Kilkenny Observer - October 16, 2020

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Friday 16 October 2020

Adrian Cashin

See Page 10

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United among the beauty of falling leaves in their local green playground, children of tender years celebrate the success of their ventures to support other children

Caring children exude love and warmth JIMMY RHATIGAN EDITOR

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N ILL and weary Mother Ireland will recover.

She will be comforted and cared for by young children of our city and county who are being hailed as the real heroes, the visionaries of Covid-19 ravaged times.

The kindness and care of children at the heart of a city centre community is sparking a new community spirit of love thy neighbour, instilling positivity as we battle with a deadly enemy.

EVERY FRIDAY

Boys and girls in the closeknit housing estate of St Fiacre’s Place at the fulcrum of St Patrick’s Parish or The Village showed amazing love and heart-warming solidarity as they raised funds for the Children’s Ward at our local St Luke’s General Hospital.

The little ones, aged between 7 and 11, many of them pupils of St John of God Convent, New Street, were determined to support fellow children in St Luke’s who in turn are tended to by brave and passionate frontline workers.

It was school pals Sarah Culleton, aged 11 of 6th Class and Orlaith Knox of 4th Class who, showing leadership qualities beyond their tender

The Kilkenny

Observer 1 GARDEN ROW, TOP OF WILLIAM STREET, JUST OFF FRIARY STREET.

years, organised a double whammy of fundraising to support the hospital and its patients.

HAPPY HEARTS The duo was joined by friends, neighbours’ children as they organised a cake and book sales and a raffle that spurred them to further voluntary efforts.

The success of the sale, with baking by Sarah Culleton’s mother, Hannah, the loan of a candy floss machine from a local ice cream van man and the support of local families was the dynamo that whetted the appetite for further giving.

Continued on Page 4

Delighted to help fellow children, young enthusiasts from St Fiacre’s Place with Nurse Elaine Brennan, back right, of the Paediatric Department at our St Luke’s General Hospital Pics: Danny Lahart

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Eager beavers helped by entire community Continued from Page 3 spark another opportunity to boost the hospital fund.

The sponsored run was born he cake sale that raised €120 would soon be boosted by a and plans were put into place.

Based on the distances that they sponsored run around the housing estate’s green playground had been running, it was decided area, an exercise that would that the little group would be able boost health and add to hospital for 100 laps of the green area.

Lexie McStay, aged 9, a 3rd comforts.

Led by their dad, Michael, Class pupil of Conahy National Sarah and Dylan Culleton and School and Aoibheann Keane, accompanied by their pal Orlaith a 1st Class pupil of Church Hill Knox, the children enjoyed National School, Cuffesgrange, an regular morning keep fit runs in enthusiastic 7-year old, also put on the absence of organised sports their runners.

OLYMPIC GAMES due to Covid.

Keen as mustard too were Happy heart exercise was to

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Jacob and Layla Coady, Conor Gleeson, Ava O’Brien, Dara Keane, Aoibheann’s brother and Orlaith’s sister Aoife Knox.

Sponsorship cards were printed

by Michael Culleton as the big day beckoned when a field of dreams would become a mini Olympic Games Stadium.

The young eager beavers were supported by an entire community as parents turned out to help organise the run and the children of the street joined in the fun.

As Michael Culleton told The Kilkenny Observer, the

enthusiasm and energy of children had brought neighbours even closer together than they were before.

The run raised €480, added to the cakes’ €120, giving a total of €600 which was passed on to Nurse Elaine Brennan of the Paediatric Department of St Luke’s.

A St Canice’s Credit Union Cheque was presented to Nurse Brennan at a Kilkenny Observer photo shoot on the local green that hosted the fund-raising sponsored run.

More pictures Page 26

LEFT: Lexie McStay nursing a broken leg. - Above: Good health: Girls and boys run for fun on the green, green grass of home Pics: Danny Lahart

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Boy soldier: To war for love of family A

CALLAN boy who lied about his age so that he could fight in World War 1 was honoured in Kilkenny City on Sunday.

Thomas Joseph Woodgate, educated at the Christian Brothers in Callan signed up for the British Army saying he was 18, the legal minimum age for military service, when he was 14 only.

He enlisted at a time of dire poverty and his courageous plan was to support his loving family.

Son of Edward and Hanora

Woodgate of Mill Street, young Woodgate saw action in a savage war.

Sadly, he drowned with some 501 other servicemen and women, passengers and crew when his Royal Merchant Ship, Leinster was sunk by a German Submarine on October 10, 1918.

MINUTE’S SILENCE A memorial and plaque unveiling for Thomas Joseph, officially the youngest casualty of WW1 was held almost to the date of

Trumpeter Charlie Parsons with the memorial plaque

his death.

Venue was the Market Yard entrance beside Kilkenny Courthouse where numbers were restricted.

The event was organised by the volunteers of the Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee.

Remembered too were the youth of Ireland who took part in conflicts around the world.

Thomas Joseph was buried over a century ago at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin.

A minute’s silence was

observed and the Last Post was played by trumpeter Charlie Parsons. A Piper’s Lament was played by Finbarr McCarthy.

The official launch was by Minister Malcolm Noonan and Councillor Andrew McGuinness, chair of Kilkenny County Council.

Participants included Donal Croghan of the War Memorial Committee and representatives of local Churches.

More pictures Page 8

Thomas Joseph Woodgate, killed in war at mere 14 years old

Piper Finbarr McCarthy Pics: Danny Lahart

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Our city didn’t forget to remember

Run with military precision, John Joe Cullen and Bobby Kearney

Councillor Andrew McGuinness, chair Kilkenny County Council

Organising committee member Bernie Egan and Lt Thomas Murphy of the Irish Defence Forces

Fantastic: Super tribute to a brave boy

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EDITORIAL EXTRA –––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A stitch in time­­ Adrian’s 50 years as a tailor JIMMY RHATIGAN EDITOR

A

DRIAN CASHIN is a journeyman tailor who fell head, neck and heels in love with our city and our people when he came here 40 years ago.

In turn we love him as an excellent artisan, a troubadour with musical and singing talent and a personality that would charm the birds out of the trees.

As he celebrates 50 years of tailoring, The Kilkenny Observer caught up with a man who enjoys life and lives it to the full.

He has a slapstick and impromptu sense of humour.

Depending on which page of his book of humour he is reading from, Adrian may claim to be a first cousin of Dame

Elizabeth Taylor, one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood of the 1950s.

He is a tailor and so was Elizabeth Taylor.

TRADITIONAL TAILORS Even our Adrian would hardly get away with that tenuous connection between the movie star and our needle and thread expert who has spent half a century sewing, joining, reinforcing or finishing clothing.

He comes from a long line of traditional tailors. His father Peter was a tailor in Carlow Town and his two brothers and sisters all followed in their dad’s footsteps.

A son of Carlow, he served his time in O’Flynns of Fethard, County Tipperary, world renowned tailors who designed and made clothes for the late President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his wife, Jackie.

He opened his own business

in Athy before moving to alive from a coffin.

He is now part of a duo called Dublin.

Four decades ago he came Wrong Direction. With him is here and is still as snug as a bug his great friend, Donie Ryan. in a rug.

NOT A BOB STIRRING Covid-19 has hit the pair hard FINNEGAN’S WAKE As he toasts his chosen as because of health restrictions profession he looks back on there has not been music or what he calls an enjoyable song in pubs, hotels or theatres career when his shop window for over six months.

“There isn’t a bob stirring but was the suit and waistcoat he I will remain positive and hope wore himself.

Home is a cosy upstairs that all musicians will get back apartment in High Street from to doing what they love, and where the lively 68-year-old also what they have to do, feed children and pay mortgages.” pensioner surveys the world.

Adrian’s pandemic hobby He still enjoys music and speaks fondly of the time he is painting, not the walls of his spent busking and pubbing with apartment, but using what he popular Freshford musician, calls poster paints to brush Mick Watson with whom he landscapes and faces on to enjoyed 20 years in a group canvas.

“It passes the time. The called The Briars.

The Briars party piece was paintings are not exactly a larger than life presentation Rembrandts but they are very of Finnegan’s Wake in which a good and I like them, even if I member of the group emerged say so myself,” he said.

Adrian Cashin, aptly a dapper dresser

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EDITORIAL EXTRA

Varadkar kicked door: A ring would have done JIMMY RHATIGAN EDITOR

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It was as if Holohan had attempted to drive a dagger into Varadkar’s heart and Varadkar responded by going for his gun.

In an ‘I am the boss-type tirade’ Varadkar pumped bullets in the direction of the medical chief and as well as wounding Holohan he left thousands, including those in Opposition accusing him of being bad mannered.

Varadkar may have scored an own goal as Fine Gael continues to ponder on why the party didn’t exactly get a good school report after it struggled in the last General Election.

ÁNAISTE Leo Varadkar’s recent verbal attack on Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan will have done the Fine Gael leader or his party no favours.

