Kilkenny Observer 2nd August 2024

Hedging our deaths

FCI calls for clarity of safety priority in rural road hedgerow

The Association of Farm Contractors in Ireland (FCI), representing agricultural and forestry contractors in Ireland, has called on the Government and all local authorities to support clarity in regulation and enforcement of Section 70 of the Road Safety Act, because the association believes that the management of roadside

verges is contributing to creating high risks to all road users.

“It is now accepted that there is a road safety requirement under Section 70 of the Road Traffic Act 1993 that verge trimming of vegetative growth is carried out during the summer months on dangerous sections of roads. This road encroaching vegetation has

With a bow to his strings ...

Mykhalio Nazarov, Slieverue, Kilkenny pictured as he helped announce the new RIAM Spotlight Awards sponsored by Ace Autobody, Ireland’s largest network of collision repair specialists at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Previously called the High Achiever Awards, the Spotlight Awards recognise and celebrate the diverse achievements of some of the almost 30,000 students around Ireland who engage annually with RIAM Exams through a range of digital performances, regional and Gala concerts.

Pic: Marc O’Sullivan

See full story Page 14

limited the amount of space available to passing vehicular, cycling and pedestrian traffic,” according to the FCI.

Modern cars with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensor systems are forcing drivers into the centre of these unmanaged rural roads, as car technology aims to reduce collision risks in de-

tecting this summer vegetative growth.

The FCI says the lack of verge management is leading to a significant number of road traffic accidents on rural roads, while major roads and motorways, where there are no cyclists, pedestrians and runners, are regularly maintained when there is no obvious risk

present to the vehicular traffic due to vegetation growth.

Summer rural roadside verges in Ireland are dominated by large and vigorous plants such as Hogweed, Giant Hogweed, Cow and Knotweed, which are not habitat areas for nest birds. These plants significantly reduce summer road space, leading to road accidents.

Folks, let’s e-clean up our county!

South Kilkenny householders are being urged to bring their batteries, electrical, and electronic waste to a set of free collection days to help the county meet national e-waste recycling targets for 2024. The events, hosted by WEEE Ireland in partnership with Kilkenny County Council, kick off this Saturday, August 10, from 10am-4pm, at Thomastown United Football Club, Smithstown Lower, Thomastown.

On Tuesday, August 13, a collection will take place at Gowran National School, Chapel Road, Gowran, from 4pm-7pm. A collection will take place at Slieverue GAA Club, Airmount Road, Slieverue, on Thursday August 15 from 10am-1pm, before moving to Mooncoin Community Centre Car Park, Caritas, Polerone Road, Mooncoin, from 4pm-7pm on the same day.

On Saturday, August 17, a

collection will take place at Piltown Community Centre Car Park, Kildalton, Piltown from 10am-4pm.

Finally, on Friday, August 23, a collection will take place at Cillin Hill Mart, Dublin Road, Collin Hill.

Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled for free on the day, including old washing machines, TVs, toasters and kettles, electronic tools and toys, cables, IT equipment, mo-

bile phones, remote controls, batteries, including farm fence batteries, and even watches.

“In Kilkenny, and across Ireland, we are buying more electrical goods than ever – with people purchasing an average 22kg per head in 2023 compared to 16kgs just five years ago,” said WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan.

“Stats show a surge in spend on new electrical devices like mobile phones, computers,

small kitchen appliances and white goods.

“People in Kilkenny have contributed greatly to e-waste recycling every year, with 901 tonnes of electrical waste collected in the county in 2023, and we want to encourage that trend.”

A total of 8.66kg of e-waste was recycled per person in Kilkenny last year – falling short of the national average of 10.33kg per person.

“We believe that local authorities should employ suitably qualified and registered hedgerow/ management contractors,” said John Hughes, National Chair of the FCI.

“We also believe that roadside hedge and verge management initiatives should strive to meet multiple objectives in a balanced cost-effective way.”

E-scooter victim

Joe Carthy (14) ‘loved fishing’

Tributes have been paid to 14-year-old Joe Carthy who died following a collision between a car and an e-scooter in Co Kilkenny.

The collision happened on the Tullaroan road in Bonnettstown, Kilkenny shortly before 6.30pm on Saturday evening, July 27

Emergency services attended the scene and the teenager, who was on the e-scooter at the time of the collision, was taken to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny. He died on Sunday. The local coroner has been notified and arrangements are being made for a post-mortem examination in due course. The driver of the car was uninjured.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme, Fianna Fáil Councillor Joe Malone said he visited the teenager’s family following the news of his death.

“It’s so sad. They are all distraught out there,” he said.  Mr Malone said Joe was a member of the Traveller community. He had four sisters and three brothers and was “a quiet young chap” who loved fishing. He was returning home from fishing when the collision occurred.

On social media, the Kilkenny Traveller Community Movement said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Carthy Family today. RIP Joe.” Minister of State and Carlow–Kilkenny TD Malcolm Noonan commented on the post, saying: “Deepest condolences to Joe’s family and friends.” PAUL

Telling it like it is. And with no holds barred

Remember ... to put your car in Bark!

Mini goes Maxi as they announce the continuation of its partnership with Dogs Trust, Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, as they enter their third year of collaboration. Together they are on a mission to enhance the travel experience of dogs and their owners making it safer and happier for dogs to travel throughout Ireland.

In 2023, the partnership achieved a significant milestone as MINI Ireland became the first official dog-friendly Irish car retailer, responding to the increasing demand from dog owners wishing to travel with their pets safely. This summer, there has been a significant number of people travelling with their dogs. A recent survey revealed that over 74% of Irish travellers have brought their beloved canine companions on holiday within Ireland, and it’s clear that Ireland is a nation of animal lovers, with an overwhelming 91% of people considering their pets to be cherished members of the family.

Julie Brothwell, Head of Sales & Marketing for MINI Ireland, told The Kilkenny Observer: “At MINI,we are proud to partner with Dogs Trust Ireland and their vital work in supporting our canine companions across the country. We recognise the immense

value that charitable initiatives bring to local communities, and supporting charity projects is an essential way for us to give back and make a tangible difference.

“By continuing to invest in causes that improve the welfare of animals and provide essential services, we can collectively create a

brighter future for both people and pets in Ireland. We look forward to continuing our collaboration to make a positive impact in communities across Ireland.”

Ailbhe White, Partnerships Manager at Dogs Trust, said: “We are excited to be celebrating the third year of our partnership with MINI. This con-

tinued partnership reflects the shared commitment of MINI and Dogs Trust to literally and figuratively drive positive change, empower dog owners and promote the welfare of our four-legged friends.“

If you’re planning a staycation this year, travelling with dogs has been made easier with MINI. The generous boot

space of the MINI Countryman, the convenient split rear doors of the MINI Clubman, ease of access, smooth handling, high-quality interiors and the new dog pack, mean that every pooch can be matched with its perfect MINI partner.

When travelling with dogs, it’s important they are always

safe and feel confident in the car. ‘’Dogs should be suitably restrained when travelling in a car, secured in a comfortably sized seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or in the boot with a dog guard. These must be securely fitted and positioned so the dog can’t interfere with the driver or hang out of windows,” said Ailbhe White.

Helping the dogs of Ireland to travel happier, Mini stocks a range of dog travel products which includes a dog guard and rear compartment mat, everything Mini owners need to ensure their dog is safe, comfortable, and content in their vehicle. All retail showrooms are now dog-friendly environments, equipped with mats, bowls and treats for four-legged test drivers. Through their joint efforts over the past two years, Mini has donated more than €80,000 to Dogs Trust and became the main event sponsor of their annual Golf Classic, Barks & Birdies in June 2024. Mini staff have also held multiple fundraisers including ‘The Mini Christmas Sunrise Swim’ and ‘Joe Duffy Test Drive Fundraiser’.

*To sniff out your local showroom and find out more about the Mini and Dogs Trust Ireland partnership, please visit www.MINI.ie

Paw-some! Will Kushanu and Kamala hit it off?

Dublin Zoo has announced the arrival of male Asian lion Kushanu, from Edinburgh Zoo. Five-year-old Kushanu has joined nine-year-old female Kamala at the Asian lion habitat at Dublin Zoo, located beside Sea Lion Cove and close to the red panda habitat.

Kushanu has been getting used to his new habitat since his arrival in March, and is forming a strong bond with Kamala. There is great excitement at Dublin Zoo, as it is hoped the pair will breed and produce healthy cubs.

Dublin Zoo is part of the European Endangered Species Programme for the Asian lion, which manages

Plea to drivers as last year sees 270 road collisions

The Emergency Medical Response charity CRITICAL is ur ging people to slow down and avoid distractions when taking to the roads this Bank Holiday weekend.   It comes as CRITICAL, which has volunteer groups across the country, reveals that responders have been tasked to 270 road traffic collisions in 14 months.  These range from collisions between cars, cars and pedestrians and cars and es cooters.

CRITICAL is Ireland’s leading Volunteer Emergency Medical Response c harity and its mission is to save lives through a network of volunteer emergency medical responders.  T hey are tasked by the National Ambulance Service t o respond to emergency 999 calls in their local area.  As they are living or working close by, volunteers can get to a patient quickly to provide medical care while an ambulance is on the way.

Dr Mark Ruddy, who previously worked as a flying do ctor in Australia, is a GP in South Wicklow and has been responding for CRITICAL since September 2022. He says CRITICAL volunteers see speed and distraction as the main causes of road crashes and he’s urging people to be cautious on the roads across the b usy August Bank Holiday weekend.

“You might be the best and safest driver on the road, however you can’t account for others.  Slowing down and not being distracted allows you to react to the mistakes of others.  While motorways are relatively safe, the majority of fatal accidents seem to be occurring on backroads or single l ane national roads.  Vulnerable road users such as

their population and breeding. With the Asian lion classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the breeding programme for the species is vitally important. It is estimated that there are approximately 500-600 individuals left in the wild, due to threats such as habitat

loss and poaching (illegal hunting).

Today, Asian lions live in only one place in the wild, the Gir National Park and Sanctuary in India. This means that Asian lions are also vulnerable to unexpected events in that area such as natural disasters or diseases. Another significant threat is conflict

with farmers when lions come onto their lands.

The lion has the loudest roar of all the big cats and can be heard up to eight kilometres away. The male lion is the only cat that has a mane, which is an indication of their maturity and dominance.

mot orcyclists and cyclists are making up a disproportionately high number of injuries,” he said..

CRI TICAL responders receive extensive training but Dr Ruddy says the im pact of a Road Traffic Collision can be tough on everyone involved.

“The suddenness of a road traffic collision is what affects me.  People are doing normal things, living their life and things can change dramatically in an instance.

“We know that advanced level care as soon as possible can improve outcomes and reduce mortality and significant disability and that is what we strive for.  Young people make up the highest proportion of road deaths which is very sad.”

David Tighe, CEO of CRITICA, explainsed why a rapid response was so important: “The first 60 minutes after the onset of serious illness or trauma is known as ‘The Golden Hour’ because this time is crucial to a patient’s chances of survival.  A rapid emergency response can mean the difference between life and death, and is also vital in protecting the patient’s quality of life and recovery from a sudden illness or trauma.”

CRITICAL volunteers respond to 999/112 calls for patients who suffer from serious medical issues like cardiac arrest, stroke, choking, and seizures, or serious traumas like road, farming, school and workplace accidents, and falls.

*If you w ould like to get involved, or to make a donation to CRITICAL, please v isit: https://criticalcharity.ie/ or call 021 4190 999.

*Dublin Zoo is open seven days a week from 9.30am to 7.00pm. For further information on Dublin Zoo visit www. dublinzoo.ie.

Asian lions have shorter, darker manes than African lions. Asian lions are carnivores (meat-eaters) and are known as ambush predators; they hide from their prey and then charge at it, grabbing them before they can escape.

The woman who came into my bookshop

By Tom Kenny Kenny’s Bookshop Galway City

In the late ‘40s, a young lady came into our shop, spent a few hours immersed in the books and left, empty handed. The following day, she was back, again immersed herself in the books and

this time, bought two books.

Our mother was intrigued by her and asked “What do you do?” She replied, “I work in a chemist shop, but I am hoping someday to become a writer.” Her name was Edna O’Brien and she and mother became very close friends.

...

Every time she came to Galway, she visited the shop. I can still hear the two of them laughing over cups of tea, probably at some mischievous piece of literary gossip. She was a lady, there was a kind of aura about her. She was always calm, a born communicator and often, very funny.

To hear her read from

her own work was to sit there in awe and wonder at the power of the word. She shattered the glass ceiling over women writers in this country. She enriched our lives and left us a wonderful legacy. It was a privilege to have known her.

Solas na bhFhlaitheas dá h-anam.

Microsoft says cyber-attack triggered latest outage

The recent global outage affecting Microsoft products, including Outlook and Minecraft, was allegedly caused by a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack and a failure in defence implementation, led to thousands of

user reports, according to the BBC. It comes less than two weeks after a major global outage left around 8.5 million computers using Microsoft systems inaccessible, impacting healthcare and travel, after a flawed software update by

cyberse-

curity firm CrowdStrike. From what we have seen over the last couple of weeks we have learnt to expect the unexpected more than ever. To witness two major outages in such a short space of time is unprecedented but maybe not entirely independent. Cybercriminals are clearly testing their skill sets at greater lengths and this needs to reflect on the amount of robust protection that is now required to hold off this next generation of attacks.

The Fact Of The Matter

Paul

Hopkins

And the Olympic runner who drove to victory ...

Competition has long been a part of our culture. From a simple game of bowls to an All Ireland or FA Cup Final and everywhere in between, there is competition. It’s part of what we are, the need to be top dog. The prize for the winner of such competition can be anything from just being called the winner, to much money and endorsement deals, to the title of World or Olympic Champion. Since the Greeks first hit on the idea of an Olympiad, through the growth of sports, the prize has become much more desirable. To be the winner has become such a priority that some will do anything to get it, whether playing by the rules or not. Down the years in the Olympics there have been cheats caught redhanded — whether using performance-enhancing drugs, betting, or pulling back to be the losers as with China. Even Paris, before it began, had participants sent home.

One thinks of allegations against Irish competitors. Michelle Smith’s rise to dominance at the Olympics in Atlanta at a relatively advanced age for swimmers were marked by allegations of doping, which were never proven. Smith was later banned for four years by the International Swimming Federation for contamination of an anti-doping sample. Show jumper Cian O’Connor was stripped of his Gold at the 2004 Games when his horse was found to have digested a banned substance. O’Connor returned in 2012, receiving a Bronze medal. We humans may well be invested in seeing ourselves as ethical creatures. To believe in the rightness of our own conduct, to see our lives as a series of mostly ‘well-intentioned’ decisions. But it is not always so. The Greeks back in the day devised a way of dealing with cheats: they were fined. The

sting in the tail was that the fine was used to commission a statue of the cheat, which was displayed, with an inscription of his name, father’s name and city. What you might call a veritable roll of dishonour.

Some remember the ’80s and Ben Johnson being stripped of the Gold Medal he won in the 100m sprint, the glamour event of track and field. The scandal was particularly devastating for Canada, who latched onto Johnson with a great deal of national pride, only to be gutted two days later when it was revealed that Johnson had been using steroids.

Among the funnier — if cheating can be considered such — Olympic cheats was American Fred Lorz who in the 1904 Marathon was the first to cross the line. It was then discovered he had stopped running after nine miles, and then taken a car ride for 11 miles before re-

suming running the remaining distance. Then there was Dora Ratjen, a German athlete who competed in the 1936 Olympics in the High Jump.

“A statue of the cheat, which was displayed, with an inscription of his name, father’s name and city...

Dora, however, was actually Hermann, a man coerced by the Hitler Youth into tightly binding his genitals and competing against women.

The late Canadian psychologist Albert Bandura, the originator of ‘social learning theory’, coined the term ‘moral disengagement’ to describe the process by which we pervert our sense of right and wrong in order to give into a questionable temptation. Moral disengagement allows us to behave in ways that, at another moment, we would never consider.

Moral disengagement, argued Bandura, influences how people would behave in a given situation — as in desperation to bring home an Olympic medal.

In the book The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty [Harper], Dan Ariely describes himself as a ‘behavioural economist’ (don’t ask), and says every one of us cheats but “usually only a little’’.

For most of us it is nicking the office stationery or moving the chess piece when our opponent’s not looking. On a much grander scale, as we now know, there are the politicians and the bankers — and we seem to have little problem, in the main, with letting them away with gross and abusive cheating.

Ariely argues that all of us can cheat a little and still keep that ‘good person’ identity. Most people won’t cheat so much that it makes it harder to feel good about themselves.

The philosopher Immanuel Kant argued that most of us may avoid cheating for ‘utilitarian reasons’ — which means the happiness of the greatest number of people in society is considered the greatest good. This is fine, but Kant would say this is a ‘non-moral reason’ for not cheating and that the only proper moral motivation for not cheating is that, plain and simple, it is wrong to cheat.

Noonan welcomes news to improve Kilkenny rail

Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform and Carlow-Kilkenny TD Malcolm Noonan has welcomed the All-Island Strategic Rail Review which contains several recommendations to improve the rail network in the CarlowKilkenny area. The report sets out a vision for Ireland’s rail network including upgrading and electrifying existing

railway lines and reopening old railway lines in phases over the next 25 years.

“These recommendations would transform the rail service in our area and around the country. We’re taking public transport seriously and we’ve set out a detailed evidence-based vision for what measures need to be taken to expand the network, reduce journey times and

VHI hits the 50,000 mark with free health check-ups

The private health insurance company Vhi has released new health and wellbeing insights generated from 50,000 free self-service health checks over a two-year period.

The on-the-spot health assessment stations provided at workplaces and other sites across the country in partnership with Sisu Health measure blood pressure, body mass index, and perceived stress, as well as screening for diabetes and cardiovascular risks. Participating users can subsequently benefit from lifestyle advice on a range of health issues through an integrated portal, with signposting provided to GPs in cases of identified health risks.

Since the re-introduction of the Vhi health checks scheme in September 2022, more than 40,000 members of Vhi corporate health schemes have actively monitored their health and wellbeing using the mobile self-service health stations which visited 540 workplace locations and sites nationwide.

Since the introduction of the health check stations that more than 9,000 people were recommended to contact their GP following a health assessment. These referrals encourage early intervention in cases of health risk and help to reduce the likelihood of developing chronic illness. More than half of those who used the health stations (21,000) had not received a blood pressure check in the past 12 months prior to screening, with 14.3% of those assessed recording high blood pressure.

