Kilkenny Observer 05 September 2025

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That enterprising spirit

Castletown Cox estate seeks planning permission for whiskey distillery A company linked to a Co. Kilkenny site has submitted plans with the local council which could see a Texan billionaire’s historic estate become home to a private Irish whiskey distillery.

Rosebrack Ltd hopes to build the micro-distillery on the grounds of Castletown Cox Estate, known as one of Ireland’s finest country estates and Pal-

ladian mansions. Planning documents filed with Kilkenny County Council said the company and estate did not intend to sell spirits commercially “at this stage”, with the owner wishing “to produce whiskey for their own consumption and that of friends”.

Texan billionaire Kelcy Warren, who owns Rosebrack, bought the property for €12.6m

in 2018. He is chairman and largest shareholder of Energy Transfer LP, a major US gas and oil pipeline company valued at over $60.1bn (€51.5bn).

Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index recently estimated Warren’s net worth at around $8.27bn.

According to planning documents, Rosebrack hopes the micro-distillery will become a “legacy project” for the Castle-

town Cox Estate, which dates back to 1767. The project will include the restoration, conservation and refurbishment of six existing farm outbuildings.

The micro-distillery will comprise a malthouse, brewhouse, stillhouse, staff facilities, malt store and a bonded cask storage area located in a group of protected structures on the Castletown Cox Estate.

“It is intended that Castletown Cox distillery will revive the art of traditional whiskey-making, contributing to the heritage legacy of Castletown Cox Estate,” planning documents said.

Forsyths, a Scottish distillation equipment manufacturer, has designed bespoke kit for the proposed distillery, according to the planning documents.

Planners for the project also

Green tea may help offset Alzheimer’s

To ward more medical care at St Luke’s ...

Scientists have identified two natural compounds that could help reverse ageing in brain cells and remove harmful protein build-up, raising hopes for a non-drug approach to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

The research, published in the journal GeroScience, identifies two natural compounds: nicotinamide – a form of vitamin B3 – and an antioxidant found in green tea called epigallocatechin gallate, which help restore a key molecule that fuels energy production in brain cells.

Researchers found that nerve cells treated with these compounds not only experienced reversal of age-related decline but also an enhanced ability to clear away amyloid protein clusters, a hallmark feature of Alzheimer’s.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has opened the Medical 3 ward at St Luke’s General Hospital, following its extensive refurbishment.

The Medical 3 ward was a vacant, decommissioned surgical ward, which has been repurposed to create 14 additional beds to facilitate winter surge capacity.

Works to upgrade its current inpatient facilities and improve compliance with infection prevention and control were also carried out as part of these refurbishment works.

Pictured are Catherine O’Callaghan TD, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Niamh Lacey, Hospital Manager, and Prof Garry Courtney, during the Minister’s visit to St Luke’s.

Full story Page 4

Our food prices continue to rise The price of food has hit its highest level in almost two years, with a warning of more increases to come.

The cost of shopping trolley staples is surging at a rate of 5% a year – almost three times the rate of general inflation. It is the highest increase in food prices since December 2023.

Experts have warned that more rises are on the way as

The Best Comment & Opinion in Kilkenny

high farm-gate prices continue to drive up the cost of meat, butter, milk, bread and cheese.

Provisional August inflation figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) – calculated using the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices – show the cost of food was up 0.4% in the month.

Higher food prices mean the overall inflation rate rose

said Dr Jack O’Shea, who has distilled for the likes of Pearse Lyons Distillery in Dublin, has been involved in designing the distilling process for the estate.

The distillery will also look to produce its whiskey using barley grown, harvested and malted on site, before being triple-distilled in the proposed stillhouse and casked in oak barrels.

to 1.8% last month, up from 1.6% in July.

Independent economist Austin Hughes told the Irish Independent that food prices would continue to increase for a while yet.

“While retail food price inflation is now showing a 20-month high of 5%, farmgate prices are rising far faster,” Mr Hughes said.

The rise in the agricultural

output price index “suggests scope for painful upward pressure on food prices to persist for some time”.

He said: “The fall in cattle numbers, coupled with increased demand here and abroad, suggests no easy letup in the rise in living costs for Irish households.”

Daragh Cassidy, of price comparison site Bonkers.ie, said that since the middle of

2021, grocery prices in Ireland had surged by close to 30%.

“Indeed, prices rose more in the space of just three or four years than they had in the previous 15 years. So it’s been a huge shock to households,” he said.

The jump in grocery prices was partly down to high energy prices, which are not likely to abate anytime soon.

Dunnes Stores gets the okay Permission has been granted for a new Dunnes Storesled project at Ross Road, Ferrybank, on the northern outskirts of Waterford city, subject to four conditions.

Better Value Unlimited Company, a Dunnes Stores company, applied to Kilkenny County Council on 1 July for planning permission for the project, which is to be constructed in Ferrybank Shopping Centre.

Full story Page 6

PAUL HOPKINS

MARIANNE HERON

JOHN ELLIS

GERRY MORAN

Telling it like it is.

And with no holds barred

A straight shooter.

Considerate and wise words

Great advice.

Your money in mind

Quirky take on bright side of life

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

News

Future looks healthy and secure as St Luke’s opens14-bed ward

No long-haul drivers, then no turkey for Christmas warning

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD officially opened the Medical 3 ward at St Luke’s General Hospital on Thursday, 28 August last, following its extensive refurbishment.

The Medical 3 ward was a vacant decommissioned surgical ward, which has been repurposed to create 14 new additional beds to facilitate winter surge capacity. Works to upgrade its current inpatient facilities and improve compliance with infection prevention and control were also carried out as part of these refurbishment works.

Minister Carroll MacNeill, said: “The opening of this new 14-bed medical ward reflects on our commitment to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care here in Kilkenny and across the country.

“It will enhance the HSE’s capacity regionally to meet the growing healthcare needs of the area and strengthen St Luke’s role in providing the right care at the right time in the right place to those who need it.”

Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Minister of State

With a little over three months to go until the Christmas rush, President of the Irish Road Haulage Association, Ger Hyland, has cautioned that his industry is facing a critical shortage of drivers and may not be able to meet Christmas demand.

Hyland warned that, without urgent action, the driver shortage would lead to higher grocery prices, delayed deliveries, and uncertainty over whether the haulage industry would be able to meet heightened demand this festive season.

He called on the Government to take simple steps to reduce the bureaucracy preventing the association from bringing in drivers from abroad to meet demand.

Hyland urged all politicians to intervene to avert a deeper crisis in Ireland’s economy.

“We are rapidly reaching a tipping point in the industry. We cannot get the drivers to keep the trucks rolling.

Every haulage company in Ireland needs at least two extra drivers, such is the scale of the problem,” Hyland said.

Niamh Lacey, Hospital Manager, St Luke’s General Hospital, said: “I see every day the work our incredible staff in St Luke’s do and I would like to thank them for their hard work. The opening of this new medical ward represents the continued commitment we have to their work and in providing the best healthcare possible for those living in Kilkenny and Carlow.”

Roseanne Killeen, IHA Manager, Carlow Kilkenny and Tipperary South, HSE Dublin and South East, added: “Together, we are building on a healthcare service that is more responsive and able to support people when they need to access healthcare in our region as well as ensuring they are cared for in a safe and modern environment, closer to their homes.”

at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs

Strategy, said: “This new opening improves capacity in St Luke’s Hospital for the people of Kilkenny and the

surrounding areas. It will also help staff in the hospital to provide services in a new and modern space.”

* Pictured are Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health talking with Elaine Brennan, CNM1 Paeds. Behind is Dr Waldron, Paeds Consultant and Niamh Lacey, Hospital Manager, during the Minister’s visit

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Dunnes project gets the OK Permission has been granted for a new Dunnes Stores-led project at Ross Road, Ferrybank, on the northern outskirts of Waterford city, subject to four conditions.

Better Value Unlimited Company, a Dunnes Stores company, applied to Kilkenny County Council on 1 July for planning permission for the project, which is to be constructed in Ferrybank Shopping Centre.

The development consists of the change of use and amalgamation of the centre’s unoccupied car showroom and adjacent fire service corridor with the centre’s permitted retail anchor unit at ground floor level to form a new single-level anchor unit above basement car park levels.

The reconfigured anchor unit will have 3,000 sqm of convenience floorspace, in-

cluding ancillary off-licence, and 2,042 sqm net of comparison floorspace. The basement storage and goods inward areas of the anchor unit will remain as permitted and constructed.

The total gross floor area of the anchor unit will be 7,558 sqm, including basement and ground floor levels. Access to the anchor unit will be from the ground floor shopping mall and the central pedes-

trian street of the shopping centre.

The first floor of the retail anchor unit, approved for the sale of comparison goods, will be repurposed into a separate leisure unit measuring 3,140 sqm, marking a change of use from retail to leisure.

Access to this unit will be from the first-floor mall level of the shopping centre.

The development includes all other site development

works required to complete the project, including new anchor store elevation signage.

Locals have been demanding action on using the site for years.

Waterford’s Cllr Eamon Quinlan said: “Its vacant status for over 15 years has really held back the area.”

The council granted planning permission for the development on Monday, 25

August, subject to four conditions. Some of the conditions include that, prior to the occupation of the leisure unit, full details of the proposed occupier shall be submitted to and agreed in writing with the planning authority.

Also, the area identified as ‘back of house and storage’ shall be used as such and shall not be used as a floor area for the sale of goods or services.

Tariffs: Irish growth slows down with more decline across Europe, according to new data Irish manufacturing growth has fallen, affected by the global fallout from tariffs and evidence of a wider economic slowdown in Europe.

August data indicates a modest upturn in Irish manufacturing, but the pace of improvement has lost further momentum.

AIB’s monthly Ireland Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) tracks the health of the manufacturing sector in close to real time, providing early data on private-sector output and trends.

The PMI is based on a wide-ranging survey of managers, distilled into a simple single-number index that tracks growth and contraction, where a number above 50 indicates expansion and below 50 marks decline.

The latest PMI for August, at 51.6, shows the manufacturing sector continued to grow, but the pace has slowed, down from 53.2 in July.

All five components of the PMI provided a weaker contribution to the headline reading than in July, AIB said. This includes a slight

slowdown in the rate of new jobs being created, down from recent highs. New orders growth stalled, and several firms surveyed cited the UK as a key source of weakness in client demand.

Surprisingly, given the level of geopolitical uncertainty in the world economy—including around the impact of US tariffs—overall business optimism for the year ahead rose to its highest level since December 2024.

The PMI data was collected between 12 and 21 August.

That was after the 27 July trade agreement between Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen, which imposed a 15% tariff on most EU exports to the US but promised to end uncertainty about further potential market disruption, yet before renewed threats from the White House over EU digital policy.

It was also well before a US Appeals Court ruled that most US tariffs imposed under President Trump were illegal, as he lacked the relevant authority. That ruling is facing a Supreme Court challenge by the White House.

The Art of compassion One in Four, Ireland, an organisation supporting adult survivors of child sexual abuse, has announced the return of One in Four’s Secret Art Sale.

Last year the charity was supported by more than 300 artists which helped to raise vital funds to support victims of abuse.

• The theme for the sale is ‘Seize the Day’ – think of a new dawn, joy, hope and positivity.

• For display and postal reasons please keep art to a maximum size of A4 (21 x 29.7cm).

• All non-digital, twodimensional art mediums welcome but art must not be too delicate for postal and shipping purposes.

• Up to four pieces an artist.

• Please do not include artwork depicting nudity, violence or disturbing scenes.

• Please include your signature and name on the BACK of your art so that it can remain anonymous during the sale.

• Deadline is October 1.

Send your art FAO Kathrina and Roisin, One Four, 35-36 Arran Quay, Dublin 7 D07 E221.

Entrepreneurs at the Castle Female entrepreneurs across Kilkenny and Carlow are encouraged to register for National Women’s Enterprise Day on Thursday, 16 October.

Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) will host events nationwide, celebrating women in business and offering expert insights on sustainability, innovation, marketing, and scaling.

This year’s theme, She Means Business, aims to inspire women to explore self-employment or grow their existing ventures.

Events will feature successful female founders, business leaders, and thoughtprovoking speakers.

The Kilkenny-Carlow

event takes place at The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle, in collaboration with Network Ireland Kilkenny. It will be hosted

by Eimear Ní Bhraonáin, with keynote speaker Laurie Winkless, a bestselling author, science journalist, and entrepreneur whose global communications work supports Nobel laureates, engineers, and astronauts.

The panel includes: • Margaret Valette O’Connor, award-winning business consultant and former MD of Quigley’s Bakery, who scaled the business to 18 locations and 195 staff.

• Emma Butler, founder

of White Meadow Interiors and event ambassador, who brings a unique blend of interior design and project management expertise.

• Sarah Butler, SuperValu Brand Ambassador, bestselling cookbook author, home cook, and content creator, known for her engaging food and lifestyle content.

Local leaders are voicing strong support: Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, said the event “celebrates the creativity and determination of women entrepreneurs” and encourages more women to take the

leap into business.

Paula O’Brien, Director of Services, Carlow County Council, highlighted “the ambition and resilience of women-led businesses in the region”.

Aisling Carey, Business Advisor at LEO Kilkenny, encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to “believe in your idea, seek advice early, and connect with others.”

Cáit Mackey-Maher, President of Network Ireland Kilkenny, described the day as “a movement” that amplifies women’s voices and breaks down barriers.

For more information and to register, visit www.LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED

Speeding sees us still dicing with death Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has called for a tough approach to those caught driving at excessive speeds on rural roads. The MEP has urged for a greater concentration of speed vans at accident blackspots and on rural roads, where speeding is having a dramatic impact on road safety.

Thomastown did not fare too well.

The EU Transport Com-

mittee MEP made her call as Gardaí released figures showing that €32,437,002 has been collected in fines from Garda speed vans between January 2023 and 8 June 2025. Ní Mhurchú questioned why revenue from speed vans across all Garda districts fell by 15.9% between 2023 and 2024.

Garda figures released to her also show that Gardaí paid out over €44 million to

private speed camera operators between the start of 2023 and 18 August last, meaning that the Garda speed van system is operating at an overall loss.

Dublin and Tipperary were two of the highest-grossing counties for Garda speed vans during the period, with Cork and Kildare following closely behind. Gardaí in Carlow and Kilkenny collected €765,440 in the 30-

month period from January 2023 to June 2025. Of this, €362,800 was collected in the Kilkenny Garda district, €293,040 in the Carlow Garda district, and €109,600 from speeding motorists in the Thomastown Garda district.

Revenue from Garda speed vans in Kilkenny and Carlow fell from €378,320 in 2023 to €327,520 in 2024 — a decrease of 13.4%.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

Opinion

The Fact Of The Matter Paul Hopkins

School’s back – so are those hoary old chestnuts Ted: “I never miss the Lovely Girls Festival. My absolute favourite time of year. How is Miss Lovely Girl doing?”

Organiser Fr Damo: “Ted, we had to strip her of her title. We found out she’d been in a film called Stallion Farm...”

Fr Ted, chuckling: “I heard it was a bit rude, alright.”

It’s that hoary old chestnut again. That yearslong debate on whether the recent Rose of Tralee Festival is more likely the parody of the Fr Ted episode than vice-versa.

“It’s an insult to young women,” said one commentator.

“The questions are inane,” said another. “I mean none of the contestants was asked about their views on Gaza or Trump. The Tralee shindig belongs in the past and should stay there.”

Not sure I agree. Although I have not watched it in

years, what I do recall is an evening or two of pleasant entertainment with young women who are testimony to our worldwide diaspora.

All confident and assured young women, their world their oyster.

Confident and assured (and, yes, beautiful) is Katelyn Cummins, crowned the 2025 Rose of Tralee – watched by 530,000 viewers. The young woman, just 20, from Ballyouskill on the Laois-Kilkenny border, said: “I couldn’t believe it when they said Laois. I was like, ‘Oh my God’. I was just thinking of my mum and dad straight away. I could see them down in the crowd. I just wanted to give them a hug,” she said. What a lovely heartfelt nod to, and testimony of, her good upbringing.

An apprentice electrician – “I’m a girly girl at heart but now one of the boys” –

she is “absolutely delighted to be able to represent women in the trade world”.

She believes she is “actually inspiring a lot of young girls, and hopes to continue to do so. It’s great to get the awareness out there that women can do whatever we want, and we don’t need a stigma around it...

“We don’t need to follow tradition...”

Katelyn Cummins exudes confidence and emotional intelligence. A good head on her shoulders, as they say in these parts. And, in my mind, puts paid to the notion that she and her contenders are just simply The Lovely Girls, pandering to archaic images of, and views on, women – still dancing at the crossroads.

Despite its many controversies down the years, the Rose of Tralee is, as most contestants agree, the “experience of a lifetime, every part of a little girl’s dream”.

Good on them, I say, and bah humbug the begrudgers. I am as confident as they are that they will all do well in their lives ahead and I wish them such.

Meanwhile, on Liveline we had another hoary old chestnut as schools return. We heard from a

“Youth is a beautiful time to be alive...

woman who was concerned that schoolgirls were not wearing their uniforms as their school intended: “It probably has always been somewhat of an issue, but I think in recent years it has gone to the complete and utter extreme, where it’s representing something other than just girls wanting to wear their skirts shorter. It’s verging on the erotica, if you know what I mean.”

(Not sure I do ...)

“It’s almost reached a frenzy of competitiveness, where they’re actually at the point where you can see their bum cheeks, a lot of it, when they’re walking around.”

The woman was eager to stress she was not approaching the subject from a moral standpoint and was trying to be objective, but it “saddened” her that, after women fighting for equality and “some kind of status”,

young girls – children, she said – felt like “they have to sexually objectify themselves in this manner”.

It seems young women can’t win. You are either pandering to the notion of The Lovely Girls with not a brain in your head or you are pandering to the sexual fantasies of the male by ‘objectifying’ your body and more often being ‘body shamed’ by social media.

When in truth, because it’s just part of our human make-up, they are proud, and rightly so, of their emerging womanhood and their fine-toned legs.

Youth is a beautiful time to be alive.

It seems we’re skirting the issue here, when, in fact, we should be teaching our sons and young men to be respectful of, and supportive of, women, young and old, and not see them merely as candy for the wandering eye.

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Kilkenny for WorldSkills Ireland WorldSkills Ireland, Ireland’s leading event dedicated to promoting skills, apprenticeship careers, and workplace opportunities for young people, is returning to the RDS, Simmonscourt, from 17 to 19 September.

Across the three days, five students and apprentices from Co. Kilkenny will put their talents and knowledge to the test when they compete against their peers on the national stage during the live competitions taking place at the event.

Now firmly established as a must-attend event in school calendars, it will welcome over 30,000 senior-level secondary students from more than 300 schools across Ireland to discover real alternatives to university and explore exciting, future-focused career paths. In 2024, 75% of student attendees came to learn about practical, skills-based routes, a clear sign of the growing appetite for apprenticeships and technical careers.

More than 180 finalists will go head-to-head in a range of skills-based trades, including automotive, construction, creative arts, hospitality, ICT, manufacturing, and engineering. Those competing from Kilkenny include Jake Atkins, competing in Plastering & Drywall Systems; Laura Breen, competing in Hairdressing; Eoghan Doherty, competing in Industrial Mechanics; Jason Murphy, competing in Digital Construction (BIM); and Paul Grace, competing in Joinery.

