Two young men have been jailed in connection with an incident where a young man was so viciously assaulted that he had to get dental implants. Det Garda Sinead O’Donovan told a sitting of Cork Circuit Criminal Court the man, who was attacked in the early hours of August 6th, 2023 in Midleton, Co Cork, still feels unsafe when he is in public. He was diagnosed with anxiety and depression arising out of the unprovoked attack on Main Street in Midleton. On a physical level he still suffers from a lack of feeling in his bottom lip and has difficulty with both hot and cold drinks. Kelvin Lynch of Cleenagh, Ballymagan in Buncrana, Co Donegal and Tyrese Emerhu of Avoncore Place in Midleton, Co Cork have been jailed for a year and 2½ years respectively in connection with the attack which occurred on August 6th, 2023 in Midleton. Both Lynch (19) and Emerhu (23) pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm and violent disorder. Det Garda O’Donovan said that the two men were among a group of four people who carried out the assault on the Main Street in the town at 1.20am on the date of the offence. CCTV was harvested from the scene. The victim spent five days as an inpatient at Cork University Hospital in the aftermath of the incident having suffered a fractured jaw and fractured ribs amongst other injuries. Det Garda O’Donovan said that there was “no history of animosity” between the young men and the injured man. Judge Dermot Sheehan was told that Emerhu made full admissions when he was arrested in connection with the incident. Lynch did not make admissions when he was interviewed by Gardaí but subsequently entered a guilty plea. The court heard that Lynch decided to move to Donegal to live with his father in the aftermath of the attack in order to change the course of his life. Emerhu has seven previous convictions including a conviction for assault while Lynch has 22 previous conditions, including one for violent disorder. Barrister Alan O’Dwyer, BL, representing Emerhu said that his client was experiencing family difficulties at the time of the offence. He indicated that Emerhu was remorseful for his actions which occurred when he was highly intoxicated. Mr O’Dwyer also told Judge Sheehan that Emerhu was financially providing for his younger siblings. The 23-year-old is employed as a tree surgeon. Defence Barrister Andrea Gilligan, BL, for Lynch said that her client now works as a plasterer in Donegal. He has not come to Garda attention since the incident occurred. Ms Gilligan said that her client accepted the case was serious and apologised for his actions. Both men brought compensation of between €1,000 to €1,500 to court. It will be handed over to the victim in the case. Judge Sheehan noted that Lynch was 17 when the assault occurred and had lesser involvement in the incident than his co-accused. However, he emphasised it was a grave offence in which the victim sustained a fractured jaw, a fractured cheek bone and damage to his eye socket and ribs. Judge Sheehan jailed Lynch for three years suspending the last two years of the sentence. He jailed Emerhu for 3½ years but suspended the last 12 months of the sentence. The different sentences were a consequence of the the less significant role played by Lynch in the assault. Judge Sheehan also said that he was conscious Lynch was under the age of 18 when the offence took place. Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC Midleton's Conor Lehane is tackled by Eire Óg's Matt Brady during the RedFM HL division 2 clash at Midleton Midleton continued their march towards Division 1 in style taking their record to five wins from five and four points ahead of nearest challengers Killeagh after overwhelming Éire Óg in Midleton on Sunday Dave Cremin and Cormac Beausang for this Red FM Hurling League Division 2 clash the Magpies were bolstered by the presence of Cork seniors Brion Saunderson and Conor Lehane There was simply no stopping Midleton when the floodgates opened The fourth quarter yielded 2-10 for the Magpies Éire Óg were in this tie right up until the 38th minute They had done a lot of things right and their discipline was fantastic – only conceding one scorable free in that 38-minute spell But quality told as Lehane and Luke O’Farrell showed no signs of slowing down popping up in his own half back line as much as up front While Lehane took some time to get motoring – he was relentless in the second half Midleton's Luke Dineen is tackled by Eire Óg's Daniel Healy and Brian Thompson Picture: Eddie O'HareOne particular passage of play highlighted the gulf in class Éire Óg’s Jerome Kelleher put Lehane off balance with an incredible dummy but sent his pass straight to Midleton centre-back Eoin Moloney Lehane followed that up with another white flag Midleton used the wings in style and positioned themselves well for Éire Óg’s restarts The visitors could do little to escape their grasp After a trio of points from Eoin O’Shea Sr had the score 1-13 to 0-12 in favour of the hosts at 38 minutes Five points in a row preceded an outstanding goal from Lehane O’Farrell set up Mikey Finn for a simple point He added another thunderous point for good measure That same combination had raised a white flag less than 60 seconds later Early on the hosts had taken a similar commanding lead but one Éire Óg were able to claw back from Eire Óg's Donncha Kelly breaks from Midleton's Alex Quirke Picture: Eddie O'HareThe Magpies’ first goal arrived before five points on the trot from the 12th to the 17th minute O’Farrell’s major was brilliantly worked – Seán O’Meara handpassing to Quirke who repeated the trick straight to O’Farrell The goal was costly for the Ovens outfit and it came in the 10th minute Matt Brady and Eoin O’Shea Sr (free) pointed and while Alex Quirke got one back for the east Cork side O’Shea added another two frees to leave it 1-10 to 0-7 after 26 minutes Éire Óg hung on for the first few minutes of the second period O’Shea Sr did what he could to keep Midleton grounded Oisin O’Shea and Johnny Galvin worked hard more #Hurling articles Keep up-to-date with the top stories in Cork with our daily newsletter straight to your inbox Please click here for our privacy statement. Join Éamonn Murphy, Denis Hurley and Barry O'Mahony on the new season of The Echo Sport Podcast where they'll be analysing Cork GAA. © Examiner Echo Group Limited, Linn Dubh, Assumption Road, Blackpool, Cork. Registered in Ireland: 523712. Add Echolive.ie to your home screen - easy access to Cork news, views, sport and more Firefighters dealing with the fire at the recycling centre in Midleton, Cork, in the early hours of Friday morning. Picture: Courtesy of Cork County Fire Service  The blaze at Midleton Skip Hire in Knockgriffin broke out at around midnight Cork County Fire Service crews from both Midleton and Cobh attended the scene and the fire was subsequently brought under control at around 4am.  Fire services personnel remain on site and the extent of the damage caused is currently being assessed A spokesperson said Cork County Council is engaging with the HSE and An Garda Síochana and that both the HSE and the Council itself  "are satisfied that adequate mitigation measures are in place to manage any risks on site" Gardaí had closed off part of the Northern Relief Road overnight but it has now reopened Cork City Council says weather conditions today are likely to reduce the impacts of smoke in the area the public have been advised and the keep their windows and doors closed if there is any smoke in the vicinity of their home a major fire which broke out at a recycling plant in Co Meath last night has now been brought under control That fire broke out at Thornton's Civic Amenity Centre in Dunboyne Industrial Estate early last night Crews from Meath County Council Fire and Rescue Service worked through the night to bring the fire under control.  and the cause of the fire is not clear at this stage From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in Follow and share the latest news and stories more cork - news articles Michael Gaine's wife Janice Gaine and his sister Noreen O'Regan appeal for information about his disappearance Commemorating 100 years since the War of Independence Irish Distillers-owned Midleton Very Rare has unveiled its annual vintage which this year commemorates the distillery’s bicentenary Midleton Very Rare is a blend of Irish single pot still and single grain whiskies made in County Cork Described as a ‘testament to both tradition and innovation’ the 2025 vintage pays homage to Midleton’s 200-year legacy The Old Midleton Distillery operated from 1825 to 1975 when production moved to the new distillery on the same site Master distiller Kevin O’Gorman and his team crafted the 2025 release selecting liquid from the distillery’s historic A2 warehouse For the first time in the collection’s history the team identified six distinct distillate styles for the vintage The 2025 vintage includes three grain whiskeys: Midleton’s signature grain whiskey; a 22-year-old grain whiskey made with barley and malted barley; and a 21-year-old grain whiskey The two age-statement whiskeys were matured in refill ex-American whiskey oak barrels The new release also features pot still whiskey aged in first-fill barrels The whiskey displays aromas of caramelised apple herbal and floral notes of garden mint and lavender The palate offers additional notes of honeycomb O’Gorman said: “As we celebrate 200 years of whiskey-making excellence at Midleton Distillery it is a true honour to craft a vintage that commemorates this remarkable legacy Midleton Very Rare 2025 is a whiskey of depth and balance meticulously composed from six distinct distillate styles and dedication that have become synonymous with Midleton Very Rare “This milestone release not only pays tribute to the past but also looks to the future my team and I remain committed to laying down more extraordinary whiskeys that will continue to shape and inspire the Midleton Very Rare legacy for the next 200 years and beyond.” featuring a commemorative stamp marking the distillery’s 200th anniversary the release is now available in select markets in Ireland Additional markets will follow later this year Last week, Irish Distillers unveiled a 50-year-old whiskey as the sixth and final chapter of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection In March, the Pernod Ricard subsidiary announced a temporary production halt at the Midleton Distillery from April until summer In 2022, Irish Distillers announced plans to open a second Midleton distillery connected to the current Midleton facility We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again As the fifth generation of his family to work as a cooper the Cork man feels the craft is in safe hands 1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-1sgza6o:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-1sgza6o:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-1sgza6o.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-w5p45x::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{pointer-events:none;cursor:default;}@media print{.css-w5p45x{-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;color-adjust:exact;}}.css-w5p45x:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-w5p45x:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 0.26);}PrintShareSaveThe death has occurred of surrounded by his adoring and heartbroken family in the most tender care of the staff of St Catherine's Ward Stephen is predeceased by his father Harry Smith and his auntie Mamie Ryan Deeply and most lovingly missed by his best friend and wife Maura Lawton-Smith sister Kirsty and her husband Gerry (Kerkhof) his parents-in-law Gerry and Teresa Lawton and the entire Lawton family Willie his uncle-in-law Jimmy and all the Ryan cousins Reposing in Hyde’s Funeral Home, Drury’s Avenue, Midleton P25VW02 on Monday evening (28th April) from 5pm to 7pm A Cremation Service will take place on Tuesday April 29th at 2pm at the Island Crematorium Ringaskiddy which can be viewed LIVE ONLY using this link Island Crematorium Family flowers only - donations in lieu to Marymount Hospice, Cork. DONATE Messages of sympathy may be left via link below. Cremation / Burial.