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Malta is looking good for June ... only if you’ve had your jabs

By Fionn Davenport ittn.ie

THE Island of Malta will start welcoming vaccinated tourists to the island from June 1, it was announced by the Malta Tourism Authority. Restriction-free entry will be granted to fully vaccinated visitors, but only on presentation of proof that they have been vaccinated at least 10 days before arriving into the country.

Passengers will need to show their vaccination card when boarding to be accepted to travel.

Non-vaccinated tourists from ‘amber’ countries – which currently includes Ireland – will need to submit a negative PCR COVID-19 test, taken within 72 hours before travelling.

Malta is currently second to the UK in terms of European countries vaccinating the greatest proportion of its population, with 40% of the adult population having received its first dose, making the destination a safe choice for future travel.

Tolene Van Der Merwe, Director UK & Ireland of Malta Tourism Authority said: “We are delighted to announce that from the 1st June anyone that is fully vaccinated from the UK for more than 10 days can travel to Malta with no restrictions. Visitors from what is classified as an ‘amber’ country – which currently includes Ireland – that are not vaccinated can travel to Malta as usual with a negative PCR test. It has been a long road to get to this point and we look forward to welcoming visitors to Malta so that they can experience all that the islands have to offer.”

Clayton Bartolo, Malta’s Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection said: “The health and safety of Maltese citizens and tourists will always be our top priority, and with the continued rollout of the vaccine here in Malta, this focused reopening plan is designed to slowly and safely reopen tourism.”

Ahead of the resmption of tourism, Malta Tourism Authority will be launching its new campaign, ‘Feel Free Again.’ The campaign aims to inspire travellers to harness their re-established freedom to plan, book and travel to Malta when the time is right, to once again experience all that the islands have to offer and the feeling of freedom it brings.

Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association has confirmed that its digital Travel Pass will be available on Apple devices from mid-April, with an Android version to follow.

The digital health app will allow users to securely verify their test and vaccination status and is widely considered to be a key step in the efficient resumption of international travel.

The Travel Pass, which will allow passengers to upload vaccination certificates or negative test results for easy verification by airline and immigration officials, is currently being trialed by a number of airlines, including Singapore Airlines and the gulf carriers.

Virgin Atlantic will trial the app on its London to Barbados service from April 16, and the Bajan authorities have confirmed that they will accept the pass at the border, making it one of the first countries to accept a digital pass instead of paper documentation.

A huge amount of airlines have requested to be on board, according to Reuters.

The team that developed the app is led by Dubliner Andrew Murray Hayden.

The Amber’ countries, which includes Ireland, will need to submit a negative test...

Singapore also opens up to Travel Pass

SINGAPORE will also allow passengers traveling to the island state to share pre-departure Covid-19 test results with airlines and immigration staff upon arrival Ising the IATA Travel Pass using from May as the south east Asian nation takes steps to reopen its borders.

“As we work to safely rebuild the Changi air hub, we will continue to explore other solutions that can provide similarly secure and verifiable means of sharing health certificates for safe international travel,” Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Director-General Kevin Shum said, referring to the country’s Changi airport.

With coronavirus cases in the city-state under control, the focus has swung to vaccinations and reopening borders. With Singapore having no domestic market to speak of, international travel is vital to the economy and Singapore Airlines’ financial prospects.

The nation is also exploring mutual recognition of vaccination certificates with several countries and regions, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said in Parliament. These initiatives could be physical or digital and will need to be temper-proof and verifiable, he said.

“Singapore will continue to holistically evaluate the Covid-19 situation in various countries and regions and explore the possibility restoring air travel when it is safe to do so,” Minister Ong said. “And we have been proactively doing so given the importance of our global connections.”

5 worth a watch on Amazon

1. INFORMER

A GRIPPING British series about an informer and the dangerous territory involved in coercing someone to take on the dangerous job. Paddy Considine stars as DS Gabe Waters, a counterterrorism officer tasked with infiltrating a far-right movement in West Yorkshire. Partnered with the wonderful Bel Powley (The Morning Show, The King of Staten Island) as the young and inquisitive DC Holly Morten, he attempts to bring British Pakistani Raza (Nabhaan Rizwan) on board to uncover information about a possible terrorist attack. Will keep you on your toes.

2.PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK

This 2018 TV version isn’t quite a masterpiece like the 1975 film adaptation of the classic Australian novel. But it’s just as mysterious, unfurling a dreamy, eerie veil over a disappearance in the isolated Australian bush. When three students and their governess go missing after a picnic at the rock, hysteria sets into the community and the esteemed Appleyard College, led by Natalie Dormer’s formidable headmistress. Will keep you hanging on until the end.

