Issue 32: December 18, 2020
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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Santa spotted over the James O’Keeffe Institute, home of IRD Duhallow and Discover Duhallow
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Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Duhallow news
Invitation for a walk at Shrone Attention all walkers: Following the resumption of guided winter walks hosted by IRD Duhallow on the second Saturday of each month, the next walk will be at Shrone, walking in the spectacular valley next to the Paps. We will be passing by the beautiful Shrone Lake (Loch Ghleann an Phréacháin). The meeting point will be at the church in Shrone on Saturday January 9th, at 10.30am. Registration is essential. All Covid -19 health and safety guidelines will be followed.
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
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A look back in time
CHRISTMAS IN THE 40s By JJ DUGGAN We lived a long way in from a public road, a real rural area on the Cork-Kerry border. The nearest village was Ballydesmond, on the river Blackwater. There have been a great many changes since then, but we were quite content with our simple lives. We had no car, electricity, running water, or television. We had a battery radio and an occasional newspaper so we were not bombarded with ads. I was the oldest of six children, all born in the 1940s. The season usually began a week before Christmas. The shop where my mother did most business gave her a gift of a ‘Christmas Box’, now almost forgotten by the big supermarkets. They have killed off the smaller family shops so that rural villages have either one shop or none at all! From today’s viewpoint it seems life was very deprived and empty. It was anything but. Money was scarce for most families so all gifts at Christmas and dinner were treasured more. My father always said that ‘the everyday goodies never tasted as well as those at Christmas’. Our daily diet has without doubt much improved. We never saw Santa and firmly believed he came down the chimney. We never reasoned how he managed to visit all the children in one night. We hung up our stockings and went to sleep in happy anticipation. Santa brought us apples, sweets, pencils, copy books, colouring books, and other non-expensive gifts which we treasured. My father said that Santa left a footprint up on the chimney as he departed. There was a magic feeling about the entire occasion. We were happy to get simple gifts
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rather than sophisticated ones so our enjoyment was very great. Early Christmas morning we awoke to see what Santa had given us. We found some of our gifts in our long stockings as we wore short pants then. The rest of Christmas Day was a happy time. Dinner was special and for many years we had a large roast goose rather than a turkey. We kept a flock of geese for the family but in later years bought a turkey from a local farmer. As we grew up and helped on the small farm, we were expected to work on the sugar beet for processing at the Mallow factory. The holy season was truly over. Nowadays, the Christmas lights and decorations go up in midNovember in both town and country. Advertising also starts about this time. This is surely far too early. Is
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there a danger of becoming bored with the whole extended season or the strings of lights on roofs? It is a wonderful time but is close to saturation now – as this article is becoming. It’s time to finish... Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve comes before Christmas but also deserves a paragraph. It occurs from the end of October. On 1st November we have All Saints Day and on the 2nd the Feast of the Holy Souls, an important religious time. Halloween is reputed to be a time for spirits and fairies from pre-history still remembered. Children like to dress up as fairies or ghouls. We had ‘Snap-apple Night’. An apple hung from the ceiling and another apple floating in a bowl of water. We had to bite the apples without using our hands. I often thought we risked lockjaw.
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
A look back in time
The Moving Bog tragedy ‘The Moving Bog’ Knocknageeha, Gneeveguilla: A historic and tragic event occurred here on December 28th, 1896 when an area of 200 acres of bog (or 0.81 km2) slipped over the course of four days, following the course of the Ownacree River and into the River Flesk. There had been a dry summer followed by a wet autumn. The bog had given way along a turf cutting line 4ft–10 ft deep – there was no warning or eyewitness to the rupture as it occurred overnight. According to the Cork Constitution, the bog slide was caused by lack of drainage to an over cut bog in the district. Buoyancy in the bog increased after a month of prolonged rainfall, causing it to float and leading to calamitous consequences for those in its path. The same article states that the bogslide “must have swept past in a fairly compact body, and with a tremendous force... sweeping before it everything which obstructed its progress”. When the bog came to rest, it covered several hundred acres of pastureland. The resulting flood filled
A few days after the bog-slide, the RDS sent an expert group from Dublin to investigate the causes, writes DONAL HICKEY. The group was confronted by a scene of devastation and, on closer examination, found that the bog-slide was caused by factors that had been at play in other similar events around the country. Large volumes of water were allowed build up in lower layers of the bog and, under pressure, they burst out at low points, dragging the top layers with them. A member of the investigating group was Robert Lloyd Praeger, still regarded as one of Ireland’s leading botanists, who said ‘unwise turfcutting’ by producing a high face on turf banks without proper draining, was often the cause of such events. In his acclaimed book detailing his trips around Ireland, The Way That I Went, Praeger said that was also the
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
A depiction of the night the bog moved; inset, survivor Kate Donnelly the valuable limestone quarry in the Carraundulkeen valley to a depth of 15–20 feet. People in the locality are said to have been wakened by earthquake-like sounds and rumblings. Cornelius Donnelly, quarry steward for Lord Kenmare, and his wife and six children were swept to their deaths as they slept. The strength of the slippage saw parts of the beds of the Donnelly home found in the Lakes of Killarney a fortnight later. Kate Donnelly, the eldest girl, survived as she was visiting her
case in Knocknageeha. He wrote: “The face of the turf-cutting gave way, and a vast mass of peat and water precipitated itself down the valley, the flood ceasing only when it entered the Lakes of Killarney, 14 miles distant. “When the flow finally died down, about a week after the outburst, a great saucer-shaped depression, at its deepest no less than 45 feet below the former slight convex surface, showed the amount of extruded material. “This, with the abundant stumps of pine, which it had contained, was spread for miles over the lands below.’’ It was dark, cold weather and, years later, he clearly recalled the black, slimy mass against a background of the snow-capped MacGillycuddy’s Reeks away to the west. And entombed in the countless tonnes of thick liquid were the bodies of the Donnelly family.
