The Finest Magazine - Issue 7

EE FR | Issue 7

The Domenico Love Roscrea winner announced Malizia Memorial Cup The winner of The Love Roscrea Draw was announced at Bernie’s Supervalu Roscrea on Tuesday 25th June at 6.30pm. The Love Roscrea campaign’s pilot competition which was exclusively launched in last month’s issue of The Finest brought in over 1,500 entries. Readers were asked to fill in the coupon in the paper and drop it in to participating stores locally. And the winner is…

Anne Maher from New Line Roscrea, well done Anne! The winning coupon was drawn on the shop floor at Bernie’s Supervalu by Eoin Hobbs (16) who works at Bernie’s Supervalu Roscrea. Watch this space as the group behind the successful Love Roscrea campaign have promised more exciting offers and prizes.

Nenagh AFC hosted SS Lazio from Dublin in the first ever Domenico “Chief ” Malizia Memorial Cup and after a great team performance by our lads we emerged winners on a 5-1 score line. After the match Josephine Malizia made the presentation of the new beautiful DomenicoMalizia Cup to her son Fabrizio Finest Mag 85 h x 130 w 13:Layout 1 26/06/2013 08:50 Page 1 who was captain for the day for Nenagh AFC.

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To contact “The Finest” please e-mail thefinestmagazine@gmail.com

Left to right Pat Mullally Brian Colclough Dan Ryan Jimmy Teehan John O Donnell and Colin Williams

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4

“The Finest” | Issue Nº7

From award-winning travel writer Muriel Bolger come’s a wonderful, heartfelt story of a group of strangers brought together on a cruise holiday About The Book No matter the problem, a Mediterranean cruise is the perfect solution – at least, this is the opinion of a group of solo travellers who enjoy dinner together at the Captain’s Table during their first night on the ship.

Take the newly-separated Jenny, for instance – two weeks at sea is the best way she can think of to avoid unwanted media attention, and any contact from her controlling ex-husband. Being alone offers her time to think about her life and what to do next, as well as the opportunity to observe the people around her and wonder about the reality that they might be escaping from.

Jenny’s observations of the fellow passengers on the ship are inspired by the experiences of author Muriel Bolger, a huge fan of cruise holidays. ‘My jaunts have taken me to all sorts of exotic places around the globe,’ she says. ‘They have all been varied and diverse experiences, but it’s the people I’ve met who made them unique.’

As Jenny comes to find in The Captain’s Table, the confines of the ship serve to bring the passengers travelling alone together very quickly, with the initial mystery of studying strangers soon replaced by the truth they’re more than willing to offer at the dinner table or bar counter.

Muriel says: ‘Lingering over poolside lunches and fine dinners, confidences and secrets tend to come tumbling out, safe in the knowledge that you’ll almost certainly never meet again. I tend to observe and wonder what others do in the real world. In my mind I give them careers and traits, families, relationships and indiscretions. And I am usually totally wrong!’

Muriel decided to write about a cruise holiday while on one – after attending a solo traveller’s lunch one afternoon, she scribbled down this title and starting writing the story while still on board. An amalgam of various curtain-twitching observations from her travels over the years, coupled with large dollops of imagination, the characters in the book quickly took on a life of their own…and Muriel is now planning her next inspiring holiday.

About The Author Muriel Bolger has gone on lots of cruises in her capacity as a travel writer. Just some of the places she’s been include the fjords of Norway, St Petersburg, The Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Iceland, the Outer and Inner Hebrides and through the Panama Canal.

She says, ‘I’m a huge cruise fan, and an avid people watcher. Add being curious and a writer to that mix and it’s easy to see how The Captain’s Table came about! The inspiration was all there in front of me – sun, sea and solo travellers, the opulent ships providing countless settings for scenes of seduction, debauchery, family fights and new romances. Add great destinations, men in uniform, hot tubs, cocktails, dancing under the stars, and an affable Captain who is good at hiding his problems, and you have a pretty fool proof recipe for an interesting holiday. (And a good summer read too, I hope.)

And NO – you won’t find me among the characters. It’s NOT autobiographical!

Muriel is a Dublin-based journalist and award-winning travel writer. The Captain’s Table is her third novel. She is currently working on her fourth. Her earlier ones are Intentions and Consequences.

She has also written four books on her native city, including Dublin – City of Literature (O’Brien Press), which won the Travel Extra Travel Guide Book of the Year 2012, Darting About, Statues and Stories and Dublin’s Magical Museums (Ashfield Press).

The Captains Table is available for sale at EasonsNenagh.

Forever in my Heart

In May of this year a little book of poetry by Cathy Hogan from Clonakenny went on sale with all proceeds going to Milford Hospice. The book was written in memory of Cathy’s brother-in-law Dessie Hogan late of Killea and Toomevara who lost his battle against cancer in the exceptional care of the staff of Milford Hospice in February 2012.

The sponsors covered the all printing costs, meaning,the entire proceeds from the sale of the book could go to the Hospice. Cathy would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of her little book especially those who bought her little book and all those who helped her sell copies to their family, friends and work colleagues.. Thanks to Facebook, copies of the little book have been sent worldwide...On June 10th a cheque for 1,700 euro was presented by Dessie’s brother Benny to Anne-Marie Hayes Fund-Raising supervisor at Milford Hospice.

06

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Parkers Restaurant We were invited out for a meal in Parkers Restaurant during Holy Communion Season. I hadn’t spent much time in Holycross before apart from passing through on the odd Sunday drive. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect. Friends of ours had booked Parkers to celebrate their daughters first Holy Communion so upon arrival we discovered that the whole restaurant was booked out with families and guests for their own auspicious event.

one or two of the mushrooms for professional purposes of course.

My rating of the starters was top quality. I was impressed by the presentation of the food and as someone who often avoids duck due to it sometimes being served greasy, had to submit this time and was not disappointed for doing so.

As we arrived ten minutes late, the hosts were already seated upon our arrival. The children were seated first and then we sat down to relax and enjoy the afternoon. The décor in parkers to my eyes was country style, formal yet informal, relaxed and open plan. It seemed to be ideal for family occasions, parties and events. The children quickly realized that there is a large garden at the front of Parkers where they could run around mad as Lorries, while remaining under the watchful eyes of the parents within.

As I had not actually met some of the guests that we had joined for a meal that day, I noticed that the fellow sitting directly across from me was treating the menu with esoteric authority. So I wisely decided to order what he was having. The Duck Confit promptly arrived and I quickly realized the wisdom of my choice. A number of guests chose the stuffed garlic mushrooms, I managed to pinch

My main course was Steak and onion rings with pepper sauce.

I love a good steak and this one certainly didn’t let me down. My wife chose the Salmon which once again I have to comment on the presentation of the dish. I would also like to mention the chips, let’s face facts the children always want chips. So do I, and these chips were hand cut chips not the frozen steak cut chips that are often wheeled out to destroy the taste of your dinner. Chips can be make or break for me as it offers an insight into the people running the Restaurant and can tell a lot about what they will do in order to either please a customer or try to hoodwink them. I glanced over at the mysterious fellow who was at one with the menu. “Hand cut chips” I said……. He nodded at me, he knew.

I hope the photo’s do the food justice as I have to say that Parkers Restaurant in Holycross is quite the discovery.

We would like to thank our hosts for this event and hopefully enlighten some of you out there as to where you can expect to find a Restaurant of a high standard that ticks all of the boxes.

08

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Reidy’s of Newtown

“Something Different”

I had been in Reidy’s a few times over the years, probably more often when I was living back in Wicklow and treated Newtown and surrounds as weekend away territory. In the past I always found that Reidy’s offers a comfortable environment where one can stop in after a long drive down the M7 coming in from Dublin or beyond . Locally of course Reidy’s offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of Nenagh into a quiet rural surround.

One of the things I like about Reidy’s is the veranda

families with kids. Most are well prepared for it. So make your reservations and start checking out the local market for eating out, you would be surprised just how good it often is, even with the children…..being children.

The starters were Garlic Mushrooms and BBQ Chicken wings. It can be difficult to impress with starters especially the widely available choices like garlic mushrooms and BBQ Chicken wings. I’ll be honest and say that it wasn’t bad and I noted that we didn’t have

at the front where smokers like myself can at least relax outside without feeling like I have been booted out of class for dossing. The front porch veranda area offers some protection to the smoker who is subject to weather that is more unpredictable than a Dublin Bus timetable.

Moving inside we were seated in the bar area as the children were with us. I prefer to check out the Gastro pubs, Restaurants and bars from a family perspective.

Many of the friends that I have here tell me that they don’t go out anymore as they have kids. Ridiculous!

I would say that nine out of ten locations that I have visited within the Premier County are ready to oblige

to ask for the bowl of hot water with Lemon for those sticky fingers… Off to a good start! On to the main course, Stuffed Saddle of Rabbit , I was happy to report that the Rabbit was not at all “gamey” and was most agreeable. In fact I had not had a decent rabbit in years.

It is certainly good to see Rabbit on the menu again. My wife opted for the Salmon (again) how adventurous.

The Salmon was served with a hot red cabbage which really brought out the colours and flavours of the fish.

The food was very well presented.

We splashed out on a Pavalova for dessert as the sun was beaming down that day and we were in the mood to try a summer special. The Pavalova was beautifully

arranged with a choice of fresh looking and tasting summer fruits.

I was fortunate enough to have a brief chat with the owner Bobby Reidy who filled us in on many of the local happenings and items of interest to us. This kind of personal touch is often only found in the more rural settings these days .The conversation was bright and uplifting. It was only afterwards that I realized that Reidys of Newtown serve food supplied by Derrykearne foods in Roscrea. I would have gone for a steak but I just couldn’t say no to the Rabbit as it has not been widely available in the restaurants I had visited in the last few years.

10

Roscrea Scouts News

The last few months have been extremely busy for the Scouts & Ventures of the 6th Tipperary.

Some 14 Scouts and Ventures are working hard on their Bronze and Silver Gaisce / Chief Scout Awards. They are undertaking many projects including working with the younger sections in the Group; as well as individual Skill and Physical projects.

Work has commenced on developing the field opposite the Railway Entrance in conjunction with the Tidy Towns. Two litter picks have taken place to date with a significant amount of rubbish removed from the site. Plans to develop the area are now in place for the next stages of the development.

The Ventures have taken on a project to build a timber based Canoe. Several hours of work have gone into the project to date and it is hoped the boat will be ready for its maiden voyage in a few weeks time.

Looking back over the last two months the Roscrea Scouts have been very busy starting with the May Bank Holiday Weekend; some 40 Scouts & Ventures took part in the Slieve Bloom County Camp in Durrow. Four Patrols from Roscrea joined Groups from around the Scout County in a weekend that challenged the Scouts camping, cooking, scouting and teamwork skills. A big thanks goes to the Ventures who helped out running the event. An inter-patrol competition between the Roscrea Patrols saw the Eagle Patrol come out the winners in a very keenly contested competition.

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

North Tipperary “Wellness Days”

North Tipperary Wellness Days are for people in and around Roscrea, Thurlesand Nenagh who feel a need to get away from it all for a day. The days will be in various places in North Tipperary so we’re keeping things very local. The organisers are also local volunteers.

We were pleased to be able to organise the first day on May 17th and I’m delighted to say it all went very well. We met at NTLP, New Line in Roscrea, commonly known as Roscrea 2000 at 10am.

We introduced ourselves and then enjoyed 30 minutes of Mindfulness which is a form of meditation just to relax us. At 11am everyone went for refreshments while I set up the room for Creative Card Making for approximately 75 minutes. We had great fun making the cards, I was pleased to discover that no-one had done it before so it was a new experience. Everyone went home with at least 2 cards they’d made themselves, a few people even mailed them on the day. We then went to the Damer Court Hotel for a light lunch, and then spent 2 hours at Roscrea Castle. The day ended around 4.15pm and from the feedback given by all who attended a great day was had with requests for more like it.

We would like to thank The Damer Court Hotel for taking very good care of us and giving us a discount on the lunch, Roscrea Castle also for the discount and the Local Community Development Program for their funding as part of their Positive Wellbeing Initiative. Without these people we would not have been able to do it as the cost would have been too high for all of us.

Saturday May 11th at 4am saw some 30 Scouts & Ventures and their leaders host the second running of the Pieta House Darkness into Light Walk. The Scout Group is delighted to support this excellent project and was thrilled to see the massive crowd that turned up for the event. The community of Roscrea should be proud of the way everyone has come together to contribute to the opening of the Pieta House centre in Ballyhall.

An active programme is planned for the coming months including assisting with the Cub and Beaver Camps; a survival weekend; a Treasure Hunt Bike Hike as part of National Bike Week; further work on the Railway field; the National Campcraft competition in Cavan; and Annual Camps for the Scouts & Ventures in Achill and Scotland respectively and much more besides.

Membership Applications for the September 2013 are currently being accepted.

You can apply on line at www.roscreascouts.com; by phone to (086)2211227 or by contacting any existing leader in the Group.

St Anne’s Annual Golf Classic 2013

The 24th Annual St. Anne’s Golf Classic will take place on Saturday, June 29th 2012 at Roscrea Golf Club. The time sheet is now open and bookings can be made by contacting 087 2037700 The cost of Team Sponsorship is €120 for a team of four persons. Since the Golf Classic commenced, it has become a major fundraiser for St. Anne’s. Without this support, St. Anne’ Service could not have completed many great projects over the past twenty three years. Some of the projects your contribution to the Golf Classic supported include, Residential Housing, Day Services and Vehicle purchase, which have greatly enhanced the lives of service users. Unfortunately the demand for voluntary funding is now as great as ever which in turn makes the annual golf classic as important as ever.

Recently a presentation of a vehicle was made to the management, staff and service users of St. Annes. Many thanks to all our sponsors and supporters who made this possible and especially to our main sponsor, Frank Murray, Builder, Ballybritt, Roscrea.

On behalf of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity, the Service and especially the Service Users, the organsing committee wish to thank all the sponsors and players in advance for their support over the years. We look forward to it continuing on Saturday the 29th of June next.

Left to Right: Patricia Maher, Breda Dunne, P.J Quinlan, Resident St. Anne’s Residential House Moneygall, Marie Grimes McGrath, Administrator Residential Services, St Anne’s Roscrea, Liz Reynolds, Assistant C.E.O Daughters Of Charity Services, Roscrea & Limerick, Joe Dooley, Hon Secretary Golf Classic Committee and Fiona O’Meara, manager St Anne’s Residential House, Moneygall.

Back Row: Matt Ryan and Pauline Small . Front Row: Ann Russell, Marie Prendergast, Ann Walsh, Annette Byrne, Noreen Guidera, Peggy Hanlon and Jane Chance.

12

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Killaloe River Cruises Killaloe River Cruises have been in operation from Killaloe/Ballina since the year 1999.

James Whelan the owner of both boats has worked in the boat hire business since 1991. His father who owns Whelan’s Foodstore in the town decided to start hiring boats as people were constantly inquiring in the shop as to the possibility of taking in the local scenery. James first started with a small 12 seater passenger boat that was purchased in Dingle Co. Kerry and then brought to Killaloe and called the “Brian Boru”. In the year 2000 a new 50 seater passenger boat called the “Spirit of Killaloe” was acquired. It was launched on the 27th of May 2000

by Sheila de Valera Minister for the Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. In 2004 James was joined by his girlfriend Aoife. The couple bought their second passenger boat in March 2010, the Spirit of Lough Derg. “We offer a quality, value, local tourism experience that will delight you, your family and friends”.

Corporate Why not treat your loyal customers or reward your valuable staff to an enjoyable cruise.

With a private cruise on Lough Derg and the River Shannon with Killaloe River Cruises you will experience the excitement associated with the best out of office escape possible. We cater for all kinds of corporate events such as sports and social clubs, product launches and building customer relations. A number of local restaurants offer a wide variety of menu options including BBQ’s for your group to dine in friendly relaxed surroundings.

Group Tours

“Whatever the reason” “Whatever the season” both of our boats can be hired privately with captain and crew provided. Our boats offer the perfect setting for any special occasion.

We can tailor your cruise offering various collection and drop off points and various lengths of cruises. Our on board bar facilities offer a wide variety of beverages and we are available for hire all year round.

Our boats are easily accessible with car and coach parking a few steps away. After you leisurely cruise, why not stroll around picturesque Killaloe/Ballina and visit St. Flannan’s Cathedral, Brian Boru’s Heritage Centre or browse through the many shops and boutiques.

Local Information

Wedding Parties A cruise on the River Shannon is ideal for wedding groups especially on the day after the big event as a way to unwind among your family and friends. Your wedding group can be collected from various locations along the River Shannon and Lough Derg. The spectacular scenery on Ireland’s largest lake surrounded by rolling and forested hills, provide the perfect back drop for a collection of photos in your album.

Killaloe lies where the River Shannon resumes its course out of Lough Derg; the river is wide and meandering. A narrow 13 arched stone bridge leads from Killaloe County Clare to Ballina Co. Tipperary. The towns have been awarded heritage town status because of their rich and historic past. The royal palace of High King Brian Boru (926-1042), a founder of the O’Brien Clan and one of the greatest kings of Ireland is just one of the many sites to testify the national importance of Killaloe. At the Southern end of Killaloe on the banks of the River Shannon stands the restored 13th century St. Flannan’s Cathedral. In the grounds of the Catholic Church at the top of the main street lies St. Lua’s Oratory after being rescued from Friar’s Island which was submerged by the Shannon Hydro Electric Scheme (1926-1929).

