Kilkenny Observer 06 December 2024

113 Kilkenny students STEM passport

Passport for Inclusion unveiled by Microsoft

A total of 113 students in Kilkenny have benefitted from the STEM Passport for Inclusion Initiative.

Maynooth University, in partnership with Microsoft Ireland, Taighde Éireann –Research Ireland and the Department of Education, has published the STEM Passport for Inclusion Impact Report which reveals that more than 5,000 students from disadvantaged backgrounds have

participated in the initiative to date. Notably, 76% of these students are now considering a career in STEM. The report states that 113 students from schools in Kilkenny have participated in the initiative since 2021.

The All-Ireland STEM Passport for Inclusion programme is a joint initiative by Maynooth University, Microsoft Ireland, Research Ireland, and the Department of Education

Stephen tells his story of addictionbattling and homelessness

Stephen Croke shared his powerful story of overcoming addiction and rebuilding his life with the Kilkenny community at the launch of the ‘12 Doors of Christmas’ awareness campaign. Organised by Tar Isteach Housing in association with the Good Shepherd Centre Kilkenny (GSCK), the event highlighted the crucial role housing solutions play for individuals affected by addiction.

The ‘12 Doors of Christmas’ campaign will showcase 12 stories of individuals overcoming challenges around homelessness over the festive season. Behind each door is a unique tale of resilience, aiming to raise awareness about the ongoing issue of homelessness.

Stephen Croke, a native of Callan, battled addiction for two decades. His journey, marked by homelessness and estrangement from his family, eventually led him to the GSCK, where he found the support he needed to turn his life around.

“I was 22 the first time I got in contact with the Good Shepherd Centre in Kilken-

ny,” Stephen recounted. “I was in and out of there for 16 years before I finally got on track. Drink and drugs ruled my life for years. My parents turned their backs on me, which was probably the best thing they did for me. It made me realise I needed to change.”

Stephen’s story underlines the transformative impact of stable housing and support services. Five years ago, a turning point came when he entered a treatment programme in Limerick with the promise of a house from Tar Isteach Housing Association if he completed it. “That promise was enough to drive me on. Now, my kids live with me, and seeing them fast asleep at night is my greatest joy. I’ll never give up on them.”

Tar Isteach Housing, a sister organisation to GSCK, plays a vital role in addressing homelessness – and it now manages 402 tenancies across the country. While GSCK focuses on providing immediate support and emergency accommodation to homeless individuals, Tar Isteach Housing specialises

that addresses inequalities with access to STEM careers among post-primary school students in socially disadvantaged communities. Initially developed as a pilot in 2021, the programme was expanded nationwide in December 2023.

The programme’s innovative approach, which combines a recognised qualification (Level 6 NFQ), education supports, and mentoring from

and Maynooth University

industry role models, provides a unique pathway for female students to progress to third level education and achieve a STEM qualification.    Since its launch, over 5,370 female students from DEIS schools in all four provinces have been engaged, with 50% of participants from rural areas. In Kilkenny, students who have participated have benefitted from mentorship and educational support from

1,100 industry mentors who have delivered 2,524 mentoring hours. The outcome has been that students from 117 DEIS schools around Ireland have been empowered to graduate with a university accredited STEM qualification while still in post-primary school.

A survey of programme participants revealed that STEM Passport for Inclusion has positively changed students’

in offering long-term housing solutions and support services for those recovering from addiction.

CEO of Tar Isteach Housing and the GSCK, Noel Sherry said he believes that

“everyone deserves a safe and stable home”. “The mission of our two organisations is to provide not just housing but also the support services necessary for individuals recovering from ad-

diction to rebuild their lives. We are committed to making a lasting impact on the fight against homelessness by offering sustainable solutions and fostering a sense of community and belonging.”

view of STEM with 79% now considering applying to study STEM at third level while 76% are considering a career in STEM.

The programme has also increased students’ knowledge of, and familiarity with, STEM. Only 45% of students reported knowing what STEM was before participating in the programme. This increased to 95% once students completed the programme.

Murdered girl (8) has been laid to rest

Malika Noor Al Katib has been buried following three days after she died following a stabbing incident at her home in New Ross, Co Wexford - in which her mother Aisha was also injured. The leading Islamic cleric in the south east – who knew Malika – paid a moving tribute to her. Imam Rashid Munir, of the Al Munir Islamic Centre in Waterford, said: “She was not just a normal girl, she was an extraordinary child, full of life, looking for a bright future.” Malika, who was eight years old, died early on Monday morning, December 2, after suffering stab wounds – when she stepped in to protect her mother Aisha Al Katib, 31, who was being attacked by her knife-wielding father, Mohammed Shaker Al Tamimi, 34. Malika will be laid to rest at Kilbarry cemetery in Ballybeg, Co Waterford – after a washing ceremony, part of her Islamic faith. That ceremony will take place at University Hospital Waterford, where she lost her fight for life. News of the little girl’s funeral arrangements were made public hours after her father was discharged from the same hospital. Mohammed Shaker Al Tamimi has been charged with Malika’s murder and the attempted murder of her mother, Aisha.

Pan Celtic festival wants your winning song

Composers, singers and writers in Kilkenny have the chance to create a new song representing Ireland in the Celtic nations’ answer to the Eurovision.

They are being asked to enter their top tunes – as Gaeilge – for the Pan Celtic International Festival 2025.

Entrants must submit their original song by December 30 to be in the running to perform on Carlow’s George Bernard Shaw Theatre @ VISUAL stage on January 25.

The winner, who will win a prize of €1,000 and progress to compete against representatives from the five other Celtic nations, will be selected by a panel of judges on the night.

The festival involves a broad programme of events, from storytelling and lectures to singing and dance competitions.

The common language spoken is English, making it accessible for fluent speakers and beginners, alike.

“The Pan Celtic International Festival provides a fantastic way to promote Celtic languages through music, song, dance and storytelling,” said festival co-ordinator Bríde de Roiste.

“The International Pan Celtic Song Contest is like the Eurovision for the six Celtic nations.

“Each nation runs a song competition to come up with a newly composed song in their respective Celtic language.

winning singer of the Pan Celtic International Song Contest in April.

“The standard is always very high and we are already looking forward to hearing this year’s entries.”

A further €1,500 and the international trophy will be awarded to the overall

The contest, which is sponsored by Carlow Local Authorities, IMRO and Gael Linn, is open to all genres.

Both the lyrics and music must be original and in Irish and songs may be written and performed by solo singers,

groups or bands competition.

Carlow was first home to the festival in 2012 and 2013, then 2016 and 2017, followed by 2023, 2024 and again next year.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the Pan Celtic International Festival for the third year in a row, which is a significant honour for our town,”

said Kieran Comerford, Carlow County Council Head of Economic Development & Enterprise.

“Carlow is an ideal location for the event, as many participants arrive by sea into Dublin and it’s only a short journey by coach or train from there.

“The town is so compact that everything is within walking distance, making it easy for newcomers and all age groups to navigate.”

* Entries should be emailed in mp3/recording form to pancelticcarlow@gmail. com by 5pm on December 30. For full details, rules and entry forms, visit: www.panceltic.ie

Plea goes to our local heart and stroke patients

Heart and stroke patients in Kilkenny are being encouraged to join the Irish Heart Foundation’s Patient Champions Programme – after a mother told how her life was saved by a radio interview with a stroke survivor.

Fiona Meagher, 54, said Meaghan O’Brien’s description of her symptoms spurred her into immediate action when she also suf-

fered a stroke last December.

“I said to my husband and son, I’m having a stroke, call an ambulance,” she said.

“But that was only because I had listened to Meaghan’s story.

“My son, Darradh, who is 16 and was in Transition Year, had done a FAST (face, arm, speech and time) course two days before in his school.

Two Kilkenny teaching grads top the class at Hibernia

Two Kilkenny teaching graduates had double cause for celebration after achieving ‘top of their class’ status at the annual Hibernia College conferring ceremony which was held at Dublin’s Convention Centre recently.

In addition to receiving her Masters qualification, Callan Primary Education graduate, Lucy Schneider – a teacher at St. Patrick’s De La Salle, Kilkenny – was honoured with the INTO Vere Foster

Medal – awarded by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) for ‘Outstanding Performance in School Placement’.

Post-Primary Education graduate Grainne Lyng, from Listerlin, received the overall Student of the Year award – presented by the college to the student in each cohort with the highest grade across the Post-Primary programme.   Congrats to all.

“In the middle of the chaos, he calmly sat me down and did the FAST test. He spoke to the emergency call taker on the phone.”

The terrifying incident happened at her home in Ashbourne, Co Meath, shortly before Christmas last year.

Weeks earlier, the mum-ofthree had heard Irish Heart Foundation Patient Champion, Meaghan, describing

her own stroke symptoms during a national radio interview.

The Patient Champions Programme aims to train patients with cardiovascular disease to lobby for better supports for their fellow patients at political level, speak publicly and in the media, and build local support networks.

The charity is now encour-

aging patients in Kilkenny to sign up to become strong local voices for fellow patients.

Its Advocacy Campaign Manager described people like Fiona as unsung heroes of the organisation.

“The Patient Champions are a terrific addition to the Irish Heart Foundation,” said Pauline O’Shea.

“Their lived experience and

desire to help others and the organisation speak out about significant issues that affect heart and stroke patients, is a powerful combination for working for positive change for patients.

“We are now recruiting for our Patient Champions Programme in 2025, and we welcome heart and stroke patients from Kilkenny to apply.”

Lyrath garners more awards

Lyrath Estates has  announced that two of its team members were honoured at the 2024 Irish Hospitality Institute (IHI) Awards, held on November 28 in the Clayton Hotel, on Dublin’s Burlington Road.

Orla O’Keeffe, Conference & Events Manager, was named Conference & Events Manager of the Year, and Nicola Walsh, Finance Manager, was awarded Finance Manager of the Year, two major wins for the

Kilkenny hotel which was recently named a Great Place To Work for the second year in a row.

These prestigious awards recognise outstanding individuals within the Irish hospitality industry providing a unique opportunity to highlight and acknowledge the “outstanding contributions of individuals who demonstrate dedication, professionalism, and exceptional service”. Nominated by colleagues or managers, winners are recognised for

their commitment to their roles and receive well-deserved industry recognition in a room filled with hoteliers and industry colleagues from across the country.

Lyrath Estate’s Nicola Walsh, who has been with the five-star hotel for 17 years and Orla O’Keeffe who joined in 2022, were worthy winners and their awards reflect their dedication, expertise, and leadership with their industry, said a spokesperson General Manager at Lyrath

Estate, Emma-Jayne Eaton said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have both Nicola and Orla recognised for their exceptional contributions to Lyrath Estate, these awards are a testament to Nicola and Orla’s passion and commitment they show to our guests, suppliers and clients, improving and innovating our offering at Lyrath Estate each day. It is a pleasure to work with both of them and it is fantastic that they have been recognised in this way.”

Number of JAM users reaches record level

Five years after the introduction of the JAM Card Initiative across the TFI Network, the National Transport Authority (NTA) announced that a record number of passengers have been issued with the card. In the last year, 8,000 JAM cards and apps have been issued by the TFI services, raising the total number of cards distributed and apps downloaded in the last five years to a record 23,000.

These record figures are announced ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2024, which aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development.

The JAM Card initiative, which stands for ‘Just A Minute’, empowers passengers with a learning difficulty, autism or a communication barrier to discreetly and

easily relay to others that they may need a little extra time when navigating public or social situations.

The NTA introduced the JAM Card on services as part of the ongoing efforts to make public transport safe and accessible for all passengers.

Passengers can simply show their JAM Card to staff to communicate that they may need more time and understanding when using public transport. The initia-

tive is fully supported by Bus Eireann, Go-Ahead Ireland, LUAS, Dublin Bus, Irish Rail and Local Link.

Speaking about the milestone Naomi Rooney, Transport Accessibility Manager at the NTA said: “The NTA aims to make public transport easy to use and accessible for all. We have supported the JAM Card since its launch and see how it can have a positive impact on the many passengers who use it.”

The Fact Of The Matter

Paul

Hopkins

Our future is not necessarily guaranteed

It will likely be into the early days of the new year before a coalition Government is formed. And it will be roughly a repeat of last time around, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, but with the Labour Party or, perhaps, some Independents – the Greens having been virtually annihilated. The left-leaning, lesser-populated parties are too fragmented in their policies to agree on any cohesive opposition with Sinn Fein, somewhat down in approval. And, TV debate performances or no, people had largely made their minds up, given the predictable outcomes at the ballot box.

Hats off, though, to the Social Democrats.

It is the best of times, it is the worst of times. Never have the next government had so much money to spend, yet the issues facing us continue to plague us – health, housing, childcare, law and order, migration, and access for special needs. While all parties canvassing

promised to throw everything, bar the kitchen sink, at addressing these urgent needs, in most cases their figures don’t always add up and likely would fail any realistic application.

As I see it, the electorate have agreed to allow Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael get on with it and this time around, given the electorate outcry and what was being said on the doorsteps, they will have to simply pull up their socks on the apathy, or lack of application, to addressing the aforementioned issues.

Yet, watching what was being said in the lead-up to November 29, it seemed there was little being taken into account about our financial prowess and the simple act of what could upturn it all.

The Trump factor. And the looming date of January 20 when Donald Trump is sworn in as the next president of the US.

The financial future of

Ireland is in his hands and he has already got his eye on the €35 billion Irish trade surplus with the US which has everything to do with the low corporation tax which US companies love. Pharmaceuticals and chemicals, for instance, are made in vast amounts by US subsidiaries and exported back home to the US.

Being a member of the EU may bring politicians some solace but Brussels’ calls for harmonisation of taxes could, with Trump tariffs, possibly bankrupt the country. Trump is no push-over and this Government is leaving the next Government – which will probably be, as I say, the same mix – a daunting legacy.

On January 20, the US-Irish ‘special relationship’ will, in effect, cease to be. Donald Trump will not be playing the traditional role of previous US presidents in bolstering the Irish economy. And his promises of trade tariffs will bite deep into our economy and

affect how the next government can financially address our health and housing issues and all the rest of what needs to be done.

Meanwhile, the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) has published its latest quarterly survey on members’ current views on

“People had largely made their minds up, given the predictable outcomes...

Ireland as a destination for growth and further investment. The vast majority of members are optimistic about Ireland’s economic potential with 97% responding that Ireland is competitive when compared to other advanced global economies. Some 52% say the main reason for this is a highly educated and s≠killed talent pool.

Some nine in 10 respondents say their corporate headquarters has a positive view of Ireland as an investment or growth location. However, 40% say housing is the most important challenge for Ireland to overcome for their company to invest and expand here. This is down from 49% in AmCham’s March survey. Some 19% say cost competitiveness is the most important challenge, while 12% see skills shortage as the No.1 challenge. These figures have increased from 10% and 8% respectively since March last. In relation to recruitment, the

majority (56%) say they expect the number of employees in their Irish operations to increase in the next 12 months. Furthermore, 41% say they expect to maintain current employment numbers, up from 35% in March. The areas of infrastructure development that require the most urgent investment from Government are housing (59%), transport (14%) and energy (14%).

On a final note, incoming European commissioners for trade and agriculture in Brussels have been put on notice that key member states are out to block the ratification of the long-delayed EU-Mercosur trade agreement which would open EU markets to greater competition from Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Ireland’s farm groups say the deal as it stands will allow large imports of foods produced under far more lax regulations. Our future is not necessarily guaranteed...

USIT announces early J1 summer US 2025 jobs

USIT, Ireland’s leading work abroad and J1 experts, has released the first drop of 2025 job opportunities on its Job Hub, with employment available in Chicago, New Jersey, New York State, Nantucket, Myrtle Beach, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Students eager to experience this rite of passage are encouraged to apply early to access USIT’s Job Hub and secure their place for an

unforgettable All-American summer, filled with invaluable work experience, lifelong friendships, and lasting memories.

Hiring Fairs will also be held in December and January for some of the most sought-after J1 destinations, including Chicago, San Diego and New York. These fairs provide an essential opportunity for students to connect with the largest pool

Food Safety moves to increase its standards

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has published its new Strategy For 20252029, setting out an ambitious roadmap to safeguard consumer health and assure continued trust in Ireland’s food systems. At its core is a commitment to protect consumers in Ireland and consumers of Irish food in more than 180 markets across the world.

The five-year Strategy seeks to ensure that Ireland’s food safety regulatory system is robustly equipped to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented to food safety, within an evolving global food supply chain with new innovations and changing consumer preferences and tastes.

The strategic actions include an evaluation of the evidence to inform policy relating to a hygiene-rating scheme for food businesses across Ireland. It identifies the rollout of targeted supports to assist with compliance by food businesses and making greater use of technology platforms to share communications on food safety and compliance. It will continue to advocate for food safety and authenticity nationally and internationally, as food systems innovate, embrace technology and transition to become more sustainable. The FSAI also commits to increasing collaboration with European and international partners to further enhance its preparedness to manage food safety risks.

The four strategic goals are:  Advocate and Engage: Advocate for the importance of food safety and authenticity in engagement with all stakeholders to better protect consumers’ health and interests

of US employers, including some of the world’s most recognised brands.

The J1 programme is open to students of any nationality studying at a 3rd-level college across Ireland and Northern Ireland, aged 18 and above. It’s a bucket-list experience for many Irish students, with strong interest already building for next year. In 2024, over 5,000 Irish students embarked on

their J1 USA Work and Travel Visa from Ireland, and those wishing to do the same in 2025 are urged to secure their place as soon as possible.

The J1 USA programme starts from €999, which includes application processing, legal work papers, job vetting and approval support, five months of travel insurance, a pre-departure J1 orientation and handbook, SEVIS fee, and ongoing

support from USIT’s dedicated J1 team.

For an additional €300, participants can access USIT’s job placement service, which includes full access to the Job Hub and Hiring Fairs, offering hundreds of jobs in cities and resorts. A deposit of only €99 is required to begin the application process, so students should act fast to secure their dream summer.

A spokesperson from the

Department of Foreign Affairs reiterated the value of the J1 programme: “As we celebrate 100 years of Ireland-US diplomatic relations in 2024, it is fantastic to see the Irish-American connection being continued, with thousands of students travelling to the US on J1 visas this past summer. We look forward to seeing many more take up this excellent opportunity in the future."

and increase compliance. Actions include a commitment to streamline communications to food businesses using technology platforms and examining the evidence surrounding a hygiene-based rating scheme and its potential role in Ireland’s food control systems.

Reduce Risk: Enhance the ability to protect consumers’ health and interests by anticipating, assessing, and managing risks that impact on the safety and authenticity of food. Key commitments include the adoption of a multi-agency agreement on the management of incidents based on best practice. It also identifies the importance of strengthening capabilities to manage risk, through increased participation with European and international partners.

Enforce Food Law: Ensure and verify compliance with food law and take appropriate action to protect consumers within a national regulatory framework. Priority actions include continued improvement in official food control systems; working on a crossagency basis, with partners across Europe and globally; leading and supporting the national food safety inspectorate.

Drive Organisational Excellence: Deliver better food safety outcomes for consumers through empowering staff, aligning systems, and demonstrating adaptive, value-driven leadership. Key commitments include maintaining a best-inclass approach to governance and improving efficiencies through maximising the use of digital technologies.

Kilkenny tourism in Oz and New Zealand

Tourism Ireland’s 2024 sales mission to Australia and New Zealand took place recently. A delegation of 11 tourism companies from Ireland – including Shenanigans Walks Kilkenny and Hotel Kilkenny (part of the Griffin Group) – participated in the targeted sales mission, to grow tourism from both markets in 2025 and beyond.

The sales mission, which visited Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, included a B2B event in

each city, featuring interactive presentations to showcase Ireland and the participating companies from Ireland engaging in hundreds of meetings with key travel professionals from Australia and New Zealand. Networking events with key tour operators, airlines and travel journalists also took place.

The aim was to engage with travel professionals in the four cities – who are currently selling Ireland, or who have good potential

to sell the destination in the future – and to encourage them to extend their Ireland offering, or to include Ireland for the first time, in their programmes.

