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Have yourself a gourmet lover’s Christmas

Taste Kilkenny Food Producers tempt with Christmas hampers full of exceptional local products

WITH the countdown to Christmas now on, a group of Kilkenny-based food and drink producers have collaborated to create a remarkable range of seasonal hampers with something to suit everyone – and every budget.

Discussing the initiative, local food expert and business coach, Tracie Daly talks about not only o ering customers a well-curated and delicious hamper selection, but also creating the opportunity to gift what is essentially a countywide taste experience. ere are three hampers on o er. e ‘Gourmet Kilkenny Christmas Box’ comes in two sizes – ‘ e Humdinger’ and ‘ e Mini’. e humdinger, as the name suggests, includes a whopping selection of premium products to tantalise your tastebuds with everything from homegrown beetroot, relish and olive tapenade to homemade pesto and dressing as well as smoked chicken and chorizo, Irish gin infused smoked rainbow trout, pâté and caviar – yes, Irish caviar! How about that to add a little bit of oomph to your festive dining. e Mini version of the ‘Gourmet Kilkenny Christmas Box’ simply features a smaller selection of these products and for those who would like a little sweet indulgence, the ‘Sweet Kilkenny Christmas Box’ is lled with an assortment of treats including organic apple juice, homemade honey, marmalade and jam, elder ower cordial, cranberry sauce, brandy infused mincemeat, fruit cake and luxury

granola. “It has been wonderful to come together with other local food producers to curate this marvellous range of hampers which will see you through the festive period, or serve as a perfect gift for a friend or loved one.” said Helen Finnegan of Knockdrinna. “We are also asking businesses to consider shopping local when showing their appreciation and thanks to clients and colleagues this Christmas, and what better way do that, than with one of these fantastic hampers, prewrapped and ready to gift,” added Mag Kirwan of Goatsbridge Trout Farm. So, if you’re on the hunt for the perfect Christmas hamper, then look no further. You can order online at www.knockdrinna.com with a pick-up option from Knockdrinna wide taste experience. Café, Main Street, Stoneyford, ere are three hampers on Co. Kilkenny or you o er. e ‘Gourmet Kilkenny can have your Christmas Box’ comes in two hamper delivered sizes – ‘ e Humdinger’ and nationwide for ‘ e Mini’. e humdinger, just €10. Hamper as the name suggests, dispatch will begin includes a whopping from December 1st. selection of premium Any Kilkenny products to tantalise based food your tastebuds with ev- producers erything from homegrown that would like beetroot, relish and olive to be included in tapenade to homemade future hampers are pesto and dressing as well invited to contact as smoked chicken and tracie@traciedaly. chorizo, Irish gin infused com

ower cordial, cranberry sauce, brandy infused mincemeat, fruit cake and luxury Café, Main Street, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny or you can have your hamper delivered nationwide for just €10. Hamper dispatch will begin from December 1st. Any Kilkenny based food producers that would like to be included in future hampers are invited to contact tracie@traciedaly. com

L-R: Helen Finnegan of Knockdrinna and Mag Kirwan of Goatsbridge Trout Farm launching the Gourmet Christmas Box Range on behalf of Taste Kilkenny Food Producers.

Elderberry-Immune support

CLAIR WHITTY

I THINK looking after our immune system is at the top of our list this year more than any other. Many of you, like me, will be trying to prevent common cold symptoms developing into respiratory problems. You won’t want to miss any days from work or your kids any days from school.

A healthy diet, lifestyle, getting enough sleep, exercise and water all support the immune system. While nature also provides us with herbs that have natural anti-viral properties to help protect us. Anti-viral herbs can include: elderberry, echinacea, garlic, lemon balm, thyme, and many more. ese are all great additions to your armoury of defences.

Let’s take a look at Elderberry. It has been used for centuries as a natural remedy. You’ll see herbal teas, and supplements like Sambucol on the shelves in our store. You might even make your own Elderberry tonic! Sambucol is one of our most popular brands of elderberry. It’s the most researched elderberry-based product in the world with more than 25 years’ clinical studies. Research is showing that elderberries can support the normal functioning of the immune system, and can support and protect cells with the objective of preventing viral infections. Apart from scienti c research it’s always great for us at the shop to have rst-hand experience of these products to be able to share with you. Over the years we’ve had great feedback from customers about their experience of using Sambucol. is is one parent’s story. “My son was getting respiratory infections every time he caught a common cold. He was constantly on antibiotics. A parent told me about Sambucol so I thought I have nothing to lose. I gave him Sambucol for Kids throughout the winter and he had no further cold that year. I now give it to him every year in an attempt to prevent respiratory problems, so far so good. I think every parent should know about this product.” Sambucol for Kids tastes great and is suitable for ages 1-12. It’s perfect for back-toschool and the cold season which we are now in. For older children 12+ choose Sambucol Immune Forte. It o ers all-year-round immune support and contains Zinc and vitamin C for extra support and is suitable for vegans.

Sambucol, another tool for prevention and support this year.

Call in to see us we would love to chat with you. Natural Health Store Market Cross Shopping Centre, Kilkenny Phone: 056 7764538 Shop online www. naturalhealthstore.ie

Housing crisis blocks economic success – RE/MAX

THE availability of an abundant supply of high-quality housing, to rent or purchase at a ordable prices, is an essential pre-requisite for economic success and social solidarity, according to a new RE/ MAX Housing Market report.

Author, Jim Power said, “ e supply of high-quality housing is a necessary condition for labour mobility within a country and between countries. For Ireland, inward migration is an essential support to the economy, and expensive housing can be a major impediment to such labour ows.” e report addresses trends in Irish house prices and private rents, as well as supply and demand issues. e mortgage market and lending regulations, the cost of residential building, and the impact of the Government’s Housing for All policy and Budget 2022 also come under the spotlight.