On the announcement of the finalists for WorldSkills Ireland, Ray English, Chair of WorldSkills Ireland, said: “WorldSkills Ireland is a celebration of talent and a vital platform for promoting apprenticeship and skills-based career opportunities. This

Skillset: From left, Gordon Chisholm, Chief Examiner; Kilkenny competitors Jason Murphy and Paul Grace; and Marina Walshe Tynan, Examiner.

year, students and apprentices from across the country will compete in 35 different skill areas, each working to exacting standards and under time pressure. It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase their abilities and, for some, take the next step towards representing Ireland on the world stage.

“This event opens doors for students to discover exciting alternatives to traditional

academic routes, shining a light on the variety of training and apprenticeship options available, and the rewarding careers they can lead to. By championing skills and apprenticeships, we’re helping to develop the expertise and innovation needed for Ireland’s industries to thrive.

“The combined support of educators, industry leaders, and government makes WorldSkills Ireland a unique

and powerful driver for the future of our young people and our economy,” he said.

Students gaining exposure to both academic and vocational pathways in one visit.

The event will feature interactive ‘Try a Skill’ zones, immersive VR experiences, talks, live demonstrations and technical professions, and companies ready to recruit.

WorldSkillsIreland is supported by category sponsors

SIMI (Society of the Irish Motoring Industry) and Fáilte Ireland, as well as Amazon, BOC, BWG Food Supplies, Bus Éireann & Dublin Bus, Capital Hair, Chef Network, Corcorans Food Equipment, Crown Paints, IFSA, ISOPARTNER, Jones Engineering, King & Moffatt, Lincoln Electric, Metron, Mitsubishi Electric Ireland, MSLETB & Craft Butchers, OPW, Saint-Gobain, SISK, SMC, Symetri, Unilin

Insulation, and Volkswagen.

Group Ireland.

Designed to promote skills, apprenticeship careers, and opportunities for young people, the event allows students, parents, teachers, and guidance counsellors to navigate the options available following secondary education.

Free to attend. Registration for the event is now open at www.worldskillsireland.ie.

Where there's a Will, there's a local charity People in Kilkenny have been asked to consider including a gift in their Will to help secure the future of charities in Ireland, at the launch of My Legacy Month 2025. The month-long campaign focuses on the security that legacy giving offers to charities, as traditional income sources become less sustainable.

My Legacy represents more than 90 Irish charities from a wide variety of causes, including health, homelessness, LGBTQ+, international aid, animal welfare, heritage and environmental issues. This includes L’Arche Ireland and Focus Ireland, which support communities in Kilkenny.

Speaking at the launch, Niall O’Sullivan, Chairperson of My Legacy, said: “For some members, gifts in Wills make

up 25–50% of their annual income. For around half of our members, income from gifts in Wills is less than 10%; and for others, at the beginning of their legacy journey, it isn’t something they’re quantifying yet, but they can see the growing interest from the public and the need to foster this stream of very personal support.

“Traditional sources of income are under pressure, with 60% of members stating they’d recorded reduced volume or amounts raised through individual giving, while 40% indicated increased competition for funding from trusts and foundations.

“But there is huge potential for legacy giving to support the increasing demands on charity services in Kilkenny."

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Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

Why not give 16-year-olds the right to vote?

Cross the Border into the North and things change.

For one thing your average life expectancy will be two years less in the North, you will have far less chance of having Third Level education – in the South we are just about the most educated nation in the world.

On the other hand you are more likely to be able to afford to buy a home, as average house prices are €100,000 lower in the North.

Going forward here we will be paying 15% tariffs on exports into the US, whereas the North will be paying 10% along with the rest of the UK. Now in the near future there is likely to be another change between the six and the 26 counties. The UK has promised to lower the voting age to 16 before the next general election.

Another day, another difference, but what difference will the change make and

how likely are we to follow suit?

More countries are now offering younger voters a chance to have their say at the ballot box, among them Austria; seven out of 16 German States; Argentina and Brazil. Scotland and Wales have already given 16-year-olds the vote and in the rest of the UK around 1.5 million young voters will be involved in the change representing 1.5% to 5% of the electorate depending on the constituency.

The idea that including younger voters might benefit Keir Starmer’s Labour – given that the general view that voters get more conservative as they grow older – doesn’t seem to hold good, given the finding in other countries that younger people vote across the spectrum like the rest of us. But in the North it will make a difference, given the Unionist/Nation-

alist divide.

In an opinion poll last year only 6% of Unionists supported the change compared with 70% of Nationalists, no prizes for guessing the political gain – albeit a small one – will be in Nationalists’ favour.

Here in the South, lowering the voting age for European and local elections would require a change in the law but Dáil and Presidential elections would require a referendum, not something the Government would be too keen on, perhaps given the fate of the ‘Woman in the Home’ referendum last year.

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), the representative group for voluntary youth bodies in Ireland, has been advocating to give 16- to 18-yearolds a greater say in political affairs since the 2013 referendum on the abolition of the Sinead (defeated) and

the establishment of a Court of Appeal (upheld).

Would that age group be mature enough to vote and would they even bother to register? Certainly the line

”The line of where childhood and adulthood is drawn is confused...

of where childhood and adulthood is drawn is confused. In the eyes of the law the age of majority or adulthood is 18, while the age of criminal responsibility is set at 12 and the age for marriage or buying booze is 18.

Yet, at 16 youths may leave school, have a job. Surely if you work and pay taxes you should have a vote?

The counter-argument goes that giving people legally regarded as children the responsibility of voting is pushing them into adulthood too soon.

Obviously teenagers vary as to how mature they are, but I agree with the arguments of the NYCI that it is important to give young people a voice and to get politicians to engage more with young people, especially in relation to their futures at a time when many in their 20s and 30s are emigrating because of the housing crisis.

If Scotland is anything to go by, being given the vote certainly encourages greater participation. When 16- and 17-year-olds were given the right to vote in 2014 in the Scottish Referendum, the turnout for the age group was 75%.

Giving votes to mid-teens isn’t in the Programme for Government but meantime Social Democrat Aidan Farrelly (TD Kildare North) introduced the 41st Amendment to the Constitution for the reduction of the voting age on the grounds that it’s an issue of equality. The amendment has now gone forward to await second reading stage.

We may have a referendum and I think that our mid-teens, generally better informed than today’s adults were at their age, deserve the vote.

Why not encourage responsibility? Aafter all, they are our future too.

A guide to B complex vitamins CLAIR WHITTY There are eight B-complex vitamins, and they are known either by their numerical name or another name for example B1 is Thiamin, B2 is Riboflavin.

Vitamin B1, Thiamin plays a critical role in energy metabolism, and therefore, in the growth and development of cells.

Vitamin B2, Riboflavin is a key component of coenzymes involved with the growth, development, and function of cells in your body. It also plays a key role in turning the food you eat into the energy you need.

Vitamin B3, Niacin works with more than 400 enzyme systems for various reactions. Niacin helps convert nutrients from food into energy, as it’s part of a coenzyme that’s needed for protein and carbohydrate metabolism.

Vitamin B5 Pantothenic acid helps turn your food into energy, specially making and breaking down fats.

Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine is needed for more than 100 enzyme reactions involved in energy metabolism, including the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. It

also supports nervous system health. Women on contraceptive medication would benefit from taking B6.

Vitamin B7 Biotin is well known for its support of healthy skin, nails and hair, and plays a vital role in assisting enzymes in breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

Vitamin B9 Folate / Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that helps to form genetic material such as DNA and RNA. Folate is also extremely important during pregnancy. Healthful diets with adequate folate may reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord birth defect.

Vitamin B12 Cobalamin is a nutrient that helps keep the

body’s nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA. Vitamin B12 is great for supporting daily energy. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a type of anemia that makes people tired and weak.

A diet that contains animal products, grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables will be provide you with a variety of the B Vitamins that you need.

We need a variety of these vitamins in various amounts every day. If you want to top take a look at Solgar B 100 complex.

It contains all of the B Vitamins with 100mg almost all of the vitamins. It is a popular choice for those wanting to support energy, nervous system health, and general well-being.

Shop online at www.naturalhealthstore.ie where you’ll be able to take a look at these brands. Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre | Phone: 056 7764538 | Email: info@naturalhealthstore.ie

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News

Playing it safe ... on the farm

Outstanding in their field: from left, Farm Safety Community Champions Ned Kearney, Maura Canning, Alma Jordan, Irish Rural Link, Bernie Wade, Geraldine Delaney, Mary Oakley, Aisling Kelly, Niamh Monahan and Robert Lally launch Irish Rural Link’s new Farm Safety Community Champion programme.

Irish Rural Link has announced the launch of its new farm safety initiative focused on combating labour and isolation concerns on Irish farms. The Farm Safety Community Champion programme will equip local communities with a representative to act as a Champion for farmer safety and wellbeing.

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, this initiative was spurred on by the growing decline of local farming networks in Ireland, leading to a lack of social connection and workforce shortages. By offering rural citizens an opportunity to reach out and offer support, this project will help ensure that the safety

and wellbeing of the farming community is always a priority.

Champions Of The Community The programme consists of the training of nine regionally spread Farm Safety Community Champions from various backgrounds including farming, teaching and community mentoring. These Champions will develop networks in their regions to connect farmers to their communities, delivering farm safety and wellbeing talks at local marts and community centres.

To support this, a manual has been created to guide these talks, which will include

resources for local individuals to learn more about the programme and the steps they can take to encourage connection with farmers in their society.

The Farmer’s Haggart To further bolster this initiative and assist with growing workforce concerns, Irish Rural Link is calling on rural communities to organise a ‘Farmer’s Haggart’ as part of this programme. The Farmer’s Haggart is led by a local Farm Safety Community Champion and will encourage farmers to assist one another in simple tasks on the farm.

The goal of this is to foster local connections between

farmers to further develop rural farming networks and support community wellbeing.

Irish Rural Link CEO Seamus Boland said: “The need for community has never been so important for farmers. With fluctuations in the market, inconsistent weather and growing isolation, having the Farm Safety Community Champions will help build out our farming networks for a more connected rural society.

“We hope to see local communities take this as an opportunity to support, strengthen and sustain relationships with and between farmers for a more inclusive future.”

About The Project This project is one of a number of farm safety projects in receipt of funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine this year. As farming remains the most dangerous occupation with regard to fatalities in the workplace, as well as a highly stressful career, this project hopes to recognise these unique challenges with a community-led approach.

About Irish Rural Link Irish Rural Link was established in 1991 to represent the interests of locally based rural groups in disadvantaged and marginalised rural areas at local, national and EU level. Their mission is to in-

fluence and inform on local, national and European development policies in favour of rural communities, especially those marginalised as a result of rural poverty, exclusion and isolation, and support rural communities to implement appropriate strategic programmes that improve their circumstances.

Interested In Getting Involved?

You can find your local Farm Safety Community Champion on the Farmers4Safety website, along with information on how you can organise a Farmer’s Haggart event within your community. *Visit https://www.farmers4safety.ie/

Go play, and don’t come home till your tea’s ready!

Rethink Ireland, the Sunflower Charitable Foundation and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht have launched the three-year €1.5 million Children’s Active Play Fund.

This national initiative will support between five to eight innovative projects that help children and young people under the age of 18 get active, build social connections and support their overall wellbeing.

Applications are now open at rethinkireland.ie/open-funds/ and will close on Friday, October 10.

Charities across Ireland are encouraged to apply to the

Children’s Active Play Fund.

Successful projects will be awarded up to €210,000 across three years and receive a place on Rethink Ireland’s Accelerator Programme to support their growth and scaling.

Pádraic Vallely, Senior Philanthropy & Development Manager, Rethink Ireland, said: “This fund represents a meaningful investment in the future of our young people, supporting projects that will make physical activity and outdoor play accessible for all, especially those on the margins of society.

“We would like to thank the Government of Ireland and the Sunflower Charitable Foundation, who believe in

the power of philanthropy and supporting innovative not-forprofits.”

Caroline Madden, Head of Health, Rethink Ireland, said: “In a world where our young people are growing up surrounded by screens and technology, we need new ways to spark connection, movement and outdoor fun.

We’re inviting applications from charitable organisations that can inspire children to get active, whether through sport, outdoor education, or creative play.

“Increasing physical activity will not only help reduce childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles, but it will also promote emotional, social and

mental wellbeing. We want to support projects that will address the holistic wellbeing of young people and benefit their lives in a real, tangible way.”

Also commenting on the launch of the fund, Samantha Briody, CEO, Sunflower Charitable Foundation, said: “As a foundation, our mission is to support the growth of resilient communities with a particular focus on the wellbeing of children and young people. The Foundation recognises the importance of outdoor play in a child’s life, and by investing in innovative solutions, the Children’s Active Play Fund will not only support individual projects but also influence

policy and inspire new ways of tackling youth health challenges across Ireland.” *To be eligible for application, a project must: • Address a critical social issue • Be innovative in an Irish context • Be based on the island of Ireland and make its main impact in the Republic of Ireland • Have potential and a desire to scale or replicate in Ireland • Provide evidence that it is up and running, or has been tested • Come from an entity that is a registered charity

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Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Digital currencies ... and financial meltdowns From rural Tipperary to running Stripe, a $100 billion payments giant, Patrick Collison is a proud Irish success story. In March he told a US congressional committee that stablecoin, a digital currency tied to real money like the dollar or euro, could make the US dollar the top dog in global trade.

Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, stablecoin promises fast, cheap payments.

Collison said they’d allow American firms to sell goods, pay workers abroad and sign deals in unstable economies without touching foreign cash.

Stripe, managing $1.4 trillion in payments yearly, is betting big on stablecoin, spending $1.1 billion to buy Bridge, a stablecoin platform. Now, US banks like JP Morgan and tech giants like Amazon are diving in with crypto, which is appearing in pensions and investment funds.

For Ireland this looks like

America is trying to dominate the digital money game. Just days after Collison’s speech, Philip Lane, an Irish economist at the European Central Bank, spoke in Cork warning that private stablecoin could spark financial chaos like the “wildcat banks” of old that issued their own money.

He’s pushing for a digital

euro controlled by the ECB to keep Europe in charge. He’s right to worry, as stablecoin has crashed before.

In 2022, Terra’s $40 billion collapse rocked the crypto world and USDC dropped to 87 cents during a US bank failure, only saved by a government bailout. The Bank for International Settlements

backs Lane’s warning that stablecoin is not real money without central bank support and could destabilise finance if unchecked.

Europe’s fighting back with MiCA, whose rules keep “crypto safe and not flashy”.

Ireland’s Central Bank, under Gabriel Makhlouf, is cautious, approving just one crypto

licence (to Kraken) while reviewing others. Makhlouf sees stablecoin’s potential but slams crypto’s wild swings.

Unnerved by US law, the EU is now fast-tracking a digital euro, possibly on public blockchains like Ethereum to compete with dollar-based coins.

They fear America’s stable-

coin could flood Europe and weaken the euro. Ireland is in a unique spot, as stablecoin could cut costs for our emigrants sending money home or help businesses trade faster.

Pat Lardner of the Irish Funds Industry warns that if we don’t act, jobs could slip to Luxembourg.

Ireland has got the talent — think Stripe’s roots and a thriving fintech scene.

Stablecoin could transform payments, letting you shop or trade without Visa or Apple Pay, but America’s apparent reckless approach invites trouble.

Europe’s careful regulation protects our money and keeps US dominance at bay. So, let’s “blend Silicon Valley’s spark with Ireland’s common sense”.

That’s how we can lead in this digital cash race without risking another financial fiasco. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362633

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News Science & Wellbeing While you are awake, conscious experience is shaped by sensation and action.

While asleep, that architecture dissolves and rearranges itself. Sleep offers a natural experiment in consciousness, with non-REM sleep erasing subjective experience and REM sleep restoring it through dreams.

Every night, without protest or panic, we cease to exist as subjects of experience. One moment, we’re here, sensing, and responding. The next, we’re gone. This phenomenon is so familiar that few of us stop to question it, but if you want to understand consciousness, there’s no better place to look than sleep and dreaming, according to BigThink.com.

In 1974, philosopher Thomas Nagel asked: “What is it like to be a bat?” That question became a landmark in the philosophy of the mind, precisely because it defined consciousness by its most essential property: What it is like to be.

To be conscious. To exist.

If experience is present, so is consciousness. The problem is that this formulation is tough to fathom and even harder to operationalise. It’s one thing to say experience lies at the heart of consciousness, but it’s quite another to actually study it.

Bats, after all, aren’t answering questionnaires.

Consciousness resists external analysis because its nature is interior. We may not know what it’s like to be a bat, but each night, we brush up against the more basic question: What is it like to be anything at all?

While we’re awake, conscious experience is shaped by sensation and action. Streams of sensory input flow in, motor output flows out, and this ongoing exchange with the environment anchors our subjective experience.

But when we fall asleep, that architecture dissolves and rearranges itself. The stages of sleep are divided into two

What sleep tells us about our ‘being’

broad arenas: non-REM and REM. Neuroscientists can track these states and their distinct neural signatures using an electroencephalogram (EEG), which records the collective electrical activity of cortical neurons.

In deeper stages of non-REM sleep, these neurons fall into a slow, rhythmic oscillation of activity punctuated by stretches of silence. To be in-

side one of those slow waves, subjectively speaking, is to be nowhere at all.

Studies using high-density EEG have shown that when posterior cortical regions are dominated by slow-wave activity, conscious experience is typically absent.

We fall into non-REM sleep knowing what it’s like to be — and then, nothing. A total annihilation of ‘is-ness’.

Only in the dream-laden rhythms of REM sleep does consciousness re-emerge, and we return with a sense of what it was like for it to vanish.

Outwardly, REM sleep looks like rest. The brainstem’s motor command centres actively inhibit the muscles, rendering them temporarily paralysed, and responsiveness to the external world falls away.

But inside the brain, the

lights blaze. Fast, desynchronised firing re-emerges in the posterior cortex, with activity levels in sensory and emotional circuits that match — and in some regions exceed — those seen during the day.

Our eyes are closed, and yet the visual cortex shows similar activation patterns as it does when processing a real scene.

What emerges are dreams — internally generated episodes

of consciousness, constructed in a perceptual vacuum. The other missing component is metacognition — the awareness of awareness — and a sense of agency.

In REM, we are conscious without question. Fully immersed, yet without the capacity to watch ourselves from outside the moment. Most dreamers don’t know they’re dreaming; they simply exist within the experience. Dreaming is being without knowing that you are.

Lucid dreaming provides a counterexample. In rare cases, sleepers gain insight into the unreality of their dreams from within the dream itself. In sleep labs, researchers train dreamers to signal lucidity through deliberate eye movements, which can be timestamped using electrooculography (EOG).

When a dream becomes lucid, it’s not the experience that changes but the frame around it. The lights were on the whole time, and now, you know it.

Ordinary dreams are, perhaps, the clearest articulation of what it is like to be. Rather than defining subjectivity from the outside, REM sleep allows us to map its loss and return from within, revealing its structure through its disassembly.

Dreaming becomes a lived rehearsal of Nagel’s challenge: Consciousness is not something we perform nor a behaviour we emit. It’s a condition of self-sustaining internal activity, defined by the felt quality of experience.

What remains when our conscious experience is stripped of memory, agency, and selfreflection? What’s it like to be a creature without them?

