Kilkenny Observer 04 July 2025

Amongst women

Cavanagh one of only seven elected Cathaoirleach

Councillor Mary Hilda Cavanagh. elected Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council last week, is one of only seven women elected as chair of the 31 local county councils – the same number as last year.

Cllr Cavanagh is the longest serving female of any of the councils.

Women still remain grossly underrepresented across Irish local government, at 27% of local councillors and 22% of Cathaoirligh. The other six women elected are:

• Cllr. Melanie Corrigan, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council

• Cllr. Aoife Davitt, Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council

• Cllr. Carmel Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council

• Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley, Mayor of Cork County Council

• Cllr Pamela Kearns, Catha-

oirleach of South County Dublin

• Cllr. Catherine Slattery, Priomh Comhairleoir of Limerick City and County Council

These women represent hard work, leadership, and a commitment to public service. Their appointment is testament to the strength

and capability of women in Irish politics. However, their minority status also reflects a systemic issue: a lack of gender balance in local political leadership.

Political parties have a critical responsibility to promote gender equality within their membership.

Money crime trial date for Carey

Former Ireland hockey international and Kilkenny camogie player Catriona Carey has been given a date for her trial on money laundering charges. The financial and business adviser (46) is accused of possession of crime proceeds following a fraud investigation.

DJ Carey pleads guilty to fraud

Former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey has pleaded guilty to defrauding people of money by claiming he needed to fund treatment for cancer he didn’t have.The nine-time All-Star hurler, who won five All-Ireland senior titles for Kilkenny, stood in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and pleaded guilty to 10 of the 21 charges he was facing. Carey (54) showed no emotion as Ms Justice Patricia Ryan was told by Dominic McGinn SC that the State was asking for a nolle prosequi in relation to another charge and that the other charges be taken into consideration. Colman Cody SC, for Mr Carey, said his client had undergone heart surgery last year, was under continuing care for a “genuine” heart condition, and that there were also mental health issues. A sentencing hearing, he said, might take some time. Ms Justice Ryan set the sentencing hearing for October 29th next and remanded Carey on continuing bail. Among the charges to which Mr Carey has pleaded guilty is that he did, dishonestly and by deception, induce the businessman Denis O’Brien to give him money to pay for cancer treatment on unknown dates between January 2014 and September 2022,

South Kilkenny water warning

She will be tried on January 27, 2027, and the case will take up to six weeks to hear, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told.

the years 2019 and 2021.

Ms Carey, with an address at Rochfort Manor, Graiguecullen, Co. Carlow, is charged with three counts of converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using the proceeds for criminal conduct – the credit balances in a bank account – between

According to the charges, the funds were in an account “held in the name of Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd at Wise Europe SA while knowing or believing, or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct”.

Ms Carey was sent forward from Dublin District Court

in February. She appeared in the circuit court the following month and was before that court again for a trial date to be set.

After hearing it would take four to six weeks, Judge Orla Crowe set the trial date and remanded the accused on continuing bail.

Two co-accused, Paddy Maher, of Glenmalure Gun

Club, Co. Wicklow, and John Steadmond, from Rossminogue, Craanford, Gorey, Co. Wexford, had their cases adjourned for a month, to July 29.

They are accused of acting unlawfully as solicitors while not being qualified, as well as multiple counts of deception from July 2019 to February 2022.

Large areas of the country’s drinking water supply remain at risk of contamination despite progress in upgrading treatment plants . Areas affected are south Kilkenny with a population of 6,028, most of Tipperary (25,500) and Dungarvan in Co. Waterford (12,717) and Enniscorthy (11,450) and Wexford town (20,853). PAUL

Telling it like it is. And with no holds barred

and wise words

Border walk in the shadow of the Famine

Senator Imelda Goldsboro [pictured] will lead this year’s Famine 1848 Walk on Saturday, 26 July at 3pm.

The 19th annual walk commemorates all those who suffered and died during the Great Famine and the Young Ireland 1848 Rising which took place in Ballingarry, south Tipperary.

The leader of the Young Irelanders, William Smith O’Brien, was MP for Co. Limerick. He was born in Dromoland Castle into the O’Brien of Thomond family. In the House of Commons in London, O’Brien was the strongest critic of the British

which led to deaths on a massive scale in Ireland. A million people died and a million fled the country.

The walk commences at the National Flag monument in The Commons where the tricolour, a flag

of 1848, has been flown daily for the last 36 years. Tradition states that the flag was flown there during the Rising. In 1848, The Commons was a mining village (which it long remained) and the Mining Museum in the two storey

Old School will be open to visitors from 2pm to 6pm on the day of the walk.

The Rising in its final phase started in The Commons when the Callan police, 47 heavily armed men, arrived to arrest O’Brien. He had erected

barricades in the village to prevent his arrest. He was surrounded by his Young Ireland companions and his local supporters, miners, tradesmen, labourers and small farmers.

The walk traces the route of the Rising. It will be led

off by the Moycarkey pipers. Having marched up through Ballingarry, the Callan police seeing the barricades in front of them in The Commons veered towards Farranrory to get away from the rebels and they seized the Mc Cormack house. It is now a state national heritage site, museum and visitor attraction under the Office of Public Works.

When the walkers reach Famine Warhouse 1848, Senator Goldsboro will give her Walk Leader’s speech, refreshments will be served and traditional music sung in English and Irish by local group Bold Bandits.

The house is now a museum with a historical exhibition on the entire context spread through its rooms. The story of the event can also be viewed in the audio-visual room.

The captured leaders O’Brien, Thomas Francis Meagher, Terence Bellew Mac Manus and Patrick O’Donohoe were sentenced to death for high treason. They refused to appeal for clemency. The sentence was later commuted to penal exile in Van Diemen’s Land.

The walk is organised by the Ballingarry 1848 committee. All are welcome on the occasion whether walking or not.

Ferry blow: ‘Govt must step in’

Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has warned that any reduction in ferry capacity in terms of live animal exports from Ireland to mainland Europe will be highly damaging to Irish agriculture and that the Government should intervene if the market fails.

Kelleher, who was a leading negotiator in the last mandate

on the issue of animal welfare during transit, was commenting after Stena Line announced it would withdraw its three-day Rosslare to Cherbourg service from this September.

“This is a major blow to the dairy sector in Ireland which relies heavily on live animal exports to maintain stability in

No big bang moment, no classic stroke

A Kilkenny stroke survivor has told how the effects of stroke can last for years – and symptoms are not always easy to identify.

In 2021, Fintan Deere, then 61, began to experience tiredness and heaviness in his left hip and leg, which he put down to lack of exercise during the Covid pandemic.

“There was no big bang moment and no classic stroke symptoms,” said Fintan, who shared his story as part of Aphasia Awareness Month.

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that frequently occurs following brain injury, such as stroke.   It affects understanding spoken or written language, including reading and writing or the production of spoken language.

“I had no appetite, felt weak and very tired and began to notice difficulty with my walk,” he said.

“I was very surprised to learn that my blood pres-

sure was alarmingly high and was advised to go to the Emergency Department.”

A CT scan and an MRI revealed he had experienced an ischemic stroke, and it was suspected that he may have had previous small bleeds in his brain.

“My language, balance and mobility, mainly my ability to walk, were affected. I needed a walking stick to move about.

“One day merged into another with various consultants and tests, a short stay in ICU, physiotherapy sessions and six weeks later, I was discharged.”

Fintan said he faced a number of physical, mental and financial challenges after his hospital release.

“I qualified for no State support services then or now and funded my own physiotherapy and speech and language therapy,” said the former public servant.

“This was onerous, as I had to retire prematurely due to the stroke, and am

the market,” the FF MEP said.

“Of course, the dairy to beef scheme and enhanced AI breeding can reduce the number of calves needing to be exported, there will always be a requirement to access the markets on mainland Europe,” he said.

“While Stena Line have said they will work with people

affected, I think that unless another operator enters the market, it will be next to impossible to maintain the same level of exports.

“What this will mean is twofold: more animals remaining on the island and thereby increasing Ireland’s emissions and secondly, potential animal welfare issues

as Irish farms are not designed to house this level of young animals.

“The Minister for Agriculture must be prepared to intervene if the market fails to respond appropriately. Too many livelihoods are at stake,” he concluded.

Fintan Deere:

“the stroke did not finish me off – I survived I am learning to overcome my losses, face my fears ...

reliant on my corporate pension.

“Coping with the effects of the stroke and involuntary early retirement was very challenging mentally.

“The stroke did not finish

me off – I survived. I am learning to overcome my losses, face my fears about the future and focus on what I still have and work with that.”

Fintan is now a regular

The return of the ferry earlier this year was heralded as a major welcome. However, the Swedish owned company has not announced it will quit the crossing to Cherbourg on September 30.

attendee at the Irish Heart Foundation’s Cabra and Crumlin support groups in Dublin.

“I find it helpful to meet other stroke survivors and compare notes. I enjoy the

They say their customer service will be helping customers who have booked to travel after September “to keep any inconvenience to a minimum”.

chat and exercises, particularly the chair yoga.”

He also joined the charity’s Rhythm of Recovery choir, which uses music and voice work to support stroke survivors, heart patients, carers and volunteers in rehabilitation and recovery.

“Fintan’s story highlights the many challenges of aphasia, which is why the Irish Heart Foundation’s support services are vital,” said Helen Gaynor, Head of Community Support Services for the Irish Heart Foundation.

‘Our Stroke Connect Service and peer support groups are available to anyone who has experienced a stroke and those living with aphasia.”

“Our Step by Step Through Stroke booklet, a helpful guide for stroke survivors, families and carers, helps people to prepare for potential changes due to stroke, such as communication difficulties.

“We also host the Aphasia-Friendly Café a few times a year, which is an online programme designed for those who experience communication challenges following stroke.”

*For more information on aphasia support, and other supports for anyone affected by heart disease or stroke, provided by the Irish Heart Foundation, visit: irishheart.ie.

Scoil Phádraig, Ballyhale top of their science skills

Scoil Phádraig in Ballyhale has emerged as one of the winners of ‘Manufacturing a Healthy Future,’ a 3D printing design challenge which aims to foster STEM skills in classrooms. With the theme of sustainability in mind, students used 3D printers to develop innovative solutions to challenges within their school communities.

Stryker, a leading global medical technology company, in conjunction with I-Form, Science Foundation Ireland’s Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, has been rolling out the ‘Manufacturing A

Healthy Future’ programme since 2021, working with primary school teachers to empower them with the

skills and 3D printing equipment necessary to bring manufacturing technology into their classrooms.

Marking the end of the 2024/25 programme, Scoil Phádraig, Ballyhale, along with Limerick primary schools Our Lady’s Abbey, Adare, Scoil Naomh Iósaf, Adare and Croom National School, and Central Model Senior School, Marlborough Street in Dublin were named the winners of this year’s 3D printing design competition. Throughout the month of June, students from the winning schools visited Stryker’s manufacturing facility in Anngrove, Co. Cork where they were presented with trophies and saw firsthand the innovative work

being done in the field of additive manufacturing.

The winning entries reflected the students’ creativity and problem-solving skills, addressing real-world needs within their schools – ranging from creating light switch covers, chair back reinforcements, a ball-catching hockey goal, a desk-side water bottle holder to custom drainpipe mesh covers.

Judged by a panel from I-Form and Stryker, the teams were recognised for their clear collaboration, thoughtful design iterations, and strong understanding of 3D printing concepts.

These projects not only demonstrated strong transferable skills relevant to 3D printing in the workplace but also highlighted the potential of young minds to apply STEM knowledge in meaningful, communityfocused ways.  The competition forms part of a wider European initiative supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) which provides cutting-edge tools and knowledge, while igniting student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through hands-on learning.

The Fact Of The Matter

Paul

Hopkins

Their lives on line for complete strangers

The recent detainment of People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy by Egyptian authorities is not quite in the same league as that of Cork woman Deirdre Murphy (70) held for over a week by Israeli forces. She had been volunteering with the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement (ISM) when arrested. However, neither case compares to the daily threat aid workers face globally. In 2023 – the latest figures available –598 aid workers were subjected to violent attacks, of which 293 were killed, 214 injured and 91 kidnapped. The toll is the highest in the last 12 years, according to the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG). The most violent places to be on the ground at the moment are – Palestine apart – Sudan and Somalia.

But it’s not always that obvious who the enemy is, as with Greta Thunberg whose yacht carrying aid to Gaza

was intercepted by Israeli forces. Similarly, some years back, Belfast Nobel laureate Mairead Corrigan and Mayo electrician Derek Graham were arrested by Israelis who boarded their ship sailing to Gaza. Their cargo, including medical supplies, was confiscated but the pair were eventually released with 19 others. Death, disease, destruction. What makes thousands of people — and some times for years on end — take up the task of putting their lives on the frontline for relative strangers?

There are those who argue that the doings of aid workers is counter-productive. That they turn people in places like Africa into almost institutionalised begging bowls. Or there’s the argument that most of the aid that Live Aid intended for Ethiopia never got to those who most needed it and ended up rotting in the neighbouring port of Djibouti.

And that, despite all the good intentions and mass world appeal, famine has returned to stalk the land-locked country many times since. The writer Paul Theroux –father of Louis – in Dark Star Safari, a wonderful epic read of going overland from Cairo to Cape Town, is critical of NGOs and talks of the “dogooders who infest Africa’’. People who “tool around in new white Land Rovers playing CD music’’. It’s strong condemnation. In January 2008 I covered the post-election political violence in Kenya. I was sitting in a backroom bar one evening in an old colonial hotel, housing the world’s media, in Eldoret in the Great Rift Valley. I was awaiting a green light from the UN that it was safe to travel further into the valley where most of the killings were taking place, when a 4x4 carrying young American women arrived.

They were ‘freelance’ aid workers — for hire at $500 a day by the various NGOs to supplement their people on the ground when a conflict zone goes into red alert. I was away from the relative safety of Eldoret for the next day and night and when I returned to that backroom bar, these young volunteers

“Not always that obvious who the enemy is...

Minister O’Callaghan visits Kilkenny, highlights justice initiatives

On Monday, June 30, 2025, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan TD visited Kilkenny, accompanied by local TD John McGuinness. The visit was part of a wider initiative to highlight community-based justice programmes and underline the government’s commitment to strengthening local support services and public safety. Minister O’Callaghan’s day began with a visit to Aiséirí, a respected addiction recovery centre, where he met staff and service users. This stop reinforced the government’s ongoing support for rehabilitation services addressing addiction and mental health challenges within communities. He then

were still sitting, more or less, where I had left them. They told me their contractors World Vision had advised them to stay put for safety reasons.

To the best of my knowledge they never did leave that backroom bar for the duration of their ‘hire’ in Kenya. But, boy, could they discuss the many ways of resolving Kenya’s political woes over a cold Keroro or two.

Aid workers have their own reasons for signing up, and not all of them necessarily egalitarian, but I cannot help but contrast the Americans in Eldoret with a young West of Ireland girl I met in Medellin, Colombia 20 years ago when undercover during the time of The IRA Three, charged by the Bogota rightwing government with training the leftwing FARC guerrillas. She had a degree from Galway in international politics. It was her first day, after

weeks of intense training, on the ground with Peace Brigades International (PBI) in probably then the most dangerous country in the world. The PBI was set up during the Nicaraguan conflict in 1983. They are unique in that their work is to walk, like a guardian angel, alongside people who have been targeted for assassination by rightwing death-squads, leftists guerrillas, narcos or government agents (take your pick), in an un-armed and peaceful show of solidarity in the hope of keeping their charge alive. They are the bravest people I have met.

I asked her how she was?

“Fine”

How did she feel? “Scared, unsure...”

“Why do you do it? Put your life on the line ... for complete strangers?’’

Her answer came quick and unfailing. “Someone has to do it … don’t they?’’

visited the Amber Refuge, a critical facility offering safety and assistance to victims of domestic and gender-based violence. The visit followed the recent rollout of the national Zero Tolerance Strategy, which aims to combat domestic violence through expanded refuge spaces and improved training for frontline workers.

Later in the day, the Minister toured

and

meeting with Gardaí and hearing directly about the needs and priorities of local policing. His discussions highlighted the importance of community engagement in ensuring public safety.

Throughout the day, Minister O’Callaghan’s engagements underscored a strong government focus on justice reform, victim protection, and the delivery of well-resourced local services to support safer, healthier communities.

Kilkenny

Thomastown Garda Stations,

Thomastown Garda Station

Kilkenny Garda Station

Amber Womens Refuge

Time to belt up as 6,000 drivers fined

Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, a member of the EU Transport Committee,  has called for a 'get tough' approach on two of the leading factors in road deaths in Ireland. They are not wearing seat belts and the use of mobile phones while driving.

Figures provided by Gardaí show that almost 6,000 motorists were caught and fined in 2024 for not wearing a seat belt. Ní Mhurchú has described the figures as "truly shocking" that some people continue to take unnecessary risks on our roads.

“On February, 1 1979, Ireland introduced legislation that made the wearing of seat belts mandatory for front seat passengers and drivers. Now, 46 years later, and almost 6,000 Irish people are caught not wearing a seat belt.

"There is no excuse. I do not

Livestock vaccine shortages are costing farmers and vets more time and money while also disrupting vaccine delivery and timing, Conor Geraghty of Veterinary Ireland has said.

It comes as pharmaceutical giant MSD announced it was discontinuing production of its Lepto vaccine product, developed more than 30 years ago.

companies had begun rationing vaccine stocks, allocating limited supplies across customers.

understand why someone would not buckle up,”  she said.

Garda figures show that more offenders are caught not wearing seat belts in the summer months.

Ní Mhurchú has called for a commitment in the Programme for Government

to “introduce new road safety cameras to automatically detect mobile phone use and non-wearing of seat belts” to be implemented immediately.

Fines and penalty points face adults who do not wear a seatbelt or who allow children under 17 to travel while not properly restrained in a car being driven.

Vaccine shortages 'costing farmers' Rally ready to rock!

Its Ruminant Unit Business Director, Jack O'Connor, said the vaccine had proven "very difficult” to manufacture, with recurring supply issues, according to the Farming Independent.

Geraghty said that, when farmers could not access vaccine booster shots on time, animals may require extra doses to catch up, increasing costs.

"If farmers can't get a vaccine booster shot when it's due to give full protection, if required as part of a vaccination programme, they may have to provide animals with an additional shot or two to catch up, depending on the vaccine, which is more costly.”

He said that in some cases, another issue was that the right vaccine isn't available when needed.

"You often have to take a chance with not using it,” he said. "Vets go to the efforts of doing tests, identifying risks, implementing vaccine programmes – only to find they can't get the product then.”

Geraghty said another factor was post-Brexit supply chain issues. "Before Brexit, if Ireland was short of 1,000 vaccines, for example, we could get them from the UK, but now we don't have an overflow country.

"Products have to be packaged for EU licensing with English language packaging. It is my understanding that Ireland is the only EU country that has English as its first language now.”

He said some pharmaceutical

Veterinary practices had responded by stockpiling vaccines to avoid shortfalls, he said, which brings extra costs for refrigeration, increased electricity use, and the risk of unused vaccines expiring. "Once vaccines go out of date, that's an additional cost,” he said.

A Department of Agriculture spokesperson said shortages may result from products being discontinued, production issues, quality defects, manufacturing problems, shortages of active substances or ingredients, or unexpected demand.

