Photo Special

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news

CLARA GAA

GAA MEMBERSHIP Clara 2021 Membership renewal is now due. Our Juvenile members are back since Monday 26th April & our adults are due back 10th May. It is now time to complete registration & familiarise yourselves with “Return to Play” health questionnaire. This year both registration & health questionnaire are combined in one system called FOIREANN. Please read & follow the guide on the Club website to complete this. O’LOUGHLIN GAELS

SUMMER CAMP ‘21 We are delighted to announce that O’Loughlin Gaels Summer Camp will be back and is scheduled from August 9th to the 20th. Bookings are currently being takenand are filling up fast, so don’t miss out and book early. Full details can be found on www. oloughlingaels.com. Enquiries to Mark on 087 2995892

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS CLUB LOTTO www.oloughlingaels.com/lotto Our club lotto , powered by Clubforce , is sponsored by local business Perfecto Print & Design on the Dublin Rd. Club lotto is the main driver of our club upkeep, making sure our players have enough hurls, sliotars, footballs, cones, poles, bibs and Jerseys. It also contributes to the maintenance of our extensive clubhouse facilities ..without lotto bills just could not be paid. Over the last 12 months much of our other fundraising revenues have had to be dropped. For a time club lotto had to be dropped for the first time ever, thanks yo our supporters at Perfecto Print we were able to relaunch it online and it has helped us considerable over the last few months for facilities upkeep.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT Now we must ask for more help. For the coming year it seems restrictions imposed will prevent much of our planned fundraising. We therefore request all or followers, new members and supporters to play our online lotto. Sign up to only €5 per week for the special deal of three lines ... Or €10 for 5 draws ..or even €100 for the full year (52 draws), with Jackpot prizes ranging from €6,000 right up to €20,000. FRESHFORD

MARY FORTUNE RIP The people of Freshford Johnstown and surrounding areas were saddened last week to learn of the passing of Mrs. Mary Fortune late of Ard Lachdtain Freshford. In her early 80s and although she had been unwell for some time nevertheless her passing caused widespread sorrow and regret. She was predeceased by her husband Joe and her brother, the late Tommy O’Connell. A very kind and gentle and good living lady Mary was a keen GAA follower and also the horses. She was a loving and caring mother and grandmother and a great neighbour and she will be sadly missed by her family neighbours and friends. Funeral mass took place in St.Lachtains Church on Thursday morning last followed by burial in St.Lachtains Cemetary. She is mourned by her sons Eddie and Thomas her daughters Mary and Noreen, her grandchildren and extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

VEG BOXES Best wishes are extended to local lad Fintan White Freshford on his intended venture. Fintan is launching his veg box scheme. The boxes will be filled with all home grown seasonal organic produce including eggs and veg. Boxes will be starting in late May and if anyone is interested or wants to find out more please feel free to contact him on 087 9478954

ENROLEMENT With all schools both at primary and secondary level now back open St.Lachtains NS have recently been taking enrolments for the school year 21/22. You were asked to contact the school on 0568832400 or email at stlachtainsns@gmail.com for packs or for assistance. These were also available to download from the school website: freshfordns.weebly. com with forms to be returned by end of March.

GRADUATE Congratulations to local girl Ayla Condon who had her graduation online last week. Ayla who is oldest daughter of David and Patricia Condon, Bohergloss Freshford graduated from Waterford Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Healthcare. She is wished all the best in her new employment at Ayrfield Medical Clinic Kilkenny

CAMOGIE NEWS St. Lachtains Camogie Club will host a Clothing Collection on Saturday next 8th May in St.Lachtains GAA Grounds. You can drop off bags from 10am to 12 noon on the 8th only. They will take rewareable items of clothing, paired shoes, handbags, belts, towels blankets and curtains. NO DUVET OR PILLOWS PLEASE. Please donate any unwanted of the above items and support your local club. Covid protocols will be in place. Drop off only.

LOOP CLOSED Cllr Michael McCarthy reminds us that he has been informed that Trial Kilkenny are closing the Freshford Loop Walk this week from 4th May for 2 weeks due to essential work being carried out by the Landowner and he says he is looking forward to seeing everyone back on the Loop walk when it reopens

POSTPOINT Local corner shop – O’Sheas Newsagents announced recently that they are now agents for An Post Postpoint. You can buy your stamps there, top up with Vodafone,3Three,ie An Post mobile,Lyca mobile or Eir,or pay your bills. Over 130 bills can now be paid at O’Sheas Newsagents and this is a great service for the Community of Freshford and surrounding parishes.

GAA NEWS ONLINE BINGO St.Lachtains GAA club who are teamed up during lockdown with Kilkenny Bingo have been bringing you Sunday Bingo each Sunday evening at 8pm. You can buy you book and sheets from Clubforce app. Games can be played through Zoom. Zoom starts at 7.30pm with games starting at 8pm sharp and they hope to see you all there. Both Clubforce and Zoom apps will be needed in order to play. Fantastic prizes and great fun guaranteed. All details will be available on the St.Lachtains GAA page and Kilkenny Bingo page on Facebook. Online Sunday games between now and then will not be in direct link with St. Lachtains GAA Club. For more info please contact Club Secretary Sheila Killeen or Brian Kavanagh.