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grandmother that night – later in life she returned and built her home on the site of the house where she grew up with her family. The Lyne family had a lucky escape when the flow surrounded their cottage; they escaped through a window and waded to safety. The bog slippage caused much disruption, damage and distress in the locality. People living close to the land movement evacuated their homes and moved further away from the bog. Direct communications were cut off between Killarney and Gneeveguilla by the land slippage in the direct aftermath of the event. To this day, the slippage lives on in the memory of the locale. The 100th anniversary of the disaster was commemorated with the unveiling of a memorial at the site of the original Donnelly home, in Knocknageeha, Gneeveguilla, on December 28, 1996, exactly a century to the day after the tragedy. More than 300 people attended the unveiling ceremony which was officially performed by grandsons of Katie Donnelly, Patrick and Tom Joe O'Donoghue. The memorial, a limestone slab taken from the nearby quarry where Con Donnelly was a steward, was provided by the local history society, Cumann Luachra. Earlier, at a special Mass in Gneeveguilla church, eight bells tolled symbolically – one for each of the victims. g Some information courtesy of the Sliabh Luachra Journal.
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Community news
Top last minute Christmas gift!
Santa pictured at the Drive Thru in Ballydesmond, with local elves Liz Healy, Mairead O'Connor and Ella O'Sullivan
Above, Vincent Guiney and John O'Keeffe laid a wreath on hero Seán Moylan’s grave in Kiskeam on Commemoration Day
The 19th edition of the Cumann Luachra Journal is currently available for €12 and is full of very interesting articles and old photographs. This will make an ideal Christmas gift. The journal can be purchased locally in all of the usual shops or online at cumannluachra.com. Call Eileen Fleming on 087 147 5386 for further information.
Donald Philpott, Global IT manager of VMWare, presenting a cheque for €6,246.65 to Nóra Moynihan, principal of Cullen National School and Alan Mooney, Board of Management chairman All photos by Sheila Fitzgerald 6
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Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Community news
Castlemagner notes
Above, Niall and Katie O'Connor at their superbly decorated home in Clara Road, Millstreet; right, Millstreet Tidy Town members Noreen Dennehy and Pat Randles further enhance Christmas magic at The Square All photos by Seán Radley Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Abraham’s Cross: Neighbours came together recently to put topsoil around the monument erected to those who lost their lives in the Battle of Knocknanuss (1647). This area has been earmarked to be developed as part of the community biodiversity plan, with native hedging to be planted in 2021. After the topsoil was raked, wild bluebells were planted. Many thanks to everyone for their help, Above, the enthusiasm, donation of topsoil, use of gentlemen of machinery and goodwill. Everyone is Millstreet looking forward to seeing the fruits of their Christmas labours in May. Lights Church Carpark & Gaisce Community Committee Programme: The Gaisce voluntary pictured at community work continued this month. The Square, Eoin Cronin helped tidy up the church car Millstreet; park, removing briars and accumulated left, the ladies debris. As part of his learning he collected of the same and stored fallen leaves so they will committee break down and make valuable leaf with the very mould. This will be used as a mulch in impressive the new biodiversity bed between the wall Christmas tree of the church carpark and water pump. at The Square Thanks to everyone involved. Blessing of Christmas Lights: On Friday 18th December Father Toby Bluitt has kindly agreed to bless the Christmas lights in Castlemagner and Cecilstown. 2020 has been a difficult and strange year for everyone as we all got used to the “new normal”. Family and community are very much at the heart of Christmas and this year CCDA is planning a simple community celebration to ensure safety of all that will still allow us to come together. We appreciate that we cannot have massive crowds, so we have a kind volunteer who has agreed to video the proceedings to share online. Covid Safety Guidelines will be followed. Further details on Blessing of the Lights will be on our FaceBook Page. Save the date. Sinsir Christmas Fair: Sinsir held their first festive Christmas Fair on the 13th December. It offered much seasonal cheer, Christmas treats, home-baking and handmade crafts. When I was About Knee High is now published and is a wonderful record of times past with heart-warming stories, memories, poems, precious old and beautiful scenic photographs. See page 21 for more information.
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Crossword sponsored by Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk
€20 voucher for use at Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk To be in with a chance to win a €20 voucher from Bob’s Bar & Restaurant in Kanturk for food/drinks, complete the crossword below and post with your name & contact details to: Discover Duhallow Puzzle Competition, James O’Keeffe Institute, Newmarket, Co Cork Or simply scan completed puzzle or take a snap with your phone and email to: info@discoverduhallow.com
WIN! Terms & Conditions: Deadline for submissions is noon on Friday, January 15th, 2021. First correct entry drawn will win a €20 voucher, valid for three months from date of issue, to be redeemed for food / drinks from Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk. No cash alternative. Winner will be named in subsequent issue of Discover Duhallow. No correspondence will be entered into. Voucher to be collected from Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk.
Across 1. Utensil (5) 3. Path (5) 7. Disregarded (7) 9. Send out (5) 10. Military command (5) 11. Mythical beast (7) 12. Taste (6) 14. Movie house (6) 18. Bet (7) 20. Deduce (5) 22. Unsuitable (5) 23. Roamed (7) 24. Finished (5) 25. Small boat (5)
Down 1. Mariners (7) 2. Possessed (5) 3. Boredom (6) 4. Legal excuse (5) 5. Svelte (7) 6. Beer mug (5) 8. In the countryside (5) 13. Tycoon (7) 15. Dialect (5) 16. Condense (7) 17. Worshipped (6) 18. Forgo (5) 19. Graded (5) 21. Criminal (5)
Solution: Issue 31, December 4, 2020
Solution in Issue 33, January 22, 2021
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WINNER! Well done to Nora Hickey, Readrinagh, Headford, Killarney, Co. Kerry who wins a €20 voucher from Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk!