Ray Doyle of The Merchants Alliance Ireland said the shortages highlight "the danger of over-consolidation within the animal health sector”.

He said continuing consolidation of manufacturers through acquisition was leading to product shortages within the Irish marketplace.

"Production efficiency targets in the new consolidated entities mean smaller product lines are unattractive,” said Doyle. "This is compounded by the growth in the companion animal sector, where there are larger profit margins to be earned more easily when compared to large animal vaccines.

"As companies consolidate, smaller markets become unviable and, in global veterinary medicine, Ireland is a small market. It is inevitable that we will see more and more of these treatment withdrawals as this consolidation develops.

"Vaccine manufacture is complex and costly, with batch failures more common than in pharmaceutical production. All these factors combine to make large animal vaccine treatments unattractive.”

Ní Mhurchú said it was vitally important that parents ensure that their children are properly strapped into the car with RSA research showing that four in five children were not strapped in properly.

The Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship roars back into action this Sunday, July 6 with the highly anticipated Waterford Volkswagen Raven's Rock Rally.

The nine-stage event, based in Waterford city, marks the fourth round of the championship.

Leading the championship into Waterford is Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty, co-driven by Tom Murphy.

The Skoda Fabia R5 crew currently sit at the top the championship standings, following a maiden National

victory at the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry in March.

Doherty will be looking to extend his lead but faces fierce competition not least from Josh Moffett, the current champion.

Defending National Champion and reigning Raven's Rock Rally winner, Moffett, with co-driver Keith Moriarty, are the top seeds.

Driving his Hyundai i20 R5, Moffett got his title defence off to a strong start with maximum championship points at the Longford Arms Hotel Rally and bounced back from a DNF in Kerry to

master the Cavan stages of the rally.

The Monaghan driver is chasing an unprecedented fifth national title and currently sits in third in the title race.

The rally gets under with a ceremonial start in John Roberts Square  in the heart of Waterford City centre from 5pm on Saturday evening.

The real action gets under way at 9am on Sunday  when the first of the 130 cars are released from parc fermé.

The service park in located at Bellveiw Port and the cars

will visit this location three times during the course of the day, at 9.25 am, 11.50 am  14.30 pm ahead of the finish ramp at the event’s HQ, the Viking Hotel at   finish 5.20 pm.  A full timetable and stage maps are published in the official programme which is on sale locally.

local driver

Eddie Doherty and his codriver Tom Murphy lead the Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship

EU gas storage deal 'good for consumers'

Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has welcomed the deal struck between the EU’s institutions to allow for greater flexibility in gas storage rules.

Kelleher, an MEP for Ireland South, argued that the draft legislation would reduce speculation on the gas market and ultimately bring down prices for consumers.

“The Polish Presidency of the Council and the European Parliament reached an informal agreement to extend the EU’s 2022 gas storage

scheme until 31 December 2027, as it would otherwise have expired at the end of 2025.

"The provision is designed to ensure gas supply security ahead of the winter season.

“MEPs and Council also introduced several amendments to ease tensions in the gas market, as speculation surrounding the existing mandatory 90% fill rate target by November 1 each year was driving the cost of refilling during the summer," he said.

“Facilities for gas storage provide for 30% of the European Union's gas consumption during winter months," he said.

“This is about finally ending the EU’s dependence on Russian gas imports. We are ultimately funding Putin’s illegal and immoral war on Ukraine by purchasing Russian gas.

"Anything we can do to cut off Putin’s financing is a good thing."

Kelleher said this was im-

portant for Ireland as volatility on the gas markets was causing price shocks for our consumers. Ireland was limited in terms of where it could source gas. It could come either from the Corrib gas field off West Coast, or from the North Sea via Scotland.

“Ultimately, to stop consumers paying through the nose for gas, we need alternatives such as our own gas storage facilities," said the MEP

Pictured:

PHOTO: Kerry Motorsport News

As I See It Marianne

Heron

Lack of trust grows when watchdogs fail

Some things simply don’t change do they? It’s two millennia since Roman satirist Decimus Juvenal penned his books of verse but some of his observations are every bit as applicable today. Take one of his memorable quips, ‘Quis custodiet ipsos custodes’ (who guards the guardians?), from a satire on the problem of enforcing accountability on those who are meant to be responsible.

In the last months there has been a litany of failures by bodies charged with the governance of standards for care of the most vulnerable: children and the elderly. We thought that things were safe when the unacceptable was happening. If the watch dogs were aware they remained mute and did not act.

The watch of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has seen a series of shocking revelations, including unnecessary hip operations for children, the use of unauthorised

springs to treat scoliosis sufferers and unacceptable practices around waiting lists and allegations of toxic behaviour. It has left the future of the body charged with overseeing the enormous transformational move from the three children’s hospitals – Tallaght, Crumlin and Temple Street – to the endlessly delayed, new children’s hospital- indoubt, while its chair and four members of the body have resigned.

Given the gargantuan nature of the task, the structure of the CHI, set up in 2018 by the Minister for Health, is unusual. The 12-member board who report to the CEO of CHI are all voluntary; eight members are appointed by the board itself and four by the minister. They can meet up to 25 times a year – in 2023 they met just six times. After the CHI were grilled by the Oireachtas Health Committee TDs expressed zero confidence in the body. Why

not suitably qualified and appointed board members, to avoid the charge that insider interests may be unhealthy? Why not leave responsibility standards at the existing children’s hospitals with the HSE and the Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA)?

Watchdogs need to have teeth, or at least access to remedies when standards fail. The nursing homes scandal put the structure of HIQA under the microscope. The numerous complaints about the two Emeis nursing homes where abuse to and neglect of elders were exposed in the RTE Investigates programme should have been enough to threaten the homes involved with closure.

HIQA’s remit for ‘safer better care’ doesn’t allow this, nor does it investigate individual complaints but is supposed to oversee standards and carry out inspec-

Pat Fitzpatrick welcomes Justice Minister in Kilkenny

I was delighted to meet with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan TD in Kilkenny, where I welcomed his important announcement regarding the introduction of new regulations to establish Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) in every local authority area across Ireland. These partnerships represent a significant step forward in how we approach community safety, replacing the existing Joint Policing Committees with a more collaborative, community-led model.

A total of 36 LCSPs will be set up, each comprising up to 30 members. These will include mandatory representation from local councillors, local authority officials, An Garda Síochána, the HSE, and Tusla. Crucially, there will also be strong involvement from local residents, young people, older people, minority groups, and representatives from the business and education sectors. This inclusive structure will ensure that a wide range of voices and experiences inform decisions around local safety priorities.

Each LCSP will be tasked with developing and implementing a tailored community safety plan that reflects the specific needs and challenges of its area. This is a vital move toward ensuring more responsive, coordinated, and effective safety strategies, grounded in local knowledge and community involvement.

I believe this initiative will significantly enhance the quality of life for people across the country by fostering stronger partnerships, building trust, and empowering communities to play a central role in shaping safer environments for everyone. I look forward to seeing the positive and lasting impact these partnerships will have nationwide.

tions. A report on the risks to quality of care due to the privatisation of the nursing home sector (75% are now privately owned) which has been commissioned is a bit

“We thought that things were safe when the unacceptable was happening

like closing the door after an unattended horse has bolted.

In the health sector previous problems threaten to erupt again. The 2018 cervical smear check scandal which caused tragedy and death for Vicky Phelan and others prompted a national outcry. Now it has been reported that actions are being taken by a number of women who have developed cancer following false negative results.

In areas relating to children’s health and safety there are long standing issues that remain unresolved. The Child and Adolescent Metal Health (CAMHs) body continues to be under-funded and underresourced, with 900 young people on the waiting list in Cork and 1,400 in Wexford and Waterford alone.

Children continue to go missing or to be at risk of exploitation under the watch of Tusla/ the Child and Family Agency, the very organisation

set up in 2014 to protect children. The most prominent case was that of six-year-old Kyran Durdin from Drogheda who was on Tusla’s radar but whose disappearance was not reported for two years. Over a three-year period 53 other children died while UCD’s Sexual Exploitation Research Programme (SERP) found children, mainly girls, were being abused by men while under Tusla’s care. All of the situations above are the responsibility of the Minister for Health with the exception of Tusla, which is under the Minister for Children, Equality Disability, Integration and Youth. The disturbing thing about lack of accountability for poor governance is that the effect is far wider than the individual cases involved. The result is that people no longer trust the very institutions that are meant to take care of their families and safeguard the most vulnerable.

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Original is a spray on topical oil. It is absorbed immediately into the skin once applied. After a shower or a bath is a great time to apply as this will enhance absorption, The oil is a saturated solution of ancient seabed magnesium chloride. It is free from manmade pollutants and heavy metals. 10 sprays will deliver 200mg of magnesium per dose. It is brilliant that it is endorsed by Informed Sport too.

BetterYou recently brought out a new powdered magnesium, Magnesium Max Sleep. I think you will like this. It’s a delicious hot chocolate drink with an effective combination of cacao. It also contains magnesium and passion-

flower formulated to promote deep, restful sleep and relaxation. You have the benefits of three forms of magnesium, Magnesium Glycinate, Citrate, and Malate, 250mg of elemental magnesium per dose. Like the BetterYou Topical Magnesium Oil, it is fastabsorbing and designed to support the body in a natural way. It could be a great option if you’re looking for something different to your usual magnesium to aid natural sleep. Each pack contains 45 servings.

For daytime use, their new fast absorbing and fast acting Magnesium Max Powder is an option. It contains Magnesium BisGlycinate, Magnesium Citrate, and Magnesium Malate. It is unflavoured so you add to a drink of your choice and your good to go. One serving provides 250mg of elemental magnesium with a 90 day supply in each pack. Another addition to their range is Magnesium Water. This is a simple, pleasant tasting, effective, and pill free way to top up your magnesium level. Choose from Focus, Energy, and Hydration. Each can contain 180mg of elemental magnesium, I really like these refreshing drinks.

BetterYou Magnesium Oil, Powder, or Magnesium Water are all amazing pill free, and economical ways to up your magnesium intake.

CLAIR WHITTY

Kilkenny celebrates ‘The Power of Play’ at National Play Day 2025 – free family fun at Kilkenny Castle Park on July 5th

National Play Day 2025 organised by Kilkenny County Council Community section in conjunction with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality will be held on Saturday 5th July, 2025. The event hosted by Kilkenny County Council and OPW will take place between 12 and 2pm in Kilkenny Castle Park. The event and all activities are free of charge and families are encouraged to come along, enjoy the activities and make the event a

great success. Along with event partners Healthy Ireland, Creative Ireland and Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) it will be a great opportunity to highlight and support the importance of creating time and space for families to have fun together.

The feedback from the various workshops held last year was hugely positive and the plan is to create an even bigger and better event this year. Play Day supports and highlights the importance of

creating time and space for families to have fun together.

This year’s theme is ‘The Power of Play’. Play is vital to supporting children’s development, learning and wellbeing. It encourages a sense of adventure and discovery, helping young minds to better understand the world around them through fun and creative ways. This National Play Day is an opportunity for Kilkenny County Council and our partners to invite children and their families

to come together in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle Park and take part in a wide range of activities for all to enjoy. Activities and workshops include magic shows, intergenerational yoga, storytelling, giant games, funfair stalls, balance bikes, friendship bracelet workshop and craft workshops. There will be an activity area for children to enjoy the power of play! Come along and enjoy, it’s open to all and all activities are free of charge.

The workshops represent the wonder and discovery that unfolds when children play outside. Access to outdoor play means children have many opportunities for developing their imagination and physical abilities. Playing in nature also presents opportunities for exploration and adventure.

National Play Day is more than just a day of fun,

it is a celebration of the fundamental role that play has in all of our lives. Play is essential for children’s physical, emotional and cognitive growth.

L to R Janette Boran (Healthy Ireland), Majella Keating (Creative Communities), Alison McGrath, Lianne Kelly, Cora Nolan, Catherine Byrne Murphy (Kilkenny County Council Community Section), Leighann Ryan Culleton(CYPSC). (2)

Story Telling Workshop with Alice Bennett 2024

The shooter, the Garda sting and grave questions from politicians

The Police Ombudsman, Fiosrú, has said it has decided to take no further action in relation to the case of Evan Fitzgerald, who fired shots in the air in a Co Carlow shopping centre before taking his own life.

Questions were raised in the Oireachtas about the way in which Gardaí conducted their investigation into Mr Fitzgerald, who, prior to his death, was awaiting trial for possession of illegal weapons. The alleged ‘sting operation’ by Gardaí culminated in the death of the young Wicklow man and has been described as “entrapment” by senior politicians.

Evan Fitzgerald (22) discharged a legally held firearm at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow several times before taking his own life.

Now seen as a “troubled” youngster, he felt the full force of the law in an operation described by senior politicians as “entrapment” and by the force as a “controlled delivery”.

Two questions were raised under Dáil privilege by Labour Party leader Alan Kelly.

One was why did An Garda Síochána need such a big win when detaining Fitzgerald and two of his friends in a dramatic swoop, in which the target’s car windows were smashed?

The second question — highly contested — is whether a District Court judge was misled by a Garda about the nature of the case.

Speaking in the Seanad, former Justice Minister Michael McDowell said: “By informing the court that the Gardaí were still investigating by whom the weapons in question were sold, the court was actively misled.

“The entrapment and prosecution of three young men for firearms offences involved the gravest of destructive

consequences for the lives and careers of three young men. One of them apparently chose to end his own life rather than face continued criminal prosecution.”

Garda Commissioner Harris last has referred McDowell’s comments to Fiosrú — the replacement to Gsoc, the Garda Ombudsman.

In early spring last year, Evan Fitzgerald began making enquiries about serious weaponry on the Dark Web, using an encrypted email service for secrecy. His efforts were detected, either by Interpol or a constituent force, and the Gardaí were alerted.

Officers then made virtual contact with Fitzgerald, in the course of which they agreed to sell him weapons. Undercover detectives met him in late February 2024 to sound him out and agree a price. On March 2 came the “controlled delivery”. Unknown to Fitzgerald and the two friends he brought along for security during the handover — which involved €2,700 — they were

dealing with Gardaí who were trading deactivated weapons.

The three drove off with the purchases to a forest near Ponsonby Bridge, Straffan, Co Kildare, where they had previously been “running around”.

Fitzgerald had a “fascination” with guns, but no criminal involvement.

The car was suddenly intercepted by Garda vehicles, its windows smashed, and the occupants dragged out. They hadn’t managed to do anything.

Then came a court case the same month. All were charged, Fitzgerald on counts of possessing a G3 Heckler and Koch battle rifle, a Remington M1911 45-calibre automatic pistol and two types of ammunition.

It is understood Tokarev and Makarov pistols were seized in follow-up operations, complete with magazines, and 23 rifle rounds of various calibre.

Gardaí also came into possession of explosive material — noted as potassium

nitrate, sulphur, charcoal, and ammonium potassium percurate, allegedly at the home address of Mr Fitzgerald — and the court was told he would also face further charges.

According to original court reports, Judge Desmond Zaidan asked about the supposed purchase on the Dark Web. The response is at the heart of whether the bench was misled.

Gardaí initially objected to bail but consented to strict conditions being imposed. Shortly before a second appearance — at which one of the young men would plead guilty to firearms possession — Fitzgerald opened fire in the Carlow shopping centre and then took his own life.

Alan Kelly TD has implored Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan to “listen to the DAR” — the digital audio recording — of evidence given to the District Court, including by a Garda witness.

Mr Kelly also denied a suggestion that Fitzgerald had taped a USB stick to a window, alleged to contain a “manifesto” he had written.

“There was no manifesto,” Mr Kelly told the Dáil. “Why was that put out there?”

Mr Kelly said the Heckler & Koch G3 rifle delivered to Mr

Fitzgerald was stolen by the Provisional IRA from Norwegian reserves in 1984 and recovered by An Garda Síochána “well over 20 years ago”.

He told the minister: “I believe there has to be an investigation into this case,” saying “it’s one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever had to deal with in my life — not just in my career.

“From everything I know now, it’s harrowing. It’s so disturbing, and I’m actually deeply upset about it. Being honest,

“I’ve actually had sleepless nights in relation to this issue.”

Mr Kelly said it was clear what Fitzgerald was doing was wrong.

“None of us can argue that. [But] Evan Fitzgerald wasn’t a terrorist. He wasn’t involved in organised crime. He wasn’t involved in any crime for that matter,” he said.

Mr Kelly said he had no issue with “controlled deliveries” by undercover Gardaí supplying deactivated guns or other material when used appropriately for terrorist or organised crime reasons.

“I have serious concern when they are used on a vulnerable young man who — as a consequence of An Garda Síochána’s actions — took

his own life very publicly,” he said.

“The critical question is why wasn’t there a knock on the door? Was it really necessary to expend weeks of costly operations involving some of the most important Garda units to entrap this young man?

“Was it necessary to go smashing in the windows of the car they were in — when they knew there was actually no threat?”

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan replied that two young men were still before the courts “and it would be pretty inappropriate of me to make any comments in respect to those cases, because there’s certainly going to have to be some form of a hearing… and there could be a full trial.

“But, as Minister for Justice, I have certain powers that can be invoked if necessary. I am not going to do anything at this stage until those trials have come to a conclusion,” he said.

An Garda Síochána said it does not comment directly on third-party remarks, but added that the Garda Commissioner had answered questions on the matter in recent weeks from members of the Oireachtas.

Living longer puts pressure on care, says ESRI report

By 2040, one in five people in Ireland will be aged 65 or older, creating an increased demand for nursing- home beds and home supports, even though people will enjoy healthy ageing, according to a new ESRI report.

An analysis by the ESRI said long-term residential care beds and home-support hours provided to the older population will need to increase by at least 60% by 2040.

By then, 21% of people will be aged 65 or older and the population aged 85 and over will more than double.

It said that in 2022, there were an estimated combined 33,324 short-stay and longstay beds in nursing homes, including those used temporarily after hospital discharge and rehabilitation. Around seven in eight people are in for long-stay care, mostly supported by the Fair Deal scheme.

Short-stay bed requirements are projected to grow from 3,745 in 2022, to between 6,430 and 7,265 by 2040.

Long-stay bed demands could need to rise from 29,579 in 2022 to between 47,590 and 53,270 by 2040. And home-support hours may need to rise from 28.7 million annually in 2022 to between 44.9 million and 54.9 million by 2040.

Healthy ageing could reduce the extent of the need

for nursing-home beds, along with expanding home-support services.

However, the substantial impact of increases in the number of older people in Ireland will offset much of the potential easing of the situation that having more people living in good health in older years will bring.

Senior research officer at the ESRI and lead author of the report, Dr Brendan Walsh, said: “Ireland has

experienced tremendous improvements in life expectancy in recent decades. This means there is, and will be, a much larger population at older ages who require long-term care services to support them at home, or within residential facilities.”

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the research will “help us plan better”.

She said the Programme for Government pledges to build

more public nursing-home beds, create a home care scheme to help people stay in their homes longer, and increase home-care hours.

“This is shown by the €4m allocated in Budget 2025 to staff and opening of 615 new community beds,” she said.

“The Department of Health and the HSE are also working on a new Long-Term Residential Care Additional Capacity Plan, to be published this year.”

Opinion

Summer reads: your finances, page by page Your Money & You John Ellis

Summer is here and whether it is sunny or pouring (typical Irish weather!), it is the perfect time to dive into a good book about your finances. You do not need to be a financial expert to enjoy these books. From increasing your savings to understanding crypto, these books offer simple practical tips to help you take control of your finances.

