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TripAdvisor annually releases a list of the most beautiful beaches in the world. e list is created based on the evaluation of travellers who have visited pristine paradises with crystal-clear waters, perfect places to enjoy some quiet days. e beaches on the list are spread over ve continents. Unsurprisingly, the Caribbean has several beaches among the best ones, followed by Brazil, which features three beaches – none of them in Rio de Janeiro. For people looking for inspiration for their next holiday, here are the seven best beaches they can visit in 2022.

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7. SICILY

Sicily is one of the most impressive regions in Italy, o ering the perfect combination of excellent food, amazing beaches, and great weather during summer. Isola dei Conigli, Lampedusa, seems to stand out among them all and was chosen by visitors as the most beautiful beach in Italy – and the only one in Europe to make it into the Top Seven. But what makes it so unique? e 20-kilometre-island is surrounded by clear waters that are perfect for snorkelling. e beach is heavily protected because, during the summer, hundreds of loggerhead sea turtles go to Isola dei Conigli to reproduce.

6. ST JOHN ISLAND

e Caribbean is lled with pristine beaches, but they are not alike. e St John Island, Virgin Islands, is home to Trunk Bay, a spot many people would easily de ne as ‘paradisiac’ thanks to its white sand and turquoise waters. Unsurprisingly, Trunk Bay is the most visited beach on the island, and tourists can enjoy a self-guided underwater snorkelling trail. It is one of the best places to do it, as the area is full of sea life and corals. On top of that, Trunk Bay also has a fantastic sunset.

5. BAIA DO SANCHO

Baia do Sancho is located in Fernando de Noronha, an island in the Brazilian Northeast. e whole island is full of panoramic views, and it is hard to believe it was once a prison during the Brazilian dictatorship. As cruises are not allowed, the only way to get there is by plane, and beaches are never crowded. Baia do Sancho is considered by visitors the most beautiful beach in Fernando de Noronha. e access is not easy, as tourists have to go down on steep ladders. Yet, the reward after arriving makes it worth it.

4. HAVELOCK ISLAND

India also has some great beaches and Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, seems to be the best one. e beach, also known as ‘beach number seven,’ is easily reached from the harbour, and it’s the perfect spot for watching the sunset. e beach is surrounded by palm trees and remains quiet most of the year. For visitors who like to explore, a ten- minute walk will lead to the Neil’s Cove, a little-known lagoon with pristine waters. Radhanagar Beach is also home to some of the best hotels on the island.

3. EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA

For people wondering if they should spend their next holiday in Aruba, Eagle Beach, Aruba, was elected the second most beautiful beach in the Caribbean. e beach has ranked third on TripAdvisor’s list, and it is easy to understand why by looking at its crystal-clear turquoise water and white sand. More than beauty, the beach is also quiet and o ers visitors privacy and the chance to relax properly during a holiday. Eagle Beach is also home to Fofoti trees, a famous postcard from Aruba. e place also welcomes sea turtles who choose to lay their eggs there.

2. QUARTA PRAIA, BRAZIL

Brazil has some of the most famous beaches in the world, but there are still hidden gems. Quarta Praia (Fourth Beach, in English) is located at Morro de São Paulo, a village in the Brazilian Northeast. e place attracts thousands of tourists, but some areas are still quiet – and the Quarta Praia is one of them. e beach is the perfect place for people looking to slow down and have some calm days. During the low tides, visitors can enjoy natural swimming pools.

Despite it being a small country, Scotland has a variety of destinations and landscapes is impressive. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, and the Isle of Skye are all mustsees for anyone who wants to experience the magic of Scotland. In order to get the most out of your trip, you’ll want to make sure you visit at the most opportune time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT FOR GOOD WEATHER

Like Ireland, Scotland isn’t particularly known for its weather. More often than not, it’s drizzly and a little dreary. When the weather shows o , though, there’s nothing more remarkable than a sunrise peeping over a Scottish glen or the sun setting behind Edinburgh Castle. To experience Scotland’s best weather, you’ll need to plan your trip at the right time — and have a bit of luck on your side. e spring season, from late March to May, provides slightly warmer temperatures (averaging between 45 and 55 degrees), and April is typically the driest month. e time period from September to November also gives way to fall foliage and daytime temperatures in the high 40s and low 50s, but you’ll want to shift your schedule to account for shorter days.