His nasty onslaught suggested that during his school years he may just have told teacher that his desk mate was in fact mitching from school and had written his own sick note.

The TV clattering was everything that you would not expect or appreciate from a high ranking officer of any political party.

Were Mr Varadkar in his teen years, his mum or dad or someone he just might have had respect for, would surely have given in a clip in the ear.

His words were mean, courting popularity but could possibly have the opposite effect as many people of different political hues seemed to give the unwarranted blitz a thumbs down.

Dr Holohan has lots of respect Dr Tony Holohan and has been applauded by some but we doubt that families trapped in the Cervical Cancer Scandal would curtesy to the WORRYING MESSAGE But, worse still, Varadkar’s rant former. has sent out the worrying message that regardless of any life or death pandemic his own ego is so important.

And he always grabs an opportunity to embarrass Martin, Donnelly or whoever from Fianna Fail.

Divorce can never be ruled out even through the Greens, FF and FG are very cosy in the same bed as they smash any hopes of normality for ordinary decent people.

Hopefully the minds of a majority of Varadkar’s colleagues are focused on the greater good of our Pic credit: Leo Varadkar TD by young, middle aged and very vulOireachtas, Source: Wikipedia, nerable elders rather than party License: (CC BY 4.0) politics, Civil War or otherwise.

To be fair, not everyone in Fine Gael should be tarred with having THE GRAPEVINE a Varadkar mind-set.

For some time the grapevine However, the more level has had it that relations between headed will have to persuade Nphet and the government have Varadkar that knocking at a door been strained and uncomfortable. or ringing a bell is far more courThe bust-up between Nphet teous than driving your boot and oft pompous and power through timber. crazy politicians is something that The latter is something that our struggling country needs like Varadkar would have to practise a hole in the head at this time. as he is more used to sticking his Mr Varadkar retaliated with foot into what has become his a ‘how dare you’ attitude when motor mouth.

Dr Holohan and his team Varadkar’s modus operandi is suggested a Level 5 lockdown to akin to using a sledgehammer to try to beat Covid. crack open a nut.

Our own Blazing Saddles At the launch of Cycle Kilkenny, a new cycling stakeholder group working towards making Kilkenny a more pleasant cycling experience, were Minister Malcolm Noonan and Declan Rice, CEO Kilkenny Leader with sisters Susie (2) and Anna (4) Spratt from Kilkenny.

The group, led by Kilkenny Leader includes the county council, Recreation and Sports Partnership, Kilkenny Chamber and Cartoon Saloon.

Haunted Wind blows for Hallowe’en

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HE Haunted Wind is a book by first time author Ross Griffin. It is available in the Book Centre in our city.

This is a supernatural thriller ready for Hallowe’en. The main story arc revolves around an evil spirit that has been released into the wind and a rogue mining company on the loose.

This 111,500-word book is a spooky story with a twist. The story stretches from the Amazon Rainforest to the Burren National Park and the three main characters are Brazilian and English.

When the book moves from the Amazon to the Burren, t he Burren and Ireland are therefore viewed from a foreigner’s perspective.

The book goes beyond its

main supernatural thriller story arc. One of the characters is an indigenous Brazilian tribesman who you might say is the ghostbuster.

Interestingly, as the author researched his character, he learned about the plight of the indigenous people of Brazil and the deforestation of the Amazon.

This then became a prominent theme last year and was widely reported in the media.

This is a small subplot of the book and at least one page of the 365 page book is fact based analysis on the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest.

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Bright sparks Conahy win as ‘Boro sow seeds I

N AN ERA when sponsorship is one of the vital tools of the trade in any sport, Conahy Shamrocks and Dicksboro had the support of neighbours and friends as they fought for promotion to intermediate hurling.

The JJ Kavanagh Trophy was the focus on Saturday as urban and rustic clubs went to war but

a move up a further deck in the local game was part of the prize worth fighting for.

It was perhaps apt that Conahy had Brian Rossiter on its side and on the front of its jerseys as hia electrical firm ensured that the Jenkinstown-based club had bright sparks as their allies.

The continued growth of Dicksboro GAA Club is

highlighted by its sponsors former GAA President Nickey and Palmerstown neighbours Brennan is synonymous and the Grassland Fertilizers.

‘Boro from the heart of St Canice’s Parish was a battle of bottle.

SCRAP SATURDAY Neither club could be accused That local business will no doubt of lacking bottle. have helped to sow the seeds of If the passion and pride on success enjoyed by the ‘Boro at display could have been poured all levels of hurling and camogie. into the same bottle then The scrap Saturday final millionaires’ row beckoned. between the club with which Coca Cola has its roots in Callan. The magic bottle could be shared by Conahy and Dicksboro.

To be fair the junior hurling championship is much more about silverware and winners’ medals than any worldly gains.

In that respect the Conahy lads will certainly have let their hair down at any social distancing party.

Ring-a-rosy or battling for a sliotar that seems to have eluded both players

GIANT STEP The ‘Boro club was disappointed.

The club fought the good fight, could have done the business but became unstuck on the final lap of an energy-sapping marathon that tested limbs over 80 minutes, including two periods of extra time.

Conahy has taken a giant step to what must be the goal of every GAA club in the county, a place at the top table of senior hurling.

For the ‘Boro, Conahy proved to be a greasy rung on the ladder that could have catapulted them Pics: Danny Lahart to new heights.

Tom Phelan of Conahy won the ball in this aerial battle

The ‘Boro is already a the intermediate pinnacle. proud senior club but the Everest is seldom conquered determination and obvious at a first attempt. talent of this squad suggests that another year could see it reach See Pages 46 and 47

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Alfresco picnic was food for thought Editor Jimmy Rhatigan pays tribute to his friend, Michael Casey

JIMMY RHATIGAN EDITOR

H

E WAS a man’s man who enjoyed a chat over a cup of coffee and a glass of

water.

He loved life and as a gentleman and a scholar he was great company for a natter about current affairs, politics and sport, with the odd mention of a nag he fancied at Gowran Park or Aintree.

Michael Casey of Avondale, Parkview Drive, a son of Kildorrery, Cork who has passed away after a brave battle with illness was retired from the Department of Agriculture.

He spoke proudly of his native place, but never hid his love of his adopted Kilkenny.

A quiet, friendly, soft spoken and sincere man, his opinions were often sought.

His words were always to the point, never forced on anybody and his verbal contributions to morning coffee were appreciated and sensible.

Michael was a learned man on many fronts but he never flaunted his intelligence or incisive insights.

Flashing back to post pandemic days at the former Ragazzi Café at the heart of Loughboy Shopping Centre we still long for the days without social distancing, lockdowns and great friendships, inside and outside the counter at the café we loved so well.

GREAT SERVICE It was there that I met Michael and struck up a friendship that was to continue to his all too early departure.

Relaxing in the sun was pure joy as the group we called The Last of the Summer Wine arrived for cuppa chats that were never arranged but simply happened.

The latter was perhaps why we enjoyed the impromptu sittings so much.

Everybody knew everybody else.

Michael loved an Espresso and water. A Flat White and a Snack Bar kept me quiet, or reasonably at ease.

He forever praised the friendliness, warmth and great service provided by Nathalie, Joan, Jackie, Dayna, Joy, Rachel and Paul.

Our friendly coffee imbibers included Michael Kavanagh, Eddie Hayes, Tom Kiernan, Eddie Kennedy, Jim Hayes, Michael O’Dwyer, Michael O’Keeffe, with

yours truly along with my loving grandson MJ to whom Michael was so warm and kind.

Michael Casey was the captain of our little ship, dapper, chic and blessed with a wonderful vocab.

He enjoyed the shopping centre. He loved the café. A few quid ventured at Paddy Powers Bookmakers was an occasional treat, a newspaper in Newsplus and a rendezvous with fellow Irish Language speakers at Loughboy Library.

Michael never wasted a day of his retirement years, a familyoriented journey to the Rebel County, precious time with his loving wife, Geraldine, a guided tour of St Canice’s Cathedral with Probus a club for retired professionals.

LOVER OF ARTS He was an avid reader of newspapers, a big fan and quite lenient critic of The Kilkenny Observer.

He enjoyed the arts, appreciated Toastmasters and was a lover of drama and for years was deeply involved with Kats Theatre Group of which he was a founder member in 1986.

When he decided to stage a production of Seán Ó Casey’s Bedtime Story he could hardly have envisaged the growth of the drama group he christened Kats.

He was aided and abetted by fellow agricultural department workers Eoin O’Neill, Frances Sweeney, Breda Holden, John Costelloe and David Dineen.

A number of plays were to follow including Love and Acid Drops, The Belle of Boolavogue, and After Midnight before Dawn for which he received a best director award.

He had performed and acted with Kildare Drama Group for which he won many best director awards.

