Bhi ocaid an-speisialta an Aoine seo caite ag crosaire Baile Mhic Gonair ag barr Chnoic Bui sa bhaile seo againn-ne. Mar is eol agus ri-soileir do chach a theann thar bhraid na haite seo ta scoil brea urnua togtha ann do Ghaelscoil Baile Mhic Gonair.
Last Friday saw the official opening and blessing of the brand newly rebuilt Gaelscoil agus bhi an-la ag chuile duine a bhi I lathair – na paisti fein, muinteoiri, tuismitheoiri agus aionna, an t-easpag Laoi ina measc. It was a most memorable ocaid and a tribute to an Priomoide, Treasa Ni Eachthighearn agus muinteoiri chom maith le baill an bord bainistiochta.
The new school is truly a great achievement by all concerned, not just the fine building and its first class facilities ata ann but the very blathu or blossoming of the Gaelcoil itself which has grown in numbers and esteem/meas from humbler beginnings all of 25 years ago.
It has grown tenfold from its infancy of about twenty pupils at its first location in the basement of Viewmount House to now numbering close to 200 agus 9 muinteoir. Ta meas mor agus buiochas tuilte ag Treas who put her considerable talents and dedication behind this project on gcead la. And it was good to see that work warmly, wholeheartedly and deservedly acknowledged last Friday ag an Oscailt Oifigiuil.
Deservedly too, the honour of unveiling the wall plaque ag comoradh na ocaide went to Daithi Kimber, who was the driving force behind the foundation of the Gaelscoil in this area sna blianta sin agus thug Treasa agus coiste gach tacaioct don aidhm a chuir said rompu. Mar sin bhi blas milis leis an ocaid agus moladh thar cuimse tuilte.
Fear Ann Fein
By any standard Daithi Kimber is a remarkable man and in mo leabharsa a truly fitting candidate for gradam Saoirse na Cathrach/Freedom of the City tribute. That is a carefully considered opinion both in terms of the man and the status of the honour. But such is his modesty that he would shy away from the public gaze for he has always gone about a chuid oibre quietly and gently, yet with a steely determination chun gach aidhm a chuir se roimh a bhaint amach. Daithi speaks the most fluent Irish – I cruinn agus liofa.
But David, who became Daithi, was born in Guildford in Kent, England, and enjoyed the normal English education. Then on graduating he came to Ireland and to Waterford/Port Lairge in the mid-60’s and in time took up employment with Kromberg and Schubert and progressed through managerial ranks. Being a German company David/Daithi set about to study German and joined the German circle and became proficient in that language.
Life moved on and Daithi now well settled in Port Lairge began to study the culture background of his adopted country – a country he was learning to love, literally. So he set about learning an Ghaeilge i ranganna leis an legendary muinteoir Seamas O’ Cleirigh. Daithi proved again to be an able linguist agus thum se go doimhin in umar na teangan – in the deep well of an Ghaeilge. He went from strength to strength but was not content to keep this taisce all to himself, Daithi has done immense work along with daoine eile to promote an Ghaeilge in Port Lairge which boasts of Irish traditions.
Yet this exceptional fear/saoi came inar measc – amongst an phobail anseo and has made a very valued contribution to the cultural life of this city. It must have been a very proud moment indeed nuair a bhain se an brat den phlaca sa scoil nua – it was, however, a Latin phrase a rith liom/that ran to mind at the moment of the unveiling by Daithi Kimber : Si requiris monumentum, circumspice! Is mor ata deanta agat – maith thu agus mile bhuiochas. A remarkable man, you will agree.
Ocaid Speisialta
Treasa was the Bean an Ti, ce eile, and special guests included Bishop Lee who did the blessing; Councillor Davy Daniels who represented the City Council as Leas Maoir who recalled the origins in Viewmount House as a resident of the area; Father Patrick Cooney, Parish Priest (failte ar ais!); the Minister (An tAire) Martin Cullen was ably represented by way of a well delivered oraid by Mairtin eile. Corn a scoile and the buion cheoil performed beautifully.
Along with na paisti fein there was a good turnout of parents and cuairteoiri eile. We wish continued rath and success to Gaelscoil Baile Mhic Gonair, do Treasa agus a foireann muinteoiri agus dar ndoigh na daltai uilig.
All in a Good Cause
Bad news can push the good news stories off the front pages, even from column punditry, but not totally this week as we have yet another positive local story. Therefore, it’s with considerable pleasure that I bring you word of a good cause event being organised by good people in honour of a good man who lived his life among us until his untimely death all of nine years ago now. I speak of PJ Moloney who lived a full life, loyal to wife Margaret and family, friends and this, the community in which he lived.
PJ had a natural sense of leadership and as such was widely respected. He loved soccer and was a keen pool and darts player. He was also a key figure in fundraising events at Orpens of old, in aid of St Martin’s Special School. It is in such a context that I raise PJ’s name today as still 9 years later his memory inspires an annual memorial event in his name in support of another worthy cause.
This is the PJ Moloney Memorial Darts Tournament which has become a significant competition in the Waterford darts calendar. This year this important community event will be bigger than ever and as such will be held at the Woodland’s Hotel in the main function room on this coming Sunday, 26th October. Entry fee is €8 and entries must be in by 7.00 pm on the night with the draw being made on the night. Trophy plus cash to the winners plus the honour of names being added to the Shield (displayed in Brass Cock Bar). There are also runners- up prizes including highest checkout male and female.
Tribute must go to Jimmy Power who has been the main organiser and general darts enthusiast for over 20 years. There will also be many spot prizes to be won and all proceeds raised will go to the cancer ward in Ardkeen Hospital which I’m sure you will agree is a very worthy cause indeed, where the funds will be well spent. It raised in excess of 1,500 Euro last year. It’s always a great night. Talking above of cursai Gaeilge reminds that a contingent will be ag teacht on Rinn for the event. All enquiries to either Jimmy at 086 8879147 or Keith at 087 9890759.
Poker-Faced
Incidentally, on the same night, again in the Woodlands but in the cellar bar, the increasingly popular poker nights will be upping a gear with the qualifying process for the pub poker league being set in motion. Come along and join the action. More details on this next week.
Solas Run
To finish on yet another positive story, the run to raise much needed and appreciated funds for the Solas project raised a whopping €250,000 for that worthy cause – the desired target figure. There was widespread support by way of runners and walkers and in turn the generosity of donors through the holding of many sponsored events leading up to the day, as well as in the form of direct sponsorship contributions. Despite the poor weather conditions the participants, in great numbers willingly and generously gave of their spirit and their energy. Well done also to WLR for driving the whole event. At a time when we are confronted with depressing news on so many fronts, it is a refreshing change to talk about good people doing good things – for others, a welcome respite from ‘mefeinism’.
Go seachtain eile, slan