Discover Duhallow Issue 57

Issue 57: February 11th 2022

contact us at: discoverduhallow@irdduhallow.com

FREE

UNDERSTAND NAILCARE FOR MAN’S BEST FRIEND: P19

BE THE CHANGE

There was nowhere they could find. So they made it happen.

With summer drawing near, the time for park walks and enjoying nature comes closer. We take it for granted, but Kate Jarvey from the Conservation at Crann project knows not everyone can. After hearing about a lack of inclusive nature paths, Kate made it her goal to create a space that’s focused on two things;

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

conservation and inclusivity. With even the smallest details noted, Kate has created an incredible space, one that’s drawn attention from beyond Duhallow.

Inside, we get a look at what Crann will offer visitors.

■See page 12&13

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The work at Crann chugs on in all weather.

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Local Legend

DUHALLOW LOCAL LEGEND - Jack Roche

By TADHG CURTIN

Who are you and where do you hail from?

I hail from Rockchapel. I left school at 14 years of age and I worked for three years for farmers around the place. Rural electrification came into Brosna and I applied for a job with the ESB in 1958. The wages at the time was £5, 4 shillings and tuppence. I started out digging holes for poles and then wiring, which meant tightening poles and doing work on top of them.

When you worked with ESB that time, they kept you for three years because if they kept you longer, they had keep you permanently by law.

After three years, I went selling ice cream for Fitzpatrick’s in Kanturk for four years. That’s long gone and some people don’t even remember it, but there was a time when it was the only ice cream locally. We travelled all of Munster but the quality of the vans wouldn’t be fit to go to Banteer!

I answered an advert for a lorry driver position in MD O’Shea’s in Killarney. I was asked at the interview what was my wage expectations were. At Fitzpatrick’s I was getting £4. I said “I haven’t given it any thought but I expect you have a flat rate for your drivers?” The interviewer said “we have. £10 pounds a week.” I nearly jumped up on the shelves and I said “Can I start now!?”

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A new feature where we talk to a ‘Local Legend’. They get to share their experience and thoughts regarding living in Duhallow through the past, present, and future.

This issue - Jack Roche

I was there for eight years. Driving lorries for four years. It was hard driving lorries that time. There were no forklifts, no pallets, you just lifted everything. There was no power steering that time! After that four years, I was made store manager.And then I spent 25 years at Sunpak in Newmarket.

I spent 22 years with Cork County Council from 1977 to 1999.

The other fortune I had was to be involved with LEADER in Europe.

There is a LEADER organisation in Europe and I represented Ireland in that. I was elected president of that for three years. That gave me the opportunity to visit every one of the 27 member states.

People were anxious for me to go because the Irish LEADER model had a reputation around Europe so they wanted to know what that was like.

I was also heavily involved with GAA on a club, divisional and county level.

Have you witnessed many changes in Duhallow throughout your lifetime?

I have witnessed many changes and I suppose my generation has seen more changes than any other generation previously or ever again will. The type of farming, the lifestyle that was there 60 years ago has drastically changed, for better in most cases, others maybe not but mainly for the better.

What do you like most about Duhallow?

I like the quality of life in Duhallow. The history and the

culture. Duhallow’s big break came with arrival of the LEADER programme in the late 80s, early 90s. Tremendous work was done after it came about. A lot of Duhallow would have disappeared of the map only for it. One of the biggest problems we had was that people were being replaced by trees. That was very prominent in the west of Duhallow. It helped a lot of local small industries and projects.

(Regarding Bruach Na Carraige in Rockchapel) We have a very strong tradition of music and culture in Rockchapel. It was always our ambition to have a teach ceoil but we could never get the funding. Maura Walsh and Brendan O’Keeffe informed us about funding being available.

So we applied and we got 50% of the funding from LEADER which enabled us to put the building together. We have always had a summer programme there called ‘Seisiun’ which we hope to start up again after Covid.

What progression in the area would you like to see?

Employment - for young people, people with qualifications. My hope would be to see more of that, that they would be able to stay in Duhallow.

Any advice you would give your 20 year old self?

Well as a 20 year old I was determined to stay local. I guess I would say “try and get to work and make as much money as you can!”

I was never a day idle in my life!

To nominate someone you feel is a local legend, email your suggestion to discoverduhallow@irdduhallow. com

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Issue 57 February 11, 2022

“I was never a day idle in my life!”

Duhallow News

LTV Services limited on YouTube

By TADHG CURTIN

February 16th will mark the one year anniversary that LTV services limited launched its YouTube channel. It truly is a hidden gem.

Going back to another february, the first UHF broadcast of this local television channel, LTV was made on the second Wednesday of February, 1984. Both LTV Macroom and LTV Millstreet broadcast free to air for many years. However, the broadcast on TV was gradually brought to an end with the advent of digital television.

From Kilcorney N.S. 1864 - 2000 Reunion - Tadhg Curtin and his sister, Siobhan Curtin

Both channels then took to YouTube to continue broadcasting. The channel features a showcase of videos of the surrounding area in the last 40 years. Having discovered it at Christmas, my parents and I viewed the video A screen shot from the LTV services limited Kilcorney N,S 1864 YouTube channel showing some of the videos to 2000 Reunion which watch. documented life in singing, parades. A highlight for Kilcorney in 2000 culminating in a me are a series of videos showing reunion of past Kilcorney national agriculture and the machinery school pupils that ran over a involved in this work, both vintage weekend in August. Myself and and modern. my two siblings were pupils in the I cannot recommend this channel school at the time but revisiting this enough. You’ll see many familiar video, something I had not done in faces and chances are you may two decades, was truly something. see your own!

It’s an incredible archive.

To visit the channel online, go to There are videos involving www.youtube.com and enter interviews, commemorations, ‘LTV services limited’ launches, competitions, dancing,

The newly appointed Kilcorney Community Council on March 11th 2020. Front L - R: Chairman Dan Bourke, Secretary Marie O’Regan, Vice Chairman Michael Murphy. Absent: Assistant Secretary Sarah O’Sullivan.

Back L - R: Treasurer Seamus Curtin, Assistant treasurer Mary Curtin, President Pat Golden, PRO Brian O’Sullivan.

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10 years on from the first installment of the Newmarket 5K. This classic event which was held in December has earned notability as one of Ireland’s fastest 5K courses.

Pictured above: Duhallow AC organiser Michael Murphy with his father well renowned runner Ger Murphy. This recent event attracted Olympic Athletes such as Paul O’ Donovan rowing gold medallist , Eddie Dunbar, cyclist, and Michele Finn, athletics.

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Community News

Kanturk AFC would like to thank Tina Dunston of Cherry Blossoms, Kanturk for sponsoring the Away jerseys for the u13 & u15 girls teams.

ABOVE: Tina Dunston presenting the jerseys to Team Coach, Chantel Hickey. Also pictured, Coach; Neilus Higgins, Schoolgirls secretary; Joanne O’Connor and players; Zoe O’Connor and Caitlin Hickey.

RATHMORE Rathmore‘s 12th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Sunday March 13th 2022 at 2pm, and will be led by Grand Marshall, Diarmuid O’Keeffe.

This year’s theme to be confirmed.

