Kilkenny Observer 13th September 2024

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Our bright Energy Hub Free drop-in clinics part of new collaboration with Kilkenny Library Service

The South East Energy Agency (SEEA) has partnered with Kilkenny Library Services to launch the Community Energy Hub, a free resource that helps people across Kilkenny and the South East improve their energy efficiency and save money.

The Community Energy Hub is a reliable, independent, and trusted resource that helps households, com-

munity groups, and businesses better understand their energy use and access grants and energy-saving information.

Users will gain “practical tips and come away with the knowledge and resources needed to make a positive impact on the environment and your bank account!” according to the Project Co-ordinator, Michael Deen, Com-

munications Officer, SEEA. Loughboy Library is among four libraries in the South East chosen to pilot the free resource, along with library services in Carlow, Wexford, and Waterford. Following the initial pilot phase, the partners hope to expand the service through all libraries in the southeast and beyond.

The initiative includes free monthly Energy Drop-in

Clinics at Loughboy Library.

Everyone is invited to drop in for expert advice and to embark on an energy upgrade journey.

Mr Seen said: “The partnership with the libraries is incredibly important. Libraries are a central part of our communities and play a pivotal role in raising awareness of environmental issues. The Community

Energy Hub is an additional resource our Libraries now have, providing meaningful ways we can make our homes cheaper to run, more comfortable and better for the environment.

“The hub will provide independent and trustworthy information to make wellinformed decisions on how to reduce energy bills and reduce environmental im-

We host event for parents of ADHD children

Our Students Of The Year!

Thirteen “future leaders” who have each made a difference to their school community have been awarded for their respective post-primary schools in counties Kilkenny and Carlow.

Pictured at the KCETB Student Of The Year awards at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow are Niamh Cuddihy of Abbey Community College, Caoimhe Hickey of Coláiste Mhuire, Róisín Ní Shúilleabháin of Coláiste Pobail Osraí and Conall Tobin of Grennan College.

Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) is the patron of 13 post-primary schools and the provider of adult and community further education and training, and youth services to 18,000 students annually across Kilkenny and Carlow.

PHOTO: Patrick Browne

Tirlán looking for co-op partners Kilkenny-based Tirlán, Ireland’s biggest milk processor, is in the market for co-op partnerships as milk supply comes under increased strain.

Speaking at the annual ASA Conference, Company CEO Seán Molloy said if milk supply declined or didn’t grow, his business would need to find new ways to utilise its processing assets.

“Tirlán is interested in part-

The Best Comment & Opinion in Kilkenny

nerships to ensure we use the facilities as much as we can.

We are interested in the Tipperary co-op’s milk pool and respect their processes at the moment,” he said.

Mr Molloy said the business had invested €800m in its processing facilities during recent dairy expansion, while suppliers had invested north of €1bn.

Previous to the lifting of the EU milk quota, Mr Molloy said

pact. It’s not always about Home Retrofits, which can be expensive, the resources and tools on the hub will guide users through a stepby-step process from the small to the big changes we can make to make a real positive impact,” Mr Deen said. *The hub is now live at https://communityenergyhub.ie/or via the local library service.

a generation of farmers were lost, as well as opportunity to invest in Ireland’s dairy industry. “I’d describe that as a dull phase,” he said at the conference.

“We’re now entering a very new phase characterised by very limited growth and the focus from an industry is how do we add as much value to the raw materials coming in our door.

“The last 18 months have been very difficult, weather has played a role and the policy environment created huge uncertainty for farmers and processors.”

Mr Molloy said this uncertainty particularly revolves around the Nitrates Derogation, describing it as a critical piece of policy which should be retained.

He criticised comments by

Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on agriculture that farmers need to accept that ‘D-day’ awaits Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation, highlighting that two thirds of his suppliers avail of the derogation.

Tirlán’s boss said the motivation for the investment in the company’s €200m Kilkenny Cheese plant was as solid today as when it was first proposed.

Kilkenny City will be the first location to host an event for parents of neurodivergent children, in particular those who have ADHD and co-occurring conditions. The event is only possible because of the National Lottery and takes place on October 22.

Through expert-led workshops, and open discussions, parents will gain valuable tools and insights to help navigate the challenges of raising a child with ADHD. Whether you’re looking for strategies, support, or a moment to recharge, this retreat is designed to empower you and provide the opportunity to connect with other parents.

Don’t miss this chance to focus on your well-being while learning to better support your child.

If you are a parent of an ADHD child age between 7-13 years and think you can make it to the Ormonde Hotel Kilkenny on the 22nd of October 22 for 10:00 am until 4:00 pm, please visit ADHD Ireland website adhdireland.ie to secure your tickets.

The public tickets will be released on September 19 while the members’ discounted access on the the 17th.

Any questions, please contact info@adhdireland.

PAUL HOPKINS

MARIANNE HERON

JOHN ELLIS

GERRY MORAN

Telling it like it is.

And with no holds barred

A straight shooter.

Considerate and wise words

Great advice.

Your money in mind

Quirky take on bright side of life

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News

Cohen Unlimited 90th birthday celebration Cohen Unlimited are a group of Irish professional musicians who were formed to create an incredible show called ‘Thanks For The Dance’ – The Leonard Cohen Story.

They are performing in the Watergate, Kilkenny for the second time on Sunday, September 15. Tickets available at www.watergatetheatre. ticketsolve.com.

The show features the poems and songs of the legendary Canadian singersongwriter, and singer Robert Doyle tells stories and anecdotes between the songs about Cohen’s life, the story behind the songs and about meeting Cohen.

The stage is set like Cohen’s last world tour and also features a visual display of his life running in the background.

All the band are based in Wicklow town and are all life -long musicians, from backing singers Louise Jameson O’Flaherty, Jhil Quinn and Emma Nicolai, to bass guitarist Ben Dunne, drummer Keith Pogue and keyboard player Chiara Brown, musical director and wonderful lead guitarist Fergal Cantebury to lead singer Robert Doyle, who has done charity shows for 40 years but unbelievably only turned professional the week

he got his pension in September 2021.

Robert Doyle has sung Cohen songs since discovering him at age 14 and met late Canadian star back in 1979 after attending his

concert in Zurich. When Cohen was chatting with Robert and discovered he sang his songs, he asked him to sing for him and the band.

Cohen Unlimited sold out every performance in 2023

from Kilkenny to Wexford to Waterford to Dundalk , Belfast and Dublin.

Their show is two and a half hours of stunning entertainment that will keep Cohen’s fans enthralled, and the band

have the incredible honour of performing some songs from Cohen’s last two albums that he never got to perform to a live audience before he passed away in 2016.

This tour will celebrate

Cohen’s 90th birthday.

Christian McCashin in the Irish Mail on Sunday says: “This is as close as you’ll ever get again to seeing Leonard Cohen on a stage.

Truly amazing.”

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Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny

Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny: The go-to place for Culture Night on Friday, September 20

Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny is the ultimate destination for Culture Night on Friday, September 20.

Visitors can look forward to an evening filled with live music, delicious food, and great company in the outdoor, heated, and vibrant Barrel Yard.

This free event, from 5pm to 7pm, will feature performances by The Southern Fold and Elise. The Chingon Bad Ass

Burritos food truck, a crowd favourite, will be on-site offering its renowned Tex-Mex street food to pair with drinks.

In keeping with Smithwick’s commitment to supporting local talent, The Southern Fold—a musical ensemble from Kilkenny and Dublin— will perform alongside Elise.

Elise’s unique blend of folky guitar, synth sounds, and a powerful rhythm section

promises to captivate the audience with her immersive storytelling and evocative voice.

Ignacio Peregrina, Manager of Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny, remarked, “It’s been a bustling few weeks for Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny, with a notable influx of visitors from Ireland and abroad. The Barrel Yard Sessions have become highly sought-after for live music and exceptional street food.

We are thrilled to contribute to Kilkenny’s vibrant nighttime economy and offer a memorable Culture Night experience.”

Ignacio added, “On Culture Night, the full bar will be open, featuring a selection of ales, as well as non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages.

For those who haven’t visited us in the evening before, the Barrel Yard is nestled behind the Smithwick’s Experience in the heart of medieval Kilkenny—an ideal starting point for an evening out, with many pubs, restaurants, and hotels just a short walk away.

As well as this, we are offering a special promo code, SEKCULTURE, for 15% off adult entry to our standard visitor tour (redeemable online from September 16 to September 30, inclusive).”

The new, premium Masters of Ale tour which began at the start of the tourist season has been a welcome addition. It ran throughout the summer months on Thursday, Friday

and Saturday evenings. It will run on Friday and Saturday evenings from the end of September until the start of the next tourist season.

The Barrel Yard sessions have also proven to be a great hit with both locals and visitors alike flocking to the cosy, enclosed venue to enjoy live music, feast on fabulous street food prepared on site and to avail of full bar facilities in the heart of medieval Kilkenny.

The addition of the Barrel Yard has also helped boost Kilkenny’s night-time economy, Ignacio said, with groups meeting there venturing on afterwards to spend the rest of the evening in surrounding restaurants, bars and hotels.

“At this point in the year, we’re looking forward to Savour Kilkenny in October, Kilkenomics in November and to YuleFest in the run-up to Christmas. We’re delighted to be supporters of both festivals which drive extra footfall in the critical final months of the year and help showcase the rich food and drink, craft, culture and retail heritage of Kilkenny.

“We’re very fortunate to have great cooperation between the local authority, tourism bodies, retailers and the general day and night-time economy in Kilkenny. Working together, we will ensure Kilkenny remains one of the top go-to destinations for discerning tourists, travellers and visitors, while also catering to a very important local base.”

About Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny offers an immersive dive into the history of Ireland’s oldest ale, celebrating over 300 years of brewing excellence. Located in the heart of Kilkenny, the experience honours Smithwick’s rich heritage and deep city connection.

The Barrel Yard, a historic space turned vibrant hotspot, hosts free live music, DJ sets, and street food until the end of September.

Guided tours at Smithwick’s Experience continue and provide an interactive look into the history of Smithwick’s, including a pint of ale (18+ only). Tours run daily and last approximately one hour For more information, visit smithwickexperience.com.

The Southern Fold

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News

Carlow town takes top environmental awards Carlow town has won a prestigious European competition celebrating environmental excellence at local level.

The town took top awards at the Entente Florale Europe Competition 2024 awards ceremony in Hungary at the weekend.

These included an overall Gold Award, the President’s Prize for the town’s rain

garden development and a Special Characteristic Prize for the Delta Sensory Gardens in Carlow.

The Europe-wide competition for villages, towns, cities, communities and public bodies highlights the importance of the green environment to improve people’s quality of life.

Carlow town was the only

large urban town representing Ireland in the competition this year. The judges were described as having been particularly impressed by the town park, rain gardens, the Delta Sensory Gardens and local sports and recreational facilities.

Carlow County Council’s senior ­executive officer Barry Knowles, who attended the

ceremony with colleagues, said to win a Gold Award in combination with the two other prizes was very rare.

“The Gold Award is based on our individual merit but the President’s Prize is an overall European prize, judged against other participants,” he said.

“This is a huge achievement for C ­ arlow and Ireland and

it is the result of a ­significant group effort.”

The town won the President’s Prize for its innovative efforts to green its grey spaces by installing the first rain gardens to be retrofitted in an urban setting in Ireland.

Rain gardens comprise free draining soil mix that cleans, stores and conveys runoff water to a drainage layer.

Inlets in the kerb direct surface water runoff towards the rain gardens from the street, helping to prevent flooding and sewage overflow.

Carlow Mayor Fintan Phelan said: “I would like to congratulate all involved in this huge achievement - it is a significant accomplishment for a town of 27,000 people.”

Global hub sees 200 jobs in Kilkenny US software company UKG is to open a global operations hub in Kilkenny in a move that will create 200 jobs.

The company provides HR, payroll, and workforce management solutions to more than 80,000 companies around the world.

UKG has been operating from the city of Kilkenny since its acquisition of payroll provider Immedis in June last year.

Immedis, which was funded in 2016, was a subsidiary of CluneTech.

The new hub is being opened in partnership with IDA Ireland.

Once it has commenced operations, it will be hiring for many new roles, including cybersecurity positions, as well as in R&D and professional services jobs.

UKG, which has dual headquarters in Lowell, Massachusetts and Weston, Florida, has also opened similar hubs in Bulgaria, Uruguay, Canada,

India and in the US. It also announced that it would sponsor the Cyber Ireland National Conference later this month, which will take place in Kilkenny.

“We’re on a mission to give every organisation the opportunity to become a great place to work, through technology built for all – and Kilkenny’s vibrant technology community will provide key talent to help us achieve this goal,” said UKG President and chief product and technology officer Hugo Sarrazin.

“With more than 80,000 customers located around the world, our Irish team joins a robust security and network operations group that plays a vital role in safeguarding our solutions,” he added.

IDA chief executive Michael Lohan added that creating “high-value job opportunities” in regional locations is a focus of his organisation’s current strategy.

It’s Culture Night and Ryan’s Bar Taking place on Friday, September 20, this year’s Culture Night will follow last year’s extraordinarily successful night, where

1.2 million people participated in more 1,700 free cultural events around the country. This year, Culture Night aims to be even

more inclusive, accessible and diverse while showcasing the best of both the traditional and evolving arts in Ireland.

This year’s events take place in every county, and in both urban and rural spaces. There is a large choice, with events ranging from a postcard exhibition in Ryan’s Bar in Kilkenny, to traditional music in Down Syndrome Tipperary, hip hop performances across Limerick city, and David Gray and Colm Mac Con Iomaire performing on Sceilg Mhichíl, can be enjoyed from home on RTE. A series of events running late into the night, under the Culture Night Late banner, will take place thanks to additional support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Nighttime Economy Taskforce.

Audiences can check the Culture Night website to find out about accessibil-

ity and about what will suit them, from among the thousands of free events taking place in villages, towns, cities, villages and countryside late into the night. The first step to finding out how to Culture Night is to go to www.culturenight.ie.

Attending the launch announcement were a group of Ireland’s artists who will be performing on Culture Night. These include Stiofán Ó Fearail, singer, songwriter, musician and founding member of the bilingual contemporary folk group Seo Linn; pop music sensation SexyTadhg; rapper, songwriter and one of the most exciting names in Irish hip hop, Celaviedmai; and traditional dancer extraordinaire and children’s book author Edwina Guckian.

These artists are joining writer, podcaster and sustainability advocate Keelin Moncrieff in spreading the work about Culture Night between now and September 20 .

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Opinion

The Fact Of The Matter Paul Hopkins

My recall of the ‘60s with the Christian Brothers The 700-page Scoping report on historical sexual abuse at religious schools in Ireland is so candid in its shock and horror that some chapters begin with a content warning.

These chapters are the harrowing accounts from those who endured and survived extreme sexual violence and abuse.

“Reading these accounts of abuse may be extraordinarily difficult, ­particularly for those who have been abused or whose loved ones have been abused,” the report warns.

It found there were 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse in 308 schools recorded by the 42 religious orders that ran the schools. The allegations were made of 884 distinct alleged abusers.

The scale of abuse is staggering. It happened between the 1960s and the early 1990s, with the highest number of reported incidents occurring in the early to mid-1970s.

Memory can be a funny

thing. A memory may be of something that didn’t actually happen the way we remember it, but that does not invalidate it as the way we remember, recall, something is how the human brain works – of how we remember.

My schooling was in the 1960s, at a school run by the Christian Brothers. Corporal punishment was allowable then. In Ireland, all forms of corporal punishment of children have only – believe it or not – been definitively outlawed since the passing of the Children First Act in 2015. Law in the republic inherited the pre-independence common law and statutes modelled on English law.

These included allowance of “physical chastisement” by teachers and, under the Children Act of 1908, of “reasonable chastisement” by parents and those in loco parentis.

That said, school corporal punishment was prohibited in 1982 by then Minister for

Education John Boland.

I was ‘biffed’ on the open palms of my hands with ‘the leather’ until they turned bright red and stung mercilessly, bringing me to the verge of tears. My memory is that, in my case, it was not frequent – though, as I say, memory can be a funny thing.

Maybe I was a “good boy”.

However, many ‘favoured’ boys in my primary classes were daily ‘biffed’ on their hands and on their buttocks, and slapped across their little faces by the heavy hand of a Christian Brother. And, so often, for no particular error of any kind. I remember seeing one brother, “Killer Kennedy”, fling one boy from one end of the classroom to the other after a heavy beating.

Corporal punishment was endemic in my schooling of the 1960s. And you would never tell your parents because they would think, well you must have done

something wrong. Ireland was that dark place.

Yes, I saw other ‘things’; was even once or twice the victim of such ‘things’. Brother Gibson would call a boy up the top of the class, put his arm around him while the boy answered a question, and then slip his hand down

“My schooling was in the 1960s, corporal punishment was allowable then...

the back of the boy’s short trousers. That happened to me – not often but then again memory and all that. But I certainly saw Gibson do it frequently to the same ‘favoured boys’. Or if there were, say, five boys put out to ‘stand in the line’, he would go from one to the other squeezing their crotch.

Nobody said anything.

Nobody dared. Or, on reflection, back then we had no words for it all. And, compared to the myriad cases cited by Scoping, it would seem we had it relatively easy – although my memory has no recall of what might have gone on in the class next door.

Over half of those accused in the r­ eligious orders’ records are now dead. The overwhelming majority of allegations relate to the sexual abuse of boys.

The report raises questions about the conspiracy of silence in schools, with many

survivors explaining that the abuse was an open secret.

In some schools, children tried to stop each other from being left alone with known abusers.

It remains to be seen if having called-for public hearings could affect the willingness of some religious orders to co-operate with a commission of investigation. While the Scoping report found the majority of religious orders were willing “at least in principle” to co-operate with a future inquiry, some had put conditions or caveats on their willingness to provide testimony or key documents.

Scoping recommends that the Government ask religious orders to contribute to a redress fund. But my understanding is that such conversations have not yet started, and it is not yet known what kind of contribution can be expected from the religious orders.

If any...

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ChatGPT better than trainee doctors When it comes to diagnosing respiratory diseases, ChatGPT is better than trainee doctors, according to a new study.

The findings presented to the European Respiratory Society in Austria also found that Google's Bard performed better than humans in some

aspects, while Microsoft's Bing performed as well as the trainee doctors.

The study indicates that these kinds of large language models could help medical staff to assess patients more efficiently and reduce the significant pressures facing health services.

Ten trainee doctors with less than four months of clinical experience in paediatrics were given one hour to use the internet, but not AI chatbots, to solve scenarios created by experts in child respiratory medicine.

The doctors' answers were graded and compared to

answers given by the chatbots. ChatGPT version 3.5 scored highest and was believed to be more human-like in its responses than other chatbots.

The study was presented by Dr Manjith Narayanan, a consultant in paediatric pulmonology at the Royal Hospital for

Children and Young People in Edinburgh.

"These tools have several potential applications in medicine. My motivation to carry out this research was to assess how well large language modules (LLMs) are able to assist clinicians in real life,” Dr Narayanan said.

The researchers did not find any clear instances of socalled "hallucinations”, when language models seemingly make up information, with any of the chatbots.

But Dr Narayanan cautioned that it is important to mitigate against this happening as the possibility always exists.

Our Clodagh takes Digital Marketing Student of Year It was a clean sweep for the Technological University of the Shannon as its students recently took home the gold, silver and bronze awards.

There was much to celebrate in the packed ballroom of the Clayton hotel in Dublin 4, as broadcaster Anton Savage announced TUS Midwest student Clodagh Henderson, from Kilkenny, as the 2024 Digital Marketing Student of the Year.

Kilkenny native Clodagh is a student on the MSc in Digital Marketing & Analytics, based in TUS Moylish campus in Limerick. As part of the requirements, students can opt to create

a digital marketing strategy for a real company, offering them valuable and practical experience. As a marketing executive with Kilkenny Design, Clodagh worked closely with the business to deliver a strategic social media campaign aimed at attracting 18–24-year-olds.

Following closely on her classmate’s heels, Shruti Nadagouda, another Moylish campus-based student was awarded Silver in the category.

Completing the hat trick, the Bronze Award went to Yinxin Lee from the TUS Athlone campus for her work with Midlandjobs.ie.

SE 'not being served

by EU cohesion funding' – Funchion Ireland's South East is missing vital opportunities to develop its regional economies and strengthen communities due to an EU cohesion policy that doesn’t adequately acknowledge and reflect the unique aspects of the region, according to MEP Kathleen Funchion.

Ms Funchion was speaking during a recent exchange with Commissioner Elisa Ferreira of the Committee for Regional Development.