3.THE WILDS

Amazon’s first original young adult offering is an intriguing combination of Lost and the Breakfast Club — and it works. The characters who find themselves stranded on a deserted island are all teenage girls. To them, that makes life even more excruciating. Each has a very different background — from spoiled rich girl to Native American — but they have to put aside their differences to survive, learning a thing or two about themselves on the way. Dark and foreboding.

4. TALES FROM THE LOOP

SMALL town where strange things happen, and a lot more underneath the surface. Drawing from a narrative art book by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, the series is stunning to look at, meticulous as can be with symmetrical frames. The interconnected townspeople are similarly nuanced, their stories exploring loneliness, ageing, the impact of technology and more through sci-fi ideas.

5. HANNA

The premise of Hanna, a Joe Wright action thriller from 2011, is so good Amazon fleshed it out for a TV series. Starring Esme Creed-Miles as the skilled young assassin living in the Romanian wilderness, Hanna the TV show expands the teen’s backstory and explains why the CIA’s Marissa Wiegler has an obsession with capturing her.

Bridgerton Season 2 will see more romance and intrigue

BRIDGERTON has cast new actress Charithra Chandran in a recurring role for Season 2. Based on Julia Quinn’s romance novels, Netflix and Shondaland’s hit period drama is set to follow a new pursuit in its new season which has begun shooting in the England. The spotlight will shift to Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey, as he seeks out a suitable marriage. In February, Simone Ashley (Sex Education) was confirmed as Kate Sharma, Anthony’s love interest.

Chandran (pictured) will play Kate’s younger sister, Edwina, who the Viscount is first drawn to. The British Indian performer only has one television credit to her name, appearing in the upcoming second season of IMDb TV’s original series, Alex Rider.

Kate and Edwina have been reimagined for the regal Netflix show. While their last name is Sheffield in Quinn’s book series, Netflix and Shondaland changed the surname to Sharma, making the family of Indian descent. Audiences are head over heels for Bridgerton’s multi-cultural take on London’s high society in the 1800s.

Season 2 storylines are inspired by Quinn’s second novel in the series, The Viscount Who Loved Me. It will be interesting to see how smoothly the story transitions to Anthony, after season 1’s success was built on Daphne and Simon. The top Netflix show has a lot to live up to with its inaugural season reaching 82 million households on an international level within the first month.

By the end of Season 1, a lot had gone down in the lives of the Bridgerton family. Daphne and Simon finally learned how to communicate effectively and started a family.

Benedict dipped his toe into a more bohemian world. Anthony sore off love, Eloise was thwarted by Lady Whistledown (secretly her best friend Penelope Featherington), and Colin left for a world tour after an unfortunate falling out with Marina Thompson. Ms. Thompson herself agreed to marry Phillip Crane, the brother of her former lover George, for the good of her and her unborn child.

Who’s what in the race for anOscar

THE 2021 Oscars award ceremony will take place on Sunday April 25 and will be shown on the Monday on RTE2. The main nominations at this year’s Oscars include:

BEST PICTURE

• The Father • Judas and the Black Messiah • Mank • Minari • Nomadland • Promising Young Woman • Sound of Metal • The Trial of the Chicago 7

BEST DIRECTING

• Thomas Vinterberg, Another

Round • David Fincher, Mank • Lee Isaac Chung, Minari • Chloe Zhao, Nomadland • Emerald Fennell, Promising

Young Woman

Billie Holiday • Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a

Woman • Frances McDormand, Nomadland • Carey Mulligan, Promising

Young Woman

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

• Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal • Chadwick Boseman, Ma

Rainey’s Black Bottom • Anthony Hopkins, The Father • Gary Oldman, Mank • Steven Yeun, Minari

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm • Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy • Olivia Colman, The Father • Amanda Seyfried, Mank • Youn Yuh-jung, Minari • Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah • Leslie dOom, Jr., One Night in Miami • Paul Raci, Sound of Metal • LaKeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• Judas and the Black Messiah • Minari • Promising Young Woman • Sound of Metal • The Trial of the Chicago 7

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• Borat Subsequent Moviefilm • The Father • Nomadland • One Night in Miami • The White Tiger

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

• Judas and the Black Messiah • Mank • News of the World • Nomadland • The Trial of the Chicago 7

BEST FILM EDITING

• The Father • Nomadland • Promising Young Woman • Sound of Metal • The Trial of the Chicago 7

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

• Onward • Over the Moon • A Shaun the Sheep Movie:

Farmageddon • Soul • Wolfwalkers • Best Animated Short Film • Burrow • Genius Loci • If Anything Happens I Love

You • Opera • Yes-People

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

• Another Round • Better Days • Collective • The Man Who Sold His Skin • Quo Vadis, Aida?

