The Rural Hub News Vol.1. Issue 2, 2020

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at The Rural Hub in Virginia

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INSIDE

NEWS

Taking back control Rural of our voice Hub V I R G I N I A l B A L LY J A M E S D U F F l O L D C A S T L E

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Published by The Rural Hub, Virginia

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Vol.1, Issue 2, 2020

n VIRGINIA, BALLYJAMESDUFF AND OLDCASTLE are to be served by a new media hub, according to a spokesperson for The Rural Hub. Digital Media Zone (DMZ) will open in Virginia over the coming weeks and will be a resource for video, audio and photography.

“Traditional media, like tv, radio and newspapers, are fighting a losing battle as more and more people get their news from social media,” explained the spokesperson. “The problem is that, while professional journalists are guided by rules of ethics, laws of liabel and the need to be balanced, it’s almost impossible to regulate what’s appearing on so-

cial media. What passes for news is often, at the least, very opinionated and, at worst, blatant lies. With our new DMZ we’ll be able to help ensure that our community is represented across both tradtional and new media.”

“We’re hoping that there will be opportunities, for local people who are interested in media, to get involved.

Cheque this out!

n “WE’RE SIMPLY BLOWN AWAY to receive such a generous donation,” said Shane McHugh, principal of St Fiach’s National School, Ballinacree, on being handed a cheque for €2,770 from Anne Traynor Flynn of Owen Traynor’s Bar, Oldcastle and The Rural Hub’s Noeleen Land – the proceeds of a fundraising drive during the recent Owenie Traynor Fleadh Cheoil Weekend. “This money will go towards investment in our ICT education.”

“Education is at the centre of what we do in The Rural Hub,” explained Noeleen, “so we were delighted to be able to offer some support to the school.”

“The Fleadh Cheoil saw people coming from far and wide,” said Anne, a past pupil of St Fiach’s, “and they were all willing to put their hands in their pockets when l BACK, L-R: Anne Traynor Flynn of Owen Traynor’s Bar, Oldcastle, Shane McHugh, principal of they knew that it was for the local St Fiach’s National School, Ballinacree and Noeleen Land of The Rural Hub with students from school in Ballinacree which has a special place in their hearts.”

St Fiach’s as the cheque for €2,770 was handed over.

The region’s old-age dependency ratio, which is the number of people 65 and over relative to those between 15 and 64, is projected to double to 54 percent by 2050 meaning where there was once four members of the labour force to each one elderly citizen, there will soon be just two.

It is a widely accepted fact that many older people have valuable skills and experience built up over their lifetime and research into active

Senior support for migrant integration

ageing clearly shows that keeping these older members of our community active brings significant benefits to both the individuals concerned and the wider society where they live.

The ethnic make-up the population in all European countries is also changing rapidly as migration from less welloff countries to established economies continues to grow. It is not uncommon now to hear many different languages in even the smallest rural towns as a

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EDITORIAL COMMENT news.ruralhub@gmail.com

n It’s a New Year that marks the beginning of a new decade.

As the 2020’s begin, there can be little doubt that the issue dominating the media is Climate Change.

Young people have been at the forefront of recent activism seeking a more sustainable planet and “Friday’s For Future” and “Extinction Rebellion” have attracted huge publicity. While it is great to see young people so actively engaged, we need to turn our attention to finding solutions to the many pollutions that threaten our very existence and that of our future generations. With this in mind, Future In Perspective, The Rural Hub and Spectrum Research Centre will be placing a significant emphasis on developing new educational programmes that focus on Solution Not Pollution. We all need to make small changes to protect the environment and the planet so watch this space for new developments and contact us to get involved.

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Noeleen Land

Mike Keegan

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Philip Land

Future In Perspective

Sarah Keegan

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This publication is printed on recycled paper

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migrant workforce is now an important and essential part of sustaining the European economic model.

In Virginia, Ballyjamesduff and Oldcastle many members of the newly emerging migrant communities are actively participating in economic life and adding considerable cultural diversity to our communities there are some for whom the integration process into life in Ireland has not been so successful. There are significant language, social and cultural barriers that need to be overcome if our new diverse communities are to successfully integrate and the growing senior citizen population can play a major role in helping to overcome these obstacles.

Launched in September 2019, The Silver Service Project is an initiative supported by the European Commission as part of the ERASMUS+ programme. This innovative project aims to simultaneously address the issue of an ageing population and the

challenge of migrant integration.

The Rural Hub is representing Ireland in this project and is working with community and education partners from Portugal, Italy, Austria, Cyprus and the United Kingdom to tackle the social exclusion of older people by providing them with bespoke training and supports to enable them to share their skills and expertise with members of the migrant community to help support their civic and social integration into their local community.

Research by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions states that “the road to inactivity for senior citizens is a road of no return and that every effort should be made to keep the older members of our community actively engaged in meaningful roles well into their retirement”.

If you would like to know more about The Silver Service Project please contact manuella.ruralhub@ gmail.com

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n THE POPULATION of Europe is transitioning in both size and age, accumulating pressure on public spending and posing significant risks to potential economic growth. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the former European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, stated that “by 2020 a quarter of the population of Europe will be 60 years or older.”

Project will inspire young entrepreneurs

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2 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

n ENTREPRENEURSHIP is on the rise according to latest data.

Today, there are more than 400 million entrepreneurs around the world.

Promoting entrepreneurship in Europe has been a core objective of the European Union ever since 2009.

Entrepreneurship and self-employment are recognized to be one of the key enablers of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The development of entrepreneurship has important benefits, both economically and socially. Entrepreneurship is not only a driving force for job creation, competitiveness and growth; it also contributes to personal fulfilment and the achievement of social objectives. This initiative aims to reignite Europe’s entrepreneurial spirit by educating young people as well as disadvantaged and unemployed people to develop entrepreneurial skills in order to help them start their own business. To this end, a series of programmes are now running across Europe to support and promote new entrepreneurial learning experiences focusing on young digital natives who largely use mobile technology daily and who will be the

entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Future in Perspective Limited is one of the educational research Centre in Ireland selected by the European programme Erasmus plus to run this exciting project called “App Hop”.

This project will focus on creating innovative entrepreneurial learning resources for young digital natives.

These resources will be available on smartphones as “digital breakout challenges” and will focus on the specific competencies to acquire and develop to become a successful entrepreneur.

To ensure that each individual who will complete the programme will be able to deal with the random nature of business and reflect real world entrepreneurial experience, these challenges will be accessible in a” randomised” way, because an entrepreneur rarely knows what challenges lie ahead.

For more information about the App Hop programme, contact Manuella: manuella.fipl@gmail.com

A GIANT STEP FORWARD THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 3

...with one foot in tradition n WHILE MANY PARTS of rural Ireland have changed beyond all recognition in the past number of years, the same can’t be said for Ballinacree, near Oldcastle. The immigration that has seen local towns transformed into multicultural communities has left Ballinacree untouched.

“We’re in our own little bubble here,” says St Fiach’s National School principal, Shane McHugh.

“Because of the internet and social media, the children here are very aware of multiculturalism and the community is very welcoming but we simply haven’t had any new arrivals.

It means that the community is very close-knit and everybody knows everybody.

The school has been at the heart of the community since the ribbon was cut in 1960. The annual ‘Grandparents Day’ is a generational bonding occasion with grandparents of the 70-plus students reminiscing about their own days when they walked down the selfsame narrow corridor and learned in the selfsame tiny classrooms.

Ballinacree is a farming community and this might explain its stability of tradition.

“I’d say up to 70% of the pupils are from farming families,” explains Shane. “If a tractor drives past the school, more than a few heads look out the window. The children love the machinery.” We have close ties too with other local industry. Our 5th and 6th classes have participated in the Junior Entrepreneur Project in recent

Report by DECLAN CASSIDY years where they have had to plan, design and create a business product worthy of selling to the general market. Briody Bedding have been very generous with their support for this project and organised many educational visits to their facilities, further enhancing the close links between local business and the school.

While heritage and tradition are important to the school, there are some areas where change is long overdue.

“The school was built to regulation in 1960 but education has come a long way since then,” explains Shane. “The classrooms are too small and children have to walk to the far end of the corridor to use the toilet. There is also a difficulty keeping the building heated and that can cause problems with mould. We’re also using the community centre for activities and walking the children to and from there presents its own difficulties.”

It is not just the children that are operating in less than ideal conditions.

l THE PLANS for the renovations and extensions at St Fiach’s

“Our staff room is a converted cloakroom that sits five, although we have eight staff,” reveals Shane, “and our secretary’s office is a converted toilet. The staff don’t have their own toilet facilities. We have to use the disability toilet.

“The parents committee is fantastic. Anything we need, they fundraise and provide for us and their support is an integral part of our school, but when it comes to the actual building, a structural change is badly needed.”

Fortunately, all is about to change for the better. The school has been approved for grant aid to carry out a complete rehaul and rebuild at the school, and 2020 will see first sod being turned.

“There were two separate grants,” explains Shane, “one to tackle any mould issues and the other for the structural works. While it was great to get the support, dealing with two grants slowed the whole process down. Thankfully, we were able to get the grants amalgamated into one.

It means that we’re dealing with one set of people and that will save money and hopefully speed things up.”

The nature of the work that is to be carried out at St Fiach’s will bring the facility from the 1960s standards

to that of today – a leap forward of 60 years. The school will be extended with four large classrooms catering for the pupils, each one with en suite with a wet area, a resource room, a new secretary’s office, new staffroom and staff toilets, and a general purpose (G.P.) hall which will not only serve the children but can be accessed for community ocassions as well.

“The long delay since we first got grant approval has been frustrating,” admits Shane, “but it’s going to be worth the wait.”

It is expected that work will commence in February and progress at a pace that should see it completed within a year.

“The external building can start at any time,” explains Shane, “but the restructuring of the classrooms can only be done when we’re not here.

That means that this work will happen during the summer holidays.”

A quick perusal of the school’s website, http://stfiachs.scoilnet.ie/ blog/, reveals the great success that St Fiach’s has achieved with their outdated facility. The future, then, bodes well as the school structure looks set to catch up with the dynamic staff and students who work and learn there.

“The long delay since we first got grant approval has been frustrating, but it’s going to be worth the wait.”

Barking up the right tree!

4 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

n NO, IT’S NOTHING TO DO WITH DOGS, Crufts or anything canine! Wwoof stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. So, by virtue of taking up an opportunity on an organic farm you become a Wwoofer! Wwoofing is brilliant in its simplicity and a fine example of sustainable tourism in action. It harks back to the barter economies of bygone times, where manual work was rewarded by subsistence and shelter. Open to people of all ages, people apply via the Wwoof network originally set up in the UK in 1971.

It’s a great way to see, experience and taste the world and could mean working on an organic farm, collecting fruit in a vineyard or a cooperative orchard, or even cultivating veggies for a restaurant from their own kitchen garden. This is in exchange for a day’s work of course and should include accommodation and meals.

Wwoofing is also an informal way to learn gardening methods, not to mention meet people, make new friends, and get a real living experience with farmers, growers and producers.

Wwoofing varies from place to place; naturally, working in Italy in Autumn varies massively from Ireland in spring. You could be planting seeds in a polytunnel, tending to strawberries or bedding plants, cultivating olives or oranges or working with young people on a living farm as part of a conservation charity.

Wwoofing is not just for that student gap year either. It can be a costeffective way to travel at any age,

l WOOFER AND WWOOFER! Zuzana and her four-legged friend

Report by JOHNNY LATHAM

especially if you like the idea of travelling independently for a while. Even if it’s just for a few weeks, the work you do will be much appreciated by your hosts. It’s not even about the length of time you can spare or the work you do, it’s about embracing the whole ethos of Wwoofing.

Recently at the Rural Hub we caught up with some Wwoofers working at a local country estate garden with ninety acres of productive and

DIY Detective Stories

n WAS IT COLONEL MUSTARD with a candlestick in the study?