Other interesting sites to see are the Pier Head and Tobermurragh which form part of the new Fáilte Ireland Killaloe Heritage Trail (4.5km).

Killaloe offers a wide variety of restaurants, each with its own unique atmosphere serving a wide variety of cuisine. There is also a good selection of pubs each with its own brand of live entertainment, fine pints and craic.

For all local information/services/activities and accommodation, check out www.discoverkillaloe.ie.

14

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Roscrea to come alive with Family Fun again this August!!

Following a hugely successful inaugural family festival in 2012, Rocrea is set to come alive again this August 23rd, 24th& 25th with a three day festival of fun and entertainment for all the family.

HISTORIANS, WALKERS & TALKERS...

The Clans of Ireland are busy preparing for next year’s celebration of the anniversary of the battle of Clontarf in 1014. The Beó festival are organising a tour of the Barony of Ikerin, homeland of the O’Meachairs /Mahers /Meaghers. It will leave Damer House at 10.30am on Saturday 24th.

A sprightly Sunday morning walk through the Sliabh Blooms has been organised by the Roscrea Ramblers and our huge popular Miscelleny will be held on Saturday evening at the Annex, Damer House.

We have plenty of surprises in store so find us on facebook (RosCreBeo) and keep your eye on ‘The Finest’ for our next instalment.

With the promise of a sweltering summer, this lively festival is set to become a highlight of Heritage Week in Roscrea and a fantastic way to finish the school holidays! Save the dates in your diaries and be sure to come down to celebrate Roscrea and all of the great things your town has to offer! Proudly Sponsored by Roscrea Credit Union & Bernie’s Super Valu.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Photo by Redmonds of Roscrea The Photographers

HURLERS!!

For the first time, RosCréBeo will feature The ‘CúChulainn’ Hurling Skills competition at the Christian Brothers Sports Field on Saturday August 24th . Prizes will offered for the sideline puck, 65’, penalty and long puck(one chance at each), €3 to enter one competition or €10 for 4 Separate competitions will be run for U12s, U18s and Seniors with Perpetual Shields for each Over-all winner. Application forms are available from your local club or more information can be found by contacting roscrebeo@gmail. com. Entries close on July 26th.

For non hurlers that Saturday, we have a climbing wall, obstacle course, sumo suits, model aeroplane displays and other surprises!

The picturesque courtyard and gardens of Damer Castle will be abuzz with the excitement of markets, games and novelties on Sunday August 25th. Special guests ‘Scorcalubh’, in conjunction with ‘Cork Circus’ will present ‘HITCHED!’ a ‘spectacular and comedic performance of aerial skills; hoop, silks and trapeze. Performed on Ireland’s only free standing rig, creating a high impact stage for the battle of the sexes’ as well as ‘FUNKY FIDELMA’ with one performer and a Chinese Pole!!

Photos by Redmonds of Roscrea The Photographers

This Project has been part-funded by North Tipperary LEADER Partnership under The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 which is financed by the EU through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development and by the National Exchequer through the National Development Plan.

What is a smear test?

A smear test is used for cervical screening, It is a simple procedure where a doctor or nurse take a sample of cells from the cervix (neck of the womb) to look for early changes. A smear test can identify cell changes before they become cancer cells. If these cells are not found and treated, they could become cancerous.

Sometimes cells in the cervix can change due to an infection caused by certain types of the Human Paoilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is a common viral infection usually spread by sexual contact and most adults will have it at some time in their lives. HPV infections have no symptoms and normally clear up on their own. Some HPV infections can cause cell changes in the cervix. If the infection does not clear up on it’s own, there is a greater risk of developing cervical cancer.

A smear test can detect early cell changes to the cervix. The earlier the cell changes are found, the easier they are to treat.

Why should you have a smear test?

Quite simply, having a regular smear test could save your life.

Under the National Cervical Screening Programme, Smear Tests are free for all women between the ages of 25 and 60 years.

For more information or helpful advice contact The Women’s Health & Family Planning Clinic in Portlaoise.

Tel 057-8688750 or 0876464568

With Heart: from Ireland to Horsham

Work experience student Shauna Stringer, 15, emigrated to Horsham with her family in October 2012. Today she tells what it’s like to move from one country to another.

Last year my family and I were on holidays in London, relaxing in a hotel room watching a program about people who had moved to Australia.

The show sparked an idea for my parents and they announced “We should consider moving to Australia” because there would be a chance to improve our lifestyles and opportunities.

I told my parents that it was an unrealistic, unachievable idea and it would not work out, before we knew it, a job came up in Horsham for mum and the Visa was approved.

Because of flight dates we had two and a half weeks to pack everything up and tell everyone we were moving all the way down under.

I still recall reading a text from my mum while I was in school, saying “flights booked for two and a half weeks time”, and I nearly fell off the chair from shock.

I arrived in Horsham full of anticipation a little over seven months ago with my family.

And so the journey began.

I really didn’t like leaving my village Shinrone, County Offaly, in Ireland, my friends and everything I was used to, so I had mixed emotions.

Shinrone is situated in the midlands of Ireland and is known for being the place where President Barrack Obama’s earliest Irish ancestors can be traced.

It is about the same size as Natimuk but is regarded as a village.

I was eager and excited for this big adventure on the other side of the world. It felt like a dream, so I had to keep asking myself if it was real.

Departing from Ireland was not all excitement; it was heart-breaking to have to say goodbye to so many people. It was also daunting and I felt anxious about starting a new school, making new friends and adjusting to a new way of life. However, moving to Wimmera has given me so many opportunities. I rarely got a chance to do any outdoor water sports in Ireland because of the climate. I would more than likely not have been able to get a part time job in Ireland because of the current economy, but I have a good job at the cinema here.

I don’t hesitate to call Horsham my new home and the people here are really friendly. I love all that Horsham has to offer. I enjoy playing soccer with the Horsham Falcons and I was delighted to get a chance to try netball and footy at my school St Brigid’s College.

I am yet to choose a team to barrack for in the AFL but I will make my mind up soon.

I love learning about Australian culture, slang…. And I found out that Australians don’t “Put shrimps on the Barbie”.

It’s lovely here the way people seem interested in learning about Ireland. I love telling people about my favourite sport, Camogie, which is the female version of the Irish game Hurling and involvs a hurl, which some would describe as a stick, and a ball called a sliotar.

The weather here is absolutely fabulous , as most Irish people consider themselves starved of sunny weather.

Christmas Day was a day to remember as I spent it on Glenelg beach. This was certainly different from my usual Christmas days, struggling to keep warm.

I do miss home and my friends without a doubt, but I would not swap my new exciting life here in Australia with the sun for my old one with endless days of miserable weather. My favourite Irish saying in the Gaelic language is “Cha d’dhuindorasnachd’fhogaildoras” No door closes without another one opening.

Shauna Stringer 7/6/2013

Cumann Na mBunscol Final 2013

On Wednesday, May 8th 2013, Shinrone/Clonisk faced St Brendan’s Boys National School Birr in St Brendan’s Park, Birr in the CumannnamBunscol Final.

We ran out onto the pitch to do a warm up before the match. I was really nervous but I tried not let it get to me. Before I knew it we were following the piper around the pitch. We then stopped in front of the Ireland flag to sing Amhran Na bhFiann.

After the National anthem we ran into our positions in wait for the throw in to get the game started. The game started at high tempobut after about two minutes, Nathan opened scoring with a class point from midfield.

One goal and nine points later it was half time. We gulped down the water and ran out onto the pitch for the restart.

25 minutes later we were running around the pitch, screaming, shouting, hugging…. celebrating.

About 10 minutes after the game, Nathan himself was presented with the Fr. Vaughan cup

by Cathaoirlach, Brendan Hanamy. Nathan thanked everyone involved especially Mr Cleary and Ms Crean who were the two managers. He also thanked all the supporters, Birr GAA for the great facilities and having the pitch in top condition, referee Brian Gavin and St Brendan’s Boys N.S who put up a brilliant fight especially towards the end of the game when all the pressure was mounting up in the Shinrone / Clonisk half of the pitch.

When the presentation was over we jogged into the dressing room chanting “Champions,Champions, Ole, Ole OleOle” Then a rousing chorus of “We are the Champions” On the bus home, we went crazy.

Best day ever!

By Eamonn Cleary rang 6

22

“The Finestâ€? | Issue NÂş 7

Window box planting

by Paul Davey - Milltown Garden Centre

Now that summer is here and people have finally begun to resurface after a cold and miserable spring, its time to start into a bit of intensive gardening. Installing hanging baskets and window boxes is the easiest way to brighten up a home for the summer months. In this article we concentrate on window boxes, as they are simple to create and easy to maintain. If looked after properly, they will provide a long lasting, vibrant display right into late autumn.

1.

The first thing you will need is a suitable window box; they come in all shapes and sizes, wicker, wood, concrete, but the most commonly used are made of plastic.

Make sure that what ever type you choose fits the window sill and that there are holes in its base to drain excess water.

What you will need

Firstly you will need to choose your plants and your compost; there is an endless variety of suitable flowers available, but there are certain guidelines that it makes sense to follow. The best displays will have trailing plants to the front and more upright and spreading flowers to the rear. The most popular trailing varieties are lobelia, bacopa and trailing petunia, any of these will cascade over the front of the box and provide colour for the entire season. To the rear, begonias, geraniums, marigolds, pansy or viola can all create a vibrant display. For the window box in the picture, we are using mini dahlia, begonias and petunias to the rear and lobelia to the front. We will also use water gel crystals to store water in the compost and fast release plant food pellets to provide nutrients for the entire season.

Getting started Fill the display with a quality peat based compost and mix the water crystals and food pellets evenly through it.

3.

2.

Planting

Place the upright plants to the rear of box in a symmetrical pattern and the trailing lobelia to the front. Firm them in and then water.

Maintenance The display is now complete. The maintenance is easy, check for water daily and feed each week with a high potash food (tomato feed). It is also beneficial to remove dead flowers in order to sustain flowering.

4.

Enjoy. For more find us on facebook at milltown garden centre.

Roscrea Youthreach at Roscrea Education Centre Roscrea Youthreach had an active academic year with many highlights this far. In addition to completing the Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and a FETAC Level 3 programmes, we had many interesting visitors and outings. We also participated in Community and charity projects, like the Tidy Towns, St. Vincent de Paul’s Christmas Apeeal and collected money for a school in Uganda. We went to the Chocolate Gardens and learned how to make chocolate (and ate it!) and to a Falconry centre. We also started a mini company called Ecoflame – we made eco-bricks out of recycled paper and sold these.

Art Competition: Nikola Bohmova, JackieLynch (teacher), Cheyenne Ffitch, MercedeszCzsimadia with Art their display.

Strasbourg: Geraldine Kinirons (LCA Coordinator) and Marilyn McDonagh who won a trip to Strasbourg for excellence in her Contemporary Issues Task in Social Education.

NTVEC Awards: Students who received North Tipperary VEC awards for their personal and academic achievements with North Tipperary VEC.

Falconry: A visit to the Woodlands Falconry Centre outside Carlow.

Our achievements included:

• We were runners up in the County Soccer competition.

• We were regional winners in two of the NAYC Art competition categories.

• Marilyn McDonagh was selected to go to the European Parliament in Strasbourg • Breda O’Driscoll, Marilyn McDonagh, MercedeszCszimadia, Darren Aitken won North Tipperary VEC Awards • Breda O’Driscoll won our Student of the Year Award • John Stokes was recognised for his Personal Achievement during his time on the Youthreach programme.

• Our LCA Graduation Ceremony was a lovely celebration of achievement.

We are now doing State Examinations and will then do our Summer Programme … so another update will follow after the summer!

Graduation: Breda, Marilyn, John, Darren & John, our Leaving Cert group, at their Graduation Celebration.

24

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Beautiful Interiors

Beautiful Interiors are not about spending a fortune, but creating a lifestyle on a budget. Today’s economy made people spend more time in their homes than few years back. It is essential that they are happy with their surroundings, because it’s like a reflection of who they are, and who they would like to be.

You can change the entire look of your home with very little work and without breaking the bank, if you really want to.

Bring your dining room back to life with beautiful bright colours. Creams and silver or gold are always a good companion for each other. Brighten up the table, with a little touch of an elegant clip on flowers. You can leave them randomly around your grannies china or use them as the napkin rings, or a guest name tag holder. It’s a lovely little touch, and you can decorate with it as you wish. Small piece of fabric in your favourite colour, wrapped around cream wire mannequin, and finished up with the very same flower clip will look fantastic in every bedroom. All you need is a little bit of the elegance that fashion can never beat.

Colour is very important in creating a new lifestyle in your home. It has to be you, but it has to be ‘user friendly’. You want to create a homely environment for your own enjoyment and that of your guests.

Add a touch of colour Your dining table, no matter what colour it is (you can always change the colour or the table), will look great with little bit of green on it. You don’t have to buy a fresh bunch of flowers every few days. With good quality artificial flowers you can add a touch of nature, and no one will ever know, that you aren’t watering them…

Thinking of changing your interior may feel like climbing Mount Everest, but it’s really just reaching the peak of yourself. A good interior designer or even a shop assistant should help you in reaching it.

Eva Nowinska

Garda Ganley’s last visit to our school Our local policeman, Garda Ganley who has been coming to Shinrone National School for ten years, came in for his last time today. He told us that he was emigrating to Canada in July and talked to us about some important topics.

He talked to fifth and sixth class about the importance of being careful on or near farm machinery, on the roads when we are cycling and to also try to avoid cyber bullying and if you are being bullied to try to talk to somebody.

Some of the other things he talked about were to stay out of trouble when you are young because it may affect you when you are older if you try to move to another country or want to work with children. The last topic he dealt with was strangers, he told us to only get into cars with people we know.

He finished his talk by saying how much he enjoyed coming to my school and being a Garda in Shinrone. He said how co-operative and nice the people in Shinrone are.

Over the years I have really learned and gained a lot out of his talks. He always comes in every Halloween and at the end of the school year without fail. I have really enjoyed all of his talks and hope he and his family do well in Canada.

Kate Lynch Rang 5 13/06/13

26

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

ScoilNáisiúntaSuíanRóin Mission Statement

We seek to create a caring Christian atmosphere where children and adults will feel loved and cherished.

We aim to: Nurture a Christian ethos and cultivate good relationships based on respect between pupils, staff, parents and the wider community.

To provide a holistic education enabling our pupils to reach their full potential as human beings.

Grádár n-oidhreacht a chothú, go háiritheárdteanga, árgcultúragusárgcluichíféin.

Promote respect for the individual’s needs, abilities and uniqueness and foster self-esteem Awaken in our school community a sense of wonder at the Fitzgerald and Marion Crean following their victory over Birr in the Offaly beauty of creation and responsibility for our environment CumannnamBunscol Hurling Final.

Shinrone/Clonlisk players celebrate with their teachers Joe Cleary, Mary

Under the Laburnum Tree: The outdoor classroom during the recent spell of glorious sunshine.

Green Flag Presentation: Shinrone NS was awarded a second Green Flag at Sports Day: Pupils V Teachers volleyball match during recent Sports Day at a presentation ceremony in the Radisson Hotel, Athlone on 24th May 2013. Shinrone N.S.

AnGhaeilge: Cuirtearbéimfaoileithar an nGaeilgeiScoilNáisiúntaSuí an Róin.

Saphictiúrthuas, táCáitNíAimhirgín, Michelle NíAogáinagusOrlaithNíMheac hair,buaiteoirísaChomórtasGaeilgeFaoi 13agFleadhCheoilUíbhFáilí 2013.

Chuaigh Rang VI arthurasscoile go ColáistenabhFiann, Co. naMí le déanaí.

Bhain said antaitneamh as an lá-go háirithenacluichí!

Bread-Making on Grandparents Day: Teresa Cleary spent a very enjoyable day showing children how to bake beautiful brown bread.

Sports Hall Activities: 5th and 6th class girls pictured after taking part at the Offaly Primary Schools Sports Hall Athletics Finals in St. Mary’s Hall, Tullamore.

Obama Anniversary Walk: Shinrone N.S. pupils visited the Church of Ireland graveyard in Shinrone on 21st May, the anniversary of President Obama’s visit to Ireland, to view the commemorative stone to the Kearney family who are ancestors of the President. President Obama’s earliest known ancestor, Joseph Kearney, was buried in Shinrone in 1791.

Camogie Visit: Four past pupils of Shinrone NS, Maeve Gleeson, Christine Cleary, Kelly Sammon and Áine O’ Meara were members of the Offaly camogie team which won the All-Ireland U-16 Final in 2012. During the year they visited the school with the trophy.

Author Visit: Canadian children’s author, Pat Harrison, visited Shinrone N.S. during the year and talked to the children about her work. She is pictured above with her husband, and staff memberMrs. Maria McLoughlin.

If you want to Enrol your child in Shinrone N.S. please contact 0505-47223

Shinrone National School Parents

Association

The Parents Association is very active in Shinrone N.S and provides valuable support to the school.

The Parents Association recently organised “bag packing� in Bernies Supervalu, Roscrea. Volunteers gave up their time to help fundraise for sports equipment for the children in the school. This was a great fundraiser, with great help from all involved.

The officers of the Shinrone N.S Parents Association are.

Chairman: Michael Egan Secretary: Tara Dockery Treasurer: Evelyn Wakefield

28

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Some memories of

Shinrone National School I walked into the toy filled classroom with my sister, Grainne, beside meand a mixture of fear and excitement inside me. “I don’t want to go in!!!”