So, find a comfortable chair and check out these top picks for your summer reading list. The Psychology Of Money by Morgan Housel

This book is not about complex numbers or charts. Instead, it digs into why we make the money choices we do. Through real-life stories Housel shows how our emotions and habits shape our financial decisions. It is an easy read that will make you rethink how you manage your money. Richer, Wiser, Happier by William Green

Ever wondered how the world’s top investors like

Warren Buffett get so rich? This book takes you inside their lives and reveals their secrets to building wealth. Green breaks down their advice into simple steps anyone can follow whether you are investing or just want to live a happier life.

Your Money Or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez

This updated classic originally published in 1992 is still a gem. The idea of it is that you exchange your time for money and when you start

thinking about how many hours of your life it took to save up the money to buy something you really start thinking twice about your purchases. It offers nine straightforward steps to transform how you deal with money. The authors show

you how to spend in line with what matters to you, helping you save more and stress less about finances.

The Infinite Machine by Camila Russo

Curious about cryptocurrency? Then this gripping book tells the story of Ethereum, a game-changer in the world of digital money. Russo explains how it went from an idea to a global phenomenon with plenty of drama and innovation along the way. Perfect if you are thinking about investing into crypto.

The Money Doctor 2025 by John Lowe

This 20th edition is a mustread for Irish readers. This bestselling guide is packed with updated practical advice tailored to the Irish market. Whether you are paying off a mortgage, saving for a rainy day or planning for retirement Lowe’s tips are clear and

easy to follow no matter your budget.

How To Be Good With Money by Eoin

McGee

Another book for the Irish market. McGee’s book is “like a friendly chat about money”. He shares simple rules for spending and saving, helping you build a solid financial plan. Whether you are scraping by or comfortable this book will guide you to a more secure future.

Money by David McWilliams McWilliams’ Money is a history of how cash has and continues to shape our world. He unpacks the history and future of money from coins to crypto. It is an interesting jargon-free read that will leave you smarter about your finances.

Happy reading!

john@ellisfinancial.ie Mobile 086 8362633

Newpark Field Day: a fun-filled celebration of togetherness

Despite intermittent light showers, the Newpark community came together for the highly anticipated community field day. This annual event, opened this year by Mayor of Kilkenny John Coonan, brought people of all ages together to enjoy good company, delicious food, and exciting activities. The event took place, Sunday afternoon, on the Upper Green in Newpark, which was decorated with vibrant balloons and colourful streamers. Laughter

and chatter filled the air as families, friends, and neighbours gathered to celebrate the spirit of community.

A day of games and activities

The community field day offered a wide range of activities to suit all interests and age groups. From thrilling games to creative crafts, there was something for everyone to enjoy. The children were particularly excited about the face painting and balloon

extravaganza while the adults appreciated the opportunity to relax, play bingo, drink tea and socialise with friends and neighbours. Adding to the carnival atmosphere throughout the afternoon, the large attendance was entertained by the Seánie Shortis Big Band.

Delicious food and refreshments

No community event would be complete without delicious food and refreshments.

The field day did not disappoint, with a variety of tasty treats available, including classic burgers, refreshing ice cream and homemade lemonade.

Community spirit shining through

The Field Day was more than just a fun event – it was a celebration of community spirit and unity. Emphasising this aspect was the participation of community members originally from the Ukraine

but now living within the area. This group added extra colour and vibrancy to the occasion with their music, song and delicious cakes. In closing the afternoon’s proceedings Chairman of the Newpark Residents Association Jack Fahy declared the day to be a huge success. He thanked Kilkenny County Council for their continued support, James Stephen’s Army Barracks for supplying tents, all the businesses that helped with sponsor-

ship and the hard-working committee for their diligent organisation. He said he was particularly delighted that the field day had delivered on the ethos of the association by providing an opportunity for people to come together, make new connections and strengthen existing relationships. Concluding, Mr Fahy stated the event was a testament to the power of community and the positive impact it can have on people's lives.

Science & Wellbeing

Most of us get everything or close to everything we need from our diets. That being said, there are some vitamins with proven benefits worth exploring. Here are 10 supplements not worth your money and 10 that are actually beneficial.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is considered an unnecessary supplement for most people as it’s easily obtainable in the diet through foods like broccoli, spinach, nuts, and seeds. Taking extra vitamin E hasn’t been proven beneficial and can even be harmful at high doses.

Multivitamins

The consensus among healthcare practitioners is that multivitamins when taken by a healthy individual amount to nothing more than expensive pee. The body absorbs nutrients much better from whole foods, so your focus should be on diet more than which pill to take.

Vitamin C

You can get more than your recommended daily amount of vitamin C from a bell pepper or a single kiwi, so supplementation isn’t generally considered necessary if you have a good diet. Taking too much can actually have adverse effects like nausea.

Beta-Carotene

Beta-carotene is a nutrient that’s abundant in food like carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, and kale. Research suggests beta-carotene in the diet may protect against cancer, but the same link hasn’t been found with supplements.

Fat Burners

Vitamins: what you need.... and what you don’t

many people, particularly vegans and vegetarians, don’t get enough of it. B12 supplementation is very safe, even at high doses.

Zinc

Zinc plays a critical role in immune system function, metabolism, and DNA synthesis, among other things. It’s found in select foods like oysters, red meat, and nuts, but many of us don’t get enough in our daily diet. It’s especially recommended for vegans and vegetarians.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K isn’t necessarily the most trendy supplement out there, but maybe it should be.

It’s an essential nutrient for blood clotting, bone health, and cardiovascular functioning, but it’s mostly found in dark leafy greens which, let’s be honest, most of us don’t eat every day.

Folic Acid

Iron

Unless you have iron deficiency anemia, you shouldn’t be taking iron supplements. It’s an essential mineral for your health, but it’s hard on the stomach and too much can be toxic.

Calcium

Calcium is essential for your bones, muscles, and nerve function, and it’s crucial to hit the daily recommended intake, but most of us do this through our diet.

Fat burners are dietary supplements that claim to improve metabolism, suppress appetite, inhibit fat storage, and promote weight loss. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? These products aren’t regulated, have limited effectiveness, and may even be harmful.

Around 15% of the world’s population suffers from tinnitus, a condition which causes someone to hear a sound (such as ringing or buzzing) without any external source. It’s often associated with hearing loss.

Not only can the condition be annoying for sufferers, it can also have a serious effect on mental health, often causing stress or depression. There’s currently no cure for tinnitus.

First, tinnitus is a phantom percept. This is when our brain activity makes us see, hear or smell things that aren’t there. Most people only experience phantom perceptions when they’re asleep.

But for people with tinnitus, they hear phantom sounds while they’re awake. What does tinnitus sound like?

Ringing, crackling, buzzing are examples

The second reason is because tinnitus alters brain activity, with certain areas of the brain (such as those

Tinnitus and the link to good sleep

Taking extra calcium carries more risks and possible side effects than benefits.

Now, let’s go over the ones that are actually worth it...

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that play a crucial role in human health, but the body can’t produce it itself so it must obtain it from outside sources. While you can get enough in your diet through foods like salmon, flax seeds, and seafood, most of us don’t get sufficient amounts through food alone.

Fibre

The vast majority of people

who follow a typically ‘Western’ diet don’t hit the recommended daily intake of fibre. Fibre plays a crucial role in weight management, digestive health, blood sugar regulation, and cholesterol management and supplementation with psyllium husk or inulin has been proven to have a positive effect on overall health.

Creatine

Although associated with bodybuilding, creatine is increasingly being recommended to an incredibly broad range of people. It’s one of the most thoroughly researched supplements on the market with numerous proven benegits including

involved in hearing) potentially being more active than they should be. This may also explain how phantom percepts happen. When we sleep, activity in these same brain areas also changes. Recent research review has identified a couple of brain mechanisms that underlie

both tinnitus and sleep. Better understanding these mechanisms – and the way the two are connected –could one day help us find ways of managing and treating tinnitus. When we fall asleep, our body experiences multiple stages of sleep. One of the most important stages of

sleep is slow-wave sleep (also known as deep sleep), which is thought to be the most restful stage of sleep. During slow-wave sleep, brain activity moves in distinctive “waves” through the different areas of the brain, activating large areas together (such as those involved with memory and processing

improved muscle growth, energy, cognition, and injury prevention.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is the most widely recommended supplement by healthcare practitioners. This is because it’s essential for bone health, muscles, and immune system functioning, and it’s difficult to get sufficient amounts from diet and sunlight alone, especially in places with severe winters.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in red blood cell formation, nerve function, and DNA synthesis. It’s found in animal products and some fortified foods but

sounds) before moving on to others.

It’s thought that slow-wave sleep allows the brain’s neurons (specialised brain cells which send and receive information) to recover from daily wear and tear, while also helping sleep make us feel rested.

It’s also thought to be important for our memory.

Sometimes, certain brain areas can be overactive during slow-wave sleep. This is what happens in sleep disorders such as sleep walking.

A similar thing may happen in people with tinnitus.

We think that hyperactive brain regions might stay awake in the otherwise sleeping brain. This would explain why many people with tinnitus experience disturbed sleep and night terrors more often than people who don’t have tinnitus.

Tinnitus patients also spend more time in light sleep.

Simply put, we believe that tinnitus keeps the brain from producing the slow-wave ac-

Folic acid is needed for DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation, and cell division. Folic acid is one of the rare examples of a nutrient that’s actually better absorbed in supplement form than in whole foods.

While it’s an essential vitamin for everyone, it’s especially recommended for women of childbearing age because it prevents certain defects.

Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for a huge array of body functions including muscle repair, glucose control, bone health, and nerve function.

Despite being abundant in nature, most of us don’t get enough of it in our diets perhaps because of soil depletion and our reliance on packaged and processed foods.

Stay healthy...

tivity needed to have a deep sleep, resulting in light and interrupted sleep.

There are a couple of ways the brain may be able to suppress tinnitus during deep sleep.

The first has to do with the brain’s neurons.

After a long period of wakefulness neurons in the brain are thought to switch into slow-wave activity mode to recover.

The more neurons in this mode together, the stronger the drive is for the rest of the brain to join.

We already know that intensity of tinnitus can change throughout a given day.

Investigating how tinnitus changes during sleep could give us a direct handle on what the brain does to cause fluctuations in tinnitus intensity.

It also means that we may be able to manipulate sleep to improve the wellbeing of patients – and possibly develop new treatments for tinnitus.

By Jolene Ejmont

In a world where genuine connections matter more than ever, discovering the friendliest countries in the world can transform an ordinary holiday into an unforgettable journey of warmth.

From ancient traditions to modern welcomes, these destinations shine not just for their beauty, but for their extraordinary people who turn visitors into family.

Pack your bags and join us as we explore 15 remarkable nations where warm welcomes and genuine hospitality await your arrival.

1. Ireland

Ireland stands as both the friendliest country in the world and one of the friendliest European countries , where the centuries-old tradition of céad míle fáilte (a hundred thousand welcomes) isn’t just a saying but a way of life.

From cozy pubs where strangers become friends over a pint of Guinness to countryside villages where locals eagerly share hidden gems.

The genuine warmth radiates through casual conversations at corner shops, impromptu music sessions, and the everpresent willingness to help lost travellers find their way.

2. Thailand

Thailand emerges as one of the most foreigner-friendly countries, where the famous ‘Land Of Smiles’ comes to life in daily interactions.

The World’s 15 Friendliest Countries

Whether you’re navigating Bangkok’s bustling streets or exploring Thai islands, locals consistently extend themselves to ensure visitors feel welcomed.

This warmth manifests in countless ways – from street vendors who stop to say hello to your children, to restaurant staff offering to look after your baby while you enjoy a peaceful meal.

3. New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the friendliest places in the world through actions rather than just words. Kiwis take genuine pride in sharing their slice of paradise, often going out of their way to show visitors secret spots or invite them to traditional hangi feasts.

The laid-back attitude combines with a deep respect for both nature and visitors, creating an environment where even the most distant traveller feels an immediate connection.

4. Japan

Japan redefines the meaning of hospitality through its omotenashi culture, elevating every interaction into an art form of thoughtful consideration.

In rural towns and urban centres alike, locals often set aside their own schedules to personally guide lost tourists

to their destinations.

The dedication to visitor comfort extends beyond mere politeness – it’s common to find station masters drawing detailed maps, and restaurant owners creating English menus on the spot.

5. Portugal

Portugal, among the friendliest nations in the world, wraps visitors in an embrace of unhurried authenticity and genuine care.

In Porto’s winding alleys or Alentejo’s sun-drenched villages, locals treat tourists not as temporary guests but as honoured friends. The Portuguese passion for sharing their culture shines through impromptu fado performances, spirited discussions about wine and food, and genuine joy in helping visitors.

6. Greece

Greece embodies its ancient tradition of philoxenia so deeply that visitors often find themselves adopted into local families within days of arrival.

Whether you’re exploring remote islands or bustling mainland markets, Greeks demonstrate hospitality, insisting on sharing meals, stories, and family histories. This genuine desire to connect transforms simple holiday moments into

profound cultural exchanges that often result in lifelong friendships.

7. Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s pura vida philosophy creates an atmosphere where every visitor instantly becomes part of the local fabric.

Ticos, as Costa Ricans proudly call themselves, share their paradise with infectious enthusiasm and genuine warmth. The country’s commitment to hospitality transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.

8. Fiji

Fiji’s remarkable warmth starts with the resonant “Bula!” greeting and deepens with every interaction.

Island communities embrace visitors with such genuine joy that tourists often find themselves participating in village activities within hours of arrival.

The Fijian approach to hospitality goes beyond surface-level tourism – locals take pride in sharing their traditions.

9. Canada

Canada’s celebrated politeness blossoms into genuine warmth that makes it one of the most welcoming destinations in the world.

Canadians transform simple interactions into

meaningful connections through their sincere interest in visitors’ stories and eagerness to share local insights.

The multicultural fabric of the country creates an environment where diversity is celebrated and visitors from all backgrounds find themselves welcomed.

10. Scotland

Scotland’s rugged exterior belies a heart of extraordinary hospitality that transforms strangers into friends over a shared dram of whisky.

Whether in remote Highland glens or Edinburgh’s historic closes, Scots embrace visitors with a combination of wit, warmth, and genuine interest in sharing their heritage.

The country’s tradition of hospitality extends far beyond tourist areas, with locals taking pride in sharing both famous sites and hidden treasures of their beloved homeland.

11. Vietnam Vietnam weaves a tapestry of hospitality that reveals itself in layers of thoughtful gestures and sincere interactions.

From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the serene Mekong Delta, locals approach tourists with a combination of curiosity and genuine care. Vietnamese people are renowned for being friendly.

12. Croatia

Croatia stands as the most friendly country in Europe, where centuries of cultural crossroads have cultivated a unique brand of hospitality.

Croatians welcome visitors with an enthusiasm that turns chance encounters into lasting friendships.

Local families often invite tourists to share homemade wines and traditional konoba meals, while fishermen eagerly share their favourite hidden beaches and secret swimming spots.

13. Malta

Malta’s Mediterranean charm infuses every interaction with a warmth that makes the island nation feel like a second home.

In the narrow streets of Valletta or the quiet villages of Gozo, locals embrace visitors with a unique blend of British courtesy and Southern European passion.

Maltese people take genuine pleasure in sharing their island’s stories, often turning simple directions into fascinating history lessons or impromptu tours of their favourite local spots.

14. Indonesia Indonesia harmonises its vast diversity into a symphony of hospitality that makes it one of the archipelago’s defining features.

From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted with

genuine curiosity and warmth that transcends any language barrier.

The Indonesian concept of ‘gotong royong’ (mutual co-operation) extends naturally to visitors, creating an environment where help is offered before it’s even needed.

15. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia stands as a testament to how warmth can flourish in the face of adversity, crafting one of the most unique hospitality experiences in Europe.

The traditional coffee ritual exemplifies this – what starts as a simple beverage invitation often transforms into hours of heartfelt conversation, shared stories, and newfound friendships. Locals take immense pride in sharing their rich heritage, going above and beyond to ensure visitors experience the true soul of their country.

Final Thoughts

Discovering the world’s friendliest nations reveals that true hospitality knows no borders.

These destinations prove that sometimes the most memorable souvenirs are the connections we make along the way.

Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

A last stroll through the CBS, my Alma Mater

Thursday, June 26 last I took one last stroll down memory lane through CBS Secondary School James’s Street, my Alma Mater, before the school moves to its new location in Dunningstown. I rendezvoused with Nicky Harte, a fellow classmate from 1968/69. We strolled together, our thinking being that two memories are better than one. And they were. For the most part. We were greeted heartily by Lucy Ryan, the Vice-Principal (the only time we were ever greeted, let alone heartily, on entering school) who introduced us to the Principal, Tom Clarke. Soon Nicky and I were strolling, not so much down memory lane, but down maze lane. All, all had changed since our time in the CBS, a mere 56 years ago!

Brother McGeagh was the Principal when I started in the CBS, a brother I had

great time for as he personally called to our door to tell my parents that I had won a County Council Scholarship. And I was very fond of ‘Pancho’ Leahy, low-sized, rotund, good humoured, with a half-smoked rollyour-own always dangling from his lips. Another favourite teacher of mine was the tall, sallow-complexioned Brother Brett who gave me a love of poetry, not least Patrick Pearse’s ‘The Wayfarer’ a rather sad but beautiful poem. And then there was Brother ‘Kipper’ Lynch, our French teacher, who cut quite a dash, smoked Gaulloise cigarettes and wore a beret. He was also instrumental in bringing the first Language Laboratory in the 26 counties to the school, one hell of an achievement (it even featured on TV). Tony Henderson, my maths teacher (and an excellent one at that) I’ll

always remember. Later I played soccer with Tony on the Kilkenny B team. And I often wonder what the opposition made of yours truly shouting at Tony: “Pass the ball, sir, pass, the ball, sir.”

Brother Malone, my chemistry teacher, helped me become the Kilkenny Inter Schools 100 Yards Champion and helped David O’Carroll, a classmate, become the Leinster Schools 100 Yards Champion. Under Brother Malone’s coaching, David, myself, Adrian O’Keefe and Martin Brett won the Leinster Schools 4 By 100 Yards Relay Championship in a record time that Martin (five times Mayor of Kilkenny) tells me stood for several years.

Brother Malone also brought a hurling All Ireland title (albeit the B Championship, I think) to the school. And then perhaps the best teacher I ever had: Paul

Glennon, still with us I’m glad to say, who commanded total respect without ever having to raise his voice one decibel and whose impas-

“Smoked Gaulloise cigarettes and wore a beret...

sioned readings of poetry and prose instilled in me such a love of English literature that I went on to study it at UCD.

Over some sandwiches and scones (and thank you, ladies, for the wonderful spread and thank you gentlemen for the music and my thanks to all the students who acted as guides on the day), I met up with some familiar faces: Richie Walshe, Jim Kelly and two old classmates, Michael Gannon and Tommy Thompson, and former teacher in the CBS, Tom Keane, with whom we had a right old natter.

And I enjoyed chatting to Kathleen Pattison, a former SNA and Mary Butler, former librarian who, along with Tom, filled me in on all the principals who came after Brother McGeagh and Brother Smiddy. Oh, and in the middle of it all was Elvis, the one and only Myles Ka-

vanagh, who brought some colour to the proceedings.