Polska Szkoła im. św. Jana Pawła II w Kilkenny

WHEN moving to a new country we always look to see who else from our country is living here or is there a club, group or in the case of the Irish ‘the Pub’. There is an Irish pub now in every corner of the world. The Polish diaspora are the same. They love their culture, and they are immensely proud of their language. They wish for their children to have the option of learning their native tongue. This pride brought about the opening of Polska Szkoła im. św. Jana Pawła II w Kilkenny

The Kilkenny Polish school was founded in January year 2015. Thanks to principal Sean O’ Hagain’s understanding of the importance of the upkeeping of the native tongue, they rented 10 classrooms in the Gaelscoil Osrai, Outrath for 5 years. From September 2020, due to the Covid 19 restrictions Jola Gornicka and her team had to move to the Nore side Resource Centre, Dean Street. Thanks to Ivonne Moriarty, the school is still operational, though intermittently due to pandemics. Many Polish families returned to Poland, during the pandemic but the school is still thriving with over 70 students

The objective of the school is the teaching of the Polish language ,history ,culture and geography of Poland and making children aware of their sense of belonging and feel proud of being polish and most importantly to respect their native culture.

The teaching process covers all educational steps from preschool to secondary senior Classes. The School organizes classes to prepare students to sit the leaving certificate exam in Polish as a foreign language in schools in accordance with the Irish education system. Classes take place twice weekly on Thursday and Friday from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Polska Szkoła im. św. Jana Pawła II w Kilkenny currently employs 6 qualified teachers. Arts and drams play a big part of the curriculum and often invite and host polish drama clubs and theatres for children, organising various competitions, craft sales while hosting their own plays. The parents are a particularly important to the functioning of the school. Classes and meetings for parents are held regularly to help them educate and raise their children by keeping the polish language alive in families. The School works closely with the Polish Embassy Dublin and the newly opened Polish consulate in Kilkenny Ireland to remind families of the importance of bilingualism by keeping both the English and Polish language at a particularly good standard. The school promotes integration with local communities and educate the students about keeping the environment green. .Each year the school come out in force with colour and sons to participate in the Saint Patrick’s Day parade and a major driving force behind the Polska Eire festival each year.

Working closely with the Twilight Community Group the school were able to get positively involved with the Marlbork delegations and the Balbiny Drame group as part of the Twinning agreement develop by Twilight which both Cities sign May2nd 2017. The Twilight Community Group with generously gathered resources for the transport of over 300 books to the school library ,something which would have been extremely hard financially for this Polish run school.

They are the only school ,out of the 13 Polish schools in Ireland in the Polish Educational Society in Ireland - organisation, who organise conferences, meetings, and workshops for Polish teachers. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed as thanks to their work and advocacy it has been officially decided that the polish language will come into schools as a foreign language as part of the Irish education system.

Polska Szkoła im. św. Jana Pawła II w Kilkenny want to fully cooperate and integrate with the Irish community through the encouragement of bilingual upbringing in children , which enables them to become more creative , open individuals who can deal with the harsh realities of today’s world.

The Twilight Community Group would like to thank Seamus, Karolin, Aaron & Steven for allowing us to tell you their story.

JOHNJOE FITZPATRICK 6TH ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of Johnjoe, late of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny whose 6th anniversary occurs at this time.

Of all the money that e’re I had, I spent it in good company For all I’ve done for want of wit, to memory now I can’t recall So fill to me the parting glass, goodnight and joy be with you all.

Of all the comrades that e’re I’ve had, they are sorry for my going away And of all the love that e’re I’ve had, she would wish me one more day to stay But since it falls unto my lot, that I should rise and you should not I’ll gently rise and softly call, goodnight and joy be with you all.

Remembered always by your partner Kathleen and nephew Pa. XXX

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. AON

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. A.B

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. M.M

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. T.B

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. M.M

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. S.M

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Planning notices

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCILWe, Elyzabeth O’Halloran and David Vaughan, intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission to develop a two-storey sustainable dwelling, domestic garage, septic tank system and percolation area, roadside entrance and all associated site works at Scotsborough, Callan, Co. Kilkenny Signed: Robert M. Cummins - Cummins + Voortman Ltd (Architects www.cvltd. ie) 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 Authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of the prescribed fee 20 euros, within the period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the 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.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL We, Maria and Alan O Rourke, hereby apply to the above Planning Authority for Full Planning Permission to carry out the following works – To demolish existing single storey rear/side extensions, existing outhouses and two existing chimney stacks, to erect a new single storey flat roofed extension to the side and rear of the existing house, to erect a new garden storage shed and a covered barbeque storage area to the rear of the property, for minor alterations to the existing roof of first floor front dormer window, to widen existing rear garden gate to provide temporary vehicular construction access off the Glendine Road together with all associated site works all located on our property at Highfield, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny R95W8DD. 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 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. Michael Condon MRIAI, Architect, MRC Design Ltd – 1 City Wall, James Street, Kilkenny Ph. 087 2032869