I announced for the third time. “You haven’t got a choice!” was the only response. As Grainne dragged me closer and closer, I surveyed the massive yellow / orange building with it’s high windows and heavy doors that I couldn’t possibly reach or open. My hopes of escaping were disappearing.

among the ladies, it was more like “I’m gonna kill you!” and “die,die” were more often heard where I was.

My soon to be teacher, Ms Cullinan, was standing just inside the door.

She bent down to shake my hand and give me a nametag but even then she towered over little me. She told me to go play with the other girls and ordered Grainne to go back to the fifth class room at the far end of the school. Despite my protest Grainne reassured me by saying she wouldn’t be too far away and with that she left.

From the first fun filled days, to 1st class when the stale sweets mysteriously disappeared. While in 2nd class, the time that the teacher mistook holy water for her own water. Also when in 4th class the teachers one of many skirts fell down, to 6th class and the priceless comments from certain pupils! I’ve enjoyed it all- even when there was too much homework for some students likings.

Of course it didn’t suit me to go play tea party like most other girls when dragons were available. I sat down despite some confused looks from the boys and disgusted looks from some girls.

Now with two weeks left, I look forward to moving on to Borrisokane Community College and look back with great fondness on the memories formed throughout my eight years in Shinrone National School.

While phrases such as “would you like more tea?” and “oh yes please”

Michelle Egan Rang 6

I didn’t really mind that my favourite colour wasn’t pink or that I was considered a “tomboy” by some people. To be honest dragons were always more interesting than a tea party to me!

30

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Shave or Dye for The Irish

Cancer Society Fri June 14th The Stand were proud hosts to a Shave or Dye event held to support The Irish Cancer Society on Fri June 14th. €1,130 was raised at the event and shows the support that is here in Roscrea for worthy causes once again.

Fritz and Speedy would like to take this opportunity to recognize the huge effort put into the event by Aidan Doran. They would also like to thank Tracey Edwards Entertainment for providing the entertainment on the evening. Special thanks go to Michelle Abbott, Jade Nash and Katie Spencer for providing their services for a good cause. Fritz and Speedy would also like to thank Ciara Ryan for representing Pieta House on the night and raising a further €265 for Pieta House.

Bridget Maher and Fritz Kruse

The night brought out a smile for all who attended

The crowd were loving it

Ciara Ryan and Shane Carroll Fritz Kruse Shane Carroll Noel Whelan Prun Loughnane Bridget Maher Sharon Mulrooney and Aidan Doran

Danielle Walsh and Aisling Fitzgerald

Darren Treacy and Fritz Kruse

Domo Moloney and John O Donnell

Moral support was close at hand

Noel Whelan and Jade Nash

Shane Carroll and Michelle Abbot

31

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

New Tipperary GAA Members Draw 2013/2014 June 2013 Draw Held Friday, 21st June in Andy’s Bar, Sarsfield Street, Nenagh

Prize

Draw No.

Club

Name

Role

32

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Arden Grange providing excellence in quality and choice for Irish Pet owners

As the health benefits of excellent human nutrition become better publicised, more and more customers are looking for pet foods for their dogs that meet the same high standards that they would choose for themselves. TV programmes such as “The Biggest Loser” - which high-light the dangers of too much fast-food, have led to sensible consumers cutting back or cutting out such meals.

Pet owners are now extending their own healthy regime to include their dogs, and want to substitute what amounts to the doggie equivalent of a burger and fries for a more nutritious and healthy alternative. At Arden Grange, the health benefits of wholesome, natural pet food has always been at the forefront of every development.

Protein source When choosing a commercial complete dog food, it’s important to remember that although dogs are scientifically classed as omnivores, they are chiefly geared up for digesting animal proteins and fats rather than overly large volumes of carbohydrate-rich ingredients such as cereals and grains. You can see this from their dentition! Look for a food that contains high levels of good quality named meat or fish sources. For dogs with normal digestion, a variety of these protein sources are a benefit as they help to ensure an excellent amino acid profile (thus supplying all of those essential building blocks that the body needs to support its extensive structural and functional demands).

Arden Grange use high quality meat and fish in the recipes which is free from growth hormones. A lot of people wrongly assume

that “meal” is a poor quality ingredient and should be avoided. The Arden Grange meals are extremely nutrient-rich and contain no hidden nasties such as feet, heads, feathers, hooves and wool.

Fresh meat and fish are obviously less processed than meals, and for this reason are preferred by some owners. They do however lose moisture (and thus weight) during the manufacturing process.

An ideal balance is a pet food that contains some fresh meat or fish and some meat or fish meal – this provides the best of both worlds!

A super-premium pet food manufacturer like Arden Grange will calculate losses of water and also fragile components such as some of the vitamins beforehand, to ensure that the correct level of valuable nutrients is achieved (from natural sources as far as possible).

Arden Grange recipes are formulated to very high standards and attention is paid to the proportions and diversity of sources of the nutrients, so they provide optimum nutrition for your cat or dog.

Arden Grange provides the very best nutrition, ensuring health and vitality throughout your pet’s lifetime and represents wholesome ingredients, excellent palatability and visible results in the condition of the animal. Our ‘Not Tested on Animals Guarantee’ logo, which you will find on all our packaging and literature, demonstrates our commitment to the welfare of animals. We have not and never will fund any invasive research projects conducted in relation to the development or refinement of pet foods manufactured or sold by our company. Nor would we be party to any act that could be deemed harmful or injurious to animals.

Look for chicken, salmon and white fish as these all contain protein of a higher biological value than red meats such as beef and pork. This means that they are more easily broken down into their constituent amino acids that are used for structural and functional reactions within the body. Of course, some dogs with dietary allergies will require a novel protein and / or carbohydrate source (i.e. ones to which they have not been previously exposed.)

Some customers are still afraid of high protein levels within a dog food. This has resulted from several myths including the unsubstantiated facts that high protein foods cause hyperactivity/ aggression and renal problems. If protein is reduced, then a food would need to be much higher in carbohydrate to compensate for this. As we have already discussed; dogs are far better equipped to digest meat and fish rather than grains.

Egg is also an excellent ingredient as it contains very pure protein of the highest biological value. All of the Arden Grange recipes contain egg for this reason.

Avoid: Unspecified meat derivatives, by-products and meals; proteins derived from cereals such as corn gluten meal; and the less digestible meats such as beef (particularly in dogs with sensitive digestions).

Arden Grange Cat Foods: Nutrition without compromise All of our new cat food products now come in fresh new packaging, are Grain Free and Naturally Hypoallergenic. Cerealfree, grain-free and gluten-free recipes are becoming increasingly popular with cat owners, and the Arden Grange feline range has been specially developed to suit cats who suffer from allergy or intolerance to such ingredients. The products also provide wholesome and gentle nutrition for felines who have no specific reason to avoid cereals and grains, but who have discerning owners who simply prefer to feed a diet which does not include them.

Healthy protein We know how important protein is to the diet of a cat, which is why all our feline recipes contain at least 26% fresh chicken or fish as their primary ingredient. Chicken has the highest biological value of all the meats, making it an excellent protein source for cats. Salmon and white fish are a rich source of essential amino and Omega 3 fatty acids, excellent for maintaining a healthy skin and coat. The Arden Grange feline range has been specially formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of the cat. As obligate carnivores, cats have a high requirement for protein, and the Arden Grange recipes include a top quality meat or fish source as the primary ingredient in every product, to more closely reflect a cats natural diet, while providing the balanced nutrition required for our domesticated feline friends. This ensures that sufficient amino acids are available to support the structural and metabolic demands of the feline body.

Our ingredients are purchased only from reputable suppliers and are chosen for quality, consistency and nutrient value. Every raw ingredient is purchased to a fixed specification and tested for all three criteria to ensure conformance before it is even accepted into the factory. Arden Grange pet foods are manufactured to a fixed recipe, and we will never reduce the quality of our ingredients because of market prices.

Palatability is of key importance, and the high proportion of chicken and fish in the diets ensure that cats enjoy the taste of Arden Grange. Arden Grange uses no added salt or sugar as palatability enhancers. The kibbles are specially shaped to ensure that they are easily eaten when fed dry. All our 2kg and 4kg cat foods are available in new, re-sealable bags to ensure maximum freshness for longer.

All our products are naturally hypoallergenic and free from wheat gluten, beef, soya and dairy products. This may reduce the risk of dietary intolerances and allergies that can cause digestive disorders and skin complaints. Amino acids are the ‘building blocks’ of proteins. Cats are unable to synthesise Taurine and arginine and are therefore reliant upon a diet that contains these essential amino acids. Taurine is necessary for proper bile formation, reproduction, healthy vision and heart function. Arginine is very important in the breakdown of ammonia in the urea cycle. The superior quality of the ingredients in Arden Grange cat foods mean that the protein is easily metabolised, thus ensuring maximum digestibility.

Natural supplements Each of our recipes contains its own unique blend of nutrients and natural supplements to help promote the optimum health, vitality and condition of your pet, including: Cranberry Extract – Cranberries may aid in maintaining urinary tract health. They also have antioxidant properties and may be effective against certain bacteria and fungi. Nucleotides –

Nucleotides play an important role in the metabolism of the body, and may benefit both the digestive system and the immune system.

Prebiotics FOS & MOS – Prebiotics promote the growth of friendly gut bacteria that in turn reduce the build-up of harmful bowel flora. Natural Dietary Antioxidants – A special blend of antioxidant vitamins, minerals and plant extracts to help to protect the body from the damage caused by free radicals. Dietary antioxidants may also may help to support dental health. Minerals – Minerals are important and have many roles within the body but too much of any nutrient can be just as harmful as a deficiency. The Arden Grange feline recipes include controlled levels of magnesium and phosphorous which in excess are two of the trace elements associated with struvite crystal formation.

Nutrients Glucosamine, Chondroitin & MSM – These nutrients are integral to the development, maintenance, and reparation of cartilage and joints. Together they may help to promote mobility and joint longevity. Arden Grange is one of the few commercial pet food manufacturers to include these nutrients in all our complete cat foods. Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fatty Acids – Derived from high quality natural ingredients, the correct ratio of these essential fatty acids is associated with benefits to the heart, digestion, skin and immune system. Taurine – Taurine is an essential amino acid which our feline friends cannot synthesise themselves. Cats are therefore reliant upon a diet that contains added Taurine in order to ensure the correct level is provided for its many roles, including a healthy heart, sight and nervous system. Natural Fibres – Cats can be prone to fur balls

and the inclusion of these natural fibres may help to ease the fur gently through the digestive tract. The fibres also help to provide a highly palatable ‘crunch’ to the kibble. Natural Preservatives – Every Arden Grange recipe is stabilised naturally with mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) and rosemary extract.

Choosing a healthy pet food choosing the right food for your kitten or cat is very important. Appropriate high quality ingredients will help to ensure maximum benefit is gleaned from the nutrients and to promote small, firm stools. A concentrated diet with excellent digestibility is the perfect choice as the smaller feed volumes mean less work for small stomachs and also less waste. The food also needs to taste just right as cats can be discerning eaters. Nutrition is not only a vital contributing factor to your cat’s outward appearance and vitality, but can also affect energy levels and temperament. This is why so much consideration has gone into the formulation of the Arden Grange feline recipes. They are not just healthy but they taste great. As you can see, when it comes to your best friend, only the best will do!

As a responsible and ethical company, Arden Grange fully appreciates the caution that must be taken when discussing the potential benefits of nutritional supplements. It is against the law to make medical claims. Whilst the supplements used are safe and natural, and may be beneficial to some of the cats and dogs fed on Arden Grange, we must highlight that their inclusion is not a substitute for veterinary intervention in the case of a sick animal.

For more information about the Arden Grange Range in Ireland, please contact: Tel: 091 792000 Email: info@ardengrange.ie

naturally hypoallergenic diets and treats for your best friend

•

Naturally hypoallergenic – we do not include any wheat gluten, beef, soya, dairy products, artificial colours, flavours or preservatives in any of our recipes

• Naturally preserved • Free from added sugar or salt • Highly palatable and digestible

• Packed with natural healthcare supplements

For more information visit www.ardengrange.ie or call 091 792000

34

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Pain in horses

The biggest reason for changes in a horses behavior is pain, its therefore very important for anyone dealing with horses to have a basic understanding of the mechanisms behind pain and to be able to recognize the signs given by the horse Pain can be described as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage. Pain is always an individual experience. It has a potential negative effect on the horses attention and can change its normal behavior.

Pain is very hard to measure. There are a few different objective measures for pain such as respiratory rate, heart rate and pupil dilation, however the correlation between such physiologic measures and the pain the individual animal experiences may be very poor.

Since horses can’t communicate where they feel pain, it’s our duty as humans having taken the horse into our care to try and recognize the signs of pain the horse is giving us.

A horse will withdraw from the source of the pain if it can be identified immediately e.g. when touching an electric fence. It will protect the painful area through immobilization e.g. not using a limb as actively, causing muscle wastage in that limb. And it can show active defense aggression e.g. rearing up when asked to jump a fence or getting aggressive when putting the saddle on and tightening the girth.

The ability to recognize and to respond to painful stimuli has evolved to protect individuals against dangerous stimuli and provides information to safeguard against dangerous or threatening stimuli in the future.

Mechanisms of pain Pain sensation is a very complicated and dynamic process that involves highly organized neural and chemical circuits. Information from the tissues (skin, muscle etc), injured or a potentially injured area, is transported to the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord). The incoming pain signals all come from pain receptors. Pain receptors are free nerve endings that respond to mechanical, thermal and chemical stimuli associated with imminent or actual tissue damage in the tissues. The incoming pain signals are processed in the spinal cord and results in reflective actions, such as withdrawal from the source of pain. At the same time signals are transmitted to the brain to produce an emotional response and memory (not to touch the electric fence again).

Pain signals can be suppressed or amplified in the spinal cord and brain. When animals may be scared or excited pain signals are suppressed, a phenomenon referred to as “stress induced analgesia”. This means that a very excited or scared horse doesn’t show how much pain it’s actually feeling. In the same way conditioned safety signals can increase pain signals, meaning that previous experience of pain when behaving or moving in a certain way, will create an increased feeling of pain e.g. harsh handling when putting a bridle on a horse with an ear infection will soon create a head shy horse.

Pain has many consequences the most obvious one being anxiety and fear which then lead to depression and aggression. Also the cells that create pain will cause edema and decreased bloodflow (seen as swelling) in the injured area which can cause delayed wound healing or injury in a tendon.

Some horses may show increased sensitivity to pain which leads to exaggerated reactions. It may arise for many reasons, but chronic compression of pain fibers in the spinal cord due to back lesions are a common cause. This phenomenon is called hyperalgesia. Hyperalgesia can also be a consequence of localized pain, which can then lead to increased sensitivity in a wound.

Pain can be put into two categories, acute and chronic.

Acute pain is temporary and is related to injuries, it will resolve itself within the appropriate healing time. It usually responds to

treatment with pain medications and treatment of the precipitating cause, such as antibiotic treatment of an infected wound. The purpose of acute pain is to protect the injured area and allow rest for appropriate healing.

Chronic pain is described as pain that persists for more than 3 month or that outlasts the usual healing process. Chronic pain serves no useful biological purpose.

Progression of acute to chronic pain can be described in 3 phases; the brief (acute injury), the persisting (inflammatory) and the abnormal pain (chronic injury in nerves).

Assessing pain in the horse There is no good way of measurering a horse’s experience of pain, it is therefore very important to be aware of the horse normal behavioral patterns, so one is able to recognize any changes in the normal behavior as soon as they appear.

The horse is a prey animal, this means that over millions of years the horse, in order to reduce the risk of being hunted and killed by predators, has learnt to mask the signs of pain, injury and disease where possible. In other words, by the time a horse appears overt sick or lame its welfare is often already seriously compromised. Similarly during treatment and rehabilitation a horse might stop showing these signs of pain before it has fully recovered, increasing the risk of relapse if the horse is returned to an inappropriate level of work too rapidly or too abruptly.

Also as previously stated, pain is always individual, this means that the stimulation one individual may experience as a tickle may be experienced as sharp pain by a different individual. Pain is the result of complex interactions between biological, physiological and behavioral factors. This leads to very individual responses. Therefore

often the person that knows the horse best (owner/trainer) is often the best person at assessing the individual horses level of pain, since they know the normal behavior of their horse.

Generally it is difficult to assess pain in a horse, but any change in its normal behavior should be considered significant, and it should make the owner/trainer aware that a problem could be arising.

Pain relief Traditionally we talk about two groups of drugs given to promote pain relief in the horse; Non-Steroidal-Anti-Inflammatory-Drugs (NSAID’s) and the corticosteroids. The NSAID’s are mainly given systemically (in the blood or as a powder in the feed) and often given to treat musculoskeletal disorders or abdominal pain. Corticosteroids often will be injected into a specific joint to treat a painful inflammatory condition in that joint. In some severe cases opiods (morfin etc.) maybe needed as a painkiller.

Drugs should only ever be used as an aid to recovery, not as a shortcut avoiding proper rest from training. Masking pain and lameness may obstruct or delay a diagnosis and may force a horse to undertake work that accumulates additional damage to inflamed or injured tissues.

Acupuncture, natural remedies and different forms of physical manipulation, such as; massage, chiropractic and physiotherapy have been shown to give pain relief in many cases, and can in many situations be a good supplement or alternative to conventional forms of pain treatment.

For more informatio please contact: Stina Aarup Hansen on 0876123115 or checkout www.vet-chiropractise.net

36 Identity Thief: Horrible Bosses’ Jason Bateman and Bridesmaids’ Melissa McCarthy lead the cast of Identity Thief, an all-star comedy in which a regular guy is forced to extreme measures to clear his name. With everything to lose after his identity is stolen, he’ll find out how crazed you can get trying to settle a bad credit score.