DRIVE IN BINGO It is hoped with summer coming and with some more restrictions being lifted next week that the Drive in bingo on Sunday afternoon will be back within the next couple of weeks. We will keep you advised so watch this space

FITNESS CLASSES Fantastic new online fitness class this coming Wednesday & Thursday via zoom. The Wednesday classes will be held for children while Thursday classes will be focusing on adults. Class will be given as Gaeilge via zoom with link available in St Lachtains Gaa Facebook page. Why not join in & ask a friend to join in. Great way to keep active from the comfort of your own home while also brushing up on your Irish. Suitable for all levels of fitness. MEMBERSHIP With the start of the GAA year in sight it is very important to have membership paid up. Having membership will mean all will be included into potential draws for upcoming GAA fixtures if crowd limits are brought in as a rule. Membership can be paid to any Committee member.

PARISH NEWS With the lifting of some Covid 19 restrictons next week masses and Church services are set to resume with limited numbers . During lockdown the church has been open for private prayer each day. Mass will resume on Wednesday 12th May at 9.30am and then be on Sunday 16th May at 11am with a limited number of 50 people. Mass will resume in Tulla church on Saturday 15th May at 8pm with numbers limited to 25 due to social distancing requirements. It is however most important that we continue to wear masks, maintain social distancing and sanitise our hands and it is very important that you do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of Covid 19. Freshford Parish website is now live and can be found at www. parishoffreshford.com. They will continue to add content in the coming weeks and if you have any suggestions as always just send an email to the Parish office and thanks to all those who have contributed to date.

NOTICES The parish newsletter continued to be issued each week even during restrictions. The Parish office is open each morning 9.30am to1pm (except Wednesdays). If you have a community notice you would like included in the weekly newsletter you should submit details of same in person to Freshford Parish office before 1pm on Thursdays or you can email same to Freshford@ ossory.ie

MASS CARDS Special printed parish cards are available at the Parish Office or from Annette at Tulla Church signed by Monsignor Kennedy. You can contact the Parish office on 056 8832843 or by email – freshfordd@ossory.ie. Contact Mongr. Kieron Kennedy on that number or on 087 2523521.

MASKS With some covid restrictions being lifted next week and in the coming weeks the wearing of masks and social distancing etc., with be with us for the foreseeable future and we are reminded about wearing our mask at all times in all shops, and crowded places and on public transport. You are reminded that masks can be purchased locally while supporting a very worthy charity. Washable face masks are being made locally and are available at Dooley’s Electrical shop at The Square Freshford with all proceeds being donated to the Charity

ALONE Alone manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or who are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of Covid 19. Professional staff are available to answer queries or give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm . You can call them on 0818 222024. If you are experiencing a personal crisis are unable to cope and need support text HELLO to 50808. Amber Kilkenny Women’s Refuge; If you need confidential support or information relating to domestic violence you can call their helpline on 1850424244 or 056 7771404 or email info@ amberwomensrefuge.ie

FAMILY CARERS IRELAND – CARD SCHEME Family Carers Ireland in partnership with An Garda Siochana, the National Ambulance Service Community First Responder Schemes, The Irish Red Cross and The Order of Malta has developed an EMERGENCY CARD SCHEME for family carers. When a family carer has an unplanned hospital admission there is a risk that the person who needs their care and support could be left at home alone and uncared for. The Emergency Card scheme is intended to give peace of mind to family carers as well as ensuring that the person they care for remains safe in such emergencies For more details on the Scheme visit their website on www.familycarers.ie or call their Freephone careline on 1800240724

GROW Are you struggling with anxiety or depression or finding life difficult or feeling isolated at this time, GROW is there to help you. Their Mental Health support Groups are free and confidential and open to all, no referral or booking is needed. For more information on same you can contact Mary on 087 284342 DICKSBORO

RETURN TO PLAY Great to see Palmerstown buzzing this evening with our youngest hurlers back in the Boro! Well done everyone involved

CLUB LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results 29thof april 2021 Nos: 6– 13– 15–32 Jackpot: €2,500– not won Draw Prizes – €50:aoife langain (c/o p & j cody) €25 each niall kiely c/o online €25 each david doheny c/o sam morrissey €25 each rita long c/o rita long €25 each david kerwick c/o online Promoters prize - paddy maher Next week’s (may 4th) Jackpot – €2,600

RETURN TO PLAY This week will see the return to play, the 26th, parents please ensure you have downloaded ClubZap and joined the relevant team communications for your child’s team. More details on return to play protocol to come soon.

MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION Registration is now due and should be in place prior to resumption of play. https:// www.dicksborogaa.com/ membership_products

CLUB LOTTO We are encouraging every Dicksboro family to support the Clubs Fundraising efforts by signing up to the Club Lotto. https://dicksborogaa.com/ categories/lotto/products

CLUB MAINTENANCE Grounds upkeep and maintenance is in full swing at present getting Palmerstown and James park in top condition. New nets have been installed recently in James Park. Thanks to the volunteers for their hard work and commitment to the club.

SAVE THE DATES DICKSBORO SUMMER CAMP 5 Day Summer Camp open for Boys and Girls. JULY 26th -20th AUGUST 16th - 20th Come for one week or both.

BOOKING SYSTEM LAUNCHING SOON on Clubzap Link

CLUB DEVELOPMENT Great to see the next phase of our club development plans have started with the pitch drainage works on no. 2 pitch in Palmerstown.

