Kilkenny Observer 14 March 2025

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

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Missing Kathy: new plea

the world City woman (67) not been seen since February 4 How media saw Kilkenny people have been asked to check their gardens, sheds and land for a local woman who disappeared more than five weeks ago. Gardaí say there has been “no trace of Katherine Norris” since last seen on Tuesday, February 4.

Katherine Norris (67) was officially reported missing from her home on Stephens Street in Kilkenny City on Friday afternoon, February 7 last.

Katherine, also known as Kathy, was last seen at approximately 10am on February 4 walking in the vicinity– of the Stephen’s Street area.

Gardaí say there has been “no trace of Kathy” and they would “really like to help her family bring her home”.

Katherine Norris [pictured] is described as being approximately 5ft 1in tall with a slim build and long white/blonde

hair with a fringe. She generally wears glasses.

Her family say they are “very concerned for her well-being”.

Her disappearance featured on RTÉ’s Crimecall last month.

“Kathy’s family and friends are all very anxious to hear from her, as they just want to hear that she is safe and well,” said a Garda spokesperson.

“Did you see Kathy since February 4 after she was seen on

Stephens Street? Gardaí and Katherine’s family are very concerned for her well-being and ask that if you can assist the investigation in any way possible, that you please do so.”

Anyone with information on Katherine’s whereabouts is asked to contact Kilkenny Garda Station on 056 777 5000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Martin meeting with Trump in Washington

Our three girls ... and Angus The recent 2025 Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition at Croke Park, supported by ABP and Kepak, challenges students to rear five Irish Angus calves and learn about the care and attention required to produce quality beef for consumers.

Pictured, from left, are Caitlin Kinsella, Emily Doyle, Emily Kearns from Abbey Community College, Ferrybank , Kilkenny, who took part in the competition.

Five out of the forty-six exhibiting schools that best demonstrate an understanding of the project along with innovative ideas will be presented with Irish Angus calves at the National Ploughing Championships in September 2025.

PHOTO: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography

Ah, go win, go win, go win, go win...

An adult learning initiative from Kilkenny was among 24 community education projects from across the island of Ireland that were celebrated recently at an awards event in Croke Park, organised by AONTAS, the national adult learning organisation of Ireland. The STAR awards – short for showcasing teamwork,

The Best Comment & Opinion in Kilkenny

awarding recognition – highlight education initiatives that showcase the transformative power of adult education.

The Voter Education Programme by REHAB that took place in Kilkenny was among seven overall winners announced at the event, co-hosted by special guest, the writer and actress Pau-

line McLynn, aka. Mrs Doyle from Father Ted. The project brought home a STAR Award in the Learner Voice category.

The Voter Education Programme by REHAB delivered a series of voter education workshops to National Learning Network and RehabCare services across the country with sessions in Kilkenny,

Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Portlaoise. The workshops were tailored to highlight themes of self-advocacy for people with disabilities and finding solutions to challenges that people in the services face when going through the registration and voting process.

AONTAS CEO, Dearbháil

Lawless said: “The winner highlights the incredible initiatives and programmes that are running in Kilkenny and across Ireland that promote adult learning and community education.

“The value and benefit of adult education is truly reflected in the individuals here this morning.”

Taoiseach Micheal Martin took a ‘back seat’ while US President Donald Trump went off on uncomfortable tangents.

According to international news outlets after observing the White House visit, where the leaders came face to face for a lengthy Press conference that was mostly jovial, but not without a few hiccups.

Politico called the press conference a Trump “monologue” that was “attimes excruciating”.

“Martin, a diplomatic veteran, spent long periods sitting in bemused silence, his hands clasped tightly on his thighs and a Mona Lisa smile on his face. Trump, beside him, spent much of their time bashing past US presidents and Brussels, although aiming no direct hits at Ireland.”

CBS said that, while it was “nothing like with the Zelenskyy meeting from two weeks ago”, there was some “underlying acrimony” from Trump’s side. “[Trump] added Ireland to the list of countries he thought were taking advantage of the United States,” Fin Gómez, CBS News’s Political Director, said, referencing Trump’s comments on the pharmaceutical industry.

The New York Post also covered the comments and the palpable awkwardness.

“Trump ranted as Martin sat awkwardly next to him.”

The New York Times said, despite entertaining Trump’s antics, Martin wasn’t able to make him budge on tariffs.

The paper pointed to Martin’s reserved disposition as a signal he was trying to avoid a repeat of the Zelenskyy debacle.

In its ‘key takeaway’ article about the visit, Al Jazeera said Trump “took up much of the spotlight”, while Martin “appeared relatively silent”.

Overall, it said the visit was “relatively warm”, despite obvious tensions sparked by the US tarriff war with the EU.

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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Amber plan to expand women’s refuge Amber Women’s Refuge CLG has launched its Strategic Plan 2025-2029, outlining how the organisation plans to grow and evolve its refuge and communitybased services for women and children across Kilkenny and Carlow in the next five years.

Key highlights of Amber’s new five year Strategic Plan include • Expansion of services for children and young people impacted by domestic violence and abuse alongside their mothers.

• Development of the post refuge supports available to women and children after they leave refuge.

• Increasing access to Amber’s community-based support services, including Court Support and Accompaniment, for women living in Kilkenny and Carlow.

• Sourcing, securing and ensuring the effective use of funding and resources to deliver a safe, supportive, client-centred and inclusive service to women and children living in Kilkenny and Carlow.

• Raising awareness of domestic violence and abuse with relevant local agencies and frontline professionals to ensure consistency, collaboration and protective service responses to women

Offering refuge: Ken Byrne, Chairperson, Amber, Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere TD, Lisa Morris, Manager, Amber, John McGuinness TD, Jean Murphy, Assistant Manager, Amber and Natasha Newsome-Drennan TD

and children who are victim/survivors of domestic abuse.

• Spotlighting the impact of domestic violence and abuse on women in relation

to the Law and National Housing Policy.

The new plan also out-

lines a roadmap for Amber’s expansion with the development of a new refuge

for women and children in Carlow town. A preferred site for the new refuge was identified last year and Amber has recently been notified that its CAS 1 funding application for the development of a refuge at this site has been approved.

“The next five years will see the growth of Amber’s refuge and communitybased services across Kilkenny and Carlow. Over the course of our last Strategic Plan 2022-2024, we experienced cumulative increases in demand of up to 20% in some aspects of our service. Evolving to meet increasing need, while ensuring we continue to deliver safe, supportive, client-centred and inclusive services to women and children living in Kilkenny and Carlow will be central to our activities for the next five years.” says Lisa Morris, Manager, Amber Women’s Refuge CLG. Established in 1995, Amber Women’s Refuge CLG provides emergency refuge accommodation to women and children in Kilkenny city, as well as community-based outreach supports in Kilkenny city and county and in rural county Carlow. * A 24/7 confidential Helpline 0818 42 42 44

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Vaccine may prevent heart attacks Scientists in China have developed a potential vaccine to prevent the build-up of plaque in arteries that can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart attacks.

The build-up of fatty plaque in arteries, a condition known as ­atherosclerosis, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

The eventual hardening of arteries from inflammation

can block the blood flow and lead to a stroke, aneurysm or heart attack.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease, mediated by the body’s innate immunity consisting of natural barriers and enzymes as well as its adaptive systems consisting of antibodies.

Such arterial blockages, once diagnosed via scans, are currently treated with surgi-

Man (70) jailed for manslaughter after fatally stabbing mentally ill son A 70-year-old man who fatally stabbed his mentally ill son in the leg in a “desperately sad” case of manslaughter has been jailed for 18 months.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two-year sentence with the final six months suspended on Zbigniew Bednarczyk (70) who lives in Kilkenny.

She said: “I am satisfied that they both paid a very high price for an interaction that lasted a very short period of time.”

She said that the severing of the femoral artery in the leg of his son, Rafal Bednarczyk Jacyna (37), was “unexpected”, adding that: “any movement by either party could have led to another outcome”.

Bednarczyk, of Meadow Way, Kilkenny, was initially charged with the murder of his son at Meadow Way on February 27th, 2023.

However, after his trial began last year, he entered a plea to manslaughter in October 2024, which was accepted by the State.

In passing sentence at the Central Criminal Court, Ms Justice Ring noted that the deceased had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, for which he received medication and was under medical supervision.

She said that he had drunk alcohol on the day he died, with a toxicology report showing that he was three times over the legal limit for driving and had also taken amphetamines and prescribed medication.

“To lose a child through your own act is to compound the tragedy,” said Ms Justice Ring,

adding that “the son lost was a father himself”.

She said that Rafal was troubled by mental health issues but was still a son loved by his father and mother. She noted that at the time of his death, he had stopped taking his medication and was using alcohol, which would not have had a positive influence on his mental health.

She noted that the deceased had been living with the defendant, which caused “not unexpected difficulties”, particularly as he was not following his medication routine.

She said he had returned to the house that day under the influence of alcohol and drugs, while his behaviour was noted on the day by others as “erratic”.

Ms Justice Ring went on to say that there was no evidence to contradict the defendant’s statement that he had the knife in his possession at the time as he was using it to prepare food.

“I have not lost sight of the fact that Rafal lost his life, and he was not responsible for that, but I cannot overlook the challenges his behaviour gave rise to,” said Ms Justice Ring, adding that she also noted the challenges faced by family members when caring for those with mental health problems.

“I am satisfied that they both paid a very high price for an interaction that lasted a very short period of time,” said the judge, adding that the possession of the knife was “happenchance”, as it was being used for food preparation and not as a weapon.

MEP calls for a neutrality poll Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South Kathleen Funchion has called on the Government to hold a referendum on changing Ireland’s policy of neutrality.

Speaking in a European Parliament debate in Strasbourg, Ms Funchion said: “I want to

express my opposition to any backsliding when it comes to the neutrality of Ireland. Our country has a proud history of UN Mandated peacekeeping missions.

“Our neutrality has enabled us to maintain an independent foreign policy.”

cal procedures such as angioplasty and the use of stents to prevent the blood vessels from clogging up.

It has long been theorised that vaccination could be used to treat or prevent the disease.

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications described a vaccine that may mitigate atherosclerosis development in mice.

“Our nanovaccine design

and preclinical data present a potential candidate for prophylactic treatment for atherosclerosis,” scientists at Nanjing University of Science and Technology in China wrote.

Previous studies have helped create a digital library of various kinds of proteins that protect against inflammation and boost the body’s immune response to atherosclerosis.

One such protein is called p210. It has been found to trigger an immune response against atherosclerosis progression, and it is what the new vaccine uses.

The vaccine latches the p210 antigen onto tiny iron oxide nanoparticles and attaches an adjuvant – a substance used to enhance the immune response of a vaccine – to a different set of nanoparticles.

The two Kathleens: Kathleen Chada and Kathleen Funchion MEP in the European Parliament, Brussels

Familicide victim Chada hosted in Europe Kathleen Funchion MEP was honoured to welcome Kathleen Chada to The Left’s Feminist Forum in the European Parliament, an annual event bringing together women leading change right across Europe.

Speaking from the Forum, MEP Funchion said: “Kathleen shared her powerful story of loss, grief and advocacy for those in similar situations across Ireland. Her contribution

deeply resonated with attendees, reinforcing the importance of placing victims at the heart of justice, leading to a standing ovation for her contribution.

“Kathleen from Co. Carlow, tragically lost her two sons, Eoghan and Ruairí in 2013 when their father murdered them. She has become a leading advocate for justice and legislative reform.”

This year saw guests come from right across Europe, including Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden and Ireland who focused on ending patriarchal violence, including violence against women and children.

“Kathleen’s advocacy has been instrumental in raising awareness of the deep and lasting consequences of familicide. Her

voice is a vital force for change, and her story at the Feminist Forum was a powerful reminder of why we must continue to fight for proper justice for victims of violence against women and children,” said the Sinn Fein MEP. “I was delighted to be able to invite Kathleen Chada to Brussels and I would like to thank her most sincerely for sharing her story with us in the European Parliament.”

Long audiology waiting list in Carlow/Kilkenny Carlow Kilkenny has 732 people on the audiology treatment waiting list for a year, or more, according to the most recently released HSE figures.

And there is evidence for up to a three year delay in the provision for audiology services in many parts of the country, according to Ireland’s leading Deaf and Hard for Hearing charity, Chime.

The HSE figures have been condemned by Chime, which slammed what it dubbed ‘shocking’ delays revealing a ‘dysfunctional’ system.

Nationally, the growth for audiology treatment waiting

lists, from 20,000 in 2020 to over 26,500 in 2024, has been roundly condemned by Chime.

Almost half of those awaiting audiology treatment are children under the age for 18.

Chime urged the Department of Health to immediately introduce an audiology waiting list initiative to deal with delays in treatment.

It said that the HSE needed to consider using private sector providers to help reduce waiting times and eliminate duplication and a waste of resources.

“Undiagnosed hearing loss amongst children can lead to significant challenges, includ-

ing speech and language delay, learning difficulties, and social isolation,” said Chime CEO Mark Byrne.

“Among adults, there is a strong link between hearing loss and the early onset of dementia, but someone who is 82 may be 85 by the time they get an audiology referral appointment.

“The World Health Organisation has pointed out that early intervention actually saves governments money in reduced health care costs,” he said.

Chime says many people with undiagnosed hearing difficulties are having to go to private

providers and avail of the Department of Social Protection Treatment Benefit Scheme.

And it said that Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill must ensure the working group established by the previous government to develop a National Hearing Care Plan is finalised and brings forward its findings urgently.

Mr Byrne said national and regional figures were “shocking and getting worse”.

He said he was particularly concerned about the growing number of undiagnosed hearing loss cases among children.

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Opinion

The Fact Of The Matter Paul Hopkins

Young hearts and their mental health Secondary-school aged adolescents in Ireland reported more mental health problems in 2021 – during the pandemic – including an increase in suicide attempts, compared to previous years, according to findings published just before Christmas by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).

Of the more than 4,400 adolescents interviewed, more than a quarter of the adolescents described their mental health as “bad” or “very bad”, more than a third reported self-harming in their lifetime, and one in 10 reported attempting suicide in their lifetime.

Meanwhile, Special Education Minister Michael Moynihan has assured parents that appropriate special education school places will be made available to students in need before the beginning of the next school year. His promise comes after parents of children with additional needs

recently staged a 24-hour ‘sleep out’ outside of the Department of Education, requesting immediate action on the lack of suitable and available school spaces. Hundreds of children with additional needs nationwide have been left without a school place next year due to a growing shortage.

To top all this, comes news from a paper commissioned by the UN and warning that a burgeoning youth mental health crisis in six Englishspeaking countries worldwide – including Ireland – is upending the traditional pattern of happiness across our lifetimes.

Analysing responses to surveys in Ireland, the US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, the study found that life satisfaction and happiness had fallen among young people in the past decade, and particularly among young women. The surveys highlighted the rise of smartphones and social media, the

growth of internet usage, and the Covid pandemic with the impact on happiness visible in surveys across the six countries and in several other nations worldwide.

“This may end up being a lost generation,” says David Blanchflower, one of the key people behind the UN report.

He says there has been a sharp drop in wellbeing of our young, and points to the growth of social media, cyberbullying and body shaming online.

“The young have become isolated. It’s also not so much that people are sitting there on the phone, it’s what they’re not doing. They’re not going out as much; playing with their friends, interacting with others, or having as much intimacy,” he says.

A leading British labour market economist now at the prestigious US Dartmouth College, Blanchflower had written a paper in 2020 looking at almost

150 advanced and developing countries and found the same downturn in happiness applied everywhere. However, he now says he missed the collapse in youth wellbeing from about 2013 in survey data, before starting to work with female colleague Jean Twenge, a leading expert on

“Upending the traditional pattern of happiness across our lifetimes

the subject.

Other studies have drawn links between the youth mental health crisis and unregulated social media, insecure employment and the climate crisis. Young people with mental health issues are also increasingly likely to be outside the jobs market.

Blanchflower says the collapse in youth wellbeing could have vast social and economic consequences. “The economics of this are a really big deal.

Potentially this relates to the kids withdrawing from school; then they go out of the labour force. Presumably it will affect your performance at school, it might well impact global productivity.”

He says the UN has commissioned further research to identify if the phenomenon could be found elsewhere around the world. “The UN sees this as a huge global crisis,” he concludes.

Our young here are quite capable of knuckling down

to whatever the task at hand, whether it be college assignments or rising early to help with the cows. They are, in the main, a good, enthusiastic lot, a well-educated generation — I reared three of them — but there is so much more pressure on young shoulders today.

Despite their apparent nonchalance, there is an onus on them — some of it self-imposed or peer pressure — to perform, to achieve, to succeed. Against that, lack of adequate accommodation and parity of pay is leading, sadly, to another ‘brain drain’.

I don’t have any magical solution to offer a generation under pressure until, if they’re lucky, they realise they are, after all, not as invincible as imagined but human, with all the downsides that that brings. There is no blueprint for being young and trying to grow up.

And, along the way, some young hearts get disillu-

Biodiversity training course to launch in Kilkenny A new community training course focusing on biodiversity is being launched this month. It aims to educate and empower participants to understand the importance of biodiversity, by presenting a lecture series, acting like building blocks to create a better awareness of how the surrounding geology and landscape impacts on habitat creation and how habitat quality impacts on species diversity. Participants will learn about the importance of biodiversity, the various species and habitats found in Kilkenny and field work sessions will build on practical ecology skills to make participants confident citizen scientists.

Running over a 5-week duration starting in late May, there will be one evening lecture per week, followed by a practical field session each weekend over the 5-week period and will open to 15 participants. The course has been designed by the members of “Kilkenny’s Biodiversity Working Group” with the support of the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) under their Community Education division.

“We are excited to offer our support to this biodiversity course,” said Siobhán O’Brien, Community Education Facilitator.

“Biodiversity is crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems, and through this training, we hope to inspire individuals to take an active role in recording species and participating in national citizen science

monitoring schemes” Those interested in participating in the 5-week course should email biodiversity@ kilkennycoco.ie for an application form and further course details will also be forwarded.

The course is designed for those who have not participated in similar courses previously and are interested in meeting like-minded individuals wanting to gain more knowledge, skills and confidence to identify different species and learn how the landscape influence habitat creation enabling different plants and animals to thrive.

Bernadette Moloney, Biodiversity Officer with Kilkenny County Council said “At this stage, we would like to determine the interest locally, it’s the first time to run a course like this and we believe it’s a good venture to test the waters. From the public consultation sessions held last year in preparation of the Draft Biodiversity Action Plan and the interactions with people who came to our different themed biodiversity walks last year, I feel running a 5-week biodiversity course will reap better rewards, building a cohort of local citizen scientists”. The course content is varied, with lecture time kept to a twohour session in the evening mid-week with emphasis on longer field practical session that will take place over 5 consecutive weekends.

The closing date for applications is the 22nd of April.

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UHW nurse guilty of misconduct with high-risk patient A nurse at University Hospital, Waterford (UHW) has been found guilty of professional misconduct and poor professional performance after she forgot to record a high-risk patient's vital signs and then falsified the observation chart.

A Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) fitness to practice committee found the nurse's profession-

al ­ actions were "dishonest” and "disgraceful”.

The nurse, who was on probation, was on shift on November 7, 2023, at the emergency department of UHW when the incident happened.

A committee heard she had a number of patients under her care, one being a "frail, vulnerable and immunocompromised” man who was undergoing cancer treatment.

It was decided the patient required hourly observations to identify if his condition deteriorated.

The allegations were that the nurse failed to undertake observations for the man in line with the Irish National Early Warning System (INEWS) when she knew or ought to have known this was required.

She then knowingly falsified the ­INEWS chart after failing

to carry out the observations over a five-hour period.

The committee found the nurse's actions were a serious falling short of the standards of conduct expected of nurses.

It further found the nurse's conduct was infamous and/or disgraceful, in a professional respect, and involved some degree of moral turpitude/ fraud or dishonesty.

She was further found to

have failed to meet the standards of competence that can reasonably be expected of a registered nurse carrying out similar work.

The committee also found her actions amounted to noncompliance with the code of professional conduct and ethics for a registered nurse.

While there were no adverse consequences to the patient, the incident was nonetheless

Fair Deal plan for home care is 'priority' Junior Health Minister Kieran O'Donnell has said his "number one priority” is a Fair Deal-style scheme giving ­ people a legal entitlement to home care. He also promised to provide a ­nationwide free DIY service by volunteers to do repair work in the homes of older people.

Mr O'Donnell pointed out that, while the Fair Deal Scheme provided a legal right to nursing home care, "there is no equivalent programme for home care”.

Writing in the Irish ­Independent, the Fine Gael Minister said: ”I am aware that this has been a commitment made before, but I intend to be the minister to deliver on it. It is my number one priority.”

A statutory home care scheme, guaranteeing people who are needsassessed, would give a minimum level of hours to the individual and was recommended in the Sláintecare report in 2017.

A promise to deliver the statutory home care scheme was made in the last coalition's Programme for Government in 2020 – but it has since been beset by delays.

Complexities emerged around cost, the availability of carers, what level of service would be provided, the regulation of providers and whether people must be means-tested and make a co-payment.

The Fair Deal Scheme, introduced in 2009, involves a means test based on income and assets for each resident requiring long-term nursing-home care to determine

their contribution to the cost.

Nursing-home care is much more expensive than home care, so any means test, if introduced, would be need to be far less onerous.

Home care is currently provided free, with no means test by the HSE, to more than 56,000 people a day and waiting lists have fallen from a high of 9,000 to around 4,700, with 1,160 in the HSE south-west region, which comprises Cork and Kerry.

The Kilkenny, Carlow, south Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford region has the second longest list, followed by the mid-west region of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary north.

People may have a service, but seek additional HSEfunded hours and many pay private companies out of their ­pocket to top-up their care.

In the last Budget, the previous Government allocated €120m to increase home supports from a target of 22.4 million hours last year to 24.3 million hours this year.

Mr O'Donnell said that the current Government would "roll out the care and repair scheme nationally so that small jobs that do not require a tradesperson can be carried out by a volunteer-led DIY service”.

"This will help older people to maintain their homes and independence,” he said.

Age Action currently operates a similar Garda-vetted service and works with community groups across the country to deliver it.

taken very seriously by hospital management.

The nurse accepted the truth of all allegations before the committee at the outset, but when asked by the chair of the committee if she would like to say anything, she pleaded for them to "reconsider” the facts.

After deliberation, all allegations against her were proved.

Networking: at the All-Island International Women's Day celebration at Croke Park, Áine Kerr, Digital Entrepreneur, Amy O’Sullivan, National President, Network Ireland and Dr Norah Patten, astronaut and keynote speaker ]PHOTO: Patrick Browne

Women breaking barriers...

