Kilkenny Observer 12th May 2023

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Friday 12 May 2023

Mine's A Zero The deregulation of our licensing laws 

Paul Hopkins Page 8

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Zombies World The new key to us living for longer  Page 18

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Booze bill warning Anti-alcohol and alcoholism support charities are calling for revisions to the proposed Sale of Alcohol Bill, which has put forward a major modernisation of Ireland’s licencing laws.

One element of the Bill is to support the night-time economy by enabling bars to stay open an hour later, until 12.30am seven nights a week.

The legislation also proposes creating new annual permits for late bars and nightclubs, which would replace

special exemption orders.

Professor Tom Babor, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut’s Department of Public Health Sciences, has authored a report offering analysis of the costs and benefits of the Bill.

The analysis points to potential risks of extending pub and club opening hours, including increased violence and excessive drinking.

Alcohol Action Ireland, the Irish Community Action on Alcohol Network and Alcohol Forum Ireland recently

hosted the launch of the report.

In a statement, Chair of Alcohol Action Ireland Frank Murray warned that the Bill could “result in increased alcohol harms and deaths in Ireland,” while CEO of Alcohol Forum Paula Leonard called for the Bill to be revised “to avoid the mistakes of other countries where the promotion of the night-time economy has significantly increased harms from alcohol.”

Professor Babor said the measures in the Bill were lili

able to cause an increase in occurrences in “alcohol-related disease, injuries, crime, public disorder, public safety and domestic violence.”

He said, “When alcohol consumption becomes the central organising feature, as reflected in the proposed Sale of Alcohol Bill, the social and recreational benefits can come at an enormous cost.

“Part of the cost is attributable to the need to improve urban management, urban infrastructure and public transportation services, en-

vironmental sanitation, personal security, police protection, emergency services and traffic management.

“Many cities in the UK, the EU and Australia have experienced epidemics of public intoxication following policy changes that were intended, just like the Sale of Alcohol Bill, to attract adults and youth to social and cultural events, but succeeded mainly in attracting youth out for a night of heavy drinking.”

See Paul Hopkins Page 8

Let’s get toddling, Kilkenny

Climate experts have warned the Government that underfunding of the planning system is creating challenges for climate action.

The Climate Change Advisory Council, a panel of experts tasked with advising the Government on climate change, has written to the leaders of the three coalition parties to highlight specific issues with the planning system that are “crucial to address” in 2023.

Full story Page 6

Funding for migrant projects welcomed

PHOTO: Mark Stedman

We’re getting left behind in jobs skills

EVERY FRIDAY

Charity Focus Ireland is launching a campaign aimed at compelling local authorities to give priority to the “best interests of the child.” The latest figures show that there are almost 3,500 children living in emergency accommodation across the country.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Director of Advocacy with Focus Ireland Mike Allen called for the introduction of legislation that will compel local authorities to implement a series of checks to see what is in the best interests of a child facing homelessness.

Climate warning to Government

Ireland’s Youngest Heroes! Barnardo’s children’s charity is joined by a group of toddlers and Ambassador Amy Huberman to launch their annual Big Toddle. Pictured with Amy are Aychin Pitse (3) and Will Delaney (4).

The theme this year, Big Toddle Little Heroes, celebrates Ireland’s youngest fundraisers who help vulnerable children their own age by completing a fun half-mile sponsored walk in their creche, childcare group, pre-school and with their families.

Over the last 20 years, toddlers from across the country have raised an incredible €4.46 million in support of Barnardos Early Years services. This work focuses on some of the youngest and most vulnerable children to come through their doors and ensures that they get the best start in life.

Many adults potentially face being left behind in their jobs or careers because they don’t have the right skills to thrive and are not prepared for changes in the workplace, warns a new report.

Ireland is falling behind countries who are on top of upskilling across the EU by 40%, even though participation here is still above the EU

3,500 children in emergency homes

average. Irish employers are concerned about labour and skills gaps because the imbalance of skills in the labour market is high, according to the new OECD report.

According to the report, there is a “significant shortage” in digital skills, which include knowledge of software, coding, data analytics, STEM subjects and management,

The Kilkenny

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with 30% of adults having less than basic digital skills.

“It is particularly worrying that adults with comparatively weak socio-economic profiles (eg, lower social classes, low education levels) selfreport that their digital skills are below average,” the report says.

Lack of motivation is given as one of the main reasons

in not taking part in upskilling courses. However, the amounts of people who did not upskill and who did not want to do so “is among the lowest in the EU.” Family reasons, schedule and costs are some of the main barriers to upskilling, or “life-long learning,” which is learning that is self-motivated and continuous.

Around a third of individuals are over-qualified for their jobs, which leads to “wage penalties”.

Jobs could be better designed to stimulate the use of employee skills through work flexibility, teamwork and performance-based pay, the report says.

The OECD document has been seen by the Cabinet.

Two Kilkenny and two Carlow projects supporting the integration of migrants into our communities have been granted up to €5,000 each, according to Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan.

The announcement was made by Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien, and warmly welcomed

by Deputy Phelan.

Full story Page 10

What’s another year...

It’s Eurovision Song Contest time and I have to confess that I couldn’t care less if it never happened. And I couldn’t care less ever since it ceased to be a song contest and became an event more concerned with spectacle than song (and I blame Lordi, the Finnish rock/metal band who won in 2006).

Gerry Moran Page 20

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GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE TEAM

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 May 2023

News South East Technological University (SETU) will host its annual Spring Open Day at its Kilkenny Road Campus in Carlow this Saturday, May 13 from 10am to 2pm, showcasing its undergraduate, postgraduate and part-time courses on offer and highlights student life and the exciting atmosphere at SETU’s campus in Carlow.

As SETU celebrates its first anniversary as a technological university, the Spring Open Day highlights a range of brand-new courses for 2023/24, developed by our experts in academia and industry, in the areas of agricultural science, set design and sports management.

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 its lecturers, course leaders and student support staff who can guide you on detailed course content, work placements, internships and career opportunities; as well as answer your questions on areas of student life such as accommodation, admissions and sport. It is also an opportunity to explore SETU’s growing, state-ofthe-art campus in Carlow.

This year, SETU is proud to launch nine new degree courses available to study at levels 7 and 8. This includes

Spring into a showcase of SETU’s new courses the Bachelor of Science in Organic Agriculture, a cutting-edge new course

that is the only one of its kind offered in Ireland and will be delivered at SETU’s

Wexford campus.

It is an excellent opportunity for those with an

interest in the agri-food industry and complements the university’s existing

suite of specialty land and food science programmes.

Alongside this, the Bachelor of Engineering in Agricultural Systems Engineering launches in September 2023 for delivery at SETU’s Carlow campus. It is another of SETU’s expertled courses in the areas of agribusiness and agricultural engineering that supports the agri-food sector as one of Ireland’s most important indigenous sectors.

At SETU in Carlow, students can now enrol in a brand-new Bachelor of Science in Set Design and Construction that focuses on developing graduates who can contribute to the expansion of Ireland’s film industry. Alongside studying the traditional elements of set design and construction for film, TV production, theatre and event management; fourth year students will explore new technologies by examining the world of virtual production and its sustainability benefits for the industry.

With a long history of excellence in sport, SETU has expanded its Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management and Coaching that strategically combines these techniques with the principles of business and enterprise.

This degree is available to study at levels 7 and 8, with options to choose from three specialties: GAA, rugby and football.

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Climate change warning Climate experts have warned the Government that underfunding of the planning system is creating challenges for climate action.

The Climate Change Advisory Council, a panel of experts tasked with advising the Government on climate change, has written to the leaders of the three coalition parties to highlight specific issues with the planning system that are “crucial to address” in 2023.

Ireland’s overarching climate targets are to reduce emissions by 51% by 2030 (compared to 2018) and to reach net-zero by 2050 to play its part in thwarting the climate crisis, which has already caused “substantial damages” and “irreversible losses” to the planet.

The Council’s letter was also sent to Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien.

“As we approach the mid-

point of the first carbon budget, the Climate Change Advisory Council remains concerned that the timelines for delivery of core measures within the Climate Action Plan are not progressing fast enough,” the letter says.

The council is concerned that it will “be challenging to address the many interdependencies between climate action and planning without strucaddressing historic and struc

tural underfunding of the planning process”.

“Ireland’s planning service is significantly under-resourced in particular at the local authority level.”

The council has called for an urgent increase in staff numbers at local authority planning offices to help effectively deliver national climate policies.

The amount of planning applications necessary to

achieve targets for renewable energy such as offshore wind, as well as essential expansions and upgrading of the electricity grid, represent a “significant challenge” for the planning system, the council said.

It is also concerned that “many of the older fleet of onshore wind farms are due to lose their planning consent before 2030”.

The council warns that the

Microsoft’s LinkedIn to cut more than 700 jobs and China app

Oh. Now that’s what I call jazz...

Music Network brings Spring 2023 to a close with two of the leading jazz artists of our time, bassist Linda May Han Oh [pictured] and pianist Fabian Almazan.

Hugely accomplished performers, improvisers and composers, they have worked together in a variety of stunning musical collaborations for over a decade.

This highly creative duo will perform mostly original works in The Concert Hall, Thomastown on Tuesday, June 13 with Almazan drawing inspiration from his

Cuban heritage and musical training in jazz and classical idioms and Oh showcasing the skills and innate musicality which have seen her collaborate with some of the biggest names in the industry.

A night of awe-inspiring musical brilliance awaits – this concert will be truly special.

Based in New York City, Linda May Han Oh is a prodigiously gifted bassist and composer who has performed and recorded with renowned artists such as

Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Terri Lyne Carrington, Steve Wilson, Geri Allen and Vijay Iyer.

She was born in Malaysia and raised in Perth, Western Australia.

In 2018 and 2019 she was voted Bassist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association, as well as being Up-and-coming Artist of the Year in 2019. A recipient of both the Jerome Foundation Fellowship and the Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant in 2019, she

was also voted 2019 Bassist of the Year in Hothouse Magazine and won the Margaret Whitton Award in 2020.

As a leader, Linda’s five album releases have received widespread critical acclaim. Her most recent release Aventurine is a double quartet album, featuring string quartet and vocal group Invenio.

Fabian Almazan found his musical roots as a child in Havana where he was first introduced to the classical piano tradition. During the completion of his jazz piano

bachelor’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music, Fabian immersed himself in the realm of orchestral composition, studying instrumentation and orchestration with Mr Giampaolo Bracali, and his musical journey took off from there. He has received two Grammy nominations and additional accolades.

The duo will also perform mat Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford on Friday, June 16 and National Opera House, Wexford on Sunday, June 18.

Banking on a future of excellence with SETU The Bank of Ireland Business Banking Sectors Team recently visited the Walton Institute at the South East Technological University (SETU) in Waterford, meeting with staff at the internationally recognised centre of excellence for ICT research and innovation.

During the visit Walton Institute presented multiple options to the Bank of

Ireland team for companies wishing to secure collaborative R&D and technology development funding, ranging from standard Enterprise Ireland supports to Science Foundation Ireland projects.

Both teams also discussed the prospect of potentially accessing additional new funding from European Digital Innovation Hubs that is soon becoming available.

compact growth target in the current National Planning Framework is “insufficiently ambitious” to cut emissions in the transport sector. Furthermore, “more effort” is needed to ensure across all counties to ensure that compact growth targets are met.

Additionally, the council is concerned about the “continuing backlog of cases” awaiting a planning decision.

Bank of Ireland’s specialist Sectors Team is recruited directly from industry, including experts ranging from agriculture to hospitality and food & beverage, manufacturing to retail, health to technology. The sector heads bring key industry perspective that only first-hand experience provides, delivering key commercial insights and know-how to identify poten-

tial opportunities for Bank of Ireland Business Banking customers.

In collaborating with Walton Institute, which can also guide companies towards securing larger scale research funding through the European Commission’s Horizon Europe and Digital Europe programmes, Bank of Ireland seeks to assist the faculty in finding innovative

ways to enable the cuttingedge research being carried out there to find synergies with real world commercial applications.

Walton Institute encourages inter-disciplinary research with prominent national and international reputation and competitiveness firmly positioning the South East of Ireland on the ‘Knowledge Economy’ map.

Social media firm LinkedIn has announced that it will close down its last service available in China, citing “fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate.”

Microsoft-owned LinkedIn has 20,000 employees globally, around 2,000 of whom are employed from its European headquarters in Dublin.

Microsoft purchased LinkedIn for around €24 billion in 2016, but Microsoft itself has also announced significant job losses in recent months.

In January, Microsoft announced that it would lay off around 10,000 staff globally, which impacted 120 employees at Microsoft Ireland.

In a statement a LinkedIn spokesperson said, “We are working closely with impacted employees to ensure they are treated with respect and have our full support during these transitions.”

LinkedIn were unable to provide detail on how this could impact staff in Ireland.

LinkedIn was one of the few US technology companies to successfully operate a social media site in China, where the internet is heavily regulated and censored.

The company had introduced a unique domestic version of the career networking platform operated locally in order to comply.

In 2021, new sign-ups for the LinkedIn app in mainland China were suspended by the firm, which referenced a “significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China.”

Microsoft then replaced it with a simplified version called InCareer, which allowed local professionals to continue to find and apply for jobs as well as stay connected with their network.

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Opinion

The Fact Of OfThe Matter Paul Hopkins

When the pint of zero is your only man With deregulation of our licensing laws about to come into force — allowing some pubs and clubs to serve alcohol until the sun comes up, and the getting of a pub licence a lot easier — the fact is we are still a nation of heavy drinkers.

The most recent data from Dr Deirdre Morgan, research officer at the Health Research Board (HRB), shows that, while alcohol consumption in Ireland has plateaued since 2013, we rank ninth among OECD countries in consumption and eighth in the world when it comes to binge drinking.

That said, figures show there is a new era of the ‘sober curious’; the apparently ever-growing movement of people exploring what life could look like alcohol-free. For those who constitute Generation Z,

it’s mocktails not cocktails, and zero beer the new buzz word.

For years, non-alcoholic beer required a sacrifice: to lose the high, you also had to lose the flavour. But that has changed in recent times. For beer fans who want the deep flavours of stout and lagers (and the popular IPAs) without the baggage of alcohol, the new brews are almost hitting the spot. According to my local, friendly publican, the shift is due to a culmination of factors, including “innovations in vacuum evaporation, filtration and other techniques that let brewers extract alcohol from beer while leaving its flavour largely intact”.

I’ve tried Guinness Zero and some lagers and they are pretty good, taste-wise, the bottled Erdinger and Becks being my favourites.

Social media finds feeds in which people in their late 20s or early 30s announce they are embarking on sobriety journeys of their own. Not because of what might traditionally be perceived as a drinking problem but simply because, health-wise, they’ve decided they’re better off without. In many case the gym is the new pub.

While the phrase ‘sober curiosity’ gained popularity in 2018, this change in drinking habits can be traced further back. Dr Amy Pennay, a senior research fellow at La Trobe University’s Centre for Alcohol Policy in Melbourne, monitors global alcohol consumption. “In rich countries we are certainly seeing a decline in young people drinking,” Dr Pennay told the Guardian. But this is

not unique to the past few years.

Adolescent alcohol consumption has, since the turn of the millennium, been in decline. “The US was the first place to peak, back in 1999,” the Australian scientist says. “In Iceland, Sweden and Scandinavia, the reduction started in 2001. Western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand followed, before most of Europe by the mid-2000s had caught up.” (Alcohol is an important source of annual tax revenues, in Ireland €1,250 million. In Japan, ironically, the government has launched a competition to boost drinking among its youth).

Historically, when alcohol consumption changes it’s mirrored in all parts of a country’s population. Yet, in Ireland and elsewhere,

older people are continuing to drink, while with young people it’s declining.

Future-wise, what this new culture means for the pub and alcohol industry is anyone’s guess. The pandemic has already cast its toll on many once-famous watering holes. And the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) is warning that the deregulation will result in widespread closures of rural pubs. That the new Sale of Alcohol Bill could lead to the ‘homogenisation’ of pubs that remain, leading to the death of the worldrenowned Irish bar.

My Uncle Tommy gave me my first bottle of stout at age 14. Three years later I entered that sanctuary that is the public bar, joining old men lost in familiar, old overcoats guarding their pints and chasers. I have since then, hands up,

Life Skills Academy The Life Skills Academy Excellence Camp is an opportunity for girls and boys aged 7-14 to experience 6 essential Life Skills taught specifically by professionals in a fun and safe environment. It was first launched in Dublin 6 years ago and has proved extremely popular among parents and children alike.

The Life skills academy is founded by Gavin Bourke and Stephen Flood, both masters qualified primary school

teachers. Gavin Bourke is also a practitioner in Human Behaviour at www.gavinbourke. ie, and Stephen Flood is the principal of Monkstown Park Junior School.

highly levels of organisation and communication with parents and campers, and numerous initiatives during the week designed to action our ethos.

Why attend the Life Skills Academy?

1.The aim of the Life Skills Academy is to provide parent and child with a valuable & high quality experience. This is done by ensuring quality tuition, small group numbers,

2. To broaden the scope of a child's interests. There will be something for everyone. The Life Skills have been chosen to give children the opportunity to have experiences which they may not have had before. It is an opportunity to

step outside of a comfort zone and make the uncomfortable comfortable.

3. Small groups with small expert to camper ratios (1:7) provide excellent learning opportunities, it is designed to benefit children who are not comfortable in large groups to relax and grow into themselves over the week.

the week campers are given the opportunity to play with Goal Setting in their Life Skills Academy Goal Books. At the beginning of each Life Skill campers are encouraged to play with setting a few small goals. This encourages campers to take responsibility for what they get from each session, the week and indeed life in general.

4. Building confidence by taking responsibility- During

The Experts The experiences we have as

consumed my fair share of the stuff, in recent years to the point of damaging my health. Indeed my halcyon days in the newspaper trade saw many a source disclose facts in exchange for drink in the dark recesses of the nearby bar.

All these years on, I see the significance of that first bottle of stout from my Uncle Tommy. And even more so the significance of the first drink on any given occasion. The first one is the one that matters; the one that gives you that emotional buzz. All subsequent drinks are fruitless attempts to recreate that ‘hit’ to the system. In my bad years I was constantly seeking that elusive bigger high.

Seemingly, Gen Z are getting their high elsewhere. In the gyms, in the coffee bars.

children, either positive or negative, can colour how we perceive an activity for the rest of our lives. The people who guide us through our first experience help shape our perceptions.

The Life Skills Academy instructors are all experts in their field and are fully equipped to guide each camper through the ups and downs associated with tackling new challenges.

All of our professionals are fully qualified and experts in their field. They have years of teaching experience and a desire to serve the children under their care.

Skilled professionals who are enthusiastic about what they do create fantastic learning environments for the campers.

Kilkenny locals, Anne Neary, Ryeland House Cookery and Myles Price are two of the many experts teaching at the camp.

Book your place at www. lifeskillsacademy.ie 10th to 14th of JULY Limited availability

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Migrant funding welcomed Two Kilkenny and two Carlow projects supporting the integration of migrants into our communities have been granted up to €5,000 each, according to Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan.

The announcement was made by Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien, and warmly welcomed by Deputy Phelan.

“Kilkenny and Carlow have opened their arms to migrants and I’m delighted to see the

Polish school and St Catherine’s International Women’s Group in Carlow get €5,000 each and that the Mothers & Youth Association and Kilkenny No Name Club have received €4,500 and €4,655 respectively in Kilkenny," said Deputy Phelan [pictured].

“This fund has been in place for the past six years and helps promote Intercultural Awareness, combats Racism and Xenophobia and helps finance Sport & Community Games, Arts, Food/Cuisine and so

WHO GETS WHAT...

• Equal Chances Polish School CLG Diversity Against Gravity €5,000 • St. Catherine’s Community Services Centre St. Catherine’s International Women’s Group €5,000 • Mothers & Youth Association (AMYA) African Mothers & Youth Association (AMYA) €4,500 Kilkenny • Kilkenny No Name Club Kilkenny €4,655 much more," the minister said.

“Over the years the Communities Integration Fund has

been a critical source of small grant funding for many local community groups across

Ireland working to successfully integrate migrants and thereby help develop vibrant and diverse communities.," Minister O'Brien said.

"I am delighted to be in a position to award this funding to the successful applicants for this important scheme as I regularly visit community groups up and down the country and see first-hand how small grants such as this can kick-start small but vital local projects which in turn make a massive difference in people’s lives,” he said.

A record 7/1 as bookie feels the heat

Go for it, girls!

All roads lead to Wayside Celtic FC’s Jackson Park this Sunday afternoon (May 14) as Kilkenny United WFC Under 12 girls take on Home Farm FC in the Final of the Schoolgirls Football Association of Ireland National Trophy Final.

The Kilkenny girls have put in so much effort to get to the final, beating some super sides in Highview Athletic, Dungarvan United, Bealnamulla LFC, Westport United, Springfield Ramblers and Passage AFC along the way.

The Kilkenny girls are one

step away from bringing home a National Trophy to the Marble City. Although Home Farm currently sit top of the Dublin District Schoolgirls League, the Kilkenny girls are well capable of recording a victory. At the end of the day its 9 v 9, and cup finals can really produce unbelievable memories.

No matter what the result is on Sunday, everybody is so proud of the effort these girls have put in to get to this stage.

A massive achievement for all involved. We wish the girls and

management team the very best of luck ahead of their big day. Mar a deir an seanfhocail mol an óige agus tiocfaidh siad. Cill Chainnaigh Aontaithe Abú.