We may never know exactly, but we can step outside our dominant perspective to understand what it’s like to be someone — or something — in the most basic sense.

In sleep, we are as close to Nagel’s unreachable ‘batness’ as we’ll likely ever get.

How blueberries can help lower blood pressure Eating one cup of blueberries daily is a great way to help lower your blood pressure. They are especially helpful if you already have high blood pressure, are at risk for heart disease, or have insulin resistance.

“Blueberries contain a special component, anthocyanins, which give blueberries their dark colour and help the body produce nitric oxide, which allows the blood vessels to relax and open up, or dilate,” Ashlee Bobrick, a registered dietitian nutritionist, told Verywell.

“Once the blood vessels relax, the blood can flow more easily, which means the blood pressure goes down,” she said.

Research backs this up: studies have linked anthocyanin consumption with

lower blood pressure.

Blueberries are also a good source of fibre. Research has shown that increased fibre intake is associated with re-

duced blood pressure.

When dietary fibre undergoes the process of fermentation in the gut, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are pro-

duced. These are absorbed into your bloodstream, which can help lower blood pressure.

The fibre in blueberries

also helps keep your blood sugar stable and helps lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein), sometimes called “bad cholesterol,” Bobrick said. Lowering your cholesterol has been linked with a reduction in blood pressure.

The endothelium is a layer of cells in the lining of your blood vessels, and “there’s a thought that maybe blueberries improve what’s called the endothelial function,” Parveen Garg, MD, a cardiologist, told Verywell.

Research has shown that blueberries have improved endothelial function. When your endothelial function is improved, this may lower your blood pressure.

Bobrick said you don’t have to buy fresh blueberries daily to reap the benefits of this fruit.

“Research shows that

consuming about one cup of fresh or frozen blueberries daily can help improve blood pressure and provide numerous other benefits,” she explained.

One cup of blueberries contains the following: Total calories: 84. Total fat: 0.5 grams. Carbohydrates: 21 grams. Dietary fibre: 4 grams. Total sugars: 15 grams. Protein: 1 gram.

Calcium: 1 milligram. Sodium: 1 milligram. Iron: 2 milligrams.

Regularly eating blueberries may have benefits beyond lower blood pressure, too.

“Blueberries are incredibly beneficial to consume regularly due to their rich nutrient profile,” Bobrick said. “Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, which reduce the risk of chronic diseases.”

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Travel & Leisure

By Jolene Ejmont 1. Kyoto, Japan Ancient temples meet serene gardens in this gorgeous city that perfectly embodies traditional Japanese culture.

The former imperial capital attracts visitors with its bamboo forests, thousands of temples and shrines, and the famous geisha district of Gion.

Experience the magic of cherry blossom season, participate in a traditional tea ceremony, or find peace in a Zen garden.

City breaks... take your pick!

2. Venice, Italy Venice [main picture] stands among the world’s most beautiful cities with its maze of canals, ornate bridges, and stunning Byzantine architecture.

Take a gondola ride at sunset, get lost in narrow alleyways, marvel at St. Mark’s Basilica, or join the famous Carnival celebrations.

From its grand palazzos to its quiet local neighbourhoods, Venice remains one of the world’s most unique and romantic destinations.

3. Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town is one of the most amazing cities in the world, where mountains meet ocean in spectacular fashion.

There is a lot to do around this beautiful city: hike Table Mountain, visit the penguins at Boulders Beach, tour the Cape Winelands, enjoy a sunset cruise, or explore the vibrant V&A Waterfront.

Whether you’re watching sunset from Signal Hill or exploring colourful Bo-Kaap, Cape Town offers a unique beauty that few cities can match.

4. Edinburgh, Scotland Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town and elegant New Town form a breathtaking city of historical significance.

Wander the Royal Mile, explore Edinburgh Castle, climb Arthur’s Seat for panoramic views, and dive into world-class museums and galleries.

As one of the best cities in the UK, Edinburgh especially comes alive during the Festival Fringe in August.

5. Bruges, Belgium Bruges embodies everything charming cities should be, with its medieval architecture, romantic canals, and cobblestone streets.

Sample Belgian chocolates, climb the Belfry Tower, take a boat tour, or simply wander the pristine historic centre.

Recognised as one of the best European medieval cities, Bruges offers a timeless charm where centuries-old streets, quiet canals, and gilded spires create a living storybook.

6. Amsterdam, Netherlands Amsterdam delights visitors with its iconic canals, worldclass museums, and cycling culture.

Explore the Van Gogh Museum, take a canal cruise,

cruise Lake Lucerne, visit the Lion Monument, or take a trip up nearby Mount Pilatus. The city perfectly blends history with natural beauty.

14. Prague, Czech Republic Prague captivates with its fairytale architecture and rich history.

Explore Prague Castle, cross Charles Bridge at dawn, watch the Astronomical Clock, or enjoy world-famous Czech beer.

The city’s preserved architecture spans Gothic to Art Nouveau.

15. Barcelona, Spain Barcelona stands as one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, showcasing Gaudi’s unique architecture and vibrant culture.

Visit Sagrada Familia, stroll Las Ramblas, relax in Park Güell, or enjoy tapas in the Gothic Quarter.

The city’s artistic heritage and Mediterranean lifestyle create an irresistible appeal.

16. Budapest, Hungary Budapest charms with its grand architecture and thermal bath culture.

Soak in historic baths, cruise the Danube, explore Castle Hill, or enjoy the ruin bar scene.

Between its Art Nouveau cafés, stunning river views, and vibrant food halls, Budapest offers a perfect mix of old-world elegance and contemporary energy that captures every visitor’s heart.

visit Anne Frank House, or simply enjoy the laid-back atmosphere in one of the nicest cities in the world.

The city’s architecture and cultural scene make it a yearround destination.

7. Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik captivates with its limestone streets and ancient city walls overlooking the Adriatic.

Walk the city walls, take a cable car to Mount Srđ, explore Game of Thrones filming locations, or swim in crystal-clear waters.

From swimming in hidden coves to watching the sunset paint the terracotta roofs in gold, Dubrovnik creates moments of pure Mediterranean magic.

8. Chefchaouen, Morocco Chefchaouen’s blue-washed buildings create one of the most attractive cities in the world.

Lose yourself in the medina’s blue alleyways, hike in the Rif Mountains, shop for traditional crafts, or photograph the stunning architecture.

The unique colour scheme creates an otherworldly atmosphere.

9. Florence, Italy Florence represents the finest cities in the world with its Renaissance art, architecture, and cuisine.

Visit the Uffizi Gallery, climb Brunelleschi’s Dome, stroll across Ponte Vecchio, and savour Tuscan cuisine.

From morning espresso in centuries-old piazzas to sunset views from Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence captures the essence of Italy.

10. Paris, France Paris remains among the most beautiful cities in Europe, combining elegant architecture with world-class culture and cuisine.

Scale the Eiffel Tower, explore the Louvre, stroll through Montmartre, or simply watch the world go by from a café terrace.

The City of Light never fails to amaze visitors.

11. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Rio de Janeiro dazzles with its dramatic setting between mountains and sea.

Visit Christ the Redeemer,

relax on Copacabana Beach, ride the cable car to Sugar Loaf Mountain, or experience the energy of Carnival.

The city’s natural beauty and vibrant culture create an intoxicating mix.

12. Hoi An, Vietnam Hoi An charms visitors with its well-preserved Ancient Town, colourful lanterns, and nearby beaches.

Explore traditional architecture, take a cooking class, have clothes custommade, or cycle through nearby rice paddies.

The monthly lantern festival transforms the city into a magical wonderland.

13. Lucerne, Switzerland Lucerne represents some of the most beautiful cities in the world with its medieval architecture and stunning Alpine setting.

Cross the Chapel Bridge,

17. Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul bridges continents with its rich history and stunning architecture.

Visit Hagia Sophia, explore the Grand Bazaar, cruise the Bosphorus, or savour Turkish cuisine.

Between calls to prayer echoing across rooftops, spices wafting from ancient bazaars, and boats crisscrossing the Bosphorus, Istanbul creates an unforgettable sensory journey where East truly meets West.

18. Hamburg, Germany Hamburg impresses with its maritime heritage and modern HafenCity district.

Explore the warehouse district, enjoy harbour tours, visit the Elbphilharmonie, or experience the famous fish market.

Whether exploring the historic Speicherstadt or enjoying sunset at the modern HafenCity, Hamburg’s waterfront soul creates an atmosphere that’s both historic and boldly contemporary.

19. San Francisco, USA San Francisco stands as one of the most beautiful cities in America with its iconic hills, Painted Ladies, and Golden Gate Bridge.

Ride cable cars, visit Alcatraz, explore diverse neighbourhoods, or enjoy sourdough at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Between its iconic hills, vibrant neighbourhoods, and dramatic coastal views, San

Francisco offers a uniquely beautiful mix of nature and city life.

20. Colmar, France Colmar looks like it stepped from a fairy tale with its halftimbered houses and flowerlined canals.

Explore Little Venice, visit museums, wine taste in nearby vineyards, or simply photograph the stunning architecture.

Whether admiring halftimbered houses reflected in quiet canals or sipping local wine in medieval squares, Colmar delivers pure storybook charm.

21. Krakow, Poland Krakow preserves its medieval charm while embracing modern culture.

Explore Wawel Castle, wander Europe’s largest market square, visit historic synagogues, or take day trips to nearby salt mines.

The city’s rich history and vibrant present create a compelling destination.

22. Sydney, Australia Sydney showcases one of the most beautiful cities with its harbour setting and iconic Opera House.

Climb the Harbour Bridge, surf at Bondi Beach, explore The Rocks district, or take a coastal walk.

The city’s outdoor lifestyle and cultural scene create yearround appeal.

23. Rome, Italy Rome eternally captivates with its ancient ruins and Renaissance masterpieces.

Explore the Colosseum, throw coins in Trevi Fountain, marvel at Vatican City, or simply enjoy la dolce vita.

The Eternal City layers history with modern Italian life.

24. Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana charms with its dragon bridges and riverside cafés.

Explore the castle, wander the central market, enjoy riverside dining, or take day trips to nearby lakes. The city’s small size and pedestrian centre create an intimate atmosphere.

25. Chicago, USA Chicago [pictured] impresses with its groundbreaking architecture and lakefront setting.

Take architecture river tours, visit Millennium Park, explore world-class museums, or enjoy deep-dish pizza.

The city’s skyline and cultural offerings create an enriching urban experience. * Originally from South Africa, now living in Australia, Jolene Ejmont is a wife and a mother to three daughters. With her family, she is embarking on a journey towards changing her current stress-filled life to one focusing on her dreams and her passion for travel.

You can read her travel stories on Wanderluststorytellers.com

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Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Remembering Thom McGinty, the iconic Diceman This year marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Thom McGinty, The Diceman, who died at the untimely age of 42. Thom was renowned on the streets of Dublin in the 1980s and early 1990s for his outrageous costumes and poses; he was also a regular visitor to Kilkenny when Arts Week came around.

Over the years, I got to know and befriend Thom and interviewed him in 1990 for KCR’s Arts Show, which I presented at the time.

I could give people something to look at, so I stood in the Dandelion Market with my hand out literally, and when people threw me money I’d thank them with a wink. I was dressed as a bizarre sort of clown, and it took off from there. The public liked it, and the money was sufficient for a livelihood, so this developed from there.

GM: Is this your livelihood now – going to festivals and standing on the street, terrifying people or whatever?

TM: Well, it’s a full-time occupation, yeah, but the main line of work is creating and performing vigils for commercial promotions. You could be working for Baileys, or you could be dressed as a tube of toothpaste.

The likes of Dracula, which we have down in Kilkenny, and the Mona Lisa are mainly festival characters and are purely entertainment.

GM: Thom, you’re very welcome to Kilkenny. Can I ask what you’re doing here?

TM: Oh, we’re down here trying to terrify some of the population.

I’ve been roaming around the last two days dressed as Dracula within Kilkenny [City] and some of the places nearby, like Ballyragget and Thomastown.

GM: How did all this performing start for you, Thom?

TM: Well, it started by accident really. I did a kinda training in more conventional aspects of theatre, but when I moved over to this country I

worst was. I mean, people have tried to set me on fire, they’ve stuck different things into me, they’ve tried to stub out cigarettes on the back of my neck…

was very broke. I thought, well, I’m going to have to go out there and busk. But I couldn’t play an instrument, and I couldn’t sing. I knew

GM: What’s the worst thing that ever happened to you doing this?

TM: There have, at times, been all sorts of awful things, but I don’t think it’s possible to say what the

GM: Are you serious?

TM: Oh yeah. It isn’t always malicious. People are forever prodding you – there’s a natural desire to move you because of the degree of stillness. I used to think that people were trying to trip me up, but when I acquired a minder he told me that the crowd was so close at times that they’d trip over my legs. The minder was essential, as people would start with something light, and if it wasn’t stopped they’d move on to more difficult stuff.

GM: What about the man behind the costume? Who is the real Thom McGinty?

TM: Well, I’d like to think I’m different from Dracula (laughs). My work is very much a part of my life: the real me is… I don’t know. I don’t drink so much these days, but I could have described myself a few years ago as a drunken, Scottish,

bald-headed bowsie (laughs). Ah, that could be one description of me, but the work is literally what my life revolves around.

GM: How much longer can you do it?

TM: I don’t really know the answer to that, but the disciplines of the act – the stillness and things like that – I do think it’s an act that you could do until you are 70 or 80.

GM: So you have two more years left?

TM: (Laughs) I hope there’s a few more than that…

GM: Where next, Thom?

TM: We’re off to The Rose of Tralee, which is madness altogether. I used to hear stories about The Rose of Tralee, and I thought they were exaggerating, but you can either see it as absolute insanity or a kinda gigantic bacchanalia. I’ve treated it as a bacchanalia.

GM: Thom McGinty, the best of luck in Tralee, and thanks for talking to me.

Climate Change

– are we all playing our part?

WEEK 133

"Clear water means life"

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Unhappy Island to open at the Powerhouse, Callan Saturio Alonso is exhibiting a selection of works at The Powerhouse, Callan, Co. Kilkenny.

Using paper, leather and wood, Unhappy Island can be seen as a cabinet of curiosities, an eclectic collection of objects. As in an ethnographic museum, the objects in the exhibition were created raiding personal memories in what can, ironically, be defined as an exercise of inner colonialism. Using his Spanish background as a reference point and the propaganda aspect of the Baroque art prevalent in the multitude of religious buildings of that nation, Saturio integrates that aesthetic with some of the extraordinary traditional art found in Ireland. The use of leather, a medium firmly associated with practical crafts, being at the same time one of the oldest materials used historically by our ancestors, allows Alonso the opportunity to contrast the soft, organic surface with the severe form of some of the pieces.

In parallel, large paper works are transformed into three-dimensional objects by folding and cutting, obliging the viewer to confront and decipher the original painting and drawing now recreated and compressed into a completely different format.

Unhappy Island opens on 13 September at 5 pm. The exhibition remains open from 13 to 17 September at The Powerhouse, Mill Lane, Callan, R95 X227, Co. Kilkenny.

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Opinion

Country folk and the Emergency

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

Farmers kept the country “fed and watered” throughout the Emergency years (1939-45). So recalled Nell Leahy.

They coped better than most urban dwellers with the wartime restrictions and shortages, she confirmed, being well used to riding bikes or pony and traps in preference to motor cars, having their own meat and vegetables, and in many cases their own fire fuel to warm the house and cook the meals.

Country folk operated a barter system that enabled them to get by. They had borne the hardships occasioned by the Economic War of the 1930s, so the Emergency was to them just another challenge to overcome.

Nell observed how they continued to “plough the land, sow the seeds, save the hay, dig the potatoes and turnips, and harvest the beet crop”. Their dairies went on producing milk, butter, and cheese.

They reared livestock, as before the war and after, for beef, mutton, and bacon.

In spring the corn was grown, and in March the spuds, which had to be looked after meticulously to avoid the ravages of severe frost that came in April and May. Mangolds and turnips were sown in early June, and beet in April. The beet was generally harvested in October. The potatoes were ploughed up in the same month, and stored in barns or outhouses to shield them from the winter frosts. A few farmers stored the spuds in deep covered pits in their fields.

In October also the mangolds were pulled and clamped on the land. They were left to dry for a few days, then taken to the farmyard, placed in a pit, covered with clay and carefully thatched with straw to keep out the frost.

The turnips, by contrast, were allowed to remain in the ground until a little after Christmas. The farmers pulled and snagged them. They fed some to livestock, but many turnips ended up on dinner plates.

Most farmers in the Kyle district, Nell noted, had dairies. As a rule, a farmer with sixty acres kept up to eighteen cows, while a farmer with forty acres tended to confine his herd to about fourteen.

They fed their calves on the skim milk they took home from Callan creamery. In addition to rearing pigs for the Callan Bacon factory, farmers kept a few for themselves, to guarantee a regular supply of rashers, black and white puddings, meaty ribs, and the occasional pig’s head.

In May, mostly horse-drawn mowers mowed the un-spoilt meadows of ripe grass around Callan, with the clampdown on spare parts for tractors keenly felt up to war’s end.

A day or two after cutting, the farmers turned the hay (weather permitting), first into lines along the field, then forming it into small

Part one

Women breaking clods on potato ridges

up to war’s end. Jimmy Walsh of Green Lane (and later Mill Street) remembers seeing the Town Hall building on market days during the Emergency festooned with rabbit carcasses, displayed from floor to ceiling, inside the Green Street entrance.

Jimmy also recalled seeing the Bretts of Windgap busily shooting rabbits in 1942 in the Callan area.

Day after day, he heard the crackle of a .22 rifle when he and his schoolmates went out to play in the countryside and he spotted Jackie Brett loosing off at the bunnies. The Bretts were ambitious, hard-working business people and, in later years, Jackie’s sons were successful as agricultural merchants.

Saving the hay

Nell Leahy with her donkey

cocks with their pitchforks, then into larger “tram” cocks.

These were tied down with sugauns and remained in the field until the farmer was ready to cart it to his haybarn or build it into a rick to retain as winter fodder.

The story of corn harvesting had a special appeal for Nell, with its memories of threshing days in Kyle and the countryside around Callan.

Nell recalled an activity that provided a lucrative source of income for both farm families and quite a few “townies” in the war years. This was the catching of rabbits in the countryside. A huge market for the humble creature had opened in Britain.

Advertisements appeared in the Kilkenny Journal. “Rabbits wanted…in any quantity!” and “Earn good money…give us rabbits!” the ads declared, enticingly.

Clover Meats in Waterford bought vast numbers of them.

With rabbits plentiful, men and boys stalked the fields around Callan and district, laying snares to grab the unsuspecting creatures.

Lamps and traps were also used in killing them. Butchers across the water paid handsomely for rabbit meat, which wasn’t affected by rationing, and rabbit fur was used to line the uniforms of hard-pressed British fighter and bomber pilots.

The demand for rabbits persisted

Though it was a trying time for this creature originally introduced to Ireland by the Normans, a more direful fate awaited it after the war.

Nell Leahy said she cursed the day the infamous and diabolical myxomatosis was deliberately inflicted on the rabbit population to control numbers.

Instead of facing the trap or snare, to serve as food in rural Ireland or be exported to Britain, they were doomed to die slowly from this man-made disease.

“Nature should have been let take care of itself” Nell opined.

