Ballincollig

Lex Luthor

Is anybody on here from Ballincollig?

I lived all my school years there from 1975-1988 and moved out then when we sold our house.

I enjoyed my time there apart for 3-4 years where the local scum bags from Castle Park tried to use me as a punch bag..finally got my own back on one or 2 of them.

Was wondering what it was like to live there now?

I've driven through once or twice in the last few years and I've heard from friends who still have family there that the place has expanded a lot.

I went to the Boys National School and the Community School.

nesf

Haven't lived there, but was with a girl from there for 2 years, and my aunt lives there.

The place has a serious scumbag problem atm. Alot of young and violent idiots at night.

Pretty place during the day though

Lex Luthor

nesf wrote:

Haven't lived there, but was with a girl from there for 2 years, and my aunt lives there.

The place has a serious scumbag problem atm. Alot of young and violent idiots at night.

Pretty place during the day though

Once I hit 15 which was about 18yrs ago, I couldn't go from one end of the town to the other without some knacker looking for a fight....most of them congregated around the entrance to Castle Park or near the Community Hall which was unfortunate cos I lived in Muskerry Estate and most of the time was heading towards the Powder Mills or Rosewood.
What was the girls name? Maybe I know her or her family?

tirl

Its just as bad at the moment, real drug problem growing again and it's the younger crowd coming up are now the sbags and I'm talking about as young as 11 or 12

~Rebel~

Theres a serious boy racer thing going on there now too..<shudder>
Lived there till i was 2, have friends who live their though and aren't too fond of the place. Lot of scum apparantly.

^whitey^

As a native I can honestly say that these statements are OTT. Yes there are "scumbags" but you just have to learn how to tame them (I worked in a shop next to castle park)

"I've driven through once or twice in the last few years and I've heard from friends who still have family there that the place has expanded a lot."

Alot isnt the word for it, it use be a small village now its a large town and still growing.


"it's the younger crowd coming up are now the sbags and I'm talking about as young as 11 or 12" . I blame eminem, snoop dogy dogy dog e.t.c e.t.c.

White hoodies, puffy jackets, nike air max, cap falling off thier head <- really annoying, plastic bag full of cans, earings. Pint of milk in their hand in the morning, can of cider in the eveing.


"Theres a serious boy racer thing going on there now too" arent they everywhere.

Its not as bad as people make out
I've lived there happily for 20 years.

tirl

I wouldn't say the statements are OTT. I have also lived there happily all my life and there is a drug culture starting now among the very young teenagers

^whitey^

If there is a drug culture, violent idiots at night, a boy racer thing, knackers, scumbags e.t.c e.t.c then why is everyone moving here?

nesf

^whitey^ wrote:

If there is a drug culture, violent idiots at night, a boy racer thing, knackers, scumbags e.t.c e.t.c then why is everyone moving here?

Ehm.

Thats like me saying this rock keeps tiger's away.

Explain you say?

Well do you see any tigers?

Ah you would like to purchase my rock. Excellent.

^whitey^

nesf wrote:

Haven't lived there ... The place has a serious scumbag problem atm. Alot of young and violent idiots at night.

.

the evil belly

ah it's not all bad out here. maybe cos i went to school went most of the new scumbags older brothers. as for the car nuts they're grand, hell i'm one of em i suppose but not that you'd guess from the outside of the car, engine all the way, bodykits don't add bhp. there's drugs to be had if you want em i suppose but thats just like anywhere else

nesf

I spent 2 years where I was there twice or more a week and I talk to my aunt who has lived there for 15 years.

I also have not lived in South Hill in Limerick, but I know it's not exactly a nice place to live.

If you do not think that Ballincollig has developed quite a thug scene over the past 7 or 8 years, then you are blind to the truth.

I'm not saying that the place is a concrete jungle of crime and drug abuse, but it does have quite a large anti-social and violent element to it at night. As I said already, it's a lovely place during the day, just take a walk through it at night and you'll see what I mean.