The 7 best beaches in the world

How to get the very best out of Scotland

As temperatures drop, so does the number of tourists in Scotland — and the prices. If you want to save money, book your trip in the o season, from November 1 to December 12, or wait until after Christmas, from December 26 to mid-March. While some popular sites may be closed during this time, there are plenty of other things to do, including skiing in the Cairngorms, curling up by a [replace in a cozy boutique hotel (like e Fife Arms), or exploring the Christmas markets in Edinburgh.

MOST POPULAR TIME TO VISIT

A majority of travellers make their way to Scotland in the warmer months. Tourist season in Edinburgh ramps up in June and peaks in August, with several major festivals — including the Edinburgh Art Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe — happening throughout the month. e capital’s summer temperatures rarely surpass 70 degrees, so traversing the hilly city is relatively pleasant. Visitors descend on Scotland from late May to September to experience the Highland Games, a Scottish tradition that has been around for hundreds of years. Each event, held in di erent locations throughout the region, is typically one day and includes traditional Scottish sports (tug o’ war and the hammer throw), as well as food, music, and dancing. e Braemar Gathering, held in September, is one of the most well-known events, with the royal family making an appearance in the small town every year.

BEST TIME TO EXPLORE THE HIGHLANDS

In order to have the most sunlight and best weather, many people head to the Scottish Highlands in the summer, between May and September. Starting in October, the weather can be unpredictable: freezing temperatures, gale-force winds, and snowfall are all possible. e snow-capped mountains are a sight to behold, though, so if you plan a Highlands road trip in the winter, make sure to pack a warm winter coat and that your rental car is properly equipped to handle any icy conditions.

BEST TIME TO AVOID MIDGES

From May until September, travellers have a high chance of running into midges, especially in the Highlands. ese biting insects prefer wet, humid, and cloudy conditions and come out in full force in July and August. To avoid the midges, book your trip to Scotland between late September and early May.

1. GRACE BAY

For people wondering what the most beautiful Caribbean beach is, Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos, was elected as the one. Visitors often describe it as an “absolutely idyllic setting” due to its calm, warm waters and quiet lifestyle. e beach is never crowded, and the famous resorts haven’t set foot there yet. Grace Bay Beach is three miles long, and people can easily explore it by walking. It is also a perfect spot for sportlovers, and the place is ideal for windsur ng, kayaking, and parasailing.

Kilkenny cited in major road plan

Kilkenny County Council, in partnership with Tipperary County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Department of Transport are developing the N24 Waterford to Cahir Project. e project is included in the National Development Plan 2021-2030. e second Public Consultation on the options developed for the project has begun following an online brie ng to elected representatives and will run until May 20.

Colette Byrne, Chief Executive, Kilkenny County Council, said:

“Public consultation is an important and integral part of the process during the various Phases of major project planning. e process is used to inform the general public, and in particular those who might possibly be directly a ected, about the proposed project, the manner by which the eventual solution will be selected and the considerations that will inform this choice, i.e. environmental, engineering, safety and nancial.

“It is also an opportunity for members of the public to highlight aspects of concern or special interest that should be considered by the Council and its Consultants in advancing the planning and design of the project,” she said.

Potential solutions for this project may include alternative transport solutions such as bus, rail and active travel modes, and di erent road based options. ese solutions will be subject to a comparative assessment of their potential impacts, and their relative success in achieving the project objectives to determine the preferred solution for the project.

Information will be available through an online consultation room on the dedicated website www.n24waterford2cahir. ie throughout the consultation period from 3 May 2022 to 20 May 2022.