Sofia Hansson, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Australia and New Zealand, said: “Our sales mission is an important element of our programme of activity in Australia and New Zealand this year – to highlight the many things to see and do, and all that is new and exciting, on a holiday in

Obituary: Michael John Cummins

The death has occurred of Michael John Cummins of Cricklewood, London and formerly Castlemarket, in Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny. Predeceased by his parents John and Ellen (née Nolan) Cummins, his brother Laurence, his sisters Mary Kane, Ballinalacken, Ballyragget, Eileen Conway, Kilwarden, Kill and Julia Manning, Knocknew, Ballyfoyle. His nephews Martin Kane, Ballinalacken, Ballyragget and Gerard Cummins, London and his niece Frances McGuinness Hennessy, Friary St, Kilkenny City and The Commons, Gowran.

A great Kilkenny man he loved all things – hurling, music, family and friends. Happiness was his main aim and motto for life.

One of 11 children, of which he was the sixth, the third

child to be born in Lowhill on September 1, 1938 following the family’s return to Ireland from New York in July of 1934. The family would later move to Castlemarket just before Easter in 1941.

John was affectionately known as Jack to the family and Jackie to locals. His primary education was in Ballyouskill National School followed by the Christian Brothers Secondary School in Abbleyleix. John would then move on from school to begin an apprenticeship in what was then The Creamery in Ballyragget.

He loved music and was a great accordion player. He was given an old melodeon (a small accordion) by Martin Bergin, who he worked with in The Creamery.

The accordion still survives to this day. John after a time

invested in a new accordion; at this time, he made a present of his first accordion to Mrs. Holohan, the lady he boarded with in Tullamore, where he was working from 1958 to 1960, as they were a very musical family. She bequeathed the accordion to her niece Mary Cassin, who still has it. After emigrating to London John with his brother Kieran played their accordions doing gigs in the pubs in London.

John would emigrate to London in 1960 where he would work in the construction industry for the most of his working life. It would also be where he would meet and marry his lovely wife and friend for life May Ward, a native of Mohill, County Leitrim, on March 11, 1967. Together they would have their two wonderful children

Ireland. It gives our tourism partners from Ireland an excellent platform to inform and influence the travel professionals they meet about what Ireland has to offer and, importantly, to encourage them to include the destination in their future programmes.”

Visitors from Australia and New Zealand are highly prized as they tend to stay longer, spend more and visit more regions than the average visitor to Ireland.

Colette and David and their six grandchildren: Hayley, Jordan, Ethan, Kyle, Brogan and Shai. John and May loved dancing and together were a sight to behold on the dance floor.

John is deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving wife May, his daughter Colette, son David and grandchildren; Hayley, Jordan, Shea, Ethan, Brogan and Kyle. His daughter-in-law, Karen Cummins and son-in-law Philip Bergin. He leaves behind brothers: Kieran and Joe, London and sisters: Teresa Mc Guinness, Kilkenny City, Kathleen Gallagher, Ann O’Connor and Cecilia O’Donnell, all London. Brothers in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family and many friends from Ireland and the UK.

Down under: Nevin Cody, Shenanigans Walks Kilkenny (left); Sofia Hansson (third left) and Alison Metcalfe (eighth right), both Tourism Ireland; and Fiona Delahunty, Hotel Kilkenny (fifth right); and other Irish tourism operators, pictured in Sydney

As I See It Marianne Heron

Round Two of the Hand v McGregor case

The recent high profile rape trial had elements of a David, or rather Davinia V Goliath, contest with hair colourist Nikita Hand pitted against Mixed Martial Arts superstar Conor McGregor. The jury reached their verdict and Hand emerged with damages of just short of a quarter of a million.

Perhaps we can breathe a sigh of relief that this may be a sign that the kind of attitudes which often prevail in rape cases, where the victim becomes the one on trial with attempts to discredit her and shift the blame from the perpetrator, have changed. The verdict in Nikita’s case suggests that women are now more likely to be believed when they claim that they have been raped.

It bears remembering though, that in a civil case like this one, the burden of proof is on ‘the balance of probability’ – in other words the jury

found it was an offence that probably happened, but they did not know for certain. In a criminal case the proof required is more stringent and must be beyond reasonable doubt. The DPP had declined twice – the second time when Hand asked for a review – to take the case on criminal grounds, holding that the evidence didn’t support a reasonable prospect of conviction.

In the aftermath of the case, I feel disquiet on several issues. Women’s Aid have called for a boycott of McGregor’s stout and whiskey brands, wagging a finger at retailers saying that no store should want to promote the products of a man found guilty of such behaviour. And this has been followed nationwide.

The jurors in the trial reached a conclusion about a probable offence and a modest amount of damages

– less than expected – were awarded, so should it be up to Women’s Aid to deliver a further verdict? Surely, we can make up our own minds whether to purchase brands associated with McGregor or not.

What are Women’s Aid hoping to achieve? A drop in sales of Forged Irish stout and Proper 12 whiskey, which McGregor sold last year, will cause more damage for the families producing it than to the highest paid sportsman worth around $2 million.

The real damage to McGregor’s reputation following the case is incalculable: he has been hugely punished in ways which will continue to impact him enormously. What kind of signal does the Women’s Aid boycott demand send, it’s a bit like punching a man when he is down and it’s hardly going to improve attitudes of McGregor’s 47 million online fol-

lowers, many of them young men who are reverting to more traditional misogynistic views of women.

There’s a missed oppor-

“Women are now more likely to be believed ...

tunity here for McGregor’s advisors and perhaps for Women’s Aid to facilitate the Ultimate Fighting Champion to be a better model of masculinity for the many who hold him as a hero. As it is, he has come out fighting, vowing to appeal the case and posting apparently defamatory comments about Hand online as well as criticising the High Court. Expressing regret for the hurt and trauma caused might read better.

We haven’t heard the last of the case either, as the issue of damages hasn’t been decided, Hand could well end up out of pocket, as she lost her case against McGregor’s friend James Lawrence, and the case could also be appealed by McGregor.

When the dust settles, we might consider some other issues in general. One is awareness about the kind of signals that interaction between the sexes send: is

an agreement to go to a hotel room, or back to someone’s place, likely to be seen as a ’yes’ by either a man or woman? Another is to avoid putting oneself in harm’s way, for both men and women. Yes, there is far too much violence against women – and men too. It will be wonderful when we can walk dark streets unafraid, but, until we can, don’t we need to be mindful of putting ourselves at risk?

As the Christmas party season gets in full swing don’t we need to avoid drinking or taking drugs to the point where that internal voice which warns “maybe it’s not such a good idea to do this” is silenced.

And by no means least, there is the question of the example adults set for children and young people. Easy to be wise after the event, but maybe it’s better to be wise before it.

Tips for dry skin in the winter

Does your skin dry out during the colder winter months? Cold weather, wind, central heating, showers and baths that are too hot all dry out your skin. It is important to consider if you need to make any changes to your skin care routine at this time of year.

Start by looking at your cleanser, is it gentle, nourishing, hydrating and free from harsh chemicals?

Does your dehydrated skin need a boosting serum? Serums penetrate deep into the skin and are deeply nourishing and hydrating, there are several to choose from. Take a look at Trilogy’s Hyaluronic Acid+Booster Treatment. This is an intensely hydrating water-gel serum. It contains hyaluronic acid to plump, hydrate, and smooth your skin. It’s enriched with acerola cherry, aloe vera, and rosehip oil. It’s suitable for all skin types and is particularly good for anyone who lives in cities or busy towns where there is a lot of pollution. A great tip with this product is to dampen

the face before applying to really boost hydration. Next, consider if you need to switch your moisturiser to one that offers greater hydration. Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Face Moisturiser works well for me. It is deeply hydrating which is exactly what I need for my mature skin!

Your lips can dry out too, take a look at Trilogy Everything Balm, it comes in a small round container and fits perfectly in your handbag or pocket. It is ideal for lips or any area that needs a bit of hydration. Other tips for dry skin could include drinking plenty of water, warm is better. Try nourishing herbal teas, avoid sugary drinks, caffeine, and alcohol. Omega 3 essential fatty acids are important for skin health. Included them in your diet or supplement if needed. Vitamin C is one of the building blocks of collagen and is found in your fruit and vegetables. Keep topped up on these throughout the winter months. Protein is extremely important for skin health. Meat, eggs, pulses, lentils, nuts, and seeds are some sources you could include in your daily diet.

Making some adjustments to your diet and varying the products that you use on your skin at this time of the year could make all the difference to how well your skin looks and feels. I hope you glow this winter!

CLAIR WHITTY

Yulesfest

Kilkenny launches festive Fridays at Yulefest 2024 a night time economy initiative

Kilkenny is lighting up this holiday season with the launch of Festive Fridays a Night Time Economy and Shop Kilkenny Initiative. Every Friday of Yulefest, the City will host an array of festive activities designed to bring the community together, support local businesses, and create a vibrant night time atmosphere for both residents and visitors alike. From magical Christmas trails to live entertainment, Festive Fridays at Yulefest Kilkenny promises an unforgettable holiday experience for everyone.

Yulefest Christmas Trail: A Journey of Holiday Magic

The heart of Festive Fridays lies in the Yulefest Christmas Trail, an experience that invites visitors to explore Kilkenny's historic streets, uncover hidden gems, and participate in an exciting interactive quiz. Christmas Trail Maps are available for collection at the Yulefest HQ (located at the corner of Rose Inn Street and the Parade — Eircode: R95Y672) or local shops. An interactive family friendly trail around Kilkenny City, the trail takes in the City’s Christmas Lights, Christmas Trees and historical areas while ‘reindeer spotting’, answering questions and solving puzzles. A magical way to spend an evening with the family in the beautiful Medieval City of Kilkenny this festive season!

The trail is a self-guided free activity on public streets. Follow the map to get to every stop and answer the questions and puzzles as you go. Once you’ve completed the trail you can submit your answer sheet in the Yulefest postbox to be in with a chance of winning weekly Shop Kilkenny vouchers!

The Yulefest Christmas Trail is live throughout the festival, so you can pick up a map at a time that suits you, although we highly recommend the evenings when the lights shine their brightest. A highlight of the trail, as mentioned above, includes:

• Reindeer Trail: Santa’s reindeers are popping up in shop windows around Kilkenny. See if you can spot them all! Where they are one week might not be where they are the next. On the back of your Christmas Trail map, colour in the reindeer and an-

swer the questions as you find them to be in with a chance to win 1 or our 5 weekly €20 Shop Kilkenny Vouchers!

Reindeer Garden at Rothe House

Visit this beautiful Kilkenny treasure with a festive twist and come see the Yulefest display of reindeer in the beautiful Rothe House Garden. The garden can be visited from 3pm-6pm throughout December will late opening on Fridays and Saturday till 8pm. Stop in while you’re on the Yulefest Christmas Trail. The retail shop will be open during the garden opening times, selling local crafts and Irish products. An easy place to pick up some gifts while you are here!

KCLR Battle of the Buskers This December we’re bringing live entertainment to

the streets of Kilkenny! Feel the energy of local talent as Kilkenny's buskers battle it out each week for the chance to win a €500 cash prize, together with recording time in studio and airplay on KCLR 96fm!

Featuring a lively blend of musicians performing holiday classics and original tunes, providing the perfect soundtrack to the Christmas festivities. Come out Friday 6th, 13th, 20th December from 6pm, visit all 4 buskers and vote for your favourite!

Yulefest Festive Fridays: An Interactive Experience!

• Scéals of Hiss'mas: Join the National Reptile Zoo for a journey through the festive season around the worldtold through the lens of the reptiles, amphibians and insects who live there! An interactive learning experi-

ence featuring new animals each week, with activities for everyone! These weekly workshops will take place every Friday throughout Yulefest

Launch Celebration: Lights, Music, and Community Spirit

The festivities kicked off in grand style on Saturday November 30th with Santa’s arrival to the City and the official launch of Yulefest Kilkenny 2024. Santa took to the River Nore by boat before travelling around Kilkenny’s medieval streets by Steam Train. A spectacular site to behold! Santa and his elves were overwhelmed with the welcome they received at Canal Square and he was delighted to see all of the children and families who came out to see him.   Mayor of Kilkenny Municipal District, Cllr. Andrew McGuinness had the honour of switching on the City’s Christmas lights alongside Santa himself and Cathaoirleach Michael McCarthy, which filled the streets with a magical glow. The moment was made even more special by a stunning performance from Enya Cox, a talented singer from Castlecomer and finalist on The Voice Kids. Enya's beautiful rendition of ‘Oh, Holy Night’ and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ provided the perfect soundtrack as the lights illuminated the city, signaling the start of a magical season.

Festive Fridays and the Night Time Economy Initiative

in the Yulefest Marquee on the Parade. Each workshop will include three animal encounters, stories of winter celebrations from the places the animals come from and a ‘HissMass’ game or activity. An engaging and unique event for children and families each Friday in December. Workshops are suitable for children aged 5+ and children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets available at Yulefest Kilkenny.

• Kiddies Carnival Rides at Canal Square: For those seeking thrills, Canal Square is the place to be! Bringing a festive, fun-filled atmosphere to the heart of the city. Head down to Canal Square on Friday evenings (4pm-8pm), Saturdays (11am-8pm) and Sundays (11am-6pm) and have spin! Rides are suitable for children only, cost €3 per ride.

• Mrs Claus and her elves will be stopping in and out of shops around the city to say hello. If you see them make sure to say hello and get a photo!

The Night Time Economy Initiative, in partnership with Shop Kilkenny, is a key part of this year’s Yulefest celebrations, designed to encourage people to experience Kilkenny’s vibrant Christmas scene after dark. By supporting local businesses, the initiative aims to boost the local economy while providing a safe, welcoming, and fun environment for everyone to enjoy the holiday season. Festive Fridays will run from 5 PM to 9 PM, with a host of events, activities, and live performances, ensuring the city remains lively well into the evening.

Event Information:

When: Every Friday in December, from 5 PM to 9 PM

Where: Kilkenny City Centre

Start: Yulefest HQ (Corner of Rose Inn Street and the Parade – Eircode R95Y672) Full Event Details:  www.yulefestkilkenny.ie

Whether you're here to explore the Christmas trail, enjoy a live performance, or simply soak in the festive atmosphere, Yulefest Kilkenny 2024 offers something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this magical holiday celebration—Kilkenny is waiting to be explored under the stars!

Santa & Mrs Claus arrive to Kilkenny for Yulefest Kilkenny 2024

Yulefest Christmas Market 2024 serving delicious treats

Crowds welcome Santa to Kilkenny as he travels up the River Nore by Boat before jumping on to a Steam Train

Opinion

Keeping safe of the Christmas scammers Your Money & You

As Christmas approaches, we are getting ready and buying the presents, but we need to be very careful as it is the most lucrative period for scammers. They are more active during this period than at any other time of the year. Understanding how these scams work and taking appropriate measures can help ensure our Christmas cheer is not undermined by fraudsters.

A mix of factors contributes to the increase in frauds during Christmas. More people are shopping online, and fraudsters find it easier to cover their activities among legitimate trade. Unfortunately, some retailers may prioritise profits over stringent security checks, and with the profusion of marketing emails, it provides scammers with an opportunity to blend in. Add to that, the Christmas rush can make us more prone to mistakes, whether clicking on dubious

John Ellis

links or falling for fake deals. Scammers are extremely resourceful, using a variety of tactics to exploit unsuspecting victims. Here are some common scams to be aware of, courtesy of the cybersecurity company, ESET Ireland.

* Gift Card Scams: Fraudsters sell fake or stolen gift cards or claim they are prizes in fabricated contests.

* Fake Websites: These mimic legitimate retailers, tricking users into entering personal details or making payments for items that never arrive.

* Fake Shipping Notifications: Scammers impersonate courier companies, sending emails or texts to steal personal data or install malware.

* Fraudulent E-Cards: Links or attachments in fake digital greeting cards may lead to malicious websites or download malware.

* Phone/Vishing Scams: Cold callers pretend to be

from retailers, charities, or delivery companies to extract sensitive information.

* Fake Charities: Fraudsters exploit holiday generosity by creating fake charities to solicit funds or steal informa-

tion.

* Seasonal Job Scams: Promising high pay for minimal work, these scams aim to harvest personal data or charge sign-up fees.

* Stay vigilant. Implement

the following — use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication for all your accounts. Be sceptical of deals that seem too good to be true and never share personal or financial information with unsolicited callers or messages.

* When online check for secure website indicators, such as “HTTPS” or a padlock icon in the address bar. Remember though, this alone is not foolproof, so keep your software and devices updated to protect against malware.

* Use credit cards instead of instant payment apps for added protection and if donating to a cause verify the charity’s authenticity and avoid donating through unsolicited messages.

* Think about using a reputable online bank that allows the use of one time only credit cards – once used its destroyed and a new card is made available. Great for a one-off purchase and in the

event of being defrauded you will only be hit once.

If you suspect you have fallen victim to a fraud, act quickly to minimise the damage. Report the incident to local authorities or fraud helplines and immediately contact your bank to freeze or replace your cards. Immediately stop communicating with the scammer and document all interactions. Change passwords for your affected accounts and consider locking your credit to prevent further misuse.

With the rise of generative AI, frauds are becoming more sophisticated so it is crucial to remain cautious. By understanding the risks and following best practices, you can enjoy a safer, scam-free Christmas. Together, we can outsmart the fraudsters and keep the Christmas spirit alive.

john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362633

Science & Wellbeing

Microplastics have been found throughout the human body, raising concerns about their potential impact on our health.

Studies have shown correlations between microplastics found throughout the human body, and health issues such as heart attacks and strokes. However, proving a direct link is challenging. Efforts to mitigate microplastic pollution include banning certain plastic products, developing better recycling technologies, and working towards a UN agreement to end plastic pollution globally.

Two ears ago, in 2022, scientists found microplastics — pieces of plastic less than five millimetres long — in human blood. Since then, they’ve been discovered throughout the human body, including in our lungs, kidneys, livers, hearts, and brains.

Plastics are a wonder material. They’re tough, lightweight, flexible, sterile, and cheap, which has made them hugely popular — since the 1950s, production levels for plastic have increased faster than for any other material. We’re now producing 440 million tons of plastic every year, with the total still trending upward.

Unfortunately, there’s a major tradeoff for all the benefits of plastic. Not only is the production of it bad for the environment, contributing to global warming, but so is the way we treat the material after we’re done using it: only about 9% of the world’s plastic waste is recycled, while 19% is incinerated. The rest goes into landfills (50%) or becomes litter (22%).

Researchers have known since the 1960s that plastic waste was an issue, but the problem took a new shape in 2004 when marine biologist Richard Thompson published a paper in the journal Science in which his team reported the discovery of microscopic plastic fragments and fibres in the ocean environment. They dubbed these pollutants microplastics.

In 2024, Thompson led a new study, also published in

You might here someway say: “Can you pass me the whatchamacallit?” Or you might say: “It’s right over there next to the thingamajig.”

Many of us will experience ‘lethologica’, or difficulty finding words, in everyday life. And it usually becomes more prominent with age. Frequent difficulty finding the right word can signal changes in the brain consistent with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease – before more obvious symptoms emerge.

However, a recent study from the University of Toronto suggests that it’s the speed of speech, rather than the difficulty in finding words that is a more accurate indicator of brain health in older adults.

Why microplastics may be destroying our health

Science. This time, his team looked back at the 7,000 microplastics studies that followed their 2004 discovery to see what we now know about the pollutants — and the answer wasn’t great. Not only had the amount of microplastics in the ocean increased over the past two decades, scientists had also found the particles in tons of other places — they’re in the

air we breathe, the water we drink, and the animals we eat, as well as hundreds of species outside our food chain. They’ve also been found in other foods that we consume, from vegetables to ice cream.

As for where all these microplastics were coming from, Thompson’s team was right that many were once a part of larger pieces of plastic — polyester clothing and synthetic

Speech may hint to early cognitive decline

rubber tires proved to be particularly large sources of microplastics in the environment. The tiny plastic pellets which are used to create larger plastic products are a big contributor, too — at various points in the supply chain, they can slip into the environment.

Identifying microplastics and their sources was just the start, though. A major focus of research has been on de-

The researchers asked 125 healthy adults, aged 18 to 90, to describe a scene in detail. Recordings of these

descriptions were subsequently analysed by artificial intelligence (AI) software to extract features such as

speed of talking, duration of pauses between words, and the variety of words used. Participants also com-

humans.”

