Tullahought & Windgap Weekly News

DUE TO CONSTRAINTS ON THIS PAGE OUR WEEKLY NOTES CAN BE FOUND IN THE EVENTS SECTION OF THE WEBSITE UNTIL WE RESOLVE THE ISSUE BEGINNING WITH WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES May 22nd 2021

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES May 15th 2021

TRADITIONAL WEEKEND: May Showers mixed with bright sunshine with the return of attendances to Church Services and the following of Hurling Games on TV and Radio marked the return of a traditional style Irish weekend.

Sundays Mass saw many neighbours see each other for the first time in over five months. Even though it was at a distance,excited greetings and acknowledgements were exchanged along with brief words on their hopes for the future and the progress of the vaccine. Around them, the fly on the wall,would have picked up the current topics that included, an aimsir, how grass was growing and just three days into the new hurling season on TV, the free laden, tackle free, short passing game that was described by one person as “busted”.

Concerned about where it was going by others,it was likened to the hacking of the HSE IT Systems and the brutal attacks on the citizens in an area so different to the local surroundings in the Lebanon.

GREAT TO SEE: With bluebells. whitethorn and the selection of miniature flowers in the roadside hedgerows coming into full bloom the welcome sight of parishioners from their nineties to babies and attending Mass in the church, the car-park and on the road in Tullahought on Sunday added joy to the occasion.

From all parts of the parish they included Johnny Culleton from Raheenarran, Paddy Egan Tullahought, Maureen Marchetti Cussane, John Moore Birchwood, Eileen Norris Lamogue, John Delaney and Noreen Flynn Baunreigh, Sarah Crowley Tullahought, Eamon Doyle Curragh along with the Meehan’s, Phelan's,Purcell’s, Doyle’s and Moore’s all the way down to the very youngest groups.They included Mia and Amelia Byrne with their parents Ann and Mark and the very youngest Lily Goode who attended with her sister Aisling and parents Patricia and Phillip. Also remembered with good wishes were those who did not make it out on the first day back, as everyone is looking forward to meeting them when, the attendance figures increase in the near future.

LIOSTA CLUICHÍ: Following the County Board Draws on Saturday Fixtures are back on the local activities agenda. In the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior Hurling League Championship to be played in September Windgap are drawn in the same group with their sister Club Galmoy and Graiguenamanagh. The side will play the Walter Walsh led Tullogher Rosbercon in the first round and then neighbours Piltown along with Barrow Rangers and Cloneen. The games will see the first championship ball kicked by the footballers in Hugginstown when the play Carrickshock in the 2020 JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior quarter Final on Tuesday 8th of June. In between the second team who are in the same Junior C Championship Group will play with Graiguenamanagh and Piltown John Lockes Ballyhale and Threecastles against the Cloneen Emeralds Fenians Galmoy and Graiguenamanagh. In the interim both of the hurling sides will be involved in the County Leagues

CLUB TRAINERS: Whilst looking forward to the new season’s activities,the sixth look back on the adult team trainers in the club reflects on the great hurling men and women who threw their lot in for Windgap’s cause. From Mountbellew via the Laois Minor Hurlers and Senior Footballers, the United States of America and Callan;Barrie Henriques arrived to train the team in Windgap. Having marked his future brother in law Dinny Lennon in hurling against Kilkenny and Offaly’s Paddy McCormack“the Ironman from Rhode”in football and later playing at fullback and then in goal for John Lockes he brought a wealth of experience. A renowned journalist and commentator and Year Book editor, his times at the serious training sessions on the sloping winter-spring training grounds in Tullahought and on the summer pastures in Windgap,along with the many games have grown with the retelling over the years.

A publican with his wife Kitty in the Goalpost in Callan, Barrie’s grá for the independent spirit of the club saw his return for a second coming with the late and sadly departed Brendan Fennelly. Brendan of the famed Fennelly family was a talented Shamrocks Ballyhale player and high scoring forward with nine county and three All Ireland Club titles from 1978 to 91. Also a county under21 All Ireland medallist and senior panellist and the successful Dunnamaggin Junior,Intermediate and Senior Hurling team manager-trainer that won the three county finals over a four year period. The duo met, when they had served on the selection panel for Kilkenny’s All Ireland under twenty one hurling win over Tipperary when Jamesie Brennan was captain.Linked intractably with the three local clubs Barry had played in goal against Windgap in their Southern Final success over John Lockes in 1986, had trained Windgap against Brendan’s Dunnamaggin success in the Southern Final in Piltown in 1994 and were both in the red and white corner in the era when Windgap won Junior B and A county titles.

With Brendan living in Ballygown, he later became a committee member and Windgap’s south board delegate, with his family members Kieran, Niall, Conor and Shauna all wearing the red and white at school and club level and his wife Breda being involved with the Camogie club. With Barry training John Lockes to Junior A and Intermediate titles, he also spent time in Mooncoin. Brendan along with his huge success with Dunnamaggin also managed the Laois Senior Hurlers and the Carlow senior hurling side in 1997 and 98. He also trained Carrickshock and De La Salle and with Mount Leinster Rangers won successive Carlow senior County titles in 2017 and 18. To be continued….

CAMOGIE NEWS: Congratulations are extended to the Kilkenny Senior Camogie team on their win over Dublin at the weekend and also to the Windgap girls Denise and Michaela on playing so well.

BRUSCAR: Whilst, still occurring the rubbish being thrown from passing cars onto the local roadside margins and ditches is becoming less noticeable in the growing grass. The more visible items in the recently included,a bag of rubbish dumped on the road in Seskin, plastic in Kiltrassy and a very large Nimo 2020 Bathroom Catalogue in Cussane.

FÁILTE: Niall Phelan has joined the Tidy Towns Team in Tullahought and has made a huge difference with the mowing and strimming of the Graveyard and roadside margins.

LIBRARY: Callan Library has reopened for Contact and Collect service .To avail of this Phone 0567794183 or email callan@kilkennylibrary.ie , tell us the type of books you enjoy and we will arrange a slot for you to collect your items.

EXAMS: Mass will be celebrated for all Students doing the Leaving Cert Exam in St Nicholas's Church in Windgap. On Saturday 4th June at 7.15pm All Students are invited to attend.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES May 8th 2021

RECYCLING KINGS: “One man’s waste is another man’s treasure” was the happy ending to the saga of the blue Draper Power washer dumped on the Road between Windgap and Lamogue.

Checked out for a spare part for another Power Washer it was found with very little tweaking to be fully operational and is now back in action at its new home.

The recycling venture joins the new Nature watching Hide built at the amenity area and wildlife ponds in Tullahought. It has being created from the old posts of the roadside fence with the remaining pieces entering the log pile for insects.

In Windgap a large cable reel has become the centre piece table in the new seating area provided by the Powers Sean, Noel and Aidan and the Walsh’s, Paraic, Pat and Niall on the Village Loop Walk. Timber logs provide the seating and also act as insect homes on the adjacent wooden walls.

PARNELL PARK: Like the return of the dawn chorus, the welcome sound of ash competitively striking both leather and ash that occurred when Kilkenny played Dublin in Parnell Park on Sunday is set to be to be replicated at adult level across the country. With all grounds from UPMC Nowlan Park to Thurles and Windgap and Tullahought getting a lick and trim in preparation for the return to play it brings a welcome end to a difficult journey for clubs communities and players. With full scale training and competitions still down the road,the Covid guidelines of sanitising, social distancing,mask wearing, Covid officers and no crowds are still in place.

CLUB TRAINERS: Whilst looking forward to the new season’s activities,the fifth look back on the adult team trainers in the club reflects on the great hurling men and women who threw their lot in for Windgap’s cause. Moving to nearby Mullinahone Jackie Bolger spent a term training Windgap. Jackie played at corner back for many of his clubs South Senior Hurling Final successes and won an All Ireland Medal with the Tipperary Masters team. Following his CJ Kickham’s clubs motto of striving for the little village Jackie is heavily involved in both the club and community. A former member of the drama society Jackie who has a slight grá for Kilkenny moved from the Drangan Road to Poulacapple where he has led the intercounty banter on the national airwaves on the occasions when Kilkenny and Tipperary meet in the All Ireland final.

Further into County Tipperary Donal Shelly from Ballingarry put in a huge shift until recently training Windgap as the scarcity of players that necessitated the amalgamation with Galmoy at juveniele level had come fully through at adult level. An underage star he made his mark from the county vocational schools to minor level when in 1997 as a 16-year-old substitute with two goals in the closing seven minutes whilst helped Tipperary retain their Munster minor title against a shell shocked Clare.At under twenty one level he lined out in the forwards with Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett and played on to the senior panel for a number of years.

An excellent skills man and first class trainer and a bricklayer by profession Donal currently trains the Ballingarry Senior Hurling team

To be continued….

MASSES RETURN: An tAthair Fearghaill O Fearghaill completed his series of popular online bilingual masses over the weekend with an opening rendition of the seasonal “Flowers of May” and finished up with “How great thou Art”. From Saturday next the celebrations will have limited internal attendance,with additional external ones in the adjacent roads and car parks.

The streaming from the churches will also continue online in the coming weeks. Thanks are extended to all who followed the Covid guidelines over the past months and to the two organisers of the online services.The resumption times are in Windgap on Saturday at 7.30pm, Tullahought on Sunday at 9.30am Dunnamaggin at 11am on Sunday with Kilmoganny commencing on the following Saturday evening at 7.30

SUMMER ACTIVITY: A summer of activities has being organised for adult and juveniele visitors to the Bearna Breac and Village Loop walks in Windgap. Organised by Windgap Tidy Towns group it commences on the 1st of June with a Photographic Competition. The event will run for a month until the 30th of June and is followed by a Family Treasure Hunt from the 1st of July to the 31st of July. The third and final part will see an Art Competition taking place from the 1st to the 31st of August. The photo and art events are limited only to items that can be seen on or from the pathways of the Bearna Breac and Village Loop Walk whilst the treasure hunt clues can only be found on or seen from both walks. Entry forms are currently available in Walsh’s Shop with further details on the July and August events to follow. The results will be announced at the end of October.

TIDY TOWNS: Work continued with grass maintenance throughout the villages and around the amenity areas in both Windgap and Tullahought during the week

BRUSCAR: As rubbish continues to be thrown from cars onto the local roads, the road through Ballinalinagh to Mullinbegwith its deep shore in parts has being a depositors point for many years. Elsewhere Pel Insulator bags and FBD Vehicle Insurance documentation from the Kilkenny Office were found at separate locations

WALKERS WORLD: Friday morning at four o’clock a group of walkers hit for the Slatequarries to mark the “Darkness into Light” fund raising campaign for Pieta House. Elsewhere another walking group passed through Tullahought recently on a walk through the many villages surrounding Slievenamon.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES May 1st 2021

CELEBRATING MAY DAY: After an earlier hard night’s frost, a beautiful May day arrived to mark the arrival of summer. It brought with it the hopes, that “A wet and windy May fills the barn with oats and hay” and also the erection of the Maybush.

The Maybush, is traditionally a whitethorn or sceach that is decorated with colored ribbons, eggshells and bunches of wild flowers.Nowadays the decorations are usually ribbons following the demise of the wildflowers from the fields and internal ditches.

It is also associated with banishing spirits and misfortune and with the little people of the country. On Mayday in the Fairy Glen on the walkway Windgap their brightly colored washing was out drying as it swung in the breeze between their numerous colorful fairy houses.

Not far away the Slatequarries looked resplendent with the contrasting manicured green grass and the golden furze that dotted the slate grey cliffs.Elsewhere the brilliant creamy white flowers of the blackthorn are waning as the dawn chorus gets into full swing and the fields and trees begin to green up. With the swallows and House martins being not so plentiful so far this year, vixens are more visible eking out food for their cubs on the hard ground.

Seeking a nesting site a starling is adjusting to the changing habitat by apparently building its nest in the roof of a daily working tractor.

WOOD RECYCLING: The erection of the new fence around the amenity area and wildlife ponds in Tullahought has seen the old posts recycled. In their second coming they have been used to make a Nature watching Hide with the remaining pieces entering the wood pile for insect’s. Elsewhere the daffodils at the cross have being divided and replanted and the grotto statues have being cleaned and are being re-painted

NEW FRAGRANCE: A piece of the Mediterranean came to Windgap during the week when one hundred and twenty Lavender plans were sown in the flower beds around the walkways of the Calvary Grotto. One of a list of major projects around the village, the work was carried out by Dermot Houlihan, Fergal O’Shea and the Tidy Towns Committee. Also with the assistance of Dermot Grace who transported the topsoil and wood bark to the hilltop site. The highly scented plant is good for bee’s, has many medical attributes and is also beneficial for relaxation and making Lavender oil. Elsewhere Richie Falsey has been doing great work at the flower beds at the upper village.

MORE RUBBISH: Joining the on-going indiscriminate littering from cars on the local roads, plastic was scattered on the main road to Callan just two bends before the church in Coolagh. A large amount of items were also reported on the main road between Templeroum and Hugginstown. In particular beyond Mullinbeg and the bye roads off of it,where CCC TV and No dumping signs have had to be erected. Manure bags are scattered at the gullet, near Lamogue Cross, in Meallaghmore and also in Kildrummy and Currahill on the road to Kilmoganny. The blue Draper Power Washer remains uncollected on the main road to Lamogue Cross where the new GDPR regulations have limited the follow up of its ownership.

SOCIAL EMPLOYMENT: With the parish being host to FÁS, TÚS, CE and RSS schemes over the years, they were administered through three different voluntary groups, the Tidy Towns, the Parish Committee and the GAA Club. Currently the GAA Club and Tidy Towns are still without placements as volunteers carry out the maintenance works on both pitches, in the handball alley, the club rooms and parts of the parish property. As a result more volunteers are required in particular to look after the graveyard and family plots.

VICTORIA BRIDGE: Improving access to Ahenny off the Regional Road R698 comes under the remit of the“Low cost safety Scheme” a budget organised by the local representatives in the Callan Thomastown electoral area

FOREIGN HOLIDAY: The loosening of Covid Restrictions have brought great joy to many including the young school hurlers with training taking place on Tuesdays on Fridays with Adrian Landy and Wednesdays and Sundays with the club.The importance of the easing of the regulations and reopening of services has been related by one lady after getting an appointment with the hairdressers as being similar to having a foreign holiday. Fógra, new helmets subsidised by the Cumann na mBunscoileanna can be got from Simon Brophy.

CLUB TRAINERS: Whilst looking forward to the new season’s activities,the fourth look back on the adult team trainers in the club reflects on the great hurling men and women who threw their lot in for Windgap’s cause. Out from Kilkenny City a half century ago came Nicky McGrath an athlete who had family connections with Templeorum. Nicky taught PE in the City Vocational School where he trained amongst others the All Ireland winning County Vocational Schools teams when the games that were played before the National Hurling League Finals. In addition he also ran the Nipex sports shop in the City.

Following the red and white origins of Windgap after the club borrowed the famed Carrick Davin Clubs jersey’s for their very first game. Joe Kennedy was a warrior at midfield with Carrick Davins winning South Senior Hurling Titles. He hailed from Newtown Faugheen just under Carraigadoon and residing only a couple of fields across the Lingaun River opposite the townland of Birchwood As a player he was ultra competitive and after a very serious injury amazingly returned to play prominent roles with both the Davins and Carrick Rugby Club

Conor Arrigan was another midfielder with Carrick Davins who went on to play with Mullinahone where he won South Senior Titles Having played with Tipp Intermediates and getting a run with the Senior Panel he spent time working in both Galway and Wexford. Froma staunch hurling family his father Paddy was a Carrick Swan playing Tipperary panellist in the late 1960’s. The family name remains an integral part of the Carrick’s hinterland history as the road they live on carries the Arrigan’s name. It is located close to Maurice Davins field where Kilkenny defeated Cork in the 1904 All Ireland Senior Hurling Final that was played in June of 1906. After the Club found they were the only club wearing red ones in Kilkenny they returned the jersey’s to the Davins and retained the colours.

To be continued….

SCRAP COLLECTION: In the preseason silage preparations and spring cleaning of farmyards and residences scrap metal such as old gates; troughs etc can be collected by the local GAA Club. Thanks are extended to all who have donated to date as the funding has proved invaluable to the on-going developments particularly in the absence of the normal pre Covid fundraising opportunities

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 21th 2021

HIDDEN GEMS: The great weather and the extension of Covid travel restrictions has seen a constant flow of visitors and on the Kilmacoliver Loop, Bearna Breac Loop and the Village historical walk in Windgap where the opening of the route via the Hurling Club to the upper village and Calvary Grotto has added immensely to the village experience.

The visitors have included serious walkers,families and with no matches and training sessions many retired hurlers from across the city and county. In addition the quiet roads have seen groups following their own loops through the undulating countryside and taking in the Slatequarries, Lamogue. Knockroe, Tullahought and Ahenny. Also noticeable are the increasing numbers of cyclists who with good planning can have an enjoyable spin and leave the major hills of Sean Kellys training spins as challenges for the more active and devoted ones.

RETURN TO PLAY: In conjunction with the welcome return to play for the club juveniele hurler’s footballers and Camogie players in the Windgap and Galmoy/Windgap Clubs, coaching commences in St.Nicholas National School on Tuesdays and Fridays from midday to three pm for the boys and girls from 2nd to 6th classes.

TEA ROOMS REOPEN: The Lakeside tearooms reopen on Friday the 30th from 10am to 3pm and will continue normal service on Mondays to Saturdays of each week. To assist the organisers are also looking for Volunteers to help out in the Tearooms please! Any help would be great but especially looking for help on Wednesdays and Fridays! If you are interested please contact the Tearooms Tuesday-Saturday on (051) 626 944 or pop in any of the days! Thank you.

TAILS OF BALES: Amongst the constant indiscriminate littering from cars on the roads recently were added bath mats, very large Lego type building bricks, bags of Heineken cans,manure bags and wrappings and newspapers. Also as the bale wrapping season commences it has been highlighted the presence of the many strips of black plastic described as “the tails of round bale wrappings” that become detached at feeding and transport time and then take to the wind to blow well away from their source where they end up sticking in the roadside ditches.

Amongst the positives along the Lingaun Valley in recent weeks was the work of Clashnasmuth, Ahenny, Owning, Faugheen and Kilcash communities in cleaning up around their villages and the planting of trees in Kilmoganny.

VICTORIA BRIDGE: Gaining access to Ahenny for visitor’sto see the High Crosses has always proved to be a dangerous task for drivers and an impossible task for coaches.It occurs at the main entrance as the Victoria Bridge is located on a sharp double bend on the main Callan and the motorway Road to Carrick-on Suir where its narrow width is at right angle to the main road.

Work to widen the road to allow turning access was commenced over thirty years ago and stopped well short of the bridge and is still required.

TIDY TOWNS: In the words of weekend walkers it was “Fair Play” and “Very Impressive” to the teams of busy volunteers who are always working in the local villages. In Tullahought a crew of six Kathleen, Eileen, Aidan, Tom, Shem, Richie and Tom worked on the amenity area around Kearns Bridge on Tuesday evening. The work continues each Tuesday evening around the entrances to the village.

Elsewhere the floodlighting of the Grotto was restored, an entrance painted. In addition the graveyard was cut and strimmed by Pat Walsh whilst the new stakes for the replacement fence at the lake were erected by Gerard Doyle.

In Windgap the loss of the clutch of ducklings has seen a plan B being organised to protect the next clutch.The impressive display of Tulips at the entrance to Hill Road has been downgraded by the old guttering and downpipes that have been seen dumped further along the side of the roadway to Lamogue.

CLUB TRAINERS: Whilst looking forward to the new season’s activities,the third glance back on the adult team trainers in the club reflects on the great Hurling men and women who threw their lot in for Windgap’s cause. Going local this week, Bobby Jackman was a stalwart of the club before he took the management reins on a number of occasions. As a goalkeeper and fullback he dominated his positions that resulted in a National League appearance in goal with Kilkenny in Nowlan Park.

The match played on the day after his wedding saw Bobby have a blinder with outstanding saves in the country end goal in a performance that saw the regular custodians quickly return to ensure their positions. Bobby was Kilkenny’s first GAA schools coach with Georgie Leahy and went on to win Master’s All Irelands with Kilkenny. Later on,after moving to Callan he managed John Lockes to County and Provincial success.Having trained the Windgap under twenty ones to a last minute county title against the clubs now juvenile partners Galmoy, Bobby remains a staunch Windgap man where he has a huge interest in and recollections of the games at all levels. With the whole family starting their playing careers with Windgap the hurling acorn has grown through his family members Robert and Trevor who are both heavily involved in the promotion of the games at underage level in Callan and as the co-founder and current assistant manager of the Réalt Dearg Club in South Dublin respectively.

From Ballinalinagh the home of the Leinstermen, Tommy Hearnes arrival following his marriage to Ann brought the huge wealth of playing experience with Ballygunner, Waterford and the Munster Railway Cup teams to the Club. As a player of endless skill and energy he was a midfield maestro and one of the most underrated hurlers of his generation. Tommy’s dedication to training and stick work after he arrived opened many eyes in the locality and his skill also brought Clover Meats to All Ireland Business House and Factory League titles.

Many years later as the manager of the last County junior winning side against Danesfort, Tommy continued to play and train long into his senior years. In the only father son training partnership with the senior team Tommy’s son Alan who came through the Windgap schools and club structure saw him line on successive winning Kilkenny teams up through the underage competitions.

After a spell with Ballygunner where the Hearne name assisted the club to more senior county titles,Alan returned to play and go into Management with Windgap. Having played last season he managed Glenmore in the last two intermediate county championships and is currently working with the next generation of players in Windgap.

To be continued….

SUPPORTERS CLUBS: PJ Barron and Aidan Mackey are busy collecting the Bearna na Gaoithe Club Membership for 2021 whilst Shem Power is co-ordinating the Kilkenny GAA Supporters Club membership in the area.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publicationwith a name and contact number toindgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 18th 2021

JOY AND DEVASTATION: A week of great joy,that started with the news that planning permission was granted for a mobile mast in the area was quickly followed by the word that the combined efforts of five community groups working separately that had de littered hundreds of kilometres of roadways had finished tidying approximately twenty five consecutive kilometres of the National R698 and R697 Roads that links them all together from Callan to Owning and Barnatrasna to Faugheen Bridge.

Later on Wednesday it was nature that stole the headlines as the news broke that the nesting wild mallard duck had hatched fifteen ducklings. Located at the foot of the hill under the proposed mast on Carraig na gCapall and knowing the destination was the local lake,the whole community were on standby to escort them across the main road. And so it was at 8am on Thursday morning,local life stopped as the mother rounded up her family and videos rolled as the duck train set off down the slope. Having made it safely across the closed main road they all swam away instantly and instinctively.

Settling in for the perfect nature watching weekend,the locals were devastated when sadly the fifteen ducklings mysteriously became ten by Friday morning, three by Saturday morning and zero, nil, zilch by early Sunday morning.

Searching forlornly in the reeds and plants around the lake the mother and the community were heartbroken as she had hatched and lost her entire family of nine last year.

Also disappointed were the visitors from outside the old 5km Covid limit as the scéal had spread and the expectant visitors were left without the star attraction.However it did not stop there as the word spread that two members of the most recently returned species had been lost when two buzzards were apparently killed by a car just a mile from Windgap village.

After the setback,the achievement of the Callan, Coolagh, Windgap, Tullahought, Ahenny, Faugheen, Clashnasmuth and Owning community volunteers over the previous eight weeks was a huge plus, or so it was thought. However by the weekend the usual wrappers cups and cans were accumulating and had been joined by a tyre on the roadside in Seskin. Further on a freshly filled black bag of rubbish was thrown into the stream at the gullet in Windgap where the dry weather and low water levels left it lying under the bridge.Still further on,on the left hand the side of the road approaching Lamogue Cross a dark Blue Draper PW 1600 100 bar Power washer was thrown in the dyke and nearby a selection of children’s sand buckets were left or lost.

WAR ON RUBBISH: Following the lack of respect for their country and also the work of community volunteers tidying their villages and huge tracts of the country roads,reports and photos of littering and dumping have being rolling in.

To assist the group’s voluntary work the items from apparently pre-meditated dumping on selected quiet stretches of the main roads, the quiet back roads and rural areas will continue to be highlighted. Elsewhere on a growing list, tyres and black bags of rubbish were reported inside the banks at either side of the entrance to the forestry on the Hill Road out of Windgap. Currently the purchase details of Blue Draper Power Washer are being investigated and it is hoped its owner will “call and collect” it over the weekend.

GO AHEAD FOR MAST: Just a year after story of the on-going poor mobile and broadband services in the area was picked up by a Media Company monitoring communications difficulties in the provincial papers and the Kilkenny People,planning permission has been granted by Kilkenny County Council for the provision of a mast on Carraig na gCapall. The next steps will involve liaison with the various communications companies that wish to fill the major mobile and broadband coverage gaps in their network.

CLUB TRAINERS: Whilst looking forward to the new season’s activities,the second glance back on the adult team trainers in the club reflects on the great Hurling men and women who threw their lot in for Windgap’s cause.

Before leaving the Carrick-on Suir connections Bernard O’Neill now living in Clonmel was both a trainer and Physio who played a prominent side-line role when his Swan club won the South Seniors and U21’s. A keen athlete he won multiple All Ireland Masters 100 metre Sprint titles and received the Tipperary Sean Ghael award for his contribution to the games.

Moving along the county border Kieran McGuire started hurling with Ballyneale played football with Grangemockler and later captained Carrick Swans to a senior South hurling title. A hurling and fitness fanatic he is still involved with clubs and trained his native Ballyneale U16 hurlers to win a historic South title. Right on the border line in Kiltrassy Castlejohn Mikey Sullivan was the fitness man before trainers and coaches were the norm. Having played football with Kildare and Tipperary in the forties he was fit beyond his years as he trained the team in Barry’s field at Lamogue Cross and also the newly formed Tullahought Camogie Team in the early seventies.

In the rise and peak of the Hurling team at senior level Pierce Barry who was one of the selection team carried out the main training role. A highly rated player he played midfield in the County Senior Championship with the Mid South and inspired a family line of players including his grandson Peter who went on to win senior All Ireland titles with Kilkenny and James Stephens

To be continued….

TIDY TOWNS: Work continues on Kearns Bridge in Tullahought on Tuesday evening and weeding of the flower beds and grotto commences in Windgap. All offers of help would be most welcome and greatly appreciated

DEBATING CHAMPS: Local Camogie and badminton player Deirdre Purcell joined Josephine and Christine O'Neill and Sean Lynch as team members when the Callan Macra team won the online National Macra senior debating competition on Saturday evening.

FITNESS AS GAEILGE: Windgap GAA Club are currently partaking in running two free online fitness classes through Irish. They are

Exercise for Kids as Gaeilge, gach Céadaion ar Zoom @ 7.30pm and for Adults gach Déardaoin at 8pm. Freisin, tá Ceardlann Gaeilge do Thuismitheoirí (Irish Language workshop for parents/adult learners) ar siúl ag Glór na Gael gach Luan ar Zoom at 7pm. To get the link text or call Shane on Whattsapp on 087 6227603

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 11th 2021

PRINCE PHILLIP: Amongst the many memorable trips to Croke Park since the first on Hill 16 in 1971,the invitation to meet Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip has joined it as another. Full of vetting, pomp and ceremony the historical significance of it contrasted vastly with being part of the mass exodus over forty years earlier from the border areas of Kilkenny and Tipperary. Born into the era of Michéal O’Hehir on the radio,the 1967 final marked the first viewing of a match on TV.

It took place in Geoff Moore’s packed house in Birchwood as one realised that Croke Park was the place to be.Travelling on the Suir Valley bus from Moloney’s in Skough and seeing Mikie and Josie Sullivan tie up the Honda 50 on the island almost opposite the GPO in O’Connell Street is the first memory of the capital.Then attending Mass-Sunday Service at the top of Parnell Square, where the seats were turned strangely sideways in Findlaters Church and then passing Waltons and Barrys Hotel on the way to Jones Road. Afterwards, getting soaked wet as the disappointment of defeat added to the black and amber dye that ran from the paper hat into the new white shirt.

Later on there were the great day’s in Dublin when the flat in Rathmines was packed with neighbours and relations up for the finals and later on attending the Supporters Club receptions in the Cill Dara Hotel. Still following the local clubs county players who grace and graced the sod, it was on to the era of the Windgap Club Bus. Inclusive of all generations, the match day pilgrimage on Kavanaghs Bus through Tullahought, Windgap and Killamery had hurling talk with quizzes and score forecasts for Mars Bar and Mineral cans. Stopping for refreshments and a feed in Nass or Carlow on the way home,dry and thirsty throats had to wait for relief until terra firma was hit.

Having being privileged to visit every nook of the hallowed grounds, the historic visit of the Queen and the late Prince will be recalled as a major turning point in national and international peace relations. With the Duke of Edinburgh coming across as being from country farming stock his visit with the Queen was similar to Neptune successfully turning back the tide like the Kilkenny players did on a black and white TV so long ago.

CLUB TRAINERS: Whilst looking forward to the new season’s activities, a glance back on the adult team trainers in the club will be taken over the next few weeks and will reflect on the great Hurling men and women who threw their lot in for Windgap’s cause. Coming from the locality and afar and in no particular order the first calling goes to Jimmy Ryan from Carrick Davins who lived for the game. The former Tipperary star played in the 1968 All Ireland Final when he marked Wexfords Dan Quigley. Jimmy trained the team in Purcell’s Field in Lamogue and in Windgap in the eighties and also had successful spells with the Shamrocks Ballyhale, Dunhill and St.Mollerans.

Years later the club was trained by his brother in law Johnny Grace from Carrick Swans who first came to the club as a physiotherapist. A fitness fanatic, later marathon runner and gentleman he represented Ireland in Middleweight boxing when Johnny, Jim Drohan and Nicky Butler had the Carrick Boxing Club on the top of the National map. Linking both and the opening of the Windgap pitch in 1971 was Johnny’s brother and Jimmy’s brother in law Maurice Grace from the Swan’s who played for Tipperary against Kilkenny. Maintaining the Carrick link,the late Dan O’Meara from Carrick Swans was a native of Kilruane McDonaghs where his brother Jim starred for the County. Having assisted Carrick Swan to numerous South Senior Hurling titles in their golden era his sudden and unexpected passing rocked the hurling world. To be continued….

FITNESS AS GAEILGE: Tá dhá rang aclaíochta soar in aisce ar siúl as Gaeilge ar lineag an CLG i láthair na huaire. The GAA are currently running two free online fitness classes through Irish.

Exercise for Kids (Rang Aclaíochta do Pháisti) as Gaeilge, gach Céadaion ar Zoom @ 7.30pm. Rang Aclaíochta do Dhaoine Fásta – Adult Exercise Classes as Gaeilge gach Déardaoin ar Zoom at 8pm

Freisin, tá Ceardlann Gaeilge do Thuismitheoirí (Irish Language workshop for parents/adult learners) ar siúl ag Glór na Gael gach Luan ar Zoom at 7pm. To get involved, seol teács on Whattsapp ag Shane ar 087 6227603

LINK BROKEN: In breaking news,the link to the Griffin family name in Tullahought has being broken when the word arrived that William the last surviving member had died suddenly in Worthing. A regular visitor home, he followed the local news on Facebook and was preceded recently by his sister Margaret Farrar and also by Gerald in September who was the last to visit.An integral part of the area the ashes of his late sisters Anna Quale in the Isle of Man and Agnes Beswick in Manchester are scheduled to return after Covid for burial. The event will take place in the churchyard next door to the Griffins former home in their beloved village. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh siad

NUACHT ÓN GCLUB: The Club has retained its Membership rates at their current levels. The rates are adult players €100, Students €50, Family €80, Juvenile and Social Membership €30. Payments can be forwarded to the treasurer PJ Barron and Aidan Mackey

COMMUNITY NEWS: Funding has being provided for the restoration of the unique circular road side windows in the old creamery. Elsewhere last years vandalised Fairy Houses have being replaced with colourful additions to the Loop Walk in Windgap. Elsewhere the Graces Michael and Pat mowed the churchyard and parish properties in Tullahought.

HOME CARE DRAW: Mary Dollard Windgap was the lucky winner of the Easter Draw organised by Walsh’s Shop for the Kilkenny Carlow Home Care team. All the proceeds raised, a total of €350, has been donated. Thanks to everyone who bought tickets and supported it

UNSOCIABLE BEHAVIOR: With no resolution of the missing calves and dogs all information is to be forwarded to the investigating Gardaí in Thomastown on 056 7754150. Elsewhere the dumping of rubbish in addition to the normal wrappers, cans and bottles from car windows has being noted along the Lingaun valley between Baunreigh and Skough.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 4th 2021

SUMMERS ON THE WAY: The first sightings of swallows and house martins brought joy over the bank holiday weekend. It commenced with the sighting of a lone bird in Cussane on Saturday, four in Skough on Sunday and a single swallow gliding over the unique sloping rooftops of the mining and high crosses village of Ahenny at tea time on Monday.

Having reached the lower regions of the Lingaun Valley the higher and cooler hills normally adds an extra few days to reach last year’s nesting sites after their long journey home. It is expected the forecasted cold front will keep them further south for a slightly longer period

MOBILE ISSUES: With a strong demand for mobile coverage in the local black spot areas and no objections in the community to the proposed mast there is still no update on the planning decision submitted by Cellnex to build a mast on Carraig na gCapall in Windgap. With most of the parish deprived of dependent mobile coverage for daily life and business including delivery drivers, doctors, vets and contractors. Also in these Covid restricted times for home education and working and the on-going Mass and match streaming if required later in the year.

An issue of national significance,one recalls the statement on an RTE radio discussion on mobile coverage difficulties when an ambulance operator out of the Waterford Regional Hospital in Ardkeen stated the difficulties they encountered in the mountains. Thinking they were getting lost in the Comeraghs, it was a shock to the local listeners that it was not, as he named the greater Tullahought area and the surrounding hills relating how relations had to go out to the main roads to meet and accompany the emergency vehicle to very sick resident’s homes.

With small, large and multinational equine business being affected the lack of coverage also occurs on the road from Callan and the motorway to Carrick-on-Suir. Also evident is vehicle’s getting lost on bye roads when coverage drops on the in car navigation systems, leaving often wrong choices for the drivers at the next cross roads.

On the social front, when the pubs were open difficulties in calling drivers for a lift home would see customers walking the local streets trying to pick enough of a signal to make a call. Trying to catch a falling wavelength that was at a certain spot on a previous occasion is found to be very frustrating as like hoping the ambulance driver was going to the same crossroads for emergency tailgating directions.

Currently Covid weekends sees the earphones out as some parishioners take to the high ground for a signal to connect to the local Masses. One of a number of similar planning requests in the county it is apparently the only one that has full community backing.

TIPP TOP: Across the Lingaun River the work of the newly formed Ahenny, Faugheen and Clashnasmuth Development group the Residents, Graveyard and Tidy Towns Group in conjunction with Tipperary county Council funding has shown great success with the newly planted Tulips and Daffodils in full flower. Full of creams, pinks and yellows they appear on the way into the High Crosses and stretching from the Victoria Bridge on the Callan and Motorway road to Carrick-on-Suir the whole way up by the recently cleaned out stream into the Village. Over the weekend the group de-littered the roads around the village and power washed and repainted Barry’s Bridge on the entrance to Faugheen village.

Once an August and September after midnight painter’s hotspot on the county boundary, its weathered gratified and multi coloured look is now a clean cool grey with white capping. Elsewhere a Slate cutter from the times the quarries were in action has made a return to Ahenny as part of the mural painted on the end of the terrace of miner’s homes and the gable where the creamery once stood.

VOLUNTEERS: In the on-going absence of the Social Employment Scheme sincere thanks are extended to Dimitri and Jessica Butler who mowed the graveyard in Tullahought during the week and also for cutting and relaying the sods that were overgrowing onto the footpaths. Also to Shem Power and Richard Walsh for cutting the grass in the village and around the Community Centre and all the residents for mowing the margins down the long pavement Also Thomas Egan for weed control and Eileen Grace and Lavelle’s for the relocation of snowdrop bulbs to the sportsfield entrance.

Elsewhere the area is awash with daffodils as the first of the blackthorn blossom and banks of primroses add further colour.

CHURNS, KINGFISHERS: Almost fifty years since the now humble milk churns marked every farmyard entrance and the ends of farmer’s lanes as they awaited collection for the creamery in Windgap,two churns have made a re-appearance in Tullahought. Restored and painted by Shem Power they stand on the original stage that was built to assist their loading for the daily trip.

In Windgap reports of a kingfisher that has relocated to the stream around the amenity area has added more than a flash of colour. More on both anon.

SAYING THANKS: With a continual stream of Covid restricted walkers over the Bank Holiday weekend the entire area of local villages and the road network looked resplendent thanks to the work of the community volunteers and residents in the recent de-littering of the roads network.

NEW FACEBOOK: Windgap Tullahought Dunnamaggin and Kilmoganny Catholic Churches have combined their streaming services and have created an amalgamated service on Facebook. The new service will see an tAthair Fearghaill O Fearghaill the Sagart Paróiste for Dún Iomagáin and Bearna na Gaoithe parishes work with fully wired microphones and advanced cameras that are expected to provide a much improved service.

Currently Windgap and Tullahought church services are provided through the Windgap and Tullahought Tidy Towns Facebook pages

LEINSTER FOOTBALL FINAL: In a sporting connection with the unveiling of the centenary of the Garryricken ambush to Jim McKenna, his brother Jack was one of the last local and Kilkenny Footballers to play in the black and amber in a Leinster Senior Football Final. The year was 1922 when Jack McKenna along with Watt Landy representing the Cotterstown club played in the Provincial Final against Dublin in Croke Park. The final came after a thirteen year break when Kilkenny beat Laois and then Meath in the semi-final to qualify in what was to be the counties tenth and last Leinster Senior Football final appearance that yielded three Leinster provincial titles in 1888, 1900 and 1911. In their last provincial title win in 1911 Jack was playing along with Lamogue's Kieran Purcell when they defeated Wexford in the semi in Waterford and then Meath and at half time against Antrim were looking like qualifying for their first ever All Ireland Final. However it was not to be and Tom Ryalls records state “that Antrim had all their second half scores from a player called Williams, who was operating under an alias”. Having being a power house in football the Kilkenny team’s fortunes waned as five Kilkenny players won sixteen all Irelands helping Dublin hurling was on an upward trajectory whilst many of the players who emigrated dominated the New York Football championships for twenty years.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES March 28th 2021

JIM MCKENNA HONOURED; To commemorate the Centenary of the Garryricken Ambush that took place on 12th March 1921 the grandnephews of Volunteer Jim McKenna erected a plaque in his honour at his homestead in Garrythomas.

Jim was born in 1895 and was one of a family of eight, of whom four three boys and a girl emigrated to New Zealand,leaving two sisters who married in Callan and Dublin and Jim and his brother Jack at home.Having joined the British army Jim fought in Flanders and Germany in the Great War where he suffered shrapnel injuries to his leg. On his return Jim joined the 7th Battalion Flying Column in Kilkenny.

With the areas close proximity to the hot spots in Tipperary and the Katmandu hideout Jim was one of six members of the West Kilkenny Flying Colum lying up at a safe house just across the fields from his home in Garryricken. Following a tip off they were surrounded by almost forty heavily armed members of the RIC and the notorious Devonshire Regiment led by Inspector Banham from Callan. Heavily outnumbered and caught by surprise as they slept in different sections of the house a major gun battle ensued before four members Séan Quinn, Jim Leahy, Ned Aylward, Paddy Ryan broke free through the cordon in what was known as a great escape. Having got to safety their injuries were treated and safe houses provided in the Kilmoganny and Dunnamaggin areas. Totally surrounded the remaining local volunteers Paddy Luttrell and Jim McKenna were arrested and ended up in Waterford Gaol where they were tried and sentenced to death.After a time the volunteer’s death sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life, before both were released when the truce was called.

On the occasion there was one fatality when a member of the Black and Tans from Brighton who had also fought and was held as a prisoner in the Great War was shot.

Jim who is survived by only one niece Mazie, served for a very brief period the Newly formed National Army Oglaigh na hEireann. Following his death in 1967 Jim was buried in the family plot in the old section of the cemetery in Windgap where he is also joined by a sister and brother whose only visit home was when their ashes were returned from New Zealand.

The limestone plaque recognising his life as a farmer and soldier is adorned with the Harp and a Celtic Cross and a quotation from Charles Kickham the poet and patriot from Mullinahone.

ANOTHER CONNECTION: In a sporting connection Jim’s brother Jack was one of the last local and Kilkenny Footballers to play in a Leinster Senior Football Final. Along with Watt Landy they both represented Cotterstown in the 1922 Provincial Final against Dublin in Croke Park. It came after a thirteen year break when they beat Laois and Meath to qualify in what was to be the counties tenth and last appearance that yielded three provincial titles in 1888, 1900 and 1911.

AGUS CEANN EILE: Back in action with the flying Colum Séan Quinn was again surrounded by British Forces in Knocknagress Tullaroan where he tragically lost his life in another gun battle along with Pat Walsh of Dunnamaggin. Sean a CJ Kickham’s Footballer with Mullinahone was with his friend Jack Brett who lost his life in an accidental shooting when the flying Colum was staying at a safe house in Castlejohn.

In the columns first fatality Sean was involved in getting wood for the coffin in Kiltrassy and organising the secret burial in Lamogue churchyard that was carried out by the Tullahought unit.When the word broke out that the military were searching the area for the fresh grave a temporary reburial took place in Maher’s(now Brett’s) turnip field in Cussane. Both Jack and Sean are recalled along with Seamus Egan on the Mullinahone Memorial Statue in Killaghy Street.

Elsewhere Captain Pat Walsh’s statue stands on the main street in Dunnamaggin where an annual commeration takes place on Easter Sunday and their comrade Jim McKenna is now honored in Garrythomas

NUACHT ÓN GCLUB: Plans are continuing in organising the trainers and selection teams for the various local and the Gabhalmhaigh Bearna na Gaoithe combined teams. Also in ensuring the regulatory Garda Vetting, Safeguarding and Coaching courses are complete

QUIET CUPPA; Whilst Ballyhale celebrated the great win of “Put the Kettle on” in Cheltenham there was a certain sense of satisfaction in the Foran-Phelan household in Ballygown when the Bay Mare added the Queen Mother Champion Chase to the Arkle 2020 Challenge Trophy Novices´ Chase

SEACHTAIN NA CÁSCA: Online services in Windgap and Tullahought Churches are as follows on Holy Thursday from Windgap at 7.15, Good Friday from Tullahought at 7.30pm On Holy Saturday the Vigil Mass is from Windgap 7.15 and on Easter Sunday from Tullahought at 9.30am.

Over the weekend Ann Foley, Emer and AislingO’Brien and Tom and Mia Egan read the Palm Sunday readings in the respective Churches The services are broadcast from Windgap on the Windgap Facebook Page and from Tullahought on the Tullahought Tidy Towns Facebook page

FUNDRAISERS: Two very successful fundraisers were held in the area in the past week in aid of St. Nicholas National School and National Daffodil Day. They commenced with the online wheel of fortune for the school and Lakeside Tea Rooms takeaway service on Friday that raised €2,500 for Cancer Support. Thanks are extended to all bought tickets and sponsored the prizes for the school and those who supplied cakes and confectionaries purchased teas and items from the cakes as sale. Also and all who organised and worked on them

BROADBAND SURVEYING: Surveying has commenced for the National Broadband Plan rollout of Fibre-to-the-Home in the locality. Its aim is to provide a high-speed fibre service over the existing telephone network. The current work involves identifying all the existing telephone poles and manholes along the existing route. The proposed date for connection between January 2023 to December 2023. Further details can be found on the NBI website https://nbi.ie/

MOBILE COVERAGE:With Mass streaming, home education and working being dependent on mobile coverage there still no update on the planning decision submitted by Cellnex to build a mast on Carraig na gCapall.

UNSOCIABLE BEHAVIOR: Gardaí are currently investigating two recent robberies in the area whilst the indiscriminate littering from passing vehicles on the community de-littered roads continues. The stretch of the road from Carrick-on-Suir commencing at Barnatrasna and passing through Kilmoganny to the motorway has seen black bags left on the roadside where they were scattered by passing traffic and smaller white bags of rubbish thrown high into the hedgerows.

COVID SUPPORT: Assistance is available locally on 087 4193229 and County wide via Freephone 1800 500000

NOS: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES March 21st. 2021

OAK BELL: Tullahought church bell celebrated its 80th anniversary and Oak jubilee when it was rung before mass on St Patrick’s Day by Fr. FearghaillO Fearghaill and John Delaney.

The third bell associated with the Church of St. Nicholas in the village it was dedicated to the “honour and glory of our National Apostle St. Patrick and solemnly blessed by Most Reverend Patrick Collier Bishop of Ossory on the 17th Day of March in 1941 and after being erected in position by the faithful people of Tullahought, James Brennan PP”.

The bell mounted on four circular steel pillars atop a concrete plinth replaced the bell from the Slatequarries that was also mounted at ground level as it was felt its toll did not travel sufficient distance. It had replaced the original bell mounted high over the western gable and sacristy after there were fears of it cracking the gable and the tongue fell out as the altar boys Tommy Walsh and Pat Power were ringing it for Sunday Mass ninety years ago.

Currently it calls to school in Windgap with the lime stone cross and belfry marking the burial place of the former church sacristan John Moore. The present bell was constructed at the request of kind and genial parishioners by James Kelly Esquire in Wexford.

UNSOCIABLE BEHAVIOR: Robberies were a major step-up in the locality from indiscriminate littering recently with reports of a trailer and cement mixed being stolen from a field where construction work was being carried out and a very young animal being taken from its mother in a shed in a locked up roadside farmyard.

With the increasing fear of beloved household pets and working dogs gong missing,it has added a siege mentality to the current lockdown in rural areas where a resident’s friend and first line of defence in their dog is now under threat. Gardaí are investigating and local CCC TV cameras are being examined

NUACHT ÓN GCLUB: Bearna na Gaoithe have declared their strong support and interest in planning for the future of their Coaching and Games Development in conjunction with the Games Promotional Officers Partnership scheme with Leinster Council and Kilkenny County Board that was presented to Club Delegates, Chairpersons and secretaries at the March Meeting of Kilkenny County Board. On the ground Pat Cooke gave the pitch its first short back and sides of the season in preparation for the return to play in the Club

PRESIDENTAL VISIT: “We're sitting in one of the Windgap club's dressing-rooms, overlooking the pitch” wrote Martin Breheny in the Saturday Independent just over eleven years ago “as the November wind has the trees on the far side of the ground swaying in the night air”. The occasion was the GAA President Christy Cooney’s Eisteacht visit to Bearna na Gaoithe. One of the two selected clubs per county with Erin’s Own as Kilkenny’s second representative.

Outside he wrote “a bright moon paints a shimmer of light across the playing surface while one section of the pitch is further illuminated by the lights which reflect off the recently completed and busy hurling wall” that had been recently opened by the Iar Uachtarán Nickey Brennan. With Christy Cooney was the GAA Communications Manager Alan Milton and they had just come from the handball alley and the old parish hall where they met the juveniele Handballer’s Hurlers and Camogie players at their weekly indoor sessions. At the pitch they met the adult hurlers and under twenty one Camogie players.

Inside the Club Rooms there was no top table and formalities as he met a group of players, teachers, coaches, parents, supporters and committee members. for what he described as a chat among friends, not a meeting with "that crowd up in Croke Park". Christy hears that Windgap is the second-smallest club in Kilkenny that they played senior in all four codes and uniquely caters for hurling, football, handball and Camogie, that there are 108 children in the local school and that they are amalgamated with Galmoy up to under twenty one. He also hears that "everything in the parish revolves around the club" and that there was a great sense of doing things for ourselves and working for the club is a way of life. Christy also heard that the club is "in a bit of debt, but not too much" and the fact that girls are no longer allowed to play on U-14 hurling teams has impacted on small clubs. On games he was told that if we don't have a vibrant club scene, we're at nothing. Taking questions from the floor an Uachtarán saw the GAA in 25 years' time, on its 150th birthday as remaining as an amateur organisation with the challenge in ensuring that the volunteer ethic remains intact. On the growing trend of hiring outside coaches, he said apart from breaking the rules, it makes no sense and if you look at the inter-county scene, very few outside managers have won All-Irelands. The answer is not always to look outside when, very often, there are people who are just as good on your doorstep."

Summing up the night the renowned journalist from the village of Kilkerrin in north Galway stated “Windgap may be a small club, struggling for playing numbers, but its local pride and sense of place remains soundly intact. Also that it is more about identity than success, more about putting something into the local community than taking out of it”.

Following a presentation of Tyrone Crystal to the Club in memory of an Uachtaráin Christy’s visit all adjourned to the away dressing room for refreshments provided by the ladies involved in the various sections of the Club. As the distinguished visitors left the attendance remained reminisced and discussed the next steps for the future success of the games in the area.

Fógra, A decade later many changes have occurred on and off the field as the Windgap train rolls on with eternal hope and belief.

TIDY TOWNS: The fine weather has seen an increase in local walkers on the Bearna Breac and Kilmacoliver Loops and the Village Walk around the amenity area hurling field and Grotto and the quiet rural roads finished off with a cupán tae nócaife from Walsh’s Shop. Elsewhere work continued on the bridge in Windgap on Saturday and with spring planting around the Church and community Centre in Tullahought.

COVID SUPPORT: Assistance is available locally on 087 4193229and County wide via Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES March 14th 2021

LÁ FHÉILE PADRAIG: Only a bank holiday since 1903 thanks to a politician representing South Kilkenny and the work of Conradh na Gaeilgein promoting Seachtáin na Gaeilge the previous year. As a result St Patrick's Day arrived as an official public holiday in Ireland due to the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act 1903, an act of the United Kingdom Parliament introduced by the Irish Member of Parliament James O'Mara.James formerly O'Meara was born in Limerick and went to London in 1893 to take over his uncle's business and was then elected as the Irish Parliamentary Party, Member of Parliament for South Kilkenny in the 1900 general election. In the House of Commons he introduced the bill which made Saint Patrick's Day a national holiday in Ireland and later introduced the law which required that pubs be closed on the national feast that remained in place until1961. Re-elected in 1906 he was one of a rare band of politicians to serve in the House of Commons and also in Dáil Eireann. After he resigned from Parliament in 1907 to join Sinn Féin, the first MP to do so, he returned to Dublin in 1914 to continue his work where he ran Donnelley’s bacon business. In the 1918 general election, he was their Director of Finance and was elected as a Sinn Féin MP for his old constituency of Kilkenny South. Later appointed as the first Irish Ambassador to the United States he was re-elected to the 4th Dáil in 1924, as the Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Dublin South. Serving one term in that constituency,he did not stand again and died in 1948 leaving a legacy that is celebrated across the world.

BEANNACHTAÍ NA FÉÍLE ORT (A reflection on the past year, the year ahead and the value of friendship by the Clubs Irish Officer Shane Walsh).

Beannachtaí na féile ort

An dara ceann ar ceal

Ach ná bíodh aon imní ort

Ní mhaireann aon rud ach seal

Bliain ar aghaidh ó dheireadh saoil

Cosc ar thraenáil ‘s cluichí spórt

Stop an ceol, an craic i mbaol

Gan ‘sláinte’ a rá nó dul ar cuairt

Ach bhí go leor a sheas an fód

Idir éan agus idir bhláth

Lus an chromchinn, an spideog

Nach orainn a raibh an t-ádh

Cé gur cailleadh gaolta linn,

Imithe suas an bóthar in airde

Tá fós an saol timpeall orainn

Nach leor é sin a chairde ?

MARCH’S MANY WEATHERS: March of many weathers, threw its full hand on the country side on Saturday morning as sleet and hailstone blizzards were quickly followed by sun showers and then spells of calm bright sunshine. With no shelter in a bull wire fence, the diary stock across the valley remained indoors and out wintered animals showed their hereditary genes by selecting some unlikely and normally unseen dips and shelter spots to put their back to the elements and watch the weather pass by. As the blizzards built into storm balls on the horizon, they then blew in,with an unimpeded ferocity from the gap between the Comeragh Mountains and Slievenamon. As they broke with different intensities their ever changing white forms highlighted the outline of the landscape across the neighboring hills and valleys. Driving on relentlessly, the angle of the blizzard changed as it hit the higher ground and became almost horizontal as thes howersswept over the crests of the hilltops, leaving an eerie calm on the lee side as they roared by. With four of the five local all-weather gallops in view one wondered could the jockeys, handlers and horses predict the gaps between the showers and benefit from a dry outing for their morning run. Within seconds of one severe shower trailing off, crows appeared sitting out beside their new nests and a black cockerel with his bright red comb crowed out the joys of life from the shelter of his shed door. Nearby a roadside bank of primroses and last of the furze blossom looked brighter than ever.

After taking a short break, the skies filed in again and again as the branches began to wave to signal another shower burst was on the way. By sunset the precipitation had ceased as a watery yellow sun disappeared being the site of another of the Lingaun Valley burial sites on Carraigadoon. With the sky clearing and the wind now gusting in stronger surges from behind a snow-capped Slievenamon the cold and wind chill suggested another hard night for man and beast. Back on the same high ground, some of the animals like their human predecessors of over a century ago found shelter around the old dugout. Nowadays the shelter was found in the lee of the trees,that were planted around what was then a smaller underground shelter that provided protection from more than the weather in older and more dangerous times.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Proper Mobile Coverage and reliable Broadband to improve home working, communications and the potential creation of small businesses were amongst the many submissions made by local groups and individuals in the locality to the Draft County Development plan. Also included were ones retaining and increasing the housing stock and population, Tidy Towns, Litter management and renewable energy/.

TIDY TOWNS: Work continued on the bridge and historical walk-in Windgap ón Saturday. Meanwhile in Tullahought some of the fabulous display of daffodils that survived the strong winds in the shelter of the stone walls in the village were cut and picked over the weekend.

DUBLIN SUPPORTERS: Normally held in the Academy Hotel at the top of O’Connell Street the annual gathering of the Kilkenny GAA Dublin Supporters Club was hosted online in houses across Dublin, Meath, Carlow and Kilkenny. Playing a key role in supporting the Kilkenny teams the dedicated group are already planning for the return to inter-county play. Always looking for new members in and around the greater Dublin area that includes Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, the club produce a regular newsletter and organise numerous social gatherings, match trips and an annual golf classic. Officers elected for 2021 were Chairperson: Niall Butler, Vice-Chairperson; Kevin Houlihan. Treasurer Seamus O'Neill,Secretary Michael Dowling. PRO, Dermot Hearne, Joint Club Membership Secretaries, Jim Dunne, John Mooney. Committee – 2021, Eddie Nolan, Kay Cannon, Lar. Carroll, Jane Lynam-Treanor, John Nolan, Eamon Purcell, Jim Staunton, John Corr.To join the Dublin Supporters Club visit kilkennygaa.ie or contact any committee member

COVID SUPPORT: Assistance is available locally on 087 4193229 and County wide via Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES March 8th 2021

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: On Saturday evening there was great joy in the area and in the Camogie world when local star Denise Gaule was selected as the NationalCamogie Association -WGPA Senior Players’ Player of the Year. The award arose following Denise’s outstanding years play with Kilkenny and her match winning-performance in the All-Ireland Senior final.

Also celebrating in their homes were her parents Joan and Dinny,sister Lorraine and Denise’s neighbors, friends and teammates. Denise now joins an elite band of dual winners as the Cúchulainns of Camogie, since the awards commenced almost sixty years ago in 1963. The select group includes the household names of their playing generations in Úna O'Connor (Dublin), Mairéad McAtamney (Antrim) Angela Downey (Kilkenny), Ann & Angela Downey (Kilkenny) Sandie Fitzgibbon (Cork), Gemma O'Connor (Cork), Ann Dalton (Kilkenny) and now Windgap’s Denise Gaule (Kilkenny). Denise also joins the Kilkenny National Players of the Year winners that include Claire Hanrahan, Mary Connery, Helena O'Neill, Angela Downey, Bridie Martin, Liz Neary, Ann & Angela Downey, Breda Holmes, Biddy O'Sullivan, Ann Downey, Ann Dalton and Denise Gaule.

COMHGAIRDEACHAS: As the All-Ireland Senior champions Kilkenny dominated the 2020 Camogie All-Stars team sponsored by Liberty Insurance, team members took six places on the selection announced at a virtual event on Saturday night. Congratulations are extended to this year’s winners Claire Phelan Lisdowney, Davina Tobin Emeralds, Grace Walsh Tullaroan, Denise Gaule Windgap, Miriam Walsh Tullaroan and Anne Dalton St. Lachtains of Freshford and all the players who assisted Kilkenny in their O’Duffy Cup championship win. Also to teams manager Brian Dowlingwho was selected as the Camogie Manager of the Year:

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: A true example of Community spirit was evident in Windgap this weekend when the annual litter pick involving thirty six volunteers concentrated on the roads around Windgap village and all of the approach roads radiating out from it. They included from Seskin to Lamogue Cross on the main R698 road Callan to Carrick on Suir. Also the road to Mealoughmore Cross to Frankfurt and part of the link route from Kilmoganny the whole way to Killamery that passes below the village at the Glen. The bright sunshine saw happy recruits from all towns’ lands lend a helping hand. In addition it was marvelous to welcome all the new residents to our community who introduced themselves with gloves, pickers and bags in hand. A huge thank you is extended to all who completed the great work as the New Brooms helped to sweep Windgap clean.

Also to the volunteers from the neighboring areas of Callan, Kilmoganny Tullahought and Ahenny that have all linked up to ensure the beauty of our locality is enhanced and will also allow the wild flowers in the roadside hedges become more obvious. Enjoy the Spring.

THREE IN A ROW: In an amazing achievement, over three successive weekends, three totally separate community groups representing all of the communities along almost twenty kilometres of the R698 Regional road de-littered it from Callan to Skough Cross.The road stretches from the Ring Road in Callan to Carrick-on-Suir via Windgap, through the Lingaun Valley and over Cregg Bridge into County Tipperary. However despite their best efforts litter continues to be dispersed daily from passing vehicles. Following the great work, it is hoped that with the higher awareness and the more vigilant eyes of the volunteers that the levels can be reduced. With a number of track and trace operations in place, it is hoped that a number of developments including cameras at the worst affected areas will curtail the indiscriminate littering in the near future

DEVELOPMENT PLAN: This Friday 12th at 5pm is the closing date for submissions for the County Development plan that will run from 2021 to 2027. Submissions on any aspect of it can be posted by Wednesday, made online or emailed to ourplan@kilkennycoco.ie .Currently the parish and the three villages of Killamery, Tullahought and Windgap are only mentioned in a proposed change of renewable energy status and are not listed for any organised services or housing development.

OUT AND ABOUT: The early days of March have seen the arrival of frog spawn and male blackbirds and robins jousting for territory, with crow’s daily building a new layer to their nests in the barren tree tops. With a mixture of bright, damp and frosty mornings the early morning dew accumulates into glistening drops at the joints of twigs and branches before dropping with a soft heavy sound to the ground. Elsewhere daffodils and snowdrops are in full bloom with newly calved cows making the most of the outdoors grazing opportunity that has been provided by the fine dry spell.

TIDY TOWNS: Work continued in Tullahought at Kearns Bridge on Saturday as the pruned dogwood shrubs were removed and the flowerbed on the Knockeen road was tidied up. Elsewhere in the prolonged absence of a Tús scheme Vincent Meehan gave the churchyard its first trim of the year. In Windgap work continued on the new bridge along on the village walkway

COVID SUPPORT: Assistance is available locally on 087 4193229and County wide via Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Feb. 30th 2021

AGM ONLINE: It was widely felt at the Windgap GAA inaugural online AGM on Friday night that the Club had made the best of the challenging cards they were dealt in the Covid Year of 2020.

An Cathaoirleach, PJ Egan welcomed the attendance and reflected firstly on the playing activities highlights that saw a second Minor A Hurling semi-final appearance in a row with Galmoy, two Junior League Championship wins,with great work on-going at juvenile level. Elsewhere the work on enlarging and re-aligning the field and erecting the new goalposts were great improvements. In addition PJ welcomed the receipt of a Sports Capital Grant to assist further developments that includes new side-line fencing and upgrading the dressing rooms.

Congratulations were extended to Conor and Mary Claire Lonergan on their wedding and best wishes were extended, to the just out of minor players,Jack Doyle, Mark McCoy and Eoin O’Brien who are well on the recovery road after they incurred serious injuries .Simon Brophy was thanked for his care taking work and the mowing the field,as were the members, volunteers and coaches for their ongoing support. Also Pat Power and Colin Barry for providing gear during the year and former Runaí Sean Power back from his travels for looking after the grant paperwork.

Compliments were paid to the secretary Noel Power and Cisteoir PJ Barron’s reports that were mentioned in last week’s edition.With a very successful club gear shop in place a special offer is being arranged on an array of sizes and styles of the old stock, whilst scrap metal is always appreciated. Among the changes at committee level were Michael Moloney replacing Matthew Enright as Children’s Officer and Matthew O’Shea replacing Pat Walsh as the Bord na nÓg delegate with Paidí Bacon stepping down following his emigration.

RECOGNITION: With Pat Walsh and Simon Brophy having now stepped down from representing the Club at the schools and juvenile boards the duo were immediately co-opted back on to the committee in recognition of their outstanding commitment to the club. Having volunteered,worked and soldiered for the club in the building of all the facilities and care taking the pitches since around the time the handball alley was built in centenary year in 1984, they have given generations training juveniles, schools and adult Camogie, football and hurling teams without mentioning the many years they played in all codes for the Club.

OFFICERS ELECTED: The officers elected were President Eamon Doyle. Vice Presidents: Tommy Hearne, Paddy Egan, Christy Whelan, Paddy Barron, Fr Fergus Farrell. Chairperson PJ Egan, Vice Chairperson Michael O Shea. Secretary, Noel Power, Assistant Secretary Sean Power, Treasurer PJ Barron, Assistant Treasurer Laurence Doyle, PRO Tom Egan, Registrar Aidan Mackey. Trustees of the Windgap Pitch, PJ Egan, PJ Barron, Pat Moore and Tullahought Sportsfield: Jimmy Walsh, Eamon Doyle and Shem Power. County Board Delegate Pat Moore. Junior Board Delegate John McKenna, Juvenile Chairperson John Enright, Bord Na nÓg Delegate Matthew O’Shea, Schools Board Delegate Micheál Moloney, Schools Liaison Officer Micheál Moloney, Health and Safety Coordinator Dermot O Shea. Health and Welfare Officer Tom Egan. Insurance Officer Aidan Mackey, Children’s Officer Micheál Moloney, Committee All Elected Officers plus Simon Brophy, Pat Walsh and Jimmy Walsh, Players Representative Sean Foley Club Juvenile Coaching Co-ordinator Mathew O’Shea Handball Rep. Sean Foley, Irish Cultural Officer Shane Walsh.

CEIST MÓR: Hungry for the road, was the feeling at the AGM with the most prominent question being, when anyone thought the club would be back in action. On the night the attendance included PJ Egan, Michael O Shea, Noel Power, Sean Power, PJ Barron, Tom Egan, Aidan Mackey, Pat Moore, Jimmy Walsh, Matthew O’Shea, Micheál Moloney Dermot O Shea, Pat Walsh, John Enright, Brian O’RourkeAidan Power, Alan Hearne, Matthew Enright along with the first team players Sean Foley, Shane Walsh, Niall Walsh and assistant treasurer Laurence Doyle who joined an cruinniú bliantúil from Baile Átha Cliath.

A GOOD START: Within twenty four hours of the AGM the New Year’s work commenced on and off the field, with repairs to the vandalised air vents in the spectator cover at the clubhouse being carried out by Niall, Paraic and Pat Walsh. Also with the announcement that the club was taking part in the promotion of the Irish language through participation in the Sheosaimh McDonacadh Foundation award, with the aim of reaching medal status through the promotion and use of the native language.

CLUB CREST: The Windgap GAA Club Crest links the heritage and sporting history of the parish. It contains the eleven hundred year old Killamery High Cross and the Killamery Brooch that is now in the National Museum. It includes the Miners Egg sculpture located in the Slatequarries who’s Footballers played in the All Ireland Senior Football championship semi-final in 1900. They are accompanied by the Ogham stone from another county championship winning football stronghold in Lamogue. With the games having also being played under the Cotterstown, Killamery, Tullahought Camogie and LGFA banner, St Josephs and the Slatequarries in Handball and Hurling all the codes now wear and fly the red and white colours of the current Bearna na Gaoithe club that was founded in 1954.Thanks to the work of local artist Tess Cross the crest now bears pride of place on the gable wall of the Club House that is part of the historic loop walk in the village

TIDY TOWNS: Work continued on the new bridge along the historic village walkway in Windgap at the weekend with Nicky Hawe Paraic Walsh and Pat Walsh and continuing the work on the galvanised steel structure that was made and put in place by Eddie Grincell the previous weekend. Next weekend, the crew will be joined by Joe O’Shea to put the timbers in place on what will be a unique structure on the walkway.

TIDY UP: On Sunday morning the war on litter continued when a crew of over thirty people cleaned up the R698 from the Ring Road in Callan towards Windgap through Baunta, Kyle and Coolagh to Seskin. A distance of over seven thousand metres or approaching five miles was cleared by the residents from all along the route. It joins an almost similar distance cleared the previous Sunday on the same regional road from Lamogue Cross to Skough Cross by the Tullahought Tidy Towns team. Dealing with litter thrown mostly or left from passing vehicles, it’s well done to everyone involved for their patriotic community spirit.

COVID SUPPORT: Assistance is available locally on 087 4193229and County wide via Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Feb. 23rd 2021

FROM HERE TO THERE: An amazing distance of over thirty kilometres or almost twenty miles equal or more than the journey to Kilkenny, Waterford or Clonmel was de-littered by a team of thirty community volunteers in the past week. Starting with the five roads radiating out from Tullahought village the route included, the local main and byeroads,lanes,public areas and the Kilmacoliver loopwalk.

Having commenced thirty years ago the annual litter pick has extended further than ever, with just a few small pockets still to be completed. The attached and ever growing picture of their work tells the story of two group’s attitude to their environment, community and countryside that is those who care and those who don’t care. Míle buíochas is extended to the dedicated volunteers of all ages who participated and to the many others who assist in keeping the area clean and attractive in so many other ways throughout the year.

WAR ON LITTER: All week the messages arrived to the Tullahought Tidy Towns Whatsapp Group as plans were made around the mid-term break to tidy up the local roads. With some roads around Tullahought village and the Kilmacoliver Loop having being de-littered since Christmas, the first big task was completed on Thursday morning when nine members of the extended Doyle family led by their patriarch Eamon,that including the three Doyle families and the O’Sheas. The well scattered crew covered the road from Curragh that runs from Owning towards Kilmoganny along by the site of the former “long loch” opposite McGrath’s,via the bridge in Curragh and under Ballinalinagh “the home of the Leinster men”to Barnatrasna. At the cross they turned left for Knockeen and left again in Tullahought to go home by the Túr Amharc (Viewing Tower) to complete the loop. In addition they included for the very first time the cleaning of the triangle of roads that yielded a good few full bags,

from Dick Brawders Cross to Goreys Cross and on to the cross at the end of the late Tommy and Annie Morans garden.Next one in was the Butler family of Dimitri and Jessica who looked after the road from Inchnaglogh by the Miners egg and Ormond Slatequarry to Delaney’s pub in Baunreigh and later along with Tony Musiol another new road was cleared from Quigley’s Bridge on the Lingaun and uphill by the entrance to the Coshel in Knockroe on the way to Mealoughmore Cross.

Saturday, seen as a day for ducks,saw the work continue with a huge new initiative centred on the Carrick to Callan road that started at the Cross of Skough with the final destination of Lamogue Cross. It included the first ever full clean up through Birchwood and via the Victoria Bridge to Ahenny and on to Delaney’s in Baunreigh. Consisting of two Power families Shem and Shane and the two Phelan families Judith, Shamie and Donal the group lost count after collecting thirty four full bags of rubbish. Working from the other end at Skough Cross the O’Gorman Family covered Skough Hill by the Three Trees to Poulrone Boreen.

Elsewhere the Lavelle family completed the Avenue and the collection of bags, with the Butlers continuing from Baunreigh to Billy Hawes Cross where two families of Walsh’s led by Julie and Dick worked on the Windgap road from Billy Hawes Cross to Lamogue Cross.Meeting at “Murphy’s Gate covered in Moss” according to an old verse of the area highlighting the social and focal points on the road to Carrick,it was then the entrance to the former Cussane House. The section of the road contributed over twenty bags with nests of rubbish, bottles and bags found slipped in behind the ditches of the stream. The work continued with Frank Callery doing Tullahought Hill by the forge to Kearns Cross and the two Duggan’s families Kathleen and Breda continued south from Kearns Cross along the main road to Billy Hawes with the Egan’s commencing the cleaning of the main road in the opposite direction to Kilmoganny with their destination being Barnatrasna. The work assists another team of volunteers who look after the parish facilities, mow and maintain the roadside margins and graveyard and keep the area attractive and the roads tidy on their walks throughout the summer months.

MEITHEAL: Like the Ice bucket challenge, the lack of appreciation of litter in recent times has seen similar clean-up activities mushroom in the area with offers of help in the war in the coming weeks coming from the new Tidy Towns groups in Ahenny and Faugheen who are working in the direction of the bridges over the Lingaun, the residents in Owning working via Kilkieran of the High Crosses to Skough, a new crew helping out in Lamogue and the Joseph O’Brien stables crew who are looking after Glencommoun from the Owning Junction to Curragh. Also doing great work tidying up annually in the wider area is the Windgap and Coolagh groups with a new Tidy Towns group in Kilmoganny. With all the teams working within Covid restrictions bags, gloves, hi-viz vests, litter pickers and a collection service were co-ordinated by Dick Walsh.

AGONY AND ECSTASY: Whilst there was great joy felt by all the volunteers in doing the job well and a satisfaction in seeing the bags of rubbish lined along roadsides for collection, there was dismay that other members of the population had seen fit and free to deface their own countryside. Having been amazed at the amount of fast food wrappings, coffee cups, chocolate bar wrappers, crisp bags, soft drinks cans and bottles including the most popular lucozade, red bull and Powers Gold label bottles, old plastic toys, Tyres, bags of hair spray containers, a pink car radio, curved glass shower doors and the remains of a number of car smashes, the general agreement was the very worst encountered were the bags of uniquely fragranced nappies packed to the brim with some tied with cable ties.

REFLECTIONSFOR THE AGM; Noel Powers compressive report of a a year with a difference for Friday night’s Annual General Meeting summed it up when he wrote “It was March 12th after a cold wet nights training in Tullahought that the players gathered round to be told that the GAA had shut down all activities with immediate effect – Croke Park had decided to suspend all games and events due to the pandemic – at the time no one would have imagined what was to come and how our season would be effected, no one would have expected the club gates would remain locked until mid-summer, but they did, and as spring drifted into summer we all felt it was going to be a year where no games would take place.The quiet silent weeks of April and May made everyone realise just how important our GAA club is, how it offers more to the people of Windgap than just what happens inside the whitewashed lines when the ball is thrown in. The reality is that our club like every other club throughout Ireland is the cornerstone for all social activities and gatherings within our parish and boy was it missed” Having thanked all the volunteers and supporters Noels parting words in preparation for the New Year were” Your Commitment and hard work will yet again be required in 2021 as we set out on another years journey seeking success and enjoyment for everyone in our small club”.

Also included was the treasurers PJ Barron’s report that showed a working loss following a drop in expenditure of forty per cent that was surpassed with a drop in income of sixty five per cent. With no fundraising lotto, cards or race night, the receipt of a Leinster Council Grant for previous works helped to offset part of the cost of the new goalposts whilst the reduction in costs by the county board for insurance and Coaching Levy’s also assisted as did the increased revenue from the reformatted Hurlers Co-Op Draw. The Annual General Meeting takes place online on Friday week 26th with members joining by emailing secretary.windgap.Kilkenny@gaa.ie.

COVID SUPPORT: Assistance is available locally on 087 4193229 and County wide via Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Feb. 16th 2021

HURLING ON HOLD: When blizzards, with snowflakes as big as teapot covers according to a well-known and award winning scribe and commentator,never stopped the local team from training up the hill of the Sportsfield in Tullahought, the latest news from Nphet and the Government has kept the pitch closed during the recent inclement weather.

Since in the nineteen fifties, the past year has seen it totally underused, however its natural surface proved versatile with the provision of grazing and two crops of fodder surpassing its social and sporting role. Used for generations by players who went on to play for inter county teams in Hurling, Football and Camogie in the three neighbouring counties, the former Land Commission field now complete with floodlights has become a key part of early season training. Its availability and dry surface has ensured the busy Windgap Pitch is kept in good nick for matches and the long evenings training.

Over the years the players were predecessors to their 2020 inter county comrades Covid changing regime, it was and still is, come togged out, no dressing rooms, no showers, no Langton’s afterwards,only straight home for a cup of tea or a drink of ice cool water from the nearby spout at Crokes Well.

With the favored access for players and spectators alike,being over the original horizontal pole stile on the road side ditch, the lined up bicycles of yesteryear have been replaced with the rows of cars now safely parked on the wide margins of the Long Pavement. In the beginning the grounds were shared with the original gang mowers being a couple of milk cows that necessitated an enhanced sidestep to get around the cowpats or bóse….

In a time, when Hurleys were scarce and prized possessions, the ones that no one wanted,often heavily banded to keep them together with maybe a sturdy sceach or sally one included were available in Bill Maher’s house across the road. With no markings in place the predominantly sceach ditches were the side-lines, where play was often suspended as they consumed the only ball, that had being nurtured and re-stitched with wax, hemp and bradawl, that often drew blood from the fingers whilst tightening the leather back in place. Worst still was when it crossed the ditch or maybe the two ditches that brought it across the roads that ran on two sides and into John Moore’s Bog or Duggan’s meadows.

Also in Bill and his sister Katie’s porch, was a huge big brown well-worn and almost black laced up football,that was maybe a relic from the great days of the Slatequarries or Lamogue footballers. When its bladder went flat owing to the smallest thorn prick,the miss kicker often fell foul of the rest of the players as the game had to be called off.

