Discover Duhallow Issue 75

Reduce Single Use

Cork County Exhibition to encourage community action as part of National Reuse Month

As we focus more and more on our habits as consumers, we learn more about how much we can reuse. It’s a broad spectrum. But Cork County Council and IRD Duhallow have come together for Reuse month.

In this issue, we feature a Reuse Republic pullout with what you need from this Reuse month

including the agenda, the details, and some input from some key players.

The day comes complete with a chance to win a water refill station. Head over to @CorkCoCoEnviro on Facebook to register for the Reuse Republic workshops.

MESSAGE FROM THE TEAM:

Issue 76 will be releasing a week later than expected. Find it in stores and online on 11th of November.

With that out of the way, we have an eclectic line up this issue. Everything from recycling and reuse to Jupiter and Marsh, from business awards to a spooky crossword!

With Halloween coming closer, remember to wear high vis when taking out the groups of ghouls. There’s a share of Halloween events on throughout Duhallow too, definitely something for everyone! Keep it safe, and keep it spooky! Happy Halloween! - Caleb

Community News

Kanturk Afc would like to thank Sean O’Riordan and Liam O’Flynn of Rota Industries Ltd, Dromcummer, Kanturk, for sponsoring a set of jerseys for the Under 12 Boys team competing in Cork Schoolboys League. Sean O’Riordan called to meet the team at the pitch in Gurteenard on Sunday the 16th October and present the jerseys.

ABOVE: The U12 team who played Ballinhassig at home on Sunday.

The U12 team manager Eleanor Llerena, Coaches Russell Llerena, Robert Jozwiak, Sean O’Riordan, Rota Industries Ltd, Players Benny Llerena and Kacper Jozwiak.

The Ladies Who Lunch - Grandmother, mother, and granddaughter: Kathleen Murphy, Eileen O’Shea and Kaitlyn O’Shea dining at the restaurant in DCFS recently.

Update on

Millstreet Community Calendar 2023

Millstreet Community Council Ltd. would like to thank everyone who emailed suggestions regarding a theme for the community calendar for 2023. We are delighted to announce that the theme chosen is All kinds of everything

If you have a suitable photograph that reflects this theme, we would be delighted if you could share it with us. Please email your photograph with your name & the title/caption of your photograph to millstreetcommunitycouncil20@gmail.com before Friday October 21st 2022. All photographs will be considered. (The photographs must be of a high resolution, photographs from most mobile phones are acceptable). The calendars will be printed and made available to purchase locally from November. The organisation nominated to benefit from the proceeds this year is the Millstreet Website.

Mariia Palchak and Yulia iLiashenko of IRD Duhallow receive a donation towards the IRD Duhallow Ukrainian Response Programme from Fiona Sheahan of The Culturlann Newmarket from funds raised at their recent concert.

Community News

Clonbanin Celebrates Centenary DVD Launch

Marie Casey, Denis Walsh, Anthony Murphy, Kathy McCarthy, Pat McCarthy, Mary Angland, Margaret Kelleher, Margaret Kiely, David Collins, Tracy Connelly, retired Corporal Irish Army, Michael Kelly, retired Sergeant Irish Army, and Noel Keating pictured at the launch.

Charlie Drake, Vice Chair and PRO of the Clonbanin Centenary Committee with Michael Moynihan TD and Councillor Bernard Moynihan at the launch

Clonbanin’s Journey through the War of Independence 1920-1921 DVD was launched by Deputy County Mayor, Councillor Deirdre O’ Brien, pictured with Seán Radley and Councillor Gillian Coughlan who both narrated segments of the documentary

Clonbanin Centenary Committee members pictured with Deputy Mayor of Cork County, Councillor Deirdre O’ Brien, Councillor Gillian Coughlan and Retired Irish Army Corporal Tracy Connelly

Photos by SHEILA FITZGERALD

That’s A-maize-ing!

