Senior Times Magazine

The magazine for people who don’t act their age Issue 72 October 2014 €3.95 (£3.20)

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Finbar forever!

Shay Shay Healy Healy meets meets the the indestructible indestructible Furey Furey brother brother

Can your pension travel?

Diabetes foot explained

News Review l Creative Writing l Travel l Health Fashion & Beauty l Profiles l Competitions and much more!

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Contents

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8

October 2014

News review:

Finbar Forever!:

Shay Healy talks to Finbar Furey

12

Parachuting in Barbados:

16

Arthritis explained:

24

Jo Keane thought he had tried everything..

Till death do us part:

Are you sure you have covered everything in your will?

How to recognise macular degeneration: Downsizing or moving:

Senior Move Managers explain

42 36 38

Creative writing:

44

What’s On In The Arts: Fashion:

Wine World:

The magic of the markets:

Lorna Hogg show you the best Christmas markets in Europe

40 48 52 56 60

Cosmetics and Beauty:

64

A Keane edge for dialogue:

78

Diabetic foot and its prevention and cure: Lorna Hogg visits ‘The Kingdom’ When golf took a back seat:

Dermot Gilleece recalls 9/11 and the cancellation of the Ryder Cup of that

year

74 80

Know your rights:

82

Ask the vet:

87

Crossword:

90

Sudoku

94

Advice from the Citizens Information Service

60

26

Living in The Algarve: Poetry Corner:

48

8

Can your pension travel?:

How to move your pension abroad

12

2

Your pets questions answered

Meeting place:

96

Crafts:

Publishing Directors: Brian McCabe, Des Duggan Editorial Director: John Low Editor At Large: Shay Healy Consultant Editor: Jim Collier Advertising: Willie Fallon Design: www.cornerhouse.ie Contributors: Shay Healy, Lorna Hogg, Dermot Gilleece, Matthew Hughes, Maretta Dillon, Jim Collier, Mairead Robinson, Eileen Casey,

92

Debbie Orme, Connie McEvoy Published by S& L Promotions Ltd., Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 Tel: +353 (01) 4969028. Fax: +353 (01) 4068229 Editorial: John@slp.ie Advertising: brian@slp.ie Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

News...

Winterage wonders in the Burren

Looking for something original to do this October Bank holiday weekend? Why not join in a unique Burren celebration which honour’s the generations of Burren farmers, take part in re-enactments of ancient pastoral traditions and Samhain pursuits; enjoy the songs, stories, heritage and food of the Burren landscape and experience the Burren from the farmers perspective.

For hundreds of years, Burren farmers have marked the end of summer by herding their cattle up onto winter pastures in the limestone uplands, in the tradition known as winterage and the Burren is one of the only places in the world where it still occurs. Winterage has been integral to shaping today’s familiar Burren landscape.

‘The Winterage Weekend is all about celebrating the local community and their traditions which have assisted in the

Self help groups ‘underutilised in the care of mental health patients’

Health care professionals must make better use of community-based self-help groups for patients with mental health issues, according to the mental health organisation GROW. The latest figures from the organisation show that only 37% of people attending its services have been referred by GPs, psychiatrist and other mental health professionals.

Page 2 Senior Times October 2014

Burren receiving such international recognition’, explains Brigid Barry, Burrenbeo Trust coordinator. ‘Visitors and locals alike have the opportunity to get involved in some really interesting and fun events – and all completely unique and connected to the magnificent landscape that is the Burren’.

Along with the local community, the Burrenbeo Trust is coordinating the 2014 Burren Winterage Weekend (October 24th -26th)which celebrates this fascinating farming heritage and the broader significance of pastoral farming in the Burren and beyond.

Pick up a programme locally or visit the www.burrenwinterage.com website for details of all the events.

For more information or bookings please contact trust@burrenbeo.com or 091-638096.

According to Grow Ireland CEO, Michele Kerrigan, poor integration between professional services and community support group networks means many patients are being denied a very effective resource.

“The mental health services are under continued pressure. In January of this year, one in four people were waiting more than three months to be seen by a community mental health team. By July that had increased to almost one in three. In the face of every tightening budgets, we need to find ways of providing effective and timely care to people who are experiencing mental health problems,” she said.

“Numerous studies have shown that the self-care and peer support services

provided by voluntary organisations like Grow, have significant benefits in terms of reducing hospitalisations, improving patient outcomes and reducing costs.

Yet only a very small proportion of the people who come to us for help are actually referred by health care professionals,” she said.

The Grow model of care is based on a combination of cognitive training and peer support similar to that provided by Alcoholics Anonymous and incorporates an adapted 12-step programme. The organisation operates more than 130 groups around the country and hosts more than 6,500 meetings every year.

To find the times and locations of GROW meetings in your area visit www.grow.ie or call 1890 474 474.

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News

Tennis for all in Dublin

The Dublin Lawn tennis Council having been organising Tennis leagues for veterans for a number of years with the highest category being for the Over 55 years group. Six years ago a number of clubs realised that many retired members were continuing to play into the 60’s, 70’s and older and organised an Over 65 age group league. This was very successful and the Dublin LTC agreed that the demand was such that they should make it an official DLTC event.

They now have 12 teams competing in the league. The Clubs involed are : Sandycove(2), Glenageary, Carrickmines, Fitzwilliam, Castleknock(2), Templeogue(2), Malahide, Sutton, and Clontarf. Many of the players have advanced well into their 70’s. For more information contact:Sean O’Dwyer(01-8315636).

‘As Gaeilge’ coffee mornings

A quiet revolution has been taking place over the last 18 months: that of the coffee morning ‘as Gaeilge’. There are currently 25 such mornings in the greater Dublin area with more coming on stream all the time. They give people an opportunity to use their forgotten school Irish in a relaxed way over a cappuccino and bun. There is no embarrassment in making mistakes – those days are long gone! Parents and grandparents with children at school are the main beneficiaries, as well as those who ‘have forgotten it all but want to give it another try’. People are generally surprised at the speed with which their Irish comes back. There are groups in Raheny, Dundrum, Ranelagh, Donaghmede, Malahide, Skerries, to name just a few. But if there isn’t one near you, we can help you set one up.

Info:Ben Mac Lochlainn:086-266 3392.

‘Writing a therapy’ workshops

Now in his mid-sixties and semi-retired after an exciting life in the Irish music industry and the music media, best-selling author and journalist Jackie Hayden is again available to present his Write For Your Life workshops which explore how writing about one’s life experiences is increasingly being recognised as a form of therapy.

Hayden has presented his workshops at Wexford Arts Centre and Ballina Arts Centre, and he has also carried out numerous one-on-one confidential sessions on the subject. His Write For Your Life workshops last for two and a half hours and do not require any of the Page 4 Senior Times October 2014

participants to discuss private aspects of their own lives.

As Hayden points out, “More and more people are seeing the value of writing down their life experiences, and not necessarily for publication. Some want to do it for the pleasure of writing, while others see a therapeutic value in putting their recollections and feelings into words. Unfortunately, many find it difficult to get started.”

Hayden demystifies the process of writing, using his considerable experience as a writer, editor and journalist to bring a simplified structure to such endeavours. He has written and published 10 books, mostly of a biographical nature, including the number one best-seller My Boy about the late Irish rock star Phil Lynott which he based on 100 hours of interviews with the star’s mother. Another of his books, In Their Own Words, was based around interviews with victims of sexual abuse and rape, as well as those who work with such victims.

He has edited 4 autobiographies for other writers, and written thousands of articles, reviews and news items. He has also published interviews with a variety of subjects, from Bob Geldof, The Corrs, Sinead O’Connor, Eleanor McEvoy, Christy Moore, Gerry Ryan, Marty Whelan and Mary Black, to Michael D Higgins, Johnny Giles, David Norris and Gerry Adams.

For further information contact Jackie Hayden via e-mail jachay@eircom.net or phone 053-9131328.

Survey says attraction offers Titanic incentive to visit Northern Ireland

An independent survey has found that many visitors to Titanic Belfast cited the visitor attraction as the ‘main or very important’ reason why they came to Belfast and Northern Ireland.

The survey, conducted during periods of the traditional low and high tourist seasons, was led by MillwardBrown and commissioned by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

More than 1,200 visitors were questioned for the survey between February and August 2013 from all over the world - North America (18%), Europe (8%), Great Britain (25%), Republic of Ireland (20%), Northern Ireland (22%) and Rest of World (7%).

An impressive 94% of visitors surveyed who hailed from the Republic of Ireland and over ¾ of visitors from GB and over-

seas had included Titanic Belfast in their planning before leaving home. The survey found that Titanic Belfast is a significant influence in encouraging visitors to stay overnight in Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Almost 70% of visitors from GB, overseas and ROI said Titanic Belfast, which opened in March 2012, was the highlight or an important part of their trip.

The visitor attraction’s CEO, Tim Husbands MBE, said: “We are naturally very impressed with the feedback from visitors in this survey. When we opened in 2012 we told the world that Belfast was a tourist destination and was open for everything from entertainment to business.

Health report warns of importance of resourcing older person care

A new report warns of the consequences of further cuts in health spend in 2015 would further emphasise the requirement to plan for our ageing population and for the increasing numbers of older persons to have timely access to nursing home care, enabling healthcare delivery for wider population. NHI states the reduction in Fair Deal 2014 budget is having a very serious impact upon our health services and this is further evident from published INMO figures outlining 19% increase in number of patients on hospital trolleys in August.

The report warns of requirement to appropriately resource older person care, stating the growth in numbers growing older will lead to an additional funding requirement of about €200 million per year for the health service between 2015 and 2017.

Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO states: “NHI has consistently stated requirement to ensure older persons can access the specialist care provided in their local communities by nursing homes plays a critical role in a proper-functioning health service. However in ensuring access to nursing home care, we are in reverse. The briefing documents published last week by Department of Health state Fair Deal payment approval will move from 7 – 8 weeks to 14 – 16 weeks by year end. Older people who have been assessed by the HSE as requiring nursing home care are already waiting three months. This is unacceptable.

It is leading to deterioration in older persons physical and psychological health. Such delays have very significant consequences for the wider health service, with the HSE already reporting an upward trend in numbers delayed discharge and 78% of such persons awaiting nursing home care.”

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Finbar forever!

Shay Healy sits back as Finbar Furey recalls the highs and lows of an action-packed life.. and he’s not finished yet.

I only had to press the recall button on Finbar Furey’s memory and I was able to sit back and listen to an entertaining and revealing dissertation on show business, piping, movies, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, a story that flows backwards and forwards in time, as he meets a set of characters stretching from Johnny Doran, the legendary traveller piper to Mungo Jerry, who Finbar met when Jerry was recording his hit In The Summertime in the same Studio in which Finbar and the band were also recording.

Finbar in full flight is passionate, when it comes to the pipes and piping. A superb player himself, he pays close attention to the tradition of pipers that have been such a strong part of the traveller communities identity.

The pipes are back in fashion and Finbar is delighted. “There are girls playing the pipes now..there were no lady pipers in our day…its` brilliant. Gabriel McKeown at the Pipers Club in Henrietta Street makes half sets and they have all kinds of new plastic now.”

The Fureys are a musical dynasty. The patriarch, Ted Furey, was a musician of note and it was Ted who turned Finbar on to the pipes while he was still a child. A charismatic man, who turned heads with his striking looks, I shared the stage with Ted at many gigs in the days of the folk boom in the Sixties, when The Embankment and The Old Shieling were the two best venues in Dublin and with Ted, it was always craic. He used to say “there are only seven notes in music and look at the pleasure you can get from them’

Page 6 Senior Times October 2014

Finbar and his elder brother Eddie were admired for their music and their courage in going off to play in Europe with Eddie on guitar and Finbar on pipes, a combination that was very avant garde in spirit.

Not everyone agreed with this new combination.

American folk singer, Peggy Seeker, who ran the famous The Singers Folk Club with her husband, Ewan McColl, who wrote Dirty Old Town and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Peggy would not allow Eddie to play, but as they got to the last number Finbar upped the ante by playing an incredible pipes tune, The Foxchase. www.seniortimes.ie

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“The pipes are in the key of E which is very high ” explains Finbar. “It drove the crowd wild. And I called Eddie up and we started into “What would you do if I sang out of tune…” and the crowd went mad for Eddie’s interpretation of The Beatles song, A Little Help From My Friends. And then we played a few reels and it was grand….except Ewan McColl and Peggy Seeger drove off in their big Mercedes and didn’t even ask us if we had anywhere to stay for the night.”

Finbar and Eddie joined The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in America for two years in 1969, but in the midSeventies brothers Paul and George Furey and their friend, Davy Arthur joined Finbar and Eddie to become The Furey Brothers and Davy Arthur.

“Davy was a friend who was playing with us and he got his name up there because of me Da. He says, ‘if the group broke up, what would he do. Anyway, if he’s good enough to be in the band..he’s good enough to have his name up there.’

That’s what me Da was like.”

Sweet Sixteen

When they first heard an old song called Sweet Sixteen, Finbar didn’t know the adventure he was letting himself into.

“In the beginning, I thought Sweet Sixteen would suit Eddie, but me Ma said…you sing it…my mother said she used to sing it herself and she says ‘and your father sang it as well.’

Now I hadn’t played the banjo since The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. People forget I produced Sweet Sixteen myself….the banjo was my idea…when we were in Germany, me and Eddie and I dusted off the banjo and wrote the banjo part for Sweet Sixteen. I immediately rang Jim Hand (manager at that time) and I organized the engineer, Fred Meier and I asked Gerry Hughes to put strings on it and went into the

Page 8 Senior Times October 2014

studio, recorded it “live” and forty five minutes later we were having a pint in Dwyer’s Pub, next door to Westland Studios.

And the following week, the single was No.1 in the charts.

There’s a great story about Finbar on Top of the Pops. Finbar likes to close his eyes when he is singing, but the poor director came clattering down the stairs and nervously approached Finbar.

“Excuse me, Mr. Furey…but you are singing with your eyes closed” Finbar retorts, “I always sing with me eyes closed.”

“But this is a television show, Mr.Furey.”

“I’ll do a deal with you,” says Finbar. I’ll keep ONE eye open.

In 1988 after a string of hits, Sweet Sixteen, Red Rose Café, I Will Always Love You, Finbar began to consider going it alone.

He needed to try something new. It was a slow withdrawal and eventually in 1995, Finbar branched out on his own with great success and being on his own has given him a new perspective on the future.

“I think there’s a big change coming in Ireland …but not just in Ireland..the whole world..because of all the trouble that’s going on everywhere,..the whole world is changing drastically.

Ireland is the same as any other country..they’ll have their ups and their downs .

“Fellas come to me saying, oh the recession... isn’t it terrible because the Celtic Tiger burst. Ireland is the same as anywhere but I think our heritage is the only thing that can take us out of this mess…we have to hold onto what we have..our songs, our stories, our music and we must show off all our wares..its mad, but Ireland is the only place where our own heritage isn’t ‘huge’.

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‘People forget I produced Sweet Sixteen myself….the banjo was my idea…when we were in Germany, me and Eddie dusted off the banjo and wrote the banjo part for Sweet Sixteen’ “When I went to school, I played the tin whistle .They had a box of tin whistles and at lunch time we played the whistles for half an hour. They should be teaching kids right up from kindegarden. When they’re 10 or 11 you teach them Irish history and by the time they get to college they at least know their history and they know the songs and they can half-speak their own language.

My Da used to say wish I could send ye to college..but sure we made the best of what we had.” Finbar’s next move is a tour of Germany and Switzerland, except he won’t be playing the pubs and clubs this time around. And, of course, Eddie won’t be with him.“Its going to be much bigger.. very different. I’ll be playing in theatres and when I get to some place, I’ll take a walk around and see it, see where I am instead of just going to the pub to meet friends after the show. I’ve already set up the German tour and I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Eddie is a part of the building blocks to what I’m doing now. I wanted to go a different road. Eddie was the only one who was a bit stiff about it..but sure Eddie gave out to me when I got married…we were supposed to go to America and I met Sheila and got married and moved to Scotland instead..

Finbar’s enthusiasm for life has been greatly increased by the heart attack he survived two years ago. “It was my wedding anniversary and I had just got the suit on… I was going to meet three lads for a pint before meeting Sheila and the rest of the family at The Merry Ploughboy.‘Suddenly..wow..I started feeling awful, so I thought I’d have a lie down for half an hour and luckily, me daughter Aine came up to check on me and she shouted ‘Ma..get an ambulance.. Da’s having a f…..g heart attack.’

The doctor came in later and he said ‘you know you passed Page 10 Senior Times October 2014

over three times and we got you back…did you see anything on the other side.’ “I remember waking up and Aine and Triona, the whole family were round the bed and I thought that’s it.

My father had died of a massive heart attack when he was 64 and here am I, now 66.

“But I’ll tell you the strangest thing, between me, you and the doctor.. the one thing I did see was a large meadow and millions of people without faces. The only one who had a face was Paul. Now I don’t know what to think about it, but an old traveller said ‘maybe Paul was sent to collect you.’. I said you could be on to something there.”

The Fureys have been settled in Ballyfermot for the last thirty years, but even though he has brought great honour to his family and to Ireland, Finbar hates when people call him an icon for travellers.“I’m not an icon for anything or any one. Its too easy to put flags or a t-shirt on somebody. There’s a lot of smart people travellers out there who know the only way forward is education. I look at young people like the Doran family and they all have pots of money, they’re educated and they know where they’re going. But you can’t just go in and take the heritage out of people... they’ll all settle in the end… remember it took them a long time to get the Red Indians, or what they now call Native Americans, to settle.Even though he is a superstar around the world, Finbar still hankers after the old days on the road.

“I still love the traveller life. I long for it . I can feed myself off the land and I can make you a set of harnesses, or shoe a horse. Just because I now live in a house in Rathfarnham and I’m educated, doesn’t mean I can forget all those things.”

"When we first settled in Ballyfermot, me Ma had the best one of all,. She said ‘come on now..out ye go and make a few bob. We have to pay for this fixed abode.’ www.seniortimes.ie

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Is your pension a good travelling companion?

The background

Since 2006, people with UK pension schemes have had the option to transfer their schemes overseas into a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme or simply leave them in the UK with their UK providers.

This option was introduced to provide anyone with UK pension benefits, either people intending to move overseas permanently in the future or expatriates already living overseas, with more choice concerning the way that their pension schemes work and subsequently the quality of benefits that can be enjoyed.

This option has theoretically been in place since 2003 for people with Irish pensions to transfer their schemes to another EU country and therefore take similar advantage of the benefits contained within international schemes, but ambiguous wording in the relevant legislation has meant that pension providers based in Ireland have been blocking attempts by people with Irish sited pension benefits from transferring their schemes abroad.

This all changed in April 2014 when Justice Sean Ryan found in favour of Irish resident Michael O’Sullivan, after Mr O’Sullivan took Canada Life Ireland to court in order to challenge their refusal to allow him to transfer the €116,000 benefits, contained within in his Personal Retirement Savings Account, to an international pension scheme based in Malta.

A breakdown of the benefits for transferring an Irish scheme to an international scheme will be shown in a moment, but in brief, Mr O’Sullivan’s case stated that under Irish pension rules he wouldn’t be able to access his pension until he reached age 60 and also that the maximum percentage Pension Commencement lump Sum (‘PCLS’), sometimes incorrectly referred to as the ‘tax free lump sum’, he would be permitted to withdraw from his pension at retirement would only be 25% of the fund, whereas under Maltese legislation, the benefits can be taken from age 50 and the maximum PCLS would be higher, at 30%.

Canada Life further argued that there was no indication that Mr O’Sullivan ever intended to live in Malta, but crucially the High Court said that this didn’t matter and instead focused their ruling on the subject of Bona Fide reasoning, namely that Mr O’Sullivan wasn’t intending to avoid Irish tax by taking the course of action he did, he simply wanted to improve his retirement scheme benefits by changing the structure and location of his scheme.

The important things are explained here, but our contact details are shown at the end of the article and we’ll be pleased to help anyone who is in need of more in-depth guidance.

Irish pensions Irish pension schemes, and by that we mean private schemes or occupational schemes, not the Irish State pension, are relatively old fashioned, restrictive and where tax is concerned quite punitive, due to their inflexible nature..

Page 12 Senior Times October 2014

Malta tends to be high on most people’s lists as the preferred location for international pensionss.

Did you know that on the 1st of April this year the High Court laid down a landmark ruling regarding certain pensions in Ireland? There is now more choice, dramatically more choice, concerning where you want your pension to be based and how you want your benefits to be structured. Nicholas Horne explains

Quite apart from the benefits associated with transferring any pension scheme abroad, there are several extra reasons why transferring an Irish scheme should be considered.

• The Irish Government currently imposes a levy on pension funds whereby they deduct 0.75% of the pension fund value for 2014 and 0.15% for 2015, after which time the levy is supposed to end.

