Discover Duhallow Issue 55

Issue 55: December 17, 2021

contact us at: info@discoverduhallow.com

FREE

Merry Christmas from management and staff at IRD Duhallow

We are offering Christmas Gift Vouchers this year!

HARDWOOD FIREWOOD Kiln Dried Oak - 1.15m and 2.3m crates & Net bags Air Dried Ash - 2 ton Bulk bags & Trailer load Starter Firelogs - Box of 10 for €10 Kindling - €2.50

CONTACT DETAILS:

Richard: 087 258 8365 Michael: 087 913 0046 EMAIL: duhallowsawmills1@eircom.net

ADDRESS: Dromagh P51 Y671 OPENING HOURS: Monday to Friday: 8am - 5:30pm Saturday: 8am - 1pm

From all of us here, we wish you a very Merry Christmas

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

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Community News

Merry Christmas from us at Discover Duhallow!

WEDDING BELLS

Congratulations to Ann Fitzgerald (Kanturk) and Niall O Regan (Mallow) recently married in Dromagh Church

KISKEAM

Kiskeam GAA held our Club Incentive Draw on 29 -11 -’21 between our 288 existing members for the forthcoming 2022 Rebels Bounty Draw.

Results of same : 1st Prize : €150 Martin Sheehan, Doon.

2nd Prize : €100 Cal Brosnan, Ruhill.

3rd Prize : €100 John Angland, Knocknanaugh.

4th Prize : €100 Billy O’Keeffe, Knockerourke.

5th Prize : Free ticket for 2022 Draw Michael Moynihan, Meens.

Ticket sales are now open for 2022 Draw, running across a three month period incorporating December, January and February.

A ticket for the 2022 Rebels Bounty Draw with a cash prize fund of over €500,000, would make an ideal Christmas present.

For further details contact Club Coordinator Donie Cronin by: Phone: 087-6773043 or E-mail: doniecroninkiskeam@gmail.com or any Club Officer.

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

Kids met Santa and Mrs. Claus in Kanturk 2

TUREENCAHILL

Tureencahill Community Centre Digital Hub is up and running!

Take advantage of this great opportunity for superfast wifi/ broadband. High-speed internet access available to everybody!

• Cosy Rooms • CCTV • Kitchen • Printing and Photocopying • Safe parking • Packages to suit everyone Covid restrictions are in place Contact 085 1741551 or 087 9924821 for details We would like to wish everybody a very merry Christmas and a prosperous new year from all at Tureencahill community centre.

Thanks to everyone for your continuous support at our centre and we look forward to welcoming ye all back in 2022.

Attention all walkers January’s walk will not take place until Saturday 9th January due to the Christmas holidays. Mount Hillary at 11am.

The phone number for M.A.B.S Mallow office has changed.

They can now be contacted on 0818072440.

Ruby waits for Santa in her Christmas best!

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Community News

Congratulations to all of our art competition winners!

Pick up your cake on Tuesday the 21st of December at the Food Centre.

Original art can be collected in the James O’Keeffe Institute.

Ella Foley

Ella McSweeney

Alicia Healy

Dylan O’Keeffe

Maggie Healy Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Rachel O’Sullivan

Lydia Healy DiscoverDuhallow@irdduhallow.com

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Duhallow News On Ursula’s First Anniversary, Clara, Freda, Maura, and Denis Manley and families would like to express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all of those who helped and supported us during Mammy’s funeral.

A special thanks to Mammy’s home helps, Joan Cremin and Maria Murphy and the many others who cared for her over the course of 9 years.

A very special thanks to the paramedics from Kanturk, the Millstreet Gardai, and South Doc who attended to Mammy at home and did everything they could to bring her back.

And thanks to Tadhg who got the defibrillator from the town park.

Although we longed for you to return, God’s call for you was far too strong to leave you come back.

A thank you to the District Nurses (Maureen and crew), Dr Christine, Dr Norton and staff, Dr Steve, and Betty Dillon, and the many others who assisted in her care over the years. And, to both Millstreet and Kanturk Day Care Centres where she spent so much time in her later years.

Thanks to everyone who brought food and flowers to the house, sent Mass cards and letters, and took the time to ring and send messages (text and RIP.ie). We were so happy that she was at home so, as a family, we could have her close by as we said our final goodbyes.

Special thanks also to undertaker Michael Drew and staff for their kindness and for their wonderful personal touch. And to Cora for calling every day to check in on Mammy while she was at home.

Thank you to Fr Billy Radley for celebrating such a lovely Mass in such challenging Covid times and to Joan O’Donoghue the sacristan. To Sharon Lane, who put in such hard work behind the scenes, organised the Mass and so much more, we really appreciate it.

Also in relation to the mass and burial, we would like to thank Jerry Doody for singing in the church and his beautiful song at the graveyard, Hannah Mary Tarrant for the music, and Sean Radley for recording both.

Thanks to everyone who came to the graveyard and lined the streets as she made her way through town for the last time. And to Kall and Dyyne for providing excellent food following the burial.

It would be impossible to mention everyone individually, but our appreciation goes out to all involved at every stage. A Mass has been offered for your intentions.

Christmas Message from Father Toby

It’s that time of year again that we all so look forward to; A holy time of memories and nostalgia, of getting together with family and friends Fr. Toby Bluth and, above all, celebrating the birth of Jesus. A special time indeed.

This year, as for last year, our sense of joy and delight is under the shadow of the Covid-19 virus. The prevalence of the virus right now has created uncertainty and unease as to how we can celebrate properly this season that is so important to all of us.

We had hoped last Christmas that the promise of vaccines would get us back to ‘normal’. We imagined having a ‘normal’ Christmas this year. Sad to say the shadow of the virus has curtailed our plans for what we might

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like to do. Yet we will be optimistic, and we will make every effort to celebrate this special time in whatever way we can while still looking out for the needs of others. It’s the best we can do.

Always at Christmas we remember those whom we have lost during the year. A husband, a wife, a parent, a dear friend or neighbour who left us during the year are always part of our thoughts. Our first Christmas without them is always more difficult and sadder. Perhaps we miss them even more in a time that is always meant to be a time of joy.

For my own part I want to remember especially Fr. Jackie Corkery, a much-loved pastor of this parish, who died last August. Each of you have your own special loved ones who are in your thoughts right now. They are not forgotten. We look forward in hope in spite of everything. We have been through two difficult years but confidence will carry us into the future.

In that regard it is great to see activity

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around the town especially in various building projects. There are better days ahead.

We have our new primary school to look forward to. Work on Scoil Naomh Pádraig is well advanced, and September 2022 will see us welcoming staff and children into a lovely and exciting building. It is true to say that we haven’t ‘got back’ Christmas. But one thing remains constant and we haven’t lost that.

God came among us in the person of his son Jesus and walked beside us.

Nothing can change that message.

That is the eternal message of the Christmas season. That cannot be taken from us for God’s love extends beyond all times and seasons. He is with us right now in these difficult days and will always be so.

For my own part, and on behalf of Fr. John and Deacon James, may I wish you all a peaceful and holy Christmas - Fr. Toby.

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Mass Times

Some Christmas Mass Timess

The booking portal will be open on parish websites. Check parish Facebook pages for more info.

• Masks must be worn by all.

• Please sanitise your hands as you enter the church.

• In as far as possible do not sit directly behind the person seated in the pew in front of you.

Rathmore Church

Christmas Eve Friday December 24th 6.pm - Booking Required Chistmas Day Saturday December 25th 11.30a.m Stephen’s Day Sunday December 26th 11.30a.m

Gneeveguilla Church

Christmas Eve Friday December 24th 7.00p.m - Booking Required Christmas Day Saturday December 25th 10.00a.m Stephen’s Day Sunday December 26th 10.00a.m

Knocknagree Church

Christmas Eve December 24th 7.30p.m - Booking Required Christmas Day December 25th 10.30a.m Stephen’s Day December 26th 10.30a.m

Shrone Church

Christmas Day December 25th 9.00am - Booking Required Stephen’s Day December 26th 9.00am St. Mary’s church, Castlemagner Christmas Eve Friday December 24th 5.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m.

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Christmas Day Saturday December 25th 9.00a.m.

No evening Mass on Christmas Day. Stephen’s Day Sunday December 26th - Feast of the Holy Family.

9.00 a.m Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kanturk.

Christmas Eve Friday December 24th 10.00 a.m, 4.00 p.m and 7.00 p.m.

Christmas Day Saturday December 25th 10.00 a.m. and 12 noon.

No evening Mass on Christmas Day. Stephen’s Day Sunday December 26th- Feast of the Holy Family 10.00 a.m and at 12 noon.

St. Joseph’s church, Lismire Christmas Eve Friday December 24th 6.00 p.m.

Christmas Day Saturday December 25th 11.00 a.m.

Stephen’s Day Sunday December 26th- Feast of the Holy Family 11.00 a.m Sunday 19th December Advent Service of Reflection (music and readings) 7.00 p.m in Kanturk Church.

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Confessions • Castlemagner Tuesday, 21st December 7.30 p.m.

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Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kanturk.

Saturday, 18th December 12 noon – 1.00 p.m.

Sunday 19th December 3.00 p.m – 5.00 p.m Monday 20th December – Thursday 23rd December after 10am daily Mass until 11.00 a.m.

No Confessions on Christmas Eve.

Knocknagree Offertory Collection From next weekend the Offertory Collection for Knocknagree will be placed just inside the door. We would be extremely grateful if you could make your contribution as you enter.