Confine: Pippa (Daisy Lowe) is a physically and emotionally scarred former model living as a recluse in her meticulous Georgian flat. When a heist taking place in the same building goes wrong, Pippa s home is broken into by the charismatic Kayleigh (Eliza Bennett).

The Host: Sci Fi romance adapted from the novel by Stephenie Meyer. An alien race has begun colonizing Earth by taking over human bodies and erasing their minds and memories. Survivor Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan), when out on a search for food, meets another human being named Jared Howe (Max Irons). It isn't long before they begin to develop feelings for one another. However, when Melanie is taken by the aliens and is made host to one of their own, it seems all hope is lost. That is, until Melanie's mind begins to fight back against her new inhabitor.

JULY 2013 New Releases

Top New Movies

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7 Safe Haven:Romantic drama following the fortunes of a guarded Katie Feldman (Julianne Hough) who unexpectedly finds love in a North Carolina town. Unforeseen chain of events brings Katie close to Alex (Josh Duhamel), a widower father who runs a store . As she falls in love with Alex and the children Katie begins to let down her guard. Will she find a way to reconcile the trauma of her past with the possibility of a brighter future?

G.I. JOE— Retaliation : The greatest American Heroes are back”* and they’ve been set up to take the fall for a terrible crime they didn’t commit. Now, the G.I. Joes must once again face their enemy, Cobra, as well as dangerous threats operating within the government. When all else fails, one option remains: Retaliation. Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson) leads a new team (incl Bruce Willis) on this explosive adventure.

Jack The Giant Slayer:Nicholas Hoult and Eleanor Tomlinson star in this modern-day fantasy adventure based on the classic fairy tale. When Jack (Hoult), a young farmhand, unwittingly opens a gateway into the world of giants, an ancient war is reignited as the giant warriors seize their opportunity to reclaim the land they lost centuries before. Supporting cast includes Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Bill Nighy, Ian McShane and Eddie Marsan.

The Numbers Station: CIA black ops agent Emerson Kent (John Cusack), is given one last chance to prove he still has what it takes to do his job. His new assignment: guarding Katherine ( Malin Akerman, Watchmen), a code operator at a top-secret remote CIA Numbers Station . When an elite team of heavily armed assailants lays siege to the station, Emerson and Katherine suddenly find themselves in a life-ordeath struggle against an unknown enemy.

Manic: Elijah Wood stars in a remake of director William Lustig's 1980 horror classic. To say that Frank (Wood) is a troubled young man. Frank runs a mannequin store and likes to apply the scalps of his victims to the models in his spare time. However, when beautiful young artist Anna (Nora Arnezeder) wanders into the store, she presents Frank with a troubling quandary. Anna appears to offer the possibility of a human relationship that will fill the void created by his mother's death, but she also excites his desire to kill and possess. Will Frank be able to overcome his homicidal urges?

Red Dawn: The citizens of Spokane, awaken to the sight of North Korean paratroopers dropping from the sky. Without warning, the town is unable to fight back and finds itself under enemy occupation. Evading capture, a group of young patriots - led by Jed Eckert (Hemsworth) seek refuge in the surrounding woods. Taking inspiration from their high school mascot, they call themselves the Wolverines , banding together to protect one another, liberate their town from its captors and take back their freedom.

Welcome To The Punch: Eran Creevy writes and directs this British gangster thriller set in London's docklands. Ex-con Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) is forced to return to London from his hideout in Iceland when his son gets caught up in a heist gone wrong. His reappearance gives detective Max Lewinsky (James McAvoy) the chance he has long been waiting for to take down his old nemesis. But as their catand-mouse game unfolds, the two men end up becoming unlikely allies and working together to expose a deeper and more sinister conspiracy.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone: Steve Carell, Jim Carrey and Steve Buscemi star as magicians in this comedy from director Don Scardino. When ticket sales for double act Burt Wonderstone (Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Buscemi)'s Las Vegas stage show begin to dwindle due to new rival Steve Gray (Carrey), the duo pull out all the stops on a big trick.

With help from assistant, Jane (Olivia Wilde), and the magician who inspired him as a child, Rance Hanson (Alan Arkin), Burt tries to rediscover his passion for magic and reunite with Anton.

Side Effects: Emily (Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Martin (Channing Tatum - The Vow) are successful New York couple whose world unravels when a new drug prescribed by Emily's psychiatrist (Jude Law - Sherlock Holmes) intended to treat anxiety has unexpected and dangerous side effects. Dir. Steve Soderbergh (Ocean s 11, 12, 13) comes a riveting psychological thriller where neither the symptoms nor the cure are quite as straightforward as they seem.

38

Roscrea Enhancement Plan Gets the Green Light

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7 particular role but that he had every confidence in the people that had assured him that this person would be made available in the not too distant future.

Brian King said that the Enhancement Plan would not have got to this stage without the help of many people. Brian spoke about The Heritage Council of Ireland through Alison Harvey and their financial support and was very complimentary once again of Joe McGrath as County Manager who he reminded us has always showed tremendous support for Roscrea and is fully committed to helping Roscrea to deliver on it’s Enhancement Plan. Brian King thanked the consultants for the drafting of the plan, The Paul Hogarth Company, and said that in particular James Hennessey and Gavin Shivers deserve the committee’s gratitude. The Chairman said that the consultants have challenged and have been challenged throughout the planning process and after countless meetings and workshops they have helped deliver a plan that should excite the people of Roscrea and herald a new era of growth and development for our town.

The Roscrea Town Enhancement Plan Stakeholder Group was a large group representative of many organsiations that all want to see Roscrea prosper. Brian King said that the committee showed great heart and determination throughout the process and deserve lots of credit for their endeavours. Brian said that in particular he would like to acknowledge the role of the project co-ordinator Marion Carey.

Brian said that Marion’s commitment to the plan can not be overstated.

In conclusion Brian King said that despite the economy, the cutbacks on public spending and all the doom, the Enhancement Plan process was a wonderful opportunity for the people of the town to come together and put in place a plan that will revitalise Roscrea, bring vitality back to our streets and hopefully usher in the dawn of a new era of prosperity for our town. The Chairman said that “A wise man once said that the best successes in life come after disappointments”. Brian King told us that Roscrea has had enough plans that have disappointed and failed to deliver. He said that the onus is now on us all to make sure that this time things will be different and that we will all get to share in the success of delivering on the objectives of the Roscrea Enhancement Plan, the peoples plan.”

As part of the launch the OPW kindly offered free tours throughout the day of the Castle Complex.

Brian king thanked the OPW for their support and said that their co-operation was very much appreciated.

Throughout the day a number of the stakeholders involved in the plan gathered in the Castle to show their support for the plan. All were extremely complimentary in their praise for the Chairman of the Enhancement Group and the Committee whose tireless efforts to help deliver the plan did not go unnoticed.

As reported in this paper three weeks ago work on delivering the many objectives that form part of the plan has already commenced. The plan in its entirety is available to download from the North Tipperary County Council website.

The much anticipated launch of the Roscrea Enhancement Plan took place in the majestic surrounds of the Roscrea Castle Complex, Roscrea on Friday last. After eighteen testing months the Chairman of the group, Brian King welcomed everyone to the launch. He thanked everyone for their attendance on what he hoped in time will be remembered in time as a very special day for Roscrea.

Mayor Michael O’Meara was in attendance to help officially launch the plan. The Mayor complimented everyone associated with the plan and thanked Brian king for helping get the plan completed as planned. The Mayor wished the town every success with the plan and he said that North Tipperary County Council were fully committed to helping the town to deliver on the plan.

Joe McGrath (County Manager) said that the launch of the Roscrea Enhancement Plan was of huge significance for Roscrea. Joe praised the County Council staff and in particular Marion Carey who unfortunately could not be in attendance. The County Manager also praised the steering group and said that Brian king went above and beyond he’s duty as Chairman of the Enhancement Plan and had shown great commitment and dedication to help bring the plan to fruition and putting in place structures that will allow the committee deliver on the objectives of the plan.

Initiative/Project Traffic Circulation and Parking Study Vacant/Derelict Property Strategy Declutter Roscrea

Chamber of Commerce, Community, North Tipperary County Council, Property Agents, Tidy Towns Chamber of Commerce, Community, North Tipperary County Council, Tidy Towns

North Tipperary County Council North Tipperary County Council North Tipperary County Council

Festival/Events Programme

Chamber of Commerce, Community, Office of Public Works

Roscrea Beo Committee (Community)

Roscrea Promotion Strategy

Chamber of Commerce, Failte Ireland, North Tipperary County Council, Office of Public Works Heritage Council, Roscrea Historical Society, North Tipperary County Council, Office of Public Works Chamber of Commerce, Community, Further Education, North Tipperary County Council, Chamber of Commerce, Community, Further Education, Heritage Council, Roscrea Historical Society, North Tipperary County Council, Office of Public Works

Chamber of Commerce – Brian King

Place Naming Strategy

In a change with tradition the first people thanked were the media. Brian King said that without the support of the media the plan would not have received the unprecedented support that it has. In particular Brian thanked a great Roscrea supporter, Ann Keegan and he wished Ann every success with her new life in Canada. Brian also thanked Eoin Kelleher from the Tipperary Star for the great coverage that the plan has received to date and he was also very complimentary towards Darren Keegan and Garry Cotter for their support. Brian King also thanked Mary Pyne and PJ Wright for their great help and thanked all the Councillors present and said that while Councillors often received a lot of criticism in this instance he had nothing but praise for their support of the Roscrea Enhancement Plan.

Castle Setting and Streetscape

In the intervening months the Chairman said that the “Stakeholder Committee” has done everything it can to help ensure that the first part of this ideology is achieved. Brian King informed us about the many meetings have taken place with clubs, organsiations, local businesses and most importantly the general public to help ensure that this plan is truly owned by the people of Roscrea.

The Chairman said that now that we have our plan in place the process of change and implementing the objectives of the plan can commence. Brian King said that this process will be a great challenge but one that the people of Roscrea will rise too as evidenced by the great community spirit that prevails through the many wonderful clubs and organsiations that make up the fabric of our town. The Chairman said he had campaigned hard with the committee for a project officer to help deliver on key aspects of the plan. Brian king said he was disappointed that no formal announcement could be made yet on this

North Tipperary County Council

Arts Community, Failte Ireland, National Roads Authority, North Tipperary County Council, Office of Public Works

Main Street Public Realm

Speaking to the Star this week Brian king reminded us that at the launch of the Roscrea Enhancement Plan process he said that the Roscrea Town Enhancement Plan will be “owned by the people of Roscrea, it will be driven by the people of Roscrea and it’s success or failure will ultimately depend upon the people of Roscrea”.

Lead Action Group

Signage Strategy

Brian King then spoke about all the work that went into the plan and the dedication that was needed to bring the plan to fruition.

The Chairman then thanked all the Enhancement Plan Committee and in particular he thanked Joe McGrath the County Manager for his phenomenal support to the Enhancement Committee and Roscrea in general. Brian also thanked Heritage officer Marion Carey who was such a great support over the past eighteen months. Brian who is Manager of Roscrea Credit Union also thanked representatives of the Credit Union that were present and said that as long as he was in Roscrea he would be fully committed to both the Credit Union and the town and people of Roscrea.

Stakeholders Chamber of Commerce, Community, North Tipperary County Council

Market Square Redesign

Roscrea Historical Society North Tipperary County Council North Tipperary County Council

Chamber of Commerce, Community, Further Education, Heritage Council, Roscrea Historical Society, North Tipperary County Council, Office of Public Works

North Tipperary County Council

Gantly Street Redevelopment

Chamber of Commerce, North Tipperary County Council

North Tipperary County Council

Town Plaza and Setting

Chamber of Commerce, North Tipperary County Council

North Tipperary County Council

Lourdes Road Redevelopment

Chamber of Commerce, North Tipperary County Council

North Tipperary County Council

Revitalising Roscrea’s Laneways

Chamber of Commerce, North Tipperary County Council, Residents, Tidy Towns

North Tipperary County Council

Town Centre Thresholds

National Roads Authority, North Tipperary County Council, Residents, Tidy Towns

North Tipperary County Council

Supporting Streets

Community, North Tipperary County Council, Residents, Tidy Towns

North Tipperary County Council

Moneen River Community Greenway Chapel Lane Community Allotments

Community, North Tipperary County Council, Residents, Schools, Tidy Towns

Tidy Towns – Denis Ryan

Community, North Tipperary County Council, Residents

North Tipperary County Council with Community Groups

New Town Park

Community, North Tipperary County Council, Residents

North Tipperary County Council

The following is a list of the sub groups and objectives that have been identified as part of the plan. Each objective has a lead organisation that will work with other groups etc to help deliver on the objective that they have been allocated responsibility for. Members of the public that would like to get involved in any particular project are invited to contact the lead organisation of each group or get in contact with Brian king. bking@roscreacu.ie.

40

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Learning to Drive With I.D.M. Driving School

With the economy as it is today, it’s easy to see how taking driving lessons might be considered a luxury, something that takes a back seat in the everyday expense of people’s lives. However when you consider the independence and opportunities that being a qualified driver opens up, it quickly becomes clear what a great investment it is to make.

As a process, it is quite straight forward with 4 main steps:

Stage 1

Theory Test

Stage 3:

Minimum 12 hours of E.D.T.

(Essential Driver Training) lessons aswell as practice with your chosen sponsor.

Stage 2:

Application for the Learner Permit

Stage 4:

Take the test

At I.D.M. Driving School, we are there to provide help and advice at all stages with one main aim, to make our pupils highly competent drivers going into their test and beyond.

Based in Roscrea and covering North Tipperary along with parts of Laois and Offaly we facilitate lessons to suit a candidates chosen test centre.

To take a prominent test centre like Nenagh in North Tipperary as an ideal example, our strategy would be: - To conduct lessons in and around the Nenagh area, assessing quickly the driving skill of the pupil and tailoring a plan to suit.

- To get the pupil familiar with all the traffic conditions around the town in subsequent lessons to gain that vital confidence.

- To concentrate on the possible test routes of the town towards the end of the training to ensure the highest possibility of a first time pass.

Don’t put it off any longer . . .A full driving licence waits you!!

Many thanks, Mark from I.D.M. Driving School

Great Insurance Rates for Young Drivers So you want to get on the road? There is nothing more exciting that getting your first car but there are a few boxes that you need to tick before you get going, one of the most important being insurance. So......how do you make sure you are getting the best premium you can, who is going to explain exactly what you are covered for, how do you set up the policy, what happens if you have to claim etc That’s where we come in. At Sparrow Insurances Limited we have many years experience on getting drivers on the road and we specifically specialise in young drivers. We can offer insurance as soon as you get your learner permit and have helped hundreds of young drivers get on the road in last few months.

To get a competitive quote and the advice you need, simply • Angela [our young drivers expert] on 0505 22225 or • Email us info@sparrowins.ie or • Call into our office at Main Street, Roscrea We’ll make the process of getting insurance straightforward, easy and most importantly well priced. Happy Motoring from all the team at Sparrows.

Sparrow Insurances Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

Game Review with Robert Murray thefinestmagazine@gmail.com

Game Review: Hitman Absolution

Contracts mode is where fans can use previous single- Hitman Absolution is the fifth instalment of the franchise and Square Enixhave put time and effort into this stunning and stylish game, bring 47 back to life, who is played by David Bateson.

47 is back in action, suited up and ready for all who stand in the way of his mission.

DianaBurnwood was 47’s sole handler before each mission until the end of the previous game, “Blood Money”, where she frees 47 from the Agency and also betrays the Agency herself. Absolution takes place not long after Blood Money, when 47 is given the job of assassinating Diana. This is when Diana gives 47’s last debrief, asking him to take care of a teenage girl, Victoria, who could potentially be more dangerous than 47.

Square Enix outdid themselves when making Absolution. The Glacier engine really brings all of the colour to life and makes characters and environments truly stunning.

There is also now a point system tracking your every move and awarding you with points, but also taking points away, i.e., killing your main target with 47’s signature Fibre Wire awards more points than a shot to the head, while killing a non-target loses you points. Your overall score affects your rating from Murder to Silent Assassin. player levels and change them. Contracts allows players to compete, but not go against each other. It is a multi-player game mode only. Just as in single player, it works on a point system. You win nothing if your name is on top of the leader-board, only your name and score will be on display.

The sniper challenge is another game mode and like Contracts, it is multi-player only; however, this time from a far distance. You must kill all the guards and the main target without being spotted, making the player think before shooting.

In sniper challenge there are many Easter Eggs to be found – from yellow rubber ducks, pigeons and a few others, but there is one that stands out from the others which can be found on the Nightclub level, where you will find a man dancing in his underwear to Cher.

The gameplay itself has been tweaked. The game now has more of a free flow to it, making 47 even more dangerous than before. You also have what is known as “Instinct” which allows 47 to slow down time to help you see where the enemy will be walking to, and hints to help 47 find new paths without him ever having to find a new suit to get him into restricted areas. Disguises can be found everywhere from a police officer’s uniform to a chipmunk outfit. Taking a uniform does not mean you can’t be spotted. EG: If you take a gardener’s uniform you won’t be recognised by a security guard, but you will be spotted by a fellow gardener. Instinct also allows you to blend in. This means if you take a police officer’s uniform and wear it, 47 can still be spotted through his disguise – this is where Blend comes in. 47 cleverly hides so that he won’t be recognised by others, but you don’t have to use it against everyone. Point shooting is another feature of Instinct, allowing 47 to slow down, pick out multiple targets and execute them quickly and precisely. This comes in handy when spotted by more than one person, and you don’t want any more attention. Just be sure you have a silencer when doing this or you’ll be attracting a lot more than you can handle.