Extract from my book Are We Invaded Yet? (To be continued)

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

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Advertisement News

Dr.Clinic Dr. Clinic Kilkenny – Affordable, accessible healthcare in the heart of the city centre NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED No Appointment Needed

Clogh Annual Vintage Tractor Run – Sunday, 7th September The organising committee is pleased to announce that the Clogh Annual Vintage Tractor Run will take place on Sunday, 7th September. This much-loved community event has become a highlight in the local calendar, attracting participants and spectators from near and far.

Registration will begin at 11.00am at Clogh National School, where attendees can enjoy a display of both large and small tractors. In addition, a selection of vintage cars will be showcased, providing a further attraction for enthusiasts and visitors.

The Tractor Run is organised not only as a celebration of vintage machinery and rural tradition but also as a fundraising initiative.

Proceeds raised from this year’s event will be directed to Clogh National School and the Clogh Community Council, supporting local projects and community development.

Following the day’s activities, a monster raffle will take place in the Village Bar, featuring a wide range of prizes generously sponsored by local businesses and individuals. The committee extends sincere thanks to all sponsors and volunteers whose support has made this event possible.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Plan

Sport Council Members and TDs

Biodiversity Senator Noonan

Nature-inclusive parks and open spaces key objectives under Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Plan 18 month-long consultation between statutory agencies, landowners, elected members, biodiversity specialists and communities already reaping rewards Kilkenny is leading by example with its comprehensive Kilkenny County Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030, committing to record, conserve and restore habitats, protect and, where possible, restore ecological corridors.

The five-year Action Plan unveiled at Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum, Inistioge, Kilkenny, also provides Kilkenny County Council with an opportunity to examine its own work practices.

Community groups, landowners, statutory agencies, elected members and council officials all worked together with biodiversity specialists over 18 months on the comprehensive plan. It builds on much of the work completed over the past 20 years by the Heritage Officer for the county, and more recently by the Biodiversity Officer, Bernadette Moloney.

The Action Plan showcases how Kilkenny is leading the way by designing nature-inclusive housing estates, parks and open spaces. It also commits to improving water quality and habitat diversity on public grounds.

The plan also provides a structured approach to biodiversity restoration, outlining objectives and actions needed to protect and enhance biodiversity developed in the context

Parks Department

of both national and international biodiversity commitments, as well as regional and local policies, priorities and local consultation.

Just three other counties have so far published Biodiversity Action Plans under Heritage Council guidelines.

They are Offaly, Galway County and Limerick.

The development of the Action Plan was assisted by the newlyestablished Biodiversity Working Group. It identified a demand for and ran a community biodiversity course over the summer with Kilkenny Carlow Education Training Board.

The course is just one example of what opportunities lie ahead when stakeholders collaborate effectively, those behind the Action Plan say.

Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, thanked everyone who engaged in the preparation of the Biodiversity Action Plan, adding: “By completing biodiversity best practice, the Council will improve ecological

connectivity and empower local communities to connect with nature.

“Biodiversity policy is being embedded in all aspects of Council operations and through educational and outreach initiatives, appropriate biodiversity actions will be encouraged, with skills developed to contribute towards biodiversity recording and restoration well beyond the duration of this Action Plan.”

Lar Power, Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council said the Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030 is a strategic plan to protect and restore the county’s biodiversity. “This plan underscores our commitment to preserving biodiversity, as well as addressing the impacts of climate change. Our vision is to foster a climate-resilient, natural environment in Kilkenny, where biodiversity flourishes, ecosystems are restored, enhanced and protected.”

Biodiversity Plan Launch

Dr. Martina Moloney, Chairperson of The Heritage Council, described the Action Plan as a milestone initiative that brings national biodiversity to life at a local level, rooted in Kilkenny’s unique landscapes, ecological richness and unrivalled community spirit.

“The Local Authority Biodiversity Officer Programme, initiated by the Heritage Council in collaboration with the City and County Management Association, has been instrumental in ensuring that biodiversity becomes a central consideration in local governance.”

Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030 objectives are to: • Provide Biodiversity leadership at local level • Strengthen local biodiversity policy and integrate biodiversity procedures into council operations • Manage public open spaces for biodiversity • Conduct habitat mapping and monitoring to support data-driven management decisions • Record and monitor protected

species or species of conservation concern • Foster engagement, education and promotion of best practice biodiversity action Invasive species control works have been taking place at Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum in the run-up to the Action Plan launch.

A Grassland Ecology Kit, the first of its kind in Ireland, has also been developed to assist community groups and secondary school groups to monitor their biodiversity actions under the National Parks and Wildlife Services Local Biodiversity Action Fund.

Other initiatives already underway in the community include a hedgerow campaign, a collaboration between Kilkenny and Carlow local authorities, The Heritage Council and Nore Vision as part of the upcoming National Hedgerow Week (29th August-7th September).

For more information on Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030 and how you can play your part, log on www.kilkennycoco.ie/ eng/publications/council_ publications/

Biodiversity Officers for South East

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

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News Michelle McMahon, Visual Artist Landscape

“We are nature, we are all connected, we are all part of the web of life that supports us,” visual artist, Michelle McMahon believes Visual artist Michelle McMahon has hosted environmental awareness workshops with schools and community groups for a number of years and has been a passionate environmental activist for over two decades.

She still marvels at how initiatives such as the Creative Ireland funded Biodiversity on the Block project can ground participants in nature, slow them down and benefit them physically and mentally in the prevailing whirlwind world of ours.

“What would life be without all of the natural biodiversity that surrounds us?

Would it be worth it if we lived in a tarmac world?,” the mother, avid print-maker and eco-feminist asked.

“I especially love the art of print-making, the way it can convey a complex idea or tell a story way more effectively than a long piece of text. It’s a powerful medium for telling a story quickly, particularly in a social media age where we are constantly being bombarded with video and imagery and our brains are over-stimulated.

“My background is in environmentalism. I did a Masters in Science some 20 years ago now in Sustainable Development. I used to teach environmental awareness to community groups and with the Green Schools programs at secondary level. I got to know the different Environmental Awareness Officers in Kilkenny County Council over the years, including our now Biodiversity Officer Bernadette Moloney.

“Bernadette came to visit our print studio last year at Workhouse Union in Callan, and I showed her the “We are Nature” banner that I had been working on, and the many biodiversity blocks that I had carved. She invited me to get involved with the Action Plan, by facilitating Biodiversity on the Block print workshops with various community groups around the county through the Creative Ireland funded project titled “Biodiversity on the Block”. Which, I was

delighted to do!!!

“My colleague Noortje van Deursen and I facilitated “Biodiversity on the Block” print workshops around the county, with various community groups, including national schools in Mullinavat, Kilkenny City and Stoneyford as well as a farming community in Graiguenamanagh. We also worked with Ossory Youth and offered the workshop to the general community at our studio – PrintBlock, Callan.

“I used the workshop to highlight some ways that we can help our local biodiversity.

I spoke to the groups about the need for nature corridors, such as hedgerows and their protection. I found it odd that some children didn’t even know what a hedgerow was. That they had missed out on the joy of seeing a buzzing hedgerow with hawthorn flowers, tall ash rods, birds, bees and blackberries.”

The children especially loved to engage with the blocks depicting spiders, ants, butterflies and earthworms, to print their t-shirts and art pieces, Michelle said.

“This in turn enabled us to talk about the importance of insects and earthworms; the many ways in which they support us, like pollination.

“Much of our biodiversity occurs in repeat patterns around us, like an army of ants, berries in the hedgerows, flowers in the meadows, leaves on the trees. So it makes sense to work with these motifs using a repeat pattern process such as block-printing.

When we ran the workshop with teenagers, I noted that they didn’t engage with their phones for a whole hour and a half.

“They were contented, quiet, immersed in the practice, the patterns they were creating, and the colours. I also noted that people became curious about the names of the native wildflowers or tree leaves or butterfly blocks that they were printing with – it engaged them on an intellectual level too.”

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

Obituary

The Right Reverend Monsignor Kieron J. Kennedy Monsignor Kieron J. Kennedy, Parish Priest of Freshford, Co. Kilkenny and Episcopal Vicar for Social and Family Affairs, died unexpectedly, but peacefully, at his residence on Tuesday, 10th June 2025, in his seventy-fifth year.

THE EARLY YEARS Born in Dublin, where his father was a serving member of An Garda Síochána and where Daniel J. Kennedy had met and married Mildred Rochford, who was to be his wife for almost 60 years. Kieron’s early life was characterised by several family moves with each promotion through the ranks to Superintendent, which would have been the norm for many members of the Gardaí at that time. Kieron’s father was an immensely proud Kerryman from Portmagee, and that connection to the Kingdom was sustained by family visits over the years.

It created some rivalry in the Kennedy household during All-Ireland season as Mildred supported Dublin, leading to a lively dynamic when, as was often the case in those years (usually in front of the telly), the two teams fought it out in Croke Park. Kerry trips were a much-anticipated family holiday. On one such trip, at the age of 14, Kieron made a historic catch off the coast of Caherciveen in the form of a 14 lb 8 oz specimen sea bass that is recognised in the National History Museum. An early sign, if one was needed, that he was committed totally to whatever endeavour he was engaged in.

Kieron had an affinity with the Jewish tradition through his mother and grandparents’ family (Atkins), and that cultural echo through the ages enriched his priesthood and grounding in faith, family and especially in the appreciation of music that uplifts the soul.

His exuberant tenor voice was an added gift to raise the hearts of the congregation, even when least expected.

KILKENNY It was when his father was posted as a Detective Sergeant to Callan, Co. Kilkenny, that the then-teenage Kieron started to attend St Kieran’s College Secondary School, Kilkenny, and when an ongoing association with St Kieran’s College commenced, although there was only a brief salvo with hurling.

That posting in Callan and attendance at St Kieran’s meant that Kieron’s calling to the priesthood saw him commence his studies as a seminarian for the Diocese of Ossory, which Bishop Peter Birch determined should be at the Pontifico Collegio Irlandese, the Irish College in Rome.

ROME The young Kieron enthusiastically grasped the opportunity to study in the Eternal City.

Monsignor Kieron J. Kennedy

The language, the people, the entire environment of cultural richness inspired a chapter in his life which he found both formative and fulfilling. The appreciation of a good coffee was kindled in those days too.

Throughout his life he maintained a deep affection for the City and its culture, and, indeed, for the Irish College, which he felt had such a positive influence on his education and formation. His culinary skills, initially formed by his mother’s side (there were stories of apple tarts ‘bursting’ with goodness and accompanied by the best of Callan’s Co-Op’s double cream) were superbly enhanced with other delicious Italian flavours, much to his friends’ delight and enriching very memorable family gatherings. The return of ‘the first-born son’ from Rome was always met with excitement for the stories of ‘gitas’ and little gifts that were always thoughtful and especially loved by his mother and sisters.

Following his ordination in St Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny on 30th June 1974, Kieron was appointed by the Episcopal Conference as Irish Director for the Holy Year 1975 celebrations in Rome, which in that year had Reconciliation and Renewal as the theme, an early recognition of the organisational and administrative skills that were evident throughout his ministry. Post-graduate studies followed at the Gregorian Pontifical University, again in Rome, before Kieron returned to Ossory, appointed curate in St Canice’s parish in Kilkenny City.

LONDON In 1978 Kieron was com-

missioned to work with the Archdiocese of Westminster, and the following five years saw him live and minister in London. Kieron would always say that the importance he attributed to the development of appropriate structures through which the Church could support the marginalised and enhance its mission was shaped by his experiences in the Archdiocese.

Appointed Diocesan Housing and Resource Officer, he worked with and ministered to a wide array of state and diocesan groups, including the London Voluntary Housing Association, the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants, the Irish Chaplaincy Scheme and the Catholic Housing Aid Society. He recognised that his strength lay in the administrative, striving to ensure that the organisational scaffolding was in place to support the mission of the Diocese, and that appropriate governance was always adhered to in assisting the most vulnerable. However, that skill set was always grounded in his priesthood and his appreciation of a ‘sacred space’.

He worked with parishioners to enhance the churches he ministered in to improve and create places of beauty and peace, providing, especially during the later COVID years, a safe and peaceful oasis for prayer, reflection, and sense of community.

OSSORY SOCIAL SERVICES Kieron enjoyed his posting to the Archdiocese of Westminster: he often spoke of his work there as ‘life-giving’, and it was a productive and fruitful time for him. Recognising his gifts and talents, Bishop Laurence Forristal called him

back to the Diocese of Ossory with a particular remit to work with Ossory Social Services, an organisation established

by Bishop Peter Birch and with which Kieron would be associated throughout his ministry. In the following years, while serving as Director of Ossory Social Services, Kieron was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Social and Family Affairs, Diocesan Director for Emigrant Services, and Director of SOS (Kilkenny Ltd.), while continuing his pastoral work in St Canice’s parish.

Some will remember his days residing in the Presbytery beside St Canice’s Church where Dean, his much-loved, very alert, long-haired German Shepherd, maintained a vantage point high above the retaining wall on the laneway leading to the Butt’s Green.

On more than one occasion in the early hours, much to Kieron and Dean’s amusement, you would find a knight of the road transfixed looking up at the wolf-like apparition and then serenading him with a rousing rendition of ‘How Much is That Doggie in the Window?’.

ST KIERAN’S COLLEGE His association with St Kieran’s College was renewed in 1989 when he was appointed Administrator, and subsequently in 2004, when appointed President of the College. In these roles, he worked to improve the facilities of the College, both the Seminary and the Secondary School, to upgrade the fabric of the buildings, to enhance the profile and to expand the use of the College as a diocesan and educational facility. He was instrumental, for instance, in the establish-

ment of the NUI Maynooth Outreach programme at St Kieran’s, which ran for many years. He served as Trustee of the College and as Chairperson of the Secondary School Board of Management, supporting management and staff in the running of the school and took immense pride in seeing the St Kieran’s College community flourish. He was also involved in the initial discussions with the Department of Education and Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board on the reconfiguration of the campus and the school building project now in train. The attention to detail and recognition of the needs of the students travelling to school from all across the county included the €1 breakfast roll that went down very well with the students arriving very early to campus now suitably fuelled to start their day’s studies. The specific Jubilarians will recall the anticipation for each St Kieran’s Day College menu having something ‘parish appropriate’ as ‘hand-fed Gowran salmon’ accompanied by fresh ‘college garden vegetables’ or a Thomastowninspired dessert for a little sweetness. He added a flair of mischief to lift the everyday, often without admitting he had any part to play in it; you needed to recognise the twinkle in the eye, or it could be missed. That Kerryman trait of the ‘unsaid word’ had not fallen far from the tree.

This would be a characteristic his ‘Roman’ college classmates would have enjoyed in their formation days.

ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL While continuing his work with Ossory Social Services, in 2011, Kieron was appointed Administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral. He very much enjoyed engaging with the parishioners of St Mary’s and was integral to the life of the parish and to the conservation and restoration work carried out in the Cathedral and Chapter House, initiated

by Bishop Séamus Freeman, SAC, which is still ongoing.

Kieron was involved in the establishment of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the Cathedral Book Shop and the Cathedral Café, which brought new life to the Cathedral parish.

FRESHFORD In 2018, Kieron was appointed Parish Priest of Freshford, again while continuing his many other ministries. He very much valued and deeply respected the welcome and personal support he received from both its Church communities of Tulla and Freshford, where he enjoyed serving and attending to the needs of his parishioners until his unexpected passing. In his role as Episcopal Vicar for Social and Family Affairs and with Ossory Social Services,

over the years Kieron was involved in various capacities with organisations too numerous to mention, often as a founding member as with the Kilkenny Support Services for the Elderly, the Counselling Support for Schools (CSS), Kilkenny Meals on Wheels, the Good Shepherd Centre, the Tar Isteach Housing Association and the Kilkenny Voluntary Housing Association, and this is a rich legacy of dedicated service. Furthermore, in his parish work and in his long association with St Kieran’s College and through his involvement with numerous Diocesan Committees and organisations, he assisted so many, always in a respectful and dignified way.

Throughout his ministry, Kieron was driven by a powerful sense of service and loyalty, even if it might mean that, on occasion, he could be unapologetically challenging, unrelenting, and demanding of friends or colleagues alike, in doing what he considered to be right and just. His work was characterised by an attention to detail and an insistence on high standards and structure, especially as it related to support for the marginalised, which he saw as intrinsic to the mission of the Church, and his fiftyone years of ministry bore testimony to the motto of Ossory Social Services, ‘Helping people to help themselves’.

He ‘met people where they were at’ as he used to say, and above all his love of God, love and kindness for individual people, and a sense of the joy in the everyday was a core attribute. He enjoyed the celebrations around parish life, built around the sacraments: baptisms, first communions, confirmations, weddings and funerals, and felt deeply for those suffering grief.

It was fitting that at Kieron’s Requiem Mass Most Rev. Niall Coll, Bishop of Ossory, priests, religious and people of the diocese, were joined by lifelong friends, Most Rev. William Crean, Bishop of Cloyne, who journeyed with Kieron since their student days in Rome; Most Rev. Jim Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster; and Rt. Rev. Monsignor Martin Hayes, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Westminster, who were his friends and colleagues from his time in the Archdiocese, and by Sr. Therese Gillis, Sister of Charity, his friend and co-worker from his early days at Ossory Social Services.

Kieron will be inconsolably missed by his family: Miriam, Dorothy and Tim; Donal and Shelley; and by his nieces and nephews Sarah, Daniel, Donal Jnr, Leah, and David, and his loyal extended family, Fran, Madeline, and Kay. May he rest in peace with the parents he loved and cared for deeply.

John Curtis Friend and colleague

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

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Advertisement

Teacher retirement Kilkenny City Vocational School

Principal Cathy McSorley, Teachers, Eimear White, Elizabeth Thornton, John Collins, Cllr Deirdre Cullen, Chairperson of the Board of management and Vice Principal Deirdre Costigan.

Today was a special and emotional day at KCVS as we gathered to say farewell to our esteemed teacher, colleague, and friend, Ms. Thornton.

After an incredible 42 years of service to our school and to the KCETB, she now begins her well-deserved retirement.

Throughout her career, Ms. Thornton has been the very definition of honesty, loyalty, and dependability. She has been a trustworthy guide to generations of students, always leading by example and showing what it means to live with integrity. As a teacher of both Mathematics and Geography, she inspired not only a love of her subjects but also a curiosity about the wider world. Her vast knowledge and her own deep love of learning have encouraged countless young people to open their minds, ask questions, and see the beauty of the world around them.

Among her colleagues, Ms. Thornton has

always been a steadfast friend – loyal, supportive, and dependable in every sense. She has shared wisdom, kindness, and laughter in equal measure, and her presence has enriched the life of the school in ways too numerous to count. It is no exaggeration to say that she has been part of the very DNA of Kilkenny City Vocational School – a constant, shaping force whose legacy will live on in the heart of KCVS for many years to come.

