FEATURE:
CANON CARRIGAN COMMEMORATION
RECENT PUBLICATIONS:
DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES
DURROW PRIMARY SCHOOL
RETIREMENT OF GARDA LIAM FOLEY
GER BROPHY TWENTY YEARS A HERO
DURROW COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP
PLANNING APPEAL IS TURNED DOWN
ATTANAGH VILLAGE INTO THE FUTURE
ATTANAGH YOUTH CLUB
OLIVER STANLEY BEHIND THE WHEEL
CANON CARRIGAN COMMEMORATED IN DURROW:
This article is courtesy of Denis Bergin.
The parish where Ossory historian Canon William Carrigan spent almost half of his life celebrated his memory on Sunday last. Durrow Development Forum sponsored the launch at Castle Durrow of a booklet containing the full text of Canon Carrigan's account of the parish of Durrow from his major work on the diocese, first published exactly one hundred years ago. The Ballyfoyle-born priest came to Durrow as curate in 1897 and worked on the final production of his history there for eight years.
He became parish priest of Durrow in 1909 and died there in 1924 at the age of 64. The Durrow celebrations also included a talk by Durrow-born writer Denis Bergin on the priest's life in the Laois village during the turbulent years of the Great War, the 'Troubles' and the Civil War. The talk covered his relationships with bishops, priests, scholars, and the people of his parish, and was based on material compiled from local sources about life in Durrow in the early years of the 20th. century. This material is published as an introduction in the booklet, which was funded by Durrow 'exiles' and is being distributed free to every household in the parish areas of Durrow and Cullohill.
The Durrow celebrations also honoured the families of Canon Carrigan and four others who were committed to preserving and promoting the history and traditions of Durrow in the spirit of Canon Carrigan. These included Canon Richard Aylward, a native of Glenmore who succeeded Canon Carrigan as parish priest in Durrow (award accepted by his nephew, also Richard Aylward, of Ballinaclare, Glenmore); Dr. Liam Ó'Banáin, doctor and community leader in Durrow for over sixty years until his death in 1997 (award accepted by his daughter Máirín Dunlea); Durrow-born author and broadcaster Seán J. White (award accepted by his grand-daughter Eleanor White); and Ned O'Brien, author of An Historical and Social Diary of Durrow 1708-1992 (award accepted by his widow Lil).
The present parish priest of Durrow, Canon Seán O'Doherty, himself a noted antiquary and historian, launched the booklet and also received an award.
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DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
DURROW Community Services can proudly boast they provide a quality service to the people of Durrow and the surrounding areas. As it transpires it is also one of the biggest employers in the area.
Durrow Community Services is comprised of local groups with an inclusive committee of representatives from the Harps GAA Club, Lady’s Meadow Primary School, Durrow Angling Club, Durrow Tidy Towns’ Committee, the 3rd Laois Durrow Scout Group, Durrow Hall committee, Durrow Community Play group, Lions Soccer Club, the Church of Ireland and area representatives from Attanagh, Cullohill and Durrow.
The Community Services headquarters is located in the old primary school on the Kilkenny Road. They operate a Community Employment project with 15 workers and a supervisor, down from 20 workers last year.
Those employed on the project work 19.5 hours per week. They are; JJ Drennan, Pat Cashin, Sean Kavanagh, Teresa Donoghue, Sheila Kavanagh, Michael Walsh, Patricia Kavanagh, Johnny Cooney, Jim Dwyer and Noel Cooney all from Durrow. There are also three men employed on the scheme from Cullohill, Michael Maher, John Hennessey and Seán Cahill. The administration needs of the scheme are looked after by Angela Drennan. The day-to-day management of the scheme falls on the capable shoulders of supervisor Ann Munnelly.
The community employment project has served Durrow well since it was first initiated in the town well over 15 years ago. It is estimated 25 per cent of those who worked on these schemes in Durrow have gone to obtain full-time employment.
Apart from creating employment is also serves to enhance the area and cement community and social bonds.
Explained Ms Munnelly: “A major part of community employment is project training. This allows the participants on the scheme to carry out maintenance, renovations and decorating of community buildings in the town and in the Attanagh and Cullohill areas. While undertaking the developments each participants is learning about the various aspects of the job, for instance carpentry, tiling, painting, decorating and hard-walling.”