Miracle Prayer Dear Jesus, In the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask for a very special one. Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own heart, where your Father sees it. Then, in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine.

Amen.

AOC

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Crossword sponsored by Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk

€20

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WIN!

Terms & Conditions: win a €20 voucher from Deadline for submissions Bob’s Bar & Restaurant is noon on Friday, January in Kanturk for food/drinks, 20th, 2022. First correct complete the crossword entry drawn will win a €20 below and post with your voucher, valid for three name and contact details to: months from date of issue, Discover Duhallow to be redeemed for food/ Puzzle Competition, drinks from Bob’s Bar & James O’Keeffe Institute Restaurant, Kanturk. No Newmarket, cash alternative. Winner will Co. Cork be named in subsequent Or simply scan completed issue of Discover Duhallow. puzzle or take a snap with No correspondence will be your phone and email entered into. Voucher to be to: discoverduhallow@ collected from Bob’s Bar & irdduhallow.com Restaurant, Kanturk.

Across 1. Peril (8) 5. Rim (4) 9. Similar (5) 10. Extinct elephant (7) 11. Aromatic seasoning (7) 12. Wild feline (5) 13. Gaped (6) 15. Winner (6) 19. Go in (5) 21. Farmer’s calendar (7) 23. Italian red wine (7) 24. Inexperienced (5) 25. Luxuriant (4) 26. Fierce (8)

Solution: Issue 54, November 26th, 2021

Solution in Issue 56, January 28th, 2022

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Down 1. Envious (7) 2. Mediterranean fruit tree (5) 3. Norm (7) 4. Type of plum (6) 6. Shortage of rainfall (7) 7. Used as an anesthetic (5) 8. Leave out (4) 14. Achieves (7) 16. Vast (7) 17. Wealthiest (7) 18. Of the sea (6) 19. Surpass (5) 20. Rip (4) 22. Dissonance (5)

WINNER! Well done to Mary Elaine O’Callaghan, Dromtariffe who wins a €20 voucher from Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk!

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Feature

Island Wood

The overall vision for the Island Wood is to offer a recreational facility that is different from anything available in the Duhallow area.

Newmarket Sports and Leisure working in collaboration with Coillte in enhancing the existing amenities in the Island Wood are pleased to announce that Phase 1 of the works is near completion.

The work once completed will include: Extension of the Metal Bridge as well as resurfacing and fencing of new access route from Clongeel, new information board, accessible picnic table to suit all abilities; 4 clearly marked colour coded trails, extension of main car park as well as additional parking in the area round the Rock. This work carried out in phase 1 has been possible thanks to a significant grant from Cork County Council.

Phase 2 is planned for early 2022 - the key focus is to ensure the facility is accessible to all including development of a child & family-oriented environment which promotes a love of nature, activity & outdoor life. Pathways, mazes, family trails, sensory paths to enable children to touch/smell, hear and look at nature. These amenities will be available to all sectors of our community free of charge throughout the year and will help to promote physical health and mental wellbeing.

Further works will be completed at different stages in the future such as - various

display boards will be developed throughout the woods describing our different Flora and fauna wildlife, wild flowers/trees/rivers/ habitat as well as local mythology and history. Further work is planned in the area around the Rock with its stunning views.

Resurfacing of River walk would also significantly improve the wood. We further hope to develop educational notice boards which will provide information on biodiversity and its importance in our natural environment. In the Island Wood, exiting native wildflowers and trees are allowed to thrive in their natural woodland setting and now more than every it is vital that we allow this to happen.

The ‘Beara Breifne Way’ walking trail, which runs from West Cork to Leitrim and passes through

the Island Wood, and the development of the Island Wood is an opportunity to boost tourism here in North Cork, promoting health and fitness for locals by improving the amenities as well as promoting and protecting our biodiversity.

It is timely for a variety of reasons to build on the excellent cooperation and enhance the facility to something that both Coillte and Newmarket and Community can be proud of and show how collaboration between all can lead to a great example of a project for years to come.

Over generations the community of Newmarket, Kanturk and the Duhallow area have benefited significantly from the good will and collaboration from Coillte to the use of the Island Wood a fact that it is wished will continue for future generation to the benefit of all.

FUNDRAISING A major fundraiser is due to be launched before Christmas with prizes as follows: 1st prize: €10,000 2nd Prize: €2500 & 3rd Prize: €500 (ideal Christmas gift).

Tickets available shortly - 1 ticket €20. 3 for €50 or 7 for €100.

Some financial support has already been received towards these prizes.

We welcome your contributions and we hope you will support our fundraiser to make the Island Wood a sustainable and memorable place for us all.

Thank you.

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

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Duhallow News

IRD Duhallow Afterschools Children join Sheila for Festive Video The IRD Duhallow headquarters at the James O’Keeffe Institute provided a splendid seasonal setting for a brand new video from Ballydesmond singer Sheila Fitzgerald who was accompanied by the children who attend the After Schools at IRD. “I wish it could be Christmas everyday” echoed through the house a few weeks ago when Sheila with the children and After Schools Co-ordinators BríghidÍde Walsh, Jodie O’Mahony, and Rachel O’ Callaghan recorded the video.

“I’ve always loved to record a single for Christmas and we have released a new song almost every Christmas. I’ve made fantastic Sheila Fitzgerald with the After Schools Children at IRD Duhallow, Newmarket friends at IRD Duhallow through and After Schools co-ordinators Brighid Íde Walsh, Jodie O’ Mahony and my work as their photographer Rachel O’ Callaghan. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday is the brand over the years so I am really new release from Sheila who is accompanied by the children on the audio delighted to collaborate with recording and the video. them through music as well this Christmas” Sheila said.

After Sheila and her partner Mike After Schools Co-ordinator Bríghid- Walsh, Afterschools Co-ordinator Sheehan recorded the song at Íde Walsh said; “IRD Duhallow said “all of the children should be their studio in Ballydesmond, After Newmarket Afterschools were so proud of themselves for having Schools co-ordinators Bríghiddelighted to take part in Sheila’s the confidence to participate in Íde Walsh, Jodie O’ Mahony and Christmas song. The children were such an activity. They put in a lot Rachel O’ Callaghan helped the practicing the words leading up to of work to learn the words and of children practice. “I recorded the it and the excitement was building course thanks to all the parents for audio of the children singing the at the idea of being in a music allowing them to participate.” chorus and we added it to the video! On the day, Sheila and The audio and video were master track” Sheila explained.

Mike came to record the video, produced at Old Road Studio in “There was great excitement the children were all dressed in Ballydesmond. as the day of filming arrived. their Christmas jumpers, dresses, I Wish It Could Be Christmas The children all turned up and hats and the James O’ Keeffe Everyday can be viewed on Sheila looking fabulously festive in their Institute was very festive looking Fitzgerald’s Facebook Page and Christmas jumpers and hats. They “I liked it and it was fun and I liked has already been aired twice on were well rehearsed and we had a wearing my Christmas dress,” Áine the Hot Country TV Show on Sky ball making the video”. in Junior Infants said. Some were TV, with further TV appearances “Huge thanks to Bríghid-Íde, Jodie a little nervous at the prospects of scheduled over the festive season. and Rachel for their help, thanks to being recorded “I was nervous at It has also been on the playlist of all the wonderful children who took the start but it was so exciting” Isla both Irish and International Radio part, to Maura Walsh, CEO of IRD in 4th class thought and Faye in Stations since it was released on Duhallow for putting the house at 5th class said “I can’t wait to be on Dec. 1st. our disposal and to the staff who TV and Youtube”. Bríghid-Íde decorated the tree” she added.

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Duhallow News

Millstreet Community School MCS has been busy with lots of extra-curricular events this term. Most teams have played at least one match by now, and all students are enjoying getting back into their school jersey and playing.

TY students are busy with projects and Stewart Daly, Brian Fitzgerald, and Jack Ring will represent MCS in the BT Young Scientist finals. Their project ‘The Relation between Scairbhín and El Nino’ researches whether local, seasonal weather patterns can help longrange forecasting.

The Student Council have been organising the MCS Food Appeal for Cork Penny Dinners. MCS has worked with this fantastic charity over the years and students and their families responded generously to the appeal.

The Student Council also coordinated Stand Up Awareness week, working with belongto.org to promote positive messages about LGBTI+ and to take a stand against all forms of bullying. The week’s events culminated with a drone photo of the entire school wearing the pride colours.

Students took part in an online service to remember loved ones who have passed on in November.

This remarkable production featured guests from several denomination and faiths reflecting on grief and helping to cope with loss in our lives. You can watch this by clicking on the link on the school website.

See millstreetcommunityschool.ie for all that’s happening in MCS.

We wish all students, current and past, and their families, a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

Left to Right: Stewart Daly, Brian Fitzgerald and Jack Ring

TY Student Council members Ciara O’Connor and John Healy.

Millstreet Commuity School Students promoting LGBTI+ positivity awareness

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Duhallow News

Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP-Agri Project 2021 Newsletter payments and additional works • 85 farmers participating in the project • Biological water quality data collected and analyzed across the catchment

About the project The Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP-Agri project is a five-year (2019-2023) project that works with farmers in the Allow River Catchment to protect and enhance water quality and biodiversity in the high-status (blue dot) catchment. Participating farmers are rewarded for their actions using a results-based payments approach. Measures include habitat retention measures such as maintenance of wet grasslands, nutrient and sediment management measures such as low emission slurry spreading, buffer measures such as watercourse fencing and biodiversity measures such as installation of bird boxes. The project also funds additional measures where necessary such as the creation of sediment and biodiversity ponds, farm roadway upgrades and alternative drinking source installation. The results and lessons learned from the project will not only create a healthier environment for all in Duhallow, but will also inform future agrienvironmental schemes and policies at the national level.

