Kilkenny Observer 10th May 2024

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We have fewer refugees

Kilkenny among lowest with Ukrainians and asylum seekers As the row over housing refugees grows, the county-bycounty breakdown of Ukrainians and of applicants for international protection shows disparity in the distribution of migrants accommodated throughout the country.

Kerry is taking the largest number of Ukrainians, despite being the ninth most populous county, while Kilkenny is taking among the lowest.

For international protection applicants (IPA), three

Dublin local authority areas top the list – Dublin City Council (3,802), followed by South Dublin (3,569) and Fingal (2,591) while bottom are Leitrim (104), Longford (136) and K ­ ilkenny (137).

When both categories of people – IPA and Ukrainians – are combined, Kerry (7,088), South Dublin (6,062) and Donegal (5,869) top the list, while bottom of the list again is Longford (456), Roscommon (732) and Kilkenny (885).

The new figures were provided by Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman. It is important to note that they only show Ukrainians who are in accommodation commissioned by his department, and asylum-seekers who are housed by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).

There are no figures for the unhoused and homeless, or those involved in accommodation gifted by individuals,

nor those who may be renting.

The figures for each area show large disparities, and come after accusations from politicians of uneven distribution of migrant arrivals.

“It’s clear from these figures that there is still a significant regional imbalance in the distribution of immigrants into the country,” said Peadar Tóibín TD, leader of the Aontú party.

“We need a strict system based on compassion and

common sense, but the latter is missing completely from the Government’s approach,” he said.

Pat Millea, a member of Wallslough Residents Group, told The Kilkenny Observer the townland had welcomed 66 Ukrainian refugees in the past two years. They are accommodated in the thatched cottages in the Wallslough Holiday Village.

But he said there were “serious concerns” about lack of

The RDS, Ballsbridge in Dublin have hosted ‘Finding Common Ground’, a festival on biodiversity and sustainability. As part of the event, the RDS Livestock and Forestry Awards took place.

Coill an Fhaltaigh, Kilkenny City and Terry Cassin, Bennettsbridge were among the winners, taking home the inaugural Native Woodland Conservation Award and RDS-ICBF Dairy EBI Herd Award respectively.

Full story Page 6

South East Technological University (SETU) will host its annual Spring Open Day at its Kilkenny Road Campus in Carlow, R93 V960, on Saturday, May 11 from 10am to 2pm.

The Spring Open Day highlights the range of courses developed by SETU’s experts in academia and industry. It is an opportunity for future students to experience state-of-the-art educational facilities and learn more about what area of study they would like to explore.

With the CAO Change of Mind facility now open, it is a key time for prospective students to visit SETU’s campus in Carlow and speak with lecturers, course leaders, and student support staff who can guide you on detailed course content, work placements, internships, and career opportunities.

Free period products for students

CluneTech new local GAA sponsors

The Best Comment & Opinion in Kilkenny

The academies, which were launched in January this year, were established to provide a pathway for emerging young talent within Kilkenny.

This new relationship coincides with the recent announcement of the integration plan for the Camogie Association, LGFA and the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Kilkenny are leading the way in utilising this opportunity to bring both associations closer

See Global Report Page 26

We scoop top awards at RDS festival !

Spring Open Day at campus

Kilkenny-based software technology group, CluneTech, has been announced as the main sponsor of both the Kilkenny GAA Academy (Cait na Óga) and the Kilkenny Camogie Academy, at a recent launch event in UPMC Nowlan Park.

As part of a three year deal, all Kilkenny hurling and Camogie academy team jerseys will carry the CluneTech logo.

infrastructure with the the proposed placement of 291 people in an Equestrian Centre.

This issue has been raised in Dáil Éireann by TDs Kathleen Funchion and John McGuinness. Additionally, Mr Millea said the matter had been discussed at the last two council meetings, where he said “all but one councillor expressed concern about the proposed placement of [the] 291 people”.

together before 2027, which has been set as the official deadline for full integration.

Both associations are currently supporting in excess of 500 players through the academy pathway, with their main purpose being to support each player’s development across all components of the game.

The costs of running multiple academy teams in any given year are substantial, from running buses, equipment,

food, gear and medical treatment to name a few.PJ Kenny, Kilkenny GAA Chairman, said “Kilkenny GAA are delighted to welcome CluneTech on board as our new academy sponsor and we look forward to a successful partnership into the future.”

Terry Clune, CluneTech CEO and Founder, said: “The commitment and dedication exhibited by these athletes at such a young age is inspira-

tional and we’re incredibly proud to play a role in solidifying a future of excellence in both sports here in Kilkenny.”

Theresa Aylward, Kilkenny Camogie Chairperson, said: “CluneTech is also well renowned as a Best Workplace for Women and with their passion we can develop and support our young Camogie players to reach their potential within Kilkenny’s high performing environment.”

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD has announced funding of €500,000 to provide free period products for students.

The funding of €250,000 to ETBs and €250,000 to publicly-funded Higher Education Institutions aims to deliver free and sustainable period products for students as part of a Government commitment under the Period Dignity scheme.

Full story Page 6

PAUL HOPKINS

MARIANNE HERON

JOHN ELLIS

GERRY MORAN

Telling it like it is.

And with no holds barred

A straight shooter.

Considerate and wise words

Great advice.

Your money in mind

Quirky take on bright side of life

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024

News

Kilkenny ChoirFest: Putting ‘fun’ in fundraising!

Kilkenny’s Lady Desart Choir is delighted to announce that Kilkenny ChoirFest is back for 2024! Organised by the Lady Desart Choir, and with all ticket proceeds this year going to Kilkenny/Carlow Samaritans, the festival will take place on Saturday, May 25 from 12pm to 6pm at the Castleinch Venue, Kilkenny.

After the resounding success of the inaugural event in 2023, which raised over €5,000 for the event’s charity partner and brought the community together in a celebration of music and fun, the choir is eager to build on this foundation and create an even more impactful event in 2024.

Kilkenny ChoirFest 2024 aims to unite the community through the power of choral music, showcasing the harmonic talents of ten choirs from Kilkenny, Carlow, Cork, Waterford, and beyond. This family-friendly event is not just about music and fun; it’s a heartfelt effort to raise funds for the Kilkenny/Carlow Samaritans, a pillar of support in our local community and a cherished local charity.

In addition to the choir performances across the afternoon, there will be childfriendly activities such as a giant bungee trampoline, bouncy obstacle course, face painting, games, and a visit from Nore Valley mobile

Finding their voices: members of Kilkenny’s Lady Desart Choir and the Kilkenny/Carlow Samaritans at the launch of Kilkenny ChoirFest 2024

mini-farm. There will also be entertainment from St Patrick’s Kilkenny Brass Band, and Beat FM will add to the party atmosphere, broadcasting from their ‘Beast’ OB unit with their troop of Beat Fleeters on hand to make sure everyone is having fun.

Hot food and refreshments will be available in the Castleinch restaurant throughout the afternoon, so families can really make a day of it!

“We are thrilled to be bringing the community together again for this fundraising festival. It promises to be

even bigger and better than last year’s event, and we are hoping to raise even more funds for our charity partner for 2024, the Kilkenny/Carlow Samaritans.” said Rebecca McGee, PRO, Lady Desart Choir.

Anne Lennon, Director of

Kilkenny/Carlow Samaritans said: “It gives us an opportunity to increase awareness of our Samaritan’s Branch and our listening service whilst celebrating with some wonderful choirs and a fun family day for the community of Kilkenny.

We are always looking for new

Volunteers so come along on the day to enjoy the music and meet with local Samaritans Volunteers to learn more about what we do.” * Full details at https:// www.ladydesartchoir.com/ kilkenny-choirfest.

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News

70+ to contest Europe election More than 70 candidates will have their names on the ballot for European Parliament elections next month, with Midlands-North-West the most heavily contested constituency.

Nominations for election closed yesterday, with 74 candidates in total standing in all three constituencies on June 7.

Midlands-North-West will have 28 candidates on the

ballot – with five seats to fill – including two sitting MEPs and a number of high-profile candidates in former jockey Nina Carberry, ex-broadcaster Ciaran Mullooly and businessman Peter Casey.

There are 23 candidates running in the four-seat Dublin constituency.

A further 23 will contest the European election in the five-seat Ireland South constituency.

Nine incumbent MEPs are running for re-election across the country – including a number of sitting TDs and senators.

TDs Bríd Smith and Aodhán Ó Ríordáin are among candidates in Dublin, with Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín standing for election in Midlands-NorthWest.

Fianna Fáil MEPs Barry Andrews and Billy Kelleher

will be looking to defend their seats. As will Green Party incumbents Grace O’Sullivan and Ciarán Cuffe.

Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus is among those hoping to retain his seat in the packed constituency of Midlands-North-West.

While party colleague Michelle Gildernew is also hoping to win a seat in the European parliament.

Sitting MEPs Mick Wallace,

Clare Daly and Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan will also seek reelection, while Fine Gael incumbents Maria Walsh and Seán Kelly are also running again.

Taoiseach Simon Harris will be under pressure to retain both seats and make gains for Fine Gael as the European and local elections mark his first outing as party leader.

The lengthy list of candi-

dates means counts could take days to reach their conclusion.

Voters are likely to be motivated by a number of key issues, including immigration and housing when they cast their votes next month.

Candidates from all mainstream parties are set to contest the election, alongside independents.

See Pat Coughlan Page 22

€500k. for free period products for students

Well done! Terry Cassin, from Boheragaddy, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny, winner of the 2024 RDS Dairy EBI Herd Award. Coalesce. And Mary Clifford and Eoin Wemyss of Coill an Fhaltaigh PHOTOS: Johnny Bambury and Orla Murray /Coalesce

Top awards for Kilkenny Woodlands and Bennettsbridge farmer Terry The RDS, Ballsbridge in Dublin recently hosted ‘Finding Common Ground’, a festival on biodiversity and sustainability. As part of the event, the RDS Livestock and Forestry Awards took place.

Coill an Fhaltaigh, Kilkenny City and Terry Cassin, Bennettsbridge were among the winners, taking home the inaugural Native Woodland Conservation Award and RDS-ICBF Dairy EBI Herd Award respectively.

Coill an Fhaltaigh occu-

pies the entire townland of Woodlands on the outskirts of Kilkenny City and is the largest of the Peoples Millennium Forests. Though sometimes known as ‘Woodlands’ it is local tradition still known as ‘Coill An Fhaltaigh’ or ‘Walls Wood’.

In the 17th century the wood was part of the Brittas Estate home to the O’Rourke family. The property of Woodlands came into State possession in the 1930’s. It was replanted in 1950’s. A

recent survey of plant life of Coill an Fhaltaigh found an impressive 125 different species were present.

There are mainly Oak and Ash trees with a lot of Alder, Hazel and Birch.

The judges said this was a fantastic example of how woodland can be resilient and bounce back from a previous life.

The Native Woodland Conservation Award aims to recognise excellence in the conservation and manage-

ment of native forests and semi-natural woodlands which are regarded as ancient or long established and managed in a sustainable way that is both beneficial to biodiversity and the local economy.

Terry Cassin, from Boheragaddy, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny, is the winner of the 2024 RDS Dairy EBI Herd Award. Terry is married to Ann, with four children. He is the sixth generation of his family to

farm Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny. They have 72 cows and their followers on 100 acres between owned and rented land in a spring calving system.

Linked to the ICBF and Sheep Ireland databases, the Livestock Awards draw attention to the carbon footprint of production and highlight those farmers who are at the forefront of the economic and environmental sustainability of Irish Agriculture.

SETU: solve food waste, create high end jobs European election candidate Cynthia Ní Mhurchú wants to use more EU research and development funding to ensure the South East Technological University can be at the centre of the solution to a growing food waste problem.

Figures from Eurostat show Ireland was one of the biggest food wasters in Europe, costing the average Irish household €700 a year. Ms Ní Mhurchú

is on the Governing board of the SETU and feels we should be making better use of the Horizon Europe fund.

“We can use the Horizon Europe fund, a 95 billion euro fund, to channel research funds into the SETU, to devise solutions to the problem of food waste.

“There are a number of ongoing EU funded projects dealing with food waste. This

is a partnership of universities across the EU that are working together on solutions to cut food waste by €3 billion annually in North West Europe. That is funded by Horizon Europe” “I am calling for a doubling of Horizon Europe funding for the SETU for ongoing research which involves the application of Internet of Things and Big Data technologies to our food supply chains to reduce food

waste, most of which happens in supply chains. I think we can also expand research around innovations in packaging for processors and retailers; and awareness campaigns for retailers and consumers on food loss and waste.,” the European election candidate said.

In the EU we waste 89 million tonnes of food every year, accounting for 20% of the total food produced in the EU. The

value of this food is estimated to be in the region of €143 billion, impacting each stage of the Food Value Chain.

The EU has committed to halving food waste by 2030 and Ireland South MEP candidate Cynthia Ní Mhurchú wants rural Ireland to be at the centre of innovations around solving the food waste problem – as well as creating high-end jobs in the process.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD has announced funding of €500,000 to provide free period products for students.

The funding of €250,000 to ETBs and €250,000 to publicly-funded Higher Education Institutions aims to deliver free and sustainable period products for students as part of a Government commitment under the Period Dignity scheme.

Minister O’Donovan said: “I am pleased to announce that my Department has secured €500,000 in Budget 2024 to seek to address period indignity in further and higher educational settings.

“This initiative promotes equality and respect across our educational sector and the funding will allow my Department to further enhance work in this important area.

It will also allow us to build on previous initiatives to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in their education by period indignity.”

The funding secured will allow the Department to build on previous initiatives to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in their education by period indignity.

Previously the Department worked on the ’Worryfree’ pilot which was rolled out to nine further education and training colleges across six Education and Training Boards (ETBs) The pilot delivered free, sustainable period products and dispensers for students in participating ETBs. Minister O’Donovan added: “I also wish to acknowledge the great work that is already taking place across a number of Higher Education Institutions where free period products are currently available.

“I look forward to enhancing provision across campuses and reducing disadvantage in this area.”

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Opinion

The Fact Of The Matter Paul Hopkins

When a bank manger had me tied up in knots I knew a man once, a charming, affable fellow, who, in raising five good children, supplemented his income in the newspaper business by moonlighting as a TV repair man. Now this man, let’s call him Des, was one whom women found, as they used to say back then, easy on the eye, not least because his appearance was always neat and well-groomed. Bespoke suits, the waistcoat that was de rigeur, and, ever his trademark, a bow-tie.

Plain, spotted, multicoloured, or conservative black, he had a vast array of them, and always wherever Des went the bow-ties went too, even when calling on the widow Mrs Devlin and her brood of seven kids who were like ducks out of water because their old 17in. washboard TV had, yet again, broken down.

Is it yourself, Mrs Devlin would say and he coming

up the garden path, knowing damn well it was for you could spot the bow-tie a mile off. And she’d say something like, Thank God you’re here, this lot have been driven demented with not being able to watch The Lone Ranger and Thunderbirds. And the seven, steps-of-stairs, snot-nosed kids would be hanging out of her billowing skirts, looking crooked at the TV repair man and his seemingly larger-thanlife bow-tie.

And so it went.

And I reckon Des, who built a formidable business mending TVs and, eventually, a company doing highend videos of weddings and such occasions, owed a lot of his success to, not just his natural charm and good looks, but to those bowties. At least, the widowed Mrs Devlin thought so.

I mention all of this only because Sir Richard

Branson was remarking yet again the other day that there are few things that strike terror into the hearts of people quite as much as the prospect of facing a tiewearing, three-piece-suited bank manager across a huge mahogany desk.

We all know Sir Richard wouldn’t be caught dead in a tie, the white opennecked shirt has always been his style.

“I have always hated ties, maybe because I’ve never seen the point. They are uncomfortable and serve no useful purpose,’’ he says.

If, as Mark Twain, was it, said clothes make the man — naked people having little or no influence on society — then I would think the tie, or, in Des’s case, bow-tie, tops it all.

Neckties play an effective role in a man’s wardrobe.

Whether it be to identify a cause, occupation, a group or just to wear great art.

Ties are great conversation starters and give a person a sense of self.

“Tell a man you like his necktie and you will see his personality unfold like a flower,” said the Italian socialite Lucila Mara de Vescovi who founded Countess Mara, a mens-

“Mark Twain said clothes make the man ...

wear fashion label specialising in flamboyant neckties.

The lovely Lucilla had married Malcolm Whitman, the American singles tennis champion, in 1926 and, in 1930, following an argument about her husband’s dull ties, she made him one from silk.

In 1932, Whitman committed suicide — whether he strangled himself with one of those ties is not clear. The grief-stricken Lucuilla subsequently travelled throughout Europe, where she purchased fabrics and brought them back to New York and tied herself up in a career making men’s neck apparel.

I remember once, long before I got into this remorseless and relentless business that is the newspaper game, going for an interview with the Bank of Ireland.

Get a haircut, said my Father on the eve of the interview, and wear your best tie.

My only tie back then and, as it happened, I was the last one of a score to be interviewed the next day and was left lingering in a old ante-room, so that by the time I was seated opposite a guy, not much older than me back then, in a waistcoated suit and tie and reeking of Old Spice, I was shivering and pretty peed off to say the least.

Tell me, he asked with supercilious grin, why do you want to join our bank?

