Marcus Horan and Gerry Duffy with Will Whelan, Aaron Dennehy and Noel O’Leary. Pic: 24 hour event from Mizen Head to Malin Head IRISH sporting heroes Marcus Horan and Gerry Duffy turned out to support the Coast to Coast, Mizen to Malin cyclists, as they trained for the big event, which will raise funds for cancer research at The Mercy Hospital Foundation, Cork. The non stop cycle from Goleen, Mizen Head to Slievebawn, Malin Head in Co. Donegal will be undertaken by 5 brave cyclists. They will cover 637 kilometres, all in the space of 24 hours. more » Egle Aniulyte pictured at Cork Circuit Criminal court. Pic: Daragh McSweeney/Cork Courts Ltd West Cork couple found guilty of handling stolen property by West Cork Times Reporter A LITHUANIAN national living in West Cork has been jailed for a year and banned from Ireland for five years on his release arising out of an investigation into a spate of burglaries throughout Cork and Kerry where over €90,000 worth of property was stolen. All that remains today is an ivy-clad ruin but Dr. Noel Buckley historical archivist and Bing Crosby fan is confident that he has pin-point the remains of the home where the world-famous singer’s family hails from. ‘The records show that Bing Crosby’s maternal great-grandfather, Dennis Harrigan, was living in Schull parish in the late spring of 1831. All that is left now is a ruined ivy-clad wall, but if proper interpretive signs were installed, or if a plaque was erected, it could become a massive attraction in the area,’ Dr. Buckley said. However, the owners of the land on which the ruin now stands are reluctant to disclose the exact location at the moment. ‘The site of the ancestral home is located overlooking the Atlantic. Within a quarter mile of the site there are wonderful views of Carbery’s 100 isles. And with 90million Americans of Irish descent in the US and Canada, the site, if developed with the consent of the landowners, could become a huge attraction for them,’ Dr. Buckley continued. In the mean time Dr. Buckley would like to see a plaque or a statue unveiled in Bing’s honour in Schull. ‘There is an opportunity for the people of Schull to honour their famous son with a plaque or a statue in the village centre,’ Dr. Buckley concluded. Bing Crosby was born in 1903 in Tacoma, Washington. His well-know trademark voice made him one of the greatest recording artists of the twentieth century with perhaps his most famous record ‘White Christmas’ which was released back in December 1941. He won an Academy Award for best actor in 1944 for his role as Father Chuck O’Malley in ‘Going My Way’, which was directed by Leo McCarey. He died at the age of 74 while playing golf. From humble beginnings in 1992 this remarkable festival has grown a little in size and a lot in stature and is now a key fixture on Irish and international music calendars. Its reputation is built on its consistent ability to present world-class acts in intimate settings in the beautiful seaside village of Baltimore in West Cork and once again they have come up with a programme that is simply astonishing. International acts include legendary Scottish band Capercaille (the only Irish appearance of their 30th anniversary tour), American genius Casey Driessen performing the Irish premiere of ‘The Casey Driessen Singularity’, one of the worlds leading Old Time fiddlers Bruce Molsky from New York, young Creole/Cajun sensation from Louisiana Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, exciting Scandinavian trio The Nordic Fiddler’s Bloc and Cork native Una Palliser with Slovenian accordionist Marco Hatlak. Top class Irish acts include the new ‘supergroup’ The Teetotallers (Martin Hayes, Kevin Crawford & John Doyle), The Frames and The Swell Season member Colm Mac Con Iomaire with special guests, masterful duos John Carty with Arty McGlynn, Liam Flanagan & Derek Hickey and Toner Quinn & Malachy Bourke and young Northern Irish 5-piece Reel It In’. These intimate concerts will be held in unique venues across Baltimore, from garden amphitheatres to ancient castles to cosy marquees, and all in one of the most stunning festival settings on the planet. The Baltimore Fiddle Fair will also include a host of additional events including top class workshops, art exhibitions and a plethora of great sessions in and around the village. For many musicians and music lovers, the annual pilgrimage to the Baltimore Fiddle Fair is the musical highlight of the year and this year’s festival promises to be one of the best yet! Tickets for the 21st anniversary Baltimore Fiddle Fair are on-sale now. For full line up, schedule and ticket information, log on to www.fiddlefair.com Farmers queueing for Fodder in Drinagh. MINISTER for Agriculture Simon Coveney has announced that he has extended the duration of the Imported Fodder Transport Scheme for one week. The scheme will now run until Friday 10th May. The Minister also today confirmed that maize silage is eligible under the scheme. He said his Department has been working with the industry on this and said that large quantities of maize silage up to 6,000 tons are currently being sourced for early delivery to this country. Minister Coveney commended the Dairy co-ops for their work over the past two weeks. Hungry Hill. Pic: West Cork Times TOURISM Minister Michael Ring has unveiled the final route for the Wild Atlantic Way, a new touring route running from West Cork to Donegal. The Minister joined Fáilte Ireland to present the final route to 300 top overseas tour operators attending Meitheal 2013, Ireland’s largest tourism trade fair. This year she enjoyed her best season to date amassing a total of 16 winners from a total on nine meetings and only lost out in the jockies championship by a single win. Among those appearing this year will be Jimmy Crowley, Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly, Baggyrinkle Swansea Shantymen, Jim Mageaan, Dick Miles, Jim Bainbridge Andrew Mackay and Carole Etherton, Rubicon,Lands End Bluegrass band, the Cork Singers’ Club and many many more. Dunlough Bay. Pic: Google A CONVICTED drug smuggler’s appeal against his conviction for his part in the Dunlough Bay drugs haul has been refused by the Court of Criminal Appeal. Fifty three-year-old Perry Wharrie, from Essex in England, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his part in the biggest ever drugs seizure in the history of the state discovered at Dunlough Bay on the Mizen Peninsula in July 2007.
Gerard McCarthy
WHILE Moneygall can claim President Barack Obama as one of their own, Schull is hoping to prove that the legendary Bing Crosby has his roots firmly planted in West Cork.
One of Ireland’s best small music festivals, The Baltimore Fiddle Fair takes place from Thursday May 9 to Sunday May 12.
THE sport of road trotting to the outsider may seem like a male dominated sport like many other equine events but 26-year-old Deirdre Goggin has dispelled that myth and to those of us who follow this unique sport see this popular Goleen native as one of the best riders on the circuit.
THE 2013 Fastnet Maritime and Folk Festival takes place in Ballydehob from June14-16 this year with a huge range of performers already confirmed to take part.
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