2021 Update • €181,500 has been paid out so far this year in results-based

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Look out for our project sign on participating farmland Owentaraglin EIP In May we were notified that we were one of 24 successful applications for a new EIP project and we received €198,000 in funding for a one-year project.

The Owentaraglin EIP will seek to work alongside farmers on the Owentaraglin river to improve water quality and biodiversity on this important river. The project team will largely focus on implementing green infrastructure measures such as farm roadway upgrades, alternative drinking points and settlement/biodiversity ponds that will allow the short-term project to have a long-time impact on the river, mutually benefitting our environment and our farming community here in Duhallow. We held a drop-in information session

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in Kiskeam Community Centre at the start of December and have already received great interest from the farming community in the project. Start date for this innovative project is due to begin in January. The project is now open for expressions of interest and any interested farmers should get in touch with the project team.

Work Placement Students Last Spring and Summer we welcomed four enthusiastic and committed wildlife biology students on work placement from Munster Technological University. The students-Hugh Patrick O’ Connor, Aisling Natoff, Amelia Lakeman and Tom Daby-were a great addition to our team. We wish them the best of luck with their exams and final year projects and hope to see them back in the fields of Duhallow in the near future!

Some of the Highlights • 11 ponds created • 14 farm roadway upgrades • A 1,900m stretch of the River Dalua was fenced with a 2m buffer on one farm • Drone survey of nutrient flow pathways completed over a 300 ha trial zone Collaborations This year we collaborated with other organizations on a number of innovative projects which included: • An anaerobic digestor feasibility study where we collaborated with Gas Networks Ireland • A silt trap trial, farm roadway upgrade project, riparian tree planting project and citizen science for schools initiative with LAWPRO • A rodenticide-use survey with Birdwatch Ireland

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Duhallow News Farmer Training A total of four outdoor farmer training events were held in 2021 with 40 participants attending in total. Farmers were interested to hear more about the science behind project measures and to learn about how we monitor biological water quality in the project.

Secondary school students receiving training in macroinvertebrate identification by the project scientist

lessons learned and inform other agri-environmental schemes and future policies. One of the main goals of the project is to trial innovation that will help to shape a more sustainable agricultural system in Ireland and therefore presenting this innovation is a crucial part of the project. Some of the highlights were presenting the project to an international audience at the SEFS 12 Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences Virtual Conference, presenting to students, researchers and young farmers at UCC, welcoming the Ulster Farmer’s Union and Ulster Wildlife to Newmarket to visit project farms and speak about the project, and presenting to other EIP projects at the Teagasc Water Quality-based EIPs Feedback Symposium.

Plans The project team have a number of plans and targets for 2022 including: • A total of 90 active farmers participating in the project • 20 one-acre multi-species sward trials on project farms • The addition of a knowledge

A water bar diverting water off a farm roadway and into a two-chamber settlement pond.

These were installed by the project as additional works transfer group of 10 farmers in collaboration with an industry stakeholder • Survey project participants on total chemical fertiliser used to create a roadmap for chemical fertiliser reductions in the project area • Pay out €185,000 in result-based payments and additional works Contact us (029) 60633 Follow us on Twitter @ duhallowbluedot

Schools The project team visited a total of three national schools (seven classes) and three secondary schools (four classes) in September 2021 to talk about freshwater ecology, agroecology and citizen science. Educational booklets were designed and distributed to students who were then trained in water bug identification. With so many students now trained as citizen scientists in Duhallow we can be sure the future of our environment is in good hands!

Sharing Knowledge and Informing The project was presented at a number of events and conferences throughout the year to share

The project team and participating farmer William O’ Connor presenting the EIP to students, researchers and young farmers at UCC in November

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Duhallow News

Christmas Lighting

As we have well and truly entered this year’s festive Christmas season, we are seeing Christmas Lighting in many of our towns and villages that we pass through, enjoying the lovely sight of the bright and shiny lighting instalments and decorations.

The turning on of Christmas lighting has very much become a staple event in the calendars of many of our communities and it is an event that children look forward to in particular. It is a wonderful way for communities to get together celebrating their home community, customs and traditions.

Christmas lighting does significantly increase the appeal of towns and villages in Duhallow and all across the country benefiting local rural tourism. It is a delightful

way to welcome locals as well as visitors into the town and village centres, including those home for the Christmas period.

After all these festive instalments light up the dark winter nights instilling a sense of home, tradition and hope.

There is nothing like Lighting up Macroom with the aid of LEADER Christmas and Festive lighting to bring about funding the uplifting Christmas the Christmas period. spirit and magical atmosphere this With the aid of LEADER funding, season holds. It is also hugely communities in Duhallow have important for the business and been able to install Christmas enterprise community, as they Lighting much to the joy of are trying to attract residents residents, visitors and local and visitors to the town centres, business community. encouraging local spending over

#SICAP Stories - Duhallow Children Delight in Meeting Santa and Mrs Claus

By NOLLAIG MURPHY

On a cold, dark winter’s evening, Santa and Mrs Claus took time out of their extremely hectic schedule to meet the children of Duhallow as part of the IRD Duhallow multicultural Christmas evening.

A fixture in the IRD Duhallow calendar for many years, the evening was underpinned by theme of ‘Embracing Diversity at Christmas Time’. IRD Duhallow’s Equality Working Group acknowledges that Christmas can be an isolating and difficult time for those without pre-established links to a locality.

The purpose of this event was to encourage connections between people living in the area. The

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attendance spanned from people who were new to the locality and those who are already resident in Duhallow. All children present received a special gift from Santa to take home and Mrs Claus provided a goodie bag.

Trade Union Hall in Kanturk was the chosen venue for the event and Santa listened intently to the various requests that were put to his ways. From modern day gadgets to toys that have been around for generations the children relayed their Christmas requests, with many reminding Santa how good they had been all year. Santa conveyed his good wishes to all and issued the standard advice with a jolly Ho Ho Ho, bed early and please don’t forget to leave a carrot for the reindeer if you

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can! It is hoped to run this event in December 2022 again, so please look out for advertisements nearer the time.

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Duhallow News

Re-assessing your job search over the Christmas period The Christmas and holiday period is a time to reflect on the year gone by, which has certainly had many challenges in its own rights, as well as looking to the year ahead. The same goes for your job search and career planning.

Why not use the down time to ask yourself what went well and what your plans are going forward.

Want went well and how can I improve?

It is always a good idea to reflect on previously submitted applications and job interview experiences. Has your CV and Cover letter been up to scratch, specifically targeted at jobs you applied for or is there perhaps room to improve? Have your job interview been a great learning experience for you allowing you to learn from any shortfalls you may have experienced and how

comfortable are you attending interviews overall?

What job would I like?

This can be a challenging question as the opportunities out there are endless. Take some time and try to listen to your inner voice when answering this question for yourself. Think about you passions and what skills you would like to put to use day to day.

DANNY HEALY- RAE T.D

What company would I like to work for?

Are there specific companies that you would like to work for and what would be the best way to approach those companies?

Would networking be helpful and are you keeping a close eye on their website and job search sites?

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.

Find

CONTACT DANNY Danny Office: 064 66 85315 on Mobile 087 231 6055 Facebook Email: danny.healyrae@oireachtas.ie

I want to thank all my Friends and Constituents for their continued loyalty and support.

I wish you all a happy and holy Christmas and good health in the New Year.

Always available to arrange meetings with Constituents or on: danny.healyrae@oireachtas.ie 064 66 85315 / 087 231 6055 Clinics held throughout the Constituency on a regular basis and advertised locally Issue 55 December 17, 2021

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Feature

Traditions of kindness and inclusion are alive a

By NOLLAIG MURPHY “We are all connected.

We should all be respected” The traditions and rituals that are part of the build up to Christmas are what makes it so significant to so many. However, they are also part of what can make this time of year so difficult for people who maybe separated from their family, friends and countries of origin.

In November, Transition Year Students from Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra Rathmore, Millstreet Community School, Scoil Mhuire Kanturk, and Colaiste Treasa Kanturk participated in a series of on line workshops under the Duhallow Diversity Awareness Project. Funded through the Community Integration Fund, the students participated in workshops which specifically dealt with the issue of impact of exclusion, the importance of using thoughtful language and acknowledging people with a lesser say.

Awareness was raised on the nine grounds of discrimination and students participated in highly interactive workshops dealing with migration and ethnicity with a key focus on the demographic profile of the local Duhallow area. With an emphasis on self-improvement and self-development, these bespoke workshops encouraged all attendees to consider how inclusion involves all members of the community working together.

Reflecting on Irish society, discussions were held on labelling, stereotyping, and the terminology which can be applied to migrants who are living in the country.

Students then collaborated in a closing forum whereby they engaged in a discussion on the

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Students in Scoil Mhuire, Kanturk key attributes of their school communities which add to the diversity of the Duhallow area. The very impressive presenters gave a unique insight into the diversity of their own schools spotlighting the interesting aspects which make their school communities unique and different. Students gave an overview on the diversity of cultures that attend their schools, and passionately spoke about how their own school communities have strived to ensure that inclusion is kept to the forefront through practical steps all aimed at supporting integration. Referencing a broad range of issues spanning from disability awareness to mental health promotion the message from the schools was very clear – respect is crucial.