Can Poirot or Miss Marple find all the clues and solve the mystery? Do we need the expert sleuthing skills of Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick Dr Watson?

Detective mysteries have been a popular genre in storytelling for decades. Writers like Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle kept readers and audiences gripped until the very end, with regular twists and turns given in the “who did it” story. Reading detective themed mysteries not only helps to improve literacy through the introduction of new vocabulary, but it also helps the reader to develop their critical thinking skills while they often unconsciously try to work out who the main suspect is.

The focus of the eMysteries project is to encourage young people to read and improve their literacy.

Technology focused learning activities tend to have higher engagement and participation from students compared to less technology centric ones. So, in order to gain the inter-

est of young people, the eMysteries project will create a mobile friendly website, that will be fun and interactive for its users. It will be through this site that young adults will be able to create their own detective mystery stories, read and change the endings of stories written by others. The Rural Hub will be working with project partners all over Europe on this project.

The project partners will also create a Teacher’s Toolbox - a how-to guide for teachers - to help their students to write detective stories. For more information, or if you would like to get involved in the project, please contact Claire at clairebeggs.ruralhub@ gmail.com.

ornamental gardens and woodlands.

Morgane and Pierre from France along with Simone from Italy arrived in the middle of September. They were joined a little later by Camille and Clément, also from France and then by Mara from Germany who came in November. Their stays lasted between six and twelve weeks and when we spoke to them they all had different reasons for Wwoofing ranging from; having a new experiences, learning about themselves, taking themselves out of their comfort zones, meeting new people and learning about organic farming general.

When we asked them about why they chose Ireland for their experience they responded with some reassuring and heart-warming motives.

Sure, because it’s a country where people speak English, it’s easy to reach and we use the Euro, but there was something else Morgane expressed.

“Personally, I’ve always been very attracted by Ireland. I don’t really know why but for me there is something special...a spirit...”.

Travelling in Ireland a few years ago with her parents she really enjoyed the experience, and this made her decision to Wwoof here a simple one.

“Irish people are very welcoming and friendly,” Morgane added.

The wwoofers also very surprised about the overall sense of community here, and how places like the Virginia Show Centre and The Rural Hub on the Main Street held so many activities for a small rural town. Morgane and some of the others even joined a local walking group.

“It was a really good way to meet the local people, speak with them

about their lives and about the history of Ireland. It also allowed us to discover the countryside around Virginia” said Morgane, “the members of the walking group are really welcoming and kind and thanks to them we did lot of things. We even went to Newgrange and a traditional music session.”

As well as Zumba and attending the crystal healing classes at the Rural Hub, the group also joined some of the park runs in the Deerpark forest at weekends.

“We have found a beautiful community in Virginia, with people who try to organise things and to launch projects. We admire the people who give their time for the local community.”

Wwoofing isn’t the only opportunity to volunteer here in Ireland and there are other programmes that might surprise you. We bumped into Zuzana Kusa from Slovakia who willingly gave us her impression of life in Ireland after taking part in the Workaway scheme, whose website declares: “We’re on a mission and we want to do things differently! Building a sharing community of global travellers who genuinely want to see the world whilst contributing and giving back to the places they visit”.

Zuzana had very fond memories of her time in Ireland. She explained how she hadn’t known much about Ireland before she came, or even met many Irish people. However, during her three months here they convinced her that they were “generous, friendly and welcoming people”.

Hard to argue with that!

www.workaway.info, www.wwoof.net

Local students make hats for the homeless

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 5

n STUDENTS IN St Oliver Post Primary School, Oldcastle recently got involved with Crafts of Ireland to make woollen hats for homeless people in Dublin. Over the course of the day the students helped to create over 40 hats. Using antique sock knitting machines that date back to the late 1800s the students ably wound wool, cranked the machines and stitched the hats. Organisers hope that the project can become an annual event.

Students in the 5th year LCVP class also ran another successful food appeal on behalf of the Oldcastle branch of St. Vincent de Paul. Each tutor group were given specific items of food to bring in and overall a huge quantity of food was collected.

“Here’s hoping that both events can make a big impact and students were very happy to have given their contribution,” said a spokesperson.

Raising responsible digital citizens

n ALMOST 40% of all children aged between eight and ten speak to strangers online, with 15% of all children in this age group talking to strangers online every day.

This is according to a study that was published by CyberSafe Ireland in 2019. The report also found that close to 80% of children in this age category own a smart phone or mobile device that is capable of connecting to the Internet. Of these children, 48% of children aged between eight and nine years frequently use social media; this figure rises to 66% of children aged ten. These statistics are a worrying read for parents of young children.

A study by WebWise in 2017 found that over 60% of the 1,200 parents who participated in the study were concerned that they were unable to protect their children in the digital world from online threats like grooming. But what can parents and teachers do to help to protect children from these threats, and to ensure that they act responsibly in the digital world? A spokesperson for Future in Perspective Limited believes that education is the key.

“Educating parents, care-givers and primary school teachers about how they can support young pupils to be responsible and safe digital citizens is the key to protecting vulner-

able young users online”, says Sarah Land from Future in Perspective.

“It is inevitable in today’s digital world that young children will continue to access the Internet; the statistics tell us this. It is now imperative that we educate children and young people so that they can access the Internet safely, by understanding how to stay safe online, not to talk to strangers and how to protect their identity online.”

Future in Perspective Limited is currently working on a project with schools across Europe, to develop a range of educational materials to support teachers and parents to educate their children about how to develop safe online habits. All materials developed by the Digital Responsible Citizenship (DRC) project are available on the project website: http://digital-citizenship.org/.

“Through The Rural Hub office in Virginia, we are planning to deliver online safety workshops for parents during the summer months,” revealed Sarah.

To find out more about these workshops or to book your place, email: info.ruralhub@gmail.com.

l The Church of Ireland grounds in Virginia with its towering Yew trees.

What’s in a name? n HAVE YOU EVER wondered where our towns got their names? Place names, or logainmneacha as Gailge, can hide secret tales and stories about the towns and villages we live in.

Take the town of Virginia. In English, we track the foundation of this town to the Plantation of Ulster, when Virginia was established as a plantation town in 1612 and named after the “Virgin Queen” Elizabeth I of England (Virginiatown.ie). In Irish, Virginia is named Achadh an Iúir, which translates to ‘the field of the yew trees”.

Yew trees are evergreen and

native to Ireland. In Irish mythology, they are revered as one of five sacred trees, chosen by our ancestors because of their durability to stay green even throughout the harsh winter months. So the next time you are taking a walk around the grounds of the Church of Ireland in Virginia, look up at the towering yew trees, which give their name to our town.

6 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

‘Thumbs up’ from employers for Tech Apprenticeships

n AS IRELAND’S Tech Sector continues to boom, why not consider the apprenticeship route to kick-start your career, suggests Peter Davitt, CEO of Fast Track to IT (FIT) “If you enjoy learning by doing, gaining invaluable experience, and getting paid at the same time, then this is for you!” he says.

The ICT Associate Professional Apprenticeship programme adopts a learning-by-doing format of ICT skills development, giving new meaning to the concept of ‘hire education’. Over a two year period the programme combines off-the-job skills training with on-the-job application, and culminates in the attainment of the ICT Associate Apprenticeship Award as part of the national apprenticeship programme.

“Participating companies are keen to recruit smart people with smart skills and this new programme will enable people to ‘earn while they learn’,” reveals Peter.

FIT are Ireland’s appointed coordinating providers of the new National Tech Apprenticeships at Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. These Apprenticeships aim to attract and grow the talent pipeline by providing training in Software Development, Network Engineering and Cybersecurity.

To date, more than 90 companies have employed Tech Apprentices in a bid to build a diverse tech team.

“Tech talent is everywhere and the apprenticeship route offers those who enjoy applying their knowledge to a real-life working environment the perfect chance to kick-start their career said Peter.

Just some of the companies looking to the apprenticeship as an innovative talent strategy include: Linked-

It offers those who enjoy applying their knowledge to a real-life working environment the perfect chance to kick-start their career...

IN, Central Bank, ESB, Vodafone, HSC, Google, Opennet, Integrity 360, Microsoft, SAP and many more.

The key benefits of the programme to new apprentices are that they can: gain direct experience in a realtime technical environment ensuring increased productivity acquire an in-depth understanding of the latest technologies supporting innovation develop business and interpersonal skills such as teamwork, customer-facing skills and project management The ICT Associate Professional Apprenticeship programme is open to anyone aged 18+ at the time of application. The programme is particularly appropriate for motivated tech enthusiasts with an aptitude and attitude to work in the tech sector. For more details on entry criteria contact FIT at info@fit.ie

How does the programme work?

Employer is approved and apprentices registered.

Tech company recruits apprentices for a 2 year programme in either Software Development or Network Engineering.

MONTHS

1-6

Apprentices attend full-time off-the-job training

MONTHS

On-the-job and off-the-job training 3 days work / 2 days off-the-job training

MONTHS

On-the-job and off-the-job training 4 days work / 1 days off-the-job training

7-18 19-24

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

STEP 1 Apply online via our website www.fit.ie

STEP 1 Attend a Scheduled Information and Aptitude Session

STEP 1 Attend an interview with FIT

STEP 1 Participate in CV and Interview Preparation Workshops

STEP 1 Attend an Interview with Company

When entertainment becomes education

n THE AVERAGE PERSON in Ireland spends more than four and a half hours every day on their smartphone. That’s according to the latest ComReg report. The findings of the report suggest a trend towards an increasingly digital society, with over 84 per cent of people in Ireland owning a smartphone nowadays.

Accessing social media is the most popular thing to do on your smartphone, according to the report.

After that, streaming videos and music, browsing the internet and playing games online are the most absorbing activities for smartphone users. The generational difference in use of the technology is readily noticeable in the pages of the report, with the vast majority of youngsters owning smartphones in comparison with only 47 per cent of people over the age of 65.

INTERNATIONAL

Researchers from Future in Perspective in Virginia, observing this systematically rising trend, have decided to use the potential of mobile devices to bring young people, left outside of the work market and educational system, back into the world of employment and training. The new project, launched recently in cooperation with six international partners, aims to develop a mobile game that will provide users with ‘intelligent’ entertainment.

“Through the ‘Play Your Skills’ project we aim to develop a gaming app with all features of a classic mobile game that will, however, be able to equip young people with key competencies, such as literacy, numeracy, critical thinking or problem solving,” explains Justyna Krol of Future in Perspective.

According to the official EU statistics, 14 per cent of all young people aged 20-34 in Ireland, are involved neither in neither education nor employment.

“Prolonged exclusion from training or work not only leaves a negative effect on young people’s professional careers, but can also affect their mental health,” says Justyna.

“It’s we aim to reach out to young people through the media that interests them.”

According to Justyna, ‘Play Your Skills’ aims to also target vocational education and training specialists.

Through engaging educators and trainers in the development of guidelines for use of the gaming app, the project developers hope to provide a channel for communication, to be used to attract young people who are interested in getting involved in training or accessing work opportunities in the local jobs market.

MARKETABLE

“Not only do we want to develop an attractive tool for young people to develop their marketable competencies, we also want to create an effective strategy to utilise the possibilities that come with the tool,” says Justyna.

The ‘Play Your Skills’ project will take place over two years. Researchers are currently at the stage of designing the structure of the gaming app. They invite all young people who are currently unemployed and outside of formal training, as well as trainers and educators, to offer any input to the development of the game.

You can contribute to the development of the project by contacting the project team by email: justyna.fipl@ gmail.com

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 7

Come back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff Credit Union!

Credit where it’s due

n WHILE WE ALL have different memories of the financial crisis that hit at the heart of society and economy in 2008 the legacy of that period continues to influence consumers and communities throughout Ireland. That crisis period also had considerable impact on the financial services sector and all those operating within it. Indeed, the financial landscape is altogether much different and more closely regulated today than in pre-crisis times and this is good for all throughout our communities.