Other insights include:

• 16% of all participants recorded high blood pressure, with 49% of all men measuring ‘at risk’ to high.

• 2002 Health checks triggered a ‘GP Call to action’ for high blood pressure (140/90) and or high BMI (35+).

• 16% of participants indicated that they are a smoker,

make rail a viable choice for more people,” he told The Kilkenny Observer.

One of the major recommendations for the region is the addition of a second track between Kildare and Kilkenny. “The current single-track rail line restricts the frequency of services in the area. Double-tracking would allow Irish Rail to operate more services and remove the need for

trains to wait for each other to pass.” said Minister Noonan. The report also recommends speed upgrades of up to 200km/h on major intercity routes. “The section between Kildare and Dublin is also proposed to be upgraded to 200km/h which would have a huge impact on journey times for people in Carlow and Kilkenny," he said.

“The report also recommends positive changes in the wider region such as reopening the disused line from Waterford to Wexford and upgrading the line between Waterford and Limerick. These would greatly improve our connectivity with our neighbouring counties and provide a boost for regional development.”

Minister Noonan also

stressed the importance of cross-party commitment to implementing these changes: “Working with our partners in Northern Ireland, we’re aiming to bring about a new age of rail in Ireland. It’s vital that all parties here and in the North remain committed to this plan and work to implement its recommendations to transform the rail network on this island.”

a little under the 18% national average as published by the HSE.

Professor Charlie Foster, Head of Population Health, Vhi, told The Kilkenny Observer: “Investing in the health and wellbeing of employees is crucial in building happier and healthier workplaces. That’s why we’re delighted to reach this major milestone in the use of our health check services. Encouraging team employees and members to actively monitor and look after their health through regular checks can drastically reduce the risk of developing chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease. Benefits are also seen by employers who see happier, healthier and stronger employees alongside real costs savings in reductions in the impacts of smoking and poor mental health.

“By providing quick and easy access to health checks in workplaces and other sites around the country, we’re empowering members to identify and address health risks early on and help them to achieve better health outcomes. This is one of the many ways in which Vhi is driving innovation in how healthcare is delivered and helping our members live longer, stronger and happier lives,” he said.

Jez Styles, Director of Growth, SisU Health, said: “We are delighted to have reached this milestone through our partnership with Vhi. Given the increasing burden of chronic cardiovascular and metabolic health conditions on global healthcare systems it is important that new technology should be accessible, convenient and deployed strategically. SiSU believe that people should be able to access health checks in places where they live their lives, with workplaces presenting a prime opportunity for Vhi’s members to identify developing or undiagnosed conditions.

€65

million challenge fund

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Patrick O’Donovan TD has announced the first nine teams to receive Grow Phase funding under the €65 million National Challenge Fund – a competitive programme aiming to deliver solutions for major environmental and societal issues.

Funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Fund calls on researchers to identify problems related to Ireland’s Green Transition and Digital Transformation and work directly with those most affected to solve them.

Minister O’Donovan told The Kilkenny Observer: “I am pleased to announce the first cohort of the National Challenge Fund project teams that are now finalists in this competition-based

funding programme. This innovative, solutions-focused programme is a key driver in delivering research and innovation that makes a real and positive impact across society, the economy, and the environment – not just here in Ireland, but across Europe and around the world.

“I look forward to following the progress these teams of leading researchers make over the next 12 months as they continue to progress their projects that will unlock the transformational potential of digital technologies and support Ireland’s commitment to becoming climate neutral. I am working to ensure continuity on funding calls previously run by SFI and IRC over the coming months, as Taighde Éireann –Research Ireland commences its operations.”

Since its launch, 96 teams have been funded through the National Challenge Fund, and the latest announcement sees the first nine teams become finalists in this competitive funding model. The nine teams selected today will have the opportunity for additional funding in the final phase of the programme, where prize funding of €1 million will be on offer to the most competitive teams under both the 2050 and the Future Digital Challenges.

Dr Ciarán Seoighe, Acting Director General, SFI, said:

“The National Challenge Fund is a fast-paced funding programme that supports research teams to work directly with the key stakeholders most impacted by their research. I am excited to see these nine teams continue

to develop their real-world, tangible solutions in concert with the societal impact champions who have helped shape their research focus.” EU Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness, said: “I am delighted to see the progress of the National Challenge Fund teams over the last 18 months. They’re showing what benefits EU funding can bring. The teams are working directly with those most impacted by the climate and digital transitions, to come up with the innovative solutions that we need for a more sustainable future – which will help both Ireland and the European Union as a whole. I wish these teams every success as they progress to the next phase of funding.”

Tesco looks to develop Mart site for large store

Tesco Ireland has confirmed it intends to submit planning for a new store at the former Mart site in Kilkenny.

Subject to planning approval, the scheme will see a modern, sustainable, and accessible store built in Kilkenny city, including new car parking facilities, the provision of Click+Collect services for customers, and include a grocery home-shopping hub to serve

the wider catchment of Co Kilkenny.

In partnership with Codd Property Holdings, the proposed development includes 80 residential units and an assisted care unit, alongside a further 90 car parking spaces.

In a statement a spokesperson for Tesco Ireland said: “We are pleased to submit our application to develop the former Mart site. Subject to permis-

sion, this new store will bring all the positive benefits that Tesco brings to town; including local jobs, community supports, opportunities for local suppliers and a new shopping experience for colleagues and customers.

"In the meantime, we’re looking forward to opening our first city centre store at Kilkenny High Street, in mid-October. We will begin recruitment to

fill 15 customer assistant roles for this store in the coming weeks; where colleagues can be assured of market leading rates of pay and benefits, with fully flexible banded hour contracts, right here in their local community.”

*Anyone interested in applying for roles in the High Street store can find out more online by searching Tesco Ireland Careers

Funded: Professor Aonghus McNabola, Trinity College Dublin, Dr Séamus O’Shaughnessy, Trinity College Dublin, and co-lead Dr Daniel Trimble, Trinity College Dublin

As I See It Marianne Heron

Time to come clean about history of abuse

It all seems so very long ago now. Divorcee Annie Murphy’s ill-starred love affair with Bishop Eamon Casey, 20 years her senior, began in 1974. It’s disclosure and the existence of their son Peter, 18 years later led to Casey’s resignation and flight to Chile. The saga rocked Ireland’s faithful to the core, undermining the hold of Catholic Church here.

Now further scandals relating to allegations of child sex abuse by the popular bishop have risen to the surface like a drowned corpse. Ireland has moved on but the story, like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), still has the power to reawaken old trauma.

Silence is a dangerous thing where gender-based violence and abuse are involved, as it imprisons victims behind closed doors and allows perpetrators free rein. Now more victims are finding the courage to break that silence

and come forward, identifying their abusers so that the law can bring them to justice: women like Natasha O’Brien victim of a vicious attack by soldier Cathal Crotty. There are many things that may hold victims of genderbased violence or sexual abuse silent: shame, fear, the ordeal of going to trial and publicity imprison victims in threatening situations long after they should have been delivered from their torment. It can take years, too, before child victims can find the understanding, the maturity or even the words to come forward and speak about what happened to them. But what if institutions are involved in omerta and systematic cover up of the crimes involved – isn’t that sin of omission worse than the original offence, since it leaves justice unserved and further potential victims at risk?

The thing that I find most

disturbing in the latest revelations about Bishop Eamon Casey in the RTE/ Daily Mail investigation which aired on RTE1 is the way that the Catholic Hierarchy still persisted in covering up. The Vatican was aware of a number of complaints against Casey over child sex abuse from 2001. On Casey’s return to Ireland a decision was taken to ban him from publicly officiating at Mass from 2007 but it was never explained why, with people assuming this was because of the Annie Murphy affair. The allegations of abuse of young girls by the late bishop is shocking enough, but that the Catholic Church never disclosed why Casey was barred from officiating here can only add to the sense of distrust and failure of accountability created by all the other cover-ups from the Tuam Mother & Baby Home to the Spiritan Brothers at Blackrock College.

“Space to Create” funding opportunity announced for Kilkenny

Minister for the Arts has recently announced a funding opportunity for county councils could see artists spaces created in Kilkenny. Kilkenny County Council can avail of €150,000 that they can combine with matched funding to create spaces for artists to create. This follows the successful pilot programme that Minister Catherine Martin developed and funded through Dublin City Council and is now being rolled out all over Ireland.

Newly elected Green Party Cllr Maria Dollard has welcomed the news saying, “The Green Party in government have been especially focused on the communities and society as a whole and have been instrumental in seeing support for artists increase since entering government. Artists often struggle to find studios and performance spaces and this funding is very welcome for Kilkenny. Our Arts Officer and her team do trojan work in supporting local artists. Local authorities are well placed to support artists and Kilkenny has been especially good. This fund can also help bring vibrancy to town centres, tackle dereliction and engage the night time economy. I look forward to engaging with artists and creatives and supporting Kilkenny County Council Arts Office over the next

Despite all the scandals that have emerged over the decades beginning in the 1980s, despite the Ryan and Murphy reports, the church were still protecting their

“Silence is a dangerous thing where gender-based violence and abuse are involved...

own and putting their own reputation first decades later.

Social attitudes here and elsewhere are changing and institutions that fail to remedy the unacceptable face public criticism and demands for change. It isn’t only the church which has been culpable of failing to deal openly or effectively with abuse. The Army –already under scrutiny for bullying and sexual misconduct following complaints by the Women of Honour Group and the setting up of a Tribunal on Inquiry into same –has been in the spotlight over the need to dismiss members of the force guilty of sexual violence.

Perhaps the most concerning thing of all about the lack of accountability is the feeling that there is an underlying culture of tolerance for violence or sexual abuse and that the fate of victims count for much less than the perpetrators and the standing of

institutions.

Now we are seeing another area where there is lack of responsibility and action to curb abuse. Social media and the internet allow trolls and right-wing activists to pour out vitriolic hate mail, incite riots, and threaten politicians, asylum seekers and migrants. Two recent cases show that effective action can be taken: the individual who threatened to shoot Mary Lou Mac Donald was swiftly identified, arrested and his on- line account terminated. In the UK Gavin Plumb who went on line and invited others to help him kidnap, rape and murder TV personality Holly Willoughby was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.

But those two cases are just the tip of a menacing iceberg of online abusers who threaten public figures and social order. Effective measures are needed to stop them.

Healthy summer juices

Are you looking for a refreshing way to stay healthy this summer? Look no further than Biona's organic juice lineup! Their selection includes vibrant flavours like red grape, cranberry, tart cherry, carrot, and pomegranate – each packed with natural goodness. They use 100% certified organic fruits, never adding concentrates, sugars, or preservatives. It's just pure, delicious fruit in every sip. Plus, they boast up to 69% more antioxidants than non-organic alternatives, giving you an extra health boost.

Each flavour offers unique benefits: Biona red grape is a perfect addition to your daily protocol to support heart health. Red grapes may help to fight inflammation and naturally support your heart health. The juice has a vibrant wine/red colour and has an intensely rich flavour. Cranberry juice is most commonly used to help prevent urinary tract infections. Biona cranberry juice is perfect as it has no added sugar. This is important as juices that contain added sugar can aggravate the blad-

der. Cranberries are traditionally used to boost natural immunity too. For those of you with muscle soreness and sleep

problems Biona’s Tart Cherry Juice would be a fantastic choice. The juice contains Montmorency cherries which are a natural source of melatonin which may help improve sleep. Tart Cherry Juice may also help reduce muscle soreness especially after intense physical training and exercise. Most of us grew up being told that carrots are good for our eyesight. This may be because carrots are a natural source of vitamin A and C, both vitamins that are great to support eye health. Biona carrot juice tastes fantastic by itself or combined with apple/ginger or lemon juice. Pomegranate juice may help to lower blood pressure and improve heart health. For a refreshing summer drink try this recipe: One cup of Biona carrot juice, half a cup of Biona orange juice, half a cup of apple juice, finely grated ginger, one tablespoon of Biona lemon juice and one tablespoon of good quality Biona agave syrup. Mix together, pop in a pretty glass with some ice cubes, garnish with some mint. Sit back, relax, and enjoy. I do hope the sun is out for you when you try this recipe! Biona juices could be a healthy addition to your daily routine, why not check them out

CLAIR WHITTY

SPECIAL REPORT

The Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) has announced that Ace Autobody, Ireland’s largest network of collision repair specialists, will sponsor the new RIAM Spotlight Awards (previously called the High Achiever Awards) which will recognise and celebrate the diverse achievements of some of the almost 30,000 students around Ireland who engage annually with RIAM Exams.

By coming on board as Partner on the RIAM Spotlight Awards, Ace Autobody become part of this celebration of talent and achievement, supporting creativity and cultural expression in communities the length and breadth of Ireland.

The rebranding of the High Achiever Awards to

Spotlight Awards celebrating Ireland’s young musicians

About RIAM Exams...

Founded in 1894, RIAM Exams supports students of music and drama at every stage of their learning journey assessing and supporting the development of talented young people and their committed teachers throughout the island of Ireland.  Our team of examiners travel nationwide to examine candidates in their locality across all 32 counties. Since its foundation, over 1,000,000 candidates have taken RIAM Exams.

RIAM provides an external and objective analysis of the progress of young musicians through a graded music examination system, helping both teacher and student celebrate progress and focus on the following goals.  RIAM Exams provide a valuable yardstick in the creative education of the next generation of Irish musical and drama talent.  Since the High Achiever Awards began in 2020, almost 500,000 students have participated in our examination system, 7,500 of whom have won a coveted High Achiever Award.

the Spotlight Awards is in a renewed spirit of access and inclusivity, reflecting the journey RIAM is on to extend its diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion credentials. As part of this process, RIAM is widening its traditional definitions of success in line with our core values of Excellence, Inspiration, Inclusion, Innovation and Support.  RIAM wants to encourage a new generation to have a positive impact on their communities and those around them. To do that, RIAM uses the power of music for change and are constantly seeking innovative ways to expand and diversify audiences, both in person and digitally.

The Spotlight Awards will develop to become a more

focused outreach series of events, bringing aspiring musicians throughout Ireland close to the RIAM family, highlighting pathways for musical development and career opportunities.  As part of this development, some of the most talented musicians achieving recognition in the Spotlight Awards can avail of masterclass opportunities and attend a pre-concert workshop with some of RIAM’s renowned teaching faculty.

In the company of family, friends, neighbours and fellow musicians, the Spotlight Awards will provide a wonderful platform for these inspiring musicians to share their talents.

Through annual concerts in each province (2024 re -

gional concerts will be held in Navan, Dublin, Ennis and Sligo) culminating in a spectacular Spotlight Gala Concert in the new Whyte Recital Hall in RIAM, the Spotlight Awards will recognise not just the most talented musicians but also those who have made significant achievements on their own terms, despite any adverse challenges or obstacles to their creative development.

Paul Plunkett, Managing Director at Ace Autobody Ltd, told The Kilkenny Observer: “We are extremely proud to be associated with sponsorship of the RIAM Spotlight Awards, it is a truly unique experience for aspiring young talent. To be able to support fulfilling the dreams, and recognise

the incredible talents of these young people is an honour for Ace Autobody. The success achieved is the sum of hard work and dedication repeated day in and day out by these young musicians.”

Deborah Kelleher, Director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ace Autobody as sponsors of the Spotlight Awards. With shared values based on excellence and national reach, we are confident that this partnership can reap real impactful benefits celebrating the achievements of young musicians who aspire for success in their creative endeavours and who, in turn, inspire other young people to achieve their dreams.’

Over the years the importance of the awards in the development of creativity and artistic talent in young people has been recognised by the attendance of former President Mary McAleese and various government ministers.  Some of Ireland’s brightest young talents have benefited from achieving awards including renowned theatre and TV actor Andrew Scott, Westlife’s Cian Egan, Harry Potter actor Evanna Lynch and violinist Zoe Conway.  The Awards were paused in 2020 due to Covid, but RIAM wants to celebrate once again the achievements of our young musicians around the country offering them the priceless experience of live public performance through a series of regional concerts each autumn, impacting positively within their local communities.

In fine tune: Mykhalio Nazarov, Slieverue, Kilkenny pictured with Paul Plunkett, Managing Director at Ace Autobody Ltd and Deborah Kelleher, Director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music as they helped announce the new RIAM Spotlight Awards sponsored by Ace Autobody PHOTO: Marc O’Sullivan

The benefits of interest in online banking Your Money & You

In a bid to attract a portion of the €156 billion currently on deposit in Ireland, Dutch online bank Bunq has announced a substantial increase in its savings rate. From July 19 Bunq has increased the interest rate on its ‘Easy Savings’ account to 3.36% for new customers. This is a significant jump from the previous 2.46% rate and stands as one of the best rates currently available in Ireland incentivising many to reconsider where they deposit their money.

One of the standout features of these savings account is the frequency of interest payouts. Unlike other accounts that pay interest quarterly or annually, Bunq pays out interest weekly. This allows savers to benefit from compound interest more frequently, potentially accelerating their savings growth. Through their App, top ups can be completed quickly and easily. Additionally, customers may

John Ellis

make two instant withdrawals per month, providing flexibility and easy access to their funds.

The bank is fully licensed in the Netherlands, and all deposits are guaranteed up to €100,000 under the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme but it’s a pity that loyalty is rarely rewarded; existing customers rate will slightly decrease to 2.16%, but additional deposits will earn the new 3.36% rate. However, if customers have made recent withdrawals, the higher rate will only apply once their account balance surpasses the previous highest balance recorded between January and June of this year.

The more competition the better and so it is great to see the Irish banks increasing their savings rates despite the ECB beginning to cut rates in June. For example, Bank of Ireland has raised the rate on two of its fixed-term deposit accounts, with its

two-year fixed-term Advantage account now offering 3% annually.

Online-only banks like N26 and Revolut have also intro-

duced competitive instantaccess savings accounts. Revolut offers 2% for standard account holders and up to 3.49% for those with an ‘Ultra’

subscription. Meanwhile, N26 offers 2.80% for standard account holders and up to 4% for those with a ‘Metal’ subscription. However, ECB rates are likely to be cut again later this year, great for mortgage holders but the higher savings rates now available might not last long.

It is crucial to review all available options to ensure your money works as hard as you. Your financial advisor and platforms like Bonkers. ie offer savings comparison tools to help you compare rates from various providers, including AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB, Trade Republic, Raisin, Bunq, N26, and more.