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
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Christmas Wishes & Happy New Year to Everyone!
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Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Duhallow news
Community loans for clubs Clann Credo can help local clubs and community groups to maximise Sports Capital funding by providing bridging and match funding loans as part of their applications. Clann Credo is excited to see a new round of funding under the 2021 Sports Capital Programme. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and the Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers TD, announced that €40 million is being made available in 2021 under a new round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP). Clann Credo has a dedicated €10 million Community Sports Loan Fund available to help sports clubs and community groups maximise their Sports Capital grants and has many years of
experience in assisting clubs to develop their facilities. These grants fuel the growth of local sports clubs that play such a vital role in our communities. Local sports clubs are enormous contributors to local identity, and they create a community of endeavour, pride and support. Clann Credo is hosting an information evening for all sports and community groups who may require evidence of loan finance to support their application under the 2020 Sports Capital Programme. This will involve: n Practical advice on exactly how
to use loan finance effectively to maximise your grant; n Top tips on applying for a Clann Credo Community Sports Loan; n An introduction to your local Clann Credo representative; n Advice from clubs who have combined grants and loans to develop their facilities in the past. The information evening will take place online on 13th January 2021 from 7:30–9pm. You can register for this event at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/ community-sports-loans-for-sportscapital-applicants-informationevening-tickets-130789237129 In order to allow Clann Credo time to process new finance requests, the closing date is 29th January 2021. You can send an email to info@clanncredo.ie, or phone 01 400 2100 for more details.
Have a self care Christmas As a professional working for over 40 years as both a carer and therapist, I have found that self care is the foundation to tackling all of the predicaments that life sends us, writes psychotherapist Ger Fleming. Self care is not about being selfish but rather being well in ourselves in order to live a fruitful life and having healthy relationships with ourselves and others. A healthy lifestyle enables us to have a positive attitude towards everyday life. Christmas for some can be both a stressful and lonely time.In these unprecedented times, Covid-19 has added enormously to the situation. The question is, how can we take steps to help and support ourselves in these stressful times? n Keep healthy routines n Exercise regularly n Keep a regular sleep routine n Have a healthy balanced diet
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
n Practice relaxation techniques n Use online resources for yoga, meditation and religious services. n Stay connected with friends and family. In times of stress friends and family can be a source of support. If one has to restrict movements or self isolate, try to stay in touch in other ways. e.g. by phone, email or video calls. In these times it is understandable to feel vulnerable or overwhelmed reading or hearing news about the
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pandemic. Acknowledge these feelings. Remind yourself and others to look after physical and mental health. For people using Mental Health Services for an existing mental health condition, it is important to have a list of numbers of services, relatives and friends for support. Keep taking prescribed medication and continue with any counselling or psychotherapy sessions you have. Children and teenagers can also be stressed. Make time to explain to them that it’s OK to feel stressed at times and encourage them to taland stay connected with family and friends. Remember, children and teenagers take a lead from adults. Finally, it is important to remember that no situation or predicament lasts forever. Take good care and have a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year.
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Feature sponsored by SICAP
GERMANY
FAR AWAY How Christmas is celebrated in other cultures – courtesy of Duhallow’s diverse community
Laura and her sister Carolin in 1992 with a German festive decoration Christmas in Germany starts on the first day of advent, writes LAURA ZENKER. We decorate the house and light the first of four candles and the Christmas season has officially started, although we won’t put up our Christmas tree for quite some time. Christmas markets also open across all cities, towns and villages, we drink Glühwein, eat candied apples and nuts and browse the stalls for gifts and decorations. Wooden decorations are loved by all across the country, pyramids, nutcrackers and stars to name a few. Christmas markets can also have rides and ice rinks and play festive music from dusk till dawn. On the evening of December 5th the children clean the biggest shoes they can find and put them outside their front door with their Christmas list for Santy, waiting for St. Nicholas to come and fill them up with sweets and little toys for St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. This used to be one of my personal favourites because our biggest shoes were our riding boots, so needless to say we got a lot of sweets and treats. The Christmas tree is put up and decorated on December 24th. We exchange gifts on the evening of the 24th. Gift giving on Christmas eve is one tradition we have always kept, though my sister Carolin having her two boys (Ian, 5, and Luke, 2) has altered this slightly, the lucky boys get presents on both days. Typically there is a Christmas duck or goose, not a turkey for Christmas dinner, though as a large portion of our family are vegan our dinner is largely varied, from turkey all the way to nut roasts – though we all still seem to favour the stuffing!