Network Ireland is now inviting applications for their prestigious Businesswoman of the Year Awards, which recognise the achievements of talented and dedicated female professionals. The awards were officially launched at this year’s Network Ireland International Women’s Day event at Croke Park, which was attended by 400 business women from across Ireland in the organisation’s first

cross-border IWD celebration.

Eight awards will acknowledge the success of women in the following categories: • Emerging Businesswoman • Solo Businesswoman • Established Businesswoman • Creative Professional • STEM Professional • Employee - Rising Star • Employee - Shining Star • Networker of the Year

Network Ireland National President Amy O’Sullivan hopes that this year’s awards will help advance the theme of her presidency, ‘Breaking Barriers’. She said: "I want to celebrate the business women who have challenged the limitations imposed by a prevailing culture of inequality to make their ventures a success.

More than anything, I want these awards to empower

our members to break their own barriers by modelling what’s possible.”

The national recipients of the Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2025 will be chosen from the winners of 17 local branch finals. Winners will be selected by a panel of business experts and the closing date for applications is Thursday, April 17 at 5pm.

The national awards will take place in September.

Second-hand goods 'against consumer laws' A sweep of second-hand websites, conducted by Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and European counterparts, has found that more than half (52%) are potentially breaking consumer law.

The sweep of 356 websites and platforms across Europe, for second-hand goods (such as clothes, accessories and electronics), checked to see whether the professional sellers were following consumer law. It found: • 52% online sellers were potentially infringing consumer law • 45% of online sellers do not

correctly inform consumers of their right to return faulty goods or goods that do not look or work as advertised • 40% did not inform consumers about their right to change their mind within 14 days without giving a reason, and without incurring cost • Out of 34% traders that presented environmental claims on their website, 28% were assessed as false, deceptive, or likely to qualify as unfair commercial practices, and 20% were not sufficiently substantiated The sweep was carried out through the European Commission’s Consumer Pro-

tection Cooperation (CPC) Network. Ireland was one of the 25 Member States that participated in the sweep along with Iceland and Norway.

Pat Kenny, Member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, said: “Consumers are increasingly looking for ways to support the circular economy and it’s good for them to know that they don’t have to sacrifice their consumer rights when doing that.”

“Consumers have rights when buying second-hand goods online from Irish and other European professional sellers.

"Goods must be as advertised, and consumers have the right to change their mind.

A consumer has 14 days to let the seller know they have changed their mind and a further 14 days to return the product, entitling them to a refund.”

Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, said: "Second-hand goods play a crucial role in a circular economy.

"It is important that all traders, including those dealing in second-hand goods, uphold consumer rights."

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Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

Needed: the art of getting things done Getting things done is a very human endeavour. At its best getting, a good job done is an art form, satisfying the doer and benefitting those for whom the job was done. But it doesn’t always work that way.

Look at Donald Trump, signing executive orders by the dozen, engaged in a storm of activity he believes will Make America Great Again( MAGA). The practical effects of his doings, though, are upsetting international relations, disrupting world trade and supply chains with tariffs, cutting off humanitarian aid and tearing up agreements designed to protect the planet. Getting things done needs to involve doing the right thing in order to be beneficial.

Look at our own situation here, economically we do seem to be doing it right with a record 2.75 million in employment, unemployment down to 4.3% and a budget surplus of €25.4 billion ahead

of last October’s Budget.

(What happens in future given the threat to our financial health by Trump is another matter.) But in other areas, things are going nowhere very fast or else the wheels are spinning, hindering progress.

Whatever is done it needs to be done effectively.

The newly elected Dail, far from tackling the burning issues of the hour, has been bogged down in the ridiculous Speaking Rights row, still unresolved weeks after TDs finally came back from holiday. Meanwhile, Dail committees won’t be running properly until after Easter to get on with business of getting things done. Just one symptom of not getting things done: parents were driven to stage an all-night protest outside the Department of Education over the lack of special needs places in schools.

Any hope that spring might energise some of the new

ministers in departments plagued with wheel spinning?

Not in Health anyway, where it’s the same old story; last month there were 600 waiting on trolleys in hospitals for beds and troubled University Hospital Limerick broke its own record with 138 waiting on trolleys in its emergency department.

How about housing, where the clogged arteries of the system delivered 6.7% fewer new builds than in 2023 – 10,000 less homes than the 40,000 promised and a two-bedroom apartment in Dublin now can cost as much as an eye watering €619,000.

Happily, new Minister James Browne is starting to get things done which could be effective resolving the log jam of the housing crisis, as homeless figures soar to more than 15,000.

Browne spoke recently about measures he is beavering away on to unblock the system and deliver goals.

His innovative plan involves a crack troubleshooting team who are going to look into cases where housing is not being delivered due to problems ranging from water issues to regulations and then remove the barriers. Excellent, something other ministers could copy too.

“Bogged down in the ridiculous Speaking Rights row...

Implementing the Planning and Development Act and tightening up on judicial reviews which have held up the possible delivery of thousands of homes is another of Browne’s priorities. Increasing the amount of land zoned for housing under the new national framework is another. Changing the system where local councils allowed modular cabins, costing a tenth of traditional housing, in back gardens but wouldn’t allow them to be lived in makes sense, giving some of the box room generation the chance to have a roof of their own. So does making financial support for people renovating vacant homes more accessible.

The handling of international protection applicants resulted in a shameful mess, despite millions spent on outside consultants. Asylum seekers were left sleeping on the streets and waiting months even years for their

applications to be processed, arousing protests when they were parked in large numbers in unsuitable accommodation. Now new Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan is cutting through the polarised rhetoric around the topic of migrants.

The minister said recently: “There are far too many people seeking international protection here who are not entitled to it.” Those arriving need to be properly accommodated and have their applications processed quickly. To prove the point, 32 asylum seekers from Georgia, whose applications were refused, were deported recently by charter flight.

Maybe next time those turned down might be repatriated via scheduled flights – that charter having cost €102,476 .

The art of getting things done – rather than just doing things – shouldn’t only apply to ministers though. There’s a case for bringing the skill to our civil servants in their silos.

Revitalise your skin this Mother’s day CLAIR WHITTY Trilogy is my go-to skincare brand. I recently had a chat with Helen from Trilogy where we discussed various products for older skin.

As we age, our skin undergoes many changes, including a loss of elasticity, dryness, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Maintaining a healthy and youthful glow becomes essential, and Trilogy's skincare range is designed to address these concerns, particularly for those with older skin. Three standout products from Trilogy for Helen would be the Rosehip Antioxidant Oil, Transformation Cleansing Oil and Line Smoothing Day Cream which work in harmony to nourish, hydrate, and smooth the skin, providing a rejuvenated look.

The foundation of any skincare routine is cleansing, and Trilogy's Transformation Cleansing Oil provides a gentle yet effective way to remove impurities without stripping the skin's natural

oils. This non-drying formula is ideal for older skin, which can be more sensitive and prone to dehydration. It works to dissolve makeup, dirt, and excess oils while maintaining the skin's hydration levels. The result is clean, soft, and refreshed skin that is ready for the next step.

One of the best ways to combat the signs of aging is by using products that are rich in antioxidants, and the Rosehip Antioxidant Oil is a perfect choice. Packed with natural antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids, this oil deeply nourishes the skin. Rosehip oil is known for its ability to repair damaged skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and promote a more even skin tone. This product helps restore moisture and enhances skin's

natural radiance. It gives the skin a more youthful and plump appearance.

For day-to-day hydration and protection, Trilogy's Line Smoothing Day Cream is a must-have. This lightweight, fastabsorbing cream is enriched with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps to plump up the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

It also contains natural oils that lock in moisture and create a smooth, soft texture. As a day cream, it also offers a protective layer against environmental stressors like pollution and UV rays, essential for maintaining skin health as we age.

Call into our Kilkenny store on 26th March 2 - 4 pm to chat with our Trilogist Helen with any questions you may have.

Shop online at www.naturalhealthstore.ie where you’ll be able to take a look at these brands. Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre | Phone: 056 7764538 | Email: info@naturalhealthstore.ie

Climate Change

– are we all playing our part?

WEEK 109

"Life is more than a game of golf "

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SPECIAL REPORT

Magnier and family in €15m law suit “Magnier wants to enforce a handshake deal he said was made in 2023, to buy the property for €15m...

Coolmore Stud supremo John Magnier (77), his son John Paul, a former amateur jockey who was baptised by Pope John Paul II, and his daughter Katie, are suing the owners and trustees of the Barne Estate in Tipperary’s Golden Vale.

The 751-acre property, which includes an almost 17,000sq ft mansion, was put on the market in 2023 for €13.5m on behalf of the Thomson-Moore family who have owned it since the 17th century.

Magnier wants to enforce a handshake deal he said was made on August 22, 2023, to buy the property for €15m.

He says the deal included

a one-month exclusivity period — but alleges this was breached when New York-based Kerry man Maurice Regan, with interests in construction, hospitality, and horse racing, struck a deal to buy the Barne lands for €22.5m.

Regan is not a defendant in the case, but is “the dark force behind all of this” — and, according to Magnier’s counsel, Paul Gallagher, the country’s foremost barrister and former Attorney General, he is allegedly funding the defendants.

While the trial at Dublin’s Four Courts was supposed to begin with Gallagher’s opening speech and

Magnier taking the stand, the two days were instead taken up with sometimes ill-tempered arguments between Martin Hayden, senior counsel for the defendants, and Gallagher and his fellow senior counsel, Caren Geoghegan, for Magnier.

The court resembled an obstacle course, due to the amount of bankers’ boxes and lever-arch folders carted in on trolleys to create an impromptu document library. Still, the two million documents exchanged in discovery between the sides were not sufficient.

The Barne defendants admitted that some devices had not been properly

searched for records that should be released to Magnier’s side under discovery orders.

Also, a 60-page document containing detailed typed notes about the sales process from John Stokes, a local estate agent, had wrongly been claimed to be legally privileged before it was handed over last week. This cast doubt on whether thousands of other documents had also been wrongly excluded from release on the same basis.

While the lawyers argued before Judge Michael Quinn for two days, Magnier at times would stand up and undo his belt, adjust the

tightness, and set off for a short break.

The billionaire gave some of his Coolmore team, who were seated behind him, a thumbs up as he returned to the hard benches of court room 11.

Richard Thomson-Moore, one the defendants, sat on the far end of the same bench as Magnier. Beside him was his wife, Anna, who made assiduous notes on a hardback pad.

The other defendants are the Barne Estate Ltd and IQ-EQ, the financial advisory firm involved in running the Repus Trust, the Thomson-Moore trust that owns the estate.

Hayden insisted his clients, the defendants, wanted the case to begin as quickly as possible. He said they wanted to emigrate to Australia with their son, who the court has previously heard has cerebral palsy.

In documents already opened, Magnier and his son John Paul are said to have personally delivered €50,000 in cash in two brown envelopes to the Thomson-Moores in September 2023, as he heard they were “strapped for cash”.

Magnier is said to have offered to set up a €500,000 trust for their then threeyear-old son.

The Irish billionaire synonymous with winning John Magnier is synonymous with winning, being at the heart of the worldfamous Coolmore Stud and also having held stakes in UK nursing home group Barchester Healthcare and Britain’s biggest pub group, Mitchells & Butlers.

His initial earnings came from his horse-breeding empire, which he has expanded with world-class farms in

Ireland, the US and Australia.

However, a series of shrewd business dealings, which included the trading of government and corporate bonds, as well as currency trading, helped catapult his wealth and make him one of Ireland’s few billionaires.

Magnier landed a sizeable windfall this year with the sale of Barchester. The healthcare company, which operates

more than 200 care homes and seven registered hospitals in the UK, was put up for sale in 2018 with a price-tag of around €2.8bn. He was one of the major owners in the business alongside JP McManus and Dermot Desmond.

The company was being marketed by US banking giant JP Morgan and Magnier owned around 20% of it.

Magnier’s stake in the

billion-pound Mitchells & Butlers pub chain also paid dividends after a strong 2018.

He and McManus shared a 23% stake in the company.

During the 52 weeks to the end of September, the pub business reported a surge in operating profits of £47m (€53m) to £255m (€286m).

He is the son of a Co Cork landowner, and was educated at Glenstal Abbey in Co Lim-

erick. Following the death of his father when he was 15, he had to leave school to take charge of the family’s estate near Fermoy.

Later in life, the equine mogul moved to Fethard in Co Tipperary, where he went on to transform Coolmore Stud into what it is today, a 7,000-acre, multi-million euro business.

In late 2016, Magnier and

McManus netted a reported €350m profit from the sale of an office and retail building on the exclusive Place Vendome in Paris.

Magnier spends much of his time at a seafront home on a Caribbean island. His property portfolio stretches from a €30m beach-front pad in Marbella to an interest in the exclusive Sandy Lane Resort in Barbados.

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Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Gender equality: time to make a difference To mark the recent International Women’s Day, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) updated the Women And Men In Ireland Hub, a crucial one-stop resource for equality data in Ireland. Developed in 2024, this hub collates statistics from the CSO and other public sector organisations, providing an “accessible, comprehensive insight into gender disparities across various aspects of life”.

The hub presents data across six key themes: Gender Equality, Work, Education, Health, Safety & Security, and Transport. By collating this information, it offers a clear picture of the differences between women and men in Ireland, highlighting progress and areas where improvement is needed.

According to the European Institute for Gender Equality’s Gender Equality Index, Ireland achieved a score of 73.4% in 2022, surpassing the EU average of 71%. Ireland scored highest in health (94.6%) and financial security

(86.6%), while lower scores were recorded in work (77.2%), knowledge (68.6%), time spent on unpaid care and housework (59.5%), and political power (67.6%).

Despite these overall positive numbers, recent political shifts indicate a step backward in gender representation. The

proportion of female Government ministers declined from 27% to 20% following the formation of the new government in January 2025. Similarly, the share of female junior ministers dropped from 30% to 26%.

However, Ireland continues to make progress in the European Parliament, where 43% of its

MEPs are women.

The hub also highlights gender-based gaps in employment and wages. As of Q4 2024, the unemployment rate was 4.3% for men and 3.8% for women, showing a slight gender gap.

The data also reveals differences in career choices, work patterns, and earnings, with men

and women tending to dominate different sectors and roles.

This information is essential for policymakers and businesses striving to bridge these gaps through targeted policies and workplace reforms.

Laura Delaney, Statistician in the Statistical Systems Coordination Unit, emphasised the importance of utilising the Hub: “It is interesting to review the data on the CSO’s Women and Men in Ireland Hub. We can see differences in career choices, patterns of work, and earnings. The Hub also paints a picture of the different life experiences of men and women, across themes such as education, health, and safety.”

Gender equality is not just a women’s issue — it impacts society as a whole. From economic growth to social stability, ensuring equal opportunities for all is a cornerstone of a progressive and fair society.

While Ireland has made commendable strides in some areas, there is still work to be

done in ensuring balanced representation in politics, closing the gender pay gap, and recognising the value of unpaid care work predominantly carried out by women.

This easily accessible resource aims to provide transparency and facilitate informed discussions on gender equality.

Regularly updated, it serves as “a living document that evolves with societal changes”. The CSO encourages the public, researchers, and policymakers to explore the hub and use its insights to drive positive change.

Now, the challenge is translating these insights into actionable policies and cultural shifts that promote lasting equality. To explore the data and learn more about Ireland’s gender equality landscape, visit the Women And Men In Ireland Hub on the CSO website. The information is there — it’s time to use it to make a difference. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362633

Shocking revelation that suspects in 1,706 crimes across Kilkenny, Carlow and Waterford Garda Division area Newsome in 2024 were out on bail - Natasha Drennan TD Sinn Féin TD for Carlow Kilkenny has described as ‘shocking’ figures provided by the Department, which reveal that suspects for 1706 crimes carried out in Kilkenny, Carlow and Waterford Garda Division area in 2024 were on bail release.

The combined figure for the past three years of suspects implicated in crime in Kilkenny, Carlow and Waterford Garda Division area while on bail amounted to a staggering 5,250.

Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan TD said: “These figures released to Sinn Féin Justices spokesperson show that suspects for 40,348 crimes carried out across the state in 2024 were on bail release. This was an increase of almost 5,000 since 2022. The combined figure for the past three years of suspects implicated in crime while on bail amounted to 114,655.

“Of these, 1,706 were carried out in Kilkenny, Carlow

and Waterford.

“These figures show that bail laws need to be examined to ensure that they are being appropriately applied where there is a risk of someone committing further crimes while on bail, and this issue was raised by Mary Lou McDonald with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the Dáil on Wednesday.

“While many of these crimes would be considered relatively minor, some have been very serious, including those which have resulted in the loss of life.

“We need to get this right.

The public will not tolerate a situation where dangerous criminals are repeatedly released on bail to commit further crimes.

“The government must address this issue as a matter of urgency. If the bail laws are not working, as these figures suggest, then the government must act.

“If we are to deliver safe communities and reduce the level of crime, we cannot accept a situation where this level of crime is being carried out by those on bail.”

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News Science & Wellbeing So, you regularly work late to handle last-minute requests.

You hesitate to voice contrary opinions in meetings.

You feel guilty when you set boundaries. Your calendar fills with meetings where your presence adds little value.

You frequently take on tasks that should be delegated, or you find yourself softening feedback to avoid potential conflict.

The instinct to be perpetually helpful and accommodating can feel like a safe choice in professional settings: it shows flexibility, dedication, and an openness to teamwork.

Yet, saying yes to every request, avoiding necessary conflict, taking on tasks better handled by others, consistently prioritising others’ needs over your own development, and other similar patterns not only limit your effectiveness and growth but also undermine your wellbeing.

While these behaviours might earn immediate appreciation, they can lead to scattered focus and diminish your impact. These patterns often emerge early in our careers when proving our worth seems tied to constant availability and agreeability. They become deeply ingrained as we advance, even as our roles demand more strategic thinking and decisive action.

As a leader, the desire to seek approval and avoid conflict can undermine your ability to make decisive choices, think creatively, and stay true to your vision. Over time, it can erode your effectiveness and leave you feeling stuck in a reactive, approval-seeking loop. On a personal level, constant accommodation, especially when it goes against your values and priorities, can cause persistent stress, frustration, and eventually even burnout.

Understanding and dismantling the people-pleaser scenario is essential if you are to lead effectively, with authenticity and courage.

Moving beyond people-

communication approaches: “I’m dedicated to our quarterly strategy right now, but I can spare 15 minutes to explore solutions with you” or “This falls outside my expertise, but I can connect you with a specialist in this area.”

Share your intention to work differently with trusted colleagues who can provide honest feedback when you revert to old patterns. Ask them to point out instances where you take on non-essential tasks or compromise your boundaries unnecessarily. Your allies can help identify patterns you might miss.

Don’t be that people pleaser in work pleasing requires more than surface-level changes to your communication style — it demands reimagining your professional identity and value.

Here are strategies to help you avoid the trap of peoplepleasing.

Clarity about your core values Clarity about your core values acts as a compass for decision-making and boundarysetting. Without this foundation, external pressures and others’ expectations easily override your judgment. Begin by identifying your nonnegotiables — the principles and priorities that define your professional purpose and direction.

When opportunities arise, evaluate them against your stated values. If developing others drives you, assess how new commitments might affect time dedicated to mentoring. If innovation energises you, protect time for creative work instead of filling your schedule with routine opera-

tional tasks. This approach shifts your decision-making from reactive accommodation to purposeful choice.

Document instances when your actions align with or contradict your values. This practice helps identify patterns and adjust course.

When you notice misalignment — as when constant availability comes at the expense of deep work — use these insights to adjust your boundaries.

Helpfulness as strategic impact If your calendar fills with every request that comes your way, it’s time to step back and establish specific criteria for engagement. Before you take on a task, ask yourself: Does it make use of my unique expertise? Will it advance key organisational objectives?

If your calendar fills with every request that comes your way, it’s time to step back and establish specific criteria for engagement.

For routine requests, it’s

worth having structured systems in place. Instead of accepting every project review, set up office hours for consultations while reserving your direct involvement for strategic initiatives that leverage your skills. When saying ‘no’ to a request, explain your choice through the lens of organisational benefit: “To deliver maximum value on our priorities, I need to focus my attention there.” This positioning highlights your commitment to meaningful impact rather than surfacelevel cooperation.

Document the outcomes of your more selective engagement. Notice how concentrated effort on fewer, important initiatives often yields better results.

When to say ‘No’ Declining requests effectively requires skill and nuance. If your default response is immediate agreement, defer commitment by saying: “I’ll review my projects and respond by [specific time].” This

buffer allows you to evaluate the request rather than automatically accepting it.

When declining, suggest alternatives that demonstrate your commitment to organisational success: “While I can’t lead this project, I can recommend someone with relevant expertise” or “I can’t attend the full meeting, but I’ll review the decisions and provide input afterward.”

Again, keep track of what happens when you decline non-essential requests. Notice how protecting your time enables you to focus more deeply on work that aligns with your priorities and reduces mental strain.

Allies and accountability Identify colleagues who maintain healthy boundaries and study their techniques. If you routinely handle tasks that others could manage, work with your team to gradually redistribute responsibilities while providing appropriate guidance and support.

Develop and practice clear

Recovery and renewal Constant availability depletes your resources and diminishes your effectiveness. If you regularly skip breaks to handle others’ requests or work through lunch to maintain accessibility, start by establishing non-negotiable time for renewal and focused work. What if you blocked regular slots in your calendar for creative thinking, deep work, or planning? When you do, it helps to communicate those boundaries clearly: “I dedicate Thursday mornings to focused work. I’ll be fully available after 1pm.”

Also, pay attention to your energy levels. If you notice that you’re struggling to concentrate, becoming more irritable, or the quality of your work is declining, it may be time to reassess your commitments and boundaries.

The idea is not to become less collaborative or supportive of your organisation but to engage in ways that maximise your contribution while maintaining your effectiveness. The path beyond people-pleasing at work involves five shifts: getting clear on your values, rethinking what being helpful means, learning to say ‘no’ strategically and skillfully, finding allies, and protecting your energy. These shifts benefit not only you but also your entire organisation as you model what sustainable, strategic leadership looks like in practice.

Link between cannabis and cognitive decline Does using cannabis earlier in life lead to faster cognitive decline as you get older?

A recent study published in the journal Brain And Behaviour that tracked the thinking abilities of thousands of men from young adulthood into middle age sought to answer this question. The results were unexpected: men who had used cannabis at some point in their lives did not show greater cognitive decline.

Instead, they demonstrated a slightly smaller decline in cognitive function over the decades compared to men who had never used cannabis.

Some earlier research suggested that long-term

cannabis use could harm cognitive function over time, with some studies indicating a connection between regular cannabis use and steeper declines in cognitive abilities.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen wanted to investigate this issue further.