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one If Cush had a crystal ball and could have peeked into its first five years, we wonder would it have opened its doors at all? A modern bistro in a historic bar by Ballycotton pier, Cush opened in late February 2020. You know where this is going, right? We nabbed a table at this opening two weeks before the taoiseach placed Ireland in its first lockdown. The food was classical, technical and precise yet casual and generous with good provenance. A fitting elevation of both food and interior, as expected from a super-fine renovation of a pub-restaurant. Cush has graduated to a bigger premisesMICHAEL O’SULLIVANCush is among a countless cohort of hospitality businesses that opened weeks, or even days, before said Units of the Cork County Fire Service are at the scene of an incident in Midleton A fire broke out at a commercial premises in Knockgriffen at around midnight Fire crews from Midleton and Cobh responded and are still at the scene Five appliances were needed to bring the blaze under control The public have been advised to stay away from the area where a fire occurred at a commercial recycling facility in Midleton in the early hours of this morning The fire was brought under control and there are no reported injuries Cork County Fire Service was tasked to a fire at a commercial recycling facility at Knockgriffin Six appliances from Midleton and Cobh Fire Brigades attended the incident There were four units from Midleton and two from Cobh respectively The fire was brought under control at approximately 4:00am April 18 Cork County Fire Service remains on site Cork County Council is engaging with the HSE and will assess the site once it is safe to do so Weather conditions will reduce the impacts of smoke in the vicinity with rainfall likely to continue throughout the day The public is advised to stay away from the area and if there is any smoke in the vicinity of your home you should keep windows and doors closed as a precaution Part of the Northern Relief Road is currently closed with diversions in place OpinionJustine O’Mahony: Isn’t it about time people started to obey some sort of etiquette for mobile phone usage?I am really beginning to despise mobile phones or rather the manner in which people use them Fifty years after one of the most seismic shifts in the long history of Irish whiskey the last drops from the Old Midleton Distillery in County Cork have been released There’s an unmistakable catch of emotion in master cooper Ger Buckley’s voice as he tells the story of his part in the release of Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six a single pot still expression that concludes what is billed as the rarest and oldest Irish whiskey collection in the world For the final release – a 50-year-old whiskey priced at £55,000 a bottle – a special cask was conceived combining staves from each of the series’ five previous chapters a 49-year-old blend of pot still and grain was inscribed a small number 1 – the ‘cooper’s mark’ used both by Buckley and by his father Dominic “To work on a cask that my father had worked on…” He takes a breath “I didn’t really feel any pressure when I was asked to make the cask But I did when I found out about the liquid that was going inside it.” Chapter Six is more than just a very old Irish whiskey and a tribute to this year’s bicentenary of distilling at Midleton; it’s the liquid embodiment of a lost age in the island’s distilling history – and a reminder of very different times Irish whiskey is one of the biggest success stories of the modern drinks industry with Irish Distillers’ Midleton-produced Jameson – which sold over 6m nine-litre cases in the second half of 2024 – spearheading a remarkable renaissance when the spirit for Chapter Six ran off the stills in the mid-1970s The industry had been saved from destruction in 1966 banding together the few distilleries that remained after decades of decline prompted by a toxic mix of bad luck mismanagement and being outgunned by Scotch The Old Midleton Distillery – today a museum – harks back to that age An abandoned woollen mill taken over in 1825 by the Murphy brothers who were merchant entrepreneurs from nearby Cork it surfed the Victorian golden age for Irish whiskey when the drink was as celebrated as Champagne or Cognac The world’s largest pot still – a beast that could hold 31,618 gallons of liquid Irish Distillers built an entirely new distillery on the site The workers simply knocked off at the old distillery one Friday afternoon – and clocked on at the new plant on the Monday morning along with the creation of Irish Distillers laying the foundations that culminated in this release of this £55,000 Irish whiskey bottled in a mouth-blown crystal decanter from the House of Waterford and encased in a cabinet designed by master craftsman John Galvin that combines six rare woods – five from the previous Silent Distillery releases plus a blue bird’s eye maple for the sixth Beyond the romance of the back-story of Ger Buckley and the successive master distillers who have overseen its maturation then Brian Nation and finally Kevin O’Gorman it is – literally – a taste of a bygone age “We had a collection of casks left over from the mid-1970s from Max Crockett and the old distillery,” says O’Gorman and – when I joined the company in 1998 – I was told that they’re liquid gold from the old distillery.” with a small proportion of oats to aid filtration The fundamental difference was the size of the pot still – those at the new plant are half the size – but the stills back then were direct-fired (heated by burning anthracite) What does all of that mean in flavour terms? “Between the technology and the type of still, the direct fire, the condensers… it’s all changed,” says O’Gorman. “The reflux would have been different, the boiling rate – you would be getting more of the heavy compounds. You end up with a heavier, more aromatic, more oily distillate.” This rich, characterful spirit has been mellowed over decades by maturation in refill ex-Bourbon oak – casks that would have been used two or three times previously. This was partly a consequence of the financially straitened times – new casks were and are expensive – and partly a conscious decision by Max and Barry Crockett to use neutral oak to allow a slow, gentle infusion of the flavours. In the case of Chapter Six, there were four casks, some of them pretty low on liquid after five decades, which were then combined in Ger Buckley’s bespoke cask. “We gave it six months to marry – it was really a marrying cask,” says O’Gorman. “It allowed those four whiskeys to mingle and come together.” Is this really the last release from the old distillery? No more casks sitting in a corner somewhere? “There’s no more,” insists O’Gorman. “That was one of the fundamentals when we started work on this in 2018. If it’s gone, it’s gone. The only whiskey left is the quality reference samples in the lab.” Two centuries after Irish whiskey first came to Midleton, and 50 years since the move that safeguarded the industry, Irish Distillers owner Pernod Ricard is building a €250 million, carbon-neutral distillery on land adjacent to the current plant that could almost double Midleton’s production. The ambitious project comes at a difficult time for the industry – Midleton has paused production this spring amid challenging market conditions and the on-off tariff threat from President Trump – but the longer-term trajectory of Irish whiskey remains overwhelmingly positive. It’s all a far cry from the dark days of the post-war era that led up to the closure of the old Midleton plant in 1975. What does O’Gorman think people back then would have made of the release of a 50-year-old whiskey priced at £55,000 a bottle? “No way,” he shakes his head. “They just couldn’t have imagined this – not at all. And I couldn’t have dreamt that I would have the honour of this either – it’s so special for me as well.” (€60,000/£55,000/US$60,000 per bottle; available from specialist retailers in the UK, Ireland and the US; bottled at 53% ABV) Nose: Immediate hit of baking spices, antique furniture, dark honey and blackberry, black cherry and dark chocolate. Damp warehouse earth, nutmeg and a little orange zest. Palate: A textural whiskey – velvety, oily, broad and fat in the mouth – combining juicy cassis, tangy rancio notes, stewed peaches in syrup, then a herbal touch and a little biscuity oak. The distillate heaviness has mellowed, and the finish – bringing hints of coffee grinder and spice rack – is endless. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Estimates put the damage at almost €200 million The personal toll on the town’s residents is harder to quantify You don’t get more than 30 minutes without thinking about the flood,” says Midleton resident Caroline Leahy “It’s the F-word that’s barred in our house Leahy lives in Tír Cluain, a Celtic Tiger housing estate that appears much like any other Rows of neat semidetached homes lined shoulder to shoulder Look closer and you’ll spot a few things amiss a construction site fence rests awkwardly along the remains of a crumbled concrete wall [ Storm Babet: A slow-moving train of rain hit Ireland. The results were disastrousOpens in new window ] This estate was an epicentre of carnage when Babet hit resting along a key bend in the Owenacurra river on the edge of the worst-hit town A month’s worth of rain fell in less than 24 hours causing the waterway to burst its banks and almost completely submerge Midleton “It was really by the luck of God that someone didn’t die on that day “A car from the house behind me actually floated out of their driveway and went past my house.” with mucky water rising to 4ft within a quarter of an hour [ In pictures: Storm Babet brings heavy rain and flooding to IrelandOpens in new window ] The silver lining was that she and her partner had home insurance with flood protection she was told this policy was no longer available flood cover is the one thing we need,” she says “We shopped around trying to find it from elsewhere but no one would give me a quote for any insurance However painful her experience of flooding was the fact that she is now unable to secure insurance has turned every weather warning or instance of heavy rain into a dread-infused panic [ The Uninsurables: One in 20 Irish houses struggles to get flood insuranceOpens in new window ] adding that it’s the same for 600 properties across east Cork she says because so few have been able to maintain their flood insurance after Babet It would be like winning the lottery if they could get it back Leahy bought the house in 2015 with her partner “When we bought I obviously spotted the river and asked them: ‘Are we at any risk of flooding from that river?’ They said: ‘No that site’s been elevated purposely so you’re at no risk,‘” she says “From speaking to local people who grew up around here all their lives they’d tell me they used to swim in this field when they were kids You presume the planning department is rigorous enough to check that beforehand She says local politicians have no appetite to get involved in insurance policies seeing it as intervening with commercial entities but she thinks the Government could introduce regulation to help the situation A model similar to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland which compensates victims of uninsured drivers could serve as a useful template for how newly uninsurable homes could be covered “I’m a real believer in where there’s a problem And that’s what it comes down to,” she says Midleton House is perched along the banks of the tidal Dungourney river Owners Noreen and Liam Motherway have been there for 33 years but they’d never seen anything like the speed and might of Babet [ One in 20 buildings in Ireland have issues accessing flood insurance - Central BankOpens in new window ] “It did €100,000 worth of damage,” Noreen says flicking through reams of photos on her phone showing the listed building being partially washed away The floodwater surged down the main street and up their driveway carving a metre-cubed hole in the front garden and coursing through the house destroyed much of their furniture and left a thick coating of sludge in its wake A small dehumidifier hums in the corner of the sittingroom while the ends of their curtains remain upturned – signs of the devastation caused The Motherways were without flood insurance when the waters came having lost their policy after Storm Frank in 2015 so the financial implications of Babet were enormous for the couple Noreen points the finger at a lack of action from the council which has been talking about flood relief measures since 2015’s Storm Frank but has been sluggish in its actions to date “The only practical things they’ve done are [installing] gauges in the river If it takes that length of time to put a little flood gate outside our door where are we going with the rest of the big project the Government introduced two financial schemes for residents to deal with property damage The first is the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) which aims to compensate uninsured homeowners for damage caused by severe weather it is only valid for works to bring the property into a liveable state were only eligible