Kats, still going strong, is the oldest drama group in the city and is testament to Michael Casey’s work.

In 2016 Michael founded Moonlight Players that was Kilkenny City and County-based.

With Moonlight he directed Lovers Meeting and Nano.

Both shows were staged in the Thomastown Community Centre.

In the 1970s and ‘80s he was a leading figure in The Drama League of Ireland, Carlow, Kilkenny, Kildare areas. He performed and directed with area productions.

COFFEE ALLIANCE It was through drama that we had met, Michael as a connoisseur, me as an admirer.

“Could I get a mention in the paper for a play we are rehearsing?” done, metaphorical Job friendship contract signed Michael paying tribute to staff and management when the Ragazzi Café closed Pic: Donal Foley

and so began a terrific local coffee alliance that soon became a foursome to include teacher Geraldine Moran, coordinator of Vocational Training Opportunities for our city and county and author and life health coach Fergus Heffernan.

In more recent times pre-Covid we were, like the Kerry farmer, outstanding in our fields.

Michael loved the great outdoors.

A weekly more often than not sun-kissed amble through the fields of Loughboy ended with a public seat chit chat about current affairs and the state of our nation.

The seated area in the green fields of Parcnagowan was our hedge school.

And still they gaz’d and still the wonder grew….Michael was compulsory listening, a fountain of information laced with humour.

With packed snacks of mini Swiss Rolls and cool, clear water we were well-armed for what in some respects was our seniors’ playground.

What started as half hour sessions graduated to near two-hour chats as our corner of Heaven on Earth became a rival for Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, London.

Then one afternoon Michael didn’t make it to the ramble.

BEGINNING OF END That sadly was to be the beginning of the end of a privileged experience in cordial company that was totally devoid of pretence, arrogance or verbal mischief.

In short, it was a weekly classic at which one could broaden knowledge.

Michael took ill, had surgery in a Dublin Hospital and returned to Kilkenny to recuperate.

Rehab was tough. We hoped and prayed. His wife Geraldine kept us up to date with health bulletins.

A few short ‘phone chinwags with Michael and we felt that the road to recovery was edging to safety.

Sadly, it was not to be.

Despite his love for life, his fighting spirit and tender loving care from Geraldine we were to lose one of the truly great literary warriors.

On September 30 a gentleman we all loved and cherished as a friend was welcomed into God’s Garden.

Our quartet is now a trinity.

But wherever we drink coffee or enjoy a picnic in the future, our friend Michael will be with us.

We will never forget to remember.

Sympathy goes to Michael’s wife; brothers Paudie and Deggie; sisters-in-law Joan and Catherine and extended family.

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Observations

A fur coat and no knickers

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ITH NO disrespect to the women of Ireland our belief is that we have been landed with a fur coat and no knickers government.

Our crazy coalition reminds of a lady who doesn’t have a pair of knickers but flaunts herself by wearing a mink or sheepskin garment that suggests prosperity

and opulence.

Reason we mention the furry garment is that far too many of our politicians have delusions of grandeur.

They consider themselves as almighty when compared to us mere mortals and as members of a giant Golden Circle they look out for each other in a world of

nepotism where many of them live.

This is despite playing a Dáil game of shadow boxing, pretending to abhor each other.

It is painfully clear that both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil hate Sinn Féin. That is their privilege but one has to wonder why they are so bitter?

CUT THROATS They continually accuse the Shinners of bombings and other brutalities that, with respect to Sinn Féin is also a verbal weapon hurled by others.

Yet FF and FG seldom if ever fire scuds at each other despite the fact that they were prepared to cut each other’s throats during the Civil War which at times, not too often mind you, continues to show its ugly face.

Perhaps the real reason that Fine Gael despises Sinn Féin is that the duo is at opposite ends of the spectrum of Irish society.

Take a close look at FG, now and over the decades and you will find that FG includes what many may describe as the cream of society, wealthy and very right wing, or if you prefer, rich and thick.

Of course there are always exceptions. FG had and has some great people.

farmers, meat barons, pharmaceuticals, Apple, banks, vultures and myriad others, lauded for providing jobs for our people and fully permitted also to use us as punch bags when it suits.

NO HOPE That FG and FF have now all but merged, with the odd spat to try to camouflage their love affair, gives the working man, the homeless, those at the mercy of aforementioned banks and vultures, families of special children no hope of living normal lives.

As for the Greens; they dived into the shark-infested waters of FF and FG in the past and got ripped asunder.

More of the same is in the pipeline for them as they show a worrying ruthlessness in dealing with Joe and Josephine Soap, a trait they may have garnered from their government colleagues who, at the blink of an eyelid, would splash them into shark-infested waters.

So where do we go as we try to protect our sanity; as a ruthless Coronavirus eats into our very WON HIS SPURS We think of Garret Fitzgerald, fabric and murders our people?

WT Cosgrave and at different times the local trinity of IRREPARABLE DAMAGE PJ, Kieran and Pat Crotty and We can look to the Shiners that superb orator Margaret who of course will be insulted, punched and kicked in the arse Tynan.

Fianna Fáil has had its stars by FF and FG, both of whom in Seán Lemass and our own have done almost irreparable Jim Gibbons, a superb Minis- damage to our country over the decades. ter for Agriculture.

Do we know if SF will solve In recent times John McGuinness won his spurs as our problems, give a better deal the courageous defender of to our hard working families, our Garda Whistleblower Gerry front line workers and our DeMcCabe as most other public fence Forces all of whom get a representatives, surprise, sur- raw deal from the coalition?

In Opposition, SF now our prise hid under the bed.

The infamous Galway Tent did country’s popularity poll topper no favours for FF that too many is quite vociferous, yet not nearly people, was a party that con- as aggressive as the lads and lasstained an overkill of three-card ies in the opposite corner of the political boxing ring in the Natricksters.

FG would appear to have no tional Convention Centre that problem pulling rabbits out of is the makeshift Dial as the panhats to protect its own, wealthy demic calls the shots.

with Jimmy Rhatigan

WHAT OF LABOUR? Compared to the time when workers’ warriors like the late Seamus Pattison, Tommy Martin, Joe Cody, Charlie Smyth and Dick Kenny formed a wonderful backbone, today’s local branch is akin to a one-legged man in an arse-kicking competition.

Batter and bruise In its leader Alan Kelly the party has a feisty champion, a man who in the past told us we would have to pay water charges.

Today he is riding a white horse and screaming for justice for the small man, woman too as he lives up to his nickname of AK47.

Would our people be prepared to give Mr Kelly and his little army another chance?

Or would our electorate consider supporting a united left of People before Profit and others who play on the same wing?

That FG, FF and Greens are determined to batter and bruise those of us who consider ourselves as ordinary hard working people there is no doubt.

What is most worrying is that this trinity is taking us for real fools as they preach one gospel on home patches and do the opposite in the Dial.

Bottom of pile They queue up under party whips in Dublin to give the thumbs down to any proposals that would cushion or inject even a smidgen of fair play into our lives.

In the past they would have tried to hide the fact that they continually spoke from both sides of their mouths.

Today, they don’t care what we think or say as they know well that our population is swamped by apathy and indifference.

But unless FG and FF throw away their fur coats and buy themselves a few pairs of panties and Jocks they could easily find themselves at pardon the pun, the bottom of the pile.

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€1m on art and Chinese Takeaway

By Jimmy Rhatigan Killarney, Upper Lake of Killarney and Brickeen Bridge.

Each was approx. 16cms x SUPER thee-day Autumn Fine Art Sale by Fonsie 22cms (six and a quarter inches Mealy Auctioneers re- by eight and a half inches), all alised just over €1million on the panels. The paintings in matching ornate gilt frames were hammer.

Highest selling lot at the Cas- signed.

Provenance: Commissioned tlecomer Auction that attracted by the Godfrey Family, County huge interest was €22,000.

A set of four paintings by Kerry and by Direct Family DeJames Arthur O’Connor (1792- scent.

Bidding was hectic too for a 1841) included Middle Lake

A

bronze figure of Cú Chulainn, 100cms (43”) high on a later cut stone inscribed base.

Provenance: Specially commissioned for the Hon Garech Browne.

IRISH MYTHOLOGY The legend of Cú Chulainn is one of the greatest in Irish mythology. He was noted in Irish mythical sagas for his superhuman strength and amazing deeds on

the battlefield.

His story was originally passed on by word of mouth, until it was written down over 800 years ago in the Táin Bó Cúailnge.

Descrbied as unique, the lot sold for €19,000.

An exciting item in a long list of lots was an early 19th century Korean Storage Cabinet, plain top with scroll ends, over a front section with ornate brass mounted doors, and plain carved designs on shaped legs.

The panelled sides depicted Swastika insignia, approx.

120cms x 104cms high.

This realised €15,000 and provenance was the late Hon Garech Browne, Luggala, County Wicklow.