While Credit Unions have been around for a very long time and while most rural towns have one, they have also moved with the changing times. Importantly, the key principles on which the credit union movement was built remain the same.

They are a local co-operative owned by the members, who live or work in the ‘Common Bond’ attaching to the Credit Union. The Credit Union ethos is ‘for the people, not for profit’.

Surplus income is reinvested or distributed right back to the members.

MERGED

Credit Union Plus in Ballyjamesduff is one of the local Credit Unions serving the community. It has undergone significant change since 2016 when it merged with Navan and a number of other Credit Unions. The merger was considered necessary because of downward trends in the economy and the need to ensure that the Credit Union remained viable for existing members.

But the merger has been a very good news story for Ballyjamesduff

and for the local members. Since then, the lending book in Ballyjamesduff is wide open, the lending policy has changed, and they are now in a position to grant loans from €100 €100,000 for any legitimate purpose.

Reasons why a member might want to borrow include: Home Improvement loans, Car loans, Holiday loans, Wedding loans, Education loans, Farming loans, Clear-your-Credit Card loan, Refinance your bank loan etc. Each loan application is assessed based on a member’s ability to repay the loan.

ELIGIBLE

There is no longer a need to be a regular saver with the Credit Union before applying for a loan. Indeed, you are now eligible to borrow above your shares, on the day you open your account! Credit Union Plus, Ballyjamesduff only require a percentage of a members shares to be held against their loan – so they still have access to their savings. Members with previous loan history can borrow up to 20 times their shares

l THE CREDIT UNION PLUS occupies a key position at the heart of the Ballyjamesduff community. and first-time borrowers can borrow up to 10 times their shares.

Prior to the merger, and because of the lending restrictions, some members had to move from the Credit Union to seek finances they needed elsewhere. “We would like all of those members who left us during that time to come back to us” says Helen Leddy, Regional Manager of the Ballyjamesduff branch of Credit Union Plus. “We can take over loans that you have from other financial institutions, adds Helen and we can lend up to €100,000 without requiring any security, apart from the shares that you pledge”.

PROTECTED

l IT’S SERVICE WITH A SMILE from staff-member Josephine Reilly at Ballyjamesduff Credit Union Plus.

A further benefit to members who borrow from Credit Union Plus is that a member’s loan and savings are insured under our loan protection and life savings insurance policy at no extra cost to members.

“We can now offer additional services to members which we didn’t have before becoming part of a larger Credit Union,” explains Helen. “Bill payments, direct debits and electronic funds transfers are all new services which are so important to younger members who are moving to college and don’t have the time to call to their local branch. In addition, wages and college grants can be paid directly into a member’s account.”

The Credit Union also accepts all major debit cards. Technology has

become so much a part of how we carry out all our everyday tasks especially finances, so the online service (again new since the merger) giving members access to their finances 24/7 is probably one of the most important new services the organisation now has, according to Helen.

CUANYWHERE APP

“You can just download the CUAnywhere app, available from the app Stores or visit the website of creditunionplus.ie to register. Some members like to use our new ‘PhoneA-Loan Service’ rather than having to call into a branch a number of times.

This gives the option of extended hours 6 days a week.”

The public are still very wary of the banks, so it is important that they have another channel for conducting their financial affairs and the Credit Union is still the favoured option for many. It is gratifying to see the Credit Union sector winning the best service award year on year for the last number of years.

COMMITTED

“We are very committed to the local community and continually support and reinvest locally including in local youth initiatives, charities, sporting clubs and cultural events,” says Helen.

“We would love to hear from you to-day and can be contacted at 049 8544674 or by email info@creditunionplus.ie`’.

ENVIRONMENT

8 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

The Circulink project aims to support local businesses in thinking circular!

The circular economy

n NATURE WORKS in cycles - all natural elements of the world are upcycled leaving no waste behind. In fact, waste as we know it is generated by only one species - us. We tend to surround ourselves with objects and goods that we use only for a limited amount of time. To produce those goods, we use the resources provided by our planet, and forgetting that those resources are finite, we dump those goods as soon as we don’t need them!

“More of the same is not a business model for success,” - says Walter Stahel, a Swiss architect considered to be one of the founding fathers of the circular economy concept.

Walter claims that by “creating higher standards of living from more intelligent resource use, we’ll be able to tackle the problem of waste production in the modern world.”

It is enough to look at the numbers provided by the European Commission, to understand that the problem indeed is serious. On an annual basis each individual European generates five tonnes of waste over 45% of which ends up in landfill either at home or abroad. This results in an enormous loss of resources in both material and energy terms. Additionally, landfill has a serious environmental impact taking up valuable land space and causing air, water and soil pollution.

It is not that there aren’t solutions it is more whether we can change the mindsets of individuals to move away from the dominant linear models of consumption. The circular economy is a term that describes a model of production and consumption that is based on extending the life-cycle of

products. We can achieve this circular model through sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.

On a global scale what is called a ‘rethink and redesign’ approach is necessary. Cilian Lohan, CEO of the Green Economy Foundation in Ireland, that promotes circular solutions in policies on a national and European level says that “a fundamental change in how we think, how we design and how we consume is needed.

First of all, we should stop extracting raw materials from the ground and producing waste on the other end of our consumption process”. He further states that this “is only possible if we shift to what we call secondary materials - goods and resources that are already in use. Re-use and recycling are easy examples of actions that every individual can take, but on a wider scale, products must in the first place be designed to be repairable and build to last.”

A circular economy approach requires that each and every one of us as consumers effect a shift in our thinking and behaviour. “We need to change our idea of ownership in par-

l Transnational Circulink project partners meet in Lisbon.

ticular,” Lohan continues. “Owning a particular item makes sense only if that item increases in value. That’s why instead of owning disposable goods we should become consumers of their services. Imagine you rent a washing machine or a Smartphone for the use of its service and you give it back to its manufacturer when it breaks or when you simply want to change it.” Lohan points that the benefits of this approach are selfexplanatory.

It may seem that such fundamental and systemic changes to the global economy are beyond the impact of the individual consumer. However, it is worth remembering that every small step contributes to building awareness and spreading knowledge of circular economy practices.

Keeping in mind the three core principles of the circular economy: reduce, reuse and recycle, every individual should be able to identify practices that he or she can improve in their every-day life.

Additionally, it is crucial to consider the possibilities of small and medium enterprises in adopting circular economy solutions. According to EU statistics, SMEs account for 99.8 % of European private companies, creating more than two thirds of all employment in the EU. This makes SMEs vital to strengthening the circular approach in different sectors of the economy. Following the old saying ‘what gets measured, gets managed’, by improving their processes and design, and rethinking their supply chains, small and medium enterprises have unlimited possibilities to shift into more sustainable operating patterns.

The CIRCULINK project, run by the Future in Perspective in Virginia, in cooperation with four organisations from Sweden, Portugal, Cyprus and Spain aims to provide support for local small and medium enterprises to convert their businesses into more circular initiatives. Based on the international and intersectoral experience of our partners around Europe, the project developed a training package consisting of online and offline learning resources as well as an e-learning platform.

“Our aim is to support the implementation of circular economy practices in our local community and to link existing circular economy projects and their stakeholders,” said Justyna Krol a local representative of the project. “All the partners of the project met in November 2019 in Lisbon, to test the training resources developed in the framework of the project,” she explained. “Our goal was to make sure that the resources will be of high practical and theoretical value for entrepreneurs. Our next step is to run a workshop for small and medium entrepreneurs from our own local community, to guide them in integrating more circular practices in their business models,” she added.

Every small and medium enterprise from the local community is invited to sign up for the free training that will be held in Virginia in 2020.

To receive more information about the project and the training, contact Justyna Krol project at justyna.fipl@ gmail.com

EDUCATIONAL

Full steam ahead for teacher aid toolkit

n IN AN ERA of advanced technologies, it is no longer deemed to be enough for students to have creativity, the ability to think critically and solve problems. Students need to develop skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) in order to be properly prepared for the future.

Students need to gain confidence in STEAM activities like robotics, coding and other digital tools. Education that focuses and uses STEAM activities offers students more opportunities in the future, both in further education and employment. Now is the time to innovate – it’s time to embrace the digital technologies around us and ensure that school students will thrive in this environment going forward. The STEAMitUP project aims to help teachers prepare students for a more digitally focused 21st century. Future in Perspective is working with project partners all over Europe on this project. Together the project partners will work to create what’s called a teacher’s “toolkit” –

... it’s time to embrace the digital technologies around us ... essentially a collection of useful instructions and teaching materials for teachers to use and properly promote the STEAM subjects in schools. This toolkit will be made available online, so that teachers and learners alike will be able to easily access it.

For more information, or to get involved in the project, please contact Claire at clairebeggs.fipl@gmail. com.

Music, drama and stories to promote adult learning

n ONE IN FOUR adults aged 25 to 64 years old in the EU, approximately 70 million people, have not completed any formal education beyond the level of lower secondary education according to Eurostat.

“Research also highlights the fact that adults with low level or no qualifications; those in low skilled occupations; the unemployed and economically inactive; older people and the least skilled are less likely to participate in lifelong learning.” Says Mike Keegan, spokesperson for The Rural Hub. The reasons for this are varied.

Barriers identified in the Adult Education Survey included family responsibilities, reconciling education with work schedules, financial issues and insufficient ‘prerequisites. “Perhaps the most important finding is that 80% of adults who do not participate in education and training do not express any interest in becoming involved in organised learning activities.” Continues Mike.

The European Education and Training Framework (ET 2020), adopted in May 2009, set a number of benchmarks to be achieved by 2020. For adult participation in learn-

ing the objective was that at least 15% of adults aged 25 to 64 years old should participate in lifelong learning.

In Ireland the 2017 rate was 8.9%.

In conjunction with six other European partner companies The Rural Hub has decided to launch ‘ARTSKUL’ an innovative Erasmus+ project with music, drama and storytelling resources for competence building for marginalised adults.

“We are convinced that the traditional ‘sage-on-the-stage’ model of education is of little initial value to our target group. If educators are to attract adults on the margins of provision a new more holistic approach to teaching is required.” Says Mike Through music, drama and storytelling the ARTSKUL project will promote engagement in adult learning and empower individuals to maximize their life potential and overcome social and cultural barriers.

For more information please contact manuella.ruralhub@gmail.com

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 9

Linking educators and businesses

n “TALENT MANAGEMENT has a reputation of being only adaptable by big organisations, that’s unfortunate” says Justyna Król, a leader of the ‘Talent 4.0’ project in Future in Perspective. “Our project is aimed at small and medium enterprises in Virginia and neighbouring areas. Its core goal is to help entrepreneurs in understanding why small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs) need system for talent management, and further to offer them easy tools that can facilitate this need.”

According to the official data of European Commission, SMEs are responsible for creating 2/3 of workplaces in European Union. Hence, it is easy to understand that they are an important pillar in employment structure and that they play a critical role in European economies. Unfortunately, in the context of talent management, small and mid-sized businesses are often on the underprivileged position.

“Most of talent management systems available on the market are directed towards larger companies.

They are usually not accessible for smaller organisations due to various logistic, strategic and financial barriers,” says Król. “Talent 4.0 concentrates especially on digital talent management tools based on web 4.0 applications. This way, talent management systems become accessible to businesses and organisations of all sizes.”

In contrast to common believe that managing talents is an issue only for organisations hiring hundreds or thousands of employees, it is as important, or sometimes even more im-

portant, for smaller organisations. “If one person in the company of 5 000 is underperforming, the impact will be much smaller if they’re one person in the company of 50,” brings an example Jim Duff, a talent management specialist and blogger.

STRATEGIES

“Talent 4.0 is aimed at two groups in our local community – first are talent leaders and owners in small and mid-sized organisations who are looking for knowledge and tools to develop strategies of searching for, developing and holding on the human capital in their businesses. The second are educators and education providers working with businesses,” specifies the local leader of the project. “Through promoting partnerships between education providers and businesses ‘Talent 4.0’ aims to foster work-based learning approach, that can help to bridge the gap between SME’s needs and policies or instruments available.”