By TADHG CURTIN

They said it couldn’t be done but history was made in Kilcorney as local farmer, Martin Kelleher harvested nine acres of maize recently.

It was never done in Kilcorney before so the reason for the scepticism was simple. Kilcorney is 236 metres or 774.28 feet above sea level so put simply - we are high up. It is recommended that crops of maize be cultivated on land that does not exceed 1000 feet above sea level so setting a maize crop on an area so high up as Kilcorney was taking a chance. But the gamble paid off. Talking to Martin, he put it down to a number of elements - a southern facing field that was sheltered, good soil, and the summer itself.

There was a few of us that turned up to witness the event both young and old. Gus Murphy, Donoughmore was the contractor tasked with harvesting the crop. The nine acres were picked up in an hour and a half. Martin informed me that it’s usually 20 tonnes per acre so by that estimation, he produced 180 tonnes of maize ration, which he will be feeding to his animals next February.

It was a bit of excitement on a Monday evening but having witnessed the field grow for most of this year, it was nice to see a great yield produced. Martin even suggested he might go for it again in 2023.

He proved it can be done so we may see those big machines in action again next year!

Martin’s father, Con Kelleher observing the harvesting

Some of the locals who stopped by the field to witness the process.

L-R: Denis O’Riordan, John Duggan, and Der Shea were also looking on.

LEFT: Tadhg holding corn on the cob. ABOVE: Contractor, Gus Murphy in action. All photos by Tadhg Curtin.

LEADER in the community

Spotlight on Cumann Luachra

By STEPHANIE MOYNIHAN

Cumann Luachra is a historical society based in Gneeveguilla Co. Kerry which was founded in 1981 by a group of locals interested in the area’s local history.

The year 1981 marked the 150th anniversary of the coming of the Cistercians to Rathmore.

With the aid of LEADER funding, Cumann Luachra proudly publishes biennial publications of the Journal of Cumann Luachra. The aim of this project

is to research, preserve, record and publish local history and subsequently encourage local participation and ownership of the area’s rich and vibrant history. Furthermore, the publications of these journals provides an accurate historical record for the local community and those new to the area. The committee prides itself in publishing these local treasures of the ancient Sliabh Luachra area (Sliabh leathan mhór lánaoibhinn Luachra – Fiannaíocht) which would otherwise be lost.

#SICAPstories

Adult and Second Chance Education Bursaries

By STEPHANIE MOYNIHAN

IRD Duhallow has long promoted community education and lifelong learning as a driver of social inclusion and positive social impacts in the locality. Regardless of age and circumstances the opportunity to participate in education has been seen to be pivotal in the Duhallow region as a change creator.

IRD Duhallow Employment and Training Working Group has supported the provision of a number of grants to individuals to facilitate access and entry to further and higher-level education. Many rural dwellers face additional

Recipient Testimonial

barriers when trying access to higher education including poor broadband infrastructure, the infrequency of public transport and overall increases in the general in the cost of living. In 2021, eight individuals have received funding from this measure under the SICAP programme. The availability of these bursaries has allowed these individuals to continue their education and become trained in

various disciplines.

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 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

“ I applied for the SICAP bursary programme that was available at IRD Duhallow to help fund my Personal Training course in Cork. Without IRD I would have found it very hard to fund the course so I just want to give a big thanks to IRD for contributing to my success as I am now employed full time as a fully qualified Personal Trainer. Would recommend the Bursary Programme for everyone that is struggling financially, it’s a difference maker”

Job Center

Questions To Ask In A Job Interview

By STEPHANIE MOYNIHAN

It is very common for interviewers to ask candidates at the end of an interview whether they have any questions for the interviewers themselves. Many candidates get nervous of this question as they did not anticipate this or prepare a question to ask. Here are a few tips to give you some guidance. Don’t miss the fantastic opportunity of asking your interviewer a question at the end of an interview as this is a great chance to showcase that you researched the company in advance of the interview. It is also the perfect opportunity for you to clarify on aspects of the role to make sure it is a good fit for you.