Speaking afterwards, she said: “I impressed on Commissioner Ferreira that we are entering a critical time for cohesion policy, and highlighted for her the critical role I hope to play in shaping it over the coming years, particularly for the benefit of Ireland South East region.

“It very clear Europe still needs a cohesion policy and it needs one that is properly resourced, that works for all regions, and respects the distinctiveness of Ireland's South East.

“It is vital this Committee ensures its cohesion policy is not a victim of other agendas like militarisation, nor is it to fund crisis management.

“Ireland's South East stretches from Bray in the Dublin com-

muter belt, to the seaside town of Dungarvan in West Waterford, and from the rural town of Tipperary, all the way across to Rosslare Harbour in Wexford – it is a sprawling region.

"With a population of over 580,000, the region has not seen the fast growth witnessed in other regions. In the past decade, a number of large sectors in the fields of engineering, life sciences, financial services, ICT, agriculture and creative sector have relocated to the region. Despite this, large urban and rural areas lack opportunity for many of our young people.

"Ireland's South East is a mix of rural and urban dwellers, with several large towns and the cities of Kilkenny, Tipperary, Carlow and Waterford. It is vital Europe’s cohesion policy acknowledge differences within regions as well as across them and delivers opportunities for business, investment and tourism.

“Statistically, regions like mine are considered developed but areas such as the South East of Ireland have been left behind – a priority for me is to ensure this is where this funding is targeted," she said.

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Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

Infrastructure challenges: time for Chinese take-away The connection between local Chinese take-aways, the fabled Silk Road which brought produce from the East to Europe for centuries and the challenges facing the State to provide for a population which has ballooned by more than 10% in the last seven years may not be obvious. But bear with me.

The delicious fare at one of the Xi’an restaurants, named for historic Xi’an city in China’s Shaanxi province, set me thinking.

The Chinese have a way of getting things done: the food at Xi’an was fresh, fast and cost a quarter of the bill for a recent treat in a traditional Dublin restaurant.

The cost of major projects and the time taken to complete them have featured in a lot of headlines recently.

There is the Metro link from Dublin airport to the city promised since 2005 which is still 12 years away and is likely to cost €10 billion and

how about the ever-escalating cost of the Children’s Hospital, climbing to more than €2.2 billion more than double the estimated cost of 10 years ago.

And don’t even mention the housing crisis and infrastructure inadequate to cope with the surge in population. As a country we are brilliant at lots of things but we seem to have lost the art of providing much-needed infrastructure efficiently and affordably.

That is something which the Chinese have been doing for other countries on a huge scale since President Xi Jinping launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013. Also known as the New Silk Road, the ambitious plan set out to solve the age-old challenge of getting trade and connections from A to B. The aim is to create an economic corridor which will connect countries from China across central Asia stretching

to eastern and southern Europe with links all the way to Africa and Latin America.

Deploying China’s ‘Go Out’ approach, it uses China’s expertise in building infrastructure for other countries with loans and investment amounting to a trillion dollars so far. A bit confusingly ‘Road’ refers to a maritime road and ‘Belt‘ to opening up rail, road and internet connections which will be particularly valuable to land-locked Central Asian countries.

In the past the Silk Road involved arduous overland journeys, but now 90% of trade is carried by sea, which is fine if you happen to be in countries conveniently linked to ports but not great in those with names ending in ‘stan’ like Kazakhstan or Turkmenistan.

The initiative, involving 140 countries with 75% of the world’s population and half of its GDP, is de-

signed to boost trade and cut costs. It has met with varying degrees of success.

Establishing China’s role in global development, it has also met with criticism by

“To provide for a population which has ballooned by more than 10% ...

the West as a form debt-trap diplomacy, resulting in poor countries ending up with unaffordable levels of debt with China.

Whatever the objections, the Chinese now have enormous experience and expertise in delivering infrastructure. For instance the Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) launched in 2015 linking Gwadar on the Arabian sea with Kashgar in Western China involved a $60 billion investment in railways, roads, airports and energy infrastructure.

Another BRI project involved a high-speed rail link in Indonesia which cut the travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from three and a half hours to 45 minutes.

Now European countries are starting to wake up to the benefits of a Chinese takeaway to solve their infrastructure challenges.

Serbia has significant Chinese investment in infra-

structure.“ China’s wallet has been welcomed particularly by non-EU members, because it can dispense cash faster and with fewer restrictions,” writes Jonathan Hillman in his book ‘The Emperor’s New Road’. For China gaining a foothold in the EU is the ultimate prize which is beginning to materialise.

Chinese investment in EU member Hungary is expected to reach €30 billion this year for projects involving EV charging stations throughout the country, a high- speed rail link to Budapest airport and a railway line around the city. They sound just the kind of projects we need here.

Traditionally we are orientated towards Europe and America. Maybe it’s time to look East and to consider Chinese take-aways – which, like food take-aways, are often faster and better value – as a solution to our infrastructure problems.

Top on Vitamin D for winter protection CLAIR WHITTY

Every year I talk about Vitamin D. It is one of the most important vitamins for maintaining various aspects of our health.

Vitamin D is required to absorb calcium, an important mineral for bone structure and strength. It helps to prevent rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults.

It became a household name during Covid, we couldn’t keep it on our shelves but we need it every year, not just during pandemics. Vitamin D is vital for a well-functioning immune system. It helps enhance the function of the immune cells and also helps decrease inflammation. If you have adequate levels of Vitamin D it can help reduce the risk of infections.

Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

Vitamin D may help regulate blood pressure and may improve the function of the heart and blood vessels.

I often get asked can you have too much Vitamin D. Yes, you can have too much Vitamin D, although most of us will have low levels. We do

recommend that you have your blood tested so that you know if you have adequate levels or not. We have home testing kits if you prefer to do the test in the comfort of your own home. It is no harm to take it all year round but I like to take breaks, so you could take the summer off and take it throughout the winter.

Top source of Vitamin D is through exposure to sunlight, through your diet, and supplements. Oily fish, egg yolks, beef liver, mushrooms, and fortified foods are some sources of Vitamin D. BetterYou Vitamin D Oral

Spray remains one of our customers’ favourites. This is because it is easy to administer. You simply spray onto the inside of your cheek. Plus it is super absorbable when used in this way. The range includes 400iu for infants, and toddlers, 1000iu and 3,000iu for adults. There is also an option of choosing Vitamin D and Vitamin K combined together. Vitamin K is included in the spray to ensure absorption of Vitamin D. We are coming into the darker season once again so it will be a good time to take a look at Vitamin D.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

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SPECIAL REPORT On-demand employment service WrkWrk is aiming to place 3,000 shifts in Kilkenny and Carlow next year, filling 20,000 hours for local employers. This follows the launch of their enhanced service which has been extended beyond hospitality to also cover the retail, healthcare, manufacturing and customer service sectors.

This will enable Kilkenny and Carlow employers to source retail assistants, healthcare assistants, customer service personnel, hotel workers, bar staff and more in a matter of minutes from their computer or smartphone.

WrkWrk is already heavily active in Kilkenny and Carlow, with approximately 100 workers already signed up to the service and more expected to join in the coming months. Last year, they covered over 1,000 shift hours in Carlow and Kilkenny. On a national basis, WrkWrk filled approximately 19,000 shifts around the country in 2023, covering over 115,000 ondemand work hours.

WrkWrk is a digital employment service which offers flexibility to employers and workers alike. It is designed to make the process of sourcing ondemand workers as simple as possible, enabling employers to access temporary workers in a hurry.

When an employer posts a new shift vacancy, the platform matches it to workers with the relevant skillsets and those workers are alerted to the potential opening. This provides flexibility to both employers and workers, with employers only hiring when they need to and workers only opting in to the shifts they wish to take.

Employers are then provided with real time updates so they can see as

One-line service WrkWrk to place 3,000 shifts in Kilkenny and Carlow their shifts are filled with suitable candidates, helping to ensure they are never left short staffed. WrkWrk can also be used by employers to communicate directly with the staff assigned to their shifts.

All temporary workers provided by WrkWrk are vetted, interviewed and trained to ensure they meet performance and reliability standards.

WrkWrk is part of FRS Co-Op, the Irish, multimil-

lion euro social enterprise co-operative.

Speaking about their plans for extending the use of the service in Carlow and Kilkenny, Lynne McCormack, General Manager of WrkWrk, said: “For a lot of employers in Kilkenny and Carlow it can be challenging to source temporary workers or shift workers.

Securing reliable personnel takes time. Many employers can also find themselves with gaps in their teams at

short notice, putting them under pressure to come up with new workers in a hurry.

“These are exactly the type of situations WrkWrk was designed to address.

We take the hassle out of hiring by providing on-demand workers in Kilkenny and Carlow who can be sourced in a matter of minutes. That means employers won’t have to advertise vacancies, interview candidates and train them

as we do all that for them.

We’ve had employers post job openings just before lunch, go to get a bite to eat and then have these vacancies filled by the time they are back at their desk. We’re a real time solution in a real time world. That’s what makes WrkWrk a hiring hack for employers and flexible workers alike.

“We see a lot of potential for growing our service in Kilkenny and Carlow next year. We’ve already been

getting strong interest from the local hospitality sector who have made use of our on-demand service. Now our enhanced service will also be available for Carlow and Kilkenny employers in the retail, healthcare, manufacturing and customer service sectors too, we fully expect to see more temporary or on-demand shifts filled by WrkWrk in Kilkenny and Carlow and in the coming 12 months,” Ms. McCormack said.

How Europe is dealing with mobiles in school Four years after Calvijn College became one of the first schools in the Netherlands to go smartphone-free, it’s no longer an outlier. As students head back into classrooms across Europe, a growing number of them will be forced to leave their mobile phones behind; In France, 200 secondary schools are testing a ban while French-speaking primary schools in Wallonia and Brussels, in Belgium, have moved forward with their own prohibitions. In Hungary, a new decree requires schools to collect students’ phones and smart devices at the start of the day.

Italy and Greece have adopted milder approaches, allowing students to carry their

phones with them through the day but barring their use in classrooms.

In Ireland the debate continues.

For those at Calvijn College, the sweeping tide of change is thrilling. From the moment they began requiring students to either leave their phones at

home or lock them up for the day, school officials watched as the culture of the school transformed.

Other schools across the country began getting in touch, curious about the impact of the ban. In January 2024, the Dutch government entered the debate, urging schools to

ban mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches from most secondary school classrooms across the country, The recommendation was recently extended to primary schools.

Late last year, as secondary schools across the Netherlands geared up to follow the recommendations, researchers at Radboud University seized on the chance to take a before and after snapshot of the change.

They polled hundreds of students and parents, as well as dozens of teachers, at two schools with imminent plans to do away with mobile phones on school premises, visiting the schools again three months after the ban was enacted.

About 20% of students report-

ed that they were less distracted once smartphones were off limits, said Loes Pouwels, one of the researchers, while teachers described students as being more attentive and focused on their work in class. “So I think in terms of cognitive functioning, overall it was a positive thing.”

Many students also reported more real-life social interactions and that the quality of these interactions had improved. They also found a reduction in cyberbullying as students were offline more of the time.

Three months after the ban, however, not all students had embraced the idea. About 40% said that going phone-free had

allowed them to better enjoy their breaks while 37% said they missed their phones. “I am forced to socialise when I’m not in the mood, which is often,” one respondent told researchers.

At Calvijn College, officials have little doubt that the ban has been positive. When it was first rolled out, there had been talk of eventually allowing older students to incorporate phones back into their school day.

The idea was dropped after the changes they observed, Instead it has been replaced with a quiet pride that, when it comes to smartphones in classrooms, the school has been well ahead of the curve.

See also Page 30

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Mia Griffin, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny recently returned from competing on the track at the Paris Olympics, pictured with Paddy Cunningham, Callan having won Stage 1 of Rás na mBan. Mia went on to become the first Irish winner of Rás na mBan in eleven years

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Why so many are paying high car insurance Almost half a million drivers across the country are paying hundreds – and in some cases more than a €1,000 – more than they need to on car insurance cover because they have penalty points on their licences.

According to a recent cost comparison analysis by motor insurance experts at Peopl Insurance, having three penalty points on a driving licence could push up a driver’s motor insurance premium by about 10%, while 10 penalty points could see a driver pay more than twice as much for insurance as a driver who is penalty free.

With road fatalities almost 20% higher than they were this time last year Peopl is concerned that road safety messages are simply not hitting home, and it is hoping that greater awareness of the financial implications of penalty points on a licence could deter people from bad driving behaviour.

Paul Walsh of Peopl Insur-

ance explained: “One phone call while driving could end up costing you 10% more in motor insurance. More than half a million people (533,520) have penalty points on their licence, of which 492,244 have three penalty points or more. This comes against the backdrop of deteriorating driving behaviour over the last three years.”

Insurance companies increase premiums for drivers with three or more penalty points, though this limit can differ between providers.

Many drivers do not realise how easily they can accrue three points.

The top penalty points offences include speeding, holding a mobile phone while driving, failure to obey traffic lights, driving without reasonable consideration, and driving as an unaccompanied learner driver or without a valid NCT. Most of these offences carry three penalty points, with the only exceptions being driving without

reasonable consideration or driving as an unaccompanied driver, where the number of penalty points incurred is two. Even minor offences like not displaying an ‘L’ or ‘N’ plate as a learner or novice driver can earn you two points.

Keeping a clean license not only lowers insurance costs but also helps drivers avoid hefty fines that could run into the hundreds. For example, the fine for using a mobile phone while driving is €120, while the speeding fine is €160. The fine for learner or

novice drivers not displaying ‘L’ or ‘N’ plates is €120.”

If you have 12 points within three years you face automatic disqualification from driving and you will struggle to get cover when the time is up as some insurers refuse to quote drivers that have been

disqualified in the last seven years while others may not quote for drivers with a disqualification unless they are a current or previous customer.

People simply do not realise just how fatal a slip-up in their driving behaviour can be. For example, driving while using a mobile phone you are four times more likely to be involved in a collision, yet recent figures show there has been an increase in the numbers of people using their mobile phones while driving.

Unsafe driving can lead to lives being lost in a matter of seconds. Too many people are being killed and seriously injured on Irish roads and we all have a responsibility to play our part in stopping the upward trend in road crashes and preventing any more families from going through the trauma and heartache of losing a loved one, or having a loved one seriously injured. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362633

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News At the recent Kilkenny Fianna Fáil Comhairle Dáil meeting it was announced that the nominations of two candidates from Kilkenny had been received by FF headquarters - those of John McGuinness and Peter Chap Cleere, seen here with Cora Long, Chair of the Comhairle Dáil group.

Deputy John McGuinness and Cllr.

Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere en route to the Dáil Fianna Fáil members came together on Friday evening in Kilkenny ahead of Tánaiste Micheál Martin’s highly anticipated visit to the city for a special lunch event, which is already nearing full capacity.

During the meeting, members extended their congratulations to Deputy John McGuinness and Cllr. Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, both of whom have been nominated to contest the Kilkenny Convention. Their

nominations were met with unanimous approval and widespread support from the gathered party members.

The gathering also provided an opportunity for members to express strong support for several key local initiatives. Chief among these was a call for the South East Technological University (SETU) to establish a dedicated campus in Kilkenny, along with proposals for SETU and Kildalton College in Piltown to host a new veterinary school. Members also voiced unanimous backing for the planned expansion of the Kilkenny Ring Road to enhance connectivity and infrastructure in the region.

Cllr. Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere further shared exciting news with attendees, expressing his belief that the Kilkenny College of Further Education is set to break ground within the next 12 to 18 months, signaling a significant step forward in educational development for the area.

As the event concluded, there was a palpable sense of enthusiasm among members, reflecting the positive momentum ahead of Tánaiste Micheál Martin's upcoming visit and a strong commitment from both nominees to work hard for the people of Kilkenny.

Climate Change

– are we all playing our part?

WEEK 86

'Life is full of surprises'

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

News Science & Wellbeing Laurence Peter and Raymond Hull back in 1969 coined the term the ‘Peter Principle’ to express how competent workers get promoted to a point where they are no longer good at their jobs. For example, this can happen when people who have been followers for all their careers are suddenly expected to be leaders.

The book was originally intended to be a satire — a lighthearted observation that most people can identify with. Hull and Peter argued that anyone good at their job will, eventually, get promoted. And they’ll carry on getting promoted until they reach a point where they are not good at their job. At which point they’ll not be promoted anymore but will linger in their post, flailing around in a job they’re not competent enough to do.

And so, the book argues, a company will eventually be made up predominantly by people who are ill-equipped to do their job well.

It’s a hierarchy of incompetence — children, dressed in suits too big.

One example of how this happens is the fact that “good followers do not become good leaders.” To work your way up the ladder, you often have to follow the rules, obey instructions, and pepper your interactions with varying degrees of sycophancy.

You’re aiming to be likeable and friendly without being ingratiating. And so, “good followers” get promoted.

But there comes a point in a promotion cycle when you need to stop following and take the lead. You need out-of- the-box thinking and need to rally the troops for a brave, daring assault that no one else saw coming. What Hull and Peter point out is that it makes no sense at all to assume that someone who’s lived their career in unoriginal subordination would suddenly become a president with a corner office.

Of course, not all compaOur bodies can’t process the salt in seawater, and drinking it would actually dehydrate you further. You could drink the whole ocean and still be thirsty.

All of Earth’s oceans, and all bodies of water connected to them, are salty — the result of millions of years of mineral runoff carried by rivers to the sea. However, there’s a considerable and consistent variation in salinity levels across the world’s marine domains.

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the world’s saltiest.

One of the least salty is the Baltic Sea. The global average salt level in surface seawater is about 35 grams (seven teaspoons, give or take) per 1,000 grams of water (about a quart). For short, that’s 35 ppt (parts per thousand).

Salinity increases to 37 ppt and more in large pockets

Why most companies are filled with people out of their depth nies are filled with incompetents, and the Peter Principle is not some law of fate.

If you spend any time talking to teachers or parents, they’ll probably be able to tell you about “the learning pit.”

The learning pit is where you throw a student a task that is far beyond their current abilities so that they can’t

possibly achieve it yet. Then, with scaffolding and careful support, you help them climb out of the pit to fist-pumping success. The idea is that we all need a degree of pit-panic.

We need to feel challenged and to struggle a bit if we’re to grow. No one gets stronger by lifting the same weight every day; you need to increase

the load. The Peter Principle is not bad in itself but rather highlights the need to train or coach people “on the job.”

You cannot let someone drown before they’ve learned how to swim. Every promotion needs support. Every new role needs training.

On Big Think+, the principal of Bersin by Deloitte,

The seas and their salt

in the North and South Atlantic, in the Mediterranean, and in a northern corner of the Indian Ocean.

It decreases to 34 ppt and less toward the poles, off the west coast of North America,

and the coasts of Southeast and East Asia.

Why the variation? In the case of higher salinity: evaporation. There are parts of the ocean where hardly any rain falls, and where

heat and wind cause lots of water vapour to rise from the sea into the atmosphere. The water that stays behind is saltier as a result.

This is also the case in the Mediterranean, a nearly

Josh Bersin, talks about “the leadership gap,” where companies around the world are finding it hard to recruit competent leaders. Echoing what Peter and Hull wrote 55 years ago, Bersin tells us: “Every individual performer, individual contributor who gets promoted to a supervisor or managerial job isn’t really enclosed body of water subject to lots of sunshine and relatively little rainfall. The eastern Mediterranean has a salinity of about 38 ppt.

In general, the salinity maxima (not just in the Atlantic but also in the Pacific) occur at around 20 degrees latitude north and south, which corresponds to the latitudes of the world’s great deserts, where evaporation also exceeds precipitation.

Conversely, seawater becomes less salty with the addition of fresh water, whether delivered as rain, river water, or — in the polar regions — icebergs. Also, the formation of ice floes in the coldest parts of the world removes more salt from the water.

Consequently, salinity around Antarctica is just below 34 ppt and can go down to 30 ppt in certain parts of the Arctic. The Baltic has a

taking on a new job. They’re really taking on a new profession.”

For so much of our early working life, a certain skillset is required. That often involves following instructions and being a team player.

Then, suddenly, we’re expected to give instructions and to be a team leader.

Without some substantive transitional period between the two, we’re bound to meet this “leadership gap.”

Of course, Bersin does not leave us empty-handed, and his advice on Big Think+ is invaluable.

Sometimes, a promoted employee cannot be trained up suitably for a new role.

Sometimes, their skillset simply won’t bend to the needs of the job, and their natural work style isn’t right for that title. In this case, what do you do? It seems silly to fire the person since they were clearly hugely competent up to this point. In our modern work culture, it’s hard to demote a person — pride and “Oh, I just bought a new house” put a stop to that. The best solution, sometimes, is to create a job that suits that person better. Or, better yet, to move them sideways to a position where their skillset will be better applied. History is littered with examples of this.

Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant writer but unskilled at speaking, so he was given the role of drafting the America’s Declaration of Independence while Samuel Adams handled the oratory. Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple in 1976, but after the company went public in 1980, he soon found managerial roles hard work and so consciously turned to engineering and innovation.

In 2019, Xin Jin of Cornell University concluded that “lateral moves” like this were correlated with job satisfaction and wage increases. The paper contains proven and practical advice about how any company can implement lateral moves well. salinity as low as 7 or 8 ppt, because it is fed by hundreds of rivers, and is almost entirely cut off from the (much saltier) high seas.

The salinity of the oceans is not just a matter of taste.

Saltier water is denser and will sink below less salty and less dense water, creating currents. When it gets colder, that effect is amplified. High-saline, low- temperature water sinks to the bottom of the ocean, where it forms deep and slow underwater rivers.

The saltier deep has a fringe benefit for submarines. A halocline is a layer of water where the level of salinity changes abruptly.

That difference doesn’t just affect the density of the water; it also scrambles sonar, giving submarines an advantage in their games of hide and seek with other submariness.

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Travel & Leisure St Lucia If you want somewhere to spend a luxury winter holiday with your partner, look no further than St Lucia. Famed for its lush rainforest, pristine white sand beaches, and towering mountains, this tropical island in the Caribbean offers everything you need to escape the daily grind, starting with breathtaking The 5-star Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, offers loved-up couples an adultonly vacation in untold luxury. It provides stunning beachfront accommodation with a private pool, enormous suites, sea views, and mountain views.

Windjammer Landing Resort and Residences also offers 5-star accommodation but at a friendlier price. With average temperatures of 82°F (28°C), spend your days lounging by the pool, strolling along the beach, and tucking into delicious food.

Cancun One of Mexico’s most famous summer holiday destinations. In winter, Cancun experiences average daily highs of 82°F (28°C), which is ideal for sunbathing on the beach, swimming in the sea, and sitting at a beach bar with a refreshing cocktail.

Better yet, Cancun has many exciting things to see and do.

When you’re not soaking up the sun on Playa Delfines, explore El Centro (Downtown), discover ancient Mayan ruins, and party the night away in the lively Zona Hotelera district.

Regarding accommodation, there are many options. The beachfront and adult-only Atelier Playa Mujeres is among the area’s best 5-star hotels. Meanwhile, the 4-star La Villa du Golf à Cancun Hotel Boutique offers more affordable luxury.

Jamaica Jamaica is a fantastic winter vacation destination for Americans because it offers quick, easy, and reliable transport from many major cities. As such, you can leave the cold behind and land in paradise in just a few hours.

With average temperatures of 81°F (27°C), you can thoroughly enjoy Jamaica’s sun-kissed beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

If you stay in Negril or Kingston, you’ll also find many things to see and do.

Some of the island’s most notable attractions include Kool Runnings Water Park, Negril Cliffs, Seven Mile Beach, and Negril Hills Golf Club. For somewhere luxurious to stay, check out the 5-star Moon Palace Jamaica. Alternatively, the Westender Inn offers more budget-friendly beachfront accommodation.

Hawaii Hawaii might seem strange on this list because it’s technically part of the United States. However, its location, which is 2,400 miles (3,862

Your place in the

Winter Sun

kilometres) away from the mainland in a tropical climate, makes it an excellent place to visit in winter. This proves you don’t have to leave America to enjoy the winter sun.

You’ll find lush rainforests, volcanic landscapes, white sand beaches, and vibrant resorts in Hawaii. In winter, you can expect average temperatures of 77°F (25°C). Many tourists stay in Honolulu, where popular things to do include hiking, shopping, sunbathing, and surfing. The 5-star Kahala Hotel and Resort offers sea views, beachfront bedrooms, swimming pools, and multiple restaurants.

Meanwhile, Wayfinder Waikiki offers slightly more affordable rooms.

San Andres, Colombia If you want to travel somewhere new this winter, consider visiting San Andres, one of Colombia’s best but lesser-known tourist destinations. Situated off the coast of Nicaragua, this small island in the Caribbean is recognised for its beautiful white sand beaches, towering palm trees, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and allinclusive resorts.

You’ll spend your time on the island swimming,

sunbathing, snorkelling, and salsa dancing. In winter, the island experiences lows of 77°F (25°C) and highs of 84°F (29°C). The gorgeous Nattivo Collection Hotel is the highest-rated 5-star hotel on the island. On the other hand, Hotels 111 is one of the island’s best-rated budgetfriendly hotels, offering rooms for less than $100 nightly.

What’s not to like?

Havana, Cuba The following winter sun destination on our list is Havana, Cuba’s vibrant capital city and main seaport. Cuba is a fascinating country with a rich history, diverse culture, and unique traditions. Havana, with its alluring old-worldly charm, is the best place to experience the authentic nature of Cuba.

Untouched by the outside world, Havana’s lively Old Town, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to vintage American cars, breathtaking Cuban architecture, bustling plazas, and excellent street performers.

Furthermore, the 12-mile (19-kilometre) Malecón seaside promenade offers sweeping coastal views. In winter, Havana experiences daily highs of 81°F (27°C).

The 5-star El Candil

Boutique Hotel and VOYA Boutique Hotel are fantastic accommodation options.

Costa Rica Outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife lovers seeking a more adventurous winter break should consider planning a trip to Costa Rica. Offering something for every kind of traveller, this picturesque Central American country is famed for its dense rainforests, white sand beaches, diverse wildlife, and clear waters. As a result, it’s a popular place for wildlife watching and hiking.

In Tortuguero National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest, and Manuel Antonio National Park, travellers can explore the rich rainforest on foot.

You can spot sloths, monkeys, toucans, macaws, and more.

Meanwhile, San Jose, the capital city, has attractions like the National Museum of Costa Rica and the PreColumbian Gold Museum.

You can expect highs of 86°F (30°C). Fiesta Resort All Inclusive Central Pacific and Hotel Cerro Lodge are excellent places to stay.

Barbados Barbados is a fantastic winter destination near the United States if you want to spend your vacation soaking up

the sun on picture-perfect beaches, sipping cocktails by the sea, exploring the Caribbean’s natural scenery, and partying into the early morning hours. This Caribbean island offers travellers incredible luxury, winter high temperatures of 84°F (29°C), and delicious cuisine.

The 5-star Saint Peter’s Bay Luxury Resort and Residences sums up the island nicely.

This luxurious beachfront hotel offers world-class services, multiple pools, breathtaking villa-style rooms, high-quality Caribbean cuisine, and more. Even more affordable hotels like Coconut Court Beach Hotel have much to offer. Notable points of interest in Barbados include Bridgetown, Carlisle Bay, and St. Nicholas Abbey and Steam Railway.

Cozumel, Mexico Mexico makes our list for the second time, with Cozumel, a beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea. This stunning tropical island is best known for its white sand beaches, turquoise waters, scuba diving, and vacation resorts.

In winter, you can expect lows of 70°F (21°C) and highs of 82°F (28°C).

During your visit, you’ll likely spend most of your

time swimming in the sea, snorkelling, strolling along the beaches, and eating authentic Caribbean and Mexican cuisine. Hotel B Unique is one of the island’s most spectacular 5-star hotels. It features an infinity pool with sea views, a spa, a Mexican restaurant, and impressive suites. If you’re on a tight budget, Coralia Boutique Hotel Cozumel offers rooms for less than $100 per night.

Belize If you want to experience the Caribbean and all its delights but don’t have a big budget, plan a winter vacation to Belize. In winter, you can book a gorgeous room in a 5-star hotel in Belize for less than $200 a night. Umaya Resort & Adventures is one of the best. It offers beachfront accommodation with a private pool, restaurant, and spa.

Better yet, Hopkins Bay Belize, a Muy’Ono Resort, offers one-bedroom villas for only $139 nightly.

Belize’s average daily winter temperature is 75°F (24°C), ideal for enjoying the sun and exploring the island. Points of interest include Corozal, Ambergris Caye, Belize City, and Xunantunich Mayan Ruins.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

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Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Remembering Ned Egan, ‘the Boy from Baurscoobe’ Ned Egan, who was a regular contributor to this paper, passed away on August 30.

Ned, ‘the Boy from Baurscoobe’ (from the Irish meaning Top of the Brush) in Dunamaggin was a character.

With a capital C. Ned lived many lives and was a man of many talents – poet, author, artist to name but a few, as evidenced from the wonderful tribute paid to him in this paper last week by my fellow contributor, and great friend of Ned’s, John Fitzgerald.

I had the pleasure, and privilege, of launching Ned’s CD of poems back in 2011 thanks to Ned’s great friend, and mine, local actor Brendan Corcoran.

This is the transcript of my words on that night. Some of it you will have read them in John’s tribute but it’s worth mentioning again because Ned Egan was a one-off. He was truly unique and for sure ‘Ní bheidh a leithéid aris.’

Ladies & Gentlemen Welcome to the Priory

Tavern here in Kells To the launch of a CD of poems by Dunamaggin man, Ned Egan.

Now what in God’s name does one say about Ned Egan?

What does one say about a man Who remembers being sent to school in a filthy red dress!

Might need to talk a bit about that later, Ned, with the pub psychologist A man who went to school with his school bag full of stones Because he burned his books to keep warm when mitching A man who left school, or rather was expelled from school at 13 Who then became an entrepreneur – catching rabbits, poaching fish And selling eggs in the village A man who survived TB as a youth Having spent 2 years in Peamount Hospital – trying to escape!

Might make a good movie,

Ned – Escape from Peamount.

A man who played football with Kilmoganny

And played hurling with Dunamaggin and has medals to prove it A man who, and listen to this, marked the great Ollie Walsh Literally, as he was sent off – and sent back on again As the ref was threatened with brass bicycle pumps!

A man who emigrated to Australia under the £10 Pommy Scheme Who married and had seven children Two of whom he lost – his son Ned not long after his birth And his daughter who was brutally murdered in Australia What do you say about a man Who was almost killed himself in a dynamite blast in Australia And lost the sight of one eye.

Who became an honorary member of the Nyoonger Aborigine tribe Who returned to Ireland and did some top class copper etchings in Callan

Who had a song about Luke Kelly recorded by the Dublin City Ramblers And another recorded by Patsy Watchorn of the Dubliners A man who drank with the Clancy’s Who featured on national television in Australia And who had copies of his book, ‘Sex & Death, Green, White & Gold’ Burned by a chip-shop owner and a retired nun!

So, what does one say about a man like that?

Nothing, that’s what – you just applaud him Applaud him for living life to the full Applaud his energy, his enthusiasm, and his positivity Regardless of the tragedies in his life.

Ned – you’re an inspiration – as are your poems Which brings me to the business in hand The launch of Ned’s CD of poems

Poems that are wonderfully read by Brendan Corcoran, One of Kilkenny’s finest amateur actors This CD, of course, is not just a piece of plastic – Here on this small disc are memories Treasured memories, memories joyful and sad In here are tragedies and triumphs, and love Above all this CD is about love – family love, romantic love Love of home and country, love of nature, love of life And I know that producing this CD of poems Was a labour of love for Ned and for Brendan I love the poems on it, I hope you do too Furthermore I hope you all buy a copy Ladies & gentlemen I now launch the CD, NORA, Called after Ned’s mother Nora A CD that captures the heart and soul of Ned Egan

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Opinion

The Last Word Pat Coughlan

Pedestrianising High St: a blessing or a curse?

Pedestrianisation, the act of converting streets for the exclusive use of pedestrians, is a hot topic in urban planning. It promises cleaner air, safer streets, and a boost for local businesses. But, like a double-edged sword, it can also disrupt traffic and accessibility.

So, is it a blessing or a curse for Kilkenny’s High Street?

High Street in Kilkenny is a bustling hub, where cars, buses, Bikes, Pedestrians and the odd tractor jostle for space. Footpaths are crowded, with locals and tourists navigating the narrow walkways. Two bicycle lanes are seldom used by cyclists. Businesses range from quaint familyowned shops to trendy cafes, vying for attention.

Recently, to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety, High Street became a one-way system. This change has sparked mixed reactions.

Many appreciate the reduced

congestion and smoother vehicle flow. The update has allowed for wider footpaths and additional street furniture, benefiting pedestrians.

I cannot understand why cyclists have two-way access with their own lanes going both ways. It seems to me like pandering to both the motoring public and the green lobby.

Some locals argue that the one-way system rerouted traffic to neighbouring streets, causing congestion and lengthening travel times.

Despite concerns, city planners argue that the benefits, including improved safety and business accessibility, outweigh the negatives.

The full impact is still being evaluated, but it represents a significant shift in one of Kilkenny’s busiest thoroughfares.

Imagine High Street without the constant hum of engines. Cleaner air, for starters. Who wouldn’t want

to breathe easier? Then there’s the boost for local businesses. More foot traffic means more customers. And let’s not forget safety. Fewer cars mean fewer accidents.

It’s a win-win, really.

Ah, but what about the traffic, you ask? Imagine the chaos of rerouted cars clogging up the side streets.

And what of our elderly and disabled neighbours? They might find it harder to access their favourite shops. Some businesses, especially those relying on quick stops, could see a dip in customers.

Looking at other cities gives us some perspective on pedestrianisation. Take Dublin’s Grafton Street, for example; it’s a bustling hub now, with cafes and shops thriving thanks to foot traffic.

On the flip side, Newry in Northern Ireland tried to pedestrianise its central street but had to revert due to traffic congestion issues.

Another notable example

is Cork’s Oliver Plunkett Street, which has seen a resurgence in local businesses and increased tourism since its pedestrianisation. Similarly, Galway’s Shop Street has become a vibrant area attracting both locals and tourists for its lively atmosphere and numerous street performers.

“Pandering to both the motoring public and the green lobby...

Then there’s Copenhagen’s Strøget, which is hailed as a pioneering success in creating a lively and safe environment. These examples show that while pedestrianisation can bring vitality to an area, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Living in Kilkenny, I realise how crucial quick hospital access is. St Luke’s General Hospital and Aut Even Hospital are both outside the ring road, making High Street an essential route for many.

Pedestrianising High Street could complicate things for those needing swift medical attention.

I’ve often thought about the elderly and those with limited mobility. Imagine an emergency requiring detours around a pedestrianised High Street — this could be a serious health risk.

Some suggest alternative routes or better public transport might help, but implementing those changes

seamlessly isn’t guaranteed.

I’ve seen towns promise better transport with pedestrianisation, only to fall short. We must balance a pedestrian-friendly High Street with the urgent needs for quick hospital access.

The stakes are too high for mistakes.

After considering the pros and cons of pedestrianising High Street in Kilkenny, it’s clear that both sides present compelling arguments. On one hand, pedestrianisation could breathe new life into the area, offering a safer, more vibrant space for locals and visitors alike. On the other hand, we can’t ignore the potential disruption to traffic and access to essential services. My recommendation would be to trial pedestrianisation during weekends or special events first.

This way, we can gauge the impact and make more informed, balanced decisions moving forward.

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News Dunbell’s Denis Drennan says Govt “should be ashamed” of collapsed farm incomes revealed by Survey The President of ICMSA, Denis Drennan, has said that last month’s Teagasc National Farm Survey, released today, shows a 69% collapse in dairy farm incomes in just the last year. Mr. Drennan said that Government’s inaction in the face of the collapse in farmer incomes and the value of the agriculture sector had moved past ‘just’ hapless confusion and contradictions must now be deemed deliberate and a matter of State policy.

Mr. Drennan said that any reasonable examination of the data would indict the Government of “at the very least” incompetence if not downright sabotage. “Try and imagine any other occupation in Ireland working a 60-hour week where a Government agency produces figures showing a fall income in just a single calendar year of almost 70%?

Try and imagine a situation in, for instance, the public sector where any group of workers were asked to just shrug and accept a fall in income of even 7% - still less 70%. Imagine the response and imagine the Government falling over itself to apologise and come forward with reasons explaining away the fall in income. Our farmers – arguably the best in the world – are losing their livelihoods and the Irish Government

just shrugs and moves on preparing the next round of ‘Green’ regulations or useless and half-baked schemes aimed at non-commercial farming and funded at the expense of the farmers – like the milk suppliers – who are already seeing their incomes falling by massive double-digits year-on-year.

It’s actually impossible to exaggerate the shambles that the Government has made of what was until recently Irish Agri’s ‘Flagship’ sector – the one area in which Ireland was deemed ‘worldbeating’ and the economic engine of rural Ireland”, said he Dunbell farmer, who is the second President of the State’s specialist dairy farmer organisation provided by the local Executive.

To illustrate his point, Mr Drennan cited the Teagasc figures that calculate the income of a single labour unit at €34,567 (the €49,432 figure is based on 1.43 labour units) and he noted that at that rate farmers were working well below the minimum hourly rate set out by Law when you take debt repayments of the average dairy farmer into account. “The average dairy farmer works at least a 60-hour week at €34,567 they are coming out with about €11 per hour before they meet debt repayments.

The Irish Government and the civil servants responsible for the state of the dairy sector should be ashamed to show their faces in public on the basis of those figures”, continued Mr Drennan.

The ICMSA President said that the pretence that nothing could be done about the farm income situation and that it was just ‘market forces’ at play was to add insult to injury. “We do not accept that there’s nothing that can be done; at the very least the Irish Government could stop introducing policies that cost farmers money and take their regulatory ‘foot’ off the necks of these farmers.

The average dairy farmer has debt of €136,171, much – if not most – of which can be tracked back directly to Government action whether on stocking rates, slurry storage, inaction on excessive inputs costs and diseases, or wholly inadequate direct supports. Everywhere you look the Government’s policy is either to do nothing to make it better or – more often – to do something that makes it worse”, said Mr Drennan.

“They should be ashamed of those figures and determined to turn them around. If they’re not then we’ll know all we need to know about their attitude and competence”, he concluded.

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Kilkenny Care Centre

Official Opening Centre by May Photos by Leo Murphy Photography

Kilkenny Care Centre has officially op Mayor Andrew McGuinness officiated at the official opening of the new Kilkenny Care Centre and said: “Kilkenny Care Centre is already providing much needed nursing home care to the elderly community of Kilkenny city. This centally located facility improves the health outcomes of older people to age well living in their own communities” Kilkenny Care Centre is managed by Mowlam Healthcare who also manage Archersrath Nursing Nursing Home in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny Care Centre nursing home has 62 Resident living in this 90 bed purpose built, modern nursing home. The nursing home is contributing to the ongoing enhancement of care for its Residents, giving peace of mind to

families knowing that a loved one is receiving expert care, attention, stimulation and support in a secure and compassionate environment.

Chief Executive Officer Mowlam Healthcare Michele McCormack said: “We are delighted to open Kilkenny Care Centre. It is already providing long term care and short term care for older people in the community. We continue to work closely with St. Luke's General Hospital step down care and long term care. I would like to sincerely thank our Director of Nursing Claire Whiting and her dedicated staff for their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm to Kilkenny Care Centre”.

Director of Nursing Claire Whiting added:

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Kilkenny Care Centre

of Kilkenny Care yor McGuinness

ened its nursing home in Kilkenny city “I am so proud to be part of the Kilkenny Care Centre team. It is a modern yet homely building which provides much-needed care for older people and their families in Kilkenny and Carlow. This is a caring, bright and welcoming facility staffed by a highly trained and compassionate team of people”.

Mowlam Healthcare is an Irish owned and operated organisation. Currently Mowlam Healthcare operates 31 nursing homes around the country. Mowlam Healthcare provides high quality and standards of person-centred nursing home care with compassion, dignity and respect. Our clear focus is “To Enhance the Quality of Life for Older People“

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

Opinion

High noon in Callan: Part two

A tale of two factions

Green Street Callan possibly 1900s

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

The fight arranged between Denton and Barry (and their followers) loomed.

Edmund Barry had refused to withdraw his allegation regarding the pig. He’d accepted Denton’s challenge to a duel between their respective factions. The contest was set for noon on November 20th.

From early morning on that day, hundreds of men began assembling for the fight.

Denton’s faction had been training on the Fair Green for almost a week before the event. Barry’s followers were equally prepared for battle.

As midday approached, the rival groups took up their positions on the Green.

An English ‘gentleman of leisure’, who happened to be passing through Callan at the time described the scene: “It put me in mind of the field at Waterloo, with the endless ranks of warriors. I dare say... these Irish take their quarrels seriously. I wonder what the issue was” He didn’t stay around to find out. The tense atmosphere was not to his liking and he ordered his coach driver to take him post haste out of Callan.

Under a bleak winter sky, the factions faced each other.