Kilkenny United WFC’s Road to the Final: SFAI National Trophy- South East Region Round 1- Highview Athletic 0-4 Kilkenny United WFC Round 2- Kilkenny United 3-2 Dungarvan United (AET) SFAI National Trophy- National Stage Round of 32- Kilkenny

United WFC 3-0 Bealnamulla LFC Round of 16- Kilkenny United WFC 1-1 Westport United FC (AET)- Kilkenny Win 3-2 on Penalties Quarter Final- Kilkenny United WFC 4-0 Springfield Ramblers FC Semi Final- Kilkenny United WFC 2-1 Passage AFC Final- Kilkenny United WFC v Home Farm FC- 3:30pm Kick off, Wayside Celtic FC, Dublin Kilkenny United WFC Squad: Mia Coogan, Laura Mahon, Amy Dwyer, Sophia

O’Dwyer, Aoibhe Meegan, Chloe Collins, Amenatou Toure, Lauren Kelly, Charlene Meagher, Kate Conroy, Freya Pender, Gráinne McDonald, Breanna Kelly, Robyn Kirwan Meagher Backroom Staff: Shane Murray (Manager), James O’Callaghan (Goalkeeper Coach), Paul Mahon (Coach), Aliyah O’Donoghue (Coach), Simon Pender (Coach), Oisín Ronan (Public Relations Officer), Keith O’Toole (Communications), Vanessa Murray (Secretary)

New solar power for Hotel Kilkenny Hotel Kilkenny will join fellow hotels in the Griffin Hotel Group, which includes Monart Destination Spa and Ferrycarrig Hotel in Wexford to be powered by the brandnew 10-acre Monart Solar Farm. Phase one of the solar farm has been completed and is now operational on the grounds of the adjacent multi-

award-winning Monart Destination Spa in Co. Wexford.

Since 2014 the Griffin Hotel Group has been rolling out a long-term strategic sustainability plan under the direction of Kieran McCrea from Clevernet and Energy Consultant Specialist Ken Mc Elhinney who is now the hotel group’s director

of sustainability.

Kieran McCrea from Clevernet has been assisting the group with the company's energy mapping and providing reliable real-time management data to understand the company's energy profile and where savings can be made.

Michael Griffin, the CEO of Griffin Group,

said, "Kieran working with our sustainability director Ken has been a great asset to the company in providing external assistance on this project; gaining insight into the data has certainly helped shape our green investment priorities.”

The hotel group identified this exciting development as part of their multi-

phase carbon reduction and sustainability programme that is ongoing at the Griffin Hotel Group and they are delighted to now see phase one of the solar farm completed, which will offset the entire energy demand of Mozart Destination Spa at peak. In addition, the company has invested substantial capital in de-

ploying building controls for heating and cooling with an aggressive efficiency replacement plan for plants, pumps and lighting. * For further details on the Griffin Hotel Group's sustainability actions see https://monart.ie/ griffin-group-sustainability/

A long-standing temperature record is under threat in Ireland as BoyleSports has cut the chances of a new high being clocked into 5/2 from 4/1.

It could be time to stock up on the sun-cream as temperatures are expected to soar across the country this weekend, with punters optimistic that the 33.3°C recorded in Kilkenny in 1887 will be scorched this summer.

The latest Met Éireann weather forecasts predict rain and thunderstorms could make way for a glorious weekend, with the mercury threatening the 20°C mark by the end of the week.

July’s all-time high of 32.3°C recorded in Roscommon in 2006 is also in danger according to the odds as a temperature of between 32-33°C next month has been backed down to 5/2 from 5/1.

It’s a 5/4 shot that the highest temperature recorded in Ireland this year falls between 31-32°C, but a growing number believe the history books may need rewritten as the odds on 2023 being the warmest on record have been halved into 5/1 from 10/1.

Weather Specials 7/1 - All-time Irish temperature to be broken in 2023 (33.3°C) Highest Temperature Record In Ireland 2023 5/4 31-32°C 9/4 30-31°C 5/2 32-33°C 11/2 Over 33°C 9/1 Under °C 2023 to set record for warmest year in Ireland 1/10 No 5/1 Yes

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Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

When cancel culture erases our history Seen in the rear-view mirror some of the fashions and mores of the past appear ridiculous or morally unacceptable. The wearing of whalebone crinolines and the child labour of Victorian times now seem outrageous.

Among the sillier practices that are a thing currently, it seems to me, are shaming individuals and renaming places called after them, cancelling others due to their beliefs or primly rewriting books. It’s the kind of finger wagging, virtue signalling which insists that figures from the past should be taken down a peg or two because some aspect of their behaviour doesn’t chime with current values.

Statues of these individuals are toppled or their names are excluded from the walls of fame. The trend smacks of George Orwell’s prescient novel 1984 where the fictional

Party believes that history stands in the way of its total domination of the people. The character Winston’s job is to ‘rectify’ history by rewriting The Times newspaper and sending the results off to the Party’s records office. “Every statue and street and building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And that process is continuing day by day and minute by minute.

History has been stopped,” wrote Orwell.

Examples of retrospective shaming include the decision to ‘un-name’ the Berkely library in Trinity College because of his connection with slavery. Bishop George Berkeley was an eminent philosopher, lauded for his development of the theory of immaterialism and whose ideas on perception and the importance of language were centuries ahead of his time.

During his lifetime (16851753) the bishop was involved briefly in a plan to build an ideal city in Bermuda and had a plantation in the US worked by slaves. However, the movement against slavery, which dates back through the mists of time, didn’t start until decades after Berkeley’s death and slavery was finally outlawed in Britain in 1833.

What does this ‘un-naming’ achieve? It doesn’t change the history of slavery, or alter its legacy. At most it makes a few academics feel important and that they are ‘woke’ by removing the name of someone who in many other respects deserves to be celebrated. Trinity itself played a part in colonisation, part of the reason for its foundation was to educate personnel involved in the plantation of Ireland. Should the college be re-named?

Simone de Beauvoir also got the thumbs down from Trinity recently, when her name was dropped from a list of candidates to have their statues placed in the college’s Long Library on slim evidence of her alleged grooming of sexual partners for her partner Jean-Paul Sartre and herself. De Beauvoir, a feminist, philosopher and award- winning author is most celebrated for her 1949 Second Sex advocating equality for women which became a seminal influence for the modern women’s liberation movement. Simone and JeanPaul, her life long partner, had an open relationship allowing many lovers, which raised eyebrows in those days where Simone was concerned but not– predictably, given double standards – with Sartre.

Recently, publishers Puffin ‘rectified’ Roald Dahl’s

beloved Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, removing “potentially offensive language” and rewriting whole passages. When this is done the original character of the author and the writing are lost to us. Or in another example of cultural censorship Dutch students refused to stage Waiting For Godot because only male actors were allowed to audition for the production, as Beckett’s explicit instructions were that only males were allowed to play the parts.

Just where do you draw the line when it comes to renaming and cancelling – when it comes to judging the past by today’s standards? Dig around a bit in the lives of historic celebrities and you well come up with something to arouse modern disapproval. Just suppose, for instance, that something

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unsavoury was discovered about Shakespeare’s activities, should things associated with the bard be renamed and delisted?

Or imagine, highly unlikely of course, that Archbishop Thomas Croke, champion of the GAA and the Irish language after whom Croke Park was named in 1913 had done something nefarious, would ‘Croker’ have to be renamed? Sure, you would hardly know where you were if this shaming and renaming takes off in a way reminiscent of Orwell’s 1984.

Perhaps the people who engage in rectifying will come to be judged in the future.

This one was found to have bought fast fashion, that one was found to have been anti-trans, so down with their names. It’s worth remembering that adage, judge that ye be not judged. dressed and my blemishes are toned. I look at my sister’s Linda’s skin, she uses it too and her skin is always glowing and looks healthy. She tells me that her skin is blemished, but you cannot tell. Davina also uses it, and likewise, her skin looks great too. Our skin tones are all very different, yet it suits all three of us, we love it.

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News

SPECIAL REPORT This year’s Bealtaine Living Earth Festival celebrates Ireland’s biodiversity and natural heritage in the South East with the assistance of expert guides.

South East Technological University’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Engagement Centre, Calmast is proud to partner with over 20 groups across the South East to deliver events in Kilkenny, Waterford, Tipperary and Wexford.

Announcing the jampacked programme for the 18th edition of the festival, which takes place from May 13 to 18, organisers say it contains something for everyone.

The festival aims to encourage people both young and old to explore the local heritage and biodiversity of the South East with expert guides.

Festival highlights include a nature mandala workshop in the JFK Arboretum in New Ross, Co Wexford on Saturday, May 13. Families can enjoy building a giant mandala with the OPW guides in the Arboretum.

Families will get the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of the Wexford Seal Rescue facility with the chance to meet the adorable seal pups in care and learn their individual stories.

On Sunday, May 14, the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens will be hosting a historic tour of the gardens with a special focus on Tramore’s wildlife.

On the 15, 18 and 19 of May, JFK Arboretum host bikes and biodiversity in conjunction with National Bike Week. Here you can learn about the various plant collections at JFK Arboretum at your leisure on two or three wheels.

Why not join Head Gardener Kevin Naughton at the JFK Arboretum on Wednesday, May 17 for a walking tour through the wildflower meadows and learn about the importance of bees for

A jam-packed Bealtaine Living Earth festival pollination. Later that day, Copper Coast Geopark’s geologist Robbie Galvin will lead a walk on Bunmahon beach and discuss the Copper Coast’s geological and social history. Denis Cullen leads two evening walks over the festival.

The first on Wednesday, May 17 through Waterford city from Ballybricken to Kilbarry bog looking at the wildlife that co-exist in a busy city. The second will be on Friday, May 19 through Dunmore East woods and seafront where you can listen to the sounds of the woodland birds and use a bat detector to discover bats.

The OPW welcomes Birdwatch Ireland’s Pat Durkin

to lead the dusk chorus at Kilkenny Castle park on Thursday, May 18.

Kicking off the weekend on Friday, May 19, the Copper Coast Geopark will host a workshop and an exploration of the dynamic shoreline of Kilfarrasy with their geologist. The festival celebrates World Bee Day on Saturday, May 20 with several events to celebrate.

The Castlecomer Discovery Park host a kid’s bioblitz with their ecologist to learn how to spot and identify common birds, bugs and plants, and the JFK Arboretum host a kid’s potting workshop, a fun, hands-on workshop to teach children and parents about the ways

that plants grow and thrive.

On May 21, Oceanics Surf School and Marine Education Centre in Tramore Co Waterford host a workshop ‘Exploring the Rocky Seashore’ with The Explorers Education Programme, taking a hands-on approach to learning a little about the local rockpools and native Irish marine life.

On the UN International day for Biological diversity, May 22, Denis Cullen will lead a walk through the Anne Valley to look at some of the small creatures that live in the stream and ponds, to listen to the birds that nest in the valley and identify the flowers and trees and discuss some of their uses in

the past.

Finally, Kilkenny Castle Park hosts a 24 hour bioblitz from Friday, May 26 to Saturday, May 27 to discover the hidden creatures of Kilkenny Castle park and canal. This is a collaboration of OPW, Kilkenny County Council, Heritage Ireland, National Biodiversity Data Centre and Birdwatch Ireland for this family friendly event.

Other events in Bealtaine Living Earth Festival’s programme are catered to schools, including online marine wildlife events with Galway Atlantaquaria’s Explorer’s Education Programme, biodiversity walks, workshops and arts and craft events with Waterford

City and County Council’s Environmental Section, some local artists and nature experts and Dave’s Jungle.

These school events are available to book at: www. livingearth.ie The festival takes place through financial support of Science Foundation Ireland, Waterford City and County Council. There is a wide variety of events on offer, all surrounding the theme of biodiversity. All events are free. However, tickets must be booked in advance. * For a full list of events and to book, check out the Bealtaine Living Earth Festival website at www.livingearth.ie

Arias in the air along the Blackwater Valley With just three weeks to go to Ireland’s summer opera festival – Blackwater Valley Opera Festival – preparations are well underway. The festival takes place from May 29 to June 5 at stunning venues throughout the Blackwater Valley (Waterford and Cork), with Lismore Castle at its heart. Featuring 21 events at 12 venues over eight days, including many free and discounted ticket events, this is a classical music and opera festival that is accessible to all.

Highlights include the headline opera Verdi’s

Macbeth, conducted by Killian Farrell, directed by Sarah Baxter and in artistic collaboration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, which is set in the grounds of Lismore Castle.

The concerts at Dromore Yard – a romantic, semirestored 19th century farmyard on the banks of the River Blackwater – are also in high demand and feature Ian Bostridge with Saskia Giorgini, Nadège Rochat and Judith Jáuregui, and Paula Murrihy with the Irish Baroque Orchestra & Peter Whelan.

Over the week, there will also be festival recitals at beautiful heritage homes and churches, open-air lunchtime recitals in Dungarvan, Lismore, Youghal and Fermoy, Discover Singing and Discover Opera trails for school children, opera dining, local restaurant packages and more.

More than 4,500 visitors are expected to attend the world renowned classical music week, which is now in its 13th year. The festival will welcome 103 international and Irish artists, present 65+

hours of music, and deliver education outreach to an estimated 2,500 local students.

And it all happens thanks to the support of 98 volunteers, 100 Friends of BVOF, 25 sponsors, funders and partners.

With nearly 90% of tickets already sold, it’s time to book, and tickets for the free events should also be booked in advance. * See www.blackwatervalleyopera.ie or call the BVOF Box Office directly on 087 4079250.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 May 2023

Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Throwing in the towel on greenwashing Have you heard the term ‘greenwashing’? How often when staying in a hotel for a few days have you hung up your towels to reuse instead of throwing them in the bath? You did it for the sake of the environment prompted by a little notice in the bathroom, for example – “every day millions of gallons of water are used to wash towels that have only been used once. You make the difference, a towel hanging up means I will use again. That you for helping us conserve the earths vital resources”.

You may have been the victim of ‘greenwashing’, a term first coined in the 1980s by environmental activist Jay Westerveld. He used the term to describe the hotel industry’s practice of encouraging guests to reuse towels claiming it was an environmental measure, while the industry ignored other

practices that were more harmful to the environment.

But greenwashing dates back even earlier to the Sixties in the US where, for example, the nuclear power division of a huge electrical company threatened by the anti-nuclear movement fought back with a series of ads proclaiming the cleanliness and safety of the plants. One was a picture of a nuclear plant snuggled up to a beautiful lake with a caption stating: “We’re building nuclear power plants to give you more electricity,” and went on to say that nuclear plants were “odourless, neat, clean, and safe but leaving out the problems of nuclear waste and accidental meltdowns.

Greenwashing is a marketing tactic used by companies to promote their products or services as environmentally friendly or sustainable, without making significant

efforts towards environmental protection. It has become increasingly prevalent in recent years as customers have become more environmentally conscious and seek out products that align with their values. Unfortunately, many companies have taken advantage of this trend and use greenwashing to increase sales, without any real commitment to sustainability.

There are many ways that companies engage in greenwashing. Some use vague or misleading language in their advertising and packaging, while others use irrelevant certifications or labels to create the impression of sustainability. For example, a company may use the term ‘natural’ to describe their product, even if it contains synthetic ingredients or is produced using environmentally harmful practices.

Another common tactic used in greenwashing is

Safety Training at work JM Safety Training based in Gowran is a specialist train-

ing provider delivering safety courses including Manual Handling, First Aid and Fire Safety.

They are providers of safety training to a wide range of clients from sectors including hospitality, construction,

manufacturing retail and further education.

Since its foundation in 2020, JM Safety Training has expanded its client base nationwide and was awarded ‘Best Emerging Health and Safety Training Provider’ by the EU Business News at the Irish Enterprise Awards 2022.

People are much more aware of workplace safety nowadays and workplaces are becoming much more involved in health and safety.

Provisional data from the HSA shows that 26 people lost their lives in workrelated incidents in 2022 compared to 38 in 2021, representing the lowest figure recorded since the Authority was established over thirty years ago. There is still a way to go with five fatalities in the first three months of 2023 alone (January 1st – March 31st) Workplaces are much more aware of the need to not only have life saving equipment such as an AED, but also the need to have trained personnel on hand to use this vital equipment. JM Safety has provided not only AED and CPR training to clients nationwide but guidance on safety procedures and best workplace practices to ensure not just the safety of the staff, but customers and the public in general.

‘carbon offsetting’. This involves the purchase of carbon credits to offset the environmental impact of a product or service. However, carbon offsetting is often criticised for being an ineffective way to address climate change, as it merely shifts the responsibility to others.

Therefore, genuine efforts to protect the environment can be undermined and create a sense of complacency among people who may believe they are making a positive impact by purchasing supposedly ‘green’ products.

Now, the EU has rowed in with a new directive, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) which will strengthen the rules around the social and environmental information which companies currently must report.

Under the law, EU com-

panies will have to report in more detail, and therefore be more transparent about the impact of their actions and policies on the environment, human rights and social standards. The rules also aim to tackle the issue of misleading consumers to make them believe their products or services are sustainable, when they are not.

Speaking on Morning Ireland last week, Michael Kavanagh, CEO of the Compliance Institute, said: “There are rules in place already for front-end reporting for certain large entity reporting, but this law completely expands the scope for some smaller entities.”

More large companies, as well as some SMEs, will be required to report in accordance with the mandatory reporting standards developed by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group. In January, the Irish

Government and other EU member states were given 18 months to bring the EU directive into law. Yet in a recent survey many business owners said they were unaware of many of the new significant aspects of the legislation.

Companies who have not yet done so, now need to make it their priority to get up to speed on and comply with their obligations. They need to decide how they will align with the rules, how it’s to be resourced and how the information is to be gathered.

A detailed project plan which will add expense and an extra workload to already stressed businesses needs to be compiled and if ignored companies may face harsh penalties and be ‘named and shamed’. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362622

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 May 2023

News Science & Wellbeing Would you like to live forever? Or at least for some decades longer, provided, of course, such longevity was accompanied by good health.

Scientists continue to uncover methods to prolong human lifespans. In the future, guarding our cells against ageing could be as simple as ingesting a tablet. Researchers at the renowned Mayo Clinic in the US have discovered that senolytic drugs can enhance the production of a crucial protein, potentially shielding the elderly from the effects of ageing and, importantly, various illnesses. Their findings, featured in eBioMedicine, demonstrate this through experiments on mice and humans.

The senolytics developed at the Mayo Clinic, when administered, effectively purge the bloodstream of senescent or ‘zombie’ cells, cells that are implicated in numerous diseases and detrimental ageing aspects. The study reveals that the elimination of senescent cells leads to a significant increase in the production of a protective protein known as a-klotho.

Senescent cells are cells within your body that stubbornly persist and do not die.

Usually, a cell starts out as a healthy, functioning component of the body. However, it may encounter various stressors such as oxidative stress, a viral infection, or other factors. In response to this stress, the cell has three possible outcomes: undergo self- repair, undergo cell death, or transform into a senescent or ‘zombie’ cell.

While zombie cells may have some advantages, they are not entirely detrimental. A 2017 study indicates that cellular senescence, the process by

Younger people worldwide, sparked by the stance of young Greta Thunberg, are bitterly denouncing their elders in climate protests.

Meanwhile, mental wellbeing is affected as people feel powerless to avert catastrophe.

Unfortunately, this is one occasion where the figurative sky is really falling.

The prophets of doomand-gloom are correct in that food shortages, social instability and extreme weather events will define our future. The floods and fires, droughts and lethal heatwaves we are experiencing today will become much more common and more severe.

Of course, it’s not entirely too late. Humanity still has a chance to reduce its dependency on oil, coal and gas for our energy needs.

As far as eating is concerned, unfettered climate change will lead to a “dramatic reduction in sea life and fish and seafood,” according to Dr. Michael E. Mann, a professor of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania. This means

release of harmful chemicals that affect nearby healthy cells. Research has connected the presence of zombie cells to numerous age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis (a type of heart disease), diabetes, and lung disease.

Senolytics (or senolytic

drugs) are a specific class of drugs that help clear out zombie cells. “We show that there is an avenue for an orally active, small-molecule approach to increase this beneficial protein and also to amplify the action of senolytic drugs,” says James Kirkland,

MD, PhD, a Mayo Clinic intern and senior author of the study.

The researchers first showed that senescent cells decrease levels of a-klotho in kidney cells and brain cells.

“We are the first to establish a connection between the potential influence of fat-resident senescent cells on brain a-klotho. This could provide another path to explore the effects of peripheral senescent cells on brain aging,” he said.

The protein a-klotho plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. Its levels tend to decline as people age and are particularly reduced in various diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and kidney disease.

Research on animals has revealed that reducing a-klotho in mice results in a shorter lifespan, while increasing a-klotho levels by inserting a gene that triggers its production can extend their lifespan by 30%.

Increasing a-klotho levels in humans has been a significant objective in research; however, achieving this has been challenging due to its large size and instability. Direct introduction poses issues, as it necessitates intravenous administration rather than oral consumption.

The current research demonstrates that senolytics, which can be taken orally, boost a-klotho levels in individuals suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition linked to senescence that results in frailty, severe breathing problems, and death.

Meanwhile, senolytic can be had naturally by eating more onions, apples (with the skin!), citrus fruits, and parsley.

ocean, coral species will start going extinct and — as reef ecosystems collapse — they will take down the food web with them.

“There will be far worse extreme weather events than those we see today.

Withering droughts, epic floods, deadly hurricanes, and almost inconceivably hot heatwaves,” he says.