For those with longer-term savings goals, considering a life assurance investment policy with providers like Irish Life, Zurich, or Aviva might be beneficial. These managed funds invest in a mix of stocks, commodities, property, and bonds, offering the potential for higher returns. Contributions can start from as little as €100 a month, or you can invest a lump sum starting around €10,000. It is important to be aware of taxes, fees, and the lack of instant access to these funds. Life assurance exit tax at 41%, a 1% stamp duty, and fund management fees ranging from 1% to 2% annually can impact overall returns. Market performance is an issue and there is a risk of not getting back some or all of your original capital. With the rise in competition among banks and varying interest rates, savers should stay informed and proactive about their options. Contacting a financial advisor and/or utilising online comparison tools you will find the best value for your money and ensure your savings are optimally positioned for growth.

john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362633

Breathless returns to Kilkenny

Carlow based theatre director Emma O’Brien will bring her adaptation of John MacKenna’s Breathless to the Hole in Wall on Sunday August 11th as part of the Alternative Kilkenny Arts festival. Emma has embarked on a new direction in her theatre career. Breathless is a challenging and thought provoking play Inspired by real events in the Midlands, ‘Breathless’ is a play about four missing women.

It starts on a summer morning when four women , who are strangers to each

other, meet on a roadside. They share one thing in common; each is missing; the nurse disappeared without a trace, as did the teenager, the teacher and the older, unhappily married woman. They remember - in frightening detail - the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.

Speaking with The Kilkenny Observer , author John MacKenna said:“I wanted to write a play that recognised the lives of women who disappear - the real lives. The four women in this play bring the strengths and failings that were part and parcel of their

daily lives into a condition where loss, confrontation, anger and even humour are unavoidable.”

Directed by Emma Kinsella, the play challenges its audience to explore questions beyond the facts of disappearance, examining life and death and optimism in the face of everything fate throws at people. The show starts at 8pm and admission on the door is €12.

: Woman No. 1:

Woman

CAST

Deirdre Colhoun,

No. 2: Lily Mae O’Brien, Woman No. 3: Miriam Dowd, Woman No. 4: Andrea Bolger

Cast with writer John McKenna. Lilly Mea o Brien, Andrea Bolger, Mirriam Dowd, Deirdre Colhoun

& Wellbeing

When a good child can make you a bad boss

While we like to think of ourselves as “changing” as we grow, neurologically speaking that’s not the case as old tendencies to think, feel or behave in certain ways remain within us. As far back as the 1950s, the research of the psychologist Donald Hebb showed that our neural pathways grow stronger as experiences and behaviours are repeated. These are chains of brain cells that activate when we experience something, and fire quicker and more intensely when used often.

This is why and how we become faster to recognise or respond to some things more than others, what enables us to home in on familiar faces in a crowd, and why some people tend to smile more — because those neural pathways have become more established.

Indeed, this persistence of stable neural pathways is what enables us to remember things. And because they remain, they can still affect us, especially in moments when we are under pressure and don’t have the time or wherewithal to be more considered and deliberate. This is why

in tense, busy or stressful moments, we can find ourselves falling back on old ways of thinking and behaving. So, anything new we learn is influenced by the sensitivities and tendencies we already have. This is why ways of thinking and feeling can become generalised, so that — for instance — people who are optimists tend to be optimistic about most things. And it is why once we learn to be one way, we rarely become the opposite.

These, then, are the mechanisms through which the ways we learn to think, feel and behave in our earliest relationships as children can stay with us. And what this means for people who grew up being seen as “good” children is that these behaviours can continue to influence how they act decades later as bosses. Precisely how we are affected as adults by our earliest neural pathways depends upon the experiences and specific tendencies they created. Or, in other words, the type of good kid we were.

The Thoughtful Child

Some children grow up especially sensitive to what others are feeling and are keen to keep them happy. When this tendency persists into adulthood, these individuals invariably meet as caring, considerate and highly able to make themselves liked. But as ever, too much of a good thing can be bad for us. And this is why studies have repeatedly found that leaders who are ‘too nice’ — to the point of wanting to avoid tensions or upsetting people — can find it more difficult to address poor performance and drive unpopular change.

The obedient child

Some children, meanwhile, grow up focused on what others’ want and expect from them, and are keen to avoid criticism. They do what they are told, don’t challenge opinions or instructions, and work hard to meet their parents’ expectations. As bosses, this focus can help them meet their objectives. But when overdone, complying with expectations can also hinder performance, as studies show that individuals high

been shown to be more sensitive to criticism and conflict (presumably because they are not used to it). Whatever the cause, individuals with a sensitivity to tensions tend to be more proactive in seeking to avoid, minimise or resolve them. This can be a strength but it can also become a tendency to back down from arguments that may be useful to have.

MANAGING THE CHILD WITHIN

What we can do to better manage the child within so their traits don’t impact the bosses we become.

1. Understand the old preferences and tendencies you fall back on when under pressure. Identifying how the past affects you requires more than a quick, “yeah — I’m like that” approach. One way to start exploring this is by thinking about which type of good child you were from the examples above and what specific behaviours made you good. This can then make it easier for you to see to what extent how you think, feel and behave under pressure involves some of your childhood tendencies. Once you’ve done that, you are then able to question how these traits can help you, and when they might not.

2. Take proactive steps to stop any unhelpful habit hangovers. Simple behavioural routines work well here. Maybe a phrase you repeat (eg, “I’m not going to do X.”), or even something physical like standing up or tapping the desk. For example, a leader we worked with who realised they had a tendency to rush to mollify people showing anger or frustration developed a simple habit of tutting to themselves in these moments, as a way of interrupting their impulse to immediately sympathise. Anything can work, just so long as it literally interrupts the good child within.

with compliance tendencies tend to be less proactive and less able to drive innovation. As a result, these bosses can struggle when they get into situations where they need to set an agenda themselves, and they can be prone to focusing on what the business wants at the expense of proactively seeing and pursuing what it needs.

The Positive Child

Finally, there are children who try to maintain harmony and positive vibes, and avoid or smooth tensions. They tend to appear more sociable and positive, which can make them great networkers and easy to like. Yet underlying this, there is often a desire for approval or a strong anxiety response to conflict. Unsurprisingly, studies have found sensitivity to conflict to be higher in children growing up in families where there is a lot of conflict or where there are high levels of punishment. But perhaps more surprisingly, these studies also show that those growing up with very permissive parents or who are rarely punished have

3. Develop a new routine you want to follow. Again, simple behaviours are best, and you can call upon the plentiful guidance around building habits to help here. In the example above of the leader whose impulse was to immediately soothe tensions, they developed instead a habit of always responding with at least two questions before offering any sympathy. This helped them better understand the issue and gave them time to think about the best response. Building new ways of being can only take hold and grow if we have first identified how the hidden tendencies formed from our childhood still affect us, and taken steps to interrupt its influence upon us as adults. This way, we can make sure the good child we once were doesn’t stop us from being the good boss we are trying to be.

With a population of over 33 million residents, India’s capital New Delhi is known for its hospitable people. However, some crime has contributed to its reputation as an unsafe city.

It has a beautiful blend of ancient history and modern infrastructure and is a melting pot of many religions, communities, and even languages. New Delhi deserves to be on your bucket list because you may never find a place so vibrant, unique, and strong against a backdrop of beautiful chaos anywhere else in the world.

Arriving in New Delhi

If you’re flying in, you’ll arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport, ranked as the best in India. To get reliable mobile data the moment you land, look into getting a great eSIM package for India. Install it before your flight and simply activate the line upon landing. This will allow you to call cab services like Uber and Ola, bypassing any potential taxi scams that offer unsolicited tourist services or overcharge visitors. Also, note that the prepaid taxi counter at the airport is legit and reliable.

Hotel Stays

If you are on a budget, you might have heard about staying in Paharganj. Although Paharganj is known for its budget accommodations, tourists should consider other options due to safety concerns and the area’s reputation for shady activities. Instead, choose approved Airbnbs and reputable hotels for a safer and more pleasant stay. New Delhi has an abundance of economical hotels spread across the city, providing clean and secure accommodations. Websites like Booking.com, Agoda, and Airbnb can help you find well-reviewed and affordable places to stay.

Morocco’s diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, vibrant markets, delicious cuisine, historical sites, warm hospitality, and adventure activities make it a compelling travel destination.

Diverse Landscapes

Morocco boasts a stunning variety of landscapes, from the sandy beaches of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts to the rugged Atlas Mountains and the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert.

Atlas Mountains are ideal for hiking, trekking, and experiencing traditional Berber villages. Through the Sahara Desert take a camel trek into the dunes, spend a night in a desert camp, and watch the sunrise over the sand.

Relax on the beaches of Essaouira and Agadir or explore the picturesque blue city of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains.

Rich Cultural Heritage Morocco’s history is reflected in its architecture, traditions,

Planning an incredible stay in New Delhi

Areas like Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, and Hauz Khas offer budget-friendly hotels with better security and amenities. Prioritise safety and comfort by choosing accommodations with high ratings and positive guest reviews.

Must-See Landmarks

If you want to have a historical and cultural day out, you cannot miss a guided tour of Old Delhi. Wander through the bustling streets of Chandni Chowk, where the vibrant bazaars and narrow alleys are brimming with history and charm.

Visit iconic landmarks such

as Jama Masjid and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Mughal architecture. A guided tour will also introduce you to hidden gems and local delicacies, offering a truly immersive experience of Old Delhi’s heritage. While on your tour of Old Delhi, don’t miss out on a visit to the Unesco World Heritage site, the Red Fort. This magnificent 17th-century fort, built by Emperor Shah Jahan, stands as a testament to Mughal grandeur with its stunning red sandstone architecture.

Inside, you’ll find beautifully preserved palaces, gardens, and pavilions that transport

you back in time. Don’t miss the evening light and sound show that narrates the fort’s history in a captivating display. Complete your evening walk across the iconic war memorial, India Gate. The surrounding lawns are perfect for a relaxing stroll, where you can enjoy the serene ambiance and the sight of families and friends gathering. Street vendors offering local snacks and ice cream add to the charm, making it a delightful end to your day.

Shopping

For a day of shopping, start by visiting Sarojini Nagar, which offers factory-reject clothes at

Good reasons to visit Morocco

and daily life. Influences from Berber, Arab, and French cultures create a unique cultural tapestry. Wander through the ancient medinas of cities like Fez and Marrakech, with their labyrinthine alleys, bustling souks, and historic sites. Visit stunning architectural landmarks such as the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, and the Roman ruins of Volubilis.

Museums and Festivals

Explore the cultural and

artistic heritage in museums and attend vibrant festivals like the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music.

Vibrant Markets and Souks

Moroccan markets, or souks, are a feast for the senses, offering a dizzying array of goods including spices, textiles, ceramics, and jewellry.

Explore the famous souks of Marrakech’s medina, particularly around Jemaa el-Fnaa square, where you can haggle for souvenirs and

enjoy street performances. Discover the more traditional and authentic souks in Fez, particularly the leather tanneries and intricate metalwork shops.

Purchase unique handicrafts such as Moroccan carpets, lanterns, and leather goods.

Delicious Cuisine Moroccan cuisine is known for its rich flavours and aromatic spices. Traditional dishes are a highlight of any visit.

Enjoy the slow-cooked stew Tagine made with meat,

Travel & Leisure

curated clothes, handicrafts, and food from across the country.

Food Heaven

The fire paan at Connaught Place – For a truly unique and adventurous culinary experience, don’t miss the fire paan at Connaught Place. This traditional Indian betel leaf treat is ignited before being served, creating a burst of flavors and a slight sizzle as it enters your mouth. Known for its digestive benefits and refreshing taste, fire paan is a popular local delicacy that offers a thrilling twist on a classic favourite. Be sure to visit one of the renowned paan vendors in Connaught Place to try this exciting and unforgettable treat. Even if you don’t like the taste, at least it would make for a viral Instagram reel.

the price of a nickel. Runway outfits for as little as $1 are available in this area. Although very well known amongst the fashion capital of India, Delhi, this place is still unexplored by tourists.

Next, check out similar markets at Connaught Place: Janpath Market and Lajpat Nagar. For upscale malls, you can visit the Emporio at Vasant Kunj to shop for the best luxury brands, as well as the DLF Avenue at Saket.

Between the cheap and the luxurious lie the great handicraft and handloom markets of Delhi. For an unforgettable visit, go to Dilli Haat, which houses the best-

vegetables, and a blend of spices, traditionally served in a clay pot.

Couscous: Savor the national dish of steamed semolina topped with meat and vegetables. Try local delicacies like pastilla (a sweet and savoury pie), harira (a hearty soup), and fresh mint tea.

Participate in a cooking class to learn how to prepare Moroccan dishes and understand the use of spices.

Historical and Architectural Sites

Morocco’s long history has left a legacy of fascinating historical and architectural sites. Visit ancient fortresses like the Unesco-listed Ait Benhaddou, known for its dramatic location and historical significance.

Explore the opulent palaces such as the Bahia Palace in Marrakech and the Royal Palace in Rabat.

Discover beautiful Islamic schools such as the Bou Inania Medersa in Fez and the Ben Youssef Medersa in

The momos and fruit beer at Dilli Haat offer an unparalleled evening snack experience for any tourist. Steaming hot momos served with spicy sauce and clear soup, accompanied by refreshing non-alcoholic fruit beer, perfectly capture the essence of how many in East India enjoy their evenings. This delightful combination, amidst the vibrant atmosphere of Dilli Haat, makes for a truly memorable and authentic culinary experience.

The kada prasad at Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. Many would be surprised to read this, but this is a must-try for anyone visiting New Delhi. This rich, warm, and sweet offering, made from wheat flour, sugar, and ghee, is distributed to all visitors as a symbol of equality and community. Enjoying this sacred prasad in the serene and spiritual ambiance of the Gurudwara is a truly soulsoothing experience, leaving you with a sense of peace and gratitude.

Marrakech.

Warm Hospitality

Moroccans are known for their warm hospitality and friendliness, making visitors feel welcome and at home. Stay in traditional Moroccan guesthouses, known as riads, which are often beautifully decorated with inner courtyards and fountains.

Engage with locals, enjoy traditional music and dance, and participate in cultural experiences such as tea ceremonies.

Adventure Activities

Morocco offers a variety of adventure activities for thrill-seekers and outdoor enthusiasts. Hike in the Atlas Mountains or take on the challenge of climbing Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.

Experience dune surfing, quad biking, and camel trekking in the Sahara Desert. Enjoy surfing, kite surfing, and windsurfing along the Atlantic coast, particularly in Essaouira and Taghazout.

Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Words you should never speak out loud

Came upon the following on Facebook recently. Found it interesting. Very interesting. So interesting I thought that I might share it with you. Make of it what you will but there’s some good, very good, advice contained in it (at least I think so)

1. Don’t always speak your mind in front of others. Don’t use your forwardness as an excuse. It’s not about being blunt but avoiding hurtful words; even when giving advice consider if the other person is open to it. If you feel that your opinion carries little weight it’s better to stay quiet and avoid being seen as meddling.

2. Don’t engage in gossip behind people’s backs; spreading rumours can quickly spiral out of control. Whether someone is good or bad is not your concern. Reflect on your

thoughts and refrain from discussing the shortcomings of others. And remember if people gossip about others to you, they may well gossip about you to others.

3. Avoid uttering hurtful words during arguments. When you are angry it’s easy to say things you don’t mean. Exercise selfcontrol because impulsive words can harm both others and yourself leaving a lasting scar. Your dispute could possibly have been resolved with minimal impact but a single, thoughtless remark can unnecessarily escalate the situation.

4. Safeguard confidential matters, avoid revealing your secrets, weaknesses and flaws. People may be aware of your surface but not your inner self. The more individuals who are privy to your secrets the more vulnerable you become. If one

day you have a falling out with someone your secrets are no longer secure providing them with an opportunity to inflict more pain.

5. Refrain from excessive complaining. Complaining doesn’t provide solutions it merely portrays you as incapable. In challenging times it’s important to demonstrate strength, this will make others more willing to support you and you will find it easier to overcome obstacles.

So, there you have it, good advice, sound advice as I wrote at the top BUT – maybe a bit too sound, too careful, too cautious, dare I say too cute. Damn it we all need to let our defences down now and again. We all need to share secrets, reveal our weaknesses, discuss our problems. How else are we going to find a shoulder to cry on – and goddam it we all need a shoulder to cry on at

times unless, of course, you’re superman or superwoman, a tower of strength and capable

“Sound advice –maybe a bit too sound, dare I say too cute...

of handling everything on your own.

Fair dues to you if you can but that seems like a lonely, a very lonely, and dangerous, place to inhabit – but that’s just my opinion.

Moving moments!

And so to something entirely different as they say. Three elderly, very elderly, gentlemen (and let’s call them Tom, Dick and Harry for convenience sake) are sipping, and savouring, their pints of stout on their regular Tuesday night out in their local when Tom (a retired teacher) says to Dick (a retired solicitor): “Dick what you like people to say about you when they look at you lying there in the coffin?”

Dick says:”‘Good God, Tom but that’s a very morbid question.”

“Be that as it may, Dick, whether we like it or not we’re in the ‘waiting room’ as they

say.’ “

“Okay, okay. I’d like people to say that he was a decent man, an upright man, a goodliving man who got a lot of justice for a lot of people. And yourself, Tom, what would you like people to say about you?”

“Like yourself, Dick, I’d like for people to say that I too was a decent and good-living man who gave his students, or most of them, or as many as I could, a love for the subjects I taught and that I helped guide them to fulfilling careers.”

“What about yourself, Harry’, Tom and Dick, asked in unison. Harry (a retired publican) who had been listening attentively to Tom’s and Dick’s answers, replied: “Like yourselves I’d like people to say good things, nice things about me but the words I’d dearly love to hear would be someone, anyone, saying: ‘Jaysus, lads he’s moving’.”

A voice for the voiceless – Tom Healy to stand as an independent candidate in the next Dáil election

I am standing as a candidate in Carlow-Kilkenny in the forthcoming general election. In our communities and in the

counties of Carlow and Kilkenny we can work together to build a prosperous and thriving region of Ireland. I have much in common

with other candidates including a commitment to expand and reform our public services. I am different to most other candidates

because I speak out and act on issues of economic and social justice regardless of whether this is popular or expedient to do so. What you hear and see is what you get. Independent means independent. If elected I will not vote for a Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael led Government. Neither will I vote for an alternative Government unless it offers protections to human rights in key areas outlined in my manifesto.