One option could be to ask about the day to day responsibilities such as what a usual day on the

job looks like, what your main responsibilities would be or what size of the team you will be working with. You could also ask about training and development opportunities within the company. Consider asking about the next steps in the recruitment process giving you clarity on exactly where you stand.

We couldn’t conclude this article without talking about the elephant in the room: Salary! Here at the

job centre, we are often asked for advice on whether a candidate should ask about the salary, if not known when attending the interview. Situations vary but our general advice would be to wait until the job is offered to you. This will be the ideal time to clarify on the compensation package and enter any negotiations. Use the interview as an opportunity to show your suitability for role, your passion to join the company and simply why they should hire you. Contact the IRD Duhallow Job centre on 02960633.

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.

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Shining the Spotlight on Duhallow Businesses

Duhallow Business Entries are open for 2022 Business Awards Nominations

IRD Duhallow officially announced the opening of the 2022 Business Awards nominations at a launch hosted in the James O’Keeffe Institute, Newmarket. The aim of the awards is to celebrate the achievements of businesses in the Duhallow area and to recognise their vital contribution to local industry. The 2022 awards will be the first time the event has been held since 2019.

Now in their eight year, these prestigious awards give businesses the opportunity to receive recognition for their continuous dedication and commitment, especially during challenging times.

Maura Walsh, IRD Duhallow CEO commented, “After the challenges presented by COVID in recent years, it is with great optimism that we are announcing the launch of the IRD Duhallow Business Awards 2022, and that we are doing so in person rather than virtually.

Starting a business is no easy task; sustaining and growing the business can be even more of a challenge. Events such as the IRD Duhallow Business Awards help businesses to gain the recognition that will help them to stand out and be ready for such challenges”.

Louise Bourke, IRD Duhallow Development Officer said, “The awards have always been a key highlight in the annual calendar for anyone involved in our business community, and we welcome the opportunity to recognise and reward all the notable efforts and creativity across the full spectrum of business types we are privileged to serve in the Duhallow region”.

The winners will be announced at a Gala Banquet taking place on Friday, 18th November in the James O’Keeffe Institute, Newmarket, kicking off at 7.30pm with a drink’s reception and followed by a gala dinner and awards ceremony. The

master of ceremonies for the awards will be Marty Morrissey, Irish sports commentator and RTE sports presenter.

Nominations are now open and can be made on the IRD Duhallow website at https://www.irdduhallow. com/events/duhallow-businessawards-tickets-2022/. Tickets are priced at €60pp including a drink’s reception, gala dinner, and awards ceremony. Tickets can be purchased through the IRD Duhallow website, contacting the IRD Duhallow office on 029-60633 or e-mailing duhallwskillnet@irdduhallow.com. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Award Categories

· Best Start Up

· Best Established Business

· Best Women Led Business

· Best Agri Related Business

· Best in the Creative Industry

· Best Community Enterprise

Cork County Council is delighted to announce the return of its annual Reuse Republic event which has not taken place in recent years due to Covid. This year’s event takes place in IRD Duhallow in Newmarket on Tuesday 25th October 2022 from 2-7pm.

Taking place during National Reuse Month, the event will bring together national and local reuse initiatives to exhibit their services and showcase how individuals and communities can take action to reduce their consumption and positively impact climate. An exciting series of workshops themed around reuse and waste prevention including furniture upcycling, composting and reducing single use plastic will take place on the day. The exhibition aims to empower local homes, community groups and businesses to move away from a throw away and single use society and to bring reuse into their daily lives.

Duhallow News

Cork County Council and IRD

As Ireland has committed to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030, in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), food waste is set to be a core theme of the event. Cork celebrity chef Trisha Lewis, known on Instagram for Trisha’s Transformation, will be doing a cooking demonstration on the day to show innovative ways of reducing food waste when cooking meals at home.

