Kilkenny Observer 12th August 2022

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We Got Chills Winning Ways When we met the Women feline good, wonderful Olivia as Dowling’ delivers  Page 12

 Sport, pages 50 - 51

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Carey may lose home Kilkenny native Catriona Carey faces losing her family home after failing to make any repayments on her mortgage in nearly 10 years.

An order for possession of her house in Weir View Hill, Co Kilkenny, has been granted to Start Mortgages Designated Activity Company, which is seeking to recover arrears of more than €359,000.

Carey, who has been embroiled in controversy over

an alleged mortgage scam where she took hundreds of thousands of euro from people in financial difficulty after promising to help them secure new deals to keep their properties, has not made her own monthly mortgage repayments since November 2012, according to court documents.

An order for possession of the house was granted on May 11, together with a stay of execution of three

months. Once that period has ended, Start Mortgages is entitled to take possession of the property.

Despite the possession order, it is understood that the former Ireland hockey player will still have the option of temporarily remaining in her home if she agrees to a private sale of the house.

Otherwise the county sheriff will be instructed to take possession of the home if she does not vacate it later

this month. The balance outstanding on the property is €876,000 including the €359,000 in arrears.

She has also incurred significant arrears on another property she owns in Co Laois, while a house close to her family home which she previously owned was recently sold by private auction for €365,000 after receivers were appointed to it.

Those who paid her thousands of euro for mortgage

deals that never materialised now have little hope of recovering any money they are owed after details of the former Kilkenny camogie player’s debts were revealed.

Carey also recently admitted to the Sunday World that €400,000 in client funds received by her company, Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd, isspent and is not recoverable.

She is also being sued by Bank of Ireland (BoI) over debts relating to a property since sold.

Helping our children with special needs

Tributes continue for radio legend Johnny Barry who was laid to rest recently. The Kilkenny native, aged 80, died peacefully at his home. A pipe band led his funeral cortege through the city.

Johnny retired from his weekly Sunday evening slot on KCLR and went on to work as a Country and Irish Ambassador for the station.

See News, Page 10 and Gerry Moran, Page 20

€20m. airport deal The billionaire Comer brothers — the Galway-born investors who own a huge property portfolio across Europe — have agreed to pay up to €20m to buy a majority stake in Waterford Airport.

The acquisition price includes a significant investment programme at the facility,.

PHOTO POSED

HSE stands by trans-gender clinic EVERY FRIDAY

There can be few of us of a certain age who haven’t seen Grease, the hit musical film in which Olivia Newton-John transforms from the demure Sandy into a seductress in skintight spandex and leather.

Following her death after a 30 year battle with cancer, our columnist Paul Hopkins recalls an exclusive and recent interview with the iconic star.

See News, Page 6 Column, Page 8

A radio legend is laid to rest

With one in four schoolgoing children now having additional educational needs, an invitation has gone out to teachers, parents and those caring for children with special educational needs, in Kilkenny and beyond, offering them an opportunity to enrol in one of two new online postgraduate programmes about the subject beginning in September.

Hosted by Hibernia College and the Institute of Child Education and Psychology (ICEP) the programmes are designed for applicants seeking a more flexible postgraduate optionments.

Ireland’s relationship with the controversial Tavistock clinic in the UK, which provides psychological assessment and support for children with gender identity issues, has been defended by the HSE. The clinic provides help to children and teenagers strug-

Remembering lovely Olivia

gling with their gender identity, some of whom go on to be treated with hormone blockers under the supervision of their doctors.

In some cases the clinic recommends the prescription of puberty blockers, which put a pause on puberty, while a young

The Kilkenny

Observer UNIT 7, FRIARY STREET, KILKENNY, R95 VHY7

person thinks about their gender identity.

In the past number of years the HSE has been referring Irish patients to the service, with 238 children being referred since 2015.

Dr Paul Moran, a psychiatrist working with the National Gen-

der services, which treats people over 16, has been raising concerns about the HSE’s relationship with the Tavistock clinic.

“If children present to their GP with gender dysphoria they can be referred to their locals CAMHS service or to primary care psychology and if the CAMHS

service is concerned they will refer on to Tavistock,” Dr Moran said.

Now, senior clinicians within the HSE have now called for an investigation to be carried out by the Minister for Health into the use of the Tavistock clinic by the health service in Ireland.

INSIDE

Paul Hopkins.....................................P8 Marianne Heron..........................P12 John Ellis ..........................................P16 Health & Science.........................P18 Travel & Leisure.............................P19 Picture Special.......................P28-29 Gerry Cody............P26,27,30,40,41,44,45 Food & Drink..................................P42 TV & Streaming............................P43 Sport............................................P50-51

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GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE TEAM

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

News Kilkenny County Council’s Library Service is delighted to see a return for in-person events for Heritage Week, running from Monday August 15 to the 19th.

Heritage Week showcases the diversity and depth of Ireland’s heritage assets in the built, natural and cultural heritage areas. The ongoing success of the initiative has been built on free events being provided by cultural organisations, community groups and individuals.

The library’ programme focuses on the areas of Built and Cultural Heritage and includes: • Loughboy Library: Talk by Larry Scallan on local activist Tom Treacy, Kilkenny’s Forgotten Commander.

• City Library: Talk by Ian Kenneally on the Civil War as seen in Newspapers in the Common Thread.

• City Library: Open Circle Community Arts Collective unveil their embroidered artwork based on research exploring the experiences of women in Kilkenny 100 years ago. This takes place in the City Library.

• Parish Hall, Callan: Launch of a new book on ‘James Hoban: Designer & Builder of the White House’ by Stewart D. McLaurin.

• Local Studies’ Department: Posting a series of images from our collections on our social media platforms showing the streetscapes of Kilkenny City at the dawn of the 20th century.

• Loughboy and Graigue-

A tour of the Bishop’s Palace Join us for a tour of The Heritage Council’s headquarters, the former Bishops Palace at Church Lane Kilkenny this National Heritage Week.

This beautiful historic building now called Áras na hOidhreachta has been home to the Heritage Council since 2008. For 800 years previous it served as the Bishop’s residence.

The building and grounds have a fascinating history. It has historical links to former US President Barack Obama and is one of the oldest continuously used structures in Ireland.

The tours take place on August 16 & 17, 2.30pm -3.30pm

It’s time to absorb your local heritage... namanagh Libraries: Our popular one-to-one Genealogy Masterclasses in Libraries and the Local Studies’ Department continue this year,

booking essential.

“Heritage Week is a great opportunity for the public to experience Kilkenny’s rich heritage in all its variety. The

Library Service is looking forward to welcoming back the public to our libraries for these Heritage Week events after a 2-year absence on in-

person events.” says Executive Librarian Declan Macauley. * You can access additional information as regards

times of events, booking details where applicable etc. at www.kilkennylibrary. ie or at https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings

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When Grease was the word: the lovely and defiant Olivia

By Paul Hopkins ----------------------There can be few of us of a certain age who haven’t seen Grease, the hit musical film in which Olivia Newton-John transforms from the demure Sandy into a seductress in skin-tight spandex and leather. That scene on celluloid when bad-boy Danny Zuko — the youthful John Travolta, with the hypnotic eyes and slicked-back mop — sees her metamorphosis is imprinted, like a first kiss, in our now collective middleage memory.

“I’ve got chills, they’re multiplying!” sings Travolta in You’re The One That I Want.

And I, and every other hormones-raging, young male 40-odd years ago, wanted to — oh-soachingly-wanted-to — get physical with the virginturned-vixen that was Olivia Newton-John. Our chills were multiplying to every breathless beat of its soundtrack.

“I think John knew the film was going to be huge.

He had done stage versions of what was originally a stage musical. But I never realised, never imagined, how it would change things for me, that I would be here talking to you about it 41 years later,” Olivia told me back in 2019 when I was the only newspaper journalist she gave an interview to.

To play-up the phenomenal success of

Meeting an icon: The Kilkenny Observer columnist Paul Hopkins with Olivia in 2019 and, inset, the actress with John Travolta in Grease

Grease is not to over-laud the now legendary 1978 movie. It was the highest grossing musical movie of all time, eclipsing even the box office takings for The Sound Of Music, until as recently as 2017 when it was overtaken

by Beauty and the Beast but still comes in at a respectable

No.2 with Chicago and Les Miserables slotting in at third and fourth.

“I was literally sewn into those figure-hugging trousers, as the zip — and the pants by the way were from the Fifties where the movie’s set — broke when I was first trying them on,” Olivia told me, her petite figure giving lie to her years since that summer of 1978.

She was (still) beautiful, sexy, sultry with the unashamed innocence-like quality of that girl-next-door of Sandy before she turns vixen, the hypnotic seablue come-hither eyes and infectious smile that tempt me away from my train of thought for this one-to-one interview.

Born in Cambridge but raised in Australia, she

started singing on local TV shows when still a preteen.

After winning a talent competition, she travelled back to England where she sang on the pub circuit for a couple of years and eventually found another spot singing on TV. In 1970, the producer Don Kirshner, the man behind the Sixties phenomenon The Monkees, recruited her to join Toomorrow, a band that was the subject of a sci-fi musical that Kirshner had put together. Too-morrow bellied up, and NewtonJohn went solo.

A minor 1971 hit with a cover of Bob Dylan’s If Not For You saw her head down the avenue that would carry her through her early career.

She landed her first US hits with Let Me Be There in

1973, which peaked at No.6, and the 1974 If You Love Me Let Me Know hitting No.5.

In 1974, I Honestly Love You was Olivia Newton-John’s first American No.1.

The soundtrack of Grease was the pivotal point in a career that has seen Olivia’s collective output reach 100 million sales worldwide.

One of the world’s bestselling soundtracks, it spent 12 weeks at No.1, producing three Top 5 singles for Olivia with the platinum and No.1 hit single You’re The One That I Want with John Travolta, the gold Hopelessly Devoted To You, and the gold duet Summer Nights with Travolta. She earned a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress In A Musical and performed the Oscar-nominated

Hopelessly Devoted To You at the 1979 Academy Awards.

Up to her death, she is still in touch with Travolta.

Defiantly so, she was done crying tears over her 30 year battle with cancer she told me, most recently recurring in 2018 on her spine. She was first diagnosed in 1992, on the same weekend that her father Brinley died.

She said the last bout, her shoulder, had been “challenging” at times.

“But look,” she laughs and nonchalantly upends the palms of her hands, “I’m here, aren’t I? We nipped it in the bud. Again. I am doing really well... I am here, in Ireland... my first big trip since last September, so it has been a big test for me.

“I’ve had my moments, and my tears and all that, but I have a wonderful husband in John and a daughter in Chloe who support me through those things.

“There are moments, I’m human. If I allowed myself to go there, I could easily create that big fear. But my husband’s always there, and he’s there to support me.

I believe I will win over it.

That’s my goal, to see cancer cured in my lifetime.”

She told me: “Health should be a priority of all governments.

Women’s health issues need listening to. Also, we all should be protected from pesticides and harmful additives in the food chain and from pollution in water. We need to protect people, animals too. The biggest threat facing us is the horrible things we are putting, allowing, into our environment.”

At the time of the interview, she was 70, the new 50s.

“Does ageing worry me? No. I am delighted to be able to age... it is denied to so many.”

What next for Olivia Newton-John, I ask, as we touch hands. “What next? I don’t know, isn’t that what’s exciting about life?”

Small businesses reject minimum wage concept The small businesses group ISME has rejected the concept of a living wage and a Government proposal to roll it out in four years.

In a submission to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, ISME said: “The control of living costs are more

material and important to the lower paid than driving wage costs upward by legislative fiat.”

ISME also describes as “nonsensical” a question posed by the department about whether employers should be supported in phasing in the living wage.

A living wage is defined as

the minimum income needed for a worker to meet their basic needs.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar announced last June that a new living wage would replace the national minimum wage.

He said it is proposed to phase it in over four years from next

year. It would be worth 60pc of the median wage for all workers.

Based on this calculation, the living wage would be €12.17 an hour this year compared with the national minimum wage of €10.50 an hour.

“ISME rejects both the timeline for achievement of a living wage,

and the concept of a living wage itself. We consider the control of living costs to be more material and important to the lower paid than driving wage costs upward by legislative fiat. Our principal difficulty with the living wage issue is that it identifies wages as the issue, not costs.”

It said Ireland consistently had the second or third highest minimum wage in Europe, not just the EU. Moving from a €10.50-an-hour national minimum wage to a living wage of €12.90 an hour would push labour costs up by 23%.

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Opinion

The Fact Of OfThe Matter PAUL HOPKINS

When was the last time you spotted a plumber?

Hi! I’d like bathroom tiles repaired please. When can you come? Tiler, Next appointment is in eight years.

Man, Oh. OK, I’ll take it.

Tiler, Morning or afternoon?

One could be forgiven for thinking we were talking about Ireland today, with this quip doing the rounds in Eastern Europe long before the Berlin Wall fell.

It’s hard to get good help these days. I am waiting weeks for my gardener, the man who will run the mower over the front garden — with the minimum of effort, trust me. He’s booked up, he says, but at least with my wild lawn, as opposed to the prim ones of neighbours, I am doing my bit to ensure the survival of our threatened bumble bee. So important to food production, if they vanish we might as well all give up.

One of the fallouts from the pandemic is that a nation

obsessed with their week in the sun or climbing the Himalayas, what with travel restrictions decided to use their hard-earned cash to dolly up their homes. I might as well have a new couch to relax in, went the argument, before I go mad altogether with HWS (holiday withdrawal symptoms).

Kitchen and bathroom retailers have been working round the clock to keep up with demand, cost of living increases or not. So, you buy the components and then set off on that journey to find someone to put all the pieces together. It would be easier to solve the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle than find such a craftsman.

After the crash in 2008 construction workers and tradespeople contracted significantly. Numbers have never returned to the figures of the mid-2000s, despite the demand, post-ish pandemic,

for home improvements setting a new record.

In 2007, there were 23,700 apprenticeships in Ireland — by 2015 that had fallen to 4,400 and has not recovered since.

Dermot Casey of the Construction Industry Federation says a negative perception of trades endures. “Schools are only considered successful when 95% or more students go on to third level.

The high drop-out rates of young people after one year in college shows the problem with this thinking.”

(The CIF says 86% of building companies have an inadequate supply of qualified tradespeople.)

The fewer tradespeople have us over the proverbial barrel. They know we are desperate to keep up with the latest interior trends and rotating AI kitchens or showers that resemble the Trevi Fountain but, wouldn’t you know

it, they are run off their feet so can’t give you a concrete date to start work. Sorry, no Trevi Fountain for you, just a quick body wash with a damp cloth.

Among my coterie of friends in my teenage years, a good half of them went on to become apprentices in various trades from chippy to sparks, plumber to mechanic.

Among them was the bold Mickey D, who was apprenticed to a carpenter and about five years after finishing his indenture had himself a successful little business.

My best friend Papo, lived two doors up. His mother was the wonderful Sheila.

One day she decided to get a ‘lean-to’ at the side of her end of terrace house, to house the kids’ bikes, the rusting lawnmower and the bin — only the one in those days.

The bold Mickey D was given the lucrative contract which involved a wooden beam or two, some wooden

laths and someone’s long discarded back door. The job was rushed, the door knob was a little dicey. “I’ll be back tomorrow to sort that out, Sheila,” says Mickey D, and he was gone.

Some weeks later I was leaving my parents’ home

‘Easier to solve the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle ...

and stopped to say hello to Sheila who was in her garden pruning her roses.

“Jesus,” she said struggling for breath after many decades of smoking Woodbines, colloquially known as Coffin Nails, “will you tell that Mickey D fella to come back and fix my door knob.” And she pulling on the fag, the rose pruner to hand.

That conversation was repeated many times down the years until, 19 years on, Sheila died.

After her funeral we adjourned to a nearby hostelry.

We lads were propped up at the bar and Papo, after settling his family in, came over to say hello.

“Jaysus Pat,” said Mickey D, “I’m sorry for your loss,” offering his hand in condolences.

Papo looked him square in the face and without batting an eyelid said: “Well, at least now you won’t have to come back and fix the door knob.”

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Farmers' climate 'crisis'

Policies being formulated by the Government to tackle climate change are fuelling a mental health crisis among farmers in Ireland, provisional results, according to a new study show.

Led by experts from the School of Agriculture and Food Science and the School of Psychology at University College Dublin, the research

Fundraiser being set up to provide heat for St Canice's parish homes A fundraising campaign has been set up to provide energy efficient and cost effective heating to the St Canice’s Parish Homes, in Kilkenny City.

The community, at Troy’s Court, has 20 houses that enable residents to live independently with social and domestic support.

Each of the houses has two electric heaters that were installed 12 years ago, replacing old-fashioned storage heaters.

Back then, they were modern and economical but with both energy bills escalating and technology advancing it is hoped to install more up-to-date heating.

With a high cost involved in the project, the self-funding, charity organisation is appealing to the people of Kilkenny to help.

Frances Gilligan, manager of St Canice’s Homes, estimates the overall cost to replace the 40 heaters will be €20,000.

The current heaters are economical but Frances Gilligan plans to replace them with heaters that will be cost effective and easy to use for the residents.

“We may not reach the target this winter, but we need to start somewhere,” she said, adding this could be a two-year project, depending on donations received.

“Over the years the people of Kilkenny have been extremely helpful, extremely good. We rely heavily on donations and the generosity of the public and they don’t let us down,” Frances said.

You can donate to the fundraiser online (click here to go to Go Fund Me ) or contact Frances at Troy’s Court.

“Help us keep residents warm this winter without burning a hole in their pocket!” she appealed.

entitled 'Dying to Farm: Developing a Suicide Prevention Intervention for Farmers in Ireland', indicates that climate-related stress is contributing to suicidal ideation at farm level.

The project, funded by the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention, is based on views from some 250 dairy, beef, sheep and tillage farm-

ers (male, female, aged 20-80 years) who participated in nationwide interviews, focus groups and surveys over the last 12 months.

While the study will remain active until the end of August, authors say most of the data was collected prior to the Government agreeing an emissions reduction target for agriculture by 2030.

Research coordinator Alison Stapleton said: "We know from a lot of anecdotal evidence that mental health is a really big challenge for farmers, yet in Ireland, there hasn't been much research on suicide risk among this community.

"This project aims to address that, while looking at interventions to bolster the mental health of farmers and attempt

to reduce the rates of suicide.

"We asked farmers about their knowledge of support services, their mental health generally, if they've ever experienced suicidal thoughts, and specific factors contributing to poor mental health.

"From a list of 30 options, our data is currently identifying the top farm stressor to be 'Government policies

The passing of a radio legend

IN BRIEF

Learn more on palliative care All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) is calling on people in Kilkenny to become better informed about palliative care and its benefits as part of Palliative Care Week. Now in its ninth year, Palliative Care Week takes place from 11 to 17 September.

Palliative Care Week 2022 aims to raise awareness across the island of Ireland about the difference palliative care can make to people’s quality of life. This year’s theme is ‘Palliative Care: Living as well as possible’.

'Dual threat' to dairy farmers

Tributes continue for radio legend Johnny Barry who was laid to rest recently. The Kilkenny native, aged 80, died peacefully at his home.

Johnny retired from his weekly Sunday evening slot on KCLR and went on to work as a Country and Irish Ambassador for the station.

He also hosted a special All-Ireland Edition of the hugely popular Johnny Barry Show, that would prove to be his last on KCLR. The former cinema worker and firefighter had been with the station since 2004, having previously worked on pirate station AMS and

Radio Kilkenny.

KCLR announced the passing of their former colleague and shared a special tribute.

In a statement they said: "It is with deep sadness that KCLR announces the death of our colleague and friend Johnny Barry.

"Johnny died peacefully earlier today at his home in Kilkenny city.

"A native of the city, Johnny had celebrated his 80th birthday in June of this year when he had retired from his weekly Sunday evening slot on the station with a star – studded tribute show where his unique contribution to

broadcasting as well as to Country and Irish Music was recognised by some of the biggest names in Irish music and some of his thousands of fans.

"Johnny had been honoured on his retirement by the people of Kilkenny when the then Mayor of Kilkenny Cllr Andrew McGuinness hosted a special reception in his honour to recognise his contribution to Kilkenny life over many years."

Chief Executive of KCLR John Purcell said: "Johnny Barry was an absolute legend in Irish radio and all in KCLR along with his many

thousands of fans in Kilkenny, Carlow and beyond are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of his sudden passing.