“It also helps to support people from different cultures not to feel ‘othered’ or excluded.

Students described how diversity can make a country more interesting and exciting when people value culture and strive for inclusion.”

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Through their opening speeches schools demonstrated how they promoted inclusivity by having culture and language appreciation days during the

Students in Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk school year. Students described how their school communities are comprised of people from different nationalities, backgrounds and beliefs. Knowing the traditions, origins and the meaning behind the holidays other students celebrate also adds to the inclusivity of an area. It also helps to support people from different cultures not to feel ‘othered’ or excluded. Students described how diversity can make a country more interesting and exciting when people value culture and strive for inclusion.

The students generated many exciting suggestions on initiatives which could help the region to become a more inclusive place to live, all of which were well thought out and practical. For example, one school provided

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Feature

e amongst the youth of Duhallow this Christmas an outline of how the arts could be utilised in order to increase inclusivity. It was also proposed that more workshops could be facilitated where culture could be dealt with exclusively. It was also recommended that food, dance and language could be emphasized as part of these events. Furthermore, it was suggested that teenagers could assist with any fundraising work already underway, support voluntary organizations, and perhaps even look at facilitating inclusive coffee mornings.

Participation in sport was seen as pivotal to inclusion, as through playing sports people become team mates and ultimately may become friends.

The theme underscoring each workshop and ultimately the final event, is that communication is key to integration. As one school stated, there is no place for derogatory language; it is simply not okay to ever use racial or ethnic slurs. When there is an absence of communication within communities individuals or families may feel isolated or marginalised.

Students encouraged everyone to communicate with students that they may not know and to understand that everyone in a school community is ultimately connected.

Students reflected on what life would be like if there was no diversity within the local area, illustrating how diversity is what makes everyone unique. Stressing that communities are happier and all the better for inclusion students encouraged everyone to ‘go to the human side’, keep an open mind and reserve passing judgement on people who may be members of new communities. Students encouraged all attendees to keep listening, ask questions, make no assumptions, and to keep an

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Students in Millstreet Community School open mind. Placing a special emphasis on encouraging us all to avoid negative stereotypes, the advice of students was clearwithin a community we are all interconnected and therefore it is for the benefit of everyone if everyone is supported and included.

“Students encouraged everyone to ‘go to the human side’, keep an open mind and reserve passing judgement on people who may be members of new communities.”

One of the most enduring Irish traditions is the lighting of a candle on a front window at Christmas time. For many this gesture is rich in symbolism and meaning, and it is an evocative sight. Some see this gesture as supporting people who may be on long difficult journeys, including the stranger and for others it encapsulates the nativity. At this most special time

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Students in Rathmore Secondary School

of warm wishes and good will to all, it is heartening to report that the youth of Duhallow have the light in the window burning bright with their inclusive message “we are all connected, we should all be respected” This project is supported by the Communities Integration Fund.

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Duhallow Photos

Christmas In Ballydesmond

By DANIEL MEAGHER

Santa had great helpers for the night! Elves Ella O’Sullivan and Liz Healy helped him hear all of the wishes!

Elves Jessica O’Keeffe and Joshua Fleming were hard at work wrapping presents.

Cousins Roisin and Niamh Buckley handed out treats to Santa’s many visitors 16

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Christmas In Kiskeam

Duhallow Photos

By BILLY DENNEHY

Santa Claus all set for the arrival of the visiting families

Santa & Mrs Claus arrive to Kiskeam via sleigh

John P Murphy with a front row seat for the Kiskeam Brass Band performance Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Santa with his helpers

Noirin Herlihy, John F O Connor and Marie Carroll who operated the Horse Box Café DiscoverDuhallow@irdduhallow.com 17

Duhallow Photos

Christmas In Kanturk

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By TADHG CURTIN

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Duhallow Photos

Christmas In Millstreet

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By TADHG CURTIN

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Duhallow News

A host of IRD Duhallow staff took part in the Christmas Jumper Day in aide of Laura Lynn’s Children’s Hospice.

To donate fundraise, or for more info, visit lauralynn.ie

Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy visited IRD Duhallow with former MEP Liadh Ní Riada to discuss cuts to the LEADER programme and visit some of our projects. Pictured with IRD Duhallow staff and board.

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Duhallow News

Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Jason Piggott of Kanturk Foróige Club with his Christmas Character that will adorn the O’ Brien St. Park over the festive season.

Kanturk Men’s Shed group hosted a fantastic Christmas Market in the Edel Quinn Hall, making just short of €2,000 and selling 90% of their own products.

Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Eileen O’ Connor and Catherine Barrett were manning the Cuan Mhuire Charity Shop Stall at the Kanturk Men’s Shed Christmas Market.

Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Steve and Joan Roche, Kanturk, recently celebrated 2019: Taken at the last Kanturk their Golden Wedding Senior Citizens Christmas party Anniversary with family and friends at the Plaza Hotel, in Kanturk golf club before Killarney.

Lockdown

Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Santa and the Christmas Robin were the centre of attention at the switching on of the Christmas Lights in Boherbue.

Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Margaret Lehane, Kanturk, was the winner of the Best Pen of Cattle Award at Kanturk Mart Christmas Fat Stock Show & Sale. Margaret is pictured with Mart Chairman John Cott and Judges George Grant, Thomas O’ Callaghan and John Kelly.

This Award was sponsored by Philpott Tyres, Kanturk.

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Merry Christmas from Newmarket Pitch and Putt

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Emma Rose and TJ Finucane called to see Santa in Ballydesmond with their parents Tommy and Christina.

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A Look Back In Time

Through the years In this section, we take a photographic look back at IRD Duhallow and its involvement and relationship with the region through the years.

This issue - 2017

Santa makes sure to visit us here every year in IRD Duhallow.

He was very careful to stay away from us last year on account of the dreaded Covid 19.

Here is a throwback to 2017 where he called into our offices, rewarding all the good work our team carried out that year. And of course he called to all the good children in the Afterschools as well. Here's looking forward to his next visit...

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Discover Duhallow's Pull Out Recipe Booklet

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Christmas Drinks

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Christmas Treats

Brandy Butter INGREDIENTS 200g unsalted butter at room temp 175g soft dark brown sugar OR icing sugar Brandy to taste Blend the butter and sugar until pale, soft and creamy (an electric hand whisk OR a food processor works for this) Add the brandy a tablespoon at a time and beat well after each addition.

Continue to taste as you do!

Chill thoroughly and serve cold Issue 55 December 17, 2021

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Duhallow News

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Interests

LAST MINUTE GIFT IDEAS For The Minimalist

“There’s no need to get me anything!”

There’s always one.

No matter how good you are at buying gifts, there’s one person who is impossible to buy for, and they never offer a nudge in the right direction! So you find yourself fretting the week before Christmas about what to buy them, luckily, we have a few ideas:

Homemade

It’s the thought that truly counts!

Homemade comes from the heart, and it’s easier than you think to put together some creative, heart felt, and truly personal gifts.

• • • • •

Bookmarks Candleholders Photo jars and vases Photo coasters Knitted hats and scarves

The Simple Things

Sometimes, the right answer is right in front of you. It seems almost too easy! But it’s those easy things that are the easiest to forget, and often, some of the handiest little gifts.

Old reliables • • • •

Socks Cook book (and/or a cookbook stand!) - Split them for a handy set to mom or dad!

Watch Candles (available in multi scent gift sets!)

For the coffee lovers: • Coffee maker • Travel mug • Coffee bean gift sets

Adding photos to all sorts of items is easier than you think! A bit of Mod Podge goes a long way for the crafty types and the resources are endless.

For pampering: • Shaving kits • Slippers • Bathbombs

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We’re leaning more toward efficient and waste free. Clutter free is simpler than you think!

• Experiences - tickets for the theatre, for concerts, for skydiving, anything you can think of! They’re always handy gifts.

• Classes - local classes are always available, and for those who prefer online learning, classes, courses, as well as Masterclass and Skillshare are all options.

• Memberships • Digital Gift Cards • Subscriptions - we’ve all seen the little cards in local stores with Netflix or Spotify logos.

These handy little cards can gift subscriptions or even just add to their PlayStation or Xbox wallets to offer a little spending money for their favourite games!

For The Tech Heads

Maybe they’re a little more digital.

Walking into a tech store can be overwhelming, but the list can be simple!

• Tablet or e-reader Fire Tablets are a simple starter tablet for new ventures, and for the bookworms, the Kindle Paperwhite is a popular pick!

• Smart Lights - to put your lights on timers and change up the mood lighting!

• Speakers - also available in waterproof!

• Device Charging Stations • Roombas Portable battery pack • Headphones

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Interests

Welcome to the Party, Pal! Tis the season to be jolly... and for John MacClane to battle Euro trash terrorists in Nakotomi Plaza in John MacTiernan’s immortal action movie masterpiece Die Hard (1988)

Fans of Brooklyn Nine Nine will know Jake Peralta’s worship of Die Hard. It’s funny how this runs throughout the show (one funny instance is Jake’s wife Amy dressing up as John McClane’s wife Holly Gennarro, to spice things up on their honeymoon). In fact, there are so many references to it by fictional characters in other works of media signifying it as THE definitive action movie for guys. But it really is.