• As per Mr O’Sullivan’s first point, the earliest that someone can take their pension is age 60.

• Regarding Mr O’Sullivan’s second point, the maximum 25% that can as a commuted lump sum at retirement, is also limited to just €200,000. Withdrawals between €200,001 and €500,000 are taxed at 20% and over €500,000 they are taxed at the retiree’s marginal rate, plus ‘PRSI’ (Pay Related Social Insurance) and ‘USC’(Universal Social Charge).

• Tax is paid on the PAYE basis and it’s the responsibility of the retiree to ensure that the correct amount of tax is paid.

• Depending on the relationship of the beneficiary to the pension holder, in the event of the pension holder’s death, CAT (Irish Inheritance Tax) may be payable by the benefici ary, as in Ireland inheritance tax is payable by the recipient of the legacy, not the donor’s estate.

BUT, we think by far the most punitive aspect concerns options at retirement. There are typically two options: Firstly, the retiree can buy a pension annuity with their pension fund, with all the restrictions, lack of options and limited flexibility that entails, or…

Secondly, the retiree can transfer his/her pension fund to an Approved Retirement Fund. The idea behind the second option is that it will allow the retiree to have more control over both the way that they receive their income at retirement and the way that their pension fund continues to remain invested.

Sounds good, until the following is considered:

On the 31st December each year, the Irish Government tax someone’s ARF (their pension fund) at 5% of its total value, regardless of whether the fund has grown, or the person has withdrawn any money.

This has to be repeated, the person’s ARF pension assets will be reduced by 5% every year via taxation, even if there’s been no growth in their pot and the pension holder hasn’t withdrawn a cent!

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THE SCIENCE OF STRONG BONES

www w.osteocar .

The Ost available

And, for pots worth over €2M, the figure is 6%.

This is tantamount to an annual ‘raid’ on someone’s livelihood.

The Irish authorities do lighten the load a little; if someone withdraws say €30,000 from their (example) €1M pension fund, they will allow the €30,000 to be offset against the (in this case) €50,000 tax demand, (€1M @ 5% = €50,000), leaving just €20,000 to be taxed at 5%. They will of course tax the pensioner at his/her marginal rate for the €30,000 he/she has withdrawn though!

The types of Irish pension that can be transferred abroad

• Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSA) A portable pension, available to everyone.

• Occupational Pension Schemes (OPS) Company pension schemes provided by employers for their employees.

• Personal Retirement Bonds that haven’t been vested, aka Buy-Out Bonds (PRB) Usually taken out when someone leaves their company scheme and so transfers their pension assets to a PRB, or when a company scheme is wound up, the PRB receives the person’s assets.

• Retirement Annuity Contracts, aka Personal Pensions (RAC) Personal pensions established by the self employed or people who don’t have access to a company pension scheme.

• Approved Retirement Funds (ARF) Where someone has transferred their personal or occupa tional scheme assets to an ARF at retirement for the reasons mentioned previously.

The types of Irish pension that can’t be transferred abroad

• Irish Civil Service Pensions • Irish Health Service Executive Pensions (HSE) • Irish State Pensions

To obtain a copy of our complete Guide to Irish pensions, just visit our website and express your interest, or contact us as shown below.

The Guide provides detailed explanations of the following comparison points and will answer any questions that you might have.

The benefits for transferring an Irish pension scheme abroad

Here we simply list the bullet point benefits that make up an international pension scheme.

In our main Irish pensions Guide we compare, aspect by aspect, Irish pensions with their international variants. This is the preferred way to do it we think as someone’s individual circumstances can often sway their decision regarding transferring, when just one single aspect outweighs all others, for example – as happens – if someone is unsure as to the viability of their company pension scheme in terms of meeting its liabilities further down the line.

It probably sounds fairly exotic for someone to even consider sending their pension to foreign shores, but this is being done daily by hundreds of people and since 2006 thousands upon thousands of pensions have been transferred abroad to take advantage of the many benefits that international schemes accommodate.

Page 14 Senior Times October 2014

Take Malta for example, as Malta tends to be high on most people’s lists as the preferred location for international pensions.

Malta is part of the EU and so can take advantage of legislation which allows the free movement of savings and pensions within EU states.

It’s an English speaking territory whose financial model copies UK regulation and it has a well structured, highly regulated and respected financial environment, the Malta Financial Services Authority, the MFSA. Malta has its own internal domestic trust and pension laws which are based on UK principles. And, critically, it also has a vast array of Double Taxation Agreements in place which future-proofs changes to someone’s location, should they ultimately decide to move away from where they are living or where they have retired to.

The main benefits

Here are the main points; again, please bear in mind these are only the headline facts, our detailed Guide will explain the terminology in full and leave you in no doubt as to what each point means.

• If/when death occurs, either before the pension is taken or afterwards when it is being paid to the retiree, the treat ment in an international scheme is usually far more benefi cial for the member’s beneficiaries than it would have been if the scheme had remained in Ireland.

For example, someone’s pension fund can be passed down to loved ones, rather than being swallowed up by the Government when the pension holder dies.

• Elimination of the Irish pensions levy.

• Consolidation efficiency if more than one pension exists.

Combine several schemes into one fund.

• Considerable tax advantages when income is taken.

• The enhanced investment options for the transferred fund offer excellent potential to increase the pension fund, and subsequently the income that is generated from it.

• Lifetime allowance mitigation. In Ireland this is known as the Individual Personal Fund Threshold (PFT).

• Irish CAT (inheritance tax) mitigation potential.

• Higher percentage Pension Commencement lump Sum (30%).

• Protection from creditors.

• Can begin taking income earlier than is permitted by an Irish pension scheme; age 50 in Malta.

• Can continue to contribute into fund after international scheme has been created.

• Multi-currency options. Not restricted to Euros or Pounds.

• Offers the means to transfer away from an Irish scheme that might struggle in the future to meet its payment obligations.

• Control and Transparency.

Nicholas Horne is a senior advisor with Alexander Peter Wealth Management.

You can contact the company at (01) 4773928 Email: enquiries@alexanderpeter.com www.alexanderpeter.com www.seniortimes.ie

Travel

Plain (para) sailing in the West Indies Joe Keane takes the skies in the Bahamas

I am normally a cautious person, so before I venture on a foreign holiday I am particularly vigilant about such matters as malaria, Japanese encephalitis and dengue. I acquire the appropriate jabs and adopt the usual preventative measures.

Despite such vigilance, on my last visit to Asia I was left with a bite the size of a plum from a black widow spider or at least a close relative.

The following day as we sailed on the Mekong Delta it presented a repulsive spectacle. Foolishly I resisted seeking medical advice and drew a biro line around its circumference. When it oozed less over the following days and appeared to indicate a slight decrease in its propensity, my Page 16 Senior Times October 2014

relief was profound. Plane travel reduces me to a nervous wreck. I am informed that I show little of this externally, but inside I am in a state of perpetual tension. I observe the Flight Attendantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s every move. This is not with amorous intent but to examine their expressions for signs of concern.

Sudden changes in the engines revolutions strike me with the intensity of a nuclear explosion. I resist visiting the toilet lest walking in the aisle could cause an imbalance to the planes equilibrium. The fact that we arrive safely on terraferma is to my mind a miracle, not a normal occurrence as most people believe.

Why do people like me indulge in behavior that revolts against the core of our true character? Is it not a curious idiosyncrasy therefore, that on occasions we abandon our comfort zones in pursuit of riskier activities? I have sailed in a balloon, being submerged in a submarine and ridden on ill- fated ferries.

Freudian scholars can no doubt provide well-presented papers on the subject. To the lay person such anomalies are a mystery. Courage and fearfulness are core opposites. Human character is a complex entity. For the faint hearted to engage in an act of daring is commendable. When the fearless do likewise it is less noble. In my lifetime I have been visited by experiences that challenged previously untapped resources.

During a recent holiday, a cruise in the Bahamas, one of the shore excursions caught my eye. Parasailing has a pleasantly benign sound. The blurb praised its properties and gave promise of unearthly pleasure. So with the highest expectations we signed up for

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the exercise. On the morning in question Nassau wakened up to a severe tropical storm. The paradise island was assailed by extreme squalls and relentless rainfall. Our proposed venture seemed doomed. But as the day progressed the mood changed and an azure blue sky begun to emerge. Gradually fluffy clouds replaced the angry elements that had previously prevailed. Sunlight subtly projected a palette of gentle hues.

At the pier the speedboat which was destined to expedite our adventure lay in wait. We were joined by two other couples. Middle aged up state New Yorker’s, they brandished an exuberant humor that was quite infectious. Dark jokes about our proposed venture and satirical political comment lightened the tension. I suspect that like ourselves they were unaware of the down side of our proposed undertaking. We were later to learn that parasailing has many safety concerns. Firstly it is not governed by statutory regulations. A number of circumstances can adversely affect its operation. The safety harness may become detached from the canopy causing the occupants to fall as much as 500 feet. The line attached to the boat can snap, hurtling everyone in to the ocean and almost certain drowning. In 2011 at the very spot where we stood, a young bride died partaking in this water sport.

As we awaited our turn, my initial enthusiasm was progressively on the wane. Our two minders were not overly endowed with bedside manners. They

Page 18 Senior Times October 2014

barked out instructions with the rapidity of a machine gun and manhandled us around the boat as if we were rag dolls.

One was tall and muscular and brandished an evil looking knife for a purpose which was unclear. His mustachioed companion was short and corpulent. The negative side of my persona was beginning to surface. Were we in the hands of a pair of sociopaths?

Would we be consigned to oblivion never to be heard of again? I was becoming increasingly certain that I had seen those two before on a reality police show. I tried to imagine what would happen if we were to become victims of some nefarious crime. We would feature on CNN for a few days and then be replaced by the Ukraine or the Middle East or other more important matters.

In a couple of years we might get a mention on ‘48 hour Mystery’. And that would be it.

My wife and I were brought back to reality when the first couple were launched from the boat. The theory of paragliding has similar principals to parachuting, although the altitude is considerably less. Instead of coming down the parasail proceeds upwards. With the velocity of a cannon ball, our companions were ejected in to the sky, the canopy having already assumed its familiar appearance. Like modern Ali Baba’s the Para sailor’s ascended skywards in their multi colored cocoon.

Soon the miniature figures disappeared in to a hazy background. A flock of sea gulls encircled our boat and seemed to peer reproachfully in our direction. I

like gulls. They are creatures of the universe, equally at home whether it be the Great Blaskets, a newly furrowed field in spring or an island in the Caribbean.

Soon the first couple had been hauled back to the boat amidst enthusiastic applause. Now it was our turn. Our life jackets secured, my wife and I were fitted in to the harness that attached to the canopy. As with the previous couple we were shot outwards and upwards.

After the initial shock our senses were soon becalmed by the serene atmosphere. Looking down past the now diminutive boat, a truly enchanting view presented itself. We were over awed by the euphoric sensation of gliding in a spatial environment that seemed infinite. We found the experience at once surreal and therapeutic. It was not at all intimidating as we had believed would be the case. All too soon we were on our way back with all the triumphalism of paratroopers being dropped behind enemy lines. The third couple made an equally successful sojourn in the sky. Soon we were all back in the comforting confines of our ship.

Disappointingly our adventure did not cure my morbid fear of plane travel.

The flight back to Dublin had the same white knuckling stomach churning sensation as before. The fog shrouded airport never seemed more welcoming.

But our paragliding episode will remain a life changing experience and will be fondly remembered in the years ahead.

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Carlingford calling Travel

Lorna Hogg

Sited alongside an ancient fjord, with a Norse name, and a Norman castle, Carlingford has one of Ireland’s best preserved medieval towns. Surrounded by picture postcard views, heritage and legend, it went from fifteenth century prosperity and prominence to eighteenth century ruin. Now, as an EDEN award winner and a European Destination of Excellence, its spectacular scenery, heritage culture and good food, have put it firmly back into the public eye.

Nestling in Carlingford Lough under the shadow of the Cooley Mountains, Carlingford lies in Narnia country. It is part of a landscape which inspired C.S. Lewis, who wrote of views ..``which when under a particular light made me feel that at any moment a giant might raise his head over the next ridge.’’ Aside from its medieval trappings, Carlingford’s surroundings offer a history ranging from legends to ancient tombs, ghosts and even leprechauns. With comfortable B&Bs and a reputation as the Gastro Capital of the North East, it’s perfect for short breaks, or as a base for walking or cycling, or group visits.

Six of Carlingford’s best..

Take the opportunity to see how life in a wealthy medieval town was lived. Dating from the early years of the 1200s, St. John’s Castle is one of its earliest structures. Explore the Tholsel, once a tollgate, and in later centuries the town gaol. In the 1400s, mint coinage was struck in Carlingford, when it a was prosperous medieval trading town, at the north eastern point of The Pale. However, the building named for The Mint was most probably a wealthy merchant’s house –

look out for its decorated limestone windows. Explore the narrow, cobbled streets. Look for the fragments of the town walls which divided Norman and Gael. Discover the site of the old Spout Gate, under which fresh mountain spring water flowed in to the town. See how our modern shoreline has receded, at Taffe’s Castle, which once lay beside it.

Experience local history and legend. There are many Neolithic tombs pre-dating the Pyramids. Local burial chambers, both portal and wedge tombs, can be seen at Proleek, accessible from the Ballymascanlon Hotel grounds. Many standing stones and ring forts have good views - Clontygora Court Tomb overlooks South Armagh. This is the legendary Cooley Brown Bull country, and The Black Crow of Omeath is also a local.

Fionn McCool’s boulder throw crossed the Lough from here, and now sits opposite, as the Cloughmore Stone in the Kilbrony Forest Park in the Mournes. It’s also Leprechaun territory – children will love the stories and summer tours from The Whisperer. Ask the locals about ghostly sightings at the Tholsel and Taafe’s Castle!

One of the best ways to see the country-

side is on foot. From day long hill serious climbing to gentle shorefront strolls, walking opportunities abound. Walk the city boundaries, stroll along the coastline or take in the Grange Loop. The fit and adventurous can enjoy the longer walks, taking in parts of The Tain Way, complete with spectacular vistas across the mountainside, lough and country. The Barnavave Loop rises onto the hillside, taking in forests, Maeve’s Gap, and an old famine village.

On yer bike..

Get on your bike, or into the car or boat.

Omeath has a picture perfect picnic area, complete with lough views. Drive out along the coast to Ballagan Point, which looks acros the water to the Haulbowline Lighthouse.

Dating from 1817, it still guards the entrance into the lough. Go up into the mountains for the scenic views from The Long Woman’s Grave, plus the wildlife and local history.

Remember however, that no dogs are allowed on the mountains. Railway buffs will enjoy exploring the old railway line.

Greenore is a good base for explorers of the old Newry/Dundalk Line. Carlingford

KIDS S GO G O FREE! FREE!

Station is under restoration, but some of the original track route can be spotted in places, e.g. the back of the golf course at Ballymascanlon Hotel.

The food is as good as the views. Fresh sea food is widely available, and the town is famed for its chowders and oysters. Diners are spoiled for choice - The Bay Tree, (which has an attached B&B) Schooners, The Kingfisher Bistro, P.J. O’Hares, The Oyster Catcher Bistro and Taafe’s Castle Bar are just a few deservedly popular choices. Ruby Ellen’s Tearooms, with its china and witty table decorations, is a must-visit. It’s famous for its for breakfast and mouth watering cakes, and good news for the gluten intolerant – plenty to enjoy here. Award winning Ghan House isn’t just a top restaurant and place to stay, but also offers art classes and wine tasting as well as cookery school.

Get creative. Shop for silver and art at Carlingford Design House, or be inspired to create your own. There is a variety of one day creative courses. Garrett Mallon runs Jewellery Skills Weekends, where you can create your own pendant and earrings in silver. This now a popular idea for special `group’ gifts, linked to wedding and anniversaries. You can also sign up for corsage making, or an afternoon of painting or needlework. www.irelandseden.ie www.carlingford.ie www.carlingfordheritagecentre.com www.thelastleprechaunsof ireland.com www.carlingforddesignhouse.ie www.carlingfordandmourne.com

Page 22 Senior Times October 2014

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Treatment advances for arthritis Health

Dr. Barry J Sheane Consultant Rheumatologist at Sports Surgery Clinic, explains

The term ‘arthritis’ means ‘joint inflammation’ and refers to disease of a joint, or in many cases, multiple joints. However, there are many forms of arthritis, and in turn, specific treatment and medication for those individual types of arthritis. A Rheumatologist is a doctor with specific skills that allow her or him to differentiate between the different kinds of arthritis and prescribe the relevant course of treatment.

In simple terms, Rheumatologists will determine if a patient’s arthritis is one of two main forms: osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis. The differentiation between the two is of paramount importance because each type carries its own specific prognosis and will require different therapeutic approaches.

Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) is also referred to as ‘degenerative’ arthritis, ‘wear-and-tear’ arthritis, or arthritis ‘of advancing age’.

The lay term ‘rheumatism’ refers to OA. This condition can affect a single large joint such as a hip or a knee, but commonly affects multiple joints, including the articulation between the metacarpal bone of the thumb and wrist (manifesting as pain on the thumb-side of the wrist), the joints in the fingers closest to the nails (‘distal interphalangeal joints’ and manifesting as bony lumps) and that of the ‘big toe’. A joint with osteoarthritis is typically more painful during or immediately after activity and may intermittently swell or even develop permanent deformity.

Inflammatory arthritis Inflammatory arthritis is that which is caused by, or involves, aberrancy in the immune system such that a system that ordinarily is used by the body to stave

Page 24 Senior Times October 2014

off and fight infections, turns on specific components of the body, in this case the joints, and attacks them. This results in joint inflammation, which manifests in the sufferer as pain, swelling and morning stiffness in the affected joint or joints. Characteristically, these symptoms of inflammatory arthritis improve with movement or exercising the joint.

There are a variety of specific types of inflammatory arthritis, including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most prevalent in the community and, left undiagnosed and untreated, results in joint deformity and disability, particularly in the hands and feet.

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis associated with the skin disease psoriasis, and can also cause joint deformity, while ankylosing spondylitis primarily affects the joints of the spine, from the neck down and including the joints of the rib-cage.

‘Ankylosis’ means ‘fusion’ and ‘spondylitis’ refers to inflammation of the spine.

Through this process of inflammation, the many articulations of the spine fuse, which can cause severe restrictions in movement for the patient.

Treatment advances Enormous strides to understand the genetics and immunology of these inflammatory arthritides have been made in the last three decades, culminating in an expanding repertoire of highly effective medications that target and block specific components of the immune system that are central in the perpetuation of these conditions.

In contrast, OA has not been privy to the advancements that have been made in the science of inflammatory arthritis.

Currently, treatment options for a patient diagnosed with degenerative arthritis including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pain-killers and/or joint injections with steroid/’cortisone’.

If OA continues to advance, joint failure ensues. When this occurs in a large joint like the hip or knee, an orthopaedic surgeon will replace the failed joint with a prosthetic one, which is not without significant risk.

The ‘bad arthritis’ In years past, Rheumatologists used to refer to inflammatory arthritis as ‘the bad arthritis’ because of the limited efficacious treatments available and as a consequence, the development of deformity and disability. While a cure for inflammatory arthritis does not exist, patients have a real chance of achieving disease remission with the medications currently on offer.

Unfortunately, this assurance cannot be given to sufferers of OA. There is no medication currently available that can halt the degeneration of the joint, and in that sense OA is the new ‘bad arthritis’ to have. However, scientists continue on the journey to understand the cause of OA and how it might be treated. Progress has been slow but it is time for researchers involved in musculoskeletal science to focus their efforts and resources on this neglected condition, so that the moniker ‘bad arthritis’ can be removed from that associated with OA.

Dr Barry J Sheane is attached to the Sports Surgery Clinic, Santry www.seniortimes.ie

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Legal

Are you in a potential legal minefield?

‘Till death do us part’ is a marriage vow every couple makes, but the reality in 21st Century Ireland is that for many people their marriages end long before death. The 2012 Census found that the peak age for separation / divorce in Ireland is 48 and that the greatest increase amongst the general population in the number of separated and divorced people was amongst those aged 55 and over.

Where a marriage has unfortunately broken down the legal status of those affected can be quite complicated, particularly where they have not taken steps to regularise their new situation whatever that may be.

To begin with a couple need to be living separate and apart for five years before one of them can obtain a divorce. In the course of those five years they may start a new relationship with someone they may or may not end up marrying. Thus separated couples may find themselves in a variety of different situations all of which may have different legal implications if one of the parties dies.

As a practising solicitor one comes across these many and varied situations and they can result in unforeseen legal consequences where someone dies.

Throw children into the mix and not surprisingly the range of legal problems gets very complex indeed. Whilst it would be beyond the scope of this article to try to set out the legal consequences of every situation which might arise, some more common examples given below which we have come across, may help to highlight the unforeseen consequences we refer to above.