"On behalf of all at KCLR, his many friends in the broadcasting and entertainment industry and on behalf of his many thousands of fans and I would like to express our sincere sympathy to Johnny’s brother Kevin, his sister Mary and his nieces and nephews. We will not see his like again. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé."

An Ode to Johnny Barry, Gerry Moran, Page 20

Help get this special child on the road...

Shreya Ambade, working for the charity Variety Ireland with Miss Ireland as this year’s Miss Kilkenny, is organising a raffle fundraiser to purchase a trike for a disabled child in Co Kilkenny as part of Variety Ireland's mobility programme.

designed to reduce climate change'; followed by 'concern over the future of the farm' and then 'outsiders not understanding the nature of farming'. "'Not having enough time to spend together as a family in recreation' and 'limited social interaction opportunities' were also in the top five stressors,” she said.

"Many children with disabilities don't experience the freedom of movement and we hope we can help them overcome their challenges and be able to provide a fun liberating experience for the child," Ms Ambade told The Kilkenny Observer.

"I am also the ambassador for Cycle Against Suicide and we are organising a gazebo during the Markets on Saturday the 13th of August at the Parade to raise awareness on mental health and provide resources to the locals.

"We are asking readers of The

Kilkenny Observer to help us promote our raffle fundraiser and Cycle Against Suicide event," she said.

Shreya Ambade is 19 and is currently studying Biomedical Science at UCD. Miss Ireland is one of the

World’s longest running beauty pageants established in 1947 it has been the launch pad for many well known successful, empowering women in Ireland. * Follow the fundraiser on Instagram @orangewillow14

The Government has been accused of conducting a regulatory "pincer movement” on Ireland's dairy heartland.

Farm bodies say farmers in dairy strongholds are facing a dual threat of meeting onerous new nitrates regulations and the State's binding target to cut agriculture emissions by 25%.

Fears are mounting over the impact of these measures in areas that have been the economic engine of Irish agriculture over the past decade.

€300k. funding for 11 projects Funding of more than €300,000 has been secured under Measure 1 of the Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) for a total of 11 projects throughout Kilkenny. The projects include upgrade works in Graiguenamanagh, Woodstock Estate, Windgap and Mooncoin.

ORIS provides funding for the development and maintenance of outdoor amenities such as trails, walkways and cycle ways. Funding of almost €6 million was also announced to develop more than 200 outdoor adventure projects across the country

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Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

Sabina, consorts, and doing the thing right What have Kate Middleton, Sabina Coyne Higgins and Rebekah Vardy got in common? They are each in a sense a consort. They are in the public eye through their marriages. If Kate, aka Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, was not wed to William, heir to the British throne, Sabina to President Michael D and Rebekah Vardy to VIP footballer Jamie Vardy it is unlikely that any of them would have made headlines.

Playing second fiddle, overshadowed by a spouse who is royal, a president or a sports star isn’t an easy role to play either personally or in public. There are precious few, if any, rules but a lot of unwritten expectations.

As a royal or a presidential spouse there are plenty of duties but no personal pay packet, although there are certainly perks. The spouse of a monarch is supposed to provide company and moral

and practical support while the role of an American First Lady or a First Gentleman, is to be a hostess/ host and to focus on causes and social initiatives. And WAGS (wives and girlfriends of sportsmen) might consider keeping in step with the way that their husbands are seen as role models.

Whoever the consort happens to be, it’s hard to get it right, some accept what is involved in the role and adapt as Kate Middleton has done so successfully. But for Meghan Markle being a member of the royal firm was like being an ugly sister with Cinderella’s slipper. It simply didn’t fit, resulting in her and Harry’s Megxit to California and rupture with the Royal family.

Getting it wrong can go very wrong. Rebecca Vardy tried to make a name and money for herself selling gossip to the tabloid press.

In taking a libel case against Colleen Rooney who had accused her of leaking gossip about her, resulted in a devastating own goal for Vardy ruining her reputation and costing herself and husband more than £3m.

Women in a consort role seem to come in for far more flack than men. Did you ever see clouds of controversy around businessman Denis Thatcher, the first ever Prime Ministerial mate? For that matter do we hear criticism of lawyer Doug Emhoff, Second Gentleman to Kamal Harris’s Vice President: the man is practically invisible. Maybe it’s because it is accepted that men just carry on doing their own thing.

Being able to find a personal vision in the consort role seems to help. In her book’ Becoming’ Michelle Obama revealed she initially felt overwhelmed by being the first African American

Horse Whisperer

BY NED EGAN

Part 2 But, cycling home from school one day a bee flew up her sleeve, and stung her.

She was buried a week later.

A huge crowd of devoted crying children, and ex-pupils, attended the ‘two days.’ Moral: for every flogging demon there was at least one gentle angel.

Also close to Kells villa ge were the Comerford brothers - ‘Tonni’ and Paddy. When Paddy left school, he was discovered to have a great talent – an unusual affinity with horses! Boys from worker’s cottages seldom saw anything of the gee gee, except his rear end – as the equine lad dragged the plough or harrow. But P Comerford was a real ‘eye opener!’ As a chap, he’d wander down the village when the local Hunt crowd were having the ‘Stirrup Cup’ – a naggin of whiskey or brandy, generally.

Maybe the tasty ‘jorum’ gave them a bit of courage to face the heinously high ditches and fiendishly broad deep dykes of the times.The tipplers would,

of course, be saddle-seated.

That was the form. The haughty horses under them would be rather bored with the wait for action, and sometimes would give one another a crafty nip, or a polite swift boot. The doghounds would just sleep or go around roaring.

Paddy C would appear on the scene, as a young teen. Nothing special about him – but fine shoulders for a lad. As soon as he showed up, horses would start behaving themselves, and all would neigh ‘g’day’ to the youth. He’d tickle the cheeks of the most brutish of the beasts, and said savage gee gee would start whickering with delight. If they were doggies, they’d have their forelegs on his shoulders, licking his face, for sure! No beastie was immune to this young lad’s charm. You could even sense equine jealousy if he spent too much time with one bronco. When the Stirrup Cups had been emptied, the fine mounts were reluctant to leave the village, stealing sideways glances at their little ‘pal’ as they went. Paddy’s way with the animals didn’t go unnoticed by the {mostly wealthy} riders, and very soon he was working for lads like Mick Costello of Goodwinsgarden – a fine fellow indeed; I worked for him myself as a youth. Treated everyone well, did Mick – as did his sweet

wife Ellen – mother-in-law to the late, great, Willie Duggan I remember well that Mick had a horse called Patsy Fagin.

A snotty beast, he’d always have a toothy snap at you as you passed his half-door – upon which he lounged, cool as a breeze. But he could jump, and gallop like a rocket. His love was split between Costello and Comerford. I was a nobody in that nag’s lofty opinion. Didn’t know which C he loved most – But I was a distant 3rd I knew Paddy C quite well.

But most of my info on his young days came from three local men: ‘Big Jack’ Quigley – main drummer in the famous Kells Pipe Band – ‘Cully’ Walsh of the Crab Lane – and Della Power of Upper Haggard, just past Daphne Hutchinson’s estate. I don’t know how Paddy C finished up. But, being a bachelor and liking a gamble – old age would have been a problem.

He has a nephew still around.

Pat comerford of ‘Flower Power’ in Kikenny City.

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

First Lady, until she found her purpose during a visit to a girls’ school in London.

There, many of the pupils came from modest backgrounds and ethnic minorities as Michelle herself had done “I knew they’d have to push back against stereotypes that would get put on them,” she said. But then she saw the young girls’ optimism and, in that moment, she says, she realised that being First Lady would open up a door of opportunity for so many others.

The acid test for consorts, it seems to me, is whether their behaviour is appropriate in the circumstances. Is writing a letter to the Irish Times an appropriate thing for the wife of the President to do as Sabina Coyne Higgins did? The answer depends on the letter. In this case Sabina’s letter dealt with the war in Ukraine and demand that “until the world persuades

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Vlodymyr Zelensky to agree to a ceasefire and negotiations the long haul of terrible war will go on”.

The letter supports husband Michael D’s antiwar views but foreign policy is a matter for the Govern-

‘In the public eye through their marriages..

ment of the day, outside the Constitutional role of the President. It was not an appropriate area for comment by his wife nor for posting on the official Uachtaran na Eireann website.

As it was the letter, which appeared to equate a brutal invader with a president trying to defend his people, that stirred up a hornet’s nest, offending Ukrainians, putting President Higgins in a difficult situation, embarrassing the Government and giving the Russian Ambassador ammunition by appearing to support Russia.

Would the Irish Times have published the letter which addressed none of the complexities of the situation and had nothing new to say, if some eagle- eyed sub editor hadn’t spotted the by-line Sabina Coyne Higgins? I doubt it, it would have gone in the waste paper basket or the sub would have hit the delete button.

Revive the family for back to school CLAIR WHITTY

At this time of year, the whole family could do with a boost of energy and support for their immune systems after a busy summer of activities. Parents, students, and teachers can benefit from a boost of energy before heading back to school.

This is where Revive Active comes in, they have something for every member of the family. I have spoken about these supplements before, and they are a popular choice by many people who are very happy to recommend them to family and friends. All the products come in sachet form and can be mixed with water, juice, and even smoothies.

For parents its important they support themselves, Revive Active is ideal for individuals over the aged of 35 and has a unique formulation of 26 active ingredients vitamins, minerals and amino acids to help parents, just like children get the most from their busy and active lifestyles. Designed to support your energy levels, immune and nervous system, heart and circulatory system, it’s all about making sure you all stay at your best this autumn.

Zest Active, contains 25 active ingredients and is formulated for individuals aged between 18 - 35, who are juggling a busy lifestyle and want to get the most out of every day by supporting their immune system and energy levels. Its Ideal for teenagers off to college and even younger adults

and teachers that are looking for some extra support for their active lives.

Just like adults and teenagers, kids need a wide range of nutrients to help them be at their best. With all children back to school, it is more important than ever that your child’s immune system and energy levels are supported.

Junior & Teen Revive are scientifically formulated with 22 active ingredients to support the heart, bones, the immune system, and brain function.

Junior Revive is created specifically for children aged 4 to 12 years old and Teen Revive is for those aged 13 to 18. Junior and Teen Revive also contain 18 Vitamins & Minerals, along with Wellmune®. These super supplements are formulated to help support your children’s immunity, energy, and mental performance for the school days ahead. These come in an unflavoured powdered form so it can easily be added to smoothies, yogurts, or juice for those fussy eaters in your house.

Get revived today with Revive Active an Irish brand.

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

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

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News Legislation in Ireland allows hospitals to charge patients with health insurance as private patients, even though all patients are entitled to free public care.

So, patients considering giving up their right to public healthcare in hospital should not do so until sitting in a private bed, a leading health insurance expert has advised.

All patients are entitled to free public care, but legislation allows hospitals to charge patients with health insurance as private patients. According to a report in the Irish Examiner, this was the subject of a High Court judgement in July outlining details of a previous decision which said patients can only be charged if they agree to this.

Hospitals usually seek agreement by asking patients to sign a waiver form.

The High Court said patients should also be told about “consequences that flow” from opting for private care.

Dermot Goode, founder of TotalHealthCare, said there was a “mistaken belief” people with health insurance must sign.

“We will say to people even if they (the hospital) say to you will get a private room, don’t sign the form until you are in the private room, and in the bed,” he said.

“Lots of people have signed those forms, expecting to get the private room and it never materialises. We advise all of our customers you don’t have to sign the form.”

The judgement indicates if a private room cannot be found and the person is treated on a shared ward, the charge still applies.

“I always say to all of our clients, if somebody approaches you in a hospital and asks you to sign that form, your response should be ‘no problem at all, what changes for me if I sign that form?’,” he said.

Changes should include a private bed, and consultant-

SPECIAL REPORT

Don’t be bullied into private care in a public hospital High Court ruling exposes people coerced into giving up ‘rights’ led care, he said, adding: “Nine times out of ten the answer will be that nothing is going to change, there are no private rooms.”

Dermot Goode also warned of risks for people who were new members of an insurance scheme.

“If you are a new member, and there is a risk you are being admitted for a pre-existing condition, then there is a risk

your claim may not be paid by the insurance company,” he said.

“You need to make sure you know exactly where you stand. This is nothing to do with the HSE, it’s could be just somebody who has not been insured long enough.”

The HSE told the courts of a €170m potential exposure to loss since the disputed waiver form started being used. Pri-

vate patients are charged between €813 and €1,000 per night compared to €80 per night for public.

Single approach Patient advocate Stephen McMahon also urged caution.

“Certainly the Irish Patient’s Association would like to see the protocol and guidelines for obtaining consent from patients,” he told the Irish Examiner .

“You have to have a single approach everywhere, and you can’t have people feeling they are being coerced into one route or the other route.”

Mr Goode said patients having emergency treatment may find decision- making stressful.

“I’ve had anecdotal reports of people being asked to sign this waiver in the Emergency department, going out the ED door or bring approached

there,” he said.

“They were very vulnerable and sick. People have said to me in the past ‘I’ll sign it because it will make a few bob for the HSE’ rather than feeling like a burden.”

The judgement also clarified it was the patient and not the insurer who is charged though insurers have direct settlement arrangements with most hospitals.

What you should know about monkeypox Monkeypox is usually found in multiple countries in Central and West Africa, where it is transmitted from the natural wildlife hosts (likely rodents) to humans. There is diagnosis and tracking of annual cases in those countries that could number in the hundreds. Because of travel between those countries and others, monkeypox sporadically shows up in places where it is not usually found.

What’s different about this outbreak is that there has been sustained community transmission of the disease before it was diagnosed. Also, this specific monkeypox virus appears to be from the group known to be less severe, the West African clade, and has a lower case fatality rate than the more severe Central Afri-

a viral disease that spreads through close contact. So that means being in physical contact with somebody who has the disease or anything they’ve touched for a prolonged period, if they have an active lesion.

can clade monkeypox.

The way that it’s showing up is also not the classical description of monkeypox.

There aren’t a lot of lesions, but rather a few scattered lesions.

Who is most at risk?

It is important to know that anyone can be infected with monkeypox. If you’re in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox, you’re at risk. It’s

How does testing work?

It isn’t something that’s done in an urgent care clinic. And there’s no rapid test, like the one available for Covid-19, where you get the results in 15 minutes. This is a PCR test done in a referral lab, so samples are collected and sent off for testing.

What can a vaccine do?

After exposure, yes, it can be a race between your immune system’s response to the vaccine and your body

being affected by the virus.

There are other well-known diseases for which we vaccinate in the face of exposure.

Rabies is a classic one.

If you think you have been exposed to monkeypox, it is important to inform your doctor and get tested and possibly vaccinated as soon as possible.

A monkeypox vaccine given within four days of exposure has the best chance of preventing disease, but even up to two weeks after exposure it can reduce the severity of the symptoms.

The myths about monkeypox It is not a sexually transmitted disease like chlamydia or herpes. It’s transmitted by close physical contact, and

sex is just one of many ways for close physical contact to happen.

There has been some confusion around sexual transmission, because the disease is primarily showing up in networks of men who have sex with men. There is appropriate concern about stigmatisation and marginalisation of people who are not getting appropriate care.

It’s shades of HIV and AIDS all over again, and we know we can’t go down that road, because it’s harmful to individuals, communities, and overall public health. It’s critical that we provide the right care to those who need it when they need it. The virus does not discriminate, and we shouldn’t either.

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Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Setting up a one-man pension scheme Have you what is called or are in the process of setting up a ‘one-man pension scheme’? A OMS is an executive pension plan with only one or two persons in the scheme. The OMS is different from a PRSA or a personal pension as it is set up in trust on behalf of the employee who is usually a director of their own Companies..

If you have, the recent Pensions Authority announcement needs to be seriously evaluated as significant changes have been made which will affect you and your pension. Two of the main amendments include deletion of the exemption for one-member arrangements in respect of annual reports and deletion of the alternative annual report option for small DB or DC schemes, As a result of these changes, your One-Man Scheme will now be required to produce a full Annual Report as well

as Audited Accounts (which was only a requirement for 100+ members schemes!) and there will be a significant cost to the fund which could cause it to be untenable.

Due to these implications all pension providers have taken the decision to cease accepting new applications for these plans with immediate effect. For existing plans, they will continue to monitor regulatory developments and update Financial Advisors on an ongoing basis, into current plans you may continue to invest new contributions and top-ups. Corporate Business (Group Scheme) is unaffected by this announcement.

So, what are your options?

If you have recently proposed for an OMS you can continue but your financial advisor will need to sign a declaration to say they have spoken to you and outlined the rational and costs to proceed. You

need to confirm you understand the issue and are prepared to pay the cost of the annual report and audited accounts.

I contacted one provider, and they have declarations ready for signing but when asked the cost of the new service they could not give a figure! So be careful, sign nothing, agree to nothing until you know what you are agreeing to. Wait until there is greater clarity on fees etc.

If you don’t wish to wait you could take the Personal Retirement Savings Account route. It may be a viable alternative for many but not for all, especially not if you wish to make substantial contributions for tax purposes. Under the PRSA facility contribution limits are fixed and combine employer and employee contributions when calculating contributions for tax relief.

Here is a worked example.

An employee aged 35 on

a salary of €55,000 a year wishes to contribute €300 a month (EE) to his PRSA or €3,600 annually. His employer has agreed to contribution an additional € 833.33 a month (ER) on his behalf.

The total contribution is deemed to be €13,600 (EE + ER) for the PRSA plan.

Here’s the nub, which was not an issue under the old OMS, the total combined contributions cannot exceed his age-related percentage of salary, ie. at his age 35 he is in the age band – aged 30 to 39 therefore the maximum that can be invested is 20% of his salary - €11,000.

Since the proposed contribution is to be €13,600 he is exceeding his age limit contribution by €2,600. This will incur to him a BIK tax bill at the marginal rate of 40% of €1,040. The employer is also penalised in that they are not allowed to claim tax relief on company contributions.

You could appoint a professional trustee company or become your own trustee but this opens up all manner of problems as according to the Pension Authority “a person shall not act as trustee of a scheme or trust RAC unless

“The way forward is the Master Trust...

the person has the qualifications and knowledge which, together with the qualifications and knowledge of the other trustees, are collectively adequate to enable all the trustees of the scheme or trust RAC to ensure the sound and prudent management of that scheme or trust RAC”.

The way forward is the ‘Master Trust’. The key benefit of a master trust arrangement is that all trustee duties are carried out by a registered trustee company.

Therefore, you will not need to appoint your own trustee board to manage the associated governance and compliance requirements as scheme governance is managed the Master Trust.

Next week we will look under the bonnet of the Master Trust. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362633.

Rural homeowners in Kilkenny benefit from €628,000 plus upgraded laneways and non-public roads Funding for the Local Improvement Scheme has been doubled to €22 million as part of Our Rural Future, the Government’s ambitious policy for rural development, Fine Gael TD, John Paul Phelan, has confirmed.

Deputy Phelan welcomed the news from the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, that Kilkenny will see a major increase in our allocation under the Local Improvement Scheme for 2022.

Deputy Phelan said: “This extremely positive announcement will see our laneways and non-public roads in Kilkenny receive improved access to homes, farms and outdoor amenities.

“Prior to this news, Kilkenny Local Authority consulted with local residents and landowners to identify road and laneway projects where works could start immediately and be completed this year.

“Fine Gael is working to build stronger, safer communities and we want to see more people living, working and

raising a family in our rural communities throughout the country. We will continue to fight for rural homeowners in Kilkenny and make the case for further increases in funding.

“The funding provided by the Department will be complemented by a local financial contribution from landowners/households. There is a ceiling of €1,200 on the amount that any individual householder or landowner will be asked to contribute towards the cost.

Minister Heather Humphreys added, “The scheme provides substantial grant aid for the upgrade of these routes and assists homeowners with the costs. In many cases where there are multiple homes on a lane, neighbours will work together to draw down funding under the scheme.

“The Department of Rural and Community Development is now exactly five years old. I am proud during those five years my Department has provided over €100 million under the Local Improvement Scheme. That funding has delivered improvements on over 3,000 roads and laneways nationwide benefitting over 13,000 rural homes.

The funding I am announcing today will see a further increase in those numbers with many more homeowners benefitting”, Minister Humphreys concluded.

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News & Wellbeing Science Hopes of one day making a lunar colony may have found some extra encouragement.

Normally, the surface of the Moon reaches upwards of 260 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Then, it drops to a chilling minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit at night. However, research shows some lunar pits stay around 63 degrees Fahrenheit, providing muchneeded safety from the elements.