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POLAND
Polish Christmas is something that everyone should experience at least once, writes PAuLInA (MArynoWSKA) o’rIorDAn. The most popular desserts are It’s a very magical moment for ‘makowiec’ (a poppy seed roll made everyone that celebrates it. The of sweet yeast bread) and ‘kutia’ whole family gets involved in (mixed dried fruits and nuts with preparation – we cook, clean, buy wheat seeds). The rest of the dishes gifts and decorate the Christmas depend on the family and parts of tree as a family. Poland. Poles don’t eat meat that Poland is a largely Catholic day and aren’t supposed to drink country and Christmas Eve is very important and a busy day. The most alcohol. It’s one of the Polish holiday important thing is Wigilia (Christmas traditions to fast all day and start eating in the evening. Eve dinner). It begins At the beginning of the when the first star appears Christmas Eve dinner you in the sky (symbolising the pray and share ‘opłatek’ (the Bethlehem star). Before Polish Christmas wafer) with the table is set, hay is Christmas wishes with every placed under the white member of the family. tablecloth to commemSanta in Poland is very orate the birth of Christ in generous. He comes twice! the stable. An extra place The first time Sw. Mikolaj (St. is always set for any Nicholas) gives presents to unexpected visitor kids and adults is on the 6th because loneliness is the Paulina and Shane O’Riordan of December. Santa usually worst thing that could comes himself or simply happen to anyone at Christmas. leaves the gifts at the door or under Christmas Eve dinner contains the pillow. I remember when I was a 12 dishes, one for each of the 12 apostles and a representation of the child, together with my sisters, we’d 12 months of the year. Everyone has wake up very early that day and check what Santa brought us. He to eat or at least try some of each comes again on Christmas Eve dish. All the dishes are meatless, (depending on the family traditions, however this restriction doesn’t the gifts are brought from Santa, a exclude fish, as carp is one of the Star, Baby Jesus, an Angel or Jack most traditional dishes served. ‘Barszcz’ (beetroot soup) is the main Frost). Children find their presents dish of the meal. Served with ‘uszka’ under the Christmas tree, but they are allowed to open them only when (little mushroom dumplings) or ‘krokiety’ (pancakes with mushroom the Christmas dinner is finished. Christmas Eve is finished by going and cabbage, in breadcrumbs). In to church for ‘Pasterka’, a midnight most houses there are ‘kompot z mass that lasts about 90 minutes. suszu’, that is a drink made by Wesołych Świąt: Merry Christmas! boiling dry fruits and fresh apples.
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Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Feature sponsored by SICAP
Y FESTIVITIES CANADA JESSICA BArron writes, I don’t really remember any of my Christmas presents from my childhood, we were always excited about opening them, but what is marked in my memory forever is the lead up to Christmas, the event that was Christmas Eve! To talk about Canadian Christmas traditions would be to talk about a multitude of different, regional customs. The East of Canada – Nova Scotia, New Foundland, New Brunswick with their strong Irish, Celtic, Scottish and French influence – differs from the Native, British and even Asian cultural influences in the West. For my part, I was born and grew up in the province of Quebec where our traditions are intrinsically linked with those of our French ancestors and, oh, do we know how to celebrate Christmas! Houses would be lit up in multi-coloured blinking lights from the beginning of December, French and English Christmas classics would be blaring out from every radio station, the Christmas tree decorated of course and, at the risk of being cliché, snow would be falling, without fail, every year in time for the big event: Christmas Eve! Yes, Christmas Eve is when it all happened. We would get ready
Through its SICAP programme, IRD Duhallow strives to create socially inclusive interventions and initiatives which aim to underscore positive interactions between migrants, their families and the local community. The purpose of this will be to ensure better community cohesion over the long term, therefore supporting integration. In recent times through SICAP a number of supportive actions and events were undertaken, which were all underscored with the theme of valuing throughout the day, the good clothes would be layed on the bed, food and presents would be packed ready to go. As children we would fidget all day, overwhelmed with the excitment of it all, until it was time to take a quick nap at 4pm to make sure that everyone was ready for a night of fun and festivities. When the clock neared 8pm, it was finally time to go, we would make our way to our grandparents’ house, where all the aunts, uncles and cousins would gather. There would be a feast of roast turkey and all the trimmings, the very famous ‘tourtiere’, a delicious traditional meat pie, the ‘ragout de pattes de cochon’, a pork dish, and so many goodies. After everyone was well fed, the floor was cleared for singing and dancing. My uncle would pick up his accordion, my granddad
In Scotland, the 25th of December became a public holiday only in 1958, writes JASON EDGAR. Celebrating Christmas had been frowned upon by the Kirk in line with the protestant reformations for hundreds of years. Plenty people still alive today remember going to work on Christmas Day. Christmas in Scotland is very much a close-knit family affair for those that are fortunate enough to have one. When we were young my sisters and I were sent to the woods to get a nice tall tree, not too
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
PART 2 OF 2
the diversity of Duhallow. These actions included multi-cultural events, opportunities for lifelong learning and the support of specific projects which had the integration of new communities at their core. Furthermore IRD Duhallow has successfully applied for funding under the community integration fund 2020 to run a number of workshops concerning integration awareness for secondary school students. These workshops are currently in the planning stage. his harmonica, the teenagers were excused and the rest of us danced until Midnight Mass. After Mass, children might have been lucky enough for Santa Claus to have left a present to open, the rest would be opened on Christmas Day. The after Mass party, a tradition called ‘Reveillons’, continued well into the small hours of Christmas morning, with more songs, games and food. As small children, we used to fall asleep on beds covered with winter coats until our parents woke us up to go home. Christmas Day was all about presents, until we were ready to do it all over again, visiting the other side of the family and enjoying yet more food, songs and games. The party went on into the small hours before everyone, exhausted but content, hugged one more time before winding down a few days and getting ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve!
SCOTLAND thick but not short, a bit bushy but not a wild thing. We had no idea how it worked. We imagined the size of the living room and then sawed accordingly. Hogmanay on the other hand is a ramshackle affair with an air of celebration and a ‘more the merrier’ approach is taken. That’s another story!
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Duhallow Career Guidance Q & A
Life of a craftsperson PAT McNAMARA is the owner of Allo Craft and Design near Freemount
Considering what career path to take? This series of Q&A interviews with Duhallow professionals offers candid insights into what the job really entails...