I have to say that I am more than grateful to the Christian Brothers for the education they gave me – an education that qualified me for a County Council Grant that saw me through five years of college, four years in UCD and one year in St. Patrick’s Training College (now affiliated to DCU) without ever having to burden my parents for one penny.

I wish those grants had been available for my siblings, my late brother John, and my sister Mary, both brighter than me but, alas, they weren’t. I thank the Christian Brothers for the education I received and for the fulfilling teaching career I loved throughout my life.

I enjoyed the stroll down memory lane and I wish Tom Clarke, and all his staff, the very best in their new home.

Sinn Féin blasts Fianna Fáil as they hike up property tax across Kilkenny

By Natasha Newsome Drennan TD

Sinn Féin TD for Kilkenny, Natasha Newsome Drennan has spoken following comments from Fianna Fáil TD Peter 'Chaps' Cleere on his staunch commitment to increasing the Local Property Tax by 15% annually for the next 5 years.

Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan:

“Unlike Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in Kilkenny, we in Sinn Féin do not view the family home as a financial asset.

“For most of us, the value of our home doesn’t matter; we’re not looking to sell it or pull revenue from it. Simply put, it is our family home.

“It is harsh and unfair to take the simplistic view that all family homes are financial assets. It fails to take into account mortgages or homes that might be in negative equity. Taxation on net wealth is a much fairer and more progressive system.

“It appears to be the policy of Fianna Fáil here in

Kilkenny to pull as much tax out of ordinary workers as possible. We are living in a cost-of-living crisis; the price of everything from the weekly shop to fuel to buying a home has all skyrocketed. And Fianna Fáil's answer to this is to increase the tax burden on families across Kilkenny, while giving tax breaks to the wealthy and pay rises to bankers.

“Homeowners in Kilkenny are paying significantly higher rates of property tax compared to areas like Dublin, despite not having access to the same levels of services in return. Dublin’s property tax rates are set to continue reducing, while Kilkenny's are set to increase year after year.

“Fianna Fáil TD Deputy Peter 'Chaps' Cleere’s comments in the Dáil were

completely disingenuous and show a certain level of ignorance towards the struggles many ordinary workers are going through.

“This year, the Government is set to have a surplus of over €8 billion, and even with this enormous surplus, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will continue to underfund County Councils right across the state. They will continue to keep Ireland's level of investment into sports and recreation facilities among the lowest in all of Europe.

‘’Instead of spending some of this surplus, they will leave communities to fundraise in the hope of getting a new playground and better sports facilities.

“The Government of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael needs to be working to lift the burden on workers and rural Ireland –not adding to it.”

Kilkenny unveils new webpage to spotlight Tholsel redevelopment project

Kilkenny County Council is proud to announce the launch of a dedicated webpage for the Tholsel redevelopment project, an exciting initiative aimed at preserving and revitalising one of Kilkenny’s most iconic landmarks. The new online platform will serve as a central hub for information, updates, and public engagement as the project progresses toward its completion in 2027.

The Tholsel, a historic building at the heart of Kilkenny’s civic life, is undergoing a sensitive and ambitious redevelopment that honours its architectural heritage while enhancing its role as the centre of local government. The newly launched webpage offers visitors a comprehensive overview of the project, including:

• Project Overview – Learn about the vision and goals driving the Tholsel redevelopment.

• Historical Background – Discover the rich history and architectural significance of the Tholsel.

• Preservation Efforts – Explore how the building’s unique features will be carefully preserved.

• Local Government Role – See how the Tholsel will continue to serve as a vital hub for civic administration.

The webpage is designed to engage a wide audience, including Kilkenny residents, local businesses, heritage enthusiasts, elected representatives and visitors to the City. It will be updated with news, milestones,

ensuring transparency and encouraging community support throughout the redevelopment process.

Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr. John Coonan, welcomed the initiative, stating:

“The interventions proposed to The Tholsel building, which is much loved by the people of Kilkenny, will help safeguard it long into the future. This project is about more than restoration—it’s about honouring our past while building a vibrant civic and cultural future for our City.

Visit the new Tholsel redevelopment webpage at Full Forward Kilkenny 2030 - Heritage to learn more and stay connected.

We often overlook the seemingly simple experience of moving and feeling these bodies of ours. For those with persistent pain, however, normal movement and normal feeling of a body part can be thrown out of whack. To recover from chronic pain, the body must, in a sense, learn how to feel and move normally again.

Changes seen in those with long-term pain

Changes occur within the pain systems and the nervous systems of people who have suffered from long-term pain. These changes make recovery challenging. But there is hope – excellent research in people with long-term back pain has found that an approach that targets these deficits can have powerful effects.

Losing touch with the body

Changes occur in how a person feels the painful area of their body. Special nerve cells that send signals of potential danger from the area become more easily activated (read ‘Learning to Feel Pain’ on the Observer’s website for more). There is also a reduction in signalling from other nerve cells responsible for messages relating to body

Mind and body in harmony

By Paul Bolger Chartered Physiotherapist at Nano Physiotherapy, Kilkenny |

Move & feel with ease

Learning to feel and move normally again in recovery from persistent pain

position and touch. On top of this, brain networks associated with normal feeling of that body area become disrupted. These changes correspond to the fact that many people suffering from chronic pain have

a disrupted sense of the painful are in their body – often the body part starts to feel foreign, peculiar, disconnected, and unfit.

None of this is to say that the pain is not real – it most

definitely is. Spend a day in the shoes of a person with chronic pain and you won’t question this!

Losing fitness

When a person believes that

they may be causing harm to themselves with certain activities and movements, and when their perception of their body reinforces these beliefs, it’s no surprise that they often disengage from normal movement and activities. With time, if they continue to avoid such activities, they become more unfit and subsequently less capable of doing these activities.

Towards Recovery

It is possible to turn the tide. Research has shown that many people who suffer from persistent pain have capacity to partially or fully recover and engage more freely with things that matter to them.

The ‘RESOLVE’ trial is an exciting study in people with chronic lower back pain. The researchers aimed to help people to overcome negative beliefs associated with pain, help them to develop a more normal sense of their affected body area (through practices like mindful body awareness tasks), help them to move more regularly and more freely, and help them to build back the fitness required to engage in activities that matter to them.

Initial results are really encouraging; large numbers of people who have had back pain for many years reporting that they have recovered >50% or even completely!

A key feature of the study is how much the participants engaged in their efforts to recover – with 12 individual hour-long sessions with a specially trained physiotherapist and regular home exercises up to 5 days per week over a 3–4-month period. Adaptation takes consistent, gradual and progressive effort – just like with learning an instrument, learning to feel and move normally again takes consistency, effort and patience.

While approaching recovery in this way may be valuable for many people, there are some painful conditions, like some cancers and connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers Danlos Syndromes, that warrant a more individualised approach. I will again turn your attention to the website ‘Flippin Pain’ (www.flippinpain.co.uk) which is an amazing resource for people who suffer from persistent pain. As always, do discuss this with your healthcare provider if you need help.

Clerical changes announced for Ossory

Bishop Niall Coll has announced the following clerical appointments for the Diocese of Ossory, effective from Saturday, 30th August 2025, Feast of Saint Fiacre. The following is from Bishop Niall.

“In making these appointments I warmly welcome the generosity of those priests whom, in changing circumstances, are embracing new and perhaps more onerous roles in the Diocese. Their willingness to respond to the needs of the Diocese is reflective of the great generosity that exists among so many in our parishes – priests, lay faithful and religious – who work together to ensure that the message of the Gospel continues to be proclaimed with love and confidence. We know that we will face many challenges together. We find courage for this work during this Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, because Christ Jesus is truly the way, the truth and the life.”

Very Rev. Liam Barron, P.P., Mullinavat, to retire and will continue to reside as Pastor Emeritus in the

parish of Mullinavat. To assist in the Pastoral Area of Aghaviller, Ballyhale and Mullinavat.

Very Rev. Liam Cassin, P.P., Aghaviller, to retire and will continue to reside as Pastor Emeritus in the parish of Aghaviller. To assist in the Pastoral Area of Aghaviller, Ballyhale and Mullinavat.

Very Rev. James Murphy, P.P., St Canice’s Parish, to retire and reside in the parish of Thomastown. To help with Chaplaincy ministry in both St Columba’s Hospital and Grennan College, Thomastown. In addition, to assist with Chaplaincy ministry in Loreto

Secondary School and in C.B.S. Secondary School in St Canice’s Parish.

Very Rev. Daniel Bollard, P.P., Thomastown, to retire and reside in St Canice’s Presbytery, Granges Road, Kilkenny. To assist with Masses in the Pastoral Area of St Canice’s, St John’s, St Mary’s and St Patrick’s and with Chaplaincy ministry in St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny.

Very Rev. Patrick Guilfoyle, C.C., Tullaroan, to retire and will continue to reside in the parish of Tullaroan.

Very Rev. Sean O’ Connor, P.P., Ballyhale, and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Aghaviller, Ballyhale and Mullinavat,

appointed Parish Priest of Aghaviller and Mullinavat, while continuing his service to the people of Ballyhale and as Pastoral Area Coordinator.

Very Rev. William Purcell, P.P., Clara, and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Clara, Gowran and Tullaherin, appointed Parish Priest of St Canice’s Parish, to reside in the Parochial House, Dean Street, Kilkenny.

Very Rev. Francis Purcell, P.P., Inistioge, and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Thomastown and Inistioge, appointed Parish Priest of Thomastown, while continuing his service to the people of Inistioge and as Pastoral Area Coordinator.

Rev. Patrick Carey, Chaplain, St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, appointed Parish Priest of Clara and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Clara, Gowran and Tullaherin, to reside in Clara.

Very Rev. Raymond Dempsey, Team Member, St John’s Parish, appointed Chaplain to St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, to reside

in St Canice’s Presbytery, Granges Road, Kilkenny.

Very Rev. Thomas O’ Toole, P.P., Glenmore, appointed Team Member in St John’s Parish, to reside in St John’s Presbytery.

Rt. Rev. Mgr. Daniel Cavanagh, P.P., Rosbercon, granted sabbatical leave from July until December 2025.

Very Rev. Liam Taylor, P.P., Ballycallan and Tullaroan, Administrator, Freshford, and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Ballycallan, Freshford and Tullaroan, appointed Parish Priest of Glenmore, to reside in Glenmore. Appointed Administrator of the parish of Rosbercon from July until December 2025.

Very Rev. Mark Condon, P.P., Danesfort, appointed Parish Priest and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Ballycallan, Freshford and Tullaroan, to reside in Freshford.

Very Rev. William Hennessy, P.P., Conahy, appointed Parish Priest of Danesfort, to reside in Danesfort.

Very Rev. Eamonn O’ Gorman, P.P., Ballyragget

and Lisdowney, and Coordinator of the Pastoral Area of Ballyragget, Conahy and Lisdowney, appointed Parish Priest and Coordinator of the Pastoral Area of Galmoy, Johnstown and Urlingford, to reside in Urlingford.

Very Rev. Oliver Maher, P.P. and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Galmoy, Johnstown, and Urlingford, appointed Parish Priest and Coordinator of the Pastoral Area of Ballyragget, Conahy and Lisdowney, to reside in Ballyragget.

Very Rev. Patrick Canon Duggan, P.E., Tullaherin, will assist with Masses in Tullaherin parish. All other matters pertaining to Tullaherin parish are the responsibility of the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Patrick Canon Dalton.

Please keep in your prayers those priests who are involved in these appointments and the people and parishes where they will serve.

With every blessing, Most Rev Niall Coll, Bishop of Ossory.

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

A long-running feud between two powerful County Kilkenny families reached a peak in 1768, when Callan Corporation was evenly divided between support for the rival Henry Flood and James Agar.

In October Agar received a message from the Deputy Mayor of Callan, Francis Knap of Burnchurch, promising to divert his support from Flood to Agar in return for a farm and a sum of money. Agar invited Knap to come and see him in Callan. But Knap's wife turned up instead, asking Agar to travel to Burnchurch to meet her husband.

Callan Innkeeper Michael Keogh advised Agar not to visit Burnchurch due to it being "enemy territory." He offered to go in his place. So, Keogh accompanied Knap's wife on the journey to meet Francis Knap. But when the Knap residence came into view, Mrs. Knap left Keogh in the carriage, saying she wished to check if her husband was alone. Minutes after she left him, men armed with muskets and crowbars surrounded the carriage.... They pulled the driver to the ground and beat him. The horses were also injured. Surprised and panicstricken, Keogh produced the weapons given to him by Agar and fired over the heads of the assailants. He then fled the scene, leaving the pistols behind him in the confusion. Upon hearing of the ambush, Agar concluded that Flood had hatched a plot to assassinate him. Suspicion deepened when Knap cast his vote for Flood in the election. Agar’s hated foe secured the parliamentary seats.

A few weeks after the apparent murder attempt, Agar demanded the return of the pistols that Keogh had left behind him in the carriage. He accused Flood of stealing them.

The latter denied all knowledge of the pistols and alleged that Agar was hell-bent on discrediting him. He scoffed at the suggestion that he had contrived to lure Agar into a trap at Burnchurch.

Gunfight at the Old Triangle

- The story of a bitter quarrel encompassing Callan, Gowran, and the village of Burnchurch

On August 22nd, 1769, Agar issued an ultimatum to Flood: Return the pistols or appoint a time and place to meet him. He was challenging Flood to a duel. What had begun as a farcical episode had developed into a deadly showdown.

The two enemies met on August 25th at Dunmore in South Kilkenny. The venue was a field called the Triangle. Flood chose Richard Rothe as his second. Gervase Parker Bushe served Agar. Agar fired first. He seemed nervous and ill at ease as he pointed his weapon at Flood. His hand was shaking as pressed the trigger. When the gun-smoke cleared, Agar was horrified to see Flood standing there, still facing him. He had missed and now it was Flood’s turn.

Flood was smirking, relief written all over his face. He mocked Agar’s poor marksmanship and proceeded to take a pinch of snuff. This greatly incensed Agar who shouted: “fire, you scoundrel, fire!” Flood became convulsed with laughter.

After about two minutes had elapsed, he raised his pistol

and took careful aim, still holding the snuffbox between the thumb and forefinger of his other hand. Snorting contemptuously, he fired. The ball struck Agar in the left breast. He fell to the ground, screaming in agony. Seconds later, he died from his wounds.

Flood was charged with murder. On April 13th, 1770, a large crowd turned up at Kilkenny Courthouse for the trial. Flood stood smiling in the dock, brimming with confidence.

The seconds, Rothe and Parker Bushe, gave evidence that Flood had behaved “fairly and honourably” at Dunmore and that he had simply responded to a challenge from Agar. After a speedy deliberation, the jury reached a verdict of “not guilty.”

Flood resumed his political career and the crusade against British interference in Ireland. But the family feud was far from over. James Agar’s son, George, swore he would avenge his father’s death. In 1777, he petitioned for the ousting of the Floods from their parliamentary seats in

Callan.

The petition was successful. At the next election, the Agar faction retained the seats, dealing a severe blow to their enemy. The Floods never recovered from this defeat. Their power base had evaporated.

Henry Flood died in 1791

and is buried in the family vault at Burnchurch. George Agar went on to become Baron of Callan. He took his seat in the House of Lords in July 1790. Because he never married, however, his title became extinct when he died in 1815.

The Flood-Agar feud has now passed into history. Its main legacy is the reputation it conferred on a small town in the south east of Ireland. To this day, that town is known as Calain a Clampair-Callan of the Ructions: a testimony to old hatreds and forgotten enmities.

An 18th century dueling scene

Burnchurch Castle and Turret

Henry Flood as MP for Callan

A unique night of theatre not to be missed

Six plays. One day. One powerful cause. The 24 Hour Theatre Takeover returns to the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny this July for another electrifying edition of live theatre created in real time — with six original plays written, rehearsed, and performed in just 24 hours, all in aid of the Kilkenny Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Group.

Organised by Thomastown playwright Gillian Grattan, the event begins on Friday, July 12 at 8pm, when six writers start an overnight sprint to create brand new scripts. By 10am on Saturday, July 13, directors and a cast of volunteer actors take overrehearsing and preparing for the final performance at 8pm that evening.

Following the success of last year’s sold-out event — which raised vital funds for Cois Nore and Teac Tom — this year’s takeover continues the tradition of

combining bold theatrical creativity with powerful community support. Proceeds from this year’s production will go to the Kilkenny ABI Group, a local organisation supporting

individuals and families affected by acquired brain injuries.

Over 30 creatives are taking part, including returning artists from last year and new participants from a range of disciplines. Among them are students from the Master’s in Writing for

Stage and Screen at UCD, including international contributors from the United States, bringing fresh voices and energy to the project. In addition to the theatre challenge, a new follow-up documentary has been produced to revisit the Kilkenny ABI Group five

years after their first film, highlighting their journey and continued progress. With participants working non-stop through the 24hour challenge, organisers are calling on local businesses to support the event by providing food and refreshments. Tickets are €15, available from the Watergate Theatre box office and website. Those interested in supporting can contact Gillian directly at 086 263 4556.

Official opening of Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum

– Inclusivity and

Kilkenny County Council is proud to announce the official opening of the Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum – Inclusivity and Accessibility Enhancement Scheme, marked by a special ceremony attended by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, elected members of Kilkenny County Council, Oireachtas representatives, council officials, community partners, and invited guests.

This significant occasion celebrates not only the physical transformation of one of County Kilkenny’s most treasured heritage sites but also reaffirms a core value held by the Council: that public amenities should be welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all, regardless of age, ability, or circumstance.

Speaking at the event, Minister Calleary said:

“I’m delighted to be here in Kilkenny today to open this facility. Funds, such as those allocated through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, are provided to develop and enhance our outdoor facilities which are vital for both our physical and mental wellbeing”

Attracting over 40,000 visitors annually, Woodstock Gardens

and Arboretum stands as a beacon of natural beauty, history, and community connection. The new enhancement scheme ensures this iconic estate is now even more accessible, through:

• Over 1.5 kilometres of upgraded paths and trails, improving user-friendliness and access for all

• Installation of accessible seating, with age-friendliness and comfort in mind

Accessibility Enhancement Scheme

• Inclusive play equipment and communication signage at Woodstock Playground, supporting children and families of all abilities

The project represents a total investment of €225,000, funded through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme by the Department of Rural and Community Development, with match funding provided by Kilkenny County Council.

Speaking at the opening,

the Cllr. Michael McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council said:

“Today, we celebrate not only the transformation of a physical space but the reaffirmation of a core value — that our public amenities must be welcoming and inclusive, regardless of age, ability or circumstance.”

The 50-acre restored Victorian gardens, part of a 1,000acre woodland estate managed in partnership with Coillte, have benefited from years of progressive development. This most recent phase of work honours the site's heritage while ensuring its enjoyment for generations to come.

Speaking at the event Frank

Stafford, of the Council’s Capital Delivery Office and Parks Department, thanked Minister Calleary and his Department, noting “that since the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme was launched back in 2018 over €1.2million had been provided for enhancement works within Woodstock Gardens and the wider Woodstock Estate, and that this investment has been truly transformative in terms of allowing the Council deliver on its objective to develop a world class offering that is now more welcoming and inclusive than ever before”.