Example 1 People who are married but living apart and who have no formal legal separation: Paul’s wife left him after ten years of marriage in 2000 to live with someone else. He raised their young son who is now in college and estranged from his mother. Paul dies suddenly without having made a will. Under the Succession Act his wife can look to claim two-thirds of his estate.

Example 2 People who are married but living apart who have no formal legal separation, but they are both in new long term relationships: Mary got married abroad and had two

children. She wanted to return to Ireland but her husband didn’t. They voluntarily separated and she returned to live in Ireland and they co-parented their two children. She made a Will leaving her house in Ireland to her two children with her husband’s agreement.

After some years she met someone else in Ireland and began a long term relationship with that person. She died suddenly and the new Partner claimed to be a “qualified co-habitant” under new legislation introduced in 2011 and thus entitled to inherit her estate. He also refused to move out of her house.

Her sons had to initiate legal proceedings to assert their entitlement under the Will and the claim was eventually settled but with the new Partner also benefiting. [Note: The Co-Habitants legislation which became law in 2011 affects a sizeable number of couples who may never have heard about it. Unless you choose to opt out of the effects of the legislation, it applies by default.

Had Mary above taken legal advice her Partner could have renounced his entitlement to claim on her estate or she could have transferred her house into the names of her sons while she was still alive thus avoiding the effects of the legislation and costly litigation].

Example 3 People who are married but living apart and who have some form of legal Separation Agreement or Judicial Separation: Taking Example 1 if Paul had a formal legal separation from his wife, then his wife would most likely have renounced her Succession Act rights and thus would have had no right to make a claim on his estate and thus everything would have gone to his son.

Example 4 People who were married but got a Divorce outside of Ireland prior to 1996 which Divorce may not be recognised here: Barry and his wife separated in 1990 with no children. He then through an address of convenience abroad applied for and obtained a foreign divorce. He met a new partner and they lived together as man and wife but never married. Barry dies having made a will leaving everything to his partner. She seeks to take the benefit left to her under the will but his former wife also makes a claim. Because his divorce may not be recognised here his estranged spouse would still be regarded as his next of kin for succession purposes.

Solicitor John Fahy advises

[ Note : Because Divorce only became avd abroad which could yet come back to haunt them].

Example 5 People who were married got divorced and are in a new relationship, but not married to their new Partner: Shane and his wife Paula divorced having had no children. Shane met a new partner with whom he had a child, John, but they did not live together. Shane died without having made a will and thus for Succession Act purposes his young son John (aged 10) thus stands to inherit Sp must administer the estate for John until then without having any entitlement to benefit in her own right. She must also deal with the family dynamic that John has two half brothers who will not benefit in any way from Shane’s estate.

Example 6 People who were married got divorced and then remarried but who may still have an ex-spouse who has not remarried Brenda and Mark divorced and Mark subsequently remarried. He then died leaving everything to his new spouse.

Brenda who had not remarried was still able to claim a widow’s pension.

Conclusion Proper planning and ensuring that a separation or divorce is legally formalised would have avoided certain of the unforeseen consequences which arose in the examples given above. In addition it emphasises the importance of making a valid Will and taking proper legal advice, as many of the complex situations mentioned, would have become obvious family law proceedings.

If you have any concerns or queries about issues raised in this Article then please feel free to contact: John Fahy & Co., Solicitors.

6, Lr Kilmacud Rd.,Stillorgan,Co Dublin Email: fahysolicitors@eircom.net Phone: 01 283 2155 /283 2287 Fax :01 283 3089 Web: www.elderlaw.ie

S AV I N G S A N D L O A N S

Together for generations Looking at your finances honestly will help you highlight where your money is going as these days we all have to look very closely at what we are spending our money on. We can help in many practical ways.

Plan ahead with a credit union savings account or talk to us about affordable loans at reasonable rates.

You may not realise it but just because you may have retired doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean your access to credit has to stop.

Come in and talk to us or visit creditunion.ie for more information.

Loans are subject to approval. Terms and Conditions apply. Credit Unions in the Republic of Ireland are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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Health

Vaccination is the only protection

Influenza (flu) is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the flu virus. Flu affects people of all ages, with outbreaks occurring almost every year. Flu symptoms come on suddenly with a fever, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. Most people recover from flu in 2-7 days. This is different from a cold which is a much less severe illness compared to flu. A cold usually starts gradually with a sore throat and a blocked or runny nose. Symptoms of a cold are generally mild compared to flu.

In some instances, flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death. Serious breathing complications can develop, including pneumonia and bronchitis, to which older people and those with certain chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible. Some people may need hospital treatment and a number of people die from flu each winter.

Flu is spread by coughing and sneezing. Anyone with flu can be infectious from 1 day before to 3-5 days after onset of symptoms. This means that you can pass on flu or the flu virus to somebody even before you know that you are sick.

Each year the seasonal (annual) flu vaccine contains three common flu virus strains. The flu virus changes each year this is why a new flu vaccine has to be given each year. This year’s flu vaccine contains the Swine Flu strain which is likely to be one of the common strains causing flu this winter.

The best way to prevent flu is to get the flu vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for all those 65 years of age and over those with long term medical conditions e.g. heart or lung disease all frontline healthcare workers including carers Vaccination should ideally be undertaken in late September or October each year. Flu vaccines have been used for more than 60 years worldwide and are very safe. Flu vaccine contains killed or inactivated viruses and therefore cannot cause flu. It does, however, take 10-14 days for the vaccine to start protecting you against flu. The vaccine and consultation are free to those within the recommended groups who have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

GPs charge a consultation fee for seasonal flu vaccine to those who do not have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

More information is available GP, Public Health Nurse or pharmacist. www.immunisation.ie provides details about flu vaccination, along with answers to any questions you may have about flu.

Page 28 Senior Times October 2014

Pneumococcal vaccine

If you are over 65 or have a long term medical condition you should also ask your doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine which protects against pneumonia, if you have not previously received it. You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as your pneumococcal vaccine.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) is recommended for those aged 65 years and older and those over 2 years with long term medical conditions. This vaccine protects against 23 types of pneumococcal disease including those most likely to cause severe disease.

Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection. The bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease live in the nose and throat.

A person who carries the bacteria can spread the disease by coughing, sneezing or even breathing.

Pneumococcal disease can cause serious illness including Pneumonia, Meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) or Septicaemia (blood poisoning).

You only need to get pneumococcal vaccine ONCE after you reach 65. If you received your first dose of this vaccine before you reached 65 years of age you should receive a second dose at least 5 years after the first dose.

If you are under 65 you may need a second dose if

You have no spleen or your spleen is not working properly, You have a medical condition causing a weakened immune system.

You cannot get pneumococcal disease from the vaccine as it does not contain live bacteria.

You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as your pneumococcal vaccine.

The vaccine and consultation are free to those within the recommended groups who have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’. GPs charge a consultation fee for seasonal flu vaccine to those who do not have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

More information is available from your GP or Public Health Nurse.

www.immunisation.ie provides details about flu vaccination, along with answers to any questions you may have.

www.seniortimes.ie

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Health

‘She’s Got Guts’ Case Study Reveals Many Women Suffer in Silence A new nationwide study called ‘She’s Got Guts’ revealed that one in four Irish women refrain from social situations and recreational activities due to digestive problems.

Of the 480 Irish women surveyed, three-quarters admitted that the syndrome affected their self-confidence and that they were too embarrassed to talk about their digestive problems or seek help.

63-year-old Joan Horgan, a participant in the study from Douglas in Co. Cork, suffered the pain and discomfort of rritable Bowel Syndrome for over 20 years, unaware of what caused it and how to relieve its symptoms.

"I have no idea what started it, but it began with bloating in my stomach and a lot of flatulence. After a few months it progressed to difficult bowel movements with diarrhoea and constipation, but there had been no change in my diet," says Joan.

is that the stress and anxiety involved in hiding the problem may end up making symptoms worse, as we know that stress and anxiety can be linked to digestive problems. We also know that positive social support has long been associated with better treatment outcomes.”

"I thought perhaps I might have been eating the wrong food, but looking back now I think my mother had IBS as well because I remember she suffered with a bloated stomach and constant pain in her tummy for many years."

According to Dr Eileen Murphy, Research Director and Nutritionist at Cork-based company Alimentary Health, IBS affects around 15% of the general population and is almost twice as common in women than men, generally affecting the 18-35 age group.

Joan’s life soon revolved around her bowel habits, which often forced her to wear loose-fitting clothes as her stomach would significantly bloat throughout the day. After several attempts at dieting, excluding irritable foods such as dairy and alcohol, but to no avail, Joan decided to seek medical help.

The condition kept Joan out of social situations and warranted 8 colonoscopies and gastroscopies over a 14-year period, as several consultants ruled her discomfort to IBS with no effective treatment available.

However, the ‘She’s Got Guts’ study provided one possible answer: the new PrecisionBioticTM Alflorex developed by Alimentary Health.

Alimentary Health, based in Cork, is an innovative Irish healthcare company and a global pioneer in discovery and development of pharmabiotic treatments.

Professor Fergus Shanahan, Director of the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork and Consultant Gastroenterologist, Cork University Hospital said: “The main problem with keeping digestive problems a secret Page 30 Senior Times October 2014

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Take heart from a sensible diet and regular exercise

Health

Kelkin show you how maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can help reduce your overall risk of heart disease

What exactly is cholesterol?

It might surprise you to read that we actually need some cholesterol in our body. Cholesterol has a structural role in the walls of the body’s cells; about 80% of the body’s cholesterol is made by the liver, while 20% comes from our daily diet. When we talk about cholesterol levels, we often discuss our overall cholesterol levels, but it is the breakdown of the results that is most important:

• Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is known as ‘bad’ cholesterol.

• High density lipoprotein (HDL) is referred to as ‘good’ cholesterol.

For health reasons, you want to keep the LDL cholesterol low and the HDL cholesterol high.

Importance of a healthy weight and exercise Diet and lifestyle play a key role in lowering blood cholesterol levels. A cholesterol lowering diet not only focuses on lowering saturated fats (these include animal fats, as well as palm and coconut oil), but also on including many therapeutic foods into the diet.

• If you are overweight, losing 5-10% of your current weight has been shown to reduce total cholesterol levels by up to 10%, LDL cholesterol by 15% and increase HDL cholesterol by 8-10%.

• Other lifestyle changes to make include increasing daily exercise levels, limiting alcohol intake, reducing salt intake and stress levels and quitting smoking.

How are cholesterol levels increased?

Saturated fats tend to be solid at room temperature; they are transported to the Page 32 Senior Times October 2014

liver after having been eaten where they are converted into cholesterol. The maximum recommended saturated fat intake is no more than 20g per day for a woman and no more than 30g per day for a man. Opt for low-fat dairy, leaner cuts of meats, healthier cooking methods and avoid ‘hydrogenated vegetable oils’ to significantly reduce your intake of saturated fat.

Fibre facts A fibre-rich diet is usually a nutrient rich diet, and soluble fibre has beneficial effects on cholesterol levels.

• Sources of soluble fibre: oats, fruit, vegetables and vegetable proteins such as nuts, seeds, beans, and pulses (including peas, soya, lentils and chickpeas).

• Studies show that intakes of 9-16.5g of soluble fibres per day reduced overall cholesterol by 5.5-11% and reduced LDL cholesterol by 3.2-12.1%.

Beta-glucan Beta-glucan is a component of soluble fibre that has been shown to have cholesterol lowering properties due to its chemical structure.

• Incorporating beta-glucan into the diet has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels by up to 10% by preventing the absorption of cholesterol from the gut.

• Beta-glucan needs to be eaten regularly to prevent cholesterol from returning to previous levels.

• Beta-glucan is found in oats, which are a naturally low-glycaemic index (GI) food, improve blood glucose control and help manage obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS

• Stress • Alcohol • Inactivity • Smoking • Diabetes • Blood pressure • Cholesterol • Obesity

• Research over the last decade supports the suggestion that an intake of at least 3g of oat beta-glucan per day may reduce total and LDL cholesterol levels by 5-10%.

Check out kelkin.ie for more information on their range of Healthy Heart Cereals containing oat beta-glucan.

Soya • Eating soybeans and foods made from them, such as tofu, soya nuts and soya milk, is a great way to lower cholesterol.

• Analyses show that consuming 15-25g of soya protein (1-3 portions) can lower LDL by up to 10%.

www.seniortimes.ie

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Health

This article was prepared by MacuShield

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in people over 50 years of age, affecting an estimated 80,000 people in Ireland alone.

It is particularly frustrating because it results in a loss of central vision. In other words, someone with AMD can see everything except what he/she is looking at, and is therefore unable to read, watch TV, recognise faces or drive.

There is currently an epidemic of AMD, largely because we are all living so long!

The macula is the central region of the retina responsible for central vision. When the macula is damaged, the result is a loss of vital central or detail vision which is referred to as AMD.

Are there different types of AMD? Yes, there are two forms of AMD: dry and wet. Only your eye care professional can tell you which type you may have.

Approx 85% of AMD sufferers have dry AMD, and approx 15% have the more aggressive wet form.

Wet AMD Abnormal blood vessels grow at the back of the eye. These blood vessels may then bleed and leak fluid, thus distorting or destroying central vision. The chance for severe sight loss is much greater with this type of AMD. Vision loss can be rapid.

Faces may begin to blur, and it becomes harder to distinguish colours.

Dry AMD Is the most common form of the condition and develops slowly, eventually leading to loss of central vision. It is caused when deposits, called drusen, form at the macula Central vision may become blurry, and straight lines may appear wavy. There is currently no known cure for AMD. Can the dry form turn into the wet form?

Yes. All people who have the wet form had the dry form first.

Who is at risk of AMD? The three most important and established risk factors for AMD include: Increasing age.

Cigarette smoking.

Family history. People with a family history of AMD are at higher risk of getting the disease.

Other risk factors include: Obesity. Research studies suggest a link between obesity and the progression of early and intermediate stage AMD to advanced AMD. Race. Whites are much more likely to lose vision from AMD than other races.

Gender. Women appear to be at greater risk than men.

Iris Color. People with light colored irides are at a higher risk than those with dark colored irides.

Sunlight exposure.

High cholesterol.

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Page 34 Senior Times October 2014

Symptoms of AMD The main symptom of macular degeneration is dim or fuzzy central vision, which can affect the ability to carry out fine detail visual tasks such as reading. Objects may appear distorted or smaller than they really are. Faces will become more difficult to recognise. As the disease progresses; blind spots form in the macula, further reducing central vision.

However, good peripheral (side) vision for orientation is generally retained.

Dry AMD symptoms develop so gradually that you may not notice them, but wet AMD symptoms can develop in a period of weeks or months. With wet AMD, straight lines may appear wavy or curved.

Wet AMD symptoms tend to appear suddenly and get worse rapidly. Changes or loss of vision are usually quite severe. If you think you might have wet AMD, see your health professional right away. In some cases, early treatment may help you maintain your central vision.

How is AMD Diagnosed?

In addition to a complete medical history and eye examination, your eye care professional may perform the following tests to diagnose AMD: Visual acuity test - the common eye chart test, which measures vision at various distances.

Pupil dilation - the pupil is widened with eye drops to allow a close-up examination of the retina at the back of the eye.

Amsler grid - used to detect wet AMD, this diagnostic test uses a checkerboard-like grid to determine if the straight lines in the pattern appear wavy or missing to the patient - both indications may signal the development of AMD. Fluorescein angiography - used to detect wet AMD, this diagnostic test involves a special dye injected into a vein in the arm. Pictures are then taken as the dye passes through the blood vessels in the retina, helping the physician evaluate if the blood vessels are leaking and whether or not the leaking can be treated.

How is AMD treated?

Dry AMD. There is no cure or treatment for dry AMD at this time. However, studies show that for some people who already have moderate to severe symptoms of dry AMD, taking certain vitamins and minerals may reduce the chance of getting the more serious wet form of AMD. If you have dry AMD, you should carefully monitor your vision for any changes, and see your eye doctor for frequent checkups to watch for signs of wet AMD. Wet AMD. Wet AMD can sometimes be treated with laser surgery or photodynamic therapy (PDT). Treatment will not restore central vision, but it may slow down visual loss.

However, laser surgery can only be used in 20% to 30% of cases of wet AMD, and PDT in only 10% to 15% of cases.

If you feel you are at risk of developing AMD make an appointment with your local Optometrist /Optician. It is advisable to have an eye exam at least every 2 years.

www.seniortimes.ie

Property

Do you want to move or ‘downsize’?

Danny Proctor, Managing Director of Senior Move Managers Ireland, explains how this new service in Ireland provides support to Older Persons and their families, when deciding to move home and downsize.

There is no doubt that the majority of older persons in Ireland would rather remain in the home that they have lived in for the last number of years.

However, some people are considering a move from what has been the family home for a very long time. Some also want to explore the option of adapting their existing home to live more comfortably and in safety as they age.

During research into this area, I discovered that people did have concerns about their existing home. Some of these concerns are to do with location. What was an ideal location to raise a family may not be the best location for us as we get older. The local shop, GP, pharmacy, post office etc. may not feel that local anymore and some of our old neighbours may have moved out of the area.

Home running costs, including ongoing maintenance were also an issue especially in an old large home. Costs such as heating a large home and ongoing repairs etc, were also a concern.

Those concerns, along with reduced government allowances, rising utility costs and taxes, also gave rise to concern.

Moving Home is one of the most stressful transitions we will make regardless of age group. This is more so for an older person, especially if there are not many family members nearby or available to help. The task can be even more daunting if we live alone, and surprisingly, 27% of those aged over 65 live alone.

For those of us living alone or in remote areas, there may be a desire to simply move closer to a village, providing ease of access to facilities and amenities.

A move might be the right choice; however, the thoughts of a move and all the stress and trauma that go with it, can be extremely daunting for an older person.

The big question will always be “Where do I start?”

As Senior Move Managers, we can reduce this stress significantly by assisting and working with you on every single task.

Page 36 Senior Times October 2014

The organisational and physical tasks associated with planning and implementing such a complex process can be daunting for the entire family. The thought of these tasks can take over, sometimes overshadowing the positive aspects of the transition.

This need not be the case. If a move is being considered or the decision is made, Senior Move Managers Ireland can sit with you and provide a no obligation proposal of how we can support and assist you.

You may be considering a move to a smaller home or even adapt the existing home to make it safer and more comfortable. Other options you may be considering could be a move to a Retirement Village or Nursing Home, or move in with a family member. We can help with any such transition.

Senior Move Managers Ireland will help from the outset.

Through thoughtful planning, we provide support to help you overcome the emotional and physical challenges of downsizing and relocating.

We can help you choose an auctioneer, prepare the house for sale, search for a new home, customise floor plans for the new home, arrange the sale or donation of possessions, organise packing and shipping, moving into the new home, changing utilities, notification of change of address and many more of the tasks involved in moving to a new home.

We work in a caring and compassionate way to help with every decision you make.

Senior Move Managers are Certified Relocation and Transition Specialists CRTS® and Certified Senior Move Mangers cSMM , qualifications achieved in this sector in the United States.

Senior Move Managers Ireland Ltd. The Chambers Building, North Street, Swords, Co.Dublin. t: (01) 533 4230 m: 087 715 8361 Email :info@seniormove.ie Web: www.seniormove.ie

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Poetry Corner

Two poems by George Sweetnam

‘I am 75, I have worked abroad for most of my life retiring to Skerries in Co. Dublin. I am married I have two children.

‘I have been writing one way or another since I could pick up a pen and have a fascination with poetry’.

The Colour of her Hair

In that time lost, long, long ago When life was sweet and had made our loving so Do I remember what we were and where?

Can I remember, can I remember the colour of her hair?

I remember a hand held soft against my face In some magical, enchanted place Do I remember that gentlest of touch and care?

But do I remember, oh do I remember the colour of her hair?

Of lips that kissed and hearts in song A world devoid of right and wrong Do I remember, was I really there?

Yet can I remember, oh can I remember the colour of her hair?

Fate in its way, its cruel convention Ripped apart two small people’s life’s intention Do I remember, perhaps there is just this lost memory to share?

Yes I remember, oh I remember the colour of her hair!

Yes I remember, I remember, I remember; oh yes I remember … the colour of her hair!

If you are interested in getting your poetry published in Senior Times, send up to five works, with a photo of yourself and a brief biography to:

john@slp.ie

Regrettably we cannot accept ‘hard copy’ contributions.