I focused not on him but on his hideous tie, wafting away in his Old Spice.

I don’t actually, I said, my Father wants me to.

Needless to say, I did not get that job and I ditched the tie for a long time after that.

So much for sartorial influence.

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'We need families in our towns' Hundreds of town centre buildings across Kilkenny could, and should, be brought back into residential use through the introduction of an EU-backed funding scheme, according to an Independent candidate for Ireland South in the European Elections.

Michael McNamara is advo-

cating for greater funding as part of the European Green Deal to increase Ireland’s housing stock through the conversion and renovation of upper floors over commercial units.

He said that many Kilkenny business premises which once had families living over them

now lie empty over ground level for a variety of reasons including particularly building regulations and insurance costs.

“Market towns like Callan and Thomastown and Kilkenny City itself have streets full of fine old buildings where there is a retail unit at ground level

and in many but not all cases, they are vacant over ground level. Decades ago, there were families living in them,” said Mr McNamara.

He continued: “I don’t underestimate the difficulty of converting those back into residential use. There are regulations and issues around financ-

ing, but it would offer many benefits not just in housing, but also benefits for the environment and for society.”

“Bringing vacant buildings back into use, whether for business or residential purposes, injects life into our towns and villages and delivers homes,” said McNamara. “Everybody

new vehicles that we have chosen have been designed to the highest standard and give additional security to our responders. The rear boot has been fully customised to hold all the medical equipment that may be required while keeping everything on charge so it’s ready at a moment’s notice.

"It is thanks to donations

from members of the public, corporate donations and community fundraisers that we are able to upgrade our vehicles and equipment so that our doctors and responders from Waterford and across the country are able to make a difference when it matters most.”

Dr Paul Campbell said: “Every minute counts when

agrees that vacant units and dereliction is a problem and that we need to bring these properties back into use, but nobody seems to be doing anything about it in the midst of a housing crisis and unprecedented demand for residential property in towns and villages across the whole country.”

When time is critical in medical emergency Emergency medical response charity CRITICAL has launched its new fleet of rapid response cars in Wicklow and Waterford.

The organisation is providing its teams of critical and advanced care doctors with four-wheel drive vehicles to ensure they can get to the scene of emergencies quickly and safely.

The charity currently has a network of 10 doctors and consultants in emergency medicine who volunteer to respond to serious and life-threatening incidents and illnesses in their areas.

These doctors are based in counties Waterford, Wicklow, Kerry, Mayo, Donegal and Dublin.

The Skoda Kodiaq was chosen by CRITICAL for its road safety and the secu-

rity it gives the emergency responders. The cars have been customised with ambulance style livery and Class 1 emergency lighting.

The rear boot of each car has been redesigned to hold and charge the necessary medical equipment.

Waterford based Dr Paul Campbell and Dr Daragh Mathews have now received the new cars. The pair have responded to 151 calls between them since July 2023. These include cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions and farm accidents.

Dr Paul Campbell joined the charity last year. The Tyrone native has been working as a GP in Waterford City since 2012 and also recently completed a Masters in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine from

Emergency response: Dr Daragh Mathews; Edward Walsh, CRITICAL Head of Operations; and Dr Paul Campbell. Photo: Mary Browne

UCD. Dr Daragh Mathews joined CRITICAL in 2021.

He is a Specialist Registrar in Emergency Medicine at University Hospital Waterford.

David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL said: “Our responders are providing a valuable service and we need to ensure that they are able to arrive at the scene of an incident quickly and safely. The

someone suffers a trauma or suddenly falls seriously ill. The new cars are very impressive; our medical equipment is now easier to find and there is no risk of batteries failing. We now have top of the range defibrillators that can be used in confined spaces and allow us to monitor or shock a patient from up to 10 metres away."

Funchion launches her campaign for Europe Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion launched her campaign for next month’s European Election in style, as more than 400 party members and supporters packed into the Tower Hotel in Waterford.

The Sinn Féin TD said it would be hard not to be inspired by the mood and buzz at the launch, describing how the "energy, motivation and excitement reflects the eagerness of Sinn Féin at all levels to get to work; to deliver real change and stand up for the people of Ireland".

Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald provided the keynote address, saying that June’s "election is the first step in getting this failed government out of office… We know that change is possible, we

know that change is essential and, my friends, we know that change starts here.

"Ireland needs representatives like Kathleen Funchion in Europe who are not afraid to put Irish interests first; who will work tirelessly to champion local communities and deliver the change that people need," she said.

"These elections are taking place at a time when Ireland is facing many challenges`– the persistent housing crisis, a health service at breaking point, and a cost of living crisis. These elections are an opportunity for people to have their say on the change they want to see in their local community, throughout Ireland, and in Europe," the Sinn Fein leader said.

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Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

Man’s best friend isn’t a fluffy baby It’s a while since dogs got a paw in the door and moved into homes to become part of the family.

And the relationship with man’s best friend is still evolving. Now apparently, it’s no longer correct to refer to yourself as a dog owner but rather you are a dog companion.

Companion does have more of a democratic ring to it, free of any connotations of slavery, but how does that affect the relationship between us and our fourlegged friends?

Whatever is going on it certainly does wonders for the pet industry. Pet shops have become like boutiques full of everything we think dogs need to keep them fed, entertained, comfortable and well-dressed. Pet parents (I have one friend who refers to her dog as the child) spend well over €1,000 a year on average on pet food

and doggie accessories.

I don’t think dogs have really changed, to the extent that they need party collars, ice cream specially for dogs and wet robes (whatever happened to having a good old shake over your owner (sorry companion) or even furry winter coats (don’t they have their own?).

Dogs may get Christmas presents or birthday presents, I guess they don’t mind so long as it keeps humans happy. But something has shifted in our attitude towards dogs.

One wit refers to our elevation of doggy status as ‘caninisation’. Given our closer relationship with pooches, we attribute human emotions to dogs in our efforts to understand them. Not that dogs don’t have feelings – they can be jealous, excited, happy but in a doggy way.

Dogs don’t think that humans are oddly shaped

dogs walking around on two legs; they are perfectly well able to differentiate between different species – no chance of mistaking a cat is there?

But, when humans start anthropomorphising their dogs, things can get a bit confused, like thinking that dogs think like we do. They do think but their brains are smaller than ours, about the size of a lemon compared to two clenched fists. They deal with the present and are more likely to think about things that concern them like smells, food and other dogs, and their companions of course.

Since she started working with dogs 30 years ago, Samantha Rawson of the Canine College on the Kilkenny/Tipperary border has seen a huge change in the pet industry. “The term fur babies can mean that the integrity and respect for dogs is overlooked in

defence of the needs of the owner. People are inclined to throw money at the problem when both partners are working. All the dog cares about is you. There don’t care about coats or beds, all they want to do is go for a walk.”

“They don’t mind so long as it keeps humans happy...

The Canine College offers a one-on-one service dealing with training or behaviour where Samantha Dawson describes herself as being a “dog advocate”. She says: “The first thing I look at is the relationship between the dog and the owner and if the dog’s needs are being met. My approach is based on trust, respect and play and it has to be a reciprocal relationship.”

Often issues arise because of lack of understanding about what is natural dog behaviour.

“Dogs were originally bred to work, but these days they are unemployed and they may be shut in the house all day,” says Samantha.

Owners who work during the week may send a dog to pet care or pay a dog walker with only two days a to spend with their dog.

The fluffy baby aspect of the dog industry is partly

Culture Night 2024 call out for funding and Celebrating event information 25 years

Culture Night 2024 will be taking place on the 20th September all around the country from 4pm until late!

The Kilkenny Arts Office in association with the Arts Council are actively planning towards Culture Night Kilkenny 2024 and are looking forward to an exciting line-up of events. We are issuing an Open Call for funding towards the running costs of events taking place in Co. Kilkenny.

This year Kilkenny City is designated as a night time economy pilot city.

Under the Kilkenny City Night Time Economy Action Plan 2024-2025, additional funding has been provided this year to

ensure Culture Night can facilitate more inclusive and innovative latenight arts events that are suitable for all ages.

Please note that if you are planning an event for Culture Night you are responsible for securing your own venue/space for your event. The Arts Office does not arrange venues for events. We provide support through funding, marketing and promotion.

This involves uploading event information onto the official Culture Night Website, creation of a printed brochure and posters to be dispatched around the County.

Promotion in local press, radio and social media.

To Apply for Funding: To apply for funding please visit the Arts Office website at: https:// kilkennyartsoffice.ie/ culture-night-kilkennycall-for-applications-forfunding/

FUNDING IS LIMITED - It may not be possible to offer funding to all applicants and it may also not be possible to offer the full amount requested to any individual applicant.

(However, inclusion in the programme will be open to all applicants).

The deadline for the return of applications is no later 14th May 2024 4pm

with Solo Nutrition CLAIR WHITTY

When it comes to buying supplements, you want to know that you are buying ones that you can trust with quality ingredients. We feel the same way and today I want to tell you about Solo Nutrition. We have stocked them from the day we opened our store over 10 years ago. And we are extremely happy to celebrate 25 years in business with them this year.

Nigel Grosse, the founder, had over 20 years’ experience in the natural health industry before founding his own company.

We met Nigel at a trade show.

He was at his stand at the RDS

turning an orange stress ball around in his hand. We liked him from the moment we met, we chatted for a while about his products. As a small family business starting out on our own, he trusted us to stock his brand and we trusted him and his products. We have worked together for the past ten years.

Solo Nutrition prides themselves on producing quality products and use only the finest quality raw materials; quality and purity is never compromised. They don’t use fillers or binders and where possible they use organic material which helps digestion and absorption.

Their formulations are based on extensive research in nutritional science and their purity and potency are guaranteed. All the bottles and over-sleeves can be

responsible for the humanisation of dogs, where, for instance, owners/companions brush their dog’s teeth or give it special chews for dental health whereas back in the day a dog would be given a bone – a nice smelly bone-to chew on to keep its teeth healthy.

There is no doubt about it but dogs can be good company, evidenced by the rush to acquire a fourlegged friend when Covid struck. Dog prices went through the woof but when normality and returned there was an avalanche of dog returns to shelters.

Aside from lack of time many owners said they couldn’t cope with their dog’s behavioural problems like barking and chewing.

Perhaps they didn’t make the connection with their own behaviour.

See also Page 18 recycled.

Just to tell you about some of their top selling products. Solo Nutrition Ultra Magnesium 375mg is a Citrate-Oxide blend, is their number one supplement. It comes in the highly absorbable citrate form which is ideal for people with digestive issues or anyone who has difficulty absorbing nutrients.

Magnesium helps to relax muscles and is ideal for anyone prone to cramps, stress and insomnia.

Women’s Multi is one of their unique formulations with a combination of vitamins, minerals, and herbs formulated to nurture the body’s own balance. Some of the important nutrients for hormonal balance include B6, Magnesium, Soya Isoflavones, Red Clover, Sage and Ashwagandha. It also contains Iron, B Vitamins, and Siberian Ginseng to support energy and vitality. Suitable prior to, during and after menopause.

Other supplements include: Men’s Formula specific for prostate health, 1200mg Turmeric and Flora Multi Fifty.

Happy Birthday Solo Nutrition. May we have many more years of doing business together and helping our customers achieve their health goals.

Shop online at www. naturalhealthstore.ie where you’ll be able to take a look at these brands.

Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre Phone: 056 7764538 Email: info@naturalhealthstore.ie

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News

SPECIAL REPORT More than half of Irish people are reporting depression and four in 10 experiencing anxiety, according to Aware, the national mental health organisation which has announced the findings from its second annual national survey looking at the public’s experience and perception of depression and anxiety.

With results broadly in line with the 2023 findings, the survey emphasises the ongoing prevalence of depression and anxiety and their impact on individuals and communities throughout Ireland. The online survey was conducted by Amárach Research with a nationally representative sample of 1,200 adults in April 2024.

Narrow understanding of range of symptoms Despite three in four respondents (72% )claiming good awareness of depression, when asked to list the main symptoms, the majority only referenced symptoms directly linked to mood such as feeling low or sad, loss of interest and low energy. Awareness of physical symptoms and those linked to overall wellbeing was limited – not one respondent mentioned physical aches and pains, only 13% referenced changes in sleeping patterns and merely 8% cited suicidal thoughts and low self-esteem.

High rates of depression and anxiety One in five respondents stated an official diagnosis of depression (21% versus 24% in 2023), with more than half (53%) reporting what they believe was an experience of depression over their lifetime. Females and those aged 35-54 are most likely to have received a diagnosis. One in 10 respondents under 25 have not been diagnosed but believe they are currently experiencing depression.

A total of 12% those surveyed scored within the range for moderate levels of depression at the time of completing the survey (via clinical assessment tool, the PHQ-2). Moderate depression was most prevalent amongst those with a chronic illness (18%) and C2DEs – skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers, casual workers, pensioners and the unemployed (16%). Nearly two-thirds (62%) of those with moderate depression say that their mood is so low, they can’t function most days.

Considering all respondents who reported a lifetime experience of depression, the impact of low mood on day-to-day life was

Still a nation of ‘worriers’ Aware’s national survey reveals continued high rates of depression and anxiety

FINDINGS AT A GLANCE...

• One in four adults are living with a chronic illness, and are most likely to experience moderate depression • Three in five say anxiety makes work and attending to responsibilities difficult • Stigma still an issue, with half citing shame and fear of judgement for delay in accessing supports • Financial worries impacting on mental health of 56% • Narrow understanding of depression symptoms • One in 10 under 25 believe they are currently experiencing depression varied. A majority (59%) say they can live their lives as normal, but two thirds say that it can make work and other responsibilities difficult (66% versus 60% in 2023). Three in 10 (29%) are significantly affected, saying that most days their mood is so low they can’t function.

Anxiety rates also continue to be high, with 17% citing a diagnosis of anxiety disorder, increasing to one in four for those aged 25-34. A further 8% believe they have an undiagnosed anxiety disorder and 17% say they experience anxiety frequently.

The condition is most prevalent amongst those aged 18-34 and appears to reduce

with age, impacting on only 30% of over 55s.

In terms of impact on daily life, 27% say that most days their anxiety is so bad they can’t function, up from one in five in 2023. Three in five (60%) say their anxiety makes going to work and attending to responsibilities difficult, a significant increase from 45% in 2023.

Those with moderate depression are more likely to be impacted by anxiety (79% versus 60 %of total sample), those aged 25-34 and C2DEs. Commenting on the results, Dr Susan Brannick, Clinical Director at Aware, said: “Our results show that

not only do depression and anxiety remain a problem for many people, but for those experiencing more severe difficulties, they can have a significant impact on daily life. It’s striking that those living with a chronic illness are experiencing higher rates of depression.

This highlights the need for responsive and timely mental health supports and services across general health settings for those living with a chronic illness.”

Factors impacting on mental health Financial worries continue to be the number one issue for 56%. This is followed by family responsibilities (36%), relationships (34%), and work (3o%). Topical issues such as the current economic climate and housing are negatively affecting 24% and 21% respectively.

More people are taking action More people experiencing depression and anxiety are taking action to address their mental health difficulties, increasing from 74% in

2023 to 81% in 2024. Almost half (49%) have attended their GP, psychiatrist or psychologist, on par with 2023. Two in five (41%) have confided in someone, a third made lifestyle changes.

Three in 10 have attended counselling and 26% used medication. Females are more likely to have reached out for support (85%) and younger adults aged 18-24 are less likely to have taken action.

Those who attended a healthcare practitioner and received a diagnosis

were most satisfied with the information they received about lifestyle changes (64% received “enough”), medication and side effects (56%).

Significantly, almost half (45% ) reported being dissatisfied with the information given about healthcare supports including talking therapies, which are an evidence based first line treatment for depression and anxiety.

Unfortunately, perceived stigma continues to inhibit people from accessing supports.

THE EIGHT SYMPTOMS At Aware, we describe depression as having eight main symptoms using the acronym FESTIVAL • F eeling – sad, anxious, guilty • E nergy – low energy, feeling tired or fatigued • S leeping – under or over-sleeping, any change to normal sleep pattern • T hinking – poor concentration, thoughts slowed down • I nterest – loss of interest in hobbies, family or social life • V alue – low self esteem • A ches – physical aches and pains with no physical basis • L ife – loss of interest in living, thinking about death, suicidal thoughts

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Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Our economic future is looking very good Things are looking up for the Irish economic landscape according to Ernst and Young’s forecasts for this year and next, with GDP poised to rise by 2.2% in 2024 and 3.8% in 2025.

Why is Ireland expected to outperform other major economies, even surpassing forecasts for euro area neighbours and the UK? A key driver is the healthy labour market with record employment numbers and projected job expansions of 1.6% in 2024 and 1.8% in 2025, indicating sustained economic vitality.

Furthermore, inflation, which peaked in 2022 and early 2023, is expected to moderate to 3% in 2024, offering relief to households and businesses. The easing of headline inflation, attributed in part to lower global energy prices and tighter monetary policies, signals positive developments for households and businesses.

In the eurozone, preliminary CPI figures showed that headline inflation remained steady in April at 2.4%.

Experts anticipate further disinflation in 2024, which could alleviate pressure on consumers and support economic growth.

Encouragingly, the pros-

pect of interest rate cuts by major central banks in 2024 bodes well for businesses, exporters, and mortgage holders, as it could potentially stimulate further investment and consumption. raising the likelihood of a first interest-rate cut in June.