Amongst the exhibitors, ReCreate Ireland will host a workshop on sustainable creativity in arts and crafts, reusing materials that would have otherwise gone to waste.

Early years groups including creches, pre schools and primary schools are encouraged to come

along to take part.

Circular Fashion Ireland will also host a talk on the impact of fast fashion, making more sustainable fashion choices. They will also be running a clothing Swap Shop, where members of the public are invited to bring their lightly worn clothes to swap for other items. Businesses are also encouraged to attend to hear about the commercial waste campaign and how they can avail of free signage for waste segregation systems on their premises.

The Southern Regional Waste Management Office will be in attendance to explain how businesses can access the materials. Other exhibitors on the day will include FoodCloud,

“On behalf of IRD Duhallow we are delighted to see this event being hosted here in Newmarket on the grounds of the James O’Keeffe Institute which is the base for our own social enterprises through which we are committed to supporting the move towards the circular economy. Through Duhallow Revamp we have diverted over 210 tons of furniture from landfill with over 185 tons redistributed back into the community. Our Relove Paint Initiative which is in conjunction with Cork County Council sees unwanted paint collected at Kanturk and Millstreet Civic Amenity Sites, then filtered, remixed and recoloured by our staff to make a high quality low cost paint that we are selling back into the community. A true example of the circular economy in action. Duhallow Community Food Services is also based here and is committed to helping to reduce food waste in their daily operations. We look forward to welcoming people to Duhallow and we hope that they will be inspired to take further action in their communities.”

Stop Food Waste, Composting Ireland, Peach Vintage Preloved, Sue Gifford Design, Handmade by Kata, the Rediscovery Centre, and Community Reuse Network Ireland. If you are interested in exhibiting, please contact eao@ corkcococo.ie.

To mark the occasion, a competition will be held on the day to give sports clubs, community groups and schools a chance to win a Water Refill Station worth over €1,500 for their premises, to help them eliminate single use plastic in their communities. Only applications received on the day of the event will be accepted so everyone is encouraged to come along on the day to take part.

Deputy Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Deirdre O’ Brien,

“Supporting the local community is the cornerstone of Cork County Council’s approach towards promoting a more circular economy as part of National Reuse month. The emerging ideas from our exhibitors will support our communities’ journey as we adapt to more sustainable ways of living - reducing our consumption and making better choices. We would like to extend an invitation to the general public, schools and early years settings, businesses and community groups to join us on the 25th October for the event to meet with our fantastic exhibitors and to join the workshops. We also encourage all groups to participate in our competition on the day as our one lucky winner will receive a Water Refill station for their premises.”

Chairperson of IRD Duhallow Clg Michael Twohig

IRD Duhallow Centre Reuse

The event will take place on Tuesday 25th October from 2pm7pm at IRD Duhallow, Newmarket. A link to register for the workshops is available on the Facebook page Cork County Council Environment Department, @corkcocoenviro. Places are limited for the workshops, so it is advisable that people register in advance.

“We welcome the return of our popular Reuse Republic event, which will showcase some inspiring examples of initiatives in Cork County that are leading the way in the move to a circular economy. This event is a great opportunity for them to connect with the public and demonstrate the ways in which we can all bring reuse into our daily lives and in doing so have a positive climate impact. Initiatives such as this help to empower communities to take local action as we transition to a low carbon society.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey

Duhallow Business

Legends of Hallow’s Eve

By CALEB O’CONNOR

Halloween is sneaking up on us! But we have enough surprise scares with the cost of living, so instead, let’s prepare for what Halloween brings to our doors. Oiche Samhain is the night the veil is thinnest, the night when the fog that separates us from the other dissipates and we are left with the fear of what could be over our shoulders. Our ancestors felt it too - the shiver of suspicion, the tension in the air when darkness fell. And they knew just how to keep the worst away.