^whitey^

nesf wrote:

I also have not lived in South Hill in Limerick, but I know it's not exactly a nice place to live.

Fair point, but we all see the problems with limerick every week on the news. Gangs from limerick dont go in and out of court for no reason.

nesf wrote:

If you do not think that Ballincollig has developed quite a thug scene over the past 7 or 8 years, then you are blind to the truth.

There has always been knackers around the place, not just the past seven - eight years, I dont know how you came to that conclusion. Im just saying its not as bad as its made out to be, as I said, I've lived here all my life quite happily.

nesf wrote:

...just take a walk through it at night and you'll see what I mean..

Eh again, I live here. Have often walked/cycled home from work between 12 and 4 in the morning. Never had a bit of trouble.

nesf

^whitey^ wrote:

Fair point, but we all see the problems with limerick every week on the news. Gangs from limerick dont go in and out of court for no reason.

Agreed. South hill is in a totally different league.

^whitey^ wrote:

There has always been knackers around the place, not just the past seven - eight years, I dont know how you came to that conclusion. Im just saying its not as bad as its made out to be, as I said, I've lived here all my life quite happily.

My veiws are based on what I've been told both by my ex, her parents and my aunt. They all agree that it has worsened in recent years. It isn't crazy bad, but it definitely has worsened.

Or maybe another way of looking at it is, the trouble now is coming from residents rather than "people visiting the area".

^whitey^ wrote:

Eh again, I live here. Have often walked/cycled home from work between 12 and 4 in the morning. Never had a bit of trouble.

I didn't say you'd have trouble. I said that you'd see it. It isn't mindless violence with every second person being mugged, I know, I never had trouble there. But I've seen a lot of fighting and antisocial behaviour there at night, and in my eyes it has gotten worse over the years. But that is a matter of point of view.


Ballincollig is not a crazy dangerous concrete jungle as i've already said. But it does have problems that have worsened in recent years. I do think they are blown out of proportion sometimes but they exist nonetheless.

^whitey^

nesf wrote:

I do think they are blown out of proportion sometimes.

Thank you

nesf

^whitey^ wrote:

Thank you

No problem

Lex Luthor

Just out of curiosity, where do the people who say they live/lived there actually live? When I was there, there was only about 10 main estates (Coolroe Heights, Inishmore, Inniscarra Heights, Muskerry Est, Castle Park, Rosewood, and a few more I can't think of.)
The one between Muskerry & the primary school was built sometime in the early 80's.
The one at the back of Muskerry (Legoland we used to call it was built around same time)
We moved into Muskerry Estate in 1975 and our street was only just finishing.
For the first 10yrs, the shop in Muskerry Est was owned by Aidan Kelleher. You will know him now as he owns the newsagents on the Nth Main St called Kellehers.

What is the estate down behind the Powder Mill inn? I believe its no longer called the Powder Mill Inn anymore either?

Where did you go to school?

If you went to the boys Primary, who was the Principal when you were there?
Sean Cronin was ours but after he retired, Jack Hegarty was next and I think Hickey was his deputy. Donal Conway was my teacher for 5th & 6th class.
I went to the Community school and Gillian Donnelly was our year master at the time. Dan Murray was the Principal and Slowey the vice but I think Slowey is now the Principal. Kinsella was one of the top teachers in teh community school but he left in the early 80's to be the principal of the new school at the time nearer the village centre.
I played in the primary school football team and we won the cork city championships in 1983 and played the final in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Highlight of my school year and scoring a goal in the last 20secs from a pass from Paidi O'Mahoneys older brother. Paidi warmed the bench that day. Paidi was 2 yrs younger than me and I had the pleasure of playing under age football with him on a number of occasions. You could tell at that young age he was going to play for the county team as he was playing with us 2 yrs his senior.
Oh yeah, and your local councillor Marky O'Keefe played that day also. I started school with him back in 1975 and we went through 13 yrs in the same class.