All entries received by Friday 11th March 2022 Prizes for: • Best overall float • Frank Buckley Mermoral Cup • Best vintage vehicle • Best commercial float Best organisation / group • Best window display • Best dressed buggy /pram • Best Agricultural Float • Best dressed pet All Floats welcome.

Street Entertainment.

Children face painting.

Further information 0876676817.

No street traders please.

DANCE IN CYMS HALL Fri: 11th Febuary Neily O’Connor Band - Valentines Special Fri. 18th Febuary Declan Aungier Band Fri. 25th Febuary Dermot Lyons Band.

Dancing from 9 to 11.30.

For more info, contact 087 9735113.

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BINGO IN KILBRIN

NEWMARKET DUHALLOW CHORAL SOCIETY

Duhallow Choral Society will Bingo every Monday night at 8.30 return to training Tuesday 15th in Kilbrin social club! Great prizes February at 7.15 pm in Culturlann and a warm setting.

Amhlaoibh (Mcauliffe Heritage Centre), Newmarket.

We were very fortunate to WALKERS welcome many new members Attention all walkers, March’s October 2021. We are delighted walk will be held on Saturday the to invite new members to join us 12th. It will take place at Mushera along with the return of former and on the Duhallow Way. Please current members. We have plans note the under foot conditions to learn a beautiful repertoire for here can be muddy/wet in places the coming months and hope to and no dogs allowed. Meeting at perform same in concerts in late 11am at St. John’s Well.

Spring and early Summer. For more information, please check To register for the walk please our Facebook/website: ring Nuala on 029 60633. duhallowchoralsociety.com or contact 087 6157720 As Kiskeam GAA has now exceeded base sales of 100 members for a Senior Club in the upcoming Rebels Bounty Draw, supporters are urged to consider joining this fantastic draw.

Every ticket sold from now until the deadline on February 24th will be €100 straight profit to Kiskeam GAA Club.

Along with helping to finance your Club, you will have the chance to win prizes out of a total prize fund of €500,000.

With 12 monthly draws, 360 chances to win all cash prizes and a massive jackpot of €100,000 to be won in December by one lucky winner, don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

Tickets remain at €100 payable in full payment or €10 per month for 10 months Direct Debit, broken down it comes to just €1.93 a week.

For further details, call Club Co-ordinator, Donie Cronin on 0876773043 or e-mail doniecroninkiskeam@gmail.com or any Club Officer.

You can also join online by visiting www.gaacork.ie/rebelsbounty

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Issue 57 February 11, 2022

Community News Tom Joe O’ Donoghue The sad news of the untimely passing of Tom Joe O’Donoghue was a huge shock to the entire community of Gneeveguilla, and athletic clubs all over the country. Tom Joe was the gently giant, the stalwart of Gneeveguilla Athletic Club and Athletics all over Ireland. He was a father figure to many children and athletes on trips to sporting events and mystery tours. Tom Joe was always so kind, caring, and fair to all of his charges in the ups and downs of their sporting careers. His great personality, helpfulness, and calmness, the quick wit and joke, the infectious laugh endeared him to athletes and parents all over the country. Tom Joe was a true gentleman with a deep passion of Athletics, to which he devoted nearly 50 years of his life.

May he rest in peace.

UPDATE FROM THE DIOCESAN COVID COMMITTEE

While it is a matter for each parish to decide on how it wishes to proceed, we would advise that parishes proceed with care and caution, being mindful that there will still be people who will be nervous about returning to Mass and public worship.

We recommend the following:• Public Health Signage should continue to be displayed at entrances to churches.

• Hand sanitisers with an alcohol based rub should continue to be provided at church entry and exit points.

• We recommend that a face mask or covering continue to be worn by all those attending our churches.

This recommendation will be reviewed at the end of February.

• Collection baskets may be used but again, allow a lead in time for their reintroduction and let people know in advance when the baskets will be returning to use.

• We do not recommend at the present time the shaking of hands for the sign of peace. Use alternatives, such as a nod, an acknowledgement, or a gesture.

• Priests and Ministers of the Eucharist should continue to follow existing protective measures, such as the wearing of face masks or coverings for the distribution of Holy Communion and sanitise their hands before and after. Holy Communion should continue to be received in the hand and not on the tongue for now.

• Choirs and folk groups may return.

• Altar servers may return to ministry. Rathmore Parish will review this situation at the end of February and only resume the ministry when restrictions at school ease.

• The return to the use of Holy Water fonts should be phased in gradually and our recommendation

SYMPATHIES

Sympathies to Peggy O’Donoghue, daughters Josephine, Sheila and Brigid sons Niall, Denis, Tomás, Padraig and Michael on the death of Tom Joe O’Donoghue Knocknageeha, husband, father, grandfather and brother of Paddy and extended family. Tom Joe was laid to rest on Monday 30th January in Gneeveguilla.

To Tim Looney and family, Cottage, nieces and nephews on the death of his sister and aunt Teresa (Tess) Sanderson Liverpool l/o of Cottage Gneeveguilla. Tess was laid to rest in Gneeveguilla on Monday 24th January.

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

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is to wait until the end of February when it is expected that there will be a further easing or perhaps removal of the remaining public health measures.

• People may offer their sympathies to bereaved families within the church, but we would recommend that at the present time that this be done by way of an acknowledgement, or gesture rather than a handshake.

Subject to the above recommendations, churches should no longer have seats or pews, or sections cordoned off or kneelers tied up.

Churches and religious services can now return to how they operated pre the pandemic but as advised, please proceed with care and caution.

KNOCKNAGREE KENYA The Annual Church Gate Collection will take place next Saturday 12th February before Mass in Knocknagree.

All proceeds in aid of Fr Sean Cremin’s Missionary Work.

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LEADER & SICAP

LEADER in the community Spotlight on: Kiskeam Community Playground

By STEPHANIE MOYNIHAN The community of Kiskeam was able to build a Playground with the aid of LEADER funding in the spirit of building a liveable, safe, and healthy environment for families and individuals to strive in. Located on the G.A.A grounds, this playground is adjacent to the community hall and existing car park. Kiskeam Primary School children were delighted to become involved in this project by designing proposed playground drawings and strongly voiced their reasons why a playground in the area is so very important. Further, a group of parents collaborated on this project and began to put it into motion. This playground offers a

critical outdoor recreational area, where people of all ages are encouraged to develop both physically and socially, including those with special needs.

It promotes cognitive, physical, and social development for the rural youth.

This project further enhanced the community spirit in the village as members of the community, including new parents to the area who got involved with the hope of attracting

other young couples into the area.

Undoubtedly, the playground is the jewel in the crown for young people living in the village and its neighbouring communities.

#SICAPstories An Introduction to Forest Bathing In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 and 2021 saw unprecedented times with lockdowns and ongoing restrictions.

IRD Duhallow was delighted to offer an Introduction to Forest Bathing workshop as a mean of getting people, particularly those who are feeling anxious or stressed, to experience and indulge their senses in the environment and nature. Forest Bathing walks are a gentle guided walk that enhances wellbeing through connection to nature.

There is a strong evidence base supporting these walks. Forest bathing or shinrin-yoku walks

have been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve mood, boost the immune system, and improve sleep.