New research shows stable temperatures in lunar pits could be perfect for lunar colonies These stable temperatures could provide additional protection for a possible Moon-based colony. Additionally, access to caves and other formations that humans can shelter it may be found within such pits. If we were to create a lunar colony on the surface of the Moon, building it within such a pit may prove worthwhile in helping protect from intense temperatures.

We first discovered pits on the Moon in 2009. Since then, scientists have long wondered whether they might lead to caves or underground structures. While we can’t say for sure, this new research proves that they have much more stable temperatures than other surface areas on the Moon.

These stable temperatures are important for the viability of a lunar colony for multiple reasons. First, if the temperatures are stable and stick around 63 degrees Fahrenheit, we could build systems that work well within those areas. Whereas if we built those same structures on the main surface, we’d have to account for the wild temperature changes.

NASA is already planning to send humans back to the Moon in the next few years.

However, being able to create a long-term lunar colony would be astounding. Additionally, doing so would allow us to open a new door to studying the Moon and its surface.

Although we generally understand exercise to be good fo us in all sorts of ways, scientists continue to make interesting inroads around the specifics of this relationship.

The latest comes from a team in Germany which has found that even slight changes to regular physical activity, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, can counter the age-related loss of volume in brain regions linked to disease.

Research has demonstrated how exercise can help combat some of the effects of ageing.

This includes studies showing that regular physical activity can preserve the heart’s elasticity, reduce mild cognitive impairment and induce hormones that protect against Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Scientists at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) have looked to add to this growing body of evidence, by looking at exercise’s impacts on specific regions of the brain.

10kw of power for 10 years.

Not exactly enough to power Moon Las Vegas, but certainly enough to support a small human outpost on a different planet.

The budget for the entire project came to less than $20 million, impressive considering similar projects in the past ran budgets of nearly $1 billion in one case. And that doesn’t include the cost of launching it into space, which could be a lot given that it weighs from 880 to 3,000 lbs.

Fly me to the Moon

Cost: $20 million The people at NASA have a plan for this, and not just for the moon. The space agency concluded testing in 2018 for a project called Kilopower, a small nuclear reactor that could be transported great distances before providing

Need: Food Everyone needs to eat, but a moon colony would face some interesting issues. Either you’re launching food resupply missions at enormous cost, or you need to figure out how to grow your own food in a place without air and nights that can last two weeks at a time.

Even if there is a farm on the moon, things are difficult.

Water moves differently in low gravity environments, meaning that soil can often be ineffective. And if you either fail your resupply mission or in harvesting your moon crops, it could place the lives of anyone living on a moon colony in jeopardy.

Cost: $230,000 per person It is possible to grow things on the moon. In fact, the Chinese moon lander Chang’e 4 succeeded in sprouting cotton seeds while on the lunar surface, the first life to grace its surface since the final Apollo mission.

You need roughly an acre of land per person to support a population on earth, but hydroponic farming can improve yields by five times or more.

As far as the cost is concerned, AmHydro sells a basic hydroponic bundle that can yield between 3,500 and 4,000 plants per week and fit into a 4,320-square-foot greenhouse (roughly a tenth of an acre) will run you $161,500.

And you’d hypothetically need two for each person.

To do so, the scientists tapped into data from a population-based study of more than 2,500 subjects aged 30 to 94. This involved analysing brain volume and thickness of the cortex through MRIs and assessing their physical activity, with the subjects made to wear an accelerometer on their thigh for seven days.

“We were able to show that physical activity had a noticeable effect on almost all brain regions investigated,” said Fox. “Generally, we can say that the higher and more intense the physical activity, the larger the brain regions were, either with regard to volume or cortical thickness. In particular, we observed this in the hippocampus, which is considered the control center of memory. Larger brain volumes provide better protection against neurodegeneration than smaller ones.”

Those that stand to benefit most may be inactive older adults. The scientists found that the largest, and almost

sudden, volume increases were observed when comparing inactive subjects over 70 with moderately active ones.

“In principle, this is very good news – especially for those who are reluctant to exercise,” says study author Ahmad Aziz. “Our study results indicate that even small behavioural changes, such as walking 15 minutes a day or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, may have a substantial positive effect on the brain and potentially counteract age-related loss of brain matter and the development of neurodegenerative diseases.”

In particular, older adults can already profit from modest increases of low intensity physical activity.

Genetic analysis of brain regions most impacted by uptake in physical activity indicated that they are home to high amounts of mitochondria, which provide our body with energy but need a lot of oxygen to do so.

Here’s where we might really be able to set up a colony on the Moon... and what it might cost Not only could be test the long-term effects of the lower gravity on humans, but we might also be able to make some breakthroughs on creating artificial gravity. That would help combat any longterm effects the lower gravity of places like the Moon and Mars might have on the human body.

Additionally, building a lunar colony could allow us better on-site testing of growing plants in lunar soil.

Growing plants in places that aren’t normally acclimated for it would be a huge breakthrough for space exploration ad colonisation. The researchers published their findings in the journal Geophysical Research.

While the desire to live on the moon decreases considerably when you find out it isn’t made of cheese, there are still

a lot of reasons to dream of one day calling it home. For one, there is the pure wonder of living somewhere other than earth. There’s also the strategic value in using the moon as a base for launching exploration deeper into space.

But what would that cost to put a colony on the moon?

After all, the moon has just one-sixth of the gravity of Earth and almost none of the water. That also means there’s not enough air to breathe, and that you’re exposed to dangerous radiation from the sun that’s normally blocked out by Earth’s atmosphere.

Here’s a closer look at what would be required to build a moon colony and what it could ultimately cost.

Getting to the Moon Escaping the earth’s gravity

is no easy feat. Just getting out into orbit requires an enormous amount of energy, hence the massive rocket boosters and fuel tanks you see attached to shuttles prior to launch. So, before you can build a colony on the moon, you’ll have to move everything you’ll need there at great, great cost.

Cost: $10,000 per pound The current cost to put anything into space is $10,000 per pound, according to NASA. And, no, there’s no cheaper option for ‘ground shipping’.

That would mean that sending a 10-pound bag of rice to feed astronauts living on the moon would run you a whopping $100,000 just for transportation. That would make any moon colony a massive and very expensive undertaking.

Take the stairs, to save the years “In previous research, the brain was usually considered as a whole,” says Fabienne

Fox, lead author of the study.

“Our goal was to take a more detailed look at the brain and

find out which regions of the brain physical activity impacts most.”

Need: Electrical Power Once on the moon, astronauts are likely to need a lot of energy to keep themselves alive. Whether it’s maintaining a breathable atmosphere or running grow lights for growing food, a steady supply of electricity will be the only thing keeping the astronauts alive. However, because of its orbit, most of the moon’s surface has nights that can last for two weeks, making reliable solar energy nearly impossible outside of select areas.

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Travel & Leisure Italy sees visitors in their droves from all over the world flock there year-round, and for good reason: the country is home to azure beaches just miles away from snow-capped mountains, a vast artistic heritage, and one of the most celebrated cuisines in the world.

Yet, each season in Italy is great for different reasons.

Summer is by far the busiest travel season in Italy. It’s perfect for families in search of a beachside vacation and for those who can’t wait to discover the nightlife in lively cities like Rome, Milan, and Naples. Summer’s when everything moves outdoors in Italy, from restaurant tables to live concerts and film festivals.

Spring and fall are great times to enjoy the Italian countryside. Couples will love the romantic vibe of the changing landscape, and more adventurous travelers will want to hike through the country’s national parks as temperatures get milder.

From late November to early March, while ski resorts are enjoying their peak season, you’ll have most destinations across the country all to yourself. Events like the Fall/ Winter Milan Fashion Week take place during this time of year, which is also when you’ll find some of the best shopping deals.

May-September Best for walking, nightlife, and hitting the beach Italy is jam-packed with visitors at the end of spring and throughout the summer months. Temperatures range between the high 70s and the high 80s — plus, thanks to the country’s Mediterranean climate, most days are quite sunny.

What’s more, since the sun doesn’t set before 9 pm, locals and tourists tend to gather at bars and plazas well into the night. If you don’t mind the heat during the day, catch the world-famous Palio horse race in Siena, which takes place on

There’s a dream job to be had for the taking in the Maldives at Soneva Fushi Resort which is, once again, looking to hire a ‘barefoot bookseller’.

Located at the Maldives’ idyllic Baa Atoll, the luxurious five-star establishment needs someone to run its on-site bookstore. And while the gig pays a relatively paltry £620 ($1,080) per month, accommodation is included — a deluxe villa that’d usually set you back £30,000 ($52,300) per night.

For 12 whole months. We can’t imagine Soneva Fushi would be charging their own employee for associated living costs, either.

The role of Soneva Fushi Resort’s barefoot bookseller, however, won’t just entail slinging a few John Grisham novels to bored trophy wives. According to the job listing, it’ll entail everything from running point on the bookshop’s marketing and customer engagement to blog posting, newsletter

overlooking the sea. Genoa is also the closest major city to Cinque Terre, a cluster of five villages that make up the centrepiece of the jagged Italian Riviera.

Best time to visit Italy

March-April, OctoberNovember This time is best for hiking and enjoying nature The shoulder season in Italy is made up of two different periods: late winter and early spring on one end, and fall on the other. Both are perfect for venturing out into nature, as you can easily walk around wearing as little as a light sweater on warmer days. But you should expect more rainfall than during summer and even winter.

Fewer crowds, great deals, and blissed-out weather July 2 and August 16 every year.

In May, Florence and the majestic gardens across the city are in full bloom. The Boboli Gardens, the Bardini Gardens, and the Iris Garden (which opens only one month a year) are teeming with colour and life.

Easter officially kicks off beach season in Italy and it’s a wonderful time to tour sundrenched Sicily and its capital

Palermo. Meanwhile, countless sagre (local festivals) pop up throughout the countryside.

Summer in Italy Looking for the ultimate deals on those designer threads you’ve been eyeing? You’re in luck. Brands offer major discounts for six weeks starting in early July.

July is also the busiest month for travel in Italy, so expect everything to cost more. Italian

summers have one peculiarity: locals travel to the coast en masse, leaving behind closed shops and quieter cities for two weeks or even the whole month of August. Museums, parks, and other points of interest usually remain open, but you’ll miss all the hustle and bustle in both big cities and tiny villages. If you’d like to follow in the footsteps of the locals and explore the coast,

you should be prepared for higher prices and heavy traffic in typical summer fashion.

September In September, on the other hand, seaside destinations are less crowded, and temperatures are milder than at the height of summer. This is the best month to explore Genoa, home to Italy’s busiest port and imposing palaces

A barefoot bookseller: the ideal holiday job creation, as well as hosting creative writing workshops.

Activities, duties, and responsibilities include: Day-to-day running of the bookshop including sales management, engaging guests, hosts, and visiting authors Responsible for all stock management and reporting

back on sales + stock updates Hosting experiences for Soneva guests such as creative writing classes, bibliotherapy sessions, and tutoring Running the Barefoot Bookseller social media Instagram account and engaging with the online community

Writing monthly blog posts and creating entertaining and informative newsletters Liaising with Ultimate Library & Soneva marketing teams on potential events and collaborations The candidate is required to live in the Maldives for the duration of the job period (up to 12 months)

Excellent written and verbal English skills A love of reading and indepth knowledge of both classical + modern literature Experience in bookselling/ publishing is essential Strong knowledge of running social media pages and following online trends Experience writing blogs,

December-February The low season is best for winter sports and end of year festivities Outside its alpine regions, Italy isn’t known for particularly harsh winters; temperatures usually range between the low 30s (mostly at night) and the low 50s, and even colder cities like Turin and Milan hardly get more than a few days of snowfall a year.

But since most folks seem to favour vacationing in Italy in the warmer months, you can hardly see crowds in the major cities during winter.

Ski resorts in Cortina d’Ampezzo, as well as spas and bathing facilities in spa towns like Saturnia (in Tuscany) are of course an exception, as thousands of locals and tourists seek both the adrenalinefuelled activities and the relaxing retreats that the Italian countryside has to offer come wintertime.

Winter is also a great time for scoring incredible shopping deals, since the official sales for the season run between January and early March.

And we can’t mention winter in Italy without bringing up Christmas, which is always a magical experience throughout the country.

newsletters, and online content To be a team player/selfstarter with a sense of fun and creativity To be able to efficiently organise and work to your own schedule and deadlines The successful candidate will undertake pre-departure training with the Ultimate Library team conducted remotely before embarking on an unforgettable experience.

Soneva Fushi’s Barefoot Bookseller programme was first established in 2018 when the resort partnered with Ultimate Library.

Unsurprisingly, multiple custodians of the onsite bookshop have come and gone ever since with no shortage of interest.

As outlined by the JD, this is a Robinson Crusoe-style laidback luxury meets the ultimate vacancy for a desert island bibliophile located at “one of the most beautiful places in the world”.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Ode to the passing of Johnny Barry Like most Kilkenny people I was saddened to hear of Johnny Barry’s passing. I soldiered briefly with Johnny back in the old KCR (Kilkenny Community Radio) days; following is a poem I recited at a KCR party one year. Johnny was quite chuffed with it.

Johnny Barry’s an awful man He goes to bed with my mother each night Now my mother’s a widow of seventy- four My God but it doesn’t seem right Come eleven bells and mam trips up the stairs With Johnny held in her arms Then into the bed the two of them flop What’s the secret, John, of your charms?

Now my mother’s a God-fearing woman So who knows what’s got into her head That she lets a late-night Deejay Lie beside her for hours in the bed!

Well I told the P.P. all about it How my mother had gone to the bad

Said he: “Son your mother’s morals are safe Sure John’s a grand Catholic lad” Well Catholic lad he may well be But the field he’s well able to play And with women from Clogh, Coon, Kells & Mooncoin Every night now he’s having his way.

Indeed now and I’ve heard some stories Of three in a bed late at night The wife in the middle, hubby on the left And Johnny blazing away on the right!

Now I’ve heard of cohabitation And living in mortal sin But how to describe Johnny Barry’s carry-on I wouldn’t know where to begin So how does Johnny Barry do it?

What’s the secret of his success?

That women allow him into their rooms In various states of undress?

Well I honestly don’t know the answer But it must be his winning ways His decent, down-to-earth charm And, of course, the great music he

plays.

(Rest in peace, Johnny, and thanks for the memories) This being Arts Week methinks I should finish with something ‘cultural’ although the poem is actually more horticultural! In 1785 the Scottish poet Robbie Burns wrote: “To a Mouse”, after turning up her nest with the plough. Several hundred years later this poet penned: “To a Worm”, after turning her up with a sprong in the back garden!

To A Worm (To be read wi’ a wee Scottish accent) Wee, sleekit, slippery creature Hope you don’t mind if you feature In this brilliant poem of mine Beats dangling from a fishing-line Indeed has it nae to you occurred That I could be the early bird Ready to slide you down his throat Ach, but here relax, I’m just a poet Inspired to verse by your pink figure All curled up here, beside my digger Forgive me if I stop and stare But you look so vulnerable lyin’ there

Also I hope I’m nae being rude But how do you cope down there, in the nude?

Aye, what’s it like having to commute Underground in your birthday suit?

Wriggling about in the dark in your pelt Cannae be healthy, d’ya never get felt By a randy ant or centipede Whose pedigree’s not guaranteed?

Maself, I cannae understand Just how you cope with ne’er a hand Sure you cannae touch or squeeze or hug A fellow worm or friendly bug Can’t pick your nose or pull a pint Can’t write a poem or roll a joint Can’t sign a cheque or shoot a gun Mmmm — perhaps yer having better fun.

Still, you nae got snooker, darts, football What do you do for sport at all?

No massage parlours, disco bars No motor bikes or flashy cars.

Hey, tell me you lyin’ in that drill How does a worm get a thrill?

Now I don’t mean to embarrass, pry or vex

But what do worms do for sex?

An’ tell me if this is nae a lie But I heerd yer sort of girl AND boy One end of you they say’s female The other end’s all macho male!

My God but that’s a right wee laugh You’re really stuck with your “other half” Ye better stick to the same old course ‘Twould be right painful to have a divorce.

But here, I think I’m only wasting time Prattling on in rhythm and rhyme A single word you cannae hear Sure you don’t even have an ear!

Ach and I dinna suppose that you heerd that MY “other half” wondering what I’m at If she finds out I’ve been chattin’ wi’ a maggot I’ll be locked up — I’ll really have had it.

So, I’m away in now to watch the telly Off you go there on yer belly And here, keep off the lettuce and cabbage seeds Aye, and keep an eye out for centipedes!

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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News

Lonely Planet paints a pricey picture of Ireland for tourists

A Lonely Planet article about the cost of visiting Ireland will get “amplified” across the world amid a “low but consistent number of complaints” about rising bills for holidaymakers visiting here, according to Tourism Ireland.

There has been a steady level of complaints online from visitors to Ireland on social media, with 55 of 68 issues raised in a single week relating to costs, and 42% of all complaints specifically about car hire.

The State agency, in a special report on the sector, said that

there was continuing “lowlevel feedback” on the cost of renting a car as well as hotel room costs from trade partners and on social media.

However, Tourism Ireland

said this had so far largely escaped negative coverage in mainstream media in a briefing paper.

The country-by-country special report on rising costs said trade partners in France were particularly concerned about “ongoing price and availability issues”.

Operators in France were seeing hotel room allocations cancelled as well as “very high weekday rates for Dublin city centre hotels”.

“Price increases in restaurants have also been flagged as a concern,” the report stat-

ed. “In addition, some tour operators have reported that key attractions no longer take group bookings — a critical component of a group tour for holidaymakers.”

In Belgium and the Netherlands, tour operators reported issues with cancelled hotel rooms due to their reallocation for refugees from Ukraine.

However, other operators said group bookings were doing “very well” and that, so far, they had been able to find alternative accommodation.

The feedback from Germany was also “still very positive”

with high interest in holidays in Ireland and the German travel industry actually unable to meet demand for July and August.

The special report said: “Tour operators have reported that additional costs are frequently being borne by themselves and hotels, as a proportion of these sales were booked in advance by consumers [when rates were lower]. Rental cars are a challenge in terms of cost and availability.”

In Spain, costs were a “hot topic”, but concern there pri-

marily centred on their own tourism industry rather than what was happening elsewhere.

From the US, there was feedback about the supply of accommodation and car rental.

There had also been highprofile coverage of the queue and baggage issues that have dogged Dublin Airport for the past number of months.

In the UK, coverage of costs was mainly confined to a newspaper for the Irish diaspora, with national media there more focused on “rail strikes”.

Online monitoring had seen an increase of weekly complaints during mid-June from 56 to 68 with the level deemed “low but consistent”.

The report said: “The markets with the highest number of messages received around these topics were from Italy, Benelux [Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg] and the US. Complaints currently represent only around 2 per cent of weekly engagements.”

On car hire, the report said rental prices were an issue in many countries and continued to get widespread media coverage.

However, while high car prices here were occasionally used as an example, Ireland had not been identified “as an outlier on the topic”.

Tourism Ireland were also worried about a Lonely Planet article that warned tourists of “soaring hotel costs” and how renting a car would make a “significant dent” in a visitor’s budget.

An internal email said: “It came up as a top story alert for me on Twitter so will keep an eye on that — danger of it getting amplified across countries as a tourism topic.”

A colleague responded to say: “Thanks, we’ll ... keep an eye out for whether this is picked up in non-Irish media.”

In an information note, Tourism Ireland said the country-by-country report — which was released under Freedom of Information — was one in a weekly series prepared by their in-house strategy and insights team.

Travel chaos ‘to last another year’, says Ryanair Ryanair has warned holidaymakers that they face a year of travel disruption across Europe. Chief Executive Eddie Wilson said air traffic control delays across the continent were the “worst ever” despite the number of flights being as much as 15% lower compared with the years before the pandemic.

“The underlying problem across Europe — even if you have the aircraft, you’re not cancelling [flights] and you’ve got the crew — is air-traffic control,” Wilson said. “It is the single biggest delay for all airlines by a country mile.”

The aviation sector has been hit by months of chaos since

international travel resumed in the spring. British Airways has cancelled 27,900 flights this summer and this week suspended the sale of all short-haul flights from Heathrow until August 15.

EasyJet has cut more than

15,000 departures, partly as a result of a capacity cap at Gatwick. Heathrow has capped passenger numbers at 100,000 a day after several setbacks, including a severe baggage system malfunction in Terminal 2. The boss of Manchester

airport was forced to resign after passengers faced weeks of misery.

