With almost 1,000 patients on hospital trolleys in recent days, Emergency Department consultants are warning that more “unnecessary deaths” will occur in hospitals as patients struggle to access timely care due to overcrowding.
e warning comes as Health Minister Stephen Donnelly admitted things were “likely to get worse”.
e number of people waiting on a bed hit a record high
yesterday, with 931 patients on trolleys.
Experts say this is likely to increase as elective procedures resume now that the holiday season is over, while some fear surgeries may be delayed or cancelled as a result.
e Ireland East hospital group had issued its own appeal to locals on behalf of St Luke’s in recent days advising that an escalation in presen-
Up to 4,500 Kilkenny premises in the Waterford deployment area will soon be able order or pre-order a high-speed bre broadband connection on its network, according to National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the new futureproofed, high-speed Fibre-to-theHome network under the National Broadband Plan.
Approximately 19,000 premises in Co. Kilkenny are included in the State’s intervention area, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits a second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools.
Overall, there are 6,798 Kilkenny homes, businesses and farms that can pre-order or order high-speed, reliable broadband with 385 connections already made to the network.
tations was impacting on bed capacity.
University Hospital Limerick, which had 97 patients waiting on a bed, said only urgent elective surgeries would go ahead in the coming days.
Patients have reported spending up to nine days on trolleys and sleeping on oors. One woman, who was kicked in the face by a horse, told reporters she had waited
14 hours for an X-ray.
Consultant Dr Mick Molloy said the crisis was the result of failures to invest in bed capacity, infrastructure and sta . “We are hearing it’s just a temporary issue, but we are massively over the admission capacities and with no sense of respite at all, it’s going to lead to more unnecessary deaths in hospitals.”
e HSE has issued an appeal to people seeking medi-
cal care or assessment to consider all options before going to an Emergency Department. is latest appeal comes just days after the annual trolley county report from the Irish Nurses & Midwives organisation which said 2022 was the busiest year ever at St Luke’s.
More than 6,000 patients were recorded on trolleys at the Kilkenny hospital in the past 12 months.
Almost four out of every 10 older people in Ireland are having to make signi cant nancial cutbacks in their standard of living to make ends meet. at’s the ndings of Behaviour and Attitudes research from Spry Finance. Of 301 homeowners aged over-60, 32% said they were having to make signi cant cutbacks to make ends meet, 6% described themselves as ‘stretched’ and having to make very signi cant cutbacks, and 1% said they were nancially ‘stressed’ because they couldn’t make ends meet and were having to cutback on essentials.
A spell of mild weather in Europe has sent wholesale gas prices tumbling in a respite from the high prices that have led to soaring energy bills.
European prices for delivery in February fell by 4.3% to €73.7 a megawatt hour.
Conditions are expected to remain mild for the next two weeks.
Renting long term is now on average €93,000 more expensive than buying a home, but in some areas it is cheaper to be a tenant than a homeowner, an Irish Independent analysis reveals.
In seven regions renters will pay at least €100,000 more than homeowners over 30 years, when mortgage repayments and the cost of a deposit are factored in.
Farming continues to be one of the most dangerous sectors for work, with 12 fatalities recorded in 2022 compared to 10 in 2021, according to the Health and Safety Authority.
Withe a young man in Galway in his 20s the latest farm fatality victim in recent days, new data from the author-
ity shows that 26 people lost their lives in work-related incidents in 2022 compared to 38 in 2021, representing the lowest figure recorded since the authority was established more 30 years ago. This decline comes against a 3.4% increase in employment figures.
Victims from all age groups
were involved in fatal incidents, the highest number affecting people between 55-64 years, with 10 fatalities. The age groups 55-64 and 65 years and over represents 69% of all fatalities in 2022, with these age groups representing 19pc of employees in Ireland.
Falling from a height and
loss of control of a vehicle or its attachments were the top causes of work-related fatalities in 2022.
Mark Cullen, Interim HSA Chief Executive, said: “We are urging employers and their workers to think about the task you’re asking others to carry out, or that you are about to undertake.
“Complete a risk assessment and make sure the right precautions are in place and nobody is putting themselves or others in danger. As evident in our records for 2022, if working with heavy machinery or at a height, be particularly vigilant and take the appropriate care.”
See also Mortgages, Page 6
ere is a “good chance” another “very serious” pandemic could take place during our lifetime, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
His comment comes as he said an inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland, due to take place some time this year, should not be about “pointing ngers”.
With many couples having said yes across the country over the Christmas, Ireland’s popular wedding venue platform SaveMyDay.ie is bringing you the Top 7 tips for to-be-weds with their initial wedding planning.
1. Set your realistic budget early ... and stick to it!
e majority of your budget tends to go to your wedding reception venue and food, drink and entertainment associated with it.
In SaveMyDay.ie’s recent wedding survey 42% of couples said they were budgeting more than €20,000 for their big day.
Set a maximum contingency to your budget at the outset. A total of 68% of those surveyed anticipate overspending on their projected wedding budget, with 80% predicting that they will splurge by less than €5000.
2. Draft your guest lists, and discuss what size of wedding Would you prefer an intimate ceremony and reception with your nearest and dearest, or is a big party celebration your ideal?
In our recent survey, the majority of couples at 67%
opted for 100 or less guests, with 52% of to-be-weds looking to invite between 50 and 100 guests.
3. How far in advance you may need to start planning Summertime and the months of May, September, October tend to be very popular.
If you are also planning on taking advantage of a bank or public holiday time, make sure you give ample time to secure your preferred date in your preferred venue.
4. Where do you want to say I Do?
Do you want to tie the knot in the same venue as your
reception? Do you envisage a traditional church setting? Do you want your wedding day to be a whistle-stop tour of amazing venues across your favourite city?
In our recent survey, 80% want to get married in the same venue as their reception, with 67% tying the knot in civil and secular ceremonies and 13% choosing
spiritual ceremonies. Up to 20% marry in religious services including traditional church settings.
5. Find your perfect venue Visit SaveMyDay.ie and you can connect with wedding venue types from hotels, country houses, restaurants, castles, museums, barns to
eco and many more venue styles.
You can also filter your wedding venue search by location, guest sizes, budgets and a huge range of popular wedding features such as civil ceremony licences, guest accommodation, outdoor areas and even pet-friendly!
6. Take your time and enjoy being engaged!
Savour the process of being engaged and enjoy this magical time of your life. Remember there is no set of rules that you must follow, and the most important thing is that you enjoy this time being in love, soaking up all the excitement and planning for your future together.
Take time for just the two of you, don’t get burnt out and keep the focus on your wedding being a celebration of your relationship.
7. Make it your wedding! There are no rules that you need to follow.
Couples are prioritising on how they can customise their wedding to make it unique to them and their relationship, creating a personalised wedding experience with their own stamp on it.
Kilkenny County Council has published its Gender Pay Gap Report for 2022 which shows a Gender Pay Gap of -0.72% (mean) and +1.88% (median).
e gender pay gap is the di erence in the average hourly wage of men and women across a workforce. Employers with more than 250 employees in Ireland are
now required to publish their gender pay gap data.
e council says that “publishing our gender pay gap data helps to reinforce our focus on supporting an open and inclusive workplace at Kilkenny County Council.
“Our organisation is a place where all employees have the same opportunities for recognition and career develop-
Four in ve farmers feel the “green agenda” will negatively a ect their farm viability, according to new research from FRS.
e majority of farmers (70%) also believe that new emissions reduction targets will have a negative impact on their livelihoods.
In terms of what farmers feel they will need in order to address new targets, eight out of 10 say they will need some nancial support, while a further ve out of every nine say they will need knowledge support.
e ndings came as a result of an FRS-commissioned study on the views of Irish farmers and farm operators on the topic of external labour.
e research, which 603 people from across the Irish farming community participated in, was conducted between July and October 2022 by independent market research rm Opinions.
FRS CEO Colin Donnery described the results as “eye-opening, rea rming many of the commonly held perceptions, but also shedding light on many issues of note for the entire sector”.
ree out of ve farmers expressed that they have a poor work-life balance to cope with the vast workloads they face.
More than one in three said they would not recommend farming as a lifestyle to a family or a friend.
Mr Donnery said that the e ect of war in Ukraine on input prices, the sustainability agenda and the lack of available labour for farms have put the challenges facing farmers in the coming years into “sharp focus”.
As many as nine out of 10 Irish farms used some form of external labour support over the last 12 months.
ree out of four farmers are nding it di cult to source labour with the skills they need, yet just 50% of farmers are willing to pay a higher rate to secure quali ed labour.
According to the research, hoof care was the job for which most Irish farmers used farm labour. As many as seven out of 10 farmers who used external labour support used it on that particular task.
e next most in-demand job was machinery work, with 69% of those Irish farmers surveyed seeking outside help., according to the ndings.
ment and are treated fairly and equitably at work.”
e council says it will continue to be committed to addressing workplace barriers to equality and creating an open and inclusive workplace community.
Many equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives and supports are already in place, and we will continue to work
in this area, a statement says. See the council’s Gender Pay Gap report here https://kilkennycoco. ie/eng/publications/council_publications/kilkennycounty-council-gender-paygap-report-2022.html
e local authority sector gives people the opportunity to play a key role in the positive development of their
county and community. As an employer, Kilkenny County Council is committed to providing a positive and supportive environment for employees. e Council o er exible and family friendly arrangements, blended working, and great career progression and education opportunities.
Meanwhile Currys, Irish Rail, Musgrave and Kerry
County Council are among employers where women earn more than men, according to new analysis.
Initial ndings from research by CIPD Ireland shows several big employers have reported a gender pay gap of zero or near zero percent.
ey include Stripe, An Post, Penneys, and the Department of Justice.
Two in ve new cars (41pc) registered last year were electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid, according to new gures showing how the car-buying public is increasingly veering towards some sort of ‘electri cation’.
ere were 15,678 new ‘pure’ battery electric vehicles (BEVs) registered in comparison with 8,646 for the corresponding period in 2021 (+81.3%) and 3,444 in 2019 (+355.2%), according to the statistics from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
However, many buyers are hedging their bets on BEVs and are buying
hybrids — powered by a combination of battery and petrol engines — as a transition towards fully electric when they come to buy next time around.
Hybrids, which are driven by battery and petrol engine, accounted for 19.29% of the total sold with ‘pure’ electric on 14.9% and plug-ins (petrol engine and larger battery that can be charged at home) on 6.76%.
Petrol was the most popular engine type for 2022, despite a decline in its market share (30.16% of registrations) with diesel on 26.77%, according to the latest SIMI statistics.
e total number of newcar registrations for 2022 came to 105,253 or 0.3pc — a meagre increase when compared with 2021.
SIMI director general Brian Cooke said sales were hit by constraints such as the shortage of microchips needed for a variety of functions in new cars. However, looking ahead to new 231 registrations, he said retailers were reporting “strong new car orders”. And the industry is again expecting further growth in electric vehicles sales.
e ve best-selling brands last year were, in order, Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Kia and
Skoda. e top individual models were the Hyundai Tucson, Toyota Corolla, Kia Sportage, Toyota C-HR and Volkswagen ID.4.
e best-selling EVs were the Volkswagen ID.4, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model 3, Kia EV6 and Volkswagen ID.3.
e hatchback remains our top-selling car body type and grey is the most popular colour — for the seventh year in a row.
And automatic transmissions are now more popular than manual and account for (56.99%) of market share. Manual transmissions have declined to 42.95%.
Mortgage holders could be hit with three more rate rises this year, experts have warned.
is will mean homeowners on tracker and variablerate mortgages will have to pay hundreds more euro a month.
Fixed rates for new buy-
ers will also become more expensive and the cost will shoot up for those coming to the end of an existing xedrate mortgage looking to lock in again.
ree more European Central Bank (ECB) rate rises will add €720 a year to repayments on every €100,000
owed on a typical tracker.