This workshop took place in the beautiful setting of the Island Woods in Newmarket and was very well attended, promoting wellbeing and mental health community inclusion.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2022 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.

Administered by Pobal and funded by the Irish Government

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By STEPHANIE MOYNIHAN

through the Department of Rural and Community Development, it also receives funding from the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

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Job Centre

Online presence during job search

By STEPHANIE MOYNIHAN Our online presence in the context of job searches cannot be underestimated or ignored. Most of us have an online presence by having profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and potentially more. But how does this have an impact on our job search?

Clean up your LinkedIn profile Congratulations - you are officially a job hunter. It is time to ensure that your LinkedIn profile is updated and that all relevant sections are completed. Connect with peers from school and college, former colleagues and mangers, suppliers and anyone you have met throughout your career to date. Don’t be shy! Add a quick message to your request to connect and see your network grow. It is also important

IN THE FRAME

to choose a photo that is relevant to your career- it is wiser not to choose a photo from your last night out or holiday on the beach.

Have a positive and professional online presence on social media Be mindful that employers could look you up on platforms such as Facebook. Remember - you want to give the best and professional impression of yourself, which is why you should be mindful of your posts on potentially controversial topics, negative comments about former workplace etc. and photos you have uploaded to your profile.

Think of yourself as your own brand - unique, professional and

Readers are invited to share their photographs with us - the best will feature here.

Be sure to caption your image and provide your full name and details of where the photo was taken. Email it to us at discoverduhallow@irdduhallow.com

"What's the outlook for Farming!"

Sent us and taken by Sean Buckley in his home town Ballydesmond

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

looking to embrace a new career opportunity.

Create your own website Yes, this will not be for everybody however if you have the skill to create and administer your own personal website you should really consider this as this an opportunity to impress employers.

Your website could showcase for example a portfolio of past work achievements and creative works.

IRD Duhallow’s SICAP-funded Job Centre offers support and guidance to people in relation to CV preparation, the interview process and job seeking. Contact Stephanie on 02960633 for assistance. SICAP 2018-2022 is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development with co-funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020

Seat on the side of the road Picture taken by and sent to us Maura Walsh

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MCS News

Milllstreet Community School

Cathy Buckley, Rachel Gaffney and Madison GallahueMurphy, and costume ‘Freedom Flight’

Freedom flight Countless hours of painstaking preparation at both design and crafting have finally come to fruition with the Junk Kouture creation for 2022. “This is our junk Kouture dress called Freedom Flight. It is inspired by lockdown and it’s made from silage wrap, curtain lining, wire butterflies, and pressed leaves”, Cathy explained. The outfit is a fantastic expression of the lockdown experience and the release people felt once allowed back. It certainly is a recycling success, with every detail created by transforming refuse into beautiful de tails in this amazing outfit. Best of luck to the team of Cathy Buckley, Rachel Gaffney and Madison Gallahue-Murphy, and teacher, Mrs Moynihan.

Spoots Mini-Company Millstreet Community school have been competing successfully in the Student Enterprise Programme for several years and the school’s entrants have won the regional finals for the past two years.

This year’s crew are once again coming up with the goods and one of their exciting new innovations is the “Spoot”, a sports based product that is sure to be a hit in every home where muddy boots is a problem!

“We got our inspiration for Spoots when realised there was no easy way of cleaning our boots after training and so we began John Healy, Clara O’Keefe, Caoimhe Murphy, Meabh to try and design a product suitable for this purpose” Crowley and Louis Hanover. explained Meabh Crowley and Clara O’Keeffe. “Our product is very effective for cleaning boots and we also sell them at the very affordable price of €8”, added Caoimhe Murphy. “We initially designed this product to help people clean their boots, however recently we have had a lot of interest in our products from farmers, who have similar problems washing wellingtons”, John Healy explained. “We are selling our products in Millstreet Community School on a daily basis and are also taking online orders through our Instagram account @spoots_ mcs.” said Louis Hanover.

Junior Soccer Hard luck to the Junior Boys who lost Dunmanway, but it’s great to see teams getting back on pitches and representing the school again.

MCS Junior Soccer Team 8

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Issue 57 February 11, 2022

Scoil Mhuire News

Scoil Mhuire Kanturk

Annual food collection for St. Vincent de Paul in Scoil Mhuire Kanturk Our annual food collection took place in Scoil Mhuire Kanturk for our local St Vincent de Paul Society. Our school community donated non-perishable items. Well done to everyone involved.

Soccer Success for Scoil Mhuire Kanturk Scoil Mhuire Kanturk 8 - 2 Bishopstown Community School Our Senior Soccer team had a fantastic result scoring eight great goals against Bishopstown Community School. There was a brilliant team performance with Gearóid Healy scoring four goals along with Darragh Bourke, Alan Kearney, Timmy Morrissey, and Miguel Prado Bueno all scoring one each. It was a great day out with all players on the panel getting a run and contributing to an excellent game with some great soccer played.

Catholic Schools Week in Scoil Mhuire Kanturk

Scoil Mhuire Kanturk celebrated Catholic Schools week. We congratulate our first-year prize winners, Kate Healy (2nd place), Melissa Enright (1st place) and Ellen O Connell (3rd place). The girls completed wonderful posters on the theme of “Living Life Together with God”.

Catholic Schools Week was also celebrated in French class. Collecting their prizes for French posters about their wonderful grandparents are Lucy O’Connell (3rd prize), Emily Sheahan (1st prize) and Aine O’Dwyer (2nd prize). Congratulations, girls!

We celebrated and acknowledged the wonderful role that grandparents play in our lives. Receiving their prizes for their poems and essays on their grandparents are Oscar Gilbert first year and Jamie Davidson second year.

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

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Duhallow News

Ministers Humphreys and McConalogue highlight the responsibilities of dog owners this lambing season

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, have today reminded dog owners of their responsibilities and the vulnerability of sheep to dog attacks, as lambing season approaches.

The two Ministers said the issue is one of grave concern to the farming community and that attacks on sheep are happening far too often in the rural countryside.

The latest figures compiled by local authorities show that there were 240 incidents of ‘Livestock Worrying’ in 2020 – with a similar number expected when the 2021 returns are completed.

Dog attacks cause serious injury or even death to sheep and can cause grave distress and financial loss for farm families.

Ministers Humphreys and McConalogue today visited a sheep farm in South West Dublin where they announced the start of an awareness campaign that will run over lambing season.

Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said:“Attacks on sheep can have a devastating impact on farmers, their businesses, and their families.” “I’m a dog owner myself and I know the vast majority of dog owners are extremely responsible.”

“But the latest figures show that in 2020, there were a concerning 240 incidents of ‘Livestock Worrying’ reported to local authorities.”

“As the lambing season approaches, we are already hearing more and more reports of such incidents in Rural Ireland.” ‘‘Some 2.5 million lambs will be born on farms all over Ireland this springtime. Sheep flocks are very vulnerable to dog attacks

at this critical time, and especially during the night...It’s horrific for any farmer to witness the awful devastation, pain, and anguish that dogs can cause to sheep...