Dr Alice C. Hughes from the University of Hong Kong’s School of Biological Sciences projected that, as a result of food scarcity issues, humans would have to adapt through mass mechanisation of agriculture and reducing meat consumption. Indeed, meat production relies heavily on ecologically unsustainable factory farms, and requires animals to be fed farmed food that could simply be fed to humans, meaning it is far less efficient in terms of energy required to produce per calorie.

Dr Hughes also predicts that global diets will become more uniform, since the loss of agricultural and livestock variety will lead to a loss of local colour in diets. In addition, “changing in global fisheries as many upwelling areas for high productivity will shift,” which will combine with our current unsustainable fishing practices to “massively reduce the number of fish species that can be harvested.”

Hocevar and Hughes both point to another major change to human existence

that will be wrought by unfettered climate change: the rise of climate refugees, or people who are forced to flee their homes as they become uninhabitable. For hundreds of millions if not billions of people, this will include coastal cities that are overwhelmed by sea level rise.”

Dr Hughes alludes to the social consequences of this flooding, writing that “the inundation of many coastal areas, including islands will cause significant displacement of human populations, and these climate refugees will need to be moved to different countries”.

“Climate refugees will increases and create all sorts of tensions,” writes Dr. Kevin E. Trenberth, Distinguished Scholar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. “The odds of a major war and perhaps a pandemic resulting in greatly diminished populations is finite. Many parts of the tropics will no longer be liveable. Many coastal regions will be inundated.

“I’ll be long gone. Perhaps civilisation will be too?”

Zombies could be the key to living longer which normal cells transform into zombie cells, can actually be a positive response to tumour development. Instead of uncontrollably multiplying and contributing to tumour formation, a cell will turn into a zombie cell and halt its growth.

On the other hand, zombie cells can also have negative consequences in different situations. As we age, these zombie cells accumulate within our bodies. This accumulation can impede the body’s ability to repair damaged tissue and may cause the

‘I’ll be long gone.

Perhaps civilisation will be too’ that there will fewer areas of arable farmland for agricultural production; there will be less food, both in quantity and quality, and as infrastructure problems pile up humanity will suffer what Mann described as a “collapsed food distribution system.”

We now know how badly our cities will be flooded

due to climate change. This would happen in a two-fold manner, on land and in the sea. John Hocevar, a marine biologist and director of Greenpeace’s oceans campaign, elaborated on this scenario. On the land, there will be far less usable farm land as temperatures continue to rise and precipitation becomes dicier. In the

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Travel & Leisure

A great two days in Amsterdam DAY ONE In the morning, start your day off in the Centrum with breakfast in the charming courtyard cafe De Koffieschenkerijm, situated within the grounds of Oude Church, Amsterdam’s oldest building. The church anchors Amsterdam’s old city and Red Light District. After your morning brew, wander the surrounding streets and take in Amsterdam’s oldest buildings, canals, and streets, like Zeedijk, now home to Amsterdam’s bustling Chinatown, and Nieuwendijk, a busy pedestrian shopping street.

If you’re curious about the Red Light District, now’s a good time to see it. It’s packed with erotic shops, bars, ‘coffeeshops’ selling cannabis, and the alleys of De Wallen, where sex workers stand in storefront windows.

While you’re in the area, consider stopping by the Museum Our Lord in the Attic, a 17th-century townhouse with a Catholic church tucked up on the top floor. This bizarre-yetbeloved hidden gem won’t take more than an hour to explore.

Come afternoon continue

south to Dam Square, grabbing lunch nearby at Haring & Zo, a street-food kiosk selling a local staple: the herring sandwich.

(Don’t worry — even herring first-timers enjoy the cold snack.) If you have an hour to spare, the self-guided tour inside the massive Royal Palace lets you marvel at its opulent rooms stuffed with chandeliers and statues. The palace is still in use by the royal family, so check ahead to confirm it’s open.

Make your way south on the pedestrian-only Kalverstraat. If the popular shopping street causes sensory overload, you’re in luck: Begijnhof, a quaint and peaceful medieval courtyard — one of the oldest in the city — offers a break from the retail bustle.

Cross over to Canal Ring and hit the Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt), which has been selling tulips and other blooms since the mid1800s. Plus, it’s a hot spot for inexpensive souvenirs . As you wander, be sure to stop in one of the many dessert shops for a stroopwafel (Van Wonderen Stroopwafels is a fave).

If aimless wandering stresses you out or you just

can’t deal with maps, this 2.5-hour walking tour is a genuinely great intro to the medieval city centre, giving background on major attractions and lesser-known sites.

This colourful four-hour walking tour, led by a local, introduces you to Amsterdammers, from a sex worker to a coffee shop owner. You’ll weave through the Red Light District and beyond, with stops in a coffee shop (the cannabis kind), microbrewery, and a brown cafe for a slice of Dutch apple pie.

Alternatively, you can cover a lot more terrain on wheels, with a three-hour Bike Tour of Amsterdam’s Highlights and Hidden Gems. It takes you pretty much everywhere, from the Canal Ring all the way to Vondelpark (the Netherlands’ most famous park), with a stop in Begijnhof in the city centre.

In the evening have dinner at Sampurna, a long- running Indonesian restaurant in the historic centre. This is your chance to try another city staple —’rijsttafel’, a Dutch take on an Indonesian specialty. The slew of small seafood, meat, and veggie dishes are meant for sharing

‘Take in Amsterdam’s oldest buildings, canals, and streets...

and balanced by a big plate of rice.

If you still have gas in the tank, it’s just a 10-minute walk or quick tram ride to lively Leidseplein. There are lots of after-hours options here, like The Waterhole Live Music Bar, which has all the good vibes necessary for a night out. Plus, Dutch drinks are flowing, including local beer brands like Bavaria and ‘jenever’ gin with a hint of juniper.

DAY TWO Kick off your day at the palatial Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands. Aim to get there right at 9 a.m. when it opens to head off the crowds.

(You may want to prebook a timed ticket online, especially in the summer.)

The Gallery of Honour gets downright mobbed, so go here first to admire the famed 17th-century Golden Age paintings from the likes of Vermeer and Rembrandt; don’t miss Rembrandt’s The Night Watch which has its own gallery. Once you’ve taken care of the highlights, keep exploring — even after three hours, there’s no end in sight.

Come afternoon, grab lunch at one of the food trucks on Museumplein. If you want to rest your feet a little longer, hit up The Burger Room, an emerald-accented, Wizard of Oz- themed restaurant around the corner. (This eatery even has its own mini- museum downstairs complete with ruby-slipper replicas.)

Refuelled and ready for more, cross the street to the Van Gogh Museum, which holds the largest collection of the famed artist’s work.

The museum is well laid out, walking you chronologically through van Gogh’s life and work. (Spring the few extra euros for an audio guide).

Special exhibits downstairs are also worth a look. Tickets sell out for this one, so be sure to book your timed entry in advance.

After you’ve been thoroughly blown away by Post-Impressionism, in the evening take the five- minute jaunt to Vondelpark, the city’s largest park. Walk (or bike) the tree-lined lanes, passing waterways, outdoor cafes, playgrounds, sunbathers, and an open-air theatre.

Cut out of the park for dinner at De Wijnkaart, which serves classy yet hearty meals paired with Eastern European wines.

It’s just a five-minute walk to your next stop, The Royal Concertgebouw—said to have some of the best acoustics in the world.

(Maybe that’s why Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, and Igor Stravinsky have graced its grand Main Hall.)

Orchestral performances, cello concertos, and other events are on here pretty much every night of the week, generally at 8:15 pm.

Book tickets ahead.

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Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

The Eurovision Spectacle Contest – all kinds of everything!

It’s Eurovision Song Contest time and I have to confess that I couldn’t care less if it never happened. And I couldn’t care less ever since it ceased to be a song contest and became an event more concerned with spectacle than song (and I blame Lordi, the Finnish rock/metal band who won in 2006).

Then there’s the voting which has become ‘incestuous’ what with neighbours voting for neighbours regardless of the tune or the performance. I am so out of touch with the contest that I don’t actually know who’s representing Ireland this year and I forgot that it was taking place in Liverpool as last year Britain came second to the Ukraine where it would be impossible to stage the contest.

That said, time was when the Eurovision Song Contest featured quite prominently in my life and I have some

great memories of the event.

I remember Butch Moore coming sixth with ‘Walking the Streets In The Rain’ (1965), Dickie Rock coming fourth with ‘Come Back To Stay’ (1966) ‘ and Seán Dunphy’s ‘If I Could Choose’ second to Sandie Shaw’s ‘Puppet On A String’ (1967) And I remember them all in black and white as colour TV had yet to arrive. I especially remember Dana, an 18-year-old schoolgirl, winning the contest for Ireland for the very first time in Amsterdam in 1970 with ‘All Kinds Of Everything’.

A student in UCD, I watched the contest with my sister and her boyfriend at the time, in a flat we both shared in Rathgar. We were jubilant when Dana won and my sister’s boyfriend brought us to the Burlington Hotel (quite posh at the time) for a celebratory drink. It was only as we

walked through the foyer that we noticed yours truly was wearing his bedroom slippers, in typical student condition ie. falling apart.

Not quite kosher for the Burlington.

Ten years later, 1980, I am watching the contest in my home with my mother.

Johnny Logan romps to victory with ‘What’s Another Year’ (a poignant song penned by the late Shay Healy, about missing his deceased father). My mother and I are thrilled.

Indeed my mother blesses herself and tells me there is a Kilkenny connection to Johnny Logan who, she informs me, is in some way related to the Gargan family in Kilkenny, making the win all the sweeter.

In between those two momentous wins was the contest I watched with my girlfriend at the time (1974) in her flat in Dublin’s Kenilworth Square.

This ridiculous group (I thought) called Abba sang some silly song called Waterloo. I was totally unimpressed whereas my girlfriend tipped it to win.

The rest, as everyone knows, is history. Abba won (I lost my girlfriend) and went on to become one of the most

‘Incestuous, what with neighbours voting for neighbours..

successful pop groups of all time. Which says a lot about my ability to predict success in pop music.

The Eurovision Song Contest began as a technical experiment in television broadcasting; the live, simultaneous, international broadcast in the 1950s, was considered a marvel.

The first Song Contest was held on May 24, 1956, in the Swiss-Italian town of Lugano and saw seven nations compete: the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and Italy. In the first broadcast, each country submitted two songs, with Switzerland’s Lys Assia triumphing with her second song ‘Refrain’.

Over the years the format has evolved into the boundary pushing, multi-show spectacular we know today.

And you know where I stand on that. Now if they only stopped calling it a song

contest I might be less critical.

Meanwhile, it’s still good to know that Ireland is top of the charts with seven wins (including three-ina-row): Dana, ‘All Kinds of Everything’, 1970; Johnny Logan ‘What’s Another Year’, 1980 and ‘Hold Me Now’,1987; Linda Martin, ’Why Me?, 1992 (penned by Johnny Logan which makes Johnny a three-time winner and gives him a unique standing in the contest); Niamh Kavanagh ‘In Your Eyes’, 1993; Paul Harrington and Charley McGettigan ‘Rock n Roll Kids’, 1994 and Eimear Quinn, ‘The Voice’, 1996.

Finally, another Eurovision Irish record. In the 2014 semi-final Jedward had the highest hair (18.9 cms) and the biggest shoulder pads!

In the meantime I don’t know what Ireland has to do to get into the final, let alone win!

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Global Report An “enlarged and reformed” European Union that is more “geopolitical” in outlook and actions, has been called for

by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. His call came as lawmakers celebrate the postWWII peace among European Union members.

Speaking to the European Parliament, German Chancellor Scholz said the “European Union need to change,” adding “Europe must turn to the world”.

He said the world was increasingly becoming multipolar and that Europe should look for more global co-operation on equal terms.

“Those who are nostalgic for the dream of a European world power, those who serve national superpower fantasies, are stuck in the past,” Scholz said in his speech.

This was in contrast to French President Emmanuel Macron who recently called for the EU to become a global power.

Scholz, however, echoed some of the themes Macron raised, saying that while “the United States remains Europe’s most important ally,” that relationship could be strengthened if the EU invested more in security and defence, civil resilience, technological sovereignty and independent sources of crucial commodities.

EU must not be “intimidated” by Putin.

The speech came on Europe Day, when the continent celebrated the years of peace in the bloc that followed the end of World War II fighting in Europe.

Europe would only be heard if it is speaking with one voice, Scholz said. “Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine has shown us how essential this realisation is,” he said and that the EU should aim for much closer military cooperation.

He delivered his speech in Strasbourg on the same day that Russia was celebrating Victory Day. “In Moscow, 2,200 kilome-

Scholz: why we need an enlarged and reformed EU

tres northeast from here, Putin is parading his soldiers, tanks and rockets. Let us not be intimidated by such a show of force,” Chancellor Scholz told the European Parliament, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Let’s stay steadfast in our support for Ukraine — as long as it is necessary,” he said.

Efforts to rebuild Ukraine will need “political and financial capital over the long term,” he said.

The invasion has highlighted the EU’s, and particularly Germany’s, dependence on

energy imports from Moscow.

There are similar fears about an over-reliance on China for manufacturing.

The German leader sees China as a partner despite shifts in relations. “Our relationship with China is aptly described by the triad ‘partner, competitor, systemic rival’ — where rivalry and competition on China’s part has undoubtedly increased,” he said.

Despite this, the German leader said he agreed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s idea that Europe should re-

duce risks linked to its economic dependencies from Beijing. Scholz said there was also a need for reform within the EU. Notably, he wants decisions including on foreign relations and takes to be taken by the majority rather than unanimity.

Scholz also touched on topics that included the free trade, accession of new members and migration.

“It makes a lot of sense to swiftly seal new free trade agreements with Mercosur, Mexico, India, Indonesia,

Australia, Kenya and – over the long term – with many other countries,” Chancellor Scholz said.

“If we continue fruitless negotiations over new free trade deals for years to come, others will dictate the rules – with lower environmental and social standards,” he warned.

He said the EU should keep its promise toward prospective members such as the Western Balkans countries, while ensuring they undertook the necessary reforms to be able to join the bloc.

Addressing the EU’s rela-

tions with Africa, the chancellor said partnerships should “leave behind the Eurocentric view of past decades.

“Overcoming the consequences of colonialism must be an essential feature of any European partnership with the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America,” the chancellor said.

He also said the EU needed to address long-running disputes over migration stressing that many parts of Europe urgently needed labour from outside the bloc.

Reform of Europe’s asylum system should happen before next year’s European Parliament elections according to Scholz.

In advance of the speech, Chancellor Scholz’s critics within the European Parliament noted some of Germany’s actions had not been popular in the legislature.

Manfred Weber, from the centre-right European People’s Party group, accused Scholz’s politically broad “traffic light” coalition of Social Democrats, Greens and neoliberal Free Democrats of failing to have a “clear and agreed position” on important issues.

Manfred Weber criticised Berlin’s policies on China and said Scholz’s speech was a chance to “repair some of the damage done.”

The European lawmaker cited Germany’s last-minute questioning of an agreement to phase out vehicles with internal combustion engines as damaging Germany’s credibility.

Greens European Parliament group leader Terry Reintke also cited this as an issue that had eroded trust in Berlin and added that many of her colleagues from eastern and central Europe had been disappointed with the speed of Scholz’s response to events in Ukraine.

Terry Reintke said the perception was “that everything came very slowly and that it had to be wrested from Berlin again and again.”

So, is Joe Biden the Trump thumper?

America’s President Joe Biden argues that he is the one best positioned to stop his predecessor Donald Trump from returning to the White House. However, surveys indicate that he starts the 2024 race facing enormous challenges.

A survey by The Washington Post and ABC News found that President Biden would lose to Donald J. Trump by six percentage points if the election were held today.

Taken at face value, the poll showed Mr Biden trailing Mr Trump by six percentage points in a theoretical rematch, raising the question of whether the president is as well positioned as he maintains.

No single poll means all

that much, especially so early in an election cycle, and the president’s strategists, as well as some independent analysts, questioned its meth-

odology. But even if it is an outlier, other recent surveys have indicated that the race is effectively tied, with either Mr Biden or Mr Trump

holding narrow leads within the margin of error. Taken together, they suggest that the president opens the 2024 campaign facing enormous challenges with no guarantee of victory over Donald Trump.

The data has left many Democrats feeling anywhere from queasy to alarmed.

President Biden’s case for being the pair of safe hands at a volatile moment is undermined in their view if a president who passed major legislation and presides over the lowest unemployment in generations cannot outperform a twice-impeached challenger who instigated an insurrection, has been indicted on multiple felonies, is on civil trial accused of

rape and faces more potential criminal charges in the months to come.

“The poll demonstrates that the president still has work to do, not only in convincing the American people that he’s up for the job that he wishes to complete,” said Donna Brazile, a former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee who said she lost sleep over the “ominous signs” in the latest survey results. “More importantly, it’s a good forecast of the challenges he will face in rebuilding the remarkable coalition that elected him in 2020.

“I don’t think that they should panic because you can’t panic after one poll,” said Ms. Brazile, who managed Al Gore’s presidential

campaign in 2000. A survey is “just one gauge” among many on the long road to the voting booth. “But it’s an important barometer of where the electorate is today, some 547 days away from the November 2024 election.”

The survey by The Washington Post and ABC News found that the president’s approval rating has slipped to 36 percent and that Donald Trump would beat him by 44 percent to 38 percent if the election were held today. Just as worrisome for Democrats, respondents considered Mr. Trump, 76, more physically and mentally fit than Mr. Biden, 80, and concluded that the former president managed the economy better than the incumbent has.

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Opinion

Part two

A cemetery with no names Callan Workhouse story

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

Callan Workhouse opened its doors in March 1842. The building had been erected on a six-acre site at Prologue, on the edge of the town. The site was purchased from Lord Clifden, the notorious absentee Landlord who lived in opulence while the local population starved or struggled to scrape a living.

The Workhouse was built to accommodate 600 inmates: 360 adults and 240 children. Its construction was completed in September 1841. Conditions in the Workhouses were designed to be deliberately degrading to deter all but the most povertystricken from entering.

Callan Workhouse was a model of dehumanizing bureaucracy and oppression. The architect, George Wilkinson, had taken into account the Government’s desire to make the building as uncomfortable as possible for inmates: It had no ceilings, just bare rafters. A narrow stone stairway was installed to tax the strength

of elderly or frail people. The eating room was dark and deprived of daylight, to eliminate any hint of well-being from mealtimes.

The inmates were awoken at seven o’ clock, each dressed in their rough jerkins and brogues. They proceeded to the central dining hall where prayers were read, and the

Joe Kennedy and Marianne Kelley at Cherryfield

roll called. An inspection for cleanliness followed, and a breakfast of stirabout and milk was consumed in strict silence.

In the afternoon, potatoes and bread were laid for them.

They slept on rough raised platforms with bed coverings that consisted of rags or straw.

There was a shortage of fresh water and poor sanitary facilities. Inadequate ventilation created further discomfort.

Idleness was forbidden. Every inmate had to work or face punishment. The Master imposed discipline for offences, which included the following: Making noise during meal times when silence was ordered; Playing cards or drinking alcohol; Attempting to escape from

The Kilkenny Walkers group gather at Cherryfield

the Workhouse; Disobeying any order of any officer of the Workhouse.

Punishments ranged from stopping meals, beatings, or solitary confinement in a room known as the “Black Hole”. A device at the Workhouse called the Capstan Mill claimed the lives of many inmates. It was a large circular corn-grinder, operated by up to 40 paupers at a time. Many workers became entangled in the wheel; others lost limbs while operating it.

Any inmate refusing to do his bit at the “wheel” was penalized.

When famine struck, admissions to the Workhouse mushroomed. Diseases thrived in the unhygienic and overcrowded rooms. Over 2,000 people died in the building

Entrance to Cherryfield

during the famine while food was being exported daily from Irish ports.

The practice of breaking up families who entered the workhouse was especially harrowing….Husbands were separated from wives, and children from their parents. Some couples were destined not to be together again until the day their bodies were placed side by side in a mass grave at Cherryfield, the “pauper graveyard “ located about a mile and a half outside Callan, and so-called because cherry trees grew there.

The site was deemed suitable for the purpose because it consisted of poor agricultural land. Every day during the famine years, funerals could be seen leaving the Workhouse.

Emaciated bodies were piled up on carts that creaked their way to Cherryfield to be tipped into waiting trenches.

Callan Workhouse continued to be used until the early part of the twentieth century. It was

occupied by Free State troops in 1922 and, unfortunately, sections of the building were demolished or sold off over the years. But the bulk of the grim edifice remains intact and its preservation now looks assured.

The Workhouse and the famine graveyard are precious to the people of Callan. Their harrowing story is kept alive by people like historian Joe Kennedy, and dedicated researchers such as Marianne Kelly and Paddy Neary of the Kilkenny Heritage Walkers.

Cherryfield still evokes sad memories of the famine. Thousands of people have called to this sad but tranquil placewhich has no gravestones or even markers. Irish Americans and returned emigrants are particularly drawn to it.

Some have remarked on the sense of peace they find there. The restoration has not just beautified the site; it has honoured those who died in a special way.

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Kilkenny Olympians celebrated

Kilkenny Olympians celebrated at Mayoral Reception Enjoying their day at City Hall were Gemma Haire and Kate Whitely

THE DENN FAMILY….Karen Denn with family members Fionn, Grace and Aoife

Attending the reception for Kilkenny Olympians at city hall were Joe Haire, Conor Ryan, Robbie English and Ann English

Olympians Margaret Turley and Gemma Haire receive certificates to mark the occasion of their visit to City Hall from Mayor David Fitzgerald on behalf of the Council

Gemma Haire who is Olympics bound, pictured with family members Joe, Gemma and Jean

The coaching staff for Gemma Haire gathered at City Hall Kilkenny as family and friends gathered to wish bon voyage to Olympians Gemma and Margaret Turley

Etta Hayes, originally from Ballycallan, who is the national coach with Special Olympics Ireland pictured with Gemma Haire who will compete in the equestrian event

Elaine Duggan and son Tadgh supporting Special Olympics

Mayor Fitzgerald welcomes Kate Whitely to the reception at City Hall

Photos jbs photos Kilkenny

Team. They will join over 7000 athletes, supported by 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers from 170 countries.