PITCH SIDE BUSINESS ADVERTS Should your business want to arrange an advertising hoarding at our Club grounds click here for details: https://www. dicksborogaa.com/products For any queries contact any committee member. https:// www.dicksborogaa.com/contact (Camogie contact runai Ted Carroll (086) 837 6544) KILMANAGH

ALICE BRENNAN The late Alice Brennan, whose recent death has occurred, was a popular and wellloved member of our Parish Community. Her passing is very much felt, not alone by her sorrowing family, but by her many relatives and friends. For

many years Alice was a member of our parish pilgrimage to knock. Many neighbours and friends stood at different locations as her funeral cortege travelled from her home to St. Brigid’s Church, Ballycallan for her requiem mass, which was celebrated by Fr. Liam Taylor, P.P. Her burial took place in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ballykeeffe. We express our sincerest sympathy to her husband Jimmy, sons Gary and Joey, daughters Kelly Ann and Briana, grandchildren, sisters Marion and Breda, brother Pat and extended family members.

PADDY QUIRKE The death has occurred of Paddy Quirke, Cappahayden, Callan. His obsequies took place with requiem mass celebrated in the Church of the Assumption, Callan with burial in Kilbride Cemetery. Sympathy is expressed to his family, relatives and friends.

PADDY CARRIGAN The death has also occurred of Paddy Carrigan formerly of Ballyfoyle, Kilkenny & Laois. Sympathy is expressed to the Carrigan family and also to his sister Nora Murphy & family, Kilmanagh.

FAMILY CARERS IRELAND Family Carers Ireland, in partnership with An Garda Síochána, the National Ambulance Service, Community First Responder Schemes, The Irish Red Cross and The Order of Malta has developed an Emergency Card Scheme for family carers. When a family carer has an unplanned hospital admission there is a risk that the person who needs their care and support could be left at home alone and uncared for. The Emergency Card Scheme is intended to give peace of mind to family carers as well as ensuring that the person they care for remains safe in such emergencies. For more details on the scheme, visit our website on www. familycarers.ie or call our Freephone Careline 1800 24 07 24.

RING A LINK Ring a Link is a community not for profit company that provides rural transport. Ring a Link provides a service every Tuesday from 9.00 am covering areas such as Callan (surrounding area), Ballingarry, Kilmanagh, Ballycallan, Tullaroan with the last stop in Dunnes Stores Kilkenny and return approximately at 1pm. All free travel passes are welcome, and, for non-free travel pass holders, fares are €6 return for adults, €4 return for under 16s and under 5’s travel free. For many of our services, pre-registering & pre-booking is required and if the customer is not already registered, they can log on to our website to register: https://www.ringalink. ie/register/. If you need more information on the service, you can log on to https://www. ringalink.ie/bus-services/bustimetable/470/. MASS ON THE INTERNET You can now view Mass each morning (except Wednesday), at 10am from Kilmanagh. Go to www.ballycallan.com to view this Mass. This is a live broadcast and starts at 10am sharp. We recommend using Google Chrome App or Web browser for viewing this live service. Buffering Problems? Check your internet speed and reduce other usage on your system.

GAA LOTTO Since its inception over 25 years ago, the Parish / GAA lotto has been a huge success and a valuable source of income both for the parish and GBC GAA. Now, with Covid-19 restrictions preventing the traditional form of lotto ticket selling, and GBC in need of fundraising, the parish has agreed to turn over the lotto to GBC entirely for two years. The new-look lotto will raise funds exclusively for the building works planned by GBC, and we will support them in whatever way we can. We wish GBC all the very best as they endeavour to provide much needed facilities for the benefit of all people in the parish. If you are in a position to support this worthy cause, then please do.

ANNUAL CEMETERY MASS This will again be cancelled for this year on account of the virus.

WEDDINGS Some people are planning to re-schedule their wedding until 2022, please make sure to let us know as soon as possible if you are doing this in case the new date you want is booked. Those who are still going ahead with weddings this year, do note that restrictions on numbers in churches will probably still be in place until well into the year, if not until next year.

RE-STARTING PUBLIC MASS The date for re-commencing public Masses is Monday, 10th May, with weekend Masses commencing on the 15th/16th May. Restrictions will be in force.

BAPTISMS You can now start booking baptisms from the 10th May onwards. The times of baptism are: Saturdays 12noon, 2pm & 4pm and Sundays at 11am (subject to Fr. Taylor not being required to cover Mass in Tullaroan or Freshford).

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION The following dates are planned for the Sacraments this year: · Tullaroan Confirmation: September 18th at 11am in Tullaroan. · Ballycallan First Confession: Tuesday September 21st at 7pm Kilmanagh. · Ballycallan First Holy Communion: Saturday, September 25th at 11am (venue to be decided) · Tullaroan First Confession: Tuesday September 28th at 7pm in Tullaroan. · Tullaroan Holy Communion: Saturday October 2nd at 11am in Tullaroan. Our hope is that the vaccine rollout will be well underway by then and there will be less risk of infection from our gatherings. However, there will, most likely, be restrictions on numbers gathering indoors, even in September, so families should plan accordingly.

PARISH NEWS 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.

GOWRAN

GOWRAN PARK Good Enuf To Eat Banqueting have opened a takeaway coffee dock serving teas, coffees, minerals, sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, wraps, muffins, pastries & bars so whether you are out enjoying a round of golf or just a leisurely stroll don’t forget to drop by for a delicious treat.

