Science & Wellbeing

Government must recognise mental health crisis, says Ibec

IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, is calling on Government to recognise the scale of the mental health crisis now emerging in our society following the extended period of home working and isolation which large cohorts of workers have now experienced for over a year.

Ibec said that Government needs to take concrete steps to support a partial and gradual return to office work in a way that enables employers to address cases of most acute isolation risk.

Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said: “The impact of isolation on the mental health of our workforces as a result of the pandemic is something that needs careful addressing by employers and Government alike.

“Many of our members are reporting employee mental health issues as the single biggest challenge facing their organisations. Younger workers in particular are suffering significant mental health issues which will have long-term implications for society and the public health system.

“While the roadmap from Government was broadly welcomed by business, greater clarity is needed in the return to office protocols and how the safety and well-being of people at work can be securely managed as we begin to reopen our economy.”

Senior executive for Ibec’s KeepWell programme, Sophie Moran said: “There’s still a way to go however in terms of strategizing for a return to the workplace and looking at how wellbeing can be supported throughout this process.”

Martin Tobin is praised for his evidence in Floyd case

A KILKENNY doctor who shot to worldwide fame after he testified in the George Floyd case has been hailed as “one of the best legal experts I have ever seen” by a top US trial lawyer.

Pulmonologist Dr Martin Tobin, 69, (pictured) gave evidence for the prosecution that police office Derek Chauvin had, “beyond doubt”, caused Mr Floyd’s death when he knelt on his neck during the notorious incident in Minneapolis in May last year.

The Kilkenny-born specialist was able to pinpoint the moment when Mr Floyd died on mobile phone footage taken by a passerby.

Mary Moriarty, a chief public defender in Minneapolis, said the Kilkenny native “gave all of us a clinic in plain English” on the pulmonary system during his key testimony.

She said the manner and precision of Dr Tobin’s presentation made it very difficult for Chauvin’s defence to cross-examine him.

Fellow legal expert Prof Joe Daly of Mitchell Hamline School of Law described Tobin as having “a bedside manner in court.

“He could explain everything and he had this very pleasing Irish lilt. He had a very pleasing personality and the way he testified, you trusted him. “About halfway through his testimony I thought, I’d love this guy to be my doctor.” Tobin’s hold on the jury was so effective, the defence raised an objection because it appeared jurors were following so closely they were touching their necks during a breathing anatomy lesson.

In his analysis, Tobin said Chauvin continued to apply his weight on Floyd for at least three minutes after there was zero oxygen left in his body.

Watching the video, Tobin identified 8:24:53 p.m. as the moment Floyd died.

He told the court: “That’s the moment the life goes out of his body.”

Martin Tobin, a graduate of UCD, has run a practice in Illinois for more than 20 years and has practised medicine for 40.

Derek Chauvin’s legal team said this week that they would appeal the ’guilty’ mverdict.

Smithwick’s Experience closure a concern, says TD

SINN Fein’ TD Kathleen Funchion TD has said she is concerned over confirmation that Diageo is permanently closing the Smithwick’s Experience in Kilkenny resulting in the loss of jobs and the knock-on impact on Kilkenny’s tourism. “I am deeply concerned that Diageo has taken the decision to close this award-winning tourist attraction, that was favourite for visitors to our medieval city and also much loved by locals at this time,” she said.

“The announcement came as a huge shock for those working at the attraction, considering the Taoiseach’s announcement of the phased reopening of the tourism sector.”

Ms Funchion said it was disappointing that a large international company like Diageo could not ride out the pandemic as so many other tourist attractions in the city had done. “I have written to the Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD to ask that she intervene on this matter, and what steps her Department will take to address this devastating blow for the city of Kilkenny,” she said.

Power of the people: Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland, with all those batteries. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography

Now, where did we put all those 135,400 batteries?

HOUSEHOLDERS in Kilken- the planet. “For the millions of batterny recycled 51,000 more “Now is a perfect opportu- ies not recycled properly, we batteries through retailers nity for people to stop for a lose precious elements and last year than in 2019, new moment to think about how important resources that figures show. Data from WEEE Ireland reveals that environmentallyEoin Murphy: looking forward to new role in IT sector. they can make a difference,” said Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland. could be used again in manufacturing. The hazardous material they release also has conscious consumers in the “Recycling batteries is as an impact on human health county brought 135,400 used easy as taking them to your and our environment.” batteries — 3.4 tonnes — nearest supermarket or recy- For every battery recycled, back to supermarkets, hard- cling centre and plays a huge WEEE Ireland makes a ware and electronic stores part in helping protect the contribution towards Laura in 2020. environment. Lynn — and it has confirmed

That was a rise of 50,800 on “Rolling lockdowns saw a further €40,000 donation to the 84,600 prevented from people use more home the children’s hospice. ending up in general waste grooming devices such as It will provide much-needbins the year before. electric shavers, games con- ed overnight respite stays for

Nationally, a massive 7.8 soles, remote controls, kids’ 19 children and their families million batteries were recy- toys, power tools and fitness at the hospice this year and cled through all retailers last equipment – resulting in brings its overall donation to year – up 134,120 on 2019 as more batteries being used Laura Lynn to €480,000 since more people used their gro- and many of these ended up the partnership first began cery shop to do their bit for in drawers. back in 2011.