On Hallow’s eve, no one walked alone for fear of being snatched by all manner of ghouls. They wore disguises to blend in with the spirits as they left the bonfire. The light and noise kept spirits at bay. But what about when they left the fireside? Thanks to the Blacksmith Jack, they carried light.

coal ember. He placed it in a turnip he had gouged and wandered the world with it lighting the way. With their own carved turnips, the way was lit with flame from the bonfire. And better still, with the lit turnip on the window, Jack wouldn’t come knocking. As we immigrated, turnips became harder to find, and in America were replaced with the easier to find— and easier to carve—pumpkin.

Púca doesn’t drown or devour those who hitch a ride. Rather it is just a playful, albeit wild, ride. The Púca is more respected than feared but is a creature capable of prophecy and warning, so perhaps one to be cautiously avoided.

Jack has been accused of all sorts. But he definitely made a0 deal with the Devil. Because of this, he was turned away from heaven and condemned to wander the earth. But he asked the Devil for a light and was given a burning

Turnip light isn’t strong enough for every spirit. Another powerful visitor is the Púca, a shapeshifting trickster. Most often associated with the harvest end, it comes looking for its share of the crop. In a human form, it usually has animal features, such as a tail or animal ears, and while it can take a great many forms, it is most commonly seen as a sleek black horse with luminescent eyes and a flowing mane. Unlike another horselike creature, the Kelpie, the

But not all spirits want to trick! With that veil so thin, old friends and family were just as likely to pass through, and empty chairs were left by the fireside to invite them.

Some of these traditions have lasted, some evolved, and some have been lost to time. But they can always be renewed, only we stop their return. Maybe they’ll help. Maybe they’ll validate the feeling that lingers up the back of your arms as you walk dark roads under the waxing crescent. Maybe it’s all just silly words!

But remember; every legend comes from somewhere.

A carved turnip from the collection of the National Museum of Ireland Country Life.

The Ride of Your Life - an incredible piece by artist Hex Sharpe that captures the majesty of the Púca. Find their work, their store, and more info on their website: www.hexsharpe.com

Celebrating Churchview Psychotherapy

counsellor who uses an alternative to the traditional 12step programme as well as harm reduction techniques to work on all types of addictions such as alcohol, drug, gambling and porn addiction. Sharon is also a cognitive behavioural therapist and provides clinical supervision to other therapists.

Alice O’Brien and Sharon Bailey are two local ladies from the Duhallow area. Alice is from Banteer and Sharon from Kilcorney. They met 23 years ago as young nurses when they started new jobs in the North Lee Mental Health Services. In the 23 years since, the ladies have remained close friends, working together for many years as nurses in Cork. Their career paths have taken similar directions into postgraduate diploma and Masters in Psychotherapy and Addiction.

For many years Alice and Sharon talked about opening up a clinic that could offer all their expertise to anyone who needed therapy, addiction counselling or a safe place to discuss their problems. In early 2022, the opportunity arrived and the ladies opened Churchview Psychotherapy in Church Street, Millsteet.

Centrally located in Millstreet town, this discreet service offers many different types of services based on both ladies having a unique set of qualifications.

Sharon Bailey is an addiction

Alice O’Brien is a cognitive behavioural therapist with an Mse in CBT. She is also a certified life coach and works with trauma. Both are qualified in EMDR (specific therapy for trauma)

Churchview Psychotherapy provide services to all ages, offering a reduced rate for pensioners, teenagers, and students. They work with depression and mood management, anxiety of all types, social phobias, stress-reduction, panic, self-esteem issues, addictions, excessive worry and management of specific phobias.

In Churchview, you can attend in person to their private and discreet offices with ample parking and wheelchair accessibility or attend virtually via zoom.

Evening and

weekend appointments are available.

Sharon and Alice are also available to work with local groups and have worked closely with local schools, GAA clubs, and retirement groups to provide motivational talks and mental health workshops. A workshop can be tailor-made for your group on request.

Alice runs a very successful Instagram page, @Cbt_for_all, providing free, evidence based information on CBT and mental health. She also has a podcast, available on Spotify also called cbt_for_all, and writes a regular column in the Discover Duhallow magazine.