Data by Eurocontrol, which manages European airspace, reported that air traffic delays, caused by problems such as weather, staffing or capacity shortages, have soared since the start of the summer season.

In the week to July 31, European airspace handled an average of 30,718 flights a day, with a combined delay of 116,624 minutes each day on average.

Almost 90% of those delays were picked up en-route, with capacity and staffing problems the root cause of 51% of

disruption. Weather was a factor in 28% of delays.

“There is a chance this will go on into next summer unless they get their acts together now,” Mr Wilson said.“Because there is about 10 or 15 per cent less traffic this summer in Europe compared to 2019, yet they still can’t handle it and we’ve got the worst delays ever.”

He said the “invisible roundabouts in the sky” were coming under increasing strain, causing knock-on delays throughout the day. “The French upgraded their systems in the summertime, which wasn’t a great idea.

And there is a German facility

in Karlsruhe that isn’t properly staffed and that is a major roundabout.”

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the closure of swathes of airspace had “squeezed an awful lot more traffic south”, exacerbating the delays, he said.

Ryanair has emerged as the most popular carrier this summer. The airline, Europe’s biggest, operated an average of 3,008 flights a day in the week to yesterday, a 14% increase on 2019. By contrast, British Airways flew 700 flights, down 27 per cent compared with pre-pandemic levels. EasyJet flew 1,621, down 15% from 2019.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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Feature

The thing with Debbie This week, The Kilkenny Observer welcomes Kilkenny student Keela Ayres as she presents a short story for our readers. As a newspaper, we attempt to cover as much news as possible on various topics. The inclusion of a young writer, such as Keela, with aspirations in that field, is something we are happy to promote.

BY: KEELA AYRES

“I need to be back in time for maths or Mr Murphy will tear the head off me!” Marky puffed as the rest of the group rushed alongside him.

Marky insisted on moving their daily smoke to lunch instead of after school, desperate to show off the lighter he had ‘borrowed’ from his father.

“Well it wouldn’t be a surprise if he did it anyway!” chimed in Harriet as they all slowed to a halt in front of the bike sheds.

Harriet and Marky always teased each other, usually doing so with blushing faces.

James and Frances sat on top of the bins as Marky took his spot in the corner.

Debbie began spluttering against the bikes, causing everyone to look over in concern.

She was out of breath already?

“You alright Deb?” began Harriet before being cut off by the flick of Debbie’s hand.

“I’m grand Har, honestly” Debbie smiled, in a way she hoped was reassuring.

It wasn’t. Harriet wasn’t easily fooled.

Everyone dived into their pockets for a leftover cigarette, causing Marky to excitedly unveil the famous lighter.

He had every right to be enamoured with it.

It was jet black with a carved golden clover.

Frances balanced her freshly burning cigarette to examine the lighter. “Won’t you be in serious bother when your Da finds out?”

Marky proudly puffed out a cloud of smoke that engulfed the shed.

“Since he started working nights, he can barely remember his own name.

He never noticed.”

James and Harriet stuck their cigarette butts into the scarlet flame before passing it on to Debbie, who nodded gratefully and did the same.

While taking a drag, Deb-

bie’s sleeve fell, revealing a zig-zag row of navy bruises.

Harriet’s eyes widened into green saucers.

No one noticed through their surging flow of chatter.

The world around her fell silent as she focused on Debbie, who she’d known since first year.

She watched her lean into her cigarette with a halfsmile, the only source of heat on an October afternoon that stopped her legs from buckling.

She has never been this quiet.

Her eyes couldn’t lie.

Debbie was the furthest thing from ‘fine’.

Harriet then locked eyes with Marky, who was in his usual bumbling babble. He cracked a flushed grin until he followed her thumb, directing him to Debbie’s bruises that Harriet hoped she wouldn’t spot. James and Frances picked up on Marky’s sudden frozen frame. James began teasing him: “You’re floating away into space when we couldn’t get you to shut up this morning!

Dragging us out here just to gawk at that stupid lighter!” trying to mimic the tone of a tutting teacher.

Frances crumbled from cackling into concern when she noticed why the attention was focused on Debbie.

It wasn’t until he looked down that even James had finally copped it. Silence suffocated the shed.

They all avoided each other except for Debbie.

What would they even say? She finally broke it with

a heavy glare. “If ye want something to stare at, it should be the lighter.

Quit gawking at me!”

She cautiously slid her arms behind her back.

A dead giveaway.

Harriet cleared her throat, beginning shakily: “Deb, is everything alright? We’re just worried that you’re acting differently lately.”

Debbie’s glare wavered as her maroon eyes began to well.

The dark circles underneath were an obvious sign of many sleepless nights.

She inhaled a final puff before smashing the burning cigarette against the wall.

She slapped on a grin that was comically strained.

Debbie Brenann never asked for anyone’s help.

She would have to be broken many times before she ever cracked. Her tone turned eerily cheery.

“I told you before I’m grand, stop the sappy talk!

See you all inside!”

She then evaporated around the corner without a goodbye or explanation, as if she wasn’t there at all.

The group were left with a choked sob that echoed against the walls.

They all stamped out their cigarettes, silently agreeing that something was wrong.

Debbie running from them was taking the truth away with her. Her life, they now suspected, could be in serious danger.

And if they wanted to save it, they had to start now.

Seventeen year old Keela Ayres is from Kilkenny City and currently attends Presentation Secondary School.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

MacDonagh Junction Feature

Get Back To School Ready…

Autumn is on the way and that means its back to school time.

At MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, their stores have everything you need to take the stress out of prepping for a new school year. Get all your stationery essentials at Eason, where you’ll find all you need from schoolbooks to colouring pencils and everything in between! Need a new look for the new school year? Regatta have an array of jackets that are both practical and stylish, making sure your little ones look the part on their first day back! Complete the look with a pair of comfy trainers from Skechers and a funky schoolbag from TK Maxx. Heading back to college? Check out these chic notepads from Carraig Donn for a sophisticated look, on trend Puffer Jacket from Pamela Scott and don’t forget to avail of your student discount in a range of stores including River Island, Life Style Sports, H&M, Jump Juice and Peter Mark.

Looking for an after school activity? Art It are now taking reservations for their new term of children’s art classes commencing in early September- book now to avoid disappointment!

For the latest offers available in the Centre, give MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre a follow on Facebook and Instagram. www.macdonaghjunction.com * All prices correct at time of print Skechers from €40 q

t Carraig Donn €6.95

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t TKMAXX Backpack set €12.99

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

Feature

The death of Johnny Barry leaves family and friends in mourning

By Ger Cody The death was announced last week of Stephen street resident Johnny Barry. His love and promotion of Irish country music, his easy going ways, his good humour and above all his daily acts of kindness made him a legend to family, friends and fans. Irish country music was Johnny’s true love and passion .

What is it about these singers and musicians that is so appealing to the thousands of fans who pack out halls and hotels week in week out?

Well, there are a few reasons.

It goes without saying of course that audiences love them for the quality of their voices and their choice of songs.

After that it is the special relationship that artists have with their fans. The presentation of the singers and band members is second to none and of course time given by performers to their fans at the end of a night’s entertainment is legendary.

It is probably fair to say that although Irish country music and its stars are adored by hundreds of thousands of people the length and breadth of Ireland, the air time allocated to this genre of music on the national radio and television falls short of the expected mark.

And therefore it falls to local radio stations to take up the slack.

And boy they do that in style.

THIRTY YEARS PROMOTING COUNTRY MUSIC A case in point would be the Johnny Barry show that lasted all of thirty years, eighteen of them on local radio station KCLR. Johnny was asked to present a thirty minute programme a couple of times a week.

“When I asked what I should play, I was told they would leave that to myself. So I started playing Irish tunes

by Irish artists and I haven’t stopped since,” said Mr Barry.

“That was twenty eight years ago explained Johnny”,when

he spoke to The Kilkenny Observer, earlier this year.

As a young man Johnny was a member of the Kilkenny fire Brigade. He was later to become apprentice projectionist at the Regent cinema, then later at Stallards on Patrick Street. Following the closure of Stallards, Johnny joined Jackie Parle at The Savoy as assistant projectionist.

A love of music was always part of Johnny’s make up and especially Country and Irish.

Today, it is probably fair to say that there isn’t a country singer in Ireland who hasn’t reached out to Johnny to give his or her song a spin on his late night radio show on KCLR. Having entertained the masses for thirty years, Johnny hung up his microphone last Easter, much to the disappointment of his thousands of fans.

IT ALL STARTED IN THE ARCADE Johnny’s journey as a radio presenter started in the

The radio crew. Colleagues of Johnny Barry outside The Mayors Parlour when Johnny received his award.

Pictured at a recent celebration for Johnny Barry, Brothers Kevin and Johnny. Johnny is sporting the veteran fire hat presented to him by Joe Traynor.

Arcade on High Street, when along with John Walsh and Seamus Brophy they started a radio station called AMS, (Astra Media Services).

Speaking about his colleague, Radio presenter John Walsh had this to say about Johnny. “My

observations are that what made him so popular is the common touch. He connected with the music community, what they like and what they want. It’s been a pleasure knowing Johnny all these years and in a world gone mad it’s great to see people like Johnny holding on to that simple understanding of what real people want”. Mr Walsh said that he was deeply saddened, as all in KCLR were, at Johnny’s passing.

PROGRAMME WAS MASSIVE His audience numbers were huge and his programme was heard all over Ireland as well as a devoted listenership in parts of the UK. Of course his hard work has not gone unnoticed. In 2018 and 2020 Johnny was awarded the Hot Country award for his contribution to Irish Country Music.

For a radio station to receive this award twice in three years was some achievement and one which no other radio station has matched.

THE MAYORS AWARD Recently in city hall Johnny was to receive another award.

For his contribution to Irish music in general and the promotion of Iris Artists, Johnny received the Mayor’s award.

Mayor Mc Guinness congratulated Johnny, saying his recognition was well deserved.

Speaking on the announcement of the sad news, Chief Executive of KCLR John Purcell said; “Johnny Barry was an absolute legend in Irish radio and all in KCLR along with his many thousands of fans in Kilkenny, Carlow and beyond are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of his sudden passing.

He was in the station for a meeting during the past week and in great form, discussing plans for the future. We are comforted by knowing that in June he had the opportunity to hear what he meant to people of all ages from all backgrounds.”

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Feature

Message from Mayor of Kilkenny Cllr David Fitzgerald “Johnny Barry’s unique music collection and his friendly presentation style endeared him to a huge audience of loyal listeners and genuine fans. I’ll never forget attending his 70th birthday show in Springhill Court hotel where a thronged audience came from far and wide to celebrate with him.

Kilkenny has lost one of its great characters whose warmth radiated from the radio. He will be greatly missed. RIP.”

The two Johns: Johnny Barry pictured with C.E.O. of KCLR John Purcell at a presentation night in June 2022.

Mayor Fitzgerald with Johnny’s long-time friend and driver, Des McGrath. Des drove Johnny to gigs across the country for years.

Message from Irish country singer Trudi Lalor

Johnny Barry and Daniel O’Donnell.

“ I was so very sad to learn of the passing of my Johnny Barry. Johnny was such a wonderful great friend friend and a huge support to everyone in the Irish Country Musi c Family.

This photo was taken in Nowlan Park when I recorded the video for The Rose of Mooncoin which Johnn y joine in,along with the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team d me many wonderful days over the years and all over. We had the country at various concerts and shows and would meet regularly for our lunch catch ups in Kilkenny.

Johnny was the first man to play me on local Radi incredible ambassador for our music and I cann o , he was an ot thank him enough for that …

I only spoke to him on Wednesday and I am deepl y saddened to hear this sad news.”

Mr Purcell went on to say that Johnny was unique in all that he did on local radio. “Johnny was a man who knew what he wanted to deliver and nothing has ever stood in his way, said Mr Purcell”.

Recently Mr Purcell also announced that Johnny was to be Irish Country music ambassador for KCLR.

RADIO PRESENTER WAS NUMBER ONE One quick story to finish.

I remember one night of Country music at the Watergate Theatre when the entertainment was complete and the artists gathered in the foyer to meet their fans. We wondered what the problem was, as the singers waited to sign autographs, but there

was no sign of the audience leaving the auditorium. I went into the auditorium to see what the issue was and could only smile at what I saw.

The audience of about two hundred were queued up alongside the wall and at the main door signing autographs was none other than Johnny Barry. Priorities, I guess.

In an interview with the

Kilkenny Observer recently Johnny was asked what the secret of his longevity and popularity as a radio presenter was. Johnny replied, “believe in what you’re doing, don’t be afraid to show your passion for your work, and stick to your guns”.

And, that sums up Johnny Barry.

Rest in peace Johnny.

Johnny Barry and his family at City Hall to celebrate Johnny’s achievement award. Also included in the photo are John McGuinness T.D and former Mayor Andrew McGuinness.

Great Friends. Johnny and Brendan Grace (RIP) in happier times.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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Picture special

Daithi Delaney, Gowran.

Ava and Zoey Delaney, De La Salle Place, Kilkenny.

Back Conor O’Flynn, Emily O’Flynn, Aiden Murphy.

Front Alicia O’Flynn, Maya Murphy.

Out & About at Kilkenny camogie homecoming All photos by Jack Moore Sofia and David Coffey, Lintown.

(L to R ) Chloe Holohan, Ballyhale. Rachel Power, Hugginstown.

Shauna Hayes, Kells.

Tom, Finn, and Kate Dalton Freshford.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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Picture special

Lena and Eamon Butler, Ballycallan.

Waiting for their heroes.

Mary and Tom Casey

Patrick, Ella and Kala Raftice, Mullinavat.

Crowds gather.

Setting the stage

Ava, Nate, Kyle and Ben Dunne, Windgap.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

News

Private rental ‘onslaught’ Figures released by the Residential Tenancy Board (RTB0 reflect the ongoing trend observed by Threshold, and which it has been raising concerns about since early this year. Threshold assisted almost 3,000 (2,821)

€20,000 to benefit library services Kilkenny Council Library Service will benefit from almost €20,000 in grant aid from the Dormant Accounts Fund, a fund designed to support programmes that enhance the development of economically or socially marginalised persons and those with disabilities.

The announcement was made by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD this week.

Cathaoirleach Pat Fitzpatrick welcomed this funding which will enhance and develop further the very worthwhile accessible services for all our citizens provided by the Library Services across the City and County.

Following the announcement, County Librarian, Josephine Coyne said: “This is a fantastic boost for us. We are always trying to improve our services and ensure they are accessible for everyone so this additional funding allows us to build further on the strong foundation of literacy and oral language programming that we have already in place. “ Kilkenny Library Service are building on the success of previous projects to continue to further develop literacy and accessibility under the following three strands: * Digital: The addition of 18 C-Pens, designed for persons with dyslexia, visual impairment and English language learners. These digital highlighters feature text-tospeech technology which turns any scanned text to audio. *Literacy: Specific literacy and oral language needs have been highlighted through our Right to Read Network in Kilkenny and this funding allows to further develop literacy supports, building on our successful OWL (Oral Words Language) project completed in 2021.

This multi-strand programme will include workshops and talks on literacy difficulties and will include strategies, tips and guide.

renters who had received a notice of termination from their landlord, in the first six months of this year. 55% of those were for the purposes of sale.

John Mark McCafferty, Threshold CEO said: “The

private rented sector is facing an onslaught of evictions.

Behind the statistics are individuals and families entering homelessness and losing their homes. It is imperative that the Government moves quickly to formulate a specif-

ic, targeted strategy for evictions to help keep people in their homes and ensures some level of security around this.

“This strategy must focus on how small landlords can be incentivised to remain

in the sector. There have been widespread calls for reform of the taxation of rental income.

“If this is what is needed to keep them active in the sector, then the Government must introduce and expedite these changes,” he said.

to cover curial services.”

These sales were reducing the patrimony of the Holy See by €20 million to €25 million every year, he said.

“Each year’s donations, and what the Holy See can generate, cannot fund all the expenses of the entities that have no revenues,” Mr Guerrero said.

He warned that 2022 will be a “particularly difficult year, and so will 2023”.

“However, it is imperative that any reform of the tax burden on landlords is strictly linked to increased security of tenure for private renters, including 10-year lease agreements.”

Action was needed now.

Troubled Vatican selling off its riches The Vatican has published its annual results, reporting a near-balanced budget but admitting that every year it was selling off assets to cover expenses.

Juan Antonio Guerrero, the Vatican’s de facto economy minister, said the Holy See recorded a deficit in 2021 of €3.3 million,

much less than the €33 million projected.

“A deficit of €3 million euros in a budget of €1.1 billion is not a lot,” he said in an interview with Vatican News.

However, he warned of a more structural problem: “The fact is that the Holy See sells assets every year

We are not looking for surpluses but for sustainability of the Holy See’s service,” he said.

Pope Francis has pressed for more transparency in the running of the Catholic

Church, which in recent years has seen a series of corruption scandals.

With this in mind, this year’s accounts include a wider range of assets than previously, although it does not include the Vatican state or what is known commonly as the Vatican Bank.

Managing your business’s credit successfully Ifac, Ireland’s farming, food and agribusiness specialist professional services firm, is advising Kilkenny SME and start-up business owners to make sure they avoid poor credit control to ensure their survival.

Julie Burke, National Credit Controller at ifac said: “I like to think of a business as a person. At the heart of that business, is credit control. It brings money into the business. This in turn means it can be pumped back out in many different directions to keep the business alive. And of course, if it doesn’t, come in, it can’t go out and the business suffers.”

Overtrading – Avoid taking on every bit of business that comes your way. This may sound counter-productive but if you over-promise and underdeliver, this will be much more damaging to your reputation.

It is better to take on what you can confidently complete to a high standard.

Avoiding the talk – New businesses get so caught up in generating new business, that they avoid following up for payment. Whatever your credit terms are, you should be actively following up after this date with any fees due.

The see-saw effect – Instead of chasing payment with their customers, a lot of young businesses will opt to avoid paying their own suppliers, dragging out credit terms, extending limits, etc. Eventually, suppliers become frustrated and stop supplying and this is where the business is stuck. They can’t get paid and they can’t get more product.

Unpredictable events – Having a good handle on your credit controls means you can respond to these events, pivot your business and continue on with little to no interruptions.

Eaten bread is soon forgotten – The longer a customer is left without paying, the less likely a business has of secur-

ing the full payment. People forget what a great job you did six months after. They are also more likely to start complaining about the service. To keep a strong, healthy relationship with your customers, it is better to agree as much as possible up front, in writing and after, and follow up persistently until payment is received.

Polite persistence – Follow up consistently with all debts past your credit terms. You want the customer to feel “they have been chasing this, I better sort this out”.

Make it real – Letters can lose their meaning and often are left unopened. A phone call makes it real. A letter does not look for an answer, a phone call does. Sometimes it’s only when we talk to our customers that we realise there’s a problem and this is the perfect time to discuss how we go forward.

Put credit control at the top of every agenda - Just like your customers, you can’t put your

head in the sand. Deal with your credit control, analyse it weekly at a minimum and ask the hard questions. Remember it is the beating heart of your business. A healthy cash flow = a healthy business and your total debt should never be more than 10% of your annual income. This is what you should be working towards.

When is a sale a sale? – Businesses often focus on sales, sales projections and promises of sales! A sale is not a sale until it’s in the bank. Compare your expected sales every month to what has actually come in.

They will be two very different figures, but only one of them is real.

Deal with it - Whatever issues arise from chasing debts, deal with them. Remove any barriers to payment. If a customer complains that they have not paid because of a certain reason, follow that feedback until it is fixed. Then it’s back to chasing the payment.

Julie Burke said: “If you are looking to start this process today, my advice is to start with your worst and work backwards. For example, look at all aged debt over six months, pursue every lead, follow up and chase this debt. When you are satisfied you have done all you can, move the goal post and work from 60 days credit and so on. The key to this is breaking it down into manageable portions so that you can manage it.

“Finally, it is also important to ask yourself why. Why did you go into business in the first place? It’s most likely because you feel you have something really great to offer, you want to do well and you want to be around in 10 years. To ensure this get your credit under control today and you can be more confident of your business and its future tomorrow.” * For further information and/or advice contact your local ifac office or visit ifac.ie.

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Health Beauty & Fitness

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Health Beauty & Fitness

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

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

The club did not stand still when it reopened though.