The Sick

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‘There, there my dear patient do nothing that’s hasty nor rash You must know what I know that your rash is worth cash And so that once more your face may be covered with smiles I can relieve of what ails you and frankly that’s Piles. of hard earned cash ‘cos that’s what it t’will cost for my medical wiles’ ‘Doctor dear doctor you’re careful and wise Tell me please tell me for I’ve tears in my eyes I’ve read all about it, looked it up on the net My disease is incurable the worse you can get’

‘Now, now my dear patient fear not as we speak For the rest of your life you must see me three times a week And I’m sure I can cure you though it takes many long years So for services ‘Professional’ to calm all your fears I’ll look at the cost and then make it just so- with luck merely charge you five hundred a go’ ‘Doctor say doctor have you any long list For I must be referred to a smart specialist I need a bright fellow who knows all his stuff You can’t be too good, ‘cos you don’t charge enough’

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Creative writing

Under the weather..

by Eileen Casey

One of my favourite dipping into books on meteorological matters is the late Brendan McWilliams’ ‘Illustrated Weather Eye,’ a compilation in his memory by his wife Anne from his Irish Times column.

Aorora Borealis, NASA

The moon and the weather may change together, But a change of the moon does not change the weather; If we’d no moon at all, and that may seem strange, We still would have weather that’s subject to change.

(An oft quoted wisdom about lunar influences on earthly weather – from Illustrated Weather Eye.

Like lots of writers, climate change and environmental concerns are high on my list of themes as a writer. In 2010, ‘From Spit and Clay’ won The Green Book Festival Poetry Award in San Francisco. My poems in this collection, while a celebration of nature, also strike darker notes concerning

Page 42 Senior Times October 2014

environmental matters and climate change. Weather is very much part of our daily dialogue with each other. A nephew visiting from the States, remarked to me how we Irish always greet each other with some reference to weather. But it’s not just an Irish ‘thing.’ There are many universal expressions and phrases, weather driven. ‘The wrong type of snow,’ for example, is one such phrase, coined by the British Rail Services. A press release implied that BR management and its engineering staff were unaware of different types of snow.

Henceforth, in the United Kingdom, the phrase became a byword for euphemistic and pointless excuses.

One of my favourite dipping into books on meteorological

www.seniortimes.ie

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See original stories on-line. Ábhar i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla ar fáil.

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Say hi to Emma at the Celtic Ross Hotel stand at the Over 50s Show in the RDS, Dublin 17 – 19 October

Rosscarbery, West Cork, (023) 8848722 info@celticross.com www.celticrosshotel.com

Turner’s keen meteorological eye can be detected in his portrayal of light in many of his paintings., particularly possibly his most famous The Fighting Temeraire

matters is the late Brendan McWilliams’ ‘Illustrated Weather Eye,’ a compilation in his memory by his wife Anne from his Irish Times column. First published in 2012 by Gill & Macmillan, this witty and charming book imparts scientific knowledge in very accessible ways. There is an amount of intriguing information for weather buffs; such as when the first gale warnings began to appear in ways recognisable to us now (in the second half of the nineteenth century as it happens). Williams even identified Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ as being the most meteorological, the action taking place against a backdrop of dramatic weather. In hindsight the explanation is obvious. Meteorologists have noted that Austen’s book was written between January 1814 and March the following year when several major volcanic eruptions around the world occurred. ‘Weather Eye’ is also a visual delight, including art images such as Gale on the Seafront by René Francois Xavier Prinet (1861-1946) and The Fighting Temeraire by Joseph Mallard William Turner (1775-1851). Turner’s keen meteorological eye can be detected in his portrayal of light in many of his paintings.

More and more people are recognising the significance of NOT ignoring climate change. September 21st, 2014 saw gatherings in towns, villages and cities all over the world, to show that people care about climate change and to demonstrate that this level of prioritisation on climate matters, both at home and worldwide, is long overdue. This international day of action was held just 48 hours before the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon hosted one of the most high profile focus on climate change in years. Leonardo DiCaprio, actor and United Nations envoy, took the opportunity to tell leaders they can “make history or be vilified by it.” He called for an end to tax breaks for oil, gas and coal companies: “They don’t deserve or tax dollars, they deserve our scrutiny.”

Jamie Henn, spokesman for 350.org said “You can’t fight climate change sitting on your couch and holding your breath.” Trócaire, as part of the run up to the event, went along to this year’s Electric Picnic with a giant heart, asking people to write the thing they love and want to protect against climate change.

A strong response to the need for action appears this year in the setting up of a project called Weather Stations; Page 44 Senior Times October 2014

advocating and exploring change through literature.

Over a period of eighteen months (February 2014 – September 2015), five Writers in Residence will discuss and research the question of our threatened environment. These writers were chosen for their talent, style and commitment to creating a more sustainable future. The project is made possible with the support of the Culture Programme of the European Union and involves five partnerships from around the world: Free Word (London); Internationales Literature Festival (Berlin); Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw; Tallaght Community Arts in South Dublin and The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne. These ‘Weather Stations’ will take the political temperature and assess the social climate in the areas within which they work. This is achieved through hosting reading groups, facilitating debates, attending meetings, among other activities. In short, through organising a range of ways to explore how we might live our lives differently, helps us adapt to a changed climate and prevents further damage to our environment.

The chosen writers have international reputations. Xiaolu Guo, who works with Free Word (London), is described as one of the Granta’s Best of British writers under 40. Xiaolu Guo is noted for her profound, incisive, funny and often disturbingly accurate observational prism. Of Weather Stations she says it is “a wonderful opportunity to explore and develop in new directions my concerns with the environment, human culture and its often destructive presence. But also, the resilience and potential of self-renewal of the human spirit.”

Mirko Bonné (Internationales Literature Festival, Berlin) is winner of several awards including the French Prix Relay du Roman d’Evasion. He is lauded by critics as a born storyteller, creating worlds alive to all of the senses: “Climate seems to me a much larger, more complex and sweeping story than the one which I follow, which I have read ever since I can remember. I am probably a hopeless empiricist, certainly an incorrigible altruist. I read the weather, following it daily, more or less happy with rain, rain, rain; in Hamburg, after all, three hundred days of rain at a stretch are no cause for despair. In my writing, in my characters’ thoughts, feelings and actions and in the images, allusions and music of my poetry, the weather plays at least as important a role as psychology, morals, doubt or imagination.”

Jas Kapela (Krytyka Polityczna, Warsaw) is a poet, novelist, columnist and blogger. His darkly comic work is proudly leftwing and focuses on the conflict of an individual living in a hostile society. Kapela tries to identify the third industrial revolution which Jeremy Rifkin ascribes to as having five pillars.: “First: replacing the energy regime based on fossil fuels with renewable resources. Second: transforming world’s building base and making each building a micro power station www.seniortimes.ie

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able to charge renewable energy. Third: installing in the whole infrastructure hydrogen technologies allowing to store temporarily appearing renewable energy in order to guarantee a constant flow of green electricity. Fourth: using online communication technologies to create an intelligent energy network enabling millions of people to send ecological energy generated in their houses to the net and sharing it with others in a common, open space in a way similar to this in which people create and share information online. Fifth: replacing widely used vehicles – cars, buses, trains, trucks – for vehicles with electric or hydrogen fuel powered by renewable energy generated in millions of buildings and installing in each country numerous charging stations, where the consumers-producers could buy and sell electricity through a disperse network”.

The writer associated with The Wheeler Centre (Melbourne) is Tony Birch, born in inner-city Melbourne to a large family of Aboriginal, West India and Irish descent; “Consumer culture is underpinned by an economic model, underpinned by manufacturers, underpinned by government policy and tax concessions, demanding that we buy more and more stuff. We then quickly get rid of the stuff and buy other stuff (which is often the same stuff). The stuff we get rid of is sometimes donated to the ‘less worthy’, helping us to feel good about ourselves. Other stuff we recycle, helping us feel exceptionally good about ourselves. But a lot of stuff just hangs around, lonely and materially obsolete.”

The fifth writer is Oisín McGann, author and illustrator (Tallaght Community Arts, South Dublin). Oisín talks about his own involvement as follows: “An important aspect of the project is the ways in which our Writers in Residence will engage with young people. While there is no doubt that scientists, policymakers, and academics must collaborate to find a solution to this complex problem, we have much to learn from a community that is often overlooked: young people.”

Each Weather Station has also established a substation at a local school – facilitating workshops and activities which engage students in key questions about living with our changing climate. In a materialistic world geared towards creating young consumers, the question of how responsible young citizens are nurtured is high on the list of discussion topics.

Giving young people the tools to become responsible young citizens with the knowledge to fight for a sustainable future is of paramount importance. Tallaght Community Arts, the Irish partner in this global project, is an arts development organisation working with local communities, schools and youth groups since 1996. The work of this organisation focuses on participatory arts, encouraging and supporting people of all ages to be involved in the making of art.

In a recent press release Tony Fegan, Director of Tallaght Community Arts said: “The Weather Stations project is a wonderful opportunity for Tallaght Community Arts to work Page 46 Senior Times October 2014

The Five Writers In Residence, Weather Stations: left to right:Xialu Guo, Jas Kapela, Oisín McGann, Mirko Bonné, Tony Birch.

with our international partners to explore ways in which the power of the art of writing can contribute to how we integrate the reality of climate change into our daily lives…We look forward to hosting the other International Writers in Residence, as part of this exciting and timely initiative, and sharing their thoughts and writings with our project participants and audiences here in Ireland over the coming year.”

The Dublin substation began in August 2014 at Coláiste de Híde, Firhouse Community College and Mount Seskin Community College, Jobstown, Tallaght. For the duration of the project, 200 second-level students and 60 teachers form members of a dynamic arts and science learning substation that places literature and storytelling at the heart of conversations around climate change. The project is an arts and education initiative that addresses learning across senior cycle key skills as well as Geography, Arts, English, Foreign Languages, SPHE and ICT. This substation is working with illustrator and writer Oisin mcGann, writing stories that imagine the future and shape conversations about climate change.

Students from each school will create stories, films, podcasts, illustrations and more, in response to the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change.

Leading scientists from Trinity College Dublin’s Geography Department and The Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units (ICARUS) NUI Maynooth. Lots of events are planned. For example, in September 2015, five young people from each EU project country will represent their peers at an International Summit in Berlin hosted by project partner, International Literature Festival, Berlin. Ultimately, an online anthology of the creative responses of the young people involved, together with a photographic narrative of the project will compliment the online anthology of the writer in residence responses to the overall Weather Station Project.

The input of each individual writer (and further biographical information)can be accessed via the Weather Station website; www.globalweatherstations.com Grateful acknowledgement to Gill &Macmillan for use of images from ‘Illustrated Weather Eye.’ This gorgeous and informative book is priced at €19.99, contact Teresa Daly, 01 5009521, tdaly@gillmacmillan.ie.

www.seniortimes.ie

Culture

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch’s new film is the stunning drama The Imitation Game

What’s On in the Arts Maretta Dillon reports on the attractions in store over the next few months

The phenomenon that is Pat Shortt begins a nationwide tour with his new show Selfie from Nov 7. Join the singing undertaker Mossey Burke and a host of new characters as he recounts his favourite funeral. A funeral that was nearly the death of him and changed his life forever. See patshortt.com for a list of venues and dates.

Dance features strongly in November when two dance companies, one from Belfast and one from Dublin, join up to perform a new work entitled Neither Either. Inspired by a quote from Seamus Heaney, the performance brings together an exciting group of creative artists and stunning dancers who will be performing the length of the island. Choreographed by Liz Roche and set to a score by Neil Martin - identities, beliefs, emotions and aspirations are put to the test in this poignant blend of dance, poetry and music. Check lizrochecompany.com for more info.

British hottie Benedict Cumberbatch’s new film is the stunning drama The Imitation Game exploring the life of Alan Turing, the man who broke the German Enigma code during WW2.

Keira Knightley is the colleague who backs him and our very own Allen Leech takes a break from Downton Abbey to lend support. Opens nationwide from November 14.

Stuart Carolan, the writing talent behind the hugely successful TV series Love/Hate, has penned a new theatre piece, Defender of the Faith, which begins a nationwide tour this month. A thriller set on an Armagh farm in 1986. It tells the story of an IRA family that are falling apart under the immense strain put on its members when the IRA interrogator, Page 48 Senior Times October 2014

Dance features strongly in November when two dance companies, one from Belfast and one from Dublin, join up to perform a new work entitled Neither Either, inspired by a quote from Seamus Heaney, JJ, visits. Needless to say it does not end well. Don’t miss this taut and menacing encounter. All the details from Decadenttheatrecompany.ie.

Music Network and The Ark have come together to produce a family theatre show, A Most Peculiar Wintry Thing, that will be taking to the road from December 1. We’re promised a rolling snowball of four wondrous musicians and some light fingered animation to explore the magic and mystery of all things snowy with favourite memories of winter and some new ones too. This is a cross generational affair so pick up a grandchild along the way. Again, musicnetwork.ie has all the skinny on where it’s on.

Finally, esteemed traditional musician Paddy Glackin rocks up – if that’s not a contradiction – to 15 Henrietta Street in Dublin on December 12 to reminisce about his musical memories of Dublin in the 1960’s and 70’s. Never fear there will be music among the chat and stories. Enjoy this wintry season. www.seniortimes.ie

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Events around the Country November/December 2014

TULCA FESTIVAL OF VISUAL ARTS Galway City becomes a multi-venue, artist-centered festival of contemporary art.

Nov 7- 23 Information: tulcafestival.com SELFIE Pat Shortt’s new show Selfie.

Join the singing undertaker Mossey Burke and a host of new characters as he recounts his favourite funeral.

Nov 7 – Dec 19 nationwide Information: patshortt.com

DEFENDER OF THE FAITH A new theatre piece, from the writer of RTE’s Love/Hate, Stuart Carolan. A thriller set on a farm in Armagh in 1986 an era of intense political unrest.

Touring nationwide during November Information and dates: decadenttheatrecompany.ie

EFFORTS AND IDEALS: PRINTS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR. The Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin See the reactions of British artists to WW1 in a series of lithographs on different aspects of the war effort.

Until Feb 22 Information: (01) 222 555/ hughlane.ie

DUBLIN BOOK FESTIVAL, SMOCK ALLEY THEATRE, DUBLIN 2 All the latest from the world of books including: conversations, readings, launches and discussion.

Nov 13-16 Booking: dublinbookfestival.com

THE IMITATION GAME Film Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the demonised genius who broke the German code during WW2.

Opens Nov 14 nationwide Visit the official site: theimitationgamemovie.com

FAR OFF HILLS Revival of Lennox Robinson’s classic comedy.

A hilarious tale of scheming siblings, love and general jiggerypokery.

November nationwide Booking: check your local arts venue NEITHER EITHER Liz Roche Company + Maiden Voyage Two dance companies, from Belfast and Dublin respectively, come together to perform a new dance work .

Until Nov 27 various venues north and south Information: lizrochecompany.com

PHIL COULTER Echoes of Home One of Ireland’s biggest selling performers with a collection of new and old favourites.

November and December nationwide Information: philcoulter.com

IMAGINE ARTS FESTIVAL, BELFAST Get creative, be inspired, and make new friends at Imagine Arts Festival 2014! For the Over60sin the Ulster Hall.

November 5 Booking: Free but ticketed (00 44) 28 9033 4455 / belfastcity.gov.uk/events

LIGHT MOVES FESTIVAL OF SCREENDANCE Dance film Ireland’s first festival focusing specifically on screendance/dance film takes place at Dance Limerick’s Daghdha space.

Nov 6- 9 Information: (061) 467 813/ lightmoves.ie Page 50 Senior Times October 2014

A MOST PECULIAR WINTRY THING Family Theatre Four musicians are joined by a puppeteer to explore the magic and mystery of all things snowy.

Dec 1- 16 (part of a nationwide tour presented by Music Network and The Ark) Information and dates: musicnetwork.ie HANDEL’S MESSIAH Irish Baroque Orchestra Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin / Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford City / St Nicholas Cathedral, Galway From Dec 5 Information: irishbaroqueorchestra.com

NOTES AND NARRATIVES Paddy Glackin - Musical recollections of Dublin in the 1960s and 1970s As part of a series of monthly performance-based lectures on traditional music, song and dance.

Dec 12 in 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1 Booking: (01) 8730093 / pipers.ie

Finally, if you’d like your event to feature in our list of What’s On please email: events.country@gmail.com www.seniortimes.ie

Season of mists ..and stylish fashion

Fashion

Discover the latest fashion trends for autumn with Mairead Robinson.

Whatever about fifty shades, there should be plenty of grey in your wardrobe this season.

From slate and stone to silver, grey is the current favourite neutral and this is good news for most of us as it is so easy to pair with contrasting pinks, purples, greens and of course blacks and whites. And despite the lovely Indian summer that we have been enjoying, it is certainly time to think about the winter coat. There are some lovely silvery grey full length and threequarter length coats in this years winter collections, and investing in one of these could carry you very smartly through the winter months ahead.

Remember that with our Irish weather, a coat will be seen far more than the dress/ skirt/suit that you wear underneath. So I strongly recommend investing in a good coat, and then you can choose different accessories to wear it in various ways.

A great coat will always make a serious style impact and makes more first impressions than any other item in your wardrobe. Even if everything underneath is less than perfect, the coat will add polish in an instant. Use it to make an entrance, to camouflage your figure and to make a style statement. The right coat makes everything look better so always buy the best you can afford and the style payback will astonish you.

Of course your new coat must deliver not just on style but also on warmth, longevity and versatility. The simpler the coat the more wear you will get out of it and the longer it will last looking good. I do not believe it is necessary to buy a new coat each winter, but you might want to consider a raincoat, a parka or casual jacket and a coat that you can wear in the evening as well as daytime. You will also want to consider length and comfort if you spend a lot of time driving or sitting in cars in your coat. So, you must take into account your lifestyle when considering buying a coat.

Marks & Spencer have a limited edition grey fur coat – pictured - which is very versatile and paired here with a pink trouser suit. Pink and grey are a classic combination, and this outfit is both smart/casual and very on-trend. It also will not break the bank. The jacket is priced at €80 and the trousers at €47.50 Fashion

Regarding the shape of the coat that suits you, remember the most versatile coat for almost all figures is a narrow, figure-skimming,

Page 52 Senior Times October 2014

www.seniortimes.ie

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Fashion

Via Veneto black and white coat from Clerys

three-quarter length coat which hits right on or just below the knee. Go for an open collar if you are big on top, and never ever go for a maxi if you are short! A soft belt style is the next most versatile shape for most figures and it works as easily with jeans or trousers as it does with dresses and skirts.

Remember at the same time that for an everyday coat you should not get too caught up in the latest trends, but rather find something that will be expected to last and that will suit you. And so we come back to grey, this season’s colour and a great choice for a coat.

Marks & Spencer have a limited edition grey fur coat – pictured - which is very versatile and paired here with a pink trouser suit. Pink and Grey are a classic combination, and this outfit is both smart/casual and very on-trend. It also will not break the bank. The jacket is priced at €80 and the trousers at €47.50 The Twiggy for M&S grey fur coat is priced at €135 and would be a great addition to any wardrobe this autumn/ winter.

Oasis Autumn 2014

Often it is the high-street who will stock the perfect outfit for you, so never feel a shop is not your style, you may well be surprised!

Arnotts Mango Premium blouse

Meanwhile Arnotts have recently introduced the Mango Premium Collection which is a great range including looks which embrace new shapes and silhouettes and are inspired by Japanese aesthetic, colour palette, volume shapes and accessories. Very in-season with a clean colour palette touching black and white with grey and introduces an injection of mauve as the new main colour. The range includes unique kimono-style garments, which are very ageappropriate and suitable for most 50+ shapes. The prices are excellent and allow most of us to invest in this label as they range from €29.99 to €159.99 Minimal looks with a real edge from this collection include the Maki skirt and trousers with a high waist in poplin with a paper texture similar to Miso trousers.

Footwear from this collection is exactly the kind I like, smart and also practical and above all, comfortable. The main focus is on wedged and platform sandals to finish off the Mango look.

Finally when you are checking out high-street fashion this season, take a look at Oasis who are stocking some lovely fifties-style skirts teamed with matching shift tops and blouses. Knitted cardigans also figure along with comfy fauxfur coats and jackets. Prices are very affordable, and matching footwear and accessories will complete a very stylish and fashionable look for autumn/winter 2014.

Page 54 Senior Times October 2014

www.seniortimes.ie

WineWorld

Go, go, Italiano..

Mairead Robinson suggests some modern beauty accessories that you can fit in your handbag.

Mairead Robinson recommends some lesser known

wine gems from Italy.

We regularly speak about Chilean and Australian wines and the impact they might have on the Old World wines from France and Spain, yet we rarely mention Italy. In fact, in contrast to France where large tracts of land are unsuitable for wine-growing, vines thrive throughout Italy, from the Alpine north all the way to the hot little island of Pantelleria, close to the shores of Tunisia. Italy’s greatest red wines rival the quality of the best Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone reds; its white wines, by contrast, are in general less memorable, though many make pleasant, food-friendly drinking, and I have discovered a few gems recently available in Ireland which are very impressive indeed.

Since vines are grown throughout the country, and since Italy has a greater profusion of grape varieties than any other European nation, it would take a Page 56 Senior Times October 2014

long time to go through them all, enough to note that Italy’s wine-growing is basically divided into three geographical areas – the North, Centre and South.