The Council acknowledges the invaluable contributions of all involved, including the

Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum Committee and further appreciation was extended to project partners, including the Irish Wheelchair Association, Kilkenny Age Friendly Forum, Trail Kilkenny, Kilkenny Tourism Officer, and local residents whose input and support were critical from the project’s inception to its completion.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairperson of the Callan -Thomastown Municipal District, Cllr. Joe Lyons, noted

“As someone who represents this area, I am especially proud of the work done here. It reflects the best of local government — listening to the needs of our communities, working in partnership, and delivering results that matter”.

In the bright sunshine, there was great cheers when Minister Calleary, in the presence of Cathaoirleach Cllr. McCarthy and Municipal District Chairperson Cllr. Lyons, unveiled the commemorative plaque and cut the official opening ribbon.

The Cathaoirleach concluded:

“To all our visitors — today and into the future — thank you. Woodstock is your space, and we are proud to share it in a way that is open, inclusive, and welcoming to all.”

Cllr. Michael McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, Cllr. Michael McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, elected members and Oireachtas representatives and invited guests

Climate Change

–

are we all playing our part?

WEEK 125

"We

are all involved in the ‘me too’ business"

Official re-opening of the Jenkinstown Wood Enhancement Scheme

Photograph by Vicky Comerford

County Kilkenny has marked a significant milestone in outdoor amenity development as Dara Calleary TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, officially reopened the Jenkinstown Wood Enhancement Scheme. The enhancements aim to increase accessibility, promote physical activity, and celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of the area. Speaking at the ribbon-

cutting ceremony at Jenkinstown Wood, Minister Calleary said:

“Facilities like these are vital to our communities. They promote both physical and mental wellbeing, support rural tourism, and bring people together. I am

particularly pleased to see the commitment shown by Kilkenny County Council and their project partners Coillte in delivering such a high-quality, inclusive outdoor space.”

The redevelopment at Jenkinstown Wood includes rehabilitation of existing

looped trails, the creation of a new fully accessible 1.2km route, upgraded signage, an access ramp connecting to the car park to the enhanced picnic, and age-friendly and wheel-chair accessible seating. The newly created trail has been named “The Last Rose of Summer Walk”, a tribute to one of Ireland’s most cherished poets, Thomas Moore who wrote his famous poem, of the same name, while staying in Jenkinstown back in 1805.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Michael McCarthy, who addressed the gathering, highlighted the community and cultural significance of the project, adding:

“This project is about more than poetry and pathways –it’s about people. It’s about encouraging outdoor activity, improving access for people of all ages and abilities and it’s all about listening to the needs of our communities.”

Also speaking at the event, the Vice-Chairperson of the Castlecomer Municipal District, Cllr. Pat Fitzpatrick added:

“This is a proud moment not only for our Council and all involved, but for the wider North Kilkenny area and the many communities who cherish this woodland.

Jenkinstown Wood is a place of natural beauty,

steeped in local history, and beloved by both residents and visitors. Thanks to this major investment, it has been reimagined, renewed, and made more inclusive for everyone.”

Daithi de Ford, Head of Recreation with Coillte and Frank Stafford of the Kilkenny County Council’s Capital Delivery Office and Parks Department, also spoke at the event with the latter noting that “The success of this project, and other similar projects, would not be possible without partnership. I want to acknowledge the significant funding provided under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, and I thank Minister Calleary and his Department for same. This grant aid, along with the match funding from Kilkenny County Council realises a total investment of €230,000 into this amenity and it’s an investment that really adds value to the visitors’ enjoyment and experience.”

The event concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and cutting of the official reopening ribbon by Minister Calleary in the presence of the Cathaoirleach

of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Michael McCarthy and Chairperson of the Castlecomer Municipal District, Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh.

Unveiling the commemorative plaque by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary in the presence of Cllr. Michael McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council and Chairperson of the Castlecomer MD Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh along with elected members, Oireachtas representatives and both council and Coillte officials

Any Republican who opposes Donald Trump’s sprawling tax-and-spending package dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ will face his wrath, the US president has vowed and he has already launched campaigns against rebel members of the GOP.

Now, Elon Musk, Trump’s former partner-in-power has widened the rift between the two and has vowed to challenge any Republican who supports the Bill.

“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!” the tech billionaire and former close ally of Trump posted on X.

“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”

Musk spent more than $250 million to help elect Trump in 2024 but said in May that he had “done enough” and was going to do “a lot less in the future.”

He said at the time, however: “If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it.”

Musk posted his warning, among many posts on the topic, as senators continued to vote on a series of amendments to the megabill, which estimates say will add trillions to the national deficit and lead to cuts to Medicaid.

Reigniting a once-regretted feud with the President and Republicans that exploded after Musk left a temporary government role in the Administration in May, Musk reiterated a prior idea he’d floated of starting a new political party.

“It is obvious with the insane spending of this Bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a oneparty country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” he posted on X.

“Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.”

In another post, he said that, if the Bill actually passed, the “America Party will be formed the next day” to provide “an alternative to the Democrat-

Don’t bankrupt America, says Musk as rift widens

Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE.”

When former Rep. Justin Amash, who left the Republican Party in 2019 and opted not to run for re-election in 2020 amid criticisms of Trump, asked Musk for support Musk responded “I will.” Trump took to his own Truth Social platform the same night to lash out at Musk, suggesting that the wealthiest man in the world, who is also the CEO of electric-car company Tesla and spacetechnology company SpaceX, is self-interested. “Elon Musk knew, long be-

fore he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate,” Trump posted, referring to policies that incentivise — though don’t require — the manufacture and purchase of electric vehicles.

“It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one. Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more rocket launches, satel-

lites, or electric car production, and our country would save a FORTUNE,” Trump said.

Musk’s companies are estimated to receive about $38 billion in US government contracts and subsidies. “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this?” Trump said, referencing the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk spearheaded. “BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”

Musk previously dismissed Trump when the President made a similar claim about the former White House adviser’s priorities.

“Whatever. Keep the EV/ solar incentive cuts in the Bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!),” he posted on X in early June.

However, Musk has now posted that “A massive strategic error is being made right now to damage solar/battery that will leave America extremely vulnerable in the future.”

The Bill threatens to end billions of dollars in green-energy tax credits, which some say could decimate the country’s wind and solar industries.

The White House has maintained that the bill “actually

reduces the debt burden on future generations,” claiming that it “will unleash robust, real economic growth and restore fiscal sanity in America”. But the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office showed that the Senate version of the Bill would add nearly $3.3 trillion to the deficit over a decade.

President Trump and the majority of the Republican party were hoping to have the Bill (passed by the Senate) passed by the House today, Friday, July 4 – America’s Thanksgiving Day.

– Reuters, AP and others

How 5m. Sudanese lives are hanging in the balance

In Sudan, where children cling to life, doctors say USAID cuts have been fatal The Trump Administration’s cuts have had an immediate and deadly impact in war-ravaged Sudan, according to civilians, doctors and aid officials.

The International Rescue Committee, which received a large amount of its funding from the US, had been scheduled to deliver the medicines in February. Then the new US administration froze foreign aid programmes, and a stopwork order came down from Washington.

After more than two years of ferocious civil war, Sudan is home to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, the Unit-

looted NGO aid facilities. Disease and famine are spreading unchecked. More than half the population, some 30 million people, need aid. More than 12 million have fled their homes. For so many families barely hanging on, programmes funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) were a lifeline — providing food to the hungry and medical care for the sick.

While the Trump Administration’s cuts to USAID this year have been felt deeply across the world, their impact in Sudan is especially deadly, according to clinicians and aid officials in Khartoum, and surrounding villages.

When US-supported soup kitchens were forced to close, babies starved quietly, their mothers said, while older siblings died begging for food.

Funding stoppages meant that critical medical supplies were never delivered, doctors said. The lack of US-funded disease response teams has made it harder to contain cholera outbreaks, which are claiming the lives of those already weakened by hunger.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says an estimated five million Sudanese people may lose access to lifesaving health services as a result of the US cuts.

For now, no one has filled the void left by Washington.

European countries, including Germany, France and Britain, have also slashed funding for international relief or announced their intention to do so. Russia and China rarely fund humanitarian work; wealthy Persian Gulf countries tend to work outside established foreign aid systems. On the ground in Sudan, volunteers are appealing to members of the diaspora, many of whom lost their homes and savings when they fled the war.

As Tom Fletcher, a top UN relief co-ordinator, put it this month: “We have been forced into a triage of human survival.”

ed Nations says. Both sides have attacked hospitals. The military often delays or denies aid access, while the paramilitary it is fighting has kidnapped relief workers and

Homily of Bishop Niall Coll at

the

ordination to the Diaconate of Bruno Kelleher OP in the Dominican Black Abbey Kilkenny, on the Feast of the Holy Trinity, Sunday, 15th June 2025

During his ordination, Br Bruno lies prostrate on the floor before the altar. This act, known as prostration, symbolises humility and submission to God

During the Jubilee Year of Hope so close to the heart of Pope Francis, on this Trinity Sunday, the Church in Kilkenny, the Diocese of Ossory and the Dominican family rejoice. Today, a son of this county, a member of the Dominican Order is about to take a vital step forward on his journey to priesthood as he is ordained a deacon. Next year, please God, he will be ordained to the priesthood.

Today, Br Bruno you will be configured to

Christ the Servant. This will hopefully allow you to deepen the commitment you have already made in religious life when you took your vows as a Dominican friar. Soon, during this liturgy you will bear the stole across your shoulder and be presented with the Book of the Gospels - visible signs of your call as a deacon to proclaim the Word of God to the people. By proclaiming and preaching the Word of God as a deacon, and for the rest of your life,

you will serve God and his people in a most important way. Present now in the beautiful Black Abbey during this year 2025 when we are celebrating 800 years of Dominican witness in this city. It is most poignant and appropriate that the Irish Dominican family gather in such numbers in this place hallowed by generations of faith

Father John Harris, (O.P., Prior Provincial of the Irish Province of the Dominican Order), and Most Rev. Niall Coll, (Bishop of Ossory)

Rev Bruno Mary Kelleher, (O.P.), ordained to the Deaconate

and prayer in good times and bad to celebrate this ordination Mass. Br Bruno as a Dominican, a son of St Dominic, you are heir of a charism that prioritises the importance of good preaching, a charism centred not on power or status but on truth spoken in love. And now, by ordination, you will be entrusted with that truth in a new way: as herald, as minister of the Word, and as servant of both table and altar. This is a beautiful and demanding path - one that unites the characteristic Dominican love of study and preaching with the humble, embodied service of the diaconate. As a Dominican deacon, you will now stand at a marked intersection in the Church: called to contemplate and to serve, to preach with fire and to kneel with compassion. You are to be an icon and echo of the Christ who said: “I am among you as one who serves”. And recall those poignant words of Jesus to the disciples in today’s gospel: “I still have many things to say to you, but they would be too much for you now.”

May it be enough to say now that the world you are being sent into is rapidly changing. We live in an age of endless information and

scarce wisdom. A time of connection without communion. A time of war, famine and merciless inaction. For one thing, technologyespecially artificial intelligence - is transforming how people learn, communicate and even make moral decisions. AI can simulate conversations. It can summarise scientific, philosophical and theological volumes. It can even generate lectures and sermons. But, mindful of the words of St Paul in our second reading today, it cannot love, it cannot suffer, it cannot pray, and it cannot proclaim the Gospel from a heart conformed to Christ.

The late Pope Francis in his message for the World Day of Peace earlier this year, warned that AI, if left ungoverned by human conscience, risks distorting truth, amplifying injustice and replacing genuine human relationships with artificial substitutes. He reminded us that what is needed is not smarter machines, but wiser humans — witnesses formed by the Gospel. To be such a witness, and to form others on this path of life is the vocation of the deacon.

Precisely because you will soon be a deacon, one in the Dominican tradition, and you will henceforth always

be a deacon, even if you are also ordained to the priesthood later, remember that your calling will be to speak to this digital culture. Not to retreat into a holy huddle or reject it, but to evangelise it. To meet people where they are - in the church, yes, but also in hospitals, in the digital margins, in academic settings and in one-on-one conversations. You are to be a preacher of the Word made flesh - not a purveyor of disembodied data nor the categories that occupy the antiquarian … but one who is on fire with the living truth of Christ who speaks through Scripture, tradition and the lives of countless people.

No one has surpassed Hopkins' wonderful encapsulation of this “for Christ plays in ten thousand places/Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his/ To the Father through the features of men's faces.”

Never forget: your preaching will only have power if it flows from your service. With an eye to Jesus stooping to wash his disciples’ feet, remember you are to preach the Word but also to be a minister of the chalice and the towel — feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, listening to the ignored. In

doing this, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, you will make the Word you preach credible. The world no longer assumes that the Church is trustworthy. But it still listens when it sees love in action. That’s why Pope Francis was respected and loved well beyond the boundaries of the Church and Christian faith and why many already find Pope Leo compelling. In a secular world that doubts the value of truth, and in a digital culture that often replaces depth with speed, I pray that your ministry will be a quiet revolution.

Acknowledging the Dominican motto of ‘Veritas,’ it is indisputably true that you are called to speak truth with clarity, live truth with humility and serve truth with joy. This, it seems to me, is the type of diaconate that honours the Dominican tradition: preaching that springs from prayer and issues forth in service to the world. Let me offer you an image of St Dominic, walking dusty roads, barefoot, with the Gospel in his heart and the poor on his mind. He studied deeply, prayed constantly and preached with tears.

Finally, aim to be a Dominican deacon and, please God later, a priest who is committed to study and learning. Let the study of Word of God, theology and the other sciences feed your preaching, let your preaching feed the people, and let your service feed your soul. God’s Word, entrusted to you as deacon, will bear fruit — in His time, in His way, through your fidelity. Preach boldly. Serve humbly. Love deeply. And may the Word you proclaim shape everything you are now and always. Amen.

Most Rev Niall Coll, Bishop of Ossory.

Rev Bruno celebrates mass with Bishop Coll

Rev Bruno and his confreres

Food & Drink

Come Dine WithMe

Black bean burger

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Serves: 4

Make some healthy, hearty vegan burgers layered with avocado and served with a fresh crunchy carrot and cucumber salad alongside. They’re full of goodness.

Ingredients

For the burger

75g wholemeal bread ,or sourdough

75g walnuts

400g sweet potato

400g can black beans, drained

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp onion granules

1 tbsp tomato purée

2 tbsp rapeseed oil, to fry

For the salad ½ cucumber, halved, deseeded and sliced on an angle

2 large carrots (about 300g) peeled into ribbons small bunch coriander, finely chopped

2 tbsp lime juice

1 tbsp rapeseed oil

To serve

4 sourdough burger buns

2 large tomatoes, thickly sliced

1 avocado, peeled, stoned and sliced

50g rocket coconut yogurt or burger sauce of choice

Method

STEP 1

Put the wholemeal bread and walnuts in a food processor and pulse to make fine crumbs.

STEP 2

Prick the sweet potatoes with a fork and microwave for 5-10 mins until soft. Cut in half and scrape the cooked

centres into the food processor with the bread and walnut crumbs. Make sure the beans are drained thoroughly then add them to the processor with the paprika, cumin, onion granules, and tomato puree. Season generously and pulse until the mixture is mostly smooth and holding together. Divide the mix into 4 patties and chill for 20 mins to firm up.

STEP 3

Meanwhile make the side salad by mixing the cucumber, carrot, coriander, lime juice and rapeseed oil together. Season and put to one side.

STEP 4

Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat.

Add the patties and fry for 4-5 mins on each side until golden and hot through. Place a small handful of rocket into each burger bun. Top with the tomato slices, burgers, and then avocado. Add a dollop of coconut yogurt or burger sauce of your choice. Serve with the carrot and cucumber salad alongside.

Salted caramel cupcakes

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Serves: 12

Treat yourself to these easy cupcakes with a caramel-flavoured sponge and salted caramel topping. Perfect for afternoon tea.

Ingredients

• 100g softened salted butter

• 100g golden caster sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 100g self-raising flour

• 1 tbsp milk

• 6 tsp caramel sauce

For the icing

• 75g soft salted butter

• 150g icing sugar

• 200g caramel sauce

• a pinch of sea salt flakes

Method

STEP 1

Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 12-hole cake tin with paper cases.

STEP 2

Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla extract. Briefly mix in the flour until just combined, and stir in the milk until the batter just falls off the beaters.

STEP 3

Divide the mixture between the cases, leaving about 2 tbsp batter in the bowl.

Add a pinch of salt to the caramel sauce if it’s not salted caramel, then add ½ tsp to the tops of each cupcake.

Use a teaspoon to cover the caramel sauce with the remaining batter. Bake for 15-20 mins until springy and golden. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

STEP 4

Meanwhile, make the icing. Beat the butter and half of the icing sugar together, then tip in the remaining icing sugar and whisk vigorously until pale and fluffy. Stir in half of the caramel sauce, then spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a round or star nozzle.

STEP 5

Pipe swirls of icing on top of the cooled cupcakes. Stir the remaining caramel sauce with a pinch of salt, if unsalted, then use to drizzle over the icing. Sprinkle over a small pinch of sea salt over each, if you like.

Untamed: coming soon to Netflix

Netflix has dropped Untamed’s first teaser, its first few scenes escalate a sense of dread despite the serene setting. Untamed combines the best elements of shows like Yellowstone, True Detective, and Ozark – their dark narratives all set against nature’s unassuming backdrop.

Eric Bana’s character, Kyle Turner, even set the tone, hinting at the dark side of California’s Yosemite National Park: “People come here to explore, they see maybe 10% of the park… Things happen different out here.”

Untamed is “a characterdriven mystery thriller that follows Kyle Turner, a special agent in an elite branch of the National Parks Ser-

vice who works to enforce human law in nature’s vast wilderness.

The investigation of a brutal death sends Turner on a collision course with the dark secrets within the park, and in his own past.”

Sam Neill [pictured] plays Paul Souter, Yosemite’s chief park ranger and Turner’s long-time friend.

Putside the plot, Untamed’s real draw is in the all-star cast. Joining Bana and Neill are Rosemarie DeWitt (as Jill Bodwin, Turner’s ex-wife), Lily Santiago (as Naya Vasquez, an ambitious Los Angeles cop), and Wilson Bethel (as Shane Maguire, a former army ranger now in charge of park wildlife).

(By the way, Yellowstone

is one of the best modern dramas out right now).

Co-showrunner Elle Smith said Santiago’s character offers the outsider’s perspective.

She’s still learning the ropes of park protection, her intuition still attuned to city life.

“Because Vasquez is new to the park, we get to see the park through her eyes,” Smith explained.

“We get to understand what this job is, and see the beauty of the park, but also the dangers.” Vasquez is Turner’s antithesis, her adversarial views backed by experience in big-city homicide.

Co-showrunner Mark Smith said Untamed is a no-frills crime drama that

revolves around flawed characters. “Everyone thinks of Yosemite as this beautiful place with all the vistas and all the scenery, but we were trying to touch on the dangers that are just beyond that,” he explained.

“I love stripping all the cheats away, stripping all the more modern tools that people can use. It really gets down to the character and what they can find within themselves.”

Smith wrote the screenplays for Martyrs, The Revenant, The Marsh King’s Daughter, and American Primeval, which may explain where all of Untamed’s grit is coming from.

All episodes of Untamed on Netflix on July 17.