The club has invested over 150K on a new strength and conditioning, and spin room for members to enjoy.

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

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

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

Most recently the club has launched their ‘TJ Reid Online’ platform. Clients can now avail of some of the best fitness and nutrition advice the industry has to

offer in the comfort of your own home. From fitness programs and plans, to nutrition advice, the online platform has everything you could possibly want to help increase your fitness levels in your own home.

For more details on some of the services and facilities on offer at TJ Reid Health & Fitness email info@ reidfitness.ie or call (056) 444 9015.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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Health Beauty & Fitness

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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Feature News

Kilkenny’s Holy Wells

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

Before St. Patrick arrived on the scene, the revered springs that dotted the Irish countryside were testaments to the earth-centred spirituality that characterized Celtic tradition’ Christian rituals and practices replaced the Pagan pilgrimages and traditions associated with the wells. A tree steeped in Celtic mysticism, for example, might take on the mantle of the Cross. Christians readily adapted the Pagan belief that drinking from, or bathing in, the waters of a sacred well conferred healing or wisdom.

Many of our ancient wells have disappeared from the landscape. Others have survived but are hidden away from public view in obscure or inaccessible locations.

You will need to seek guidance from people living in the relevant districts.

But quite a few wells have been tastefully preserved or restored by dedicated

locals. Some of these have steps leading down to them and may be surrounded by beautiful arrangements of flowers and shrubbery. You may find statues close by, placed around the well by religiously inclined folk.

Having blessed the wells, the saintly men and women of early Christian times ordained that these be enclosed within walls and covered with stone roofs to protect them from both the elements and acts of vandalism or desecration.

Holy wells are often found in the vicinity of ancient churches and as a rule still retain the names of the saints to which these buildings were dedicated. They may be difficult to find, as many are located in remote places far from public highways…approachable only by ancient by-roads or dirt tracks that may once have been the main thoroughfares of the district or county.

Along these routes you will generally find, if you look hard enough, evidence of ancient boundaries or landmarks, however obscure or vague these traces of past habitation have been rendered by the passage of time.

Perhaps the only evidence indicating the former habitational status of the area around or approaching the site of the old well may be names still applied to certain spots in the countryside such as “The Street”, the “Cross”, or “The Commons”.

Not far from the well you are likely to discover the ruin of an old church, even if only a few scattered stones or a fragment of a wall are all that remains of it.

It would be impossible for me in just one chapter to cover every ancient or holy well in the county, so I have focused on a few that captured my attention and that I found intriguing.

Starting with the City Wells...

St. Kieran’s Well is believed to have existed close to King’s Street. It flowed from under a stone roofed well house. The basin of the well contained a circular baptismal font of Kilkenny marble.

The water bubbled up through an orifice in this marble font. Adjoining the well was a church, the ruins of which were demolished at the beginning of the 19th century to make way for a fish market. The church had

been dedicated to St. Kieran and the well also took on his patronage.

In the pre-English topography of Kilkenny, the well was deemed a landmark of distinction. St. Kieran is supposed to have spent much of his life in Kilkenny, including his final years on earth. He had a special affection for the well, and a belief grew after his death that the waters were endowed with healing virtues.

Sadly, this well has now been covered, and is buried beneath the modern city of Kilkenny.

St. Mary’s Well was situated on the foot of the hill on which St. Mary’s church was built in the 13th century.

The well had a fine spring of water that flowed in a constant current to the river. It was later enclosed within the premises of a Mr.Walker, and could, in the 19th century, still be viewed from the rear of a leather store in King’s Street.

Though not venerated as a “Holy” well, the people of the city swore by it and many alleged cures were attributed to its waters.

To be continued…

DFA and Twilight produce documentaries for EU 50 This year sees the 50th anniversary of Ireland joining the EEC which today is referred to as the European Union.

What started as a small group of countries consisting of France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany in 1957 to date has 26 member states and a number of ascension states wishing to join the club.

Twilight Community group, with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs, is producing a 3-part documentary of Ireland and our history in the European union. The documentary’s episodes will show 1. The EU & Ireland of Yesterday.

2. The EU & Ireland of Today.

3. The EU & Ireland of Tomorrow.

Now these programmes will be used to continue the development of our Intergeneration project. We believe that the senior members of society can contribute so much to the education of the younger generation in their recollections of their real-life experiences.

Our first programme of The EU & Ireland of Yesterday is ready to set in motion at

tions see our history in the EU as Ireland celebrates 50 years of membership.

This is open to all seniors and we hope you will contact us on 0567813105/ 0863255840. Your personal recollections are vital for our

Twilight Studio TEN. We have the support of the RTE Archives who are supplying the Studio with footage for the period in question.

Many public representatives spoke in favour of the 1972 referendum and some were totally against Ireland joining the EEC. Included in this episode will be Coverage of Jack Lynch the leader of FF and Garth Fitzgerald of FG who spoke in favour, while Neil Blaney Independent Fianna Fáil and Bernadette Devlin held rallies to try and convince the Irish Citizens to reject the Proposal.

Twilight now wish to get members of our senior community in Kilkenny to come forward and tell us

their personal recollections of this period. Sean Lemass had a strong held conviction that for Ireland to become a prosperous nation joining European countries was the way forward.

We need the personal testimonies of our seniors, of life prior to joining the ECC, to give us their thoughts on what are the benefits Ireland has gained from the European Union. If you feel that we have not gained or our lives have not improved we would like to hear from you also.

With the input of the senior members of Kilkenny we can get the real picture and use these personal testimonies to let our younger genera-

Intergenerational exchanges and educational supports across both groups.

Twilight Associated Senior Service (TASS) is a group that is open to all seniors who wish to be part of our group’s activities which in

time will include not just local and national activities but International travel with our European Partners and beyond as we promote exchange programmes between all the senior groups in our European Network.

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Feature

W

hen we look back on history, we could do worse than study some of the various Indian tribes who have left a wonderful legacy.

Their wisdom is legendary.

Their achievements monumental. One quote from Chief Crowfoot of the Blackfoot tribe reads as follows:“What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset”.

So, the message, it would seem, is that we should follow our dreams. It can never be said that Nicky McGrath set out to follow the Blackfoot quote, but boy, a look back at his life certainly encapsulates a life well lived.

A recent publication, ‘A Life Less Ordinary-The Nicky McGrath story’-gives somewhat of an insight into the life of the man.

A time spent in the Suez and the Cuban Missile crisis with the Royal Navy; nuclear testing in the Artic; cockroach racing in the Caribbean! You want more?

Marrying a Tipperary woman in England, running Olympic gymnastics, boxing, hockey, rugby with Munster, and training the Kilkenny senior hurling team.

And if that wasn’t enough, let’s throw in a few more just for the heck of it. Sailing the Atlantic, business battles with O’Neill Sports, plastic hurleys, cancer, Covid 19 raising a family and more.

Phew!

Nicky Mcgrath Senior, wellknown and respected personality in Kilkenny sports and education circles had a double reason to celebrate recently with the publication and launch of his photo Biography titled ‘A life less ordinary’.

It also happened to be his 85th birthday. And boy did the McGrath family do it in style.

The book launch was attended by family, and friends from his sports and teaching days.

Memories abound as Nicky McGrath celebrates his 85th birthday in style with family and friends Main: Nicky McGrath - A life Less Ordinary - The Nicky McGrath Story Photo: Vicky Comerford Left: Nicky and Peggy with family: Michael, Richard, Mark and Nicky ( junior)

AN HONOUR SAYS JOE DUNPHY The Kilkenny observer newspaper caught up with Joe Dunphy who launched the book.

Joe, who has published five books himself - his most recent being on Thomastown - was delighted to have been part of the celebrations.

“I was honoured when

asked by Nick’s son, Michael, to launch his Dad’s book. The McGraths and the Dunphy’s have been great friends for a long number of years. Our children grew up together and some of them are now quite “a good age”. We spent many years as neighbours in Dangan in Thomastown.

Launching the book, Mr Dunphy went on to explain

about Nicky’s background.

“Nicky’s parents were Margaret Flavin, a school teacher and Michael McGrath a Gárda.

He was born in Templeorum where he first went to school.

Probably because of his father’s job he attended primary and second level schools in Counties Kilken-

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Feature

Nicky and Peggy on their wedding day in Plympton, March 1959

Liam Barron, Denis Buckley and Pat Cronin Photo: Vicky Comerford

ny, Waterford, Cork and Tipperary.

At the age of 17, in 1954 he joined the Royal Navy and saw service in the Suez Canal at the time of the crisis there, and also in the Caribbean and the West Indies.

For all of his later life he had a huge interest in the sea and in sailing.

In his own boat he sailed a

great deal of the seas to places such as the Azores and the Scilly Isles. He even joined us in Murray’s pub in Helvic Head one night in the 1970s”, continued Joe. In his working career after the Navy , Nicky turned to Physical Training and as a qualified P.E. teacher taught in Thomastown and Kilkenny among other places.

He was highly regarded in this new career too and his various achievements with his pupils and indeed in his own life earned him a great reputation.

He was a natural sportsman and in his early playing days was involved in rugby, gymnastics and cross country. He later played both hurling and football and was a natural back.

Joe Dunphy spoke of the feeling of security when you had Nickey McGrath minding the house.

“If you were the goalkeeper, as I was on our Teachers’ team, you knew you were as safe as a house. No one got in near you.”

Joe explained that Nicky did a lot of work with the local Cross Country team but above all demanded fair play. “On one occasion a member of an opposing club was pacing a young runner.

This was against the rules so Nicky stepped out and asked him to desist. Nick was ignored so when the said pacer reached us on the next round he got no further.

Who saw to him I will not say.”

Nicky also got very involved in the Kilkenny County G.A.A. He spent a time as Chairman of the County Football Board and trained the Kilkenny Senior Hurlers for the1966 All Ireland Final. “Anything he did, he did it well” said Joe.

Nicky presenting his book to his great granddaughter Peig

WEDDING DAY Nicky married the lovely Peggy Hadnett from Limerick Junction. They married in England and their oldest sons were born there. They had a family of six, fiveboys and one daughter, Anne

Canice Ryan, Catherine Connery and Fiona o Sullivan Photo: Vicky Comerford

Ted Browne, Paddy Neary and Noel Skehan. Photo Vicky Comerford

Marie. The five boys are Michael, Ricky, Mark, Nicky and Christopher. In Kilkenny Nick and Peggy opened a shop selling trophies and sports gear. This turned out to be a great success and a bigger shop was opened in

Nicky McGrath with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Peig Mcgrath, Ashling Mcgrath, Tara McGrath, Billy McGrath and Ayda McGrath.

Photo:Vicky Comerford

High St. and was run by oldest son, Michael. Peggy, who sadly is no longer with us did wonderful work in building up the business.

In conclusion Joe Dunphy said that Peggy would love this special day but she

passed away 14 years ago.

“But today is Nick’s 85th Birthday and this wonderful book full of his life story and superb photos is a tribute to a great man.

Go mba fada buan tú, a Nick”.

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Dine Me

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

Food & Drink

Come

With

Slow-cooker sausage casserole Prep: 20 mins Cook: 4 hrs on high Serves: 4

Method STEP 1 Fry the onion and celery in the oil over a low

e taste of a late summer hedgerow with this vibrant bramble liqueur with gin and blackberries. Perfect for cocktails, try it in a bramble.

Ingredients • 350g blackberries (fresh or frozen) • 150g sugar • 700ml bottle of gin

STEP 2 After two-three weeks, strain the gin through a sieve. Pour the gin into bottles, and label.

The gin will keep its colour for a few months and will be drinkable for up to a year. Use the infused blackberries in a cocktail like a bramble, or in a trifle. heat until it starts to soften and cook, about 5 mins, then spoon it into the slow cooker. Fry the carrots briefly and add them too.

STEP 2 Brown the sausages all over in the same frying pan – make sure they get a really good colour because they won’t get any browner in the slow cooker. Transfer to the slow cooker and add the sweet potato and tomatoes.

STEP 3 Put the purée in the frying pan and add 250ml boiling water, swirl everything around to pick up every last bit of flavour, and tip the lot into the slow cooker. Add the herbs, stock cube and some pepper. Don’t add salt until the casserole is cooked as the stock can be quite salty. Cook on high for 4 hrs or on low for 8 hrs, then serve or leave to cool and freeze.

Chocolate courgette cake Ingredients • 350g self-raising flour • 50g cocoa powder • 1 tsp mixed spice • 175ml extra-virgin olive oil • 375g golden caster sugar • 3 eggs • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 500ml grated courgette (measure by volume in a measuring jug, but it’s about 2 medium courgettes; if using 1 overgrown one, peel first and take out seeds) • 140g toasted hazelnut , roughly chopped

Prep: 10 mins Cook: 1 hr Serves: 10 Grated courgette gives this cake a lovely moist texture - a great way to use up a glut from your garden.

Prep: 5 mins plus a week infusing Makes: 750ml

Method STEP 1 Tip the blackberries and sugar into a 1.5-litre sterilised jar. Pour over the gin, seal the jar and swirl around to dissolve the sugar. Store in a cool, dark place and turn the jar once a day for the first week.

You can use your favourite type of sausages to make this family-friendly slow-cooker casserole. Serve it over pasta, in baked potatoes or with bread.

Ingredients • 2 red onions , finely chopped • 1 celery stick , finely chopped • 1-2 tbsp rapeseed oil • 4 carrots , cut into fat pieces • 12 chipolatas , each halved • 1 sweet potato , peeled and cut into chunks • 400g tin tomatoes • 1 tbsp tomato purée or tomato and veg purée • 1 thyme sprig • 1 rosemary sprig • 1 beef stock cube or stock pot

Blackberry gin

For the icing • 200g dark chocolate , chopped • 100ml double cream Method STEP 1 Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, mixed spice and 1 tsp salt. In another bowl, combine the olive oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla essence and grated courgette. Mix the dry and wet mixture until just combined, then fold in the toasted hazelnuts. Line a 24cm cake tin with greaseproof paper, then pour in your mixture. Bake for about 40-50 mins, or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then tur STEP 2 Make the icing, place the chocolate in a bowl and bring cream to the boil in a saucepan. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir until completely smooth and melted. Leave the icing to cool slightly and thicken, then spread it over the cake so it’s covered and the icing starts to drip down the sides. Serve with a cup of tea or enjoy as a pud with a spoonful of something creamy., then serve or leave to cool and freeze.

Classic negroni

Prep: 5 mins Serves: 1 To make the perfect classic negroni cocktail all you need is balance: use equal parts gin, vermouth and Campari, and choose the best products you have in reach.

Ingredients • 25ml gin • 25ml sweet vermouth • 25ml Campari • ice For the garnish • slice of orange Method STEP 1 Pour the gin, vermouth and Campari into a mixing glass or jug with ice. Stir well until the outside of the glass feels cold.

STEP 2 Strain into a tumbler and add 1 large ice sphere or some fresh ice, and garnish with an orange slice, using a blood orange when in season.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

The true story behind new movie Thirteen John Volanthen could hardly believe what he was seeing.

Cloaked by the thick, jagged darkness of the cave walls, the 51-year-old diver was sure he’d just caught a flicker of light in front of him.

Turning on his own light on his small recording device, he waded out of the deep pool of dank water beneath him and gasped.

Twelve small and scared pairs of eyes stared back at him, dirt and dust smudged on their cheeks and fear etched into their faces. They were still wearing their bright red football kits from the day they went missing. The light was from one of the boys’ torches, which they had taken with them in their exploring.

“How many of you are there?”John asked the group.

“Thirteen,” came the voice of the Wild Boar’s assistant coach, Ekkaphon Kanthawong, from the back of the enclave.

Somehow, miraculously, despite being trapped in the cave for nine days, all of them had survived.

John turned to his fellow diver, Richard Stanton, stunned. However, finding the boys was only just the beginning. Now, the pair had to work out a plan on how to get them all out alive.

The amazing discovery and rescue of a Thai youth football team, who had been trapped inside the Tham Luang cave for a total of 17 days in 2018, is a story somehow stranger than fiction.

Now, the labyrinthine twists and turns in this tremendous tale have been turned into an Amazon Prime Video feature-

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Advertisement TV & Streaming

to stream right now on Netflix

This adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s hugely popular comic book series is incredibly long-awaited, arriving 30 years after the source material was published – with various issues having held back its development. The good news for fans is that proves to be very much worth the wait.

The complex plot concerns a cosmic being who controls all dreams, who must venture to an assortment of disparate worlds and timelines in a desperate bid to undo the damage stemming from his recent absence – when he was captured and held captive for more than a hundred years. A magical but frequently rather grim tale.

length drama called Thirteen Lives, with A-listers Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell taking the lead roles, now streaming on Amazon Prime.

The team’s trip to the Tham Luang cave on that fateful day four years ago was meant to be a treat for the boys, to celebrate the 17th birthday of teammate Peerpat ‘Night’ Sompiangjai.

The kids knew the various nooks and crannies of the cave well – it was their unofficial haunt, where they would introduce new members to their team by etching their names on the cave walls – and the excursion was intended to be a brief one.

Their plan had been to go clambering inside for an hour before heading back to Night’s house in the nearby village in the Mae Sai district.

His mother had a pile of presents and a Spongebob Squarepants cake waiting for him at home.

But Night didn’t come home. The team, accompanied by their 25-year-old assistant coach, were caught in a flash flood after rain started pouring down, thick and fast.

The monsoon season had arrived uncharacteristically early, and the intricate cave system was quick to fill with water.

It took three days for all 12 children, and their coach out the caves, one at a time.

They had been trapped in the cave for 17 days in total. Miraculously, they all survived sedation. They were quickly bundled off to hospital, with blankets and sunglasses on to protect their vision, their eyes having adjusted to the gloomy surroundings of the cave. While they were quarantined to check for infection and given simple, plain rice porridge, the boys were all healthy.

“Everyone was slapping me on the back saying, ‘Well

done doc, that’s it. All done.

They’re all out. They’re all alive’,” rescuer Harry remembered in an interview. ‘And I can’t really describe how I felt. I was sort of so exhausted I think, I didn’t really have anything left for emotions at that point, but yeah, it was a good feeling later on.’

Harry, and fellow rescuers Richard and John (pictured above) all received accolades in their home country for their work.

Harry won the Star of Courage and Australian of the Year in 2019, while Richard and John each won a Pride of Britain award.

According to Viggo Mortensen, who plays Richard in Thirteen Lives, one of the most beautiful and appealing parts of the Thai cave rescue mission was how it exemplified the sheer brilliance of humanity, particularly during a time where we’re often so polarised and divisive.

Cringe TV impossible to stop watching Uncoupled, which Star created alongside Modern Family alum Jeffrey Richman for Netflix, is a froth about an affluent white gay in his 40s who finds himself single for the first time in 17 years and has to navigate the intimidating but engorged world of New York gay dating. It goes down as easy as finely blended glass.

On some level, Uncoupled is predicated on dazzling viewers, much like Sex and the City did, with the fabulousness of a city that is, in 2022, far less accessible to the middle class than it was 25 years ago. No matter, Michael (Neil Patrick Harris) and his ex Colin (Tuc Watkins) are rich gays with rich friends. Their big problems concern not having every single thing that they

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want, when they can figure out what, exactly, that is.

Colin dumps Michael during the first episode, sending Michael on an odyssey of casual sex and pratfalls. He literally runs into two guys he ends up making out with, and when a third compliments him on his developing shoulders on a ski slope (these shoulders are, apparently, detected under a jacket), it sends Michael tumbling down a mountain. What a card!

Harris’ character, come to think of it, is complimented on his looks so frequently that it starts to feel like a contractual obligation by the end of the season.\ Newly single Michael is just as naive to the gay world as any straight person in

Middle America of a certain generation would be, and as such can function as a hetero avatar.

The over-articulating of culture is rampant on Uncoupled. Michael’s realtor co-worker Suzanne (Tisha Campbell) at one point explains: “It’s cool to be sexually fluid right now.”

At the end of the day, the problem is that there isn’t much good observation in Uncoupled. The bridges are, actually, to nowhere. Early on, Michael and his friends talk about dating as gay men in their 40s, with TV weatherman Billy (Emerson Brooks), yet another character who receives compliments about his devastatingly good looks with such frequency as to be propaganda, saying that he

feels like it just gets better and better, as the well of younger guys looking for older partners is ever-replenishing.