Some of the improvements that have taken place included the renovation of the new IT Centre, the maintenance and painting of Cullohill Community Centre, the renovation of the grotto and the provision of a car-park at Dunmore Wood.
Workers on the scheme also assist the Tidy Town’s committee with the planting of shrubs and part-time maintenance in Lady’s Meadow school. Another two workers assist with the community crèche which operates five morning per week, while, two more work-ers are employed assisting the local GAA club.
Each of the workers also receive specific skills training which includes computer training, coach driving lessons, back to education courses run in conjunction with FÁS and Laois VEC or child care courses.
Angela Drennan has been employed on the work programmes for the past two years. The reason why she sought employment from Durrow Social Services was because, “the kids had grown up and left home.
“Rather than sitting down at home I wanted to get out. It’s great for social contact. It was also a means of getting back to work after spending 22 years away from the work force. The scheme was great because there’s very little employment in the town,” she said. Ms Brennan is taking computer courses in the new IT Centre and is “hoping to surf the net shortly”.
Ms Munnelly said the scheme has proved an enormous benefit to the town. “The pound used to be a derelict and unsightly area of the town. We got involved with a lot of voluntary help from the town and it looks very well now. That typifies the approach in the town. If it had to be done people are not slow about going out and doing it themselves. We are now planning to complete the renovation of the grotto. There’s a water feature to be installed at it also.”
She added: “One huge project we undertook in 2000 was the provision of a car-park at Dunmore Wood. This was always a local attraction and many people visited it to walk the ‘Leafy Loop’. There was a problem with parking cars in the area and the committee responded to a local need. It’s now a beautiful picnic area. A lot of people go out walking there. The work was a joint venture with Coillte and FÁS. Liam Hyland MEP officially opened the car-park extension in 2000.”
Ms Drennan informed: “It’s not an area for big employment. A number of locals are employed in the two hotels and the Copper Kettle restaurant, as well as the garden centres which would be the main sources of employment. A lot of people who do work travel to either Kilkenny or Portlaoise or on to Dublin. We could do with some industries in the area.”
The groups decide at monthly meetings what works needs to be done. The work is normally carried out in a planned way but urgent repairs or renovations are speedily dealt with should the need arise.
“The work of the Tidy Towns committee is always an on-going process and we assist them when they need us. We plan to paint the Harps GAA dressing rooms,” said the supervisor.
On the cut-back in CE schemes Ms Munnelly said: “I think it will have an impact in some areas. Here we still have the same amount of work to do even though we are five short from last year. But, I suppose we’re no different to anywhere else.
“I would hate to see the schemes go. Take a look around anywhere in Ireland. Every area has been enhanced through the work of CE. What groups have created would never be maintained if CE disappeared.”
She added: “I would like to thank all who supported us over the years particularly local clubs and businesses.
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DURROW PRIMARY SCHOOL:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
THE Presentation Sisters in Durrow made a £1,800 investment in 1929 when they bought Durrow Castle.
Now, 74 years on, the purchase still delivers a huge return to community life in the area.
On April 26, 1983, the Sisters opened a primary school. Seven years later, the school closed. A section of the grounds was then handed over to the parish to be used for the same purpose when the Sisters left the castle.
Originally known as Our Lady’s Primary School, it changed its name to Our Lady’s Meadow Primary School because of the area in which the school is situated.
The school is located in a part of the castle grounds, which has to be one of the most scenic and serene locations for a school. It nestles just off the town square of Durrow, surrounded by the old rampart of the castle walls. It is a modern premises with a staff comprising of four highly qualified teachers: deputy principal Helen Kelly, Ann Purcell, Sinéad Curran and Margaret Gregg, supported by school principal Mary Collins. The pupil population numbers 119, from 87 local families.
Complementing the full-time staff, the school also boosts high-quality tuition from teachers’ assistants, Ina Meagher and Eimear Lennon; resource teacher Catherine Freeman and support teacher Marian Phelan.
The school also benefits from the experience of secretary Annastacia Kavanagh while the building is kept in pristine condition by their cleaning lady Lilly Mooney.