Recognising the achievements of Gemma and Margaret, Mayor David Fitzgerald said it was important that we changed the language of disability to reflect a more positive approach to disability, placing far more emphasis on ‘the abilities and talents people have, including

the joy and happiness they bring to us all”. Mayor Fitzgerald presented both athletes with Mayoral Certificates of Achievements to recognise the significance of their achievements for themselves, their families and the wider community of supporters.

Cllr Maria Dollard also spoke of her personal experience of the Kilkenny Special Olympic Club. She thanked the volunteer coaches and referenced the

Two Kilkenny Athletes will represent Kilkenny and Ireland at this years Special Olympics World Games in Germany in June. Local athletes Gemma Haire and Margaret Turley will participate in the SO World Games due to be held in Berlin. Gemma joins the Irish Equestrian Team and Margaret will compete with the Irish Basketball

Cllr. Maria Dollard, who initiated the reception at City Hall pictured with husband Niall and daughter Lucy

Jimmy, Trang Mai and Thi Yen Lenehan at the reception at City Hall

Councillor Maria Dollard , Kilkenny County Council, addressed the packed council chambers at the reception for Kilkenny Olympians Margaret Turley and Gemma Haire

way that “we all feel like a family when we get together and the fun we have as a club, firmly bonded together through our many happy shared experiences.”

Both Gemma and Margaret spoke at the celebration, thanking their families and friends for all the support.

Gemma Haire thanked in particular the Equestrian Team from Mount Juliet for their sponsorship and guidance throughout the year. The Head Coach of

the Ireland Equestrian Team, Etta Hayes praised the dedication and determination of Gemma and all the athletes she has worked with over a long voluntary career.

Margaret Turley, also thanked all the people who helped her on her journey.

Margaret who is originally from Kilkenny and started with Kilkenny SO Club, now lives and works in Dublin.

Margaret who has a track record in self advocacy has

Getting in some practice for lighting the Olympic torch: Mayor Fitzgerald had the celebratory cake on hand for all who attended the reception at City Hall. Guest of honour Gemma and Margaret were on hand to light the candle and cut the beautiful cake

featured in a recent video as a Champion for the recently enacted Supported Decision Making Legislation.

These young women have worked extremely hard to get to these games and were wished well by everyone. The Mayor helped the ladies cut a celebratory cake, enjoyed by all. They will proudly represent Ireland under the Special Olympics motto.

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”

A special moment at Kilkenny’s City Hall when David Fitzgerald, Mayor, invited Olympians Margaret and Gemma to sign the visitors book

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VTOS Woodcarving Exhibition

VTOS Kilkenny Woodcarving Exhibition 2023 10th Anniversary – A phenomenal success What a morning it has been for the VTOS woodcarving class of 2022/23 at MacDonagh Junction. Their annual exhibition made a welcome return after the last number of challenging years.

The breath-taking exhibition was a culmination of a year of hard work, passion and dedication – thus producing some superb enigmatic pieces. M.C for the occasion was Geraldine Moran VTOS Co-Ordinator who welcomed

all the special guests and thanked Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board for their support for the VTOS programme through its Adult Education Service. She said it was a fantastic morning showcasing the creative and artistic talents of a wonderful class under the guidance of their inspirational teacher Peter O Carroll. Martha Bolger Director of FET with KCETB officially opened the exhibition and was loud in

her praise for the excellent Awe-inspiring work that was on display. She congratulated all participants on their wonderful achievements.

Peter O ‘Carroll class teacher expressed his delight and immense pride to be working with such a talented group of participants since September 2022. Bernadette O’Rourke AEO with KCETB paid tribute to all the participants and congratulated them on their collaborative endeavours

particularly in their carving of the KCETB logo. She said they epitomised everything that was great about VTOS Kilkenny and wished all of them much success for the future. Marian Acreman, Centre Manager MacDonagh Junction welcomed back the exhibition and was delighted to be present for such an amazing occasion.

She congratulated all the participants on the outstanding quality of their

work, and said MacDonagh Junction were proud to display all the work.

In her closing address Geraldine Moran thanked participants and invited guests for their attendance and encouraged them to bring along their friends.

Geraldine stressed the importance of diversity and inclusivity and that the exhibition highlighted those very important aspects of the VTOS programme as

evidenced by their artistic exhibits. She thanked Sean Lawless, Charlotte Beattie and Leanne Butler Davis for their help in organising the event and expressed her gratitude to Alma Feeley for arranging the photography.

Afterwards all guests were treated to refreshments at The Pantry. VTOS can be contacted at (056 7764719) email info@vtoskk.ie Geraldine Moran (VTOS Co-Ordinator) May 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 May 2023

News

One in seven would vote for new rural party Only one in seven of the voting population would give their No. 1 preference for a candidate standing under the banner of a new rural party, according to an opinion poll.

The Sunday Independent/ Ireland Thinks poll found that 45% of voters say they would not give their first preference to a rural party, while 25% said they might.

It comes after a pro-farmer

party claimed huge numbers of voters in recent Dutch regional elections. Led by Caroline van der Plas, the Dutch BBB party caused a big upset at the polls.

Speaking exclusively to the Farming Independent recently, Caroline van der Plas said she could see a rural party succeed in Ireland as her party had done in The Netherlands. She said a “silent ma-

Supply sees land sales and rental prices rise Land sales and rental prices are showing no signs of levelling out, with figures for the first quarter of the year putting land prices up 29% on last year.

The number of auctions taking place in the first quarter of 2023 are on a par with last year, but the price being paid has jumped to an average of €19,486/ac, up from €15,148/ ac on 2022.

The busiest region for land sales was Leinster, where 369ac were sold during the first four months of the year. The figures show, when residences are excluded from the sale price, that the average price per acre paid in the region was €21,150, up 47% on last year.

Gorey auctioneer David Quinn said that in the current market, €20,000/ac seemed like a “normal price” for land and he credited the dairy boom last year, coupled with the scarcity of land, for driving the prices.

The figures show that, while the number of farms being sold year on year remains the same,

the actual acreage sold in 2023 is back on last year.

In the rental market, prices have remained strong, with 25ac in Laois making €600/ac last week. Two years ago, the top price paid for rental land was €350/ac, but over the past two years, rental prices have jumped to €450-€600/ac for grazing ground.

Farmers and auctioneers agree that the hunger for letting land is being driven in the main by dairy farmers looking to extend their holdings and avoid reducing herd sizes in an effort to comply with nitrates requirements.

In Cork, Blarney auctioneer Dan Fleming recently got €500/ac, €550/ac and €600/ac for renting ground, but he said the main problem is scarcity of land. Mr Fleming believes the drop in milk prices is having an impact. “People are sitting back and watching what is happening,” he said.

However, the consensus is that the volatility in milk will take time to affect prices.

jority” of unhappy people, not just farmers, had voted for her party.

“They told us ‘only farmers are going to vote for your party’. I got 1.5 million votes in the election and we only have 50,000 farms in Holland,” she said.

“Don’t let people in Ireland tell you that people who are not farmer citizens are not backing you because they

do... they are the silent majority.”

The poll, conducted last month, showed a third of voters were not certain about their voting preference.

According to Kevin Cunningham, managing director of Ireland Thinks, it shouldn’t be surprising that voters are open to new parties.

“During this electoral cycle, we have seen support for a

range of political parties ebb and flow to quite an extent,” he said.

“That all said, what is most interesting about the rural party is where the vote is coming from.

“It would be fair to say many are already exercising such a preference for rural interests, through their independent candidate vote.”

However, he went on to say

that when the numbers are broken down, of the 15% who would vote for a rural party, 6% is coming from people who support an independent candidate, other party or Aontú; 3% is from those not aligned to any party; 3% derives from Sinn Féin supporters; and 2% and 1% respectively from those who currently declare their intention to vote for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Clean up on World Ocean Day

World Ocean Day is celebrated annually on June 8 and, with less than one month to go, Irish environmental charity Clean Coasts are asking volunteers in Co Kilkenny to sign up to request a free cleanup kit and take action on the day.

Statistics show that one of the main causes of marine litter is litter dropped in towns and cities, which makes its way to our coast through our waterway, carried by the wind. For this reason, people in Co Kilkenny can make a dif-

ference for our ocean, by tackling marine litter at its source, and picking up litter from your local park, street, estate, river or lake.

In June 2023, Clean Coasts will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Since 2003, Clean Coasts has been working with communities to help protect and care for Ireland’s waterways, coastline, seas, ocean and marine life. For the past 20 years, Clean Coasts has been working to create tangible and immediate improvements to Ireland’s coastal environ-

ment, involving thousands of volunteers removing large quantities of marine litter from our coastline each year. For this reason, the programme are looking forward to marking this milestone by doing something to protect the Irish coast and celebrating the amazing groups and volunteers around Ireland for the work they do all year round.

For 2023, the focus of World Ocean Day will be on the 30x30 campaign meaning that for us to create a healthy ocean with

abundant wildlife and to stabilise our climate, it’s crucial that 30% of our planet’s lands, waters, and ocean are protected by the year 2030.

Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager, speaking of the event said, “Join us in our clean-up efforts and let’s continue to make a positive impact and celebrate the incredible natural environment Irish has to offer.” * To request a kit, visit www.cleancoasts. org.

Rent-a-car shows enterprise New schemes to boost farm sustainability with our deaf community Farm families hoping to boost that interested applicants regand we’re increasing the grant Charlie McConalogue said, their sustainability as well as ister their interest now,” Deputy rate from 40% to 60%.

“I’m very pleased to launch Enterprise Rent-A-Car has announced the successful completion of the first Deaf Guidance and Employment Initiative, a six-week training programme in partnership with the Irish Deaf Society (IDS), designed to equip participants in the deaf community with the necessary skills and work experience to help them achieve their personal and professional goals, with employers across Ireland.

The graduation ceremony took place on Friday, May 5.

The initiative was created in

partnership with the IDS Deaf Project and aims to facilitate more inclusive and supportive working environments in communities across Ireland.

Throughout the programme, participants were given insights into different workplace environments and prepared for various stages of the recruitment process. The training programme offered valuable work experience in an engaging and interactive learning environment, helping the participants develop skills and competencies.

animal welfare credentials are being encouraged to apply now for both the Low Emissions Slurry Scheme and the Dairy Equipment Scheme, both of which are now open, Fine Gael TD, John Paul Phelan, has disclosed.

“The Low Emission Slurry Scheme (LESS), and the Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES) will be the fifth and sixth schemes to open to applications under the new Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3). Both are now open for applications and I’d recommend

Phelan said.

“TAMS provides funding for capital investments on farms and will be in place for five years with a budget of €370m.

Tranche 1 of the scheme opened on February 22 last and both the Low Emission Slurry Scheme and the Dairy Equipment Scheme are now open. I’m asking farm families to note an important upcoming date – the remaining four TAMS schemes will open on a phased basis during Tranche 1 which is expected to close on June 16.”

Minister for Agriculture

these two very important elements of the TAMS schemes. The Low Emission Slurry Scheme highlights our continued support to assist farmers undertake the necessary investment to upgrade their slurry spreading equipment to meet their environmental commitments. It was taken up hugely by farmers under the previous TAMS and I expect significant interest now also. To incentivise this important technology, we are retaining the standalone investment ceiling of €40,000 per holding

“The launch of the Dairy Equipment Scheme will also encourage dairy farmers, especially young farmers and new entrants to dairying, with support in meeting capital costs in meeting modern herd management, energy saving, and animal welfare standards required to compete in the sector,” the minister said.

“It is also heavily focussed on environmental investments required on dairy farms. We’ve also increased the grant limit to €90,000 for the eligible farmers.”

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 May 2023

The Confederation Hall and Market Yard

Farewell to the coal market as Parliament House is demolished The Kilkenny Observer welcomes ‘Cois Céim’ and the ‘Kilkenny Saturday Walkers Group’, where we read about The Confederation Gates and the Market Yard. This is part two

­

Robert Shee was involved in the rebellion of 1641 and Bonnettstown was forfeited in1653.

In time the house passed through many hands. In 1802 it was occupied by Mr. Richard Tresham, apothecary, who was immortalised in the story entitled Father Connell by the Banim brothers, John and Michael.

In 1830 Thomas Huleatt converted the great hall into a drapery establishment and it was called “Kilkenny Commercial House” It was bought in turn by William Langton, corn merchant.

The Gates: Gates were put in place between two pillars at the entrance in Parliament Street to the Market Yard.

Gerald Tyler wrote in 1977 “Between these pillars hung a magnificent pair of forged iron gates which were made by the two Downes brothers. Reputedly the finest gates ever made

in Kilkenny. The Downes were paid so little for them that they emigrated to America.”

Whatever about being paid little, it seems they were paid late, yet many of the family remained in Kilkenny. These gates matched those also made by the Downes broth-

ers which were erected at the King Street (now Kieran St.) market entrance. The pier for these gates can still be seen (opposite Kytelers Inn) the smith work for the gates started on the 8th March 1860 and finished on the 10th November the same year. The bill

for these gates was furnished to the Corporation on the 3rd December 1860.Ald Potter raised the bill for smith work.

Due to the vast expenditure on the market he proposed that all accounts be passed to the Town Clerk and this bill should not be paid until it went through the regular form.

The head of the Downes family was William Downes who according to a deed had the lease of a house, yard and office in Colliers Lane in 1842. William married Anne McDonnell in 1836 and they had nine children between 1837 and 1857.

Corporation minutes record work undertaken by William Downes , January 2nd was paid 1860 £1- 7s-9d, 17s- 8d for smith work. 1stApril 1861. 10s4d for repairing weights. 4th March1862, 2s- 6d for repairs to the silver mace.

The Market Yard. On the 4th June 1860 the Corporation passed a resolution to change the name of Coal Market to Parliament Street. According to the minutes of the meeting held on the 14th November 1860, it was resolved that a public market be provided and established in the city by extending the Corporation market. An Act of Parliament for the establishment and management of such a market had to be passed. Money had to be borrowed to purchase ground and to erect the necessary buildings. Corporation minutes of 1861 confirm that various plots behind the National Bank were acquired. The Court of Chancery held Emling’s House for William Grace and

the Landed Estates Court sold it to the Corporation in 1862.

Later that year it was pulled down for the public market.

Demolition of the house was described in the Kilkenny Moderator of 26th April 1862.

“The house in coal market, long traditionally known as The Parliament House of Kilkenny being a portion of the premises being submitted to the action of the crow bar and in a few days not a vestige of the structure will remain.

Although so modernised in its front elevation as in no ways to attract the observation of any person unacquainted with its history, in the rear this building preserved many of its original features, in the shape of arched doorways ,massive stone chimney shafts, gargoyles, mullioned windows with drip labels, and, internally massive stone chimney pieces”.

Around the same time it was recorded that an “Oak pillar” which had supported one of the floors of the old house on Coal Market recently removed,

formerly the residence of the Shee family, and which had been used by the Confederate Catholics in 1642 was presented by the Mayor of Kilkenny , Alexander Colles to the old Kilkenny Archaeological Society. Also presented to the Society by William Hartford, Esq. Kilkenny Fusiliers were “Several excellent photographs of Kilkenny Antiquities among which were views of the old house in which the Confederate Catholics had held their meetings.”

The Market Yard gates were taken down in the late 1960s and restored by the Kilkenny Corporation in 1980s. One pair now hang at the entrance to the Castle Park, opposite Switzers on the Castle Road.

The second pair can be seen at the entrance to the Deanery, Saint Canices Cathedral on the coach road.

Sources: Old Kilkenny Review 2010 edition No10 Irish Town Atlas (Kilkenny).

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Opinion

Girl Auction

BY NED EGAN

Part 17 Now, deep in Bilzies Wood, the two girls move silently, one each side of the phantom ‘Barker’. The Mollers now has the Four Ten shotgun at military ‘high port’ – and will unhesitatingly riddle any human – or spectral – enemy who shows up. If – and it’s a big ‘if’ – she sees it in time.

The gloom on the Hazel Path is such that only a silhouette against the faint starlight could be defined. But, the girls hope, Mr Madra may have a few tricks up his doggy sleeve - so to speak.

They have stopped for a few minutes, listening and trying to sense any danger that might just be lurking in the skeoch and briary undergrowth, or standing sideways amongst the birches.

On their collective minds, of course, was the Dacent Boy, and his infamously

witchy oul ma. The Dacent has been – and still is - on the prowl, trying to win back Molly, who was ‘traded’ to him for some shiny sovereigns, by her drunken old father.

Now the Dacent Boy was on his way – again - to ambush them. This they had all guessed, even after the madra tore lumps out of him in the Five Acre, and sent him scooting howlingly across the rushy bogs after the Salley Tree battle.

The four travellers had no idea where the next attack would come from. Molly thought it could be right here, in the darkest part of the wood. Babsie mused silently that he might be waiting near the Long Road stile – which was their target.

The road ditch it sat on was an insurmountable skeochbush barricade, that ran from the Dungratton River to the ‘Glory’ – another fast flowing torrent. So, that was Babsie’s guess.

The Dacent Boy had now crossed over the two-arch Dungratton Bridge, and was once again out in the frozen fields, tracking relentlessly

- slow and silent and sly and savage - towards the southern edge of Bilzies Wood. Dacent had figured out roughly the time it would have taken the small band to get through to the stile, and guessed – very accurately - that they were about half-way there. Up the spouts of the double barrel Purdey he carried – stuffed with many heavy black leaden messengers of death - rested two cartridges, each sleeping hale and handy in its own comfy blue’d-steel chamber…

Now ma Dacent, who – unknown to any of the tiny band in Bilzies Wood – had more than a passing knowledge of Molly Connolly’s innocent friendship with Simon Flynn.

In case you’ve forgotten, reader, he was the handsome young fellow who’d tutored the Mollers in the use of the Four Ten shotgun – back on a summer day that seems like ancient history....

This sound and innocent lad was now very firmly in the sights of the oul Wiccy ma. Somehow, she’d sensed that he was associated with the runaways – and

that he would figure in this night’s proceedings – and might just be the unknown quantity that would get the girls clear of their current dangerous station. But ma D suddenly realised she had big probs! Her list of evil spells were specifically targeted at -- dark-haired people! And Simon’s wavy hair was gloriously flaming red! “Oh, jaypers!” she croaked savagely, “Oh, Nick’s knickers to it!

The Dacent moves now with great silence through the saplings and whin bushes on the edge of the Bilzies, estimating that he’d intersect the runaway’s path somewhere short of the stile.

Dacent was cute enough to know that the area close up to the outlet from the Hazel Path would be closely studied by that ‘bl**dy hound.’ “Cursa Nick on all Holy Canines” he go, in a sudden slouch of rage.’ Now he has started to decipher a few of the shadowy images that are twisting, like black crows in the wind, inside in his one-donkeypower mind. Something dark and sinuous, and extremely sinister, is gradually emerging from the moiling background of his fragmented thoughts. What can he see, in his mind’s eye?

He sits down on an old tree stump, tries to collect the

very few thoughts available to him. ‘A shepdog I needs’ he grumbled to himself, ‘to round up me addled thinkies!’ Now the shape in his mind becomes clearer.

A pair of strange orangeyyellow eyes swim out of the dark mists occupying most of his ‘headquarters.’ Dacent closes his eyes, tries to draw more of the apparition into conscious thought, into describable shape. Suddenly, an increase in “legibility” – if we can call it that. He spots a weird foggy image of a dangerouslooking head slowly materialising from the dark shades in the back of his brain. A gently swirling shape – like black clouds twisting, mingling and moiling with each other on a stormy day – was now closing up on those frightening blazing lamp-like eyes – which were becoming increasingly slit - and a strange cold golden fire burning in their bottomless depths. “Cripes, ma – what the Divil are you up to? Go aisy – g’way oura that, ya ghoully Ghostie yoke!! I mean, ma!”

The Dacent is beginning to wonder if catching a bride is always such a difficult and dangerous project! “Cripes! tis a wonder anyone gets shackled, so it is!” All he has to go on

– is his own experience of this one {not-the-least-bitromantic} chase.

Meanwhile, on the Hazel Path, there was a small conference. Well, a word between Milly and the Babsie – who seemed to be able to interpret the ghost madra’s little growls and info-snarls. They were trying to figure what plan to use, as they expected a Dacent assault at any minute. The madra had a ‘sixth sense’ which told him that an evil spirit was abroad in Bilzies Wood this dangerous night.

The girls were aware that Dacent would do anything to get the Mollers, and that his ma was sure to pull in on his side with her box – or cauldron – of black magic tricks. Molly knew one basic fact: Big M had ne’er a clue – any more than themselves – about what dire weapons they’d have to defend against!

He’d probably find out a few seconds before the two girls: not much time, folks – but quick enough to raise a weapon to ‘High port’ – and that might be the vital edge that would save them.

For the present, anyway…

To be continued….

Disclaimer The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Kilkenny Observer.

The Miracle on Bridge Street Inside Fennellys cafe and cultural hub

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

You know that summer is on the way when you pass Fennelly’s of Callan and see diners in the courtyard, its big blue wooden doors thrown open, sipping wine or sharing platters in the midday sun.