The story follows New York cop John McClane travelling to L.A. on Christmas eve for his estranged wife’s work party held in Nakotomi Plaza only for the building to be taken hostage by a group of German terrorists.

This was one of the greatest double whammys for a director in action cinema - MacTiernan was just after directing another essential action movie Predator the year before. The direction here is so good. It is a massive flaw with modern action movies; action scenes are cut fast to inject energy into them. But all that ends

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up happening is that it becomes incomprehensible to watch.

Action needs to be expertly set up in terms of who is who, where they are, what they are doing etc. That’s why Michael Bay action movies fail in this regard compared to MacTiernan or James Cameron. Frank Urioste’s editing is key as well. Apparently MacTiernan was inspired by Dutch director, Paul Verhoeven. Things like cutting while the camera was moving, jump cuts etc. This might not appeal to the average movie viewer but there is tremendous craft on show here, even for the pretentious film critic!

Famously, the role of John MacClane was offered to Frank Sinatra due to the fact he had the rights to the book it’s based on and had first refusal. It’s funny considering his age at the time but I just can’t picture ole blue eyes jumping off a building with a fire hose wrapped around his waist.

The performances are top notch. Bruce Willis output nowadays is dire but here we saw a star being born in front of us. And as the iconic terrorist leader, Hans Gruber, Alan Rickman launched

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his film career with a bang. In a potentially thankless role, Bonnie Bedelia is also great as the more than capable Holly Gennaro.

But everyone here is fantastic.

The McClane character works because he is flawed, he doesn’t really like himself. He’s an ordinary guy trying his best in a tough situation. That’s why we love him as well as other iconic heroes like Indiana Jones, Ellen Ripley, Sarah Connor etc. Modern heroes don’t work because they are flawless. A hero should have flaws, that’s how we connect with them

And the ultimate question, is Die Hard a Christmas movie?

Why not. If a movie about a man contemplating ending it all is a Christmas movie (It’s A Wonderful Life), then why can’t an action movie set around a Christmas eve work party be one too?! I’m feeling the Christmas cheer at the end!

Die Hard is still the greatest action movie for me. It led to a whole lot of imitators throughout the 90s including Speed, directed by Die Hard’s cinematographer, Jan De Bont. If Die Hard isn’t taught in film schools, showing how you do action right, it should be. Absolute adrenaline pumping greatness.

Yippee kay yay melon farmer!

Available on DVD, Blu Ray and to stream on YouTube

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Interests

A Hard Day’s Night

A childhood favourite for Tadhg Curtin - Tim Allen takes on the biggest task of the year carried out in one night in John Pasquin’s hugely entertaining The Santa Clause (1994) The Santa Clause was a staple of my childhood. It was one of those VHS tapes we had that we watched seemingly on a loop, even if it wasn’t Christmas.

I have warm feelings towards it.

Does it hold up for me? Absolutely!

The story sees Allen as Scott Calvin who after inadvertently making Santa fall off of his roof on Christmas Eve, finds himself magically recruited to take his place.

I do think Allen is underrated as a comedian and performer. His show Home Improvement was a

staple of 90s sitcoms but seems to be forgotten now. Although anyone my age remembers his neighbour Wilson, talking to Tim with his face obscured behind that fence. And of course, Tim’s iconic grunt.

Outside of Toy Story and Galaxy Quest, The Santa Clause is Tim Allen’s best outing on the big screen. It’s a really funny and sweet movie with some great emotional moments. Is it just nostalgia that I love this movie?

Probably, but every generation is

guilty of this. In fact, the movie touches on the idea of growing up and losing the innocence of childhood and the magic of Christmas.

I have not seen the sequels, I too got slightly older and outgrew it so their dilemma is now mine.

The cast is great though Wendy Crewson, Peter Boyle, Judge Reinhold. Even Eric Llyod as Allen’s son, Charlie. Outside all that heaviness, it is still funny. We see Santa’s elves utilising tinsel in a unique way and it has a great setup and payoff regarding Santa being lactose intolerant.

A real innocent and heart-warming blast from my past. Abandon cynicism and check it out.

Available to stream on YouTube

Love Is All Around Thee

The now definitive Christmas romantic movie, Love Actually (2003), is nearing its 20th anniversary and Tadhg Curtin just watched it for the first time.

Does Richard Curtis’ romantic magnum opus hold up?

Love Actually is a series of loosely connected romantic vignettes set around the Christmas season. I was aware of it only through Girls Aloud’s cover of Jump. Also through memes, specifically those involving Andrew Lincoln on Keira Knightley’s doorstep with his placards and the fun the internet was having altering the text. A female friend suggested I watch it and so I said I would put my money where my mouth is and check it out. And so, do I think it’s good and does it hold up? To answer both - yes and no.

The problem with

composing a film of vignettes is often you have both strong and weak stories and that is the case here. But I’ll tell you the ones that work for me - the ones involving Martine McCutcheon and Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson, and the great Bill Nighy are great. The others aren’t terrible, it’s just that some seem more disposable then others.

Richard Curtis is a very sentimental writer and his romantic movies can be sickly sweet.

Here we even have a little child reflecting on love. Precocious children can be irritating onscreen but I did root for little Sam and Liam Neeson as his father. Curtis wrote Mr. Bean and Blackadder collaborating with, I feel, an unsung genius in Rowan Atkinson (who memorably pops here) so he gets a pass for life in my books. And to go further, if I had to choose, my go to romantic movie by Curtis is Notting Hill.

Love Actually is ramshackle and all over the place but, heck, so is humanity. And you know what, dare I say it but when God Only Knows starts to get going at the end, it has me smiling. It endures as a true ode to romance and you know what, I salute it for that.

Available on DVD, Blu Ray and to stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime

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TADHG’S TEN CHRISTMAS

Tadhg Curtin picks out ten Christmas episodes of television to check out over the season.

While it isn’t in any way a definitive list, they showcase the ‘most wonderful time of year’ with all it’s flaws and triumphs.

Father Ted - Season Two, Episode 11 - A Christmassy Ted

If you’re Irish, you know Ted inside and out, and this episode is no different. It’s Christmas. Ted wins a prize for saving a group of priests from an embarrassing situation and a shady priest visits to steal it, oh, what’s his name again...? In their hilariously brutal audio commentary tracks for their own show, the creators admit this episode is essentially just two episodes combined together but it works. It’s funny how controversial Ted was in it’s day. Looking at it now, it’s surreal, silly, and fun. They took their lead from American and British comedies but made THE definitive Irish comedy which still endures. Essential. On RTE Player

Sabrina the Teenage Witch - Season Three, Episode 4 - Christmas Amnesia Sabrina the Teenage Witch still holds up. Yes, it might have a slightly obnoxious canned laughter track, but it’s surprisingly sweet and funny as heck. In its run, it had a number of Christmas episodes but for me, Christmas Amnesia is the best.

Sabrina becomes very grumpy during the holidays and while at a party in the other realm, accidentally erases the holiday on Earth. She then has to scramble to try and bring it back, learning along the way the true meaning of the Christmas. And it has a running gag of people jumping out windows which makes me laugh out loud!

On Amazon Prime

Curb Your Enthusiasm - Season Three, Episode 11 - Mary Joseph and Larry.

No good or bad deed goes unpunished for Larry David is the dictum that runs throughout Curb. Originally conceived as a mockumentary with Larry David playing himself, it followed his everyday run ins disputing social conventions. Sometimes he is right, sometimes he is wrong. But he is always funny. Here, Larry tries getting into the Christmas spirit, tipping all those who work at his beloved golf club only for that to go wrong. His in-laws are staying with him, and while trying to fix a situation that involved him mistakenly eating a cookie depiction of the Nativity, things end up in a right mess. Cue the most iconic end credit music. On SKY Atlantic / NOW TV

Arrested Development - Season One, Episode 7 - In God We Trust

Audiences had to catch up to Arrested. A critical darling, it just wasn’t watched enough at the time, but it was way ahead in terms of its ground breaking comedy format. Depicting the affluent Bluth family’s fall from grace, it was always a live action cartoon. Explaining an episode’s plot can be an exercise in futility. Here we find the Bluth’s attempting to stage a real life Christmas pageant by getting patriarch George Snr. out of jail to participate, a muscle suit, a fear of nudity ,and a mother pitting her children against each other. There’s heart amidst the anarchy, but make no mistake; Arrested is one of the seminal sitcoms of the 21st century. On Netflix The Sopranos - Season Three, Episode 10 - To Save Us All From Satan’s Power The Sopranos was ultimately a depiction of the of the American family at the end of 90s leading into the 00s, both domestic and organised crime. A monumental work of television that elevated the medium. Tony, one of the greatest characters in television, is a haunted by a ghost from Christmas past, but he is also feeling the stress of the hectic season like everyone else. He has his list - scooter for son A.J., present for wife Carmela, transfer ‘cannolis’, Janice’s Russian. Yes, he too is under pressure this time of year, only I don’t think many of us are transferring money to an off shore account or beating up Russian taxi drivers who have wronged your sister. To paraphrase his therapist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi; ‘Stressmas’ indeed. On SKY Atlantic / NOW TV

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Interests

S EPISODES OF TELEVISON

Schitt’s Creek: Season Four, Episode 13 - Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose. Schitt’s Creek just recently ended its run and was a true success that built its audience through word of mouth. While reminiscent of Arrested Development, it is a different animal. It lacks the manic energy of the former, but was a gentler comedy with three dimensional characters you cared for. Here we find Rose patriarch, John, looking to put together a Christmas eve party with family and friends only for things to fall apart during the day. Reflecting on Christmases wasted he feels like failure until...It’s a really moving treatise on the magic of celebrating the holidays with your loved ones. On Netflix

Scrubs: Season Four, Episode 12 - My Best Moment

Scrubs might be the most underrated (and the most surprisingly accurate!) sitcom of the 00s. Following young doctor J.D. and his colleagues’ experiences at Sacred Heart hospital, it had the right balance of wacky surreal comedy and sentimentality.

