Stoneyford to Ennisnag Pedestrian Walkway: 

Huge advance in the walkway project for Stoneyford Ennisnag, to see more please follow this link

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A Skipper looks back.

John Connolly (l902/l985), like other members of his family, spent the greater part of his working life on the Barrow.  For many of those years he acted as skipper of the Grand Canal Company’s barge, ‘”The 79M”.  In retirement he recalled in these verses some of his earIy morning voyages down the beautiful Barrow Valley.  As the 79M with other company boats set out from the guay at Graigue they sought to rendezvous at St. Mullins at high tide with the steamer which would shepherd them all safeIy through the tidal waters to their destination at  Waterford The memories recalled here are all pleasant ones, but life on the Barrow had another side, and the boatman ‘s Iot could often be a difficult and dangerous one.

The early morning tide

By John Connolly, Snr

One evening fair to take the air, alone I chanced to stray
Where by the Barrow's banks as a child I loved to play.
I miss old pals and comrades, where we strolled on, side by side
Watching the boats come sailing down to catch the morning tide.
 
On every morning early, at the dawning of the day,
Some boats would leave Canal Store and others from The Quay:
They'd steer the bridge in lovely style, sweep by the weir with pride
To navigate the lock; below when going for the tide.
 
Passing "Michael's" churchyard where underneath the sod
Lies many a stalwart boatman - we'd commend their souls to God
By Uisce Mór and Murray's Lock past Dormer's in our stride,
Bahana's woods and Carriglead –in short we'd meet the tide.
 
And when we'd meet St. Mullins lock a steamer waited there,
While the lark sang high up in the sky, his sweet song on the air.
The steamer then starts sailing and the boats begin to glide,
A truly lovely picture on the early morning tide.
 
Poulmounty Woods;, the Cushlawn Rock and Coolhill Castle high  
The stronghold of the de la Rupe's, who thought they’d never die.
The skipper tending to the wheel, his crew on him relied
To steer them through the Ferry Bridge, on the early morning tide.
 
Now Sundays, on the bridge of Graig, I gaze down at the store
And I think how I’d love to see my mates back there once more,
To hear their happy laughter, completely occupied
A loading up their little boats to catch the morning tide.
 
Most of these men have now passed on and many years have flown
Since they went to eternal rest, where troubles are unknown.
For them we pray each night and day and think of them with pride,
No more they’ll sail and steer their boats for the early morning tide.

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Stoneyford Development Association

Stoneyford

Co. Kilkenny

www.stoneyford.ie

October 2020

Dear Friend,

I am contacting you on behalf of the Stoneyford Development Association (SDA) the group who manage Stoneyford Community Centre and associated facilities, to seek your financial assistance. 

The COVID 19 pandemic has placed huge pressures on us all and forced the closure of the centre in early March. This has had a huge impact on our already dwindling finances. For the last six months we have had no income, and this has exacerbated an already difficult situation. 

While we are starting to carefully re-open the centre again our income will fall far short or what is required.

Therefore, we are now seeking your financial assistance.

This is the first time the SDAhas sought to raise financial resources in the community in such a manner.  This is necessary due to the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves, and we believe this fundraiser for our Centre deserves support from everyone.

Our Executive Committee is a representative grouping of ten members from groups and associations around the village. The Committee looks after the Centre, playground, track and field as well as the general upkeep of the village and its environs. The centre provides a home for multiple clubs and associations with up to 500 adults and children using the facilities weekly.

I’m sure you will agree thatwe are very lucky to have such a fantastic facility in our community and the SDAwork tirelessly to keep the doors open and everything in good shape both indoors and outdoors. This work comes at a cost, and even with the generous support of the parish we are just about breaking even.

Loan repayments and insurance cover alone are running close to €2000 every month, not to mention electricity, water charges, maintenance costs etc. One of the main reasons for the recent substantial increase in our running costs is because our Community Employment Scheme, Slua Nua, has had to be wound up. This scheme has provided us with several workers over a long number of years and these workers carried out many jobs including maintaining our sizable grounds, facility maintenance, caretaking, event setup and cleaning. This has had a major impact on the centre not to mention the impact on the village. We no longer have workers to do work like sweep the street, maintain the picnic area or cut the grass on the approach roads. 

Every effort was made to keep the scheme running or amalgamate with other schemes. This included contact with our local public representatives but all to no avail.

To keep the Centre open and running we now must pay privately for the work formerly carried out by our CE workers. This has imposed a considerable financial burden on the association and is not sustainable without raising new funds.

The Development Association also cover the cost of lighting the walking track and litter bin collections in the village. At the present time funds are not available to cover the cost of lighting the walking track, this amenity proved invaluable to many throughout the Covid pandemic, offering an outlet to safely exercise locally. With winter evenings imminent this is a community resource that we would hope to continue with your financial assistance.

How can you contribute?

You can make payments to Stoneyford Development Association in several ways.

Please use reference SDAFUND followed by your mobile number so we can track and acknowledge your donation. 

I would ask you to give our letter serious consideration and we would greatly appreciate any support you can give to us.

Our bank details are 

Stoneyford Development Association: AIB, High Street, Kilkenny.

BIC: AIBKIE2D       IBAN: IE36AIBK93319844962043

Thank you,

Yours sincerely,

Stoneyford Development Association Committee. 

Joseph Whyte (Chairperson); Fred Malzard (Treasurer); Regina Moran (Secretary); Fiona Beynon, Bernadette Grace, Paul Hickey, Patrick Ganly, Paschal Long, John Raggett, Kieran Walsh

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Welcome to Stoneyford Development Association’s website. Thank you for visiting our site. You are very welcome, please stay for a  long as you wish. If you follow the various links you will learn about our community, our news, our hobbies our weather etc.Kilkenny is a beautiful county with many sights to be seen and experiences to be had. If you are visiting the mid Kilkenny region the village of Stoneyford is an ideal location to use as a base for your travels. It is central to Kilkenny City, Jerpoint Glass, Jerpoint Abbey, Kells Monastic Site, Kilree Round Tower and High Cross, Mount Juliet Country Estate and Golf Course and many more.

There is also good trout and salmon fishing in the area. While in Stoneyford you could experience the delights of Knockdrinna Artisan Cheese, produced in the village, the hospitality of Malzard’s or Sheridan’s Public Houses and stay in one of the many delightful B and Bs, where you can taste the best of local fare and the warmth of Stoneyford hospitality. If you are lucky you might get a chance to see Carrickshock hurlers, of whom we are very proud, display their skills on the playing pitch.We hope you will find this website informative and entertaining, if you have any suggestions or comments please feel free to share them with us.