Eyes blazed with defiance and hatred. Denton shouted across at Barry, inviting him to apologise and admit he was lying about the pig. Barry

A faction fight provided an opportunity to get even but doubled up as a great day out

just laughed and spat on the ground beside him. He declined the offer.

Not only had Denton stole McNiff’s pig, he suggested, but he had unlawfully removed more than 50 other pigs from farms in the Callan district over a four-year period.

He went on to imply that Denton was “a glutton for pork and bacon” and had eaten all the pigs himself in “the dead of night” after robbing hard working farmers of their livestock.

Denton gave the signal to attack. Barry’s contingent used willow baskets and sceachs (bushes) to ward off a fusillade of stones that rained down on them from the opposite camp. But many heads were gashed and bruised by the missiles.

Denton’s men then advanced towards Barry’s faction.

The ensuing clash was prolonged and bloody. Blackthorn sticks lashed out in all directions. Wrestling, bare knuckle fights, and an early version of kick boxing dominated the action, though men could also be seen dragging their foes along the ground by the hair, or beating them with axe handles, shovels, and other implements deemed appropriate for the occasion.

After about two hours of continuous, hate-filled strife, the long arm of the law managed to reach Callan.

Forty-seven baton-wielding

Callan was steeped in the faction fight tradition

constables came running through the town, heading towards the Fair Green. Sergeant Colin O’Keeffe beheld the scene of mayhem.

He shook his head in disbelief. Standing in front of his men, he called upon the factions to disperse or face the consequences. But the fighting continued.

He repeated his plea three times. Then, as he began to spell out the implications of non-compliance with his decree, a stone struck him in the forehead. Blood oozed from the wound. The police charged into the ranks of the

faction fighters. Batons met blackthorn sticks as both sides in the dispute turned against the police.

The resulting three-sided conflict subsided only after the combatants had exhausted themselves. Ironically, Barry and Denton did not come to blows in the melee.

They both let their loyal followers do the fighting for them.

Neither man was among those arrested and taken to Kilkenny jail, and neither turned up in court to give moral support to the fighters when justice was meted out.

The convicted brawlers had to pay their own fines.

On November 25th, less than a week after the showdown, there was a final twist in this tale of two factions: Patrick McNiff strolled into the Red Lion tavern.

He ordered a drink and then made a casual remark, which stunned those who heard it.

No pig had ever been stolen from him, he revealed, and what, he asked, was all that trouble about on the Green?

(My book Callan in words and pictures is available from Amazon)

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Book launch

History and connections mad Jimmy Hillman, Paula Dunne and Joan Hillman

Photos by Pat Shortall On Friday the 23rd August, the local history book Castleinch Kilkenny: Connections Through Time was launched by Cllr David Fitzgerald at a very pleasant event. The event, at the Castleinch Venue, was very well attended with about 250 people present. Located in the heart of Castleinch, a little over two miles from the city, this was a very suitable setting for a book that chronicles the area. The venue, run by the Power family, accommodated the large crowd comfortably - refreshments were available. This was a community event for local people and those interested in Kilkenny’s history.

The gathering was told that a few years ago, a local man, Richard Ryan, was concerned by the dereliction of the historic roofless St. David’s Church at Castleinch and the surrounding graveyard. The church had been neglected for many years and the graveyard was inaccessible for those who wished to visit it.

Showing great initiative, Richard Ryan then mobilised a group of local residents to tackle the problem. This group became the ‘Castleinch Church and Graveyard Committee’. He then made contact with Michael O’Dwyer, the well-known and highly respected historian.

Michael had been making independent efforts to protect the church for over a decade. He was aware of its significance and was especially concerned about the condition of the Joseph Cuffe (1679) monument. He recognised that this ornate monument to the forefather of the Desart family was in need of protection.

As the work to make the graveyard accessible continued it became clear that there was much history in this modest site.

Michael O’Dwyer then decided that a book should be written about Castleinch. He gathered a number of local historians, namely Dr Richard Hyland (who became co-editor) Mary Casteleyn, Bernie Kirwan and Aideen O’Reilly and collectively they have produced Castleinch Kilkenny: Connections Through Time. The book now records the history and connections of the old parish of Castleinch from Aughtanny to Bamford and from Goslingstown to Rathaleek.

Distinguished guests were welcomed, notably Deputy John McGuinness, Mayor Andrew McGuinness and Mr Sam Harper, Diocesan Reader, who represented the Church of Ireland. Also, a number of Roman Catholic clerics including Fr. Peter Muldowney, who

Victor, Richie and Sandra Ryan

represented St. Patrick’s parish were acknowledged. Councillor Joe Lyons, Ms Regina Fitzpatrick the County Heritage Officer and Kilkenny Archaeological Society officers also attended. Minister Malcolm Noonan sent his apologies.

However, when introductions were made, the greatest applause was reserved for the members of the St. Finbarr’s Hurling Club, Castleinch. Captain of the Team, Phil Delahunty, and renowned team member Paddy (‘The Rock’) Maher were lauded. To add to the occasion a jersey from the ‘Finbarr’s’ who were the Northern Junior Champions of 1956 was displayed. Ber Dunphy, daughter of the late Pa O’Neill (Margaretsfield) - who was an enthusiastic club-man) brought the jersey to the event.

Sponsors who provided generously toward the publication were thanked.

Dr Richard Hyland, co-editor

Siobhán Hall

John Sullivan

Tom Brennan, Gary O’Dwyer and Frank Kavanagh

Stephen and Regina Breen

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Book launch

e as Castleinch book launched Two members of the St. Finbarr’s Hurling Club, Paddy (‘The Rock’) Maher and team captain Phil Delahunty, were lauded at the launch

Imelda Moloney, Ann O’Dwyer, Phil Delahunty, Michael O’Dwyer (co-editor) and Fr Tom Coyle

Paddy Kenna, Kickham Street

Cllr David Fitzgerald commended all involved for their efforts to promote and protect their local heritage

Members of Kilkenny history group Jimmy Neary and Michael Murphy

Richard Hyland, co-editor of Castleinch Kilkenny was MC at the launch

Bernie Kirwan Luke Roche, Paddy Neary and Anne-Karoline Distel

Cáit Ní Mhurchú, Elaine Comerford and Linda O’Neill

and committee member, welcomed and thanked all those who helped with the book- authors Michael O’Dwyer, Aideen O’Reilly, Bernie Kirwan and Mary Casteleyn and the committee of Richard Ryan, Mary Lacey, Gary Yates, Michael Power, Luke Roche John Rafter, Michael Condon, Paddy Lacey and Ian Morrissey.

Cllr David Fitzgerald, also a local man, with a passion for history and heritage, in

an eloquent speech, officially launched the book and commended all involved for their efforts to promote and protect their local heritage.

Formalities then concluded and those assembled dispersed not before further conviviality.

The book Castleinch Kilkenny: Connections Through Time is now available in local shops with proceeds going towards the preservation of St. David’s Church and Graveyard.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

Global Report The ongoing protests in India over the gang-rape and murder of a women doctor has once again raised the plight of the treatment of, and the sexual violence against, women in the country.

India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows that a woman is raped in the country every 16 minutes. Ninety-six per cent of the rapes are committed by someone known to the victim.

The recent rape and murder of the doctor killed in Kolkata is just one of the many examples of rape. For now, the streets of West Bengal echo with demands for justice for the 31-year-old medic.

The India Today Open Source Investigation (OSINT) team recently found a plethora of links and multimedia files offering purported videos of the victim’s “sex” being hosted as “porn” and shared across multiple social media platforms. Worryingly, the footage of rape is among the top searches in India as well as Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and UAE. Google Trends data suggests that search volume spiked on August 16.

The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, demanded that the perpetrator of the crime be hanged by the end of the month. However, in 2012, when news of the Park Street rape case made headlines, Mamta Banerjee attacked the survivor, Suzette Jordan, by calling the gang rape a “fabricated incident”.

Such denial and victim blaming is not an isolated incident. It follows a pattern.

For example, in May 2023, two Kuki-Zo women were paraded naked and filmed by a mob in Kangpokpi district, Manipur. The horrific video, which emerged in July 2023, shook the nation. However, on August 20 last, The Wire reported about a leaked audio clip which was first shared by the Kuki Students’ Organisation.

The voice in the audio — School shootings are, sadly, a fact of life in the US. The recent Georgia shooting has now reignited debate over smartphones in schools. School safety experts say they are not only a distraction in class, they can also be a distraction during an emergency, when survival may depend on splitsecond decisions.

As shots rang out at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, terrified students pulled out their phones.

Through frantic texts that they feared would be their final messages, they told their families that they could hear gunshots, that they were scared and that they loved them.

Screenshots of their texts circulated on social media after the shooting, which killed two students and two teachers and injured nine other people. The texts have reignited a long-running debate: Should schools allow smartphones, which can be a major distraction in class but a lifeline dur-

all the allegations and called it ‘media hype’.

In 2018, when an eightyear-old Asifa was raped and murdered in a temple, Hindutva ministers and lawyers marched in support of the men who raped and murdered the eight-year-old girl.

In 2022, police found the dead body of 27-year-old Shraddha Walkar. The young woman was strangled, cut into 35 pieces and stored in a refrigerator by her live-in partner before he disposed of them in the forest. The Indian media touted the gruesome murder as a “fridge/refrigerator murder” and reported all the gory details for months.

However, there was no acknowledgement of the violence against women. Instead, the public and politi-

cal discourse in the country quickly turned communal and fixated on victim blaming and moral policing.

All the rapists, except one, in the Hathras rape case were acquitted just days before International Women’s Day 2023.

The 19-year-old Dalit woman was raped and killed by the upper caste men of Bhulgarhi village in Uttar Pradesh the year before. The local police burned her body in the presence of the District Magistrate without her family’s presence or permission. Upper-caste residents of the village blame the girl as a person with ‘loose morals’ and continue to support the rapists/murderers.

On 15 August 2022, when eleven men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano were released from prison by the Gujarat

government — backed by the Home Ministry’s permission — they were welcomed with garlands. Two years later, in 2024, India’s Supreme Court nullified their remission orders only after people filed multiple Public Interest Litigations.

Sadly, India’s collective conscience seems to be enraged only after the victims are dead. Fixing retributive justice imposes the blame only on the perpetrators while absolving the society, which is equally guilty of the crime.

According to Deloitte’s 2024 Women @ Work report, nearly half of the women are concerned about their safety at work or while travelling to work. Though the number of women who have experienced non-inclusive behaviours like harassment or micro-aggressions has decreased, 43% admit to experiencing such behaviours in the last year.

The total number of Prevention Of Sexual Harassment (POSH) complaints filed increased from 1,807 in FY2223 to 2,325 in FY23-24 (a 29% year-on-year increase). The total pending resolution of complaints has also increased from 260 in FY 22-23 to 435 in FY 23-24 (a 67% year-on-year increase).

Yet, sexual violence continues to be treated as a marginal issue. Furthermore, state and social impunity for perpetrators is emboldening them.

The success of films that uphold and glorify misogynous abuse of women—such as Arjun Reddy, Animal, Kabir Singh, etc—show how ideas of stalking, rape, aggression and possessiveness are justified as love. It shows how the worrying increase in rape cases is deeply connected to popular culture that encourages the control of women’s bodies and their autonomy.

Children, adolescents and women are not safe. Stronger laws alone cannot change the occurrence of rape. State and familial impunity given to predators must end.

ceiving a median of 237 alerts daily, with about a quarter arriving during the school day.

At least 13 states have passed laws or put policies in place that ban or restrict students’ use of phones in schools statewide, or recommend

that local districts enact their own restrictions, according to Education Week. Individual school districts, both large and small, have also implemented policies that limit or prohibit cellphone use, with a growing number relying on magnetically sealed pouches to lock up the devices so students aren’t tempted to check them when they should be learning.

Being able to get in touch if there’s an emergency is the top reason parents say they want their children to have access to phones at school, according to a National Parents Union survey conducted in February of more than 1,500 parents of K-12 public school students.

While parents may want to reach their children should there be shots fired or another emergency, phones “can actually detract from the safety of students,” according to Ken Trump, president of National School Safety and Security

Services, a consulting firm that focuses on school security and emergency preparedness training.

“If you have 20 kids in a classroom and they’re texting, calling parents, livestreaming — they’re not paying full attention to the directions of adults and not being fully situationally aware of things they may need to quickly do to save their lives,” he said. “You have seconds to follow directions and move locations.”

Phones can create other hazards too, he said. Their ringing or buzzing might draw unwanted attention to classrooms where people are trying to hide. Having an influx of students making calls home or to 911 at the same time can overload phone networks or the emergency response system. And having parents race to school to check on their child after they receive an alarming text could mean emergency personnel can’t get in or out.

Ongoing sexual violence against women in India said to be of Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh — can be heard making light of the crime against the two survivors, saying he is doubtful if the two women complainants from the video were molested and raped. The ruling government has refuted the audio; however, it is currently under investigation. Following the audio leak, 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, including eight BJP MLAs, have demanded that Singh be debarred.

Another Eexample: In 2023, India’s athletes — who won medals in the Olympics and Commonwealth games — protested against sexual harassment by former Wrestling Federation of India Chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for months.

However, Prime Minister

Modi did not respond. On the day of the inauguration of the new Parliament by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when thousands of people marched towards the India Gate, the police dragged the wrestlers and arrested them.

Another example is a decade ago, in November 2012, the gang rape and murder of Nirbhaya made headlines.

But it soon faded from the front pages and disappeared.

One of the rapists, a juvenile, was arrested and sent to a rehabilitation home for three years in North Delhi as he was less than 18 years of age. Later, he was released. Reportedly, he was ‘one of the most brutal’ among all the accused, as he attacked the victim with an iron rod. However, a Juvenile Justice Board brushed aside

Shootings raise question of mobiles in school

ing emergencies?

There is clear research showing the detriments of smartphones, particularly to adolescents. The phones and their addictive social media platforms have been tied to poor sleep, cyberbullying and

unhealthy body esteem in young people.

A 2023 study by technology and media research group Common Sense Media found that adolescents are overwhelmed with notifications from their smartphones — re-

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Motors

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

Community Radio Photos by Pat Shortall In 1979, two courageous entrepreneurs in Kilkenny, Michael Minogue and Liam Carroll, realised their long-held ambitions of getting their beloved Kilkenny connected to the World on the airwave network. Later to be joined by Fr. Gerry Joyce and other Kilkenny businessmen it was a testing ambition from the moment they first contemplated the idea to the day in October 45 years ago , when the famous Station identity –“You are listening to Kilkenny Community Radio” first wafted it’s way into the homes and workplaces of the Kilkenny Community.

The occasion was commemorated with a touching Birthday celebration at their wholly-owned premises recently.

A large number of people who were part of that Radio shared memories of times past. They spoke of former colleagues who had passed to the ethereal World of radio waves, of colleagues still manning the mics and controls, of telling the stories, and of the great thrill it was to be able to inform and share joy, happiness, and sometimes not so with their own Community on their own Community Radio.

The recently appointed Manager of Community Radio Kilkenny City was positively bubbling with pride as she welcomed all of the people to the Birthday celebration. “I am delighted,” said Jackie O’Neill, “to welcome you here and your presence will most certainly give us all a great surge of determination, and courage to march forward to greater things. Our own people, the people of Kilkenny, have been hugely supportive. That factor alone has become hugely obvious to me over the short period of time I have been here. On a day such as this, many people present will travel back to the early times, and how the vision of the founding fathers has manifested itself to what we now have, a thriving media outlet that serves its own Community with an unqualified distinction.” The Manager thanked all her staff who organised the event so brilliantly. She thanked the musicians - the talented siblings in Burnchurch, plus Paul Barry and Julian O’Dwyer.

She thanked all the Public dignitaries, the local Clergy, community groups and organisations, and indeed the listeners.

She was also delighted to tell the audience about a message she received from Taoiseach Simon Harris who congratulated the Radio on its great achievement, and its contribution to their own people and further afield.

Taoiseach Simon Harris also made a commitment that he most certainly will visit the Radio on the next occasion he will be in the vicinity.

Readers of the Observer may remember back to 1979. Larry Holmes retained his heavyweight world title by stopping Mike Weaver in Maddison Square Gardens in the 12th round; Willie Mullins trained I Am Maximus to win the Aintree Grand National with Paul Townend in the saddle; Art Garfunkel’s Bright Eyes was number one hit in April, knocked off its perch by Hallelujah (Milk and Honey for a week), and got back at the head of the pack again for a further three weeks; Jack Lynch was Taoiseach; the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys to win the Superbowl, and the Shamrocks from Ballyhale won a County Championship against Erins Own of Castlecomer. Meanwhile, a radio acorn was sown by two fearless Kilkenny sons which morphed into Kilkenny’s one and only Community Radio. And boys oh boys did they celebrate.

Malcolm Noonan TD, Mayor Andrew McGuinness, John McGuinness TD and Nickey Brennan (Community Radio)

Memories galore as Comm

Radio presenter Des Murphy who presents his ‘Good Morning Kilkenny’ show on Community Radio

Board member Sinead O’Callaghan from TC Tyres addresses the gathering

Kilkenny singers Paul Barry and Julian O’Dwyer who performed at the 45th birthday celebrations

Presenter Colin Kennedy playing music

Fr Jim Murphy, Jackie O’Neill and Cllr David Fitzgerald

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Sinead O’Callaghan (CRKC board), Martina Dowd, and station manager Jackie O’Neill prepare to cut the birthday cake

Community Radio

John and Ann Dunphy with Michael Walsh

Radio presenters, supporters and staff gathered at Community Radio Kilkenny City to celebrate the station’s 45th birthday

y Radio celebrate their 45th birthday

Michael Minogue

Pat Treacy (Sports) and Ann Dunphy

Jackie O’Neill with Declan Gibbons (Compliance and Development Coordinator with CRAOL)

Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick and Regina Blunden

Seamus Nugent (KRSP) and Kaylan Ram Kusuma (Kilkenny Cricket Club)

Thumbs up from Community Radio presenter Ann Marie Hogan

Cllr Michael Doyle and sports presenter Barry Henriques

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

Food & Drink

Dine Me Come

With

Apple, cheese and potato pie Prep: 25 mins Cook:1 hr and 15 mins plus 30 mins chilling Serves: 4-6

Put a savoury twist on apple pie with potato, cheese and onion, as well as mustard and thyme. The sweet and savoury flavours create a stunning pie Ingredients • 30g salted butter • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • 2 large onions, halved and finely sliced • ½ bunch of thyme, leaves picked • 30g plain flour • 500ml vegetable stock • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar • 450g potatoes (we used Maris Piper), cut into 2-3cm chunks • 3 apples, peeled, cored and chopped into 1-2cm chunks • 150g mature cheddar, grated

Crispy halloumi tacos with spicy coleslaw Ingredients • 200g halloumi, cut into 1cm cubes • 1 tbsp plain flour • 2 tsp Cajun-style seasoning • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 Morrisons Courgette, halved, then sliced into half-moons • 8 mini plain tortilla wraps • 1 lime, cut into wedges For the coleslaw • 1 green chilli, thinly sliced • ¼ white cabbage, shredded • 1 carrot, grated • 4 tbsp mayonnaise • handful of coriander, chopped

STEP 3 Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a large pan of cold water, bring to the boil and cook for 4-5 mins until just cooked and still holding their shape. Drain well, then stir into the sauce. Add the apples, cheddar and some seasoning, and stir again. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

STEP 5 Bake for 50 mins, keeping an eye on it – you may need to cover the top with foil if it’s starting to brown too quickly.

Leave to cool for at least 10 mins before serving.

Method STEP 1

Pile crispy fried halloumi and courgettes into tortilla wraps with a crunchy cabbage coleslaw for an easy vegetarian taco night.

STEP 2 To make the filling, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over a medium heat, then add the oil and onions and cook for 10-15 mins until caramelised.

Add the thyme and fry for 1 min more.

Tip in the flour, and stir to combine.

Gradually stir in the stock, adding it in small amounts to prevent lumps forming. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. Stir in the mustard and vinegar towards the end of the cooking time.

STEP 4 Pour the filling into a 28cm oval baking dish (ours was 28 x 18.5 x 6.5cm).

While it cools, roll out the pastry on a surface lightly dusted with flour to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut into strips roughly 1cm wide. Lay half the strips across the dish horizontally, leaving gaps of a few millimetres inbetween, then, one by one, weave in the remaining strips vertically, using an over and under technique, also spacing them apart by a few millimetres. Re-roll any trimmings and cut into flowers, leaves, or other shapes to decorate, if you like (see tip, below).

Arrange any pastry shapes on top, then brush with the beaten egg.

