MONEENROE & DISTRICT MUINTIR NA TIRE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Moneenroe in the early seventies was an unemployment black spot. The mainstay of employment, the Deerpark Colliery had finally shut its gates after struggling for years to keep going. After endless survey’s and pleas to Government the end had come. The older working generation, suffering from ill-helath and disabilities saw no future for themselves in any industy that might start up. The younger generations only saw long distance travelling or emigration facing them. This was the atmosphere in which local (including surrounding areas) people found themselves – a bleak dismal future.
Eventually a number of enterprises – Ormonde Brick, Kilkenny Products, Castlecomer Textile Mills would fill the gaps – but never on the same scale as the Deerpark mines. Farming in the area was on a small scale – small farms mostly part-time producing milk for the local creamery, which provided very little employment and even then only seasonal. Social occupation consisted of an active GAA football club, handball club, occasional dance in the Parochial Hall, films, travelling concerts and an active Pioneer total abstinence association.
In 1973, a change of Catholic curates brought Fr. Bob Raftice to Moneenroe. Initial response was mooted – he appeared to be very religious, low speaking – no big thundering sermons from the altar, that kind of man. He used a bicycle a lot to travel from house to house and that was what he was - a great house visitor – in no hurry. He probably spent his initial period here sizing up the area and the people, and then he made his move. He spoke to a number of people about the prospects of a Community Council. He had come to Moneenroe from Kilmoganny where he had helped in setting up a Community Council and Credit Union. (The Castlecomer Credit Union taking in Clogh and Moneenroe had started in 1967) Fr. Raftice also had acquaintance with Pat Doyle (a native of Newtown Borris, Carlow) a field officer with Muintir na Tire. Pat’s job was travelling much of the Lenister area promoting Community Development and helping communities set up representative community councils. With his initial contacts – a steering committee was set up and a circular was produced to be put into every house. This circular set out the broad aims of the new council and the date and time of its first meeting. It was signed by the late Paddy Neill and the late Joe Walsh. Note the ecumenical emphasis in the list of aims and this has been maintained through the 40 years of its existence.
The holding of a democratic representative election was a priority to involve everyone in the area. The whole area was divided into five ‘electoral’ areas with five members to be elected from each area – thus giving a committee of twenty five. To get the council off the ground the first group of twenty five were selected, but the voting-in system would start the following year and then be held every three years after that.
In the autumn, of 1973 our first newsletter was put into each house. This gave a list of delegates selected, officers appointed and tasks undertaken. Much time was spent on drawing up a constitution, a binding set of rules under which the council would be properly run and to assist in the smooth running of all meetings
_______________________________________
COMMUNITY COUNCIL'S OWN PREMISES - Short History of Massford Stores.
The old Police Barracks (R.I.C.) was at the Railyard on the site of Jim Bolger’s house and during the “troubles” (War of Independence), it was burned down and destroyed. The two storey house beside the store was on Wandesford land and this was then used by the Gardaí. Up to this, it was lived in by a family called Hall and had land attached. Hall was a mining engineer and moved up to Cloneen to live – where Leeson Neale now lives. Hall’s premises in Massford had a number of sheds attached to it and these became the “Store” or the now Community Council premises.
Captain R.H. Prior Wandesford who owned all the land around Moneenroe and ‘Comer was involved in setting up the Co-op Creamery in Castlecomer in 1913. This succeeded so well at the time that he decided to set up a Co-op shop in Moneenroe. On November 7th 1919, a meeting was held in the old school in Moneenroe. A decision was made at this meeting to start the store in what were the sheds or out-offices, some of which still remain. The full name of the co-operative stores was “Castlecomer Colleries Co-op Society Ltd,” or more commonly known as “The Store”.
The first Committee elected was as follows:
Chairman: Captain R.B. Gahan, Vice Chairman: Anthony, Derivan, Secretary: John Longridge, Treasurer: George Delaney
Committee Members: Dan Langton, Tom Campion, M. Kerr, Oliver Holohan, Tom Kelly, Patrick Murtagh and Patrick Fitzgerald.