1. What is your job description? I trained as a cabinetmaker and I am the owner of Allo Craft and Design, a craft business based near Freemount and selling mainly online. As I am a sole trader, my job description is that I do everything! I source, design and make all my products and then manage all my orders through my website. 2. What is your job like? It’s usually quite busy but very rewarding. When I’m not fulfilling orders I like to develop new products and keep an eye on upcoming trends. This means I always have an outlet for my creative streak and I have a lot of variety in my job, which I like. Being online, my shop is always open, and while it can be hard staying on top of enquiries and emails it’s always nice turning on the laptop to see a list of orders waiting for you in the morning. 3. What subjects did you most enjoy in school/college? I always enjoyed reading so English was a favourite pastime of mine when I was in secondary school. My favourite subjects were definitely the practical ones, technical drawing, woodwork and construction studies. I went on to study commerce in UCD, specialising in logistics and warehousing. I found this very interesting, especially how it evolves so rapidly with developments in technology. 4. How did you arrive at your current position? After completing my degree, I spent a few years in sales and admin before I returned to my woodworking roots and trained as a cabinetmaker. I then started my own cabinetmaking workshop
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If you like doing something I think it’s important to give it a go while you can and not spend time wondering about the what ifs
Pat McNamara at work in his studio which has evolved over time into the business as it is now. 5. Have you any regrets? No regrets. I’m quite independent so running my own business suits me and I like the creative flexibility that designing and crafting gives me. If you like doing something I think it’s important to give it a go while you can and not spend time wondering about the what ifs. 6. What do you love most? I like that every day is different. I do a lot of custom work like photo engraving and one off designs, and it’s nice to create something unique and special that people really like. It’s good when you get positive feedback and people refer you to friends and family, it really lets you know that your work is appreciated. 7. What do you love least? The tech side of things can be daunting, especially when things go wrong or don’t work! I’m not very tech savvy but I’m learning
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’
and definitely improving so that helps. I always like to have as quick as possible turnaround with orders so it can be frustrating with things outside of your control like delivery delays or shortage of raw materials but it’s usually just a matter of adapting to things and keeping your customers informed. 10. Advice for students hoping for a career in your field? Pick subjects you enjoy doing and work hard at these. Keep an open mind about subjects you don’t enjoy, often if you look at things differently you can get a different perspective which ultimately can give you better results. There are a lot of different subjects in school now, and if you approach each of them with an open mind, you will often find different elements in them that when combined will lead you to your goal. You sometimes have to take a less obvious route so it’s important to try different things and be flexible and open to change.
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Artist in the frame
WEAVING WONDERS DIANE CARTON is the owner of Saille Baskets in Lyre I've been weaving with willow rods (Saille) for over 15 years now and also teaching it, throughout the County and beyond. My love for this ancient Irish craft is rooted in its natural sustainability: I grow beds of willow varieties here at home so I can grow, harvest, dry and produce baskets right here in my homeland of Lyre, Banteer. Ingredients... Soil, skill, soft rain and sunshine! Willow is grown as a coppice crop, harvested every winter, it absorbs carbon from the atmosphere during its growth season and this carbon is then locked up into the woven basket, making basketry great for the environment, completely natural and in harmony with our earth. Basketry in Ireland has a rich and deep heritage. From Turf Creels to Potato Ciseogs and Kisheens, weaving is engrained in Irish history. I love this and make many heritage baskets to keep their stories alive. I am one of only a handful of full-time basketmakers left in the country, sadly. I repair old baskets too, many of them decades old, passed on through family members. I feel very privileged to be able to give them an extention to their usefulness and enable that family to keep using them. If you are interested in purchasing a hand woven Irish basket or wish to have a go at learning wonderful this craft, you can contact me through my website: www.Saillebaskets.com
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Inset, Diane Carton; and just a few of her lovely hand-woven creations
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Agriculture
BLUE DOT PROJECT WIN Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP wins Cork Environmental Forum’s 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Award The IRD Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP is a €1.46 million project, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture Productivity and Sustainability (EIPAgri). Following on from the work done through the Duhallow LIFE SAMOK Project and the Raptor LIFE Project, this initiative aims to work alongside the farming community in Duhallow to restore the high ecological status of rivers in the region. An innovative results-based payments scheme is used to achieve this whereby farmers are paid for the quality of the habitats they maintain on their farms. A panel of environmentalists from Cork Environmental Forum selected the EIP as the worthiest candidate from a competitive pool of nominees for their 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Award due to the remarkable work done by participating farmers over the past year. An online event took place last Thursday to celebrate the achievement. On the night of the event, speeches from members of IRD Duhallow were well received by the distinguished audience. Dónal Daly, former head of the EPA, spoke about the excellent innovations demonstrated by participating farmers and praised the project for tackling the biodiversity
Pictured (back row) Maura Walsh CEO of IRD Duhallow Clg., and Michael Morrissey, agri environmental scientist; (front row) Michael O'Connor, project ecologist, and James O'Keeffe, representative farmer crisis and reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as improving water quality. The ceremony marked the end of a successful year for IRD Duhallow’s current major environmental project, still only in its second year of five. To have achieved so much in this short space of time is a true testament to the hard work of our participating farmers. Despite the difficulties that confronted them due to the Covid-19 pandemic, native trees were planted, ponds were established, and bird boxes were installed to name but a few of the measures implemented by farmers in Duhallow. Mr James O’Keeffe, who represents the Blue Dot farmers on the Board of IRD Duhallow, spoke at the event on behalf of the 70 participating farmers, who have just received their first round of payments and are planning next year’s actions. He was accompanied
by the project farm planner Michael Morrissey and recently appointed project ecologist Michael O’Connor. Mr Michael Doyle, chairman of IRD Duhallow’s Environment Working Group, said: “The results of their hard work will ensure the health of our rivers and environment and will benefit future generations to come.” Environmental activist and contributor to the Aarhus Convention, Michael Ewing, and Kildorrey biodiversity enthusiast David Lee, a regular visitor to IRD Duhallow, both received lifetime achievement awards. Eileen Lynch and Frank Dorr of SHEP Earth Aware received a community and voluntary sector award; their organisation’s CEO, Jim Sheehan of Boherbue, was also in attendance on the night. Other recipients included Carberry Housing, Ted Cook, Dónal O’Leary, Circuléire, and Inch Hideaway.