Economist Austin Hughes told the Irish Independentsaid: “I think the ECB will raise rates by 0.5 percentage points in both February and March. I think there will be a further 0.25 percentage points rise in May. A further 0.25 percentage point rise
cannot be ruled out in June.”
Vulture funds are already charging their customers up to 6.5%, with some charging 7%. And they generally will not o er xed rates. Mainstream banks have held back.
Meanwhile, cost of living payments worth up to £1,350 will be paid in 2023 and 2024
to help struggling families.
e money is being awarded to low-income, vulnerable and pensioner households as bills continue to rise.
ere will be £900 going to those on certain means-tested bene ts, £300 to pensioners and £150 to people claiming disability bene ts.
e Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has today announced more detail on the payments schedule — although exact dates have yet to be con rmed.
e rst payments will start in spring 2023, with the nal amounts due to hit accounts one year later in 2024.
PAUL HOPKINS
What most likely marked this Christmas past was that for the first time since 2019 those nearest and dearest to us, who live abroad, in far-flung countries with fanciful names — family, friends and former neighbours — made it home for the first time since that rogue microbe came to live among us. And we felt blessed to have kith and kin surround us as we tucked into the turkey and unwrapped yet another pair of fluffy slippers. But it was good, so good. Palpable. A truly memorable Christmas.
After two years, those plans, now mere memories, of the coming home for Christmas were back up and running. Our loved ones abroad having long put in place those plans to come home for the festive holiday; fares were booked,
pressies bought and bags packed.
I vividly recall my first Christmas away from home, as a young journalist in war-torn Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe, summer time, murky and hot. The wire woman I got to know, through whom I sent my dispatches back to the Irish Press group, kindly invited me to spend Christmas Day with her and her parents. She was kind. Her family nice. But it just wasn’t the same as an Irish Christmas, the murky and hot summer notwithstanding.
By 9pm I was back in my poky, dismal flat. Alone and a little drunk on Castle beer. I got into bed, grabbing yet another beer, and listened to the radio playing requests for the soldiers fighting in the bush. Then the radio host played Danny Boy. I was drunk.
Emotional. To the strains of Danny Boy the tears welled up, and I thought Christmas would never be the same again.
I was wrong of course. Just being silly and nostalgic, something Christmas throws up to us all each year. Suffice to say, normal service was resumed when I finally returned to Ireland.
For so many, this Christmas, after two of Covid, tugged at the heartstrings.
The Empty Chair aside, happy families reunited around a cozy Christmas Day, everyone happy and blessed to be together — a family laughing and smiling while stringing Christmas lights together or carving the Big Bird.
That’s how entrenched being home for Christmas is in our psyche.
Now, between the days of turkey soup and a week
into the new year, so many have said goodbye to loved ones heading back to those far-flung places with strange-sounding names. Yes, those who have flown the nest get to see the world – is that not, after all, what we reared and educated them for? To try new things, meet new people, fall in love, visit amazing places, learn about other cultures? The long goodbye is never easy, though. Never. I know that.
Driving home for Christmas is simply wonderful and part and parcel of what Christmas is. But just about now, the goodbyes are difficult. You know they are coming. For those loved ones leaving us, again, all of these sad goodbyes have been bolstered by the week or 10-day reunion with family and friends we have pictured in our heads for
so long. And most certainly since the prohibitions of the pandemic.
Our loved ones return home, have their reunions, spend the first weeks meeting with family and friends, catch up, tell stories, and reminisce. Have the craic. And then it all just... just seemingly goes away.
I would venture that your (grown-up) child, your sibling, may well, between Christmas and now, have found themselves sitting in their childhood bedroom and reflecting on the ghost of Christmases past.
Perhaps I am being sentimental because that cocoon of festive-induced stupor between Christmas and the New Year throws up many moments for reflection — which is not necessarily always good for the soul. Though each year
brings its own surprises — and who knows what this new year will bring — in some ways, the more things change, the more things stay the same, particularly at this stage in my own life, each year having a familiar feel to it, like growing into an old, well-worn favourite overcoat.
When you’re young, it’s hard to envisage getting old. Now, another year — and another Christmas — is gone
If we still had the kids around, if we didn’t have to keep letting go, over and over again, I imagine we wouldn’t feel so redundant.
That said, having regrouped, recharged and given thanks for each other this Christmas, the days will soon get longer and brighter. There is hope. We will endure...at home and abroad
Up to 4,500 Kilkenny premises in the Waterford deployment area will soon be able order or pre-order a high-speed bre broadband connection on its network, according to National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the new future-proofed, highspeed Fibre-to-the-Home network under the National Broadband Plan.
Approximately 19,000 premises in Co. Kilkenny are included in the State’s intervention
area, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits a second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools. As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electri cation, Co. Kilkenny will receive
€72m of Government investment under the plan. ere are 2,542 Kilkenny homes, businesses and farms in the Waterford deployment area that will soon be able to join the NBI network. eir website is regularly updated to show estimated connection dates. Signing up to the NBI email noti cations at https://nbi.ie/eoi/ is the easiest way to get the most up to date status of premises during the rollout and when
premises will be ready for order.
Overall, there are 6,798 Kilkenny homes, businesses and farms that can pre-order or order high-speed, reliable broadband with 385 connections already made to the network. NBI is calling on people living near Borris or Waterford to visit nbi.ie/ map/ and enter their Eircode to see if they are ready to connect.
Peter Hendrick, Chief Execu-tive O cer, National Broadband Ireland, said: “We are delighted to announce that premises in south Kilkenny will soon be able to order or pre-order broadband services through the NBI network. is will enable users to experience the life-changing bene ts that high-speed broadband provides.”
Under the National Broadband Plan, 559,000 premises nationwide are included in the Intervention Area, which
was established by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to identify areas where commercial operators are not currently providing access to high-speed broadband or do not intend to.
NBI is encouraging people to check their eligibility and register for updates at www. nbi.ie to receive regular notications related to their own premises as works progresses in their area.
Ireland generated about 97,000 tonnes of packaging waste over the Christmas and New Year, a four per cent increase on the previous year. While 68% of the public spent more on sustainable Christmas gifts, buying eco-conscious presents was not the top priority for most, with price (42%) and value (19%) more important to shoppers, according to research by notfor-profit environmental organisation, Repak.
The research of 2,653 shoppers in Ireland, which was carried out by Repak to examine their attitudes towards sustainability at this special time of the year, shows 93% of shoppers receive gifts that they don’t use. Despite this, many people still bought multiple gifts, 29% between six and nine and 31% between 10-15 presents. At least one in 10 (14%) spent between €500-€750 on their presents, and another 14%
between €400-€500.
Following the holiday season, Repak is encouraging shoppers to make a conscious effort to reduce waste, and recycle correctly, helping Ireland transition to a circular economy. Ireland recycles 31% of all plastics, but that needs to increase to 50% by 2025 under EU Legislation.
As well as this, research shows that 25% of contamination in recycling bins comes from domestic customers. Learning what items can and cannot be recycled, and putting all recyclable packaging waste, including all plastics, into the recycling bin clean, dry and loose is what everyone in Ireland must do to reach the 50% target.
To find out more information about best practice recycling, take two minutes to join Repak Team Green at repak.ie/teamgreen.
Almost all surveyed
(95%) know that when items are recycled correctly, they can have a second life, a reflection perhaps, of the public’s collective effort to ensure Ireland is one of the best performing countries in the EU for recycling. However, Repak research earlier revealed more than
half (52%) avoid purchasing plastic packaged products. However plastic is reused to produce many other items under a circular economy. With packaging waste generation at its highest at this time of the year, recycling correctly over the festive season was critical to maintain -
ing a circular economy, which ensures that all recycled products continue to be used in the manufacturing of new items.
CEO of Repak, Séamus Clancy, said of the findings: "It is vital we all play our part to ensure we recycle our packaging to help us live in a circular
economy, keeping our natural resources in use as much as possible. A linear economy of take – make – dispose is no longer sustainable. We can all make a big difference every day by recycling our packaging correctly, clean, dry and loose."
Marianne Heron,ere were fewer work-related fatalities in 2022 then. In the previous year, according to gures just released by the Health and Safety Authority. e authority welcomed a decline of more than 30% to 26 work-related fatalities in 2022 from 38 in 2021, the lowest gure recorded since the authority was established. is decline comes against a
3.4% increase in employment gures (Q3 2022 versus Q3 2021).
However, farming continues to be one of the most dangerous sectors in which to work, and sees an increase with 12 fatalities recorded in 2022 compared to 10 in 2021.
While the con rmed number of work-related fatalities last year is the lowest re-
corded, it is important to point out that there are ongoing investigations that may see the reported/recorded number of fatalities increase.
Commenting on the HSA’s provisional data, Mark Cullen, Interim Chief Executive at the Health and Safety Authority, said, “It is positive to see such a substantial decline in work-related fatalities in
2022. However, our view is that every work-related death is preventable and vigilance around health and safety in Irish workplaces is still imperative."
e reports show that falling from a height (nine fatalities) and loss of control of a vehicle or its attachments (seven) were the leading causes of work-related fatalities in 2022.
Mr Cullen commented “As Ireland’s labour force is aging, we must all look to our work place practices, and ensure that health and safety is being prioritised across all workforce age groups.”
In relation to the construction sector which saw a decline in fatalities in 2022, Mr Cullen said: “ e construction sector saw a decline of 30%
with seven fatalities in 2022 compared to ten in 2021. We welcome this lower number, but are all too aware of this industry being one of the most dangerous.
"We would ask that smaller sites and contractors in particular continue to ensure that their own and their workers’ safety is a priority every day," said Mr Cullen.
Nothing like festive consumption to swell the ever- growing mountain of waste we generate and a timely New Year resolution is to cut down on packaging and plastics. e amount of waste from packaging has increased by a whopping 20% in the last 20 years and, according to the European Commission, this now amounts to 177 kg annually per person which is nearly three times your own weight if you are a ve foot six woman of average weight. We could all lose some of that weight by changing our shopping habits and buying locally rather than ordering on line where products arrive swathed in packaging. ere are three bins in my kitchen: one for general waste, one for recyclables and one for the badger.
at one is actually for the compost heap, but I like to think that a local badger recycles any tasty waste. One of the bins is the bane of my life. It’s the one that the plastics go in and it lls up alarmingly quickly with all manner of packaging.
e stu is annoying even before it gets dumped. Whoever designed those little tabs that you are meant to pull on resealable containers can’t ever have tried to open the wretched things. ey are far too small and slippery to work so that I have to attack the plastic lm with a knife or scissors to get at the contents. I have injured myself severa≠≠l times trying to prise open those little locks on soup tubs and I have to use a champagne cork opener (inherited from Granny)
to open tight plastic screw tops.
But the real worry is the sheer volume of plastic, despite all the pleas for more environmentally friendly packaging. ere is no arguing with the fact that plastic is extremely useful but nding an alternative or more environmentally friendly forms of packaging is complicated.
What can I do about the three Rs, that is reduce, reuse, recycle? Going to the veggie shop, the good old- fashioned butcher or the local Friday market with my trusty willow basket for purchases helps cut down on packaging but involves extra journeys by car.
We grew a lot of our own veg last summer and we cook fresh ingredient rather than use convenience foods
so that reduces packaging. I like back to the future ideas like one in a local shop when I lived in Italy and where I went along with three di erent bottles to be re lled with wine, oil or vinegar. A local shop in Bray, Planet A, works on similar lines. Aimed at zero waste shopping it has all kinds of products from co ee to pasta which can be dispensed into your own containers and I notice a Go Zero site on line which lists sustainable shops around the country.
Reusing plastics, instead of the linear ‘take-makediscard’ approach, has its limits; plastic trays are good for seedlings, for storing things like reels of thread or reusing as containers. But the issue that really has me stumped is recycling.