Chips are up for this burger deal

A California-based restaurant chain is offering customers free burgers for a year if they get hamburger tattoos bearing the restaurant’s name.

Farmer Boys has partnered with a tattoo shop in West Hollywood and one in Las Vegas to offer the bizarre deal.

Singer Joy hits a low note

A British Columbia, Canada, singer broke a Guinness World Record when she managed to sing a C1 note — the lowest C note — and captured the title of Lowest Vocal Note By A Female.

“Because I could sing so low, I was the resident male. But I could also sing very high as well,” Joy Chapman told CBC News.

It’s no picnic for this teddy bear

A life-size teddy bear on a quest to walk the more than 400 miles from Los Angeles to San Francisco said his journey has been fraught with obstacles — including a brief run-in with the law.

Jesse Lasios, 33, who goes by the name Bearsun when he dons his teddy bear costume, said he had no goal in mind. “I’m like a puppy, I guess. I just see something, and I chase after it,” Larios told CNN.

Sight of the iguana

Animal rescuers in Poland said they were called out to help a suspected iguana spotted in a tree outside of a residential building and arrived to find the mystery animal was actually a discarded croissant.

High flyer!

Flight attendants with Vietnam Airlines were able to reunite a passenger with a wallet that contained $45,000 cash, as well as other valuable personal items.

New poems on the ‘Poetry Phone’

Kilkenny County Council Arts Office’s a poetry phone is back with a wonderful new collection of poems selected by Deirdre Southey from the Arts Office

Everyone is welcome to the poetry phone. Just dial 1800 272 994 to listen to one of ten wondrous poems written by Kilkenny poets; Nora Brennan, Kevin Dowling, Mary Malin, Michael Massey, Nuala Roche, Mike Watts, Noel Howley, Carmel Cummins, Angela Kehoe and Kathleen Phelan. The poems are beautifully recited by Kilkenny actors Susie Lamb, Ger Cody and Nuala Roche.

The poems were selected for their ability to speak to the reader and to evoke memories of a certain time and place. These memories merging with your own, give a sense of solace and comfort while providing a moment to travel to afar places, unreachable in our present times.

They reflect the beauty of the ordinary and the real understanding and connection between people and place, how it is experienced in the small things. The tasks and jobs that we do together, our daily companionships, gentle encouragements, the very everyday of human life and the beauty in these simple, quiet and ordinary things.

Rose Kelly

Rose is a retired primary school teacher from Thomastown and has been writing and publishing her poetic works for many a year. Samples of her poetry have been published in the Waterford Review, the Poets’ Platform at the Galway International Festival, in three books published with the Bennetsbridge Writers Group and in the Kilkenny Poetry Broadsheet.

In addition to the poetry published, Rose wrote and published a Christmas story for children, Look Who’s Here, illustrated by her son, Alan.

In trying to understand the source of her inspiration Rose says, “I try to find the hidden gems of truth in all situations, and record them in poetry, as Gaeilge nó as Béarla.”

Know who you are

He played in his garden, Gathered stones in his new toy, Set up his game And put it in order. Out on the road, men at work Dug holes,filled cracks, spread tar. The boy watched, Didn’t miss a move, Rubbed his nose when the smell of tar was strong Then back to his game . I would bide my time Then ask” are you a big man working on the road”? He didn’t look up, Just shook his head. “No”, he said, “I’m just a boy with a wheelbarrow”. Rose Kelly The Arts Office have come together to reproduce these poems. In this, our third week, we feature the poems of Rose Kelly, Janis Woodgate, Nuala Roche and Mary Malin.

Janis Woodgate

Janis Woodgate has been involved in both drama and creative writing since the early 90s, when the Desart Hall on New Street provided a safe haven for young people seeking a creative space. This former concert hall became the birthplace of both Kilkenny Youth Theatre and the Kilkenny Young Writers groups, with Janis being a founding member of both.

In 2007 she also became a founding member of The Barn Owl Players, and after a decade of treading the boards and being involved in all aspects of theatre, she has remained involved with the group; having recently written her monologue Heartspace (performed by Jim Carroll) for the first Zoom BOP! Production during the summer of 2020.