We Were Liars is a twist-filled mystery treat

Summer might be the season for getting outside and soaking up the sun, but for some, it always puts them in the mood to binge a good mystery thriller. Thankfully, Prime Video has come through, because the streaming service has dropped its new series We Were Liars, and it’s a twistfilled treat.

We Were Liars is based on E. Lockhart’s bestselling 2014 novel, and if you’re an avid Tumblr or BookTok user, you know this story has had a grip on people ever since its publication.

The story follows a tightknit group of teens who spend every summer together on their family’s exclusive island. After a mysterious and traumatic incident, the oldest of the group is left with gaps in her memory and a deep sense that something is being hidden. As you can tell, it’s a pretty gripping premise.

There are plenty of twists sprinkled throughout, leading to an ending that will either shock or surprise you, depending on whether you pick up on the clues. We Were Liars centres on

17-year-old Cadence Sinclair Eastman (Emily Alyn Lind), who returns to her family’s private island off Martha’s Vineyard after a traumatic accident wiped out her memories of the previous summer. Raised within the wealthy Sinclair clan, Cadence spent childhood summers in the company of three close friends — her cousins Johnny (Joseph Zada) and Mirren (Esther McGregor), and their longtime friend Gat (Shubham Maheshwari) — together known as ‘The Liars’.

true crime documentaries on Netflix 5

When she comes back, two years have passed, and everyone is tight-lipped about the incident that left her injured and confused. Determined to piece things together, Cadence reconnects with Johnny, Mirren and Gat, retracing their final days before the accident. As she follows the trail of fragmented flashbacks, she uncovers shocking details about that summer, including romantic entanglements, hidden emotions, and family secrets that challenge everything she believed about her loved ones.

1. A Deadly American Marriage

This Netflix documentary about the murder of Limerick man Jason Corbett resists the impulse to decide what it thinks happened. Instead, the film manages to get both sides of the story on record. First, there’s Molly Corbett, who allegedly killed her husband by severely beating him with a cinderblock. She claims it was self-defence, and that he would’ve killed her instead. On the other side, there are interviews with her estranged stepchildren, kids who claimed that their father was abusive and then later recanted their stories. To them now, Molly is evil.

2. American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden

This provides a look not only at 9/11 and its causes, but the intelligence operation that followed. The result is a riveting three-part Netflix series that relies heavily on talking-head interviews from people who were intimately involved, from the member of Seal Team Six who shot Bin Laden to Leon Panetta, former head of the CIA. You think you know this story, but hearing it from the mouths of decision-makers brings an immediacy to it that’s well worth a watch.

3. Bad Influence: The Dark Side Of Kidfluencing

This disturbing documentary on Netflix tells the story of Piper Rockelle, a teenage girl with a massive YouTube following. The doc posits that Tiffany Smith, her mother, is the puppetmaster behind her account, and it suggests that Smith may be knowingly opening her daughter and friends up to massive amounts of dangerous attention from men online. It’s a docuseries that wants to make you angry so that something will change.

4. Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders

The Netflix show is about the rash of poisonings that struck Chicago in 1982, when an as-yet- unidentified person managed to slip cyanide into bottles of Tylenol on store shelves. Multiple people died, and the story goes that the investigation never turned up a viable suspect. Except... what if it did, and they were just never brought to justice? This show is a relatively quick watch, and it’s nothing revolutionary, but not everything has to be. This is an engrossing series that suggests not all cold cases are unable to be solved.

5. Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer

As true crime has continued to proliferate across streaming services, the documentaries that often break through are the ones that deal with a miscarriage of justice. In the case of Rex Heuermann, the Gilgo Beach serial killer who slaughtered numerous sex workers on Long Island, we still don’t know how he will be brought to account.

Netflix. however, makes the case that the miscarriage of justice has already happened. There were plenty of warning signs that should have led authorities right to Heuermann’s door, as the series lays out in stunning detail.

Community & GAA Notes

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news

CLARA

SENIORS WIN

Clara senior hurlers recorded a 2-20 to 1-20 win over Roanmore of Waterford in a challenge game in Clara. It was a difficult evening for hurling with a strong diagonal wind blowing towards Clara hall and 15 wides for the home side were nearly offset by 13 for the visitors. Clara had the aid of the elements in the opening half and Rory Glynn, Liam Ryan and Matt Kenny (who was tried at centre forward here) soon had them three points up. Roanmore hit the next two before Rory Glynn tacked on another one. Then Roanmore scored 1-1 and led by two. Chris Bolger closed the gap but the Waterford men made it a three point game with two on the trot. James Bergin exchanged frees with his counterpart before Dara Glynn charged through and picked up a break and despatched a low shot to the net. Conor Cody put Clara ahead but Roanmore regained the lead with two points. After James Bergin had tied the game the Roanmore men again took the lead. However Clara finished the half with four straight points from James Bergin (65), Chris Bolger, Liam Ryan and a monster Kevin Nolan free from all of 100 meters. 1-12 to 1-9 at the break to the Clara men.

Clara introduced a couple of subs at halftime and Conor Hoyne took over the free taking duties. He converted three frees and a 65 in this half and two from another substitute Peter Nolan were also a big help. Rory Glynn and Hugh Kelly also raised white flags but the crucial score came from the stick of Chris Bolger, when he caught a high delivery and crashed the sliotar to the roof of the net. This left Clara six up with about 13 minutes to play and that cushion proved sufficient to see them home. Good defensive displays from the Lawlor brothers and Jack Langton limited the Roanmore chances. The Glynn brothers hit a lot of ball at midfield and thankfully Dara’s injury (he retired with 20 minutes to go) didn’t prove to be too serious. Veterans Liam Ryan and Chris Bolger were lively up front while Peter Nolan and Davy Barcoe were busy when introduced.

Team - Kevin Nolan 0-1f, Paddy Bolger, Harry Boyle, Zach Lawlor. Luke Lawlor, Jack Langton, Conor O Shea. Dara Glynn 1-0, Rory Glynn 0-3. Conor Cody 0-1, Matt Kenny 0-1, Liam Ryan 0-2. James Bergin 0-3, 0-2f, 0-1 x 65, Chris Bolger 1-2, Joe Power. Subs used Conor Hoyne 0-4, Davy Barcoe, Peter Nolan 0-2, Rory O Keeffe, Hugh Kelly 0-1.

CLARA GAA AND PARISH LOTTO

The Lotto draw which took place on 24th June, the numbers drawn were - 7, 16, 18. There was no jackpot winner. The €30 Lucky Dip winners; Adrian Murphy, Davy Brennan, Niamh Langton, Marty Moseley and Paula Boyd. Thanks to all for your support.

COUNTY SCENE

Hard luck to Katie and Keara Ryan who were on the Kilkenny U23 camogie team that were beaten by one point by Galway in the All Ireland semi final in Athenry on Saturday. Rachel Whelan, Laoise Nolan and Grace Barcoe were also on the panel. Best of luck to Shane Staunton and John Murphy on

Sunday in the senior hurling All Ireland semi final against Tipperary in Croke Park.

PLAYERS INJURY FUND

All adult GAA players and parents/guardians of Youth GAA Players are advised that there has been changes to the process of lodging claims to the Player Injury Fund. Details have been sent by text, please take time to read them.

CAMOGIE RESULTS

Clara U14 v Mooncoin, Wed 25th June, Clara 10-08, Mooncoin 3-03. Clara U16 v Thomastown, Tues 25th June, Clara 6-09 Thomastown 3-02

HURLING RESULTS

Clara U16 V Thomastown, Mon 23rd June, Clara 3-26, Thomastown 1-15.

NEW CLUB WEBSITE

We will shortly be launching our new club website; this will have all our club fixtures and results as well as news features and pictures of club events and much more. If anyone has old photos or stories to share on this platform contact Caroline Clifford (Clara PRO 0872330026). More details to follow.

CÚCHULAINN GAA

Clara welcomed the U14 hurlers and mentors of Cúchulainn GAA club, Armagh City to Kilkenny on Friday 27th June. Cúchulainn players have been stopping off in Clara for training sessions for many years, originally facilitated by Lester Ryan Senior (RIP) having built friendships through Féile many years ago. The session was taken by Kevin McGrath (Kilkenny GAA). A huge thank you to Kevin, he was great,full of energy and so good with the lads. It was really appreciated and the Cúchulainn club also want to express their thanks to him.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS

PRIMARY SCHOOLS SUCCESS

Congratulations from all in O’Loughlin Gaels to the boys and girls of the St John’s Senior School and Johnswell NS team on their Allianz Cumann na mBunscoil Crotty’s

Pharmacy Roinn C Shield final victory defeating Urlingford NS by 1-10 to 1-8 in Páirc Lachtain last week. Thanks to all the teachers and coaches for their efforts throughout the year. There were lots of happy faces and proud parents in Freshford at the final last week.

BEST OF LUCK

Best of luck to Manager Derek Lyng and the Kilkenny Senior Hurling team in the All Ireland semi-final against Tipperary in Croke Park next Sunday. All the best to O’Loughlin Gaels’ players Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy, Luke Hogan, Fionán Mackessy and Owen Wall. The players and team need our support and the club is playing its part by running four buses to the game with many more members travel-

ling by car. All the best to everyone involved on the day. Up the Cats ! CLUB LOTTO

There was no winner of O’Loughlin Gaels GAA club lotto dated June 24th. The numbers drawn were 11, 16, 22, 26, and the bonus number was 13. Play Now at www. oloughlingaels.com

Promotors Draw : 1. Cha Parsons c/o E Kinchella. 2. B Cuddihy c/o JJ Cullen. 3. Padraig Leydon. 4. Kevin Cleere. 5. Trish Burke. 6. Eddie Carroll c/o N Tyrrell.7. Rosanne Byrne C/o N Loy. 8. Jean McConnell c/o Online. 9. Kevin M Garry c/o Online. 10. Eileen Cleere c/o Online. Thank you for your continued support.

JUNIOR E LEAGUE FINAL Hard luck to the O’Loughlin Gaels Junior E

St. John’s Senior School Johnswell NS Hurling team which won the Allianz Cumann na mBunscoil Crotty’s Pharmacy Roinn C Shield final.

Pictured with pupils from Kilkenny Model School are O’Loughlin Gaels’ members and St. Kieran’s Transition Year students who participated in O’Loughlin Gaels Parish Primary Schools weekly coaching programme.

team which lost out in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons League final last weekend when they were defeated by Dunnamaggin in Gowran on a scoreline of 0-18 to 1-10. All thoughts now turn to the Championship.

COACHING PROGRAMME THANKS

Well done to O’Loughlin Gaels’ members and St. Kieran’s Transition Year students who participated in our Parish Primary Schools weekly coaching programme from February to May. They were Johnny Kennedy, Ben Leahy, Cillian Maher, Eoin O’ Gorman, Dara O’Neill, Oliver Phelan, Conor Marry, Jack Mulcahy, Paddy Grace, Gearóid O’Shea and Jayden Maher.

BOOKINGS FOR OCCASIONS

O’Loughlin Gaels Club boasts the best club facilities for its members in the city. With plenty of free parking, kitchen, bar and lounge facilities available it can cater for all your party needs. Contact 086-8919312 to book your special occasion-christening, communion, confirmation, birthdays and anniversaries, special wedding guest gatherings or any group occasion you require. The large Hall is available for larger community events and the space outside is safe and secure for all.

NOTES

If you wish to have any item included in the St. John’s Parish notes please email it to communications.oloughlingaels.kilkenny@ gaa.ie

FRESHFORD

BALLYFOYLE CHAMPS

Well done to local lad Gyll Condon who had a great day out at the Ballyfoyle show on Sunday last with first and second place in the hogget ewe class, first in the ewe lamb class and the hogget ewe then got tapped for overall Charollais Champion and Richard Allen got tapped then with Reserve Charollais Champion with a super ram lamb.

DEATH

The death occurred last week unexpectedly of Margaret Shore late of Moate Road, Freshford and Oxfordshire England. A native of Mullinahone Co.Tipperary, Margaret spent much of her life in UK before returning back to Ireland with her husband Michael and coming to reside in Freshford. She was a kind and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. She loved her style and her garden and loved travelling. Funeral mass

took place in St.Lachtains church Freshford followed by cremation at the Island Crematorium, Rinaskiddy County Cork. She is deeply mourned by her husband Michael, son Adrian, daughter Sharon, grandchildren, daughter in law, brothers, sisters, brothers in law, sisters in law, nephews, nieces and extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

St Lachtain’s U15 boys took part in File Peil na nÓg Region 6 finals exactly one week after taking part in Féile na nGael. The boys travelled to Dunlavin, Co.Wicklow and played against Milmore Gaels in their opening match, losing narrowly to a last minute free on a final score of, St Lachtain’s 1-5 Milmore Gaels 1-6. They faced a strong

Dromcollgher Broadford side from Co. Limerick next, losing out 4-3 to 0-1. The boys were trailing Clara Gaels, Co. Wicklow, when a serious injury to one of our players saw the match abandoned shortly after halftime. The final score was recorded as 0-2 to 0-4 in favour of Clara. Thankfully, the player has made a full recovery since. The boys qualified for the shield semi final, defeating St Patrick’s of Tipperary on a scoreline of 2-5 to 1-3. They faced off against Clara Gaels once again in the final. The game finished all square at full time, but unfortunately extra time was a step too far for the St Lachtain’s boys after an intensive week and the game finished St Lachtain’s 1-6 Clara Gaels 2-7. LEAGUE FINALS

There was a double header of league finals in Danesfort on Sunday last. St Lachtain’s Junior F’s hurlers defeated Tullogher Rosbercon in their league final on a final scoreline of St Lachtain’s 0-20 Tullogher Rosbercon 0-18. Team R Dowling, C McCabe, D Quinn, J O’Connor, M Campion, P Campion, C McGree, M Durnan, A Burke, C Donnelly, D Killeen, J Burke, J Whitty, S Counihan. Subs : M Nolan, J Doheny, L Phelan.

The Intermediate side lost the Aylward cup final to Tullogher Rosbercon by just one point after extra time. There was little between the sides for most of the game, Tullogher looked to have done enough in nor-

FILE PEIL NA NÓG

St Lachtains Junior F hurlers who won the league final

St. Lachtains u15 who took part in Feile

Gyll Condon with his prize ewe

Community & GAA Notes

mal time until a late goal for St Lachtain’s forced the game to extra time. Two quick points with only a few minutes left in extra time was enough to seal the victory for Tullogher on a scoreline of St Lachtain’s 3-21 Tullogher Rosbercon 3-22.

Team: J Burke, C Donnelly, C Bergin, S Rafter, P Donnelly, B Kennedy, C Hickey, B Quinn, A Rafter, D Maher, P Killeen, C Power, S Donnelly, C Dawson, C O’Leary. Subs :J Bergin, J Fitzpatrick, C Dalton, P White, C Donnelly J.Bowden

FIXTURES

St Lachtain’s U14 hurlers travel to Graignamanagh on Sunday to play the hosts at 10:00am. The U16 boys play against Bennettsbridge in Bennettsbridge on Monday at 19:00pm

NEW PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

As part of the ongoing safety programme in Freshford village a new automated pedestrian crossing is being installed on the Ballyragget Road across from Delanies. Local Cllr Michael McCarthy says work has already started and will be ongoing for the next number of weeks. The importance of signalized crossings have become important with the advent and wholesale transition to electric vehicles which can be difficult to hear. This is a welcome safety feature for both the young and not so young, noted Cllr. McCarthy

GRAVE MATTER

Freshford Graveyard is soon to have a welcome safety first facility. Work already has commenced on the long awaited car park according to local Cllr. Michael McCarthy. Fencing is being erected this week with ground works to follow. A special word of thanks to Donal O’Sullivan for his co-operation in the matter.

BUS TO MATCH

A bus will travel from Kavanaghs Bar to the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday 6th July. Anyone interested in travelling should give their name in at Kavanaghs bar or call 087 9700795.

IONAD LACHTAIN

St Lachtains Church Museum and Arts Centre is now open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 4.00pm..

CIRCUS

The Corvinni family circus paid their annual visit to Freshford last week. Parked on the village green with shows on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon.

LOOP WALK

Cllr Michael McCarthy has welcomed the latest round of funding for the Loop Walk in Freshford. The wonderful amenity has been awarded €10K under the Walks Development fund Scheme. Cllr. McCarthy said that this is a great boost locally and will further enhance the project

BRIDGE

Freshford Bridge club will host Open Summer Bridge in Threecastles Hall each Monday at 7.30pm all bridge players welcome.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

St.Lachtains National school closed for the summer break and its hoped that the children and staff will get good weather to enjoy their eight weeks break

TIDY TOWNS

Freshford Tidy Town submitted their 2025 competition application and that was quite an undertaking and well done to the volunteers for completing the entry. The Committee are busy at the minute cleaning up and painting the seats on the green ad they

would ask all local residents and visitors to the village to support their application by doing your part where you live or visit. They would welcome all painting, cleaning, litter picks, planting for pollinators and all activities that enhance our beautiful village. Tidy town’s volunteers meet each Wednesday evening in the village so please come along for a chat and to lend a hand to your community if you can spare an hour.

CAMP

Freshfords longest running camp will take place again this year from 28th July to 1st August at GAA Grounds. The camp was founded by local man JJ Grace and has been running for over 20 years full of activity and fun. Places will be limited. For booking or for more information please contact JJ on 086 8629666

GRAVE CLEAN UP

With the help of a small grant and within the guidance of the heritage\council, a clean up of the old graveyard in Threecastles has been organised. The clean up will take place from 10-11am on Saturdays. If you are interested in helping out please come along and bring your gloves, secateurs, pruners, rake etc.

SPLIT THE POT

The winner of Split the pot last week was Mary Bergin who won €114. The proceeds for the month of June are going to Freshford Tidy Towns and you are asked to please support it during that time. The draw will take place every Saturday. Entry cost just €2 and envelopes are available at Loop café and in all local shops and pubs Revolut is also available on 08330411011 don’t forget to include your name and address.

NUENNA GROUP

The County Bs 2025 was a great experience for member of the Nuenna Athletics Group recently and well done to all who attended with some excellent performances. Well done to Michael Bergin coming third in the Abbeyleix 10K and also Aine and Monica on a great race. Local boy Joey Nolan was in Tullamore at the weekend for the National high jump competition. Membership to Nuenna AC club for the year is €60.

LOOP CAFE

The Loop Community Café in the village is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4pm. They are always looking for people on both sides of the counter. So why not support your own local café, you could meet a friend for a chat and cuppa or some lovely homemade food . The Loop also hosts a variety of community activities. The Loop is looking for volunteers as well as customers. Use your skills and develop new ones.Find the Loop on Facebook to keep up with events, or stop by any time. If you’d like to volunteer, please call the café at 056.883.2650 and speak with Rhiannon. The country market is now back at the Loop in the Alley on Saturday mornings with lovely home grown produce and baking.