For the pastry • 300g plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 70g cheddar, grated • 150g cold butter, cut into cubes • 1 egg, beaten

Prep: 10 mins Cook: 20 mins Serves: 2

First, make the pastry. Tip the flour, cheese and a pinch of salt into a large bowl and mix. Add the butter and rub it in using your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Mix in 4-5 tbsp cold water, and bring together into a dough. Wrap and chill for 30 mins.

Method STEP 1 Tip the halloumi cubes into a bowl with the flour, Cajun-style seasoning and some salt and pepper. Toss to coat well. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a mediumhigh heat and fry the coated halloumi cubes for 4-6 mins until crispy all over. Scoop out onto a plate. Add the Morrisons Courgette to the pan, season and fry for 6-8 mins until golden and soft.

STEP 2 Mix all the slaw ingredients together in a bowl along with some seasoning. Warm the tortilla wraps in a dry frying pan for 30 seconds on each side, or in the microwave for 1 min. Pile the halloumi and courgette into the warmed tortillas, top with a spoonful of the slaw, and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.

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Poetry

White Twine and Old Suitcases The Kilkenny Involvement Centre and Recovery College South East have produced a wonderful anthology of poetry and prose. ‘White Twine and old suitcases’ comprises of 128 pages and 60 authors and is complemented by some wonderful photos and artwork by TASK camera club. It is printed by Modern Printers. It is definitely recommended reading for all lovers of poetry. The Kilkenny Observer is happy to run the poems each week to promote creative writing and to highlight these wonderful centres. Available in all Kilkenny book shops. €10

The Long Journey “Pull up the draughts there Jimmy, tighten the belly set, loosen the britchen, give the mare a few fists of oats, dangle the bag over the tail-board and remember, don’t chuck the reins.”

I sit on the side-board, legs dangling. The Old Road smells of sulphur, smoke swirls westwards. Larry says, “There’s nothing good in an East wind.”

Brown hens and a speckled cock scrabe under the hedge at The Bloody Bridge. Two shawled women carrying bulging shopping bags wobble home towards Timberoe. A black-faced carman heads up the Side Road, the horse snorting and sweating.

“You’ll have one or two at Carroll’s, Micky?” says Larry.

“Nah, I don’t think so, not now Larry, but I will down a few tonight.”

At Massford Stores, head-scarfed women chatter, the air filled with the odd burst of laughter.

“Good day to you Mam, how’s himself?”

“Ah, sure you know, wheezing like a cat in a snare, though he’s still as randy as a puck goat.”

We move on. Passing Dwyer’s Pub, a dog pulls on the mare’s tail.

This lady knows how to kick and the dog quickly runs away. 79 At Massford Bridge we meet two ass and cars, loaded with the miner’s firing, one load for Cretty, one load for The Glen. Black bicycles lean against Lacy’s white-washed wall. Smoke rises from the chimney. The whiff of fags and tobacco filter through the door. Sun glistens on the new thatch. A man leans on the half door, sucking a large bottle of stout.

“The day is holding well, though I’d say there’s rain somewhere, I can nearly smell it.”

“You could be right, a mhic,” says Larry.

We move on. We arrive at Carey’s Cross.

“You know this place?” asks Larry.

“No!” I reply, “new to me, never here before.”

“Well take a good look from here on, because if this mare has to come back, ’tis you will be bringing her, on your own.”

It’s all uphill now, a few gaps, gates, and stiles. Cattle, horses, asses and goats in the fields. Very few houses, unlike Moneenroe.

The mare nibbles at the roadside grass. I’m in new country now, although only a few miles from home, it’s a strange world. I want to go further. A man ploughs a field near Coolnaleen. The men talk across the hedge, the weight of cattle, the price of cattle and pigs at Ballinakill Fair and Comer Fair. Both agree, good prices, good demand for fat bullocks, mad looking for strippers.

We move on. “That’s the Sraid Road on the left, called after the North Men.” At the Big House, we turn right, down a winding lane.

“Look at that place now, don’t forget where to turn.”

“It’s a big house,” I think to myself. “It sure has big windows, seems like they have a large family too. I thought the largest family was in Moneenroe, but I counted over thirty in that yard, and there’s more at the back. Wait till I tell Mammy.”

We move on and arrive at the place.

“Mind your manners now,” warns Larry, “say please and thanks.”

The little lady brings me into the kitchen.

“What, you’re only nine, too young to see what goes on out there.”

Soon I’m drinking red lemonade and eating Marietta Biscuits.

“Thank you, Mam.” “You’re a mannerly boy, God Bless you. Call me Mary.”

Willie-Joe Meally

The Picnic As we turn the corner where the lane divides, one track running to Summers’ house and one hightailing through the empty fields, a flock of sparrows rises from its busyness, like dust of the year just gone.

Red haws still smoulder and there is the small but perfect miracle of a woodbine flowering in the face of winter’s wind.

This is November and the mountain bends against the first nightfall of sleeting, sightless snow.

Times are tough, light hardly breaks but our days will not be always so.

(For Alan Counihan)

I love picnics at any time of year really but especially in summer.

Where will we go?

Two school friends we plan for days ahead.

Yes, the riverbank in the big field near the old castle.

MiWadi orange, cheese sandwiches and Fig Roll biscuits, flask and cups all neatly packed in a Tupperware container and canvas bag with towel and togs.

Over two ditches and down the long laneway watching for the bull, we reach our Tramore, change, swim and stretch.

Trannie and birdsong mingle and dreams happen.

John MacKenna

Jane Meally

November

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Community & GAA Notes

KilkennyGAA clubs and Communitynews CLARA MINOR MISHAP The Clara minors exited the championship in disappointing fashion when they were beaten 0-17 to 0-11 by Graigue Ballycallan in Clara. Eleven first half wides sucked the life out of the Clara boys. They trailed 0-9 to 0-5 at the break but really should have been at least level with their less wasteful opponents.

Ballycallan had landed five frees in the first half while Clara hadn’t scored a single free out of five decent chances. Points from play by Davy Barcoe(2), Conor Hoyne, Pádraic Meany and Philip Carrigan had kept Clara somewhat in touch but a more spirited performance was required in the second half to pull out the victory.

While the frees started to go over in the second half unfortunately the scores from play dried up. A lot of credit must go to a resolute GBC defence who were very good. David Barcoe moved in full forward and caught some good ball but even though he got fouled a few times, Clara didn’t gain enough on the scoreboard for Davy’s good work. A penalty that Davy won was saved fairly easily by the GBC goalie and Clara resorted to going for goals a little bit early, all to no avail. A late point by Conor Hoyne was Clara’s only score from play of the half, while GBC also only managed one from play. However their expert freetaker Cormac Neary kept their noses ahead throughout and they deservedly progressed to the next round. Clara actually scored six points to GBCs five from play in the whole game which further emphasised the significance of the free taking.

The Clara half back line of Hugh Kelly, Luke Lawlor and Philip Carrigan were very good here. The backs as a whole didn’t give up any goal chances and Ruairí Bowden Mullen was never troubled. Star players David Barcoe and Conor Hoyne each had their moments while Joe Power and Pádraic Meany tried very hard to reverse the result. Subs Tommy Delaney and Bill Kealy looked lively too. Thanks also to the Clara management team of Trevor Cummins, John Carrigan and Chris Bolger for their efforts for the year.

Team - Ruairi Bowden Mullen, Daniel Ryan, Orí Phelan, John Bergin. Hugh Kelly, Luke Lawlor, Philip Carrigan 0-1. David Barcoe 0-3, 0-1f, Conor Hoyne 0-4, 0-2f. Pádraic Meany 0-1, Joe Power 0-2f, Dillon Cummins. Eoin Corr, Sean Byrne, Jake Maher. Subs used Tommy Delaney, Bill Kealy.

U14s REFUSE TO LOSE Aaron Carrigan nailed a last second pressure free to tie the contest against Bennettsbridge for the tenth time. In doing so Aaron brought his personal tally to 1-11 on the night and ensured a well deserved replay for a gallant Clara team. This was a pulsating game from start to finish and was a credit to both teams, who went at it hammer and tongs, and there wasn’t a dirty stroke in it. Hurling as it should be played and anyone that was privileged to be there won’t want to miss the replay.

Bennettsbridge had the best of the early exchanges and led four points to two after the first quarter but Clara dominated the second quarter and scored six unanswered points in a row to take an eight points to four lead to the break. Aaron Carrigan had accounted for five of those points (4 frees) and Mícheál Meany 0-2, 0-1f and Sam Corr 0-1 were the other scorers.

When Jack Allen and Carrigan from a free scored two of the second half’s first three points, Clara had their biggest lead of the match at five points. But an equally game Bennettsbridge were soon level with a goal and two points and after Aaron Carrigan had regained the lead for Clara the Bridge responded with two more points to again to take the lead. Aaron equalised again and suddenly players from both sides were going down with cramps and it looked like the next surge would be telling. Bennettsbridge landed a free and then their centre back galloped forward to score a goal and it felt like they might have finally broken the Clara resistance. However a sweeping Clara move from the puck out resulted in Dara Leamy picking out Aaron Carrigan, who crashed it to the net and promptly scored an equaliser with the next attack. Aaron then put Clara ahead with a free but the Bridge equalised at the death to take the tie to extra time. Clara 1-14 to 2-11 for the Bridge.

Bennettsbridge led 0-2 to 0-1 at the end of the first 10 minutes of the extra time (super score by Mícheál Meany for Clara) but Clara won the second half by the same score with Rory Treacy and Aaron Carrigan nervelessly from a free providing the equaliser with light fading fast. And so it goes to a replay and one that shouldn’t be missed. Clara had heroes all over the field here. Ciarán Gibbons was outstanding in goals and brought off a couple of stupendous saves. Liam O Callaghan, Liam Treacy and Oliver Butler were very solid in the full back line. Mícheál Meany was a real stalwart at centre back and was ably flanked by a very tidy Jake Brett and Matthew Cooke. Rory Treacy and Jack Byrne battled very hard against very good Bennettsbridge opponents in midfield. While Aaron Carrigan took most of the scoring honours upfront he had very good lieutenants in Sam Corr, Jack Allen, Robert Coogan, Dara Leamy and Michael O Keeffe while substitute James McDonald looked very sharp when he came on.

Team - Ciarán Gibbons, Liam O Callaghan, Liam Treacy, Oliver Butler. Jake Brett, Mícheál Meany 0-3, 0-1f, Matthew Cooke.

Rory Treacy 0-1, Jack Byrne. Aaron Carrigan 1-11, 0-7f, Sam Corr 0-1, Jack Allen 0-1. Robert Coogan, Dara Leamy, Michael O Keeffe. Sub used James McDonald.

MULLINAVAT MARCH ON Mullinavat beat Clara senior hurlers on Saturday afternoon in Dunnamaggin and in doing so qualified for a Shield final and a direct quarter final slot. Other results meant that it didn’t mat-

ter a jot to Clara whether they won or not but they had a good chance here to maintain momentum and pick up another victory. As it is they now face Bennettsbridge in a first round game next weekend who themselves finished on a sour note with a defeat to Tullaroan. The 1-17 to 2-11 loss for Clara isn’t the end of the world as they know themselves that they had ample opportunities to take the points. They shot a total of nineteen wides over the course of the game, as well as dropping three balls short into the hands of the goalie. Mullinavat had nine wides but in fairness they created numerous goal chances but found Kevin Nolan in the Clara goal in top form.

Mullinavat scored the first two points of the match as Clara squandered their first three chances during the same period.

Rory Glynn opened Clara’s account and two points from Conor Hoyne and Martin O Connell levelled the match after another’Vat point. Mullinavat edged ahead three more times but were clawed back each time by scores from Chris Bolger, Liam Ryan and James Bergin (free). Then Ger Malone, who was really troubling the Clara defence, pounced for a goal and it looked like a big score. But almost from the puck out the ball broke kindly for Jack Langton with a little help from Liam Ryan and Jack surged clear of the Mullinavat cover before unleashing a brilliant low finish to the far corner. Tied game again but instead of that score lifting Clara they conceded the last three points of the half to trail at the break 1-9 to 1-6. Clara had already shot 13 of their wides by that juncture.

Their shooting improved in the second half but they didn’t create as many chances. Dara Glynn had switched onto Ger Malone very late in the first half and was denying him the ball while Matt Kenny was lording it at centre back and Kevin Nolan was still performing his heroics. Scores from Martin O Connell, Conor Hoyne, Matt Kenny (65) and Conor O Shea (free) had Clara back within a point. There was a long hard fought period where neither side scored and one felt that the next score would be very important. It fell to Mullinavat’s Padraig Dempsey- a super point from distance. However soon afterwards Chris Bolger gained possession, slipped a lovely handpass to Rory Glynn and Rory crashed the sliotar to the back of the net. Ten minutes to play, Clara up by a point and looking to have momentum. However a Conor O Shea free was the only other score they could muster thereafter and Mullinavat scored five more points, although only one came from play (2 frees and two 65s). Clara fluffed several more chances and didn’t benefit as they should have from some strong Paul Cody runs. Mullinavat maybe had a little more to play for and deserved their victory.

Clara will know themselves that they have to get far more incision in their attack next week to progress and the backs will need to tighten up hugely also. But they are an experienced team and have done it before so here’s hoping for a much better performance against neighbours Bennettsbridge.

Team - Kevin Nolan, Dara Glynn, Shane Staunton, Sean O Shea. Harry Boyle, Matt Kenny 0-1 x65, Martin O Connell 0-2.

Jack Langton 1-0, James Bergin 0-1f. Paul Cody, Conor O Shea 0-2f, Liam Ryan 0-1. Rory Glynn 1-1, Chris Bolger 0-1, Conor Hoyne 0-2. Subs used Joe Connolly, Peter Nolan.

JUNIORS BOW OUT Clara were beaten 2-17 to 2-10 by Dicksboro on Sunday in Bennettsbridge in a knockout Junior championship match. Clara opened with the aid of a stiff breeze and led 2-2 to 0-1 after 10 minutes. The goals arrived courtesy of James Bergin and Killian Phelan and the points from James and Joe Connolly.

Unfortunately Clara didn’t build on this start and only managed one more point from a James Bergin free before halftime.

The Boro had closed the gap to 2-3 to 0-7 at this stage and had also shot 12 wides as against three from Clara.

It took some time for Dicksboro to assert dominance in the second half as Clara hung in well. A goal by James Carroll was the killer score but the Boro could never really put daylight between the sides until after Lester Ryan had to retire with an injury. Some good free taking by James Bergin and a couple from play by Joe Connolly and Killian Phelan kept Clara in contention right to the end when a Billy Fitzpatrick free and a Sean Keenan goal finally gave the Boro some breathing space.

Team - Cian Kelly, Paddy Bolger, Tom Ryan, Evan Whearty.

Alan Coleman, Lester Ryan, Zach Lawlor. Luke Whelan, Rory O Keeffe. James Bergin 1-7, 0-6f, Joe Connolly 0-2, Sean Carrigan.

Brandon Ryan, Killian Phelan 1-1, Padraig Staunton. Subs used Ben Crow, James Dowling.

CAMOGIE The Clara girls salvaged a tough weekend for Clara GAA on Sunday in Thomastown with a fine 1-16 to 1-10 win over the home side. Victories over Thomastown are always hard to come by but Clara produced a top notch performance to land the points. They look like a team that could be peaking at the perfect time with knockout championship looming.

Team - Aoife Glynn, Rachel Whelan, Katie Ryan, Aine McDonald. Tamsin English, Laoise Nolan, Lucy Cody. Rebecca Nolan, Aisling Curtis 0-1. Lucy Boyd, Gráinne Glynn, Mary O Connell 0-3f. Emma Shortall 0-5, Niamh Byrne 1-0, Keara Ryan 0-7, 0-1f, 0-1 x 45. Sub used Grace Barcoe.

CLUB LOTTO Lotto results for 3rd Sept. Numbers drawn 4, 16, 27. No Jackpot winner. €30 each to Diarmuid Healy, Liam Nolan, Eamon Kealy, James Dowling, TJ Byrne.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS

O’Loughlin Gaels Under 11 Team winners of the Ferns Wexford Tournament last weekend.

UNDER 6’S VISIT UPMC NOWLAN PARK O’Loughlin Gaels Under 6 camogie and hurling teams both paid visits to UPMC Nowlan Park during the week. The hurlers paraded from St. John’s Park to county headquarters with a Garda escort. Each player enjoyed an entry onto the pitch through the tunnel. Drills and mini-games followed on the famous pitch and then each player had an opportunity to raise the county Senior Hurling Championship Cup in the stand.

A great way to conclude the season. Well done to everyone involved.

CAMOGIE A huge thanks to James Kelly and the team from Bravo Fitness who looked after a Camogie Fundamental Movements Session for O’Loughlin Gaels Under 6’s and Under 8’s in St. John’s Park.

The young Gaels really enjoyed it.

The O’Loughlin Gaels Intermediate Camogie team went down to Conahy Shamrocks by 2-13 to 0-10 in Jenkinstown on Sunday last in the League /Championship.

SENIOR SUCCESS O’Loughlin Gaels Senior hurling team maintained its one hundred percent in the St. Canice’s Senior Hurling League winning its round five game against Shamrocks Ballyhale by 1-23 to 1-18 in John Locke Park in Callan on Saturday last. With qualification for the League final already secured and a quarter-final place also certain the team management took the opportunity to play a number of panellists against a Shamrock’s team which was also down a number of its more prominent players.

The league final against Tullaroan will take place in UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday 15th September at 2pm.

UNDERAGE GAMES It was another busy week for O’Loughlin Gaels underage teams as the Under 16 A and D teams and the Under 14 C and D teams were all in championship action. Unfortunately all t lost out to stronger sides as John Lockes got the better of the Under 16 A team and Slieverue accounted for the O’Loughlins’ Under 16 D while the Under 14 C’s went down to Fenians/ St. Patrick’s and the D’s lost to Conahy Shamrocks. The club’s minor team also missed out on championship progress when losing out to Dicksboro in St. John’s Park on Saturday morning last by 1-22 to 2-13.

ANOTHER TOURNAMENT WIN FOR UNDER 11’S The Under 11 O’Loughlin Gaels team put in another great performance at the Ferns Wexford 2024 tournament. The team had some epic battles against, Cuala Dublin, Ballyhogue Wexford, Buffers Alley Wexford, Naomh Eanna Wexford and Kilmacud Crokes Dublin. They boys came out on top to claim the team of the tournament trophy. Hard work pays off for the up and coming stars of the future.

JUNIOR LEAGUE FINAL O’Loughlin Gaels junior hurling team suffered a narrow defeat in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior Hurling League Section B final to James Stephens in Páirc Sheamuis Stiofáin on Sunday last. The sides were level at the end of normal time 2-19 each and were still level at half time in extra time 2-22 each. With time just up the sides were still level and penalties seemed likely to settle the result but a last minute James Stephens point won the game for the Village team. Attention will now turn to the championship.

CLUB LOTTO There was no winner of O’Loughlin Gaels club lotto dated Sept 3rd. Numbers drawn were 1, 3, 11, 12 Bonus 5. Play Now at www.oloughlingaels.com/lotto Promotors Draw: 1. James Gibbons c/o JJ Cullen. 2. Jane Dineen c/o H Mahon. 3. Johnny Phelan. 4. Mags O’Connor c/o K Cleere. 5. Eugene Phelan c/o P Dowling. 6. Jamie C/o Ml Dreeling. 7. Ber Maher c/o E Maher. 8. Eimear Cody c/o Online.

9. Orla Murphy c/o Online 10. Julie Kavanagh c/o Online.

Thank you for your continued support NOTES If you wish to have any item included in the St. John’s Parish notes please email it to pro.oloughlingaels.kilkenny@gaa.ie.

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB

JUNIOR HURLING LEAGUE CHAMPIONS Congratulations to our junior hurlers who defeated O’ Loughlin Gaels in the J.J. Kavanagh and Sons Junior Hurling Section B League final played on Sunday in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan.

The game, which went to extra time, ended in the narrowest victories for the Village on a scoreline of 2:24 to 2:23 SENIOR HURLING On Saturday afternoon the Village supporters headed to Hugginstown for the final round of the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling league where James Stephens took on southern challengers Glenmore looking for our first victory. It was a game that both teams needed to win, for different reasons.

The Village were first out of the traps within 2 minutes with a point, on the run, off the stick of Ross Whelan followed quickly by a Cian Kenny free. This was soon cancelled out by two frees from Alan Murphy. Both sets of backs were making life difficult for forwards but with conditions ideal for hurling the Village made most of their chances. Points by Sean Manogue, Luke Scanlon and Cian Kenny, flawless from frees, were answered

by Glenmore free-taker, Alan Murphy. The turning point of the first half came in the 20th minute when a good fast movement down the right wing ended when Eoin Guilfoyle, using his blistering pace to gets inside the Glenmore defence, finished with an unstoppable shot that gave the Glenmore net minder no chance of saving. This put the Larchfield boys 1:7 to 0:7 up with ten minutes remaining in the first half. From there to the halftime whistle each side added two more points with the Village scores coming from Sean Manogue, his second of the first half, and Eoin Guilfoyle. Glenmore replied with two pointed frees to leave the halftime score at James Stephens 1:9 Glenmore 0:9.