Hitman is an all-out fantastic game with almost no flaws. The developers listened to what the people wanted and delivered.

44

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Morris responds to the new rent limits for rent supplement The new rent limits for rent supplements announced by Minister Joan Burton last week will do little to alleviate the increasing housing problem which is on the brink of exploding. Over the last number of years I have been warning of an impending housing fiasco which is been magnified by Government policies which are privatising housing in this state. The policy of refusing to allow councils to build or buy houses for ever increasing housing lists and then forcing people into private rented accommodation with the promise of rent allowance which has been reduced constantly over the last few years when the Government decided to squeeze people on housing list’s and landlords to put money into the pot to pays off other peoples debts.

Last year I brought together a multi-agency housing meeting to discuss the effects of such rent reductions and there was general agreement that people were suffering due to government policy .

The new rent limits are still below the limits that are needed to get proper

The Finest Motoring with Stephen Watson thefinestmagazine@gmail.com

and decent accommodation; indeed the limits that are now there have only had the effect of families moving from decent accommodation to substandard accommodation away from major towns with good facilities for families.

Ministers Burtons belated acknowledgement of the crises facing the people of North Tipperary is to be welcomed but only if it is part of a first step in dealing with the social housing crises. I have been saying for some time that these rental properties which are owned by private landlords are the first in the sights of the banks as there are 25% of these properties in mortgage default which will cause pandemonium when they are repossessed leaving hundreds of families in these houses homeless.

My answer to this is for Government to buy or build hundreds of homes to accommodate families on our ever increasing housing lists. But I have no faith in this government to consider the families who put faith in them while Labour and Fine Gael continue to sell out to the elite of Europe.

FIAT Punto

I know! FIAT you say? I like FIAT’s but I’ll try to be unbiased.

If you still associate the brands slogan with *Fix It Again Tomorrow*, fold up your current issue of The Finest, immediately. YOU’RE WRONG. As difficult as it may be for you, try not to judge this one, as it’s not the Punto you remember from a decade ago.

Here we have the latest incarnation of it, essentially the same car we’ve come to know for about 5 years now albeit with some minor updates and a new lower price for 2013 on all petrol models.

I drove the diesel however, and it’s a very good car. I have also however driven the Twin-Air turbo petrol unit in the FIAT 500, and I personally think it might be better suited to the Punto than this diesel. It’ll turn an already good car into a somewhat fun car, with essentially little or no change to fuel economy. Opting for the Twin-Air petrol would however save you a full €500 over the diesels price of €15,495.

Focusing on the car at hand however, you’ll see before you a blue five door Punto.

It’s standard spec, with the only obvious editions being the upgraded alloys, and how awesome do they look? They turn a bog standard FIAT Punto into something a lot more alluring. It’s even a bit of a head turner dare I say it.

Normally I’d choose a three door model over a five door on almost any make or model for aesthetics alone, but I think you’ll agree that the general functionality of a five door tied into such an attractive package as the Punto you see here, makes it a bit of a no-brainer. If you want a three door, buy a 500.

Looks aside, this is a very nice car to drive. For such a small car it’s damn refined, and you can barely hear that diesel clattering away no matter what the revs. It pulls nicely and the naturally torqey diesel makes it feel more brisk than raw stats suggest, but it’s not slow by any means.

Driver & front passenger seating is comfortable with ample leg room as you’d imagine. Rear legroom is a bit tight although it’s not worst in class. Interior materials

are worlds ahead the previous generations of Punto, and they somehow seem to have an almost Germanic quality to them albeit with distinctive Italian design.

My test car was fitted with Blue & Me connectivity, a TomTomSatNav come media player. For such small car, this is a nice touch. Add rear parking sensors and this small car starts to think it’s something a lot bigger. USB & auxiliary input really complete an overall youthful package.

Sitting on the larger alloys the ride was admittedly a bit stiffer than some of it’s competitors, but that ultimately gave it a more sporty feeling even though there is technically nothing sporty about the car. These larger wheels however also made some progress towards reducing body roll and increasing grip. Win Win. So just who is the latest Punto made for? Realistically, for a starting price of just €13,495 it’s for the sensible. Italian looks, high quality finish, and serious value for money make for an attractive package, especially if you’re going down the finance road.

If you’re considering a three door Punto, buy a 500.

The Finest Motoring with Stephen Watson thefinestmagazine@gmail.com

We’ve been looking forward to spending some time with the GT86, since we were first teased by the FT86 concept car.

Let’s start by saying it was worth the wait. WHAT A CAR! Small, light, 50/50 weight ratio, low centre of gravity, rear wheel drive, and a 200hp 2.0 litre Subaru sourced boxer engine. If every car had the above attributes, it could never be bad.

A lot of stories have been circulating about that 200hp figure. Non-car enthusiasts (who haven’t even driven the car) have shot it down for being too slow. Admittedly, when we saw the 7.7 second 0-100 time, we were a bit confused. Would it be enough pace? We struggled to imagine. That all changed in the run up to our time with the car though, due to a string of 6 second hot hatches proving to be ultimately not fun on public roads, as you’re over the speed limit before you’re in third gear.

Each of the 7.7 seconds in the 86 can be savoured though. Leaving your driveway in a sideways manner is far more entertaining than reaching a specific speed in a given time, although it has to be said that the GT86 does feel a lot quicker than what the raw stats say.

Toyota GT86

Drive sensibly and the car has more than enough gut to keep up with most traffic.

Edge closer to 7500 rpm and things go a bit crazy, with the rear wheels slipping right through third on a dry road. As you get closer to shifting up, the noise the boxer makes is spine tingling. It’s a road car that sounds like a specialist track car, and the boxer rumble really suits the car contrary to what you might think.

Leave vehicle stability control on and the car is actually heaps of fun, and even the less experienced would be able to safely enjoy some rear wheel fun, with the awesome rear suspension & Prius sourced tyres resulting in plenty of smiles, if not from nearby pedestrians. Turn off VSC and it becomes a complete drift machine.

And an economical drift machine at that. We managed a pretty ridiculous 8.5 litres /100 km even though we had the car at the limit most of the week, and we’ve had to put more fuel into a diesel family saloon at times.

This economy combined with a comfortable interior, decent legroom all round, and a decent boot, all make for a pretty usable daily sports car.

As for the looks? Well it speaks for itself really. We’ll take two.

48

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Opel’s 132 Summer Fest at Hinchy’s Opel A deal so good it should be Autobahned!

• Opel’s 132 Summer Fest to celebrate the new 132 registration plate • Triple 5 Offer for orders placed by 22nd June: • 5 Year Warranty, Free 5 Year Service Plan, Free 5,000km fuel voucher • Impressively low pricing and attractive finance packages across the range Opel is delighted to announce the launch of the Opel 132 Summer Fest to celebrate the introduction of the new 132 registration plate in July.

With Opel’s 132 Summer Fest running from 17th – 22nd June, Opel are making 132 Opels available for 132 hours with an impressive Triple 5 Offer: All retail orders placed by 22nd June will receive a free 5 Year Warranty, a free 5 Year Service Plan plus a free 5,000 Kilometre Fuel Voucher.

The Triple 5 is available across most Opel models, with attractive finance packages and no increase on 2012 prices, despite the VRT increases seen in last December’s budget:

• • • • •

Corsa from €13,795 (€175 per month/4.9% APR) Astra from €18,995 (€245 per month/4.9% APR) Insignia from €24,995 (€299 per month/4.9% APR) Meriva from €20,995 (€275 per month/4.9% APR) ZafiraTourer from €27,995 (€390 per month/7.9% APR)

The recently launched Opel Mokka (from €19,995) and ADAM (from €14,995) are still available with 5 year warranty as standard.

Opel is the only German car manufacturer to support its range with a 5 year/100,000km warranty, highlighting the conviction Opel has in its awardwinning German engineering, and giving its customers peace of mind motoring with their new Opel.

For those customers who want the reassurance of knowing that all their scheduled servicing needs are covered, Opel’s 5 Year Service Plan covers all scheduled services for the first 5 years and an annual vehicle health check to ensure their Opel remains in perfect condition using genuine Opel parts and serviced by Opel trained technicians.

Wrapping up Opel’s Triple 5 Offer with a free 5,000 Kilometre Fuel Voucher, Opel have significantly reduced the total cost of ownership for motorists in Ireland, at a time when customers need value for money and reassurance when buying a new vehicle.

It’s rare to see such an impressive offer on a brand synonymous with award winning German engineering & design, such as Opel. Not only are motorist being assured quality, reliability and stunning design with Opel, they’re being offered incredible value with Opel’s Triple 5 Offer.

Commenting on Opel’s new 132 Summer Fest campaign, Dave Sheeran, MD of Opel Ireland said; “We recognise that buying and owning a new car is a decision consumers approach cautiously in today’s climate. That’s why we’ve developed a campaign that offers unbelievable value and reduces the total cost of ownership when buying a new Opel.”

To book a test drive call John at Hinchy’s Opel Ennis Road Limerick on 061-321500 or at Garryspillane on 062-58900 Hinchy’s Opel are your local Opel dealership.

The Finest Motoring with Stephen Watson thefinestmagazine@gmail.com

Opel Astra

We were fortunate enough to test drive the all new Opel Astra OPC (Opel Performance Centre) & Bi-Turbo models on the autobahns and twisting Rhine valley roads that surround Frankfurt.

The OPC is fitted with a 2.0 turbocharged petrol engine which puts down an insane 280hp through it’s front wheels and it’ll get you to 100kph in 6 seconds flat if you need it to. In doing this sprint, it makes a jet like ‘whooshing’ noise as opposed to any boy racer-ish sounds you might have imagined. The test car was fitted with 20” alloys and so we were surprisingly impressed by the total lack of road noise or any sort of cabin reverberations resulting from such a sporty chassis and large wheel setup. Naturally the German roads are a good million times smoother than our own but we still reckon that the OPC could be the most comfortable hot hatch on the Irish market if given the chance to prove itself. Inside, deep leather bucket seats remind you that you’re not driving a base spec model. For a two door sports car, rear leg room can’t be far off best in class and it somewhat pleasantly surprised us. So what about economy then? Official figures are c 8.1 l/100km on the combined cycle, while we saw 7.5l/100km at more than one point while cruising on the autobahn.

Don’t fancy a high performance petrol Astra? Get yourself a high performance diesel Astra. The new Bi-Turbo 2.0CDTI is a total sleeper, especially the version we test drove. We tried it in its Sports Tourer (estate) variant. 195hp in an Astra Sports Tourer is something we really didn’t see coming, as it doesn’t have any competitors.

Think of it as an economical but brisk way to get the kids to school. The BiTurbo Astra isn’t just an engine upgrade though, all BiTurbo models benefit from a lower ride height as well as firmer bushings for the suspension. Just like the OPC, it never feels too firm. Economy figures are fantastic, with 5.0l/100km being an achievable figure if you don’t have a lead foot.

Don’t fancy losing your licence? Get yourself the 1.4 turbo petrol unit in an Astra model of your choice. We briefly test drove it in hatchback form on the way back to Frankfurt Airport that evening and we were simply blown away by the 140hp that this relatively small engine puts out. It’s rev-happy and plain quick when you want it to be but also incredibly refined at times when the power isn’t needed.

The best part? You’ll manage as little as 4.9l/100km if you’re careful.

For prices & detailed specifications visit www.opel.ie

The Finest Motoring with Stephen Watson thefinestmagazine@gmail.com

Dacia Duster

We’ve driven what for Issue 7 of The Finest? Only the best value car to appear on the Irish market since ever.

This is the €14,990 Eastern European crossover that has caught the attention of every Irish motorist on a tight budget. Admittedly our test car was naturally the top spec signature model which costs just shy of €18,000, but even that is a bargain when you look at what exactly you’re getting for that money.

It’s a quirky little SUV and our test car proved to be a serious little 4x4 when we took it soft-roading, so much so that we feel it would be wasted if it were to be purchased just for school runs. It’s softly sprung and happens to be one of the more comfortable cars we’ve ever taken off road, and while this does in turn cause quite a lot of body roll when taking sharp corners, it makes any overall journey on our rough Irish roads quite an enjoyable one. It’s also nice and quiet on said journeys, until you reach 100kph that is. Due to the forces that be, things get quite noisy at motorway speeds, but it’s bearable and the decent aux input stereo is more than sufficient to drown out such road noise.

Arriving at the above mentioned motorway speeds proves to be a doddle due to the crossover being relatively light, so the six speed manual 1.5 Diesel unit suits it perfectly whereas some of it’s competitors can be found with 2.2 litre units. We had it in 4wd lock for the majority of our time with it due to our test location, and surprisingly this didn’t really impact on fuel consumption in any notable way. We averaged 6.0 L/100 KM overall, a full litre off the claimed figures but we drove it on real world terms, so this is quite impressive. Low emission figures also mean that it sits in just tax band B. As standard, our top spec test model comes fitted with leather seats. You’d need to add another €7,000 to see this combined comfort & spec elsewhere in the

crossover market. As expected driver and passenger cabin space is ample, but we were really surprised after sitting behind ourselves in the rear seats. The upright seating position means that your legs hang down as opposed to stick forward, thus creating more real world legroom. Behind these rear seats is a Qashqai beating 475 litre loadspace, and an almost-fold-flat boot space which if levelled, would create an ideal commercial fleet vehicle. We’ll be very surprised if we don’t see these arriving in commercial form by mid next year.

Worth noting: The interior dash is quite dated, but for Irish arrivals from January this will be updated.

If you’re in the market for a small family hatch or crossover in July, don’t part with your cash before checking out the Duster at your local Renault dealer. It’ll surprise you.

53

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Coloma Primary School fundraising drive This coming summer, local lads Tadgh Maher and Michael Thompson will travel to the small village of Coloma in western Uganda. Upon arrival, Tadhg and Michael will team up with the Moses Foundation, the Daughters of Mary and Joseph and Roscrea natives, Sisters Eileen and Mona Maher. Both Sisters have been living in Uganda for almost fifty years and are past pupils of Clonlisk Primary School and the Convent Secondary School. The lads upcoming trip is part of the ongoing support offered to the community of Coloma by the people of Roscrea.

On February 8 2010, the doors of Coloma Primary School were officially opened.

The schools construction and maintenance has been heavily supported by the people of Roscrea along with many of the schools pupils receiving sponsorship throughout their education there. During Tadhg and Michael’s time in Uganda, they will assist with a number of construction projects, classroom activities, music teaching and aid the staff with the day to day chores. Tadhg, a music and Irish teacher in the local secondary school is a nephew of Eileen and Mona and is returning to Uganda for the second time having spent eight months there previously. Michael, the current Vice President of USI became involved with the school throughout his time in Tralee where he served as Students’ Union President. Assisted by his team and the students of I.T. Tralee, over €8,500 was raised for the school over the course of Raise and Give Week 2012.

The New Opel Insignia: The Engine and Infotainment Revolution • New body and interior design bring more precision to style language • Increased efficiency with no compromise on power and torque • 2.0CDTi 140hp Turbo diesel with just 3.7 l/100 km and 99 g/km CO2 • Brand new infotainment generation with touchpad and touchscreen Opel is set to reinforce its prominent position with a new Opel Insignia that is due to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and will be followed with an Irish debut later this year. Opel’s flagship model shines with even more attractive interior and exterior styling, taking the award-winning design philosophy “sculptural artistry meets German precision” to the next level.

New powerful and ultra-efficient direct injection engines such as the 2.0CDT1 99g/km Turbo diesel and the new-generation Turbo petrol unit expand the wide portfolio. A host of chassis enhancements ensures higher comfort. A completely new infotainment system generation will integrate many smartphone functions into the car and can be operated intuitively and simply via a touchpad in the centre console.

“The successful Insignia has already won over more than 8,000 Opel drivers in Ireland since it launched in 2009. The new Insignia will thrill even more – with a high-quality and sleek cockpit, intuitive operation of infotainment systems, exemplary powertrains and even more expressive design than before,” said Dave Sheeran, Managing Director, Opel Ireland.

“Our flagship model is now even more sophisticated and eye-catching – but in midst of all this elegance, we have not forgotten what it’s all about: to offer drivers and passengers a comfortable and safe driving experience with state-of-the-art technologies at an attractive price.”

The new Opel Insignia also offers a host of technology, safety and comfort highlights. These include state-of-the-art radar and camera-based assistance systems ranging from adaptive cruise control to side blind zone alert, forward collision alert and secondgeneration park assist, premium seats with the AGR seal of approval and the keyless entry and start system “Open & Start”, to name just a few.

Sleek: Clearly arranged cockpit with new infotainment generation There were three main principles brought to the enhancement of the cockpit: clear, simple and intuitive operation, high level of customisation in the infotainment and of course comfort and safety for the driver and passengers.

The centre console has a completely new feeling of subtlety and refinement, and it hosts state-of-the-art technologies and functions. The control panel has been significantly simplified and now has just a few buttons so that operation of the infotainment and other systems is fast and intuitive.

The new infotainment generation in the Insignia can be controlled over an 8-inch colour display with touch operation. From the starting screen the driver can access all function and sub-menus such as radio stations, song titles, smartphone connection or 3D navigation map via a brand new touchpad, touchscreen or button and voice control. The system can be individualised – up to 60 personal favorites (e.g. playlists, phone contacts, navigation addresses) can be stored.