They aimed to determine if there was a relationship between using cannabis and the natural cognitive decline that can occur as people age from early adulthood to middle age. They also wanted to explore if factors like when someone started using cannabis or how frequently they used it made a difference in any potential link to

cognitive decline.

The study started with over 5,300 men who participated in the follow-up studies.

However, due to some technical issues and missing information about cannabis use, the final study group included 5,162 men. These men were born between 1949 and 1961. Their initial intelligence tests were conducted between 1967 and 1989 when they were around 20 years old on average. The follow-up examinations took place between 2015 and 2022, when the men were around 64 years old on average.

Cognitive decline was defined as the difference in intelligence test scores be-

tween the two time points.

On average, the men in the study experienced a cognitive decline of about six IQ points over the 44- year period. Interestingly, men who had used cannabis at some point in their lives actually showed slightly less cognitive decline compared to men who had never used cannabis. This finding held even after considering other factors like age, education, lifestyle, and health.

Specifically, in their most comprehensive analysis, cannabis users showed about 1.3 IQ points less decline than non-users. While this difference was statistically noticeable, the researchers noted that the size

of this difference was small and might not be practically meaningful in everyday life.

When the researchers looked at different aspects of cannabis use among users, such as the age when they started using cannabis or how many years they used it frequently, they did not find any significant link to cognitive decline.

The researchers acknowledged some limitations of their study. One important limitation is the low participation rate in the follow-up study. Only a small percentage of the men who were initially invited actually participated in the follow-up examinations. This could mean that the men who

participated are not fully representative of the original group, potentially affecting how broadly the findings can be applied.

Another limitation is that the information on cannabis use was based on what the men reported themselves at the follow-up examination, which could be subject to recall errors or underreporting due to social desirability.

Additionally, the study only included men, so the findings might not be the same for women, as cannabis could affect men and women differently.

Future research should investigate why this study found slightly less cognitive decline in cannabis users.

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Travel & Leisure

Your ultimate guide to

Seville

The buildings of Seville’s old town are nothing short of majestic — and they provide a flavour of the city’s complex historical legacy, rich in Muslim and Catholic influences. The city is home to the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, whose bell tower, La Giralda, is over 325-feet-tall and in a former Moorish minaret. The jawdropping Alcazar — a 13thcentury Christian palace built over an even older Islamic castle — is a gem of Mudejar architecture, where Gothic, Romanesque, and Renaissance styles sit among Islamic ornamentation.

Together with the nearby Archivo de las Indias, a mid-16th century building housing documents related to Spain’s colonisation of the Americas, they make up a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Explore by bike in the sunshine Named European Capital of Smart Tourism 2023, Seville is promoting greener approaches to traveling — and eco-friendly mobility around town is just one of them. There are now 111 miles of bike lanes across Seville, which means there’s no better time to take a peddle around this flat, bikeable city. So pick up a bike from the public Sevici Service (spot the red branding) to glide through charming parks and splendid streets in the glorious weather.

Try the Maria Luisa park — formerly the gardens of the San Telmo palace and full

of romantic fountains and gazebos — or veer slightly out of the centre to the Alamillo Park, located on the Isla de la Cartuja.

Discover the rich ceramics tradition of Triana The neighbourhood of Triana was historically home to artisans, flamenco dancers, and bullfighters.

Today, this Bohemian, characterful part of town is still known for its abundance of ceramics, a craft tradition practiced in this barrio since the 16th Century. Pop into numerous workshops on and around Calle Antillano Campos to purchase your favourite pieces.

The Centro Cerámica Triana is a museum spread across two floors where you can learn about the production process and see an exhibition showcasing the excellence of the region’s practitioners.

Explore the art scene, from old to new The Museo de Bellas Artes is the place to find Baroque masters, from Zurbaran to Murillo, and paintings from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and 19th century. Head over to the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo (CAAC) — set in a 13th Century monastery — for a taste of cutting-edge contemporary and modern practitioners, with shows about digital art pioneer Manuel Barbadillo and Korean- Colombian interdisciplinary artist Gala Porras-Kim programmed

for 2023. Commercial art dealerships like Rafael Ortiz — set in an 18th-century palace— and Galería Haurie are among the city’s longeststanding, while the most recent cultural spaces to open in town include Espacio Derivado, a multidisciplinary venue for exhibitions, workshops, and events, and Espacio Sacáis, a centre devoted to young, emerging artists from around Andalusia.

Try Delimbo, a gallery founded in 2006, for current contemporary art rooted in graffiti, or Derived Space for a more interactive experience — the gallery frequently hosts workshops, conferences and activities alongside its exhibitions.

Marvel at Spain’s numerous provinces at Plaza de España Designed by Seville’s famed architect Aníbal González, this magnificent 540,00-feetsquared plaza is a plethora of painted ceramic tiles, curved bridges, and grand arches, all surrounding a monumental central fountain. Along the semicircular walls, 48 decorative alcoves, each dedicated to a different province of Spain, are painted with motifs and images representing its local history, culture, and folklore.

Like many eye-catching landmarks around the city— including the Alfonso XIII hotel and various pavilions in the Plaza de América— this square was created for

Seville’s 1929 Expo, a major turning point in the city’s position on the world stage as a leader in creativity and innovation.

Take a boat ride along its famed river With its dreamy views and rich history, the Guadalquivir River has shaped the identity of Seville, as well as inspiring countless songs and poems. Take a boat ride to float down its waters while admiring sites like the Torre del Oro, the bullring, the San Telmo palace and the tobacco factory immortalised by Bizet’s opera, Carmen. Don’t miss the colourful facades of Betis Street or iconic bridges like the 19th Century Puente de Triana. If you’re

feeling energetic, the river is also popular for kayaking, rowing, and paddle surfing.

See and hear some of Spain’s best flamenco Aurora Vargas and Juana la del Revuelo are among Seville’s most famous flamenco singers—so add them to your playlist before coming to one of Spain’s major flamenco capitals.

The Museo del Baile Flamenco is a great place to learn about the history and evolution of the art form — but to feel the spirit, tradition, and virtuosity of flamenco, visit one of the many performances around town. La Carbonería has a large, crowded patio where artists take to the stage, while Los Gallos is one of the city’s main tablaos (places to enjoy a meal and a flamenco show). At the Teatro Flamenco Triana you’ll see some tremendous talent in the neighbourhood known as Seville’s true home of flamenco.

Take a day trip to a nearby pueblo Seville’s charming neighbourhoods — Santa Cruz, Santa Catalina, La Macarena, Triana — are beautiful. But beyond its main city, the province of Seville is also home to numerous towns, villages, and rural areas worth exploring when it’s time for an escape.

At the archaeological site of Itálica, you’ll find some of Europe’s best preserved Roman ruins;

most spectacular is the amphitheater, said to have been one of the largest in the Roman Empire in its day.

The ancient town of Carmona — more than 5,000 years old — is full of Arab, Roman, and Jewish traces, while Cerro del Hiero is a stunning spot for hiking through forests, waterfalls, and rocky hills.

Browse local fashion, antiques and homeware Seville’s shopping offer ranges from antiques and bric-a-brac at the Calle Feria flea market on Thursdays to the Palazzo Belli luxury shopping mall that opened last year. Concept stores like La Importadora — run

by Seville-born designer Rafa García Forcada — mix fashion, art, and decoration, while Ruc Store and MKR are boutiques vending edgy looks by various brands, emerging and high-end, respectively. Hooked on homeware?

Then check out the ceramics and textiles at Populart or El Patio de la Loza — enchanting spaces with the goods to match.

Or, for a real touch of Andalusian flair, there are stylish fans to try at Juan Foronda and (the even more haute-couture) Olivier Bernoux.

Visit a landmark of contemporary architecture Located on the Plaza de la Encarnación, the Metropol Parasol complex — more commonly known as ‘Las Setas’ (‘The Mushrooms’).

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Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Badge of Honour on Marylebone Underground On the platform of Marylebone Underground I spot him – shock of white hair, ruddy complexion, grey overcoat and sporting a Saint Patrick’s Day badge the size of a large lettuce.

He is middle aged, stocky and low-sized.

It’s midday in London, Saint Patrick’s Day, and this is my only sighting of anything remotely related to our national holiday. I feel a little emotional, nostalgic and walk over to him. “Have a good one,” I say extending my hand which he takes and the handshake is confident and firm. “Where are you from?” I ask.

“Golders Green,” he replies in a profound English accent and then, as if to explain the accent and the badge, quickly says, “But my parents come from Clare.”

“I’m from Kilkenny myself”.

He nods. “Have a good one,” I repeat as the train whooshes in and we hop on.

On the tube I flop down beside my American friend, and travelling companion,

who has been observing our brief encounter. “You, eh, wear one of those badges at home?” he asks. “Lord no,” I hear myself say but the words are hardly out of my mouth when I find myself querying my reply. “Lord no”! Whatever do I mean? ‘Lord no’ I’d be too embarrassed to wear such a large badge? ‘Lord no’ I’m too sophisticated for that kind of carry-on?

And as we sped towards Westminster, for a tour of the abbey, my mind travelled back to the last time I actually wore a Saint Patrick’s Day Badge. I was maybe 12 or 13 and marching with the school in the St Patrick’s Day Parade. Decked out like a new pin, my mother had pinned a large spray of shamrock to my lapel, accompanied by a colourful Saint Patrick’s Day badge. And I was as proud as punch. Proud to be Irish.

Proud to be Catholic. Proud to be marching.

This Saint Patrick’s Day, on the tube from Marylebone to Westminster I wonder if I

am still proud to be Irish, still proud to be Catholic. Indeed I wonder what sort of Irishman

I am, what sort of Catholic?

And I keep thinking about the man with the large badge in his

lapel who is obviously proud of his Irish roots. Is he meeting family, friends? Will he drink pints of porter later in some Irish pub and sing ballads late into the night?

Before I can answer any of those questions we screech to a halt in Westminster. And I am rather relieved not to have to answer my own private inquisition. After our tour of Westminster Abbey, a veritable microcosm of English history, we need a little refreshment (it is Saint Patrick’s Day after all and a drop of something or other wouldn’t go astray). My American friend mentions The Albert which he had spotted earlier on but I’m a little hesitant about ‘drowning the shamrock’ in a pub called The Albert. I needn’t have worried.

The Albert, on Victoria Street, is festooned with green, white and gold balloons and decked out with bunting and tricolours and is probably more festive looking than any Irish pub in any Irish village or town.

It’s about 5pm. and The Albert

is heaving, chock-a-block.

Irish music, contemporary Irish music, blares in the background: the Pogues, Thin Lizzy, Van Morrison, while in the corner a woman with a laugh to rival any hyena catches everyone’s attention. Who’s tickling her, we wonder because her laugh is hysterical and contagious. And what of it, it’s Paddy’s Day after all, a day to let our hair down and pin our badges up. If we had hair. If we had badges.

And, later, en route to our tube station, we look up at London’s Eye – that 135-metre high Millennium wheel which is lit up in luminous green, looking, for all-the-world, like a gigantic Saint Patrick’s Day badge in the London night sky. And my mind flits back to the man on the platform in Marylebone underground with the large badge in his lapel. And I wonder what he’s up to now and I wonder what he made of this Irish man, namely me, wearing no shamrock, no badge, no colours on this our Patron Saint’s day?

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

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News

"Leas- Cheann Comhairle, Deputy John McGuinness is delighted to announce that Community Halls in both Kilkenny and Carlow will receive much needed funding

"Leas Cheann Comhairle Deputy John McGuinness is delighted to announce that Minister Calleary is giving over €26 million for improvement and refurbishment

works on 369 community centres nationwide.

369 community centres to receive funding of up to €100,000.

The works will include building

renovations, enhanced amenities, accessibility measures and energy upgrades to help build resilience of communities.

The Community Centre Investment Fund is to become a permanent rolling fund to upgrade, refurbish and build local community centres.

Deputy McGuinness feels this funding is needed and will benefit so many Community halls in both Kilkenny and Carlow.

Another announcement made by "Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Deputy John McGuinness on Saturday last, 10th March, that Minister Calleary has granted money to invest in the Agricultural shows in Kilkenny in 2025."

123 shows nationwide to benefit from fresh round of funding.

Grants range from €4,000 to over €11,000, depending on the size of the show.

Hall, Kilkenny • €53,495 - Reburbishment of 3 bathrooms

COMMUNITIES CENTRES TO BENEFIT FROM RECENTLY ANNOUNCED FUNDING Dunnamaggin Community Hall, Kilkenny • €100,000 – Essential Upgrades

Lisdowney GAA Club, Kilkenny • €71,000 - Installation of a new fire alarm system, upgrade the emergency lighting, refurbish the toilet and kitchen facilities

Graiguenamanagh Community

Hugginstown District & Community Centre, Kilkenny • €100,000 – Installation of a stairlift, improve fire, health and safety measures Inistioge Community Council, Kilkenny • €100,000 - Installation of fire doors to improve fire safety, upgrade the bathroom, install solar panels and rain harvesting system James Stephen's GAA and Camogie club, Kilkenny • €92,954 - Upgrading works to the facility to safety standards including rewiring of the premises and the installation of accessible toilets.

Ballyfoyle Community Hall, Muckalee Parish, Kilkenny

• €98,769 - Refurbishment of hall, including essential roof repairs, kitchen renovation and accessibility upgrades Mullinavat Community Centre, Kilkenny • €67,635 - Building of an extension and purchase of a modular stage Paulstown Community Hall, Kilkenny • €57,816 - Installation of solar PV system, replacement of fire doors and to replace the shower system Urlingford Community Centre, Kilkenny • €93,489 - Refurbishment of toilets, installation of solar panels and development of a community cinema Droichead Family Resource Centre, Kilkenny • €96,711 - Insulation of the roof space, replacing windows and doors and updating lighting system St Kieran's Community Hall, Johnstown, Kilkenny • €94,020 - Re-plastering of the two main external walls and re-roofing the building

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

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Opinion

The Last Word Pat Coughlan

Beliefs shape our lives and define our choices Beliefs shape our lives, guiding us like an inner GPS. They define our choices, reflecting our core values.

Ireland offers a real-world example where beliefs influenced both society and law. For years, Catholicism impacted everything from politics to education. The church’s influence was evident in laws like abortion restrictions.

However, in 2018, a historic vote repealed the Eighth Amendment, granting more reproductive freedom — a collective shift away from long-standing doctrines. This change shows how beliefs can transform societal landscapes, affecting everyday life.

Cultural beliefs can be like a double-edged sword. On one hand, they can be the glue that holds a community together, giving us a sense of belonging and common goals. Think of all those times in history when shared

beliefs sparked revolutions or pushed societies forward.

They can also stir up trouble, like when they become too rigid or start excluding people, causing conflicts and heartache.

Beliefs act as either a compass or a chain. Clinging to rigid ideas shuts the door to new opportunities.

Consider Germany before the Berlin Wall fell. In the Cold War era, East Germany adhered strictly to socialist principles, which stifled personal freedom and economic growth, resulting in widespread dissatisfaction.

Then came the courageous individuals who questioned this rigidity, leading peaceful protests that toppled the Wall in 1989.

This wasn’t just about bricks falling; it was about the liberation from strict dogma.

The nation’s openness led to creativity and change.

As we strive for a world where everyone feels they

belong, constant dialogue about beliefs is crucial.

Native Americans have long fought to be heard. Exploring their historical and cultural contributions reveals assumptions and biases that have stifled their voices.

Engaging in these con-

versations is not just about correcting the record but enriching discussions. Social dialogue thrives when Native American history and culture are spotlighted. Welcoming diverse beliefs, especially Indigenous ones, stitches a quilt of celebration, not just

tolerance. The key lies in listening and engaging sincerely with Native communities, creating a society that values understanding and the diversity of cultures enriching our world.

Beliefs constantly evolve with new experiences. Irish

emigration to the US during the famine and the UK around WWII exemplifies this. Irish emigrants brought unique cultural beliefs to new lands, blending and evolving with local traditions on both sides of the Atlantic.

Stagnant beliefs confine us, but adapting them, as emigrants did, opens us to new ideas and hope. Embracing change improves ourselves and enriches those around us, fostering a vibrant environment filled with opportunities. Keeping beliefs adaptable, like immigrants facing new challenges, is key to unlocking a future full of potential.

By examining and adjusting our beliefs, we grow as individuals and improve our interactions with others, clearing the debris of false assumptions. In doing so, we rebuild a world where diverse ideas co-exist, enhancing our understanding and learning from the past.

COMPETITION WINNER

Congratulations to Brendan Walshe Thank you to all who entered the draw to win a gift voucher for Connolly’s Red Mills Store sponsored by The Kilkenny Observer.

The winning entry was drawn by Claire Kavanagh and Leagh Cody from Alison’s Hair Studio, Friary Street, Kilkenny.

Congratulations to Brendan Walshe, 1 The Paddocks, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny who was the lucky winner of the €300 gift voucher, a great opportunity to shop from the fabulous fashion range at Connolly’s Red Mills Store, Cillín Hill, Kilkenny.

The gift voucher was presented to Brendan

by Faith O’Neill, Features and Advertising Consultant with The Kilkenny Observer.

The winning entry was drawn by Claire Kavanagh and Leagh Cody from Alison’s Hair Studio, Friary Street, Kilkenny

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

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

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Advertisement News

Kilkenny man’s daughter elected an MP in Australia!

By John Fitzgerald

Colleen Egan who has just been elected to the parliament of Western Australia

The late Ned Egan

There are celebrations Noreside and “down under” following the election of Colleen Egan, daughter of the late Kilkenny man, Ned Egan, to the parliament of Western Australia.

The Egan clan, and Ned’s cousins the Moroneys, were ecstatic when they learned on Saturday that the Perth-based daughter of the much-loved poet-writer, who died last August, will now serve as an MP in the land that her father called home in his young days.

Ned had emigrated from his native Dunnamaggin in County Kilkenny to England in his youth, and, in addition to joining the army to serve in the Middle East and Cypress, he made his way to Australia in search of a new life.

He

penned books of poetry, a novel, and hundreds of articles, many of which appeared in the Kilkenny Observer. Ned was a regular caller to the Observer office in Friary Street, and what a story he’d have to tell if he were still “down here!”

When he returned to Ireland in later life, after a long exile, he maintained weekly contact with his family in Australia and was especially proud of Colleen’s stellar achievements.

Among these were the impact she made via her award-winning journalism when she worked with The Australian newspaper and the Sunday Times. She came to national prominence when she campaigned against the wrongful conviction of a man for murder…and succeeded in getting him vindicated and freed from prison.

Her book An Innocent Man Walks Free, received a 2006 Walkley Award for “Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism”, joining other accolades recognizing the value and resilience of her investigative reporting.

After retiring from

journalism, she worked, between 2017 and 2023 as chief of staff for the Western Australian Attorney-General.

Ned would be chuffed by her success in Saturday’s election.

She won a seat for the Labour Party in the Australian Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Thornlie in a fiercely fought poll, seeing off a wide range of rivals to become an MP. Tributes poured in from family and friends in Kilkenny, among them several messages opining that Ned himself must be celebrating too at this wonderful news… on the “Other Side”.

I can imagine a squeezebox playing, and a mighty band of poets and storytellers up there.

Given her past record, one suspects that the multitalented Colleen Egan will be a most eloquent advocate for justice and fair play in her new role: She will do Australia proud, but her success will also hearten all of us back here in the “old country” who remain convinced, in the words of the song, that “they’ll never beat the Irish!”

Another full weekend of music at Ryan's Bar! Saint Patrick's weekend in Kilkenny is always a great weekend and the folks at Ryan's make it extra special with free live gigs from Thursday 13th to Monday the 17th, all genres are covered, blues, soul, funk, rock and of course traditional Irish.

Head on down to Ryan's Bar you won't be disappointed, up next, will be their 21st anniversary weekend taking place at Easter and we will keep you posted!

Something for everyone at Ryan's the home of great music 52 weeks a year

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

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Traditional skills

Willie Barron, Newmarket, Co Kilkenny

Ryan McAllister, Skerries County Dublin

Huge demand for places on thatching course

Donal Brady

Photos by Pat Shortall

Apron: a single-sided section of thatch that protects the thatch under a chimney

The country’s first formal thatching course in fifteen years, which started in January in Co. Kilkenny, has highlighted significant public interest in keeping the ancient Irish skill of thatching alive. This full-time introductory course, which has been developed and run

by Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) in partnership with the Heritage Council, is designed for individuals wishing to pursue a career as a thatcher in Ireland.

It is the first of its kind in Ireland since the last FÁS course was run

Alice Bowler from Enniscorthy, County Wexford

in 2009 and is a first step in addressing the decreasing number of thatchers in Ireland. There was huge interest in the course and all places were filled quickly, which demonstrates the demand for traditional skills training in Ireland. The 14 aspiring thatchers on the course are from across the country, with many having relocated to Kilkenny in order to do the course.

The course is being delivered inperson based primarily in Kilkenny over a period of 42 weeks by expert trainer and thatcher, Brian Simpson. The course will include a 6-week work placement with an experienced thatcher.

Although the thatched house has become symbolic of rural Ireland, the traditional skill is at a critical point in this country, with a huge shortage of thatchers to look after these vernacular and inherently sustainable buildings. The skill of thatching was historically passed down within a family, from one generation to the next – something which no longer tends to happen.

Thatching, however, is a reasonably steady full-time job as thatch material must be replaced periodically. Due to the declining number of thatchers and the increase in availability of grant funding for thatch buildings, thatching remains

a viable career for those willing to upskill.

On completion of this course, it is hoped that there will be sufficient interest from the course graduates to enable a second phase of the course to take place, building on the basic skills covered in this course to take in more regional styles and materials. For instance, rope thatching (where thatch materials are held in place via ropes fixed to a building’s walls, rather than its roof ) was once commonplace along the Atlantic coast of Ireland but the skill is now in critical danger of being lost, unless a new generation of thatchers upskill

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Traditional skills

The National Garden of Remembrance, officially opened

by President Mary McAleese in 1999

Thatching - the early stages

The art of thatching

Clogh man from County Laois, Eoghan Hyland

in this vernacular method.

Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan, said “It was very satisfying to see the overwhelming public interest in this course and it highlights a growing recognition of the importance of safeguarding Ireland’s traditional skills. The enthusiasm from participants is a clear sign that there is a real appetite to learn and carry these ancient crafts forward to the next generation. This response reinforces our commitment to expanding opportunities not just for thatching but for other vital heritage skills as well, ensuring they remain a living part of our cultural landscape.”

Director of Further Education and

Four workers enjoying the art of Thatching

Training at KCETB, Martha Bolger added “KCETB is thrilled to be partnering with the Heritage Council to deliver innovative training in thatching skills, now two months into the programme.