Four core principles uniquely mark me out as a candidate:

1. A commitment to protecting all human life from its beginning to its natural end.

2. A resolute opposition to the politics of hatred and division espoused by the far right.

3. A pledge to work for a new economic and social model founded on principles of solidarity and the common good

4. Uncompromising support for international solidarity and European social and democratic values.

Housing will be a key issue in the coming election. A home is the place where we can grow, flourish, enjoy and support one another. My first priority is to see the declaration of a housing emergency in Ireland with a carefully planned and coordinated strategy to double the rate of new house building and treble the number of social and affordable homes.

Kilkenny city must become not only a historical location of a small but beautiful medieval city but a modern and more inclusive one –well connected by public transport and infrastructure and enabling Carlow and Kilkenny to take the

pressure away from Dublin. A SETU university campus linked to local communities and business and located in Kilkenny would boost our regional city. I support the development of a performance arts campus in Kilkenny. I will work with other elected representatives to empower and liberate local government to build more homes and provide more services at local level. This means creating a sustainable flow of revenue to local authorities through a reformed Local Property Tax and non-residential rates. I will also campaign for clean, safe and reliable public water connections for communities in these counties. I will work with other elected TD’s to ensure that the public ownership of water be enshrined in our constitution. For further information on my ideas, values and policies visit www.tomhealy.ie where you are welcome to contact me.

Note: Tom Healy lives in Goresbridge with his wife, Bridget. He is an economist who formerly served in a number of Government departments as well as the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development as well as having served as Director of the trade union think tank, the Nevin Economic Research Institute. He has been an active volunteer in the Society of St Vincent de Paul, a trade unionist, a prolife activist and lay minister as well as a writer, speaker and author of numerous publications including An Ireland Worth Working For (2019). He holds a PhD in economicssociology from UCD (2005).

Are humans only species to have sex for enjoyment? The Last Word Pat Coughlan

I remember that day well. I was in 6th class at our rural primary school in West Waterford. My friend Davy, ever cheeky, asked, in Irish,: “An bhfuil cead agam dul amach go dti an leithreas?” We all knew he wanted a sneaky fag behind the shed. The toilet was just an excuse. Miss pointed to the door without lifting her eyes from the Dungarvan Leader, and we grinned like Cheshire cats.

Suddenly, Davy burst back in, yelling: “Miss, Miss, Tommy Quinn’s calf is cowing!” Meaning the cow was calving, but in such drama, who cared about accuracy? Miss, curious, dashed off with us trailing behind. It turned into an unexpected field trip, quickly aborted as she ordered Davy to inform the Quinns, marching us back to class. That was my only brush with sex education in primary school or indeed any other school.

I thought about that event recently while watching the

antics of dolphins frolicking in the waves. A question nudged its way into my mind: are humans truly the only species to have a bit

of ‘hows yer father’ just for a laugh? Or do our animal counterparts occasionally indulge in the pleasures of the flesh for something other

than reproduction?

I’ve always been fascinated by the antics of our furry and feathered friends, especially when it comes to their love lives. I suppose that is from watching programmes on TV like Spring Watch and Winter Watch `– great TV from the masters of great TV, the BBC. Did you know that penguins propose with pebbles? Or that some birds perform elaborate dances to woo their mates? My research into animal behaviour has revealed a world where pleasure isn’t just a human luxury. From the playful frolics of otters to the amorous escapades of bonobos, it seems many creatures indulge in a bit of fun between the sheets – or should I say, nests and burrows!

When I first heard that dolphins and bonobos engage in sexual activities for fun, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Imagine dolphins, those sleek, smiling sea creatures,

having a cheeky romp just for the sheer joy of it! And bonobos, our closest primate cousins, are practically the hippies of the animal kingdom, using sex as a way to bond, resolve conflicts, and, well, just because they can. It’s like a never-ending love fest in the jungle and the ocean!

When I think about human sexuality, it’s like a buffet of emotions, desires, and sometimes, questionable decisions. Now, compare that to the animal kingdom, where dolphins and bonobos are the life of the party, engaging in playful antics that would make even the most liberal human blush. While we humans might light candles and play music, animals keep it raw and instinctual, yet somehow, they seem to enjoy it just as much, if not more.

Ah, the science of sexual pleasure – a topic that’s as titillating as it is enlightening. You see, it’s not just

humans who get a kick out of a good romp. Scientists have discovered that the brain’s reward system, particularly the release of dopamine, plays a crucial role in sexual enjoyment. This chemical cocktail isn’t exclusive to us; our animal friends, like dolphins and bonobos, also experience this euphoric rush. It’s fascinating to think that pleasure, in all its forms, is a universal language. I once read about a pair of penguins in a zoo who were so enamoured with each other that they performed a little dance before, well, getting down to business. It made me chuckle to think of these tuxedoed lovebirds putting on a show. And who could forget the tale of the amorous tortoises, whose slow-motion courtship is both endearing and hilarious?

These stories remind me that, whether human or animal, the pursuit of pleasure is a universal comedy.

‘Squat Toilets and Chopsticks’

Originally from Callan, Philip Bryan has been living in the city of Guiyang, Guizhou Province in China for the last eight years. He is currently teaching at the Number One High School in Guiyang. Back in 2017 Philip picked up a hobby of writing down his travel stories and experiences in notebooks and journals. Now those stories have just been published.

Philip’s first book titled: Squat Toilets and Chopsticks: Experiencing Life Through

Travel, was released on July 19th by Austin Macauley Publishers of England.

In his book, Philip takes you on amazing journeys through Australia, America, Jordan, Cambodia, Israel, Palestine and also how he ended up moving to China. He shares his experience on how he decided it was time to escape his job in Ireland and pursue a different journey and life. By moving to a country with a different culture and language, it provided him with countless adventures, experiences and

opportunities to achieve so much. Although every success story does not come without his difficulties, Philip shares his experiences with hard times and how he overcame obstacles and difficulties. He believes that travelling can provide people with an opportunity to deal with hardships and it can lead to unexpected results and outcomes. Philip hopes his book can inspire others to break out of their comfort zones and get out there and see more of the amazing world we live in. Philip will be holding two launches

August 2nd in Fennelly’s, Bridge Street, Callan with Cllr. Joe Lyons launching the event

August 9th in The Club House Hotel, Patrick Street, Kilkenny with Mayor Andrew McGuinness launching.

Philip’s book ‘Squat Toilets and Chopsticks’ is available to purchase in local shops, both in Kilkenny city and Callan

Ó hArgáin welcomes eleven new schools in Hot Meals Scheme

Labour Party councillor in Kilkenny City and Chairperson of Carlow/ Kilkenny Labour Party has welcomed the inclusion of eleven primary schools across Carlow and Kilkenny in the Department of Education’s Hot Meals Scheme from this September. The list includes his own former school, Gaelscoil Osraí in Kilkenny City and schools from Bagenalstown to Owning.

‘I warmly welcome this announcement by Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD today. While hot school meals are a novelty in Ireland, they are common across many other countries, including our near neighbours in Britain.

They can provide a major support to parents in ensuring that children are receiving adequate nutrition in school and I also know from my days as school principal and particularly as a learning support teacher that children’s concentration and learning abilities improve considerably when they receive adequate lunches.

There is also the reality that many children arrive hungry to school as outlined in a number of studies.

Addressing the cost of living crisis and continuing child poverty has to be a priority,

scheme to ensure that meals are of the highest possible nutritional value and that ingredients are sourced locally to schools, supporting local farmers and food producers and minimising

Climate Change

– are we all playing our part?

WEEK 80

“everyone needs a safe place”

BY

It appears most probable that all the Catholic chapels of St. Canice’s parish, from the time of the Reformation down to the early part of the 19th Century, were situated North of the present parish church, in the garden of the Presbytery. In 1678, Bishop Phelan presented to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda a “Relatio” that each of the four parishes into which Kilkenny City was divided, had an oratory or chapel of its own, be fittingly adorned as far as the circumstances of the times permitted. The chapel that served for St. Canices was the “aedes” built by Fr. Kavanagh, P.P. before 1682, and referred to on a slab inserted in the wall opposite the hall door of the Presbytery. It is inscribed in Latin, the translation reads as follows:-.

Saint Canices Church, Kilkennyits people and history

James Kavanagh, priest built this house. May he enjoy a house in Heaven. He was Prebendary of Tiscoffin and P.P. of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice, died Sept. 26th 1682. The word “aedes” in the inscription denotes a dwelling house, so it would appear that it was used in the sense to signify a church or temple. According to Returns on the State of Popery in 1731, there was “one Old Mass House” in St.Canice’s Parish. A fragment of a slab in the Presbytery garden, contained part of an inscription reading “Pat Murphy 1747,” probably commemorates the rebuilding in the year given, one half of the old parish chapel, which Dr Burke refers to in one of his letters. Fr. Patrick Murphy was P.P from 1741 to 1774. This chapel of Fr. Murphy’s time continued in use until about 1830, when it was superseded by the present parish church. The old chapel was taken down almost to the ground soon after. Some fragments of the wall were to be seen in the early part of the 1900s. The present church was started by Fr. James Gorman

As Saint Canice’s Church celebrate their Bi-Centenary in 2024, Kilkenny man Paddy Neary takes a look at the church and its history

P.P. and was completed by his nephew and successor Very Revd, Dean Gorman. A stone inscribed in Latin on the left side of the front door as one enters reads. Translation: Revd. James Gorman P.P. of the Parish of St Canices 17th March 1824.I made reference earlier to the half built church. The following are a few lines taken from Bishop Burke/De Burgo’s Diocesan Register January 1767. “Whereas the chapel of St Kenny’s in Kilkenny was rebuilt some years ago as to one half, but the other half left in a ruinous condition, in so much as it is constantly in danger of falling. I have repeated times admonished the Parish Priest and several of the Parishioners to exert themselves towards finishing the same. My admonitions

have hitherto gone unnoticed and ineffectual. Hence both for the decency of the house of God and to save people’s lives and limbs, I solemnly interdict the said Chapel from the first day of November next, hereby forbidding any Mass to be celebrated therein under pain of suspension to be incurred by the priest on or after the said day of November to be shut up unless it is completely rebuilt before that day. This reasonable length of time is allowed that the money requisite may be collected in the Parish and the work done without hurry. Furthermore I command this paper to be read with an audible voice by every priest before the end of his Mass in said Chapel for three Sundays after the date hereof and on every first

Sunday of the month till the mentioned of November.”

Given AT Kilkenny this 16th Jan. 1767 Thomas de Burgo.

Saint Canices Parish Church 1824 A.D

In 1731 only a Mass house served the needs of the Parishioners. This building was rebuilt in 1747 as a chapel. Concern for a new church took root from 1820. On the 18th March of that year some parishioners met in the old chapel and agreed to build a new church. Replacing the old chapel which was too small, and in a very bad state of decay. A general meeting of all parishioners was held one week later and all agreed to plan ahead for a new church. Fund raising began by way of collections from

householders and land owners in the town and country. Collections received each week were recorded under the headings Town Collections and Country Collections. Donations towards the cost were also invited.

A site opposite the old chapel at an area called Coolree, the property of the Hon Joseph Pratt and Viscount Duncannon was deemed the most suitable location for the new Church.

On March 25th 1822 this land was leased at a rent of £40 per year. This lease was later purchased outright in 1891. It was agreed that materials should be procured in the locality. Stone to be quarried from Holdensrath and sand to be raised at Kilcreene. The owner of the stone, and sand.

Sir William Montmorency, was very favourably disposed to this parish project.

The plan for the new Church drafted by the Kilkenny Architect William Robertson, was considered at a meeting of all Parishioners on April

7th 1822 and adopted. The life and work of William Robertson is well documented (O.K.R. 2018) he was an architect, artist and builder. Born in High Street, later lived in William Street, Orchardton House, and finally Rosehill House where he died in 1850.He was best known for his remodelling of Kilkenny Castle in 1826. His work is to be seen everywhere around the city and county. A few examples of his work include (renovation) of St Canices Cathedral and St Mary’s Church, he designed churches in Ennisnag, Clomantagh, Knocktopher, Ballytobin, he restored part of Gowran Abbey. Robertson drew up the plans for Kilkenny County Gaol, the Court House, Evans Home, Kilkenny and Carlow workhouses. Cork Gaol. Jenkinstown House, the original gates and entrance were salvaged and repositioned in front of St Kierans College. The list goes on and on.

PADDY NEARY

Photographed by Fr Noel Sanovoss in 1955, St Canices Church looking splendid

Fr Dan Carroll (St Johns) who represented Bishop Coll at the Bi Centenary mass at St Canices Church

The foundation stone was laid on the feast of St Patrick March 17, 1824 by Fr James Gorman, Parish priest

A 1960 wedding at St Canices church

Holy Communion day at St Canices Church

When Hollywood came to town…

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

Twenty years ago this month a Kilkenny town was transformed into a gigantic film set. For a few magical weeks stars of stage and screen held Callan in thrall when a part of Neil Jordan’s Breakfast on Pluto was shot on location there.

A feeling of loss and sadness engulfed the town the day in September 2004 that Jordan and his team prepared to leave. Their departure followed a spectacular scene in which the Parish Church- the Big Chapel- was burned to the ground!

Locals had welcomed the film crew with open arms, apart from a certain unease among mass-goes about the use of the church for shooting.

The majority of people enjoyed the carnival atmosphere and the unfamiliar buzz that the film brought to Callan. The film’s storyline had set the tongues wagging for weeks before filming began. Understandably: It revolved around an illegitimate son of a parish priest who became a transvestite and got up to all sorts of weird and comical antics.

It also had a great cast that included Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Ruth McCabe, and singer Mary Coughlin.

Whatever about the storyline, Callan fell in love with

the film crew and backup teams on the first day of shooting, with householders opening their doors and offering cups of tea to them at every opportunity.

From Day One there was a palpable sense of unreality in the town as the special effects

team sprayed parts of upper Green Street with frost.

The winter scene, complete with white icy streets, trees bereft of leaves, and snowcapped vintage cars, clashed with the warm Autumn sunshine and the other trees lining the street that still had

all their leaves gently fluttering.

The conversion of two trees opposite the Parish Church into skeletal wintry hulks had been accomplished with painstaking skill. Over a period of several hours, dedicated leave-pickers

the town.”

She reminded me that her house was at one time a shop, so the film crew’s interest in it was understandable as it retained its old world façade. Signposts in the town pointing to Derry and Belfast elicited a mixed reaction from drivers passing through, though no one seems to have lost their way as a result. And with so many mobile phones around, nobody missed the phone booths that were covered up and changed into… stone monuments.

The absence of black and amber flags or bunting along Bridge Street in the week leading up to the All-Ireland took a little getting used to… until the outcome of the match encouraged locals to re-focus happily on the antics of Pussy Braden, a charming and absorbing character if not exactly a Kilkenny Cat.

Part one

had stripped the trees bare. Passers-by had applauded their superhuman patience and commitment.

The unfamiliar names added to shop fronts, and the private houses turned into shops …had almost lost their novelty appeal as shooting commenced…Though Mary Munnelley of Bridge Street basked in the attention she received from the day her quaint house-front bore the name: “EJ Botwood, Dressmaker”.

“I loved every minute of the shooting in Callan”, she enthused, “Having that sign over my door really makes me feel I was part of the big adventure, and of this whole movie craze that’s gripped

As the shades of evening approached on Day One, filming transferred to Tullamaine graveyard, about two miles on the Kilkenny side of Callan. The normally quiet road outside the cemetery teemed with onlookers, straining to catch a glimpse of Liam Neeson…or of anything happening inside. Mock-up graves were added to the real ones on the burial site. A well-trampled cornfield separated the road from the graveyard, and nobody outside could see any of the action.

Gardai managed and manipulated the flow of traffic past the graveyard to perfection. When the words: “Rolling…Quiet, please!” echoed around the Hill of Tullamaine, everything on wheels came to a grinding halt, followed by a deafening silence interrupted only by the faint sound of actors speaking their lines behind the wall fronting the cemetery. After each take, the boys in blue released the lengthening conveys of cars and lorries in both directions, as if by magic. It reminded me of the song line: “He stopped all the traffic with a wave of his hand…”

(To be continued…)

Doc Kirwin and Gerry Nee were valuied extras

A 1970s style anti internment march in Bridge Street

Actor Liam Neeson in Green Street

24 Hour Theatre Takeover a huge success!

The inaugural 24 Hour Theatre Takeover at the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny was a phenomenal success. This unique event brought together writers, directors, and actors from Kilkenny, Carlow, and Waterford, who created, rehearsed, and performed original short plays within just 24 hours. Starting at 8pm on Friday, 19th July, Kilkenny writers Fern Kealy, Cian McGarrigle, Joe Murphy, Steven Buck, and Caroline Sutherland received prompts and cast lists to fuel their creative processes.

By Saturday morning, their

scripts were ready to be handed over to directors Gail Caddy, Darren Donohue,

John Prendergast, Mark Duffy, Edwina Cummins, and Martin Matthews, and a talented cast including Catriona Bambrick, Paul Behan, Aoibhin Murphy, Anne Murray, and Leah Grace.

Waterford’s Luke Corcoran, Jerome O'Sullivan, and Steven Walsh also played key roles in bringing these new plays to life.

The audience, captivated by the sheer talent and dedication on display, was thrilled with the performances. The event raised funds for two local charities: Cois Nore. which provides vital cancer support services, and Teac Tom which offers essential support for those affected by suicide.

Supported by Billy Byrnes, Glasrai and Goodies, Alan

Cullen of Noreside Catering, LIDL Ireland and The Truffle Fairy in Thomastown, this event, organised by

playwright Gillian Grattan, demonstrated the power of creativity and community spirit.

Attendees and participants alike agree that the 24 Hour Theatre Takeover is set to become an annual tradition.

Writers, directors and actors take a bow

Writers who burned the midnight oil at The Watergate

Mark Duffy and Kevin Dwyer who took part in the 24 hour takeover project

Gillian Grattan who devised the 24 hour takeover project

Since President Joe Biden exited the US presidential race and endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris, Gen Z voters jumped to social media to share coconut tree and “brat summer” memes — reflecting a stark shift in tone for a generation that’s voiced feeling left behind by the Democratic Party.