The strong performance

of Ireland’s labour market in 2023, in tandem with record employment figures and sectoral growth, underscores the economy’s resilience. Despite projected moderation in job growth for 2024, low unemployment rates and wage increases are expected to persist, posing

challenges for recruitment and retention.

On the stock markets last week, we saw the Federal Reserve opting to hold interest rates steady. This was widely expected at the April Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) policy meeting, but many investors paid more attention to Chairperson Jay Powell’s comments in the press conference than to the decision itself. Despite noting that the Fed was not gaining “greater confidence” progress had been made on inflation, Powell’s comments were well received by investors, as a rate hike in the next meeting was effectively ruled out, causing stocks to rally.

However, the economic forecast is not without its challenges. Graham Reid, Head of Tax & Law and Clients & Markets at Ernst and Young (EY) Ireland, emphasised the importance

of capitalising on Ireland’s strengths, including a skilled workforce and a businessfriendly environment, to attract foreign direct investment and foster indigenous entrepreneurship.

While global uncertainties loom large, and with the multinational sector accounting for more than 50% of Irish GDP since 2020, global shifts can have large local impacts. Even though economic forecast remains positive, driven by a resilient labour market, moderated inflation, and strategic investments we cannot be lax.

Dr O’Sullivan of Ernst and Young highlighted the importance of continuing strategic investments in workforce training, infrastructure, and green technologies to sustain Ireland’s economic competitiveness. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362622

Make Kilkenny a great place to…

Visit and to move around in

The introduction of a bus fleet in the city is a very positive step forward. We now need to build on this.

My proposed solutions for Kilkenny County Council is that we need to: • Expand the frequency and coverage of public transport in the city making it a real option for people to switch to public transport.

• Work towards ‘Park and Ride’ locations on the periphery of the city.

• Prioritise the development of a formal transport hub in Kilkenny, which could undoubtedly increase and expand capacity for public transport. The regional services stops at Ormond Road, the Parade/ Kilkenny Castle or MacDonagh Junction are not befitting for a city of our calibre.

• Develop public transport infrastructure for rural areas i.e., Callan, Castlecomer, Bennettsbridge, Thomastown, Inistioge to

Kilkenny City. Expanding public transport choices, between urban and rural areas or rural to other larger rural areas could potentially aid the expansion of towns and offer various employment opportunities from area to area, and generate economic opportunities and inclusivity between rural areas. This development and expansion of areas should not be dependent on existing infrastructure, which is currently inadequate. Rather, Kilkenny County Council should construct new infrastructure in order to expand rural area

boundaries • Work towards the development of a link between two important urban centre areas of the South Eastern regionWexford and Kilkenny, as part of the ‘Enhanced Regional Accessibility’ objective of the National Strategic Outcomes There is currently no rail infrastructure or bus services running between these two areas. Connecting these two urban areas would provide ease of accessibility and increase tourist activities between them. It would also be beneficial for local businesses.

The pause on investment in McDonagh station where platforms are not long enough to accommodate more train carriages needs to be tackled. Services between Kilkenny, Waterford and Dublin need to be extended in the evening time and early mornings where students cannot readily access South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford by public transport or day patients cannot make it to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) before mid-morning.

The future is bright for Kilkenny. Let’s work together! #AKilkennyworthworkingfor

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News Science & Wellbeing In a recent paper published in Science Advances, researchers surveyed 59,000 people across 63 countries.

“Belief” in climate change was 86%.

Meanwhile, by their nature governments will change policy if they think they have strong public backing. When it comes to climate change, companies need to know that consumers want to see lowcarbon products and changes in business practices. We’re all more likely to make changes if we think others will do the same.

If governments, companies, innovators, and our neighbours know that most people are worried about the climate and want to see change, they’ll be more willing to drive it.

However , if we systematically underestimate widespread support, we’ll keep quiet for fear of “rocking the boat”.

This matters not only within each country but also in how we cooperate internationally.

No country can solve climate change on its own. If we think that people in other countries don’t care and won’t act, we’re more likely to sit back as we consider our efforts hopeless.

Support for climate action is high across the world The majority of people in every country in the world worry about climate change and support policies to tackle it. We can see this in the survey data shown on the map.

Surveys can produce unreliable — even conflicting — results depending on the population sample, what questions are asked, and the framing.

In that paper published in Science Advances, that “belief” in climate change was measured based on answers to questions about whether action was necessary to avoid a global catastrophe, whether humans were causing climate change, whether it was a

More now care about climate change

serious threat to humanity, and whether it was a global emergency.

People think climate change is a serious threat, and humans are the cause.

Concern was high across countries: even in the country with the lowest agreement, 73% agreed.

The majority also supported climate policies, with an average global score of 72%.

“Policy support” was measured as the average across nine interventions, including carbon taxes on fossil fuels, expanding public transport, more renewable energy, more electric car chargers, taxes on airlines, and protecting forests. In the country with the lowest support, there

was still a majority (59%) who supported these policies.

Another recent paper published in Nature Climate Change found similarly high support for political change.

Peter Andre et al. (2024) surveyed almost 130,000 individuals across 125 countries.

89% wanted to see more political action. A total of 86% think people in their country “should try to fight global warming”. And 69% said they would be willing to contribute at least 1% of their income to tackle climate change.

Other studies in the US and the UK show 70% to 83% answered “yes” to a range of surveys focused on whether humans were

causing climate change, whether it was a concern, and a threat to humanity. In the UK, the share who agreed was between 73% and 90%.

The fact that the majority of people “believe” in climate change and think it’s a problem is consistent across studies.

Most people underestimate popular support for climate action One interesting observation is that populations in low and middle-income countries are more willing to pay than in rich countries. A total 83% of those in Bangladesh said “yes”, compared to 48% in the UK or the US. This might reflect levels of climate risk: if your livelihood was at risk

from climate-related disasters, then you are more willing to give up some of your income. This feeling of threat might be less salient in richer, more temperate countries.

In examining people’s claims that they are willing to pay, saying you’ll give up some of your income is not the same as actually doing it.

Nonetheless, these results tell us that there is a “perception gap” in how we view our own climate opinions and those of others.

Other studies document the same. A study published in Nature Communications found that 80% to 90% of Americans underestimated public support for climate policies. And not by a small

amount: they thought that just 37% to 43% were supporters, despite the actual number being 66% to 80%.

In other words, they thought people in favour of climate policies were in the minority.

In reality, the opposite was true: more than two-thirds of the country wants to see more action.

Mainstream media has influence. Polarising stories make better headlines. “Most people support climate action” isn’t an exciting story.

You’ll get more clicks by making people angry at others for disagreeing.

“Both sides” debates, for example in talk shows, can also give people the impression that they accurately reflect balance among the public. People think that far more people are opposed to climate action as a result.

The debate is now about the merits of different solutions, not whether we should act For decades, the world debated whether climate change was happening, if humans were causing it, and if we should do something.

If you look at levels of concern since the millennium, for example, you find an interesting decline-thenrise. In the first decade of the 2000s, environmental concerns were very high. In 2005/06, 82% said they were concerned about “global warming”. This was around the time that Al Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth was released. The Stern Report on the impacts and economics of climate change was also published. And not far ahead of the release of the UK’s Climate Change Act. However, in the early 2010s, concern dropped dramatically, falling to just 60%. This might have resulted from the financial crisis, and other problems taking centre stage. Climate change fell off the agenda.

But since then, concern has rebounded, and is now back to record levels.

When dogs became man’s best friend ...

The Italian city of Verona took root and grew around more than 2,000 years ago and, around that time, a baby was buried in a simple grave. She did not go into the afterlife completely alone, however. Alongside her fragile little bones, its paws tucked as if napping, is the complete skeleton of a dog.

In a recent paper in PLOS One, the infant’s grave is dubbed B19, one of a handful of “human- animal co-burials” in the Iron Age necropolis unearthed on seminary grounds.

A team from the University of Bern and other institutions found more than 160 graves of men, women, and children at the site, and none of them were lavish: Most contained some pot-

tery, simple jewellery, or a few coins. A small number of the graves included the remains, often partial, of

animals such as pigs, goats, or chickens, which were likely intended as food offerings for the dead. In four

of the graves, including B19, archaeologists found the complete or partial remains of horses or dogs, animals that were not eaten by the Cenomani people who lived in the region at the time.

The infant’s age may be a clue to why the dog was buried with her: Elsewhere in southern Europe at this time, particularly in Greece, dogs were associated with deities that oversaw birth and childhood, and the animals were sometimes sacrificed when a child was born, to secure divine favour.

By studying isotopes in the bones of the B19 dog, the researchers determined the dog had eaten a diet extremely low in animal proteins, and composed mostly of carbohydrates. The B19

dog also had an old, poorly healed fracture on one of its front legs. It is possible — but speculative — that it had been a working dog, used perhaps for hunting or livestock guardianship, until its injury.

Afterwards, perhaps unable to perform its duties, the dog may have been doted on, fed the same porridge as human members of the household.

One hypothesis is strongly suggestive of the deeply ancient and special relationship between dogs and humans, one that goes beyond domestication.

Some recent research has pushed the date of the domestication of wolves in Europe as far back as 40,000 years ago, based on the presence of dog-like

anatomical features, such as shorter skulls and wider snouts, in several ancient canid remains.

Other studies, which combined genetic and archaeological data, describe a separate domestication event in Siberia, around 23,000 years ago; the dogs from this lineage likely crossed the land bridge of Beringia and entered the Americas with humans at least 15,000 years ago.

Still other teams have concluded that domestication occurred in Central Asia, China, and other locations.

The origin of dogs remains murky in part because it happened so long ago, and almost certainly at multiple times, in multiple places, as detailed in a 2022 paper in Nature.

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Travel & Leisure Spain’s Barcelona, with its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture, attracts millions of tourists each year.

However, like many popular destinations, Barcelona has a lot of tourist traps. Here’s a guide to some common tourist traps in Barcelona and how to avoid them.

What is The Best Way From Barcelona Airport To City?

The best way to downtown is by shared transfer for €13 a person you can book online and it will take 30 minutes to get to your hotel. Meanwhile, here’s the tourist traps to avoid: 1. La Rambla Why to Avoid: La Rambla is perhaps the most famous street in Barcelona, but it’s also notorious for being overcrowded, overpriced, and a hotspot for pickpockets.

Alternative: Instead of spending too much time on La Rambla, explore the nearby neighbourhoods of El Raval or El Born. These areas offer a more authentic atmosphere with great local shops, bars, and restaurants.

2. Sagrada Familia’s Long Lines Why to Avoid: Waiting in line for hours to enter the Sagrada Familia can eat up a significant portion of your day.

Alternative: Purchase tickets online in advance to skip the long lines. This not only saves time but ensures your entry during peak hours.

3. Paella On La Rambla Why to Avoid: The paella served in most restaurants along La Rambla is often overpriced and not authentic.

These places generally cater to tourists and may not offer the best quality.

Alternative: For authentic paella, head to the Barceloneta neighbourhood near the beach, where many locals go. Restaurants like Can Majó or La Mar Salada are popular for their seafood Those of us who have actually managed to make a reality of the group chat plans are on the countdown for getaways.

The mini toiletries are being bought, days worth of clothes are being crammed into tiny bags and itineraries are being argued over.

During all that faffing about, of course there’s also the important stuff like making sure you actually have all your tickets and travel insurance sorted.

And typically, we’ve all got that one friend who shows up to the airport with a plastic wallet of paper stuff all printed out.

Usually, we just stand smugly with our passport in hand and all our docs conveniently downloaded to our phones ready to be shown at the airport checkin.

They do make things easier.

But it turns out, perhaps they should be the smug

Where is better to avoid in Barcelona dishes.

You will be able to save 2030% of the final bill by eating a paella in a local place.

Boqueria or artisan shops in the Gothic Quarter. These places offer goods that are more likely to be locally made.

4. Generic Souvenir Shops Why to Avoid: Many souvenir shops in central tourist areas sell generic, sometimes nonSpanish items at high prices.

Alternative: For unique and authentic souvenirs, try exploring local markets like Mercat de Sant Josep de la

5. Expensive Tapas Bars In Tourist Areas Why to Avoid: Tapas bars located in prime tourist locations often charge more for smaller, less authentic dishes.

Alternative: Visit tapas bars that are favoured by locals.

Areas like Gracia or Poble Sec have numerous bars and restaurants that offer delicious, authentic tapas at reasonable prices.

6. Street Performers and Costume Characters Why to Avoid: The human statues and other performers along La Rambla can be entertaining, but they often expect money for photos and can be persistent.

Ryanair’s mobile check-in warning

Alternative: Enjoy these performances from a distance if you’re interested, but be aware of your belongings and avoid interacting too much if you’re not interested in tipping.

7. Montjuïc Cable Car Why to Avoid: The Montjuïc Cable Car is quite expensive, and the queues can be long during tourist season.

Alternative: For stunning

views over the city and a pleasant walk, consider taking the funicular railway up to Montjuïc and then explore the area on foot.

By steering clear of these common tourist traps, you can enjoy a more authentic and enjoyable experience in Barcelona. Embrace the city’s rich culture, historic architecture and delicious cuisine to make the most for your trip to Barcelona.

ones if you’re planning on going to a certain place for your trip.

That’s because Ryanair have warned passengers that mobile boarding passers will not be accepted in three major holiday destinations.

If you’re planning on flying to one of these spots for a trip anytime soon otherwise you’ll be having a nightmare before you’ve even checked in.

Ryanair says that anyone travelling to and from the specific airports need to check-in online before hand and print out the paper boarding pass for their flight.

The airline’s website states: “We accept mobile boarding passes on flights from the majority of airports on our network.

“However unfortunately some airports cannot accept mobile boarding passes yet.”

And those airports are Turkey and Morocco – hugely

for Irish holiday-makers.

Tirana International Airport in Albania also doesn’t accept the mobile boarding passes.

The airline advises that ‘customers travelling from these airports must check in online and print out a paper boarding pass for their flight(s).

And while we’re on the topic of holiday planning, there’s a ‘two-hour rule’ if you are flying with Ryanair for your trip.

This applies to bag drop if you’re checking in luggage or other items like a pram.

Every airline has its own rules when it comes to arriving at the airport and handing over your stuff. If you’re flying with Ryanair, then bag drop will open ‘at the latest’ two hours before departure.

You could get there earlier and end up lucky, but there’s simply no guarantee.

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Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Callan, Cordoba – spot the connection!

Kicking off this week with a wee quiz, and by no means simple I have to admit. As with the headline of this column all you have to do is find the common denominator that links the following list of words.

Now some of you will know the answer straightaway while most of you, like myself, won’t have a pup’s notion. And then we’ll have the Mensa Brigade who, thanks to their high IQs, will more than likely figure it out (and fair dues to them) or at least make a good stab at it.

But enough aul’ guff, off we go: Cyclone, Bramble, Gauze, Scullery, Masquerade, Spring Tide; Heathcliff, Nancy’s Blushes, Scree, Livid, and as per the headline Callan, Cordoba and Connecticut. Oh, and Bambie Thug. Actually forget that – not a clue, nothing to do with the

quiz it’s just that as I write Bambie Thug has made it to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest and I am truly delighted for her. And relieved. For Ireland. For us.

We are after all a nation of songsters, songs and music (not that Bamie Thug quite fits the bill for me). But I’m glad she’s in there in the final mix).

Back to the quiz: any idea what the connection is? They are all, believe it or not, shades of paint! the stuff you put on your walls.

As it happens we’re doing a spot of painting at the moment and there are paint brochures to beat the band lying around the house. And I don’t ‘know who comes up with the names for these shades of paint but they are quite poetic; these advertising folk should, I reckon, be writing odes or sonnets. Or colourful novels!

Staying (sticking?) with paint and quizzing have a go at the following: name the artists who painted these famous canvasses?

Now it starts out easy but it gets progressively more challenging. Get them all right and you should immediately get yourself on the Board of the Butler Gallery, the Board of the National Gallery even.

If perchance you know none of them – you need to get out more – a lot more; I suggest you start with the Louvre (in Paris by the way).

And away we go: 1 The Mona Lisa; 2 Sunflowers; 3 The Scream; 4 Girl with a Pearl Earring; 5 The Kiss; 6 Nighthawks; 7 Guernica ; 8 The Liffey Swim; 9 The Fighting Temeraire; 10 The Water Lily Pond; 11 Campbell’s Soup Cans; 12 Dancers in Blue; 13 The

Hay Wain; 14 Launching the Currach; 15 A Convent Garden; 16 The Laughing Cavalier; 17 The Taking of Christ 18 The Birth of Venus; 19 The Night Watch; 20 The Creation of Adam.

Answers below.

In 1961, the painting

“Won’t have a pup’s notion..

Le Bateau (The Boat) by French artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954) hung in New York’s Museum of Modern Art fort for forty-seven days before someone noticed it was hanging upside down! Approximately 116,000 people passed in front of the famous work of art before the error was spotted! An inexperienced assistant in an art gallery accidentally dropped a priceless painting, ripping the canvas.

“You imbecile,” the director shouted at him (never!)

“That painting is over four hundred years old.”

“Whew,” said the assistant, “Lucky it wasn’t a new one.”