According to the Government’s Waste Action Plan of a Circular Economy we use more plastic packaging than other EU member states. In 2020 Ireland generated 1.12 million tonnes of packaging waste with the amount of plastic packaging showing the biggest increase. e share of plastic packaging waste incinerated for energy recovery has increased from 44% in 2017 to 69% in 2019 according to the Environmental Protection Agency In theory most plastics used in the world could be recycled as they are thermoplastics which can be melted down. But to be recycled plastic has to be exported, involving heaven knows how much fossil fuel in transport and not all of it is recyclable.. Since China closed its doors to
the multi-million recycling business, most of the world’s plastic packaging for recycling ends up going to Malaysia, where it may not necessarily be recycled but will end up in enormous heaps on the ground.
Biodegradable alternatives — such as special plastics, paper or cardboard — may well have a higher greenhouse footprint because of the amount of water or natural resources consumed in their production. Compostable plastic which will biodegrade in my compost heap sounds like a more hopeful alternative.
Micro=organisms break it down at the same rate as other organic materials in the compost pile, leaving no toxic residue.
at said, I am not sure that this will suit the badger.
Have you decided to go Dry for January and give up the beer for the month? I think this is worth your while doing. The break will be great for your liver. You’ll be surprised how much more energy you’ll have, and be amazed at your new and improved concentration and focus too. Your skin will look and feel great. I think you will be delighted with yourself if you can do this for one month!
Breaking the habit, that can be the hard bit. You might have to do a little of cognitive behavioural therapy with yourself. Maybe change times around when you do things. Have a substitute drink to replace the alcohol. There are some very
nice alcohol-free drinks available. Or try Biona Red Grape Juice, Belvoir Elderflower Cordial, or Belvoir Ginger Cordial they might satisfy your taste buds.
Drink plenty of water, eat regularly and have a varied diet, get plenty of rest, avoid the drinks aisle when you are shopping.
You may need some supplements to help you through. If you have cravings or are feeling sorry for yourself because you feel you deserve that drink, Jan De Vries Craving Essence might help ease the feelings and get you over a hurdle.
Keeping your blood sugars balanced can help reduce cravings for alcohol. Eating regularly, having protein with meals and magnesium rich foods
will help you. Or supplements like Chromium can help maintain of normal blood glucose levels if you are having difficulty.
If you are edgy and you can’t relax you could try a cup of Salus Haus Lemon Balm Tea. It is great for helping relaxation and to ease stress. Take a magnesium supplement or add some magnesium flakes to your bath to help you relax. To help support the liver you could consider Milk Thistle, NAC, antioxidants, or herbal liver supporting teas. One of my favourite herbal remedies to help support the liver and the organs of elimination is Flor Essence. I take this every year as an overall cleanse, many of you have told me how good you feel after taking it too.
If you have any questions about how we can support you to go dry for January give us a call or pop us an email, we would be happy to help.
Shop online at www. naturalhealthstore.ie where you’ll be able to take a look at these brands.
Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre Phone: 056 7764538
Email: info@naturalhealthstore.ie
Numerous changes announced in the Budget should now see more money in your pocket from here on out.
e income tax changes and increases in social welfare payments are expected to go some way to help with the chronic cost-of-living crisis a ecting the country.
e State pension has risen by €12 a week from January 1.
Also, there will be another €200 electricity credit payment made this month, just as energy costs are taking hundreds of euro out of household budgets.
Also, there is now a change in the income tax regime that will mean employees will only pay the top rate of tax at incomes above €40,000.
e standard rate cut-o point is being increased by €3,200 to €40,000, with proportionate increases for married couples and civil partners.
ere is now also be an increase in the main tax credits (personal, employee and earned income credits) by €75.
e changes to the tax credit will mean that workers can earn an extra €150 before they pay tax. And there is an increase in the home carer tax credit by €100, to support stay-at-home parents.
An increase in the second USC rate band (2% rate) from €21,295 to €22,920, in line with the 80c an hour increase in the national minimum wage, is being put in place.
e increase in the USC band will ensure that fulltime workers on the minimum wage will remain outside the top rates of USC.
Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe said that a concession allowing for a reduced rate of USC that applies to those who have a medical card and earn less than €60,000 a year would be
extended for another year.
e increase in the standard rate cut-o point means that the top rate of tax at 40% will only apply to income above €40,000.
e changes are set to save single people around €800 a year and couples €1,600 annually.For a couple on salaries totalling €80,000, the income tax changes mean a boost of €1,600 a year.
People who rent will also be able to claim a new rent tax credit from next month which is €500 a year and will apply to each person paying rent rather than each tenancy. e credit will be available for 2022 until 2025.
Increases in social welfare rates of €12 per week, including for those on the State pension, have been applied.
e Working Family Payment income limits has increased by €40 across all family sizes.
e Fuel Allowance income threshold, meanwhile, goes from €120 to €200 above the applicable State pension (contributory) rate for people aged under 70.
From 2023, people aged 70 and over will qualify for Fuel Allowance as long as
their weekly means, which includes their State pension, is not above €500 a week for a single person and €1,000 a week for a couple.
Disablement Bene t and half-rate Carer’s Allowance will now be disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance.
People getting Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are now able to earn
up to €165 from work without a ecting their payment. is is an increase of €25 on the previous threshold of €140.
e Domiciliary Care Allowance increases by €20.50 from €309.50 to €330.
e second electricity credit will be applied in January.
e third credit will be made in March 2023.
e new Finance Minister, Michael McGrath TD, has said that keeping the pension age at 66 will be prioritised over reforming the welfare system to link Jobseeker’s Allowance to salary.
e Fianna Fáil minister said that plans from coalition partners Fine Gael to introduce a pay-related welfare system will have to take a back seat to the contentious pensions issue.
In an interview with the Irish Independent, Mr McGrath insisted that the “ rst call” for revenue raised by increasing PRSI over the coming years is to “protect the pension age”.
“If we’re looking at other reforms of social welfare, we have to be clear as to where the funding for those are going to come from,” he said.
“Because the rst draw
from the resources raised from PRSI increase will have to be to protect the pension age and address that gap which would otherwise emerge,” Mr McGrath said.
He said proposals from Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys to introduce three rates of Jobseeker’s Allowance based on a worker’s pay before
they lost their job, were “worth exploring”.
However, he said: “But we will need to know exactly what the cost is of any such scheme, and how to fund it.”
Under Ms Humphreys’ plan, a worker with ve or more years of PRSI contributions would be entitled to 60% of their gross weekly salary if they lose their job. is would be capped at €450 a week for six months.
A worker with between two and ve years’ worth of PRSI contributions would be entitled to 50% of their gross weekly salary, or up to €300 a week.
Anyone with less than two years of PRSI contributions would receive the current rate of €208 a week.
In terms of pensions, a subject which has long been a political landmine, Ms Humphreys has also drafted a plan.
is would see the State pension age remain at 66, but anyone retiring beyond that age would be o ered a larger weekly pension.
A person who retires at 70 will be entitled to €315 a week if they have paid the necessary PRSI contributions while a 66-year-old will get €253.
Mr McGrath said he believed the Government decided on “the right plan” on the pension age but said “di cult decisions” would have to be made on how to fund the major reform of the welfare system.
“I think people do recognise the value of having certainty about the age at which they will be able to get a State pension and I think people are prepared to pay for that,” he said.
“It is the price that we all collectively will have to pay as a society for not increasing the pension age as we live longer, thankfully, into the future,” the new Finance Minister said.
Christmas is over, the bells have rung, and you’re likely back to work. e festivities are done for another year –but one thing remains. at pile of unwanted Christmas presents next to the tree.
From plaid shirts, festive undies, socks, ties, funny smelling aftershave, knocko perfume to the ceramic dog that is looking at you with its dead eyes no matter what part of the room you are in.
New research has shown Christmas spending on presents is up 33% on the previous year with family and friends spending a whopping €700 on presents this year.
But the problem is that many of the gifts will be in the ‘unwanted’ pile. Clothing, shoes and accessories are the most returned Christmas gifts due to improper sizing, style preferences and brand a liation
all contributing to the high return rate of these gifts.
According to Which magazine the most ‘out there’ gifts, including used deodorant, rubber gloves and out-of-date chocolates, have been named as some of the worst gifts that readers found under the Christmas tree. Other unwanted gifts included an advent calendar on Christmas day, a book about the wrong football team, and more than €100 of dairy chocolate despite the recipient being lactose intolerance!
However, there can be a monetary value in all these gifts if handled properly especially at this time of year when every cent counts.
Switcher.ie, the impartial quick and easy comparison website, have the following top tips in dealing with unwanted gifts.
Ask the shop for a refund or an exchange if you have
a gift receipt. ey can only say no! ey are not legally required to give you one but some shops will accept your return and provide a refund, exchange or credit note as a gesture of goodwill.
Ask the person who gave you the gift if it was bought online as an online shopper is entitled to a 14-day cooling o period because they can’t view before paying.
What if the gift is faulty? Although you don’t have the same legal rights as the person who bought the gift, if it is not t for purpose or faulty, and if you have the receipt, you should be able to get an exchange or refund.
Sell the gift. If you cannot get a refund or exchange your gift, consider selling it online on sites like Done deal, Adverts or Amazon to name a few.
Re-gift. Consider keeping the unwanted gifts for upcoming birthdays or special occasions, next Christmas even! You never know, it might save you spending on something new. Or donate the gift to a local charity, school, or community group. Before donating, see rst if they will accept your gift.
Join a ‘swapsie group’ as one person’s junk is another’s treasure. Some apps, like Nuw, allow you to swap or lend your like-new clothes.
You could also organise or attend a swap-shop event, or just organise one with your own friends and family.
Eoin Clarke, commercial director of Switcher.ie, says, that with so many of us scrambling to cut corners this year, it’s important to avoid waste at all costs.
Even if something is gifted, you should always try for a refund or exchange and some shops might accommodate you as a gesture of goodwill.
“If you’re comfortable asking the gift giver, nd out if the gift was bought online, as they may have extra refund rights. Selling online or regifting are other ways to save money and reduce waste, while donating to charities and schools helps support local communities,” he says.
john@ellis nancial.ie 086 8362622
The branch of artificial intelligence that deals with the creation of new content by employing machine learning is known as Generative AI. This can take the form of written text, images, music, or even videos, the key being that the technology is what brings the creator’s ideas to life. The year just gone was the field’s coming-out party, with several key building blocks hitting the market in a big way, and for the first time putting these tools in the hands of the general, non-tech-savvy public.
The best is still to come and, as early as the next few months, the world will see the wave of new applications using this technology turning into a tsunami. Already analysts are predicting that the industry will balloon to become a €100 billion industry by 2030.
To date, Generative AI is still mostly used by researchers and developers as well as by a few thousand early adopters from the advertising, marketing, and creator communities. However, this will change in 2023 as the technology becomes more refined and userfriendly and the number of platforms integrating these capabilities expands.
Generative AI will begin being used more in businesses and by regular consumers, who realise that you don’t need to be a Walt Disney to create animation.
With applications ranging from writing emails, sales pitches, or product recommendations to creating concept art, manufacturing models, or publicity materials, Generative AI has the potential to democratise entire industries.
One of the main criticisms of Generative AI is that the content it produces is not realistic enough. However, scientists predict that the fidelity of AI-generated con -
A huge scienti c rst has seen people receive the rst-ever transfusion of lab grown red blood cells.
Volunteers received about 5ml-10ml of blood (around 1-2 teaspoons), which contained around 15 billion red blood cells. So far, volunteers who received the lab-grown blood cells are reported to be in good health.
To grow these red blood cells, researchers rst extracted stem cells from a blood sample. ey then directed these stem cells to grow into red blood cells in the laboratory. It’s hoped that these lab-grown blood cells may be used in the treatment of disorders that a ect red blood cells – such as sickle cell anaemia.
