1961 - 1970

Fr. Michael O'Brien, 1967 - 1976	Fr. Neilus O'Flynn, 1960 - 1967

Fr. Michael O'Brien, who was Curate here from 1967 to 1975 was responsible for the construction of the Star of the Sea Youth Club alongside the school. He had to raise funds for the Youth Club through local fundraising. There were no state funds got for the project. Much of the work was done by voluntary labour, with many adults and teenagers in the community spending their spare time helping. Fr. O'Brien himself did much of the work. The Youth Club has served as a Community Hall for the people of Ballycotton since 1974. The building has been extended and completely refurbished in recent years along with the school. The Youth Club operates each Friday night under the auspices of Foroige and provides much needed facilities for our young people.

In 1963 Maureen Murray founded the Ballycotton Apostolic Society. For many years they met in her house on Mondays to make vestments for priests in the missions. They made vestments for priests in such countries as Uganda, India, South Africa, Zambia, New Guinea, Brazil and Kenya. The first fund-raiser made £44.00, which was a sizeable amount then.

	Seated: Mrs. E. Brennan, Mrs. M. Manning, Mrs. M Murray (Pres), Rev. Fr. C. O'Flynn C.C., Mrs. MJ Coughlan (Hon. Sec.), Rev. Fr. G. O'Sullivan, Millhill Fathers, Mrs. I. Flynn. Back Row: Mrs. W. Sweeney, Mrs. M. McNamara, Miss M. Brennan, Miss N. Whelan, Miss K. Walsh, Mrs. E. Sliney, Mrs. M. O'Riordan, Mrs. R. Whelan, Miss K. O'Keeffe.
Mrs. Maisie McNamara was Sacristan for many years before her retirement in the mid 1970s. In this photo, she is second from left in the back row.

In the 1960s hundreds of Dutch and German trawlers made Ballycotton their base as they hauled a great harvest of fish off the South Coast. They were also accompanied by their hospital ship the De Hoop which attended to the medical needs of the crew. This lasted until the early 1970s as the herring stocks were totally depleted.

Pope John 23rd called the second Vatican Council which opened in October 1962 and continued until 8th December 1965. There were major changes brought about as a result of the Council. The laity were to be much more involved in the church liturgy, the priest faced the people and Mass was said in the language of the people. The Altar was brought out nearer the congregation.

The burning of Fawcett's Hotel in 1963 was a severe blow to the community. It was very popular with tourists and anglers because Ballycotton Deep-Sea Angling Club was very strong at the time.

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1971 - 1980

Copyright 2001 Scoil Réalt na Mara, Ballycotton, Midleton, Co.Cork, Ireland.