Youth-led progressive organisations have warned for months that Biden had a problem with young voters, pleading with the president to work more closely with them to refocus on the issues most important to younger generations or risk losing their votes. With Biden out of the race, many of these young leaders are now hoping Harris can overcome his faltering support among Gen Z and harness a new explosion of energy among young voters.

Statements have poured out from youth-led organisations across the country, including in Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, California, Minnesota, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as leaders thanked Biden for stepping aside and celebrated the opportunity to organise around a new candidate. A coalition of 17 youthled groups endorsed Harris.

“This changes everything,” said Zo Tobi, director of communication for the Movement Voter Project, a national progressive funding group focusing on youth-led organisations, when he heard the news that Biden was dropping out of the race and endorsing Harris. “The world as it is suddenly shifted into the world as it could be.”

As the campaign enters a new phase, both Harris and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, are delivering messages aimed at younger voters who could prove decisive in some of the most hotly contested states.

Harris recorded a brief video message shown at a conference of Gen Z activists and elected officials in Atlanta.

Cheryl Rofer is a chemist who spent 35 years working on environmental cleanups everywhere from Estonia to Kazakhstan, disassembling and decommissioning nuclear weapons, and overseeing the destruction of chemical weapons.

But, unlike international journalists, she is not on the list of people invited recently to witness the destruction of North Korea’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

“I was hoping you were going and I could talk you into bringing me along,” she told CNN. No weapons inspectors or individuals with any kind of expertise were expected to attend the event, which North Korea has said would “ensure transparency of discontinuance of the nuclear test”.

When it made the announcement on April 20, the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Seventh Central Committee declared that the country had “realised nuclear weaponisa-

Young Americans flock to support Harris

“We know young voters will be key, and we know your vote cannot be taken for granted,” Harris told the gathering, highlighting her support for gun safety, abortion rights, LGBTQ rights and action to combat climate change.

Eve Levenson, the national youth engagement director for Harris’ campaign, attended the conference in Atlanta, and she praised young voters across the country for their response to the vice-president’s

elevation to likely nominee.

“As amazing as it is to see the tremendous youth enthusiasm online, what has been even more incredible is how that online energy has already translated into a tangible desire to take action and get involved with our campaign,” she said, citing new voter registrations, small donations from young voters and student requests to help start campus-based campaign organisations.

Trump, in his own address in Florida to a conference on faith hosted by Turning Point USA, derided Harris as an “incompetent” and a “far left” vice-president. He vowed to champion religious Americans’ causes in a second White House term.

“With your vote, I will defend religious liberty in all of its forms,” Trump told the conservative group that focuses on high school, college and university campuses.

tion” and to ensure the end of all nuclear testing it would “discard” the test site in the

“I will protect Christians in our schools and our military and our government and our workplaces and our hospitals, in our public square and I will also protect other religions.”

John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, who has worked with Biden, said the “white-hot energy” among young people is something he hasn’t seen since former President Barack Obama’s campaign. While

tance, without any real opportunity to get a sense of what might have happened inside Punggye-ri’s tunnels.

Bruce Bechtol says evidence that might have been collected will now be lost to the world. “It’s kind of like a murder scene where they let people like you and me trample around in it, it’s the same concept,” said Bechtol, a professor of political science at Angelo State University who has authored several books on North Korea.

“The North Koreans have conducted all these tests here, every single weapons test, so if they let experts in to look at these tunnels before they let anyone else in that would be potentially for us an intelligence boon,” he said.

Some observers have said that the site had become partially unusable anyway due to the damage incurred after six nuclear tests since 2006, while others say the site was still in operation only months ago.

North Korea’s arbitrary ac-

there’s little reliable polling so far, he described the dynamic as “a combination of the hopefulness we saw with Obama and the urgency and fight we saw after the Parkland shooting”. In many ways, it was the first time many young people felt heard and felt like their actions could have an impact on politics, he and several young leaders said.

“It’s reset this election in profound ways,” he said.

tion to dismantle this facility on its own, this is not something that the West can believe is part of North Korea’s declared aim of denuclearisation. It’s nothing more than destroying evidence.

For longtime North Korea observers, an indicator of [pictured] Kim Jong Un’s motives lie in the timing of the scheduled demolition – it was happening at the same time South Korean leader Moon Jae-in was visiting President Trump at the White House.

“Look at the timing,” said Cheon. “This is the time Moon is meeting Trump in Washington, this isn’t just a coincidence, he wants to take advantage of this event with political propaganda.”

Rofer believes even if parts of the tunnels are blown up, they can always be unearthed later should the North Koreans want to reuse the site.

“It is absolutely correct that we [the international community] seem to be making all the concessions,” she said.

north.

Journalists from the US, China, Russia and the UK

were invited to witness the event. They’re expected to view the activity from a dis-

Newpark outdoor community Mass

The Vicar General of the Diocese, Fr. Dan Carroll and Monsignor Michael Ryan concelebrated an outdoor Mass on the Upper Green in Newpark last Thursday evening. Despite concerns earlier in the day, the rain cleared, and the evening was bright and warm. It was pleasing to see a large attendance from St John’s parish gather to participate in a night of celebration and remembrance, with the choir from St John’s, accompanied by Mary Butler and Tom Hickey, providing an extra layer of spiritual gravitas.

At the conclusion of the community celebration Fr Dan had words of praise for all who had helped make the evening a huge success, readers, those who brought the gifts, ministers of the Eucharist, parish secretary Aine Butler and sacristan Jane Dineen. He had special words for Altar Server Rosie Bradley praising her commitment and enthusiasm.

On behalf of Newpark Residents Association, Secretary Una Lennon thanked the priests of the parish for their continued support and Deputy Mayor Joe Malone and Community Garda Sergeant John Duffy for their attendance and involvement. Una offered sincere words of appreciation to the wider St John’s community who had rallied to help with the preparations, Sean Shortiss and Sammy Johnston, amplification, O’Loughlin Gaels,seating, Michael Deegan & Canice Hickey, construction of the altar and stewarding, Chris Wong, provision of home made refreshments and Margo Deegan & Helen Larkin Goode who supervised the catering.

After the ceremony most of the attendance remained to enjoy tea and assorted pastries as they reminisced and swapped some rather outlandish stories.

White Twine and Old Suitcases

The Kilkenny Involvement Centre and Recovery College South East have produced a wonderful anthology of poetry and prose. ‘White Twine and old suitcases’ comprises of 128 pages and 60 authors and is complemented by some wonderful photos and artwork by TASK camera club. It is printed by Modern Printers. It is definitely recommended reading for all lovers of poetry. The Kilkenny Observer is happy to run the poems each week to promote creative writing and to highlight these wonderful centres. Available in all Kilkenny book shops. €10

Mademoiselle

Her fragrance lingers, A delicious aroma, Subtle and Alluring, Wafting and meandering Through the living temple

Where you hear the footsteps of her heels stabbing the marble floor

Someone still walks in this living shrine

You see winding cigarette smoke that vanishes

It is an incense

The little black dress

Signals to you.

These enigmas all meant something

That couldn’t be solved not even With quadratic equations or other Mathematical theories

You consented to the killing of a God

Ignoring me with your blotchy cheeks

She doesn’t lie here anymore

Her fragrance will live on

She will never be found

She has slipped into the light.

Niamh Holohan

Unexpected Love

His warm bear paw holding mine, the cold wind on our faces.

The last buttercups yellow in the ditch, gorse ghosts lean their antlers into winter.

We breathe in wet October bog.

He waits as I scribble words on a paper plate I found on the car floor.

His back to the misty hill, a silhouette waiting for a catch-up kiss.

I run my fingers over the remaining gorse flowers, wanting their coconut scent.

A dandelion hidden in the ditch shines bright as a sunflower.

The road is mucky.

Granite erratics solid in the peat.

Wild parsnips crisp their umbrella flowers, curl their silver leaves, waiting for winter.

We cross a bridge of branches and six-by-threes that someone carefully laid across a puddle and continue to the hill, our summit.

The rocks glisten toothpaste blue in the evening light.

Me in my green rain cape, he in his orange jacket soak the cool air of our mountain top, look out across the sea to Furbo, to mists of Clare, inhaling the joy of these unexpected moments. Moments we had given up on.

Anne Irwin

Flirtation

Even when enrobed in a housecoat,

It still arrives, unannounced, like a nosey neighbour

Asking for a cup of sugar when you know that was not her impulsion:

That she really wants to see the state of your skirting boards

And to tempt you into conversation about small likenesses that will mean

You will, somehow, obliviously ‒ playfully even ‒ agree to Marguerita Mondays.

Before you know it you are watching for her ponytail to bob beyond the hedges

Five minutes before she’s due to arrive and you make sure the kettle is boiled;

That you’ve wiped down the tiles. Limes abundant.

You put lipstick on, didn’t you?

And now you’ve tipped your sugar into the sink and reached for your china cup.

You do a double take in your hall mirror and leave to curiously beg

For something you do not need.

Emily Kelly

& Drink

Spiced pea and courgette fritters with minty yogurt dip

Prep: 25 mins

Cook: 25 mins

Makes: 30

These spiced pea and coriander fritters are easy to make ahead of time. Scatter with crunchy spring onions and serve with the cool minty yogurt dip.

Ingredients

For the yogurt dip

• 120ml Greek yogurt

• ½ garlic clove, crushed

• 1 tbsp good-quality extra virgin olive oil

• 3 tsp mint sauce (or 2 tbsp freshly chopped mint leaves)

For the fritters

• 100g gluten-free plain white flour

• 3 medium eggs

• 2 courgettes, grated and the moisture squeezed out

• 60g peas (thawed if frozen)

• 2 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves

• 2 spring onions, finely sliced

• 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped

• 1 lemon, zested

• 1 ½ tsp ground coriander

• 1 ½ tsp ground cumin

• ¼ tsp baking powder

• 4 tbsp vegetable oil, for frying

Sweet potato, spinach and feta tortilla Come Dine WithMe

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Serves: 3

Make this tortilla the night before for a quick and easy picnic lunch for the family. With sweet potato, spinach and feta, it’s packed with flavour.

Ingredients

• 3 sweet potatoes

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 100g baby spinach

• 6 large eggs

• 100g feta, crumbled

Method

STEP 1

Pierce the potatoes a few times on each side. Microwave on high for 5-8

To serve

• 100g feta, crumbled

• 3 spring onions, thinly sliced on a diagonal

STEP 1

In a large bowl, mix together all the fritter ingredients, except the oil, until combined. For the yogurt dip, simply mix all the ingredients

mins until soft, then set aside to cool a little.

STEP 2

Heat the oil in a 20cm ovenproof frying pan and wilt the spinach for a minute or two (you might have to do this in batches). Cut each potato in half lengthways and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, keeping it in big chunks. Whisk the eggs.

STEP 3

Add the sweet potato to the pan and stir to combine with the spinach –don’t break it up too much. Pour in the egg and swirl around so it fills any gaps in the pan. Scatter over the feta and cook for 4-5 mins over a low heat until the bottom and sides are set.

together in a small bowl with plenty of freshly ground black pepper and 1 tsp salt. The dip can be made in the morning and chilled.

STEP 2

When you’re ready to cook the fritters, heat the oil over a high heat (you want to make sure the oil is really hot, so be brave!). Carefully

drop 1 tbsp of batter into the pan –add only 4-5 tbsp at a time so you don’t overcrowd the pan – and fry for about 2 mins each side until nicely crisp and golden. Remove from the pan and place on kitchen paper to absorb the excess oil. The fritters can be fried a couple of hours before serving, then reheated in the oven.

STEP 3

To reheat the fritters ready for serving, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Put the fritters on a baking tray and bake for 10 mins or until crispy and hot. Serve on a platter with the feta and spring onions scattered over, with the minty yogurt dip on the side.

Women In Blue a stylish new crime drama

Inspired by the true stories of Mexico’s first female police force, Women In Blue looks genuinely thrilling. Featuring an entirely Hispanic cast and crew led by Ariel award nominee Bárbara Mori, the 10-episode series has been charming critics left, right and centre with its twisty mystery, multidimensional characters and powerhouse performances. Throw in the fact it deals with some big, bold themes (police corruption! Sexism! Violence against women! Female empowerment!) and you have a series that’s well

worth checking out. Women In Blue takes us back to 1970, as four women defy the ultraconservative norms of the time and join Mexico’s first female police force, only to discover that their squad is a publicity stunt to distract the media from a brutal serial killer.

As the body count grows, María, whose determination to catch the killer becomes an obsession; Gabina, whose father is a renowned cop; Ángeles, a brilliant fingerprint analyst; and Valentina, a young rebel, set up a secret investigation to achieve what

no male officer has been able to do and bring the serial killer to justice. It’s inspired by true events?

Who stars in Women In Blue?

The four women at the centre of this series are portrayed by Bárbara Mori, Amorita Rasgado, Ximena Sariñana and Natalia Téllez [all pictured].

Speaking to Reuters about the project, Téllez says:

“It’s bittersweet because the story that takes place in 1970s features obstacles that women today in Mexico, and I suppose in many places in

good spy thrillers to stream now 5

the world, continue to encounter.

“It’s wonderful to be able to pay tribute to these women. The only press that exists was about their legs and their uniforms and now the real story of what they achieved and what they were fighting for is told. It’s just sad to know that we are not that far from that reality 50 years later.”

Women In Blue will make its global debut via Apple TV+, with the first two episodes having dropped on Wednesday, July 31, followed by one episode weekly.

The strange tale that inspired Stranger Things

There is a disturbing conspiracy that most people don’t know inspired the Netflix series Stranger Things. The series has been one of the most popular shows on the streaming platform since it was first released in 2016 but there is this little-known fact about the show and how it came to be.

The theory was first sparked after two authors, Preston Nichols and Al Bielek, claimed that they had remembered some repressed memories from their childhoods. According to the pair, Nichols had been abducted as a child and forced to take

part in a US government organisation which was developing different psychological warfare techniques and other research including time travel.

These supposedly took place at Montauk Air Force Station – also known as Camp Hero – in Montauk, New York.

Stranger Things creators, the Duffer brothers, revealed that they became “obessed” with the conspiracy and even pitched a script concept titled The Montauk Experiment.

Though it never came to be, the Duffer brothers evolved

their script into The Montauk TV series which eventually became Stranger Things.

Fans took to Reddit to share their thoughts, with one user claiming: “The original title of Stranger Things was Montauk, based on the coastal city of Montauk, New York in Long Island, where it was to be set and filmed.

“These were dropped due to expensive/cold weather in Montauk and the title was changed to Stranger Things after Stephen King’s Needful Things.”

Another person said: “I’ve heard it was dropped because Indiana is more relat-

able than Montauk, Long Island.

“It is 100% based on Montauk/Camp Hero though. Stories of experiments on kids, and a creepy abandoned military base (featuring a massive radar dish that, if I remember correctly, is the only one left like it in the US.

“Given that the base is pretty much at the end of the world, overlooking bluffs, it’s a very ominous and spooky place.”

Another said: “The design of the monster from the first season kind of resembles the Montauk monster if you ask me.”

1. Tehran

Breaking new ground, the acclaimed spy thriller drama Tehran, crafted by Moshe Zonder, made history as the first-ever Israeli series to secure the prestigious Emmy Award in 2021. This gripping narrative follows an undercover Mossad agent, posing as a skilled computer hacker, on a mission to dismantle Iran’s formidable air defences. However, as the operation unfolds, she finds herself unexpectedly reconnecting with her own heritage, blurring the lines between duty and personal identity. On Apple TV+

2. Homeland

Based on the Israeli series Prisoners of War, the captivating spy thriller Homeland, brought to life by the creative minds of Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, centres around a CIA officer grappling with Bipolar disorder. Convinced that a former U.S. Marine has aligned himself with the enemy, the series weaves a complex and enthralling narrative that relentlessly keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. With powerhouse performances from Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, Homeland stands as a must-watch espionage drama that delivers on every front, leaving audiences captivated until the very last moment. On Disney+

3. Citadel

Helmed by the visionary Russo Brothers, the creative force behind Amazon Prime Video’s grand endeavour, Citadel, the spy thriller takes viewers on a captivating journey through the intricate realm of espionage. With the talented duo of Richard Madden, known for his role in the Marvel universe, and the charismatic Priyanka Chopra leading the way, the series strikes a delicate balance between the complexities of spy craft and a riveting blend of technology, thrills, and a multi-layered plot.

4. Fauda

Netflix’s Fauda stands tall as one of the longest-running spy series on the platform, with its highly anticipated Season 4 making its debut in January last year. This gripping drama has already garnered a devoted fan base among enthusiasts of crime and espionage thrillers, solidifying its status as one of the most highly-rated shows on the streaming platform. Fauda immerses viewers in a world of suspense and tension, offering a riveting portrayal of Israeli and Palestinian agents, shedding light on both sides of the conflict. Praised by both critics and fans alike, the show excels in all aspects, from the exceptional acting to the stunning cinematography and meticulously crafted costumes.

5. The Family Man

Renowned director duo Raj & DK hit a home run with their popular espionage thriller, The Family Man. Anchored by the exceptional Manoj Bajpayee, the series takes us into the life of a middle-class man working for an investigative agency as he navigates the intricate dance between his professional duties and personal responsibilities. The second season left viewers on the edge of their seats with a gripping cliffhanger, leaving them eagerly awaiting news on the next season. On Amazon Prime Video

Community & GAA Notes

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news

CLARA

CLUB LOTTO

Lotto 23rd July. Numbers drawn 6, 14, 28. Congratulations to Rachel Comerford,the winner of the €1,900 Jackpot.

MINORS WIN

Clara had a good 1-19 to 0-19 win over Barrow Rangers on Monday night in Paulstown. Barrow Rangers led 0-8 to 0-6 at halftime but it was a different story in the second half as Clara took control.

Team - Ruairi Bowden Mullen, Daniel Ryan, Orí Phelan, John Bergin. Philip Carrigan, Luke Lawlor, Hugh Kelly. Conor Hoyne 1-9, 0-6f, Joe Power 0-3, 0-1f. Eoin Corr, David Barcoe 0-6, 0-1f, Sean Byrne. Bill Kealy, Aidan O Connell, Jake Maher 0-1. Subs Peter Firbank, Jim Carrigan, Sam Lawlor.