And, finally, a couple visited an art gallery to look at some paintings (what else, says you). One of the paintings was of a beautiful naked woman with only a little green foliage covering

her appropriate parts. The wife thought the work was in bad taste and quickly moved on but the husband lingered, completely transfixed. “What are you waiting for?” called his wife.

“Autumn?”

Answers 1 Leonardo da Vinci 2 Vincent Van Gogh 3 Edvard Munch 4 Jan Vermeer 5 Gustave Klimt 6 Edward Hopper 7 Pablo Picasso 8 Jack B Yeats 9 William Turner 10 Claude Monet 11 Andy Warhol 12 Edgar Degas 13 John Constable 14 Paul Henry 15 William Leech 16 Franz Hals.17 Caravaggio 18 Boticelli 19 Rembrandt 20 Michelangelo. Ten correct – Good; fifteen - very good. Anything over fifteen – excellent. Give yourself a clap on the back and go paint the town red!

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Opinion

The Last Word Pat Coughlan

Opportunity for bold approach to disability access In the heart of Kilkenny, a glaring issue casts a shadow over the city and its people, particularly people with a disability. On January 15 last, the local authority reduced the car parking benefits applicable to Blue Badge card holders. Some people raised their voices in opposition but it was not until it became apparent that the parking decision had wider ramification particularly for traders that the matter came to a head.

The council met and reversed the January decisions but not the changes that affected people with disabilities. Instead “the elected members agreed to liaise with groups representing drivers with accessibility issues. The outcome of these discussions will be taken into account by elected members and any decision approved will be implemented by the Council”.

Possible victory had been clutched from the jaws of defeat. Kilkenny Access Group expressed happiness

with the plan and Chairman Fiona O’Neill said that Kilkenny Access Group was ready, willing and able to play their parts but warned against people dragging their heels on the issue. She said this would be top of the agenda at the groups AGM on May 15 in the Butts Community Hall.

In the shadows of our bustling towns lies a silent but formidable barrier: fear. It’s not the visible obstacles that pose the greatest threat to individuals with disabilities but the intangible, pervasive fear of exclusion and misunderstanding. This fear can deter them from participating fully in community life, stifling their voices and contributions. Addressing this requires not just physical adjustments to our environments but a shift in societal attitudes, fostering a culture where fear is replaced with understanding and acceptance.

But, apart from fear which effects all of us, do we under-

stand Disability Access Needs and the current shortcomings in our city and towns? As we search for inclusivity, we must first grasp the specific needs of individuals with disabilities. This includes ensuring the presence of wheelchair-friendly ramps and elevators on main streets, making public transport accessible with designated seating and clear signage, and faithfully implementing both the spirit and the word of the EU Directive on parking for those with Blue Badge permits.

These steps are fundamental, yet many towns fall short, highlighting a gap between policy and practice that needs urgent bridging.

In the spirit of unity and progress, towns around the country, and indeed the world, are increasingly joining forces with disability advocates to ensure that urban planning embraces everyone. In Kilkenny the establishment of a disability access

committee has become a pivotal step. By weaving disability access clauses into planning approvals, local authorities, with the invaluable insight of groups like the Kilkenny Access Group, are setting a new standard for inclusivity, ensuring that every new development considers the needs of all citizens.

In the realm of disability

“A silent but formidable barrier: fear...

access, technology and innovation are paving the way for transformative changes.

Smart navigation apps, specifically designed for the visually impaired, are offering newfound freedom and independence, guiding them through towns with ease.

Meanwhile, the creation of sensory-friendly spaces, equipped with quiet zones and tailored lighting, is significantly enhancing the quality of life for individuals with sensory sensitivities.

These advancements are not just about compliance; they’re about crafting towns where everyone can thrive, underscoring the potential of technology to foster inclusivity at every turn.

At the heart of transforming our city and towns into bastions of inclusivity, lies the cornerstone of training and awareness. By equipping town employees and business owners with the knowledge and skills to understand and support individuals with

disabilities, communities are taking a significant leap towards empathy and accommodation.

Such initiatives ensure that every interaction within the town’s daily life is an opportunity for inclusion, making the urban landscape not just physically accessible but also socially welcoming. Through these educational efforts, towns are laying the groundwork for a culture that celebrates diversity and fosters genuine belonging.

The march towards a future of inclusive transformation starts here. Kilkenny County Council officials and councillors have now given the commitment to not only reverse the January 15 decision but to work with the community to achieve everyone’s objective.

This concerted effort promises a future where Kilkenny can exemplify not only compliance with legal standards but also a deep-seated ethos of inclusivity, ensuring spaces where everyone can flourish.

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Mayoral award

Auctioneers community spirit acknowledged by mayor Photos by Pat Shortall At a special ceremony in City Hall on Monday night Cllr. Joe Malone presented local auctioneer Fran Grincell with a Mayoral Award acknowledging his charitable commitment to the wider

Kilkenny community.

With steely determination and a strong work ethic Fran Grincell has established a very successful business enterprise, founded on honesty and integrity.

That these attributes are integral to Fran’s daily interactions will be

From left : Sinead Grincell, Cllr Joe Malone, Niall Cleary,Fran Grincell , Eoin Cleary and Caroline Grincell

Kilkenny auctioneer Fran Grincell who was thanked by Mayor Joe Malone for his contribution to the various charities is pictured at City Hall. Included BACK: Cllr. Andrew McGuinness, Cllr Martin Brett, Laura Grincell, Mark Grincell, David Grincell, Megan Grincell, Emma Grincell, Alan Grincell , John McGuinness T.D. FRONT : Caroline and Fran Grincell and Joe Malone

unsurprising to those acquainted with his late parents.

Corporal Tommy Grincell and his wife Bessie were popular and highly respected members of the community.

During their lifetime they passed on their moral values to their children, by means of kindly actions and daily example.

And so today, Fran Grincell aware that many people in our society struggle, remembers family lessons and is compassionate and supportive.

For this reason his annual ‘Kickathon’ raises much needed funds for deserving charitable causes.

Allied to this activity, many sporting organisations and community groups would find it difficult to function without generous sponsorship from Fran Grincell.

Kilkenny is very fortunate that Fran Grincell’s business acumen is matched by his outstanding humanity and his generosity of spirit.

A welcome on the mat Cllr Joe Malone, mayor of Kilkenny welcomed everyone to city hall and said that from the time he was elected mayor, he always promoted the idea that there was a welcome on the mat in the mayors parlour for all.

"It is always a pleasure when we can invite someone to city hall who has contributed so much to our city, simply to say thanks " said Cllr.

Malone.

The former army man and current mayor continued: "Fran Grincell has contributed enormously to various causes and charities in our town and we in city hall are thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome him and his family here to say a word of thanks".

Joe added that through his charity work, Fran has raised in the region of €250,000 for Kilkenny charities.

The mayor concluded by saying that Kilkenny is wonderful for community work and that he sees this on a regular basis. "It is one of the many aspects of

our life that makes Kilkenny so great" Brian Tyrrell, representing Cois Nore spoke at the presentation and thanked Fran for his fundraising efforts.

Former mayor Marie Fitzpatrick also spoke on behalf of the general community in the city.

Accompanying Fran Grincell on the night was his wife Caroline, sons David, Mark and Alan.

Mayor Malone presented Fran with a Mayors certificate of appreciation for his contribution to Kilkenny.

Accepting the certificate, Mr Grincell said he was delighted to be lucky enough to be in a position to raise funds for various charities. “I want to stress that this is not a one man band.

A lot of parts have to come together to raise this kind of money, not least those people who dig deep to help those less well off”, said Fran.

The Dean Street auctioneer said it was especially nice to have his wife Caroline and his family with him on this special night.

Marie Fitzpatrick and Seán Ó hArgáin pictured with Fran Grincell

Mayor says thanks. Presenting Fran Grincell with a certificate for his charity work, Cllr Malone congratulated Fran for his generous fundraising. Pictured also is Frans wife Caroline

Fran Grincell pictured at Kilkenny city hall

Members of local soccer team St John’s FC pictured with Mayor Joe Malone and Fran Grincell at city hall: Sean Carroll, Dion Conroy, Robert Kirwan and John Conroy

At city hall to congratulate Fran Grincell. From left : Martin Brett , Fran Grincell, Joe Malone, Ann Ryan, John McGuinness and Myles Kavanagh

Representing Cois Nore at City Hall was Brian Tyrrell

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Climate Change

– are we all playing our part?

WEEK 68

“ What is one glass of water worth?”

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Opinion

Interrogation at Woodstock Part two

Woodstock House Inistioge

Last week, you’ll recall that I described how Callan man Jim Bolger was driven to Tan HQ in Woodstock, near Inistioge after being taken from Tom Nolan’s bus on the Kilkenny/Callan Road. As the ambush team at Friary Street was believed to have escaped on bikes, the Tans suspected Jim of possible involvement because he was wearing bicycle clips…Jim was pushed and jostled up steps and along a corridor at Woodstock House…

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

Stopping at an open doorway, the soldiers flung Jim into a large room or office. Falling to the ground, he struggled to his feet and made eye contact with a one-armed man who stood smirking behind a desk.

He was an officer, with a twirling moustache and a scar on the left side of his weather-beaten face. In place of his missing arm, he had a hook protruding ominously from the sleeve of his military uniform. On the wall behind him was draped a large Union Jack and above this hung pictures of the king and Lloyd George.

"So you are James Bolger from Callan" he asked the tall prisoner standing before him.

Jim confirmed his identity.

The officer bid him sit down and Jim pulled over a chair.

The man in uniform introduced himself as having the rank of Major in His Majesty’s Auxiliary force at Woodstock.

"Do you know why you have

been arrested?" he asked.

"I was told ‘twas because I was wearing bicycle clips" Jim answered.

The Major explained that the "rebel scum" as he called them who had attempted to ambush the ration party in Friary Street, Kilkenny, had apparently escaped on bikes.

It was therefore, he suggested, reasonable to be suspi-

cious of men caught wearing bicycle clips on a bus leaving Kilkenny less than half an hour after the incident.

He asked Jim what he did for a living. Jim told him that he hailed from The Rushes, Castlecomer and had moved to Callan to drive a threshing set for the Creamery. He explained that he was on Tom Nolan’s bus to receive driving

Auxilaries at the rear of Woodstock House in 1921

instruction to enable him to drive a lorry shortly to be acquired by the Co-op.

The Major chatted in a friendly manner about Jim’s line of work. He complimented him on his skill in operating farm machinery and on his knowledge of rural life.

But then he returned to the bicycle clips. "James", he intoned, "We have information from friends of yours in Callan. They’ve told us everything about your involvement in this criminal conspiracy and with the IRA murder gang. Your rebel confederates have all been named to us.

What we would like you to do is fill in the missing pieces for us. Your rebel friends have already betrayed you. " Jim was dumbfounded. He knew the man was bluffing, but he could see too that the officer really believed he was implicated in Republicanism and the insurgency. "I know nothing about that ambush in Friary Street and I never had any dealings with the fellows you’re after", he replied truthfully.

"You do ride a bicycle James don’t you"? The Major continued. "I do" said Jim. "And you

Tans driving up High Street Inistioge to Woodstock

rode a bicycle in Kilkenny on the morning of February 21st, did you not?" the Major pursued.

Jim was emphatic: "No, I didn’t. I drove Nolan’s bus part of the way into town and part of the way back to Callan. I had no bike with me. I heard about the Friary Street thing from a draper in Kilkenny."

The Major rose abruptly and stepped out from behind his desk. Standing in front of Jim, he glared at him and roared: "Then why were you wearing those fauking bicycle clips, you Irish baustad?"

Calmly, Jim replied "Ah well you see major, I wear them all the time. It’s just a habit. I like wearing the auld clips."

The Major resumed his seat at the desk. He spoke darkly of the consequences for Jim

of not confessing his "crimes."

Twirling his moustache, he threatened: "we can do this the easy way, James, or we can resort to other means of establishing the truth.”

He shouted at somebody outside the office, and in stepped two armed Black and Tans. "Take him to the basement…”

To be continued…

My novel, Invaders, tells the story of how a small band of men and women in 17th century Ireland took on one of the most powerful armies in the world.

It’s available from Amazon and Kilkenny bookshops

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Global Report There are increasing calls among Irish home-owners and businesses, particularly in Dublin and Wicklow and, indeed, in Kilkenny in Wallslough, for the Government to act on the growing homeless immigrant crisis.

At last count there were some 1,700 male immigrants living in tents on the streets.

Meanwhile, tensions grow between Dublin and London, as the UK government ‘offers’ Ireland the chance to join its deeply controversial Rwanda migrant deportation scheme, according to reports in the British press.

The Daily Telegraph, which often publishes stories backing the Conservative government, claimed Downing Street was “open to exploring Ireland’s participation in the scheme after Irish ministers blamed the deterrent effect of deportation to Rwanda for the surge in asylum seekers arriving in Dublin from Britain”.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee recently claimed up to 80% of asylum seekers were crossing the border from Northern Ireland, which UK prime minister Rishi Sunak claimed was a sign that his Rwanda scheme was working.

Recently Britain’s Parliament passed a law that seeks to redefine reality. The Safety of Rwanda Act declares Rwanda a “safe” country, regardless of the evidence to the contrary — and orders British courts to do the same. Its purpose is to allow the British Government to finally, after two years, enact its policy to permanently deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Some of the most vulnerable people in Britain will be rounded up, detained and then — in theory — flown some 4,000 miles to Rwanda’s capital, Kigali. What to do about people seeking asylum is one of the most complex policy issues facing governments around the world, and the British Government insists it has the answer with the Rwanda scenario.

In April 2022, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a multimillionpound deal with Rwanda that would allow the British Government to put “tens of thousands” of asylum seekers on one-way flights to Kigali.

Asylum seekers have been crossing to Britain from France for decades, often hiding in trucks going through the Channel Tunnel. But increased security checks on those routes, and a temporary fall in traffic during Covid lockdowns, had led to a sharp rise in the proportion of people crossing the English Channel in small boats. This highly visible and dangerous method has caused much controversy in Britain. The Rwanda policy would help, the British Government claimed, because deporting some of those who succeeded in reaching Britain would deter others from trying.

The deal was condemned by human rights groups and the United Nations refugee agency, which urged both countries to rethink the plans, and then

Our immigrant crisis, Britain and the Rwanda crux it was delayed by legal challenges.

In November last year, Britain’s highest court found the policy unlawful on the grounds that Rwanda — where the police shot dead 12 Congolese refugees during a protest in 2018 — was not a safe place to deport asylum seekers. Rwanda, the court said, might send them back to countries where their lives could be at risk.

That might have spelled an end to the policy. But Rishi Sunak, who had become prime minister in October 2022, vowed to revive it. The law that passed recently aims to override that court ruling by declaring that Rwanda is safe. (The African country last month marked the 30th anniversary of the genocide).

As one former British senior government lawyer has noted: “What the act is doing is making it lawful to send people to Rwanda whether it is safe or not.”

Legality aside, it has never been clear that the policy is even capable of working. In a 2022 letter to Priti Patel, then

the home secretary and in charge of immigration, the most senior civil servant in her department wrote that “evidence of a deterrent effect is highly uncertain”.

It’s also not clear that Rwanda can accommodate people at such a scale — 70% of the homes in a Kigali housing development that the British Government said was being prepared to accommodate deportees have reportedly been sold to local buyers.

So what is the point of the Rwanda policy? Mr Sunak’s government appears to see it as politically useful. The Conservative Party, in power for 14 years, is polling some 20 points behind Labour, and a general election must be held by January. Mr Sunak is a former investment banker who is seen as coming from the Conservative Party’s centre, and he has tried hard to project an image of competence since taking over from his predecessor, Liz Truss — she of the disastrous “mini-budget” fame.

Mr Sunak made stopping small boats one of his key pri-

orities for 2023 and told voters that they could and should judge him on whether he achieved those priorities.

He’s had mixed success on some others: Inflation has gone down, and the economy is barely growing. But Mr. Sunak — under pressure from his party’s right to accede to their demands on immigration — needs an emphatic win, or at least something that looks like one.

Indeed, the news, first reported in The Sun, the tabloid known for its conservative politics, that a failed asylum seeker had been given more than £3,000 to fly to Rwanda under an entirely different policy seemed cynically timed to coincide with the recent local elections in England which saw a very poor outcome for the Conservatives. As did a government news release the day before announcing that some migrants had already been detained ahead of flights that won’t depart for at least two months, if ever, along with video of dawn raids released by the Home Office.

“80% of asylum seekers crossing from Northern Ireland...

The news is a stark reminder that there are real people at the sharp end of this policy.

Nearly 30,000 people traveled on small boats to Britain last year alone, and deaths have become more common. Five people, including a child, died making the crossing last week, hours after the bill passed.

Few, if anyone, think this is an acceptable state of affairs.

It is one facet of a global problem — an international failure

to provide displaced people with the safety and security that would remove the need for such journeys. More safe routes to asylum, along with greater international cooperation to support refugees, are an essential part of the solution, yet governments in many parts of the world are instead choosing deterrence.

Britain, however, stands out not just for doubling down on punishment, but for making a spectacle of it. The government has also banned refugees who enter Britain without permission from ever claiming asylum here, putting tens of thousands of people who are already here in legal limbo, many of whom are already on the edge of destitution.