In the pre steel days,the wooden crossbars were often broken and temporarily replaced with twine or rope, whilst there was great pride in having a fine set of straight goalposts, mostly borrowed from the forestry. The early season search for new goal posts replaced a Sunday’s hunting for rabbits, following the harriers or a rare trip to a game and began when a select team hit off after Mass. Often and almost always crossing the county and provincial boundaries, the aim was usually to secure two new posts for the road goal, where recycling of the old ones could take place or maybe to get a full set of four new ones.The trophy trees,that had been earmarked by a scout during the winter months were slim at the base and were guaranteed to go straight up through the dark foliage without a twist to the heavens.

When they were felled the many branches had to be neatly trimmed off and the poles shouldered to the road or all the way home to be skinned and whitewashed. As the field came after the local St. Josephs Hurling team had ceased and the Windgap club had just started, it became one of the clubs nurseries dotted around the parish.

The nearest local fields of dreams included O’Shea’s field by the stream at Mealoughmore Cross, beside the RIC Barracks at Delaney’sin Baunreigh, Powers Canal Field where Senior football championship matches were played and John Norris “Paircín” in Lamogue. Over the years the Sportsfield became the sporting mecca for social and highly competitive hurling that mirrored the era of the great Kilkenny and Tipperary clashes, as the players from Ahenny, Clashnasmuth and all the townsland on the opposite bank of the Lingaun River were warmly welcomed and widely represented.

With ground football often frowned upon, many of the players involved would regularly play for their respective clubs against each other in the great tournament and carnival games over the following days.

In the early years when a crowd had gathered, it was throw the Hurleys into a pile, where they would be dispersed into two random teams by a sense of touch with supposedly closed eyes. In recent times with the pitch being regularised and getting its own signage flagpoles and stone entrance, it hosted the Slatequarries Arts and Culture Festival juveniele Hurling and Camogie Tournaments that has evolved into the now Covid suspended Tullahought Heritage weekend games.

The first game for many young players the occasion had an international dimension in being sponsored by a Welshman Mike William’s whose father was a manager in the Slatequarries. Today it is the last of the original farmers’ fields still in use in the parish as the Club transited through pitches in Lamogue, Mealoughmore and Walsh’s Bog Field to the current pitch with club rooms hurling wall, alleys, walkway, meeting room and gym.

Whilst the afore mentioned Barrie Henriques who was then a team trainer gave it public notoriety, the games were always recalled as having been played on fine warm days that often extended towards the midnight hour on long summer evenings. With no whistle or modern communications methods to organise training the sound of leather being struck or kicked was the quickly spread call to play, with the very youngest roles involving to get to puck the ball back to the older players.

Before the advent of modern managers, coaches and bainisteoirí Mickey Sullivan and Ned Duggan helped to train the respective Tullahought Camogie and Ladies football sides with the full list of Club trainers to appear in the coming weeks.

Nowadays thanks to the community vision of generations ago the Sportsfield is eagerly awaiting its return to playing its full part in supporting the local games.

BROADBAND ISSUES: For those living on the edge of a reasonable mobile broadband service Sunday morning saw it drop over the cliff edge with Saturday nights storm on distant masts expected to be the culprit. With many residences outside of the 7km wired broadband from the telephone exchange, the result on the planning permission submission for a mobile mast in the parish is eagerly awaited.

CLEAN UP: The commencement of Tullahought Tidy Towns annual clean up fell foul of overnight snow on Saturday.With Covid restrictions in place the work by individuals or family groups continues over with bags, gloves hi-viz vests and pickers are available from Dick Walsh.

WASHED OUT: Strong south easterly winds and driving rain over the weekend caused flooding in the local Community Centre. Following a call out on Sunday morning there was a great response with dehumidifiers and help.

BUILDING BRIDGES: Also falling foul of Saturdays weather was Windgap Tidy Towns bridge building project on the “Wonders of Windgap” walk. The event was to be undertaken under the watchful eye of Paraic Walsh the designer of the stone circle entrance and the project manager Nicholas Hawe.

CLUB NEWS: The Annual General Meeting of Windgap GAA Club takes place online on Friday week 26th.The annual reports are available from the Runaí Noel Powerby emailing secretary.windgap.Kilkenny@gaa.ie.

COVID SUPPORT: Assistance is available locally on 087 4193229 and County wide via Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Feb. 9th 2021

TWO TALES OF SKOUGH: Known far and wide as Skough rather than Castletown that is shown on the local maps,the area occupies the higher and northern end of the townsland. It is best known by Moloney’s Pub that stands on the junction of the Callan to Carrick-on –Suir Road and the bye roads via Kilkieran High Crosses to Owning and the testing and scenic Skough Hill to Tullahought. Its name has been handed down in folklore by two versions of the story,with the same tragic ending, death by hanging. They come mainly from the oral traditions on both sides of Baunfree Hill. In one back in 1811 it is reputed a man by the name of Quinlan from Poulmaleen Faugheen was hanged in the wrong above the sharp bends and Flemings house on Skough Hill. Having gone to Castletown House to pay his rates,he had a dispute with a grumpy worker who went in to the landlord and swore that he was the man that stole the Silver at the Hunt Ball the previous night. Hung within sight of his home and the scene of the crime, the spot was marked by a bank of stones where people stopped to say a prayer and placed a stone on the ditch. The other tale related to a man being brought down Skough Hill from the Blackbog direction to the assizes court in Carrick on Suir. On reaching the cross, it is reported an altercation took place with the Countess of Grannagh who was travelling home in her coach from the Callan direction towards Owning. The result was that the individual was hung on the nearest tree that could sustain his weight which was well back up the hill at the very same spot. The event left a phrase in the spoken Irish language of the time “Sceach na gCountessa” that roughly translates as Skough of the Countess.

In different times with different laws and penalties the site stands close to the “Three Trees” that is located at the plateau on the top of Skough Hill where three men lost their lives through hanging for stealing food for their families.

DEVELOPMENT CHANGES: Whilst rural de-population, one off housing, sewage scheme, mobile and broadband coverage are live issues in the area, it has been reported from the County Development Plan that the Wind Energy Strategy shows major rezoning changes in South Kilkenny that includes the parish of Windgap. The main changes in the proposal affect thousands of hectares of the higher ground and see the status change from Unsuitable to two types in, Acceptable in Principal and Open for Consideration.

The proposed area for Acceptable in Principal is in the shape of a badly battered saucepan where the handle runs in a narrow band from Nine Mile House, above the village of Killamery, through the heart of Windgap village and close to the centre of Lamogue. From there it spreads out over the much wider area encompassing the countryside over Kilmoganny, Aghavillar, and Hugginstown where it almost reaches the motorway at the Hugginstown Fen. From there it expands towards the Red Acres area of Mullinavat before turning south to include the area around Leac an Scáil Dolmen and on over Templeorum and Owning villages. Its final turn sees the proposed line travel back via Barnatrasna to Lamogue.

Its route through Windgap the only centre of population included,the proposed band that is only a couple of hundred metres wide stretches over the main street, church, and school, Community Centre, GAA Pitch and Creamery.Outside the main areas of proposed change, the countryside surrounding the kitchen utensil profile appears to be in line for the lesser,Open for Consideration changes.The Development Plan has been published for public consultation on Consult.Kilkenny.ie and submissions on all items can be made up to the 12th of March

CLUB NEWS: The Annual General Meeting of Windgap GAA Club will take place online on Friday 26th of February. The annual reports will be sent to any member who forwards their email address to secretary.windgap.Kilkenny@gaa.ie on or before Friday 12th February.

EASY DUMPING;Widely acknowledged as the most littered and dumped on road in the area the National R698 route road from Callan to Carrick-on Suir on the stretch between Windgap and Lamogue Cross has being described as a disgrace. The most offended part stretches for well over a mile where it runs almost dead straight between the heights at Coolhill and Mealoughmore. On the way it drops at the midpoint at the“gullet”which is the one of the four bridges over the stream that rises in Baunreigh and runs to the Lingaun River. Adding allurement to the dumpers is the fact that no residence is close to the road allowing rubbish to be dumped unseen from passing cars.

A similar site with no residences occurs further on along on the R697 where the road winds by the river towards Birchwood.

CLEAN UP: Tullahought Tidy Towns are looking forward to the longer days and better weather to hold their annual clean-up. Traditionally it takes place on almost six miles of roads around and radiating out of the village to the main roads..In addition with a good response and suitable weather conditions before the growing season starts it extends to cover a similar distance on the main roads. With Covid restrictions in place the work is planned individually or in family groups over the next few weeks. Residents, land owners and volunteers picking can nominate the area they intend to do, with bags, gloves hi viz vests and pickers available from Dick Walsh. The collected litter can be left at the usual location or can be collected by the committee at the end of the day.

SPRINGTIME: As snowdrops are breaking into full bloom and daffodils appear birdsong filled the air during the past week.The stretch in the evenings has also seen the calving and slurry spreading season commence.

LIBRARY SUPPORT: Library staff are offering a home delivery service during Covid to members over sixty five years of age. To avail of this service phone the local Library in Callan on 056 7794183 and they will arrange a personalised selection of books for you.

COVID SUPPORT: Covid support, if required can be accessed locally on 087 4193229and County wide on the Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Feb. 2nd 2021

LÁ FHÉILE BRÍDE: A soft day’s rain on the eve of St. Brigids Day allied with Covid lockdown saw old traditions revived as trips were made in search of rushes to make the traditional crosses. With the raw materials being no longer as plentiful as in past generations owing to land drainage,many potential sites were apparently visited near streams, ponds and damp areas. Trips to Blackbog, Breagaun, Kilmacoliver and Lamogue showed the footsteps of other collector’s out to mark the arrival of the first day of Spring. Varying in styles and sizes the traditional Cross in the area was the four branched emblem of Teilifís Eireann and RTE. It other areas it was joined by the three legged one and the twelve rush one with its oval profile with other formats being created with the help of sally rods.Once a regular Spring time project in the National Schools that are now closed, the tradition has passed back to those who have grown in touch with their locality and heritage during Covid. One of Ireland's patron saints Brigid was the founder of several monasteries for nuns, including the most famous in Kildare. Form Celtic mythology Brigids feast day replicates the start of spring and is one of the four seasons that included Bealtaine on the first of May marking the start of summer; Lúnasa on August 1st marking autumn and the harvest season and Samhain on November 1st marking the arrival of winter.

ALL GONE ONLINE: St. Blaise,whose feast day falls on Tuesday,joined the online movement trend with the blessing of throats being broadcast from the Masses celebrated by an tAthair Fearghaill O’ Fearghaill over the weekend. The streaming’s by Richard Walsh and Noel Smith keeps the community up to date with the local church news, month’s minds and anniversaries. For them the sounds of recorded music, birdsong, rain and passing traffic through the church doors that are kept open to catch the broadband signal add a local on each streaming.

CAMOGIE AGM: The Annual General meeting of the Camogie Club was held on Friday evening last via Zoom with over thirty members in attendance. The Club Chairperson Ann Foley opened the meeting and thanked everyone associated with the club and who volunteered in any way throughout the year.All of the officer’s reports were read, proposed and seconded with the Runaí Joan Kenneally reporting on a great year with Denise Gaule, Mickealla Kenneally and Catherine Foley bringing three All Ireland Senior medals back to the club. In addition the under 14's won their county final with the seniors winning the shield final. The treasurer Margaret Cullen reported a dip in our Funds as Covid prevented a lot of fundraising with the highest expenditure being the payment of the full insurance and fees to the county board. On the plus side the club ran a very successful fund raising Fun Run for individuals in conjunction with the GAA Club.

As all of the officers agreed to stay in place for the coming year the list for the year ahead reads as follows President Pat Moore, Vice President Matt Doran, Chairperson Ann Foley, Vice Chairperson Mick O'Shea, Treasurer Margaret Cullen, Secretary Joan Kenneally, Assistant Secretary Kathleen Purcell, Juvenile Secretary Valerie Doyle, Registrar Emer O'Shea, PRO’s Liz and Dave Jackson and Children’s welfare Officer Carmel Smith. In conclusion an Cathaoirleach Ann wished the club every success in 2021 and as we are living in uncertain times there are no big plans in place. Whilst the on-going Covid figures mean that no one can predict when the players will be able to meet up to train, it was agreed that the format was much better last year when the club games came before the inter- county ones. A special word of thanks was extended to Mary and Tom Egan for setting up the online meeting.

HURLING, FOOTBALL AGM:

Bearna na Gaoithes Annual General Meeting will take place online on Microsoft Teams on Friday 26th of February. With another disrupted year ahead it is the intention of the current executive committee to remain in place unless a nomination is made otherwise. The annual reports will be sent to any member who forwards their email address to secretary.windgap.Kilkenny@gaa.ie on or before Friday 12th February.

LITTER LOUTS: With littering being a modern curse everywhere, last weeks’ notice brought a strong response along with a special request suggesting,you might let the person, “who takes the labels off five or six food cans, washes them and ties them neatly into a plastic bag and then dumps them in the hedge rows all the way between Callan and Windgap, aware that there is a CAN BANK in Callan! Following further queries it has been found that the recycling banks in Callan are behind the Kilkenny County Council Callan Area Office up by the Fire Station and are open 24/7 so there is no excuse for any one.

One of the highlights on a Sunday morning trip to Kilkenny a year or so ago was the sight of volunteers de-littering the roads from Coolagh to Callan. During the same week another crew worked from Coolagh to Seskin with Windgap Tidy Towns starting from the village to meet them over a stretch of eleven kilometres or six and a half miles.

TWENTY TIMES: It is estimated that car windows were opened and litter thrown out almost twenty times in the six days along the mile and half of a rural road that was cleaned up in Kilmacoliver the previous weekend. Cigarette boxes for L&M Red, B&H Option, Blue Light along with soft drink bottles,fast-food wrappings and brown paper bags were the most prolific items. Elsewhere in the same short period the road from Windgap towards Lamogue Cross was littered with mostly empty coal sacks, animal feed and manure bags.

LIBRARY SUPPORT: In a great initiative the Libraries that are closed to the public owing to Covid level 5 restrictions, Library staff is offering a home delivery service to members over sixty five years of age. To avail of this service phone the local Library in Callan on 056 7794183 or call the Library Head Quarters on 056 7794160 and they will be happy to arrange a personalised selection of books for you.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN: The Draft Kilkenny City and County Development Plan has been published for public consultation on Consult.Kilkenny.ie. Submissions on any aspect of the plan can be made up to the 12th of March

COVID SUPPORT: Covid support, if required can be accessed locally on 087 4193229and County wide on the Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES January 26th 2021

TRAIL UPGRADE: There was widespread satisfaction in the locality with the announcement of a €20,000 grant for maintenance and improvement works of the Kilmacoliver Loop walk. Announced by Heather Humphries the Minister for the Department of Rural and Community Development it provides an opportunity to upgrade the facilities on the existing 6km walk,to enhance the bio diversity along it and also to provide a shorter loop.

CAMOGIE AGM: Windgap Camogie Club are holding their Virtual AGM on this Fri 29th Jan at 7.30pm. All members and players invited to join online.To receive the access code contact the Club Chairperson Ann Foley on 086 3699542

MOBILE COVERAGE: The renewal of working from home has again highlighted the lack of good reliable quality broadband and mobile coverage with workers trying to find a suitable area to communicate from. As a result news of the planning application to provide a mobile mast scheduled for the 14th January is eagerly awaited.

CLUB NEWS: In preparation for Bearna na Gaoithes Annual General Meeting an online Committee Meeting will take place on Microsoft Teams on this Friday 29th of Jan. at 7.30pm,

LITTER LOUTS: The Long Pavement from Tullahought Village to the middle of Skough Hill got a clean sweep over the weekend when the Tidy Towns volunteers collected the litter from it. Having thought it was spotless, the volunteers got a surprise when they returned to collect the bags the following morning when a number of additional cigarette boxes were found within sight of the filled bags. With the local roads being tidied up every couple of months the vast majority of the rubbish found had been thrown from the windows of passing cars. Consisting mostly of soft drinks bottles where lucozade and water dominated with fast food wrappers and hot drinks containers and their lids, Silk Cut appears to be the smoker’s choice whilst kitchen foil, a dolls head, a music CD, the new reliable used Covid Facemask and bottles that once held Jack Daniels and Guinness were collected. Elsewhere across the parish a small step ladder and press, household implements, drinks cans, neatly tied bags of rubbish near the Gullet and fast food wrappings and containers that were thrown over a ditch onto a residences lawn are all unwelcome additions.

HANDBALL AGM: The annual meeting of Windgap Handball Club was conducted online to take account of the on-going Covid restrictions. In his report Club Secretary’s Sean Foley noted the season started out like any other year with the adult 40x20 league and the juvenile championships before the disruptions the current pandemic had on the handball calendar. Prior to that the alley was a hive of activity when our adult players got the year off to a good start picking up victories in the league. As the months slipped by and restrictions eased it was great to get back to competitive action and to be in a position to host the One Wall County Championships which for the first time in a few years avoided the rain as the club adhered to the guidelines by playing them on different evenings. In his report Treasurer Michael Grace showed a working profit of €900 on the year’s activities and extended thanks to the officers and the team of volunteers that included Padhraic Foley, Pat Grace and Luke Ward for their work in replacing the clear light’sand the upkeep of the alley.

In his chairman’s Address Emmet Landy noted the season has been a mixture of success on the court but also a serious challenge off the court and thanked all our trainers, mentors, coaches, parents and committee members who have given their time throughout the year. The juvenile was the clubs most successful age group which he felt bodes well for the future. Best of luck was extended to Sean Barron, Emer Barron and Conor Doyle the All-Ireland semi-finals. Emmet also thanked Michael O’Shea for his work as Chair of the County Handball Board.

Officers elected were Chairperson: Emmet Landy, Secretary: Sean Foley, Treasurer: Michael Grace, Co: Board delegate: Michael O Shea, Vice Chair: John Ryan.

HANDBALL RESULTS: Winners throughout the year were in the 40 x20 Leagues: Division 3; Sean Foley, Division 4; Sean Barron. Masters 2; Eamon Purcell.Masters 3 Simon Walsh. In the 40 x20 Championships the winners were U10 Singles: Shane Doyle. U12Doubles: Shane Doyle and Jack Egan. U14 Singles: Connor Doyle. U15 Doubles Finalists: Ronan O’Brien and Evan Doyle. U17 Singles: Sean Barron. 17 Doubles: Sean Purcell and Adam O’Shea. In the Girls events U13 Singles: Jenny Saunders U15 Singles: Eimear Barron, U16 Singles Finalist: Nathania Jackson. U16/17D: Nathania Jackson an Eimear Smyth. At Provincial level in the Leinster 40 by 20 Championships; Boys under 14 Singles: Connor Doyle, Under 17 Singles: Sean Barron. Girls under 15 Singles: Eimear Barron. Leinster 60x30 winners included, BU14 Singles: Connor Doyle, BU17 Singles: Sean Barron, GU15 Singles: Eimear Barron.

In the County 60x30 championships the BU10 Singles: Shane Doyle, BU17 Singles: Sean Barron, GU15 Singles Finalist: Emer Barron with adult championship incomplete Sean Foley was a Junior Singles Finalist:

The Clubs County Wallball the winners were Mens (B): Emmett Landy, Mens (C): Shane Walsh Masters (2): Jimmy Purcell. Ladies (1): Deirdre Purcell and Ladies (2): Caoimhe O’Shea

STREAMING: The local masses celebrated by an tAthair Feargailll O’Ferghaill continue to be stramed on Staurday evnings from Windgapon Satiurdays and on Sunday’s fromTullahought. Via windgap.ie and the Tullahought Tidy Towns Facebook Page respectively.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN: The Draft Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021-2027 has been published for public consultation on Consult.Kilkenny.ie. Submissions on any aspect of the plan including mobile and broadband communications, rural housing, de-population,water and sewage services, sustainablecommunities,biodiversity, walking trails and amenities, listed and unused buildings, environment, waste management including indiscriminate dumpling and littering, heritage and culture can be made up to the 12th of March

COVID SUPPORT: Covid support, if required can be accessed locally on 087 4193229 and County wide on the Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES January 19th 2021

LINGAUN VALLEY:

One of Ireland’s hidden and still unspoilt tourism gems The Lingaun Valley stretches from the foothills of Slievenamon to the River Suir.

On its journey through its catchment areas in counties Kilkenny and Tipperary it is littered with stunning scenery and ancient sacred medieval and historical sites. Running alongside it, the maze of minor roads sweep along its undulating hills and around its floodplain Inches.

Above the riverbed the valley is surrounded by the range of foothills that swing clockwise from the peak of the sacred mountain in a Westerly to Southern direction.

From their lofty heights they give ever changing panoramic views into and across the valley and back in the reverse directions to the Blackstairs, Mount Leinster, the North Kilkenny Plateau, the Devils Bit the Knockmealdowns, Galtees and exit from behind the Comeraghs to Waterford City and Tramore.

The circular viewing line runs close to and above the villages of Kilcash, Ballyneale, Grangemockler, NineMile House, Killamery, Windgap, Lamogue, Kilmoganny, Hugginstown, Templeorum, Owning Tullahought and Faugheen before it drops back into the Suir Valley.

INFORMATION BOARDS: Currently the Lingaun Valley is served by a series of five site specific information boards at the major historical features on the Kilkenny side with plans to have six on either side of the river in the near future. Currently they are located in Killamery of the High Cross, Church Ruins, the burial place of the 1798 insurgents and the location where the National Museum based Killamery Brooch was found. Also on the Main Street in Windgap near the Grotto, Land League House amenity area and local walks,at the Coshel Solstice burial Chambers in Knockroe, at Delaney’s Public House marking the Slatequarries and in nearby Kilkieran at the site of two additional High Crosses of Western Ossory.

The proposed ones on the Tipperary and Munster side are to be located at Carraigmoclear the site of the 1798 ambush and Holy Year Cross, Grangemockler of Michael Hogan fame and where the Lingaun river crosses the main Kilkenny to Clonmel Road from the Mountain, Ahenny of the site of , the unique mining village the two High Crosses whose copies are in the Medieval Mile Museum in Kilkenny, in Faugheen that stands just a stone’s throw from the old Church Ruins of Newtown Lennon, Ballyneale of Tom Kiely Irelands first Olympian gold medallist in St. Louis Missouri in 1904.

Running for his little village and country at the age of thirty four Tom could only compete as part of the Great Britain and Irish team. To achieve his dream Tom sold many of his National medals to pay his own fare to compete in the “All Round” the precursor of the Decathlon.

At the Olympics all of the ten events took place on the same day where he won four to win easily, returning home a national hero. The final one is in the car park opposite the Town Hall in Carrick of Maurice Davin,Sean Kelly, Sam Bennett, Mick Roche, The Ryan’s PJ and Jimmy and the Clancy’s fame where the Lingaun River joins the tidal Suir and where a Salmon sits atop the weather vane atop the town clock at the West gate.

On completion the final information board is going in Tullahought close to the Túr Amharc Viewing Tower and the ancient burial ground on Baunfree/Kilmacoliver Hill.

For further info on the cross county community driven and locally and Leader funded visit lingaunvalley.ie

ABHAINN AN LOINNEÁIN: Eiríonn Abhainn an Loinneáin ar shleasa Shliabh na mBan agus gluaiseann sí trí 25 mile de thírdhreach álainn, glasuaine atá lán de shuiomhanna suimiúla stáiriúla a bhaineann le gach tréimhse thábhachtach í stair na hEireann

DOLINA RZEKI LINGAUN: For our Polish visitors it transcribes,Dolina Lingaun jest jednym z ukrytych i wciąż dziewiczych irlandzkich klejnotów wiejskich, które ciągną się od źródła u podnóża Slievenamon do rzeki Suir. Podczas swojej podróży przez południowo-zachodnie Kilkenny i południowo-wschodnie Tipperary jest zaśmiecona średniowiecznymi i historycznymi miejscami oraz krajobrazami w każdej postaci.

TIDY TOWNS: The replacement of the post and rail fence around the amenity area in Tullahought took its first steps at the weekend when work commenced on the removal of the existing rails that has served for the past twenty years. The work was carried out individually in line with Covid Restrictions.

NOLLAIG NA MBAN: The week after the annual celebration of Nollaig na mBan Comhgairdeachas are extended to Catherine Corless, Vicky Phelan, Catherine Connolly and the míle mná who continue their great inspirational work for their country.

OUR OWN PLACE: The Draft Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021-2027 will be published for public consultation on Consult.Kilkenny.ie. Currently copies are available in all Kilkenny Libraries until the 12th of March 2021 subject to Covid-19 protocols and restrictions. Submissions on any aspect of the plan including mobile and broadband communications, rural housing, de-population,water and sewage services, sustainable communities, biodiversity, walking trails and amenities, listed and unused buildings, environment, waste management, heritage and culture can be made either online or in writing until 5pm on the 12th of March 2021

HOUSEHOLD WARE: A nest of dumped household goods includinga table lamp, standard lamp, lamp shade, deep fat fryer and frying pans were found dumped within a mile of Tullahought’s silver medal winning Tidy Town's village. The items also included identifying information that may have to be used if the items remain onsite

CLUB NEWS: Under Covid restrictions the Club Rooms,Pitch,Gym and Handball Alley remain closed.The Club are organising a fundraising scrap metal collection service. For collection at a later date contact any committee member.

Elsewhere the Wonders of Windgap historical walkway, along with the amenity and playground areas remain open.

COVID SUPPORT: Covid support, if required can be accessed locally on 087 4193229 and County wide on the Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES January 12th 2021

FOOTBALL LONG AGO:

After Kilkenny peaked as an inter county football stronghold six score years ago at the turn of the last century,many of the players brought their skills and sporting finesse in the game across the Atlantic Ocean.

In search of employment and a new life, amongst them were many of the local players from the Lamogue and Slatequarries teams as the production of slates wound down. As a result the players joined the Kilkenny Football team in New York where they held sway with a swagger now associated with the Dubs when they were undefeated from 1904 to 1912 and added six more titles in 1917, 20, 22,47. 61 and 1965. Such was their dominance that the Cork mentors of the time wrote home to their County Board to have reinforcements sent out and the new arrivals failed to break Kilkenny’s winning sequence.

With the first organised Gaelic games played in New York in 1857 the football championships were renowned to be stronger and more competitive than at home and had teams participating from every county. In the early years Cork, Cavan, Galway and Tipperary were next to Kilkenny in the Titles table before Leitrim, Donegal and Kerry the new table toppers made their mark. A feature of the times was the recording of the finals in verse by James P Vealefrom New York.The following verse was provided to the sports historian Jamesie Murphy by Tommy Walsh of Tullahought whose uncle Jimmy Duggan was on the side for his production of “The Poetry and Song of Black and Amber Glory”

NEW YORK FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS:

New York Football Champions Kilkenny 1920

There is joy tonight in Ossory, from Gowran to Glenmore

From ancient Kells across to where Poulnassy waters roar

From the hurlers of Moondharrig, to the banks of the Lingaun

From the storied town of rebel Ross, to the high lands ‘round Farnaun

Proud are the white walled cabins that claim a gallant son

Who played today in New York town, who played the game, and won

They beat the best, South, East and West, in battles fierce and keen

And have never lowered their colours yet, Kilkenny’s Black and Green

They have won today though far away, upon the Yankee shore

Let their praises ring through mount and glen, by the Barrow, Suir, and Nore

Let old Slievenamon look down upon and sing their praises too

For her gallant sons before them fell across the ocean blue

Beside the towering turrets of mighty Gotham town

Where monuments of Irish braw from lowering clouds look down

To battle for the championship, your gallant sons went forth

Against Cavan’s famed O Reilly’s, great champions of the North

The scattered Gael in thousands came, from the North, South, East and West

To see his game of boyhood days, played by old Ireland’s best

Many a cheer rose ringing round, as Cavan took the field

Prepared to test Kilkenny’s best – who were never know to yield

The referee’s whistle sounds, the ball goes into play

Like flashing fire from out the skies, Jim Reddy breaks away

The leather goes from Phelan now, to Duggan of renown

And across to Tommy Daly, the pride of Cotterstown

Now Furlong and Jim Farrell, have charged the Cavan backs

With Kilcaysey’s Matty Butler, in some fierce and grand attacks

Strong was that Cavan back defence against the ‘Miner’s’ from the Nore

But the white flag fluttered in the breeze for the first Kilkenny score

Down came the mighty north men, and charged the miners ground

But down upon our halfback line, some fearless men they found

Here, Hanrahan, and Doolan, from Gowran and Glenmore

Met, and then sent back in slashing style, amid a thunderous roar

Again the red clad North men came charging down the field

In fierce determination to make those back men yield

But Carroll, Dwyer, and Aylward, across that goal were drawn

Sons of Kells, and old Knocktopher, with Jack Maher from Farnaun

There goes the final whistle sound, Kilkenny wins the day

There goes the news across the wave to homes far, far away

To homes in verdant Ossory who sigh for them in vain

Saying! ‘Come back to me, I yet will be, A Nation Once Again’.

SMOKELESS COAL: James Murphy’s book includes a second James P Veale verse from the time recording a great win in the final over Cork. In it the verses are littered with references to the home places of the players including the Walsh Mountains, Ballyhale, Lamogue, Comer, Slieverue, Kilmacow, Knockroe,Moondharraig, Ossory, The Nore, Windgap, Miltown and Glenmore. Amongst the names highlighted from the victorious side on the day were Ned O’Shea, Jim Dwyer, Jim Daly, Matty Butler, Kavanagh, Bowe. Lawlor, Hendrick, Davis and McGrath, Nolan, Tobin, Bob Maher, Lar. Roche, Reddy, Deevy, Bernard Cassidy and “a fearless giant”Tom Whelan (Phelan from Windgap).The victorious side on the day was led by “that gallant “Miner” Captain Pat Conway from Knockroe” now of The Coshel Solstice fame which is later described as being “from the land of the smokeless coal” where slates and not coal was mined

THE AMERICAN MEDAL: In the year when Larry McCarthy from New York becomes the Uachtaráin of the GAA a gold medal awarded from the time has come to light. The proud possession of Maureen Forde the granddaughter of Matty Butler of Kilcasey who married his team mate Jimmy Duggan’s sister Brigid from Poulrone. It includes the inscription “Senior Football Championship, GAA of USA” and is embossed with the American and Irish furled flags of red, white and blue Flag with twenty three stars and the Harp and Shamrock from home in Emerald green along with a laced Gaelic Football. The hallmarked rear is inscribed “Won by Kilkenny 1917”

TIDY TOWNS FUNDING: To acknowledge and show appreciation for the fantastic work done by TidyTowns groups throughout the country, additional funding is being provided to support TidyTowns groups in preparing for the 2021 competition. All eligible groups will be entitled to apply for this once off top-up grant of €1,000. The funding can be used to enhance entries for 2021 or for projects that support and encourage sustainable living with particular emphasis on biodiversity or Sustainable Development Goals. Pobal are administering the grant on behalf of the Department with February 28th as the closing date.

SCRAP COLLECTION: The Club are organising a fundraising scrap metal collection service. For collection at a later date contact any committee member.

COVID SUPPORT: Covid support, if required can be accessed locally on 087 4193229 and County wide on the Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES January 5th 2021

END OF AN ERA: Twenty days short, of thirty two years after Pete and Margo Moran opened their grocery shop in Kilmoganny, the entrance door under the Moran nameplate closed for the final time on Sunday last at 1pm. Following a change over to new owners the proprietors Pete and Margo, formerly Margo Murphy from Rathgormack extended sincere thanks to all the staff and customers that supported them from the surrounding areas for so many years.

In recent times Morans was the sole shop serving the communities around the villages of Castlehale, Dunnamaggin, Newmarket, Windgap, Tullahought and Kilmoganny until a new shop opened in Windgap during the summer.

After the initial air of disappointment at the news, the community feelings changed to a flood of thanks, words of appreciation and the extension of best wishes of health and happiness to Margo and Pete in the their retirement years.

During Moran’s time the premises was a hive of activity with the shop and the footpath outside being a meeting place for a friendly chat to discuss the times and tribulations of daily life. In addition it was a focal point for church goers,the residents of St. Josephs, Larche, their visitors and those calling to the school, the doctors and the county council depot. Also for Card, Bingo players,the visitors to Dunphy’s Lounge Bar and the Fresh Bite Takeaway.Located on the corner at the busy junction to the Motorway, The Lingaun Valley, Carrick-on-Suir and Kells of the castles it also acted as directions finder.

Having had five business premises in Kilmoganny when Morans took over Han Walsh’s shop that was originally a dispensary and then a shop run by Willie Hickey, then Nuala and Seamus Moore, the line-up was completed by Murrays Post Office,Shop and petrol stations, the Horse and Hound Pub and Dunphy’s Bar that was original Norris’s Pub, Shop and Hardware store.In earlier generations when travel was by shanks mare or bicycle to the nearest town of Callan via the New Line the list of businesses also included Moira Moore’s Pub and Shop, Maggie O’Meara’s Shop, Mary Graces shop and Goalie O’Meara’s Shop along with a full time Police Barracks the creamery in Castlehale and George Daniels sawmill.

NEW BEGINNING: In a co-ordinated and seamless changing of the guard that is aimed to continue Morans service to the community, the premises reopened on Monday morning with the same staff and hours under the new manager Dane Loubser a long time neighbour of the Morans in Rossenarra. From Monday the existing staff of Catherine Phelan, Joan Brennan and Breda Brennan will be on duty as the shop continues its opening hours of 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and to 8.30 on Saturdays and from 9am to 1pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays. In addition it will continue to provide the usual stock of groceries, household ware, fuel, gas, meat and veg’s, newspapers, lotto, phone credit, stamps with a Coffee Machine being added.

CAUTION COVID: As Covid infections spread and the personal testaments of family members of those affected in Ireland and across the world are harrowing, extreme caution in following the guidelines and restrictions is required by every single person to ward off the unseen and deadly virus.

Covid support, if required can be accessed locally on 087 4193229 and County wide on the Freephone 1800 500000

GLEN ROVERS: Pete Morans retirement from the shop in Kilmoganny recalls the era of the Glen Rovers Football Club in Kilmoganny when the side that won the 1977-1978 Kilkenny and District League Division Two League. The historic event took place in the final game of the season on Glen Rovers home pitch on the seven acres in Rossenarra just across the road from the Morans home. With the Moran twins Pete and Edward anchoring the fullback line and their father Paddy as manager and Pete as secretary the family played such an inspirational role for almost thirty years in the history of the now defunct club. Made up with players from the locality and surrounding areas the players received a personal postcard on Tuesday morning with the weekend’s fixtures. The side to be located and named on another day also included Margo Morans brother Michael Murphy

ABOVE AND BELOW: At five thirteen on Saturday evening, as the sky cleared for a heavy night’s frost, a now unusual sound swept in over the area. High above, and well outside the five kilometre Covid travel restriction guidelines, three jet planes with flashing lights had passed on and had already laid out their vapour trails before the boom from their engines arrived directly overhead. Flying in parallel paths that were only seconds out of step the trails and planes were quickly out of sight and sound as they followed their westerly path over Slievenamon. Back down on terra firma the sound of high speed engines or distant rumbles of thunder that would normally invoke a call back from a cock pheasant were greeted with silence. As the flights, some of whom are believed to have originated just minutes earlier in Heathrow and were destined for Dulles in Washington and Toronto the scarcity of the pheasant stock still brought no response.

For the locals the lack of the wildlife response was disappointing following the release of young stock by Tullahought Gun Club and the reduced shooting time owing to Covid restrictions. With only the old stock left it is thought that the wet weather and lack of regular feeding saw them quickly disappear.

CLEAN UP: The New Year’s Tidy town’s activities commenced with a clean up around Crokes Well in Tullahought on Saturday. It was followed by a litter pick over some of the local roads and the Kilmacoliver Loop Walk. The contents found reflected the changing times as amongst the regular fast food, soft drinks and take away beverage containers that are mostly thrown from the windows of passing cars were a Facemask, an empty sanitizer bottle and wipes were collected. Also found was an empty wine bottle that was located in the ditch within half a mile from the village’s bottle banks.

WALKING AWAY: The local loop walks in the Bearna Breac, Kilmacoliver and the Historical one around Windgap Village have seen many visitors over the Christmas and New Year breaks. In particular the ones that traverse the higher ground with the extensive panoramic views. In addition the quieter bye roads in the parish have become an all year round attraction as more people go for a stroll.

SCRAP COLLECTION: The local Club are holding a fundraising scrap metal collection. The service provides an opportunity for anyone doing a tidy up around the house and garden during the Covid Lockdown or in the farmyard pre-calving and whilst animals are in to get it removed. Scrap of all types is suitable, copper, old gates, tanks, feeders etc. For collection details at a later date contact any Bearna na Gaoithe committee member.

CLUB NEWS: Former club stalwart and centre back Phillip Lonergan has joined the existing selectors Kenny O’Shea and Eamon Murphy on the junior selection team for 2021 under Trainer Paul Cahill. Owing to Covid restrictions and poor broadband in many households no date has being arranged for the Annual General meeting

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES DECEMBER 28TH 2020

NEW YEARS GREETINGS: The traditional New Year greetings of health, wealth and happiness are extended to and from all readers and residents. In particular to those who were unable to make their annual visit home from all parts of the world that rejuvenates the area over the Christmas season.

THE SHOW GOES ON:

Despite COVID saying No, that resulted in, no wren boys, church altar boys,girls and readers, Christmas Choirs, parties, card games of twenty five and Bridge along with visits to Bingo, the local pubs and the Saint Stephens Day walk’s over the Christmas Season.

In other ways it brought streaming, face masks,a Pop up Shop, Order and collect, Take away dinners from the Tea Rooms, ZOOM walking the dog, more lights, Training in Pods, Restrictions in traveling over the Tipperary and Waterford county borders, Tickets for mass. Online replaced weekly shopping and trips to the marts. A Broadband and hopefully better mobile coverage, courier deliveries and over worked postmen, home living and entertainment and acts of charity

STARS AND STARLINGS: Christmas Masses in Tullahought and Windgap brought an array of images to those who attended inside or outside the churches or watched and listened in at home.They commenced in Tullahought as the evening Vigil Mass saw the eight hundred year alignment of Saturn and Jupiter shining brightly away to the South West. Overhead the brightly shining moon and sodium street lights cast a warmer hue than the contents of the thin breeze that stretched out the county and national flags.

Down on Terra firma, lighted candles in the Community Centre windows and the internal lights glowing out through the stained church glass windows between the limestone buttresses added magical contrasts and shadows

.In Windgap it was also an overflow occasion as the crowd extended onto the street and carpark with Marie Comerford standing in for Nicky Hawe providing the music as the mass celebrated by an tAthair Fergal O’Fearghaill was streamed far and wide.

Back in Tullahought for the Christmas morning mass, the daylight revealed the snow-capped Comeraghs Mountains and Slievenamon. On a milder morning for relaxation the bird life of the area with three pairs of jackdaws looking on from the nearby chimney pots the starlings led a morning chorus that supplemented the melodious seasonal hymns from John Delaney on the organ

THREE LOCAL STALWARTS: The years end saw Johnny Duggan, Knockeen and Nicky Coghlan of Cussane pass away around Christmastide. They joined their friend and neighbour Joseph Crowley who departed Tullahought earlier in the Year. Separated in age by a generation or so their common bond was farming, family life and an overriding interest in horses at different levels. With Joe and Nicky having spent their lives in the locality after attending Kilmacoliver National School Johnny joined them when he moved from Ballinagrana Carrick-on- Suir to Knockeen cáoga blian ó shin. Between them and their families the Crowley’s Joes wife Sarah, Annemarie, Breda, Teresa, Frances, Angela and Monika, The Duggan’s Johnny’s wife Kathleen, John, daughters Nora, Catherine, Suzane and Christina and the Coughlan’s Nicky’s wife Anne, Niamh Marie, Noeleen and Roseann they have left their mark in the local community in Tullahought and Windgap and in many countriesa cross the world.In long and varied lives Nicky was a member of the original Young Farmers, played hurling with Windgap and was a regular visitor to the races particularly the Harvest Festival meeting in Listowel, Johnny had a way with horses with always one in training and with his family were great followers of the Kilmoganny Harriers,whilst Joseph provided the first organised collection of milk churns to the creamery in Windgap,played with St. Josephs and saw Breagaun that he named and trained go on to win the Gold Cup in Cheltenham. In addition the family members were and are still strongly involved in the local Tidy Towns and its predecessor of the weekly community card games. Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad

LIFE IN LAMOGUE: A Buzzard stood sentry on a telephone pole over a hedge of rare seasonal soft white snowberries overlooking the famed sporting and historical village of Lamogue on Christmas day. Complete with its old church site and the enclosed graveyard that contains two Ogham Stones from the locality, it was a football stronghold over a hundred years ago. With four county senior football championship wins in 1902, 03, 04 and 05 the team wore green jerseys with yellow sashs and white togs when they represented Kilkenny in the Leinster Senior Football Championships. Over the years the local residents converted to hurling with almost every single household playing a part from Sonny Norris who hand crafted the widely sought after Wexford Randall style Hurleys and his neighbours Purcell’s, Powers, Comerford’s, Hawes and Norris’s lining out over successive generations for Windgap and Kilkenny Hurling, handball and Camogie sides. Nowadays Walsh’s, Dunphy’s and Powers provide the players for the ladies and gents codes with the new faces from the next generation commencing their player pathway in the local national schools.The dates for the Lamogue Ogham stones stretch back from as far as the 5th to 7th centuries with the names appearing on the gravestones in the churchyard from the 1700’s. In living memory the more populated village and townsland of Lamogue has contained Kenny’s, Walsh’s, Purcell’s, Dunphy’s, Moore’s, Walsh’s,O’Neill’s, Dunne’s, Fitzpatrick’s and Carolan’s on the upper side with Hawes, two family of Norris’s and Purcell’s along with Powers and Drennan’s on the way to Lamogue Cross. On the road leading from the heart of the village via the churchyard were Tobin’s, Comerford’s, Norris’s Byrne’s, Dunne’s and Cody’s.

PARISH DRAW: Fr Fergus and The Parish Finance Committee would like to thank everyone for their support in the Virtual Parish Bazaar Spin the Wheel.The Winners were Aoife Farrell, Catrina Brophy, Noreen Hayes, John Grogan, Kate O’Brien, Mary Byrne, Kathleen O'Shea, Elaine Purcell, Cliona McKenna, Conor Delany, Sinead Lanigan, Sophie Cunningham, Josie O'Gorman, Caroline McDonald, Killian Doyle, Michael Cantwell, Larry Cantwell, Kate and Rory Egan, Ger. Doyle, Glen Carolyn. Maria Comerford, Aidan Doyle, Kitty Egan and Ronan O'Brien. Thanks are also extended to Noel Smith who carried out the draw and especially to the Sponsors William Phelan Glanbia Windgap. Shane Power in Powers of Tullahought. Patrick and Sinead in The Auld House Killamery. Pauline Doyle 2 Nice 2 Slice. Pius Phelan Kilford Arms Hotel. Jimmy Brettof Brett’s Brothers, The Lakeside Tea Rooms, Sadie Bacon and Laurence Foley. Well done to Everyone.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: Covid support can be accessed locally on 087 4193229and County wide on the Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES DECEMBER 14TH 2020

HIT THE SPOT: The coolly finished penalty by Denise Gaule that helped the Kilkenny Senior Camogie side regain the O’Duffy Cup, hit the spot and raised the roof for all Kilkenny supporters on Saturday evening. In these strange times, the All Ireland Final became an in by the fireside occasion,instead of the regular trip to Croke Parkby car and the juvenile teams bus with challenge games and a picnic on the way. On the night congratulations were extended to all involved with the winning team where Denise was joined by club mates Mickealla Kenneally and Catherine Foley.

PROUD DAY: Following every puck in the match were the neighbours, friends and families of Denise, Mickealla and Catherine led by their parents Dinny and Joan Gaule, Pat and Joan Kenneally and John and Ann Foley and their grandparents Agnes Foley and Kathleen Hayes, Eileen (Wazzie)Kenneally and Margaret (Peggy) Dack.In Curragh Eamon and Margaret Doyle were over the moon when their granddaughters Aoife who was player of the match and her sister Kelly Anne played a huge part in the side’s victory. Playing with the Piltown Club there was huge excitement in their parents Gay and Noelle’s household in Ballyhenebry.

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTS TRADITIONS: Watching Mass, sitting in the car outside the Church saw Technology, faith and tradition combine when the ceremony was streamed for the first time from Tullahought Church on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday last. The occasion occurred after streaming became possible thanks to the new Broadband Hub in the Community Centre. With poor local broadband in the area,it meant that some of those who wished to view the streaming had to travel to the village to pick it up using the same broadband service. The new service that gave sound and vision in the comfort of the car against standing in the elements listening to the outdoor speaker was streamed over the Tullahought Tidy Towns Facebook Page by Richard Walsh. The new arrangement supplements the on-going streaming service from Windgap Church that is being at provided on Saturday evenings by Noel Smith via the Windgap Facebook page. The celebrant in both cases is an tAthairFearghaill Ó Fearaill PP.

POWERS REOPENS: The lifting of Covid Restrictions saw Powers Pub in Tullahought reopen over the past two weekends as a Gastro Pub. With chef Michael Meeon board, the menu contains Fish and Chicken dishes,Platters, Soup and toastedsandwiches and Pietsas.Fameda generation ago for its quality crubeens boiled on the open fire,they were the only shop, along with the Ladies Guild in the Community Centre who served hot meals in the village for social and community events.

MARGARETS HOUSE OF MUSIC: The era previous to the reopening of Powers after a sixteen year break has been celebrated with a song by local singer, poet and musician Frank Callery. It recalls the days of the proprietor Margaret and Jim Power and the famous pub, graced by so many musicians, including Ronnie Drew, the Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, film stars and writers including Donal MacAmhlaigh, Ned Egan along with Martin Murray, Paddy O’Shea, Jim Power, Pannie Bartley and Gavin Paterson. A must visit in the South East on a Wednesday night Franks song is available on Powers and the Tidy Towns Facebook page

The chorus goes

“And when you travel far and wide, someone, somewhere will know,

The little pub in Tullahought, from which the music flowed.

And they will still remember the crubbeens and the craic,

And the little house that Margaret kept — and their longing to go back.”

BAZAAR GOES ONLINE: The annual Parish Bazaar that has been cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 Pandemic will see part of it going online to help defray some of the insurance costs for the coming year. The new initiative will see a virtual wheel of fortune to be broadcast online on Saturday 19th at 9.30 pm. Tickets cost €20 that will give a chance to win in every spin. It’s like every year except this time it’s mostly cash prizes. Tickets for the wheel of fortune can be got by contacting Anne Foley at 086 3699542 or visiting the online go fund me link at https://ie.gofundme.com/f/windgap-parish-online-bazaar (every €20 or multiple gets you a number) on the spinner.

CRAFT FAIR: The Christmas fair continues on Saturday and Sunday from 10am till 3pm until Christmas. The organisers Tess and Kate look forward to welcoming everyone to the display of local art and craft to help with the Christmas presents. Amongst the many visitors to the new Pop Up shop experience was Councillor Andrew McGuinness

SOLTICE POSTPONED; The Caiseal Conservation Committee has postponed their Annual Solstice Event at the Knockroe Passage Tomb due to the Covid Pandemic. In addition they encourage everyone to follow health guidelines as they look forward to resuming the Winter Solstice Event in 2021.

HARRIERS OUT: Kilmoganny Harriers held their first local meet of the Season in Tullahought on Wednesday. On a damp very overcast day that turned into incessant afternoons rain. During it, the sight of a trio of fine white horses and green jackets lifted the gloom of the day that was only broken by the sound of steel shoes clipping along the tar road and the huntsman’s bugle in the distance. Great credit is due to all involved for looking after the wide Tidy Towns managed grass margins in the area.

NEW CRIB: Christmas lights, cribs and trees have brightened both Tullahought and Windgap villages in recent weeks with a new floodlit crib being provided outdoors by Michael Grace and Richard Walsh in Tullahought.

ALL IRELAND FINALS: The closeness of the area to County Waterford saw plenty of blue and white Déise flags on display during the past week.

LIATHROID LÁÍMHE Windgap Handball Executive Committee are inviting members to submit motion's and nominations for this year's online AGM to secretary Sean Foley by the end of the week.

TRACTOR RUN: The John Smith Tractor Run scheduled for Windgap on January 2nd has been cancelled owing to Covid and will be reorganised for a later date.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: Covid support can be accessed locally on 087 4193229and County wide on the Freephone 1800 500000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES DECEMBER 7TH 2020

FIFTY YEARS|AGO: “Windgap Are South Champions” read the understated heading in the Sports section of the Kilkenny People in early November 1970 as Windgap won their first Southern Junior Hurling title when they defeated a strong Mullinavat team. In the era of the great tournaments and no intermediate competitions it brought together two of the top sides before a huge crowd in Piltown.

It was Windgap’s third attempt to get to the County Final and an opportunity for senior status. Having gone down to Thomastown Rangers in 64 and Dunnamaggin in 66 they faced Mullinavat who had gone all the way in 38 before reaching the Senior Finals of 40 and 43. The result saw Windgap going on to grace the senior code before going down to the eventual Senior county champions of the following years in Bennettsbridge, The Fenians and James Stephens as Mullinavat went on to win the Divisional titles in 1974 and 78 and reaching the senior grade in centenary year

ON THE DAY: Windgap 2-13, Mullinavat 1-13

“In a thrilling and hard-fought game, in which the sides were level on six occasions, Windgap defeated Mullinavat in the southern junior hurling championship final at Piltown on Sunday by 2-13 to 1-13.

It was score for score throughout, and Mullinavat were ahead by one point at the interval, 0-7 to 0-6 but the teams were level again five minutes after the restart.

A goal for Windgap from a 21-yard free 10 minutes later proved the turning points in the game, but nearing the end the sides were level once more with 1-11 each. Both sides added two further points each, but Windgap clinched the issue with a goal.

Star of the winning team was Kieran Purcell, who scored 1-10 of the total. Eamon Meehan scored a goal and two points and Jim Power a point. Scorers for the Mullinavat were Mossey Murphy 1-5, JimConway and Tom O’Neill two points each and John Scully, John Aylward, Seamus Sutton and JimWalsh, one point each.

“Deserved Victory”

There was very little between the rivals but on the general run of play Windgap just about deserved to win and having appeared in two previous finals for southern honours without success their victory was a popular one.

Mullinavat have also been battling hard in the south, their last success being in 1939, when they went on to take the county title at the expense of Ballyline. Great credit is due to both teams for serving up such an exciting exhibition of hurling and also for a most exemplary display of

Sportsmanship.

Though there were 38 frees in all during the hour, most of the infringements were only of a minor nature.Tommy Hearne, who played an outstanding game for Windgap, is the former Ballygunner and Waterford senior inter county player who is now living in Windgap.

After the game, the Bob Aylward cup was presented to Tommy Hearne, captain of the winning team by Mr John Reade, Lukeswell, chairman of the Southern Board.

Windgap: R, Bobby Jackman, John Kenny, Tom Kenny (R.I.P.), Patsy Meehan, Paddy Jackman, Philip Walsh, Tomas Meehan (R.I.P.), Tom Barry, Tommy Hearne, Joe O’Shea, Eamon Meehan, Kieran Purcell, Jim Power (R.I.P.), Seamus Meehan and Jim Hickey. Playing Sub: Tom Mackey

Mullinavat: Jimmy Murphy, John Sutton, Jack Frisby (R.I.P.), Mick Sutton, D, Richie Aylward, Mossey Murphy, Andy Aylward, D, Richie Carroll,

Tom O’Neill, John Aylward, John Scully, Paddy Hoban, Jim Walsh, Seamus Sutton (R.I.P.) and Jim Conway”. Playing Sub. Tommy Reddy

FOOTBALLERS WIN: November cáoga blian ó shinin the same edition of the Kilkenny People the county senior hurlers were preparing to play Tipperary in the National Hurling League first round in Thurles. Having won two of the previous finals in 67 and 69 it was not to be their day as the side who were rebuilding went on to contest five sucessive finals of 71 to 75 with one of the greatest teams that saw them collect three further McCarthy Cups.

However that same week the Sports pages recorded the county’s footballers surprise win when a late rally they defeated Wexford by 2-7 to 0-11 in Nowlan Park thanks to goals by the Villages Mick Leahy goal a fine Timmy Wilson point and Galmoy’s Billy Harte late goal. On the same page Graigue ballycallan won the Northern Junior title with a replay win over Danesfort by five points.

COMMON BOND: With many reminiscences of the game including a late twenty one yard Mullinavat free for another day a local link between all three sides when dual players were in abundance was Kieran Purcell who regularity lined out with Windgap’s red and white and the county’s black and amber. Thanks to Gabriel and Nickey Hawe for recording and retaining the details

ÁDH MÓR: Best wishes and good luck are extended to Denise Gaule, Mickealla Kenneally and Catherine Foley and the team and management of the County Senior Camogie side in the All Ireland Final on Saturday next 12th

HEDGEROW WEEK; The key component of hedgerows that makes Irelands landscape unique is being celebrated this week. Disappearing in many places and being trimmed annually that stops the production of flowers of food bearing berries. Suggestions to help restore the under pressure biodiversity is to leave a hawthorn, sceach or blackthorn standing in every couple of hundred metres to provide nectar for bees, fruit for winter feeding, nesting and shelter sites and a stage for our feathered friends to entertain everyone with the dawn chorus.

CRAFT FAIR: The Christmas fair continues on Saturday and Sundays from 10am till 3pm until Christmas. the organisers look forward to welcoming you and hope you will find plenty of local art and craft to help you with your Christmas shopping. The event will continue each weekend.

TRACTOR RUN: The annual John Smith Tractor Run goes ahead in Windgap on January 2nd Further details times, route and stopping points to follow

SOLTICE GATHERING: The Caiseal Conservation Committee have decided Not to hold their Annual Solstice Event at the Knockroe Passage Tomb this year due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. In this "gap year" they encourage everyone to follow health guidelines and

we look forward to resuming our Solstice Event in 2021.

SANTAS VISIT: The arrival of Santa from the North Pole to Windgap has being confirmed for Saturday 12th of December with an overnight stay for Sunday the 13th of December. Owing to the current restrictions Booking is essential and no walk up visits are allowed. Admission is €15 per child with adults free. All Covid and Government guidelines will be adhered to.

STERLING SERVICE; Continuing the online county convention attendances saw Leas Cathaoirleach of the Camogie board Kathleen Purcell step down after three years as Kathleen Purcell who was also the Fixtures Chairperson succeeded her Club mate Joan Gaule who served for four years in the post. The meeting was also attended by Club Chairperson Ann Foley with John McKenna representing the Hurling Club at the Junior Board convention and PJ Egan being the delegate at Bord na nÓg Convention.

YEAR BOOK: The annual Kilkenny GAA Year Book is now on sale in Walsh’s New Store in Windgap.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: For Covid support call087 4193229or Freephone 1800 500 000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES November 30th 2020

CRAFT FAIR: Windgap Christmas fair takes place in The Millennium ICA hall commencing on Saturday and Sunday 5th and 6th December from 10am till 3pm. Located at the cross by the Forge just above the Shop, Hall, School and GAA pitch, the organisers look forward to welcoming you and hope you will find plenty of local art and craft to help you with your Christmas shopping. The event will continue each weekend until Christmas.

SOLTICE GATHERING: The Caiseal Conservation Committee have decided Not to hold their Annual Solstice Event at the Knockroe Passage Tomb this year due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. The five thousand year old Passage Tomb that has hosted many great events since it was built by our ancient ancestors will continue to do so in the future. In this "gap year" we encourage everyone to follow health guidelines and we look forward to resuming our Solstice Event in 2021.

SANTAS VISIT: The arrival of Santa from the North Pole to Windgap has being confirmed for Saturday 12th of December with an overnight stay for Sunday the 13th of December. On arrival, his residence will be open for visits from midday to 7pm on both days.The event will include Christmas Markets with the lake and walkway on the route to Santa’s home being decorated with Christmas lights. Owing to the current restrictions Booking is essential and no walk up visits are allowed. Admission is €15 per child with adults free. All Covid and Government guidelines will be adhered to.

SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE: In memory of a dear friend and comrade, Private Jim Conway, late of Ballinalinagh who was killed in action in the Great War on June 7th 1917. “somewhere in France”

“Somewhere in France” is a nameless grave,

But under the blood-drenched sod

Is only the casket that shrined a soul

Which is now at home with God:

“Somewhere in Ireland” as sister’s tears

Rain down on a pictured fare:

He was all that they had, but duty called

The last of a noble race.

His cheery whistle at morningtide,

The lilt of an Irish song-

The story flash of the bright blue eyes

When he heard of a tale of wrong:

The open hand for the needy-

The ready help for the weak,

The sunny smile and the loving words

He never more will speak.

This his life’s rosary-memory tells

The bright decades one by one

While his sisters clasp a little cross

And whispers. “Thy will be done”

They know he is safe for evermore,

Beyond the mishaps of chance.

In a better land, there they’l meet poor Jim

Who sleeps now. “somewhere in France.

Published by Val. D. Coghlan, Curragaun Carrick-on-Suir just six weeks after the death of his friend and near neighbour Jim Conway on 28th July in the summer of 1917

CAMOGIE FINAL: Congratulations to the County Camogie team that qualified for the All Ireland Final over the weekend. The side included club players Denise Gaule who scored seven points Michaela Kenneally and Catherine Foley were part of the Kilkenny Senior Panel in their game verses Cork in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday. They were joined by the Doyle sisters Aoife and Kelly Annfrom Piltown who have strong local connections through their grandparents Eamon and Margaret and dad Gay from Curragh. Missing out at inter county level owing to the reorganisation of the Intermediate championship that is being played without the second teams from the stronger counties is local club player Caoimhe O Shea

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: The candle went out on this years deferred All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship for Kilkenny at the semi-final stage in Croke Park on Saturday. Having glowed and twinkled brilliantly with the performance of the team throughout an utterly changed season it was not easily extinguished as the game against Waterford flickered with light and hope well into injury time. For those who could not attend, the effort by all involved on the championship journey meant so much and caught the eye with memorable flashes and new lights as it burned brightly to the end. With the Kilkenny U20 and Minor inter-county hurling games still awaiting a starting date, local support will switch to the neighbouring teams in the hurlers of Waterford and the Tipperary, Cavan and Mayo footballers being the most likely local favourites in the weeks ahead.

HANDBALL CONVENTION: Uachtarán Liathróid Laimhe Dessie Keegan was the special guest on the first online GAA County Convention held in Kilkenny. Hailing from the Ballaghadreen club he was welcomed by County Chairperson Michael O’Shea, Secretary Liam Mahon and members of all of the clubs in the County where Bearna na Gaoithe were represented by Sean Foley and Emmett Landy.

YEAR BOOK: The annual Kilkenny GAA Year Book hits the shelves this week and will be available for the first time in Walsh’s New Store in Windgap. In a strange year for the organisation of Hurling, Handball, Camogie and Football games it will have local content, championship reports, posters and features on past players.

TOURISM DRIVE:The Lingaun Valley action group are erecting informational and directional signage throughout the area. To assist in promoting the campaign they are seeking donations. To contribute please visit their website/Facebook/Twitter appeal on

CHURCH SERVICES: Following the relaxation of Covid restrictions Church services are scheduled to resume at the weekend with reduced attendances to be announced.

TIDY TOWNS: Both the Windgap and Tullahought Tidy Towns committees are working on their Christmas Festival preparations of lighting, cribs and improving the amenities.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: Covid support can be accessed locally on 087 4193229and County wide on the Freephone 1800 500 000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES November 23th 2020

AR AER FAOIN SPÉIR: The wireless stole the show on a sporting weekend packed with memorable and historic games. First off was Tipp FM as it relayed the All Ireland Quarter Final tie, that see sawed from one side to another of the Gaelic Grounds before Galway with a two point win progressed to a semi-final meeting with Limerick.Then it was over to Radio Eireann from Twickenham for the Irelands Nations Cup Rugby progress with updates and snippets from many sporting venues and codes across the world.

Later on and back nearer home WLRs Kieran O’Connor and Stephen Frampton relished the Déises early Munster Hurling Final goals whilst going through the trauma of dancing on hot coals, before their side pulled away from Clare to qualify for a semi-final clash with our own Kilkenny.

As evening drew in and candles were lit at dusk to mark the 100th anniversary of November 21st in 1920, it was back to RTE for live coverage of the Bloody Sunday Commemoration from Croke Park. Just after the 18th hour as the broadcast moved to Jones Road, the stars of the Milky Way running from the North East to the SouthWest were dazzling, with the new moon standing upright away to the South over the ancient burial grounds on Kilmacoliver Hill. As the quickly cooling still night air was broken only be the flow of the distant Lingaun River, Brendan Gleeson’s narration of the stories of the fourteen children, mens and bride to be Jane Boyles lives that were taken away on that fateful day was riveting.

Around the horizon to the south and west, a low band of white cloud sharply silhouetted the rolling hills and mountains and allowed an amber glow show from the street lights of Grangemockler, the home place of Micheál Hogan. Straight above was the almost horizontal plough constellation of seven bright stars Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid. Located an average of 100 Light years away with Alkaid at the top of the handle being directly over the same Grangemockler. As the Croke Park anchor man Gerry Grogan wrapped up the Commemorating by saying “We remember them all”it was home for tea, emotionally drained by radio transmissions and it was only Saturday evening.

COMHGAIRDEACHAS TIPP TOPS: Sundays Radio followed a similar and an equally emotional pattern starting with RTE and TIPP FM broadcasting from the banks of the Lee as our Tipperary neighbours carried the hopes of all the locals and most supporters from outside the Real Capital.With the game commencing shortly after the new Michael Hogan statue, that was erected on Thursday and was unveiled in Grangemockler on Sunday the streets and countryside were quickly deserted for the big clash.As the Premier footballers played with abandon the RTE co-commentatorand Meath stalwart David Beggy kicked every ball in Tilpperarys Grangemockler jersey as he impartially willed them a historic victory. After a disallowed goal close calls and a late Cork rally the cream of the All Ireland Champions of 1920 rose back to the top after an eighty five year wait.

It was then to the Athletic Grounds in Armagh for another David and Goliath as sporting dreamers could only hope for a second bite of the cherry on the same day as Cavan faced the might of Donegal. With Brian Carty on the mike it was another nail biter as tradition, ambition, black card setvbacks and a late comeback saw Cavan regain the long awaited Ulster title. Adding to it were Brendan Hennessey’s KCLR coverage of Carlow’s Joe McDonagh Cup tie with Kerry in Tralee and David Herrity leading Kildare to the Christy Ring hurling title. For all involved and tuning in it was a memorable weekend of achievements, commerations and results as the radio waves delivered pride and passion often with local accents on a historic and strange championship year

HURLING SEMI FINAL: After the prolonged and deferred inter county season best wishes are extended to the hurlers and management team as all roads lead to Croke Park for the All Ireland Senior Hurling semi-finals on Saturday. After the week’s speculation of the identity of the opposition since the semi-final the game will see Kilkenny meeting their near neighbours from across the Suir in Waterford. Once again it is a Covid restricted armchair event for the loyal supporter’s club members and the player’s families. Coverage will be available on the national and local radios and across the various TV channels.

MOBILE COVERAGE: Planning application (20772) has being submitted by Cellnex toKilkenny County Councilto provide a solution in the Coillte Lands at Rossenaney, Coolhill Upper to the lack of mobile coverage and broadband in the area. A decision will be known on January 14th next year

CHRISTIMAS EXTRAVANGA: Windgap Schools Parents Council, the Tidy Towns andthe Hall Committee are organisinga Covid permitted and restricted Christmas Santa and Crafts fare in the village on Saturday and Sunday 12th and 13th of December. Booking, admission fees and further details to follow Monday evening’s meeting.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: After the first aeroplane caused consternation when it flew up the Suir Valley and into the area in 1919 the on-going Geological Survey of the area has seen multiple low altitude flypasts. Flying around a hundred feet off the ground the white, twin-propeller plane with a black stripe and red tailfollows closely packed parallel flight paths and has become a regular sight in recent weeks. The current survey stretches across the counties of Kilkenny, Tipperary Waterford and, Laois in recent weeks the and also takes in parts of Carlow, Kildare, Offaly and Cork.Of national and international importance the survey results being organised by Tellus will be used by many state organisation including the Environmental Protection Authority, Marine Institute and Teagasc.

CLUB SHOP: Windgap GAA Clubs O’Neill online club shop is open. To access visit the Clubs social media sites

LINGAUN VALLEY: The Lingaun Valley Tourism Group have launched an online fundraising campaign to help promote the area, and have also launching their new website http://www.lingaunvalley.ie

BROADBAND SERVICE: For internal access to the High Speed Broadband Hub in Tullahought Community Centre contact Richie Walsh on 087 9963355. The Broadband signal is also accessible in the church car park

FLU VACCINE CLINIC: The flu vaccine is in Kilmoganny Health Centre for patients of the practice. This year, a free nasal spray flu vaccine is also available for all children aged two to twelve years. Please contact the Clinic on (051) 648007 to make an appointment.

NEXT WEEK: Local reflections on the tragedies of the First World War from Somewhere in France

COVID 19 SUPPORT: Covid support can be accessed locally on 087 4193229and County wide on the Freephone1800 500 000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES November 16th 2020

MOBILE COVERAGE MOVING ON: Following intensive surveying and mapping by Cellnex for a solution to the lack of mobile coverage and broadband in the area a planning application has being submitted to Kilkenny County Council. The aim is to bring, modern and reliable communications to the residents, business and emergency services invast tracts of parish and the surrounding areas.

BROADBAND IN TULLAHOUGHT: Following the provision of a High Speed Broadband Hub in Tullahought Community Centre, the hall has been fitted with a combination lock to facilitate those who wish to use the new service. A coin meter to cover the electricity costs of users will be fitted in the near future. Members of the community who wish to use the facility can contact Richie Walsh for the combination code at 087 9963355. The Broadband signal is also accessible in the church car park and a Whatsapp group for users has been created to enable the communication of updates on the service.

LEINSTER FINAL: As all roads led to Croke Park for the Kilkenny Senior teams Leinster Hurling Final game against Galway on Saturday evening, the game was played under lights with zero attendance allowed. As a result,it saw supporters and families tuning in to the local radios and TV Stations in order to stay up to date with the progress of the game. After a thrilling display by all involved the final whistle saw the return of the Bob O’Keeffe Cup and the achievement of an All Ireland semi-final placeagainst an opposition to be decided for Kilkenny.

BLOODY SUNDAY; The match day whistle used by the referee Mick Sammon of Kildare, for the Dublin verses Tipperary football game in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday has strong local connections. Originally presented to the Tipperary team captain Jim Egan of Poulacapple who played at centre half back in the game a century ago, it has stayed in the extended family with Jim’s nephew Paddy Eganof the renowned football familyin Butlerswoodbeing the oldest surviving family member.Also associated with the game a century ago was the former Windgap Handballer Tony Nolan from Mullinahone whose father Mick was also on the side who won the deferred Senior All Ireland of 1920 that was played by the same sideson June 11th in 1922. In addition the Bloody Sunday side included many familiar family names from just across the county line in Jerry Shelly and Dick Lanigan from Grangemockler and Bill Barrett, Jackie Brett, Jack Kickham and Jimmy Doran who along with Jim Egan and Mick Nolan also wore the green above the red of CJ Kickham’s Mullinahone Club.In the era when the Kilkenny and Tipperary border area was a national football stronghold, Tipperary’s strongest teams were regularly playing the Slatequarries and Lamogue sides who were the kingpins of Kilkenny and Leinster. In a further connection with the game a replica of the Grangemockler Jerseys that were worn on that fateful day will be worn again by the Tipperary side in the forthcoming Munster Senior Football final against Cork. The white jersey with a green hoop will also include an image on the sleeve of Grangemockler Michael Hogan after whom the Hogan Stand is named.

LINGAUN VALLEY: The Lingaun Valley Tourism Group have launched an online fundraising campaign to help promote the area, and have also launching their new website http://www.lingaunvalley.ie The group are seeking donations as they continue to roll out the erection of informational and directional signage throughout the Lingaun Valley. They would like your help in promoting the campaign by sharing their website/Facebook/Twitter appeal with your social media friends. https://www.idonate.ie/donation_widget/register-donor-anonymous.php?pid=5615

TIDY TOWNS 2021: During the past week the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphrey gave a firm commitment that the SuperValu TidyTowns competition will precede next year. The Minsteris looking forward to encouraging more and more towns and villages and volunteers to join in continuing the great work in the communities.The plans may see the organisers alter and adapt the competition next year in conjunction with the on-going COVID constraints.

PARISH BAZAAR: Amongst a long list of postponed community activities include the Parish Bazar that is traditionally held around the first weekends in December. Normally seen as the quiet part of the year other events deferred are the School Football games, Handball championships,Church Services, the Hurling Club Card Drives, Tractor Run, Bridge games in Killamery and Kilmoganny, Fitness Classes, the Maurice Davin Triangular GAA Awards, in Carrick-on-Suir, Club and Committee meetings and AGM’sthat would all be notified in theweekly Parish Bulletin.

FLU VACCINE CLINIC: The flu vaccine is now available in Kilmoganny Health Centre for patients of the practice. This year, a free nasal spray flu vaccine is also available for all children aged two to twelve years. Please contact the Clinic on (051) 648007 to make an appointment.

SANTAS: Advance planning is in place for a two day visit of Santa Claus, Covid restrictions permitted to Windgap. The event is being arranged by the Tidy Towns and Hall Committees in conjunction with the Schools Parents Council and will be well controlled and spread out in line with Social Restrictions. Scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday 12th and 13th of December it will have pre-bookable time slots. The plans are to commence at the Hall and weave through a winter wonderland towards Santa’s temporary residence. Further details to follow

ANNUAL VISITORS: Flying into Ireland through the months of October and November for millennia, the annual migration of Thrushes has arrived for our winter months. Coming mainly from Iceland and the Faroe Islands they include migrants from Fennoscandia that includes the Scandinavian Peninsula of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Karelia, and the Kola Peninsula stretching into Russia. The migrants usually arrive in small flocks of mostly Redwings which is a member of the Thrush family. Having bred in woodland in the northern countries that have cold and snow-covered winters they move to the temperate regions which include Ireland to ensure they survive the harsh weather at home. First amongst their feeding requirements on their arrival are the autumnal fruits and berries with the abundantly berried holly crop being the first to get a sudden surprise?

SHOP: Windgap GAA Clubs online club shop in conjunction O’Neill’s is now open. To access visit the Clubs social media sites or via the link below to access the site. https://oneills.com/shop-by-team/gaa/ireland/windgap-gaa-club.html.

CLOTHES COLLECTION: The parents association of St. Nicholas School Windgap through Cathaoirleach Eamon Saunders, Runaí Ciara Quigley, Cisteoir PJ Barron, Noelle Egan,Mary Egan and Tony Lanigan are organising a clothes collection for Tuesday 17th Novemberat the Community Centre between 9and 10am. All support will be greatly appreciated

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid support team remains on standby to assist vulnerable residents in the area and across the county. The contact details are locally on 087 4193229and County wide on the Freephonenumber 1800 500 000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES November 9th 2020

MOBILE COVERAGE MOVING ON: Following intensive surveying and mapping by Cellnex for a solution to the lack of mobile coverage and broadband in the area a planning application is being submitted to Kilkenny County Council. The aim is to bring, modern and reliable communications to the residents, business and emergency services in vast tracts of parish and the surrounding areas.

LEINSTER FINAL: As all roads lead to Croke Park for the Kilkenny Senior teams Leinster Hurling Final game against Galway on Saturday evening, the game will be played under lights with zero attendance allowed. As a result,it will see supporters and families tuning in to the local radio and TV Stations in order to stay up to date with the progress of the game. Best wishes are extended to all seeking the return of the Bob O’Keeffe Cup and an All Ireland semi-final place for Kilkenny.

BLOODY SUNDAY WHISTLE: The match day whistle used by the referee Mick Sammon of Kildare, for the Dublin verses Tipperary football game in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday has strong local connections. Originally presented to the Tipperary team captain Jim Egan of Poulacapple who played at centre half back in the game a century ago, it has stayed in the extended family with Jim’s nephew Paddy Eganof the renowned football family being the oldest surviving family member.Also associated with the game a century ago was the former Windgap Handballer Tony Nolan from Mullinahone whose father Mick was also on the side. In addition the side also included many familiar family names from just across the county line in Jerry Shelly and Dick Lanigan from Grangemockler and Bill Barrett, Jackie Brett, Jack Kickham and Jimmy Doran who along with Jim Egan and Mick Nolan alsowore the green above the red of CJ Kickham’sMullinahone Club.In a further connection with the game a replica of the Grangemockler Jerseys that were worn on that fateful day will be worn by the Tipperary side in the forthcoming Munster Senior Football final against Cork. The white jersey with a green hoop will also include an image on the sleeve of Michael Hogan after whom the Hogan Stand is named.

TIDY TOWNS 2021: During the past week the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphrey gave a firm commitment that the SuperValu TidyTowns competition will proceed next year. The Minster is looking forward to encouraging more and more towns and villages and volunteers to join in continuing the great work in the communities.The plans may see the organisers alter and adapt the competition next year in conjunction with the on-going COVID constraints.

PARISH BAZAAR: Amongst a long list of postponed community activities include the Parish Bazar that is traditionally held around the first weekends in December. Normally seen as the quiet part of the year other events deferred are the School Football games, Handball championships, the Hurling Club Card Drives, Tractor Run, Bridge games in Killamery and Kilmoganny, Fitness Classes, the Maurice Davin Triangular GAA Awards, in Carrick-on-Suir, Club and Committee meetings and AGM’s that would all be notified weekly in the Parish Bulletin.

FLU VACCINE CLINIC: The flu vaccine is now available in Kilmoganny Health Centre for patients of the practice. This year, a free nasal spray flu vaccine is also available for all children aged two to twelve years. Please contact the Clinic on (051) 648007 to make an appointment.

ANNUAL VISITORS: Flying into Ireland through the months of October and November for millennia,the annual migration of Thrushes has arrived for our winter months. Coming mainly from Iceland and the Faroe Islands they include migrants from Fennoscandia that includes the Scandinavian Peninsula of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Karelia, and the Kola Peninsula stretching into Russia. The migrants usually arrive in small flocks of mostly Redwings which is a member of the Thrush family. Having bred in woodland in the northern countries that have cold and snow-covered winters they move to the temperate regions which include Ireland to ensure they survive the harsh weather at home. First amongst their feeding requirements on their arrival are the autumnal fruits and berries with the abundantly berried holly crop being the first to get a sudden surprise?