For further information about the project and its resources contact justyna.fipl@gmail.com

Inspirational female leaders sought...

n LOCAL COMPANY, Future in Perspective, is piloting a new initiative to inspire the next generation of female leaders in our community.

“We recognise the role of strong female leaders in our local communities, and we want to help to shine the spotlight on their talents,” explained a spokesperson. As part of a European project – New Opportunities for Women (NOW) – Future in Perspective is seeking success stories of female leaders from within the local communities.

“As part of this project, we will develop a series of short video case studies of inspiring women, and women from migrant communities that may want to share their success stories about their lives in Ireland,”

said the spokesperson.

If you are you a female leader with an inspiring story to tell, you are invited to get in touch to share your story and to motivate other women to take a leading role in their lives.

“To support women to inspire each other, we will run a regular feature in this paper to showcase some of the female leaders in our community,” said the spokesperson.

To find out more about the NOW project or to share your success story with other women, get in touch with Sarah by emailing: news.ruralhub@ gmail.com.

10 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

Lurgan Community Committee present a cheque of €600 to Margo Keating for Virginia Cancer Care. Pic: Lolita Black

Training supports now available for migrant women

Art is in our nature for Sinéad

n VIRGINIA HAS LONG been called home by a number of artists and the latest to make the move here is talented abstract and textile artist Sinéad Vaughan-Tompson. When asked what it is that both drew this well-travelled Meath native to our corner of Co. Cavan and in turn what keeps her here the answer is as enthusiastic as it is emphatic – nature.

As a full time professional artist there is a constant need for inspiration and stimuli and Virginia’s surrounds provide that in abundance.

The lakes, the hills, the forests; it’s all here. A carpet of bluebells in spring, the murmuring of the starlings in winter. The textures upon the barks of the trees and the interplay of light and shade upon the water’s surface. Everything needed to inspire an artist is here.

Sinéad creates hand painted silk scarves, each a unique and striking piece of wearable art. Each scarf looking just as at home framed upon a wall as it does adorning someone’s neck. Her favourite to date; a striking piece featuring the Irish woodland jays and wild sorrel, she would see in the woods whilst out walking in Deer Park Forest. Using the serti technique of silk painting, which requires a gutta (resist) to be applied to stretched silk;

l ARTIST: Sinéad.

l WORK IN PROGRESS: One of Sinéad’s scarves being made in order to provide a barrier to stop the dyes from spreading across the fabric.

The whole piece is then wrapped and steamed to fix the dyes in place, making them both colour fast and light resistant.

Complementing and contrasting with her precise and detailed silks, are a number of beautiful and striking abstract paintings, in the more traditional mediums of oils, acrylics, canvas and paper. Here her work has more freedom to explore the relationships between shape, colour and texture. The shapes and textures emerge gradually, layer by layer, until the piece as a whole resolves itself from a series of individual moments and brush strokes into a singular cohesive composition. Amidst the abstract her works become far more wide ranging; from bold and colourful florals, to more challenging pieces that invoke, imply and suggest.

Pieces which whisper meaning but provide no definitive answers, works that do not demand to be understood but that are simply required to resonate in some way with whoever views them.

Yet at their heart is the simplest of truths, the world is a place of wonder and it is there just outside your door.

You can contact Sinead Vaughan -Tompson at:siodaart@gmail.com.

You can follow her work on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/sineadvaughantompson

n “STARTING A COMPANY is more like immigrating to another country. You can survive only if you adapt,” says a spokesperson of the new CREATION project run by Future in Perspective in Virginia. The project is addressed to migrant women from the local community who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs or improving their business skills.

“Being able to work is massively important for personal dignity and it is one of the most effective ways to integrate,” said Sandra Ruiz, cofounder of Ireland’s Migrant Women United. “Migrant women face multiple barriers amounting to structural discrimination in accessing the labour market. Our challenges include getting our qualifications recognised and accessing affordable childcare.

Many of us lack family and social networks, and we can face unconscious bias from employers when it comes to unfamiliar names and international accents,” she concluded.

“We believe that, given the opportunity, the potential and possibilities of women in business are unlimited.

Women from disadvantaged backgrounds, given the proper training, are fully capable of becoming business leaders,” says Justyna Krol, manager of the CREATION project in Ireland.

“Our project is based in the fields of creative and cultural activities”, she clarifies. “The new guidelines for development of European cities and communities recognise the need for culture to become a driving force in that development. It not only guarantees greater social inclusion but also underlines the importance of heritage”.

The CREATION project is going to address the challenges faced by migrant women by providing innovative digital learning resources that will support future or existing female entrepreneurs in developing their entrepreneurial skills and competences. The training resources to be developed will aim to tackle a series of specific challenges that are relevant in the art and creativity sectors.

“To make sure that we address the right needs, we are going to conduct a broad research,” says Justyna and “the research will allow us to identify the expectations of female entrepreneurs in our local area. In addition, we would like to find out what are the needs of trainers and educators working with migrant women.”

All interested migrant women and migrant support workers who would like to participate in the research or learn more about the project are invited to contact Justyna Krol at : justyna.fipl@gmail.com

COMICS

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 11

12 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

“The European Commission’s support for the production of Thepublication Europeandoes Commission’s support for the production this not constitute an endorsement of the of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission beonly heldofresponsible anythe use which may be made of the information contained therein. contents, which reflect cannot the views the authors,forand Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.”

COMICS

Ice-cap

COMICS

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 13

14 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

“The European Commission’s support for the production of Thepublication Europeandoes Commission’s support for the production this not constitute an endorsement of the of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the which Commission beonly heldofresponsible anythe use which may be made of the information contained therein. contents, reflect cannot the views the authors,for and Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.”

COMICS

Ice-cap

4-PAGE PULL-OUT

Activities and Classes at The Rural Hub in Virginia

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 15

Social Mornings and Educational Afternoons n IT’S A NEW YEAR and traditionally the time for resolutions and setting new goals. At The Rural Hub we are working to provide a selection of classes, courses and activities to help local residents get out and about and meet with friends and neighbours.

The Rural Hub ran a number of pilot sessions between October and December featuring Mindfulness, Aromatherapy, Working with Crystals, Knit and Knatter and IT Training.

Despite the fact that we had some disruptions to the planned schedule the people who came along really enjoyed themselves. We are really delighted to present a much more comprehensive set of activities for 2020.

We have tried to mix up the range of activities to appeal to a wide cross section of the community and as well as the old favourites we will also be looking at other activities like ‘Make and Do for a Greener Home’; ‘Creative Writing’; ‘Financial Literacy Training’; ‘Online Safety and Digital Footprint’; ‘Future Female Entrepreneurs – Building An Online Business’; ‘Developing a Family Aural Portrait’; ‘Cultural Exchange and Conversational English’; ‘Crafty Crochet’. We hope to provide something to interest everyone.

For those of you who came along to some of our sessions before Christmas, we thank you for join-

Please note that all courses and activities are provided free-ofcharge... ing us and hope you come back; for those of you who have not joined us before we extend an open invitation.

This centre four-page pull-out contains the full timetable of activities.

Classes begin on January 13 and, as places are limited, we would ask you to contact Suzanne on 087 1035816 or Noeleen on 086 8122514. One thing we can guarantee is a warm welcome and a friendly atmosphere.

Please note that all courses and activities are provided free of charge.

We do however, ask each person attending to make a €2 contribution.

The funds collected at the end of the eight week programme will be donated to St Mary’s National School in Virginia in March.

l NEEDLING AWAY: The ‘Knit and Knatter’ group at the Rural Hub

l SOMETHING SMELLS GOOD: Aromatherapy at The Rural Hub

LIMITED PLACES - SECURE YOURS

Contact: NOELEEN - 086 8122514

Contact: SUZANNE - 087 1035816

4-PAGE P

SOCIAL MORNINGS & EDUCATIONAL AFTERNO

16 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

Week 1 – 13th to 17th January

Monday 13th January Tuesday 14th January

Wednesday 15th January Thursday 16th January Friday 17 January th

10.00 to 12.00

Aromatherapy

14.00 to 16.00

Crafty Crochet

10.00 to 12.00

Working with Crystals

14.00 to 16.00

Make & Do for a greener home

10.00 to 12.00

Knit & Knatter

14.00 to 16.00

Hand Reflexology

10.00 to 12.00

Mindfulness

14.00 to 16.00

Creative Writing

14.00 to 16.00

Social Media Training for smartphone, tablet and laptop

Week 2 – 20th to 24th January Monday 20th January Tuesday 21 January st

Wednesday 22nd January Thursday 23 January rd

Friday 24 January th

10.00 to 12.00

Aromatherapy

14.00 to 16.00

Crafty Crochet

10.00 to 12.00

Working with Crystals

14.00 to 16.00

Make & Do for a greener home

10.00 to 12.00

Knit & Knatter

14.00 to 16.00

Hand Reflexology

10.00 to 12.00

Mindfulness

14.00 to 16.00

Creative Writing

14.00 to 16.00

Social Media Training for smartphone, tablet and laptop

Week 3 – 27th to 31st January Monday 27th January Tuesday 28th January

Wednesday 29 January

th

Thursday 30 January th

Friday 31st January

10.00 to 12.00

Week 4 – 3rd to 7th February

Monday 3rd February Tuesday 4th February

Wednesday 5th February Thursday 6 February th

Friday 7th February

Crafty Crochet

10.00 to 12.00

Working with Crystals

14.00 to 16.00

Make & Do for a greener home

10.00 to 12.00

Knit & Knatter

14.00 to 16.00

Hand Reflexology

10.00 to 12.00

Mindfulness

14.00 to 16.00

Creative Writing

14.00 to 16.00

Social Media Training for smartphone, tablet and laptop

Aromatherapy

14.00 to 16.00

Crafty Crochet

10.00 to 12.00

Working with Crystals

14.00 to 16.00

Make & Do for a greener home

10.00 to 12.00

Knit & Knatter

14.00 to 16.00

Hand Reflexology

10.00 to 12.00

Mindfulness

14.00 to 16.00

Creative Writing

14.00 to 16.00

Social Media Training for smartphone, tablet and laptop

Week 5 – 10th to 14th February Monday 10th February Tuesday 11 February th

Wednesday 12th February

Thursday 13th February

Friday 14th February

10.00 to 12.00

Aromatherapy

14.00 to 16.00

Mindfulness

10.00 to 12.00

Family Aural Portraits

14.00 to 16.00

Future Female Entrepreneurs – Building An Online Business

10.00 to 12.00

Knit & Knatter

14.00 to 16.00

Online Safety & Digital Footprint

10.00 to 12.00

Mindfulness

14.00 to 16.00

Cultural Exchange & Conversational English

14.00 to 16.00

Social Media Training for smartphone, tablet and laptop

Week 6 – 17th to 21st February Monday 17th February

Aromatherapy

14.00 to 16.00

10.00 to 12.00

Tuesday 18 February th

Wednesday 19th February

Thursday 20th February

Friday 21st February

10.00 to 12.00

Aromatherapy

14.00 to 16.00

Mindfulness

10.00 to 12.00

Family Aural Portraits

14.00 to 16.00

Future Female Entrepreneurs – Building An Online Business

10.00 to 12.00

Knit & Knatter

14.00 to 16.00

Online Safety & Digital Footprint

10.00 to 12.00

Mindfulness

14.00 to 16.00

Cultural Exchange & Conversational English

14.00 to 16.00

Social Media Training for smartphone, tablet and laptop

PULL-OUT

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 17

OONS Week 7 – 24th to 28th February Monday 24th February Tuesday 25th February

Wednesday 26th February

Thursday 27th February Friday 28th February

10.00 to 12.00

Aromatherapy

14.00 to 16.00

Mindfulness

10.00 to 12.00

Family Aural Portraits

14.00 to 16.00

Financial Literacy Training & Expert Advice

10.00 to 12.00

Knit & Knatter

14.00 to 16.00

Making Positive Health Choices as You Get Older

10.00 to 12.00

Mindfulness

14.00 to 16.00

Storytelling

14.00 to 16.00

Social Media Training for smartphone, tablet and laptop

Week 8 – 2nd to 6th March Monday 2nd March Tuesday 3 March rd

Wednesday 4th March

Thursday 5th March Friday 6 March th

10.00 to 12.00

Aromatherapy

14.00 to 16.00

Mindfulness

10.00 to 12.00

Family Aural Portraits

14.00 to 16.00

Financial Literacy Training & Expert Advice

10.00 to 12.00

Knit & Knatter

14.00 to 16.00

Making Positive Health Choices as You Get Older

10.00 to 12.00

Mindfulness

14.00 to 16.00

Storytelling

14.00 to 16.00

Social Media Training for smartphone, tablet and laptop

Places are limited so book yours to avoid disappointment

4-PAGE PULL-OUT

18 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

YOUR GUIDE TO OUR COURSES

Aromatherapy

– using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being.