Other vital key personnel who give their time voluntarily to the school are former Laois Minor hurling team player John Brophy, who puts the children through their paces in sporting tactics, and Liam Clancy, who helps out in training the pupils in the skills of indoor hurling.
The school still upholds the ethos of its founders, the Presentation Sisters, and the ideals of their foundress Nano Nagle. This ideal is apparent from the school’s ongoing charity work. The school continues to sponsor two Filipino children as part of this work.
The school still enjoys the support of past pupils, who maintain regular contact and also assist in extra-curricular activities, complementing the teaching staff with their skills which they bring to the classrooms.
Many of their pupils have gone on to third-level education both at home and abroad, where they fulfil worthwhile roles in society.
The school has a very active parents council, which works in tandem with the board of management, teaching staff, the pupils and the local community.
The entire community of Durrow is singularly focused on the main goal -the provision and delivery of the best education facilities to their children.
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RETIREMENT OF GARDA LIAM FOLEY:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
A gala occasion attended by nearly 500 people was held in the Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow, on Friday night last to mark the retirement from the gardaí of Garda Liam Foley, who has been stationed at Durrow.
A native of New Ross, Co. Wexford, he joined the force on the 15/1/’64, commencing his training in the old garda depot in the Phoenix Park, and transferring to Templemore during his training.
In May ‘64 he was allocated to Rathdowney station, moving in February ‘67 to Ballylinan and in July ‘72 to Durrow. Thus he has served in the one garda district, Abbeyleix, all his working life, only departing for temporary duty on the border at Lifford and Clones in the early seventies.
A presentation of a large screen tv and video was made to Garda Foley on behalf of his colleagues, while he was also presented with two beautiful crystal lamps, one from the Durrow/Cullohill community and the other from the Community Alert organisation, in which he had been involved. Garda Foley was also presented with the millennium garda medal.
The popular Liam told the gathering, which included his wife, Marie, a native of Ballylinan, son, Trevor, an accountant in Cork, daughter, Zoe, who is a student, two brothers and a sister, that he had enjoyed his years in the force and had the height of praise for people in the various areas in which he had served. Music was provided at the buffet dance by “Largo” and a good night was had by all.
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GER BROPHY TWENTY YEARS A HERO:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
A MEMBER of the Durrow Fire Brigade has been honoured for his 20 years of dedicated service to the Laois Fire Services.
Mr Gerard Brophy, Swan Road, Durrow, received his medal from the Minister for the Environment and Local Government Mr. Martin Cullen at a function in Moran’s The Red Cow Inn, Dublin, on Monday, November 11.
Gerard, who is a plasterer by trade, joined the Durrow Fire Services over 20 years ago. His late father, John Brophy and his uncle Alfie Brophy, were both members of the fire service. Both men were involved when volunteers ran the fire service in their local communities
In his capacity as driver/mechanic of a fire appliance, Gerard has witnessed some very scary moments. Two call outs that particularly stand out in his mind are the Coliseum Cinema in Portlaoise that was destroyed by fire in 1985 and the more recent fire that gutted the Cleland Supermarket Store in Rathdowney earlier this year.
Gerard has the overall responsibility for the maintenance of the Durrow fire vehicle and has to make sure that all equipment is in proper working order. Gerard says he enjoys his work to a point but stresses that it can have a serious element to it as well.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony Minister Cullen said, he was delighted to be celebrating and honouring the long service, unselfishness and dedication to duty by members of the Fire Services. He also said, he was delighted to acknowledge the role played by the family members of the service and the support, which enabled the recipients to provide a vital service to the community.
Gerard is married to Sarah and they have four children, John, Justin, Conor and Claire.
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DURROW COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
CHILDREN in Durrow, as young as three-years of age, are learning inter-social skills and a sense of community, thanks to the efforts of Durrow Community Play group.
On a visit to the bright play school last week I found up to 25 children, aged between three and five, busying themselves with educational toys and books.
The play school is located in the old school on the Kilkenny Road and is run for the community by people living in the community.
Chairperson of the play school committee Mary Doyle explained the school was opened in September 1998 with capacity for 25 children.