On the restart the Village raced into a 6 point lead with three frees from the unerring Cian Kenny. The Village forwards were finding themselves with space in front of the Glenmore backs and should have capitalised on scoring another green flag but for poor shooting.

The Village defence of Noah Manogue, Ben Lawlor, Mikey Byrne, who was subbed off coming to half time via injury, and replaced by Oisin Bateman were not letting the Glenmore forwards in for any soft score while the half back line of Eoin Deely, Niall Mullins, back to his best, mopped up any loose balls that came their way. Cian Kenny, Luke Scanlon and Ross Whelan drove at the Glenmore defence and took their chances well with points from play.

With five minutes to go the margin had stretched out to 1:20 to 0:15, when a good Glenmore move had the ball in the back of the Village net. The final score of the game came from the stick of Sean Manogue, his fourth of the day, to leave the score, when David Hughes blew the final whistle, at James Stephens 1:21 Glenmore 1:15.

The victory was ideal preparation for our relegation semi-final against Ballyhale Shamrocks fixed for Sunday 15th at 4pm. in John Locke Park (Callan).

SENIOR CAMOGIE Our Senior team played local rivals Dicksboro on Sunday morning in Palmerstown and were defeated 2-13 to 0-9. The girls started strongly and matched the reigning All Ireland champions in the early stages but a goal against the run of play gave the Boro girls momentum to kick on and lead at half time by 2-6 to 0-4. The second half was a close affair and credit to the girls for sticking in and fighting to the end when score difference would be a telling factor allowing the girls to finish 2nd in the group and advance directly into the quarter finals.

Michelle Teehan was outstanding at full back and the strong half back line of Aoife Cantwell, Niamh Deely and Hannah Scott got through a mountain of work with Hannah scoring 2 long range points after great runs forward. Emily smith and Anna Doheny worked hard in midfield with Emma Manogue and Rachel Leahy the pick of the forwards.

MINOR ‘A’ HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP The Village minors took on St Martins in Muckalee in the Roinna ‘A’ championship quarter final. The Village got off to a blistering start after a few early points to settle them into the game. Zac Scanlon slipped through the Martins defence to bury the sliotar into the back of the net. A few more points

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

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

Community & GAA Notes from frees and from open play followed by another goal from Ed McDermott and Rory Harrison gave the momentum to the Village lads after 15minutes. By half time the James Stephens boys had a lead of 3:13 to 0:9. To their credit St Martin fought hard but the much stronger and faster Village Boys had too much and, in the end, ran out comfortable winners with the final score line of 3:29 to St Martins 0:15. The minor hurling grade is once again being run as an under 18 competition, in Kilkenny, and we can therefore call on all of last year’s victorious minor panel, when it was run as an U17 competition, MINOR ‘C’ HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP On Friday evening in a sun drenched Tullaroan, our Minor B team took on the locals in a high scoring and entertaining game. Each side had its period of dominance but the difference between the sides was that when the opportunities arose the Village lads took better advantage. By half time the score read James Stephens 4:6 to Tullaroan 2:9. The drama continued into the second half, with great individual displays by both sides. With both teams committed to going forward at pace it was the Village boys who were goal hungry and claimed victory on a scoreline of 6.11 to 2.20.

MINOR CAMOGIE The week started with our minor girls taking on Windgap on Tuesday evening in the semi-final down in Windgap. After an intense first half the teams were level at four points each with a brace from Laura Leahy and a point apiece from Aoibh Lawlor and Emily Smith. The second half saw the village girls start strongly but a Windgap goal against the run of play put them on the back foot and chasing the game. The Village girls fought hard and never gave up and some excellent frees from Roisin Leahy got them back to the minimum but unfortunately time ran out. The girls put on a great effort and were unlucky not to get to the final. The backs all played well with keeping the Wingap score to 1-8 with Sophie Meagher particularly impressive at centre back. Emily Simth gave an exhibition in midfield ably assisted by Mia Dunne. The forwards worked hard for every score and free with Roisin Leahy, Lucy Coomey and Laura Leahy to the fore. Final score 1-8 to 0-10 U-16 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP On Monday evening last the U-16 “A” team hurlers successfully negotiated their championship Q-final fixture with a comfortable 2-29 to 1-10 victory over a game Young Irelands team in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophain. Leading by 0-08 to 0-03 after 14 minutes, a Jack Mulcahy goal finish from a Rory Power pass inspired the Village lads to push on and build a 2-12 to 0-05 half time lead. Throughout the second half with the Gowran lads unable to break the total dominance of the home team despite their defenders’ best efforts and some outstanding goalkeeping by Dylan Brennan the James Stephens lads comfortably closed out the game to claim a place in next week’s championship semi-final against Erin’s Own. UNDER 14 CAMOGIE: U14 B team had a great win on Thursday night beating Lisdowney by 6-7 to 3-7 and can look forward to a county final.

U14 A team were beaten in the semi-final by a strong Tullogher team 4-9 to 2-8. The girls never gave up and fought to the end with a large amount of the team underage again next year.

JAMES (JIM) HOLLAND RIP The Sympathies of the Club are extended to the Holland family on the death of James (Jim) Holland. Jim passed away peacefully on the 4th September at his home surrounded by his family. Jim was a member of the 1955 junior Hurling Championships winning team of James Stephens. His late father Jimmy was on the 1924 Junior championship winning side along with his two brothers John (Reamy) Holland and Dan Holland. Jims’s grandson Ruairi is a member of the current James Stephens minor panel. Our condolences to his loving son Tony and his daughter in law Susan, Grandsons Dave, James and Ruairí and all the extended family members.

Ar Dheis De Go Raibh Se. LOTTO Last week’s numbers were 7, 13, 23, 25. There was no winner.

This week’s jackpot will be €18,200. The €40 consolation winners were Frank Morrissey, Speedy, Daniel and Ollie Lorrigan, D. Burke and Sean Murray.

GOWRAN MOLLY’S TEA ROOM Christmas order book has now opened. Christmas cakes, plum puddings, mince pies, and chocolate biscuit puddings available to order. Also a wide range of cakes, cheesecakes and tray bakes.

GOWRAN PARK Denny Cordell Day at Gowran Park 2024.Early bird tickets available now at Gowranpark.ie GOWRAN AC Gowran AC 4 Mile Road Race. Well done to everyone who ran in the 4Mile road race. Massive thank you to the sponsors for this event, to the Senior Team for organizing a great evening of running and refreshments, and to Connollys of Dunbell for hosting. Special thanks to John, Eamonn and Mick for all the hard work in preparing for the race, and to all our brilliant volunteers helping on the night.

CAMOGIE TEAM FINISH STRONGLY TO MAINTAIN WINNING RUN The Young Irelands Senior Camogie Team maintained their winning run, as they completed their Group campaign with a 1-12 to 1-8 win against St. Brigids in Gowran on Sunday. St. Brigids led by 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time and when they led 1-8 to 0-7 with 10 minutes remaining, The Gowran girls had it all to do.

However, to their credit they displayed great character and determination and a superb indivdiual goal by Steffi Fitzgerald narrowed the defecit to just a solitary point. 1-8 to 1-7. Inspired

by that goal, Young Irelands dominated the final 10 minutes with five unanswered points from Steffi Fitzgerald (0-4 0-3 frees) and Ciara O’Keeffe, as the substitutes brought a new lease of life and energy that helped transform their fortunes.

LAST GASP POINT SNATCHES LEAGUE FINAL AND QUARTER-FINAL SPOT A point right on the stroke of the full-time whistle, gave Young Irelands a 0-15 to 0-14 victory against St. Martins in the final round of group games in The Intermediate League in Clara on Sunday. That victory made a huge difference as they topped the Group ahead of Tullogher-Rosbercon and Mooncoin on scoring difference, after all three teams finished level on 8 points. That result meant that Young Irelands qualified for a League Final showdown against Lisdowney along with booking a Championship Quarter-Final spot. That League Final will be played in Nowlan Park on Saturday Afternoon at 3pm.

MINOR HURLING Young Irelands Minors produced a dramatic comeback against Thomastown in The Minor Roinn A Quarter-Final in Gowran on Wednesday Evening, as they recovered from a 10 point deficit to snatch a draw and force a replay. Thomastown were favorites based on League form having reached the Final where they lost out to a very strong and skilful James Stephens outfit, and in the first 20 minutes the gulf in class was very evident as Thomastown led 1-9 to 0-2 after 20 minutes. However, Young Irelands managed to prevent a further onslaught as they began to win possession, and at half-time they had narrowed the gap slightly to trail 1-10 to 0-5.

The margin was reduced further by the 38th minute as Thomastown led 1-10 to 0-8, but Thomastown steadied the ship as they outscored the Gowran lads 0-3 to 0-1 between the 38th and 43rd minutes to lead 1-13 to 0-9. Thomastown’s 2nd goal put them 10 points ahead (2-13 to 0-9) and it was surely game over, but Young Irelands displayed character and determination in abundance as they kept plugging away. They replied with a goal immediately to narrow the deficit (2-13 to 1-9), but with 5 minutes remaining Thomastown led by 6 points (2-14 to 1-11) as they still appeared to be on their way to victory.

However, Young Irelands persistence and determination was rewarded with a well executed second goal to narrow the deficit to just two points. 2-14 to 2-12. Jake Byrne struck over two late pointed frees for a well deserved draw.

U-16 HURLING The Young Irelands U-16s were well beaten by James Stephens 2-29 to 1-10 in The Roinn A Championship Quarter-Final on The Kells Road. The Village boys were always in control, and at half-time they led 2-12 to 0-5. James Stephens are dominant at U-16 and Minor level right now, and they will take take an awful lot of beating in this U-16 Championship.

Meanwhile, The Young Irelands U-16 B Team lost 2-17 to 1-16 away to Cloneen in The Roinn D Championship Quarter-Final.

U-14 HURLING There were contrasting fortunes for The two Young Irelands U-14 Teams during the week.

The Young Irelands A Team were well beaten 2-20 to 2-5 away to Danesfort in The Roinn A Championship Quarter-Final, while The Young Irelands B Team enjoyed a highly comprehensive victory away to Rower-Inistioge as they won 7-5 to 0-2.

U-14 CAMOGIE The Young Irelands U-14 Camogie Team lost 0-11 to 0-5 at home to Erins Own Castlecomer in The Roinn A Semi-Final on Thursday Evening.

MINOR CAMOGIE Young Irelands Minor Camogie girls lost 7-13 to 4-5 against St. Annes in The Minor Roinn C Shield Quarter-Final.

MOTHERS AND OTHERS Young Irelands Camogie Club presents Mothers and Others for September. Come meet some new faces and play some Camogie with the club. Great opportunity to have a few pucks while also getting to meet new people!

U10 KITTY AYLWARD TOURNAMENT The annual U10 Kitty Aylward Hurling Tournament took place in Ballyhale on Sunday, and the Young Irelands U10 Boys participated and they reached the Shield Final. They began the day with a hard fought victory against Slieverue before losing out to Thomastown. In Game 3, they lost out narrowly to Mount Sion of Waterford as the boys turned their attention to the shield competition.

The Gowran lads took on Confey from Kildare with early goals and a strong first-half performance proving decisive, as they held off a rally from The Kildare Boys to qualify for a Shield Final showdown with Graigue-Ballycallan. Graigue-Ballycallan were too strong in the final, but the Young Irelands Boys can hold their heads high for producing superb hurling on a most enjoyable day.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOOTBALL With The Schools back following their Summer Holidays, the schools competitions are getting underway with the Primary Schools Team in action Their first game was at home to St. Canices at 3.30pm in Gowran, and the Primary School Boys have had a whirlwind two years as they reached all 8 finals between Hurling and Football in both The Country Cup and Championship.

Gowran won The Country Cup Football the past two years and won The Championship Football in 2022, while last year in the final they lost out to a last minute goal.

RÁS NA MBAN The Rás Na Mban featuring the top International cyclists was held in Kilkenny last week, and last Friday (Stage 3) saw the cyclists pass through Gowran from Kilkenny to Gorey.

The race was won by Mia Griffin from Glenmore who competed for Ireland in Track Cycling at The Olympics in Paris, where she was part of The Ireland Team that set a national record in The Pursuit

BENNETTSBRIDGE LOTTO No winner of Jackpot last week. Numbers, 1, 2, 17. 19. Consolation Prizes, Fintan Cleere, ℅ 19, Woodlawn, Marie Butler Grovine, D’Bally Boys, Helena Lanigan, Coppenagh, Denis Tobin, ℅ Ann Tobin.

CHURCH NEWS Weekday mass this week……Thursday, 10.30am CATHEDRAL DRAW The St Mary’s Cathedral Restoration Fund Draw will resume in September with a monthly draw taking place on the last Wednesday of each month. Bishop Niall has thanked all who have supported the draw and has asked priests and promoters to continue to enroll people to support this. Since it was introduced over nine years ago the draw has raised over €750.000.

The first draw will take place on Wednesday, 25th September.

Contact usual promoters or Fr Pat Dalton.

LOVESTOCK FESTIVAL Some young Bennettsbridge Irish Dancers entertained the crowd at the Lovestock Festival held in the Nore Valley Camping Site over the weekend.

GATHERING GROUP An enthusiastic group of ladies took part in the Gathering Group on their first day back following the summer break. Tea and chat was the order of the day and thoughts are already turning to choosing a venue for the Annual Autumn Outing.

ART GROUP With Autumn closing in Bennettsbridge artists will shortly decide on their programme for the coming months. A preliminary meeting will take place on Monday, 16th September to discuss member’s thoughts and ideas for the future. On Monday 23rd September, a six week course under tutor, Julie Moorhouse will commence. Looking forward to getting back to our weekly meetings.

ZUMBA FITNESS CLASSES Zumba Fitness Classes are taking place in Thomastown Concert Hall. Zumba - Mondays, 6.30pm. Gentle Zumba Wednesdays 6.30pm.

EAST END LADIES It was a busy week on the pitch for the underage girls last weekend. Well done to the East End U13 girls, who beat Evergreen in their first match of the season last weekend, while the U15 girls drew with Highview, 4:4. Well done girls and management.

GAA NEWS Senior Hurling Our senior hurlers lost out to Tullaroan in the last round of the league in Muckalee last Saturday. Tullaroan won out on a score

line of 2-24 to 2-18. We finished third in the group with three wins and two losses. We now face Clara in the championship first round next weekend. Please see the Kilkenny GAA website for fixture details. All support appreciated for another tough game.

Underage Games Our minor team lost out to Freshford in the championship away last week. After a tough battle the Freshford lads finished the stronger to win out on a score line of 2-20 to 1-16.

Our under 14 A team had a titanic struggle with Clara in the championship first round. The teams couldn’t be separated after extra time. The replay took place yesterday (Tuesday). A very young under 14 B team gave it their all but were defeated

by Blacks and Whites. Our under 16 team are away to Conahy at 10.30 next Saturday. Our under 10 team played in the very competitive Ballyhale Aylward tournament and did very well winning the shield. Well done to all the lads. The under 12s play in their go games finals in Mooncoin next Saturday. We host the annual Mickey Kelly tournament next Sunday morning in the GAA grounds. Best of luck to all ‘Bridge teams over the next week.

Lucky Dip Raffle The senior players are running a fundraiser at the moment.

Tickets cost 1 cent to 20 euro in a lucky dip. For example a ticket pulled could cost you one cent or up to 20 euro maximum.

Prize money is 1000 euro first prize, 500 euro second prize, 300 euro third and 200 euro fourth prize. Please contact Michael Shiel on 0868856810 or David Blanchfield on 0860529386 if you would like to take part.

Split the Pot The next draw takes place this Friday at 6 pm in the clubhouse.

Thanks again for the continued support.

Club Shop A new range has been added to the Bennettsbridge on-line shop on the O’Neill’s website. Simply enter Bennettsbridge into the search box to access the full range of adult and kids club gear.

GRAIGUENAMANAGH GRAIG NOTES If you want to submit news items, club events, announcements etc you can do so by emailing them to graignotes@ outlook.com. Deadline is Saturday 6pm.

LOTTO GAA AND SOCCER The numbers drawn on 3/09/24 for the Lotto were 8, 14. 15. 30.

There was no winner, the following lucky people won €30 each Dean Kehoe, Liam Lee, Shauna Mahon, Stacy Delaney, Mick and Molly. Tickets are available from any club member.

East End U13 girls beat Evergreen in their first match of the season

East End U15 girls drew with Highview, 4 . 4.

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

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

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Community & GAA Notes GRAIG TIDY TOWN DRAW The winners of the draw which was held on 29/08/24 2024, were First Prize €400, Maura Broaders, 2nd Prize €50 Ann Doyle c/o J.Browne, 3rd Prize €25 Christina Gahan. Money raised through Tidy Towns Jackpot will be used to keep the town looking well all year round. Draw takes place at 4pm on Thursdays.

RAMBLING HOUSE The Monthly Rambling House Session is on the second Friday of each month in Newtown Hall, where you can enjoy music and song from local artists and also many from the surrounding district. The next Session is on Friday September 13th,(tonight) at 8.00pm.

MASS TIMES FOR DUISKE ABBEY GRAIGUENAMANAGH Monday to Friday 10AM, Saturday 7,30PM, And Sunday 11AM. CLINIC Cllr Peter Chap Cleere will hold his clinic on Monday evenings from 7pm at his office in Main Street Graiguenamanagh.

FRESHFORD WINNERS AT CLONASLEE SHOW The last show of the season was held at Clonaslee on Sunday last and local man David Condon and his son Gyll, who are well known in these circles were winners once again. They got first in the shearling ram class, first in the ewe lamb class, first and second in shearling ewe class and their shearling ram Gill Vale Bentley went on to be tapped interbreed champion. Their stock all Ireland winning ram Uppertown (aka Mick Jagger) will represent the Irish Charollais sheep society at the upcoming National Ploughing Championships. Well done lads.

BACK DOWN UNDER Returning back to Australia this weekend after spending a holiday at his home at Woodview Freshford is Damien Hurley.

Damien emigrated to Australia some years ago where he lives with his wife and family. He spent some time in the UK where he reunited with some friends and then on to Freshford. He is a regular visitor back to his native Freshford DEATH The death occurred last weekend of Finbarr Murphy late of Clone, Freshford. In his early seventies and although he had been unwell for a time nevertheless his passing caused widespread regret and sadness. He was a vet by profession and was widely known in the area especially amongst the farming community. He was predeceased by his brother Aidan and sister Breda. Funeral mass took place on Wednesday morning in Clontubrid Church at 11am with cremation to follow in the Island Crematorium Cork. He is mourned by his wife Caroline, sons Kevin, Sean, Michael and Alan, daughters Cliona and Marianne, sister Marette and extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

GAA St Lachtains Junior hurlers had a convincing win over Slieverue on Sunday last at Hugginstown. Although the local side got off to a good start Slieverue came more into the game and there was just two points between the sides at the break. St.Lachtains took over half way through the second half and came out easy winners in the end on a final scored of St.Lachtains 0-24 Slivered 0-15. They now go through to the league final where they will face Wind gap.

The minor hurlers had a good win over Bennettsbridge at Pairc Lachtain, coming out winners on a core of 1-10 to 1-16. While the U14 boys were beaten by a stronger Galmoy/Windgap side at Pairc Lachtain.

BINGO Bingo sessions started back up in Freshford Community Hall recently, and the weekly game will be held each Friday evening at 8pm with some good prize money and a raffle each week.

All proceeds will go to the Irish Wheelchair association. The Committee thank all the people who have turned up each week so far and ask you to please support this weekly fundraiser and tell your friends and spread the word around.

LOOP CAFÉ With summer holidays behind us and community activities starting up again, the Loop Community Café is looking for new pairs of hands to help out. Chopping veg, washing plates, cleaning counters, making coffee – you name it, we need it! If you can take part any time from Monday to Saturday, even for an hour or two, please stop by or call the café at 056 8832650 CAMOGIE St Lachtains beat St. Annes in the Intermediate Championship at the weekend. The girls had a great win the previous week also when they beat Lisdowney by 1-17 to 0-5.

BIRTHDAY Happy 50th birthday goes out to Tommy Crosby Ballyroe.

Tommy celebrated his special birthday at a party with family and friends in Farrell’s Bar on Saturday night last.