While it is hard to imagine our school without her, we are filled with gratitude for all that she has given across more than four decades of dedicated service. On behalf of the entire KCVS community, we wish Ms. Thornton a long, happy, and healthy retirement. May this next chapter bring her every joy, new adventures, and the time to enjoy all the things she loves most. Though she may be leaving the classroom, her impact will remain with us always.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

Kilkenny Motor Club’s Annual Classic and Vintage Show Phil Buckley with His Classic Morris Minor Traveller Also Known as A Woodie

Mark Voss and Leonard Armstrong With His Fiat 127 At The show

Crowds flock to Kil The Kilkenny Motor Club’s Annual Classic and Vintage Show took place yesterday, drawing huge crowds to St. James’ Park for one of the county’s most eagerly awaited events of the summer. It was a colourful celebration of motoring heritage, with rows upon rows of lovingly maintained vintage cars, polished classic models, and gleaming motorbikes catching the sunlight. Visi-

tors strolled through the displays, admiring everything from timeless family saloons to quirky rarities that told their own unique stories.

This year’s feature was the Ford Escort MK II, celebrated for its 50th anniversary. Immaculate examples of the car were proudly showcased, drawing enthusiasts who reminisced about their early driving years and the Escort’s place in

Michael Dooley Brian Whelan Will Walsh and Mary Walsh with their Classic Ford

1936 Morgan

John Cassin and Franco Bove with his Fiat 500

Relaxing in the Jaguar section was Bernie Munally Miriam Sadlier Erin O Connor and Roz Tams

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

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Kilkenny Motor Club’s Annual Classic and Vintage Show

Enjoying the Classic Motor Show Were Ray O Hara and Ailbhe Conway

James Lakes and Stephen Murphy with his 1930 Riley

kenny Classic Show Irish motoring history. The sense of nostalgia was palpable as collectors shared anecdotes and compared restoration work.

But the show wasn’t just about vehicles. Families enjoyed a lively dog show, live music, and the chance to browse stalls offering books, Brick-A-Brack, and motoring memorabilia. The ever-popular autojumble kept collectors busy, with

spare parts and treasures changing hands throughout the day.

Admission was kept at just €5, with free entry and refreshments for owners who brought their classic or vintage vehicles. Proceeds supported Carlow/ Kilkenny Homecare, highlighting the event’s community focus. With sunshine, laughter, and shared passion, the show proved a resounding success for all.

Eamon and Clodiagh Holohan and Paul Kelly beside a Classic Riley

MJ And Tim Farrell with their Ford Escorts at the Classic Show

Joe Connolly Red Mills Ted Byrne and Patrice Byrne with their MG Roadster

Classic P And T Bedford Van

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

Global Report

The balancing act of flying the flag In the US, the Stars & Stripes are everywhere: on porches, lawns and pickup trucks. The national flag is part of the scenery, almost invisible in its ubiquity.

In England, flags are rarer.

They usually surface only for royal jubilees, military commemorations or major sporting events. But this year, things are changing.

The United Kingdom and English flags – the Union Flag and the Cross of St George respectively – have sprung up across parts of the country in recent weeks, draped on street lamps, strung out across streets and even painted onto intersections.

For some, the spectacle is an act of patriotism – a community binding itself to its nation.

For others, it is a provocation – a sense that the flag is being weaponised to make asylum seekers and “illegal immigrants” feel unwelcome.

The surge in flags can be traced to a campaign called ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ which began in the summer in Birmingham and has since spread across other parts of the country.

At its centre is a Facebook group called the ‘Weoley Warriors’ which describes itself as a “group of proud English men” – 2,000 members strong – intent on showing Birmingham and the country that “all is not lost”.

A GoFundMe launched by the group has raised more than £20,000 (€23,000), with organisers saying all funds will be used only “for flags, poles and cable ties.”

Little is known publicly about its leaders. What is visible is its ambition: a network of supporters working lamppost by lamppost to cloak England in red and white.

The relationship of the English to their flag is deeply ambivalent. Even the choice of which banner to raise is fraught – the red cross of St George, a symbol of England,

or the Union Flag of the wider United Kingdom, stitched together to represent four nations in one.

Both have complicated legacies and have at various times attempted to be coopted by far-right groups.

The English flag, in particular, was prominent during the football hooliganism of the 1970s and 1980s, when football matches were marred by thuggish violence and racist abuse. And the Union Flag (commonly known as the Union Jack) was marched through Britain’s streets by

the fascist National Front party – a group that openly championed white supremacy.

But since then, much has been done to reclaim both flags, and many Britons no longer bristle at the sight of flags in public places.

“The far-right tried to use the British flag 40 years ago, but it stands for all sorts of things,” said Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, a think-tank.

“It stands for Team GB (Britain’s Olympic team). It stands for the NHS. It stands

for the armies that fought the World Wars, which were very multi-ethnic and multifaith,” he told CNN. “If people think that the Union Jack or the England flag can’t represent ethnic minorities, they don’t know anything about… how minorities think about the history of the flag.”

A poll published last week by non-profit More in Common found three in five Britons want to see more flags flying in public places.

The surge comes at the end of a politically charged summer, when the issue of immigration has once more climbed in salience.

Last week, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, the figurehead of the surging populist right in the UK, pledged to deport hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers and withdraw the country from international human rights treaties.

Experts say Nigel Farage’s plans – billed as the most radical immigration overhaul in modern British politics – are unlikely to ever be delivered.

In Epping, a small town on London’s edge, the local council won a landmark High Court ruling this summer that will block the owners of the Bell Hotel from housing asylum seekers. Last week, the government won its appeal against the court ruling.

For authorities – police, councils and central govern-

ment – the issue has become a tough balancing act. Hanging a flag is, plainly, not illegal, but in parts of England, the red cross has been painted directly onto public property – across roundabouts and even stretched over pedestrian crossings, something that police warn could amount to criminal damage.

Several local councils have removed flags, citing safety concerns.

In London’s Tower Hamlets, home to one of the most diverse populations in the country, officials said residents were free to display flags on their own property, but anything fixed to councilowned infrastructure would be taken down.

The flag movement has put the British government in an awkward bind. A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters that he recognises people’s frustrations regarding illegal migration.

Asked about the movement, the spokesperson said Starmer viewed flags as symbols of Britain’s heritage but acknowledged that some wanted to use it as a means of causing conflict.

That balancing act reflects the sensitivity of the moment: embrace the flags too warmly and risk being seen to legitimise far-right activism; dismiss them outright and risk looking hostile to patriotism itself.

Iceland still the most peaceful country on Earth The Nordic nation of Iceland, famed for its volcanoes, hot springs and uniquely sublime landscapes, has once again been named the most peaceful country in the world by the Global Peace Index.

Produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), the index ranks 163 independent states and territories, according to criteria including societal safety and security; the extent of ongoing

domestic and international conflict; and the degree of militarisation.

As well as topping the index for 2025, Iceland is No. 3 on the World Happiness Report’s list of the world’s most blissed-out countries, and is one of the most desirable travel destinations in the Northern Hemisphere.

So what are Iceland and the rest of the countries in the Top 5 — Ireland, New Zealand, Austria and Switzerland — doing so right?

“The key to building peacefulness in times of conflict and uncertainty is Positive Peace: the attitudes, institutions and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies,” says the Global Peace Index report.

“Positive Peace is strongly correlated with higher GDP growth, lower interest rates, societal wellbeing and more resilience to shocks.”

In the years since the Global Peace Index was created in 2008, the average country score has

deteriorated by 5.4%. The gap between the most and least peaceful countries has also widened by 11.7% over this time.

“The world is facing a violent conflict crisis. There were 59 state-based conflicts in 2023, the highest number since the end of World War II,” the report says.

Russia is, for the first time, the world’s least peaceful country, followed by Ukraine.

The US has a low ranking on the index, appearing at

No. 128, below Honduras, Bangladesh and Uganda.

This is largely down to its high level of militarisation, which places it – under that criteria – down at the less peaceful end of the index, closer to North Korea (No. 149), Israel (No. 155), Ukraine (No. 162) and Russia (No. 163).

France is the most militarised country in Western and Central Europe, while South America was the only region to record an improvement

of peacefulness in this latest index. The biggest improvements were in Peru and Argentina, while Canada and Costa Rica were the most peace-loving nations in Central and South America.

Mauritius, Botswana and Namibia — all with thriving tourism industries, attracting honeymooners, wildlifelovers and adventure travellers respectively — were the most peaceful countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

The Black Abbey

The Black Abbey and the drama Photos by Ken McGuire

Prior of The Black Abbey, Fr Damian Polly, and Fr Tom Norton

The Evangelists. Cast members of ‘The Man Born To Be King’ in rehearsal at The Black Abbey: Nicola Keating, Eve Brennan, Sarah Brennan, and Nicola Brennan

Apostles of Jesus (members of Lake Productions) pictured at The Black Abbey, where they will present ‘The Man Born To Be King’

PM O’Sullivan The Black Abbey, one of Kilkenny’s treasures, possesses a quiet magic.

Fr Damian Polly, the current Prior, immediately noticed this quality on his arrival two years ago.

“A lot of people get that sense of peacefulness,” he nods. “Even the tourists. They are sort of brought up short by the character of being in here.”

His colleague Fr Tom Jordan likewise nods and develops this point: “You can see the faces change in some visitors. They arrive into us and maybe they’re chatting away, talking away, still distracted by being somewhere new. And then suddenly… The peace.”

Fr Damian: “Silence descends…”

Fr Tom draws a broader moral about contemporary life. “The

Black Abbey is one of the few places where there still is silence,” he notes. “Noise is very hard to avoid in today’s world. Doesn’t matter where you go, whether it’s into shops or supermarkets.

There’s noise. Outside, cars and motorbikes on the street. They are louder than ever. But here is like being right out in the countryside.

Or in the back part of the Castle Park.”

Yet few matters are absolute. The opposite of silence is drama, and these two men are equally perceptive on this activity and its value.

The question is certainly topical, in that The Black Abbey, pairing with Lake Productions, will stage The Man Born To Be King between Tuesday 9 September and Thursday 11 September. Directed by Darren Donohue, this offering returns to one of drama’s oldest forms, a Mystery play based on

Gospel stories. The Abbey itself is the venue for all three performances, when accompaniment will be provided by the Kilkenny Gospel Choir.

As Fr Damian explains, their rationale proved straightforward in one sense: “The Black Abbey is the jewel of the crown in our Province. Obviously here is the only original Dominican foundation that we have. Uniquely, it came back to life. So many other foundations are just in ruins throughout the country. It’s a kind of miracle that The Black Abbey is still a place of daily worship, centuries down the road.

“The immediate momentum for the play derives from our 800th anniversary in 2025. We were looking at the issue last year, because it’s such a momentous milestone. We were thinking about how best to mark the moment.

So we had some brainstorming about different things we might do throughout the year.”

He continues: “And so this play came into mind. It was Tom’s idea. He brought up Mystery plays, which I hadn’t really heard of before. We were talking about concerts. We were talking about pilgrimages. We were talking about all different things. And then Tom mentioned the idea of doing drama.”

Several factors informed his colleague’s suggestion. One was an experience now five decades distant. As Fr Tom details: “I was serving in Sligo, the early 1970s, and there was an old church that had been built during The Famine.

It had been found to be unsafe, really, and the building had to be knocked. So we decided that we would put on a play in the church, as a last note. Sligo had, and still

has, a wonderful tradition of drama.

“Anyway, we just got together.

Just devised the idea of doing part of a Dorothy Sayers play.

Sayers was an English writer and she had a whole series on the Life of Christ. The BBC did it. The idea was to involve the different churches, the different choirs.

And our version ran for a week, and ended up a big success.

“It even had the effect of a lot of people returning to the Church.

Some of them were involved in the cast and some had been part of the audience. They were very moved by the experience.”

An unexpected twist occurred: “We had a prefab in the Market Yard around the corner that the Corporation gave us for two years, until the church was rebuilt. And it proved so popular that people didn’t want to move back, because

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The Black Abbey

of religion over eight centuries

“The Judas Kiss” refers to Judas Iscariot's act of betraying Jesus with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane. The picture shows Jesus (Eoin Fingleton) and Judas (Kevin Reade)

they got so fond of that prefab. It was very intimate. But eventually we did move back.”

Reviving an element in The Black Abbey’s own history also appealed to Fr Tom. “I am conscious of the local context,” he stresses. “The Mystery plays developed in England, around Mass on Easter Sunday morning, before moving out in time into the streets. And eventually the way the dynamic developed was that different guilds would be responsible for different scenes in the Scriptures.

“There are clear records of Mystery plays being done here in Kilkenny too. Putting on The Man Born To Be King will be nothing new, in the best sense.”

Fr Damian widens history’s lens: “Post Reformation, there obviously was a lot of tension in Christianity about the presence

Do not weep, for love will be with you always. Mary Magdalene (Linda Beale White) under pressure from Roman soldiers played by John Joe Cullen and Milo Kavanagh

of drama, the whole business of theatre. In 1650 nearly everything in Britain to do with the theatre got shut down. The very idea of dramatic display was offensive to [Oliver] Cromwell’s party and followers. It was seen as Catholic remnants. Then there was the iconoclasm, the smashing of statues and so on.”

He presses back to an era before this conflict, emphasising the role drama, often in disguised fashion, played in religious life: “You could even think about the raising of Celtic Crosses in Ireland. A lot of people were illiterate. Not everybody knew how to read or write.

The vast majority, probably, did not.

“They put up Celtic Crosses, with the depiction of Bible scenes on them, as what you could call visual catechetical instruments.

People could read them without

being able to read. They were drama in stone. To see something depicted was enough, many centuries before television. I guess the same could be said about ornamentation in cathedrals.”

Fr Tom nods once more: “And the same with stained glass windows. Another form of communication through telling a story.”

His Prior elaborates on this theme: “Even when you think of some of the Gospel narratives like Jesus preaching on the side of a hill, a site that would be like an amphitheatre, to several thousand people. It’s just complete drama. Jesus would be telling parables and telling stories, preaching through stories. People in the audience would be imagining all these scenarios.

“Jesus was like a master storyteller. In that sense, there are many Biblical scenes that stand

out as intensely dramatic. Religion has always made use of drama as a resource.”

Fr Tom stirs at the mention of amphitheatres’ importance.

He puts himself back in 1954, resumes being a schoolboy in Bagenalstown. This youngster learnt the power of spectacle with a certainty never relinquished.

“That year, the life of St Patrick was being celebrated,” he recalls.

“It was part of the festival An Tostal. There were lots of different events. An aunt of mine took me to one in Slane, which is another natural arena, as anyone who goes to a concert there well knows. I remember St Patrick, played by Anew McMaster, came up the River Boyne on a boat.

McMaster was one of the leading actors of that time, and he was dressed in a big white costume and carrying a crozier. St Patrick

was arriving in Ireland on his mission, of course.

“And then, that night, we went on to Tara. And there was another scene there. During that one, they lit a fire on the Hill of Slane. We were in Tara and we could see it.

And the whole thing came alive, because the druids said that if the fire wasn’t put out tonight this fire would never be put out in Ireland.”

He looks away: “I can still see that blaze in my mind’s eye.”

The production has been made possible by the sponsorship of The Kilkenny Public Commemoration Scheme 2025, in association with Kilkenny County Council.

The Man Born To Be King, adapted for stage by John Morton, is directed by Darren Donohue and will run at the Black Abbey from 9 to 11 September. Booking is through Eventbrite.

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Food & Drink

Dine Me Come

With

Sticky onion and cheddar quiche

Prep: 40 mins Cook: 40 mins Slices: 8

A crisp pastry case and a just-set creamy filling, quiche is a good solution to any meal dilemma from dinner parties, suppers, picnics and even afternoon tea.

Ingredients • 25g butter • 500g small onion, (about 5 in total), halved and finely sliced • 2 eggs • 284ml pot double cream • 140g mature cheddar, coarsely grated For the pastry • 280g plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 140g cold butter Method STEP 1 To make the pastry, tip the flour and butter into a bowl, then rub together with your fingertips until completely mixed and crumbly.

Add 8 tbsp cold water, then bring everything together with your hands until just combined. Roll into a ball and use straight away or chill for up to 2 days. The pastry can also be frozen for up to a month.

STEP 2 Roll out the pastry on a lightly

floured surface to a round about 5cm larger than a 25cm tin. Use your rolling pin to lift it up, then drape over the tart case so there is an overhang of pastry on the sides.

Using a small ball of pastry scraps, push the pastry into the corners of the tin (see picture, above left).

Chill in the fridge or freezer for 20 mins.

STEP 3 Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.

While the pastry is chilling, heat the butter in a pan and cook the onions for 20 mins, stirring occasionally, until they become sticky and golden. Remove from the heat.

with a fork, line the tart case with a large circle of greaseproof paper or foil, then fill with baking beans.

Blind-bake the tart for 20 mins, remove the paper and beans, then continue to cook for 5-10 mins until biscuit brown.

STEP 4 Lightly prick the base of the tart

STEP 5 Meanwhile, beat the eggs in a bowl,

then gradually add the cream. Stir in the onions and half the cheese, then season with salt and pepper.

Carefully tip the filling into the case, sprinkle with the rest of the cheese, then bake for 20-25 mins until set and golden. Leave to cool in the case, trim the edges of the pastry, then remove and serve in slices.

before you let it cool. Butter and line a 23cm loose-bottomed or springform cake tin. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.

STEP 2 Reserve 3 tbsp of the custard in a bowl. Beat the rest of the custard together with the butter, flour, baking powder, eggs, vanilla and sugar until creamy and smooth.

Spoon one-third of the mix into the tin, add some of the rhubarb, then dot with one-third more cake mix and spread it out as well as you can. Top with some more rhubarb, then spoon over the remaining cake mix, leaving it in rough mounds and dips rather than being too neat about it. Scatter the rest of the rhubarb over the batter, then dot the remaining custard over. Bake for 40 mins until risen and golden, then cover with foil and bake for 15-20 mins more. It’s ready when a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tin, then dredge with icing sugar when cool.

Rhubarb and custard cake Prep: 20 mins Cook: 1 hr Serves: 16 This recipe tastes even better with homegrown rhubarb.

Ingredients • 1 quantity Barney’s roasted rhubarb (see recipe, below method) • 250g pack butter, softened, plus extra for greasing • 150g ready-made custard • 250g self-raising flour • ½ tsp baking powder

• 4 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 250g golden caster sugar • icing sugar, for dusting

Method STEP 1 Make the roasted rhubarb first, carefully draining off the juices

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5

Wednesday, S2 Jenna Ortega [pictured] returns as Wednesday Addams in the second act of Season 2. The second instalment seems to be the start of a brand-new era for her.

While she’s still on the hunt for the Hyde, she now has a new companion: the ghost of the late principal and secret shapeshifter Larissa Weems, Wednesday’s new spirit guardian.

But the return of the always-stellar Gwendoline Christie isn’t even the most anticipated cameo in this new season: Lady Gaga is confirmed to appear in this last batch of four episodes.

Only Murders in the Building, S5 Just how many murders can happen in one apartment building before it affects the property value? Apparently, more than five, but that’s New York real estate for you.

The hit murder mystery returns on Disney+ with a new case that hits even closer to home than usual: someone offed Lester, the beloved doorman, and it’s up to Charles, Oliver, and Mabel to find out who.

As always, expect plenty of guest stars like Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Christoph Waltz and Beanie Feldstein. And, of course, Meryl Streep in a great wig.

Release date: 9 September.

Gen V, S2 Eric Kripke’s college-set spinoff of the raunchy superhero series returns to Amazon Prime with a new season, a new conspiracy, and a new dean: Dean Cipher, played by Midnight Mass standout Hamish Linklater.