GOWRAN AC Training has returns for all athletes’. All athletes must be registered so click the link today https://gowranac.com/join-us/

GOWRAN PITCHE & PUTT Gowran Pitch and Putt reopened from Monday, 26th April. Initially, it is on a members only basis but hopefully, not for too long. Membership can be paid at Hennessey’s Circle K in the village. Reduced membership rates for 2021 until year end : Family €80 Adult €60 Over 70 €40 Student €30 Juvenile €20 For further information regarding membership etc. contact us through Facebook or call 0863796495.

GOWRAN PARISH Mass is being streamed every morning, Monday to Friday at 9.30am and Sunday mass at 11.30am on Gowran Parish Facebook page.

YOUNG IRELANDS CAMOGIE Best of luck to all players and mentors returning to action. To ensure the smooth running of training please familiarise yourselves with the return to play guidelines.

GOWRAN DEVELOPMENT Kilkenny County Council is involved in a regional campaign to tackle the issue of dog fouling. Dog walkers must be responsible and keep their community clean. The message is simple “Bag It, Bin It”, there are no excuses. If there is no litter bin on your walking route, bring it home for proper disposal.

Is Sitting Too Much Causing My Back Pain Or Sciatica?

EOIN EVERARD

A MAJOR manufacturer of workstations reports that 86% of work computer users have to sit all day, and when they do rise from sitting, more than half (56%) use food as the excuse to get up and move. In addition to sitting at work, for meals, and commuting to/from work, 36% sit another one to two hours watching TV, 10% sit one to two hours for gaming, 25% sit one to two hours for reading/lounging, and 29% use their home computer for one to two hours. In summary, the average Irish person sits for 9.5 hours a day and sleep for eight hours. That’s a total of 17.5 hours a day off their feet!

The manufacturer’s survey also notes 93% of work computer users don’t know what “Sitting Disease” is but 74% believe that sitting too much can lead to an early death. “Sitting Disease” represents the ill-effects of an overly sedentary lifestyle and includes conditions like “metabolic syndrome” (obesity and diabetes), which is rapidly becoming more prevalent, especially in the young – even in adolescence and teenagers! Recently, the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a policy encouraging employers, employees, and others to sit less citing the many risks associated with sitting including (but not limited to): diabetes, cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Standing is SO MUCH BETTER as it burns more calories than sitting, tones muscles, improves posture, increases blood flow, reduces blood sugar, and improves metabolism. Standing is frequently overlooked as “an exercise” and it’s both simple and easy to do!

So, what about the low back and sitting? You guessed it – sitting is hard on the back! The pressure inside of our disks, those “shock absorbers” that lie between the bones (vertebra) in our spine (22 disks in total) is higher when we sit compared with simply standing or lying down. It’s estimated that when we lie down, the pressure on our disks is the lowest at 25mm. When lying on one side, it increases to 75mm, standing increases disk pressure to 100mm, and bending over from standing pushes disk pressure to 220mm. When we sit with good posture, our disk pressure may reach 140mm but that can increase to 190mm with poor posture. To help relieve the pressure on our disks, experts recommend: 1) Getting up periodically and standing; 2) Sitting back in your chair and avoiding slouched positions; 3) Placing a lumbar roll (about the size of your forearm) behind the low back and chair/ car seat; and 4) Changing your position frequently when sitting. Picture showing that even sitting with good posture puts as much pressure through the back as standing with poor posture.

Because certain low back conditions “favour” one position over another, these “rules” may need modification. For example, most sciatica patients prefer low back extension while bending over or slouching hurts. In those with lumbar sprain/ strains, bending forwards usually feels good and extension hurts. Modifying your position to the one that is most comfortable is perhaps the best advice. For back pain and sciatica suffers.

Email everardpilates@ gmail.com to get our free book Secrets to a Healthy Spine or for more information about back Pilates and availing of a free trial. Visit everardpilates. com/backfreetrial.

Roll on a sun filled family summer

AS we now see the restrictions being lifted across the country it is a huge sigh of relief for our seniors. So many have not been able to see their children, grandchildren and even lifelong friends who lived outside the travel restrictions that covid 19 has forced upon us.

Grandparents can now hug their grandchildren and give the love and affection that only they can give. We can return today when little Johnny and Mary can sit on grandad’s knee and enjoy the little Easter egg of chocolate that has been sitting in the press since before Holy week. The joy that can be seen on both faces will bring a smile to everyone and give all our senior communities a lift that they have been waiting for now since March 2020.

The weekend just gone was our May bank holiday. Many cars were packed and full as the journeys went both ways. Those travelling to their grandchildren and their sons and daughters bringing their children to their parents. Gone are the days when the only contact was on “What’s app” or “face time” and apps that where alien to our seniors this time last year. But our seniors are an industrious lot. They sat in front of laptops for the first time and with a little guidance are now face timing and chatting to other members of our communities nationwide.