* Submissions can be made using the online feedback form available on the project website www.n24waterford2cahir.ie/, or by email to N24Waterford2Cahir@ kilkennycoco.ie, or by post addressed to N24 Waterford to Cahir Project, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, R95 A39T.

New hubs get homework done!

e pandemic has changed our world. It has also changed the world of work forever. Millions of people and businesses around the world had to change overnight, moving from the o ce to home working and from interactions that occurred in person to interactions that occurred mainly on-line. is shift might have taken decades if it had been planned. Instead it took days. Many of us have returned to the of ce, but things will never be the same again. Videoconferencing will be more common and travelling for work much less so. While some people will work full-time from the o ce or from home, most of us will be blended workers, working sometimes from the o ce and other times from home, a hub or on the go.

On balance, these will be changes for the better. Less commuting, more time for family and leisure, and fewer transport greenhouse gas emissions will be among the bene ts. New job opportunities will be created for people who want to live in rural Ireland. Small towns and villages will see new investment, greater footfall and spend. But there are risks as well. We do not want to turn our homes into workplaces where we are always on.

We want to spread jobs more evenly across the county and we want to retain the creativity and innovation that ourishes from people meeting each other and do not want people to become isolated.

So, we need a plan – ‘Making Remote Work – National Remote Work Strategy’ is that plan. Among the main actions are mandating that home and remote work should be the norm for 20% of public sector employment, reviewing the treatment of remote working for the purposes of tax and expenditure, mapping and investing in a network of remote working hubs across Ireland, legislating for the right to request remote working, developing a code of practice for the right to disconnect and doing what we can to accelerate the provision of high-speed broadband to all parts of Ireland.

Kilkenny County Council in collaboration with local community stakeholders and funded by the Department of Community and Rural Development has developed ‘Connected Hubs Kilkenny’, based in ve local facilities throughout the county and based in Broadband Connection Points.

It is an initiative that provides space for local communities to facilitate remote working and meeting room facilities in locations with high speed broadband. e Connected Hubs in Kilkenny are based in Galmoy Community Centre, Glenmore Community Centre, Ballyouskill Community Centre, Crosspatrick Community Centre and Connolly’s of Dunbell.

* For further information or to enquire about working in one of the Connected hubs, contact (056) 7752662 or follow us on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/connectedhubskilkenny/

Our photo shows members from Connected Hubs Kilkenny at the launch of Galmoy Connected Hub with Cathaoirleach Fidelis Doherty and Head of Enterprise Kilkenny County Council, Fiona Deegan

PHOTO: Vicky Comerford

Port of Waterford looks to appoint a new CEO

e CEO at Port of Waterford Mr Frank Ronan will reach the end of his seven-year term this September and the company is currently seeking a new CEO. e Chair of the Port Company Des Whelan said: “Frank Ryan has achieved an incredible amount during his time with Port of Waterford and the board is very sorry to lose him as Chief Executive. He oversaw substantial growth during his tenure with us. He led the workforce and management team extremely well and has set down a considerable roadmap for the future leaving the business set to ourish, serving the economy in the Southeast region.

“As well as driving the business forward Frank Ryan played a pivotal role in reestablishing the port with the region’s business community and with communities living on both sides of the estuary,” he said.

“We are grateful to Frank for his leadership and considered insights and we wish him the very best on his return to the private sector,” said Mr Whelen. Frank Ronan said: ‘’My time with Port of Waterford has been a pleasure and a privilege. I will now work closely with the Board and my fantastic colleagues on the management team to ensure the best possible handover to the next CEO.” e Port of Waterford recruitment process for a new chief executive is currently live, details on the application process can be viewed at recruitireland.ie.