So I’m appealing to dog IRD Duhallow have erected signs along owners today, particularly walking trails throughout Duhallow in rural areas, to please cautioning dog walkers. keep your dogs under control and be vigilant at The Control of Dogs Acts 1986, all times.” Minister McConalogue as amended, set out a range of added: “Sheep worrying causes requirements for all dog owners immense and unnecessary stress or any other person in charge for farmers, and serious animal of a dog. In particular, section 9 welfare issues for sheep and newof the 1986 Act outlines specific born lambs. Uncontrolled pets can requirements regarding keeping decimate a flock within minutes, dogs under effectual control. with reports suggesting that up to Prosecution under Section 9 of 4,000 sheep are killed or seriously the Act allows for a fine of up to injured in dog attacks every year.” €2,500 or to imprisonment for a ‘‘Dog owners must take term not exceeding 3 months or responsibility for their pets, which both. This is enforced by Local must be under control at all times Authorities across the country.

– remember, even the gentlest Separately, Section 21 of the family pet can kill or maim sheep Control of Dogs Act states that and lambs. Never let your dog out the owner of a dog shall be liable unsupervised, especially at night.” for damages associated with an The Minister added that attack by the dog on a person responsible pet ownership is or livestock. This is a civil matter a priority for his Department, rather than something enforced by advising that all dogs must be Local Authorities. microchipped under the law.

Under the Control of Dogs Acts it “By law, every dog must be is an offence for a dog owner to microchipped and the possession, not have a dog licence. movement, sale, or supply of an In total there were 182 unchipped dog is an offence. I prosecutions by Local Authorities am committed to working with in 2019, covering all aspects of the Minister Humphreys to ensure Control of Dogs Act. sheep-worrying by dogs becomes All dogs must also be a thing of the past, and our officials microchipped and registered are working together to improve on an approved database in enforcement of the laws applicable accordance with S.I. No. 63/2015 to dogs.”

Microchipping of Dogs Regulations Finally, the Minister reminded 2015, as introduced by the Minister anyone concerned about incidents for Agriculture, Food and the of animal neglect or cruelty that Marine. Animal Welfare Helpline: they can contact the Department Call Save: 0761 064408 of Agriculture, Food and the Phone: 01-607 2379 Marine helpline by phone or on the Dedicated email address dedicated email address. animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie

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Issue 57 February 11, 2022

Duhallow News

Bweeng’s Track of Dreams

In the 1990 film Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner, a baseball fan and farmer in Iowa hears voices along with a vision of a baseball diamond, urging him to build a baseball field in his backyard.

Approximately 3,809 miles away in another rural setting, Bweeng locals may have heard similar voices…if you build it, they will come. Except this time, it is not a baseball field but a running track. Along with the running track will be a level playing field in the centre that will cater for multi purpose sports and events for the community.

Since the project team hatched the plan at the end of 2020, there has been no stone left unturned in pushing this plan forward. In the early days, huge effort was put into researching the idea and visits were followed up to many similar facilities throughout Ireland. The initial stages were fact finding, gathering ideas, and networking to pull together a proposal that would push the facilities at Bweeng Community grounds forward with a state of the art facility to cater for the growing population of the village as well as the surrounding areas.

The team held a number of open days to display their ambitious plans with all those whose support was needed. Groups like IRD and local councillors have been hugely encouraging and have helped to guide the dream forward to become a reality. Of course a project like this takes huge funding, and while some of the overall cost will be funded by grants, there was a need for the organizers to fundraise themselves.

In October last, they launched an ambitious draw with €30,000 in prize money. This would be the

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

Donal Collins, Deirdre Collins, Margaret Mannix, Denis Mannix, Aidan Crowley, Michelle Geaney and Brian Ahern. biggest draw ever to take place in the village. In the three months from launch to draw, the ticket sellers travelled mile after mile, night after night, to ensure the success and the platform would be in place to hit 2022 in a strong financial position.

The fundraiser included two early bird draws. The first in October for €1,000 was won by Alan Sheehan. The second took place in November; this time it was won

by Maria Daly.

December came closer, and the excitement and ticket sales grew as we approached the final draw.

Each draw was supervised by the Gardai, and on the final draw on December 21st, the big prize of €21,000 was won by Dennis Mannix.

The prizes didn’t stop there!

Runner up prizes made it a Happy Christmas for all the winners.

Runner Up Winners: €5,000 - Cathal Keohane €1,000 - Yessica Collins €500 - Ann Marie Kelleher €300 - Patrick Fleming €200 - Eileen Egan DiscoverDuhallow@irdduhallow.com

On the night, Project Chairman Donal Collins expressed his gratitude to everyone who had bought and sold tickets and helped to make the fundraiser a success.

The organizing committee managed to get a small rest, but as 2022 started off they immediately jumped into action again: More visits to facilities in Tipperary and Limerick, more meetings with engineers and potential contractors, and more paperwork to be completed.

The hope is that phase one of the project - which will include the levelling of the area, redirection of existing walk into new acquired neighbouring field and completion of boundary fence - would happen in the first half of 2022. Following that with the help of available grants and the funds raised, a plan will be put in place for phase two.

A long long way from Iowa but Bweeng’s Field of Dreams is very much gaining momentum and 2022 will be another exciting year to be involved and to watch the dream become a reality.

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Feature

“Just because you’re in a wheelchair, i

Nature is our own playground. It’s an escape, a chance to get lost in the sound of birdsong, of the river, of the wind in the trees. During Covid, we learned the importance of the outdoors. In those early lockdown days, normality was forgotten except in those times that we got to leave for our allowed 2km walks. But not everyone had that luxury.

In fact, when it comes to experiencing nature, fewer people have that luxury than we realise.

“We couldn’t find anything like it in Ireland,” said Kate Jarvey, head of Conservation at Crann project.

The mission is simple; Accessible nature.

This is obvious from the moment you arrive.

While the project has been slowed by Covid, the current work stands out as a truly loving project.

“We were worried about the effect it would have on the wildlife,” Kate said as she lead us toward the trio of paths, “but they don’t seem to mind.”

True enough, despite the weather being a bit dreary, the air was full of birdsong and

a particularly excited flock of goldfinches danced over what will arise as the wildflower meadow.

The area is split; a lower path, a woodland path, and the wildflower path all offer unique experiences.

The paths themselves are all wide - two wheelchairs wide to be precise - and smooth. The paths have been tested with both manual and motorised wheelchairs and offer an easy time for both without the problems usually caused by gravel or softer dirt paths. The first trail we took was a winding one, bordered by the spans that will soon flower even more beautifully than last year. The area is handplanted; handfuls are weighed and the ground carefully measured to offer as beautiful a view as there could be. This winding trail is a steady decline - in part a solution to a previous issue with how steep the other path is, but when the flowers bloom, from the path, visitors can reach out and touch the kaleidoscopic field.

At the bottom, the greenery is more wild and untamed. From here, you can see the Owenare, and along here, you pass a pond with a concrete dock. While still in its creation, it will be fenced and visitors can safely settle on the concrete over the pond. Dotted along the trail are little nooks; these will house little rest stops and picnic tables, and at the end of the trail, another nook. Here is a river overlook with fences designed for ease of viewing from wheelchair height.

