Ballintotis Bulletin

Year Of Faith Ceremony
A special ceremony to celebrate The Year of Faith will be held in St Colman’s Church Ballintotis on Sunday 19th May at 4.00pm.

In advance of this ceremony a local committee was set up to prepare the church for the event. Different themes of our faith will be demonstrated through floral arrangements and artistic work showing how our faith was passed on to us and how it will continue to be passed on to future generation.
An invitation goes out to all to come to the church for the special ceremony conducted by Rev. Monsignor Goold at 4.00pm next Sunday.
The displays will remain at the church until Wednesday 22nd May.

Tuesday Club’s Unique Project
Next Tuesday will be a unique day at The Tuesday Club, because the regulars wil be joined by pupils from Ms Howick’s Class from Ballintotis N.S to work together on a weaving project. It is a great opportunity to once again promote the spirit of togetherness in Ballintotis as the generation gap is filled by the enthusiasm of pupils and Tuesday Club members as they undertake what will prove to be a very special end product. When completed this patchwork design is likely to find a place of honour in the new Community Centre. Tuesday Club members are asked to be in attendance (and ready for work) by 2pm at the latest. So please make a big effort to be on time and play your part in this unique Ballintotis venture.

Summer Tour
Looking further ahead the majority of the Tuesday Club are likely be on board the coach which will depart Ballintotis Church Car Park on Saturday morning June 15th, heading for Bunratty, where the travelling party will enjoy lunch, shopping and a leisurely stroll. On en route there will be a mid morning stop at Charleville Park Hotel for tea/coffee whilst the same venue will host the groups Evening Dinner on the return journey. The entire package is priced at just 35 euro. So don’t delay – book your place now by contacting Veronica O’Farrell, Mary Molloy, Josie Knowles, Kevin Cronin or John Cashman.

Community Games Update
The Community Games Groups continue to grow with more activity planned to begin in the autumn. Presently the art group is amongst the most popular new ventures and the organisers have announced that an exhibition displaying the work of the local school children will be held on Sunday morning June 16th in the Community Centre. There will also be cake sale held in conjunction with the exhibition with all proceeds going towards the continuation of the Community Games activities which have proved so successful this year. Tea and coffee will also be served. Events get under underway following 10am Mass.

Fit4Life Club
Members of our Fit4Life Club were appropriately keeping very active in recent days. Well done to Michelle Cott, Miah McGrath and Brian Cott who tackled the Gael Force Challenge in County Galway on Saturday. This is Connemara at its best – trails, bog, rugged peaks and choppy green water. Connemara Adventure Challenge may not be the longest race on the calendar but it is a super training race for the more experienced adventure racer and an ideal tester race for the less experienced.

Taking you from Killary Fjord across the foothills of the Maam Turks, along the Western Way to the Inagh Valley and finally back to the Fjord. Three disciplines are involved – trail/mountain running or walking, kayaking and cycling – over a 31km course of spectacular beauty and natural challenge.

Competing the course is no mean achievement so we say congratulations to Michelle, Miah and Brian on their weekend success.

The adventures continue this weekend as we have a number of members undertaking a similar challenge in Waterford on Saturday. Best of luck to those involved. .

Meantime back on the roads some of our members took part in last week’s Clonpriest 5K Run, which was a superbly organised venture. Well done to Michelle Cullinane, Christine Fitzgerald, Valerie Nagle and Susan Nagle all of whom are in the very early days of tasting the race scene. Veronica O’Farrell had a good outing over the 5K distance, whist Andrea Murphy succeeded in beaking her target time in fine style. Meantime, Noreen Cashman continues to knock the seconds off the clock whilst Tom O’Neill, Sylvie O’Mahony (Youghal A.C) and our first runner home Sean Murphy produced their usual very solid performances.

Looking ahead a number of our runners are registered to take part in this Thursday’s Cheetah 4 Mile Race in Fota, whilst some are also planning to take part in Friday’s 10K in Passage and/or the Emer Casey 10K in Youghal on Sunday afternoon (1.30pm) Next week sees the start of the Ballycotton Summer Series with the Ballyandreen 5 Miler on Thursday evening.

Remember our weekly club nights are held each Tuesday. Please assemble at the Community Centre at 7pm as the group will depart from now on at 7.15pm sharp. The membership of the club is now heading in the direction of 70 and some of the newest recruits are planning to make their race debut in the Kilcredan 5K on Friday May 31st

Ballintotis Community Centre Bookings
Finally a reminder that enquiries with regard to booking the hall and/or meeting room should be made to 086-3319101 or by email to . This week ha seen the start up a evening Pilates Classes each Tuesday (8.30pm). More information from Matt 087-2150946.

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Ballintotis Claim Hurling Win After Cracking Contest

Ballintotis National School maintained their excellent recent record in Sciath Na Scoil Competition when winning the 'Hurling 8 Final' after a cracking contest at Pairc Ui Rinn, which saw Dylan Murphy score two outstanding late points to clinch victory.

The final score line of 3-5 to 3-3 indicates the nature of a contest which produced some fine passages of hurling and excellent play by both teams. On a blustery day, wind advantage was always going to be a key factor and Ballintotis had to battle back from a 5 points interval deficit to fashion a merited victory in the second half with the aid of the wind.

The game began at a lively pace as both teams showed their quality, sharing four points. A super reaction save by Ballintotis goalkeeper Eoin Cashman denied Ballynoe their opening goal, but their first green flag arrived in the fifth minute courtesy of Thomas O’Donnell. Unfortunately for Ballintotis two more Ballynoe goals followed before the break to help establish that five points advantage.