New car regs are lagging behind that of pre-Covid ssale levels

New car registrations for April were up 10.3% (7,886) when compared to April 2021 (7,147). Registrations year to date are up 4.7% (57,776) on the same period last year (55,177) and are 20.9% behind (73,030) that of pre-Covid levels, according to new gures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

Light commercials vehicles (LCV) are down 31.8% (1,626) compared to April last year (2,383) and year to date are down 19.9% (10,992). HGV (heavy goods vehicle) registrations are down 36.1% (209) in comparison to April 2021 (327). Year to date HGV’s are down 15.9% (1,030).

Used car imports for April (4,223) have seen a decrease of 25.6% on April 2021 (5,676). Year to date imports are down 34.2% (15,864) on 2021 (24,095).

For the month of April 1,286 new electric vehicles were registered compared to 590 in April 2021. So far this year 7,524 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to 3,406 on the same period 2021.

Electric vehicle, plug-in hybrids and hybrids continue to increase their market share, with a combined market share now of 43.89%. Petrol continues to remain dominant with 27.23%, Diesel accounts for 26.40%, hybrid 23.56%, electric 13.02% and plug-in electric hybrid 7.31%.

Brian Cooke, Director General SIMI said: “While new car registrations in April saw a 10.3% increase on the same month last year and are up 4.7% year to date, overall registrations still remain 20.9% behind that of pre-COVID (2019) levels. e return to more normal new car sales levels is being hampered in the short term by both supply chain issues and the uncertain global political climate. Over the medium term both the high levels of vehicle taxation and the uncertainty over the continuation of electric vehicle supports has the potential to lead to the ongoing suppression of new vehicle demand.”

Work with ATC Language School, Kilkenny College!

ATC is seeking enthusiastic and dynamic Principals, Managers, English Language Teachers and Activity Leaders and Coaches (Hockey and Tennis) for our summer camp located in Kilkenny College.

ATC’s Kilkenny summer camp runs from 29th June to 31st July. They aim to help internatonal summer students improve their English language skills in a stimulating atmosphere by providing an extensive educational, social and cultural programme - all delivered by motivated, friendly and skilled professionals.

ATC’s manager, teacher and activity leader rates are highly competitive and their summer camps are busy, professional and fun working environments. If this sounds like the kind of summer work you’re looking for, ATC Language Schools want to hear from you.

Email your CV to Joanne at recruitment@atcireland. ie and let them know which role you wish to apply for.

Preparatory ELT Certi cate Courses If you are a quali ed Secondary or Primary School teacher and you wish to train on ATC’s Preparatory ELT Certi cate Courses, either face-to-face or online, contact nadine@atcireland.ie. Face-to-Face Course Dates: 13th – 17th June 2022

Online Course Dates: 7th – 17th June 2022, 9 days Weekday evenings, 4-6pm

Contact Us Send your CV to: recruitment@atcireland.ie Take a course with us: nadine@atcireland.ie Find out more: https://atclanguageschools. com/work-with-us/

Irish Defence Forces Recruitment opportunities

General Service Recruitment Applications for general service army and naval service recruits is open throughout the year. The training syllabus is designed to produce physically fit, disciplined and motivated soldiers. Army General Service recruits on completion of training and 3 star training will be posted to units throughout the country. Naval Service recruits on completion of training will be posted to branches within the naval base in Haulbolwine, Cobh, Co. Cork.

Annual Cadetship The annual cadetship competition offers a range of graduate, non graduate and school leaver opportunities to train and become a commissioned officer in the Irish Defence Forces. Cadetships are offered in the following areas Army Line, Army Equitation, Army Engineer (graduate program), Army Ordnance, Air

Corps Pilot, Naval Service Operations Branch Cadet, Naval Service Engineers branch cadet and Electrical Engineer Cadet. Applications for the 2022 cadetship competition will open in the coming weeks. Assessments will take place over June, July and August with intake scheduled for late September and early October 2022.

Air Corps Apprentice Trainee Technician Air Corps Apprentices Trainee Technician Competition is run annually. Apprentices complete basic military training and advance onto aviation mechanics and technologies training where they learn the skills to maintain and service our life saving fleet of aircraft.