to get a fraction of the costs back The second is the Individual Property Protection (IPP) scheme which will install slot-in flood barriers at the doors of eligible properties at the State’s expense Applications for this scheme closed in November [ Dublin 4 residents waiting for flood defences as insurance premiums hit astronomical ratesOpens in new window ] First deliveries of the IPP floodgates to east Cork are expected this month Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said in a recent Dáil response but a target completion date for installation was not given The minister added that the latest iteration of Cork County Council’s Flood Relief Scheme (FRS) should be submitted to An Bord Pleanála early next year and be “substantially complete” by 2031 But this date draws scepticism from the Motherways who have seen flood protection timelines drag on for years [ Ireland’s flood defences are inadequate, experts warnOpens in new window ] “If it takes that length of time to put a little flood gate outside our door where are we going with the rest of the big project?” says Noreen a question mark still hangs over whether it would finally allow homeowners to get flood insurance One of its aims is to provide residents and businesses with this protection once again And with climate change rewriting the rules underlying weather systems guarantees are hard to come by when predicting future climate patterns A warming atmosphere is simply more likely to produce extreme weather and intense rainfall The Motherways have seen this shift at first hand Plotting out the major floods throughout the history of their home they have to go back nearly a century to 1920 to find another flood that did damage of this scale And their garden is also seeing increasingly regular flooding now too Because of these trends and the significant upheaval caused by Babet The Midleton and east Cork Flood Action Group sprang up early last year and now has about 2,000 followers on Facebook [ Why was the Storm Babet flooding so bad?Opens in new window ] Caroline Leahy is its secretary and says the group’s goal is not only to fight for those whose properties have been flooded, but also people in the area who haven’t yet experienced the anguish it inflicts. “It’s something that I don’t think anyone really fully understands until they’ve gone through it,” she says. “It’s horrific. A lot of people think: ‘Oh, it’s just water, you can just clean it up’. But no, it’s really traumatic actually. And you lose things that no insurance fund can pay back, sentimental stuff that you simply can’t replace.” Pernod Ricard’s Irish Distillers has announced a temporary halt to whiskey production at its Midleton Distillery comes at a time when other major spirits producers are also scaling back operations due to global supply outpacing demand A spokesperson for Irish Distillers confirmed: “The distillery will temporarily pause production in early April and will recommence in the summer to support the sustainable global growth of its portfolio of Irish whiskeys.” They added that the company remains “fully committed” to Midleton’s production with all stakeholders informed to enable forward business planning The move echoes recent decisions in the whisky industry. Diageo has suspended distilling and barrel-filling at its Kentucky facility until June, while Brown-Forman announced a shared production model for two of its Scottish distilleries earlier this year and smaller players such as Waterford Whisky and Blackwater Distillery have faced financial distress Alongside the production pause, Pernod Ricard has delayed the completion of its €250m Midleton expansion, originally set to bolster future output. The company told The Sunday Times: “While the timeline of the new distillery has evolved construction is still progressing on site and Irish Distillers remains absolutely committed to the delivery of the new distillery and the sustainable global growth of its portfolio of Irish whiskeys into the future.” The slowdown comes despite strong historic growth for Irish whiskey. The Irish Whiskey Association reported exports exceeding €1bn in 2024, up 13% year-on-year, with total sales in 2023 reaching 15.5 million cases. However, as the spirits business noted the latest production pauses suggest that “supply is exceeding demand across spirits firms in all three major whisky nations.” The decision to pause production coincides with Midleton Distillery’s 200th anniversary celebrations Irish Distillers has planned a series of whiskey launches and events to honour the milestone including the final release in the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection a 50-year-old expression marking the last drops of spirit from the old Midleton Distillery Irish Distillers CEO Nodjame Fouad framed the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the past while looking ahead: “As we look to the future and in the 200th year of Midleton Distillery we want to pay tribute to our rich distilling tradition by celebrating our home Irish Distillers has unveiled the sixth and final chapter of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection a 50-year-old whiskey priced at £55,000 (€60,000/ US$60,000) Chapter Six is the culmination of the brand’s six-year journey of bottling whiskeys distilled at the now silent Old Midleton Distillery representing the rarest and oldest Irish whiskeys in the world Chapter Six represents the last drops to be released from the distillery – and the oldest single pot still whiskey from Ireland Bottled to commemorate the distillery’s 200th anniversary the final chapter of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection was initially aged in ex-Bourbon American oak barrels The whiskey was decanted into a bespoke cask crafted by master cooper Ger Buckley and his team The unique barrel was created using wood from the five previous Silent Distillery releases Buckley meticulously selected and reassembled staves from each chapter to form a one-of-a-kind cask for the historic release’s final marriage Buckley said: “As a fifth-generation cooper at Midleton Distillery it has been a great honour to provide a special contribution to the creation of Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six one-of-a-kind cask for its final maturation using wood from the Silent Distillery Collection’s original casks embodies the heritage and craftsmanship that have been passed down through my family’s legacy at the distillery “Working on the cask that would hold this once-in-a-lifetime whiskey I found myself wondering if my coopering predecessors ever felt such pressure to preserve every last drop.” The 50-year-old whiskey’s character is described as ‘wonderfully vibrant fresh fruit flavours elegantly balancing earthy aromas of dried tobacco leaves and antique oak’ The release represents the last drops distilled by master distiller emeritus Max Crockett in the world’s largest pot still the whiskey has been nurtured by three master distillers: Barry Crockett O’Gorman shared: “Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is a whiskey whose excellence is shaped by so many extraordinary factors “From the characteristics of the now incredibly rare single pot still distillate style created back in Old Midleton to the 50-year maturation process under the care of my predecessors and me to a one-of-a-kind final marrying this whiskey has been looked after like no other alongside the Midleton Distillery family past and present protecting and nurturing this liquid to achieve its peak While there is a sense of sadness as the Old Midleton Distillery and the Silent Distillery Collection reach a close I know they would all agree that it has been an extraordinary privilege to be part of the creation process.” O’Gorman added: “As for this exceptional whiskey I feel immense pride and excitement in unveiling these last precious drops There is a balance of aged oak influence with fresh fruit notes that can be challenging to achieve in ultra-aged whiskeys which I hope those lucky enough to enjoy it will find a remarkable surprise I truly believe that we have encapsulated the essence of Old Midleton in this ultimate expression.” The 50-year-old whiskey is encased in a hand-blown and polished decanter by the House of Waterford and is presented in a unique wooden cabinet designed by Irish master craftsman John Galvin Galvin utilised six rare woods – each previously featured in the cabinets of the first five Silent Distillery releases – with the sixth being a blue bird’s eye maple The cabinet is enhanced with an 18 carat gold-plated trim a hand-cut and embroidered premium leather interior including oak reclaimed from old Irish whiskey vats Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is bottled at 53% ABV and is available to purchase on the Midleton Collection website as well as in specialist retailers in the UK Last month, Irish Distillers announced the temporary production halt at the Midleton Distillery from April until summer In 2022, Irish Distillers announced plans to open a second Midleton distillery connected to the current Midleton facility The Taoiseach was in Midleton on Thursday afternoon with the minister of state at the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran to inspect the progress of flood relief works in the town. but it will be work which will have life-saving implications for generations to come Mr Martin said the catastrophic flooding that Midleton had experienced in the wake of Storm Babet in October 2023 had brought a very real threat of a loss of life The Taoiseach was in Midleton on Thursday afternoon with the minister of state at the Office of Public Works (OPW) Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran to inspect the progress of flood relief works in the town the East Cork town was hit by catastrophic flooding after Storm Babet brought torrential rainfall to southern Ireland which was the equivalent of a month’s worth of rain in the town With the ground already sodden after an extremely wet late summer and early autumn swollen rivers burst their banks and around 400 Midleton homes and 300 businesses were flooded Mr Martin told The Echo that the necessary budgeting was in place for the Midleton scheme which he said should be completed by 2030 or 2031 “My concern coming out of Storm Babet was there was a very real threat of loss life there some people say if it was in the middle of the night it could have happened there are many variables give rise to the impact of a storm,” he said “Midleton is unique in terms of the various sources of threat so this scheme is absolutely essential to protect life and livelihoods.”  Mr Martin said he was impressed with the interim works undertaken by the OPW and Cork County Council in the East Cork town describing as “very effective” flood barriers which would come into effect on the main street in the event of flooding The Taoiseach visited the Woodlands housing estate which was on the frontline of the flooding after Storm Babet in October 2023 which he said in essence raised the river bank Mr Martin said he had not visited residents whose homes had been flooded but he intended to return and meet with them in the future “A lot of work is being done on an interim basis get the main scheme delivered over the next number of years,” he said “The expected completion date is around 2030 and planning and various procedures that have to be gone through flooding schemes have been subject to many objections in the past so getting it right from the outset is critical they’re determined to get the process right that ultimately will make the planning process smoother.”  Fianna Fáil TD for Cork East TD said he was delighted to have the Taoiseach and minister in Midleton “after what has been a couple of extremely difficult years for residents in the wake of Storm Babet” to develop the main Midleton Flood Relief Scheme and other rural parts of East Cork that were devastated by flooding,” he said so having the Taoiseach and Minister ‘Boxer’ Moran here has been really Add Echolive.ie to your home screen - easy access to Cork news On April 9th 2025 with dignity and courage in the exceptional care of the staff at St Knockgriffin on Friday 11th from 4pm – 7pm Requiem Mass in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary Midleton on Saturday 12th at 2pm followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery Mass will be available to view LIVE ONLY on the Parish TV Saorview Channel and on www.midletonparish.ie The CONDOLENCES link below is open, if you wish to send a message to the family which will be welcomed. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: Midleton Very Rare has released the oldest Irish whiskey ever bottled The Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is a 50-year-old single pot still whiskey The launch comes just weeks after Bushmills unveiled the oldest Irish single malt to date: a 46-year-old that set a new benchmark for Irish single malt the new ultra-rare expression concludes a landmark series from Midleton Very Rare that began in 2020 Chapter Six marks the final drops of spirit from the historic Old Midleton Distillery Priced at £55,000 (€60,000/US$60,000), it is not only the most mature Midleton expression ever released, but a significant milestone in Irish whiskey history Chapter Six was distilled in 1973 by Midleton’s Master Distiller Emeritus Max Crockett in what was then the world’s largest pot stills – which are still on display at the distillery today It has been nurtured over five decades by a succession of Master Distillers: Barry Crockett Brian Nation and current Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman ‘The whiskey comes from a parcel of casks that were set aside by Max Crocket – Barry’s dad – in 1973 and 1974 as he transitioned from Old Midleton distillery he made me aware of these casks stored in dunnage warehouses A2 and A3 The team who came over from the old distillery always held them in high regard and were very proud of them Matured predominantly in refill American oak barrels – ideal for long-term ageing – the spirit was later transferred to a bespoke marrying cask crafted by fifth-generation Master Cooper Ger Buckley the final cask was constructed from staves used in the previous five chapters of the collection Tasting notes reveal a whiskey of unexpected vibrancy for its age lingering with toasted marshmallow and dark chocolate Chapter Six is presented in a mouth-blown Waterford crystal decanter housed in a bespoke cabinet designed by master craftsman John Galvin The cabinet incorporates six rare types of wood – one from each chapter The final wood is a striking blue bird’s eye maple named for its pattern of tiny swirling eyes The cabinet is completed with 18 carat gold-plated detailing reclaimed Irish oak and a cream leather interior ‘This final chapter really is a celebration of the people and place that made it across a number of generations,’ said O’Gorman ‘It’s the very last whiskey we have from Old Midleton Irish Distillers-owned Midleton not only concludes its Silent Distillery Collection but also commemorates 200 years of distilling heritage at its whiskey-campus Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is available via the Midleton Distillery Collection and select specialist retailers in Ireland, the UK and the US. A member of the Garda Forensic team at the duplex where a man was found dead at Ard Na Corann, Bloomfield West, Midleton, Co Cork. Pictur: Dan Linehan.  The man was found unresponsive in a duplex home in Bloomfield West by emergency services shortly after 4pm yesterday afternoon The man was pronounced dead shortly afterwards A woman in the same home was treated at the scene before being taken to Cork University Hospital (CUH) by ambulance An investigation is underway into the circumstances around the man’s death although it is understood foul play was not suspected based on early indications Gardaí described the death as “unexplained” telling The Echo that they are currently awaiting the results of a post mortem examination It is expected to be carried out today in Cork University Hospital and will determine the course of their investigation A garda spokesperson told The Echo: “Gardaí in Midleton have commenced an investigation following the discovery of a body in Co Cork on February 24.” gardaí responded to a report of an incident at a residential property in Broomfield West where an adult male (understood to be in his 60s) was found unresponsive “He was pronounced deceased at the scene a short time later The spokesperson added: “The scene is preserved for forensic examination and a post mortem examination by the State pathologist will be arranged “The man’s death is currently unexplained and the post mortem results will assist gardaí in determining the course of their investigations.” A local TD and parish priest have said that the community is shocked by the news “In fairness to the emergency services and gardaí they moved very swiftly to secure the scene,” Sinn Féin TD for Cork East Pat Buckley told The Echo “I understand that there is an ongoing investigation Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.”  told The Echo: “We’re all deeply shocked that such a tragedy could happen in this town We offer our prayers and support to the family involved.” a town that has seen a number of eateries close since the Storm Babet floods in 2023.  Ballycotton's Cush, which opened in 2020, will take over the former site of Sage in Midleton The Michelin Guide-listed Cush was among 16 other spots in Great Britain and Ireland that won a Bib Gourmand in 2022.  The new restaurant, which will be named Cush Midleton, will open on March 15 to coincide with St Patrick's weekend.  Head chef Dan Guerin said it was a "fantastic opportunity to bring Cush to Midleton where we can expand on our offering in a beautiful premises”.  "We’ve been on an incredible journey with Cush for the last 5 years including receiving the esteemed Michelin Bib Gourmand and being recognised by industry peers on several occasions," he said.  "But what’s always mattered most to us is delivering a top-quality dining experience to our loyal customers in East Cork and beyond," Mr Guerin added.  The Ballycotton restaurant — Cush Ballycotton — will remain in the village as a guesthouse and bar Midleton has seen a number of restaurants shut in recent years in what has been a blow to the town.  Cush head chef Dan Guerin. Picture: Darragh KaneThe Farmgate restaurant, which had been operating in Midleton for over 40 years, had to relocate following the devastation caused by Storm Babet in 2023 A month's worth of rain fell in Midleton in just 24 hours during the storm and the Farmgate's owners said at the time the costs to restore the building were "far beyond our means." Sage announced it was closing in June last year with owners Kevin and Réidín Aherne saying: “We both feel the time is right for us to re-adjust in what's been a truly unforgettable period in our lives one which we have loved sharing with everyone who has walked through our doors during the years "Sage will continue (albeit) in a new direction Sage Products will be keeping us busy as we develop the Sage brand with new developments on the horizon," they said.  Church Lane also closed last year with the owners saying "rising running costs and the 13.5% Vat rate has made it very difficult for new and independent food businesses to thrive".  A collection of the latest business articles and business analysis from Cork Michael Gaine's wife Janice Gaine and his sister Noreen O'Regan appeal for information about his disappearance. Picture: Garda.ie The online home of everything new and happening in Ireland’s greatest city which has been in operation in the seaside village of Ballycotton in East Cork since 2020 is to relocate to a bigger premises in Midleton next month the restaurant will reopen to the public on March 15th at the site of the former Sage restaurant in the middle of the town A post shared by CUSH (@cushmidleton) This move marks an expansion of the Flynn Cush Group’s offering, with Cush Ballycotton remaining in the village as a guesthouse and bar, while popular entertainment venue and restaurant, Sea Church, will continue to offer an array of concerts and festivals for visitors to the village. “We’ve been on an incredible journey with Cush for the last five years, with so many milestones, including receiving the esteemed Michelin Bib Gourmand and being recognised by industry peers on several occasions.” said Head Chef Dan Guerin, who builds his menus on high quality meat and sustainably sourced fish, seasonal vegetables and fruit. “But what’s always mattered most to us is delivering a top quality dining experience to our loyal customers in East Cork and beyond, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to bring Cush to Midleton, where we can expand on our offering in a beautiful premises.” Type and hit enter to display search result To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Statistics Midleton manager Ger Fitzgerald celebrates with Conor Lehane and coach Ben O'Connor after the 2021 Premier SHC final win over Glen Rovers. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile won All-Ireland SHC medals with Cork in both 1986 and 1990 as well as helping his club to four Cork county senior titles and then managing the Magpies to win the Seán Óg Murphy Cup Fitzgerald came to wider prominence in his own right as Midleton won the senior and U21 county titles in 1983 the East Cork club had lost four consecutive senior semi-finals to St Finbarr’s but they made it fifth time lucky against the Togher outfit in the 1983 decider with Fitzgerald scoring 1-2 in a 1-18 to 2-9 victory in the decider That earned him recognition with Cork at U21 level and he made his competitive senior debut during the 1984-85 national league campaign Though he didn’t feature in the 1985 championship he had become a starter by 1986 and scored 4-4 across three games as Cork claimed a second All-Ireland in the space of three years Another county medal with Midleton followed that autumn with Blackrock beaten in the county final – Fitzgerald’s six points gave him a total of 5-17 the top scorer in that year’s championship Midleton captain Ger Fitzgerald being congratulated by supporters after his side defeated Glen Rovers in the Cork SHC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.A win over Na Piarsaigh saw them retain the title in 1987 and they went all the way to All-Ireland club glory Fitzgerald scored in all five championship games including 2-3 in the Munster semi-final win over Waterford as Cork regained the Liam MacCarthy Cup and 1991 saw him win a fourth county medal captaining the team to victory over Glen Rovers in the final he was nominated by Midleton as Cork captain skippering the team to a Munster final win over Limerick Fitzgerald became active in both coaching and administration in Midleton as well as serving as Cork U21 manager and also as a senior selector Ger Fitzgerald in action against Waterford in 1992 Fitzgerald was the manager as Midleton won the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC for the first time in eight years Pictured (L-R) at Midleton Distillery are Carol Quinn, head of archives at Irish Distillers and Nodjame Fouad, cheif executive officer, Irish Distillers, alongside the original Murphy logo which represents the beginning of Midleton Distillery’s 200-year story (Photo: Cathal Noonan) Irish Distillers will honour the rich 200-year distilling heritage of the world-renowned Midleton Distillery with a schedule of celebratory whiskey launches and events throughout 2025. Midleton Distillery is home to award-winning whiskey brands including Jameson, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, Powers, the Spot Whiskeys, Method and Madness, and Knappogue Castle. In 1966, the Cork Distilleries Company merged with John Power & Son and John Jameson & Son to form Irish Distillers and in 1975 the Midleton site was expanded to facilitate the move of the two famous Irish whiskey distilling houses to their new home.      This year, to mark the special 200-year anniversary, Irish Distillers is digging deep into its famed archive to bring to life, the stories, people and of course, the whiskeys that have shaped Midleton Distillery through spotlighting its historic labels. Throughout the year, pivotal labels in the distillery’s history will be brought to life digitally and visually on Irish Distillers social channels. Additionally, later in the year, Barley Purchase Books from Midleton Distillery dating back to the 1820s and 1830s will be available to search on Ancestry as part of Irish Distillers’ ongoing partnership with the genealogy company.  The year will also see the release of the much-anticipated sixth and final chapter of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection, Ireland’s rarest and oldest ever whiskey collection.  The final release, Chapter Six, a 50-year-old expression from this collection, ranging in age from 45 to 50 years old, will yield the very last drops of this inimitable spirit from Old Midleton Distillery before the distillery went silent forever. Nodjame Fouad, chief executive officer, Irish Distillers, said: “Our whiskey making process is steeped in tradition and every drop is expertly perfected by our talented team at our world-famous Midleton Distillery.  “In the coming year, we will celebrate 200 years of distilling tradition by sharing what it means to us – we look forward to bringing you on a journey over 200 years with us and to celebrating many more milestones and memories in Midleton in the future.”   Carol Quinn, head of archives, Irish Distillers, said: “Archives are vital to preserve heritage, inform the present and shape the future. We are extremely fortunate at Irish Distillers to have records created by the firms of John Jameson & Sons, John Power & Son and the Cork Distilleries Company in our archive in Midleton. This year, we are delving into the company archive to bring to life historic labels of Midleton Distillery from 1825 to the present day.  “Labels aren’t just markers; they provide a window into the distillery’s 200-year history, reflecting the cultural richness and the ambition that drove the distillery forward over two centuries. Throughout 2025, we will digitally guide viewers through the unique stories behind our labels, sharing insights into Midleton’s legacy.”    Get a free weekly update on Drinks Industry trade news, direct to your inbox. Sign up now, it's free Gardaí sealed off a house in the Broomfield area of Midleton and are investigating all the circumstances of the discovery the initial indications at this early stage of the investigation suggest that foul play was not involved One line of enquiry is expected to focus on what the man and woman may have ingested in the hours and days before the alarm was raised Emergency services were alerted to the scene by a neighbour around 4pm on Monday dead at the scene with no apparent physical injuries They also found a woman in the house in critical condition She was treated at the scene before she was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital (CUH) where she is receiving medical treatment The man's body was removed from the scene just after 8.30pm on Monday and taken to Cork University Hospital for an autopsy examination “The scene is preserved for forensic examination the local coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination by the State Pathologist will be arranged,” a garda spokesman said on Monday “The man's death is currently unexplained and the post-mortem results will assist Gardaí in determining the course of their investigations.” Frank Flannery pictured managing Oulart-The-Ballagh in the 2015 Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship. The move comes as Midleton look to replace the outgoing Alwyn Kearney and Padraig O’Shea who have both stepped away from their roles as selectors Flannery joins current Midleton manager Micheál Keohane who remains in place for a third successive year having been a goalkeeping coach with the team for the past couple of years and a star forward for the Magpies in the early 2000s The remainder of the backroom team is yet to be finalised The experienced Flannery has had a plethora of coaching success over the years and returns to management after a one-year hiatus His last role was as manager of his native club Carrigtwohill Midleton’s east Cork rivals were beaten by eventual champions Newcestown in the Senior A Hurling Championship semi-final The Magpies will hope that Flannery can help the team bounce back after last year’s one-point semi-final defeat to Sarsfields who have since gone on to reach the All-Ireland club final Daniel Hogan and Aaron Myers celebrate their victory over Midleton in their Co-Op Superstores Premier SHC semi-final in 2024 Picture Dan LinehanFlannery’s most recent coaching success was in 2021 as he steered Kanturk to the Senior A HC title – the same year that Midleton last won took the top honours The experienced coach was also integral to the success of Wexford outfit Oulart-the-Ballagh as he guided the club to two county senior titles in 2015 and 2016 During his tenure they also won the Leinster SHC in 2015 – a title which had eluded them for four straight years between 2010 and 2013 Flannery guided Russell Rovers to their first ever East Cork Junior A HC title before heading to Ballysaggart and leading the Waterford side to the Intermediate HC title in 2019 It wasn’t his first intermediate county in Waterford either having previously led Ardmore to that same feat in 2013 He’s also dipped his hands in the inter-county scene in both the men’s and women’s games coaching the Cork camogie team to the All-Ireland senior title in 2009 before helping Milford camogie secure back-to-back All-Ireland crowns Flannery has experience with the Rebels at minor and senior level helping Cork to Christy Ring Cup and All-Ireland U21 B glory He was also a member of Kieran Kingston’s Cork senior hurling backroom team for the 2016 season Midleton manager Micheal Keohane for their PSHC semi-final with St Finbarr's in 2023 Picture: ©INPHO/Bryan KeaneNow resident in Ballintotis just outside of Midleton – Flannery is not the first Carrigtwohill man to coach a Midleton team either a crucial member of Cork’s three-in-a-row team from 1952-54 also did the same as he coached Midleton to their Intermediate HC title win against Cobh back in 1962 more #Cork - Sport articles Midleton players celebrate after defeating Bride Rovers in the Mulcahy Steel East Cork U21 A Hurling final at Castlelyons Mikey Finn drove Midleton to the U21 A East Cork and County hurling double with an impressive victory over Bride Rovers at Castlelyons put on a display of scoring class from play and placed balls finishing with 0-10 From start to finish the Magpies were never behind despite being outscored 1-7 to 0-6 after the interval their first half stood to them Credit to Bride Rovers for never giving up the chase as they made Midleton work hard for their victory Despite losing Cormac O'Sullivan for a second bookable offence late on they never gave up Adam Walsh played his part finishing with 0-10 Midleton's Tom Dunlea wins the sliotar from Bride Rovers' Louie Roche the Magpies' route one approach paid off Eoghan Fraser won the throw-in and went on a solo run he then passed to Peter Barrett who batted the ball into the net Wash got Bride Rovers off the mark a minute later with a nice point that was responded to by Finn's first free Bride were struggling to win the puck-out which proved costly in coughing up three unanswered white flags Cremin They then managed three unanswered white flags of their own Two quick Finn frees extended the Midleton lead though The gap was reduced to five thanks to white flags from Walsh Midleton would go on to score 1-3 without reply the goal coming from a Dara Scanlon shot which found its way to the back of the net the Rovers came out in the second half with a new lease of life as they took the game to Midleton Points from Edmond Cashman and Wash before a Finn free kept the scoreboard ticking over That would be Midleton's last score for 15 minutes The Magpies were starting to foul more and conceded three to Walsh With the clock entering the final 15 minutes the Rovers bench was jumping for joy when Cillian Tobin raised green followed by another Wash point from a free: 2-12 to 1-12 Midleton's Carthaigh Cronin breaks from Bride Rovers' Cillian Barry Picture: Eddie O'HareMidleton found their second wind and refused to give up their county title which had been secured on Wednesday night after extra time against the Barrs Late points from Finn and Darragh McCarthy taking the tide away from the Rovers Gardaí are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Midleton following the discovery of a body on Monday gardaí responded to a report of an incident at a home in the Broomfield West housing estate where a man in his 60s was found unresponsive He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later A woman in her 60s was also discovered needing medical attention and was transported by ambulance to CUH where it is reported she has since recovered well the scene was preserved for forensic examination Gardaí confirmed that the local coroner was notified and that a post-mortem examination by the State Pathologist was completed on Tuesday Gardaí are now preparing a file for the Coroner’s Court Gardaí are currently describing the man’s death as “unexplained” and are awaiting the post-mortem results which will determining the course of their investigations going forward It has been reported that the man’s death could be linked with the consumption of homemade alcohol; however Very Reverend Canon Colman (Colie) O’Donovan PE Beloved son of the late Jim and Lily O’Donovan and brother-in-law of the late David Moore Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his cousins Canon Colman will be received into Church of The Most Holy Rosary A concelebrated Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, 11th April, at 11:00 a.m., followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. The Funeral Mass will be live streamed: Join Here Messages of comfort and condolence may be expressed on the condolences link below. in Midleton's impressive Division 2 win over Na Piarsaigh Éamonn Keating's side were 1-13 to 0-4 ahead at the break as Adam Wills and Seán O'Neill fired 0-3 apiece David O'Sullivan and Colin Moore were impressive in a solid Ballincollig defence while Eoin O'Shea shot 0-5 for the hosts and Kevin Hallisey clipped over two points The visitors got a late goal when Brian Keating diverted a booming Fenton Denny clearance into the net more Cork GAA articles Irish Distillers has closed the book on its Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection with Chapter Six which comprises the final drops ever to be released from the Old Midleton distillery Kristiane Sherry travels to Ireland to taste the oldest single pot still expression ever released Image: Master distiller Kevin O'Gorman and master blender Ger Buckley with Chapter Six For all the sleek lines and chic lighting of the Midleton Visitor Experience it is a site of huge historical importance The iconic maker holds huge significance for the local Midleton community As we arrived at the vast distillery complex “I was born in that house,” he pointed to the old distillery cottage that welcomes you into the grounds As we got out of the car he waved his phone at us showing us black-and-white photos of his family sitting on the downstairs windowsill They were a couple of years apart at school His recollections paint a picture of a very different time at Midleton While more than 100,000 visitors stream through the gates each year and the towering greenhouse-like Garden Stillhouse crafts the likes of Jameson Since 2020, its legacy has been celebrated through the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection a series of ‘Chapters’ that have told the story of this remarkable maker the very last drops are about to be sent out into the world It’s not a coincidence that this extraordinary launch coincides with Midleton’s 200th anniversary And no one feels the weight of this more than Kevin O’Gorman He follows in the footsteps of Brian Nation and Crockett himself who created Midleton Very Rare back in 1984 O’Gorman was musing on the significance of it all on his drive over to the distillery on launch day “You just feel very privileged,” he explains “I’m lucky that I’m the master distiller during this particular year Nobody’s ever going to get a chance again in 200 years he sees himself as “taking the baton” from his predecessors — and nothing illustrates this quite as much as the nurturing of Chapter Six not long before the Old Midleton Distillery fell silent Initially filled into ex-bourbon American oak barrels they were identified early as having huge potential for long ageing I remember doing my first tour of warehouses,” O’Gorman recalls Dennis McSweeney was the warehouse supervisor at the time and he took the new recruit into warehouses A1 and A2 “These are the old warehouses going back to the 1860s and there were these casks just over there in the corner The precious liquid from the old distillery.” What would go on to become Chapter Six was among them checked on repeatedly to make sure the liquid inside had the best chance of achieving its vast potential following the launch of the Silent Distillery collection They were held back until they reached 50 years of age holding the title of oldest single pot still ever released Master cooper Ger Buckley and his team had a part to play He recoopered casks from the first five Chapters to create a unique bespoke barrel to hold these final drops for a finishing period No mean feat given that earlier chapters made use of an ex-sherry butt as well as bourbon barrels testing the skill of the coopers to make sure the staves fitted together just right It was his own father that had raised that cask all those years before It’s a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ project,” Buckley said clearly touched by the tangible legacy it represents Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is presented in a mouth-blown Waterford decanter held within a cabinet designed by celebrated craftsman John Galvin five of which had previously featured in the collection The sixth is a striking blue bird’s eye maple The cabinet is embellished with an elegant 18ct gold-plated trim with reclaimed oak from Irish whiskey vats adding more detail O’Gorman seems genuinely moved by the release “I suppose in some ways there's sadness too,” he sighs “These are the last drops from the old distillery One question remains: what is it actually like We were lucky to be among the group that was able to taste Chapter Six — and it is mesmerising The nose opens with an abundance of dark fruits The palate comes alive with juicy stone fruits and deep tobacco spices It feels surprisingly lively for a whiskey aged for five decades While an uplift of chilli brings a heat towards the finish Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six could be seen as a bit of an artefact released at 50 years because it happens to align with Midleton’s 200th anniversary It is a whiskey as storied as the place that birthed it with the vibrancy and expressiveness that’s a rarity in these older whiskeys this is a whiskey to crack open and really savour Don’t let those final drops go out into the world to just sit on a shelf By Kristiane Sherry and blackcurrant notes set within an earthy espresso and sandalwood backdrop alongside dried orange peels and liquorice with mouthwatering apricot and juicy peach filling the palate Caramel and linseed oil develop alongside a herbaceous theme with sage and rocket leaf A chilli-chocolate note comes through at the very end injecting a zip of heat through the oily texture paragraph publishing ltd.   