All the above are long deceased but some of their descendants are still in the area. Anthony Derivan’s daughter – Miss Derivan – as we called her – taught in Moneenroe school for years and many of us were at the receiving end of her cane. Maybe she succeeded in “beating” something into our heads during her time. She is buried in Clogh cemetery in the family burial plot with a broken headstone. It would be a nice gesture to have it repaired. That committee appointed a manager and assistant secretary called Andy McEvoy from Spink. When he retired in 1930 he was succeeded by William McDonald from Ballinakill who retired in 1950. Johnny Phillips, Cloneen, who had joined the staff in 1921 as an apprentice succeeded as manager in 1950. He retired after 50 years service and was succeeded by the late Kieran Meally. The “Store” was a great success both as a shop and a place for a chat. It was a hub of activity for years. However, times caught up with the shop, the closure of the mines being a big blow. The advent of the supermarkets in Castlecomer, Kilkenny, Carlow and Athy, put an end to the system of trading and easier availability of transport, both buses and private cars was the real death knoll. The trading closed down in the early 1990’s. The late Joe Walsh was then chairman and he called a number of meetings to try and revive some form of trading, but without success. Vandalism was taking its toll and there were a number of debts, including the bank demanding settlement.
After Joe Walsh died, Joe Mooney was elected chairman. Dolsie O’Neill was secretary and together with a small committee tried to tidy up the legal end of affairs. The accounts were not up to date, the Registrar of Friendly Societies was striking us off the registrar and the bank was looking for its outstanding balance to be paid.
About this time the Community Council expressed an interest in taking over the premises but all legal rights to ownership would have to be corrected first. Finally, in 1999 when all the loose ends were tidied up, the agreement to transfer ownership of the “Store” to the Community Council was completed. For the first time in its history Moneenroe Community Council was now a property owner. This brought with it challenges as well as opportunities . The first challenge was meeting the outstanding bank debt. Fundraising and loans were used to clear the debt. The next step was to make the premises fit for purpose. Local builder Joe Maher was contracted and carried out the work. It was always our intention that the “Stores” now known as “Massford Enterprise Centre” would provide an income for the Council. Our first tenants were archaeologist Valerie J Kealy and computer training provider C.A.I.T. The rent from these tenants helped to repay loans and fund further renovation. In 2002 the then government launched a new scheme for community groups to get involved in a ‘’Social Economy Scheme’’. We applied for training in order to get a plan together and under the guidance of facilitator Vincent O’ Shea and twelve weeks of sometimes fraught sessions, our application for a scheme was successful.
At this time Moneenroe Community Council became Moneenroe Community Council Ltd. as a company had to be formed to oversee the running of the scheme and the management of all funds received. Florrie Wilson had the idea of implementing a meals delivery service, ”Meals on Wheels.” Funding to install a state of the art kitchen came from B.N.S. Leader. The Community Council now became an employer as well as a property owner. Margaret Fitzgerald was our first manager and oversaw the setting up of the scheme. Jackie Meally took over from Margaret and drove the scheme forward with great success. Then our current manager Richard McKenna replaced Jackie, who moved on to manage the Ring-a-Link rural transport service. The first meals rolledout in 2003. We were successful, in 2006 with our application to the Dormant Account Funds. With this funding we purchased two delivery vans and installed a microwave oven for all our clients on the scheme. The Meals on Wheels has gone from strength to strength and now delivers over 1,000 meals a month to areas around Kilkenny, Laois, Carlow and Kildare. To manage the scheme a C.A.R.E. (Community Action Reaching the Elderly) sub-committee was set up by the Council.
The scheme provides a valuable daily contact for people living in rural isolated areas who otherwise could go for days without any social contact. It also helps to keep people in their homes and out of residential care by providing them with a hot nutritious meal every day , thus helping to maintain health. The C.A.R.E. group also oversees the installation of monitored Security Phone Systems for the elderly. We are now the largest installer in the South East. If you are interested in availing of any of these services contact
Richard at 056 – 4442840.
The Enterprise Centre at Massford now acts as the focus for all the activities of Moneenroe Community Council Ltd. Our many activities enable us to provide important supports for the people of Moneenroe, including financial support for various areas: Meals on Wheels, Tidy Towns, F.A.S. Scheme, Halloween Bazaar, Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party and the renovation and development of Moneenroe Hall. It is fair to say that if we had not taken possession of the old Massford Co-Op. premises, a lot of good work would never have taken place around Moneenroe. A premises set up to serve the people and improve their lives continues to do so after all these years and will hopefully continue for many years to come. Finally it is important to mention the volunteers on the Council who, down through the years, gave their time to try and improve Moneenroe in whatever way they could. This kind of generosity of spirit can sometimes be taken for granted or be overlooked. It’s important that we say thanks to them all.