That evidence has been enough to inspire officials in some places to take action to try to reduce the amount of microplastics in the environment.

However, such policies aren’t enough to significantly reduce the amount of microplastics in the environment, though — the most straightforward way to make that happen would be for the textile industry and tire manufacturers to stop creating products with so much plastic.

“We can not dramatically reduce microplastic pollution without leadership from the textile industry and tire manufacturers to produce consumer products that don’t add to the growing problem,” said Mark Gold, executive director of the California Ocean Protection Council.

These are massive, global industries, though, and convincing them to change en masse how they operate (or getting governments around the world to force them to change) won’t be easy, especially since we still don’t know for sure just how bad microplastics are for human health.

There’s no straightforward path to figuring it out, either.

“We know these microplastics are all over the place. We don’t know whether the presence in the body leads to a problem,” said Mark Gold. With microplastics everywhere, we can’t exactly compare the health of people who are exposed to them to people who aren’t to determine their possible effects, so our real world studies have no controls — already a big strike against them.

termining the impact of these particles, and that’s led to more bad news.

“After 20 years of research, there is clear evidence of harmful effects from microplastic pollution on a global scale,” said Thompson in a press release about the new study. “That includes physical harm to wildlife, harm to societies and cultures, and a growing evidence base of harm to

pleted a standard set of tests that measure concentration, thinking speed, and the ability to plan and carry out tasks. Age-related decline in these abilities was closely linked to the pace of a person’s everyday speech, suggesting a broader decline than just difficulty in finding the right word.

A novel aspect of this study was the use of a “pictureword interference task”, a clever task designed to separate the two steps of naming an object: finding the right word and instructing the mouth on how to say it out loud.

During this task, participants were shown pictures of everyday objects (such as a brush) while being played an audio clip of a word that is either related in mean-

Plastic is also not just one thing. There are more than 13,000 different chemicals used in plastic production, which complicates matters even further — how do we know which ones are causing which health effects and therefore need to be regulated or banned? There isn’t any systematic testing of these chemicals in humans, much less the countless potential combinations of them that are used in plastic products.

ing (such as mop – which makes it harder to think of the picture’s name) or which sounds similar (such as groom – which can make it easier).

Interestingly, the study found that the natural speech speed of older adults was related to their quickness in naming pictures. This highlights that a general slowdown in processing might underlie broader cognitive and linguistic changes with age, rather than a specific challenge in memory retrieval for words.

The study underscores the potential of speech rate changes as a significant yet subtle marker of cognitive health that could aid in identifying people at risk before more severe symptoms become apparent.

Best things to do in Portugal’s second biggest city

Porto, the second biggest city in Portugal, is a popular tourist destination in northern end of the country. There are many amazing things to do in Porto, from tasting the local port wine to strolling through the UNESCO World Heritage City Centre. The city perfectly blends history, culture, and natural beauty. With its iconic tiled buildings, lively streets, and famous bridges, Porto is a city that stands out from the rest. It’s a place where you can take a lazy river cruise, stroll through the cobblestone laneways of the Ribeira, and enjoy a long lunch with a view of the Douro River.

1. Port Wine Tasting Porto is the birthplace of the world-famous port wine, a sweet fortified wine. The wine is produced in the nearby Douro Valley, a picturesque wine region next to the Douro River. So, the best place to try an authentic port wine is on a Douro Valley wine tour from Porto. If you don’t have enough time to go to the Douro Valley itself, there are plenty of opportunities to go to port wine tastings in Porto.

When visiting the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, you get a guided tour through the port cellar, learn about what makes port wine so special, and then finish it off with a port wine tasting.

2. Ribeira District

One of the most beautiful areas in Porto is the Ribeira district, or Cais da Ribeira as it’s called in Portuguese, which is located along the Douro River.

Colourful buildings line the shore and narrow streets wind through this historic city centre. It’s the perfect place to go for a drink or a meal in Porto, as you’re right next to the Douro River and have a great view of the Dom Luís I Bridge.

But as great as it is to walk through this stunning part of Portugal’s capital, you can get the best views of the Cais da Ribeira area from the other side of the Douro River or from a boat, which brings us to the next great thing to do in Porto.

3. Douro River Cruise

You can get the best views of the beautiful Cais da Ribeira from a Porto boat tour. On a boat tour you don’t just see the colorful houses but also

the iconic Porto bridges, the most famous among them being the bridge Dom Luís I. Some boat tours even include a port wine tasting, so you can enjoy a glass of port wine with the scenic views from the boat.

4. São Bento Train Station

The São Bento railway station is a popular attraction in Porto because of the traditional blue tiles, called Azulejos, which decorate the inside of the São Bento train station. But as great as visiting Sao Bento station is, it’s even better to catch a train from there. For example, you can take a day trip to Guimarães from Porto.

Guimarães is a picturesque little town in Northern Portugal, and it’s known to be Portugal’s birthplace since the first king of Portugal was born there. So it’s a great day trip to learn a bit about Portugal’s history.

5. Clérigos Tower

One of the iconic landmarks of Porto is Clérigos Tower, since it can be seen from many different locations in the city.

The Clérigos Bell Tower is the tallest building in Porto’s

historic center. You can admire it from the outside or climb the stairs to the viewing platform on top.

Next to the tower is an outdoor bar with a lovely garden, you can enjoy a drink there and admire the tower while you brace yourself for the climb. The climb to the top of the bell tower is rewarded with the panoramic views of Porto and the Douro River. At the top you have plaques naming famous buildings you can see from there, as well as comparisons of Clérigos Tower to other towers around the world.

6. Ponte de Dom Luís I Ponte de Dom Luís I is one of the major Porto attractions. This iconic double decker bridge spans the River Douro from Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia. When the construction ended in 1886, it was the longest arch bridge in the world.

Ponte de Dom Luís I is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Portuguese National Monument, so crossing the bridge should be on every Porto itinerary.

7. Livraria Lello Livraria Lello is one of the

most beautiful bookshops you’ll ever see. There’s a grand staircase in the middle of the Livraria Lello and a stained glass skylight which both look like something out of a Harry Potter film.

It’s even said that this bookshop inspired JK Rowling in creating the magical world of Harry Potter. This turns out to not be true, but it’s still worth visiting for all Harry Potter fans.

You have to pay an entrance fee to visit Livraria Lello, but you get the entrance fee back as a gift voucher to buy something from the store. They even produce their own special editions of classic novels, the perfect gift or souvenir from Porto. And don’t worry if you don’t speak Portuguese, they have their unique special edition books available in multiple languages.

As visiting Livraria Lello is one of the most popular things to do in Porto, it can get busy, so usually you need to book your visit in advance.

8. Igreja de São Francisco

The Igreja de São Francisco or Saint Francis church is one of the most impressive churches in Porto because of

its mix of architectural styles. The inside of the São Francisco church is covered with intricate wood carvings which appear to be covered in gold, when under the right lighting.

Underneath the Saint Francis church are the catacombs where Franciscan monks and wealthy families from Porto are buried. There’s also an ossuary with thousands of human bones in the catacombs which can be seen through a glass wall.

9. Porto Cathedral

Porto Cathedral is one of the most important religious buildings in the city, and it’s located right next to the top deck of the Dom Luis I Bridge. Porto Cathedral is built in different architectural styles, but from the outside it’s predominantly Baroque and Romanesque. It almost looks like a fortress on top of a hill when viewed from afar and getting a closer look is one of the great things to do in Porto.

The cloister of the Porto Cathedral is decorated with painted tiles, the so-called Azulejos, as mentioned earlier, depicting scenes from the Bible.

Opinion

Election regrets, goals in Wales & Winter blues Furthermore Gerry Moran

I didn’t vote in the election. I didn’t vote because I couldn’t. I was out of the country. And did I think when booking my flight that it would clash with the General Election? I did not. And when I realised that I would forfeit my vote did I change my flight? I did not. I have my priorities! That said I am genuinely sad that I didn’t get to cast my vote for Malcolm Noonan (a past pupil of mine) of the Green Party who could have done with every vote he could get, not that Gerry’s vote would have redeemed him. Malcom gave over twenty unbroken years of service representing the people of Kilkenny, five as a TD and Minister, for Carlow-Kilkenny. And to quote Malcom: ‘While we are deeply disappointed that it hasn’t worked out for us, we are immensely proud of everything we achieved over that time.’ And, Malcolm, I am immensely proud of you and

all that you have achieved. Well done. And I wish you every success in your future endeavours. Another past pupil of mine who would have gotten a vote and who I was sorry to see edged out was David Fitzgerald of Fine Gael, a man for whom I have the greatest respect and belief in as a politician. Maybe next time, David. Maybe. And another candidate I was sorry to see eliminated and who would have gotten a vote was Labour’s Seán O hArgáin, a former school Principal (like myself) Sean’s voice I’d also like to have heard in Dáil Eireann. A voice that we will hear and that we’ve been hearing for more years than I can remember is that of John McGuinness. John, congratulations, sir, on topping the poll and being top of the pile. Again. What’s this they say: ‘You can’t beat the old dog for the hard road.’ Not that you’re that old, John, we’re around

the same age I believe. Sure we’re only in our prime! I expect you to vote yes to that, John. The country responsible for me, and my wife, forfeiting our votes in the election is Wales. We were paying a Christmas visit to my son and his wife (a feisty Welsh woman) and our two grandchildren: Ollie, all of five and a half years old, and Eadie, one sprightly two and a half year old. Eadie is one of those children who, if I may indulge in a well-worn cliché (and I am prejudiced) spreads joy. She bounces around with unbounded energy, a winsome smile on her chirpy, little face and is full of devilment. Ollie is no less energetic and one consolation of missing the General Election was seeing Ollie score two goals in an Under Seven, five-aside, soccer league. Yep, a group of five-year olds togged out against the mostly six year

olds as Ollie’s team didn’t have enough six year olds on their panel. Although Ollie scored two goals his team were beaten, that one year advantage made a difference. And I forgot how sensitive kids are – some were crying, including Ollie. Even though we tried to console him: ‘Ollie you scored two great goals and you defended well’, he

was having none of it. He walked from the pitch with his head bowed. Sad to see. And yet, I was glad that Ollie was upset, glad that he was not consoling himself with the two goals he scored. I was glad that he felt annoyed at being beaten. What’s this the American football coach, Vince Lombardi, once said: ‘Show me a good loser, and I’ll

show you a loser.’ And though Ollie’s team lost, Ollie himself is no loser (but again I’m prejudiced).

If there’s a common denominator to this column, apart from politics, it’s school. So I’ll leave you with a timely, little ditty by my former school inspector, Proinsias O’Donnchadha, now a great friend of mine. Called Ode to Winter, it’s a very short take on Keats’s Ode to Autumn.

Season of flu and Covid jabs Runny noses and barking coughs

Rheumy eyes and sharp earaches

Stiffened joints and frozen fingers

Ice-cold hands in need of mittens

Chilblain-ed toes through socks a sticking Leafless trees and naked branches Winter’s arm around me squeezing

The Cajun people: like the Irish, up for the craic The Last Word

When I first heard about the Cajun people, it was like discovering a hidden gem, much like stumbling upon a book in a Kilkenny bookshop that you just can’t put down. These people are the descendants of French-speaking Acadian refugees who made their way from Canada to the swamps and bayous of Louisiana in the US. Over time, they’ve carved out a unique cultural identity that’s as rich and flavourful as their famous gumbo.

The Cajuns have managed to blend their French roots with the vibrant tapestry of Louisiana, creating a community that’s as resilient as it is fas cinating. But that’s not the full story.

The story of the Cajun people evokes a sense of camaraderie, like the generational tales in my Irish line age. It began with the Acadians in west central France, who having felt a bit unwelcome to say the

Pat Coughlan

least, settled in Canada, clinging to their Catholic faith. This positioned them amids t religious and political conflicts. By the 18th century, the British controlled Acadia and were displeased with the Frenchspeaking Catholics, leading to the heartbreaking Grand Dérangement or Great Upheaval.

Uprooted families scattered globally, but many s ettled in Louisiana, becoming Cajuns. Rather than vanish under adversity, they preserved their language and traditions. The Cajuns exemplify resilience, transforming hardships into a vibrant culture, illuminating the power of identity and unity in preserving her itage.

Hearing Cajun music was like stumbling upon a lively session in a Kilkenny pub. The sound of accordions and fiddles fills the air, creating a rhythm that just makes you want to tap

your feet. The occasion in which I first heard Cajun music was the Carling Black Label beer ad on TV where the Balfa Brothers play La Dance de Mardi Gras, capturing the essence of festive Cajun spirit. Their music, with its zydeco and folk roots, is all about storytelling, much like the tales y ou’d hear in Cleere’s Bar on a Monday night. Dance styles like the two-step and waltz are as vibrant as the people themselves. Artists like the Balfa Brothers, Doug Kershaw and Clifton Chenier have taken these tunes to the world stage, sharing the Cajun spirit far and wide. When it comes to food my first introduction was in Tanta Zoe in Dublin. It was like discovering a new favourite dish on the streets of Salamanca, one of my favourite cities, but you don’t have to go that far. Paris Texas Restaurant in Kilkenny captures the essence

of Cajun cooking with its bold flavours and inventive dishes. Peruse their menu, and you’ll regularly find offerings like jambalaya,

Paris Texas in Kilkenny captures the essence of Cajun cooking ...

Prawn and Crayfish Linguini and Cajun Spiced Hake Fillet — each crafted with mastery in slow-cooking and intricate flavour layering.

Just as these dishes are celebrated during Mardi Gras and crawfish boils, where laughter fills the air and spices create an enticing aroma, the menu at Paris Texas brings that festive spirit to Kilkenny. It echoes our own festivals, where food and community unite in celebration.

The Cajuns have this incredible joie de vivre, a zest for life that’s infectious. Their gatherings, fille d with toe-tapping tunes and mouth-watering dishes, are more than just parties — they’re a way of weaving stories and strengthening bonds. This vibrant spirit is a vital part of the Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans, where Cajun contributions enhance the celebration with their

distinctive music, dance, and culinary delights. The Cajun involvement brings an extra layer of joy and a sense of community to this colourful event, resonating through the heart of the festival with their enthusiasm and c ultural richness. As I wrap up this journey through the vibrant world of the Cajun people, it’s clear that their influence stretches far beyond the b ayous of Louisiana. Their music and food have become staples not just in America but globally. The resilience and adaptability of the Cajun culture are truly inspiring, a testament to their enduring legacy. They’ve managed to preserve their unique identity while sharing their joie de vivre with the world. It’s a bit like our own Irish spirit, always finding a way to thrive and bring joy to others. Like us, they are always up for the craic.

Robert (Bobby) O'Leary

There was a overwhelming sadness around Gowran and beyond with the passing of Robert (Bobby) O'Leary on Monday night 4th November following a long illness bravely borne.

The son of Alice and James, Robert was born on 8th May 1949 and he grew up in Fr. Murphy Square, before moving to Gowran where he married Gretta O'Leary on 25th August 1978. They had four children, Bridin, Michael, Roseanne and Ursula, and three grandchildren Elodie, Sean and Ted who was born on Fathers Day this year.

He is also survived by his sisters Marguerite and Alicia, and his brother Tony, and he was predeceased by his sister Breda and his brother Jimmy.

Robert or Bobby as he was most known around Gowran - was a great parish stalwart, and he was centrally involved in so many activities over the years.

He was a painter/decorator and he was well known not just around Gowran but across the county, where his hard work and dedication saw him apply the finishing touch of houses and businesses in particular to most positive effect.

Music was one of Robert's favorite

pastimes, and for several years he was Organist in Gowran Parish Church as The Choir sang every Saturday Evening for weekend Mass.

Robert and the Choir also sang at major occassions like Christmas, Easter, Confirmations and Communions, and annually he would volunteer outside Gowran Church to collect for cancer on behalf of The Irish Cancer Society having suffered family bereavements to the dreaded disease in the mid-late 2000s.

In December 2018, he received The Benemerenti Award from the then Bishop of Ossory Dermot Farrell for his services to Gowran Parish Choir on a very special night in Gowran Church.

He also played the accordion where he performed alongside Mick Power, JohnJoe Kelly and Noel Butler, and for two years they were successful in winning a prize at The St. Patrick Day Parade in Kilkenny.

Robert was also a regular performer at the music sessions in Dalton House on Wednesday nights where he performed with fellow musicians Andy Kennedy, Ben Walsh, Paul Brett and Moira Kennedy among others.

He was also a regular in The Gowran Pantomime Society

throughout the years both on stage and back stage, and one year he gave a memorable performance of Running Bear that was a chart topping hit for Johnny Preston. Sadly, Robert was plagued by illness in recent years having suffered a stroke while the past few years were most difficult having battled with Dementia, as he was treated with phenomenal care by the wonderful staff at the day care staff in St. Columbas in Thomastown.

His passing on November 4th was sudden but not unexpected, and as mentioned there was a overwhelming sadness around Gowran and beyond with his passing.

He made such a massive contribution to Gowran Parish, and above all he was a most wonderful family man especially around Christmas, where favorites like Jim Reeves and Perry Como would be played annually on the record player.

His legacy will live on and he will never be forgetten for his loyalty, genorosity, friendship and love with the way he touched the hearts of so many.

His months mind will be held in Gowran Church tomorrow evening (Saturday) at 6pm.

Kilkenny’s Great Escape!

Part two

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

Continuing the story of the Great Escape from Kilkenny jail (or Gaol, which was the old spelling). Part one can be read on the Kilkenny Observer website…

The men gathered at the entrance to the tunnel and at 6.40 p.m., Larry Condon led the way in. He had previously ascertained that it was safe and secure. He reached his destination outside the jail, and helped his mates as they emerged from the tunnel exit. An estimated 44 prisoners crawled through to freedom; almost all of them were covered in mud, their clothes tattered and torn.

Once outside the jail, the escapees looked to the City men among them for guidance. Some of them sought refuge in nearby houses. Others ran to Patrick Street where transport awaited them. The pony and traps conveyed them to safety.

A local hurler, Paddy Donoghue, who lived in Rioch’s street, happened to be walking home while the escape was in progress. He was whistling a tune to himself when the sight of men appearing out of the ground startled him. In the dim light, he noticed an ever-increasing number of figures darting about in the shadows. He drew

closer.

One of the faces rang a bell, he thought, and he correctly identified the man as the much admired rebel priest, Father Delahunty. With barely a sideward glance, the fugitive cleric brushed away the mud from his clothing, wished his comrades well, and headed towards Callan on foot.

Paddy responded to a plea for help from the prisoners, enlisting the support of Mattie Power, a hurler on the same Dicksboro team as himself who went on to win four All-Ireland medals after the war. Mattie and Paddy accompanied four ex-prisoners to the home of IRA man, Bill Walsh in Ballycallan. Bill saw to it that the four eluded the ensuing manhunt mounted by the police and military.

Tans, Auxiliaries, and armed police scoured the whole county, raiding homes, searching outhouses, wrecking pubs, and smashing up house furniture in their attempts to re-capture the escapees. The interrogation rooms at Woodstock worked overtime as the Tans tried in vain to beat or cajole information about the escapees out of people they arrested.

They failed to locate even one prisoner. Anyone they questioned fed the Tans and the RIC false information to throw them off the scent. Non-co-operation with the civic authorities and the forces of occupation that worked in concert with them had become second nature to a large section of the population.

The Kilkenny People of

November 26th, 1921 carried an editorial on the breakout. It stated: “We can readily imagine that if the entente cordiale between England and France ever becomes sufficiently cordial to sanction the agreement for the construction of the channel tunnel between the two nations, the contractor for the job will start off by getting in touch with Larry Condon of Fermoy and Martin Kealy of Kilkenny and their comrades.

“What they do not know about constructing tunnels is not worth knowing, and they will refuse to be hampered by considerations of an eight hour day; nor do they particularly care about whether their work is carried out in old time or summer time.”

The later adventures of

Father Delahunty would have been worthy of a Charles Dickens novel. After making his way out of the City, he was offered safe haven with the Egans of Ballyvoneen, near Mullinahone. He remained with them until the signing of the Truce a few weeks later. The bishop suspended him from his ministry for his Republican views, but the rebel priest found himself a new parish on the other side of the Atlantic.