According to polling last week, 41% of Britons support the Rwanda policy in principle, but 50% think it’s unlikely anyone will actually be deported there.

The British public’s response to seeing people actually rounded up and put on flights may not be the reaction Mr Sunak is counting on.

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News

Castlecomer remember legacy Tom Ryan – Thomastown War of with naming of new pedestrian Independence internee, 1921 bridge: "Miner’s Bridge" Local Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick has paid tribute to the legacy of the workers of Deerpark coalmines by proposing to name Castlecomer’s new pedestrian bridge “ Miners Bridge” at a recent meeting of Kilkenny County Council.

The local councillor said the naming of the new bridge not only pays tribute to the past but also ignites a sense of pride and belonging among residents of the area ensuring that the legacy of Castlecomer's mining heritage remains etched in the records of history for generations to come.

Cllr Fitzpatrick in proposing the name said: “This name serves as a tribute to the generations of families whose lives were intricately woven into the fabric of Castlecomer's history through their work in the Deerpark coalmines.

The community of Castlecomer has a deep history with the Deerpark coalmines which resonates deeply with residents, it brings to mind memories of resilience, hard work, and shared experiences.

By proposing to the name “ Miner’s Bridge”, I wanted to recognise those who

Local Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick walking on the newly named Miner's Bridge in Castlecomer

dedicated their lives to the coalmines and the wider community. The new bridge now has the opportunity to stand as more than just a physical structure. As “ Miner’s Bridge” it can now embody the enduring spirit of Castlecomer and serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made and the enduring legacy left by the miners and their families on the town's landscape.

Cllr Fitzpatrick also paid tribute to the late Seamus Walsh, Historian, Author and Miner and in one of their last conversation's Seamus expressed his wish to see the Miner’s remembered for Generations to come.

So I am delighted to get the opportunity with agreement of the Naming Committee and my Council Colleagues to propose this Name.

Cllr Fitzpatrick proposal was supported by Cllr John Brennan who spoke of the great history of mining and it was fitting that the Pedestrian Bridge should be named Miner's Bridge in remembrance of all the people who worked in the mines The proposal was agreed unanimously.

Towards the end of 1920, as the War of Independence was intensifying across Ireland the British authorities sanctioned the use of internment against suspected republican activists. In the first six months of 1921 over 4000 people were detained in internee camps at Spike Island and Bere Island in County Cork, The Curragh, County Kildare, Ballykinlar, County Down and at other holding centres and jails around the country.

Tom Ryan, from Bonnybrook, near Thomastown, was arrested on 5 February 1921.

He was interned for ten months from February to December, most of the time at Spike Island in Cork Harbour. During his time in jail he kept a diary, which has survived into the present day and is now a unique historical document from that period.

In a new book, ‘As a souvenir of Spike Island’ – The Tom Ryan War of Independence diary and archive, which will be launched by Dúchas - Tullaherin Heritage Society at Thomastown Community Centre on 15th May, William Murphy recreates Ryan’s life as a political internee from the information contained in the diary and from a small collection of other prison-related documents which Ryan saved after his release.

The diary is one of the most complete and detailed of its kind to have survived. It is a historically rich contemporary source which affords a unique understanding of the experience of one individual internee, over the course of the relatively long period he spent in prison. Because Ryan was interacting constantly with the other prisoners, and they were all subject to the same prison regime, the diary can also been used uncover intimate information, at a broader level, about this important group of people within the independence movement. All

aspects of their imprisonment are covered from the routine happenings of their daily lives to the major political events of that year.

When Pat Whyte from County Clare, was shot and killed by a prison sentry at Spike Island on 31st May, Ryan was close-by and his description of the tragic event is the only one recorded.

The riot which erupted there in mid-October was one of the most extensive to have taken place at the time. Ryan took part and again his description in the diary is unique.

The Ryan prison archive, which lay forgotten for many years and has only been rediscovered in recent times, allows a close reconstruction of his life as a War of Independence Internee, and of republican internment more generally, during this pivotal period.

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Talbot's Inch

A pleasant place - A short history of Talbot’s Inch The woolen Mills on the banks of the river Nore on the Bleach Road built by Lady Desart and Otway Cuffe

PART 2 The picturesque village of Talbot’s Inch stands on the west bank of the River Nore in the northern suburbs of Kilkenny City.

Contemporary accounts described Talbot’s Inch as a ‘garden village’ but it is more accurately described as a model village Robert Talbot is the most prominent and he is generally regarded as the builder of the Town Walls.

But it is most likely he was responsible for the collection of the murage tolls as there is a reference to land outside the town wall in 1331. He may also have lent money to the town for wall building on security of the tolls. It is recorded that Robert Talbot a most worthy gentleman enclosed with walls the greater part of the town by which it is greatly fortified.

He filled many offices as a citizen, Sovereign in 1374, 75, 80, and 84. Was placed first on the roll of the 12 chief burgesses for many years, and was Sheriff of Kilkenny seventimes.

In 1408 Thomas of Lancaster the Kings son summoned a Parliament to meet in Kilkenny and Robert Talbot paid 50s for a pipe of wine for the entertainment of Thomas. This meeting was probably about the repairing or rebuilding of the town walls. He died about 1415 and in 1417 his widow paid the Corporation 9d for a year’s rent for Kytelers Hall. He is also buried in St. Canices Cathedral. After the death of the three brothers there is no mention of any of this family of Talbot or indeed any Talbots for over two centuries.

In 1661 a Thomas Talbot was a vintner and tailor in Kilkenny, who issued penny tokens in the course of his

trading but he is supposed to be a Cromwellian. The lands of Talbots Inch then came into the hands of

the Cotteral family who had their main land near Kells a Talbot heiress evidently married a Cotteral.

Lady Desart pictured with the Talbots Inch cricket team For some years before he died, Otway Cuffe developed an experimental tobacco factory on three acres of land adjacent to the Freshford road

Lady Desart and her husband William Cuffe, 4th Earl of Desart

A tomb in St Canices Cathedral dated 1550, records the names of Adam, and John Cotteral, Richard and Walter Lawless Lords of Talbots Inch. The Lawless and Cotteral families were of Norman origin. Their history in many ways is parallel to the Talbots. They were Sovereigns, and Sheriffs of the city, and the Lawless name is mentioned many times in the Liber Primus.

One Walter Lawless in 1537 being indicted, and denounced before the Jury of Kilkenny as a grey merchant or forestaller. Another Walter descendant of the afore mentioned was stated to be “a man born to be lucky” He attracted the attention of James 1 and was granted seven manors in Waterford, Tipperary, and Kilkenny.

He married a daughter of Robert Roth and one of his grandsons was also a Walter Lawless, he was a friend of James 11. He was with him at the Battle of the Boyne.

James had Silver plate with him engraved with the Stuart coat of arms which he gave to William Lawless. This possession of the Silver may account for the legend that Gold and Silver was buried at Talbots Inch. This gold and silver story is very persistent along the Nore valley in the North of the county.

The Lawless lands were forfeited in 1703.Bishop John Hartstonge bought the estate of Talbots Inch, 174 acres for £455 in trust for his brother Sir Standish Hartstonge M.P. for Irishtown. These Hartstonges were a Norfolk family but John was

educated at Johns College, he was chaplain to the Duke of Ormonde.

There is a gap in the grounds as to who were the owners between 1711 and 1890. A Mr. Murphy farmed the lands around this time to 1906 Mr. Morris was the occupant.

Lady Desart came to Talbots Inch in 1906 and soon after had the village built for the employees working at the Wood workers factory, the tobacco growing and the Woollen mills. She bought the lands of Talbots Inch from Col. Frederick McCastie in 1912.

Lady Desart called Talbot’s Inch, Aut Even from the Gaelic meaning a pleasant place. She died in 1933 and the lands and village were sold.

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News We were delighted to welcome Minister Heather Humphreys, T.D., to Thomastown on Wednesday, April 24th 2024 to the site of the new Thomastown Library. The project involves the relocation of the existing library to a modernised library in the building which adjoins the Community Centre.

This new library will be designed to be accessible, welcoming and inclusive to all communities providing visual impact with broad appeal, functional excellence and efficiency.

The overall cost of the project is €4,665 million with grant funding being provided by the Rural Regeneration Development Fund of over €4 million and the balance funded by Kilkenny County Council.

This library with a floor area of 700sqm will provide a range of spaces and services including: • Dedicated spaces for adults, children and teenagers • ICT and digital spaces • Study spaces • Multipurpose/community area • My Open Library • Workshops, events and classes throughout the year for all ages • Opportunities for lifelong learning • Opportunities throughout the year to access a wide range of cultural and creative programming • Sensory collections By expanding its offerings and

Minister Humphreys turns the sod on the site of new Thomastown Library

Cllr. David Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Lar Power, Cllr. Joe Lyons, Deputy John McGuinness, Minister Heather Humphreys, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Michael Doyle, Cllr. Deirdre Cullen, Cllr. Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere.

Photograph by Vicky Comerford

services, increasing the opening hours and working collaboratively and in partnership with a wide range of agencies and organisations, Kilkenny

County Council Library Service will add significance economic, educational and social value to the community of Thomastown.

This library will be a state of art modern library service and will provide a significant cultural, community, educational and informational

space and a destination for the community.

Project team – Brendan O Brien and Seamus Foley County Librarian – Josephine

Coyne Contractor – Tom O’ Brien Ltd Design Team – Reddy Architecture and Urbanism.

Sports capital announcement for Kilkenny city Sports Capital Grants Cllr Maria Dollard has warmly welcomed funding for two sports projects close to her heart. This morning Minister Catherine Martin has announced funding for Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Aqua Canoe Club totalling €64,795.

“Through Kilkenny Special Olympics Club’s involvement with Kilkenny Aqua Canoe Club, we have found the club to be a warm, welcoming and inclusive place for families and athletes alike. Every summer for some years now KACC has welcomed us.

Roger McClure of KACC initiated the connection and every year so many fab volunteers have given our athletes an opportunity to try a sport they might otherwise not have a

chance to try. Some of our athletes have even competed in Special Olympics events as a result of that opportunity.

I’m delighted to see them receive funding of €21,458 from my colleague Minister Catherine Martin through the sports capital grant.

Minister Martin has made inclusion a key strand in sport since taking over the role of Minister for Sport insisting that

gender balance at Board of Director’s level and inclusion on the field of play, should be a theme running through sport and participation in sport, in Ireland. I’m delighted to see Kilkenny County Council have received €43,337 for their Community & Inclusive Cycling Initiative. More and more people are taking up cycling and continuing to cycle well into their 70's and 80’s. With all kinds of choices for cycling now, people with a range of disabilities can also take up cycling as a mode of transport and a way to stay healthy at any age. This money will be well spent and Kilkenny County Council Cycling Officer is very much in tune with the needs of many people who may not otherwise consider cycling but for the availability of adapted or electric bikes and trikes. With the new cycle lanes on High St and more to come, I am happy we are shaping our city to share the space with people of every ability and age, safely and equitably.”

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Festival of music

Spectacular festival of music at St Mary’s Cathedral

Claire O’Donnell Harpist

A Disney Spectacular, Cinema Favourites, and Classical Masterpieces next weekend, anyone??

Marble City Music Festival is on in St. Mary’s Cathedral next Friday 17th - Sunday 19th May. With the last tickets available (the 2023 Festival was completely soldout), do not miss out on this opportunity to hear incredible musicians performing some of the music you love best in one of Kilkenny’s most beautiful buildings.

Disney Spectacular?

You have seen the signs and we are sure you will adore this magical display of all the greatest themes from Cinderella, Frozen, Tangled, Hercules, Toy Story and more.

Megan Walsh, formerly of Celtic Women, takes the lead in this dazzling and magical line-up of songs that you all know.

On stage will be Megan Walsh, Patrick Rafter violinist, harpist Claire O`Donnell, and pianist Billy O‘Brien.

Do you love films?

Then you cannot possibly turn down an opportunity to hear a world class violinist (Patrick Rafter) with piano (Billy O’Brien), harp (Claire O’Donnell) and pan-flute (Julian Pusca) performing some of the greatest movie themes - The Godfather, James Bond, The Wizard of Oz, Out of Africa and many more.

Classical music?

Not sure what to think? Come and have your jaw drop at the beauty and technical wizardry of these musicians.

You are in for a treat as violinist Patrick Rafter, one of Ireland’s most renowned classical musicians, joins forces with Michael McHale, again one of Ireland’s most respected musicians, for an incredible programme to include the Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams, Cesar Franck’s Sonata in A for violin and piano, some Chopin and more.

Joy to experience Marble City Music Festival’s Artistic Director, Patrick Rafter, is a proud Kilkenny man and he aims to spread a love of live classical music in his home city. “Whether you’ve never been to a classical music concert before, or whether you’re a seasoned music aficionado – there's joy to be experienced in each one of the festival’s concerts!” Come and see for yourself -

Julian Pusca

Patrick RafterJumping for joy

Michael McHale Billy O'Brien

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024

Food & Drink

Dine Me Come

With

Sesame and spring onion stirfried udon with crispy tofu

Ingredients • 400g block firm tofu • 1 tbsp cornflour • ½ -1 tsp chilli flakes, to taste • ¼-½ tsp Szechuan

Chickpea, spinach and almond butter bowl Ingredients • 3vegetable oil, for frying • 1 large onion, finely chopped • 3 garlic cloves, crushed • 2½cm piece of ginger, peeled and grated • 1 tsp ground coriander • 2 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp ground turmeric • ½ tsp fenugreek • 400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed • 300ml vegetable stock • 2 tbsp unsalted almond butter

STEP 2 Mix the cornflour, chilli flakes and ground peppercorns together in a bowl with a pinch of salt, then add the drained tofu. Toss well to coat.

STEP 4 Add the remaining oil to the pan and stir-fry the spring onions and beans for 3-4 mins until tender and lightly golden. Pour a kettle of boiling water over the noodles in a sieve to loosen.

Drain well, then tip into the pan. Fry for a few minutes until piping hot. Add the sesame oil and sesame seeds, and sizzle for a few seconds. Splash in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, then add the tofu. Toss well, then serve in bowls with a pinch of sesame seeds on top and more soy sauce on the side.

Do something different for dinner, with our vegan noodle, tofu, green bean and spring onion stir-fry. It’s quick and healthy, plus it’s budget-friendly too.

Combine chickpeas and spinach with almond butter and spices to make this veg-packed family supper. Ready in just 25 minutes, serve with rice.

STEP 1 Drain and pat the tofu dry with kitchen paper. Cut into cubes, wrap in more kitchen paper, and place a heavy board over the top.

Leave to drain for 15 mins.

STEP 3 Heat half the vegetable oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a high heat, and fry the tofu pieces for 5-6 mins until golden all over.

Scoop out of the pan, and leave to drain on kitchen paper.

Prep: 5 mins Cook: 15 mins Serves: 4

Prep: 5 mins Cook: 20 mins Serves: 2

peppercorns, ground, to taste • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • bunch of spring onions, trimmed and cut into lengths • 200g green beans, trimmed and cut into lengths • 400g ready-to-use thick udon noodles • ½ tbsp sesame oil • 2 tsp sesame seeds, plus a pinch to serve • 1 tbsp low-salt soy sauce, plus extra to serve • 1 tbsp rice vinegar

• 200g spinach, roughly chopped • cooked rice, to serve Method STEP 1 Heat some oil in a pan over a medium heat and fry the onions for 5 mins. Add 50ml water and cook for 7 mins more until just brown. Add the garlic and ginger.

STEP 2 Combine the coriander, cumin, turmeric, fenugreek and some pepper with 2 tbsp water, and tip into the pan.

Cook for 5 mins more, then stir in the chickpeas.

STEP 3 Stir in the stock and almond butter, then add the spinach and cook for 3-5 mins more until the spinach has wilted. Serve over rice.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024

5

Another telling of that Andrew interview Amazon is set to retell the story of Prince Andrew’s ‘car crash’ interview in a new series starring Michael Sheen as the Duke of York and Ruth Wilson as journalist Emily Maitlis.

The three part series, A Very Royal Scandal, is not set to be released until October – six months after rival streaming platform Netflix’s version, which came out on April 5.

Both dramas recreate one of the most astounding interviews in television history when Prince Andrew spoke out about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and claimed he did not sweat.

Netflix’s Scoop was based on a book of the same name

by Sam McAlister and follows the BBC producer, played by Billie Pipers, as she fights to secure an interview with Prince Andrew, played by Rufus Sewell, at Buckingham Palace.

Gillian Anderson plays Emily Maitlis as she pointedly questions the Duke.

The upcoming series by Amazon MGM Studios stars Ruth Wilson as Emily Maitlis and Michael Sheen as Prince Andrew [picturedon the right].

But the upcoming series

by Amazon MGM Studios will focus far more on Emily Maitlis – who serves as an executive producer.

A spokesperson for Amazon confirmed the series will “follow Emily Maitlis professional and personal journey as a Newsnight journalist, leading up to her

acclaimed interview with Prince Andrew”.

When Scoop was released, Amazon bosses were reportedly in ‘crisis talks’ over their series, desperately trying to come up with ideas to promote it as they feared the public would have lost interest in the story by October.

It is now understood that A Very Royal Scandal may even take to the stage in order to set itself apart from the version by Netflix, as stars Michael Sheen and Ruth Wilson both have West End experience.

