Heritage Notes - 26 August 2011

Steamer’s Quay

Last week’s picture has been identified as a scene from 1936, but the reason behind Sargent’s Garage selling three different brands of fuel remains a mystery, even to serious car experts locally. This week we re-live the golden age of the steamboat with a scene from the Steamer’s Quay around the early 1890s. If you look closely enough you can see the new panelling on the red bridge, the ticket box for collecting the fares and there is even a little boy dressed in a sailor suit, perhaps for his very first trip to Youghal. Who knows what an adventure he had that day?

Following the great work done on the red bridge car park by Civic Link and the Council, the Heritage Group has been working hard of late trying to progress a possible restoration to modern standards of the Steamer’s Quay, and we have been very heartened by the backing we have received from landowners and river users alike. Our aim is simply to see the Quay restored for use by boats of any description and there is no desire to make money from the venture. It could be a great boost to local river use, and to tourist interest in the area and we are committed to doing all that a small voluntary group can do to bring this about.

‘Off the Top’

With the opening of Cappoquin’s first barber’s shop (i.e. for the guys only) in more than thirty years now just a few days away (Aug 30), it is great to hear that the name of Mark Ferguson’s new establishment is derived from one of the favourite sayings of our last barber, the late Paddy Connolly of Upper Main Street. We have narrowed down the date of Paddy’s closure for business to between 1974 and 1980 or so but if anyone can be more precise do let us know. In the meantime, the best of luck to Mark in his new venture beside Super Valu – no news as yet whether hair transplants are also available!

Ap training

Some of our members were heading for the launch of the mobile phone application devoted to Dungarvan history this week and we are very hopeful that we can access training to allow us to develop something similar for Cappoquin in the coming months.

Heritage Christmas Cards

This year’s stock of postcards on local themes are selling very well and can still be bought in either the credit union or post office. We have also decided to produce a new series of local Christmas cards for this year. However, this year we would like to invite anyone who has taken ‘Christmassy’ images of local scenes in the past to submit them to us and we will use the best six as the images for this year’s cards. Ideally, we need to get pictures in before the end of September and we will be happy to give some free Christmas cards (as well as the obvious fame involved!) to the people whose photos, or paintings, are selected. Any Heritage Group or Civic Link member will be glad to hear from you on this one.

Heritage Notes - 19 August 2011

This week’s picture

This week, we hope people will take a new look at an old picture. The scene shows what we presume to be members of West Waterford Hunt setting out from the Square and coming up Main Street. Image enhancement has shown that the number plates visible on the cars are KI 2200 and KI 1969. If anyone can date the picture, or identify the cars, do let us know. More curious still is the fact that the petrol pumps at Sargent’s Garage on the right are selling at least three different brands of petrol. From the left, you can see the SHELL logo, and then TEXACO and ESSO closer to the main garage shop. Can anyone explain how that could be, please? Those who can recall Sargent’s were of the view it was an ESSO garage, so the SHELL and TEXACO pumps are certainly curiosities.

County Council Thanks

While we continue to lobby the Council on some matters of footpath safety, playground maintenance and lighting, we should also reiterate that the Council has been great in the assistance it has given to the clean up of the Inch car park a few weeks ago. Exciting plans are coming from the County Museum also, relating to the development of web-based heritage trails in different places around the county. With the work we have already done on the Cappoquin Heritage trails being available online at www.cappoquin.net already, we are very hopeful of being able to link with the museum’s initiative in the near future.

More recently still, it is an absolute joy to see Cappoquin’s Carnegie Library back close to full operation. Mrs Muriel Cullen has taken up the job of branch librarian since last week and the branch is now open for a total of 18 hours a week. We wish Muriel the very best of luck in her new role. Monday and Fridays sees opening times from 10.00 to 1.00 and from 2.00 to 5.00, while Thursday’s opening times are 1.00 to 4.00 and 5.00 to 8.00.

Reflective Jackets

Civic Link recently purchased a set of two dozen reflective jackets and if any community group would like to borrow some of these for safety purposes during their own activities, any committee member will be glad to help arrange the loan.

Working on the Inch

Some of our members have been hard at work in recent weeks on ideas which might form part of our efforts to improve the Inch area. Our last meeting agreed to call a meeting of any interested parties to discuss the possibilities before any further action is considered. This will be advertised in due course.

