Local Notes: Teaching away, Greenway progress, Rose Road news, sympathies and much more
The safety fence for the greenway's permanent car park at Ballyverneen, Glenmore, is expected to be installed this month
Work on the Ferrybank to Curraghmore section of the South-East Greenway is making significant strides. Over the past few weeks, pavement surfacing has been a priority, with approximately 4.95km overlaid with a bound material to ensure readiness before the winter season. Fencing works are ongoing along the greenway, with the installation of timber screen fencing on Lot 2 now underway. Meanwhile, the safety fence for the greenway's permanent car park at Ballyverneen, Glenmore, is expected to be installed this month, along with the completion of public lighting. Once these tasks are finished, a road safety audit will be conducted ahead of the opening of the 39-bay car park. The project remains on schedule, with the works contract set to conclude by the end of the year. Following a safety audit and minor finishing touches, the greenway is expected to open to the public in the first quarter of 2025, offering a new recreational resource for the region.
A long-standing issue involving Ferrybank GAA Club, and Ferrybank AFC, the local graveyard, and Abbeylands Estate has reached a provisional resolution, following an agreement between Waterford City and County Council and Kilkenny County Council. The road, despite being a cul-de-sac, is the only access route for over 6,000 Ferrybank residents to their main community sports facilities. Located beside Ferrybank Shopping Centre, the road has been the subject of a dispute between the two Councils over responsibility for traffic calming measures, after several near misses and one injury involving a minor. Both clubs have engaged in talks with the Councils over their concerns for safety of their membership and the public.
Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Eamon Quinlan explained: “The road was in a sort of no man’s land for years. Unlike most roads, where the county border runs down the centre, here the border swerves in and out.”
Approximately 85 per cent of the road lies within Kilkenny, but it serves critical community facilities based in Waterford, including the GAA and football clubs. The complex boundary issue has persisted for generations, with one-third of Ferrybank in Waterford and two-thirds in Kilkenny. Notably, the local GAA club has one goalpost in Waterford and the other in Kilkenny. Cllr Quinlan noted: “Kilkenny already controls most of the road, so it makes sense they take the lead on maintaining it. But I can assure my constituents that this is not a change in county boundaries.”
This agreement is expected to resolve the road safety concerns without altering the boundary between the counties.
The death has occurred of Sarah (Sally) Droney (nee: Thompson), Belmont Heights, Ferrybank and formerly of Arbor Road, Lisduggan and Butlerstown, who passed away on Wednesday, October 2. She was predeceased by her parents Henry and Catherine, her sister Ellen, her infant twin sisters Mary and Bridget, her brothers Joe, Simon, Harry, and Jimmy. Deeply regretted by her husband Mick, son Kevin, daughters Michelle, Elaine, Claire and Jennifer, sons-in-law Derek, Dermot, Darren and Keith, daughter-in-law Melissa, her 15 grandchildren, her brother William, sisters Nancy, Patty, and Phyllis, her many nieces and nephews, extended family neighbours and friends. She reposed at Thompson's Funeral Home, Barrack Street, on Saturday evening, and was interred in St. Otteran’s Cemetery, Ballinaneashagh, following her Requiem Mass on Sunday in St. Paul's Church.
Laura, one of the Ferrybank Women’s Shed members, has kindly agreed to deliver a demonstration on creating a Memory Cushion or regular cushion covers on Tuesday mornings from 10am until 12noon, in Ferrybank Soccer Club (AFC). No sewing skills are required. Come along and join us, even if it is only for a cuppa and chat. Looking forward to seeing all you wonderful women on Tuesday morning.
On Sunday October 6, Mary Atkins (nee: Cullinane), Ballymountain, Ferrybank and formerly of Liccaun, Dunmore East, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in the tender care of the staff at the Oak Ward, University Hospital, Waterford. Mary was predeceased by her husband Billy, brothers Davy, Jimmy and Neddy and sister Josie. She will be sadly missed by her loving children Rita, Maria, Helen, Noel and Trisha, grandchildren, Colm, Lee, Nicole and Sophie, great-granddaughter Summer, brother John-Joe, brother-in-Law Tony, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours, and friends. She was laid to rest in Kilmacow Cemetery on Thursday after Requiem Mass in St Senan’s Church, Kilmacow.
On Saturday, November 23, Sandra O’Brien is participating in Shave or Dye to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Awareness. Her motivation is deeply personal. In 2020, she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Thankfully, surgery was enough, and she did not require further treatment. Then, in 2023, her sister Catherine was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She bravely endured six months of chemotherapy, battling through the sickness and the emotional toll of losing her hair. While Sandra can choose to shave her head for this cause, many, like Catherine, do not have that choice. Please support this worthy cause, whether by donating via the link online at https://www.justgiving.com/page/sandrasheadshave or by joining us on the night in Stapleton’s Bar, Slieverue. Sandra is well known in the area, having played with the Ferrybank Mothers & Others team.
Two former students at the Abbey Community College and both from Ferrybank, ended up teaching in the same school over 10,000km away from home. Lydia Grant, St Killian’s Place and Dal O’Neill from Ferrybank ended up teaching the same class in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Lydia who was a popular member of the Ferrybank Camogie team and an important member of the local River Rescue team, left these shores last year, but will hopefully be back in December.