According to The Sun newspaper, a source said: ‘The irony is that this is essentially a story about two successful, independent women working together and landing a massive story — one with global reach. By rights, they should be one another’s biggest champions.

“But each feels as if their part has been under-sold by the other, and there is huge tension there.

‘Obviously they now have two films out about the same topic on rival streamers, and both want their own to be a hit.”

Speaking of the rivalry between the Netflix and Amazon projects, Maitlis, 53, told Deadline: “I think that probably is overplayed, overstated. This [the Amazon series] will be a very different beast. I’m sure there’s room for both.”

Both dramas recreate one of the most astounding interviews in television history when Prince Andrew spoke

many viewers to resist.

Succession chose to bow out at exactly the right time, but following its departure in 2023, many fans have felt the show’s absence. Now, Netflix may be getting ready to debut its answer to Succession, Black Rabbit, but we’ll have to wait and see whether the series can live up to the quality of Succession.

Netflix’s new series stars Jude Law and Jason Bateman, and it’s about the difficult intermingling of

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animation shows to stream now 1. Turning Red

Domee Shi’s debut feature on Disney+ stars one of the most likable new characters in recent memory: Mei, whose awkward preteen struggles are made manifest by a family curse. When women in her family get emotional, they turn into giant red pandas. Few movies are this shamelessly personal — Shi, like Mei, is a first-generation Chinese Canadian woman, whose nerdy obsessions made her stand out among her peers. But that visually expressive personality is one of Turning Red’s most exciting strengths.

2. Pinocchio

Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio is melancholy-but-funny, heartwrenchingbut-heartwarming, and stands apart from its forebears. Its impressive stopmotion animation, which completely revamps Pinocchio from a humanoid puppet into a sentient tree, makes every moment a surprising treat to watch. There’s a trademark strain of darkness underneath this story too, thanks to Del Toro adding a fascism subplot. Watch on Netflix.

3. Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood

Oscar-nominee Richard Linklater’s latest feature is the lovely memoir-onfilm and the story of a fourth-grader who secretly becomes the first man to walk on the Moon. Or does he? The trippy realism of the visuals helps to tell this uniquely fantastical tale, which is as grounded as it is spacey. Linklater is infatuated with intimate storytelling, which is why the true heart of Apollo 10 ½ is on Earth, not space. This Netflix stream is a nostalgic portrait of the suburban summer of 1969, made extra special with its entrancing animation.

4. Bee and PuppyCat out about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and claimed he did not sweat.

The former BBC presenter has said she left the team behind Scoop “to do their own thing because I think the last thing they want is me peeking around the edges.

“It says it’s based on a fictional account, so I think it goes into different places and it does different things.”

Netflix issued a disclaimer at the start of Scoop that said: “This film is based on real events. However. certain elements have been fictionalised for dramatic purposes.”

Is this the successor to Succession?

Succession may not have been the most watched show of the past five years but it was a major topic of conversation for basically its entire run on the air. The series, which told the story of the siblings of a media tycoon as they competed for control of his empire, was the kind of organic phenomenon that can be hard to predict.

It didn’t have any major stars, but its potent combination of excellent dramatic writing and brilliant comedy made it hard for so

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kilkennyobserver.ie

business and family.

When the owner of a New York City hotspot (Law) allows his turbulent brother (Bateman) back in his life, he opens the door to escalating dangers that threaten to bring down everything he’s built.

While Bateman and Law are the show’s leads, it also stars Amaka Okafor (The Responder, Bodies), Cleopatra Coleman (Rebel Moon) and Sope Dirisu (Gangs of London). One of its most important ties to Succession comes in

the form of another member of the cast, Dagmara Dominczyk, who played Karolina Novotney, the head of public relations at Waystar Royco in Succession.

Filming for the series just started in New York in late April 2024, so the show is not likely to debut on Netflix for at least a year.

It’s scheduled to wrap filming in September 2024, and there is always a fairly lengthy post-production period before shows actually air.

Bee and PuppyCat’s jump to Netflix has been more than a half-decade in the making. While Natasha Allegri’s chaotic take on classic magical girl anime worked well in short-form YouTube videos, a half-hour runtime sounded like it may burst from our heroine’s manic energy. Not the case, as the greatly expanded Netflix season allows for Bee and PuppyCat to expand its boundaries. This is no longer just a show about a lazy weirdo twentysomething, Bee, and her adorably bratty pet dog-kitten-alien-guy, as they take on odd jobs to pay the bills.

It’s also about their weirdo friends and neighbours. Check it out on Netflix.

5. Undone (Season 2)

The first season of Prime Video’s Undone, a rotoscoped gem from the creator of BoJack Horseman, didn’t necessitate a follow-up. Alma is convinced that she has the power to travel back in time, which could help her stop her father from dying. The final moments of Season 1 leave us with the image of Alma waiting to see if she has, indeed, brought her father back. It was a beautiful ending—which Season 2 threatened to undermine. But even though Undone immediately answers the question of whether Alma’s powers are real with this second season (they are!), it finds new energy from putting that reality to work. On Amazon Prime Video.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024

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Community & GAA Notes

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news CLARA

FRESHFORD

CLARA WIN Clara played their first game in the All County Junior Hurling league on Tuesday night of last week against Dicksboro in Clara. The game was competitive enough in the early stages but once Conor Hoyne goaled midway through the half the floodgates opened and Clara added another 2-6 before the Boro scored again. Joe Connolly and Cian Kelly scored the other goals and by the time the half time whistle was blown Clara were out of sight at 3-15 to 0-5.

Further goals in the second half by James Bergin, Joe Connolly again and Sean Carrigan helped Clara to an easy 6-23 to 1-10 victory. There were some very good performances in a team with a nice blend of youth and experience.

Team - Ruairí Breen, Luke Whelan, Sean O Shea, Evan Whearty 0-1. Alan Coleman, Lester Ryan 0-1, Harry Boyle 0-2. Conor Hoyne 1-4, Rory O Keeffe. Joe Connolly 2-2, James Bergin 1-5, 0-2f, Killian Phelan 0-3. Cian Kelly 1-3, Ned Langton, Sean Carrigan 1-2.

Subs used Alex McDonald, Tommy Delaney, Dillon Cummins.

CAMOGIE Well done to the Clara girls Keara Ryan, Emma Shortall and Grace Barcoe who were part of the Kilkenny senior panel when they beat Westmeath in the Leinster quarter final played in Freshford on Saturday.

MINOR HURLING Hard luck to David Barcoe who hurled well for a wasteful Kilkenny minor team as they lost 0-17 to 0-12 to Dublin on Saturday in Nowlan Park.

ATHLETICS Pia Langton is bound for the European U18 Athletics Championships after running a scintillating 2.09.20 in the 800 metres at the Irish Milers Club in the Morton Stadium, Santry on Saturday. Her winning time qualifies her to represent Ireland in Slovakia in July. Brilliant achievement Pia! CLUB LOTTO Lotto results for 30th April, Numbers drawn, 13, 16, 17. No Jackpot winner. €30 each to Anna Kus, Liam Corr, Marion Murphy, Lester Ryan, Niall Brennan.

WALK TALL

O’ LOUGHLIN GAELS KILKENNY REPRESENTATIVES Well done to O’Loughlin’s players Laura Greene, Laura Murphy and Danielle Quigley, all of whom were part of Kilkenny’s victory in the Leinster Senior Camogie championship over Westmeath on Saturday last. Also great to see Ruth Crowley play on the Kilkenny Under 16 camogie team which won its first round game against Dublin 3-12 to 1-6 in the All Ireland championship.

Hard luck to Manager Niall Bergin and players Conor Holohan, Cian Byrne and Daniel Mc Cormack with the Kilkenny minors against Dublin on Sunday last.

JUNIOR A’S DRAW The O’Loughlin Gaels Junior A team played out an exciting draw with Young Irelands in Gowran on Saturday in the Junior A League. After a close and well contested game both teams were probably happy to tie 1-14 each at the final whistle. The minors lost out in the Roinn A hurling league to the same opposition, Young Irelands, by 2-15 to 0-16, early last week.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CONCERT As anticipation mounts for the visit of the Boss to Kilkenny, concert goers are reminded that parking will be available in O’Loughlin Gaels ground at St. John’s Park on the day of the concert. You certainly could not get parking any nearer to the venue.

LOTTO O’Loughlin Gaels Club Lotto. There was no winner of the O’Loughlin Gaels club lotto dated April 30th.

Numbers Drawn, 5, 8, 9, 16 Bonus 11. Play now at www.oloughlingaels.com/lotto Promotors, 1. Ml Dreeling c/o P Leydon. 2. Matt Canavan c/o Ml Nolan. 3. Vickey Trehy c/o JJ Cullen.

4.Eugene Deegan c/o Mary Deegan. 5 Eileen and Eve c/o E Kinchella. 6 Cathleen Deegan. 7 Mags and Dinny c/o JJ Cullen. 8 Sammy Johnston c/o Online.

9 Patrick Carroll c/o Online. 10 Helen Nelson c/o Online. Thank you for your continued support.

Continuous representations by local Cllr. Michael McCarthy is paying dividends with the news that a grant of €10K has been secured for the Freshford Loop Walk under the Trail Kilkenny funding application. “The scheduled Enhancement works will be complemented by improvements to the sections of the trail that have suffered from surface water damage. Tenders have been issued, and I anticipate once the weather improves these most welcome works will commence.” Said Cllr. McCarthy.

SQUASH Well done to Local man Pat Morrissey who took part in a squash tournament in Edinburgh recently. Pat was one of team representing Ireland in the Over 40’s competition. He was beaten 3-0 against England, but won his game against Scotland. Ireland finished second with England winning, Scotland came third and Wales fourth SYMPATHY Deepest sympathy is extended to Bridget Burke and her children Michael and Marie of Woodsgift and also her extended family on the tragic death of Thomas last week. Thomas was widely known and respected in the local area. Funeral mass took place in Graine Church on Monday followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery Sympathy also goes out to Karyn Doran of Woodview, Freshford on the recent death of her sister Anita Doran late of St Fiacre’s, Kilkenny. Funeral mass took place on Friday last in St. Fiacres Church, Loughboy followed by interment in Foulkstown cemetery.

GAA Congratulations to our U15s who won Feile division 3 on Sunday. The lads beat Glenmore in the semi final and went on to defeat Erins Own in the final. Well done lads! They have now qualified for the national Feile competition in Wexford next month: The Minor hurlers were beaten by neighbours Lisdowndey in the Roinn C league Rd4, St Lachtains 3-15 Lisdowney 4-16. Roinn C league Rd3, saw local lads come out winners on a score of Clara 3-12 St Lachtains 5-11. The Junior B league Rd3 saw St Lachtains go down to Glenmore 2-11 to 0 12.

Fixtures, U14 league Rd1 St Lachtains v Piltown Friday 10th at 19.00 in Pairc Lachtain. Junior F league Rd3 Threecastles v St Lachtains Friday 10th in Threecastles at 19.15. Minor League Rd3 James Stephens v St Lachtains Monday 13th at 19.00 in the Kells Road.

PAIRC LACHTAIN WALKWAY. Enjoy a leisurely stroll, jog or run around our beautiful new walkway. Family membership options are also available now. If any local businesses or family’s would like to sponsor a light pole and help contribute towards the development cost of the walkway and further developments in Pairc Lachtain, please contact any committee member.

BOXING Freshford/Urlingford boxing club had three members taking part in the All Ireland finals in the National Stadium recent. Cousins Johnny, Willie and Ned Delaney took part and the lads are now preparing for the Monkstown Internationals in Dublin in June where Johnny will defend his title. The Club have also two boxers involved in the Leisure Squibs. This is a great achievement for this small club and for all involved who are boxing above their weight.

LOOP CAFE The Committee of the loop café organised a cake sale and Table quiz recently and thanks goes to all who donated and supported the event. The cake sale was a huge success and the new Alley is looking spectacular. An amazing transformation indeed and great credit goes to the Committee on their work on this wonderful new outdoor and indoor seating area.

The Café is a wonderful addition to the village full of character and history and your continued support would be greatly appreciated. Why not go along and meet a friend or try some of their lovely food and support a local community café.

They are also looking for volunteers to help out so if you can give little bit of your time please do so.

SOCCER Freshford Town underage teams were in action last weekend with the U14 boys finished all square against Highview Ath. on a scoreline of 2-2 with goals

by Jack Marnell and Jamie Kavanagh The U13 cup game saw Freshford boys come out winners on a 2-1 score line over Bridge Utd with the goals coming from Jamie Kavanagh and Patrick O’Connor.

The U13 girls were beaten 5-0 a stronger Thomastown side in their semi final tie at Woodview on Saturday.

CAMOGIE Congratulations and well done to local girl Ciara Hickey who was part of the Kilkenny U16 team who won the Leinster final recently.

St.Lachtains U16 girls had a great start to the league with a win over James Stephens on a score line of 6-6 to 3-11 Congratulations also to local girls Nessa, Kate and Isabelle who represented St.Lachtains on the Kilkenny U14 Ambers and U14 Blacks and defeated Tipperary in both games CO-OPERATION THE KEY. Cllr. Michael McCarthy continually emphasises the importance of drainage works prior to resurfacing on the road network across North Kilkenny. “Thankfully all who use the road at Ballyroe, Freshford will see the benefit now that such works have been completed.

In the coming week on Thursday and Friday 18th and 19th April a full overlay is scheduled. Once again credit goes to the Area Engineer and his staff. Cooperation gets positive results.” Said Cllr. McCarthy.

IONAD LACHTAIN St St.Lachtains Church Museum and Arts Centre is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30 am to 4.30pm. There was another free event held there last Friday evening this time A Celebration of Bealtaine and the Role of Druidry in modern Ireland with Druid and Seanchai Eimear Burke BRIDGE Freshford Bridge Club continues every Monday at 7.30pm in Tulla Hall, Threecastles. New members are always very welcome. For further information please contact Olive on 087 9257610.

ATHLETIC CLUB Nena Athletics club was launched fit4life in the Freshford area some time ago with all abilities welcome from walkers wanting company to runners training for marathons and everyone in between. Very experienced leaders are leading a program established by Athletics Ireland that caters for all experience and abilities. They meet each Tuesday morning and Thursday evenings in Freshford GAA club. If you are interested please contact us on nuennaac@gmail. com or call Caoimh on 0874175550 PARISH NEWS Mass is held in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and each Sunday morning at 11am.wiith Mass in Tulla church on Saturday evenings at 7.30pm. and 11am Maas in St.Lachtains Church on Sundays.

The parish newsletter is available on their website every week and also on the website you are free to pay your dues and make donations or any other contributions and you can find out more about it on the website or feel free to contact in the Parish Office. Please note community notices for the parish newsletter should be left in or emailed to the Parish Office by 11am on Thursdays. Parish office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 1pm.

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 25235 21 HELP FOR 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 087 284 342 If you can’t cope and need support text HELLO to 50808.

SAMARITAN - Whatever you’re going through a Samaritan will face it with you – available 24 hours a day 365 days a year – Freephone 1161Alone is available for older people who need support and you can call them on 0818 222024 (8am to 8pm) AMBER KILKENNY WOMENS REFUGE – is available for confidential support relating to domestic violence -

call them on 1850 424244 (24/7) or on 056 7771404 or email into@amberwomensrefuge.ie.

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB CAMOGIE FEILE 2024 As the dust settles on the Kilkenny John West Feile 2024, there is an overwhelming sense of pride within our club. James Stephens were the hosts for Roinn B/C matches and our girls really put on a show for the home crowd.

Two games to get through for a coveted place in the Roinn B Feile Final. It wouldn’t be easy. This young groups Feile journey began with a sun-drenched match up with a very strong John Lockes (Callan) side. The Village girls had no fear and took the game on from the start. An early goal sent us on our way to lead at half time but we knew the job wasn’t done.

Our girls kept the true village determination alive throughout and finished deserving 3 point winners in game 1.

Game two versus Mooncoin was another cracker. With a place in the final at stake, both sides put bodies on the line, the village took the win with another 3 point margin. Off to the Final we went.

Emeralds waited for a 5:45 start. The weather a little cooler but the game was hot from the start. In true Feile style it was tit for tat for the first half and all to play for in the second. Our Village stars dug deep and hung on to the bitter end, alas it wasn’t to be.

Well done to Emeralds on a 2 point win.

Our wonderful club’s quest for a Feile Camogie title continues but there is one coming, of that there is no doubt. We know our girls will be bitterly disappointed but the whole club is so very proud of each and every one of them.

Maith sibh cailíni Séamuis Stíopháin; beidh lá eile.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING The contact numbers of the relevant personnel.

Childrens Officer: Shane Campion 087-2124816 Designated Liaison Person: Seamus Daly 086-8384782 Full document available on request.

MINOR HURLING LEAGUE The minor hurlers continued their climb up the league table on Monday evening last with a hard won 4-12 to 1-16 victory over St. Martin’s on their home grounds in Muckalee. With particularly impressive outfield performances from Sean Deely and Conor McEvoy and with the benefit of a hat trick of goals from Allen Larkin and a single three pointer from Zac Scanlon over the hour James Stephens eventually overcame the determined challenge of a strong St.Martin’s team to claim the league points on a difficult evening for hurling.