After the tragic loss of actor Chance Perdomo, the show is acknowledging his absence by making the disappearance of his character Andre central to the plot. It’s a lot for this fledgling show to take on, but any show in The Boys universe is definitely up to the challenge.

Release date: 17 September.

Alice in Borderland, S3 Alice in Borderland was Squid Game before Squid Game was Squid Game.

The Japanese manga adaptation did the deadly playground game gimmick on Netflix back in 2020, and now it’s returning for a third season. The end of Season 2 seemed to wrap up the story as a whole, with protagonist Arisu and the other players waking up in a hospital, the entirety of the games presumably just a shared delusion.

But when they discovered the Joker card, signalling one final game, it became evident there’s still more to play. The series is quickly running out of manga to adapt, so this season may make or break the show as a whole.

Release date: 17 September.

to stream right now on Netflix 1. The Thursday Murder Club

This is an adaptation of a hit murder mystery novel of the same name. It stars Helen Mirren as Elizabeth, a retired spy; Pierce Brosnan as Ron, a retired union leader; Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim, a retired psychiatrist; and Celia Imrie as Joyce, a retired nurse.

The star-studded line-up doesn’t stop there, though. The movie also features David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Tom Ellis and Richard E. Grant in what should be a charming murder mystery.

Streaming on Netflix.

Wednesday… plus all your days for autumn viewing The autumn sees streaming bring the long-awaited final chapter of a classic sci-fi saga, a risky new project from a TV legend, and multiple spinoffs showing new angles on projects fans already love.

Advertisement Advertisement TV & Streaming

2. My Life With the Walter Boys S2

Welcome to Derry Before there was It, there was just Derry. Andy Muschietti is turning back the clock with It: Welcome to Derry, a prequel series showing the origins of Pennywise back in 1962. But despite the 60-plus year difference, Bill Skarsgård looks just the same as the murderous clown, and there’s yet another ragtag group of kids looking to uncover what’s really going on with all the disappearances happening.

But there’s more to be had here than just an origin story: the trailer is full of Stephen King references, so it’s likely this will be the greatest show for King fans since.

Release date: 26 October Castle Rock Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan is back, and this time he’s focusing on science fiction instead of just science. Better Call Saul’s Rhea Seehorn stars in Pluribus, a genre-bending Apple+ original series in which “the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness,” according to the plot description. Details are still scarce about how exactly one saves the world from happiness, but considering the tagline is “happiness is contagious,” it has the potential to be one of the most intriguing new shows this autumn.

Release date: 7 November.

Stranger Things, S5 It’s been so long since

Stranger Things graced our screens that the oncetween cast now boasts directing credits, Tony nominations, and children of their own. But despite the long road, Stranger Things is finally coming back to finish the job. Season 5 is the final season of the show, and Netflix has a release schedule fitting of such a historic event.

Instead of releasing in two parts like Wednesday, Stranger Things Season 5 is premiering in three parts: • Part 1, Episodes 1–4, premieres 26 November; • Part 2, Episodes 5–7, premieres on Christmas Day; • The final episode premieres on New Year’s Eve. So while we’ll have to wait until the last day of 2025 to finish this show, there will be plenty of time to get hype about it.

Wonder Man Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars in Wonder Man, a new Marvel Disney+ series. The series has been in development hell for a while now, but that’s nothing unusual for the MCU. Much like WandaVision, the series is a meta take on television itself, following actor Simon Williams (Abdul-Mateen) as he auditions for a role in an upcoming series also entitled Wonder Man. One of the details we do have is the fact that a familiar face will return: the show will feature Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery, the false ‘Mandarin’ from Iron Man 3.

Release date: sometime in December.

A teen romance drama that originally started as an online romance story that has since transformed into a novel and, now, a hit Netflix original with two seasons to its name.

It stars Nikki Rodriguez as Jackie Howard, a recently orphaned teenage girl from Manhattan.

Being a 15-year-old girl is never easy, but having to relocate to rural Colorado after losing your parents in a car accident would upend anyone’s life.

Thankfully, Jackie has the Walters family.

If you love a romance drama, then this bingeable show could be one for your watchlist.

3. Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives Simone (Giacomo Ferrara), Gianni (Enrico Borello) and their group of friends are all in the long-running Mai una gioia fantasy league. Gianni is the reigning champ and is mere moments from scoring another win by getting married.

But suddenly, Gianni has disappeared, vanishing just before his wedding and before setting his fantasy football line-up.

The chief suspect is Andrea (Silvia D’Amico), the most recent addition to the group, who may be harbouring a dark secret.

4. Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

Most instances of cyberbullying pale in comparison to what happened to this schoolgirl. She lived in the small town of Beal City, Michigan, and her life seemed like a normal high school life. She even had Owen, a high school sweetheart she had known for years.

Then, the messages started coming in from an unknown number, cyberbullying her for more than a year.

It wrecked her life, but nobody was prepared for the shocking revelation of who was actually behind the messages.

5. Two Graves

If you love a dark crime drama, then Two Graves is for you. This limited series centres on the disappearance of 16-year-old girls Verónica and Marta, two friends who vanished seemingly without a trace.

Unfortunately, the investigation doesn’t go anywhere after a lack of evidence or suspects. That’s not good enough for Isabel (Kiti Mánver), the grandmother of Verónica, who has nothing to lose without her granddaughter.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

News

Mens Shed

and the community The importance of the Mens Shed groups which have become popular in many local communities is brilliantly put in this short poem written by Bridget Hynes Murphy in support of her father, Peter Hynes, a founder member of the Thomastown Mens Shed.

She recently attended the debut of a documentary made by one of their members Fellipe Lopes which highlights the importance of the Shed in the community and in the lives of those that meet there.

It is available to watch now on YouTube https: //youtu.be/qE08S_zFlWM?si=mAXSg62lFJItRcZO

Congratulations to Tom Gill, Kilsheelin who was the inaugural winner of the Irene Purcell Memorial Cup for his wonderful upcycling project, repurposing an old ironing board into an amazing garden sculpture and planter.

Tom’s sister, Dolores, accepting the cup on his behalf from Therese Hearn and Deirdre Corcoran, both daughters of Irene. Also included are two of Irene’s lovely grandchildren.

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Community & GAA Notes

KilkennyGAA clubs and Communitynews CLARA FINAL ROUND Clara seniors play the last round of the senior league/championship on Saturday at 3pm in Inistioge. Despite some strong performances Clara are in danger of finishing in the bottom two and thereby being consigned to a relegation semi final.

They need a victory over Mullinavat coupled with a Tullaroan win over Erins Own Castlecomer to avoid that fate. Best of luck to all involved.

CLUB LOTTO The Lotto results for 26th August –are as follows numbers drawn were- 1, 7, 14, there was no jackpot winner. A €30 prize went to each of these lucky people, Padraic Brennan, John Dowling, Peter Nolan, Emma Campion, Yvonne Moseley. Thanks for your continued support.

BEST WISHES Clara GAA wishes Fr. Willie Purcell best wishes in his new parish St. Canices. We are very grateful to him for all his support over the years and for sharing the parish facilities for our sporting and fundraising endeavors.

Mickey Power (O’Loughlin’s) Winner of the All Ireland Under-17 60x30 title.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS JUNIOR LEAGUE VICTORY O’Loughlin Gaels won the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior League (Section B) with a comprehensive victory over Thomastown by 3-26 to 0-11 in the final played in St. John’s Park. O’Loughlin’s dominated from the start and led by 1-13 to 0-7 at the interval with the goal coming from Jack Sheridan. The same player scored his second goal after the change over as O’Loughlin’s continued to dominate scoring a succession of points followed by a Ryan Poyntz goal. Proud captain Robbie Buckley accepted the Cup on behalf of his team and the focus now turns to the Championship. The winning team and scorers were: Declan Murphy, Jack Lawlor, Jamie Young, Evan Walsh, Barry Lawlor, Ruaidhrí Galwey, Gary Bryan, Oisín Murphy, Sammy Johnston ( 0-2), Paddy Butler, Greg Kelly (0-2 frees), Alex Sheridan ( 0-4, 0-1 free), Jack Sheridan (2-3), Kevin Murphy (0-6 ), Robbie Buckley (0-6) Subs: Alex Molloy, Joe Bolger (0-1), Ryan Poyntz (1-1), Ben Kinchella.

Team Management : Eddie Kearns, Darren Kelly,

Gary Kelly and Benny Cleere. Physio: Gary Lehane.

HANDBALL ALL IRELAND TITLE Congratulations to O’Loughlin’s handballer Mickey Power who defeated a fancied Tyrone player in the Under- 17 All-Ireland Final played in Wexford on Sunday last. Micky started brilliantly and never looked back, winning in two straight games.

Mickey has put in a huge effort this year and this success was his just reward. He will be a very tough opponent for anyone in the Minor grade next year.

Well done Mick.

BUSY WEEKS AHEAD The coming weeks promise to be busy ones for O’Loughlin Gaels players and teams. First up will be the Junior A hurlers who play Ballyragget in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior A relegation final in MW Hire Training Centre Dunmore on Friday 5th September. On Saturday 6th the seniors play their last St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny Senior Hurling League game against Bennettsbridge in Páirc Sheamuis Stiofáin. Monday 8th September sees the Under- 16’s in championship action against John Lockes in St. John’s Park while the minors face Mooncoin in their championship quarterfinal on Wednesday 10th September also in St. John’s Park. The Under-14’s travel to Palmerstown to play Dicksboro on Friday 12th September.

On the camogie front the seniors will play Tullaroan in Tullaroan in the Michael Lyng Motors Senior Championship on Sunday September 7th at 11am. The club asks members for your support for all our teams.

CLUB LOTTO There was no winner of O’Loughlin Gaels club lotto dated August 26th. The numbers drawn were 6, 9, 12, 26 and the bonus number was 20. Next week’s top prize will be. Play now at www.oloughlingaels. com/lotto Promotors draw: 1. Nuala Coyne c/o E Kinchella.

2. Bridie and Jim Tynan. 3. Mary Brennan c/o JJ Cullen. 4. Caelan Greene c/o P Greene. 5. Aidan Carroll c/o B Murphy 6. Pat Gannon c/o JJ Cullen.

7. Damien Donovan c/o JJ Cullen. 8. AnnMarie Kelly c/o Online. 9. Grainne McMillan c/o Online.

10. John Purcell c/o Online. Thank you for your continued support LAST BLITZ OF THE SUMMER What do over 420 children, 18 clubs, and every season of weather have in common?

The last blitz of the summer run by O’Loughlin Gaels for Under 6’s and 7’s where our youngest players could learn, play and feel part of their club.

Our Under 6’s hurled through sun, rain, and wind, while our Under 7’s had a mini blitz of their own. A proud day for our hurling family. Little hands with the biggest hearts, and the future of O’Loughlin Gaels and all the visiting clubs shining bright. Well done to organiser Stephen Mc Cormack and his crew for a great day.

MAYFAIR LIBRARY Mayfair Library is hosting a Careers Information Workshop on Monday September 8th at 2pmsuitable for school leavers, graduates, job seekers, career changers etc. Hosted by Statia (O’ Carroll Careers) who has over 25 years’ experience in the recruitment world! In celebration of International Literacy Day. Register for this FREE event at Mayfair Library Tel: 056 7794174 Email: Mayfair.library@ kilkennycoco.ie CHARITY AWARENESS WALK A Charity Awareness Walk in Memory of Aislinn Nelson Comerford will take place in Dunmore Countryside Park, Castlecomer Road entrance, (eircode: R95 HD50), tomorrow Saturday 6th of September at 2pm. All donations received go to Thrombosis Ireland and The Irish Heart Foundation. There will also be collection buckets on the day. Online donations can be made on Just Giving, ‘Aislinn’s Step Forward for Thrombosis.’ Donations: https://tinyurl.com/AisieWalk. All welcome, young and old.

FRESHFORD HANDBALL CHAMP Congratulations to local young boy Michael Ryan from Kilkenny Road, Freshford who won the County Roinn B U12 singles handball final recently.

Michael who is son of Joe and Claire Ryan plays handball with Talbots Inch club. There was a big entry in the competition and after a marathon session Michael displaying abundant skill and excellent footwork was the winner. Could this be a first county handball title for Freshford?

NEW PP The Parish of Freshford extend a warm welcome and very best wishes to Fr. Mark Condon as he takes up his position as new Parish Priest of the

O’Loughlin Gaels winners of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior Hurling League (Section B).

We welcome all GAA Club and Community notes for publication in The Kilkenny Observer email to sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

Community & GAA Notes

Another great day at the Dualla show for local lads David and Gyll Condon.

parish and offer him our support as he meets, greets and gets to know parishioners.

DUALLA SHOW Another great day at the Dualla show last Sunday for local lads David and Gyll Condon. They got 2nd and 3rd in the ram class, 1st and 2nd in the ewe lamb class. Their ewe lamb Gill Vale D’Arcy then went on to be tapped charollais champion.

This lamb was sired by Gill Vale Bentley out of one of their top show ewes and she has some serious breeding behind her, ancestry like Ralahine Willy Wonka, Lisfunchean Magnum and Knockcrogery Constable SAUNA The new sauna is now up and running at the Millennium Park and is creating big interest. The new facility opened at the beginning of August and you can book your 40mins session online. There are more evening sessions now available also.

FUNDING FOR THE LOOP Cllr Michael McCarthy has a warm welcome for the 40,000 euro funding for the loop walk here in Freshford. The foundering under the ORIS scheme will go towards upgrade and enhancement works for the facility which is used frequently by the young and not so young. Great credit is due to the Parks Department of Kilkenny County Council for their interest, involvement and delivery of the funding according to Cllr McCarthy.

LEAVING CERT RESULTS Congratulations to all the boys and girls who received their Leaving results last week in various secondary schools around the area. They are wished all the very best in the next chapter of their lives with many being offered college places while others go for apprentices and other avenues BACK TO SCHOOL The children returned to St. Lachtains national school on Monday last after the summer holidays with many starting for the first time. They are wished every blessing and good wishes for the school year ahead DEATH William (Liam) Carey late of Granges Road Kilkenny who died last week in his 99th year was originally from Gathabawn. Funeral mass took place in St. Canices Church Kilkenny followed by burial In St. Lachtains cemetery Freshford. He is mourned by his wife Peggy (nee Cuddihy) son Thomas, daughter Suzanne, grandchildrlen, son in law, daughter in law, niece, brothers in law, sisters in law and extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

THREECASTLES GRAVEYARD

Threecastles graveyard group thank all for their support at their recent Heritage Week event with a great evening of history, music and conversation had by all.

SPLIT THE POT The proceeds of Freshford split the pot for the month of August went to Freshford Squash Club and the following were the lucky winners –Week 1 – Marian Morrisey - €130, week 2- Shane Donnelly -€210, Week 3 – Carmel Brennan - €191, Week 4 – Deirdre Dunne - €176. Tickets are just €2 and can be bought from any of the pubs or shops in the village.

GAA St Lachtain’s annual race night will take place in Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium on Friday September 12th. This race night is the clubs main annual fundraiser so all support is greatly appreciated.

Tickets are available from any committee member.

Please get in touch with any committee member to advertise or sponsor a race. The club are looking forward to a great night and are encouraging the whole community to come together on the night.

While St.Lachtains intermediate hurlers had last weekend off it was still a busy weekend for Juvenile hurling in Freshford. Hugo Carroll, Jamie Kavanagh and another two local young hurlers Nathan Walsh and Paddy McCarthy were part of the Kilkenny Development squad at the weekend and represented their club and county with pride in the GAA academy finals.

The U6, U8 and U12s competed in a big tournament in O’Loughin Gaels, Mullinavat and Graigue Ballycallan respectfully on Sunday last. There was great fun had by all with some fine skills on display. The U8s had a 1pt defeat to Graigue Ballycallan in the final of the cup while the U12s got to the shield final but also were narrowly defeated by 2 pts by Young Irelands.

The U14s will face Danesfort in Danesfort on Friday evening at 6.45pm. The Intermediate league resumes on Sunday next when they take on the Fenians in Urlingford at 3.30pm SOCCER Freshford Town AFC membership is now open for 2025/2026 season, football for all ages and levels see all fees for boys and girls and junior players online. New members always welcome. Pleases register early to help form teams. Entry of teams will depend on numbers and coaches. Volunteers welcome for coaching, admin support. Safeguarding and coaching courses available.

IONAD LACHTAIN St. Lachtains Church Museum and Arts Centre

is now open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 4.00pm..

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

PARISH NEWS Mass times have been rescheduled for Freshford, Tullaroan and Ballycallan. Saturday evening- Killaloe -6pm Tullaroan 730pm. Sunday – Ballycallan 9.30am Freshford 11am. Killaloe, Tulla and Kilmanagh will share the 6pm Mass on a 1,2,3 basis.

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 hours of 9.30am to 1.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays or by calling to the office during those hours ALTAR SERVERS Altar servers are now being recruited to serve in our two churches. Applications are open to children who have received their first holy communion (3rd class upwards) and application forms are available in the church or by contacting the school. Those interested are asked to fill out the form and return it to the parish office. Altar servers are supervised by parents and supported by parish safeguarding reps.

TIDY TOWNS Freshford Tidy Town Committee have been busy cleaning up and painting and have asked all local residents and visitors to the village to support their application by doing your part where you live or visit. They also stated that 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.

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, meet with friends for a beverage and some lovely homemade food . The Loop also hosts a variety of community activities. The Loop is looking for volunteers as well as customers. If you’d like to volunteer, please call the café at 056.883.2650 and speak with Rhiannon.

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB MINOR CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP Despite the bravest of efforts, the club’s minor camogie team exited the 2025 minor “B” championship following a narrow 2-11 to 1-12 defeat at the hands of Glenmore in Pairc na Rathe. Going on the offensive from the throw-in, James Stephens built a five point lead inside the first 10 minutes thanks to the 1-01 delivered by Roisin Leahy and a point by Maeve White. The Village continued to dictate the play adding points to the scoreboard but the Glenmore girls hit back with two goals to stay in touch at 1-09 to 2-05 at the half time whistle. The temporary loss of influential Lucy Coomey, through injury, just before the break would have a telling impact as the forced changes in attack lessened the threat from the Village forward line which had been a worry for the home club. However, with 15 minutes remaining Lucy made a return to the field lifting morale in the James Stephens camp, but, scores were hard to come by as a packed Glenmore defence was able to hold tight against a constant stream of Village attacks over the tense closing minutes for a 2-11 to 1-12 victory. Credit to the young James Stephens side whose brave efforts just came up short on the day. Our thanks to the team mentors Brian Leahy, Tobias White and John Scott for their commitment to the girls during the season.

FAMILY BBQ A timely reminder to club members, their families and supporters, that the annual Family Barbeque get together will take place in Larchfield on Saturday evening next 6th September starting at 5pm.

The annual gathering is sure to be an enjoyable “meet and greet” event with plenty of banter, craic and even some serious discussion on the championship prospects of the various club teams with the knockout phase of the 2025 campaigns just around the corner. The fee is €7 for adults which includes a tasty burger and beer and €5 per child to include a burger and a soft drink. Co-ordinator Ann Marie White advises that there will be fun

events and sporting challenges for all ages and, a mini disco is also planned for the younger family members in the clubrooms.