On completion of training, technicians are awarded a level 7 Bachelors of engineering in aviation technologies from TU Dublin. This recruitment competition is closed for applications but will open in early 2023 for applications.

Direct Entry Specialists We recruit a number of direct entry specialist roles in the Defence Forces. Visit the current competitions page in our careers section on www.military.ie to find out what roles are available for application.

Kickstart your career in media

ARE you interested in, or thinking about, a career in multimedia, photography or lmmaking? Join the Young Irish Filmmakers Multimedia course commencing October 2022. Applications are now open for those living in the Kilkenny/Carlow area.

“A practical course from day one, learn lmmaking techniques, on set roles, scripting, pre-production, lm editing with Premiere-pro and immerse yourself in the world of Multimedia. e course provides an excellent platform for all things Multimedia while o ering progression routes to higher level education”, explains Gareth Hanlon course Coordinator.

“Last year 100% of our learners received their full level 5 QQI major award”. e recruiting process for Young Irish Filmmakers Visual Communications and Multimedia Production course is now in full swing and you can register on FETCHCOURSES.IE to be in with a chance of joining this fantastic course.

Practical from the start, your rst video creations are happening in week one. Drama, comedy, music and documentary workshops are peppered throughout the programme. Learners can also expect a number of road trips to exhibitions, lm festivals and college open days. Subject choices include Photography, Digital Media, Web Design, Graphic Design, Multimedia Production, Multimedia Authoring and Work Experience.

Each learner de nes their own personal project, which will include video, audio, text, images and design. Students work collaboratively, feeding into each other’s portfolios. It’s a creatively nurturing environment, “we even have a wellbeing o cer on the team” to ensure learners have their best experience. Every September, 20 creative people aged 16+, sign up for 44 weeks of video production, music production, podcasting, photography, graphic design, performance and video editing. e Kilkenny City based course runs full time for 44 weeks and begins in September 2022.

Explaining the entry requirements, Gareth states, “It is usually Level 4 or equivalent to join us, however, the real requirement is a passion for media, lmmaking, photography or lm editing.”

“ roughout their modules on the course, learners will build a signi cant portfolio, and achieve a solid foundation in the Adobe Creative Suite, including Premiere Pro, Photoshop, After E ects and InDesign”, explains Gareth. e feedback we get from our alumni students is excellent, one student in particular, forwarded this message to the sta upon completion of the course “ ank you all so much guys the best year I’ve ever had”.

In addition, there is generally payment for attending the course. You will need to be signed on to Intreo, on Disability payment or be an early school leaver to qualify. ere is also assistance with travel costs where appropriate. e practical Digital literacy training will allow learners to develop a combination of valuable employable skills, helping them progress into further education and/ or employment. Training concentrates on key three areas: digital literacy, soft skills and technical ability.

We expect the course to ll up fast. To be called for an interview you must register your interest on the fetchcourses.ie website. Visit yifm.com/digitalmedia/. Feel free to contact gareth@yifm. com directly for more detailed information.

Correct supplementation alongside healthy choices key to exam success

EXAM jitters are something we have all been through, or will go through, at some stage of our life and as exams approach, one of the main questions parents ask is how they can best support the student in their home during this time.

SOMEGA, Ireland’s purest brand of health supplements, has launched a special “Exam Support” health bundle which provides students with the most important vitamins to support brain health, memory, concentration and learning as well as combating stress. e “Exam Support” bundle also helps to naturally enhance energy levels and reduce tiredness and fatigue.

Formulated by food scientists and nutritionists in West Cork, SOMEGA supplements are created using the purest ingredients which are sugar, gluten, alcohol, yeast and soy free. ey are also non-GMO and are sustainably packaged and produced.