We are delighted with the fantastic interest we’ve received and the early success we’re seeing. Looking ahead, we’re excited to expand our focus on bespoke training in conservation and retrofitting skills as we continue to roll out the FET College of The Future vision for Kilkenny and Carlow. The potential of this course is incredibly exciting, as it highlights and preserves the diverse and vernacular heritage of Kilkenny and beyond.”

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

Kilkenny Great War Memorial

Photos by Danny Lahart

Planting of Crocus bulbs at war memorial proves great initiative

The Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee had a desire to improve the envoirns of the memorial to the over 800 Kilkenny men and women who died during the First World War. To this end, the idea to place Crocus bulbs in the raised grass bank was born.

This task was enormous to achieve from the resources of the Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee fund.

However the partnership was made between the Keep Kilkenny Beautiful committee who saw the potential of the planting they provided funding for the bulbs as well as an Amenity Grant from Kilkenny County Council and the Michael Street residents contributed to purchase the bulbs. The bulbs chosen are Bee friendly and they are an excellent source of pollen and nectar being pollinator friendly.

The design and planting was coordinated by the war memorial committee and carried out by Keep Kilkenny Beautiful members, Michael Street residents, Volunteer Centre members and local people. On sunny September evenings and weekends initially, 20,000 pollinatorfriendly Crocus bulbs were planted and last year another 6,000 were added, bringing the total amount to 26,000.

A grass management plan is in place for the bulbs to die down naturally as the flower development is taking place for the next year.

The Kilkenny Area Office

gave assistance to erect the marker bollards for the grass cutting operatives. Research has shown that there are 33,169 Irish men and women from the 26 Counties of the Republic of Ireland. The wish is now to plant another 7,169 Crocus bulbs around the memorial to have them as a national tribute to all of them. This will cost €1,000 to purchase.

The Crocus symbolises The Crocus symbolises cheerfulness, gladness, mirthfulness, glee and youthfulness. The crocus flower's message is one of joy and cheerfulness that celebrates the return of spring.

The crocus flower colour meanings are: White – Purity, Innocence and Truth Purple – Dignity, Pride and Success

Yellow – Cheerfulness, Gladness and Joy It is no wonder that the crocus has a reputation for cheerfulness after winter.

• According to Greek legend, Crocus was the name of a Greek noble youth who fell deeply in love with Smilax, a beautiful shepherdess. When the gods forbade the marriage to Smilax, poor Crocus killed himself in deep sorrow.

Upon discovering his death, Smilax was heart-broken and could not stop crying.

The Goddess Flora took pity on the distraught Smilax and turned them both into plants. Crocus was turned into a crocus flower while Smilax was turned into a vine. It is said that the Greeks used vines to weave together garlands of crocus flowers for wedding decorations.

The crocus has long been a symbol of youthfulness and

cheerfulness. The flower was used by ancient Greeks to ward off the fumes of liquor by weaving the crocus flower into the wreaths to be worn on the head.

• The Egyptians also used the crocus flowers to dispel the fumes from intoxicated liquor by placing spray of flowers on wine glasses.

• The crocus is often found in India so saffron is a symbolic colour and is one of the three colours in the Flag of India.

• The crocus was the emblem of the 2019 FIFA under 20 years world cup in Poland.

been among the costliest spices in the world by weight. It is popular in foods all over the world, especially in baking and curries. It is even the reason behind the name, as crocus is Latin for saffron.

Saffron is used as a spice to season foods, and is also known as an anti-carcinogenic and an antioxidant and boosts the immune system. The spice saffron is obtained from the autumn blooming species in India from the stigmas of the crocus sativas. Its fragrance is used in perfumes and cosmetics.

Botanical characteristics Crocus is a genus of flowering plants in the Iris family comprising 90 species of perennials grown from corn. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in Autumn, Winter and Spring.

They are popular around the world It's not only in Britain where this plant blossoms.

Because they can grow in meadows, forests and even on mountain peaks, crocuses are found across Europe, China, the Middle East and Africa.

They come in a range of colours and species From vibrant yellows to purples, and some even come with markings. This plant is guaranteed to add colour to any green space.

And with 80 different species to choose from, there's lots of options.

They are resilient Crocuses are known for being able to cope with the occasional frost or light snow. This is thanks to their natural insulation. They struggle to thrive in hot conditions, so they work really well with the British climate. They are some of the best spring bulbs to come back year after year as well, so you can carry on enjoying their beauty.

They produce saffron The delicate threads of the plant are collected and dried to create saffron. It has long

They flower in Autumn and Winter The majority of crocus flowers blossom during the late autumn and winter months. This means that they are the perfect flower

to brighten up any garden during those cold and dull winter days.

They are versatile Crocuses are amazing as they can be planted in loads of places. Whether its woodland, rockery beds, grass or containers, crocus flowers will blossom.

Can thrive in sun or shade Whether they are grown in full sun or partial shade, crocus flowers can thrive in both which is great for most gardens.

Haven for bees It's a common fact that bees are now in extreme danger of dying out but they are a vital part of our natural environment. By providing as many plants that attract different species of bees as possible is one way we can help with their survival.

Crocuses are one of many flowers which are perfect for this job.

If you wish to be part of this initiative and leave a colourful, pollinator-friendly legacy then you are invited to make a donation to the group online at their bank account which is IBAN IE29BOF190606422546979 BIC BOFIIE2D. You can also drop a donation to John Joe Cullen at 48 John Street. Further information available by phoning 086 336 9080. With your help and support we can make something special in Kilkenny city.

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St Patrick’s Day

Everything you need to know about the Kilkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2025!

Bí Beo, Bí Linn, this year’s Parade theme invites you to come alive and be with us as part of our community as we animate the streets of Kilkenny in celebration of Ireland’s national holiday, St. Patrick’s Day! Showcasing our Irish heritage and the diverse local community with a parade of spectacle, colour and creativity through Kilkenny’s medieval streets!

Join us in Kilkenny March 17th at 1.30pm.

New Route for Kilkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

To facilitate the growing number of attendees and to enhance the spectacle of the Parade this year, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Kilkenny will follow a new route! The Parade

will start at Johns Priory on John Street, proceed over Johns Bridge, turn right down Bateman Quay (past Dunnes Stores), take a left up High Street, continue on to The Parade (past the Castle) and will finish on the Castle Road. The Review Stand and parade participant performances will be on The Parade, outside Boyd’s Auctioneers, across from the Castle.

The new route allows for more space for spectators to view the Parade and avoids the narrowest street (Rose Inn St). Organisers are encouraging spectators to spread throughout the city streets by adding live broadcasts and entertainment at different stages along the route. KCLR 96fm will be taking over Bateman Quay with a live broadcast, roving reporters and

pre-parade entertainment! With the new route comes some changes, and attendees should note that Johns bridge and the Lady Desart footbridge will throughways only and it will not be possible to stand and view the Parade from there, this will also be the case on some of the narrower corners throughout the route. Organisers ask that spectators stay in their Parade position for the duration of the Parade to allow everyone to enjoy the experience fully.

For those with additional needs there will be a Relaxed-Parade Viewing Area, for neurodiverse spectators on Bateman Quay and a Wheelchair Accessible Viewing area at the Review Stand on The Parade. Both areas require preregistration. For full information check out The Festival Info page on stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com Those that can’t make the Parade, don’t have to miss a thing, as the Parade and pre and post Parade

entertainment will be broadcasted live on the St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny Facebook page and YouTube channel (@StPatricksFestivalKilkenny).

Tune in for a birds eye view of the proceedings or tune in on KCLR96fm. com to listen to the live Parade coverage from Bateman Quay. So, if you are unable to travel to Kilkenny for the festivities or if you are now living abroad, you can still be part of the St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny celebrations!

On St. Patrick’s Day, there is not just the Parade, there is a wealth of pre and post Parade activities with the Festival Funfair, Festival Market, Street Entertainment, OFX Irish Legends Golf Putt and Hurling Challenge (on The Parade), Deise Medieval Viking demonstrations (Craft yard), Trial of Dame Alice Kieler (Rothe House), live music on the Festival Stage and live performances throughout the city including St. Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band, Samba Katz, The Brass Monkeys, Karbunklis dancers, The Hit Machine, and more! The day will finish with the festival finale a free performance by Kíla on the Festival Stage at 5pm.

St. Patrick’s Day is one of 4 days of festival fun at St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny 2025! Taking place from the 14th – 17th March, with American Marching Bands, street entertainment, kids shows, workshops, live music, fire shows and fireworks!

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St Patrick’s Day

Free live music sessions featuring festival headliners Burnchurch and more at Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny Free entry on available guided tours for those named after our patron saint

Ignacio Peregrina, Manager of Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny

Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny is making this year’s St Patrick’s Weekend extra special with free live music sessions, including one

featuring festival headliners, Burnchurch, shortly after the St Patrick’s Day parade concludes in the heart of the city.

weekend. The immersive, multi-sensory tours operate throughout the day every single day during the Festival and local guides are getting ready to take visitors on a fascinating journey back in time.

To celebrate the national holiday, free places are on offer on available tours for the entire festival weekend for all adult Patricks, Patricias and those with a variation of our patron saint’s name in their first name or surname.

Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny’s enclosed Barrel Yard will be rocking throughout the Festival weekend.

It all begins with a Burnchurch not-to-be-missed 3-piece acoustic trad session on The Friday, March 14, from internationally-renowned 5.30pm. The free event visitor experience and home features Mick Purcell on to Ireland’s oldest ale is open Bodhrán, Moya Fitzgerald on right across the bank holiday

Fiddle and Dave Harper on Bouzouki.

Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny welcomes Burn church back to its Barrel Yard stage on St Patrick’s Day for an unmissable, post parade live performance, starting at 5pm.The free live show featuring the local siblings who rocked Marlay Park and Electric Picinic last year is part of the extensive Tradfest programme in the city.

The live performance at The Barrel Yard is expected to be a popular meeting point for groups once the traditional St Patrick’s Day parade ends on nearby High Street.

Burnchurch are one of the headline gigs on this year’s action-packed Kilkenny Tradfest programme.

Full details on https:// kilkennytradfest.com/ Manager of Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny, Ignacio Peregrina, said everyone is looking forward to a bumper weekend of guided tours as well as free live music sessions on the Friday and Monday at the Kilkenny city centre landmark as

it celebrates the official beginning of the traditional tourist season in Ireland.

“Our guided tours are available to book for the entire weekend on our website and we’re also delighted to offer free entry, where available, to adults with a Patrick-related name, for example Patrick, Paddy, Padraig, Pat, Patricia, and any other derivative. We’ll also accept adults with surnames which derive from a form of Patrick including Patrick, Fitzpatrick, Mulpatrick, etc.

“We’re also rolling out the green carpet and including our international visitors with names which are also common international derivatives of Patrick, among them Patricio (Spanish), Patrizio (Italian), and Patryk (Polish). If you’ve one of the lucky ones to be named after our patron saint, you’re in, subject to availability,” Ignacio said.

The free tour offer is valid only for walk-up visits only, not for those on pre-booked tours, and is subject to capacity availability.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

Opinion

CallanCourt: 1861

West Street in Callan late 19th or early 20th century

Part one

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

Callan Court was a lively place in the 19th century, with some decidedly oddball cases keeping the police and local busybodies occupied.

Following his retirement, local newspaper correspondent Peter Roughan collected transcripts of old hearings that struck him as being a bit off the wall or amusing.

In 1861, we find a few "rare characters" appearing before Judge Pat Cody.

The courthouse building in Callan on right beside Bank of Ireland and the old cinema

Jack Reilly from Galway was a frequent visitor to the courthouse, always in the company of policemen whose repeated warnings to change his lifestyle fell on deaf ears. Jack had travelled the country and boasted that he was "peeler-proof" in every part of Ireland except Callan.

In Ballyragget, Johnstown, Urlingford and Freshford, he had outwitted them, and even in Callan, he claimed, it took ten constables to take him into custody. He was a professional step dancer and self-confessed sheep stealer. Jack spent many a night in Kilkenny jail and in Callan’s "Black Hole", a

place of detention not noted for comfort, good food, or sanitation.

Though a small man, Jack Reilly fought the "peelers" tooth and nail and batons often had to be used to restrain him.

A woman called "Sugar" Hanrahan was up for beating an ass with a shillelagh.

When asked for her name and address, she described herself as a “lady of the roads.”

She said she felt alone in the world because her husband was away in Garryricken to do a little "honest ferreting." She had no idea when he would be back. "I was lonely yer honour" she

Green Street Callan possibly 1900s

said, grasping her shawl, "and I bate that auld ass cause me mind strayed owing to me lad not being with me."

The judge fined her a bob for lashing the donkey, but imposed a more severe penalty when "Sugar" responded to the fine by calling him a "Hoor’s Ghost" and expressing the hope that he would choke before the day was over. For these words of anger, she received a 48-hour spell in Kilkenny jail.

Not only that… she would have to walk to Kilkenny under police escort and then serve her sentence.

There would be a changing of the guard at Cuffesgrange to relieve the constables, but "Sugar" had to walk the whole way without a rest.

A wandering man nicknamed "The Screw" moved

into an unoccupied thatched house on Green Lane and claimed Squatters’ Rights.

He appeared in court one day on a charge that he "did willfully and furiously ride a piebald ass up and down Green Street, to the disaffection of law-abiding bystanders."

His defence was that he was riding home with a few herrings that he bought at the cross, for his dinner, but that the ass hated herrings and was attempting to run away from the smell of them.

This man got off with a warning, but the judge promised to come down hard on him if he failed to exercise proper control of his donkey.

Many locals were fined for not having logs tied around the necks of vicious dogs. It was mandatory to restrain certain dogs in this way with

wooden logs to prevent them from posing a serious risk to public safety.

A log-encumbered dog would be slowed down considerably if it gave chase, and you had a better chance of escaping over a wall or into somebody’s house. A Mr. Kennedy of Green Street, described as a harness maker, was charged with letting his ferocious bulldog out on the street without a heavy enough log attached to the animal.

The dog did have a log, but the court ruled it was too light for him, weighing only a pound and a half. Mr. Kennedy promised the court that he would replace the dog with one that could wear the pound and a half log.

Dogs at the time were more plentiful than wooden logs in Callan…

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Global Report

The US and Ukraine await Putin’s move The United States has agreed to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv expressed “readiness” to accept a 30-day ceasefire in its conflict with Russia.

The two countries issued a joint statement after officials met in Saudi Arabia, saying that Ukraine was open to the US proposal “to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that the ceasefire proposal would “establish a complete ceasefire for 30 days, not only regarding missiles, drones and bombs, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire frontline”.

US President Donald Trump said he hoped Russia would agree to the ceasefire plan, signalling that the US would hold a meeting with Russia soon.

Following the progress made in talks, the US said that it would “immediately lift the pause on intelligence shar-

ing and resume security assistance” to Kyiv, which it had suspended last week, effectively hobbling Ukraine’s ability to track Russian troop movements, shield against missile strikes and carry out attacks.

The suspension came after a blow-up last month between Trump and Zelenskyy, who had travelled to Washington to discuss a rare earth minerals deal, which would see the US gain access to the lucrative resources in Ukraine.

The joint statement indicated that the deal was back on the table, with the two countries set to “conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources to expand Ukraine’s economy and guarantee Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security”.

Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher noted that the joint statement did not include any mention of the explicit security guarantees that Zelenskyy had been seeking during his contentious meeting with Trump

at the Oval Office.

“But those [security guarantees] appear to be missing at the moment. Perhaps that’s something that can be discussed, although we know that Donald Trump is really against that idea of explicit security guarantees for Ukraine,” he said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ball was now in Russia’s court.

“We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no,” he said. “If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.”

US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said: “The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear: that they share President Trump’s vision for peace.”

Waltz said negotiators “got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end”, including long-term security guarantees.

Zelenskyy said on Telegram

that Ukraine was “ready for peace” and that it now fell to the US to “convince” Russia.

“Ukraine is ready for peace.

Russia must show its readiness to end the war or continue the war. It is time for the full truth,” he said.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago and now holds around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is open to discussing a peace deal. But he has ruled out territorial concessions, saying Ukraine must withdraw fully from four Ukrainian regions claimed and partly controlled by Russia.

The talks in Saudi Arabia started only hours after Ukraine launched its biggest drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region, claiming that it had struck an oil refinery near the Russian capital and a facility in Russia’s Oryol region.

The attack, in which 337 drones were downed over Russia, killed at least three

employees of a meat warehouse and caused a short shutdown at Moscow’s four airports, according to Russian officials.

US officials said they hoped the agreement would help lead to talks to end the war.

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Moscow in the coming days to propose the ceasefire to Putin.

It is not clear if Putin is ready to accept the ceasefire in its current form. Trump said he is expecting to speak with Putin later this week. Russian media have reported that their conversation could take place on Friday.

Trump continued: “We’re going to meet with them [the Russians] later on today and tomorrow and hopefully we’ll be able to [work] out a deal.

I think the ceasefire is very important. If we can get Russia to do it, that’ll be great. If we can’t we just keep going on and people are gonna get killed, lots of people.”

Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies

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An ancient form of soccer has a rule forbidding players from murdering each other.

Every year, thousands of people descend on the small town of Ashbourne n the English countryside to watch a two-day game of mass street football that, to the casual observer, could easily be mistaken for a riot.

This is Royal Shrovetide — a centuries-old ball game that, frankly, looks nothing like the world’s most popular sport. Or any other game for that matter.

“It’s like tug of war without the rope,” says Natalie Wakefield, 43, who lives locally and has marshalled the event in the past. “It’s mad in the best possible way.”

------------------------------For those who have ever found a cool stick and felt the impulse to show it off, there is an internet community of millions that wants to see it.

‘Stick Nation’ is a worldwide movement that thrives on irreverent, fantastical and downright wholesome descriptions of sticks and the people who rank them.

An account posting videos of people and their sticks has nearly three million followers on Instagram. On TikTok, it’s known, appropriately, as StickTok. There are posts about sticks shaped like hands, ones that resemble snakes, slingshot sticks, wizard staffs, curved canes and spiralled, twisted and beetlegnawed sticks.

The sticks are said to have mystical powers.

------------------------------The world’s first – and possibly only – orchestra to exclusively make music from vegetable instruments has been awarded a Guinness World Record after playing 344 concerts over the course of 27 years.

The 11-piece Vegetable Orchestra formed in Vienna, Austria, in 1999, when musicians of various backgrounds came together with the idea of carving veggies into instruments.

“It all started as a joke,” founding member Matthias Meinharter told the BBC. The performers have now perfected the art of playing with their food. Their instruments include carrots carved into recorders and leeks into mandolins.

The orchestra was awarded the Guinness World Record for the most concerts by a vegetable orchestra after playing their 344th show.

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News

Abbey Quarter Urban Street & Park construction contract signed Kilkenny County Council is pleased to announce the signing of the Abbey Quarter Urban Street & Park Construction Contract.

The Contract was signed on the 11th March 2025 at County Hall, Kilkenny in the presence of the Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Michael McCarthy. The main contract has been awarded to David Walsh Civil Engineering Ltd. with Fountainworks Ltd., handling a specialist water feature through a novated contract.

The project is being funded by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) through the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage and Kilkenny County Council.

Project Overview: The proposed development covers an area of approximately 1.44 hectares of the Kilkenny Abbey Quarter (Former Smithwicks Brewery Site) and will consists of two main components: Urban Park: This new amenity will be developed in a historically rich area of the City, showcasing the National Monuments (St. Francis Abbey and the City Walls) in a setting befitting their significance. The

Abbey Quarter Urban St and Park signing

transformation of this City Centre brownfield site will create an appealing social space for people to meet and gather.

Urban Street: This upcoming development will prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, improving connectivity to the Abbey Quarter and creating an inviting environment for residents, workers and businesses. The Street will link Bateman Quay in the south to St Canice’s Place in the north, operating as a one-way system (south to north). It will cross over the River Breagagh and the City

Walls via an existing brewery bridge.

The project will be completed in phases and is anticipated to be completed in the latter half of 2026.

Regarding the contract signing James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage remarked: “The Government’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund has been a real game-changer for our towns and cities.

The Abbey Quarter in Kilkenny celebrates where medieval meets modern

and today’s €12.3 million will help breathe new life into Kilkenny city. This is another good example of my Department’s €2 billion URDF fund in action. With over 400 projects now underway, this funding is actively transforming our towns and cities and will enhance our urban spaces for generations to come.”

Speaking at the contract signing, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Michael McCarthy commented: “Todays contract signing marks a major milestone

in the delivery of the vision of the Abbey Quarter into a place for people to live, work, and play. It will complement the works already completed in respect of the Brewhouse, Mayfair, and public realm areas surrounding them. I wish the contractors involved every success on the project.

I thank the Government for their commitment of URDF funding for the Abbey Quarter and look forward to that continued commitment for all the other projects at various stages of development.”

Mayor of Kilkenny

Municipal District, Cllr.

Andrew McGuinness commented: “I am delighted to see this contract commencing on the delivery of a new urban park in Kilkenny City and opening up of areas of our City which heretofore were not available for public access. I also welcome the economic benefits that the new Urban Street will provide for our City in opening up further plots on the site for development.”

David Walsh of David Walsh Civil Engineering Ltd and William Kenny of Fountainworks Ltd issued the following statement: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to deliver this key piece of infrastructure in the Abbey Quarter and looking forward to working with all concerned on its successful delivery."

In attendance and photographed at the contract signing were: Cathaoirleach Michael McCarthy, Lar Power, Chief Executive, Martin Prendiville, Director of Services, and Seamus Foley, Senior Engineer of Kilkenny County Council, David Walsh of David Walsh Civil Engineering Ltd, William Kenny of Fountainworks Ltd., and Pat Rohan & Patrick Breen of Malone O’Regan Consulting Engineers.

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Student Enterprise Programme National Finals Best Endeavour Award: James Prendergast, Ronan Dwan, David Long and Louis Evans of “Canine Comfort” from CBS Kilkenny with Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Michael McCarthy and John Mulcahy, LEO Kilkenny

Kilkenny students set for entrepreneurship final Photos by Vicky Comerford

Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny have announced that young entrepreneurs from Presentation Secondary School, St. Kieran’s College, and Coláiste Abhainn Rí will represent Kilkenny at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals on Thursday 8th May at the Mullingar Park Hotel.

The students all took part in the Kilkenny County Final on Wednesday 5th March, which was

held at the Lyrath Estate Hotel. 950 students from 12 schools took part in the annual programme locally with 120 students making it to the County Final.