While this is the rst time blood has ever been grown in the lab, it certainly isn’t the rst lab-grown innovation. Scientists have used
tent will increase drastically in 2023 with the emergence of new and more specified software and tools and the hardware that supports it.
Right now, the key benefit of using Generative AI is its ability to save time, money, and hassle on repetitive or mundane tasks, but within the next year, expect to see a major increase in quality due to increased data availability, improved algorithms producing more sophisticated models, better optimisation techniques, and more efficient training methods, better and stronger hardware, and tailored software.
When AI begins surpassing the capabilities it is cur-
rently just replacing or augmenting, the technology will become truly disruptive.
Generative AI is already brilliant for crafting fresh marketing, advertising, and messaging materials, as well as for generating product ideas. But those are all examples of one-way communications. Soon, however, AI will be far better at two-way interactions, able to converse with customers, understand their needs and requests, and respond to them in an almost humanlike way.
By using AI to handle routine inquiries and requests, businesses can free up their human employees
to focus on more complex or nuanced tasks. Additionally, AI-powered customer service agents can handle a high volume of requests at once, making them an efficient and cost-effective solution for businesses.
Another area where Generative AI could be useful is in sales.
By using AI to generate personalised recommendations and offers for customers, businesses can improve their conversion rates and drive more sales. In 2023, as businesses start to realise the benefits of using AI to help with things like customer service, sales, and client retention, businesses
will adopt them with enthusiasm.
As Generative AI becomes more widespread, it is likely to create new job opportunities for those who are skilled in using the technology. Just as the invention of the camera led to the professional photographer, and the invention of the record player brought forth the DJ, the emergence of Generative AI will introduce new professions. For example, ‘prompt engineers’ who are skilled at writing descriptions that produce desired results from generative AI tools could be in high demand.
Already marketplaces are popping up where tal -
or viruses may a ect human health. ey also allow researchers to better understand stem cells (which they grown from), which can become almost any cell in the body.
laboratory-based models for years to investigate everything from organ and tissue function, to understand diseases and to test new treatments.
Another most promising lab-grown innovation is orgavoids.
In recent years organoids, derived from various types of stem cells, have become
more common in research.
Organoids closely match the structure and function of full-size human organs. is allows researchers to study how many di erent diseases
For instance, organoid brains have helped scientists understand the devastating e ect of Zika virus on brain development. ey’re also playing a wider key role in understanding di erent neurological conditions.
Organoid brains are extremely advantageous because they allow researchers to observe, in real-time, any changes that may occur in the brain as they happen –something not possible with humans. is will help us better know when and how to treat certain diseases.
Organoid hearts have also been successfully grown in the lab. After a week of development, they’re functionally equivalent to
ented prompters can sell their prompts or be hired to create custom ones. Additionally, the emergence of Generative AI could also lead to an increased need for professionals with strong creative skills, such as storytellers, character creators, and visual directors. These professionals will be key in making the most of what Generative AI has to offer and ensuring that the results produced by the technology are of the highest quality. The fears of AI destroying jobs is misplaced as talented humans with creative flair will still be needed to make the most of what Generative AI has to offer.
the heart of a 25-day-old embryo, able to beat between 60-100 times a minute. Recent advances have also enabled heart cells to be grown from stem cells, paving the way to be able to grow larger and more efcient cardiac organs.
e cells from these organoids have also been shown to improve the performance of damaged heart muscle when given to animals. Similar work shows that they are also providing valuable information in what happens in heart attack, heart failure and a number of genetic heart conditions.
Organoid lungs are also proving useful in understanding Covid-19 and testing new therapies, alongside helping scientists understand other diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and certain types of pulmonary brosis.
Japan
Travellers will put Japan on their 2023 bucket list, as well as explore lesser-known regions like Tohoku north of Tokyo. e country was closed to tourism for more than two years but, since October, Japan has returned to restriction-free travel. With ight prices to Japan are now high, visitors will most likely spend a greater amount of time in the country to make the most of their trip, and venture into less touristy and more a ordable areas like Tohoku. Consider visiting the country for spring break during cherry blossom season. La Carmina also recommended taking the bullet train to explore cities like Fukushima, Sendai, Morioka, Ishinomaki.
Japan has a rich and compelling food culture that includes fresh-caught seafood such as sea urchin and scallops, clean and marbled wagyu, and sake brewed by descendants of the samurai.
Whatever your interests, you’ll likely nd a meaningful experience in Japan.
Peru
Peru seems to be on the rise, even just in the past two months, and that is that is going to carry through to 2023. Destinations like Costa Rica and Peru are known for their scenery, national parks,
gorgeous landscapes and wonderful cultures.
At the intersection of history, aesthetic delight and culinary wonders, Lima is a sophisticated destination with a civilisation that dates back millennia. Stately museums display sublime pottery. Galleries debut edgy art. Solemn religious processions recall the 18th century. And crowded nightclubs dispense tropical beats. No visitor can miss the capital’s culinary genius, part of a gastronomic revolution more than 400 years in the making.
Cyprus e island of Cyprus is going to be one of the best places to visit in 2023. It is much more a ordable than some other popular destinations in Greece, attracting many travel in uencers in 2022.
e city of Limassol gives serious vibes, amazing scuba diving, stunning beaches, and an abundance of cute restaurants serving delicious Cypriot food (Greek and Middle Eastern in uences) and co ee shops. Plus, hop in a car for 45 minutes and you are in the mountains drinking locally produced sweet wine.
Memphis, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee, has had signi cant resources dropped into revitalisation of its downtown area with cool
hotels opening and a major revamp of the Tom Lee Park all coming to fruition in 2023.
Although tourists often limit their Tennessee travels to Nashville, the city of Memphis o ers its own unique culture, complete with deep music history and delicious food. In addition to that famous barbecue, visitors can enjoy Southern comfort food, award-winning upscale restaurants, a variety of global cuisines and more. Don’t forget to check out the National Civil Rights Museum and various other historic sites as well.
Montenegro o ers an opportunity to experience diverse culture, landscapes, history and activities all in close proximity. Tourists can walk the many ‘Old Towns’ ranging from Herceg Novi and Budva to Ulcinj and UNESCO World Heritage Site Kotor. ese ‘Old Towns’ all have preserved buildings and culture from the past with great signi cance.
ere are a number of beautiful beaches along the Adriatic Sea, relaxing allinclusive coastal resorts and popular national parks such as Lov en and Lake Skadar.
Montenegro is also a short drive from the popular city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. After Croatia’s success in the 2018 World Cup, tourism saw a substantial rise with
many of those visitors also spilling into neighbouring Montenegro.
With the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum scheduled to open in 2023, many tourists are going to want to see the pyramids and museum located in Giza, a surrounding city about an hour away by car.
After more than a decade of construction, the opening of the museum will set records as the world’s largest archaeological museum. Visitors can expect expansive exhibition space, countless historic artifacts and a stunning plaza.
Turkey will become even more popular in 2023 for a number of reasons, with the variety of Turkish cities appealing to many types of travellers.
ey have Istanbul, which is the airport most people would y into, and there is an abundance of things to do and see. Antalya is another amazing city that is known for its gorgeous beaches and rich history. Finally, there is Cappadocia, which is becoming more popular with social media over this past year. It has one of the most unique landscapes and, not to mention, it’s one of the best places in the world for hot air balloons.
Oslo, Norway
Oslo looms large thanks to a lot of exciting art-driven developments. There’s a new Munch Museum that opened in 2021 and a huge new National Museum, which is one of Europe’s largest, and houses a plethora of Western masterpieces.
Highly recommended is a new Art Deco hotel called Sommerro, which is located in the former headquarters of the city’s original electrical company and features an impressively curated art collection.
In the past few years, Medellín has developed a world-renowned dining scene, particularly due to the imaginative restaurants of Michelinstarred local chef Juan Maniel Barrientos. His El Cielo group includes indigenous Colombian meets molecular fine dining, an outstanding vegan restaurant, Tulumstyle Mexican dishes, and a design hotel.
The growing tourism industry is making it more accessible for people to experience the unique cultures and sights South America is known for. That kind of convenience is hard to beat and will make it a formidable contender for travellers in 2023.
Croatia has everything tourists love, but at a lower cost.
Stunning coasts lled with incredible resorts, historic cities such as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ Dubrovnik, as well as Korcula, the birthplace of famed explorer Marco Polo. ere’s also gorgeous national parks and a relatively new transit network of trains and roads that make travel a snap.
Indeed, Croatia boasts epic landscapes, rich history and relatively a ordable prices for travelLers. From mountain views to relaxing beaches, there’s something for everyone. Plus, pop culture fans will nd a number of interesting attractions.
Pure, raw and vast in scale, Alaska is epic and unrelentingly beautiful. e largest state in the United States, Alaska spans ve climate regions and is home to an unrelenting beauty beyond its staggering wilderness and landscapes, but also its spirit of adventure and connection that weaves together the destination with its community.
From the vast mountains and crowd-free national parks, travelLers who love nature and a sense of peace will certainly nd it in Alaska. e remote state also o ers a chance to take a big trip without worrying about currency exchanges or other international travel expenses.
Hi, my name is Gerry and I’m a Sales-aholic! I am addicted to sales. Can’t get enough of them. It’s an illness really otherwise known as Sales Fever. Up go the red sale signs, down goes my head and I’m o , like a greyhound out of the trap, hot in pursuit of those halfprice jackets, suits, shirts and socks. Yes, even socks. Never look a gift horse in the mouth, that’s my motto, even it is something for your foot. I love the sales. We pay top dollar all year round for everything from a needle to an anchor so it’s a bit of a thrill (am I easily pleased or what?) to get something for half-nothing. Or half price.
And isn’t it gas how a jacket that you wouldn’t look at in December appears in a whole new light in January thanks to that hypnotic 50% o sale sign. As for that
Reduced to Clear sign – that leaves me salivating in the aisles.
Now, for some inexplicable reason that jacket looks interesting, promising even. Hey, it might even go with the trousers you haven’t worn in donkey’s years or that shirt you were thinking of throwing out. But didn’t. And aren’t you glad now? And what the hell if it isn’t a perfect t sure you couldn’t leave it there. Not at that price anyway. And besides there’s a bit of a stretch in it and who knows maybe you might lose a bit of weight when you go on that diet you’ve been threatening to go on since 2013.
Bargain Hunter Supreme. at’s me when it comes to the January Sales. I can sni out a bargain at a mile distance. Maybe two. Maybe even three, depend-
ing on the discount. It’s in the genes, I reckon. Has to be. Once upon a time man set o in the bitter cold of winter to hunt for food to feed his o spring shivering and huddled together back in the cave. In the frost and snow he trudged, hunting down a mammoth or wild boar to put some food on the table. Many, many millennia later man sets o in the nippy January air to hunt down a wooly jumper, less 50% of course, not to put food on the table (we’re trying to take food o our tables now) but to fatten up his thread-bare wardrobe. Not much has changed, it seems.
Okay so modern man doesn‘t head out with a sharpened spear but with a slim piece of plastic i.e. a credit card, a far more lethal weapon if you ask
me. Yes, sir, when it comes to ‘hunting’, be it for discounted wooly jumpers or hairy mammoths, man is still crazy after all these tens of thousands of years.
And isn’t it a dreadful illness all the same, this
Sales Fever. e World Health Organisation should issue a warning really. I mean we all go to bed sane and sensible people on Saint Stephen’s night but wake up crazed, possessed and gunning for bargains the very next morning. Overnight we metamorphose into fearless, focused, bargainhunting maniacs (well I do) And no one or nothing dare get in our way.
Worse still there’s no cure apart from staying at home, putting your feet up and watching the soccer or horse-racing or big movie on the telly. And sure where’s the fun in that? None at all and you simply end up with a pot-belly (and a fatter wallet, of course).
