Kilkenny Observer 16 May 2025

Tirlán in shares spin-out

Weak stock price sees distribution worth €56m less than when approved

The Board of Tirlán has announced a spin-out of shares in stock market-listed Glanbia from the co-op to individual members.

The deal will see shares valued at €173m handed over to individual members, reducing the co-operative’s collectively

owned stake in Kilkenny-based Glanbia to 23.7% % still by far the largest single holding in the agri-foods business.

The spin-out was approved by co-op members at a special general meeting last October.

While the move means co-op

Thanks

for those memories, Rachel

out a share of their stake in Glanbia, the PLC’s weakened share price means the distribution is worth around €56m less than last October.

The co-op said it will mean a distribution of shares worth over €16,804 to an average ac-

farmers who supply milk to the dairy – based on a Glanbia PLC closing share price of €11.51 as of Friday, May 9.

Tirlán chairperson John Murphy said that the co-op board was pleased to be in a position to return value to members.”It

value to our 11,000 farm family members, many of whom have invested in their farm businesses and have built our organisation into the world-class business that it is today. This latest distribution of value brings the total number of shares spunout to over 63.5 million with a

current value of over €731m,” he said.

Under the terms of the spinout, a Tirlán member with 1,000 shares in the co-op will receive 448 Glanbia shares, valued at €5,156 based on May 9 closing share price – and they will retain 893 co-op shares as well.

Why can’t we be part of Qatar’s jet set, Minister?

Rachel Blackmore made international headlines in 2021 when she teamed up with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times [pictured] to win the world’s greatest steeplechase at Aintree – the first woman to do so in the then 182-year history of the race.

Now, four years on, the 35-year-old Killenaule, Co Tipperary native is about to hang up her boots and will

no longer crack the whip.

She has marked her place in the history of horse racing. Blackmore won the Gold Cup in 2022 on A Plus Tard. She won the four major races at Cheltenham: the Champion Chase in 2024 with Captain Guinness, the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2025 with Bob Olinger to complete the set and Champion Hurdle in 2021 and 2022 with Honeysuckle.

“My days of being a jockey have come to an end,” Blackmore said in a statement.

“I feel the time is right. I’m sad but I’m also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years,” she said.

“The people to thank are endless. First, my parents who provided me with the best childhood, and a pony I couldn’t hold! Aidan Kennedy gave me my first ride in

Telling it like it is. And with no holds barred

a point to point. I spent time riding out for Arthur Moore and Pat Doyle which I loved.

Sam Curling and Liam Lennon were also big supporters as was Denise O′Shea, John Nicholson, Ellmarie Holden, Harry Smyth and Gigginstown House Stud.

“I rode my first winner for Shark Hanlon, who then helped me become Champion Conditional. I will be forever grateful to Shark for

supporting me and believing in me.

“A conversation between Eddie O’Leary and Henry de Bromhead on the way to Aintree took my career to a whole new level. Eddie got me in the door at Knockeen, and what came next was unimaginable … all with one thing in common—Henry. He’s a phenomenal trainer, who brought out the best in me.”

The recent revelation that a $400 million jumbo jet is being gifted to President Donald Trump by the Kingdom of Qatar has sparked international conversations on diplomacy, influence, and government expenditure. The lavish jet, allegedly intended to serve as the next Air Force One, is said to feature gold taps, marble flooring, and possibly even a golf simulator. While the US considers the ethical and geopolitical implications of such a gift, Ireland must also reflect on its own approach to governmental aviation spending.

Last December, the Department of Defence confirmed the purchase of a French Falcon 6X aircraft for State use, costing taxpayers €53 million plus VAT. With a range of 5,000 miles, the investment ensures Ireland has modern, reliable air transport for officials.

Senator Aubrey McCarthy posed an intriguing question: “Given Qatar’s apparent willingness to provide such highvalue assets as diplomatic gifts, should Ireland explore similar avenues? If jets are being handed out, perhaps we should throw our diplomatic hat in the ring. Maybe we could talk them into giving us a Learjet or a Gulfstream or something that is not as flash as the one for Air Force One but has leather seats, decent Wi-Fi and perhaps a microwave for heating sausage rolls.”

Senator McCarthy has called upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs to explore diplomatic negotiations.

See also Page 30

Student Enterprise: the winners take it all

A student from Kilkenny has taken 1st prize in Intermediate Category at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals which took place in Mullingar.

Supported by Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny, Michael O’Keeffe from St Kieran’s College [pictured] was Overall Winner in the Intermediate category. Michael, who worked under the guidance of his teacher, Jennie Brennan, developed a student enterprise called ‘Suet & Song’ which markets nutrient-rich suet cakes that provide sustenance for a variety of birds during the colder months.

There were 85 student businesses in contention across three main categories for the Final in what is Ireland’s largest entrepreneurship programme for second level students. The initiative saw over 30,000 students from 500 secondary schools across the country take part.

Aileen McGrath, Head of Enterprise in LEO Kilkenny, said: “This year produced a varied selection of businesses, from agricultural products and homemade gifts, to pet apps and seaweed harvesting, and some amazing winners across the board.

“We see every year that the National Finals are not an end point for our student entrepreneurs, but a stepping stone on the next stage of their entrepreneurial journey. From our class of 24/25 we hope to see some of our next

great wave of Irish business leaders and global entrepreneurs emerge.”

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny

County Council Cllr. Michael McCarthy said: “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 National Final students, who competed across three categories, Junior, Intermediate and S enior, were all in attendance on the day exhibiting their businesses which were judged by a team of national businesses experts and mentors. Each student enterprise was challenged with creating, setting up and running their own business, which must show sales of their service or product. The judging panel included business owners and representatives from enterprise agencies and associated bodies.

In the Senior category of the competition, Kilkenny was represented by Amy Bergin and Mathilde Beubry from Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny w ith 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. The Student Enterprise Programme is open to students of all ages at secondary level. It is funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country. Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 450,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business.

The end of the universe ... but not just yet

The universe is decaying far more quickly than we previously thought, scientists have said.

But the end is still a long way off: 10^78, or a one with 78 zeroes, years away. Still, that is much shorter than the previous estimate, which was 10^1100 years.

That is the time it will take for white dwarf stars to en-

tirely decay. Those stars are the most long-lasting objects in the universe, and so should stay around for longest.

According to the London online Independent, the new research is a follow-up to a 2023 paper that showed that not only black holes but also other objects could “evaporate” through a process similar to Hawking radiation.

We are short 277 full-time healthcare specialists

A total of 277 full-time specialist posts remain vacant in our hospitals and health service, despite the lure of salaries worth up to €300,000.

New figures reveal how despite a growth in hospital consultant numbers – driven strongly by a lucrative new work contract – several hospitals, as well as services such as BreastCheck, are down on senior specialists. This is having an impact on waiting lists and delays.

More than one in two vacant posts have been empty for over a year, according to the HSE figures supplied to Social Democrats health spokesman Pádraig Rice.

Mr Rice is the new chairman of the Oireachtas Health Committee. He was also told 21% have been unfilled for more than two years. Consultant numbers have risen by around 43pc since the end of December 2019. However, the figures show that of the 4,386 consultants listed as working in the HSE, 427 are temporary or locum, and 51 are agency doctors.

A particularly hard-hit area is radiology, affecting diagnostics, with 35 vacant consultant posts, 19 of which have been vacant more than a year. The Child and Adolescent and Mental Health Service (Camhs), which is beset by delays, is strongly reliant on non-permanent consultants in child and adolescent psychiatry and where they make up one in five specialists. This is on top of 11 vacant posts in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Mr Rice said: “The high rates of vacancy and non-

The new paper saw the researchers look to understand how long that process would take.

“The ultimate end of the universe comes much sooner than expected, but fortunately it still takes a very long time,” Heino Falcke, a blackhole expert who was lead author on the new paper, said.

Chief Executive of Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board Eileen Curtis has retired after 38 years in Kilkenny and Carlow.

At an event at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, staff employed at KCETB, Board members and retired colleagues and friends came together to honour Eileen’s contributions, her guidance, her support and assistance over the past six years as Chief Executive.

Eileen Curtis spent the first years of her career working in Waterford; specifically working with young people and adults before moving to County Kilkenny VEC in March 1987 as Adult Education Officer (AEO).

permanent consultant posts across our health service is very concerning. Consultant numbers have undoubtedly increased in recent years –and implementation of the public-only consultant contract has been very welcome – but we must not forget the low base from which we started.

“Based on 2021 consultant figures, Ireland had the lowest number of consultants per 1,000 population in Europe. We still have major catching up to do, and that is also reflected in our over-reliance on doctors in training who are routinely working beyond 48 hours a week.

“If we are to address high vacancy rates, we need to make our health service a more attractive place to work.

“An attractive contract alone will not draw emigrant doctors home. To do that, implementation of Sláintecare reforms must be accelerated and capacity in our health service must be built up in both acute and community settings.”

The HSE has previously launched a recruitment campaign for consultants working abroad to take up posts here.

It added that in the last five years, there has been unprecedented investment in workforce expansion, resulting in an additional 24,837 staff, an increase of 24.5pc.

The two-year trilateral pay and numbers strategy agreement, agreed in July last year, provided investment for an extra 3,310 staff.

This year, further to this investment, a net additional 3,553 health staff are being hired.

The findings build on Hawking radiation, first proposed by Stephen Hawking in 1975. He suggested that it was possible for black particles and radiation to escape from a black hole – at the edge, two particles would form, with one being sucked into the black hole and another escaping.

Eventually, through that

process, the black hole very slowly decays, becoming instead particles and radiation.

The time that process takes for an object to evaporate depends how dense it is.

Neutron stars and stellar black holes take 10^67 years, for instance.

The moon and a human would take 10^90 years, the

researchers suggested. But they also noted that there are other processes that would probably mean those objects would disappear before that time runs out.

The work is described in a new paper, “Universe decays faster than thought, but still takes a long time”, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics

During Eileen’s time as AEO, she was active within the Adult Education Organiser’s Association growing support and professional development for newer AEOs. She became acting Chief Executive of Co Kilkenny VEC in 2011.

As Acting CE of Kilkenny VEC Eileen was core to the amalgamation of Kilkenny and Carlow VECs and implementing the duties and asks of the Education and Training Act in 2013, working closely with Chief Executive Cynthia Deane, before becoming CE of KCETB herself in 2019.

Speaking on the night Councillor Andrea Dalton, chairperson of KCETB Board said: “Over the years as Board members, we couldn’t but notice your regard for your team and like any good educator, you always took the opportunity to highlight

Eileen bows out ...

and affirm achievements of both students/learners and staff.”

“We thank you for always balancing the needs of the individual with the needs of the organisation. On my own behalf and on behalf of everyone in Kilkenny and Carlow ETB, I would like to thank you for your support, your good humour, your tireless work.”

Speaking on her retirement Eileen Curtis said:  “Over the years, I have had the opportunity to witness the

dedication, passion and enthusiasm of so many wonderful staff and students.

Together, we have endeavoured to create an environment which fosters growth and learning for all, with the aim of empowering each individual to reach their full potential and flourish through learning.

“As I begin retirement, I will cherish the memories of our shared achievements and the relationships we have built. I am confident that Kilkenny and Carlow

Education and Training Board will continue to thrive and develop as this work is built upon in the years ahead.”

*Pictured above, Eileen Curtis with Martha Bolger, Director of Further Education and Training, Pauline Egan, Acting Chief Executive and Director of Schools, Liam Scott, Director of Organisation Support and Development at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel

Harry Reid.

Drive for local graduate planners

A major recruitment drive is underway to attract graduate planners from Kilkenny into Ireland’s county and city councils.

The local government initiative, just launched, aims to attract suitably qualified graduates exiting degree or masters courses in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Britain or internationally.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to positively shape the future development of cities, towns and villages, turning ambitious projects into reality over the coming decades.

The initiative is part of the Government’s Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources, which sets out a roadmap to increase the pool of planning expertise in local authorities.

A total of 43 new posts are available in 26 of the 31 county and city councils nationwide, offering a starting salary of almost €39,000, 24 days’ annual leave and a structured career allowing graduates to progress to professional planning.

The new positions will offer graduates the flexibility to work in Kilkenny and other

county and city councils throughout Ireland.

“Planners are critical to tackling the big challenges facing the world in which we live – including housing, protecting our environment, biodiversity and heritage,” said Chair of the County and City Management Association’s Planning and Land Use Committee, Liam Conneally.

“Local government plays a vital role in shaping entire communities and we now need dynamic graduate planners to join our teams across the country, where they can be involved in exciting proj-

ects, share their ideas, and learn from experienced planners.

“This new stream of planners will have a real and direct impact on sculpting areas in which they themselves live,” said Mr Conneally, who is also Chief Executive of Galway County Council. Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, John Cummins, said taking on dynamic graduate planners was crucial to drive the enhancement and development of our cities, towns and villages.

PHOTO:

The Fact Of The Matter

Paul

Hopkins

You can have my

Six months back at the table and the Government is stricken with inertia when it comes to solving the ongoing problems of health, special needs education, asylum seekers, still high energy costs and the crisis that is homelessness and the lack of affordable housing. Indeed, the lack of any housing. And the same old dross is trotted out each day on media by those we put in charge about the “Government’s plans” and so on, ‘til the cows come home. Zilch has been achieved in any guise. Lack of housing is arguably the most contentious issue. The timeline for the setting up of a proposed housing activation office is now uncertain after the Government was forced to climb down over the appointment of Nama boss Brendan McDonagh as its ‘housing tsar’. McDonagh told Housing Minister James Browne that

he was withdrawing his name from consideration for any role with the Strategic Housing Activation Office because of the outcry over, among other matters, a whopping €430,000 salary for the job.