U-14 CAMOGIE The U-14 camogie team retained their unbeaten league/championship run with a hard won 3-12 to 3-07 victory over a formidable Erin’s Own team in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan. Both clubs engaged strongly from the start with points by Jasmine Timmons-McEneaney and Emma Larkin swiftly countered by the Erins Own girls. As the exchanges continued, green flag scores by Ria Quinn and Emma Larkin to give the Village girls the lead was answered with similar scores by the ‘Comer girls who added a closing point to take a 2-03 to 2-02 half time lead. With the game on a knife edge throughout the 2nd half, the Village defence came to the fore with outstanding performances from centre back Molly-Anne Phelan and goalkeeper Mia Holden, in particular, to keep the Erin’s Own girls at bay. The forwards also played their part with valuable scores from Molly Dunne (1-03), Ali McDonald (0-02), Abbie Minogue-Lee (0-02), Emma Larkin (0-01) and Ria Quinn (0-01) to see off the challenge of the Castlecomer girls in a tough contest right to the final whistle. The girls can now look forward to a county semi-final scheduled for Saturday, 27th September.

LIBRARY NEWS On Thursday 4th September the Marie Keating Foundation mobile unit will be parked at the library from 10.30am to 13.30pm to welcome anyone interested in having a confidential conversation with one of the team’s specialist nurses. The aim of the Marie Keating Foundation is to bring life-saving messages on cancer prevention and early detection to as many people as possible nationwide. This is a free service, no booking is required, just drop in for the chat.

GOLF CHAMP Congratulations to loyal club supporter Richie Guilfoyle who won the inaugural Leinster (over 60’s) Open Golf tournament in Waterford GC. In the 36-hole competition, Richie won with an impressive 143 score (71 on 1st 18 holes followed by a 72 in 2nd round) on the testing Waterford Golf course.

Richie’s sons Eoin and Shane are members of the club’s intermediate and junior hurling panels.

Back in the late 1990’s, when jersey sponsorship became popular as a fundraiser for clubs, Richie was the first business person to come forward to support the club as a jersey sponsor with The Playwright Bar, emblazoned on the front of the famous Red and Green jersey for a number of years. Well done, Richie, on a fine achievement UPCOMING FIXTURES Sunday 7th September, Intermediate Hurling League Rd 5 v Mooncoin at 1.30pm in Mullinavat.

Senior Camogie League Rd 3 v St. Martins at 11am venue TBA. Monday 8th September, U-16 “A” Q-final v Barrow Rangers in Paulstown 6.30pm.

Wednesday 10th September. Minor “A” Q-Final v winners “B” Group in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan 6.30pm. Support would be much appreciated for these vital league and championship fixtures.

LOTTO Last week’s numbers were 4, 7, 16, 17. There was no winner. The €40 consolation winners were Ann Phelan, Mary Drennan, Mary Fogarty, Grogan and Brown, Killian Glynn.

BENNETTSBRIDGE WEEKLY MASSES Wednesday 10.30AM, Friday 10.30AM. CATHEDRAL FUND DRAW The St Mary’s Cathedral Fund Draw has been running for a good number of years and will commence its current year in September. Bishop Niall Coll has thanked all who supported the draw in the past and urges them to continue to do so. The draw takes place on the last Wednesday of each month and substantial cash prizes are on offer.

Contact the promoter in your area if you want to join.

LOTTO There was no winner of the Jackpot. The numbers drawn were, 2, 17, 24, 27. Consolation Prizes went to, Maria Magee, ℅ R, Comerford, Adam Barden, Post Office, Fr Willie Purcell, ℅ Ann Tobin, Julia Drennan, Coolmeen, Lorraine Dowling, ℅ Crotty’s FIELD DAY A great day was had by all at the GAA Annual Field Day and organisers were glad that the weather for the afternoon was kind to them.

CAMOGIE An outstanding display of camogie was witnessed at the Mullinavat under 10’s Camogie Blitz. After

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Community & GAA Notes Bennettsbridge U10s Camogie

approximately 5 and a half hours, Bennettsbridge; as one of 32 teams, played 6 matches, over 78 mins of game time, lining out with 14 players on the panel, fielding 10 girls on the pitch at a time; showing true character and pure grit, to advance to the final and winning the Mick Dunphy Division.

Participating in this excellently run tournament was a fantastic way to round off the season - well done to all our super players and a huge thank you to their families for their support GAA CLUB GAMES Good luck to our seniors who play O’Loughlin’s in a vital final league game this Saturday in the Kells Road at 3 pm September 6th. All support is greatly appreciated. Well done to our under 8s who played in the Mullinavat tournament last weekend. Our junior B team played their best hurling of the year to beat St Martins by 8 points and ensure survival in that division. Our under 6 team played in the local field day last Sunday. We were represented at county level last weekend by Jamie Walsh at under 16 level and Reuben Morrissey, Evan O Dwyer and Ben Fitzgerald at under 14 level.

Well done to all.

SIGNAGE CAMPAIGN Bennettsbridge GAA club are well pleased with the progress of the Pitch signage campaign. There are still places available and many thanks to all the business owners who have supported so far.

If interested please contact Alan Flynn or Alan Morrissey.

FIELD DAY 2025 Many thanks to all who attended and helped out at the annual field day last Sunday in the GAA grounds. Another great day was had by all.

An excellent committee under organiser Andrea Kelly did a great job setting up, manning stalls, parking cars, running events etc. Thanks also to all the visiting teams who played in the hurling and

camogie blitz’s. Particular thanks to Nore Valley Park for all their help on the day. The weather held up well and great entertainment was provided with bouncy castles, go carts, wheel of fortune etc Thanks also to Thomastown Fire Brigade for attending. A list of all prize winners will be included in next weeks notes.

NEW AWAY JERSEY AND BASEBALL HAT Our new away jersey is now for sale online on the clubs O’Neill’s 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 The next draw takes place this Friday at 6 pm in the clubhouse. Thanks again for the support.

GORESBRIDGE PAULSTOWN CLAY BIRD SHOOT Ballyellen-Goresbridge Gun Club is delighted to announce the next 50 Bird Clay Shoot on Sunday, 28th September at Tomdarragh, Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny (just 2 minutes from Goresbridge on the Borris road).

BRIDGE UNITED In the Premier Division Bridge A beat Lions A (41). Bridge scores by Eoin Kavanagh (3) and Conor English (1).

The underage girls were back in action with Ellen Molloy. If you are interested in signing up for the 2025 season get in contact with Claire Barcoe (moTom Healy

bile 085 7453605). Well done to some of the Boys Under-10s and Under-12s who competed in the 2025 Kells Celtic tournament in Meath. Both sides reached their semifinals where they lost out to the eventual winners.

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 in Paulstown on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday as well as 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.

A liturgy conference will take place on Saturday 20th September in Carlow College and Cathedral.

All congregation members in the diocese are welcome. Booking through www.kandle.ie The Legion of Mary meets each Thursday at 3pm.

CLIMATE COURSE A Climate Course for persons over 55 years of age. A 6-week course with Jacinta Barrins begins on Wednesday 17th September in Kilkenny.

Information:agefriendly@kilkennycoco.ie TALKING THE TALK Cupla focal (Irish language conversation circle) continues this Friday at 11am in the Goodly Barrow.

DANCE CLASSES Dance classes for children resumed in Paulstown from Tuesday 2 September.

HORSE SALES (GORESBRIDGE) The International Sport Horse Sale and Performance Connemara Sale takes place on 2-10 September.

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 the draw of 31st August were: 1. Catherine Kennedy (€100), 2. Betty Simpson (€20), 3.

Murt O’Neill (€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 and handbags.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC CONCERT Mick McAuley and John Doyle will perform in concert at Ionad Dara on Friday 5th September at 8.30pm. These artists have toured the World with USA based Supergroup Solas and also as a duo.

They have performed with some of the biggest names in the music business. Support on the night will be provided by local Kilkenny musician and singer Gerry Walsh. This promises to be a fantastic night. Tickets €23 available from Gerry Kavanagh 086-0443152 or Eventbrite.ie.

ST MARY’S PARISH NEW CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COLLEGE. People dropping off or collecting students at the new CBC are asked to abide by the traffic plan and obey the road signage instructions.

SET DANCING: Adult Set Dancing Classes are back running in Chapter House starting on Monday September 8th..From 8.30 to 10pm. Contact no. Dave at 087240 387 KNEELERS In the coming weeks we will replace the kneelers at one side of the side aisles of our Cathedral.

These are badly in need of repair and replacement on both sides of the church. We have decided to do one side at a time so as to space the costs over a number of months.

MEN’S JUBILEE CAMINO

We Wewelcome welcomeall allGAA GAAClub Cluband andCommunity Communitynotes notesfor forpublication publicationin inThe TheKilkenny KilkennyObserver Observeremail emailto tosales@kilkennyobserver.ie sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

Community & GAA Notes Men’s Hike - Saturday September 13th 20kms, on greenway, from Dominican abbey (ruin) in Carlingford to Newry (St Catherine’s) via Newry Cathedral (Jubilee Indulgence). Mass, Adoration, Rosary, Confessions & Fraternity. Registration & details on www.dominicans.ie/events/ €70 (Lunch, dinner & bus), over 18s male event. Enquiries to op.evangelisation@gmail.com.

THE MAN BORN TO BE KING Lake Productions will present ‘The man born to be King’ on 9th, 10th and 11th September 2025, in The Black Abbey, Kilkenny. The religious play will be presented in conjunction with the Black Abbey in celebrating their 800th anniversary.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Can you spare approx. 1 hour per week? The “Meals on Wheels” service need new volunteers to deliver meals around Kilkenny city. Must be a car driver. If you would like to join our team please ring the Kilkenny Social Services at this number: 056 7721685 ST PATRICK’S PONTIFICAL UNIVERSITY, MAYNOOTH Applications are still open at St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth for programmes in Theology and Pastoral Liturgy (Higher Diploma/Diploma options). Visit their website for more details at www. sppu.ie/courses STAND FOR PEACE Regional March for Palestine-Saturday September 6th-Carlow. Throughout the world people are heartbroken and outraged by the suffering in Gaza and Palestine. One action we can take is to come together in peaceful solidarity with the people of Palestine. Solidarity groups from Kilkenny, Laois, Carlow and Kildare are joining together for a Regional March for Palestine, taking place in Carlow on Saturday September 6th, departing at 1pm from the Liberty Tree. All are warmly invited to take part.Pope Leo XIV continues to “call for an immediate end to the barbarity of the war and for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”

BOOKSHOP St Mary’s Cathedral, Chapter House Bookshop is open Monday and Tuesday 9.30am - 1.00pm and Wednesday - Friday 9.30am - 5.00pm.

ROTA Readers Next Weekend 11.00am – D. Butler, 5.30pm – M. Dowling. Eucharistic Ministers 11.00am – B. Quinn, D. Quinn, R. Heffernan.

5.30pm – F. Culleton, K. Moran YOUR PARISH SAFEGUARDING REPS: Sr Betty Cagney, Martina Lawlor. Contact: safeguardingstmarys@ossory.ie. Please consult the Diocesan website (www.ossory.ie) for all relevant documents and policies.

INVITATION Invite your family members to support the Cathedral Friends Of St Mary’s Cathedral at www. stmaryscathedal.ie/friends BALLYRAGGET BALLYOUSKIL CHANGE IN COIS NORE SERVICE Cois Nore Outreach Service will change from the designated day, Mondays to Wednesdays, -for people or their families seeking cancer support to call in and have a face-to-face service in the comfort of their own hometown. Please note also that the time will be also be changing from 11am to 1pm.

The new start date of the change will commence and come into effect on Wednesday the 10th of September. Please drop in to Dr Hogan’s Rooms located on the Square in Ballyragget to find out more details about the free and confidential services available in Cois Nore Cancer Care Support in Walkin St. FAREWELL GIFT FOR FR EAMONN We invite parishioners to make a small gesture in the form of a donation towards a departure gift in appreciation of Fr Eamonn’s ministry and dedication whilst serving in our community.

All donations will be anonymous and may be left at John McGrath’s Shop, Supervalu Ballyragget or Attanagh Post Office. A presentation will be made to Fr Eamonn following the final Ladywell Mass on Monday, 8th September. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

KILMACOW GAELIC FOOTBALL Kilmacow GAA Club is exploring the possibility of starting a Gaelic football team for young girls.

They are asking people locally to complete the online questionnaire on the Kilmacow Community Newsletter to assess the level of interest in the

idea.

AFFORDABLE HOMES IN KILMACOW Kilkenny County Council will be launching an Affordable Housing Scheme for 13 houses in Church View, Dangan, Kilmacow from 10th September.

It is strongly recommended that applicants have Mortgage Approval in Principle prior to making an application as applicants will be required to demonstrate their capacity to purchase. The eligibility criteria, the Scheme of Priority, link to the online application portal, guide to making an application and the documentation required to accompany the application is available at: https://kilkennycoco.ie/affordable-homes. Please ring DNG, selling agents, at 051 852233 or Kilkenny County Council at 056 7794280 for further information.

KILMACOW LOTTO The winning numbers in last week’s lotto were 2, 6, 11 and 26. There was one Match 3 winner.

YOUTH CLUB Next Friday (5th September) from 7.00pm is Registration Night at Kilmacow Youth Club. Membership is open to anyone from 5th Class to 18 years.

A parent/guardian must accompany a new/existing member at the registration.

HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT Rosedale is looking for an experienced healthcare assistant. A suitable person must be reliable, have experience of working at night and be available at weekends. The position might suit a student looking for part-time work while studying. Please send a cover letter and CV to Claire Fogarty at rosedalemanager@rosedalekilmacow.ie MULLINAVAT FESTIVAL OF CAMOGIE AND HURLING Well done to all involved in the festival of camogie and hurling held in Mullinavat on Saturday and Sunday last. Thirty-two teams participated each day in this most enjoyable event. Thanks to all who help with the preparations and who helped out on the days.

MULLINAVAT MATTERS The next general meeting of Mullinavat Matters will be held in the Community Centre (Library) at 8.00pm on Tuesday, 16th September. All welcome to attend.

HERITAGE FUNDING The Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Built Heritage Historic Thatched Buildings Grant Scheme open for applications. The closing date is Friday, 26th September 2025. Please see the Kilkenny County Council website for further information and application forms or telephone Francis Coady, Conservation Officer at 056 7794376.

LINE DANCING A beginner’s line dancing class will start in Ross Abbey, Ferrybank from 7.00pm to 8.30pm on Friday, 5th September. The fee is €10 per class.

BULKY GOODS Kilkenny County Council has arranged a bulky goods drop off to Granny Recycling from Monday, 29th September to Saturday, 4th October. Cost to households is €5 per car. Items accepted include lockers, couches, wardrobes, wooden tables, chairs, bed-bases, head boards, wooden TV stands.

JOHNSTOWN WELCOME A huge welcome is extended to Fr. Eamon O’Gorman P.P. who has taken up his new position as Parish Priest of the parish cluster, Urlingford, Johnstown and Galmoy. He has replaced Fr. Ollie Maher who is now Parish Priest of Ballyragget, Lisdowney and Conahy. They are both wished well.

BACK TO SCHOOL All the children in the parish have now returned to both St. Kieran’s N.S. and Colaiste Mhuire. They are wished all the best for the new school year especially the little ones starting “big” school for the first time and the first years transitioning from Primary level. A word of congratulations to the class of ‘25 who achieved great results in their Leaving Cert and are now embarking on a new stage of their education.

CARDS Card games will resume in Graine Hall on Wednesday. September 10th at 8pm and will continue each Wednesday. night.

CREATIVE COURSES Free creative courses for children aged 10 to 14 years in St. Kieran’s Hall on September 8th and 11th. A few places still remaining. Information from 0567786896 SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO The winning numbers for this draw were 7,8,21,25.

There was no jackpot winner but there was four match three winners Imelda Curran, Paul Murphy, Eileen Nolan and Annette Phelan.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE – URLINGFORD LOCAL TRAINING PROGRAMME L.T.I. Free L.T.I. Course, which includes Driving Theory/ Driving lessons starting soon, anyone interested in applying call or drop in to the Centre.

SAVE THE DATE Knitting and Crochet Group Christmas Craft Fair Friday 5th December 2025.

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 056-8838466.

URLINGFORD BEST WISHES Best wishes are extended to Fr Ollie Maher who has been appointed Parish Priest of Ballyragget, Conahy and Lisdowney. Fr Ollie served us here in the parish of Urlingford, Johnstown and Galmoy for many years and we, as a community, are sorry to see him leave.

We would also like to welcome Fr Eamonn O’Gorman to the Parishes.

LOTTO Emeralds Urlingford and Graine lotto results for August 25th prize fund was €6,800. Numbers drawn: 10, 23, 27, 30, bonus number 29. There was one match three winner: Canice Sweeney. Five lucky dips of €20 each went to R. Dunne, Marcella Neary, Cliodhna O’Toole, Pat Brennan, Mairead Maher. Promoters prize: B. Joyce.

URLINGFORD ARMS SPLIT THE POT The August 31st winner of Split the Pot is Rían, Fionn and Aibhlin Tobin who received €565.

Congrats on behalf of Urlingford Mill Cemetery Maintenance Fund. Tickets €2 on sale in participating businesses in town or Revolut 087 2943889.

Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

Next week’s draw is for Urlingford Mill Cemetery Maintenance Fund. Please support.

GRAINE CARDS The progressive 25 card game will resume in Graine Hall on September 10th at 8pm and continue every Wednesday night at 8pm. All are welcome.

COIS NORE, URLINGFORD Please note that on Friday, September 12th, the operational time of the Cois Nore Outreach service will be changed to the new time of 11am to 1pm.

People from Urlingford and the surrounding areas are very welcome to drop in to The Mill Family Resource Centre Urlingford, for cancer support and to find out more details about the free and confidential services available in Cois Nore Cancer Care Support in Walkin St in Kilkenny.

URLINGFORD NEWS Anyone wishing to submit news items, club events, announcements etc can do so by emailing urlingfordnotes@gmail.com. If you have any photos you wish to include, please forward them to the email address.

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 The Rosary will be recited at Our Lady’s Grotto, Saturday before 6pm Mass.

HOLYCROSS ABBEY SOLEMN NOVENA The Holycross Abbey Solemn Novena will take place from September. 8th - 16th. Monday to Saturday sessions at 7am, 10.30am, 4.30pm and 7.30pm (Please note there is a 12.30pm session on Sunday but no 4.30pm). Special Sessions - Penitential Service, Friday. 12th at 7.30pm; Anointing of the Sick, Saturday. 13th at 2pm and Blessing of Infants, Sunday. 14th at 2.30pm. Confessions will be heard before, during and after each session every day except Sunday.

COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS (CFR) A Church Gate Collection for Urlingford-Graine CFR (which covers Gortnahoe area) will be held on the weekend of September 13th/14th at Gortnahoe Church only.

GALTEE MOUNTAIN BOYS BAND

Galtee Mountain Boys band will play in Hogan’s, Ballysloe this Saturday 6th September. Thanks to all who supported our recent walk which raised €1,509 for South Tipperary Hospice, a very valued service for Tipperary EPILEPSY IRELAND Thank you for the €575 raised at the recent Churchgate collection.

SEPTEMBER FAMILY MASS The September Family Mass takes place next weekend, 6th and 7th in both churches. As usual there will be a music practice from half an hour before the start of each mass, and we warmly welcome any children or adults who would like to join us singing.

BACK TO SCHOOL Best wishes and God’s blessings upon all teachers and pupils who have returned to the various schools for the coming year and especially to all involved in the enterprise of education in the parish.

