It was a red letter day for Churchtown on 14^th July last when President Mary McAleese visited the village to review all the renewal work completed over recent years and open the newly renovated Community Centre on Kerry Lane.

The President mingled with the crowd while the Bruhenny Choral Group, led by Mary Wilson, sang Danny Boy and other beautiful songs in the background.

At the Opening Ceremony Gerry Murphy, chairperson of the Trust said: "there is more to life than money and there is far more than money involved in what has happened in Churchtown. What is happening here is built on a dream of people serving their community at local level supported by local government, other regional and national State sponsored organisations and most importantly the European Union’s various support programmes.

Churchtown Development Association. Front (left to right): Gerry Murphy, Fr Patrick J Twohig PP, President McAleese, Eileen Ahern-O’Connor, Mary Howard, Peggy O’Flaherty. Back Row: Noel Linehan, Margaret O’Brien, Bosco Thompson, Ina Bourke, Pat Murphy, Sean Howard, Martin McAleese and John Sampson.

President McAleese in her address said: "It is a tribute to the people of Churchtown that you have met the challenges so well. It is absolutely astonishing what has taken place and continues to take place here in this most amazing community".

Three presentations were made to the President on her visit - a CD and tape recorded by Nivita, a set of Father Twohig’s published works and a bouquet of flowers presented by Michelle Bourke on behalf of the pupils of the local national school who also provided a guard of honour for the President.

Eileen Ahern-O’Connor, chairperson of the Churchtown Development Association said in her address to over 300 people who welcomed the President that: "We would also like to thank the people and the friends of Churchtown who have generously supported this project. Whenever there was fundraising you never let us down and we hope you will agree that your financial contribution has been well spent". She went on to talk about FÁS’s contribution to the overall renewal effort and thanked Gerry Farrissey, John Murphy and Paddy O’Connell for their contribution.

Peggy O’Flaherty secretary of the Churchtown Development Association also spoke at the reception saying: "Every parish needs people who are prepared to make sacrifices in terms of their free time for the benefit of the greater community and it is important that we should recognise such effort. The Churchtown Village Renewal Trust commissioned a medal for this purpose and today we wish to honour two local people who have served this community well over many years".

Two "medals of honour" were then presented by Carmel Fox of Ballyhoura Development to Patrick Irwin and Noel Linehan in recognition of their community service over the years. The Bruhenny Choir led by Mary Wilson provided the music for the event and were selected for special praise by the President.

Many other dignitaries attended to event in Churchtown including Theresa White, County Manager for North Cork, local TD Michael Moynihan, Tom Sheahan, MCC represented the Chairman of Cork County Council, Dan Joe Fitzgerald MCC, Brian Quinlan of Enterprise Ireland and Pat O’Callaghan and Paddy Carlton of FÁS.

President McAleese also visited Padre Pio Nursing & Convalescent Home where she was greeted by Karen & Pat Kennedy, staff and patients.

Inspector Michael J Keogh, of Mallow and Sergeant George Finch of Charleville were responsible for local security on the day which ran extremely smoothly. The event concluded with a light buffet provided with the compliments of the Churchtown Village Renewal Trust.

Download a Souvenir Brochure - Includes full text of all speeches and a selection of photographs (PDF - 850kb).