BEAUTIFUL PIECE From Korea to China and to a beautiful Chinese Takeaway that proved to be good value at €12,000.

It was a rare mid-18th Century Chinese Export chinoiserie decorated and lacquered Kneehole Desk, profusely decorated all over with royal figures, attendances, dignitaries, musicians, flowers and birds.

The beautiful piece had a rectangular top with a concave serpentine front above one long frieze drawer and three recessed drawers to each pedestal, each gable decorated in a similar manner, all raised on dog mask and lion paw feet (Chinese inscription verso each drawer), 86cms x 120cms.

Other top prices included €8,500 for a fine large 17th century Flemish Tapestry and the same for an 18th Century Chinese School.

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Thousands of children to enjoy Bookville B

OOKVILLE, a festival of books for families and children, is celebrating its fourth year.

Usually consisting of live events held in the Arts Office and libraries across Kilkenny, the festival has been re-imagined for 2020 into Bookville in a Book - an activity book for 5 to 12 year olds.

An alliance of Kilkenny County Council Arts Office and the Kilkenny County Council Library Service and supported by

Creative Ireland, Bookville in a Book is beautifully designed and packed with fun activities.

Some 10,000 copies have been distributed to every primary school and library across Kilkenny City and County.

Bookville in a book is available on www.bookvillekilkenny.com.

“As schools closed and social distancing became a reality, it was clear that live events were no longer an option and we needed to find a way of keeping this valuable and widely antici-

pated festival alive.

FUN ACTIVITIES “So the Bookville in a book activity book emerged,” Arts Officer, Mary Butler told The Kilkenny Observer.

Bookville in a book includes a variety of fun activities, such as activities as Gaeilge, how to draw exercises and even a recipe for slime.

All are based around the original 12 authors and illustrators who were to take part in the

live events, including Kilkenny’s Helena Duggan with her very popular A Place Called Perfect and Cartoon Saloon featuring their newest animation film WolfWalkers.

Local artist, Sandra MacAllister, created two video workshops for Bookville; shadow puppets and Bookville bookmarks, which are perfect for making in the classroom or at home and can be viewed on www.bookvillekilkenny.com.

There was great excitement

at St Canice’s Co-ed National group activities or at home. All School with the arrival of the the books featured are available Bookville activity book. from local Kilkenny libraries and Kilkenny book shops.

PHYSICAL EXHIBITIONS County Librarian, Josephine According to Ms Henderson’s Coyne said: “Although we are 6th Class pupils agree that al- disappointed not to have any though they really miss the live events for this year, we are physical exhibitions and events, delighted that through this free that Bookville in a book is a great activity book, Bookville will activity book and that it has en- continue to reach far and wide couraged them to look at lots throughout the county and will of books. Bookville in a book is be seen, enjoyed and treasured designed to be used in the class- by thousands of children, their room setting for individual or teachers and families.”

St Canice’s Boys’ NS love reading

Gentleman Joe passes in 99th year

Call on workers to join trade unions

P

EOPLE Before Profit Carlow (PBP) has launched a campaign to encourage workers to join a trade union.

The party is bringing forward bills in Stormont and the Dáil to undo what they say are antiworkers’ rights legislation.

PBP activists took part in socially-distanced Trade Union Week actions in Derry, Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Carlow. There were also a number of online public meetings discussing various workers’ issues.

Councillor Adrienne Wallace said as it stands Irish workers don’t have the right to have their unions recognised.

“The laws are stacked against workers as we can see in the

Joe Daly: An Appreciation

T

Debenhams’s dispute and with bogus self-employment in the building industry and in meat factories.

SICK PAY “But what we have also seen during this pandemic is that unsafe working conditions have led to Covid-19 clusters in workplaces.

“The lack of sick pay is one key reason for this. Ireland is way behind the rest of Europe when it comes to mandatory sick pay.

“If we want to improve working conditions, we need more workers in trade unions, and then we need to build fighting unions that will stand up for these rights.”

People Before Profit has pro-

Adrienne Wallace

duced legislation providing for statutory union recognition in the South and for the end of restrictions on strike action in the North.

“We supported the Debenhams workers in their fight to have the laws around company liquidations changed. We need a strong 32-county trade union movement if we want better pay and conditions and to fight for a four-day working week.”

HE DEATH of Joe Daly, in his 99th year brought sadness to friends and family and to his neighbours in Newpark.

A popular and charismatic man, Joe, in 1955, was one of the original residents of Golf Links Road. A master baker, work in Molloy’s Bakery brought him here.

He settled, quickly, but always remained true to his Limerick roots.

Joe enjoyed good company and loved to chat. He had a great memory and a fund of stories.

This allowed him to recall people and events from the past.

He told yarns with relish and his stories entranced.

GREYHOUNDS Told in minute detail and with much relish the stories brought good fun and lots of laughter.

This meant that visits to his home were occasions to be cherished, as fun and frivolity reigned.

Joe Daly RIP

Unfortunately, the pandemic regulations meant these cordial interactions were restricted of late.

Joe was immersed in the greyhound world and was acknowledged as a connoisseur.

His advice was much sought after, and many owners refused to purchase a dog without Joe’s imprimatur.

Over the years he owned and trained many winners. He was equally successful as an agent, supplying many classic champions to his English contacts.

NEVER WAVERED Marriage to Kit Gorey brought love and contentment to Joe’s life. They were inseparable and enjoyed time together.

After Kit’s death Joe was devastated but he always held her close and she journeyed with him for the rest of his life.

For people of my generation Joe was inspiring. His smile, friendship, good humour and decency enveloped Newpark and his innate goodness helped us through dark and difficult times.

His attributes and actions set high standards and thankfully, today, this ethos permeates the estate. Joe was a religious man and was saddened to witness the Catholic Church self-destruct.

Nonetheless, Joe remained steadfast and his faith never wavered. His death has left a void in our lives and we feel lost and alone. Suffice to say we will miss him, greatly.

Rest easy, old friend.

Frank Cody

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Granny: Are you going to die?

By Jimmy Rhatigan

M

RS MURPHY is not easily ruffled.

But, she told The Kilkenny Observer that following a question from one of her grandchildren you could have knocked her with a feather.

“Two of my daughter’s children were sitting in the kitchen at my home when one of the girls stared me and asked a question that I never wanted to hear.

“Granny, are you going to die?

“I couldn’t believe my ears.

“Was I looking ill? Did she know something that I didn’t? Had her mammy said something to her?

“I was so stunned, gobsmacked, I hadn’t the energy to reply.

“Helen knew she had hurt me and started to cry. I couldn’t hold back the tears. My other grandchild Maura was also very emotional.

“Then the horrible sound of silence.

“I could see Helen was sorry she asked the question. I was more shocked than hurt.

“That my grand-daughter was so concerned about me made

me feel really special.

“His Nibs and I have always had a great love affair with all of our grandchildren so the question had hurt Helen as much as it shocked me.”

Murph felt the question deserved an answer.

HIT NAIL ON HEAD “Don’t be worried about me girls, I will be fine. So will grandad.”

The girls weren’t convinced.

“We keep hearing that is grannies and grandads will die with Coronavirus.

“Helen may not have realised it but she had hit the nail on the head as His Nibs and I were re-

ally scared by all the publicity devoted to new cases, death figures and what age groups are most likely to die.

“We have always been conscious of what His Nibs calls a scandal when hundreds of our age group passed away in nursing homes.

“What worries us most is that there was no investigation into why that happened and what is the likelihood of a repeat?”

She explained that we are living in a time of fear and asked the girls to pray for everyone’s safety.

She told them she loved them and said she had sorely missed them during lockdown.

She said that despite growing numbers becoming ill life is now more bearable since they stopped listening to the radio, watching one only news bulletin on telly and avoiding anything about Corona in the newspapers.

“Until we made these conscious decisions we were terrified,” Murph explained.

One messenger enough “It was not a case of us shooting the messenger but reminding that one messenger was enough.

“Coronavirus became a soap opera with some who lashed out the numbers of deaths and new cases with a kind of enthusiasm that suggested the more the merrier. Big news etc.

“It all became a nightmare. To make matters worse since His Nibs did a beginners’ course in computers he had been looking at Facebook and figures were again splashed all over the place even by misguided or self-serving politicians who were part of the torture machine.

“I had enough, His Nibs agreed. He said he would check gov.ie on the computer once a day and everything else would be blacked out in our home.

“This has given us a new peace of mind. It was bad enough to see that figures were growing but to be reminded by so many sources was torturous.

“That we had taken action to protect ourselves from what seemed like propaganda machines made it easier for us to deal with our grandchildren’s concerns.

“By asking the awkward question they had strengthened our bond of love. We had moved from negativity to positivity with love replacing fear.”

For Norman Lynas Fund

T

HE KILKENNY Observer wishes to thank the anonymous donor who posted us a €20 postal order to be donated to the Norman Lynas Fund.