The most exciting wines of northern Italy are the reds of Piedmont and the valleys of Valtellina and Aosta, and the usual reds of the Vaneto. The most long-lived and intensely flavoured of these are Piedmontese Barbaresco and Barolo, made from the late-ripening Nebbiolo grapes grown in the sunniest marl and sand-soiled sites of the Langhe hills. The south of Italy is not renowned for great wines, although Sicily has been producing better wines in recent years.

Central Italy’s greatest wines, though, are Tuscan reds. Chianti is the name used to describe wines from the large area of vineyards between Florence and Siena. Sangiovese is the grape variety from which it is predominantly made.

Chianti, like Bordeaux, is generally a

mid-weight rather than heavyweight red. This is the wine that we would be most familiar with here in Ireland. The Sangiovese grape does not do so well outside of its native Italy. I remember an Australian winemaker telling me one time, “You would have to be crazy to grow Sangiovese”! However, thankfully we have some good examples here of this Italian staple. Tavernello is the number one selling wine in Italy and it is an authentic and traditional wine enjoyed for more than thirty years by Italian families. It has a fresh fruity bouquet and a crisp dry finish. The alcohol is 12%, so it does not have that heaviness of higher alcohol wines, and it certainly will not break the bank. There is a light flowery and blackcurrant nose www.seniortimes.ie

An energy supplement that boosts the heart Not only does coenzyme Q10 increase your energy levels in a natural way, but Scandinavian scientists have even discovered that it gives the heart muscle a substantial boost that is particularly valuable for the ageing population.

There are many different thingsyou can take to increase your energy but one of the things that has really baffled scientists is coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like compound that is essential for human life.

The body is able to make Q10 but as we age our levels drop because we produce less of the substance. Taking supplements of Q10 increases the body’s energy turnover in a natural way but it does more than that. It gives the heart muscle a remarkable boost and that was clearly demonstrated by Swedish scientists last year when they tested Q10 on a group of elderly men and women.

Fewer deaths, better heart function All the participants were normal, healthy elderly

people who were randomly assigned to a supplement of Q10 (and selenium) or identical “dummy” pills.

After five years, the scientists could see that people in the Q10 group

• had 54% fewer cardiovascular deaths • had substantially stronger hearts • displayed measurable signs of less heart strain

In other words, the supplement produced not only increased levels of energy but it actually targeted the heart, which is particularly needy of energy to carry out its function.

Your body’s fuel More and more people are finding out about Q10 and have embraced it as an indispensable shortcut to energy and well being. This vitamin- like substance that can be taken in capsule form provides a boost that you cannot get with black coffee, ginseng or any other stimulant you have tried in the past. It fuels your cells by helping them convert food into energy.

By taking Q10 you support your cellular metabolism, enabling all of your cells to churn out more energy and benefit body functions, namely that of the heart.

Works well with vitamin C By combining Q10 with vitamin C, you can obtain an ever better effect. Vitamin C is most commonly known for its role in the immune system but science has also found that it supports the body’s cellular energy production, thereby contributing to the effect of Q10.

Loads of benefits When Q10 was originally discovered back in 1957, scientists extracted it from beef heart muscle tissue, and in the time that has passed since then researchers have focused quite a lot on how Q10 affects the heart. Dozens of studies show that supplementation with Q10 in the range of 100-400 mg daily can

• reduce upper (systolic) and lower (diastolic) blood pressure • increase the heart muscle’s

Facts about the coenzyme Q10

• Q10 is found in some foods such as meat, soy, sardines and, broccoli but not in very abundant amounts.

• The cells that depend the most on Q10 are situated in the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and skeletal muscle.

• There are no known side effects of taking Q10

• People taking cholesterol lowering medication have an increased need for Q10 • Science has observed a positive effect of Q10 on heart failure, male infertility and certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease.

ability to contract • improve exercise tolerance in heart patients • enable the heart to function with less strain

In fact, a recent Danish study (QSymbio) demonstrated that patients with chronic heart failure fared substantially better when they were given supplements of Q10 in addition to their conventional heart drug therapy.

They had more energy, better heart function, and substantially more quality of life.

Enrico Fantasia, the Italian wine importer.

with a hint of spice, and on the palate it is quite intense with a dry and black pepper finish. It is available now exclusively at Dunnes Stores, and while normally priced at €10, it is often on special offer at just €8 This is a real bargain, and worth keeping an eye out for.

We do like our Chianti in Ireland and there are some great examples of this Italian classic available. One of these is Chianti Gineprone, the name Gineprone refers to the aromatic herb Juniper and indicates how this Chianti from the Siena hills is full of the herbs and spices typical of the Mediterranean. It is complex and full bodied yet approachable and fruity, Gineprone is the Montalcino version of the Chianti wine that has made Tuscany famous around the world. It is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and priced at €18.95 I tasted another great Italian red wine recently, San Lorenzo Piceno which is 60% Montepulciano and 40% Sangiovese.

This Piceno is organically grown with hints of liquorice and tobacco and berry flavours. It is a medium bodied wine, and I enjoyed it with a wonderfully aromatic Ottolenghi recipe of Cod Cakes Page 58 Senior Times October 2014

in Tomato Sauce. It was a great example of how a red wine can be the perfect foil for a fish dish. It was all about the balance of those spices. Priced €18.50, this is a real gem and a great wine for a special occasion.

Both these red wines above are imported directly by Grapecircus, owned

by Enrico Fantasia. Enrico chooses his wines personally and knows each producer he buys from, often choosing organic but always placing taste to the forefront of his choice. The wines are available in Ireland at Sheridans Cheesemongers Dublin and Galway, and they also supply the wines to independent off-licences. Enrico specializes in European wine, mainly from Italy but also from Spain, France, Portugal, Austria and Slovenia, and generally he chooses wine from small producers with a sense of tradition, place and origin.

Meanwhile the I Campi is a beautiful example of Soave, full of peachy fruit, intense floral aromas and with a great elegant minerality. This is priced at €17.50 You can find out more about Enrico’s wines at www.sheridanscheesemongers.com Meanwhile the next time you go wine shopping, checkout what is available from Italy, you may be pleasantly surprised.

A couple of rather special white wines also from Grapecircus are Soave I Campi and Gavi Cortese. Cortese is the great white varietal from the Gavi region in Piedmont. This is a delicious light citrus and fruit flavoured wine with a refreshing dry finish. Great with fish dishes and as an aperitif. Very well priced for the quality at €17.95 www.seniortimes.ie

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The magic of the markets Travel

Lorna Hogg recommends some of the most popular destinations for Christmas markets For many of us, Christmas Markets are now part of the seasonal festivities.

Whatever your preference, there is one for you. Craft, carillions and choirs; centuries old traditions and surroundings; modern city centre bustle and choice - all are on offer.

Add to that the bonus that some of the most beautiful and atmospheric destinations aren’t necessarily the most expensive, and you have a festive break for all pockets.

Germany has the widest variety of Markets, large and small, traditional and timeless, as well as cool and very modern. They are places to enjoy shopping for hand made crafts, investment Christmas decorations, jewellery and produce. If you want the best of both worlds, go for a market with variety. Try Hamburg, which has 150 in all. Its Page 60 Senior Times October 2014

ancient buildings, set against the Alster, Elbe and canals, provide backdrops to the classic market in the Old Town.

Relax in the floating market of Fleetinsel, or watch craftspeople at work. Stroll in Monckebergstrasse, enjoying `Berliners’ doughnuts, or the markets at Jacobkirchhof and St. Petri.

Browse the pokerwork, crafted dolls and candles in Spitalerstrasse, or go modern at the White Market at the new Luxury Boulevard, at Jungfernstieg.

Dates - 24th November – 23rd December www.hamburg.de Arrow Tours offers trips to Hamburg.

If your preference is for the historic, then Krakow, with its ancient Old Town, Gothic churches and Baroque palaces, is ideal. Rynek Glowney, under the shadow of the splendid old Cloth Hall sets the frequently snow-dusted scene. Enjoy

Hamburg has over 150 Christmas markets local costumes and traditions, folk dances, and entertainments, including their famous puppets. Local specialities include jewellery and woollen crafts as well as glass. Sample vodka and optalek – edible greetings, as you stroll and

Complete with Gothic skyline, theatre, opera, ballet, concerts, and the markets in Wenceslas and Old Town Square, Prague is made for Christmas browsing.

enjoy the traditional atmosphere.

Dates - 27th November - 27th December www.krakow.pl Travel Department offers 4 nights in Krakow, from €379pps, dep. 30th Nov.

Romantics will enjoy another often snow dusted Market, at Prague . Complete with Gothic skyline, theatre, opera, ballet, concerts, and the markets in Wenceslas and Old Town Square, it is made for Christmas browsing. Wooden huts are filled with famed Bohemian crystal, garnets, wooden toys and candles, scarves and dolls. Enjoy carols, trying the local brews, grilled hams and local sausages, plus the famous Tredelnik – hot, sugared pastries. Want even more? Try a late evening stroll on the beautiful Charles Bridge.

Dates - 29th November – 23rd December. www.praguewelcome.cz www.seniortimes.ie

Topflight offers Prague, flying from Dublin, 7th December, 3 nights B&B at 4 star hotel, with return transfers, plus Hot drink in Wenceslas Square and entrance to Museum of Infant Baby Jesus – from €313pps.

Travel Department offer 3 nights in Prague, from €349 pps. Departure 1st Dec. If your taste is for the stylish and sophisticated, then Vienna is a perfect choice. The Christmas season is party time here, with concerts, balls and parties, and renowned shopping. 140 wooden chalets are distributed around the Christmas market, including the Belvedere and Schonnbrunn Palaces and churches such as Karlskirche. Shop at the Christmas Village or go old Viennese at Freyung. Don’t miss atmospheric lanes around Spittelberg, or beautiful Rathaus Park. Warm up with Wiener Schnitzel, Bratwurst and punch, or pop into a cosy coffee house for some Sacher Torte.

Dates – 15th November – 24th December. www.wien.info

Cassidy Travel offers Vienna from €677 pps, departing 4th December. Return Dublin flights, 3 nights B&B, 4 star hotel, airport transfer, plus city tour of Vienna ending at Christmas market – and glass of mulled wine, plus Christmas pastry.

Travel Department -from €399 pps 3

nights, Dep.17th 20th 24th Nov. 15th Dec.

For Middle European atmosphere, then Budapest is a natural choice, filled with sensual delights. This is a beautiful city, and Christmas shopping is set against its magnificent squares, winding streets and imposing buildings, whilst snacking on Langos, Sweet Chimney Cake and Bull’s Blood Wine. The scent of fit trees, spicy snacks, roasting nuts fills the air, whilst music ranges from its famed gypsy music to grand opera and concerts. When you’re all shopped out, take a Danube cruise, overlooked by the cities of Buda Senior Times October 2014 Page 61

and Pest, or relax at the open air baths at Szechenyi.

Dates - 27th November – 31st December www.budapestinfo.hu Topflight offers 4 nights in Budapest from €337 pps, return Dublin flights, double room at 4 star hotel, B&B. Depart. 10th Dec. Travel Department- 5 star hotel, €359 pps, 27th Nov and 4th Dec.

Add Northern European style and Christmas tradition to the setting of the Venice of North for one of the most beautiful Christmas markets, in Stockholm’s short winter days and chance of early snow give the island of the Old Town, Gamla Stan, an ageless setting, especially as evening lights twinkle. Ideally, cross by ferry to enjoy narrow winding streets and unaltered quaysides, As evening lights twinkle, you can try smoked reindeer and elk meat, and Skal, as you sample traditional high quality Nordic goods. Bridge-hop to nearby islands, or commute by ferry to fully enjoy the skyline, and other Christmas markets in this beautiful city.

22nd November – 23rd December www.visitstockholm.com Arrow Tours has Christmas Markets deals to Stockholm Hankering for Hans Christian Andersen style celebrations? For an old fashioned, traditional market, Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens are ideal. Santa, candles, twinkling lights, reindeer, an ice rink

Page 62 Senior Times October 2014

and beautifully lit buildings set the scene. Keep warm with hot apple dumplings and glogg at the braziers roasting nuts, or eat at one of the popular restaurants. Go skating or try the century old roller coaster, or shop at the fifty stalls for knitwear, sweets, gifts, sheepskin and silver. Look out for pieces incorporating the beautiful Baltic amber, plus of course, the beautiful Danish Christmas ornaments.

Tivoli Gardens 15th November – 4th January www.visitcopenhagen.com Topflight offers Copenhagen packages from €373 pps, departing 12th December, Return flights from Dublin.

Double room at 4 star hotel, B&B.

If you want something nearer home, but still with plenty of bustle and atmosphere, then Birmingham’s Frankfurt Market could be just the trip. Each year, the city’s Victoria Square fills with traders, mostly German, at over 170 stalls with German products, at the UK’s largest outdoor Christmas Market. Shoppers also enjoy a carousel, carols, lights and trees, plus shopping for toys, decorations and jewellery. Sample gluwein, crepes, German beer and grilled sausages as you browse, not missing nearby city squares, where Birmingham traders also hold local markets. Celtic Horizon Tours offer three day coach and ferry packages, 2 nights accommodation at Birmingham Thistle Hotel and a visit to Cheshire Oaks. Date

– November 28th, from €199.pps. Single rooms and ex-Dublin pick charges extra.

They also offer Manchester Christmas shopping trips.

For Georgian splendour and atmosphere, it’s hard to beat Bath Spa, set against the floodlit backdrop of the city’s arcades and ancient Abbey. 150 traditional wooden stalls sell homemade food, craft, gifts and decorations. Add on Bath’s excellent restaurants, galleries, theatres, museums plus noteworthy shopping, and you have a shopping trip to remember. The market runs from 27th November to 14th December All details have been checked at the time of going to press. However, some destinations have several markets, some with provisional dates. Check for any late alterations with tour operators or the relevant websites.

Tour operators

The following operators offer a variety of European destinations and dates www.topflight.ie www.cassidytravel.ie www.arrrowtours.ie www.thetraveldepartment.ie www.clickandgo.com www.celtichorizontours.ie www.visitbath.co.uk www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk www.visitbirmingham.com

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Cosmetics and Beauty

Eyes right?

Mairead Robinson recommends ways to protect your peepers.

Did you know that the skin around the eyes is very fragile and up to ten times thinner than that on the rest of your face? And while the eyes are the windows of the soul, and sparkling smiling eyes are the most beautiful part of any face; it is also the first area to age and let us down!

Without doubt the contours of the eyes show the earliest signs of ageing.

Laughter lines are one thing, but dark circles, puffy baggy skin and tired-looking eyes are another thing altogether and we can certainly do something to improve this. Assuming you are not going to give up your wine, coffee, cocktails and party nights, you can Page 64 Senior Times October 2014

however begin to improve the appearance of your eyes by eating a good diet, drinking plenty of water and avoiding stress and worry!

The old fashioned method of putting slices of cold cucumber on the eyes and lying down in a cool dark room is very effective, and you can do your own spa treatment at home this way. Also remember when using eye creams to apply them gently with the tip of the “ring” finger, and making anti-clockwise circles around the exterior of the eye area, that is the eye socket. Treat the skin inside this area like tissue paper, because that is what it is like compared to the ‘cardboard’ of the skin on the rest of the face.

It is a good idea to use a specific eye cream every morning and night, when you are applying your moisturiser on the rest of the face. There are several good ones on the market so find one that you like and that suits you and always apply

gently and sparingly. LANCOME have a lovely eye-illuminating concentrate, Genifique Yeux light pearl which has a pearl-like ball that glides gently across the eye area. Another great eye serum is from CLINIQUE called All About Eyes de-puffing eye massage. It has a lovely cooling metal roller-ball applicator which is immediately soothing for tired eyes. And then there is a new product from VICHY, Idealia Eyes which has the extra benefit of including a colour corrector to reduce the look of dark circles dramatically. It is enriched with mother-of-pearl, delicate pigments and Byron liquid, the formula absorbs quickly and reflects light to give immediate results. It is best used with the award winning Idelia Life Serum, the Vichy Hero Product, to create a powerful duo. It has a unique smoothing applicator making it very easy to use and the results are quite dramatic.

Another effective product to enhance the eyes comes from OLAY with their

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Olay Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream. Part of their Total Effects range, this cream is a proven success for many women in brightening the eyes and combating dry skin. This should be used together with the multi-award winning OLAY TOTAL EFFECTS DAY MOISTURISER, the tried and trusted trail-blazer that has changed the face of anti-ageing skincare since 2000 and is now used by over 20 million women around the world.

Incidentally, OLAY have just released a new Pore Minimiser CC Cream to their Total Effects range which evens skin tone and reduces the appearance of pores. Result – younger looking skin!

Now the reality of what happens to our skin post-menopause is that the epidermis loses around 50% of its thickness. The dermis loses nearly 30% of its substance in the five years following the menopause. Collagen production falls by 30-35% and skin elasticity drops by around 0.5% year on year.

There is no question that women over 50 need a different skin care product that younger women and I have often mentioned in this column how we must learn to distinguish between “anti-ageing” products designed for the 20 and 30 year olds, and products that are specifically designed to minimize the signs of ageing due to hormonal changes in older women. There are many products in the anti-ageing sector, but finding the one that suits you can be difficult. Sometimes it feels like you would need a degree in biology to get past the marketing jargon and understand it all! But every so often a product is developed that really is specifically designed for women in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

Page 66 Senior Times October 2014

And so I was very excited to hear about the new CLARINS Super Restorative Night Cream, an age spot correcting replenishing cream that is the perfect partner to the fabulous Super Restorative Day Cream. Specifically designed for women of 50+ these creams tackle the combined issues of loss of density, skin slackening, deep wrinkles and age spots.

Detailed research into the formation of age-related darks spots led to the discovery of the role of mature fibroblasts in the prevention of pigmentation liked to ageing and in the loss of skin density. The new night cream is an addition to the Super Restorative range developed in 2004 by Clarins which proved to effectively enhance a woman’s natural beauty by replenishing skin weakened by hormonal changes.

Ten years later we have Super Restorative Day, illuminating lifting replenishing cream and the new Super Restorative Night Cream. I began using both products recently and so far I am delighted with the results. The creams feel wonderfully rich and nourishing on

the skin, are immediately effective and as the weeks go by, the results get even better. We all want to look beautiful at the age we are, and this is a product that seems to be delivering on its promise. ‘Fifty and Fabulous’ says Clarins – that sounds like us! If you have any queries or comments on beauty for the over 50s, you can contact me at mairead.seniorbeauty@gmail.com

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Northern Notes

By Debbie Orme

Exhibition of Norma Burrowes ‘camera paintings’

'My work is photographic based,' she told Senior Times. 'I capture impressions of my environment. With my camera, I combine photographic elements to reveal this extraordinary nature of ordinary daily details, to create my own truth of any chosen moment and respond to the feelings and histories that surround these daily details.

'These camera paintings go beyond physical representation and take inspiration from the transitional quality of any environment and life within it. I use macro a lot in my photography. Alongside these single images, I have been creating work with sets of images. My work responds to whichever local environment I am in.

Alongside images of small details are records of fleeting transitions and activities within said space. One space holds so many different memories, has its own history and the histories of those who pass through it. It’s this continuously shifting, intangible yet recognisable atmosphere – an emotive human imprint on any given space - that inspires my art.'

Norma's textile pieces combine elements of patchwork, textile and photographic image together. Photographs are printed onto a range of fabrics, silk, cotton, organza, each with their own impact of how the images and collection of images are read and work together. When viewed, they are installed with light – this reveals layers, seams, how pieces are physically connected and hint at what lies beneath.

Norma takes her inspiration from the world around her – the normal, the daily, the local.

In today's world, it often seems that everyone is a photographer. Cameras have become ubiquitous - probably as a result of being on most people's mobiles, but according to visual artist and photographer, Norma Burrowes, who is currently getting ready for an exhibition in Northern Ireland, 'what and how I photograph something, that's my truth. That is art.'

And the 42-year-old photographer should know what she's talking about, having recently returned from her second residency in New Zealand. Norma's primary artistic medium is photography, although she also works in, and sometimes combines, different mediums, believing wholeheartedly in the transformative power of photography. Her love affair with the camera as a paint brush began when she was doing a series of performance art installations that involved burning things. As the audiences watched the fire burning, Norma would photograph them using low light photography. Since then she has focused on a variety of photographic - low-light and ultraviolet - and printmaking techniques.

Page 68 Senior Times October 2014

'Sometimes a moment occurs that stops and transports me,' she says. 'My work is about relaying these moments, taking active inspiration from them and passing on their energy through my photography. Through my artwork, I am engaged with presenting elements of the world, of my life, as seen through the memory and memories of them. A key theme expressed through subject choice and scale of print is the extraordinary potential within what we are used to.