If you wish to attend Churchview Psychotherapy you can contact Alice on (086) 1683518 or Sharon on (087) 6737023.

Email Churchview Psychotherapy@yahoo.com or message on Instagram via Churchview Psychotherapy or

How busy are you really?

By ALICE O’BRIEN Churchview Psychotherapy, Millstreet

When we examine our daily and our weekly routine we don’t need to look too hard to see how busy we are. We spend all day at work, all evening managing our homes and most nights preparing for the next morningand so the cycle continues. Then there is the weekend with all the arrangements- kids to matches, teenagers to grinds and try to fit in a call to the folks or a coffee with a friend. It’s a never-ending race with no finish line.

Here’s a thought- are you really vital to all that? Could the wheel spin if you took some time out? Are you really so important that the machine would grind to a halt without you? The answer is nonone of us are so important that we couldn’t be done without for a few hours, even a day of we’re lucky.

So what are the benefits of taking some time out?

Spending time alone can help you to develop compassion and empathy as you reflect on the reality of life.

Solitude can increase productivity as you see more clearly the tasks that are important and the tasks

that you could easily do without. Spending time in your own company can help you to get to know yourself properly, to listen to your own inner thoughts and to discover the things that you really want to prioritise in your life. You also see more clearly the things you can let go of, the things that you think are important but that really are not.

So, now you know the benefits of alone time, you know that you can be done without for a day- so what do you do!

Some activities to enjoy alone include going to a walk, visit a museum, go to the cinema or simply wake up earlier and enjoy a coffee alone before the rest of the household rise and the demands of life begin.

Pro Agri Phytolife

By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE New Leaf Health Store

In this issue

I want to tell you about two supplements made by Synergy that I think are really great productsProArgi9+ and PhytoLife. ProArg 9+ is for heart health and PhytoLife is for digestive health and may help weight loss, these are. These products are highly researched and have undergone clinical trials and have been found to be very effective.

Firstly, let’s look at ProArgi 9+. Its foundation is the Nobel prize winning research of Dr Louis Ignarro into the benefits of Nitric

Competition:

Oxide to Cardiovascular health.

The main ingredient of Pro Argi 9+ is the amino acid L-Arginine, from which Nitric Acid is formed. It also contains L-citrulline, D3, Pomegranate, K2 B6 B12 and folic acid, all known for their benefits for heart health.

Pro Argi 9+ reduces high blood pressure and it can help reduce plaque that has built up in the arteries. It also reduces blood viscosity (high blood viscosity is associated with Heart attacks and Heart disease) and improves circulation.

There are no known side effects from ProArgi9 and it can be taken long term as part of a healthy diet

and active lifestyle.

The Second Synergy product I want to tell you about is PhytoLife. PhytoLife is a rich combination of chlorophyll and peppermint oil. It’s easy to take, just mix one teaspoon with a glass of water, twice daily. This supplement is great for gut health.

Phytolife enhances the body’s immune system and has antioxidant properties. In addition it aids and improves digestion and bowel function. It can be helpful for weight management as it reduces cravings for unhealthy and junk foods, improves the metabolism of fat and it improves stress management.

How is your sleep?

By SIOBHAN O’SULLIVAN

When a client comes to me looking to lose weight / have more energy / feel better, one of the first things I will always look at is sleep. For many of us, sleep is a hugely overlooked part of our overall health.

Poor sleeping patterns is a vicious cycle. Does the below sound like you?

You wake up feeling shattered from a poor-quality night’s sleep and reach for a coffee immediately. Poor sleep impacts our brain

function so we have less ability to make quality decisions when it comes to nutrition and end up reaching for high energy foods during the day along with multiple more cups of coffee. You have no energy so don’t exercise. At night time, you stay up late watching a series or scrolling on your phone. This means when you do put your head on the pillow, you can’t switch off. When you do get to sleep, you find yourself waking regularly. Could be something to do with that 6pm coffee still being in your system 12 hours later or your brain still being active from the stimulation of your screens. You wake up shattered and start the routine again.