Ninja Turtle

Live in Parknamore myself. It used to be an estate on the edge of the town, but with Greenfields/Classes Lake etc. it's getting more and more central. (Inishmore is the true legoland btw :P)

The Powder Mill Inn? Are you referring to the West Park? Its on the main street right, next to Colaiste Choilm (The secondary school that Kinsella is the principal of)? If thats the place, the estate behind it is Leesdale.

Didn't go to the boys primary or BCS (which they knocked, and built again. Its meant to be class), so I wouldn't have a clue about either of them tbh.

Lex Luthor

Ninja Turtle wrote:

Live in Parknamore myself. It used to be an estate on the edge of the town, but with Greenfields/Classes Lake etc. it's getting more and more central. (Inishmore is the true legoland btw :P)

The Powder Mill Inn? Are you referring to the West Park? Its on the main street right, next to Colaiste Choilm (The secondary school that Kinsella is the principal of)? If thats the place, the estate behind it is Leesdale.

Didn't go to the boys primary or BCS (which they knocked, and built again. Its meant to be class), so I wouldn't have a clue about either of them tbh.

Ya, thats the place alright. Beside the Colaiste Choilm. Leesdale is the estate I was looking for.
One of my mates lived there and I went out with a girl from down the back there for a while.

tirl

You should arrange to re-visit BCS, it is now all done up, no more of those prefabs, it is now state of the art, really high spec, and the best of equipment etc. A lot of the old teachers are still there! Mr Slowey retired last year due to ill health Kath Lowney is now Principle with Mr Kennelly as Vice.

Ballincollig hasn't got any more problems than any other town in the Country.

Lex Luthor

tirl wrote:

You should arrange to re-visit BCS, it is now all done up, no more of those prefabs, it is now state of the art, really high spec, and the best of equipment etc. A lot of the old teachers are still there! Mr Slowey retired last year due to ill health Kath Lowney is now Principle with Mr Kennelly as Vice.

Ballincollig hasn't got any more problems than any other town in the Country.

There were no prefabs at BCS when I was there...but the whole school looked like a prefab with all those mad colours for the 6 different segments.
Is it still built on a circular structure?

Kennelly was the Career Guidance Teacher when I was there.

I don't remember Kath Lowney though in my time.

What happened to Slowey? Did he still have his whistle?

tirl

yeah looked like prefabs, i didn't go there as it wasn't built until I was in 2nd year. Mr Slowey was ill for a while, but hung in there until the new school was built and opened. It doesn't look at all like the old one, real state of the art now. I have a child in 1st year and he loves it although they are very very strict.

I think Ms Lowney came form elsewhere. Have a look at www.ratemyteacher.com BCS is there with all the old teachers still in situ Allcock etc etc and that mad French teacher.

Lex Luthor

tirl wrote:

yeah looked like prefabs, i didn't go there as it wasn't built until I was in 2nd year. Mr Slowey was ill for a while, but hung in there until the new school was built and opened. It doesn't look at all like the old one, real state of the art now. I have a child in 1st year and he loves it although they are very very strict.

I think Ms Lowney came form elsewhere. Have a look at www.ratemyteacher.com BCS is there with all the old teachers still in situ Allcock etc etc and that mad French teacher.

Allcock was the metal work teacher...I did woodwork although he was sound.
Johnny Holland was a pure idiot.
John Buttimer was a trainee when I was there. We gave him a lot of stick as he started with a pony tail. He gave out more detecntions in his first year than the whole school.
Can't believe Ionain Ui Mhurchu is still there...she must be about 60 now. I hated her.
I had Avril Owens for English...along with Gillian Donnelly, there were the 2 strictist teachers I came across.
Dermot Lucey was the class to go to if you wanted to catch some Z's

tirl

Dermot Lucey is year head for 1st years now, seems okay as far as I can see

Johnny Holland is retiring this year, lots of young teachers there now and a lot of them on power trips, would hate to be back at school to be honest.