SOMEGA co-founder and nutritionist Dr. Paula Gaynor says, “Anyone who has sat exams, regardless of how long ago it was, can attest to still feeling that urry of anxiety and worry that comes with the build-up of turning over the paper. It becomes one of those memories we may try to tune out but revisits us at this time of the year and this same feeling can be felt again as a parent of an exam student.

To help students through this time we have chosen two of our hero products for our “Exam Support” bundle featuring our Liposomal Vitamin B-Complex plus C and our Easy Omega-3 + Vitamin D. Both are liquid supplements with high bioavailability, meaning they are easily absorbed by the body in comparison to capsules which the digestive system must work hard to break down and utilise. ey also taste good which makes them more enjoyable and easier to make part of your daily routine.

While high quality supplements are important at this time, so too is the need to eat a balanced and varied diet while getting adequate sleep and exercise each day. All of this combined will ensure that the student in your life is well supported both physically and mentally during exam time.”

SOMEGA supplements can be enjoyed straight from the spoon or added to cold drinks, juices and smoothies and can be purchased in local health shops including Food for Life, e Good Earth, and McCauley Pharmacies or online at gosomega.com

Dr. Paula Gaynor

Johnny and Mary Gleason

Attending the Watergate for the production of ‘Orphans Disease’: Kathleen Curran, Brenda Sullivan , Bridie Kelly, Marina O’Shaughnessy, Geraldine Shortall Mary Kelly, Leah Sullivan Chris Hay, Ethel Lahart

A theatrical triumph as Cronin play receives standing ovation

Photos Pat Shortall Words: Gerry Cody

What, in the name of all that’s holy, possesses people to go on stage. Stage fright has a icted some of the biggest stars the acting world has ever known. Laurence Olivier su ered years of debilitating performance anxiety, recalling in his autobiography: “My throat closed up and the audience was beginning to go giddily around.” In 2016, Hugh Grant told the Hollywood Reporter: “I do live in terror of an attack. I used to get three or four [on a lm].” Hollywood star Jack Lemmon once observed that, without “heightened apprehension”, an actor “probably won’t give as good a performance as he should”, but that stage fright was something else.

Actors speak of the physical “hurt” and mental anguish the anxiety would induce, with one likening it to “a death experience” and the feeling of “losing consciousness”. ey detail symptoms ranging from swollen tongues to fainting, uncontrollable crying, cold sweats, breathing di culties and palpitations.

I don’t think that people really understand what some actors go through to deliver their performances.

And worse still, is a show where you are the only person on the stage.

A ONE WOMAN SHOW

So it was, when Catherine Shortall Cronin took to the Watergate stage with her one woman show ‘Orphan disease’.

Certainly, if the actor su ered any pre show nerves, it wasn’t evident during her 90 minute performance.

She carried it o with the aplomb and panache usually reserved for an actor with more stage experience.

Over the last ten years or so, a few one person shows have been staged around Ireland that not only worked but are arguably in the top ve shows in the canon of Irish theatre. ese include ‘ e Man in the woman’s shoes’ ( Mikel Mur ) ; Forgotten ( Pat Kinevane) ; Tom CreanAntartic Explorer ( Aidan Dooley).

Other people will have their own choices, but you get the idea.

Orphan Disease can take its

Lake Productions members Ger Cody, and Mary Cradock supporting the Catherine Cronin play Orphans Disease

Margaret and John Ryan Sisters Margaret Shortall and Catherine Cronin With their Grandmothers photograph in the background

rightful place alongside these aforementioned plays. is one-woman show opened in Zurich, Switzerland last August with the company Close Encounters eatre (CET). Cronin has been living in Zurich for over twelve years but Kilkenny and Ireland remain close to her heart and her work. is is certainly evident throughout Orphan Disease.

CANCER DIAGNOSIS FORCES EVALUATION

In December 2018, Cronin was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, and, later, the BRCA2 gene mutation. is incident forced her to re-evaluate her life and goals. She immersed herself in writing which emboldened and encouraged her to face her illness with strength and positivity.