JUNIOR HURLING

Clara had a narrow 1-23 to 1-20 win over Lisdowney in Clara on Sunday morning. The game finished in controversy and the referee issued a few red cards before and after the final whistle. ALL IRELAND

Kilkenny qualified for the Intermediate camogie All Ireland final on Saturday in Thurles by beating a gallant Kerry team after extra time. Lining out at full back for Kilkenny was Clara’s Rachel Whelan. Good luck to Rachel and Kilkenny in the upcoming final v Cork.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS

SUMMER CAMP

Week one of the O’Loughlin Gaels summer camp is underway in St. John’s Park this week. Great fun is being had by all as they make new friends, enjoy fun games and activities and learn and practise their gaelic games skills. Places still available for Week two from August 6th -9th. Contact Stephen to book 085-7181325.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS GOLF CLASSIC 2024

The Annual O’Loughlin Gaels Golf Classic will take place in Kilkenny Golf Club on Thursday and Friday 15th and 16th of August. A great day’s golf is guaranteed as well as a chance to support the club.

A Team of 3 costs €150 and this includes a meal. There are great prizes. Champagne Scramble format will be used.

To secure your tee time contact any member of the organising Committee: Michael O’Reilly 0872554300; Benny Cleere 0862671882; Paul Cleere 0868191872; Brian Murphy 0863647401; Coleman Loughnane 0863312944; Evan Walsh 0857195752; Bren Cleere 0860725058.

RACE NIGHT

O’Loughlin Gaels annual Race Night at Kilkenny Greyhound Track will take place on Friday 16th August at 7.30pm. It’s always a fun night out so don’t miss out. Put the date in your diary and make sure you get your ticket costing just €10. Race Night ticket money can be handed in to the bar on Tuesday and Thursday nights or given to your team organiser.

LOTTO

There was no winner of O’Loughlin Gaels club lotto dated July 23rd. Numbers drawn 3, 5, 15, 28, Bonus 6. Play Now at www. oloughlingaels.com/lotto. Thank you for your continued support Promotors Draw. 1. Ann Doran c/o Ml Doran. 2. Paddy Deegan c/o M Deegan 3. Mick and Mags c/o G Buckley. 4. Barrie Hogan c/o H Mahon. 5. Marie Dunne c/o N Loy. 6. Paidí Doyle c/o Ml Nolan. 7. Rebecca Cleere c/o K Cleere. 8. Noel Stakelum c/o Online. 9. Magella Bolger c/o Online. 10. Patrick Little c/o Online

JUNIOR A TEAM BOWS OUT

The O’Loughlin Gaels Junior A team lost out to Barrow Rangers in the championship quarter final in St. John’s Park on Sunday last. The game was closely fought but O’Loughlin’s were left to rue hitting too many wides and conceding four goals as they lost by 4-13 to 0-22.

CAMOGIE VICTORY

Pride of place in O’Loughlin’s club this week goes to our Intermediate Camogie Team which won the League Shield Final against Lisdowney played in Lisdowney on Sunday last by 0-26 to 3-5. Well done to all

FRESHFORD

BINGO Weekly bingo sessions are returning to Freshford Community Hall this Friday evening at 8pn. After a lapse of over 20 years the weekly game will be held each Friday evening at 8pm with great prizes and raffle each week. All proceeds will go to the Irish Wheelchair association. Please support this weekly fundraiser and bring a friend along with you and spread the word around about this new venture.

CHAMPIONS AGAIN

Two local lads Gyll Condon and his dad David had more success last weekend at the Ossory Show with Mick Jagger coming in first place and they also got 1st and 2nd place in the hogget ewes section, also first in ewe lamb and 1st in ram lamb section. Mick Jagger also got tapped for Charollais Champion and their ewe lamb got tapped for reserve champion.

SYMPATHY

Sincere sympathy is extended to Kay O’Sullivan and Sarah Hogan of Johnstown Road, Freshford and all their family on the death last weekend of their sister Mary O’Halloran (nee Hogan) late of Cornamona Co.Galway. She was predeceased by her husband Peader and daughter Aine. Funeral mass took place in the Churh of the Sacred Heart Cornamona followed by burial Breenane Cemetery, Maam.

Sympathy is also extended to the Kennedy family of Balleen Freshford on the recent death of their mother Mrs. Mary Kennedy. Funeral mass took place in Clontubrid Church on Wednesday of last week followed by burial in Tifeaghna Cemetery

GRAVEYARD MASS

The annual cemetery mass will take place in Tulla Cemetery on Saturday 3rd August at 7.30pm. People are asked to make sure their family graves are clean and tidy for the occasion

DEATH

The death took place suddenly last week of Joe Seale late of Belville, Freshford. Joe who was in his 60s was widely known and respected in the area. He was predeceased a few years ago by his wife Eileen. He was proprietor of Rowlands Kennells at Belville where he ran a very successful business. His funeral mass took place on Friday last in St. Lachtains Church, Freshford followed by burial in St.Lachtains cemetery. He is mourned by his brothers, sister, sisters in law, brothers in law, nephews, nieces and extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

SOCCER CAMP

The annual FAI soccer camp will take place at Woodview from the 5th to 9th august. Please follow the link to book or contact committee

GAA NEWS

St Lachtains Junior B hurlers had great win over Tullogher Rosbercon in the championship quarter final on last Saturday in Pairc Lachtain. The game was a close encounter throughout with the Freshford men showing great spirit and determination to see out the game after late pressure from the Tullogher men. They will now take on Bennettsbridge in the county semi-final in a fortnights time. The game finished on a score of St Lachtains 1-15 Tullogher Rosbercon 0-15.

Team: R Dowling, J Hickey (capt), L Kennedy, D Quinn, J Bowden, J Bergin, S Dawson, C Dalton, C Donnelly, C Power, N McGree, A Rafter, P Campion, C Dawson, M Durnan. Subs: J Burke, C Leahy, J Campion.

The Junior season steps up a gear this Friday evening as League/ Championship finally kicks off and St. Lachtains first game is against Emeralds in Johnstown at 7.00pm.

The Minors had a great win in the C League over Ballyhale on a scoreline of St. Lachtains 2-17 Shamrocks 2-16. While the U14s drew with St Martins in the B League on a final scoreline of St Martins 3-14 St Lachtains 4-11.

RACE NIGHT

St Lachtains annual race night is taking place a few weeks earlier this year on Friday August 23rd at the Kilkenny track. There will be a raffle with lots of great prizes on the night, keep an eye out for ticket sellers. Anyone looking to sponsor a race or contribute in any way should contact any committee member.

TRIP TO ATHLONE

Freshford Day Care Centre held a trip to Athlone last week and all had a very enjoyable day with a boat trip, a lovely meal and some shopping.

COMMUNITY MARKET

Freshford Community Cafe launched its Community market recently and it is held in the Alley each Saturday from 10am –1pm selling fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers etc. All local support would be greatly appreciated. New stalls would be very welcome and anyone interested in taking a stall can contact any member of the Committee.

The Loop Café is open each day from Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4pm with some lovely treats and food on offer at a very reasonable price. This is a great addition to the village and people are asked to support local business. So why not meet your friends there for a cupa and chat.

IONAD LACHTAIN

St St.Lachtains Church Museum and Arts Centre is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30 am to 4.30pm.

SPLIT THE POT

The lucky winner of Freshford split the pot draw last weekend was Tamara Colclough who won €176. This month’s split the pot proceeds goes to Freshford boxing Club who do trojan work for young people of the area and beyond. Entry cost just €2 and envelopes are available in all local shops and pubs so be in to win.

BRIDGE

Freshford bridge club continues every Monday at 7.30pm in Tulla Hall, Three castles. New members are always very welcome. For further information please contact Olive on 087 9257610.

PARISH NEWS

Mass

is held in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and each Sunday morning at 11am.wiith Mass in Tulla church on Saturday evenings at 7.30pm. and 11am Maas in St.Lachtains Church on Sundays. The parish newsletter is available on their website every week and also on the website you are free to pay your dues and make donations or any other contributions and you can find out more about it on the website or feel free to contact in the Parish Office. Please note community notices for the parish newsletter should be left in or emailed to the Parish Office by 11am on Thursdays. Parish office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 1pm. Mass Cards

Special printed parish cards are available at the Parish Office or from Annette at Tulla Church signed by Monsignor Kennedy. You can contact the Parish office on 056 8832843 or by email – freshfordd@ossory.ie. Contact Mongr Kieron Kennedy on that number or on 087 25235 21 HELP FOR ALL

Are you struggling with anxiety or depression or finding life difficult or feeling isolated at this time GROW is there to help you. Their Mental Health support Groups are free and confidential and open to all no referral or booking is needed. For more information on same you can contact Mary on 087 284342 If you can’t cope and need support text HELLO to 50808.

SAMARITAN - Whatever you’re going through a Samaritan will face it with you – available 24 hours a day 365 days a year –Freephone 1161Alone is available for older people who need support and you can call them on 0818 222024 (8am to 8pm)

AMBER KILKENNY WOMENS REFUGE – is available for confidential support relating to domestic violence - call them on 1850 424244 (24/7) or on 056 7771404 or email into@amberwomensrefuge.ie

CALLAN

Notice is hereby given that the Callan United AFC CLG AGM will be held on Friday the 23rd August in the Parish Hall Callan at 19.00. Any motions or nominations for the committee must be with the club secretary by the 16th August by email only.

Regards, Rob Higton. Chairperson,Callan Utd AFC CLG.

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB

KILKENNY CAMOGIE

Congratulations to the Kilkenny Intermediate camogie team and club players Hannah Scott, Aoife Cantwell and Tara Murphy

on the team’s huge performance in getting over the line at 2-14 to 2-12 against a dogged Kerry team in Saturday afternoon’s All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final in a humid Semple Stadium. Played under a hot sun the teams traded scores and fortunes throughout the game which ended at 1-10 each in normal time. The teams were still deadlocked at half time in extra time at 1-13 for The Cats to The Kingdom’s 2-10. The defining score came for Kilkenny in the 74th minute when Caroline Kennedy netted to finally break the resistance of the Kerry girls. Both club players played their hearts out with Hannah Scott giving her usual assured performance in defence over the 80 minutes while Aoife Cantwell covered acres of ground in the middle of the park before succumbing to the heat of the day. Substitute goalkeeper Tara Murphy’s services were not required. We wish the girls the best of luck as they travel to Croke Park to take on Cork in the All-Ireland final on Sunday 11th August.

U-14 CAMOGIE

On the club scene the U-14 team played their first championship fixture on Friday evening, going down 5-16 to 4-12 to TullogherRosbercon in a high scoring game. Somewhat understrength due to holiday commitments the Village girls were always chasing the game but to their credit put in a great second half performance reducing their opponents half time lead of 11 points to just three points before Tullogher pushed ahead late in the game to claim victory.

JUNIOR “B” Q-FINAL

Having contested bravely over the first 30 minutes against a physically stronger Bennettsbridge side with breeze advantage the James Stephens players were relieved to go into the break 0-11 to 0-07 in arrears thanks to some heroic defending and quality point scoring from Jack Kelly (0-02) and centre forward David Walton who registered 0-04 from play and placed balls. However, on the resumption the home club pressed the accelerator and hit the shell-shocked Village men with an avalanche of scores over the third quarter chalking up 1-06 on the scoreboard to take a match winning 1-17 to 0-09 lead by the 17th minute. By now the scoring touch had surprisingly ebbed away from free taker David Walton reducing any possibility of James Stephens closing the widening gap. Even with the final result out of reach The Village players showed plenty of fighting spirit over the final quarter resulting in quality scores delivered by Sean Casey, Ben Cantwell and substitute Daniel Ring. With the defence under constant pressure throughout the game goalkeeper Billy O’Sullivan was called on to make a number of brave smothering saves while full back Cathal Mulhall, and fellow defenders Eoin Larkin, Sean Walsh and Sean Ruth battled bravely against a strong Bennettsbridge attack. At the final whistle Bennettsbridge deserved their 1-20 to 0-15 victory to end the club’s excellent run in the competition.

MINORS FOR FINAL

On Monday evening in Larchfield in an untypical city derby, lacking the usual intensity between Dicksboro and James Stephens the home club’s minor hurlers ran out comfortable winners at 3-22 to 1-07 in their 6th round league fixture to qualify for a league final appearance. Despite playing against a stiff breeze in the first half James Stephens accumulated a sizable 1-11 to 1-03 lead at halftime thanks to two early long range scores by Jacob Breslin and a brilliant individual goal by Ed McDermott in the 22nd minute to give The Village a sizable advantage. The second half was largely one way traffic but the understrength Dicksboro despite displaying commendable fighting spirit could not compete with the free scoring James Stephens forward division. Notable performances were to be seen from goalkeeper Billy O’Sullivan and the fullback line of Tuan Hyland, Noah Manogue and Dara Behan while up front, Ed McDermott with a tally of 2-08 to his credit and nippy corner forward Zac Scanlon with only a single point to his name tormented the ‘Boro defence throughout creating many scoring opportunities for his teammates to convert. As manager Joe Murray and the selectors are acutely aware the upcoming championship is an entirely different matter.

MINOR “C” LEAGUE The club’s Minor “B” team continued their league campaign with an impressive 4-16 to 1-10 victory over The Rower- Inistioge in

Gyll and David Condon with their winning champion Mick Jagger at the Ossory Show

Pairc Sheamuis Stiophain. Finishing in second place in the league table after a fine campaign, ironically the young James Stephens players have had to line out once again on Wednesday evening last (31st July) against The Rower-Inistioge who topped the table to compete for the 2024 league title.

SUMMER CAMP

The annual Summer Camp for club members, male and female between the ages of 5 to 13 is scheduled to take place from Monday 12th to Friday 16th August starting at 10.am each day in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophain. Coordinator Bill Cody has a full complement of qualified supervisors/coaches on board who will ensure the young participants will benefit greatly from a week’s coaching in Gaelic games, hurling, football and camogie in a fun and safe environment. There will also be visits from intercounty hurling and camogie stars who will pass on useful tips gained from their years of experience on the All-Ireland stage. To date over 140 young prospects have been signed up but places are still available. The fees already notified to parents/guardians will be collected on the day. For further info email bill.cody. po.kilkenny@gaa.ie.

FAMILY EVENING

Players, family members, supporters are reminded that the popular annual family Fun BBQ evening takes place on Saturday, 10th August in Larchfield, starting at 6 pm. With plenty of fun activities and challenges for the young and young at heart and background music to suit all ages provided by the club’s own favourite DJ “Scooter” it promises to be an enjoyable evening of chat and possible debate about the prospects of our club teams in the upcoming championship campaigns. The entry fee is €7 per adult with entitlement to a burger and a beer while the fee for U-18’s is €5 entitling them to a burger and a soft drink. Do come along and bring a friend.

U-14 INVITE

On Sunday the U-14 “A” management team received a late invitation to participate in the Declan Byrne tournament in Ballycallan due to the unavoidable withdrawal of the Young Ireland club. In the group stages the James Stephens lads took on the hosts, Ballycallan, Lucan Sarsfields and Bennettsbridge and with two wins qualified for the shield final against Mooncoin. Unfortunately, having played over two hours of hurling in warm sunshine the young Village lads faded and came up short against a strong Mooncoin line up who went on to claim the title. The team mentors would like to thank the Graigue-Ballycallan club for the invite albeit in unfortunate circumstances due to the passing away of the young girl in Majorca with connections to the Young Irelands club and also to acknowledge their excellent management of the tournament.

LADIES FOOTBALL

Congratulations to club members, the Smith and O’Shea sisters who lined out with Kilkenny City LGFA team in the Ladies adult football league win over The Railyard last weekend in St. James’ Park. The Smith girls Sarah, Alison and Emily along with Sophie and Margaret Mary O’Shea were in the first fifteen as the Kilkenny city side put back-to-back league wins together having already recorded victories over Dunamaggin and John Lockes in earlier rounds. Well done girls on creating another first for The Village record books.

LOTTO

This week’s numbers were 2: 16: 24: 28. There was no winner. The €40 consolation winners were Tommy Hennessy, Kieran Lynch, Orla Neary, Darren Dalton and Maryellen Howley.

GOWRAN

GOWRAN AC

Congratulations to all those who competed in the recent National Juvenile Championships.

Chloe lynch 1st U18 Pole Vault. Charlie Peavoy 2nd U15 Shot Put. Rachel Gardiner 6th U18 Discus, Oren Denieffe 15th U14 Javelin Best of luck to Mary Fitzgerald competing in Paralympics. This will be Mary’s second Games. She made Paralympic debut at Tokyo in 2021.

GOWRAN PITCH AND PUTT

Great result for the juveniles in the Leinster U16 Strokeplay and Inter County.

In the boys 13 and under section Harry Concannon took the cup with a fantastic score of 5 under. Well done Harry. Jack McShane finishing 3rd in the Boys 14-16 section with a 3 under total. Aidan O’Connell and Eoghan Morrissey with steady rounds of 55 and 56 in the singles competition setting the Kilkenny team up for a great result and a 3rd place finish after the doubles. Great performance by all four boys on the day and more to look forward to in the upcoming juvenile competitions.

YOUNG IRELANDS GAA

All involved with Young Irelands GAA and Camogie Club are deeply saddened and heartbroken to hear of the tragic loss of Clodagh Phelan. Sincere sympathy to Liam, Valerie, Will, David and Grandad John Hobson; and to the extended Phelan Family who are so actively involved in the club, Granny Joan, Siobhán and Micheál, Ciarán and Deirdre, Michael and Olive, and all her cousins. Thoughts and prayers are with you all at this terribly difficult time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

GRAIGUENAMANAGE

GRAIG NOTES

Should you wish to submit news items, club events, announcements etc, you can do so by emailing them to graignotes@ outlook.com. Deadline is Saturday 6pm.

LOTTO GAA AND SOCCER

The numbers drawn on 22/07 /24 were 28, 24 8, 14, there was no Jackpot winner. The following won €30 each Sharan Curran, Ann Doyle, Emer Murphy, Micheal Murphy, Micheal Doyle, Ella Dunne. Tickets are available from any club member.

GRAIG TIDY TOWN DRAW

The winners of the Draw that was held on 25/07 2024. were First Prize €443. Nuala and Ciara, 2nd Prize €50 Luke and Eric, 3rd Prize, €25, Frances Kavanagh. Money raised through Tidy Towns Jackpot will be used to keep the town looking well all year round.

Draw takes place at 4pm on Thursdays.

RAMBLING HOUSE

The Monthly Rambling House Session is on the second Friday of the month in Newtown Hall, where you can enjoy music and song from local artists and also many from the surrounding district. The next Session is on Friday August 9th at 8.00pm.