Lex Luthor

tirl wrote:

Dermot Lucey is year head for 1st years now, seems okay as far as I can see

Johnny Holland is retiring this year, lots of young teachers there now and a lot of them on power trips, would hate to be back at school to be honest.

They must all get their chance every now and again to be year head. Lucey was head back in 1987 for 1st years I think.

We gave 'murp' a really hard time (Johnny Holland)....we had him for building construction. He wasn't that bad, but he was a bit of the old school.

rubberneck

ah yes..the good oul days..
Dony Conway playing his recorder..before eugene cosgrove took it one day for the laugh and a tune..and got caught..a belt across the arse was his reward!
remember sitting on conways knee for little chats.. also a memory..hmm now seems a bit more 'dodgy'!!?? (..michael jacksons prosecuter may get a call! )
Castleparks finest:Noel O' Regan and his exploits were also an interesting diversion!
"sir..i didn't do nuttin..sir!"..detention and a visit by his mad mother followed!

As for BCS..sloweys 'get in a line' order following the whistle and then a trawl thru the bushes beside the gym like a tracker hunting out errant smokers.."give me your journel!"

ever dodged up the short cut for a ciggie or to 'go on the hop' for the day?

i could go on..and probably will..again soon!

now living in oz..better weather although came back recently and agree with most posts above..is it maturity and awareness or just that the place really has gone to the dogs!

knocking the wall thru the village is a mistake! : (

later 'colligites

Roche

I moved in 98 - had my run in's with Castle Park and parts of Inishmore too. I went to BCS too and I hear the whole town has multiplied. It would be trippy to go back and see my old house. I hated BCS because thre was a serious lack of 90 degree angles! Teachers like Owens and A.O'Sullivan perpetually screamed at me - if I saw them now!! Failed Owens French class and then I later went to live,work,and study in France. Half day wednesday's were pretty cool. Had my share of report cards too usually from Buttimer's Irish class. He would flirt with the girls and pretend he was a rocker!! Long live Woody - liked her class the best.

kashi

I was in first year in 1987 and Dermot Lucey was my year head. He was ok, and I never got caught for being in trouble!

Yes Ballincollig has gotten rough, but in fairness, if you go looking for trouble you'll find it. I worked there for years, and rarely got any trouble. Although some of the young kids drove me crazy, but they never scared me.

My brother lived in Leytonstone in London, which is one of the roughest parts of London, and he said it's gotten rough! I think it looks worse than it is really though. There are still some really nice people in Ballincollig. The w*nkers are everywhere, not just Ballincollig!

rubberneck

the place always reminded me of a halting site! now its a empty field, completely demolished..

i was in the same year.. Lucey and his obsession with short hair and conforming shoes.. the Third Reich was more lenient!

Still..happy days upsetting Ma Walsh, Mrs Lennon and Ann-Marie Daly!

Brid, Ciaran, Eanna, Fiachra and Grainne?...i think!:rolleyes:

kashi

I was in Eanna.........what class were you in rubberneck? We had the dime bar days.......and I think there was a sunglasses day too!! How we didn't drive the teachers to distraction is beyond me!

craichoe

Ballincollig isnt half as bad as it was when i was growing up there.

But now you have this crowd called the CPG's (Castle Park Gang) I couldn't believe it when my little sister told me .. rotfl ..

I live in the city but visit the parents every so often, I did get hassle one night walking down to the pub, but it was a quick f*ck off when they realised we weren't having any of it they moved off pretty quick.

Its alright like, but i wouldnt live there for love nor money

future_plans

Great memories reading through this. I left the place in '92 (Was in 1st year in '89-'90....Italia 90!). Returned regularly until about '96 and then life took over and never had a chance to go back properly. Not sure how it's changed now, but it was a great place to live back in those days. Of course there were a few troublemakers around. But every town had them. And chance are, they were in your class or something in Primary school and they left you alone. Sure, it's unrecognisable now. I was in Rang Aoife at the time. Very much borderline Brid though. In fact, if I stayed longer, I am sure I would have been in put in Brid!

invincibleirish

Digging up old threads FTW!