During the pandemic, she joined an online writing course with CET and was later approached by the company’s artistic director to write a play about her experience with cancer and the impact the BRCA2 gene had on her family. e journey of Orphan Disease has been a cathartic experience for Cronin and her family. Cronin’s paternal grandmother, Annie Dwan, passed away at a very young age from breast cancer and, likely, carried the BRCA2 gene also. Orphan Disease explores the two very di erent journeys these women had in two very di erent time periods, all while walking the line between tragedy and comedy.

I AM MY MOTHER

Interestingly e Playbill on the night contained a poem ‘I am my mother’ by the actors father Pat Shortall. e nal verse reads

“But I live for the mother I never knew

She was without choice,

Selected as one, who must not survive

Two thirds of her existence, pilfered, is is the son,

Bereft of mothering.

Each time a lady, such as his mother is gifted with motherhood

She, and all others become

Mother’s forever-it is their destiny.

Six years are not forever

Six years are but a sample

Of mother and son moments”

TICKED ALL THE BOXES

e play ticked all the boxes.

Entertaining, sad, funny, audience engagement. Yes to all.

What makes these plays stand out so much ahead of all others? Honesty. Pure and simple. Yes of course, it takes a great actor to carry these shows. But if the words in the script do not have the main ingredient of honesty then you are on a hiding to nothing.

And boy oh boy does this Cronin play have honesty.

Orphan disease sees the author and actor discuss openly her life after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

It looks at how this diagnosis a ects her life, her family and especially her grandmother who also was diagnosed with breast cancer, and who was to die from the disease in 1959 at the age of forty one.

Catherine relates to the audience how, when researching her families medical history, she was able to trace the gene that was handed down from generation to generation.

Cronin leaves no stone unturned as she describes the trials of undergoing cancer treatment including the horri c extent of sickness, sadness and bewilderment.

Strangely enough some of the symptoms described in the introduction to this article about actors come to mind once again. Hurt, anguish, palpitations, sweating, cold sweats. And some. But if Cronin’s ability to perform the darker side of this piece stood out, so too did her ability to inject snippets of black humour throughout the show. Her movement and timing was perfection personi ed and she crossed from serious to comedy with natural ease.

Set in an attic and a hospital room, the play sets the audience with a challenge to confront our fears and to nd happiness in our everyday lives.

It not only sets out, but proves beyond doubt that when the chips are down family and close friends will get you through.

DESIGN AND COLOUR HIT THE SPOT

A special word of praise should be given to the set designer who transformed a stage into both the attic of a house, and a hospital. e colours chosen seemed to deliberately throw out a sense of calm onto the audience. ere seemed to be nice relaxing colours of blue and green and lilac creating an e ect for the audience as if to say that all is ok, you can relax and enjoy the performance. And when change was needed to portray a darkness to the show this was captured by swapping the pastels to more muted colours.

IMPORTANCE OF A TEXT MESSAGE

According to Cronin, it is amazing the strength you get from good friends and family members. e actor also o ers one piece of advice to people who are unsure about contacting people who have been diagnosed with a serious disease. “Make contact, or send a quick text to say you are thinking of them. It will mean the world”

Today, Catherine continues her treatment for cancer but thanks to an excellent medical team and a life enriched by following her passion for writing, the prospects for a longer, healthier life are now much more realistic than back in 2018.

Orphan Disease was written and performed by Catherine Cronin, directed by Tara Brodin, with dramaturg by Emma Kelly. It was dedicated to the author’s grandmother Annie and her close friend Karen. e author’s parents and family as well as neighbours and friends attended the Watergate performance and the standing ovation at the nal curtain was not one bit surprising.

the night contained a poem ‘I

Paul and Eileen Cli ord pictured at The Watergate

Joyce Kerr, Niamh Holohan

Author and actor Catherine Cronin on stage at the Watergate theatre in her one woman show Orphan Disease

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