Crafty Crochet

– get your hook out and have fun with friends and neighbours

Working with Crystals

– to help balance your energetic field

Make & Do for a Greener Home – finding alternative sustainable ways to reduce your carbon footprint and have fun doing it

Knit & Knatter

– like Ronseal “it does exactly what it says on the tin”. Come along to knit and knatter with friends and neighbours

Hand Reflexology

– a short introduction to an alternative therapy for stress relief and well-being

Find us on Facebook @RuralHubVirginia https://www.facebook.com/RuralHubVirginia/ If you’ve got news for the next issue...

news.ruralhub@gmail.com

Budding blogger?

Would–be writer?

Mindfulness

– learn how to be present in the moment to relax the body and mind

Creative Writing

– everyone has a book in them, find and develop your story

Social Media Training for smartphone, tablet and laptop – get to grips with new emerging technologies for everyday life

Family Aural Portraits

– learn to record and present an aural portrait of your family – capture a moment in time for all posterity

Future Female Entrepreneurs – Building An Online Business

Financial Literacy Training & Expert Advice

Online Safety & Digital Footprint

Making Positive Health Choices as You Get Older

– find out the key do’s and don’t’s for starting a new digital media business

– be the voice of wisdom and knowledge in your family to protect them from online threats

Cultural Exchange & Conversational English

– come along and learn about other cultures and help newly arrived residents develop their language skills

– be a smart money manager and help your other family members to plan effectively for the future

– your health is your wealth and small changes to everyday habits can offer real benefits as you get older

Storytelling

– come along for a very special storytelling session with a very special guest

Thanks for the support

If you’re pursuing, or thinking of pursuing a career or hobby in communications, The Rural Hub Community News could be a way for you to flex your media muscle We’re looking for volunteers to get involved in helping to make this a truly community effort

Get in touch to have a chat about how you can help with writing, researching or photography

news.ruralhub@gmail.com

n ST MARY’S National School in Virginia were really pleased to receive €329.75 from The Rural Hub in December. This money comprised the donations collected from those who attended the social mornings in The Rural Hub in the five weeks before Christmas. All funds collected during our new programme will also go to this school as part of our commitment to education in Virginia.

COMICS

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“The European Commission’s support for the production of Thepublication Europeandoes Commission’s support for the production this not constitute an endorsement of the of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission beonly heldofresponsible anythe use which may be made of the information contained therein. contents, which reflect cannot the views the authors,forand Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.”

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 21

22 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

“The European Commission’s support for the production of Thepublication Europeandoes Commission’s support for the production this not constitute an endorsement of the of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission beonly heldofresponsible anythe use which may be made of the information contained therein. contents, which reflect cannot the views the authors,forand Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.”

COMICS

FEATURE

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 23

Summer fest plans after Fleadh Cheoil success

n SUCH WAS THE ‘KNEES UP’ in Oldcastle, towards the end of 2019, that the dust is still settling on the Owenie Traynor Fleadh Cheoil Weekend. The inaugural event, a collaboration between Owen Traynor’s Pub and The Rural Hub, saw the cream of traditional music and dance talent and an appreciative audience from the locality and beyond, descend on the pub, which has a long tradition of music in the area. I had a chat with the Rural Hub’s Philip Land about the event and, after the success it enjoyed, future plans for more of the same.

“The whole idea of the Owenie Traynor Fleadh Cheoil Weekend came out of a conversation we had with Martin “Speedy” Smith, who has been behind the bar all his working life, about what we could do to keep traditional music alive and promote the arts on a local level,” explains Philip. “The reason that it was particularly pertinent in Traynor’s in Oldcastle was that this pub was always regarded as the home of traditional

music in the area. If you just take a walk around the pub you can see that it has tradition at its very heart.

It’s one of the very few unique traditional pubs left that has the grocery shop at the front and the pub at the back. Very little has changed and, in keeping with the tradition of Owenie, who passed away two years ago, very little will change.”

I asked Philip how he felt about the event’s success.

l ABOVE and TOP RIGHT: The cream of traditional music and dance was on show at the Trad Weekend Fleadh Cheoil.

“For me, the most important thing about the Fleadh Cheoil Weekend was that the musicians came out in force. The amount of talent that was on show was incredible and most of the people who played came from a very short radius around Oldcastle,” he said. “We had people from abroad who were in the area or came especially for the occasion, but it was really about local people of all ages.

We had some groups who came having heard about it at the Fleadh Cheoil in Drogheda, we had a lot of people who brought their instruments and just joined in, but one of the nicest features of the weekend was on the Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock, you could not get into the pub for all the parents with their children who were down for the open session and to watch the Irish dancing performed by children from the Smith Academy.

The kids were having a really good traditional Irish time, in spite of the fact that it was the worst of the weather. It was a real occasion. Then, by 7 o’clock all the kids had gone home and the adults had the pub to themselves for the evening. Probably the star attraction of the week was a local guy, Nigel Davy and his group, Black Shamrock. They brought the house down with the final performance on Sunday evening.”

So what about the future? What plans, if any, are there to keep up the momentum?

“What’s been interesting since the Fleadh Cheoil, as Speedy will tell

you, is that he’s had more people in the shop who weren’t at the Fleadh Cheoil than were at it saying that they’d heard about the weekend and wouldn’t miss the next one,” explains Philip. “So I think we’ve set a good trend for traditional music in Oldcastle moving forward. We’re looking forward to the Summer Trad Fest which will be held on May 22, 23 and 24.

Interview by DECLAN CASSIDY May 22 is the second anniversary of Owenie’s passing so we think it’s really fitting to have the event then in his honour and we already have a full line-up of acts, booked and eager to take part. The Summer Trad Fest is a new thing that we’ll try and see what happens. Then we’ll be back with the Owenie Traynor Fleadh Cheoil Weekend in November.”

The event raised a very welcome €2,270 for St Fiach’s National School in Ballinacree. The school will continue to benefit from the future events, reveals Philip.

MULTICULTURAL

24 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS n KASIĘ O’REILLY POZNAŁAM podczas dorocznych targów przedsiębiorczości organizowanych minionego października przez Show Centre w Virginii.

Podobnie jak prawie dwustu innych przedsiębiorców, Kasia zjawiła się tam, aby promować swój biznes – naturalne produkty do pielęgnacji skóry, które Kasia własnoręcznie produkuje w przydomowej pracowni niedaleko Ballyjamesduff.

JUSTYNA KRÓL’S

Polish Corner

Autor JUSTYNA KRÓL Kasia pochodzi z Gdyni i mieszka w Irlandii już od ponad piętnastu lat. Twierdzi, że znalazła tutaj swoje miejsce na ziemi i pomimo szczerej miłości do Polski, jej domem jest teraz wiejska okolica Ballyjamesduff. Rozmawiałyśmy o wyzwaniach stojących przed przedsiębiorcami w Irlandii, znaczeniu pasji w biznesie oraz stereotypach na temat Polaków w Irlandii.

Założyłaś Sana Naturals w 2017 roku. Co zainspirowało Cię do rozpoczęcia własnej działalności i jakie były Twoje doświadczenia jako Polki zakładającej firmę w Irlandii?

Uwielbiam kiedy kobiety zakochują się w swojej skórze ponownie. Od zawsze tworzyłam produkty pielęgnacyjne z myślą o mojej niezwykle problematycznej

n I MET KASIA O’REILLY at the Virginia Show Centre’s event for entrepreneurs, organised last October. Like almost 200 other local entrepreneurs, Kasia was there to promote her business called Sana Naturals – natural sustainable artisanal skincare products that she hand makes in the studio located at her home near Ballyjamesduff.

skórze. Wreszcie nadszedł czas, aby przekształcić tę pasję w biznes.

Udało mi się to, gdy mój synek skończył dwa lata i wreszcie pozwolił mi się wyspać.

Moje doświadczenia związane z zakładaniem działalności w Irlandii były bardzo pozytywne. Nigdy nie napotkałam żadnych problemów wynikających z mojej narodowości.

Otrzymałam ogromne wsparcie z Lokalnego Biura Przedsiębiorczości w formie szkoleń, mentoringu oraz dofinansowania. Pomogło mi to rozwinąć mój biznes, niezbędne umiejętności i przedsiębiorczy sposób myślenia. Należę także do Cavan Business Women Club, którego spotkania zawsze były dla mnie inspiracją, a możliwość uczenia się od bardziej doświadczonych business women okazała się bardzo cenna.

Jednym z największych wyzwań związanych z prowadzeniem własnej firmy było wypracowanie zdrowej równowagi pomiędzy życiem osobistym i pracą, abym mogła sprawnie rozwijać swój biznes oraz spędzić czas z rodziną. Musiałam wypracować harmonogram dnia, który uwzględni nie tylko godziny pracy, ale także obowiązki domowe oraz czas dla rodziny.

Kasia comes from Gdynia and has lived in Ireland for over fifteen years.

She claims she has ‘found her place in Ireland’, and despite her continuous love for Poland, her home is now in the rural area of Ballyjamesduff.

We met to talk about the challenges of being an entrepreneur in Ireland, the importance of having passion in business and the stereotypes of Polish people on the “Green Island”.

You established Sana Naturals in 2017. What inspired you to start your own business and what were your experiences being a Polish person setting up a company in Ireland?

I absolutely love seeing women fall in love with their skin again. I have always been making skincare products for my extremely challenging skin. Finally the time came to turn this passion into a business. That happened when my little boy aged 2 at the time allowed me to sleep again.

My experience starting a business in Ireland was very positive. I never faced any challenges related to my nationality. I have received enormous support from the Cavan Local Enterprise Office in the form of training, mentoring and financial grants. This helped me to develop the business and develop the necessary skills and business mindset. I’m also a mem-

MULTICULTURAL

ber of Cavan Business Women Club.

Their meetings are always very inspirational and learning from other more experienced business women is very valuable.

One of the biggest challenges related to running my own business Jakie wartości kierują Twoją działalnością?

Bycie w bliskiej relacji z naturą zawsze było dla mnie ważne.

Nauczyłam się tego od mojej babci, która podobnie jak inne kobiety żyjące w powojennej Polsce, musiała nauczyć się zastępować niedostępne nigdzie kosmetyki tym, co udało jej się znaleźć wokół. Babcia nauczyła mnie kochać i doceniać naturę, ponieważ daje nam wszystko, czego potrzebujemy.

Wierzę w prostotę i powrót do natury. Staram się przeciwstawiać obecnym trendom, promującym skomplikowane zabiegi pielęgnacyjne i produkty o niekończących się listach syntetycznych składników. Tworzę wysoce nasycone produkty, które są całkowicie naturalne oraz ukierunkowane na wiele problemów skórnych jednocześnie. Zrównoważony rozwój to jedna z podstawowych wartości mojej marki. Zawsze pamiętam o szacunku do naszej planety. Produkty pakowane są w przeznaczone do recyklingu opakowania, staram się nie nadużywać papieru i tworzyw sztucznych. Wierzę w holistyczne podejście do piękna, nie tylko to, co nakładamy na skórę ma znaczenie.

