Bus Éireann's 120 Bus Route Opened Up To Private Bidders

By Justin Kelly

The number 120 Bus Éireann Dublin route which currently services Tullamore and Edenderry has been included on a list of routes being opened up to bids from private bus operators. Five Bus Éireann routes in total have been put up for possible privatisation, mostly Dublin-Kildare commuter services.

The National Transport Authority has advertised 28 routes in total, 23 of which are currently operated by Dublin Bus, as well as the five Bus Éireann routes, for prospective private bids.

This is part of the Government’s plan to open up 10 per cent of public bus routes to the private market, despite the unions representing transport workers threatening industrial action if this privatisation goes ahead.

Talks between the National Bus and Rail Union, SIPTU, the transport authority, and managers from both Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus are ongoing at the Labour Relations Commission. A new round of negotiations between the parties has been fixed for Monday, February 1.

Companies are being asked to express an interest in the routes before April 17 this year.

Offaly’s Rigney Calls Time On Hurling Career

Rigney in action against Kilkenny last summer

By Justin Kelly

Offaly stalwart James Rigney has announced his retirement from intercounty hurling this week. The 29-year-old Kinnitty man has said his decision is due to work commitments, commenting on the hectic training schedule that a role in the county fold entails.

Rigney was one of the most valuable cogs in the Offaly wheel over the last eight years, having made his debut for the side in a league tie against Cork in 2007. His first championship appearance came a year later in a Leinster championship game against Dublin.

Rigney was one of the most versatile players in the set-up throughout his 47 appearances for the Faithful. He operated mostly has an all-action, thoroughly committed defender, but he also ventured forward and put in a number of swashbuckling performances in midfield.

He made his final appearance in last year’s hefty defeat at the hands of eventual All-Ireland winners Kilkenny. That game was the first GAA fixture aired on Sky Sports as part of the controversial television rights deal agreed between the GAA and the British broadcaster last year.

Rigney is the third player from last year’s Offaly senior hurling panel to retire, following Rory Hannify and Kevin Rigney down the tunnel for the final time.

Gardai Seek Help In Search For Missing Offaly Man

Have you seen this man?

By Justin Kelly

Gardai from Tullamore are asking for the public's assistance to find 63-year-old Peter Guinan, who has been missing since Sunday evening. Mr Guinan was last seen on River Street, Clara, Co Offaly at about 8.40pm on Sunday last, January 25.

Mr Guinan is said to be of stocky build, measuring 1.75m (5' 9”) tall.

Peter was last seen wearing a fawn jumper, black tracksuit bottoms and blue runners. Gardai are requesting any information that may point them in the direction of his whereabouts, or indeed shed light on his movements over the weekend.

If anyone has information that will help Gardai with their search, they are asked to contact Tullamore Garda Station on 057-9327600, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Ginny's Gone Dry! Local Festival Urgently Needs New Milking Goat

Ginny in her prime at the festival last year

By Justin Kelly

Just days before the Slieve Bloom Association’s Imbolc Festival, disaster has struck for their famed milking goat – “Poor auld Ginny’s gone dry,” they claim. Ginny is a family pet to the Rigney family, and she has been the superstar milking goat at the festival over the last few years. “Sadly, Ginny has gone dry and cannot be milked for this year’s festival,” a statement on the Slieve Bloom Association’s website read.


So, they need a new goat before the festival kicks off this Sunday, February 1. The Imbolc Festival 2015 or ‘milking of the goat’ festival, begins at 2pm on Sunday in Dempsey’s Pub Car Park, Cadamstown, Co. Offaly. If you are in the Laois/Offaly area and can supply a goat for the day, please email info@slievebloomassociation.com.

Imbolc Festival marks the beginning of Spring. It is most commonly held on either January 31 or February 1 each year. It is one of the four Celtic seasonal festivals – the others being Bealtane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. The Imbolc Festival was revived by The Slieve Bloom Association in 2013 and 2014. There are many customs associated with Imbolc festival, but the custom revered in Slieve Bloom, of course, is the milking of the goat. But first, they need to find the heir to Ginny’s throne!

All interested in hearing old stories and becoming versed in ancient traditions are invited to attend on the day this weekend. People can watch or take part in the ancient Imbolc Festival tradition of milking the goat on Spink Hill, and you can also churn the milk afterwards.

Mark Graham travelled to last year’s festival for The Irish Times, and after standing in “the dull bluey green glow emanating from the spruce trees” to learn about the milking festival from the Goat Milking Committee, the writer summed up the festival celebration: “Spring had sprung and the festival fields ahead promised an abundance of synthesisers and cider, but right then, a sup of goat’s milk was just perfect.” Yes, I said Goat Milking Committee!

The Slieve Bloom Association quipped a fond farewell to Ginny on their website recently: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Ginny for her good humour and pleasant nature through the years.”

The search for the new milking queen goes on in the Slieve Bloom Mountains.

Birdman Among Trio Of Additions To Tullamore Weekend Cinema Schedule

Keaton in Birdman

By Justin Kelly

Birdman

The critically acclaimed Birdman is the headline addition to IMC Tullamore’s schedule this weekend, and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s dark comedy is arriving to the Offaly cinema on the back of nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film boasts a stellar cast, including Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts.

The movie centres on Keaton’s character Riggan Thomson, a washed-up Hollywood actor famous for playing the superhero Birdman years earlier, who now must battle his egotistical demons to reclaim former glory on the stage. Thomson plots a rousing return to the limelight in a Broadway play, but has to balance family troubles and his own ailing conscience in the process. Keaton has been nominated for the Best Actor award at next month’s Oscars for his role in Birdman.

The supporting cast has also been recognised during awards season, with both Stone and Norton receiving Oscar nominations in the male and female Supporting Actor categories. Emma Stone, the rising female star of Hollywood, impresses as Thomson’s drug addict daughter, while Ed Norton plays a volatile method actor drafted into his Broadway play fold by Keaton’s character.

The Guardian reviewed the movie earlier this month: “Birdman is a hard movie to embrace unconditionally – it feels too knowing, too immaculately timed a display of mastery to really breathe. Even so, there’s plenty to enjoy and more still to admire,” Jonathan Romney wrote for the English broadsheet. “Birdman has wings, for certain, even if you find the feathers sticking in your throat now and then,” he added.

Birdman screens in Tullamore on Friday at 21:10pm and will remain in that single slot for the duration of its run.

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Colin Firth heads up the cast of Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Secret Service, and the British actor is joined on screen by Hollywood legends Michael Caine and Samuel L. Jackson.