A recent RTE Frontline with Katie Hannon saw an angry audience take issue with Minister of State for Older People Kieran O’Donnell who advocates that seniors should be “encouraged” to trade down their ‘big house’ – where their children have grown and left – and make way for up-and-coming families. The minister floundered, not least on the question of where those willing to downsize could in fact downsize to, given – you understand –the lack of, eh, housing. There are those in their autumn years who would be willing to downsize, given the right settings and where a big house on one’s own, with

hat but lay off my house

ageing, proving increasingly impractical. Then, there are many who do not wish to downsize, citing their own home as being their life-long adult dwelling place and the community and good neighbours a pertinent factor.

A man’s house is his castle. The adage likely dates back to the English judge Sir Edward Coke (pronounced Cooke) who in 1604 declared in a ruling, known as Semayne’s Case, that there were strict limits on how sheriffs (or bailiffs) may enter a man’s house. It was his fortress, his castle.

I abide alone in my fourbedroom house. It is in a cul-de-sac and overlooks a heritage park with two watermills and a lake, providing a peaceful and serene setting. My three adult children have long left the nest and their mother and I are amicably divorced. I am in relatively good health – the

old balance, unfortunately, isn’t what it used to be – and bar some future decrepitness which, heaven forbid, sees me in a care home I intend staying put, thank you very much.

There are too many memories hidden in the walls and

To trade down the ‘big house’ – where children have grown and left

crevices, so many echoes of joy, laughter and tears and sadness that reverberate down 40 odd years for me to just up and walk away and start all over again – indeed, I don’t have that time on my side. In the once playroomthen-office there is now a silence, the top of my desk and its drawers full of remnants of old newspaper work and framed photos of the children, when children, that gaze back at me when I enter. It was only yesterday they were playing carefree.

In the conservatory lies the now silent high-end stereo equipment and too-many-tocount vinyls and CDs that are testament to my eight years as a music critic, I can still see us all dancing on a Saturday night with our neighbours, firm friends, to the music of the Stones or Abba.

My Africa Corner has books of the history of that troubled continent – there are books

and tomes on shelves and such all over the house – and memorabilia, statuettes made of soapstone, a bloodied dagger from the killing fields of Kenya, from the many trips transversing the sub-Sahara. My wife recently did a big revamp of that corner and it looks brighter and better, and within its confines I hear the crackle of gunfire from the Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe war or once again watch close-up a lion in Tanzania kill a kudo (antelope) by wringing its neck until it succumbs.

As I climb the stairs, weary at night, the creaking sounds of the steps are like being enveloped in an old familiar overcoat. Indeed, every thing about my house, its sounds, its smells, is soothing in its familiarity, and my refuge from the chaotic world outside.

Sorry minister but I ain’t movin’. Go, do your job...

Funchion: Brussels must act on Irish insurance

Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland

South Kathleen Funchion has called on Brussels to stop “sitting on its hands and start looking seriously at the Irish insurance market” following recent price increases.

Ms Funchion said a question she asked of the commission earlier this year was answered dismissively, and was disre-

spectful to Irish consumers. “It is time for Brussels to get involved once more in protecting Irish consumers and investigating the Irish insurance market.

“The Central Bank tells us that motor insurance prices jumped by a staggering 9% in the first half of last year, meaning that the average

Remote health monitoring brings smile to South East

The HSE’s SMILE 2 project, a pioneering initiative in partnership with the Enhanced Community Care (E CC) programme, Chronic Disease Community Specialist Teams (CD CST), and Caredoc, has successfully completed its final evaluation, showcasing advancements in managing multimor bid chronic diseases through remote monitoring across HSE Dublin and in Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

Key impacts from the final evaluation include:

• 600 patients with multimorbidity received care and were empowered to self-manage their chronic disease conditions through remote monitoring.

• The SMILE 2 project has significantly reduced healthcare utilisation, with a 55% reduction in emergency department visits and a 75% reduction in hospital bed nights for patients enrolled in SMILE for a six-month period.

• Patients reported improved health and wellbeing, with 94% acknowledging the  positive impact.

• Integration with the ECC Programme provides continuity of care for patients by ensuring specialist care is available to patients when required.

• The SMILE 2 Project has developed scalable processes and guidelines, providing a bluepr int for a national case management service that optimises nursing resources.

Martina Queally, Regional Executive Officer (REO), HSE Dublin and South East, said: “I am thrilled to see the impact of the SMILE 2 project on patient health and wellbeing across HSE Dublin and South East in the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary South, Waterford and Wexford. By em-

cost is now over €600.  This is the highest it has been in five years," she said.

“It is double the European average, meaning Irish motorists are paying far more than their European counterparts.

“In what is supposed to be a single market, this should be ringing alarm bells in Brussels. Instead, the silence is deafen-

ing," the South East MEP said. “We also see in data from the National Claims Information Database that Irish insurers are pocketing huge margins on claims."

In January, she tabled a question to the commission inviting it to look at the Irish market. The answer she received was, she said, shockingly dismis-

sive and disrespectful.

“It is no wonder insurers think they can get away with it when Irish and EU level authorities are asleep at the wheel," she said.

“The EU has competencies over competition policy yet it is ignoring this clear market failure. It is another example of the EU failing to act in or-

dinary people’s interest while it focuses on militarisation policies and deregulation exercises."

Ms Funchion said she would not let the commission get away with dismissing the concerns she had expressed on behalf of the Irish people and would continue to raise the matter in Europe.

powering patients through innovative self-management tools and integrated care, we are not only enhancing their quality of life but also achieving a remarkable reduction in the demand on hospital services.

"With a 55% decrease in emergency department visits and a 75% reduction in hospital bed nights, SMILE 2 demonstrates the transformative potential of collaborative, patient-centred care and sets a new standard for chronic disease management. SMILE 2 represents a sustainable and replicable model for efficient healthcare delivery.”

S ervice user Paul Wallace from Kilkenny explains the peace of mind patient users get from using SMILE: “The SMLE Programme has changed the way I manage my health condition, in that it has given me a regime in that I need to check the vitals, blood oxygen, heart rate, blood pressure, exercise and weight… I know s omething will be found before I know it’s a problem. So it takes away some of that stress.”

Serving a population of 500,000 across Wexford, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary, S MILE 2 has demonstrated a transformative approach to healthcare delivery that promises national scalability. Participants use connected devices to monitor vital s igns and wellbeing, with data transferred to an app on their tablets. The SMILE nursing team monitors this data in real-time, allowing for timely interventions.

Specialist input is provided as required through the E CC Programme’s Chronic Disease CSTs.  The integration with chronic disease C STs facilitates holistic and coordinated care for patients, reducing unscheduled ED visits.

Re-turn, the operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), has launched ‘Small Town, Big Difference’, a new campaign calling on community groups, clubs and schools across Ireland to share the inspiring stories of how they are making a big difference in their local area through the deposit return scheme.

The campaign was officially launched today by presenter and podcaster Jennifer Zamparelli, who

will also help select the winning entries. Local community groups have until 5pm on June 6 to submit their story on the Re-turn. ie/Heroes webpage.

The 10 best stories will receive €2,000 donation for their local initiative.

From these winners, five will be selected to star in a local media campaign that celebrates the big difference that the smallest of donations can make.

In the last year, over 3,000 local community groups

have made a difference by raising funds through the DRS by asking people to donate their deposits from plastic bottles and cans to good causes.

Re-turn is encouraging clubs, schools, and community groups across Kilkenny to submit their initiatives showcasing how they are fundraising for great causes through the Deposit Return Scheme.

Re-turn is looking for any local community groups, clubs, charities, schools

or sports teams that have raised funds using the DRS and have an amazing story to tell about their fundraising efforts to date and what the donations have been used for.

Groups that enter the competition must be officially registered with Re-turn communities.

* If they have not already registered, simply email communities@re-turn.ie to register.

Love Kilkenny Longer offers have returned and this year, with Visit Kilkenny having even more discounts to avail of across the Marble County. Until August 31, a selection of participating hotels, attractions and activity providers will be offering discounts of up to 15% on admission, experiences and accommodation packages. With an endless variety of things to see and do in Kilkenny, you simply need to stay longer to take it all

in.Simply use the promotional codes provided at checkout when booking online at participating attractions and tours like Smithwick's Experience Kilkenny, Rothe House, St Canice's Cathedral and Shenanigans Walks.

Mention Love Kilkenny Longer in-person at Wildflower Café at Butler Gallery, and don’t forget to hiss like a snake at the National Reptile Zoo to unlock a fantassstic deal!There truly is something for everyone to fall in love

with – visitors and locals alike.

History buffs will delight in hearing about Kilkenny’s rich tapestry of heritage at the Medieval Mile Museum, adventure seekers can get the adrenaline pumping along high ropes courses and ziplines at Castlecomer Discovery Park and a discounted trip to Nore Valley Park is the perfect day out for animal lovers!

Of course it wouldn't be a trip to the home of hurling

without a puck out, and tours with Hurling Tours Ireland are fun for hurlers of all levels.A range of accommodation options will suit all holidaymakers so if you are a solo traveller that prefers a B&B, a family that loves a city centre location or a couple looking for a 5-star retreat, you will find a Love Kilkenny Longer discounted rate at a property that matches your preference.

View the discounts at VisitKilkenny.ie

Calling all club campaigners and community champions! TV presenter and podcaster

Jennifer Zamparelli with, from left, Brianna Bibi, Finn O’Donnell, Yasmine Schulz, Bella Kelly and Dylan O’Reilly

PHOTO: Leon Farrell

Kilkenny County Council in partnership with IDA Ireland hold industry update

Photos by Vicky Comerford

A recent breakfast briefing and networking event hosted by Kilkenny County Council in partnership with IDA Ireland took place on Wednesday 7th May. The early morning event was hosted in Cartoon Saloon’s Barrack Street offices and was organised by Kilkenny County Council and IDA Ireland with the aim of facilitating communication and information flow between key players on both the

supply and demand side for housing in Kilkenny.

More than 40 members of the business community, along with local developers and estate agents attended the briefing to discuss the current outlook, challenges, and opportunities in the current environment.

Speakers on the day included Kilkenny County Council Chief Executive Lar Power, who provided an update on housing and infrastructure developments in the city, and IDA Ireland South East Regional

Development Manager

Brian McGee who outlined strengths and ambitions for inward investment in the region.

An interactive and informative panel discussion also took place with representatives from participating industries including Catherine Roycroft Cartoon Saloon, Paul O’Shea Aztec Group, Matt Wallace Wallace Contracting Ltd., and Ciaran Dunphy DNG Ella Dunphy. To find out more about investing in or moving to Kilkenny see www. investkilkenny.ie and www. belongkilkenny.ie.

For additional information contact Kilkenny County Council’s Economic Development team through move@investmentkilkenny.

Brian McGee IDA Ireland, Fiona Deegan Director of Services Kilkenny County Council, Michael Power Candida, Callan.

Tim Butler Director of Services Kilkenny County Council and seated, Brian McGee IDA Ireland, Catherine Roycroft Cartoon Saloon, Paul O’ Shea Aztec Group, Lar Power CE Kilkenny County Council, Matthew Wallace Wallace Contra

As I See It Marianne

Heron

Camogie: time to stop skirting the skorts issue

Sure deck your lower limbs in pants, my sweeting, you look divine as you advance but have you seen yourself retreating?

Ogden Nash’s lines are a gentle example of the niggles over female clothing in the fashion war waged ever since women escaped corsets and took to sport.

Cycling gave us bloomers and jodhpurs allowed us to ride horseback astride in what has been a long march to freedom and practicality. It took until 2023 for women to be allowed to wear dark underwear under their tennis whites at Wimbledon for instance. Mainstream Fashion wasn’t immune either from outraged comment, the glimpse of stocking was something shocking to quote Cole Porter’s lyrics, during the brief window when miniskirts had arrived and tights hadn’t yet dawned. Opposition to the revealing mini was so strong that a society

for the protection of the mini was formed by wearers in Britain.

You might think that by this stage that anything goes.

But no! As Saturday’s show down, or should that be short down, the Leinster semi-final showed the war isn’t over yet.

The Kilkenny Camogie team showed up in shorts for their match to protest they should be allowed a choice between shorts or skorts. They had to change into the hybrid skorts they are obliged to wear in accordance with Camogie Association rule 6b, when officials threatened to abandon the match.  Kilkenny had made their point though and went on to win 4-11 to 2-12 against Dublin.

Afterwards Fine Gael Spokesperson on Sport, Senator Evanne Ni Chuilinn said: “As recently as last week, the Gaelic Players’ Association (GPA) informed the Camogie Association that 83% of players find skorts

uncomfortable and inappropriate.”

Incredibly, the skort rule was upheld in 2024 at the Camogie Association’s congress, although the option to wear shorts was proposed as long ago as 1959 and players invariably wear shorts for practice games.

It goes to show how fractious the fault lines can become when sport, rules and concerns over ‘feminine modesty’ intersect. Although far from protecting modesty players have said that wearing skorts have led to them being ‘exposed’ on social media images on the internet. In other women’s sports like hockey and women’s football players wear shorts.

The controversy comes at a time when sport is losing numbers and girls are being encouraged to play sports. But having to wear skorts for camogie can be a disincentive, “It’s just not appropri-

ate,” believes former Cork Camogie Captain Anna Geary commenting on RTE Prime Time. “Players who have tried so hard don’t want to be mired in controversy.

The Leinster semi-final showed the war isn’t over yet...

They want their voices to be heard and to have a choice, as they aren’t comfortable or confident wearing a skort.”

Skorts sound an uncomfortable arrangement, to me it seems like wearing an apron over culottes while gardening, impractical in front and indecent seen from the rear when bending.