In 2000 the school was on the point of closing because of lack of funding but assistance came from FÁS and the Department of Justice under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme and since then the play school has gone from strength to strength.
At present the school is staffed by two FÁS workers, childcare assistants Sheila Kavanagh and Theresa Donoghue. The play school leader, Andrea Waite, is employed directly by the Durrow Community Play group.
The management committee is comprised of parents who have children attending, or who will be attending in the future. Secretary is Brendan Murphy, treasurer is Stephanie Phelan.
“It’s a very handy facility for parents who are working to drop in their kids. We used to open four days a week, but parents requested we open another day. We get children from Cullohill, Rathdowney, Johnstown and of course Durrow.” said Ms Doyle.
She was proud of the fact that 16 of the children who are now in the play school will be attending the local primary school, Our Lady’s Meadow, this September. She also said because the play school has proved so successful for the first time it will be open during the summer months from July onwards.
Ms Doyle added: “The teachers in the local school can tell which children have attended play school and which have not. The school builds up confidence in the children. They socialise better when then go on to primary school and they seem to settle better. There’s a vast difference in them. It allows them the opportunity to mix with one another. They love to share.”
The children who attend the play school learn through activity. These activities range from arts and crafts, puzzle books, jigsaws and painting as well as song and dance.
According to Ms Doyle: “Last year we had the children make Valentine cards with chocolate sweets attached. I think most parents got the cards minus the chocolates! The children also made Christmas cards. We had Santa visit us and the children are still talking about him.”
The play school receives 44,000 staffing grants from the department under the three-year programme, the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme. In 2001 the Durrow Community Council raised funds during the Durrow Festival and the proceeds went to the play school. This money was spent on furniture.
Because of the low fees charged to parents Ms Doyle says it encourages parents to avail of the facility. “Some parents who do not go out to work can afford to drop off their children for the few hours. It allows them time to themselves. It also allows parents to return to part-time work or to avail of training courses. We also have grandparents dropping off the children and collecting them when the parents of the children go to work. Its really benefits the whole community.”
Sounds of rattling crisp bags, hissing mineral bottles being opened and the rattle of cellophane wrapping paper being torn from sandwiches distracted me from my conversation with Ms Doyle. I was informed “The children are stopping for elevenses.”
Taking the opportunity I approached some of the children to enquire of them what they thought about the play school.
Four-year old triplet Stephanie O’Dea said she thought the school was, “good”.
“If you are bold you are not allowed to go out and play. I’m never bold. I like the yoghurt and biscuits for my lunch.”
Her sister Lorraine said, “I don’t know what I’ll be when I grow up. But I’d like to be a fireman.
Third sister Shauna interjected: “You can’t be a fireman that’s only for boys. Joe Stanley’s going to be a fireman.”
Not so according to Joseph Stanley. “I’m going to be a builder. Joseph said, “My mammy got a new baby and will be bringing her (Alicia) back home.”
Four-year old Aoife Phelan said she was from “Durrow, County Laois.” She then said: “My mammy was a tomboy when she was growing up and used to work on my granddad’s farm. Her name is Stephanie Phelan. I’m going to be a nurse first when I grow up and then a mammy.”
“Ciaran Michael Doyle is my name actually,” came another eager voice through the sound of children, earnestly swapping yarns. “I have a M and M bar with M and Ms on it. I like playing with the boys and making jigsaws.”
Kayla Newman (4) said she lived in “County Laois.” “The best thing I like in school is Aoife Phelan,” (her pal), she said
Childcare assistant Sheila Kavanagh has been employed on the scheme for the past two years. Before that she worked as a carer. She received her certificate in child care through a FÁS foundation course.
“I love working alongside the children. They are all good characters. They all have their own individual characteristics.”
Former dental technician Theresa Donoghue said she liked “the challenge of working in the play school.
“I get a lot from the children. They are great in their innocence and are harmless. But, unfortunately are vulnerable to outside influences. The staff here get on well with each other.”
Ms Donoghue said she was hopeful of sending her two youngest children, Jade (16 months) and Brent (two and a half years) to the play school when they reach the age.
“I really enjoy myself here, It’s just great.”