Our Twilight Community Group have been to the fore front of the Seniors Digital revolution. The Board of Management spotted the gap and the requirement for such a service. The put out the call for old laptops and ipads and the generosity from the public was fantastic. One lady in particular, Marie Cummins, managed to get us 12 laptops. What an achievement. These laptops where then cleaned and recycled into the homes of seniors FREE of Charge. Not only is it good for our seniors but is part of the Twilight’s Green deal programme as the Group are part of the European Social Economy Regions (ESER) and members of the new Bauhaus group which is promoting the new green deal as part of the EU Initiative to reduce carbon emissions by 51% before 2040.

So now we can hopefully look forward to a summer of the family outdoor events. Barbeques, where all the extended family are gathered to have fun, food, and family hugs. The physical contact that we all have been deprived of these past 12 months. Vaccines in our arms and our grandchildren on our knees and the little gazing eyes looking up at their Grandparents saying “I missed you granny” to the heartfelt response of “I missed you too”.

Poslka Eire goes virtual

The communities of Poland and Ireland came together to build an integration festival back in 2015

IT was the brainchild of the Polish Embassy in Dublin . It was just a few of the major cities that took part in the opening year. 2016 saw the National Launch move to Kilkenny when the Late Polish Ambassador to Ireland H.E. Ryszard Sarkowicz came to the Marble city to open the event. We have seen the Festival grow and grow over the years when in 2019 there was 160 plus venues through out the island and one Eire/Polska Festvial in Poland.

Now the great news this week of the country opening more and more we will soon see people enjoy the outdoor events once again. The day when we can have outdoor gatherings is not coming soon enough for the Polska Eire 2021 festival, But, never fear as the event is going on line for the first time ever this June. No stone will be left unturned to ensure we can all experience the event in the safety of your home or with a family from next door or two as the lifting of the restrictions now allows.

All the favourite events of the festival will be part of the running order for Polska Eire Virtual 2021. Events will include cuisine programme , where a Polish chef will prepare a traditional Polish meal showing the cooking of a specific dish from start to finish. An opportunity for our Irish viewers to take note and cook a wonderful dish for the Irish dinner Table. There will be no shortage of dishes to choose from when you consider on Christmas eve the polish tradition is for 12 courses! And for the adventurous the local Polish diaspora a cooking session on a traditional Irish meal. Is there any Polish or Irish dishes you would like to see been prepared?

Arts and Culture a big part of the festival with music from Poland and Ireland and of course contributions for Kilkenny’s Polish school Polska Szkoła im. św. Jana Pawła II w Kilkenny. History will be included also as we look at the great work of Paul Strzelecki and his humanitarian deeds during the Irish Famine. Irish History and we will have interviews with local and national People of interest including H.E Anna Sochanska Polish Ambassador as we celebrate30 years of the opening of the Polish Embassy in Dublin. And not to be out done, Irish Ambassador to Poland H.E Eimear O’Connell who is the witness signature on the Twilight Community group and the Municipal district of Malbork’s Charter of Friendship agreement recording a message from Warsaw.

The call is now out there. Do you think you could be the presenter of the programmes for the new Twilight Community Network Channel ?

Have you a topic of interest for the communities of Kilkenny and the region and beyond? As this Virtual festival will be broadcasting around the global on the world wide web

INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR TEAM? Call now to the Polish consulate 15A Hebron House, Hebron Business park , Kilkenny . 0567813105 We want to hear your programme ideas and suggestions

Home for the Summer

ObserverThe Kilkenny

As we look forward to the easing of restrictions this summer, foreign travel might still not be an option. Spend some time now on your home and garden and create a place you will really love to be this summer. From interior design to local suppliers; read on for a variety of practical ideas and creative inspiration.

Rathnure PVC

Domestic and Commercial Supply and Professional Fitting of Windows, Doors, Conservatories & Sunrooms, Fascia & Soffit and Gutters & Downpipes

Cormac Morrissey of Rathnure PVC has over 15 years experience in the industry installing and supplying Windows, Doors, Fascia & Soffit and Downpipes. All our work and our workers are full insured while on your premises. We only use window and door profiles which are NSAI approved. We offer a free, no obligation quote where we will call out to your premises at a time that is suitable to you in order to discuss your requirements. Top class customer service and competitive pricing are the core values of our business. Everything we sell is guaranteed, and we maintain everything we sell to ensure ongoing customer care. Rathnure PVC do not hire external contractors to install our products. We personally install and oversee all our work. We cover all areas of the South-East including Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Carlow. We also cover Wicklow and Dublin.

WINDOWS

With up to 40 different colours to choose from and a multiple range of designs including Tilt & Turn and Vertical Slider Windows, Rathnure PVC gives you the opportunity to put your own unique stamp on the look of your home all while living in comfort and increasing the value of your home.

DOORS

Rathnure PVC supply and fit a wide range of doors - Residential Front Doors, Patio Doors, Bi Folds etc. We offer a versatile choice of doors for your home and provide the opportunity to mix and match colours and designs depending on your own individual requirements. We can combine your door choice with any style of panel or glass to ensure we create the desired effect for your home.

CONSERVATORIES & SUNROOMS

Adding a Conservatory or a Sunroom to your home, brings a whole new dimension to living. It gives you an additional room to use as you choose - a playroom, dining room or just to relax in. Rathnure PVC supply & fit Conservatories and Sunrooms in a number of styles to ensure that they are a seamless addition to your property. All our Conservatory and Sunroom profiles are available in a range of colours so you can tailor the finish according to the individual style of your property.