The Camogie Association made a concession to consider allowing both shorts and skorts at next year’s annual congress rather than wait until 2027 and word went out to referees not to send players off if they wore shorts. Matters have escalated though, Cork players announced that they intended to wear shorts last weekend in the Munster finals against Waterford and in another flip flop the Camogie Association have called a special congress on May 22 to discuss and vote the skorts/ shorts issue.

Then, incredibly, Munster’s Camogie Council cancelled

the championship match just 16 hours beforehand, putting the kybosh on players’ months of training and preparation and creating Trump like confusion and uncertainty. This Talibanlike policing of covering up women’s anatomy is hardly in the interests of the players or the game the council are meant to represent. So what was the cancellation about?

An out of date Victorian dress code or officialdom insisting on petty authority?

If the members of the association and the council were politicians, they would get a resounding vote of no confidence. Let’s hope that later this month that common sense prevails and that there is a decision in favour of allowing shorts, so that the association can stop skirting around the skort issue. If the Association stop skirting the issue the option to wear shorts could come into effect from May 25.

Get your on this summer glow

I think we all love the summer, but the warm and dry weather can have a negative impact on your skin. Warm sunshine, summer breezes, pollution, or dry rooms can all affect your skin. You may need a helping hand to keep its healthy summer glow.

Hydration both inside and out is a great place to start. Drink plenty of water, coconut water is a good option as it is loaded with electrolytes which are lost through sweating. Use good quality oils or creams on your face and body to help with hydration from the outside in. Skin exfoliation, or dry skin brushing is a great way to get rid of dead skin cells, to get the circulation going, and will help your skin glow. A healthy diet rich in fresh fruit, especially berries, whole grains, good quality protein foods, and healthy sources of omega oils will all help keep your skin looking fresh. There are also some amazing skin products to help hydrate from the outside: Trilogy Rosehip Antioxidant Oil is a certified organic facial

oil and is one of my favourite Trilogy Oils. I use it after cleansing in the morning and evening. It hydrates, evens out my skin tone, and brightens my complexion. I love how my skin looks when I use this oil. Being rich in antioxidants makes it a great choice for anyone concerned with premature ageing or pollution damage.

One of our customer’s favourites is Weleda Skin Food a wonderful natural skin care product. Weleda Skin Food has been on trend over the past number of years, but it has been around since 1926. It is amazing for dry skin as well

as cracked skin. It can be used on all parts of the body as well as the hands, feet, and elbows. It is deeply nourishing and hydrating. You might also like Weleda Skin Food Lip Balm, it’s soothing and hydrating. If you prefer an oil, there’s, Weleda Skin Food Ultra-Light Dry Oil. It is a lovely light oil that provides deep hydration and leaves the skin feeling silky smooth. You don’t have to wait around for it to dry in either!

Call in to meet our Skincare expert Helen Rousse, she will be in store on 21st May between 2-4 for information and advice.

CLAIR WHITTY

SPECIAL REPORT

COMMENT:

PAUL HOPKINS

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost may well be the first American elected pope and, while Chicago, Illinois may be painting the town red in celebration, the same cannot be said for many Republicans, who wanted a far-right pope.

Leo XIV has been damning in his indictment of Donald Trump and JD Vance. Last February, then-Cardinal Prevost shared a piece on X entitled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others” in which he pushed back on the vice-president’s claim that Christians should love their family first, then their neighbour, then their community, then their fellow citizens, then the rest of the world. Vance was attempting to twist Catholic theology to defend his virulent anti-migrant views by suggesting Christians don’t have to prioritise care for anyone beyond their immediate family circle.

The then-cardinal also retweeted a message blaming Trump and El Salvadoran Dictator Nayib Bukele for the “suffering” caused by the deportation policy. He also shared an article from the conservative American, Cardinal Timothy Dalton, entitled “Why Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic” which condemned the “nativism” espoused by the MAGA movement. Christians “should see the immigrant as a gift to our nation” and “welcome the stranger”.

What change, if any, we can expect under

It is said Pope Leo XIV is expected to carry on his predecessor’s legacy of advocating for action on climate change, upholding social justice, and caring for the global poor – standing for everything that Trump and his ilk oppose. However, after years of sympathetic and inclusive comments from Pope Francis, LGBTQ+ Catholics are now expressing concern about harsh remarks made 13 years ago by the new Pope, in which he condemned what he

called the “homosexual lifestyle” and “the redefinition of marriage” as “at odds with the Gospel”. In a 2012 address to the World Synod of Bishops, the man who would be pope said: “Western media is extraordinarily effective in fostering within the public enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel – for example abortion, homosexual lifestyle, euthanasia.” Back then he also called for a “new evangelisation to counter these media-

Pope Leo

produced distortions of religious and ethical reality”. Here in Ireland, the majority feel quite the opposite. In the past four decades much has changed. In Ireland, Leo will find a modern, secular society where only 54% of people regard themselves as practicing Catholics and just 29% of those attend Mass; divorce and gay marriage are legal, the 8th Amendment repealed, and the State and its law-makers no longer kowtow to Rome’s rule.

While his positions on

some of the church’s more contentious issues remain unclear, Leo has signalled continuity with his predecessor.

Francis opened more leadership roles to women than did any previous pontiff and established commissions to study women becoming deacons. He also turned to Cardinal Prevost on occasion, including having him oversee a robust reform that added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations go forward to the pope. But

Francis repeatedly affirmed barring the ordination of women. Leo’s battle for reform is not only with Vatican bureaucracy but is also for the hearts and minds of the faithful, not least here in Ireland. Francis’s stance on abortion, divorce and same-sex marriage were as rigid as the Curia’s, if only echoed in a more compassionate way. Little is about to change. There will be no sweeping announcement of a reconstituted priesthood (married people and women ordained), full transparency of all procedures, laity empowered at every level of the Church. Nor will there be the announcement of a brave, new sexual morality with a yes to female sexual autonomy and acceptance of homosexuals and transgender people.

There are those who hope Leo could find a way of heralding an open Catholic Church in the future, in which there were true female equality, lay power, sexual maturity, and real accountability of church leaders. But could he actually do it, if he wished? The powerful Curia of bishops — secretive, patriarchal and misogynistic, despite being ‘updated’ in 2022 — he will constantly find himself up against would suggest otherwise.

I don’t see Leo being able to fully fix an institution so badly broken. But, with ideological divides between those who wish to continue Francis’ inclusive agenda and those preferring to return to a more conservative path, focussed on the ‘purity of doctrine’, could he offer some balance?

Only time will tell... and at 69 he, at least, has that on his side.

‘Smart and open enough’ about opinions on homosexuality

An Irish priest who worked with Pope Leo XIV in Latin America believes the new pontiff is “smart enough and open enough” to have allowed his opinion on homosexuality to have changed since his controversial 2012 comments.

Fr Peter Hughes is a Columban missionary who has worked in Peru since 1966 and was a friend of Pope Leo’s, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, when he was Bishop of Chiclayo in the Latin American country.

He believes Pope Leo XIV is pastorally aligned with Pope Francis, who adopted a more inclusive approach and less harsh language towards LGBTQ+ people.

Speaking to the Irish Independent’s Sarah Mac Donald from Lima, Fr Hughes noted that then bishop Robert Prevost made his comments during the pontificate of Pope

Benedict XVI [pictured]. The conservative German pontiff denounced gay relationships. In 2012, the then Fr Robert Prevost, prior general of the Augustinians, criticised Western media for cultivating “sympathy” for the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprising same-sex

partners and their adopted children”.

“What he said about homosexuals over 12 years ago was reiterating what was a commonly held view and doctrine at the time of Benedict. In the meantime, the man would have changed since the election of Francis and he would

be open to the currents of where the church has come from, like so many people.”

Describing Peru as “a terribly homophobic society” where there is “a culture of machismo”, Fr Hughes said: “It doesn’t respect women’s rights, sensitivities, place in society, and that’s terrible. There is violence against women.”

The cleric from Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, who was part of the advisory theological team for the Catholic Church’s 2019 Synod on the Amazon, said that church leaders’ role was to bring issues such as violence against women to light and open up the discussion on the need to change this culture in society and the church.

He suggested Pope Leo’s stance on women’s ordination was also likely to be the product of his Latin American years, where most women

who are really committed to the church never seem to get involved in the discussion about women’s ordination or women deacons.

“When we talk about a clerical church, we have to take into account that the laity have become clericalised [a policy of maintaining or increasing the power of a religious hierarchy] because of us priests – so that has to change. It is through synodality this will change.”

He said what the Amazon church was saying to the global church was that women had to have “access and the possibility of full participation in the places where decisions are being made. If you don’t have that, all the rest of the stuff is just wishful thinking about women and the church”.

He revealed that he was “a good friend” of Fr Prevost but added that “doesn’t mean

we would have been meeting very often because that didn’t happen”.

The friendship was built on their work for Peru’s poor and efforts to save the Amazon and protect indigenous people.

“He is a man who is serious about listening to the cry of the Earth and also the cry of the poor. He would be totally onside with everything that a person like me would be doing and stand for in Repam [a Catholic Church network that promotes the rights and dignity of people living in the Amazon] in the human rights and the environment.”

Referring to remarks made by Bishop Phonsie Cullihan in which he described Pope Leo as “a centrist”, Fr Hughes responded: “He’s not a centrist.” The 82-year-old believes Leo will follow “in the footsteps of the ecclesiology, the reform and synodality of Francis”.

Deputy McGuinness announces boost in housing adaptation grant funding

BY JOHN MCGUINNESS - TD

Leas Cheann Comhairle Deputy John McGuinness is pleased to announce an increase in funding by the local authorities for housing adaptation grants.

Kilkenny County Council's budget for these grants in 2024 was €1,729,023. This has now been increased by €459,895, bringing the total available for 2025 to €2,188,917.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, Minister with responsibility for Older Persons, Kieran O’Donnell, and Minister with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins, have announced allocations to local authorities of over €117 million for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People.

This funding will enable necessary adaptations to their homes, improving accessibility and quality of life.

Commenting Minister Browne said:

“The increased level of funding available in 2025 will continue to ensure delivery of these vital grants and empower local authorities to further assist older and disabled individuals in living independently within their own homes.

Having met many grant recipients across the country, I've witnessed at first-hand the remarkable difference they make in empowering older and disabled individuals to live independently at home for longer.

These grants also support local economies, creating employment opportunities for local contractors.”

Minister with responsibility for Older People, Kieran O’Donnell T.D. said:

“In my role as Minister of

State with responsibility for housing for older people, my absolute priority is to enable individuals to continue living in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

Today's funding announcement is a further positive step towards achieving this.”

Minister with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins T.D. said:

“I want to compliment local authorities for the key role they play in administering the grants, including assessing applications and arranging home inspections where adaptations are proposed.

Through this work, local authorities are empowering older and disabled people in their daily routines enabling them to maintain their independence within their own homes.”

The Housing Adaptation Grant funding of over €117 million will benefit 13,000 older and disabled people.

Noises Off for Carlow stage

Theatre

return to the stage of the George Bernard Shaw theatre in Visual, Carlow, this coming May with Michael Frayn's classic farce Noises Off. This farce comedy about putting on a farce comedy follows the cast and crew of Otstar Productions; an assortment of egos, wits, and large personalities all with a love of drama, as they tour the play Nothing On. We follow them in three stages; the final rehearsal before opening night where things aren't quite as together as they should be, a performance in the middle of the show's run wherein cracks are

beginning to show, and a performance on the last leg of the tour where the end can't come quickly enough!

With Noises Off, Frayn has constructed what The New York Times described as “The most dexterously realized comedy ever about putting on a comedy [...] a festival of delirium.”

Brimming with slapstick comedy, Noises Off is a hilarious backstage farce, complete with slamming doors, falling trousers, and, of course, flying sardines. Noises Off is directed by veteran actor and director Paddy Behan, and is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on Behalf of Samuel

Tickets are €22 | €24 (including booking fee) and can be purchased from the Box Office (enquiries via 059 917 2400 | boxoffice@ visualcarlow.ie

Carlow Little

Society

French Ltd. Cast in order of appearance: Dotty Otley; Jo O'Donovan, Lloyd Dallas; Paul Dunne, Garry Lejeune; Keith Whelan, Brooke Ashton; Shannon O' Doherty, Poppy NortonTaylor; Aisling Ní Alluráin, Frederick Fellowes; Jamie Dockery, Belinda Blair; Audrey Cooper, Tim Allgood; Richard Duffy, Selsdon Mowbray; Paul McManus.

When CAT may get the cream of your inheritance Your Money & You

Inheritance tax also know as Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) is in the papers again.

Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter once said: “It is nothing short of State-sanctioned graveside robbery of assets.” Others believe it is not an issue for them, as one client said to me recently, “I have nothing to leave anybody”, thinking that only a minority of people will end up paying this tax.

No matter where you stand in the argument the truth is difficult to ignore. After a lifetime’s work people are now reviewing their assets to ensure their loved ones are not left with a large tax bill after their death. And, with property values continuing to rise, inheritance tax rises in tandem affecting more families than before.

The tax-free thresholds have increased recently but not enough. Inheritances passed from a parent to a child stands at €400,000. That might seem generous until

John Ellis

you consider that the average price of a home in Ireland is now €359,000 with areas, (as I commented in a previous article) including Kilkenny and the wider South East seeing annual price growth

up by 8%. Therefore, it is not hard to see how a “modest inheritance” could quickly push beneficiaries into the taxable bracket. The thresholds for other relationships are ridicu-

lously low. €40,000 for close relatives like your brothers, sisters, or grandchildren and just €20,000 for what are termed ‘strangers’, a category that includes cousins, in-laws, and more troubling

even long-term cohabitants in some cases. Anything above these threshold levels attracts tax at the rate of 33%.

So, what can you do to eradicate or ease the burden – no tax heaven! – on your family and heirs?