MEN ON THE MOVE Men on the Move exercise classes with Biddy O’Dwyer returned on Monday 1st Sept. in MFRC, Glengoole, 11:15am – 12:15pm. Enjoy some light exercise followed by a cup of tea and a chat.

Further information contact Alice Teehan 0831014313.

GORTNAHOE BINGO Bingo will continue this Saturday evening at 4.00pm with doors opening from 3.00pm and will continue each Saturday evening at the same time.

Over €2,660 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game. A sincere thanks to everyone who supported the bingo last weekend. Your continued support is always appreciated by the Committee.

SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to Martin Brennan who won €195 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. Split the Pot for Septmber is in aid of the Christmas lights for Gortnahoe. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall.

Your support would be appreciated.

KILMANAGH FAREWELL TO FR. LIAM With heavy hearts we said a fond farewell to Fr Liam Taylor on Thursday evening last. He said his final mass in Ballycallan Church accompanied by a combination of all three choirs in the Parish. Following mass there were refreshments in Ballycallan Hall. A presentation was made to Fr. Taylor by the Parish Pastoral Council of a miniature stained glass window designed and crafted by Gabriel Wall. Thank you to everyone who helped out in any way on the day. It was a beautiful evening and saw a great gathering of people, young and not so young from every corner of our Parish.

AMPHITHEATRE 25th CELEBRATIONS A great day was had on Sunday 24th August in Ballykeeffe when we celebrated 25 years of the amphitheatre. The Ballycallan Fife and Drum Band started off proceedings when they marched in to the stage area and entertained us with a variety of tunes. Next came Nathan Maher from Tipperary, a young man who wrote a song in Ballykeeffe earlier in the summer. Then came the Cois Nore Choir with a great variety of songs and singers. The 4th support act on the day was Rath an Photoire.

These were the first group to play in the amphitheatre when it opened 25 years ago. It was great to see them back on the 25th anniversary and they played a beautiful selection of tunes. The main act of the evening was the brilliant Jack Lukeman (Jack L) who gave a tremendous ending to proceedings. MC on the day was fabulously carried out by both Jim Maher, local seanachai and Martin Bridgeman of KCLR fame. The committee would like to thank all those that came along to join in the celebrations and for all the support over the years. We look forward to the next 25.

SOCCER Saturday, September 6th: K&DL U14 Schoolboys League : Clover Utd v River Rangers.

WOMENS SHED Would anyone be interested in joining a “Women’s Shed” in Kilmanagh? At the moment we are just thinking about setting one up if there is enough interest in the parish. If you are interested in joining please let me know at womensshedkilmanagh@ gmail.com or contact me on 086 373 99 83 for further details.

ALTAR SERVERS We are now recruiting altar servers to join our

We welcome all GAA Club and Community notes for publication in The Kilkenny Observer email to sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

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Community & GAA Notes Fr. Willie Hennessy, P.P. was presented with farewell gift

already established teams in the parish. Applications are open to children who have received their first holy communion and upwards. Application forms are available in the church sacristies. Those interested are asked to fill these out and return them to the parish. Altar servers are supervised by parents and supported by parish safeguarding reps.

CEMETERY MASSES St. Michael’s Pattern will take place on Sunday 28th September.

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

CONAHY HURLING The junior hurlers are back in action this Sunday evening at 5.00 p.m. when they take on Windgap in Kilmanagh in their final round game of the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior League. A win would guarantee Conahy a place in the league final.

The under-14 hurlers are also in championship action this coming Friday night when they play Lisdowney in the Roinn C championship at 6.45 p.m. Best of luck to all involved.

Well done to M.J. Buggy and James Byrne (Under-14), and Rory Rhatigan and Billy Rowe (Under-16) who represented Conahy Shamrocks on the Na Cait Óga squads for the National Finals on Saturday last. Club man Paul Buggy was also a coach for the under-16 squad.

CAMOGIE The intermediate camogie girls will play their third league game in the Abbott Intermediate League against fellow table toppers Barrow Rangers on Sunday at 11.00 a.m. in Jenkinstown.

Well done to both the minor and under-14 camogie girls who scored good wins in their respective league/championship over the last week. The under-14 girls scored a great win over Windgap after a high scoring game in Jenkinstown in the Gaeltacht Roinn D Under-14 League/Champion-

ship. The minor girls also performed very well in scoring a 4-11 to 2-6 win over Barrow Rangers in Paulstown in the Gaeltacht Roinn D Minor League/ Championship.

A FOND FAREWELL Following his recent final Mass before departing Conahy Parish, Fr. Willie Hennessy, P.P., was presented with farewell gift of a landscape painting of the bluebells in Jenkinstown Wood from local artist Susan Keohane by Eileen Gunner and Teresa Dollard on behalf of the parishioners of Conahy.

CLUB LOTTO The numbers drawn in the most recent GAA Lotto draw were 23, 34 and 38. There was no winner of the jackpot so the consolation prizes went to Annette Healy, Michael Healy, Helena Comerford, Cathy Gunner and Margaret Phelan. The promoter prize winners were Shay Healy, Nora Delaney and John Carroll. Many thanks to everyone who continues to support the GAA Club Lotto.

CASTLECOMER LIBRARY EVENTS Your Phone is Listening: What you should know about Digital Media in 2025 - On Tuesday September 9th from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., join Laura from Little Spark Media for a powerful and eye-opening session on how digital media and AI are shaping our lives. From online safety to myth-busting, this talk will help you become more digitally aware of the content you consume! Booking is essential, so phone 056-4440561 or e-mail castlecomer@kilkennylibrary.ie to book a place.

Messy and Sensory Play Session - On Friday September 19th from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., join us for a messy and sensory play session for babies aged 16-18 months. Introduce your little ones to play and sensory development activities and meet other parents, with the added bonus that your baby gets to socialise with other babies and you don’t have to clean up afterwards! Booking is essential, so phone 056-4440561 or e-mail castlecomer@kilkennylibrary.ie to book a place.

COIS NORE OUTREACH SERVICE - UPDATE Locals are asked to note that the last day of operation of the Cois Nore Outreach service was Wednesday, September 3rd. From now on, the Cois Nore Outreach Service will change from the designated day from Wednesdays to Mondays for

people or their families seeking cancer support to call in and have a face-to-face service in the comfort of their own hometown. Please note also that the time will also change from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

The new start date of the change will commence from next Monday, September 8th. Please drop in to the new location in the Castlecomer Community Hall in Kilkenny Street, Castlecomer, to find out more details about the free and confidential services available in Cois Nore Cancer Care Support in Walkin Street, Kilkenny.

HUGGINSTOWN NEWMARKET STONEYFORD ALL SAINTS PASTORAL AREA Parishes - Aghaviller; Ballyhale; Mullinavat. Priests in the Pastoral Area: Sean O’Connor (Ballyhale) Parish Priest of the three Parishes in the Pastoral Area). Telephone 056 776 6696 or 086 389 5911: Email: rsoc1973@gmail.com Liam Cassin (Hugginstown). Telephone 087 231 2354: Email: liamcassin@ossory.ie. Liam Barron (Mullinavat). Telephone 087 272 2824: Email: mullinavat@ossory.ie.

Peter Hoyne (Newmarket - Retired). Telephone 056 776 8678 or 086 373 8492 MASS TIMES Aghaviller Parish, Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil - Saturday at 8.00p.m; Sunday 7th. at 10.00a.m.

Stoneyford: Vigil - Saturday at 6.30p.m. Friday 5th.

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.

Anniversary Mass; Jimmy Walsh, Lismatigue: Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 6th. September at 6.30p.m.

ROTA (TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR) Reader; Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m. Sheila Raggett. Hugginstown, Saturday 8.00p.m. Pat Power: Sunday 10.00a.m. Deirdre O’Shea. Eucharistic Ministers, Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m.

Natalia Smolen. Hugginstown, Saturday 8.00pm.

Mary Murphy, Sunday 10.00am. Ruth Crowley SAFEGUARDING IN THE DIOCESE OF OSSORY: Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Ms. Ail-

ish Higgins Tel: 087 100 0232. Aghaviller Parish Representatives are: Deirdre Rohan and Catherina Roche.

“CARLO ACUTIS” – THE MILLENNIUM SAINT: On Sunday 7th September 2025 Pope Leo XIV will declare Carlo Acutis to be a saint of the Church at the ceremony of canonisation in St Peter’s Square.

Castlecomer Parish has a relic of the new millennium saint which is placed in a specially commissioned reliquary in the Parish Church. Bishop Niall will visit Castlecomer on September 7th and will celebrate the 11.00a.m. Mass in conjunction with the Roman ceremony. The relic will continue to be on display in the Parish Church through to and including Sunday 14th. During school time it will be in the Oratory of Castlecomer Community School.

CAMINO Men’s Hike – On Saturday September 13th. Distance 20kms. Walking on Greenway from Dominican Abbey (ruin) in Carlingford to Newry (St Catherine’s) via Newry Cathedral (Jubilee Indulgence).

Mass, Adoration, Rosary, Confessions & Fraternity.

Registration and details on www.dominicans. ie/events/: over 18’s male event. Enquiries to op.evangelisation@gmail.com.

BLACK ABBEY Lake Productions will present “The Man Born to be King” on the 9th. 10th. and 11th. September at 7.30p.m. each evening in The Black Abbey, Kilkenny. This religious play will be presented in conjunction with the Black Abbey in celebrating of their 800th. Anniversary.

NEWMARKET SCHOOL The school is seeking a part-time staff member for 2 or 3 afternoons a week in its After School Kidz Club. Please call to school or ring 056 776 8919 LOTTO Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 25th. August 2025. The numbers drawn were 12: 13; 19; 28. There was no winner of first 3 numbers drawn, and no Jackpot winner. The €30.00. Winners were Paraic Barron, “On Line”, Teresa Butler, “On Line”, Orla Grace, “On Line”, Liam Aylward, Aghaviller, Rebecca Butler “On Line”. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers), Mary Carroll, Trisha Power, Padraig Crowley.

We welcome all GAA Club and Community notes for publication in The Kilkenny Observer email to sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

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Hurlng matters - Review

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League

All or nothing!

Relegation on the minds of many as round 5 arrives

Tomorrow sees round 5 of this season’s St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League following the ‘Electric Picnic break’. Not that any of our senior clubs would have been downing hurls and halting the drills with a crucial final round of action just round the corner. A little downtime was no doubt welcomed on Noreside, but the focus won’t have been lost on players and managers as many jockey for position as the group stages near completion.

While O’Loughlin Gaels and Thomastown remain the only unbeaten sides in the county at this level, only Noel Doherty’s charges cannot be caught as they sit 3 points clear of second place Mullinavat.

In Group A, Brian Hogan’s charges are two points ahead of Glenmore, whose only defeat came at the hands of the St John’s Park side in round 1 almost a month ago at the home of the Vegas Boys. This headto-head stat should see the current league champions face off against The Town in the league final. But before we get to that, there are many other pressing issues to be decided tomorrow afternoon.

Having secured promotion last season, Lisdowney know that they will be in a relegation semi-final, having lost all four games to date.

We will know at around 4:30 pm tomorrow who will join Aaron Fogarty’s side in the bottom two of Group A, with Bennettsbridge, Dicksboro and Shamrocks all acutely aware of the importance of Saturday’s fixtures. In Group B, the situation isn’t any clearer ahead of round 5. With Thomastown and The Vat safe as houses, Tullaroan should be also. That will leave two from Erin’s Own, Clara and Graigue Ballycallan all scrambling to climb away from the trap door.

Group A Lisdowney vs Glenmore As mentioned, Aaron Fogarty’s side are already in survival preparation mode. While they remain winless, they have given decent accounts of themselves in most games and will need to harness some belief in advance of the relegation semi-final that lies ahead. Saturday’s game with the impressive Glenmore is a bit of a ‘free hit’ for Lisdowney, as even victory won’t change the path ahead.

Perhaps they will rest key players, knowing that the game that follows this fixture is of more importance.

Brian Kavanagh, Richard McEvoy, Charlie Brennan and Luke Holohan could start this one on the bench.

Aidan Tallis has been a busy man so far this season, and Seamie Dollard’s men will no doubt look to work the inter-county panellist in Danesfort.

Glenmore have been great to watch this year. A great mix of youth and experience has stood them well, while having Eoin Murphy between the sticks has really benefited the

Brian Kavanagh key to Lisdowney

Gearoid Dunne shows great balance as he gets away from Killian Egan

Pairc na Ratha outfit. A place in the Shield final looks likely and they are building nicely ahead of the championship action.

O’Loughlin’s vs Bennettsbridge Brian Hogan’s side have been playing with a real spring in their step, and a little dose of hurt from last season. They look ready to right the ‘wrongs’ of that county final defeat to Thomastown and have been hugely impressive thus far.

The givens are Stephen Murphy in goals, Huw at full back, Mikey Butler beside him and Paddy Deegan going

where he is needed. Add in Jordan Molloy’s growing reputation and the quality that Kerry man Fionán Mackessy has brought to this Loughs side, and you can see why all is good. The form of Luke Hogan in attack has been sensational; he loves a goal. Having lost David Fogarty to an ACL injury, the strength in depth has been a huge asset to the St John’s Park men. Bennettsbridge know that they need a result in Páirc Shéamuis Stiophán to stand a chance of avoiding a relegation battle. The Blanchfields and Cleeres will need to bring the fire and hope

that their opponents rest some key men.

Dicksboro vs Shamrocks Ballyhale Gowran is the venue for this mouth-watering clash. Last season Shamrocks found themselves in a relegation semi-final, and they won’t want to repeat that this time round. Getting at least a point from this encounter should ensure safety for Henry Shefflin’s side, who have shown glimpses of their potential during this campaign. Adrian Mullen’s continued absence due to a groin injury has been a blow, but

there is still plenty of quality in this team. TJ Reid has been leading from the front, while the return of Ronan Corcoran and Brian Cody from their travels has been a blessing. The form of another pair of Corcorans in Killian and Darragh along with the experience of Richie Reid, Eoin Cody and Joey Holden will give hope to the South Kilkenny side.

Meanwhile the ‘Boro sit fourth, one point behind tomorrow’s opponents, knowing that should they lose, they need The Loughs to beat The Bridge to help their

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Hurling matters - Review Paul Cody finding it difficult to get past Conor Delaney

reliable from the placed ball, GBC have quality in Colum Prendiville, Jeff Neary and Aaron McEvoy, while Tommy Ronan can cause problems for defenders. They will need Stephen Keoghan to anchor things from centre back while netminder Seán McGrath will hope that he won’t be too busy tomorrow afternoon!

cause. Cillian’s Buckley and Hackett, Timmy Clifford and Pádraic Moylan will look to do battle, while young Patrick Lacey and Tom McPhillips have been hurling well.

Group B Erin’s Own vs Tullaroan Tullaroan are one point better off than their opponents as they lock horns in Johnstown tomorrow. The Castlecomer side are no strangers to relegation battles, and while two teams currently sit below them, they know that getting something from the clash with The Sash could see them spared the play-off action. Jack Buggy’s accuracy will be key to achieving this, while the experienced Conor Delaney will look to lead his side to safety. Dylan Simpson has been in electric form for his side and will pose huge problems for the Comer men’s defence. While The Sash are missing Walsh’s Tommy and Shane, there is plenty of quality around in the shape of Mossy Keoghan, Gearóid Dunne, Pádraig Walsh and Walton’s Bill and John.

David Blanchfield fails to prevent Ethan Phelan from scoring

Thomastown vs Graigue Ballycallan John Locke Park will see the meeting of Thomastown and Graigue Ballycallan. Noel Doherty could opt to give many of his key players a watching brief in Callan with bigger days out ahead. There is much more at stake for the Tom Ryall Park men in this fixture, and they will need their classy talisman and inter-county star, Billy Ryan, to put in a big performance. Two drawn games have been the source of points for Richie O’Neill’s charges, and they really do need to find that winning touch tomorrow. With Seán Ryan

Mullinavat vs Clara Having secured their only win to date in this season’s campaign on the opening day, Clara know they will most likely need maximum points from their clash with The Vat in picturesque Inistioge. The maroonclad side have one last chance to register a second win in Group B, otherwise a relegation semi-final is on

Paul Cody

Sean Morrissey will look to shine against OLG

the cards. The Carlow Roadbased side have been unlucky in some games, but they need to make their own luck against The Vegas Boys.

In Paul

Cody, Shane Staunton and Conor Hoyne they have talented stickmen, and with the experienced Chris Bolger and U20 speedster Rory Glynn in attack, they will always pose a scoring threat. Colm O’Byrne’s side are a real swashbuckling side, and that is a compliment! Captain Brian Phelan is a goal poacher and leader, while Malone’s Ger and Michael bring experience and guile.

Throw in the pacey Oisín Knox and Adam Mansfield and it’s a match for most teams, while Ian Duggan has been nothing short of outstanding this season.

With all games throwing in at 3 pm tomorrow, it promises to be another exciting, helter-skelter afternoon of senior club action on Noreside with much on the line for many sides. It’s hard to call which three teams will join Lisdowney in the relegation mire but expect some twists and turns at all the venues on Saturday.

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Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Paul O Neill intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for planning permission for a Proposed new single storey dwelling, detached single storey garage, new vehicular entrance, driveway, borewell, foul treatment system with percolation area, stormwater soakaways, landscaping and all associated site works at Sheastown, 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 9.00 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. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Nextgen Design and Build Ltd (info@ngdb.ie).

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL We, All Your Life Fitness Club Ltd, hereby intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission for a Change of Use of existing Light Industrial Warehouse Ground Floor Unit No’s 1 & 4 and First Floor Unit No’s 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A (total area of approx. 1,830m2) to gym use, internal alterations and modifications, new external signage, connection to existing services and all associated site works at Area 5, Parklands Business Park, Leggetsrath West, Kilkenny, R95 KV5D. This is an amendment to a previous Planning Permission Ref. 06 / 441.

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: Brendan Moore Architects, 38 St. Kieran’s Street, Kilkenny, 087 4120718.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL We, Ashbyrne Limited, hereby intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for a five-year Planning Permission for alterations to dwelling house on Site 06 Crann Arda as permitted under Planning Reference 2360502, namely, the construction of a two-storey dwelling house including all site drainage and site infrastructure works on the serviced site, at ‘Crann Arda’ Castlecomer Road, Lower Newpark, 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.

Signed: Brian Dunlop Architects Ltd. 15 Patrick Street Kilkenny. www.bdarchitects.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5th September 2025

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

JOHN SEAN CURRAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of John Sean Curran, late of Connolly Street, Kilkenny whose 10th anniversary occurs at this time.

Your needs in life were simple Your love for your family true In our hearts you will live forever Because we thought the world of you You always had a smile to share Time to give and time to care A loving nature, a heart of gold One of the best this world could hold Never selfish, always kind We cherish the memories you left behind Always remembered and sadly missed by your wife Mary, son John, grandson Jack, daughters Martina and Mary Nora and son-in-law Darren.

Anniversary Mass, Sunday 7th September at 11.30am in St Canice’s Church, Kilkenny.

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.H.

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. I.L.

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. B.H.

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.G.

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Classifieds

Classified section To advertise your business in our classified section call in or telephone: 056 777 1463, or email: accounts @kilkennyobserver.ie

087 2587745

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