Gerry Moran Gerry Cody... P20,21,32,33

Furthermore

Gerry Moran

Borscht ‘n Tears ‘n tears ‘n tears..!

Russia isn’t exactly avour of the month at the moment. Indeed, Russia hasn’t been avour of the month for several months now, since it invaded the Ukraine. And I’m wondering if Russia was EVER avour of the month? Maybe during the Moscow Olympics back in 1980 or when Mikhail Gorbachev, recently deceased, was instrumental in ending the Cold War between East and West.

Be that as it may, this week’s column revolves around a Russian restaurant, a London hotel, two Yanks, two ‘Paddies’ and a very proper English gentleman.

Can’t remember the year but my wife and I, and two American friends, Jack and Diane, enter the Borscht ‘n Tears, a Russian restaurant in Beauchamp Place, London. We immediately like it, the red décor, the candle-lit tables and the musicians belting out folk songs. We also like the menu which o ers blinis (thin, garnished pancakes) marinated herrings, Shashlik (chunks of lamb gilled on a skewer) and, of course, Borscht, a soup consisting of beetroot, cabbage, celery and onions.

While awaiting our food we slake our thirst with some ice-cold shots of Stolichnaya (pronounced Stol-ich-neeah) vodka; “not to be left on the table too long,” Joseph, our Polish waiter, smilingly informs us. We take him at his word and two rounds on we are into the swing of things. After we dip in and out of each other’s dishes we take up where we started with more Stolichnaya to the strains of impassioned ballads of love and war.

Joseph, our waiter, is an agricultural student and works alternate nights in an Irish bar and tells us about the marvellous music of a group called Gliondar. He’s o home to Poland soon to get married and run his parents’ apple farm.

Meanwhile, the musicians gladly accept our o er of a drink, opting for some Jarzebiak, a rowanberry avoured vodka. “Nas-dar-ovia,” (good health) they say, raising their glasses. “Sláinte,” we toast them back. “Sláinte,” they repeat.

Later, Bibs, one of the musicians joins us. Bibs is half English, half Polish. “ e best balalaika player north of the ames,” he assures us. Bibs was waylaid in some pub on the way to the Borscht ‘n Tears and is, if not quite ‘four sheets to the wind’, de nitely two!

As Bibs drags Diane to the oor for a rather botched polka we pay our bill, tip Joseph generously and after several more Stolichnayas, ‘nas-dar-ovias’, and ‘sláintes’ we nally emerge from the Borscht ’n Tears, red of cheek and not too steady of step. As we amble back to our lodgings I stop to scan a book shop window as the others walk on and vanish into our hotel.

Sauntering along Beauchamp Place my foot kicks something on the ground. I look down and see a brooch. Diane’s brooch! A brooch we had admired earlier in the evening and an item of great sentimental value to her. I pocket the brooch and smile. is, I’m thinking, will make for some fun back at the hotel when Diane misses her precious piece of jewellery. I imagine her alarm, her panic but I’ll let the tension mount before proclaiming myself the hero of the hour by producing the brooch. e only problem was that by the time I got back to the hotel everyone had gone to bed, thanks to an overindulgence of Stolichnaya. I put the brooch in a drawer and fell fast asleep.

Early next morning, while immersed in a warm, sudsy bath, the drama began. Kathleen, my wife, burst into the bathroom: “Jack,” she gushed, “is on the phone. Diane is in tears and having words with the hotel manager, what do you suppose is wrong?”

And then the penny dropped. I leapt from the bath in the all-together shouting, not ‘Eureka’ but “Jesus, Mary and Holy Saint Joseph, it’s the brooch”. “What brooch?’”my wife confusedly asked but now I am busy ringing Jack back. My phone call came in the nick of time ie. before Scotland Yard were called in, but not before the hotel manager, in a thoroughly, upper-crust, English accent delivered a thoroughly chastising lecture to Diane about the foolhardiness of leaving valuables in the room. And so, moi, the would-be hero of the hour had suddenly turned villain.

Diane beat a hasty path to our door to retrieve, and inspect, her brooch. I stood there in my boxer shorts apologising profusely knowing in my heart of hearts that this woman would never, ever, trust me again. I also knew that this incident could only ever be called: ‘Borscht ‘n Tears ‘n tears ‘n tears!

‘The best balalaika player north of the Thames...

COMPETITION WINNER

Congratulations to Donal

ank you to all who entered the draw to win a gift voucher sponsored by e Kilkenny Observer.

Congratulation to Donal Gibbons, 86 Fatima Place, Kilkenny who won the €100.00 gift voucher for Lash Dolls Beauty, Market Cross Shopping Centre, Kilkenny e gift voucher was presented to Donal by Faith, Features and Advertising Consultant with e Kilkenny Observer.