Most people are beginning to plan by transferring assets during their lifetime. This not only reduces the size of the estate that will be taxed on death, but it can also help younger generations get on the property ladder earlier or cover other costs.

However, gifting is not without its risks or rules.

There are annual gift exemptions in place, currently €3,000 per donor per recipient, which can be used strategically over time. But substantial gifts may still fall under the CAT regime, especially if the donor dies within a certain period.

According to a guide prepared by Head of Tax Catriona Coady and Chief Economist Dermot O’Leary in

Goodbody, “families need to tread carefully”. They advise: “It is about balancing generosity with prudence. You want to help, but you also want to avoid unintended tax consequences.”

Whether you have property, investments, or even modest savings it pays to have a plan. With tax thresholds behind property prices and the rules around inheritance constantly changing now is the time to take control. Waiting until it is too late could mean leaving your family with an avoidable tax bill.

In the first instance contact your Financial Advisor who can help identify the most efficient ways to meet the problem which may include using trusts, spreading out gifts over time, and if further complex advice is required, they will have the necessary contacts.

john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362633

Science & Wellbeing

With the glorious weather we’ve been having of late and hopefully more to come, there is nothing like feeling the warmth of sun on your skin — and soaking it up safely means applying sunscreen to protect yourself from skin cancer. But what about claims that sunscreen itself could lead to other cancers due to its chemical ingredients?

Depending on the product, you’ll find several active ingredients that provide broad spectrum protection against the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays, according to a dermatologist.

Basically, there are two varieties of sunscreen: physical and chemical. Physical, also known as mineral-based, contains two main active ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which act as a physical barrier between your skin and the sun.

Sunscreens without these two active ingredients are classified as chemical, and usually contain a mix of other active ingredients.

Most of the concerns swirling about sunscreen involve the active ingredients in chemical sunscreens.

A 2020 randomised clinical trial of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that six active ingredients (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and octinoxate) in various chemical sunscreens were systemically absorbed into the body.

“The concern isn’t about them being chemical sunscreens per se, but about the fact that they are absorbed through the skin,” FDA press officer Cherie Duvall-Jones told Fortune magazin. “This means we need to know what these absorbed sunscreen ingredients do when they get in the human body. For example, can they lead to cancer or cause developmental or reproductive problems if people

Ginger May Help Lower Blood Pressure

Several of new studies have found that ginger supplements helped reduce systolic blood pressure (the top number). That’s important because high systolic blood pressure puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels over time, which can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.

“Specific compounds in ginger may work similarly to calcium channel blocker medications,” said Liz Weinandy, a registered dietitian nutritionist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre. “These medications allow blood vessels to relax and slow the heart rate, which lowers blood pressure.”

It May Improve Cholesterol And Triglyceride Levels

Ginger may reduce LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol and triglycerides — two types of fat that can build up in the arteries and raise the risk of heart

Suncreams: some could cause cancer

use sunscreens every day?”

That’s a question Emily Spilman, a safety scientist with the global nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG), would like to see better answered.

Based on her research into chemical ingredients in sunscreen, she’d like to see stricter regulations.

“Some [active ingredients] are linked to skin allergies and immunotoxicity,” Spilman told Fortune. “Some of them are also linked to more concerning impacts like hormone

disruption, endocrine disruption.”

Spilman pointed out that two ingredients in particular, octinoxate and oxybenzone, have been linked to disruption of the endocrine system, which creates and releases hormones for myriad bodily functions.

Experts are increasingly warning against the health effects of hormone or endocrine disruptors. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, endocrine disruptors

Why you should be rooting

for ginger

are “natural or man-made chemicals that may mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones” and are associated with various health problems, including some cancers.

“Four studies published in 2020 support previous findings that oxybenzone can act as an endocrine disruptor and may increase the risk of breast cancer and endometriosis,” an EWG spokesperson told Fortune. And, while it’s not definitive that hormone disruptors will directly cause cancer, he says, “some

disease. One study found that people with obesity significantly improved their cholesterol levels after taking up to 1.8 grams of ginger daily. Their triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels all dropped.

This effect may be due to

ginger’s natural chemicals, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, which could help prevent cholesterol from forming.

“Ginger’s active components may inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver, increase bile acid secretion, and en-

hance the activity of enzymes that break down fats,” said Lindsay Malone, nutrition instructor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Ginger Could Help Fight Inflammation

other cancer-causing chemical, the EWG says.

In 2019, the FDA requested data from the manufacturers of these chemicals to determine their safety.

“To date, none of the manufacturers of sunscreen active ingredients currently on market have provided these data to the FDA,” Dr Theresa Michele, Director of the FDA’s Office of Nonprescription Drugs, told Fortune.

“Although the FDA does not have information indicating that currently marketed sunscreen active ingredients … have established safety risks, it’s important to determine whether or not there are risks with use of these ingredients,” Michele says. “This is why the agency has asked for the missing information on safety.”

So, which sunscreen is safest to use?

“Trying to avoid endocrinedisrupting chemicals can be difficult as a consumer,” Spilman says. But it’s not impossible. The safest bet is to use broad spectrum mineralbased sunscreen, Spilman says. You’ll know it’s mineral sunscreen if the only two active ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, she notes.

common contaminants in sunscreens are also linked to carcinogenicity.”

Carcinogens are substances either known to cause cancer or that may be linked to cancer.

Some of those ingredients to look out for — in addition to octinoxate and oxybenzone — are octocrylene, which the EWG says is often contaminated with benzophenone, a known carcinogen.

Aerosol sunscreens have also been found to be contaminated with benzene, an-

Chronic inflammation is a major driver of heart disease.

“Ginger is rich in phenolic compounds such as gingerols, shogaols, and paradols, which have potent anti-inflammatory effects,” said Malone.

One study cited in the review found that taking two grams of ginger daily for three months reduced inflammation.

This can happen for several reasons. “Some chemicals help to keep bacteria, viruses, and other microbes in check by boosting our immune system,” said Weinandy. “Others help neutralise free radicals, which can damage cells in our bodies.”

Ginger May Protect Against Atherosclerosis Those same bioactive compounds can also produce antioxidant effects, said Malone. Antioxidants helpprotect your cells, including those in your heart and blood vessels, from damage caused by free radicals.

Additionally, Spilman advises using a stick mineral sunscreen or one that’s cream-based, because aerosol (spray) sunscreens can pose yet another health threat if inhaled.

Sunscreens made for young children, she adds, are a better option that anyone can use, as they are usually formulated with higher safety standards—but those may also contain hidden phthalates, according to recent research.

When choosing a children’s sunscreen, it’s better to opt for fragrance-free, and those that don’t come in plastic when possible.

The research suggests that these antioxidant effects may help prevent atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

Ginger Could Support Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

The review suggested that ginger may offer other significant benefits for managing blood sugar, particularly in people with type 2 diabetes. One of its compounds, 6-gingerol, helps move glucose from your bloodstream into your muscle cells, lowering high blood sugar and improving insulin sensitivity. In one study, people with type 2 diabetes who took 1,600 milligrams of ginger daily for three months saw reduced fasting blood sugar, insulin levels, and HbA1c — a marker of long-term blood sugar control. Other research suggests ginger may help reduce insulin resistance, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

With the completion of the Laos-China-Railway (LCR), you can now board a train in Lagos — no, not the former capital of Nigeria, but the sleepy town in Portugal’s deep south that the other Lagos most likely was named after — and travel all the way to Singapore.

That’s a distance by rail of 11,654 miles (18,755 km), crossing 13 countries, eight time zones, and (if you plan your connections well and don’t miss any) taking about 14 days.

Taking that train all the way from Portugal to Singapore would carry you halfway across the world.

With some luck, you’ll see wild elephants frolicking in the fields of Southeast Asia as your train shoots past. Train journeys don’t come more epic than that. Even the legendary Orient Express, which in its heyday carried passengers between Paris and Istanbul — a distance of a mere 1,700 miles (2,750 km), pales in comparison. No, this is closer to Snowpiercer, the (fictional) train 1,000 carriages long that circles a postapocalyptic Earth in a continuous loop.

The idea of the world’s longest train journey animatesthe imaginations of world travellers (both of the real and armchair varieties), so it’s no surprise that this map [pictured] has been bouncing around the internet for the past couple of years.

But examine this Portugalto-Singapore train trek a bit closer, and you’ll find that it has a few strange issues, including (but not limited to) the fact that… nobody has ever completed it.

The first problem is definitional: How can any trip be the longest if you can just add a diversion? Say, a return to Marseille from Paris. Or reroute this trip via Vietnam?

That last option was actually considered the world’s longest train journey until it was shortened by the LCR. After all, the definition of the longest possible train journey is “the shortest possible route between the two farthest possible stations”.

The second problem is more philosophical in nature.

The train you take in Lagos is not the train that drops you off in Singapore. You have to change about 20 times. Nor can you buy a single ticket in Portugal that gets you all the way to the gleaming citystate at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.

Each of those separate trains requires a separate reservation. So, how does this even count as one train trip?

This is a locomotive version of the old Ship of Theseus paradox: If the Athenians, in reverence to their minotaurslaying hero, replace old parts of his ship to preserve

The longest train journey not taken

it, does it still count as the same ship when they’ve replaced them all? This question divided Greek philosophers, but rather than rehash their arguments, let’s say it is the same ship (and thus the same train trip), and get to the next problem.

That problem is practical in nature. It’s not so much that the service from Lisbon to Hendaye, in the southwest corner of France, has been abolished since this map first popped up on Reddit (you can still get from Lagos to Paris via trains from Lisbon to Madrid, Barcelona, and Lyon).

Rather, it’s that the Paris to Moscow Express route, which was suspended in 2020 due to Covid, remains out of service due to sanctions against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Those sanctions have shut down all international train traffic between Russia (and Belarus) and the rest of Europe.

Otherwise, you could indeed carry on from Moscow to Beijing on the Trans-Mongolian.

This would be the longest leg of your (theoretical) trip, taking five days to cover 4,736 miles (7,622 km).

If you’re lucky enough to get a ticket, that is. Passenger traffic on this line is severely limited, which is also a result of sanctions, and so your best alternative might be the

longer Trans-Manchurian line, which links Moscow and Beijing but bypasses Mongolia.

From the Chinese capital, you would then hop on the high-speed train to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. This train covers a distance of 1,715 miles (2,760 km) in just under 11 hours, making it the longest highspeed line in the world.

For comparison, the Trans-Mongolian travels at an average speed of 38 mph (61.5km/h). The Beijing to Kunming bullet train averages 156 mph (251 km/h), which is more than four times faster.

The (now-completed) LCR takes you from Kunming to Vientiane, a total distance

of 643 miles (1,035 km), covered in approximately 9.5hours, at an average speed of 67.7 mph (109 km/h).

This is the first leg of the Kunming to Singapore line, and the only one that has been converted to highspeed rail.

Vientiane to Bangkok is 424 miles (683 km), currently connected via a daily sleeper service that takes about 12 hours, at an average speed of about 37 mph (59.5km/h).

A high-speed line, already partly under construction, would reduce travel to around three to four hours.

The trip from Bangkok to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur is about 932 miles (1,500 km), currently requires a transfer

will dramatically reduce travel time from Kunming to Singapore — a distance of about 2,097 miles (3,374 km) — from 80 to 90 hours currently (accounting for delays, customs and transfers) to between 15 and 20 hours (assuming fully upgraded lines, and optimised customs and transfer procedures).

Whether on today’s conventional tracks or on the high- speed rail of the future, the end of your trip will carry you across the JohorSingapore Causeway, a 0.66mile railway and motorway bridge linking Johor Bahru in Malaysia across the narrow Straits of Johor with the district (and station) of Woodlands in Singapore.

Accommodating over 350,000 travellers daily, this is one of the busiest border crossings anywhere.

And it feels more than half a world away from the sleepy Algarve town of Lagos, where this theoretical journey started.

But — and this is a crucial problem — Lagos is the wrong starting point; at least according to The Man in Seat 61, an online authority on all things rail: “Villa Real de Santo Antonio to Lisbon is significantly longer than Lagos to Lisbon, (so) that’s the world’s longest train journey”.

And the concept suffers from further defects. The actual shortest route requires travellers to skip some of the faster main lines for various regional lines where trains are much slower, fewer, and farther apart.

In some cities, changing trains means changing stations, which may mean either a long walk, or a bus or taxi ride.

The advice emanating from seat 61: “If (as I fervently hope) the war ends and such a journey becomes safe and practicable once more, don’t bother starting from Portugal.

Start from your local station in the UK or wherever you live, your journey will be amazing enough. No need to chase a flawed and possibly unattainable concept.”

at Padang Besar on the Thai-Malaysian border, and takes up to 24 hours, at an average speed of 40 mph (65km/h).

A proposed high-speed line could reduce travel time to anywhere from six to eight hours.

Kuala Lumpur to Singapore is 218 miles (350 km), and currently takes five to six hours by train, at an average speed of 39 mph (63 km/h).

Planning for a highspeed line was paused during Covid, but has since resumed.

It would reduce travel time to 90 minutes.

If and when all those stretches are upgraded to high- speed rail, the socalled Pan Asian Railway

A less flawed concept: the longest train journey without changing trains. Here, we have a clear winner, acknowledged by Guinness World Records.

Once a week, a train leaves Moscow and travels 6,346 miles (10,214 km) before arriving in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, seven days and 20 hours later. This service uses sections of the famous Trans-Siberian line, which links Moscow to Vladivostok, and is often (erroneously) hailed as the world’s longest single-train service.

As that last example shows, there is a lot of room for disagreement between train travel fundamentalists. But perhaps there is value in the old axiom: It’s about the journey, not the destination.