Ballincollig is an example of urban sprawl.

1.take one long road, add lots and lots of housing developments both public and private, unplanned of course

2. ensure nothing else is built vis a vis community facilities for a long time, or at the very least make sure they are inadequate for a growing suburb

3. eventually the state and infrastructure will catch up, re: Ballincollig bypass and forthcoming local bus service, but only after lots of complaining and congestion (and diverting sources from elsewhere)

4. build a shopping centre, the true coming of age development all burbs have to have

5. et viola! you have a fully functioning new burb, with it comes all associated benefits of Burb living, good/bad areas, inadequate policing, awful planning, inadequate social infrastructure and anonymity that greets any visitors

Lex Luthor

rubberneck wrote: »

ah yes..the good oul days..
Dony Conway playing his recorder..before eugene cosgrove took it one day for the laugh and a tune..and got caught..a belt across the arse was his reward!
remember sitting on conways knee for little chats.. also a memory..hmm now seems a bit more 'dodgy'!!?? (..michael jacksons prosecuter may get a call! )
Castleparks finest:Noel O' Regan and his exploits were also an interesting diversion!
"sir..i didn't do nuttin..sir!"..detention and a visit by his mad mother followed!

As for BCS..sloweys 'get in a line' order following the whistle and then a trawl thru the bushes beside the gym like a tracker hunting out errant smokers.."give me your journel!"

ever dodged up the short cut for a ciggie or to 'go on the hop' for the day?

later 'colligites

Class rubberneck.. I remeber Noel O'Regan. You were 2 years behind me then. Johnny his older brother was in my year when he showed up. Feck, how many Regans were there
Mary & Martin were in the year ahead of me but I'd say Martin was held back a few years judging by the fact he had a beard in 3rd year
Conway was fond of the top of the class chats alright

kashi wrote: »

I was in Eanna.........what class were you in rubberneck? We had the dime bar days.......and I think there was a sunglasses day too!! How we didn't drive the teachers to distraction is beyond me!

I think I was in Brid

I thought it was Time bars and sausage rolls in the cafeteria?

owen275

Lex, you were in my year in BCS and I lived in Muskerry Est. I lived on Maple Lawn how about you?

Danger781

I gotta say I enjoyed reading this thread

dob1234

BCS has good staff and mostly good students with the odd few rough ones (but thats in every school)
some old teachers are still there, Ni Mhurchu, Waterman, Buttimer, Owens, A'O Sullivan, JOC, Nally and AM Daly to name a few, I left 5 years ago and I have good memories of the place

Ballincollig is note as bad as people say, there is 1 or 2 rough areas but 90& of the town is v.good

run_Forrest_run

an 8 year old thread, with the last post (prior to today) being over 3 years ago

darkdubh

Corks answer to Tallaght or Blanchardstown.Former village that has now grown into a huge suburb with little or no planning.

iusedtoknow

I grew up there, remember the oriel when it was d'oriel. Was at scoil eoin and BCS ( Danker was the principal in 1st year, Slowey for the rest of my time there).
There were worse places to grow up, used to cycle through the regional park a lot, head down to the castle and close enough to town.
Been gone nearly 7 years now, but head back often enough to see the family. I barely recognize the place with the new development in the Main Street and the houses all over the place

rubberneck

You sound like someone i used to know...;)

I did mostly the same thing. Cycled everywhere on the trusty mountain bike and hung out in the castle after making my way thru the dump at the front.

Now gone overseas for over 11 years and was just back last month for 2 weeks yet again. Place no longer feels like the Ballincollig I grew up in.

Walked into the old BOI bank on the main street to find it a thrift shop!:P

Roundabout below at where the L&N used to be gone and turned into a nightmare set of lights which take an age to change.