The money has been forwarded to Norman’s son Tristan who is looking after the medical care of his beloved dad following a fall.

Canon Lynas was Dean at St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny before moving to a mission in Bermuda where the accident occurred recently.

Canon Lynas was hugely popular in Kilkenny when he was Dean in St Canice’s Cathedral.

Donard Gaynor is appointed the new chief at Glanbia G

Romance hits the boxing ring Paulstown boxer Aidan O’Neill married Sinead Brennan from Tullaroan. A reception was held in the Lord Bagenal Hotel, Leighlinbridge

LANBIA has a p p o i n t e d Independent NonExecutive Director, Donard Gaynor as Chairman.

He takes over from Martin Keane who will remain on the Board of the Company until his normal retirement at the 2021 AGM. Mr Gaynor has been a director of Glanbia plc since March 2013 and is chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee and Nomination and Governance Committee

as well as Board Director with responsibility for workforce engagement.

He retired in December 2012 as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development of Beam, Inc., the premium spirits company previously listed on the New York Stock Exchange, based in Chicago, Illinois.

LEADERSHIP ROLES A Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants,

he joined Beam Inc. in 2003 as Senior Vice President and Managing Director – International.

Before that, he served in a variety of senior executive leadership roles with The Seagram Spirits & Wine Group in New York and was also Audit Client Services Partner with the New York office of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

In November 2016, he was appointed Chairman of Hazelwood Demesne Independent Non-Executive Director, Limited ‘The Lough Gill Donard Gaynor appointed as Distillery Company.

Chairman at Glanbia.

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Hollywood goes to Pres Girls’ School

Orla Walsh and Tara Fogarty promoting the school’s equestrian club

S

TUDENTS of a local school are delighting in a Hollywood experience.

A pro camera crew filmed hours of footage which will be condensed for a fun-filled video capturing life at the 750-pupil Presentation Convent Secondary School in the city.

Girls, teachers, principal, Shane Hallahan, and other school staff feature in a production that will have its premiere as part of Presentation Secondary School’s virtual open night.

Intending pupils, parents and guardians come together on October 21, 7pm.

Principal, Shane Hallahan, paid tribute to his staff and several pupils who worked with the crew, developed their own scripts and the storyboard and revealed for intending first years what makes Presentation Secondary School special.

“The girls were fantastic, so

Survive the winter and don’t miss work CLAIR WHITTY Nutritional Health Coach

T

HIS MORE than ever you may be worried about getting a cold, ‘flu, a sniffle, sore throat, or a cough.

Normally you might get away with going into work and laughing it off saying it’s just a bit of a cold.

But that can’t happen anymore. So, what can you do to keep your immune system in tip top shape?

There are a couple of things you can do. A healthy diet and lifestyle along with immune supporting supplements can help.

Maintaining healthy weight and controlling inflammation are important factors too.

Maintain a healthy diet: Top up your diet with immune supporting supplements like Vitamin C, D, and Zinc.

Include herbs such as Echinacea and Elderberry.

Remember that vitamin D needs Magnesium to be absorbed and metabolised so make

sure you have adequate levels of magnesium.

Support Immunity with A. Vogel Echinaforce: This is one of my favourite immune supporting herbs.

It combines the anti-inflammatory action of the root, the anti-viral properties of the herb and the immunestrengthening benefits of both to provide maximum protection from cold and flu and relief of symptoms when infection occurs.

It can deactivate several bacteria that cause symptoms of upper respiratory infections, such as sore throat, cough, and inflammation.

A.Vogel Echinaforce tablets will work just as well as the tincture, just a little slower. Many customers tell me that A.Vogel Echinafoce has reduced the severity and the length of a cold. Plus, it reduced the number of recurring colds in those prone to frequent infection.

Keep an eye on your weight: You have probably been hearing that if you are carrying extra weight it can affect the outcome of people dealing with Covid19.

As excess weight can affect the respiratory system and inflammatory and immune functions, making it harder for the body to respond appropriately to infection. Try not to stress about this, you can only do your best.

Control inflammation: Inflammation is a contributory factor for many diseases so it is important to keep it under control.

If inflammation is high in the body it can reduce the body’s ability to clear infection. A healthy diet and lifestyle can help control inflammation.

Call into see us at Market Cross for more information or advice.

Phone: 056 7764538 Contact email: info@natural healthstore.ie

Deputy Pres Girl Letisha Redmond and Pres Girl Sadhbh O’Toole working with the Video Works

natural and full of ideas. We’re so proud,” Mr Hallahan said.

“We’re conscious that the transition from primary into secondary school can be daunting.

“We thought, if they can’t come to us, then we can go to them.

“The video will outline what supports new first years will have; what their subject choices will be; what sports and other extra-curricular activities we have and which new subjects we’re offering to our pupils,” Mr Hallahan revealed.

Parents and guardians of

‘Government puts vultures before kids’

S

INN FÉIN spokeswoman on Children and Youth Affairs Kathleen Function has launched her party’s pre-Budget proposals on childcare she ensured cutting the cost of childcare to parents by two-thirds.

And she promised that childcare workers will receive a living wage and facilities kept open.

“There can be no economic recovery without a childcare system that works for all. Fees are too high and wages too low.

“Families are in desperate need of affordable and reliable childcare after prolonged skimping

by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael-led Governments resulted in Ireland sleepwalking into a privately-run and expensive system.

“Parents here pay some of the highest childcare fees in Europe.

Some are forking out the equivalent of a second mortgage with fees as high as €1,000 a month.”

The Callan woman, her party’s spokeswoman on Children and Youth Affairs said childcare workers are highly qualified and skilled professionals with whom parents entrust their children.

Lowest wages “Yet workers are paid some of the lowest wages of any sector,

Kathleen Funchion: Plans to help parents

with many trying to exist on the minimum wage.

“The current model of childcare provision has and is failing everybody. We must reduce the cost of childcare and invest in a vital sector that will see more women, in particular, getting back to work.”

“That is why I have undertaken the ‘My Childcare Story’ campaign. I want to show there are other alternatives.

“Over two budgets a Sinn Féin Government would cut costs of childcare by two thirds.

“We would do this by taking on

intending first years for 2021 can log on to https://www. presentationkilkenny.com/ from 7pm on October 21 and to hear live from Mr Hallahan and a selection of pupils and to get involved in a live, online questions and answers session.

the wages of the sector at a cost of €620 million, implementing legislation and ensuring sustainability.

“We would immediately increase the pay of workers to a minimum starting level of €12.30 an hour by investing €30 million.

“Sinn Fein would also keep creche doors open by introducing a sustainability fund of €124 million for providers.

SATISFY BANKERS “Do we help out those providing a vital and important service or do we continue to satisfy the bankers, vulture funds and developers as previous Governments have done over the years?

Funchion said the Government’s sustainability package was not enough to save the childcare sector.

She gave an example of a Kilkenny creche that was in operation for over 20 years and was forced to close.

“It was heart breaking because management and staff were motivated and progressive and they had to make the decision to close.

“Had there been sustainability funding, closure would have been avoided. Covid-19 has added strain and challenges, but it also presents an opportunity to overhaul the current broken childcare system.

“We need a vision that sees childcare as a necessary public service properly funded by the State.”

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Kind children help our hospital

The Culleton family, St Fiacre’s Place loved being involved in the fundraiser

Nurse Brennan keeps all the health rules as she thanks the children for their efforts

As proud as punch after supporting fellow children

Clodagh Moran and Amelia McCarthy

Five of the best are smiles all around

Running with passion with hurley in tow

Pics: Danny Lahart

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Out and About - KEEPING IT LOCAL

Our super city for all seasons I

T WAS perhaps apt that a city we love and cherish should have experienced all seasons at our first Kilkenny Day on Sunday.

There was a mix of wind, cold, sunshine and scattered leaves as a big crowd gave a warm welcome for the county council supported umbrella branding for Kilkenny which communicates all that our city has to offer. Launched was a new branding and website, Kilkenny.ie under the banner of The Best of Ireland.

Our city is synonymous with creativity, heritage, hospitality, food and natural beauty.

Aim is to attract visitors and investors by raising awareness of the many outstanding attributes that make Kilkenny an ideal place to visit, shop, work, locate a business, live and raise a family.

The launch was in the run up to Sunday’s inaugural Kilkenny Day. Kilkenny Day will be an annual celebration and early indications are that the positive plan will go from strength to health.

RICH LAYERS OF HISTORY At the heart of the new identity is a blending of old and new working in harmony with rich layers of history and modernity working together.

A cultural blend of craft, design, food, business, festivals and shopping, Kilkenny is the Medieval heart of Ireland and a progressive and ambitious entrepreneurial hub that fosters a vibrant living culture for visitors, residents and investors.

The new visual identity will convey this in a modern modular ‘K’ shape. The familiar Kilkenny scripted logo is being retained along with the iconic Black & Amber colours.