Heritage Notes - 5 August 2011

A very special photograph

This week's photograph is a relatively recent one for us in heritage terms but a very historic one nevertheless. It shows the retirement celebration of Mrs Ellen Scanlan from the Boys' National School, Cappoquin in 1977. Pictured, from left, are Shaun Moynihan (principal), James Bennett, Mrs Scanlan, Pat Fleming, Sr. Mary Darcy and the late Bessie Cahill.

The photograph is particularly significant as Mrs Scanlan reached the great age of 100 years at the end of June, and many congratulations to her on reaching this milestone. Who knows how many hundreds and perhaps thousands of local children learnt handwriting, spelling, reading and so on from this great lady?

Mrs Scanlan's teaching service locally saw her in Mount Melleray Girls National School from 1931 to 1942, in Villierstown National School from 1943 to 1950, followed by service in Cappoquin Boys School from 1950 until 30th June 1977. Amazing.

Heritage Notes - 29 July 2011

With the heady events of last weekend seeing three Waterford teams qualify for All-Ireland semi finals, two hurling and one camogie, there could only be one picture for our notes this week. For the first time since 1948, Waterford have both senior and minor teams in the hurling semi-finals. Back in 1948, they went on to score a fantastic double by winning both titles. The minor team then was powered by seven Cappoquin club members on that occasion, six playing on the team and the coach being Paddy Cunningham of Barrack Street. Our picture this week shows the group known to this day locally as ‘the Magnificent Seven’ a full twenty years before Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen and other non-hurlers ‘borrowed’ the title from them (Wouldn’t McQueen have made a great centre back!). Standing (from left) are Michael Kelleher, Vincent Walsh, Joe Flynn and Paddy Cunningham, while in front are Michael O’Connor, Billy Conway and Michael Browne.

One footnote. Few people may realise the great efforts, for absolutely no reward, that the Waterford players and members of the management team put in to help our Blackwater Crossing long puck recently. They couldn’t have been more supportive, and it was great to see the rejuvenation of the senior team last Sunday in Thurles. The standard of hurling in Waterford, from underage to senior, hasn’t been as strong as this in fifty years, and don’t let anyone tell you differently, whatever happens on Sunday week.

Postcards

Just a reminder that our series of local postcards is back on sale for the summer, available at the Credit Union and one or two more local outlets. These were very popular last summer and already are flying out the door, almost Harry Potter style, this year too. All profits go towards funding heritage-related projects, such as the exhibition.

Autumn Exhibition

Our heritage group is at work currently in trying to put together an exhibition for the autumn devoted to school days past and present. We are trying to track down copybooks and other school memorabilia, as well as copies of the folklore and stories written by local children in various primary schools during the 1930s and much more recently. If anyone has items that you think we can use, please let a committee member know.

Heritage Notes - 15 April 2011

This week’s vintage picture comes from 1935 or thereabouts, and is timely given the recent achievements of Ireland’s cricketers. With the local GAA club not fielding that year, a number of men took the opportunity to play for what we believe to be Cappoquin’s first cricket team (Tourin’s team from 1902 was featured some months back). Captain Jameson, with the pads in the middle row, was a first-class cricketer who had graced Lords with the MCC in his day, and he was a central figure in getting this team together. They certainly played at the GAA pitch, which was then known as the town park and was not solely a GAA venue, but we haven’t been able to find out who the opponents were. We don’t, as yet, have all the names of those involved, but for sure the back row contains, from second left: Mick Sargent, Jack McCarthy, Paddy Mullane and Dommie Dunne. Jimmy Lacey (Snr) is to the right of Captain Jameson in the middle row while at the front right is Michael Walsh, late of Belmont and Dungarvan.

Carnival News

News is that the Cornerstone Carnival ‘7’ dates are now cast in stone for June 24-26, with a range of new events coming on stream this year. Among them will be a hilarious ‘small ships’ race which will be held in Green Street, a giant ping pong ball race down Castle Street and a King Kong size pool table at the GAA field. Old favourites will be back too, from fire displays to Recession Olympics, GAA fun day and dog show, music and dancing, art classes and an exhibition, the Dromana 5 road race and the Blackwater Crossing long puck. The nominated charity to benefit from some of the fundraising events this year will be the SOLAS cancer-respite centre in Waterford city, so we do hope patrons will come along and both enjoy the fun and support this worthy cause.