But this summer is different, because the café-cum arts hub has just launched its “May Evenings”, later openings that look set to boost this “little miracle” as it’s been dubbed due its strong performance in a town that has said goodbye to almost all its traditional small shops in the 21st century.

While hopes are high of new life being injected into Callan’s streets, there can be no doubt that Upper Bridge Street right now would be desolate without Fennelly’s, though thankfully

in Callan since the Gaiety burned down in 1964.

Catering for the arts might have struck one as a sufficiently worthy challenge but Etaoin had a vision. She felt it was time to take Fennelly’s to another level. She opened a lovely café which continued to double as a creative hub.

She sourced the best of local produce and acquired a highly professional staff. Fresh fruit and mushrooms are forever coming through the door, en-

the Town Square is buzzing again with another café, a barber’s, and two chippers.

Over the past decade Fennelly’s has evolved into the proudly ticking heart of Bridge Street, and is a huge cultural asset to the town itself.

This achievement is down to Etaoin Holahan, who took ownership of the former pub and farmyard. She wove a curational magic wand over the premises and, within a few months, the building had morphed from an empty silence of ageing bricks and mortar to a vibrant creative space showcasing all branches of the arts.

Musical and literary events drew crowds to the converted ex-pub and also to the courtyard where, in addition to quirky but comfortable audience seating, a little cinema started screening vintage movies- the first Etaoin Holahan picture house

suring wholesome, delicious meals and mouth-watering desserts.

The café quickly began to notch up highly soughtafter food awards. Some of the country’s foremost and severest food critics have lauded the fare and service at Fennelly’s. The home-made brownies, slices of Granny’s Brown Bread and hunks of Keogh’s Rustic had the culinary watchdogs smacking their lips. Not a crumb was left on the tables. The main course Fennellys of Callan

meals were generously scored for taste and presentation, and the savoury tarts had them asking for more.

The critics also praise the seductive appeal of the interior and the courtyard. It never fails to charm when you arrive to dine, listen to music, view visual arts and crafts, or to watch or participate in an apple juicing session.

A long history…

When you drop in for a meal or just a coffee at Fennelly’s you bask in the glow of a setting that has passed through many phases in its long history. It once echoed to the clink of beer and whisky glasses when it served as a pub and grocery: You could drink and shop at the same time. The outdoor section was a bustling farmyard, with hens clucking day and night, and locals calling for eggs. It was a funeral home too: I remember the empty coffins stacked up in the courtyard in past decades. You could take your pick of a nicely crafted box for the dearly departed.

Now, the funereal atmosphere is gone, and the grocery is no more…but in a shout to its previous incarnation as a pub the newly-launched “May Evenings” take you back a little in time.

From 6 to 10 pm each Thursday and Friday this month you can enjoy a glass of wine or

whatever you fancy, having a choice of sitting in the former bar-space, to cozy up around a blazing old-fashioned fire, or, weather permitting, relax in the spacious courtyard whose transformation under Etaoin’s direction has been hailed as an alfresco dream-come-true.

It has played host to numerous concerts and theatrical events and the wood-fired oven in the courtyard turns out pizzas rumoured to be the tastiest in the South East. It has aptly been likened to a film set, with its little sheds, quaint props and a scattering of Old World furnishings.

The “May Evenings “ venture t got off to great start, with the rustic courtyard and Fennelly’s now gold standard reputation for cuisine drawing locals and out-of-town visitors like a magnet.

Seated around the tables in the courtyard, couples and groups indulged themselves, sampling Irish cheeses and hand-served pears, among other treats. The white wine for opening night had been on ice all day and the tipplers couldn’t get enough of it. The red, all agreed, was delightfully mellow.

Callan eagerly awaits rejuvenation of its streets and empty buildings, but will continue to rejoice in the success of Fennelly’s: “The Miracle on Bridge Street.”

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News

Jack Grace Band to play in Ryans Bar Friday, May 19th

TechKidz is Ireland’s leading multi-activity technology camp and we are delighted to be back in Kilkenny again this summer. We are all about giving children the technical skills to succeed in the digital age.

Children will cover an exciting range of activities throughout the week-long camp, from designing and building, to planning and filming their own computer games, building and programming robots, designing a t-shirt, to coding their own website.

TechKidz is not only a camp that focuses on Technology, it is also a great place to make new friends and, more importantly, HAVE FUN! Camps are suitable for children ages 7-14 years old. Check out our exciting curriculum and book your place now on our website www.techkidz.ie.

Let’s Go! is Ireland’s number one multi-activity sports camp. With an incredibly exciting wide range of activities, we are excited to be back in Kilkenny for another week this summer! Book your child's place today and give them the chance to experience some of our incredible activities, hone their skills on the archery range with our soft archery, and experience new sports like Lacrosse, Olympic Handball and Ultimate Frisbee.

Sample some Let’s Go! favourites such as Flingsocks, Brickworks and Pursuit Ball or get an adrenaline rush by taking on our inflatable assault course or taking a roll in our Zorbee Ball! There really is something for everybody in an action-packed fun filled week. Camps are suitable for children ages 5-12 years old. Book your place now or find out more on our website www.letsgo.ie

Jack Grace was born in Brooklyn, NY. He has spent decades on the road in the US, Canada and Europe, playing his "Songwriter driven Country Rock ".

He has performed with a wide variety of artists, from Gordon Lightfoot to Jerry Lee Lewis to Norah Jones, Doc Watson to Fishbone, Merle Haggard to The Meters and his original songbook of many genres blends with them all. He is an accomplished finger-picking solo performer that could make you laugh or have you shed a tear, as well as a storied band leader, comfortably riding his well-worn power trio into a dance frenzy or leading his decadent 7 piece outfit (complete with The Broken Mariachi horn section) deep into his sometimes humorous, yet often heartbreaking repertoire.

Jack has been described as a New York Institution and a bona fide Country Rock originator. American Highways

magazine have described him “as clever as the Beatles.

The Jack Grace Band make a long awaited return to Kilkenny when they play in Ryans Bar Friday May 19th

at 10pm.

Jack and his Band are on a UK and Ireland tour and are eagerly looking forward to playing in Ryans and meeting fans old and new. They have played at several Kilkenny Roots Festivals.

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News

Are you looking for a fun and educational way to keep your kids entertained this summer?

Climate Change

– are we all playing our part?

Look no further than Designer Minds Science, Design and Technology (STEAM) Camps and Art Camps!

This year’s camps offer a wide range of exciting activities for all girls and boys going into 1st Class to 1st Year next September.

There are 2 Camps to choose from (or you can try out both and get a discount!).

For all future scientists, designers, engineers and innovators, Designer Minds STEAM Summer Camp is a thrilling week filled with science experiments, robots, LEGO, coding, art, and so much more. Participants can make friends with passionate, like-minded kids who share a love for creating, designing, building, and experimenting.

This is a week to try new things and find out what STEAM is all about. Suitable for all capabilities and no experience is required – the main goal is to have fun!

If your child wants to explore their more creative side, everyone can be an artist at a Designer Minds Art Summer Camp. The Art Camp is a jampacked week of creativity, where children can explore painting, drawing, upcycling, printmaking, digital design and more! The Art Camp has won some high praise from Kilkenny parents: “My daughter loved the Art camp. You don't have to be good

at art to do it. You don't have to create masterpieces. It's just all for fun"- Helen, Kilkenny.

Designer Minds have been running clubs and camps since 2014 and pride themselves on their bespoke STEAM programmes. Their certified, GardaVetted instructors are passionate about inspiring young minds and fostering creativity through hands-on learning. They are the only camp and club provider for children in Ireland who cover ALL aspects of STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths.

“We believe that learning should be fun, which is why

we incorporate team-building games into our programs to encourage teamwork and communication skills.”

So why not give your child the gift of learning this summer?

Enrol them in Designer Minds STEAM Camps or Art Camps in Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny today!

STEAM Camps Dates: 3rd – 7th July and 14th – 18th August.

Art Camps Dates: 10th – 14th July and 17th – 21st July.

Don’t get stuck on a waiting list – secure your spot with a deposit of €30 now at www.designerminds.ie. Multi-camp/sibling discounts are available.

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News

Jeanette Delahunty of TSK Academy is an award-winning and accredited Neurodiversity Consultant and Trainer Jeanette started her company during what she calls ‘the great pause’ to provide education and training for those working with the vulnerable populations. She has since created a number of accredited courses and workshops for schools, Education and Training Boards, and childcare committees, as well as for parents.

In more recent times, Jeanette has turned her attention to the corporate sector to help organisations create ‘belonging’ in their workplaces for neurodivergent individuals.

In her ambition to change the world to be more accepting of difference, Jeanette delivers training and consultancy to organisations to help reduce the risk of litigation and high staff turnover, while creating higher productivity and profitability, simply by becoming more aware of bias and

creating an inclusive workplace culture.

Jeanette’s unique method of delivery is both thought provoking and encouraging, to help people, managers and colleagues in understanding and accommodating difdif ference and removing bias.

Some of the courses and workshops include training in ‘What is Neurodiversity?’, Autism Acceptance, How the Environment Affects the Sensory System and Our Behaviour, Dyslexia and Mental Health, Understanding and Supporting ADHD, and Trauma Informed Practice. Jeanette can provide bespoke training in many areas, including; unconscious bias, dignity and respect, and mental health conditions such as PICA, Trauma and Anxiety.

TSK Academy has been awarded as an ‘Accredited Business All Star’ by the AllIreland Business Foundation for 3 years in a row, proving

trust, credibility and customer centricity, and is now a Founding Fellow of their leadership council. Jeanette herself won ‘Established Business Woman of the Year’ in Kilkenny in 2022, going on to represent Kilkenny in the National Finals, and was also a finalist in last year's Kilkenny Chamber Awards in the ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ category. She was also a runner up in the Irish Institute of Training and Development Awards in 2022 for the category of ‘Equality and Diversity Participatory Initiative’.

Jeanette is a mentor for ‘The Big Idea’, supporting transition year students in bridging the gap between school and employment. She is also a mentor for the Local Enterprise Office in Kilkenny for local businesses.

With her personal and professional background of eleven children in her blended family with varied complex needs and her fifteen years plus of working with vulnerable people, it’s easy to see where her passion for change comes from.

COMPETITION WINNER Congratulations to Maria Tobin

Thank you to all who entered the draw to win a gift voucher for Goods sponsored by The Kilkenny Observer.

Congratulations to Maria Tobin who was the lucky winner of the €100.00 gift voucher, a great opportunity to shop from the fabulous fashion and cosmetic range at Goods, Kilkenny.

The gift voucher was presented to Maria by Faith O’Neill, Features and Advertising Consultant with The Kilkenny Observer.

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Commemoration

Kilkenny and Tipperary Republican Soldier Commemoration at Poulacapple Captain Jim Egan, who was killed in action at Poulacapple

BY JIM HAYES: (Grandnephew of Jim Egan) A fitting two day Commemoration was held recently for the 100th anniversary of the death of IRA Captain Jim Egan of the 7th Battalion Kilkenny Brigade IRA and the 3rd Battalion Tipperary Brigade IRA. The Commemoration took place at his home in Poulacapple on the 22 April and in Mullinahone the following day 23rd April 2023.

In Poulacapple, an oration was given by renowned author and historian Niamh Hassett and a plaque was unveiled on the wall of the house in memory of Jim and his brothers Pat, Ned, Peter, Tommy and Charlie Egan who played major parts in the War of Independence and Civil War. It was from this home, The Irish Republican Army met to end the Civil War. A walk was held through woodland to the spot where Jim was killed in a gun battle with Free State Forces.

There were wreaths laid at the place where Jim was wounded. The ballad of Jim Egan was played and sung by composer Joe O Gorman, a long-time friend of the Egan family, which proved to be a very moving tribute.

On the second day there was mass offered in St Michael’s Church, Mullinahone, followed by a wreath

laying ceremony and oration given

by Niamh Hassett at the Grave of Jim Egan. From the graveside there was a procession to the Egan, Brett and Quinn monument where another wreath laying ceremony took place. The colour party reenactment was of the 7th Battalion 3rd brigade Drangan.

Tadhg Ryan played Amhrán Na bhFiann on the Bagpipes, while later there was light lunch and music in Brett’s “ Stack of Barley” where neighbours friends and relations spent the evening chatting and telling stories they heard of the famous Egan family and their ‘Fight For Irish Freedom’.

There was a huge turnout on both days which goes to show the high esteem Jim Egan and his family are held and for the part they played and struggles they endured during the early part of the last century.

A special thanks has to go to the Costello/ Egan family for opening and welcoming large crowds of relations and friends into their home over the weekend of the commemorations and to the many organisers who put a lot of time and effort into the commemoration to make the weekend the success it turned out to be.

Jim’s granddaughter Josie Gill, her husband Sean and his great-grandson James travelled from Manchester for the commemorations.

Jim Egan, his parents John and Bridget, brothers and sisters would have been proud of everybody who took part in the100th anniversary commemorations.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad.

The Story of Jim Egan Jim Egan was born in 1896 in Poulacapple outside Callan on the West Kilkenny Tipperary border. He was the ninth of fifteen children. His father John married his neighbour Bridget Gardiner on Valentine’s day 1884. Together John and Bridget built up a thriving egg exporting business and bit by bit they bought small parcels of land until they had a good size farm. By the time Jim was born, the Egan’s were doing very well indeed. John and Bridget were staunch supporters of Davin and Cusack so it was only a matter of time before the Egan family would take part in the fight for Irish freedom in the turbulent years ahead.

Jim took an active part in the volunteer movement since its

Part of the large attendance at the commemoration

Plaque unveiled in memory of Jim Egan

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Commemoration

Attendees visiting the ambush site

The Colour Party at the Egan, Brett and Quinn Monument Mullinahone

inception. His brothers Pat, Ned, Peter, Tommy and Charlie were also involved in the struggle for independence and all were interned together at one stage .

Along with being an active volunteers Jim Egan and his brothers were outstanding footballers and were the backbone of the Mullinahone football team, winning many county titles between them.

Jim Played centre back for Tipperary in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday 1920. He braved Black and Tan bullets to get a priest Fr Crotty from Mullinahone to attend to his team mate Michael Hogan who had been shot. Michael Hogan died on the field of play a few minutes later.

The Colour Party at Jim Egan’s grave side

Jim Egan’s granddaughter Josie Gill, her husband Sean and his great-grandson James travelled from Manchester for the commemorations

IMPRISONED IN KILKENNY AND SPIKE After Bloody Sunday Jim and his brothers were arrested and detained at Woodstock House, Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny where they was interrogated, tortured and badly beaten by the Auxiliaries. They were imprisoned in Kilkenny Jail and later on Spike Island.

When the truce came, and after the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty, Jim his brothers and comrades were released as part of the terms of the Treaty.

On release from Spike Island Jim Egan joined the National army.

When Civil War broke out he left the army and went back to the fight again. Opposing the Treaty, the batbat talions regrouped and he joined Brithe 7th battalion Kilkenny Bri gade IRA. In the final days of the Civil War he was one of a number of IRA men guarding Eamon De Valera, Liam Lynch and Frank Aiken in the Nire Valley. He left the Nire Valley escorting De Val Valera back to Poulacapple.

Jim was in his home in PouPou lacapple when it was raided by Free State Forces. Avoiding arrest, he got out through a window, while his brothers and sisters were being arrested around the farm and haggard. Hopelessly outout numbered he fought a fierce gun battle through the fields around his home, returning fire with his revolver. He managed to shoot Lt. Patrick McGrath resulting in the loss of his finger. Jim himself was shot and badly wounded, and was left lying on the ground for three long hours in the worst weather imaginable without being allowed the attention of a doctor or a priest.

His family tried several times to see him as he lay bleeding to death

but were not allowed. Had Jim got the medical attention he needed he may well have survived as he was a very fit young man He was eventually brought to the Callan County home where he succumbed to his wounds and died the following morning on the 19th April 1923.

A TIME FOR PEACE Later that same April, twelve members of the Anti-Treaty IRA executive were present at a meeting at the home of the Egan’s of Poulacapple.

Frank Aiken was elected Commanding Officer in succession to General Liam Lynch. With one dissident at the meeting it was decided to negotiate peace.

Frank Aiken, Liam Pilkington, Tom Barry and Sean Hales were empowered to make the final decision for peace or war in conjunction with the Republican cabinet.

These four officers travelled to Dublin and consulted with the then President Eamon De Valera to make a public proclamation for peace proposals and to order a cessation of aggressive action. The proclamation was issued and was accompanied by an IRA instruction ordering suspension of military operations as of noon on the 30th April 1923.

Just days after Jim Egan’s death, this meeting held at his home in Poulacapple ultimately led to the ending of the Civil War in Ireland.

Thanks to historian Jim Maher for recording the actions of Jim Egan and his family in his book ‘The Flying Column West Kilkenny.’

Without his research and documentation a lot of what we know on the war of Independence and Civil War in West Kilkenny and South East Tipperary would not have being recorded.

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Food & Drink

Dine Me Come

With

Negroni mocktail Make an alcohol-free version of the classic negroni cocktail, with grape juice and a syrup made from grapefruit, coriander and cardamon pods.

One-pan seafood roast with smoky garlic butter

Ingredients For the syrup base • ½ grapefruit (approx 125g) • 1 slice orange • 125g caster sugar • 3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed • pinch coriander seeds • few drops red food colouring For the cocktail • ice • 25ml white grape juice • 1 slice orange (optional)

Prep: 20 mins Cook: 40 mins Serves: 4

Give the Sunday roast a new look with hasselback potatoes and smoky, charred seafood, all cooked in one pan. Serve with bread for mopping up the buttery juices.

Ingredients • 400g baby new potatoes • 1 tbsp olive or rapeseed oil • 2 corn cobs • 8-12 large prawns, heads and shells on • 8-12 mussels or large clams (or a mixture) • 2 medium squids with tentacles, cleaned • 150g butter • small bunch parsley, chopped, plus a little to serve • 1 tsp smoked paprika • 3 garlic cloves, crushed • 1 lemon, zested then cut into wedges • 200g ring chorizo, peeled and sliced

Method STEP 1 Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Use a large knife to hasselback the potatoes; cut incisions in each potato making sure you don’t cut through to the base, and keep the cuts as close together as possible.

Toss the potatoes in oil and some seasoning in your largest roasting tin (an oven tray is ideal – line

Method STEP 1 Chop the grapefruit into small chunks and put them into a saucepan along with the orange slice, sugar, 125ml water, the cardamom pods and coriander seeds. Heat the mixture until simmering and cook for around 5 mins, crushing the fruit pieces with the back of a wooden spoon as it starts to soften to release the juices. Once the fruit has softened and the white pith has faded, take it off the heat and leave to cool. If you like you can add a splash of red food colouring to the syrup at this point.

with parchment first if it’s old).

Roast for 20 mins.

STEP 2 Butterfly the prawns by cutting a line down the back of each one, through the shell from the base of the head to the top of the tail.

Pull out the black line of intestine from each one. Clean the mussels under cold water, pulling off any hairy or stringy bits. Hasselback the squid in the same way you did the potatoes.

STEP 3 Cut each corn cob into four pieces – the easiest way to do this is by positioning your knife, covering it with a tea towel and hitting it with a rolling pin. Add the corn to the tray, toss in the oil and return to the oven for 5 mins.

STEP 4 Mash together the butter, parsley, paprika, garlic and lemon zest.

Stuff some of the butter into the back of each prawn and inside the squids. Turn the oven up

Cheese and bacon scone pizza

Method STEP 1 Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Mix the flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl, then rub in the butter until it disappears. Mix the eggs and milk together, then stir into the dry ingredients to make a soft dough. Shape into a round on a lightly floured surface, lift onto a non-stick baking tray, then press out to a circle about 24cm across to make the pizza base.

Prep: 15 mins Cook: 15 mins Serves: 4 An easy, quick yeast-free pizza recipe to make with the kids – get them to choose their favourite toppings.

Ingredients For the scone base • 250g plain flour • 1 tsp salt • 2 tsp baking powder • 50g butter, chopped • 2 eggs • 3 tbsp milk For the cheesy topping • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 green pepper, quartered, deseeded and thinly sliced • 4 rashers streaky bacon, chopped • 5 spring onions, thinly sliced

to 220C/200C fan/gas 6. Add the seafood, lemon wedges and chorizo to the pan and toss everything together. Dot the remaining butter over the top, season well and return to the oven for 10 mins. If any of the prawns haven’t turned pink or any mussels haven’t opened, move them around the pan to the hot spots, then return to the oven for another 2-3 mins. Remove and discard any mussels which haven’t opened. Scatter some parsley over and serve.

STEP 2 Heat the oil in a frying pan, then stir-fry the pepper and bacon until the pepper is soft. Take off the heat, then stir in the spring onion.

(the white and green parts) • 2 tbsp tomato ketchup mixed with 2 tbsp tomato purée

• about 6-8 cherry tomatoes, halved • 85g mature cheddar, grated

STEP 3 Spread the ketchup over the pizza base, then evenly tip over the pepper and bacon mixture.

Scatter over the tomatoes, followed by the cheese. Bake for 15 mins until golden. Serve with a salad or coleslaw.

STEP 2 Once the syrup mixture has cooled, strain it and discard the spices and fruit pieces. Fill a tumbler with ice and pour in 25ml of the syrup, the grape juice and 25ml cold water. Stir gently until the outside of the tumbler feels cold, then garnish with a slice of orange, if you like

Damson gin Prep:30 mins plus 12 hours freezing and 2-3 months maturing time Makes: 1.5 litre Bottle up a taste of autumn with our homemade damson gin. The flavour matures and improves over time. The recipe can also be used to make damson vodka.