And wouldn’t you think that our parents would have prepared us better for this Sales Fever? I mean they
warn us about dressing sensibly and minding ourselves when we go out in the world. ey do their best to protect us from measles, mumps, chicken-pox, whooping cough and scarlet fever but they never, ever warn us about Sales Fever. A sad indictment, I’m afraid, of our parents.
In the meantime I am going to gather my o spring around me soon and I am going to give them the following, unadulterated lowdown on sales: “Unless a particular garment has 50% or more o – don’t touch it. Oh, and if any of you come upon a jacket or shirt or even a pair of socks that are reduced even more – buy them. For me!”
Finally, Customer: Do you take anything o for cash?
Sales assistant: Sir, this is a shop, not a strip-tease joint.
confessions of a
‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth, that’s my motto...
Looking at the world right now, it would not take a genius to predict how 2023 might unfold for the now eight billion of us. is time last year — and although the signs were there — who would have thought that within weeks Russia would invade Ukraine, leading to an energy supply crisis and contributing to, with other factors, rampant in ation? Or that the Russian invaders would prove an inept and callous lot?
is year is likely another year of uncertainty. Here are key potential con ict zones to keep an eye on:
We saw Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shatter the postCold War order in Europe and quickly turned into a military mess for Moscow in the face of stubborn and effective Ukrainian resistance. Now, Russia is banking on a cold winter crumbling the resolve of Ukrainians and their allies across Europe providing military support as Moscow cuts o energy supplies and targets Ukraine’s entire energy infrastructure to keep the country cold and in the dark as much as possible.
e coming weeks could provide Russia a respite to regroup its forces and prepare for spring o ensives.
It could drive some European countries grappling with surging energy prices and economic woes to start questioning their support for Ukraine. But it could also steel Europe’s resolve, harden Ukraine’s determination, and presage more e ective Ukrainian o ensives against Russia’s beleaguered forces when the weather warms up.
Most defence analysts agree that the rst few months of 2023 will be crucial to determining the trajectory of the war in Ukraine and whether Putin’s massive military gambit will ultimately fail.
2.
the kindness of its own heart. In exchange, Iran could be getting unprecedented levels of new military hardware and technical support from Russia, including Sukhoi Su35 ghter jets, air defence systems, and other advanced military technology. US ofcials warn that the new military bromance could prolong the war in Ukraine and threatens US allies and partners in the Middle East.
One negative by product of the war that will pose a threat to Western allies not just in Europe but across the Middle East is Russia deepening its military ties with Iran. Russia is running out of munitions to throw at Ukrainian civilian targets and has turned to Iran for a steady supply of drones and other sophisticated munitions. e head of Israel’s top spy organisation, David Barnea of Mossad, has warned that Iran is secretly planning to “widen and broaden” its weapons shipments to Russia in the near future.
Yhis isn’t an example of a charitable Iran giving poor Russia some weapons out of
It’s stunning how little attention the deadly con ict in Ethiopia gets in Washington compared with the war in Ukraine. Russia’s war has caused an estimated 200,000 battle eld casualties, including killed and wounded. By comparison, the con ict in Ethiopia has killed an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people, in a con ict marked by widespread atrocities, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing carried out against civilians.
A shaky peace deal was hashed out between the Ethiopian federal government and the opposing Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) last month. But Eritrean troops are still committing atrocities in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region in the name of the ght against the TPLF, meaning the chances of a lasting peace are unclear.
Just as worrying, tensions are growing and ghting is picking up between rival militias in the Oromia and Amhara regions of the country, which threatens to destabilise Ethiopia even further. Regional experts are even worried about a possible collapse of the Ethiopian state, something that could trigger even deadlier con icts and a massive humanitarian crisis in a region of Africa already beset by humanitarian crises.
e losing lather-rinse-repeat ght against terrorism in the Sahel, that extensive region of North Africa. It’s a tale as old as time in the national security world: Terrorist groups gain a foothold somewhere. Western countries start military co-operation with brittle, autocratic regimes in the region to combat the terrorists. ose brittle, autocratic regimes breed new grievances among their populations through corruption and repression that lead terrorist groups to gain larger footholds. Western countries expand military cooperation with those regimes even further. So terrorist groups gain more ground. row in some military coups, and then lather, rinse, repeat.
e tale of counterterrorism and blowback is playing
out across the Sahel region of Africa now, while the US, French, and other European governments are keeping their militaries involved in agging e orts to stem the rising tide of Islamist extremism.
After years of ghting the Islamic State in the Middle East, the Sahel is becoming the new epicentre of Islamist terrorism, and it’s clear from the steady spread of these groups’ in uence and attacks that Western governments haven’t found a way to actually stop them.
Expect this problem to grow worse in 2023, particularly after (another) military coup in Mali that led the new junta to shed ties with the West and cozy up to Russia.
5.
any sort of tactical nuclear weapon use by Russia as highly unlikely.
E orts to revive the Iran nuclear deal have run aground, and Tehran is already expanding its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to U.N. watchdogs.
Meanwhile, China is set to expand its nuclear weapons program, with plans to increase its stockpile of 400 nuclear warheads to 1,500 by 2035.
Last year was lled with a lot of bad news in the world of nuclear nonproliferation. 2023 has a similarly depressing forecast but one worth tracking closely nonetheless.
North Korea is preparing its seventh nuclear test, which will showcase how it can expand its nuclear program despite devastating international sanctions and diplomacy that’s dead in the water. Russia will likely continue rattling the nuclear sabre in a bid to erode Europe’s support for Ukraine, even though US o cials deem
It’s unclear what, if anything, the West can do to try to reverse these trends in proliferation and expand nuclear arms control regimes. But don’t forget the good news. In case you missed it, there is nally a vaccine for malaria, something that was 30 years in the making.
Malaria is one of the leading causes of deaths in the developing world, killing about half a million children worldwide each year. e World Health Organisation is slowly rolling out the vaccine among the world’s most vulnerable populations in pilot studies, and even with an e cacy of 40-50%, it has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives each year and lead to the development of more e ective vaccines in the future. So we do have something good to toast for in this new year, after all.
Hurling survived centuries of oppression, and then came its glory days, when men like the great Lory Meagher (18991973) plied their skills on the pitch.
Lory was born in Tullaroan and from an early age became a veritable magician on the hurling pitch. He is renowned as one of the greatest midelders in the history of the game. It was said, not entirely in jest, that he could talk to the ball and that the ball might occasionally talk back to him.
At16, he won the rst of six county championships with his club, Tullaroan. e last of these club victories came in 1934, when he was 34. In 1926, he rst played with the Kilkenny team. He notched up three All-Ireland medals with the county…in 1932, 1933 and 1935.
To add to these honours, he scooped two Railway Cup medals with Leinster in 1927 and 1933 and a National League medal with Kilkenny…An impressive tally.
Kilkenny shone like a bright star as a hurling county throughout the 20th century. e 30s saw men like Paddy Larkin, Eddie Doyle, Matty Power, and Martin Power wield the camans.
e 60s and 70s unveiled the heroic names of Eddie Keher, legendary goalkeeper Noel Skehan, the Henderson brothers, Billy Fitzpatrick, and Frank Cummins; among other star performers. e McCarthy Cup began to feel quite at home in the Marble City.
e 90s produced a fresh lineup of super-heroes: e gallant DJ Carey, who took the game to new heights, and the fearless John Power who gave his all for the county. ey, and players like Charlie Carter, Pat O’ Neill, and Willie O’ Connor, will live
on for forever in the memories of Kilkenny folk and in the Hurling Hall of Fame.
e Kilkenny team notched up its rst title of the present century by neatly thrashing its Leinster opponent, O aly. And the black and amber triumphed too in the 2000 All-Ireland nal. Just minutes into the game, DJ Carey scored a stunning and morale-boosting goal.
He went on to score a further two goals. e match ended with Kilkenny a whopping 13
points ahead. DJ was Man of the Match. And the unstoppable John Power had cut through the O aly defences like a hot knife through butter.
Origin of the Black and Amber
A County Kilkenny hurling team in 1886 rst sported the famous black and amber colours. Tullaroan had just beaten Mooncoin in the rst-ever county championship staged in County Kilkenny.
e match had been held on Matt Murphy’s eld on the Freshford road. e team was then drawn to play against Limerick in August of that year on a pitch located at the back of Kilmainham Gaol. A lavish fund-raising event was organised in Tullaroan to provide the twenty-one players with jerseys.
Following intensive debate and consultations, the club chose black and amber stripes as the colour design for the jerseys. So the men who ran onto the pitch that day wore, for the rst time, the colours that would bring Kilkenny unrivalled fame and honour on the hurling pitches of Ireland.
Newpark Residents Association hosted their seniors Christmas Dinner in the Glendine Inn on Saturday 10th December.
A great day of fun & frivolity was embellished by the attendance of Mayor David Fitzgerald, Inspector Alma Molloy, Sgt Dave Gorman and Fr Raymond Dempsey.
Following the meal, the large attendance was entertained by ‘The Talented Troubadour’ Tom Hickey.
P R O Una Lennon presented Mary & Brendan Pierce (Kilkenny Helping the Homeless) with the proceeds of the Christmas raffle.
Concluding the community celebration event organiser Jack Fahy thanked sponsors and guests for their continued support and wished everyone a happy and a peaceful Christmas.
e Set eatre on John Street was packed to capacity when an all-star concert was staged on Christmas week. Produced and presented by Lake Productions, the two hour show saw the audience treated to music, singing and comedy.
Bene ting from the proceeds of the concert was Irish charity Kilimanjaro Direct run by Kilkenny woman Sheila Ryan.
A former music teacher at the Presentation Convent Kilkenny, Sheila thanked the artists and audience for their generosity in giving of their money and their time.
Kilimanjaro Direct was founded in 2005 by Sheila Ryan, as a response to the poverty she witnessed during a holiday to the area. She has been directly involved in helping build ten houses for families along with supplying food and animals to countless others.
Her vision has been to alleviate poverty through education.
Performers on the night included Castlecomer male choir, Members
Speaking on behalf of Lake Productions, committee member Clare
said they were thrilled to be able to put their shoulder to the wheel and help support such a worthy cause.
Sheila Ryan addressed the attendance at e Set eatre and thanked everyone for their support.
Sheila’s son Damien, who works on the Kilimanjaro Direct team was also in attendance.
Sponsors on the night included, UPMC, the Leader Project, Langtons Hotel, e Kilkenny Observer,
Grincell, and Market Cross Shopping Centre.
Part 3
He said he was going to dive, and try to cut the rope! Cut the rope? I was all for dragging Dutchie in with the chair-knot, and his deckie, and letting the bloody boat smash up on the reef. ey might have lost some body parts to an opportunist Noah - but we’d salvage most of ‘em.
But shermen are an odd bunch. And Culver - once he made a decision - wouldn’t go back from it. Never had yet, anyway.
So, he stripped bollocknaked, as they say in polite circles. en he pulled out the wicked looking knife that was always in a brass sheath that was riveted onto the base of our mast, in case it was needed to chastise a suddenly recalcitrant decked shark.
And, with this semi-sword between his teeth, he jumped into the turbulent and very cold water. I could hardly believe my eyes! For bloody
Rednose! Christ! Snookie and I stared into the water, completely thrown by this turn of events! But we knew Jim was a top diver, having dove for abalones for a living up around Carpentaria, for a while. We expected him to be down for at least a minute, sawing at the rope. But within ten seconds he had shot out of the water - and landed back in our boat - without hardly touching the rails!
And was he ever pale!