Clean Up of the Inch Car Park

As part of our commitment to the Cappoquin town plan, Civic Link will hold a clean up of the car park area at the Inch on Saturday, 7^th May. We hope to tidy up and refresh the large car park area here and all helpers will be welcome on the day. Full details of the event will be supplied in good time.

Trekkin Eejits

This year’s ‘Trekkin Eejits’ event is nearly upon us, with the 24 hour relay-walk along the Blackwater Valley scheduled for next Friday and Saturday, April 15^th and 16^th. Sponsorship cards are still available from the Credit Union, and even if you aren’t up to the walk, be sure that any of the participants will still gladly accept any sponsorship. This year’s beneficiaries from the fundraiser are West Waterford and Marymount Hospices.

The first stage begins at 6.00 pm on Friday evening from the Square at Cappoquin, heading due west towards Fermoy before looping back towards west Waterford again on the left bank of the river (towards Clashmore) and then back to Cappoquin via Glendine, Camphire and Tourin. Locals will need no reminding of the spectacular scenery which awaits the walkers, so the chance to lift your spirits, get some exercise and raise a few bob for a good cause should not be missed. Arrival time for the last leg of walkers into Cappoquin is scheduled for 7.00 pm on Saturday evening.

‘Our Daily Bread’

Best wishes to all at Barrons’ Bakery on the launch of the book on the history of the bakery next Saturday evening. Very few small town businesses have survived the test of modernisation as Barrons has and this should be a great occasion to celebrate an enduring feature of our heritage. The event gets underway at 8.30 PM officially at the community centre, although rumour has it that there may be a few ‘blas’ and cakes available even before that for early comers. All are very welcome indeed and many congratulations to everyone involved.

Heritage Notes - 1 April 2011

AGM review

At the Cappoquin Civic Link AGM last Wednesday, chairperson Mike Coffey reported on a range of over twenty simple activities undertaken during 2010 to promote community efforts. The people in attendance expressed satisfaction with the work done and re-elected all outgoing members unopposed. It is anticipated that a few new members will be co-opted in the coming weeks, and the first meeting of the new committee is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6^th next. Among the main issues raised from the floor at the AGM were the promotion of tourism and concern for the future of Cappoquin library. A small profit was reported on the year’s activities also, meaning that the combined accounts now show a balance of just over €9,000. Many thanks for the support and encouragement during the year. The next meeting of the Heritage Group takes place this Wednesday, March 30^th at 8.00 in the library.

Music in the air

Hot on the heels of the third, and wonderful, St. Patrick’s Day Parade came the Tradfest which ran from Thursday to Sunday last weekend and certainly gave another huge boost to the town, socially and economically. Winnie Fennell would have been so proud. It was particularly great to see the numbers of young people now happily and expertly playing musical instruments and their efforts, and those of their teachers, have certainly borne fruit at the parade, carnival etc also. Long may the music continue.

Heritage Notes - 25 March 2011

Welcome Back

Finally this week a hearty welcome back to work to Mary Tobin. It is great, and very important to the whole area, to see our library doors open for business once more and to have Mary behind the desk. To say that Mary, and the library, carry out a vital public service in Cappoquin would be a real understatement and it remains vital that this service is maintained and supported.

Foróige Fashionistas

Well done to the Foróige club which, for the second year running, carried off the novelty fancy dress award at the Cappoquin St. Patrick’s Day Parade last week. This year’s theme was a sort of Carribbean-meets-the-Comeraghs Leprechaun extravaganza, complete with appropriate costumes, rainbow and of course, a crock of gold. Only a few can appreciate the sweetness of the victory and the imagination and long hours of work that went into costumes, gold coin replicas, etc, so well done to everyone concerned.

Best of Luck

Best of luck to Winnie’s Gang with the forthcoming tradfest next weekend, featuring great traditional music over the four-day period. Rumour has it that a fine new ballad has been penned about the Battle of Affane and, who knows, it might get an airing this weekend. Best of luck also to the Trekkin Eejits, whose charity walk this year will follow the banks of the Blackwater. Sponsorship cards are available from the Credit Union and from the Eejits themselves, and the walk this year runs (walks!) from Friday, April 15^th to Saturday 16th, with all proceeds going to the Marymount and West Waterford Hospices.

Other meetings

The Cornerstone Carnival committee met last Monday night and things are really taking shape at this stage for the seventh carnival on the last weekend in June. Next meeting is on Monday, April 4^th in Fawlty’s at 7.30. The Heritage Group meets next on Wednesday, April 6^th at 7.30.