Matthew Vaughn is the same director that brought audiences Kick-Ass and Layer Cake, and he has adapted Kingsman from Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar’s comic book series called ‘The Secret Service.’ The film follows veteran Kingsman secret service spy Harry Hart (Firth) as he recruits young streetwise Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin (Taron Egerton) as a possible Kingsman.

Meanwhile, Samuel L. Jackson’s character, a villainous millionaire, plots a murderous campaign against millions of people, and the Kingsmen led by Michael Caine are tasked with stopping the wealthy madman.

The sharply-dressed and gentlemanly Hart brings the espionage genre into the line of quick-witted comedy, while the plot packs in the action element. Mark Adams for the Mirror newspaper says “Colin Firth is completely at ease as the upper-class spy; Kingsman is a dazzlingly slick piece of bold and bloody entertainment, and while hefty in terms of running time at more than two hours, it packs in espionage action.”

However, The Guardian reviewed the film as “a James Bond pastiche in its bones, teeming with quips, easily dispatched henchmen and umbrella-derived weaponry.”

Kingsman: The Secret Service opens in Tullamore on Friday night at 20:30pm, and will run at the same time every night for the duration of its run there. There are also daytime showing on Saturday and Sunday at 14:40pm and 17:30pm.

Big Hero 6

The final film arriving at Tullamore this weekend is the family fun flick Big Hero 6, directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams. Big Hero 6 is a computer-animated superhero action-comedy produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. It tells the story of a young robotics prodigy named Hiro Hamada who forms a high-tech team of superheroes to combat a masked villain.

This animated film has been a commercial success, already racking up almost $500 million at the Box Office worldwide, and it has also been nominated for the Best Animated Feature award at the 87^th Academy Awards, which take place at the end of February.

Writing for Forbes magazine, Scott Mendelson reviewed the film as follows: “Big Hero 6 is a perfect in-between entertainment/action film. It is a kid-friendly superhero adventure, something noticeably less violent and intense than the likes of Man of Steel or Guardians of the Galaxy, but no less exciting or action-packed. It is also a visually gorgeous and richly entertaining comic adventure movie.”

Big Hero 6 screens in 3D at 16:15pm on both Saturday and Sunday, while the 2D version will hit the screens at 18:45pm on Friday evening, and continues in that time slot each day for its residency at Tullamore. There are also supplementary 2D screenings on Saturday and Sunday at 13:45pm and 16:20pm.

All Areas At Risk Of Snow And Ice In Coming Days

By Justin Kelly

Met Éireann has issued two status yellow weather warnings for the whole country, with wet and wintry conditions prevailing over the coming days.

A snow and ice warning came into effect at 6am this morning with Met Éireann expecting “wintry showers to bring snow accumulations of up to 3cm at lower levels during today and Thursday.” The warning puts “all areas at risk,” although most of the snowfall is expected in the north and west of the country.

The second status yellow warning relates to high winds that have been forecast for the whole country, with gusts reaching up to 110km/h in some areas. AA Roadwatch have joined the warning, telling motorists to expect “excess surface water and possible fallen debris from the windy conditions.”

The remainder of the week is forecast to remain cold with night time temperatures dipping as low as -3 or -4 degrees, while daytime temperatures will rarely rise above 5 degrees. As the temperatures plummet over the coming days, the possibility of more snowfall is prevalent in all areas.

Following the adverse weather warning, the Road Safety Authority have been urging motorists and pedestrians to remain cautious: “The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is advising all road users to take extra care when using the roads as showers in the coming days will turn wintry in the north and west, with a risk of icy patches in all areas,” a statement on their website read.

The RSA gave the following advice:

Check local and National weather forecasts before setting out on a journey. Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a screen scraper and de-icer.  Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass.

·         Remove ALL snow from your vehicle before commencing your journey. Snow left on the roof will become loose and can drop onto the windscreen during braking, thereby causing sudden and severe restriction to your vision. It can also fall off during your drive and cause injury to pedestrians or a reflex action by another driver.

·         In snow and icy conditions, manoeuvre gently, slow down and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. Too much steering is bad and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear when travelling downhill especially if through bends.

·         Remember that heavy snowfall and rain reduce visibility. Use dipped headlights and decrease speed smoothly.

·         To prevent windscreen wipers from freezing and seizing up in freezing fog, add anti-freeze screen washer to the water tank. Check that the wipers for wear and tear and replace them if they are.

·         Do not drive on the tail-lights of the vehicle in front (Target Fixing). This can give a false sense of security and you will be too close to be able to brake safely. In heavy fog, turn off your radio and let down your driver’s window a fraction, so as you can hear other traffic.

·         Watch out for "black ice." If the road looks polished or glossy it could be, black ice” one of winter's worst hazards: Black Ice is difficult to see! It is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. It can occur especially in sheltered / shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high walls.

Pedestrians and cyclists are advised as follows:

·         While walking on footpaths and in public places, or entering and exiting your vehicle, DO NOT underestimate the danger of ice.

·         Many slips and falls happen in places people regard as safe and secure, typically outside their front door, on the door step, on the path or while getting out of the car. It is very possible that a thin sheet of transparent ice or “Black Ice” is covering your pathway putting you at risk. When you approach a footpath or roadway that appears to be covered with ice, always use extreme caution.

Neil Delamere Brings New Comedy Tour Home To Offaly This Weekend

By Justin Kelly

Edenderry funny man Neil Delamere will bring his brand new touring show ‘The Fresh Prince of Delamere’ to the Tullamore Court Hotel on Friday night, January 30 at 8pm. Delamere makes the short stopover in Offaly for one night before continuing his tour, which runs into April, throughout the entire country.

Many dates on the tour are already sold out, but there are still tickets available for the former St. Mary’s Edenderry student’s Tullamore gig this weekend. Tickets are priced at just €20, and the Tullamore Court Hotel are also offering special rates for the night, starting at just €85 per person sharing for a ticket to the show and pre-show dinner, along with a one night’s bed and breakfast stay.

Delamere’s stand-up is famous for its quick wit and razor sharp audience banter, as well as Neil’s uncanny ability to spin a well-observed yarn with effortless comedic energy. The Offaly man was once described as “a master” by The Scotsman after one of his many appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has also made stand-up appearances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival.

Delamere has been a regular on our TV screens over the past ten years with numerous appearances on shows like The Panel, Republic Of Telly, BBC’s The Blame Game, and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.