Through Kilkenny Arts Office, she has availed of poetry and creative writing workshops. Janis has most recently devised and facilitated a Poetry Workshop for Beginners: A Time to Write Poetry; on behalf of Kilkenny Library Services. Janis continues to learn through reading and writing; and recognises the fundamental importance of the Creative Arts in society.

SINK

We stand shoulder to shoulder ( Where once I held you on my hip). We face the mirror, Thirteen years of you and me. On your chin are nine delicate hairs, bristling. On the sink, the tools: razor, foam and cup. In my heart , regret (that another is not by your side). On your face: utter dismay. We go to it, all thumbs, fumbling, Gasps and sucks of air… Afterwards, I clean up. You bled: It was your first time. I rinse the sink of you and raise my eyes To see you –my Prince! Standing tall To face himself.

I kowtow my leave Clutching the soiled rag at my heart. With my shame a little smaller I clear the space for you To shine back at yourself Janis Woodgate

Nuala Roche

Nuala Roche’s prose and poetry has been published in nine editions of Kilkenny Arts Office Poetry Broadsheet, Doghouse Press literary journal, The Cormorant and Pendemic.ie. Poetry awards include Dromineer Literary Festival’s Poetry First Prize and the Patrick Kavanagh Competition (Highly Commended). Nuala is working on a second poetry chapbook, informed by the use of technology for communications, which most of us have had enough of this past year! During 2020 she has been returning to familiar reading and listening, for comfort: Alice Oswald’s ‘Falling Awake’, Claire Keegan’s short stories and Krista Tippet’s On Being podcast series.

Van Morrison, Nassau Street

Rain-spit puddles churn up with gusts Biting, the razor wind whips my hair, stings like paper cuts Rounding on Dame Street the number 10 gushes an arterial spurt of grey, a wave leaps and settles. Heart-race I lurch off the island, Citreon klaxon. The little green man bip-bips as his Trilby bops down and up and out of view – diminishes into the Trinity arch –a figment in the November dusk, J’ai vu – I saw

I step into third level, thin wine gabardine, corduroy shoe-squelch on cobble, weave my way through clusters of students – damp wool, lank hair, synapses firing like pinball machines –His companion, a tall Mediterranean, talks on, gestures with zeal, passion Son manteau – her good winter coat. Through Arts and onto the street I slip through the stream of traffic closing the gap. Reaching out, I catch the sight in Read’s, La vitrine – the shop window a cyclorama of the Dublin firmament and down low, a pillar, remaindered Catchers teetering in the chasm between my fingers and the hem of his Crombie. Nuala Roche

Mary Malin

Mary Malin was born in Dublin and has lived Kilkenny for 10 years. She writes poetry and occasional short stories. She has found the natural world and the annual Broadsheet to be a wonderful source of inspiration.

OLIVE GROVES, SIVOTA

A rough path, we took it anyhow Hoping for the proverbial shortcut The heat sitting heavily between us And both longing for the sea’s cool breeze When it led us, silently, behind farms Old houses, whitewashed ruins, And took us towards the olive groves. With the land green and climbing We crossed wall after wall Of crumbling rock, ancient terracing Where the warm yellow of Moss and linchen could catch the heart And then the greatest surprise You stopping dead in your tracks Startled by the sight of a tortoise Slowly moving and blocking your path . The moment held, then passed Almost forgotten now so that I Return to photographs to remind myself it happened, to remember your sudden stopping on that late summer day, how the olive light fell across your face how our hands touched afterwards and how, suddenly, the day stretched before us like a ripening bough Mary Malin

Protecting your income in these uncertain times

BY JOHN ELLIS

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

THE money you earn pays for almost everything you have, mortgage, gas, electric, phone, food, children’s education, car, holidays, insurance, pension, home repairs, the list goes on.

You probably don’t think twice about insuring your home, car or healthcare but what about your income?

Thirty-six percent of those recently surveyed think their salary is protected by other insurance eg. Mortgage Protection, Loan Repayment Protection and Critical Illness cover.

But less than 10 percent of us have any form of private salary protection.

Imagine if you were lucky enough to have savings, for example €50,000 but that would last you just 17 months based on monthly outgoings of €3,000.

Fortunately, there’s a way of ensuring that in the event of an injury or illness that leaves you unable to earn an income, your financial commitments will be met and your lifestyle protected.

Income Protection, a form of disability/sickness insurance, can help you stay on top of the bills that matter, even if you were unable to work for three months or more due to illness, injury or disability.