Play school leader Andrea Waite moved to Durrow five years ago from Britain and has now set up home in Durrow. She had worked in the childcare profession before moving to Durrow.
Her duties included “the smooth running of the school on a day to day basis”. She joked: “I love cracking the whip.”
Ms Waite thinks the regulations relating to child care in Ireland compared to Britain are “tightening up a bit more,” which she welcomed.
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PLANNING APPEAL IS TURNED DOWN:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
AN appeal to An Bord Pleanála against a decision of Laois County Council, which refused permission for a development comprising the construction of an integrated wetlands system and storage facility for bio-solids at Graceswood, Durrow, has been turned down, a meeting in Abbeyleix was told on Thursday.
The development had been opposed by a local environmental group. The meeting was attended by Cllrs John Bonham and John Joe Fennelly and Deputy Seán Fleming. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Liam Houlihan.
The application was made by Michael Butler, c/o Hayes Higgins of New Street, Kilkenny. Documents submitted to the planning office by engineers on behalf of Mr Butler, said that it was “submitted that raw materials are taken from the following plants in County Laois - Meadow Meats (30% of total compost input), Stone Arch and First and Distillers (approx. 25% of reed bed input)”.
They added: “We are informed by Mr Butler that the Environmental Protection Agency is satisfied in principle that this development may proceed.”
An Bord Pleanála said: “The site is accessed via a minor road, which is seriously substandard.... The subject site is immediately adjacent to the Abbeyleix Woodlands... and is close to the River Nore. It is considered that the proposed development would, by reason of its visual impact and the disturbance resulting from activities generated by the development, seriously injure the amenities of the area.”
It was decided at the meeting to spend £200 raised locally at the time on doing up Watercastle Bridge, including upgrading an inscription on it.
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ATTANAGH VILLAGE INTO THE FUTURE:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
THE picturesque and historic village of Attanagh is located near Durrow on the border with Kilkenny. In fact, while very much a Laois village in every respect, Attanagh is in the Kilkenny parish of Ballyragget, an unusual situation that must have positive aspects as well.
Last week, I met members of the Attanagh Residents’ Association which, to its credit, has taken a proactive approach to the further development of its village and the members were anxious to discuss development matters. They have clearly looked at many issues crucial to progress.
As well as they themselves being clearly proud of their village, they point out also that there is a great community spirit in general. This they hope to build on to ensure success for the area.
One of the most positive developments in recent years has been the opening of the Irish Flyfishers and Game Museum by Walter Phelan, as featured prominently in this paper some months ago. This fine museum has proved very popular and is attracting a good number of visitors.
The village has also been expanding and now has about 45 houses, serviced by a shop and post office. There is also a small industry in the village in the form of Grennatta Plastics Ltd, a trader and plastic granulator established in 1987.
They also mention that the village is proud of the success musically of the Sheeran family. John Sheeran is a prominent member of their association and the family has become known far and near for its singing prowess.
The residents’ association is not a new phenomenon, being about 30 years up and running and working away as best it can for the village. It is the parent association for the water scheme, a very successful effort which has provided a great service for the area, and which was recently further refurbished at a cost of 45,000. It surely must be one of the best group water schemes in the country, now modernised with computers and so on.
It shows what can be achieved when people work together for a greater good and the members now hope to use this to develop other aspects of the village.
They feel that progress is now being made, boundaries are being increased and a water and sewerage scheme is being sought - this would further enhance the quality of the water and help it cater for further growth in the population of the area.
As this paper has pointed out at various times, sewerage schemes are now a necessity in many parts of rural Laois - they are important for further development. The difficulty, of course, is getting finance to carry these out but it is something the Government will have to look at far more carefully if it is serious about allowing these rural areas to increase and thrive.
A point made by one of those present, Rose Whiteford, was that getting further business or industry into the area would be very important from the point of view of keeping young people in the region, continuing to give it life and potential for progress.
The association’s members have done a lot of work themselves, such as working on approach roads on which they have spent 2,000. They have also managed to get grant aid through their Tidy Towns efforts and are to use this to put further trees in place in the village.
In general, they felt strongly that the roads on the Kilkenny side of the border were being looked after better than those on the Laois side and hoped that the council would work to redress that.