Mayor of Kilkenny calls for a reduction of the Local Property Tax

Mayor of Kilkenny Cllr David FitzGerald has called for a 10% reduction of the Local Property Tax (LPT) in Kilkenny. Following on from the commitment that he gave during his Mayoral election speech in June, Cllr FitzGerald said “ e Cost of living is a ecting every business and household. We in Kilkenny both as a local authority and in local businesses need to ensure we o er the best value to all in our customers and ensure we don’t inadvertently add to the increasing costs facing our people. We must be prepared to consider temporarily reducing local property taxes and commercial rates to help alleviate the un-paralleled in ation squeezing everyone particularly those on low incomes.” e current LPT rate is at the max of 15 % above the at rate which was introduced in 2019. Ahead of the September meeting of the Kilkenny County Council Cllr FitzGerald has proposed a 10% reduction of the LPT. ‘’Everyone is feeling the impact of the cost of living, we have the ability in the county council not to inadvertently add to the cost on the people of Kilkenny. One measure we can introduce to help elevate the pressure is reduce the Local Property Tax. With in ation running at almost 10%, the Council needs to reduce the burden on tax payers during these di cult times. I understand the impact this will have on the County Council budget however I cannot ignore the nancial strain on society. I will be proposing a 10% reduction of the Local Property Tax.’’

Cllr FitzGerald added “ All branches of government must live within their means in the year ahead. It is unrealistic to expect each household in Kilkenny to cope with the spiralling cost of heating, electricity and food prices if Local Government continues to levy local taxes at the top rates. Kilkenny County Councillors have supported the Council with generous budgets over the past number of years but it’s time for the Council, like everyone else, to cut its cloth to its measure.”

Councillors are being briefed in committee on the draft Council budget with the decision on the rate to be levied for Local property Tax (LPT) due to be made during September.

Former UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss trailed ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak in all ve rounds of voting by Tory MPs. But bookmakers always had her as the clear favourite to win, having spent years building relationships with constituency associations and having remained loyal to Boris Johnson during the darkest days of his premiership.

In many ways, she is not a conventional Tory.

Mary Elizabeth Truss was born in Oxford in 1975. She has described her father, a mathematics professor, and her mother, a nurse, as “left-wing”.

As a young girl, her mother took on marches for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, an organisation vehemently opposed to the atcher government’s decision to allow US nuclear warheads to be installed at RAF Greenham Common, west of London. e family moved to Paisley, just west of Glasgow, when Ms Truss was four years old.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Pro le, her brother said the family enjoyed playing board games, but the young Ms Truss hated losing and would often disappear rather than risk not winning. e family later decamped to Leeds, where she attended Roundhay, a state secondary school. She has described seeing “children who failed and were let down by low expectations” during her time there.

At the age of seven, Liz Truss played the role of Margaret atcher in her school’s mock general election.

But unlike the prime minister, who won a huge majority in 1983, she did not prove a success.

Many years later, Ms Truss recalled: “I jumped at the chance and gave a heartfelt speech at the hustings, but ended up with zero votes. I didn’t even vote for myself.” irty-nine years on, she has jumped at the chance to follow the Iron Lady’s lead for real and become Conservative leader and prime minister.

Some of Ms Truss’s contemporaries at Roundhay have disputed her account of the school, including Guardian journalist Martin Pengelly, who wrote: “Perhaps she is selectively deploying her up-

The life and times of Liz Truss

bringing, and casually traducing the school and teachers who nurtured her, for simple political gain.”

Whatever her schooling, Ms Truss got to Oxford University, where she read philosophy, politics and economics and was active in student politics, initially for the Liberal Democrats.

At the party’s 1994 conference, she spoke in favour of abolishing the monarchy, telling delegates in Brighton: “We Liberal Democrats believe in opportunity for all. We do not believe people are born to rule.”

At Oxford, Ms Truss switched to the Conservatives.

After graduating she worked as an accountant for Shell, and Cable & Wireless, and married fellow accountant Hugh O’Leary in 2000. e couple have two children.

Ms Truss stood as the Tory candidate for Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, in the 2001 general election, but lost. Ms Truss su ered another defeat in Calder Valley, also in West Yorkshire, in 2005.

But, her political ambitions undimmed, she was elected as a councillor in Greenwich, south-east London, in 2006, and from 2008 also worked for the right-of-centre Reform think tank.

Liz Truss became an MP in 2010 when Conservative leader David Cameron put Ms Truss on his “A-list” of priority candidates for the 2010 election and she was selected to stand for the safe seat of South West Norfolk.