In 1926, he resumed his priestly duties, taking up residence in Kansas, U.S.A.

After serving in a number of parishes, he assumed the post of prison chaplain at Leavensworth State Penitentiary. Here, he came to be regarded as a living saint, as he sought to bring solace and spiritual

comfort to men on death row. He prayed for the condemned inmates, as they stood poised on the brink of eternity. His experience of Ireland during the Tan War had turned him against executions. The sight of men dying in the electric chair, or Old Smokey as it was called; repelled him. The brave Irish Republican and ex-P.O.W. could certainly claim to have experienced prison life from every angle. He died peacefully in 1955 in a Kansas hospital.

In 1957, Kilkenny Corporation named a street in a new housing estate after him. Delahunty Terrace is located just a hundred yards from the exit point of the tunnel that he and the other prisoners emerged from in 1921.

In his final years, his mind would wander back to the night of the escape. On one of his many holiday visits to Ireland, he remarked to an old veteran of the Tan War: “You know, that was the longest 50 yards I ever travelled, through that tunnel. It may as well have been 50 miles and taken as many years, to get from one end to the other, and we had no idea what awaited us outside the prison.

“I feared the worst. After all I’ve seen since, even in the State Pen in Kansas, the memory of that night is as strong and as vivid as ever. It will never leave me.”

Salvaging a part of our treasured heritage…

Though Kilkenny Gaol was demolished in 1948 a fragment of wall encompassing an iron gate remains and can still be seen St Francis Terrace. This has attracted many visits over the decades from cultural groups, and people with a special interest in preserving what’s left of Kilkenny’s legacy. It has featured in talks hosted by the Saturday Walkers group. Though, as can be seen from the picture, it’s a bit unsightly now, with weeds and litter prevalent, there are suggestions locally that the site could be cleaned up and that a plaque summarizing the history of the old gaol might someday be unveiled to mark this historic spot. Such a move would undoubtedly have widespread public support Perhaps community groups and politicians will act to ensure that this part of Kilkenny’s heritage is not lost to future generations?

Fr Pat Delahunty

Whats left of the old Kilkenny Gaol at St Francis Terrace

Rings made by Republicans in Kilkenny Jail Picture courtesy of the Bergin family Gaol Road Kilkenny

Return of The Quiet Land for St Brigid’s Festival

Rural Ireland today! Two elderly small farmers who have witnessed much change in their community meet

between their adjoining farms. An age-old ritual of small talk, farming news, sporting yarns is now

peppered with uncertainty and fear.

Eamon and Nashee are men of heart, of humour, of hardness but now they are faced with some heartbreaking truths that will test their long-held friendship to its limits and define their future.

The play is a celebration of humour, resilience, and endearing innocence of an exiled generation as it struggles to survive in the isolated rural Ireland of today.

“The Quiet Land is my heartfelt tribute to a rare breed of forgotten men who live a long way in off the road,” says playwright Malachy McKenna who won the PJ O’Connor Radio Drama Award in 2014 for the original drama which he subsequently adapted for the stage.

Renowned local actors Ger Cody and Brendan Corcoran play Nashee and Eamon respectively; directed by Philip Hardy .The Quiet Land will run at The Barn studio from January 30 to February 2nd at 7pm nightly as part of the St. Brigid’s Festival.

Booking is now open on Eventbrite.

Christmas reading at Clogh

Clogh writers are delighted to announce ‘A Chreistmas reading’ at the Clogh parish centre on Wednesday December 11th at 7.30pm. Jane Meally from the writers group said she envisaged the night as being extra special considering the time of year and the theme. A special welcome is extended to other writers groups from city and county to bring along a reading and join in on what promises to be a great night.

The group, which was founded in 1995, continues to meet regularly where they read and write poems and short stories. The reading at Clogh is open to all and if people wish to read on the night, they would be very welcome. We are happy to print a copy of one of the Clogh contributions from a recent publication by Nancy Geoghegan.

Childhood by Nancy Geoghegan

I was born and raised on the Chatsworth Road. My first memory of walking this road is when I

went to my grandmother’s house next door. It was close to Neill’s cross. My grandmother came around the corner from the Slatt Road. This was my first time to see her driving her ass and car. She passed Dan Bolger’s cottage. I ran behind the car, because for the first time, I saw baby pigs squealing loudly; I did not know what they were. She got out of the car to guide her ass to the pig sty; she had a bed prepared for them. My grandmother raised pigs both to sell and to slaughter for dry curing. I have many memories of that time. A few years later as we were going to my home together, she stood on the road attentively looking up at the sky while holding my hand and said, “Listen, listen.” I heard the noise too; she was silent as if in prayer and said, “that is the sound of airplanes going to war.” I did not know what war meant. Today I walk the Chatsworth Road often thinking of my grandmother and all we shared along this road.

Further details and information from Jane087 634 5279 or Linda - 086 395 2825

International recording artists Foster & Allen look forward to celebrating an amazing milestone of 50 years in the music business with a concert tour of Ireland in December 2024 and January to March 2025

The Foster & Allen ‘50 Years Of Hits Concert’ will be filled with all the songs that made them famous all over the world. They will be performing all their hit singles like ‘Bunch Of Thyme’, ‘Old Flames’, ‘Maggie’, ‘After All These Years’, ‘I Will Love You all My Life’, as well as medleys of songs from their chart topping album’s and DVD’s. They will also be performing some of their new recordings from their new 2CD album 50 At 50 due for release on 28th February 2025. The album will feature 14 brand new recordings as well as a collection of all their well-known hit songs. They are releasing the first single from the album on Friday 13th December which is an original song written by Derek Ryan ‘In The Good Old Days’ and also featuring

Derek. A video of the single will be released on Wednesday 18th December which was filmed on location at Kilbeggan Distillery Visitor Centre in County Westmeath. It is the world’s oldest whiskey distillery, established in 1757 and still makes one of Ireland’s finest whiskeys. It is very familiar to Mick and Tony as they recorded one of their very first videos ‘The Old Rustic Bridge By The Mill’ at the distillery back in 1983. Foster & Allen aren’t showing any signs of slowing down and their recording and touring commitments prove how popular they remain for their fans who like to hear them at home and see them in a live experience.

For a night to remember, don’t miss Foster & Allen’s ‘50 Year’s Of Hits’ Tour 2024/2025.

Christmas short story

The Kilkenny Observer Newspaper is delighted to present our ‘2024 Christmas short story series’. We have invited five Kilkenny based writers to submit a short story over the coming weeks, which we hope you will enjoy. This is week three and we welcome Patrick Griffin.

The promise of snow

BY PATRICK GRIFFIN

We sat, the four of us, beside a blazing hotel fire, surrounded by tinsel and used Christmas crackers. I had joined the few remaining members of our staff; John, Phil and Bergen from accounts. Another Christmas staff dinner was over. I usually avoid them, but because it was Bergen’s first Christmas with us, I felt that I should attend, if only for his sake.

The conversation moved to the topic of snow. John complained about the weather forecast.

“Snow, that’s what we’ll have to put up with next. Isn’t it enough to have to tolerate Christmas and the stupidity of overspending that goes with it?”

I wouldn’t have expected him to say anything else. John was our Scrooge in modern dress. Phil was quiet, as usual. As for Bergen, well, he was different. He had brought a touch of the exotic to the office.

“You Irish have no idea of what a proper Christmas is like,” he said. “You should live through a Norwegian Christmas. Snow, crisp and white, frost at minus ten degrees at least, and silence like you’ve never experienced it. That’s what the snow does. It’s like a lid on the noise we have to contend with each day. So, particularly at Christmas we welcome the falling of fresh snow. We look on it as the extra gift that makes the season special. In our country we say that a wish made when the snow falls always comes true.”

“Bloody

nuisance, if you ask me,” John muttered.

I was about to tell him that I had no intention of asking him anything, but it was the season of good will, so I said nothing.

“The children add a special wish on Christmas Eve – that snow will fall,” Bergen continued.

John ordered another round of drinks. I was glad of the distraction of an extra hour or so sitting at an open fire. It was preferable to going back to my empty apartment. Until then, Phil had said very little. When he was quiet like that it usually meant that he was building up to

something.

“Did you ever wish for something you knew you couldn’t have, no matter how much you wished for it?” he asked.

Phil was the sort who posed questions without really expecting any answers.

“I was about six years old," he continued. “A wooden train set was all I wanted. Nothing more, just that.”

He stared into the fire.

“I never got that train set. I guess I didn’t wish enough for it when the

snow fell.”

“That’s it? Don’t tell me you still haven’t got over it,” muttered John.

“Just reminiscing,” Phil said. “It was a long time ago.”

We finished our drinks and left the hotel bar. Phil said his goodbyes and John muttered something about a Happy Christmas. I walked with Bergen as far as his house, said goodnight and continued towards my apartment.

As I walked I thought about what Phil had said. Just for a few minutes he had been a boy again. I passed a late night store and decided to pick up a few final gifts. I always seem to leave things to the last minute. This late on Christmas Eve I’d be lucky to find any stores still open. I peered through the window of a charity shop and

looked at the discarded items which were now only someone’s forgotten memories. Sets of china cups, chipped Tiffany lamps and scarves which would not have been out of place on a character from a Dickens novel. On a night such as this I decided to purchase one brightly coloured scarf as a gift for myself at Christmas. I made my purchase, wrapped the scarf comfortably around my neck and rummaged through some of the items on display. Just as I was about to leave, something in the corner of the shop caught my attention. I thought about it for a few moments and then I asked the shopkeeper to wrap it for me. That would take care of one last gift. By then the streets were almost empty. In houses all over town, families were waiting for the morning, to hear the sound of children laughing, to watch them tearing the Christmas paper from presents lov-

ingly bought, to witness magic becoming real. And I had one last visit to make.

With the carefully wrapped gift under my arm, I hurriedly moved along the almost empty street and arrived at a house with a light flickering in the window.

I quietly placed the gift in the porch and slipped away into the night.

In the morning, in one house, a wooden train, with peeling paint, would surprise someone. I smiled and took one last look at a sky filled with pinpoints of stars.

It was going to be a very cold night.

And, if I wished for it hard enough, there was always the promise of snow.

Patrick

Griffin from Kilkenny is a Francis MacManus Short Story Competition winner and a contributor to local radio as well as RTÉ’s Sunday Miscellany, A Living Word and A Word in Edgeways. His work was presented at the Frank O’Connor Short Story Festival. One of his plays was performed in Bewley’s Theatre, Dublin. His stories have been anthologised.

All photos by Amanda Burke

Market Cross and smiles

all-round

When painting and creativity sparks joy in your life

This week, The Kilkenny Observer newspaper took a trip to Fennelly’s of Callan. Apart from being a fine spot for a meal, our mission on the day was to meet a gentleman by the name of Anthony Donohoe.

Anthony lives near Callan and for the last number of years his love for painting has grown. He took up the hobby of painting many years ago and it wasn’t long before the hobby grew into a passion. Recent exhibitions held in Kilkenny helped him grow in confidence and positive remarks and compliments on his art has given him an extra zest to continue his love affair with art.

Mr Donohue is non-verbal and has a hearing impairment. Add to the equation that he has autistic tendencies and you imagine that those challenges would bring him down. Not so. These have never held him back. Those who care for Anthony assured this newspaper that he lives a very full life.

Ann Jones who is Anthony’s tutor remarked “it

is clear to see that Anthony is in his happy place whilst painting. It certainly sparks joy in his life.” Anthony expresses himself through simple sign language and generally speaking he will show what he needs through this medium. His tutor Ann told us that when she is facilitating an art class with him she can observe his behaviour through his various mannerisms and can tell if he is relaxed and enjoying the session. Anthony has created a limited edition of twenty five Christmas cards, each one is unique, created by the artist. If you are on the hunt for a special Christmas card then you can purchase one of Anthony’s cards from Fennelly’s or Maher’s service station, both in Callan.

Taken outside Fennelly’s of Callan L-R: Ann Jones, Anthony Donohoe and Etaoin Holohan

Anthony Donohue’s Christmas cards

At Mahers Service Station, Callan L-R: Ann Jones and Anthony Donohoe

Artist Anthony Donohoe

How Friary Street has grown over the years

Anarrow street with the Friary Church its centerpiece, Friary Street is located west of High Street, sandwiched between Murphy’s and Paul’s clothing stores.

Many people have walked and travelled along this street for prayer, food, or shopping over the years and continue to do so.

Here, we will take you on a trip through Friary Street, and how it has grown over the years.

History of the Name: Friary Street has been known by some names over the years, but some mystery remains as to what it was named and when. It

is believed it was known in 1383 as “Waukennes Street”, and in a deed in 1419, there’s mention of “Walkyne Street”. Roughly 100 years ago, the street was known as Lower Walkin Street, before its current name of Friary Street.

The Capuchin Friary: It was around 1643 when two friars, Fathers Peter Nugent OSFC and Thomas Tuite OSFC, arrived in Kilkenny after their place of residence in Mullingar was destroyed in a fire. When they arrived, they stayed in a house in St Canice’s Cathedral and were offered control of one of the chapels in the cathedral.

In the mid-eighteen century, the capuchins left Kilkenny, but a community would later reinstate themselves in the 1770s, establishing a Friary in an alms house known as ‘The Poor House Chapel’. The present Friary was built on this site in 1848, 176 years ago. It was led by Fr. Peter Joseph Mulligan OSFC (1793-1853), the guardian of the Capuchin community at that time. Nowadays, many people go to the Church for Mass, for confession, or a period of quiet prayer.

Developments of the Street: Friary Street has grown into a prominent street within

Kilkenny City and has evolved a lot from what it used to be. Compared to what was once a street with little to offer, Friary Street now has shops, businesses, and restaurants in abundance, with many new and exciting businesses having set up on Friary Street over the years, providing people with a range of products and services.

Aroi Asian Fusion, Ryan’s Bar, Kenna’s Butchers, Luke Parsons Hair Salon, The Kilkenny Observer, Alison’s Hair Studio, Daly Farrell Chartered Accountants, Gargan and Sons Stone Craftsmen, John Ellis Financial, Flaming Great Istanbul BBQ House, Jack and Jills’s Char-

ity Boutique and the Cookie Co-op, are some of what Friary Street has to offer. In addition, the Friary Church was refurbished during the summer months, and during Christmas 2023, Friary Street got its own Christmas lights, decorating the street with some festive cheer.

Overall, Friary Street has grown and continues to grow into one of the most prominent streets within Kilkenny City. We wish Friary Street the best of luck in the future as it continues to grow and serve the people of Kilkenny City and wider areas.

Written by Michael Doyle

Aroi Asian Fusion

Aroi is an Asian fusion Restaurant located on Friary Street, Kilkenny. Aroi, meaning ‘delicious’ or ‘tasty’, opened its doors on Friary Street in 2015 and has gone on to become one of the finest restaurants in Kilkenny city. Led by their acclaimed executive chef, Fadilah, named Best Asian Fusion Chef in Ireland in 2019 and 2020, their menu is inspired by Fadilah’s culinary journeys across Asia, bringing authentic flavours to every plate. Aroi is committed to serving vibrant, highquality dishes in a relaxed, casual setting. The restaurant serves signature dishes,

curries, and stir fries, along with vegan and vegetarian adaptations, and they also provide an extensive cocktail menu. Aroi ensures their meals are cooked with the freshest ingredients that are locally sourced and are prepared without artificial additives or MSG. Aroi has won many awards during its time, including the Best Asian Fusion Restaurant and Best Cocktail Experience, and the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner for four consecutive years, placing them in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide. Whether you dine in, collect, or enjoy delivery, the Asian cuisine at Aroi will be sure to leave a lasting impression on you and your friends.

Flaming Great Istanbul BBQ House

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat, but don’t know where to go, then the Flaming Great Istanbul BBQ House on Friary Street might be the place for you. Flaming Great is a fast-food restaurant that brings the vibrant and rich culinary traditions of Istanbul to Kilkenny. Having set up their business on Friary Street in early 2022, their menu offers a combination of traditional Turkish dishes with contemporary favourites, providing a genuine dining experience.

With kebabs such as the ‘Lamb Shish Kebab’ and the ‘House Special Kebab’, pizzas like the ‘Chicken Lovers Pizza’ and ‘Meat Feast Pizza’, burgers such as the ‘Mega Burger’ and the ‘Chef Special Burger’, and desserts like the ‘Turkish Baklava’ and ‘Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake’, there’s plenty to choose from. Flaming Great has a young owner and great chefs who have years of experience in producing the traditional taste of Istanbul. You can eat in or takeaway, order online and collect, or have your order delivered straight to your door. They use the best, freshest ingredients in their meals, allowing you to savour the taste of Istanbul with every bite.

Cookie Co-op

Cookie Co-op are the cookie specialists on Friary Street, Kilkenny. Cookie Co-op first began trading in July 2020 at the local farmers’ market in Kilkenny and opened their retail space on Friary Street in July 2023. Since then, they have developed a wholesale supply business for local cafés, as well as introducing a nationwide next-day delivery system. In addition, they continue to trade weekly at Kilkenny farmers’ market on a Thursday, and also Mountain View markets in Ballyhale, county Kilkenny on a Sunday.

Cookie Co-op is a family business owned by Brian Walsh and features a range of cookies and coffees. Their tasty and tempting treats are hand-crafted and specially designed to deliver their signature taste which is muchloved by their customers. Their traditional chocolate chip cookies contain high-end Belgian milk and white chocolate, whilst their 'speciality flavours' features their everpopular Kinder Cookie, along with other flavours such as Galaxy, Terry's Chocolate Orange, and Oreo, amongst others. They also feature vegan and gluten-free cookie options, ensuring that their signature taste remains while in line with dietary requirements. So, pop into the store, or order online, where Cookie co-op will be delighted to provide you with a choice of their delicious products.

Gargan and Sons Stone Craftsmen

Gargan and Sons are a stone craftsmen business on Friary Street. Established over one hundred and seventy years ago, in the same premises, Gargan’s specialise in quality memorials in natural stone types, as well as the renovation of headstones and cutting inscriptions. The family’s stone carving story is believed to have started at the famous Colles Mills in Maddoxtown, where the founding member of the firm learned the trade around 1800.

The family lived in Flood Street, later renamed Parnell Street. One of the most famous

members of the family was Matt Gargan, who was one of Kilkenny’s greatest hurlers and won six All-Ireland titles between 1905 – 1913. He had initially played for Waterford, where he served his apprenticeship. In addition, he served as president of the Home Rule Club and played cricket for many years. He carried on business in Friary Street with his two sons, Matt and Joe, as a monumental sculptor. Matt Gargan died after a protracted illness in March 1949, aged 63 years.

Today, the Gargan family business consists of Frank and Matt, who are grandsons of Matt Gargan, and Adam, a great grandson, who continue the business of sculptors at Friary Street.

Jack and Jill Charity Boutique

Jack and Jill Charity Boutique on 12 Friary Street is a charity boutique for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. They sell a range of different items including clothes, giftware, toys, and media. The proceeds then go in support of services the children’s foundation provides. Jack and Jill Charity Boutique opened for business on Friary Street in February 2020. Jack and Jill is a nationwide charity providing in-home nursing care and respite support for children up to the age of 6 with severe to

Kenna’s

Kenna’s Butchers are one of the finest butchers within Kilkenny city. Located west of High Street opposite Luke Parsons Hair Salon, Kenna’s Butchers have been in business for 90 years, spanning three generations. They have a variety of meats, ready to cook meals and accompanying side dishes. Kenna’s Butchers produce and sell a variety of fresh Irish beef, lamb, pork, bacon and poultry products, all naturally reared and 100% Irish. The shop is currently managed by Michael Kenna, grandson of Paddy Kenna, the man who opened Kenna’s butchers in

profound cognitive delay, including children with brain injury, genetic diagnosis, cerebral palsy, and undiagnosed conditions. Another key part of their service is end-of-life care for all children up to the age of 6, irrespective of diagnosis.

In June 2023, the charity boutique on Friary Street was one of three boutiques in an apprentice-style takeover by the staff of Glenveagh Homes, who are charity partners to Jack and Jill, to create a fun and welcoming atmosphere and inspire sales. The Friary Street branch raised a total of €10,632, raising the most funds out of the three businesses on the day. The vital funds raised equate to 591 hours of in-home nursing care.