Here, J.D. and the gang scramble to treat a man during the holiday season after J.D. promises the man and his son they’ll be home for Christmas. It can be a tough time for both the ill in hospitals and those treating them, so amidst the laughs, this episode is a heart-warming salute to both. On Comedy Central

House: Season Four, Episode 10 - It’s A Wonderful Lie

Another hospital set episode; this time it’s with Dr. Gregory House, our favourite antisocial maverick doctor who specializes in diagnostic medicine. It’s that magical time of year and the curmudgeon finds himself dealing with a mother and daughter who don’t lie as well as creating discord amongst his team. House’s thesis throughout this episode is that human nature cannot help but lie - in fact we lie in order to get through each day to survive.

But even House with his hardened shell finds himself witness to a Christmas miracle of sorts. Humanity is imperfect and incredibly messy, but even House may attest that one thing - it definitely is unpredictable. On Amazon Prime The Royle Family: Season Three, Episode 7 - The Royle Family at Christmas I’m embarrassed to admit but I didn’t get The Royle Family straight away. It was so unassuming. But it snuck up on me, and I was won over by it’s warm humour. We all know a Jim Royle in real life - rarely having a nice thing to say about most people, just wanting to be left in peace. The show did a number of Christmas episodes but my favourite is a low key affair. Anthony asks his friend to be godfather to his unborn child, and his future in-laws, Roger and Valerie, pay a visit after Christmas dinner.

Jim becomes annoyed with affluent Roger’s constant boasting leading him to rant his frustrations after Roger leaves. It ends with Jim getting the greatest Christmas present (outside a Christmas grandchild) showing the man truly has it made in the best sense of the word. On UK GOLD

Parks and Recreation Season Five, Episode 9 - Ron and Diane

Honourable mention to The Office Christmas episodes, but I feel the follow up show by the same creators is somewhat underrated. In this episode, four coworkers from the titular Parks and Recreation department of Pawny, Indiana are shocked that the office’s butt of the joke, Jerry, is throwing a Christmas party without them. The running gag throughout the series is that while Jerry’s office work life is disastrous, his domestic home life is perfection with his gorgeous and loving wife and daughters. It taps into the chaotic nature of the Christmas party season; parties you may want to go to, parties you have to go to but don’t want to. The primary story sees the ultimate optimist Leslie gift the ultimate realist Ron the greatest Christmas gift by fending off his psychotic ex wife, Diane Two. Merry Christmas indeed. On Netflix / Amazon Prime / NOW TV

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Health

Natural Health Supplements to Help You Enjoy Christmas

By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE

Christmas is here, it’s a time to celebrate being together. These are some tips to help your body to cope with this time of indulgence.

Indigestion Taking digestive enzymes at the start of a meal can help your body to digest rich foods and prevent indigestion.

Use Avogel Cyanara (Artichoke) in a glass of lukewarm water after a meal to help to reduce symptoms of indigestion such as nausea, vomiting, flatulence, and stomach pain.

Heartburn SilicolGel coats the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract with a protective lining of the silicic acid gel. It attracts irritants, toxins and

pathogens and binds them to the gel and it also absorbs excess acidity and gases.

Frutin is a breakthrough antacid foam tablet. It creates a foam when it comes in contact with acid and neutralizes excess stomach acid. Frutin neutralizes any acid that may have already reached the top of the esophagus, helping ease the associated discomfort of heartburn.

Flatulence Taking charcoal tablets before and after a meal can help relieve flatulence, so you can eat all the sprouts you want.

Libido Rhodiola can boost sexual desire in both men and women and studies have found that it can be an effective treatment for

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premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction.

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.

Hangover Drinking in moderation and drinking plenty of water can help to prevent a hangover.

However, if you do drink too much, there are some natural remedies to help. We have heard plenty of people recommend NAC as a “miracle cure” and studies have found that it reduces oxidative stress on the liver. Milk thistle is also used traditionally to help heal the liver and is great for a post-xmas detox.

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Health

Overstimulation At Christmas

By KATE MURPHY

Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Christmas can be a very exciting time for children, however it can also be overstimulating for some children from a sensory perspective.

Over stimulation can happen when a child is trying to process too many different senses at the one time. For example, when in a busy shopping centre or at a Christmas concert, there can often be excess noise and lights which some children find uncomfortable.

At Christmas time, we often introduce different smells to our homes with candles, scented sticks and baking. There is often lots of lights on the Christmas tree or other decorations. Children are unable to tolerate the same amount of sensory input as adults.

IN THE FRAME

Tips to help your child cope with sensory overload: · Ensure your home is not busy with excess flashing lights, singing decorations and unusual scents. · Be aware of your child becoming overstimulated when you leave the home to go places such as visiting Santa or relatives’ homes. · Reduce the plans over the Christmas holidays and ensure your child has quiet time. · If you recognise that your child is becoming overstimulated try removing them from the situation.

If that’s not possible, keep them close to you, ask or gauge whether

they need hugs or space. If you can control the environment, try moving away from people, keeping lights low, volumes down, and touch input to a minimum. Find a quiet corner where possible.

What you see when a child is experiencing sensory overload: The child may become overly upset quickly without you recognising a trigger. They may need quiet time and go to a space such as a corner of a room or under a table. They may shut down and become withdrawn and not respond when you are speaking to them. They may express that they have had enough or refuse to do what’s requested of them.

Remember, if you see these behaviours, your child is not purposely trying to be difficult, and they need your support. A quiet child does not mean a calm child.

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

Sunrise on a foggy morning with Upper Barraduff looking towards the Paps.

A stunning drone photo taken by Trevor O'Donoughue

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Health

A Less Perfect Christmas Is What We All Need

By ALICE O’BRIEN

Psychiatric Nurse

It is fair to say that we are portrayed an unrealistic view of Christmas; when we watch Christmas movies about long-lost loving families, when we are sold tear-jerking adverts about loving Grannies, or when we see pictures of families in matching pyjamas, we would be forgiven for feeling let-down by reality.

We can often feel that our reality is not up to the standards set by these ideals, that our tree is too small, that our windows don’t have enough lights, or that our Granny is not a movie star granny!

Maybe the minority of families have a ‘perfect’ Christmas, maybe a minority are straight out of a catalogue.

In reality, most families are not perfect, most families enjoy each other’s company but still have argument, still have stress and still need to take a walk on Christmas morning to gather their thoughts.

In fact, trying to be cheerful can often lead to more stress, more irritability, and more arguments.

For some people, Christmas can be a lonely time. We may have lost loved ones over the year, we may be separated from our loved ones, or we may be wishing for a past version of Christmas that has long passed.

So, what can help? What can we do to get through the festive season and even enjoy it?

• Your thinking.

If you change the way you view things then you can see where the stresses come from. Look at ways you could think differentlyask yourself if you are reacting to a fact or an opinion? Is what I am thinking actually true? Could there be a better way to view things?

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• Try to avoid social comparisons.

We don’t know what others are experiencing- just because they appear to have a ‘perfect’ family does not mean that they do.

Comparing our experiences to others can lessen the enjoyment of our own experiences.

All that matters is that you are relaxed, calm and you enjoy the experience.

• Maintain a healthy balance between diet and exercise.

Try to get out for a walk in the fresh air during the busier days.

Making an effort to plan healthy meals will lessen the temptation to fall into the tin of Roses.

If you are really struggling over the festive season, there is always help. You can contact: Samaritans: 116 123 Pieta House: 1800 247 247 Childline: 1800 66 66 66.

• Be aware of alcohol consumption.

We all enjoy an extra glass or two over Christmas but be aware that alcohol suppresses the mood and leads to feeling of depression or anxiety.

• Remember, it is a day, it will pass.

Soon it will be January and all the lights, trees, and crackers will be gone and you can breathe again.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and thanks to all who read my articles or followed my page in 2021.

• Drop the unrealistic standards.

Everything does not have to be perfect. You do not have to do everything. If the tree has less lights or the garland fell down, if the turkey is a bit dry or the cranberry sauce came from a jar- does it really matter?

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Health

Time to switch the mindset

By SIOBHAN O’SULLIVAN

Christmas is a time where there is more food and drinks around and, for the most part, we relax our diet during the month of December. If you have been reading my articles for a while then you will know that I promote a lifestyle of balance.

However, balance should not be confused with over-consuming!

I have already had people asking me will I take them on as a client in January so they can “lose the stone” they put on over Christmas.

Of course, I am willing to help people get fitter and healthier, but the mindset and the way we look at ourselves has to change if impact is going to be long term.

Improving your health should not be a 10-week diet. You should not embark on a coaching relationship if you are viewing it as being able to do it for 10 weeks. If you have an end date in mind, what happens when the 10 weeks are up? Do you go back to the old habits that got you to where you were in the first place? Isn’t that what has happened with every other diet you have gone on?

Every client I take on for online coaching, I discuss with them the longevity of what we are doing.