In the Junior Category, the students representing Kilkenny at the National Finals are Natalia Burke and Kaleigh O'Shea from Coláiste Abhainn Rí with their mini company “Circular Chic” which is a sustainable fashion business that

Senior Category Winners of the competition Amy Bergin and Mathilde Beubry of “Bounce Back” from Presentation Secondary School with Cathaoirleach, Cllr.

Michael McCarthy, Cllr. Seán Ó hArgáin, and Aileen McGrath, LEO Kilkenny

Intermediate Category Winner of the competition, Michael O'Keeffe of “Suet & Song” from St. Kieran's College with Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Michael McCarthy and John Mulcahy, LEO Kilkenny

gives pre-loved clothing a new life.

Michael O'Keeffe from St. Kieran's College will represent the county at the finals in the Intermediate Category with his mini company “Suet & Song” which markets nutrient-rich suet cakes that provide sustenance for a variety of birds during the colder months.

In the Senior Category of the competition, Kilkenny will be represented on May 8th by Amy Bergin and Mathilde Beubry from Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny with their mini company business “Bounce Back”. Amy and Mathilde published an Injury Recovery Journal, which was designed as a support tool to assist in tracking progress and maintaining a positive mindset during the injury recovery process.

This year’s Innovation Award went to “Lock It” from Grennan College. Team members Millie Brennan, Hannah Murrihy, Laura Bourke, and Ola Opac designed and produced a 3D printed jewellery capsule that clips onto your bag, and acts as a practical storage solution when playing sport or on the move.

Speaking at the County Final, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Michael McCarthy mentioned “What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business. The skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling, and team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers”.

Aileen McGrath, Head of

Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny congratulated the students, saying “We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Kilkenny with 950 students from 12 local schools taking part this year. Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck on Thursday 8th May, and we will to be there to support them.”

The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals, taking place at Mullingar Park Hotel on May 8th.

Further information on the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.

The Green Award: Jaysen John and Muhammed Ahmer of “My Little Planet” from CBS Kilkenny with Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Michael McCarthy, and Tim Butler, Director of Services, Kilkenny County Council

Junior Category Winners of the competition, Natalia Burke and Kaleigh O'Shea of “Circular Chic” from Coláiste Abhainn Rí with Cathaoirleach Cllr. Michael McCarthy, and Emer Hickey

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Transform your home Top exterior improvements for spring

As spring approaches, many homeowners look to tackle exterior home improvement projects that will not only enhance the curb appeal of their property but also increase its functionality and longevity.

Whether you want to refresh the look of your home or make more significant upgrades, these projects can transform your property into a beautiful, well-maintained space.

Here are some key exterior home improvement ideas to consider.

Power washing for a clean and fresh look One of the simplest yet most impactful ways to improve your home’s exterior is by power washing.

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Over time, dirt, grime, mold, mildew, and algae can accumulate on the surfaces of your home, including the siding, driveway, walkway, and deck. This buildup can cause your property to look worn and neglected.

Power washing is an effective way to remove these contaminants and instantly refresh the look of your home.

Start by power washing the exterior of your house. Whether your home has vinyl siding, brick, or wood, power washing can help restore the appearance of these surfaces. Be careful when using power washers on delicate materials, such as wood, as excessive pressure can cause damage. Vinyl, brick, and concrete

can handle the higher pressure needed for a deeper clean. Power washing your driveway, walkways, and patios is another excellent way to make your exterior shine. These surfaces often accumulate stains and mildew, which a power washer can effectively remove.

Additionally, if you have a wooden deck or fence, power washing can help prepare these surfaces for refinishing or sealing. It removes dirt and debris, making it easier to apply stain or paint. Regular power washing helps protect your surfaces from long-term damage, keeping your home looking fresh for years to come.

Installation of log cabins A more substantial exterior improvement project to consider is the installation of a log cabin. Log cabins offer a unique and rustic charm that can complement a variety of properties, particularly those located in rural or wooded areas. Whether you're looking for additional living space, a guesthouse, or a quiet retreat, a log cabin is a fantastic way to expand your home’s functionality.

Log cabins are known for their natural beauty and durability.

The materials used in log cabin construction, such as wood logs, provide excellent insulation and create a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. A log cabin can serve many purposes, including a home office, a craft room, or a space for relaxation. Additionally, log cabins add character to the landscape and can increase the overall value of your property.

When installing a log cabin, there are several options. You can choose from custom-built cabins, prefabricated log cabin kits, or modular log homes that are easier and faster to assemble. Depending on your needs and budget, you can choose a cabin with or without plumbing and electricity. Regardless of the size and style, adding a log cabin will provide a beautiful and functional structure that complements your home’s exterior.

Landscaping for curb appeal Landscaping is another exterior improvement that can make a big difference in your home’s overall appearance. Freshening up your garden and lawn not only boosts curb appeal but also creates an inviting atmosphere for guests.

Start by trimming overgrown trees and bushes, and remove any dead or decaying plants. Plant seasonal flowers, shrubs, or trees to add color and texture to your landscape.

Flowers like tulips, daffodils, and pansies are great for spring planting, while shrubs and perennials provide year-round interest.

Adding fresh mulch or gravel to garden beds can help tidy up your yard and retain moisture for plants. Consider creating defined garden borders or paths to give your landscape a more organized look.

If you have a lawn, take the time to fertilise and reseed bare spots to ensure a lush, green yard throughout the season.

Repainting or restaining Another important exterior improvement is repainting or restaining surfaces that have weathered over time. A fresh coat of paint or stain can completely

transform the look of your home.

Focus on areas like trim, shutters, doors, and fences, which tend to fade or peel more quickly due to exposure to the elements. Repainting these areas not only enhances your home’s aesthetic appeal but also protects the surfaces from the sun, wind, and rain.

If you have a wooden deck, restaining it can breathe new life into the space. Staining not only enhances the wood’s natural beauty but also helps protect it from moisture damage and UV rays.

Improving outdoor lighting Outdoor lighting is another essential exterior improvement. Proper lighting can highlight the best features of your property, enhance safety, and create a welcoming atmosphere. Install lighting along walkways, near entrances, or in the garden to illuminate key areas.

Solar-powered lights are an energyefficient option that doesn’t require wiring, and they add a charming touch to your landscaping.

If you have a porch or patio, consider adding lantern-style lights or wall sconces to provide additional light and create an inviting ambiance for outdoor gatherings.

Exterior home improvements can dramatically enhance the look, functionality, and value of your property. By focusing on cleaning, enhancing your landscaping, adding new structures, and updating paint and lighting, you’ll ensure your home is well-maintained and ready to enjoy throughout the year. Whether you want to increase curb appeal or add more living space, these exterior improvements will create a lasting impact on your home’s overall appearance.

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windows can enhance your home’s exterior appearance, improving its curb appeal. If you’re on a budget, consider installing energy-efficient window coverings or blinds to further reduce energy costs.

Spring into action - home improvements for a fresh start Spring is the perfect time to give your home a fresh look and feel. After the long, cold winter, the warmer temperatures and longer days provide an ideal opportunity to tackle indoor home improvements that will enhance your living space. Whether you’re aiming to increase energy efficiency, update the aesthetic, or simply make your home more comfortable, there are several key areas to focus on. Replacing windows, upgrading doors, refreshing flooring, and investing in new furniture can significantly improve your home’s functionality and appearance.

Upgrade your windows Windows are essential for both energy efficiency and the overall aesthetic

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of your home. Over time, old windows can become drafty, allowing air to escape or enter, which can make it harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. Spring is the perfect time to replace old windows with newer, energy-efficient models. Modern windows feature better insulation, double glazing, and coatings like Low-E, which minimize heat transfer, keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Upgrading your windows can also improve the natural light in your home, making spaces feel brighter and more inviting. Additionally, new

Install new doors Doors play a major role in both the aesthetics and functionality of your home. Spring is a great time to replace old, outdated doors with new models that not only enhance the look of your space but also provide better insulation and security. Whether it’s your front door, interior doors, or patio doors, upgrading them can have a noticeable impact.

For the front entry, a new fiberglass or steel door can offer increased durability, security, and energy efficiency compared to traditional wooden doors. These doors are often better at keeping drafts at bay and improving insulation, which can help lower your energy bills. You may also want to consider adding a storm door to further protect your home from the elements while boosting curb appeal.

Interior doors can also be replaced to give your home a fresh look. If you have outdated or damaged doors, consider swapping them for modern designs such as shaker-style doors, barn doors, or glass-paneled doors, depending on your home’s style.

These updates can give your home a more polished, cohesive look.

Refresh your floors Floors are one of the most noticeable aspects of any room, and spring is the

perfect time to update your flooring.

Whether you want to replace worn carpets, refinish hardwood floors, or update your tile, new flooring can completely transform a space.

If you have hardwood floors, refinishing them can bring them back to life, removing scratches and scuffs while giving them a fresh coat of stain or finish. If your carpets are old and stained, replacing them with new carpets or opting for low-maintenance alternatives like laminate or vinyl can be a great choice. Laminate and vinyl planks are often designed to mimic the look of wood, providing a sleek and modern appearance while being durable and easy to maintain.

In areas like kitchens and bathrooms, consider installing new tile. Modern tiles come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and finishes, so you can easily find a style that complements your home’s overall aesthetic. Updating your floors not only improves the look of your space but also enhances its functionality and long-term durability.

Invest in new furniture One of the simplest ways to update the look and feel of your home is by investing in new furniture. As the seasons change, your existing furniture may start to feel worn out or outdated. Spring is a great time to replace old pieces with more modern, comfortable options that better suit your current style.

Start by upgrading your living room furniture. A new sofa, chairs, or coffee table can completely change the vibe of your space. Look for furniture that is not only stylish but also practical, such as pieces with built-in storage or modular designs that allow for flexibility. Consider investing in

statement pieces, such as an eyecatching sectional or a bold accent chair, that can become the focal point of the room.

If your dining room table is looking tired, replace it with a new set that fits your space and style. Whether you choose a traditional wooden table or a more modern glass-and-metal combination, upgrading your dining area will make it more inviting for family meals and gatherings.

Don’t forget about bedroom furniture as well. A new bed frame or dresser can refresh your bedroom, making it feel more restful and luxurious. In addition, updating the accessories, such as new bedding, curtains, or throw pillows, can provide an instant refresh to your rooms.

Add personal touches In addition to major updates like windows, doors, flooring, and furniture, adding personal touches is a simple way to make your home feel more spring-ready. Consider incorporating lighter colors, fresh flowers, or new wall art to bring in the season’s bright and airy vibe.

Updating your lighting with new fixtures or adding mirrors to reflect light can also help brighten up your spaces.

Spring offers the perfect opportunity to refresh your home’s interior and create a more comfortable, energyefficient, and aesthetically pleasing living space. Replacing windows, upgrading doors, refreshing your floors, and investing in new furniture are all impactful ways to update your home for the new season. By focusing on these key areas, you can enhance both the functionality and beauty of your home, making it a more enjoyable place to live and relax.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

Preparing your garden for spring: essential steps for a thriving season

As the days get longer and the weather warms up, it's the perfect time to start preparing your garden for spring. The transition from winter to spring presents an opportunity to refresh your outdoor space, ensuring that it thrives throughout the season.

Getting your garden ready for spring involves a combination of cleaning, planning, planting, and maintenance.

Here’s a guide on how to prepare your garden for a successful spring.

Clean up the garden The first step in preparing your garden for spring is to clear away any debris that has accumulated over the winter months. Fallen leaves, branches, and dead plants can hinder the growth of new plants and create hiding spots for pests. Start by raking the garden beds to remove any remaining leaves and dead plant

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matter. If you have mulch, you can either rake it back into the beds or add fresh layers later in the season.

Pruning is another crucial cleaning task. Trim back any dead or damaged branches from shrubs, trees, and perennials. If you have flowering plants, it’s important to prune them at the right time to encourage new growth. For example, some plants should be pruned in early spring before they start to sprout, while others can be pruned after they bloom.

Check and prepare your tools Spring is the perfect time to inspect and clean your gardening tools.

Sharpen the blades of your pruners, shears, and hoes to ensure they’re ready for use. Clean off any dirt, rust, or residue from your tools to prevent the spread of disease. Don’t forget

to check hoses, watering systems, and garden gloves, as these items often get worn or damaged during the winter months. Taking the time to prepare your tools will make your gardening tasks much easier and more efficient.

Assess the soil Soil health is critical for the success of your garden, so take the time to assess its condition before planting.

If your soil is compacted from winter weather, gently loosen it with a garden fork or tiller. This will improve air circulation and root penetration for your plants.

Next, check the soil’s pH level.

Some plants prefer acidic soil, while others thrive in alkaline conditions.

You can purchase a soil testing kit or send a sample to a local agricultural extension office to get a more precise

reading. Based on the results, amend your soil as needed by adding compost, lime, or sulfur to adjust the pH levels. Incorporating organic matter like compost will also improve the structure and fertility of the soil, providing your plants with the nutrients they need to grow.

Plan your planting Spring is the time to start thinking about what you want to plant in your garden. Take into account your hardiness zone and the last frost date in your area. Some plants, like coldhardy vegetables, can be planted early in the season, while others, such as warm-weather crops, should wait until the danger of frost has passed.

Decide where you want to plant specific flowers, vegetables, herbs, and shrubs. Consider factors like sunlight, shade, and soil type when choosing the right plants for each area of your garden. Drawing up a simple garden plan can help ensure that you maximize space and plant your crops efficiently.

If you’re planting seeds, it’s a good idea to start them indoors about six to eight weeks before the last expected frost. This gives your plants a head start, allowing them to be stronger and more resilient once they’re transplanted outdoors.

Prepare for pests and disease As the weather warms up, pests and diseases are more likely to make an appearance in your garden.

To reduce the risk, take proactive steps to protect your plants. Start by removing any infected or damaged plants and dispose of them properly to prevent the spread of disease.

Consider applying organic pesticides or insecticidal soaps to control pests like aphids and mites.

You can also encourage beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and bees, to visit your garden by planting nectar-rich flowers like lavender or echinacea. These insects help pollinate your plants and keep harmful pests in check.

Add mulch Once your garden beds are cleared and your soil is prepared, adding mulch is an excellent next step.

Mulch helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature, which is especially helpful as temperatures fluctuate in early spring. Organic mulches like wood chips, bark, or straw also break down over time, enriching the soil with nutrients. Spread a layer of mulch about 2–3 inches deep around plants, but be sure to leave a small gap around the stems to prevent rot.

Watering system setup With spring’s variable weather, it’s essential to ensure your watering system is working properly. Check hoses for leaks and ensure that your irrigation system, if you have one, is functioning efficiently.

Overwatering can be just as harmful as underwatering, so adjusting your watering system to the changing weather conditions is key to helping your garden thrive.

Getting your garden ready for spring is a rewarding process that sets the stage for a successful growing season. Whether you’re planting flowers, vegetables, or herbs, the care you give your garden now will pay off in the vibrant blooms and bountiful harvests to come. Taking these steps early in the season ensures that your garden is set up for success and will flourish throughout the warmer months.

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Laois Open Door Theatre

Laois Open Door Theatre presents; Play-On

Laois Open Door Theatre are delighted to be back in Thomastown for the third year in a row.

This year they will present Play On by Rick Abbott. This hilarious love letter to amateur drama, follows a plucky community theatre group rehearsing an original murder mystery Murder Most Foul by a first time author. In essence, a

play within a play, hence the title Play On. It is a farcical look at the trials and tribulations, the ecstasy and the heartbreak of the final few days before Murder Most Foul is presented to the public. Added to the mayhem is the fact that the author insists on more plot changes as opening night looms.

What could possibly go wrong on the night?

Author One Rick plucky Abbot community theatre is about to produce a show called Murder Most Foul, a new ‘murder mystery play’ with the same title as an Agatha Christie novel but with no relation whatsoever. The director/theatre manager, Gerry, thought producing the play

was a good idea since the inexperienced playwright has agreed to let the company perform the show for no charge. Gerry, however, had no idea what disasters awaited her: the show is hilariously amateur, the ‘murder mystery’ plot doesn’t really have a murder, and to top it off the playwright keeps changing the story and script only two days from its premiere! It doesn’t help that the cast is disgruntled, and the playwright accidentally deletes the entire sound effect board. All of the disasters come to fruition in Act III when the company performs the actual show with hilarious mishaps at every turn. Play On is an hilarious love letter to community theatre.

Rick Abbot John Michael Sharkey (May 6 1931 - September 28 1992) was an American writer who published over eighty plays, many under pen names. Rick Abbot is one of several pen names. Mr. Sharkey was born on May 6, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois.

He began writing when he was 10 years old. He graduated from college with a BA in Creative Writing and taught school from 1953 to 1955. In mid-1955, Mr. Sharkey enlisted in the Army, serving at Sandia Base, New Mexico as a special services worker. He wrote, produced and directed one show per month for the Enlisted Men's Club.

In 1958, Mr. Sharkey went to New York to begin a full-time freelance writing career. He wrote science fiction stories and novels, humor articles and mystery novels. In 1961, he returned to Chicago, where he worked as joke editor for Playboy Magazine before serving as editor of the Allstate Insurance Company Magazine from 1964-75.

Mr. Sharkey wrote his first stage comedy in 1965. At the end of 1975, he went exclusively into playwriting, which he continued until a few months before his death. He has 83 published plays written under his own name and four others - Rick Abbot, Monk Ferris, Mark Chandler

and Mike Johnson. Mike Johnson wrote only stage thrillers. All the other plays are comedies and/or musicals. The plays are performed all around the world. Mr. Sharkey died of cancer on September 28, 1992.

To find out more come and see ‘Open Door’ in Thomastown Community Centre on Friday 21st March at 8pm.

Cast as follows; Aggie - stage manager, Sinead Winters Gerry - a community theatre director, Sarah O’Sullivan Henry - ‘Lord Dudley’ character actor, Colm O’Toole Polly - ‘Lady Margaret’ character actor, Gemma Mahon Smitty - ‘Doris’ the maid :Brainna O’Sullivan Saul - ‘Dr Rex Forbes’ a villain, Dermot Muldowney Billy - ‘Stephen Sellers’ Aaron Sheil Violet - ‘Diana Lassiter’ Jane Doheny Louise - backstage technician, Roisin Byrne Phyllis - a novice playwright, Shone McDonald Director - Eadaoin O’Connell Lighting - Pat Phelan Sound - Michael Creagh Set Design and Construction - Dan Hooban Stage Managers - Dan Hooban, Caroline Larkin Backstage - Caroline Grumley, Mary Delaney Front of House - Kieran Brosnan, Padraig Dunne, Paul Dunne, Adrain Dunne, Pauline Swayne

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Food & Drink

Dine Me Come

as much water as possible. Roughly chop, mix with the other filling ingredients and season generously.

With

STEP 3 Cut away ¼ of the dough (keep the rest covered with cling film) and feed it through the widest setting on your pasta machine. (If you don’t have a machine, use a heavy rolling pin to roll the dough as thinly as possible.) Then fold into three, give the dough a quarter turn and feed through the pasta machine again.

Repeat this process once more then continue to pass the dough through the machine, progressively narrowing the rollers, one notch at a time, until you have a smooth sheet of pasta. On the narrowest setting, feed the sheet through twice.

Forager’s ravioli

Prep: 1 hr Cook: 15 mins Serves: 2

STEP 4 Put the pasta sheet on a lightly floured surface, then spoon teaspoons of the filling 4cm apart on the bottom half of the sheet.

Using your fingers, pat water around each blob of filling. Fold the top half over the fillings and carefully squeeze around, making sure to remove any air pockets.

Wild nettles are the star ingredient of this fresh ravioli. Swap in spinach if you’re not a fan of foraging and serve with butter and crunchy hazelnuts.

Ingredients • For the pasta • 150g ‘00’ pasta flour plus extra for dusting • 1 egg and 2 yolks, lightly beaten • ½ tbsp olive oil • • For the filling • 100g foraged young wild nettles(or spinach if you can’t get nettles) • 100g ricotta (homemade if possible, see tip) • 25g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), grated, plus shavings to serve • 1 tbsp finely chopped lemon thyme leaves, plus extra to serve • 1 lemon zested, 1/2 in filling, 1/2 to serve • • For the sauce • 40g unsalted butter • splash of whey (if you’ve made your own ricotta) • handful roasted hazelnutschopped, to serve

STEP 5 Cut between each ravioli using a pasta cutter or sharp knife, then pinch around the edges of each ravioli to make sure it is well sealed.

Keep on a lightly floured baking tray while you repeat the process with the remaining dough and filling.

STEP 1 First make the pasta. Put the flour in a food processor with ¾ of your egg mixture and a pinch of salt.

Blitz to large crumbs – they should come together to form a dough when squeezed (if it feels a little

dry gradually add a bit more egg).

Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface, knead for 1 min or until nice and smooth – don’t worry if it’s quite firm as it will soften when it rests. Cover with cling film and leave to rest for 30 mins.

Wild garlic and nettle soup Prep: 15 mins Cook: 35 mins Serves: 4-6 Forage for some fresh spring greens and simmer with finely diced vegetables to make this vibrant, healthy, low-fat green soup.

Ingredients • 1 tbsp rapeseed oil plus extra for drizzling • 25g butter • 1 onion finely diced • 1 leek finely diced • 2 celery sticks, thinly sliced • 1 carrot finely diced • 1 small potato peeled and diced • 1.2l good-quality vegetable stock • 300g young nettle leaves • 200g wild garlic leaves (keep any flowers if you have them) • 3 tbsp milk Method STEP 1

Heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion, leek, celery, carrot, potato and a good pinch of salt, and stir until everything is well coated. Cover and sweat gently for 15-20 mins, stirring every so often to make sure that the vegetables don’t catch on the bottom of the pan.

STEP 2 Pour in the stock and simmer for 10 mins. Add the nettles in several batches, stirring, then add the wild garlic leaves and simmer for 2 mins.

STEP 3 Remove from the heat and blend using a stick blender or tip into a blender. Return to the heat and stir through the milk, then taste for seasoning. Ladle into bowls and drizzle over a little extra oil, then top with a few wild garlic flowers, if you have them.

STEP 2 Meanwhile, make the filling. Bring a pan of water to the boil and, wearing gloves, add the nettles to the pan. Cook for 2-3 mins to wilt and remove the stings. Drain, then put in a tea towel and squeeze out

STEP 6 Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. In a large, non-stick pan, melt the butter over a medium heat and cook for 2-3 mins until brown and nutty. Take off the heat and whisk in a splash of whey (or water). Cook the ravioli for 2-3 mins, remove with a slotted spoon and immediately toss in the brown butter sauce. Serve topped with lemon thyme leaves, lemon zest, shaved parmesan and hazelnuts.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

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TV & Streaming

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good ones to stream on Netflix 1. Take Care Of Maya

When 10-year-old Maya Kowalski was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in 2016, nothing could have prepared her or her family for what they were about to go through.