Their art-dealer friend, Stanley (Brooks Ashmanskas), notes that Billy just feels this way because he’s on TV. The truth is, Stanley suggests, much lonelier. But then Uncoupled undermines its own observation with an unending stream of guys throwing themselves at Michael. He has no time to be lonely when he’s never alone. The show can’t even be bothered to sit in discomfort for more than a few seconds at a time.

Perhaps this is what is so intoxicating about Uncoupled— it moves at such a fast clip that it doesn’t even matter what’s happening as long as it keeps happening.

Prequels have a shaky history and anyway, how could anything measure up to Breaking Bad? The answer of course was by standing on its own two feet. Bob Odenkirk puts in masterful work as Slippin’ Jimmy McGill, a character so initially detached from the sleazy Saul Goodman that your heart can’t help but break in the knowledge of what he becomes. The slow-burn series comes to an end this year, with legal shenanigans likely to take more of a back seat to full-on mob warfare.

If you didn’t catch this three-part drama when it first aired on BBC One in 2020, you’ll still likely remember the events it dramatises. The series tells the full story of the 2018 Novichok poisonings in Salisbury which shook the entire country, let alone just the city.

The series stars Anne-Marie Duff, Rafe Spall, Annabel Scholey and MyAnna Buring, amongst others, in what is a gripping, emotional and anxietyinducing drama.

Arrested Development had a somewhat bumpy ride over its five season run, from cancellation after season 3, the Netflix revival, season 4’s controversial structure and more. However, that doesn’t mean its still not one of the funniest sitcoms of the 21st century, starring a host of supremely talented comedy actors all giving it their all.

Jason Bateman stars as Michael, a member of the formerly wealthy, highly dysfunctional family the Bluths, and follows him as he tries to keep them all together and get them back on the straight and narrow. The entire cast are phenomenal and fully play into the quirky, offbeat humour the show is known for.

When thinking of modern classics of the sitcom format, there’s no doubting that most would jump straight to Peep Show, one of the most consistently hilarious series to hit British TV in quite some time. David Mitchell and Robert Webb are Mark and Jeremy, the classic odd-couple living in a flat share. Based on that description the series could seem obvious or more of the same from sitcom canon, but it’s a combination of relatability and razor sharp writing that makes it really tick.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

Feature

Gormley expresses belief that art is not just to decorate apartments as he launches O’Driscoll exhibition (Photos by Peter Martin) When it comes to The Arts festival in Kilkenny, artists must feel like it is Christmas in August.

Every available space both inside and out becomes an artist’s home for ten magical days.

It is a time when the artist removes the cloak of invisibility and throws up his/her work for all to see.

Last Friday, The Kilkenny Observer took a stroll from ‘The Gravel walk’ at The Parade to Lenehan’s bar on the Castlecomer road and sampled as many exhibitions as possible.

Our arrival at Langtons on John Street coincided with the launch of Kilkenny artist Eoghan O’Driscoll’s exhibition.

Eoghan is poet and artist and his work in both mediums deserve huge praise.

His collection of five books of poetry bears testament to the fact his pencil fits snugly into his hand.

However, the written word has taken a back seat for the moment as O’Driscoll concentrates on the brush and canvas.

The artist’s good friend Brian Gormley was on hand to launch the exhibition and executed his duties with

aplomb and panache.

Gormley, himself a gifted artist and an internationally exhibited American painter is living and working in both Ireland and Bucks County Pennsylvania.

His hybrid works are greatly influenced by the abstract expressionist and graffiti movement.

And when it comes to launching an exhibition, Gormley did it in style. Direct and to the point. “Just look around you”, said the American artist. “What you have here this evening is true, honest art. Speaking about the artist, Gormley said “What you have here in Kilkenny

is a real honest genuine artist, by the name of Eoghan O’Driscoll.”

Reflecting on the current work by O’Driscoll, Gormley said that the people in Kilkenny needed to realise that in their midst is the real deal. “Don’t for one minute think that this is work that is turned out for a few easy bucks”. If you think along

those lines you would be greatly mistaken”, continued Mr Gormley.

And like any good speaker who is launching an exhibition, Gormley had a Picasso quote at the ready. “What do you think an artist is? He is a political being, constantly aware of the heart-breaking, passionate or delightful things that are happening in

the world, shaping himself completely in their image.

Painting is not made to decorate apartments. It’s an offensive and defensive weapon against the enemy” Before he officially declared the exhibition open, Mr Gormley reminded those present that artists like Eoghan O’Driscoll have given up a lot for the sake of their

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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Feature for Eoghans exhibition, which included family, work colleagues and fellow artist, all testifying to the popularity of Eoghan.

Fellow artists Edelle Nolan, who was working on her project ‘Train of Thought and writer Sandrine Dunlop who is set to publish her new book of poetry were also present.

Eddie Langton who has always been a great supporter of Eoghan’s said he was thrilled to have the work on display at the venue while Eoghan himself thanked all for their attendance.

Speaking to The Kilkenny Observer, Eoghan said his new work is abstract expressionist at its most life affirmative. “It is full of colours of hope, saying that the human journey is a worthwhile pursuit” said Eoghan.

Eoghan O’Driscoll’s exhibition continues at Langtons during the festival.

art. The work is both in and of the community and it is a thing we should be thankful for.

“Eoghan’s delightful work oozes compassion and sensitivity and is packed with observations of the world we live in” conclude Mr Gormley.

It was lovely to see the forty plus attendance at Langton’s

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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Community & GAA Notes

Results from The Grand Finals of The Tuborg Premier League It was a fantastic night in Andy’s Bar Ballyhale on Saturday night with the Grand Finals of the Tuborg Premier League coming to an end. In the group stages in the first group the game is between PJ Byrne and Kieran Furlong got us underway, PJ beat Kieran by 3 legs to 2 in what was a great game PJ played great darts in this game and so did Kieran their finishing was great as was the scoring, Kieran Lennon and Michael Cummins played next, Kieran Lennon started playing brilliant darts in the game beating Michael by 3 legs to 0 , Lenny gave Michael no shots at a double and he hit the double himself with no bother, Michael Meaney and PJ Byrne played next, Michael Meaney played fantastic darts in this game, his finishing and scoring were top notch he went on to win the game 3 legs to 0 , PJ didn’t play well enough to put Michael under any pressure, Kieran Furlong and Kieran Lennon played the next game, Kieran Furlong played good in the game but he just couldn’t keep into Kieran Lennon, Lenny won the game 3 legs to 0, not giving Kieran a shot at a double in any of the legs, Michael Meaney and Michael Cummins played the next game, Michael Cummins needed to get a result in this game and he got off to a great start, he played brilliant darts in the first leg hitting a 14 dart leg to go 1 leg up, alas that was all he got out of the game as Michael Meaney took over the game and went on to win the next 3 legs playing brilliant darts again, PJ Byrne and Kieran Lennon played next, PJ needed to win to keep his interest in it, PJ got us underway with a great first 2 legs to go 2 - 0 up , Lenny then hit back by winning the next 2 legs and bring it to a deciding leg, PJ threw a brilliant leg, taking out a 118 for a 15 darter to win the game, Michael Meaney and Kieran Furlong got us underway in the next game, Kieran Furlong needed to win the game or his interest would come to an end, Michael got the game going by winning the first 2 legs with ease, Kieran then won the next leg playing super darts, Michael then won the next leg to win the game by 3 legs to 1 , Michael Cummins bt PJ Byrne 3 legs to 0 Michael Meaney bt Kieran Lennon 3 legs to 2 ,and Michael Cummins bt Kieran Furlong by 3 legs to 0 to finish this group.

Michael Meaney and Kieran Lennon finished 1 and 2 in the group and go on to the S/ Final. In group 2 of The Cup the first game was between Sully and David Murphy, Sully played brilliant darts in the game by winning it 3 legs to 2 , David got the game going by winning the first leg, Sully then got the next leg by hitting a 15 darter taking out 126 , Sully then won the next leg by hitting another 15 dart leg taking out 114 , David then won the next leg to bring it back to 2 legs each, what a last leg Sully played, he hit 4 scores of 100 , then he left 36 and went in and hit the double 18 with the first dart, a fantastic finish, Mick Dwyer Jnr and Allen Bennet got going, Mick Jnr played great darts in the game, he beat Allen 3 legs to 1 in a very good game , the leg Allen won was a brilliant one he hit a 13 darter throwing fantastic darts, Mick Jnr played very well in the 3 legs that he won, nice scoring and good finishing, Mick Kelly and Sully played the next game, Sully is playing brilliant darts so Mick will have to play very well, and Mick surely did he won the first 2 legs and looked to be in cruise control but Sully fought back by winning the next 2 legs playing brilliant darts, Mick then had a great leg and didn’t give Sully a shot at the double and he went on to win the game by 3 legs to 2 . David Murphy and Mick Dwyer Jnr played next, David won the game by 3 legs to 2 in what was a brilliant game to watch, Mick Jnr won leg’s 1 / 3 playing great darts, he has a great 14 darter in the 3rd leg, David played brilliant darts in the 3 legs that he won, he had a 14 darter in the 4th leg and had a another brilliant leg to win the game, Allen Bennet got his night underway with a win over Mick Kelly by 3 legs to 2 , with both players still involved with a chance of making it out of the group, Other results from the group were Mick Jnr 3 - 2 Sully, Mick Kelly 1 / 3 David Murphy, Allen Bennet 3 / 0 Sully Mick Jnr 3 / 1 Mick Kelly, David Murphy 3 / 1 Allen Bennet.

David Murphy and Mick Dwyer Jnr finished 1 and 2 and go on to play in the S / Final. The first S / Final will be between Michael Meaney and Mick Dwyer Jnr. The second S / Final will be between David Murphy and Kieran Lennon. On to the S / Final’s, Michael Meaney and Mick Dwyer Jnr, Michael started off playing brilliant darts to take a 2 legs to 0 lead hitting a 14 dart leg in the first leg, Mick Jnr then hit a brilliant 15 darter taking out 136 , Michael then won the game by hitting a 17 darter and a brilliant 14 darter to win the final leg and win the game 4 legs to 1 .The second S / Final got underway with David Murphy and Kieran Lennon playing in it, David got the game going by winning the first leg Kieran hit back by winning the next 2 legs David then went ahead by winning the next 2 legs and go within 1 leg of winning the game, Lenny then hit back by winning the next leg and bringing us to the deciding leg, David threw brilliant darts in the leg but he was behind Lenny coming down near the double, Lenny made him pay for the one bad score that David hit coming down by hitting the double and not giving David any shot. The Grand Final of the Tuborg Premier League Michael Meaney and Kieran Lennon As final’s go we had a brilliant one to watch, Lenny got going in the first leg winning it in 18 darts, Michael then won the next 2 legs one of them in 14 darts, Lenny then won the next leg to make it 2 legs each, Michael won the next leg in 17 darts and Lenny won the 6th leg in 16 darts to take us to a last leg decider, Michael Meaney then had the best leg of the night, he took out a magical 13 dart leg to win the leg and the Final. ……On to the Shield and in the first group the game between Tom Kent and Trevor Vallely got us underway, Trevor started

The players from Wexford, Michael Meaney, David Murphy, PJ Byrne, Tom Kent, Allen Bennet, Liz Byrne

Timber Jimmy, Ann Murphy, Melinda Murphy

Liz Byrne and Gez Quiruga, both Ladies enjoying themselves at the Grand Final of the Tuborg Premier League

Winner of the Plate Timber Jimmy and Runner Up Tommy Cleere

Winner and Runner Up of the Shield

The Cup winner and Runner Up Kieran Lennon Joe Coyne Andy O Keeffe Michael Meaney

Joe Coyne organiser of the Darts and Niall Shortall bartender and a rising star in the Shamrocks hurling team

Cian Cullen local player and Andy O Keeffe

very well and took the first 2 legs with ease, Tom won the next leg but that was all he would get as Trevor played brilliant darts in the next leg, taking out 137 for a brilliant 15 dart leg to win the game, Mick Dwyer Snr and Mickey O Keeffe played the next game, Mickey got the perfect start throwing great darts in the first 2 legs, he had a 16 and a 17 darter in them, Mick Snr then got going and won the next leg, Mickey had a very good last leg to win the game by 3 legs to 1 . Kevin Leahy and Tom Kent got us underway in the next game, Tom threw unreal darts in this game winning it by 3 legs to 1 , the leg that Kevin won was a fantastic leg to watch being played, he hit 140 3 times in a row to leave 81 after 9 darts, he then took out the 81 for a brilliant 12 dart leg, it didn’t seem to bother Tom that Kevin played well in the last leg as he battered the 19’s hitting one or two triples with every shot, he got to the finish first and didn’t miss to go on and win the game. Trevor Vallely and Mick Dwyer Snr played next, Trevor was looking for revenge on Mick Snr after Mick Snr beat him in the last 16 last week, Trevor won the first leg and Mick Snr won the next one, but that’s where ended for Mick Snr as Trevor played class darts to win the game by winning the next 2 legs throwing fantastic in the game overall.

Mickey O Keeffe and Kevin Leahy played next, Mickey played great darts in this game but it wasn’t enough as Kevin out played him scoring higher and not missing his doubles, in the leg he won Mickey hit a 15 darter taking out 133 , Kevin hit a 16 a 16 and a brilliant 14 darter in the 3 legs that he won. Other results Tom Kent 3 - 1 Mick Dwyer Snr,Trevor Vallely 3 - 2 Kevin Leahy , Tom Kent 3 - 0 Mickey O Keeffe, Kevin Leahy 3 - 1 Mick Dwyer Snr, Trevor Vallely 3 - 1 Mickey O Keeffe. Trevor Vallely and Tom Kent came out of the group and go into the S / Final’s. On to group 2 . Billy Murphy and Ritchie O Hanlon got us going, Billy started off like a house on fire, he absolutely blitzed Ritchie in the 3 legs that he played in, Billy hit 116 to win the first leg for a 15 darter, he then had a 17 darter but to top it off he hit 13 darter in the last leg to win the game, Jim Shanahan and Tommy Dalton played next, Jim played great darts in the game, winning the first leg in 16 darts he got the start he needed, Tommy didn’t let it bother him as he went on to win the next 3 legs and the game, Tommy played brilliant darts hitting the double in each of the 3 legs with

the first dart, Cian Cullen and Billy Murphy played next, Cian is playing brilliant darts at the moment and he showed us what he is capable of, he beat Billy by 3 legs to 0 taking out good finishes and scoring great, Ritchie O Hanlon and Jim Shanahan played the next game, the Tipp man just couldn’t get going in the game, he was a bit like the Tipp hurling team not up to it at the moment, Jim played brilliant darts in the game winning by 3 legs to 0 , his finishing was fantastic and his scoring was great, Tommy Dalton and Cian Cullen, 2 local players got the next game going, Tommy got the first leg and Cian got the second leg, both players were playing very good darts, then Cian got really going and rattled of the next 2 legs in great style hitting a 18 and a 15 darter taking out 122 , Tommy hit back by winning the next leg to bring us to a deciding leg, Cian played in this leg the same way that he was playing in all the legs he played all night, he threw brilliant, he hit 100 140 140 to leave 121 after 9 darts, he then hit treble 20 11 and then hit the Bull for a fantastic finish to a great game, other results from group 2 Billy Murphy 3 - 2 Jim Shanahan, Ritchie O Hanlon 3 - 2 Cian Cullen, Billy Murphy 3 - 2 Tommy Dalton , Cian Cullen 3 - 0 Jim Shanahan, Tommy Dalton 3 - 2 Ritchie O Hanlon. Cian Cullen and Tommy Dalton came out of group 2 and go to the S / Final’s.

In the first S / Final Trevor Vallely and Tommy Dalton got us going,Tommy played brilliant darts in the first leg, he hit a 15 darter taking out 116 , Trevor then took the next 2 legs , he had a 18 and a 17 darter in the legs, Tommy then threw fantastic darts to win the next 2 legs and go 3 legs to 2 up he hit a 16 and another 15 dart leg taking out 115 , Trevor like anyone who played at this level got dug in and he played brilliant darts in the next 2 legs and win the game, he had a 16 darter to make it 3 legs each and then hit a stunning 15 darter to win, he took out a brilliant 139 to go on to the Final of the Shield.the second S / Final saw Cian Cullen and Tom Kent play, Tom got the start he wanted by winning the first 2 legs playing good darts, Cian then got back into it throwing brilliant darts, he won the next 3 legs in a row to go within 1 leg of making the Final, Tom had other ideas on his mind and by God did he use them, he won the 6th leg in 17 darts and then he won the leg and the game with a brilliant 15 darter taking out

111 , so we have Trevor Vallely and Tom Kent in the Shield Final, Trevor got us underway with a great first 2 legs, he had a 17 and a 17 darter, Tom won the next leg playing good but Trevor then won the next leg to go within 1 leg of winning it , Tom must have got some more ideas into his head because he turned the game upside down, he played unbelievable darts, he hit 2 legs on the trot in 15 and 15 darts to make it 3 all, then in the last leg he hit a 16 darter to go on and win the Final , Trevor Vallely and Tom Kent gave us a Final, one which will be appreciated for a long time. ……Now down to the Plate group’s, Timber Jimmy and Robbie Van Geisko started this group, Robbie got the start he dreamed of by winning the first leg, then Timber started playing like he can he won the next 3 legs throwing great darts, he had a 18 a 17 and another 18 dart leg to beat Robbie, Robbie is playing very good darts in the league and took it on the chest , up next was Tommy Cleere and Liam Murphy, Liam brought his wife Melinda with him for support but it didn’t do him any favours, Tommy won the game by 3 legs to 0 throwing great darts, he had one good leg in which he had a 16 darter . Liz Byrne and Robbie Van Giesko played next, Robbie just could not get his game going, Liz played good in the game hitting a few great scores and finishing very well and went on to win the game by beating Robbie 3 legs to 0 . Timber and Tommy Cleere were up next, Tommy played good in the game but not half as well as he can play, Timber on the other hand seemed to be spluttering along as if he was on a bad spark plug, Tommy won the game by 3 legs to 0 , it wasn’t a great game, Timber will have to get himself sorted before his next game, Tommy on the other hand will take win as a job well done, Liam Murphy and Liz Byrne played next, Melinda really got going in this game cheering on Liam and shouting for every score that he hit, leave it to when he hit double, she went mad and it picked Liam up great, he went on to win the game by 3 legs to 0 . Other results from the group Tommy Cleere 3 - 0 Robbie Van Geisko, Timber Jimmy 3 - 0 Liz Byrne, Liam Murphy 3 - 0 Robbie Van Geisko, Liz Byrne 3 - 1 Tommy Cleere, Timber Jimmy 3 - 0 Liam Murphy . Tommy Cleere and Timber Jimmy make the S / Final’s from this group. John Leahy and Gez Quiruga got the second group underway, John played some excellent darts in the game and had to much firepower for Gez, play as she is used to didn’t happen, the harder you try the worse you get is what happened to Gez, Pat Cullen and Paddy Byrne played next, it was a fantastic game to watch, Pat played great darts in the first leg, Paddy then played brilliant darts to win the next 2 legs, Pat not to be outdone won the next leg to bring it to a decider, as well as Paddy played good darts in the last leg but Pat took over the leg with 3 big scores to leave himself on a double, and he didn’t miss it when he got a shot , a fantastic game from two local players, John Leahy and Pat Cullen played next, John started of the better of the two players scoring great and getting the double when he needed it, Pat Cullen played great in the 3rd leg, he started off with 100 140 135 , he left a double and finished the leg in 14 darts, John went on to win the next leg and the game by 3 legs to 1 , Gez Quiruga got her game back on track in the next game against Paddy Byrne, she played great darts to win the first leg, Paddy then won the next 2 legs, but as I said earlier Gez was back in form , she won the next leg and then she won the last leg and the game another great game to watch , Pat Cullen and Gez Quiruga played the next game, Pat threw brilliant darts in the first 2 legs, then Gez threw as good a game as I have seen her ever play, she played unreal hitting a 17 darter and followed it up with a fantastic 14 darter to make it 2 legs each, in the last leg Pat was talking no prisoners and he played great darts to get to the double before Gez, he left double 20 and hit it with the first dart to get the win. Other results from the second group are,John Leahy 3 - 0 Paddy. Byrne, Pat Cullen 3 - 1 Paddy Byrne, John Leahy 3 - 0 Gez Quiruga. John Leahy and Pat Cullen came out of the group and go on to the S / Final’s, the first S / Final saw Tommy Cleere and Pat Cullen play, Pat played great darts in this game, he was hitting everything he went for, he went 2 legs up on Tommy playing super darts Tommy Cleere got his game going and hit a purple patch , he went on a rampage, he hit more 100’s in the next 3 legs than he hit for the rest of the night, and his finishing was superb , so we have our first Finalist, the second S / Final was between John Leahy and Timber Jimmy, John unfortunately met Timber who it seems got the spark plug fixed, as much as he tried John just couldn’t get going and Timber playing not as well as he can went on to win the game and go on to the Final where he will play Tommy Cleere, the game got underway with Tommy playing better than Timber, Tommy won the first 2 legs throwing great darts, Timber then going,he seemed reved up to the top and started hitting big scores and when he got to a finish he took it out, he made it 2 legs each playing brilliant, Tommy won the next leg and Timber won the next leg to bring us to a deciding leg, in the last leg , Timber must have taking on some oil before he threw because the darts he played was fantastic he had a 16 dart leg to win the leg and the game, it was another brilliant Final to witness. As a show of respect we decided to have a Ladies Final between the 2 Ladies who made Grand Final of The Tuborg Premier League, Liz Byrne and Gez Quiruga, Gez won the Ladies Final by 2 legs to 1 . I would like to thank Tuborg for the sponsorship that they gave me to run the tournament, to Andy who looks after all the paperwork he keeps it updated every week, Pat Cullen who put the draw up every week, last but not least I would like to say a big thank you to all the players that turned up every week it couldn’t happen without you

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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Community & GAA Notes

HERITAGE WEEK A history of the Colles Irish Marble Compnay, Highrath, Maddoxtown 1730 to 1930. In Clara Hall on Saturday 13th August to Sunday 21st August from 12 noon to 8.00p.m. each day.