The Fresh Prince Of Delamere is set to offer another stellar performance from the comic powerhouse, who is fast becoming one of the stalwarts of comedy in both Ireland and the UK.

Don’t miss him performing in his home county!

To book tickets for his show on Friday night in Tullamore, visit www.tullamorecourthotel.ie, or to view information about all of Neil’s tour dates, visit www.neildelamere.com.

‘Joe Prop’ On Its Way To Birr Theatre

By Justin Kelly

A one man show starring Fair City’s Maclean Burke will be staged at the Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Saturday, February 28. The play is set in the bedroom of bullied 12-year-old schoolboy, Joe Kavanagh, who dreams of international stardom as the best tight head prop in world rugby. Burke is famous for his role as Damien in Fair City, but now the Dublin actor moves from the soap ensemble to the stage for this solo performance.

Joe Prop has been adapted to a full length play after a successful stint at the 'Undermybed2014' Barnardos Project in the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin. Playwright Gemma Doorly, the same writer that brought the hugely popular show W.A.G to sold out audiences, has teamed up with Maclean Burke and Barnardos for this production. 10% of all tickets sold for Joe Prop across the country will go directly to Barnardos.

Burke in Joe Prop

The play’s central character is subjected to the scorns of his school’s bullies, and they have set up a ‘Fat Joe Kavanagh’ Facebook page to poke fun at him. Medication from a childhood illness has left Joe overweight, but he finds solace as a prop on the school rugby team. His school coach Mr. Murray says: “Some jobs are meant for big guys.”

A statement on the Joe Prop website says this is “Maclean Burke as you’ve never seen him before – leaping, jumping, tackling and scrummaging in a physically charged and powerful one man show.” Burke will be joined by voiceover cameos from a host of famous rugby personalities, and the statement says “it will have you laughing, crying, and most of all believing that anything is possible.”

The Irish Independent has written that this “is Maclean Burke in a moving and hugely energetic performance,” while the Irish Mail on Sunday called Joe Prop “funny, engaging, poignant and beautifully acted.”

On February 28, Joe Prop will begin at 8pm at the Birr Theatre & Arts Centre. Tickets are priced at €16. For more information or to book tickets, contact 057-9122911 or visit www.birrtheatre.com

St. Mary’s Edenderry Recognised As One Of Ireland’s Finest Footballing Schools

McDonnell embracing Daniel Flynn after St. Mary's Hogan Cup win in 2012

St. Mary’s Secondary School Edenderry has today been featured in Eamon Donoghue’s coverage of schools GAA in The Irish Times. The article focuses on Emmet McDonnell, the man credited with instilling a winning mentality in St. Mary’s players for more than ten years.

Emmet McDonnell is a teacher at St. Mary’s, and first became involved with the footballers in the school in 2002, and finally after a decade of steady improvement, the former Offaly boss led his men to the prestigious Hogan Cup in 2012.

Emmet was recently interviewed for the Irish Times, and this is that interview:


St Mary’s Edenderry now up there with the best football schools

By Eamon Donoghue

Hanging in Emmet McDonnell’s classroom in St Mary’s, Edenderry are the three AFL jerseys of past pupils Paul Cribbin, Seán Hurley and Daniel Flynn – gifts for the man they credit with bringing their school from senior ‘B’ to Hogan Cup glory.

When former Offaly manager McDonnell got involved with the school’s Gaelic football teams they were a solid Leinster ‘B’ team. Yet in the past six years Edenderry have reached three Leinster ‘A’ finals and two All-Ireland finals – finally lifting the Hogan Cup in 2012.

“I would have started in 2002 with a group of players who I suppose are now heavily involved with intercounty teams, but we were a ‘B’ team then. I brought that group through and followed them to senior in September 2006.

“Keith Cribbin would have been involved, Cathal McNally, they’re both with the Kildare senior team now. Then I suppose Seán Hurley and Paul Cribbin from Kildare too would have come in as young guys with that squad and Anton O’Sullivan, who is with the Offaly senior team now. Paul and Anton were actually starting on that team.

 “We ended up winning the All-Ireland ‘B’ colleges in 2007 with them. They had won a north Leinster under-14 and under-16 so a lot of work went into that bunch over the four years.

“That final was against St Eunan’s Letterkenny and Michael Murphy was in midfield for them and he was as big then as he is now. He scored 10 points against us but we beat them in extra-time and things just took off from there.”

Things certainly did take off; within two years of their debut senior ‘A’ campaign they were contesting an All-Ireland.

“The next year was our first year up in the ‘A’ and we got to the Leinster semi-final and Athlone beat us and went on to win it, but the following year we won it.

“Paul, Seán and Anton came of age and we ended up getting to the All-Ireland final, only narrowly losing out. Jack O’Connor’s son Éanna won it for Coláiste na Sceilge with the last kick of the ball, and I suppose there was a lot of disappointment after that final which spurred us on to come back and train that bit harder to win that Hogan Cup – and in 2012 we did.”

Training hard was a key component of St Mary’s incredible transformation with word of their early morning fitness sessions spreading across the province in those years.

“To be honest that was a little bit of a myth that grew legs and then more after it sprung up, but look we certainly did early morning training sessions. The reason we did that though was because we wanted to train at a good level but we wanted to do it without affecting academic performance.
“So rather than taking lads out during the school day, which wasn’t appropriate, we put it to the lads and it suited them.”

The three key men, pillars of the ‘new’ St Mary’s Edenderry who now travel the province with a swagger and the conviction of a school who’ve tasted success, would be Cribbin, Hurley and Flynn.

As has been the case for many years, from Roscommon’s Tommy Grehan in 1988 to Down’s Caolan Mooney in 2011 and beyond, the Hogan Cup has been sourced as a breeding ground for AFL recruiters in search of the country’s best young talent. Remarkably though, these three who were all consequentially signed up by AFL clubs, all hail from the same Johnstownbridge club.

“I suppose it all began actually the day of the 2009 Hogan Cup final. No sooner had the final whistle blown and the AFL scouts and Martin Kennedy from Dublin were on the field and they were speaking to Paul Cribbin straight away as he went off the pitch.

“Certainly I spoke to the lads over the years, and look, while they were certainly big losses for their club and county it was a fantastic opportunity for them to get and certainly one that’s be hard to be negative on.

“The scouts are looking for the best athletes and they are there in these school games. It’s the same with Caolan Mooney, he was the best colleges player in 2011 so it’s understandable that these lads are nabbed.

“In my classroom now in St Mary’s I have Paul Cribbin, Daniel Flynn and Seán Hurley’s AFL jerseys hanging in the room and there’s young lads coming in and looking at them everyday. These young lads are looking up to them, and it is something for them to aspire to.”

McDonnell has stepped down from the helm but according to current manager Enda Mitchell, his enduring influence is now imprinted upon all footballers in the school.

“It’s a mentality that is nearly ingrained from our under-14s now, these lads have been watching and they now know what’s become expected of them.

“Lads want to improve, we’re a small school, a mixed school and we’re punching above our weight.
“A lot of that is down to Emmet and the lads, they changed the mentality, put a focus on training correctly and put in a belief that we should be competing with these big schools.”

Irish Times Article: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/schools-gaa-st-mary-s-edenderry-now-up-there-with-the-best-football-schools-1.2079749

Corcoran Kennedy Wants Ulster Bank Branch Building In Ferbane Available For Community Use

By Justin Kelly

Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy has called on Ulster Bank to make their branch in Ferbane available to the community or a local organisation if it closes. The Offaly-based TD has made the call after receiving a letter from CEO Jim Brown, which states the decision to close the Ulster Bank branch in Ferbane will not be reversed.

Jim Brown has said that the bank is working on a strategy that will link up with An Post, which has a branch in Ferbane, and he made a commitment that an ATM machine will remain in the town. However, he has said that “he wishes to be clear that the branch itself will close, and the decision will not be reversed.”

The request from Marcella Corcoran Kennedy comes just days after 300 people protested at the imminent closure of the Ferbane Ulster Bank branch on the streets of Athlone. The protest took place last Friday in the Westmeath town as people took a stand against the planned decision to transfer accounts there from Ferbane after the closure.

The fiasco has been ongoing since December when over 1,000 campaigners marched through the town of Ferbane itself carrying a coffin in protest at the closure planned for March. At that time, Deputy Corcoran Kennedy said it was an “absolute disgrace” that the bank bosses were ignoring the community, while Fianna Fail TD for the constituency, Barry Cowen called for the Taoiseach to intervene.

The Ferbane Bank Action Group will meet this week to discuss the Athlone demonstration and they say the matter isn't closed.

Deputy Corcoran Kennedy is calling on Ulster Bank to ensure the premises does not lie vacant.

Comedy GAA Play ‘The Pull’ Coming To Offaly

By Justin Kelly

The GAA based comedy ‘The Pull’ is being staged in two Offaly localities in March this year. On Thursday, March 5, Ferbane/Belmont Minor GAA club will host the production at Gallen Community School in Ferbane, while on Friday, March 27, Shinrone Drama Group and the Tidy Towns Committee will welcome the show to the Shinrone Community Centre. The show will commence at 8pm on both nights, and admission is just €10.

Half Solid Productions is the company behind the globetrotting show, and they are continually staging ‘The Pull’ in venues across Ireland, the UK, and America. Written by former Irish Independent GAA correspondent Liam Horan, and fellow Mayo writer and actor John Corless, ‘The Pull’ tells the story of the fundraising efforts of a hapless GAA club who have found themselves in €1,000 worth of debt. Liam was the creator of the popular 'Championship Man' series on RTE Radio One, while John is a well-known poet in the Connacht region. Both men have combined their experiences to create this popular show.

Based on the fictional Ballybore GAA club, the play follows the people involved in the club as they decide to pull a truck around their home town in order to raise funds and break a Guinness World Record. “Chaos ensues and they end up getting in way over their heads,” Liam Horan explained.
The club itself is an anomaly as it claims its foundation pre-dates the GAA organisation by some 130 years. Not to be undone by a ‘not-so-colossal’ debt of €1,000, which “feels like a million euro” to the humble Ballybore boys, a ‘thoroughly colossal’ fundraising effort is formulated in the shape of the ‘muck-shifting’ truck pull.

Instead of a collaborated club effort, the responsibility falls on “the usual one or two,” and the plan doesn’t exactly pan out as expected. “In fact, the plan itself is not the most convincing document ever produced,” Horan quipped. “In the midst of the panic and cack-handed attempts at fundraising, there are a number of sub-plots that arise to keep the crowd entertained,” he added.

Ironically, the play is now being used by GAA clubs throughout the country as a fundraising night, and it is receiving truckloads of praise along the way: “Through the chair, we would highly recommend The Pull. The talent and energy of the guys in Half Solid Productions is second to none,” James Deane, PRO of the Shannon Gaels club from Roscommon said. “If you’ve ever been to a GAA meeting, you’ll enjoy it – even if you haven’t, you will still recognise the characters from your local community. John and Liam brought us on a very entertaining journey without us ever leaving our seats,” Mike McMahon from Knockaderry GAA club in Limerick added.

Want to make some money for your club? How about hosting The Pull? For all bookings, contact Liam Horan at info@halfsolid.com or on 087-9185867. For more information on the Ferbane and Shinrone shows, visit www.halfsolid.com.

Offaly Hurlers Blown Away By Rampant Galway

By Justin Kelly


Galway 2-22 
Offaly 1-13

Brian Whelahan’s Offaly hurlers were brushed aside by Anthony Cunningham’s Galway outfit in a one-sided Walsh Cup clash on Sunday. Offaly were coming off the back of a five-point victory against Westmeath, while Galway overcame the same opposition by eight points a week later in the same competition.


Offaly opened the scoring through Sean Ryan, but the bright start faded quickly as Galway raced into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead after just 13 minutes. Galway were commanding the game, and four successive points from David Collins saw the Tribesmen extend their advantage by the 21st minute.

Any hint of a comeback from the Offaly men was snuffed out when star forward Shane Dooley saw his penalty saved by Galway keeper Colm Callanan. Jason Flynn and Dean Higgins had the pick of the scores in the first half, and when the interval arrived, Offaly trailed 1-17 to 0-5.

Offaly stemmed the tide somewhat in the second half, but when Shane Dooley finally netted with twenty minutes remaining, Galway were out of sight on a scoreline of 2-19 to 1-7. Offaly did hit six more points in the time remaining but Galway always kept them at bay with ease, bagging three scores of their own before the final whistle in Tullamore.

The contest finished 2-22 to 1-13, and Galway will now play Carlow in the second of the Walsh Cup semi-finals, while an improving Laois side will take on Dublin in the other tie.

Offaly boss Brian Whelahan was visibly disappointed after the drubbing as the result comes just a matter of weeks after he hailed his team “a very professional outfit.” Whelahan spoke to the media after the game: “I’m very disappointed. Today was a day where you would want to be showing the work that you have been putting in.”

The Offaly boss spoke recently about his players “enjoying the discipline” of a new tougher training regime, and was less than impressed with the end product on Sunday: “We have worked very hard over the past two and a half months addressing those things, but it didn’t happen today,” he said. “It was a disappointing 70 minutes,” the Birr man added.

Offaly will now begin preparations for an opening day battle with Laois in the first round of Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League on February 14.

Offaly House Prices On The Rise

By Justin Kelly

Figures released over the weekend by the Irish Independent have revealed a 12% rise in house prices in Co. Offaly. The Irish Independent's ‘How Much Is Your House Worth 2015?’ survey showed property prices on the rise in all locations around the country. It is the first time since 2007 that house prices have risen or stabilised in every region throughout the country, and this is despite the fact that stricter bank lending rules is making credit more difficult to acquire for buyers.

Property Partners Richard Cleary was the assessing agent for the survey in Offaly, and Cleary expects prices to continue to rise throughout this year. A four bed semi-detached house in an Offaly town will cost an average of €146,500 this year, an increase of €13,000 from 2014. The same house is projected to cost an average of €160,000 in 2016 in the county. A similar house across the border in North Kildare will cost €300,000 this year, rising a further €15,000 in 2016.

Apartment prices are also on the rise in Offaly with a two bed apartment, which sold for an average of €32,000 in 2014, increasing in price to €55,000 this year. The price of this type of apartment is expected to rise above the €70,000 mark in 2016. In Tullamore alone, a town centre apartment has doubled in price in the last twelve months, and there continues to be a strong demand in this market.

Cleary sees growth in the buy-to-let market as well, and he has been encouraged by developers again looking to purchase land for development for the first time in a number of years. “I see the main threat to the stability of the market being a large influx of repossessed houses at knockdown prices,” Cleary said.

On the average prices calculated through this survey, an increase of 10% in house prices is predicted for the coming year in Co. Offaly

Edenderry Woman Sets Up Grief Support Group

By Justin Kelly

Edenderry woman Caroline O’Driscoll is using “her own personal journey” through grief to set up a new Grief Support Group in the North Offaly town. Caroline has studied Psychotherapy and Counselling, and drawing on her own experiences with loss, she aims to provide “a safe space for people who are grieving to come together and receive necessary and valuable information that will help them through the painful process of grieving.”

In 2009, Caroline O’Driscoll’s 23-year-old son Keith died following a motorcycle accident in Edenderry. She also lost her father suddenly at the age of just 58 in the 1980s. “My personal journey has enhanced my ability to understand, accompany and support another human being in pain,” Caroline told InOffaly this week. “I honestly believe that without my training, resources and supports in my personal and professional world, I would not have been able to come through this loss in the way that I have,” she added.

“I found solace in looking forward and outward by focusing on my priorities and interests; finding joys in my life – but most of all by sharing with people who understood, and people who could be with me in the pain, without trying to fix me,” Caroline said. “I acquired support, and by focusing on the positives in my life, and honouring my son's memory and his life, I expressed my emptiness and pain. It can be very healing to express to others what you are going through.”

Caroline began an introductory course in counselling at a stage in her life when both her children were moving into their teenage years. She was finding it difficult to maintain the “good relationship” she shared with them in their younger years, and she wanted to understand herself more and stop taking everything in her life that went wrong, personally. “I had been parenting alone, after separating from my husband, for ten years and I struggled to understand and manage the feelings of deep sadness and loss I was experiencing,” Caroline explained.

At first, Caroline had no plans to practice in the world of counselling support, but as she developed her skills and resources to assist and support herself and potential clients, the goal of practicing became “more and more real.” “I hold a passion for accompanying people through difficult times and I have a desire to share my skills and resources at these particularly difficult times in their lives.  I believe that we are social beings and we need one another to heal and grow,” she said. Caroline now holds a Diploma in Psychotherapy.

As part of Caroline’s new Grief Support Group, which will commence in February, the psychotherapist and counsellor aims to incorporate opportunities to do the following: Share your story and be a witness for others who are experiencing similar feelings, learn practical information to help you deal with your grief, learn about your daily reactions and responses to loss, practice techniques that help relieve stress and anxiety, learn about mindfulness and awareness, as well as simply having a cup of tea and a chat. “I want to find what works for you,” Caroline explained.

Caroline plans to run the group in eight weekly workshops at the Parish Centre in Edenderry on Saturday mornings from 10am-12:30pm. Each workshop is self-contained, meaning you do not have to attend all the meetings in sequence, and can begin and end attending at any stage. “You will find help and encouragement whenever you begin,” Caroline told us. Each session will cost just €10 per participant. Caroline will also offer follow-up support on a one-to-one basis as per the needs of the individual group member.

A favourite quote of Caroline’s is “The point of power is always in the present moment” from Louise L. Hay.

You can contact Caroline on 0879089222, or at www.facebook.com/CarolineHealingIreland.

Offaly Youth Theatre To Hold Open Auditions For ‘Dead Famous’

By Justin Kelly

Offaly Youth Theatre are hosting open auditions for an upcoming show on Thursday, February 5 from 7-9pm at The Central Hotel on Main Street, Tullamore.

If you know anyone aged 13-21 with an aspiration to perform on the stage in front of a live audience, this is the perfect opportunity to realise that ambition. Dead Famous is a “devised play about a group of actors; some dead, some famous, some dead famous,” an OYT statement read. “If you would like to be involved with a creative, fun and dynamic youth theatre, come along to the Central Hotel on Thursday,” it continued.

Those interested in taking part are invited to attend the auditions with a prepared monologue, or they can choose from a selection available on the night. The production will take place in March this year, and rehearsals will run on Thursday evenings throughout February and March.

Offaly Youth Theatre promotes a youth led environment, and they say “members can write for the stage, act for stage or screen, or get help in preparation for third level drama courses, as well as learn about lighting, directing and camera work.”

Offaly Youth Theatre is supported by Offaly County Council and The National Association of Youth Drama, and is run by a voluntary group of facilitators in Tullamore, Edenderry and Birr.

Interested individuals can contact the theatre at offalyyouththeatre@gmail.com or find OYT on Facebook.

American Sniper Among Four New Films Coming To IMC Tullamore This Weekend

Cooper playing Chris Kyle

By Justin Kelly

Offaly’s only mainstream cinema welcomes the likes of Bradley Cooper, Johnny Depp, Mark Wahlberg and Domhnall Gleeson to its screens this weekend.

IMC Tullamore has an exciting host of movies on the way, and the most high-profile of these is American Sniper, directed by Clint Eastwood, and starring Bradley Cooper. Cooper stars as real-life US sniper Chris Kyle who served a number of tours during the Iraq war. 

The movie follows him through his life on the frontline to the time spent with his family back home, and the moral wrangling his duty causes. He is tasked with hunting down an enemy sniper supremo who has killed a large number of his US colleagues. The New York Times reviewed the movie recently: “Less a war movie than a western – the story of a lone gunslinger facing down his nemesis in a dusty, lawless place – American Sniper is blunt and effective, though also troubling.”

On the other hand, The Irish Times have said Clint Eastwood “misses his mark” with American Sniper, and described the movie as “a complete muddle.” Nonetheless, the movie has sparked debate in America with high-profile stars like Michael Moore saying it glorifies war, and promotes Islamophobia. Others, like politician Sarah Palin argue that people of Michael Moore’s standpoint are disrespecting America’s “war heroes.”

The movie screens in Tullamore, starting on Friday at 18:05pm and 20:50pm.

Ex Machina is the directorial debut of British novelist Alex Garland. Garland is famous for writing The Beach, a 1996 novel that was made into a 2000 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. He has also worked as a producer on movies like 28 Weeks Later in 2007, and Dredd in 2012.

Ex Machina is a sci-fi thriller that tracks a young computer coder (Domhnall Gleeson) as he heads to the mountain home of his boss, where he has to participate in an unusual experiment involving a new brand of artificial intelligence. Robbie Collin of The Telegraph wrote about Ex Machina recently, and he said: “This is bewitchingly smart science fiction movie of a type that’s all too rare. Its intelligence is anything but artificial.”

Ex Machina begins screening on Friday at 18:45pm, and then again at 21:05pm.

Following the success of his recent appearance in the Academy Award nominated Into The Woods, Johnny Depp makes a quick return to our cinema screens in Mortdecai. 

Depp plays a stylish art dealer who must search the world for a painting that bears the code of a missing bank account. The charming Charlie Mortdecai must fend off Russian criminals, British MI5 operatives, and an international terrorist in his hunt to recover the precious canvas.

Depp is flanked by an impressive cast, which includes Ewan McGregor, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jeff Goldblum. The film is receiving mixed reviews, but Scott Mendelson of Forbes magazine says that “Mortdecai works as a low-stakes comic mystery that is refreshingly aimed squarely at adult moviegoers.” However, The Telegraph has described Johnny Depp’s latest offering as “psychotically unfunny,” predicting that “surely there won’t be a film worse in 2015.”

Mortdecai opens in Tullamore on Friday, screening at 18:30pm and 21:00pm.

The final movie making its debut in Offaly this weekend is Mark Wahlberg’s new crime drama, The Gambler. It is a remake of a 1974 film of the same name with an updated screenplay by William Monahan.

The movie follows a literature professor with a gambling addiction (Wahlberg) who racks up debts of $260,000 with the proprietor of an underground gambling ring. Wahlberg’s character is given seven days to pay the sum with a death threat on his head if he fails to do so. Intertwined with the lives of some of his students, Wahlberg attempts to retrieve the money through a series of risky betting schemes.

The Birmingham Mail called the film a “pointless remake,” while the New York Times bemoaned the fact that it seems to “have lost all that was good about the original.” The Telegraph drew some positives from the film, writing: “This is an advert-slick remake of a Karel Reisz thriller from the 1970s, but this new version, which veers some way away from the Reisz original, never works out why its lead character is a compulsive gambler. At least the plot adds up, and the gambling scenes are well-staged and gripping.”

The Gambler begins screening in Tullamore on Friday at 18:30pm and 21:00pm.

Renowned Photographer To Capture Offaly In 2015

By Justin Kelly

Internationally celebrated photographer Jackie Nickerson has been commissioned by Offaly County Council to photograph the county throughout 2015. She will create 200 images which will be published in a specially produced book, and her year documenting the county will culminate in an exhibition of some of the images.

Nickerson’s appointment follows an open call from Offaly County Council for proposals from photographers late last year, which saw applications come in from all over the country. Funded under the per cent for art scheme, this is a unique opportunity for both the photographer and the county. Offaly County Council Arts Officer Sinéad O’Reilly told InOffaly this week: “The intention was to commission a photographer to document what defines Offaly, creating something that will become an important social document in years to come. The outcomes of this project should have a lasting impact in the county as well as providing a nationally visible signature of Offaly.”

Jackie Nickerson

“We are living through a rapidly changing culture; already the Offaly of twenty five years ago seems very different. The technology, social practices, domestic customs and landscape we are familiar with today will seem dated or may have even died out by the time today’s toddlers are adults,” O’Reilly added.

Jackie Nickerson, who was recently commissioned by Time Magazine to document the Ebola fighters, is famed for creating “images that examine identity, and the physical and psychological condition of working within a specific environment,” an Offaly County Council statement read. Her photographs challenge conventional notions of making portraits and landscapes and offer a more engaged view of her subject, and in 2015 that subject will be the people and places of Co. Offaly.

Nickerson was born in Boston but now resides in Co. Louth, and she spoke this week of her “excitement about being awarded this commission in Co. Offaly.” The acclaimed photographer has had her work exhibited across the United States and Europe, including in Ireland at the Museum of Modern Art. Her work has also been displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in Salzburg, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas, as well as exhibitions in Rome, Athens, San Francisco and New York.

The photographer spoke about her upcoming year in the county recently: “Offaly already has a strong sense of identity and is rich in history and tradition, but it is also a growing and changing community. Through working and consulting with the people of Offaly, I want to make a prestigious and significant publication that celebrates the county’s character and community spirit and that will serve as a social document for years to come.”

Those interested in meeting or working with Jackie Nickerson on her travels in Offaly over the next year have been invited to make contact through the Offaly County Council Arts Office at arts@offalycoco.ie or 057 9357400. 

Start Your Own Business Course To Commence In Edenderry

By Justin Kelly

The Local Enterprise Office at Offaly County Council are running a six week 'Start Your Own Business' course in Edenderry Town Hall, commencing on February 2. This course is free of charge to people on Job Seekers Allowance or a Job Seekers Payment, and will cost €70 for other applicants. Classes will run from 7-10pm on Monday nights from the commence date until March 2.

This course is designed for anyone who is thinking of starting up their own business. It will cover all stages of preparing for a business start-up, and course topics will include Market Research, Business Structure, Business Planning, Sources of Assistance, Taxation Issues, Promoting your product/service, and Managing your business. Geraldine Beirne, Business Advisor with the Local Enterprise Office told InOffaly this week: "It will arm you with the knowledge of how to go about setting up the business, how to decide if there is a demand for your product or service, how to properly cost your product/service, and how to take your product to market."

Participants on this course will be mentored by Leo Gibson from Mentor Consultants and Training Services Ltd. "Leo Gibson established Mentor Consultants in 1985 and has run a wide range of training programmes for various agencies both in Ireland and overseas," Geraldine Beirne said. As well as the six three-hour classes in the above areas, a final mentoring session will be carried out with each student after the programme is completed. The date for these sessions will be agreed between Leo Gibson and the course participant.

The Local Enterprise Office is funded through the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and Geraldine Beirne says the office continues to support start-ups as they move from conception stage into the world of business: "We provide free access to our monthly business ezine, free membership of Offaly Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) Network, as well as ongoing phone support and business mentoring from the Local Enterprise Office. In addition, the Local Enterprise Office works closely with all the Departments within the County Council, like Planning, Finance, and Procurement, to assist with queries and advise on any relevant supports."

The Local Enterprise Office can be contacted by emailing info@leo.offalycoco.ie or phoning 057-9357480.

Local Meetings On Offaly Greenways Strategy To Be Held This Month

By Justin Kelly

A series of information evenings about the Offaly Greenways Strategy will be held around the county this month. The strategy will examine areas, including the Grand Canal, where walking and cycling projects can be improved and developed around the county. There will be an emphasis on both improving existing routes and creating new routes for walkers and cyclists.


A statement regarding the strategy on the Offaly County Council website states: “The Offaly Greenways Strategy is well placed to include projects that complement national cycle routes while also providing Offaly with accessible, family friendly walking and cycling tracks. The draft Greenways Strategy will acknowledge that Offaly has a wealth of amenities from both a recreation and tourism point of view, and will include projects that can assist in improving accessibility to these amenities.”

In December, it was reported that Offaly County Council had announced proposals for a walking and cycling path along the Grand Canal from the county boundary in the east to Shannon Harbour in the west. “The strategy will also examine the peatlands and railway lines that are no longer in use with a view to making connections both within and outside County Offaly,” the council website read.

The Offaly County Council statement “would strongly encourage people to attend the public consultation sessions to be held this month as there are a great number of active walkers and cyclists in the county who have local knowledge and experience, and their views and opinions will assist staff greatly in preparing the best strategy for Offaly.”

Interested parties and members of the public are invited to attend the following public information evenings:

Dan Currams To Captain “Very Professional” Offaly Hurlers In 2015

By Justin Kelly

Offaly hurling boss Brian Whelahan has hailed his team as “a very professional set-up” as he installed Kilcormac/Killoughey club man Dan Currams as his captain for the coming season. Speaking to the media, Whelahan said: “In fairness to Kilcormac/Killoughey and their achievements in the last few years, it merits recognition.” “Dan was a major part of that team, and a key figure for Offaly too,” he added.

Currams will take the armband from Joe Bergin who is currently recovering from injury. He missed the side’s victory over Westmeath two weeks ago, and will remain on the sidelines for the clash with Galway in the Walsh Cup this weekend. “We have to take it steady with Joe,” Whelahan said, “but he is back with us after injury and will be a big option for us in a couple of weeks.”

Dan Currams has been rewarded for leading his club to three consecutive Offaly county titles, and Whelahan described him as “a very committed fella that will let his hurling do the talking.” The manager has also added strength to his backroom team in the shape of Edenderry man, and former Meath hurling boss Cillian Farrell, along with the former Laois boss Damien Fox. “Damian and Cillian have made huge contributions coming in this year. It is a fresh approach and the lads have really bought into the training set-up,” Whelahan remarked. 

Whelahan talked about a new level of training that had to be introduced to tighten the gap between Offaly and the top tier of hurling in the country. “Offaly had to get really serious about it or the gap was just going to get wider and wider,” he said. “You have a lot of lads in college these days and they are talking to players from other county set-ups. When given the opportunity to have the set-up that is the norm in top counties, players respond very well and are enjoying the discipline.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s game against Division 1 side Galway, Whelahan acknowledged the “step up” from the Westmeath game, but said that as “we get closer to the league campaign, teams will be looking to play more settled teams, and we look forward to the challenge.”

Offaly’s meeting with Galway in the Walsh Cup is scheduled for O’Connor Park, Tullamore, on Sunday at 2pm. 

Culture Seekers Reminded Of Free Wednesdays At Clonmacnoise

By Justin Kelly

Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Simon Harris, has extended an initiative that means admission to all OPW sites will continue to be free on the first Wednesday of each month for 2015. Clonmacnoise is Offaly’s only OPW heritage site, and Laois/Offaly TD for Fine Gael Marcella Corcoran Kennedy has encouraged culture seekers to avail of this concession in Co.Offaly.

“Giving free access on these days to locals, schools, and tourists alike, means this wonderfully historic area is available for all to appreciate, enjoy and learn about,” the Offaly native remarked. The initiative was first introduced in 2011, and Minister Harris explained that it “is aimed at encouraging visitors to take advantage of all the wonderful heritage sites around the country.” Over 70,000 visitors from home and abroad availed of the waiver in 2014, and the Minister hopes “the offer will continue to stimulate the growing interest in the nation's rich cultural heritage.”

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, who grew up in the area near Clonmacnoise, recalled her fondest childhood memories of the site for InOffaly this week: “I have wonderful memories of playing around the tombstones and high crosses as a child before a visitor centre was ever built. I remember doing pencil rubbings of the beautiful patterns on the high crosses and trying to read the names on the headstones,” she said. “I’ll never forget running around the round tower until I was dizzy, and then racing my brothers to the top of the hill to Clonmacnoise Castle. Reaching the top, we would be gasping for breath, gazing at the magnificent Shannon River, dreaming of swimming across it,” she added.

The Offaly TD described Clonmacnoise as “a special place,” recalling how she learned more and more about the history of the area as she grew older, and thus “really came to appreciate this jewel that remains on the banks of the Shannon.”

The free access commenced on January 7, and further information and a full list of participating sites throughout the country can be viewed on www.heritageireland.ie.