Copyright © 2025 all rights reserved.   Website by Acora One Predeceased by his sister Mary Creedon and brother John Paul Sadly missed by his devoted wife Nancy (née Lawton) Martina (O'Sullivan) and son-in-law Ger (Menihane) Reposing at his son Davy's home (Carrigshane Midleton Eircode P25 YX49) on Wednesday 19th from 4pm to 7pm Reception into the Church of the Most Holy Rosary Midleton on Thursday 20th for Requiem Mass at 11am following which Daveen will be laid to rest with his brother John Paul Mass will be available to view LIVE ONLY on the Parish TV Saorview Channel and on www.midletonparish.ie DAVEEN’S MASS Belvedere's Blake Robinson Hogan turns to celebrate the third goal against Midleton during the FAI U17 National Cup final at Turner's Cross Midleton suffered heartbreak when they went down to Dublin outfit Belvedere in the FAI U17 Cup final in front of a large attendance at a sunny Turner’s Cross Belvedere went two up in the opening 16 minutes through Dara Brennan and Jack Higgins Midleton did pull a goal back in the 19th minute courtesy of Max Murphy Belvedere scored in the final minutes of the game with a Blake Robinson-Horgan effort and that was enough to seal the deal to give Midleton credit they battled away to the very end of the game Belvedere goalkeeper Sean Burke saves from Midleton's Luke McDonnell Picture: Eddie O'HareThe visitors made a dream start to the game and took an early lead when a Dara Brennan free kick from the right flank flew into the left corner of the net after only four minutes Midleton had a half chance five minutes later when Max Murphy got his head to a Sean Óg Murphy corner James Ryan had a glorious chance to increase Belvedere’s lead in the 14th minute he made a great run into the box but his effort just went the wrong side of the post They did take a 2-0 lead two minutes later Midleton keeper Colm Noonan made a fine stop to deny James Ryan Jack Higgins was on hand to smash home the loose ball from close range The Magpies pulled a goal back in the 19th minute Murphy pounced on a loose from a Ben Fitzgerald header across the box to score from close range Rian Thornhill found a pocket of space from outside the box and he forced a fine save from Sean Burke Midleton settled more into the game and could have levelled the game in the 36th minute but his effort was pushed around the post by Burke Midleton started the second half on the front foot and Burke in the Belvedere goal did well to punch Cillian Scanlon's in-swinging cross away Noonan came to Midleton’s rescue five minutes later when he palmed away an effort by Jack Ryan The Magpies had another great opportunity in the 62nd minute when O’Meara raced down the right wing but Burke raced off his line to punch his effort away from danger Murphy was causing the Dublin side all sorts of problems from set pieces and he came close to levelling in the 73rd minute when he got his head to a Scanlon free Liam Norris made a great run down the right wing for Belvedere in the 83rd minute and when he cut the ball was taken off his toe by Murphy for a corner Lewis Bruton found Blake Robinson-Horgan from that corner at the back post and he steered the ball home to lead 3-1 more Cork Soccer articles St Colman’s Tom O'Regan races past Midleton's Dara Scanlon, during their East Cork U21 B Football Championship clash at Cloyne. Picture: David Keane. Football is just about getting by in Imokilly That’s something that several members throughout different clubs in the division are determined to try and change Particularly given that many of those clubs have rich football histories that footballing history is well over a century old the Magpies then went and represented Cork in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship for the 1890 season One of the men trying to drive that change is Vincent O’Neill who has taken charge of their U21 footballers in an effort to revive football in the club The lineup they fielded against St Colman’s is proof of his efforts being rewarded They look a much better team than 12 months ago “We’ve put in three weeks of training,” he said after their victory over St Colman’s last Saturday “[It’s the] first time that I’m aware of [that happening] I wouldn’t have been involved in the football for the last couple of years but this year we said there are a lot of players coming through from underage currently they try and focus on the hurling but we’re trying to focus a little bit on the football and keep fellas in the club as they get into adult level Imokilly’s failure to field and Midleton’s struggle to put numbers together with the big ball is something that has frustrated O’Neill played with Imokilly and always looked forward to it “[We’re] trying to get Midleton up another level Midleton's Tadhg Bohan and St Colman’s Liam Fitzgerald Picture: David Keane.“Anybody that takes on those types of jobs as you can see with Imokilly – there’s such a focus on hurling and Imokilly have been so successful it’s just taking a lot of the attention [away from football] and a lot of players are forgetting about it “But when you look back at some of the players that have come out of Imokilly you could definitely see a platform [for that] Will the new rules play an integral part in driving that change – particularly if the sport becomes more enjoyable we had focussed on the new rules the last couple of weeks and we were just saying we cannot have dissent “Whether it’s verbal dissent or getting in the way but [its absence] opened up the whole game “I think it will [help revive football in east Cork] there is no negativity in it so I think it is a good foundation for where we can go forward in east Cork The new rules around dissent were game changing there were no more than three instances of dissent between both teams a testament to both clubs and referee Pa O’Driscoll St Colman’s Mark O'Dwyer shoots past Midleton's Alex Moloney Picture: David Keane.“I thought the ref had a great game he even came over to us and explained a few things afterwards,” O’Neill added “The scoreline doesn’t do justice to St Colman’s “We were saying there at the end of the game that St Colman’s team looked well but we got a couple of scores in the first half they equally had a number of opportunities but they didn’t take them and that was the difference.” LOCAL HERO: Midleton manager Ger Fitzgerald celebrates with Conor Lehane and Ben O'Connor. Pic:  Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile The Midleton clubman won two All-Irelands with the Rebels; first in 1986 and secondly with the 1990 side that set up an historic double.  1990 captain Tomás Mulcahy paid tribute to his former teammate: "Very sad news to hear this morning that our colleague and former hurling star Ger Fitzgerald has passed away - What a sad loss to his family and all the Cork Gaa community - May you rest in peace Ger." Fitzgerald skippered Cork to a Munster title in 1992 HEY DAY: Cork's Ger Fitzgerald gets a shot away despite the attention of Tipperary's Conal Bonnar Pic: Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE.A proud clubman Fitzgerald announced himself at 19 years of age in the 1983 Cork County final as the Magpies defeated a four-in-a-row chasing St Finbarr’s side.  He won three more county championships with Midleton on the field and later managed his club to another title in 2021.  "Very saddened at the passing of Ger Fitzgerald who made an outstanding contribution to GAA," An Taoiseach Ger won 2 All Irelands with Cork in ‘86 & ‘90 He was also a wonderful coach & mentor to so many young people in his beloved Midleton Deepest sympathies to his family" That was Patrick Horgan's immediate reaction to the passing of his former coach Horgan said he was coached by Fitzgerald for both underage and senior Cork teams over the years and he expressed sorrow at news of his passing Asked if Fitzgerald was involved in Cork backroom teams at the beginning of Horgan's lengthy senior career he would have been around our Cork minor team as well," said Horgan at the launch of John West Feile 2025 at Croke Park.  He really gave us a good start there in the minors and gave us a good set up A good sort of fella to be around as well." Former Antrim and Ruairí Óg Cushendall hurler Sambo McNaughton added: "Such sad news to hear the passing of Ger Fitzgerald A star of one of the greatest club teams I ever seen & had the honour to play against Condolences to his family & all at the Midleton Club." A collection of the latest sports news more cork - sport articles SKORT PROTEST: Laois’ camogie players have become the latest team to join the skort protest by lining out in shorts before the throw-in of Monday’s Leinster intermediate camogie semi-final By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser You have accepted push notifications for this content. If you would like to manage your push notification preferences, you can do so here Eight minutes is all it took for flood waters to course through Midleton's main street this day last year destroying the ground floors of dozens of businesses and homes The area was under a Status Orange rainfall warning at the time but the speed of the flooding still took many by surprise People who walked into coffee shops and restaurants on Main Street for lunch were forced to wade their way back out an hour later Midleton was knee-deep in flood water - the damage had been done But flood waters also flowed through the streets and laneways that run off and behind Main Street water flooded buildings through the front door and the back as well as coming up through any surface drains In a report on the impact of Storm Babet delivered to councillors a week later Cork County Council estimated that Midleton flooded within seven to eight minutes the damage was done principally by the Owenacurra River it had an equally devastating impact on dozens of homes The flood waters were up to 1.5 metres deep in places giving families little time to make their escape which flows from east to west to the south of Main Street Parts of Midleton Distillery were flooded and the Midleton Distillery Experience was forced to close Dozens of homes and businesses were flooded on the southern end of the town too Ballinhassig and Rathcormac - all in east and north Co Cork But Storm Babet on 18 October last year will always be associated most of all with Midleton Over 100mm - or four inches - of rainfall fell in the area over the course of 36 hours This was memorably described at the time as the equivalent of a month's worth of rain around 600 homes and 300 businesses were flooded with damage estimated at almost €200 million Damian and Laragh O'Brien remember the speed at which the flooding hit Both businesses suffered extensive damage by flooding from Storm Babet Flamingo was forced to close for months to facilitate refurbishment Damian O'Brien remembers the devastation on Main Street "The whole of Main Street was just like a river," he says The flooding could hardly have hit at a worse time given that many businesses - like