But she quickly faced a battle against de-selection by the constituency Tory association, after it was revealed she had had an a air with Tory MP Mark Field some years earlier. e e ort to oust her failed and Ms Truss went on to win

the seat by more than 13,000 votes. She co-authored a book, Britannia Unchained, with four other Conservative MPs elected in 2010, which recommended stripping back state regulation to boost the UK’s position in the world, marking her out as a prominent advocate of free market policies on the Tory benches. During a BBC leadership debate, she was challenged about a comment in Britannia Unchained, describing British workers as “among the worst idlers in the world”. She insisted she had not written it. In 2012, just over two years after becoming an MP, she entered government as an education minister and in 2014 was promoted to environment secretary. At the 2015 Conservative conference, Ms Truss was mocked for a speech in which she said, in an impassioned voice: “We import two-thirds of our cheese. at. Is. A. Disgrace.” Less than a year later came arguably the biggest political event in a generation — the EU referendum. Ms Truss campaigned for Remain, writing in the Sun Remain, writing in the Sun newspaper that Brexit AT A GLANCE would be “a triple tragedy — more rules, more forms and more delays when sellAge: 47 Place of birth: OxfordHome: London and Norfolk Education: Roundhay School in Leeds, Oxford University Family: Married to accountant Hugh O’Leary with two teenage daughters Parliamentary constituency: South West Norfolk ing to the EU”. However, after her side lost, she changed her mind, arguing that Brexit provided an opportunity to “shake up the way things work”. Under eresa May’s premiership, she served as justice secretary before moving on to become chief secretary to the Treasury. When Boris Johnson became prime minister in 2019, Ms Truss was moved to international trade secretary - a job which meant meeting global political and business leaders to promote UK Plc. In 2021, aged 46, she moved to one of the most senior jobs in government, taking over from Dominic Raab as foreign secretary. In this role she has sought to solve the protracted problem of the Northern Ireland Protocol, by scrapping parts of a post-Brexit EU-UK deal — a move the EU ercely criticised.

Meanwhile, Dublin holds its breath on Article 16

Politicians on both sides of the border are watching to see how Liz Truss sets up her team to handle Brexit

Civil servants in the UK have been asked in the transition talks to arrange an early Dublin visit for the new prime minister to meet Taoiseach Micheál Martin in an e ort to come to an understanding on the future of the protocol. Her team believes there is a window before Leo Varadkar, who is seen as a “tougher nut to crack”, returns as Taoiseach in December.

Dublin has watched the Northern Ireland is without a government during a cost of living and healthcare crisis in the region.

Substantive discussions on Brexit have not been held since February 11 this year, and the stalemate had been used as an election bargaining chip by Truss and her opponent, Rishi Sunak.

Although publicly the Government has been at pains to avoid commenting on another country’s politics, there is quiet concern in the Department of Foreign A airs that Truss, who was deeply loyal to Boris Johnson, will continue in his mould.

While UK foreign secretary, Truss announced selective unilateral action regarding the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol this year, and the most hardline Brexiteers are now calling for the triggering of Article 16.

Article 16 sets out the process for taking unilateral action if either the EU or UK nd the protocol is leading to serious “economic, societal or environmental d culties” and are liable to persist.

In July last year the British government said it felt the threshold had been reached for using such safeguards, but had chosen not to use them for now.

Liz Truss has also been widely criticised in Irish media for her inability to pronounce ‘taoiseach’ correctly while foreign secretary and after reports she told a US audience three years ago that Brexit would not have any serious impact in Ireland and would merely “a ect a few farmers with turnips in the back of their trucks”. ose in Dublin who have met Truss say she is not to be underestimated.

Our mission here at the National Reptile Zoo has always been to inspire passion and increase understanding of some of the planet’s lesser known animals, and what better way to do that than by inviting you all in to meet them?

Book one of our ‘Educational Zoo to You’ sessions and meet our amazing animals and learn all about our reptile friends! We visit schools all across the country, bringing along a range of our reptilian friends that one of our Zoo Keeping team will tell kids of all ages about. Our educational sessions are tailored to suit all classes, from primary right up to Leaving Certi cate – we cover reptile basics, habitat building, ecology, and a range of fun and educational topics! We’re taking bookings now for the coming school year so give us a call or drop us an email and we can send you some brochures and more information, and also check availability for your school! If you

Learning and fun at The National Reptile Zoo

fancy giving the kids fancy giving the kids a day out, you can a day out, you can always come see always come see us and all the us and all the reptiles here at reptiles here at the Zoo – just the Zoo – just ask about our ask about our Discovery Discovery Walk Tours Walk Tours or even our or even our virtual Zoo virtual Zoo Zoom sessions! Zoom sessions! We can even host We can even host a speci c workshop a speci c workshop for your class right for your class right here in the Zoo! Conservation through Conservation through Educa-Education has tion has always always been our been our motto, motto, and and we look we look forward to forward to sharing that sharing that passion with passion with everyone. everyone.