“Bloody hell! Sharks - Whites! Dozens of ‘em! I landed in amongst the mongrels! ey’re jawin’ the crays Dutchy dumped! Jesus H. Christ!” {Well, far worse language than that, actually...}
So now, I thought, Ted’d have to drag the Dutchie and his deckie over. But Dutchy wouldn’t budge; he wouldn’t leave his ship! Yep - his bloody matchstick ship! And - he roared - “he cudtent svim”. With a rope-chair round him - he wouldn’t need to. Couldn’t do, as a matter of fact. e three of us would have had him over in ten seconds - sharks permitting. And another ten for the deckie. But no: he had to be a hero.
And Ted Riggs wouldn’t
abandon him! I’d have bet any money Rednose would’ve changed his mind, fast, if we’d cast o the holding line we’d attached to keep his “ship” away from the rocks, and started to steam o into the eternal distance.
“Bowline, Gary” shouted Riggsy, and the die was cast. As was the bowline, which Dutchie snagged to an anchor shackle up at the bow. Snookie secured his end to a hooked bollard that Riggsy had tted aft, for just such an emergency.
e slender stabilising line was cut, and the Maniki took up the strain.
We now had fun, trying to turn for home. To those who have never had to turn a topheavy boat through 60 degrees in high seas – well - lucky old you. And dragging a “trailer” –nearly suicidal.
Riggsy waited out many big rollers, holding the revs steady, then shouted that he felt a “few low ones” were coming. at’s what he thought, anyway – so he gave the Cat the gun. He had the Maniki broadside for only two minutes, and was almost round when a minor “kingy” hit us. e boat staggered and groaned when the great watery slammer hit
- smacking heart-stoppingly into the exposed port side.
Over almost onto it’s starboard side goes our boat, and we sliding and hanging on for our existence. I was tangled up in the lower rail, and thought we were goners. Life snu ed out: for a bloody loser, a tosser. “Cursa God on all shite shermen” I roared, as I looked straight down into Davy Jones’ locker, and imagined many grateful sharks.
We had a few dozen pots on deck coming in for repair, with all their oats and ropes. ey went past me, into the briny – helped by Snooky’s slashing knife. So did most of our record catch. All spilled over the railall gone.
But that tipped the balance - in all respects. e gallant Maniki slowly came back - and Riggsy’s optimistic forecast of a “few small ones” came good. Very late - but very welcome! Another big one following on after that rst hit, and we were done. And lucky old Dutchy’s “ship” had drifted up amidships of us, and been nicely protected! e bloody jinx. {You guessed I didn’t like him? Right, rst time: I knew him.}XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Now we started the nal
session of fun and games.
at mighty and celebrated afternoon gale, christened “ e Fremantle Doctor” by heat-stricken Perth people, had now arrived, on schedule, big time. is pushed the rollers a few feet higher, into the sharp end of the danger zone.
We should, of course, have been long in dock away from it. Now I thought the {normally welcome} Doctor could well be a Pathologist - or even turn into a Mortician.
e good news now was that it wasn’t too many miles back to Jurien. e bad news was that we would have to get in through the South Passage. It would have been suicidal to try and turn two boats into the North Passage, as it would have practically meant a U-turn in very dodgy conditions. We would have had to go well up, and then turn back about one hundred and thirty degrees, across the weather. Again. Pulling a boat. Out of the question.
So, the South Passage it was. And all that Indian Ocean-full of heavy water compressing and piling and swelling into it. We’d be like small corks in a very large funnel - with billions
of tons of angry briny forcing us on, and in.
I was a bit worried - and made no bones about it. I belted on an old life jacket. So did the lads. Dutchy, of course, didn’t have such obvious tackle. We had a spare one, and Snooky threw it to him. Did he give it to the deckie? I never asked the boys that question.
All the time we were pulling that e n’ jumped-up canoe, the seas were rising higher. e skipper had fair old revs on the big Marine Cat. Lucky she was below deck, and the hatches hammered well down. Her air intake pipe was ten feet higher than the wheelhouse roof.
Even on a ninety degree lean, she’d keep the power coming through to the prop. at was the only worry we had not.
Now we were heading into the Passage, and things began to look bad……To be Continued
It has progressed significantly. We are very proud that the CARE Group has pioneered a number of these advancements over the years (and many have been global firsts.) One of the most important advancements in recent years is Embryo Genetic Screening. This test allows us to identify embryos with a complete set of chromosomes (i.e. best suited for a live birth).
The Annual January Book Fair will be held again this year at the usual venue TheClub House Hotel.Patrick Street Kilkenny from 11 am until 5 pm.
The collections of books on display for sale will cover a wide range of material and should satisfy every taste for the literary enthusiast and book prices are more than reasonable,and negotiable.
There will be in attendance 9 book sellers mostly from the South East of Ireland with an eclectic array of books covering all genres of interest for the book lover.
From Kilkenny we have Geata Buidhe Books with collections of mostly Irish historical and literary interest together with many out of print local publications and ephemeral items of social and topographical interest. Books covering the Celtic and Norman Cultural period of history should be of interest locally together with our most recent era of Rebellion and War of Independence.
Paulstown Books include many publications covering the Carlow//Kilkenny Border areas and also out of print and scarce nostalgic items from the past.
Seamus O’Connor from Dublin also brings with him a collection of rare and uncirculated coins together with some interesting items of numismatic interest. Kieran O’Brien Books
From Wexford will also
have a collection of coins and medals together with an interesting array of antiquarian books of both Local and Irish History
Noel Bourke from Kilkenny will have a mixture of Irish and International Military History Books, together with many out of print Kilkenny publications. Grange Silvia publications of some Old Kilkenny Directories and gazettes will also be available for purchase at reasonable prices.
John Heddon from Kilkenny will also have a large collection of old and remaindered books on a wide variety of topics. Other book sellers include Joe Collins from Dublin and Breda Dawes of O’Neill books, Thomastown.
This January Book Fair has been running for the past 10 years and has proved to be quite popular and well supported by the book lovers in the Kilkenny area and further afield.
We would like to thank our supporters for their custom over the years and wish them all a Happy New Year in 2023.
l We’ve been trying for a baby. When should we seek fertility advice?
We recommend seeking fertility advice after one year of trying to conceive without success. However, if the woman is over 35 years old, we suggest seeking advice after six months of trying.
l How common are fertility issues?:
Fertility issues increase as the maternal age of the woman increases. For example, approximately 25% of couples will experience fertility issues if the woman is in her late thirties.
By contrast, 10% of couples will experience fertility issues if the woman is in her early to mid-thirties.
l Can fertility problems originate with the male?
Yes, an issue with the sperm is a sole or contributing factor in up to 50% of all cases. Male infertility also is often derdiagnosed.
A semen analysis test is a simple, noninvasive test to help determine if there is a male factor issue involved.
l How Has IVF Treatment progressed over the years?
l Why is this advancement important?
Well, the biggest cause of miscarriage and pregnancy failure is due to chromosomal issues with the embryo. This is true for both natural cycles and IVF. For example, if a woman is in her late 30’s, approximately only 1 in 4 of her embryos will be viable for a successful preg-
The test allows us to identify the embryos with a complete set of chromosomes and select one of those for transfer, thus avoiding unnecessary IVF procedures.
Embryo Genetic Screening also allows us to screen for inherited diseases, such as Cystic Fibrosis.
glowing report of growing up on that patch.
There is no doubting that Kilkenny and her streets are full of history.
Walkin Street falls into that category.
Ask any resident from the area and they will give a
In his book on ‘St. Rioch’s’, former brewery employee Tom Reade speaks of days of handball, hurling and soccer in The Fair Green and ‘pitch and toss’ at The Closh.
Hurling, it is said, was played in The Fair Green from early morning until
darkness fell.
There was also memories of the circus visiting the area as well as ‘Fair days’, where young boys had a chance of making a few pence looking after cattle and sheep.
One landmark which is remembered with fondness is Haughney’s orchard.
Mrs Ellen Haughney’s house
and orchard was beside the Fair Green, where the cinema is now located.
Older residents remember the orchard as having beautiful red apples.
Following the death of Mrs Haughney in 1945, the premises was purchased by Kilkenny Corporation.
In 2005 St Mary’s parish
built houses and apartments on the land and it now includes St Mary’s day care centre which provides a range of activities including meals, recreational activities and health promotion.
The centre is just a hop, skip, and jump from The Kilkenny Observer office on Friary Street and so on
Christmas week we called to join in the Christmas get together and lunch.
The twenty plus attendance enjoyed the fabulous food prepared and served by Alan Cullen and his team. There was laughter, chat and stories.
A lot of stories.
What a fantastic afternoon it was.
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Serves: 4
A healthy Cajun-inspired rice pot recipe that’s bursting with spicy Spanish sausage, sweet peppers and tomatoes.
Ingredients
•1 tbsp olive oil
•2 chicken breasts, chopped •1 onion, diced
•1 red pepper, thinly sliced
•2 garlic cloves, crushed •75g chorizo, sliced
•1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
•250g long grain rice
•400g can plum tomato
•350ml chicken stock
Method STEP 1
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan with a lid and brown 2 chopped chicken breasts for 5-8 mins until golden.
STEP 2 Remove and set aside. Tip in the
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Serves: 4
A delicious, spicy blend packed full of iron and low in fat to boot. It’s ready in under half an hour, or can be made in a slow cooker.
Ingredients
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• pinch chilli akes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 600g carrots, washed and coarsely grated (no need to peel)
• 140g split red lentils
• 1l hot vegetable stock (from a cube is ne)
• 125ml milk (to make it dairyfree, see ‘try’ below)
• plain yogurt and naan bread, to serve
Method STEP 1
Heat a large saucepan and dry-fry 2 tsp cumin seeds and a pinch of chilli akes for 1 min, or until they start to jump around the pan and release their
1 diced onion and cook for 3-4 mins until soft.
STEP 3 Add 1 thinly sliced red pepper, 2 crushed garlic cloves, 75g
STEP 4 Stir the chicken back in with
aromas.
STEP 2
Scoop out about half with a spoon and set aside. Add 2 tbsp olive oil, 600g coarsely grated carrots, 140g split red lentils, 1l hot vegetable stock and 125ml milk to the pan and bring to the
boil.
STEP 3 Simmer for 15 mins until the lentils have swollen and softened.
STEP 4 Whizz the soup with a stick blender or in a food
processor until smooth (or leave it chunky if you prefer).
STEP 5
Season to taste and nish with a dollop of plain yogurt and a sprinkling of the reserved toasted spices. Serve with warmed naan breads.
Prep: 10 mins Serves: 4-10
Ingredients
• 8-10 strawberries, halved or sliced
• ½ orange, sliced
• ½ lemon, sliced
• handful of mint leaves
• large handful of ice
• 500ml pineapple juice
• 300ml orange juice
• 300ml lemonade
Method STEP 1
Put the fruit, mint and ice in a large jug. Pour in the juice, stir and top up with lemonade.
Prep: 35 mins Serves: 8
is watermelon lemonade looks amazing but is super-simple to make. It’s perfect for a kids party or makes a refreshing summer drink for kids or adults.
Ingredients
• 1 large or 2 small watermelons
• 250ml lemon juice (from a bottle or squeeze your own)
• 100g golden caster sugar
• 1l bottle soda water
• 1 lime, cut into slices
• small handful mint
• crushed ice
Method STEP 1
Cut the top o the watermelon and hollow it out using a large spoon, shing out any pips along the way. Mash the esh through a sieve into a bowl. Put the esh in a blender (or use a tall jug and hand blender) with the lemon juice and sugar, whizz to a purée, then stir in the soda.
STEP 2 Heap some ice into the hollowed-out watermelon and ll it with the lemonade mixture. Serve the rest in a jug with the lime slices and mint. Have a bowl of extra crushed ice on the side so people can help themselves.
Greeting the arrival of 2023 with a jam-packed slate of fantastic new content to check out is Net ix, with forthcoming Net ix releases that range from gritty crime dramas and docuseries to the return of fan favourites like Ginny & Georgia [pictured].