How can you help yourself?

- Leave your phone outside your room

- Cut out the caffeine after 2pm –switch to decaf

- Keep your sleep routine consistent across the week, including weekends. Your body craves routine when it comes to sleep.

As the evenings get darker, now is the perfect time to start to prioritise sleep once and for all.

Interest

Jupiter and Mars

By TREVOR O’DONOGHUE

As October draws to a close and the skies overhead herald winter, the planets are putting on a show. It is an ideal time to become familiar with some of the brighter neighbours in the Solar System. Right now, apart from the Moon, Jupiter is the brightest object in the night sky. The largest planet in the Solar System is dazzling in the south east as night falls and climbs higher as it approaches midnight. At present, Jupiter is four times the distance from the Earth to Sun away from us. Light, traveling at 300,000 km every second, still takes almost 34 minutes to reach us. Even so, turn a set of binoculars on Jupiter and you can observe the four Galilean moons strung out either side of the planet. Check-in after a few hours or the next night and see if you can see which ones have moved. It’s pretty amazing to be able to see this with standard binoculars.

If you are lucky enough to own a small telescope, then some of Jupiter’s equatorial bands are within reach. A larger telescope will

show more detail and if conditions are good, you should be able to see the Great Red Spot and maybe watch the moons as they pass behind the planet, or cast a dark shadow on the planet as they pass in front of it.

As the night moves on, another planet will catch your eye. Our next door neighbour, Mars, rises around 9pm and becomes more prominent as the night progresses. If Jupiter is unmissable because of its brilliance, then Mars is unmistakable because of its colour. It is pretty bright at the moment too, with only Jupiter and Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, brighter than it. But it is its colour that stops you in your tracks. Mars is known as the Red Planet and for

good reason.

Mars is located in a pretty part of the sky, surrounded by bright stars and striking constellations. It is in Taurus, between the constellations Orion, and Auriga and has Gemini nearby. Between now and the start of December Mars will get brighter. Its motion amongst the stars will be noticeable over the next few months as it tracks first west and then east. Mars is much closer to us than Jupiter with light taking 5.5 minutes or so to reach us.

With binoculars, Mars’ colour is more pronounced and you might be able to notice that it is a planet as opposed to the pinprick point of light that is a star, but that’s it. In spite of its relative proximity, Mars is small and to see any real detail you will need a decent sized telescope.

But all is not lost, because to enjoy the fantastic sight of these two bright planets overhead for the next few months, clear skies and a pair of standard eyeballs will do just fine.

You can use the free app Stellarium to help identify Jupiter’s moons

The Red Planet Mars

Saint John Paul II

By TOM DENNEHY

He was a great orator which came to the fore during the Second Vatican Council championing the changes that needed to be made in The Church. He was appointed Bishop of Krakow in 1958, Archbishop in 1964 and Cardinal in 1967.

He was elected Pope in 1978 and was a surprise choice, being the first non Italian Pope in 455 years and the first from a Slavic country. As part of his effort to promote greater understanding between nations and between religions, he undertook numerous trips abroad. He travelled to more than 129 different countries campaigning against political oppression.

We celebrate the feast day of St. John Paul II on October 22nd. Karol Josef Wojtyla was born on 18th May 1920 in the Polish town of Wadowice, 35 miles south west of Krakow, and was the youngest of three children. By the age of 12 years he had lost his mom, his sister who had died in infancy and his brother, a doctor who died of scarlet fever. As a youth he was vibrant and athletic. At the age of 18 years he and his father moved to Krakow, where he enrolled at the Jagiellonian University. While studying Philology and various languages, he worked as a volunteer librarian. He performed with various theatrical groups and worked as a playwright. During this time, his talent for language blossomed, and he learned as many as fifteen languages, nine of which he used extensively as Pope.