As the medical team tried to understand her rare illness, they began to question the basic truths that bound the Kowalskis together. Suddenly, Maya was in state custody — despite two parents who were desperate to bring their daughter home.

Without giving too much away, listening to the Kowalski family tell their story in their own words might just change the way you look at children’s healthcare forever.

2. King the Land

The Manson Murders worth the view In 1999, Tom O’Neill was commissioned by Hollywood-centric film magazine Premiere to investigate exactly what had — by then — happened a mere 30 years earlier, when a smalltime criminal, Charles Manson, was unveiled as the mastermind behind one of the most brutal and defining crimes of the 20th century.

It must have seemed like an easy job back then, but by the time the title ceased trading in 2007 O’Neill still didn’t have a piece for them — as he explains with great honesty in his self-deprecating and farranging 2019 book Chaos: Charles Manson, The CIA, And The Secret History Of The Sixties.

That book took all his research — exhaustive and authoritative but frustratingly inconclusive — and threw it all up in the air in exasperation, which is not something many writers are inclined to do. It’s also not something that documentary legend Errol Morris is wont to do either, so it’s interesting to see what happens when these two minds meet.

The result is fascinating, as Morris homes in on the crux of O’Neill’s book — that the official narrative of what have now become known as The Manson Murders was a sensationalist

plot hatched by prosecuting DA Vincent Bugliosi to sell his true-crime book Helter Skelter — and leaves the viewer to, well, as the internet says, let that sink in.

To recap, Manson [pictured being arrested] came to notoriety as the hippie cult leader whose followers murdered Roman Polanski’s pregnant then-wife Sharon Tate on August 9, 1969, along with three of her friends (hairdresser Jay Sebring, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, and screenwriter Voytek Frykowski) plus a random guest (Stephen) parent of the property’s pool boy.

The next night they struck again, killing supermarket owner Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in an even-now shocking display of excessive violence. Nothing of value was taken on either occasion but, at both crime scenes, there were significant words daubed in blood: ‘Pig’, ‘Death to pigs’, ‘Rise’ and ‘Healter Skelter’ (sic).

So far, this story has been told and told (and told), but scholars of Mansonology might be pleased to hear that Chaos: The Manson Murders, on Netflix, represents something of a reset.

Far from being a checklist of Manson Family members — you can play that game yourself with some incredibly good archive footage

— Morris’ film concentrates on just two people: O’Neill and Manson.

Manson comes off as he always did, the cornered shaman who, having been a lifelong inmate, refuses to say what went down, perhaps because of the drugs he’d taken, so he may not have remembered anyway, and because he was never a snitch.

This latter point will take you where Morris’ film declines to go, but the whole film is an invitation to the giant rabbit hole that is the Tate-LaBianca murders.

One can sense that Morris might have hoped to bring the forensic approach that he used so successfully with The Thin Blue Line (1988), but then pivoted to something closer to 2010’s underrated Tabloid.

It’s particularly interesting that Morris skirts all the possible scenarios for the Tate murders; one being that the Manson Family were retaliating after a bad drug deal, another that it was a copycat murder to get Family member Bobby Beausoleil out of jail for the killing of Gary Hinman (the events of which are semi-thoroughly covered), or they simply didn’t know who was at home at 10050 Cielo Drive that night (always contentious).

And didn’t Charles ‘Tex’ Watson actually kill pretty

much everyone that died, so why aren’t they called The Watson Murders?

Morris’ presence is gentle throughout, and it could have been so easy for him to turn his lesser-seen comedic eye (have you seen Tabloid?) on O’Neill as a modern Don Quixote and suggesting that this is his Zodiac. But Morris seems to realise very early on — if he didn’t know already — that this is a story that will never end, and he embraces O’Neill’s uncertainty.

Which brings us to the point. Dotted throughout the film, and more present in the book, are O’Neill’s observations about the American Government’s fear of the rifts in its society and the very, very strange fact that Manson was never once taken back into custody for his multiple parole violations.

Morris doesn’t indulge in the personality cult of Manson’s family — the Sadies, the Blues, the Reds, Texes, the Clems, the Snakes and the Gypsys — which could have turned this standalone doc into a miniseries.

But he does do very simply, which O’Neill couldn’t quite do with his enjoyably digressive book, is locate all of these events within the possibilities of mind control.

Which opens another door...

The 16-episode King the Land is a swoon-worthy romantic comedy in which the heir to a luxury hotel conglomerate meets a young woman who’s a hotelier — and who’s known for her million-dollar smile, which the rich heir can’t stand. The hotelier, by the way, is Yoona, a former of the K-pop group Girl’s Generation who very much does have a million-dollar smile.

3. See You In My 19th Life

Just when I think Netflix K-drama releases have squeezed all of the creativity they can out of romantic storylines, along comes something fresh and original.

As far as the plot goes, a young girl who can reincarnate has the ability to remember all of her past lives. An accident kills her as she’s on life #18, and when she gets started on her 19th life, she decides to reconnect with the young man she fell in love with during her prior life. The young man, though, still pines for the girl he remembers and lost — not the reincarnated version in an all-new body today.

4. Break Point — Part 2

From the team that also brought us F1: Drive to Survive, Break Point follows a group of some of the best tennis players both on and off the court as they compete in Grand Slams and tournaments all over the world.

Some of them are tennis legends approaching the twilight of their careers, while others are part of a new generation eager to claim the spotlight. Break Point follows these players over the course of a year, and includes everything from devastating heartbreak to triumphant victories.

5. King Of Clones

King Of Clones tells the story of the most notorious scientist from South Korea, charting his path from a groundbreaking human cloning researcher to his ultimate downfall. Working with a colleague, the pair announced jointly in 2004 the successful cloning of the human embryo — pointing to its potential to cure some diseases. A pointed debate about bioethics and reproductive cloning quickly followed.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

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kilkennyobserver.ie

Sport

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

You would be forgiven if you believed that your genes held the key to your health.

Many people also think genes dictate personality, behaviour and even eating patterns.

While genes do influence all these things, there is so much more to it than this.

What is really important is not just the genes that you are born with, but how those genes interact with your environment. By environment, I don’t mean the weather or the natural world, I mean everything that surrounds you – be it other people, relationships, what you eat and drink, your dayto-day experiences.

The incredibly interesting scientific field of epigenetics explores this phenomenon – how our genes interact with our environment and what this means for us.

How Genes Work Your genes are found in your DNA, which is in almost every cell in your body – tightly wound up in the cell’s nucleus. DNA in a single cell would reach 2m in length if you could unwind and pull it out (that’s a lot of room for genes in that cell!).

Your genes work like little recipe books. The recipes within your genes tell the cell

pregnancy can positively impact a baby's stress tolerance and reduce the risk of mental health difficulties later in life. This is partly due to gene activation resulting in the development of a healthy, balanced stress system within the baby.

Your genes are not your training needs destiny updating The field of epigenetics shows us that genes are only part of the story when it comes to health how to make certain proteins.

Importantly, the genes can be turned on or off. Whether a gene is turned on or off is dictated by certain signals from the body.

Turning on and off the genes The fact that genes can be

more active or less active (i.e. they can be turned on or off ) is essential for growth and development and allows us to adapt to different situations and demands in life.

For example, if you donate a pint of blood and are subsequently running

low on red blood cells, signals from the body will upregulate (i.e. turn on) certain genes in cells in your bone marrow that hold the "recipe" for red blood cell production.

With these genes more active, you produce more red blood cells. Once the

level of red blood cells in your bloodstream reaches its normal level, the body detects this and signals to reduce activity of the same genes – maintaining a healthy balance.

Another interesting example is that a lowstress environment during

You are shaped by your environment Yes, the genes that you have play an important role in your development and your health. But the environment in which you were born and raised has shaped you, and how you lead your life will continue to dictate how and when many of your genes become active.

This helps to explain why it is so important for those who have a genetic predisposition for certain issues (like heart disease, cancer or mental health difficulties) do what they can (e.g. exercise, healthy diet, etc) to allow their genes to work for them and not against them.

Crucially, us humans do most of our developing in our early years. It is vital that we understand the importance of giving the youngest in our society (with all their vulnerability and amazing potential) and their parents the environment within which they can develop and thrive. Understanding the importance of epigenetics is just another reason to do so.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

Community & GAA Notes

KilkennyGAA clubs and Communitynews CLARA

MEMBERSHIP Clara GAA Membership 2025 Registration Morning. You are welcome to Clara GAA Clubhouse on the 23rd March from 10:45am to 12.00. The Club Registrar will be there to assist you to register, if you are unable to do so through Foireann.

We look forward to building on our club membership numbers for playing and non-playing members this new season. Please be reminded that in order to be eligible to vote at our Club AGM and to be entered in any club draws for All Ireland tickets, you must have your club membership paid no later than 31 March 2025. Any membership received after this date will be accepted but will not entitle the member to voting rights or gain entry to any All Ireland ticket club draws.

CLUB LOTTO Lotto News, 4th March. Numbers drawn, 7, 28 and 29.

There was no Jackpot Winner. €30 Lucky Dip Winners, Aoife Glynn, Michael Prendergast, Paul Mullen, Breda Gleeson and Paddy Bolger. Be in to Win! O’LOUGHLIN GAELS

KILKENNY HURLERS Hard luck to the Kilkenny hurling team, which lost out to Tipperary in last weekend’s Allianz Hurling League game in UPMC Nowlan Park. O’Loughlin’s were well represented on the Kilkenny team as Mikey Butler, Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy and Fionán Mackessy all saw action in the game.

There is little time for recovery as they face Limerick in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday at 3.30pm. Hopefully lots of Kilkenny supporters will be there to cheer on the team.

CAMOGIE REPRESENTATIVES Unfortunately the Kilkenny Camogie team enjoyed no better luck than the men last weekend when they lost out to Cork in the Camogie League in Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday. O’Loughlin’s were represented on the Kilkenny team by Laura Murphy and Danielle Quigley.

SYMPATHY O’Loughlin Gaels GAA and Camogie Club was greatly saddened at the death of Mrs Esther Maher of Assumption Place. Esther was a wonderful supporter of all things O’Loughlin’s and the Club was built on the committment and contribution of people such as Esther. Sincere sympathy is extended to all of her family.

CAMOGIE JUVENILE TRAINING O’Loughlin Gaels Juvenile Camogie’s new season started last Saturday 8th of March and continues each Saturday in St. John’s Park at the following times. U8, U10 and U12 training starts at 10:00 AM on the pitches. U6: 11:00 AM in the gym.

All New Members Welcome! Come join us for a fun and exciting season of camogie. We look forward to seeing you there!

EASTER CAMP O’Loughlin Gaels GAA and Camogie Club’s Easter Camp will take place from the 14th to the 18th April. It is open to all O’Loughlin Gaels club members aged 5 to 13 years.

Closing date for receipt of application forms is April 1st.

Any queries or to register contact Stephen at 085-7181325.

GET ON YOUR BIKE O’Loughlin Gaels are on a fundraising drive to help with current and future projects - we are holding a two day cycling event that brings us from St. Johns Park to Dungarvan Co. Waterford via the Waterford Greenway and back again. All levels of ability are welcome. The event includes an overnight stay at Lawlor’s Hotel Dungarvan after a 6 week training programme for the novice cyclist.

This promises to be right craic but places are limited so get in touch ASAP to register your interest - oloughlinsevents@ gmail.com Over the coming weeks works will begin on a new wall ball, astro turf and dressing rooms at St. Johns Park, and the club is embarking on the development of a new greenfield site at Dunmore to include new pitches over the coming years. All help is greatly appreciated. How to the link below for more details on how to donate. https://www.idonate. ie/crowdfunder/OLoughlinGaels LOTTO There was no winner of O’Loughlin Gaels club lotto dated March 4th. The numbers drawn were 12, 16, 22, 26 and the bonus was 24. Play now at www.oloughlingaels.com Thank you for your continued support Promotors Draw, 1. Murty Bambrick c/o P Greene. 2.

Seamas McEvoy. 3. Keith Kinchella. 4. Patricia Nolan c/o B Maher. 5. Paul Butler c/o H Mahon. 6. Benny Cleere. 7. Daniel Cody c/o Ml Nolan. 8. Nigel Farrelly c/o Online. 9. Charlie Parsons c/o Online. 10. Linda Murphy c/o Online MEMBERSHIP Just a reminder if you haven’t yet paid your club membership O’ Loughlin Gaels GAA and Camogie club membership renewal for 2025 is due now. It is available on Foireann.

Just log in to your Foireann account, tap the three horizontal lines to bring up the membership tab and select the membership option that suits you. Kilkenny Hurlers’ Co-op Draw tickets are available with most membership options

also. All support welcome.

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 GOWRAN

GOWRAN AC Leinster U20, Senior and Masters, massive congrats to Andrew Cooper on his remarkable new Championship Record in the U20 Shot Putt in Dublin. Andrew broke his own record from last year by throwing over a metre more in 18.20mt. Rachel Gardiner secured double gold in the ladies U20 4kg Shot Putt and 20lb WFD. Matt Ryan took home an incredible haul of 5 medals in the Master Men O35.

James Kelsey completed his heptathlon to take gold in the U18 age group whilst also winning silver in the individual U18 HJ and TJ. James took part in 4 events and got new PB’s in all, 60m 8.26 secs, Shot Putt 8.05m, Long jump 5.26m, High jump 1.76m. He was back in the 60mH, 11.12secs, Pole vault 2.80m, and 1000m 2:57.01, a great achievement to compete in so many disciplines, PB and medal, well done James.

Jack Gardiner produced some fine throws at Shot Putt to win silver in the Boys U17 Shot Putt. Rachel was also back up in the U19 placing 5th in Shot Putt.

There were 3 teams competing in the Leinster relays. Girls U13: Abigail Hunt, Sarah Mulrooney, Pearl Treacy, May Timmins. Girls U14: Grace O’Keeffe, Olivia Troy, Lydia Phelan, Hannah Phelan. Boys U14: Séan Farrell, Peter Grimley, Matthew Byrne, Ned Óg Kelly.

For the girls U14, it was their first time to ever run relays indoors, so well done to both teams who competed and both were unlucky to not make it through to the finals. The U14 boys narrowly missed out on a place in the final coming 3rd in fast timed heats. Well done to all.

GOWRAN ON THE MOVE Delighted to see so many people enjoying the Hub. Reminder to visitors to the Hub to park responsibly and please be considerate to neighbours. Please don’t park in nearby gateways or up on grass verging. Thanks for your cooperation.

GOWRAN PITCH AND PUTT Thanks to all who took part in recent fundraiser. 18hole Scramble to help William. William has being diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and deterioration. With everyone’s generosity we managed to raise €1100.

DALTON HOUSE DAY CARE Chair Exercise Class on Mondays at 11am. Art Classes every Tuesday from 10am to 12 noon. Come along to Music night every Wednesday from 8pm or just enjoy a cup of tea and a chat. For more info on any of the above please ring 056 7726718.

FRESHFORD

ETHAN MAKES IRISH TEAM Big congratulations to a local young lad Ethan Walsh who is a keen squash player. Nathan is youngest son of Noel and Catherine Walsh and has been selected to play on the Irish U15 team to play in France this year in a Five Nations and European Championship. Nathan has been playing squash from a young age and recently competed in the European tournament in Prague. Well done Nathan and keep up the good work and he is wished all the very best.

GAA NEWS St Lachtains GAA Club will hold their Dinner dance this Sunday evening 16th March in Langton’s. The Club has much to celebrate this year having won the County Junior final, Leinster Club final and All Ireland final. Music on the night will be by Sweet Freedom and DJ Josie. Medals will be presented to the All-Ireland winning junior hurlers, Junior B league winners 2022 and Junior F league winners 2023 and 2024 with fun food and dancing. Please note that all u18s must be accompanied by an adult AIB CHALLENGE St Lachtain’s All Ireland winning junior hurlers took an AIB selection on Friday evening last at St John,s Park Kilkenny but came out second best of the challenge FOOTBALL St Lachtain’s minor footballers were beaten by Rower/ Glenmore in the Ronin B Championship quarter final in Pairc Lachtain on Saturday morning last UNDERAGE TEAMS Spring has sprung and all the underage teams are starting to get back into action. Pairc Lachtain was a hive of activity on Sunday morning last as the U12s, U14s and U16s were all back in training. St.Lachtain’s field teams from UI6 up to U18s and new members are always welcome. You can contact any member of the committee for details on how to register.

HOME FROM AUSTRALIA Home on holiday at present in his native Freshford is Peter O’Hara of Moated Road Freshford. Peter is a regular visitor

back home from Australia DEATH Local people were saddened last week to learn of the death of Mrs. Marie King late of Buncrussia Street, Freshford and formerly of Johnstown. The deceased was in her 90s and had been unwell in recent times. Originally from Listowel in County Kerry she was predeceased her husband Billy daughter Kathleen and son Seamus. The family lived in Johnstown for many years before she and her husband moved to Freshford where they lived for some time. She was a friendly good living lady, a proud mother and grandmother and great grandmother. She loved music, singing and dancing. Her funeral mass took place in St.Kierans Church Johnstown, followed by burial in Johnstown Cemetery. She is mourned by her sons, daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sons in law, daughters in law, sisters, nephews, nieces and extended family to whom sympathy is extended.

SOCCER Freshford Town Junior side were in action at the weekend and suffered a heavy defeat to Newpark in their away game on Sunday morning.

The schoolboys /girls section the U11 boys won 5-0 against Paulstown. The U12 girls meanwhile had a win midweek against Clover Utd., on a 1-0 scoreline The club are presently planning for the regeneration project which was put together and permission for development of a synthetic grass playing surface to the existing grassed area is intended, erection of led floodlighting to both the existing main grassed and proposed synthetic grass pitches with additional car parking provisions, 2new sports dug outs to grassed pitch and upgrade of existing boundary walls and fencing drainage and all associated works.

IRISH DANCING The Malone school of Irish dancing continues every Monday evening at 5.15pm in St.Lachtain’s GAA Clubhouse. All those interested should go along or for more information contact Michelle on 087 2063912 BINGO North Kilkenny Wheelchair Association weekly bingo continues each Friday evening in Freshford Community Hall at 8pm with good prize money and a raffle each week.

This is for a very good cause indeed and the committee are encouraging people to come along and support the weekly bingo and bring a friend or two for a night out and help keep this fundraiser going.

NUENNA GROUP People are living longer stronger and healthier lives nowadays, so why not have fun while improving your fitness with the local Nuenna social community group. It’s being held every Tuesday at 6.30am and Thursdays at 6pm at Freshford GAA grounds. Membership to Nuenna AC club for the year is €60. The club were invited to indoor event in Nenagh recently and the young athethes did amazingly well and had a haul of medals coming home. Well done to all SPLIT THE POT The winner of Split the pot last week was John Guinan winning €138. The proceeds for the month of February go to Threecastles Hall. Entry cost just €2 and envelopes are available in all local shops and pubs Revolut is also available on 08330411011 with your name and address.

COMMUNITY ALERT Freshford /Threecastles Community Alert group are doing great work around the area. They have had cameras erected around the area which are all now up and running. Text alert numbers are also very good at present and everyone is looking out for each other. Text alert cost just €10 for the year and is a great advantage to the community. You are reminded to keep an eye out for elderly neighbours and report any suspicious activity you might notice LOOP CAFE The Loop Community Café in Freshford are always looking for people on both sides of the counter. So why not support your own local café and with weather conditions recently it makes sense to stay local. You can meet a friend for a chat and cupa or some lovely homemade food or why not try out their new tarts. The Loop also hosts a variety of community activities. The Loop is looking for volunteers as well as customers. Use your skills and develop new ones. If you’re great at fixing a door hinge, baking a cake, or working in a kitchen – or just willing to learn there’s got lots to do. Find the Loop on Facebook to keep up with events, or stop by any time. If you’d like to volunteer, please call the café at 0568832650 and speak with Rhiannon.

IONAD LACHTAIN On Sunday 16th March the closest Sunday to the feast of St.Lachtain Bishop Wilkinson will celebrate and preach at a Festal Eucharist to mark the Pateronal festival. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

Iona Lachtain’s programme of events will be launched for 2025. The shop shops will be open on the 15th and 16th March from 11.30am to 4.30pm.

St Lachtain’s Church Museum and Arts Centre will reopen on this weekend, 16th/17th March.

FOROIGE Foroige youth club meet each Monday evening from

6.30pm to 8pm in the Community Hall. They have music, a free library, a stationary corner, games, chat and treats each week. New members are always very welcome.

The youth club is members only so if you are interest in joining please go along and sign up. They are also looking for adult volunteers. For more info contact Aidan n 086 0674485 or Aidan.gleeson@foroige.ie PARISH NEWS Mass is held in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and each Sunday morning at 11am. Mass in Tulla Church on Saturday evenings at 7.30pm.

The damage done to parts of the roof of the Parish Church during the recent storm has now been repaired.

The parish newsletter is available on their website every week and also on the website 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.

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB

PRESENTATION NIGHT Last Saturday night our Larchfield Venue was a hive of activity when our Chairperson Aodán O Ruairc presented three different groups with their medals from their successful campaigns in different grades in Hurling and Camogie.

Our all-conquering minor hurlers, who won the league and championship double, celebrated their success having retained their championship title.

Our Junior hurlers also achieved a double by winning their Section B league final and Section B championship.

It also was a major night for our camogie ladies who were presented with their medals for a successful year by winning the Senior summer League and the Senior League shield.

Well done to all.

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE Sunday was another very disappointing day in UMPC Nowlan Park when arch-rivals Tipperary came to town and defeated the Black and Amber in front of a home crowd in round 6 of the Allianz Hurling League. Commiseration to our own clubman Cian Kenny who fought bravely until replaced in the 66th minute by which stage, Kilkenny were reduced to twelve men. This makes next week encounter with Limerick very interesting as Kilkenny are still not out of relegation trouble.

KILKENNY CAMOGIE It was also a bad day for the Kilkenny Senior Camogie team who were very comprehensively beaten by Cork in Division 1A, round 3, on a scoreline of 3-17 to 0-13. James Stephens was well represented by Michelle Teehan, Niamh Deely and Sophie O Dwyer.

We send our congratulations to Michelle who has been named as one of four GPA squad Reps of the Year.

ST. PATRICKS DAY Our club Juvenile mentors are putting the final touches to our Patrick’s Day float in anticipation for the St. Patrick’s day parade. It’s a big event for our young boys and girls to show their club colours and to enjoy the festive spirit. We wish all involved a great day out.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Bar manager Mark Noonan tells me that they have a few music nights to look forward to in our Larchfield venue.

Starting on St Patricks weekend, Saturday 15th, music will be provided by Sean and Steve and on the Saturday 22nd the music will be supplied by the very popular Tony Coy. Hope to see you there.