Norma first went to New Zealand in 2010 to become Karamea’s Artist in Residence.

'Residency-based practice is central to my art and this residency has had great impact both upon me and my art. I was the 4th AiR in Karamea – a small and remote town on the west coast of the south island of New Zealand. The residency was set up by Paul Murray in response to the dire situation of an artist friend of his, struggling with basic life survival due to his commitment and determination to make art. One of the many positive elements of my time there was living in a place and country where art is part of general life. This makes a big difference to the artist and being around people who enjoy art and actively collect it, helping the artist to not only survive but thrive creatively.'

Since her artist’s residency in Karamea with the Living in Peace project in 2010, Norma has continued to find inspiration from her

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ripples of colours and patterns, connecting the individual images into new narratives. Rongo and Karamea fit so well into my patchwork, lots of individual elements and memories that retain their individuality when brought together yet offer so much more and open up new connections.

residency experience. Her plans to develop her photo-textile work were supported by an award from the Arts Council of Northern Irel and, allowing her to practically engage with the challenges of this medium, and she has since returned for her second residency with a large-scale photo textile piece, now permanently installed in the Rongo Art Gallery.

'The photo-textile piece is inspired by my time at Karamea and the ethos and experience of Rongo. The large table in the art gallery is a focal point for many discussions, meetings and pot luck dinners and became the starting point for my first large scale photo-textile piece. This piece marked my creative return after losing my husband and the colours positively hum with a love for life and life experiences. My photographs and photo-textiles have

'The idea of being truly present in a moment is becoming more of a challenge in our busy, sometimes frenetic, multi-visual, multimedia, fast-paced twenty-first century lives,' Norma says. 'When the presence of absence is felt, through loss, small details become cherished. Within any moment, memories, connections, spiritual and emotional emotions come into play within the physical situation. It is this internal landscape and engagement with the nature of memory that has inspired this new collection of work.

Each one of us has windows to so many stories, moments and experiences. With this work the artist has turned to her own life, environment and memories. By creating these large panels of image collections, narratives and subjective imprints are revealed and yet the individual moment remains.'

Norma's exhibition 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' will be showing at Oriel Gallery in Antrim from Thursday 4 December Wednesday 31 December.

A naked attempt to raise money

More than ten years after the film Calendar Girls portrayed the story of a group of women who stripped to raise money for charity, a group of Northern Ireland women have gone down a similar path for NI Chest, Heart & Stroke.

The 24 women are all members of the ‘We Slim Together’ slimming group, which was set up by County Antrim mum, Sonya Mcallister, who set the group up after dropping a magnificent seven and a half stone by following her own ‘guilt-free’ eating plan.

‘The idea started off with the desire to inspire one person to change their life,’ Sonya told Senior Times, ‘and to help someone lose just half a stone. Little did I believe that it would extend to helping over 500 people lose 20,000 lbs in just over a year!’

The We Slim Together members, who now attend locations across Northern Ireland and follow Sonya’s plan online, have formed a community supporting each other through their website and Facebook page and it was this community spirit that inspired them to dream up this means of raising money for charity.

The girls chose Chest, Heart & Stroke because many of them have personal experiences of health problems linked to these areas but even Sonya was taken aback when the idea of the calendar was first mooted.

‘I never imagined for a minute that I would ever take my clothes off in front of a camera,’ Sonya continued, ‘and I didn’t think anyone else would ever volunteer either! But how wrong could I be? Within a short period of time, 23 members who had lost 66 stone between them, had signed up, so I could hardly back out myself!'

With the help of twice winner of UK Photographer of the Year, Michael McKay and the help of Catherine and Rachel from Vintage in Vogue, who set up the shoot, the A3 calendar was soon a reality. All proceeds to go NICHS and the group aim to sell 5000 calendars, which should raise close to £50,000. The calendar can be purchased online at www.weslimtogether.co.uk/buy-thewe-slim-together-charity-calendar/.

Page 70 Senior Times October 2014

Sonya Mcallister: ‘I never imagined for a minute that I would ever take my clothes off in front of a camera’ www.seniortimes.ie

Travel

Newtownabbey: the perfect starting point of journey’s end

Newtownabbey is the gateway to one of the world’s greatest road journeys, the Causeway Coastal Route.

Situated on the idyllic shoreline of Belfast Lough, it provides the perfect stopping off point for visitors preparing to steer a path through this land of myth and majestic beauty

With stunning scenery and a palpable sense of history, Newtownabbey and the surrounding area offers visitors a fascinating blend of old and new.

Nowhere exemplifies this more than the stunning Lough Shore Park, with fantastic five star caravan and camping facilities complementing the area’s natural resources.

Let the stresses of the world drift away as you wander along walkways with panoramic views of Belfast Lough, stop for a relaxing picnic by the water’s edge, or sample culinary delights in the on-site restaurant. State-of-the-art facilities in the Newtownabbey portfolio, such as Lough Shore Park and the Theatre at the Mill, sit comfortably alongside those celebrations of a bygone era.

The White House is a plantation bawn which dates back to the 16th century and features an exhibition on the Williamite and Jacobite wars. At Patterson’s Spade Mill, the last working water-driven spade mill in the British Isles, a guided tour lets visitors sample www.seniortimes.ie

the unique sights, sounds and smells of the Industrial Revolution. Transport yourself back in time to experience rural Ulster life at Sentry Hill. Or visit Museum At The Mill which tells the story of those who worked there from the 1800’s up to 1995.

For additional information contact: www.newtownabbey.gov.uk/visitors Senior Times October 2014 Page 71

Nominations open for Belfast’s Age-friendly Older Volunteer Awards

Nominations are now open for Belfast’s Age-friendly Older Volunteer Awards which celebrates the valuable contribution people aged over 60 years old makes to groups, organisations and communities across the city.

The awards been so successful over the last few years that this year Belfast City Council is introducing five different award categories from which a special nominee will be chosen to receive the Lord Mayor’s ‘Best of Belfast’ Award.

Information and nomination forms are available from the website www.belfastcity.gov.uk/volunteering Nominations will close on Friday, 31 October.

'We work closely with older people,' says Lord Mayor, Nichola Mallon, 'and the Healthy Ageing Strategic Partnership on a regular basis, and know firsthand the valuable contribution they make.

'We also see how wide is the area in which they work so this year we decided to provide more award categories to allow us to recognise a greater number of older volunteers.'

Categories include Older Volunteer of the Year Award, the Marie Mathews Participation Award, the Arts and Culture Award; Team/Group Award and the Intergenerational Award.

Award winners will be announced at a presentation event in Belfast City Hall on Friday, 5 December presided over by the Lord Mayor and Councillor Bernie Kelly, Chair of the all-party Reference Group on Older People.

European accolade for Co Armagh woman

'We work closely with older people,' says Lord Mayor, Nichola Mallon, 'and the Healthy Ageing Strategic Partnership on a regular basis, and know first hand the valuable contribution they make.

'All the awards are special but the Marie Mathews Participation Award has been named in memory of one long standing member of the Greater Belfast Seniors Forum. Marie passed away last December and it was agreed that naming one of the Age-friendly Belfast award categories in her honour was a fitting tribute to her,' said the Lord Mayor.

'In addition, one of my themes for my year in office is highlighting the unsung heroes and heroines who contribute greatly to the life of Belfast, so these awards are close to my heart.

'I want to present a special ‘Best of Belfast’ Award to highlight how appreciative I, and the council, are of the volunteer work done by older people and I urge groups across the city to show their appreciation too by nominating someone who deserves it for the awards,' added Councillor Mallon.

Roisin Foster has worked in the voluntary sector since 1985 County Armagh woman Roisin Foster has been appointed to the Board of a prestigious European body. Roisin, who is currently Chief Executive of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, is now a member of the board of the Association of the European Cancer League (ECL).

The mother of four, who lives near Banbridge, has worked in the voluntary sector since 1985 and has been a member of ECL since joining Cancer Focus four years ago. The Association has provided a unique and important platform for cancer societies for more

Page 72 Senior Times October 2014

than 30 years, with the single aim of being a visible and effective player in cancer prevention, control and care.

‘The incidence of cancer increases with age and more people than ever are being diagnosed across Europe each year,’ says Roisin. ‘However, improvements in diagnosis and treatments mean that more people are also surviving for longer, which is to be welcomed. This also means that many people continue to need support with the long-term effects of the disease and treatment.’

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BARRY O’REILLY “I had known retirement would come eventually but, being confronted with the reality, I had some hard thinking to do. How was I going to spend my autumn years?”

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Health

What exactly is the diabetic foot?

The diabetic foot is one of the most common yet neglected long-term complications of diabetes. It is a term used to describe foot problems in people with diabetes. The majority of people with diabetes begin their diabetic lives with ‘normal’ feet although some with type 2 diabetes will have foot complications at diagnosis, that is because they have had diabetes for many years without knowing it since their symptoms were slight or put down to ‘getting old’.

However, the term ‘normal’ covers a wide range of foot states and some conditions that would not give rise to serious problems in the non-diabetic person can cause grave trouble in the diabetic foot. Risk assessment by the Chiropodist/Podiatrist is therefore needed on a regular basis for all people with diabetes.

The majority of people with diabetes begin their diabetic lives with ‘normal’ feet although some with type 2 diabetes will have foot complications at diagnosis. Valerie Cosgrave explains

Large fibre neuropathy usually follows on from small fibre neuropathy where a reduction of the touch and pressure sensation develops and proprioception is impaired.

Proprioception is the ability to sense stimuli arising within the body, regarding position, motion and equilibrium. Even if a person is blindfolded and standing in bare feet, he/she knows through proprioception what surface is being stood on, either a concrete floor or soft grassy lawn.

Callus and Plantar neuropathic ulcers can develop on sites of high pressure on the soles of the neuropathic foot and infection can develop in a neuropathic ulcer where the person does not feel pain and continues to walk on the foot. In these circumstances a rapidly ascending infection can develop and destroy the foot within a few days.

Peripheral vascular disease usually follows peripheral neuropathy leading to problems of the neuro-ischaemic foot.

Once people with neuropathy develop concurrent ischaemia they usually no longer develop heavy callus on the soles of the feet, because a good blood supply appears to be necessary for exuberant callus formation.

Examining the diabetic foot Looking at diabetic feet regularly, and acting rapidly on any problems found, is the key to success for the person with diabetes and the Chiropodist/Podiatrist. All people with diabetes should undergo a basic foot examination at least once a year. This examination should only take a few minutes.

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DIABETIC FOOT

Small fibre neuropathy is a nerve disorder that results in distortion of nerve function resulting in compromised pain and temperature perception.

Autonomic neuropathy results in distended veins on the dorsum of the foot which is due to arterio-venous shunting and increased blood flow. The skin also becomes dry due to impairment of sweat glands.

Its aims are to:

 Detect the presence of significant problems and assess the current state of foot health.

 Ensure that the person with diabetes understands foot care and takes ownership of the examination results. Footwear is discussed in detail.  Refer the person on if necessary.

Motor neuropathy is often associated with raised arches and clawing of the toes. This deformity leads to high pressure areas, which are susceptible to ulceration.

Page 74 Senior Times October 2014

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The basic diabetic foot examination The basic examination should detect neuropathy, ischaemia, deformity, swelling, ulcer or any other break in the skin or infection. Both feet and lower limbs are visually inspected and palpated, not forgetting the inter-digital spaces, the area at the back of the heels and the nails.

Neuropathy is detected by testing with a Semms-Weimstein 10-g Monofilament. The monofilament is a small wire and when the practitioner touches the foot, the person with diabetes responds by saying ‘yes’. The touch is first checked on the inner wrist to ensure that the person knows what to expect. During the test the person is asked to close the eyes and say ‘yes’ if the touch of the wire is felt on the foot. This is a very simple test but it tells if protective sensation is intact or lost.

The next test checks for thermal sensation. The practitioner has a small barrel- like instrument called ‘tip therm’ where one end of the barrel is colder to the touch than the other.

Again the two ends are checked on the person’s wrist and then asked to close the eyes and say which touch on the foot is colder. This simple test determines if the thermal sensation is intact or lost.

The third test checks for vibratory sensation. Using a tuning fork the practitioner places the vibrating fork on the bent knuckle of the person’s hand first and then with closed eyes the person is asked if the same vibration is felt on the great toe joints. This simple test decides if the vibratory sensation is intact or lost.

Ischaemia is detected by palpating the pedal pulses and checking the temperature and colour of the feet. Some Chiropodists/Podiatrists use a Doppler Sonicaid to check the pulses when both practitioner and the person can hear the pulses.

Deformity is detected by inspecting and palpating the feet for claw toes, raised arch, limited joint mobility and bony prominences.

Oedema is checked for by comparing the size of both feet and inspecting the feet for pitting oedema where an indentation is left on the skin following pressure from the practitioner’s fingers.

Callus, the skin is inspected for corns and callus. These may be associated with fissures, colour change or blistering under the callus when paired down.

Ulcers, the skin is examined for breaks including blisters, splits, burns or ulcers.

Infection, the skin is scrutinised and palpated for colour change, increased warmth, swelling, discharge, bad odour or pain.

Gangrene, cold discoloured areas are identified by visual inspection and palpation.

Shoe inspection, the shoes are checked for size, style, state of wear and suitability. The Chiropodist/Podiatrist gains an overall impression of whether the feet are being looked after well, and ensures that the person is able to understand and undertake basic foot care (Appendix 2) At the completion of this 5 minute examination the results will

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be given to you following discussion of care. You will be given a date for your next basic diabetic examination in 6-12 months. The ideal way to maintain healthy feet is to attend the chiropodist/podiatrist every 6-8 weeks and keep blood sugar levels within normal limits at all times.

Remember the principle aim is to keep the feet you stand in.

Appendix

Diabetic Foot Care Information sheet

Diabetes can create a lot of complications in the foot. Many complications could be delayed or prevented by more effective education. Regular visits to a Chiropodist/Podiatrist are a must.

Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines

(1) Wash feet daily in lukewarm water. It is important to test the water temperature to prevent scalding.

(2) Feet should be dried gently, especially between toes. Trim toe nails along the shape of the toe and file to remove any sharp edges. Don’t cut nails too short.

(3) Apply a moisturising cream or lotion to prevent dryness and cracking. Don’t apply moisturiser between the toes, as this promotes fungal infections.

(4) Examine entire surface area of feet daily. Check for cuts, blisters, swelling, redness and callus. Use a mirror if it is difficult to see all parts of the feet or ask a family member or caregiver to help. Early detection of a lesion will help to reduce the risk of developing foot ulcers.

(5) Never use sharp instruments to treat calluses or corns as a small lesion can create complications. If you have concerns about your nails visit a Foot Health Practitioner/Chiropodist/ Podiatrist.

(6) Choose footwear carefully. Seam Free diabetic stockings are ideal for foot protection. Feet should be measured to ensure that correct shoe size is worn.

(7) Shake out your shoes and feel the inside before wearing.

Remember, your feet may not be able to feel a pebble or other foreign object, so always inspect your shoes before putting them on.

(8) Never walk barefoot because the rate of healing is reduced with diabetes, older people are most at risk.

(9) Take care of your diabetes. Keep your blood sugar levels under control.

(10) Screening for foot complications should be a routine part of most medical visits. People with type 1 diabetes for at least five years should have their feet examined at least once a year. People with type 2 diabetes should have their feet examined regularly.

Valerie Cosgrave adds: ‘I perform the basic diabetic examination on every person with diabetes that I meet for the first time. I have met only one person who had this check done regularly as he travelled to Dublin from Kilkenny for his podiatry checks before he met me. The reason I wrote this article was to inform people and empower them to ask for this check and receive the results which will encourage them to take control and ownership of their diabetes. I believe knowledge is power, power is confidence and confidence is control’. Valerie Cosgrave, BSc. Podiatry, P/Grad. Diabetes, M.Ist.C/P. R.G.N. R.M.

Senior Times October 2014 Page 77

A Keane ear for dialogue Travel

In the latest in her literary-themed travels Lorna Hogg visits The Kingdom and pays homage to John B Keane

John B. Keane’s powers of wit and observation, shown throughout his drama, books and poetry, have given him worldwide recognition. As a social commentator, he used them to look at many prevailing and often undiscussed, attitudes and behaviours of his time. His talents lay in simply presenting the facts, and allowing readers to think and then make their own decisions, especially about life in rural Ireland from the 1930s.

Kerryman Keane was born in 1928, to a National School teacher in Listowel. He would later say that while born in a town, the countryside that was his real teacher. That education began when the family moved thirteen miles to the nearby Stacks Mountains. Here, Keane learned the power of the land and the native Irish people’s fierce love for and dependence upon it. He listened to local folklore, tales and histories, and saw how people lived their lives. As he grew older and discovered how attitudes were shaped, and sometimes misunderstood, he also learned how land shaped lives, from marriage to emigration and security.

After local national school, Keane attended St. Michael’s College in Listowel. Following some local work, he then spent time in England, before returning to Ireland in 1955. He took over a pub in Listowel, and married Mary O’Connor, with whom he would have three sons and a daughter. His writing career developed at this stage, aided by the dramas played out each night in the pub. In there, people’s hopes, joys, fears and sorrows provided plenty of material – the arranged marriages, enforced celibacy, delayed marriages, effects of inheritances and the role of land.

Sive, written in 1958, was the story of a proposed marriage, and a girl `sold’ against her will to an elderly farmer. The elements of illegitimacy, education and personal freedom were all touched upon. Initially rejected by The Abbey Theatre, local amateur dramatics players, The Listowel Drama Group gave the first performance in February 1959. This highlighted Keane’s talents. An immediate success, the play was eventually dramatised the Abbey, where it brought in a new type of drama, in style and language.

Land grabbing Keane next focused on another social issue, land-grabbing.

Sharon’s Grave (1960) tells of a bitter, handicapped man’s attempts to acquire his young cousin’s house and land, so that he could have his own wife and home. Family and social issues, contemporary attitudes towards women, matchmaking and love itself were all explored. This play was followed in 1961 by Many Young Men of Twenty, also covering a pressing social issue – emigration.

However, the big hitters were yet to come. Keane took on a powerful and controversial issue, the depths of feeling about land security and its usage, in one of his most famous plays, The Field. This play, first produced in 1965, looks at the ties of land and blood and the struggles to preserve both. It focuses on the bidding for title to a four acre field, between two men with different usages planned – grazing or manufacturing for industry. Themes of the outsider, the deep love of land itself, future inheritance and security and the sacrifices Page 78 Senior Times October 2014

John B Keane quickly learned the power of the land and the native Irish people’s fierce love for and dependence upon it.

all are involved. The Field later transferred to a film, directed

by Jim Sheridan, starring Richard Harris.

Keane was not afraid to challenge dearly held Irish icons and convictions. Big Maggie (1969) reputedly written for actress Anna Managhan, gained fame for its new take on the vision of devoted Irish motherhood. A father dies intestate, leaving his home and business to his wife, but nothing to his children. The mother’s extreme version of `tough love’ involves destruction of her children’s illusions about themselves. This process of `preparing’ them for life shocked and caused controversy, but struck an international chord. Big Maggie ran for over two months on the New York stage.

Keane’s use of humour could effectively make his points, especially about relationships between men and women. In 1981 The Chastitute gave the English language a new word.

Letters from a Love Hungry Farmer, brought to the stage by Des Keogh, and The Gentle Art of Matchmaking also looked at Irish countrymen and love.

In all, Keane produced 32 works, poetry and prose. He became President of Irish PEN, and a founder member of The Society of Irish Playrights. Awards and recognitions included Gradam Medal from The Abbey Theatre, plus Honorary Doctorates from several universities. They didn’t change him, however. The pub in Listowel, still in family hands, remained his `patch, until his death in 2002, leaving four children.

Ireland’s literary capital..

The name Listowel is of course, closely linked with writers, and is now famed for its annual Writers Week, filled with workshops and events. Aside from Keane, Kerry writers also include Bryan MacMahon, Brendan Kennelly, Maurice Walsh and George Fitzmaurice. The Kerry Literary and Cultural Centre – Seanchai, is a good place to learn about them. Set in a lovely old Georgian residence in Listowel, it has audiovisuals, a literary café, gift shop and exhibition space. Don’t miss the adjoining remains of Listowel’s Castle, which has good views from its remaining tower. www.writersweek.ie www.kerrywritersmuseum.com www.discoverireland.com

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Golf

When golf took a back seat..

Dermot Gilleece recalls the earth-shattering events which led to the cancellation of the 2001 Ryder Cup

Now that significant quantities of dust have settled from the latest Ryder Cup skirmish at Gleneagles, there is time to reflect on an intercontinental battle that never was. It had to do with a time in the recent past when the commitment of the American players was the least among official concerns about the future of the biennial, money-spinning event.

Tuesday which would go down in history simply as “9/11”.

