The walkers will set off at 7 and the runners at 7.30.

Please note Headphones are not allowed. There will be refreshments and Spot prizes after the race .

Further information is available from Margaret Twohig at 087- 3094493

Organised by Margaret Twohig it will be in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Association- Southern Branch

Cynthia was born in Castle Mary Cloyne in 1896.  She had a keen sense of adventure and the family wealth enabled her to join expeditions to Latin America and Egypt as a young woman. She never held a paying job and for most of her professional life worked as a volunteer in the Natural History Museum in London.

Her interest in dragonflies began with an expedition to the Pacific Islands in 1924. She travelled with Cyril Collonette, an entomologist, who is often described as her one true love. On her return, she worked (unpaid) at the British Museum, cataloguing the dragonflies she and her colleagues had collected.

Her next expedition, in 1927, was a six-month 4,000-mile trip to South America, visiting hazardous areas of the Mato Grosso, the river Paraguay and the Iguazú Falls. She soon established herself as an international expert and took part in further expeditions to Asia and Africa.

At that time the extent of the British Empire created a vast social network, with naturalists carrying letters of introduction to diplomats and family friends. These naturalists described some dozens of new dragonfly species and some, such as Castoraeschna lonfieldae and Corphaeschua longfieldae, were named after Cynthia Longfield.

As a result of her interests in botany and her work in Odonatology and Entomology , Cynthia Longfield travelled throughout Europe, and in four other continents, at a time when travel meant months at sea on a steamship.

On arrival back in England in 1938, Europe was in crisis, World War 1 had begun. During the war she was posted to a fire station, appointed as officer in charge of 100 other women. Cyril Collenette wrote this of her at the time,

“during the war years she served with the fire fighting services and when an incendiary bomb fell on the Botany Department of the museum, she at once realised the gravity of the threat and was in a position to divert all resources to controlling the fire and her prompt action probably saved the whole museum from destruction“.

She retired aged 60 and lived in her home at the edge of the Castle Mary estate. However, that did not stop her travelling, she travelled to Holland, France, Greece, Malta, Moscow and to Australia at the age of 78, to various entomological conferences. In retirement, she published the book “Dragonflies” in 1960.

In 1987 she celebrated her 90th birthday. Although arthritis slowed her body down, her mind remained sharp. She died on June 27th 1991 and was buried in St.Coleman’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, beside her home in Cloyne. A stone plaque commemorates her there.

WILL BE HOLDING THEIR SECOND ANNUAL SOCIAL EVENING.

SATURDAY MAY 29^TH 2010  at 9PM

HARTY’S BAR & RESTAURANT

ADMISSION: €5- (INCLUDES ENTRY TO DRAW FOR DOOR PRIZE.)

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM ANY MEMBER OF COMMUNITY COUNCIL – LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE ON THE NIGHT.

MUSIC, FINGER FOOD, MAIN RAFFLE

GREAT EVENING OF FUN AND CRAIC ASSURED.

Click here to see some photos of the event  

The win was a  fairytale  Bluesea Cracker (IRE), part of a small string of horses trained in Cork by James Motherway. This was the first mare to land the Irish National since Ebony Jane in 1993. She got a fine ride off Andrew McNamara, who produced her to lead after the second last, and although losing his whip on landing over the last it made no difference as she powered clear of Oscar Time (IRE) and Whatuthink (IRE) to win by 4½ lengths. It was the biggest success in the career of Cork-based Motherway – and the trainer’s first over fences this season. Bluesea Cracker had finished second to Ballytrim on her latest appearance at Naas in March but had won a Grade Two as a novice at Limerick in April last year, the only other time she had been partnered by McNamara.

For trainer James Motherway it was by far the biggest success of his career and one that he will appreciate hugely; “We have only 13 horses in training, fewer than we had, and that is down to the economic times we are in. Myself and Andy [McNamara] were anxious going out that she’d get home in the soft ground, but she came home full of herself in the end.” The winner is owned by a seven member syndicate which includes the mare’s breeder Sean Murphy. Though she comes from a family that includes former top class chaser Carvills Hill, her unraced sire Buster King has only sired three winners, one of the others being Inchidaly Rock, a very useful chaser in training with Paul Nicholls. Buster King, now aged 24 stands at Firgrove Stud in Cork.

Though not obvious beforehand, with hindsight the mare had good credential for such a race. She was narrowly beaten by Ballytrim on her previous outing and if you rewind back exactly one year ago to a Grade 2 Novice Chase at Limerick, she was upsides Oscar Time at the last when that rival fell, leaving her clear to claim the valuable event. It’s amazing how both horses ran exactly to the same form a year later over a further five furlongs. As is the fashion with high profile chasers these days, Bluesea Cracker started her racing career by winning a 4yo mares maiden point to point at Boulta in 2006. She has been well tutored by her trainer since then, finishing in the frame 11 times in 23 runs.

The victory of Bluesea Cracker highlighted just why National Hunt racing is so popular in Ireland and Great Britain. It provides the opportunity for small scale owners, breeders and trainers to compete with success at the highest level. Flat Racing though wonderful in its own right has relatively high barriers of entry and can sometimes be dominated by an elite pool of participants. Bluesea Cracker is a prime example of why people get involved on this sport and more importantly can get involved in this sport. She was cheaply bred, is owned by a group of seven, thus limiting training expenses. Her success has also massively enhanced her own future breeding credentials and she joins a very unique club of Grand National winning mare. The previously mentioned winner of the race Ebony Jane has been a great success at stud, producing five winners including the high class Definity, Gansey, Bolt Action and The Minack. Bluesea Cracker has a lot to live up when she retires.

Myrtle Allen preformed the launch of our new tourism brochure at St. Colman’s  Cathedral on Friday 22 nd April 2010. She spoke about Cloyne , its history and her days cycling from Rushbrook to Cloyne.

The Very Reverend Alan Marley and Cannon Donal o’ Mahony also attended.

Dermot Barry our chairman gave an entertaining speech and the members of the committee provided refreshments including delicious home made scones and pastries.

If you wish to view the brochure please click here

The festival was a great success and everyone had lots of fun. The entries in the Battle of the Bands and the Fancy dress were very talented
Click on the Harvest Queen photo to see all the photos