Awards hat-trick for couple Above, Eoin and Mary O'Riordan, Tadhg O'Leary, Chairman Boherbue Co-op, Bridie Murphy and Derry Quinlan, Boherbue Co-op, John O'Connor, Nohovaldaly, Rathmore and Clonakilty Agricultural student
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Animal Health Ireland hosts the CellCheck Awards annually for the lowest SCC farmer from each Co-op, and the winners of the Discussion Group category. The awards are sponsored by FBD. Eoin and Mary O’Riordan run a spring calving herd at Islandbrack, Boherbue, and this is their third
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year in succession to win the CellCheck Individual Award in the Boherbue Co-op region. The O’Riordans attribute their continued success to several key areas – cluster dipping, post-milking disinfection, and milk recording. Congratulations!
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Vet Corner
A vet’s life at Christmas By JANE PIGOTT GP vet & Consultant Veterinary Cardiologist
It’s Christmas Day and I’ve drawn the short straw to be on call for emergencies. Lo and behold, my mobile rings. I look down at my steaming hot Christmas dinner plate, the turkey and cranberry sauce looking particularly appetising. I sigh and answer the phone to a lovely owner, concerned about her dog having accidentally eaten half the Christmas cake. Not good news – I put my dinner back in the oven, hoping I might finally get to eat it sometime before tomorrow. Such is a vet’s life at Christmas. The dog, having eaten the Christmas cake (the worrying
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Christmas time can be perilous for pets due to the types of food around ingredients being raisins and sultanas), will need emergency treatment ASAP to avoid lifethreatening kidney damage. Mince pies and Christmas pudding are similar culprits of the same problem. Although I’m sad to be leaving my dinner and the festivities, I am very grateful that this little doggo’s owner has had the good sense to ring me straight after the incident – time is of the essence when dogs eat stupid things. This is one case when waiting until tomorrow to ‘see how he is’ is not the correct course of action as a pet parent.
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I attend the surgery, see the lovely little dog and his worried but grateful owner, and take action to try to avert any kidney failure related disasters. It’s 4pm and I’ve managed to get home to finish Christmas dinner. My mobile buzzes again as I lift my spoon to eagerly dig into the Christmas trifle. Another worried owner calls; her beloved little dog has just scoffed a considerable portion of a box of chocolates. The trifle goes back in the fridge and I’m on the way to the surgery again, this time to provoke vomiting to get as much chocolate out of the stomach as I can. The poisonous part of chocolate for dogs, theobromine, can cause life threatening seizures and even heart attacks in dogs who have eaten enough of it. The moral of the story is don’t let your pets eat mince pies, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake or chocolate this Christmas. Not even a little bit – they’re all extremely poisonous to our four legged friends! But if an accident does happen and Buddy scoffs something he shouldn’t, don’t be embarrassed about ringing your vet in an emergency. That’s what we’re here for, even on Christmas day.
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Health & beauty
Refresh and repair with a January detox January is the perfect time of year to regroup, refresh and begin to repair any damage following the festive season. A few of the basics we can all do is to drink plenty of water, exercise, try to have an adequate amount of quality sleep, eat less sugar and more wholesome foods. There are products on the market that can help. One of the best combinations of products to use for a deep January detox is Viridian Fibre Complex with FOS, Milk Thistle Tincture and Organic Cleavers Tincture. The Fibre Complex is a specifically formulated combination of dietary fibres with added prebiotic to encourage friendly bacteria. Milk Thistle is traditionally used to prevent and treat liver damage and Cleavers is a lymphatic tonic
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By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE with very useful diuretic and detoxification effects. Together they offer a lovely, thorough cleanse. If your skin is suffering the effects of too much over-indulgence, try Viridian Clear Skin Complex. It is a specifically formulated blend of minerals, botanicals and fat-soluble carotenoids in a base of probiotics, to promote clear, fresh-looking skin. Apple cider vinegar is traditionally used to help detox and support weight loss as it helps to maintain normal fluid balance and support digestion. You can make a detox drink by mixing together the following ingredients:
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n 1 cup boiled water (allowed to cool for a few minutes) 2 n tablespoons apple of cider vinegar 2 n tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 n teaspoon of fresh grated ginger, or ground ginger Âź n teaspoon of ground cinnamon n A dash of cayenne pepper n 1 teaspoon of raw honey Alternatively, New Nordic Apple Cider tablets are convenient to take and have no strong taste often associated with liquid Apple Cider Vinegar. Taken alongside A Vogel Milk Thistle tablets they can help detox and may help to heal liver damage. A very happy new year from all the staff at New Leaf, please call in to see us at our shops in Kanturk or Millstreet for personal advice to help you on your journey to better health in 2021.
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Health
Guilt worse than calories By DANIEL DALY Take note over the Christmas period of the posts you see online, or in magazine and newspaper articles about “surviving” the Christmas period. It’s as if you have to prepare yourself for an attack from Prosecco, cheese boards and boxes of Lindt chocolates. On top of this, you will also have the guilt ridden posts, about how many calories are in your favourite mince pie and how much exercise you will have to do to “burn” it off. Before you even get to Christmas dinner, you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed about what to do. If you eat desert, you are “ruining” your fitness goals, if you turn down the glass of wine you are told that “you need to live a little.”
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Don’t overthink festive food choices So what should you do? Unfortunately only you can answer that. If you want to eat an entire box of Miniature Heroes for breakfast, feel free, or if you want to skip desert, that’s perfectly fine too. Just make sure you remove any guilt or shame around the food you choose to eat and try not to eat out of obligation or as a negative emotional response. It is true to a certain degree that you probably won’t ruin your
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physique transformation progress from consuming a single meal, or from a single day of indulging a bit. But you for sure can ruin your mental health, view of food, exercise and body image by overthinking and getting anxious about food. If somebody tells you after Christmas that you need to detox, restrict certain foods, go on a fast, cleanse or juice protocol; immediately take them off your Christmas card list for next year!