Fox & Co - were fully stocked in preparation for the run-up to Christmas "The flood waters that came in here came through the front but mostly through the back of the property [It was] very hard to react to that and by the time it had subsided that evening the damage that had been done in terms of flood level at two-and-a-half feet was huge," Damian O'Brien says Laragh O'Brien was around the corner in Flamingo dealing with flood waters at her shop on Connolly Street "There was one other staff member with me that day and we didn't know what was hitting us because it was coming from both sides of the property We just had to get to safety really was our number one priority." residents at Tír Cluain and Knockgriffin were struggling too Alan and Orla Mahy's home was one of the worst affected They moved into their dormer just before Christmas the Owenacurra River which flows towards town The flood waters were angry and battered their home By the time they were able to access the house the following day Like many others in the same position as them they gathered family and friends and began to clean up the mess we had another clean-up and more stuff dumped again returning the following morning to discover they had been flooded for a second time "We think we were the only ones in Midleton to be flooded again That's just the reality of our situation," Alan Mahy says Orla recalls the clean-up after the first flood: "We cleaned the house that day everything - everything was loaded up in a skip - and at nine o'clock that night my spirits had lifted "Some of the stuff we had saved was in bags down on the ground again Alan and Orla Mahy put the damage to their home at close to €100,000 They spent the next four-and-a-half months after Storm Babet in rented accommodation before their house was ready to move into again The community in Midleton rallied round those who had been flooded Previous floods elsewhere have had an upside strangely enough: the government response is now slicker and the assistance programmes that have been put in place are easier to access The damage caused by Storm Babet was almost exclusively in Co Cork and that vast majority of that damage was done in and around Midleton The Department of Social Protection put a Humanitarian Assistance Scheme in place for home owners From 18 October last year to the end of September this year 1,230 payments have been made to 578 individual households under the scheme The total amount paid out was €3.5 million The Irish Red Cross administered two schemes for businesses impacted by Storm Babet: the Emergency Flood Relief Fund and the Enhanced Flood Relief Fund Payments were made to businesses in Galway with the vast majority to businesses in Midleton A total of €9.28m was paid out to 266 business owners There were 35 of those who received the maximum payout of €100,000 A flood relief scheme was first announced for Midleton after the town was last hit by major flooding in 2015 But the cost of the scheme jumped two-and-a-half times in those intervening years to its current estimate of more than €50 million If Storm Babet achieved anything positive in Midleton it is that it focused minds on the delivery of that flood relief scheme and 2030 is now regarded as a more realistic target interim flood relief measures have been taken which - local people hope - will provide sufficient breathing space to prevent another major flood between now and the delivery of the main flood relief scheme Damian O'Brien now represents Midleton and Area Chamber of Commerce on a stakeholders' group which meets quarterly and receives up-dates on the progress of the scheme from the Office of Public Works Cork County Council and scheme consultants "The other thing we want to do as a business community is win hearts and minds," says Damian O'Brien when the planning does go through for the flood relief scheme We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites A drone photo shows the extent of the flooding in Midleton (Pic: Guileen Coast Guard) \u003Cp\u003ECars destroyed by flooding that followed Storm Babet in Midleton last year\u003C/p\u003E \u003Cp\u003EBusinesses run by Laragh and Damian O\u0027Brien suffered extensive damage\u003C/p\u003E as the flooding began to subside\u003C/p\u003E \u003Cp\u003EAlan and Orla Mahy estimated the damage to their home at close to €100,000\u003C/p\u003E \u003Cp\u003EMany businesses along Main Street in Midleton were among the worst affected\u003C/p\u003E Iris passed away peacefully at Cork University hospital. Beloved wife of Pat and loving mother of Brian, Niamh and Edel. Daughter of the late Kathleen and Patrick Lowry and sister of the late Ita and Caroline and sister in law to the late Christy who died on 13th February 2025, Gerard and John. Sadly missed also by her daughter in law Julie, sons in law Chris and Barry, her brothers Frank, Gerard and Vincent, her sisters Catherine, Mona, Paula, Deirdre and Orla, her sisters in law Maura, Dolores, Eucharia, Colette, Estelle, Jacqui and Michelle, brothers in law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Mentioning also for her pet dog Bruno and pet cat Peatree. Reposing in T Wallis and Sons Funeral Home Riverside Way Midleton Co Cork P25YR22 from 5pm to 7pm on Wednesday 12th March 2025. Reception into The Church of The Most Holy Rosary Midleton Co Cork on Thursday 13th March 2025 for Requiem at 11am. Burial afterwards in St. Coleman's cemetery Cloyne Co. Cork. Funeral Mass can be viewed on Midleton Parish Facebook page. Leave a message in the Condolence section. If you would like to make a donation to the chosen charity please click on the button below. Midleton are the Co-Op Superstores Cork U21A hurling champions for the first time since 2013 following an epic contest that was decided after extra-time in Páirc Uí Rinn on Wednesday night Already a subscriber? Sign in Introductory offers for new customers. Annual billed once for first year. Renews at €120. Monthly initial discount (first 4 months) billed monthly, then €10 a month. Ts&Cs apply more hurling articles Kerry will face Clare and Cork play Tipperary Midleton put in a superb team performance when they defeated Carrigaline United to reach the FAI U17 National Cup final in front of a large attendance at Knockgriffin Park on Saturday They'll take on Dublin side Belvedere in the decider which will be held in Cork in the coming weeks It's important to praise 19-year-old referee Ben Coonan from Cork who had an excellent game and it’s refreshing to see such excellent young talent coming through for the Irish Soccer Referee’s Society After a very competitive first half it was the Midleton side who led at half-time with a well-taken goal by Alex McSweeney in the eighth minute The hosts increased their lead three minutes after the restart when Ben Fitzgerald’s corner sailed into the roof of the net Carrig did pull a goal back to reduce the deficit through Daniel McSorley the Magpies sealed the game in the 83rd minute when Max Murphy headed home Midleton opened the scoring after Alex McSweeney stung the hands of Cillian Beale-O’Shaughnessy in the Carrigaline goal and he was first to react to the loose ball to smash home from close range They came very close to increasing their lead in the 22nd minute Picture: Dan LinehanAlex Horgan released Rian Thornhill and when he was bearing down on goal it took a superb and timely tackle by Carrig’s Max Rainey-McCarthy to avert the danger Daniel McSorley was working hard leading the line for Carrig and when he raced onto a through ball by Luke Jordan but Liam Lynch saw the danger and cleared his lines He had another great opportunity to levelling the game in the 35th minute when Carrig were awarded a free on the edge of the box but Colm Noonan made a smart save to smother his powerful effort The home side came agonisingly close to increasing their lead in the 42nd minute when Thornhill was again through and when he lifted his effort over the advancing Beale-O’Shaughnessy he saw his effort cleared off the line by Carrig’s centre-back Paul Kelly Carrig did have the ball in the net a minute later when McSorley's effort flew into the net The Magpies made a bright start to the second half and when Thornhill turned his defender inside the box in the 47th minute forcing a good save from Beale-O’Shaughnessy Ben Fitzgerald saw his curling effort fly straight into the roof of the net to lead 2-0 The visitors pulled a goal back in the 68th minute when Daniel McSorley's effort's flew into the net Carrig had their tails up after the goal and came very close to levelling the game in the 74th minute Joey Fielding skipped past his defender but his shot was cleared off the line by Max Murphy Midleton weathered all the Carrig pressure and sealed the deal when Max Murphy found space at the back post to head in Alex McSweeney’s corner Midleton U17 side that will play Belvedere FC in the FAI U17 Cup tomorrow starting with Midleton playing Dublin side Belvedere FC in the FAI U17 cup final at Turner’s Cross There are two JAKO Ireland Munster Youth Cup semi-finals also down for decision with Lakewood Athletic travelling to Jackman Park to take on Pike Rovers from Limerick College Corinthians play Waterford side Tramore AFC at Knockgriffin at 4pm Corinthians are unbeaten in all competitions this season and had another superb performance last Sunday beating Portmarnock 2-0 in Dublin their goals coming from Joe Mouret and Padraig McGrath we have two semi-finals in the U19 Daly Cup where Ringmahon Rangers entertain Mogeely at Ringmahon Park at 11am and Carrigaline United are at home in Ballea Park to Rockmount at 7pm Lakewood Athletic lock horns with Douglas Hall in Ovens at 5pm while Springfield Ramblers welcome Leeds to the Steven Ireland Astro at 8pm Tomorrow’s FAI U17 cup final at the Cross tomorrow should be a cracking game as both sides play very attacking football Peadar O’Leary from the Cork Youth League presents the Gary McCarthy Trophies Man of the Match award to Leeside U17 Premier League player James Grayem.Belvedere are currently on top of their respective league in Dublin and so far in this competition they have bagged a total of 25 goals with Senan Boyle adding five and Ryan James Billy Feeney all chipping in with three goals each so the Magpies will have to be at their best defensively if they are to lift the cup Their manager Colm Fitzgerald and his team are eagerly looking forward to their big day tomorrow and hope that they get big support from all their members in the club “It's going to be a massive day for all involved in the club This is the first time Midleton FC has reached an U17 FAI cup final,” Colm said “The players are all looking really forward to the game it’s been a short turnaround from what was a very tough semi-final "Carrigaline really put it up to us that day and it came at a cost with a few injuries we have a big squad so we were able to rotate over the last few games to allow players to recover "It gives us a selection headache with 17 fit players ahead of the final which is a good complaint "We travelled to Dublin to watch the other semi-final so we’re well aware of our opponents' strengths "They have a big strong team who move the ball quickly and use the wings very well I'm sure they’ve been down to Cork but thankfully haven’t seen a settled 11 just yet “The morning of the match we will head for team breakfast in the Talbot Hotel Midleton and travel as a team to Turner's Cross we’ll be hoping for a large support in black and white to cheer on the lads Dave and myself are confident that every player will leave everything on the pitch down the Cross and we can't ask for any more." A member of the Garda Forensic team at the duplex where a man was found dead at Ard Na Corann, Bloomfield West, Midleton, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan Tests on empty bottles that gardaí recovered from the house in Midleton combined with the results of toxicology tests conducted as part of the autopsy on the dead man will prove crucial in determining what happened in this tragic case which has all the hallmarks of accidental poisoning Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is a 50-year-old single pot still whiskey, and is the final release from Ireland’s oldest whiskey collection. Its release coincides with the Old Midleton distillery’s 200th anniversary, and went on sale last Friday. The previous evening, Midleton Very Rare hosted guests for a black tie tasting event, followed by a banquet. “In addition to the US and global travel retail as some of our key markets, we have many buyers across Ireland who have been eagerly anticipating this final release,” said Claire Tolan, managing director of Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Midleton manager Ger Fitzgerald