SHOP: Windgap GAA Clubs O’Neill ‘online club shop in conjunction is now open. To access visit the Clubs social media sites or via the link below to access the site. https://oneills.com/shop-by-team/gaa/ireland/windgap-gaa-club.html.

CLOTHES COLLECTION: The parents association of St. Nicholas School Windgap through Cathaoirleach Eamon Saunders, Runaí Ciara Quigley, Cisteoir PJ Barron, Noelle Egan,Mary Egan and Tony Lanigan are organising a clothes collection for Tuesday 17th November between 9and 10am. All support will be greatly appreciated

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid support team remains on standby to assist vulnerable residents in the area and across the county. The contact details are locally on 087 4193229 and County wide on the Freephonenumber 1800 500 000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES November 2nd 2020

STRANGE TIMES: Sightings of a Blue Moon, Chinese Lanterns and Fireworks with the sounds of Bangers and the absence of shotgun blasts marked the joint Halloween, Shooting Season and the first weekend of the Leinster Hurling Championship.

With Covid restricted attendances, eliminating the flow of supporters and traffic to Croke Park for the Kilkenny Senior Hurlers debut against Dublin, it was all eyes on GAAGo and ears to the radio for the match commentary and updates. After the thrills of the first half and the spills of the final minutes, the absence of the after match analysis, on the way home, in the pub or at the weekend church gatherings was widely missed. The side’s victory will see them play Galway for the vacant Leinster hurling crown on Saturday week.

TIDY TOWNS EXPANSION: As the Minister for Community Heather Humphries considers the future of the community enhancing Tidy Towns Competition the locality welcomes the neighbouring villages of Ahenny and Faugheen who have set up two local Tidy Towns committees.

As two of the population centres and the location of many of the treasurers of the historic Lingaun Valley area, their first focus is on the bridges over the Lingaun River that are one of their main accesses from the R697 main road.

Now running for over sixty years the event involves over eight hundred towns and villages nationwide and is sponsored by Super Valu. Working under a joint Faugheen and Ahenny Community Development Committee it will see them join Windgap, Tullahought and Kilmoganny who were to make their debut this year before the Covid restrictions saw the competition deferred.

CLUB SHOP: Windgap GAA Club are delighted to announce that their online club shop in conjunction with O’Neill’s is now open. To access visit the Clubs social media sites or via the link below to access the site. https://oneills.com/shop-by-team/gaa/ireland/windgap-gaa-club.html.

The club would ask you not to order the (Cashel, Lennox, Slaney, Charley, Bedford, Foyle, and Rick ranges) that will be removed from the shop shortly.

INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS: Whilst great strides are being made with the renovation of the roof of the listed Creamery building in Windgap the roof of the last Mill in the area is sadly slipping away. The locations are part of the areas industrial heritage that once had creameries and mills in operation at three different sites.

SNIPPETS: On February 18th 1998 Chairperson Mai Phelan, Assistant Chair Eddie Guinan, Secretary John Ryan and Treasurer George Watters were elected on the Windgap Tidy Towns committee with a litter pick on the surrounding roads and a meeting with the local councillors Jimmy Brett and Tom Maher being amongst the first plans for the New Year.

SKOUGH SPORTS: A news item from 1917 on Skough Sports read. “The splendid programme of cycling and athletics to be held in Skough on Sunday next.is sure to attract a large crowd. In addition to being a day of excellent sport the gathering will be a truly Irish one as some well-known speakers are expected to attend and deliver addresses”.

CRAFTS PEOPLES CORNER: Plans are continuing for the display of local crafts in the ICA Hall and the surrounds by the forge as soon as the Covid 5km and social grouping restrictions are lifted. The event is planned for both Saturdays and Sundays in early December. In the meantime online links to the local crafts people will be available on Social Media.For further details please contact:Tess Cross 086 22665558 email crossart77@gmail.com or Kate Moloney 087 2050029 email katiecoo@eircom.net

CLOTHES COLLECTION: The parents association of St. Nicholas School; Windgap are organising a clothes collection for Tuesday 17th November. Further details to follow.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid support team remains on standby to assist vulnerable residents in the area and across the county. The contact details are locally on 087 4193229 and County wide on the Freephone number 1800 500 000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October 26th 2020

GREAT TO BE BACK: Whilst the return of old time was bang on schedule this weekend, Kilkenny Senior Hurlers debut against Dublin in the Leinster Championship is out of sync with the normal seasons. The game being played in Croke Park on Saturday afternoon has being warmly welcomed, especially as it was in doubt for so long and particularly now as the long evenings are drawing in. Although many supporters will find it hard to sit at home and not make the trip, which is often their annual visit to the capital, a real rural bank holiday or a day long pilgrimage of emotions the anticipation levels are already rising. For all involved,the game will be covered by the local and national Radio stations and can be seen on GAA BEO and later on the Sunday game.

MOBILE COVERAGE: Back on the high priority list following the Covid Level 5 travel restrictions that increases working from home, progress have being reported by Cell nexon alleviating the dearth of mobile coverage in the area. Following intensive surveying a potential site has being identified with the company awaiting formal approval to allow them to go for planning.

COUNTY HERITAGE CHAMPIONS: Tullahought Community Developments entry in the Value Water Video section, took first place in the Kilkenny County Heritage Award that was held on line on Tuesday.The project that can be seen on the Tullahought Tidy Towns Facebook Page explored how past generations accessed water for their day to day requirements in the home and on the farming the era prior to water schemes and private wells.

The Other County winners in the South East were in Laois,“Killabban Monastic Site Project” entered by the Killabban Monastery Restoration Committee. In Tipperary “A Harvest Knot for Lughnasa” entered by the Nenagh Arts Centre. Others were in Waterford “Knockboy Ogham Stones” Ogham in 3D and Wexfords“Courtown Woods - Our Heritage” produced by Seal Rescue Ireland.And Carlow’s “Education through the ages in Myshall Parish”submitted by Myshall Muintir Na Tíre.

CRAFTS PEOPLES CORNER: The organising committee has got a great response from local Crafts people wishing to display their creations in a permanent location in the area. With the ICA Hall and the surrounds by the forge being available for permanent and seasonal stalls, it gives a welcome opportunity to display and sell their works in an ambient setting. Following the Covid 5km and social grouping restrictions the opening has being deferred until Saturdays and Sundays in early December when they are eased. In the meantime preparations are continuing to provide the local outlet for the talented people making jewelry, pottery, ceramics, paintings, ornaments, cards, inspirational plaques, wood crafts, mugs and Hurleys. To assist the smooth running of the display area, all are recommended to have their own insurance. For further details please contact:Tess Cross 086 22665558 email crossart77@gmail.com or Kate Moloney 087 2050029 email katiecoo@eircom.net

ALL IRELAND FINALISTS: The recent Heritage Week 2020 National Awards contained four Categories, Heritage on Your Doorstep, Re-Learning Skills from our Heritage, The Heritage of Education and Water Heritage. In the Water Heritage section the Runner-up was“Back to the Past, Valuing Water in the Community” entered by Tullahought Community Community Development Ltd.It finished just behind the Winner “Explore the Shore: Seaweeds of inner Bantry Bay” where it celebrated Ellen Hutchins Irelands first female botavnist born in Ballylickey back in 1785. The 2nd Runner-up was “Shannon Town Community Wetlands Project” produced by Shannon Town Community Wetlands. Congrats are extended to all involved, with the highlights from the awards ceremony being featured on Nationwide in the near future

GROTTO HERITAGE,: Also featured in the Heritage supplement in the Irish Times on Saturday was one of the Wonders of Windgap’s,in the century old Grotto of walkways decorated with quartz, mosaics, Italian marble statues and stunning views. The site that was constructed by the locals and partially funded by donations from Australia is a focal point on the village’s historical walk and is now the focus for a biodiversity planting programme.

TIDY TOWNS: In Tullahought a second flower display unit made up from recycled baths, watering cans and buckets that has added colour and style has being provided by Breda Horgan. The appointment of the new TUS worker in the village has been deferred until the end of Level 5 restrictions, hopefully on Dec. 1st. In Windgap the Tús workers continue their productive working and improvements in the cemetery, grotto, around the parochial house and village

CLOTHES COLLECTION: The parents association of St. Nicholas School; Windgap are organising a clothes collection for Tuesday 17th November. Further details to follow.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid support team remains on standby to assist vulnerable residents in the area and across the county. The contact details are locally on 087 4193229and County wide on the Freephonenumber 1800 500 000

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

THE LINGUAN RIVER VALLEY: Stretching from the foothills of Slievenamon the Lingaun River travels in an easterly and then southerly arc across the rural landscape to the tidal part of the River Suir just below the town of Carrick. Not as well known in song and story as it sister “The Anner” that flows in a westerly and then southerly path on the opposite foot of Slievenamon, the Lingaun River Valley is a unique region bedecked with more history and ancient monuments of international importance. On its meandering route the Lingaun forms part of the county border between Kilkenny and Tipperary and the provincial boundary between Leinster and Munster. Its trail from the scared mountain traverses through, Michael Hogan’s hinterland of Bloody Sunday in Croke Park a century ago,past our ancestors solstice aligning complex burial chambers that are older than the Pyramids, through seven hundred years of slate cutting history, via the sites of the eleven hundred years old High Crosses of Western Ossory before exiting between the slopes of Carraigadoon and Baunfree to the rich fertile plains of the river Suir. Along its banks, where salmon spawned and deer were hunted it touches the town lands including Annaghmore, Glenaskeagh, Breanormore and Blenaleen before it crosses underneath the road at the village of Mullenaglogh better known as Grangemockler, before heading by the Four Roads and Ballinver and crossing into County Kilkenny just down river of Maggie Russell’s bridge. In the heart of slate country it is reined in by the slate wall’s as it skirts the Victoria and Ordmonde quarries through Inchnaglogh and Clashnasmuth before it flows under the leaning bridge in Baunreigh one of three on its route that were casualties of the floods of 1947. Into Milling country where three flax and corn mills were driven by its flow it has scoured the valley between Kilmacoliver Hill of standing stones and Ahenny's slate mining village and High Crosses and between Tinakilly and Birchwood to Skough reputed to be called after a hanging tree and Kilkieran's High Crosses. Hitting flatter country it loops by Newtown, (Newtown Lennon), Castletown of the Big House and horse races Whitechurch and Cregg under the Clancy brothers homestead to Kilonerry and Three Bridges to enter the Suir River at Tybroughney just downstream from Carrick’s Tudor House and Castle, the town of Sean Kelly, Sam Bennett and Maurice Davin fame. Having weaved over twenty times across the county and provincial line its route is over looked by the population centres of Grangemockler, Windgap, Tullahought, Ahenny and Faugheen, with every townsland along the way having their own settlement’s, where the fields, stones and ditches have a story to share in the Lingaun valleys history of immigration, emigration andliving. To share The Lingaun Valley delights, make a day trip, take in many of its walks and hidden gems or if travel restrictions do not allow visit https://lingaunvalley.ie/

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October 19th 2020F

THE LINGUAN RIVER VALLEY: Stretching from the foothills of Slievenamon the Lingaun River travels in an easterly and then southerly arc-across the rural landscape to the tidal part of the River Suir just below the town of Carrick.

Not as well known in song and story as it sister“The Anner”that flows in a westerly and then southerly path on the opposite foot of Slievenamon,the Lingaun River Valley is a unique region bedecked with more history and ancient monuments of international importance.

On its meandering route the Lingaun forms part of the county border between Kilkenny and Tipperary and the provincial boundary between Leinster and Munster. Its trail from the scared mountain traverses through, Michael Hogan’s hinterland of Bloody Sunday in Croke Park a century ago,past our ancestors solstice aligning complex burial chambers that are older than the Pyramids, through seven hundred years of slate cutting history, via the sites of the eleven hundred years old High Crosses of Western Ossory before exiting between the slopes of Carraigadoon and Baunfree to the rich fertile plains of the river Suir.

Along its banks, where salmon spawned and deer were hunted it touches the town lands including Annaghmore, Glenaskeagh, Breanormore and Blenaleen before it crosses underneath the road at the village of Mullenaglogh better known as Grangemockler, before heading by the Four Roads and Ballinver and crossing into County Kilkenny just down river of Maggie Russell’s bridge.

In the heart of slate country it is reined in by the slate wall’s as it skirts the Victoria and Ordmonde quarries through Inchnaglogh and Clashnasmuth before it flows under the leaning bridge in Baunreigh one of three on its route that were casualties of the floods of 1947.Into Milling country where three flax and corn mills were driven by its flow it has scoured the valley between Kilmacoliver Hill of standing stones and Ahenny's slate mining village and High Crosses and between Tinakilly and Birchwood to Skough reputed to be called after a hanging tree and Kilkieran's High Crosses.

Hitting flatter country it loops by Newtown, (Newtown Lennon),Castletown of the Big House and horse races Whitechurch and Cregg under the Clancy brothers homestead to Kilonerry and Three Bridges to enter the Suir River at Tybroughney just downstream from Carrick’s Tudor House and Castle, the town of Sean Kelly, Sam Bennett and Maurice Davin fame.

Having weaved over twenty times across the county and provincial line its route is over looked by the population centres of Grangemockler, Windgap, Tullahought, Ahenny and Faugheen,with every towns land along the way having their own settlement’s, where the fields, stones and ditches have a story to share in the Lingaun valleys history of immigration, emigration and living.To share The Lingaun Valley delights, make a day trip,take in many of its walks and hidden gems or if travel restrictions do not allow visit https://lingaunvalley.ie/

ONLINE AWARDS: Congratulations and best wishes are extended to the local Tidy Towns group who are shortlisted for this year’s National Heritage Week Awards that will take place online. The virtual award ceremony will take place via zoom on this Tuesday 20th October 12:30pm with Anne Cassin, Journalist and TV Presenter announcing the winners.The groups video “Back to the Past, Valuing water in the Community” has also being short listed for a County Award.

SUPPORTING OUR OWN: Approaching the festive period local craft workers are producing a wide range of items from jewelry, pottery, ceramics, paintings, ornaments, cards, inspirational plaques, wood crafts,mugs and a wide range of hurleys.

CALLING ALL CRAFTS PEOPLE: Would you like to display your creativity? If so this is your opportunity to display and sell your works of art in an ambient setting. This will give everybody the forum to buy local and support all you talented people.Saturdays during November and December 2020.For further details please contact:Tess Cross 086 22665558 email crossart77@gmail.comorKate Moloney 087 2050029 email katiecoo@eircom.net

BROADBAND BENEFITS:The provision of the Broadband Hub in Tullahought Community Centre where the signal can also be picked up in the Church Car Park has proved a welcome improvement for those that are working from home.All a new user needs is to select the network provider BCP FREE WiFi on their device where they will be asked for their Mobile Phone number. On the instant receipt of a text message with the required password users can access connection speeds of up to one hundred megabits. For further info or to access the Centre contact Richard Walsh.

COVID LIMITATIONS: Amongst the growing level of activities that are and may be severely affected by the Level 3 or higher travel restrictions are all sports games, point to point race meetings, fox hunting by hounds and harriers and the gun club activities that all include members and followers from neighboring counties.

CAMAGOICHT: Club Player Denise Gaulle was awarded the Player of the Match whilst contributing seven points as she helped to get Kilkenny’s Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Camogie Championship off to a winning start over neighbours Waterford in Walsh Park on Saturday afternoon. The side play their next two games at home against Westmeath next week and Limerick two weeks later

NEWS PAPERS: Once part of the staple diet in households,

newspapers in their traditional format have made a comeback in the locality through the resurgence of local outlets. Currently the daily and provincial newspapers are available in Walsh’s shop with the Farmers weekly being also being sold in the Creamery store. In addition the Sunday papers that were traditionally sold from a car boot after Mass in Tullahought are still available despite the absence of the weekly Sunday religious service. To be sure of your Sunday read whilst Masses are postponed in the current lockdown contact Seamus Power.

OUT AND ABOUT: The renewal of temporary travel restrictions has seen an increase in the numbers of couples and families enjoying the local trails and loop walks in Windgap, Kilmacoliver and Tullahought and also along the quiet scenic country roads.

HURLERS DRAW: Congrats to the Murphy family who won the 17thprize of €200 in the final Hurlers Co-Op Draw.Thanks are again extended to all who have supported the fundraiser over the years.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid support team remains on standby to assist vulnerable residents in the area and across the county. The contact details are locally on 087 4193229 and County wide on the Freephonenumber 1800 500 00

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October 12th 2020

OUR OWN PLACE: Seven months later the renewal of the temporary travel restrictions has given everyone another opportunity to observe, explore and learn about the local places and areas. This time around the countryside has changed from the barren winter and luscious spring greens to the multi-colored rustic hues of autumn. The passing of time has seen the budding and flowering plants produce an abundance of fruits and colors as only the farmer sowing corn provides a common link between the seasons as he plants the winter version of its spring cousin.

In the hedgerows, brilliantly red colored Holly, Hips and Hawes join the darker colors of the blackthorn sloes, elder and blackberries. Around them the many types of ferns are quickly changing color as the ripening beech, crab apples and chestnuts prepare to fall from their multi colored trees. Elsewhere the brown tilled and reseeded fields are slowly turning from brown to tints and shades of green as the timely regular showers provide the ideal growing conditions.

SUPPORTING OUR OWN: Aftertheir re-opening Powers, Walsh’s, Moloney’s and the newly opened Olde House public houses and bars in Tullahought,Windgap, Skough and Killamery respectively are closed again after a short few weeks. Also providing a reduced service is the ever popular Community run Lakeside Team Rooms in Windgap where takeaway breakfasts and dinners are the order of the day. Elsewhere the creamery and Walsh’s grocery stores in Windgap providea variety of supplies for both man and beast. Approaching the festive period local craft workers are ramping up activities producing a wide range of items from jewellery, pottery, ceramics, paintings, ornaments, cards, inspirational plaques, wood crafts,mugs and a wide range off ever popular hurleys

THE SACK BAG: Once a market leader the sack bag,designed for bagging corn often became an over coat thrown across the shoulders or knees on a wet day or the provider of heat or protection from frost. Made from Hessian derived from Jute it was once a compatriot of the cotton flour bag that have being replaced by modern production methods in styles and sizes with synthetics, plastic and paper being amongst the most popular replacements. With the original material having changed from the penitential sack cloth to a fashion accessory, the original purpose of the humble bag has made its seasonal return to the countryside. Nowadays it can contain oats for horses, nuts for sheep or meal for calves for human bonding or to acclimatise the animals before housing. Other uses include pellets for fattening turkeys or a butt of spuds or windfall apples for human consumption.

TAKING A BREAK: Amongst the planned events taking a break because of the level 3 restrictions are the weekly masses in Windgap and Tullahought churches. They are joined by the junior football game with Carrickshock and the numerous remaining Camogie,Handball and badminton competitions.

SPEEDING UP:Since the arrival of Covid the issue of Broadband coverage for local residents and homeworkers has being partially relieved with the timely provision of the Broadband Hub in Tullahought Community Centre. All users need to do is to select the network provider BCP FREE WiFi on their device where they will be asked for their Mobile Phone number. On the instant receipt of a text message with the required password users can access connection speeds of up to one hundred megabits. It is recommended that potential users seek a spot in the vicinity of the hall where the mobile phone will pick up the incoming text as the phone signal is still very poor in the area. The service will continue until such time as the National Broadband is available to residents of the community.

COMMUNION FASTRACKED: After the long Covid wait the parishes first communion ceremony scheduled to take place on Saturday last was fast tracked to Tuesday evening when the Covid restrictions rose to Level 3. The celebrations were performed by an Sagairt Paróiste an tAthair Fearghaill Ó Fearghaill over two sessions at 6 and 7pm in St. Nicholas Church in Windgap

HURLERS DRAW: Best wishes to all in the next Hurlers Co-Op Draw takes place on Tuesday 13th. The results online on the Windgap GAA Club Twitter Account. Thanks again to all who have supported the Clubs fundraiser.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The local Covid 19 support team remains in place to assist vulnerable residents in the area and across the county. Their contact details are locally on 087 4193229and County wide on Freephone1800 500 00

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October 5th 2020

BROADBAND HUB ARRIVES: High Speed Broadband arrived in Tullahought on Tuesday when a Broadband Hub was installed in Tullahought Community Centre with the service being also available in the Church Car Park. Currently it provides Download speeds from 40 Megabits downwards depending on the distance across the road.

Logging in is by mobile phone or laptop and searching for the network BCP Free WiFi and registering by the users phone number which will provide a password by Text

GETTING THERE: Tullahought was one of several sites, across the county to be identified as a potential location for a Strategic Community Access Hub as part of the National Broadband Plan. The service is to provide local users access to high speed broadband until Broadband is rolled out to individual premises by 2025.

Over three and a half years since the project was first proposed by Steve Coverdale IS Project Leader - Networks/Infrastructure & Broadband Officer with Kilkenny County Council the Vodafone technician made the final connection to bring the much needed service to the village.

The much anticipated service was fast tracked when the contract for the National Broadband roll out was agreed, only to come to a grinding halt when the country went into lock down. However once restrictions were lifted work progressed swiftly to see the service delivered ahead of the scheduled connection date in December.The serviced is accessed via a modem in the Hall and a second exterior device which provides coverage in the church car park.

Locally the broadband provision project was co-ordinated by the late Mary Egan R.I.P., Richard Walsh, Frank Callery and Aidan Lavelle.

ACCESSING BROADBAND: Users will need to select the network provider BCP FREE WiFi on their device where they will be asked for their Mobile Phone number. A text message will then be sent to the phone containing a code which will allow connection. It would be recommended that the user seeks a spot in the vicinity of the hall where your phone will pick up the incoming text as the phone signal is still very poor in the area.

The cost of instillation of the service has been covered by the Department and payment for the BCP will be covered by Kilkenny County Council, this service is an interim measure until such time as the National Broadband is available to residents of the community.

The Junior Hurling County Final was the first major download from the brand new and long awaited Community broadband Hub in Tullahought on Saturday. The new service saw Shamie Phelan view the streaming of the Conahy Shamrocks and Dicksboro match with plans for Zoom calls and Team meetings, downloading files and entertainment being in the pipeline.For longer duration usage and access to the Community Centre contact Richard Walsh.

LISTED FOR AWARDS: Tullahought Tidy Towns Heritage week video “Back to the Past, Valuing water in the Community” has been short listed for the Water Heritage Award in one of four National Heritage categories. It has also being shortlisted for the County Kilkenny Heritage Award. To view the production visit the Tullahought Tidy Towns Facebook Page

UNSOCIAL BEHAVIOR: Following a long crime free spell the return of the dark evenings saw the smashing of the rear window of a car in the locality. The car which was one of four parked under the street lights in Tullahought whilst the owners were walking. It follows a similar event in Piltown and the stealing of gates during the summer. Currently security cameras in the area are being examined, as are accounts of a speeding vehicle in the locality. The matter is also being investigated by the Gardaí

U19 HURLING: Sunday afternoon saw Galmoy Windgap put in a great display in the first round of the Permanent TSB thirteen a side Hurling League Roinn B game played in Kilmanagh. In it Graigue Ballycallan’s ability to hit goals proved the difference in the tie played in tough conditions. Nineteen points was a very creditable strike rate from the visitors who tried valiantly to make up the difference right to the final whistle. The sides were Graigue Ballycallan: JackWalton J Ryan, Simon O Dwyer, DylanTeehan, ConorWalton, Stephen Keoghan(1-2,0-1 free),Eoin Delahunty, BillyDowling, Jack Butler(0-1),Tom Brennan(0-2),Finn Lanigan, Jeff Neary, EoinEgan, Oisín Egan(1-9,0-4 frees),Patrick Foley(1-0). Subs: Ciarán Dowling, Patrick Brennan.GalmoyWindgap: Conor Foley,Niall O Brien, Robert Culleton, Jamie Joy, Calum Lonergan, Sean Purcell(0-9, 0-8 frees), Gearóid Phelan,Matt Delaney, Odhrán Moloney, Killian Enright(0-2),Pauric Foley(0-7,0-3frees),Zak Kennedy, Daniel Hanrahan(0-1),Adam O Shea. Match report as always compliments of Jerry Drennan.

CAMOGIE NEWS; In the under twenty one championship game played in Windgap on Sunday morning wind assisted Windgap led at half time before the visitors Tullougher with two goals early in the second half went on to win by two points

PEIL: Windgap play Carrickshock in the first round of the JJ Kavanagh and Sons County Junior Football Championship in Hugginstown on Sunday at eleven o’clock

LIATHRIOD LAIMHE: After three local club members Emer and Sean Barron and Conor Doyle won Leinster 60 x 30 singles titles and play in the All Ireland semi-finals next weekend Sean and Connor’s Galmoy Windgap hurling teammate Billy Drennan went on to win the National minor singles title in Crinkle on Sunday. From all involved its well done and best wishes to all involved.

FIRST COMMUNION: After the long Covid wait the parishes first communion ceremony takes place on Saturday next when it will be spread over two ceremonies in St. Nicholas Church in Windgap

COMHGAIRDEACHAS :Congrats to Leo Power who won the 7th prize of €1,000 on Tuesday evening in the Hurlers Co-Op Draw. The next draw takes place on Tuesday 13th.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES September 29th 2020

STRANGE TIMES: Church celebrations often attended in the Car Park, on the Road or online, working from home being followed by County Finals in the kitchen or car radio has provided a different season of Sundays in these strange times.

No longer the Sunday rush after an early start to UPMC Nowlan Park, to get for their favored seat to join the throngs to see two hurling games.

Often it included fitting in or postponing the Sunday Roast and rushing home for the milking or for driving family members to meet the bus to far flung seats of education or employment. Missing too was the build-up to the finals at gatherings that included the now closed pubs where the news of the various team’s chances, the rising stars and injuries would be discussed.Also missing from the mix was the intertwined inter county stories emanating from Thurles and Croke Park and the rumors from the training grounds.

SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN: Small crowds at the recent games have seen the absence of the banter and excitement where grandparents mixed with family members, neighbors and grandchildren.

For many the absence of seeing the combination of toddlers with their first hurl and ball, hearing the chatter of teenagers, the whispered half time conversations was sorely missed. Missed too was the oscillating roar of the crowd that followed the sound of ash striking leather from end to end and the shrill of the referee’s whistle that is as much part of the Irish Summer as the Springs dawn chorus.

SERVICE RESUMES: After a six months break the local pubs of Powers in Tullahought, Walsh’s in Windgap, Moloney's in Skough have all reopened with The Auld House in Killamery opening under new management for the coming weekend.

TIDY TOWNS: The big clean-up of the Grotto in Windgap is scheduled to be completed midweek. Elsewhere the new pedestrian crossing has being installed at the Handball Alley, Community Centre, Shop and Tea Rooms where it links them across the road to the Hurling Pitch, school, playground and amenity area. In Tullahought Gerard Doyle and Richard Walsh finished the power washing of the Church Car Park with Pat O’Gorman providing the finishing touches when he mowed the graveyard. The next steps include the washing and painting of the Church in Windgap.

U19 HURLING: The hurling season continues with the inception of a new league at under nineteen level to provide additional games for club players whilst the minor and under twenty inter-county season is taking place. Being played on a home and away basis at thirteen aside, the fixtures with attendances limited to one hundred will take place over the next five weekends.

FOOTBALL: Windgap play Carrickshock in the first round of the JJ Kavanagh and Sons County Junior Football Championship in Hugginstown on Sunday week 11th of October at eleven o’clock.

GREAT NEWS: Both Windgap and Tullahought Tidy Towns groups were delighted with the announcement of the Kilkenny County Council Community Enhancement Programme Grants by the LCDC of €1,000 and €930 respectively for their on-going development works. The on-going partnership over the past thirty years has seen great improvements in the parish and has contributed to the community social and recreational facilities and the newly launched Lingaun Valley Tourism project.

MÍLE BUOICHAS: Thanks and best wishes are extended to all who supported the local Club in their main fundraiser the Hurlers Co-Op Draw which takes place on Tuesday evening.

GALMOY WINDGAP: Galmoy Windgap’s run in the U13B championship ended in Clara on Sunday evening when the home side had a good win.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES September 22nd2020

MOL AN OBAIR: Great credit is due to the work of the Tidy Towns volunteers in Windgap and Tullahought. Their efforts were the highlight of the past week as both groups made great use of the prolonged spell of fine weather.

EYE CATCHING:In Tullahought the external walls of the church were power hosed from the top to bottom with the surrounds and reveals around the gable windows being painted.

Around the village Breda Horgan's innovative flower displays made up from household items including buckets, baths, watering cans and a bicycle are eye-catching. Another new addition is the horses head carved from Scots Pine by master glass cutter Seamus Power that now stands opposite Powers public house.

At the Túr Amharc, Viewing Tower overlooking the village and the Lingaun Valley four of the weather beaten historical plaques have been replaced.

Leading the cleaning team were Dick Wash, Aidan Lavelle, Gerard Doyle, Shem Power, Tom Egan and Shamie Phelan whilst on terra firma the graveyard cutting rota of Pat Walsh, Michael Grace, Pat Moore, Shamie Phelan, Shem Power, Jimmy and Dick Walsh have completed another cycle.

ST. BERNADETTES RETURN: Having lost her head and part of her right hand thestatute ofSt. Bernadette has being repaired and restored by Molloys of Callan and is set to return to the Grotto in Windgap in the next three weeks. Made of Carreramarble it is one of five groups of statute’s that adorn the Calvary Walk and have being cleaned by the volunteers in recent days.The on-going transformative clean-up of the Grotto and Walkway by Joe, Fergal and Eoin O’Shea, Pat Houlihan, Kate Moloney, Noreen Hayes, Helen and Nicky Hawe and the team of volunteers is now within sight of the end. The planned works will be completed when the hand of St. Patrick’s statue is repaired. At the lower end of the village, work continues on the restoration of the roofs of the old creamery which is a listed building. Elsewhere the bank at the corner opposite Walsh Public House on the cross at the junction of the Hill and Callan Roads has being prepared for planting.

BROADBAND HUB: Progress has being made on the provision of a Wi-FiBroadband Hub in the centre of Tullahought village with the erection of a dish on the community Centre. One of ten locations i the County that includes Ballyouskill Parish Hall,

Crosspatrick Parish Hall, Gorteennamuck, Gathabawn, Graine Community Hall, Urlingford, Listerlin National School, Tullogher, Moneynamuck Parish Hall, Galmoy,

Muckalee Handball Club, Clorinka, Muckalee, Saint Aidan's National School, Kilmanagh, Saint Michaels Primary School, Galmoy, and Tullahought Parish Hall, the site is awaiting testing an the installation and commissioning of the transmission equipment. It is hoped to have the work completed by the end of October.

GALMOY WINDGAP: In the Duggan Steel U13 Hurling Championship Roinn B First Round game in Windgap on Sunday Galmoy Windgap had a 3-9 to 2-8 win over Kilmacow. The sides were GalmoyWindgap: Ryan Whelan, AlynHearne, AlexCulleton, Darragh Houlihan ,Jack O Dwyer, FionnLonergan, Conor Power, Padraig Egan, Aidan O Shea, Tadhg Kennedy(2-0),P J Delaney(1-8), Joe Moloney, Mikey Saunders, Sam Moloney, Jack Egan(0-1). Sub: Shane Norris, Jack Murray and Shane Doyle. Kilmacow: Jack Hearne, Joe Murphy, Rian McDonald, David Phelan, Harry Morrissey, Daire Casey Power, Jack Doyle, Aaron Cass, Jamie Cass, Killian Flynn, Oisín Conway, Garret Foot, M J Murphy, Jack Walsh, Leo Norris. Subs: Danny Murphy and Joe Murphy. Referee: Willie Kearney (Dunnamaggin).

IT’S NOT GOING AWAY: Regular hand washing, social restrictions of two meters, meeting in small groups, wearing Face Masks on Public Transport and Business tripsand restricting travel to Level 3 areas are still by all required to help prevent the spread of Covid 19.

SHOOTING SEASON: The arrival of the shooting season for Pheasants on November 1st will see different rules and regulations in place to conserve the wild life numbers in many places. With almost one thousand National Association of Regional Game Council Clubs registered at a rate of almost one per parish, Windgap parish with a single GAA Club thanks to the support of Galmoy at juveniele level is well served by two very active Gun Clubs in Garryricken and Tullahought. The date will see almost thirty thousand members nationwide go out for a shot, which is a month later in comparison to the neighbouring Countries where their conservation rules allow no wild birds being shot on Sundays on Christmas Day or in the hour after sunset or before sunrise, In addition in many cases members only go out hunting on one day out per week, fortnight or month. As part of the conservation plans birds are being released and the sanctuary areas extended.

FOOTBALL: Windgap play their neighbours Carrickshock in the first round of the JJ Kavanagh and Sons County Junior Football Championship in Hugginstown on Sunday 11th of October at eleven o’clock.

SEANS DEIREANACH:If you are not in you cannot win Tickets for the Clubs fundraising Hurlers Co-Op Draw are available from any committee member and player. Costing €25 for two draws with prizes of cash and cars worth €53,000

PARISH NEWS: An online newsletter has being produced by Ann Foley and the Parish Committee. Following a great clean-up of the Calvary Grotto and walk a donation box has being placed in the church to assist with the associated costs.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES September 8th/15th 2020

SUMMERS ROUND UP; In between the alternating spells of high and low pressure and the plethora of knockout championship games, the Summer visiting House Martins with their numbers significantly increased during the breeding season have begun preparing for their trip home. With the first flight having already departed, the remaining birds are busily feeding the last brood, in readiness for the long trek home. Elsewhere in the unexpected New Normal the corn and silage fields have produced their final crops as the never so sparsely populated playing fields and matches also wind down following the weekend games.

BEST VALUE; If an admission fee, was ever taken at a gate and it was not this year, the current crop of Galmoy Windgap minor hurlers have provided the best ever value with two Roinn A semi-final appearances in two years. The undreamed of progress, saw the side involved in another roller coaster game against Young Irelands in John Locke Park on Monday night. Those parents,and it was parents only that were lucky to be in the Covid restricted attendance to see their boys play their third successive game witnessed a see saw classic. At it, the score board raced into action and read seven points down, then level, three points down, back level, two points down, level again, then Galmoy Windgap amazingly went one point up. As the scores rolled in,the sides were tied again, before a twopoint’ slead was restored and it was still showing one point up on a 3-9 to 4-5 scoreline and it was only half time.In the first half great skills were evident, with a drop puck clearance under the stand being a highlight from the distant past.

At ten past seven, the sides resumed battle and as the play went end to end Galmoy Windgap went back two points ahead before Young Irelands equalised. The score set the wind assisted Gowran side on an unanswered scoring run that yielded 1-6.Not to be outdone another Galmoy Windgap goal had the result back in the melting pot with the score at 5-14 to 4-11 as they struck two late wides, before a last minute Young Irelands goal put a lopsided look on the scoreline.

The panel to be recorded for posterity was James Purcell, James Darcy, Calum Lonergan Jamie Joy, Gearóid Phelan, David Sherman, Sean Purcell, Adam O Shea, Matt Delaney, Zak Kennedy, Billy Drennan, Sean Barron, Killian Enright, Karl McCoy, and Blade O Gorman. Subs Conor Doyle, Daniel Hanrahan, Eoin O’Shea, Niall Drennan, Thomas Colman Moloney, Evan Doyle, Jack O’Shea, John Darmody.

NO ELECTRIC PICNIC: The field of dreams in Kilmanagh proved to have far from the normal excitement and enjoyment levels of a hurling championship day or of the annual celebration of music and arts at the Electric Picnic weekend in Stradbally as Tom Ryall Park was eerily Covid empty on Sunday last.Having had a great run in the league that saw the Junior Hurlers qualify for the Shield final, Windgap travelled full of hope to play the Emeralds on Sunday morning. In the game whilst playing against the strong breeze the side saw themselves 0-3 to 0-0, a player down and Sean Foley gone off with a bad hand injury after just eight minutes. By the first water break,Niall Walsh and a returned and brave Sean Foley with frees and Peter Hennessey from play they had the score reduced to 0-5 to 0-3. By the half time break and despite their wayward shooting and fine defending by Darragh O’Shea and Peter Landy in goal the Emeralds side had extended their scoring run to lead 0-13 to 0-9.

On the resumption and with both sides having better performances into the breeze the Emeralds went 0-18 to 0-10 ahead before substitute Padraig Foley got one back.It was followed by a pointed free by centre back Emmet Landy who went on to add six points with three of them being from play to leave the score at 0-19 to -12 at the second water break. As Windgap also brought Jim Power, David Doyle and Josh Price into the fray a big push saw a series of attacks that yielded a Niall Walsh penalty. With six points between the sides, the sounds of the well placed penalty powerfully striking the post rang loud as it took the wrong angle for the local side and flew wide. After being caught almost immediately on the rebound with an Emeralds goal the sides who were now level with manpower fielding fourteen apiece found Windgap more focussed as they battled on to take their efforts right up to the final whistle. The final scoreline of 1-20 to 0-16 will see the Emeralds play Tullougher Rosbercon in the county quarter final.

NUACHT AN PHARÓISTE: Following a great clean up of the Calvary Grotto and walk a donation box has being placed in the church to assist with the associated costs.

TIDY TOWNS: In the coming weeks plans have being put in place in Tullahought to replace the railing at the Watering Place and power wash St. Nicholas's Church with further plans being put in place to re-plant the beds at the crossroads. To assist there will be a call out for extra volunteers when the projects are going ahead.

YEAR BOOK: This year’s Kilkenny GAA Year Book will see a series of changes being made to the format for the 2020 and further editions.

HURLERS CO OP DRAW: Tickets for the Clubs fundraising Hurlers Co-Op Draw are available from any committee member and player. Costing €25 for two draws with prizes of cash and cars worth €53,000

CONFIRMATION: After being Covid delayed the sacrament of Confirmation will be administered in St. Nicholas Church on Saturday next in Windgap

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES September 1st 2020

BEST WISHES: In a big week for the area, best wishes are extended to the local teams in the championship knockout stages. Also to those attending primary and secondary school for the first time, those moving on to third level or starting work and to our neighbors and friends currently residing in visitor restricted hospitals and care homes.

WINDGAP AND GALMOY; Championship times and wearing the club jersey beckons for the Windgap and Galmoy Clubs and the Galmoy Windgap juvenile players with four major games down for decision during the week. It commences with the Kilkenny Honda Center minor hurling semi-final tie against Young Irelands of Gowran in John Locke Park on Monday evening. The game is followed by the Duggan Steel under fifteen quarter final against the Rower Inistioge in Inistioge on Wednesday evening.

At adult level, Sunday, will bring a high noon shoot out that will see both teams go solo against green and white clad sides. The games will see Windgap facing the Emeralds in Kilmanagh and Galmoy meeting Mooncoin in Danesfort. Best wishes are extended to all involved with the match reports in the Sports Pages.

CALL OUT: A special message of greetings and best wishes is extended from the community to absent friends, relations and neighbours who are currently residing in Covid visitor restricted hospitals and care homes. Also to their fellow co-habitants, carers and those who may have being in and out of hospital since Covid began. Included in our thoughts are those who have not being able to return from abroad on their holidays and the locals who have being severely limited in travel and socialising opportunities with the closing of the local pubs, churches,marts and matches.

Amongst them is Paddy Barron in Strathmore in Callan a progressive farmer who brought his love of hurling from Sheepstown where he lined out with his native Carrickshock. Since he arrived in Rossenaney in 1965 Paddy has being ever present at Windgap and Kilkenny matches.At home Paddy loved to meet people at many events, including card games and matches andmisses and is sorely missed by all his friends and the local red and white wearing hurling supporters. Married to Peggy, Paddy built the unique three legged club scoreboard from railway sleepers and surplus scraps of metal. Complete with flagpoles, lockable stairs and door and protection from the weather it stands at the Seskin end of the pitch and is now a crucial part of the infrastructure of the parish. Today it stands as an heirloom for the family members John, PJ, Mary, Clare,Monica their extended families and Paddy and Peggy’s grandchildren who are involved.

Greetings are extended to Annie Hennessey nee Keating from Nine Mile House aged eighty seven and now residing in Tennypark. Annie was a great gardener whose home with her husband Jim and family on the rising bend on the main road in Seskin stood out as an oasis of year round colour against the pastoral green surrounds. Born in a long gone house near John Walsh’s forge in Windgap, Annie’sfamily moved to the Premier County at an early age. On her return to the area many years later she kept her allegiance to the blue and gold when she married Jim a master accordion box player. Nowadays Annie loves the weekly read of the ever popular Irelands Own.

Also to Maureen O’Shea formerly Ryan, now resides in Mooncoin. Aged ninety five Maureen lived at the main junction in Windgap village opposite the forge and worked in the adjoining local Post Office. Maureen was a great character in the area and was a noted and talented singer at a very young age. Married to Patrick, the local choir in the old and new Windgap churches was a huge part of her life as was being a leading member of the Parish choir for the big occasions.Following her party piece at the annual party in Mooncoin Maureen was honoured with the title of the Rose of Mooncoin.

Beannachtaí from Killamery of the High Crosses and Brooch to Agnes Foley nee Carroll formerly of Skoughvasteen who is now living in Stratmore. Agnes aged eighty six moved to nearby Springmount when she married her husband Patrick. Agnes who is hale and hearty was heavily involved with the Garden Club in Callan and was a co-founder of Killamery Bridge Club almost thirty years ago. Mother of John, Laurence, Denis and Patrick the extended families and grandchildren are heavily involved in the hurling handball, Camogie,sporting, business and farming traditions in the area.

Also to Eamon Cronin from Mealoughmore who is on a recovery break in St. Columba’s Rehab unit in Thomastown and who farmed at home and worked with James and Shay Power in the Slatequarries. Eamon gained his middle name of “Grimes” following Limericks Eamon Grimes intercounty displays, that our Eamon replicated locally as a high fetching ball winner and goal scoring full forward on the clubs senior side. As the clubs first juvenile chairperson and team manager he led the side to the first of the three Féile na nGael Hurling titles to the club in 1979.

Thomas McCormack a native of Tinlough Grangemockler moved to Fox’s in Springmount whilst still a youngster, Having farmed there all of his life, Tommy currently resides in St. Josephs Home in Kilmoganny. In St Josephs he is joined by another close neighbour of the parish, Dan Cronin from Clashnasmuth. Dan was a brother of the late Neddy, Mary and Madge who worked in Delaney’s and worked with the Forestry and timber all of his life. Elsewhere Dan’s near neighbour Bill Cronin who also lived in Clashnasmuth often known as “Cronins town” after the Cronin ancestors arrived in the area from Cork when the new state forestry commenced generations ago. Bill who resides in the Owning care for the elderly homes was also a forester, a keen card player and follower of all sports, including the meteoric rise of fourth division Templeroum United soccer team to the McCalmount Cup Final many years ago.

Back at home centenarian Mai Phelan in Seskin leads the community as it extends its best wishes for great health and happiness and looking forward to staying in contact wherever you may be.

TIDY TOWNS AGM: The AGM of Tullahought Community Development Limited the umbrella group for Tullahought Tidy Towns took place on Thursday evening. Addressing the meeting Chairperson Aidan Lavelle spoke of the unprecedented circumstances pertaining which resulted in the cancellation of this year’s Tidy Towns Competition. Despite its absence the volunteers have continued their efforts to have the village looking well throughout the year and thanks were extended to all involved in the on-going work. On the night Aidan and the other outgoing officers Secretary Richard Walsh and Treasurer Eamon Doyle and the directors were re-appointed for another year.

CHURCH CLEANING: Building on the weekly Covid cleaning within the Church of St. Nicholas in Tullahought, it is planned to begin work on cleaning its exterior next Thursday evening at 7pm. Commencing with the limestone buttressed sides and culminating when the high reaching apparatus is provided for the gables

BACK TO THE PAST: Tullahought Tidy Towns contribution to Heritage Week 2020; the YouTube video "Back to the Past, Valuing Water in the Community" has received lots of views online with feedback coming from as far afield as the UK. Having featured on KCLR during Heritage Week the video is also set to feature in the September edition of the National Tidy Towns online Newsletter.

CAMOGIE NEWS: The Windgap Camogie season came to an end this week for our U14 girls and our senior panel with two great wins. The Marble City Travel U14 ‘B’ Championship Final took place in Piltown on a very windy Tuesday evening 25th August against Mooncoin when the final score was Windgap 3-8 Mooncoin 1-5. After the game Sheila Norris presented the trophy to the team Captain Megan Kenneally: The Marble City Travel Senior Shield Final between Windgap and St. Brigid's took place on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning in Windgap, with the home side winning by 4-16 to 2-8. The U16 girls have their next round of the Championship on this Wednesday evening against Clara in Windgap at 7pm. Notes compliments of Liz Jackson

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES August 24th 2020

NOT FORGOTTEN: “Out of Sight, but not out of Mind” was the New Covid Normal for the local player’s at the weekend games. It followed the Government and HSE advice that only forty people including the players were allowed to attend the adult games, with one parent at the underage ones.

The weekend saw the Clubs Junior Hurlers and Senior Camogie sides and the Galmoy Windgap juvenile teams being affected as the shortened playing season got down to its League finals and knockout stages. Disappointingly, there was more hurling chat in the car parks and roads around the churches at the weekend masses than there was in actually being present supporting the teams.

Despite this, as most people took personable responsibility for the Health and Safety of their families and community, there was an air of joviality as to how one might get to attend a game,when the other topical subject, the very changeable weather was described as only “drawing in the Winter”.

STREAMING: Over the weekend both the adult Hurling and Camogie games were streamed for those that had sufficient broadband or modern enough appliances to be able to pick them up. The online feed for the JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling League Final against Piltown was provided by the Piltown GAA club. On the day Donal O’Brien and Robert Duggan were commentating with the technical help of Windgap’s Noel Smith, The service replaced Windgap’s recent streamed games that went viral the last time out.

With every streamed game bringing a unique style from aspiring Ger.Canings to Micheál O Muircheartaigh’s they all contain innovative segments and local colloquialisms and gems. Sunday’s game with a water break interview, also dealt with people being really annoyed as others do not realise the seriousness of Covid and also saw reference to the Fifth Amendment. However despite stremaings success with a viewing audience of a couple of hundred its reach and content comes nowhere near the feeling of just being there!

LEAGUE FINAL: After a slow start and some erratic shooting in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior Hurling League Final played in Mooncoin on Sunday, Bearna na Gaoithe found themselves 0-6 to 0-1 down against Piltown after thirteen minutes. In the following minutes Emmet Landy points and a Niall Walsh goal had tied the sides by the first water break. From there on the game saw Piltown take control after a fine Peter Landy save to lead by five points 1-12 to 1-7 at half time.

On the resumption, Piltown playing into the Church goal had stretched the lead to six points by the second water break. In the final period of play, an extended Windgap rally that saw some fine defending by the opposing backs and Jim Norris in goal resulted in a Sean Foley goal from a free. It reduced the lead to 1-17 to 2-11 and just a single score. In the end the Baile an Phoill men added the last four points on the trot to run out 1-21 to 2-11 winners.See Match Report in the Sports Pages.

GALMOY WINDGAP:In strange times Windgap residents living in the town lands of Coolhill and Rossenaney that form part of Windgap’s GAA complex, tuned into the Galmoy GAA Twitter feed for the updates on the minors home game. In the Kilkenny Honda Centre quarter final tie against Mooncoin on Monday evening they found themselves 2-8 to 0-7 behind at half time. Described as a display of brilliant hurling, skill and commitment from both sides it was one that was not to be missed. Having taken the lead back 1-13 to 2-9,Mooncoin’s third goal had them back in front by 3-9 to 1-14. With all to play for,the local side under Walter Purcell, Conor Drennan, Oisín Phelan and PJ Barron put in a great final quarter display to gain a last four place on a 2-20 to 3-10 scoreline.

On Wednesday evening as storm Ellen arrived on the west coast and would later take out the power for eighteen hours in the Windgap area, it was parents only at the Duggan Steel U15 Championship game between Gabhal Mhaoth, Bearna na Gaoithe agus Baile Mhic Andáin in Windgap. Played on a damp misty evening the game finished in poor light in heavy windy rain as the local side ran out deserving winners. The result will see them play The Rower Inistioge in the quarter final on Wednesday week.

In the Duggan Steel U-13 Hurling Roinn B League Championship St Patricks Ballyragget were much too strong for GalmoyWindgap in this U-13 League clash at Galmoy on Friday evening last. The visitors led 2-9 to 0-4 at halftime and ran out winners on a 7-14 to 1-9 scoreline.

The sides were St Patricks: Daniel Roberts, Paddy Morrissey, Tadhg Phelan,Conor Rocliffe,Kieran Bergin,Charlie Culleton,Cian Stapleton(0-1),Mark Doheny(1-7,0-2 frees), Evan Neilis,Cormac Diver(1-1),Josh Dowling(3-4,0-1 free),Evan Coogan(1-0),Marc Hogan(1-0),Tadhg Butler(0-1),Shay Smith. Galmoy-Windgap :Darragh Enright, Darragh Houlihan, Alex Culleton, Alyn Hearne,Jack O Dwyer(0-1),Fionn Lonergan,Mikey Saunders,Padraig Egan,Jack Egan(0-1),Tadhg Kennedy,P J Delaney(1-7,0-1 free),Joe Moloney,Shane Doyle,Sam Moloney,Ryan Whelan.Sub: Shane Norris Jack Murray. Referee: Owen Beehan (Fenians)See all the Match Reports in the Sports Pages.

DUCKLINGS FOUND: A lovely addition to the village lake in Windgap is planned after a good news story when a baby duckling was found in the back garden of Walsh's Store. The little duckling had fallen from the nest where it’s Mammy has been nesting in an old shed out the back. Thankfully the baby duck was okay and upon further searching, its mother and eight more little ducklings where found. They are now being looked after by the Walsh family members Aiden, Louise and Holly and it is hoped after a few weeks when they are stronger they will be released into the lake to join daddy duck!.The good news came after a number of other nest sites were raided by predators

OUT AND ABOUT: Hitting terra firma sooner than expected, a young House Martin was found in Tullahought Churchyard after storm Ellen apparently affected its nest causing it to fall some thirty feet from the eve over the front door of the Church.Complete with big dark eyes and partially feathered feet, its inaugural journey from the graveside kerb to winter in Africa seemed to be a huge challenge for one so small.

TIDY TOWNS: In great news for the area, the backround work of Kate Moloney, Nicky Hawe and Noreen Hayes has seen the appointment of two Tús workers in Windgap to look after the Grotto Graveyard and Village. Scheduled to commence on Monday week the work will begin with a complete faceliftof the entire area within the walls of the old Churchyard and Calvary walk.

RECYCLING: Lockdown and travel restrictions have seen extensive use of the bottle banks in Tullahought. Kept tidy and well maintained by the users, the local inoffensive wasps show a preference for visiting the one holding cans in preference to the clear, green or brown bottles ones. Elsewhere the trimmings from around the Grotto are being shredded for use around the village

AGM: Tullahought Tidy Towns hold their AGM outdoors in the car park on Thursday evening at 8pm and all are welcome.

RELEGATION FINAL: Memories of the 1980 senior hurling relegation final that were re-ignited with the recent C relegation final with Mooncoin have seen Bobby Jackman providing the unrecorded final score of 1-12 apiece.The game between Windgap and Mooncoin that was played in Piltown was never replayed. Amongst the individual memories was the side played in the Rathdowney sevens the previous day with Tommy Hearne being a key player on both days.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES August 17th 2020

HERITAGE WEEK: After thirty years of organised Heritage Week’s, Homecomings and Arts and Culture festivals in the Slatequarries, Windgap and Tullahought this year’s Covid restricted Heritage Week celebration is all about individuals finding and appreciating what is all around them.

Currently the rich history, heritage,culture, sporting traditions and views of the Lingaun Valley and its hinterlands have seen more staycation visitors and day trippers. Among them and most welcome are walking groups from as far away as Dublin, Tipperary and Dungarvan. On our doorstep all the year round this year’s Heritage focus Week runs from the 15th to 23rd August.

VALUE OF WATER: In a bow to the areas heritage, Tullahought Community Development group have produced a short YouTube Video entitled "Back to the Past”, “Valuing Water in the Community" for the 2020 Heritage Week which is an online event this year due to the Covid 19 restrictions.

The Video organised by Dick Walsh and beautifully narrated by Claire Walsh documents and portrays the importance of uisce to previous generations and looks at the lessons to be learnt in preserving this valuable resource.

After, a call out, to the community for participants, the video features Shamie Phelan, Shane Walsh, Joan O’Gorman, Paddy Egan, Lena Power,Therese Walsh, Catherine Lavelle and Laura in Gerard Doyle’s. The four and a half minute clip, travels through the area and era of pre electric driven pumps when the hillside village wells and the nearby river played such an important part in its life.

In addition, it links the times when buckets and churns were the water pipes of the day,to waters current use from the kitchen sink to harvesting for modern day farming.

To appreciate the value of water visit the Tullahought Tidy Towns Facebook Page or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejL6V6qXJAg&t=51s

DAI’S HIDDEN GEM: Long before Tidy Towns, local poet and shop keeper Dai Walsh reflected on community work when describing the construction of Windgap Grotto “It’s the handiwork of people who once graced this peaceful scene” The past week has seen the Windgap Tidy Towns group continue similar work at the resplendent new flower bed by the lake that sits in front of Dai’s now sculptured verse honouring the same Grotto. A hidden gem, in the areas heritage its hilltop position gives times for reflection with panoramic views of the area. Created a century ago, Dai’s thoughts of the loving care and attention to the marble statue, quartz, mosaic and tree lined structure still ring true as he waxed lyrically “With dedicated labour both parson and his flock, Did raise this lovely structure from virgin earth and rock”

CHAMPIONSHIP TIMES: If ever a loss could be celebrated as a win for Bearna na Gaoithe, Friday evenings’superb display in a numerically disadvantaged hurling game on the banks of the Nore was certainly one of them. Down one man for forty five minutes and two men for the final nineteen, the side’s sterling efforts against the championship favourites Tullougher Rosbercon had the former Intermediate side on the ropes as the clock wound down. Starting out without the injured Jack Doyle, the game saw Niall Walsh return from injury to make his season’s debut with Pat Power also making a welcome return.

On an evening, when heart, skill and determinatio nwere the real measuring stick, Windgap were not found wanting and were within inches of the post of drawing the tie in the sixty first minute. As the supporters thought it was all over before half time, a man down and going to face the strong breeze the side found themselves quickly short a second man and undaunted were a point up at the second water break. Contesting every single ball,the side led by Pat Grace, Emmett Landy, Sean Foley and William Phelan held the initiative until eight minutes from time when the far South side went three points up.

As the local supporters may have being happy with their lot, the players were not and the next two minutes saw Windgap hunting and harrying whilst adding two points to Tullougher Rosbercon’s two wide’s to reduce the lead to a single point.

In the end Tulach Thoir Ros Uí-Beircháin numbers and the input of fresh legs saw them land sixty fifth and sixth minute points to bring a modium of relief to their supporters. At the end, the real pity was that so many locals could not see such a heart-warming display. The result pits them against Piltown in League Final on Sunday. See full Match Report in the Sports pages

RELEGATION RELEGATED: Sunday afternoon by the banks of the Suir in Mooncoin saw another celebration as the Junior C’s relegation evasion assignment was accomplished, with a series of unanswered match winning scores. Five points down after two handy Mooncoin goals one on either side of the second water break looked like damming the side to the D grade. After a wayward shooting start, the side levelled the scores at 0-1 apiece through a Walter Landy free after ten minutes play. With Mooncoin regaining the lead, the sides were level on three occasions at 0-2, 0-4 and 0-6 before Windgap thanks to Luke Ward, Josh Price and a battling Edward Cunningham who won three frees and points by Shane Cullen, Eoin Cody Tommy Fleming and Walter Landy were ahead for the first time as they took a 0-7 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Having played towards the Waterford City goal, the new half saw Gary Lyons and Eoin O’Brien points stretch them into a 0-9 to 0-7 lead after ten minutes. From there on the tide turned towards the sea with Móin Choinn getting a ten minute run that stretched the strongly defending Bearna na Gaoithe defence led by Shane Walsh, Darren Walsh and Vincent Purcell. The result and on-going pressure yielded 2-1 to see the sash wearing side taking a 2-7 to 0-9 lead. Another scoring break of almost ten minutes saw Windgap being wistful with their shooting before their sole substitute Gerard Purcell soared high to grab the sliotar and win a mighty penalty that Eoin O’Brien tucked away to reduce the lead to 2-7 to 1-9. The score revitalised the side with Walter Landy landing a free to tie the game 2-7 to 1-10. With both sides and supporters almost longing for the final whistle to be blown and another day,the play swung from end to end.

For Windgap,a huge puck out from Conor Foley led to a free flowing move that saw Shane Cullen make great ground and feed Edward Cunningham who headed for goal and set up Matthew Enright. Now playing at corner forward his shot almost took the paint off the post with the keeper well beaten.However as the net failed to bulge and the ball flew wide towards the graveyard wall so too it appeared went Windgap’s last chance for a win. From the puck out the ball was won and arrived back for Mattie who kicked an amazing point from a hopping ball in a crowded area. On the puck out Eoin O’Brien won the ball and landed a fine individual long range score. With another bout of play Mooncoin’s attack was repelled with Gavin Quilty’s final whistle wrapping up the game for a 1-12 to 2-7 win,

The panel of sixteen players that retained the clubs Junior C status was Conor Foley, Vincent Purcell, Shane Walsh, Matthew Enright, Luke Ward, Josh Price, Darren Walsh, Eoin O’Brien, Tommy Fleming, Robert Culleton, Shane Cullen, Eoin Cody, Walter Landy, Gary Lyons, Edward Cunningham and Gerard Purcell..

RELEGATION FINALS: Sunday’s relegation final brought back memories of a similar game between Windgap and Mooncoin who were then both senior club sides. Back in 1980,when the sides played in Piltown there was another hectic finish. Records show the actual score was lost and is unrecorded in Gerry O’Neill’s “Kilkenny GAA Bible of Results” where it is noted as a “drawn game”. The game proved to be Windgap’s last one at senior level as it was never replayed and with the lineouts lost to individual memories the sides among other things went on to provide two county secretaries.

GALMOY WINDGAP: The minors played Kilkenny’s newest combination side Slieverue Blacks and Whites in a very worthwhile challenge game in Windgap on Sunday evening where the referee was Stephen Delaney. The side’s next game is in the championship on Monday against the winners of Móin Choinnagus Gaeil Ó Lochlainn. At U 13 Roinn B level, a last minute free shared the league points with Lisdowney on a 3-8 to 2-11 scoreline.Match report in the Sports Pages. Elsewhere GalmoyWindgap U-15s played a useful challenge against Emeralds in Galmoy on Saturday evening in preparation for their Roinn B First Round Championship clash with Baile Mhic Andáin in Windgap on Wednesday evening next. The side was Eoin O’Shea,Cormac Hynes, James Purcell, George Culleton, Rohan Lonergan,Colman Moloney, Noah O Shea, Jack O Shea, Evan Doyle, Niall Drennan, Conor Doyle, Darragh Doyle, P J Delaney, John Dermody,and Ronan O Brien.Subs Used: Conor Darcy and Shane Lomax Referee: Owen Beehan (Fenians)

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES August 3rd 2020

CHAMPIONSHIP TIMES: On a weekend off from hurling championship games, two wins out of two in the JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling league has being a great start, but at a huge injury cost. Another success was of a culinary nature with “Matthew’s Spuds” who made their debut on the live streamed Blacks and Whites match from Hugginstown being ordered to accompany the following days Sunday Roast from as far away as Galmoy. Sown and grown by the streaming commentator and club player Matthew Enright they are now available in Walsh’s Store in Windgap village.

This week, the junior side prepares to face last year’s intermediate side and 2016 County Finalists Tullougher Rosbercon, who are led by Kilkenny senior star Walter Walsh. The game takes place at the once traditional venue for the sides meetings, on the banks of the Nore in Thomastown. Not regular opponents, the clubs most recent meetings were, in the 1994 Under twenty one Southern Final that went to a replay as Windgap’s win saw them go on to take the County title. Whilst TullougherRosbercon, one of the county’s oldest clubs and once great football rivals won the Southern Junior Hurling Final clash in 2008, as part of their three in row of Southern Titles that led to County honours and promotion in 2009.

With the season ending injury of last year’s county minor and rising star Jack Doyle and a hopefully lesser one to Mark McCoy, best wishes are extended to both for a speedy recovery. The injuries provide vacant panel places for the members of the Bearna na Gaoithe Junior C team to follow on the pathway of those who failed to make the cut for the first round and second round games.

Also on this weekend is the Junior C Relegation Final with Mooncoin in Piltown on Sunday

COVID NEWS: Social Distancing of two metres and regular sanitizing for everyone, everywhere is the main reason why there should be less need to contact the Covid support numbers locally on 087 4193229 or County wide on Freephone 1800 500 000.

FOOTBALLS BEST: The earliest GAA records show that the local players were adept footballers being amongst the top sides in the country. The big ball, Peil story, came to the fore when the Slatequarries were in full production and the miners were living in the mostly now long gone houses dotted along the Lingaun valley where they were built close to both the Victoria and Ordmonde quarries.

Slatequarry Miners: After reaching their first Senior Football County Final in 1898 the Slatequarry Miners made the breakthrough in the noughties, well over a century ago,when they went on to win their first county title in 1900. Representing the county, they went on to capture Kilkenny’s third Leinster Senior Football title with a win over Louth.

In a scéal for another day, they defeated the Munster Champions from Clonmel in the All Ireland Semi-Final played in Carrick-on-Suir only to see their conquers following a board room decision go on to be All Ireland champions over Galway.

The side were County Senior Football Champions again in 1907 and 1913. In between they were Senior Football Finalists in 1908 when they also added a Junior Football title in a game that had to be replayed owing to darkness. This was followed by another appearance in the Senior Final in1910 in a game they lost as result of on an objection. Showing great sporting versatility the players were county title winning Handballer’s and also Southern Junior Hurling Finalists in 1927.

Lamogue: Running in parallel and just about two miles away, as the crow flies north easterly through the parish the Slatequarries Miners greatest rivals on the island of Ireland were Lamogue. Lamogue were the Kilkenny Senior Football Champions in 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905. Also rivalling them at Provincial level Lamogue went to three games in the 1903 Leinster championship against Kildare, who then went to play three more games against Kerry the Munster Champions who eventually won their first All Ireland title.

In a second coming, generations later Lamogue were Minor Football County Champions in 1961 and Minor County Finalists in 1963 before going up the grades to be Senior County Finalists in both 1963 and 1964 where they lost after a replay. Later on they were the Junior County Finalists in 1969 in a game they lost after a replay. The honours list also includes being Southern Junior Finalists in 1967, 1972, 1974 and Southern Special Junior Football Finalists in 1979. At juvenile level they were Southern Minor Football Finalists in 1945, 1947, 1962 and County U16 (A) Football Finalists in 1961.

American Invasion: After the production of slate slowed down,widespread emigration from the area took place to America. On arrival in New York, the players Gaelic football skills saw them backbone a Kilkenny side that were unbeaten from 1902 to 1912 and collected further titles in 1917, 20 and 22.

Then the most competitive Gaelic Football Championship in the world, the side wore a black sweater with a green sash and a Shamrock on their breast. Their abilities and success resulted in the Cork side writing home to their County Board for re-enforcement’s to help to break Kilkenny’s monopoly. Records of the time noted the local and Slatequarries Miners influence as they were led by“That gallant “Miner” captain, Pat Conway from Knockroe” and whose origin as Slatequarry Miners rather than coal miners was described in verse as “the men from the land of the smokeless coal”.

Elsewhere the players’ names, skills and town’s lands were recorded in song and verse by James P Veale.

Cotterstown: In the missing football generation after the “Miners” and Lamogue, Cotterstown filled the gap and were Senior Football Champions in 1926 after being the Junior Football Champions of both 1920, 1923 and again in 1927 after a replay, with their last junior title being added in 1951. The side were also Southern Minor Football Champions in 1932 (no county final played)and Senior County Finalists in 1922, 1925 that went to a replay. The Finals story continued in 1927 (were the championship was declared null and void), 1929 and 1931 where it was played on a league basis gave where the side gave a walk over in their final game. The clubs last Senior final appearance was in 1953 against the Railyard

.

St. Nicholas: After another wave of post war emigration St Nicholas were formed between (Cotterstown and Kilmoganny) and were amongst the county kingpins as they were Senior Football Finalists in 1957 (unfinished title to Railyard) and again in 1958, 1959. The side were Junior County Finalists in 1959, 1960, 1961. At underage level they were Minor Football County Champions in 1960, Minor Football County Finalists in 1957 lost in a replay and again in 1959. The run followed with qualification for the Southern Minor Final in 1958 and the U16 (A) Football County Final in 1960.

Windgap; “Still kicking” as our senior citizens might say, the area continues to field football teams and the current players for Windgap saw them become the Junior A County Champions of 2004 and Junior league Champions in 2019 with the 2020 championship still to be completed.

GALMOY WINDGAP: Thanks to Gerry Drennan Galmoy Windgap games get widely covered in the sports pages with Young Irelands 4-12 Galmoy Windgap 3-13on the Bank holiday being described as a brilliant exhibition of all that is good in hurling where the outsiders led the game for 58 minutes only to be hit by a sucker Gowran punch goal at the very end.

In the Duggan Steel U-15 Hurling League Roinn B Round 2 game on Wednesday last a strong spurt in the last ten minutes saw St Patrick’s Ballyragget take the points by 2-14 to Galmoy Windgap 1-12 in another exciting clash in Galmoy. After 50 minutes, the sides were locked together on 1-11 each but a 52nd minute goal by Shane Cullen after a good run by Sean Brennan inspired the St Patricks side to finish strong.A feature of the game was the goalkeeping exploits of Eoin O Shea in the Galmoy Windgap goal culminating with a fine penalty save from a Shane Culleton strike in the 42nd minute. The Galmoy Windgap goal came in the 28th minute when a Niall Drennan shot came back in to play off the upright and Michael Freaney passed the sliotar across the square for Ronan O Brien to first time it to the Ballyragget net. Within a minute Mark Bergin replied with a similar green flag to leave the half time score at St Patricks 1-10 to Galmoy Windgap 1-8.Others to do well were, Mikie Glennon and Harry Culleton for St Patricks while Noah O Shea and Conor Doyle also tried hard for the hosts, who had to line out without Colman Moloney, when he dislocated a finger in the warm-up.

The team was Eoin O Shea, George Culleton , Rohan Lonergan, Conor Darcy, Darragh Doyle, Jack O Shea ,Noah O Shea, Cian O Rourke, Evan Doyle, Niall Drennan(0-3,0-2 frees), James Purcell(0-3,0-2 65s),Conor Doyle(0-6, 0-4 frees), Michael Freaney John Dermody, Ronan O Brien(1-0).Subs: P J Delaney, Fionn Lonergan, Shane Lomax.

CAMOGIE: In the second round of the Marble City Travel Senior Camogie championship Windgap travelled to Piltown where they went down to the home side on Sunday morning On Monday evening they play Mullinavat in Mullinavat in the under 14B league after having a good win over O’Loughlin Gaels on Monday evening. The minor team take on Mooncoin at home in the Minor C League quarter Final in Windgap on Wednesday evening

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES August 3rd 2020

CHAMPIONSHIP TIMES: Twenty minutes before the commencement of Saturday’s Junior hurling game against the Black and Whites a large group of people headed down the unusually wide and almost deserted match day street in Hugginstown. Included were familiar hurling supporters faces of Kennedys, Neary’s, Purcell's and Duggan's many of whom were more associated with other clubs as they passed the old hall and the still closed Cleary’s and Irish’s bars towards the highly visible Carrickshock GAA Stewards at the gate to the pitch.

As those privileged Covid restricted spectators searched their pockets for the elusive pass for the match, it was wondered loudly,was another “Battle of Carrickshock” imminent, this time, just to get into a hurling game. Within a few moments,as the group tarried at the Manchester Martyrs plaque to “Allen, Larkin and O’Brien” located near the ruins of St. Brendan’s church and just before the Land League House, it was realised they had just come to the end of the Kilkenny Historical Society guided walk of the area and they were now preparing to head for home.

Now more relaxed about getting into the game past the most welcoming officials, the unexpected and most welcome first round win over Slieverue had brought a pep to their step of the supporters on their visit to the Walsh Mountains village.

On the way the talk about the team was led by the last games performance of the younger names in the squad in Jack Doyle, James Culleton, Darragh O’Shea, Cian Ryanand William Phelan .On the pitch in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons second round game that begun slowly, Windgap led by 0-3 to 0-1 before a Barrow siders goal set them up for a 1-5 to 0-7 halftime lead. Having slipped four points behind after the restart a brilliant Jack Doyle for Windgap tied the game and set his side on sail for a 1-15 to 1-10 lead. In the hectic closing stages two further Barrow Rangers points reduced the lead before a Peter Hennessey goal ensured the brace of points for Windgap with a 2-15 to 1-13 victory.See the full match report in the sports pages.

JUNIOR C: Windgap traveled to Galmoy on Sunday afternoon to play the home side with a rare opportunity of a County Quarter Final place for the winners of the game. After a good start and with first team places in the offing for all the players, Windgap twice ran up a three point lead into the village goal,before being drawn back to parity and then recovering to lead 0-8 to 1-3 at half time. On the resumption Windgap extended the lead to four points through Josh Price and a great wind assisted score from the had working Gary Lyons. As expected the home side made a comeback and despite fine defending by Conor Foley in goal and Shane Walsh, Vincent Purcell and Matthew Enright on the full back line,it yielded six Galmoy points on the trot to take the lead for the first time at 1-8 to 0-10. The following minutes saw the sides draw level on two occasions before Bearna na Gaoithe took a 0-13 to 1-9 lead through an Eoin Cody free with five minutes to go. The final minutes saw Galmoy add four points on the trot to eke out a 1-13 to 0-13 win and another championship day out as Windgap face the relegation final tie.

The sides were Bearna na Gaoithe: Conor Foley, Vincent Purcell, Shane Walsh, Mattie Enright(0-1free),Darren Walsh(0-1),Josh Price(0-3 frees),Luke Ward, Eoin O Brien(0-2),Tommy Fleming, MarkMcCoy, RobertCulleton, Shane Cullen(0-1),Walter Landy(0-4frees),Gary Lyons, Eoin Cody(0-1free). Subs: Ger. Purcell,Edward Cunningham and Tommy Lonergan. Gabhalmhaigh: MarkStanley, Eoin Glendon,Donnacha Gray ,Colm Smith, Brandan Phelan,Tom Corcoran, Jack Delaney,Martin Phelan(0-1),Michael Harte, Eddie Kelly(1-3,1-2frees),Tom Phelan(Castletown)(0-8,0-6 frees),Mícheál Phelan, John Whelan(0-1), George Bassett, Odhrán Moloney.Substitute: Brendan Delaney. Referee: John Guinan (St Lachtains)

GALMOY WINDGAP: On a damp Wednesday evening in Coon, St Martins started the brightest in both halves of the Duggan Steel under fifteen leagues to earn a hard fought victory over Galmoy/Windgap. Having pegged them back to be within two points at half time with the score at 2-7 to 2-5 the home side stretched out for a 2-14 to 2-8 victory.

The Galmoy/Windgap side was Eoin O Shea, Conor Darcy ,Colman Moloney, Darragh Doyle, Noah O Shea, Jack O Shea, Rohan Lonergan ,Cian O Rourke, James Purcell(1-0 free),Niall Drennan(0-2 frees), Evan Doyle, Conor Doyle(1-4, 0-1 free), Michael Freaney John Dermody(0-2),Ronan O Brien.Subs: P J Delaney and George Culleton Referee: Ger. O Grady (Erin’s Own)

CAMOGIE: A fine crowd attended the first Senior championship game in Windgap on Sunday morning when Windgap hosted the County Intermediate champions Clara. Played in perfect conditions the home side showed impressive form with Sontae Jackson back from a serious injury adding two points and Denise Gaule the remaining scores that included a goal from a free conceded after a defence splitting move to leave the side 1-4 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes. Having settled in the Clara side fresh from a recent taxing challenge with Burgess sprang into action and had the game tied at 1-4 at the end of the first quarter,before going on to lead4-9 to 2-6 at the break. With Mickealla Kenneally having stopped the scoring run with a goal before the break and Elaine Power adding another straight after the restart there was great hopes for a titanic second half. However it was not to be as Clara led by Mary O’Connor and Emma Shortall put in a top class performance to run out easy winners; The Windgap side that started so well was: Mandy Power, Joanne Cody, Eimear Moylan, Aisling Foley, Sarah Doherty, Catherine Foley, Margaret Purcell, Gillian Costelloe, Denise Gaule, Niamh Bambrick, Michaela Kenneally, Laura Foley, Molly Walsh, Elaine Power, Sontae Jackson. Margaret Foley, Cartriona Brophy, Emily Murphy, Caoimhe O’Shea, Terri Mackey.

TIDY TOWNS: Sincere thanks are extended to Pat Houlihan for the great work he carried outwith Tús in Windgap during the past year where work also commenced on the cutting of hedges.

In Tullahought the Tidy Towns group will hold a meeting on Thursday 6th August at 8pm in Church car park if weather suitable or in Community Center with adherence to social distancing guidelines. The AGM of the group takes place on Thursday 27th and all are welcome to attend on both occasions. On the ground Pat Walsh cut the graveyard in Tullahought with the finger post pointing for the village being repaired and put back up opposite Willie Moloney’s Covid closed public house at the cross in Skough.

HURLERS CO-OP DRAW: As part of the Clubs fundraising Ticket’s for the Hurlers Co-Op Draw are available for €25 from allthe Hurling Clubs committee members, supporters and players.The ticket ensures entry for two draws for cars and cash valued at €53,000.

BEST WISHES: Best wishes are extended to Jack Doyle, James Culleton, Robert Culleton, Mark McCoy and Cliona O’Shea who all picked up injuries in the injuries over recent days.

SUPPORT: The Covid support can be contacted locally on 087 4193229 or County wide on Freephone 1800 500 000.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES July 27th 2020

CHAMPIONSHIP TIMES: On another day, win loose or draw there may have been a tipple or two on the way home to reflect on the year’s first hurling championship game. On Friday evening, it was a different story after the Covid attendance limited JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling League Championship in a well organised Hugginstown saw the small band of local supporters hang around to savour a recently rare win over Slieverue.