Opinion

Furthermore Gerry

Moran

Remembering

My brother passed away last week. My big brother. John was the oldest of our family of five; I was the youngest with three girls, Frances, Mary and Eadie (RIP) in between. Because of the age gap between us, almost a decade, John was more of a father figure to me than a brother, especially after our father died. And John and his wife Ann were always there for me when I was studying in Dublin. In school John was what we called ‘brainy’. He sat the Leaving Certificate at 16 years of age and got enough marks to go to university. Our family, however, couldn’t afford to send him to uni and so he headed off to Dublin, an innocent at large really, and entered the Civil Service. Later he got into computers going on to work with IBM, ACC Bank and latterly became a freelance computer consultant.

John was bright for sure. We, his siblings, thought him a genius when we were very young but as we got older we realised that all of our family were geniuses! (tongue firmly in cheek as I write that).

Although John lived in Dublin for most of his 83 years he loved Kilkenny, not least the hurling. A facts and figures man he could rattle off scores and dates to beat the band when it came to the Black & Amber. Indeed, one of the most treasured sporting moments of my life was thanks to John. 1963 and John had sourced two All-Ireland hurling tickets, one for the Canal End and one for the Hogan Stand. John stood in the Canal End and gave the Hogan Stand ticket to my mother who lifted me, a youngster, over the stiles (common practice back then) and so

my

brother, my big brother John

I watched the Hurling All Ireland of 1963, my very first, sitting on my mother’s knee as Kilkenny beat Waterford.

Some years back I was delighted to repay John when I wined and dined him in a hospitality suite in Croke Park for another Kilkenny hurling final. Mind you, there was plenty of dining but not much wine-ing as I was driving and John never drank in his life. And I always wished John did drink as I have bonded with many a man over a pint. Or two. Or three. And who knows what we’d have chatted about over a pint. John was partially responsible for me writing for newspapers. Back in the day, Hugh Leonard, in his column in the Sunday Independent, invited readers to submit, in 100 words, who, when we were young, we wanted to be when we

grew up. I knew exactly who I wanted to be: my Big Brother John who knew all about the Vikings, had a

“I was always looking up to my big brother John – and I always will...

slug-gun and even played chess. Mr Leonard gave me top billing in his column, sent me a book token for 10 pounds, reignited my interest in writing and I’ve been writing, especially for newspapers, ever since –and something John was aware of. In fact he always ended our phone chats with: “Mocky” (he always called me ‘Mocky’ from the Irish ‘Mac’ for son, the father-figure relationship again) “Mocky,” he’d say, “remember what our mother used to say, keep [it] out of the papers” and we’d have a wee chuckle over the irony of that. And I was so moved by the messages of condolence on RIP, messages from people who worked with him who probably knew him better than I and those messages made me so proud of my brother. Here are a few snippets:

a true gentleman *** a kind and gentle man *** I will always remember John’s kindness and generosity *** he was so patient, helpful and funny in my early days of technology *** always so kind and full of chats *** John’s advice was always to be remembered. And my sincere thanks to everyone, former colleagues, cousins, neighbours and friends, who sent messages of condolence and who travelled to Dublin for the funeral. I very much appreciated it. Also, I loved meeting up with John and Ann’s children and grandchildren. So proud of them, I can only imagine how proud John was. And thank you, Aideen, for the wonderful eulogy.

Finally, I was always looking up to my big brother John – and I always will.

Patrick Rafter’s sellout at St.Canice’s Cathedral

The Marble City Music Festival had a sell-out concert at St. Canice’s Cathedral on Sunday 11th May featuring an 80-piece orchestra.

On Friday 16th of May at 7:30 pm in St Mary’s Cathedral, Marble City Music Festival shall host a spectacular concert featuring one of the world's most noted and famous pianists, Barry Douglas. Virtuoso violinist, Patrick Rafter, will join forces with Douglas in what promises to be an incredible and magical event. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear two of Ireland’s greatest classical musicians performing an incredible programme.

The sell-out concerts are building on from Rafter’s success with the Kilkenny Choir - having soldout St Canice’s Cathedral again the week of the 3rd May with Rafter conducting a Choral Extravaganza with professional orchestra. Sunday last saw the Kilkenny native conduct the Irish Doctor’s Orchestra in a concert performing James Bond, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Schindler's List.

Buy your tickets now at www.marblecitymusicfestival.com

Kilkenny County Council Library Service launches the 2025 ‘My Little Library Book Bag’ initiative for children starting school

Kilkenny County Council Library Service is delighted to announce the launch of the My Little Library Book Bag initiative, a nationwide programme designed to support children as they take the important step of starting primary school. From today, families across Kilkenny can collect a free book bag for their child at any local library.

The My Little Library Book Bag contains carefully selected books focused on themes such as starting school, making friends, and building confidence. Each bag also includes a specially designed library card holder, a library card (if the child is not already a member), and helpful tips and information for parents and guardians to support their child’s transition into primary school. The book bags are available in both English and Irish.

My Little Library Book Bag is a collaboration between libraries, the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as part of the First 5 Strategy. This initiative is delivered in partnership with public libraries nationwide, aims to nurture a lifelong love of reading and learning among young children.

Sophie Walsh, Executive Librarian, said: “We’re delighted to offer this wonderful resource to families in Kilkenny. Libraries are welcoming,

inclusive spaces that encourage children’s learning and curiosity. The My Little Library Book Bag is a fantastic way to mark the beginning of a child’s educational journey.” Families are invited to visit any Kilkenny library branch to collect a free book bag and sign up for a library membership if they haven’t already done so. Library staff will be on hand to help children explore the wide range of books and services

To find your nearest library and learn more, visit www. kilkennylibrary.ie or drop in to your local branch.

My Little Library Book Bag

Sophie Walsh, Executive Librarian

Barry Douglas

Patrick Rafter

Pawsitive changes ahead! Kilkenny welcomes new dog warden and a refreshed dog shelter

Photo by Vicky Comerford

Kilkenny and Carlow County Councils are pleased to announce the appointment of a new Dog Warden to serve both counties, a move aimed at promoting responsible dog ownership and ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities.

In addition to this exciting development, we are thrilled to highlight the recent refurbishment works completed at the Dog Shelter located in Paulstown. These improvements not only enhance the facility but also create a more comfortable and welcoming environment for both dogs and their future families. The works completed include the construction of 2 large pens and 3 external dog shelters, a new outdoor visitor pen with seating, installation of extra fencing to divide pens, a new footpath and walking path, as well as new bedding and retrofitting.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Michael McCarthy stated, "We are delighted to welcome our new Dog Warden, who will play a vital role in promoting

responsible dog ownership in Kilkenny and Carlow. The refurbishment of the dog shelter is a testament to our commitment to animal welfare and community responsibility. The new warden will be un-

dertaking patrols around our County and undertaking dog license checks door-to-door also."

The Chair of the Strategic Policy Committee on Environment, Cllr. Eugene McGuin-

ness commented, "Responsible pet ownership is crucial for the well-being of our dogs and our communities. With the addition of the new Dog Warden and the improved facilities at the dog shelter, we

are taking significant steps towards fostering a culture of care and responsibility among dog owners."

Tim Butler, Director of Services for Environment stated, “By appointing an additional dog warden to service Carlow and Kilkenny, we are reenforcing our commitment to enhance public safety and responsible pet ownership. The role will not only help address issues around dog control and help mitigate the ongoing issue of dog fouling on our streets, but it will also foster community engagement and ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for all.”

Responsible dog ownership is reinforced by various legislative measures, including the Control of Dogs Acts, which require dog owners to ensure their pets are licensed, microchipped, and kept under control at all times.

Kilkenny has recently launched the Green Dog Walker campaign, aimed at promoting responsible dog ownership in a non-confrontational way and encouraging a community-focused approach to dog waste management. The campaign seeks to

foster a culture of responsibility among dog owners by providing them with resources, such as free green dog walker high-vis vests, dog waste bags, and lead attachments, to visibly demonstrate their commitment to cleaning up after their pets. This campaign is being strongly supported by Tidy Town’s groups and veterinary practises.

The Environmental Awareness Officer, Mags Whelan added, "This initiative aligns with our goals to promote sustainable and responsible living in our communities. We encourage all dog owners to engage with our Dog Warden, participate in community initiatives, and contribute to a safer environment for all."

Kilkenny County Council looks forward to working in collaboration with residents and the new Dog Warden to ensure that our communities remain safe, and that our furry friends are well cared for. We encourage all dog owners to take an active role in responsible ownership practices and to support the efforts of our Dog Warden in creating a harmonious environment for both pets and people.

L-R Mags Whelan EAO Kilkenny CoCo, Michael Arthurs SEO Environment Kilkenny CoCo, Dee Sewell EAO Carlow CoCo, Tim Butler DoS Environment Kilkenny CoCo, Catherine Millea Environment Kilkenny CoCo, Louise Brennan Dog Warden

Black bread and a pinch of tea

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

In Callan, LDF volunteer Seamus O Brien and his friend Sean Holden thought they'd done well, leaving the candles made from animal fat in the farmyard, to set...forgetting the sheepdogs that patrolled outside.

They were in the farmhouse with their feet up on the table, drinking lemonade the kindly housewife had given them, when they heard an unmerciful racket in the farmyard.

They ran outside to be confronted with the sight of the four dogs savaging the lengths of candle. They were too late to save the candles. The dogs seemed to have devoured the lot, including the string that was to serve as wicks. This had got entwined in their intestines and the vet had to be called in next day to remove it.

But Sean noticed one of the dogs still munching a piece of candle. Availing of his LDF special physical training, he bounded towards the beast, and a wrestling contest ensued between him and the sheepdog.

The combatants rolled around the haggard, sending petrified hens and a cock fluttering in all directions. Seamus and the woman of the house looked on, stupefied, as the struggle continued.

Sean had the candle in his grasp, pulling hard to release it from the determined grip of his opponent. Pebbles, chicken feed, and tufts of grass flew in the air.

Seamus’s heart raced. He worried for his friend’s safety as he watched him grapple with the dog the way he had seen Tarzan, King of the

Jungle, fight a lion on Egan’s cinema screen.

At one point, Sean had rescued the candle, but the dog ravenously snatched it back, escaping from his human

competitor and leaping over a nearby wall into a field.

Sean arose from the ground, his face covered in dust and clay, holding about three inches of candle sadly in

front of him. The housewife consoled him, soothing: “You did your best. God you’re a marvellous fighter, Sean, and a brave one too”. Sean tearfully handed

Part four

shunned this as it was deemed a “ladies brand”. Any man seen smoking it risked having his masculinity questioned in the pubs, or by his wife or girlfriend. The rationing of matches proved another challenge, one that locals met with their habitual resourcefulness. The type of match in vogue was not the so-called safety match, but the “Friendly” brand that had the advantage of being easy to ignite. If you didn’t have the box, you could strike it against any hard surface, the seat of one’s pants being among the special favourites.

the remaining piece of battered fat to the farmer. He admitted to him that it was his idea to take the candles into the farmyard, but the farmer forgave the young apprentice on the grounds that the lad had a far greater responsibility weighing on his shoulders: The defence of Ireland, and especially his beloved home town, against foreign aggression, whether British or German, and the wheedling of international conspirators.

He tossed Sean’s head of bushy red hair, commended his honesty, and sent him away with a good-humoured caution.

Years later, a speaker recounted this incident at a function where Sean was honoured for his service to Callan Credit Union.

After reciting the classic tale of courage, the MC intoned with a flourish, and to a warm round of applause: “You can’t hold a candle to Sean Holden!”

Callan Smokers defy warmongers

The initial scarcity of tobacco, cigarettes and snuff occasioned by the fall-off in imports from U-boat besieged Britain set the smart boys in Callan thinking. They quickly got around the problem and soon American brands like Gold Flake, Woodbine and Sweet Afton were finding their way unto grocery shelves.

The only tipped cigarette available in Callan at that time was “Craven A”, but men

In pubs, men shared their precious matches in the true spirit of wartime camaraderie: Seamus witnessed a common “Emergency Ritual” in Somers pub and Katy Mansfield’s whereby each match was divided with surgical skill into three parts with a razor blade. A tiny piece of phosphorus was attached to each stick… just enough to ensure ignition. Even this ingenious approach wasn’t always enough to ensure a ready supply of matches, so another method was devised to get around the problem. The smoker placed a rag steeped in saltpetre and bluestone in a small tin or box. He then repeatedly struck a lump of flint with a hammer or steel object until this action produced a spark to ignite the rag. The resulting flame would endure for only a second or two, enough for him to light his cigarette.

The hitch was that this method couldn’t be used too easily in a pub, though according to Seamus a few fellows, desperate for a smoke, tried it and were cautioned by the publicans to put away their fire-raising apparatuses. A third way to light up depended on strong sunlight and didn’t work indoors at all. You held a magnifying glass to the top of the cigarette until that much-sought little flicker of light appeared.

In the summer months, men assembled at street corners and the town cross to avail of this time-honoured practise, little wisps of blue smoke fluttering over the huddled groups as the sun did the job better than any “friendly match”.

The scarcity of tobacco caused anxiety among pipe smokers too. But they got around it in style, if at the cost of considerable discomfort to non-smokers and even some hardened smokers who couldn’t bear the fumes from the ragwort and beet root that replaced real tobacco in their trusty pipes.

Snuff users, on the other hand, either had to forego their pleasure or buy it on the black market. Very few obtained it illegally, Seamus recalled, a testament, he believed, to the law-abiding natures of the inoffensive and unassuming folk who partook of the habit.

(Extract from my book Are We Invaded Yet?

Kilkenny City scene from another era

Bridge Street Callan post war with Jimmy Lee Molly Cody and Kathleen McGrath

Wartime smoking ad

Clear, Hold, Build is launched at James Stephen's military barracks

of Michael Collins was centre stage.