PVC FASCIA & SOFFIT

We supply and install PVC Fascia & Soffit, Aluminium Fascia & Soffit & Cast Aluminium Fascia & Soffit. PVC Fascia & Soffit is available in a wide range of colours. All our PVC Products are lead free. We provide a full warranty on colour fading on all our PVC products.

GUTTERS & DOWNPIPES

We also supply and install Guttering and Downpipes. Our roofline plastic guttering will never need painting, and will not warp, flake, rot or crack. Gutters are available in PVC, Aluminium and Cast Aluminium Downpipes are available in PVC and Cast Aluminium.

Boom in Home Improvements Expected

Grants and lower interest rate loans available to boost green home upgrades

As people now spend more time at home than ever, many Irish households are considering home renovations or improvements. There is an increased need for extra comfort and warmth as people are motivated to spend any extra cash saved during lockdown on getting some work done in the house.

There are some supports and state grants available, although according to research commissioned by the Irish League of Credit Unions, Energia and House2Home many people may not be aware of this. iReach Insights conducted research investigating knowledge and plans around home improvements in Ireland. This was in conjunction with the launch of the Credit Union Greener Homes scheme. The research concluded that while 56% of Irish households are planning home improvements due to more time spent at home, almost two thirds are unaware of what grants and supports may be available to them. There is also a lack of awareness around upgrading home energy efficiency.

Many financial institutions will offer a lower interest rate on loans for the purpose of home improvements. Under the Greener Homes scheme, grants and supports are available as well as attractive interest rates. There are also government grants available such as the Better Energy Homes Scheme which provides grants to help to increase the energy efficiency of homes, including grants for home insulation.

The study looked into the types of work people were interested in getting done and found that homeowners are considering exterior wall insulation, attic insulation and extra window glazing. The amount of money people are planning to spend varied from less than €5,000 to amounts in excess of €10,000. This indicates that home improvement plans vary from cosmetic improvement to larger scale renovations and even extensions.

www.rathnurepvc.ie

Affordable Cabins Ireland

Supplied and Fitted nationwide

WHO WE ARE

Affordable Cabins Ireland have over 22 years experience of designing, supplying and fitting log cabins in Ireland. This is a family owned business, that was set up by Ian Phelan, who pride themselves on both the quality of the product and the high end customer service they deliver.

You can select a house that would be perfect in your garden, a beautiful summer house for cozy living, a natural log cabin for leisure activities, or even a shed for practical use. People have always loved wood construction for its natural internal warmth.

WHAT WE DO

Our houses are constructed with highquality, slowly grown northern European spruce which is dried in kiln-drying machines and carefully sorted.

You can choose from our full service which includes design, supply and installation of the log cabin at your site. We also include a full de-clean at the end of the project to leave your new cabin in ‘show room’ condition. For the DIY enthusiast, you can choose to have the cabin delivered for you to erect in your own time. We offer staged payments for these affordable homes.

Affordable Cabins Ireland offer round log construction (44, 68, 88, 134mm). We also supply ‘twin-log’ construction (44 & 68mm). As roof options, we offer metal, shingle and slate. We are a member of the national guide of master craftsmen, so you can be assured of the quality of our work.

We have an extensive range of styles and sizes and can’t show every option on our website. Contact us to see our full range. We also offer a bespoke service where we can design your cabin to your own requirements. Whatever you need, we will do our best to design it for you. We would love to hear from you and see how we can help you get the cabin you want.

www.affordablecabins.ie

The Snug Room Home and Lifestyle Store

Established in 2018, The Snug Room started out as an online home interiors store. Such was the demand for a bricks and mortar shop, owner Ann-Marie Henderson decided to open the Snug Room Barn, located in Danesfort, just outside Kilkenny city. It is a destination for all interior lovers whether you’re after a bespoke piece of furniture or a browse for unique gifts.

ANN-MARIE says: “We offer homewares that are timeless and simple with rustic character. Our aim is to provide every homeowner with with authentic pieces that will stand the test of time, creating that snug feeling throughout your home. We love soft colours and beautiful natural materials; our style is Modern Rustic with a bit of quirkiness.”

We have all gotten to know our homes much better over the past year. Lockdown and working from home has really highlighted the importance of making your home a calm and cosy space. People are paying attention to interiors more than ever. Ann-Marie has noticed that more consideration is being given to choosing interior products which she is always available to help with and give advice. “The home is your safe place and should always reflect you. Much more consideration is being given to your once empty walls. Shelving and lighting are so important especially since working from home is the new everyday.” The Snug Room stock some beautiful shelving and storage options like the Cast Iron Bracket Shelf and Chedworth Shoe Locker helping to declutter your home and create a calm environment. There is some beautiful interior lighting including some very quirky and cool lamps! Outdoor lighting options include strings of “festoon lighting” which will bring an instant festival vibe to any back garden.

The Snug Room also stock some smaller items that have proved to be really helpful in any home. “The most popular practical items are the Wash Up Tidy and the Egg Run great little hard working pieces that can also sit pretty on any counter top.”

When asked about her favourite thing about running The Snug Room, Ann-Marie says, “Hands down the positive feedback I get from customers, especially when they tell me they’ve found something truly unique.”

You’ll find The Snug Room posting daily on social media - Facebook and Instagram @thesnugroom or visit the website www.thesnugroom.ie where there is a great online shop.