Dieta i zrównoważony styl życia to podstawa.

Pozwól mi zapytać o Twoje doświadczenia dotyczące życia w Irlandii. Czy dostrzegasz podobieństwa między Irlandią a Polską?

Widzę wiele podobieństw. Kulturowo, jesteśmy bardzo podobni.

Irlandczycy są bardzo gościnni i otwarci, podobnie jak Polacy. Często zdarza mi się zapomnieć, że mieszkam w obcym kraju, czujé sié tutaj jak w domu. W Irlandii uwielbiam również różnorodność i dostępność natury.

A znasz jakieś stereotypy Polakach w Irlandii? Myślisz, że nasz wizerunek jest tutaj pozytywny?

Tak, stereotyp o polakach jest raczej pozytywny. Jesteśmy postrzegani jako ciężko pracujący i godni zaufania.

Aby dowiedzieć się więcej o Kasi i jej działalności odwiedź jej stronę internetową www.sananaturals.ie Jeśli mieszkasz w Irlandii i chciałbyś przyczynić się do rozwoju tej kolumny lub podzielić się informacjami związanymi z polską społecznością w hrabstwie Cavan, skontaktuj się z nami pod adresem news.ruralhub@gmail.com

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 25

was to find a healthy life-work balance that would allow me to grow my business, being able at the same time to spend quality time with my family. Since my work is my passion, I often spend long hours working. I had to work out a schedule for the day that would not only include working but also household chores, time for family and myself.

What values are driving you in your work?

Having close contact with nature was always important to me; I learned that from my grandmother.

She was a Second World War survivor who, as many women at that time in Poland, had to find ways to replace inaccessible beauty products with whatever they could find around them. She taught me to love and appreciate nature because everything we need is there.

I believe in simplicity and going back to basics. I’m bucking the current trend of complicated skincare routines using endless lists of synthetic laden products. I create highly concentrated botanical potions that are completely natural and are multifunctional, targeting multiple skin issues at once for a healthy glowing skin with less effort and fewer products. Sustainability is one of the brand’s core values. Wellness of our planet is always on my mind. The products are housed in recyclable glass packaging without cardboard boxes and I am committed to using as little plastic as possible. I also believe in a holistic approach to beauty, not only that what you put on your skin matters. Your diet and balanced lifestyle are also crucial.

Now let me ask you about your experiences of living in Ireland.

Do you see any similarities between Ireland and Poland?

I see a lot of similarities. Culturally, we are very similar. Irish people are very welcoming, accepting and hospitable and so are Polish. I find myself very often forgetting that I live in a foreign country and think of myself simply as part of the community.

I feel totally at home here. In Ireland I also love the variety and accessibility of nature.

Do you know any stereotypes of Polish people in Ireland? Do you think our national image is positive?

Yes, the stereotype of Polish people is rather positive. We are seen as hard working and reliable.

To learn more about Kasia and about her business visit her website at www.sananaturals.ie If you are a Polish person living in Ireland, and you are interested in contributing to this column or sharing any issues related to Polish community in Co. Cavan, contact us at news.ruralhub@gmail.com

Souper recipe from abroad

The Melting Pot

n Christmas is a fading memory; the family food mountain is on the wane and even the freezer is breathing a sigh of relief. After eating your bodyweight in chocolate and cakes perhaps you need to focus on eating healthily as more cold weather sets in!

Nothing is more comforting and wholesome on a chilly day than homemade soup. Sure, we do ok for soup here in Ireland… but with a bit of careful shopping, thoughtful preparation and culinary imagination you can enjoy some exotic and wonderful winter warmers in a flash.

Have a crack at this eastern European and Russian inspired recipe, impress your friends, be the envy of work colleagues but remember - buy locally and consume responsibly!

CHICKPEA SOUP

At all times signatures of Uzbek cousine were considered to be plov, shashlik (barbeque) and manti. It’s little known that no traditional Uzbek family celebration or even normal dinner is complete without the soup containing eastern pulses - chickpeas. In Uzbekistan, we call chickpeas ‘’nahot’’ or ‘’nuhut’’.

There are dozens of recipes of this rich and nutritious soup. I will introduce you to the one I cook for my family.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Ingredients:

4 portions Chickpea – 400g Lamb or beef bones – 1kg Onion – 3pcs (finely diced) Pepper – 3pcs of different colour (cut into chunks) Potato – 300g (cut in big chunks) Tomatoes – 150-200g (cut in big chunks) Carrot – 200 – 250g (cut in big chunks) Garlic – 3-4 cloves (chopped) Salt, pepper Any greens – parsley, dill etc.

Chilli pepper optional.

Directions:

Soak chick peas for a few hours to soften.

Put meat bones into a large heavy-based pan and cover with water. Put to boil.

Skim off foam every so often. Let broth cook for 1-1.5hrs, until meat starts to fall off the bones.

Add finely diced onion and let it cook for another 20-30min. Add chick peas and carrots and let it cook under the lid for anther 20min. When chick peas are almost cooked add potato, pepper, tomatoes and garlic. Season with salt, black pepper and chilli pepper to your taste. Leave to cook covered until all ingredients are cooked.

Before serving remove bones from the pan and cut meat into big pieces. Add to soup.

When serving, sprinkle moderate amount of chopped parsley and dill.

Good for body and soul.

Bon appetite!

СУП НАХОТ ШУРПА

Во все времена визитной карточкой узбекской кухни считались плов, манты и шашлык. И лишь немногие знают что ни одно семейное торжество не пройдёт без первого традиционного блюда, а именно без супа из восточного гороха нут. В Узбекистане его называют либо ‘’нахот‘’, либо ‘’нухут‘’. Существует множество рецептов этого насыщенного и питательного супа. Сегодня я познакомлю Вас с тем, который я готовлю сама.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Ингредиенты:

На 4 персоны Горох нахот – 400гр Баранина на кости – 1кг Лук репчатый – 3шт Сладкий перец – 3шт.разных цветов Картофель – 300гр Помидоры – 150 - 200гр Морковь – 200 – 250гр Чеснок – 3 - 4 зубчика Соль, перец по вкусу. Любая зелень по Вашему вкусу. Можно для остроты добавить перец чили.

Способ приготовления:

Нахот предварительно замочить в тёплой воде несколько часов. В глубокую кастрюлю с водой помещаем мясные кости и ставим вариться. В процессе варки снимаем пенку пока бульон не станет прозрачным. Таким образом варим бульон 1-1.5 часов пока мясо не начнёт отделяться от кости. Затем добавляем мелко нарубленный лук и варим ещё минут 30. Теперь пора остальных ингредиентов. Добавляем нахот и в это же время можно добавить крупно нарезанную морковь. Накрыть крышкой и оставить вариться минут на 20. Когда горох почти готов, добавляем крупно нарезанные картофель, сладкий перец, помидор; солим, перчим и добавляем по вкусу перец чили и крупно нарезанный чеснок. Оставляем вариться под крышкой до полной готовности всех ингредиентов. В конце вытаскиваем кости и снимаем с них мясо. Мясо крупно рубим и добавляем в суп. При подаче украсьте суп нарубленной зеленью.

Приятного аппетита!

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

26 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

Weight Matters

with Jenny Kinsella

086 2418361

www.weightmatters.ie

n HAVING TAKEN the journey myself, losing five stone 20 years ago and maintaining this weight loss over that time, I know and understand what is needed for you to achieve your own personal goals. I know that dramatic weight loss is rarely sustained, that significant weight loss takes time to achieve. That is why in WeightMatters I focus on medium to long-term goal setting.

Regarding weight loss it is so easy to get overwhelmed, there’s so much information out there about food, exercise, habits, and everything else weight loss related, particularly at this time of the year. One could spend the rest of their lives researching about the best way to lose weight etc, my point is there’s no shortage of information.

That’s why in WeightMatters I have stripped weight loss back to the core – Eat less (Calories), Move more.

My advice to you, is to create a plan and then take it one day at a time. Don’t try to overhaul your life in one day. Don’t think about 3 stones from now. Think about the first pound and go from there.

Don’t expect to break decades of bad habits in one day, one week, or even one month. Changing your lifestyle takes time and to be honest it’s a lifelong process.

BINGEING

There are weeks you feel on top of the world and that you have this whole weight loss thing sorted and then the next week you’re bingeing watching T.V. with a bowl of ice cream and God knows what else.

That’s ok, we all have bad days. The good thing is tomorrow is a new day.

That’s how I want you to think. Show up every day ready to be the best version of you.

Of course, you might slip up but at least you showed up - sometimes that’s half the battle.

Take it one day at a time. One habit at a time. When you feel comfortable then you can add more. Now let me also say this……you need to step out of your comfort zone so

don’t take my advice for a green light to sit back and wait for it to happen. I want you to step out of your comfort zone. That’s when change happens.

Just don’t try to change it all at once.

One day at a time. Of course, keep your eye on the prize but focus on the daily habits that will ultimately lead to your weight loss goals. Look back on the action steps that you know you need to take and commit to putting those in place a little at a time. Over time those little steps will lead to big results.

One way to keep focused throughout your weight loss journey is to regularly set goals. Often, people set a larger “bigger picture” goal of losing a certain about of weight instead of focusing on the smaller lifestyle habits and routines (weekly menu planning, drinking more water, etc.) that need to happen in order to reach the bigger goals.

Goals give direction throughout your journey. More importantly is the sense of accomplishment you experience once you achieve those goals.

Believe me, there’s no greater motivation than seeing the results of your hard work. In those moments, you realize that you can do this because YOU DID do it!

Remember, I want you to think differently about goals. Instead of fo-

cusing on the weight, focus on habits. In fact, don’t worry about weight at all.

Also the best set goals are: Smart Goals: Simple, Manageable, Actionable, Realistic, Timely.

The goal is not to overhaul your entire life in one month. It’s to begin changing your lifestyle one habit at a time. As you get comfortable with one habit you can then add on another one.

EXAMPLES

Here are a few examples. As you can see, I give the goal along with some action steps.

Drink more water - This month I’m going to drink 2 to 3 glasses of water every day, working up to 1.5 litres per day. I’ll do this by purchasing a water bottle, setting reminders on my phone, and recording my intake in my Food & Mood diary. Every night I’ll make sure my water bottle is full for the following day.

As you can see this goal is a smart goal. It’s Simple, it’s Manageable, Actionable, Realistic and Timely.

Exercise 3 - 4 days a week - This month I want to build an exercise habit. I will look at my calendar every Sunday and schedule in exercise for the week. I’ll make sure to have exercise gear ready the night before.

Consume more fruit and vegeta-

bles. This month I want to focus on eating more fruit and vegetables. I’ll do this by having fruit at breakfast, salad at lunch and vegetables with my dinner.

Goals don’t need to be complicated. Keep them simple so you don’t become overwhelmed.

Goals should be written down and visible, preferably with a checkoff list.

Your Food & Mood diary is the perfect place for this. Once we write it down, we are 10 times more likely to do it. Fact!

Try writing your goals out like this – what is the goal and how will you achieve it.

Again, the big picture (lose weight) needs to be there but the focus should be on the smaller habits that will get you there.

As you go throughout the month everything you do should move you towards your goals. So, if you can’t answer yes to the question “does this help achieve my goals?” then you need to decide whether it’s worth it.

The thing is, as we all know, “Nobody gives 100% every single day!”

Even the healthiest of people have struggles. Their struggles might not look the same as yours, but I guarantee they face challenges. We are all human. Life happens. We slip up. We get tired. That’s just the way it is, and it shouldn’t keep you from committing to a healthier lifestyle.

It’s not about creating a lifestyle free of challenges or struggles it’s about succeeding despite them. You might not be able to show up every day and give 100% but as long as you show up and do something to keep moving forward then you’re winning the battle.

My advice is to commit every day to do at least 1 thing that will move you towards a healthier lifestyle.