Ingredients • 500g damsons • 250g golden caster sugar • 1l bottle gin or vodka Method STEP 1 Rinse and pick over the damsons to remove any leaves and stalks, then pat dry, tip into a freezer bag and freeze overnight. The next day, bash the bag of damsons a couple of times with a rolling pin and then tip the lot into a 2-litre Kilner jar, or divide between 2 smaller jars.

STEP 2 Pour in the sugar and gin, and put the lid on.

Shake well. Each day for a week, give the jar a good shake until all the sugar has dissolved, then put it in a cool, dark place and leave for 2-3 months.

STEP 3 Line a plastic sieve with a square of muslin (or use a coffee filter in a cone for a really refined gin) and strain the damson gin through it. Decant into clean, dry bottles, seal and label. The gin is now ready to drink, but will improve and mature over time – it will keep for over a year, if you can wait that long.

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Time now to get curious about Benjamin Button Even the greatest and most revered filmmakers have made movies that audiences and critics have, for one reason or another, forgotten about. Christopher Nolan made Insomnia, Martin Scorsese made Bringing Out The Dead, and the Coen Brothers remade True Grit.

The list of forgotten movies made goes on and on. Even someone as selective and acclaimed as David Fincher has one on his resume: in 2008, the Social Network and Zodiac director released his seventh feature film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. While it received positive reviews and considerable awards attention, Benjamin Button has felt, much like Fincher’s underrated 2002 thriller Panic Room, increasingly lost to time. While it isn’t a career-defining masterpiece of the same caliber as Zodiac or Se7en, it’s also

not nearly as forgettable or flawed as its reputation might suggest.

Based on a 1922 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Benjamin Button focuses on the life of a protagonist (Brad Pitt) who’s born an old man and spends the next 80 years aging backward. Along the way, Benjamin meets and falls in love with a ballerina named Daisy Fuller (Cate Blanchett), and the two slowly but surely commit to a relationship they both know is destined to be cut short.

If its premise sounds a bit maudlin, that’s because it is. On a narrative level, the film is an awkward fantasy romance that uses its hero’s unique curse to explore mortality, time, and the connections that can form in the face of inevitable tragedy. Fincher, as unsentimental a director as there’s ever been, might

seem like an odd choice.

But it’s Fincher’s willingness to confront the story’s darkness that prevents Benjamin Button from devolving into melodramatic schlock.

And so despite the blunt premise, Fincher conjures moments of genuinely affecting romance and heartache. Most come during the second half, which sees Benjamin and Daisy finally reunite and spend a large chunk of time together. Pitt and Blanchett have enough chemistry and charisma to make you look past the narrative hangups of their romance and buy into the connection between them.

More than anything, though, Benjamin Button ranks as one of Fincher’s greatest visual accomplishments. While the head replacement VFX used to bring Pitt’s protagonist to life in the first act haven’t aged well, it still features

chreest) only to learn his shocking secrets.

But let’s not rush. The series is framed by scenes of the mature Queen Charlotte (the indelibly imperious Golda Rosheuvel) facing royal pressure to marry off at least one of her 13 children to produce an heir. It’s that pressure that sparks the queen to consider her youth.

Cut to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany, who is only 17 when she arrives in court with her brother Adolphus (Tunji Kasim) for an arranged marriage to George, then 23.

She’s dreading the moment so much that she’s trying to climb over a wall when George approaches her in a

garden without telling her who he is. His charm and looks disarm her.

Queen Charlotte breaks tradition by marrying fantasy to actual history. That’s a first. Charlotte does not appear in the Bridgerton books written by Julia Quinn. But she was indeed real and believed to be the first British Queen of Black ancestry.

Despite her attraction to the king, Charlotte is appalled when he leaves her on their wedding night to isolate at another castle. His reason? A mental instability close to manic-depression that made him fear having children. Later, Charlotte slyly sidesteps George’s quack doctors and his con-

Advertisement Advertisement TV & Streaming

to watch if you love The Diplomat 1. The Americans

If The Diplomat was your introduction to the talent that is Keri Russell then, firstly, where have you been? But secondly, make sure you add The Americans to your list. The star leads the cast along with her real-life partner Matthew Rhys as two Russian spies who pose as Americans to infiltrate the US government.

2. The Night Agent

some of the most haunting images of Fincher’s filmography. Shot by Top Gun: Maverick cinematographer Claudio Miranda, the film looks, feels, and moves like a gothic dream.

That’s never more apparent than when Daisy attempts to seduce Benjamin with a solo dance after their first date. Blanchett, wearing a red dress that matches the colour of her hair, spins and twirls in the centre of an empty, oversized gazebo at night, all while fog rolls in behind her and transforms her into a dark, moonlit silhouette. It’s a dreamlike, seductive, wondrously constructed scene. And in a flawed film, it’s an example of the cinematic artistry that can only come from a filmmaker as talented as Fincher.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is streaming on Netflix.

Bridgerton – now for the prequel Bridgerton has spawned a prequel – and lucky for Netflix viewers, the six episodes that start streaming this week are brimming over with delicious delights and wicked intrigue. As local gossip Lady Whistledown, impeccably voiced by Julie Andrews, might put it to her dear readers, “All’s fair in love and war.”

Rest assured, there’s plenty of both and an unexpected touch of real-life gravity in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Here’s just the prequel story we need as the young Charlotte (India Amarteifio in a star-making performance) meets and marries England’s gorgeous King George III (Corey Myl-

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trolling mother (Michelle Fairley) to work out a relationship with this shy man she loves.

This story has been told onstage and in the Oscarnominated 1994 film The Madness of King George, starring Nigel Hawthorne and Helen Mirren.

Above all, Queen Charlotte celebrates the long-lasting bond between Charlotte and George. The intimate details remain lost to history, especially when George’s condition worsened in the final years of his reign. Leave it to Team Bridgerton to fill in the gaps with Amarteifio and Mylchreest bringing such heat and heart to their roles that you’ll be swooning.

Before The Diplomat landed on Netflix, The Night Agent was the political thriller that everyone was talking about. Gabriel Basso leads the cast of this drama which focuses on US night agent Peter Sutherland who finds himself trying to solve a conspiracy at the White House. After receiving a call from Rose (Luciane Buchanan) about her relatives being murdered, Peter and Rose begin to investigate the identity of a mole trying to cause irreparable damage to the country. On Netflix.

3. Homeland

The Diplomat’s showrunner is writer and TV producer Debora Cahn who happened to be a writer on Homeland, so it’s no wonder that critics have been highlighting the positive similarities between the two shows. Claire Danes and Damian Lewis star in the drama which tells the story of a former Marine Corps Sniper who is released after eight years of confinement as a hostage but soon becomes a potential threat to the US government.

4. Scandal

Kerry Washington led the cast of Shonda Rhimes’ Scandal and her part as former White House Communications Director Olivia Pope received wide praise. The show’s plot focuses on Olivia setting up her own professional crisis management firm only to realise that her clients and those around her are harbouring many secrets and lies.

5. Treason

Treason is another political drama from Netflix that landed on the streaming platform at the end of 2022. The limited series stars Charlie Cox who plays the part of a MI6 agent whose future takes a “sharp turn” for the worse after a reunion with a former Russian spy poses questions about his life.

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Community & GAA Notes

PILTOWN DRAW Hurlers co-op member draw tickets (Piltown tickets) are now available from Executive, Camogie and LGFA committee members, senior hurlers and camogie players or contact Dermot Nolan 0879206998. This is an important fundraiser for our club and your support is appreciated. First draw takes place on June 13th.

SUPPORTERS CLUB Kilkenny GAA Supporters Club. For anyone wishing to join or pay their membership renewal please contact Martin Nolan of Clara at 086-2343254. Thanks for the support.

JUNIORS DRAW Clara Junior hurlers drew at home to the Rower Inistioge on Saturday evening in a game that they should really have won.

Poor shooting from frees and general play cost them but at least that is something that can be rectified on the training ground in the weeks ahead. Clara opened brightly and Harry Boyle and Joe Connolly from a free had them two points to the good. But the Rower were more efficient in their shooting and reeled off five in a row. Joe Connolly and the Rower swapped frees and Harry Boyle claimed his second point to reduce the deficit. Joe Connolly traded frees with his Inistioge counterpart to leave the halftime score Inistioge 0-7 Clara 0-5.

The Rower began the second half with two more points from play before Peter Nolan closed the gap and two Joe Connolly frees negated two similar Inistioge efforts. Then a long clearance from Lester Ryan was seized by Killian Phelan whose goal edged Clara ahead. Then when two more Inistioge points from play gave them the edge the same Killian was pulled down to earn a penalty.

He stepped up himself to roof it and give Clara the lead but the Rower Inistioge pointed a free deep into injury time to earn a share of the spoils.

It was great to see the return of Killian Fitzgerald to the Clara colours after a long absence and he looked like he never had been away. Clara should have taken the two points here but at least they didn’t lose the match and remain unbeaten. Clara 2-8 Rower Inistioge 0-14 was how it ended.

Team - Jason Barcoe, Ben Murphy, Lester Ryan, Zach Lawlor.

Brandon Ryan, Evan Whearty, Killian Fitzgerald. Killian Phelan 2-0, 1-0p, Jim Kehoe. Peter Nolan 0-1, Joe Connolly 0-5f, Harry Boyle 0-2. Sean Carrigan, Alan Coleman, Alex McDonald. Subs used Cian Kelly, Adam Harding, Luke Whelan, Noelie O Brien.

MINOR SUCCESS Well done to David Barcoe of Clara who was corner back on the Kilkenny minor team that beat Wexford in Nowlan Park recently.

By doing so Kilkenny set up a Leinster final meeting with Galway and an automatic All Ireland semi final slot.

Well done also to selector Conor Phelan and trainer John Murphy for their part in Kilkenny senior hurler’s big victory up in Antrim on Sunday.

CLUB LOTTO There was no winner of club lotto dated May 2nd. Numbers drawn were 5, 9, 20, 24 Bonus 25 Play now at www.oloughlingaels.com/lotto Promotors Draw. 1. Sonny Cullen c/o Alan Cullen. 2. Phillip Brennan c/o Mick Nolan. 3. Michael Hayes. C/o Neil Loy. 4. Mark Ryan c/o Neil Loy. 5. Martin Murphy c/o Dan O’Driscoll. 6. Michael Kinchella c/o Eileen Kinchella. 7. Doloras Walsh c/o Esther Maher 8. Claire McGuinness c/o Online. 9. Lisa Buckley c/o Online. 10.

Julie Kavanagh c/o Online LEINSTER CHAMPIONS Well done to the O’Loughlins lads who helped CBS Kilkenny - an Edmund Rice School team to a Leinster final with a win over rivals St Kieran’s College. Good job lads - Sam McKenna, Essosa Dowling, Adam Maher, David McGee (Captain), Shea O’Meara, Diarmuid Considine,, Adam Quigley, Conor McDonald.

Hard luck to the two boys Andrew Holohan and Eldon Sheridan who were on the St. Kieran’s College panel. Well done to all our lads playing in a Leinster Final. Lovely Hurling .

BUS TO MINOR LEINSTER FINAL A bus will leave O’Loughlin Gaels carpark this Friday (May 12th) at 5:30pm to bring supporters to the Minor Hurling Final between Kilkenny and Galway in Portlaoise. To book a seat please contact Stephen at 086 199 3711. €15 per person.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS SUMMER CAMP The news every young Gael is waiting for is just announced Summer Camp ‘23 runs from 24th of July to 4th August. All the details will be distributed to the parish schools and club in the coming days. Book early and don’t be disappointed.

IRISH LANGUAGE SUMMER CAMP Bígí linn a chairde! I nGaeltacht Chill Chainnigh. Tobar Eoin!

Come join in the fun in Kilkenny’s newest Gaeltacht… Johnswell!

A Summer Camp experience through Irish! For ONE week only!Tuilleadh Eolais/More Information tobarnagaeilge@yahoo. com nó 0877006324.

NOMINATED FOR PRIDE OF PLACE This week Kilkenny County Council informed Freshford.ie that they are nominating Freshford for the IPB Pride of Place National Awards 2023. This is a tremendous honour for the village of Freshford. Pride of Place is an all island competition that recognises improvements made by local communities to create civic pride in their area. The competition focus is about people coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their area. Freshford is being recognised for development works including but not limited to the community established and ruin Loop Café the new playground and activity hub Ionad Lachtain – St.Lachtains church museum and arts centre, the millennium park, the new walkway in GAA Grounds in Pairc Lachtain which is to be set up shortly and the Freshford loop Walk. Also the tireless efforts of volunteers to provide sports and recreational facilities in the village such as Freshford Boxing Club, Squash Club, Freshford Town FC, St.Lachtains GAA and Camogie clubs and Nena AC and the ongoing work of Freshford Tidy Town group to maintain the beauty of the village whilst enhancing biodiversity. Judging will take place in July/August when the panel will visit the village and meet representatives from the community, tour the village and watch a presentation made by the Community. The award ceremony will take place at a televised gala banquet in Armagh in November. Everyone should be really proud of the efforts to get us this far and anyone who wishes to assist with enhancement work in the village can message the groups facebook page or contact any of the Tidy Towns group.

U13 CHAMPIONS Congratulations to St.Lachtains U13 footballers who won the county final recently when they defeated Kilmoganny decisively at Pairc Lachtain. The Freshford boys were always in control and came out deserving winners. Well done to the young boys and to their management for this great success.

Team; J.Kavanagh, A.Walsh, H Carroll, J.Geraghty, I Carroll, P.McCarthy, A.dowling. N.Walsh, M.Hickey, P.O’Connor, C.Dalton, J.Marnell, B.O’Gorman, M O’Neill and Dalton. Subs – B.Looby, B.McGree, A.Dalton, S.Walsh, L.McCarthy, F.Condon, S Landy and LDermody (injured) FIRST COMMUNION The boys and girls of second class of St.Lachtains National School made their first Confession on Wednesday last and will receive their first holy Communion on this coming Saturday at 11am in St.Lachtains Church (full report next week) IONAD LACHTAIN HERITAGE CENTRE Ionad Lachtain Church, Arts and Heritage Centre is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 4.30pm. Gifts on sale to suit every occasion.

CAMOGIE Kilkenny Intermediate Camogie side beat Dublin at the weekend

U13 County Football Champions and one local girl Sinead Farrell is the sub keeper with the team.

Three local girls Michelle Killeen, Katelyn O’Connor and Abbie Whitty were part of Kilkenny U16 A and B teams recently. The A team won the Leinster final while the B team were unlucky to be narrowly beaten.

FEILE LACHTAIN 2023 St. Lachtain’s Church of Ireland was alive with music and story recently when a Night of Nostalgia of Freshford’s bands and musicians was remembered with an emphasis on the performers over the last fifty years. Included were The Lords and Looney Tunes. Music was provided by the three remaining members of the Super Noodles Jim Byrne, Gary Barnaville and Gerry Delaney with many of their music friends returning to meet the guys and hear their music. MC was Marie Kennedy and the story was narrated by Ned Kennedy with music in between recalling many tunes from the past. The relaunch of the museum also took place during Friday’s event with some new displays which were generously donated ALSO unveiled by Committee member Richard St. George.

DAYCARE TRIP Freshford Daycare Centre organised a bus trip to Fota Island and Cobh in County Cork on Tuesday of this week. They group stopped for meal on way home at Corbett Court Hotel in Fermoy.

A very enjoyable trip was had by all.

FITNESS SESSIONS Fitness sessions Boxing/fitness sessions at Community Hall Freshford – Have you had a diagnoses of Parkinsons; Alzheimers or other neurological condition? If so maybe you are keen to get some level of fitness back or work on you balance or upper body strength? If so, these classes are just what you need. Classes take place each Tuesday from 11am to 12 noon - sessions cost just €10 each and are facilitated by a boxing coach. They will also give you the chance to socialise and meet other people. For more information or to sign up please contact Brenda Cooper on 0871369253 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.

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

O’Loughlins lads basking in schools Leinster Final success with CBS Kilkenny

MOLLY’S CAFÉ TRIFT SHOP Special offers in Main Street, Gowran.

Three items of sportswear: €10. Three tops: €10. Dresses: €10 Certain Items: €2 and €3. Open every Saturday, from 10am to 3pm.

MINORS MAKE IT 6 FROM 6 Young Irelands Minor A Hurlers consolidated their 100% winning record, as they made it 6 wins from 6 thanks to a 2-19 to 1-17 win

away to Dicksboro on Sunday Evening. It was their second game played in 5 days following a comprehensive 4-27 to 2-10 against St. Patricks Ballyragget.

The Gowran lads are the only team with a 100% winning record from all their games played as they head into the exams break, and in their 6 matches played they scored a combined total of 19-104(161) averaging just under 27 points a game and at least 3 goals per match.

Young Irelands will resume their League campaign following the conclusion of exams in late June/early July.

JUNIOR FS PLAY THRILLING DRAW WITH MOONOIN The Young Irelands Junior F Team played a thrilling draw(6-6 to 2-18) against Mooncoin in an absorbing contest in Gowran on Sunday evening, that was beyond the dreary and dull weather that occured.

DARKNESS INTO LIGHT There was a great turnout for the first Darkness In to Light that took place early on Saturday Morning. Approximately 100 participants of all ages took part in such a wonderful event with refreshments served afterwards. Over €1.300 was raised for Pieta and a huge well done to The Young Irelands Healthy Committee for organizing at such short notice.

INTER-COUNTY HURLING Very Best Wishes to The Young Irelands contingent involved with Inter-County Teams this week. Coverage of The Leinster Minor Final is live on TG4 tonight.

JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL Disappointment for Young Irelands who lost 3-7 to 1-6 against Galmoy in The Junior Championship Quarter-Final last Friday Night.

GOWRAN BOYS PLAY PART IN CBS LEINSTER FINAL TRIUMPH Well done to Keelan Barcoe, James Kelsey and the CBS Kilkenny 2nd year hurling team who overcame St Kieran’s College in The Leinster Final in Nowlan Park.

U-14 HURLING Well done to Young Irelands’ players who were part of the U14 North Kilkenny squad who travelled to Antrim on Sunday.

Afterwards, they travelled to Corrigan Park, Belfast as guests for Kilkenny’s Leinster Championship clash with Antrim.

U-7 HURLING Well done to The Young Irelands U7s who gave a great display on Sunday Morning in their first game of the season against Bennettsbridge.

GOING TO THE DOGS All roads lead to James Park Kilkenny this Friday the 12th May for the Camogie Night at the dogs. Your support is really important as this will be the main fundraiser this year for the club. A great night is envisaged with raffle and spot prizes, a great family night out.

Tickets can be purchased in PJ Cullens Centra, O’Donnell’s Pub or from camogie coaches and committee members, €10 per adult and children are free. We really need your support for our main fundraiser this year. All proceeds towards developing Bennettsbridge Camogie Club and to the Bennettsbridge GAA development fund. Thanks for the support.

CONGRATULATIONS AISLING Congratulations to local girl, Aisling Dwan (aged 17), from Ballyreddin Stud, Bennetts-bridge, who scooped the top prize at a National Working Hunter Show last weekend.

Aisling competed at the Northern Ireland Festival at Cavan International Equestrian Centre last weekend, riding her 11 year old horse ‘Lackelly Star’, and won Champion of the Festival 1m Working Hunter Horse and Reserve Supreme Champion of Working Hunter Horse.

SPRING LITTER PICK The Spring 2023 Campaign against Littering on the stretch of road from Railway Bridge, Bennettsbridge to Long Man Kilfane is on-going. It is spearheaded by local lady Valerie Blake who is passionate about the amount of litter dropped by motorists as they drive along the country roads.

“When will people stop doing this” Her theme Is, “Bin it, not fling it” CHURCH NEWS Mass times; Monday and Wednesday 10.30.am FIRST HOLY COMMUNION Next Saturday will be First Holy Communion Day for 23 children in the parish. We hope they have a very special day with their

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 May 2023

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News Community & GAA Notes three cars and two holidays. The first of 5 draws will take place on June 13th. Tickets cost 50 euro and half of all tickets sold is returned to the club.

SPLIT THE POT Well done to Jim Treacy who won 166 euro, Moira Hackett who won 30 euro and to Lucas Power who won 20 euro. Envelopes are available around the Village. If you want to play online with clubforce please see the clubs Facebook page for details. Thanks again for the continued support.

GAA KILKENNY CO-OP DRAW TICKETS GO ON SALE Tickets cost €50 for 5 draws with €125,000 in prizes to be won. €25 from each ticket sold is retained by St. Patrick’s GAA Club and reinvested in teams and facilities. Proceeds from the sale of tickets for the 2022 draws help with upgrades to facilities which have appeared over recent months. 4 new dugouts have been installed along with a scoreboard and seating on the roadside pitch. Enhancements have continued with repairs to the fencing on the ball wall, chutes on the clubhouse and addition of a storage shed for the volunteer groundsmen.

In addition to supporting the enhancement of club facilities, last year two local ticket buyers won cash prizes in the draw. Separately, the club has run its own in-house draw for ticket buyers with 4 more buyers winning in that draw.

To buy a ticket or a share of a ticket, tickets are available from local sellers until end May, ahead of the first draw on 13 June.

Further details available from Tomás Healy 086-8585548, Ashleigh Butler 085-1466925 or Martin Bergin 087-2625396.

GAA CLUB NEWS Well done to Celtic team players Chris Delaney, Christian Connick, Mark Bergin. Also to Eoin Healy who was part of the Kilkenny GAA Development Squad who travelled to Antrim on Sunday.