Place feels soulless, another generic urban centre...

The link right thru to tunnel from EMC is a great addition though. I actually got lost heading out to Ovens Bar for lunch one day though, with the new configuration. You know you've been gone a while when something like that happens in your home town :P

foxy farmer

Was in same class as some of the posters here. Scoil Eoin from 79 to87. BCS till 92. I was bred born and reared in muskerry. Was said to be the biggest estate in the village for years. Anyone remember getting the fruity smell frm Topps when going to school in the morning? Finally left in 2003 just as things were changing big time. I pass through the place from time to time. It's still busy despite what some people say about ring roads and by passes outside towns.

jason healy

Hey anyone here know me. Lived in innishmore untill 88 b4 moving to England. .went to the boys school and bcs. When i first moved there innishmore had only th 44 houses on the right and apart from the bcs all the rest was just a big field. Topps was there of course right outside my bedroom window!!! Would be great to hear from anyone who remembers me. Can remember the place as a village back then but over the years dont recognise the place much.

Kevin McCloud

jason healy wrote: »

Hey anyone here know me. Lived in innishmore untill 88 b4 moving to England. .went to the boys school and bcs. When i first moved there innishmore had only th 44 houses on the right and apart from the bcs all the rest was just a big field. Topps was there of course right outside my bedroom window!!! Would be great to hear from anyone who remembers me. Can remember the place as a village back then but over the years dont recognise the place much.

Is that you Jason? alot has changed in Ballincollig since. John Spilliance sums it up nicely.

codonovan64

I came to live in Ballincollig in 1975. I went to the boys school when I first arrived. Can anyone remember the teachers names?

theirish

Mr Daly . Ms McSweeney . Mr o Shea .

Any more lads

Let's keep this thread moving

foxy farmer

theirish wrote: »

Mr Daly . Ms McSweeney . Mr o Shea .

Any more lads

Let's keep this thread moving

Teachers in Boys national school by any chance?

rubberneck

foxy farmer wrote: »

Teachers in Boys national school by any chance?

Mr Hickey (since jailed as a pedo)

Mr Kelly ("Killer Kelly", a right mean b@stard!)

Mr Hegarty (became principal after Cronin retired)

Mr Conway (tall af and had him for 5th and 6th. Sound character imo)

All Scoil Eoin teachers.

foxy farmer

rubberneck wrote: »

Mr Hickey (since jailed as a pedo)

Mr Kelly ("Killer Kelly", a right mean b@stard!)

Mr Hegarty (became principal after Cronin retired)

Mr Conway (tall af and had him for 5th and 6th. Sound character imo)

All Scoil Eoin teachers.

My teachers from infants up(79-87)were
Infants Mrs O Leary
Snr Infants Mr Hegarty (dark curly hair and beard)
1st Ms Murray became Mrs Martin red hair and wore a foam surgical collar.
2nd Mr Daly his first class in scoil eoin
3rd Mr o Connell
4th Mr o Shea
5th&6th Mr Conway.

mikeecho

Scoil Eoin
From about 82 onwards
J Infants Ms oNeill (cranky)
S Infants Ms Appleby
1st Ms Cronin (principles daughter)
2nd Ms o Neill (different O'Neill)
3rd same as above
4th leo hickey
5th Mr Daly

rubberneck

foxy farmer wrote: »

My teachers from infants up(79-87)were
Infants Mrs O Leary
Snr Infants Mr Hegarty (dark curly hair and beard)
1st Ms Murray became Mrs Martin red hair and wore a foam surgical collar.
2nd Mr Daly his first class in scoil eoin
3rd Mr o Connell
4th Mr o Shea
5th&6th Mr Conway.

Crazy, we were in same classes all the way up! Who is that? I have a good memory on most in my classes. Pm me.

I went on to BCS and Brid in first year. Half the primary classes went to Collaiste Colm on the other side of the village.