The touchpad is ergonomically integrated in the centre console and offers a completely new way of quickly and intuitively accessing the infotainment system. Its illuminated, touch-sensitive surface reacts immediately to finger movements and makes operation of the new infotainment generation very easy without distracting the driver from the driving situation.

Before departing, Michael and Tadhg are encouraging all those who wish to become involved to make contact. There are a number of ways in which someone can assist such as sponsoring a child or sponsoring materials which the lads will carry over.

The following are items which would be greatly appreciated by the community of Coloma:

- Good quality black-board dusters - School appliances - Powder/concentrated paint - Deflated footballs - LED/Wind up torches - 20 team jerseys for the local football team A number of clothing items have already been collected for the school thanks to friends, family and a number of local politicians. A number of business people have also been extremely kind such as Donal O’Sullivan who has already sponsored a number of school appliances. If you, or know of anyone who would like to sponsor any of the above, please contact mikethompsontaylor@gmail.com or 085 7886388.

Direct donations can also be made to the school via Roscrea Credit Union no: 14918/D. The lad’s upcoming trip will be documented by the The Finest throughout the summer.

Even individual letters – for instance when searching for a song title in the database or a city in the navigation system – can be entered by fingertip on the touchpad.

Additionally, the Insignia driver can control this new infotainment system over newly designed, clearly laid-out steering wheel controls as well as voice commands. The advanced voice recognition function can be activated by the simple push of a button on the steering wheel controls and can also process more than one command at a time. The wide range of operating choices is the result of enhancements to the new infotainment generation.

Intensifying the man-and-machine connection is the newly designed instrument panel with an up to 8-inch high-resolution color display.

In addition to the classic readouts like speed, rpm and fuel level, further information on navigation, smartphone use and audio options are directly in the driver’s line of sight and can be adjusted.

Top: New-generation 99g/km Turbo diesel and SIDI Turbo petrol unit The new Opel Insignia also makes a statement in terms of powertrain and chassis. While this model has received many accolades for driving comfort, handling and road-holding, the new edition enters a new league in terms of efficiency. Opel engineers have made a host of improvements to the chassis resulting in decreased noise and vibrational behaviour and even higher comfort.

The broad, newly expanded engine portfolio is tuned to performance and comfort without any compromises. The new Insignia 2.0 CDTi is the eco and fuel-saving champion. Thanks to its new 2.0-litre turbo 140hp diesel engine emits just 99 g/km CO2. This puts the Insignia in one of the lowest Road Tax bands at just €180 per year. In terms of efficiency, the four and five-door models with six-speed manual transmission and Start/ Stop system consume just 3.7 litres of fuel per 100 km in the combined cycle– top values in this vehicle class. Both variants also boast outstanding torque, and the 2.0 CDTi 140hp model develops up to 370Nm – thanks to an automatic overboost function.

The most impressive petrol engines are the two turbo direct injection units: the 2.0 SIDI Turbo with 250hp and 400Nm torque as well as Opel’s newest engine generation 1.6 SIDI 170hp Turbo with 260 Nm and 280 Nm torque with overboost (SIDI = Spark Ignition Direct Injection). Both boast excellent power development and smooth running with high fuel economy.

They can be coupled with a six-speed manual transmission and Start/Stop functionality or with a new, low-friction six-speed automatic gearbox.

A style of its own: Award-winning Opel design language with premium flair The new Insignia evolves the multi-award-winning Opel design philosophy “sculptural artistry meets German precision” in the mid-size segment. The design theme articulates premium dynamics with an unmistakable low-and-wide front graphic to visually pronounce its wide stance. The high-gloss chrome grille is wider and lower than before. The brand bar that cradles the Opel logo is leaner and includes winglets that link the eye to the re-designed headlamps. Standard across the Insignia range will be LED Daytime Running Lights for increased safety and recognition. Depending on trim version, these come with bi-xenon lamps including the safety lighting system AFL+. All headlamps are executed in high gloss black with embedded chrome accents that enhance the technology within. The lower front fascia inserts are designed to appear slim and wide, in order to emphasize the upper grille size. Fog lamps are combined with wide black inserts and chrome accents. These grow as they near the wheelhouse to pronounce the width of the front design and the Opel Insignia’s top-class design.

The side view of the new Insignia saloon and hatchback are clearly more differentiated than before through their unique tailgates and integrated spoiler design. The crease line on the C-pillar of the five-door model fades out before it reaches the spoiler trailing edge to emphasize a classic coupé silhouette. On the four-door variant, the crease line continues along the edge of the spoiler to emphasize length on the elegant saloon.

This is also echoed in the rear, where the new Insignia features a wider and lower proportioned rear end design. The high-gloss chrome brand bar has been positioned lower on the tailgate and includes the brand logo. It extends into the tail lamps to include

the slim-look reverse functions. The tail / stop functions of the split 2-piece tail lamps are executed as LEDs on all levels for saloon and hatchback. Characteristic for all body versions is the light design as a sharp “wing” signature.

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“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

The 142nd Open Championship will be played at Muirfield, Scotland on the 18th July 2013. The British Open is always such a difficult event to predict for punters with regard to the weather conditions and the style of course meaning even the top players can struggle on occasions, so to give you a helping hand Bruce Betting are going a whopping 7 Places!! In terms of where the smart money is going we will try and find some golfers who could go well.

The 142nd Open Championship will be played at Muirfield, Scotland on the 18th July 2013. The British Open is always such a difficult event to predict for punters with regard to the weather conditions and the style of course meaning even the top players can struggle on occasions, so to give you a helping hand Bruce Betting are going a whopping 7 Places!! In terms of where the smart money is going we will try and find Ernie Els won the 2012 Open Championship by one shot at Royal Lytham. The big South African won his second Open and his fourth major after third round leader Adam Scott dropped four shots in the last four holes to finish second. Ernie is also bang in form after winning the BMW International in Munich. Els led throughout the tournament in Munich and finished on 18-under, ahead of Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn. What is also in Els’ favour is that he is the last winner of the Open at Muirfield

and at 25/1 with Bruces and with 7 places available this looks a cracking each way bet.

Tiger Woods is a three time winner of The Open. The last time he won was way back in 2006 when he successfully retained his crown. This year sees him getting back to the tiger of old, he is currently top of the Fed Ex standings in the US and playing some really nice golf. He is quoted as saying The Open is one of his most important events each year. Tiger is without a major title for too long in my view and it’s only a matter of time before he wins one, The Open in my opinion could be the one. He is currently 7/1 with us to and with Bruce Betting’s 7 Place special I’ll be having a fiver each way on him.

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“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

“IGTOA promote irish golf

tourism brand across the USA” The IGTOA –Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association, an organisation that collectively represents Irish Golf Tourism across the island of Ireland, has undertaken an international campaign this year in the North American market to promote Irish Golf Tourism in conjunction with partners Aer Lingus and Hertz Ireland.

To bring a stronger presence for Irish Golf Tourism in North America, the IGTOA has teamed up with Tourism Ireland in the US to join a series of promotional activities on the US PGA Tour and US LPGA Tour, with representation at “The Players” at Sawgrass TPC, the “LPGA Shoprite Classic” in Stockton Seaview Golf Club, New Jersey, the forthcoming “AT&T National Championships”, Bethesda, Maryland in June and “The Barclays Championships” at Liberty National Golf Club, New Jersey in August. The IGTOA will also have representation at the US Open, the PGA Championships and the Deutsche Bank Championships in August.

Speaking about the promotional campaign IGTOA Chairman Denis Kane said: “With the significant growth of the IGTOA in recent years, and with the strength of the North American golf market to Ireland, we are keen to deliver a key message to the golfing community in North America that Ireland is a world class golfing destination, offering great value, top quality accommodation and spectacular links and parkland courses.

Through the collective brand of the IGTOA and in support of our many Industry and Business Partners, we plan to further actively promote the golf tourism product for the island of Ireland internationally as the leading golfing destination of choice” The campaign commenced earlier this year in January with a Co-Sponsored “Gathering Irish Golf Day” at Reunion Golf Resort with golf tourism partners SWING, North & West Coast Links and DECGA to host over one hundred US Golf Media, Golf Tour Operators and attending Irish trade. The week continued with representation for the IGTOA on the Tourism Ireland Stand at the PGA Merchandising Show,

Orlando, Florida.

During the recent St.Patrick’s Day Celebrations Stacey Williams, IGTOA National Executive Officer joined Irish Console General Mr. Michael Lonergan and attending Irish Government Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan T.D at a series of events in Boston, Mass to engage with key Irish American organisations there.

“We hope by being active in the market place and by working closely with our key tourism partners Fáilte Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland overseas, that we can play our part in the overall growth and success of the Irish Golf Tourism Industry” said Denis Kane.

The IGTOA –Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association is the collective Irish National Golf Tourism Industry’s organisation.

The association represents leading golf tour operators who share a common goal, the promotion of Irish Golf Tourism.

The organisation also has over 250 IGTOA Industry and Business Partners who are represented by Ireland’s 3,4 & 5 star accommodation providers, transportation providers, golf courses, golf resorts, activity providers and related golf industry services.

The IGTOA is an internationally recognised brand with strong industry affiliations with Fáilte Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland. The IGTOA also have active professional affiliations with the Irish Region PGA, the European Tour, the Ladies European Tour, Ryder Cup Travel Services, Visit Scotland, Visit Wales and the Global Golf Tourism Organisation- IAGTO. The IGTOA acts as the “Voice of Professional Irish Golf Tourism”, and the IGTOA Member Golf Tour Operators are collectively responsible for over 80,000 golfers visiting the island of Ireland, with an estimated consumer spend of €90 million to the Irish economy. The IGTOA participates in multiple overseas promotions, tradeshows and events all over the world to promote the island of Ireland as the world’s leading golf and sightseeing destination.

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“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

The Juniors Journey 2012-2013 Losing only one competitive Junior B game says a lot about this team (league final V Portroe). Building from the bottom, mixing youth with experience, team spirit and never say die attitude were all the ingredients Johnny, Neil and Fergus needed from this team. We assembled a strong squad ranging from ages of 17 (Sam) to 39 (Connor). Every player got game time and contributed in helping winning the AllIreland Junior B championship. Winning the North and County championship was a great achievement but going on to win Munster and all Ireland was unbelievable.

I will forever remember our trips to Raheenagh where we played the all Ireland series.” My home town of Roscrea “and “Sliabh na Mban” were sang out loud by proud Roscrea players, family and friends in celebration in the “Pub” Raheenagh and continued in berti’s bus on the journey home. Pictures paint a thousand words so I have put together a compilation of the “Juniors Journey 2012-2013”.

1. ( north tipp Champs) Roscrea’s first taste of victory

over Templederry.

2. ( team photo of county junior b champs) Victory over Cahir to become county junior b champs’.

3. ( don’t forget Kevin) Kevin Donoghue our Mr reliable.

4. ( county junior b receiving cup) Connor and James two

proud captains receiving the county cup.

5. ( our fans) Roscrea fans who followed us all the way.

6. ( junior team hug) All the players shoulder to shoulder

listening to Johnny’s wise words.

7.

( man of the match V castlemanger ) Paul Kirwan receiving man of the match award in the “Pub” after first round of Munster championship.

County junior b champs recieving cup

End of the journey as player

8.

(Munster Champs team) Team photo after beating Tubber of Clare in Munster final.

9.

(Munster champs) proud captain James Maher lifting Munster cup.

10.

(All Ireland Champs) The last step, Roscrea are All Irealnd Junior B Champs with victory over Tubber of Clare.

11.

Fans

Junior team hug

(end of a jorney player) Conor Egan at the end of his Journey as Roscrea player, what a man!!

12.

( the last team hug) Roscrea Players go shoulder to shoulder one last time.

13.

( sing song begins) Roscrea Players family and friends letting rip sliabh na mbna.

14.

(Man of the match v tubber) Sam receiving man of the match award after All Ireland final V Tubber.

Man of the match v castlemanger munster semi final

Man of the match v Tubber all ireland final

Munster champs team

Munster champs

Sing song begins

The last team hug

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“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Nenagh

Eire Og

Under 14 Our under 14’s had two more challenge matches over the weekend in their final preparation for the Feile which takes place the weekend of the 5th, 6th and 7th of July in Killeedy Co limerick. The team are looking forward to the challenge and we would like to wish Noel, Martin, Maeve, Catherine and Mairead with the team all the best of luck.

Under 16 and Minor The under 16’s and minor’s are training two evenings a week with the Under 16’s preparing for a county semi- final with the date to be confirmed. The Minors are starting their championship the9th of July in Nenagh against Cashel. Keep up the good work girls.

Sympathies We would like to express our deepest sympathy to Tom and Catherine McAuliffe’s family on the loss of Catherine’s Mother.

Under 12 Our U12 team played Toomevara in the county final on Monday last. Please check out website for the result of this fixture. The girls also have a blitz in Toomevara on June 21.

Primary Games Well done to both Rachel O Connor and Barry Coffey who featured for Tipperary in the Primary Games at half time of the Munster senior hurling semi-final between Tipperary and Limerick.

Community Games Well done to the girls who beat Cashel in the county final of the Community Games last week. This is a fantastic achievement and the advance to play in the Munster finals in Tralee on 29th June. These girls will have a busy schedule as they play in the Feile on the following weekend of 6th July.

We will be bag packing in Dunnes Stores on the weekend of July 12th and 13th. We ask all our U16s and Junior players to please help out over the weekend and give your names to Denise Morris.

CumannmBunscoil Well done to St Marys who retained their U13 county title after a great win over Boherlahan in Semple Stadium on Thursday last. Also well done to the U11 team who finished runners up in their competition. We wish to thank all the teachers and coaches in St Marys for so generously volunteering their time to promote camogie among the girls. St Marys plays a vital role in the development of our players and the teacher’s hard work is greatly appreciated by the club.

Roscrea Girls off to Munster Finals Roscrea U15 girls qualified for the Munster finals with a hard fought victory over Newport to be crowned Tipperary county champions. With the majority of the squad plying their trade out of Killavilla United, we quickly settled into the game.

The familiarity of each other’s play was very evident with some great football being played throughout. However, the use of small goals at U15 level in Community games has to be questioned with both teams used to playing regulation size pitch and goals since under 12 level.

We went on the attack right from the start with Katie Shanahan causing all sorts of problems for the home team down the left. Megan Cahill and Emma Wright battled upfront for every ball but the small goals coupled with an excellent home keeper made it almost impossible to score. By half time we were well on top with Chloe Landy, Margaret Harty, and Danielle Carson pulling the strings in midfield.

All three covered every blade of grass giving the home side little time to settle. At the back Kathleen Delaney and EmerHarnett were very impressive with an almost telepathic understanding. They were ably supported by Shannon Moloney, Orla Corbett and Emma Kealy who battled for every ball.

As the second half progressed our dominance was coming more to the fore.

Virtually camped in the Newport half it seemed to be only a question of when we would score. Leah Brooks and Emily Maher replaced Emma and Danielle and continued to chase down every ball. With the small goals we knew it would take something special to break the deadlock. Extra time followed with the same pattern of play emerging. We thought we had won it when a fine cross from Megan Cahill was met on the volley by Katie Shanahan. Destined for the bottom corner the keeper somehow got across to push the ball around the post. In the final minute in what would have been a cruel twist, the speedy Newport winger evaded 2 tackles and seemed destined to score only for Orla Corbett to come to

our rescue with an excellent last ditch tackle. Cue the dreaded penalty shootout.

Katie Shanahan was our hero saving 4 penalties with Megan Cahill and Chloe Landy expertly dispatching their spot kicks. We look forward to the Munster finals at the end of June where we will hope to emulate last year’s u12 side who are current Munster champions. Under the guidance of Shane & Joan we will certainly give it a good crack. We are glad to welcome back Chloe Bateman who was injured for the Newport game as well as new addition Georgina Abbot. Onwards and upwards girls

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Nenagh A.F.C.

Summer Camp Bookings:

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Over 35s:

Nenagh AFC played Rosenalis last Saturday evening in their first competitive match in the over 35s Combined Counties League and after a tough match we were unlucky to lose on a score line of 3-2.We went into match short a few key players but our players stuck to the task and put in a fine performance with Greg Browne, Shane O Gorman, Paul Kelly and Robbie Lawlor all having great games in particular plus John Norton in goal making some fine saves too. We got our goals through two good strikes from Dennis O Brien and Greg Browne on the night but our inability to defend set pieces cost us as Rosenalis scored three headers from corners, their winner coming with five minutes left. All in all a disappointing result but a positive effort from the team and signs that we can compete well in this league. We play St. Aengus FC at home this weekend in Brickfields and it’s another tough match but three points is the aim to kick start Shane O Gorman of Nenagh AFC about to start another Nenagh AFC attack from defence our campaign.

New Season fast approaching

The FAI Summer Camps are back and are now taking bookings. Visit www.nenaghafc.ie for more details or contact James Scott on 0860472055

Football For All:

Nenagh AFC Football For All Weekly sessions will run every Tuesday in Brickfields from 6.45 to 7.45pm.

There are now 5 trained coaches running the sessions. All Football for all players and families welcome The new season is fast approaching and at Nenagh AFC we are very busy behind the scenes working out every Tuesday. Any queries please contact Aidan at 087 8224140 or Sharon on Tuesday nights in Brickfields. details of trials and new managers etc. Below we see Brickfields in Glorious conditions but it is the calm before the storm as these pitches are soon to have Nenagh AFC players gracing them soon again. For more details please stay tuned to www.nenaghafc.ie

PR Recruitment

Nenagh AFC are asking for anyone who is interested in helping to do administration with the website/ website updates, Photography, Video camera/recording, etc to please email j.delaneynenaghafc@gmail.