“That tree there,” Kate says, pointing at a splintered trunk like something from a fantasy novel, “was brought down in storm Barra.

But now you can see more of the river!” She knows every spot so

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DiscoverDuhallow@irdduhallow.com

Kate Jarvey oversees Conservation at Crann.

well, it’s hard not to smile when you listen to her speak about how the progress has been.

From here, we took a steep path; the paths also allow ambulance and large vehicle access. There are a few gates dotting some steeper paths; a safety feature that also allows for emergency access.

This path took us to the woodland area. This is the untouched woodland, save for the occassional bird box and feeder intended to invite even more birds to the area.

Even on a chilly late January morning, there’s a constant chatter coming from the trees. There are more nooks along here to look into the thick of the trees, all guided by a railing that can offer a moments rest, and the trail ends with a magnificent recovering oak tree on teardrop shaped patch of grass. In cleaning this area, they found all sorts twisted into the roots of the tree; plastic, metal sheets, a car battery, and barbed wire that grew right through the trees center.

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Facilities Able bodied and wheelchair accessible bathrooms along both the upper and lower paths.

Picnic tables designed with wheelchairs in mind.

A marquee with tea and coffee set up that will also serve for talks, events, and information.

A chair cleaning station.

While not an on-site facility, a virtual tour will be available through the Crann website.

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Feature

r, it doesn’t mean nature’s not for you.”

It was clinging with those barbs, but this revival represents the other side of their mission; conservation. With some TLC, this oak has begun to sprout new branches for spring, now only twigs, but they will grow as strong as ever with the protection the area offers.

Volunteers Five volunteers will be available on site; two on the upper path, two on the lower, and one in the car park, all with walkie talkies. With the website booking, volunteer numbers can increase to match the needs of groups and visitors.

All volunteers go through two days training in Ballincollig. Here they learn first aid, manual handling, wheelchair handling, and more. If you’d like to join these volunteers, contact the Crann Centre on 021 428 9267 or by email at info@ cranncentre.ie It’s no doubt this is a massive undertaking. On the way back, the scale of the project becomes obvious. But it begs the question; where did this come from?

Inspiration as it turns out, came from Crann’s own clients.

Kate oversees the work regularly, and is both intimately familiar with the final touches that are on the way as well as excited for them.

Nowhere accessible in nature exists, a hurdle we might forget when we don’t require that same accessibility. With this project, safety is also at the forefront.

And for Kate, it’s only stage one.

Stage Two From the highest point, it’s easy to see the space for Kate’s future plans. A permanent body of water will become a feature that will both attract biodiversity and serve as flood plane management for the area.

The sturdy oak will shelter a picnic table as well as a spot to enjoy the woodland sights.

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Outside of Duhallow, folks are interested in making the journey to visit. Fatiha Akka who lives in Dublin raised comments about path issues with her chair, and said of the conservation area: “Everything sounds so good!

Ireland is a very pretty place but pretty places are not always accessible, especially the historic places as they say it ruins the history. The only places we can go are shopping centres and that’s a huge no no because of Covid, so having somewhere that we can go that’s outside and accessible is amazing.”

With the official opening coming closer, the excitement is easy to see. But it goes beyond the completion of a work of such passion; “The first day I see kids in their wheelchairs going through the wildflowers, everything will be paid for,” Kate said as we looked down at the path that will soon be obscured by those same flowers.

By April 18th, the intended open date, flowers will be speckling the meadow. Be sure to jot that date down; it’s sure to be a treat to witness.

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Health

Where Is Our Happiness?

By ALICE O’BRIEN Churchview Psychotheraphy, Millstreet

We might not be aware of it but we spend a lot of our lives looking for happiness. We are always striving for better- a better job, a better car, a better holiday- always striving and never stopping. So we get the message that ‘happiness’ is somewhere else. It is in the future when we get the new car or it is in the summer when we go on the big holiday. This is what is known as ‘destination happiness syndrome’.

When we believe that happiness is always dependent on something else, or happiness is always somewhere else, another place,

another time. The problem is if we are always looking for happiness somewhere else, how can we see the happiness that is right in front of us, the happiness that we feel today?

There is a direct relationship between our reality and our expectation when it comes to our levels of happiness. If our reality is lower than how we expect our lives to be, we will always feel short changed. So, we need to balance our reality with our expectations.

The more balance we have in this area, the more accepting we can be which helps us to see the happiness right in front of us.

So, there are two steps to take to achieve this. Firstly, we can improve our reality. We can do this by examining our coping skills-

introducing mindfulness or problem solving techniques. We can also examine if we need to make any changes and try to figure out how to achieve these changes.

Secondly, we can learn to lower our expectations. Examine what areas in life lead to stress- home, work, relationships. Ask yourselfam I expecting too much of myself or of others? Am I setting unrealistic standards for myself?

So, remember, happiness is not always dependent on the ‘when’when I get a new job, when I go on holidays. Happiness can be in the now if we just stop and look.

Happiness can be in our lives, in our homes, in our everyday routine. Stop looking at the horizon for happiness or you’ll stumble over what is right under your feet.

How to measure progress

Progress on a health and fitness journey comes in many shapes and sizes. However, for most of us, the only measure we use for progress is the scales.

Let’s be clear, the scales has it’s place as a metric. Being a weight that is healthy for you is important for overall wellbeing. However, when we use the scales as our only measure of success, we are setting ourselves up for failure.

The scales will fluctuate for more reasons than I can fit to name out here. What you ate the day before, if you have been to the toilet, stress, time of the month for females – the list goes on.

Focus on other areas that can be seen as progress in your day-to-day quality of life.

Ask yourself these questions: - Are you now sleeping through the night and waking up feeling refreshed?

- Do you no longer have that bloated feeling that you thought was normal and part of day-to-day life?

- Can you now get up and down the stairs or go for a long walk without feeling out of breath?

- Is your energy better sustained across the day, no longer having that 3pm slump?

- Are you going to the toilet

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By SIOBHAN O’SULLIVAN SOS Fitness

regularly? Regular bowel movements are an important part of health.

None of these measures have anything to do with a scales weight but will absolutely improve your life for the better.

For nutrition coaching, check out my website: https://sosfitness.ie/ nutrition/

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

Health

Boosting your libido this Valentines day

By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE New Leaf Health Store

Libido, or sex drive, naturally varies between individuals. Anxiety, relationship difficulties, health concerns, and age can all affect libido.

While a low libido is not usually problematic, it can affect a person’s relationships and selfesteem. There are a range of effective natural supplements which can boost self-esteem, reduce stress, and often increase sex drive.

Ginseng: Siberian Ginseng can incease sexual desire and arousal in both sexes. Ginseng relaxes muscles and improves blood flow to the genital region.

Boron: Many men who have low sex drive are deficient in Boron.

This can lead to testosterone deficiency and lower libido. Boron supplements are available at New Leaf.

Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is an adaptogen which reduces stress for both men and women.When the stress levels are high, so is the blood pressure. When blood pressure is high, it restricts blood flow and is one of the leading causes of impotence.