Refresh Your Home for Summer

While we look forward to a summer spent mostly outdoors, no doubt there will be lots of time spent at home too. Here are some quick and simple ways to lighten and brighten your home for the summer months

HOUSE PLANTS

Bringing some greenery into your home is a great way to add some natural colour and beauty to your living space. Studies have shown that indoor plants can reduce stress levels and boost your mood, which makes them a perfect addition as we now spend more time at home than ever. House plants are also known to absorb toxins and produce oxygen, making them a healthy addition to any space.

A FRESH FLOOR

A dark fluffy carpet is so cosy in winter but can become stuffy in summer. Even if your carpet is fixed to the floor, adding a lighter rug on top will instantly transform your space from winter to summer. A woven material in a sandy natural colour is perfect for the warmer months, or why not go bright and colourful for a really tropical feel. It might be time to get rid of that musty old carpet completely. Treacy’s Carpets and Furniture have a brilliant selection of laminate and vinyl flooring. There are many durable and stylish options available.

FLOWERS

Don’t wait for someone to send you flowers; why not treat yourself. You can go luxury from your local florist or even pick some wildflowers you might have growing in your own back garden. Fresh flowers add colour and vibrancy to your home and often a summery scent. Pick out a bunch to compliment your existing interiors or to add character to a plain space. trips to the beach or freshly cut grass during a summer hurling game. The right scented candle or diffuser can bring that unmistakable scent of summer into your home.

CHANGE YOUR CURTAINS

Try swapping out your heavy winter drapes for some lighter curtains or blinds. A more gauzy material can help promote air circulation on those warmer nights allowing you to sleep with ease. Some blinds are designed to offer privacy while also letting the light in. The Blinds Factory, Castlecomer, have a large and varied selection of curtains and blinds (pictured) and can offer expert advice on selecting suitable options.

MIRROR THE LIGHT

Not all of us have large bay windows or french doors to allow that summer sunshine to flood in. For those of us with smaller windows, a strategically placed mirror can reflect light back into your room to really make the most of those long summer evenings. Homeware retailers usually stock a selection of sizes. You might get lucky and come across the perfect vintage piece in your local charity shop once retail is open for browsing again. The Snug Room stocks an abundance of summer accessories for your home including mirrors (pictured).

BRIGHT CUSHIONS AND THROWS

You might have a big dark couch and armchairs, perfect for snuggling up in front of the fire in winter, but how do you make that work for summer without investing in a whole new suite? By simply adding some brightly coloured cushions and a patterned summery throw, you can update the look of your furniture without blowing the budget.

TROPICAL TABLEWARE

Why not pick out some light and bright glassware to enjoy your iced drinks or chilled rosé from this summer. Colourful tumblers are perfect for drinks in the garden, but they also look great on display to add some summer colour to your kitchen. The same goes for cups and plates. There are some great plastic options available that look stylish but with no fear of breakage.

What’s On The Outside, Counts

Now is the time to get out the power hose and book that window cleaner. Get your garden and house exterior back to its summer standards and enjoy the sense of satisfaction that comes with looking out at a tidy garden through a clean window.

THE POWER OF A POWER WASH

We all know that slimey, mucky, greeny black grime that builds up on our patios, decks and driveways over the winter. Now is that time to organise a power wash to blast all that dirt away revealing clean and bright surfaces fit for a new piece of garden furniture. Power washing can be a cost and time effective way to refresh your exterior.

MAKE YOUR GARDEN GREAT AGAIN

Often gardens can look untidy due to build up of dead plants, fallen leaves and old branches. Pruning out old stalks and deadhead flowers, and raking up other debris will go a long way to making a garden look fresh again. Simply mowing the lawn and making a defined edge can really make a garden look neat and orderly.

FLOWER POWER

In addition to tidying up your garden, adding some bright flowers and bedding plants can really bring your garden to life. Placing a terracotta or glazed pot on a patio will add a stylish feature to outside space. Gardener’s World on the Callan Road stock a huge selection of shrubs, perennials, trees, pots and anything else you might need for your garden this summer. They can also offer helpful advice on what to plant where and how to take care of your garden plants.

WINDOW CLEAN

While we will all welcome some summer sunshine, it does show up every smudge and speck of dirt on your windows. In addition, hard water and acid rain can cause damage to your windows. Getting your windows professionally cleaned will help protect against damage while also alleviating any annoying marks or stains.

ADD AN EXTRA DIMENSION

Is there a back corner in your garden that goes completely unused? Maybe you still have the messy gravel driveway you have been meaning to get paved since moving in...10 years ago. If you have a bit of extra cash saved why not invest in a garden room, car port or finally get that driveway done. Darius of Home and Garden Services has many years of experience and can help you build a dream space.

Creative and bespoke design solutions

I am an interior and furniture designer with many years experience of working in this industry

BY TOMASZ KALUBA

I OFFER bespoke solutions for residential and commercial clients locally, country-wide and sometimes abroad. I can do comprehensive interior design of the entire house (or the commercial space), single room or a one-off piece of furniture, if you need it. I have been running the Design Studio since I moved to Kilkenny in April 2009. I also often work for other designers participating in their projects as a part of their team.