Meanwhile on the following evening the minor “B” team gave an outstanding performance before narrowly going down 3-13 to 3-11 to a strong Tullaroan team on their home ground. A fine showing

by Rory O’Carroll who scored two goals kept the young Village team in contention throughout a finely contested fixture.

CBS U-16 SCHOOL’S BLITZ With the sanction of the Kilkenny County Board and support of coaching officer Briain Ryan the CBS teachers ran a 3rd Year U-16 inter school’s hurling blitz tournament on Monday evening in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophain. The ten team competition, included school squads from as far away as St. Flannan’s (Ennis), St. Peter’s (Wexford), Presentation (Loughrea), De La Salle (Waterford), Midleton CBS along with Colaiste Mhuire (Johnstown), Borris Comprehensive and Kilkenny CBS. At the conclusion of the round robin fixtures Kilkenny CBS and Colaiste Mhuire topped their respective league tables and qualified for the Cup final which the James’ Street school won after an entertaining encounter on a scoreline of 3-08 to 1-09. The 2nd placed teams, St. Flannan’s and Presentation, Loughrea also fought out a competitive shield final with St. Flannan’s holding out for a 1-09 to 1-06 victory. This was the 2nd running of the well organised tournament testament to the support it has received from secondary schools far and wide which is a complement to the organiser, Matt Ruth Jnr. and his management team.

LOTTO Last week’s numbers were 1, 12, 13, 29. There was no winner. The €40 consolation winners were Mary White, Orla Neary, Tilly, Theresa Hennessy and Derek Walsh.

We welcome all GAA Club and Community notes for publication in The Kilkenny Observer email to sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024

Community & GAA Notes The Pride Of The Village

GOWRAN DARKNESS INTO LIGHT Darkness Into Light takes place on Saturday, May 11th at 4:15am at Young Irelands GAA pitch. Walk from pitch on a scenic, tranquil 5km walk. There will be refreshments/breakfast back at pitch after. Donations please to Pieta House.

PRELOVED CLOTHES There is an extensive assortment of apparel and accessories available at Gowran Preloved Beautiful Clothes. Open next door to Molly’s Tea Room.

GOWRAN PARK Gowran Classic takes place on Monday, June 3rd.

Download free tickets at gowranpark.ie. Gate sponsored by the INPBA, 4 per person, www.gowranpark.ie After racing the crowds will be entertained by The Waxies.

GOWRAN AC Leinster Road Race. Congratulations to all the senior athletes who ran in the Leinster Novice and Master Road Race in Gowran at the weekend. There was some excellent individual and team performances, with the Men’s Master and Novice team both placing 5th in the club teams. Matthew Holland and Cillian Dunne had great individual races with Matthew finishing 7th and Cillian 17th overall, with Matthew (2nd home for Kilkenny), securing gold on the county team. Three Gowran masters narrowly missed out on a county medal, finishing 4th, with Niall Sheehan (2nd county team) John Coady (3rd county team) and Paddy O’Keeffe (4th county team). Massive well done to all and a special word of thanks to all thdme volunteers (both club members and locals) who helped with set-up, marshaling and catering to host another successful Road Race in Gowran village..

Master Women 3km, Marie Deegan 54th Master Men 6km, Niall Sheehan 16th, John Coady 17th, Paddy O’Keeffe 32nd, Adrian Cunningham 64th, Matt Ryan 91st, Mick Walsh 97th Novice Men 6km, Matthew Holland 7th, Cillian Dunne 17th, James O’Reilly 40th. Bill Lahart 48th GRAIGUENAMANAGH GRAIG NOTES IF you wish to submit news items, club events, announcements etc you can do so by emailing them to graignotes@outlook.com. Deadline is Saturday 6pm.

LOTTO GAA AND SOCCER Numbers drawn on 29 /04 /24 were, 6, 8, 23, 24. there was no winner. The following won €30 each Yvonne Mc Cabe, Christine Holden, James Sheehy, Micheal Mc Donald, Joanne Conran. Tickets are available from any club member.

GRAIG TIDY TOWN DRAW The winners for the Draw on April 2nd 2024, were First Prize €455. Shirley Tobin Gahan House, 2nd Prize €50 Keena Brean. 3rd Prize, €25 Loughlan, Reec,

Keara, 4thPrize €25 Chrissie Hoare,5th,Prize €25 James Loughelane , 6th,Prize€25 Seann and Sophie.

7th, Prize €25 Mia Doyle. Money raised through Tidy Towns Jackpot will be used to keep the town looking well all the year round. Draw takes place at 4pm on Thursdays.

RAMBLING HOUSE The Monthly Rambling House Session is on the second Friday of the month in Newtown Hall, where you can enjoy music and song from local artists and also many from the surrounding district’s also join in.

The next Session is on tonight 10th May at 8 pm.

GRAND NATIONAL Congratulations to Steven Cahill from Fairview who had the honour of leading out the Aintree Grand National winner I am Maximus from the powerful Willie Mullins yard. Stephen is son of John and Ann Cahill.

GORESBRIDGE PAULSTOWN Tom Healy

BADMINTON Badminton in Paulstown Community Hall at 8pm every Monday. Entry is €5.

New players welcome.

Further info from Tommy, Tel. 087-2303495 BRIDGE UNITED Thomastown won the most recent match in the Premier Division (6-2 against Bridge). Bridge scores by Jack Treacy and

Eoin O’Neill.

Bridge won against Deen Celtic (1-0) in the Boys Under-12s with score by Charlie Carter. Bridge lost against East End (3-6) in the Boys Under-14 with scores by Charlie Power (2) and Ethan Drea (1).

A summer soccer academy for boys and girls aged 4-7 will be held in Goresbridge in June and in July.

Further info from Conor English tel. 085-1321578.

CHURCH SERVICES Masses will be celebrated in Goresbridge at 7.30pm on Saturday and at 10.00am on Sunday as well as in Paulstown at 11.30am. Weekday mass is at 10am in Paulstown this Friday and the following Tuesday and in Goresbridge on Wednesday, at 10am.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in Paulstown every Tuesday after morning mass and lasts until 6pm.

For the month of May there is Rosary and hymns every evening at 8pm at the Grotto to the rear of the Church of the Assumption in Paulstown. A childfriendly rosary will take place each Friday in May in Paulstown church at 3.15pm.

A meeting will take place in Goresbridge church on May 15 to set up a Volunteer Church Graveyard Group.

It is hoped that people will adopt a grave or two to

keep tidy. All welcome.

CUPLA FOCAL Weekly Friday chatting in Irish continues over a cuppa in the Goodly Barrow this Friday at 11am.

Grounded in Nature Forest School A six week term starts this week with places still available Wednesday, Thrusday,and Friday.

These sessions run from 3.30-6pm and cater for children aged 5-11 years old. For information email groundedinnaturefs@gmail.com MS EVA BOLTON RIP The death has taken place of Eva Bolton peacefully at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny surrounded by her family and nursing staff. Pre-deceased by her father Matt, mother Julia, brothers Pat, Joseph, Harry and Matt, sisters Cathy and Lucy. Deeply missed by her brother Tom, sisters Mary, Sheila, Liz and Linda, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, extended family, neighbours and friends.

SPLIT THE POT In aid of Goresbridge Rural Development has gone online. Simply go to lottoraiser.ie YOUTH GROUP (OSSORY YOUTH) This caters for first to third years. The Group meets on in the Goresbridge Health Centre every Wednesday from 2.30-4pm. For information contact Ruth Flanagan tel. 087-3873724.

BENNETTSBRIDGE BOOK LAUNCH Dúchas – Tullaherin Heritage Society, ‘As a souvenir of Spike Island – The Tom Ryan War of Independence internment diary and archive, written by William Murphy will be launched by Dúchas – Tullaherin Heritage Society at Thomastown Community Centre on Wednesday 15 May 2024. This is the story of Tom Ryan, from Bonnybrook near Thomastown, who was interned at Spike Island for ten months during the War of Independence in 1921.

CHURCH NEWS Masses Wednesday and Friday mornings at 10,30am..

First Communion Mass Saturday, 11th May 11am. Fr Dalton welcomed parents and children to mass last Sunday in preparation for the First Holy Communion ceremony. Thanks went to parents who assisted Fr Pat with the preparation masses.He thanked Billy, Deirdre and Laura for their beautiful singing throughout all the masses.

CRAFTED CAFÉ OPEN ON SUNDAYS Patrons of Crafted Café are delighted with the news that the popular meeting place is now open on Sundays.

LOTTO 29th April No winner of Jackpot. numbers, 3, 9, 11, 20.

Consolation Prizes Freddi and Erin Simpson c/o The Ring, Eanna Cleere, Station Road, Martin Egan, Norewood Heights, Larry Cleere, The Ring, Odhran Carey, c/o Aiine Murphy.

GOWRAN PRE-LOVED CLOTHES Gowran Community Council for the Elderly Association recently launched their new venture, selling pre-loved beautiful clothes. The shop selling branded clothes will open each Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

Why not bring your pre-loved clothes to the Gowran shop where they can be sold, with an agreed percentage going to the Houses for the Elderly Funds.

SCHOOL HURLING The Allianz Cumann na mBunscoil Crotty’s Pharmacy Roinn C began on March 20th versus Mullinavat at home. The first half was a very tight affair with both defences on top leaving the H/T score in Mullinavat’s favour by one point. The second half followed a similar pattern, but, improved team play and some nice point scoring saw Bennettsbridge edge out winners on a 2.10 to 3.4 scoreline.

The second match was away to Tullogher/Rosbercon on the 10th April. Playing against a stiff wind in the first half, Bennettsbridge did a great job keeping the score difference to 2 points T/R 2.4. BB 1.3. Tullogher/ Rosbercon got a great start to the second half grabbing a goal within two minutes. Gradually Bennettsbridge settled down having been shocked by the goal and started to make inroads in the game. Goals from James Rohan and Elliott Morrissey had them on level terms with ten minutes left. Scores appeared hard to come by but with Tullogher/Rosbercon not scoring for the remainder of the half, BB managed to score 1.3 via Fionn Hennessy(1.1), and James Rohan and Reuben Morrissey( 0.1)each. Final score BB 4.6, T/R 3.3.

April 24th Bennettsbridge were home to Thomastown. The visitors roared into the game from the off but it was Bennettsbridge who opened the scoring with appoint from Mikey Ryan, Some great defending from Alana Drea, Jack Minogue and Hugh Leacy, backed up by Cian Mulcahy, Fionn and Zak Hennessy kept Thomastown at bay. A pointed free from James Ryan and another from Mikey Ryan saw Bennettsbridge stretch their lead, only to see it wiped out by a Thomastown goal. Bennettsbridge weren’t playing their usual team game and were finding scores hard to come by. A goal from James Rohan and a point from Mikey Ryan settled things coming up to half time. H/T score, BB 1.5 TT. 1.00. The second half saw a changed Bennettsbridge team and they completely took over to win easily. Full time score BB 6.9, TT 3.0. The second half saw a number of players make their school debut, Lia Farrell, Brid Dooley, Izzy Brennan, Conor McCormack, David Rohan, Mikey McNally and Eanna Cleere.

Final League Game. On May 1st Bennettsbridge travelled to play Goresbridge/Paulstown in their final League game.

Played in lovely sunshine Reuben Morrissey opened their account with a free after 5 minutes. Bennettsbridge continued to dominate and kept tacking on scores while keeping Goresbridge/Paulstown

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Community & GAA Notes scoreless. Just before half time Goresbridge/ Paulstown opened their account with a point. H/T score, BB 1.6 G/P 0.1.

The second half continued in the same vein but with improved team play from Bennettsbridge , putting some nice moves together and picking off some lovely scores, with Mikey Ryan scoring 1.2. After good inter play between Reuben Morrissey, James Rohan and Cian Mulcahy, the point of the match was slotted over by Cian. Final point was scored by James Rohan.

BB 2.9 G/P 1.1.

Next match will be a semi-final.

Panel: Eanna Cleere, Br\id Dooley, Alana Drea, Robbie Dobbyn. Izzy Brennan, Sean Byrne, Lia Farrell, Nathon Heuston, Zak Hennessy, Fionn Hennessy, Louis Kelly Doyle, Hugh Leacy, Jack Minogue, Cian Mulcahy, Danny Martin, Conor McCormack, Mikey McNally, Dara O’Farrell, Reuben Morrissey, Elliott Morrissey, Mikey Ryan, James Rohan, David Rohan.

LEINSTER CHAMPIONSHIP Good luck to the Blanchfield brothers and the Kilkenny team in action against Carlow this weekend.

CLUB GAMES It was a busy week for the club. The senior team defeated St Martins in the opening round of the Byrne cup while our junior B team had a good win over Conahy in the league. Our minors and under 16 teams are short players at the moment due to injuries and lost out to The Rower and Piltown respectively.

Hopefully the upcoming exam break will help and we will see players back into action ready for the resumption of games in July. Other fixtures for the coming week include the junior E team at home to St Martins and the seniors away to Danesfort in the Byrne cup. Please see the Kilkenny Gaa website for details. Best wishes to all ‘Bridge teams.

NIGHT AT THE DOGS 2024 Bennettsbridge GAA, Camogie and Bórd na n-Óg clubs are combining to host a night at the dogs on this Friday May 10th at Kilkenny Dog Track. Tickets are available from any committee member of any of the three clubs. Monster raffle and great racing on the night. Raffle tickets can be bought online, please see the clubs Facebook page for details. Entry Tickets cost ten euro with kids going free. Hope to see a great crowd there for what is always a great night.

CLUB SPOT The club has adopted a new app for all GAA business going forward, replacing clubforce. We ask as many people as possible to download this new club spot app. Details are on the club’s Facebook page. This is a great way to communicate club business. Membership, split the pot etc., and all club business can be done on this so it is vital for as many as possible to download the app.

MEMBERSHIP 2024 This year’s membership can now be paid to registrar Samantha McGarry or to any club committee member. Membership fees are the same as last year.

Forty euro for non-playing members, eighty euro for student players and 120 euro for adult players. Early payment would be most appreciated. Membership can also be paid on the new club spot app. Please see the clubs Facebook and twitter pages for details.

O’NEILL’S CLUB SHOP New items of club gear have been added to the online O’Neill’s shop. Simply put Bennettsbridge in the search box on the website to see all the gear.

Cremation took place in Canada and interment of ashes will take place in Johnstown Cemetery at a later date.

SUMMER BOOTCAMP A summer bootcamp will be held two nights a week for eight weeks in Crosspatrick Hall starting on Tuesday May 14th from 7 to 8pm. Participants must be over 16 years of age. All levels welcome. Contact Bernie on 0874894661 SPA UNITED AFC This week’s results,U15 girls league division 1 Spa 0 Evergreen 0, U14 girls league division 1 Spa 5 East End 0, U11 girls cup Thomastown 4 Spa 0, U14 boys league division 2 Lions 4 Spa 0, U12 boys cup Spa 1 Freebooters 2.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO Winning numbers 1,10,18,21, one match three Stephen Grehan. Nice one Stephen.

JOHNSTOWN

BALLYRAGGET BALLYOUSKILL

CHURCH NEWS Congratulations to the thirteen children from St. Kieran’s National School who made their First Holy Communion on Saturday. last. Celebrating the Mass was PP Fr. Ollie Maher, fitting hymns were sung by other school children with music by Noirin Ryan and Breda Campion. Well done to their parents and teachers who prepared them so well for their special day.

ROSARY Rosary to Our Lady for May will be recited on Upper Ballyspellan Lane from Tuesday May 7th at 8pm and will continue for nine consecutive evenings.

WEDDINGS Congratulations and a long and happy life to Joe O’Gorman (the Barber) and his partner and to Ciara Phelan and her partner who were recently married.

BEST WISHES Best wishes also to Joe on his new Barbers Shop in Ballyragget, which will open shortly.

SYMPATHY Sincere sympathy to Frankie Murphy, Helena, Patrick and James on the untimely death of a daughter and sister Frances in Richmond, Vancouver, Canada and late of Urlingford Rd., Johnstown. Funeral and

TIDY TOWNS A plant sale and coffee morning will take place in the Canon Malone Hall on Sunday 26th May, 10-30am to 12-30pm. If anyone has any plants they are dividing or an overflow of seedlings perhaps they could donate them they would be greatly appreciated. All proceeds to the Tidy towns.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION First Holy Communion will take place on Saturday May 11th. Best wishes to all who are making it.

CEMETERY MASSES Cemetery Masses for this year are as follows St Finans Cemetery Friday 7th of June at 7.30pm Ballyouskill Saturday 8th June at 6.30pm Rosconnel Friday the 14th of June at 7.30pm Donaghmore Friday 21st of June at 7.30pm BALLYOUSKILL CARDS Ballyouskill Cards Results for 26/4. Noel Cummins and Charlie Delaney. Dick Brennan and Paudie Brennan 11 games each. Runners up. Percy Phelan and Jimmy Ryan. J. Gannon and S. Brennan. P. Holohan and M. Phelan. T. White and P. Loughlin.

Thanks to Daltons Mills for sponsorship of the raffle.

Winners. Percy Phelan, Tom Farrell.

All proceeds on the night went to the African

GORTNAHOE GLENGOOLE EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Glengoole Wednesday 10am to 2pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 10am to 1pm ROSARY Rosary for the month of May will be said at Our Lady’s Grotto, Glengoole on weekday evenings, at 7.30pm.