Moneenroe in the early seventies was an unemployment black spot. The mainstay of employment, the Deerpark Colliery had finally shut its gates after struggling for years to keep going. After endless survey’s and pleas to Government the end had come. The older working generation, suffering from ill-helath and disabilities saw no future for themselves in any industy that might start up. The younger generations only saw long distance travelling or emigration facing them. This was the atmosphere in which local (including surrounding areas) people found themselves – a bleak dismal future.
Eventually a number of enterprises – Ormonde Brick, Kilkenny Products, Castlecomer Textile Mills would fill the gaps – but never on the same scale as the Deerpark mines. Farming in the area was on a small scale – small farms mostly part-time producing milk for the local creamery, which provided very little employment and even then only seasonal. Social occupation consisted of an active GAA football club, handball club, occasional dance in the Parochial Hall, films, travelling concerts and an active Pioneer total abstinence association.
In 1973, a change of Catholic curates brought Fr. Bob Raftice to Moneenroe. Initial response was mooted – he appeared to be very religious, low speaking – no big thundering sermons from the altar, that kind of man. He used a bicycle a lot to travel from house to house and that was what he was - a great house visitor – in no hurry. He probably spent his initial period here sizing up the area and the people, and then he made his move. He spoke to a number of people about the prospects of a Community Council. He had come to Moneenroe from Kilmoganny where he had helped in setting up a Community Council and Credit Union. (The Castlecomer Credit Union taking in Clogh and Moneenroe had started in 1967) Fr. Raftice also had acquaintance with Pat Doyle (a native of Newtown Borris, Carlow) a field officer with Muintir na Tire. Pat’s job was travelling much of the Lenister area promoting Community Development and helping communities set up representative community councils. With his initial contacts – a steering committee was set up and a circular was produced to be put into every house. This circular set out the broad aims of the new council and the date and time of its first meeting. It was signed by the late Paddy Neill and the late Joe Walsh. Note the ecumenical emphasis in the list of aims and this has been maintained through the 40 years of its existence.
The holding of a democratic representative election was a priority to involve everyone in the area. The whole area was divided into five ‘electoral’ areas with five members to be elected from each area – thus giving a committee of twenty five. To get the council off the ground the first group of twenty five were selected, but the voting-in system would start the following year and then be held every three years after that.
In the autumn, of 1973 our first newsletter was put into each house. This gave a list of delegates selected, officers appointed and tasks undertaken. Much time was spent on drawing up a constitution, a binding set of rules under which the council would be properly run and to assist in the smooth running of all meetings
_______________________________________
COMMUNITY COUNCIL'S OWN PREMISES - Short History of Massford Stores.
The old Police Barracks (R.I.C.) was at the Railyard on the site of Jim Bolger’s house and during the “troubles” (War of Independence), it was burned down and destroyed. The two storey house beside the store was on Wandesford land and this was then used by the Gardaí. Up to this, it was lived in by a family called Hall and had land attached. Hall was a mining engineer and moved up to Cloneen to live – where Leeson Neale now lives. Hall’s premises in Massford had a number of sheds attached to it and these became the “Store” or the now Community Council premises.
Captain R.H. Prior Wandesford who owned all the land around Moneenroe and ‘Comer was involved in setting up the Co-op Creamery in Castlecomer in 1913. This succeeded so well at the time that he decided to set up a Co-op shop in Moneenroe. On November 7th 1919, a meeting was held in the old school in Moneenroe. A decision was made at this meeting to start the store in what were the sheds or out-offices, some of which still remain. The full name of the co-operative stores was “Castlecomer Colleries Co-op Society Ltd,” or more commonly known as “The Store”.
The first Committee elected was as follows:
Chairman: Captain R.B. Gahan, Vice Chairman: Anthony, Derivan, Secretary: John Longridge, Treasurer: George Delaney
Committee Members: Dan Langton, Tom Campion, M. Kerr, Oliver Holohan, Tom Kelly, Patrick Murtagh and Patrick Fitzgerald.