MASS TIMES FOR DUISKE ABBEY GRAIGUENAMANAGH

Monday to Friday 10 AM, Saturday 7,30 PM, and Sunday 11AM.

GORESBRIDGE AND PAULSTOWN

BADMINTON

Badminton is being held in Paulstown Community Hall at 8pm every Monday. Entry is €5. New players welcome. Further info from Tommy, tel. 087-2303495

BOXING (PAULSTOWN)

Congratulations and a big well done to our three girl firsts today, Annalise, Mary and Lucy who boxed in the Sacre Coeur tournament.

BRIDGE UNITED Bridge Yellow won against Freebooters Athletic in the Under-12 League Division 1 (with Jayden Halligan and Ollie Maher the scorers).

CHURCH SERVICES

Mass will be celebrated in Goresbridge at 7.30pm on Saturday and at 10.00am on Sunday and also in Paulstown at 11.30am on Sunday. Weekday mass is at 10am in Paulstown this Friday and Tuesday and in Goresbridge on Wednesday. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in Paulstown every Tuesday after morning mass and lasts until 6pm.

CUPLA FOCAL

Weekly Friday chatting in Irish continues over a cuppa in the Goodly Barrow every Friday at 11am. Further info from Ann tel. 085-7529485.

TOWN TEAMS

Following a recent public meeting it is intended to proceed with the establishment of a Goresbridge Town Teams. Sub-committees with areas of special interest will be formed in advance and these will elect representatives to the Team.

YOUTH GROUP (OSSORY YOUTH)

A Youth Group which caters for first to third years students meets in the Goresbridge Health Centre every Wednesday from 2.304pm. For information contact Ruth Flanagan tel. 087-3873724

NATURE’S WAY AFTER SCHOOL SERVICE (SCOIL BHRÍDE

GORESBRIDGE)

Will be available from September 2024. Information from the school office.

BENNETTSBRIDGE

TIDY TOWNS

To continue the work they have been doing, Bennettsbridge Tidy Towns urgently needs your help. Mainly seasonal work with the greatest challenge being grass cutting and strimming in the communal areas of the village. We would very much like to take this opportunity to thank all our current grass cutters who are looking after some areas already. Without your help we could not progress as a group. Please contact us if you can give us some of your time it would be greatly appreciated. Trish Dwan Tel No: 086 8370936, Marie Nolan

Tel No: 086 3151681

COIS NORE OUTREACH SERVICE

Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre Kilkenny will be bringing a new Outreach Service to the community of Thomastown and the surrounding areas every Thursday. The new service will commence on Thursday the 22nd August 2024. The Cois Nore Outreach service will be held at the Thomastown Community Hall Centre in the morning from 10 am to 12 pm. Please do not hesitate to drop in for information or an appointment.

CARD GAME RESULTS

9th July.First Prize Johno/Maria Reid and Martin Clarke/Pauline Keating (11 games).Table Prize Bridget Cottrell/ Jack Kavanagh 16th July. First Prize Pat O’Neill/Michael Kelly (11 games). Second Prize Bridget Murphy/Tommy Hayes and Michael Kenneally/Lar Gibbons (9 games). Table Prize Mary Doyle/Mary Cummins 23rd July. First Prize John Shortall/Charlie Hill (12 games). Second Prize Michael Kenneally/Mickey Fitzpatrick (9 games).Table Prize Frank O’Neill/Michael Phelan

The Bennettsbridge Card Game takes place each Tuesday night in the Community Centre.

LOTTO

No winner of Jackpot last week. Numbers, 8. 18. 24, 28. Consolation Prizes, Liam McEvoy, Gowran Road. Larry Cleere, Jnr, Ballyreddin, Angela Coyne, Noreview Crescent, E, L andP Mahon, Blackwell, Abbie O’Brien, Marian Place.

CHURCH NEWS

Masses this week, Tuesday and Thursday mornings 10.30am

GRAVEYARD MASS

Thomastown, Friday, 2nd August 8pm

Tullaherin, Saturday,3rd August 8pm.

Bennettsbridge,, Sunday ,4th August 10.30am

SYMPATHY

Sympathy is extended to the family of Clodagh Phelan, Newbawn, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, who has died following a tragic accident. Locally, Clodagh was a granddaughter of Joan Phelan, Kyle, Gowran and was pre-deceased by her grandfather, Tommy Phelan.

CLAIRE MANNING RIP

Sympathy is extended to the Manning and O’Shea families on the untimely death of Claire Manning on the 22nd July. Claire passed away (peacefully) in Beaumont Hospital after a short illness, surrounded by her loving family. Claire was a devoted mother to her two young children, Cara (3) and Elise (1), and a beloved wife to her husband Barry O’ Shea. She will be greatly missed by her parents Martin and Mary Man-

ning (Clara, Co Kilkenny), brothers Jim and Kieran, mother-in-law, Carmel, brothers and sisters in law, Denise, Debs, Fiona, Ronan, Vinny, Killian, Audrey, Bruno and Bronnie, extended family and friends.

Reposal was in Hehir’s Funeral Home with Rosary and Vigil Prayers. A celebration of Claire’s life was held on Friday in the Kilkenny Rugby Club, where family and friends gathered in large numbers. Burial took place in Foulkstown Cemetery. Rest in peace Claire!

MENS SHED

Members are looking forward to welcoming local girl, Zahra Khodabacksh, World Irish Dancing Champion to their meeting on 7th August. The Mens Shed continues with its usual activities each week from 2 to 4pm in the Community Centre.

ART GROUP

Anticipation is building in the Art Group as Kilkenny Arts Week is almost here. The artists have been working hard throughout the year preparing for their annual exhibition. This year Siobhán O’Brien from the Kilkenny/Carlow Educational Training Board will open the event. The group has received much support from the KCETB down through the years. Likewise, the encouragement of tutor, Julie Moorhouse over the past number of years is a factor in the success of the group.

GAA Club Games

Our seniors begin this year’s championship in Inistioge on Sunday next when they take on Glenmore in the opening round of this year’s league/championship. Best wishes to all the team and management, all support greatly appreciated. Our junior B team had a good eight point win over James Stephen’s in the championship quarter final and will play St Lactain’s in the semi-final on Sunday 11th of August. A very young junior E team bowed out of the championship against St Martins, losing well at half time they put in a fine second half performance to lose by four points in the end. Thanks to all the players and management for their efforts during the year.

Hosting Senior Game

Bennettsbridge will host the senior clash at 2 pm on Saturday next. All help is needed on the day with stewarding etc., as a huge crowd is expected. On the day we will also launch a fundraiser with prize money of two thousand euro to be won. Two thousand tickets will be on sale costing between 1 cent and twenty euro. Details to follow on the club’s Facebook page.

Well Done

Well done to Jamie Walsh who played very well at centre forward on the Kilkenny under 15 team that defeated Waterford last weekend.

Field Day 2024

The 2024 Field Day will take place on August 18th this year. A

great family day is in store. Any local businesses who would like to showcase their wares on the day or anyone wishing to exhibit arts and crafts please contact Andrea on 0871226882. Volunteers are needed on the day, setting up and manning stalls etc. Donations of prizes for the wheel of fortune, bottle bank etc are greatly appreciated. Bric-a-brac, toys, children’s books only in good condition accepted on Friday August 16th from 6.30 to 8 pm and from 9.30 to 11.30 on Saturday August 17th. Home baking on the morning of the field day. Thanks again for the continued support.

Dog Fouling in Pitch

Please note no dogs are allowed in the playing pitch. Fouling has again become an issue and in the interest of health and safety we ask all to keep dogs outside the GAA grounds.

Split the Pot

The next draw takes place this Friday at 6 pm in the clubhouse. Thanks again for the support.

Hurlers Co-Op draw

The fifth and final draw took place on July 30th. Thanks to all who participated.

DICKSBORO

CLUB LOTTO

Draw Prizes – €50: Dick Curtin c/o Tom Beirne.

Dicksboro

On

Tom Healy

Junior League Champions 2024

Dicksboro Captain Sarah O’Gorman

Community & GAA Notes

laroan in the Senior Camogie ACL Final at 7.30pm. Please come out and support.

BALLYRAGGET/BALLYOUSKILL

Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre Kilkenny will be bringing a new Outreach Service to the community of Ballyragget and the surrounding areas every Monday. The new service will commence on Monday the 12th of August 2024. The Cois Nore Outreach service will be held at Dr. Miriam Hogan’s rooms on the Square in Ballyragget in the morning from 10 am to 12 pm. Please do not hesitate to drop in for information and support. Alternatively you can make an appointment by contacting (087-4833941).

GAA

The St Patrick’s junior side will begin their junior hurling league campaign on Sunday the 4th August at 6pm v Graiguenamangh in Clara. The Junior a side were defeated by Young Irelands 4-19 to1-18

THANKS

Many thanks to all who supported the Ballyragget Ballyouskill Lourdes invalid fund.

JOHNSTOWN

FENIANS HC

The Fenians are holding their annual Golf Classic at Rathdowney GF on Bank Holiday Monday,August 5th. Teams of four €140. To book a tee time call 0868368040.The club are also holding a fun summer camp in the Sportsfield on Tuesday August 6th from 10am to 2pm.

THE MILL FAMILY CENTRE

The Centre will be closed from Friday August 2nd and will reopen on Monday August 19th. Family Fun Day, Sunday August 25th 1.30 to 4.30pm. €5 entrance per family.

URLINGFORD LIBRARY

Storytelling with Helena for the under 5’s at 12 noon will be held on Saturday August 30th. All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

MRS MARY HOLOHAN RIP

Mary (nee Doherty), Grangefertagh died peacefully at St. Luke’s Hospital recently. Predeceased by her parents and brother Pat she will be sadly missed by her husband Sean, son John, daughter Hilda, sister Bridget, brother Charlie, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and a close circle of friends. Mary was laid to rest in Johnstown Cemetery after Requiem Mass in St. Kieran’s Church.

Sympathy is extended.to the Holland family on the death of Liam in England. Liam was brother of the late Eamon. Requiem Mass was in St. Kieran’s Church with burial of ashes in Johnstown Cemetery.

Sympathy also to Fr. Lar Dunphy, late P.P. of Urlingford, who has been bereaved by the death of his brother Paddy, Cullohill.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO

The winning numbers were 7,10,16,24.There was one match three winner and that winner was Lorraine Kenny. Well done Lorraine.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The Centre will be closed from Friday the 2nd of August until Monday 19th August.

SAVE THE DATE

Mill Family Fun Day Sunday the 25th August 2024, put the date in your diaries for a day of fun

ST KIERAN’S HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY

Applications are invited for the Vacant Tenancy of a onebedroom house at St Kieran’s Place, Urlingford. To be eligible to apply you must be on the Kilkenny County Council Housing list. Applications are available from the Centre.

LOCAL TRAINING PROGRAMME L.T.I.

Names been taken for L.T.I. Q.Q.I. Level 4 due to start soon.

NEW COURSES

There are two new courses commencing this September, Office

Admin, one morning a week commencing on Monday 9th September. Basic Computers, one morning a week commencing on Wednesday 11th September. These courses will be free of charge and will run up to May 2025.

COUNSELLING SERVICES

Our low cost Counselling Services, includes One-to-One, Adult and Teens. General Counselling: Bereavement, Stress, Anxiety and Depression. Other Counselling Services available: Drug, Substance and Gambling Addictions. Play therapy is now also available. Age 5+. Please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment.

SENIOR ALERT

If you need to apply for a Personal Alarm, please contact Sue or Josephine in the centre.

DEFIBRILLATOR

Please note that there is a defibrillator located in the Mill Family Resource Centre if and when it may be required.

APPEAL FOR CLOTHES DONATIONS

Any clothes donations would be greatly appreciated in aid of our counselling/play therapy services. Donations can be left into the Centre, please call before dropping off.

JOBS – TRAINING BOARD

We have a Jobs Board here at the Centre, feel free to call in and take a look, we also offer help and support with CV’s and cover letters if required. For further information please contact us here at the Centre on 056-8838466

GORTNAHOE GLENGOOLE

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Glengoole Wednesday 10am to 2pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 10am to 1pm

UPCOMING PILGRIMAGES TO KNOCK SHRINE

This Sunday 4th August, Annual Diocesan (Cashel and Emly) Pilgrimage Day. For further information please contact the parish pastoral team.

BOULICK MASS

Boulick cemetery mass will take place on Thursday 15th August at 7.30pm in the graveyard.

FENNOR MASS

There was a very large attendance at the annual Fennor Mass which was held last Thursday. Fr James Walton was the concelebrant of the Mass. Louise Norton did the first reading and the second reading was read by Olivia Wall. The prayers of the faithful were recited by Claire Barnaville, PJ McCormack, Sean Phelan, Deborah Maher, Rita Langton, Breda Hickey and Liam Hogan. Special prayers were offered for all buried in Fennor, especially Christy Wall, Cork and formerly of Fennor, Michael Delaney, Inchorourke, Mary Feehan, Dublin and formerly of George’s Park and Isabel Hogan, Graiguepaudeen. Minister of the Eucharist was Denis Carroll. Reflection after Holy Communion was read by Grainne O’Dwyer. A special word of thanks to the wonderful choir which included musicians and singers from Gortnahoe and Urlingford choirs, under the direction of Margaret Maher and Sean Hennessey. The selection of hymns on the night were uplifting and added greatly to our special Mass. Sincere thanks to all concerned. Thanks to the Gortnahoe Community Hall for the use of the chairs and a thanks to Kathleen Cronin for the power point. Families must be commended for putting beautiful flower bouquets on their family graves and it is also appreciated to see flowers throughout the year as a tribute to those who departed this life. A special word of thanks to Jodie Moriarty for his care of the graveyard, and also the dedicated Committee who help throughout the year and especially in the organising of the Mass and the collection. A sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the upkeep of the graveyard.

GLENGOOLE COMMUNITY GROUP

Buddies Barn Dance with Folk That, Saturday 10th August, Music on the Reen, Sunday 18th August.

GORTNAHOE BINGO

A special August bank holiday weekend bingo will be held this Saturday evening 3rd August at the earlier time of 4.00pm with doors opening from 3.00pm. Over €4,000 in prize money on

offer including a special €500 game and an August bank holiday special game for €800. There will be hampers and Split the Pot on the day. It will be great afternoon’s entertainment for all on the bank holiday weekend. Support from the Parish would be appreciated.

SPLIT THE POT

Congratulations to the last weekends winner of Split the Pot draw, Catherine Corbett, Gortnahoe, who won €275. Envelopes are available at the usual outlets, you can also Revolut to 0876777220. For the month of August the senior, juvenile, camogie and ladies football club are sharing Split the Pot. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. If anyone wants to enter the number to Revolut this week is 086 8789711. Your support would be appreciated.

GAMBLING THERAPY AND SUPPORT SERVICE

Millennium Family Resource Centre Glengoole. A confidential counselling service for those affected by problem gambling. Now offering online counselling sessions. For further information contact us on 052 9157992.

SIX WEEK HISTORY WALK AND TALK PROGRAM

Suil Eile and Slieveardagh Rural Development are doing a six week History walk and talk program. Register for free at http:// www.suileile.com/register. Different locations each week including Ballynonty, Kilcooley, Killenaule, Copper Steeple and The Commons.

WHEELCHAIR ACCOCIATION

North Kilkenny branch of Wheelchair Association will commence a bingo night in the community hall, Freshford this Friday 2nd August at 8pm.

ANDY DOYLE RIP

The death has occurred of Andy (Andrew) Doyle of Gurteen, Upper Coalbrook, Thurles and formerly of Carrig-Slaney, Kilbride, Co Carlow. 21st July 2024. Pre-deceased by his brother Paddy, sisters Mary-Anne and Lilian. Deeply regretted by his wife Marie, brother, sisters, mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, extended family, friends and neighbours. Andy reposed at O’Connell’s Funeral Home Killenaule. Arriving at Sts. Patrick and Oliver Church, Glengoole last Thursday morning for Funeral Mass followed by burial in adjoining Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

TOM STOKES RIP

Sympathy to the family of the late Tom Stokes, England and formerly of Graiguemane, whose ashes were buried in Glengoole Cemetery last Friday. May he rest in peace.

KILMANAGH

PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK

Callan Parish are running a pilgrimage to Knock on 8th August. Bus will leave Callan Parish Church at 8am. If you’re interested in joining them, contact Brenda Farrell 086 344 0867 St. John’s Parish are also running a bus to Knock on Wednesday, August 21st. Contact their office for details at: 056 772 1072

VOLUNTEER CLEANERS

We always need people willing to clean our churches. There’s not too much work involved, but it does make a huge difference. Contact sacristans or Fr. Liam for details. Thanks to our regular cleaners.

CHURCH OF IRELAND

As part of Heritage Week, St. Aidan’s Church of Ireland in Kilmanagh are holding “An Illustrated Talk on the Stained Glass Windows in St. Aidan’s Church” celebrating the 25th anniversary of the installation of the windows. This event will take place on Sunday, 18th August at 3pm and will include specially composed Harp and Song entertainment, as well as a cheese and wine reception afterwards. All are welcome to attend.

ADULT LEARNING

Adult Learning Service, 43 Patrick St. Kilkenny, R95PNX2, is holding an Open Day, on Friday, 9th August 2024 from 10am - 3pm. We wish to welcome the community to come to see our facilities, to chat to us about our programmes. All the classes are FREE and include the following, Certified QQI awards from levels 1-4 and uncertified courses. Small friendly group and one-to-one classes available. Classes can be held in outreach centres in local communities. Some of the classes we offer are improving reading, writing and math’s skills. We also offer classes in Computer Skills, Smart Technology, Family Learning, Driver theory and English language classes. All are welcome.

NAOMH AODHAN COMMUNITY CENTRE

The Naomh Aodhán Community Centre in Kilmanagh is available to hire for meetings, social occasions, etc. Contact Naomh Aodhán on 083 3413 024 for details of availability.

BALLYCALLAN COMMUNITY HALL

Ballycallan Community Hall is also available for hire and events. Contact Jimmy Lynch, or any of the committee members for details.

BALLYKEEFFE AMPHITHEATRE

Friday August 9th.’Night Of Trad on the Rock for Roisín’; Saturday August 24th - Harvest Moon. Saturday August 31 - Paul Brady. For full details, go to ballykeeffeamphitheatre.com

ATHLETICS CLUB

Whether you run for fun, for fitness or just to have that mental break from the week, you’re always welcome with our local group. Grab your runners and we will see you in Kilmanagh Car Park at 7pm, each Tuesday and Thursday.