Butchers

1932. Following his sad passing aged 46, seven years after he opened his shop, his wife Joan (Michael’s grandmother), with the help of Micheál Lennon, ran the shop until Michael’s father Paddy took over in 1956. In 1987, Michael came into the business and under his father’s wing, grew the butchers into what we know today. Since its establishment, the business has expanded with their addition of a cutting and preparation area. They also bought their own farm in 1970 where they continue to produce their own livestock for their business. The business continues to serve the people of Kilkenny city and wider areas with the finest meat products.

John Ellis T/A John Ellis Insurance is

a financial advisor based in Kilkenny. He provides financial advice, helping people to obtain their financial security and independence. He works with individuals, families, and businesses to help them achieve their financial objectives, and works with the client to suit their financial needs, wishes, and lifestyle, giving its clients financial piece of mind. Having a fit and proper insurance is important to protect you, your family and your assets from unforeseen threats and events.

John Ellis Insurance provide a range of services, including: Life Insurance, which takes care of your loved ones, Mortgage Protection, a life insurance policy that

John Ellis Insurance Ryan’s Bar

Ryan’s Bar is a popular local pub on Friary Street and is a shining light of the local culture and nightlife in Kilkenny. Renowned for its great capacity for live music, Ryan’s Bar has been a popular venue for live music over the years and is the venue of an eclectic mix of music, with the likes of rock, soul, funk, trad and blues acts performing in front of vibrant crowds. Ryan’s Bar features a spacious interior decorated with memorabilia and artwork, and offers a fine selection of

pays the remaining balance on a person’s mortgage, upon death.

Specified Illness Cover, which provides a person with a lump sum upon exact diagnosis of a listed specified illness.

Income Protection, which can cover up to 75% of a person’s normal income (less disability benefit if eligible), and covers any injury, illness or accident. Business Protection, which safeguards a person’s business and their family from an illness or death, and Additional Benefits that can be added on to life insurance and mortgage protection policies if and when appropriate.

John Ellis trading as John Ellis Insurance is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

beverages, from craft beers to traditional Irish whiskeys.

Ryan’s Bar is currently owned by Arthur Drohan and in March 2024, he celebrated 20 years of business at the helm. During that time, Ryan’s Bar has had its difficulties of boom, bust, recession, and recovery. More recently, like most businesses, the bar endured complete closure due to Covid lockdowns and Arthur wondered if it would get back up and running again, but he persevered and, to their credit, they got through it. So, whether you're looking to dance the night away, relax and enjoy the music, or catch up with locals and friends, you can be sure that Ryan’s Bar is the place for a good time.

Luke Parsons - Small Business of the Year 2024 Local knowledge, international experience

Wishing our clients a very Merry Christmas

Farrell Chartered Accountants on Friary Street in Kilkenny (directly across from the Friary Church) and in Glasnevin, Dublin. The audit tax and accountancy practice was established from two experienced accountancy practices that merged in 2020. Patrick Farrell and Robert Daly are the Managing Partners, and staff levels have increased substantially since the merge. In Daly Farrell, we strive to improve and evolve with the ever-changing world of business. Currently, more and more clients are embracing cloud accounting as the

world of hardcopy invoices ends. Daly Farrell clients are based predominantly in Dublin, Leinster and Munster but we also have international clients across Europe and the United Kingdom.

One area of work that has grown over the last number of years is the preservation of wealth and succession planning. For more information visit dalyfarrell.ie

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our clients for their continued custom and we wish all a Happy Christmas and a healthy and successful New Year.

Luke Parsons, winner of the Small Business of the Year category in the Kilkenny Business Awards 2024, would like to thank his loyal customers, colleagues, family and friends, whom without, he could not have achieved such a prestigious award.

Their salon has grown from strength to strength, and they pride themselves on quality work in a relaxed and welcoming environment, an appointment dedicated to you. Luke Parsons Hair Salon is a place that welcomes all walks of life to enjoy high end quality products used by their team of highly skilled cutting specialists and colour experts. Luke is well known for his easy to wear cuts. He is a very visual stylist and is passionate about sculpting the hair to suit each individual client.

They are stockists of:

• Nioxin

• Olaplex

• Kemon Scalp and Hair Loss

• Moroccan Oil

• Matrix

Luke Parsons Hair Salon is also excited to have added a wig specialist service to the business in recent years! They have a newly renovated wig and scalp specialist area upstairs, offering their clients a private space. They are passionate about helping their clients find the perfect hairpiece in a confidential and relaxed environment. They have solutions to suit clients with mild thinning, to more extensive hair loss. They are delighted to be registered with the HSE/Medical Card to ensure the grants that are available are accessible to their clients. They also offer a bespoke wig fitting service after hours, where their high end hairpieces are styled by Luke to suit each client.

As Luke Parsons Hair Salon gets ready for its 6th Christmas on Friary Street, Luke and his talented team would like to wish all of their clients a very Happy Christmas! They would like to thank all of the amazing people that have come through their doors and supported them.

Daly

Beginning at the junction of High Street and Friary Street on the left coming from High Street we find Murphy's Woollen store, which extends up Friary Street. A curtain shop and Fennelly's Fish shop occupied the next two premises. These were built by Tommy Grace who was the owner of the present Book Centre, in the 1970's. The

Friary Street around the A look down memory lane

Halifax bank has now replaced the ESB premises, which in turn replaced Leahy's tea rooms. Paddy Phelan's coal yard and hackney business was replaced by Graham’s shoe shop and the Friary Hall. Paddy was an outstanding left half back on the Kilkenny Senior team for many years and was on the team of the century.

Slater's poultry and fish shop was a well-known business and during the war years there was a great business in the export of rabbits to England. The sale of rabbits to Slater’s was a great source of income for country men. Slater’s also had a yard at the opposite side of the street for killing and skinning rabbits and plucking poultry. John Slater was mayor of Kilkenny in 1917 and 1918. He died in 1945. The large building past the Friary was used as a dispensary. Doctors White, Mitchell and Healy were well known doctors working there. There was a relief office at the back of the building to assist people who had fallen on hard times. The row of houses leading to Pennyfeather Lane was known as Walkin Street Sconce. Doctor Dan Divilly lived there for many years. Thomas Hennessy and family lived in the building next to the dispensary and the house was known as 'the long hall. The next three houses were occupied by Coyle’s, McDonald’s and William’s. Coyle’s had been printers in Kilkenny for many years. The following three house were occupied by Lynch's, Hogan's and Buggy's. Dick Buggy was chauffeur to Bishop Collier. Ned Buggy has been a very prominent member of Kilkenny GAA for many years.

Joe Carroll, another resident on this side, was well known in the theatre and was a local historian. He published 'A guide to Kilkenny'

1950s

which still serves as a reference book. He was also manager of the bottling stores further up Walkin Street. In recent years Mullins butcher shop moved to this side of the street from across the road. Ray Cody lived here since the 1960's farther up the street. There was a very well-known popular chip shop called Breda's Chipper.

The Morrissey family have had a very successful business premises at the corner of Friary Street and New Street for many years. The family had a bakery and for some years were involved in politics. Moving to the right hand side of the street (from High Street up Friary Street) Liptons (later the L&N supermarket) and Lenehans had a shop on the corner. Paul’s now occupy the premises. The Vogue clothes shop was owned by Thomas Murphy from the Woolen Hall, and is now part of Paul's premises.

Next was Joe Egan's Delph shop. As well as selling delph, he would hire out delph for large social functions and gatherings such as threshing. Kenna's butcher shop opened in 1932, now occupying Egan's shop, and have a very successful business. Andrew Ryan's public house was next and Billy Burke had a private house next door. Rafter Dempsey's public house had been Tynan's bar and grocery. The premises that had been demolished to make the Friary street car park include O'Keeffe's Hardware, Jimmy Allen Plumbers and Joe Burke Blacksmith. Other houses were occupied by Frank Flood, Paddy Lysaght, Jimmy Dunne and Jenny Lee. Following those were two alms houses organised by the Capuchin

Friars. The Flood-Morrissey family lived in the corner house, adjoining Garden Row and dealt in antiques. The Lawlor family lived at the opposite corner of Garden Row. Mr Lawlor was the manager of the Regent Cinema. Occupants further up the street were Boyles and Tom, a member of that family who was secretary of Kilkenny County Council and author of its history.

Other residents were Hennessy's, Doyle's (Mrs Doyle was a piano

teacher) Milo Butler, who was a builder and local councillor, Kiely's and Armstrongs. A hairdressers now occupies the premises that previously housed Mullins Butchers. Ritchie Moore ran a very successful fuel yard. Jack Moore had been a second hand dealer for many years. Mullins butchers used the abattoir next door to the fuel yard. The Ryan family had a very successful bakery here for many years, with their bread and blas having a very good

reputation. Tom Ryan succeeded his father Jack and they also ran a sweet shop here. Tom's son Paddy was a very successful manager of the L&N and later became manager of the Market Cross Shopping Centre. The Devane family lived next door. The large premises at the corner of Friary Street and Parnell Street is owned by the Doherty family; they have been here for generations. The public house was previously owned by Hacketts.

Photo: phbrennan

Photo: phbrennan

The old car park on Friary Street

There have been many changes on Friary Street since 1950.

Photo: phbrennan

The microchip industry worldwide is at the centre of geopolitical tensions between the US and China, with Taiwan’s dominance in semiconductor production playing a crucial role.

China’s efforts to develop its semiconductor industry faces challenges similar to those encountered by the Soviet Union during the first Cold War, including difficulties in talent retention and economic policy constraints.

The US is reshoring microchip manufacturing to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, but faces significant obstacles as well.

In April 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping hopped on the phone with Joe Biden to condemn the American president’s plan to ban the export of advanced microchips and chip-related technologies to the People’s Republic of China. The ban struck Xi as little more than a geopolitical dig, a move to “suppress China’s trade and technology development” that – if carried out – would only serve to escalate the ongoing Cold War between Beijing and Washington.

Beijing, he promised, would not “sit back and watch”. What this threat entails is anyone’s guess, but many experts suspect it involves Taiwan. Decades of investment and strategic industrial policies have helped the island nation develop into the single most important player in the global microchip industry.

The manufacturing giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) produces a whopping 92% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, a technology without which every stateof-the-art phone, computer, television, car, MRI scanner, and advanced missile on the planet would cease to function.

Despite building a competent technology sector of its own, and poaching Taiwanese talent with high wages and tax benefits, China’s domestic microchip industry cannot compare to its southern neighbour — and, some believe, the closer this neighbour allies itself with the US, while cutting off Beijing, the greater the risk that China will seek to reunify the island with the mainland through force.

During the first Cold War, the battle over developing advanced semiconductors — and the myriad of devices they could be used for — was fought primarily between the US and the USSR. The results of this battle, in which the US and Silicon Valley emerged victorious, inform not only Beijing’s efforts to challenge American dominance but also Washington’s attempts to reshore microchip manufacturing at a time when Taiwanese national security has become increasingly uncertain.

In 1962, Nikita Khrushchev met with Joseph Berg and Philip Staros, two engineers from Silicon Valley who de-

Why the USSR and China fell behind US in Chip Cold War

fected from the US to help the Soviet Union develop a centre for innovative microtechnology modelled after its American counterpart. Despite its lofty ambitions, the centre — located in a secretive Moscow suburb called Zelenograd — never managed to rival Silicon Valley. Instead of promoting original research, its resident scientists simply copied technology smuggled out of California, meaning they always stayed one step behind the very people they wished to overtake.

As if playing catch-up with exponential progress wasn’t difficult enough, the CIA sabotaged Zelenograd’s efforts at reverse engineering by ensuring many of the American chips they obtained were often faulty and malfunctioning.

Another reason why the Soviet Union’s chips always lagged behind the US is economic policy.

“The US had a vast civilian market,” Chris Miller, historian and author of Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology (2022), tells Freethink, “which was critical because semiconductor economics requires massive scale, which in turn enables larger investment in R&D. The US also built efficient global supply chains, taking advantage of low labor costs in Southeast Asia as well

as technical expertise in Europe and Japan.

“The Soviets had neither. They were focused from the earliest days on copying US technology. They succeeded in copying, but copying left them behind the curve because Silicon Valley made such rapid progress.

“The US,” says Erik Peinert, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Boston University and co-author of a recent report on the reshoring of American microchip manufacturing for the American Economic Liberties Project, “had access to world markets beyond their own borders, which had a high demand for chips during the Cold War, whether for military or commercial purposes. The USSR only had the Communist bloc.”

Instead of cultivating civilian and commercial demand for microchips east of the Iron Curtain, the Soviet military was always Zelenograd’s primary customer. This dependence helps explain why Russia is no longer a key player in the global production of semiconductors. When the Soviet military dissolved in 1992, Zelenograd followed suit. Its labs — manufacturing plants where raw silicon wafers are turned into integrated circuits or ICs — were shut down, and the closed-off

city was gradually reopened to the public.

“The collapse of the Soviet Union,” Hermann Aubié, a professor at the University of Turku’s Centre for East Asian Studies who has studied the geopolitics of microchip manufacturing, tells Freethink, “disrupted its scientific and industrial base, leading to brain drain and lack of investment in R&D and global supply chains.” Stepping away from microtechnology, the Russian Federation went on to prioritize other sectors such as energy and raw materials. The Kremlin now relies heavily on semiconductors made by US-allied partners like Taiwan and South Korea, much to the detriment of its military capabilities.

As Chiu points out in one of his articles, only 5% of Russian weapons used in the Syrian Civil War were precisionguided, while a large number of the semiconductors used in Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine were salvaged from dishwashers and refrigerators.

In China, political persecution greatly hindered the development of the country’s technology sector. During the 1960s and early ‘70s, Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution not only led to the imprisonment or execution of countless talented engineers,

scientists, and inventors, but also drove many — including future TMSC founder Morris Chang — to flee to the US, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, boosting their technological potential in the process.

When the Cultural Revolution subsided and Mao was succeeded by Deng Xiaoping, China’s nascent semiconductor industry couldn’t hold a candle to that of its rivals.

Too far behind to innovate domestically, the People’s Republic took a page from the Soviet playbook, replicating US, Taiwanese, and Japanese technology as the gap between them grew bigger and bigger.

But, while the Soviet Union eventually dropped out, China has managed to stay in the race. This was partly due to Beijing’s acceptance of a more open economy after Mao’s death.

“The Soviets succeeded at certain military technologies but struggled to make advanced chips at scale,” says Miller. “Many of China’s advancements, meanwhile, have come from private companies.”

If limited privatization previously enabled Chinese tech firms to make headway, it should come as no surprise that Xi’s recent pushback against private enterprise is once again hindering China’s

potential for growth: “Now the state is becoming more involved in the technology sector, and this risks replicating some of USSR’s pathologies.” Studies of China’s microchip industry suggest that the benefits of state subsidies, tax cuts, and large-scale poaching of Taiwanese and American-educated talent are being offset by corruption, overregulation, and mismanaged resources, resulting in brain drain out of China, as well as the liquidation of major chip manufacturers like Tsinghua Unigroup, which filed for bankruptcy in 2022. Then again, the Chinese economy has taken experts by surprise before, and Chiu notes that modern-day China is in a much better position than the Soviet Union or Russia ever were. “China’s present- day chip industry,” he explains, “is less centralised and replication- reliant than the USSR’s. Its economy is much closer to the size of the US economy than the USSR’s economy ever was, enabling much more Chinese investment (tens of billions) into the chip industry. While there is a lasting stigma that Chinese products are cheap, poor quality, and mass-produced, Chinese innovation has actually taken off over the past few years.”

Cooking on the front

Larry dons the chefs hat as trench meal will be prepared on the banks of the Nore

The Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee invites you to join them at the Kilkenny Great War Memorial at the Peace Park on the banks of the River Nore, on Sunday 8th December 2024 at 7pm. The evening will include a demonstration of the preparation, cooking and issuing of a typical trench meal from the Great War.

Favourite chef

Anyone who watches daytime TV can be certain that a lot of the programming will include cookery advice, demonstration and tips. As a nation we seem to be obsessed with what dishes we need to serve up and how best we should prepare them. Nothing wrong with that of course. And there are a number of Irish chefs who appear on our screens who are the best in the world. Names like Nevin McGuire, Darina Allen, Kevin Dundon and of course Kilkenny’s Edward Hayden. One man who hasn’t, as of yet, appeared on our screens displaying his culinary skills is retired army Commandant, Larry Scallan.

Basic but filling

Larry will don the proverbial chefs hat, and show what food was dished up in the trenches in WW1. Not alone will he show the food, but he will prepare it in front of your very eyes. If luck is on your side, you may even get to share some of the food that men and women ate in the trenches in places such as the Somme. During that period, army food was basic but filling. Each soldier could expect around 4,000 calories a day with tinned rations and hard biscuits. Their diet also included vegetables, bread and jam and boiled plum puddings.

To keep these rations fresh and edible, the government shipped most perishable food in tin cans. The process of canning was around for about a century, but the demand for low-cost, high-calorie, portable, and durable meals found a dramatic increase in the kinds of food that could be canned, including ravioli and spaghetti by the Italian army and coq au vin and boeuf Bourguignon by the French.

Christmas truce

A demonstration of the preparation, cooking and issuing of a typical trench meal from the Great War will take place on Sunday 8th December 2024 at 7pm. There will be limited cover from the weather so please wear appropriate clothing for this mostly outdoor event. During The Great War, the possibility of extended periods of occupying front line trenches was only made possible by the development of canned and preserved food products. This demonstration will explain some of the major logistical issues faced, keeping an ever increasing army in the field.

Also discussed will be the facts around the Christmas truce in 1914, which occurred one hundred and ten years ago. There will be a mock trench, sing song and a ‘kids try the uniform on’ section. The Kilkenny Great War Memorial committee are asking that you help to remember and share life in a trench for one hour.

Commandant Larry Scallan, retired, gives a demonstration on rations available to soldiers in WW1

A display of what soldiers survived on will be described by Larry Scallan at the demonstration

A typical scene during meal time in WWI

A typical stew prepared for soldiers in the trenches. Usually the men would create a stew by adding bully beef and biscuits into the pot

Nora Brennan book launch

Challenging times, and acute awa of mortality was genesis for poetr

By Ger Cody

Photos: Pat Shortall

“Let us all unite to ensure that our library becomes not just a building of books, but a mighty engine for the uplifting and enlightenment of this beloved country. I appeal to the people of Kilkenny: may you recognise the potential of this building and its treasury of knowledge. Let it stand as a testament to our collective will, our love of learning, and our undying commitment to the betterment of all our kin.”

Those words were spoken by the Countess of Desart at the formal opening of the Carnegie Free Library on the 4th of November

1910 at St. John’s Quay, Kilkenny. Philanthropist, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, gave a grant of £2,000, and the Countess Dowager of Desart purchased a free site for the building and furnished it at a cost of £200. Lady Desart continued “My heart swells with hope that this noble building will soon be brimming with volumes that shed light, provide leading instruction, invigorate the soul, and serve as a bastion of thought and true learning.”

The vision for a new library by Lady Desart was just one of her great achievements. One can only imagine that the same lady would look on with great admiration and encouragement at the new Mayfair Library, situated a stones throw from the original library and just across the Nore via a bridge aptly named Lady Desart bridge. As over 100 people gathered at the Mayfair for the launch of Still Time by Kilkenny poet Nora Brennan, Nuala Roche, manager, welcomed the gathering and took pride in explaining that over 115,000 people had passed through the library since the doors opened in April 2024.

First book launch

There was a spontaneous round of applause when Nuala mentioned that Nora’s book of poetry was the first to be launched at the Mayfair. Nora, who is from Kilkenny, initially followed a career in postprimary and adult education. She would later study psychosynthesis and qualify as a psychotherapist. She is a prize winner in national poetry competitions including the Jonathan Swift and Francis Ledwidge poetry awards. This is her

second poetry publication, having previously published The Greening of Subble Ground (2017). And what a launch it was. Everything

ran smoothly and though you can be sure that plenty of planning went into the event, it was a most relaxed book launch.