BILLY WALTON TOURNAMENT The very popular Billy Walton tournament is back on Saturday 5th April. More detail nearer the event.

RETIREMENT APPRECIATION News has filtered through of the imminent resignation of long serving Nowlan Park office manager Ms. Caroline Morrissey after over 27 years of loyal service to the County

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Community & GAA Notes Board. Caroline has always been courteous and efficient to club officers in all our dealings with her over the years.

Her polite manner, whether delivering positive or negative responses to club requests, was appreciated. Wishing her all the best in her future endeavours.

LOTTO Last week’s numbers were 15, 17, 27, 30. No winning ticket.

The €40 consolation winners were Mags Costigan, Frank Bergin, Ollie Nolan, Paul Murphy, Kevin Hanley.

BENNETTSBRIDGE

KATHLEEN CONWAY MEMORIAL The Annual Irish Dancing Display mounted each year by Stella Carroll and her dancers will take place on St Patrick’s Day after Mass in the Community Centre. On this day the young dancers will compete for the Kathleen Conway Memorial Trophy. This annual event is jointly organised by the Ladies Club and Stella with proceeds donated each year to the Carlow Kilkenny Homecare Team.

LOTTO The results for the 3rd March were as follows, the was no winner of the Jackpot. The numbers draw were, 5, 11, 17, 28.

Consolation Prizes, Will Leahy, c.o Aine Murphy, Kathleen Shasby, Bennettsbridge, Helen Carey, c/o Aine Murphy, Camille, c/o Aine Murphy, Kathleen O’Neill, Gowran Road.

CHURCH NEWS The First Holy Communion Preparation Mass was celebrated in St Bennett’s Church on Sunday last. Canon Pat Dalton, PP, celebrated the mass. He welcomed parents and children and congratulated them on making their First Confession in the previous week. Children brought their special candles to the altar. Parents and children took part in the Liturgy and music by Deirdre and Billy added to the ceremony.

LENTEN STATIONS The Lenten Stations envelope can be handed in now. This collection is for the support of the priests of the parish and your generous contributions are appreciated.

TROCAIRE The traditional collection for Trocaire will take place during Lent and this year Bishop Niall Coll has requested that we support this collection for the relief of hunger, suffering and neglect in Third World Countries. You are asked to take home a Trocaire Box and continue to contribute to this important cause.

ALTAR SERVERS REVIVAL Bishop Niall Coll has urged parishes to revive the practice of having altar servers at weekend masses. Efforts will be made to encourage boys and girls to serve at mass. Safeguarding of children regulations would have to be strictly adhered to. Further details to follow soon.

East End’s, Leah Croke, with u14 SFAI Interleague Trophy.

PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK A pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Sunday 6th April, Contact 086 1666547 to book your place.

MASS TIMES Bennettsbridge, Thursday and Friday mornings, 10.30am.

Saturday (Tullaherin) 8pm. Sunday (Bennettsbridge) 10.30am. St Patrick’s Day (Monday, 17th March) Bennettsbridge Mass 10.30am GATHERING GROUP Members of the Gathering Group will met in Crafted Cafe for a social morning last Wednesday. Everyone enjoys these occasions and Gail and her team are very attentive.

A member of the Primary Care Centre in Thomastown called in to the gathering and gave an informative talk on health issues and services available.

ART GROUP Classes are going very well this term and artists are busy selecting a theme to work towards for their annual exhibition during Kilkenny Arts Week. The group is most appreciative of the on-going support received from the KCETB in Kilkenny.

MENS SHED Meetings continue each Wednesday from 2 till 4 pm in the Community Centre.

WALKATHON East End Walkathon will take place this coming Friday 14th. The u6 Academy will get proceedings underway at 5pm and walking will continue around the village for 24 hours finishing with the u14s on Saturday at 5pm.

If you’re interested in getting involved please contact the club eastendutd@gmail.com. Thank you very much to all the businesses and individuals who have sponsored the walkers EAST END UNITED NEWS Congrats to Leah Croke and her U14 Kilkenny and District League teammates on winning in the SFAI Interleague Trophy final at the University of Limerick at the weekend.

Well done Leah we are all so proud of you!

SEANIE O’CONNOR SHIELD RESULT East End A 5, St John’s 1Bill Nolan, 2, Oran Lavery, 2, Conor Molloy, 1.

East End U13s. Great win for U13s at the weekend, 4 -1 win over Thomastown. Ellie Killian, 2, Sophie Doran, 1, Lily Mai Meighan, 1.

Under 15 girls beat Bridge United 3-1, Mia Rusnack 2, Ava Walsh, 1.

BORD NA NOG Boys and girls from Bennettsbridge N.S played at half time against Mullinahone N.S during the Allianz league game between Kilkenny and Tipperary in Nowlan Park. Well done to all involved.

CAMOGIE CLUB GALA NIGHT A fantastic night was had by all at the Camogie Club Gala Night! A huge thank you to everyone who supported and attended the night. It’s greatly appreciated. Wonderful to see the club come together and enjoy a brilliant evening.

GAA Buy A Brick A wall plaque has been erected in the hall of our new clubhouse to acknowledge the people who paid €1,000 towards the clubs ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign. People that are still contributing will have their names added when the €1k is paid. A huge thanks to all who made one off donations to support our clubhouse development.

Signage Campaign Bennettsbridge GAA club will this week launch our Pitch signage campaign. This will be used to pay off the outstanding loan on our development. A sub committee has been formed so any businesses wishing to have their name advertised on the surrounding pitch wall please contact the subcommittee members for the terms and details: Alan Flynn, Alan Morrissey, Tommie Hughes, Tim Dooley and Mary Blanchfield.

Club membership Club membership for the coming year is now due.

Membership can be paid to Samantha McGarry or to any committee member. Fees for non-playing members €40, student players €80 and adult players €120. Membership can also be paid online through club spot. Early payment would be greatly appreciated as the bills for 2025 are coming in.

Club and County Games Hard luck to David Blanchfield and the Kilkenny team who lost out to Tipperary in the national league last Sunday, best wishes in the upcoming game versus Limerick.

Bennettsbridge minor footballers play Railyard in the championship final next Saturday. Please see the Kilkenny Gaa website for details. Our under 14 team lost out to O’Loughlin’s in the Roinn A League. Good luck to the lads in the upcoming round versus Dicksboro next weekend.

Well done!

Well done to the boys and girls from our schools team who played Mullinahone at half time during the Kilkenny and Tipperary game in Nowlan Park last Sunday, some great skills displayed by both teams.

Hurlers fundraisers Bennettsbridge senior hurlers are holding a Retro Jersey night in O’Donnell’s on this Saturday night, March 15th. All kinds of jerseys are welcome with a five euro donation in a competition with a prize for the best jersey. There will also be a darts competition with a prize for the winner also music on the night. The one cent to twenty euro boxes will also be there on the night for the ongoing fundraiser from last year. The boxes will be at more events as the new sea-

Camogie Girls celebrate at Gala Night

East End Walkathon will take place today Friday 14th

son kicks off. All welcome for what should be a great night.

Split the Pot The next draw takes place this Friday at 6 pm in the clubhouse. Thanks again for the continued support.

GRAIGUENAMANAGH

GRAIG NOTES If you would like to submit news items, club events, announcements etc, you can do so by emailing them to graignotes@outlook.com.or ring 0892579882.

LOTTOGAA AND SOCCER The numbers drawn on 03/03/2025, were 12, 14, 24, 31, there was no winner. The following Received €30 Agnes Kane, Diane Cullan, Annie Hamilton, Mary Hearne, Tos Dreelan, , Tickets are available from any club member.

GRAIG TIDY TOWN DRAW The winners of the Draw which took place on 06/03/ 2025 were, First Prize Jack Gilchriest €446.00. 2nd Prize € 50 Bodhi and Hudson, 3rd Prize €25 Tanya Foley. Money raised through Tidy Towns Jackpot will be used to keep the town looking well all the year round.

RAMBLING HOUS The Monthly Rambling House Session is held on the second Friday of the month in Newtown Hall, where you can enjoy music and song from local artists and also many artists from the surrounding district also join in. The next Session is on Friday March 14th 2025 at 7.30pm.

MASS TIMES FOR DUISKE ABBEY GRAIGUENAMANAGH Monday to Friday 10am, Saturday 7pm and Sunday 11am.

CLINIC CLLR Brian Cleere will hold his Clinic at his office in Main St Graiguenamanagh on Monday Evening’s at 6 30pm.

GORESBRIDGE AND PAULSTOWN

ACTIVE RETIREMENT Wendy Barry, Senior Physiotherapist will talk on Osteoporosis, Osteopenia and Bone Health on Wednesday 19th March at 10.30am.

BARROW RANGERS There was no winner of last week’s lotto draw.

BRIDGE UNITED Easter Summer camp will take place from 15th – 17th April, 10am-1pm for boys and girls aged 4-15..

Last weekend’s results: Girls Under-13s - Bridge 2-1 Deen Celtic with Bridge scores by Cliodhna Barcoe and Kayleigh McCullagh. Bridge B 0-2 Stoneyford B. Maher Shield Evergreen A 2-2 Bridge A (after extra time) with Bridge scores by Eoin Kavanagh, Sean Murphy. Evergreen win 4-3 on penalties.

Tom Healy

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

Community & GAA Notes roimh na scrúduithe béil. Fantastic opportunity for Leaving Cert students. Students will receive 3 Irish Oral Exams with comprehensive feedback from experienced múinteoirí.

Sessions one hour. More info contact: tobarnagaeilge@ yahoo.com LEAVING CERT IRISH ORAL EXAM WORKSHOP 2025 A three part Leaving Cert Irish Oral Workshop which will cover all elements of the Leaving Cert Irish Oral exam will take place Johnswell Community Hall on the following date: 8th, 15th and 22nd of March. These workshops will provide an opportunity for students to learn, prepare and practice for their upcoming Leaving Cert Irish Oral Exam.

To book or for further information please contact tobarnagaeilge@yahoo.com or 0876673302 (Maria Ní Thuama).

KILMACOW

The Bridge Under-13 Girls are top of the league so far this season CHURCH SERVICES Weekend masses in Goresbridge at 7.30pm on Saturday and at 10.00am on Sunday. Paulstown at 11.30amon Sunday The Legion of Mary meets weekly in Paulstown on Thursday at 3pm. New members welcome.

The Sacred Heart Prayer group meets weekly on Fridays after 10am mass.

Lenten Trócaire boxes are available now in both churches of Goresbridge and Paulstown.

Church of Ireland: Service at 10am on Sunday 16th March in Shankill Church (Paulstown).

CUPLA FOCAL Irish language conversation circle continues every Friday at 11am in the Goodly Barrow. Everyone welcome regardless of whether they are fluent or have only a ‘cupla focal’.

It is a conversation, not a meeting or a class.

MENS SHED The Mens Shed meet on Tuesdays at 11am in the Community Centre Paulstown (R95NY93). Next meeting will be Tuesday 25th March.

SCOIL BHRÍDE (PAULSTOWN) Applications for the 2025/26 school-year to the Special Class for children with autism closes on Tuesday 18th March.

SPLIT THE POT Split The Pot in aid of Goresbridge Rural Development has gone online. Simply scan the QR code or go to lottoraiser. ie The results of the draw on the 9th March were: 1 Michelle Mahon O’Neill, (€100), 2. Ollie and Annie (€20), 3 Mary Simpson (€20).

OSSORY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES The Ossory Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from 19th-25th May 2025. Bus transport from Loughboy Shopping Centre and Castlecomer GAA pitch to Cork Airport. Full religious programme. Choice of 3* & 4* hotels €949 and €995 respectively. Bookings JWT 01-2410800 or info@joewalshtours.ie. Assisted pilgrims contact Fr Anthony O’Connor 087-2517766.

MEDJUGORJE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL Medjugorje International Youth Festival 2nd to 9th August 2025. Spiritual Director Rev. David Lane. €799.00 half board including flights from Cork . Travel with Joe Walsh Tours.

Group Leader Anna O’Shaughnessy 089 4038650 /086 2959380. Only 25 places available for this group.

KILKENNY MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE Direct Flight to Mostar Medjugorje 4th–11th June 2025.

(Month of the Sacred Heart and includes Pentecost Sunday). Hotel near the church cost €875 accompanied

by Spiritual Director. For bookings contact Ann on 086 1991620 or 086 8825622 NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK The Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration National Pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Sunday, 6th April 2025. Bus will leave from Woodies Car Park in Kilkenny at 7.30am

with collections in Ballyragget, Durrow and Abbeyleix.

Please contact 086 1666547 to book.

ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL CAFE Our Volunteers: Everyone who greets you in St. Mary’s Cathedral café are volunteers giving their time freely. They believe in making our café a space where people of the community can connect & know they are not alone. Why Support us: Teac Tom provides affordable and immediate services to help those struggling with their mental health or who have been bereaved by suicide. All profits from St Mary’s Cathedral Café go directly to supporting mental health services and suicide intervention provided by Teac Tom. Please call in to your community cafe for a cuppa.

We’re open at the moment Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 10am-1pm TRÓCAIRE As Lent begins this week with Ash Wednesday you will see at the back of the church the Trócaire boxes. We invite you to take one home and to make this a part of your journey through Lent. Anything raised helps transform the lives of those who need it most. Thank you.

AN TOLLSHEISIÚN- THE SUPER SESSION Bréag Scrúduithe don bhéaltriail/Irish Oral Exam Practice.

Deis do scoláirí bréag scrúduithe a chleachtadh díreach

LADIES SOCCER In May 2023 a conversation took place in Kilmacow Sports Complex discussing the need for a team sport for local women to take part in. Messages were sent via WhatsApp to see if there was interest in a ladies’ soccer team.

Kilmacow FC were approached and agreed to assist in any way possible.

One week later 24 women gathered on the soccer pitch and played their first game. History was made that Summers evening and the Kilmacow Kickers were formed.

Every evening thereafter the women meet and train for an hour in all weathers. Most of the women are busy mums and this is their time, their hour of fun.

The majority of the ladies are over 35 and the hope is that other clubs will follow suit and gather those mums who cheer their kids on from the sidelines and encourage them to take to the pitch. The Kickers would encourage other teams and soccer clubs to get ladies involved and playing.

At present only men have an Over 35s League. The Kickers would love to have older ladies like themselves to play against.

Since their formation Kilmacow Kickers have made a huge positive impact in the club. From playing to coaching and joining the committee it has been a fantastic road to travel and they will continue to travel as a club, Kilmacow FC. Skills have been developed and improvements seen through practice and encouragement. Strong friendships have been formed but most of all fun is being had on a weekly basis. Please contact Marie via Kilmacow FC for further details.

SOUTH KILKENNY HISTORICAL SOCIETY The next Historical Society lecture, ‘James Fogarty of Tibberaghny’ takes place on Friday 28th March. The speaker for this lecture is Con Manning and takes place in Mullinavat Parish Hall (opposite St. Beacon’s Church), at 8pm.

KILMACOW LOTTO The winning numbers in last week’s lotto were 13, 14, 18 and 24.

AMENITY GRANT SCHEME ‘25 Kilkenny County Council is inviting applications from community groups for projects under its Amenity Grant Scheme ’25. Completed application forms should be returned by Friday, 25th March to Amenity Grant Scheme, Parks Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny or by e-mail to amenitygrants@kilkennycoco.ie. Please contact Lisa on 056 7794441 for further information.

MULLINAVAT

DICKSBORO

CLUB LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results 6th March 2025. Number drawn weres,3, 6, 10, 14.

The Jackpot was not won. Draw Prizes, €50: Liam Fitzgerald c/o Online. €25 each J Comerford c/o Jim Murphy. €25 each Conor O’Higgins c/o Gerry ONeill. €25 each Maeve Grace c/o Online. Hurlers Co Op Draw Aoife Cody c/o Online. Promotors prize Declan Gough. We encourage all Dicksboro Families to sign up and play weekly for €2 per draw and we thank everyone who is currently doing so.

EASTER CAMP Our Easter Camp will be back again this year from the 14th to the 16th of April suitable for 5-13 year olds. Three days of packed activities. Secure your place by booking through our ClubZap as places are filling up quickly.

SAINT MARY’S PARISH

PRAY FOR Anniversaries,11.00am, Joe Butler, St Teresa’s Tce, Michael Cahill, Esther and Larry McDonald and those whose anniversaries occur about this time Emily Dunne, Francie Donnelly.

WEEKLY COLLECTIONS Envelopes €335.00; Baskets €1,743.38. Your support of the parish is greatly appreciated.

Kilmacow Kickers, the ladies soccer team in Kilmacow

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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Community & GAA Notes RAMBLING HOUSE The Community Centre will host its monthly Rambling House at 8.00pm on Saturday, 15th March. Everyone is welcome to attend an evening of music, song, recitation, stories and dance.

MULLINAVAT MATTERS Mullinavat Matters will hold its Annual General Meeting at 8.00pm on Thursday, 27th March in the Community Centre (kitchen). All welcome to attend the meeting which will focus on projects for 2025.

HERITAGE STRATEGY Kilkenny County Council has started out to develop a heritage strategy that will help preserve, protect and promote the rich heritage of the county in an inclusive manner that is reflective of the values and aspirations of the people of the county. People can e-mail their thoughts, suggestions and/or comments in writing to the Heritage Officer, Community and Culture Section, Kilkenny County Council, Patrick’s Court, Patrick Street, Kilkenny or by e-mail to heritage@kilkennycoco.ie. The submission period is open until Friday, 28th March.

SOUTH KILKENNY HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Society will host a lecture on James Fogarty of Tibberaghny by Con Manning in the Parish Hall, Mullinavat at 8.00pm on Friday, 28th March. James Fogarty was employed in 1851-1852 by Rev. James Graves, Kilkenny Archaeological Society to report on the antiquities and traditions of the barony of Iverk and neighbouring areas.

His letters, hand-written reports and drawings do not survive but a copy made in the 1870s for Maurice Lenihan, the Limerick historian, is preserved in the Department of Irish Folklore in UCD. It contains much information on megalithic tombs, castles, churches and archaeological sites as well as local traditions in the area.

Con Manning studies archaeology and history in UCD and worked with the National Monuments Service for 40 years and directed many excavations around Ireland. He is a past President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.

BALLYRAGGET BALLYOUSKILL

CAKE SALE There will be a cake and craft sale on Sunday morning after Mass in the Cannon Malone Hall in aid of Cois Nore.

Any donations of cakes etc., can be dropped to the hall before mass, all support greatly appreciated.

SYMPATHY Sympathies are sent to the Nealis family of Grove Terrace on the passing of Charles Nealis. To his brothers Dick, Billy and Robert, sisters Peg, Nell, Liz and Anna, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and neighbours.

Sympathies are sent to the Shepherd family Ballyouskill on the passing of Philip. To his sons Barry and Patrick, his daughter Gina and their mother Barbara, his granddaughter Olivia Jane, his partner Colleen, brothers Bernard, Ger, Francis, John and Eugene, his cousins Declan, Míchael and David, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, daughter-in-law Meg, son-in-law Philip, nieces, nephews, his extended family and a large circle of friends both in Ireland and America.

JOHNSTOWN

CHURCH NEWS Trocaire boxes for lent are available at the porch of the Church. Holy Hour each Tuesday during Lent in St. Kieran’s Church after 10.30am Mass. Lenten Stations for the support of the priests are now due The Parish office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 4pm. Items for the newsletter to be submitted before lunch on Thursday. Contact 0568838658 or email urlingford@ossory.ie.

OSSORY LENTEN PROGRAMME Taize youth night Friday 14th at the Chapter House at 7pm.

The work of Trocaire in our world today with Caoimhe de Barra Trocaire CEO in St. Kieran’s College on Thursday March 20th at 7pm.

SYMPATHY Mrs Marie King (nee Brennan) Ballyspellan and late of Guhard, Listowel, Freshford and Urlingford. Marie died peacefully surrounded by her family at St. Luke’s Hospital.

Predeceased by her husband Billy, daughter Kathleen and son Seamus, she will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her daughters Anna, Joan, Caroline, Bridget and Marie, her sons Tom, Eugene, Dan, Liam, Joe, Gerry, Martin and Paddy, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sisters Chrissie and Bridie, sons in law, daughters in law, nieces, nephews and a wide circle of friends. Marie was laid to rest in Johnstown Cemetery after Requiem Mass in St. Kieran’s Church.

COLAISTE MHUIRE Colaiste Mhuire are having their annual show presented by the TY class titled “Here we go again “ featuring songs from ABBA. The show will run in St. Kieran’s Hall from Tuesday March 25th to Friday March 28th. Tickets € 10 and € 15 available from the school. Raffle and tuck shop each night.

Come along and support a very enjoyable show!

SPA UNITED AFC Results from the week Junior League Division 2 Spa 2 (JJ McLoughlin, Aaron Dermody) Thomastown B 1, U15 boys league division 1 Spa 0 Freebooters 0, U15 boys league division 1A Spa 3 Freebooters 2, U13 girls league division

1 Evergreen 2 Spa 0, U11 girls cup Lions 6 Spa 1, U11 boys cup Spa 1 Freebooters 5.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIONS LOTTO...

The winning numbers were 1,2,29,30. No jackpot winner, no match threes, four lucky dips Richard Beehan, Larry Nolan, Liz/John Whyte and Hannah Tobin Phelan.

URLINGFORD

EMERALDS URLINGFORD AND GRAINE LOTTO The numbers drawn were 10, 12, 14 and 27, bonus number 28. One match three winner: Ben Ahern. Five lucky dips of €20 each: Tommy Neary, Luke Kelly, Joe Ryan, Geraldine Mullins, Donna Moriarty. Promoters prize: P. Kavanagh.

SCOIL AN CHROÍ RÓ NAOFA 1st Round of Roinn B League Match Report: After two good challenge games v Castlecomer Girls and St Annes in recent weeks the Urlingford NS Camogie opened their League campaign against Rower Inistioge Schools on March 7th. With scores hard to come by, the Urlingford girls won with a final score of 1-02 to 0-02. The Urlingford girls displayed some determined defending to hold off a strong Rower Inistioge comeback in the second half. The Urlingford NS Girls will play Tullogher Rosbercon schools in the next Round of the Roinn B League.

The Urlingford NS panel on the day was Orla Sweetman, Sarah Harrington, Aoibhinn Manton, Niamh Joyce, Ellen Harrington, Aoife Gibbons, Laura Minogue, Saoirse Joyce, Emily Costelloe, Amelia Barnaville, Amelia Fogarty Slattery, Eva Hughes, Evelyn Power, Michelle Cole, Lily Mae Hayden, Tara Keane, Ari Dursin.