Maybe it’s record food, go for a walk, drink an extra glass of water, get exercise clothes ready, throw out old food, write a to do list, put together a meal plan. Pick one thing.

Don’t try to give 100% to everything at once. This will lead you to feel overwhelmed and discouraged.

Pick a habit and do it. Focus on the small wins because that’s what will build your confidence to do more.

ENTERTAINMENT

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HEALTH VITALITY RELAXED LIFE STRESS MINDFULNESS BALANCE

WELLBEING ENERGY WELLNESS CONTENTMENT EMOTIONAL HOLISTIC Name: SELFLOVE

3 Wellbeing Crossword Wellbeing Crossword 1

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MOVIE REVIEW

STAR WARS

The Rise of Skywalker 9

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Mon Dec 2 15:34:44 2019 GMT. Enjoy!

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HAPPINESS Wellbeing Crossword LIFESTYLE CARE MEDITATION SPIRITUAL HEALING ENERGISED

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TURN OFF YOUR PHO

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OLDSCHOOL FUN

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 27

n THE FINAL INSTALLMENT of the Star Wars 11 series came to a dramatic conclusion in The Rise of Skywalker.

Review by OLIVIA CARLA SMITH

LIVV FOR FILM

The age-old conflict between good and evil is the main premise for the movie. As with 12 all of George Lucas’ films, the special effects were second to none and the acting was incredible – particularly Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver, the main protagonist and antagoinst.

Created using the Crossword Maker on TheTeachersCorner.net 12 It ignited nostalgia as we were reunited with the familiar faces of the original characters Across Down 11 Created using the Crossword Makersuch on TheTeachersCorner.net as Princess Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Luke Skywalker 4. Keeping fit this way can be a stretch 1. Go thereLeia to be (Carrie pampered 5. Keeping your thoughts 'in Down the moment' 2. On to yername bike forbut thisaactivity (Mark Hamill) few. Irish actor, Domhnall Gleeson, also features heavily in g fit this way can be a stretch 1. Go there to be pampered 3. Food that's not processed g your thoughts 'in the moment'8. Plan to get lost in your thoughts 2. On yer bike for this activity the series.

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3. Food that's not processed With that being said, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a must-watch for any die6. Did someone leave the kettle on? I can't see a thing... hard Star Wars fan, but for me, it just didn’t quite live up to expectations.

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9. Finnish hot invention

LAST ISSUE SOLUTION: Down: 1. Paris, 2. Green, 3. Global Warming, 6. Upcycling, 7. Coral, 9. Nude, 12. Hybrid, 14. Amazon. Across: 4. Microplastics, 5. Pollution, 8. Climate Crisis, 10. Hurricane, 11. Bicycle, 13. Air Travel, 15. Friday, 16. Beast, 17. Wind

More at Olivia’s website, including her social media contact handles: livvforfilm.com

28 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS n DID YOU NOTICE that more and more people are talking about mindfulness or practicing mindfulness? Is it because more and more people find that practising mindfulness helps them live their life with greater ease? But what is mindfulness exactly? What benefits does it procure to us and around us?

And how can we engage in mindfulness practices?

When we think of mindfulness, we often think of a strange word devoid of meaning, a mind full of what?

Shouldn’t the mind be empty rather than full when we want to unwind… it can be confusing right? Well, it’s not what you think at all…Mindfulness is a type of meditation where you focus your attention on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness can involve breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.

Spending too much time planning, problem-solving, daydreaming, or thinking negative or random thoughts

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Wherever you are, be there - totally there!

can be draining. It can also make you experience stress, anxiety and sometimes symptoms of depression.

Practicing mindfulness exercises can help you direct your attention away from this kind of thinking and engage with the world around you.

Mindfulness has been studied in many clinical trials. The overall evidence supports the effectiveness of meditation for various conditions such as stress, anxiety, pain, depres-

sion, insomnia, high blood pressure.

There are many simple ways to practice mindfulness. Some examples include: Pay attention: Try to take the time to experience your environment with all your senses, touch, sound, sight, smell and taste.

Live in the moment: Try to intentionally bring an open, accepting and discerning attention to everything you do. Find joy in simple pleasures.

Accept yourself: Treat yourself the way you would treat a good friend.

Body scan: Focus your attention slowly and deliberately on each part of your body, be aware of any sensations, emotions or thoughts arising.

Watch them arise, don’t react.

Sitting meditation: Sitting and breathing for even just a minute can help.

Walking meditation: Focus on the experience of walking, being aware of the sensations of standing and the subtle movements that keep your balance.

These simple exercises can be practiced anywhere, anytime and for any duration. Mindfulness is not so much about how long you stay in a mindful state but rather how often you practice. If the thought of sitting under a tree for long hours is putting you off, that’s because you don’t need to go to that extend to reap the initial benefits of mindfulness.

Think of it, next time you take a breath, take a deep breath. It only takes one conscious deep breath to get started with mindfulness practice and set the pathway to a happier experience of Life!

SLAYIN’ WHILE SUSTAININ’

n 2019 WAS BIG for sustainability, particularly in fashion. All over the globe; ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ was a concept that moved from the corner to the catwalk.

Gucci had its first carbon neutral fashion show which received a response so good, that mere days later Kering, Gucci’s parent group promised full carbon neutrality across all its brands, and to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2025. Alexander McQueen used old laces and tulle from previous collections in his new line and put upcycling right to the top of the runway agenda. Glamourous sets usually destined for landfill were given a new green consideration; Louis Vuitton promised their plywood was bound for recycling. While Dior went the extra mile and composed a set of 100 trees, all of which were then planted in community gardens.

Even high street brands like Nike and Zara saw that doing good for the planet has become good for business and both launched sustainability campaigns. Fast fashion retailer and planet offender Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy and closed 350 of it’s 815 global stores, with many citing a lack of sustainability efforts as a contributing factor to the cut. 2020 looks promising for fashion, just so long as

we keep voting with our bank cards and demand action alongside assurance.

In our growing awareness of sustainability, it’s fair to say that most of us have realised that you can’t throw anything ‘away’ because quite simply, ‘away’ does not exist. However, at this time of year some of us are a little more likely to conveniently forget that. According to The Irish Times, last December Ireland went through 15 million Christmas crackers, most of which will have come with a plastic novelty toy inside which is now well on its way to landfill.

And let’s be honest, you might have considered sending the ‘gaudy’ jumper your nan bought you along with it. But it is true what they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and this could not be more relevant when considering unused, mint condition items. I for one LOVE a gaudy jumper!

Here are the most environmentally friendly ways to get rid of those unloved gifts, Donate. We are very fortunate to have such a great collection of chari-

Clare Willis on sustainable fashion...

ty shops between Ballyjamesuff, Oldcastle and Virginia. Pay them a visit and drop off your unwanted items.

You might even find something for yourself while you’re in there!

Regift. Once considered something of a faux pas, maybe we can start to think of regifting now as more of a ‘pay it forward’ gesture. That toiletry set might not be to your taste, but surely you can think of someone who would like it. You can wait until it’s their birthday or even surprise them with a random moment of generosity.

Throw a swap shop. Arrange somewhere for your friends to meet

and exchange your gifts. You might not feel you need 6 pairs of pyjamas for the year ahead, but we all have that one friend…

Resell. You can’t be blamed for maybe wanting some reimbursement on your flop of a gift. Thankfully there is always the option of reselling. Facebook Marketplace, Adverts, Depop… the list goes on! But please keep in mind that online buying and selling can have significant repercussions for our planet; from the plastic packaging to the polluting daily deliveries, so try and calculate the best method for your needs and use ecofriendly packaging!

ENVIRONMENT

Good for the planet – amazing for the home

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 29

A T S IN

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n HAVE YOU DECIDED this January that this year you’ll “do up your house”? Because in doing so you can also show a little love and kindness to our planet.

Avoid a trip to the skip and breathe new life into old items by upcycling them into unique statement pieces.

Go to any charity shop or clearance warehouse and you will find old dining chairs, coffee tables or anything else you might need. This is always better than buying new.

IMAGINING

You don’t need to have a big budget to create a home that is colourful and stylish. I want you to think outside of the box when you look at an old piece of furniture and enjoy imagining a new piece to suite your home. My advice is be confident in your style and and make the project fun and stress free.

For beginners I suggest you start with a simple project like an old chair, decide on a paint colour and contrasting fabric. You will be amazed how easy it is to transform a tired old chair into a stunning piece of furniture suitable for any room. The chair shown here is painted in linen with a floral print on a beige background. The original seat was a rush weave which can be covered with a thin layer of padding under the fabric.

SELECTION

The paint I use is General Finish Milk Paint, a premium interior/ exterior mineral based paint named for its low-lustre sheen, which mimics the look of old-world furniture paint. There’s a big selection of colours that are a mix of classic

and fun depending upon the direction you wish to take your furniture.

Plus, the colours are mixable – so you can go that extra originality mile and create your own custom colours as well!

First step with all your projects is to make sure the surface is clean, I always prep by washing my piece of furniture with sugar soap, once the surface is clean you can apply first coat of paint no primer needed, you can apply the second coat of paint within the hour as it is a water base paint it will dry quickly.

One of my favourite pieces that we created at Old Glory is a bench which is made from and oak bed.

We used the headboard as the back of the bench and cut the footboard in half to create the arm rests and the seat was the top of an old coffee table. I finished by applying a stencil on the back to add a little colour and charm. It was very satisfying to recycle the old bed and tabletop into something functional and unique.

POSSIBILITIES

When you start to repurpose furniture, you will discover how easy it is to create exciting pieces for your home. The possibilities are endless. I am currently working on a chest of drawers which will be transformed into a functional storage piece for any room. I will take you through each step of the transformation in my next column.

op he sh T : Y OR D GL l OL mesduff. ja Bally Susan can be found at the Old Glory store in Ballyjamesduff

in

30 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS n SCROLL DOWN through your Instagram feed and you will no doubt see it, with its cute yellow painted buildings, shiny tiles and red roofs. It is the San Francisco of Europe, with its hills and trams and sea breeze. It has countless narrow cobbled streets and hills to get lost in. It has outstanding cuisine, shopping and nightlife. It has managed to remain a Portuguese city in a world where many places feel the same. It sits proud, on the edge of the EU, with its head held high, looking out at the Atlantic Ocean. We should allow Lisbon to have this moment, and be glad that we can share the moment with it.

Many believe it to be the coolest and trendiest city in the EU to visit right now. This isn’t the first time Lisbon has been seen this way. Vasco De Gama, Ferdinand Magellan and Christopher Columbus, the rock stars of their day, amongst others, put this city on the map that they would later add to. And, when they returned (sadly Magellan only returned once) they did so with huge amounts of riches in the form of gold and silver.

A lot of these riches were used to rebuild the city after the 1755 earthquake and tsunami destroyed 90% of the city. Interestingly, the world’s first earthquake proof buildings were built following the disaster, which still stand today. A testament to a city that has had ups and downs.

Is it expensive?

Lisbon is the kind of city where it is a struggle not to do a double take when the bill arrives. Compared to other EU capitals, it is very economical. In terms of closer to home, prices are about 30-40% lower than in Dublin. It is cheap and easy to get to as well. Aer Lingus, Ryanair and TAP Air fly direct multiple times a day, with a flight time of 2.5 hours. You can get return flights from as little as €70 if you book in advance. Hotels are super reasonable as well with a room in a 4 star hotel costing from €75 per night.

Is it safe?

Portugal decriminalised drugs in 2001, so you would think it would be a dangerous, almost South American-esque place to be. This is not the case and the truth is that it is a very safe place to be. However, like any

LISBON TRAVEL

Report by MIKE KEEGAN place where large number of tourists flock, keep your wits about you. If you do, you will be just fine.

Where should you stay?

You can stay pretty much anywhere in Lisbon thanks to it being not only a walkable city but a city that also has great public transportation.

However, if you want to see all the main attractions then the Chiado district is a great shout. It’s a lively spot to be and has cafes, restaurants, bars, theatres and loads of stores.