after defeating Glen Rovers in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier SHC final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. that is a term that could apply to countless numbers taken from us all too prematurely Ger Fitzgerald is now added and whose recent sad passing has cast a huge shadow over the game in the county and far beyond where he was a hugely respected figure Cork's Ger Fitzgerald in action against Tipperary's Conal Bonnar Picture credit; Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE.As a Cork and Midleton hurler following in the illustrious footsteps of his father Paddy who was a key member of that never to be forgotten Cork team that triumphed over Kilkenny on a hugely emotional day in 1966 when a then lengthy famine without an All-Ireland ended Midleton captain Ger Fitzgerald being congratulated by supporters after his side defeated Glen Rovers in the Cork County Senior Hurling championship Final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in 1991.You could probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of fathers and sons who have achieved that quite remarkable feat and there wasn't a prouder person in Croke Park in 1986 than Paddy when young Ger joined him as a Celtic Cross winner He won another four years later as Cork secured the first leg of a historic double in 1990 an achievement that is likely going to be very difficult to repeat again Paddy and Ger of course shared the same platform when their beloved Midleton became a very formidable force in Cork hurling the former as a very successful team manager The long list of Ger Fitzgerald's accomplishments in a glittering career have been well documented in this newspaper and in many other media outlets and there were so many He was just a boy of 19 Summers when Midleton defated the Barrs in the 1983 Cork County senior final with a team containing players who thereafter became household names That breakthrough year was just the beginning of the most successful period in the club's great history and five years later the crowning glory arrived when the players on that great team climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand after Midleton had defeated Galway's Athenry to claim the All-Ireland senior club title Midleton had reached the mountain top and Ger Fitzgerald was one of the finest of leaders on that team Having been at headquarters that day and on the train back to Midleton that night it remains a memory that time will not erase Ger featured very prominently on many Cork teams that were involved in epic duels with the old foe from the Premier County with the other great Munster hurling counties too and Kilkenny and we all vividly remember that great victory of 1992 when he led the county to provincial glory at Pairc Ui Chaoimh when Limerick were defeated Former Cork and Midleton hurling stars Ger Fitzgerald and Kevin HennessyGer Fitzgerald always stood out as a forward that made life extremely difficult for opposing defenders either in the half-forward sector or in the inside line He was one of those type of players that could more than adequately fill any of the six forward positions and his scoring contributions are testament to that In the years that followed he was one of those special people who gave back so much of what he had got as a player when he became a coach to Midleton and to the Cork under-21s Before and in the aftermath of those games that he was so invested in there was never a refusal to share his thoughts on what had transpired in winning or in the disappointment of losing he was always available Having been in his company on many occasions as a reporter with this newspaper it was a joy and a privilege to listen to him speak We were all aware of the challenges that he faced in recent years with his health but anything that he had to face was done so with the same courage that he exhibited on the field of play He was the type of person whose respect for him was widespread and on one of the many condolences accompanying the announcement of his death a person of great integrity with a great empathy for people who will be sorely missed by all those who knew' That is something so many will wholeheartedly agree with Ger Fitz touched many lives in the work place on the field of play and off it and we are all the richer for having had the privilege of knowing him the greatest loss of all is to his family who always were first and foremost in everything that he did and who he cherished 27 August 1992; Journalist Enda McEvoy interviews Ger Fitzgerald during a Cork senior hurling press night at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork ahead of their All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final against Kilkenny.To all of them we send our deepest sympathy at this hugely difficult time And we must sympathise too with his beloved Midleton GAA club who have had to endure so much loss in recent times with the passing of Ger the much younger Darragh McCarthy and the much older Dave O'Brien They all wore the black and white colours with great pride for the club it was their privilege to line out with It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of GER FITZGERALD (Gerard) Park South On March 17th 2025 in the exceptional care of St Pre-deceased by his brother and best friend Pádraig Ger will be forever missed deeply by his loving parents Liz and Paddy grand-nephews and grand-niece and extended family Ger will be remembered with love and laughter by his faithful friends at home and around the world Military Veterans and the many groups with which he was involved donations in lieu to The Oncology Department Mercy University Hospital Cork and to Marymount using these links DONATE MERCY ONCOLOGY ​​MARYMOUNT DONATE Midleton on Friday 21st for 11am Requiem Mass followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal dílis agus go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam Mass will be available to view LIVE ONLY on the Parish TV Saorview Channel and on www.midletonparish.ie GER’S MASS Ballincollig's Cal McCarthy shoots as Midleton's Patrick Spelman chases in their P1 U15 HC semi-final in Bishopstown Ballincollig put on a stellar showing to defeat Midleton and secure a Premier 1 U15 HC final clash with Sars Goals do win games – but there was so much more at play in the Village’s win over Midleton in Bishopstown on Saturday The inside threat of Cal McCarthy and Daithí Murphy supplemented by their star performer Bobby Power saw the Muskerry side turn a seven-point deficit after 15 minutes into a five-point victory over the next 45 Joe Miskella and James Harrington stood out in the second half but it was the efforts of the entire 15 that got Ballincollig over the line A blitz of three goals across a nine minute spell had Ballincollig in front on the eve of half Midleton did eventually draw level after 41 minutes A score from McCarthy preceded two frees from Power and suddenly Ballincollig were three points to the good with a quarter to go The difference could have been doubled had Power’s quick thinking paid off as he played a quick free to the wide open third midfielder of Éanna Ó hUrnaí Midleton's Finn Cahill looks to clear downfield ahead of Ballincollig's Evan Stack.It served as a desperately needed wake up call for the Magpies Breaninn O’Dalaigh set up Ciaran Kelly for a point – before the centre-back returned the favour 60 seconds later That brought the lead to the minimum before Miskella took flight in the 54th minute while McCarthy and Jack Costello added scores to leave it 3-12 to 0-17 going into additional time With the clock winding down and the four point deficit becoming a point of no return – Midleton went goal hunting Their opponents defended well – though one pulled chance from Rian McCormack could have slipped through were it not for a brilliant save from Kaden Coomey A deserved win for Ballincollig but a bitterly disappointing result for Midleton – especially given the fast start Within 10 minutes they had eased to a 0-6 to 0-1 advantage The forwards were creating space and creating problems John O’Sullivan looked the likeliest goal threat inside while Finn Cahill and Liam Walsh were most effective in chance creation and Ballincollig needed a stopper as they trailed by seven Midleton's Liam Walsh gets to the sliotar ahead of Ballincollig's Éanna Lynch.They found one after 19 minutes with Shay O’Brien dropping the ball into Power who volleyed it in from close range to reduce to gap to three with their first score from play Walsh and O’Sullivan got Midleton four in front Éanna Lynch set up Murphy for a thunderous strike across goal while the third green flag arrived two minutes later courtesy of McCarthy’s brilliant finish but they would fight back to draw level after 33 minutes thanks to two frees from Walsh – who finished with seven scores from seven shots Ballincollig's James Harrington goes high to catch the sliotar ahead of Midleton's Alfie Hennessy and Liam Walsh.Unfortunately for the Magpies as Costello grew into the game so too did the rest of Ballincollig’s defence and they shut down Midleton’s offensive output Victory for this Ballincollig group over Midleton for the first time since the two had met at U12 Redemption for final defeats at U13 and U14 The importance of local recovery services in fostering inclusion and social support was to the fore in east Cork on Friday last when Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and Coolmine Therapeutic Community – Ireland’s national drug and alcohol treatment service – in collaboration with the Southern Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force announced the official opening of its brand-new East Cork Hub in Midleton Minister of State for Community Development and Charities this eagerly anticipated development strengthens the region’s mission to provide compassionate community-based support for individuals on their path to recovery from addiction the east Cork team empowered 130 individuals to reclaim their futures and embrace a life of recovery The new hub offers state-of-the-art amenities and more spacious group rooms to inspire hope and connection the team can now provide more frequent and impactful one-on-one and group support sessions – helping clients build a strong foundation for lasting change “Addiction recovery services play a critical role in strengthening communities offering a lifeline to individuals and families in need,” said Minister Buttimer at the opening. “By providing people with the opportunity to rebuild their lives facilities like this contribute to a more inclusive and supportive society The partnership between Coolmine and the HSE is an excellent example of how community-driven initiatives can deliver life-changing services and I commend all those involved for their dedication and hard work.” Believing that recovery is possible when individuals are given the right support and tools Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and Coolmine witness the transformative power of recovery every day and remain committed to ensuring that everyone – regardless of background – has the opportunity to overcome addiction and lead a fulfilled “This new facility in Midleton is more than just a building – it’s a lifeline for countless families in the area,” said David Lane Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and HSE Drug and Alcohol Services Coordinator “The collaboration between Coolmine and the HSE exemplifies how we can deliver truly transformative services We’re delighted to play a part in this vital initiative.” Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and Coolmine reaffirm their mission to deliver hope and lasting recovery for those who need it most For more details about Coolmine Therapeutic Community and the life-changing services available in east Cork, visit www.coolmine.ie A member of the Garda Forensic team at the duplex where a man was found dead at Ard Na Corann, Bloomfield West, Midleton, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan. with an investigation currently underway into the death which Gardaí have described as “unexplained” was found by emergency services at the home in Broomfield West A Garda spokesperson told The Echo: “Gardaí in Midleton have commenced an investigation following the discovery of a body in Co Gardaí responded to a report of an incident at a residential property in Broomfield West Midleton where an adult male (understood to be in his 60s) was found unresponsive He was pronounced deceased at the scene a short time later “An adult female was treated at the scene and transported by ambulance to Cork University Hospital.”  the local Coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination by the State Pathologist will be arranged