In a game where the two Niall Walsh’s were expected to be marking each other and the battle of Windgap’s Séan Foley and Willie Phelan against Slieverue’s Ted Rockett and Eoin Kenny was highly anticipated the hunger for updates saw a huge following on Twitter with the game being the very first to be streamed live on Windgap.ie by Noel Smith and Matthew Enright.

On the evening Windgap’s panel of just twenty three players saw championship debuts for last year’s minors Jack Doyle and Padraic Foley with Pat and Jim Power also making their debut in their new red and white colors at fullback and full forward respectively.

In a close fought game, the side performed well throughout with James Culleton fourteenth minute goal restoring Windgap’s first minute lead, whilst their second goal from Jim Power with seven minutes to go gave them a four point lead that they managed to hold until the final whistle was called on a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-15.

The side play the Blacks and Whites in the second round on Saturday next, with Tullougher Rosbercon being the opposition in the final league game on August 15th.

In the concluding stages the four Group winners will go straight to make four of the six teams that will compete in three of the quarter final games. There they will be joined by two teams from the play offs between the remaining 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed sides. The results will provide three of the County semi-finalists with the fourth semi-finalist coming from the Section B of the competition where the second teams of the Senior and Intermediate clubs are battling it out to see who can follow O’Loughlin Gaels on the run that brought them to this year’s Intermediate grade.See the full match report in the Sports Pages.

JUNIOR C UPDATES: On a fine Sunday afternoon in Windgapthe JuniorC’s took on The Fenians of Johnstown under the management of Ger.Henderson junior,PJ Ryan and Declan Garrett. After a slow start against the free flowing visitors Windgap led by the full back line of Shane Walsh, Vincent Purcell and Darren Walsh defended well as they found them-selves 0-6 to a single Walter Landy pointed free down after twenty six minutes.

In the following five minutes a Windgap rally tied the sides as it yielded 1-2 through Walter Landy and Luke Ward points and a Mathew Enright goal following a long range Eoin Cody shot. The half-finished with another Fenians point to give them a 0-7 to 1-3 lead.

On the restart the Fenians started the second half in the same vein with a flow of scores. With replies from Gary Lyons and Walter Landy frees the visitors had opened a 1-12 to 1-6 lead by the end of the third quarter. Following a great run by Bearna na Gaoithe’s Mark McCoy that was finished to the net by Tommy Fleming, the Fenians replied with three points on the trot to lead by 1-15 to 2-6. In the final minutes that saw Windgap battle to the end substitute Edward Cunningham set up Shane Cullen and Walter Landy for points with the final plays seeing another Walter Landy pointed free and Gary Lyons with a great goal bound shot leave the score at 1-16 to 2-9.

The Windgap side was Conor Foley, Vincent Purcell, Shane Walsh, Darren Walsh, Eoin Cody, Robert Culleton, Josh Price, Eoin O’Brien, Luke Ward, Shane Cullen, Matthew Enright, Mark McCoy, Walter Landy, Gary Lyons, Tommy Fleming, Edward Cunningham, Brendan Power, Alan Hearne: The Fenians side was : Damien Delaney, Eddie Hughes, Patrick McCormack, Declan Brennan, Shane Curran, Dan Quinlan, Killian Walsh Aaron Dermody, Sean Tobin, Cormac Ryan, David Ryan Mark Hughes, David Walsh, James Sweeney, Padraig Sweeney, Joshua Purcell, David Walsh, Cillian Fitzpatrick, Paul Phelan. Referee Gavin Quilty

GALMOY WINDGAP: Following the Junior C Hurling results over the weekend Windgap and Galmoy were drawn to play each other in the next game that doubles as a quarter final qualifiers and a relegation semi-final. The game takes place in Galmoy on Sunday at 2pm. Together on the field Galmoy/Windgap minors are playing O’Loughlin Gaels this Monday evening with the under fifteens playing St. Martins on Wednesday.Match reports to be included in next week’s edition.

AIFREANN REILIG: Plans to hold the annual cemetery masses in Killamery, Tullahought and Windgap are being deferred until after the announcement of the Government, HSE Phase 4 Social Restrictions on August 10th.

CONFIRMATION: The confirmation ceremony for this year’s 6th Classis being planned to take place at the end of August or in early September.

CAMOGIE: In preparation for their first senior championship game verses Clara in Windgap on Sunday next at 11am the side traveled to play a challenge game in Conahy on Sunday morning.At minor level the side’s weekend match took place on Sunday morning against Danesfort in Danesfort where unfortunately it wasn’t their day as Danesfort proved to be the stronger team. Earlier in the week the side battled hard before they were defeated by a strong Glenmore team on a cold windy Wednesday evening in Glenmore.

FADÓ FADÓ: As the planned Windgap Reeling in the Years program scheduled for the Community Centre on Sunday March 20th was deferred by Covid, all additional material will be greatly appreciated.

MOBILE COVERAGE: Following digital analysis of the area a survey of the potential site for a mast to improve the mobile coverage will take place during the week.

TIDY TOWNS: Tullahought Tidy Towns group will hold a meeting on Thursday 6th August at 8pm in Church car park if weather suitable.Otherwise in Community Centre with adherence to social distancing guidelines. All are welcome to attend.

FINAL CALL: An tAthair Fearghail O’Fearghaillis seeking all the unrecorded names that are buried in the local churchyards The names can be left in at Mass times or submitted by email to fearghus.ofearghail@dcu.ieSUPPORT: The Covid support can be contacted locally on 087 4193229 or County wide on Freephone 1800 500 000.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES July 19th 2020

CHAMPIONSHIP TIMES: When the ball is thrown in to mark the return of competitive games this weekend, Windgap will play Slieverue in the JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling League Championship in Hugginstown and the JuniorC’s will also take on The Fenians in Windgap. At minor level Galmoy/Windgap will play O’Loughlin Gaels with the under fifteens playing St. Martins.The New Social Restrictions will see the proposed attendance of five hundred people reduced to just two hundred that includes spectators of all ages, match officials, media and players. As a result there will be no tickets on sale or walk ups on the days of the games.

LOOKING BACK: The new adult Championship season will encompass dreams of success for a new generation of players and recollections for others of previous County Championships at Senior, Intermediate and Junior level. Highest amongst the list will be the memories of the Junior county championship wins in 1970 and 1986 with additional Southern titles in 2001 and 2013 and the Junior A and B county titles added in 2005 and 2004 respectively.

ELEVEN A-SIDE: The story of rural depopulation that commenced Galmoy and Windgap’s unusual hurling alliance was a very slow burner. The first moves took place just thirty years ago when both clubs entered the inaugural eleven aside under twenty one RoinnC championship in 1992. Little then,did anyone know,as both teams went on to face each other in that year’s county final in Nowlan Park what was to lay in store into the next century. Having played each other in the Senior Hurling championship on the same pitch in the nineteen seventies a proud hurling tradition had being created. As the population trend slipped downwards and that adult clubs slipped down the grades the new millennium saw both clubs short of enough players to field teams in the minor championship and as a result their hurling resilience was called on the keep their respective club colours flying. The result, where the only decision was to decide the teams name was decided by the toss of coin that resulted in the side becoming known as Galmoy/Windgap. The alliance now manning Kilkenny’s western boundary from almost Rathdowney to Carrick-on Suir provided a welcome opportunity and has seen the underage teams climb back to the upper echelons of the grades. In addition the result has provided enough players to keep the respective red and white and blue and white club colours flying. Fógraí: Galmoy won that eleven a side final before the sides went on to meet a couple of years later when Windgap took the spoils in the same grade. Fógra a dó, the past two years has seen the combined side qualify for both the under twenty one B final and the minor A semi-final whilst contributing strongly to the county sides.

TEAM OF THE DECADE: Comhghairdeachas is extended to three times All Ireland Senior winning hurler winner Kieran Purcell of Lamogue who was selected by popular choice on the Kilkenny Senior team of the Seventies. A goalkeeper and fullback through his underage black and amber career Kieran who also played senior inter-county football nailed down the full forward position on the team of the decade alongside many other legends of the game.

RECORDS REQUIRED: An tAthair Fearghail O’Fearghaillis seeking the names of all that are buried in the local churchyards In particular those who may not have headstones, their inscriptions that have become illegible, have stone markers that have no names recorded or may not have all of the names of those interred included on the current headstones. The names can be left in at Mass times or submitted to fearghus.ofearghail@dcu.ie

CHALLENGE GAMES: The Junior hurling team played Cloneen on Friday evening in Windgap with the Junior C side playing Ballingarry on Saturday evening where last year’s trainer Donal Shelly playing centre field for the visitors was the top player on view twenty one years after scoring five points as in the National Hurling League final when Tipperary defeated Galway in 1999.

GALMOY WINDGAP: Galmoy/Windgap under thirteen’s had their first get together of the year when they played a fourteen aside challenge against Rathdowney/Errill in Galmoy on Saturday morning. The game was refereed by Stephen Murphy of Galmoy.

The under fifteens played their second game against the Fenians in Galmoy on Wednesday evening.The side was: Eoin O Shea, Conor Darcy, Colman Moloney, Darragh Doyle, Noah O Shea, Jack O Shea, Rohan Lonergan, Cian O Rourke, James Purcell,Niall Drennan, Evan Doyle, Conor Doyle, P J Delaney, John Dermody, and Michael Freaney. Subs used: Shane Lomax,Fionn Lonergan,Cormac Hynes, George Culleton,Padraig Egan, Alex Culleton and Sam Moloney. The referee was Owen Beehan of the Fenians.

On Monday July 13th Galmoy/Windgap Minors travelled to Littleton to play the Moycarkey Borris older under eighteen side and lead 0-8 to 0-7 at the interval. A high scoring second half saw the sides finish level on 1-21 each in a very testing challenge. Six days later they travelled to Durrow in to play the reigning Laois Minor County champions The Harps. Galmoy/Windgap ran out winners in what was their fourth challenge game in fifteen days in preparation for their Roinn A Clash with O Loughlin Gaels in St John’s Park on Monday next. The team was: James Purcell, James Darcy,Sean Purcell, Killian Doyle, Calum Lonergan,David Sherman, Gearóid Phelan, Sean Barron, Matt Delaney,Killian Enright, Billy Drennan, Adam O Shea, Daniel Hanrahan, Blade O Gorman, and Karl McCoy.Subs used: John Dermody,Evan Doyle,Karl McCoy, Jamie Joy,Niall O Brien,Niall Drennan and Colman Moloney. The referee was Owen Beehan of the Fenians club. Reports compliments of Gerry Drennan.

GRAVEYARD MASSES: Plans are being put in place to hold the annual cemetery masses in Killamery, Tullahought and Windgap during the month of August

CAMOGIE: The minor league championship started on Sunday when Windgap played a drawn game with Mooncoin. Their next match is on Wednesday in Glenmore with the senior team playing St Anne's in Bonmahon on the same evening.

TIDY TOWNS: In Windgap the weeks activities took place weeding in the Grotto with a hedge cutting plan being put in place. Elsewhere work is continuing on providing new footpaths at the main road junction and the erection of a pedestrian crossing at the Community Centre. In Tullahought Pat Moore, Shamie Phelan and Pat O’Gorman cut the graveyard and around the community centre as the ladies continued the maintenance of shrubs and flowers.

SUPPORT: The Covid support can be contacted locally on 087 4193229 or County wide on Freephone 1800 500 000.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES July 19th 2020

ALL IRELAND TIMES: When Windgap play Slieverue in the forthcoming JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling League Championship,the New Normal Social Restrictions will only allow five hundred people at the game. The figure that includes supporters of all ages, match officials, media and players will see attendance by pre purchased ticket only. As a result the occasion will be reminiscent of bringing major inter-county games ticket distribution as in All Ireland Hurling Championship games in Croke and UPMC Nowlan Park down to the ordinary club level games across the whole county. The game is at a venue to be announced on the weekend of Sunday 26th of July.More details next week.

UPPER AND LOWER: In recent times the main road through the lower half of Windgap Village has become the business Centre of the area. Once hosting Watt Shea’s enterprise where the two red and whites club coloured petrol pumps still stand it included a garage, threshing machine hire and a hackney service.Almost opposite on the Callan side was the impressive Windgap Co-Operative Creamery building,that was open seven days a week and was a hive of activity, accepting milk and dispensing the separated product for the return journey home. Along with being noted for butter making the store had coal and farm goods and a supply of bacon that arrived on Tuesdays.

Alongside was the Creamery Oil store that still stands as part of the villages heritage and streetscape where paraffin for lamps and kerosene was stored. Next was the iron rings on the wall that were the original village parking spaces where the horses were hitched up when the accounts may have being settled or their owners visited the local shops.

Next to the Handball alley was O’Shea's run by Pat O’Shea and his family. The heart of the retail area it contained a series of O’Sheas business’s and the original O’Shea’s Hall renowned for dances that later moved to the new hall around the corner. Amongst them was the hardware store that supplied coal and lime, household goods, timber, boots and Raleigh bicycles with a wallpaper store upstairs. It also provided the iron that was used for all the farmers needs and for John Walsh’s forge. In another service glass could be ordered and would be cut overnight for collection the following morning. In those pre mobile phone and courier times any item that was not there when required would be ordered and would be sourced and be available on the following day.

Approaching the corner was O’Shea’s shop,then entered by the current lounge door and where the lists of the weekly shopping would be left in by those arriving to deliver the milk to the creamery and with a team of five serving would be ready for collection when the task was done. Next at the corner was O’Shea’s pub entered by the current residence door with both stout and brandy being bottled on-site, with the petrol pumps being added at a much later stage.Directly across at the Hill Road junction was the cattle holding and loading area that is planned for restoration by the Tidy Towns committee. Here the animals were brought by the local farmers and collected every second Thursday for delivery to the Clover Meats factory in Waterford. Also run by O’Shea’s it included a sheep butchering service and the collection of pigs from the farmers in the area every Tuesday.After loading Jimmy Kelly’s weekly trip to Clover Meats bacon factory, that was co-founded by a nearby Cussane man,was followed by a visit to Graves then an international shipping and trading company to collect timber and all the hardware requirements for the shop.

Directly across the road was Noel Kenny’s garage that was adjacent to the old School that became Ferrum Fabrications. Run by John Sheridan and Eddie Kelly, the iron fabrications business that employed forty people in its heyday, built all types of gates and the first of the bulk milk transporting trailers. In addition they built and maintained corn stores and grain driers all across the country. Finishing the business line at the cross roads in the Glen that led to the original Brett’s base was the additional creamery storage area that was located in the original creamery.

Up to recently following the closure of Guinans Bar and Lounge the Glanbia Creamery Store that is now run by the local hurling team Captain William Phelan was the only business left on the road. The changes in the past year has seen it being joined by the new Shop, Tearooms, Garage and hopefully the Pub which is set to reopen shortly and with a new owner for the old creamery buildings there is great hopes for more additions. The change in living memory is most welcome as the upper village by the church had the forge, carpenters, three shops, the Post Office and a pub that ar all now closed.

RECORDS REQUIRED: Following the Covid recording of the headstones inscriptions in the parish an tAthair Fearghail O’Fearghaill is seeking all the names of the people who are buried in the local churchyards who may not have headstones or have stone markers that have no names recorded or may not have all of the names of those interred included on the current headstones. The names can be left in at Mass times or submitted to fearghus.ofearghail@dcu.ie

SEOMRAÍ TAE: The community volunteer run Tea Rooms are open on Tuesdays to Fridays from 9am to 4pm and from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.

MOBILE UPDATES: Work is continuing by Cellnex Telecom in identifying a site to resolve the very poor mobile coverage in the area. Following site selection, agreement with the property owner and the planning process the site will also require a power supply.

MASS RETURNS: There was another fine crowd inside and out in the car park and on the street in Tullahought on Sunday where John Delaney provided the music backdrop and Breda Meehan, Eileen Grace and a team of local ladies looked after the sanitising. On Saturday next there will be live radio coverage from evening Mass in Windgap.

CHALLENGE GAMES: The Junior D hurling teams challenge on Sunday was cancelled at short notice whilst the juniors played Glenmore with the game ending in a penalty shoot out

GALMOY WINDGAP: In Galmoy Windgap’s first under fifteen challenge game John Lockes provided the opposition in Callan on Saturday evening whilst James Stephens provided very stern the opposition in Larchfield in their second minor challenge game on Thursday evening

CAMOGIE: Windgap girls were delighted to be back playing when the under fourteens played Tullaroan in a challenge match Saturday evening. The Seniors ladies had a win over O Loughlins on Wednesday evening in Windgap and over Ballyhale in Ballyhale on Sunday and play Rathnure from Wexford on Wednesday evening.

The under sixteen Camogie side play a challenge match against Gowran in Windgap Monday evening with the Minors playing Mooncoin in the League Championship match in Windgap on Sunday.

TIDY TOWNS: In Windgap the focus moved to the Grotto with weeding and hedge trimming taking place during the week. In Tullahought Tidy Towns group also carried our hedge cutting strimming, weeding and clipping.

SUPPORT: The local Covid 19 support team continueslocally on 087 4193229 and County wide on Freephone 1800 500 000.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES July 12th 2020

DROCH SCÉAL: Since Covid travel restrictions were relaxed; bad news has seen exuberance, lack of respect or blaguarding taking hold in the locality.

CLIMBING IS OUT: Widespread disappointment has being expressed about visitors of all ages climbing over the standing stones into the Western Chamber of the Coshel in Knockroe and also on other local amenities that were provided by the community for the community.The Coshel which is managed by the Bord of Works is permanently open and the practice could result in the collapse or delineation of the stones that surround the burial chamber and its alignment with the morning solstice that was planned cúíg mhíle blian ó shin.

In Windgap the full circle stone arch on the Wonders of Windgap Historical Loop Walk was another feature that was not for climbing and was climbed. The fear locally is that damage to, or an injury to those climbing on them could result in the closure of the sites and the loss of the historical and amenity facilities to locals and visitors.

LOOP WALK VANDALISED: Just days after the re-opening of the Historical Loop Walk in Windgap village the beautiful handcrafted miniature houses that stood amongst the exposed roots of the trees on the Fairy Glen pathway were vandalised and thrown down the hill into the valley below. Part of the attraction of the area for the very young visitors, the almost twenty houses with fabulous detail and color were made of wood and recycled materials by Tess Cross.The incident which occurred over two separate days, also saw people get onto the score-board on the adjoining pitch and throw the numbers around before they were disturbed. Following examination of the various CCTV cameras on the walk and in the area the form oft ransport has being identified and Gardaí are following a definite line of inquiry.

FIRST AT LAST: The Junior D hurling team had the honor of being the first Bearna na Gaoithe team back in action after the Covid restrictions when the club played two very competitive challenge games in Windgap. On Friday evening the side played a John Tenneyson managed Carrickshock side when the home side was Eoin Cody, Vincent Purcell, Shane Walsh, Darren Walsh, Paddy Power, Sean Foley, Peter Landy, James Mackey, Padraig Foley, Peter Hennessy, Mark McCoy, Eoin O’Brien, Edward Cunningham, Philly Lonergan, Walter Landy. Subs Emmett Landy, Jack Doyle.

On Saturday evening the Juniors played the Tipperary Junior County Champions Carrick Davins who changed from their traditional red to white in Windgap when the side was Peter Landy, David Doyle, Conor Lonergan, James Mackey, Sean Foley, Emmett Landy, Padhraig Foley, Darragh O'Shea, William Phelan, Pat Grace, Jack Doyle, Niall Walsh, Peter Hennessy, Jim Power, James Culleton. Subs: Mark McCoy, Eoin O'Brien.

Both games attracted fine attendances and saw the state of the art goalposts and new nets in place.Making their adult debut to replace the recent retirees were former minors Mark McCoy, Jack Doyle, Eoin O’Brien, and Padhraig Foley. They were joined by the clubs newest and most welcome players Patrick and Jim Power and Edward Cunningham who is home from teaching in Beijing. Next up are the planned challenge games against Dunnamaggin and Glenmore. Updates compliments of Julie Walsh.

TEA ROOMS OPEN: After a steady return on Tuesday there was a great turn out for Breakfast, Elevenses then Lunch to some (Dinner to others) and afternoon tea during the rest of the week. With the new Covid restrictions, a one way system and a unique social restriction seating arrangements were in place for all visitors. The community volunteer staffed Tea Rooms will be open on Tuesdays to Fridays from 9am to 4pm and from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.

MOBILE COVERAGE: Feedback on the very poor mobile coverage in the parish has added vets and contractors, tweeting and reporting from matches and the stewarding at many crossroads of local funeral arrivals to both Windgap and Tullahought Churchesas other areas of very poor mobile coverage. It is hoped that the Cellnex Telecom survey will find a solution to fill the coverage gaps between the current masts on Carraigadoon serving the Faugheen and the Suir Valley, Farnaree covering Killamery and Callan and Blackbog that serves Kilmoganny and Ahenny where all of their signals are blocked by the local hills and overfly major parts of the parish. For further info contact Jimmy on 087 7875501

MASS RETURNS: With seats taped off, social distancing floor markings, sanitizers and a one way system in place the return of weekend masses was well organised. With a nice crowd and live radio coverage in Windgap on Saturday evening there was a full house and car-park in the lower capacity Church in Tullahought on Sunday morning.

BUSY BEES: Under pressure from all sidesby spraying, parasites and lack of flowering plants and vegetation bees are entering their most productive time when Clover and Blackberry blossoms provide most of the pollen required for their winter supplies and honey making harvest.

GALMOY WINDGAP: Rathdowney Erril provided the opposition in the first minor challenge game of the season in Galmoy on Saturday evening when the combined team had a three point win. The side was James Purcell, Jamie Joy, Sean Purcell, James Darcy, Sean Barron, Callum Lonergan, Gearoid Phelan, Adam O'Shea, Matt Delaney, Niall O'Brien, Billy Drennan, Zak Kennedy, Killian Enright, Blade O'Gorman, Daniel Hanrahan, Karl McCoy, John Darcy, Evan Doyle.

TIDY TOWNS: Tullahought Tidy Towns group held an outdoor meeting in the church car park on Thursday evening to plan for the weeks ahead. The result saw Frank Callery, Eamon Doyle and Tom Egan carrying out strimming, weeding clipping and spraying respectively. In Windgap Pat Houlihan continued the hedge trimming whilst the village also got a tidy up, with the Grotto makeover being the next step.

SUPPORT: The local Covid 19 support team contact details are locally on 087 4193229 locally and County wide on Freephone1800 500 000.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES June 29th 2020

SPREAD OUT: Once the call to forwards and midfielders in all sports to “spread out” and try to get an advantage over tight marking backs, it is set to make a comeback when public events like matches, marts and Mass returns.

Under the revised HSE and GAA protocols the sight of supporters and congregations gathering at the nearest end or side of the pitch to the entrance or changing rooms, or in the back seats of the church is to be a thing of the past. With limited attendances forecast,other match instructions issued in the heat of battle of being “quick off the mark”, “making space”“being on time” and “using your speed” to get there first may become part of the new normal

TEA ROOMS REOPEN: Following the Covid necessitated break the volunteer operated Community Tearooms will re-open this Tuesday. Under the new Covid restrictions all safety precautions and a one way system for all visitors will be in place. Elsewhere an area is being made available for vulnerable persons and also the use of the adjoining hall to provide the required social restrictions. The Tea Rooms will resume with their normal opening times on Tuesdays to Fridays from 9am to 4pm and from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.

GREAT RESPONSE;Both the community and proprietors Kenneth and Louise Walsh were delighted with how the first week of Walsh’s Stores went. With everyone's thrilled to have a shop back in the area, there was so much positivity and support from the local community. The store stock’s a wide selection of items including confectionery, soft drinks, dairy products, biscuits and household items. Also fresh bread from Keogh's Model bakery in Callan as well as a selection of meats supplied by Premium Foods, Callan. The store will be open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week and everyone looks forward to how it enhances the experience of locals and visitors to the school, clubs, creamery, Loop walks and the Tea Rooms. For many the enjoyments of having the first ice-cream in the locality for a long time was a special treat.

HURLING DRAWS: Windgap Hurlers were the first of the county’s forty one clubs drawn for the re-formatted 2020 championships when the draws were made in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon. In the JJ Kavanagh Junior Competition,they will play Slieverue, Blacks and Whites and Tullougher Rosbercon with the Junior D side playing the Fenians. The games are scheduled to commence on the last weekend of August with all the HSE and GAA protocols for panel sizes, attendances time and venues to be announced at a later stage.

CAMOGIE DRAWS: In the Senior Camogie Marble City League Championship Windgap will play Young Irelands, Clara and last year’s County Finalists and neighbours Piltown. The juvenile draws are being made during the week.

HANDBALL: Windgap will be one of the first Handball Clubs in the country to be back in action as the outdoor games resumes first allowing the local players to use the two One Wall Alleys. At competitive level the Clubs annual hosting of the County One Wall championships could be the first of the competitions to be played.

NEW GOAL POSTS: After the new lines were laid out on the realigned pitch by Aidan Power, Mick Shea, Pat Walsh, PJ Egan and PJ Barron the new goalposts were erected on Friday morning.The work at the grounds continues with a painting programme being carried out.

THE THREE R’S: The availability of daily papers to the parish along with Kilkenny People and Farmers Journal via Walsh’s Stores bridges a long gap in the centuries old 3 R’s of Reading Writing and Arithmetic. Nowadays the 3R’s is more associated the Tidy Towns and Environmental mantra of Reduce,Reuse,and Recycle in everyday life. The return of the daily and weekly papers compliments the Sunday papers service after Mass in Tullahought. Organised and sold from the boot of his car by Shem Power it continues the community service carried out by John Delaney and his family for many generations.

HOW ARE WE DOING: With the worldwide focus on how all individuals treat and respect each other the current focus has moved to how all of us still treat people of difference or color?.

MOBILE COVERAGE: Feedback on the very poor mobile coverage in the parish has identified the gaps where calls are lost on the roads and where the last stopping point or gateway is to finish or make a call. Along with the two centers of population in Windgap and Tullahought villages that are the real red spot areas, delivery drivers are among those whose work is being hampered. Currently Cellnex Telecom is surveying the area for a suitable location to improve the mobile and broadband coverage in the whole area. For further info contact Jimmy on 087 7875501

MASS RETURNS: Seats were taped off for the return of weekend masses in Windgap on this Saturday evening the 4th and Tullahought on Sunday morning the 5th of July where the attendance will be fifty and thirty two respectively. With on-going discussions taking place vat National level the up to date details and all of the arrangements will be circulated by the Pastoral Council.

BACK PLAYING: The news of the return to the hurling field in the unique times where we could never have envisaged of an Irish Spring and Summer without any matches was widely welcomed with huge turnouts to training. However these challenging times are not over yet and each of us need to be diligent and proactive in following the HSE and GAA guidelines, if we are to Stay Safe and return to some normality in our local championship and Inter County games. This will involve adherence to all of the temperature testing and safety protocols, in sanitizing, attendance tracking, and social distancing implementation for training and matches

TIDY TOWNS: Tullahought Tidy Towns group will hold an outdoor meeting in the church car park on Thursday evening at 8pm. If weather is unsuitable the group will move to the Community Center for a socially distanced meeting.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The local Covid 19 support team contact details are locally on 087 4193229 locally and County wide on Freephone1800 500 000.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES June 22nd 2020

NEW SHOP OPENING. The parish of Windgap and the surrounding areas has a new shop when Walsh’s Stores opened on Saturday in Windgap village. The well-stocked store run by Kenneth and Louise Walsh will be open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. Also stocking papers, its opening on the site of Guinans shop reverses the role of the four shops and the post office that have closed in the village in living memory. They were John Doran’s, Dai Walsh’s,Guinans and Ryan’s who also ran the now closed Post Office. In addition Delaney’s in Baunreigh and Powers in Tullahought also had extensive shops that served the local communitywhilst Dai Walsh, John Doran along with Mollie Maher’s of the Slatequarries also had travelling shops.Best wishes are extended to all involved in Walsh’s stores that will also enhance the facilities for the school, local clubs, and creamery, visitors to the Church, Loop walks and the Community Shop and Tea Rooms.

MOBILE COVERAGE: Following years of very poor mobile coverage in the parish Cellnex Telecom are surveying the area for a suitable location to improve the coverage in the parish that will benefit Windgap and Tullahought villages and the surrounding countryside. Currently with many residents resorting to placing phones in windows and pacing the roads in the local villages seeking a signal to arrange a lift home on a night out it is a welcome development. Elsewhere many are unable to get calls and messages on time and in some very serious medical emergency cases, relations have to go to meet an ambulance at a nearby crossroads. Allied to poor broadband that affects residents, employees, employers and online service users it also offers a potential solution. If feedback and demand is sufficient a footprint and details of the proposed improved coverage will be created. For further info contact Jimmy on 087 7875501

FROM THE OTHER SIDE: Towering at two thousand three hundred and thirty three feet (720Metres) the gently sloped colossus of Slievenamon dominates the local landscape. Steeped in legend, history and folklore, it can be seen across the southern half of the country and for everyone it has a different meaning.

For farmers, it predated online weather forecasts by watching the breaking clouds and the sunrise and sunset colours. For historians it is an endless pool of information, for archaeologists there is the immense potential of the mountain top tomb “to the underworld” whilst it’s oral song and story traditions were captured in Sean Nugent’s publication of“Slievenamon in Song and Story”. Across the world the song “Slievenamon” is a national treasure for the diaspora,a National Anthem for some and a motivational tool for others.

A visit on Sunday week, via, Ahenny and Clashnasmuth from where they cannot see their own Mountain of the Women was the first in fifteen years. As the road wound, through The Gap of Rathclarish, Four Roads and Ballypatrick it climbed through Kilcash (Cill Chais) famed for its “Cad a dhéanfamaid feasta gan adhmad”. Just above the village, it led to the access laneway, that must have been trodden my a million people since Fionn Mac Cumhail organised the race to the top for the local women so he could select himself a wife.

Noted on the way up the victor, Grainnes sacred mountain festooned with heather and fraochán bushes were beautiful miniature flowers in yellow, pink,violet and white colours with the dark turf contrasting with weather bleached rocks and bog cotton. Also noted was the obvious lack of rubbish thanks to the “Keep Tipp Clean Campaign”. Adding to the awe of the mountain top was the three hundred and sixty degree vista, where normally unseen mountain ranges and the now miniature fields and houses that could be picked out,back home on the other (Kilkenny) side of the Lingaun River Valley.

Close to the Cairn is the Ordinance Survey height marker whilst a giant standing stone from a stranger material bears the inscribed figures of 1848 that has a rebel meeting significance. In addition there was the almost mystical appearance,through breaks in the cloud of a full moon on the location of the “Moon behind the Hill” ballad that overlooks the luscious green plains of Kilkenny and Tipperary. Quiet and calm on the day, when a midsummers Sunday would have being the height of the highly contested inter-county hurling and football championship matches, only a rare skylark broke the stillness as it melodiously broadcast its joys of life.

A regular outing for walking enthusiasts, the walk retraced the steps of a similar midsummer’s Sunday, Dachad Blian Ó Shin. That day on the climb, the participants were amazed to learn one of the party,Tommy Walsh who lived in view and within ten miles of the mountain had not climbed it until that date that also marked his sixtieth birthday. It was later explained by his school mate Percy Barry that climbing,it was not a social activity priority for those who worked a seven day week and who used their scare time off for attending matches, dances and the Tramore Races on the 15th August. Amazingly one has since learned that others had left it much later in life to start or never made the climb to the top.

On the return journey,it was home by the ancient old beautifully named foothills of Knocksheegouna, Knocknahunna, Glennaskagh, Carraigmoclear and then on by the century old grave of Micheál Hogan of Croke Parks Bloody Sunday in Grangemockler. Crossing back over the Lingaun River, to the other side, ones thoughts recalled the previous visit with Louie Marchetti and other Walsh family members as to when the return trip might be! At a turn in the road, as the mountain loomed large once again the radio discussion debated the expected return to the post Covid New Normal.

However for most of the country’s hurling counties that had Slievenamon visually on their horizon, the thoughts of what side, will sing, what song, from the steps of Michael Hogan’s Stand this December would never be too far away.

OWL TIMES: The sighting of long eared owls at varios locations throughout the Tullahought area has brought great excitement. Once regularly seen and nesting in the old ruins and barns their return has being widely welcomed. In Windgap the water hen at the lake has hatched a new family and they are also proving to be a great attraction.

MASS RETURNS: Plans are being put in place for the implementation of personal safety and social restrictions for the return of weekend masses in Windgap on the 4th and Tullahought on the 5th of July. Currently, it will involve the taping off of seats in the local churches where the limited attendance of fifty will create the biggest problem. How to select-decide which fifty can attend is a problem that may be lessened by the relaxation of the numbers or the use, weather permitting of the external speakers. Details of all the arrangements will be circulated following a meeting of the Pastoral Council on this Tuesday evening.

BACK TO PLAY: The news of the return to the hurling field Open pitches was widely welcomed by the Hurling and Camogie Clubs. It will see non-contact training for Adult teams from this Wednesday 24th and for Minor and below teams from Saturday, June 27th. The opening is subject to the Clubs Personal safety and observing social Restrictions with all players and participants having completed the eLearning module and Health Questionnaire and also in conjunction with Club bookings that allow no overlap of teams. Contact training and challenge games resume on June 29th with dressing rooms and the handball alley to remain closed until 20th July.

NOTEABLE DAYS: Having celebrated Midsummers day on Sunday, the recent happenings around the world brought a new appreciation of another time marker in Juneteenth that takes place two days earlier on 19th of June and celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. In place since 1865 recent worldwide protests have questioned how all of us still treat people of difference or colour.

VILLAGE NEWS: On the Tidy Towns scene a grant has been awarded to assist with the restoration of the listed creamery building in Windgap. In Tullahought the grass has been cut the graveyard whilst the weeding and watering continued in both areas. On Wednesday evening the Rosary was recited in Tullahought to coincide with the funeral mass for Sister Jude (Bridget) Moore in Chicago.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The local Covid 19 support team delivered parcels to the vulnerable residents in the area. Their contact details are locally on 087 4193229 locally and County wide on Freephone1800 500 000.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday.

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES June 15th 2020

GREAT STUFF: It was like old times during the week when over sixty members of the community turned out for voluntary work in the Hurling Club, in both Windgap and Tullahought Graveyards and for the local Tidy Towns Groups. From the Community at large it was buíochas mór le gach duine a bhípáirteach

A BIG SURPRISE: Aftereleven weeks of being closed and travel restrictions the local pitch in Windgaplooked resplendent on Sunday evening with all of the work that has being carried out. It occurred following the widening and lengthening of the pitch which was realigned and the goalposts taken down in preparation for a new set to be put in place in time for the rescheduling of the games. After the new pitch plan was laid out by Niall Walsh, Sean Power and Pat Walsh a ten strong team put in two shifts from seven to ten thirty on Friday night with a seven thirty start on Saturday morning seeingthat the work was completed at midday. The three year project that saw the row of evergreen trees being removed the ground built up and reseeded. The work also saw Pat Moore spray the grounds, part of the bank being realigned, the boundaries being trimmed and the squares in front of the goals being moved andre-sodded with Simon Brophy providing the sand. The crew included PJ Barron, PJ Egan, Paddy Walsh, Ger. Doyle, Matthew O’Shea, Mick O’Shea, Michael Moloney, Sean Power, Aidan Power who drove the digger and Pat Cooke who gave it a trim when all had departed..

BIG HURLING MATCHES: With the Club targeting the ground improvements to Carrickshock and John Lockes teams for the Michael Lyng Intermediate Hurling League and the other teams across the various grades in Hurling, Football and Camogie competitions,there was a great disappointment as Covid 19 saw all of the games deferred. As a result of the improvement work Club Officials have expressed theirhopes that when the new draws are made that with all of the facilities including the brand new Community Centre, spectator bank, seating and parking facilities that they will be well up the pecking order for hosting a senior game. Also on the Fixtures list for the venue were the Juniors attractive home games against Slieverue, red hot championship favourites Mooncoin and Kilmacow the JJ Kavanagh & SonsLeague and Mullinavat and Young Irelands for the Marble City Senior Camogie League. The erection of the new posts on the June 28^th will complete the work on the pitch that saw Kilkenny seniors play Tipperary on the opening day almost fifty years ago.

OPERATION TRANSFRMATION: Following the commencement of the tidy up of the rolling scenic graveyard in Windgap during the week a crowd of over forty people turned up on Saturday morning to give the whole place a short back and sides, when they mowed, cut and trimmed around the burial place of their families, friends, neighbours and ancestors. After a hard mornings work it was down to the hall for a well-earned midday break served from the new community centre kitchen. The “sos” gave time for a rare Covid social restricted get together and chats, where they were joined at both venues by an tAthair Fearghail O Fearghaill PP. Well fed,rejuvenated and refreshed it was then back up the hill for the second half of the days volunteering that finished at three o’clock. The work also saw the village sprayed and the grass cut around the parochial house and Church with all of the cuttings stored for removal. The next step is the Calvary Grotto where the hedges and pathways are scheduled for a clean shave, wash,cut and blow-dry makeover.

SISTER JUDE: The death has occurred of Sister Jude formerly Bridget Moore of Birchwood in Chicago. Aged eighty eight Bridget was educated both in Kilmacoliver - Tullahought Natioanl School and later at the Presentation Secondary School in Carrick-on-Suir that she attended from her cousins House the Lalor’s in Main Street. Aged fifteen and just after the War Bridget joined the Polish, Holy Family of Nazareth Order and trained in Enfield in England.Sister Jude later transferred to the Sisters of Mercy and spent almost seventy years as a nursing nun, working initially in Chicago and then Albuquerque, New Mexico and Jamaica, before she returned to work in many parts of Chicago.Sister Jude stayed in the Sisters of St. John of God convent in Owning on her early holidays and kept in touch with her old secondary school mates the Lalors Mary and Kathleen-Doherty, Mai Coghlan-Grace Noreen Daly and Bernie Cooney-Casey. Sister Jude was last home three years ago, was regularly visited by her niece and nephew Judith and Shamie and in recent times lived in the Mercy Circle Retirement Home in Chicago. From a staunch hurling and Slatequarries football and handball household Bridget had a great interest in her native county and to the surprise of her neighbours who thought that the quiet gentle lady had little apparent interest in the games, she proudly wore the county jersey to Mass in the Windy City on Kilkenny Hurling’s big match days. Sister Jude was predeceased by her parents Geoff and Bridie nee O’Hara, her sister Mary Phelan and brothers Pat, Michael and Jimmy. Sister Jude is survived by her brother John in Birchwood and her niece and nephew Judith and Shamie Phelan other relations and friends. Sister Judes funeral Mass takes place in Chicago today Wednesday at 7pm Irish time.

GOING STRONG: On the Tidy Towns scene Mary Walshe, Eileen Grace and Breda Crowley looked after the flowers, Shamie Phelan the graveyard walls whilst a former hurler cut the graveyard in Tullahought.Lake maintenance was continued by Seamus Power whilst the one hundred yard long wildflower bed put in place last year by Aidan Lavelle has started coming into flower. In Windgap the Community Loop Walk “The wonders of Windgap” in the village remains closed. Closely the playground has reopened and the focus has turned to the watering of the plants in new bedding area where Joe O’Shea played a huge part in its construction. Elsewhere in both villages the flower displays at the private residences are in full bloom.

HOOLEY IN THE KITCHEN: “Around the House and mind the Dresser” was brought into the twenty first century in recent days when modern communications and Covid restrictions saw local GAA club officers and delegates from around the county participate in online County Board meetings. Similar to all other organisations, the days of the smoke filled backrooms and late nights were despatched to history. In changing times and despite challenging broadband and mobile coverage a mix of visual and oral communications systems were used for the events. The New Normal was captured when the Railyard Chairperson Paddy Ward reflected “there were a fair few present who never thought they would attend a County Board meeting in their kitchen”. Changing times indeed!

PECKING ORDER: Nature was seen sorting out its pecking order in recent days as a Jackdaw hovered as he attempted to raid the House Martins nest under the eve and was later seen chasing a Fox across a field before taking to the air to challenge a Buzzard as his own offspring came under threat. Elsewhere a cat that was prowling the ditches for young birds was challenged by low diving swallows as he attempted to enter a shed where they nested. Back above the Buzzard who normally soars higher than the Hawks, Ravens and crows hovered over one of his local fields to watch the now rare sight of a couple of young player’s pucking a ball.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid 19 support teams contact details are locally on 087 4193229 locally and County wide on Freephone1800 500 000 and email covidsupport@kilkennycoco.ie

NOTES: Contributors and Clubsare invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES June 8th 2020

HANDBALL HISTORY: Following the arrival of Handball to the area when a number of RIC Officers used the burnt cinders from the fire to create a solid floor to play the game behind the back wall of the Barracks at Baunreigh in the Slatequarries well over a century ago,the game then spread to Windgap. In both venues the game was played for geneartionsin the three wall alleys with players successfully representing the Slatequarries and Windgap in the County Championships.

At the games peak there were handball alleys in many of the local villages with trips to play in Kilcash, Owning, Kells, The Oblate Fathers in Piltown, Mothel, Kilfane and Ullard being by cycling or on the back of a truck. With many great stories to be told of the games Ullard folklore from a recent funeral in the area recalls Windgap’s Watt Purcell struck a ball so hard out through the window of the ancient medieval church that was used as the front wall that it travelled off the site across the road and way into a farmer’s yard. A century ago Thomas (Boggan) Healy was one of the games greatest exponents and played in both alleys with a noted replay game against Waterford’s JJ Neary taking place in Windgap. The “Great Handball Contest” was described in the press as “Highly Interesting with several brilliant exchanges in the 3^rd and 5^th games with claims the ball was shaded on more than one occasion” as the Tipperary man took the spoils over five games to twenty one. In the Slatequarries the alley was packed each evening and within twenty yards of the Lingaun River and County Boundary many games and the queue of players and spectators had an added inter-county edge in addition to the old thrupence(three penny bit) or tanner (six pence) bet on the side.After the game went into decline in the late seventies advance planning in the run up to the GAA’s Centenary year in 1984 saw a site chosen in conjunction with Fr. Garret Phelan PP at aninaugural meeting on 12^th June 1984. Within three weeks a public meeting was held on the 9^th of July to form a Handball Racquetball Club with twenty four people in attendance, where a Committee was formed. It is recorded as President Canon Garret Phelan, Vice president Dan Phelan, Chairman Paddy Mackey, Vice Chairman Nicky Hawe, Secretary Jimmy Walsh, Assistant Helen Power, Treasurer John Ryan, Assistant Treasurer Jim Ryan with the committee to include members of the parish council to join Eamon Cronin, Martin O’Shea, Dick Walsh, Joe Grincell, Joan Walsh, Seamus Norris, Marie Ryan, Pat Power, Theresa Brawders Noleen Coghlan and the show was on the road. Permission was granted by Kilkenny County Council to extend the existing building and function room of the old “Roadhouse” attached to Windgap Community Centre and convert it into a Handball Court on 24^th August 1984.

The completed 40x20 Alley was opened in October 1985 byHandball President Tommy O’Brien with Cannon Garret Phelan and Fr. Dan Delaney blessing the alley with Ducksie Walsh playing Tony Ryan in the opening game. The story of the building could be the making of a film with a vast variety of fundraisers and community work that was often carried out into the early hours under a one hundred watt bulb.Led by Nicky Hawe with Pat Walsh doing the building that Tony Nolan plastered, the planned galvanised roofed single block building with the help of Clares Caimin Jones became a state of the art for its time of a double skinned wall and roofed structure with a maple sprung floor, glass back wall, changing rooms, kitchen and spectators gallery. Along the way, when bank interest reached eighteen per cent Bank Holiday weekend fundraising Discos became one of the great attractions with RTE 2’s Gerry Ryan, Marty Whelan, Ian Dempsey, Mark Cagney, Maxi, Paul Scanlon, Jimmy Greely Richard Crowley, Vincent Hanley who were all fronted by Aidan Cody from Ballyhale.

The highlight event came when seven DJ’s played in a marquee in the GAA pitch on Saturday28^th June 1987. Led by Ian Dempsey Maxi, Paul Scanlon and Jimmy Greeley with Richard Crowley judging the Best Dressed Lady Competition twelve bus routes linked every village in the south east to Windgap as they departed from New Ross, Glenmore, Mooncoin, Mullinavat, Graignamanagh, Gowran, Callan, Ballyragget, Urlingford, Clonmel and the Parade in Kilkenny with manyprivately hired busses from as far away as Cahir. As preparations continued the heavens opened with torrential mid summers rain and thunder as lightning knocked out village after village and one bolt late in the evening blackened the sky as power and all of the lights were extinguished in the major urban areas of Kilkenny, Callan and as far as Clonmel. On the ground the show went on as Georgie Smyth came to save the day, with a rare in its time, high capacity generator with other smaller ones supplied by the community. On time and in trepidation of would the marquee stay anchored down or be washed awythe DJ’s arrived from the “Blue Room” that was James Powers in the Slatequarries and Windgap rocked the night away in scenes not unlike the Glastonbury festival on a very wet day. The events attracted a loyal following in times of few well run social events for teenagers and those in their early twenties with no alcohol served, no egress after admittance and professional doormen.

This was later revealed when after a break in the discos a seven page foolscap petition was received signed by over two hundred people “Wishing to convey their utmost dismay with the absence a Disco in Windgap Community Center and look forward to a disco in the near future”. The list which contained the names of the now leaders of society in companies, professions, service and sport that have their own families and grandchildren and was a heritage list of the areas they came from that included Millvale, Belline, Ballyneale, Ballinamona, Cussane, Newtown Upper, Carrick, Piltown Portlaw, Kilsheelin Ballinalina, Harristown, Ahenny, Clashnasmuth, Fanningstown, Wilmor, Owning, Cregg Carrick beg Faugheen, Windgap, Grangemockler, Nine Mile House, Blackbog, Ballygown Piltown, Kilroracy, Mothel, Rathgormack, Tybroughney, Ballypatrick, Coolfin, Sheskin, Curragh, Raheenarran, Jamestown, Feddans, Moondigua, Ballygown Kilmoganny, Turkstown, Kildalton, Brownmountain, Ashtown, Mullinbeg, Templeorum, Lismatigue, Ballydine, Oldcourt Clonmore, Slatequarries, Tullahought, Millvale, Ballyhenebry, Ballyderagh, Ballyowen, Ballinvere, Windgap, Hugginstown, Curasilla, Fanningstown, Castletown, Mullinavat and Coolnamuck. Although Covid closed the club has gone from strength to strength with players having won many county provincial and All Ireland titles in both genders and many codes with a number playing competing across Europe and in the World championships that were held at home and abroad.

Today the running of the Club is in the excellent hands of Chairperson Emmett Landy, Vice Chair John Ryan, Secretary Sean Foley, Treasurer Michael Grace and long serving officer Michael O’Shea who and is now the Kilkenny County Handball Chairperson.In the interim the alley was leased for nine hundred and ninety nine years to Windgap GAA Club on the 24^th of April 2008 and the Club hosts all of the county one wall championships with access to two one wall courts in the hurling club and another in the new Community Centre as the sporting tradition grows stronger.

GRAVETYARD MEITHEAL: A Community get together takes place on in Windgap on Saturday to cut the grass in the graveyard,trim the hedges and clean the pathways around the Graveyard and Calvary Grotto. All help will be greatly appreciated with the work, the clean-up and the removal of the cuttings and grass from around one of the hidden gems of the region. With three graveyards in the parish and no Fás, Tús or RSS scheme in place it is being planned to look after the on-going maintenanceby means of a weekly and monthly rota.Those wishing to offer a hand under Covid 19 Standards in the maintenance of the currently used cemeteries in preparation for a return of the annual graveyard masses in Windgap, Killamery and Tullahought are asked to contact Fr. Fearghail O’Fearghaill in the Parochial House or any member of the Parish Committee.

GOING STRONG: Windgap and Tullahought Tidy Towns groups has turned to grass maintenance and watering of bedding plants in recent days. The great interest that was displayed on the laying and hatching plans for the ladies of the lake in Windgap resulted in huge disappointment as a number of the nests at locations well away from the water were raided by unseen and unknown predators. As a result the ducks returned to the lake without the fanfare and attention that was expected on their arrival with their new broods of duckling’s. It is hoped that some of them may make a second attempt to hatch.

In Tullahought the well-kept recycling banks were emptied by Kilkenny County Council.

COMMUNICATINS: Communications have being hit in the area with a phone outage affecting a large number of residents since early on Friday

CONTRACTING WEATHER: A run of an unseasonably long stretch of excellent weather has seen the first run of silage put to bed, manure and slurry spread, hay cut and corn sprayed and all in the month of May. The increasing work being carried out by contractors working in the farming front line with the latest top class modern machinery has contributed immensely to maximising the good spell.

CLUB NEWS: Grass maintenance took place in the pitches in both Windgap and Tullahought in preparation for the return of activities and their reopening at the end of the month.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid 19 support teams contact details are locally on 087 4193229 locally and County wide on Freephone1800 500 000 and email covidsupport@kilkennycoco.ie

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES June 1st 2020

AMUIGH FÉIN AER: After ten weeks within the new 2K and 5K Covid restrictions, as everyone hasgained a new aspect on the nature, history,heritage in their locality. Amongst the recent seldom seen items in busier times were White Bluebells, tricoloured yellow, orange and red flowered birdsfoot, fields of oats, the amazing array and seasons of butterflies and moths and even lone insulators on old telephone poles.

OBAIR IONTACH: Windgap and Tullahought Tidy Towns groups continued their development work and village maintenance under the Covid 19 Standards. In Tullahought Michael Grace cut the graveyard during the week,Breda Horgan arranging the bedding plants that she was assisted in planting in early starts over the weekend by Eileen Grace. In Windgap wild flowers and bedding plants were organised by Kate Moloney and planted at the lake. As always additional volunteers are required and those wishing to offer a hand in the maintenance of the currently used cemeteries where the annual graveyard masses are held in Windgap, Killamery and Tullahought are asked tocontact Fr. Fearghail O’Fearghaill in the Parochial House or anymember of the Parish Committee. Elsewhere Tidy Towns volunteers can contact Nicky Hawe and Richard Walsh respectively.

CLUB NEWS: Sincere thanks are extended to all who have observed the HSE and Government restrictions thet have kept them away from even seeing the local pitch or facilities for the past ten weeks. The good news is that even though All the Hurling, Camogie and Handball Club facilities remain closed, the restrictions are being lifted in a phased manner with the walkway subject to certain restrictions and guidelines is expected to be reopened on Monday next 8^th of June.

FOOTBALL: The first of the GAA’s National annual football championships to fall completely to the Covid Virus was Comórtas Peil na Gaeltachta. Scheduled to be hosted by the Naomh Eanna club in Lettermore in County Galway on the June weekend it had a local connection when former Windgap Handballer and Camogie player Julie Walsh was set to line out with Na Gaeil Óga the Irish speaking ladies football team based in Dublin that would be celebrating their 10^th anniversary. The loss of the games to the Leitír Mór area and community as elsewhers across the country was audible as an tAthair Gearóid O’Griofa celebrated Aifreann an Domhnaigh on Radio na Gaeltachta on a lovely sunny, summer morning.

CARD PLAYING: Twenty five card gamesof three threes was long the traditional house game and social activity in the area with the bigger games being held for Hams and Hampers at Christmas times in the local pubs. On Saturday 18^th October 1983 a Progressive twenty five card game was started by Louie Marchetti, Joan O’Gorman, Dick Walsh and Sarah Crowley who also looked after the catering and teas. In time it became very popular and was a major social and fundraising event in the locality. Played on Saturday nights in the newly refurbished Tullahought Community Centre that was once the old school that had its second room rebuilt after a fire destroyed it in the late sixties.

The games of Progressive 25 were played with three two’s and the early players were from the locality where it filled a social void as the weekly Bingo in Windgap School had come to an end. Its success saw it extend, with players attending from over a twenty mile radius across counties Kilkenny Tipperary and Waterford and over the years it created great friendships for people who would never have met and who went on to reconnect at other card games, matches, marts and race meetings. In addition, it was a must do and a regular contact place for those who were on their annual holidays home. Over the years the funds were reinvested and supported many organisations with big games being held annually for St. Nicholas National School, along with the Tullahought Badminton Club, the Windgap Hurling and Camogie clubs with the biggest nights being for the new Handball Alley on Christmas night and the Tidy Towns on Good Fridays. As its attractiveness grew crowds of well over forty tables arrived and for the very first Good Friday night game it saw additional seating borrowed from the Church, Powers Pub and the local residences who also provided the additional food, cups and cutlery with the local church being suggested by the Parish Priest Fr. Garret Phelan as the overflow solution.

Along with being a social success it became a proficient fundraiser and outside of the regular games the other beneficiaries reflected the needs of the time and included in the first decade were the Ethiopian Famine, Lourdes Pilgrimage, Kurdistan Relief, Romanian Relief, Dolphin Swimming Club, Bóthar, Carrick Hospital Lift, Kidney Dialysis, Blind Dog fund, Home Care, Peruvian Missions, St Joseph’s Home Kilmoganny, Church of Ireland Building Fund. Locally the funds also provided for the Organ in Windgap Church, Grotto Planting, the purchase and clearing for a Car park site of the old bakery and horse and coach hackney service in Tullahought, Youth Club, the local Graveyards, Parochial House Repairs, Gas Heating in Tullahought Community Centre and Tarmac at Windgap Church, It also provided for the Portable Amplification system for the use of all the community groups, Fire Extinguishers, Emergency Lighting, Safety items, Flags, a kitchen and catering equipment that included crockery, tables and chairs. In addition the group, along with all of the other parish clubs were shareholders in the original Kilkenny Radio provided and fitted the kneeler covers in Windgap Church and also received a personal letter of thanks from Mother Teresa in Calcutta .

Two Keys to the success were the players from near and far who assisted in many ways and were known to offer to and run the game, rather than have it postponed, if it clashed with a local wedding, the Hurling Club dinner dance or a Saturday evening hurling game at a distant venue. Providing top-quality teas was one the great attractions for the players at the end of the night’s game with another session around midnight for those who stayed back to play in the many tables of nines. On the night the ladies weekly catering teams provided an array of buns and cup-cakes andmade and served the tea and sandwiches and only got an acknowledgment at the end of the game and a Christmas night off. The regular menu was Ham sandwiches and buns, with only salad sandwiches served on Good Friday that was replace with Beef, Sherry Trifle and Mince Pies on Christmas Night.

The amazing catering team’s records from 1997 to 2002 when the games finished show the following names, Ellen Mary Kenny, Joan Downey, Maureen Cantwell and Marie Landy. Jo Jo Purcell Esther Purcell, Judith Phelan Concepta Moore. Olive Hawe Madge Barry, Eileen Power, Eileen Hawe. Ann Foley, Margaret Mackey, Mary Purcell, Mary Molloy. Sarah Crowley, Catherine Lavelle, Catherine Purcell, Cathleen Duggan. Joan Purcell Mary Walsh, Marie Cahill, Mary Fleming. Kitty Egan, Biddy McKenna, Peggy Barron, Marie O Brien. Kathleen O’Shea, Merlin Culleton, Mary Lonergan, Elizabeth Lanigan. Mollie Walsh RIP, Margaret Doyle, Breda Meehan, Margaret Phelan and Catherine Meagher. Joan O’Gorman, Helen Walsh, Therese Walsh Maureen Foran and Mary Butler who passed away recently.Patricia Power, Ann Hearne, Mary Meehan, Catherine Burke. On other night members of the local clubs and school assisted on their fundraising nights and Christmas nights team included Judy Flood down from Dublin,Tommy Hearne, PJ Hawe and Nicky Hawe.

For many it was the start of public life for the juvenile members of many families that started with Rosanne Coghlan and included Coughlan’s, Brawders, Crowley’s, Phelans, Doyle’s, Norris’s,Walsh’s who started by collecting on the door with Eamon Doyle and Jimmy Walsh, selling raffle tickets and running the games before moving on when discos became their social attraction on Saturday nights. The weekly cards provided great integration, camaraderie and memories for a number of generations and included educational tips of times when good play, counting and bad mistakes, often with hindsight when all the cards were played of what you should have done. Sadly many of the players and supporters are now no longer with us and with too many names to recall they are sadly missed. Elsewhere the many younger players who learned the traditional game are hopefully passing on the skills to the next generation at their new locations in Ireland and across the world.

NEXT WEEK: The history of Handball in the area

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid 19 support teams continue to play their parton 087 4193229 locally and via the County Council Response Forum from 8am to 8pm daily on Freephone 1800 500 000 and email covidsupport@kilkennycoco.ie

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES May 25th 2020

HISTORY AND HERITAGE: Within the new 5K Covid restrictions, almost everyone in the country is close to a local graveyard that is full of history,heritage and folklore. A social visit to oneuncovers layers of generations and behind them proud family and community traditions. In Tullahought/Kilmacoliver the cemetery predates the current church which was built in 1884 and one can only wonder at the life, times and connections of every one interred there. Within a few steps into the well-attended“reilg” and link to the past,one wonders who has left the Alyssum flowers at Edmund Keyron's grave almost one hundred and fifty years after he departed this earth. Nowadays the family name is still recalled by the bridge close to where his former house stood as “Keyron’s Bridge which has being developed into a Wildlife and Amenity area. Then, what type of Hurler would Percy Kirwan the winner of a County Minor Hurling medal have been. His achievement occurred long before the local St. Josephs and Windgap Clubs were formed and before a previous pandemic in TB had shortened his life at a young age in 1957.Then what inspired and brought the original Galway Girl Annie Coen from Loughrea to work in the area, before she married, settled down and lived her full life and then from further afield the Marchetti ancestors from Italy. In more recent times one can only be intrigued by the plaque at the Carroll family grave that reads Johnny Carroll, Tipperary, Died 16^th of December 2011, Aged 67, “Safely Home” and wonder was the Safety of Home in Heaven, back at the final resting place of his ancestors,or in his parents county Kilkenny as the sight of the ever resplendent Slievenamon looms large across the valley or all three. Then there are the memorials to the families ravaged by the necessitated emigration of their times when Headstones were erected by siblings in the United States in memory of their parents. Closer in time was the mass emigration of the fifties that exacted a terrible toll on the local population and where the ties remained so strong that many returned home for their final journey.In one such case Tim Griffin’s emigration meant he had not seen his native village for well over fifty years. Of the two K’s extraction when his father also Tim fromKillorglin in Kerry served in the RIC Barracks in the Slatequarries married Kilkenny woman Nora from the house opposite the cemetery. In England Tim breathed his Kilkenny connections wore the Shamrock on every St. Patricks Day and tuned in to all the Irish music, news and games.The original stone erected by a relative in New York now awaits the return from Manchester, when the latest pandemic allows, the ashes of his sister Agnes who was a regular visitor home for all of her life. Such intrigue in a small country churchyard and onehas only passed through a small section by the roadside wall.In it, it provides an important part of the endless story of the history andheritage of the community who were probably first interred almost five thousand years agoin the Megalithic Tomb on Baunfree Hill that overlooks the village. More anon on the local cemetries

MOBILE COVERAGE: Potential good news is that Cellnex Irelands newest Telecommunications Infrastructure Provider are currently assessing mobile coverage by carrying out a survey in Windgap, Tullahought and the surrounding areas with a view to resolving the mobile and broadband coverage deficits in the area. More details to follow

ONLINE QUIZ: An online quiz was recently hosted by the Smith family from Garryricken. The majority of the forty seven teams were from the Windgap and the surrounding areas, with the local diaspora participating from six countries, including England, Wales, Scotland, USA and New Zealand. The result came down to a tie breaker between the O'Shea family of Knockroe led by Darragh and the Hawe family from New Zealand (ex. Lamogue) led by Sarah with the Hawes piping the event which attracted almost two thousand viewers.

OBAIR IONTACH: Windgap andTullahought Tidy Towns groups continued their with villages maintenance and improvements under Covid 19 Standards. In Tullahought Shem Power cut the graveyard during the week and the grass around the headstones was strimmed on Saturday. In Windgap a good start was made in the scenic rolling hillside cemetery that leads to the Calvary Grotto that is one of the hidden gems of the Lingaun Valley and is short listed as a \religious Tourism destination when Pat Cooke and Dermot Houlihan cut the new part of the graveyard and around the base of the old church. Next up for both groups as the chance of frosty nights declines is the planting of bedding plants. As always additional volunteers are required and those wishing to offer a hand in thecemeteries are asked to contact the Parochial House or any member of the Parish Committee. Elsewhere Tidy Towns volunteers can contact Nicky Hawe and Richard Walsh respectively.

AN NUACHT NUA: Sunday morning saw a new rare sight as two planes flew close behind each other in an easterly direction and another within minutes another was seen on the reverse western trip. They were following the traditional shortest North Atlantic route to and from London to the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Hub in New York that would exit land over Clare, Galway and return to it via Labrador and Newfoundland. Down below on terra firma revelations of old ruins, stone walls, traditional gate posts, birds, wild flowers, butterflies and a relaxed and friendly salute from neighbours have

become the new news as walking within the two and now five kilometres has revealed a diverse locality that passes in a blink on the same car journey.

CLUB NEWS: All the Hurling, Camogie and Handball Club facilities remain closed,the goalmouths have been levelled and reseeded and grass maintenance is being carried out on the pitch in Windgap and in the Sportsfieldin Tullahought.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid 19 support teams continue to play their part on 087 4193229 locally and via the County Council Response Forum from 8am to 8pm dailyon Freephone1800 500 000 and email covidsupport@kilkennycoco.ieThanks are extended to all who lead the battle against the Covid Virus and to all who continue to follow the HSE Travel, Social Restrictions and Safety guidelines to keep gach duine a choinneál slán

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES May 18th 2020

HURLING REPLACES WEATHER: Well into the Silage Season where the weather really matters, Hurling has replaced it as the topic of daily conversations. “Will we see the lads at all this year”, which covers both club and the county, male and female sides with a strongly held conviction that is extends between clubs and is amplified when one lives along the County Boundary. For those living on the other side of the parish or county line it’s the same story in missing the build-up, the reflections, meeting people having observations of who played well and opinions on the fortunes for the next day. Whilst those living away from home have lost one of their stronger identity links to home.

UNSOCIABLE BEHAVIOUR: The community are happy to hear that some progress has been made in the investigation by the Gardaí and County Council Environment Officer Tom Brennan into the dumping of a sludge type material from a tractor and a slurry tank in the Slatequarries recently. The material that was pumped off the road decorated a Sycamore tree with waste paper or cotton debris close to where one of the sculptors Nidekaue (Hide) Kubo from Japan who was studying in UCD decorated a nearby Tree in her native customs and traditions by tying small bunches of flowers, herbs and twigs to it at the Slatequarries Sculpture Symposium held in 1992.

GREAT WORK: Work continued with the Tullahought and Windgap Tidy Towns groups under Covid 19 Standards.In Windgap, sincere thanks are extended to Alan and Conor Culleton and Niall O’Brien who provided and delivered top quality top soil for the new flower and shrub bed at the lake and also for the goals at the GAA Club. In addition they cleaned up in and around the Lake area with the new kerb stones were provided by the Hurling Club. it. In Tullahought Frank Callery strimmed the roads through the village Mary Walshe looked after the hillside and Kathleen Duggan and Eileen Grace the flowerbeds whilst numerous local residents looked after the grass margins along their road frontages. Additional volunteers wishing to offer a hand or support can contact Nicky Hawe and Richard Walsh respectively.

MANY WEATHERS; The early days of the month of May stole the banner line from “March the month of many Weathers” as the God’s of Rain, Thunder, Lightning, Frost and Sunshine all played their part over the past ten days. Very warm morning sunshine on Saturday week was quickly followed by an hour’s downpour around 3pm with an absolute deluge accompanied by thunder and sheet lightening after 6pm that only hit some parts of the parish.Forty eight hours later on Monday nights severe frost that continued intermittently during the week burnt the young growth on trees, hedges garden plants, flowers and potatoes.

CARE CENTRES SUPPORT: In a great day for our local clubs and the wider community a total of 1,053.5km were covered by running walking or cycling throughout the day, that resulted with€5,245 being raised for our local St Joseph’s Care Home Kilmoganny, Mount Carmel Care Home Callan and Strathmore Lodge Nursing Home Callan. The link is being left open for anybody who can donate to the event that was organised by Windgap Camogie and GAA clubs witha target of 400km run/walk for the front line staff.Final updates to follow next week.

COMMUNICATIONS:There has being a good response to the comments,on the greater implications of the lack of high speed broadband and mobile coverage in the area Covid lock down

ONLINE PICTURES: Local photographer Noel Ryan continues his daily publication of the pictorial history of Windgap and surrounding areas on the Windgap Facebook page. The photographs range early in the last century up to events in recent decades. The former are of huge historical interest as names are being put to pictures that up until now were largely unrecognised. The latter have created a lot of banter in an effort to identify the fresh faced locals. Noel's pictures have attracted over 200,000 views since the lock down began, and all look forward to and are appreciative of his efforts.

SILENT BELLS: Another Covid 19 outcome is the silencing of the Church Bells that marked the time of day and the calling to pray for generations. In Tullahought in living memory Mollie Brawders, John Moore, Joseph Griffin called the Angelus at noon and in the far distant pass it was also called at 6pm. Nowadays there it is a monthly rota for Mass times.In Windgap the Bell ringers included Richard Murphy, Dai Walsh, George Waters and Tommy Murphy with the school children often assisting in both areas. On other occasions when a standby was required a debate may often arose on the arrival of a funeral cortege, if it was one, two or three peals for a man or a woman. When the bell was rung outside of the set times or to mark some of the religious ceremonies it was widely frowned upon and put down to devilment, blackguarding or caffling. In former times there was the workers bell in the Slatequarries with the Church Bell in Tullahought being rang as a warning sign when the Tans visited Powers Pub a century ago.

JULIA’S NEW COAT: Preparations are well under way to have Julia fitted out with a new coat during the week.

CLUB NEWS: All Club facilities remain closed and it is planned to do repair works on the goals to have them in prime condition for the scheduled return on 20^th of July.

PIETA HOUSE: Many locals were out early for a run, a walk or just to see the New Day arrive on Saturday morning week in Support of the Pieta Houses Darkness into Light fundraiser

LOURDES: The cancellation of the Ossory pilgrimage to Lourdesis a disappointment to all and means that Sontae Jacksons trip to Lourdes as a youth helper is postponed until next year. For it Sontae extends sincere thanks to all who assisted with a lot of fundraising and the money involved remains with Joe Walsh Tours for next years trip.

MISSING DOG: If you have seen a lost White Terrier with a black upper face and tan ears contact Noreen on 086 0832845

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid 19 support teams continue to play their part in locallyon 087 4193229 and the Kilkenny County Council Community Response Forum on Freephone number 1800 500 000 every daily from 8am to 8pm or on covidsupport@kilkennycoco.ieA go raibh mile maith agat is extended to all in the battle against the Covid Virus.This week the tip is to read the new HSE guidelines andFanacht Sábháilte

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES May 11th 2020

SLATEQUARRIES CONCERN: Widespread outrage was expressed at the unsociable behaviour that saw a slurry type waste pumped off the road over the bank at the Ormond Quarry Baunreigh well over a week ago.The incident occurred opposite the site of the Miners Egg Sculpture in the Slatequarries and almost alongside the plaque commerating the Slatequarries Arts and Sculpture Symposium back in 1992. It saw the material being pumped into the air and over the thirty foot drop in the direction of the Lingaun River that marks the County boundary. On its way it soiled the vegetation, left a strong odour and deposited pieces of material like wipes high on the branches of a Sycamore tree. When it landed on Terra Firma it ran close to the waters of the Lingaun River that goes on its way to join the River Suir at the Three Bridges where it supplies the town of Carrickvia the water treatment plant in Killonery

GOOD AND BAD MEMORIES: The event brought back memories of other times when a green blue vile smelling sludge was transported by trucks from the Tannery anddumped into the nearby Victoria Quarry where it seeped into the slate rock fissures and resulted in covering the surrounding area with millions of tiny flies. Now the heart of the Regional Lingaun Valley Tourism project, The Slatequarries were the Industrial,social, cultural, heritageand sporting hub of the area for generations and are now the site for an annual remembrance Mass and are on the main road to the Coshel Solstice site. Currently the dumping is being investigated by the Gardaí and the Environmental authorities, whilst the availability of video footage is being checked and the local Text Alert System released a message on this Sunday evening.

THESE TIMES: Nowadays the quarries area is immaculately kept by Brendan Power and the local residents and the Memorial Plaquefrom the three week long “Slatequarries Sculpture Symposium in 1992” reads“Grateful thanks to James Power – Fás – KC (Kilkenny Co Council) - SSI – Camphill and all helped. The sculptors listed on it are Michael Bulfin, George McCutcheon, Eavaun Carmody, Colum O Culain, local artist Helen Comerford from Kells, Alan Counihan, Pamela Hill, David Lambert”. Also listed on the artists programme who lived in the Old Bakery and used Delaney’s as their meeting point were Jennifer Watson, Sabra, and Ed Gibney. Hide Kubo and Ronan McDiarmada. Their work included the Dinosaur, Noah’s Ark that was vandalised, Miners Egg, Life Spiral, Bird Tables, Musical Water Feature and many more using the local flora and the remains of the old Slate Quarries that closed in the nineteen thirties. The Committee who ran theSculpture and the later Arts and Sculpture Festival for many years was led by James Power and included Ned Cronin, Ned Fitzpatrick, Mary Cummins, Owen McCarthy, Ann Walsh along with Roisín Clancy and Treasurer John Delaney.The headed paper of the time lists the secretaries as Therese Walsh,that lovely Welshman Martin Riches from the quaintly named “Bruach an tSrutháin in Floodhall and Margaret Cosgrave the County Council lead and Arts Organiser. Back then one of the sculptors Nidekaue (Hide) Kubo from Japan who was studying in UCD also used a Tree when she decorated one in her native traditions by tying small bunches of flowers, herbs and twigs to it in a very spectacular manner

HURLING AND CAMOGIE: Reflections on the Slatequarries Festival of Arts and Sculpture programsaw the Celebration of Hurling and Camogie taking place annually in Tullahought Sports field. A quick look at the match program in 1994 for the Mike Williams Shields(from Birmingham)whose Grandfather was born in and worked as a Clerk in the Slatequarries left one wondering where are all the players now. The Hurling sides representing their local National Schools were. OWNING (Black and Yellow), Nicholas Kenny, Patrick Connolly, Darren O’Dwyer, John Duggan, Gary Byrne, Dane Doran, Jason Foley, Michael O’Neill, Phillip Kenny, Trevor Hogan, Shane Cuddihy, Alan Butler, John O’Dwyer, Stephen O’Dwyer. GRANGEMOCKLER (Green and White) Mark Connelly, Owen Connelly, Robert Murphy, Aiden Murphy, Mikey Munnelly, Raymond Phelan, Pat O’Toole, Brain McCarthy, Peter Kennedy, Thomas Kennedy, Theo English, Johnny Delaney, Pat O’Neill, Daniel Murray, Thomas Keating, John McAndrew, Barry Hanrahan. DUNAMAGGIN. David Herrity, Brendan Donohoe, Hugh Butler, Collie Lydon, Kevin Walsh, Sean O’Neill, Denis O’Sullivan, Mark Heffernan, Patrick Delahunty, Keith Ryan, Richard O’Shea, John McCarthy, Mark O’Donovan, Cormac Ryan, KeithLandy, Patrick Phelan. WINDGAP (Red and White). Seamus Landy, Paul Purcell, Brendan Barry, Thomas Lonergan, Eugene Kenny, Niall Doran, Seamus Hawe, Eamon Hawe, Oleo Power, David Power, Phillip Lonergan, Niall Lanigan, James Fleming, Sean Walsh, Conor Culleton.

CAMOGIE SIDES: CARRICKSHOCK (Greenand Gold) Linda Power, Jennifer Byrne, Emma Long, Fiona Sheehan, Ciara Power, Aisling Kenneally, Catherine Duggan, Nicola Aylward, Emma Raggett, Hazel Foley, Jean O’Carroll, Mairead Butler, Jackie Frisby, Aisling O’Mara, Emma Smith, Alice Holden, Jennifer Raggett, Niamh Walsh.MOONCOIN (Green and White), Laura Hearne, Alison Phelan, Catherine O’Brien, Aisling Quinn, Siobhan Murphy, Charlene O’Keefe, Helen Hennebry, Catherine Mackey, Claire O’Sullivanm,Margaret McCarthy Emma Hennebry, Elaine Power, Orla Quinn, Marianne Walsh, Claire Anderson. PILTOWN (White and Red) Linda O’Shea, Claire Aylward, Catherine Norris, Stacey Foley, Louise Briscoe, Laura Briscoe, Deidre wash, Deirdre Purcell, Sheena Sadlier, Fiona Kenny Louise Butler, Nicola Fitzgerald, Lorraine Brophy, Denise Power, Aileen O’Dwyer, Jennifer Kelly, Jenny Blackmore, Emer Purcell, Claire Cunningham, Sarah Gough, Elizabeth Musiol, Aisling O’Shea. WINDGAP: Windgap (Red and White) Bríd Mackey, Miriam Cody, Teresa Meagher, Ruth Lavelle, Terri Mackey, Michelle Brawders, Lorraine Moore, Catherine Fleming, Georgina Moore, Eleanor Downey, Denise Phelan, Evan Molloy, Anne Marie Brawders, Cáit Mackey, Katie Burke, Rachel Burke, Marie Barry.

COMMUNICATIONS: Covid 19 has once again highlighted the lack of high speed broadband and mobile coverage in many rural areas. Once only effecting small numbers seriously, it has spread to those working from home, who were trying to study for their Leaving Cert and Third Level exams and those participating in modern communications for remote meetings and hoping to download documents and entertainment. It all hits home ata time whentravelling to urban hotspots is no longer an option

GOING STRONG: Whilst the battle with dumping and litter continues Tullahought and Windgap Tidy Towns groups continued their work under Covid 19 Standards.In Windgap the landscaping continued with the planting of home grown wildflower plants and shrubs around the car park. In Tullahought Pat Walsh was the newest volunteer on graveyard cutting duty whilst more flower bed maintenance and painting by residents continued.Additional volunteers wishing to offer a hand or support can contact Richard Walsh and Nicky Hawe respectively.