Niall Harrison of the FAI with one lucky member of the Nenagh AFC Under 13 “A” team Joint Manager John Daly com or text/ring our PRO John Delaney on 085 143 8226 as we are looking to put a PR team in place FFA team doing some one on one training as he took a pictured below coaching and enjoying the FFA session over the summer and possibly add to our Marketing and Communications Sub-Committee. If you have proving not only is he a top class photographer but also a session recently at Nenagh AFC any interest or want to help then you will be welcomed. top class coach for Nenagh AFC

The Domenico Malizia Memorial Cup:

Nenagh AFC hosted SS Lazio from Dublin last Sunday in the first ever Domenico “Chief ” Malizia the match Josephine Malizia made the presentation of the new beautiful DomenicoMalizia Cup to her son Fabrizio who was captain for the day for Nenagh AFC. The club would like to thank the Malizia family for asking them to take part in this special event, also SS Lazio for travelling down and playing their part in a great game. We at Nenagh AFC look forward to taking part again next year in this memorial game and Nenagh AFC would also like to thank Mamma’s for their continued support and sponsorship of our club.Memorial Cup and after a great team performance by our lads we emerged winners on a 5-1 score line. After

Player Profile: Jerome Ashman Name: Jerome Ashman Position: Center Midfield Favourite Team: Glasgow Celtic Favourite Player: Scott Brown Favourite local away ground: Thurles Town Most memorable NAFC game: Beating Monaghan United away in All Ireland Cup Best footballing moment: Winning the treble in 2011/ Munster Junior Cup Final 2012 Biggest rivals: Thurles Town

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“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

This summer is the summer of Soccer With new clubs opening up regionally and many clubs expanding or becoming more professional this summer has began to look like the summer of soccer.

Association football, or soccer to the indigenous sporting enthusiasts, is the world’s biggest sport and has the ability to bring communities and people together more than any other. To play the sport a child or adult just need a football.

Why not look for your local club for your child or yourself and get involved, soccer has proven to help children come out of their shell and teaches valuable lessons to younger people such as teamwork, communication, time keeping, etc., it’s a sport that helps in

Natures Balm—The Rub. Grannies Home Remedy Over 100 years old.

The Story by Dorrie Killeen

The Rub is an old herbal remedy that was in my grandmother’s family for generations.

In 1890 a young teacher Annie Murray whose family came from Rathmoylan in Co Meath took up a post outside Athlone in a South Roscommon National School a few miles west of the Shannon. She met and married my grandfather Thomas Feeley and Roscommon was to become her home for life near the shores of Lough Ree. She brought with her a recipe for a substance made from herbs oils and salts that had been used by her family for generations for pains aches and inflammation. In 1991 searching her old medical book entitled ‘The Household Physician’ for information I found the recipe and made it up for an elderly man who had very bad arthritis in his hands, knees, ankles and shoulders, he came back the following day after using The Rub twice and said he was able to walk up the fields for the first time in three years and that was the rediscovery of The Rub 20 years ago. My grandmother used to say ‘for every illness a herb grows nearby’ Over the years I’ve studied the science of herbs and nutrition and collected lots of old traditional remedies. I have a manual written and hope to have it published this year.

Go to my blog—dorriekilleentherub.blogspot.com for more information and testimonials—users of The Rub and some pages from my book.

Testimonials---Users of Natures Balm--The Rub —.

Helen Limerick--I’ve often cried with pain after a few applications of the The Rub to my hands and knees I am pain free. Thank you Dorrie.

Mary, Waterford—Dorrie please forward me some of the magic Rub, I cannot have the house without it.

Nancy SRN Kent—Dorrie I feel I must write to you to tell you the wonders of your Rub. After a few applications I could shake hand firmly, to-day I went for a walk and left my stick in the car, my doctor is so surprised when I’ve refused all drugs.

Margaret—Monaghan says The Rub is simple in name but powerful in action. I must thank you for the The Rub.I am an arthritis sufferer, used many gels, creams etc which either burn or smell awful, I cannot take pain killers. The Rub is just a miracle.Thank you Dorrie.

John—Limerick—heard about The Rub from a neighbour, has arthritis everywhere for over thirty years, he told me he could not take painkillers anymore. Since he started using The Rub--he is pain free and mobile, going on holidays etc. John is now using The Rub for a few years and he is 81 years old.

Paddy, Newcastlewest: Dorrie I’m delighted to tell you I’m having a new lease of life thanks to your wonder bottle--The Rub. My back is almost perfect and the sciatica is almost completely gone from my back and leg Imagine! I am able to enjoy a full night’s sleep once after suffering more than twelve weeks from that awful pain and very expensive treatments with no relief until I got your simple remedy-The Rub--I am almost afraid to talk about it. Thank you Dorrie.

John, Hull, England--Dorrie I have to write to you to tell you the wonderful experience I’ve had after using your Rub for the past month. I’ve been able to cut my prescribed pain killers from four a day to none. The pain in my shoulder and thumbs has gone and mobility has improved dramatically. I was on a waiting list to have a shoulder replacement, my surgeon has told me I do not need an operation now as my shoulder is working normally and is amazed that such a simple remedy could have such a result.

Horst—Germany. While holidaying in Ireland I got The Rub in Ennis and I’ve had great relief from pain in my knees Thank you. I don’t take painkillers any more.

Bridie—Athlone---I wish to inform you after one week of using your wonderful Rub, I feel great relief from pain. My arms and shoulders are pain free and I wish to say Thank you Dorrie Mary—Athlone--an elderly Lady rang me some time ago to say she could not dress herself because she could not raise her arms or hang her clothes on the line, she called for “The Rub” going to Bingo on a Monday night, she rang me the following Thursday to say she could raise her arms to Heaven and to say a sincere Thank You. Mary—Limerick---Many thanks for your Rub. For many years my hands and knees were swollen and inflamed from arthritis, I often cried from the pain. I heard about The Rub—after using it a few times my knees and hands are free from pain and I could not take pain killers. Thank you Patricia – Galway—Just to let you know how your wonderful Rub has helped me. I will be 86 years old next month, I was just able to walk using a stick now I get around easily with no stick, I use no lift to get up to my room, I walk up and 3 flights of stairs thanks to your Rub. Ciaran--Galway—Thank you Dorrie for the arthritis Rub which I have used with great results thank God. Since 1992 I’ve been on medication for pain and inflammation (over one year) I now remain pain free and active—I hope this situation continues and that by developing The Rub many others will be enabled through you to find relief.

Tommie--a long distance lorry driver told me on numerous occasions that he would not be able to work without ‘The Rub’, Tommie suffers from chronic back-pain Dr.Ryan Drum USA—I have used The Rub in a very painful, acute trauma, episode and it worked miraculously, I was astonished beyond belief. No other herbal topical, whether salve oil or liniment has ever acted so quickly and healing to normalacy seemed to occur much faster than is usual for similar wounds Bill—Roscommon had severe pain in the back of his neck and could not move his head--had to sleep sitting up--after three days using The Rub he said he felt as free as a bird and said Thank God and you Dorrie I can move my head around again and get a good night sleep.

Toby—Cork— 89 years of age, having used The Rub for arthritis got excellent results keeps the pain at bay and have much better mobility, several more I gave it to also are most pleased.

Maureen—Cork—God bless you and have mercy on the soul of those who discovered The Rub-- it is wonderful for pain and inflammation.

Sr, Madeleine--Derry. Thank you Dorrie for the wonderful bottle called The Rub I suffered from sciatic nerve pain and get very stiff and sore sitting, after using The Rub I have no problem in that way. I have also used The Rub for shingles again the rub has worked wonders in this area.

Jim—Cork—I received a bottle of your traditional rub some time ago and I need some more, it worked wonders for me –my problem is arthritis in ankles, knees, and back.

Jack—Waterford—I suffer from arthritis of the back and knees which is very painful, when I use The Rub I am able to carry on more or less free of pain and stiffness--thank you Dorrie.

Dympna—Galway—thanks a million for your wonderful rub it has worked wonders on me over the past few months.

Eileen—Dublin—I have arthritis in one knee and find your rub has been a great help.

Rose—Dublin –Dorrie I experienced very severe sciatic pain and a friend gave me half of his bottle of rub I applied it that night and from then on the pain eased, I’m now off pain killers. I also have 3 types of arthritis and find The Rub very beneficial and keeps me pain free.

Evelyn—Galway—I am more than grateful for the rub, it is the first thing that has worked for me, believe me, I tried everything. Trapped nerves have disappeared and it has taken down the inflammation, it has given me a new lease of life. It is an excellent product and again thanks for your kindness.

PJ—Galway—I have found The Rub to be of great benefit in relieving pain in my knee joint.

Gretta—Roscommon—Dorrie I have tried your Rub and it’s excellent. It’s the only rub that gives me relief thank you so much.

Jim—Galway—I want to thank you for the wonderful Rub. I had an accident in Cork last year broke my hip in several places, spent 14 weeks in Hospital had my leg in traction for 12 weeks, since I came

the development of a young person or young adult and for adults it’s a great way to get out and socialise. We have all heard the complaints of how little there is to do in our towns, villages, area’s, so why not get out and play football or join a club.

Local clubs need new members and active members are worth their weight in gold, so why not become that golden member and join your local soccer club today?

VENUES FOR 2013

1st– 5th July: Nenagh AFC, Brickfields 8th – 12th July: Peake Villa FC, Thurles 15th – 19th July: BT Harps FC, Garda Sports Complex 22nd – 26th July: Clodiagh Rangers FC NEW CAMP FOR 2013 29th July: 2nd August Lough Derg FC, St Anne’s Community School

29th July : 2nd August Borrisokane FC, Borrisokane NEW

CAMP FOR 2013

12th – 16th: August Killavilla AFC, Roscrea 12th – 16th: August Nenagh AFC, Brickfields 19th – 23rd: August Rearcross FC Goalkeeper Camps 6th – 7th July: Nenagh AFC, Brickfields 16th – 18th: July Rearcross FC

eFlow FAI Summer Soccer Schools 2013

Open to boys and girls aged 6 – 14. Cost €65 NEW PRICE FOR 2013. This includes Umbro FAI playing Kit, Umbro Football, Backpack, Official certificate of Participation and a week of coaching from FAI Qualified coaches that are fully Garda Vetted. This year, the camp price has been greatly reduced, with places on Mainstream Camps just €65

home I have suffered pain in my leg and hip, I tried several different rubs and tablets some from America and none have done me any good. Since I started using The Rub the pain is completely gone I can walk without any aid and to-day was the first day I could put on my shoes and socks myself and I can get a good night’s sleep. Thanks a million Dorrie. I am a new man.

Eileen—Tipperary—I broke two main bones in my foot, when the plasters came off I was in severe pain, after a while they took out the screws very little improvement had physiotherapy which was not a success, I was told by the Doctors in the hospital that arthritis had set in big time. It used to take me 15-20 minutes to get to the bathroom in the morning. I heard about The Rub and thanks to the bottle I call the miracle Rub, I can get out of bed and walk to the bathroom, since using The Rub I have great mobility of the ankle and foot. I would not be without a bottle in the house—may God Bless you and The Rub. Ellen—Limerick—My husband and I have arthritis, my husband is worse than myself, but we have got great relief from pain with The Rub. I had trouble with my back arms and neck and when I use The Rub it’s like a miracle, I call it the miracle Rub. Thank you Dorrie and I will pray for you.

Christina—England—I used The Rub on my arm which I damaged badly 23 years ago and now it has improved a great deal, my husband uses The Rub on his legs which burn a lot at night, it helped him a great deal too. Thank you so much.

John—Galway—I want to thank you ever so much for The Rub. It has worked wonders for me. I had severe arthritis in my back and shoulders, I got great relief and now use it just once a day. In February I got a bad chest infection and had a lot of mucus no medication worked, you told my daughter to use The Rub on my chest and in a few days there was a big change even the Dr. said so. I now feel great and enjoying my pipe again. I am 87 years old.

James—Limerick—I am writing to you to compliment you on your product, after a very bad Flu I began to have problems with my feet and legs, first gout and then fluid on my knees. I was constantly taking painkillers and antibiotics, without receiving much relief. I had the fluid removed from my knees four times. I was often for days at a time unable to walk and being a farmer this affected both me and my business. A neighbour told me about The Rub I began to use it immediately and I am thankful to say I have not had to take painkillers since. I have recommended The Rub to family and friend and they are also reaping the benefits.

Ann—Cork—Dorrie just to tell you Declan finds it very good for his knee, he is a keen footballer and uses The Rub before every match on his problem knee and he calls it the “magic bottle” Mary—Galway—I have used The Rub for an inflamed shoulder and found it very good I can enjoy a good night’s sleep again. Thank you Dorrie.

Margaret—Dublin—Dorrie my mother swears by The Rub and has not taken any medication since I got her a bottle, she has osteoarthritis. Thanks a million.

Sister J—Galway—I have been suffering from severe arthritis in my hands for over twenty years. I have tried almost every known remedy without any improvement. Your herbal oil was the first remedy that brought relief. The swelling has gone down in a short while using the herbal Rub, there is a big improvement and I will continue using it.

Kathleen—Kildare—I just want to say A Big Thank you for The Rub. I was in absolute agony for three days with a pain in the lower part of my back, prescribed antibiotics and painkillers – no good. A neighbour gave me The Rub -- after the first application I could feel the effects within minutes, now I am pain free.

Mary—Galway—Thank you sincerely for Natures Balm The Rub –found it excellent for pains in hip, arms and ankles I will recommend it to my friends.

Bridie—Galway—I gave a bottle of The Rub to a friend for severe pains on the back of the neck and shoulders, a week later she told me she will never forget the relief she got.

Kathleen--Longford—My husband suffered outrageous pain from R/Arthritis for several years and sleepless nights and has tried everything possible without success. His feet were so sore and tender he could only walk with a lot of discomfort. Since he started to use The Rub It has brought a new lease of life for him and for all looking after him-going through so much pain. Now he is as able to walk – no problem and get a good night’s sleep. It is a brilliant Rub Carolyn—West Yorks, England—Your cousin Collette gave me some of The Rub to try for the considerable pain I was experiencing from osteoarthritis, I want to let you know I got great relief and when the pain gets bad I just use more of The Rub. I am an ex-nurse.

Bridget--Roscommon—I want to thank you for The Rub, it is wonderful. My knees and hands were very swollen and very painful, well it has done wonders, the swelling has gone down and my hands and knees are free from pain. I would not leave the house without a bottle of it - it is wonderful.

Phylis—Tipperary—I would like to inform you of the fantastic result I have been getting from The Rub. I am hairdressing for over 30 years, this year my right arm started to give me pain. Hardly able to cut hair or blow dry. I was told I had inflamed muscles and prescribed pain-killers which I could not take. A customer told me about The Rub. After a day or so I had 100% relief and I only use it in the morning now and that does for the day.

Cecil—Lisburn—I have been using The Rub for 3 months and have a new way of living, no more severe pain. Thank you so Dorrie.

Elizabeth—Roscommon—I been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees, the result being constant pain and very little sleep in spite of pain-killers plus knee injections. Since I started using The Rub, I am delighted to tell you that I’m almost pain free in one knee and hopefully the other will follow suit.

Betty—Dublin—Just to tell I find your Rub the Best. I suffer from Rheumatism Ann—Dublin—we have some great results from The Rub. It’s great to think that it gives such ease from pain. Keep up the good work.

Annie—Mayo—I find The Rub very effective for my swollen hands and joint pains.

Nancy—Roscommon—Sincerest thanks for the arthritis relief Rub which I got some time ago and which I have used with great success. For some time I have suffered severe arthritis in the joints of both my big toes. The joints were so swollen I found it difficult to find shoes to fit me. Since I have started to use The Rub the joints are almost back to normal and most of the pain is gone. I gave it to my sister and she has used it with great success. She has arthritis in both hands her fingers were almost closed and suffered a lot of pain. Using The Rub she has found great relief. Thanks again for your help.

Agnus—London—my husband Eddie and myself have found great relief from pain using your herbal Rub. Thank you so much.

Rose--Galway— Sincere thanks for the relief which the arthritis relief rub gave to my mother.

For about 3 years my mother had a lot of arthritis in her head, neck, arms and fingers. Various medications proved of very little help. Since I started using the herbal Rub on Mother with honesty I can say there was immediate relief from the pains.

Nick —Offaly—Many thanks for The Rub. I am trying it at the moment on my hand which has been giving me trouble since I had an operation last December, I had no feeling in the thumb and middle finger and a lot of pain at night. Anyhow since I began using The Rub the pain has eased, so hopefully it will clear off soon. Thanks again.

Joan—Tipperary—Well about The Rub -- I would be in my grave only for it. My legs were all swollen and painful and had to wear size 7 shoes. My daughter got The Rub for me and I

and Goalkeeper Camps €50. Early online bookers will also receive free tickets to a game of their choosing at Aviva Stadium – parents can select from the Georgia, Faroe Islands or Kazakhstan fixtures. Book online at www.summersoccerschools.ie or call 1890 653 653

was overjoyed with it. My legs were so swollen I was not able to walk, put on my shoes or tie them, so now Thank God I am able to run and get back into my size 6 shoes thank you again.

Marie--Cork- Thank you for The Rub, It has worked wonders on my husband’s back. I used it on my sinuses, taking four tablets daily before I started using The Rub on my forehead and across my nose on to my face it has done wonders--thinned all the mucus got huge relief and I have not taken a tablet in two months.