There was only one place where the book launch could take place. 'Clear, Hold, Build' - How the Free State won the Irish Civil War was launched at the Officer’s Mess at James Stephen’s barracks in Kilkenny. Reminders of the foundation and life story of Irish army life bedecked the walls. A

Within the covers of Clear, Hold, Build, Dr. Gareth Prendergast explains the construct behind the Free State Strategy in the summer of 1922. He also scrutinises how the newly established National Army had to generate manpower and war fighting equipment in order to face

Photos by Pat Shortall

photo

Within the covers of Clear, Hold, Build, Dr. Gareth Prendergast explains the construct behind the Free State Strategy in the summer of 1922.

2/Lt Dylan Collins and Lt Rian Flemming

Donal Croghan and Mary Ann Maher, both from the Great War Memorial committee

Darina O’Byrne and Niamh Collins

Liam Burke, Michael Hogan, and Major General Kieran Brennan (retired)

James Prendergast, David Long, Gareth and Claire Prendergast

David Cowhig, Murt Larkin and Larry Scallan, attending the book launch

down a violent insurgency primarily based in the ‘Munster Republic’.

How a young, nascent Irish National Army achieved strategic success during the Irish Civil War deserves recognition and further examination.

An awareness to rebuild the country; restore essential infrastructure; reinstate governance and repair a flailing economy is a very impressive

but much ignored attribute of the first Free State government. This attribute and awareness certainly helped to ‘win’ the Irish Civil War, ending a decade of turbulence in Irish society.

Throughout his book, Prendergast, as a serving Colonel, explains in detail how the Civil War was fought and continually questions

how the young leadership and newly elected government of the Free State had the compunction, realisation and complacence to follow up on hard military action with ‘Good Governance’. It is hoped that potential readers will take the opportunity to read this innovative examination of a contentious period in Irish history.

The author is Dr Gareth Prendergast, a serving Colonel in the Irish Defence Forces, He has completed seven tours of duty, including the Middle East, the Balkans and Mali. At home he has served in infantry battalions during the Troubles and has been appointed to various positions in the Command and Staff School and as Director of

Logistics. He was awarded a Masters in Military Art and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and received his PhD from the History Department of UCC.

The book is on sale in all

and

book shops

online on Amazon and Wordwell Books.

Author Gareth Prendergast is pictured with Kathy and Brian Egan and Claire Prendergast

Jean and Emma Croughan

Jim Prendergast and Miriam Barron

Gareth Prendergast and William Early

Alan Condon and Seamus Greene

Mossy Power and Tony Musiol

Brian Murphy, Pat Murphy, Catherine Murphy and John Bennett

Pilgrimage Mass to Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, A Man of Hope

Few would deny that in our world today, there’s a growing sense of uncertainty, especially among our young people. Many, both young and old, feel lost in a society that promises everything but delivers little by way of true inner peace and contentment. Mental health challenges are rising. Anxiety and loneliness are common. So many hearts are quietly asking - as the late Pope Francis frequently said - “Is there anything to hope for? Is there something more to life than just surviving day to day?”

And into that space of doubt, today’s celebration raises up before us the extraordinary witness and powerful example of Blessed Edmund Rice, a man whose origins are found here in Westcourt, Callan and whose life reminds us that hope is not wishful thinking, but a powerful force that comes from faith in God and service to others.

Edmund Rice, as you know well already, didn’t live an easy life. He was born into 18thcentury Ireland, under the Penal Laws that suppressed the Catholic faith and denied basic rights to the people. Blessed Edmund became a successful businessman, married and started a family. But then tragedy struck - his wife died suddenly in a terrible accident, and he was left to raise a child with special needs, alone and grieving. He

had every reason to give in to despair. But instead, something extraordinary happened: in the quiet of prayer and sorrow, Edmund discovered a deeper calling. He heard the cry of the poor around him - especially the children who had no future - and he responded. He sold his business, gave up comfort, and opened a simple school to educate the poorest boys in Waterford. He offered them more than reading and writing. He offered them hope, dignity, and faith. In a time when Irish Catholics were second-class citizens in their own country and told they didn’t matter, Edmund told those same children “You are loved. You are seen. You are capable of greatness.” He believed that education could be a doorway to a new life - not just academically, but humanly and spiritually.

And brothers and sisters, isn’t that the message our young people need now more than ever? When so many feel unsure of their worth or overwhelmed by the world, as international scholars of stature like the American Social Psychologist, Johathan Haidt repeatedly tell us today - we need voices like Edmund’s to say: you matter. God loves you. Your life has meaning. This was a theme close to the heart of the late Pope Francis, and he spoke powerfully and repeatedly

about it in his messages to young people. He said “Dear young people, do not let yourselves be robbed of hope!”

And he called the Church to accompany young people - not

to judge them or lecture them, but to walk with them, to listen, and to share the light of Christ with tenderness and joy. My friends, it seems to me that that’s exactly what Blessed

Edmund Rice did. He didn’t preach at young people from a distance - he lived among them, taught them and loved them.

And by doing so, he restored their hope. He gave them the tools to believe not only in themselves, but in a God who never gives up on them. Truly, it can be said of him in the words of our gospel that “One can have no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

To you teachers and educators in the Edmund Rice tradition and indeed in all schools which truly live up to their Catholic ethos: you are called to carry on Blessed Edmund’s mission. Every time you teach with compassion, every time you affirm a struggling student, every time you assist a student to fulfil their potential academically, humanly and spiritually, you are planting seeds of hope.

To young people here present: if you’re feeling lost or unsure, know this - God can take your

questions, your wounds, even your failures, and shape them into something beautiful. Just as He did with Blessed Edmund. And to parents and the wider church community here present: let’s never underestimate the power of Christian witness. In a world that often feels cynical, your quiet acts of kindness, your patient parenting and grandparenting, your faithful prayer and your love for others are all ways of keeping hope alive. The Church, as we know too well through our own tears, isn't perfect, but it’s still God’s chosen way to bring Christ’s light into the world. And we are part of that mission. So today, as we remember Blessed Edmund Rice, let us pray for a renewal of hope, especially in the hearts of our youth. Let us pray that our families, schools, parish communities and Diocese will walk alongside them, encourage them and remind them that they are not alone. Let our communities be places where faith is alive, where love is visible, and where the poor, the young, and the brokenhearted find welcome.

Blessed Edmund Rice shows us that hope is real, that faith still matters, and that even in the darkest times, God is at work calling each of us to be light in someone else’s life. May Blessed Edmund pray for us, and may we follow his example during this Jubilee Year of Hope, so close to the heart of Pope Francis, bringing hope where there is despair, and joy where there is sorrow.

Niall Coll, Bishop of Ossory. 6th May 2025.

Loreto Kilkenny secure spot in

Loreto Kilkenny has qualified for the FAI Schools Soccer All Ireland 1st Year Cup Final on Thursday, May 22nd.

This talented bunch of players have come through

6 knockout games to win the Leinster Schools section, which was made up of 64 teams. They have now qualified for the All-Ireland decider after defeating St Columbas

College of Stranorlar Donegal in Oriel Park Dundalk last Tuesday. It is fantastic news that the Loreto girls won the game with a score of 2-0. The goals were

scored by Lavena Fogarty and Emma Walsh. Everyone in the Loreto school community is incredibly proud of this amazing group of players. We would like to wish them

the very best of luck in their upcoming All Ireland final against St Marys Nenagh. The final will take place at Cahir Park AFC on Thursday, May 22nd at 1pm.

Netflix’s chilling look at the death of Jason Corbett

A Deadly American Marriage, which has landed on Netflix, explores the death of 39-year-old Irish businessman Jason Corbett on August 2, 2015, at the hands of his wife, Molly Martens [both pictured], and father-in-law, Thomas.

Corbett had first met Martens when he hired her to become an au pair to his children, Jack and Sarah, in April 2008 after the death of his first wife, Margaret, who had suddenly passed away from an asthma attack in 2006.

Martens travelled to Limerick to care for the young children, with the two quickly striking up a romantic relationship.

The family then relocated to Lexington, North Carolina, and Jason and Molly married in April 2011, with Jason being able to transfer his work and business dealings to the US to start fresh and begin a new chapter. His life would tragically be cut short just a few years later.

On the night of August 2, 2015, Thomas Martens made a 911 call at 3 am informing the authorities that his son-inlaw, Jason, was severely injured and that he may have killed him after intervening in a fight between Jason and Molly. The details of that fateful night would subsequently be ar-

gued fiercely in court.

“He’s bleeding all over, and I, I may have killed him,” Thomas said in the 911 call featured in the documentary, as the former FBI agent alleged that, while staying at the family, the couple became physically confrontational and Tom grabbed an aluminum baseball bat to step in.

When police arrived, Jason was unresponsive with fatal head injuries.

Both Thomas and Molly admitted to officers at the scene that they killed Jason in self-defence and was a result of a “domestic disturbance, the two beating him to death with a brick and a bat.

Molly accused Jason of being a heavy drinker, and Thomas alleged that he saw his daughter being strangled by her husband in bed, leading her to try and knock him over the head with a paving stone, and Thomas hitting him several times with a bat after Jason violently went after him.

On January 5, 2016, Molly and Thomas were charged with second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter and released on a bail bond of $200,000 each while they awaited trial, which began on July 17, 2017. According to his autopsy,

Jason Corbett died from blunt-force head trauma and “extensive skull fractures.

Martens never denied that their actions led to Corbett’s death, but declared it was carried out in defence of one another.

The father and daughter were found guilty of second-degree murder in August 2017 and were each sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison, though they were granted a retrial in 2021 due to statements from Corbett’s children that were deemed inadmissible during the original trial.

The children, Jack and Sarah, had said during a medical evaluation that their father was violent towards Molly and would often get angry at her, statements they later recounted after saying Molly coached them on what to say during their interviews.

Jack had claimed his stepmother told him to make up stories about his father being abusive.

Molly and Tom did a plea deal before the retrial took place, with Molly pleading no contest to second-degree murder and Thomas pleading guilty to the same charge.

Both Martens received credit for time served and were released from prison on June 6, 2024, and Molly ‘s parole end date is set for

Sci-fis to watch on Netflix 5

June 6, 2025. She reportedly moved back to Knoxville, Tenn. to be closer to family and has kept a low profile since.

A D e a d l y A me r i c a n Ma r r i a g e delves into both sides of the case and provides viewers with “a rare glimpse into the conflicting perspectives of those closest to the case.

Molly and Thomas, Jason’s sister and children, and the prosecutors and investigators involved in the case each sat down to provide interviews for the documentary.

Molly revealed that she is under court order not to contact Jack and Sarah, who returned to Ireland to live with their aunt after their father’s death.

Questions still remain regarding the case and the Martens’ motives, as Jack called his former stepmother a “monster” in his victim impact statement, who had abused and weaponised his earlier testimony in order to get away with killing his father in cold blood.

There are other revelations, not least about the death of Jason’s first wife and the mother of his children. And about one view about the state of the relationship and marriage of Jason and Molly.

No spoilers there, though...

1. The Adam Project

Regarding actor Ryan Reynolds’ filmography, he doesn’t have the best track record. While undeniably successful, most of his productions (outside of Deadpool and a few exceptions) are fairly middling or just downright bad. Released in 2022, this time-traveling adventure has a generous charm and some outstanding performances, which help enhance what otherwise may be reasonably boilerplate scenes. In short, it’s fun, but there’s not much more to it.

2. The Kitchen

One of the most common frameworks explored in science fiction is the dystopia. The transformation of civilisation into a place where punishment and prosecution go hand in hand has been a genre staple since George Orwell’s 1984. While 2023’s The Kitchen hardly breaks the mold, it offers something objectively good. The Kitchen is set in a dystopian London where standard social housing has been abolished at the whims of the rich and powerful. Here is powerful performances, sharp direction, and superb writing.

3. The Midnight Sky George Clooney has also proven to be quite the director in recent decades. While science fiction isn’t typically Clooney’s wheelhouse, he shifted into the genre with 2020’s The Midnight Sky. Clooney is both director and lead actor in this story of a scientist who is in a race against time to send a warning to a spaceship approaching a post-catastrophe Earth. Without question, the visuals and Clooney’s direction make The Midnight Sky a memorable watch.

4. The Old Guard

The Old Guard (2020) is both a sci-fi and a superhero movie with a twist. It stars Charlize Theron as the leader of a band of eternal mercenaries who set out on a mission for vengeance. While one could argue that The Old Guard is more action than science fiction, its sci-fi elements help make it stand out as a film well deserving of a recommendation.

5. Leave The World Behind

In this modern age of humanity’s over-reliance on technology, it’s easy to wonder what would happen if suddenly those devices and luxuries we take for granted were stripped away. Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel Leave the World Behind is centred on that very kind of crisis.

Starring an all-star cast that includes Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Kevin Bacon, Leave The World Behind is rich with moments that are genuinely gripping to watch.

Community & GAA Notes

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news

CLARA

CAMOGIE

Hard luck to the Clara contingent who were on the Kilkenny U23/Intermediate team that lost out to Laois by a single point in the Leinster semifinal in Freshford on the Bank Holiday Monday. Laoise Nolan, Rachel Whelan and Keara Ryan all played while Katie Ryan and Grace Barcoe were substitutes. Despite losing here the girls still have an opportunity for success as the All Ireland championship is a different competition so here’s hoping for better luck there.

SENIOR

Clara put up a very solid showing in Clara on Sunday morning when a late flurry of scores gave Windgap a somewhat flattering 2-17 to 4-5 win. It was the first time this year that it became apparent that Clara can be real contenders this year when all players are available to them. There will be a real scramble for places then too when everyone is fit and available. They got a dream start here. Emma Shortall goaled in the first minute and two more goals were added before six minutes had elapsed, first through the returning Lucy Power and then Aisling Curtis. A downside was the loss of Grace Barcoe through injury after a couple of minutes. It took a shell shocked Windgap time to find their feet but they managed to score eight points in the first half while Clara added two through Emma Shortall and Niamh Ward to lead 3-2 to 0-8 at the interval.