Still Time is published by Revival Press. Poetry editor of the publishing company, Tommy Collins described the collection as a meditation on life and nature, “an exploration of time and times, fateful moments and cherished occasions, seasons and lifetimes, eras that end and things that endure.” His speech was read in his absence by Dr Derek Coyle, Carlow College. There are lines and lyrics throughout the collection he said that, “explore all things great and small, from the daisy and the blackberry to concepts of sin and faith. This collection suitably ends on a poem inspired by Patrick Kavanagh, and reminds us to see life the way it is, and perhaps to see the spirit-shocking wonder in everyday things while we still have time.”

All smiles at the launch of ‘Still Time’ by Nora Brennan at Kilkenny Mayfair Library wer: Kerry Hardie, Nora Brennan, Mailcolm Noonan, Nuala Roche and Dr Derek Coyle.

Attending the launch of Nora Brennans poetry book at The Mayfair library were Margaret Holohan and Ann Murtagh

Pictured at the launch of her poetry book ‘Still Time’ Nora Brennan signs a copy for fellow poet Mark Roper

Susan Scully and Aileen Scott pictured at Mayfair library Kilkenny

Poet Nora Brennan signs a copy of her book ‘Still Time’ for Helen Tuite

reness y book

A delicate experience

Renowned poet Kerry Hardie officially launched the collection. Reading Nora Brennan’s new book she said, “as quiet and delicate an experience as looking up at the sky through the lattice lace-work of a winter tree. It is devotional but not religious.” She went on to elaborate on the poet’s journey from early life on a farm to work in the education sector and later, through ill health, the loss of a way of life she had loved. Summing up, Kerry Hardie said, “This is a wise and tender book, written with great modesty and care. It is like a wild flower. Some traditions of Eastern mysticism urge us to think with our hearts and to love with our minds. She has done this.”

Thanks from author

Nora Brennan thanked the library for offering her the space and thanked all her family, friends, publicists and advisors for helping her get her second book published.

Ms Brennan read six or so of her poems and while all were met with great applause, one poem resonated most. Nora explained that not only was she thrilled that Siobhan Maher and Elizabeth Kett were supplying the music, but the violin

being used was her fathers. “That this beautiful instrument, owned by my father, is being played on the night of my launch is very special,” said Nora. Emotions were high. Nora’s reading of ‘Violin’ was a touch of class. The following, some lines from the poem.

Violin

Made in Dresden, of finest maple and spruce, the hollowed body full

of all the harmonies once played on its strings the instrument my father tuned and played without sight or stave or staff, cast aside in an old case.

The poet spoke with The Kilkenny Observer and explained that the genesis of Still Time was a challenging start to 2023 and an acute awareness of her own mortality.

“The poems gathered in this publication reflect both the bright and

dark of my own life journey and I hope the reader finds something that resonates and something that touches the heart,” concluded Nora.

for the

Music

evening was performed by Siobhan Maher on the violin and Elizabeth Kett on guitar.

Still Time is on sale in The Book Centre, High Street and Khan’s Book Shop, Kilkenny.

Dr Derek Coyle , Carlow College, who spoke at the Nora Brennan book launch

Fred Tuite attended the Nora Brennan book launch

Poet Kerry Hardie who launched ‘Still Time’ by Nora Brennan

Mayfair Library manager Nuala Roche welcomed the gathering at The Mayfair library

In charge of book sales for the Nora Brennan launch were, Lily Connery and Betty McGrath

At the Mayfair Library for the launch of ‘Still Time’ were Tom and Alice Kiernan Wexford poet Mary O’Brien with Eilish Connery (Carlow) at the launch of Nora Brennan’s book

Music for the evening was performed by Siobhan Maher on the violin and Elizabeth Kett on guitar

Come Dine WithMe

Sausage and winter greens cannelloni

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 1 hr and 45 mins

Serves: 4-6

Stretch a pack of sausages and feed the whole family with this cannelloni. The meaty ragu sauce is bulked out with nutrient-dense winter greens

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 2 red onionshalved and sliced

• 6 pork sausages

• 3 garlic clovescrushed

• small bunch of thymeleaves picked

• pinch of chilli flakes

• 1 tbsp tomato purée

• 400g can plum tomatoes

• 200g cavolo neroor other winter greens

• 75g butter

• 75g plain flour

• 850ml milk

• nutmegfor grating

• 50g parmesangrated

• 12 lasagne sheets

• green saladto serve

Step 1

Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole over a medium heat and cook the onions for 8-10 mins until softened and starting to

caramelise. Meanwhile, squeeze the sausagemeat from the skins.

Step 2

Push the onions to one side of the casserole, then add the sausagemeat to the other. Squash it into smaller pieces using a wooden spoon, stirring occasionally for 10-12 mins until cooked and starting to brown in places. Mix the onions back in, then add the garlic, thyme, chilli flakes

Homemade muesli with oats, dates and berries

Prep: 5 mins Cook: 2 mins Serves: 4

Packed with oats, pecans, seeds, dates, puffed wheat and berries, this delicious breakfast muesli will help you to start your day the right way.

Ingredients

• 100g traditional oats

• 12 pecan nutsbroken into pieces

• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds

• 6 pitted medjool datessnipped into pieces

• 25g high-fibre puffed wheat

• 4 x pots bio yogurt

• 300g mixed berriessuch as raspberries, strawberries and blueberries

• generous sprinkling of ground cinnamon(optional)

Method

Step 1

Tip the oats into a frying pan and heat gently, stirring frequently until they are just starting to toast. Add the pecans and seeds to warm briefly, then tip into a large bowl and toss so they cool quickly.

Step 2

Add the dates and puffed wheat, mix well until thoroughly combined, then serve topped with the yogurt and fruit, and a sprinkling of cinnamon, if you like.

and tomato purée. Cook for another 1-2 mins. Tip in the plum tomatoes, crushing them with the back of the spoon. Season and bubble for 15-20 mins until the tomatoes have broken down and the sauce has reduced to a thick ragu.

Step 3

Put the kettle on to boil. If using cavolo nero, remove and discard the tough stalks and roughly chop the

leaves. For softer veg like spinach or chard, you can leave the stalks on. Put in a colander set over the sink and pour over a kettle of justboiled water, then rinse the leaves under cold running water until cool enough to handle. Squeeze out as much water as you can, transfer to a board and finely chop. Stir the greens into the sausage ragu, cook for 1-2 mins until any excess liquid has evaporated (the mixture should be

quite dry), remove from the heat and leave to cool a little.

Step 4

Melt the butter in a separate saucepan over a medium heat. When sizzling, stir in the flour to make a sandy paste. Whisk in the milk, a splash at a time, until completely incorporated. When the sauce is smooth and the consistency of custard, season well, grate in a good amount of nutmeg and stir in half the parmesan. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Step 5

Drop the lasagne sheets into a large pan of boiling salted water one at a time to prevent them sticking together, then cook for 5-6 mins, stirring until soft enough to roll up but not fully cooked through. Drain and plunge into a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process.

Step 6

If the béchamel sauce has thickened as it’s cooled down, stir in a splash more milk. Spoon a third of the sauce over the base of a baking dish roughly 25 x 35cm. Lift a sheet of lasagne out of the bowl of cold water and lay on a board with one of the short ends facing you. Spoon a generous tbsp of the sausage ragu over one end, then roll it up to enclose the filling, making a short cannelloni – there will be a little overlapping pasta. Place it in the baking dish, then continue with the remaining ragu and lasagne sheets, arranging them in the baking dish in two rows of six cannelloni. Spoon any remaining ragu over the top, then pour over the béchamel sauce to cover all the cannelloni rolls. Sprinkle with the remaining parmesan. Will keep covered and chilled for up to two days or frozen for up to two months. Leave to cool completely first. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge overnight before cooking. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6, then bake the cannelloni for 40 mins until bubbling at the edges and golden brown on top. Grind over some black pepper, if you like, and serve with a crisp green salad.

Death of Natalie Wood inquiry set to re-open

New evidence has reopened the case of actress Natalie Wood’s 1981 drowning death, pointing to her husband, actor Robert Wagner, as a prime suspect. Two witnesses have all these years alter come forward, claiming Wood was physically abused by Wagner and on the night of her alleged drowning was screaming for her life.

Author Marti Rulli reportedly said the new bombshell testimony would spark a grand jury investigation that would likely indict Wagner, who is now 94.

Rulli, who plans to detail the new witness testimony in her upcoming book, Natalie Wood And The Devil She Knew, told Radar Online: “The case will remain open as long as Robert Wagner is alive because he is the suspect.

“I still hold hope the Los Angeles DA will see t to let the strong previous evidence, and the new evidence I have gathered, bring justice for Natalie’s murder.“

The new witnesses came forward after the case was reopened in 2011 and the Los Angeles County coroner changed the cause of death from “accidental drowning” to “drowning and other undetermined

factors” the following year, Radar Online reported.

The author said: “The reason the witnesses didn’t speak out earlier is because, at the time, the case was declared an accident so fast they just ignored what they saw or heard.”

One of the witnesses, a California man who was a 17-year-old worker on a fishing boat moored near the Splendour, contacted Rulli last year, still haunted by Natalie’s screams, according to Radar Online.

Rulli told the tabloid: “It still bothers him and he wanted to tell me what he knew. He heard an argument, and he told me he heard Natalie’s screams that made him feel uncomfortable.

“But he didn’t report it to police because he thought it was an open-and-shut drowning case.”

The claim of the man, whose identity remains anonymous, echoed the testimony of another witness named Davern, who told police the actors’ Thanksgiving cruise turned violent when Wagner accused Wood of having an affair with her Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken who was also on the yacht, according to Radar Online.

At one point Davern

heard Wagner scream: “Get off my f***ing boat!” Davern said Wagner stopped him from turning on the searchlights or radioing for help until four hours after Wood went missing, Radar Online reported.

An 80-year-old woman who claimed to be working with Wood in the 1960s also told Rulli that an angry Wagner “manhandled” Wood. “She said she saw Wagner come into their dressing room with additional evidence of abuse,” Rulli told Radar Online.

While Wagner’s lawyers adamantly deny he had any involvement in Natalie Wood’s death, another witness contacted police, stating he lived next door to the celebrity couple in the 1950s.

Rulli said: “He remembers Natalie banging on the door in the middle of the night. “She was asking for a place to stay for the night because [Wagner] was going to kill her!”

Natalie Wood was a celebrated Hollywood actress known for iconic roles in films like West Side Story and Rebel Without A Cause. She was widely admired for her talent, beauty, and versatility, earning three Oscar nominations by the age of 25. Wagner, her husband, is a

renowned actor famous for starring in TV shows like Hart To Hart and It Takes A Thief, as well as roles in films such as the Austin Powers series.

Natalie Wood married Wagner for the first time in 1957. They divorced in 1962. Each married and divorced other spouses, before reconciling and remarrying each other on a boat in Paradise Cove in Malibu in 1972.

The events leading to her death have remained a source of speculation for over 40 years.

Moreover, various explanations have been offered as to what happened to the actress, who died at the age of 43.

In his original 1981 autopsy report, Los Angeles County Coroner Thomas Noguchi stated Wood drowned after boarding the dinghy to get away from the arguing Walken and Wagner, according to Daily Breeze.

However, in his book Coroner, published two years later, Noguchi suggested that Wood, after having a few drinks, went on deck to stop the dinghy from banging against the Splendour, fell into the water, possibly hit her head, and drowned as she was not a strong swimmer.

1. The Lincoln Lawyer

The legal thriller based on the Michael Connelly books just wrapped up its third season. Manuel GarciaRulfo stars as the win-at-all-costs Mickey Haller, a lawyer whose noble intentions and love of good food absolve him of all sins. The support cast is all top class, and the show offers a idyllic but convincing view of a healthy workplace where everyone has each other’s backs and is always working toward a better version of themselves. It sounds saccharine but it’s played just right. This show rules. On Netflix

2. Shrinking

The Apple+ series, which just reached the end of its second season, knows how complicated and exasperating so many of us can be, but examines life’s challenges in a way that just makes you love and laugh at humanity. Jason Segel is great as Jimmy, a dad and therapist who’s been having a hard time of it lately, but the show’s real treasure is Harrison Ford as Paul, Jimmy’s gruff but fundamentally compassionate colleague who offers hard-earned wisdom and guidance but also needs some help himself sometimes. After decades of seeing Ford make bristly talk-show appearances that showed him to be a far cry from the roguish heroes he’s so often portrayed, it seems like the role, at long last, he was born to play.

3.The Simpsons Movie

The Simpsons Movie isn packed with jokes that work regardless of how much you’ve watched the show, plus everyone in your family is likely familiar with the cartoon and its characters and will probably enjoy it. Maybe they’ll even be quiet and you can cook or clean in peace for a moment while they watch Homer being a buffoon. Nw streaming on Disney+

4. Silo

Silo is another great show nobody is talking about. The sci-fi mystery series about a post-apocalyptic future in which humankind tries to survive in tiny underground cities is refreshingly anti-prestige TV. It’s aimed squarely at the episode-to-episode discoveries about what lies beyond the titular silos and why no one can ever leave them, and the small, interpersonal dramas driving characters’ motivations. No one is winning an Emmy here. Instead, the show harkens back to an era when sci-fi could be unabashed genre TV. The result is humble ambitions and supercharged watchability. On Apple TV+

5. Patriot.

Michael Dorman stars as John Tavner, a depressed intelligence agent who moonlights as a singersongwriter. He goes undercover by getting a job at a Milwaukee-based industrial engineering firm that frequently does business in Luxembourg, where he is to pass along money to support the CIA’s preferred candidate in an upcoming Iranian presidential election. Of course, things do not go as planned and his desperate efforts to get the mission back on track never, ever go how you expect them to.

Kilkenny Sport Focus

Michael O’Leary

Cathal O'Reilly

Cathal O'Reilly from the Kilkenny City Harriers Club is part of The Ireland U-23 Squad for this Sunday's European Cross Country Championships in Antalya in Turkey, and it will be his second time to have competed in the European Cross Country Championships having previously done so three years ago in Dublin.

In 2021, Cathal was part of the Ireland U-20 Squad that won a Silver Medal in Abbotstown in Dublin as they just lost out on the Gold Medal by a solitary point to Great Britain, and he booked his ticket to Turkey on Sunday following a top 10 finish at the National Seniors in Enniskillen County Fermanagh.

Cathal finished 8th overall but he was the third in the U-23 category and that meant a place in the Irish Squad for this years Europeans, and the KCH Athlete has been sparkling form throughout 2024 having broken the 4 minute

BY PAUL BOLGER

Over the past several weeks I have outlined how childhood maltreatment results in a greater risk of long-term health conditions. On the level of basic human decency, offering support and help to those children and families in need seems like it should be a given, right? Adequate services are a must. Today, I want to make the case for investing in these services – not from a general decency perspective, but from a long-term economic and societal perspective.   Now, while I usually use research to inform my articles, today’s article, while grounded in some evidence, is also driven by my own opinion and is open to scrutiny.

Nurture & Develop

As stated in a previous article, we all need love and support from a young age and throughout life. Even children who are subjected to abuse seem to be somewhat protected from the negative consequences of that maltreatment when they have loving, supportive, predictable caregivers in their life. A nurturing environment lays the foundations for healthy development.

mile barrier in Belfast while he also set personal bests this year over 800 and 1500 metres. He became the second Kilkenny Athlete to break the 4 minute mile following Eoin Everard, and it was on a very special weekend that he managed to acheive that particular feat at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast, as it was one of seven, mile races held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Roger Bannister becoming the first to run a sub 4 minute mile.

Cathal is equally effective at both Track and Field and Cross Country and last year he enjoyed a memorable day on home territory in Gowran, as he was part of the Senior Mens Team who won Team Gold in the National Seniors for the very first time along with Peter Lynch, Eoin Everard and Brian Maher.

Among the Irish U-23 Squad is Nick Griggs who was a four-time Medalist at The Euro Cross Country over the past

three years.

The Tyrone teenager was part of the Ireland Team along with Cathal that won the Silver Medal at the 2021 Cross Country Championships in Dublin, while he was an individual medalist in both the 2022 and 2023 Championships along with been a member of the team that won the Gold Medal at last years Championships in Brussels.

Nick is having a superb year with personal bests over 1500 metres, 3000 metres and 5000 metres, while in November he set a new world record for Parkrun at the Victoria Park event with a time of 13 minutes 44 seconds.

His superb form and previous success at the Europeans augurs very well for a promising show for The U-23 Team on Sunday.

Cathal is coached by Niamh and Noel Richardson, and the Richardson family have plenty of experience on the International circuit.

Smart health investment

Investing in support services makes economic sense, our whole society will benefit

A child who is given the opportunity to develop in such an environment is less likely to develop health problems in later life – mental and physical. They are more likely to be able to participate in school, education and future occupations.

Growth & Participation

It goes without saying that if

more people in our society grow and develop in such a way, a higher percentage of us will lead normal working lives, offering more to society as a whole and almost certainly leading to greater levels of innovation.  This would naturally result in a greater degree of productivity across our society and reduced reliance on future social support

in adulthood. From an economic perspective this would result in greater input into the nation’s balance sheets and less deductions –allowing us the opportunity to invest in other projects like transport, innovation, education, etc.

Healthier Adult Population

While illness and disease are facts of life, if those children

Both Niamh and Noel have represented Ireland in both Track and Field and Cross Country, while their daughters have competed at the European Cross Country Championships in recent years.

Aoibhe was part of the Ireland Team that won a Silver Medal at the European's in Lisbon, Portugal in 2019 when she finished a highly creditable 17th, while in 2022 she helped The Ireland Team to a Bronze Medal in Turin. Meanwhile, her sister Maebh represented Ireland in The Ladies U-20 race in Brussels last year, after they secured qualification as a result of The Kilkenny City Harriers winning Junior Team Gold at The Nationals.

Kilkenny Athletes have performed very well in the Euro Cross Country competition over the past 5 years, and with Cathal O'Reilly in sparkling form ahead of Sunday along with the rest of the Irish contingent hopes are high of a very good showing.

Finally, The Medieval Mile Run that was scheduled to take last Friday will go ahead tonight (Friday 6th December).

contribute to the bank balance of this country of ours. The policy makers then decide what to do with our money, how they divvy it out. National budgets are clear indicators as to what the decision makers in government care about. I believe that we will all benefit from smart, consistent investment in supporting those who need it most.

How that money should be spent, I believe, should be put to those who know most about this area – the psychologists, care workers, social workers, researchers, educators and the people and communities who have used such services.

and families in need of support are given the means to thrive, the future burden on the healthcare system will diminish. This would free up resources and allow the healthcare system to function more effectively (provided it is resourced adequately and run efficiently).

Decision Makers

As taxpayers, we all

While in an ideal world we could write a blank check for those in need, decisions must be made as to what to prioritise. I believe decisions and compromise over priorities and direction should be driven by collaboration between those people mentioned above (not by individuals in highranking positions who have little experience in the field).

While these services, and many other health-related services, will never directly run at a profit – society as a whole certainly profits.

This article has taken a detour from my usual physiotherapy-related information – but don’t worry, we will return to that next week!

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news

CLARA

CBS CONQUER

Kilkenny CBS had a rare win over their arch city rivals St. Kieran’s College on Tuesday of last week in the Leinster Junior final played in Nowlan Park. The match went the whole way to penalties before an outcome was reached. Central to that win was the contribution of Clara’s Pádraic Meany. Pádraic also had the honour of captaining his side for this momentous win. Well done Pádraic!

FINAL OPPONENTS

Clara finally learned the identity of their U21 Roinn D county final opponents on Sunday when St. Lachtains, Freshford beat Slieverue 1-17 to 0-6 in the second semifinal. That followed on from their earlier victory over Conahy Shamrocks in the competition. Clara beat Carrickshock and John Lockes, Callan to qualify for the final. As Freshford are playing in the Leinster Junior final next weekend the U21 final is likely to be played on the weekend of 14/15th December. Clara have only one player up to the age here and everybody else is U19 or younger (5 under 17s) so they will be really up against it competing with a Freshford team that has been training strong because of their involvement in the Junior championship.

COLLECTION

St. Vincent de Paul annual collection will take place in Castlewarren on Saturday, December 7th and in Clara Sunday the 8th December.All donations will be greatly appreciated.