The Minor side suffered a defeat to Young Irelands they now have a break until July 3rd. The Under 15 side defeated Danesfort 3-12 to 0-10. The Under 13 side combined with Fenians played Mullinavat, last Friday night at home but were defeated 3-16 to 0-3. The Junior side hosted Mount Leinster rangers on Sunday in Round 2 of the All County League coming out on top 2-19 to 1-14.

This weeks Upcoming Fixtures Under 13 Fenians St Patrick’s, Friday at7pm Vs Clara in Clara. U15 Feile Peil Saturday at1.15pm.

Vs Erin’s Own in Canon Kearns Park. Junior A Sunday at 2pm. Vs Graigue Ballycallan in Tom Ryall Park The weekly GAA lotto continues to hold firm at €20,000 last week’s numbers were.9,21, 23,25. Thank you for your co tinier support.

TIDY TOWNS We hope to expand the memory flower basket project this year, if anyone would like to purchase a basket the cost is € 35. Memory baskets purchased last year can be reused at a cost of € 15. For details please contact 0857403812 / 0872955864 The National Tidy Town’s competition is now in progress, please assist in keeping your school, premises, street, estate, road, lane etc clean and tidy, even 5 minutes work will help a lot.

CARDS Results of 25s Cards in Ballyouskill. Frank and Tony Dooley 13games. Mary and Frances 12 games. Pa Maher, John Dollar 12games. Paddy Mullaly, Bridge Nolan 11 games. Cards in Ballyouskill Hall will resume in September. The committee would like

Aisling Dwan, Ballyreddin Stud families. Thanks to all the parents and teachers for their encouragement and help.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA There will be a Novena to Our Lady of Fatima in the Black Abbey, Kilkenny on Saturday, 13th to Sunday, 21st May. Fr Colm Mannion OP will lead the Novena. Times, Saturdays: 10am and 6.10pm, Sundays:3pm, Monday and Friday: 10am and 7pm.

LOTTO No winner of Jackpot. Numbers, 8, 9 ,17, 24. Jackpot now €7,000.00. Con-solation Prizes, Breda Cleere, The Ring, Sue Doyle, Barronsland, Darragh Wafer, Kilfane, Ronan Lynch, BB Syndicate

Litter Pick Slogan in The Kilbine Area

ART GROUP Classes resumed this week as enthusiasm mounts in preparation for the 2023 Collection Exhibition during Kilkenny Arts Week.

GATHERING GROUP Meeting this Wednesday for the usual tea, chat, exercises and bingo. Two new members were welcomed to the group last week.

GAA Inter county Hurling The club was represented by David Blanchfield in the Leinster championship win against Antrim in Corrigan Park last Sunday.

BENNETTSBRIDGE GAA SCRAP METAL COLLECTION Many thanks to all who contributed to Bennettsbridge GAA scrap metal collection last Saturday. A good deal of scrap was donated and collected. You can drop off your unwanted scrap metal/copper again next Saturday from 10am to 12pm at the GAA grounds. All scrap metal items are welcome except refrigerators.

If you need any large items collected please contact Leo 0868861906 or Tim 086-3441652 and they will arrange collection.

CLUB HURLING Our minors played Durrow Harps on Monday night last. The under 15 team lost out to Glenmore by a point in the league, while the under 13 team got their season underway with a good home win over Graiguenamanagh on Friday last. The junior footballers played Emeralds in the championship quarter final last Tuesday. The under 13s play James Stephens away Friday evening while the junior E team play Mooncoin away on the same evening. Please see the Kilkenny GAA website for all club fixtures and changes.

MEMBRERSHIP 2023 Membership for 2023 is now been collected by registrar Samantha McGarry or any committee member. Membership remains the same as last year. 120 for adult players, 80 for student players and 40 euro for non-playing members. Early payment would be most appreciated as the bills for 2023 start to come in.

BUY A BRICK CAMPAIGN We are in our fourth year of our buy a brick campaign. Thanks to everyone who has supported so far. Anyone new who wishes to contribute please see BBGAADEV@gmail.com. All contributions go towards club develop-ment and repay the loan on the club house as quickly as possible.

HURLERS CO_OP DRAW Hurlers Co-op draw tickets are now on sale through all committee members. Prizes to the value of 125,000 are on offer including

One of Four New Dugouts at St. Patrick’s GAA Club

to thank all players for their support over the last few months and all the sponsors of prizes on the various night.

LAP THE LOOP Camogie: Lap the Loop for Naomh Bríd FundraiserWe are having our Naomh Bríd 2023 Camogie Club fundraiser on Sat.May 20th called ‘Lap the Loop’. This is a non stop walk/run for 24 hours around the two pitches in Ballyragget. Funds will be in aid of our camogie club and some of the proceeds will go to The O’Gorman home.

It will kick off on Saturday the 20th May at 2pm. We look forward to your support. Naomh Bríd Committee.

BALLYRAGGETT COMMUNITY HALL With communion season around the corner anyone wishes to borrow mugs and plates for occasions please contact the hall committee. The Wednesday morning ladies have a number of hand aid items for sale, blankets, baby sets etc.

BALLYRAGGETT NOTES Should you wish to have an item included in the notes please forward them to the email by 6pm Sunday evening.

CHURCH NEWS Congratulations to the boys and girls from the parish who received their First Holy Communion on Saturday last in St. Michael’s Church, Crosspatrick.

Best wishes to the children from Urlingford Parish who will receive their First Holy Communion on Saturday next in the Church of the Assumption, Urlingford.

ROSARY RALLY....

Public square Rosary for the conversion of Ireland in the grounds of St. Kieran’s Church on Saturday May 13th at 4pm.

GOLDEN JUBILEE...

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of St. Patrick’s Church, Graine on Sunday May 21st at 11.30am. Bishop Coll will be the chief celebrant at the Mass.

DARKNESS INTO LIGHT....

A group from Johnstown skipped their Saturday morning” lie in” to do the “Darkness into Light” walk . They raised over €200 which they have donated to Teach Tom. Well done all!

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO.....

Winning numbers 1,9,14,20. There were seven match threes Paul Dermody, Jerry Fogarty, Sean Hogan, Fionn Quinlan, Shane Curran, Catherine Hanrahan, Sinead O’Gorman.

SPA UNITED AFC...

Weekend results U12 SFAI Scetchers cup SE Region semifinal Spa 0 New Ross Town 1, U16 boys league division 1A Spa 1 Callan Utd 1, U15 boys cup Spa 1 Stoneyford 0, U14 boys league division 2 Spa 5 Paulstown 0, U14 girls league division 1 Thomastown Utd 0 Spa 5, Spa 3 Evergreen 0, U13 boys league division 2 Lions 3 Spa 0, U12 boys league division 2A Spa 5 Freebooters 0.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Glengoole Wednesday 11am to 2pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 11am to 1pm HOLY COMMUNION The children from the parish will be receiving their first Holy Communion this Saturday 13th May at 11am in Gortnahoe Church. We would like to thank the teachers, pupils and parents and all who are helping to celebrate this wonderful Sacrament. All are welcome to come and share this special occasion with them and their families.

PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES Cashel and Emly Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from the 17th - 22nd June 2023, anyone interested in the Parish please contact the Parish council for further information.

GORTHNAHOE GLENGOOLE GAA This Sunday the 14th May will see the official opening of Gortnahoe Glengoole GAA’s new pitch. The proceedings will start with the official blessing of the pitch by Fr. Jimmy O’Donnell at 12.30pm. The official opening of the pitch will be performed by the Chairman of Tipperary County Board Mr. Joe Kennedy. This

New Score Board

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

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Community & GAA Notes

will be followed by a parade of teams which includes the Juvenile and Camogie clubs led by the Moycarkey Pipe Band. This will then be followed by the Premier Intermediate match between Gortnahoe Glengoole GAA and Killenaule GAA with throw in at 1pm. All are welcome to come along to support the day.

Gortnahoe Glengoole GAA are to be congratulated for the huge development that has taken place in their grounds over the last number of years. This development included the new pitch, new walkway, the astroturf, a ballwall and a new car park. The grounds also includes a playground. Much praise has to go to the Officer Board down through the years also the Development Committee and to all the supporters that has given their time to bring this project to where it is today. What a wonderful facility to have in the Parish.

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 night at 7.00pm with doors opening from 6.00pm and will continue each Saturday night at the same time. Over €2,660 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game. Our bingo received great publicity from Fran Curry and Johnny Looby on Tipp Fm last week, they were making the point that Gortnahoe is the place to be on a Saturday night for the big payout bingo. We look forward to the many visitors and family members home with their family, it will be a great nights entertainment for all.

SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to last weekends winner in the Split the Pot draw. Envelopes are available at the usual outlets. Split the Pot for the month of May will be in support of the Gortnahoe National School. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. Your support would be appreciated FREE LIBRARY A lot of new books have come in to Gortnahoe Community Hall library. They are free to take home and the library is based inside the main door of the hall. When the hall is opened anyone can go inside the main door and select a book or books of their choice and they will disturb no one in the hall. This is a Gortnahoe Community Hall Initiative and this idea will succeed with the local parish support.

HURLING The intermediate hurlers enjoyed a good win in their first competitive outing of the year when they defeated Gragiue-Ballycallan in the opening round of the Michael Lyng Motors Senior/Intermediate League in Jenkinstown on Friday night last. Conahy led by 0-13 to 0-10 at the half way mark and a goal from Bill Murphy midway through the second half proved to be the key score of the game. It ensured that Conahy were deserving winners by 1-21 to 0-19.

TEAM: Karl Downey, Simon Callanan, Philip Cass, Donal Cass, Ciaran Rice, Donal Brennan, Liam Cass, Eoin Carroll, Darragh Hennessy, Darragh Dooley, Tom Rice, James Bergin, Bill Murphy, Sean Brennan, Mark Gunner.

Both the minor and under-13 hurlers were also in action this week, with both putting in good performances in spite of defeat in each case. The minors travelled to Páirc Sheamuis Stiopháin to play James Stephens on Tuesday night last and lost out by eight points, while Tullogher-Rosbercon were too strong for the under-13 boys in their game on Friday evening in Jenkinstown after a good game with some excellent displays by the Conahy boys.

MINOR TEAM: Tommy Mulhall, Tadhg Hennessy, Conor Hennessy, Killian Lacey, Darragh Horgan, John Kennedy, Finn Sherman, Jake Dooley, Andrew O’Connor, Billy Rowe, Eoin Dunne, Michael Lawler, Daniel Mooney, Adam Morrissey, Camryn Kenehan, Neil Webster.

UNDER-13 TEAM: Michael Hurley, Padraig Murphy, Diarmuid Quinn, James Byrne, Bobby Dooley, Richie Rowe, MJ Buggy, Jack Buggy, Ben Byrne, Ethan McEvoy, Tommy Hickey, Aaryn Kenehan, Ciaran Quinn, Noah Meaney, Brandon Maher, Cian Rhatigan.

GAA SUMMER CAMP Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club Bórd na nÓg will once again host a ‘Future Stars’ Summer Camp this year. It will take place in the Polo Grounds, Jenkinstown from Tuesday 1st August to Thursday 3rd August (inclusive). The Camps is open to Boys and Girls between the ages of five and twelve and will take place on each of the three days from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. (with a lunch break from 12.00 p.m. until 12.45 p.m. Detailed and quality coaching will be given to all participants and Kilkenny Inter-County Players will contribute to the coaching, subject to their availability. Registration can be done online via the GAA club website – www.conahyshamrocks. gaa.ie .

CLUB LOTTO The numbers drawn in the Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club Lotto were 22, 33 and 35. There was no jackpot winner so the consolation prize winners were Kathleen Guinan, Aaryn Kenehan, Mary Purcell, Brian Lacey and Kathleen Nolan. The promoters’ prize winners were John Carroll, David Maher and Margaret Buggy. This week’s jackpot now increases to €3,200.

CLUB LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results 4th May. Nos: 3 9 19 23.

Jackpot: €9200 Not Won Draw Prizes. €50: Aine Morrissey c/o Online. €25 each John Corr c/o Jim Murphy €25 each J and P Cody c/o J and P Cody. €25 each Valerie Butler c/o Online

Hurlers Co Op Aran Murphy. Promotors prize Dohertys Bar. Thank you for your continued support.

KILKENNY GAA AND CAMOGIE Well done to all our club players representing Kilkenny over the weekend. Kilkenny GAA and Kilkenny Camogie had good wins at Senior and Intermediate levels. Great to see Dicksboro GAA and Camogie Club well represented at these levels.

CBS SECONDARY SCHOOL LEINSTER WINNER Congratulations to CBS 2nd Year Hurlers who were crowned Leinster Champs Friday in Nowlan Park after a fine win against St Kieran’s College. Well done to our u15 Hurlers representing CBS and St Kieran’s College.

DICKSBORO GOLF CLASSIC 2023 Dicksboro GAA & Camogie Club are delighted to launch the Annual Golf Classic at Kilkenny Golf Club Friday 14th July with some tee times still available for Thursday 13th also. Book your Tee Times early as they will fill up quickly. They’re are limited Juvenile Tee Times at discounted prices. Contact Seamus Rochford for any further details.

WEDDING Saturday, April 15th was undoubtedly a very happy day for Catriona Butler, Corstown, Ballycallan and John Paul Woods, Clonlara, Co. Clare when they celebrated their marriage in St. Brigid’s Church, Ballycallan. Fr. Liam Taylor was the celebrant of the nuptial mass. Catriona’s sisters Laura and Sinead were her bridesmaids. John Paul’s bestman was his brother Barry and Cormac was groomsman. Pageboy was Ned Walsh. Anita Butler and Norma Woods read the first and second readings.

The prayers of the faithful were recited by Laura Kelly, Saoirse Woods, Mark Murray, Elaine Woods, Deirdre Butler and Ciaran Walsh. Margaret Butler and Nuala Woods, mother of the bride and groom presented the offertory gifts at the altar. The beautiful communion reflection was read by Yvonne Murray. Music and song appropriate to the celebration was part of the grand finale to a beautiful ceremony. May Catriona and John Paul enjoy many years of peace and love in their future lives.

ALONE Would you be willing to provide companionship to an older person locally? ALONE are seeking volunteers in your area. Full training and support provided. If interested please contact Emma on 086-083 4393 or via email emma.heslin@alone.ie. If you are over 60 and would like to know more about the services ALONE can offer you, please call 0818 222 024.

CEMETERY MASSES The annual cemetery Mass in Ballykeeffe takes place on Sunday 28th May at 7 pm.

The annual cemetery Mass in Tullaroan will take place on Tuesday, 15th August at 7 pm.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEERING WEEK The theme of National Volunteering Week 2023 is Connecting Communities. It takes place from 15th – 21st May. This year we are celebrating the power of volunteering to enrich communities, bridge social divides and create opportunities for meaningful connections.

We have a jampacked week of events and projects in store so we hope you will join us and get involved.

On Monday 15th drop into Kilkenny Volunteer Centre at 11 Irishtown, Kilkenny between 11.00 and 2pm to find out which charities and organisations are looking for volunteers in your local area.

On Tuesday 16th May, join Kilkenny Volunteer Centre at 11 Irishtown for a coffee, chat and a chance to network with other volunteer managers in Kilkenny from 10.30am to 12.00pm.

On Wednesday 17th May come and give volunteering a try.

Join Kilkenny Volunteer Centre and learn how to weave a star in support of Amber Women’s Refuge One Million Stars Ireland Project at The Loop Café in Freshford from 11.00am to 1.00pm.

On Thursday 18th May come and visit your local volunteer centre in Thomastown and find out all the wonderful ways in which you can support your community through volunteering at SuperValu, Thomastown from 10.00am to 1.00pm.

On Saturday 20th May join Keep Kilkenny Beautiful on World Bee Day for a leisurely nature walk to learn all things bee-related and survey local bees. This takes place at the outdoor gym, River Nore Linear Park, Bishops Meadows from 2pm to 3pm.

On Saturday 20th May at McDonagh Junction Shopping Centre from 1pm to 3pm, come and join Amber Womens’ Refuge and learn how to weave a star in solidarity against domestic abuse and violence in support of One Million Stars Ireland Project.

LOTTO RESULTS Results for 24th April. Numbers drawn were 3; 6; 7; 9. There was no winner. Lucky Dip winners were Doug Massey, Veronica Robinson and Anna Lynch. Sellers’ prizes went to Ellen Murphy and Philomena Brennan.

KILMANAGH NOTES Anyone wishing to submit news items, events, announcements etc. can do so by email only to elanigan18@gmail.com. If you have any photos that you would like included, please send as an attachment.

MASS TIMES Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m.

Vigil - Saturday 13th. at 8.00p.m. Sunday 14th. at 10.00a.m.

Stoneyford: Wednesday at 7.00p.m. Vigil - Saturday 13th. at 6.30p.m Saturday 13th. Feast of Our Lady of Fatima FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

First Holy Communion will be celebrated with the pupils of Stoneyford School on Sunday 14th. May at 11.00a.m. in Stoneyford Church.

PRAY FOR Mary Hughes, Ennisnag, who died during the week.

Anniversary Masses: Fr. Jim Walsh, and Edward Walsh, Ballagh: Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 13th. May at 8.00p.m.

Sean and Nellie Duggan, Hugginstown. Mass in Hugginstown Church on Sunday 14th. May at 10.00a.m.

ROTA Rota for week-end:13th. and 14th. May 2023. (Sixth Sunday of Easter) Readers. Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Rita O’Farrell. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Tommy Murphy; Sunday 10.00a.m.

Noreen Kenneally.

Eucharistic Ministers: Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Kitty Wallace.

Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Teresa Broderick; Sunday 10.00a.m. Lillian Carr.

OSSARY PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2023 Lourdes Pilgrimage will take place from May 23rd. to 28th. this year. Accommodation in the Agena, Solitude and Padoue Hotels.

Price includes return bus journey to/from Loughboy Shopping Centre Car Park to Dublin Airport. Return flights from Dublin to Lourdes; Transfer to/from Airport to Hotel; Full board and hotel accommodation for the 5 nights.

For further information and bookings contact niamh@jwttravel.ie or Phone 01 685 2244 EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS New Eucharistic Ministers needed in both Hugginstown and Stoneyford Churches for weekend Masses. Preparation Training can be done on-line in your own home with just a meeting in the local church for practical help. Please let me know if you can help.

It was suggested at the Parish Council Meeting recently that all present Eucharistic Ministers be contacted and to suggest that they partake in the new online preparation. We will then meet in both Churches to look at local details.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA Novena will take place from Saturday 13th. to Sunday 21st. May in the Black Abbey, Kilkenny. Preacher: Fr Colm Mannion OP. Saturdays at 10.00a.m. and 6.10p.m.

Sundays at 3.00p.m. Monday to Friday at 10.00a.m. and 7.00p.m.

All welcome.

DATES TO REMEMBER 2023 First Holy Communion: For Stoneyford School on Sunday 14th.

May at 11.00a.m. in Stoneyford Church. For Monroe/Newmarket Schools on Sunday 21st. May at 11.00a.m. in Hugginstown.

Cemetery Masses. Calvary Cemetery on Friday 2nd. June at 8.00p.m.; Hugginstown Cemetery on 1st. July at 8.00p.m. Stoneyford Cemetery on 7th. July at 8.00p.m.

LOTTO Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 1st. May 2023. Numbers: 10; 26; 03; 05.

No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner. 5 x €30.00.

Winners: Deirdre Lowry, Camross, Fred Malzard, Stoneyford, John Driscoll, Jamestown,Power Family, Lawcus, Pauline Doyle, Sheepstown. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers), Eamon Irish, Pat Power, Teresa Fitzgerald.

PADRE PIO NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE Pilgrimage to Holy Cross Abbey, Thurles on Sunday 28th. May. Ceremonies will begin at 1.30p.m. If interested in travelling please contact. Kay Power 086 168 7073 or Lily Burke 056 776 8008 SOUTH KILKENNY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Coach Trip to Doneraile Court and Mallow on Saturday, May 27th.

The cost includes coach hire, a guided tour of Doneraile Court, a walking tour of Mallow and an evening meal at the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel. For further information on booking places for the Coach Trip please contact: Brigid Barron, Kilmacow; 087 950 7295, or Mary Ryan, Carrigeen, 086 379 0655.

STONEYFORD 5K AND 10K CHALLENGE Challenge is on May 21st. Preparations are well underway for what should be another exciting day for runners from all over the South East and further afield. It will be a case of all hands on deck for a few hours as everyone welcomes our visitors. The day begins at 10.30am with a kids’ 1k for all national school aged children and will be followed at 11.00am by the 5k and 10k events. Runners or walkers can register on the day prior to the event or online at myrunresults.com. All locals are encouraged to come along and take part on the day, or simply come and cheer everyone one. To help out or for enquiries or more detail, contact Adele on 087 9384521.

AFTER SCHOOL FACILITY Kind, enthusiastic, patient, reliable person wanted to work in, or run an after school facility in Newmarket School from 1.30-5.00 pm Monday to Friday on school days only. Call 7768919 MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE Mill FRC Urlingford. It has been 13 years since The Mill Family Resource Centre first opened its doors to the community. Sue, the Manager, Staff and the Board of Directors would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone and we look forward to your continued support over the coming years. Wishing everyone all the best…..

COUNSELLING SERVICES Our low cost Counselling Services, includes One-to-One, Family & Teens, aged 12 plus. General Counselling: Bereavement, Stress, Anxiety & Depression. Other Counselling Services available: Drug, Substance & Gambling Addictions. Play therapy is now also available. Please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment.

DEFIBRILLATOR Please note that there is a defibrillator located in the Mill Family Resource Centre if and when it may be required.