CAMOGIE What a win for Kilkenny in Croke Park on Sunday! Mary O Connell played and Aisling Curtis was a named sub as Kilkenny regained the O’ Duffy Cup in a nailbiting fashion by beating Cork 1-13 to 1-12. This was a game that could have gone either way but it was Kilkenny that rode their luck to take the spoils. Well done to all and to Camogie County Board Chairperson Teresa Aylward of Clara.

MEDAL PRESENTATION Four camogie teams from Clara finally received their championship medals last week at a function held in Langton House Hotel.

Honoured were the U16 teams of 2019 and 2020, the Minor team of 2019 and the Intermediate team of 2019. There was a large crossover of girls across all teams but there were still 180 people present on a very enjoyable night where the food was second to none. Club chairperson Deirdre Treacy kept proceedings moving nicely along and Clara’s Teresa Aylward, who is also county chairperson, presented the medals. Also present were Mark and Sharon Kelly of Freshco Pharmacy, main Camogie club sponsors.

A highlight of the night was when Killian Phelan arrived on request with his just won All Ireland Poc Fada Cup to resounding cheers. Well done to all the medal recipients.

POC FADA CHAMPION A lot of us in Clara have watched Killian Phelan launch puckouts over the years that landed on the opposition 14 yard line. We wondered if anyone in the country could possibly puck it as far!

Well we got our answer on the August Bank Holiday weekend in the Cooley Mountains, Louth! Now the whole country knows that nobody can strike a ball consistently as far as Killian. He beat off stiff competition from some former champions to claim the national Poc Fada title over a gruelling course. Marked by John Prendergast and followed by a large group of family and friends, “Farmer” defied the wind and rain to hold his composure and lead most of the way against a very strong field. In doing so he became only the third Kilkenny winner of this legendary contest, following on from the iconic Ollie Walsh in 1962 and 1963, and Oliver Gough in 1964. Fantastic achievement Killian. Well done!

SENIOR HURLING The meeting of Clara and Tullaroan in St. John’s Park on Saturday evening ended in controversial fashion when referee Gay Rafter declared that Tullaroan had won by a point - 0-24 to 2-17.

However the scoreboard showed Clara’s total as 2-18 and several observers, including myself, had recorded 2-18 as Clara’s final total. At time of going to print we are awaiting the referee’s report.

We hope that video evidence will prove that Clara did indeed score 2-18.

The game began well for Clara and they raced into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead in double quick time with some very accurate shooting.

However they only added 0-3 for the rest of the half as Tullaroan took over and led 0-14 to 0-8 at the break. This didn’t flatter Tullaroan in the slightest as they were winning at least 10 positions and Dylan Simpson, Mossy Keoghan and John Walton had three points apiece on the board. Only Paul Cody looked like a consistent scoring threat for the men in maroon at that stage and a lot of Clara players appeared unsure of their roles on the team.

Paul Cody continued his good shooting form in the second half and finished this game with 1-7 from play. Mossy Keoghan also remained hot for Tullaroan with three more points and, with freetaker Shane Walsh keeping the scoreboard ticking over, Tullaroan kept ahead for most of the half. Then suddenly a Clara point was followed by a James Nolan goal and this game was level. Shane Walsh edged Tullaroan in front again but then Paul Cody scored a cracking goal to send Clara into what we thought was a two point lead. A Shane Walsh free and a brilliant point from substitute Peter Walsh looked to have deservedly tied the game for Tullaroan but then came the real drama as the referee blew the final whistle and declared Tullaroan as the winners.

Team - Kevin Nolan, Paddy Ryan, Jack Langton, Bill Carrigan.

John Murphy 0-2, Matt Kenny, Shane Staunton. Liam Ryan 0-1, David Langton. Paul Cody 1-7, Conor O Shea 0-1, Martin O Connell 0-1. Tom Ryan, Chris Bolger 0-3f, Jason Byrne 0-3, 0-2f. Subs used James Nolan 1-0, Evan Whearty, Dara Glynn.

MINORS FINISH CAMPAIGN Clara minor hurlers wound up their 12 game league campaign with a hard earned one point victory over city side O’ Loughlin Gaels on Monday of last week in Clara. The result meant that the team finished on 15 points, with 7 wins, 4 losses and a draw. Quite respectable for Roinn A but this squad harbour greater ambitions.

Their next big assignment is a knockout championship tilt away to League finalists Young Irelands of Gowran on 29th August.

This wasn’t vintage hurling from the Clara lads, but this was in no small measure due to a very honest and committed display by their opponents. After Ned Langton opened the scoring, O’ Loughlins sharpshooter Greg Kelly had the ball in the net and followed up immediately with a pointed free. This was actually the largest lead held by either side in the whole game. Clara then took over for a little while and two further points from Ned Langton as well as three pointed frees by Conor Hoyne gave them a two point lead. However it was short lived as former Clara school student Ruairc Sweeney struck for a fine goal. Conor Hoyne equalised from play and Joe Power put Clara ahead before two more O Loughlins points regained the lead for them.

Just before the interval a Conor Hoyne free left the sides tied at

2-3 to 0-9.

Rory Glynn, Conor Hoyne 0-2f, Harry Boyle and Joe Power all exchanged points with O Loughlins players early in the second half. This game had now been level nine times and both sides were struggling to gain a foothold. Eoin Corr and Conor Hoyne from a free then gave Clara a two point lead, and O Loughlins never regained parity. Although they scored three more points, a Conor Hoyne free and a fine Luke Lawlor effort from play kept Clara’s noses in front. Their battling qualities had got them out of jail in this one, on an evening when a number of their big guns hadn’t fired on all cylinders. Some of their younger players like Philip Carrigan, Davy Barcoe, Joe Power, substitute Hugh Kelly and Luke Lawlor really baled them out here and have become real leaders in this squad. 0-18 to 2-11 was how it finished.

Team - Cian Kelly, Tommy Delaney, Ben Crow, Philip Carrigan.

Harry Boyle 0-1, Zach Lawlor, Ben Murphy. Conor Hoyne 0-9, 0-8f, Davy Barcoe. Joe Power 0-2, Ned Langton 0-3, Luke Lawlor 0-1.

Rory Glynn 0-1, Dillon Cummins, Eoin Corr 0-1. Sub used Hugh Kelly. Also John Bergin, Bill Kealy, Daniel Ryan, Tom Boyle, Alex Firbank, James Cody, Alex Firbank, Tom Murphy.

FEILE LACHTAIN 2022 The art exhibition continues this week at Ionad Lachtain Heritage Centre. It will be open from Wednesday to Friday between 2 and 4 p.m. daily with the usual opening times of 11.30 to 4.30 on Saturday and Sunday. A number of paintings are still for sale. On Monday, August 15th Kilkenny archaeologist Mr. Cóilín Ó Drisceoil will deliver a lecture at Ionad Lachtain on “Excavations at St. Lachtain’s Church.” The lecture begins at 8.00 p.m. Admission is free.

On Friday August 19th Mike Cormack’s book of 21st century photographs will be launched at Ionad lachtain beginning at 8.00p.m.

SUMMER CAMP The annual summer camp took place recently at the GAA Grounds from Monday to Friday organised by local lad JJ Grace and his team of helpers. The camp was the very first camp in the village and has been going for over a decade very successfully there were lots of activities and fun for the kids throughout the week and the highlight of the week was on Friday when they were visited by the victorious Kilkenny Footballers who won the Junior All Ireland recently.

CEMETERY MASS The annual cemetery mass took place in Tulla Graveyard on Saturday evening last at 7.30pm The weather was very favourable for the occasion. This was the first time in three years that the mass could be celebrated and thanks to all those who helped out and cleaned up their family graves for the mass.

GAA St.Lachtains intermediate team faced into league championship action over the weekend as they took on Rower Inistioge in Palmerstown on Saturday evening. A game which saw the local lads behind early on and were down by 6 points at one stage.

However a strong second half saw St.Lachtains men come back with a late Cathal O Leary free to earn a draw.

Team; J Burke M Donnelly H Burke S Dawson B Quinn C Bergin S Rafter C Rafter A Rafter J Fitzpatrick P Killeen D Brennan C O’Leary J Maher D Maher. Subs L hickey Their next outing is against Mooncoin on August 17th in Callan Upcoming fixtures U19 Vs Barrow Rangers on Thursday 6.30 in Freshford The Junior F take on Dicksboro on Sunday next at 2.00pm in Freshford SPLIT THE POT The weekly lucky winner of split the pot draw last week was Peter O’Hara Bohergloss who won himself the sum of €122. The draw takes place each Wednesday. Tickets are just €2 and the winner gets half of the takings. The draw is held each Wednesday and boxes and envelopes can be found in Kavanaghs Bar, Mace, O’Shea’s corner shop, Girls & Guys Hairdressers, Oasis Creche, Freshford Creamery, Freshford Butchers and Prague House. This months proceeds are going to Freshford Community Café. The Committee would ask you to please support this fund raiser. .

PARISH NEWS Mass is held in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and on 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 Jennifer 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.

LOOP CAFE Work is continuing on the Community Cafe a Buncrussia Street.

The premises recently got new windows and front door and has been given a complete revamp with exterior painting a vibrant green colour. It is due to open in the next month or so and great credit is due to the volunteers who have worked so hard to get

Aghaviller community games Dunnamaggin Dunnamaggin lads Conor Fitzpatrick, Noah Kowalik, Joshua Caroll, Conor Lynch, Danny Connolly and Tommy Holden. the work done.

MACRA NA FEIRME Macra na Feirme are looking to establish a new club in the Freshford area. Macra na Feirme is an organisation for young people between the ages of 17 and 35 who are interested in getting involved in sports, travel drama, debating or just want to meet new people and have some fun. To be a member of Macra you must join a Macra club in your area. This will open the door to new fiends and new activities. There are hundreds of clubs across Ireland bursting with activity who always welcome a new face. For more information please contact Training and Development Officer – Michael Wall on 0868359891 or email him at mwall@macra.ie 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.

KILMOGANNY BRIDGE CLUB Bridge results for 27/07/2022: 1 Gerry FitzGerald and Emer Wallace. 2 Catherine Burke and Helen Lanigan.

Bridge results for 3/8/2022: 1 Treasa Burke and Gerry Fitzgerald 2 Mary Delaney and Helen Lanigan. Bridge is every Wednesday night at 7.30pm in St. Eoghan’s Centre, Kilmoganny. All welcome.

LOCAL LOTTO Local Lotto Results: August 1st 2022: Winning Numbers : 17, 18 , 28. No Winner. Winners of Draw for 5 x € 30.Alan Sheridan ( Joe Sheridan ),John Cahill ( Malachy Hogan ),Mary Cummins ( Niamh O Donovan ),Eilish Donohoe ( Declan Donohoe),Billy Brownrigg ( Larry Costello ) Jackpot August 8th €1,450 Venue : Delaney’s Bar at 9pm. All Welcome DUNNAMAGGIN GAA Hard luck to the Aghaviller community games team who marginally lost out in the Leinster final in Longford. They played Clontarf in the semi final at 10.30 and had a great win, 4:10 to 3:3 qualifying for the final. The final was against Shinroine -Coolderry and it was a great game .Final score 3:7 to 2:11.Huge disappointment, losing out by one point. All the players should be very proud of how they played .Big shout out to the six Dunnamaggin lads playing Conor Fitzpatrick, Noah Kowalik , Joshua Caroll ,Conor Lynch , Danny Connolly and Tommy Holden . You all had a great tournament lads and well done.

BARN DANCE Dunnamaggin Development Group held their long anticipated outdoor Barn Dance in Madges Garden last Saturday night. Ray Cahill of Rodeo Cats took us through our paces and great fun was had by all. Sunday saw our market take place and Ray returned to show the kids (and some enthusiastic adults) how to line dance. Another great day with fabulous weather. Our next market is Sunday August 28th and it is Vintage themed. Come along 11.30am to 4pm. Watch this space for further information or our facebook page Dunnamaggin Community News.

GOWRAN DEVELOPMENT The defibrillator at Hennessy’s Garage was used recently. It will be out of action until new parts arrive in a few weeks. The defibrillators at the Young Irelands GAA grounds in Gowran and at the community hall in Dungarvan are available to use in the

meantime if needed.

GOWRAN AC Well done to Andrew Cooper (Shot Putt) and Billy Coogan (1500m Steeple Chase) who both came 4th at the SIAB International Schools in Belfast. Well done boys.

ST MARYS CHURCH GOWRAN The church is open for the summer season from 10:00 – 17:30, Wednesday to Sunday. Entrance to the church is free. Visitors can view the many monuments of national importance on display within the church.

GOWRAN PITCH AND PUTT Both juveniles finished in the prize’s at Seapoint. Jack McShane won in the U13 section and Michael Holland finishing 3rd in the U16 section to continue their great year at this level. Well done to both Jack and Michael from everyone in the club.

GOWRAN FESTIVAL OF SPEED The festival is taking place on Sunday, 21st August. Tickets available online, www.gowranpark.ie GOWRAN CONTINGENT B PART OF ALL IRELAND TRIUMPH Huge Congratulations to the Young Irelands contingent involved in last Sunday’s All-Ireland Triumph for the Kilkenny Senior girls.

Steffi and Tiffanie Fitzgerald were in the starting 15, while Ciara O’Keeffe was among the Substitutes with Pat O’Neill part of the backroom Team.

Tiffanie scored a long-range point during the game, but the odds were stacked against a Kilkenny Team as they trailed by two points (1-11 to 0-12) with just a few minutes of normal time.

However, Super Sub Sophie O’Dwyer scored the all-important goal to put Kilkenny ahead (1-12 to 1-11), before Katriona Mackey struck over the levelling point and a replay looked a possibility.

Denise Gaule though was the match winning hero as she struck over the winning point from an injury-time free to help Kilkenny regain the O’Duffy Cup. Huge Support travelled in numbers from the parish to cheer on the girls and they came home very happy on a memorable day for Young Irelands and for Kilkenny Camogie.

EASY WIN FOR INTERMEDIATES The Young Irelands Intermediates ran out convincing 2-22 to 0-14 against St. Martins in Round 2 of the Intermediate League.

Aoife Prendergast, Ciara Phelan, Asha McHardy and Niamh Phelan after the All Ireland Final.

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Community & GAA Notes Aoife Prendergast lifts the O’Duffy Cup in Croke Park last Sunday.

YOUNG IRELANDS CAMOGIE CLUB Disappointment for the Young Irelands U-14s as they lost out 5-8 to 0-7 against Carrickshock in the Roinn C League Final on the Bank Holiday Monday.The girls gave a brave wholehearted effort and fought all the way to the end, but Carrickshock were just too good on the day.

Meanwhile, the Juniors are in a County Championship Semi-Final next Sunday Morning at home to Piltown at 11am. They had an easy win against Danesfort in the Quarter-Final.

GAA U-15s finish league on high U-15 Roinn A League. Young Irelands Gowran 5-9 James Stephens Red 3-8 The Young Irelands U-15 A Hurling Hurler finished their League campaign on a high following a 7-point victory over James Stephens in Gowran last Wednesday.The Gowran Boys were dominant throughout the opening-half, and they led 2-7 to 0-3 at half-time. Billy O’Keeffe on his return to action looked very sharp as he scored 0-3(0-1 free), while Keelan Barcoe was a real handful operating in unfamiliar territory as he scored 1-2 from play, before switching back to Full-Back for the Second Half.Jake Kelly and Eoghan Phelan also added points from play in the first half, while impressive Midfielder Kieran Carter struck a brilliant goal from a penalty.

The Village Boys added two points early in the second half, but the Gowran Boys responded with 1-2 without reply.Jake Kelly scored a brilliant solo goal before adding a point himself as Kieran Carter also added to the Teams tally. 3-9 to 0-5.However, James Stephens found themselves a new lease of life and they put 1-3 without reply in quick succession to narrow the deficit. 3-9 to 1-8.They squandered a few other chances that would have put pressure on Young Irelands, but the Gowran Boys survived and further goals in quick succession sealed the deal.

Jake Kelly scored another superb individual goal following a 50-metre solo run and that was followed shortly afterwards by a Kieran Carter goal from a free.The Village Boys added two consolation goals late on, but Young Irelands were overall convincing winners as they finished 3rd in the League table to round off on a positive note on what overall was a positive League from their perspective.

Attention for the U-15s now turns to the Championship in late August/early September.

YOUNG IRELANDS ROUNDERS COMPETITION The first of the eagerly awaited Young Ireland rounders quarter finals were played last Thursday evening.First up was the battle of Cloghala/Castlefield and The Steeples, and what an epic this was.

With only 2 runs separating the teams at half time, what looked like a sure winning third quarter by The Steeples was pulled back

by Cloghala to leave the teams tied at 18 all at full time.

Extra time ensued and after an additional 10 minutes, both teams had scored 4 runs. No separating the teams so with the agreement of both captains, this one will go to a replay.

Patiently waiting on the side-lines as the light faded was Stangs/ Newhouse and Scart who immediately launched into a high-spirited, rapid-fire encounter. What looked like a strong 4-point lead by the Stangs crew at half time was pulled back, thanks to the extraordinary pitching skills of Liam Walsh, with Scart narrowly prevailing and advancing to the semi-finals.

Next two quarter finals will play tomorrow night Thursday 11th August as The SteepleChasers will play Clashwilliam United at 6.45pm and that will be followed by the Final Quarter-Final between Paulstown Road and Rockfield at 7.30pm.

At time of writing, the Cloghala/Steeples replay tbc.

KILKENNY CO-OP DRAW Tickets for 2022 Hurlers Co Op Draw are now on sale. €50 per ticket. Five draws with €125,000 to be won in prizes including a car prize in 1st, 3rd and 5th draws! Tickets can be purchased from any committee member or buy online at this link: https://member. clubforce.com/tickets_m.asp?LL_ID=175 This is one of the major club fundraisers and your support is much appreciated.

CLUB LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results Aug 4th. Nos: 5 8 10 27.

Jackpot: €3500 Not Won Draw Prizes – €50: Sean Fitzpatrick c/o online. €25 each Mike Dreeling c/o P & J Cody €25 each Ber Long C/o P & J Cody. €25 each Jimmy Comerford c/o Jim Murphy Co op draw ticket Aine Conroy c/o online. Promotors prize Tommy Hackett New weeks draw €3650 11th August CLUB RESULTS Senior Hurlers The Senior Hurlers had a great win against Glenmore in Inistioge on a scoreline 4-23 to 1-11. Next up is O’Loughlins in Nowlan Park Saturday 13th August at 2.15 pm. Tickets are to be purchased online so please see ClubZap for the link.

Kilkenny Camogie We were so proud to see our own Aoife Prendergast lift the ODuffy Cup in Croke Park Sunday along with her club mates Ciara Phelan, Asha McHardy and Niamh Phelan. These girls are fantastic ambassadors for our club. We would like to congratulate The Kilkenny Camogie Team, Management and County Board for their huge work and commitment.