PARISH LOTTO

Results for 22/07//24. Numbers drawn were 1; 7; 15; 17. There was no winner. Lucky Dip Winners of €50 each were Nicholas Dunphy, Joshua Malone and Niall Greene. Sellers prizes went to John Cahill and Josie Ronan. Draw takes place each Monday at 9pm.

KILMANAGH NOTES

Anyone wishing to submit news items, events, announcements etc. can do so by email only to elanigan18@gmail.com. If you have any photos that you would like included, please send as an attachment.

CONAHY

HURLING

The junior B hurlers bowed out of the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior B championship when they were defeated by neighbours Threecastles in Jenkinstown on Friday night last. The visitors enjoyed a perfect start with an early goal and couple of points, but Conahy fought back well to take the lead by the midway point. Threecastles themselves then fought back to level the scores at 1-8 to 0-11 at the half time break.

The second half was played in a near monsoon of rain, which made fast hurling very difficult. But Threecastles proved their worth with a dominant display in the half, taking the lead early on and increasing it as the half went on. A second goal in the final minutes sealed their win as they advanced on a 2-18 to 0-16 score line.

TEAM: Padraic Delaney, J.P. Gamble, Davy Healy, Frank Gunner, Darragh Hennessy, Brian Healy, Padraig Gunner, Eoin Carroll, Jack Murphy, Mark Gunner, Gary Dunne, Darragh Dooley, Bill Murphy, Rob Ring, Billy Mulhall, Conor Duggan. The intermediate hurlers begin their 2024 league campaign on this Saturday at 12.00 when they face Dunnamaggin in Tullaroan in the Michael Lyng Motors Intermediate League. Best of luck to all involved.

CAMOGIE

Huge congratulations to Danielle Morrissey, Emma Mulhall, Ellen Gunner and Sofia Kerr who are part of the Kilkenny intermediate team who defeated Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday last in Thurles. Further congratulations also to Danielle who received the Player of the Match award. Kilkenny will now face Cork in the All-Ireland Final on Sunday week in Croke Park.

CLUB LOTTO

The numbers drawn in the most recent GAA Club Lotto were 11, 16 and 23. There was no jackpot winner, so the consolation prize winners were John Gleeson, Michelle, Ella Rossiter, Jack, Emily and Freya Joyce, Ann Keane and Martin Phelan. The promoter prize winners were David Maher, Teresa Dollard and Helen Cahill. Many thanks to everyone who supports the GAA Club Lotto. HUGGINSTOWN NEWMARKET STONEYFORD

MASS TIMES

Aghaviller Parish. Hugginstown, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil – Saturday 3rd. at 8.00p.m. Sunday 4th. at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford, Vigil - Saturday 3rd. at 6.30p.m

FIRST FRIDAY Friday 2nd First Friday,Visitation with Holy Communion will take place as usual on Friday. Please let us know if you would like to receive Holy Communion in your home for the First Fridays or at any other time.

CEMETERY MASS

Stoneyford Cemetery Mass on Friday 2nd. August at 8.00p.m. PRAY FOR Agnes Smyth (nee Landy) Ennisnag. Sr. Carmel Dunphy, Wexford and late of Stoneyford

ANNIVERSARY MASS Anniversary Masses next weekend. Declan Fennelly, Oldtown. Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 3rd. August at 6.30p.m. Richard and Mary Aylward, Boolyglass, Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 3rd. August at 8.00p.m.

ROTA

Readers, Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m. Tony Roche, Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Catherine Dwyer, Sunday 10.00a.m. Deirdre O’Shea. Eucharistic Ministers.Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Pat Kenny. Hugginstown,Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Cuddihy, Sunday 10.00a.m Lillian Carr.

SCOIL AIREAGAIL School is seeking host families for Spanish students who will be joining their school next year. Please contact info@scoilaireagail. ie or (056) 776 8632 for more details.

SAFEGUARDING CONTACTS

Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Ms. Ailish Higgins Tel: 087 100 0232. Aghaviller Parish Representatives are: Deirdre Rohan and Catherina Roche.

SEEKING, SERVING AND SHARING CHRIST IN A SYNODAL CHURCH

The Priory Institute, two-week on-line Summer School is reflective, informative and interactive and will run from 19th. August this year. The course includes eight recorded presentations and three on-line zoom discussions and is very flexible as it is delivered entirely online. Find out more and register click: prioryinstitute.com

MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE

Fully escorted pilgrimage will take place from 18th to 25th. September 2024. Direct return flights from Dublin Airport. Full Religious Programme operated by Marian Pilgrimages. For more information please contact Ann Fitzpatrick 086 199 1620 or 086 882 5622

CEMETERY MASSES

Stoneyford Cemetery.Mass on Friday 2nd. August at 8.00p.m. Stonecarthy Cemetery,Mass on Friday 9th. August at 7.30p.m. Sheepstown Cemetery,Mass on Friday 16th August at 7.30p.m. JUNE COLLECTION

Many thanks for your very generous contribution during the past few weeks.

LOTTO

Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 22nd. July 2024,Numbers: 15; 31; 05; 16. No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner: €30.00. Winners: Caroline Halzbauer, Knocktopher; Kathleen Moran, Cherrymount. Michael Rohan, “On Line”: Lucy McBride, Hugginstown; Maurice Power, Mylerstown. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers), Teresa Fitzgerald, Ger Carroll, Trish Power. LIGHT THE FIRE PILGRIMAGE

The Light the Fire Pilgrimage at Ballintubber Abbey, Co Mayo will take place next Sunday, 4th. August, from 12.00p.m. to 4.00p.m. Archbishop Francis Duffy, along with Deacon John Taaffe will celebrate Mass as part of the Light the Fire rosary/healing service. Eurovision’s Dana Rosemary Scanlon will also sing her new song for Saint Patrick which recalls how our Patron Saint lit the fire of faith. Schedule of events for the day. 12.00p.m. to 1.00p.m. Gathering.1.15pm. Rosary. 2.00p.m. Celebration of Mass. 3.00pm. Eucharist Healing Service

Rachel Dowling, Jane Cass, Rose Kelly and Angela Carroll are Croker Bound

What can be done for osteoarthritis

BY PAUL BOLGER

So, you have been told you have osteoarthritis. What can you do? Quite a lot actually.

Before we get into the steps to take, it’s important to recognise that while we cannot reverse osteoarthritis, there is plenty that will reduce the pain, stiffness and the impact of the condition.

International guidelines created by experts from around the world break treatment down into 3 stages. The first stage is for everyone, the second stage is for some, and only a small percentage will go to the third stage.

Stage 1: Exercise, Education, Weight Loss –for all

This is for everybody with osteoarthritis, and many will never need to move beyond this step. Exercise will not cause further harm. In fact, many people with osteoarthritis will benefit from it.

General exercise is key. The type that gets your heart rate up, breathing heavier and maybe even working up a sweat. While all movement

A lot can be done to manage osteoarthritis and reduce its impact on our lives

is great, low impact activities such as swimming and cycling may be useful for those with more pain or

while going through a “flare up”. Strengthening exercises are advised too. Often

We compensate. We move differently. Over time this may lead to weaker muscles, and joints that can’t tolerate as much strain as before.

Strengthening exercises can help to overcome this.

Weight loss has been proven to be effective at reducing osteoarthritis symptoms and pain. For those carrying a little extra weight, losing 5-10% of their body weight in a healthy, sustainable way is a great starting point.

Finally, educate yourself.

Get information from trusted sources like ‘Arthritis Ireland’ and registered healthcare professionals (don’t rely on online accounts or opportunists profiting from gimmicky products or treatments).

If you suffer significantly with osteoarthritis, it is best to work with a healthcare professional trained in movement to develop a programme that works for you.

Stage

2:

Passive Therapies

and Medication – for some

when we suffer from pain our bodies find all sorts of ways to shift weight away from the affected joints.

Some people may need further help – therapies like ice or heat might be useful, pain-relieving medication and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories e.g. ibuprofen) may help, or, for some, a steroidal injection

into the affected joint may offer short-term relief (up to 3 months) should it be required. Your GP can advise on medication for you. Occasionally, if you suffer from a flare of your condition, temporary use of passive therapies can offer some relief until your symptoms settle.

Stage 3: Surgery – for a few

A small percentage of people with osteoarthritis end up needing a joint replacement. However, most people will never get to this point.

If a person has given the above stages a good go for a period of months or years – they have worked on strength and fitness maintained a healthy weight and understand their condition – but they still suffer significantly from pain and struggle significantly with day-to-day tasks, then they may be a good candidate for joint replacement surgery. After surgery, rehabilitation awaits.

This has been an overview of what the best practice guidelines say about osteoarthritis management. As always, we are all different and individual advice and programming from a registered healthcare professional is advised.

Chartered Physiotherapist at Nano Physiotherapy, Kilkenny WWW.NANOPHYSIO.IE

Camogie - Corner

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Ireland Intermediate Camogie Semi-Final

FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles

Kilkenny 2-14

Kerry 2-12

Kilkenny left everything on the FBD Semple Stadium pitch as they battled Kerry for over eighty-odd minutes to claim their place in this year’s Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Final. Danielle Morrissey finished the game with 0-8 and put on an excellent scoring display to help drive her team over the line, but it was Caroline Kennedy’s goal in the second period of extra time that proved decisive in delivering a final berth for Seamus Kelly’s side. The game started a little scrappily, Kilkenny had the advantage of a stiff breeze in the opening period as both sides tried to settle in Semple Stadium.

Conahy’s Danielle Morrissey went close from a sideline cut before Kerry centre forward, Patrice Diggin opened the scoring on 5 minutes, driving over her effort from about ‘45 metres out to give the Kingdom the lead. Seamus Kelly’s side levelled matters shortly after, a booming effort from distance by Danielle Morrissey.

The Noresiders then paid the penalty for a few early misses when a lapse in defence allowed Amy O’Sullivan to bat the sliotar past Cliona Murphy in the Stripeywomen’s goal to give Kerry a three-point lead after eight minutes of action in Thurles. The next score came from those in stripes, a testing ball into the Kingdom’s defence was won by Caroline Kennedy and the Slieverue player showed good strength to turn her marker before firing over. The ladies in green and gold then hit two placed balls from Jackie Horgan, but Dicksboro’s Rachel Dowling notched a brace of points from play herself to leave Kilkenny two behind with 22 minutes played.

Danielle Morrissey registered her 48th point of this year’s championship campaign on 27 minutes when she popped over a free to leave her side just one point in arrears. Things got a whole lot better for Kilkenny just a minute later. Some great pressure saw the Kittens win the ball back, and The Village’s Hannah Scott drove the ball long towards her forwards. Caroline Kennedy took possession before slipping the ball to the on-running Claire Doheny. The St Brigid’s clubwoman found Rose Kelly with a nice pass and the Dicksboro attacker rifled the sliotar past Aoife Fitzgerald in the Kerry goal. Our ladies were now two points up as the game approached the interval. There was

Stripeywomen be to set-up Rebel fin

Morrissey top scores as Kerry suffer semi heartache

Leading LadyDanielle Morrissey was on song

at Kingdom al

still time for one more score, a free from Danielle Morrissey as Seamus Kelly took his side into the changing rooms, 3 points to the good on a half time scoreline of Kilkenny 1-6, Kerry 1-3. When play resumed after the break, Kilkenny struck first and it was Rachel Dowling’s third point of the semi-final as they extended their lead in Thurles, after Hannah Scott had taken a nice catch in defence and got the ball forward quickly. Kerry needed to register quickly, and they got the scoreboard moving for the first time since the 18th minute of the game, thanks to a well-taken score from Patrice Diggin, who benefited from a good advantage by referee Brian Kearney. Kingdom manager, Brian D’Arcy would have reminded his charges that they were still very much in the semi-final encounter, and would have the wind advantage, but would need to regain a foothold in the game, and this is exactly what his side did over the next ten minutes of play in Semple Stadium. More concerted pressure saw Kerry draw a serious of fouls from Kilkenny, which presented Jackie Horgan with the chance to convert a hat trick of placed balls to deadlock matters as we approached the mid-way point of the second period. Kilkenny were struggling to gain forward momentum, and it took until the 18th minute of the second half for the girls in black and amber to add to Rachel Dowling’s early effort, thanks to a fine point from play by Conahy’s Morrissey. Kerry’s placed ball expert, Jackie Horgan then tagged on another two scores, one a free, the other a ‘45 as the Kingdom re took the lead with about six minutes of normal time remaining. Kitten’s goal scorer, Rose Kelly then rifled over her first

over a monster placed ball from midfield to edge her side ahead, but Kerry were determined to keep plugging away. The ladies in green and gold emerged with the ball and moved it to Ellen O’Donoghue out on the right sideline. The number 15 looked to be going for a point, but her effort dropped short, and into the grasp of Jackie Horgan, who swiveled before unleashing a fierce shot past Cliona Murphy, the Kilmacow keeper powerless to prevent the major. Kerry now 2 up in the first period of extra time.

The Kingdom’s second major seemed to shock the Stripeywomen and they took a couple of minutes to settle again and managed to collect a placed ball score from Morrissey along with another quality effort, again from distance, from the impressive Rachel Dowling to leave the semi-finalists all square at the interval in extra time.

Play resumed for the second period of extra time, and again it was the hugely influential Danielle Morrissey who notched the next score, this time a sweet strike from out on the right side about ‘45 metres out, a top score from a top player. Again, Kerry responded and deadlocked matters once more, this time Patrice Diggin with a cracking point, following good work from Ellen O’Donoghue. Then came the score that proved to be the most crucial in the semifinal battle. Hannah Scott again, launched a long probing ball into the Kerry defence. Captain Cria Langton collected the ball and gave a pass to Caroline Kennedy. The Slieverue player showed great determination and strength to hold off a couple of Kingdom challenges before striking past Aoife Fitzgerald in the opposition goal, despite a clear tug of her jersey. Kilkenny were now three ahead with just over 5 minutes remaining in extra time. Kerry tried to respond and get back in the game, but could only muster one further score, another good effort from Patrice Diggin who had pulled into space. D’Arcy’s side needed a goal and went in search of what would have been a winning score, but to Kilkenny’s credit they stood firm and blocked anything that the Kingdom threw at them. Then relief, referee Brian Kearney sounded the long whistle. Our Intermediate camogs were heading to Croke Park for this season’s decider. Full-time score, Kilkenny 2-14, Kerry 2-12.

Scorers for Kilkenny: D Morrissey 0-8 (5fs), C Kennedy, R Kelly 1-1 each, R Dowling 0-4.

Scorers for Kerry: J Horgan 0-7 (6fs, 1 ‘45), P Diggin 0-4, A O’Sullivan 1-1.

KILKENNY: C Murphy; N Leahy, R Whelan, J Cass; M Kennedy, S Treacy, H Scott; D Morrissey, L Ronan; C Doheny, C Kennedy, A Cantwell; R Kelly, C Comerford, R Dowling.

Subs: N Crowley for Comerford (41), C Langton for Doheny, K McCluskey for Cantwell (Both 60), E Purcell for Scott (76), L Phelan for Leahy (80).

KERRY: A Fitzgerald; R McCarthy, S Murphy, M Costello; R Quinn, N Leen, A Behan; C Spillane, R O’Connor; L Collins, P Diggin, AM Leen; A O’Sullivan, J Horgan, E O’Donoghue. Subs: K Lynch for AM Leen (45), N Quinn for Spillane (57), A O’Connor for Behan (60), C O’Sullivan for R Quinn (67), A McCarthy for Collins Referee: B Kearney (Kildare).

Major scorer - Caroline Kennedy

Eyes on!

Rose Kelly hit the first major for the Kittens

Niamh Leahy stood tall in defence

Planning notices

Planning notices

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, John and Denise Lawlor intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Retention Planning Permission to retain as follows: 1. the change of location of existing domestic garage 2. existing detached utility room 3. existing domestic shed 4. existing dog kennel and all associated site development works at Raheen, Dunnamaggin, Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning permission is sought by Gerda McInerney to:

1) Demolition of the existing rear extension to the dwelling and detached shed/storage to the back, 2) Erect a new two storey rear extension to the dwelling,

3) Create new vehicular access and erect shed in private open space,

4) Associated internal and external modifications,

5) All associated site development works at 3 Parnell Street Kilkenny R95 KXA4

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Gerda McInerney, 3 Parnell Street, Kilkenny R95 KXA4

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Further Information/Revised Plans:

Evergreen F.C has submitted significant further information/revised plans for Development at Kells Road, Dundaryark, Co. Kilkenny. Ref No. 2360398. The development applied for consisted of construction of single storey building containing 8 no. changing rooms, toilets, shower facilities, storage and associated site works including new wastewater treatment system to replace the existing temporary changing room building and associated services. Retention Permission is sought for a 24m long Shelter/Stand, electrical control room and cabins serving as temporary dressing rooms, club room and storage room.

Significant Further Information/Revised Plans have been furnished to the Planning Authority in respect of this proposed development, and are available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the Offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours of 9:00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the Planning Authority within a period of 2 weeks from the date of receipt of the revised public notices. A submission or observation must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of €20, except in the case of a person or body who has already made a submission or observation and such submission or observation will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Micheal Moloney wish to apply to the above authority on behalf of Eoin and Niofa Ryan for full planning permission to construct a dormer bungalow, garage, entrance, wastewater treatment system with percolation area, mains water connection, soakpits and all other associated site works at Windgap, Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. E.W.

St. Martha Prayer

Grateful thanks to St. Martha for favour received. Light a candle and say this prayer every Tuesday for 9 Tuesdays Never known to fail

(Promise Publication) Saint Martha, I resort to thy aid and protection. As proof of my affection and faith, I offer thee this light, which I shall burn every Tuesday. Comfort me in all my difficulties and through the great favours thou didst enjoy when the Savior was lodged in thy house, intercede for my family, that we be provided for in our necessities. I ask of thee, Saint Martha, to overcome all difficulties as thou didst overcome the dragon which thou hadst at thy feet. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(Mention your request here…) Saint Martha, pray for us.

Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary…

Say 1: Glory Be…

This miraculous Saint grants your wish before 9 Tuesdays, no matter how difficult. J.M.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. A.W.

The

Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. C.K.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.F.

The

Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.M.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.F.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. A.B.