CLUB LOTTO

Lotto results for 26th November, numbers drawn, 7, 8, 13, no Jackpot winner. €30 each to Kathleen Culleton, Sharon Foley, Marty Moseley, Mary O Sullivan ,Mary Nolan.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS

SCHOOLS FINAL

Well done to O’Loughlin Gaels’ members Diarmud Considine, Conor McCormack, David McGee, Adam Maher, Luke Mc Donald, Adam Quigley, Sam McKenna, Conor Mc Donald and Shea O’Meara on their success in the Post-Primary Schools Leinster Junior Hurling Final with Kilkenny CBS. Hard luck to Andrew Holohan, Kyrell Mtinsi, Felix Fwamba part of the St. Kieran’s panel which played its part in an exciting game eventually decided on penalties.

INCLUSIVE GAELIC GAMES FOR CHILDREN

Inclusive Gaelic games for children with additional needs will be commencing in the New Year in O’Loughlin Gaels GAA club. This initiative will be open to boys and girls between 6 and 17 years of age. This programme will be structured around non-contact Hurling and Gaelic Football and will focus on improving coordination and fitness. The most important part of this programme is that everybody has fun and is part of a team.

A number of volunteers will be needed to get this extremely worthwhile initiative off the ground. The programme will run for 45 minutes each week and will be at a quiet time. All coaches will receive the appropriate training and will be Garda vetted. There will be a meeting arranged in the club to talk to parents of interested children and volunteers. For more information please contact Philip O’Reilly on 087-4181020.

CHRISTMAS TREE SALE

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. So to help you get organised, Phelan’s Tree Farm on the Old Golf Links Rd. R95K297 is offering a dividend to O’Loughlin Gaels for every tree sold to any O’Loughlin Gaels supporters. Just let them know you’re white and green and your purchase will help the club.

BOOKINGS FOR OCCASIONS

O’Loughlin Gaels Club boasts the best club facilities for its members in the city. With plenty of free parking, kitchen, bar and lounge facilities available it can cater for all your party

needs. Contact 086-8919312 to book your special occasionchristening, communion, confirmation, birthdays and anniversaries, special wedding guests gatherings or any group occasion you require. The large Hall is available for larger community events and the space outside is safe and secure for all the family.

NOTES

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

FRESHFORD

LEINSTER FINAL

All roads lead to Nowlan Park on Saturday next when St. Lachtain’s Junior hurlers will contest the Leinster Club final when they take on the Wexford champions, Castletown Liam Mellows with throw in at 1.30pm. St. Lachtains beat Avondale of Wickow in the Leinster semi final. Tickets must be purchased online beforehand as no cash will be taken on the day. Check out the clubs social media account for ticket details.

GAA

St. Lachtain’s U16 footballers were defeated by Carrickshock in Roinn D semi final in a wind and rain swept Hugginstown. The local boys gave it their all against a physically superior Carrickshock side and the game finished Carrickshock 3-6 to St.Lachtains 1-4.

St.Lachtains U21 hurlers took on Slieverue in the Roinn D county semi final on Thomastown on Sunday last. Conditions in Thomastown were good for the time of year and despite poor weather conditions recently. St Lacchtains came out deserving winners on a scoreline of St.Lachtains 1-17 Slieveue 0-6. Best for St.Lachtains were Conor and Cian Donnelly and Cathal Hicckey They now go on to face Clara in the County final

Team: M.Murphy, C.Bowden, C.Donnelly, J.Casntrll, J.Bergin, C.Hickey, L. pHelan, M.Donnelly, C.McCabe, J.O’Connor, C.Dalton, M.Durnan, C.Donnelly, J.Whitty, M.Campion Subs. J Dalton, L.White, J.Denieffe, C.McGree

Movemeber

Some members of St.Lachtains Junior panel took part in Movember to help raise funds for men’s health charities. The shave took place in Kavanaghs on Sunday evening last and they reached their target with donations. Thanks to all who donated online or whatever way you did so.

IONAD LACHTAIN

Ionad Lachtain held their Annual Christmas fair on Sunday last at the Church. Locally made art and crafts were on sale to help people to find the perfect unique Christmas gift from Freshford. Then the turning on of the Christmas lights took place on the Green at 4.30pm. Monsignor Kennedy blessed the tree and the honour of switching the lights on this year went to well-known Freshford man Joe Morrissey who has done trojan work for the tidy towns etc in the village over the past number of years.

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

SYMPATHY

Sympathy is extended to Stasia Phelan Clone on the death of her brother Willie Walsh late of Old School Crescent Moneenroe and formerly of Clone. Funeral mass took place in the Church of Immaculate Conception, Castlecomer followed by burial in Crosshill Cemetery.

Sympathy is also extended to Sean Connery, Clashcrow and all his family on the death last week of his nephew Ronan Connery late of Ballinspittle, Co.Cork. His father Bill was a native of Freshford. Funeral mass took place in Holy Trinity Church Ballinspittle followed by burial in Templetrine Cemetery.

VOTING

There was a 60pc turnout in the local area at voting in the general election last Friday. There was extra Polling Booths

this time in the GAA Clubrooms. The people of the village of Freshford are now in the Tipperary North Constituency while some on the outskirts are still in the Carlow Kilkenny area.

BRIDGE

Bridge classes commenced in Tulla Hall on Monday 4th November and continue each week from 7.30pm to 9.30pm for 10 weeks. Anyone interested in attending the classes should contact Mary on 087 2369535

SOCCER

Freshford Town Junior side lost to a strong Lions side at the weekend on a score line of 4-1

Meanwhile the U13 boys had a big win over Evergreen County winning on a score of 7-1 with Max O’Neill hitting the net four times and goals also from Lochie McCarthy, Iarla Carroll and Jack Geraghty.

The soccer academy for young boys 5/6 upwards continues each Saturday at 9.30am and will continue each week.

The Club are presently looking for volunteers across all levels and if you can help or give a bit of your time they would be most grateful. You can contact any member of the Committee or just turn up at the training sessions

SPLIT THE POT

Last week’s winner of split the pot was Chloe Burke, Kilkenny Street, winning €157. This month’s split the pot proceeds will be in aid of Freshford Forage Youth Group which are just recently established and they would appreciate your support. Entry cost just €2 and envelopes are available in all local shops and pubs.

BINGO

The weekly bingo sessions continue each Friday evening in Freshford Community Hall at 8pm with some great prize money and a raffle each week. All proceeds goes to the Irish Wheelchair association. The Committee would like to thank all the people who have turned up each week and ask you to please continue to support this weekly fundraiser and tell your friends and spread the word around. New players very welcome.

LOOP CAFE

Loop Community Café in Freshford is looking for people on both sides of the counter. More than just a place for coffee and cake – although it’s mighty good cake – the Loop offers breakfast, lunch, and on the first Friday of every month, a three-course gourmet evening meal dreamed up by a series of guest chefs. Takeaway and light catering are also on offer. The Loop also hosts a variety of community activities, from ok club to art classes and knitting circle. And you can rent the Green Room for private meetings or lunches. But all this activity takes many hands. The Loop is looking for volunteers as well as customers. Use your skills and develop new ones. If you’re great at fixing a door hinge, baking a cake, or working in a kitchen – or just willing to learn – there’s got lots to do. Find the Loop on Facebook to keep up with events, or stop by any time. If you’d like to volunteer, please call the café at 056.883.2650 and speak with Rhiannon.

KNIT AND KNATTER

Every Wednesday morning in the Loop Cafe there is a knit and knatter session from 10am two 11am. Fee is €6 per person which includes tea/coffee and sweet treat. No experience is necessary and guidance is given. New members are always welcome so why not go along and gain a new skill and more importantly have fun.

FOROIGE

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

PARISH NEWS

Mass

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

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

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

SAMARITAN - Whatever you’re going through a Samaritan will face it with you – available 24 hours a day 365 days a year –

Freephone 1161Alone is available for older people who need support and you can call them on 0818 222024 (8am to 8pm)

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

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB

AGM

Club chairman, Aodán O Ruairc, welcomed a large gathering to the clubs AGM in Larchfield on Thursday, 28th. November. Club secretary, Niall Connolly gave a comprehensive report on the activities of the year, the highlight being the retention of the Minor Hurling title and the low point being the relegation of our senior hurlers after an unbroken run of 69 years in the senior ranks (1956 – 2024). Our ambition now must be to return to the Senior ranks as soon as possible by building on our underage successes of recent years.

Club development saw the opening of our new building extension at Pairc Sheamuis Stiophán and provides a valuable addition to our facilities. Juvenile officer, Kieran Brennan, congratulated our minor hurlers and reported on the activities of all juvenile teams and groups throughout the year. Kieran paid tribute to all of the coaches and volunteers who give their time to ensure the smooth running of the juvenile section and looks forward to a busy 2025.

Brian Leahy, camogie officer, congratulated the senior camogie team on reaching the county semi-final suffering a narrow defeat against reigning All Ireland champions, Dicksboro. 2024 was a busy year on the camogie front with large numbers participating at all levels and Brian issued a call for more help with the younger teams. This is Brian’s final year as camogie chairman and secretary Amy Granville is also stepping down. Their replacements will be elected at the camogie club AGM. Bar treasurer Shane Lanigan and club treasurer Bill Lahart gave a detailed presentation on the accounts and thanked all of those who contribute their time and energy. Club chairman, Aodán O Ruairc, outlined his hopes for the coming year, wished success to all our teams and thanked all of those who give their time both on and off the field. He also thanked the many who responded to the recent club survey with a view to preparing a club plan to carry us through to 2030. All outgoing officers were returned unopposed.

LEINSTER COLLEGE’S HURLING

Congratulations to the junior hurlers of the CBS James Street who won the Leinster College’s Junior hurling title in dramatic style in UPMC Nowlan Park. CBS last won the title in 2014. At the end of a keenly contested final the scoreboard read CBS 1-20 to St. Kieran’s 2-17, and at the end of the 20 minutes of extra time the teams still could not be separated resulting in the title being decided with a penalty shoot-out which was won by the lads in maroon and yellow jerseys on a 3 -1 score. Reflecting the significance of the win an outpouring of excitement followed as school mates rushed from the stands to congratulate team members. While the club had no representative on the first fifteen, the panel included club players Cooper Delaney, Liam O’Brien and William Moriarty while the team was managed by All-Ireland club championship medallist Niall Tyrrell and former senior team manager Seamus Dwyer and former Kilkenny camogie goalkeeper Emma Kavanagh. The St. Kierans’s line up included Cian Dermody, Oliver Phelan and Ruari Power together with panellists Paul Millea, Jack Mulcahy and Scott O’Shea. The team was managed by club stalwart David Hennessy.

CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHT

With the festive season just around the corner, members, friends and club supporters are reminded that the annual party night, “Christmas In The Village” takes place on Saturday night 14th December in the club’s Larchfield social centre. The doors will be open from 8pm with music being provided by Tony Coy. There will be a raffle at 11pm and a voucher will be awarded for the best Christmas outfit. All are welcome.

BAND’S FESTIVE CONCERTS

A reminder that the St. Patrick’s Brass Band’s schedule of festive concerts kicks off on Thursday night,12th December, in St. Patrick’s Church commencing at 7.30 pm. A full “house” is expected for the hugely popular annual concert which attracts music followers from all parts of the city. On Saturday 14th December the band will entertain the public at the Town Hall from 1 to 3 pm, and on the following day, Sunday 15th December, the band will present a carol service in the Presbyterian Church, New Road starting at 7.30pm. On Saturday 21st December, at the Playwright Bar, Market Yard (Kieran Street) the band will present a selection of “Big Band Music” for the public from 2pm. Information on more events to follow.

STEPHEN’S DAY RUN

Organiser, Richie Manogue sends out a timely reminder to all athletes, hurling and camogie players, walkers, pram pushers, dog walkers and OAP’s that the annual St. Stephen’s Day 5/10K Fun Run/Walk will take place on Thursday, 26th December starting from the club’s Larchfield headquarters at 11am. Registration takes place in the clubrooms from 10.30 am. As always, there will be attractive prizes for the first male and female over the finishing line. To help restore lost energy there will also be a refreshing cuppa tea/coffee and goodies for participants on their return to the clubrooms. The club’s charity partner for this year’s fun outing is The School of the Holy Spirit. CLUB SHOP

Pictured are O’Loughlin Gaels’ members Diarmud Considine, Conor McCormack, David McGee, Adam Maher, Luke Mc Donald, Adam Quigley, Sam McKenna, Conor Mc Donald and Shea O’Meara winners of the Post-Primary School

Community & GAA Notes

Shop supervisor, Breda Manogue advises that the new high fashion club training top has arrived in store and, no doubt will be a popular Christmas gift for club members of all ages. Also in stock are loads of Christmas stocking fillers such as sliothars, hurleys, bullet balls, grips, gloves, hats, caps, socks, togs, reversible snoods as well as jackets, jerseys to fit all sizes. The shop is open every Tuesday night from 8 to 9pm, or, contact Breda at 087-9648756.

LIBRARY NEWS

The Loughboy Library will be hosting an Energy Advise Clinic on Tuesday morning, 10th December from 10.30 to 12.30pm. The presentation offers an opportunity to homeowners to engage with an energy expert to get personalized advice on home energy efficiency or upgrades. There are a limited number of slots available so it is necessary to book in advance when information on what documents to bring will be given. Contact Alan at 056 7794176 or email loughboy@kilkennylibrary.ie to secure a slot.

LOTTO

Last week’s numbers were 8, 15, 16, 29. There was no winning ticket. The €40 consolation winners were Fergus Nugent, Laura Grogan, Caroline Carroll, James McDermott and the Scott sisters.

GOWRAN

GOWRAN AC

Congratulations to everyone who ran in the Waterford Half Marathon. First male home for Gowran was Paul Flood in 1:28:41, with Moira Treacy the first female home in 1:45:54, well done to all.

MOLLY’S TEA ROOM

Don’t forget to order your Christmas sweet treats at Molly’s. They are now taking orders for traditional Christmas cakes, puddings and Mince Pies. They have a wide selection of desserts. Cheesecakes, Pavlova, Chocolate Biscuit Puddings, cupcakes, to name but a few available. Place orders now as our Christmas order book closes on the 14th of December

DALTON HOUSE

Do you have limited mobility or are you looking for a way to do some light exercise? Why not try out chair exercise classes. If you are interested contact us on 056 7726718 for more information. Classes will be held on a Monday morning in Dalton House

YOUNG IRELANDS GAA

Well done to Thomas Langton who was awarded the “Driver of Excellence Award” for his contribution to the Celtic Challenge team in 2024. Thomas was presented with his award last Tuesday by Michael Fennelly, Terry Clune, Henry Shefflin and Celtic Challenge manager Tom Hogan.

BENNETTSBRIDGE

ART FEST THIS SUNDAY

Reminder that the Christmas Art Fest will be held this Sunday, 8th December from 11 am to 5pm. Members of the Art Group are working hard at preparing for the event. Opportunity to pick up some special presents for loved ones. Craft decorations, textile hangings, Christmas Cards and some hand-knitted mittens, only some of the items to be picked up. All welcome.

A special table containing some work and art materials belonging to the late Mos Khareghani will be on sale with all proceeds going to “Doctors without Frontiers”. Spearheaded by Elma Khareghani, Mos’s wife, a considerable amount has already been lodged to a special account.

ART COMPETITION WINNERS

Bennettsbridge N.S students won prizes in the Thomastown Credit Union Art Competition. The school made a clean sweep in the under 7 and under 10 categories, while also taking 1st prize in the under 13 category.

A special family connection linked the prize winners of the under 10 category where cousins, Noah Meighan took 1st place, Robyn Grimes, 2nd place and Rose Kinsella 3rd place. The other winning artists were: In the 7 and under category - 1st, Isla Lanigan, 2nd Sofi Yurchenko and 3rd Cillian Breen while Rory Tyrel took 1st in the under 13 age group.

All received certificates, a selection box and a mega art set/ Ken Black’s gift voucher at a presentation ceremony held in the Credit Union in Thomastown. Well done to all!!

CHURCH NEWS

Masses during the week, Tuesday evening, 7,30pm. Wednesday and Friday morning,10.30am Saturday(Tullaherin)8pm. Sunday(Bennettsbridge) 10.30am.

ADVENT

The first candle was lit on the Advent Wreath before Mass on Sunday. Called the Prophecy Candle it represents hope and the anticipation of Christ’s coming.

COLLECTION FOR RETIRED PRIESTS

The annual collection for retired priests was taken up last weekend in Tullaherin and Bennettsbridge. Your support is much appreciated for this very important cause. Donations can be handed into the presbytery.

BLESSING OF GRAVEYARD EXTENSION

The parish is looking forward to welcoming Bishop Niall Coll to Bennettsbridge to bless the graveyard extension next Sunday, 8th December after 10.30am mass. Bishop Coll will be the chief celebrant for the mass and there will be refreshments in the School afterwards. Sincere thanks to all concerned in making this extension possible.

SWITCHING ON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

On Saturday the 7th December the lights will be lit up on the Christmas Tree at 4.30pm. Fr Duggan will bless the tree and there will be Carol singing. It is hoped that a special guest dressed in red will make an appearance.

GATHERING GROUP

It’s a busy time for the members. On Wednesday 20th November a good number travelled to Gowran Park Racecourse for a special breakfast. Last Wednesday, a outing to Whitewater Shopping Centre, in Newbridge was organized for the annual Christmas Shopping Trip.

MENS SHED

The Community Centre has a festive air about it with the installation of a beautiful Christmas Tree on the stage. Thanks to the Men’s Shed for this. Appreciation also to Pat Lawlor of the Mens Shed who constructed a housing for the tables in the hall, which makes it easier to handle them.

LOTTO

There was no winner of the Jackpot. Numbers,drawn were 14, 17, 19, 28. Consolation Prizes, Mary Skehan, Woodlawn, Janelle O’Brien, ℅ Butcher, Marita Lanigan, Barronsland, Suzie, c/ Fr Duggan, Ann Mulhall, Gowran Road.

EAST END SOCCER

East End U11s played a one all draw against Evergreen at the weekend.

East End ladies team secured a 3 point win in a tough match against Callan, a brilliant header by Laura Keogh got the ball into the back of the net. East End 1 Callan 0.

Off the field, East End organised a very enjoyable Christmas Family Quiz on Sunday afternoon in the Community Centre.

BORD NA N-OG

Congratulations to Luke and Tony Dobbyn who were part of the CBS panel who won the Leinster Junior A colleges last week in Nowlan Park. Well done boys!

GAA

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the combined Clara/ Bennettsbridge championship winning minor hurling team of 1974, there is a get together in Connolly’s, Dunbell on Saturday 7th December at 8pm, all are welcome to attend.

Under 16 Football Final

Best of luck to our under 16 football team who will draw down the curtain on the 2024 season when they play Carrickshock in the under 16 County Football Final this Sunday at 10.30am with the venue to be confirmed. Please see the Kilkenny Gaa website for details of this fixture. All support is greatly appreciated.

Colleges Hurling Congratulations to Luke and Tony Dobbyn who were part of the CBS panel that won the Leinster Junior Colleges title with a victory over St Kieran’s in an exciting final in Nowlan Park last week. Hard luck to Jamie Walsh who played on the Kieran’s team in the final.

Hard luck also to Timmy Kelly who played for UCU in the Freshers Colleges Final where they lost out to UL. Best wishes to all ‘Bridge players in colleges action in the coming weeks.

AGM 2024

The AGM for 2024 took place last Friday evening in the clubhouse with the annual Bórd na n-Óg meeting also taking place in the last week. Both meetings were well attended and showed the club to be in good shape for next season. All Bord officers remain in place for the coming year with some changes to the committees. Thanks to all who helped the club during 2024 and we look forward to your continued support for 2025.

LUCKY DIP DRAW

The senior players are running a fundraiser at the moment. Tickets cost 1 cent to 20 euro in a lucky dip, for example a ticket pulled could cost you one cent or up to 20 euro maximum. Prize money is 1000 euro first prize, 500 euro second prize, 300 euro third and 200 euro fourth prize. Please contact Michael Shiel on 0868856810 or David Blanchfield on 0860529386 if you would like to take part.