SENIOR ALERT

If you need to apply for a Personal Alarm, please contact Sue or Josephine.

APPEAL FOR CLOTHES DONATIONS Any further clothes donations would be greatly appreciated in aid of our counselling services. Donations can be left into the Centre, please call before dropping off.

CONTACT NUMBER Contact number for the Centre 056-8838466 L.T.I. RECRUITING L.T.I. Pathway to Employment Course QQI Level 4. There are still some placements available on our L.T.I. Programme which is due to start in May. If interested, please call the Resource Centre on 056-88-38466 or call into us here at the office.

Tuborg Premier League in conjunction with Gerry Comeford Well Drilling and Adrian O Connor Red Oak Window Cleaning.

What a fantastic night of Darts we had in Andy’s Bar in Ballyhale last Friday night . We had a great crowd of players on the night with 40 turning up. A mention to some players who threw great darts on the night. Jimmy ( Timber ) O Dwyer had his darts sharpened to the last, he hit 4 180’0 and finished 2 brilliant check outs a 148 and a 157, Johnny Meaney also hit 4 180’0 but he only had one big finish he took out a 149, the two Ladies that played were fantastic all night, Gez Quiruga and Ann Marie Vallelly finished games that a lot of the men would love to be able to finish like them. The last 16 saw Liam ( Shorty Walsh beat Chris Connery 3 / 2 , Eamon Lambden beat Jamie Grant 3 /1, Mick O Dwyer beat Kieran Furlong 3 / 1 , John Murphy beat Tom Keogh 3 / 2 , Billy Murphy beat Sam Dunphy 3 / 1 , Mick Kelly beat Mickey O Keeffe 3 / 2 ,Trevor Vallelly beat Kieran Lennon 3 / 1 , Mick Meaney beat Jim Roche 3 / 2 .

In the Q/ Finals, Shorty V Eamon Lambden was the first game Eamon played brilliant darts all night in the group games he hit an amazing 9 180’0 and finished 135 / 143 / 147 and 151 , but he couldn’t hit that form against Shorty and he would have needed it as Shorty played one of the best games that I saw all night, Shorty won by 3 / 1 .The next game was between Mick O Dwyer and John Murphy, John Murphy got off to a great start by winning the first two legs throwing brilliant darts taking out 89 and 97 both with two darts, Mick fought back well to win the next two legs and bring us to the last leg, John started off very well hitting 100 100 85 but Mick hit scores of 140 140 100 and he got to the finish first and he didn’t miss when he got the chance and won a great game. Billy Murphy V Mick Kelly were on next, Mick Kelly is in great form at the moment, he never failed to get out of his group but in this game Billy Murphy threw unbelievable darts, Billy never gave Mick a shot at a double he out scored him in every department in fact he would have out scored any of the players here tonight.

The last game in the Q / Finals was between Trevor Vallely and Michael Meaney , it proved to be a great game between the two lads plenty of high scoring and 3 good finishes, Trevor won the game 3 / 2 finishing 122 to win it, a brilliant finish, Michael took out two finishes over 100, he checked out a 135 hitting 25 treble 20 and the Bull, he also checked out a 158, unbelievable finishing from Michael.

The first S / Final saw Shorty and Mick O Dwyer Jnr do battle and a battle it was , Mick won the first leg throwing brilliant darts , he won the leg in 14 darts , not to be out done Shorty then hit a 14 dart leg to make it 1 / 1 ,the next leg was won by Shorty in a paltry 17 darts, the worst leg of the game, Mick played another brilliant leg in 14 darts to make it 2 / 2 , Mick just about held of Shorty , Shorty was on double 20 after 15 darts but Mick checked out 97 in 2 darts for another 14 dart leg.

The second S / Final was between Billy Murphy and Trevor Vallely, Trevor is playing at the top of his game at the moment and it showed against Billy, Trevor was hitting almost everything he went for and gave Billy no chance .

The Final was a repeat of last week between Mick O Dwyer and Trevor Vallely, Trevor started were down off the way he finished the previous game, he scored brilliant and finished very well he won the first 2 legs, but as with last week Mick was 2 nil down and came back to win, he played fantastic darts in the next 2 legs to make it 2 all and went down to the last leg of the night, Trevor had the darts and he used it to his advantage by having a 15 dart leg and the win.

I hope that more Ladies come out to Andy’s Bar in Ballyhale and play it’s a good night of darts with friendly people. Come out before 7-55pm or phone me on 0851596550

Trevor Vallely and Mick O Dwyer

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 May 2023

41

kilkennyobserver.ie

Sport

Kilkenny Sport Focus Michael O’Leary

Thomas O'Connor Their were wild celebrations in Wrexham following the Welsh Clubs return to the Football League for the first time since 2008, and also jubiliant scenes Stateside in Las Vegas as the clubs owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney celebrated a famous triumph.

Central to Wrexham's success and promotion back to League Football was Tullogher Native Thomas O'Connor who produced a host of solid displays on their way to winning the National League.

Thomas played underage hurling for his Club Tullogher-Rosbercon, before leaving as a 15-year-old to join Southampton. He made an immediate impact with The Saints as he scored the winning goal with a stunning effort to knock Manchester United out of The FA Youth Cup. Unfortunately he didn't make any appearances with the Southampton

Senior Team, and after 4 years on the South Coast Thomas made the move to Gillingham where he spent two seasons on loan making 62 appearances.

Following the expiry of his Southampton contract, he signed for League one outfit Burton Albion in June 2021 where he flourised, as he scored 5 goals in 18 appearances.

Thomas was on the move again when he joined Wrexham in January 2022 under the Clubs new owners.

He made an instant impact with The Welsh Club as they finished Runner-up to Stockport County in The National League, while also reaching The Final of The FA Trophy in Wembley.

Unfortunately for Thomas and his Wrexham Teammates it ended in disappointment as they lost out 5-4 to Grimbsy Town after extra-time in an epic Play-Off Semi-Final, while they lost 1-0 to Bromley Town in The FA Trophy Final.

However, they made amends this season with a tally of 111 points this season, a record for the top five divisions of English League Football.

Central to Wrexham's success this season was a run to the last 32 of The FA Cup, where they lost out to Premier League Promoted and eventual Semi-Finalists Sheffield United after a replay.

Thomas was among the goalscorers as Wrexham caused a Cup shock courtesy of a 4-3 win against Championship outfit Coventry City. The Tullogher native was on the mark again, as The National League Club were on the verge of another famous Cup victory having led 10 man Sheffield United 3-2 deep into stoppage time.

However, Republic of Ireland International John Egan grabbed a last gasp equaliser for The Blades to deny Wrexham victory.

Thomas was introduced as a

Key mistakes made by runners that cause poor performance and injury EOIN EVERARD

“ It takes no more time to do the right training as the wrong training”.

I find it incredibly frustrating when I see runners of any level not getting the results they should from the effort they put into their training. There are two typical scenarios I’ll explain here where this occurs: 1. Pushing yourself hard and being frustrated by results.

You feel you worked really hard and have pushed yourself and not gotten the result you should. You leave the race thinking that there should have been a greater result based on your training and effort.

2. You breakdown with injury or just general aches and stiffness and can’t get as much out of the race as you would have liked.

The second scenario where runners do not getting the results they should is where their body starts to break down in the weeks leading up to the key race. Stiffness and aches

gradually (and sometimes not so gradually) lead to pain and injury. We have all seen the runner taped up more than an Egyptian Mummy as they struggle to get round the course. Rather than being able to enjoy the race and focus on a good result they are left worried they might not be able to finish or hurt themselves seriously.

For both types of runner it is a case of what might have been and the sad thing is that generally it is avoidable.

Why does this occur?

If you relate to the first scenario of not getting the result you should then this is generally due to not having a specific training plan that suited you.

You are generally running too hard and not aware of the 5 training zones that you should be training in to get the maximum out of yourself.

Think about it like a car. If you wanted to make a car as efficient as possible in 4th gear, you would not constantly drive it in 1st or 6th gear. Sadly, this is what a lot of us do in our training. We do not train the correct system we will use in a race.

3. For those that get injured or break down.

For the second type who

break down and get injured you must work on two main issues. The first is that generally there is not enough variety in your training. You tend to do the same pace for every run, only changing up the distance. This tends to put a lot of pressure on the same parts of the plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, knee, hip or back. This is especially the case as people build up to a marathon where they increase the amount of distance they are doing.

Secondly, for most people, especially as we get a little older, we need something to help take the pressure off our muscular system. Running is great for cardiovascular fitness but is not good to turn on or use the muscles.

Conclusion Hopefully most runners are getting the results they want and are delighted with results when they finish. If you are not one of these, think about these two issues I have raised in this article. Maybe there is something you can do to help yourself get more out of the time and effort you put into your running. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing someone not get the results they should or break down injured. Especially when it a lot of times is avoidable.

substitution in the replay, as the Wrexham dream ended with a 3-1 defeat having missed a penalty to go 2-1 ahead.

They bounced back though and their League Championship victory reaped rewards for the investment provided by their Millionaire

owners, and they were rewarded by their owners with a trip to Las Vegas as part of the celebrations.

Thomas could potentially come up against fellow Kilkenny man Gavan Holohan in a League Two clash next season, as Gavan plies his trade with FA Cup QuarterFinalists Grimbsy Town.

The two were in opposition in last years National League Play-Off Semi-Final, as Grimbsy won 5-4 after extratime following an epic battle before then going on to win The Play-Off Final against Solihull Moors.

This is the third consecutive year that a Kilkenny Man has been involved in Promotion to The Football League, as Gavan played for Hartlepool United during The 2020-2021 season that gained Promotion to League Two following a Play-Off Final win against Torquay United.

Thomas O'Connor is contracted to Wrexham until 2025 and having had a great run in this years FA Cup, the potential is there for further progression to continue their adventure on an upward curve.

Kilkenny City and County Bridge results

Ormonde Castle Bridge Club Presidents Prize 2023 President Miriam Martin 1st Anna Morrison and Yvonne Grant Best Gross: Marion Kilbride and Ellen Dowling 2nd Phil Mahony and Bernard Clark 3rd Brigid Smee and Annette Kelly 4th Joan Teehan and Judy Byrne 5th Joan Holden and Maura Holden 6th Amy McClean and Anna Collins 7th Sheila O’Mahony and Margaret Knowles 8th Julie Lawlor and Hilda Richardson 9th Marguerite Walsh and Lucy Hanly

Nore Bridge Club 1st Angela Carroll and Margaret Knowles Best Gross Colette O’Neill and Hugh Donnelly Swift 2nd Peter Ryan and Ann Brennan 3rd Rosann Brennan and Kathleen Price 4th Annette Kelly and Joan Cashin 5th Donald Higgins and Ciaran Ruane 6th Catherine Dore and Helen Tynan 7th Gretta Brennan and Catherine King 8th Mary Egan and Breda O’Gorman

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 May 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

Hurling matters - Review

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Corrigan Park, Belfast Antrim 3-20 Kilkenny 5-31 All good things come to those who wait, and that certainly was the case in Corrigan Park last weekend as Kilkenny found the opposition net on no less than five occasions. All majors were shared between two trusty lieutenants, TJ Reid with a brace and Mossy Keoghan going one better with three.

The Tullaroan attacker had all 3 majors bagged by the short whistle, and the outcome of the game was decided at this stage also, with the visitors registering 4-16 in the opening period. To their credit, Antrim did lift their intensity after the break and did cause some difficult moments for Derek Lyng’s men in the second half and actually outscored the Cats over the course of the remainder of the game.

With near perfect conditions in Belfast, the game got off to a fast start with TJ converting his first score of the day in the opening seconds, the first of eight successful place balls for the Shamrocks Ballyhale man. From Ryan Elliott’s puck-out, Glenmore’s Alan Murphy took the catch before finding John Donnelly who in turn sent Mossy Keoghan in on goal, and there was only going to be one outcome, GOAL! Graigue Ballycallan’s Billy Ryan then fired over a point to leave the score 1-2 to no score before one of the Saffron’s danger men, Keelan Molloy got the home side off the mark with a nice point.

Eoin Murphy’s restart found TJ Reid who appeared to have the freedom of Corrigan Park, and like Mossy before him, TJ punished the defence and fired the Noresiders second goal.

Paul Boyle struck the home side’s second point of the game to try and help settle the Antrim nerves before one of the Dunloy contingent struck for a major.

A long ball into the Kilkenny defence was knocked down by Naomh Eoin’s Conor Johnston into the path of Keelan Molloy. The Dunloy man burst forward and beat Eoin Murphy in the Cats net to bring the Saffron’s back into the game and trail by one score. TJ and Conal Cunning exchanged placed balls before the visitors found their groove and struck the next five points of the game, all of which came from play, courtesy of Alan Murphy, his midfield partner Adrian Mullen, a second of the day for Billy Ryan and one for Mossy. TJ completed the scoring burst to give the Cats a commanding 8-point lead, and one which would be built on before the short whistle.

Dunloy’s Cunning slotted over a free for his side’s fourth point of the game before former captain Adrian Mullen

Cats go goal crazy up North!

Mossy hits a hat-trick as TJ top scores

Eoin Cody was scoring and assisting in Belfast

notched his second of the day shortly after. The next four scores were shared by Antrim’s Niall McKenna and Kilkenny’s Alan Murphy, again all from play as the sides battled in the Belfast sun. Not to be outdone by his brother, goalkeeper Eoin Murphy then fired over a long-range free to set his side on another 5 in-a-row scoring run. Points from Richie Reid, Billy Ryan were built on by a brace of goals from Mossy Keoghan in around 60 seconds as the Sash man benefited by cracking assists from captain Eoin Cody and Conahy Shamrocks Tom Phelan as Lyng’s men put the game beyond their hosts before halftime.

Conal Cunning rifled over another free for his sides final score of a very disappointing half for Darren

Gleeson’s side and the Tipp native showed his displeasure by making a change before the break with Stephen Rooney replacing Naomh Eoin’s Michael Bradley.

There was still time for two further Kilkenny scores, Martin Keoghan from play and another TJ Reid placed ball to leave the score board reading Antrim 1-7, Kilkenny 4-16 as Galway’s Shane Hayes

sounded the short whistle.

Antrim manager Gleeson must have dished out the hairdryer treatment during the interval, as his team emerged from the Naomh Eoin dressing room a much-more fired up beast. The home supporters got the perfect boost to the second half when a long delivery from Dunloy’s Ryan McGarry was latched onto by Conor Johnston who made no mistake in firing to the net.

The next two scores came from the visitors, with David Blanchfield and Tom Phelan raising white flags to remind their hosts that they were in the presence of hurling royalty. One

thing this Antrim team has is grit and they rolled up their sleeves and gave it a real good lash and they clearly had been instructed to win the second half. Gleeson’s charges hit the next five scores, including a 3rd major as they set about reducing the deficit and putting some respectability on the scoreline.

First up in the Saffron’s scoring burst was Conal Cunning with another placed ball. Then came the home side’s third goal. Again, another long delivery into the Cats defence.

Veteran forward Neil McManus took possession and barged past O’Loughlin’s Huw Lawlor before making the net bulge. Derek Lyng responded to the third Antrim goal by sending on Padraig Walsh in place of

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Hurling matters - Review Alan Murphy finds the going tough as he tries to break free

TJ Reid Strikes over another score despite the attention of Niall O’Connor

McManus was forced to leave the field injured, Naomh Eoin’s Domhnall Nugent replaced the veteran attacker, but this appeared to blunt the Saffron’s challenge and disrupt their attacking strategy. Captain Eoin Cody popped over another point from play while Cunning replied with a free and another Billy Ryan point came along next.

Richie Hogan entered the fray in place of Adrian Mullen, a good sign that we were able to get minutes into the Danesfort’s man’s legs in the group stages of the provincial championship. The next four scores were shared with Walter Walsh and TJ registering for the Cats while Niall McKenna and Conal Cunning did likewise for the home side. TJ was clearly enjoying his trip north and split the posts with another free before he struck for his sides fifth major with 31 minutes placed in the second half. It was a Shamrocks Ballyhale creation, with Eoin Cody supplying TJ who smashed the sliotar beyond Ryan Elliott to the Antrim net.

There would be eight further scores before the long whistle, Antrim won this mini tussle 5-3, but when the referee brought proceedings to a close at a sunny Corrigan Park, the score board read Antrim 3-20, Kilkenny 5-31.

Antrim scorers: Conal Cunning 0-8 (6 frees, 1 65), Keelan Molloy 1-2, Niall McKenna 0-4, Neil McManus 1-1, Conor Johnston 1-0, Paul Boyle 0-2, James McNaughton 0-2, Gerard Walsh 0-1 Kilkenny scorers: TJ Reid 2-10 (0-6 frees, 0-2 65s), Martin Keoghan 3-3,

Billy Ryan 0-4, Adrian Mullen 0-2, Alan Murphy 0-3, Eoin Cody 0-2, Walter Walsh 0-2, Richie Reid 0-1, David Blanchfield 0-1, Tom Phelan 0-1, Cillain Buckley 0-1, Eoin Murphy 0-1 (free).

ANTRIM: R Elliott; P Burke, R McGarry, N O’Connor; G Walsh, M Bradley, C Bohill; P Boyle, J McNaughton; K Molloy, C Cunning, N McKenna; C Johnston, N McManus, R McMullan.

Subs: S Rooney for M Bradley (34), E O’Neill for R McMullan (53), D Nugent for N McManus (53), C McKernan for G Walsh (58), S McAuley for K Molloy (64).

KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, R Reid, D Corcoran; A Mullen, A Murphy; T Phelan, J Donnelly, B Ryan; M Keoghan, TJ Reid, E Cody.

Subs: P Walsh for T Walsh (42), C Buckley for A Murphy (48), W Walsh for T Phelan (54), R Hogan for A Mullen (60), N Brennan for M Keoghan (64).

Referee: Shane Hayes (Galway)

>> SHERRY SAYS.. clubmate Tommy Walsh.

Three further points followed from Keelan Molloy, Neil McManus and O’Donovan Rossa’s Gerard Walsh.

The Kilkenny lead was now back to ten points, Antrim were causing the Cats defence problems, particularly from long direct ball in and around the house. TJ settled the visitors down again by firing over another long range placed ball before Dicksboro’s Cillian Buckley replaced Alan Murphy. Conal Cunning then sent over a ‘65 before Lyng’s men hit four on the spin with TJ (2f) Eoin Cody and the recently introduced Walter Walsh making the umpires work.

Darren Gleeson’s side were dealt a blow when Ruairi Og’s Neil

Martin Keoghan attempts to gain possesion tackled

by Caolan Mc Kernan

The sun shone brightly in Belfast last Sunday as Derek Lyng’s charges produced a very professional job in securing maximum points against Darren Gleeson’s Antrim. Corrigan Park in West Belfast was treated to a huge scoring fest as the Cats ran up a big total to defeat the Saffron’s who themselves produced a scoring total that would win many games.

Mossy was in goal mode and bagged himself a hat-trick, while TJ top scored with 2-10. There were important contributions from Graigue Ballycallan’s Billy Ryan, Glenmore’s Alan Murphy and another Shamrocks duo of captain Eoin Cody and Adrian Mullen.

The half back trio of Richie Reid, David Blanchfield and Darragh Corcoran set the tempo and controlled matters. Antrim’s most dangerous weapon was a long direct ball into the Kilkenny defence and this proved dividends on 3 occasions.

No doubt Derek Lyng and his backroom team will be using the team between the Antrim win and the next fixture against the Dubs next week to work on protecting the house a little more from this type of threat.

So that’s 3 rounds of the Leinster Championship done and dusted.

Just two more remain, home to Dublin next week and then away to Darragh Eagan’s Wexford a week later. Derek Lyng’s charges have positioned themselves well for a possible provincial showdown with Henry’s men in Croker on June 12th.

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Motors Classifieds

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

NOW OPEN SATURDAY MORNINGS 9.30am to 12.00pm

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 May 2023

Planning notices Online

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning Permission is sought for a standalone prefab extension to Crosspatrick National School comprising childcare, breakfast club, after school care and general school based activities, including the upgrade of the foul water treatment system and all ancillary and associated services at Crosspatrick (via Thurles), 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. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

Applicant: Board of Management, Crosspatrick National School

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Micheal Moloney wish to apply to the above authority on behalf of Michael Walker for full planning permission to construct an agricultural storage shed, soakpits and all other associated site works at Westcourt North, Callan, 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.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Paul Maher & Aoife Whelan, intend to apply for permission for a new two storey dwelling, detached garage, vehicular entrance onto public road, wastewater treatment system, private well and all associated site works at Riesk, Cuffesgrange, 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 9.00 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.

056 777 1463

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

DANNY O’KEEFFE 50TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of Danny O’Keeffe, late of O’Loughlin Road, Kilkenny who died on 12th May 1973.

Greatly missed and remembered with love by his wife Eileen, daughters Ann-Marie, Colette, Jean, Martina and Deirdre, sons-in-law, sister Mary, grandchildren Shauna, Aoife, Michael, Emma, Ellis, Laura, Olivia, Daniel and Eve.

The Miracle Prayer

Lovingly remembered every day.

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.W.R.

The Blessed Virgin

The Miracle Prayer

Time and years slip gently by But love and memories never die So much in life has altered So much in life is new One thing that never changes Are the memories of you.

(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.

(Pleasestaterequest).Therearenonethatcanwithstand 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. M.B.

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.R.

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.D.M.

St. Anthony Prayer,

O Holy St. Anthony gentlest of Saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers.

Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request).

O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms.

The gratitude of my heart will ever be yours.

Amen 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.P.M.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 May 2023