Thousands of customers switching to St. Canice’s Credit Union as banks exit market

L-R: Ciarán Byrne, Laura Kiely, Marie Barron, Leah Kenrick, Aoife McCardle, Ciara Swan, Alannah Fitzpatrick

St. Canice’s Credit Union recently launched a campaign to encourage people to switch to them for their current account services.

THOUSANDS of customers across Kilkenny City and county have switched their current accounts to St. Canice’s Credit Union in response to banks exiting the Irish market.

St. Canice’s CU’s ongoing campaign to encourage people to switch to them for their current account services has been a great success. e comparison website bonkers. ie, enables people to see for themselves the great savings that they will make switching to St. Canice’s Credit Union compared to the main pillar banks. e cost for a current account with AIB per month is €7.15, BOI is €6.00 and An Post is €6.30 * compared to St. Canice’s Credit Union which is €4.00 per month and free for students aged 18-25 or anyone over the age of 66 years old.

Members can apply online or in any of their 9 branches and can also avail of services like overdrafts and direct debit facilities.

Credit unions have expanded their o erings over the years and now o er a range of services such as current accounts and mortgages up to €350,000.

Carmel Butler, CEO of St. Canice’s Credit Union said they are delighted to see people make the switch to them. “We are delighted that people are seeing the value that credit unions can o er and that they are making the switch.”

“Credit unions remain at the heart of communities all over Ireland and each credit union is involved with giving back locally between sponsorship and charity. With KBC gone and Ulster Bank about to go, we are delighted to welcome new members and we look forward to welcoming even more over the coming months,” she added. e Irish League of Credit Unions said that nationwide around 50,000 people have now switched their current accounts from banks to credit unions. e current account at St. Canice’s Credit Union is also compatible with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Fitbit Pay and o er a globally accepted Mastercard Debit Card.

The Irish Defence Forces

Interested in any of the following?

• Infantry • Peacekeeping • Maritime Security • Heavy Vehicles • Equine Groom • Mechanic • Air Craft Technician • International Soccer • Adventure Racing • Furthering your Education • Artillery • Air Ambulance Service • Explosive Ordnance Disposal • Engineer • Carpenter • Chef • Electrician • Boxing • Physical Fitness • Making friends for Life The Irish Defence Forces o ers all of this and more. You can be more, more than you ever dreamed, you can be at the edge of your seat, be overseas, be playing sports, be quali ed in a trade or skill, the person any employer wants right away, be a better stronger person, whatever you want to be, BE MORE with the Irish Defence Forces.

The Irish Defence Forces are recruiting now for General Service for our Army and Naval Service along with a wide range of Direct Entry options. Scan the QR code to visit our careers page for more information on how you can join the Irish Defence Forces.

Learn Tai Chi –

The Art of Balance

Most people are aware that practicing Tai Chi regularly helps you to improve your overall physical health, strength, and balance. However, doing Tai Chi for stress reduction is highly bene cial for your mental health as well. In fact, many aspects of mental health are interlinked with physiological processes. Tai Chi can be an e ective stress reducer, as it combines movement with mindfulness and can be a powerful way to promote health in both of these areas. Here’s how Tai Chi stress relief works.

How Does Tai Chi Help Reduce Stress?

Tai Chi is safe and e ective exercise because of low-impact physical activities that don’t put strain on the joints. It helps to promote stress reduction with the use of smooth, owing movements, stretches, and attention to the following: • Mental focus • Breathing • Coordination • Relaxation

Meditation is also an important part of Tai Chi, and many studies have shown that even brief sessions (25 minutes) of mindfulness meditation can reduce psychological strain. Participating in Tai Chi also reduces in ammatory markers, such as cortisol, that the body releases in response to stressors. is essentially helps to minimize the impacts of psychological tension on the body. e mental health bene ts of reducing stress with Tai Chi combined with a healthy lifestyle and regular practice can help to reduce anxiety and depression as well as lower blood pressure. Tai Chi can also improve mental clarity and brain elasticity, particularly in seniors. Tai Chi can even help you achieve a higher quality of sleep, especially if you’re an older adult whose sleep is frequently disrupted during the night. However, getting enough sleep is important for people of all ages, because sleep loss and deprivation are known to negatively impact memory, judgment, and mood. If you would like to learn more about Tai Chi and its bene ts, Kilkenny Club will host Free Talk and Demo on the 14th of September in the Kilkenny School Project, Waterford Road at 6.15 pm. New 10 week course for beginners starts September 21st. All are welcome!