As it happened, the golf officials would never set foot on American soil. "The way things panned out, the transatlantic flight was a lot shorter than it should have been, which suggested to us that we weren't anywhere near St Louis," Schofield recalled. "Yet there was no mention of any change in the flight plan.

A story with more than enough drama to match anything "From my seat next to Keith Waters, I saw through the window witnessed on golfing terrain, it involved an aborted trip I that we were landing in someplace strange. Still, there was planned to take to the American Express Championship in St nothing over the intercom. Not a word. It was only when we Louis in September 2001. The exercise left me with vivid had touched down and the plane was taxiing to a halt that we memories of the catastrophic events which caused the tourna- began to suspect something was seriously wrong. That came ment's cancellation, along with graphic images of Tiger Woods from overhearing Americans on the plane making the journey by road from St Louis making mobile phones calls to their back to his home in Orlando, Florida after home, business, friends or loved ones." all flights had been grounded.

They had landed in the Canadian airport Woods later described it as the longest drive of Moncton, New Brunswick, the next of his life, which may be explained by the stopping-off point beyond Newfoundland fact that he did the trip alone. "Some travelling west. Five hours in the air people might think I'm nuts for driving meant it was around midday local time, halfway across the country by myself, but it about three hours after the World Trade seemed like the thing to do," he said at the Centre had been hit. “Gradually, we time. "Besides, negotiating 1,000 miles began to piece things together," would require concentration, something I Schofield continued. "I'll never forget welcomed after the events of the day arriving there. We were taken into before." what could best be described as an On September 13th, Jim Autrey, Chief airplane hanger. Pretty basic. There, a Executive Officer of the PGA of America, Canadian Mountie named Joe Tiger Woods made the journey by issued this statement: "Like the rest of Gallagher -for obvious reasons, his road from St Louis back to his home America, we are deeply mourning the tragic name will always stay with me spoke in Orlando, Florida after all flights loss of life and the series of events that will to us. By this stage, up to 11 or 12 had been grounded. Woods later change the way we live. These changes also planes were grounded and we were described it as the longest drive of have an impact on the upcoming Ryder Cup one of three plane-loads of passenhis life, which may be explained by the fact that he did the trip alone. matches, which are to be played in England….” gers in the hanger at this time.”

Two days later, Ken Schofield, then executive Schofield went on to describe how, director of the PGA European Tour, eventually during three days in Moncton, he arrived back in London after an ill-fated attempt and his European Tour colleagues made numerous new at flying to St Louis. He and four European Tour colleagues friends from different nationalities. Each day, they were Keith Waters, Peter Adams, Gordon Simpson and Ben Watson, summoned to the city's Coliseum-Arena Complex, a large icehad taken off from Heathrow on the morning of a fateful hockey venue which doubled as a local hall and became the Page 80 Senior Times October 2014

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Ireland eventually hosted The Ryder Cup at the K Club in 2006, a year later than originally scheduled

official receiving centre for the unexpected guests. There, they were kept up to date on the latest developments while ladies of the Salvation Army Moncton Citadel Community prepared and delivered hot meals of which a ham dinner was especially tasty.

Telephone communications were temporarily difficult, to the extent that there was a virtual blackout for about 24 hours.

From a golfing standpoint, Schofield's first concern was to contact his USPGA Tour counterpart Tim Finchem. Any discussion with the PGA regarding the Ryder Cup would be addressed a few days later.

"I eventually contacted Tim Finchem who was in St Louis and it was probably Wednesday night before we learned that the tournament had been cancelled," he said. "In the meantime, we passed the time with a variety of activities, including fivea-side soccer games with other passengers in the car-park outside the ice-hockey arena. There were Italians and Germans along with us Britons. Looking back on it now, there was a surreal quality to the entire experience." The football was especially memorable for Schofield, though for the wrong reason. Lacking the pace and agility which once earned him a trial with St Johnstone in his native Scotland, he fell foul, in a manner of speaking, of a decidedly robust tackle from Waters early in the exchanges, though happily, no lasting damage was done.

When local officials were finally in an position to address the mammoth task of getting stranded passengers to their destinations or their airport of origin, the quintet from the European Tour travelled by taxi from Moncton to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

They then flew from Halifax to Reykjavik and from there back to London. "That was when Jim Awtrey contacted me, after Richard Hills [Ryder Cup director] had made the arrangement for Sandy Jones [British PGA] and myself," said Schofield.

The day happened to be the seventh birthday of Hills's daughter, Fionnuala, and by way of celebration, she and her dad went to the ski run at Aldershot. That was where he learned that a postponement of the Ryder Cup was very much on the cards.

In the course of transatlantic phone calls, the European Tour were informed by the PGA of America that "the scope of last Tuesday's tragedy is so overwhelming that it would be impossible for the United States Ryder Cup team and officials to

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attend the matches this month." This led to a crisis meeting of top European Tour officials being called for 7.30 on the morning of Sunday the 16th. By 5.0 that afternoon, they were ready to announce officially that Ryder Cup 2001 was postponed.

When Awtrey attempted to apologise to the European Tour and the British PGA over his country's withdrawal, he was almost rebuked for thinking that way. He recalled: "I'll never forget ..... They said 'Jim, don't do it. Don't even go there. It's going to be such a mess, let's start working toward next year.'"

And so, it was decided to postpone the 2001 matches until 2002 and reschedule subsequent matches for even-numbered years. In the meantime, it fell to Hills to set about what was obviously a serious salvage operation on this side of the Atlantic.

On Sunday the 16th, lawyers, insurers and the European Tour themselves began the process of assessing the implications of a postponement. "There were some very difficult phone calls to be made," he recalled. "Most of us have had to fill out an insurance claim at some point, but on the Monday morning, I had my first encounter with our loss adjuster, Shaun Coyne, a very nice chap from Cavan. "Our first formal meeting with the loss adjusters was on Thursday, September 20th. The insurers behaved impeccably, but it was still 10 months later before the claim was settled for a figure of £17.5 million. Though there were a few gaps here and there, it transpired that we had a good policy, though it still took time for matters to be finalised. All the suppliers and contractors had to be compensated and we came to an agreement with the hoteliers in the Birmingham area. Then there was the matter of trying to salvage as much as possible from the merchandising." A key element of this was to retain the 2001 logo for 2002.

Failte Ireland received compensation of £178,000 as part of the overall package. Much of this had to do with merchandising. For instance, they had arranged commemorative gifts of umbrellas, shirts and caps bearing the logo "Ryder Cup 2005".

The tourism body’s position was explained by Chris Kane, then their Director of External Affairs. "From our perspective, the postponement raised the more important issue as to whether the annual promotional and publicity deal which was already agreed, would be extended to include 2006, without an additional cost to us,” he said. “Which is what happened."

So it was that one of international sport’s most notable nonevents, came to a satisfactory conclusion.

Senior Times October 2014 Page 81

Advice

Know Your Rights Advice from the Citizens Information Service

I’ve just moved to Ireland and I’m looking for a job. Some potential employers have asked for my PPS Number. What is it and how do I get one?

Your Personal Public Service Number (PPS Number) is a unique reference number that helps you to access public services in Ireland. Sometimes employers say that you must have a PPS Number when applying for a job. What they really mean is that you need to have the right to work in Ireland and they use the PPS Number as shorthand for this. However, in law they are not entitled to do this (and having a PPS Number does not prove that you have the right to work in Ireland).

The legislation that governs the use of PPS Numbers states that the PPS Number can only be used by: Any organisation listed in legislation (a public or specified body) Any person or body authorised by a public body to do so any person who has a transaction with a public body.

Setting up an account with Irish Water

Only the Department of Social Protection can provide you with a PPS Number. You can find a list of the social welfare local offices that can allocate PPS Numbers on the Department's website. You will need to fill out an application form (which is only available from one of these PPS allocation centres), provide proof of your identity and evidence of your address.

You may also be asked to show why you need a PPS number.

What is the local adjustment factor for the Local Property Tax and how will this affect me?

This means that private companies or bodies (including potential employers) cannot use the number unless they are carrying out a transaction with a public body such as Revenue.

The Personal Public Service Number Code of Practice on the Department of Social Protection’s website outlines who can use the PPS Number and for what purposes.

If you have newly arrived in Ireland you cannot get a PPS Number unless you need it for a transaction with a specified body. For example: Starting work (so you can pay tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge)

Applying for a driving licence or exchanging your existing one for an Irish driving licence Applying for Child Benefit or another social welfare payment

Page 82 Senior Times October 2014

Until now, Local Property Tax (LPT) rates have been the same nationwide - 0.18% for properties valued up to €1 million and 0.25% on any balance over €1 million. However, from 2015 on, a local authority may vary these basic rates within its own area by a maximum of 15%. This means that your local authority can either increase or decrease the rates of LPT

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payable in its area in 2015 by up to 15%. This is called the local adjustment factor. While the local authority has the power to vary the rates, the LPT will still be collected by Revenue.

The elected members of a local authority must consider the issues and decide whether to apply a local adjustment factor for 2015. To do this they must have passed a formal resolution to vary the rates and must have notified Revenue on or before 30 September 2014. If they reduce LPT rates by 15% in 2015, for example, this will result in a corresponding reduction of 15% in the amount that the local authority gets from the central LPT fund in 2015. (Each local authority will retain 80% of LPT to fund public services in 2015. The remaining 20% will be redistributed to provide top-up funding to certain local authority areas that have lower property tax bases than others because of the variance in property values across the State.)

The introduction of the local adjustment factor means that residential properties of the same value in different local authority areas may pay different amounts of LPT from 2015 on, depending on whether the local authority has applied a local adjustment factor or not.

For example, if your house is valued under €100,000, you will have paid €90 LPT in 2014. If the LPT rate in your local authority area is increased by 15%, you will pay €103.50 LPT in 2015 and if this rate is decreased by 15%, you will pay €76.50 LPT in 2015. Your LPT record will be updated in October 2014 to include your 2015 LPT charge. You will be able to confirm your LPT rate for 2015 by accessing your online LPT record.

I live alone and get a State Pension. Will I be able to get any help with the new water charges?

to ask them to complete a form with their bank account information so the Water Support payment can be paid directly. The Water Support payment can also be paid in post offices.

The Water Support payment will be paid directly to you, not to Irish Water. If your home is connected to a public water supply (or to public wastewater services) you will need to set up an account with Irish Water to pay your water charges and to claim the free household allowance. Irish Water has sent customer application packs to all households, to be returned by 31 October 2014.

I am unemployed, getting social welfare and living in rented accommodation. I have large credit card debts and a credit union loan of €13,300. I can’t make my repayments and the only asset I have is a car worth €1,200, which I need to take my son to school. Is there anything I can do to reduce my debts?

You may qualify for a Debt Relief Notice (DRN). This is one of three debt resolution mechanisms introduced under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 for people who cannot afford to pay their personal debts. In general, you can qualify for a DRN if your net monthly income after deductions for reasonable living expenses is under €60 and your total assets are valued at €400 or less. There are some exceptions. You are allowed, for example, to own a motor vehicle valued at €2,000 or less.

You may qualify for a DRN if all your qualifying debts are below €20,000, excluding certain “non-permitted” debts.

You must apply for a DRN through an Approved Intermediary (AI). You must disclose all details of your financial affairs to the AI, who will then advise you whether or not you meet the conditions for a DRN, the consequences, any alternative options, and the fee that you may have to pay to the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI). The AI service is free.

The DRN provides you with protection from creditors for three years. If your circumstances do not change and you meet all the conditions of your DRN, at the end of the three-year period the money you owe to the creditors named on the DRN will be written off.

Domestic water charges will apply from 1 October 2014 and the first bills will issue from January 2015. A free allowance of a certain amount of water will be provided for every household, with extra allowances for children. If you are getting the Household Benefits Package, you will also get help with the cost of water charges.

From January 2015 the Household Benefits Package will include a new annual Water Support payment of €100 (made up of four equal payments of €25). The Water Support payment will be paid to everyone who qualifies for the Household Benefits Package. This includes people who are not customers of Irish Water and who either have their own water supply or are members of a group scheme.

If you are currently getting the Household Benefits Package and get your allowance as a credit on your bill, the Department of Social Protection (DSP) does not hold payment details for you. September 2014 the DSP contacted customers

Page 84 Senior Times October 2014

You can choose an AI from the Register of Approved Intermediaries published by the ISI. Several Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) companies have been authorised to act as AIs. If you are thinking of applying for a DRN through MABS, you will first need to answer some questions to check if you meet the eligibility criteria. You will need to gather all relevant information about your debts, assets, income and circumstances.

You can get further information from MABS on 0761 07 2000 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 8 pm) mabs.ie or from the ISI’s helpline 0761 06 4200 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm) and www.isi.gov.ie.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by the Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.

www.seniortimes.ie

COMPETITION WINNERS FROM LAST ISSUE

A break at Ballinalacken Castle, Co Clare

Michael McDonald, Dublin 6W

Crossword: three Brian Boru gold coins

Pat McSweeney, Galway Babette James, Carrigtohill, Co Cork Stephen McCabe, Dublin 22

WIN DINNER FOR TWO (From our Early Bird Menu – served all Evening Tue/Wed/Thur/Sunday)

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Simply answer the following question:

How many restaurants does Marco Pierre White have in Dublin?

Send you answer to: Marco Pierre White Competition, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Or email to|: john@slp.ie First correct entry drawn is the winner.

Deadline for receipt of entries is 20th November 2014.

COMPETITION ENTRY FORM NAME: (please print) ................................................................................................

ADDRESS: .................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................

TEL: ................................................................................................................................

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Pets

Ask the vet

In our new Senior Times feature veterinary surgeon Elizabeth McCollum answers your pet questions

except for his annual jabs and don’t really want to go to one in case they say he should be put down. He’s a terrier, twelve years old and neither his sight or hearing are very good.

What do you suggest?

My bitch doesn’t eat her food every day. Sometimes she eats well for a week or so and then will only eat every second day. She’s in good form and playful and full of energy, but this worries me, although she’s always been like this.

Some dogs are just picky eaters. When you give them a food they loved only yesterday they look at you as if you were trying to poison them. What is important is to become familiar with your bitch’s normal habits so that you can detect when she is not well. If she starts to drink more than usual or becomes lethargic bring her to the vet, as it could be a sign of an underlying condition. If, however, it’s just her normal behaviour you can trying introducing new elements into her diet to eliminate boredom and make sure she gets plenty of exercise. If she is not speyed I’d suggest you spey her, as hormonal changes can affect a bitch’s appetite. Make sure she is weighed every time she goes to the vet so losses/gains in weight can be monitored.

After that, I wouldn’t get too hung up on it, it’s just the way she is. www.seniortimes.ie

Can you tell me how I should know when the time is right to put down my dog? I don’t want him to suffer, and sometimes I think he’s in pain getting up and down, and walking but other days he seems fine. I don’t use a vet

First of all, a lot of dogs can’t see or hear very well when they get old, and as this has been a gradual progress in their lives they adapt well and can live quite happily. As regards the stiffness, there are many excellent products that your vet will have. The best ones are prescription only and won’t be available elsewhere. These are anti-inflammatories which reduce the pain of arthritis and are very effective. But you will have to visit your vet for a diagnosis and advice. Don’t be afraid – it’s the best thing you can do for your dog, and noone is going to force you to do anything.

On the contrary, your dog will probably improve well on the medication, and you’ll be delighted you went. If the vet finds something else, he/she will discuss it with you and point out your options.

Hopefully in your case, it is something that can be treated quite easily, so your dog will have a better quality of life.

Senior Times October 2014 Page 87

It can be difficult to assess if and when to euthanize an elderly pet that hasn’t been ill but just is coming to the end of his life. In these situations a pet that just dozes off in his or her bed and never wakes up saves the owner a lot of anxiety. Alas, life is not like that and often we have to make the decision to save our pets from a long-drawn out death. So how do we know? Well, a dog that lies around all day, enjoying an odd stretch around the garden or a short walk, eats well, pees and poos (as we say in practice – not scientific but clear) and is relatively alert, eg pleased to see you in the morning even if you have to wake him, is unlikely to be in pain and could happily go on for ages. If your dog becomes incontinent or has heart problems that result in breathing difficulties – well, those are problems that simple pain relief cannot cure, and which if not controlled could be a cause of suffering.

Normally by the time the subject of euthanasia comes up with your vet, it will be in your own mind also. Do be guided by your vet, being aware that he or she can be quite sensitive and won’t want to force you down a route that at the moment seems unbearable. Most vets will give the owner a gentle suggestion and let them think about it.

2. He’ll stop or reduce the foul-smelling “spraying” which could help world peace if he’s normally allowed inside the house.

3. After a while he’ll stop fighting with other cats and so reduce your veterinary bills.

4. He’ll stay around his home a lot more. ( You might see this as a disadvantage..)

My cat keeps coming home with bites from other cats, and recently he became ill and we had to go to the vet. It turned out he had an abscess on his jaw and the treatment was quite intensive. The vet suggested I neuter him, but he’s two years old now and I don’t like the idea of it.

A. The advantages of neutering are that 1. Your cat will never father kittens that will grow up unknown and uncared for, and who in turn will breed on and add to the population of stray cats.

5. He’ll stop beating up the neighbour’s cat and lead to an improvement in community relations.

The disadvantages of neutering are: 1. You don’t like the idea of it.

2. ???

Send your pet questions (with a stamped addressed envelope), to : Senior Times Vet, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. Or email: vetliz29@gmail.com

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall marks Office’s 30th Anniversary The Office of the Ombudsman marks its 30th Anniversary in 2014 under a new Ombudsman. Peter Tyndall was appointed last December. Originally from Dublin, Peter previously served as Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

What does the Office of the Ombudsman do?

We investigate complaints from members of the public who feel they have been unfairly treated by certain public bodies such as:

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Government Departments and Offices, the Health Service Executive (HSE), including public hospitals / health agencies providing services on behalf of the HSE, Local Authorities

third level education bodies e.g.

Universities, SUSI,

a number of other bodies which are listed on our website www.ombudsman.ie

Page 88 Senior Times October 2014

Our service is impartial, independent and free. We cannot take complaints about private bodies such as banks or insurance companies, private pension schemes, An Garda Síochána, An Post, the Labour Court, Bord Gáis and the ESB. How do I make a complaint?

You can complain:

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by phone at LoCall 1890 22 30 30 or 01 639 5600, online on our website,

by e mail to ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie,

in writing, or in person, at the office at 18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2

You must try and solve your problem with the public body concerned beforehand. If the body has an appeals process, please use this first. If this does not resolve the problem and you feel that the public body has not treated you fairly, then you can contact us.