Because I work independently, I am not restricted in terms of choosing materials/solutions etc, every time I choose whatever is the best for the client and what helps to achieve the goal. I work with several manufacturers and contractors that I can recommend for a specific project. “The Devil is in the Details” – that is my motto, the sum of the small things matters, every project requires a meticulous approach, to be implemented satisfactorily, even the brightest idea can be spoiled by lack of due attention. In most cases the budget is not the most important factor when it comes to successful interior design or a makeover project. What really matters is the ideas that may be implemented using relatively simple means. Just buying expensive furnishings is not enough to achieve a spectacular result.

HOME OFFICE – there is a growing demand, I completed several projects in recent months, helping my clients to convert or adapt their existing spaces into a convenient home office. We all believe that at some stage (very soon, hopefully…) the pandemic will be over, but I think, and I am not alone, that the work market has changed somehow, and many people will opt to work from home on a permanent or temporary basis, so creating proper conditions for them seems to be the current challenge. In my work I primarily listen and analyse, then propose solutions, create a vision and help to implement it. I produce 3d realistic renderings just so that my clients could see the final result, and after approval, I provide the documentation containing all the key information and specification regarding the project. Thanks to the modern technology I can discuss all the matters with the clients by internet however I know from numerous recent experiences that even communication by email proves to be sufficient, which is amazing. In April alone I completed two projects not even seeing the clients and the site, all communication was done by email! Of course, everyone wishes to return to normality and normal relationships…

My services range from consultancy to a full design package, every job is different, so I price them individually. The easiest way to start - please just drop me a line with a short description of a task and I will get back to you with an estimate and to discuss the matter in more detail. I am quite busy now so sometimes I may not be able to take your call, sorry for that, send me an email instead - tkds.eu@gmail.com

I was shortlisted for Fitout Award 2017 and 2020 in the category Fitout Designer of the Year. I am also a member of the Interiors Association, Ireland’s leading professional organisation of accredited Interior Designers.

More information available on my website: www. tomaszkaluba.com

A Fresh New Floor for Summer

Home improvement plans? In need of a new floor for your kitchen or bathroom? Welcome to Treacy’s Carpets and Furniture in Bennettsbridge where we supply a wide range of laminate flooring, including the full range of Quick-Step Laminate Flooring

WHETHER you prefer luxury vinyl tiles, the authenticity of real wood or the practical benefits of a laminate floor, you will certainly find a floor that perfectly fits your needs and style at Treacy’s Carpets and Furniture in Bennettsbridge. And it doesn’t stop there, because all Quick-Step floors are easy to install and designed to remain beautiful for many years to come

Treacy’s Carpets and Furniture provide a full professional fitting service so that you know your QuickStep floor is fitted to the highest standard. One of the things that we really like about the QuickStep flooring is that it has all of the additional trims and accessories for finishing. This includes scotia for example, which comes in exactly the same colour as the floor itself, as well as matching skirting boards for a truly complete and professional finish. These laminate boards can also be fitted to stairs and all the trims required for a beautiful finish can be provided.

Some of the ranges of the QuickStep flooring are completely waterproof, making them perfectly suitable for bathrooms and kitchens and any place where there might be some form of liquid. All of the QuickStep floors are splash proof so that they can tolerate normal wetness as at doorway and in your kitchen or bathroom.

www.treacyscarpetsand furniture.ie

Hard Working Homes

There is no doubt, the pandemic has changed our lives in many more ways than one, but how many of those changes are here to stay? As we look forward to the easing of restrictions and a return to some sort of “normality” we wonder what features of the lockdown will make up our new normal – our fascination with interiors and property could be one that is here to stay

Working from home has certainly been a significant element of the pandemic for many of us who were lucky enough to have jobs which could facilitate this. Days spent at home; working, home schooling, cooking and exercising meant we got to know our homes better than ever before. As we tried to simultaneously use our homes as an office, school, gym and cinema we discovered issues that may not have mattered before, such as too much clutter, a lack of suitable work space or even not enough privacy. It is reported that many people will remain working from home even when restrictions are lifted; so how are people making this work for them, their families and their homes? Home design platform Houzz released their predictions for the interior design trends of 2021 late last year. These are ideas many people will have tried out or are planning to work on this summer. The return of the all white kitchen was one prediction. While not everyone will have gone all white, it’s certainly true that people are looking to declutter and use clean surfaces to maximise space in the hardest working room in the house. Scrolling through Instagram, it certainly appears to be true that the predicted trend of houseplants has taken off, with low maintenance succulents seemingly very popular. Many are also finding ways to make spaces multifunctional, such as a desk to work from which can be folded away to make space for a yoga mat or home gym. The use of outdoor areas was another predicted trend that certainly makes sense. With the right furniture, and a bit of luck with the weather you can essentially gain an extra room by utilising your outside space. TV shows such as RTÉ’s Home of the Year, Netflix’s Selling Sunset and Dermot Bannon’s Incredible Homes fuelled our imaginations as we dreamt of vintage bathtubs, wood panelling, kitchen islands, waterfall showers and floor to ceiling windows. This year’s winner of Home of the Year was a small but wonderful cottage in Dublin which dates back to the late 1800s. Owner Jennifer Sheahan proved to us that you don’t need much space to create a spacious home. It was her clever storage designs and inclusion of features such a foldaway table that resulted in her win. The judges recognised her use of smart design, functionality and personality. Whether it’s an entire home make-over or just a lick of paint and a few house plants there are many simple and clever ways we can make our homes work better and smarter for us.