South East set to be our rambling capital

The south-east aims to become Ireland’s rambling capital amid ambitious plans to unite three of the country’s most popular greenway walking and cycling routes.

Waterford and Tipperary councils are now examining proposals to connect the hugely popular Waterford Greenway with the Suir Blueway, while the new Cork Greenway is expected to be opened by late 2022/ early 2023.

It will also be the focus of discussions as to a future linkage to the Waterford and Tipperary walking routes.

Estimates indicate that a linked walking and cycling route across Cork, Waterford, Tipperary and Wexford could boast more than 1.5 million users each year.

A public consultation has now been launched about linking the Waterford Greenway with the Tipperary/ Suir Blueway.

The 46km Waterford route is one of the most successful walking and cycling routes ever developed in Ireland - and has been credited with a massive tourism increase across Waterford.

It is now estimated that more than 250,000 people use the route annually.

Developed along the old Waterford-Dungarvan railway line, it has become enormously popular thanks to its coastal views and attractions including railway tunnels and viaducts as well as its proximity to famous beaches and historic attractions.

Now, Waterford City and County Council are working with Tipperary County Council about linking the Greenway and Blueway routes between Carrick-onSuir and Kilmeaden.

The public consultation will operate between August 31 and October 7 - and members of the public are encouraged to make submissions, recommendations and comments about the proposal.

BioPharma ‘strategy’ needed for €1.2t. grow

Stir fry: Ciaran Gallagher, Bord Bia Director South East Asia and Minister McConalogue at Ryan’s Grocery, Singapore

BioPharmaChem Ireland and Irish Medtech Association, the Ibec groups that represent the sectors, have launched a joint Budget 2023 submission advocating for the Government to develop a national health technology and life sciences strategy led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with the appropriate resources appointed within the department to manage its implementation.

Ibec Head of Sectors, and Director of Medtech and Engineering, Dr Sinead Keogh said: “In Ireland, the biopharma, medtech, and digital health sectors in Ireland are renowned for attracting international investment with 700+ companies operating here across the country, employing 84,000 people directly, and making a global impact with exports in excess of €105 billion. e life sciences sector alone is expected to reach €730 billion by 2025, with the digital health segment estimated to grow at over 17.4% between 2021 and 2027 to €426 billion.” at’s a collective €1.15 trillion.

Dr Keogh said: “We need a national strategy and forum to bring further coordination across the whole ecosystem to really realise the potential here. In Ibec we have already mapped out 200 organisations working in digital health across our world-class ecosystem.”

“Cross-industry convergence is on the rise as businesses partner using their unique specialities to leverage opportunities for innovation and growth. To sustain our hard-won competitiveness and get ahead of global game changers spanning, changing demands in healthcare, new technologies, and socio-political shift, we need the right industrial policies,” she said.

Dr Kepgh said that, while Europe’s healthtech industry was growing, it’s not growing as fast as in Asia and the US and Ireland risked losing out if we can’t keep pace. In Europe where the population was fragmented and the start-up ecosystem more decentralised as a whole, regulation was one of the biggest barriers for emerging healthtechs.

“ at is what we are calling for a national health technology and life sciences strategy that ensures we adopt a cluster-based approach to policy. Greater coordination of state funded resources is needed to drive innovation, support e ective partnerships, and foster collaboration to achieve our potential and overcome challenges.”

BioPharmaChem Ireland Director Matt Moran said: “ e biopharma industry has evolved and Ireland is one of the leading global hubs for the development, manufacturing and supply of medicines and their ingredients. Ireland remains the location of choice for new and cutting edge biopharmachem molecules. However, the Irish industry here needs to stay at the cutting edge through embracing new advanced therapeutics.

“To keep pace with the international business trends, and the increasing complexity of the health innovation ecosystem we need to adapt. While manufacturing sites in Ireland continue to win projects and deliver in a challenging environment, we cannot compete as a lowcost manufacturing economy.” Irish beef and lamb will appear on supermarket shelves in Singapore for the rst time, following its launch in Singapore, as part of a Government-led trade mission.

Boutique food retailer and butchery Ryan’s Grocery will initially stck Irish beef and lamb at their two locations in Singapore. is is the rst phase of a two-phase rollout through their distribution arm, Alternative Selection, which will create a direct supply route for Irish beef and lamb to Singapore’s top restaurants.