AMUIGH FAOIN SPÉIR; The God’s of Rain, Thunder, Lightning and Sunshine all played their part for the start of Summer on Saturday. Very warm morning sunshine was followed by an hour’s downpour around 3pm and an absolute deluge after 6pm that only struck some parts of the parish. Before it a starling with its bill full of food for the young chicks after much checking from a branch to see who was watching quickly disappeared into the nest behind the Clematis. Seconds later it reappeared with the empty eggshells that were deposited well away for safety. DARKNESS INTO LIGHT: Many locals were out early for a run, a walk or just to see the New Day arrive on Saturday morning in Support of Pieta Houses Darkness into Light fundraiser

CARE CENTRES SUPPORT: Windgap Camogie and GAA clubs join forces on Sunday May 17th to complete a 400km run/walk to fundraise for the front line staff of St Joseph’s Care Home Kilmoganny, Mount Carmel Care Home Callan and Strathmore Lodge Nursing Home Callan in order to ensure patients receive the best care possible and our health care workers are protected properly. On the day Club members along with everyone interested will participate in a run/or walk of from (5-10km) with a cumulative target of 400km. Niamh Bambrick and William Phelan are leading the respective clubs and if anyone wants to donate they can do so online or by contacting any committee member.

FASHION SHOW: Windgap Facebook page recentlyhosted a broadcast of the 2015 community fashion show from the Springhill Hotel, Kilkenny. This interactive event had a large audience from around the world peaking at over a thousand live viewers. Next up is a broadcast of the Windgap Lip Sync Watch party event.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid 19 support teams continue to play their part in Windgap on 087 4193229 and the Kilkenny County Council Community Response Forum on Freephone number 1800 500000 every day from 8am to 8pm or by email on covidsupport@kilkennycoco.ieThanks are again extended to all who continue in the battle against the Covid Virus This week the message for all is to Stay Safe is still to stay

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES May 4th 2020

COMMUNICATION ISSUES: Covid 19 has once again highlighted the lack of any quality of high speed broadband and proper mobile telephony coveragein many rural areas across the country. Once only effecting small numbers seriousely, it has spread to those working from home, trying to study for their Leaving Cert and Third Level exams and those participating in themodern communications for remote meetings and hoping to download documents and entertainment as travelling to the local library or hotspot is no longer a possible option

WELL DONE:With the benefit of the fine weather, additional work was carried out alone and under Covid 19 Standards by the Tullahought and Windgap Tidy Towns groups. In Windgap the landscaping continued with the planting of almost thirty pyracantha alongside the old school wall. The next step is to plant honeysuckle and to tidy up around the lake. In Tullahought Pat Grace was the fifth and youngest volunteer to cut the graveyard with a Tidy up around Kearns Bridge being next on the agenda. Owing to the cancellation of the national competition a reduced planting of flowers and baskets is being planned. With the range of travel extended from 2km to 5km from the local villages it is hoped additional volunteers will now be available to offer a hand to help by contacting Richard Walsh and Nicky Hawe respectively.Failing that a call of support to send a go raibh mile maith agatto both groups would be great.

BEST WISHES: Best wishes are extended to part time Glanbia Windgap employee over the past four years and Tullaroan senior Hurler Shane Cuddihy who completed his third level exams during the week and is moving on to his first full time job in engineering. Also to the new arrivals to the parish who may not be able to get out to meet all of their new neighbours.

AMUIGH FAOIN SPÉIR; The arrival of the month of May and the Festival of Bealtaine was celebrated by fine weather and the erection of the traditional colourfully decorated May Bushes. Across the countryside where there was a beautiful display of Crab Apple flowers,the white candelabras on the Horse Chestnuts and the less colourful but detailed pale white Holly blooms. Elsewhere the stillness appeared to extend the dawn chorus at the same levels throughout the day and also amplified the activities of the bee population particularly around the clusters of Sycamore flowers as one could almost hear rabbit’s footsteps in the distance.Still to be decided is the weather forecasting abilities between the leafing of the Oak and the Ash for us to get a soak or a dash of rain.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid 19 support teams continue to play their part in Windgap on 087 4193229 and the Kilkenny County Council Community Response Forum on Freephone number 1800 500 000 every day from 8am to 8pm or by email on covidsupport@kilkennycoco.ieThanks are again extended to all involved in the battle against the Covid Virus including the Health Services, neighbours, friends, relations the Support Groups and the vast array of essential backup services in shops, offices, post crews, factories, delivery companies, service suppliers and farms. Best wishes are extended to all who observed the travel and social distancing restrictions who were confined at hometo enjoy the extension from two to five Kilometres of home and to those in hospital, in care, out of work and those living abroad. This week the message to Stay Safe is still to stay Two Metres apart, and to follow the HSE Guidelines

FICHE OCHTBLIAN Ó SHIN: Twenty EightYears saw the first recorded weeklynotes in their current format.The sub headings and their opening lines around the last week of Marchand the early days of April in 1992 on the weekend the Country closed down for the Covid read……

TOURNEY WIN FOR HURLERS: The 1991 Carrigeen Intermediate hurling final between Piltown and Windgap was played on Sunday. It was a good tough game. After the scores were level Piltown 1-4 to Windgap’s 0-7 at the break, Piltown dominated the second half and led 1-8 to 0-8 with five minutes remaining. After Bobby Jackman made a great save astute team changes saw one late push for victory from Windgap. Points by Pat Walsh and Jimmy Purcel lbefore a rocket of a shot by Gay Doyle that beat the keeperand snatchedvictory. Jimmy Purcell completed the scoring for a 1-11 to 1-8 win.

WELL DONE LADS: Joe O’Shea and Stephen Hawe won the Masters B Handball Final whilst Michael O'Shea and PJ Egan won the Special Novice Doubles title after which PJ added the single’s one.

PIONEEERS: The South Ossory Pioneer Federation Annual Dinner in the Ardee Hotel was most enjoyable for the crowd oftwo hundred. Guest speaker was Kilkenny GAA Chairman Nicky Brennan.

HURLING: The playing season resumed with a game in the Carrigeen Tournament on St. Patrick’s Day where they went down to Kilmacow before defeating Danesfort in a challenge game. Gerry Meehan played in goal for Kilkenny minors against Dublin and Alan Hearne was on the panel.

CARDS: Pat and Mary Guiry, Fran Dignam and Liam Dunne were the winners at the Tullahought Progressive 25 Card Drive.

SUPER SUB DECIDES IT: Two late Kilmacow subs with a goal apiece by Paul Long and Trevor Sutton saw Kilmacow record a 2-9 to 2-7 win in the Southern Junior Championship game in Piltown on Sunday. The side was Joe O’Shea, Simon Brophy, Tommy Lanigan, Eamon Murray, Shem Power, Pat Walsh, Jimmy Purcell, Jimmy Walsh, Walter Purcell Gerry Meehan. PJ Egan, Brian Hickey, Gay Doyle, Pat Foley, Paul Doran. Subs Tom Egan and Jim Phelan. Windgap were best served by Tommy Lanigan, Pat Walsh, Gerry Meehan and Gay Doyle. The referee was Dickie Holden.

BROCHURE: In conjunction with the forthcoming sculpture symposium in the Slatequarries a brochure of local and historical interest stories from the surrounding villages is being organised.

BADMINTON: Kilkenny Badminton Finals in O’Loughlins saw Tullahought win four county titles with Mattie Murphy taking the singles, the doubles with Shamie Phelan and mixed with Bridget Fitzpatrickwith Joan O’Gorman and Mary Phelan the ladies doubles.

INTO SEVENS: In the schools sevens Windgap played host to Gaelscoil, Project School on a beautiful day as the Gaelscoil progressed with Oisin Breathnach being the man of the match: The Windgap side was Tom Enright, Fintan Kenny, Aidan Power, Owen Guinan, James Murray, Aidan Mackey, Eamon Hawe, PJ Hawe and Lena Power who was listed with the two Aidan’s and James Murray as one of the best players.

WELCOME MOLL: The Ordmonde players present John B Keane's Moll in Windgap Community Centre on April 2^nd and John McDonnell’s All the Kings Horses the following night as fundraisers for the school

HOME CARE: A sponsored walk for the Kilkenny Homecare team from Tullahought via the Slatequarries to Ahenny and back takes place on April 19^th at 1.30pm.

BY COMPARRISON: All of the Hurling, Handball and Badminton activities are still stood down and the great games in the Carrigeen tournaments are relegated to memory. As time has moved on the players involved after providing many years of club service and entertainment have mostly retired are many are now parents and grandparents of the current generation of players. Handballer Michael O’Shea has moved up to be County Chairperson and to competing in the Masters Grade, Patrick Foley continues the links with the County Minor teams whilst Gay Doyle’s daughters Kelly and Anne Marie line out with the Kilkenny senior Camogie side.Regretfully Jim Phelanis no longer with us as is card playerLiam Dunne and John B Keane the playwright. The Slatequarries Festival reached its peak with that year’s Sculpture Festival and left an indelible mark in the remaining sculptures and the additional knowledge of the area.The Pioneers continued their annual social unbroken until this year whilst the Community has a new Centre as the school activities and Plays are now silent.The Homecare teams and medical service are now more in the frontline than ever continuing the great work

AN TSEACHTAIN SEO CHUGAINN: After six Covid 19 restricted weeks of reflections of the Windgap Notes over five year intervals back to the very start níl fhios agam what’s next.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 20th 2020

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The Covid 19 Community support team of volunteers continues to serve in Windgap under Dermot O’Shea on 087 4193229. Alternatively at county levelthe Kilkenny County Council Community Response Forum is open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week on Freephone number 1800 500000 or by email on covidsupport@kilkennycoco.ie

TIDY TOWNS ACTIONS: Work carried out alone and under Covid 19 Standards saw great steps made in both Windgap and Tullahought Villages during the week. In Windgap the landscaping was completed after the new area got a covering of bark mulch. Long term planning came into play when the material stored by Tony Doyle on the loop walk was transported by Padraig Brophy and spread by Nicky Hawe and the team.

In Tullahought the community response in the absence of the Community Employment Scheme in the Parish for the past six months has seen the graveyard and community centre get its third cut via the new Whatsapp volunteer rota. Also carried out was the strimming around the headstones, the removal of the excessive duck weed off the lake and the trimming of the overhanging growth on the grass margins. In both villages the local residents have carried out painting and have the grass margins looking spic and span. To offer a hand and help out your village contact Richard Walsh in Tullahought and Nicky Hawe in Windgap:

COVID BATTLE WORLDWIDE: The weekly go raibh mile maith agat in the war against the Covid Virus extends to the Hawe family Enda, Sarah, Niamh, Kayleigh and James representing New Zealand farmers on the campaign on their National TV station. At home many thanks are extended to the on-going efforts of all involved in the Health Services and the vast array of essential backup services in shops, offices, factories, delivery companies and farms. Also to the many neighbours, friends, relations and Support Groups who are involved by keeping normality going in so many ways. Best wishes are extended to all at home, in hospital, in care, out of work and those living abroad many of whom areplaying their part in the front line services in these on-going changing and challenging times.

A pre Covid United States connection was made with the creation of the Cavalry Walk and Grotto in Windgap when JJ Brennan the grandnephew of its creator Fr. James Brennan visited the cemetery whilst on a business trip to Dublin. Across the world a similar style safety communication is being spread to ensure all continue to Stay Safe and return life to the old status quo. Sa Bhaile,the Fógra is to stay, Two Metres apart, within two Kilometres of home and to follow all of the HSE Guidelines

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS: Comhgairdeachas are extended to Mamie Morrissey who celebrated her ninetieth birthday,John Comerford his ninety fourth and Maureen Marchetti her eighty fifth in their past week. All are hale and hearty and celebrated the events at home in the unique Covid 19 format.

RARE GLIMPSE: Like a snatched view of the Mona Lisa, a Bullfinch with its glossy black cap, colourful wings, tail, white rump, grey back and startlingly beautiful reddish-rose breast set against the backround of a mass of tiny brilliant white flowers in full bloom on a blackthorn bush was a memorable sight. Lasting just a couple of brief moments, the quiet, shy and amber rare status requires a diverse hedgerow and feeds mainly on the buds seeds and berries of native trees.

FICHE BLIAN Ó SHIN: Twenty Years ago the sub headings and their opening lines in the last week of March in 2001 on the weekend the Country closed down for the Covid 19 Virus read

COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: The publishing of the County Councils Development plan covered a wide range of policies and aspirations for the future. Amongst the corner stones were to retain the rural population, support sustainable development andvitality and to provide services, amenities and to maximise the physical and social infrastructure. Amongst the items included in the three hundred page publication were population trends, Water supplies, Sewage Schemes, Waste Management, Land Zoning, Tourism, Recreation Arts, Rural Development, Village Plans Settlement Strategy, Ribbon Development, Schools, Community Services, Roads, Footpaths, Derelict Sites, Landscape, Graveyards, Lighting etc.

In the plan Kilmoganny, Kells, Callan and Piltown were designated for major development with Newtown, Newmarket, Hugginstown and Windgap listed as smaller settlement areas. In the report Windgap parish is classed as one of eight high amenity areas in the county with various guidelines and controls of future development that stretches from near Callan along the Tipperary border to the Templeorum area overlooking the Suir valley.

The area is mentioned mostly for its history in the Index of National monuments, Preservation and Listing Orders and Acts. Protected local National sites

mentioned are Killamery and Kilkieran High Crosses, Garryricken Ring fort, Hugginstown Fen and Knockroe Passage Tomb. Also Kilmoganny two Churches and Toll House, Windgap's Land League House and “Ferrrum Fabrications” described as a seven bay single storey hip roofed building with original fenestration on front.Local Churches of Regional importance included Coolagh and Tullahought a single Cell structure built in 1885. Owning, Templeorum and Hugginstown T Plan and Barn Churches are listed as having International importance with Killamery's Ruined Tower being of local significance.Also listed are Country Houses in Ballitobin, Rossenearra, Springmount and the Tower House in Currahill. Kilmacoliver corn mill, Annesborough Mill in Castletown and the Ormond Slatequarries in Inchnaglogh are listed under sites of Industrial Archaeology.

Views to be preserved and protected in the area include the view West into Tipperary on the Kilmacoliver-Tullahought to Skough Road and over Killamery again looking into County Tipperary. In publishing the plan the Council invited everyone to look into it with a view to improving the quality of life within the County for the present and future generations. Suggestions were to be made in writing to the County Secretary in County Hall before the 6th. of April 2001.

LOTTO: Numbers 3, 17, 18, 19 and bonus 7 provided a match three cheque to Catherine Cronin.

CARDS: Following a three-week break owing to the Foot and Mouth scare the weekly Card Drive resumed in Tullahought on Saturday night. Winners were Tom O Neill and Michael O Sullivan, second prize was shared between Sarah Crowley, Tommy Walsh, Dick Walsh and Tom Kenneally, other winners were Pat Guiry, Dan Phelan, Eamon Doyle Christy Power and Freda O Connell.

GAMES RESUME: Windgap footballers had an impressive 1-14 to 1-4 win over neighbours John Lockes in the game John Direen refereed Windgap on Sunday morning with the Shamrocks providing the opposition in the next round. The hurlers travel to pay Carlow’s Ballinkillen in the Hennessey Sports All County League on Saturday

CAMOGIE: With all teams back in training the club are setting out to build on their first county title win during the year and are organising a fund raising Card Drive in Tullahought on Saturday at 9 o clock.

TIDY TOWNS: Tullahought Tidy Towns group hold their first meeting of the year on Thursday evening at 8p.m.

BY COMPARRISON: The County Development Plan aims and aspirations are as relative as ever with many highlights and improvements in the meantime. The Coshel has become a National Heritage Gem, the Tourism initiativeshave built on the history and beauty of the area and grown with new walks and amenities, Windgap and Tullahought have made huge steps both visually and in regeneration with far less derelict sites in both. All the Churches are Covid closed and further depopulation has seen Windgap join with Galmoy to provide juvenile GAA teams. Many changes have taken place in the Landscape and Waste Management attitudes although littering continues with abandon. Elsewhere the old grain Mill has deteriorated. Lotto winner Catherine Cronin is regretfully no longer with us. The Foot and Mouth Virus that affected the cards and animals has been replaced by the more virulent Covid 19 Human one.

The popular Progressive Card game with an average of one hundred and fifty players has lost many members of the valued weekly catering teams and supporters. From the prize winners list,Michael O’Sullivan Callan and Crehana, Dan Phelan Birchwood the Windgap’s Clubs co founder, Dick Walsh the ESB reader from Cussane and Carrick on Suir and Tommy Walsh from Poulrone who would have celebrated his 100^th birthday in June are imithe chunna bhflaitheas and are still fondly recalled.

In Football the John Lockes players now line out with Windgap and Hurling in Carlow and Kilkenny is futuristic as to when the next game will be played. In Camogie Windgap’s march to the Senior grade had just started following their first ever County Final win when they overcame Mooncoin in the inaugural Under 14 “C” Camogie County Final. The historic score, if anyone recalls it!! is not recorded in Gerry O’Neill’s GAA Bible. Elsewhere the Tullahought Tidy Towns story was commencing an upwards trajectory to the National stage.

AN TSEACHTAIN SEO CHUGAINN:The search is on for the Notes of twenty five years ago to be reviewed next week

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 13th 2020

WELCOME VISITORS: Fine dry weather with alternating cool and warm spells and long evenings have been a feature of the recent Stay at Home restrictions.On Tuesday morning the white rump and distinctive flying style marked the welcome return of the first House Martin around the house. Just four days later, Saturday morning saw the sighting of the first swallow with its chestnut coloured breast and long forked tail seen flying through the shed of its probable birth. The following slightly overcast Sunday morning heralded the increasingly rare and extremely clear calling of the Cuckoo. Their arrivals brought great joy and delight to the community as every house and townsland made and commented on their first sighting and are astounded by their visitor’s achievements of a six thousand mile journey from South Africa and enduring a fifty to sixty hour nonstop flight over the Sahara Desert just to get here.Arriving home for the Summer they will continually amaze with the House Martins taking ten days to build a mud house, the swallows finding the most unusual ledges to set up home, with the Cuckoos call helping to overlook its reluctance to carry out its own nest building. Along with the added bright colours of the Cherry, Furze and Blackthorn Blossom and the dawn and evening Bird Chorus the most welcome visitors have made a huge contribution to shorten the vastly changed weeks ahead.

COVID 19 SUPPORT: The community in Windgap has streamlined the volunteer support groups serving the locality and registered through the National Local Authority Community Support Response Framework being co-ordinated by Kilkenny County Council.The single group of volunteers can be contacted via Dermot O’Shea on 087 4193229, or the Community Support Forum Freephone number 1800 500 000from 8am to 8pm seven days a week onor by emailing them on covidsupport@kilkennycoco.ie

ACROSS THE POND: As Covid 19 movement restrictions affect normal communications and has seen the vast majority move online, the distanced nod in the elongated shop queue, the brief chat with a neighbour across the width of the road and the salute from a passing motorist on the almost completely empty roads have become accepted as normal. Sundays short stroll to see the progress of the tadpoles and if the wild ducks had nested in the local pond brought only the sights of pond skaters and green duck weed being interrupted with a long distance conversation. As talk of work, weather and the world quickly turned to hurling and the lack of it, when would it resume, in what format and how would it go, one could only be amazed as the thoughts were pucked across the pond to the roadside that the only communication that mattered is to stay Two Metres apart, within two Kilometres of home and following the HSE Guidelines on coughing, sneezing and washing your hands over the next few weeks. In the meantime Stay Safe and all will fall back into place.

GO MAIBH MÍLE MAITH AGAT: As the days pass and the battle against the Covid Virus continues many thanks are extended to the Team effort of all involved in the Health Services along with the vast array of essential backup services in shops, offices, factories,delivery companies and farms. Also the neighbours, friends and Support Groups who are involved by keeping normality going in so many ways.Best wishes are extended to all at home and abroad in these on-going changing and challenging times.

TIDY TOWNS ACTIONS: In the absence of a Community Employment Scheme in the Parish over the past six months the community in Tullahought have set up a volunteer rota to cut the grass in Graveyard, Community Centre and the public areas. To volunteer contact Richard Walsh. In Windgap the landscaping of the planting area created by the County Council at the Lake continues, to volunteer to apply the finishing touches contact Nicky Hawe. All the work is carried out alone and under Covid 19 Standards.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: The sub headings and their opening lines in the Notes 2005 on the weekend the Country closed down for the Covid 19 Virus read

JUVENILES ROCK AND ROLL: Windgap Hall was a hive of vibrant activity on Wednesday evening when the home side hoisted Carrickshock for three games of indoor hurling. On the evening two boys and girls under ten sides competed under the auspices of Michael O’Shea and Pat Walsh.

CLUB NEWS: In the Junior Football championship Windgap recorded a win over Carrigeen in Piltown. In the first round of the All County League a well-supported Mount Leinster Rangers side making their first visit to the area recorded a 1-9 to 0-11 win on Sunday afternoon. The locals play Bennettsbridge away in the second round on Saturday whilst Erin’s Own of Bagnelstown provide the opposition to last year’s Junior B champions Windgap in their debut game in the Junior A competition. Carrick Davins has invited the club into their annual tournament. LOTTO: Numbers 02, 08, 16, 21 and bonus 19 brought a match three cheque to Shem Power. CAMOGIE: On Sunday the newly promoted side made their Intermediate championship debut when they played Dicksboro in Palmerstown on Sunday morning. In a closely contested game the city side ran out 4-4 to 3-2 winners.

COOKER DISSAPEARS: The dumping of an old Gas Cooker on the edge of the main road near Lamogue Cross attracted unfavourable comment after it was unloaded from a vehicle that had pulled just in to the grass margin. Following local investigations it had disappeared into thin air by Monday evening. Locals also expressed disgust at the proliferation of rubbish dumped in the Forestry walks on the Hill road over Coolhill, a washing machine on the main Kilmoganny to Owning road in Ballinalinagh, instances of dumping at the forestry entrance at the Bearnabrack and a microwave at the Victoria Bridge. The dumping was carried as one group of volunteers were tidying up at the hurling pitch and a second group were doing Tidy Towns work in Windgap and Tullahought villages respectively.

JUVENILE HURLING: The under sixteen side went down to Dunnamaggin after a titanic struggle in Dunnamaggin on Monday evening when a goal five minutes from time to sealed their victory. A feature of the local side was an almost 100% turnout of the eighteen players eligible. On the evening Peter Long, Vincent Purcell, Gerard Purcell and Eoin Ryan led a highly competitive side of Shane Walsh, Shane Power, Padraic Bacon, Johnny Fleming Vincent Landy, Wesley Smyth, Patrick Foley, Ryan Murray, Gerard Phelan, Kieran Fennelley, Ian Murphy, James Cahill and Jason Burke. Referee Paschal Connolly.

LOCAL BUS SERVICE. Meetings to look at Ring a Link Sunrise running daily busses from Tullahought and Windgap into Carrick-on Suir will be held on 21^stand 28th. April.

COMMUNITY ALERT; Windgap Parish Community Alert are holding a Church Gate Collection on Saturday and Sunday 9^th. 10^th. April.

HANDBALL:Sarah McCarthy and Lisa Phelan Claire Moore and Claire Comerford the Leinster under17 and 15 girl’s champions are amongst the Kilkenny squad travelling to Belfast on Sunday next to play Ulster in the All-Ireland semi-finals. In the under 10 finals William Phelan flies the flag for Windgap on Friday night. In the masters A final Eamon Purcell and Club Chairman John Ryan had a narrow 21/18 win, in the tiebreak, against the experienced Seamus and Michael Reade from Talbots Inch.

BY COMPARRISON Windgap now has a fine new enlarged hall and the indoor games are still thriving, the club is still playing their traditional game of football, whilst the visitors Mount Leinster Rangers went on to compete in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Club Final. Elsewhere the Junior A side went on to record a second County Title in a row to qualify to have a rare second Junior team. The Lotto has ceased after almost thirty well supported years. The Camogie team went on to win the Intermediate County Title and are now competing at Senior level. Eleven of the seventeen under sixteen players no longer play and the parish has fond and lasting memories of two of the players in Ryan Murray and Johnny Fleming who are regretfully no longer with us.Ring a Link and the Community Alert continues providing services for the community whilst the Handball games and the Club continue to thrive.

AN TSEACHTAIN SEO CHUGAINN:The Notes of twenty years ago will be reviewed next week NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 6th 2020

COVID 19 COMMUNICATIONS: Whatsapp, text, Facebook Tik Tok, telephone a nod in the distance or a wave from a passing neighbour on almost empty roads have become the new Covid communications methods as Zoom, GoToMeeting, Slack, Conference Calls, and Housepartyall have with intranet speeds allowing brought family and social groups together online. Despite the changes in travel and communicating the only and almost universal message is still to Stay Two Metres-Hurley lengths apart, within two Kilometres of home and following the HSE Guidelines on coughing and sneezing. In addition putting used tissues into a bin, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces and washing your hands thoroughlyand frequently for the next few .

COVID SUPPORT: Windgap has two volunteer support groups registered as part of the National Local Authority Community Support Response initiative being co-ordinated by Kilkenny County Council. This Framework has been prepared by all of the Government Departments and involves the HSE, Local authority, An Post, Community Welfare Service, An Garda Síochána, Tusla, Local Volunteer Centre, Local Development Companies, Red Cross, Civil Defence, GAA. IFA, Public Participation Network, Age Friendly Network, Local Link, Citizen’s Information, Alone, Migrant Forum, Religious.The local groups can be contacted individually, or the Community Support Forum from 8am to 8pm through the Freephone number 1800 500 000or by emailcovidsupport@kilkennycoco.ie.

GO MAIBH MÍLE MAITH AGAT: Many thanks are extended to all involved in the Support Groups and to the neighbours and friends who are involved inthe Collection and Delivery Food, essential household items, fuel and medication in line with the guidance procedures. Alsoto all of those who are involved at every level in the Health Services and in providing the essential backup services in so many ways in shops, offices, factories and farms. Best wishes are again extended do gach duine at home and abroad in these changed and challenging times.

DEICH BLIAN Ó SHIN: Ten years ago on the weekend the Country closed down for the Covid 19 Virus the Notes sub headings and their opening linesin 2010 read:

STADIUM WIN: In the National Boxing Stadium on Saturday night Clare Grace put in a tremendous performance in the All Ireland Final 66KG under sixteen fight to capture her second National title. The versatile sportswoman had to forego the weekend Camogie matches and was off to Claremorris early on Sunday morning to participate in the All Ireland minor ladies doubles handball title.

CARDS: Winners at the Hurling Club Card Game held in Guinans on Friday were Jan Kennedy and Tony Lanigan with Christy and Pat Power taking second prize.

TIDY TOWNS: At a recent Tullahought Tidy towns meeting plans a list of Text numbers of local residents was put together to co-ordinate the efforts to maintain the condition of the nine miles of local roadways that have been tidied up.

CLUB NEWS: A great crowd turned out for the juvenile registration on Thursday evening25^th. The Junior "A" side went down by a point to Carrickshock in Windgap and the Juniors travelled to play St. Lachtains in Freshford on Sunday. Work continued on tidying up the field on Saturday week with the roof being put on the tractor shed by Pat Walsh, Simon Brophy and John McKenna.

BRIDGE: Winners at the Killamery Bridge Club game held in O’Gorman’s were 1st Rita Townsend and Stella Tenneyson.

CAMOGIE: Camogie PRO Breda O'Shea reported that Windgap recorded a 2-6 to 1-7 win over St Brighids. in the St. Canices Kilkenny Credit Union Senior County league played in Tom Ryall Park on Saturday evening. The panel was Laura Walker, Julie Walsh, Mairead Luttrell, Alison Walsh, Nicky Moore Elaine O’Shea Phena Heffernan, Lisa Phelan, Laura Moore, Niamh Phelan, Eleanor Downey, Sarah McCarthy, Niamh Bambrick, Denise Gaule, Ailish Langton, Kathleen Purcell, Ciara Molloy. Also that the clubs second adult team went down to O’Loughlin Gaels in the first round of the Junior B County league played in St. Johns Park on Saturday. Training in Tullahought and the Club are holding a series of cake sales in Tullahought, Windgap and Kilmoganny

.MINOR HURLING: In the first round of the League on Monday evening, Gerry Drennan reported on Cloneens 2-8 to 1-2 win over Galmoy/Windgap where a hungrier and more determined Cloneen outfit took the spoils in this Minor Hurling League encounter at Galmoy on Monday evening. Galmoy/Windgap: Padraig Walsh, Darren Walsh, Jason Stanley, Shane Walsh, Adrian Landy, Sean Foley, Michael Power, Cian Ryan, Thomas Phelan (Bawn) Kieran Power, Frank Phelan, Micheál Phelan, Kieran Purcell, Thomas Phelan (Castletown), Paul Comerford. Jonathan Phelan, Gerard Phelan. Referee: Podge Butler.

CREATIVE WRITING: A Six week creative writing course in Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir.

125^TH ANNIVERSARY: Arrangements are being put in place to mark the one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary of the construction of St. Nicholas Church in Tullahought:

GROW IT YOURSELF: The first Meeting of GROW IT YOURSELF group will take place in Carrick-on-Suir on Wednesday, 31^st March @ 7pm, in the Library on the Fair Green.

RESOURCE CENTRE NEWS: A Health Promotion Day will be held in Droichead Family Resource Centre (The Friary, Callan) on Thursday and will include: Free Health Screening: Blood Pressure & diabetes check.ALL IRELANDS: Next week updates on All Ireland finals in Equestrian and handball events.

BY COMPARRISON: Clare Grace went on to win aEuropean bronze medal and has taken a break from sports, the Hurling Club Cards continue in the Olde House which has changed hands and is now Murrays whilst the Bridge has moved to Grangemockler. The Tidy Towns group has progressed to win National Silver Medal awards. The Tractor Shed has become the Club Gym with the plans for an extension to provide a new Tractor Shed being deferred. On the Camogie front the Club no longer fields a second team and many of the players are scattered world wide. Of the panel Denies Gaule is a current All Star and whilst the season never got started only one other continues to play, a third has transferred to Tullaroan and two other members play various forms of football in Dublin and London. Similarly time has brought changes to the minor hurling team of whom six of the seventeen Galmoy/Windgap players are no longer playing, one lines out with John Lockes and the referee Podge Butler is regretfully no longer with us. Only God knows who attended the Creative Writing, or Resource Workshops, whilst the Grow Your Own activities have been rejuvenated by a new group of Covid redundant,green fingers. Tullahought church now displays a “No Mass until further notice” sign as it has added another ten years to its lifeline.

AN TSEACHTAIN SEO CHUGAINN:The Notes of fifteen years ago will be reviewed next week

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES March 31st 2020

JUST TWO WILL DO: Lets all do it together NOW to secure our families and communities futures that is by Staying Two Metres-Hurley lengths apart, within two Kilometres of home and following the HSE Guidelines on Covering your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze, putting used tissues into a bin, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces and washing your hands thoroughly and frequently for the next two weeks.

GO RAIBH MÍLE MAITH AGAT: Many thanks are extended to all who are involved in the front line battle in the Health Services with the Covid 19 Virus and to those who are providing the essential services in so many ways in shops, offices, factories and farms. Best wishes are extended do gach duine at home and abroad in these challenging times.

AROUND TULLAHOUGHT: Individual works carried out for Tullahought Tidy Towns during the past week prior to the lockdown has seen the weeding done on the fruit bushes at the back of the hall, flower bed at the remembrance monument and the tidy up of Knockeen Bridge. Further weed control has been carried out throughout the village. Elsewhere the remaining litter was collected on the Kilmoganny Road and from Hawes Cross to Cussane on the Windgap Road. However despite the reduction in traffic soft drink and beer cans, cigarette packages and fast food wrappers continue to be thrown from the windows of passing vehicles with more old bags being found in Birchwood and at the Victoria Bridge.In addition since the cessation of the local CE Community Employment Scheme the graveyard has had its third cutting carried out by community volunteers.

WINDGAPS CARRICK ROAD: In Windgap, Stunning was the look of the Carrick Road out of Windgap village as the landscaping was completed at the lakeside that saw the erection of new bollards and the planting of dozens of trees and shrubs. As the road leaves the village the grass trimming by Pat Houlihan during the week looked immaculate.

SEAMUS HEANEY: Far from his native Castledawson in County Derry the words of Seamus Heaney that appear on the on the information board at the “The Watering Place” Wildlife Area in Tullahought were just as apt as nature continues to amaze

“There were dragon-flies, spotted butterflies.

But best of all was the warm thick slobber

Of frogspawn that grew like clotted water

In the shade of the banks”

The extract from his poem “Death of a Naturalist” went on to sum up many childhood memories from Nature Classes as he recalled what happened in schools nationwide

“I would fill jampot fulls of the jellied

Specks to range on window sills at home,

On shelves at school, and wait and watch until

The fattening dots burst, into nimble

Swimming tadpoles”.

To finish the poet went on by relating their additional attributes ………

“You could tell the weather by frogs too For they were yellow in the sun and brown In rain.

CÚIG BLIAN Ó SHIN: Five years ago this weekend the Notes sub headings and their opening lines in 2015 read:

HURLING RESUMES: The season commenced with Bearna na Gaoithe travelling to Ballyhale to play the home side in the first round of the All County Junior Hurling League where the sides ended 1-8 apiece after Tommy Fleming got the equalising goal.

SHAME ON YOU: Was the message from the Rubbish Pick in Windgap to those people who consistently dump rubbish on our approach roads as forty bags of rubbish were collected on Saturday last.

SCHOOL DOUBLE: In recent days the school Hurling and Camogie sides completed a Double when the hurlers defeated Galmoy and the Camogie players overcame Ballyragget. BEST WISHES: Best wishes were extended to local parish priest Fr. Nicholas Flavin for a full and speedy recovery.CAMOGIE: On Sunday the seniors travelled to Danesfort to play the home side in a challenge game. COLLEGES FINAL: Niall Walsh is a St. Kieran’s College panel member when they play Thurles CBS in the Masita All Ireland Post Primary Colleges final being played in Thurles on Saturday evening.

CARD DRIVE: Winners at the final monthly Hurling Club Progressive Twenty Five Card Drive of the season in Guinans Jimmy and Peter Landy. HOLY WEEK: Celebrations take place in the Parish Churches as follows Holy Thursday: Windgap at 7.00 p.m.; Good Friday: Windgap at 2.00 p.m.; Tullahought at 8.00 p.m. etc.

PLAYGROUND CLOSED: Following the completion of the brand new Playground Time and Patience was requested by Marie O’Shea and Barbra Kelly to allow the surface to bed in, before any activity can take place and it is officially opened.

BY COMPARRISON: This weekend the Hurling, Camogie, Schools and Colleges sporting and education activities are stood down, the Holy Week Ceremonies and the Hurling Club Card Games are postponed whilst the rubbish persists across the entire area. The Playground constructed under the Community Development Flag has blossomed and led to the formation of Windgap Tidy Towns the development of the Loop Walks, Hall, Shop and Tea Roomsthat are all currently under lockdownby the Covid 19 virus.Elsewhere Guinans is under new ownership and Fr. Nicholas Flavin is regretfully no longer with us.

AN TSEACHTAIN SEO CHUGAINN: The Notes of ten years ago will be reviewed next week

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES March 24^th 2020

LITTER WHATSAPPED:Social distancing brought a new angle to the Annual Tidy Towns Litter pick up on a target are almost twenty kilometres of the roads and walkways surrounding Tullahought as Whatsapp was called in to play and residents nominated their own stretches of the local roads for the clean up on Saturday. By midday the communications app pinged with the stretches of roads that were completed from Lamogue Cross to Cussane, Curragh, Barnatrasna, Tullahought, Ballinalina followed by Skough Hill, Birchwood to the Victoria Bridge, Kilmacoliver, Poulrone, The Sports field and the Loop Walk with all the bags being delivered to a central location for collection.It was a real case of lots done and more to do as the messages continued to flow with more plans for Monday and Tuesday evenings. The next big push is scheduled for Saturday to join the de-littered points on the main R 697 and R698 roads from the Victoria Bridge to the Slatequarries, Billy Hawes Cross and on in both directions towards Lamogue and Barnatrasna

OPERATION TRANSFORMATION: Tuesday next is planned as the completion day for the landscaping and planting being carried out by Kilkenny County Council along by the roadside at the Lakeside in Windgap. The work has seen the removal of the huge boulders that orignnally came from Carraig na gCapall and had prevented illegal access into the car park. They have been replaced by twenty one ornamental pillars along the footpath. The final touch will be the planting of native trees, including Mountain Ash, Holly and pollinator friendly shrubs. When completed the huge boulders will have moved from one side of the Gap and the main road and will become the foundation stones for a bank to allow the extension of the local hurling field.

NEW LOOK: Dozens of daily and weekend visitors who took in the three local Loop walks were the first to benefit from the new Spring cleaned look in Tullahought and to view the recent development works in Windgap, that were all thanks to the great work of the community volunteers.

NOT ALL GOOD NEWS: The Whatsapp Tidy up App declared 2 Coke Tins a Pizza Box and a disposable Cup on the Skough to Victoria Bridge Road within the first twenty four hours as the regular dumping from passing vehicles resumed. Amongst the bottles and wrappers thrown from the windows of passing cars were the contents of small household bird cages that were left on Skough Hill, plastering material elsewhere, electrical equipment including a TV Viewing Card in the quarry opposite the waterfall in Kilmacoliver and what appears to be almost daily deposits of disposable cups, bottles and wrappers from fast food outlets in supermarkets and garages on every other road.

SUAS SAN SPÉIR: With the war against rubbish war being led by both the Tullahought and Windgap Tidy Towns volunteers being fought on the ground, Friday evening brought an amazing red sunset that lifted hearts countrywide, as heroic medical workers and volunteers fought the Covid 19 Virus. A regular outdoors person noted that the skies were never as quiet with hardly a single aircraft to be heard, or seen leaving daytime vapour trails or providing flashing night lights

REFLECTIVE TIMES: With the weekends religious ceremonies following different on, off patterns in the diocese of Ossory, Waterford and Lismore and Cashel, Ferns and Ossory that serve the locality it was away for a stroll on Sunday morning week. At 9.25am the Church Bell from St. Nicholas in Tullahought rang sharply across the Lingaun valley for morning Mass. Loud and clear,as it has called for generations, its predecessor from atop the gable now resides silent outside the door of the National School in Windgap on unscheduled down time. Across the valley Slievenamon and the Comeragh mountains were cloud covered to the level of Carraigmoclear, highlighting the whitehomesteads scattered amongst the verdant green livestock free fields. All around birdsong filled the air from ditches that displayed many bare ivy clad trees. The call from an occasional crow and the harsher call of a Raven interrupted the backround hum of the flow of the river as a Cock Pheasant called from one direction and a calf for his mother from another. On the wet grass small animals had left tracks as theyforagedas a rabbit darted for cover on banks where daisy’s, violets, primroses and wild strawberries flowers were to be seen. As the south westerly wind took an tAthair Fearghus Ó’Fearghails words on the external speakers up the village street they were replaced by the baying of the Harrier pack and the blower clearing up the yard in a nearby stable. The quiet silence was suddenly broken by the shrill of a magpie atop of a nearby sceach tree before a threesome of them took to the air flying with a pattern and speed like an air force display. Their appearance brought to mind the many and varied versions of the well-known rhyme. One for Good Luck, two for Bad, three for a Wedding and so on to all who saw them, or was it, One for sorrow Two for joy Three for a girl Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret, never to be told. Eight for a wish Nine for a kiss Ten for a …! Distracted in thought a buzzard glided silently through the air and down onto an Ash Tree as contented sheep seemed to care less. Within minutes a watery sun broke high through the clouds opening up patches of azure blue skies as it commenced to burn off the light cloud and just thirty minutes had passed! The great outdoors never ceases to amaze

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES March 17^th 2020

ST. PATRICKS DAY: Across the world the annual patron saints feast day will be celebrated with a difference as events are cancelled, travel is limited and communication by phone and social media from near and far will replace the traditional forms of expressing the CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE. Elsewhere the traditional Meitheal of everyone helping each other gets reinvented in many forms by and for another generation in the locality.

REFLECTIVE TIMES: With the weekends religious ceremonies following different on, off patterns in the diocese of Ossory, Waterford and Lismore and Cashel, Ferns and Ossory that serve the locality it was away for a stroll on Sunday morning. At 9.25am the Church Bell from St. Nicholas in Tullahought rang sharply across the Lingaun valley for Sunday morning Mass. Loud and clear,as it has called for generations, its predecessor from atop the gable that now resides outside the door of the National School in Windgap and is on unscheduled down time. Across the valley Slievenamon and the Comeragh mountains were cloud covered to the level of Carraigmoclear, highlighting the white homesteads scattered amongst the verdant green animal free fields. All around birdsong filled the air from ditches displaying many bare ivy clad trees,with a call from an occasional crow and the harsher call of a Raven. In the distance there was a background hum from the flow of the river as a Cock Pheasant called from one direction and a calf for his mother from another. On the wet grass tiny feet of small animals left tracks as they foraged as a rabbit darted for cover on banks where daisy’s, violets, primroses and wild strawberries flowers were to be seen. As the south westerly wind took an tAthair Fearghus Ó’Fearghails words on the external speakers up the village street they were replaced by the baying of the Harrier pack and the blower clearing up the yard in a nearby stable. The quiet silence was suddenly broken by the shrill of a magpie atop of a nearby sceach tree before a threesome of them took to the air flying with a pattern and speed like an air force display bringing Good Luck, Bad Luck, a Wedding or a Wake to all who saw them depending on the number and the local versions or traditions of the well known rhyme, or was it, One for sorrow Two for joy Three for a girl Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret, never to be told. Eight for a wish Nine for a kiss Ten for a …………... as one was distracted on the way home as a buzzard glided silently down onto an Ash Tree as contented sheep seemed to care less. Within minutes a watery sun broke high through the clouds opening up patches of azure blue skies as it commenced to burn off the light cloud and just thirty minutes had passed! The great outdoors never ceases to amaze

DEFERRED: The list of community events deferred in the locality during the week included the Evening of Food, Song and Stories being organised by The Lingaun Valley Tourism Group in Kilkieran Cottage on Friday 20th March. The forthcoming Annual An Taisce Clean Up being organised by the Windgap Tidy Towns committee and the Litter Pick by the Tullahought Tidy Towns Group. Also postponed was the much awaited date for the local Reeling in the Years being organised by the Windgap Tidy Towns group and the Hurling Clubs Progressive 25 Club Card Drive game in the Olde House in Killamery and the local Bridge games in Kilmoganny and Grangemockler.

POSTPONED: On the Sporting front the local Handball Alley was closed and all the Hurling, Badminton, Camogie and Football teams and their activities were stood down along with the B Active Club Fitness classes on Thursday mornings and the scheduled climb of Slievenamon

DÚNTA: The highly popular Lakeside Tea Rooms and Shop run by Community Volunteers and the local St. Nicholas National School and the nearby Post Primary Schools in Callan, Carrick and Kilkenny are all closed until 29^th March. They were joined by the local pubs with Powers being the first one to close on Sunday

DEFRIBILATOR TRAINING: To date eighty volunteers have been trained for using the Defibrillator in the Community. Locally they are located in Tullahought, Windgap School, Windgap Church, Skough, Killamery, Lamogue, Knockroe, Faugheen, Ahenny and Owning

CLUB MEMBERSHIP: To join your local GAA club in Bearna naGaoithe the rates are Juvenile’s €25, Adult €40, Family €80 for two adults and two under sixteens, Player €100. All to be paid by post or online to the Club Registrar Aidan Mackey or Treasurer PJ Barron.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES March 10^th 2020

Please note the following events mentioned in thereport have been cancelled due to Covid 19 virus: Lingaun Valley undraising night of food, storytelling and music, Windgap and Tullahought litter picks, Reeling in the years.

EVENING OF FOOD SONG AND STORIES: The Lingaun Valley Tourism Group are holding a fundraising night of food, storytelling and music in Kilkieran Cottage on Friday 20th March at 8pm. The group are dedicated to promoting the Ancient, Sacred and Historic Sites of the Lingaun Valley and your support would be most welcome. Tickets for the event cost twenty five euro and can be got by contacting Ade at Kilkieran Cottage 087-6949321, Helen at 087-2774634 or Richard at 087-9963355.

ANNUAL CLEAN UP: The Windgap Tidy Towns group are organising their annual clean-up of the village and approach roads on Saturday 21st March, meet at lake car park at 10 am where gloves, refuse sacks, pickers etc. will be available so please come out and help to make your village a cleaner place to be proud of.

LITTER PICK: The Tullahought Tidy Towns Group Annual Spring Clean Litter Pick which was postponed last Saturday will now go ahead next Saturday 14th March. Volunteers are asked to assemble in the Church Car Park at 10am where gloves, bags, litter pickers and Hi-Vis vests will be available. All are welcome.

COACHING THE COACHES: There was a great turnout out in UPMC Nowlan Park for the Coaching the Coaches session presented by the National Director of Hurling Martin Fogarty and Coaches Brian and PJ Ryan. The event included a video recorded locally outlining the skills of the game where every one of them is equally important. The local attendees included Aidan Power, Michael Saunders, Michael Moloney, Tom Egan, Phillip Lonergan, Matthew O’Shea, Matthew Enright, PJ Egan, PJ Barron. The Club was also represented at the Irish Officers meeting by Shane Walsh.

KNITTED CRIB: A beautiful feature over the Christmas was the knitted crib on display in the entrance to the Church of St. Nicholas Church Tullahought. It was created by the local ladies group that included Mary O’Shea, Jean Spillane, Mary Meehan, Kathleen Duggan, Deirdre Purcell,Joan Purcell, Mary Purcell, Mary Fleming and Joan O’Gorman.

DEFRIBILATOR TRAINING:Following the snowfall cancellation of the Defibrillatortraining course all operators are being contacted with a new date for the event which will take place in Tullahought Community Centre.

DATE FOR REELING IN THE YEARS: Windgap Tidy Towns present Reeling in the Years on Sunday March 22nd at 7.30 pm. It is a must see production; step back in time for an evening of memories, music and laughter and more.

CARDS: The nextHurling Club Progressive 25 Club Card Drive game takes place in the Olde House on this Friday March 13that 9pm sharp and all are welcome.

IOMÁINT: Windgap travelled to Graignamanagh and Carrigeen on Saturday and Sunday morning to play Graignamanagh and Roanmore in challenge games. On the Camogie front training continued in the Sportsfield in Tullahought on Sunday morning.

SUPPORTERS CLUB: Membership of the Kilkenny GAA Supporters Club costs €20 for the year with members receiving a Car Sticker, Membership Card and inclusion in a draw for All Ireland ticket when Kilkenny are participating. Seamus Power is the local co-ordinator and will be delighted to hear from you.

TEA ROOM VOLUNTEERS: If you would like to become involved for a couple of hours each week, please drop in or call Julie on 051 626944

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Feb. 23rd 2019

PAULINES GOLD MEDAL: Tullahought mother and daughter, Pauline and Alaina O'Shea won Gold awards for their beautiful cakes at the Irish Sugarcraft Show in Citywest, in Dublin last weekend. The competition brings together the best cake decorators from all around the country where they display their competition pieces in one of the many different categories. Pauline who was the "Overall Best in Show" winner from 2018 was awarded Gold for her black wedding cake this time around. The cake itself was seven tiers high and took almost three weeks to create. It had intricate detailing on every tier. The wedding cake almost didn't make the show as shortly into its journey from Windgap to Dublin it fell over damaging the top four tiers. Detailed repairs were on-going on the wedding cake right up until the cake was hand delivered to the competition headquarters on Saturday morning.

LIKE MOTHER LIKE DAUGHTER: Not to be outdone, Pauline’s daughter Alaina also came away with a Gold award for her book cake titled "Earth Day Every Day" in the Age 12 to 15 Years Category. The theme for this category was "Earth Day". This was Alana’s first time to enter the competition. Pauline is the cake artist behind 2 Nice 2 Slice wedding cakes in Tullahought, Windgap.

LITTER PICK: Tullahought Tidy Towns Group will hold their Annual Spring Clean Litter Pick in the village and on the surrounding roads on this Saturday 7th March. Volunteers are asked to assemble in the Church Car Park at 10am where gloves, bags, litter pickers and Hi-Vis vests will be available. All are welcome.

BADMINTON: Congratulations to Aidan O'Shea, Moya Egan and Elena Saunders who represented Kilkenny in the U13 inter-county competition at the weekend in Baldoyle, Co Dublin. A record of twelve teams took part. Kilkenny A team took home bronze in Division 1. Kilkenny B took home silver in Division 3 and Kilkenny C took home sliver in Division 4.

SNOW DEFRIBILATOR TRAINING: The snowfall on Tuesday evening saw the cancellation of the training course for the Defibrillator operators in Tullahought Community Centre. The event is to be being re-arranged and all will be contacted separately.

REELING IN THE YEARS: Windgap Tidy Towns present Reeling in the Years on March 15^th. The production is not to be missed, and promises a great night of memories, music laughter and more. Additional details to follow

OUT AND ABOUT: Recent evenings have seen a new phenomenon in the area as starlings flock and chatter noisily in the local trees before sweeping off unison do spectacular aerial displays. Elsewhere rare occurrences of frog spawn that is now a protected species has appeared in the wildlife pond and in some shallow water filled tractor markings.

IRISH OFFICERS: A meeting will take place for all Club Irish language and Cultural Officers in UPMC Nowlan Park on Wednesday 4th March at 7:30pm.

CARD RESULTS: Winners at the Hurling Club Progressive 25 Club Card Drive that was held in The Olde House Killamery on Friday evening were. First with eleven games, Eddie Hawe and Eamon Saunders, with in Tom Kennedy and PJ Barron second place with ten games. The winners of the twentieth game were Mary and Eddie Guinan whilst other prises went to Brain Hickey, Mary O’Connor, Tom Kennedy and Tom Egan. . The next game takes place in the Olde House on March at 9pm sharp and all are welcome.

IOMÁINT: Windgap travelled to Waterford on Sunday morning to play Arthur in a challenge game. Over the past two weekends Eamon Doyle, Pat Moore, PJ Barron and Simon Brophy were part of the Stewards team for the Allianz National Hurling League games against Clare and Laois in UPMC Nowlan Park. Elsewhere training has resumed under Paul Cahill on Wednesdays and Fridays at various venues including the Sports Field in Tullahought. Paul is joined by Ken O’Shea, Eamon Murphy and Adrian Landy

HARRIERS MEET: the Kilmoganny Harriers held their annual meet in Tullahought on Sunday when there was a fine turnout on horseback and followers

HALL FUNDRAISER: A full house attended the “Come Dine with Me” fund raising event that took place in the Hall on Saturday evening. Organised by the Hall Development Committee it had a “Windgap Mr & Mrs” event where many local couples participated.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Feb. 23rd 2019

WINDGAP IS FULL OF SUPRISES: The work of Windgap Tidy Towns volunteers featured strongly on visitkilkenny.ie website and @LoveKilkenny Twitter account last weekend. The story built around a photo of a fully circular stone arch on the built by local Stonemasons on the Wonders of Windgap Historical Walk went.Windgap is full of surprises.This village in the South West of the County has unearthed hidden gems of such significance that they now reside in the National Museum. As a visitor you will be welcomed warmly & guaranteed a unique visit. Associated links toBearna na Gaoithe Highlights included Killamery Church & High Cross – one of the western Ossory group of high crosses which can be seen in its natural surroundings at the site of the 7th century monastery in the village of Killamery. The 9th-century Killamery brooch. Found by a labourer working the soil, this beautiful brooch is now on display in the National al Museum with a Bronze Age Lunula discovered in nearby Coolaghmore. Also Knockroe Passage Tombs: Dating back to Stone Age Ireland circa 4000BC, this is one of the most significant tombs outside of the Boyne Valley, unique in its alignment to both the rising and setting sun of the Winter Solstice. In addition Ogham Head Stones-found both in Windgap and Lamogue Graveyard. The Reflective Walk (Calvary Grotto): This amazing Grotto is the largest in Europe, covering four acres on a hill overlooking the village. Discover Italian mosaic featuring three languages, Ogham Stones and pathways decorated with quartz.Additional highlights include the Old Village Forge, the Bell Tower and Feehan’s Well and a link to Download the Welcome to Windgap Visitor Guide.

SPRINGTIME: In Tullahought village as the Tidy Towns volunteers continued their work on Saturday morning, Daffodils, Snowdrops,soft weather, birdsong at daybreak and longer evenings have all added to the feel of Springtime and the advent of the new growing season. Work continues on Saturday morning at 10.30 and all are welcome

NUACHT BADMANTAN: The Kilkenny County Badminton Blitz finals took place in Thomastown at the weekend where the local club had brilliant results. It was well done to all the teams and mentors involved U12 BoysTeam Cup Winners, U12 Girls Team Cup Winners. U16 Boys Team Plate Runners-up.U14 Boys Team Cup Runners-up.U14 Girls Team Plate Runners-up.U18 Boys Team Cup Winners.

REELING IN THE YEARS: Windgap Tidy Towns present Reeling in the Years on March 15^th. The production is not to be missed, and promises a great night of memories, music laughter and more. Additional details to follow

PEIL: The postponed JJ Kavanagh Junior Football League Championship against Carrickshock took take place on Thursday evening in Piltown with the side going down by two points. The result saw two wins and one loss and deprived the side from defending the League Title won last year.

IRISH NIGHT: A meeting will take place for all Club Irish language and Cultural Officers in UPMC Nowlan Park on Wednesday 4th March at 7:30pm. Beidh cruinniúna n-Oifigeach Gaeilge againn i bPáirc Uí Nualláin ar an gCéadaoin, 4 Mártaag 7:30i.n.

COME DINE WITH & ME A “Come Dine with Me” fund raiser event will be held on this Saturday evening at 8.00 pm in Windgap Community Centre, The event works as follows? Hosts provide informal evening meal to their guests. This could range from a take away to something slightly fancier. The night also includes a “Windgap Mr & Mrs” event featuring local celebrities in the hot seat. Tickets cost €20 for the night and hosts can contact the tearooms for further details.

BADMINTON QUIZ: Tullahought Badminton Club would like to thank everyone who supported their table quiz on Wednesday night. A total of €740.00 was raised and a big thank you is extended to all the helpers on the night.

CARD GAME: The next Hurling Progressive 25 Club Card Drive will take place in The Olde House Killamery on this Friday 28^th at 9pm sharp and all are welcome.

BRIDGE CLUB: The Killamery Bridge Club game continues in Grangemockler Hall on Monday evenings at 8pm and all are welcome.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Feb. 16th 2019

TRINITY WIN UPMCFR. MEACHAIR CUP: The Trinity College Camogie team that included Kilkenny players half forwards Molly Walsh Windgap, Aoife O’Carroll Lisdowney, centre back Heather Doyle St. Claire’s, and Ailish O’Dwyer Thomastown and were crowned the Fr, Meachair Third Level Camogie Champions when they defeated UCC in the Semi Final and then UCD in the finalwhen the games were played in the WIT Arena in Carraiganore on Saturday and Sunday. The side made up from players from fourteen counties were led by their top scorer Laura Stack from the Milford club in Limerick have qualified to play in next years Purcell Cub competition.

BROADBAND HUBS: The community locations in County Kilkenny to install wireless broadband as part of the National Broadband Plan in areas where it will be a few years before the fibre broadband roll out arrives have being named. The Department of Rural and Community Development under Minister Michael Ring wants to make full use of these locations by also offering assistance and funding under theBusiness Continuity Plan. The Kilkenny hubs includeMuckalee Handball Club, Clorinka, Muckalee, Ballyouskill Parish Hall, Attanagh, Galmoy Community Centre, Moneynamuck Parish Hall, Galmoy, Saint Michaels Primary School, Galmoy, Graine Community Hall, Urlingford, Saint Aiden’s National School, Kilmanagh, Tullahought Parish Hall, Pollrone, Windgap, Listerlin National School, TullogherS N Chrion Choill, Gorteennamuck, Gathabawn andCrosspatrick Parish Hall

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS: Winners of the Killamery Bridge Club game held in Grangemockler Hall were 1st: Elizabeth Lanigan/Sarah Crowley, Best Gross: Catherine Burke/Helen Lanigan, 2nd: Margaret Comerford/Pat Arrigan, 3rd: Mary Walsh/Stella Tennyson.

BADMINTON QUIZ: The Annual Tullahought Badminton table quiz takes place in Windgap Hall on Wednesday 19th February 8pm sharp. It is a family fun night and all welcome.

NUACHT BADMANTAN: Congratulations to all our U-13 players who took part in the U-13 County Finals in the Watershed recently. Wonderful badminton played and some fantastic results;the list includes Aidan O'Shea U-13 Boys singles county champion.Aidan O'Shea & John Doyle U-13 runners up in boys Doubles.Aidan O'Shea & Moya Egan U-13 mixed runners-up.John Doyle & Kate O'Brien U-13 mixed plate winners. Tadgh Kennedy and Aidan Doyle U-13 boys doubles plate runners-up.Congratulations also to Ciara O'Shea who was part of the winning Leinster Team in the Celtic Cup Challenge which took place in Lisburn. A very strong Leinster team took on Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

TIDY TOWNS: Tullahought Tidy Towns Richard Walsh, Mary Walsh and Eileen Grace were presentedwith a €200 voucher for flowers at the Mayoral Reception in Kilkenny Castle. Following the cancellation of plans last Saturday due to the visit of storm Dennis tidy towns work will resume next Saturday with the tidying of the old forge and Kearns's bridge areas. All are asked to assemble at the forge at 10am, new volunteers especially welcome.

REELING IN THE YEARS:Windgap Tidy Towns present Reeling in the Yearson March 15^th. The production is not to be missed, and promises a great night of memories, music laughter and more. Additional details to follow

PEIL: The postponed JJ Kavanagh Junior Football League Championship game against Carrickshock is scheduled to take place on Thursday evening in Piltown

NUACHT IONTACH: Comhgairdeachas and best wishes are extended to our community in Kilmoganny who are looking into participating in the National Tidy Towns competition.

CARD RESULTS: Winners of the Hurling Club Card Drive in The Olde House Killamery were 1^st with twelve games Patrick Foley and Brian Lanigan with Dick Lonergan and PJ Barron in secondplace a game behind them. The winners of the twentieth game wereNicky and Gracie Landy. Other prize winners were Eamon Saunders, Eamon Doyle, Peter Landy, and Tom Egan. The next game takes place on the 28^th and all are welcome.

SHOP AND TEAROOMS: Windgap’s Lakeside Shop and Tearooms continues to grow as a focal point of social life in the community. If you would like to get involved as a volunteer drop in to the Tearooms or call the Hall on 051 626944

CAMOGIE REGISTRATION: Registration for all ages in the Camogie Club will take place in the Club Rooms on Sunday at 10.30am

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Feb. 9th 2019

TÁ FÁILTE ROMHAT: New signage around the cross on the main road in Windgap portrays the vibrant life in the area. It is summed up on the new signage on Walsh’s newly opened Pub that states clearly in old script, Tá Fáilte Romhat with an additional one for Ceoil agus Craic inside. Nearby the newly opened garage signage advertises Auto fix servicing and pre NCT test. On the other side of the cross, another new sign directs visitors to the Lakeside Tea Rooms whilst the plaque on the entrance gate to the old National School declares its timeline from1848 to 1964. Across the junction and within fifty yards is the signage for the Wonders of Windgap Walks, the Handball Alley, Playground and Hurling field. They alle xtend the same greeting Tá Fáilte Romhat to Bearna na Gaoithe

REELING IN THE YEARS: March 15^th is the Diary date for anyone with any connection with the social,sporting and daily life of the entire area and surrounding villages. It will see Windgap’s Reeling in the Years event take place at a venue to be announced and all are welcome.

BADMINTON QUIZ: TullahoughtBadminton Club annual quiz night will take place on Wed 19th of February at 8pm in Windgap, Community Hall. All welcome.

TIDY TOWNS NEWS: Tullahought Tidy Town volunteers took advantage of a break in the weather on Saturday morning to spruce up the area around the wildlife ponds where the start of the new season is heralded by fresh frogspawn. Next Saturday will see the group tidying the old forge and Kearns's bridge. All are asked to assemble at the forge at 10am, new volunteers especially welcome.

BROADBAND NEWS: Following aninitiative dating back to 2017 a representative from Kilkenny County Council visited Tullahought last week to confirm that Tullahought Community Centre was to become one of the counties broadband hubs. This pre-installation survey determined the preferred options for the installation of the necessary equipment with the work set to be carried out over the summer. This will bring high speed broadband to the Centre and the facility will remain in place until such time as high speed broadband is available to every household in the area through the roll out of the National Broadband Plan. The expected broadband speeds of 150mbps Download and 30mbps Upload from the project compare favourably with the average speeds currently in the area of 6mbps Download and 1.5mbps Upload for those with a satellite service or the miserly less than 1mbps Download and 0.2 Upload for the majority relying on a landline service. The program is being funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment with Kilkenny County Council providing funding for the service provider. It is hoped that this interim measure will benefit the community of Tullahought and surrounding areas.

GO RAIBH MAITH AGAT: Following the conclusion of the General Election the Tidy Towns group would like to thank all the candidates who co-operated in our poster free campaign and ensured that Tullahought village remained free of one use plastic posters.

PEIL: Storm Ciara saw the postponement of the JJ Kavanagh Junior Football League Championship game against Carrickshock scheduled for Callan CBS on Sunday.

BADMINTON NEWS: Congratulations to Hannah Egan, Conor Power and Miley O'Shea who played for Kilkenny at the U11 inter-county competition held in Terenure Badminton Centre on Sunday.Congratulations also to Ciara O'Shea, Nathania Jackson, Sarah Cullen and Emer Barron who won the U16 Division A Schools competition and will now go on and represent St Brigid's College Callan in the Leinster finals in March and to Congratulations to Jack O'Shea, Shane Lomax, Cian O'Rourke and Eoin O'Shea who won the U16 Division B Schools competition with Callan CBS.

COME DINE WITH & ME A “Come Dine with Me” fund raiser event will be held on February 29th at 8.00 pm in Windgap Community Centre, The event works as follows? Hosts provide informal evening meal to their guests. This could range from a take away to something slightly fancier. The night also includes a “Windgap Mr & Mrs” event featuring local celebrities in the hot seat. Tickets cost €20 for the night and hosts can contact the tearooms for further details.

SHOP AND TEAROOMS: Windgap’s Lakeside Shop and Tearooms continues to go from strength to strength as a focal point of social life in the community and as always are looking for more volunteers to get involved. If you would like to get involved drop in to the Tearooms or call the Hall on 051 626944

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Feb. 2^nd. 2019

POSTER FREE ELECTION: To date there has been a great response from all the political parties tothe Tullahought Tidy Towns initiative no poster campaign for the forthcoming general election. The group according to the posterfree.ie website contains almost 200 communities nationwide that also include Callan, Carrick-on-Suir, Clonea, Thurles, Leighlinbridge, Ballinakill and Durrow. Canvassing has been reported as being low key in the area.

POLLING STATIONS: Polling Stations in Windgap National School and Tullahought Community Centre will cater for a large area that takes the whole of Windgap parish and parts of Dunnamaggin, Callan and Hugginstown areas. The electorate of just over three hundred and two hundred respectively are scattered across the world with many expected to travel home from the major cities to vote.

CORRI BOARD POSTERS: The corrugated plastic election posters apparently take over four hundred years to biodegrade. A posterfree.ie survey has shown, an estimated 611,000 posters being used by 2038 candidates in the 2014 localelections at a combined cost of €3 million. The posters fall in the category of single use plastics and would cover the area of twenty three Croke Parks.

LOURDES: Sontae Jackson, a TY student in St. Brigid’s College Callan is travelling as a youth helper to Lourdes with the Ossory Diocesan trip in May and would like to thank everyone who supported her fundraising by buying St. Brigid’s crosses, baked and bought the cakes and buns after mass in Windgap last Saturday. Also Ann Foley, the Lakeside Tearooms and Maher’s Inver Service Station Callan.

CAMOGIE NEWS: At the recent AGM of the Camogie Club the attendance included Joanne Kelleher Judith Phelan Pat Moore Mick O'Shea Michael Saunders John Bambrick Breda O'Shea Emer O'Shea Valarie Doyle Kathryn Costelloe Niamh Bambrick Margaret Foley Liz Jackson Sontae Jackson Margaret Cullen Joan Kenneally Ann Foley Kathleen Purcell and Mary Egan. Niall McCormack has been appointed as trainer for another year.

SHOP AND TEAROOMS: Windgap’s Lakeside Shop and Tearooms continues to go from strength to strength as a focal point of social life in the community and as always are looking for more volunteers to get involved. If you would like to get involved drop in to the Tearooms or call 051 62694

MAYORAL RECEPTION: Cllr. Peter Cleere invited Tullahought Tidy Towns, to a reception on Thursday 30^th of January at 7.30pm, in The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle. The event was to acknowledge the achievements of groups that participated in the Tidy Towns Competition

BADMINTON NEWS: Congratulations to the Tullahought Badminton players who competed in the Leinster Yonex Westside Juvenile Fest Close in Kilcullen at the weekend. The Club had players competing in three different age groups where they had brilliant results, with plenty of silverware being brought home. The list included U17 Jack O'Shea boys shield singles winner and boys doubles runners -up with his partner Tom Nuzum Kildare. U15 Eleanor Hayes girls singles shield winner, U15 Jenny Saunders girls singles shield runners-up U15 Pádraig Egan boys singles shield winner, U15 Laura Doyle and her partner Serena Chen Kildare girls doubles shield winners, U15 Aisling and Alaina O 'Shea girls doubles runners-up

TÚS IONTACH DON PEIL: It has been a great start for the footballers as they travelled to Coon to play Muckalee and then to Callan to play Barrow Rangers in the JJ Kavanagh Junior Football League Championship. The side play Carrickshock in Windgap on Sunday next at 2pm.The panel was Conor Foley, Luke Ward, James Mackey, Walsh. Gary Lyons, Cian Ryan, Sean Foley, Willie Phelan, Darragh O’Shea, Jack Doyle, Niall Walsh, Peter Hennessey, Mark McCoy, Pat Grace, Peter Landy, Subs: Mitch Corrigan, Shane Cullen, Gerard Purcell, Walter Landy, Jim Power, Matthew Enright.

TIDY TOWNS: Thanks are extended to the Tidy Towns volunteers in Tullahought who kicked of the effort for 2020 with our first scheduled work session last Saturday. Work will continue next Saturday at 10am when volunteers are asked to assemble at the wildlife ponds with a view to tidying up the area.As usual all are welcome

CLUICHE CÁRTAÍ: The next Hurling Club Card Progressive Card will take place in The Auld House Killamery on Friday evening next Friday 31^st January at 9pm. To make the game more enjoyable Brian Hickey Concrete presented the organisers with new decks of cards. And all are welcome

SCÓR: Windgap were represented with a quiz team of Pa Moore, Paraic, Shane and Julie Walsh at Scór in the Set Theatre on Sunday evening along with the eventual winners St. Lachtains led by Shelia Killeen, Tullaroan, Dicksboro, O'Loughlin Gaels and Mooncoin. In Solo Singing the winner Grace O Donnell St. Patricks was joined by Julie Walsh Windgap and Jamie Carroll Mooncoin in the competition. In the Recitation Willie Joe MealyCloneen. Michael Byrne Rower Inistioge whilst in the Ballad Group Blacks and Whites group of Lance O’Brien, John McDonnell, Christy Keeley and John O’Neill

LIATHRÓID LAIMHE: As the 40x20 handball season kicks into competitive action Windgap Handball Club had representatives out in the recent Juvenile A Championships. A special word of thanks to all trainers in preparing the boys and girls with notable mention to the county champions: U12 Doubles Shane Doyle & Jack Egan, U13 Singles Jenny Saunders, U14 Singles Conor Doyle, U15 Singles Emer Barron, U16 Doubles Emer Smith & Nathania Jackson. U17 Singles Sean Barron, U17 Doubles Sean Purcell & Adam O'Shea. Also well done to Kate O'Brien and Moya Egan who took home the honours in the schools handball. Also to Conor Doyle who had great success in the Liscarrol tournament.

COME DINE WITH & ME A “Come Dine with Me” fund raiser event will be held on February 29th at 8.00 pm in Windgap Community Centre, details to follow.

HURLING CLUB AGM. The AGMof Cumann Luthchleas Gael Bearna na Gaoithe took place on Friday week in the club rooms.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Jan. 26th 2019

MAYORAL RECEPTION: Cllr. Peter Cleere has invited Tullahought Tidy Towns, to a reception on Thursday 30^th of January at 7.30pm, in The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle.The event is to acknowledge the achievements of groups that participated in the Tidy Towns Competition

CAMOGIE NEWS: At the recent AGM of the Camogie Club the attendance included Joanne Kelleher Judith Phelan Pat Moore Mick O'Shea Michael Saunders John Bambrick Breda O'Shea Emer O'Shea Valarie Doyle Kathryn Costelloe Niamh Bambrick Margaret Foley Liz Jackson Sontae Jackson Margaret Cullen Joan Kenneally Ann Foley Kathleen Purcell and Mary Egan. Niall McCormack has been appointed as trainer for another year.

POSTER FREE ELECTION: To date there has been a great response from all the political parties tothe Tullahought Tidy Towns initiative no poster campaign for the forthcoming general election.The group according to the posterfree.ie website are amongst almost 200 communities nationwide that also include Callan, Carrick-on-Suir, Clonea, Thurles, Leighlinbridge, Ballinakill and Durrow.

CORRI BOARD POSTERS: Corrugated plastic is apparently the material of choice for election posters and takes over four hundred years to biodegrade. A posterfree.ie survey has shown in the 2014 local elections, 2038 candidates ran for 949 seats with an estimated 611,000 posters being used with a combined cost of €3 million The posters fall in the category of single use plastics and would have covered the equivalent area of 23 Croke Parks.

PHISING IS NOT FISHING: Local residents have been the target of calls at all hours by phone callers purporting to be represenatives on behalf of the Eircom Intranet Security Department seeking to resolve issues with the local Broadband Service. Complete with a local Dublin PCs and/Laptop/devices. Complete with offers of better service faster speeds and a possible refund the calls fall in to the category of “If it is too good to be true” it is BADMINTON NEWS: Congratulations to the Tullahought Badminton players who competed in the Leinster Yonex Westside Juvenile Fest Close in Kilcullen at the weekend. The Club had players competing in three different age groups where they had brilliant results, with plenty of silverware being brought home. The list included U17 Jack O'Shea boys shield singles winner and boys doubles runners -up with his partner Tom Nuzum Kildare. U15 Eleanor Hayes girls singles shield winner, U15 Jenny Saunders girls singles shield runners-up U15 Pádraig Egan boys singles shield winner, U15 Laura Doyle and her partner Serena Chen Kildare girls doubles shield winners, U15 Aisling and Alaina O 'Shea girls doubles runners-up

TÚS IONTACH DON PEIL: It was a great start for the footballers as they travelled to Coon to play Muckalee in this year’s JJ Kavanagh Junior Football League Championship. The side play Barrow Rangers in Windgap on Saturday at 2pm.

CLUICHE CÁRTAÍ: The next Hurling Club Card Progressive Card will take place in The Auld House Killamery on Friday evening next Friday 31^st January at 9pm. To make the game more enjoyable Brian Hickey Concrete presented the organisers with new decks of cards. And all are welcome

SCÓR: Windgap were represented with a quiz team of Pa Moore, Paraic, Shane and Julie Walsh at Scór in the Set Theatre on Sunday evening along with the eventual winners St.Lachtains led by Shelia Killeen, Tullaroan, Dicksboro, O'LoughlinGaels and Mooncoin.

In Solo Singing the winner Grace O Donnell St. Patricks was joined by Julie Walsh Windgapand Jamie Carroll Mooncoin in the competition. In the Recitation Willie Joe MealyCloneen. Michael Byrne Rower Inistioge whilst in the Ballad Group Blacks and Whites group of Lance O’Brien, John McDonnell, Christy Keeley and John O’Neill

EXCERSISE CLASSES: The weekly exercise classes continue in Windgap Community Hall on Thursday mornings for Mature Adults from 8.55am to 9.30. and for all 9.30am to 10.15am the classes are free, are facilitated by Biddy O’Dwyer and sponsored by the Educational Training Board. For further info contact Kate Moloney on 087 2050029

HURLING CLUB AGM. The AGMof Cumann Luthchleas Gael Bearna na Gaoithe took place on Friday evening in the club rooms at 7.30pm.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Jan. 20th 2019

POSTER FREE ELECTION: There has been a great response from all the political parties to the Tullahought Tidy Towns initiative no poster campaign for the forthcoming general election.It continues the community groups policy forlast year’s local elections and the previous general election that has seen the amount of poster free communities rise to almost eighteen hundred nationwide.

WINDGAP SEEN NATIONWIDE: A new vista of Windgap was seen countrywide on RTE’s Nationwide programme when drone footage revealed the upper village to those who only pass by on the R697 main road. The programme featured visits and presentations throughout the village, at the forge, League House, hurling pitch and badminton court with the main part featuring on the provision of the new Hall and the activities and volunteer contribution to the running of the New Shop and Tea Rooms.

MOIRA HICKEY: A link was broken in the educational development of the area with the recent death of Moira Hickey of Ballygown. Formerly Moira Schofield from Capp white Moira gave her teaching life in Tullahought and Windgap National Schools.

TÚS IONTACH DON IOMÁNAÍOCHT: It was a great start to the Hurling Season with celebratory scenes of great joy for Ballyhale Shamrocks, Tullaroan and Conahy Shamrocks on their winning of the AIBSenior, Intermediate and Junior All Ireland Hurling Titles respectively in Croke Park on Saturday and Sunday. The games continue with Kilkenny hosting Dublin in the Allianz National Hurling League in UPMC Nowlan Park at 2pm

CAMOGIE AGM: The Camogie Club AGM took place in the Club roomson Friday eveningandwas well attended. Chairperson Ann Foley opened the proceedings. It was followed by all the officers’reports that showed the club in the black and also outlined the great success it enjoyed throughout the year. The U14's were congratulated on winning the County Final and the U16's on winning the league. Also to the seniors on reaching the County Semi Final especially in the clubs 25th Anniversary year. For the election of the Executive Committee officers the chairperson thanked Children’s Officer KathrynCostolloe,Juvenile secretary Mary Egan and PRO Alison Walsh for all their hard work during the last three years.The committee for 2020 is President Pat Moore, Chairperson Ann Foley, Vicechair Mick O' Shea, Secretary Joan Kenneally, Assistant Secretary Kathleen Purcell, Juvenile Secretary Valarie Doyle, Treasurer Margaret Cullen, Registrar Eimear O'Shea, Joint PRO’s Dave and Liz Jackson, Child Welfare Officer Carmel Smith.