Commenting on the latest CSO data on house prices, Paul Gartlan, Regional Director of RE/MAX Ireland, said that a ordability is under pressure due to supply issues driving higher house prices, and the Central Bank’s mortgage lending rules.

Facilitating home ownership for younger people who aspire to it would take pressure o the rental market, ease rents, and alleviate growing pressure on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), outlined the report, while calling for an adjustment to lending terms.

A reduction in the VAT rate on new housing to 5% for owner-occupiers, would also reduce the cost of delivery of new houses the report stated. e Irish mortgage holder is also getting a very raw deal, according to the report. e latest data from the Central Bank shows that average Irish mortgage rates in August were the second highest in the Euro Zone, and are 1.27% above the Euro Zone average.

A ordability and mortgage constraints have the knockon e ect of forcing people into an expensive rental market.

Paul Gartlan said, “In many cases, average monthly rents are higher than monthly mortgage repayments. Renters would prefer to build up equity in an asset, but lending regulation is limiting their prospects of home ownership.”

Lending should be reviewed in the overall context of the housing crisis, Jim Power stated, in order to help futureproof standards of living and the draw on State supports.

“Given that many younger people have poor or no pension arrangements, the nancial implications later in life of continued renting and never actually owning a home, are signi cant”, he said.

Farm-sourced energy could be feather in our CAP

LOCAL energy stakeholder, 3cea has broadly welcomed the Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2021 published by Government last week. e non-pro t, independent energy agency 3 Counties Energy Agency (3cea) stated it was “encouraged by the continued e ort and commitment” to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels with a focus on “de-carbonising” the Irish energy system.

Working across counties Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford, 3cea welcomed CAP’s continued focus on enabling communities as this is “important to the future management of our energy provision and use.” However, it also urged some caution.

Paddy Phelan, CEO of 3cea, noted an important change, “ e 2019 document had a plan that could be followed. People knew what they had to do and a lot has been done. While last week’s plan lists a large number of desirable actions it does not specify a timeline or make clear who is responsible for carrying out the work. ere are big calls to be made without a clear pathway to follow. Achievement of these goals will need a lot of political support,” he said.

He also noted that for Home Retro t, the plan has kept the same target numbers and pointed out that already this is not happening. In 2021 only a small percentage of planned domestic retro ts were achieved leaving a substantial overhang. is cannot be blamed on Covid. ere is a resource shortage and the cost of materials has increased.

Paddy welcomed the commitment in the Local Authority sector to retro tting street lighting, citing major achievements in the South East.

Kilkenny County Council retro tted 60% of street lighting in the city in 2016 using an energy performance green procurement pilot. is will extend to 100% over the next two or three years. e Danone plant in Wexford is another shining example. It has become the rst zero-carbon milk powder manufacturer plant in the world.

“ e key point here,” said Paddy, “is that the changes are at the community level. Local industry can convert using biomass supplied by local farmers. Local farmers are generating income from their woodlands and not the business as usual multinational oil producers. Policymakers need to learn from this type of best practice example. Bioenergy (biomass, biogas, biofuels) can all be supplied by the local agriculture sector. is makes agriculture a strong potential solution provider to the decarbonisation of our energy system.”

Local solutions feature strongly in 3cea thinking pointing out that a town like Callan could become net energy positive from locally sourced energy sources by 2030. Callan Energy Community was one of the successful applicants to the Community Speci c Renewable Energy Support Scheme auction of 2020.

“Some great models are being trialled locally with communities working together through the Sustainable Energy Communities Programme and County led Better Energy Community grant programmes,” Paddy concluded.

The Lismore Food Company, Waterford are former Food Works participants.

Recipe for success on offer to Kilkenny foodie start-ups

THE closing date is fast approaching for applications for Food Works, a collaborative initiative run by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc for innovative and export driven food and drink start-ups.

If you want to follow in the footsteps of thriving food and drink companies as Nobó, Wicklow Wolf, and Fiid, you have until December 3 to apply. e collaborative food and drink entrepreneurship programme is designed for rising stars to help them transform from a start-up to an investor-ready company, with a focus on scaling internationally. Over 100 companies have successfully completed the unique programme since it began in 2012. e initiative, now in its tenth year, includes workshops with national and international industry experts across disciplines such as strategy, nance, product development and marketing. Participants are also eligible to apply for feasibility grant funding of up to €35,000 through Enterprise Ireland.

Gillian Willis, Small Business Development Manager, Bord Bia said, “We encourage applications from any ambitious, innovative food and drink start-up with the potential to export. Food Works has a successful track record in supporting Irish start-ups to succeed at home and abroad and can support and assist you to achieve your ambitions. e programme also showcases the pipeline of unique, high quality Irish food and drink products that have the potential to achieve export success.”

Full details and an application form are available at FoodWorksIreland.ie

Work is the new retirement plan

A NEW report ‘Bringing Retirement into Focus: 2021’, commissioned by retirement experts, Standard Life, highlights how the retirement landscape has altered in Ireland with many no longer seeing the appeal in a sudden and complete end to their working life. e study of 1,150 adults, across ve generations, explores people’s attitudes, expectations and experiences with regards to retirement and identi es how they di er by generation, gender and nancial security. e traditional view of retirement is changing with just over half (51%) of adults in Leinster saying they would like to continue working beyond their retirement date, even if nancially comfortable. is illustrates an increasing reluctance amongst adults to view retirement as an abrupt end to being employed. Instead, people are more likely to see it as a time for a change of pace. Over a third (38%) of all adults now see retirement as an opportunity to step back from a traditional working environment and to explore new ways of ful lling their potential.