Alternative Selection already carries a range of Irish brands including Glenisk, Ballymaloe and Burren Smokehouse, and will now also stock Burren Smokehouse organic salmon and Glenisk organic yoghurt in Ryan’s Grocery at this time.

Speaking at the launch during the Singapore leg of the trade mission, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD said: “It’s a testament to Irish farmers that the discerning team at Ryan’s Grocery has chosen Irish beef and lamb to add to their premium portfolio of certi ed supplier farms. I also acknowledge the great work of Bord Bia in establishing and maintaining valuable commercial relationships with key stakeholders in the region.

“It is also wonderful to see that quality Irish organic foods are nding new and exciting markets.”

Ryan’s Grocery is the retail face of Alternative Selection, a Singaporebased wholesaler founded by husband and wife team Sebastian Chia and Wendy Foo. e team specialises in allergen and preservative free speciality foods including grass-fed and organic meats.

Bord Bia’s interim CEO, Michael Murphy commented: “Total Irish exports to Singapore were €36 million in 2021.

“While the market is small in value and volume terms, as an in uential gateway market to the entire region, increasing the visibility of Irish meat on shelves is an important step forward for Irish beef exports.”

Ciaran Gallagher, Bord Bia’s South East Asia Director said: “Working in tandem with Irish suppliers, Bord Bia has developed a strong relationship with the team at Alternative Selection, driven by our understanding of their sourcing needs.”

It’s Irish beef, and Singapore noodles

Ryanair pulls out of Athens for winter

Ryanair has announced it will close its base in Athens for the winter. e airline blamed the airport’s ‘dysfunctional’ charging regime in a statement.

“Athens Airport is a prime example of how the Greek government and German high-cost ownership fail to deliver. Athens International Airport is managed by German operator AviAlliance which owns 40% of the airport, with the Greek government holding a 55% stake and the remaining 5% in private hands.” Ryanair said in statement.

It is believed that it will close on October 29, the day before the airline shifts to winter schedules. However, it’ll still serve Athens in the o -season using non-based aircraft.

Ryanair opened a base in Athens in April 2014.

COMPETITION WINNER

We at The Kilkenny Observer were delighted to team up with TJ Reid Health & Fitness to run a competition to win a year’s free membership to their gym.

ObserverThe Kilkenny

Thank you to all who entered the draw, we had a huge response and a big congratulations to Claire Kealy, Redeen, Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny, the lucky winner. Claire was thrilled to be announced as the winner, she told The Kilkenny Observer that it was her first time to ever win anything. Claire was presented with the yearly membership prize by Daniel McDaid, Manager of TJ Reid Health & Fitness. Thank you to Daniel and continued success to TJ Reid Health & Fitness from all at The Kilkenny Observer.

Daniel McDaid, Manager of TJ Reid Health & Fitness, Claire Kealy, winner of the year’s free membership for TJ Reid Health & Fitness and Faith O’Neill, Features and Advertising Consultant with The Kilkenny Observer. Photo by Jack Moore

TJ Reid Health & Fitness Club recently celebrated its 5th birthday and it’s been quite the year for one of Kilkenny’s leading Health & Fitness Clubs

Opening up last June again after lockdown, the club has experienced one of its busiest years to date, with over 1000 members enjoying a state of the art facility and some of the most experienced and friendly staff in the business.

The club did not stand still when it reopened though. The club The club did not stand still when it reopened though. The club has invested over 150K on a new strength and conditioning, and spin room for members to enjoy.

The two former studios have been combined into the new Fit The two former studios have been combined into the new Fit Zone studio which hosts a large selection of classes weekly. In fact, the club hosts around 40 classes a week ranging from the very popular spin classes to the in-house designed concept from the very popular spin classes to the in-house designed concept classes, which have proven to be our most popular class to date. classes, which have proven to be our most popular class to date.

The past year has also seen the club achieve the highest standard The past year has also seen the club achieve the highest standard possible in the prestigious Ireland Active’s ‘National Quality Standard possible in the prestigious Ireland Active’s ‘National Quality Standard

Awards’. The award recognises achievements across a number Awards’. The award recognises achievements across a number of areas including; health and safety, customer satisfaction and of areas including; health and safety, customer satisfaction and human resources, with the club achieving the Outstanding Award for human resources, with the club achieving the Outstanding Award for their efforts. their efforts.