Meantime, at the other end of the field Ballintotis produced plenty of scoring chances as regular goal getters Liam Franklin and Cleeva Motherway in the inside forward line tried their utmost to find the target. When their only goal of the half arrived it was from the stick of inspiring team captain Michael Kelly who ghosted into the full forward line, following some fine approach play on the right wing. It meant the sides changed ends with Ballynoe 3-2 to 1-3 ahead.

Team boss Jerry Smyth and right hand man Sean Murphy had Ballintotis fired up for a big second half performance. Although they shot 3 wides soon after the resumption, the signs were there that their constant pressure might eventually pay dividends. Driven on by their excellent half back duo of David Lawton and Conor Whyte and visibly lifted by Eoin Mitchell’s excellence at midfield the scores eventually flowed. Ciara Barry’s splendidly taken goal began the comeback and although she had to retire through injury soon after, substitute Philip Kelleher also proved very effective.

With Ballynoe keeping their noses in front through a single second half point, as time ticked on it appeared as if another Ballintotis goal would be required to swing the match. Appropriately it came courtesy of the silken skills of Michael Kelly who made the most of his opportunity following another weaving run.

Level pegging at this point (3-3 each) and certainly ‘heart in the mouth’ stuff by both sets of vociferous fans. With the ever consistent Michael Cosgrave producing another big defensive display ably assisted by newcomer Jack Bowles, Ballintotis were in no mood to concede. Enter Dylan Murphy at the other end, the towering half forward who has had a great campaign held his nerve twice in quick succession to win the day for Ballintotis.

A famous win against a gallant Ballynoe outfit and a fitting finale for the entire Ballintotis squad and coaches who put a huge effort into both this season’s hurling and football campaigns.

Team – Eoin Cashman, Jack Bowles, Michael Cosgrave, David Lawton, Conor Whyte, Michael Kelly, Eoin Mitchell, Ciara Barry, Dylan Murphy, Cleeva Motherway and Liam Franklin.Sub used: Philip Kelleher for Ciara Barry (injured 2^nd half)Subs – Shane O’Brien, Eoin Hennessy, Nicholas Kelleher, Ciaran Newlands, Jack Knowles, Luke Hayes Nally, Carrie McEvoy and Megan Murphy.

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The Life of St. Paul
On Sunday 24th May a pageant depicting  - the major events  of St. Paul's life was re-enacted at  Ballintotis Church grounds.  The natural scenic setting of the Church and Lough Aderra lake enhanced this unique presentation.  The idyllic weather conditions afforded the cast of  56, Midleton Brass & Reed Band, Ballintotis Church Choir, Midleton Parish Choir, IMP Choir, St. Mary's High School Choir, St. Briget's N.S. Choir, Ballintotis N.S. and a large congregation  the ultimate enjoyment.

The event marked the current year of dedication to St. Paul and depicted such scenes as - the introduction of Paul as a student of Gamaliel in Jerusalem, - Stephens's Trial before the Jeruslem Sanhedrin, - Paul's remarkable conversion on the road to Damascus, his baptism by Ananias on the lakeshore, -  Paul's preaching in Jerusalem in the company of Barnabas, and the dramatic curing of the cripple in Lystra, - the Proclamation of the Council of Jerusalem in 50 A.D., Paul's subsequent missionary journey by boat (on Loughaderra lake) to spread the good news, - ending with his letter to Timothy while  a prisoner in Rome.

The colourful and exotic costumes reflected the era, created an atmosphere, defined character  and enhanced the performance. The musical arrangements and the narrator's deliverance delicately balanced the linkage and continuity. 

The rehearsals of a dedicated and committed cast, the amplification and sound effects by Austin Brosnan and the direction, guidance and finesse of Séan Aherne guaranteed a successful and truly magnificent and  entertaining performance.

Pictured during a break in rehearsals are The Elders:
Vincent McCarthy, Ger Cott, Flan O'Meara and Dominic Knowles

Garda Youth Awards
Fergal Duffy, Stumphill was a worthy winner of a Garda Youth Award at a reception in the Midleton Park Hotel on 8/12/2008 last. Fergal was nominated by Ballintotis Community Council for his courage and determination in overcoming physical disability, his outstanding sporting success and for his contribution the community in his sports coaching and helping others with disabilities. There were nine other winners from as far apart as Mallow, Fermoy and Cobh. One of those was a group of young people from the Midleton-based East Cork Friends of the Mentally handicapped who selflessly give of their time to aid the running of the summer school in Midleton every year. John Barker accepted the award on behalf of the group. See photos of the awards ceremony on this site. The awards ceremony was temporarily halted by the surprise arrival of a special guest, actor Paschal Scott (aka Sergeant Dick O'Toole from Killinascully).


Rural Transport
The rural transport scheme came into operation in Ballintotis this recently, thanks principally to the great efforts of some of our community activists along with the governing body from ECAD.

The bus made it’s inaugural journey from Churchtown South, with pick ups on the way to Ballintotis en route to Midleton town. The scheme is in operation already in many parts of the country and nearby in the Avondhu area which covers other parts of East Cork it has proved a great success.

Well Done Jack 
Congratulations to Jack Knowles who was the winning captain of the Kiltha Og Under 8 team that recently won the Russell Rovers Under 8 hurling Blitz in Shanagarry.  Jack has been in great form all season scoring a number of crucial goals from his corner forward berth.  He was joined on the winning team by other locals Stephen Forde, Liam Rabbittee, Philip Kelleher, Nicholas Kelleher and Darragh Cashman. (See below for more on this story)

 

 Outstanding Win In Russell Rovers Under 8 Blitz

 

Kiltha Og players in celebratory mood following their win in the Russell Rovers Under 8 hurling blitz on Saturday last in Shanagarry.