As one of the group’s younger members, Brendan Phelan highlights the tourism possibilities as being one that should be further developed.
Buildings such as the old mill and assets to the area such as the River Ouveg, the museum, the old railway station and church, walking and fishing possibilities have all to be developed to ensure progress, he says.
Brendan also made the point that because they were near Ballyouskill, they tended to take a lot of services from there -the community hall and Catholic church is located there - while as regards sport, three clubs could chose from Attanagh while there are also three schools local children can attend. This led to a dispersion of a local sense of community and this needs to be continually addressed.
There are eight public lights in the village and they feel this could be increased considerably -again this depends to a great degree on the council. Another problem is that cars are speeding too much, in particular on the Durrow road, they point out, and that also needs to be addressed.
The association funds its activities through a regular ‘25’ game from October to March which is popular and well supported and has been running now for about 12 years.
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ATTANAGH YOUTH CLUB:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2004)
THE Attanagh Residents’ Association is very keen to introduce more activities to cater for local people in the future.
As such, one of its members, Anne Marie Scully, a second-year student at the NUI Maynooth, has had the initiative of setting up a summer camp, based at Ballyouskill Hall. This is to be followed by the setting up of a youth club.
The idea originally came to her having been involved in the nativity play and a local choir and so she set up the first phase of the project last summer.
The camp met every Wednesday for nine Wednesdays last summer. The children are up to 13 years old and she and her helpers were able to cater for 40 children on Wednesdays. They brought 50 on day trips, heading for places such as Clara Lara adventure park, Kilkenny city and Dublin Zoo.
It is a voluntary camp and they only have a minimum charge to cover cost. They have greater numbers that they can cater for at the moment for this summer.
Among the activities they have are table quizzes, walks, volleyball, art and crafts, games, and so on. They are having a karaoke cabaret disco at The Wheel Inn on July 18 to raise funds for these efforts, which the residents’ association see as being very important to the area.
With the help of people such as Brendan Phelan, she hopes to set up the youth club to meet regularly in the autumn, hoping this group will then grow up together and integrate even more strongly than previous generations of young people, thus contributing to an even greater sense of community in the area.
“It takes a lot of time to organise such activities but you enjoy it and being with the children,” commented Anne Marie cheerfully.
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OLIVER STANLEY BEHIND THE WHEEL:
This article is courtesy of Mr Joseph Barrett, The Laois Nationalist Newspaper. (c.2002)
OLIVER Stanley from Durrow has won the final round of the 2002 Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship and secured second position overall.
The atmosphere at the start of the Galway event was electric as mathematically any of the top five crews still had a chance of winning the title if the others failed to finish. Oliver in the Perry Motors Ford Focus had to win the final round with his nearest rival Colm Murphy (Limerick) finishing lower than third to win the inaugural title.
The West 2002 International Rally greeted the crews with atrocious weather conditions, torrential rain and extremely treacherous slippery stages with a lot of stonewalls. Oliver with nothing to lose attacked on stage one to try and wrestle control of the rally, however three miles in it went all wrong, as Oliver got caught out under braking and slid up a bank, beaching his Ford Focus. Luckily there were enough spectators to push the car back onto the road, but the resulting time loss dropped him to fourth and handed the lead to Colm Murphy.
However the Durrow man fought back magnificently setting fastest Focus stage time on stages four and five to reduce Murphy’s lead to 44 seconds. Oliver attacked on stage six but mud had been pulled out onto the road which caused him to slide off and narrowly missing a huge gate post, after his second near miss of the day Oliver decided to play a waiting game as the final three stages of the event were to be held in darkness and would provide a real sting in the tail for all competitors.
Oliver was proved right as Murphy got caught out on stage nine the first night stage allowing Oliver to take the lead. The final two stages were cancelled for safety reasons and Oliver secured his second victory of the year.
“I competed in the Ford Ireland KA Rally Championship for two years and I was fourth overall in 1999, third in 2000 and second in the 2002 Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship, if it keeps going this way I will have to win next year.”
“However I am delighted to win in Galway, it was my second victory of the season but I am also disappointed that I did not win the championship it was that close all year,” he said.
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PHOTOS:
