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The Officers, Financial Committee, Technical committee and the promotion committee of Mourneabbey Residents Trust Fund express their sincere gratitude to all those, who to date, have supported the recent fund-raising drive for the purchase of additional lands. We commend your vision for the future, and your faith in the project, which will provide extra amenities for all age groups in our parish.We are delighted to inform you that to date we have reached the grand sum of190,460.71.EUR Always remember, it is never too late to make a decision.Contact any of the commitee below.
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MOURNEABBBEY PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
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By Helen Hogan(The Corkman)
MOURNEABBEY Residents Trust Committee have this week announced further details of a major initiative which they have recently launched in order to fund the purchase of lands adjacent to the current community centre in the area. The long-term plan of the group is to develop an array of additional sporting and recreational facilities for the local community.
Currently the group are raising funds to buy additional lands near to the site of the current community centre which they state is overused and cannot cater for the needs of a growing community and parish. Upwards of 11 clubs are currently affiliated to the Hall Committee of Mourneabbey, they said, highlighting the need for new sports and recreational facilities.
After the land is secured the Residents Trust Committee hope to develop a number of extra features including an additional playing field, a woodland walkway around the perimeter of the site, tennis and basketball courts, spectator stand with dressing rooms underneath, an all weather playing pitch, a pitch and putt course, golf driving net, a handball and hurling alley and running track and field events area.
Other additional features planned for in the project include the refurbishment of the existing hall and rooms, which is hoped will incorporate a resource centre for the elderly, a car park, childrens playground, a new access roadway, a picnic area and the plantation of native trees.
Over the coming weeks representatives in each station area will be calling on local people with all the details of the fundraising scheme. Less than £5 per week is all it will cost, they stated, adding that it will be a £5 investment into the future of the parish for the provision of the amenities.
We are all aware, in todays world, the scale of this development does not come cheap. The Finance Committee are more aware than most of the task in hand, they said adding; Mourneabbey owes it to its future community to provide, like Mourneabbey has always done. There are two costs to consider, the price of development and the cost of doing nothing.
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MOURNEABBEY RESIDENTS TRUST FUND
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Dear Resident,
Some 30 years ago Mourneabbey Community came together with their vision for the future,
With Great foresight and ingenuity, the existing amenities were planned, financed and completed, an outstanding achievement for its time.However our parish is growing quickly.With Cork City just twenty minutes away, this growth will continue.The present facilities are inadequate with upwards of eleven clubs affiliated to the Hall Commitee and the existing lands completely over used.
After the overwhelming response of two public meetings, it has beeen decided to proceed with the purchase of land adjacent to the community centre.
This gives the parish a golden opportunity to provide the extra amenities that are so badly needed for the young and old of the parish over the next twenty years.]
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MOURNEABBEY COMMUNITY UNVEIL PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENTS
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Mourneabbey community outline plans for ambitious new sports complex
By Helen Hogan
THE community in Mourneabbey have this week outlined their plans for an ambitious and extensive new sports complex, comprising of playing fields, tennis and basketball courts, stand and dressing rooms, playground, running track, picnic area and other recreational facilities and will be embarking on the first leg of their fundraising drive in the coming week.
The Mourneabbey Residents Trust Field Purchase and Development Committee who are driving the project forward stated that they will this week begin their fundraising drive by visiting each house in the parish with a view to gaining financial support towards the new venture.
Stating that the growing parish of Mourneabbey is looking to the future in embarking on the project, the Committee this week stated that they recognise the need for modern sporting facilities for the residents of the area, both young and old.
After the overwhelming response to recent public meetings, it was decided unanimously to proceed with the purchase of land adjacent to the present community centre, stated the Committee, adding.This gives the parish a golden opportunity to provide extra amenities that are badly needed for our youth.
Following the purchase of the necessary land the Committee are hoping to develop, over time, two playing fields, an all weather playing pitch, a tennis court, a basketball court, spectator stand and dressing rooms, car park, to refurbish the existing hall and rooms, a children's playground, woodland walkway around the perimeter of the site, pitch and putt course, golf driving net, handball and hurling alley, running track and field events area, the plantation of native trees and the development of a picnic area.
The purchase of land adjacent to the present community centre and the work will be carried out over a series of phases and will, of course, involve a considerable financial outlay, they added, stating that in the near future the group will be visiting houses in the parish in the hope of securing financial support.
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.MOURNEABBEY AND GETTING INVOVLED
When I was a child a plan was designed for a pitch and Community hall
A Hall for the clubs their meetings to hold and a pitch for the Boys to play ball,
A Committee was elected and ideas were selected-funds were needed the hall to build
How this could be done with maximum fun came Mourneabbey's Gaiety Weekend
As a child the night the swing boats went up was the very best night of the year
The night before the Festival opened the swings were always free
The men when they finished their work in the field would go for a swing on the boats
I thought them so brave as they flew through the sky, pulling so hard on the ropes
And all the events that were ran in those years raised excitement that was just beyond all
I'll never forget the pulls in the dark tween the Rocks and the Lions tug-o-war
The Circle's band played, the Roulette wheel spun and Pongo was ran in the hall
And numerous matches all ages and stages were played with a hurley and ball
We had King of the Castle and Fancy Dress, the costumes for both were ornate
And as children we watched for the neighbours we knew as the floats came in the Pitch Gate
We guessed weights of the cake, and the face in the photo and the number of buttons in jars
We fished in the pond and tested our nerves and won prizes galore in Bizarres
We dressed up our babies and dressed up our dogs the egg throwing was always great fun
At the end of the evening the ladies served up a cup of tea and a bun
As the years rolled on the Festival closed but the fund raising still carried on
The Top of the Parish filled the hall for the comedy ,dance and song
And memories of those fantastic nights in our hearts still have a place
When a video shows now long since gone a dear familiar face
The cards have ran for many a year and for hampers are know throughout
To be the best of North Cork by far of that there is no doubt
The New Years Eve party was such a success it?s going on again this year
Ring it in with your family ,neighbours and friends , in a hall that is full of good cheer
But a new day has dawned and my children?s needs have far exceeded my own
And from under tens to the senior team there is only one pitch to play on
We need to develop a little bit more our facilities are now out of touch
And to those who have helped us to get this far we say thank you so very much
Your ideas are needed get them into us, your presence two would be grand
And if you have any cash to spare we need it to but the land
Because this little Parish the smallest in Cloyne will give you so much joy
Come on board our ship, you?ll have such fun, you"ll never know "till you try.
Written by Aron 01i
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MOURNEABBEY RESIDENTS SHARE THEIR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR COMMUNITY
The future of a community lies with its children and the youth of tomorrow. In order to protect them and provide a safe outlet for play and growth basic infrastructure needs to be provided. It is time to set aside our energies in improving existing facilities and developing them further for the children now and in the future.
This all takes a great deal of time and effort. Mourneabbey already has the signs of a strong community. The seeds have been sown and some of the fruits are already showing. Members of the community have been working diligently to raise funds for the community development. However more effort is required in meeting the financial deficit and finding more dedicated people to join in and make changes for the future.
A FAMILY MODEL
Mourneabbey is a growing community with new families moving into the area. With today's fast pace and demands the family unit is changing from its traditional extended family to smaller units. It then becomes paramount to provide a focus where individuals can join in and be a part of the community: whether in support groups, play groups, sports clubs or festive events.
Mourneabbey community is taking a family centred approach in the nature of its developments in the new centre. By taking this approach the basic infrastructure can be facilitated for all the family - young and old.
WOMEN TODAY
In Mourneabbey there are many women who play active roles in the community. She maybe a wife, daughter, grandmother, carer or sports person but this silent support structure is often taken for granted and now need to become visible. It is hoped through the development of the community centre that this will bring about change. The new developments can aid the transition, anchoring more women focused groups like the ladies group, ladies football team, yoga and possibly new groups like a parent and toddler group allowing new members of the community to join in. By building a central point of access, support and leisure the network of women can only get stronger.
MEETING PLACE
A lot of women are at home on the their own and may be lonely. A community centre would provide a focus, a place to chat and have coffee, to share worries and concerns, to make friends and develop a network of support. These groups using the community centre would become valuable assets within the community, as resources in their respective areas.
DONAL FITZPATRICK P.R.O
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THE REAL MOURNEABBEY PEOPLE
ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL
Donal Fitzpatrick:Unique - rural - little industry - about 0 unemployment. The trend of its young, starting new houses in the parish. To the young, that everyone knows everyone rather intimidates,, but for the needy and elderly it's a huge comfort to see everybody is helped in their time of need. Mourneabbey hearts are big and are always there for others.
In some respects Mourneabbey is a strange area; it's as if the powers set about breaking it into parts, most recently by road, before that by rail, and naturally by the Clyda River, but the unity of purpose and sense of oneness that the Mourneabbey people have set about this most recent project is inspiring.
As a recent blow-in to Mourneabbey (and from Mallow of all places) I can't claim to be a REAL Mourneabbey man yet, (and no doubt the old Mourneabbey families would be fast to put me in my place if I did) - justifiably so. For to be a Mourneabbey person is not just to turn up, pull on the jersey, to lay down foundations and a home. An important part of my in doctrine must be to know what has been achieved and how it was done. With that knowledge comes part of the folklore of Mourneabbey. How the pioneers decided on the location of the existing Community Centre - in the middle and wasn't it obvious, in the middle of no place must have been the catch call of the day. Their foresight and vision was matched only by their dedication and energy.
The funding of the centre brought about the birth of Mourneabbey Gaiety Weekend. To the REAL Mourneabbey people the mere mention of same, brings back memories of long summers courting couples, and maybe even that first glance "and the way she might look at you!" or if you were lucky that first kiss. The more senior citizens recall the craic, the swing boats, roulette or the welcome cup of tea and a bun served from the horse box from a friendly face or rougish wink. When the Tops of the parish was run, it filled the hall with gaiety and laughter all performed and written by the locals. The Tops of the parish were to Mourneabbey what Bull Island is/was to Dail Eirainn and more. That spirit is still evident in recent years, none more so than when Clyda Rovers contested the County Senior Football Championship for the first time in its history. Again the crowds came to see the Mourneabbey talented
perform, and again all locals and the script although not finished yet is most definitely written in Mourneabbey.
There was something special about the atmosphere when the young and old with few exceptions attended the Millennium Ball held at the Community Centre to ring in the new era. That night there was no script ,but it was a night full of music, dance and general good fun.
The same venue most Saturday nights hosts the youth club, 2 hours of fun filled games and activities. From now until Christmas the more senior citizens will come from all over the North Cork area to challenge for Mourneabbey's famous hampers.
When the news of the size and scale of the new development was first reported people from most surrounding areas shook their heads in disbelief, we would never even be able to pay for the new ground, not to mention develop it they believed. Like JF Kennedy when he was asked "why?" he replied, "why not?" The real Mourneabbey people said likewise. And in what is an overwhelming response, almost £140,000 was raised in 8 weeks, out of a targeted £170,000.
In Mourneabbey nobody makes a big deal of this achievement, and in real Mourneabbey fashion it's heads down and maintain this effort until the target is reached.
As a blow-in to Mourneabbey it might be a little easier to see, like the woods from the trees, what makes this area special. It's not the impressive statistics for low crime, unemployment and such, or the tight rural community, it's not the success of the senior football team. What's special about Mourneabbey is the people, their spirit, their sense of belonging and place. This quality is hard to teach or learn, but it's passed on from parent to child and family to friend. The blend of active young and old working and playing together for the more general good of the entire community.
There is a musketeer type quality about REAL Mourneabbey people, all for one and one for all, but in Mourneabbey you'll never hear them shout about it. It's accepted as a norm and therefore nothing to shout about. Recently the Juvenile Club held a social evening to raise funds for their activities and over 320 people attended. The wheel keeps turning, and soon enough those juveniles will have fond memories of their social events with the same nostalgia as the Gaiety Weekends of yesteryear.
As a blow-in I can only stand back in awe and silent appreciation of what has been achieved by generations, before and present. My Apprenticeship to the real Mourneabbey people will be lifelong
and I will most probably never acquire that status, but I will rest easy in that my children will grow up here, to acquire all those qualities and comfortably fill the shoes of Real Mourneabbey people. Those shoes will be as natural as whiskers on a cat, and like Real Mourneabbey people they'll never shout about it.
This current development is about all the people of Mourneabbey, past, present and the generations to come. While it's important that we enjoy our journey it's imperative that we keep an eye on our destination. The fond memories of that home-baked bun, the three legged run, the tug-a-war pull and 45 drive are all part of that journey, but the destination is in the minds and hearts of all the people, young and old, those past, present and yet to come
The Real Mourneabbey People
Donal Fitzpatrick,
PRO.---M.R.T.F.
November,27th ,01
Tel. 022/29400
Mobile. 086 8135770
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