Lucy Boyd got the second half scoring underway with a pointed free before Windgap struck for their first goal. Lucy restored a Clara two point lead with a free but Windgap then scored six points on the bounce to wrestle the initiative away from the home side and move four clear. Then a superb Emma Shortall goal following a surging run reduced the deficit to a single point. A Windgap free pushed it out to two before Peig Carrigan again made it a one point game. Windgap then finished with that aforementioned late flurry to emerge deserving winners. Clara will take a lot of positives from this performance however. Emma Corr and Lucy Power both impressed after a long hiatus and newcomers like Onagh Fitzgerald, Caragh Brennan and Katie O Connell will be pushing hard for places later in the year.

Team - Aoife Glynn, Onagh Fitzgerald, Katie Ryan, Aine McDonald. Emma Corr, Claire Nolan, Grace Barcoe. Rebecca Nolan, Siobhan Treacy. Aisling Curtis 1-0, Emma Shortall 2-1, Lucy Boyd 0-2f. Peig Carrigan 0-1, Lucy Power 1-0, Niamh Ward 0-1. Subs Caragh Brennan, Katie O Connell.

JUNIOR HURLING

Clara juniors were put to the sword by a well drilled Mount Leinster Rangers outfit on Sunday morning in Clara. Clara began brightly with two points from Joe Connolly and Conor Hoyne but the Carlow men responded with four quickfire points. After Philip Carrigan had scored from long range the Rangers repeated their four point salvo. Davy Barcoe then scored two on the bounce but the Borris men replied with two of their own. After Conor Hoyne had converted a free MLR put together a 1-3 sequence to lead 1-13 to 0-6 and were full value for it. Clara did add four points before the break through Philip Carrigan, Conor Hoyne (free), Lester Ryan and Davy Barcoe but MLR also scored three to lead 1-16 to 0-10 at the halftime whistle.

The Rangers never took their foot off the gas and also won the second half 1-13 to 1-9 for a final score of 2-29 to 1-19. They will trouble most teams on this display although it has to be said that some of the Clara younger players were playing in their fourth game in five days here and looked weary. Burren Rangers are next up for the Clara men.

Team - Cian Kelly, Evan Whearty, Tom Ryan, Hugh Kelly 0-1. Luke Lawlor, Zach Lawlor, Philip Carrigan 0-2. Conor Cody, Davy Barcoe

1-4, 1-1f. Conor Hoyne 0-6, 0-5f, Joe Connolly 0-5, Pádraic Staunton. Ben Murphy, Lester Ryan 0-1, Daniel Ryan. Subs Alex McDonald, Conor Galvin.

MINOR HURLING

Clara managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in Jenkinstown when being pipped by Conahy Shamrocks at the death. This was a game that Clara really should have won but hopefully the lessons they learned will serve them well in the future. Clara conceded 2-10 from placed balls to the opposition, both goals coming from penalties. Clara actually outscored their opponents 0-17 to 1-5 from play, with 1-1 of that coming in the last 90 seconds, but the concession of frees cost them dearly here. As well as that Clara shot 10 wides and Conahy had just two over the entire hour, in a remarkable display of shooting efficiency.

Hugh Kelly and Pádraic Meany got Clara off the mark on the scoreboard as Clara were mostly camped in the Conahy half for the first 10 minutes. But even at this early stage it was noticeable that Conahy either scored or won a free practically every time they passed the halfway line. Midway through the first half they won their first penalty and converted to take the lead for the first time. Clara replied with the next four points but Conahy tacked on another 1-6 before the interval, all from frees, to lead 2-9 to 0-13 at the break.

When Clara began the second half with three points from Hugh Kelly and Davy Barcoe (2) we all felt they would again drive on. But Conahy never let too much daylight get between the teams. The introduction of the injured Joe Power seemed to have swung the pendulum towards Clara and the lead grew to five points but Conahy scored 1-4 of the last 1-5 in the game to squeeze out what looked like an unlikely victory. Clara need to learn to make it count on the scoreboard when they are in the ascendancy, as they were for much of this game.

Team - Ruairi Bowden Mullen, Tom Murphy, Daniel Ryan, Conor Galvin. Sam Lawlor, Luke Lawlor 0-3, Philip Carrigan. Hugh Kelly 0-3, David Barcoe 0-4. Sam Corr, Pádraic Meany 0-7, 0-3f, Mícheál Meany. Jack Byrne 0-1, Aidan O Connell, Sam Coogan. Sub used Joe Power 0-3.

SENIOR HURLING

Clara earned their second win of the senior/ intermediate league on in Clara when they eased past neighbours Young Irelands of Gowran on a 3-20 to 0-15 scoreline. It was clear

from the outset that Clara were up for this one and Chris Bolger signalled their intent by opening the scoring with a point and followed soon afterwards with a goal. Paddy Langton and Dara Glynn then exchanged points as did freetakers Jake Byrne and Conor Hoyne. Then Clara struck for another goal through James Bergin and further points from Dara Glynn and Liam Ryan left Clara 2-5 to 0-2 to the good with scarcely ten minutes gone. Eight more points from James Bergin, Liam Ryan and Conor O Shea (2 each), Conor Hoyne and Chris Bolger had Clara 2-13 to 0-8 ahead at halftime and cruising.

Gowran put in a better showing in the second half without ever threatening the Clara superiority. Clara continued to impress and four different players from the six scorers in the first half found the mark. They were full back Shane Staunton, Conor Cody, Joe Connolly and Gowran manager Barry’s son Joe Power, who came on and added 1-1 to the winner’s tally. It must have been an interesting breakfast in the Power household on Saturday morning! Chris Bolger and the evergreen Liam Ryan kept the scoreboard ticking and 3-19 of Clara’s total came from play, with all six forwards, both midfielders, full back Shane Staunton and Joe Power all finding the range. Jim Lyng and Fintan Deegan would have to be pleased with that. Clara are motoring nicely and if they can keep upping the fitness levels and stay injury free an interesting year could be in store.

Team - Kevin Nolan, Luke Lawlor, Shane Staunton 0-1, Harry Boyle. Martin O Connell, Jack Langton, Philip Carrigan. Dara Glynn 0-2, Conor Cody 0-1. Joe Connolly 0-1, Conor O Shea 0-2, Liam Ryan 0-5. Conor Hoyne 0-2, 0-1f, Chris Bolger 1-3, James Bergin 1-2. Subs used Hugh Kelly, Joe Power 1-1, David Barcoe, Pádraic Staunton.

CLUB LOTTO

Lotto Results for 6th May. The numbers drawn were 12,18 30. There was no jackpot winner. €30 Lucky Dips go to James Tobin, Billy Carrigan, Coogan Family, Caroline Clifford, Alice Walsh.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS

1975 AND 1995 JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS REUNION

Saturday next, 17th May, promises to be a great night in the O’Loughlin Gaels clubhouse in St. John’s Park at the reunion which has been

organised for the members of the 1975 and the 1995 O’Loughlin Gaels county final winning teams. Beginning at 8.30pm it promises to be a night of nostalgia, stories and chat for the members of the victorious teams of thirty and fifty years ago. All members of the winning teams and their family members are invited to attend.

KILKENNY REPRESENTATIVES

Congratulations to the Kilkenny senior hurling team on the Leinster championship victory over Offaly on Saturday last. It was great to see O’Loughlin Gaels players Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy, Luke Hogan and Fionán Mackessy all see action in the game while Owen Wall was also in the match day twenty six. Attention now switches to next weekend’s game against Dublin in UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday at 3pm.

Well done also to O’Loughlin’s Luke Mc Donald who was part of the Kilkenny team which enjoyed a win in the Celtic Challenge over Waterford on Saturday last. Rian Delaney was a panel member.

CUMANN NA MBUNSCOIL REPRESENTATIVE

Congratulations to O’Loughlin Gaels’ Under 12 player Andrew Phelan who graced Nowlan Park at half time during the Kilkenny v Offaly game last weekend. Andrew represented St. John’s Senior School on the Cumann na mBunscoil team. All at O’Loughlin’s are very proud to see Andrew in action.

CLUB LOTTO

There was no winner of O’Loughlin Gaels club lotto dated May 6th. The numbers drawn were 1, 8, 25, 27 and the bonus number was 10. Play now at www.oloughlingaels.com

Promotors Draw, 1. Eileen Larkin. 2. Billy Stapleton c/o E Burke. 3. Pat Ryan c/o G Buckley 4. Claire and Ciara Maher c/o B Mahe. 5. Fan Larkin c/o Ml Nolan. 6. Ciarán Goulding c/o Dan O›Driscoll. 7. James Houlihan c/o G Buckley. 8. Niall O’Callaghan c/o Online. 9. Michael Holohan c/o Online. 10. Gerry Deegan c/o Online. Thank you for your continued support. SUMMER CAMP 2025

Dates for your Diary. SUMMER CAMP ‘25, The much anticipated O’Loughlin Gaels Summer Camp is coming up and full details will be circulated via local schools and at club training. In the meantime time mark your diaries and be ready for the greatest camp of them all. Week 1. 21st July to 25th. Week 2. 28th July to 1st August.

UNDER 11’S DAY IN GALWAY

St. John’s Senior School Camogie team which has qualified for their schools final.

O’Loughlin Gaels’ Under-11 boys and coaches took a bus trip to Clarinbridge Galway on Sunday to take part in their annual hurling blitz. The day was brilliantly organised and everyone who travelled had a great day. It was a good opportunity for our boys to play games against some great clubs. The boys played Clarinbridge Galway, Craughwell Galway, Sixmilebridge Clare, Naas Kildare, Ballinderreen Galway and Na Piarsaigh Limerick. Thanks to everyone involved for making some great memories for this bunch of enthusiastic young hurlers.

BUSY WEEK FOR CLUB TEAMS

The last week has proved to be a very busy and fairly successful one for O’Loughlin’s Gaels teams on the playing fields with wins recorded by the Senior team in the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior/ Intermediate League over Thomastown by 1-24 to 1-22 and the Junior E team over Bennettsbridge in the League by 2-17 to 3-8. The Junior F team beat Mooncoin by 1-13 to 2-8 and there was a win over Slieverue in the JJ Kavanagh All County Junior Hurling League Division 5 by 2-23 to 1-20. At juvenile level the minors defeated Thomastown in the league by 2-16 to 0-9 and the Under 16’s enjoyed league wins over Naas and Danesfort.

In the Féile Peil O’Loughlin’s defeated John Lockes in the 1st Round but lost out to Bennettsbridge in the quarter-final.

SCHOOL CAMOGIE SUCCESS

Congratulations to St. John’s Senior School camogie team which defeated Conahy team in a hard fought game played in the sunshine last Friday. The girls now go through to the County Final. We wish them all the best.

KILKENNY MEDJUGORJE YOUTH

Kilkenny Medjugorje Youth Group is holding a Bake Sale on Saturday the 24th May in St John’s Day Centre after the 10.30am and 6.00pm Masses. Donations of Baked Goods are very welcome and can be dropped to the Centre before Mass. There will be a raffle with fantastic prizes donated by local businesses. Come along for a sweet treat and a chance to win a prize in our raffle. Your support is greatly appreciated.

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

FRESHFORD

FIRST COMMUNION

Eighteen children from second class of St Lachtain’s National School received their First holy communion at a ceremony on Saturday last in St.Lachtains Church, Freshford. Monsignor Kennedy PP paid tribute to the children,

their teachers and parents, teachers for the manner in which the children were prepared both physically and spiritually for the sacrament. The following children received the sacramlenet:Alunika Pliuvaka, Aoibhinn Byrne, Barra Murray, Camila and Hugo Torrao, Freire,Tavares, Conor Eardley, Conor Geraghty, Ella Nolan, Ellie Webster, Elliot Knowx, Finn Dalton, Grace Hickey, Harry Hughes, James Costelloe, Kyryl Potapenko, Max Busujevs, Niamh Grant and Rhea Brennan.

SQUASH

Congratulations and well done to Nathan Walsh who was part of the Irish u15 squash team who travelled to France last weekend to take part in the European mixed championships. The team finished in 11th place overall with some tough games and were somewhat unlucky not to finish higher up the table.

Nathan won two of his three games, playing against a player from Ukraine first and won 3-0. Then he played against a player from Israel and had another great win coming out 3-0 winner. His next opponent from Spain was a tough one and the game lasted over 44 minutes after which he lost out 3-2. This was a fantastic achievement for Nathan and for his club and country.

Also another local man Pat Morrissey represented Ireland in the over 40s home international in Wales at weekend and came away with silver, another great achievement for Pat and the team.

GAA NEWS

Football feile – St.Lachtains U15s followed up their recent Div 1 hurling victory with a win in the Div. 2 Football competition. The boys overcame Mullinavat and Graiguenamanagh going on to defeat Galmoy/Windgap in the final.

The U16 hurlers defeated Conahy Shamrocks in roinn B League Round 4 last week. The intermediate side made it three from three in the Senior/Intermediate league with victories over Tulllogher/Rosbercon and Blacks and Whites in the past week.

The U14s Intermediates and Junior B teams all have league matches this week starting on Wednesday evening with the U14s.

DARKNESS INTO LIGHT 2025

Thanks to everyone who took part in the darkness into light walk around our walkway again this year. It was great to see so many turn out for the event both young and old. All moneys raised will go to suicide awareness charities the club will accept donations for another week if anyone would like to donate please get in touch with any committee member.