Ashwagandha can also boost testosterone levels in men. In addition to helping the body adapt to stress, ashwagandha has many benefits for women including gentle hormone balancing and reproductive support. It also assists with improving mood and supporting cognitive function.

Rhodiola: Rhodiola can boost sexual desire in both men

and women, and studies have found that it can be an effective treatment for premature ejaculaton and erectile dysfunction.

Viridian’s Enhanced Rhodiola Complex also contains Ginseng and Ashwagandha.

Maca: Maca can also enhance fertility and sex drive. Studies have shown maca increases sexual desire in men and that it can decrease sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women.

Clinical Hypnotherapy: Clinical Hypnotherapy can help boost self esteem and reduce anxiety. You can just relax with a simple one to one hypnotic relaxation session or if you choose you can delve more deeply. Hypnosis is a very effective and safe therapy for a wide variety of issues. Contact Irene Ryan on 086 8272042 for an appointment.

Congratulations to competition winner Catherine Murphy!

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

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Feature

The Freshwater Pearl Mussel

By MIKE O’CONNOR Ecologist at IRD Duhallow What is the Freshwater Pearl Mussel?

The Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera, is a mollusc found in pristine quality, fast-flowing freshwater. They are a primitive species with fossils dating back 130 million years.

Ireland’s longest living animal, the Freshwater Pearl Mussel can live for up to 140 years, with their shells growing up to 15cm in length. They are filter feeders, capable of filtering 50 litres of water per day, and live partially submerged in clean river gravel Life Cycle To reproduce, the Freshwater Pearl Mussel requires a host fish (a young trout or salmon). The female releases larvae, known as glochidia, in August or September, which then flow downstream and attach to the gills of the host fish, where they remain for around nine months. The host fish provides them with a free ride upstream to where they are more likely to find the clean, fast-flowing gravel beds that they need to survive - public transport at its finest!

A Critically Endangered Species The Freshwater Pearl Mussel is considered Ireland’s most endangered species. They are to Ireland, what the Giant Panda is to China. Although there were large populations of the species in Europe in the early 1900s, they suffered a massive population decline of about 90% by 1990.

Ireland is a stronghold for the remaining global population of Freshwater Pearl Mussel due to our relatively high abundance of high-quality rivers.

The main reasons for their

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Freshwater Pearl Mussel Life Cycle (Source: habitats.org.uk) decline include a deterioration in water quality, riverbed and flow conditions, to which the mussels cannot adapt quickly enough.

Examples of how these issues are caused include excessive flows and siltation from drainage of land for forestry or agriculture, large-scale peat extraction and peat slides, insufficient sewage treatment facilities, and infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Juvenile mussels are smothered by excessive siltation and need a near-perfect water environment to simply survive.

For this reason, we see an ageing population of Freshwater Pearl Mussel in some catchments which will eventually die out if conditions are not improved to allow the youth to prosper.

“The Freshwater Pearl Mussel is considered Ireland’s most endangered species.

They are to Ireland, what the Giant Panda is to China.”

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Conservation Measures The following are examples of measures that can be applied to help protect this important species: • Careful planning of forest management to avoid excess flows due to drainage, pollution of watercourses during pesticide application, and siltation of watercourses during clear-felling • Sustainable agricultural practices such as fencing of watercourses, installation of water troughs, maintenance of marginal buffers along riverbanks, improved nutrient management, and adherence to buffers during fertilizer application. Prevention of silt entering watercourses by upgrading farm roadways and by installing in-drain silt settlement ponds are also key measures to protect Freshwater Pearl Mussel • Upgrades to insufficient wastewater treatment facilities • Management of invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam that can destabilise riverbanks when they die off in winter The Significance of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel in Duhallow Duhallow boasts many high-status rivers that support populations

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Example of clean conditions of Freshwater Pearl Mussel. For example, surveys conducted in recent years by IRD Duhallow projects show that populations of Freshwater Pearl Mussel are present, albeit declining, on the Rivers Allow, Dalua, and Owentaraglin. This means Duhallow rivers play an important role in the conservation of this species and the prevention of its extinction. However, there are far more reasons that the presence of this species in Duhallow rivers is significant. To begin with, they are an ‘indicator species’ of pristine water quality; rivers where there are Freshwater Pearl Mussel are generally very healthy. Healthy rivers benefit the community through providing clean drinking water and through providing scenery which helps to create vibrant communities, for example.

An adult Freshwater Pearl Mussel in unfavourable conditions

Healthy rivers also help to generate income, often in rural communities, through angling

“The Freshwater Pearl Mussel is also a ‘keystone species’, meaning it has a disproportionately large effect on its entire ecosystem, and an ‘umbrella species’, meaning that it is used to make decisions to benefit the entire ecosystem.” (which was valued as being worth €750 million to the Irish economy per year in a 2013 national

The River Owentaraglin (Araglin) on a sunny summer day.

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economic survey). The River Blackwater, which rises and flows through Duhallow, is an important salmon river with tourists coming from around the world every year to fish it.

IRD Duhallow has worked to protect the species through projects such as SAMOK LIFE (2010-2014), RaptorLIFE (20152019) and most recently through it’s two agri-environmental projects, the Duhallow farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP project and the Owentaraglin River EIP project.

The Owentaraglin River EIP Project The Owentaraglin River EIP is a one-year agri-environmental project that commenced in January. This project is managed

by IRD Duhallow and builds on the success of the existing Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments project. The aim of the project is to work alongside farmers on the main channel and tributaries of the Owentaraglin (Araglin) to improve water quality and biodiversity.

Measures such as farm roadway upgrades, water trough installation, in-drain settlement ponds, fencing and multi-species sward trials, among others, will be implemented on participating farms.

If you are interested in joining the project, please get in touch with Mike O’ Connor at (029) 60633

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Interests

The Leviathan of Parsonstown

By TREVOR O’DONOGHUE The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched a few weeks ago and is currently getting finetuned for operation. All going well, the JWST looks set to displace the Hubble Space Telescope as the finest telescope available to astronomers.

But did you know that once upon a time, and for almost 70 years, Ireland was home to the world’s largest telescope. Known as the Leviathan of Parsonstown, the telescope was built by the third Earl of Rosse at his home in Birr, and was completed in 1845. It was a huge telescope and had a six-foot diameter mirror that sat at the bottom of a 16.5 m telescope tube. The whole apparatus was so unwieldy and massive that the Earl had it installed between two support walls which allowed for free vertical movement, but a very limited lateral movement.

It took three people to use it and with the weather in Ireland, it was really only useable for 60 nights a year. No doubt some

A colourised historical image of the telescope from the National Library

simply swapped the shiny one in.

Not so easy when one considers that the metal mirror was five inches thick and weighed almost three tonnes.

The Earl went on to make some key discoveries including the spiral nature of what at the time were considered nebulae, but we now know to be galaxies. He also resolved stars in these nebulae, a key step in understanding the universe’s true nature and scale. Above all, the Earl was a hobbyist, an amateur astronomer. He had no formal training, he simply put a telescope (albeit a very large one) in his backyard and used it to observe the heavens. This is the essence of amateur astronomy and is shared by anyone who has ever looked up at the sky in wonder.