“As a response to Covid-19, we have revamped the kilkenny.ie website to position Kilkenny as an outstanding destination for customers, visitors and investors looking to experience the Best of Ireland,“ said Colette Byrne, Chief Executive Kilkenny County Council.

PJ O’Neill, Skinner Brennan and Mick Ryan celebrating Kilkenny Day at The Parade

Grace Baker, Keith Long, Jason and Lyla Cuaaill and Daisy Long Pics Danny Lahart

Michael, Olivia, Mairead, Cain and Olivia Hoyne

Afonso Quimino at Kilkenny Day

Evie and Brian Lynch and Brian Walsh with Frank the dog

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KEEPING IT LOCAL - Out and About

Great support for county council project

Musician Seรกn Nolan

Andy Burke and Mary Scanlon with their dog Minnie

Dana, Pico and Izaac Ramos, originally from The Philippines, now living in Kilkenny

Great turn out at the Tent Village on The Parade for Kilkenny Day Pics: Danny Lahart

Amanda and Dylan Nolan

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The Black Death was today’s Covid.19 I

T IS an irony that may taunt, tease and certainly nudge the imaginations of those who may want to compare past plagues with the present virus that has teamed up with the Grim Reaper.

Two books that should have strong local interest have been published by a daughter of Kilkernny who works in Carlow, and a son of Carlow who has taught here.

The Winter Dress, a novel by Angela Keogh, is particularly apt for the times we live in.

Set mostly in and around South Kildare and Kilkenny during the plague that was the Black Death, the book tells the stories of two travellers whose paths cross as they shelter for a night at a monastery.

One is Rose, a wild, Irish dressmaker who is travelling to Kilkenny to find a man with whom she fell in love.

LOVE, LOSS, HEARTACHE The other is Brother John, a Norman Monk who has lost his faith and is returning to Tristledermot (Castledermot, County Kildare) after a 20-year absence.

The paperback reimagines how the Black Death may have reached Kilkenny in an intriguing and beautifully written tale.

In a time when a terrifying epidemic is spreading across the land, the pair spent the night in conversation and find they have more in common than they first thought.

The novel is a story of love, loss, heartache, hope and resilience.

The Winter Dress was a winner at the 2020 Irish Writers’ Centre Novel Fair and its author, Kilkenny born Angela Keogh, lives and works in Carlow. This is her first novel.

“Winning the Irish Novel Fair award was a huge boost,” she told The Kilkenny Observer.

“But getting the novel published and into readers’ hands is even more important. Writers want to have their books read.”

SUNDAY MISCELLANY Angela comments on the coincidence of the book coming out during a pandemic: “When I wrote the book, over the last four years, I had no

Angela Keogh

idea that it would be published during a pandemic that has so much in common with the Black Death. I hope readers find the parallels interesting.”

Angela is working on a new novel set in contemporary times. Two of her radio plays will broadcast in the coming months.

The second book from The Harvest Press is I Knew This Place, a collection of 85 essays from the RTE Radio 1 programme Sunday Miscellany, written and broadcast by John MacKenna over the past 15 years.

MacKenna was, for many years, a tutor on the Maynooth

John MacKenna

University Creative Writing programme on the Kilkenny Campus. The 80-plus essays in the book deal with everything from robbing orchards to ghosts in his car; from life and death to meetings with people like Leonard Cohen and Pete Seeger.

CREATIVE WRITING Not all of the material is set locally and the essays range from Greece to London and Holyhead to America.

“These are stories drawn from the landscape, from events in my own life and from the characters I met in my years as an RTE journalist.

“They’re light and dark – just

like life,” MacKenna says. “But I’m really happy to have them available in book form.”

MacKenna is one of the most popular and regular broadcasters on Sunday Miscellany and I Knew This Place is his 21st book.

He lives in Carlow and teaches creative writing at Maynooth University.

Both books are available in bookshops throughout Kilkenny or www.theharvestpress.ie Angela dedicated her book to her parents Rita Nolan and Michel Keogh, sisters Teresa and Marian, brother Micheál and ancestors including her grandfather Tommy and grandmother Agatha.

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A sporting friendship is for ever CHUBBY BRENNAN’S CASTLECOMER

E

VERYTHING, the Autobiography of Denis Coughlan has just been published by Hero Books and is available from all good bookshops and online.

It tells the story of one of the greatest dual stars who represented Cork in senior football from 1965 to 1974 and senior hurling from 1965 to 1981.

In a glittering career, Denis won five senior All-Ireland med-

the Executive Committee of the Club Players’ Association in 2020.

The book recounts great days and the not-so great days for Cork. The 1969 and 1972 AllIreland finals against Kilkenny being among the latter when the black and amber overcame the Rebels. Here is an extract from the 1972 final account in the book: ‘The day of the 1972 All-Ireland final was a beautiful day. I was marking Frank Cummins at centre-field again and Justin McCarthy was marking Liam ‘Chunky’ O’Brien.

Kilkenny had a great midfield

Denis Coughlan with his friends Eddie Keher and Babs Keating

als (four in hurling, one in football), 12 senior Munster medals (seven in hurling, five in football).

He also won four National Hurling League medals, two Railway Cup medals (one hurling, one football), four All-Star Awards, a Texaco Hurler of the Year Award (1977) as well as a raft of under-age and senior club county, provincial and AllIreland titles with St Nick’s and Glen Rovers.

The book recounts his sporting achievements but also his childhood in Blackpool, Cork, during the 1940s and 1950s; his working life and his coaching career.

LIFETIME OF WORK Then there were his friendships with Christy Ring and Jack Lynch and his lifetime of work to support his club and his county including his membership of

partnership between O’Brien and Cummins – they were two very different players but they complemented each other really well.

My instructions before the game were simple and succinct.

‘You take the big fella.’ That’s what passed for tactics those days.

BRILLIANT MATCH It was a brilliant match full of amazing hurling – one of the classic All-Ireland finals. Eighty minutes of incredible scoring and tension; and ebbs and flows.

One of the striking things about 80-minute games is how often one team would dominate for a period and then the game would swing and the other team would have its period of ascendency.

You could almost never be on top for the whole game, it was simply too long. And the real

And how the goal came about was this – I can still see it vividly.

Matt Ruth got the ball – he was left corner-forward for Kilkenny and he was under the Hogan Stand and Kilkenny was playing into the Railway (Hill 16) End. Looping ball He hit in a high looping ball towards the square and myself and Martin Doherty both went for it. I read it first and I got there ahead of Martin and Brian Cody (who Martin was marking) and I caught it.

The next thing was, both Martin and Brian hit into me. Their momentum carried them into me and we were all still reaching up for the ball which I had just caught – I was wide open. They knocked me over and the ball fell out of my hand in front of the goal.

Kevin was there and he just tapped it in.

And it was very frustrating because I had made up my mind even before I caught the ball what I was going to do.

This sounds strange but I can remember it clearly. My plan was to head off on a solo run with the ball and get it away from the goal as quickly as possible out towards the wing.

trick was this: when you do dominate you put enough scores on the board to counter-effect the period when you are struggling.

Also, the aim is to be driving on at the end of the game, be- Action pic of Denis Coughlan 1978 cause if you are ahead at the final whistle, obviously you win. And would still leave you ahead. couldn’t get through. those two tricks were exactly It’s normally forwards who Now, this was at the 67th minwhat Cork failed to achieve in the ute mark – today you would be turn games but that day it was hurling final of 1972. home and hosed with a lead like a corner-back who broke our that, but not then, there were 13 hearts, a man who never really THREE GOALS, TWO MINUTES got the credit he deserved.’ minutes left.

There were two really telling Given that Denis had lost fi- IN MY GLORY And amazing things can happeriods of play that have vividly pen very quickly in hurling let nals to Kilkenny in 1969 and I thought: ‘This this is going to be stayed with me. And you always alone in 13 minutes. Still, eight 1972, and he was not played in great…I’m in my glory here with remember the ones you lost points up after an hour and a bit the final of 1970 because of a the ball and away I go. more starkly than the ones you was always a good place to be dispute between Glen Rovers But you can’t go on a solo run won. and the Cork County Board, the without the ball and before I against Kilkenny.

Not good enough, that day. We stakes were very high indeed knew it, I’m on the ground and lost the match by seven points. when Cork again met Kilkenny the ball is in the net and my In the next eight minutes we sur- in the 1978 final. Cork was also lovely record is gone. Now, we rendered our lead. And in the going for three in a row. still had a match to win, and luckfollowing five minutes Kilkenny ily we did and I played okay after.’ tacked on seven unanswered FAMILY DYNASTY But, medals and championBut he didn’t have the start he ships aside, what Denis holds points to win by seven.