I don’t focus on just reducing a number on a scales when I work with clients. I focus on improving their relationship with themselves so they stop talking negatively to themselves all the time. I work on their nutrition so they are not feeling bloated and sluggish every day. I work on their stress to ensure they are managing

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

the stresses around them and teaching mechanisms for coping with stress that are not food. Then we start adding exercise – notice how exercising 5 days a week isn’t the first intervention? Exercise is only a small part of this puzzle.

Why am I telling you all this? If you have read my articles over the past year, you might be considering making a change yourself and improving your lifestyle – well done you if you are! If you want to work with me, I want you know what my philosophy is.

Here is what some of my clients this year have said on finishing up a programme: “I can’t thank you enough for all the support you gave me over the weeks! There were weeks where I felt I didn’t have a good week but you always found something good that I would have achieved which always gave me a lift. I honestly can’t get over the results, headaches are gone, clothes fit better, mood is better and I just feel incredible in my body again” “I have a completely different mindset to my food, exercise and overall health because of this plan. The end goal for me was to

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look and feel better in my clothes and this has helped me achieve this and more. Your honest and positive feedback was great every week. I know I have the tools to keep going with this now” “The journey has been life transforming for me. Aged 51 I have learned the importance of exercise, getting strong, and nutrition value” These results were not achieved in 6 weeks, many clients work with me for up to 6 months as we work on the foundations of health together and then start implementing bigger changes.

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

Fitness expert Siobhan O’Sullivan 35

Interests

Celebrating 40 years of Medjugorje

By Tom Dennehy

St. James’ Church, Medjugorje

“I am coming among you because I desire to be your mother- your intercessor” - From Our Lady’s message (March 18, 2012.)

This year 2021 has been a special year in Medjugorje as the world celebrates 40 years of Our Lady’s apparitions.

Medjugorje, a little village in Bosnia Herzegovina, was unknown until June 1981 when Our Lady first appeared and this has not alone changed the life of the visionaries, but the entire world.

It all began on June 24th, feast day of St. John the Baptist, when a beautiful young woman appeared, holding the baby Jesus in her arms. The children who saw her were frightened and ran away. On the following evening they returned to the same place and again saw Our Lady who was alone on this occasion. Vicka, Mirjana, Ivanka, Marija, Ivan and the youngest Jakov, who was only ten years

old, were drawn towards her and she spoke to them. Our Lady introduced herself as the Queen of Peace. This place is called Podbrdo or now known as Apparition Hill. This was June 25th, 1981, now marked as the Anniversary date. Despite the pandemic, more than fifty

The six visionaries: L-R Vicka Ivankovic, Jakov Colo, Mirjana Dragicevic, Ivanka Ivankovic, Marija Pavolic and Ivan Dragicevic

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thousand people from all over the world, attended the celebrations this year. There were 800 priests on the altar and celebrations were followed live on the internet by more than 1 million people.

Our Lady’s Messages.

“Dear Children, I have come to tell you that God does exist.”

(June 25, 1981)

This was Our Lady’s first message and it was significant to the people of Medjugorje as they had suffered terrible persecution under a Communist regime, which told them that they were wasting their time practising their faith.

In this small region, 66 Priests were massacred and many of the people were thrown into prison and denied jobs, but they persisted in their faith. Our Lady told them that she had chosen Medjugorje because there were so many true believers.

From the early days, our Lady gave signs to the world that she was really appearing. One of

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Interests those signs was the letter “Mir”, a Croatian word which means “Peace” formed in the clouds for all to see.

The Visionaries The Visionaries, who have been tremendous witnesses to Our Lady’s presence over all these years have had to undergo terrible persecution and have on many occasions undergone rigorous testing by the most modern scientific methods available.

The conclusion of these many different studies proves, that the phenomena are scientifically inexplicable. All the visionaries have chosen family life which is a great endorsement for family under such attack at this time.

Three of the visionaries Ivan, Marija and Vicka have daily apparitions while the other three, Jakov. Mirjana and Ivanka see her once a year. All of the visionaries have been given secrets which will be revealed to the world at the appropriate time.

Our Lady’s Call.

“If you knew how much I love you, you would cry with joy.”

Our Lady’s call to conversion is a gentle one. She wants to bring us all to know and to love her son Jesus, truly present in the Mass and Holy Eucharist. She is continuously calling us to pray the rosary.

Celebrating Christmas Pageant in Medjugorje, 2011. place here. Many vocations have resulted to the priesthood and religious life. There have been many miraculous healings both physical and spiritual. In 1989, Pope John Paul declared Medjugorje as the Spiritual Centre and Heart of the world. Medjugorje is recognised as the confessional centre of the world as pilgrims unburden themselves and start anew, some going to confession for the first time in many years. In May 2019 Pope Francis declared that Cardinals, Bishops and Priests may lead pilgrimages to Medjugorje.

Fruits of Medjugorje More than 50 million people have visited this holy place.

Many conversions have taken

Medjugorje Today Looking back over the last forty years we think of the millions of people who have come from all the over the world and climbed the Hill of Apparition, Cross Mountain and prayed at Blue Cross, the Church of St James and the other places of prayer. Places made holy by the presence of our Lady and by the people who go there.

The prayer programme requested by Our Lady takes place each day, 365 days of the year with masses in the morning in all different languages. Adoration takes place in the afternoon in Adoration Chapel. The three-hour evening programme begins at 5pm winter and 6pm summer with International Mass translated in 12 different languages and can be

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“Dear Children; Today, I invite you all so that your prayer be prayer with the heart. May each of you find time for prayer so that, in prayer, you discover God. May your everyday be filled with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for life and for all that you have” (April 25 1991)

viewed live on marytv.tv

We hear the many testimonies of how Medjugorje has changed so many lives. We listen to the stories of the peace and joy that people experience there. They speak of a place where they can relax and enjoy time out from their busy lives. We meditate on the messages Our Blessed Mother Mary is giving us which give us hope. Still, so many have not listened to Our Lady’s call and do not even realize that

Our Lady is still appearing every day. Her continued presence in Medjugorje is an amazing gift to us at a time when our world is truly upside down. We are fighting a great battle between good and evil and we have the power to help Our Lady to win this battle by our prayer, fasting and good works.

She has asked us to persevere and not be afraid and as she has promised us, “In the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph”.

“Little children, today is a great day. Rejoice with me; Celebrate the Nativity of Jesus with my peace. It is for this peace that I have come as your Mother Queen of Peace. I give you my special blessing” - From Our Lady’s message 25th Dec 1988.

May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts this Christmas and New Year.

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IT’S A DOG’S LIFE - The Lif

By TREVOR O’DONOGHUE

A dog is for life, not just for Christmas. A refrain that is repeated each year to dissuade the gifting of puppies at Christmas Thankfully, there is a gift we can give at Christmas that will last a lifetime. It doesn’t require care and can be used over and over again.

It will sit there quietly, waiting for its moment. Best of all it is free, can be shared endlessly, doesn’t wear out or get old. Of course I am talking about a love for the night sky. We are lucky because the winter sky over Ireland has bright, easy to recognize constellations that can spark a lifelong interest and passion.

Orion (the hunter) is without a doubt one of the most magnificent constellations in the entire sky.

Within its boundaries lie a plethora of interesting attractions, even for those without telescopes or binoculars. But with a set of binoculars the constellation is a wonder.

We can also use Orion and its stars to find our way to a number of other easy to find constellations.

We simply run imaginary lines from one star to another and continue on.

Depending on the time of night, Orion is easy to spot in the eastern or southern sky. Three bright stars in a row make up Orion’s belt and lie at the heart of the constellation. A glance at Orion’s belt with binoculars and they are transformed. Your binoculars will be filled with stars.

Underneath Orion’s belt lies Orion’s sword. With the naked eye it looks like a smear of three faint stars, but a closer look reveals that the centre star is a faint fuzzy patch. This is Orion’s Nebula, a stellar nursery, made

of clouds of gas and dust where stars are being born. This truly is a magnificent sight on a clear dark night in binoculars or a telescope. It never gets old and even a standard set of binoculars will show structure. At the heart of the nebula are four stars known as the Trapezium. Larger binoculars or a telescope will show them as separate stars, but even a smaller set of binoculars will allow you to see them.

Back to Orion’s belt - draw an imaginary line from those three

stars and extend it to the right and you will come across a loose, V-shaped cluster of stars. This is the Hyades star cluster and part of the Taurus (the bull) constellation.

Keep going and you come across a smaller, faint cluster of stars called the Seven Sisters or Pleiades. Both clusters are visible without optical aid, but are spectacular in binoculars.

Back once more to Orion. The bright orange star at the top left is called Betelgeuse and is a red giant star nearing the end of its

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Interests

ife Long Gift of the Stars life. This massive star is due to blow itself to bits in a massive supernova in the near future. The near future in stellar terms is some time in the next 100,000 years.

Run an imaginary line from the right star in Orion’s belt through Betelgeuse and continue on to a roughly rectangular constellation.

This is Gemini. Home of the mythological twins Castor and Pollux. These are the brightest two stars in Gemini. At the foot of Gemini is one of the sky’s best open clusters, M35, an easy spot in binoculars and stunning in any telescope.

The neighbouring constellation to Gemini is Auriga( the charioteer).