Noel—Kilkenny—Dorrie, my mother is finding The Rub a Big, Big help, she has reduced from using it three times a day to just once a day now, she is much better. God bless you.

Val—Galway—Just a short note to thank you for The Rub you gave me some time ago. For ages I had been having pain in my ankle especially after playing golf or working in the garden.

I put it down to relics of an old G.A.A. hurling injury of many years ago. However since using your Rub for a fairly short time the pain seems to have disappeared T.G. Mary—Waterford—please send me a supply of the marvellous Rub, I cannot exist without it It keeps my pains at bay and helps me enjoy life again.

Mary—Monaghan—I’m writing to thank you for the Rub. I have had terrible pains from arthritis for many years and have tried everything. Since I got The Rub a few months ago The relief I got was just marvellous. Thank you very much.

Malachy—Roscommon—Dorrie I had this awful pain in my arm for a few weeks, tried everything, my sister brought me a bottle of the Rub and by the time I had the bottle almost gone I was free from pain Thank God. It is a wonderful Rub. Tom—Galway--To whom it may concern.—Some six months ago I had pains in my knees and left hip. I applied the contents of a bottle called The Rub on 3 or 4 occasions. The pain ceased and I have had no more pain since. Painkillers had not helped me.

Elizabeth—Dublin—I have arthritis in one knee and find your Rub a great help.

Michael—Cork—Thank you for The Rub I find it marvellous for pain and swelling and I am now considerably more mobile.

Sr. Theresa—Thank you for the herbal Rub. I am improving, my hands are free from pain and the swelling is gone down also my neck and both my arms are almost better. I will now concentrate on the hips, my big toe and ankles, so please God with the use of the Rub they will come right. I am deeply grateful to you for your concern and interest.

Bridie—Dublin—Thank you for The Rub I find it marvellous for pain and I gave a bottle to my neighbour and she has got so much relief with two applications she calls it a miracle.

Christina—Dublin—You will be pleased to hear after one week using The Rub my pains began to ease and to-day I am completely free from pain. God bless you and many thanks.

Bridie—Tipperary—I am so grateful for the relief I got in my leg and back after using your Rub. After using it 5 times I got a good night’s sleep for the first time in two weeks. I was taking fists of tablets and I may as well be taking smarties. So dear Dorrie I want to sing the relief I experienced last night and to-day. I am now going to use it on my 85 year old mother.

Mary—Roscommon—Just to thank you for the relief from pain I got using your Rub, I am now sending it to a friend in London. You must be blessed by God and long may you live and give relief to people in pain.

Rita—Longford—I have great faith in The Rub. I have used it on many occasions for back pain, even the first day of use I found relief. My husband used it for arthritis of his hip and had great relief with it. We are users of it for many years and always with success. My sister suffered with bad back pain and was on a lot of medication with very little relief. I sent her a bottle of The Rub and she used it with great success and wants to say Thank you.

Letters from sports personalities— JackCharlton--Dear Dorrie. Thank you for your letter and solution. It would seem you have a very good herbal pain relief rub. At this moment in I am in good physical health, It’s my brain that’s going crazy with all the work I have to do in preparation for the World Cup. But I will sure give it a try should my body start to fall to bits. Thanks Again. Jack Peter Alliss--Golfer/Commentator, Dear Dorrie, Thank you for your supply of The Rub and all the wonderful references. At this moment I am pain free but I will keep standing by in case something untoward happens to me. Yours sincerely, Peter.

Rob Swire MSc MCSP, Head Physiotherapist Manchester United.

Dear Mrs Killeen—Thank you for your letter and herbal remedy, which was passed on to me

by Sir Alex. Thanks for your interest in Manchester United and Roy in particular. Roy is now back to full fitness with no pain. I will keep your remedy for the future.

Michael—Cork, coach—I hope other players find The Rub as good as my son found it. I am going to try it on more players who have persistent injuries. Thank you Dorrie.

Jane—Leitrim—I,ve had pains in my knees for many years, since January 2013 it had become much more painful and I found it hard to go up and down the stairs and also getting up off my chair. I’ve tried many gels and creams and got little relief. My niece sent me a bottle of The Rub after St. Patricks weekend, I applied it three times daily and within a week I had complete relief and no pain—I’m flying up and down the stairs now I will always keep a bottle in my medicine chest. Thank you.

Killavilla United AFC Seeking New Coaches The Killavilla United Football Development Committee is actively seeking additional coaching personnel in particular to work with our 5 to 11 year old players.

We are looking for people who are interested in the development of young people from both a personal and sporting viewpoint, where every child’s needs is given priority over building winning teams.

If you have an interest in sport, enjoy working with children and want to make a difference in your community we would be delighted to hear from you. It will also give you the opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills or use existing ones, and be part of an energetic team working towards a common goal.

A proper training and support programme will be in place to ensure that you are given every possible opportunity to do the job to the best of your ability.

Killavilla United AFC provides a quality-sporting outlet for hundreds of people from Roscrea and the surrounding areas.

The club boasts some of the very best facilities available in the entire region. We aim to compliment this by delivering quality coaching to all our members so that they are given the opportunity to become the best possible player that their abilities allow.

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact any of the following.

Eugene- 086-0758149 Shane- 087-6401528 Kevin- 086-2694566

64

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

TECHNOLOGYCORNER All the techie stuff made simple!

by Alpha IT Services www.alphaits.com

This issue of Technology is aimed at saving you a few quid, with a few preventative maintenance tip, that will hopefully save you a trip to your friendly local PC repair guy. PCs still require maintenance, as much as we wish they were magic boxes that did all the work for us. Unfortunately, many people make mistakes when it comes to maintaining their PC. These mistakes could result in hardware damage, security breaches, data loss, money spent unnecessarily, and general system instability. While we generally cover lists of things you should do, but knowing what not to do can be even more important. Here we’ll cover some of the most common mistakes so you can avoid them and keep your PC running like new.

Defragmenting When Unnecessary

Windows automatically defragments your hard drive in the background, so most people should never need to open the Disk Defragmenter and defragment their hard drives manually. There are some exceptions, for example, if you’ve just installed a large game and you want maximum performance, you may want to defragment before you play the game.

However, most of the time, defragmenting your hard drives is probably unnecessary. On a solid-state drive, it can actually be harmful, you should never defragment a solid-state drive.

Not Updating Your Operating System and Software

Keeping your computer’s software updated is important. Operating systems, browsers, and their plug-ins in particular are frequently updated with security fixes. If you’re running an unpatched version of Windows, outdated version of Firefox, or vulnerable version of Java, your computer is at risk.

Be sure to keep your software updated. Set Windows to automatically install updates or at least inform you of them, leave your browser set to automatically install updates, and ensure Flash, Adobe Reader, Java, and other browser plug-ins you have installed are set to update automatically.

Don’t disable these auto-updating features, they help keep your PC secure.

Not Backing Up Your Files

We covered this a couple of issues back in. Your computer’s hard drive will fail eventually. It might even fail tomorrow. If your computer’s hard drive failed tomorrow, would you have backup copies of all your important documents, photos, and other files? Or would you lose lots of important data?

Create a backup strategy to ensure your files won’t go down with your computer, whether you make regular backups on a removable hard drive or cloud storage service.

Windows 8 has a built-in backup tool that functions similarly to Apple’s Time Machine, while Windows 7 has its own backup feature.

Many people ignore backups until they lose their files. Don’t become one of them, start backing up your files before you lose them.

Running Multiple Antivirus Programs

You should only use one antivirus program on your computer. Antivirus programs hook deep into the operating system, checking programs before they run. If you have two antivirus programs attempting to do this at once, they can interfere with each other and cause your computer to crash. They may identify each other as malware or prevent each other from working.

Ensure you only have a single antivirus program installed and running in the background. If you want a second opinion, you can use an antivirus program that will just perform a system scan while not running in the background.

Installing Dangerous or Annoying Programs

When installing programs on your computer, you should be vigilant. Judge the trustworthiness of each program before you download it. Don’t install programs that look scammy. Be careful when you install software so you don’t end up installing browser toolbars and other adware that will annoy you. Know the types of files that are dangerous and be careful when running them, for example, don’t download screensavers, which can contain viruses.

Letting Dust Build Up

Dust builds up inside of your PC’s case over time. This dust clogs up fans, reducing air flow and increasing the temperature inside your PC. A large amount of dust build-up can result in problems with cooling, which could even lead to system crashes as your CPU’s temperature increases too far. If you’re playing demanding games on a PC that’s clogged with dust, the heat will have nowhere to go and may damage your hardware.

To help with air flow, you should open your desktop computer’s case occasionally and clean out the dust using a can of compressed air. Cleaning the dust inside your laptop will likely be more difficult, as laptop’s aren’t generally meant to be easy-to-open.

Spraying compressed air into your laptop’s fan vents may help dislodge some of the dust, but you’d have to open your laptop’s case for a serious cleaning. Also, only do this with the power off, and give your PC or laptop a few minutes after spraying compressed air.

Plugging Directly into the Power Outlet

Do you have your desktop computer or laptop plugged directly into a wall outlet? You shouldn’t. You should have your computer plugged into a surge. protector and the surge protector plugged into the wall. Many power bars have built-in surge protectors, but the cheapest ones just function as extension cords and provide no surge protection.

A surge protector ensures that power surges, which can occur during bad storms, for example, won’t destroy your computer’s hardware. Plugging your computer directly into the power outlet could result in a power surge damaging it. You can even get portable surge protectors for your laptop.

Using a Registry Cleaner or “PC Cleaning” App

Everyone wants to sell you a program that will somehow speed up your computer by deleting temporary files and cleaning up your registry. These programs are at best unnecessary, and at worst harmful. Either way, many of them will take a bite out of your bank account. A registry cleaner won’t speed up your computer, but it could cause damage to your registry.

The “PC cleaning” apps advertised on television at 3 a.m. and on banner ads all over the web are similarly unnecessary. If you want to delete temporary files, you can use the Disk Cleanup program included with Windows or use the free CCleaner utility.

Avoid the paid PC-cleaning apps.

Obstructing Air Flow

Your computer needs proper cooling. In addition to ensuring that dust doesn’t clog its vents, you’ll want to ensure that the air vents don’t become obstructed. For example, if you have a desktop PC in a tower, ensure that its air vents aren’t pressed up against a wall. If you have a laptop with an air vent, don’t place it on a bed that it will sink into, causing the blanket to obstruct its air vents. Don’t put your laptop on your lap in a position that will result in the air vents being blocked, either. Always take cooling and air flow into account.

This is particularly important when playing a demanding game or otherwise stressing your PC. If you’re just browsing the web, your computer shouldn’t heat up too much.

You can get away with having your laptop’s vents blocked for a short time during light usage, but don’t leave it that way for long.

So there you have it folks, just some of the errors that people make when carrying out their own maintenance. If any of you good readers are still reading this and have found any of our articles here in Technology Corner helpful, please send in suggestions for our next article to techcorner@alphaits.com with the Subject Line: Tech Corner Suggestions.

66

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

Shinrone GAA Notes U12

Shinrone u8 to u 10 hurling teams pictured at a blitz recently in ballingarry

The U12’s V Clara in Clara on Thursday 20th June. They had two teams on the night and both teams came away with impressive wins. Well done to all. .

U14

THE U14’2 v Coolderry in Shinrone on Friday 21st June. This was a game that produced a lot of fine scores from Shinrone.

They came away winners on a scoreline of 12 gl 9 pts to 3 points

Recent games

Our U12’s Played Birr last Tuesday week in Shinrone. Two teams took to the field with some great displays of hurling from each team. We came away winners of both games. Well done to all.

Under 8 in Croke Park recentley after defeating O Loughlin Gaels

U8

The U8 panel played St Rynagh’ last Monday evening in Shinrone and came away winners.

U10

The U10’s hosted a blitz last saturday where they played teams from KIlcormac/Killoughey and Ballyskenach/Killavilla. They were beaten in their Game against K/K but overcame Ballyskenach/ Killavilla. Alll players hurled very well. Well done to all involved.

Cul Camps

Registration forms for this year’s Cúl camp were recently distributed through the local schools. The camp in Shinrone runs from 22nd to 26th July. If you require any further information please contact John Leahy on 0872073226

Shinrone u 12 panel whom won both their games v Clara recently

68

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 7

From Yorkshire to Roscrea and Back Roscrea Man’s Bradford Pilgrimages pay off at Wembley

Many in Roscrea will never have heard of Bradford City FC and less will even know it’s in Yorkshire, but one man knows this more than many can imagine, Gary Eastwood.

Gary is a well known man in Roscrea, he’s been the Roscrea Shopping Centre’s most tireless worker for many years, we’ve all heard the voice over the PA in Bernie’s Supervalu telling us about real food, real people, well that’s his wife Margaret. His son is Roscrea’s only International Cricket player, Allan and his other son is well known to most as “Leslie”.

What most of us aren’t aware of is Gary is a Bradford man, born and bred. And more so, he is a diehard Bradford City FC fan. Over the past few years this fact has meant more heart break than reward but this year has been very different, very different indeed.

After travelling to Yorkshire to attend several games, usually accompanied by daughter Karen (You know her from Quigley’s, the tall one!) and her other half Stephen (Phone man in SpencerSpillane, does something with football), Gary had an experience very few football fans have had, especially Roscrea natives. Gary had two pilgrimages this year, both to Wembley.

As shocking as it may seem the team that has been to Wembley finals more than any this season has not been Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea or even Arsenal, it’s been Bradford City FC. Last season Gary began travelling to Bradford matches with his Brother Richard, sister-in-law Brigid, daughter Karen and son-in-law to be Stephen (when’s the wedding you ask?). This has meant very early mornings to catch the bus to Dublin airport and a 45 minute flight to Leeds Bradford airport. These many journeys have seen some really amazing days; Gary has to be the only Roscrea

man to support a team in England’s fourth tier to knock out the mighty Arsenal from a cup competition.

Along with these great results Gary has gotten to spend time with his Yorkshire family and rekindle his love for Dandelion and Burdock (Google it, it’s a Yorkshire favourite), Pork pies, Picalilly and many other foods that are so far flung from Roscrea they may as well be Chinese. His journeys have not been without merit

either, this February Gary travelled to witness Bradford City play Swansea in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.

An unfortunate day, one of those heart break moments for so many, as Bradford City succumbed to the premier league might and lost a dismal 5-0. But, as for anyone that knows Gary, this did not dishearten Gary’s spirit, he was proud of his original hometown in achieving the unbelievable and cast off any doubt of him being a fair weather fan by proudly wearing his colours after the loss for what seemed like a month. No tears of sorrow for Gary, as like the other 22,000 Bradfordians, he was singing “5-4 We’re gonna win 5-4” in the eightieth

minute! Amazingly the only half of Wembley singing when the fifth Swansea goal went in was the Bradford lads! And Gary was one of the loudest, so much so that unusually for Mr.Eastwood his voice was gone!

The unlikely story does not end there though. To Gary’s delight Bradford City returned to Wembley in May for the nPower League 2 Play-off final. A Roscrea presence in Wembley again! Gary’s journey was long, from a bus

to Dublin, flight to Yorkshire, train to London, Tube to Wembley and a walk up Wembley way. Gary was in dreamland, strange for a Roscreation but Gary knows Wembley better than Semple Stadium!!

2 nil up within the first half hour and Gary, Brigid, Richard, Stephen and Karen all had a glow about them, a childhood dream from the Yorkshire dales to Roscrea Bacon, Bradford City were going up. As the song says “Its only a cup, who gives a ****, we’re Bradford City and we’re going up”, a song Gary Eastwood has sung for what seems like years now.

This day was different though, the air was more confident, the Yorkshire boys were even louder and Gary was even checking the bookies odds (he didn’t make a flutter though). In front of 47,000 Bradford City were promoted 3-0 after an incredible win over Northampton.

When Gary returned home his grin was hard to miss, let alone the fact he told everyone that was anywhere near him about the promotion!

Roscrea’s link to Yorkshire will see an Eastwood in far flung places like Gillingham, Port Vale and Rotherham.

And they say you can’t go anywhere without running into someone from Roscrea!!

Roscrea UTD official opening

John Delaney Cheif Executive of The FAI with Stephen Glynn of Roscrea UTD at the launch of the new grounds Sun 30th June 2013

John Delaney with Noel Coonan

Soccer fans were in for a treat on Sunday June 30th as Roscrea UTD cut the ribbon and officially opened their new club. The team took on all Ireland champions Sherriff Youth Club in a friendly match that was to go in favour of Sherriff YC 2-1.

John Delaney CEO of the FAI was in attendance at the opening. John has also offered Roscrea UTD the fantastic opportunity of offering them the chance to play the return match at the Aviva Stadium should they win their first competitive game as a club. He also made a contribution to Roscrea UTD of â‚Ź2,500 to help get things going for the club. Needless to say Roscrea UTD stunned at such generosity were extremely grateful for this auspicious launch.

Special thanks also go to Seamus Morris, Michael Smith and Noel Coonan for attending and also for getting behind Roscrea UTD.

John Delaney and Michael Smith

Seamus Morris

Nenagh Classic Car Club will hold a cars and coffee morning on Sunday July 14th at Dromineer @ 12pm We are inviting all Classic/Vintage car owners/enthusiasts to come along and support this newly established club. We will hold an open discussion on the future plans for the club and we will be recruiting new members.

For more info contact: 0851387114 / brendan@nenaghclassiccarclub.com Or follow us on Facebook + Twitter: Nenagh classic car club