FOROIGE

Foroige youth club meet each Monday evening from 6.30pm to 8pm in the Community Hall They have music, a free library, stationary corner, games chat and treats each week. New members are always very welcome. The youth club is members only so if you are interest in joining please go along and sign up. They are also looking for adult volunteers. For more info contact Aidan n 086 0674485 or Aidan.gleeson@ foroige.ie

PARISH NEWS

Mass in Tulla church is on Saturday evening at 7.30pm and 11am Maas in St.Lachtains Church is on Sundays. There will be no weekday masses for the summer months but it will return in September. Following the death of Monsignor Kieron Kennedy PP Fr. Liam Taylor PP Ballycallan has taken on administrative and pastoral duties in Freshford for the moment. Freshford will be clustered with Tullaroan, Ballycallan and Fr.Liam is co ordinator of the cluster until August. You can contact Fr.Liam on 086 8180954. With the recent clerical changes in the diocese Fr Mark Condon has been appointed PP for Freshford Tullaroan and Ballycallan. Fr.Mark served in Danesfort for the past number of years and will take on full pastoral duties in late August.

The parish newsletter is available on their website every week and also on the website. Any anniversaries or parish office business or community notices for the parish newsletter can be done by phoning the office during horse of 9.30am to 1.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays or by calling to the office during those hours

CHOIR

The parish choir are taking a well-deserved break for the summer months and will resume in September.

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB

GOLF CLASSIC

Once again, the annual James Stephens Golf Classic proved a tremendous success over the two-day event on Thursday and Friday last. Over 70 teams participated and thanks to the favourable weather conditions the club’s golfing fraternity enjoyed testing their abilities against greenkeeper, Sean Dowling’s, excellently presented Kilkenny Golf club layout. The first prize winners with an impressive 99 points were Brian Cullen, Joe Tierney, Seamus O’Neill and Michael McCarthy. In 2nd place with 98 points were Joe Murray, Keith Ruth, Robert Kidd and Declan Somers while also on 98 points Tony Butler, Pat McEvoy, Murt Farragher and Ger Crowdle claimed the 3rd prize. In the nonGUI category, the 1st prize went to Paddy Neary, Patrick Neary, Michael Neary and Craig Murray with 93 points. In 2nd place were Ivan Neary, Paddy Neary, Mike Steele and Paudie McCarthy. In 3rd place on 89 points were John Scott, John Byrne, Liam O’Connor and Lee O’Sullivan. No doubt the nourishing burger “breakfast” on the 10th tee reinvigorated the prize winners to raise their game over the closing nine holes. Co-ordinator Richie Manogue would like to thank the many generous sponsors and the 72 participating teams who made the fundraiser such a wonderful success and which will enable the club to further progress the development of its facilities in Larchfield and at Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan. Richie would also like to acknowledge the preparatory work of his committee members John Grace, Dan Cody, Richie Guilfoyle, Seamus McGuire, Pat Hyland, Kevin Hennessy, Niall Connolly, Denis Carney, Tom Keane and Mark Noonan in ensuring the success of the outing. Thanks also to the U-15 hurlers Jack Leahy, Paddy McGuire, Niall Cody and Henry Phelan who managed the raffle.

All-IRELAND SEMI-FINAL: Our best wishes are extended to the

Kilkenny senior hurlers and clubman Cian Kenny as they prepare for Sunday’s AllIreland semi-final against the “ould enemy” Tipperary in Croke Park. With confidence at an all-time high in both camps we hope that Derek Lyng’s Kilkenny “Kat’s” selection will carry the day in what is expected to be an epic encounter.

PADDY MULLEN TOURNEY

The 31st running of the Paddy Mullen memorial minor tournament took place in ideal playing conditions on Sunday afternoon in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan. The popular, pre-championship minor tournament was fought out between six clubs, Ballyboden St. Enda’s (Dublin), Killimordaly (Galway), Mungret (Limerick), Blackrock (Cork), Danesfort and James Stephens. At the conclusion of the preliminary phase of games it emerged that the destination of the Paddy Mullen memorial trophy for 2025 would be decided between neighbours Danesfort and James Stephens. In a keenly contested final, James Stephens with a strong wind advantage started slowly but took a 0-09 to 1-01 lead into the break, thanks to point scorer in chief Conor McEvoy. The expected Danesfort fight back was temporarily halted in the 2nd minute when Rory Glynn finished a neat Diarmuid Behan pass to the net. Danesfort fought back but when James O’Brien struck for a three pointer in the 19th minute followed immediately by a diving save by Padraig Joyce it was clear that the trophy was destined for the Larchfield trophy cabinet for the 13th time since its inception in 1991. Overall, the victory can be attributed to a fine panel performance over three competitive games. The shield final between Ballyboden St.Endas and Blackrock (Cork) produced another cracker of a finish with the Dublin club clinging on for a two point victory against a determined Blackrock assault over the closing minutes. No doubt the competitive tournament will benefit all the participating clubs as they prepare for their respective county championship campaigns in the weeks ahead. At the presentation chairman Aodan O’Ruairc, in welcoming the matriarch of the family Mrs. Theresa Mullen, thanked her and the extended family for their ongoing commitment to the tournament and generous catering in memory of her late husband Paddy.

KILKENNY U-23 CAMOGIE

It was a hard luck story for club players Hannah Larkin and Anna Doheny as the Kilkenny U-23 camogie team was edged out by the narrowest of margins 1-13 to 1-12 in the All-Ireland U-23 Camogie semi-final in Kenny Park, Athenry on Saturday afternoon. Hannah lined out at corner back while Anna was a member of the panel.

U-14 HURLING LEAGUES

The U-14 “A” team continued their improved form of late with a dramatic draw against John Lockes on Thursday evening in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan. Trailing by 13 points early in the second half the young Village lads showed great heart putting in a storming finish to snatch a draw at 4-06 to 5-03 with the last puck of the game. The shared league points were well deserved thanks to goals from Paddy Larkin and Codie Owens and impressive displays from Jack Hennessy, Tadhg Buckley and J.J. Fogarty over the hour. The U-14 “B” hurlers also had a great away 2-07 to 3-02 win over O’Loughlin Gaels on Saturday. The result was achieved with solid performances from Jeffrey Cleere,

Ewan Bolger, Conor Parsons and James Butler while Aston Maher poached the valuable three pointers to secure the victory and claim top spot on the league table. Well done to all involved.

LOTTO

Last week’s numbers were 1, 15, 20, 26. There was no winner. The €40 consolation winners were Philip Gargan, Danielle Downey, Carmel Savage, Joe Hennessy and Sylvia O’Rourke.

BENNETTSBRIDGE

FOOTBALL FEILE 2025

Our Bennettsbridge under 15 football team took part in the National Feile held in Derry last weekend. The lads played five games, Glen of Derry, Cavan Gaels and Boyle in the group stages and Ballyhogue in the Shield semi final and playing Glen again in the Shield final, unfortunately coming out on the wrong side of the result. It was a great achievement to reach the National Feile and an experience that the young team, management and supporters will cherish and remember for a long time.

The excitement and buzz around the village was great to see. The green and yellow was evident around the village. The support from the local community and beyond was overwhelming. Bord na n-Óg thanked all for such wonderful support. The club was immensely proud to be representing our county in the Division 1 National Féile Peil na nÓg 2025, a fantastic achievement for this team and coaches.

As always huge work went on behind the scenes to prepare for the weekend and a sincere thanks goes out to all those who contributed, between fundrasing, sponsorship, organising the Féile gear, the buses, the accommodation, financial side of things, decorating the village with flags and bunting. You all know who you are. Thank you so much it’s a small parish with a big heart.

A massive shout out to the management/ coaches of this team, Mick, Alan and Ambrose who dedicated a huge amount of time and energy into preparing the boys for this monumental occasion. You have done a superb job! A massive thank you to our sponsors PJ Cullen, Cullens Centra, and Paul Flanagan from DLF seeds. Your support is much appreciated.

WEEKLY MASSES

Wednesday morning, 10.30am. Friday morning 10.30am

CEMETERY MASSES

The dates for the annual cemetery masses have been announced. Tullaherin Saturday, 2nd August 8pm. Bennettsbridge Sunday, 3rd August 10.30am. Thomastown, St Mary’s Cemetery, Friday, 1st August 7.30pm

JUNE COLLECTION FOR PRIESTS

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the June Collection for the priests of the parish. Your support is much appreciated.

COLLECTION

On Sunday next the Peter’s Pence collection will be held to support Pope Leo in his ministry and in his charitable activities in response to emergencies and needs around the world.

CATHEDRAL DRAW

The Cathedral draw has two more months to run for this year. The parish had two sizeable wins in the June draw. The 2025/26 draw will continue from September on-

Presentation of new club gear to U15 Féile Football team

wards.

PRESENTATION

On Sunday week last, the Feast of Corpus Christi, a special Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated in St Bennett’s Church, involving the First Communion Class of 2025. A presentation was made to Deirdre and Billy who provided music for all preparation masses during the year.

LOTTO

There was no winner of the Jackpot. The numbers drawn were, 8, 16, 26, 28. Consolation Prizes went to, Cian Dowling, Bennetts-

bridge, Michael Doran/Margaret O’Donnell, Eamon McEvoy, Gowran Road, Breda Ryan, Blackwell, Alan Simpson, The Ring.

GATHERING GROUP

The Gathering Group finished up their activities before the summer break with a visit to the Arboretum, Carlow, on Wednesday last. An enjoyable afternoon was spent and thanks went to the organisers.

ART GROUP

Kilkenny Arts week is fast approaching and Bennettsbridge Art Group members are looking forward to unveiling their 2025

selection in the Community Hall. It will be launched by Senator Malcolm Noonan on Friday, 8th August.

SYMPATHY Sympathy is extended to the Costigan family on the death of Carmel,(Fr. Matthew Street, Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary and late of Grovine East, Kilkenny). Predeceased by her infant brother Trevor. Carmel was the daughter of Ned and Marian (nee Hayes), much loved sister of Adrian and Michelle. Carmel will be sadly missed by her parents and siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins,

East End winners in KDL Presentation

Community & GAA Notes

extended family, neighbours, friends and colleagues in Tipperary and Kilkenny. Reposing at Hehir’s Funeral Home with Vigil Prayers and Rosary. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown followed by interment in the adjoining Cemetery.

MICHAEL (MICKIE) RYAN RIP

Sympathy is extended to the Ryan family on the unexpected death of Mickie. Mickie was pre-deceased by his parents Edward and Margaret, brother Frankie, sisters Kit (Cook), Berry (Fogarty), Lily (Conway) and his nephew Eamon. Mickie will be sadly missed by his loving brothers Edward and Noel, sisters-in-law Anne, Lila and Kathleen, brother-in-law Basil, nephews, nieces, extended family, his neighbours and friends. Mickie lay in repose at Johnston’s Funeral Home, John’s Green, with Rosary and Vigil Prayers recited. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Bennett’s Church, Bennettsbridge. Burial took place in the adjoining cemetery.

THOMAS LENNON RIP

Sympathy is extended to the Lennon and Cullen families on the death of Thomas Lennon, Ballinaboola, Maddoxtown, Co. Kilkenny and Nice, France.

Thomas passed away on 18th June 2025, unexpectedly, in Nice, France, at the age of 32. Predeceased by his baby sister Angela and grandparents Sean and Brigid Lennon and Tom Cullen. Survived by his parents, Jack and Margaret, brother John, sisters,Avril, Ciara and Kelley. Thomas is also mourned by his grandmother Mary (Cullen), sister-in-law Sinéad, brothers-in-law Alan, Pat and Kevin, nieces and nephews Millie, Sam, Heidi, Alfie, Sophie, Olivia, Matthew, Tiernan and Hannah, aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends in Ireland, France and around the world.

Thomas lay in repose at his family home in Ballinaboola where Rosary and Vigil Prayers were recited. Funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Kieran’s Church, Tullaherin. Burial took place in Dungarvran Cemetery.

EAST END UTD

Huge congratulations to all our players and teams who were recognised at last night’s KDL Awards.

CAMOGIE

Bennettsbridge under 10s battled hard in every position, in all 4 matches in the Go Games Blitz at the weekend in Clara. Thanks so much to Clara for hosting.

GAA

Signage Campaign; The Pitch signage campaign is going well and monies raised will be used to pay off the outstanding loan on our development. A sub-committee has been formed so any businesses wishing to have their name advertised on the surrounding pitch wall should contact Alan Flynn, or Alan Morrissey. There are still places available and many thanks to all the business owners who have supported so far. Club Games; Please see the Kilkenny GAA website for upcoming Bennettsbridge fixture details or changes. Best wishes also to Bennettsbridge players involved in various hurling and football squads at the minute.

PILTOWN DRAW 2025

Thanks again to all who support the draw this year, draws two and three took place on Tuesday 1st July so hopefully we had another couple of winners. The last two draws take place on Tuesday 15th and Tuesday 29th July.

SUMMER CAMP 2025

This year’s summer camp will take place between August 5th and 8th in the GAA grounds. To register for this fun filled activity camp please contact Cormac Wafer or Enda Morrissey.

NEW AWAY JERSEY AND BASEBALL HAT

Our new away jersey is now for sale online on the clubs O’Neill shop. A baseball hat has also now been added to the range. Go to the website and simply enter Bennettsbridge in the search box to see the New Jersey and all other Bridge gear for sale.

SPLIT THE POT

Congratulations to last week’s Spilt the Pot winners. Helen O Hara won €99, Eamonn McGrath €30 and Trish Walsh 20. The next draw takes place Friday 11th July at 6pm in the clubhouse. Thanks again for the continued support.

GORESBRIDGE AND PAULSTOWN

ART WORKSHOP (PAULSTOWN)

Weekend drawing and painting studio practice led by Elizabeth Cope at Shankill castle on 27 and 28 June plus 26 and 27 July. Each day will be of intense work, inspired by woodland landscape and garden produce. Participants may bring their own materials to develop a sustained work and supporting drawings from life. Bookings and enquiries: phoebecope@gmail.com

BOXING CLUB (PAULSTOWN)

Congratulations to the strong team of 12 boxers that travelled to the Portimão Box Cup in Portugal recently. Paulstown took home 5 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze medals.

BRIDGE UTD

Congratulations to Luke Dowling for winning KDSL U12 Division 2 Player of the Year 2024/25. Luke is a great ambassador for our club both on and off the pitch, and well deserved his award for his outstanding performances throughout the season. There was no winner in last week’s lotto draw of 24 June. Lucky 3 draw €35 each: Claire English, Nicky Mull and Margaret Barcoe. Next weeks jackpot is for €2,650. Tickets cost €2 and can be bought locally or click on the Clubforce link

CHURCH SERVICES

Weekend masses on Saturday in Goresbridge at 7.30pm and on Sunday at 10am in Goresbridge and at 11.30am in Paulstown. Weekday masses at 10am on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at 10am on Wednesday in Goresbridge. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place each Tuesday from the end of mass in Paulstown to 5.45pm. The Wells cemetery mass will take place at 7.30pm on Friday 4 July.

Church of Ireland services Sunday, 6 July at Paulstown (10am) and Borris (11.30am).

TALKING THE TALK

Cupla focal (Irish language conversation circle) continues this Friday at 11am in the Goodly Barrow.

DANIEL GREEN

Congratulations to Daniel of Kilkenny City Harriers who won gold in the Under-14 finals for 300, 800 and 1,500 metres in the Leinster Juvenile Athletic Championships.

MEN’S SHED

Next meeting is 15th July. Cup of tea,

chat, woodwork and upcoming visits to other sheds.

SHANKILL CASTLE

Open to the public each weekend (11.00am - 5pm).

SPLIT THE POT

Split the Pot in aid of Goresbridge Rural Development has gone online. Simply scan the QR code or go to lottoraiser.ie Results of draw of 29 June: 1. Mary Nolan (€100), 2. Caoimhe and Conor (€20), 3. William Groather (€20).

DONATIONS

Tar Isteach is looking for good quality bric a brac, household items, it comes in and goes out twice as fast - also good quality men’s clothes, handbags etc. we have enough toys and books for the moment!

TIDY THURSDAYS (GORESBRIDGE)

Help needed even if you just want to help in your own estate. This Thursday we meet at 7pm in the locality. See relevant facebook pages for detail of location. There is a lot of weeding, strimming and painting to be done.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC CONCERT

Mick McAuley and John Doyle will perform in Ionad Dara in Goresbridge on Friday 5 September at 8.30pm. Tickets are available through the normal channels including eventbrite.

KILMACOW TWINNING

A group from Saint-Thurien will visit Kilmacow from Saturday, 19th July. This year’s visit is special as it will mark the 30th anniversary of the twinning of Kilmacow and Saint-Thurien in Sant-Thurien in 1995.

COUNCIL WORKS

An Emergency Road Closure is imminent to facilitate works to the parapet wall on a local bridge on the road L3408 at Gaulsmills. It is likely that the closure will last a week. A traffic management system will be in place for the duration of the works.

Road surfacing works will be undertaken from Narabane to Lacey’s Cross in the week beginning Monday, 14th July. A traffic management system will be in place for the duration of the works.

KILMACOW LOTTO

The winning numbers in last week’s lotto were 8, 9, 24 and 27. There was one Match 3 winners.

BOOK SALE

Thanks to all who supported the book sale in Chapelgate over the weekend. Well done especially to Gayle Sutton and Maura Sutton for their great efforts in putting this event together. The money raised are in aid of Seán McCarthy Support Fund.

MAINTENANCE OF OLD GRAVEYARD

The working group for local graveyards will continue its work for this year at the Lower Street, Kilmacow from 2.00pm on Saturday, 5th July. All offers of assistance appreciated.

CLEAN-UP

Kilmacow Sports Complex will hold its annual clean-up of the ground and facilities on the evening of Saturday, 5th July. All offers of assistance welcome.

ROSEDALE GARDEN PARTY

The annual Rosedale Garden Party will be held from 2.00pm to 5.00pm on Saturday, 12th July. Attractions include refreshments, games, face-pacing, vintage cars and music. All welcome. This event is being held with

the support of the Community Events Grant Scheme from Kilkenny County Council. RAVEN’S ROCK RALLY

Kilkenny County Council has given notice of a number of road closures from 8.00am to 7.30pm on Sunday, 6th July to facilitate the Raven’s Rock Rally ’25. Local diversions will be in place through marshalling and signage. These road closures will be manned by rally stewards from Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club, who will facilitate traffic movements and local access in the area of the road closures.

There will be three stages as follows.

Stage 1

L7412, L3403, L3402, L3401, L7430, L7431, L7433, L7434 from Clonassy to Aglish North (via Ballydaw, Dangan, Ullid, Rathcurby, Newtown and Ballinearla)

Stage 2

L8267, L10363, L1036, L5115, L7548, L5113 from Lismateige to Listrolin (via Harristown, Milltown and Garrygaug)

Stage 3

L7453, L7455, L7456, L7457, L3416, L7458, L3408, L7465, L3406, L7466, L7467 from Glendonnell to Atateemore or Blackneys (via Ballynakill, Carrickinnane, Farnogue West, Ballyhomuck, Rathnasmolagh, Fahy, Gaulstown, Charlestown, Tinvaucoosh and Nicholastown

MULLINAVAT

MULLINAVAT ACTIVE RETIREMENT

GROUP

A Mass for deceased members of Mullinavat Active Retirement will take place in St. Beacon’s Church at 10am on Tuesday, 8th July. Family members, relatives and friends are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Community Centre.

COIS NORE

Cois Nore Outreach service will be visiting Thomastown every Thursday morning from 10am to 12 noon at the Thomastown Community Centre. Please call in to Aileen for a chat, cup of tea and support, or for registration to the free and confidential services available in the Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre in Walkin Street in Kilkenny. All enquires welcome from all of the surrounding areas.