SCOIL AN CHROÍ RÓ NAOFA ENROLMENTS Urlingford NS are now accepting enrolments for the 2025/2026 school year. Enrolment Packs are available from school office between 8.30am and 3pm Monday to Friday or by calling 056 8831512 or by emailing urlingfordns2020@gmail.com or by postal enquiry to Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa Urlingford NS, Urlingford, Co Kilkenny E41A567. Enrolment Forms are also available from Micks Pre School and Angelas Pre School in Urlingford. Deadline for receipt of completed Enrolment/Registration forms is Sunday, May 30. Confirmation of Acceptance letters will be issued before April 25. New pupils joining school will receive an opportunity to visit our school on a date to be arranged in June.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

RECEPTIONIST VACANCY Mill FRC require a receptionist with IT skills and who is also eligible for CE Scheme.

SAFE PASS Safe Pass: Course available in Centre on April 10th. Ring to book a space.

BASIC COMPUTERS A Basic Computer course is being run every Friday morning from 10am to 12pm. Contact the Centre for more information.

YOUTH CLUB Mill Youth Club every Wednesday night. Juniors 5 to 6.15 pm; 8 to 11 yrs. Seniors 6.15 – 7.30 pm – 12 to 15 yrs COIS NORE Outreach Advice Clinic, at the Mill 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.

APPEAL FOR CLOTHES DONATIONS Any clothes donations would be greatly appreciated in aid of our counselling/play therapy services. Donations can be dropped off during our opening hours. Please call before dropping off. For further information, please contact us here at the Centre on 056 8838466.

SET DANCING In Graine Hall every Tuesday at 8.30pm. Music by Danny Webster. Sets called by Paddy Norton. New members welcome, young and old.

URLINGFORD ARMS SPLIT THE POT March 9ht winner of Split the Pot is Imelda O’Flynn who received €563. Congrats on behalf of Clomantagh Squash Club. Tickets €2 on sale in participating businesses in town or Revolut 086 8221832. Thanks to everyone for their continued support. Next week’s draw is for Clomantagh Squash Club. Please support.

GRAINE CARDS Progressive 25 card game in Graine Hall every Wednesday night at 8pm sharp. All are welcome.

URLINGFORD NEWS Anyone wishing to submit news items, club events, announcements etc can do so by emailing urlingfordnotes@ gmail.com. If you have any photos you wish to include, please forward them to the email address.

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.

SACRAMENTAL DATES First Holy Communion for the school children in the parish will be held on Saturday 17th May at 11am.

TROCAIRE BOXES Trocaire boxes are available in the porches of both Churches. Please take one home with you as well as one for a neighbour who cannot attend Mass. Please support Trócaire in their work of helping communities and families impacted by climate change. A little can make a great difference for others.

MEN ON THE MOVE Classes every Monday 11:15-12:15 in MFRC to book a place please contact Alice 083-1014313.

SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP The Senior Social Group meet every Wednesday afternoon 1pm-3pm. This includes 2 course meal followed by tea/ coffee and live music, with transport to and from the centre available. Please contact Alice Teehan on 083-1014313 for further information.

CASHEL AND EMLY PILGRIMAGE The Cashel and Emly Pilgrimage takes place from June 13th - 18th. Pilgrimage Director: Rev. Jimmy Donnelly.

Bookings and Enquires: Contact Joe Walsh Tours @ info@ joewalshtours.ie or 01 241 0800. Assisted Pilgrims only, please contact: Very Rev. Joe Tynan, PP: lourdesassistedpilgrimage@cashel-emly.ie or 087 222 5445.

GORTNAHOE BINGO A special St. Patricks weekend bingo will be held this Saturday evening at 4.00pm with doors opening from 3.00pm.

Over €4,000 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game and a St. Patricks weekend special game for €800. There will be hampers and Split the Pot on the day.

It will be a great afternoon’s entertainment for all on the bank holiday weekend.

TUESDAY BRIDGE Bridge is being played each Tuesday night in Gortnahoe Hall at 7.30pm. If you would like to join or find out more information please contact this number 089 434910 SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to Fr James Walton, Gortnahoe who won €198 in the Split the Pot draw last Sunday. Envelopes are available in Cahill’s Gortnahoe, Hogans Grange and at the usual outlets, you can also Revolut to 0876777220. For the month of March Split the Pot will be in support of the Prayer Garden beside Gortnahoe Church. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. Your support would be appreciated.

KILMANAGH BALLYCALLAN

TRAD NIGHT On March 16th, there will be a Trad night in The Pound, Ballycallan in aid of Cois Nore and Craobh Osraí Marble City. Admission is €5. All musicians welcome. Contact Mary Dunphy for more information 086 401 0914.

MUSICAL BINGO Fun and frolics assured, as Rangers present Musical Bingo in Ryans, Kilmanagh on next Sunday night, March 16th (Bank Holiday Weekend). Eyes down at 8.30pm and €5 per card. All are welcome.

SCHOOL ENROLMENT Enrolments for September 2025 are now being accepted

by St. Aidan’s National School, Kilmanagh. Enrolment forms are available on the school website, www.staidans. scoilnet.ie or by phoning Brigid on 776 9340. Enrolment forms need to be returned before March 31st.

READERS WANTED We require volunteer readers for Ballycallan Church. If this is something you might be interested in, get in touch with Anne Murphy, Dreelingstown or contact Fr. Liam.

DARTS More internecine rivalry this weekend, as the locals host The Valley Inn. LOTTO RESULTS Results for 3rd March. There was no winner. Numbers drawn were 6; 16; 17; 30. Lucky Dip winners of €50 each were Pat Byrne, Sarah Dunphy, Holly and Robyn Marnell.

Promoters’ prizes go to Padraig McCluskey and Mary Murphy.

SOCCER FIXTURES Saturday March 15th : U16 Schoolboys League: River Rangers v Thomastown Utd. K & DL Div 2, East End Utd. v River Rangers.

SOCCER RESULTS U17 Schoolboys League: Deen Celtic 4; River Rangers 1. K & DL Div 2: River Rangers 5; Stoneyford Utd. 4 RE-TURN BIN River Rangers have a Re-turn bin at Clonard Park. We are asking our players, families and the community to help raise funds by dropping off empty bottles and cans that carry the Re-turn symbol, which then will be taken to a RVM machine and the money will go to the club. The Return bin is placed at the entrance gate to Clonard Park KILMANAGH NOTES Anyone wishing to submit news items, events, announcements etc. can do so by email only to elanigan18@gmail. com. If you have any photos that you would like included, please send as an attachment.

CONAHY

TABLE QUIZ Conahy Shamrocks GAA and Camogie Club will hold a family table quiz fundraiser in the GAA Clubhouse on Sunday, March 23rd at 5.00 p.m. There will also be a raffle on the evening. Tables of 4 cost €20 and young and old are all invited to come along.

CLUB LOTTO The numbers drawn in the most recent GAA Lotto draw were 11, 21 and 30. There was no jackpot winner so the consolation prize winners of €30 each were Kathleen Guinan, Geoff O’Shea, Marie Hogan, Jim and Glenda O’Reilly and Tommy Kealy. The promoter prize winners were Brian Lacey, Shem Butler and Larry Bergin. Many thanks to everyone who continues to support the GAA Club Lotto.

NEW WEBSITE Conahy Shamrocks GAA and Camogie Club has recently set up a new club website - check it out on www.conahyshamrocks.com. All GAA and Camogie Club players are members are encouraged to download the Clubzap app and pay their 2025 membership fees and keep up to date on fixtures, results and other club information.

HUGGINSTOWN, NEWMARKET AND STONEYFORD

MASS TIMES IN AGHAVILLER PARISH Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil - Saturday at 8.00p.m., Sunday at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford: Vigil - Saturday at 6.30p.m.

PRAY FOR Patrick and Statia Fitzpatrick, Coolmore. Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 15th. March at 8.00p.m. Ned and Julia Halloran, Hugginstown Mass in Hugginstown Church on Sunday 16th. March at 10.00a.m.

ROTA (SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT) Reader, Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m. Tony Roche. Hugginstown, Saturday 8.00p.m. Tommy Murphy. Sunday 10.00a.m. Mary Foran. Eucharistic Ministers, Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Bernie Grace. Hugginstown, Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Murphy. Sunday 10.00a.m. Ruth Foran.

GUIDELINES FOR LENTEN PENANCE Abstaining from meat or some other food on Fridays. Abstaining from alcoholic drink or smoking. Making a special effort at involvement in Family Prayer. Visit to the Blessed Sacrament. Making the Stations of the Cross. Helping the poor, the sick, the old or lonely.

SAFEGUARDING IN THE DIOCESE OF OSSORY Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Ms. Ailish Higgins Tel: 087 100 0232. Aghaviller Parish Representatives are: Deirdre Rohan and Catherina Roche.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION The Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration National Pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Sunday 6th. April 2025. Bus will leave from Woodies Car Park in Kilkenny at 7.30a.m.

Please contact 086 1666547 if you would like to book a place on the bus.

FIRST PENANCE 2025.

For Monroe/Newmarket Schools on Wed. 2nd. April in Hugginstown Church at 7.00p.m. For Stoneyford School on Tuesday 8th. April in Stoneyford Church at 7.00p.m.

LENTEN STATION COLLECTION Envelopes for the Lenten Station Contribution are available in the Church. Your contribution is for the support of the priests of the Parish and the Diocese. (To donate directly.) Use IBAN: IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 (BIC: AIBKIE2D). All Parish Property and Accounts are registered under the (Diocese of Ossory, Reg. Charity No. 20015831) TRÓCAIRE Every year during Lent, Trócaire asks for your help to fund lifesaving programmes around the world. Please collect a Trócaire Box which is available in Church Porch. You can contribute Online at www.trocaire.org or By Phone: 1850 408 408. The contents of each and every Trócaire Box, no matter how small, come together to make a significant difference.

OSSORY ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT LENTEN PROGRAMME: On Friday 14th. March at 7.00p.m in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Chapter House,Taize Youth Night’ Taize prayer, a time of song, silence and hope. All welcome.

NEWMARKET NATIONAL SCHOOL: St. Brendan’s School is now taking enrolments for September 2025. Afterschool and Breakfast Clubs are also available. Contact the Principal by email: mbrennan@ newmarketns.ie or at 056 776 8919 Newmarket School will celebrate its Centenary on 22nd.

May this year. A book of articles and photographs is being planned. If anyone has stories or old photographs that they would like to share and included, please ring 056 776 8919 or email: mbrennan@newmarketns.ie LOTTO Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 3rd. March 2025 Numbers: 25; 13; 24; 05.

No Winner of First 3 Numbers Drawn: No Jackpot Winner: €30.00. Winners, Cathern Barron, Sheepstown, Padraig Rohan, Carricketna. “The Four of Us”, Rathduff. Ann Power, c/o Fred Malzard. Bridie Murphy, Dunbell. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers). Pat Dwyer. Fred Malzard. Mary Carroll KILKENNY PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE Direct Flight to Mostar Medjugorje from 4th. to 11th. June 2025 (Month of the Sacred Heart and includes Pentecost Sunday) Hotel close to the Church For bookings – contact Ann on 086 199 1620 or 086 882 5622

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

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Hurlng matters - Review

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Kilkenny 1-19 Tipperary 2-25 UPMC Nowlan Park Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin) Tipperary became the latest team to claim maximum points Marble City men in this season’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A as Kilkenny finished the game with 12 men, having had three players dismissed after the short whistle by Dublin referee, Sean Stack. In fact, the Cats had more players sent off than they had scorers from play as they fell to their third defeat of what has been a disappointing league campaign.

With one game remaining for Derek Lyng’s outfit, they will know that getting something from the clash with John Kiely’s Limerick could be crucial, with both Clare and Wexford beneath them, locked on two points.

There proved to be no home comforts for the black and amber last weekend as the hosts coughed up a couple of majors and 25 points as the Premier County headed for Thurles, top of the table having secured their 4th win in Division 1A. Kilkenny had the wind advantage in the opening period, but took until almost the 15th minute to register a score from play, courtesy of this season’s stand-out forward, Mossy Keoghan. It was the latest in young Tipp stars, Darragh McCarthy who opened the scoring un UPMC Nowlan Park with just over a minute played from the first of his 11-point placed ball haul.

TJ responded shortly after, after the ref blew Tipp up for a spot of overcarrying.

Liam Cahill’s side would hit the next three scores, all from play with Sam O’Farrell, Darragh McCarthy and Alan Tynan all raising white flags for the visitors. Another free from TJ, after Cian Kenny was fouled, saw the Cats reduce the Tipp lead to two points. Jake Morris was then blown up for one too many steps, and this gave David Blanchfield the chance to send over a monstrous score from deep inside his own half.

Darragh McCarthy then pointed a placed ball from distance before a nice dummy from John McGrath gave him the time to split the posts from tight to the right sideline. TJ replied with a free of his own before Bryan O’Mara became the second member of the Tipp rearguard to get on the scoresheet. David Blanchfield and Billy Ryan then combined to give Martin Keoghan the chance to fire over from close to the sideline, the umpire signaled wide, but the linesman alerted referee Stack to the error and the point was rightly awarded. Two more Premier County points followed, Toomvara’s McCarthy with a free and a second of the day for Loughmore Castleiney’s John McGrath. Jordan Molloy was then shown a yellow card for a swipe

A dozen Cats fall 3rd league loss as three Cats see red

across the chest of Michael Breen, a booking that would have bigger consequences later on. Again, Darragh Mc Carthy slotted over the placed ball, making it look very easy on Noreside.

Tipp’s 3-point lead was about to be doubled. A wayward clearance from Eoin Murphy, saw the line ball hit in the direction of Craig Morgan.

The big midfielder collected the ball and burst clear of the struggling Tommy Walsh before rifling his shot through the Kilkenny netminder.

The visitors built on this with a second score of the game from Nenagh’s Sam O’Farrell to make it a double score game with less than 10 minutes of the first half remaining. A brace of placed balls from TJ (one free and one ‘65) and Mossy’ second of the afternoon reduced the deficit to four points, but another green flag was about to be raised by Cahill’s charges. Darragh McCarthy outwitted and outfought Tommy Walsh before passing to the supporting Oisin O’Donoghue who fired to the net to restore Tipperary’s

7-point lead. Like with the previous major, the away side notched the next score also, a nice point from midfielder Joe Caesar. Lyng’s men needed something before the break and they got a major of their own.

Cian Kenny sent a ball towards Billy Ryan and the Graigue Ballycallan man took it nicely before turning on the burners. The pacey Ryan looked up and gave a pass to Gearoid Dunne and the Tullaroan player shortened his grip before batting the sliotar past Barry Hogan in the opposition goal.

The final score of the opening period saw Darragh McCarthy add to his growing tally with another accurate placed ball to leave Tipp up by six at the interval.

The Kilkenny management team had clearly not been impressed with the first half showing, as they made a triple change during the break. Richie Reid, Shane Murphy and John Donnelly replacing Peter McDonald, Tommy Walsh and Billy Drennan respectively. The teams shared the first four scores of the second period, before things

became a little heated. The first player to head for an early bath was Tipp’s Alan Tynan. The Roscrea man came in to shoulder Cian Kenny, but appeared to catch The Village man high, slightly. Replays would probably suggest Tynan was a little unfortunate, given what was deemed ‘yellow’ in the Limerick vs Galway game. TJ popped over the free, the Noresiders still 5 points in arrears. The second player to leave proceedings was David Blanchfield.

The Bennettsbridge man making contact with the head of Tipp sub, Andrew Ormond in a passage of play that also saw Mikey Carey booked.

McCarthy and TJ swapped free’s before the home side were reduced to 13-men. Mikey Carey emerged from a group of players before taking a swipe across the helmet from Darragh McCarthy, free to the hosts, but Mikey reacted and pushed his hurl towards the Toomvara man’s helmet, the outcome, straight red.

Kilkenny got the next score, another one from Mossy, another good one. McCarthy struck over another

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Hurling matters - Review

to Tipp Despite being outnumbered John Donnelly Makes a fine catch

placed ball before the home side completed the unwanted hat-trick.

As Tipperary worked the ball out of defence, Jordan Molloy attempted to halt Eoghan Connolly gaining ground, but appeared to catch the visiting full back high from behind, the outcome, a second yellow, followed by the colour red. Further punishment followed in the shape of another free from Darragh McCarthy. TJ then sent over another pair of placed balls, and the home side were now only four points behind, but the numerical advantage the travelling side had would prove crucial in the closing stages.

Willie Connors got on the scoresheet, before McCarthy converted two free’s on the trot.

Another score for Sam O’Farrell followed while TJ took his personal tally to 0-13. One of Tipp’s best performers on the day, Ronan Maher pointed with a couple of minutes remaining, before a late brace of Noel McGrath points stretched the visitors lead to 9 points before the long whistle sounded. Full time score in UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny 1-19, Tipperary 2-25.

TJ Reid strikes over a Point For Kilkenny

John McGrath throws himself towards Jordan Molloy

Scorers for Kilkenny: T.J. Reid (013, 11 frees, 2 65s); G. Dunne (1-1); M. Keoghan (0-4); D. Blanchfield (0-1).

Scorers for Tipperary: D. McCarthy (0-12, 11 frees); S. O’Farrell (0-3); C. Morgan, O. O’Donoghue (1-0 each); J. McGrath, R. Maher, N. McGrath (0-2 each); A. Tynan, B. O’Mara, J. Caesar, W. Connors (0-1 each).

KILKENNY: E. Murphy; T. Walsh, M. Butler, P. Moylan; D. Blanchfield, M. Carey, P. Deegan; P. Donnelly (c), J. Molloy; M. Keoghan, C. Kenny, B. Ryan; G. Dunne, B. Drennan, T.J. Reid.

Subs for Kilkenny: J. Donnelly for B. Drennan, S. Murphy for T. Walsh, R. Reid for P. McDonald (all h-t); F.

Mackessy for G. Dunne (58); Z. BayHammon for C. Kenny (66).

Red cards: D. Blanchfield (straight, 45), M. Carey (straight, 49); J. Molloy (second yellow, 53).

TIPPERARY: B. Hogan; M. Breen, E. Connolly, R. Doyle; J. Caesar, R. Maher (c), B. O’Mara; C. Morgan, S. O’Farrell; O. O’Donoghue, A. Tynan, G. O’Connor; J. McGrath, J. Morris, D. McCarthy.

Subs for Tipperary: A. Ormond for O. O’Donoghue (h-t); D. Walsh for J. McGrath (52); W. Connors for J. Caesar (57); N. McGrath for G. O’Connor (64); S. Kennedy for J. Morris (70).

Red card: A. Tynan (straight, 43).

Referee: S. Stack (Dublin)

>> SHERRY SAYS...

Gearoid Dunne Can only watch as Ronan Maher gets in his Clearance

Hard to know where to begin, but another defeat is not what the doctor ordered ahead of our final Allianz Division 1A game against Limerick tomorrow. Only two scorers from play, taking almost 15 minutes to register from play. Three players getting their marching orders. All in all, it just isn’t gelling at present. The engine room continues to be a problematic area for the Cats. The management really need to find the right combination in this key area of the pitch, if things are to improve as the season continues.

Yes, we were missing Huw Lawlor and Shamrocks duo, Eoin Cody and Adrian Mullen, but the players available really need to stand up and run with the responsibility that wearing the black and amber stripes comes with.

The visit of Limerick tomorrow provides a chance for those selected to lay down a marker. At the time of writing, it isn’t known if Kilkenny will appeal either of the two straight red cards received in the last game. An appeal may allow both Messrs. Blanchfield and Carey to line out against The Treaty, but either way, our discipline, like our scoring and our defending, needs to be better.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Jonathan and Teressa Fields seek Permission for development for Granny Flat in the garden consisting of (9m x 6.4m x 2.5m) Eco Smart Hubs on insulated concrete slab, connected to mains electrical, water and sewage. At Main Street Fiddown, Piltown, Kilkenny.

That the application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during Office hours i.e. 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on Kilkenny County Council – A Guide to your Planning Application Page No. 3 Please note that this guide is not a legal interpretation of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended) or the Planning & Development Regulations 2001 (as amended)payment of the prescribed fee (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Noel and Rebecca Somers intend to apply for permission and retention permission for development at this site situated at Newhouse, Thomastown, Co.Kilkenny. The development consists of A) retention permission for the existing dwelling and storage shed on site, B) permission for the upgrade and install of a sewage treatment system & C) permission for changes to the elevation of the existing dwelling.

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.

James Architectural Technology, Ballymitty, Co.Wexford, m: (086)1068773

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Aidan Kelly Agricultural Design & Planning Services (085 7466211, www.adps.ie) intends to apply to Kilkenny County Council on behalf of my client Anthony Dunne . Permission to construct slatted shed and all associated site works at Church Hill, Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny .

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9.00 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, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Retention permission is sought by Cathal Dempsey for the development at Redacres North, Co.Kilkenny, X91XT59 Retention permission: 1 Modifications to the external elevations, 2 Retention for a single storey extension the rear and side, 3 Window fenestration changes, 4 Retention for a detached garage & attic storage space, 5 All other 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

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Sean Barcoe and Leanne Nolan, are applying for permission for erection of a dwelling house, domestic garage/store. treatment system and percolation area and all associated site works at Boherkyle, Skeoghvosteen, Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the Offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny during its public opening hours 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. - 4 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.

Signed: Byrne & McCabe Design Ltd, Architecture and Engineering Services (059 9725684).

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

MICHAEL PURCELL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND 1ST ANNIVERSARY

Michael Purcell Ard-Daire Ferrybank, Co. Kilkenny Formally Leggettsrath, Dublin Road, Kilkenny Passed away 20th March 2024 As we lovingly remember Mike on his first anniversary, I, Helen as Michael’s partner and his brothers would like to acknowledge the expressions of sympathy we received from relatives and friends.

A sincere thank you to all who attended the funeral, sent mass cards and messages of condolences.

Our sincere thanks to Monsignor Dan Carroll for celebrating a beautiful Mass and also the church music. Thanks also to Sammy Johnston and staff at Johnston’s funeral Directors for their kindness and professionalism.

Thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff at the palliative care unit at University Hospital, Waterford.

It would be impossible to thank everybody individually, we hope this acknowledgement will be accepted as a token of our gratitude Mass will be offered for your intentions Yes, memory has a magic way Of keeping loved one’s near Ever close in mind and heart Are the ones we hold most Dear Always remembered by his Dear partner Helen and Brothers XX First anniversary Mass for Mike will be celebrated in St John’s Church on Saturday 22nd of March at 10.30am

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.C.

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.C.

Prayer to St. Jude

I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time.

Amen. F.D.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. 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. I.OF. (And St.Joseph)

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. D.C.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 14th March 2025

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

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