This looks like a triangle sitting on a lopsided pentagon. Its brightest star is Capella and this whole area is worth scanning with binoculars as it is full of clusters and knots of stars. Our own galaxy can be seen here as a cloudy haze running through Auriga into Gemini and further south towards the brightest star in the sky, Sirius.

This whole region is packed with clusters and nebulae. Around here, dedicated astronomers can find such exotic beauties as the Rosette Nebula, the Christmas Tree cluster and the Cone Nebula.

The Seven Sister or Pleiades star cluster is well worth a look in binoculars or telescope Sirius, can be found by running dog for Christmas. You have the an imaginary line from Orion’s perfect gift. After all, they will live belt off to the left. Sirius is the forever, don’t require feeding and brightest star in the sky and the Orion brings them out for a walk lead star in the constellation Canis every evening.

Major(the greater dog). Contrary Merry Christmas and a Happy New to popular belief, the brightest star Year to you and yours. is not the North Star. If you were to follow the brightest star with the hope of going north, you would be sorely mistaken and would most likely be heading south. One more star hop and halfway between Sirius and the twins of Gemini, a little off to the left, brings us to the star Procyon in the constellation Canis Minor (the lesser dog).

This star, Betelgeuse in Orion and Sirius, The Christmas tree cluster cone nebula. make up the easy to You’ll need a telescope to spot the nebula, spot Winter Triangle. but it sure is pretty.

Although there is so much more to see, Perhaps it is Trevor holds “Backyard appropriate to stop our tour Astronomy” nights with IRD here, alongside Orion’s two Duhallow via Zoom; be sure to hunting dogs.

The Orion Nebula is visible with the naked eye but is stunning in binoculars Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Keep these in mind, next time you are asked about a

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keep an eye out when you’re not keeping your eye on the sky!

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Millstreet Veterinary Group in 2021

By JANE PIGOTT

GP vet & consultant Veterinary Cardiologist

And so the festive Season is finally upon us! Don’t worry, I’m not going to spend this year’s Christmas edition warning you for the umpteenth time not to feed your pets chocolate or mince pies and Christmas cake – we’ve been there and done that – by now you all know that they are seriously toxic. Instead, I want to tell you all what has happened in the past year at our practice, a little news round-up if you will!

This year has been a hard one for everyone, and our practice team has missed nothing more than seeing the happy faces of clients inside the practice. We have been asking our clients to wear face masks and to not enter the practice building, meaning that they entrust their pets to us at the door. This has worried a few pet parents, but most pets are merrily unbothered and have a great time exploring the practice and having replacement cuddles with our nurses during their appointment.

We can’t tell you how much we appreciate everybody’s cooperation – you have kept our team safe and that means that the care that we have provided for your pets has continued uninterrupted – we haven’t had to close our doors to our patients even once since covid started, and that is the product of a team effort from both clients and the vet team.

Whilst our clients haven’t been coming inside the practice, we have taken the opportunity to renovate our consult rooms so that they are looking beautiful when we can finally bring clients back inside, hopefully early next year.

Speaking of renovations, work

on our new state-of-the-art dental suite will shortly be underway, meaning that we will soon be able to offer the most modern approaches to dental disease diagnosis and management to our patients.

It has also been an exciting year for the cardiology referral part of the practice, which is my own project. We’ve been seeing more and more pets referred by vets from around the country for heart disease investigations, and I’ve even had the pleasure of teaching other vets how to complete heart ultrasounds at a teaching facility in the Midlands; an experience which was great fun and very rewarding. I was also delighted to graduate from NUIG with a Masters in Interventional Cardiology this past Summer. Most excitingly, Christmas came early for our Cardiology service, with our brand new, specialist level cardiology ultrasound scanner having arrived just this week! I am extremely excited for the benefits that this new machine will bring my

cardiac patients in the diagnosis of their heart disease into the future.

Bring on 2022!

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Interests

The Myth of “Next of Kin”

This is not true outside of a formal legal arrangement.

At present, pending commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, these legal arrangements could only be: a) an Enduring Power of Attorney, under the Powers of Attorney Act

1996, which does not extend to decisions about healthcare; or b) in wardship (and to a limited extent), if the next of kin is the committee for an adult ward of court.

Survey by Sage Advocacy The extent of this misconception was demonstrated in a survey conducted by Sage Advocacy in 2018.

32% of respondents believed that if they were to lose their decision-making capacity, that their next of kin would be authorised to access their bank accounts and to manage their money.

57% believed that their next of kin would be authorised to take health care decisions.

Where does this misunderstanding come from?

In relation to health care, there are reports that the misunderstanding about the status of the next of kin was evident during the COVID vaccine campaign. Some parents of adult children, and adult children of parents who lacked capacity, honestly and in good faith believed that they were entitled to give or refuse consent to the vaccine.

The fact that the term ‘next of kin’ is often used in healthcare practice and appears on admission forms and in consent documentation has perhaps contributed to the level of confusion. There also appears to be a tendency in healthcare to require a signature on a consent from, even from somebody who is not authorised to give consent, before treatment is provided.

In healthcare, ‘next of kin’ should mean no more than your emergency contact or the person you have designated to be informed about your treatment and progress. It would help if the term was replaced and not used at all.

This is not to say that the views of close family members

are irrelevant. They may well be the best people to provide information about their loved ones’ will and preferences, beliefs, and values. This is different though from according them status as a decision-maker.

What difference will the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 make?

When it comes to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, it is important to address the misunderstanding about next of kin for two reasons.

Firstly, there may be a belief on the part of close family members that, as they are already authorised to make decisions for their loved one who lacks decisionmaking capacity, the framework that is available under the 2015 Act is unnecessary or does not apply to them.

Secondly, when informed that they do not have this authority, family members may believe that the 2015 Act is taking something away from them.

Instead, the message needs to be that the 2015 Act provides a valuable opportunity for a person’s family member to step into one of the formal roles. This will only become necessary if the person cannot decide independently, and if it is the person’s will and preference that the family member should be involved.

The 2015 Act allows us to move away from the grey area and ideas about the next of kin, which are based only on custom and practice. It allows us to adopt a secure right-based model with better protections for all concerned.

For further information about the new framework, please visit www. decisionsupportservice.ie

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

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Áine Flynn is the Director of the Decision Support Service which is based in the Mental Health Commission

There is a widespread but incorrect belief that an adult’s closest family member or next of kin is entitled to make decisions on their behalf if the adult lacks decision-making capacity.

This is the belief that a relation, such as the spouse or partner, an adult child of a parent or the parent of an adult child who lacks capacity has legal authority to: • access information about them; • take decisions on their behalf in relation to their property and personal welfare; • give or withhold consent for their medical treatment.

Advertising

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Advertising

Issue 55 December 17, 2021

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43

Advertising

Upcoming Training Courses QQI Level 5 Boom Sprayer 13th & 20th January.

Successful candidates will achieve a Level 5 Award in Boom Sprayer Pesticide Application. Takes place over two days, participants must bring masks, overalls, gloves, safety boots and hi vis jacket.

Venue: the James O’Keeffe Institute,

Our computer essentials programme will run online every Tuesday evening from the 18th of January and cover a range of topics including, MS Excel, MS Word, Power point and Outlook, suitable for a range of learners. Venue: Online Time: 6.30-8.30pm Cost: From €75 per module.

Manicure & Pedicure 18th January.

Bookkeeper Training begins 26th January

Understand the correct use of the relevant products and tools. Understand how to file the nails correctly according to the desired nail shape. Be able to demonstrate successfully how to carry out a manicure and pedicure treatment.

Venue: the James O’Keeffe Institute, Newmarket. Time: 10am-3pm. Cost: €95

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This essential healthcare module will run over four full days from the 26th of February each Thursday. Further modules will run each Thursday after. Venue: the James O’Keeffe Institute, Newmarket Time: 9.30am -5pm Cost: €215

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Computer Essentials begins 18th January.

A practical bookkeeping training course that focuses on key taxation and accounting issues that bookkeepers encounter while working in a small to medium sized business.

The course involves 12 x 1 hr training sessions each Wednesday. Time: 2-3pm Cost: €360

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To view our range of upcoming skillnet programmes and to register please visit the IRD Duhallow website https://www.irdduhallow.com/upcoming-events/ Alternatively email duhallowskillnet@irdduhallow.com / 029-60633

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021

Advertising I attended the recent Nail Technician Course at IRD Duhallow, it was brilliant, the trainer and the whole experience, thank you so much.

Maria-September 2021 Just a quick email to say thanks that excel course was very good.

Sheila – October 2021 I enjoyed the course last night and want to sign up for the advanced course on the 17th please.

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Transforming business through talent

At Duhallow Skillnet our aim is to provide high quality training to companies and individuals throughout the Duhallow Region.

We will arrange the training required to help you as an employee or business owner to develop and grow your own skills and those of your team, and ultimately to grow your business.

Supporting Enterprise Offering Subsidised Training Supporting Skills Development Sourcing Trainers and Training Courses Throughout the Covid 19 pandemic and recovery we continued to offer a range of courses virtually and in person (subject to guidelines) and this remains a priority in 2022.

Looking to upskill or develop your team in 2022 ?

Our spring training courses are now available to book online or by calling Monica on 029 60633.

Courses include Digital Marketing for beginners, Computer Essentials, Bookkeeping, Manicure, Pedicure, Healthcare Courses and much more.

For additional info, visit www.irdduhallow,com or call 029 60633

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WHEN STROKE STRIKES, ACT F.A.S.T.

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Advertising

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Issue 55 December 17, 2021