SPLIT THE POT

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

O’NEILL’S CLUB SHOP

A new range has been added to the Bennettsbridge online shop on the O’Neill’s website Simply enter Bennettsbridge into the search box to access the full range of adult and kids club gear. A great gift idea with Christmas on the way.

GRAIGUENAMANAGH

GRAIG NOTES

If you have any news items, club events, announcements etc and you wish to share them you can do so by emailing them to graignotes@outlook.com

LOTTO GAA AND SOCCER

The numbers drawn on 25th November 2024 were 4, 5, 13, 31, there was no winner ,The following Received €30 each Martina McEvoy, Patrick Corbertt, Pat Doyle,Pat Doyle’s Pup. Paul Hayden, Mary Ryan, Harristown. Christmass Vochers €50 each, Barrons, Mary Lyons, Daisy Chain Sharon Holen, Day Break Honor Dalton, Supper Value John Lawless. Tickets are available from any club member.

GRAIG TIDY TOWN DRAW

The following people are the lucky winners of the draw which took place on 28th November 2024, First Prize Lauren and Adam €415, 2nd Prize € 50 Elaine Cushen. 3rd Prize €25 Stella Walsh. All money raised through the Tidy Towns Jackpot will be used to keep the town looking well all year round. Draw takes place at 4pm on Thursdays.

RAMBLING HOUSE

The Monthly Rambling House Session is held on the second Friday of each month in Newtown Hall, an occasion where you can enjoy music and song from local artists along with many from the surrounding district who also join in. The next Session is on Friday December 13th at 8.00pm.

MASS TIMES FOR DUISKE ABBEY GRAIGUENAMANAGH

Monday to Friday 10 AM, Saturday 7,30 PM, And Sunday 11AM. OFF UP TO THE DAIL

East End U 11s played a 1-1 draw against Evergreen

Bennettsbridge NS scooped a number of awards at the Thomastown Credit Union Art Competition

Congratulations to Luke and Tony Dobbyn who were part of the CBS panel who won the Leinster Junior A colleges last week in Nowlan Park.

Mos Kharaghani Memorial Table

The local people are rejoicing at the news that local man Cllr

Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere has been elected in the Carlow Kilkenny General Election over the weekend and will now enter the next Dail as our local representative. It is over 50 years since Tom Walsh from the same parish of Skeaughvosteen was a Fianna Fail Minister of Agriculture at that time.

GORESBRIDGE AND PAULSTOWN

ACTIVE RETIREMENT

The next meetings of the group will be held on Thursdays 19th December in Paulstown Community Hall at 11 am. All welcome.

BADMINTON

Badminton takes place in Ionad

Dara, Goresbridge each Thursday evening starting at 8.30pm.

Everyone is welcome to join!

It costs €15 to play and have insurance cover for an adult for the first year.

BARROW RANGERS

The club celebrates its 25th anniversary this Saturday from 6-9pm, in the Paulstown community centre.

BRIDGE UNITED

In the Premier Division, Thomastown A were beaten by Bridge A (1-3). Bridge scores were: Eoin O’Neill, Pierce Blanchfield and Tommy Bolger.

Congratulations to our Under-15s on a great win in The SFAI Under-15s Subway Cup Trophy. Bridge United 4-2 Courtown Hibs. Bridge scores: Ethan Drea (1), Charlie Power (2), Cillian Culleton (1).

The club launched its pitch side signs fundraiser/campaign as part of an ambitious project to transform the Clubs facilities with a full size astro turf pitch. With over 350 members there are 30 underage teams and 2 adult teams we are now faced with the challenges of a growing club every year. If you would like to help the club to achieve this goal we can help you to advertise your business. Please contact Colin 087 6528212 or any committee member.

CALENDAR

The Goresbridge Calendar available in Maher’s and Goresbridge Pharmacy. €15 for two and €10 for one.

CHURCH SERVICES

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

CUPLA FOCAL (IRISH LANGUAGE CONVERSATION CIRCLE)

The Irish Language Conversation Circle continues each Friday at 11am in the Goodly Barrow. Fáilte roimh gach duine. Informal. All levels welcome!

MEN’S SHED (GORESBRIDGE / PAULSTOWN)

Queries and expressions of interest should be made to Tom Healy 087 918 1436. A meeting will take place Tuesday 10th December at 8pm in Ionad Dara in Goresbridge.

PRIMARY SCHOOL ENROLMENT FOR 2025/26

Scoil Bhríde (Goresbridge) is now accepting admissions for the coming school year. Please contact the school between 9 am and 1 pm for an admissions form. Phone 059 9775168 or email to Office@GoresbridgeNS.ie

Scoil Bhríde (Paulstown) is now excepting Admissions for next year. More details available on the school website or phone 059 9726149.

SPLIT THE POT

In aid of Goresbridge Rural Development has gone online, go to lottoraiser.ie

TAR ISTEACH

Tar Isteach cannot accept any more clothes or shoes this side of Christmas. Bric a brac, household items, handbags, scarves, decorations. Thanks to all for the support as well as volunteer in the shop.

TEAC TOM CHRISTMAS

The annual fundraiser event takes place at 6.30pm in the Goodly Barrow on Friday 13th December. We will hear from the Kilkenny Warblers Choir. There will be tasty festive treats, exciting raffle prizes and non-alcoholic mulled wine and hot chocolate.

BALLYRAGGETT BALLYOUSKILL

The Grange Christmas lights display by Pat Farrell were turned on Saturday evening and what a beautiful display. The finished result truly reflects Pat’s hard work an dhugh thanks goes out to him. Donations can be made to this year`s charity which is the North Kilkenny Wheelchair Association.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

“The Senior Citizens Christmas Party will be held in the Castle Arms Hotel Durrow on Wednesday 11th Dec 2024. Top class Christmas dinner, music, dancing, refreshments and a free raffle. The bus leaves The Square, Ballyragget at the earlier time of 12.15pm sharp. Meal commences at 1pm. Names must be registered and payment in advance to the Credit Union before Fri 6th December. Parishioners €15 Non Parishioner Guests €30.

Many thanks to all who generously supported our recent raf, to help toward costs of this event.

MENS SHED - BALLYRAGGET

The Men’s shed continue to meet on Tuesdays in the Cannon Malone hall at 10am, for their healthy eating programme and

Thursday evenings at 8pm. Work is flying along on their shed with works moving along at an advanced stage. Well done to all all involved and new members are always welcome.

CRAFT FAIR

The annual Christmas Craft Fair and turning on of the Christmas Lights will be held on Friday December 6th this year. The market will begin at 5pm and run until 7pm with the lights been turned on the square at 7.30pm. If you wish to have a craft stall at the market please contact Juanita via WhatsApp on 087 295 5864 tables

BINGO

Bingo is held in the CYMS Hall each Wednesday night starting at 8pm.

CHOIR

Parish choir has resumed practice in the Cannon Malone Hall on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm, all welcome.

CHRISTMAS MARKET

Tonight Friday 6th from 5.00pm to 7.00pm we will hold the annual Christmas Market and the turning on of the town light. With stalls stacked with local produce and gifts. Santa will arrive at 6pm this coincides with the switching on of the Christmas Lights timed for 7.15 p.m.

For 26 consecutive years the trio behind this important community event were locals, Martin Dempsey, Joe Butler and Patsy Murphy. Some five years ago a number of extra volunteers came on board and now there is a strong crew on board. A big thank you to the Committee, Anne O’Shea, Martin and Linda Dempsey, Anthony Maher, Patsy Murphy, Joe and Tess Butler, Juanita Dunphy, Catherine Kelly, Brian Phelan, Tom Phelan, Emma Butler.

JOHNSTOWN

FESTIVAL OF LIGHT

The much anticipated Festival of Light will be held on Monday December 9th beginning at 5.15pm. The children will parade from the Church carpark to the Square where the red rosettes will be placed on the memory tree to mark the passing of all parishioners during the year. The village lights will be switched on by lately retired principal at St. Kieran’s School John Curran after which the children and the adults will meet Santa in St. Mary’s hall. Donations to Santa on the night in aid of Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Santa has raised tens of thousands for Temple Street over many years as he travels to towns and villages all over the south east.

COOKIE WORKSHOP

A tremendous Cookie Workshop will be held in the Community Hall on Sunday next December. 8th at 3pm. Contact 0879432402.

THE MILL FAMILY CENTRE

Cois Nore coffee morning on Friday December 6th from 10am to 1pm also a Craft Fair same day from 11am to 1pm.

Lots of lovely handmade gifts and more plus a raffle.

AGM

Fenians H.C. will hold their AGM in the Community Hall on Sat. Dec. 7th from 8.30 to 9.15pm. All are welcome players, parents, guardians, mentors and supporters.

SPA UNITED AFC

Spa had a special presentation last weekend in McCarthy’s Bar when Ray McCarthy presented the club with a cheque to kick start their fundraising to install a new astroturf pitch. Ray has always been generous in his sponsorship to the club and they would like to thank him for his support.

They would also like to thank the following people and businesses who gave prizes for the presentation night Joe Deegan’s Centra, Urlingford, Joe the barber, Nanas cottage sweet treats, JF Sports, Carlow, Louise Walsh, artist, Aine Casey, The Butchers shop, Freshford, The Kam Palace and local hair salon Anne Power.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO

This week’s winning numbers were 6,9,20,30, there was no jackpot winner. There was five match three winners Paddy Murphy, Paul Dermody, Jerry Fogarty, Sylvie Hickey and Sinead O’Gorman. Well done to all our winners.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

CRAFT FAIR

Annual Christmas Craft Fair, Friday 6th of December 2024 from 11.am to 1.pm. Join us for light refreshments, handmade crafts and raffle here at Centre.

Cois Nore Cancer Support Coffee morning also here at the Centre Friday December the 6th from 10am to 11am. All welcome.

ST KIERAN’S HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY

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

LOCAL TRAINING PROGRAMME L.T.I.

Free L.T.I. Course, which includes Driving Theory/Driving lessons, Safe Pass and HACCP. Places still available. Contact us for further information.

COIS NORE

Outreach Advice Clinic, at the Mill every Friday Morning from 10am to 12pm

COUNSELLING SERVICES:

Our low cost Counselling Services, includes One-to-One, Adult and Teens. General Counselling: Bereavement, Stress, Anxiety and Depression. Other Counselling Services available: Drug, Substance and Gambling Addictions. Play therapy is now also available. Age 4+. Please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment.

SENIOR ALERT

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

APPEAL FOR CLOTHES DONATIONS

Any clothes donations would be greatly appreciated in aid of our counselling/play therapy services. Donations can be dropped off during our opening hours. Please call before dropping off.

For further information please contact us here at the Centre on 056-8838466

GORTNAHOE GLENGOOLE

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

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

CHURCH GATE COLLECTION

The annual church gate collection for Saint Vincent de Paul will be held this weekend 7th and 8th of December. All donations will be gratefully received.

TWELVE CRIBS OF CHRISTMAS

Pobal Eile Youth Ministry Group invites you to join us on our crib tour leaving Bohernanave Church on Sunday 15th December at 5.30pm. Tour includes cribs in our area, fun and games and McDonalds in Cashel. Open to teenagers from the parishes of Pobal Eile Parish Combination which includes the parishes of Thurles, Moyne/Templetuohy, Moycarkey/Two-Mile-Borris/Littleton and Gortnahoe Glengoole. To book contact Olivia McCormack on 087-1273273 by this Friday evening.

SACRAMENTAL DATES

The dates have been announced for the following sacraments in the parish. Confirmation will take place on Friday 28th February at 11am and First Holy Communion will be held on Saturday 17th May at 11am.

GORTNAHOE COMMUNITY HALL CHRISTMAS DRAW

Gortnahoe Community Hall are holding their Christmas draw on Sunday 22nd December in Gortnahoe Hall. Further details of prizes and the distribution of tickets will follow in the coming weeks. The Christmas Draw is an important fundraiser for the upkeep of the Community Hall

GORTNAHOE BINGO

Bingo continues 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 Black Saturday special bingo last weekend.

TUESDAY BRIDGE

Bridge is being played each Tuesday night in Gortnahoe Hall at 7.30pm. If you would like to join or find out more information please contact this number 089 4349106

SPLIT THE POT

Congratulations to Mairead Dunne, Graigue who won €210 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. For the month of December Split the Pot will be in support of the Gortnahoe Christmas lights. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. Your support would be appreciated.

KILMANAGH

CHRISTMAS PARTY

This year’s Christmas Party will be held on December 8th in Ballycallan Hall starting at 2pm. While it’s dubbed ‘senior citizens’, anyone is welcome to join us. The party is organised by the Parish Pastoral Council, supported by Ballycallan Hall Committee. All welcome. For further details, contact Michele Comerford (PPC), 086 108 0448.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

L’Arche Christmas Concert will take place on Thursday 5th December at 7pm in Kilmoganny Hall. Featuring L’Arche Kilkenny Community and many local talents. Entry is €5 and children are free. All are welcome.

PARISH CAROL SERVICE

The parish carol service will take place in Ballycallan Church on the 17th December at 7.30pm. It’s a time of music, reflection and prayer in preparation for the birth of our Lord Jesus. All are welcome to attend.

YOGA AND PILATES

Yoga and Pilates classes are taking place on Mondays in Naomh Aodhán Community Centre, Kilmanagh starting on Monday November 25th. Pilates from 6pm - 7pm. Yoga and Yoga Nidra from 7.15 - 8.30pm. For bookings contact Roisín at 085 272 6047.

GRAIGUE BALLYCALLAN GAA CLUB

Graigue Ballycallan GAA Club are announcing that Richie O’Neill has been ratified as manager of the Club’s Senior Team for 2025. Richie comes with a wealth of experience at both club and county level and we are very fortunate and delighted to have Richie on board with us.

SOCCER FIXTURES

Saturday December 7th : Division Two League : River Rangers v Stoneyford Utd

SOCCER RESULTS

Division Two League, Evergreen 5, River Rangers 2. U17 Schoolboys League,Evergreen 1 River Rangers 3. U13 Schoolboys League, River Rangers 2 Thomastown Utd 0

DARTS

After last week’s home win v McCarthys, the local Darts team travel to take on the other Johnstown pub, The Old Main Road, this weekend.

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

CAMOGIE

The under-22 girls will face Glenmore in the Roinn C county final on this Saturday afternoon - with the time and venue to be confirmed at the time of writing. This will be made available via social media when that is decided. Best of luck to all involved.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Following the AGM of Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club, a proposal was approved to join Conahy Shamrocks GAA, Conahy Shamrocks Bórd na nÓg and Conahy Shamrocks Camogie Club under a One Club model, having previously been approved at the Camogie and Bórd na nÓg AGMs. Consequently, an election of officers for the newly named Conahy Shamrocks GAA and Camogie Club took place. The following major officers were elected at the meeting: ChairpersonKevin Healy, Secretary - Michael Bergin, Treasurer - Christy Kennedy. New sub-committees will be set up under the new One Club model and members will be asked to consider getting involved as committee members to help in whatever way possible. The meeting was also updated on the impending upgrade to the access and playing facilities in the Polo Grounds, with a new astroturf pitch and additional entrance and parking spaces expected to start in the new year. CLUB LOTTO

The numbers drawn in the most recent GAA Club Lotto were 27, 29 and 39. There was no jackpot winner so the consolation prize winners were Willie Flynn, Niamh Delaney, Christy and Marie Kennedy, Eric O’Sullivan and Michael Hogan. The promoter prize winners were Helen Cahill, Julie Jackman and Teresa Dollard. Many thanks to everyone who supports the GAA Club Lotto.

SUNDAY NIGHT CARDS

Progressive 25’s take place every Sunday night in the GAA Clubhouse at 8.00 p.m. All are welcome.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Please note that the Conahy conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society has a new contact number - (085) 2160466should anyone in the locality wish to avail of their support.

HUGGINSTOWN NEWMARKET STONEYFORD

MASS TIMES

Aghaviller Parish Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil Saturday at 8.00p.m. Sunday 8th. at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford, Wednesday at 7.00p.m. Vigil Saturday at 6.30p.m. FIRST FRIDAY Friday 6th. 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.

PRAY FOR

Anniversary Masses, Maureen Connolly, Stonecarthy, Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 7th. December at 6.30p.m. Martin Brennan, Gowlawn, Pat and Margaret Irish, Hugginstown, Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 7th. December at 8.00p.m. Peter Kenneally, Barnadown: Mass in Hugginstown Church on Sunday 8th. December at 10.00a.m. ROTA SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Readers, Stoneyford,Saturday 6.30p.m. Catherina Roche. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Catherine Dwyer,Sunday 10.00a.m. Noreen Kenneally. Eucharistic Ministers. Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Pat Kenny. Hugginstown, Saturday 8.00p.m. Teresa Broderick. Sunday 10.00a.m. Ann Power New Rota for Readers and Eucharistic Ministers for Hugginstown Church is available in the Sacristy. LOTTO

Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 2nd. December 2024 Numbers: 08; 25; 24; 28. No Winner of First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner: €30.00. Winners, Monica Poole/Molloy“On Line”. Eileen Lalor, Annamult; Colin Landy, Ballytobin; Mary Carroll, Harristown; Ann Power, Lawcus. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers). James Irish. Ger Carroll. Walter Broderick.

NOVEMBER OFFERINGS 2024: November Offerings Envelopes 2024 are available at the Church Porch. Your contribution can be left into the Collection Boxes at the Churches or you may donate directly – Use IBAN: IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 (BIC: AIBKIE2D).

CHRISTMAS FAIR

Stoneyford’s Craft and Food Fair will take place on Sunday, December 8th. with even more stalls with tasty treats, homemade decorations and gifts, the fair cafe and of course the man himself, Santa. He arrived on a tractor last year, how will he get to the Community Centre this year?

WINTER CONCERT

Scoil Aireagail Winter Concert in Knocktopher Church on Tuesday, 10th. December, at 2.00p.m. Join us for an afternoon of music and song in celebration of the festive season. All are welcome, and there will be a bucket collection in aid of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP).

SOUTH KILKENNY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

A Night of Reminiscing with Seamus McGrath on Friday, 6th December at 7.00p.m. in the ‘Rhu Glenn’, Slieverue. Seamus McGrath, a native of Carrick-on Suir, derives great pleasure from learning the lore of Carrick-on-Suir and its hinterland, listening to people, and recalling their exploits and stories. Seamus would suggest that he is just “an ordinary man”, but behind an unassuming manner is a man of great knowledge and life experience, and his ‘story’ is worth hearing. Booking and further information from: Brigid Barron, Blossom Hill, Kilmacow at 087 950 7295, or brigidbarron@hotmail.com)

Tom Healy

Planning notices

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Canview Limited., intend to apply for planning permission for the development of a recreational and amenity park which will comprise of: a) the development of a nature trail, adventure trail with observation decks / viewing shelters, climbing paths, and playground; b) the construction of a single storey coffee dock with external seating area and public toilets; c) single storey maintenance building with service yard; d) the provision of a carpark, coach parking, bicycle shelters; e) landscaping including reedbeds and wildflower meadows and SUDs measures (swales, permeable paving & soakpit); f) alterations to existing site entrance including the provision of a new entrance gate; g) new elevated levels to be filled with materials consisting of verified and classified construction material to be imported; h) provision of a waste water treatment plant with percolation area, i) the provision of 2no. on-site bore wells; j) alterations to existing boundaries; k) all associated site development works including paving and lighting at the site of the Former Johnstown Quarry, Ballycuddihy, Johnstown, 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.

ALICE MINOGUE (NÉE GIBBONS) 1ST ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of Alice Minogue (née Gibbons) late of Newtown Terrace, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, whose 1st anniversary occurs on 7th December 2024

You still live on in the hearts and minds

Of the loving family you left behind Tenderly we treasure the past

With great memories that will always last

Those we love don’t go away They walk beside us every day

Unseen, unheard but always near Still loved, still missed and very dear

Sadly missed by her daughter and her seven sons, son-in-law, daughters-in-law and grandchildren

Anniversary Mass Saturday, 7th December at 6.00pm in The Church of the Assumption, Thomastown, Co. 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. D.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. T.OS.

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.M.

The Miracle Prayer

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

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

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

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

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.K.

The

Miracle Prayer

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

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

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

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

Must promise publication of prayer. P.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. 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. A.B.