With Income Protection, you take control of your financial security. By paying a monthly premium, which is determined by your employment and health status, you will receive a regular income for the complete duration of your illness until you return to work or retire.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The cost of an Income Protection plan depends on the option you choose, your age, occupation and health. It is very easy to fit a plan into your budget that you can review as your circumstances change. Here are two examples -

EXAMPLE 1

Philip is a Civil Engineer currently earning € 50,000 per year and is 30 years old.

He has chosen to protect 50% of his salary i.e. € 25,000 per year until his retirement age of 65. He selects a 6 month waiting time and chooses to index link his premiums.

Benefit amount

€ 25,000 (or € 481 per week)

Gross premium € 46.97 per month

Philip pays

€ 28.18 per month*

*after tax relief based on 40%

NOW CONSIDER THIS....

If Philip were to claim on his policy in two years’ time (aged 32) and his claim lasted for the average duration of 5.5 years, he would be paid over €156,259 in benefits. If he were unable to return before retirement, then over that 35 year period he would be paid a total benefit of €1,460,000.

EXAMPLE 2

Fiona is a 35 year old Sales Representative currently earning € 72,000 per year.

She has chosen to protect 50% of her salary i.e. € 36,000 per year until her retirement at age 65. She selects a 6 month waiting time and chooses to index link her premiums.

Benefit amount

€ 36,000 per annum (€ 692 per week)

Gross premium € 77.05 per month

Fiona pays

€ 46.23 per month*

*after tax relief based on 40%

NOW CONSIDER THIS....

If Fiona were to claim on her policy in two years’ time (aged 37) and her claim lasted for 5.5 years, she would be paid over €224,000 in benefits. If she were unable to return before retirement, then over that 28 year period she would be paid a total of €1,639,636 in benefit.

In each example they both get the protection of a regular income during difficult times, tailored to their needs and circumstances.

It is flexible, customisable and packed with features.

Bill passing gives local students a better rent deal

THE Sinn Fein TD for Carlow Kilkenny, Kathleen Funchion, has congratulated the USI as the Student Rent Bill debated in the Dáil is set to pass.

“The Bill, moved during Sinn Féin Private Members’ time this morning, looks set to pass as the Minister for Housing has indicated that the Government will not oppose it.

“This is huge win for students throughout Kilkenny and Carlow and particularly those attending Carlow IT,” she told The Kilkenny Observer.

“Sinn Fein look forward to it progressing it through the next stages as quickly as possible.

“The Bill, if passed, will prevent providers of student-specific accommodation from charging more than one month’s rent in advance, and will allow students to end a tenancy in student-specific accommodation by serving the landlord with a notice of termination of 28 days.

“It also allows for the refunding of accommodation fees if the accommodation is not taken up or vacated due to Covid-19 related public health restrictions.

“It is welcome that the government will not oppose this legislation and that the Minister today has announced that further reforms are on the way to protect both student renters and others in private rented tenancies,” she said.

“The Minister and the Oireachtas Housing Committee must facilitate the speedy progress of this bill to committee stage to ensure that students get the protections that the Dáil today unanimously said they should have.”

On your skates: the Skatepark at the Abbey Quarter is now open again and access to the Park is via Greensbridge. The council is working hard to open the remainder of the area at the Riverside Park as soon as possible.

Gluten-free goodies for Coeliac Week

MENTAL health and wellbeing will be on the menu – alongside all manner of gluten-free goodies – at this year’s Coeliac Awareness Week 2021 May 10 to 14).

Sponsored by Promise Gluten Free, this year’s event will focus on the impact that a year of coronavirus pandemic lockdowns has had on both the physical and mental wellbeing of 50,000 coeliac sufferers in Ireland.

Coeliac Awareness Week 2021 will be a five-day virtual event with a range of talks, health clinics, demonstrations and activities. A mindfulness seminar and talks from a psychologist and a sleep expert will help attendees identify the mental health indicators that so many people miss or ignore, while also providing advice and insight into how to balance their mental wellbeing.

There will also be advice from the nutritional experts, dietetic consultations, cooking demonstrations by leading chefs, and fun activities for younger members of the family.

Register your interest at www. coeliac.ie.

Cannabis sweets warning

THE Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued a warning for consumers about the danger associated with eating edible products, such as jelly sweets, containing cannabis components.

This warning comes following a number of recent incidents whereby edible products containing significant levels of the psychotropic cannabis component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) were intercepted by An Gardai and Revenue.

In at least one incident, sweets containing cannabis oil were consumed by a number of teenagers, one of whom subsequently suffered serious adverse health effects requiring hospitalisation.

The particular sweets were apparently purchased online with the packaging carrying explicit warnings to eat the sweets cautiously and that a significant concentration of THC was present.