If you need some recommendations for what to watch as we begin the new year, here’s a list of some of the biggest and most unique titles coming to the service over the next several days.
With Ginny & Georgia Season 2 hitting Net ix the other day, fans of this motherdaughter drama will have been waiting almost two years to see what happens next after that jaw-dropper of a Season 1 nale.
Season 2 picks up just a few weeks after that shocking Season 1 nale (titled ‘ e Worst Betrayal Since Jordyn and Kylie’). “We wanted to pick up the story right where we left o ,” series creator/executive producer Sarah Lampert said in a Net ix interview. “We left it o on such a juicy cli hanger.
“We spent all of Season 1 breaking these characters down and putting them in certain places. So, we wanted to honour that by picking up Season 2 just two weeks later.
“We jumped right back into where we emotionally
left everyone at the end of Season 1.”
e show — starring Antonia Gentry as Ginny and Brianne Howey as Georgia — has a 68% critics’ score as well as a 68% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Mado : e Monster of Wall Street
Ooving right along, the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange and the legal entanglements now swirling around it might sound a little reminiscent of the empire of fraud built by Bernie Mado . FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried has certainly drawn many comparisons to the disgraced nancier in media coverage of the former’s dealings. And right on time, a four episode docuseries about Mado directed by Joe Berlinger has arrived on Net ix.
Mado : e Monster of Wall Street reveals the truth behind Bernie Mado ’s infamous $64 billion-dollar global Ponzi scheme, the largest in history, that shattered the lives of countless individual investors who had placed their trust in the revered Wall Street statesman. With unique access to whistleblowers, employees, investigators, and victims, and never-before-seen video depositions of Mado himself, this four-part documentary series traces Mado ’s rise from humble beginnings to one of the most in uential power brokers on Wall Street.
In terms of what else is set to hit the streaming giant soon, coming this weekend is a Net ix release that should de nitely appeal to fans of heist thrillers.
e eight episode Kaleidoscope — starring Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito — comes with a neat storytelling gimmick, in that viewers can watch the episodes in any order that they want.
e narrative of this anthology series spans a total of 25 years, and it’s built around a crew of master thieves vying to crack an ostensibly unbreakable vault — going for the biggest payday in history. Depending on what order you choose to watch the episodes in, leading up to the nale entitled ‘White: e Heist’, you’ll learn different things at di erent times about the characters and the story, compared to other viewers.
You can never have too many crime dramas, apparently. In this Polishlanguage Net ix release, an ambitious gangster works his way up in the Warsaw criminal underworld.
In this anime comedy series, a legendary Yakuza gure known as the Immortal Dragon has resurfaced ... only, like the title suggests, as a devoted stay-at-home husband.
Mumbai Ma a: Police vs e Underworld
From the o cial synopsis of this Net ix release: “In 1990s Mumbai, a crime boss and his network wield unchecked power over the city — until the rise of ‘encounter cops,’ who brazenly kill their targets.”
If the above wasn’t enough to keep you busy streaming as 2023 gets underway, there are still a few more high-pro le titles poised to debut on Net ix in a matter of days. ey include a new Danish TV series, Copenhagen Cowboy, and the new Christian Bale-led feature lm e Pale Blue Eye.
As for the former, this Scandinavian Net ix release is a six episode series about a woman with supernatural powers who’s essentially spent her life being sold as a ‘good luck charm’. Eventually, she decides to take revenge on those who wronged her. Finally, we come to a dark new period piece set in and around the West Point of the 1830s.
In e Pale Blue Eye, a Net ix lm debuting on the streamer on January 6, Christian Bale plays a world-weary detective, Augustus Landor, who’s been hired to investigate the murder of a cadet. When he runs into opposition in the form of the cadets’ unbreakable code of silence, he turns to a young man named Edgar Allan Poe to help him.
Domee Shi’s debut feature on Disney+ stars one of the most likable new characters in recent memory: Mei, whose awkward preteen struggles are made manifest by a family curse. When women in her family get emotional, they turn into giant red pandas. Few movies are this shamelessly personal — Shi, like Mei, is a rst-generation Chinese Canadian woman, whose nerdy obsessions made her stand out among her peers. But that visually expressive personality is one of Turning Red’s most exciting strengths.
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio is melancholy-but-funny, heartwrenchingbut-heartwarming, and stands apart from its forebears. Its impressive stopmotion animation, which completely revamps Pinocchio from a humanoid puppet into a sentient tree, makes every moment a surprising treat to watch. ere’s a trademark strain of darkness underneath this story too, thanks to Del Toro adding a fascism subplot. Watch on Net ix.
Oscar-nominee Richard Linklater’s latest feature is the lovely memoir-on- lm and the story of a fourth-grader who secretly becomes the rst man to walk on the Moon. Or does he? e trippy realism of the visuals helps to tell this uniquely fantastical tale, which is as grounded as it is spacey. Linklater is infatuated with intimate storytelling, which is why the true heart of Apollo 10 ½ is on Earth, not space. is Net ix stream is a nostalgic portrait of the suburban summer of 1969, made extra special with its entrancing animation.
Bee and PuppyCat’s jump to Net ix has been more than a half-decade in the making. While Natasha Allegri’s chaotic take on classic magical girl anime worked well in short-form YouTube videos, a half-hour runtime sounded like it may burst from our heroine’s manic energy. Not the case, as the greatly expanded Net ix season allows for Bee and PuppyCat to expand its boundaries. is is no longer just a show about a lazy weirdo twentysomething, Bee, and her adorably bratty pet dog-kitten-alienguy, as they take on odd jobs to pay the bills. It’s also about their weirdo friends and neighbours. Check it out on Net ix.
e rst season of Prime Video’s Undone, a rotoscoped gem from the creator of BoJack Horseman, didn’t necessitate a follow-up. Alma is convinced that she has the power to travel back in time, which could help her stop her father from dying. e nal moments of Season 1 leave us with the image of Alma waiting to see if she has, indeed, brought her father back. It was a beautiful ending—which Season 2 threatened to undermine. But even though Undone immediately answers the question of whether Alma’s powers are real with this second season (they are!), it nds new energy from putting that reality to work.
On Amazon Prime Video.
Lotto results 27th Dec.2022. No Jackpot Winner. Numbers drawn - 12, 23, 29. €30 each to Oliver Langton, Brigid & Jim Murphy, Vincent Whelan, Eithne Byrne and Statia O Carroll. Well done to all. Next weeks Jackpot €1150.
Here’s wishing a peaceful, healthy, happy and prosperous New Year to all readers of these notes. Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Daoibh.
The people of Freshford and Woodgi were saddened to hear of the death last week of Mick Cleere late of Woodview, Freshford and formerly of Woodsgi . Mick was in his early 70s and had been unwell for some time. He was predeceased by his son Cathal and in recent months by his nephew Adrian. He was widely known in the area and was a keen follower of GAA and he loved dogs and hunting. He played hurling with the Emeralds in his younger days and the Club Jersey was placed on his co in. His funeral mass took place on Saturday morning in St.Lachtains Church followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. He is deeply mourned by his wife Mamie, his son Brendan, daughters Frances and Fiona, his grandchildren, sons in law, daughters in law, brother, sisters, brothers in law, sisters in law, nephews nieces and extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.
Freshford Squash Club held a very successful Christmas draw and the Club wish to thank all their Sponsors, the Club members, Mace/ Inver Freshford and everyone who continue to support their Club. The following were the lucky winners ; 1st prize, Ml. Burke, Kilkenny. 2nd prize, Niamh Kennedy. 3rd Prize,Martin Doyle,. 4th prize,Taylor Walsh. 5th Prize Liz Keally. 6th prize,Brendan Murphy, 7th prize, Niall Kenny. 8th prize, Jackie Kavanagh.
The new Community Cafe at Buncrussia Street opened recently and had a busy period over Christmas. The Loop Café is serving some beautiful homemade food. The Café which is run on a voluntary basis is open Tuesday to Saturday each week from 10am to 4pm, so why not go along for a co ee or a snack and meet your friends for a chat as well as supporting the new venture.
The death took place at the weekend of Kathleen (Dell) Quirke late of Blackwood, Freshford. The deceased was well known and respected in the locality. She was predeceased by her brothers Mikey and Johnny. She was a resident of Prague House for some time before her move to Sacred Heart Nursing Home Crosspatrick. Her funeral mass took place on Monday last in Clontubrid Church followed by burial in the adjoining cemetary. She is mourned by her brother Paddy and relatives to whom sympathy is extended.
The death also took place last weekend of Irene Eccles late of Killashulan Cottage, Freshford. Bunty as she was a ectionately known was predeceased by her parents Lt. Col TA and Margaret Eccles. A very quiet lady, she was well known and respected in the local area. She is mourned by her relatives and friends. Funeral mass took place in St.Lachtains Church on Tuesday morning and burial took place a erwards in Clara Cemetery.
Home for a month long holiday at present is Paul Guinean, Inch, Freshford. Its Paul’s first time back since he immigrated to Australia before the pandemic. Paul was a keen hurler and soccer player with the local clubs since his schoolboy days and still playing the game out in Australia.
The annual St.Stephen’s day soccer game took place this year at Woodview a er a lapse of a couple of years with a good turn out on the day. The Club thank all those who supported their
ra le recently.
Special birthday wishes go out to Jack Whitty, Poulbawn, Freshford. Jack celebrated his 18th birthday at a gathering with family and friends in Farrell’s bar recently.
The Freshford Day Care Centre group travelled to the Newpark Hotel recently for their annual Christmas party and a great day was had by all. The centre will reopen in January
The most recent winner of Split the Pot draw was Peter O’Hara who won €132. The draw takes place each Friday but wasn’t held over the Christmas period. Tickets are just €2 and the winner gets half of the takings. Boxes and envelopes can be found in Kavanagh’s Bar, Mace, O’Shea’s corner shop, Girls& Guys Hairdressers, Oasis Creche, Freshford Creamery, Freshford Butchers and Prague House. The committee thank all for their continued support and ask people to continue to support this fund raising draw.
Mass is held in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and on Sunday morning at 11am.with Mass in Tulla church on Saturday evenings at 7.30pm.
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 O ice. Please note community notices for the parish newsletter should be le in or emailed to the Parish O ice by 11am on Thursdays. Parish o ice hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 1pm.
Mass Cards
Special printed parish cards are available at the Parish O ice or from Annette at Tulla Church signed by Monsignor Kennedy. You can contact the Parish o ice on 056 8832843 or by email –freshfordd@ossory.ie. Contact Mongr Kieron Kennedy on that number or on 087 2523521
HELP FOR ALL
Are you struggling with anxiety or depression or finding life di icult 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.
Joan O’Brennan whose death occurred recently a er a prolonged illness, was a wellknown and kindly lady. Joan was a member of the Ronan family from Kilmanagh. Her requiem mass was celebrated in Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Kilmanagh by Fr. Liam Taylor, P.P. and her burial took place in St. Mary’s cemetery, Ballykee e. Sympathy is expressed to her husband Wilf, brother Joe, sisters Rita and Maura, brother in law and sister in law, nephews and nieces, other relatives and many friends.
FR. BENIGNUS BUCKLEY, O.F.M. CAP. The death has occurred recently of Fr. Benignus Buckley, formerly from Kilmanagh. Fr. Phil, as he was a ectionately known to his family and friends, was a popular member of the Capuchin Order who served for many years in Zambia, Africa where he witnessed hardship and deprivation among the people he loved and min-
istered to. On his retirement, Fr. Phil returned to the Friary in Kilkenny where he served for some years. He will best be remembered in our parish for his spiritual directorship of Our Parish Pilgrimage to Knock. Undoubtedly, he made it a day when we felt a great sense of peace and achievement knowing that our parish community, relations and friends benefitted from his prayers and supplications for them. Many friends and relations visited the Friary as Fr. Phil lay in repose. His requiem mass was celebrated in the Friary Church and his burial took place in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ballykee e. Sympathy is expressed to his nephews, nieces, many relations and friends and his confrères in the Capuchin Order.