You can visit the telescope in the grounds of Birr Castle, where it has been restored to its former The m51 shows the Whirlpool spiral Galaxy, both in a drawing by the 3rd Earl of glory.

Rosse and in a modern photograph.

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of these were also blighted by bright moonlight. The mirror was made from speculum metal, which was a mixture of copper and tin.

Whilst it could be polished to a nice shine and was reflective enough, it tarnished quickly. The Earl gotaround this problem by making two of them. One could be used and the other one repolished to bring back its shine. When the mirror in use got tarnished, he

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Issue 57 February 11, 2022

Interests

FAMILY FORTUNES FILM REVIEW

By TADHG CURTIN

Another jewel in Ealing Studio’s crown, Robert Hamer’s black comedy classic Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) takes the machinations of succession to a whole other level.

Kind Hearts and Coronets may be my favourite of the Ealing Studio comedies. Don’t get me wrong, the others are fantastic as well, but for me Coronets is a close to perfect in its execution as you can get.

It’s story follows Louis D’Ascoyne Mazzini, the son of a woman disowned by her aristocrat family for marrying out of her social class.

After her death, Louis decides to take revenge and take the dukedom by murdering the eight people ahead of him in the line of

succession to the title.

Dennis Price is superb in his greatest role as Louis as well as Alec Guinness, who has the monumental task of playing all members of the D’Ascoyne family; men and women.

There really is nothing more quintessentially British than the class system. It still lingers to this day, particularly with the Royal Family - essentially a tourist attraction enterprise that people are fascinated with, especially state side. There are countless TV shows and movies showcasing the lives of the upper class, going back to eras where it reigned supreme. I cannot abide it. I loathe people lording their status over others. But people get a vicarious

thrill out of following the lives of the upper class, secretly wishing they themselves had similar status in life.

A fascinating aspect in Coronets is that we start out empathising with Louis and his plight but as he gets further up the ladder, he too begins to inherit the entitled, arrogant traits he sees and loathes in his relatives. It’s a perfect example of power corrupting; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I guess you can tell that I love black comedies. It’s such a tricky genre to pull off but when one does, it delivers unlike anything else. Coronets does that and then some. It’s a timeless, stone cold classic. However, it may leave you paranoid when it comes to laying out your own will and testament.

Available on DVD, Blu Ray and to stream on YouTube

Nail Care In Dogs

By JANE PIGOTT GP vet & consultant Veterinary Cardiologist

Anxiety around trimming or ‘clipping’ of dog’s nails is a common worry amongst pet owners and indeed the pets themselves. Although trimming of nails is a simple procedure when it goes well, it is a task which has the potential to go horribly wrong when in the hands of an unpractised pet parent, potentially combined with a foot-shy dog. Think blood everywhere and a terrified dog who will never let you near their feet again! Nail trimming is best left to the professionals to avoid any disasters – your vet or vet nurse, or an appropriately experienced groomer should be a safe bet.

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

If you want to learn, watch your vet or nurse first and ask them to teach you a safe technique.

Clipping of the nails in dogs is important, but the interval between trims being required is different from pet to pet. Many active pets who spend part of their time walking on pavements may rarely need a nail clip in most of their nails – this is because the concrete will be acting like an abrasive nail file and usually keeps the nails in contact with

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the ground an appropriate length.

Less active or older dogs, or those walking mainly in fields or woodland will need more regular nail trims to keep things in check.

When at a normal length, the nails should only just be in contact with the ground in a normal standing pet. The exception is the ‘Dew Claw’, which is the equivalent of a vestigial thumb, which sits on the inside of most pet’s front legs; this nail will need to be regularly checked to ensure that it is not growing long, making it prone to getting caught in things and subsequently causing an injury, or even growing so long that it curls around upon itself painfully. I suggest checking the length of you pet’s nails at least every 2 weeks to avoid any issues.

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Duhallow News

LEADER Smart Villages Training Opportunity

There is excitement building at IRD Duhallow as the roll-out of a new and exciting training programme for communities across the peninsula is about to begin.

Smart Villages is a national programme that has been commissioned by sixteen local development companies from around the country and is being delivered under LEADER in 2022.

Smart Villages are communities in rural areas that use innovative solutions to improve their resilience, building on local strengths and opportunities.

The Smart Village Curriculum compiled by eTownz is a modular and pragmatic approach to local development, where the town creates an interactive register for its local Assets, Stakeholders, Goals, Projects and Metrics. CEO of eTownz, Pat Kennedy says “The Smart Village approach seeks to bring together local knowledge and digital tools to empower local communities”.

Each session will introduce a new key topic, which will guide participants through the process of creating a “Smart Village Plan” for their area. The training will be delivered in the James O’Keeffe Institute, Newmarket and we are pleased to announce that the first four communities (4 reps per community) will commence on February 15th. A Smart Village plan will be created for each community with the objective that when all communities have been completed, we will be able to weave relevant data from each plan together to build capacity for the area and to further strengthen the region and enable our communities to access many opportunities, including funding from the EU and government initiatives. The ENRD (European

Network for Rural Development), which oversees LEADER funding has determined that all future grant funding must align with the concepts of “Smart Villages”.

Once the plan for each area has been prepared, it will be reviewed annually in a consultative and inclusive manner by all local stakeholders.

This is really exciting and is complementary to the community planning work IRD Duhallow carried out in 2019 when a “roadshow” included consultation with all communities in their own community. LEADER Smart Villages will offer the opportunity to collaborate and plan for new projects that will be beneficial to peoples own area but also the region of Duhallow.

Recruitment for this training is underway and we would encourage anyone with an interest in improving your local area to jump in and get involved! We believe it will enable greater collaboration and communication between villages, towns and local organisations such as IRD Duhallow and Cork/ Kerry County Councils and it will help discover

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symbiotic relationships by working with people who have similar interests and skills complimentary to implementing the Smart Village plan.

If you are from Banteer, Knocknagree, Donoughmore or Rathmore please contact 029 60633 or duhallow@irdduhallow. com to apply for a place. We would welcome people of all ages especially young people to join us. The course is free of charge thanks to LEADER Funding and taking place on Tues Feb 15th, Tues 1st March, and Tues 15th March at 6.30pm each evening in the James O’Keeffe Institute, Newmarket.

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

Interests

Farewell To The Cause

By TADHG CURTIN

It was quite a journey mounting The Cause. Originally set to premier in the fall of 2021 to coincide with the centenary anniversary of the burning of Cork, it was postponed for a year due to Covid. It’s production history was covered in issue 47 of Discover Duhallow where the play’s writer, Sean O’Deadaigh, talked about how the play came to be, emerging out of a screenplay he is in the process of turning into a movie.

And so The Cause finished its run in November 2021 on the stage of the Everyman theatre in Cork. A big thanks to everyone involved on stage and behind the scenes. Special thanks to Adam Duggan and Niall McCarthy of Act 1 Military Film Services and to Eileen O’ Brien who provided us with costumes and props. And finally a thank you to all the people who came to see our production. Good luck to Sean in mounting his passion project. Hopefully this will not be the last we hear of The Cause!

