A night at the ‘Oscars’for budding Spielbergs

Looking South
With Claire Minnock
THE RED carpet was rolled out in Bagenalstown recently for the Youth Oscars in McGrath Hall.

Thirty-two youngsters from the locality spent the summer months channeling their inner Spielbergs and coming up with four fantastic short films.

The four films, ranging in length from three minutes to 12 minutes, were showcased on Saturday 10 September as part of the fun Oscar-style ceremony.

The audience was treated to a bit of romance, revenge, education and even a few zombies.

“They did a zombie horror film, an educational-type one on narcolepsy, one called The Milkman’s Revenge about how crime doesn’t pay, and a romance. They were great,” said youth worker Joyce Brennan.

MC for the evening’s entertainment was local comedian Paudie Kenny, and members of the local community presented the gongs to the budding actors and film-makers.

Breakdancers from The Vault youth centre in Carlow provided great entertainment at the event.

Special guest for the evening was Richie Kavanagh, who presented the best film award and got a great reception from the crowd.

“They were delighted with him. The audience voted on the best film and the winner was Romance and Stuff. We had a barbecue at it as well and there was a very good turnout,” added Joyce.

The local teens, who are fundraising to buy a film camera for the area, held a very successful raffle at the event and a zombie walk earlier in the year.

“We’ve raised a good bit of money for the new camera. We’ve applied to the Youth Fund for €500 and then we have to match that with our own €500. Once we get the camera, it will be available to all groups and schools in the community,” added Joyce.

Staff of Cleary’s store in Bagenalstown reunite

after almost 50 years

IT MAY have closed almost 50 years ago but the people of Bagenalstown haven’t forgotten Cleary’s, Market Square.

Former staff of the well-known store came together once more to reminisce about the good old days in the hardware-cum-grocer-cum-bit-of-everything shop.

“It did everything you could think of: bar, grocery, poultry for export – everything. Everybody has memories of the shop,” said former staff member Betty Finnerty, one of the organisers of the reunion.

Staff of the store, which closed its doors in September 1962 after 60 years of trading, reunited in the Estoria Hotel in Bagenalstown on Friday 9 September.

Thirty men and women, who all had fond memories of the popular shop, chatted long into the night about the days gone by.

Ninety-five-year-old Paddy Brennan from Kilkenny left the shop in 1937 but returned, like many others, for the night out.

“I tracked them all down through looking at the phone books and that. We had a marvellous night – we danced and had a great night,” added Betty.

Peter Hynes, whose father worked in Cleary’s, joined the celebrations and played accordion for the evening, along with many others who brought instruments.

Former staff members travelled from as far afield as London and Chicago to attend the event and were thrilled to receive the memento booklets, carefully compiled for the night.

“We did out a little booklet and each one of us then had it as a souvenir. We had a bit about the shop and the memories, like the little man in the window at Christmas – most people in Bagenalstown have a memory of him,” added Betty, who has been working tirelessly on organising the event since New Year’s Eve.

“Michael Murphy from Chicago started it last New Year’s Eve. He left the shop in 1960 and he rang me on New Year’s Eve and we just decided to do it. Patricia Byrne, Joan O’Hara and Lily Holohan helped out a lot as well.”

Next year is the 50th anniversary of the shop’s closure but Betty admitted that this was a once-off affair.

“It won’t be an annual thing. It was a pity we didn’t wait ‘til next year with the 50th but we just decided to do it. It’s a lot of work, but it was a marvellous night.”

Boutiques will step in out at the Step Inn for local fashion show

THE COUNTDOWN is on to this year’s fashion show in aid of Ballymurphy Hall. The annual show will take place once again in The Step House Hotel, Borris on Wednesday 2 November at 8.30pm.

Faith Amond will step up to the mic once more to best describe the fashion on offer from local boutiques. Admission is €10 and there will be a raffle and door prize on the night.

Meanwhile, the weekly Split the Pot draw is continuing to attract a crowd in Borris after Joanie O’Connell nabbed the top prize. Joanie walked away with €231 from the 12 September draw, while David O’Toole and Benny O’Hanlon both scooped €20. Tickets cost €2 and are on sale from Ballymurphy Stores, Coleman’s Pub, Ballymurphy Post Office, The Hilltop Bar, Charlie Nolan’s butcher shop or any committee member. The draw takes place every Monday night in the Hilltop Bar.