Weekly News 21st April 2014

DUNAMAGGAN G.A.A. CLUB
NEWS: The Dunnamaggin GAA main pitch was reopened
last week after a long period of closure after it had slit drains installed.
The pitch is now in great condition and a special thanks to the field committee
and all players and mentors for their patience while this essential work was
carried out. The Club now has a top quality playing surface for all its members
to enjoy. The winner of the Supervalu voucher for paying family membership
before the end of March is Andrew & Lisa O'Neill, congratulations. 

The Kilkenny G.A.A. Co-op draw was launched in the Springhill Hotel
during the week. This is a very important source of funding for the club as
over 50% of sales goes direct to the club. Ticket sellers will be calling to
houses in the parish in the coming weeks. Tickets are on sale for €50 each and
include entry to 5 draws with a prize fund of over €110,000. Your support is
very welcome.

 PARISH NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE!!!!!

THE PAT WALSH ANNUAL PARADE was held in
Dunamaggan on last Sunday, Easter Sunday 20^th April. The
chairperson, Ned Kirwan, welcomed all who were present including those from
Callan and Tullaroan, members of the Reserve Defense Forces and the O.N.E.,
Denis Ryan and members of the Cashel Pipe Band, the Kells Scout Troup, and
local public representatives, Matt Doran, David Fitzgerald and Tom Maher. In
his address of welcome Ned Kirwan recalled the salient aspects of Pat Walsh’s
life including his involvement in the G.A.A. not only as a player but also as a
referee, his great community involvement and his training and leading of local
volunteers in the War of Independence. He invited Pierce Barry whose
grandfather is remembered on the Pat Walsh Monument to lay a wreath.  A special presentation was made to Ray Cody,
a member of the Commemoration Committee for many years to honor his 90^th
birthday. Rev. Nicholas A. P. Flavin P.P. gave the following address in which
he stressed the need for preparation for the centenaries of 1916 and 1921. Celebrations help us to remember important events. Historical
celebrations and commemorations help us remember and recognise our indebtedness
to past generations. Today’s celebration of Pat Walsh and his comrades is such.

Today I wish to focus on how we celebrate very important centenaries
which are almost upon us. The 50^th Anniversary of 1916 was
celebrated at a time when some of those who lived at that time were still
alive. This is not the situation as we approach the 100^th
anniversary. Many of the present population are now the 3^rd and 4^th
generation since these events happened. They are a distant past, just
historical events, yet they are the events which shaped the country in which
each of us now live. The challenge I see for us here in Dunamaggan during the
next two years is How do we prepare for 2016 and 2021 celebrations. I do not have
the answers. What is needed is the combined vision, ideas and thoughts of each
one drawn together and emerging as a Week-end of celebration which brings alive
to the present generation what life was like 100 years ago. There is an
opportunity for us to make alive through a Parade of transport of former years,
Pictorial presentations and exhibitions, implements of work, Drama, Song &
Dance, dress of former years, ways of social interaction, the struggle for
independence and its impact on life for ordinary people etc. The many different
crafts which were practiced in the area in past generations which no longer
exist are an enormous source of social history. In this way the foundations of
our present day culture can be brought to life and enable each of us young and
old to appreciate our indebtedness to past generations. The tradition of
commemoration of Pat Walsh and his companions here in Dunamaggan is unique in
this county. There is a challenge and an opportunity for Dunamaggan to build on
what it has and to make it something great. There is an opportunity to have a
celebration which would attract those who are away to return home for a special
weekend.  Such celebrations would give an
impetus to the completion of the present History of Dunamaggan and possibly
lead to Volume 11 being prepared for 2021. I believe it is a challenge which
you are not only capable of respond to but you will grasp the opportunity to
ensure that not only in 2016 but also in 2021 that the place of Dunamaggan will
be recognised and acknowledged. Ned Kirwan and his dedicated team which ensure
the continual commemoration of Pat Walsh deserve great credit. Your ideas, your
support and your involvement with them are invited so that beginning from now
the planning will begin for 2016. It is very near, time must not be lost. The
present facilities in St. Leonard’s School now provide a venue which was not
there in the past. Let us grasp the challenge, discover our past and make it
alive in the present so that the present generations will have an opportunity
of a living experience of what ordinary living was in the not too distant past.
Each one of you has a contribution to make. Do not underestimate what you know
and the memorabilia you have as important contributions to the celebrations of
2016. Pat Walsh and his companions accepted the challenge of their day will you
accept the challenge now to rightfully celebrate and commemorate our past which
has made us who we are today? Thank You.