Outreach Services

In order to make the Ombudsman service more accessible staff from the Office visit Citizens Information Centres based in Cork, Limerick and Galway on a monthly basis to take complaints from members of the public. For more details on our Outreach services please check our website: www.ombudsman.ie www.seniortimes.ie

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Bumper Crossword (No.67) Crossword

by Zoë Devlin

ACROSS

1

Star of ‘Calvary’, he endangers noble people? (7,7)

15

Knowledge acquired by learning (9)

8

16

17

20

21

Ocean or Rodgers & Hammerstein musical (5,7) Van Gogh’s flowers or parts of our eyes (6) Second wife to Henry VIII (4,6)

Small toy replica of a person (4)

Revolve quickly or spin around (6)

23

Small monastic island in Inner Hebrides (4)

30

Blow a fuse! Lose one’s rag! Go ballistic! (4,3'1,3)

24

33

34

35

36

38

43

46

47

50

54

56

57

58

61

64

65

66

71

73

74

78

79 81 82

83

84

86

92

Closing section of a musical composition (6) Large fruit found in New York? (3,3,5) Beer or porter (3)

Looks over or examines carefully (8)

Capable of being warded off or averted (9) Belgian capital - home of sprouts? (8)

Have riptide drinks with this like-minded person (7,6) Secure against, unsusceptible, unaffected (6) She danced for Herod (6)

Limerick-born actor, sang ‘MacArthur Park’ (7,6) Musical compositions for 6 performers (7) Commercial exchange (5)

Brian O’Nolan, AKA ___ na gCopaleen (5) Frame or body (7)

Does one associate hips with this position? (13) Licensed medical practitioner (6) AKA Baile Atha Cliath (6)

Milk white cheese made from curds (7,6) Scotland’s patron saint (2,6)

World’s largest island, between N.Atlantic & Arctic (9) Second largest ocean (8)

Ad ___ , a makeshift solution (3)

Activity of getting ready in advance (11) English essayist, with sister he wrote ‘Tales from Shakespeare’ (7,4)

Suburb at base of Howth Hd, 12km from 65 Across (6) Hardy’s novel, ‘___ of the d’Urbervilles’ (4) Celebrity TV chef ___ Allen (6) Capital of Norway (4)

Orwell’s 1945 allegorical novel (6,4)

94

Thin cylindrical writing implement (6)

97

The Dandy’s strong man (9,3)

95

98

‘___ Transformation’, RTE’s lifestyle show (9) They were first to fly 74 Across non-stop (6,3,5)

Page 90 Senior Times October 2014

DOWN

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She won an Oscar for ‘My Left Foot’ (6,7) Having the same value or quantity (5) Day of Allied landing in France (1-3) There’s one on each finger and toe (4) ___ Hutton, test cricketer for Yorkshire & England (3) ‘My Fair Lady’ character ___ Doolittle (5) Have a Soviet twirl & read Dickens’ second novel (6,5) An ounce or is it ‘Down Under’? (2) Saltwater fish usually served as steaks (4) It’s cold, yummy and on a stick! (4-3) Fixed charge for professional services (3) Meet formally or call together (7) Italian city, famous for its Bridge of Sighs (6) Perhaps it’s extra-terrestrial (1,1) Disappointing decline after a previous rise (10) You’ll love this period from 24 Dec-6 Jan (4) Cognisant, alert, conscious (5) Peeping Tom .. spectator (6) I went to see this aquatic amphibian (4) Column or shaft of light (3) Drama set to music (5) Playwright of ‘Hedda Gabler’ & ‘A Doll’s House’ (5) Major ferry port on south coast of England (5) Astrological sign of the Ram (5) Let’s eat in this Washington city! (7) John Hanning ___, discoverer of Lake Victoria (5) Equipment designed for specific function (9) Preliminary paint applied to a surface (9) Homer Simpson’s utterance (1’2) Subtract or withhold (6) Can Ma hog this Co Tyrone town? (5) Get away .. break loose .. flee (6) Acute abdominal pain in infants (5) Decamp or make off (7) Former large British chemical company (1,1,1) Greek, winged goddess of dawn (3) Greedy king, turned everything to gold (5) Device for creating energy from the sun (5,5) Playwright, author of ‘Riders to the Sea’ (5) Institute legal proceedings against (3) Irish star of ‘Mama Mia!’, also played James Bond (6,7) Dry, clinical or having the form of a tube? (11) Goes very well with gin! (5) Deep and harsh sounding, husky (6) Something additional (5) ___ O’Toole, star of ‘Laurence of Arabia’ (5) Are coats worn to this racecourse? (5) Fee levied for use of road or bridge (4) Large open vessel for liquid - or tax? (3) Fanning, Allen or Brubeck? (4) Married man (7) Certificate saying that a will is genuine (7) The arch of the foot (6) Large stringed instrument of Pablo Casals (5) County whose cars say ‘So’ (5) Kipling’s poem (2) One river, two lakes in Co Fermanagh (4) Blood vessel .. sounds proud? (4) Young domestic sheep (4) Belonging to it! (3) Deciduous tree which bears acorns (3) www.seniortimes.ie

Four copies of The Wildflowers of Ireland to be won!

Senior Times, in association with the publishers Collins Press, are offering four copies of the highly acclaimed Wildflowers of Ireland as the prizes in this issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crossword competition.

Send your completed crossword to: Crossword Competition, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

The first four correct entries drawn are the winners. Deadline for receipt of entries is 20th November.

Name:......................................................... Address:.........................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

Phone: ..........................................................Email: ..........................................................................

Meeting Place

PROFESSIONAL GALWAY LADY seeks honest and caring male companion (single or widower) fifties or early sixties for friendship. Interests include reading, walking, some gardening, cinema, travel etc. NS, SD, GSOH. WLTM man in Galway area of similar age and interests.REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X1

60 YEARS YOUNG DUBLIN WOMAN seeks male ballroom dance partner to attend social dances in Dublin area. Having attained bronze level in both international standard and Latin dances. I seek a partner who leads well; a plus if you also dance the Hustle REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X2

ATTRACTIVE, EDUCATED WIDOW, 65, interested in gardening, music, reading, arts, animals, nature etc., would like to find a pen friend or/and a friend to enjoy good things in life.REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X3

LONELY REFINED EDUCATED 65 year old man seeks female soul mate anywhere in Ireland. Love theatre, literature, cinema, walking. Tall, grey, handsome with GSOH. NS. Like a glass of wine.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X4 ROMANTIC LADY. Kind and caring, divorced, no ties. Enjoys walking and socialising, travel, cinema, theatre and bridge. I am NS, SD and WLTM a gentleman Late 60’s with similar interests for friendship and companionship in the Dublin area.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X5

SOUTH SIDE DUBLIN MALE, 61, NS, SD, slim; dress well; have GSOH; very active.

Like classic/traditional music, hiking to country side; travelling; dining out in decent restaurants. Would like to meet lady with good dress sense who can hold a decent conversation and has GSOH. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X6 MIDLANDS WIDOWER, 60’s, non-smoker, social drinker, sincere with GSOH, interests include music, cinema, par-3 golf and gardening, would like to meet attractive petite lady for friendship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X7

FEMININE, ATTRACTIVE SOUTH DUBLIN, 47 year old female looking to meet a kind caring man in late 40’s to 60’s. I am well educated and a good conversationalist. I enjoy travel, art, swimming, having fun, eating out and lots of laughter. Looking to meet someone well educated and cultured who values someone special in their life.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X8 PERFECT GENTLEMAN 67, Dublin, digital, active, cheerful, sharing, caring, positive, respectful, vibrant, house, car, fully single, full of life, love and laughter. Seeking similar lady, to share the joyful wonder of life.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X9 ATTRACTIVE 51 YEAR OLD professional woman in County Louth, NS, GSOH, interested in life and all it has to offer!

Enjoys music, literature, cooking, theatre, Page 92 Senior Times October 2014

driving to name but a few. WLTM a gentleman in the same age group with similar interests, a GSOH and a positive outlook on life. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X10 DUBLIN WIDOW, recently retired, professional, varied interests, films, music, outdoor life and travel. WLTM sincere gent and hopefully end up as soulmates!

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X11

WILD ATLANTIC WAY MAN seeks lady for weekends away, theatre, cinema, country walks, eating out and frequent travel to the West from anywhere in Ireland. Refined, educated and house trained 64 year old. Tall, grey and handsome with GSOH. ALA. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X12 SINGLE LADY 58 from East Europe, attractive, warm personality, many interests.

WLTM honest caring gentleman 58-68 for genuine lasting relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X13

69 YEAR OLD IRISHMAN just back from working abroad, seeks female partner 63 to 73 for company, perhaps romance. Loves theatre, cinema, walking and talking. Friendly and easy-going. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X14 HI I’M A 52 year old woman who would like to meet men in the Dublin area aged 50-55 for friendship, my interests are reading, music and dining out.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X15

GALWAY MAN LATE FIFTIES. Interests include walking, reading, farming, travelling and gardening. WLTM woman of similar age and interests.REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X16

DUBLIN SOUTHSIDE FEMALE aged 52 WLTM maleS or femaleS for friendship, companionship or socialising. My hobbies are walking, gardening, swimming, travelling and dancing.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X17 NORTHSIDE DUBLIN MALE VEGETARIAN, 63, interested in meditation, walking, nature etc. NS, ND, WLTM similar males and females for friendship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X 18

DUBLIN WOMAN, 50, INTERESTED IN WALKING, travelling, cinema, cooking and meeting new friends.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X19

KERRY LADY WLTM since gentleman, aged 55-70. NS, SD. Varied interests and enjoys theatre, sport, nature, current affairs, animals, etc. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X20

ATTRACTIVE NORTH CO DUBLIN LADY, (60) with outgoing personality, NS, SD with many and varied interests WLTM respectable gent who would appreciate and treat her nicely.

Age range 50s to early 70s REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W1 MATURE LADY (60) WITH OUTGOING PERSONALITY would like to match up with lady or gent with a view to spending the

coming winter (long term) in the Canary Islands to escape the unpleasant Irish winter.

Would suit someone interested in peace, relaxation and friendship. Age 55 or over. NS, SD preferred. REPLY YO BOX NUMBER W2

WEST OF IRELAND MAN EARLY 60s WLTM sincere lady for friendship/relationship. I am genuine, honest, caring. I like music, walking, DIY, sport, animals and country life.

ALA. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W3 GAY FEMALE NS, LATE 50s, Munster area WLTM same for friendship/companionship.

NS only REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W4 DUBLIN NORTHSIDE WIDOWER, 65, many and varied interests, seeks lively Dublinbased lady for diniing out, travel, cinema, walking etc., and of course for friendship and possible relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W5

ATTRACTIVE, ARTICULATE NEW YORK WOMAN EDUCATIONIST, late 50s, within Dublin catchment area WLTM a cultured, refined man with no ties. My interests are wide and varied and include a love of life, good conversation, comedy, theatre, travel, reading and the arts. My life is a tapestry of colours and sharing experiences makes it more enriched. Are you the complimentary other half? REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W6 LATE 60s CO GALWAY WIDOW. Interests include walking, cycling, country driving, gardening and travel. WLTM a late 60s widow. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W7

WEST OF IRELAND PROFESSIONAL LADY, semi-retired, single, NS, SD. Enjoys walking, travel, cinema, theatre, golf, weekends away, dining out, WLTM refined gentleman for friendship and companionship from any part of the country.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W8

RESPECTABLE SOUTH DUBLIN GENTLEMAN, 70, generous and interesting, WLTM lady for shared mutual enjoyment. Discretion assured and expected. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W9

SOUTH CITY DUBLIN MAN, LATE 50s, MANY INTERESTS, including travel, cinema, reading, cycling, dining out WLTM lady with similr interests for friendship and perhaps more. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W10

NORTHSIDE DUBLIN LADY, EARLY 60s, NO TIES, has GSOH, WLTM single, refined, gentleman. NS, SD, loves country life, nature, and the simple pleasures of life.

www.seniortimes.ie

Interests include hill-walking, classical music, art and reading. I have some hearing difficulties. Perhaps if you are reading this and you are also in a similar situation you might like to get in touch.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W11 SOUTH DUBLIN WOMAN WLTM professional gentleman, 70 plus, widower, separated, divorced, single. Like all the finer things in life as well as antiques, fishing, beach combing, weekends away etc. TV addicts and smokers need not apply.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W12

SEMI RETIRED TIPP LADY, well travelled, no ties, very sincere, kind and caring. WLTM a gent of around 60 who is active, fit and has sound family values to share interest in the arts, keeping fit, good conversation.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B1

MIDLANDS GENT, GSOH, SD, NS, no ties, 65.

Interests include walking, reading, DIY, gardening and travel. WLTM a lady, 55-65, with similar interests, for relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B2 RETIRED DUBLIN LEGAL SECRETARY, 72, 3rd level education, art qualification, many interests, WLTM educated gentleman for outings, companionship and friendship REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B3

SLIGO SINGLE WOMAN dancing enthusiast, mid 60s, WLTM male dancing partner to attend sequence, ceili, old-time, social dancing classes and events in the North West and surrounding areas.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B4 DUBLIN GENT, NS, ND, 60s, educated and refined, seeks sincere lady for friendship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B5

PETITE, SINGLE DUBLIN LADY, retired professional, late 60s, WLTM kind, sincere, respectable gent, NS, ND, for friendship, companionship. Interests include dancing, walking and cinema.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B6

INTERESTED?

If you are interested in meeting someone of the opposite or same sex send your advertisement to: Meeting Place, Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Or email:john@slp.ie Please ensure you include your postal address for those not on the Net.

Deadline for advertisements for the next printed issue of Senior Times and website listings is 20th November 2014

Important: When replying to advertisements in Senior Times, please enclose a stamp for each reply. We cannot accept email advertisements which do not also provide a postal address

SPANISH LADY, DUBLIN BASED, warm, kind and caring WLTM a respectable, educated gentleman, late 50s, early 60s for friendship and companionship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B7

DUBLIN/LEINSTER MAN, 58, good communicator, caring, reasonably good appearance, likes music, reading, good conversation, travel, eating out, WLTM lady with similar interests for friendship/romance.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B9 CORK WOMAN, 52, DIVORCED, would like to correspond with fun loving people who have a varied interest in life. Interested in travelling, holidays, walking, nature, dancing, music, cinema. Great listener.

Would like to hear from people from all over the country. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B10 CLASSY LADY, DUBLIN-BASED, EARLY 60s recently returned to Ireland after living abroad for many years. Engaging, fit, attractive with outgoing personality seeks shy, sophisticated gentleman who is active, fit and has sound family values.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B11 SEMI-RETIRED DUBLIN MAN, various interests, seeks interesting lady for friendship and perhaps more.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B12

RETIRED CORK MAN, MANY INTERESTS, seeks to meet a sincere lady to enjoy Golden Years. Interests include foreign holidays, affairs and the simple things in life.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B13 PROFESSIONAL FEMALE, NS, SD, 60, divorced, own business. Like reading, exercise and watching sport. WLTM a gent in similar circumstances.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B14

NORTH DUBLIN WIDOW, sincere, tall, intelligent, good appearance and personality. Likes literature, outdoors, theatre, travel, interesting conversation, etc. WLTM kind, outgoing, unattached man, 75+, for companionship and, perhaps, deep friendship.REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B15 SOUTH EAST WIDOWER businessman, 64.

Interests include walking, good books, travel, food and wine, music, WLTM since lady for long term relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER B16

PROFESSIONAL FEMALE, 60, AVERAGE HEIGHT, NS, SD. Separated and run own business. Interests include reading and exercise and watching sport. Looking to meet gent in similar circumstances.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S4

CORK CITY RETIRED MAN WLTM sincere lady to enjoy Golden Years with. Interest include foreign holidays, current affairs and the simple things in life NS preferred. Genuine replies only. ALA REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S5 DIVORCED WICKLOW LADY, 50S, NS, interested in travelling, walking, cinema, music, reading and eating out. WLTM gent with similar interests.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S6

DUBLIN GENT, NEVER MARRIED, 67, cheerful, cultured, unpretentious, presentable, respectful. Seeks positive lady to share the joy of life, the joy of giving and the joy of laughter. Perhaps we may discover great love also. Too many interests to mention.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S7 WEST MEATH, attractive, slim, active, spontaneous, degree educated woman, 58, GSOH and love of life, seeks sincere man with similar qualities.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S8

WEST MEATH MAN, public servant, WLTM interesting female 40-55 for friendship and travelling. Interests include cycling, boating/camping, walking and hill walking, cinema, amateur drama, current affairs and travelling. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S9

SEPARATED WOMAN, MID-60s, WLTM a nice gentleman for companionship and friendship.

Interests include poetry, dancing, travel, dining out, bridge, walking, theatre. Must be tall and attractive, NS and SD only.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S10

LIMERICK LADY, 60s, interests include social interaction, travel, current affairs, dining out, theatre, gardening, WLTM other women for friendship, shared socialising and possible travel. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S11

RETIRED DUBLIN-BASED MALE DOCTOR, 61, widower, no ties, GSOH, WLTM independent woman with no ties. Interests include golf, current affairs, and travel.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S1

SINGLE DUBLIN LADY, LATE SEVENTIES, interested in walks, visiting historical places of scenic or religious interest, WLTM a lady, single or window, who would also be interested in such things, who has a car and would like a companion to share the experiences. Also interested in gardening, forest walks, concerts, theatre, cinema.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S12

DUBLIN-BASED RETIRED MAIL TEACHER, widower, no ties, WLTM educated lady for friendship and to share interests in the arts, walking and music.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S3

LIMERICK WOMAN MID 60s, unattached, semi-retired, young in outlook, caring and sincere, personable and outgoing. Interests include ready, lively conversation, travel, politics, theatre. WLTM gentleman with similar interests and has a GSOH. REPLY TO BOX S15

TALL DIVORCED 48 YEAR OLD MIDLANDS LADY, seeks tall, single professional gentleman, mid-50s with no ties, who is honest, generous and caring. Interests include travel, dancing, concerts, cinema, boating and sport. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S2

CORK LADY MID-50s, young at heart.

Interests include music, walks, theatre, cinema, WLTM gent with similar interests.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER S13

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SUDOKU PUZZLE RULES Solving a sudoku puzzle can be rather tricky, but the rules of the game are quite simple.

A sudoku puzzle is a grid of nine by nine squares or cells, that has been subdivided into nine subgrids or "regions" of three by three cells. See the following diagram:

Ireland ’s O wn

Inv Inves estin tingg In In Fo Fore restr Ho stryy Hopp-pic pickin kingg in in Ke Kent Es nt Esco corte rtedd To Tour urss

A celeb rati Maureen on of O’Hara

Preview Winter Wonderla nds Christmas ma

PLUS: Ne ws Revie w l Creati ve Writin g Profiles l Competi l Genealogy l He tions an alth l Wi d much ne and Foo more! d

rkets await

Ageless Style We Mee t Barba ra M

PLUS: Ne cMahon ws Revie w l Creati ve Writin g Profiles l Competi l Genealogy l He tions an alth l Wi d much ne and Foo more! d

Senior Times is packed with information on health, finance, travel, hobbies and pastimes, nostalgia, and much, much more!

For just €40 (£35) you can have Senior Times delivered to your door. Senior Times is published every two months: a 10-issue subscription covers 18 months.

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Page 94 Senior Times October 2014

The objective of sudoku is to enter a digit from 1 through 9 in each cell, in such a way that: Each horizontal row (shown in pink) contains each digit exactly once Each vertical column (shown in yellow) contains each digit exactly once Each subgrid or region (shown in green) contains each digit exactly once

This explains the name of the game; in Japanese, sudoku means something like "numbers singly".

Solving a sudoku puzzle does not require knowledge of mathematics; simple logic suffices. (Instead of digits, other symbols can be used, e.g. letters, as long as there are nine different symbols.)

In each sudoku puzzle, several digits have already been entered (the "givens"); these may not be changed.

The puzzler's job is to fill the remainder of the grid with digits – respecting, of course, the three constraints mentioned earlier.

A "good" sudoku puzzle has only one solution.

Sudoku winners from last issue.

Padhraic Faherty Barna Tom Shorthall Ashbourne Margaret Nolan Newbridge

Co. Galway Co. Meath Co Kildare.

Deadline for this issue entries 21st November 2014. www.seniortimes.ie

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Senior Times, in association with Caoga Insurance, is offering three copies of Neven Maguire’s latest cook book ‘Fast’ to be won in this issue’s Sudoku competition.

“Age brings it’s own benefits” Send your completed puzzle to: Caoga Sudoku Competition , Senior Times, Unit 1, 15 Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. The first three correct entries drawn are the winners.

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Boxing clever..

Crafts

Connie McCoy show you how to make miniature jewel boxes

These pretty little objects attracted my attention at one of the Knitting & Stitching shows in the RDS a few years ago, the sale price then was E6.50 each. They came in draped satin lined presentation boxes that included Aida, threads, needle, and chart/instructions for a tiny cross-stitch motif depicting some of the signs of the Zodiac. As only four were available I decided to design and work one for each season on white silk instead. To be honest they were intended for my four grand-daughters as each one was born in a different season until little Michaela arrived on March 21st 2013, this meant that a second box was worked for Spring!

Starting with Spring violets and daffodils followed by some Summer roses, an Autumn hydrangea, and Winter holly. My oldest grand-daughter Katie will celebrate her 21st birthday on September 23rd she will be presented with the hydrangea box as part of her gift then. Anna is looking forward to her 18th birthday on November 4th when she will be presented with the holly box, and the other three boxes will be given as Christmas gifts to Helen, Eimear and Micheala. Now that the festive season is fast approaching and days are getting shorter time spent working some of these pretty boxes (about 3 hours) could ease the pressure when it comes to writing gift lists and one would surely look cheerful on any dressing table during all seasons.

Requirements: For each boxA Frame-craft miniature box, contact (www.framecraft.com).Fine embroidery fabric measuring 7cms x 7cms. Iron on Vilene (same measurement) was used in these projects due to the fact that they were worked in freestyle embroidery that included fishbone st, French knots,

Page 96 Senior Times October 2014

lazy daisy st, straight stitches and stem st overcast. Also needle-weaving, bullion knots, buttonhole loops and bead attachment in an effort to attain a 3D effect.

Since the embroideries are so small it would be advisable to use suitable fabric remnants, also use leftover skeins of embroidery stranded cotton in suitable colours that may be available at the bottom of a workbasket. The beads that were used (Trimits Rocailles seed beads red) did not require a beading needle for attachment as the fine crewel used in embroidering sufficed. A tapestry needle was used while working the needleweaving.

Fix the Vilene to the wrong side of the embroidery fabric, then place the lid centrally on the Vilene and draw around it with a pencil, this is the outline within which the motif will be worked and will be visible through both thicknesses on the embroidery fabric. No other outline was used in these projects all of which were worked using two strands of embroidery cotton throughout. When finished each one was hand washed in tepid suds, rinsed and rolled in a white face cloth. It would be advisable to iron while quite damp on several layers of towel, then left to dry completely before cutting along the pencilled circle outline and fixing in box lid as per instructions given by the manufacturer. www.seniortimes.ie

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