In line with the GAA child welfare guidelines and maintaining the highest standard, all new and existing coaches are required to be Garda vetted, have undertaking the Safeguarding course and holding the minimum foundation level coaching qualification before they can get involvedin any way with the teams. The Garda vetting and application for coaching courses can be completed through the child welfare officer.

FOOTBALL DRAWS: Windgap drew Muckalee, Barrow Rangers and Carrickshock in this year’s JJ Kavanagh Junior Football League Championship. The competition commences with a trip to Coon this weekend Sunday for the first round tie with Muckalee.

HURLING CLUB AGM. The AGMof Cumann Luthchleas Gael Bearna na Gaoithe will take place on Friday 24th January in the club rooms at 7.30pm. All players and members are invited to attend.

HARRIERS MEET; Kilmoganny Harriers held their weekend meet in Owning on Sunday with the horses and hounds travelling up to the higher areas where they got a couple of good runs over the rolling countrysidearound Tullahought, Knockeen and Curragh.

REELING IN THE YEARS: Work continues on creating a local “Reeling in the year’s” program from old tapes and videos. Featuring a wide range of social and sporting events back over the years the event and will be presented in the local community centre. Thanks are extended to all who have contributed tapes to date.

CARD RESULTS: The Hurling Club Card Progressive Card game took place in The Auld House Killamery on Friday evening. The Winners were 1^st PJ Barron and Tom Kennedy on twelve games with Neddy Hawe and John Foley on eleven. The 20^th game was won by Christy and Nonie English. Other winners were PJ Barron, Kieran Purcell, John Kenny, John Bambrick, Neddy Hawe and Nonie English. The next game takes place onFriday 31^stJanuary at 9pm and all are welcome

EXCERSISE CLASSES: The weekly exercise classes continue in Windgap Community Hall on Thursday mornings for the next nine weeks. Class 1: for Mature Adults will take place from 8.55am to 9.30. The Classes are of Light Exercise and will be followed from 9.30am to 10.15am “Fast and Furious” which is suitable for all. Both Classes will focus on Nutrition, General Health and Weight loss. The classes are free, are facilitated by Biddy O’Dwyer and sponsored by the Educational Training Board. For further info contact Kate Moloney on 087 2050029 or Noreen Hayes on 087 4186007

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Jan. 12th 2019

COMHGHAIRDEAS ON CUAILE SPRING CLEAN: A bright sunny Sunday morning on the way to the Kilkenny Walsh Cup Senior Hurling game in Callan brought a surprise to many travellers as volunteers from the Cuaile Community carried out their Cuaile Spring Clean along almost eight Kilometres of the R698 road between Seskin, Windgap and Callan. All along the route notices of the work ahead appeared on recycled election posters and were followed by groups of hard working adults in High Viz Vests. The results of their efforts were to be clearly seen in the packed bags of rubbish mostly of fast food and drinks waste thrown out of passing vehicles and some tyres that were left behind awaiting collection. The project by the Cuaile group linked the work in recent years by the Tidy Towns communities of Windgap and Tullahought who have cleared the remaining section of the R698 from Seskinto the junction with the R697 at Hawes Cross and on to Birchwood. Returning from the game where Wexford took the spoils the roads were spotless with the work by the Cuaile group continuing on the bye-roads around Cuaile in the weeks ahead.

HURLING CLUB AGM. TheAGM of Cumann Luthchleas Gael Bearna na Gaoithe will take place on Friday 24th January in the club rooms at 7.30pm. All nominations and recommendations are to be emailed to secretary.windgap.kilkenny@gaa.ie or by contacting the Club SecretoryNoel Power on 087 2062262. All players and members are invited to attend.

EXCERSISE CLASSES: The weekly exercise classes in Windgap Community Hall resume on January 16^th for ten weeks and are as follows Class 1: for Mature Adults from will take place from 8.55am to 9.30. The Classes of Light Exercise, Focussing on maintaining Mobility, Help preventing or slowing down the effects of Osteoporosis, focus on Arthritis’ Pre and Post Surgery once Doctors Clearance has been given. Class 2 from 9.30am to 10.15am“Fast and Furious” Suitable for all. Both Classes will focus on Nutrition, General Health and Weight loss. The classes are free, are facilitated by Biddy O’Dwyer and sponsored by the Educational Training Board for the Community please contact Kate on 087 2050029 or Noreen Hayes on 087 4186007

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Scoil San Nioclás, Windgap, Co Kilkennyrequires a School Cleaner. Job description available from the school office.Tel: 051-648321Email: windgapns@eircom.netApplications in writing by 17^th January 2020.

BADMINTON: The U.17 County finals took place in the Watershed on Sunday morning and it was congratulations all round to the players who took part. The day saw fantastic results for Tullahought Badminton Club. Boys Singles County Champion: Jack O'Shea. Girls Singles County Champion: Ciara O'Shea. Mixed Doubles County Champions: Jack and Ciara O'Shea. Girls Doubles Shield Champions: Niamh Enright and Jenny Saunders. Mixed Doubles Shield Champions: Ronan Ó Brien and Eleanor Hayes. Boys Doubles Shield Runners-up: Shane Lomax and Eoin Byrne. The U.13 and U.15 Mixed League teams were also in action over the weekend in our new community centrewhen the club hosted Mooncoin U.15's on Saturday and U.13's on Sunday morning. Some great matches played on both days with our under 15's losing out in a close encounter while our under 13’s came out on top. The U.15's: were Padraig Egan, Eoin O'Shea, Eleanor Hayes and Niamh Enright whilst the U.13's: were Aidan O'Shea, John Doyle, Moya Egan & Kate O'Brien Thanks to all the coaches and parents who helped out. The great work being done by the coaches is bearing fruit.

CAMOGIE AGM: Windgap Camogie Club are holding their AGM on Friday next 17th January 2020 at 7.30pm in the club rooms. Any nominations or recommendations can be emailed to secretary.windgap.kilkenny@camogie.ie or sent to 087 0994361. All welcome.

REELING IN THE YEARS: Work continues on creating a local “Reeling in the year’s” program from old tapes and videos. Featuring a wide range of social and sporting events back over the years the event and will be presented in the local community centre. Thanks are extended to all who have contributed tapes to date.

PROGRESSIVE 25’s: The next Hurling Club Card Progressive Card game held in The Auld House Killamery on Friday 17thJanuaryat 9pm and all are welcome.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES Jan. 6th 2019

NEW PARTNERSHIP BEGINNINGS: Just days into the New Year it’s all good news for the proactivecommunities in Windgap and Tullahought.The on-going restoration workon the long unusedMedical Centre will shortly see it converted intoa modern residence for a new family in the parish. In addition the news of a series of grants for the community groups has been widely welcomed. It has seen the County Council contribute €3,200 for the provision of the new Shop and Tea Rooms, whilst the GAA club has received €3,000 from the Leinster Council for the work done on the ball nets and other projectscarried out recently with €17,000 being earmarked for the club by the Sports Capital Fund for forthcoming projects. Another potential project that involves funding for religious sites across the country has seen Windgap in a leading position for support. On Wellbeing the Educational Training Boards support of the Fitness Classes that have taken place in the Hall since October looks set to be extended. Its success has created the possibility of another partnership between the Educational Training Board and the community with an innovate project involving and substantially benefitting the senior classes in the National School, the actively retired members of the community with the main beneficiaries being the Tea Rooms. Its inception would share and restore long lost gardening skillsfor all involved and provide fresh produce from a Community Tunnel for the Tea Rooms. This follows the Amenity Grants received by both the Tullahought and Windgap Tidy Towns Groups and Leaders and the County Councils support of the Parish Hall, Team Rooms and the Lingaun Valley Tourism project.

HURLING CLUB AGM.TheHurling Club is holding its AGM on Friday 24th January in the club roomsat 7.30pm. All nominations and recommendations are to be emailed to secretary.windgap.kilkenny@gaa.ie or by contacting the Club SecretoryNoel Power on 087 2062262 by next Sunday 10th January. All players and members are invited to attend.

CAMOGIE AGM: Windgap Camogie Club are holding their AGM on Friday 17th January 2020 at 7.30pm in the club rooms. Any nominations or recommendations can be emailed to secretary.windgap.kilkenny@camogie.ie or sent to 087 0994361 by next Sunday 12th January at 9pm. All welcome.

TÚS MAITH BY ENTREPENEURS; Another welcome feature of Christmas past was the amount of Art, Novelties andSouvnior items Produced by local crafts people Tess Cross, Marie Landy, Pariac Walsh, Liz Cashin and Niall Walsh.Currently displayed in the Windgap Tearooms the items include, paintings and a wide range of personalised, handmade gifts and framed drawings of sporting, historical and local interest. As a result be sure to call into the tea rooms to see the products or contact the creators direct.

REELING IN THE YEARS: Work continues on creating a local reeling in the year’s program from old tapes and videos. Featuring a wide range of events back over the years the

BON VOYAGE: Bon Voyage is extended to two of the local hurlers who are emigrating to Australia and New Zealand and are amongst those who are returning to all parts of the world from their visit home for Christmas and The New Year,

BADMINTON: Congratulations to Ciara O'Shea who was selected as part of the Leinster U13 Celtic Challenge Team. Competition will take place in February in Lisburn. We would like to wish Ciara and her team mates the very best. U-13 & U-15 mixed teams had their first outing at the beginning of December against Mullinavat Badminton Club. A great morning of badminton was played with all involved wishing them the very best in their next outing.

CARD RESULTS: Winners at the Hurling Club Card game in the Auld House sharing ten games were Jimmy and Peter Landy and PJ Barron and Tom Egan. He winners of the 20^th game were James Brennan and Pat Foley.The next Hurling Club Card Progressive Card game held in The Auld House Killamery on Friday 17thJanuaryand all are welcome.

SAINT STEPHENS DAY WALK: The annual Windgap St. Stephens Development Committee walk took place on December 26^th, over two routes the shorter 1.5km village circuit and a longer circuit over the Bearna Breac which saw the walkers return by the same route and also through Butlerswood.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October Dec. 22nd 2019

CHRISTMAS CERMONIES: Following the grouping of Windgap, Dunnamaggin, Callan and Danesfort parishes some of the ChristmasMass times are altered in the Local Churches and are as follows on Christmas Eveat 6pm in Tullahought, in Kilmoganny at 7.30pm and inWindgap at 9pm, OnChristmas Day Tullahought, 9am, Windgap 10am,and Dunnamaggin at 11am. It followsthe Church of Ireland pattern whereKells Union Group comprisesof St Mary’s Kells, St Matthew’s Kilmoganny, St Peter’s Ennisnag and Kilfane Church, along with St Mary’s Inistioge. Sunday service takes place in St. Matthews in Kilmoganny on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays at 10am ROADHOUSE RETURNS: A local landmark business made a welcome return under new ownership when Guinans Bar and Lounge re-opened over the weekend.

The return as the Windgap Roadhouse connects with the premises past when the Roadhouse was a well-known venue on the social, dancing and cabaret calendar. Now known as The Windgap Roadhouse, Walsh’s’ Bar,Lounge and Grocery has made the first steps against the tide of closures in rural Ireland with a planned reopening of the grocery at a later stage. Having had a complete face lift internally The Windgap Roadhouse adjoins another new venture after a garage has commenced business on the same site. A welcome part of the re-generation of the area best wishes are extended to both businesses for their initative and commitment.

SAINT STEPHENS DAY WALK: The annual Windgap St. Stephens day walk will take place on December 26th. Registration is at 11.30 AM in the Community centre, and event is in aid of Windgap Development group. This is an opportunity to clear the Christmas cobwebs by Walking or running. Two routes are available including the shorter 1.5km village circuit and a longer circuit which will be confirmed closer to the event when we have a better handle on the weather forecast. Refreshments served in the Community centre after the event with raffle for hamper and other prizes.

CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE: A hundred thousand welcomes are extended to all who are coming home or visiting the area for the Christmas or the New Year celebrations whilst best wishes are extended to all who are travelling to other locations over the same period.

WINTER SOLTICE GEM: The morning solstice at the Coshel in Knockroe, between Tullahought Windgap and Ahenny attracted a crowd close to three hundred people to see the sunrise marking of the shortest day. It was a unique occasion and was described as the best and clearest ever display as the rising sun on hit the back stone of the Passage tomb. The countdown as sun played with the clouds behind the horizoncreated an eerie silence. As the clouds parted it started a buzz around the place that broke into a gentle applause as the awe of the alignment that our predecessors constructed in 3,000 BC was unveiled. As the gathering of Historians, photographers Archaeologists, druids and locals of every age and occupation the dialects came from many counties and as far away as Belfast City. Some were solstice followers who chose The Coshel and travelled long journeys in the early morning to reach the site around five hundred yards from the Tipperary border. On their arrival it was overlooked by a majestic looking Slievenamon and as they left two hours later a dense fog filled the valley creating magnificent scenes by creating upland islands out of the surrounding hills. After the solstice the archaeologist Muiris O’Sullivan who developed the site game a history of the work and the international signicance of the findings. The event with teas and parking was co-ordinated by the Caiseal Conservation Committee, Lingaun Valley Tourism and Suir Valley Environmental Group. All present were delighted with the improved access and parking provided by the County Council in conjunction with the OPW who were also present. Similar solstice timings will continue close to 8.40am while at 3.40pm in a less crowded area over the days preceding the 21^st, further details on the evening solstice in next week’sedition.

LAST CHANCE TO SHOP LOCAL; Local themed mugs have been added to the beautiful local craft and Christmas gifts and ideas that are for sale throughout the Parish with many of them being displayed in the Windgap Tearooms. These include yuletide logs, paintings, personalised, handmade gifts, history of hurling frames and framed drawings of local buildings like Windgap Forge, and Creamery, Tullahought Church, the Parish Pubs and ones from the surrounding villages. Be sure to call into the tea rooms to support these local enterprises For the ideal Hurling and GAA Christmas Gift visit https://historyofhurling.ecwid.com or select the Evolution of the Hurley on the same site

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGM: The AGM of Windgap Community Development Committee took place on Monday 16th of December. Chairperson Tony Doyle recounted the main events of the past year highlighting the opening of the Community centre as well as the development of the shop and lakeside tea rooms which have become an integral part the social life of the local community. He made special mention to the retail subcommittee and to the volunteers who have made it such a fantastic success. Secretary, Brian O' Rourke presented a detailed review of the group’s activities, whilst Simon Brophy delivered the Treasurer's report providing a copy of the income and expenditure. He confirmed that €90,000 was due on the Community centre as we enter 2020. The same officers were reappointed for the next year and the full list along with the committee will appear in next week’sColum.

CARD RESULTS: Winners at the Hurling Club Card game in the Auld House were 1^st with eleven games Eileen O’Gorman and PJ Egan. Second sharing eleven games were Eamon Saunders, John Bambrick, Eddie Hawe and Laurence Foley. The winners of the 20^th game were John Kenny, Brian hickey. Other winners were PJ Barron, Jimmy Walsh, John Foley, Aidan Mackey, Tom Mackey and Patrick Foley. The next Hurling Club Card Progressive Card game held in The Auld House Killamery on Friday 3^rdJanuaryand all are welcome.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October Dec. 15th 2019

CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE: A hundred thousand welcomes are extended to all who are coming home or visiting the area for theSoltice, Christmas or the New Year celebrations and best wishes are extended to all who are travelling to other locations over the same period.

WINTER SOLTICE IN KNOCKROE: The Winter Solstice will be celebrated at the Knockroe Passage Tomb in County Kilkenny on Saturday December 21^st. Nestled between the hills of the Lingaun Valley in Knockroe County Kilkenny lies the Caiseal a Megalithic Passage Tomb, the only Passage Tomb which records both the morning and evening Winter Solstice events. The Knockroe site which dates from 3,200 BC is older than Newgrange, Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Egypt. The morning Solstice occurs at 8.40am while the evening Solstice occurs at 3.40pm. The Caiseal Conservation Committee, Lingaun Valley Tourism and Suir Valley Environmental Group will be on hand on the day to oversee parking facilities and provide refreshments to visitors, with a guest speaker scheduled to attend the evening event. For those attending the solstice events at Knockroe, remember it is rural setting and wellies or good boots would be advised, also plan on arriving early as there is a short walk in to the site. Arrive early to allow time to walk to the site and sample the refreshments on offer.

DOWN MEXICO WAY: The highlight of the Windgap senior citizens Christmas Dinner in Windgap Community Centre on Thursday last was the visit of Centenarian Mai Phelan who regaled the audience with a couple songs including the Gene Authry Classic “Down Mexico Way” The event for an attendance of over one hundred senior citizens consisted of a three course dinner, followed by live musicby the School Choir and John Ryan and eight members of the Cois Suire traditional and Folk Group. The event with Soup, Turkey and ham, Sherry Trifle, Mince Pies and tea was put together and served by the Lakeside Tea Room volunteers led by Teresa Dunphy. It also included a special cake for the Centenarian Mai

ROSE OF MOONCOIN: Missing the parish Christmas Party in her own Community Centre was local resident Maureen Ryan. Currently a resident in the Rosedale Centre in Mooncoin Maureen who was a leading member of the Windgap parish choir was crowned the Rose of Mooncoin following her Hymn singing at their Christmas party.

SHOPPING LOCAL THIS CHRISTMAS; Local themed mugs have been added to the beautiful local craft and Christmas gifts and ideas that are for sale throughout the Parish with many of them being displayed in the Windgap Tearooms. These include yuletide logs, paintings, personalised, handmade gifts, history of hurling frames and framed drawings of local buildings like Windgap Forge, and Creamery, Tullahought Church, the Parish Pubs andones from the surrounding villages. Be sure to call into the tea rooms to support these local enterprisesFor the ideal Hurling and GAA Christmas Gift visit https://historyofhurling.ecwid.com or select the Evolution of the Hurley on the same site

FINAL LOTTO: Many thanks are extended to all who supported and were involved in the weekly Lotto for Windgap Hurling Club for the past twenty three years. Part of the Play for the Park co-operative with all the clubs in Kilkenny and Nowlan Park the draw was co-ordinated weekly by Shelia Molloy her family members Ned Buggy and the volunteer team from Tullaroan. The Weeks Winning Numbers were 3, 4, 6, 21, and Bonus 10and brought no match three winners.

INFORMATION MEETING: Leading the Garda Siochana information meeting held in Windgap Hall recently was Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes Kilkenny. Amongst his team were Superintendent Carmel Banville Thomastown, Inspector Colin Furlong head of Drugs and Crime in the Kilkenny Carlow area, Inspector Barry Smith, Inspector Anthony Farrell Kilkenny Traffic spoke of the Local Policing Partnership, Sergeant Catherine O’Gorman, Sergeant Peter McConnon Crime prevention Officer Carlow Kilkenny who stated his role was the number one item in the association,Sergeant Ted Hughes Thomastown, Garda Richie Conlon from the station in Kilmoganny and reserve Garda Jack Millar. At the meeting the community were complimented on crime prevention and the community facilities. The agenda includedinformation covered Home Security, Drugs, Crime Prevention Enforcement, education and Traffic Regulations. The attendance included thirty seven representatives of the manyCommunity organisations in Windgap, Tullahought, Kilmoganny and Dunnamaggin areas. Amongst the simple tips provided were not leaving a door key out anywhere, being alert, marking property with an ultra violet pen and a machine is available, fitting alarms, advising the postman if you are way, school and community visits. Alsojoining the community text alert system to ensure the crime figures continued their downward trend. A follow up community meeting is scheduled and the Regional Community Alert Database contacts list is to be updated.

CARD RESULTS: The next Hurling Club Card Progressive Card game held in The Auld House Killamery on Friday 20^th of December and all are welcome.

WILDLIFE SURVEY: The BirdwatchIreland Garden Bird Survey has commenced in the area. Featuring thirty three types of our feathered friends the survey runs on a simple weekly observational basis from the start of December to the end of February. It is also available by googling the Tullahought Tidy Town’s website.

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGM: The AGM of Windgap Community Development Committee took place in the Community Centre on Monday evening. Full report from the groups PRO in next week’s edition

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED: The loss of the local Fás scheme has led to an appeal for volunteers to look after the local cemeteries on a rota basis.All feedback and volunteers to an tAthair FearghaillÓ Fearghaill i Tigh an Sagairt.

SHUTTLETIME COACHING: The Tullahought Badminton Club Shuttle time coaching course will take place in Mullinavat on 18th/19th Jan 2020 from 10 am to 4 pm. Cost to Affiliated members is €55 and Non-affiliated members is €68. This course is a brilliant opportunity for parents to learn basic badminton coaching skills. If interested please contact Marie on 0872368848 for further details.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October Dec. 8th 2019

MAI HITS THE HUNDRED: Congratulations are extended to Mai Phelan of Seskin who celebrated her one hundred birthday on Wednesday last. Hale and hearty she travelled to St. Josephs home in Kilmoganny for the celebration where she was joined by her daughter Kathleen, sons Ted and Donie who had just returned from Sydney for the big day and her many neighbours, relatives and friends.The celebrations continue with Michael arriving shortly for the extended birthday and Christmas celebrations.

MICHAEL TAKES THE CHAIR: Windgap Handball Club and the entire community extends its congratulations to Michael O'Shea on succeeding Joe Anthony as Chairperson of Kilkenny Handball Board at the AGM held on Tuesday 3rd December. Best wishes are extended to Michael and the newly elected board for the upcoming year.

SENIOR CITIZENS DINNER: Windgap senior citizens Christmas Dinner will be hosted on Thursday December 12th at 1.00 pm in Windgap Community Centre! It will consist of a three course dinner, followed by live music and maybe an opportunity to dance. Tickets are just €10 and are available from the Lakeside Shop and Tearooms. For further details contact Julie Walsh on 086 8095329

SHOPPING LOCAL THIS CHRISTMAS; Some beautiful local craft and Christmas gifts and ideas are for sale throughout the Parish with many of them being displayed in the Windgap Tearooms. These include yuletide logs, paintings, personalised, handmade gifts, history of hurling frames and framed drawings of local buildings like Windgap Forge, and Creamery, Tullahought Church, the Parish Pubs andones from the surrounding villages. Be sure to call into the tea rooms to support these local enterprises

SOUTH EASTERN DARTS LEAGUE: Congratulations to the Power's Pub, Tullahought darts team on their recent run of victories, picking up win's over The Parish Pump, Rosbercon, Andy's, Ballyhale and local rivals Dunphy's, Kilmoganny in a nail biting finish, secured by Robbie Meagher. The team is made up of Seamus Purcell, Dean Madden, Wesley Smith, Eamon Hawe, Robbie Meagher, Michael Dunne, Michael Cuddihy, Donal McAndrew, Gary Caulfield and Gemma Caulfield. Their next outing sees them take on Foxes Den, Kilmacow on Fri 13th of December.

PARTY TIME: Mountain View Golf Club restaurant in Ballyhale hosted the first ever Lakeside Tearooms volunteers party on Saturday evening where the group were joined Margaret Lowry the headmistress and the staff of Windgap National School

INFORMATION MEETING: An information meeting for on Home Security, Drugs, Crime Prevention and Traffic Regulations was held in the Community Centre in Windgap on Monday last. The attendanceincluded high ranking members of the Gardaí from across the region and representatives of the manyCommunity organisations in Windgap, Tullahought, Kilmoganny and Dunnamaggin areas. Further details to follow.

HARRIERS MEET: The Kilmoganny harriers meet scheduled for Dunnamaggin on Sunday week was moved owing to the saturated ground to the higher area ground of Carraigadoon and Newtown Hill. From the high ground the tally of the hunting pack carried long distances on the south westerly breeze

SILVER MEDAL AWARDED: Tullahought representatives, Eamon Doyle, Dick Walsh, Margaret Doyle and Mary Walshe attended theSouth Eastern Region Super Valu Tidy Towns presentation to the Regional Award winners at a prize-giving ceremony in Terryglass, Nenagh, Co Tipperary where they collected a Silver Medal, a 3rd place Award for Co Kilkenny and the Small Towns South East Region's Pollinator Award. Other awards went to Keep Kilkenny Beautiful whose delegates collected a Gold Medal, the 1st place Award in Co. Kilkenny and the Large Towns South East Region's Pollinator Award.Inistogue delegates collected a Silver Medal and the 2nd place Award for Co Kilkenny whilst Ballyragget collected the Endeavour Award as the most improved town in the county in 2019. The winners were presented with their awards by Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan T.D. and MaighréadCremin, Community Manager with SuperValu. Compere for the awards was Eimear Whittle of Fáilte Ireland.

The group were joined by Dearbhala Ledwidge, Heritage Officer with Kilkenny Co. Council.

CARD RESULTS: Winners in the Hurling Club Card game held in The Auld House Killamery on Friday evening were sharing 1^st prize were Eddie Hawe, Laurence Foley, Patrick and John Foley with Peter Vaughan and Ogie Murray winning the 20^th game. Other winners were Eamon Doyle, Patrick Foley, John McKenna, Kieran Purcell and John Bambrick. The next game takes place on Friday 20^th of December and all are welcome.

WILDLIFE FACTS: To check the details of the on-going issue of the scarcity of small birds, rabbit’s, hares and pheasants being due to the arrival of buzzards or over hunting the fifth annual BirdwatchIreland Garden Bird Survey has commenced in the area. Featuring thirty three types of our feathered friends the survey runs on a simple weekly observational basis from the start of December to the end of February. It is also available by googling the Tullahought Tidy Town’s website.

PARISH BAZAAR: A most successfuland well attended Parish Christmas Bazaar took place in the Parish Hall Windgap on Sunday.

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGM: The AGM of Windgap Community Development Committee takes place in the Community Centre on Monday 16^that 8pm and all are welcome. Full report from the groups PRO in next week’s edition

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED: The loss of the local Fás scheme has led to an appeal for volunteers to look after the local cemeteries on a rota basis.All feedback and volunteers to an tAthair Fearghaill Ó Fearghaill i Tigh an Sagairt.

SHUTTLETIME COACHING: The Tullahought Badminton Club Shuttle time coaching course will take place in Mullinavat on 18th/19th Jan 2020 from 10 am to 4 pm. Cost to Affiliated members is €55 and Non-affiliated members is €68. This course is a brilliant opportunity for parents to learn basic badminton coaching skills. If interested please contact Marie on 0872368848 for further details.

SCHOOL BOYS FOOTBALL: The Windgap School football side qualified for the Roinn C football final after a thrilling two point win over Goresbridge/Paulstown in a bitterly cold afternoon last Thursday. The local side were considerably smaller in size than their opponents and looked in real trouble when they fell 2-1 to no score behind with just over five minutes on the clock. However, they fought their way back into the game with good ball carrying into the wind and this tenacious spirit saw them reduce the arrears to 2-2 to 1-2 by half time with all of the local scores coming from Padraig Egan. The locals started the second half well with more high levels of determination across all of the team and further scores from Padraig Egan saw them hit the front 2-4 to 2-2 midway through the second half. It was tit for tat from here to the finish with both sides adding two further points but Windgap held on in a tense finish to progress to the final. There were many fine performers for the locals – from Hugo Seagrave in goal, Jack Egan, Jules Seagrave, Laura Doyle, Alex Culleton and Darragh Enright in defence, Ona Kennedy and Aidan O’Shea while Padraig Egan and Aisling O’Shea were the pick of the forwards. Great credit also to trainer Matthew Enright and his mentors Micheál Maloney and Tony Doyle for their work with this team who now progress to the final against Kilkenny School Project in a match likely to be played on Saturday 23^rd November. The team was: Hugo Seagrave, Jules Seagrave, Jack Egan, Laura Doyle, Darragh Enright, Alex Culleton, Aidan O’Shea, Ona Kennedy, Darragh Houlihan, Aisling O’Shea, Tadgh Kennedy, Padraig Egan, Mikey Saunders, Sam Maloney, Alyn Hearne. Subs: Joe Maloney, Aidan Doyle, Emily Freaney, Jack Murray, Rory Quigley, Lauren Enright, Cathal Barron, Conor Power, Frankie Dullard, Cillian Weldon, Leon Ozaroski, Shane Norris, Shane Doyle.

FABALOUS AND FREE: 'Take it or Leave it'. 'Fabulous and Free'. Is a pre-Christmas pop up shop in the Kilmoganny Community Centre. Unwanted items of excellent quality are being collected and will be put into the shop where they can be taken away for free. No charge, no donations, no money accepted at all. The shop will be open from Monday 25th November to Saturday 14th December. With the following opening times Monday to Friday 10.00am to 1.00pm Saturdays 2.00pm to 5.00pm anyone wishing to donate goods please contact Anne 051 648150 or email keepingitdelightful@gmail.com to arrange collection.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October Dec. 1st 2019

SENIOR CITIZENS DINNER: Windgap senior citizens Christmas Dinner will be hosted on Thursday December 12th at 1.00 pm in Windgap Community Centre! It will consist of a three course dinner, followed by live music and maybe an opportunity to dance. Tickets are just €10 and are available from the Lakeside Shop and Tearooms. For further details contact Julie Walsh on 086 8095329

THE BIG WILDLIFE QUESTION: Strong feedback has followed the recent conversations on the scarcity of small birds, rabbit’s, hares, pheasants and climate change in the area that was reported in last week’s column. Over the past week the debate continued over the arrival of buzzards against continual over hunting as the main reason. Added to the list of wildlife changes were the apparent absence of the cuckoo and the slow disappearance of the snipe, the melodious skylarks and edible size trout in the local streams. The absence of the already noted native hare that was once so plentiful that it adorned for over forty years the pre decimal three penny piece was widely lamented on. Included in the observations was the lack of notification of hunting events and of any game management plans to all local residents,what insurance cover is provided, if all hunters have it and if the buzzard is a protected species.

PARISH BAZAAR: The annual Christmas Bazaar that takes place in the Parish Hall Windgap on this Sunday 8^th of December at 2pm. The event includes Wheel of Fortune, Christmas Cakes Hams, Raffles, Home grown produce and Baking, Timber auction, opportunities for a chat and lots of tea and coffee. All are welcome

WREATH MAKING: Fancy a fun evening with mulled wine, lots of chat and your own handmade wreath to bring home? Come and join me at wreath making workshop Wednesday 4^th of December, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Windgap Community Centre €20 per person (all materials supplied) Places are limited so contact Giedre on 085-7635291 to secure your spot. If you have a secateurs bring it along, however spare ones will be available on the night for those who don’t have one.

IRISH PERSON OF THE YEAR: Congratulations are extended to The “Luton & District Communities" Irish Person of the Year Edmond Duggan for his voluntary work in the community.A native of Kilmacoliver, Tullahought Eddie was nominated for his work with sufferers of Parkinson's disease and was joined at the presentation by his wife Kay, neighbours and friends. See attached photo.

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGM: The AGM of Windgap Community Development Committee takes place in the Community Centre on Monday 16^th at 7.30pm The group founded on the 28^th October 2010 has led to the provision of the Amenity Area, Loop Walks, Tidy Towns, Playground, Hall and Tea Rooms and deserve a big community turnout where everybody is welcome. The meeting will include the end of year officer’s reports and follows quickly after the Tullahought Community Development AGM which convened recently.

FREE SHOP: The Kilmoganny Free Shop that has brought light and colour to the centre of the village is open from 10am to 1pm each morning. It is also open on Wednesday and Friday evenings from 6.30pm to 8pm and on Saturdays from 2pm to 5pm and contains a large selection of assorted items for all ages.Everything is free and all welcome.

REELING IN THE YEARS: Windgap Tidy Towns are presenting a night of nostalgia called Reeling in the Years shortly after Christmas and are in the process of completing the presentation at present and would appreciate any old films cine or other and also old photograph's and of particular interest are ones of the Carnivals, Creamery, Dog Nights in the quarries etc. All guaranteed to be returned to the owners within forty eight hours. For more details contact Nicky 0879728344

SCHOOL GIRLS FOOTBALL: The Windgap School Girls side put up a tremendous performance but just came up short in the final of the Roinn C football competition recently in Palmerstown. The local girls had performed brilliantly throughout the competition with great wins over Muckalee and St Bridgids to qualify for the final against a physically strong Kilkenny School Project team. Things started poorly for the local girls and they trailed 1-1 to no score after five minutes. However, they fought back led by Laura Doyle, Ona Kennedy, Kate O’Brien and Aisling O’Shea and a free from Aisling reduced the arrears to one goal. However, they did concede another goal close to half time to trail 2-1 to 0-1 at the break. Undeterred, the local girls proceeded to dominate the second half and while they found scores hard to come by, they did eventually goal when Alaina O’Shea finished a goalmouth scramble. Both sides added a point each but the goal the locals needed to tie the match just would not come and luck was not on their side with efforts from Ona Kennedy and Aisling O’Shea hitting the woodwork. Time eventually ran out for the locals but only after an incredible effort by all which is testament to the work done with the side by manager Deirdre O’Shea and her assistant Val Doyle. The team was Jessica White, Emily Freaney, Lauren Enright, Lucy Crowley, Ona Kennedy, Kate O’Brien, Aisling O’Shea, Laura Doyle, Moya Egan, Anna Miller Shonna King. Subs: Emma Quinn, Abbie Vaughan, Elena Saunders, Ellie Power, Abby O’Neill, Ellie Brazil, Kate Hanlon, Emma Norris, Emma Quinn, Valerie Lanigan, Lorna Miller, Jane Dullard, Kate Kelleher. Alaina O'Shea

NEW MASS TIMES: The change over to the new Mass times settled in smoothly over the weekend as the local churches saw new and changing faces owing to the First Communion Mass in Windgap and the absence of the evening Mass in Kilmoganny on Saturday evening and the Camogie championship game on Sunday. The new rotacontinuesfor the ten churches in the associated parishes of Windgap, Dunnamaggin, Callan and Danesfort as follows. On Saturday evenings the Vigil Masses will be celebrated in Callan at 6pm. Kilmoganny on 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays at 7.15 with Windgap on the remaining 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th Saturdays also at 7.15pm. They will be followed a quarter of an hour later with a 7.30pm Mass in Coolagh on the 1^st and 3^rd Saturdays and also in Cuffesgrange at 7.30pm. On Sundays the mass will be in Callan at 8am, Tullahought 9.30, Danesfort and Callan 10am and Dunnamaggin at 11am. The final mass of the day is in Kells on the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th Sundays at 11.30am and Newtown Kells on 2^nd and 4^th Sundays also at 11.30am. To assist a wallet size information card of all the Mass times was distributed over the weekend with the times being updated on the Diocesan Website ossory.ie during the week.

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED: The loss of the local Fás scheme has led to an appeal for volunteers to look after the local cemeteries on a rota basis.

SHUTTLETIME COACHING: The Tullahought Badminton Club Shuttle time coaching course will take place in Mullinavat on 18th/19th Jan 2020 from 10 am to 4 pm. Cost to Affiliated members is €55 and Non affliated members is €68. This course is a brilliant opportunity for parents to learn basic badminton coaching skills. If interested please contact Marie on 0872368848 for further details.

FABALOUS AND FREE: 'Take it or Leave it'. 'Fabulous and Free'. Is a pre-Christmas pop up shop in the Kilmoganny Community Centre. Unwanted items of excellent quality are being collected and will be put into the shop where they can be taken away for free. No charge, no donations, no money accepted at all. The shop will be open from Monday 25th November to Saturday 14th December. With the following opening times Monday to Friday 10.00am to 1.00pm Saturdays 2.00pm to 5.00pm anyone wishing to donate goods please contact Anne 051 648150 or email keepingitdelightful@gmail.com to arrange collection.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October Nov. 25th 2019

THE BIGWILDLIFE QUESTION: Not for the first time the scarcity of small birds, rabbit’s hares and pheasants in the area and climate change was the subject of a number of the after Mass conversations in Tullahought on Sunday. With some leaning towards blaming the arrival of buzzards to the area in recent years,where the versatile predator, lives off birds, frogs, rabbits, rodents, carrion and earthworms the continual over hunting of the area has also played a huge part. After two weeks incessant rain, when a dry lie or roost for any form of wildlife would be a welcome break, the area within a four kilometre radius of the Church was saturated with after Mass hunters. On the day at least five groups with a selection of beagles, harriers, gun dogs,lurchers, terriers and gunsarrived in a plethora of cars, vans andlarge well loaded dog trailers. The situation was commented on by a visitorout walking who observed the mid-afternoon activity. They wondered was there any game management plan in place and do or could the hunters not hunt the birds and animals in their own area. In comparisonwith the buzzard who only kills to feed itself and its offspring, the wildlifestock in the prime breeding areas of well covered glens, traditional ditches and small fields took another huge hit on Sunday.

NEW MASS TIMES: From this coming weekend the new Mass Times for the ten churches in the associated parishes of Windgap, Dunnamaggin, Callan and Danesfort will be as follows. On Saturday evenings the Vigil Masses will be celebrated in Callan at 6pm. Kilmoganny on 2^nd and 4^thSaturdays at 7.15 with Windgap on the remaining 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th Saturdays also at 7.15pm. They will be followed a quarter of an hour laterwith a 7.30pm Mass in Coolagh on the 1^st and 3^rdSaturdays and also in Cuffesgrange at 7.30pm. On Sundays the day will start with morning mass in Callan at 8am, Tullahought 9.30, Danesfort and Callan 10am and Dunnamaggin at 11am. The final mass of the day is in Kells on the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th Sundaysat 11.30amand Newtown Kells on 2^nd and 4^thSundays also at 11.30am. To assist a wallet size information card of all the Mass times was distributed over the weekend with the times being updated on the Diocesan Website ossory.ie during the week.

BADMINTON NEWS: The badminton season is back in full swing and the Tullahought Badminton and congratulations are due to Jack and Ciara O Shea who represented Kilkenny in the U17 inter-county finals, in Baldoyle on Sunday where ten inter County teams played their hearts out. Kilkenny team were placed 3rd in the division One final behind Kildare who won the gold and Dublin the silver. The teams were Boys: Conor Power, Baltinglass, Jack O'Shea. Tullahought, Matthew Banville, St Marys, MJ Banville, St Marys, Kevin Prendergast – Mullinavat. Girls: Ciara O'Shea, Tullahought, Shauna Davis, and Cliodhana Walsh Mullinavat TaraO'Keeffe, Johnswell, Amy Prendergast, Mullinavat with Eimear Banville as the

team Manager. Elsewhere the Leinster Yonex fest took place on Saturday in Terenure. Jack O'Shea took silver in the boys U16 singles final and gold in the boys doubles final with his partner Conor Power from Mullinavat. Best wishes are extended to Mark McCoy and Killian Doyle who will compete in the U19's County championships on Saturday in Mullinavat.

WREATH MAKING: Fancy a fun evening with mulled wine, lots of chat and your own handmade wreath to bring home? Come and join me at wreath making workshop Wednesday 4^th of December, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Windgap Community Centre €20 per person (all materials supplied) Places are limited so contact Giedre on 085-7635291 to secure your spot. If you have a secateurs bring it along,but we will have extra on the night for those who don’t have one.

REELING IN THE YEARS: Windgap Tidy Towns are presenting a night of nostalgia called Reeling in the Years shortly after Christmas and are in the process of completing the presentation at present and would appreciate any old films cine or other and also old photograph's and of particular interest are ones of the Carnivals, Creamery, Dog Nights in the quarries etc. All guaranteed to be returned to the owners within forty eight hours. For more details contact Nicky 0879728344

PARISH BAZAAR: Details were finalized by the Parish Committee for the annual Christmas Bazaar that takes place in the Parish Hall on Sunday the 8^th of December. All are welcome

FABULOUS AND FREE: 'Fabulous and Free'. Is a pre-Christmas pop up shop in the Kilmoganny Community Centre. Unwanted items of excellent quality are being collected and will be put into the shop where they can be taken away for free. No charge, no donations, no money accepted at all. The shop will be open from Monday 25th November to Saturday 14th December as follows on the Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 1.00pmand on Saturdays from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. For further info or to donate goods please contact Anne 051 648150 or email keepingitdelightful@gmail.com to arrange collection.

CAMOGIE NEWS: The Windgap under twenty one Camogie side had a great win in the championship quarter final in Windgap on Sunday morning. The home side took the lead from the start and after battling hard lost Roisín Foley who came off injuredjust before the half time whistle and with no subs to her the side had a tough task ahead. Two points ahead inthe very tough conditionsgoing into the second half the Windgap girls pushed on never losing their lead. In the game Clíodhna O'Shea and Sarah Doherty were excellent in defence while Margaret Foley and Margaret Purcell led in the second half. Scores came from Caoimhe O'Shea, Molly Walsh, Roisín Foley and Alanna Dunphy. The side progress to the championship semi-final next Sunday morning at 10am againstJames Stephan’s in the Kells.

COOKERY DISPLAY: Windgap Camogie Club would like to thank all those who supported their recent fundraiser. The cookery demonstration with Anne Neary went down a treat with the over 200 strong crowd who were in attendance in the community centre on Friday evening last. Thank you to all the locals who supported the Christmas Fayre and made it an evening to remember. A special word of thanks to all those who helped sponsor the event.

SCHOOL FOOTBALL: The Windgap School football side qualified for the Roinn C football final after a thrilling two point win over Goresbridge/Paulstown in a bitterly cold afternoon last Thursday. The local side were considerably smaller in size than their opponents and looked in real trouble when they fell 2-1 to no score behind with just over five minutes on the clock. However, they fought their way back into the game with good ball carrying into the wind and this tenacious spirit saw them reduce the arrears to 2-2 to 1-2 by half time with all of the local scores coming from Padraig Egan. The locals started the second half well with more high levels of determination across all of the team and further scores from Padraig Egan saw them hit the front 2-4 to 2-2 midway through the second half. It was tit for tat from here to the finish with both sides adding two further points but Windgap held on in a tense finish to progress to the final. There were many fine performers for the locals – from Hugo Seagrave in goal, Jack Egan, Jules Seagrave, Laura Doyle, Alex Culleton and Darragh Enright in defence, Ona Kennedy and Aidan O’Shea while Padraig Egan and Aisling O’Shea were the pick of the forwards. Great credit also to trainer Matthew Enright and his mentors Micheál Maloney and Tony Doyle for their work with this team who now progress to the final against Kilkenny School Project in a match likely to be played on Saturday 23^rd November. The team was: Hugo Seagrave, Jules Seagrave, Jack Egan, Laura Doyle, Darragh Enright, Alex Culleton, Aidan O’Shea, Ona Kennedy, Darragh Houlihan, Aisling O’Shea, Tadgh Kennedy, Padraig Egan, Mikey Saunders, Sam Maloney, Alyn Hearne. Subs: Joe Maloney, Aidan Doyle, Emily Freaney, Jack Murray, Rory Quigley, Lauren Enright, Cathal Barron, Conor Power, Frankie Dullard, Cillian Weldon, Leon Ozaroski, Shane Norris, Shane Doyle.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October Nov. 11th 2019

GREAT BATTLE WON: Galmoy Windgap and Erin’s Own under twenty players went head to head in a most competitive championship game in Windgap on Saturday afternoon. In front of a fine crowd Galmoy Windgap assisted by a very strong breeze opened the scoring and were level at a point apiece after five minutes. The side opened up a two point lead and had it reduced to a single point on three occasions before the sides were tied at 0-5 apiece at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter Erin’s Own went a point ahead before five points on the trot saw the home side lead 0-10 to 0-6 at the break. On the restart two quick Comer wind assisted points bode badly for the home side as the lead was down to two points before two minutes had elapsed. On the first home attack a goal by Oisín Phelan steadied the ship in the fifth minute as each side only recorded a point apiece in the following ten minutes. The next ten minutes were tough and whole hearterdgoing in the heavy conditions as Galmoy Windgap stretched the lead to six points. Before they could draw their breath, Erin’s Own with three on the trot had it back to a single score in a goal with two minutes to go. As the Comer lads moved up for a major attack a long ball set Brandon Power away for his sides second goal. For the far flung supporters of the combination team it was a huge sigh of relief as the referee called time on a 2-12 to 0-12 scoreline.

U20 QUARTER FINAL: The win over Erin’s Ownunder the management team of Eddie Kelly, Conor Fennelly, James Mackey, Martin Phelan and Pat Walsh sees the side play Lisdowney in the quarter final on Sunday at 2pm and all support will be warmly welcomed. Jerry’s match report in the Sports Pages

HANDBALL AGM NEWS: At the recent AGM of the handball club the committee for the coming year saw no change withChairperson Emmet Landy, Vice Chair John Ryan, Secretary Sean FoleyTreasure Michael Grace, PRO Jimmy Walsh, Co board Delegate Michael Shea.A special word of thanks was extended to our committee members, trainers and players who represented the club over the past year and will look forward to the coming year.It was proposed by Emmet Landy that following an increase in adult numbers to commence an internal club league which will benefit the players comes championship time. Elsewhere action has commenced in the adult county league and in the near future juvenile trainings will commence so the alley will see an increase in activity.

RACE NIGHT SUCCESS: Windgap Hurling Club held a most successful Race Night in Powers of Tullahought on Saturday evening. The event attracteda large crowd with lots of tote betting and prizes. Thanks are extended to all sponsors of Races, those who bought horses and supported the event on the night. A feature was the Race Card with plenty of colour and sponsor recognition that was put together by former secretary and co-founder of the Development Committee Sean Power who created the adverts, Niall Walsh who documented all the horses, owners, trainers and jockeys and Shane Walsh who created the cover and posters. Also playing a key part were the Tote team that included Aidan Mackey, Tom Egan, Michael Moloney, PJ Barron and Club officers Noel Power, PJ Egan and MC and Race caller John Mackey.

COOKERY DEMONSTRATION: Windgap Camogie Club will host a Christmas Fayre cookery demonstration with Anne Neary on Friday next the 15th at 7pm in Windgap Community Centre. There will be a mince pie and wine reception to get you in the festive spirit aswell as a fantastic door prize of a weekend away. Tickets are €20 and available from Anne 086 3699542 Windgap Tearooms and Billy's Tearooms and other committee members. There are a limited number of stalls available for any locals interested in showcasing their wares or crafts on the evening. Contact a committee member for further details.

PARISH BAZAAR: Following a meeting of the Parish Finance Committee and a group of new volunteers the annual parish Bazaar has been fixed for Sunday 8^th of December in the Community Centre hall. Christmas Cakes for the event to be left intoTigh an tSagairt.

BIG WIN: Congratulations are extended to Windgap Community Development Group who had a great win at the Kilkenny People of the Year Awards in the Newpark Hotel when they received the Rejuvenation Award. The recognition comes after the Community Development work on the Amenity Area, Historic and Amenity Walks, the provision of the Playground, the rebuilding of the Forge frontage, the on-going Tidy Towns successes and the New Hall, Shop and Tea Rooms that has rejuvenated the Village in the past decade. On the night the group was led by veteran volunteer and Hurling Club stalwart Simon Brophy who was accompanied by his wife Doreen. Further details to follow from the PRO Noel Smithfor next week’s edition.

TIDY TOWNS: Three hundred bulbs between mini daffodils and blue anemones were planted in the two flower beds at the community centre and around the public raisedplating areas in the car park in the trough at the sportsfield gate and below the forge in Tullahought

LOTTO RESULTS: In draw number 1,130 the numbers 10, 16, 26, 28, and bonus number 27were drawn on Tuesday evening. The prize fund for the next draw is €7,750. The final draw tales place on Tuesday December 10th. Tickets until that dateare available from any club member

CAMOGIE: Following the walk over from Glenmore the next round of the under twenty one championship was deferred this weekend.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October 28th 2019

RACE NIGHT: Windgap Hurling Club are holding a Race Night in Powers of Tullahought on Saturday 9^th of November with a great atmosphere and prizes. The doors open at 9.30pm

COUNTY FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS: In a tight and hard fought encounter in Windgap on Saturday, it was the home side who emerged victorious in the final of the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior Football League Finalby 2-3 to 1-5..Graigue Ballycallan started much the brighter of the two teams. With Billy and Sean Ryan to the fore they caused a lot of trouble to the Windgap defence, and with two early points and an excellent Sean Ryan goal left them 1-2 to 0-0 up midway through the first half.

Windgap began to settle into the game and scored a badly needed goal through Sean Foley to stop the visitor's momentum. Niall Walsh added a couple of points, with Sean Ryan replying at the other end to leave a half time score of Graigue Ballycallan 1-4 Windgap 1-2.Windgap upped their intensity levels and performance at the start of the second half and an early James Culleton point had the gap down to the minimum. Graigue Ballycallan replied to increase their lead once more to a brace of points. Then came the decisive moment of the game, David Doyle latched on to a long pass and battled his way past a number of tackles to lash the ball into the roof of the net and put Windgap a point up.

The last portion of the game was played at a frantic pace, with play flowing from end to end and some great passing football played by both teams. There were chances and some great defending at both ends, with Windgap ultimately holding on to win by a single point in front of a good home crowd on a score-line of 2-3 to 1-5. After the game the Shield for the League was presented by the County Board CCC Secretary Dan Kenny to the Windgap team captain Niall Walsh.

The teams were Windgap: Mitch Corrigan, Shane Walsh, James Mackey, Adrian Landy, James Culleton, Cian Ryan, Sean Foley, William Phelan, Darragh O Shea, Jim Power, Niall Walsh (Captain), Gary Lyons, Paidi Bacon, Pat Grace, David Doyle, Emmett Landy, Peter Landy, Josh Price, Shane Cullen, Conor Foley, JJ Corrigan. Graigue Ballycallan: Ciaran Hoyne, Philip Heaphy, Conor Flynn, Joey Corcoran, Philly Cahill, Eamon Egan, Conor Murphy, Richie Keoghan, Killian Egan, Willie O' Connor, Billy Ryan, Darragh Egan, Shane Hennessy, Brendan Hayes, Sean Ryan, Simon O'Dwyer, Finn Lanigan, Adam O' Brien. Referee: Willie Kearney

COUNTY FINAL DAY: As almost ten thousand people turned up the on County Final day which was relayed on RTE TV Windgap’s participation included our Parish Priest an tAthair Fergus Farrell a member of the 1970 Fenians Jubilee Hurling team who won their first Senior Title in 1970 and also a regular visitor Donal Walsh who is married to Brighid Morrissey of Ballygown. The star studded team led by their captain Pat Henderson were introduced to the crowd and then attended a function in the Springhill Hotel. The club were represented by stewards Eamon Doyle, Pat Moore and PJ Barron. Thanks are extended to all who supported the Kilkenny Senior Hurlers Training Fund and Holiday draw

STAND OFF: Plans by the recently released Gun Club Pheasants to spread out across the countryside has seen a stand-off situation where the existing stock are not keen to give over their natural habitat and a lot of patrolling of boundaries has ensued for the prime feeding areas

GALMOY WINDGAP: The under twenty one side played St. Martins in a challenge in Muckalee on Friday evening in preparation for their championship game against Erin’s Own

SUIR BLUE WAY WALK: Windgap Tidy Towns are holding a Sponsored Walk on the Suir Blue Way on Sunday 3^rd November. The plans are to meet in Kilsheelin at 9.30am for car pooling and the walk will commence from Dunne’s Stores Clonmel at 10 am and travel along the 9.5 kilometre walk to Kilsheelin and should be completed in 1.5 hours and for those extra fit you can continue the further twelve kilometres to Carrick on Suir. On arrival in Kilsheelin, refreshments will be served. As this is a riverside walk children must be accompanied by a parent at all times.

NATIONWIDE RECORDING: The Nationwide Crewcarried out a full days filming in Windgap on Saturday at the New Community Hall, Lakeside tea rooms, shop, Village and Hurling Club. All the details and screening times are awaited.

HANDBALL AGM: The AGM of the local handball club took place on Wednesday evening last with all the details to follow.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 3, 5, 10, 11, and bonus number 7were drawn on Tuesday evening and brought match three cheque to John Moore. The prize fund for the next draw is €6,700 and the final draw tales place on Tuesday December 10th. Tickets until that dateare available from any club member

ARTHRITIS: The Kilkenny Branch of Arthritis Irelandare holding an open event on Tuesday 29th October in Ossory Park Community Centre in Kilkenny,where Theresa McGinn from Kilkenny Physiotherapy will be the guest speaker. It is a FREE event but to reserve your seat text or call 0871491767 or just turn up on the night. Either way all are welcome andthe kettle will be on!

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October 21st 2019

FOOTBALL: Ireland playing in Japan and the GAA’s Special Congress in Cork played second fiddle in the footballing world to Windgap’s performance as they held out at the final whistle for a one point 2-3 to 1-5 win over Graigueballycallanin the County Junior Football League Final on Saturday. Having gone downin the County Senior Camogie and with Galmoy in the County Minor “A” hurling semi-finals the previous week the performance showed the versatility and tenacity of the Club. Having entered for the first time in a few years the panel that included three John Lockes players won their first title since 2004 when they defeated their now sister club Galmoy by 1-5 to 0-2. On Saturday the team was Mitch Corrigan, Shane Walsh, James Mackey, Adrian Landy, James Culleton, Cian Ryan, Sean Foley, William Phelan, Darragh O Shea, Jim Power, Niall Walsh (Captain), Gary Lyons, Paidi Bacon, Pat Grace, David Doyle, Emmett Landy, Peter Landy, Josh Price, Shane Cullen, Conor Foley, JJ Corrigan.After the game the Shield for the League last won by Graiguenamanagh was presented by the County Board CCC Secretary Dan Kenny to the Windgap team captain Niall Walsh. See the sports pages for Aidan Mackey’s match report.

FAÍLTE IRELAND: The loop walks and playground in Windgap are the latest features added to the Fáilte Ireland Local Experts training module for Kilkenny. The walks are a spin off from Windgap Development company that was created by the Hurling, Handball and Camogie Clubs and led to the provision of the Amenity Area, Walks, Playground, Hall, Shop, Tearooms and The Tidy Towns group who have driven them

CAMOGIE ALL STAR: Congratulationsare extended to Denise Gaule for receiving an All Star Awards at the Camogie Awards ceremony that tookplace on Friday evening in the City West. Well done also to Catherine Foley who was alsonominated

SUIR BLUE WAY WALK: Windgap Tidy Towns are holding a Sponsored Walk on the Suir Blue Way on Sunday 3^rd November. The plans are to meet in Kilsheelin at 9.30am for car pooling and the walk will commence from Dunne’s Stores Clonmel at 10 am and travel along the 9.5 kilometre walk to Kilsheelin and should be completed in 1.5 hours and for those extra fit you can continue the further twelve kilometres to Carrick on Suir. On arrival in Kilsheelin, refreshments will be served. As this is a riverside walk children must be accompanied by a parent at all times.

BULB PLANTING: Preparations for the 2020 Tidy Towns have commenced in Tullahought with the continuation of the bulb planting program

KILKENNY HURLERS DRAW: Tickets for the Kilkenny Senior Hurlers Training Fund and Holiday draw are available from Club Committee members throughout the county online on kilkennygaa.ie or before the draw that takes place at the County Senior and Intermediate Finals in Nowlan Park on Sunday next

WINDGAP TIDY TOWNS: Windgap Tidy Towns re-entered Super Valu Competition in 2015 after a long absence since 2001.Through the support of our Community, we will continue to improve and make Windgap a better and nicer place for all to live and enjoy. This has been recognised by Tidy Town judges and 2016 we received the County Endeavour Award. In 2017 we got special recognition for the development of Feehans Well/Fairy Glen and 2018 we again received the County Endeavour Award. This year we increased our marks by 10 points bringing our total to 292 points. This is a testament to all our Community working together. In conclusion we as Windgap Tidy Towns Committee would like to thank all who helped us in any way during the past year and would appreciate more help for 2020 and also we would invite you all to take part in our Sponsored Walk or support a walker near you

NATIONWIDE MOVED: The visit of the nationwide Crew to the New Community Hall, Lakeside tea rooms and shop was postponed from Saturday last to Saturday week the 26^th of October.

GALMOY WINDGAP: Moyne Templetouhy and Cahir provided recent warm up games for the under twenty ones with the under nineteen’s down to play Danesfort at the weekendHANDBALL AGM: The AGM of the local handball club will take place on the 23rd of October in the Handball Alley at 8pm. Tickets will also be on sale shortly for the annual raffle and we will also be looking for volunteers for the Flag Day collection at Nowlan Park.

SOCIAL KNITTING CRAFTS The Social Knitting & Craft night organised by Tullahought Ladies Guild continues this Thursday night in the Community Centre from 8.00 pm - 9.30 pm. The first night was a great success with everyone sharing their knowledge and expertise and making plans for what they would like to try their hand at over the coming weeks. All are welcome to come along any Thursday that suits and enjoy a cup of tea and a relaxing few hours around the fire in good company. There is a charge of €2 a night just to cover hall expenses.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 3, 5, 10, 11, and bonus number 7were drawn on Tuesday evening and brought match three cheques to Walter Farrell and Sean Foley. The prize fund for the next draw is €6,700 and the final draw tales place on Tuesday December 10th. Tickets until that dateare available from any club member

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October 14th 2019

FROM ROINN E to ROINN A: Just ashort few years ago two schools Galmoy and Windgap played each other in the

Roinn E county final in Nowlan Park. On Sunday they werejoined together as Galmoy Windgap to contest the Roinn A minor hurling semi-final in Palmerstown. The great journeyup through the grades continued and the pinnacle was in sight as the side having had the benefit of a strong breeze and led Dicksboro 0-10 to 1-6 at the break. However it was not to be as Dicksboro were the stronger and hungrier city side and ran out 2-17 to 0-10winners. See the Sports pages for Jerry Drennan’s report.

NOTAÍ CAMÓGAÍOCHTA: It was a weekend that did not go to plan for Windgap Camogie Club. On Saturday the under sixteen team put in a great effort against Gowran in the Roinn C county final which was played in Clara. Unfortunately it was the Gowran side that came away with the spoils on the final score of Young Ireland's 3-11 Windgap 0-7. On Sunday both senior championship semi-finals were played in Callan. Windgap faced Dicksboro in the first of the two games in front of a very large crowd. From the very beginning Dicksboro went ahead and. with a great determination and unwillingness to give inthey led 0-10 to 0-3 at the break. In the second half the Windgap girls failed to close the gap and Dicksboro were ahead 1-18 to 0-6at the final whistle. The results brought to an end what wasotherwise a successful year. Well done to the players and mentors and PRO Alison Walsh for all their efforts during the year.

FOOTBALL FINAL: Graigueballycallan will provide the opposition in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior League Football Final in Windgap on Saturday at 2pm. The sides qualified back in February when Graigueballycallan toppedtheirgroup and Windgap accounted for Tullaroan, Young Irelands and Barrow Rangers.

HANDBALL AGM: The AGM of the local handball club will take place on the 23rd of October in the Handball Alley at 8pm.Tickets will also be on sale shortly for the annual raffle and we will also be looking for volunteers for the Flag Day collection at Nowlan Park.

SOCIAL KNITTING CRAFTS The Social Knitting & Craft night organised by Tullahought Ladies Guild continues this Thursday night in the Community Centre from 8.00 pm - 9.30 pm. The first night was a great success with everyone sharing their knowledge and expertise and making plans for what they would like to try their hand at over the coming weeks. All are welcome to come along any Thursday that suits and enjoy a cup of tea and a relaxing few hours around the fire in good company. There is a charge of €2 anight just to cover hall expenses.

NATIONWIDE MOVED: The visit of the nationwide Crew to the New Community Hall, Lakeside tea rooms and shop was postponed from Saturday last to Saturday week the 26^th of October.

FÁS SCHEME: There is still no resolution in store for the workers and the communities after the local Fás Community employment schemeSlua Nua had dissolved owing to the lack of volunteers for directors.

CALLED FROM ROME: In the absence of an tAthair Fearghaill O Fearghail who was attending the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, former PP Fr. Pat Comerford who is now retired as PP of Freshford got the call from Rome to return to the parish to say Sunday morning Mass.

GIRLS WIN FÉILE HANDBALL: There was success for the girls team of Orlaith O'Shea, Denise Foley, Emer Barron & Victoria O'Brien who were winners of the Division 2 title at the National Féile which was held as a standalone event in Co. Wexford venues. The boy’s team of Ronan O'Brien, Evan Doyle, Darragh Doyle, Cian O'Rourke & Conor Doyle put in a great days performance and were unlucky not to make the final stages. Thanks to all mentors on getting both boys & girls teams prepared for this event.

TULLAHOUGHTS SILVER MEDAL: An increase of seven points in the year saw Tulach Dhocht, Tullahought maintain their top twelve place nationally in Category A, for villages with less than two hundred people. In the section Glasslough of Monaghan took the overall award and were followed by Abbeyshrule (Longford), Castlecoote and Keadue (Roscommon), and Terryglass (Tipperary), with Gold Medals and closely by Birdhill (Tipperary) Moynalty (Meath), Ballymacarbery (Waterford), Coolagown (Cork), Abbey (Galway) and Tullahought who were awarded silver ones. Representing the village at the event were committee members Richard Walsh, Eamon Doyle and Mary Walshe and Aidan Lavelle who were both making their debut at it,

WINDGAP BEST EVER: An increase of ten marks the third highest increase in a total of twenty one entrants in County Kilkenny also meant that Bearna na Gaoithe had again the unique achievement of increasing their score in each of the eight adjudication areas. This year the village recorded an increase of two points in Streetscape and Public Places and Sustainability- Doing more with Less.

MIANTA IS FEARR: Best wishes are extended to Denise Gaule and Catherine Foley for success at the All Star Awards ceremony which takes place this weekend in City West.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 2, 11, 12, 15, and bonus number 13were drawn on Tuesday evening and brought match three cheques to Kathleen Duggan, Simon Brophy and Kathleen McCoy. The prize fund for the next draw is €6,350. Tickets are available from any club member

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES October 7th 2019

GREAT TIMES FOR THE AREA: Windgap is the place to be and the teams to support in recent times. Monday was an All Ireland Tidy Towns Silver Medal win for Tullahought and Wednesday was an under twelve County Camogie Championship title win. Saturday was the Official Opening of the new half a million euro Community Centre Complex with its Lakeside Tea Room and Shop andSunday saw a Senior Camogie County championshipquarter final win. The high level roll continues this week with a visit of Nationwide to the new Community Centre and its then back to the playing fields for two major County Championship ties against Dicksboro on Sunday as Galmoy Windgap contest their first ever Minor “A” County Hurling Semi-Final at 2pm and the Senior Camogie team play the same city side in the Camogie semi-final in Callan at eleven o’clock. To sum it all up, its well done to everyone involved, keep it going and we hope to see plenty of local support at all of the venues next weekend.

HURLINGSEMI FINAL: Best wishes are extended to the Galmoy Windgap team who contest their first ever Minor “A” County Hurling Semi Final at a venue to be decided 2pm on Sunday. The long road commenced thirteen years ago when both Galmoy and Windgap then competing in the lowest grades were unable to field minor teams owing to the falling population numbers.

CAMOGIE CHAMPIONS: A huge congratulations to the Windgapunder twelve Camogie team who had another great win after they played out a thrillingand a very close championship GroupTwo final with Mooncoin in Piltown on Wednesday evening. It was a match that could have gone either way right up to the final whistlebefore a great display of Camogie, heart and determination saw them win by a single point in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

CAMOGIE SEMI FINAL: The senior Camogie team are through to another senior championship semi-final after they played a strong Tullaroan team in Callan on Sunday morning. In what was a tough game Windgap's county player's led the way with Denise Gaule and Michaela Kenneally very influential in the forwards while Catherine Foley was solid in Windgap's defence. Caoimhe O'Shea also performed very well as the side won on a final score of Windgap 1-15 Tullaroan 0-13. They now face Dicksboro who beat reigning champions Thomastown in the semi-final next Sunday, October 13th at 11am in Callan.

OFFICIAL OPENING: A huge crowd turned out for the opening of the New Community Hall, Shop and Lakeside tea rooms in Windgap on Saturday. See the news pages for the full story and photos

HANDBALL AGM: As the evenings become longer the Club will soon be focusing on 40x20 action.We will start off with our AGM on the 23rd of October in the Handball Alley at 8pm.

Any nominations or motions can be notified to club representatives as soon as possible for inclusion.Tickets will also be on sale shortly for the annual raffle and we will also be looking for volunteers for the Flag Day collection at Nowlan Park.

SOCIAL KNITTING CRAFTS Non-members and members are very welcome to come along to a weekly SocialKnitting & Crafts night in Tullahought Community Centre commencing this coming Thursdaynight 10^th October from 8.00 - 9.30 pm. The event is being organised by Tullahought Ladies Guild.There will be a charge of €2 per night to cover hall expenses.

EYE CATCHING COMMENTS: Highlights amongst the extensive comments of the SuperValu judges on their extensive visits in June and August were in Tullahought. “Your village is a hidden treasure in the Southern uplands of County Kilkenny” whilst referencesto the Lingaun Valley and in the Windgap Report to Feehans Well, the many new sculptures, footpaths, Hall, Shop, Tea Rooms and The Big Hello were most welcome. In both reports there were many observations giving supportand suggestions from a visitor with a keen eye and appreciation of the areas and the commitment ofthe communities

NATIONWIDE VISIT: RTE’s Nationwide crew will make their fourth visit to the area in recent times when they will record segments for their nightly show at the Community Cenrtre and Tea Rooms on this Saturday the 12^th

TIDY TOWNS AGM: The biggest crowd for many years attended the Annual General Meeting of Tullahought Community Development Ltd. (Tullahought Tidy Towns group) in the Community Centre on Thursday evening. Following the review of Accounts, the updating of the Directors and the review of the SuperValu Tidy Towns report the committee to lead the team into 2020 is Cathaoirleach Aidan Lavelle, Runaí Dick Walsh, Cisteoir Eamon Doyle, Coiste: Breda Horgan, Joan O’Gorman, Paddy Egan, Mary Walshe, Kathleen Duggan, Shamie Phelan, Eileen Grace, and Jimmy Walsh

FÁS SCHEME SHOCK: There was a shock in store for the workers and the communities after the local Fás Community employment schemeSlua Nua had dissolved owing to the lack of volunteer directors in ten local villages stretching from Cuffesgrange to Kilmoganny. Locally it meant that the workers ceased to be paid which was a great dissapoinment after the filling of one of the two vacant positions in Windgap and Tullahought

HANDBALL FINALS: As the 60x30 season comes to a close the Club had numerous representatives in Féile, County, and Leinster& All-Ireland Finals. Next week club secretary’s Sean Foley report will give a review of the season. In the meantime its best wishes to Ronan O'Brien, Conor Doyle, Jamie Joy & Adam O'Shea in their upcoming Leinster & All Ireland finals with Kilkenny teams.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 4, 11, 14, 23, and bonus number 17 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought no local winners. The prize fund for the next draw is €6,000. Tickets are available from any club member

WINDGAP/TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 30th September 2019

GREAT DAY FOR THE AREA: It was a great day for the Parish when Windgap and Tullahought were well to the fore in the results at the The Super Valu National Tidy Towns Awards Ceremony in the Helix in Dublin on Monday. The Comórtas na mBaile Slachtmara Award Winners event was hosted by Mary Kennedy and attended by Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring. On the day Tullahought TidyTowns in their twenty ninth year in the competition retained their Silver Medal, were awarded the South Eastern Regions, Small Towns “Pollinator” Award and the County Commended Award whilst Windgap who re-joined the competition in 2015 after a break from 2001 continued to made great strides up the results ladder when they collected ten additional points.

EYE CATCHING COMMENTS: Highlights amongst the extensive comments of the judges on their extensive visits in June and August were in Tullahought. “Your village is a hidden treasure in the Southern uplands of County Kilkenny” whilst references in the Windgap Report to Feehans Well, the many new sculptures, footpaths, Hall, Shop, Tea Rooms, The Big Hello and the Lingaun Valley were most welcome. In both reports there were many observations giving supportand suggestions from a visitor with a keen eye and appreciation of the commitment ofthe communities

TULLAHOUGHTS SILVER MEDAL: An increase of seven points in the year saw Tulach Dhocht, Tullahought maintain their top place nationally in Category A, for villages with less than two hundred people. In the section Glasslough of Monaghan took the overall award and were followed by Abbeyshrule (Longford), Castlecoote and Keadue (Roscommon), and Terryglass (Tipperary), with Gold Medals and closely by Birdhill (Tipperary)Moynalty (Meath), Ballymacarbery (Waterford),Coolagown (Cork), Abbey (Galway) and our own Tullahought who were awarded silver ones. Representing the village at the event were committee members Richard Walsh, Eamon Doyle and Mary Walshe and Aidan Lavelle who were making their debut at it,

WINDGAPBEST EVER: An increase of ten marks the third highest increase ina total of twenty one entrants in County Kilkenny also meant that Bearna na Gaoithe hadagain the unique achievement of increasing their score in each of the eight adjudication areas. This year the village recorded an increase of two points in Streetscape and Public Places and Sustainability- Doing more with Less.

TIDY TOWNS RECORD: With a record nine hundred and eighteen entries nationwide Kilkenny were represented by Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge, Castlecomer, Coon, Clogh, Callan, Dungarvan, Gathabawn, Glenmore, Fiddown, Freshford, Goresbridge, Gowran, Inistioge Kells, Kilkenny City, Listerlin, Mooneenroe, Piltown, Thomastown, Tullahought, Urlingford and Windgap with our neighbours in Kilcash, Cloneen,Drangan, Ballyneale, Carrick-on-Suir and Kilsheelin all doing well.All involved were congratulated for their efforts and were wished every success in the years ahead, with the individual adjudication reports available on www.tidytowns.ie and the local social media outlets

NUACHT CAMÓGAÍOCHTA: Following on from the fantastic under fourteencounty final win last week Windgap's under sixteenCamogie players were in action this week. When they faced Sr. Lachtains of Freshford in the semi-final in Tullaroan on Saturday morning. The stakes were high and the game was tough and tight from the get go as both teams gave it their all to get over the line as the winners progressed to the county final. Windgap were just three points ahead going in at half time as they faced into a very strong breeze in the second half. After a nail-biting final few minutes the sides were even when the whistle was blown and had to face into extra time. Over the twoperiods Windgap side dug deep and never gave up and to their credit they came out one point ahead with a fantastic win after a really tough match. Congratulations to all involved as we look forward to another county final.

UNDERAGE CAMOGIE: The up and coming stars were in action this weekend in Hugginstown when The under tenCamogie players had a very enjoyable morningplayed in their final blitz of the season on Saturday morningWe would like to thank all their trainers, parents, guardians and all involved for their support and encouragement all year and we look forward to seeing them again next year.There is another busy week ahead for Windgap Camogie Club. The under twelveteam play Mooncoin in the Go Games final this evening, Wednesday at 6pm in Piltown. We wish the girls the very best if luck. Alison Walsh Camogie Club PRO

WEEKEND FIXTURES: The senior Camogie team are in action against Tullaroan this week in the championship quarter final will be played on Sunday next, October 6th at 11am. The venue is yet to be confirmed but the WCC Facebook page will be updated as soon as it is announced.

OFFICIAL OPENING: The official opening ceremony of Windgap Community Centre takes place on October 5th 2019 at 2.00 pm. This is the culmination of many years of progress with generous support from Government agencies and the people of Windgap and surrounding areas. Community centre, shop and tea rooms are fully operational and we are open for business. The opening day promises to be great occasion for all the community and is an opportunity for everybody to celebrate this great story. Light refreshments will be served, as well as top class entertainment from local artists, community centre users and suppliers. For further information, keep an eye on Parish bulletin, Windgap notes in Kilkenny people, Windgap.ie and Windgap social media pages. The event will be marked across the country when RTE’s Nationwide crew will arrive for recording on the following Saturday the 12^th

TIDY TOWNS AGM: The Annual General Meeting of Tullahought Community Development Ltd. (Tullahought Tidy Towns group) will take place in Tullahought Community Centre on Thursday 3^rd October at 8pm. All are welcome to attend.

VACANCY: Currently there is one vacant position on the local Fás Community employment scheme in Windgap. For further information call 087 2485111.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 2, 6, 8, 11, and bonus number 27 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought no local winners. The prize fund for the next draw is €5,650. Tickets are available from any club member

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 23rd September 2019

BEING THERE: Being There at the games, or, like Doubting Thomas is reported to have said “having to see it for yourself” is the only way. Shattered, was the only word to explain the feeling fromabsentsupporters as they followed the Galmoy Windgap’s first ever Minor A hurling quarter finalon Twitter. In alow scoring game on Saturday morning,it meant that twitter was sporadic and had recorded a 0-10 to 0-5 deficit against O’Loughlin Gaels at half time. Hope sprung eternal as @Oloughlingaelsgaatweeted;their side had done great work so far and had lots to do against the very strong breeze. After that, came a spell of almost fifteen twitter less minutes midway through the second half of the game after Galmoy Windgap had erodedtheir double scores deficit to a single point. The breakgave long anxious feelings. Was there a signal coverage failure, a bad injury or a series of big scores in goals for the opposition that had caused it.Then, with the clock ticking into the last ten minutes, twitter resumed, with the news, that the comeback had faltered and the lead hadnow doubled to two points. After two long minutes, social mediabrought some slight hope,as another point,halved it. It was followed by a breath held wait of four minutes, tryingto imagine the pattern ofplay in an unseen hurlinggame being played miles awaybefore Twitter gave anotherupdate of a Galmoy Windgap point as the game was levelled. And, it began all over again, more heart pulsing, than the opponents participating,as the final whistle was beckoning. Then it came, another twitter pulse in the thirtiethminute to relate the score, 0-11 to 0-11, no change, still level, as it was only a tweet marking the passing of time. More tension followed, what was happening on the plains in Galmoy as the City and Country Clubs clashed, who was attacking, how long was left, as another tweet was loading and coming through it was all fingers crossed, what could it be! A point, it said, a Galmoy Windgap point to go one ahead for the very first time, and now it’s, how much injury time is to be played. what happened the puck out, long, short!. Then it came, well into added time, another tweet, another point, two up and what’s next!, Instantly the mind goes racing, it must be a great game, great players, fierce commitment and endeavour from both sides, does anyone deserve to loose, how much more added or injury time can there be left, and that wild unthinkable thought, two points a dangerous lead anywhere on any day. Finally it ends and joy arrived as@GalmoygaaTwitter relates the amazing news, Full Timeand a 0-13 to 0-11win. The resultmeans so much, another day out and a first “A” semi-final appearance on a unique thirteen year Galmoy Windgap journey, as far away, there is no oneto hug, no one to applaud or to say well done too. Still emotionally Shattered beyond belief andconvinced that no matter what anyone saysBeing There at any hurling gameis far easier. So, it’s well done to all and roll on the next game.