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Interests
Visit Sunday’s Well in Banteer
Looking for somewhere to go, within your locality, over the festive period? Why not visit Sunday's Well and Mass Rock, Banteer! The popular landmark is located on an elevated, picturesque height over a river in the town land of Fermoyle. The well is situated across from the quarry on the Ballyalley road.
The well was established when St. Gobnait took a rest on her journey to Ballyvourney. It has remained a major part of the religious history, within the parish of Banteer, as the well was traditionally visited on Good Friday or also on three consecutive days throughout the year. A Mass Rock dating back to penal times is still evident at the well
today. The tranquility at the well is something to be experienced. In recent years, renovation work has been carried out at the well to make it more accessible. The rosary on Good Friday has also been a revived tradition along with Mass during the month of June, but unfortunately this had to be cancelled this year due to Covid.
HIGHLIGHTING RISKS FOR RIVERS Members of IRD Duhallow attended a virtual book launch for UCD Press’s title ‘Ireland’s Rivers’ earlier this month. This beautifully illustrated book provides details of interest for every reader, from fish and waterbirds to hydrology and pollution. This gorgeous and informative book contains 15 chapters with contributions from 37 Irish experts, including Dr. Mary Kelly-Quinn (editor) who is on the steering group of the Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP and is actively involved in the project. The book has been launched The book arrives at a critical time for Irish rivers; inset, Dr Mary Kelly-Quinn at a critical time for Irish rivers.
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The EPA recently published its 2020 State of the Environment report which stated that Irish river water quality and biodiversity is under serious pressure from human activities. Thankfully, the book finishes on a positive note, suggesting a number of possible opportunities for individuals, households, communities and policy-makers to take action, and reverse the decline in freshwater quality. The hardback book makes an excellent coffee table addition and we are certainly looking forward to this fascinating read over Christmas. Expect a book review in January!
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Interests
When a bell rang in the New Year By RAYMOND O’SULLIVAN At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, ‘the boys of the town’ rang the bell in the Protestant Church, ringing out the old year and ringing in the new. The bell rope was cut short and it was no mean feat to scramble up the tower in the dark to reach it. That was the signal everyone waited for. The dance in the hall wound up then with a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne and the band led a high-spirited parade back through the town. Shotguns were discharged in backyards, young and old were on the streets and the dancing and singing continued until the small hours around a big blazing bonfire at ‘The Cross’. It was the most wonderful night of the year. Daring feats of athleticism, like jumping the fire, were executed
by hardy young blades. If they succeeded they would be married before the new year was out, or so it was believed, but, of course, if they didn’t and landed in the middle of the fire, connubiality would be the furthest thought from their minds for some time. Magic moments and memories to savour at ‘The Cross’ long ago!
The bell was presented to the newly built church by the Aldworths in 1830 and the last service was held there in the 1930s. The building was not in use for religious purposes in our time and when the steeple and belfry were taken down, the Church of Ireland dispatched the bell to a mission somewhere in Africa. The new years kept rolling in but the herald bell sounded no more. Does it still ring out today in its new home and are the denizens of that part of what once was called ‘the Dark Continent’ aware of the origin of their mission bell? Do they ever ponder the wonder and awe it must have generated when it first tolled over the town of Newmarket almost two hundred years ago? Or have they any inkling of the excitement and merrymaking its eagerly awaited peals unleashed on the wild and wonderful New Year’s Nights of our youth?
When I Was About Knee High ‘When I Was About Knee High’ is now available to purchase for just €10 as the ideal Christmas gift. It is a wonderful record of times past in Castlemagner with heart-warming stories, memories, poems, precious old and beautiful scenic photographs. In the words of Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, who has graciously written the foreword, “In their own way, each of the contributors to this book are also capturing forever their unique lives and perspective and these are equally worth remembering and celebrating, mar ná beidh ár leithéidí arís ann.” Members of CCDA, on a voluntary basis, have worked tirelessly to ensure that the quality
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
of the finished book will reflect the importance and value of all the stories and memories shared by the many contributors. CCDA would like to thank all those who have made this book possible. We are so grateful for a grant secured through SICAP administered by IRD Duhallow toward the cost of printing. Our thanks also to the many local shops who have kindly agreed to stock our book: Twohig’s Supervalu, Kanturk Bookshop, Scully’s Stationery Shop and Murphy’s Gala Shop, Phillip’s Bookshop, Mallow, and Conway Long’s Foodstore, Ballyclough.
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Pictured is Mary Flood who wrote a piece, ‘Aprons’, and did a painting entitled 'Kitty' for the publication Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald
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Kid’s Corner
HAVE A #FARMSAFE CHRISTMAS! From AgriKids AgriKids founder ALMA JORDAN writes: To all my AgriKids who have continued to learn about farm safety... Even though we couldn’t meet, we were able to carry on the conversation through webinars and online. As Christmas comes near, I have another favour to ask of you and your family. During the holidays, how about making sure that this Christmas and next year will be the safest yet! This is a great time to talk as a family about safety in and around the farm yard. For the farmer: 1. In the darkened evenings and early mornings, be sure to wear hi-vis accessories; 2. Farmyards should be kept tidy and free from any hazards; 3. Adequate lighting is essential; 4. Keep loose clothes tucked in and jackets closed up with no strings hanging; For the family: 1. Make sure children never travel alone to the farm; 2. When on the farm, use it as an opportunity to explain dangers with tractors, animals and other risks; 3. Set age-appropriate jobs. E.g. Feeding hens, stacking buckets 4. Explain the warning signs of animal behaviour to children; 5. Set up a dedicated play area – farmyards are not playgrounds; 6. Lead by example – show your children how you prevent farm accidents. Wishing you all a farm safe Christmas and new year!
