Wonderful evening of celebration as new Ardmayle Church model is unveiled

A sense of history is present as you approach the beautiful Ardmayle Church.

The well kept grounds, mature trees and the scenic surroundings meet the senses and now visitors can marvel at a model sized creation of Ardmayle Church.

Ardmayle Heritage Society hosted a wonderful evening last Thursday as they unveiled the model created by 93-year-old Cashel celebrity Johnny Fogarty.

A huge crowd gathered for the occasion which was launched by Fr Joe Egan, the Boherlahan -Dualla PP.

On the night Johnny Fogarty explained to me the background to his creation: “Pat Maher came in one day and asked. I said ‘no problem’. He got me the measurements and photographs and I started it,” he says.

It is the latest in a line of creations by the Cashel native who took to making models six years ago. The first one was of the Rock of Cashel, then other land marks and houses were included too. It is a labour of love he says:

“This is number 28 for me, I have 32 of them done. This one is marine plywood. I use nails, matchsticks and other materials too. I'm making the Swiss Cottage, and it is made of oak and other materials. 

“I was a mechanic starting out but I always loved carpentry. When I was going to school I was mad about carpentry but I started going out to Grogans on the Clonmel Road, and they had a tractor so I started driving the tractor and instead of being a carpenter it was as a mechanic I served my time!

“There is never a dull moment. They said when I was young life begins at forty, well I'm ninety plus and ‘tis only beginning now!”

Pat Maher is chairperson in Ardmayle Church and he says they had a wonderful night “We are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year. It was in February 1983 when we were first constituted a society and the whole aim was to preserve the church so that is what we are doing.

“This is our third event this year. We had the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate that date and Willie O’Gorman unveiled that. He is gone to his eternal reward since. We had John’s Eve and then tonight’s event. We had a big crowd.

“The Fitzgerald boys, Cian and Niall, played traditional music then we followed with a poem by Tim Joe McGrath read by Marian Ryan before Siobhan Hennessy read a poem written by Philip Ryan. We had music as well and unveiled the model.

“Johnny Fogarty built the model which took six weeks while Damien McCarron painted the model and that took three weeks. They are both very skilled,” says Pat.

Johnny Fogarty pictured with friends at the launch (above).