Killaloe Church and is maintained by the parish.

These machines require maintenance each year and only trained personnel should use them. Ideally, a dedicated group should be set up to maintain these three units, organise training and fundraise for their upkeep. Perhaps someone might be interested in taking on this worthwhile project? If you are interested, please contact Fr. Liam Taylor. Note, there are no locks on any of the defibrillator holders, but they are alarmed and secured by CCTV. CAMOGIE CLUB FUNDRAISER St. Brigid’s Camogie Club are holding a Cash for Clothes fundraiser. Bag your unwanted and unused clothing and household textiles and drop them off at the Camogie Dressing Rooms in Tom Ryall Park, Kilmanagh up to 12 noon on 13th August. Acceptable items are re-wearable items of clothing, paired shoes, handbags, belts, towels, curtains, blankets and soft toys. No duvets, pillows, single shoes, dirty or wet clothing accepted.

TULLAROAN CEMETERY MASS Mass will take place in Tullaroan Cemetery on Sunday, 14th August at 7pm.

BALLYCALLAN HISTORY BOOK A very limited number of parish history books are available. This was a recent update of Fr. Holohan’s notes on the parish (1875) and includes an update of parish history and clergy since 1875.

The cost is €10. Contact Fr. Liam Taylor for further details.

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 Aghaviller Parish: - Monday 8th to Sunday 14th. August 2022.

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

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

Stoneyford Church: Wednesday 10th at 7.00p.m. Vigil - Saturday 13th at 6.30p.m.

PRAY FOR Anniversary: Jim McCarthy, Knockdrinna, and Jack Roche, Danganbeg: Nora Kenneally, Catstown: Mass in Hugginstown.

John Henebry, Mylerstown. Bridget Kelly, Lawcus, Stoneyford; Mary O’Donnell, Newmarket.

Anniversary Masses next weekend: Decan Fennelly, Oldtown: Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 13th. August at 6.30p.m.

Maura Broderick, Croan: Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 13th. August at 8.00p.m.

Rota for next week-end: 13th. and 14th. August 2022 (Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time).Readers: Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m.

Ronan Murphy. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Catherine

COFFEE MORNING A coffee morning will take place in Danesfort Community Centre on Sunday 14th August after 10am Mass in aid of Carlow Kilkenny Home Care Team. Please support this very worthy cause. If you can’t attend and would like to give a donation, contact Josie Ronan 086 274 0366.

CLODAGH AND DECLAN On Thursday July 28th Clodagh Maher and Declan McQuillan exchanged their wedding vows at St. Brigid’s Church in Ballycallan. Fr. Liam Taylor, P.P. was the celebrant of the nuptial mass.

Clodagh’s sister Kiava was the chief bridesmaid while Jenny O’Dolan and Enya Cody were her bridesmaids. Declan’s brother Conor was his bestman while David Maher and Gary O’Keeffe were his groomsmen. Roisin Downey and Niall McQuillan were the readers. Prayers of the faithful were read by Laura Garvan, Pat Collins, Leanne Hore and Lee Delaney. Clodagh’s mother Majella and Declan’s mother Mags presented the offertory gifts at the altar. The very moving communion reflection was read by Cathy McQuillan. Joe Maher rendered appropriate music. The parish community wish Clodagh and Declan a happy and peaceful married life.

RACHEL AND OWEN On Friday July 29th Rachel Dunphy and Owen Warren chose St. Brigid’s Church, Ballycallan for their wedding celebration.

Fr. Liam Taylor, P.P. and Fr. Pat Farrell were the celebrants of the nuptial mass. Rachel’s maid of honour was Lisa Dunne while Amy Butler, Amy Heafey and Catherine Maher were her bridesmaids.

Owen’s brother Gavin was his bestman while Ray Tallis, Shane Healy and Paul Dermody were his groomsmen. Orla Dunphy and Mary Jane Crosby were readers of the two readings. The prayers of the faithful were read by Sarah Dunphy, Aidan Dawson, Philip Heafey, Paula Kavanagh, Hannah Lacey, Luke Leydon and Lactain Kennedy. Rachel’s mother Patricia and Owen’s mother Lily presented the offertory gifts at the altar. A lovely Irish verse, namely Gealaim Iad Seo, was read by Marita Neary. The communion reflection was read by Sarah Kate Lacey while Gavin Warren and Nicholas Dunphy were eucharistic ministers. The music which was so appropriate was rendered by Dolce Duo. The parish community wish Rachel and Owen many years of love and happiness.

DEFIBRILLATOR While there is a defibrillator in the vicinity of each church, the following should be noted: In Ballycallan the defibrillator is located at the community hall and is maintained by the hall committee. In Kilmanagh the defibrillator is located at the side of the church, by request of the camogie club, near the road and is maintained by the camogie club. In Killaloe the defibrillator is located at the sacristy door in

Callan Golf Club Lady President Ann O’Shea and winner Brid Brett

Dwyer. Sunday 10.00a.m. Deirdre O’Shea. Eucharistic Ministers: Stoneyford. Saturday 6.30p.m. Kitty Wallace. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Cahill. Sunday 10.00a.m. Ruth Crowley.

CEMETERY MASS Mass will be celebrated in Aghaviller Cemetery on Friday 12th.

August at 7.30p.m.

LOTTO AGHAVILLER PARISH AND CARRICKSHOCK GAA Draw: Monday 1st. August 2022. Numbers: 31; 26; 23; 21. No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner. €30.00 Winners. Ryan Hayes, c/o Teresa Fitzgerald. Thomas McInerney Lismatigue. Lucy McBride, Hugginstown. Liz O’Connor, Cork;Niamh Rohan, Carricketna. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers)Deirdre Rohan.

Tommy Murphy. Ann Power.

Next Draw on Monday 8th. August 2022. Please submit returns by 8.30p.m.Draw at 9.00p.m.

Next week:Match 3: €500.00; (First 3 Numbers Drawn) Jackpot: €5,100.00. (4 Numbers in any order) MYSTICISM IN AN AGE OF CALAMITY The Priory Institute will hold a two week online Summer School from 15th to 26th. August. The course includes eight recorded presentations and two on-line zoom discussions and is very flexible as it is delivered entirely online. To find out more and register please contact The Priory Institute, Tallaght Village, D24 W410, or Tel: 01 404 8129: www.prioryinstitute.com

The Dunnamaggin G.A.A. golf classic is taking place in Callan Golf Club on Friday the 12th. and Saturday the 13th. of August. Over €3,500.00 worth of prizes inc. best Ladies Team. Cost for Team of 4 @ €140.00 inc. bbq and refreshments beside the 7th. tee box.

For bookings please call any of our team below. John Sheil 087 648 6668: Derek Delaney 087 634 3834: James Holden 085 196 7675. All are welcome.

LADY PRESIDENT PRISE There was a huge turnout to support our Lady President Ann O’Shea on Saturday last August 6th.With the weather very conducive to good golf and the course in super condition the high scoring on the day came as no surprise.

The presentation of prizes were held at the clubhouse on Saturday evening where there was a large turnout and a great atmosphere. Ann in her speech thanked all who participated, Tommy and the ground staff, the restaurant staff and a special thank you to her husband Larry and her family for their support on the day and throughout the year.

Brid Brett emerged as a very popular and worthy winner with a super score of 44points Results Winner Brid Brett44pts. 2nd Berna Walsh 42pts. Best Gross Rita O’Neill 40pts 3rd Carmel O’Sullivan 42pts. 4th Mary Manning 42pts. 5th Breda Walsh 42pts. 6th Ann Needham 41pts Junior Prize Niam Cunningham 27pts. Past Presidents Pauline O’Brien 38pts Committee Ena Kennedy 37pts. 9 Hole 1st Mary Croke 21pts. 2nd Susan Higgins 19 pts Playing handicap 40+ Anna Corr 34pts. Front 9 Caroline Somers23pts.Back 9 Noelle O’Driscoll 21pts. Nearest the Pin Caroline Healy. Longest Drive Kathleen Phelan GRANARD CUP SCOTCH FOURSOMES Winners Carmel O’Sullivan 45 pts (35). 2nd Betty McGrath, Mary Manning 44pts (28). 3rd Maria Gorey, Pauline O’Brien 44pts (3). 9 Hole winner Margaret T O’ Shea. 2nd Anna Corr July 26th. 18 Hole 1st Carmel O’Sullivan 42pts (45). 2nd Berna Walsh 40pts (23). 3rd Marian Butler 40pts (27). 9 Hole 1st Margaret O’Shea 22pts. 2nd Melanie O’Brien 22ptss. 3rd Anna Corr 19ts

Lady President Ann O’Shea, Lady Captain Anne Croke and prizewinners.

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

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Camogie

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Final Croke Park, Dublin Cork 1-12 Kilkenny 1-13 The O’Duffy Cup is back on Noreside for the 15th time following an epic final between old foes Kilkenny and Cork. Just one-point separated the sides at the final whistle, and thankfully it was those in black & amber that were joyous when Kildare referee Ray Kelly brought proceedings to a close in front of just under 25,000 spectators.

It would be one of the ‘old guard’ that struck the winning point in the 62nd minute.

Windgap’s Denise Gaule stepped up and rifled over the pressure free after the excellent Miriam Walsh had been fouled.

Those in attendance and watching at home were expecting another titanic battle, but Kilkenny’s fast start to the game might have thrown those predictions.

Cork made one change to their starting line-up with attacker Cliona Healy missing out and Ciara O’Sullivan getting the nod and lining out in defence. This allowed Killeagh’s Laura Treacy to play the sweeper role for the Leesiders, while Lisdowney’s Claire Phelan did likewise for the Cats.

Kilkenny came out of the blocks fast, winning the throw-in and going on the attack. The ball was worked to corner-back Tiffanie Fitzgerald who showed great composure to split the posts after just 15 seconds. The Rebel’s thought they had equalised three minute later, through exDown star Sorcha McCartan, but her cracking effort was adjudged to have missed the target after intervention from Hawk Eye. Some nice play from Mullinavat’s Julieann Malone saw her slip the ball to the supporting Katie Nolan who pointed to double the Noresider’s lead in the 5th minute. Piltown’s Katie Power sent two efforts wide in the opening minutes, but her team was soon four ahead, thanks to two carbon copy points from Tullaroan’s Miriam Walsh. The No.14 outmuscled her marker, Libby Coppinger and struck two sumptuous points.

Denise Gaule then struck over a brace herself, both beautifully executed points from the Hogan Stand side of Croker. Denise showing that there’s more to placed balls in her locker. Fifteen minutes played at headquarters and Brian Dowling’s team had notched 6-points without reply.

The first real scare for the Stripey Women came shortly after. Douglas’s Katrina Mackey burst through the centre of the Kilkenny defence and looked certain to raise a green flag until a timely intervention from Tullaroan’s Grace Walsh, who appeared from nowhere to somehow prevent the Cork player’s effort from troubling netminder Aoife Norris. Grace appeared to hurt her shoulder while making the challenge and required some medical attention on two occasions following her last-ditch heroics.

There was to be no denying Cork on their next sortie into the Cats defence. Courcey Rovers Fiona Keating picked up the ball and stepped on the gas to get away from the Kilkenny rearguard.

The centre-forward steadied herself before striking a hard low shot across Aoife Norris and into the Cats net. That green flag was the first raised in the decider by the Rebels.

CHAMPIONS !!

Cats claim O’Duffy title in Croker epic Photos

by INPHO

Grace Walsh was immense at the back

Captain & Cup! Aoife Prendergast with the O’Duffy

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Camogie

!!

Brian Dowling & his backroom team

SPECIAL K’s - Power & Nolan celebrate

Miriam Walsh was on fire at Croker

From the puck-out, Kilkenny moved the ball up field and Katie Nolan took possession before slipping a nice pass to Michaela Kenneally who struck a fine point. This was to be the Noresider’s last score of the opening half.

The direct running of Cork’s forwards was causing problems for Dowling’s defence. The powerful Mackey was then halted illegally by Claire Phelan and St Vincent’s Amy O’Connor slotted over the placed ball to eat into the Kilkenny lead.

Another foul, this time by Denise Gaule saw O’Connor repeat the dose on 28 minutes to leave just two between the sides. Goal scorer Keating then emerged with the ball following a skirmish before splitting the posts to make it a 1-point game. Then deep into first-half injury time Sorcha McCartan found the onrunning Mackey who notched her first point of the game to leave the side’s deadlocked at the break, Cork 1-4, Kilkenny 0-7.

Cork started the second period like they finished the first and took the lead for the first time in the final when Amy O’Connor slotted another placed ball after Aisling Thompson was fouled.

Kilkenny broke their scoring drought just a minute later, when Miriam Walsh outwitted Libby Coppinger before pointing from over her shoulder. Walsh was roaming round the cork defence like a wrecking ball, you could sense the fear when the Tullaroan woman was on the ball. Cork’s Meabh Murphy was next up to try and halt Miriam, but like those before her, she failed and also saw yellow for her troubles. St Martin’s Katie Nolan duly popped over the placed ball to give the Cats the lead again.

Fiona Keating was proving to be a real handful for the Kilkenny defence. The centre forward was getting on a lot of loose ball and again

penetrated the Cats line and rifled over a good score. Katrina Mackey then took one of the best scores of the day from out near the touchline to edge the Rebel’s ahead again. Piltown’s Katie Power was then upended and the other Katie fired over the free awarded.

Another Courcey Rovers player, wingback Saoirse McCarthy then went on one of her trademark runs before striking a lovely point. Kilkenny’s No.9, Power was becoming an increasingly influential figure and confirmed this when she showed great skill to win the ball and feed the supporting Katie Nolan who applied the finish that the move deserved. St Catherine’s Laura Hayes was then adjudged to have been impeded and Amy O’Connor fired over the free to nudge Matthew Twomey’s team ahead.

Brian Dowling then introduced The Village’s Sophie O’Dwyer for Windgap’s Michaela Kenneally, a move that pay huge dividends some ten minutes later. Katie Nolan was then fouled and converted the free herself. The same player had the chance to add another moments later, but her free was off-target.

The Leesiders then retook the lead with ten minutes remaining when Fiona Keating combined with Hannah Looney to allow the midfielder to give her side the lead again. Kilkenny then replaced Clara’s Mary O’ Connell with county captain Aoife Prendergast. Referee Ray Kelly then deemed Grace Walsh to have fouled Chloe Sigerson and Amy O’Connor added to her tally to push the Cork lead to two points.

Denise Gaule then had an opportunity to make it a one-point game, but her free was ruled wide via Hawk Eye. From the puck-out Gaule went hunting for the ball. Denise won the ball before scanning to see Katie Nolan running into space. The Windgap player struck a pass to Nolan who turned Laura Treacy inside out before passing to Julieann Malone. Malone’s attempt was half blocked but Niamh Deely collected possession and struck her effort towards goal. Deely’s looping effort was batted down by Cork keeper Amy lee but the first person on the scene was the alert Sophie O’Dwyer who’s first-time shot hit the back of the Cork net. Two minutes of normal time remained; Kilkenny now led by 1 point.

Cork weren’t done yet. Katrina Mackey fired

over a levelling score in the last minute. Surely a replay was now the most likely outcome?

Kilkenny had other ideas.

The ever-dangerous Miriam Walsh was once again fouled. Denise Gaule stepped forward.

She went through her normal free-taking routine before strike the ball sweetly between the Cork posts. We were almost 2 minutes into an additional four. The Game would go beyond the 65-minute marker. There was still time for Aisling Thompson to strike a late, late effort wide.

Then the moment of relief, joy and euphoria.

Referee Ray Kelly sounded the long whistle.

Kilkenny were All-Ireland Senior Camogie champions for the 2nd time in three years.

Cork beaten. The O’Duffy Cup was about to come home.

Scorers for Kilkenny: K Nolan (0-5, 0-3 frees), S O’Dwyer (1-0), M Walsh and D Gaule (0-1 free) (0-3 each), M Kenneally and T Fitzgerald (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cork: F Keating (1-2), A O’Connor (0-5 frees), K Mackey (0-3), S McCarthy and H Looney (0-1 each).

KILKENNY: A Norris; M Teehan, G Walsh, T Fitzgerald; N Deely, C Phelan, S Fitzgerald; L Murphy, K Power; M O’Connell, M Kenneally, J Malone; M Walsh, D Gaule, K Nolan.

Subs: S Dwyer for M Kenneally (47), A Prendergast (Capt) for M O’Connell (54).

CORK: A Lee (Capt); M Murphy, L Coppinger, M Cahalane; L Treacy, C O’Sullivan, L Hayes; H Looney, A Thompson; K Mackey, F Keating, S McCarthy; C Sigerson, S McCartan, A O’Connor.

Subs: E Murphy for S McCartan (50), C Healy for M Murphy (53), O Cahalane for C Sigerson (62).

Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)

>> SHERRY SAYS...

Wow. An All-Ireland final that delivered.... and then some!

Last weekend’s camogie final had a little bit of everything, sublime skill, excitement, drama, tension and of course, the right result!

A 15th O’Duffy Cup secured for the Stripey Women. The look on Brian Dowling’s face at the final whistle said it all. Mission accomplished.

Our ladies came out of the blocks so quickly, we had 6 points on the board before the Rebel’s registered a score. We were on top, both physically and mentally. It was like the semi-final, we hunted in packs, turned-over the opponent and were first to most breaking balls. But wait, wasn’t this game meant to be too close to call, potentially needing a replay to crown a champion? Yes, of course it was. Once Fiona Keating struck Cork’s first score with 20 minutes on the clock, the balance tilted in favour of the Leesiders.

Level at the interval, and several other times during the 65-odd minutes played, Sophie O’Dwyer’s goal in the 58th minute turned the tables again, this time in Kilkenny’s favour. Indeed, it would be a Densie Gaule free that saw the Cats home by one.

The Windgap players performance in Croker was everything that you would want from a legend of the game. Denise was everywhere and there as well. Blocking, hooking, tackling. Having been denied an earlier free with the intervention of Hawk Eye, Gaule showed incredible leadership to strike the winning score.

Miriam Walsh, scored three stunning points and was a nuisance throughout. Libby Coppinger will be seeing the Tullaroan forward in her sleep for weeks to come! Katie Nolan as like a little metronome, non-stop, popping up on every blade of grass at the Jones’s Road venue. The St Martin’s attacker also struck over some vital placed balls on the day too.

In defence, Grace Walsh put in another commanding display and was in good company as her No.6 Claire Phelan swept to great effect in front of the full back line.

Katie Power. Many words have been written about the Piltown player over the years.

Katie was on crutches in 2020 when Brian Dowling’s team defeated Galway in the final. Just 2 years later Power is a crucial ingredient in the Cats recipe for success.

Some players have departed the scene since last year’s semi-final defeat to Cork, but those that remained and the new additions have blended together perfectly to create this winning group.

Congratulations to Brian Dowling, his entire backroom team and this magnificent panel of players.

O’Duffy could become an even more frequent visitor to Noreside over the next few years.

Enjoy the moment.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

Planning Memoriams/Miracle notices prayers

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL I, Micheal Moloney wish to apply to the above authority on behalf of Frank Ryan & Niamh Gillen for full planning permission to construct a combined single storey and 1 & ½ dwelling, garage, entrance, wastewater system, borehole, soakpits and all other associated site works Church Hill, 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 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 Further Information to P22226 We, Patrick Butler and Siobhan Anderson Butler, intend to submit Significant Further Information in relation to P22226 Further information consists of (a) Addition to P22226 for permission for Retention of Access Road from existing Agricultural entrance and associated change to site boundary to allow for inclusion of retention permission in P22226.

All at Knockshanbally,Johnswell,Co.Kilkenny The Significant Further Information submission 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 2 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.

Patrick Butler Siobhan Anderson Butler

TO PUBLISH PLANNING APPLICATION, CONTACT US: Call to our office at: Unit 7 Friary Street Telephone: 056 7771463/086 2395370 Email: sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

KATHLEEN BROPHY 10TH ANNIVERSARY With loving thoughts of Kathleen, late of Derdimus, Callan Road, Kilkenny, who left our home on 14th August 2012.

Our hearts broke the morning you died There was no way to ease the pain inside We wondered how life could go on Trying to understand that you were gone We miss you more as time goes by A thought of you brings a tear to our eye And all the days we will be sad We are grateful for the years we had.

We miss you Mam Siobhan & Jack X

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. J.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.D.

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. V.McG.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.M.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. C.W.

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.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. U.K.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 12 August 2022