14.8% Drop In Numbers Signing On Live Register In Offaly

By Justin Kelly

Central Statistics Office figures for December 2014 have revealed a 14.8% decline in the number of people on the live register in Co. Offaly. The number of unemployed people has declined in all eight regions of the country, and the news has been welcomed by Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

“Another drop in the Live Register in December emphasises that the economy is in recovery and that more people are entering the jobs market. I am particularly encouraged that the Live Register here in Offaly has dropped by such a significant percentage,” Corcoran Kennedy said.

Rural Ireland has been particularly affected by the economic downturn, and while technology companies like Facebook and Google have opened offices in the urban centres, counties like Offaly have been lacking investment. Corcoran Kennedy, who is the chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs and Enterprise, has spoken of the government's commitment to rural communities: “This year there will be an increased focus on job creation outside of the main urban centres as the Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton prepares the launch of a pilot programme in the shape of the Regional Enterprise Strategy. This strategy, which I welcome, will specifically address local economies in rural areas, an issue I have consistently raised with Minister Bruton in the Dail,” the deputy stated.

It was recently announced by the IDA that 37% of foreign investments in 2014 were made outside the main urban centres, and Corcoran Kennedy wants to ensure counties like Offaly “compete with the likes of Dublin and Cork” in terms of foreign direct investment going forward. “The IDA figures are encouraging, and the government will commit to continuing this trend in the future,” she added.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy has also welcomed the other investments that were made in Offaly throughout 2014: “€6,971,007 went towards capital spend for schools in the county and 18 Garda cars came on stream in the Laois/Offaly division,” she revealed. While recognising these positives in the county, Corcoran Kennedy also acknowledged the difficulties that have been encountered by the people of Co. Offaly: “There is no doubt that 2014 was a challenging year for the people of Offaly. We have been coming out of the most difficult recession in the history of the State and recovery does not happen overnight. Major progress has been made however, and the same can be expected for 2015.”

Nationally, the latest CSO Live Register figures show that the unemployment rate has dropped to 10.6% from a high of 15.1% in 2012, and Corcoran Kennedy says “we expect that this figure will finally drop below 10% in 2015.”

50 Years On The Stretford End

The Offaly Native Who’s Been Watching Manchester United Since 1961

The Best I've Ever Seen: George Best

By Justin Kelly

Des Grogan has spent more than fifty years in the stands at Old Trafford following his beloved Manchester United in the footsteps of his father. Spanning the careers of greats like George Best and Bobby Charlton, and modern stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, Grogan’s love affair with United was passed down from his father, Banagher man, John Joe Grogan.

John Joe Grogan hails from Banagher, but he packed up and left for Manchester in 1948. There he met Ann Hourigan, originally from Rathcabin near Birr, and the pair married and built their home in Salford. “My dad started watching United as soon as he came over,” Des told InOffaly this week. “Manchester City were considered to be the establishment club at the time, and migrants flocked to United. The Irish in particular began to follow United because they were the catholic club,” Des said.

An affinity with United was handed down to Des and he recalled his earliest memories with InOffaly: “The first game I attended was against Sheffield United in 1961, and although we lost 1-0, I was completely hooked. Dad used to take us to all the home games, and if he could get a lift, we would travel to some of the away games too. I remember queueing up early to get on the Stretford End as a youngster before noon on a Saturday. I worked at the ground whilst at college and got to meet Sir Matt Busby and George Best, and both of those great men were lovely people. I have been a season ticket holder since 1978, and enjoyed some great away days as well, but having kids of my own and mounting mortgage repayments meant I had to curtail the away trips.”

Des Grogan is very proud of his Offaly roots, and says his “emotional family home is still on the Birr Road at the top of the hill in Banagher.” Des used to stay with his grandparents in Offaly every summer as a child, and he has fond memories of “the freedom” in the countryside as opposed to the bustle of Manchester: “It was the highlight of the year and we used to love going there as youngsters. Granddad was a wonderful gardener and I still recall his floury home-grown potatoes. When I started visiting their house on the Birr Road, there was no running water, and it was a great adventure trekking up to the church to fill buckets for granny.” “I love Banagher in particular because of those memories, and we always consider it home,” Des added.

Back in Manchester, Des’s finest memories belong at Old Trafford, where he says he has experienced “some truly incredible” atmospheres: “I used to come off the Stretford End with my ears ringing and a sore throat some days. Sometimes I have felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up such was the noise. I still go, but now I’m standing on the Stretford End with my two sons, Dan and Ben, both of whom share the family passion for United. Des’s stand-out memory, however, came away from the noise of Old Trafford and the famous Stretford End; “Winning the Champions League in the dying embers of the game against Munich in Barcelona in 1999 has to be one of the greatest nights I spent watching United,” Des recalled. Manchester United overturned a one goal deficit in the final three minutes of injury time when striking duo Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the crucial goals.

Irish legend Denis Irwin

Denis Irwin was playing that night, and Des rates him as one of the finest Irish United players he’s ever seen: “Denis Irwin and Tony Dunne would be the full backs in my all-time eleven, but George Best was the best Irish player ever to wear the red in my opinion.” Controversially to some Irish fans, Des would find no place for one Roy Keane in his United all-stars, and instead would give that midfield marauding role to Bryan Robson, who he describes as a legend. Des’s experience of Manchester United is still an Irish affair after all, and he occasionally meets up with fellow Offaly native, and former All-Ireland Final referee Pat Horan: “Pat runs the Brosna Lodge in Banagher, and my sons and I occasionally meet him after games for a few scoops,” Des said. Pat Horan was one of the most prominent hurling referees in the country in the 1990s, and he was the man at the helm when Wexford won the 1996 senior All-Ireland by two points from a gallant Limerick outfit.


Des has also graced the stands and sidelines of the GAA, and recalls watching St. Rynaghs when on holiday, and has watched Offaly in both hurling and football over the years. His uncle Seamus played for Rynaghs at one time, and his cousin, also Seamus from Cloghan, played football for Offaly. “I have been to several Leinster finals and was always amazed that opposing fans sat together. I loved the atmosphere and meeting up in Bermingham’s for a Guinness or three,” Des quipped. “However, one of my fondest GAA memories was Dad’s return from the first All-Ireland Offaly won. Well, he arrived in on the Monday night completely stocious, but very happy having detoured to the local conservative club roaring “Up Offaly” as he entered, much to the bemusement of the regulars.”

Des Grogan still returns to Banagher as much as he can with his family: “I still get a thrill as we approach the town and reach the crest of the hill on the Birr Road.” He also still attends games to watch his beloved Manchester United at Old Trafford, and is looking forward to watching them “challenge for the title” again next season as he heads toward his 55th year as a regular at the Theatre Of Dreams.