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1 - The cast of The Cause - L-R; Pat O’Brien, Sinead Guiney, Aoife O’Connor, Tadhg Curtin and Tom Stritch, 2 Martin O’Riordan with Sinead & Aoife. 3 - The cast on stage. 4 - Co-Directors Tadhg O’Keeffe and Jane Pigott. 5 - Jimmy O’Connell erecting the set. 6 - L - R; Con O’Keeffe, David & Adam Duggan. 7 - Juliette Bailey overseeing sound and light 8 - L-R; Jane Pigott, Juliette Bailey & Cathy Bailey.

Photos by Daniel Bailey Issue 57 February 11, 2022

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Feature

Saint Bernadette of Lourdes

By TOM DENNEHY

February 11th is a very important date in the Church calendar as it is the feast day of our Lady of Lourdes with whom we associate Saint Bernadette, patron saint of the sick. This day is celebrated all over the world as a special day to remember our sick and those who care for them. Those who care for the sick give witness to the greatest example of God’s love in action amongst us.

We are all familiar with the story of Lourdes. Lourdes in 1858 was an inconspicuous little French town at the foot of the Pyrenees.

One inhabitant was a former miller named Francois Soubirous, a father of six children who had fallen into hard times. His eldest, Bernadette, had little schooling and was unable to read or write.

Bernadette was only 14 years old when on February 11th, 1858, Our Lady appeared to her and prayed the rosary with her. Our Lady was to appear to her on 18 different occasions. On February 25th, Our Lady told her to drink the water from a spring that flowed under a rock. There was no spring, so Bernadette dug into the ground.

A day or so later the water started to flow freely. Many came to wash there, and it acquired a reputation for healing. Many pilgrims flock there for healing to this day and many have received both physical as well as spiritual healings.

On March 2nd, Our Lady asked that a church be built there. During a later apparition on March 25th, feast of the Annunciation, she told her, “I am the Immaculate Conception”, this was declared a Dogma of the Church only five years previously.

She had her last apparition on July 16th Feast of Our Lady of

Mount Carmel.

Bernadette is patron saint of: The Poor She grew up in a desperately poor family. They all lived in one small room. They had very little schooling.

The Sick She suffered from cholera at a young age and developed severe asthma and other ailments for the rest of her life. She contacted tuberculosis and had a lot of pain and suffering.

Those maligned for their faith.

Saint Bernadette suffered very much for her witness to the apparitions of our Lady. She was rigorously cross examined by the local police. The Authorities were sceptical and in 1858, they had the Grotto and the spring barricaded off. Even her own family did not support her. But Bernadette steadfastly defended the genuineness of her visions despite all the opposition.

She had an inner strength and was determined to

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carry out the mission Our Lady had given her.

In 1862, the Church and the local bishop decided that her visions were genuine and approved them.

The building of the church began the same year.

Saint Bernadette spent the rest of her life in the convent of the Sisters of Charity. She died at the age of 35 years on April 16th, 1879. Her final words were “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me a poor sinner, a poor sinner”.

Her body was exhumed 70 years after her death and was found to be incorrupt. She was declared a saint by the Church in 1933.

Over the last 164 years, it is estimated that more than 2 million sick people have travelled to Lourdes. More than 6,000 have claimed miraculous healings, many which have been approved by the Church. More importantly many have received spiritual healing and have been given the grace to bear their sufferings and unite them with the sufferings of Our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Saint Bernadette presents a challenge and an example to all of us, especially our young people.

Despite her poor circumstances and lack of education, she showed great courage and succeeded in the mission entrusted to her by God. St Bernadette’s feast day is celebrated on February 18th in France and on April 16th, it is celebrated all over the world.

St Bernadette, pray and intercede for us.

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

Crossword sponsored by Duhallow Community Food Services

WIN!

Across 1. Ploy (6) 4. Requiring secret knowledge (6) 9. Disapproves (7) 10. Angry (5) 11. Land measure (4) 12. Perplexing (8) 14. Disney cartoon character (5) 16. Mournful poem (5) 20. Scorn (8) 21. Fencing sword (4) 24. Female relative (5) 25. Pills (7) 26. Unmarried (6) 27. Precious stones (6)

Down 1. Worldwide (6) 2. US military officer (5) 3. Unit of length (4) 5. Precipitation (8) 6. Astounding (7) 7. Come out into view (6) 8. Ordinary (5) 13. Celestial (8) 15. Lamp (7) 17. Parts of a play (6) 18. Catches sight of (5) 19. Creatures (6) 22. Fragment (5) 23. Woodwind instrument (4)

Solution in Issue 58, February 25th, 2022 Solution: Issue 56, January 11th, 2022

WINNER Congratulations to James Lucey, Rathmore who wins a €20 voucher for Duhallow Community Food Services!

Issue 57 February 11, 2022

A €20 Vouc her

To be in with a chance to win a €20 voucher for Duhallow Community Food Services complete the crossword and post with your name and 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 email to discoverduhallow@irdduhallow.com Terms & Conditions: Deadline for submissions is noon on Friday, February 18th 2022.

First correct entry drawn will win a €20 voucher, valid for three months from date of issue, to be redeemed for food at the Duhallow Community Food Services. No cash alternative. Winner will be named in subsequent issue of Discover Duhallow. No correspondence will be entered into. Voucher to be collected from Duhallow Community Food Services, Newmarket.

DiscoverDuhallow@irdduhallow.com

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Now €12.72/kg SuperValu Fresh Irish Tomahawk Steak (Butcher Counter Only) Was €18.99/kg

DINE IN FOR 2 1 MAIN + 2 SIDES + 1 DESSERT

SAVE

33%

FOR €10

Steak Sale

OFFER APPLIES TO:

1 x SuperValu Signature Tastes Meal 500g + 2 x SuperValu Signature Tastes Sides 370g - 400g + 1 x SuperValu Signature Tastes Cake 400g

(Supplier Seery’s Ltd.)

Now €11.38/kg SuperValu Fresh Irish Sirloin Steak (Butcher Counter Only) Was €16.99/kg

Now €15.40/kg SuperValu Fresh Irish Striploin Steak (Butcher Counter Only) Was €22.99/kg

Spanish Wine Sale SAVE

33%

Breakfast Deal

€5

Guest Wine

€10 Buy 1 SuperValu Signature Tastes Black/White Pudding 300g - €3.67/kg €1.10 Each (Supplier: Sean Loughnanes Ltd.) +1 SuperValu Signature Tastes Breakfast Sausages 338g - €6.48/kg €2.19 Each, +1 SuperValu Signature Tastes Dry Cure Streaky/Whiskey Glaze/Cherrywood Smoked/Dry Cure Hampshire Rashers 200g - 210g, €12.95/kg - €12.33/kg €2.59 Each (Supplier: Carty Ltd.)

Guest Wine

Guest Wine

Wine of the month

€10

€10

€9

Guest Wine

€10

See In-Store and Online for details and the full range of our

Spanish Wines

Twohigs of Kanturk & Abbeyfeale

Offers 16th of February 2022, unless otherwise stated.

24 valid from Thursday 10th February - Wednesday DiscoverDuhallow@irdduhallow.com Prices correct at time of going to print. Offers available while stocks last. Customer quotas may apply. Please drink sensibly.

Issue 57 February 11, 2022