SOCCER The soccer season has now resumed. The Junior side have no games for the next few weeks but underage were already in action. The U14 boys saw Freshford boys come out winners over Freebooters Eagles on a 5-1 shoreline with all the goals coming from the boot of Patrick O’Connor The U12 league saw Freshford Town have a 4-2 win over Freebooters with goals from Tom Dalton (2) Jack Costello and Ryan Dalton.

The Club are looking for additional players to sign up for the U12 girls as they are short players at the moment.

IONAD LACHTAIN St.Lachtains Church Museum and Arts Centre is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30 am to 4.30pm. .

SPLIT THE POT Last week’s winner of split the pot was Tony O’Neill Kilkenny Road who won €259. This months split the pot proceeds was in aid of Freshford Coursing Club. Entry cost just €2 and envelopes are available in all local shops and pubs. Please support your local clubs.

KNIT AND KNATTER Every Wednesday morning in the Loop Cafe there is a knit and knatter session from 10am to 11am. Fee is €6 per person which includes tea/coffee and sweet treats. No experience is necessary and guidance is given. New members are always welcome so why not go along and gain a new skill and more importantly have gun.

TRAD MUSIC Lisdowney Traditional Music Group resumed on 15th September at 7pm in Community Hall Lisdowney and continues each Thursday. Children from six upward are all welcome.

PARISH NEWS Mass is held in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and each Sunday morning at 11am.wiith Mass in Tulla church on Saturday evenings at 7.30pm. and 11am Maas in St.Lachtains Church on Sundays.

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

Mass Cards Special printed parish cards are available at the Parish Office or from Annette at Tulla Church signed by Monsignor Kennedy. You can contact the Parish office on 056 8832843 or by email – freshfordd@ossory.ie. Contact Mongr Kieron Kennedy on that number or on 087 25235 21 HELP FOR 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.

GORESBRIDGE AND PAULSTOWN BARROW RANGERS A great win for the Under-14s against John Lockes last Sunday. The team is through to the county final.

BRIDGE UNITED The club is back in full swing since the beginning of the month with 30 schoolboy/girls teams along with Under-17s, Under-18s and two men’s junior teams in place.

CHURCH SERVICES Weekend masses will be celebrated in Goresbridge at 7.30pm on Saturday and at 10.00am on Sunday. Mass in Paulstown is held at 11.30am on Sundays. Weekday mass

Tom Healy

David Condon with his prize ram at the Clonaslee show

is at 10am in Paulstown on Friday and on Tuesday. Mass in Goresbridge is held on Wednesday, at 10am. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in Paulstown every Tuesday after morning mass and lasts until 6pm.

SPLIT THE POT In aid of Goresbridge Rural Development has gone online.

Simply scan the QR code or go to lottoraiser.ie TAR ISTEACH (GORESBRIDGE) We could do with pictures, household items, crockery, cutlery, unwanted presents, the shelves are very bare. The shop is now open from 9am-5pm, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4.30pm Friday and 10am-1pm Saturday.

TIME OUT Time Out resumes at 8pm on Tuesday 17ht September in Goresbridge Church of the Holy Trinity (note change of weekday). All welcome. This is a time of quiet reflection, music, readings from scripture, intercessions for others. There is a cup of tea afterwards.

YOGA Yoga is starting in Paulstown community hall on Monday 16th September from 7-8pm. Contact Caroline 087 9371939.

DANCE YOUR CARES AWAY Zumba Fitness is back from Wednesday 18 September at 7.30pm for 6 weeks. €10 pay as you go. Dance your cares away, it’s fitness, it’s fun and all are welcome!

BALLYRAGGET BALLYOUSKILL KILKENNY AREAS SELECTED TO TAKE PART IN CENSUS PILOT 2024 The Census Pilot 2024 is taking place this September, and as part of this pilot, the Central Statistics Office has selected 5 areas within Kilkenny to take part.

Kilkenny - Robert’s Hill, Kilkenny - Beechlawns, The Fairways, Rosewood. Clogh – Ballyouskill, Ballyragget, Bennetsbridge.

They invite you to help spread the word about the Census Pilot Survey and inform people in the selected areas to take part. They are also looking to work with local groups and organisations to help encourage participation! You or your group are interested, you can request posters or get in touch with at censuspublicity@cso.ie / 01 8951413 or 01 8951319 to learn more.

CAMOGIE Naomh Bríd Junior C team made it 2 from 2 on Thursday night under lights at home to Conahy. The wind made it very difficult in the first half for Naomh Bríd to get the ball up but they went in at half time only 3 points down. In the second half they battled hard to come out on top. The full time score ended as 2-7 to 0-10. The minor side Naomh Brid Erin’s Own were in actions against Thomastown in the county semi final but narrowly missed out on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-13.

The Juvenile section hosted a great evening of camogie with over 130 girls between the U6, U8, U10 and U12’s either playing matches or training! Thanks to Erin’s Own and St.Martins for partaking and to all who helped at the event.

The Under 10 side will attend a tournament hosted by Mullinavat on Saturday morning and the Under 8 side have a tournament at home, while the Under 14 side take part in the 7’s tournament in Lisdowney on Sunday.

PARISH CHOIR The Parish Choir resumed last Wednesday September 11th in the Canon Malone Hall at 7.30pm. New members welcome.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Traditional Music lessons resume for kids on Thursday 26th September at 7pm (registration at 6.45pm) at Lisdowney Community Centre, County Kilkenny. R95 NN93, with our new Adult Trad music lessons section starting at 8pm (registration at 7.45pm) on Thursday 26th September. Instruments taught are Tin Whistle, Fiddle, Flute, Banjo, Mandolin, Bodhran, Button Accordian and Concertina. Lessons are €10.00 per night.

Lisdowney Traditional Music Group is a non for profit local Community group. We are also hoping to have an open Traditional Music Session on Sunday September 15th, where you are very welcome to come and listen to some local musicians and meet our tutors, if you are interested in taking lessons.

ST PATRICK’S GAA The minor side were in action on Saturday morning against Barrow Rangers at home in a tough fought contest but came out on top on a scoreline of 1-14 to 1-12 to advance to the next round of the championship. The junior side played the Emeralds in Johnstown on Sunday but were defeated on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-17. The Under 16 side will be in action on Saturday morning against Ballyhale Shamrocks on Ballyhale at 10.30am. The Junior side meet Piltown on Saturday in the first round of the championship in Tullaroan at 4pm.

BINGO Community Bingo in the CYMS Hall each Wednesday night at 8pm. All welcome.

CANCER SUPPORT Cois Nore Cancer Support are available at Dr Hogans each Monday morning. Should you need any help or advice, just pop in.

TONY MCCRAITH RIP Deepest sympathies are sent to the McCraith family on the passing of their father Tony, to his sons James and Kieran daughter Sinead his granddaughters Joanna and Cliona, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews relatives and friends. May he rest in peace.

BOG WALK Men’s Shed held a Bog Walk on Saturday in Abbeyleix, a very enjoyable outing was had. They continue to meet Tuesday mornings at the GAA pitch and Thursdays in the Cannon Malone hall while they continue to work on their own premises. They will shortly commence a lifestyle course which will include cooking and excise information.

TIDY TOWNS The tidy towns committees work continues with maintaining the many floral beds and litter picking. Thanks to all who help out to keep the town looking so well.

BRIDGE CLUB Freshford Bridge Club will resume on Monday 23rd September at Tulla Hall, Threecastles, @ 7.30 p.m. Bridge Classes for beginners will be arranged from October, if enough numbers are interested, contact 087-2369535. New members welcome.

COMMUNITY NOTES Should you wish to have an item included in the notes please forward same to the email address. ballyraggetballyouskill2021@gmail.com . Many thanks.

JOHNSTOWN CATHEDRAL DRAW Bishop Coll expresses sincere thanks to all the parishioners who contributed to the Cathedral draw 2023/2024. The draw for 24/25 will begin on Wednesday September 25th. If you wish to join please contact Caroline Phelan or Breda Campion by September 22nd. Tickets € 10 per month or € 120 for the year.

FUNDRAISER First Responders Team.are having a church gate collection in Johnstown, Crosspatrick, Galmoy and Urlingford on next weekend September. 14th and 15th. This coincides with National Services Day on the 14th which acknowledges the work done by all services including voluntary. Your support would be appreciated.

ST. KIERAN’S COMMUNITY HALL 500 CLUB. The draws for July and August were held recently and the following are the winners. July 1st Josie Byrnes (Marguerite Dermody), 2nd Hannah Drennan (Morrisseys), 3rd Mary O’Sullivan (Brendan O’Gorman), 4th Bernie Dowling (Evelyn Sweeney), 5th Jack and Sophie O’Gorman (Brendan O’Gorman). The winners for August 1st Michael Sweeney (Lorraine Costigan), 2nd Fenian Juvenile H.C. (Oliver Sharkey), 3rd Hannie Grace (Evelyn Sweeney), 4th Martin Orr (Oliver Sharkey), 5th Larry Whyte (Peter Norton). The next draw will take place on Wednesday October 2nd before the Bingo.

COLAISTE MHUIRE There are a number of night classes on offer at Colaiste Mhuire for 2024 including the following. Welding for beginners (9weeks). Interior design € 70 (9 weeks). Dates still to be confirmed. There will be no enrolment evening. For information contact the school at 0568831135 or email info@colaistemhuirekk.ie.

LOURDES The Relics of St. Bernadette are on loan from the Bishop of Lourdes to Ireland and will be visiting several dioceses in Ireland. The relics will be in Ossory in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sept 21st and 22nd. Full schedule of ceremonies next week.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO..

This week’s winning numbers 10,23,25,26. There was two match threes, Brendan Moore and Barry’s Crew. More big winners well done all.

DICKSBORO CLUB LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results 5th September 2024. Nos: 4 7 24 28 Jackpot: €19,550 Davy Little c/o Tommy Hackett Draw Prizes – €50: Betnie Cuddihy c/o Jimmy McGarry €25 each Richie Hogan c/o Online €25 each Trish Fleming c/o Online. €25 each Jane Cass c/o online Hurlers Co Op Joe Phelan c/o Jimmy Murphy. Promotors prize Stella Doyle.

The Dicksboro Lotto Committee wishes to pass on a massive congratulations to our Lotto Jackpot (€19,550) Winner Davy Little. The winning ticket was sold by Tommy Hackett.

We encourage all Dicksboro Families to sign up and play weekly for €2 per draw and we thank everyone who is currently doing so.

CAMOGIE RESULTS Junior Camogie - Dicksboro 1-14 John Lockes 5-11. Senior Camogie Dicksboro 2-13 James Stephens 0-9 HURLING RESULTS U14 Qtr Final. Dicksboro 2-10 GraigueBallycallan 0-6. Minor A Dicksboro 2-18 O’Loughlins 1-22. Senior Hurling Rd 5 Dicksboro 0-24 Thomastown 1-15. Junior Section B Dicksboro 2-17 Clara 2-10. Minor B. Dicksboro 3-6 Conahy 3-12 Juvenile Hurling Well done to our u6’s & u10’s hurling teams who travelled to O’Loughlins to take part in the games. Great fun was had by all and there was lots of skill to be seen on the day. Thanks to O’Loughlin Gaels for hosting us, and a massive thanks to all our mentors for their commitment in training the boys throughout the year.

PALMERSTOWN CLUBHOUSE Dicksboro Clubhouse Bar is opened every Thursday from 8.30pm. Thursday nights is Lotto Draw and Cards Night. All are welcome out for a social drink, a chat and if there is interest, a beginners card table. We would be delighted to see you out to the club for a chat. We have a selection of non-alcoholic beers, barista coffee also available so come along and enjoy.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE CHURCH GATE COLLECTION In honour of National Services Day, the North Kilkenny CFR Group, which is made up of the Johnstown, Crosspatrick, Galmoy and Gathabawn team and the Urlingford/Graine team (which encompasses Gortnahoe), will be hosting a Church

We Wewelcome welcomeall allGAA GAAClub Cluband andCommunity Communitynotes notesfor forpublication publicationin inThe TheKilkenny KilkennyObserver Observeremail emailto tosales@kilkennyobserver.ie sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

Community & GAA Notes 4 is €20 plus many prizes on the raffle. Your support would be very much appreciated.

WAY DOWN UNDERGROUND A Miner’s Life through song and story will be held on Friday 20th September in Glengoole Hall.

YOGA CLASSES Yoga classes will take place on Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 7-8pm starting the 9th and 11th September in Gortnahoe Community Hall. Four week block €50 or €15 drop in fee. Booking essential, contact Jenny via text/Whatsapp 0879420826.

GORTNAHOE BINGO Bingo continues this Saturday evening at the earlier time of 4.00pm with doors opening from 3.00pm and will continue each Saturday evening at the same time. Over €2,660 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game.

SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to Simon Cantwell, Graigue who won €180 in the Split the Pot draw last Sunday. Envelopes are available at the usual outlets, you can also Revolut to 0876777220. For the month of September Split the Pot will be in support of Ballysloe Community Group. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. Your support would be appreciated.

VACANCY A vacancy in MFRC Community Preschool for an AIM Support Worker- part time 15 hours per week/temporary position. Full details from Julie O’Halloran on 083 1008075 or email julie@ mfrc.ie - closing date for applications Friday 20th September 12 noon.

GORTNAHOE COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SCHEME Is looking to recruit a full-time paid supervisor. Details of the position and application are on Jobs Ireland. Participant vacancies on the scheme for Caretaker, Maintenance Operative and Eldercare Kitchen Assistants are also on Job Ireland.

U10 Blitz players

CONAHY

U10 Blitz team

Winners All gate collection on the weekend of September 14th and 15th in all local parishes. Your support is much appreciated.

ST KIERAN’S HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY Applications are invited for the Vacant Tenancy of a onebedroom house at St Kieran’s Place, Urlingford. To be eligible to apply you must be on the Kilkenny County Council Housing list. Applications are available from the Centre.

LOCAL TRAINING PROGRAMME L.T.I. Free L.T.I. Course, which includes Driving Theory/Driving lessons starting soon.

COIS NORE Outreach Advice Clinic, here at the Centre every Friday Morning from 10am to 12pm COUNSELLING SERVICES: Our low cost Counselling Services, includes One-to-One, Adult and Teens. General Counselling: Bereavement, Stress, Anxiety and Depression. Other Counselling Services available: Drug, Substance and Gambling Addictions. Play therapy is now also available. Age 4+. Please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment.

SENIOR ALERT If you need to apply for a Personal Alarm, please contact Sue or Josephine in the centre.

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

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

JOBS – TRAINING BOARD We have a Jobs Board here at the Centre, feel free to call in and take a look, we also offer help and support with CV’s and

cover letters if required.

For further information please contact us here at the Centre on 056-8838466 GORTNAHOE GLENGOOLE EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Glengoole Wednesday 10am to 2pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 10am to 1pm. The rosary is recited before Mass in Glengoole every Saturday evening.

LOURDES PILGRIMAGE A Pilgrimage to Lourdes from October 10th-14th.It will depart from Dublin with Ryanair. For further information please contact Bridget O’Dea at 0866792754 or Fr Martin Murphy at 0863868877.

RELICS OF ST BERNADETTE OF LOURDES The relics of St Bernadette Of Lourdes will visit every diocese this autumn. This very special event will provide an opportunity for people to experience the special gifts and charisms in Lourdes. Her relics will be at Holycross Abbey on September 19th and 20th.

CHURCH GATE COLLECTION In honour of National Services Day, the North Kilkenny CFR Group, which is made up of the Johnstown, Crosspatrick, Galmoy and Gathabawn team and the Urlingford/Graine team (which encompasses Gortnahoe), will be hosting a Church gate collection on the weekend of September 14th and 15th in all local parishes. Your support is much appreciated.

TABLE QUIZ A table quiz will take place tonight Friday13th in Mary Willies at 9.30pm sharp. The quiz is in aid of Grace Campion’s trip to Kolkata in India as a student optometrist with the Hope Foundation in association with TU Dublin and Specsavers. Table of

HURLING The intermediate hurlers were defeated by Danesfort in their final league game in the Michael Lyng Motors IHL on Sunday last in St. John’s Park. Conahy led by 1-10 to 1-9 at half time thanks to a James Bergin goal, but Danesfort were able to come back in the second half to take a narrow two point win, 2-18 to 1-19. Conahy now face into a first round championship clash with St. Martin’s next weekend, with the loser facing into a dreaded relegation final.

TEAM: Karl Downey, Darragh Hennessy, Philip Cass, Liam Cass, Donal Brennan, Brian Healy, Eoin Cahill, Jack Murphy, Tom Phelan, James Bergin, Tom Rice, Rob Ring, Kieran Mooney, Mark Gunner. Subs.: Darragh Dooley, Bill Murphy.

The minor, under-16 and under-14 hurlers were all in action during the week in the opening round of the respective championships. The minor hurlers scored a hard fought win over Dicksboro in the opening round of the Roinn D championship in Jenkinstown on Sunday night last. Dicksboro led by 2-5 to 2-4 at half-time, with the Conahy goals coming from Daniel Mooney and John Kennedy. With the help of the breeze in the second half, Conahy began to open a lead and a goal from Finn Sherman built on that. Dicksboro did reply with a third goal, but Conahy were able to see out the game with a 3-12 to 3-6 victory.

TEAM: Tommy Mulhall, Tadhg Hennessy, Conor Hennessy, Ben Duggan, Harry Lawlor, Jack Rhatigan, Patrick Kennedy, Darragh Horgan, Andrew O’Connor, Evan Staunton, John Kennedy, Eoin Dunne, Rory Rhatigan, Daniel Mooney, Jake Dooley.

Subs.: Finn Sherman, Billy Rowe.

The under-16 boys produced an excellent performance to defeat a strong Emeralds side by 4-13 to 1-14. Three first half goals from Jack Rhatigan, Rory Sherman and Brian Phelan, along with a late goal from Adam Morrissey, set Conahy up for a great win.

TEAM: Neil Webster, Rory Dunne, Tadhg Hennessy, Bobby Dooley, Darragh Horgan, Patrick Kennedy, Finn Sherman, Rory Rhatigan, Billy Rowe, Adam Morrissey, Jack Rhatigan, Joe Boland, M.J. Buggy, Brian Phelan, Rory Sherman. Sub.: James Byrne.

The under-14 hurlers were also clinical in the goal scoring as they won out against O’Loughlin Gaels on Friday last. Though the city boys fought back well in the second half, Conahy were just able to keep their noses in front, eventually winning by 3-12 to 0-13.

TEAM: Padraig Murphy, Noah Meaney, Jack Gamble, Aaryn Kenehan, Ethan McEvoy, James Byrne, Diarmuid Quinn, Mikey Hurley, Richie Rowe, Cian Rhatigan, Bobby Dooley, Ben Byrne, Ciaran Quinn, M.J. Buggy, Brandon Maher.

CAMOGIE The intermediate girls scored a hard fought win over O’Loughlin Gaels in their last league game of the Intermediate League in Jenkinstown on Sunday last. With the benefit of the breeze, Conahy led 1-10 to 0-3 at half time, with the goal coming from Amy Brennan. The city side came back strongly in the second half, but a late goal from Emma Mulhall ensured a Conahy win on a 2-13 to 0-10 score line. The Conahy girls now face into a league shield final ahead of the championship.

TEAM: Ruth Phelan, Caoimhe Hennessy, Sofia Kerr, Aislin Comerford, Aisling Maher, Roisín Phelan, Amy Morrissey, Danielle Morrissey, Katie Brennan, Emma Mulhall, Ellen Gunner, Katie Brennan, Hollie Brennan, Grace Mulhall, Amy Brennan.

The junior camogie girls narrowly lost out to Naomh Bríd in their most recent game in the Junior C Cup. A late goal saw the Ballyragget seal the win on a 2-7 to 0-10 score line.

TEAM: Sarah Molloy, Aoife Gamble, Aisling Comerford, Emma Cahill, Amy Lawless, Amy Morrissey, Sarah Webster, Aisling Maher, Aisling Downey, Siofraidh Kennedy, Grace Mulhall, Molly O’Dornan, Robyn Morrissey, Aisling Lawless.

The minor girls also narrowly lost out to Graignamanagh in their shield semi-final played in Jenkinstown on Tuesday night last. In a high scoring game, the visitors scored a late point to ensure a 6-12 to 5-14 victory.

GREYHOUND NIGHT Conahy Shamrocks GAA and Conahy Shamrocks Camogie Club are hosting a Greyhound Night in St. James Park on Friday, September 20th. Tickets cost €10 for adults and children under-14 are free. All in the community are asked to support and attend as all funds raised will go towards the development of the Polo Grounds in Jenkinstown.