Where should you eat?

You can’t go to Lisbon without trying a Pastéis de Nata – A custard tart that is delightfully flaky on the outside whilst remaining soft, sweet and creamy on the inside. So, where is the best place to try one?

In Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém. This place is where many believe the original recipe came from. It is said that in the 1800’s, during the liberal revolution, the convents and monasteries all shut down. In a bid to survive, monks began to sell the tarts in a nearby sugar refinery. Soon after,

City that launched a thousand ships the owner bought the recipe from the monks and began selling the tarts.

Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém sells up to 20,000 every day.

What should you drink?

Wine. Wine, wine, wine and more wine. To not drink wine in Lisbon is like not eating pasta in Italy.

There are countless wine bars dotted across the city. The best place to drink at night in Lisbon is Barrio Alto.

Perched high on top of a hill, it is easy to access by hopping on the Gloria Funiculare. There are countless bars to choose from, but if you want some wine you must stop at BA Wine Bar do Barrio Alto. With over 200 wines in the cellar and beautiful rooftop views you really cannot go wrong.

When should you go?

Due to the fact that Lisbon is one of the sunniest cities in Europe – it is adorned with 2799 hours of sunshine a year – you can pretty much go any time of the year. It would make sense to avoid the summer months of July and August as it can get extremely hot. April, May, September and October are the sweet spots.

Top Tips

Take the 28 Yellow tram. This is an incredible way to tick of some of Lisbon’s sights as it lurches itself up around some of Lisbon’s most beautiful street.

Wear flat shoes. Seriously, this is

a hilly city with many cobbles. You will thank me later.

Get out of the city and visit Sintra.

This is an extraordinary hill town that hosts a multitude of fairy tale palaces. It is one of the must-see sights in Europe. It is easy to get to as well – a train leaves Rossio station every 20 minutes, with a journey time of 40 minutes.

ENTERTAINMENT

DisAstral Charts & Horror-scopes for 2020!

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 Its finally over – Only the strawberry creams are left in the purple tin, and that belt is starting to nip a bit more than a few weeks ago. As the water carrier sign you are a born fighter, and you proved that many times last year during the water supply fiasco. Anyway, fire up that iron and tackle the ‘2020 crinkly shirt mountain challenge’ before the in-laws bring the sherry trifle round!

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 Like most fishy people you have a generous personality, but your kind nature can easily be taken advantage of in 2020 by chancers and greedy acquaintances. If you get a knock at the door after Xmas, you can be sure it’s not some slacker carol singers - so hide behind the kitchen door in case it’s a friend in need!

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 As typical with Aries types, when Venus and Saturn switch places, you will set out on a quest for the truth. Even Netflix doesn’t satiate your desire to find out what’s really happening in the world. But in these post-truth times you might have to accept the current state of affairs, unless you invest in an Amazon Prime account for 2020 instead.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 It’s the beginning of the year and the ruling planet Venus is in the 9th house. This indicates a bright and successful year ahead for you. The presence of the five planets will generally bring benefits throughout the year. However, it’s the introduction of Mars that has the potential to cause issues as the weekend arrives, so it might be wise to eat all the fun sized ones before the family comes.

GEMINI May 22 - Jun 22 Saturn will change the sign of the twins towards the end of January, and this has the power to reduce the negativity around the house and your workplace alike. Relaxing more at work will enhance your productivity but don’t take it too far. The last time you did that you were sent home for wearing your slippers and a dressing gown!

CANCER Jun23 - Jul 23 Celebs and people on TV or in Films often achieve their biggest successes by playing different characters and stretching their repertoire. The planetary positioning in early 2020 is creating the best opportunities for you, but you also need to stretch yourself. But be warned, if you overstretch reaching inside the family sized bag of Maltesers you might not be able get up to turn the third repeat of Quantum of Solace off!

LEO Jul 24 - Aug 23 Saturn goes into retrograde at the end of this month and this might cause troubled times, but it will also provide you with the strength to fight all your battles and emerge victoriously later in 2020. You are advised not to work yourself into a lather until at least Easter, but at least then you can use all the toiletries your gran bought from the Euro shop in town!

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 The conjugation of Mercury with the Sun over the Yuletide season has created some positive results to rev you up in 2020. You are more at ease with the world around you and Karma really seems to be on your side. You will see an improvement in your financial position, and this should continue until Easter when your low interest credit card deal comes to an end!

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 The arrival of a new year, with Venus sitting in the 4th house can prove to be very good news for Librans. Happiness and prosperity are all around you. Is it the right time to look for a new house, a sports car, that dream tractor perhaps? One thing is for sure, it’s time to dust off that wallet and let the moths out because they have raised small families over Xmas!

SCORPIO Oct 24 - Nov 22 The new year will play an important role for you as it will help you focus and achieve the things you have been working extremely hard on. Saturn is going to change at the end of January, which can increase the level of your happiness in the workplace. Focus on important things for sure, but don’t do it at the detriment to your home life. The last time you did the vet had to be called, the dog lost 14lbs and the cat went to live with the neighbour.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 2020 is expected to be very auspicious for the people of Sagittarius as Jupiter will remain in its own zodiac sign. You will be refilled with a fresh, new energy and empowered to overcome life’s challenges. Wealth is certainly a theme for the early part of the year and destiny is also going feature, especially for anyone from the educational field. Take that chance and do the training abroad, please let it be a cooking course after that tragic turkey stuffing incident!

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 The ruling planet of Capricorn, Saturn, will sit in the 12th position of your zodiac as we start 2020. Unfortunately, this shows that your financial problems from last year might continue for some time despite you working really hard. It’s not all doom and gloom however, you were really star of the show at the work Xmas party and have made a lot of new friends.

I guess that’s what happens when you start dancing on the tables in the pub at lunchtime with your baubles on show!

K

THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS 31

Chalk Dust at the Ramor Theatre

Let’s chalk it up to experience!

l Chalk Dust at the Ramor n FOR THOSE WHO grew up, or still are growing up with 3D cinemas, surround sound LED televisions and the seemingly ubiquitous internet; an emotional bond with a theatre may be difficult to fathom.

However, for a community like Virginia and the surrounding rural villages, the Ramor Theatre represents more than a mere place to see plays.

Rural theatres act as community hubs, places where people express or find their true voice, and they should represent how a community wants to be perceived by outsiders.

For any outsider looking in, or local for that matter, it must be truly heart-warming to see such high-quality productions being staged in the town, and the recent production of Chalk dust was no exception. Chalk Dust is a dramatic, poetic study of a year in the life of students in Kilnacrott Boarding School located outside Ballyjamesduff in the 1950s.

The original poem Chalk Dust by Noel Monahan was adapted by The Ramor Theatre manager and director, Padraic McIntyre who used a rich blend of music, dance, narration and dialogue to bring the poem to life as a play. The cast consisted of professional actors together with an ensemble of students from local secondary schools who, it must be said, were fabulously funny!

For those who don’t know what to expect inside The Ramor, the atmosphere is really special. The building contributes somewhat to that, and re-

Report by JOHNNY LATHAM

ally lent itself perfectly to this particular production. (Originally St. Mary’s Catholic Church the last mass was celebrated here in 1989) Rather than a straight review of the play, great though it was, it’s important to emphasise the true value of a town asset like The Ramor, and not just in artistic terms! The town was really lively and the pubs were full! Across Europe and in the UK, funding has been slashed year on year, council, library and youth service funding has been decimated over an austere decade!

We say - love your theatre, get involved and go see some of the great productions they are putting on - you might be surprised and have a great evening out!

32 THE RURAL HUB COMMUNITY NEWS

VIRGINA MOVES TO THE RHYTHM OF ZUMBA!

BACK CHAT

n WHEN A COLUMBIAN AEROBICS INSTRUCTOR showed up to class in Cali and realised that he’d forgotten to bring his regular music with him, he had to think on his feet. The year was 1998. Casette tapes had not yet been replaced by mp3 players and instructor Pérez happened to have some with him containing Latin dance music. That day, his class was surprised to hear, not the normal adrynalin-charged beats, but salsa and merengue. Students were captivated by the sounds and beats and, quite by accident, Zumba was born.

Zumba classes are typically about an hour long and are taught by instructors licensed by Zumba Fitness. In one Zumba class, a person can burn up to 600 kcal, depending on the amount of energy they put in. The music comes from dance styles such as cumbia, salsa, merengue, mambo, flamenco, chachacha, reggaeton, soca, samba, hiphop and tango.

Zumba is one of the most versa-

tile forms of fitness, as classes can be geared for any fitness level.

BENEFITS OF ZUMBA

Zumba is a total-body cardio and aerobic workout, which provides a large calorie consumption. A study shows that a person burns 300 to 900kcal with an hour-long Zumba exercise.

Because Zumba offers different options, proponents of the Zumba program claim that it is safe for

all ages, meaning that anyone from age 0 to 100 can participate in this form of aerobic exercise. Some of the classes are specifically aimed at elderly people, to help them build strength, improve motion and posture, and socialize.

Besides its high calorie burning benefit, Zumba can help lower the risk of heart disease, reduce the blood pressure and bad cholesterol, and increase your good cholesterol.

If you to want to get your healthy shape back or just enjoy a some fun times, come and join the Virginia Zumba classes with the amazing Nausheen, qualified ZUMBA trainer, every Thursday night at 8. O’clock at the Show Centre in Virginia.

l Fully qualified Zumba trainer, Nausheen, in full flow. You can join in at the Thursday night classes in the Show Centre, Virginia.

n IN THIS EDITION we are going to review the new Peugeot 508, a sedan with premium character.

Peugeot defines the 508 as a radical sedan, sportier and more emotional. Currently we can find it on the official website with two available engines: a 1.5-liter 130 hp and a 2.0-liter 180 hp (both diesel), in addition to the option of choosing an 8-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual.

The unit we could test had the 130 hp engine, a 1.5 diesel with a maximum speed of 208 km/h. An engine with quite acceptable performance and enough to move the entire mass of the car weighing 1415 kg on average depending on the engine and transmission. With an approved average consumption of 4.6 l /100 km Peugeot has presented a balanced car in terms of weight/power/consumption.

As for aesthetics we must highlight several aspects. In this new version of the 508 the height of the car has decreased, and its width has increased, giving it a sportier and much more dynamic air. Another aesthetic aspect that has changed has been the return of the logo and name of the model to the hood, and some LED headlights that, seen from the rearview mirror, look like two fangs of a

Review by HAROLD GORDILLO

THE PEUGEOT 508 beast. We must also highlight the absence of door frames, a characteristic of coupe style sedans. In general, the 508 is a car that attracts attention and stands out among the traffic.

Inside the car we find that Peugeot applied the theory of i-cockpit in the 508. Interior highlights include the use of premium quality leather upholstery and the dashboard, although plastic, has a high-quality finish.

Behind the small diameter steering wheel, we can see the digital instrument panel, configurable with different presentations to choose from. We can also find an 8- or 10inch touch screen, depending on the version we choose. Under the touch

screen, we find a series of piano-like buttons, giving it a retro aesthetic and providing some more character to the interior.

In the centre console there is a wireless charger for smartphones, and two USB connections. The 508 has enough spaces to leave objects, which is appreciated. As for the seats, we can say that they are quite comfortable, and they grip well for “sporty” driving. In the rear seats the situation is somewhat different: due to the fall of the roof there is not much space for tall people like me, reducing comfort, however there is enough space for the legs and knees.

The boot offers 487 liters, giving a

very clear cargo space thanks to the large gate that rises next to the window, which is quite good when loading the trunk.

In Ireland there are a number of different versions of the 508: the Active version from €31,570 (base version, manual transmission); the Allure version from €34,030 (manual transmission); the GT Line (the one we tested with a manual transmission) from €37.190 and the GT version from €47,070 (Engine 2.0 of 180 hp with an automatic transmission).

All in all the Peugeot 508 is a fantastic car with eye-catching looks that offers real value for money in a very competitive segment of the market.