FERRYBANK LIBRARY

The Library will host smart phone classes consisting of two mornings (10.00am to 12.30pm) and two afternoons (1.00pm to 3.30pm) on Tuesday, 8th July and Wednesday, 9th July. Please telephone 051 897 200 for more details and bookings.

LISTERLIN INFORMATION EVENING

Kilkenny County Council will host an information evening on the Listerlin Improvement Scheme in Ryan’s Pub, Listerlin from 7.30pm on Monday, 7th July.

BALLYRAGGET BALLYOUSKILL

The public meeting held in the hall in Ballyragget regarding the Bishops desicion to swap Fr Eamon O’Gorman with Fr Ollie Maher in a direct swap was attended by a huge crowd which filled the hall the outside green area and the avenue leading up to the hall with people from Ballyragget Ballyouskill and Lisdowney. Both priests have a ver y strong connection to the people in their current parishes. A petition has been signed asking the Bishop of Ossory to kindly reconsider this move and its implication and mass effect and upset it has caused on the people of the two parish areas effected

Tom Healy

namely Ballyragget Lisdowney Parish and Urlingford Johnstown Parish and to engage in open communication with the people in his diocese.

CEMETERY MASS

Cemetery mass in Donughmore on July 4th at 7.30 and in Rossconnell on July 11th at 7.30

CABARET

The Ballyragget–Ballyouskill Lourdes Fund will hold a lively cabaret fundraiser on Sunday, July 13th, to support the upcoming Lourdes pilgrimage. The evening promises great music, entertainment, and a strong sense of community—all aimed at helping local parishioners take part in this special spiritual journey. All are warmly invited to attend and support.

LAOIS ROSE IS A LOCAL LADY

A cabaret will be held to support Katelyn Cummins in her quest to be the Rose of Tralee on July 19th in the Wheel Inn music by Aisling Rafftery with a monster raffle proceeds will be divided between the Jack and Jill Foundarion and the Laois Rose

COIS NORE

Cois Nore Outreach service will be visiting Ballyragget every Monday morning from 10am to 12 noon at Dr Hogan’s Rooms, the Square, Ballyragget. Please call in to Aileen for a chat, cup of tea and support, or for registration to the free and confidential services available in the Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre in Walkin Street in Kilkenny. All enquiries welcome.

KILMANAGH

SCRAP METAL

Naomh Aodhan Community Centre will hold their annual Scrap Metal Collection on this weekend, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July at Bryan Harris’ Yard in Kilmanagh. For more information please call Chris on 086 2517 030 or Bryan on 087 2545 556. All proceeds in aid of Naomh Aodhán Community Centre upkeep. No - Fridges, Beer Kegs, Freezers, PVC Windows. Yes - Washing machines and microwaves.

NAOMH AODHAN COMMUNITY CENTRE

There has been much activity recently in Naomh Aodhán Community Centre. A new concrete floor has been installed in the Ball Alley, thanks to Dom and Damian Delaney. The scaffolding is now erected and getting ready for plastering. Well done to all for their work and here’s to the next stage. Naomh Aodhan Community Centre is available for holding meetings, card sessions, training, exercise classes, flower arranging classes, coffee mornings and many other events. Please make use of this newly refurbished local venue. For further information or to book the hall please contact Eileen on 086 373 99 83 or Chris on 086 2517 030.

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.

JOHNSTOWN

RETIREMENT

In recognition of 30 years of dedicated service to the community provided by Drs. Eilis and Pat Maher, Matie Egan and Mary Fogarty, a retirement celebration will be held in the community hall on Saturday July 5th at

8.30pm. Refreshments served and music by Sweet Freedom. All are welcome.

COMMUNITY HALL DRAW

The annual 500 Club draw in aid of the day to day running of the hall will begin in July. Tickets € 10 per month for six months and can be purchased from the local shops or any committee member. Your support will be greatly appreciated as this draw is a vital source of income for the Hall.

CEMETERY MASSES

The Cemetery Masses will be held in the following locations at the following times Tubrid Thursday July 3rd, Galmoy Friday July 4th, Killahy Monday July 7th, Johnstown Tuesday July 8th, Kildrenagh Wednesday. July 9th, Clomantagh Thursday July 10th and Grangefertagh Thursday July 17th. All Masses 7.30pm.

HOLIDAYS

All the children in the local schools have now begun their summer holidays. It is hoped they will all enjoy their time off and come back in late August fully refreshed and ready to face new classes.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO

The winning numbers are 9,13,22,26. There was no jackpot winner but there was two match threes Eamon Barry and Ava/Zoe Power.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

Save the date, Family Fun Day 17th August 1.30 – 4.30pm in aid of our Counselling and Play Therapy Services. Some of the services available at the Centre. Senior Alert Alarms. Clothes Donations. Youth Club. Counselling and Play Therapy. Allotments. Cois Nore Advice Clinic. For more information, contact us on 0568838466.

GORTNAHOE GLENGOOLE

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Glengoole Wednesday 10am to 2pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 10am to 1pm. The rosary is recited before Mass in Glengoole every Saturday evening.

THE ROSARY

Will be recited at Our Lady’s Grotto, Glengoole on weekday evenings at 6pm, Saturday before 6pm Mass and Sunday 12 noon.

ANNUAL MASS

The annual cemetery mass in Ballinalackin will be celbrated this Tuesday night 8th July at 7.30pm.

GOOD SHEPHERD CEMETERY

The annual mass will be held on Thursday 10th July at 7.30pm.

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION

In recognition of Dr Eilis and Pat Maher, Marie Egan and Mary Fogarty and their 30 years of dedicated service to the community, a celebration will be held in St Kierans community hall, Johnstown on 5th July at 8.30pm. All are welcome, young and old. Refreshment on the night and music by Sweet Freedom.

CEMETERY MASSES

The following dates has been set for the annual cemetery masses in the parish. All mass times will be at 7.30pm. Tuesday 8th July, Ballinalackin cemetery, Thursday 10th July, Good Shepherd cemetery, Thursday 31st July, Fennor cemetery and Tuesday 12th August, Boulick cemetery.

OPEN GARDEN

Clough Farmhouse Clonoura, Glengoole

E41K765, on Sunday 6th July, 1pm to 5pm. Proceeds to Mo Chara Animal Rescue and

Thurles and District Flower and Garden Club.

19TH ANNUAL FAMINE 1848 WALK

The 19th Annual Famine 1848 walk will be led by Senator Imelda Goldsboro on Saturday 26th July at 3pm starting at the National Flag monument in The Commons and proceeding to the Famine Warhouse 1848. Music and refreshments, all are welcome.

CLERGY COLLECTION

The second collection for the support of the clergy of the Archdiocese (active and retired) will be taken up next weekend (white envelope in box of envelopes). A sincere thanks to everyone who supports the weekly envelope collection for the upkeep of both church’s in the parish. Your generosity is appreciated. Cheque payments to Gortnahoe Parish Account.

GORTNAHOE BINGO

A special summer weekend bingo will be held this Saturday evening 5th July at 4.00pm with doors opening from 3.00pm. Over €4,000 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game and a summer special game for €800. There will be hampers and Split the Pot on the day. We look forward to many people home on holidays in the parish and now that schools are off for the summer, we welcome families from the parish also. It will be a great afternoons entertainment for all on the weekend.

TUESDAY BRIDGE

Bridge is being played each Tuesday night in Gortnahoe Hall at 7.30pm. If you would like to join or find out more information please contact this number 089 434910

SPLIT THE POT

Congratulations to Bernadette Curran, who won €223 in the Split the Pot draw last Sunday. Envelopes are available in Cahill’s Gortnahoe, Hogans Grange and at the usual outlets, you can also Revolut to 0876777220. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. Your support would be appreciated.

COME AND SEE DAY

Vocation and Discernment Day for over 18’s in Knock House Hotel, (F12R6Y5) on Saturday. July 13th , 11am - 4.30pm. Cost €20 pp. Contact Carol King at 01-5053118 or email carol.king@vocations.ie for information. Bookings only through Vocations.ie

CONAHY

CAMOGIE

Hard luck to Sofia Kerr, Amy Brennan, Ellen Gunner, Emma Mulhall and Katie Brennan were all part of the Kilkenny Under-23 Camogie panel who were narrowly defeated by a single point by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final in Athenry on Saturday last.

CLUB LOTTO

The numbers drawn in the most recent GAA Lotto draw were 6, 9 and 23. Consolation prize winners were Stephen Bollard, Paddy Nolan, Eric O’Sullivan, Catherine Connery and Jim Brophy. The promoter prize winners were Nora Delaney, Julie Jackman and Shay Healy. Many thanks to everyone who continues to support the GAA Club Lotto.

COIS NORE OUTREACH SUPPORT

Cois Nore Outreach cancer support service will be visiting Ballyragget every Monday morning from 10am to 12 noon at the Dr Hogan’s Rooms, the Square in Ballyragget and in Castlecomer on Wednesday mornings from 10am to 12 noon at the Old Court house, Kilkenny Street, Castlecomer. Please

call in to Aileen for a chat, cup of tea and support, or for registration to the free and confidential services available in the Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre in Walkin Street in Kilkenny. All enquiries are welcome.

HUGGINSTOWN NEWMARKET STONEYFORD

MASS TIMES IN AGHAVILLER PARISH

Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil - Saturday 5th. at 8.00p.m.; Sunday 6th. at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford: Vigil - Saturday 5th. at 6.30p.m.

Friday 4th. Feast of St. Elizabeth of Portugal; 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 MASSES

Mass will be celebrated in Stoneyford Cemetery on Friday 4th. July at 8.00p.m. Mass will be celebrated in Hugginstown Cemetery on Saturday 5th. July at 8.00p.m.

PRAY FOR

Tom McGrath, Ballingarry who die during the week.

Anniversary Masses. Patricia Neville, Lawcus: Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 5th. July at 6.30p.m.

ROTA (FOURTEEN SUNDAY OF THE YEAR)

Reader Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Tony Roche. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Catherine Dwyer: Sunday 10.00a.m. Mary Foran. Eucharistic Ministers: Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Pat Kenny. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00pm. Teresa Broderick; Sunday 10.00am. Ruth Foran

SAFEGUARDING IN THE DIOCESE OF OSSORY

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

NEW DIOCESAN APPOINTMENTS

From 30th. August 2025, Fr. Sean O’Connor. Ballyhale will be Parish Priest of Aghaviller, Ballyhale and Mullinavat Parishes (Pastoral Area of All Saints). Liam Barron, (Mullinavat) and Liam Cassin (Aghaviller) have retired as Parish Priests but will continue to live and assist in the Pastoral Area.

All Appointments: Diocese of Ossory.ieLatest News – Clerical Appointments JUNE COLLECTION

The “June Collection 2025” for the support of the priests of the Parish and the Diocese will be taken up during the months of June/ July. Envelopes for this collection are available at the back of the Church. (To donate directly.) Use IBAN: IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 (BIC: AIBKIE2D). All Parish Property and Accounts are registered under the (Diocese of Ossory, Reg. Charity No. 20015831) LOTTO

Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 23rd. June 2025 Numbers: 06; 19; 30; 28. No Winner of First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner: €30.00. Winners: Bridie Murphy, Dunbell, Catherine Dwyer, Croan, Andrew Lowry, Camross: Eamon Irish, Knocktopher: Chris Byrne, Freshford. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers). Ger Carroll. Tommy Hoyne. Pat Dwyer

Hurlng matters - Preview

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Kilkenny vs Tipperary Páirc an Chrócaigh, Sunday, 4pm

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

We’re down to the last four in this seasons

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and it’s the first week of July, time moves fast in this condensed model of our national sports competitions. First up at GAA headquarters is the meeting of Cork and Dublin, followed by what we see as the ‘main event’; Kilkenny vs Tipp. Some may read the last line a couple of times, or think there is an error in the line-up, but there isn’t, for the first time since 2019, Limerick are not participating at this stage of the battle for the biggest prize in intercounty hurling.

Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s Dublin put in a serious performance to end The Treaty’s 2025 season, despite playing with 14 men for much of the game. The reward for the men from the Capital is a semifinal clash with last year’s beaten finalists, Cork (Throw-in tomorrow,

When John Donnelly leads his black and amber clad troops into battle on Sunday afternoon, their potential final opponents will be known, but that will be a matter for another day, the sole focus will be taking care of business against a very dangerous and improving Tipperary side, who have been developing nicely under the guidance of Liam Cahill since his appointment in 2022. The Ballingarry man was handed a 3-year term with the Premier County and if he could lead his native Tipp to All-Ireland glory, or at worst, an appearance in the final, you would imagine an extension would be given.

The second of the semifinals should be a closerun affair, with even the bookies finding it difficult to separate the two sides. While recent history is all about Limerick, the meeting of the Cats and Tipperary is a clash between two of hurling’s heavyweights. While the Noresiders have been stuck on 36 All-Ireland’s for what feels like an eternity, Sunday’s opponents have 28 big wins to their name, most recently in 2019 when they defeated Kilkenny on a scoreline of 3-25 to 0-20. These two counties know each other well, having clashed in championship hurling 28 times, including an unbelievable 20 All-Ireland finals. Tipperary currently edge the headto-head with 15 wins to Kilkenny’s 12, along with one draw. The most recent meeting between the sides came in this seasons Allianz Hurling League, when Liam Cahill’s

Lyng purr-fectseeks Sunday for his final seeking Cats

Tipp will test Kilkenny in

clinical finishing saw them claim a first Allianz Hurling League title in 27 years at SuperValu Páirc Uí

There is no doubt that the Tipp boss has got the ‘buy-in’ from his panel and nearly as important, the Premier faithful. He utilised over 30 players during his sides Allianz Leage campaign, and made subtle changes positionally, as he looked to unlock a winning formula. One of the latest additions to the senior ranks is U20 sensation, Darragh McCarthy, has been an absolute revelation for the blue and gold clad side. The livewire forward finished the league as division

1A ‘s top scorer with a hugely impressive tally of 2-48 and while the red card that the young man received against Cork may have earned him a one match ban and more headlines for this incident that his scoring return, Kilkenny will need to keep the shackles on young McCarthy. Indeed, during the semi-finalists league encounter in March, the Toomevara player notched 0-12, eleven of which came from accurate placed ball efforts.

While some of Tipp’s U20 starts have been making waves in the senior setup such as Sam O’Farrell

JD will lead his troops into battle against Tipp

Hurling matters - Preview

and Oisín O’Donoghue, having gotten the better of Mark Dowling’s Cats team in the final, it is one of the experienced heads that have prominent in the Premier County’s championship campaign to date. John McGrath has been in sparking form leading his side to a last-four berth. The Loughmore–Castleiney man is a real handful, and his stats show just how important he is to his team with the full forward amassing a personal haul of 4-9 in his five games to date. Huw Lawlor will need to be on his game on Sunday to martial his defence against a potent opposition attack, not only McGrath and McCarthy but also the dangerous Jason Forde. The Silvermines clubman has scored from play in all games to date and is also a real leader withing the group. Throw Jake Morris into the mix and you can see why this Tipp side is a dangerous

animal. The Nenagh Éire Óg player is one of those enigmatic hurlers, clinical finisher, quick feet and the ability to roam and create space for others.

In the engine room, Cats midfielders Cian Kenny and Jordan Molloy will come up against Craig Morgan, who has added much to this vital area of the pitch while also notching 2-4. Alan Tynan and Willie Connors can provide support to Kilruane MacDonagh’s. It will be vital for Derek Lyng’s outfit to win the midfield battle to give their attacking unit a chance to test the Tipp defence. Cats boss Derek Lyng has revealed that former two-time hurler of the year, Eoin Cody is back in training and available for selection, hopefully the Shamrocks Ballyhale man can play some part in Sunday’s semi-final. His South Kilkenny clubmates, Adrian Mullen alongside TJ and Richie Reid, all

look set to start and influence the game using their skill and stickwork. The elder Reid will be key in terms of converting the placed ball opportunities, but his aerial ability can also be a very effective weapon for the Marble City side. Having nursed Adrian Mullen back from injury, the former All-Star is getting back into his rhythm and can be a huge asset to the Noresiders against Tipp. The main attacking threat for Kilkenny this season has been Martin Keoghan. The Tullaroan forward has really blossomed and been a constant goal threat for his side. Mossy finished the league campaign with 2-23 to his name and his pace and directness are useful weapons for this Cats team. Alongside The Sash star will be another strong runner in the shape of Billy Ryan. The Graigue Ballycallan man is another that

looks to have improved and is playing with great confidence in 2025. Thomastown’s John Donnelly will get through a mountain of work, a lot of it unseen as his selfless playing style generally leads to others grabbing headlines and scores. As we mentioned, our defence will need to be on their toes in Croke Park, but in Paddy Deegan and Mikey Carey, we have a couple of strong athletic players who will get up and down the Jones’s Road pitch and offer a scoring threat from distance also. Like Eoin Cody, we hope that the towering David Blanchfield will be available, even from the bench for Derek Lyng as he possesses all the attributes to thrive at headquarters. Glenmore’s Eoin Murphy will give plenty of direction to those in front of him and the netminder will hope that he isn’t too busy on Sunday. As usual the bench will have a

big role to play in deciding which team gets to continue their quest for a shot at lifting Liam aloft later in the month. It looks like one of the likely subs for the Cats, Marty Murphy may miss out, the Tullogher Rosbercon player picking up a hamstring injury. The likes of Luke Hogan, Gearoid Dunne and Billy Drennan will all be primed for some action, while O’Loughlin Gaels Fionan Mackessy is another that can provide a few different options for the black and amber. It would be a great time to end the drought and move onto number 37. To get this chance Derek Lyng and his squad need to get the job done in Drumcondra on Sunday, and it’s difficult to separate these two sides, but semi-finals are for winning, coming out on the right side of the result is the crucial, so let’s get behind the Cats and help get them over the line.

Mossy will look to strike on Sunday

Jordan Molloy will relish the midfield battle

Planning notices

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Liam Dalton, wish to apply to above authority for permission for the following at Grange Lower, Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny.

(a) Erection of shed for sorting, Storage testing and repair of Appliances

(b) Building at (a) will replace storm damaged structure

(c) Workshop and parts storage building

(d) Associated Works

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: Liam Dalton

KILKENNY COUNTY

COUNCIL

Planning permission is being sought by Fintan White and Liefe Hollwey to refurbish existing derelict cottage with a new two storey rear extension with new wastewater treatment system and partially raised soil polishing filter and associated site works at Ballylarkin Lower, Freshford, 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 required for A new Lean-to Cubicle shed to include a new underground slatted tank and all associated site works at Lismateige, Hugginstown, Co. Kilkenny For Tommy Murphy.

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 9.00a.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 a period of 5weeks 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

I, Micheal Moloney wish to apply to the above authority on behalf of Carina Grace for outline planning permission for dwelling, garage, entrance, wastewater treatment system, borehole, soakpits and all other associated site works at Baunta Commons, Callan 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.

PAULINE KENNEDY (NEE O’GORMAN) 23RD ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of Pauline, late of 12 Hazel Grove, Kilkenny who passed away on July 10th 2002

Our lives go on without you

But nothing is the same

We have to hide our heartache

When someone speaks your name

No matter how life changes

No matter what we do

A special place within our hearts Is always kept for you

Loved and remembered your loving husband Colm, daughter Caroline, sons John Paul and Declan, grandchildren, son-in-law and daughter-in-law

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. B.R.

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.

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. K.P.

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. S.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. T.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. S.B.