KILMOGANNY BRIDGE CLUB: Results of Wednesday 16^th
April: 1^st Philip Brennan & Matt McDermott; Joint second:  Elizabeth Lanigan & Grace Landy &
Nellie Lahart & Myra Hickey. Bridge is held in St. Eoghan’s Centre,
Kilmoganny on each Wednesday at 8.00 p.m. New members and visitors are welcome.
Partners will be provided for participants.

KELLS VILLAGERS HELD A MEETING on last Thursday
evening 17^th April in the Community Hall to discuss the possibility
of installing CCTV cameras at strategic locations in the village area. The
meeting was chaired by Cllr. Matt Doran with Garda Sargent Ted Hughes outlining
in detail methods of crime prevention and how CCTV assists in criminal
investigations. There was an enlightened and detailed discussion on all aspects
of the value of CCTV cameras. There was agreement on the proposal to install
such cameras. A sub-committee was formed to advance the project. The Kells
portion of the DKK lotto gave a commitment to part fund the installation of the
cameras. It was agreed to communicate with each household in the Kells area in
the near future outlying the proposals and requesting donations to expedite the
installation of the cameras.

THE SACRAMENT OF
CONFIRMATION was celebrated on Palm Sunday 13^th
April in St. Leonard’s Church, Dunamaggan by Bishop Seamus Freeman. Rev.
Nicholas Flavin P. P. was concelebrant at the mass. The following 46 pupils of
the three schools in the parish received the sacrament. Ellen Burke, Leo
Capasso, Derik Carroll, Emily Cody, Gerard Coffey, Gillian Costello, Matthew
Gibney-Walsh, Amy Keane, Conor Millea, Jessica O’Donnell, Jamie O’Keeffe,
Daniel O’Neill, Cathal Persse, Jessica Ryan, Emma Brennan, Siobhan Brennan,
Dylan Carroll, Laura Davis, Conor Denny, Rachel Doherty, Ciara Farrell, Joanna
Hennig, Andy Hickey, Isobel Johnston, Amy Kinsella, Ivan McCauley, Grace
McLoughlin, Ciara Mulhall, Shaun O’Keeffe, Tadgh O’Sullivan, Keeling Sheridan,
Darragh Walsh, Niamh Walsh, Conor Brett, Gavin Cleere, Leone Drennan, Nathan
Drennan, Gerard Donovan, Ella Dunne, Colin Fitzpatrick, Kieran Keech, Alice
Monahan, Kieran Buckley, Ami Moran Hegarty, Jack O’Connell and Rachel Phelan.
The music and singing was provided by staff and pupils from the schools. The
children, their parents and sponsors took an active art in the liturgy.

DUNAMAGGIN U 16 HURLERS
SUCCESS: The Dunnamaggin U16 hurlers took on Gowran
in the 2^nd round of their hurling league on Friday evening in the
reopened Dunnamaggin pitch. Played in splendid sunshine the game opened in a
flurry of scores with Dunnamaggin pointing twice and Gowran finding the net
from a long ball in. Dunnamaggin then benefited from a long ball in from Luke
Fitzpatrick which found the back of the net. Dunnamaggin added scores through
Morgan Thomas and Luke Fitzpatrick before a cracking goal from Conor Lawlor and
a point from Ian Walsh sent Dunnamaggin in at half time 2 - 6 to 1 - 2 up. Dunnamaggin
over powered their opponents in the second half and what was most pleasing was
the spread of scores with Ian Walsh, Robbie McCauley, Luke, Morgan, Conor
Lawlor, Conor Hoban and Nicky O’Shea all featuring on the score board with
points and Luke also cracked home a Goal when he burst through from midfield to
find the back of the net. Full Time score: Dunnamaggin 3 - 19 Gowran 1 - 2. Panel:-
Shane Ivory-Corr, Dylan Crehan, Jack Crehan, Darragh O’Keeffe, Ian Walsh, Brian
Farrell, Dara Keane, Luke Fitzpatrick, Morgan Thomas, Jamie McLoughlin, Robbie
McCauley, Conor Hoban, Nicky O’Shea, Conor Lawlor, Andy Hickey, Conor Lawlor.