Most recently the club has launched their ‘TJ Reid Online’ platform. Most recently the club has launched their ‘TJ Reid Online’ platform. Clients can now avail of some of the best fitness and nutrition advice Clients can now avail of some of the best fitness and nutrition the industry has to offer in the comfort of your own home. From the industry has to offer in the comfort of your own home. From fitness programs and plans, to nutrition advice, the online platform fitness programs and plans, to nutrition advice, the online plat has everything you could possibly want to help increase your fitness has everything you could possibly want to help increase your fit levels in your own home. levels in your own home.

At a meeting of Kilkenny County Board the following managerial appointments were ratified

Brian Dowling has been formally rati ed for his 4th year term as Senior Manager: his record speaks for itself having won two All-Irelands in the last 3 years having narrowly missed out on one when he was a coach back in 2019. e O Loughlin Gaels clubman will keep the same backroom team that helped him guide the Seniors to All-Ireland glory in August this year.

Seamus Kelly has been rati ed as the new Intermediate manager: Seamus has managed underage teams with Kilkenny in the past while also having a stint as the Intermediate coach back in 2015. e Mount Leinster Rangers clubman guided DCU to Ashbourne cup glory this year and had many Kilkenny girls on the team. Seamus will also take up a selectors role with Brian Dowling’s Senior team and give some continuity to both panels next year.

Mike Wall has been rati ed as Minor manager for 2023. e two time winning Minor manager (2015 & 2021) lost out to Galway in this years AllIreland semi nal. Mike brings a wealth of experience with him to the role having won the Intermediate All-Ireland in 2016 as manager as well as his two minor victories. His backroom team will be announced at a later date.

County Board Chairperson eresa Aylward is delighted with the appointments and wishes all the managers and backroom teams the very best of luck for 2023

Kilkenny military history brought to life on Scallan Tour

When it comes to military history, you would travel a long distance to meet anyone with the knowledge of retired army man Larry Scallan.

In recent weeks Larry’s Military History Walking Tours took to the streets of Kilkenny for Heritage Week.

OPERATION HUMPTY DUMPTY

e walking tours took patrons from the Castle entrance into the Butler House gardens where there is part of Nelsons Pillar in the gardens.

At 1.30 am on the morning of March 8th, 1966, an explosion rocked Dublin’s O’Connell Street. e Irish Republican army had blown up Nelson’s pillar in an operation known as Humpty Dumpty.

Its bombing was timed to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1916 rising. How they arrived in Kilkenny is still a matter of much debate. However it seems that admiration for the stone carver’s skill is what brought them to the home of Irish craft and design.

BLACK MILL STREET RESIDENT

e walk headed down the parade to hear the history of the founding of the Irish Republican Brotherhood by James Stephens to the creation of the Irish Volunteers in early 1914 and the Irish Nationalist Volunteers.

James Stephens was reared in Blackmill Street in Kilkenny. A Civil engineer by profession, he was only twenty four when the failure of William Smith O’Briens attempted insurrection in 1884 cut short his professional career. He went on the run and escaped to France where he remained for nine years. In 1857 he returned to Ireland at a time when the Republican movement was at a low ebb, and, by his optimism and energy, he held the membership together and injected new life and progressiveness to their endeavours. On St. Patrick’s day, 1858 he founded the Irish Republican Brotherhood and soon merged it into the small revolutionary groups which were in existence.

THE FRIARY STREET AMBUSH : 1921

e walk continued up Friary St., where the story of the Friary St. Ambush happened in 1921 and some of the key Kilkenny gures during the War of Independence and Civil War was relayed.

On February 21st, 1921, three man lost their lives in what has become known as ‘ e Friary Street Ambush’

Two of those were members of the local IRA. e plaque which is positioned at the junction of Pennyfeather lane and Friary Street reads as follows. ‘At this spot, Capt. omas Hennessy and Michael Dermody (NCO), two brave soldiers of e Irish Republican army, gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom on February 21st, 1921, during the War of Independence.

To perpetuate their memories, this plaque was erected by the members of the 1st Battalion Kilkenny Brigade I.R.A.” e third person to die was a local Council worker called omas Dullard, who was an innocent bystander.

WOODGATE WAS YOUNGEST IRISH CASUALTY

A stop at the omas Woodgate Memorial was next on the route with the tragic story of the youngest Irish casualty of WW1 remembered.

e Woodgate story and its amazing background is possibly one of the sculptures that attracts most attention in Kilkenny city. e omas Woodgate sculpture, which is situated outside e Kilkenny Courthouse at the Market Yard was constructed by Kilkenny Company Stapleton Engineering and the story behind the monument is intriguing.

A boy of 14, killed in the nal weeks of World War I, is commemorated with this public sculpture in Kilkenny. omas Woodgate duped recruiting o cers by claiming he was 18 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force on September 19, 1918.