All the above are long deceased but some of their descendants are still in the area. Anthony Derivan’s daughter – Miss Derivan – as we called her – taught in Moneenroe school for years and many of us were at the receiving end of her cane. Maybe she succeeded in “beating” something into our heads during her time. She is buried in Clogh cemetery in the family burial plot with a broken headstone. It would be a nice gesture to have it repaired. That committee appointed a manager and assistant secretary called Andy McEvoy from Spink. When he retired in 1930 he was succeeded by William McDonald from Ballinakill who retired in 1950. Johnny Phillips, Cloneen, who had joined the staff in 1921 as an apprentice succeeded as manager in 1950. He retired after 50 years service and was succeeded by the late Kieran Meally. The “Store” was a great success both as a shop and a place for a chat. It was a hub of activity for years. However, times caught up with the shop, the closure of the mines being a big blow. The advent of the supermarkets in Castlecomer, Kilkenny, Carlow and Athy, put an end to the system of trading and easier availability of transport, both buses and private cars was the real death knoll. The trading closed down in the early 1990’s. The late Joe Walsh was then chairman and he called a number of meetings to try and revive some form of trading, but without success. Vandalism was taking its toll and there were a number of debts, including the bank demanding settlement.
After Joe Walsh died, Joe Mooney was elected chairman. Dolsie O’Neill was secretary and together with a small committee tried to tidy up the legal end of affairs. The accounts were not up to date, the Registrar of Friendly Societies was striking us off the registrar and the bank was looking for its outstanding balance to be paid.
About this time the Community Council expressed an interest in taking over the premises but all legal rights to ownership would have to be corrected first. Finally, in 1999 when all the loose ends were tidied up, the agreement to transfer ownership of the “Store” to the Community Council was completed. For the first time in its history Moneenroe Community Council was now a property owner. This brought with it challenges as well as opportunities . The first challenge was meeting the outstanding bank debt. Fundraising and loans were used to clear the debt. The next step was to make the premises fit for purpose. Local builder Joe Maher was contracted and carried out the work. It was always our intention that the “Stores” now known as “Massford Enterprise Centre” would provide an income for the Council. Our first tenants were archaeologist Valerie J Kealy and computer training provider C.A.I.T. The rent from these tenants helped to repay loans and fund further renovation. In 2002 the then government launched a new scheme for community groups to get involved in a ‘’Social Economy Scheme’’. We applied for training in order to get a plan together and under the guidance of facilitator Vincent O’ Shea and twelve weeks of sometimes fraught sessions, our application for a scheme was successful.
At this time Moneenroe Community Council became Moneenroe Community Council Ltd. as a company had to be formed to oversee the running of the scheme and the management of all funds received. Florrie Wilson had the idea of implementing a meals delivery service, ”Meals on Wheels.” Funding to install a state of the art kitchen came from B.N.S. Leader. The Community Council now became an employer as well as a property owner. Margaret Fitzgerald was our first manager and oversaw the setting up of the scheme. Jackie Meally took over from Margaret and drove the scheme forward with great success. Then our current manager Richard McKenna replaced Jackie, who moved on to manage the Ring-a-Link rural transport service. The first meals rolledout in 2003. We were successful, in 2006 with our application to the Dormant Account Funds. With this funding we purchased two delivery vans and installed a microwave oven for all our clients on the scheme. The Meals on Wheels has gone from strength to strength and now delivers over 1,000 meals a month to areas around Kilkenny, Laois, Carlow and Kildare. To manage the scheme a C.A.R.E. (Community Action Reaching the Elderly) sub-committee was set up by the Council.
The scheme provides a valuable daily contact for people living in rural isolated areas who otherwise could go for days without any social contact. It also helps to keep people in their homes and out of residential care by providing them with a hot nutritious meal every day , thus helping to maintain health. The C.A.R.E. group also oversees the installation of monitored Security Phone Systems for the elderly. We are now the largest installer in the South East. If you are interested in availing of any of these services contact
Richard at 056 – 4442840.
The Enterprise Centre at Massford now acts as the focus for all the activities of Moneenroe Community Council Ltd. Our many activities enable us to provide important supports for the people of Moneenroe, including financial support for various areas: Meals on Wheels, Tidy Towns, F.A.S. Scheme, Halloween Bazaar, Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party and the renovation and development of Moneenroe Hall. It is fair to say that if we had not taken possession of the old Massford Co-Op. premises, a lot of good work would never have taken place around Moneenroe. A premises set up to serve the people and improve their lives continues to do so after all these years and will hopefully continue for many years to come. Finally it is important to mention the volunteers on the Council who, down through the years, gave their time to try and improve Moneenroe in whatever way they could. This kind of generosity of spirit can sometimes be taken for granted or be overlooked. It’s important that we say thanks to them all.