In 1939, after invading Poland, the Nazi German occupation forces closed the University forcing him to work as a manual labourer in a quarry and later in a chemical factory. After his father’s death in 1941 he started thinking seriously about the priesthood. After finishing his studies at the Seminary in Krakow, he was ordained a priest on All Saints Day, 1st November 1946.

His emphasis on non violent political activism aided the Solidarity Movement in Communist Poland in the 1980s which ultimately contributed to the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

His Visit To Ireland

We remember with great affection his visit to Ireland in 1979 for the centenary of Our Lady’s Apparition at Knock. We remember the crowds that were present at The Phoenix Park in Dublin, Limerick, Knock and the youth rally in Galway when he cried out to all the young people present, “Young people of Ireland I love you”

St. John Paul had a great affection for young people establishing the World Youth Day in 1985 which is now held every two years in different counties attracting huge crowds. In the Philippines in 1995 up to five million people attended the final mass and the Pope had to use a helicopter to get to the stage.

His Devotion To Our Lady

St. John Paul II had intense devotion to Mary the Mother of God. Totus Tuus - “Totally Yours”was his motto signifying his desire to give himself entirely to Jesus through Mary. His favourite prayer was the rosary and he inspired so

many to begin praying the rosary. His true devotion to Mary was repaid when she protected him from the bullets of his assassin on 13 May 1981. The Pope was shot four times and suffered severe blood loss but he survived. He later attended Fatima on the centenary year, 2000 in thanksgiving for Our Lady’ s protection. St. John Paul later visited his assassin in prison and forgave him.

Divine Mercy Devotion

He was instrumental in bringing us the Divine Mercy devotions, championing the writings of St. Faustina whom Jesus had chosen to let the world know about the unfathomable mercy of God for the world. He established Divine Mercy Sunday which is celebrated by The Church on the second Sunday after Easter and he canonized Saint Faustina on this very day-Divine Mercy Sunday 2000.

The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary

In 2002 he established the new rosary mysteries also referred to as the Mysteries of Light which is a mediation on the ministry life of Jesus. This rosary is said each Thursday and begins with the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan and ends with the Institution of the Holy Eucharist.

Writings of St John Paul

His writings and many encyclicals include The Theology of the Body, The Eucharist, The Mercy of God, Redemption, The Dignity Of The Human Race, The Christian meaning of Human Suffering and so many, many more.

St John Paul II left us an amazing legacy and he is remembered with great affection. He is one of the greatest Saints and Popes of all time. He died on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday on 2th April 2005 aged 84, and was canonized on 27 April 2014, Divine Mercy Sunday.

St John Paul II, pray and intercede for us.

Padraig O’Keeffe Weekend

By PAT FLEMING Sliabh Luachra Musician

This year celebrates the 30th year of the Padraig O’Keeffe festival in Castleisland.

The man himself was born in 1887 and originally trained as a teacher. Following his father’s passing in 1915, he became principal, however, he was careless. He wasn’t suited to this strict system of teaching. After warnings mounting, he is reputed to have walked out the door in 1920, and never returned.

However, he is still remembered as a teacher – he is regarded as the most influential fiddle player, or even musician, of the 20th century. This is definitely at least in part because of his famed classes –he spent years teaching music. He went house to house, usually walking 30 or more miles a day, though not without calling into his local for a few pints!

He’d dabbled in the dating scene in his younger years but his mother disapproved because she wanted him to “marry in his own class”. So he stayed single and took care

of his mother, and following her passing, lived on as a bachelor.

There are only a few recordings of him – some in 1947-49 by Seamus Ennis, and a few others following. One on YouTube comes from 1951, and is a rare clip indeed! Hie legacy inspired art of all forms, but it lives on in the festival held in Castleisland. This year’s celebration takes place from the 27th to 31st of October.

Tributes to Padraig O’Keeffe are scattered throughout Sliabh Luachra

Duhallow