He left his home in Mill Street in Callan, Co Kilkenny, to begin a journey to join his training squadron in Egypt. He sailed on the RMS Leinster steamship from Dún Laoghaire, then known as Kingstown, on October 10.

However, shortly after leaving the harbour, a

German submarine attacked the ship with torpedoes and sank it. e Irish boy was one of 569 men, women and children who lost their lives in the attack. omas’s tombstone in the military cemetery in Grangegorman in Dublin stated he was 18.

His true age was revealed a century later when the Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee was organising a public memorial for the 829 who lost their lives in the war who were from Co Kilkenny.

OVER THREE THOUSAND MEN AND WOMEN FROM KILKENNY

e penultimate stop was to the WW1 memorial where Larry spoke about the tragic loss to families in Kilkenny during WW1.

Today, we have a glorious memorial in Kilkenny to those who died in WW1.

A tting tribute to man and women from Kilkenny city and County who partook in what can only be described as a horrible time in our history. However, horrible and all as it was, it must and should be remembered.

Tribute to those committee members who instigated the idea of a memorial and who put in such long and arduous hours of work to make the dream become a reality.

While it is impossible to be de nitive about actual numbers, it is on the public record that over 3,300 Kilkenny women and men participated in many battle elds and parts of the world on land and at sea during WW1. Of the 3,300 we know that at least 830 died; 5 nurses and 825 soldiers, sailors, airmen clergy and munitions workers. All these Kilkenny people are now commemorated on tting memorials on the banks of the river Nore at the Peace Park and at Mac Donagh Railway station in Kilkenny City e nal stop was to the Museum in James Stephens Barracks, a rst for many on the tour. It is always a highlight for many to see examples of weapons, medals and artefacts pertaining to the military history of Kilkenny.

Poet of the People launches new collection…

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

Fennelly’s arty café in Callan was the launch pad for a new collection of zany, wide-ranging and life-a rming poetry that has become the talk of the town.

Peter Brabazon’s poems have an appeal that extends beyond the usual literary circles. He’s one of those rare creatures, a poet of the people…more of a strolling player and roving bard than the studious grumpy type that one associates with the muse. A native of County Kildare, he studied literature at UCD before moving to Callan where he has lived for thirtythree years. He’s been composing poetry on and o since he arrived in the historic Town of the Ructions. After retiring from his post at Larch he found more time for poetry. His latest collection, titled 40 more poems, follows on from his widely acclaimed 2006 book containing his rst forty compositions.

Peter draws inspiration mainly from personal experience, encompassing all of life’s ups and downs. Anything can act as a spur: An unlit re, a double wooly jumper, an overcast sky, a small mercy or random kindness, watching an old movie, casting his eye on a ower or weed while in re ective mood, or seeing a bird utter past.

He enjoys belting out a song too and singing can release new ideas or insights from his subconscious.

Nothing is o limits. e smallest dab on life’s canvass can spawn another lyrical foray: Whatever the joyous or sorrowful emotion or occasion, trigger image, or recollected place in time or space he can apply his bountiful word brush to it.

He resists the tendency to veer o into the incomprehensible or indecipherable, as some poets do: Hence his popularity. His poems are euphonic and accessible, and almost any of them could double as songs. Small wonder that Peter features prominently in the Tuesday night musical session at Hourigan’s of Bridge Street.

He doesn’t con ne himself to rsthand perception. In his ”found” poems, as he calls them, he ventures outside his circle of experience; addressing subjects as diverse as the downside of wind turbines (they shred birds as well as generating energy) and the lamentable downgrading of Pluto to the status of a dwarf planet.

It may be ve billion K from the sun, but for Peter it’s as relevant an issue as the havoc that his two beloved dogs wrought on the world of literature when they ripped into his library.

I liked how in one poem he adapted Shakespeare’s King Lear to a zippy modern setting, managing in a few lines to give the story a startling new relevance for the 21st century.

He has a new “take” on the myth of Sisyphus: for him, a poet’s unending literary quest is the stone being rolled back up the hill.

Peter availed of the bleak and oppressive Covid lockdown to re-focus his creative energies. He devotes a poem to the subject titled Le Tour de Farce. In an athletic feat of the imagination he cycles to victory. But it’s hollow…without accolades or crowds or the girls to peck him on the cheek. e collection has an intriguing and useful “notes” section at the end. is sheds further light on the process by which he transferred all those beguiling mind-images onto the pages of this wonderful little book. 40 More Poems is on sale at e Book Centre, High Street, Kilkenny, Khan’s of James’s Street, and Super Valu, Callan. Price E8.99.