COMHAIRDEACHAS TO EVERYONE: The sporting weekend, provided two great community occasions when the under fourteen girls won the Roinn “B” Camogie Final and the minor hurlers from Galmoy and Windgap qualified for their first Roinn “A” County semi-final following nail biting two point wins. The victories were recorded in severely contrasting weather conditions against City opposition James Stephens on Sunday in Thomastown and O’Loughlin Gaels in Galmoy on Saturday morning respectively. In true community spirit after both games, the players and supporters were treated to tea and refreshments in the Community Centre in Windgap and the GAA pavilion in Galmoy.

COUNTY CAMOGIE CHAMPIONS: Alison Walsh the Camogie Club PRO reports the great news that Windgap under fourteen team are Kilkenny’snew 2019 B county champions. In the game played in awful conditions on Sunday morning the Windgap side travelled to Thomastown to take on James Stephan’s in the decider. The supporters who braved the elements witnessed a spirited and courageous performance. With the weather deteriorating even further in the second half the Windgap side got over the line due to an unbelievable team performance on the final score of Windgap 1-7 James Stephen’s 1-5. On the day the girls played with great determination, heart and an unwillingness to give in and each member of the twenty three strong panel can be proud of this great achievement. A huge well done to all of them and their mentors.After the game the victorious team and a big crowd of supportersreturned to Windgap Community Hall for after the matchcelebrations.

OFFICIAL OPENING: The official opening ceremony of Windgap Community Centre takes place on October 5th 2019 at 2.00 pm. This is the culmination of many years of progress with generous support from Government agencies and the people of Windgap and surrounding areas. Community centre, shop and tea rooms are fully operational and we are open for business. The opening day promises to be great occasion for all the community and is an opportunity for everybody to celebrate this great story. Light refreshments will be served, as well as top class entertainment from local artists, community centre users and suppliers. For further information, keep an eye on Parish bulletin, Windgap notes in Kilkenny people, Windgap.ie and Windgap social media pages. The event will be marked across the country when RTE’s Nationwide crew will arrive for recording on the following Saturday the 12^th

OFF TO THE HELIX: Members of Tullahought Tidy Towns will attend the National Tidy Towns Awards Ceremony in the Helix Dublin on Monday 30th of September. On the day they will be defending their National Silver medal award

GALMOY WINDGAP MINORS WIN: Club PRO Jerry Drennan relates the story of the Kilkenny Honda Centre Minor Hurling Championship Roinn A Quarter Final that saw Galmoy/Windgap eke out a 0-13 to0-11win over O Loughlin Gaels, in a thrilling Roinn A Minor Hurling Championship Quarter Final in Galmoy on Saturday morning when Galmoy/Windgap secured a memorable two point win over. Backed by the strong breeze from the off, it was O' Loughlin Gaels who setthe early pace ,with midfielder John McNamara raising six first half white flags to leave the city boys ahead, 0-10 to 0-5 at the interval. Galmoy/Windgap’s scores came from four placed balls by Billy Drennan and one from play from Zak Kennedy after catching a good lineball by Eoin O Brien. The wind was so strong, that one of Declan Murphy’s first half puck outs bounced wide at the other end of the field in that first half. Ronan Lavelle and Alex Sheridan were playing very well at this stage for the city boys.Galmoy/Windgap made an impressive start to the new half with four quick fire points to leave it 0-10 to 0-9 by the 37th minute. Two of these came from Jack Doyle who played very well over the hour. Another to impress was under fifteen player David Sherman at centre back for the home side, while Pauric Foley and Sean Barron continue to defend well. Neither side bothered the score keeper again until John McNamara stretched the visitor’s lead with a 51st minute pointed free, 0-11 to 0-9. It was the 60th minute before Galmoy/Windgap drew level when Billy Drennan pointed a 65.A minute later Doyle grabbed a Calum Lonergan clearance and split the posts to put his side ahead, with Drennan applying the final touch from an 80 metre free in the 66th minute. This win sealed a place in the semi-final for Galmoy/Windgap against Dicksboro.It was great to see such a large crowd present on a beautiful morning in Galmoy. Thanks very much to the Ladies who catered for the crowd in the Pavilion afterwards and to all those who supplied refreshments. Galmoy/Windgap: James Purcell, Calum Lonergan, Sean Purcell, Pauric Foley , Sean Barron, David Sherman ,Gearóid Phelan, Eoin O Brien, Adam O Shea, Jack Doyle(0-3) ,Mark McCoy, Billy Drennan(0-9,0-6 frees,0-3 65s) Matt Delaney, Blade O Gorman, Zak Kennedy(0-1)Subs: Niall O Brien. O Loughlin Gaels: Declan Murphy, Daniel Walsh, Matthew Hogan, Mark Holohan, Lee Hehir, Vincent O Grady, Ronan Lavelle(0-1), John McNamara(0-7,0-2 frees), Jack Sinnott, Alex Sheridan(0-2), Jake Hickey(0-1), Finn Hogan, Tadhg O Meara, Joseph Leydon, John Comerford.Referee: Peter Burke (Emeralds). The side will now play the championship favourites Dicksboro in both the seventh round of the league and the championship semi-final.

CULTURE WEEKEND: A unique event was celebrated in Mooneenroe when the community got together on Friday night to celebrate Culture Week through reflections by the school children under Phillip Lonergan and the adults of the area. Similar in format to the Heritage week celebrated in Tullahought and Windgap for many years it consisted of the launch of a story telling CD, music, song and set dancing and two local short films, “The last Miner” and “My First All Ireland” The well-attended event was followed by chat and refreshments

VINTAGE RUN: Mooncoin Vintage Club are holding a Tractor Runin aid of St Joseph`s Care Home, Kilmoganny on the 29th September. It will commence at 11am in Piltown Showground’s andLeaving for Kilmoganny at 12.30pm.Registration for Motorbikes, Cars, and Tractorsistwenty Euros. The event will be followed by Refreshments, Music and Raffle in Dunphy`s Lounge.All are welcome. For further informationContact Ned 086 4048243 Paddy-087 6326985

TIDY TOWNS AGM: The Annual General Meeting of Tullahought Community Development Ltd. (Tullahought Tidy Towns group) will take place in Tullahought Community Centre on Thursday 3^rd October at 8pm. All are welcome to attend.

BADMINTON RESUMES: Tullahought Badminton Club will hold there A.G.M on Monday 23rd September at 9pm in Windgap Community Hall. Please come along and show your support as we need additional committee members and volunteers to help drive our club forward.

VACANCY: Currently there is one vacant position on the local Fás Community employment scheme in Windgap. For further information call 087 2485111.

EXERCISE CLASSES: Exercise classesfor adults have commenced in Windgap Hall on Thursday mornings. If you wish to join, pre booking is essential by what's app on 0876410352

YOUTH CLUB: Windgap Youth Club will hold a registration night on Friday 27th of September from 8 to 8.30 pm upstairs in Windgap Community Centre. The Youth Club is open to all secondary school students. Registration fee is €20 and the club start date is October 4th. For enquiries, please call Carmel Smith on 086 3845136

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 8, 13, 16, 27 and bonus number 22 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought no local winners. The prize fund for the next draw is €4,950. Tickets are available from any club member

LINGAUN VALLEY: The Lingaun Valley website that can be accessed at http://lingaunvalley.ie/ or on the Tullahought Tidy Towns website. The group have also created a brochure outlining the many historical sites in the valley.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 9th September 2019

WHEN THREE VILLAGES COLLIDE: A serene summers evening in mid-September marked a historic occasion in North Kilkenny when the Roinn A minor hurling Division one game brought together teamsbased around three distant villages Galmoy, Windgap and in betweenthe (The Village) of James Stephens. It saw the sides playing in the same premier top division competition for the first time in over forty years since they all fielded Senior hurling Club sides. On the evening, the resplendent Galmoy grounds with its Club House, Stand and the adjacent busy school playground was bathed in warm sunshine and surrounded by the Cullohill, Spa and Kilcooley Hills with the Galtees, Slievebloom and Slievenamon mountains to be seen just over the brow of the hill in the far distance. Beneath them a patchwork of corn and grass filledfields bedecked the slopesabove the round tower, church and steeple of Grangefertaghand the constant flow of traffic on the new motorway. Above them the wind turbines over Clontubrid remained motionless in the calm conditions as was normal on the communications masts on Spa Hill whilst further south the wind turbines over Tullaroan appeared to catch and flash the setting sun through their slow movement. For the game the three clubs onlyother common link was hurling, being from Kilkenny and being able to see Slievenamon from different aspects of their own villages a fine day.After an even first half, the scoreboard operator was busier on the combined teams section for the second half as the City side under Joe Hennessey, Brain McEvoy and Eoin Larkin that were short six players and their county panellists kept a keen eye to next week’s championship game as they gave way to a scoring surge. Even still it was a proud day, a good start and the place to be for all involved in the little villages combination that are facing three Roinn A League and a Championship game against the City Clubs in the weeks ahead.

THE MATCH REPORT: Galmoy/Windgap minors had a convincing 7-14to 2-9win over James Stephens Kilkenny Honda Centre Minor Hurling League Roinn A Round 5 League game played in Galmoy. After leading 2-5 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter, Galmoy/Windgap had to withstand a good fight back from The Village boys who reduced the deficit to three points by half time, 2-7 to 1-7.The hosts upped the ante again after the break and eventually went on to dominate proceedings..Galmoy/Windgap: James Purcell, James Darcy ,Sean Purcell, Calum Lonergan, Sean Barron, PauricFoley, Gearóid Phelan,Eoin O Brien(0-1), Adam O Shea, Jack Doyle(2-3) ,Mark McCoy, Billy Drennan(0-7,0-5 frees) Matt Delaney (1-1), Blade O Gorman(3-0), Zak Kennedy(0-2) Subs: David Sherman, Jamie Joy, Niall O Brien,Killian Enright for Adam O Shea injured, Daniel Hanrahan James Stephens: Darragh Casey, Dylan O Brien, Adam O Connor, CathalBrett, Shane Glynn,Sean Ruth,Cathal Munhall,Jamie Chisholm,Cian Grace,Daniel Hughes,Evan Buggy(0-2)Jack Kelly(0-1),Luke Owens(0-1),Bill Kavanagh(1-0),Cian Dunne(1-5,1-4 frees)Referee: Owen Beehan (Fenians)Report compliments of Jerry Drennan.

MINOR CHAMPIONSHOIP: The next outing for the Galmoy Windgap Minors will be in the first round of the Roinn A championship against O Loughlin Gaels on Saturday next September 21^st at 11.00am at a venue to be decided and all support is greatly appreciated

BADMINTON RESUMES: Tullahought Badminton Club will hold there A.G.M on Monday 23rd September at 9pm in Windgap Community Hall. Please come along and show your support as we need additional committee members and volunteers to help drive our club forward.

SHOP AND TEA ROOMS OPENING:Saturday October 5^this the date set for the opening of the volunteer operated Shop and Tea Rooms in the newly built Windgap Hall. The event will be carried out by Bea Dunphy, nee Flavin the sister of the late Fr. Nicholas Flavin who was the driver of the Hall projectinitiated by the Windgap Development Committee. On the day the meeting room will be named after Fr. Nicholas. The event will be marked across the country when RTE’s Nationwidecrew will arrive for recording on the following Saturday the 12^th

CHAMPIONSHIP TIME: Having reduced the lead to three points at the three quarter way stage and playing into the road goal Windgap were in the driving seat against Piltown in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior championship game in Dunnamaggin on Sunday afternoon. In the final quarter the flow was reversed with a gaol and saw Piltown run out easy winners. See Tom Egan’s match report in the sports pages.

CAMOGIE NEWS: The Windgap senior Camogie team played Gowran in the final game of the league championship on Sunday morning in Windgap. In a game where the visitors proved strong opponents Windgap found themselves nine points down at one point during the second half. However the home side never gave up in the tight and hard fought exciting finish they managed to get the score back even on a scoreline of 5-7 to 4-10. The side have now qualified for the championship quarter final and will be in action again in three weeks’ timeon October 6th. Running the line for the Gowran girls on Sunday were former inter county hurlers, Charlie Carter, Kevin Fennelly and Pat O’Neill

The under 16 team played A very strong Lisdowney in Windgap on Wednesday evening in the championship quarter final. It went right down to the final minutes before Windgap sealed the deal with a goal from Cliodhana O'Shea and a converted free from Meghan Kenneally as the game finished on a scoreline of Windgap 4-5, Lisdowney 3-7. Well done to all involved on a great win. We look forward to the semi-final in the coming weeks. Notes thanks to Alison Walsh

VACANCY: Currently there is one vacant position on the local Fás Community employment scheme in Windgap. For further information call 087 2485111.

EXERCISE CLASSES: A series of exercise classes will take place in Windgap Hall on Thursday mornings from 19th September at 8.50am for the 'mature adult'. These classes focus on maintaining mobility, helping prevent or slow down the effects of osteoporosis and will focus on arthritis and those pre and post-surgery once Dr clearance has been got. They will be followed at 9.30 by half an hour, fast and furious class suitable for all. Both classes will focus on nutrition and weight loss and general health. Pre booking is essential by what's app on 0876410352

YOUTH CLUB: Windgap Youth Club will hold a registration night on Friday 27th of September from 8 to 8.30 pm upstairs in Windgap Community Centre. The Youth Club is open to all secondary school students. Registration fee is €20 and the club start date is October 4th. For enquiries, please call Carmel Smith on 086 3845136

SLUA NUA: At the meeting of Slua Nua members on Wednesday in Stoneyford Hall, the voluntary companywho run the Fás CE scheme in ten local villages was stood down as only three volunteers gave commitments to be involved. Following the decision to wind up the company with the loss of over twenty work places and their contribution to the various communities the possibility of amalgamating with another FÁS scheme is to be investigated

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 4, 8, 12, 14 and bonus number 18 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought no local winners. The prize fund for the next draw is €4,500. Tickets are available from any club member

LINGAUN VALLEY: The Lingaun Valley committee website that can be accessed at http://lingaunvalley.ie/ or on the Tullahought Tidy Towns website. The group have also created a brochure outlining the many historical sites in the valley.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 9th September 201

CHAMPIONSHIP TIME:

Following the hurling game with Kilmacow in Kilmacow on Saturday the Junior Hurlers face Piltown in the first round of the championship in Dunnamaggin on Sunday at 3.45pm whilst the Camogie players line out against Young Irelands also on Sunday in Windgap at 11am. Friday evening will see the Galmoy Windgap minors play James Stephens in Galmoy in the minor league. Best wishes are extended to all of the sides and all support will be greatly appreciated

ANOTHER CLOSE CALL: For the second week in a row there was a close call for the local junior hurlers when they went down to Kilmacow by 0-15 to 0-14 following a similar scoreline the previous week when Barrow Rangers took the league points by 0-14 to 0-12. On the day the home sidesecured most of their scores from placed balls as Darragh O’Shea starred at full back and Windgap had the best of the goal scoring chances. Two points 0-7 to 0-5 behind at the break the inclusion of Niall Walsh and Gary Lyons saw the teams draw level at 0-13 apiece with two minutes to go and again at 0-14 before Kilmacow took a crucial one point lead. With the last puck of the ball a Windgap free towards the river goal slipped wide of the left upright to give the home side the points. See Tom Egan’s PRO’s report in the sports pages.

BLACK AND AMBER: Following Denise’s, Catherine’s and Mickeallas appearance in the black and amber in the All Ireland Senior Camogie final in Croke Park on Sunday one was reminded of the other Camogie players that brings the Windgap clubs representation to eighteen in County jersies with two Intermediate minor and under sixteen players, one under fifteen and four on both the under fourteen and county development squads.

CAMOGIE NEWS: There was great excitement this weekend as all roads led to Croke Park when a large Windgap contingent travelled to the Camogie finals on Sunday. The group included our under twelveCamogie playerswhoheaded off to Clontarf bright and early to play a challenge match before heading to shout on the county stars. The Windgap side played Scoil Ui Chonaill from Clontarf where they received great hospitality from the Dublin side and played a very competitive and enjoyable match. Unfortunately the favourable results did not continue later that day and all in the club are very disappointed for the girls who put in such a great effort this year. We are extremely proud of Denise, Catherine and Michaela for representing our club so well at county level this year. We have no doubt that they will be back and look forward to seeing them line out for Windgap again in the coming weeks. A word of thanks to all those who supported fundraising efforts for the Kilkenny Camogie team over the past few weeks in any way.

LINGAUN VALLEY:The Lingaun Valley committee are currently building a website that can be accessed at http://lingaunvalley.ie/ or on the Tullahought Tidy Towns website. The group have also created a brochure outlining the manyhistorical sites in the valley.

VACANCIES: Time is running out for the retention of the two vacant positions available on the local Fás Community employment scheme in Windgap. For further information call 087 2485111.

MASS CHANGES: Following weeks of deliberation between the pastoral councils in Windgap, Dunnamaggin, Callan and Cuffesgrange the masses all with choirs in the locality from December 1^st will be on Saturday evenings at 7.30 alternating between Windgap and Kilmoganny and also Coolagh at 7.30pm on the 2^nd and 4^thSaturday. Sunday will see Mass in Tullahought at 9.30am

EXERCISE CLASSES: A series of exercise classes will take place in Windgap Hall on Thursday mornings from 19th Septemberat 8.50am for the 'mature adult'. These classes focus on maintaining mobility, helping prevent or slow down the effects of osteoporosis and will focus on arthritis and those pre and post-surgery once Dr clearance has been got. They will be followed at 9.30 by half an hour, fast and furious class suitable for all. Both classes will focus on nutrition and weight loss and general health. Pre booking is essential by what's app on 0876410352

SLUA NUA: There will be an important meeting of Slua Nua members on Wednesday 11^th September at 7:30pm in Stoneyford Hall. The group who run the Fás CE scheme in ten local villages have not yet received sufficient commitments to join the Board of the company and the numbers of participants owing to many vacancies being unfilled have now dropped below the level, which would cover the costs of running the scheme. As a result the meeting will discuss alternative proposals or wind up the company possibly amalgamating with another FÁS scheme. Further details from Vincent on 087 2746036.

QUIZ NIGHT: Reportedly the biggest crowd in the county, twenty tables attended the Hurls and Curls Camogie Quiz in the Community Centre on Wednesday night in support of the AllIreland Senior Camogie side. Before it began there was a moment of silent respect for Brother Damien Brennan of the Arles, Callan and the CBS secondary school. Runningthe show were Michael O’Shea, Terri Mackey, Elaine Dunphy, Valerie Doyle, Margaret and Ann Foley and Michael Saunders. Tuned in to John Walsh and KCLR for the questions and answers only, the contestantswere treated to sweets chocolates, confectionary, tea and coffees all free of charge by the local Camogie club. In addition there were lots of local prizes.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 4, 7, 15, 24 and bonus number 22 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought no local winners. The prize fund for the next draw is €9,300. Tickets are available from any club member

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 2^nd September 2019

ALL IRELAND CAMOGIE: Excitement is building locally as our three county players prepare for the All Ireland Final in Croke Park next Sunday. Best wishes are extended to Denise Gaule, Catherine Foley and Michaela Kenneally and the Kilkenny team under manager Anne Downey we would love to see a large Windgap contingent in attendance on the day to support the team.

SUPPORTING CAMOGIE: Three fundraising events have been organised to support the team for the Final. On Wednesday evening September 4th Kilkenny Camogie and KCLR are holding a Hurls and Curls fundraising quiz at 9pm. The local venue will be the Windgap Community Centre and Tea Rooms registration opens at 8.30pm. We hope to see you there. A very successful bucket collection was held at the JJ Kavanagh and sons Junior Hurling league tie between Barrow Rangers and Windgap in Windgap on Friday evening. In addition there will be a pre All Ireland Breakfast to celebrate the three Windgap Camogie girls who play with the Kilkenny team in All Ireland Final. It will be hosted in the Community Centre and tea rooms at 11.00 am on next Saturday the 7th. Come along to show your support and enjoy the chat and some early morning music! Camogie news compliments of Alison Walsh

CLÁR FUNDING: There was huge delight in the area when the news broke that Minister Michael Ring has announced funding of forty one thousand euro for a pedestrian crossing and the associated tarmacking and roadwork’sn Windgap.

CHAMPIONSHIP TIME: The return of a three game match programme in the next three weeks saw Windgap junior hurlers play Barrow Rangers on Friday evening and line out against Kilmacow in Kilmacow next weekend with the results providing the name of the opposition team for the first round championship tie the following week. On Friday evening the game was in the melting post right up to the final whistle before the visitorsin the goalless game ran out winners by 0-14 to 0-12 after the home had the best of the goal scoring chances. See the full report in the sports pages

UNDER THIRTEENS WIN: Galmoy/Windgap U-13s had a very good win over Graigue Ballycallan in Windgap on Tuesday evening last in the first round of the Duggan Steel U-13 Hurling Championship. First half goals from Conor Doyle and Eoin O Shea with two helped the hosts in to a good 3-6 to 0-4 lead at half time. Galmoy/Windgap continued in fine form after the break with a Cian O Rourke goal. Graigue Ballycallan had a goal from substitute Michael Tynan but they were unable to reduce the deficit any further as Galmoy/Windgap won by 4-9 to Graigue Ballycallan's 1-9Galmoy/Windgap will now take on St Martins in the Quarter Final in Muckalee on Tuesday September 3rd .Galmoy/Windgap: Ryan Whelan, Jack O Dwyer, Colman Moloney(0-1), Padraig Egan, Alex Culleton, Darragh Doyle, George Culleton, Fionn Lonergan(0-1) ,Cian O Rourke(1-1) ,Niall Drennan(0-3,0-2 frees),Conor Doyle(1-2), P J Delaney(0-1), Sam Moloney, Eoin O Shea(2-0),Aidan O Shea.Subs: Cormac Hynes,Daithí Smith, Darragh Enright. Graigue Ballycallan: Sean McGrath, CormacNeary, FrankMcCluskey, RobbieLynch, Oran Hoyne,Aidan Comerford(0-1),Cillian Hoyne, Tony Butler(0-5 frees),Paidí Egan,Keelan Lynch, EoghanCahill, Shane Cody,Ben Young(0-3,0-2frees),Martin Brennan, Ben McEvoy.Sub: Michael Tynan (1-0) Paul Cahill (Dunnamaggin).

PLAYING THE PART: Shrughawadda Players will be reading new plays and auditioning for partson Tuesday night next at 8pm in St. Eoghan`s Centre, Kilmoganny.Everybody is welcome from inside and outside the Parish. The organisers willbe delighted to see new faces, young and old as it enables us to picka good play and a strong cast.

CRACKING GAMES: Congratulations to our under fourteen Camogie team who had a great team performance in their win over Mooncoin in Wednesday evening's championship semi-final. The final score was Windgap 4 -3 Mooncoin 1-4 the scores came from Megan Kenneally (3-2) Aisling O'Shea (1-0) and Orlaith 0'Shea (0-1). We look forward to the final in the coming weeks.On Thursday evening Dicksboro and Tullaroan/St. Anne’s played a cracking game in their A semi-final in Windgap.With the Tullaroan, Johnstown and Galmoy combination leading 0-3 to 0-2 the loss of a player saw them go 0-5 to 0-3 behind. Playing first class Camogie they led 1-3 to 0-5 at half time were the led 2-5 to 1-3 before another rally left just two points between the sides.

GALMOY WINDGAP: Bagnelstown Gaels from Carlow visited Windgap for a minor challenge game during the week when they won a high scoring challenge game that saw the return of the county panellists for the first club game in a long time.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 5, 8, 11, 19 and bonus number 14 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought a match three cheque to Tom Mackey withSharon Power being a recent winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €8,100. Tickets are available from any club member

UNDER 15 CHAMPIONSHIP: On a beautiful autumn evening in Galmoy on Thursday last, a slick moving Emeralds side eased past Galmoy/Windgap in the Duggan Steel U-15 Hurling Championship. The Emeralds were laden with some very skilful individuals who would hold their own at Roinn A level and they will now meet Tullougher Rosbercon in the Quarter Final.

For Galmoy/Windgap ,this game brought an end to a busy season which saw the team play eight league games, four challenge games and one championship outing. The final score was Emeralds 8-14 Galmoy/Windgap 0-13. A sincere well done is extended to all the players who took part and also thanks to the selectors Matthew, John, Kevin and Brendan. Emeralds: Brendan Cleere, Oisín Deegan, Kacper Woloczko, Micheál Ahern, Rory, Hyde, Kieran Cleere (0-2),Paul Moloney, Tomás Cussen (0-1),Killian Doyle(0-1),T J Murphy(0-1),Darragh Queally (0-2), Jimmy Cleere (0-3), Adam Cashin, Alex Burke (8-4), Conor Kavanagh. Subs: Cormac Burke, Oisín Quinlan Cashin. Galmoy/Windgap: Eoin O Shea, Colman Moloney, Daniel Hanrahan, John Dermody, Noah O Shea, David Sherman (0-3 frees), Rohan Lonergan, Cian O Rourke, Callum Lonergan (0-3 , 0-1 free), Niall Drennan (0-1), James Purcell (0-2, 0-1free), Killian Enright (0-1), Ronan O Brien (0-1), Conor Doyle (0-1), Evan Doyle (0-1).

Subs: Fionn Lonergan, Evan Doyle, Michael Freaney and George Culleton Referee: Owen Beehan (Fenians) Referee: Match reports compliments of Gerry Drennan

WHERE STARS BEGIN: The slightly sloping Tullahought Sportsfield where many sporting dreams began hosted the annual Tullahought Heritage weekend Festival of Hurling and Camogie games. Having commenced as part of the Slatequarries Festival the Mike Williams tournament run in the memory of the Williams family who worked in the Slatequarries it has now extended into its 24th year . Saturdays games played in bright sunshine saw Dunnamaggin and Windgap Hurlers play at under nine and John Lockes play Windgap in the under twelve Camogie. The participating sides were John Lockes Camogie: Caoimhe Power, Sarah Keher, Nessa Godden, Caoimhe Kelly, Ali Audorie, Rosie Roche, Nyah Waughen, Ailis Mulcahy, Cathy Power, Aoibhe Corcoran, Leah O’Donovan, Maria Ryan, Chloe Tennyson, Claire Saunders, Emma O’Dwyer and mentors Margaret and Catherine Power. The Windgap Hurlers were Cathal Barron, Rory Quigley, Tadhg Kennedy, Conor Power, Aidan Dotyle, Archie Power, Jules Seagrave, AJ Power, John Kellegher, Adam Power and Tadhg Enright under mentors Aidan Power, Leo Power and Rob Quigley. Windgap Camogie players: Jenny Saunders, Emily Freaney, Laura Duoylel,Lauren Enright, Chloe Drennan, Ona Keneally, Aliana O’Shea, Aisling O’Shea, Niamh Enright, Alanah Holdaen, Adam O’Brien, Ava O’Brien, Nirveagh Drennan, Tamara Phelan under mentors, Michael Saunders, Dermot O’Shea, Valerie Doyle and Marie Anne Hayes. Dunnamaggin Hurlers: Robby Lodge, Dan Doherty. David Fallon, Brandon Carroll, Josh Carro;;, Robby Lyons, John Holden, Conor Fitzpatrick, Wiktor Syldatk, Sean Delahunty, Sean McLaughlin, Conor Byrne, William Holden, Conor Lybch and Ben Delahunty. In preparation Pat Cooke mowed the grounds, Aidan Power looked after the goalposts and Seamus Power organised the event, Elsewhere Willie Kearney refereed, Pat Power sponsored the medals whilst, Shamie Phelan along with Club secretary Noel Power and Jimmy Walsh made the presentations. On the day John Delaney provided the refreshments as he has had since the games began. A quick tidy up saw the grounds spotless with the wildflower bed that stretches the length of the field providing a blaze of colour. ROSE ESCORT: Having a ball at the Rose of Tralee was the local Rose Escort Shane Walsh who was the escort to the Kerry Rose Sally Ann Leahy for the County Hurling Champions Club Causeway for the first half of the week and then the London Rose from Fermoy Laura Kennedy. VISITING HOME: Making a visit home for the weekend was Pakie Aylward from Kildrummy and his wife Maureen. ving emigrated sixty two years ago he was heavily involved at all levels in the Kilkenny Association in Manchester and maintains a huge interest in all things Irish and local. Joining them and his Clonmel based brother John at Saturday evening Mass were near his neighbors of a younger generation the Phelans Sarah, Gerry and Marion who were back from Kilkenny, Galway and Wicklow. The event is a regular feature of the gathering for weekend masses in the parish where locals that are now all over the world meet on very rare or once in a generation occasions. SENIOR CITIZENS VISIT PARK: A unique event to mark Worldwide Senior Citizens Day was held in Nolwan Park on Wednesday when Christy Whelan was the representative from the Windgap Club. Run by the Kilkennt GAA Health and Wellbeing committees it included a tour and presentations on the pitch, media area, dressing rooms and the photo galleries. Like every gathering it was full of surprises as the visitors from every club mingled and shared stories and reflections of their first match in the Park, visit to Croke Park. The event finished with a cup of tea and refreshments. CENTENARIANS VISIT TEA ROOMS Amongst the visitors to the Team Rooms in the past week were two hale and hearty ladies . The first was Mai Phelan of Seskin a community activist though the ICA, Tidy Towns and the Church throughout her life who was accompanied by her grandson Jonathon and who will celebrate her hundredth birthday later in the year. The following day Biddy Cooney from the Nire Valley who had celebrated her hundredth birthday earlier this year visited for tea with her daughters Margaret and Kate Moloney who is following in Mais footsteps through the Tidy Towns, the Development Committee and organising Community events and initiatives,

TIDY TOWNS WAIT: As maintenance works continue in Windgap and Tullahought villages the focus turns to the results of the first and second round judging dates which will be announced at the Super Valu Tidy Towns Awards day in the Helix I Dublin at the end of September. The current competition has record number in nine hundred and eighteen teams. GALMOY WINDGAP Bagnelstown Gaels from Carlow visited Windgap for a minor challenge game during the week when they won a high scoring challenge game that saw the return of the county panelists for the first club game in a long time. CLÁR FUNDING: There was huge delight in the area when the news broke that Minister Michael Ring has announced funding of forty one thousand euro for a pedestrian crossing and associated tarmacking in Windgap. LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 8, 15, 17, 27 and bonus number 7 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought no local winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €8,100. Tickets are available from any club member

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 22ndAUGUST 2019

BACK TO CROKE PARK: Sunday was the biggest day in a long long time for the club when local players Jack Doyle, Padraig Foley and their Galmoy Windgap teammate Billy Drennan lined out in Croke Park on All Ireland Final Sunday. On the day hundreds of people with parish connections travelled to support Kilkenny in the big games and have another imminent visit after the local Camogie players Denise Gaule, Catherine Foley and MichaelaKennelly qualified for the All Ireland senior against Galway following their victory over Tipperary in Limerick on Saturday evening. On All Ireland final day in Boston Niall Walsh played in the Hurling Final with Galway against Fr. Toms. In the game his side went down by a goal with Graigueballycallans Eamon Egan lining out for the winning side

WHAT KILKENNY HURLING MEANS: Messages and texts of support flowed in from across the world in the lead up to and on the day of the All Ireland Finals. They came from Kilkenny people, people of Kilkenny ancestrythat may have gone back generations and many with no connections at all who marvelled at the sport and the dedication of the players who play it. Sunday’s finals marked milestones for all ages, being some peoples first and others perceived last one, for now! For many the game is the highlight of week and provides a living thing to follow and talk about andsupport in times of change and illness, with the display of the colours or a signed item being a mandatoryitem in cars offices and homes.Missing his first big Kilkenny game, since he saw hurling played on a beach in Donegal whilst on a holiday to Ireland many years ago, John Furlong now a retired London dockerwas then a committed and well-travelled Glasgow Celtic and Barcelona supporter before he added the Black and Amber to his internationalsporting teams. Since his interest began John spent most of his annual holidays in Irelandknows the location of every pitch in the county, attended the training sessions, and beinga weekly reader of this paper is up to speed on all of the players. On a day off too was former player and county coach Bobby Jackman who was replaced by all his grandchildren. The people and stories of hurling are endless; the efforts to get to the final to support Kilkenny are like frontier adventures by an unknown band of peoplewith some hurling calling in their veins. Many thanks to one and all for your love and interest in the game and Kilkenny and long may the bond continue.

COACHES VISIT; A great crowd of players,trainers, interested parents and spectators from both Windgap and Galmoy turned out when Brian Ryan, PJ Ryan and Sean Kelly visited Windgap for an excellent coaching session on Thursday evening.

RADIO QUIZ SUCESS: One of the biggest crowds in County Kilkenny or Dublin turned out in the New Community Centre in Windgap on Tuesday for The Drive for the Liam Radio Quiz on KCLR. On the night prizes of club gear were available for local winners whilst all who attended were treated to refreshments. With seventeen participating tables in Windgap the event was co-ordinated by Adam Mackey. On the night four hundred and two tables participating in the quiz supporting the Kilkenny minor and senior teams with sister club Galmoy jointly heading the list with the greatest number of participating teams.

HERITAGE WEEK; The old pastimes of skittles and rings were played at the opening evening of National Heritage Week in Tullahought on Friday evening. They were followed by a screening of 1985 video of celebrations to mark the Centenary of Tullahought Church.The event officially commenced with a wine and cheese party and a presentation by DearbhalaLedwidge the Kilkenny County Council Heritage Officer. It was followed by a traditional and folk session where twenty musicians and a host of singers and story teller participated. The event continues with the annual juvenile Hurling and Camogie Blitz for the Mike Williams Shield that will take place on this Saturday 24th August at 10am in the Tullahought Sports Field.

TIDY TOWNS WAIT: As maintenance works continue in Windgap and Tullahought villages the focus turns to the results of the first and second round judging dates which will be announced at the Super Valu Tidy Towns Awards day in the Helix I Dublin at the end of September.The current competition has record number in nine hundred and eighteen teams.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 8, 15, 17, 27 and bonus number 7 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought no local winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €8,100. Tickets are available from any club member

GALMOY WINDGAP MINORS WIN

On an absolutely horrible night for hurling, the Galmoy/Windgap minors pulled off a hard earned 4-7 to 1-15win over Piltown on Thursday last in Piltown in the Kilkenny Honda Centre Minor Hurling Roinn ALeague.Incessant driving rain made conditions difficult, but both teams stuck manfully to the task in hand. Piltown lead 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter but Galmoy/Windgap had a profitable second quarter with goals from Eoin O Brien and two from Blade O Gorman to lead 3-5 to 0-8 at half time.Piltown enjoyed the better of the third quarter and had drawn level, mainly from frees, by the45th minute, 3-6 to 1-12.

A Niall O Brien goal followed by a Matt Delaney point made for a fiercely contested final quarter, with the visitors holding strong for their second win out of three outings in this league. There were strong performances in defence from James Darcy, Sean Purcell, Gearóid Phelan and Jamie Joy while Eoin O Brien and Blade O Gorman worked hard up front.Galmoy/Windgap: James Purcell, James Darcy ,Sean Purcell, DanielHanrahan, SeanBarron, Gearóid Phelan, Jamie Joy ,Eoin O Brien(1-0), Adam O Shea , Zak Kennedy(0-5 frees) ,Mark McCoy, Matt Delaney (0-2), Niall O Brien(1-0),Blade O Gorman(2-0), Killian Enright. Subs (All Unused): Cillian Doyle, EoinFreaney and Evan Doyle. Referee: Maurice Flynn(Mooncoin)

GALMOY WINDGAP NEWS

Our U-15s played a good challenge v Fenians in Johnstown on Sunday evening last August 11^th and the U-13s will play first round of the championship v Graigue Ballycallan in Windgap on Tues next August 20th while the U-15s will play The Emeralds in their Championship opener on Thursday next Aug 22^nd. During the week the Galmoy/Windgap U-13s played a very worthwhile friendly against Piltown in Windgap on Friday night last. The teams were locked together at 1-5 each at halftime following a Jack Egan goal for the home side midway through the half. Niall Drennan and Conor Doyle picked a goal each after half time with Doyle also hitting the net from a penalty as the home side held on for a one point win on Galmoy/Windgap 4-8Piltown 4-7 scoreline. Galmoy/Windgap: Eoin O Shea, Conor Darcy ,Rohan Lonergan, Jack O Dwyer, Alex Culleton, Darragh Doyle,Aidan O Shea, Cian O Rourke(0-1), Niall Drennan(1-2), Fionn Lonergan(0-1) , Conor Doyle(2-3,1-2 frees) , Ryan Whelan ,Jack Egan(1-0), P J Delaney(0-1)Sam MoloneySubs: Daithí Smith and Darragh Enright.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 15^thAUGUST 2019

BEST WISHES: The big day has arrived when local players Jack Doyle, Padraig Foley and their Galmoy Windgap teammate Billy Drennan line out in Croke Park on All Ireland Final Sundayagainst Galway. Best wishes are extended to them and all of their teammatesunder manger Richie Mulrooney in the search for the Irish Press Cup and an elusive All Ireland Medal.

OLD RIVALRY RENEWED: History repeats itself when the neighbouring Kilkenny and Tipperary senior hurlers will be focus of world attention when they line out in Croke Park on Sunday seeking to bring home the Liam McCarthy Cup. Managed by Brian Cody and led by TJ Reid the side hasmade outstanding progressthroughout the championship campaign. In addition to the supporters travelling to the game, it will attract a huge television audience from every country and townsland with Johnny Culleton watching in from Raheenarran, Paddy Egan in Tullahought, Enda Hawe in New Zealand, Niall Walsh in Boston, Paddy Barron in Thomastown, Vincent Landy and hundreds across the pond, Gillian Moore in Columbia, Suzie Phelan, Geraldine Power in Wales, John Brien in Garryricken,Shane Walsh in Portugal,Davy Power along withDonie and Mikey Phelan in Australia whose mother Mai in Seskin within weeks of her hundredth birthday will be glued in to the TV, whilstdown the road Mike Purcell mans the boundary line as he cheers on the side in Baunreigh within a puck of the Lingaun River that separates the sides. The list is endless and everyone is included as memories will be recalled of past supporters and games as they all join together to support the Kilkenny All Ireland Final teams. Across the river the list goes on with representatives from Ahenny, Farnaun, Faugheen, Clashnasmuth, Ballhea, Curisalla, Templemichael Castlejohn, Hardbog, Grangemockler, Nine Mile House and the Four Roads cheering the Munster men. In other houses, the divided line of the so called mixed marriages of “Kilkenny and Tipperary” will provide a quiet breakfast and a tense dinner as the bonds of parents and children will be stretched by throw in time,as they all live in hopeful anticipation of a good result at the final whistlefor their native place! Representing my first link through black and white TV for the famous All Ireland Final victory in 1967in Geoff Moore’shouse in Birchwood, John Moore one of the game’s greatest supporter will be amongst the attendance in Croke Park on Sunday. The house located overlooking the Victoria Bridge spanning the inter-countyborder will once again become a part of sporting frontline that stretches from the Three Bridges to Galmoy. Best wishes are extended to all involved with and supporting the Dubh agus Omra for another great performance by great men on All Ireland Final day.

BLACK AND AMBER: In recent days lots of colour has appeared in the area to support the County Teams on All Ireland Final Day with Dick Walsh and Eamon Doyle decorating Tullahought Village on behalf of the Tidy Towns Group and Noel and Sean Power, Pat Walsh, Sean Foley and the PJ’s Egan and Barron erecting bunting and banners in Windgap on behalf of the hurling Club. Elsewhere individual residents have played their part in getting the colours flying and bunting upfor the big day.

LIFE IN THE OLD DOG: In one of the many great stories of inter county rivalaries between Kilkenny and Tipperary, here’s hoping, that there is still life left for a repeat performance in the family sheepdog, that went mad with fright and bolted out of a kitchen and would not come back as Martin Comerford’s late goal for a Kilkenny victory was celebrated a few years ago.

KEEPING COMMUNITIES ALIVE: Meetings of the Pastoral representatives of Danesfort Windgap, Dunnamaggin and Callan parishes continue as a timetable of weekly Mass is being discussed.According to the Diocesan Website ossory.ie the area has fifteen weekend Masses with only Callan with five and two in Cuffesgrange having more than the one required to keep each church community alive with a weekend celebration. The Churches currently with one each are in Newton, Coolagh, Dunnamaggin, Kilmoganny, Windgap, Tullahought, Danesfort and Kells. The changes for the ten churches involvedin the new Diocesan Pastoral area commence on December 1^st.

ALL IRELAND TICKETS: All Ireland tickets were distributed to Club workers and raffled amongst the members and players in the Clubrooms on Monday evening. It is felt that all those disappointed will be sorted as more tickets will become available during the week.

LISDOWNEY SEVENS; Hard luck to our U-13s who did very well to reach the semi-final of the Kilkenny Supporters Club Shield at the Lisdowney Sevens on Saturday last. Having done very well to overcome a determined Moycarkey Borris side in the quarter final, the boys had to give best to a strong Young Irelands Gowran side in the semi. The Panel of ten which played on Saturday last were, Alex Culleton,PJ Delaney,Cormac Hynes,Niall Drennan,Cian O Rourke,Eoin O Shea,George Culleton,Conor Doyle,Conor Darcy and Colman Moloney, while Fionn Lonergan and Darragh Doyle played their part also on Sunday July 28^th.Scorers v Moycarkey were: Niall Drennan 2-6,P J Delaney 2-0,Conor Doyle 1-1 and Cian O Rourke 0-1.Scorers v Young Irelands were:Conor Doyle 1-2, Cian O Rourke 0-3 and Niall Drennan 0-2. Young Irelands lost out in the final of the Shield to O Loughlin Gaels while James Stephens won out the Cup competition beating Kilmacud Crokes in the Final.

ALL IRELAND QUIZ: The Drive for the Liam McCarthy Radio Quiz on KCLR takes place in the New Community Centre in Windgap on Tuesday 13th August. Entry is €20 per team of fourwith great Prizes of All Ireland and Banquet Tickets, local prises and a raffle for prizes that include a USA City Break.

TULLAHOUGHT HERITAGE EVENTS: As part of the National Heritage Week Tullahought Tidy Towns Group have organised an evening of entertainment on Friday 16th August. With the theme for Heritage Week 2019 being Pastime’s in Past Times there will be demonstrations of and a chance to participate in favourite local games of a bygone era, such as Skittles, Pitch and Toss and Rings, come early and enjoy the fun.Schedule of Events Tullahought Community Centre Friday 16th August: 7.30pm screening of 1985 video of celebrations to mark the Centenary of Tullahought Church.8.00pm Official Opening. 8.30pm Talk by Dearbhala Ledwidge Kilkenny County Council Heritage Officer on the benefits of looking after our environment for the benefit of Pollinators.9pm Music, Song and Stories in the company of Cois Súire.The annual juvenile Hurling and Camogie Blitz for the Mike Williams Shield will take place on Saturday 24th August at 10am in the Tullahought Sports Field.

GALMOY WINDGAP: The under thirteen and minor hurling sides recorded a nice double during the week when both recorded a single point win over Piltown.

TIDY TOWNS: Works continues in Windgap and Tullahought villages for the second round judging date which is scheduled early weeks of August.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 4, 8, 16, 19 and bonus number 5 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought no local winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €6,700. Tickets are available from any club member

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 8^thAUGUST 2019

ALL IRELAND QUIZ: The Drive for the Liam McCarthy Radio Quiz on KCLR will take place in the New Community Centre in Windgap on Tuesday 13th August. Entry is €20 per team of fourwith great Prizes of All Ireland and Banquet Tickets, local prises and a raffle for prizes that include a USA City Break.Local players involved in the minor final against Galway include Jack Doyle, Padraig Foley along with Billy Drennan from the Galmoy Windgap team.

TULLAHOUGHT HERITAGE EVENTS: As part of the National Heritage Week Tullahought Tidy Towns Group have organised an evening of entertainment on Friday 16th August. With the theme for Heritage Week 2019 being Pastime’s in Past Times there will be demonstrations of and a chance to participate in favourite local games of a bygone era, such as Skittles, Pitch and Toss and Rings, come early and enjoy the fun.Schedule of Events Tullahought Community Centre Friday 16th August: 7.30pm screening of 1985 video of celebrations to mark the Centenary of Tullahought Church.8.00pm Official Opening. 8.30pm Talk by Dearbhala Ledwidge Kilkenny County Council Heritage Officer on the benefits of looking after our environment for the benefit of Pollinators.9pm Music, Song and Stories in the company of Cois Súire.The annual juvenile Hurling and Camogie Blitz for the Mike Williams Shield will take place on Saturday 24th August at 10am in the Tullahought Sports Field.

DEFIBRILLATOR THANKS: The Committee would like to thank sincerely everyone who helped in any way with the recentfundraising in Tullahought and Windgap. The total amount raised over the two evenings is€1,593.57. Thanks to your efforts, generosity and on-going support we are in a position to continue rolling out our training programme and service our equipment. Our plan now is to help purchaseanother defibrillator for the Knockroe area in the near future.Raffle Results:Tullahought: Katie Daly Knockeen (Hamper). Other prize winners were: - Kathleen Duggan Kilkenny,Marian Duggan Mullinavat, Jessica Butler, Mary Foran, Therese Walsh, Gina Phelan, Seamus Purcell,Breda Meehan, Veronica Hearne, Biddy Finnerty Dublin, Wazzie Kenneally, Nicky Coghlan and PatLonergan.Windgap: Noelle Kennedy (Hamper). Other prize winners were: - Margaret O’ Shea, Margaret Doyle,Sadie Bacon, John Fleming, Liz Jackson, Judy Flood, Kieran Purcell, Jules Seagrave and BiddyMcKenna.Pat Moore won the additional raffle for two tickets to Ronan Tynan in Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre.

ALL IRELAND TICKETS: All Ireland tickets will distributed to Club workers and raffled amongst the members and playersin the Clubrooms, at a time to be confirmed possibly Tuesday evening at 8pm

CEMETRY MASSES: The annual cemetery and memorial masses took place in recent daysin the Slatequarries, Killamery, Tullahought and Windgap. On each occasion they were celebrated by an Sagart Paróiste an tAthair Fearghus Ó Fearghaill in excellent weather conditions.

The first took place, in the old industrial hub of the area at the Ormond Slate Quarry where the music and song was provided by Peggy Lyons and her friends. As the cliff face re-echoed the sounds, the large attendance included neighbours and friends from both sides of the Lingaun River that marks the division between counties Kilkenny and Tipperary.

A smaller than usual crowd attended the Mass that was celebrated close to site of the High Crosses in Killamery,the burial place of the locals who fell in the 1978 ambush on Carraigmoclear and near where the Killamery brooch currently in the National Museum was found.

The following evening, Thursday, John Delaney made a welcome return to play for the parish choir at the annual cemetery mass in Tullahought. A feature was the stillness of the evening when the national and county flagsfailed to flutter and the only movement was by swallows, and house martins flying unusually lower than the decorated ridge tiles of the church. In colourful scenes, a slanting sun sprayed beams of light from behind a dark cloud over Slievenamon as the flowers on graves, in baskets and beds added variety. In oneMountain Ash tree starlings picked the ripe red berries as bright yellow sunflowers and pink roses provided more contrasting colours. After a while the starlings, lined up with, sparrows,jackdawsandcrowswho were heading home form the newly harvested cornfields for an apparent evening break on the power lines running down the village street. Another feature was the afters when all present relocated to the Community Hall for a chat with old friends and a welcome cup of tea provided by the local ladies guild.

The largest attendance was in Windgap where visitors from afar were amazed at the improvement being carried out on the approach roads, the improvement to the facilities and on the roads around the village. At the annual mass the topography of the cemetery had the attendance dispersed in pockets and family groups around the great yew and beech trees, the old church ruins and around the pathssteps and slope up from the main arched and newly painted entrance. The majority of the crowd were in the new section that was higher up and slightly hidden in the graveyard extension behind the bell. On the day Marie Comerford and the parish choir provided the music and song and John Ryan was the soundman at all the venues.

GREAT CAR MYSTERY: A feature of the cemetery masses and many matches and events in recent times was the now well-worncommentuttered whilst judging the crowd …… “There are more cars than people”. To date not one of the new driverless vehicleshas been spotted arriving or driving away and the mystery remains unsolved!.

PARISH MASS TIMES: The meeting of the Pastoral representatives of Danesfort Windgap, Dunnamaggin and Callan parishes took place on Tuesday last and will reconvene shortly when attendances will be a major factor in the new weekend Mass rota. The changes for the ten churches involvedin the new Diocesan Pastoral area commence on December 1^st.

TIDY TOWNS: Improvement and on-going maintenance works are continuing in Windgap and Tullahought villages for the second round judging date which takes place in the first ten days in August.

CLUB NEWS: Comhgairdeachas to Nicky and Helen Hawe who won the 9th prize of €600 in the 5th. Hurlers Co-Op Draw in Piltown. The 5th and Final Draw takes place on 20th of August.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 4, 8, 16, 19 and bonus number 5 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought no local winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €6,700. Tickets are available from any club member

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 1st AUGUST 2019

UNIQUE HURLING ACHIEVEMENT: One of the GAA success stories at national level of the new millennium has been the Galmoy Windgap hurling partnership. Set up in 2006 at minor levelt o face down the fallout out from centralization and Irelands demographic changes it has brought amazing success to both clubs. In the face of population decreases the combination has brought top level interclub competition to its players. The peak to date was reached on Sunday in Croke Park when three members Jack Doyle, Billy Drennan and Padraig Foley were part of the Kilkenny Minor Hurling squad that overcame Limerick to reach the All Ireland Final.Their reward is an All Ireland final date with Galway on the same day as Kilkenny play neighbours Tipperary in the Senior Final

FURTHER AFIELD: With other former Galmoy Windgap minor players Nigel Stanley having starred with Louth for a number of years, Niall Walsh is currently lining out with Galway and has reached the championship final in Boston that will be played on the same day as the All Ireland Finals in Croke Park. The county minor Galmoy Windgap representative list includes Nigel Stanley an All Ireland winner in 2008, Jason Stanley 2013, Oisín Phelan 2017, Niall Walsh 2015, 2016, Jack Doyle 2018 and Jack, Billy Drennan and Padraig Foley 2019. In addition a plethora of other players have lined out and are on the various county representative squads level with Niall Walsh going on to play for the Kilkenny U21’s and win and All Ireland Intermediate medal.

OPPOSITION BROTHERS EXCEL: Whilst the Galmoy and Windgap Clubs compete separately in handball they came together on Sunday. The event occurred in the Black and Amber jersies asthe club hurlers Jack Doyle and Billy Drennan were combining to score a second half goal in Croke Park on Saturday, their brothers Conor Doyle and Niall Drennan,were taking part in the U-13 GAA Handball 60 x 30 Doubles National competition in Ballymitty, Co Wexford.Following their 15-2, 15-4semi-final win over Moycullen from Galway. in the finalNiall and Conor came up against the Kells(Co Kilkenny) pairing of Cathal Buckley and John Hayes. After an impressive display, the Galmoy/Windgap pairing brought home the winner’s trophy on a scoreline of 15-5, 15-11.

CEMETERY MASSES: The annual cemetery masses take place in Killamery on this Wednesday 31st July, Tullahought Thursday 1st August and Windgap Friday, 2nd August. All take place at 7.30pm.

PARISH MASS CHANGES: The meeting of the Pastoral representatives of Danesfort Windgap, Dunnamaggin and Callan parishes that make up the new Diocesan Pastoral area takes place in on at. Consisting of ten churches served by three priests it will see the new weekend Mass rota with many changes commence on December 1st.

DEFIBRILLATOR CAKE SALE: The defribliator committee would like to thank everyone for the on-going support we receive each year. The group are holding their annual Cake and Home Produce Sale for the local defibrillators will take place on Thursday and Friday 1st and 2nd of August after the Cemetery Mass in Tullahought and Windgap. The organisers would greatly appreciate your support by providing home produce (cakes, tarts, breads, jams, eggs, etc), by supplying a prize for the raffle or by making a donation to the fund. Items for sale can be left in to the tented area in Windgap Village on Friday from 6pm onwards. Raffle tickets for a Hamper and other prizes will be sold at the Cake Sale and the draw will take place after Mass. As usual a similar Raffle will be held after the Cemetery Mass in Tullahought on Thursday 1st August.For further information and details, please contact Joan O’ Gorman 086-1024892, Richie Walsh 087-996355, and Helen Hawe 086-8834042.

TIDY TOWNS: Improvement works focussing on a general tidy up in preparation for the forthcoming cemetery masses continues on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings in Windgap and on Tuesday evenings in Tullahought and all are welcome.

CLUB NEWS: The Junior C Hurling side recorded a first round win when they defeated Carrigeen in the first round in Carrigeen on Thursday evening

AUGUST FESTIVAL: The Kilmoganny August Festival is just around the corner now with an array of activities in store for all, young and old on Sunday 4th Aug. They include a hearty full Irish Breakfast in St. Eoghan`s Centre, Kilmoganny. A pop-up Vintage Boutique .Wine reception. Also Miriam Lambert`s Puppet show, Afternoon Tea, music and song on the street with .Stalls. Buskers In the Evening events include Novelty Ladies and Mens Football and Hurling following by a Prosecco Reception. Live Music, Barbeque and Comedy time then with Kilmoganny Entertainers and late music

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 10, 17, 18, 20 and bonus number 26 were drawn on Tuesday evening brought no local winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €6,700. Tickets are available from any club member

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 24th JULY 2019

PARISHMASS CHANGES: Danesfort has now joined Windgap, Dunnamaggin and Callan in the new DiocesanPastoral area. It will consist of ten churches served by threepriests,Fr. William Dalton, Fr. Fearghus Ó Fearghailand Fr. Daniel Carroll based in Callan, Windgap and Danesfort respectively. The Churches are the Church of St. Nicholas Windgap, The Church of St. NicholasTullahought, The Church of St. Leonard Dunnamaggin, The Church of St. Eoghan, Kilmoganny, The Church of the Assumption Callan, The Church of the AssumptionCuaile, The Church of All Saints Newtown, The Church of St. Michael Danesfort and The Churches of the Holy Cross in both Cuffesgrange and Kells. The changes that will see three weekend masses celebrated by each priest and willcommence in sixteen weeks on the first Sunday of Advent which falls on December 1^st. Currently from the Diocesan Website ossory.ie the area has fifteen weekend Masses with five in Callan, two in Cuffesgrange and one each in Newton, Coolagh, Dunnamaggin, Kilmoganny, Windgap, Tullahought, Danesfort and Kells. The changes as a result of falling vocations and the declining number of priests, may result in a forty per-cent reduction in weekend Masses and will be based on the results of a census that took place earlier in the year and one that is currently on-going. The results along with discussions being carried out in the four parishes may see a number of churches without regular weekend masses. The new arrangement will see Callan as the demographic hub of the new pastoral area that also contains the Edmond Rice Memorial Chapel in Westcourt. The area is alsoserved by two Post Primary schools in Callan and nine Primary schools with three each in Danesfort and Dunnamaggin parishes, two in Callan and one in Windgap parish.

DEFIBRILLATOR NEWS: The committee would like to thank everyone for the on-going support we receive each year for this very worthy cause. Since last year the defibrillators in Tullahought, Lamogue, Killamery, at the Parochial House and outside Windgap National School have all been serviced. Both sets of pads have been replaced in each defibrillator. The group also held a Training Course in March and face the following expenses for the coming year: The defibrillator in Skough is due to be serviced plus pads replaced in September and three groups of users are due to re-train this autumn. In addition there are quite a few new names of people who have expressed an interest in participating in training. We are also hoping to get some teenagers and college students to do the training course in the future. For further informationand details, please contact Joan O’ Gorman 086-1024892, Richie Walsh 087-996355, and HelenHawe 086-8834042.

DEFIBRILLATOR CAKE SALE: The annual Cake and Home Produce Sale for the local defibrillatorswill take place on Thursday and Friday 1^stand 2^ndof August after the Cemetery Mass in Tullahought and Windgap. The organisers would greatly appreciate your support by providing home produce (cakes, tarts, breads, jams, eggs, etc), by supplying a prize for the raffle or by making a donation to the fund. Items for sale can be left in to the tented area in Windgap Village on Friday from 6pm onwards. Raffle tickets for a Hamper and other prizes will be sold at the Cake Sale and the draw will take place after Mass. As usual a similar Raffle will be held after the Cemetery Mass in Tullahought on Thursday 1^st August.

ATTRACTIVE PLACES:The fine waeather has seen an influx of visitors to the area thanks to the work of the Award Winning Tidy Towns Committees in Windgap and Tullahought, The Lingaun Valley Action Group, the Community playground, the local loop walks in Windgap and Kilmacoliver and the Community Shop and the Lakeside Tea Room.Improvement works continue on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings in Windgap and on Tuesday evenings in Tullahought and all are welcome.

ALL IRELAND SEMI-FINALS: Club players Jack Doyle, Billy Drennan and Padraig Foley areall members of the County U17 Hurling team that will playLimerick in the All Ireland semi-final in Croke Parkon Saturday. In a busy week for the inter county hurling the side will line out before the County Seniors play Limerick in their All Ireland Hurling semi-final and four days before the U20’s play the losers of the Munster Final between Cork and Tipperary at a venue to be decided in their semi-final.Best wishes are extended to all teams, players and management

CLUB NEWS: The Junior C Hurling side went down to Piltown on Wednesday evening and play Carrigeen in the first round on Thursday evening at a venue and tie to be decided

CEMETRY MASSES: The annual cemetery masses take place in Killamery on Wednesday 31st July, Tullahought Thursday 1st August and Windgap Friday, 2nd August. All take place at 7.30pm.

SUIR VALLEY WALK: The Annual Suir Valley Environmental Group walk takes place on Saturday 27th July when the group visits the Mennonite (Amish) community for a guided tour of their holding followed by a walk to Boolas Lakes. All interested in attending are asked to meet at Rathgormack Church at 2pm sharp.

TENNIS CAMP: A Park tennis Camp in Windgap tennis court will run between the 22^nd and 26th of July for under tens from 10.30am to midday and for over ten's from midday to 2pm. The camp costs €25 and booking and further details please contact the Park Tennis coach David More on 085 2349644

AUGUST FESTIVAL: The Kilmoganny August Festival is just around the corner now with an

array of activities in store for all, young and oldon Sunday 4th Aug. They include a heartyfull Irish Breakfast in St. Eoghan`s Centre, Kilmoganny. A pop-up Vintage Boutique.Wine reception. Also Miriam Lambert`s Puppet show, Afternoon Tea, music and song on the street with .Stalls. BuskersIn the Evening events include Novelty Ladies and Mens Football and Hurling following by a Prosecco Reception. Live Music , Barbeque and Comedy time then with Kilmoganny Entertainers and late music

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 15, 19, 20, 24 and bonus number 12were drawn on Tuesday evening broughtno local winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €6,700. Tickets are available from any club member

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 22nd JULY 2019

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Looking for something important in the filing system, a folded A4 sheet fell from somewhere outof the pile. Intrigued, by why it was neatlyfolded in four it unfurled into a one page match programme for Windgap’s St. Canices Credit Union Senior Camogie Semi Final appearance with St. Lachtains just eight years ago. Played in Tom Ryall Park the team was Laura Walker, Julie Walsh, Alison Walsh, Phena Heffernan, Nicola Moore, Elaine O’Shea (Captain), Laura Moore, Lisa Phelan, Suzie Dunphy, Denise Gaule, Catherine Foley, Eleanor Downey, Sarah McCarthy, Anne Marie Phelan, NiamhPhelan with Terri Mackey, Claire Grace, Joanne Cody, Niamh Bambrick, Ciara Molloy, Aisling Cody, Leanne Cody, Fiona Walsh, Eimear Moylan and Gemma Long.Having come up through the grades only a handful of the players are still involved with Deniese Gaule and Catherine Foley leading the way at inter-county level. The game was refereed by Domo Connolly with St. Lachtains going on to defeat Mullinavat in the final. POC FADA: In the recent Camogie Poc Fada held in Gowran Park racecourseMargaret Foley of Windgap took 1^st place in the adult section ahead ofCaoimhe Murphy, St Brigids and Emma Ryan from the Blacks & Whites club. The trophies were presented by Kilkenny Chairperson Sheila Norris

DUAL TIDY TOWNS:In Tullahought the new signs up for being the Regional Pollinator Award winner 2018 and the Tidy Towns Bonn Cré, Silver medal winner for the third year in a row have being erected.Work continues this Tuesday evening with weeding and pruning at village cross roads from 7pm.It will be followed by a meeting in the Community Centre on Thursday evening at 8pm with the committee looking forward to a big attendance on both occasions.In Windgap works continued with the painting of the old church entrance as the fairy houses and elaborate nest boxes and surprises on the amenity walk attract additional visitors. Ducks on, and fish in the lake add to the attractions as the playground is a hive of activity in the great weather. Work continues on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings and all are welcome. For many the visit is followed by a welcome break in the new volunteer run Community Shop and the Lakeside Tea Room. Tidy Towns work continues on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings and all are welcome.

NEW CAR: Comhgairdeachas to Siobhan Power and Shay Power as Bearna na Gaoithe who were both winners in the 3^rd. Hurlers Co-Op Draw that took place in Piltown. Siobhan took the first prize of a car and Shay won the 29^th prize of €100. The 4^th Draw takes place on 25^th July.

ALL IRELAND SEMI FINAL: Club players and county minors Jack Doyle, Billy Drennan and Padraig Foley were all members of the County U17 Hurling team that played Galway in Croke park and will return with the Seniors to the venue on Saturday week for the All Ireland Hurling semi-final double bill against Limerick.

CLUB NEWS: Tickets are available through the club for the All Ireland Hurling Semi Final by contacting secretary Noel Power by Thursday evening. In the Iverk Junior C League,Windgap recorded their first victory in the game with Carrigeen played in Windgap on Wednesday evening. On Saturday evening the Junior side went down to the Blacks and Whites in the Martin Treacy Cup in Skoughvasteen

FIXTURES SURVEY: All interested are invited to take part in the National Fixtures Survey by visiting the GAA website gaa.ie and completing the Fixtures Survey Calendar.

CEMETRY MASSES: The annual cemetery masses take place in Killamery on Wednesday 31st July, Tullahought Thursday 1st August and Windgap Friday, 2nd August. All take place at 7.30pm.

TENNIS CAMP: A Park tennis Camp in Windgap tennis court will run between the 22^nd and 26th of July for under tens from 10.30am to midday and for over ten's from midday to 2pm. The camp costs €25 and booking and further details please contact the Park Tennis coach David More on 085 2349644

AUGUST FESTIVAL: The Kilmoganny August Festival is just around the corner now with an

array of activities in store for all, young and oldon Sunday 4th Aug. They include a heartyfull Irish Breakfast in St. Eoghan`s Centre, Kilmoganny. A pop-up Vintage Boutique.Wine reception. AlsoMiriam Lambert`s Puppet show, Afternoon Tea, music and song on the street with .Stalls. BuskersIn the Evening events include Novelty Ladies and Mens Football and Hurling following by a Prosecco Reception. Live Music , Barbeque and Comedy time then with Kilmoganny Entertainers and late music

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers 3, 4, 14, 22 and bonus number 10 were drawn on Tuesday evening broughtno local winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €5,500. Tickets are available from any club member

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 15th. JULY 2019

PAINTING AND SHARING: In recent daysteams of TullahoughtTidy Towns volunteers have being involved in painting the many paned windows in the Community Centre. The centre provides a public toilet for passing visitors and a book exchange facility is also available. Elsewhere surplus garden stockincluding Tomato plants, cucumber plantsand complimentary Bug Boxes were available free of charge at the “Surplus Stand” at the wildlife area.TheTidy Towns work in the village continues on Tuesday evenings at seven o’clock

GREAT BUZZ: A constant stream of visitors and media are visiting the new volunteer run Community Shop and the Lakeside Tea Roomin Windgap forbreakfasts and tea. Around the village twenty flower boxes created by Niall Walsh from old pallets have added both colour and a new aspect to recycling. Elsewhere work continues on weeding the flower beds and managing the hedge and grass areas in the Calvary GrottoWalk and on the local roadsides. Tidy Towns work continues on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings and all are welcome.

BREAKING NEWS: Following the closure of Delaney’s,Pub in the Slatequarries Guinans in Windgap is changing hands and it is rumoured there will also be changes to the licensed premises in the surrounding villages of Faugheen and Kilmoganny. More anon in the coming weeks

ONE WALL HANDBALL: The annual One Wall County Championships took place in Windgap on Sunday morning with Frank Minogue of Kells defeating Donal O’Farrell in the Junior Final and John Morrissey of O’Loughlins deposing the holder Eamon Purcell of Windgap in the Masters Event. On a busy afternoon of sports there was no ladies event owing to Camogie games. On the day Jimmy Purcell, Simon and Shane Walsh were the other participants from the local club who provided refreshments for all involved.Present for the finals hosted by the local club were the Handball County secretary Liam Mahon and senior star Ciarán Neary.

CLUB NEWS: In the Junior C League, the local side had two games in the past week going down at home to both the Emeralds and Bennettsbridge. A feature of the Bennettsbridge game on Sunday morning was the attendance of so many current and former inter county players as supporters from both sides in a line-up that included Jim Treacy, Paddy Moran, Kieran Purcell, Pat Walsh, Tommy Lennon, Jason Cleere, Robert Lennon, Liam Blanchfield and at number of underage inter county stars who assisted by acting as umpires for the match referee Willie Kearney.

CAMOGIE NEWS: The senior Camogie team had a comprehensive win over Mullinavat in Windgap on Monday evening when county star Denise Gaule stood out from the start and was influential for the home side. Sontae Jackson did very well in her first senior championship game scoring a second half goal with Michaela Kenneally at half forwardas Windgap ran out winners on a 5-16 to 2-7scoreline. This win was followed by a defeat by Piltown in the All County League in Piltown on Wednesday evening. In the competition which teams play without senior and intermediate county players, the final score was Piltown 4-15 Windgap 1-07.

The Windgap under fourteen team were in action in the league championship on Friday evening against Thomastown where they won on a 5-6 to 2-3scoreline.

BLACK AND AMBER: Well done to all the Windgap girls who represented Kilkennyover the past week. On Saturday Windgap were well represented in the Dublin under fourteen blitz as Ali Kennedy, Orlaith O'Shea, Megan Kenneally and Denise Foley all lined out in the black and amber. The senior county side played Offaly in Nowlan Park on Saturday. Catherine Foley lined out a full back. Denise Gaule played at corner forward scored seven points in total. Michaela Kenneally came on for Katie Power of Piltown and scored a point as Kilkenny proved the stronger team on the day winning on a scoreline of 2-17 to 2-7. Elsewhere Margaret Purcell and Gillian Costello were part of the Kilkenny panel who played Westmeath at the weekend where they won by 1-11 2-15. Cliodhana O'Shea, Sontae Jackson and the Kilkenny under 16 team played Tipperary in Urlingford on Sunday. Cliodhana lined out at corner back while Sontae played in the middle of the field when the home side came out on top after a tough game by 1-14 toTipperary’s 1-11

CLUICHE CEANNAIS LAIGHEAN: It was an earlystart for supporters to see Jack Doyle, Billy Drennan and Paraic Foley play in Sunday weeksLeinster Hurling Finals in Croke Park on. The trip however brought no joy to the Kilkenny Minor and senior teams against Wexford and best wishes was extended to all of them in the qualifier series that commenced on Saturday for the minors with a win against Clare. The qualifiers continue with the minors facing Glaway and the Seniors playing Cork this weekend.

HURLERS DRAW: Comhghairdeas le George Moore as Bearna na Gaoithe who won the 8th prize of €1,000 in the 2nd. Hurlers Co-Op Draw. The 3rd of the five Draws takes place on this Tuesday July 9th.

CEMETRY MASSES: Work continues getting the cemeteries prepared for the annual masses in Killamery on Wednesday 31st July, Tullahought Thursday 1st August and Windgap Friday, 2nd August. All take place at 7.30pm.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers were drawn on Tuesday evening broughtno winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €4,850. Tickets are available from any club member

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 1^st. JULY 2019

DELANEYS CLOSES: It was the end of an era on Thursday evening last when Delaney’s closed its doors for the last time. The news brought ripples of sadness, nostalgiaand regret as another outpost of rural ireland,this time on ourown doorstep was gone. Located in a wooded valley on the Carrick on Suir to Kilmoganny, now the road to the motorway and also the junction to Callan and Kilkenny,Delaney’swas known across the world for its uniqueness, friendliness, music and song,thatno sat navs, co-ordinates or post codeswere required to find it.

FRONTIER POST: Standingwithin one hundred yards of the Lingaun River that divides Kilkenny and Tipperary,Leinster and Munster it was also tucked in between the junctions of an offset crossroads. Across the road, onebranch led to the former industrial heart of the area in the Slatequarries and now the Heritage site of the Coshel in Knockroe. Whilst the one on the same side crossed a tributary to the Lingaun and led uphill by the waterfall to Kilmacoliver and Tullahought. Within the same distance it was flanked by the mill that commenced life working with flax and later became a corn mill and the local RICBarracks whose gable wall served most of the last century as a centre of Handball. Delaney’s demise within seventy two hours of both Kilkenny and Tipperary hurling teams going down in their respective provincial finals was not lost, as the location and customer balance added great life and humour toits manyconversations.

SPIRTITS AND PROVISIONS: Catering for the daily living and social life of the locality, it provided at its peak, every household item from a pin to a pot to a pint. Inside the double entrance door, the counter that swung around three wallsserved as a hardware store on the left, the bar in the middle with the grocery side leading to the door to the Tap and Music Rooms. All around the walls and counters were shelves that miraculously contained whatever you wanted, whilst the larger items hung from the wooden ceiling. In its time it served, alltypesof fuelhad a Texaco petrol pump, athree penny wafer ice cream and even aSanta Claus store.

CIVIC CENTRE: Part of an area rich in culture history and heritage Delaney’s had extra dimensions as it once bottled its own stout and had its own dance, the “Slatequarries Set”. Then there was the Dog Races for terriers, sheepdogs and all breeds that thrived for a generationon Sunday evenings. Other attractions in different times included the SlatequarriesFestival, Duck Races on the River, meetings of the Kilmoganny Harriers and Pitch and Toss under the Sycamore tree. Every fine evening there was handball andfloodand fly fishing in season.With the Slatequarry footballers having won the Leinster Senior Football final in 1900,inter county hurling games held sway with players from all the townslands around Ahenny and Baunreigh competingon Sundays in the field by the Barracksthat was often the site for the travelling shows and Cinemas. To the present dayit was a stopping point for vintage days and for passing teams on the way home from a game.

FAILTE IRELAND: As amusic venue,it attracted every nationality to hear the traditional music and songs, where every visitor could sit in and play and contribute a song in any language. On Thursday evening there were visitors from near and far, fromItaly, America andCanada and Pat McCarthy was home from Australia after almost fifty yearsandthey all not knowing it was the finalevent.As topical stories were discussed and storiesexchanged in the bar and outside under the star studded sky, the old songs that went on to become famous and had beensung at the end of the piano by Christy O’Connor were recalled. On the evening the session that involved a huge array of instruments and styles lasted for hours as they were all aired andeveryone who was ever there and sung a song or played a tune contributed for the last time.

JOHN DELANEY; As the final session was wrapping up,the Fear an Tí up John Ryan recalled the ever present George Daniels who played the fiddle for generationsat the twice weekly session. Also Ciara who assisted with the running of the show in recent times and the proprietor John Delaney for whom Seamus Brady had written and dedicated a special verse of the “The Parting Glass”.A benefactor to all local events, John came from generations of an outstanding musical family and played the organ for most of his life for the choir in Tullahoughtand often in Windgap churches. A special treat for anyone, who quietly entered through the shop door was to be taken away from the frenzy of modern day living by hearing John twinkling the piano as he played the Marino Waltz or one of his many othergreat specialities or reminiscences. As a verse of Home boys Home failed to dislodge the visitorsat closing time, the lights flicked out in their customary fashion and all present thought it was dream andthat John Delaney was back in business.However, it was not to be, as they all joined in their own quiet way to wish John continued health and happiness and thank the Delaney Family for the service they provided and to all who added to the unique culture and atmosphere of Delaney’sfrom well before our fathers times.

CLUICHE CEANNAIS LAIGHEAN: IT was an earlystart for supporters to see Jack Doyle, Billy Drennan and Paraic Foley play in SundaysLeinster Hurling Finals in Croke Park. The trip however brought no joy to the Kilkenny Minor and senior teams against Wexford and best wishes are extended to all of them in the qualifier series that commences for the minors against Clare on Saturday next and the Seniors the following weekend.

PAINTING AND SHARING: In recent daysteams of Tidy Towns volunteers have being involved in painting the windows in the Community Centre in Tullahought. Elsewhere surplus garden stockincluding Tomato plants, cucumber plantsand complimentary Bug Boxes were available free of charge at the stand at the wildlife area whilst the book exchange facility is available at the Community Centre.Tidy Towns work in the village continues on Tuesday evenings at seven o’clock

GREAT BUZZ: A constant stream of visitors and media are travelling to the volunteer run Community Shop and for breakfasts and tea in the new Lakeside Tea Rooms in Windgap. Around the village twenty flower boxes created by Niall Walsh from old pallets have added both colour and a new aspect to recycling. Elsewhere work continues on weeding the flower beds and managing the hedge and grass areas in the Grotto and on the local roadsides. Tidy Towns work continues on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings and all are welcome.

BREAKING NEWS: Following the closure of Delaney’s it is rumoured there will be changes to the licensed premises in the surrounding villages of Faugheen, Windgap and Kilmoganny.

HURLERS DRAW: Comhghairdeas le George Moore as Bearna na Gaoithe who won the 8th prize of €1,000 in the 2nd. Hurlers Co-Op Draw. The 3rd of the five Draws takes place on Tuesday week July 9th.

CEMETRY MASSES: Work continues getting the cemeteries prepared for the annual masses in Killamery on Wednesday 31st July, Tullahought Thursday 1st August and Windgap Friday, 2nd August. All take place at 7.30pm.