Also on Saturday before 6pm Mass and Sunday 12 noon.

PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES The annual pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from June 14th to 20th. Any enquiries please contact Fr Walton or any member of the Parish pastoral group.

TUESDAY BRIDGE Bridge is being played each Tuesday night in Gortnahoe Hall at 7.30pm. If you would like to join or find out more information please contact this number 089 4349106 GORTNAHOE BINGO Bingo continues this Saturday evening at the earlier time of 4.00pm with doors opening from 3.00pm and will continue each Saturday evening at the same time. Over €2,660 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game.

SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to the last weekends winner of Split the Pot draw, Conor Hogan, Graigue, who won €352.

Envelopes are available at the usual outlets, you can also Revolut to 0876777220.

For the month of May Split the Pot will be in support of Gortnahoe National School. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. Your support would be appreciated.

RUBBISH COLLECTION It was great to see individuals and groups picking up rubbish on the side of the road throughout our parish over the last few weeks. The Tidy Towns inspections are taking place at the moment and it is hoped that groups in every village work together to impress the judges. It would be great if people would volunteer to pick up rubbish in their own area to keep our parish tidy.

We would appeal to motorists to refrain from throwing litter out of cars as plastic items, etc., can be harmful to the environment and does nothing for the beauty of our countryside. It is also noted that cans and plastic bottles are now recycled in all shops and a credit is given for each item returned.

missions. Thanks to all those who gave donations.

Next game on 31th May. All welcome.

LECTURE THREE Lecture 3 Following on from a packed house at the Cave Bar for lecture 1 and another ‘Full House’ at Castlecomer Community Hall recently the third in a series of talks will be presented at The Community Hall, Ballyragget on Tuesday 14th May at 8pm by Donie Butler, Kilkenny Railway Historian.

The principle focus in this third PowerPoint presentation will be on the Railway Stations at Ballyragget and Attanagh and the heritage in between Kilkenny and Attanagh Stations. There is much more too including a potted history on the railway in Kilkenny and Ireland. So go along to Ballyragget Community Hall on Tuesday 14th May at 8pm and see for yourself.

Admission is free. A friendly ‘cuppa’ and a chat awaits you after the talk.

Lecture 4 will focus on Kilkenny Railway Station now known as McDonagh Station and this will take place on Tuesday 28th May. Further Information: Donie Butler danielbutler1948@gmail.com. Tel:087-315 6359 CONAHY HURLING AND FOOTBALL The intermediate footballers face Glenmore in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Intermediate County Final in Thomastown on this Saturday afternoon at 12.00.

Best of luck to everyone involved and all local support is welcome.

The junior B and junior E hurlers were both in action over the weekend. The junior B team were first out on Saturday afternoon when they travelled to take on Bennettsbridge in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior B League. The sides were level at 0-11 apiece at the halfway mark, but the home side were far stronger in the second half, eventually winning by 2-21 to 0-16.

TEAM: Padraig Delaney, J.P. Gamble, Padraig Gunner, Conor Duggan, Frank Gunner, Darren Cuddihy, Paddy Mullan, Darragh Hennessy, Kieran Brennan, Jack Murphy, Mark Gunner, Darragh Dooley, Sean Brennan, Billy Mulhall. Subs.: Oisín O’Connor, Conor Hennessy.

The junior E hurlers faced Carlow Town in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior E league in Jenkinstown on Sunday morning last, and were defeated by a single point by the visitors, losing 2-15 to 1-17.

TEAM: Oisín Cahill, Padraig Conway, Tom Nolan, Kieran Delaney, Sean Dunne, Michael Bergin, Conor Hennessy, Oisín O’Connor, Billy Mulhall, Tom O’Shea, Sean Brennan, Paddy Mullan, Andy O’Keeffe, Paul Buggy, Jake Dooley, Subs.: Brian Gallagher, Conor Brennan.

The under-16 hurlers continued their good form with a hard fought win over Tullaroan in the Roinn C League on Wednesday night last in Jenkinstown.

Some fine point scoring throughout from the Conahy attack saw the locals win out by 1-27 to 4-13.

TEAM: Neil Webster, Rory Dunne, Tadhg Hennessy, Camryn Kenehan, Ceirin Murphy, Patrick Kennedy, Darragh Horgan, Rory Sherman, Billy Rowe, James Byrne, Rory Rhatigan, Finn Sherman, Brian Phelan, Adam Morrissey, Diarmuid Quinn. Subs.: Jack Gamble.

The under-15 hurlers also were in action on Sunday morning last, but they were defeated by Erin’s Own by 1-6 to 0-6 in the Division 3 Féile semi-final on Sunday morning last in Páirc Sheamúis Stiopháin.

TEAM: Neil Webster, Padraig Murphy, Tadhg Hennessy, Camryn Kenehan, Bobby Dooley, Rory Rhatigan, James Byrne, Rory Sherman, M.J. Buggy, Jack Gamble, Finn Sherman, Richie Rowe, Mike Hurley, Billy Rowe, Padraig Quinn, Ben Byrne, Aaryn Kenehan.

BÓRD NA N-ÓG FUNDRAISER Conahy Shamrocks Bórd na nÓg will hold a Race Night fundraiser on Friday, May 24th. Race Night cards are currently being shared around the parish and any and all support would be welcome.

Everyone in the locality is also welcome to come and enjoy on the night.

CLUB LOTTO The numbers drawn in the most recent GAA Club Lotto were 5, 7 and 34. There was no jackpot winner, so the consolation prize winners were Ann Griffith, Stephan Walsh, John Gleeson, Brendan Walsh and Lucy Byrne. The promoter prize winners were Nora Delaney, Shem Butler and Anne Downey. This week’s jackpot now increase to €1,200. Many thanks to everyone who supports the GAA Club Lotto.

ROSARY There will be Rosary each Wednesday night at 7.30 p.m. in Jenkinstown Church for the month of May. All are welcome.

HUGGINSTOWN NEWMARKET STONEYFORD MASS TIMES Aghaviller Parish, Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil, Saturday 11th. at 8.00p.m. Sunday 12th. at 10.00a.m.

Stoneyford: Wednesday 8th. at 7.00p.m. Vigil Saturday 11th. at 6.30p.m. Sunday 12th. at 11.00a.m.

(First Holy Communion) PRAY FOR Jim Comerford, Carrickmerlin, who died during the week.

Anniversary Masses: Teresa O’Shea, Cherrymount.

Mass in Stoneyford Church on Wednesday 8th. May at 7.00p.m. Ellen and James Duggan. Boolyglass.

Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 11th. May at 8.00p.m.

ROTA Readers: Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m. Catherina Roche. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Catherine Dwyer, Sunday 10.00a.m. Marie Ryan. Eucharistic Ministers, Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m. Bernie Grace. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Murphy; Sunday 10.00a.m Lillian Carr FIRST HOLY COMMUNION For Stoneyford School on next Sunday 12th. May at 11.00a.m. in Stoneyford Church.

For Monroe/Newmarket Schools on Sunday 19th.

May at 11.00a.m. in Hugginstown Church.

CONVERSATIONS WITH WOMEN IN THE BIBLE: This Conference will be on 11th. May 2024 in The Pembroke Hotel, Patrick Street, Kilkenny from 10.00a.m. to 4.30p.m. The speaker will be Thérèse Fitzgerald. Booking essential: Contact Sara or Catherina at 056 772 2870 between 9.00a.m. to 5.00p.m. on Monday to Friday or e-mail regionaloffice@ssjg.ie before May 7th.

EASTER OFFERINGS Many thanks for your Easter Offerings during the past few weeks. This offering is for the support of the priests of the Parish and Diocese. Thank You. NOVENA IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA: Novena will be held in the Black Abbey, Kilkenny from Sunday 5th. to Monday 13th. May 2014. Preacher: Fr. John Walsh OP. Novena Sessions, Monday to Friday: Rosary at 10.00a.m. and 7.00p.m. Mass at 10.30a.m. and 7.30p.m.

Sunday 12th. Day for the Sick with the Sacrament of Anointing MEMORIAL MASS A Memorial Mass will take place in honour of James Devereux, Knocktopher, former Principal of Scoil Aireagail, Ballyhale, who died during Covid. It is an opportunity for former and present students to remember James and meet James’s Family. This Mass will take place on Friday, May 10th at 7.30 p.m. in Knocktopher Church. All are very welcome.

STONEYFORD TIDY TOWNS: The next general community “clean up” is May 11th. ahead of First Holy Communion and the Stoneyford 5k and 10k Challenge on May 19th. Keep an eye on Stoneyford Development Association on Facebook or contact Helen Finnegan for your name to be added to the WhatsApp group if you would like to get involved.

SAFEGUARDING CONTACTS Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Ms. Ailish Higgins Tel: 087 100 0232. Aghaviller Parish Representatives are: Deirdre Rohan and Catherina Roche.

LOTTO Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 29th. April 2024. Numbers: 32; 10; 07; 19. No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner: €30.00. Winners. Eoghan Dalton, Lismatigue, James and Breda, c/o James Irish, Eddie Dwyer, Croan, Angela and Paul Barron, Romansvalley; Richie Power; Lawcus 3 x €15.00 (Sellers), Pat Dwyer, James Irish, Teresa Fitzgerald.

STONEYFORD 10K. AND 5K: Step up for fitness and community spirit at the Stoneyford 10k. Challenge on Sunday, 19th. of May at 11.00a.m. This event, a fundraiser for Stoneyford National School, features a 10k. run for those over 16’s and a 5k. family run. Enjoy the scenic route, vibrant atmosphere, and post-race refreshments.

Register today through www.stoneyford.ie to support a great cause and be part of this memorable day.

Whether aiming for a personal best or enjoying family time, your participation makes a difference. See you at the starting line!

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Hurlng matters - Preview

Sport

Cian Kenny is growing with every game in the Kilkenny stripes

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 3, Netwatch Cullen Park Carlow vs Kilkenny Saturday, Throw-in 4.30pm Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin) Derek Lyng will take his Kilkenny team on the road once again tomorrow as they look to secure a second win in this year’s Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

Having dismantled Antrim with ease, the Cats were unable to hold off Galway’s late comeback in Salthill a fortnight ago, meaning that they find themselves locked on the same number of points as four of the six teams in the table, following Wexford’s merited win over the Tribesmen last weekend. This result coupled with The Saffron’s unexpected win over Wexford has left this year’s provincial title wide open and Emerald’s clubman Lyng will know that maximum points from the trip to Carlow are essential with games against the Metropolitans and Wexford to come.

While Kilkenny would have been disappointed not to hold on the win out in the west, they put in a decent shift while missing Shamrocks duo, Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody, along with All-Star keeper Eoin Murphy who were absent through injury. The Cats management team will have taken plenty of positives from the Galway game, especially the performance from the likes of Mossy Keoghan and Tom Phelan, who between them contributed seven points to the visitors total in Pearse Stadium. John Donnelly and Cian Kenny who have been more regular starters for the black and amber notched the same total also, further proof of their growing influence in the post-Brian Cody era. Two players sprung from the bench also provided interesting cameos for the Noresiders, in the shape of O’Loughlin Gaels duo, Jordan Molloy and Owen Wall. The former struck two well-taken points and added lots of energy to the Kilkenny cause, while Owen Wall showed glimpses of the havoc that his pace and movement can bring to the team.

Despite conceding two majors against Henry’s Tribesmen, championship debutant, Aidan Tallis didn’t let the side down and pulled off some important saves as the spoils were shared in Salthill.

Richie Reid, who went off late on after taking a heavy hit, showed his class and quality, with excellent game reading and distribution and also rifled over a brace of points while assisting his brother TJ for a couple of scores for good measure.

The Cats defence was worked hard in their last outing, with long direct balls constantly being sent into the likes of Conor Whelan as the opposition sought stretch the

All aboard the Carlow express!

Mullally’s men face stern Cats test Kilkenny rearguard and take on their men at every opportunity.

You would imagine that Carlow will perhaps attempt to be quite direct in their style and avoid getting bottled up in the central areas of Netwatch Cullen Park. Tom Mullally’s side have lost both games in this seasons Leinster campaign, an 11-point defeat in Pearse Stadium to Galway followed up by a battling performance against the Dubs, at tomorrow’s venue which they lost by five. Last year’s Joe McDonagh Cup winners acquitted themselves well against Shefflin’s side for periods of the round 1 fixture, with the Nolan’s heavily involved alongside the accurate Marty Kavanagh and might have

fancied their chances of claiming the scalp of the men from the Capital, but an error by goalkeeper Ciaran Abbey who let the sliotar slip through his hands along with the introduction of Dublin subs, Fergal Whitely and Darragh Power saw the boys in blue register an uncomfortable win.

As usual, Naomh Moling’s Martin Kavanagh was the main man in their opening two defeats, notching 0-8 in Salthill and 0-13 against Micheál Donoghue’s outfit. The Kilkenny defence will know that any silly frees conceded are likely to be punished by Kavanagh.

Backboned by a sizeable Mount Leinster Rangers and St Mullins contingent, tomorrow’s hosts will

give everything to hang onto the Cats coat tails and hope that their neighbours have an off day as they seek to record their firsts points in 2024 provincial championship. To do that, they will need to convert every placed ball look to Jon and Chris Nolan, the lively Conor Kehoe and energetic Fiachra Fitzpatrick to bring the quality needed to trouble their illustrious opponents.

It is likely that Glenmore native Mullally will call on his first choice netminder, Naomh Eoin’s Brian Tracey to stand tall between the sticks and expect a busy day at the office from a Kilkenny team that appears to have goals on its mind every time they attack.

The Carlow boss has a wealth

of coaching experience and knowledge, built up over years, taking Mount Leinster Rangers to provincial glory, only to lose out to a talented Portumna side in the All-Ireland club final. He has also helped drive Naas on in Kildare, leading them to provincial intermediate glory having beaten his own parish, Glenmore in the semi-final. Players who have worked under Mullally credit him with being a great motivator and the manager will need to bring all of that and more when his troops take to the Netwatch Cullen Park pitch tomorrow.

Derek Lyng knows that he will be navigating the remainder of this Leinster campaign without the

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Hurling matters - Preview

Owen Wall will hope for minutes in Netwatch Cullen Park

Martin Keoghan was in great form in Salthill

Tight at the back Tommy Walsh

services of former two-time young hurler of the year Eoin Cody. The Shamrocks Ballyhale dynamo left the pitch in the early stages of the second half in the rout over Antrim in round one and it has been confirmed that the talented attacker has suffered ankle ligament damage.

His club mate Adrian Mullen also departed the fray early that day, with a groin injury, and it remains to be seen if the flame-haired AllStar will be risked in a fixture that in truth, should be comfortable for the Marble City side. Another All-Star, goalkeeper Eoin Murphy sat out the stalemate in Pearse Stadium due to concussion, again sustained in the routine win over the Ulstermen, and the Cats manager may stick

with Lisdowney’s Aidan Tallis, to give him a little more experience at senior level, just in case his services are required later in this condensed championship season.

The likes of Luke Hogan, Billy Drennan, Gearoid Dunne and Owen Wall will hope for more minutes against the Barrowsiders, while Jordan Molloy enhanced his growing reputation during his substitute appearance in Salthill.

While not wanting to take his eye off the ball, the Cats management team may use tomorrow’s game to shuffle the pack a little, but in this years Leinster Championship, things don’t always go as planned. Antrim beating Wexford, Wexford beating Galway. Kilkenny beware.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024

Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Fiona Corr and Johnny McCabe, intend to apply for permission for: 1. Extension to rear of existing dwelling, alterations to existing elevations and adjustment of rear site boundary. 2. Retention of previous extension & alterations to dwelling as constructed, at Grangehill, Clifden, Co. Kilkenny, R95 Y4E3.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny during its public opening hours 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 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) 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.

I, Mary Tallent, intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission to a). refurbish existing derelict dwelling, b). construct storage shed/mini home office and plant/service room c). install a new effluent treatment system, d). upgrade existing shared site entrance and all associated works, all at Sheestown, Co. Kilkenny, R95 A47Y. 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.

I, Gabrielle Tallent, intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission to a). refurbish existing derelict dwelling, b). construct plant/service room, c). install a new effluent treatment system, d). upgrade existing shared site entrance and all associated works, all at Sheestown, Co. Kilkenny, R95 FDF1.

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.

I, Micheal Moloney wish to apply to the above authority on behalf of Pat McCorry for retention planning permission of changes to constructed garage and site boundaries from that as permitted under planning application 20/430 with associated works at Wallslough, Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 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.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

RICHARD RYAN 29TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of Richard Ryan, late of Greenfields, Freshford Road, Kilkenny, whose anniversary occurs at this time.

Always loved and much missed Anne, Fran, Phil, Richard and Martin grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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.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.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. A.S.

A Prayer to the Blessed Virgin (never known to fail).

O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful vine, Splendour of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, O Star of the sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to grant my request. (Please state request). There are none that can withstand your power. O show me herein you are my Mother. I place this cause in your hands (three times). Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine. Amen.

This prayer must be said for three days and after this the request will be granted. This prayer must be published immediately. S.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. H.H.

46

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024

Classifieds Motors

Classified section To advertise your business in our classified section call in or telephone: 056 777 1463, or email: accounts @kilkennyobserver.ie

087 2587745

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10th May 2024