All credit to Kilkenny, it was a was hoping for that day, too: most dear are the friendships he In the 1978 final I was mark- made during his playing days, great team. As well as that wonderful midfield pairing, they had ing Kevin Fennelly – his family many of which have lasted the Eddie Keher (who scored 2-9 would become quite the dynasty test of time, including his friendthat day) and Noel Skehan (their later, fair play to them, compris- ship with the one of the greating many stunning hurlers. captain) in goal. est Kilkenny hurlers of all time, Kevin scored a goal off me Eddie Keher. early in the game. In my defence, TURNING POINT Fittingly, the book ends with But there was a turning point in in the three All-Ireland cam- a quote from Jack Lynch from the match which most commen- paigns of those years, that was March, 1983, at the Church of the tators missed and it wasn’t any the first score I gave away.

Sacred Heart in Donnybrook, There was no score against me Dublin, in a thanksgiving service of the great scores by Keher or in 1976, ’77, or ’78. Nor was there for the gift of sport.

Frank Cummins’s goal.

The turning point in that game a score against me in 1979. I went ‘A friendship with sports and was when Kilkenny brought in four years, playing 15 matches at sportspeople is a friendship Martin Coogan at corner-back. wing-back for Cork, without con- for life…a friendship that tranHowever he managed it, Martin ceding a score, marking maybe scends political boundaries and About half-way through the shored up the Kilkenny back line 25 different players – apart from religious divides.’ second-half, we were four points in the last 10 minutes and we Kevin’s goal. up when Eddie Keher got a goal.

One point up.

Within a minute Ray Cummins scored a goal for us and within a minute of that, Seanie O’Leary got another. Three goals in two minutes – only in hurling.

Seven points up.

Con Roche, the great hurler from St Finbarr’s, was playing left half-back. And straight from the puck out he won possession under the Cusack Stand.

We were playing into the Canal End and he struck a great ball, he must have hit it 80 or 90 yards – bang, over the bar.

It was a wonderful strike and it put us eight points up (5-11 to 1-15) with the wind in our tails.

Home and hosed Seven or eight points was a lead you always wanted because it meant that two quick goals The 1972 All Star team featuring some great Kilkenny and Cork hurlers, including Denis

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OPENS A NEW FACILITY IN KILKENNY CITY

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RP Parts Ireland, the all-makes commercial vehicle parts brand of DAF Trucks, has opened a new facility at Hebron Industrial estate in Kilkenny, relocating its existing business from the town of Bennettsbridge to the heart of the local motor industry in Kilkenny. The newly-constructed TRP Commercial Vehicle Parts operation comprises some 2,500 sq.ft of retail and warehouse space and will serve customers across the South-East region via its same-day parts delivery service.

The new operation continues to be managed by Davy Foley supported by Mark Raggett and Noel Whelan in sales and Sarah Walsh in administration.

Staff of TRP at their new premises in Kilkenny City

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PARTS Launched in 1994, TRP Parts is a brand of the PACCAR Group dedicated to supplying top quality parts to all makes of truck, trailer, van and bus.

With an offering of over 85,000 parts lines, TRP can provide existing and potential customers with a readily accessible competitively priced parts range, helping to keep their vehicle downtime to a minimum.

Building on this proven all-makes reputation, TRP opened its first Irish store over 10 years ago and the Kilkenny location is one of a national network of TRP Stores which offers this unique combined all-makes parts solution. Located in 33A Hebron Industrial Estate, TRP Kilkenny is now open and is fully stocked carrying a wide range of spare parts and accessories for all makes of light and heavy commercial vehicles including bus and trailer spare parts.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PARTS TRP Parts Ireland is part of DAF Trucks Ireland and as such, the location also offers a complete OEM parts offer to DAF Trucks customers.

DAF Trucks Ireland Aftersales Director, Arthur O’Sullivan, commented: “We’re delighted to continue our expansion and investment programme for DAF & TRP in Ireland. This TRP store is part of our network of nine locations combining to deliver TRP parts to every corner of Ireland. With this new facility we look forward to providing a more comprehensive range of commercial vehicle parts to existing and new customers in Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois, Wexford, Waterford, South Tipperary and every corner of Ireland”.

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KEEPING IT LOCAL- Sport

Hurling is Kilkenny;

films are Hollywood

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OHN SCALLY’S new book The People’s Games: A GAA Compendium is a celebration of the magic of the GAA through the stories of some of the people who populate it.

One of them is Kilkenny legend Lory Meagher.

SCALLY WRITES: It is everything. It is everything and everything again.

Hurling is to Kilkenny what films are to Hollywood: a country-wide obsession that sets a pecking order, discussed endlessly and by everyone, complete with its own arcane laws and rituals.

Pubs are the churches of this strange sporting religion.

Hurling-talk is no idle form of idle gossip here, but a crucial element in the county’s psyche, to which business, love, the land and the weather regularly take second place.

Kilkenny’s Lorenzo Ignatius Meagher was perhaps the first true star of hurling.

He was to hurling aficionados in the county what Nureyev was to the ballet enthusiast.

Tommy Walsh continues to be a flagbearer for Tullyroan GAA Club but it was Lory Meagher who put the club on the map.

PRINCE OF HURLING Lory won three All-Irelands in the 1930s and entered the club of GAA immortals on foot of his towering performance in dreadful weather in midfield when Kilkenny beat hot favourites and reigning champions Limerick in the 1935 All-Ireland, having previously won All-Irelands in 1932 and ‘33.

He was chosen at midfield in both the GAA’s official Team of the Century and Team of the Millennium and was known by his contemporaries as ‘the prince of hurling’.

In 1984, the GAA’s centenary year, an official book was published. Only one player was featured on the cover: Lory Meagher.

In Ireland we don’t like players or personalities to get too big for their boots.

This was best illustrated in the 1970s when someone said to Gay Byrne: ‘There are no real stars in Ireland. You are the nearest thing we have to it but you are not there yet.’

Lory had a funeral fit for a prince when he died in 1973 such was his status within the game.

His legacy survives in the national hurling trophy that bears his name.

PERPETUAL LIMELIGHT It is said that when a prominent hurler, who shall remain nameless because of the libel laws, dies the presiding clergyman will have to break with liturgical convention.

Such is his liking for publicity that instead of saying ‘May perpetual light shine upon him’ the priest will probably say: ‘May perpetual limelight shine upon him.’

Apart from his genius on the field Meagher is renowned for his modesty off it.

This character trait was most vividly illustrated when a journalist met him on the roadside one day and asked where he might track down Lory Meagher.

The Kilkenny ace’s reply was: ‘You’ve just missed him. He passed up this way a few minutes ago. If you hurry you’ve a good chance of catching him.’

That was the glory that was Lory.

John Scally’s book is now available in all good bookshops.

About the author: A native of Roscommon, John Scally is the author of over 40 books including the best-selling biographies of Dermot Earley, Tony Ward, Pat Spillane and Ger Loughnane.

Improve Speed on the pitch

By Eoin Everard Physiotherapy

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HIS is for our runners and hurlers who think just doing a lot of sprinting will make you fast. Wrong.

Becoming quick is much more complex than that.

We are training students to have degrees in strength and conditioning because there is so much science behind what you have to do to get quick, strong, powerful and stay healthy.

First step in getting you quicker, understand that speed does not come down to one thing.

What stage of running are you struggling with? What do I mean?

Well is it the first 10 metres that your man gets away from you, is it from 10 to 20 metres that other players are catching up or is it that your all out speed is not up to scratch?

Eoin Everard

Maybe it’s all three? I will answer how to work on all these questions (even if it is all 3). The first thing to recognise is that these three categories require different training to improve.

Slow off the mark (0-10 metres): This requires that you work on acceleration. Off the mark speed is all about force.

How much force can you push into the ground. How much force can your muscles generate.

This requires that you get strong. Split squats, heavy squats and single leg deadlifts are good exercises to use here.

The goal is to get your muscles to produce more force. Think about it like a car. This first stage is all about how much horse power you have.

If you don’t have much horse power then it will be difficult to get your car to go fast.

Maximum speed (10-20 metres): In a 100m sprint this is phase is longer but for a match example this is generally seen running 10 to 20 metres.

This portion is not about strength, you should have good strength from the last phase. This phase is about power, which is the ability to use your strength quickly.

Your foot is only on the ground for split seconds and so you

need to be able to generate force quickly.

Think about our car, we might have a lot of horse power in the engine but if that horse power does not spin the wheels quickly then the car will not be that fast.

To improve your power I recommend weighted squat jumps. Get into a squat position holding two 10kg dumbbells, try jump as high as you can.

Another great thing to do here is push a car (or sled at 12.5% your bodyweight if you have proper equipment) for 10 seconds.

Both of these get you using the strength you have quickly.

This will really improve your maximum speed capacity.

Finally maintaining speed: This is about putting it all together. In this phase it is about being specific.

You should not really use

weights in this phase. Instead do lighter sled runs, try to bound across a pitch or do 10 single leg hops each side and then into a sprint. You need to teach your body how to use the new strength you have given it.