The death of May Murphy has caused much sadness not alone in her family, but in her many friends in the parish and far beyond its environs. May was born in Knockeenbawn where she spent her early years. On her marriage to Richard Murphy, she lived the rest of her life in Killeen. May was an active and loyal member of the I.C.A. and never shirked from any commitments which the I.C.A. encountered from time to time. Celebrations which took place in the parish and where catering was required, May was in the forefront with her colleagues seeing that all was well. When the new organisation “Active Retirement” was formed, May joined the P.A.L. Club which was an o shoot of Active Retirement. She never missed the meetings which took place every two weeks. She was a faithful member of our parish’s spiritual life. She never missed our annual pilgrimage to Knock. Much more could be said and written about the fine qualities which May possessed. Her requiem mass was celebrated by Fr. Liam Taylor, P.P. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Kilmanagh and her burial took place in St. Mary’s cemetery, Ballykee e. Our parish express our sympathy to her son Ray, daughters Christine and Nora, daughter in law Margaret, sons in law Tom and Eamon, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives and many friends. She is predeceased by her daughter Mary (Delaney).
We have received very good feedback and positivity on the Christmas Acorn. This is due to the many varied and interesting articles submitted this year. We would like to extend a huge thanks to everyone who purchased them so far. There are still a small few available, please contact 086 373 99 83 if you would like one to send to friends or family overseas.
MASSES FOR EPIPHANY
Mass on Thursday evening next at 6.30pm in Kilmanagh (No Mass in Ballycallan), and at 9am in Killaloe on Friday morning.
A parish calendar for 2023 is available in the porches of our churches. The calendar was kindly sponsored by Molloy’s Funeral Undertakers and Sculptors.
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.
Aghaviller Parish. Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at 9.30a.m. Vigil Friday 6th. at 10.00a.m.Vigil Saturday 7th. at 8.00p.m, Sunday 8th. at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford Vigil - Thursday 5th. at 6.30p.m. Vigil - Saturday 7th. at 6.30p.m.;
Friday 6th. Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Holy Day Anniversary Masses
Andy Brennan, Stoneyford: In Stoneyford Church on Saturday 7th. January at 6.30p.m Katie, Tommy and Cissie Delahunty, Catstown: In Hugginstown Church on Saturday 7th. January at 8.00p.m ROTA
7th. and 8th. January 2023 (Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord)
Readers. Stoneyford. Saturday 6.30p.m. Catherina Roche. Hugginstown. Saturday 8.00p.m. Deirdre Rohan, Sunday 10.00a.m. Marie Ryan.
Eucharistic Ministers. Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m.Bernie Grace. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Cuddihy, Sunday 10.00a.m. Ann Power.
Fr. Niall Coll will be ordained Bishop of Ossory on Sunday 22nd. January 2023 at 3.00p.m. in St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny.
Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Ms. Kathleen Sherry Tel: 087 100 0232.
Aghaviller Parish Representatives are: Teresa Broderick and Carmel O’Toole
Envelopes for your Christmas O erings 2022 may be collected in the Church Porch, and your contributions may be handed in during the coming weeks: or you may donate directly – Use IBAN: IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 (BIC: AIBKIE2D). Many thanks for all your support and contributions during the past year. Roman Catholic Diocese and Parishes of Ossory – Registered Charity No. 20015831
If you are leaving your home even for a short time, do lock all external doors and windows. Make sure all candles and naked lights are out before you leave or before you retire to bed. Be extra careful on the roads over the New Year weekend and do show care for others. Safe Driving! With the ‘Text Alert’ in operation please be vigilant and always be aware there is always Garda help close at hand.
Lotto: - Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Next Draw on Monday 2nd January. Please submit returns by 8.30p.m. Draw at 9.00p.m. Next Draw: Match 3: €500.00; (First 3 Numbers Drawn) Jackpot: €5,500.00. (4 Numbers)
Many thanks to all the Children; Parents; Teachers; Musicians; Choirs; Readers; Eucharistic Ministers; Servers and others who prepared the Christmas Masses: and to all who cleaned and decorated the Churches in the Parish for the Christmas Season and throughout the year. Thanks to all who erected the Cribs; donated flowers and Christmas trees etc. A sincere thank you and appreciation to all.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION DATES 2023
For Stoneyford School on Sunday 14th. May in Stoneyford Church at 11.00a.m.
For Monroe/Newmarket Schools on Sunday 21st. May in Hugginstown Church at 11.00a.m.
Parish Contributions: (To donate directly.) For Aghaviller Parish Funds: Use IBAN: IE74 AIBK 9330 9000 0610 47 (BIC: AIBKIE2D) For the support of the Clergy: Use IBAN: IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 (BIC: AIBKIE2D).
All Parish Property and Accounts are registered under the (Diocese of Ossory, Reg. Charity No. 20015831)
Alhomecare is in business for 9 years, they work with hundreds of families and have nearly 300 carers working nationwide. It is a safe and a ordable alternative to nursing homes and private visiting carers, which they are aware are in serious short supply especially at this time of the year with cold and wintery weather. 6,000 people who have been approved for funded home care from the HSE have had to be put on a waiting list because of a shortage of carers. Alhomecare is an option as they know that choosing the right care for your relative is a very important decision. You naturally want the best quality care at an a ordable price. They understand that homecare can be very expensive and can put a lot of stress and worry on individuals and their families. They aim to provide you with the highest quality homecare at an a ordable price. Contact Tom 087 744 0729 or Eileen 087 991 6791 who will be happy to chat anytime.
BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
And just like that it’s back. Inter-County hurling returns for Kilkenny as Derek Lyng looks to build what he hopes will be another dynasty for the black and amber.
July 17th doesn’t seem that long ago, Brian Cody’s last outing as Cats boss in the narrow defeat to all-conquering Limerick in the Liam McCarthy decider at Croke Park. Less than a week later came the news that the greatest hurling manager of all-time had stepped down from the role that he held so proudly since 1998. 24 seasons, 11 Liam McCarthy’s, 18 Leinster titles and 10 National League crowns, just some of the eye-catching numbers of the legend’s reign on Noreside.
At a County Board meeting on August 4th, Emeralds club man Lyng was appointed as the new Kilkenny manager. e beginning of what all Gaels within the county hope to be a new era for the men in stripes, which leads to being reunited with our old friend Liam McCarthy.
While Lyng and his management team have been putting the Walsh Cup Squad through their paces ahead of this weekend’s opening xture against O aly in Callan, expect the newly installed bainisteoir to use the competition to cast his eye over potential players, hoping to earn their stripes for Kilkenny for the season ahead. It is believed that some fty-odd players have been involved in the training camp ahead of the return to competitive action this weekend.
Obviously as is the ‘norm’ in January, the County will be without the Shamrocks Ballyhale contingent, as the South Kilkenny side seek to add another All-Ireland club title to their collection later this month when they face Ulster Champions Dunloy at Croke Park. e absence of these players, coupled with the decision of some to step away from the panel will present others with a great opportunity to step forward and show the undoubted depth of hurling in Kilkenny.
Having led his U20 panel to a fantastic All-Ireland Final win over Limerick at FBD Semple Stadium in May last year, Lyng will have a good understanding and knowledge of the young men hoping to break into the senior county ranks.
Lyng’s charges put in an incredible display against e Treaty in urles to claim the silverware, and you could see that there was clearly plenty of talent in the squad that the bainisteoir and his backroom team had developed.
clearly
One of the stand-out performers during that successful U20 campaign was Galmoy’s Billy Drennan. Having been the topscorer during the 2019 All-Ireland Minor championship, when the Cats were just pipped to the title by Galway, Drennan has tormented most defences that he came up against and in the showpiece U20 decider, he hit 0-9, including 0-5 from play as the young Cats put Limerick to the sword. A former All-Ireland Handball champion, Drennan certainly looks like he has a sprinkling of that ‘star’ quality about
Palmerstown out t Dicksboro provided a really strong spine for Lyng’s U20 champions.
Niall Rowe, Padraic Moylan and Timmy Cli ord all showed well for the 20’s, and are all involved on a regular basis in their club’s senior panel.
Moylan captained the team from centre-back and had Rowe for company behind him, while ame-haired Cli ord showed many classy touches during the Cats run to glory.
omastown’s Peter McDonald is another of that U20 panel that may force his way into manager Lyng’s thoughts. A former county minor captain, McDonald is a real leader and gets through a mountain of work across the pitch.
When you factor in that four of last season’s senior panel won’t be available for Lyng’s maiden campaign as bainisteoir, it is vital that others come to the fore.
Conor Browne, Richie Leahy, James Maher may have been more squad men, but the absence of Mikey Carey is a real blow to the Cats as they seek to go again this year. Progressive wing-back’s that can take scores are a must for all teams seeking to challenge at the business end of the season.
Bennettsbridge’s David Blanch eld is one player who ts the bill in this area. e rangy defender saw quite a bit of action in the league last year, and I think
he might get more minutes this season. With Darragh Corcoran concentrating on Shamrocks quest for club glory, O’Loughlin’s Paddy Deegan might get some early season action.
Two of last-season’s breakthrough players, Mikey Butler and Cian Kenny will look to kick-on again this season. Butler was outstanding last season and rightly won an All-Star for his e orts. Along with club mates Huw Lawlor and Paddy Deegan, expect to see more of these gents, especially when the league starts in early February.
As mentioned previously, Shamrocks players absence will mean the placed-ball duty will pass to others until TJ Reid returns to the fold, possibly late February / early March. Glenmore’s Alan Murphy has proved to be more that capable when given this responsibility, and could get another ‘rattle’ this season.
Last season’s Walsh Cup opener against Laois saw an experimental line-up take to John Locke Park in Callan:
L Dunphy; M Butler, J Burke, N MacMahon; D Blanch eld (0-1), C Heary (0-1), S Murphy (0-2); N Brennan (0-1), T Dunne; C Prenderville (0-3), E Landy (1-2), L Scanlon (0-2); C Bolger, S Walsh (0-9, 6 frees, 1 ‘65), S Morrissey (0-1).
Subs: D O’Kee e for MacMahon (h/t), R Buckley (0-3) for Brennan (h/t), S Donnelly (0-2) for Bolger (h/t), A Brennan for Dunne (h/t), E O’Shea for Landy (56 mins), Ciaran Wallace for Heary (65 mins).
We could see the likes of Tullaroan’s Shane Walsh in county action again, as his free-taking is a great weapon.
Emmet Landy and Colm Prenderville did well that day as did sub Robbie Buckley. e Walsh Cup is perfect for blooding the younger and less experienced hurlers, but with another condensed season ahead, there’s a lot less time to experiment.
Expect Derek Lyng to give players a chance to earn a National League panel berth, and hopefully a gem or two emerges that adds to the players already known to the manager. We go again!
Park for an encounter under the recently installed new floodlight system. That will be a battle.
I’m looking forward to seeing if any of the U20 panel breakthrough during the early part of this season, there are definitely some quality hurlers from that group, and Derek knows them well.
Let’s get behind the new bainisteoir and give
I, John Walsh, hereby intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Retention Permission for a partially constructed shed containing stables and forage/bedding storage area, dungstead and effluent tank and associated site works at Duninga, Paulstown 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, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.
Signed: - John Walsh
Planning Permission is sought by Joe Bolger and Rebecca Shivnen of Bodal, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny to construct a single storey, tiered, 4 bedroom dwelling with integrated garage, new site entrance off an existing laneway, tertiary waste water treatment system and bored well at Annamult, Stoneyford.
The application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during Office hours i.e. 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.
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. KMON.
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.B.
Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.
This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).
Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.
Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.
Must promise publication of prayer.M.M.
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.J.M.