Duhallow Community Food Services (DCFS) Art Contest Winners! 22
Alma Jordan with her son Eamon
Founded by Alma Jordan, AgriKids is a farm safety educational platform for children. Its ethos is to engage, educate and empower children to be farm safe ambassadors. Through school based workshops, events, story books, digital games and apps, AgriKids wants to create conversations in our homes on farm safety and to make our famers of the future instinctively safer farmers! Alma moved from her family’s farm in Kildare to rearing a family of her own on a farm in Julianstown, Co Meath. A particularly poor year for farm safety in 2014 inspired Alma to create a more inclusive approach to
farm safety education that all members of the farm family, schools and community can become involved with. By doing so she believes her own family as well as the 140,000 farm families nationwide can become safer farmers, therefore creating a sustainably safer future on our farms. To date the impact delivered by AgriKids has seen more than 30,000 children take part in farm safety workshops nationwide with the support of local community organisations such as IRD Duhallow and Local Authority Libraries, previously Zurich Farm Insurance and more recently, Flogas.
STAr PrIZE: Dylan O'Keeffe, Corbally, Kanturk; 5 years & under: Caoimhe Ward, Glash, Kiskeam; 6-9: Denny O'Sullivan, Knockduff Lower, Newmarket; 10-13: Kate Fleming, Farrankeale, Knocknagree; 14-16: Rachael O'Sullivan, Newmarket; Painting picked at random: Margaux Gilbourne, Killarney Rd, Millstreet. Collect prizes from DCFS, James O’Keeffe Institute, Newmarket on December 21st. Thank you to all entrants! Original paintings can be collected from IRD Duhallow.
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Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Sport
Duhallow Sports Greats Q & A 1. What/who inspired you to become a sportsperson in your field? Henry Laskau, called the greatest racewalker in US athletics, was born in Germany, but forced to leave by the Nazi’s because of his Jewish heritage. 2. When did you know you were on the right track? When I won my first medal in a race beating others who had instructed me in the sport. 3. your greatest strength? Persistence and the ability to follow through and not give up. 4. What are your greatest sporting achievements? 3rd Place in age group at the World Veterans Games in Melbourne, AU and setting the National Record in the 30km Racewalk. 5. What is your greatest personal achievement? Completing Graduate Business School with an MBA Degree and passing the CPA exam both of which set me up for a successful business career. 6. What was the greatest challenge you faced and how did you overcome it? Succeeding as a woman in a business that was dominated at the time by men. This was enabled by completing the necessary education. 7. Who supported you the most in your career? I was always self-supported. I worked full time while I went to college. Fortunately, a company I worked for paid for college courses – an opportunity of which I took full advantage. 8. Any advice for young athletes just starting out? If you decide to pursue a sport, it’s vital to apply yourself in full. Learn everything you can about the sport and become the best you can be at the event. Learn everything you
Issue 32 December 18, 2020
Stella Cashman, formerly of Tullig House, Millstreet, Co. Cork, is a renowned racewalking champion. She graduated from Presentation Convent, Millstreet in the late 50’s before working in London in the banking industry. In 1965 she left for New York City to work for a corporate firm and then NY University Hospital while studying Accounting & Management at NY University, graduating with a BS degree in 1975. She then attended NYU Graduate School, graduating with an MBA in Accounting and Taxation and going on to pass her CPA Exam. Stella took up racewalking in her 40’s for exercise. She competed as a veteran (35+), winning all local championship races and a number of National Championships, setting a national
Stella Cashman with Sir Roger Bannister – the first man to run a sub-4 minute mile – at the Fifth Avenue Mile in NYC, 1996
STELLA CASHMAN record at the 30km distance. She came third in her age group (50+) in the 10km Racewalk at the 1987 World Veteran Games in Melbourne, Australia, and won a Team Gold medal at the ’89 World Veteran Games in Eugene, Oregon. In 1986, she won the racewalk division of the Honolulu Marathon. She also racewalked the NYC Marathon, finishing 3rd in her best time of 4h 30m 33s which, added to other wins, helped get her voted Racewalker of the Year in 1988 by the NY Road Runners. She started a racewalk club in 1989, Park Racewalkers, USA. She also coached the coaches of the NYC Public Schools and helped several of their athletes win the PSAL City Championships. Over 20 years she organised and presented 10 races a year from 3km to 30km racewalks in NYC’s Central Park. She became a USA Athletics Official and officiated racewalk competitions, local to international. She also officiated for Athletics Cross Country, indoor and outdoor meets in all categories, high school to Open and Master. Now retired from working, racing and officiating, Stella still racewalks for exercise and health.
can from the experts. And train, train, train smart. 9. What do you do outside of sports? As a retiree, I spend a lot of time going to the theatre, Broadway shows, ballet, opera and classical music performances. All of which are in abundance in NYC, that is, when Covid isn't restricting group gatherings. So have to settle for online performances, believe me they are not the
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same. When the weather causes conditions to get icy and slippery, I travel to warmer places for safer conditions, like visiting my sisters in Los Angeles. 10. What are your goals going forward? Continue to enjoy my retirement, maintaining an active lifestyle which includes racewalking for health and fitness. Help others when assistance is sought with their goals.
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Wishing all our customers a
€5.49 1 WE E K ONLY rd 17th - 23 DEC
Now €16.74/kg SUPERVALU FRESH IRISH T-BONE STEAK (BUTCHER COUNTER C ONLY ) was €24.99/kg
SUPERVALU SMOKED SALMON 300g - €18.30/kg was €6.79
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Offers valid until Thursday 24th December, unless otherwise stated. Prices correct at time of going to print. Customer quotas may apply. Available while stocks last. Enjoy alcohol responsibly.
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