In conclusion to improve your speed first you have to improve the capacity of the engine

(maximum amount of strength you can generate).

Then you have to improve the engine power output so that all the cylinders fire at once (generally through jumps with weight).

Finally you need to make sure all the power from the engine converts to speed on the road.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 16 October 2020

Sport – KEEPING IT LOCAL

Classy Bergin drives Conahy

Pics: Danny Lahart

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Sport – KEEPING IT LOCAL

‘Boro miss the bus JIMMY RHATIGAN EDITOR

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HE GREAT reminder from a frustrating junior championship county final was that cream always rises to the top.

Early and late flashes of brilliance by Kilkenny senior hurling panellist James Bergin separated the black and amber of Conahy Shamocks from the maroon of Dicksboro in a frustrating UPMC Nowlan Park showdown.

A terrific first half goal by Bergin and an assist for his team mate Ciaran Mooney as the pair grabbed two smashing goals inside a minute would have blown away a lesser team than the ‘Boro.

Bergin continued to tack on scores but despite unbelievably erratic shooting by both teams, there was a mere puff of wind between the industrious pair as extra time beckoned.

Classy goals aside, the big occasion may have cramped the style of two dogged club sides that slogged their way through a JJ Kavanagh Senior Hurling epic that taunted and teased.

If Bergin had hurt the ‘Boro gold teetering on the brink. in act one of the open air drama James Bergin then grabbed the then he did irreparable damage game by the scruff of the neck. as the epilogue loomed.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC CLIMBED EVEREST With a brilliant grab and smash, He rifled to the roof of the ‘Boro he scored his second goal. net in a classic grab and smash, The Captain Fantastic who fielding the sliotar and smashing had grabbed some great scores in home. normal time gave the rural club a That cracker failed to mor- 3-12 to 0-19 lead as the groundstally wound the brave ‘Boro that man prepared to lock up. climbed Everest and was about Bergin’s second goal in the to fly its maroon flag at the peak dying seconds of the first period when a late, late point by Alan of extra time could have left the Healy brought the game to extra ‘Boro mortally wounded. time ‘Boro backs were to a wall but Two teams of undoubted they feared no firing squad. industry and outbursts of skill As final minutes slipped away racked up a record number of both teams were guilty of lousy missed chances and then a series shooting. of cramps that highlighted their The woodwork and bruised undoubted Herculean efforts. bodies were also factors as With Dicksboro scrapping oohs, aahs and groans of disbefor their first crown in 101 years lief gripped the Covid-compact and Conahy Shamrocks itching crowd. The gamble of playing deto avenge last year’s final defeat, fender Ciaran Mooney in attack fireworks had been forecast. paid off for Conahy as he worked Sheer fatigue took over as extra well with Bergin and was always time loomed. But warriors fought nuisance value along with being to keep wobbly legs alive for the skilful. cause.

In all an interesting but frustratPlayers from each side ached ing tie had thrown up 42 scores with cramps as spread-eagled and maybe as many wides. bodies struggled with a crock of Any statistician keeping an

account of plusses and minuses would surely have ended up with writer’s cramp.

SWEET SUCCESS The win adds to Conahy’s titles in 1976 and 2007. The ‘Boro have three crowns, 1910, 1914 and 1919.

Conahy was in front at half time. At the end of 60 minutes a point dragged Shamrocks back on terms with seconds rather than minutes left.

Conahy’s Mooney could have had his mates over the moon with practically the last puck of normal time.

At the end of half one of extra time it was Conahy in front.

In half two it was Conahy calling the shots.

But wasted chances by Shamrocks and near misses by the ‘Boro could have meant a penalty shoot-out.

IT WASN’T TO BE. Success was sweet for Shamrocks who added to their AllIreland Club Championship of last year.

The ‘Boro toiled relentlessly but its wild shooting proved to be its own goal.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 16 October 2020

Sport – KEEPING IT LOCAL

Memory Lane with local hurling scribe Jim Fogarty Cats win first hurling grand slam Croke Park, 2008 Kilkenny 2-13, Tipperary 0-15

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EFORE AN attendance of 18,727, Kilkenny went in search of a clean sweep of hurling titles, having already won senior, minor and intermediate.

Both U21 sides started tentatively. Tipperary led by 0-3 to 0-1 after six minutes and the sides were level at 0-4 each at the end of the first quarter.

Kilkenny pulled away with goals from Matthew Ruth in the 15th and 30th minutes. The creators of the goals, TJ Reid and Richie Hogan, were unchallenged before giving passes to Ruth.

Tipperary’s poor second quarter, which they lost by 2-3 to 0-3, was to cost them dearly. Kilkenny led at the interval by 2-7 to 0-7.

RUGBY TACKLED Tipp scored five points without reply on either side of half-time.

By the three-quarter mark, they had reduced the deficit to two points with Pa Bourke pointing two frees for fouls on Seamus Callanan to Kilkenny’s one point from a Richie Hogan free.

Despite points from Richie

Hogan and John Mulhall, Tipp reduced the margin again to two points, following scores from Bourke and Gearoid Ryan, with 10 minutes to go.

In the 59th minute and with Kilkenny still leading by two points, Tipperary’s Patrick Maher was rugby tackled to the ground.

Despite appeals for a penalty, referee James Owens gave a free out for over carrying. Two points in injury time from TJ Reid and Richie Hogan sealed Kilkenny’s victory.

MOST PRODUCTIVE In a superb Kilkenny defence, goalkeeper Colin McGrath made some vital saves. Kieran Joyce and Paddy Hogan held the centre of the defence in a vice-like grip.

Niall Walsh hurled well at midfield. Matthew Ruth and TJ Reid were their most productive forwards.

Tipperary’s downfall can be attributed to the fact that their forward division only scored two points from play. Patrick ‘Bonnar’ Maher was best of their attack, while Pa Bourke was unerring from frees.

The Tipperary full back line of Michael Cahill, Padraic Maher

and Kevin Maher all gave fine displays. In the half back line, Thomas Stapleton and Brendan Maher played very well. Gearoid Ryan was outstanding at midfield and contributed three points from play.

Referee: James Owens, Wexford.

Kilkenny scorers: Matthew Ruth 2-2, Richie Hogan 0-6 (fs), TJ Reid 0-2, John Mulhall 0-2, Niall Walsh 0-1.

Tipperary scorers: Pa Bourke 0-8(fs), Gearoid Ryan 0-3, Kevin Lanigan 0-1, Brendan Maher 0-1, Seamus Callanan 0-1, Shane Bourke 0-1.

Kilkenny: Colin McGrath (St. Martin’s), Paul Murphy (Danesfort), Kieran Joyce (Rower/Inistioge), Eoin O’Shea (Clara), Lester Ryan (Clara), Paddy Hogan (Danesfort), Neal Prendergast (Clara), James Dowling (St Martin’s), captain Niall Walsh (Slieverue), Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale), Nicky Cleere (Bennettsbridge), TJ Reid (Ballyhale), Matthew Ruth (James Stephens), John Mulhall (St Martin’s), Richie Hogan (Danesfort).

Subs. JJ Farrell (Thomastown) for Cleere. Joe Maher (St Martin’s) for Dowling. Mark Bergin (O’Loughlins) for Far-

rell. James Norris (Piltown), Kieran Mooney (Conahy), David Langton (Clara), Richie Dollard (Tullogher/Rosbercon), Martin Walsh (Tullaroan), PJ Rowe (Mooncoin).

Tipperary: Matthew Ryan (Templederry), Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Kevin Maher (Lorrha), Kevin Lanigan (Carrick Swans), Thomas Stapleton (Templederry), Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh), Gearoid Ryan (Templederry), Seamus Hennessy (Kilruane), captain Patrick Maher (Lorrha), Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch), Thomas McGrath (Ballingarry), Pa Bourke (Thurles Sarsfields), Mark O’Meara (Knockshegowna), Shane Bourke (JK Brackens).

Subs: John O’Keefe(Clonoulty) for Lanigan. Danny O’Hanlon (Carrick Swans) for O’Meara. Philip Ivors (Ballingarry) for Shane Bourke.

Johnny Ryan (Drom & Inch) for McGrath. Toss Lowry (Holycross), George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers), Ronan Sherlock (Silvermines), Ray McLoughney (Kilruane), Timmy Hammersley (Clonoulty).

JIM FOGARTY is author of The Cross of Cashel All-Ireland U21 hurling finals 1964 to 2014.

Kilkenny first appeared in an All-Ireland U21 final in 1968 and won a first title in 1974.

Jim previously published a book on Tipperary County Senior Hurling Finals, The Dan Breen Cup, 1931 to 2011.

He is a regular contributor to GAA match programme and GAA yearbooks. Jim took early retirement from his post as Kilkenny County Librarian as he always wanted to write books on the GAA. Jim can be contacted at jimkfog1@gmail.com. or at 086-1512946.

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