LOTTO MONEY: The numbers were drawn on Tuesday evening broughtno winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €4,850. Tickets are available from any club member

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 24^th JUNE 2019

CLUICHE CEANNAIS LAIGHEAN: Sundays Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Final in Croke Park will see three members of the Galmoy Windgap under seventeen team in contention for places on the starting fifteen. In their last game against Kildare Jack Doyle and Billy Drennan were scoring forwards whilst Paraic Foleymissed out owing to a hand injury. Best wishes are extended to all of them and the Senior and Minor panels and management teams in their quest for their respective Provincial hurling trophies.

INVITATION TOURNAMENT: Following a series of round robin games played at home and away venues in the under sixteen hurling tournament, Blacks and Whites defeated Ballyhale Shamrocks in the Shield Final whilst Windgap overcame Dunnamaggin in the Cup Final. Both games were played in Windgap on Sunday,on a perfect pitch, in front of a fine crowdin light midsummer rain.

In the first game Blacks and Whites led from the start with a Ballyhale Shamrocks rally narrowing the lead by half time. On the resumption the Shoughvasteen side recovered to run out as worthy winners of the inaugural Shield competition.

Playing against the wind in the second game, Windgap who welcomed back Shane Houlihan and Blade O’Gormanafter a break from hurling shaded the well contested first half. On the resumption a quick exchange of goals that saw Dunnamaggin add two to Windgaps one narrowed the lead. As the game progressed the understrength visitors slipped further behind as Sean Purcell helped stem the tide and Zak Kennedy made surging attacksthat resulted in Windgap scores, before a great Dunnamaggin rally had it back to a single score. As time ran out Windgap tacked on late points to ensure a fine victory. After the game Cathaoirleach an Chlub PJ Egan presented the winning O’Brien trophy to the joint captains Mark McCoy and Eoin O’Brien before alladjourned to the local hall for tea and refreshments. In the well organised thirteen aside competitions that provided additional mid-season games it gave every player valued match time. On the day the finals had kitted out linesmen and umpires and were refereed by Julian O’Dwyer and Martín Ó Caoilte.

MIDSUMMERS DAY: The weekend of the longest day stretched from fine weather on Friday and Saturday as farmers rushedto get their hay and silage off the ground as a deep low pressure was promised. With not as heavydownpours as forecastin the area,the soft rain clung to everythingit fell on, from bending down the ripening meadows whilst freshening up and turning the newly cut ones to a verdant green. Falling lightly, without a breeze, the rain created a stillness that was only interrupted by the sound of drops falling through the layers of foliage and then a light plop, as they hit the water and rippled out to the edges of the local lake. With most small birds and animals taking shelter, snails carried their houses to drier quarters whilst the house martins flew on oblivious to the changes. In the hedgerows tiny wildflowers, foxglove and wild strawberries provided colour as the elder flower and woodbine added their fragrance to the moist air of anlá bog.

SPIC AND SPAN: In recent weeks teams of volunteers have washed and cleanedall of the signposts in the Tullahoughtarea and painted the doors,railings and gates around the church grounds.Elsewhere the bi-weekly walking group has taken on the watering of the hanging baskets and local residents have replanted the flower bed at the blind bend on the KnockeenRoad. In addition they have the wide margined long pavement from the village to Skoughmanicured like a golf green complete with wildlife margins. Tidy Towns work in the village continues on Tuesday evenings at seven o’clock

FADÓ, FADÓ: With voluntary work of painting, and managing hedge and grass areas continuing in Windgap on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings the Tidy Towns committees next step in Windgap is to recreate the cattle pen near the cross on the main road where local farmers drove cattle for collection in bygone days. It occurred at a time between the Callan Fair and Mart when the animals were purchased direct from the farmers by O’Shea's and collected by Jimmy Kelly for transportation ar an Máirt de gach seachtain.

GRADUATION MASS: The national School Graduation Mass takes place on this Wednesday 26^th at 1.30pm in St. Nicholas Parish Church

CEMETRY MASSES: Work has commenced getting the cemeteries prepared for the annual masses in Killamery on Wednesday 31st July, Tullahought Thursday 1st August and Windgap Friday, 2nd August. All take place at 7.30pm.

LOTTO MONEY: Numbers 5, 11, 22, 23 and Bonus 13 were drawn and brought a match three cheque to Sean Barron and Michael O’Shea. The prize fund for the next draw is €5,300. Tickets are available from any club member

PARTTIME, EVENING COURSES: Tipperary Education and Training Board's, Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) is offering the following part time accredited courses in Carrick-on-Suir to start in September: Free part-time day & evening courses in the Further Education & Training Centre, Greenside, Carrick-on-Suir for Social Welfare Recipients, Medical Card holders & Community Employment (CE) Scheme participants. The courses include, Childcare Level 5, English as a Second Language, Healthcare Level 5, Information & Communications Technology Level 4, Private Security Services Level 5, Short Order Cooking Level 4, Woodwork Level 4, Word Processing & Internet Skills Level 3, Word Processing Level 5. For further information available Phone Brigid-Ann on 052-6176755 Extn. 23 or Email bwhelan@tipperaryetb.ie or go to www.fetchcourses.ie and click on "Course Finder", Location: "South Tipperary", Sub Location: Carrick on Suir. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Friday 2nd August 2019.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES 17^th JUNE 2019

FIONN MAC COOL: Local folklore that Fionn Mac Cumhail fingerprints were left on a stone that he threw from the top of Carraig na gCapall overlooking Windgap village have been retraced by the Tidy Towns Committee after the stone that had been missing for many years was located in rough ground at the foot of the Hill. Connected to the area Fionn and his warriors hunted deer from Mitchelstown in Cork across the country through Sliabh Díle and on to New Ross and chose his wife Gráine in a race up the mountain that gave nearby Sliabh na mBan its name. A member of the Fianna, Fionn is linked to the story of The Salmon of Knowledge and the creation of Lough Neagh from another Rock he threw that became the Isle of Man and the formation of the Giants Causeway as stepping stones to keep his feet dry as he chased a giant over to Scotland. The relocated stone complete with the fingerprints has been erected as part of the new stone wall feature at the crossroads in Windgap where it sits atop the wall and will be surrounded by a wildflower garden. Volunteers are again invited to meet at the Lake in Windgap each Monday evening 7-8pm and each Saturday morning 10-12noon.

SEACHTAIN IONTACH: After a huge sporting week at intercounty and club level congratulations are extended to the County Senior, and Minor Hurlers, the County Senior and Intermediate Camogie Players, Windgap’s Féile Handballer’s who won the Boys Roinn B National title and the individual Skills competition and also the Girls B Handball Plate. At local level wins in the Junior All County Hurling League against Conahy Shamrocks and the Schools U11 Hurling Champs were added to the list

FÉILE HANDBALL: At the John West 40x20 National Féile Handball championship that took place in Co. Cork the local club sides had a great weekend when both teams put in a huge effort in the lead up and were rewarded with the boys team seeing off fellow Kilkenny club Clogh to be crowned Division 2 Champions with the girls defeating Waterford’s Friary-Abbeyside-Ballincourtny in the Division 2 Plate final. In another great achievement Conor Doyle also won the boys Féile Skills competition. TheBoys team was:Ronan O'Brien, James Purcell, Conor Doyle, Darragh Doyle and Cian O Rourke.Trainers Jimmy Purcell, Shane Doyle & Julie O'Brien.Girls’ team:Orlaith O'Shea, Victoria O'Brien, Denise Foley & Emer Barron. Trainers Michael O'Shea & John Barron.

INTER COUNTY CAMOGIE: Well done to our county Camogie players who got off to a great start in the championship this weekend. Denise Gaule, Catherine Foley, Michaela Kenneally and the Kilkenny seniors had a great win over Galway in the 1st round of the championships. 1-13 to 0-14.Well done to Denise Gaule who was named the Liberty insurance player of the match. Also to Margaret Purcell, Gillian Costello and the intermediate county team beat Cork on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-11.

UMBILICUS RUPESTRIS: In recent weeks all of the signposts in the Tullahoughtarea have been washed and cleaned and the doors painted around the church grounds. In addition the Tidy Towns Committee has provided bins for waste around the Graveyard. Elsewhere the flowers and plants on top of the stone walls are giving great colour as are the single plants and clumps of the ancient and well known Pennywort, Navelwort or Wall Pennywort. Once removed as an ugly weed the Umbilicus Rupestris with its shades of green and golden flowers adds great character to the oldest shaded stone walls near the Church. Painting of the church gates and railings and hall windows continues and volunteers are asked to meet at the church car park in Tullahought at 7pm on Tuesday evenings.

CAMOGIE NEWS: The under twelve Windgap side were out in their final blitz of the year in James Stephan’s at the weekend. The girls played some great Camogie in their three games against two sides from James Stephan’s and Mullinavat and look forward to the league competition in the coming weeks. Well done to all involved Laura Doyle, Alaina O'Shea, Ciara O'Shea, Ona Kennedy, Emily Freaney, Lauren Enright, Chloe Drennan, Tamara Whelan, Moya Egan, Kate O'Brien, Aisling O'Shea, Nirveah Drennan, Rachel Cullen and Kate Kelliher.The under sixteen team had home advantage for the semi-final of the Rower Inistioge tournament semi-final on Sunday against Kilmacow. The highly competitive encounter finished up on a scoreline of Windgap 5-6 Slieverue/Kilmacow 3-2.

MÍLE BUOICHAS: Many thanks to all who purchased this year’s Hurlers Co - Op Draw tickets agus comhghairdeas le Sean Power who won 6th prize of €500 and Aisling, Conor, Denise Foley who won the 16th €200 prize in the Draw that took place in Piltown on Thursday evening. The second draw takes place on Tues. June 25th

CEMETRY MASSES: Slatequarries Thursday 20^th June, Killamery Wednesday 31st July, Tullahought Thursday 1st August and Windgap Friday, 2nd August at 7.30pm.

LOTTO MONEY: Numbers 8, 12, 16 and Bonus 23 were drawn and saw the Jackpot of €14,000 being won in Johnstown and Richard Barry getting a match three cheque. The prize fund for the next draw is €4,950. Tickets are available from any club member

PARTTIME, EVENING COURSES: Tipperary Education and Training Board's, Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) is offering the following part time accredited courses in Carrick-on-Suir to start in September: Free part-time day & evening courses in the Further Education & Training Centre, Greenside, Carrick-on-Suir for Social Welfare Recipients, Medical Card holders & Community Employment (CE) Scheme participants. The courses include, Childcare Level 5, English as a Second Language, Healthcare Level 5, Information & Communications Technology Level 4, Private Security Services Level 5, Short Order Cooking Level 4, Woodwork Level 4, Word Processing & Internet Skills Level 3, Word Processing Level 5. For further information available Phone Brigid-Ann on 052-6176755 Extn. 23 or Email bwhelan@tipperaryetb.ie or go to www.fetchcourses.ie and click on "Course Finder", Location: "South Tipperary", Sub Location: Carrick on Suir. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Friday 2nd August 2019.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES June 16th2019

SCHOOLS WIN COUNTY FINAL: Congrats to the under eleven schools team who won the Roinn C Allianz Cumann na mBunscoil Top Oil County Final when they defeated Johnstown in Palmerstown on Monday evening. Played in front of a huge crowd as part of a double bill with the Roinn C under thirteenCoon Muckalee versesCarrickshock final replay with full colour match programs. In the game Windgap National School dominated the first half with Johnstown National School having the best of the play in the second one. In a game that displayed great skills from all involved points from Windgap’s Conor Power, Ona Kennedy and Jules Seagrave goals caught the eye whilst Macy Downey’s point for Johnstown got one of the loudest cheers of the evening. Following the game on a showery evening where every player got to play,the Dicksboro venue even had an aeroplane flyby from the local airfield before the winner’s trophy was presented by Bill Cassin of Cumann na mBunscoileanna. The sides in the final that was refereed by Paschal Connolly were Windgap: Mikey Saunders, Aidan Doyle, Jack Egan, Darragh Houlihan, Darragh Enright, Aidan O’Shea, Conor Power, Tadhg Kennedy, Ona Kennedy, Jules Seagrave, Joe Moloney, Alyn Hearne, Killian Weldon, Hugo Seagrave, Kate O’Brien, Ruairi Quigley, Shane Doyle, Shane Norris, Cathal Barron, Moya Egan. Johnstown: Aaron Phelan, Chloe Phelan, William Colclough, Sinead Henderson, Luke Walsh, Aoife O’Grady, Jack Renehan, Beibhinn Tobin, Niadha Garrett, Sean Tierney and Adam Hogan, Cathal Brennan, Tiernan O’Connor, Will Walsh, Macy Downey, Mark Boland, Chloe Haverty Whelan, Ellen McEvoy.

TG4 FINDS HIDDEN GEM: TG4 visited Windgapvillage that was a hive of activity on Saturdaymorning to film at the new Lakeside Shop and Tearooms. Shown on Sunday evening it included colourful and scenic drone footage of the juvenile activities in the Hurling Field, the amenity area, walkway and the new hall. On terra ferma Marie Comerford outlined as Gaeilge, the history of the village and the loss of Purcell’s Pub, Doran’s, Walsh’s and Ryan’s shops and the Post Office in the previous generation. Also of the advent of the New Hall Lakeside Shop and Tearoomsthat was instigated by Fr. Nicholas Flavin as the third major project of the Windgap Community Development Committee. As filming continued in the tearooms work continued at the cross roads as the stone wall building project was taking great shape through the work of Seamus Davis, Joe O’Shea and Nicky Hawe of the Tidy Towns Committee whilst another crewled by Noreen Hayes and Jack O’Shea were cleaning the pathways of the amenity walk and playground.

HURLERS DRAW: The Hurlers Draw will take place in Piltown on this Thursday evening where every entry has an opportunity to win prizes of cars, cash and holidays. The co-operative nature of the draw will see the club benefit from over fifty per-cent of the fifty euro cost for the club development funds are on sale from any committee member.

TULLAHOUGHT TIDY TOWNS: Tuesday last saw the sweeping of the entire village with the hanging baskets being erected on Saturday. More Planting, Painting of the church gates and railings and hall windows and Sweeping are the planned and as usual all are welcome. Volunteers are asked to meet at the church car park in Tullahought at 7pm on Tuesday evenings.

WINDGAP TIDY TOWNS: A major push during the week brought a great response from the community as the Church Gates were painted, street got a tidy up and many gutters were cleaned. Stonewall building continued as did work on the playground and amenity area and flowerbeds throughout the village. Volunteers are again invited to meet at the Lake in Windgapeach Monday evening 7-8pm and each Saturday morning 10-12noon.

FAIRY GLEN: Continually changing the amenity area walkway at the Lake in Windgap has been enhanced by beautifulminiature fairy houses created by local artist Tess Cross

CAMOGIE NEWS: Windgap hosted an under twelve blitz, where they had great games against Kilmacow and Glenmore. Well done to all involved Chloe Drennan, Laura Doyle, Ona Kennedy, Emily Freaney, Kate Kelliher, Naveah Drennan, Tamara Whelan, Aisling O'Shea, Rachel Cullen, Kate O'Brien, Moya Egan. Also to our two injured girls Ciara O’Shea and Lauren Enrightwho helped on the side line. The under sixteen team are progressing well in the Rower Inistioge league tournament after they played the Rower Inistioge in Windgap on Saturday. A win in the game saw them go through to the semi-final of that tournament that takes place on Sunday next June 16th. Further details on this semi-finalwhen confirmedwill be on the WCC Facebook page.

INTER COUNTY CAMOGIE: Well done to the Windgap girls who were crowned Leinster champions on Sunday 2nd May. Denise Gaule, Catherine Foley and Michaela Kenneally were members of the senior panel who beat Offaly. Margaret Purcell and Gillian Costello were on the intermediate panel who overcame Carlow. We look forward to following the girls during the summer in their All Ireland campaigns.

CEMETRY MASSES: Slatequarries Thursday 20^th June, Killamery Wednesday 31st July, Tullahought Thursday 1st August and Windgap Friday, 2nd August at 7.30pm.

LOTTO MONEY: Numbers6, 11, 13, 15and Bonus 22 were drawn. The prize fund for the next draw is €14,750.Tickets are available from any club member.

ARTHRITS TALK: Hurling legend, Michael Fennelly will talk about his journey with arthritis & pain on 13th June in Lyrath Hotel Kilkenny. Your local Arthritis Ireland Kilkenny Branch is hosting an evening from 5pm-8pm with Michael, along with talks from a Physio, pharmacist &psychologist. This is a FREE event but please text/call 0871491767 to book your seat. All are welcome.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES June 9th2019

HURLERS DRAW: The Hurlers Draw ticket that provides the opportunity of prizes of cars, cash and holidays and contributes over fifty per-cent of the fifty euro cost to the club development funds are on sale from any committee member.

FÁS UPDATES: Update on. At the Extraordinary General Meeting of Án Slua Nua the Limited Company set up to oversee our FÁS workers on Wednesday 29th May it was agreed that the outgoing directors would remain in their positions until 31st of July when a new board would be appointed. This will facilitate the signing of the contract for the continuation of the FÁS CE Scheme and allow time for participating areas to nominate new board members. The present FÁS workers on the scheme the FÁS workers in on the scheme that covers Kilmoganny, Kells, Stoneyford, Ennisnag, Knocktopher, Ballyhale, Newmarket, Hugginstown Windgap, Tullahought, and Evergreen F.C. will remain in place until their individual contracts come to an end.

NOT TO BE MISSED: Sunday will see a repeat of the 2018 Leinster Hurling Final when it took two games between Kilkenny and Galway to decide the destination of the Bob O’Keeffe Cup. It is Kilkenny’s biggest game at home for the year. Tickets are available through Centra and Supervalu stores and Group passes are also available for juvenile teams. The 2pm game is preceded by the Mullinavat verses St Martin’s Leinster League final at 11.45am.

TIDY TOWNS TUESDAYS: Volunteers are asked to meet at the church car park in Tullahought at 7pm on Tuesday evenings. Planting, Painting and Sweeping are the planned activities, as usual all are welcome. The countdown is on with judging in the Tidy Towns competition expected to begin next Saturday.

WINDGAP TIDY TOWNS: Volunteers are asked to meet at the Lake in Windgapeach Monday evening 7-8pm and each Saturday morning 10-12noon.

GALMOY WINDGAP CLASSIC: The Windgap School Hurling Team was unlucky to be edged out by 3-5 to 1-10 after extra time against Galmoy last Monday in Larchfield. The locals led this thirteen a side game by 0-3 to 0-2 after a low scoring first half. On the resumption they seemed set to win when they led 0-7 to 0-2 midway through the second half after a number of fine scores by Cian O'Rourke. However, Galmoy got two goals, one almost on the call of full time to force extra time 2-2 to 0-8. The game swung both ways in extra time and despite a fine goal by Ona Kennedy, the side lost out by the narrowest of margins to a late Galmoy free. The team was Darragh Enright, Sam Maloney, Alex Culleton, Darragh Doyle, Jack Egan, Aidan O'Shea, Cian O'Rourke, Eleanor Hayes, Padraig Egan, Mikey Saunders, Darragh Houlihan, Ciara O'Shea, Aisling O'Shea, Ona Kennedy, Alyn Hearne, Cillian Weldon, Laura Doyle, and Frankie Dullard. Thanks in particular to team manager Simon Brophy and Tony Doyle for their great work with this team.

COMMUNITY GAMES: The WTC Community Games area (Windgap, Tullahought & Coolagh) will hold its annual athletics event on Sunday evening June 10th from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm in Windgap GAA grounds. All are welcome to this fun event with a mixture of races at different ages (from under 6 up to parent’s races) and long puck events.

COMBINED PARISHES: Danesfort has joined the new Pastoral area in the Diocese that was originally made up of Windgap, Dunnamaggin and Callan. The new area will stretch from the environsof Kilkenny City to Birchwood and will cross a number of Local Election areas and Garda Divisions. It will be flanked by the county boundary with Tipperary on one side and the M9 motorway on the other. The longest route through the new grouping will be on theR697 from Kilkenny via Bamford Cross, Seven Houses, Garnaman, Kells, Goodwins Gardens, Loughsollis, Baurscoob, Rogerstown, Kilmoganny BarnatrasnaBaunreigh and Birchwood.

BESTWISHES: Best wishes are extended to all pupils doing second and third level exams in the coming weeks also to those who are changing education streams from Primary to Post Primary to Third Level or making the step from education into travelling or employment. A very well attended Mass for all was celebrated by an Sagart Paróiste Fearghus Ó Fearghaill Sunday in St. Nicholas Churchin Tullahought at 10am

SCHOOLS CAMOGIE: On Tuesday last, the Windgap school girls and Johnstown, Galmoy, Crosspatrick met in the shield Camogie final in Tullaroan and had an excellent victory. Windgap fought hard in the first half which ended 1 goal to 1-3 but came out the much stronger team in the second half and won with a very comfortable score in the end. This team has a huge work rate and worked extremely hard all year so this win was well deserved. The panel was Ciara O'Shea, Jenny Saunders, Ava O'Brien, Alannah Holden, Niamh Enright, Eleanor Hayes, Aisling O'Shea, Alannah O'Shea, Laura Doyle, Ona Kennedy, Kate O'Brien, Moya Egan, Kate Kelleher, Emily Freaney, Abbie O'Neill, Elena Saunders, Ellie Brazil, Jessie White, Anna Miller, Ellie Power, Abby Vaughan, and Shonna King. Well done to all and to team manager Deirdre O'Shea with support from Val Doyle.

CAMOGIE NEWS: The under 14 team played a league match against Mooncoin on Wednesday 29th in Windgap. Unfortunately the girls were beaten on this occasion. The side are out again in a league match against Carrickshock tonight Wednesday evening in Hugginstown at 7.30pm. Our under 12 girls were back in action blitz on Saturday in the Rower. Well done to all on a great effort. The girls played Tullogher Rosbercon in the Rower Inistioge League Tournament when Windgap came out on top after a great game.

LOTTO MONEY: Numbers2, 6, 20, 27and Bonus 1 were drawn. The prize fund for the next draw is €14,400.Tickets are available from any club member.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES MAY 26^th 2019

GREAT DISPLAY: A great display saw Windgap leading by 0-4 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter against the red hot Championship favourites Mooncoin in the third round of the Junior Hurling League game played in Mooncoin on Tuesday evening. Approaching the break the sides were tied at 0-7 as the clock passed the twenty ninth minute of the firsthalf. Between there and referee John Walsh’s half time whistlethe home side added a softish goal and two points to lead 1-9 to 0-7. On the restart Windgap through three Niall Walsh points and a Peter Hennessey one had the deficit back to two points 0-12 to 1-11 approaching the end of the third quarter of the game played before a fine crowd. The turningpoint came as Mooncoin’s lively right corner forward Patrick Walsh got home for his sides second goal and an added point that saw them go 2-12 to 0-12 ahead. Showing great spirit the visiting side, short the Culleton brothers replied through Sean Foley, Conor Lonergan and Niall Walsh scores before another Patrick Walsh goal gave his side a very flattering to 3-17 to 0-15 win. The result will see Windgap play Piltown or Conahy Shamrocks in the first round of the championship in September. On the evening Darragh O’Shea, Niall Walsh, William Phelan, Peter Hennessey, David DoyleConor Lonergan, and Conor Foleyled their side. See the Sports Pages for the full match report.

FUTURE OF FÁS SCHEME: Volunteers from across the region are urgently required to serve on the Board of Án Slua Nua the Limited Company set up to oversee the FÁS workers in Kilmoganny, Kells, Stoneyford, Ennisnag, Knocktopher, Ballyhale, Newmarket, Hugginstown Windgap, Tullahought, and Evergreen F.C. Currently there are several vacancies on the Board which need to be filled at an Extraordinary General Meeting in Stoneyford Hall at 8pm thisWednesday 29th May.If the vacancies on the board cannot be filled a contract for the continuation of the FÁS CE Scheme cannot be signed and Án Slua Nua group running the scheme will have to be wound up.Therefore anyone in a position to serve should attend the meeting on Wednesday evening where a decision on the future course of action will have to be taken.

SOLAS TABLE QUIZ: A Table quiz in aid of the Solas Cancer Support Centre that looks after people and their families affected by Cancer in the South East takes place in Powers of Tullahought on this Thursday evening 30^th of May at 8pm. Tables of four cost €20 or €5 per person

ELECTION NEWS: Congrats are extended to local politicians Matt Doran and Joe Lyons who took two of the County Council seats in the Callan Thomastown electoral area.

CAMOGIE NEWS: The under 14 Camogie team are playing a league match v Mooncoin today, Wednesday 29th at 7pm in Windgap. The under 12 team represented the club at the Camán Leinster Go Games Blitz at the GAA National Sports Centre in Abbotstown on Sunday. The girls won all their matches. They were up against St. Finians from Swords, Dublin in their first game. They then played Moorefield from Co. Kildare and St. Marys from Rosslare, Co. Wexford were their opponents in the final game. The girls showed determination, courage, great skill and hard work in all of their games. The Windgap girls had great support from the side line all day, Thanks to all the parents that travelled and encouraged the girls on Sunday. On the way home the team stopped off for a well-deserved meal at Supermacs. The Windgap panel was Jennifer Saunders, Emily Freaney, Laura Doyle, Moya Egan, Ona Kennedy, Ciara O'Shea, Aisling O'Shea, Alaina O'Shea, Chloe Drennan, Tamara Whelan, Kate O Brien, Kate Kelliher, Rachel Cullen and Jessie White.

SCHOOLS FINAL: The girl’s school Camogie final is on Tuesday against Johnstown in Tullaroan at 3pm. The under 12 team will then be out again in a blitz on Saturday in the Rower. Good luck to all involved.

TIDY TOWNSACTIVITIES:In Windgap volunteers continue to meet each Monday evening 7-8pm and each Saturday morning 10-12noon at the car park by the lake, and In Tullahought on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. with judging of the Super Valu National Competition beginning in June 8th.

TRIP TO KNOCK: The annual outing to Knock takes place on this Thursday 30^that 7.45am and returns for 10pm. For further details call Nellie on 056 7725309 orGretta on 056 7728197

HURLERS DRAW: the Hurlers Draw ticket that provides the opportunity of prizes of cars, cash and holidays and contributes over fifty per-cent of the fifty euro cost to the club development funds are on sale from any committee member. The tickets to support the provision and maintenance of facilities and activities in Windgap are also available on line on kilkennygaa.ie

MAY DAYS: Weeks of good weather have amplified the country scenes full of the green hues of new growth and the contrasting whitethorn, crab apple, chestnut cherry blossoms and colourful hedgerow flowers against a landscape that alwaysappears sharper and clearer in the month of May

CLUB NEWS: Windgap’snext game againstis against championship favourites Mooncoin place in Mooncoin’sonTuesdayevening at 7.30pm. All support greatly appreciated.

LOTTO MONEY: Numbers1, 13, 14, 17, and Bonus 9 were drawn. The prize fund for the next draw is €14,050.Tickets are available from any club member.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES MAY 19^th 2019

BRAOADBAND STORY 3.17 AM: An early start to Tuesday morning at 3.17am or a late finish to Monday night hoping to get a run of broadband service when everyone is offline brings more hope than confidence. A scarcity of green lights on the connection box has flagged that it may not be available and the following sequence commences. Switch it off and then Switch it on and hope it might restart the broadband supply!, However after numerous attempts it’s not to be and the next step is to View the Broadband connection settings and find the usual message “Checking Network Requirements” followed by “Connecting to the Network is taking longer than usual” before the message is upgraded to “the connection is limited” which is a posh and politically correct and less frustrating way of saying it still means No Broadband. Almost a decade ago, it often meant that the copper cables had been cut down and being stolen for scrap. Thankfully it is a practice that no longer takes place and cannot be blamed as service levels have continued to fall. In the meantime the requirement for broadband has extended to every aspect of life in rural areas just as much as in cities. At 4am the red internet light flickers on and off and there is a glimmer of hope of a data connection! Ah well, a glance at the breaking news in the papers, or the sending of an email would have been a start, but once again it is not to be. However it could be worse and we will try again later!At 4.30am communications commence outside the window as the dawn chorus slowly kicks into gear and is in full flow an hour later. Sometime after 6am for an area that is not on the top of a mountain or the next parish to America and being approximately ten minutes from Carrick-on Suir, Callanand the Dublin/Waterford motorway and just five from the Telephone exchange Normal Service has returned! For now, one must follow the old adage and make hay whilst the sun shines. For the privilege of a proper broadband service hope springs eternal and tomorrow is another day as the service is gonefor the past half hour since 9.50am

ELECTION TIME: The most important action for all citizen’s on Friday next week 24thof May is to exercise their democratic right and to cast their votes. Locally polling will take place in the Polling Stations in Windgap National School and Tullahought Community Centrein the Ireland South European Elections and will see both areas participate in the same Callan Thomastown Local Government area for the first time in many years. The past week has seen very little change on the ground as canvassing has been non-existent for the European elections and Referendum and has been very light for the Local Elections

COMMUNION POPULATION: The First Communion Ceremony in the Parish as reported in the Sunday Mass bulletinby An tSagairt Paróiste FearghusÓ Fearghail saw a drop of well over fifty per-cent in the recipient’s based on the figures forthe same celebration a hundred years ago. On Saturdaythe figure was elevencommunicant’s came from a much wider area than the twenty three children that were included when the old schools in Windgap and Kilmacoliver were the centres of education a century ago. It also reflected a reduction of fifty per-cent in the schools involved following the closing of Kilmacoliver National School nearly fifty years ago. On a beautiful morning the children in a packed St. Nicholas Church in Tullahought were Cathal, Lucy, Aidan, Jane, Kate, Valerie, Lorna, Emma, Conor, Rory, Juleswho

TEA ROOMS: Voting day on Friday 24^th will see the temporary opening of the “Lakeside Shop and Tea Rooms in Windgap. More details of the time and day of the Full opening on the June Bank Holiday will follow in next week’s edition

FUTURE OF BROADBAND: Whilst waiting for the return of broadband service overnight one recalls the regular phone calls offering high speed deals of hundreds of megabits that can download films instantly. Also the commitments made by so many public figures for so long that everyone will have an excellent service tomorrow or in the near future. On the return of the service the Speed Test reads “Your Internet speed is very slow”, “Your Internet download speed is very slow”. “Web browsing should work, but videos could load slowly”. On well less that 500 Kilobits or half a megabit of speed the receipt and sending of emails are a luxury for most.

SCHOOL CONCERT: A Gala Concert is being organised to raise funds for the purchase of a demountable stage for the Community Centre. It will take place on Thursday 23rd of May in the Centre at 8.00 pm. The show Hits from Broadway to Hollywood will feature the Lady Desart Choir, the Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society and Thomas O’Callaghan (Tenor). Tickets €15 can be got from Windgap National School on 051 648321, Fr Fearghus Farrell and on the night.

TIDY TOWNS DOUBLE:In Windgap volunteers are invited to meet each Monday evening 7-8pm and each Saturday morning 10-12noon at the car park by the lake, to join them in the great outdoors to help with some painting, trimming weeding planting.Currently they are working on the painting of the entrance to the playground hurling pitch and school and all ideas and suggestions are welcome. In Tullahought work continues on the provision of new flower boxes and seating around the Church. Work continues on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. with judging of the Super Valu National Competition beginning in early June.

UNSOCIABLE BEHAVIOUR: CCC TV is being examined after a greenhouse was reported entered and plants stolen

RUBBISH DISAPPEARS: The bags of household rubbish dumped on the side of the roads in Barnatrasna and near Kilmoganny and Windgap have been almost subsumed by the growth of new grass and will not be seen again until the hedge cutting season. By then it will have dried out and will be scattered to the winds when it is disturbed. Elsewhere, The Public Waste, Out of Sight, Out of Mind waste management report has found that less than half of all litter fines issued by local authorities across the country over a five-year period have been paid.

HURLERS DRAW: the Hurlers Draw ticket that provides the opportunity of prizes of cars, cash and holidays and contributes over fifty per-cent of the fifty euro cost to the club development funds are on sale from any committee member. The tickets to support the provision and maintenance of facilities and activities in Windgap are also available on line on kilkennygaa.ie

CLUB NEWS: Windgap’s game against championship favourites Mooncoin place in Mooncoin’s on Tuesday evening at 7.30pm. All support greatly appreciated.

LOTTO MONEY: Numbers 1, 2, 10, 23, and Bonus 25 were drawn. The prize fund for the next draw is €13,700.Tickets are available from any club member.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES MAY 12^th 2019

SCHOOL CONCERT: A Gala Concert is being organised to raise funds for the purchase of a demountable stage for the Community Centre. It will take place on Thursday 23rd of May in the Centre at 8.00 pm. The show Hits from Broadway to Hollywood will feature the Lady Desart Choir, the Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society and Thomas O’Callaghan (Tenor). Tickets €15 can be got from Windgap National School on 051 648321, Fr Fearghus Farrell and on the night

BROADBAND TESTING: Communications items like, trying to email a small picture, download a file, work online or see a small action clip on twitter or Facebook that are now a normal part of daily living in most areas continue to be a testing time for local households. With the area outside the proposed provision of a broadband service over the centricitypower cables by SIRO, faith in ever having a fast reliable service via the National Broadband rollout within in the next five years is dwindling fast

CAMOGIE NEWS: The Senior Camogie team had a good win over St. Martin's in the All County League on Friday eveninglast. In a tough game the Windgap side were ahead 1-5 to 0-3 at half time. Scores came from Deirdre Purcell, Niamh Phelan, Niamh Bambrick, Phena Mackey and Emily Murphy. Windgap worked hard throughout the game and were the stronger team in the second half when the final score was 2-13 to 1-5. Their next game is in the All County League on Friday when they play Tullaroan in Tullaroan at 7pm. Well done to the under eighteen team who had a great 1-18 to 1-9. win over Graiguenamanagh last Tuesday evening in the game where Rachel Doherty had a great game in goal.

HURLERS DRAW: The clubs main fundraiser takes place over the coming weeks with the sale of the Hurlers Draw tickets that offer the opportunity of prizes of cars, cash and holidays. Each sale or purchase will provide over fifty parent of the fifty euro ticket to the club development funds. Recent works that have seen the removal of the trees along the side-line in preparation for the widening of the pitch and relocation of the goalposts and the improvement of the driveway and parking areas would all benefit from a well-supported draw.

MAY FESTIVAL: Attempts to promote the area via organised events associated with the County wide May Festival on the18th and 19^th of May have fallen foul of insurance constraints. The plans to add value to the group visitor experienceto the area have been affected.

INTER COUNTY NEWS: Local players, Jack Doyle Paraic Foley and their Galmoy/Windgap teammate Billy Drennan all played their parts in the Kilkenny minor Hurling team that defeated Offaly inthe Leinster League game in Nowlan Park on Saturday. In Camogie Windgap had lots of representatives on the county stage in the past week. Ciara O'Shea represented Windgap at half time in Nolan Park on Saturday evening. She had a great game in front of a crowd of 10,000. Also a huge well done to four of our under 14 Windgap players who represented Kilkenny on Sunday in the Leinster under 14 blitz. Megan Kenneally was a member of the A team who were narrowly defeated by Dublin in the Cup final. Ali Kennedy, Denise Foley and Orlaith O' Shea were members of the B team who won the Division 2 cup final where they defeated Offaly in Portlaoise.

ELECTION TIME: Polling will take place in both the Windgap and Tullahought Polling Satiations in European Elections Ireland South and will see both areas participate in the sameCallan Thomastown Local Government area for the first time in many years. To date canvassing has been non-existentin the area for the European elections and has been very light for the LocalElections that take place on Friday week 22^nd of May.

TIDY TOWNS: Work continued in Tullahought with work on the provision of new flower beds to replace the recently removed evergreen trees at the Community Centre. Work continues on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. with judging beginning in early June.

CLUB NEWS: There was no local Primary or Post Primary School winner in the recent County Board sponsored Gaeltacht Scholarship competition. In the 3^rd Round of the Junior Hurling League, Windgap’s game against championship favourites Mooncoin has been deferred at Mooncoin’s request to Tuesdayevening in Mooncoin at 7.30pm. All support greatly appreciated.

LOTTO MONEY: Numbers2, 16, 22, 24 and Bonus 12 were drawn and brought a match three cheque to PJ Barron.. The prize fund for the next draw is €13,250Tickets are available from any club member.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES MAY 5^th 2019

MAY DAYS: The month of May opened with a bang with great weather, blue skies, the sound of the dawn chorus, smell of new growth,the sight of fresh coloursand crystal clear scenery as far as the eye could see. The early silage cutting continued in the area as May Bush’swere erected marking the festival of Bealtaine, which officially heralds the beginning of the summer. Elsewhere the bright red colours of the parish were to the fore in many diverse areas as the weekend was enhanced by the local clubs contribution to the county minor hurling and Camogieteams the promotion of the Irish Language event and participationof some of its members in the National Macra Finals

IRISH LANGAUGE PROMOTION: A great crowd turned out on Saturday evening to participate in Windgap GAA Clubsfirst Irish language activitiesevent designed for both children and adults. The event was part of the Nationwide “The Big Hello” activities. In Windgap it included “Tóraíocht Taisce Bearna na Gaoithe”a Treasure Hunt as Gaeilge through the Club grounds, the Playground, the amenity area and walk and back to the Club Rooms picture gallery. It also included novelty events, an Irish version of Twister, hurling and football target practice areas, a Cé Mhéad Liathróid Í competition that saw balls of all types and sizes hanging in a goal net from the crossbar of the goalposts. The evening that saw visitors coming and going over three hours ended with a barbecue and raffle and the presentation of participation certificates and a bag of items prompting the use of Irishfor each entrant. A feature of the event was the young team of organisers who put the cultural event together in the preceding weeks and ran it so successfully on the day.

UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENTS: Local players, Jack Doyle Paraic Foley and their Galmoy/Windgap teammate Billy Drennan all played their parts in the Kilkenny minor Hurling team that defeated Wexford by a single point in a nail biting finish to the Leinster League game in the Bellfield pitch in Enniscorthy on Saturday. On the day Jack scored 1-1 from play at full forward, Paraic was a defensive substitute and Billy added 1-8both from frees and play.The side play Offalyin their next game that takes place before the Leinster Senior game against Dublin in Nowlan Park on Saturday evening next.Congratulations also to Cliodhana O'Shea and Sontae Jackson who are under sixteen Leinster Camogie Champions. The girls were part of the Kilkenny team who beat Dublin in the Leinster Final in Wexford on Sunday. Cliodhana lined out at half back while Sontae played in mid field.

MACRA FINALS: Callan Macra were represented in two of the seven events at the National Talent Finals held in the Mullingar Arts centre on Sunday evening. The contestants included Windgap’sShane Walsh who sung the “Creggan White Hare” the story of an open coursing event from Creggan in County Tyrone that was first recorded by Paddy Kennedy in 1944. He was joined by Jimmy Lynch in the “Mastermind Event” who was piped by a single point for the title. Well done to all involved.

CAMOGIE NEWS: Thanks to all who supported the Windgap Camogie Club bake sale after Mass in Tullahoughton Sunday. The under eighteen team were victorious in their game last week when they played Mullinavat on Monday evening. The next game was due to be played Tuesday evening against Graiguenamanagh. The senior Camogie team played the first game of the league against reigning county champions Thomastown in Thomastown on Friday evening last. The scores saw Windgap 2 - 5 to 0-8 aheadat the break with scores from Michaela Kenneally, Niamh Bambrick, Suzie Dunphy, Caoimhe O'Shea and Denise Gaule. Thomastown finished stronger and came out winners on a scoreline of 2-17to2-8. Best for Windgap were Michaela Kenealley at centre forward, Margaret Purcell at full back as well as Eimear Moylan and Suzie Dunphy. The win crowned Thomastown as league winners for 2018. Windgap play St. Martin's in Windgap on Friday evening at 7pm.The under twelveCamogie team were in action on Saturday in a blitz in Ballyhale. The girls played three hard fought games against, Tullaroan, Piltown and Ballyhale. A huge well done to the girls who were victorious in all three games.

SCHOOLS BADMINTON: Primary School Badminton competition took place on Thursday 2nd May at Watershed, Kilkenny, with over a hundred players taking part. Congratulations to Scoil san Nioclás Windgap girls team who were the overall winners beating a very good St Beacon's, Mullinavat side. Well done to Scoil san Nioclás Boy’s team whowere knocked out in the semi-finals. Scoil Mhuire, Mooncoin were the overall Boys winner's. The players were: Girls team, Ciara Ó Shea, Eleanor Hayes, Aisling Ó Shea, and Niamh Enright. Alaina O'Shea, Laura Doyle, Óna Kennedy & Alannha Holden whilst, Darragh Doyle, Eoin Ó Shea, Cian O'Rourke & Pádraig Egan were on the Boys Team,

BAILTE SLACHTMHARA: Tidy Towns work continued in Tullahought with the repairs and replacement of the fence blown down by the recent storm . Work continues on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. with judging beginning in early June.

CLUB NEWS: In the Junior C Hurling League, Windgap travelled to Threecastles on Sunday to play the home side. In the game Shane Cullen, Darren Walsh, David Doyle and Josh Price played well, Walter Landy was the free taker as Kieran Purcell got the side’s only goal and Kevin Murray made notable debut. At the break Threecastles led by 3-6 to 0-3 The Windgap side Conor Foley, Vincent Purcell, Darren Walsh, Paidí Bacon, Kevin Murray, Josh Price, Gerard Purcell, David Doyle, Shane Cullen, Gary Lyons, Kieran Fennelly, Walter Landy, Brendan Power, Eoin Cody, Kieran Purcell. Subs Darragh Byrne, Adrian Landy.

LOTTO: Numbers2, 8, 16, 20 and Bonus 22 were drawn with no Jackpot winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €13,000 and brought a match three cheque to Padraig Brophy. Tickets are available from any club member.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 29th 2019

THE BIG HELLO: Windgap GAA invites all to come try their hand at Tóraíocht Taisce Bearna na Gaoithe, our Irish language treasure hunt for both children and adults! The Nationwide Community Event takes place at the Club Rooms in Windgap on Saturday next 4^th of May at 4pm and will include a barbecue and raffle. The event is to promote the Irish language in the club and being able to speak or understand it is not necessary on the day. For further details on the event or to assist contact Shane on 087 6227603.

FÁÍLTE: Tá Cumann Luthchleas Gael Bearna na Gaoithe ag cur fáilte roimh gach éinnechuigToraíocht Taisce Bearna na Gaoithe mar chuid den deireadh seachatainenáisúintapobail “The Big Hello” sa chlub ar DéSathairn an ceathrúlá de Bhealtaineag a ceithre a chlog. Chun tuilleadheolaisafháil is féidirdul I dteagmháil le Shane ag 087 6227603

CAMOGIE: The senior Camogie team are in action against Thomastown on this Friday 3rd May at 7pm. The match, which is the girl’s first league championship game of 2019 will also crown the winners of the 2018 league final which was not played last year. The Windgap under fourteen team took part in the Féile Qualifiers in a sunny Glenmore recently when they played Callan, St. Brigid’s and Glenmore. The girls did their very best but unfortunately did not progress.In this week’s fixtures the Windgap undersixteen team are due to play the Rower Inistioge in Inistioge this evening Wednesday at 6.45 pm. The under twelve’s will compete in their next blitz on Saturday May 4th May.The under 10 side had their first outing on Saturday when Windgap hosted a blitz for the visiting Clara and Bennettsbridge teams. All games were very close and our girls acquitted themselves well on a cold & wet morning in Windgap. The panel was Kate O'Brien, Kate Kelleher, Abby Vaughan, Abby O'Neill, Naveah Drennan, Ellie Power, Jessica White, Lucy Crowley, Elena Saunders, Ellie Brazil, Moya Egan, Rachel Cullen and Shonna King. Thanks to the team mentors Julie O'Brien, Ann Crowley, and Tom Egan, to referee Laura Foley and to all who helped with refreshments afterwards.

BAILTE SLACHTMHARA: Tidy Towns work continues on in Tullahought on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. Last week saw the addition of two flower beds to the front of the Community Centre and the replacement of the Church doors which were in a poor condition on Saturday. The work continued on Saturday when the replacement of the Church Door took place.The work will be followed by a meeting in the Community Centre at 8.30 to prepare for the 2019 Tidy Towns competition.The closing date for entries is on 17th May with judging beginning in early June.

GALMOY WINDGAP: Players, Billy Drennan was the main scoring forward and Padraig Foley were part of the Kilkenny minor Hurling squad that defeated Dublin by a single point in the Leinster League in Nowlan Park on Saturday. The side play Wexford in Bellfield, Enniscorthy on Saturday next.

ALL IRELANDHANDBALL: Club player Jack Doyle and his minor doubles partner Jack Holden of Kilfane went down in a marathon tie breaker by 21-17 to the Monaghan pairing of Eoghan McGinnity the reigning All Ireland singles champion and KonradKowal who became the first Polish to become All Ireland Handball Medal winner in the All Ireland doubles final that was played in Kingscourt on Saturday.

STORM HANNAGH: Light damage with only damage to young trees in leaf and fences were recorded during storm Hannagh on Friday night.

FOOTBALL FINAL: The Junior Football League Final between Windgap and Graigueballycallan in Windgap on Thursday evening was postponed and is to be refixed for a later date.

STOP FOOD WASTE: This is the final session of our Stop Food Waste Challenge hosted by Betty Keogh and Windgap Tidy Towns takes place on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Topic for discussion is "Presentation on Home Composting - a Household Guide". All welcome

CLUB NEWS: In the Junior C League, Ballyhale Shamrocks travelled to Windgap for the Junior C league game on Sunday morning. In the game the visitors extended their 0-4 to 0-3 lead midway through the first half to by 0-10 to 0-5 at half time. Despite having plenty of chances and having outscoring a more opportunistic Ballyhale side by two goals to one in the second half the side went down by 1-17 to 2-9 at the final whistle. On the day Darren Walsh, Peter Hennessey and Shane Cullen played well and were ably assisted by Robert Culleton, Vinny Purcell, Gary Lyons, Adrian Landy and Luke Ward. The sides were Windgap;Conor Foley, Darren Walsh, Robert Culleton, Shane Walsh, Páidí Bacon, Josh Pryce, Vincent Purcell, Adrian Landry, David Doyle, Gary Lyons, Peter Hennessy, Kieran Fennelly, Shane Cullen, Gerry Purcell, Brendan Power. Subs: Eoin Cody, Walter Landy, Alan Hearne. Ballyhale Shamrocks: Michael Paul, Drennan Christopher Cody, Casey Corcoran, Enda Kenneally, Keith Nolan, Paul Shefflin, Adam Brenner, Jason Devereux, Kevin Fennelly, Dylan Doran, David Hoyne, Mark Phelan, Ronan Hayes, Eoin Knox, Liam Barron. The junior side play Conahy Shamrocks in the All County League on Saturday next.

BADMINTON: The Leinster Easter YONEX Juvenile Open 2019 took place in Baldoyle Badminton Centre last weekend when there was great entry and some fabulous badminton over the 2 days. Congratulations to Ciara O Shea of Tullahought badminton club who took home silver in both the singles and doubles U13 cup finals. Also to Jack O Shea who took home silver in the U15 singles plate final and gold in the U15 doubles plate final with his partner Matthew Banville from Lisdowney Badminton club.

UNDER FIFTEENS WIN: Galmoy/Windgap 6-11 John Lockes 3-13. Galmoy/Windgap under fifteens recorded their first win of this League campaign in Windgap tonight with a hard fought victory over John Lockes. A feature of the game was a whopping six goals scored by Galmoy/Windgap full forward David Sherman, who carried a hand injury into the game. David’s strength was a major factor in his high tally tonight while, opposing full forward Kevan Lynch also did well with 2-1 from play.The Callan boys set the early pace thanks to some accurate free taking by Billy Power but by half time, Galmoy /Windgap had stolen into a lead that they would not relinquish as they went to the break,3-7 to 0-7 ahead. That trend continued after the break as the John Lockes boys were kept at bay, with James Purcell hitting some impressive points from play. Next game for Galmoy/Windgap will see them visit Graignamanagh on Saturday evening next at 6.30pm. Galmoy/Windgap: Eoin O Shea, John Dermody, Calum Lonergan, Noah O Shea, Darragh Doyle, Daniel Hanrahan(0-1), Rohan Lonergan,Killian Enright(0-2,0-1 free),Evan Doyle,Niall Drennan, James Purcell(0-7) Jack O Shea ,Cian O Rourke, David Sherman(6-0), Conor Doyle(0-1), Subs used: Ronan O Brien,Michael Freaney,Colman Moloney,P J Delaney & Conor Darcy. John Lockes:Michael Lynch, Adam O Sullivan, Emmett Nolan,Luca Harris Byrne,Jim Power,Gavin Bambrick(0-2 frees),Joseph Prendergast,Ethan Bergin(0-1),Tomás Roche(0-1),Ryan Roche, Billy Power(0-8,0-7frees),Killian Butler, Joseph Kearns,Kevan Lynch(2-1),Eoin Byrne(1-0). Referee: Willie Kearney (Dunnamaggin)Their next game is against the Rower Inistioge in Windgap. Match report compliments of Jerry Drennan

BRIDGE RESULTS: Killamery Bridge Club resumed after on Monday the Easter Break in Grangemockler Hall. All are welcome.

LOTTO: Numbers6, 7, 11, 23 and Bonus 26 were drawn with no Jackpot winner. The prize fund for the next draw is €12,300. Tickets are available from any club member.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 22nd 2019

THE LAKESIDE SHOP AND TEAROOMS: Our new and long awaited shop and Tearooms ‘The Lakeside’ are only three weeks away from opening! After many Volunteer meetings we had a very successful event on Monday night last and it is looking very promising that our shop and Tearooms can now open seven days a week! The next meeting will take place on Monday the 22nd of April to finalise opening times, menus, tasting night and hands on with the equipment. We hope to have soup sample on the evening. Our ‘Lakeside’ Shop And Tearooms belong to everyone in the community so if you would like to be part of this exciting venture in anyway please come along next Monday night or contact Julie 086 8095328 Michelle 087 6812357 or Noelle 087 2115089, or when’s it’s opened just call in and let any of the volunteers know!! For the moment our shop and Tearooms are looking for as much help and Volunteers we can get! Whether it’s washing tea towels or making a pot of soup! Anyone who would like to provide Home baking or kitchen donations of pots or pans anything you might have lying around! And any help in graphic design or printing would be very much appreciated. As there will be a lot of movement in the next few weeks so please feel free to pop in at any time!

BAILTE SLACHTMHARA: Tidy Towns work continued on Saturday morning in Tullahought when volunteers were working on the provision of new flower beds at the Community Centre. The work continues every Tuesday evening from 7pm and all are welcome. In Windgap Pat Holohan has carried out great work in the past week mowing and strimming the Carrick to Callan road via the creamery store.

OWNER SOUGHT: A white ironing board and a blue plastic bag of unknown contents were apparently lost or mislaid on the side of the road from Kilmoganny to Owning. They are to be found just over the brow of the hill from Kilmoganny in the Barnatrasna area on the right hand side of the roadafter the turn off for Owning and just before the first turn off for Tullahought. It is hoped the owner will call back to collect them during the week.

FOOTBALL FINAL: The Junior Football League Final will see Windgap play Graigueballycallan in Windgap on this Thursday at 7pm all support greatly appreciated.

STOP FOOD WASTE CHALLENGE: A large crowd turned out for week two of the Windgap Tidy Towns "Stop Food Waste Challenge" hosted by Betty Keogh, Environmental Protection Agency, Wexford last week. The third session takes place on this Thursday night 25th April @ 7p.m. This is a Free Event and all are welcome.

CLUICHE CARTAÍ: The last Hurling Club progressive twenty five card game of the season took place in Guinans on Good Friday when a great crowd attended. After high scoring game three teams on eleven games missed the winner’s podium as two pairs on twelve games swept the day. They were Nickey and Gracie Landy and Nonie and Christy English with Dean Madden and Robert Meagher winning the 20^th game. Other prizes went to James Brennan, Robbie Meagher, Jimmy Landy, Mary Guinan and Peter Landy. Thanks were extended to Mary and Eddie Guinan who hosted the games over the winter and to all who played and supported the fortnightly event.

CLUB NEWS: Slieverue travelled to Windgap for the second round of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior Hurling League on Sunday at 4pm. Played on perfect ground conditions, both sides were in search of their first win as the home side had the benefit of a strong breeze towards the Callan goal. After a slow start Windgap found themselves 0-4 to 0-1 behind after five minutes lead by 1-6 to 0-5 after fifteen and 1-10 to Slieverue 0-10 at the break. On the restart it was point for point for ten minutes as Windgap led by the minimum 1-14 to 0-16 at the three quarter way stage. The final fifteen minutes saw just a single point being added as Slieverue finished best to win by 0-20 to 1-15. See the Sports Pages for the full match report.

ALZHEIMER DAY: Ruth Maher the Day Care Manager at The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Kilkenny invites everyone to come along to KBC Hub, The Parade, Kilkenny at 9.00am on April 30^th to hear get an overview of dementia, how people are affected by it and the services and supports provided by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland in Kilkenny for both carers and people living with dementia. There will be an opportunity for a Q&A and open discussion at the end of the event so that attendees can share experiences and look for advice and supports

BRIDGE RESULTS: Killamery Bridge Club will resume after the Easter Break on Monday next 29th April in Grangemockler Hall. All are welcome.

LOTTO: Numbers6, 9, 15, 23 and Bonus 19 were drawn with no local winners. The prize fund for the next draw is €12,300. Tickets are available from any club member.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 15th 2019

THE PROMISED LAND: After twelve years the Galmoy Windgap hurling partnership that ranges from under thirteen to under twenty one made their

Roinn “A” debut in the County League and Championships. The occasion was at minor level against the reigning Minor Hurling Champions Mooncoin in

Windgap on Saturday at 2pm. In the game the side were in top form and played excellent hurling before a large crowd as wind assisted led by 3-12 to 2-4 at

half time. After a brief Rally by the visitors the side went on to recorda surprise and well deserved win by 5-18 to 2-12: The match referee was Martin Quilty

and Gerry Drennan’s match report is in the sports pages

SUMMER TIMES A COMING: A flashing movement caught the eye and rose the heartbeat early on Tuesday morning week 9^th of April as the first of the

House Martins returned from their over wintering in South Africa. On further investigation there was a group of four who were soaring around as if in

celebration of making it back home as they checked out the line of nests under the eve for reoccupation.The arrival is a traditional sign that summer

weather is imminent as the warmer weather allows them to feed on insects on the wing.Having reared two and in some cases three broods last year, more

members of the large flock that departed in September are expected over the coming weeks. Graceful on the wing and seldom off it, their attempts to balance

on terra firma when gathering wet clay for their nests can be joyful at times. Owing to their decline in numbers they are now a protected species and a most

welcome summer visitor.

CARD GAME: The Next Hurling Club progressive twenty five cluiche cártaítakes place in Guinans on Good Friday at 9p and all are welcome.

CAMOGIE IN FULL SWING: The throw in has taken place for the Camogie season in Kilkenny and a number of Windgap teams have been in action in the

past week. In the games the under fourteen and eighteen teams won their matches with the former recording a 4-5 to 0-5 against neighbours Piltown on

Tuesday evening and the latter overcoming the Rower Inistioge in Windgap on Wednesday evening. Elsewhere the Senior team came out on top in a challenge

match against St. Brigid’sand the under sixteen team are due to play Kilmacow/ Slieverue in Windgap tonight, Wednesday 17^that 6.30pm.

GLANADH SUAS: Tullahought Tidy Town’s volunteers met in the church car park on Saturday morning to continue the village clean up. The work involved

the lifting of the grid into the car park to clean out the pit underneath, the weeding of flowerbeds and around wildlife fruit trees and the supplying of material

for the creation of two new beds to replace the cypress trees in front of the Community Centre. Well done to all, the show continues on Saturday morning next

at ten o’clock

BRIDGE BUILDING: Thanks are extended by the community to Kilkenny County Council for the repairs to the Bridge in Kilmacoliver leading to the main

road in Baunreigh that was damaged in the bad weather last year.

STOP FOOD WASTE: A large crowd turned out for Windgap Tidy Towns "Stop Food Waste Challenge" hosted by Betty Keogh, Environmental Protection

Agency, Wexford last week. It continues this Thursday night 18th April @ 6.30 p.m. This is a Free Event and all are welcome. Please note time change to

facilitate Mass at 7.30 p.m. The topics: include: 1. Investigate types of food you waste and why you waste them. 2. Practice ways to plan your meals and

you’re shopping. 3. Learn storage tips to minimise waste from food going off. 4. Try out ideas for cooking and serving and re-using leftovers.

IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST: Members of the Waterford Branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust visited the Kilmacoliver Loop Walk and the locality recently. The

group are involved in creating awareness on Habitat Conservation such as Hedgerows and work with local schools and community groups to highlight local

and global environmental and conservation issues and hold a walk on the second Sunday of each month.

SCHOOL QUALIFY FOR FINAL: The Windgap School hurling team had a good win in their semi-final match against Clogh/Mooneenroe last Wednesday

in Windgap. Windgap started well in the first half with three goals from star forward Ona Kennedy while Aidan O'Shea popped in another leaving Windgap

winning by 4-1 to 1-4 at the half time mark. The second half saw Windgap found scores hard to get at this stage and led by three points (4-1 to 2-4) when a

late shot by Clogh Mooneenroe rattled the crossbar r to leave the home side winners by three points. All played well for Windgap in a great win - Mikey

Saunders did well in goal, while the full back line of nonsense full back Darragh Houlihan and his corner backs Aidan Doyle and Joe Moloney also played

well. The halfback line of Jack Egan, Hugo Seagrave and the tigerish Conor Power fought well while the midfield pairing of Aidan O'Shea and Darragh

Enright played very well. In the forwards, Tadgh Kennedy, Alyn Hearne, Shane Norris, Jules Seagrave and Killian Weldon all did their best while Rory

Quigley and Kate o Brien did well after coming on. The rest of the panel was Frankie Dollard, Moya Egan and Cathal Barron. The side are now through to

the county final and all support will be greatly appreciated at this final with the date to be confirmed

OPEN INVITATION: Two regular events are being held each month in Kilmoganny and the organisers extend A warm welcome and would be delighted if

people from the surrounding area could attend to see what is going on.The events are an Easter Open Mic at 8.00pm on Thursday 25th April. The invitation

is for all singers, musicians, story tellers, and audience members welcome and particularly for people who are learning their craft and have not performed

before an audience before. No charge. The second event is: Keeping it Delightful Coffee Morning and recycle event'.It takes place between10.30 am to

1.00pm on Tuesday 30th April in Kilmoganny Hall withTea/coffee and cakes for 5 euro.You are invited to bring a few well chosen, delightful items for the

recycling stall where recycling free.And it may be a good time to be finding new treasures and bargains.

BRIDGE RESULTS: Killamery Bridge Club held in Grangemockler Hall on Monday evening were 1st Stella Tennyson & Noreen Hayes, Best Gross: Pat

Arrigan & Noreen Kenneally, 2nd: Helen Lanigan & Catherine Burke, 3rd Angela Mulrooney & Kitty Meagher

IOMÁNAÍOCHT SCOILE: In a hugely exciting game, the Windgap side managed by Matthew Enright and captained by Killian Weldon were 1-2 points

down after first 7 minutes but refused to accept this being their faith. They turned around their fortunes with some excellent scores from brother and sister

combination Tadgh and Ona Kennedy and a super goal from Jules Seagrave which all came from the tenacious defence with Aidan Doyle, Joe Maloney and

Jack Egan worth a special mention. Conor Power was a star in the first half blocking, hooking as Windgap led 4-1 to 1-4 at halftime. Now playing against

strong wind Paulstown Goresbride piled on the pressure. The two Darraghs (Houlihan and Enright) worked extremely hard throughout while Mikey Saunders

was very good in goal. Hugo Seagrave had to go off injured at halftime and Windgap emptied the subs bench bringing on Shane Doyle, Kate o Brien, Moya

Egan, Frankie Dollard and Rory Quigley. Shane Norris was unlucky for a goal early on and Alyn Hearne worked hard. The final say came to Aidan o Shea

with time up and teams level, he managed to kick the ball over the bar leaving Windgap to finish up winning by a solitary pointby 7-2 to 4-8. This good win

now sends Windgap into the semi-final against Clough Mooneenroe who will be led out by now principal and former Windgap student Philip Lonergan.

LOTTO: Numbers15, 19, 21, 28 and Bonus 11 were drawn with no local winners. The prize fund for the next draw is €11,800. Tickets are

available from any club member.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings

at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 8th 2019

FOOD WASTE CHALLENGE: Windgap Tidy Towns will host a "Stop Food Waste Challenge on Thursday next 11th April at 7.00p.m. in the ICA Hallin Windgap. This event will be hosted by Betty Keogh, Environmental Protection Agency, Wexford and will run for one houronly on four consecutive Thursday evenings. The topics: include:1. Investigate types of food you waste and why you waste them.2. Practice ways to plan your meals and you’re shopping. 3. Learn storage tips to minimise waste from food going off. 4. Try out ideas for cooking and serving and re-using leftovers. This is a Free Event andallare welcome.

BADMINTON CHAMPIONS: Congratulations to Ciara O Shea who was part of the winning U-13 Leinster Inter provincial team in Baldoyle on Sunday. A strong Leinster team defeated Munster and Ulster. The Leinster team was Síofra Flynn, Michelle Shochan, Nicole Joy, Chloe McGrane, Ciara O Shea and Zarah Pender, Senan Ó Rourke, Fionn Dowling, Darragh Murtagh, Andrew Hassett and Aman Koythial. Pictures attached.

MÍLE BUIOCHAS: Tullahought Badminton Club would like to thank all their player, members and followers for their support during the season. Looking forward to seeing everyone back at the end of September. Fógra: Thanks are extended to runaí an chlub Marie O’Shea for keeping the notes updated on a regular basis.

CLUB NEWS: Windgap travelled to Urlingford to play the Emeralds in the JJ Kavanagh & Son Hurling League on Sunday afternoon. In the game thesides started evenly being level at one and two points apiece before the home side struck with three early goals. This set the pace for a while as a brave performance saw the lead being rolled back to four points. Just before the half time whistle a great double save by the Emeralds keeper from Peter Hennessey and then Niall Walsh ensured they were still four points ahead at half time. The sequence saw the end of the comeback as the home side reorganised at the break and went on to win by on the scoreline Emeralds 4:15. Windgap 0:13. The next game is against Slieverue on Sunday 20^th. See sports pages for the match report.

GALMOY WINDGAP: Our Minor Hurlers had a good Challenge game v Ballingarry in Ballingarry today Saturday 6th at 5pm. With Minor hurling still at U-18 in Tipperary and Ballingarry being in Division A in Tipp, this proved to be a very worthwhile venture for our U-17 players who will face the Kilkenny 2018 Roinn A County Champions Mooncoin in their first League game in Windgap at 2pm next Saturday April 13th. The panel was,Matt Delaney, Eoin O Brien, Mark McCoy, Gearóid Phelan,Jack Doyle, Billy Drennan, Padraig Foley, James Darcy,Killian Enright, Calum Lonergan, Sean Purcell, Odhrán Moloney, Adam O Shea,Killian Doyle,Sean Barron, James Purcell,Niall O Brien, Jamie Joy, David Sherman, Daniel Hanrahan and James Purcell.(Scorers: Billy Drennan 0-14,Adam O Shea 0-2 and Eoin O Brien 0-1)

CARD GAME: The Next Hurling Club progressive twenty five takes place in Guinans on Good Friday all are welcome.

TÚR AMHARC: Tullahought Tidy Towns continued their their work programme on Saturday by doing maintenance work at the wide place and Túr Amharc” the local viewing tower overlooking the village. On a lovely Saturday morning it was used by many visitors from Australia, Germany and England as a base for viewing the scenery of the Lingaun Valley and getting directions to its many historical and heritage features

SCHOOL CAMOGIE: The School Camogie team have made it three wins out of three in their group games after recent wins over the Rower Inistioge and Kilmacow in Windgap. They are through to the quarter finals, and will continue to train hard in a hope to keep the winning streak going! Well Done to all the girls under the guidance of Mrs.Deirdre O Shea and Michael Saunders. Panel: Emily Freaney, Alannah Holden Laura Doyle, Niamh Enright,Ona Kennedy, Elena O Shea, Ciara O Shea, Eleanor Hayes, Anna Miller, Lauren Enright, Kate Kelleher,Abbie O Neill, Abbie Vaughan, Elena Saunders, Ellie Brazil, Kate O Brien, Aisling O Shea Jessie White, Moyà Egan, Shonna King and Jenny Saunders(injured).

BRIDGE RESULTS: Killamery Bridge Club held their Annual President's Dinner and Prize Giving at Raheen House, Clonmel where the event was hosted by President Annette Meagher and a wonderful day was had by all the members.. The Winners were; Presidents Prize - Catherine Burke & Peggy Vaughan.Best Gross - Stella Tennyson & Pat Arrigan.2nd - Mary Walsh & Maureen Cantwell,3rd - Helen Lanigan & Kitty Meagher. The Dinner Prizes were won by 1st Kitty Meagher & Elizabeth Lanigan, Best Gross: Catherine Burke & Helen Lanigan, 2nd - Noreen Hayes & Stella Tennyson, 3rd - Margaret Comerford & Pat Arrigan.On Monday next 15th, our neighbouring Mullinahone Bridge Club will be joining us for their annual visit. and all are looking forward to a very pleasant evening.

SCHOOL HURLING: In a hugely exciting u11s game, the Windgap side managed by Matthew Enright and captained by Killian Weldon were 1-2 points down after first 7 minutes but refused to accept this being their faith. They turned around their fortunes with some excellent scores from brother and sister combination Tadgh and Ona Kennedy and a super goal from Jules Seagrave which all came from the tenacious defence with Aidan Doyle, Joe Maloney and Jack Egan worth a special mention. Conor Power was like a terrier in mid field in the first half blocking , hooking and making any nuisance of himself. Windgap led 4-1 to 1-4 at halftime. Now playing against strong wind Paulstown Goresbride piled on the pressure . The two Darraghs ( Houlihan and Enright ) worked extremely hard throughout while Mikey Saunders was very good in goal. Hugo Seagrave had to go off injured at halftime and Windgap emptied the subs bench bringing on Shane Doyle, Kate o Brien, Moya Egan, Frankie Dollard and Rory Quigley. Shane Norris was unlucky for a goal early on and Alyn Hearne worked hard but the final say came to Aidan o Shea with time up and teams level, where somehow he managed to kick the ball over the bar while both his hurl and hand were being held by his opponent, leaving Windgap to finish up winning by a solitary pointby 7-2 to 4-8. This good win now sends Windgap into the semi-final against CloughMooneenroe who will be led out by now principal and former Windgap student Philip Lonergan.

LOTTO: Numbers15, 19, 21, 28 and Bonus 11 were drawn with no local winners. The prize fund for the next draw is €11,800. Tickets are available from any club member.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

WINDGAP TULLAHOUGHT NOTES April 1st 2019

BRUSCAR, ORDURES, BASURA: In any language be it Irish, French, Spanish or English Rubbish is rubbish and the dumping of it by passing motorists is a disgrace, as it obviously comes from a much larger percentage of the population that would be shocked and would not like to be associated with the larger items of indiscriminate dumping that take place in isolated areas. However the result is the very same as plastic bottles, food wrappers, tea and coffee cups thrown from the windows of their vehicles despoil the countryside, the same as fridges, cushions, mattresses and old furniture. Each item banishes the great work of all that have pride in their community and country. These include the ordinary men, women and childrenwho live along every road that is littered and also the volunteers who annually spend time clearing the roads of litter under the Tidy Towns banner as in Windgap, Tullahought and many other areas in the country in recent weeks.

THE TIME OF OUR LIVES; The changing of the hour on Saturday night highlightsthe importance of time and its relevance in our everyday life. As the country comes to cope with the changing hour on our clocks, only nature and the birds roll along unaware and without a blip on their lifestyle. Elsewhere,life looks and feels different with the darker mornings and the longer evenings as we adjust to the biannual change that takes time to settle in. As it does, the time has come for the county hurling championships to commence, wherethere will be morereferences to time, in, the throw in time, extra time, injury time, over time, and more than likely an odd reference to the operation of the referee’s timepiece as the supporters of one team will urge him to blow full time. With the Grand National on Saturday one could be forgiven for saying we live in “Quare times” the winner ridden by Pat Taffeein 1955 as we read and hear of Brexit, diaasters, achievements and cathastrophies worlwide.After the sports eventsthere may be time for a chat and a drop in to the local where opening and closing time often works on a different clock and there is often time for another one. For the majority, the working week includes many more time formats in, overtime, clocking in time, wet time, short time and zero hours’ timewhich takes more time to understand. In rural areas sowing time, calving time, milking time and even dinner time changes with the occupations and getting a long fingered job done often brought the semi complimentaryreflection of “it’s about time”. After the years’ work, playand school, holidays brings additional scenarioswith timeworldwide being recorded on both twenty four and twelve hour clocks and where midnight, noon, AM and PM bring added implications. In addition the international timeline givesNew York, Paris, Berlin, Buenos Aires and Sydney their own individual time, by having it ahead or behind our own Greenwich meantime. Even getting there, by being just in time to fly out, means being two hours early at the airport. In recent years Managing Time has become a new industry whilst recalling “times past” or memoriesfrom “old god’s time” is more of a relaxed pastime. When older folk said sure there is never a good time and never a bad timeto do something, they would often add, God would provide time for everything. We could go on about getting to the church on time and getting the timing right for birthdays and anniversaries,but it all takes time. After all of that,and knowing the certainty that, “time is running out for us all”, I hope this will be just in time!

SLÁINTE: Best wishes for good health and a speedy recovery are extended to our many parishioners who are in and have been in and out of the various hospitals and care centres in recent weeks.

IRISH EXAMINER NEWS: Adelightful feature in the Irish Examiner Sports section on Thursday focussed on the life and times of local Lamogue, Windgap, Kilkenny farmer, hurler, all-star and successful horse trainer Kieran Purcell. The link to it can be found on the Sports Section of www.irishexaminer.com @WindgapGAA Twitter Account

LEAGUE FINAL: The Kilkenny senior Camogie team that lined out against Galway in Croke Park on Sunday. Kilkenny were pursuing their 15th title and their fourth in a row. In what was a disappointing 1st half the side went in six points behind at the break. Despite coming back to within one point of Galway it was not enough to seal victory on the day. Windgap's Denise Gaule and Catherine Foley lined out at corner forward and full back respectively and Michaela Kenneally got her first taste of senior inter-county action before the final whistle. Hard luck to all involved and we look forward to more action in this year’s championship.

VOLUNTEERS TRAINING: Windgap Community Centre invites all volunteers for Shop and tea rooms to free training on Wednesday April 3rd 2019 in the Centre from (6.00 to 9.00 pm). This is a great opportunity for free up-skilling in the field. Don’t worry if you miss the training but do let us know if you are interested in volunteering. In all cases please contact Julie Walsh at 086 8095329.

MINISTERS VISIT: The whirlwind tour of South Kilkenny by Mister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring saw him visit, Thomastown, Inistioge, Piltown, Windgap and Callan of Friday evening week. In Windgap he was accompanied by the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government John Paul Phelan to meet members of the Windgap Community Development Committee and local representatives Joe Lyons and Matt Doran.

CENTENARY REFLECTIION: The video of the Tullahought church centenary celebrations in 1985 is now available on the Tullahought Tidy Towns Facebook Page.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: Windgap return to Urlingford to play the Emeralds in the first round of the JJ Kavanagh & Son Hurling League on Sunday afternoon at 4pm. The sides played a draw in the same competition in Urlingford last year.

ST KIERANS WIN: Club player Conor Foley was part of the All Ireland Paddy Buggy Cup St. Kierans College winning side when they defeated Presentation Athenry in Tullamore on Saturday.

DIOCEASEAN MEETING: Windgap Parish Council, Finance Committee and the Pastoral Council were represented at the recent meeting in Dunnamaggin with the new Bishop of Ossory Most Reverend Dermot Farrell.

CARD GAME: The Next Hurling Club progressive twenty five takes place in Guinans on Good Friday all are welcome.

BRIDGE: Killamery Bridge Club game continues its weekly games in Grangemockler Hall on Monday nights at 7.30 p.m. All are welcome

LOTTO: Numbers2, 9, 11, 12 and Bonus 26, were drawn and brought a match three cheque to Kathleen McCoy. The prize fund for the next draw is €11,250. Tickets are available from any club member.

TIDY TOWNS: The Tullahought Tidy Towns Group will hold a meeting on Tuesday evening 2nd April at 8pm in the Community Centre. All interested are invited to attend as we make preparations and plans for the coming year.

NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm.

Activities and Events around Tullahought since June 2010

Ÿ Heritage Week August 2010:

Opened by Pat Durkin of Birdwatch Ireland included

Bat Walk, Talk and Survey (Dr. Tina Aughney), Heritage Walks, OPW Updates on all sites within a 20 Mile radius (Aoileann O’Shaughnessy) Music, Paintings, Sport.

Ÿ Presented with Tidy towns County award for small villages at Regional Awards

Ÿ Cookery Class course held in Community Centre over winter months.

Ÿ An Taisce presentation Promoting Bio Diversity Green Communities Programme

Ÿ Annual Slatequarries Vintage Day held in Village in July

Ÿ 125 Anniversary Celebration of Church with Bishop present held in June

Ÿ Hosted O.P.W. Meeting on Preservation Process for the High Crosses of Western Ossory

Ÿ Wildlife Survey with Pat Durkin in May 2011

Ÿ County Council Food Waste Workshop in Community Centre in March 2011

Ÿ Group Walks on Trails Sunday October 3^rd.

Ÿ 100 mile Carrick Wheelers cycle challenge on June 5^th. over seven major climbs of South East using Skough Hill (Carrick Road) and passing through Tullahought for the first time

Ÿ Waterford Wildlife Trust and Futureproof Kilkenny tour of Loop Walk

Ÿ First communion held in village in May 2011

Ÿ Hosted County Council Tidy Towns seminar for villages in the area in Feb. Guests Pat Nolan senior judge and Pat Dunphy Vice Chair Kilkenny County Council

Ÿ AGM of Tullahought Community Development held in April

Ÿ Hosted public meeting on preservation of Knockroe/Coshel Passage Tomb

Ÿ Badminton Table Quiz held in Community Centre

Ÿ Camogie Club County Minor Champions presentation night held in Community Centre

Ÿ Tidy Towns juvenile member Clare Grace won Irish U18 Medal and Ladies European Bronze Youth Boxing medal

Ÿ General election voting took place at wheelchair accessible Polling Booth