CLUB LOTTO The numbers drawn in the most recent GAA Club Lotto were 9, 20 and 36. There was no jackpot winner, so the consolation prize winners were Mary Flynn, Jimmy Tierney, Charlie Phelan, Davy Gunner and Christian Foley. The promoter prize winners were Mona Dooley, Margaret Buggy and Shem Butler.

This week’s jackpot now increases to €3,000. Many thanks to everyone who supports the GAA Club Lotto.

HUGGINSTOWN NEWMARKET AND STONEYFORD MASS TIMES Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil, Saturday at 8.00p.m. Sunday at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford, Wednesday at 7.00p.m. Vigil - Saturday at 6.30p.m. Monday 9th. Friday 13th. Feast of St. John Chrysostom. Saturday 14th. Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross PRAY FOR Anniversary Mass. Jimmy Walsh, Lismatigue, Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 14th. September at 8.00p.m.

ROTA (24th. Sunday in Ordinary Time) Readers. Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m. Rita O’Farrell: Hugginstown,Saturday 8.00p.m.

Catherine Dwyer; Sunday 10.00a.m. Mary Foran. Eucharistic Ministers, Stoneyford. Saturday 6.30p.m. Pat Kenny. Hugginstown, Saturday 8.00p.m. Teresa Broderick, Sunday 10.00a.m.

Ann Power.

STONEYFORD TEXT ALERT On Wednesday the 11th of September, Stoneyford Text Alert held their AGM at 7.30p.m. in the Community Centre. The subscription for the year is €10.00 per mobile phone number, you can put €10.00 (per mobile number), your name(s), address and mobile number(s) in an envelope and drop it into Willie’s Shop or Fred’s Bar. ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL RESTORATION FUND DRAW The first draw for St. Mary’s Cathedral Restoration Fund 2024/2025 year is due to take place on Wednesday 25th.

September 2023. The draw year 2024/20225 will run from September 2024 to August 2025. Draw will be held at 8.00p.m on the last Wednesday of each month. Tickets are available at the Parish House, Hugginstown: Telephone contact 056 776 8693. All Tickets to be bought by Monday 23rd. September if you wish to be part of the First Draw on Wednesday 27th. Subscription €10.00 per month: Prize Money €5,000.00 per month.

Roman Catholic Diocese and Parishes of Ossory - Registered Charity No. 20015831 STONEYFORD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION: Stoneyford has registered for the “Let’s Team Up to Clean Up Together for Kilkenny” initiative 2024, which takes place over the weekend of the 20th. to 22nd. of September. After some terrific initiatives this past spring and summer, the Development Association and Tidy Towns groups would be delighted to welcome some new hands on deck on Saturday September 21st from 10.00a.m. at the Community Centre to do a final autumn clean up. Bring weather appropriate clothing and a smile, they will provide a cuppa and anything else you may need!

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

LOTTO Lotto, Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 2nd. September 2024 Numbers: 06; 12; 04; 13. One Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn, No Jackpot Winner: €500.00.

Winner, Frank Creaney, Sheepstown. €25.00. Seller of Match 3 Ticket, Pauline Doyle. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers), Walshe’s Shop, Kathleen Fennelly, James Irish.

OLDER PEOPLES INFORMATION SERVICE Kilkenny Older Peoples Council has arranged a series of information presentations, to be professionally provided, for people aged 55 and over, in the Mayfair Library, Parliament Street, Kilkenny. The Presentation given by H.S.E. on “Dementia Awareness” on Friday 13th. September. Time 11.00a.m. to 1.00p.m.

There will be plenty of time for questions and answers and a cup of tea. Booking is not required. When there, why not avail of an opportunity to see the new modern Library facilities that Kilkenny has to offer? All are welcome.

COIS NORE Centres are available in the following parishes from 10.00a.m. to 12.00Noon: On Tuesdays: Callan – Droichead Family Resource Centre. On Thursdays: Thomastown – Community Centre. Tel. 087 4833941 or email outreach@coisnore.ie for an appointment.

KILKENNY BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT SERVICE The Kilkenny Bereavement Support Service is a voluntary organisation offering free one to one support to people of all ages who have been bereaved. The service is provided by volunteers who have been trained in bereavement support.

This is a free and confidential service. To contact the service please call 086 067 0566.

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

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

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Sport

Kilkenny Sport Focus Michael O’Leary

Kilkenny floodlit football league In early October the Kilkenny Floodlit Football League (KFFL) will commence their new season, and now heading into it's 24th season it's been a major success since it started in 2001.

The Floodlit Football League has been a hugely important fundraiser for The O'Neills Centre/Enable Ireland in Kilkenny throughout the years and since the League started 23 years ago, they have raised over €300,000 for the centre.

The League is eligble for players who are not playing League Football, and they cannot play with a League Club once the KFFL season has commenced.

However during the transfer window in December and January, a player may transfer from a KFFL club to a Kilkenny and District League Club.

The Floodlit League runs from early October until late April with matches played on Astroturf surfaces on

Mondays and Wednesday, while the Awards Night will take place at the end of the season following the various competitions.

The League has expanded, with the increasing number of teams from across the county enhancing it's popularity.

Last season, Power Rangers Paulstown edged out Egan’s Bar in a play-off to win the League Championship, Glendine FC were winners in Division 1 with Power Rangers Paulstown runners-up, while Noreside FC Lisdowney were winners in Division 2 with Dinan Rovers runners-up.

Noreside FC Lisdowney completed the double when winning The Floodlit Cup Final against Kearns Butchers, while the Shield competition was won by Rural Roads United against Dinan Rovers and Kells FC won The Dalton Cup Final against O.S. United.

The League is sponsored

Noreside FC Lisdowney division 2 winners

Glendine FC division 1 winners

by John Dalton and Dalton’s Homevalue Shop at Chancellor Mills. John has been a great supporter of the league for many years and has also played in the league over several seasons.

Previous league sponsors are Kevin Morrissey Morrissey Motors, C and C Security and JD Computers.

The Kilkenny Floodlit Football League offers a

great outlet throughout the long nights over the winter months, especially for anyone who is not playing competitively and also for anyone that is at a loose end during those long nights.

For anyone who wishes to enter a team for the upcoming season, they can contact the League organiser Eamon Cleere on 087 9582127.

Power Rangers Paulstown League Championship winners

Misinformation in Healthcare – a long-standing issue

A chartered physiotherapist’s view

BY PAUL BOLGER Chartered Physiotherapist at Nano Physiotherapy, Kilkenny WWW.NANOPHYSIO.IE

The Oxford Dictionary describes misinformation as “the dissemination of false information, either knowing it to be false (see disinformation), or unknowingly.” The EU and other bodies are scrambling to reduce its harmful effects via social media and messaging platforms.

While many of us are aware of this issue in relation to our society and politics, it has always been present in healthcare.

Misinformation is not always intentional Some people knowingly spread misleading messages about health – anyone who has seen the insightful series ‘Dopesick’ will be able to tell you about lies that were spread that have been critical in causing the opioid epidemic in the US. However, in healthcare, many well-intentioned people give false information

without meaning to. Often this does not affect somebody negatively. For example, in the physiotherapy world, many painful conditions (such as an ankle sprain or back strain) will settle in time. So even if someone is given ineffective treatment or information, they are still likely to recover.

However, there can be a niggling, subtle harm that well-intentioned misinformation can inflict.

Beliefs influence health You read that correctly – what you believe can influence your health. This is backed by rigorous scientific evidence.

That is not to say that you can simply ‘think’ yourself to wellbeing or sickness – there is much more to it than that.

Consider this – you receive a medical test/scan. You go down one of two paths: 1. You are given the message that you are damaged, things will get worse with time, and you must stop doing activities that you love.

2. You are given the message that you have an issue that

is manageable, a plan is put in place to help, and you are told that you can still do many activities that you love.

How would you feel in either of these situations? Would your behaviour be influenced for better or for worse?

Unfortunately, some people come away from healthcare appointments with the first message.

It is true that there are some ailments that we can currently do very little about medically. But many common and very manageable conditions – such as back pain – can be made worse with harmful messaging.

With well-informed and helpful guidance, we can change our beliefs for the better. We begin to see ourselves as more capable, more robust, more adaptable and capable of getting back to the things that give our lives meaning.

Us healthcare providers should ask ourselves, when informing those in our care - “Is this true?”; Is this helpful?”.

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Hurling matters - St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League & Championship

Sport

Stephen Barron and Oisin murphy clash

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

After five rounds of action, group placings have been decided with Tullaroan and O’Loughlin Gaels taking top spot in group’s A and B respectively. The current county champions are the only side with a 100% record and appear keen to defend their Tom Walsh crown and try to go one step further than last season, when they just missed out on the All-Ireland club title by the narrowest of margins to St Thomas’.

Brian Hogan’s charges saw off the challenge of Shamrocks Ballyhale at John Locke Park in Callan by 5 points to maintain their perfect run in Group B. The result saw Shamrocks finish just above pointless Erin’s Own which means these two sides face-off against James Stephens and Glenmore respectively in round one championship action and relegation clashes. Brian Cody’s club knew before throw-in that they would be in relegation semi-final action against the illustrious Shamrocks, while the Castlecomer side had two possible opponents, Glenmore or Dicksboro, the former’s defeat to The Village coupled with the Palmerstown sides victory over Thomastown meant that the Pairc na Ratha side would finish second bottom in group A. Gowran was the venue for the clash between Dicksboro and Thomastown. This looked to be a game that ‘Boro wouldn’t have wanted, but they delivered a performance to see them home by six points. Recently retired county man Cillian Buckley set the tone for his side from centre-back and this allowed those in front of him to display their talent. Shane Stapleton again top scored for Michael Walsh’s side, hitting 0-6 before the short whistle to help give Dicksboro a commanding 7-point lead at the short whistle. While Thomastown did improve after the break, Harry Shine, and Moore’s Kevin and Liam ensured that the Palmerstown side secured what they hope will be a confidence boosting win, ahead of their championship opener against Graigue Ballycallan.

Clara went down to a 3-point defeat at Dunnamaggin at the hands of the surprise package, Mullinavat who had a star performer in Ger Malone, who notched 1-4 in the victory. As per usual, John Walsh scored heavily and had a personal tally of 0-7. The Vegas Boys can now look forward to a shield final against Thomastown, while Clara will need to regroup ahead of a tricky tie with Bennettsbridge.

The most entertaining clash of the weekend saw this season’s clash of Tullaroan and Bennettsbridge in Muckalee. They say that the cream rises to the top, and that’s exactly what county man Mossy Keoghan (1-2) produced in a 6-point win. His goal typified his attitude, diving fulllength, superman like to get on the end of Shane Walsh’s searching ball, while his game intelligence meant that he can bring other players into

O’Loughlin’s to tackle Tullaroan in league final Vegas Boys vs ‘Town in shield decider the game with ease. Shane and the fast-improving Dylan Simpson contributed 0-14 between them in the win while Gearoid Dunne hit 0-4 as The Sash topped group A and set up an exciting league final with O’Loughlin’s.

Talking of the county champions,

Brian Hogan rang the changes for their final round robin game, but a change in personnel didn’t change their luck as the St John’s Park side maintained their unbeaten run ahead of the league final.

Shamrocks again took to the field without TJ Reid, Adrian Mullen and

Bill Dempsey trying to clear as he’s challenged by Conor Hoyne

Eoin Cody and this encounter had the feel of ‘bigger games ahead’ about it. Richie Reid and Evan Shefflin looked in decent form, while sub Finnian Shefflin hit a lovely score.

Elsewhere, Declan Browne’s GBC had seven points to spare over

relegation contenders, Erins Own, who lost Conor Delaney early on to injury. The ‘Comer side will need all hands on deck when they tackle Glenmore. James Stephens put in their best showing to date when they defeated Glenmore by five points.

Darragh Vereker gets away from Andy Parsons

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

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St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League & Championship - Hurling matters

Something for the weekend..

This Sunday will see the senior league and shield winners crowned.

A double header at UPMC Nowlan

Jamie Ryan Shows his Football Skills as he’s tackled by Stephen Barron

Park kicks off with Mullinavat vs Thomastown at 12 noon in the shield decider, while O’Loughlin Gaels take on Tullaroan in the league final at 2pm. Titles may well be on the line, but will all four sides really go for it tomorrow?

One of the standout performers,

not just on Noreside, but in club hurling generally over the past year has undoubtably been John Donnelly. Hurling fans across the island have seen the imposing Thomastown man put in some incredible displays for his beloved club, which saw them claim titles at county, provincial and national level. If you were Noel Doherty, would you unleash the talented JD this weekend? Or would you keep him in reserve for bigger days ahead? The latter might be the best option. The Vat on the other hand might go full tilt and see what happens. The ‘Town will be keen to avoid a third successive defeat and will be well aware of the banana skin awaiting on Sunday.

The current Tom Walsh holders, O’Loughlin Gaels will pit their wits against Tullaroan in the league final and a high scoring affair could be on the cards. Brian Hogan chose to shuffle his pack last time out, and may well get more minutes into the legs of the same players this weekend. Young Alex Sheridan caught the eye and will hope to get another chance to impress against The Sash. Ken Coogan has built a really entertaining side, with the likes of Mossy Keoghan, Dylan Simpson, Gearoid Dunne and Shane Walsh. If The Sash go strong with their line-up, it could well be an intriguing encounter.

Two other games scheduled for Sunday are the first-round clash between Graigue Ballycallan and Dicksboro at Páirc Lachtain (Throwin 1:30pm). The ‘Boro will hope that the recent win over Thomastown has re-focused the players ahead of this fixture. Cillian Buckley, Timmy Clifford and Harry Shine will hope to maintain their good form, while Shane Stapleton appears to be almost flawless from the placed ball. Declan Browne will hope that senior county star, Billy Ryan causes plenty of problems for the Dicksboro defence, while some of GBC’s younger players have been performing well, especially Jeff Neary.

The final instalment of action on Sunday is a real clash of two big guns. James Stephens and Shamrocks Ballyhale will collide in a relegation semi-final in Callan, with both sides fully aware of what’s at stake. Neither side would have envisaged taking to the John Locke Park pitch for a relegation battle, but such has been the patchy form of both clubs, that they find themselves in this precarious position. Brian Cody and Jimmy Meagher have been deprived of their first choice XV during the round robin stages, but both know that their teams should have enough to avoid relegation clashes.

There should be a decent crowd in attendance as these two big name clubs go toe to toe.

Saturday’s action begins with the meeting of Bennettsbridge and Clara in Thomastown. Timmy Dooley will know that his charges need to ‘turn up’ tomorrow, or they could risk falling to a Clara side that is capable of mixing it with more ‘fancied’ sides on their day. The Bridge will know that if they can contain Paul Cody, that gives them a huge advantage in this game. This could well mean that David Blanchfield picks up the Clara dangerman. If John Donnelly has been the best club hurler on Noreside this season, Kevin Blanchfield must surely be up there too. The midfielder is such a classy hurler and can help set the tempo for his side. Nicky Cleere will keep

the scoreboard ticking over for the Bridge and they can advance if they all perform.

The first of the relegation semifinals see’s Erin’s Own face-off against Glenmore Throw-in 1:30pm). Injuries to key players could again prove crucial in this battle. As mentioned earlier, Conor Delaney went off in the defeat to GBC, and the Castlecomer side will need their best men on the

Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan pitch tomorrow. Glenmore themselves appear to have lost All-Star keeper, Eoin Murphy to injury. Operating in defence for his club, the intercounty netminder clashed with Thomastown’s John Donnelly, and it looks like he might be out for a while. This could be another close encounter and has the potential to be a little feisty, given what’s at stake.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Bernadette Moloney, intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission to (a) construct a new single storey extension to the side and rear of existing dwelling, (b) alter and refurbish the existing dwelling, (c) increase height of wall along rear north western boundary, (d) alter site entrance and all associated site works at 20 Beechlawns, Johnswell Road, Kilkenny, R95 V2K7 The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Michael Morris intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission to erect a temporary prefabricated steel storage shed at 41, Clonkil, Callan, Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Larry Comerford wish to apply for planning permission to construct a new hard surfaced yard, new entrance and associated site works for the purpose of storing, shredding and baling and processing end of life tyres and facilitate the installation of relevant plant/machinery, and pending grant of planning permission, I intend applying for a waste permit for the purpose of collection, storage, shredding, baling and processing of the above mentioned end of life tyres at Ballyring Gathabawn Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Further Information We, Queally Pig Slaughtering Limited T/A Dawn Pork and Bacon intend to submit Significant Further Information to the Planning Authority in connection with the application Ref No. 2360546. The development applied for consisted of erecting a 2MW Wind Turbine, located to the southwest of our main building; the Wind Turbine will be installed with a hub height of 64 meters and a blade radius of 35.5 meters, with underground ducting connecting to the existing ESB substation and all associated site works at Queally Pig Slaughtering Limited T/A Dawn Pork and Bacon. The application relates to the development which comprises of an activity which holds an Integrated Pollution Control Licence (IPC) (Licence No. P0175-02).

Significant further Information consisting of -Natura Impact Statement (NIS), Archeological Impact Assessment, Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment and photomontages has been furnished to the Planning Authority in respect of this proposed development, and is available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the Offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours of 9:00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the Planning Authority within a period of 2 weeks from the date of receipt of the revised public notices.

A submission or observation must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of €20, except in the case of a person or body who has already made a submission or observation and such submission or observation 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.

Signed: Bioenergy Power Systems T/A Enerpower, Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Road, Waterford, Co. Waterford. X91 T449.

Phone: 051 364 054. www.enerpower.ie.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning Permission is sought by Joe and Niamh Connolly for development at Lower Grange House, Grange Lower, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny. R95 HH56.

The development will consist of the construction of a domestic style garage for the ancillary use of the existing dwelling including the extension of the existing driveway; soakaway; solar panels; landscaping; and all associated site development works to facilitate the development.

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.

Signed: Gittens Murray Architects Ltd., No. 5 William Street, Kilkenny.

Tel No: 056-7753933.

Web: www.gmarch.net.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

NOEL BYRNE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND MONTHS MIND Noel Byrne 23 Parnell Street, Kilkenny Died unexpectedly on 12th August 2024.

Noel’s wife Marian and son Joseph, sister Kathleen, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and extended family would like to sincerely thank everyone who sympathised and supported us on the unexpected passing of our beloved husband, father and brother.

To all who attended the funeral home, funeral mass and burial, those who sent mass cards, text messages, phone calls and for the lovely condolences on RIP website and social media.

Thank you to those who brought food and refreshments to the house, it was very much appreciated. To our wonderful neighbours of Parnell Street, family and friends who rallied around us, we cannot thank you enough.

A special thank you to management and staff at Treacys Hotel, Waterford city who helped mam when Noel became unwell. To ambulance, gardai and medical personnel who worked on Noel and did everything they could to resuscitate him, but sadly it was not to be.

SEAN MURPHY 2ND ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of Sean Murphy, Cassaugh, Coolcullen, Carlow who died on 20th September 2022 RIP He was a father so very rare Content in his home and always there On earth he toiled In heaven he rests God bless you Dad You were one of the best Always remembered by your loving wife Mary and family.

Anniversary Mass in St. Brendan’s Church, Muckalee on 22nd September at 11am.

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.OB.

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. E.M.

To Noels GP Dr. Prendergast, Cathy and the team at Castle Gardens Medical Centre, thank you all for the exceptional care you gave to Noel throughout his illness.

To Robert and staff at Sam McCauley’s Pharmacy, High Street for the care and attention given to Noel, it is so much appreciated. To Dr. Bolger and his wonderful team at St. Luke’s General Hospital for the care you gave to Noel for the past two years, thank you.

To Fr. Dermot Ryan for the prayers at dad’s wake and for celebrating a very meaningful funeral Mass, Noel got a brilliant send off on his way home to heaven.

To Larry, Carmel and Lisa Browne, thank you for the lovely music at Noels funeral Mass, it was so beautiful. A special thank you to Tomás Jackman who performed a lovely song at Noels graveside as he was laid to rest.

To Johnston Funeral Directors, thank you so much for your professionalism and support in the recent days after dad’s passing, you made a hard time that bit easier on us. Also a special thanks to the grave diggers at St. Kieran’s Cemetery.

To my colleagues in Vision Ireland retail and music business for the support you gave to both myself and my mam, it was very much appreciated.

To the staff at Langton House Hotel for the lovely food they served to us after Noel was laid to rest, thank you so much.

As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deepest gratitude and appreciations.

Rest in Peace Noel Love always your wife Marian and son Joseph XXX Noel’s months mind mass will be celebrated on Sunday 15th September at 11am in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny

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. A.B.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. A.S.

46

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

Classifieds Motors

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

087 2587745

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th September 2024