CAMP

Freshfords longest running camp will take place again this year from 28th July to 1st August at the GAA Grounds. The camp was

weekly bingo continues each Friday evening in Freshford Community Hall at 8pm. They run a special bingo this Friday night again with extra sheets and extra prize money and raffle. Eyes down and away you go at 8pm sharp. The hard working new committee are holding the bingo as a fundraiser for the Wheelchair Association. So why not go along and bring a friend or two along with you for a night out and a chance to win some good prizes while supporting a very good cause as well and keep the event going in the village.

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. Membership to Nuenna AC club for the year is €60.

SPLIT THE POT

The winner of Split the pot last week was Rowan Carroll winning himself €172.The proceeds for the month of May will go to St. Lachtains Camogie Club and the draw will take place every Wednesday, first draw this Wednesday. Entry cost just €2 and envelopes are available at Loop café and in all local shops and pubs. Revolut is also available on 08330411011 with your name and address.

JACK ROCHFORD OF THREECASTLES

founded by local man JJ Grace and has been running for over 20 years and it is full of activity and fun. Places will be limited. For booking or for more information please contact JJ on 086

BIRTHDAY

Special birthday wishes go out to Marian Dermody, Sart who celebrated a very special birthday last weekend. Marian celebrated her 60th birthday at party in Kavanagh’s Bar on Saturday night last.

GRAVEYARD MASS

The annual graveyard mass will take place in St.Lachtain’s Cemetery Freshford on Sunday 22nd June at 11am. (Weather permitting) If weather doesn’t’ co-operate Mass will be celebrated in the Parish Church. Please tell your family and friends and people are urged to clean up their family graves for the occasion

DARTS

Kavanaghs bar are the 2025 B League champions beating Connolly’s of Tullaroan in the final played in Seamies Bar. The two experienced teams faced off and it was game for game and went right down to the wire. Kavanaghs started well and in the doubles Builder Walsh, David Gerber and Jack Boland all playing very well. Connolly’s impressed too with performances from John Flynn, Shane Hogan and Joe Norton to bring them back into the game. Vinnie Colclough then made it 4-4 to bring it to the final game which saw Tom McGrath face John Connolly with Kavanaghs man hitting the winning double to take the title. Shane Hogan gave a man of match performance on the night

SOCCER

Freshford Town are almost at the end of the season with the Junior side finished up. In the schoolboys/girls section the U12 boys played in the cup semi final last week losing out while the girls U12 were beaten in the cup final on Sunday morning last.

The club are presently planning for the regeneration project which has been put together and received permission and grant 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, 2 new 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 has started and continues every Monday evening at 5.15pm in St. Lachtains GAA Clubhouse. All those interested should go along or for more information contact Michelle on 087 2063912

BINGO

North Kilkenny Wheelchair Association

Threecastles Heritage Group invites you to a Presentation by Eleanor Cantwell and Claire O’ Donnell on Jack Rochford of Threecastles [ 1882 - 1953 ] Hurler and winner of 7 All Ireland Medals. The Presentation will take place on Tuesday June 3rd.at 7.30 p.m in Threecastles Hall. This is a free event.

LOOP CAFE

The Loop Community Café in the village is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4pm. They are always looking for people on both sides of the counter. So why not support your own local café and with weather conditions and all recently it makes sense to stay local. You can Meet a friend for a chat and cup of something or try some lovely homemade food or 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 056.883.2650 and speak with Rhiannon.

IONAD LACHTAIN

St Lachtain’s Church Museum and Arts Centre is now open every Saturday and Sunday. Foroige FOROIGE YOUTH CLUB

Foroige youth club meet each Monday evening from 6.30pm to 8pm in the Community Hall They have music, a free library, stationary corner, games, chat and treats each week. New members are always very welcome. The youth club is members only so if you are interested 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.with Mass in Tulla Church on Saturday7.30pm.

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 2523521

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB

SENIOR / INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE

O’Loughlin Gaels Under 11 players and mentors who enjoyed a successful visit to Clarinbridge’s (Galway) annual hurling blitz.

Draw).

The first draw is to take place on June 10th this year. Thanks again for the continued support.

Well done to David Blanchfield who was part of the Kilkenny senior team that defeated Offaly on Saturday, best of luck in the upcoming game versus Dublin next weekend. Best wishes to Jamie Walsh and the Kilkenny minor panel who play Dublin in the Leinster semi-final this weekend. Eoin Walpole and Liam Keogh played with Kilkenny minor footballers who lost out to Waterford in the championship last Saturday while Eoin Walpole played corner-back on the

Kilkenny Celtic challenge team who defeated Waterford in the championship quarter final last Saturday also. Darragh McCormick was with the Kilkenny O’Donovan cup football panel for games against Laois and Tipperary. Best wishes to all ‘Bridge players on the squads at the moment. At under 14 hurling Evan O’Dwyer, Ben Fitzgerald, Reuben Morrissey, Michael Ryan and Ollie Kelly Doyle are involved while Darragh McCormack is with the Kilkenny under 16 football squad. Well done to Jack Minogue who represented Bennettsbridge national school in the half time game during the Kilkenny game in

Nowlan park last Saturday. Club Games; Our senior and junior teams are in action this coming weekend, please see the Kilkenny GAA website for fixture details or changes.

Our new away jersey is now for sale online on the clubs O’Neill shop. Go to the O’Neill’s website and simply enter Bennettsbridge in the search box to see the new jersey and all other ‘Bridge gear for sale.

The last man standing is up and running again for this year’s championship Details are on the clubs social media pages . Thanks again to all

who supported this year.

Split the Pot; Well done to Mark Dobbyn who won 91 euro, Aaron King who won 30 euro and to Noel Skehan who won 20 euro. Thanks again for the continued support.

GOWRAN

GOWRAN PARK

Racing returns on Wednesday, 21st May. Evening meeting with Top Class listed action There are free buses from the castle gates from 4:20pm, 5:20pm, first Race, live music from

Bridge Cleaning Crew

Bennettsbridge Feile Division 1 Football Champions 2025

Congratulations to Christine O’Neill on being named best speaker at the Macra National Impromptu debating final

East End U12s

East End U13 Girls are through to the Plate Final!

Community & GAA Notes

6pm. Admission is €10 and kids go free.

GOWRAN AC

Schools South Leinster; Congratulations to all athletes on their fine performances over the 3 days of Schools South Leinster, and best of luck to all those who qualified for Leinsters’ next week.

Ned Og Kelly 500m. Zoe Kelly 3rd 100m heat. Aoibheann Brennan 8th 800m. Ellie Doran 6th 500m. Jack Gardiner bronze Shot Put. Rachel Gardiner silver Discus, bronze Shot Put. Ailbhe Steger Pole Vault 4th. Aoibhlinn Steger Pole Vault gold, High Jumpj silver. Lucy Cunningham gold relays, 8th 1500m. Anna Kelsey bronze Discus, 4th SP. Chloe Lynch Pole Vault silver. Gearóid Farrell silver 1500m. Michael O’Keeffe 6th Mile. Oren Denieffe bronze Javelin, 4th Discus. Evan Ryan silver Discus, 4th Javelin. Odhran Prendergast bronze Long Jump. James Kelsey bronze800m, silver High Jump. Michael Holland 1500m 7th. Andrew Cooper silver Shot Putt

YOUNG IRELANDS CAMOGIE

Massive congratulations to U15 Feile team who won the Roinn A Feile. They showed great heart and hardworking in all their games.

GOWRAN LITTLE THEATRE

Tickets are now on sale for Gowran Little Theatre’s One Act Comedies, 27th and 28th May in Gowran Parish Hall. Book tickets now at gr8events.ie/oneactcomedies

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

GRAIG TIDY TOWN DRAW

The winners for Draw on 08/05/ 2025 were First Prize €415.00 Pico and Willies, €415. 2nd Prize €50 Chrissie Canning, 3rd Prize €25 Amaiya and Tillie € 25, Money raised through Tidy Towns Jackpot will be used to keep the town looking well all the year round. Draw takes place at 4pm o Thursdays.

RAMBLING HOUSE

The Monthly Rambling House Session is on the second Friday of each month in Newtown Hall, where you can enjoy music and song from local artists and also from the surrounding district. The next Session is on Friday June 13th 2025 at 7.30pm.

MASS TIMES FOR DUISKE ABBEY GRAIGUENAMANAGH

Monday to Friday 10am Saturday 7pm, and Sunday at 11.00am CLINIC, Cclr Brian Cleere will hold his Clinic at his office at Upper Main Street Graiguenamanagh on Monday evening from 6;30pm.

GORESBRIDGE PAULSTOWN

ACTIVE RETIREMENT

A meeting of the Active Retirement Group will be held on Thursday 22nd May at 11am in the Paulstown Community Hall.

BRIDGE UNITED Congratulations to Kathleen Whitehead who was awarded goal keeper of the tournament for the Under-10s in The Kilkenny Utd tournament last Sunday. A brilliant achievement for a future star. In the Premier Division, Bridge drew with Freebooters (1-1). Bridge score by Josh Barcoe. You can sponsor a player for €50 and get a prematch meal, physiotherapy and post-match refreshment. Info: Claire 085 7453 605. CHURCH SERVICES

Weekend masses are on Saturday in Goresbridge at 7.30pm and on Sunday at 10am in Goresbridge and at 11.30am in Paulstown. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place each Tuesday from the end of mass in Paulstown to 5.45pm. For the month of May there will be rosary and hymns each evening

at 8pm at the Grotto at the rear of the Church of the Assumption in Paulstown. Also, there will be a rosary for children every Friday in the month of May in Paulstown Church (info: Orla 086 3672 560). First Holy Communion for the children of Paulstown at 11am this Saturday (17th May).

Church of Ireland services this Sunday at 10am (Shankill) and 11.30am (Borris).

TALKING THE TALK

Cupla focal (Irish language conversation circle) continues this Friday and every Friday at 11am in the Goodly Barrow.

MENS SHED

Takes place on Tuesday 20th May at 11am in the community hall in Paulstown. Cup of tea, chat, woodwork and upcoming visits to other sheds.

MR PETER DUNNE RIP

The death has occurred of Peter Dunne on 3rd May. Formerly from Dublin but living in Paulstown. Sadly missed and loved by his two daughters Lorna and Lisa, two granddaughters Lana and Ava. Bernie, his daughter in law Kris, all his close friends especially Mick M, Mick L and Alan, also his little dog Lola.

MS SHERMER RIP

Mairead Renouf Shermer passed away on the 3rd May. Sadly missed by her loving daughter Doireann, parents Theresa and Peter, partner Keith, brothers Liam, Zak, Jake, Dean and Robert sisters Carmel, Orlaith and Lauren, Kate, John extended family and friends.

SHANKILL CASTLE

Shankill Castle is now open to the public each weekend (11.00am - 5pm). The Grounded in Nature Forest School for 5-11 year olds recommenced on 14th May for a 6-week term of afternoon sessions as well as on 21st May for a 5-week term for parents and children. Further information: groundedinnaturefs@gmail.com

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 for 11th May draw were: 1. Jill Maher (€100), 2 John and Sharon Curran (€20) and 3 Bee Dempsey Lakes (€20).

DICKSBORO

CLUB LOTTO

Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results 8th May 2025. The numbers drawn were 20, 24, 25, 26. Jackpot: €3050 Winner Orla Neary c/o Ned Buggy. Draw Prizes – €50 AnnMarie Nolan c/o Online. €25 each Joe O’Dwyer c/o Jimmy Murphy. €25 each J McGarry c/o Jimmy McGarry. €25 each Shay Dreeling c/o Pat Cody. Hurlers Co Op Misha Condon c/o Online. Promotors prize Jimmy Murphy

Your support is appreciated.

KILKENNY BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT SER-

VICE Kilkenny Bereavement Support Service provides free one to one support to people who are bereaved and can be contacted on 086 0670566 to arrange an appointment or make an enquiry.

ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL CAFE

Our Volunteers: Everyone who greets you in St. Mary’s Cathedral café is a volunteer, giving their time freely. They believe in making our café a space where people of the community can connect and 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

BUS ESCORT

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

SUMMER CAMP 2025

Bookings are now open for our brillant Summer Camp which will run over two weeks Monday 14th July - July 18th and Monday 11th Aug - Aug 15th. See ClubZapp for more details. And to secure your place.

HURLERS CO OP DRAW

By purchasing a ticket for the Hurlers Co Op Draw €50 gets you into five draws with lots of fantastic prizes to the value of 130k . Tickets can be bought through ClubZap or from any committee member.

ST MARY’S PARISH

YOUNG ECONOMIST OF THE YEAR 2025

A huge congratulations to the five CBS students from across TY, 5th and 6th year who attended the Young Economist of the Year Awards at the Atlantic Technological University, Sligo. Eoghan O’Callaghan 6th year, Michael Holland 5th year, Charlie Robert’s 5th year and Jaysen John TY were presented with gold medals for their projects. Florain Veith 5th year was presented with a silver medal for his project. Eoghan O’Callaghan was awarded overall 2nd prize in his category for his project ‘Gambling: Is the social downfall worth the government revenue? Michael Holland was awarded overall 3rd prize in his category for his project ‘Where is the best ROI in the current economy to counteract inflation? Michael was also awarded with a prize acknowledging his presentation and q&a skills. It is a great achievement by all students to be recognised for their hard work and dedication to economics at these prestigious awards. Well done to all young economists at CBS Kilkenny

MOTHER OF FAIR LOVE

Super project work at The Mother of Fair Love school exploring developing countries.Compiled by Colette, Barry and Ryan.

ST MARY’S DAY CARE CENTRE.

St Mary’s Day Care Centre, Haughney Green, Gaol Road, Kilkenny (near the Fair Green) has been serving the needs of St Mary’s Parish and the wider community since 2001. The centre is not just for St Mary’s Parish and there is no age limit, everyone is welcome. If you would like to take advantage of this amenity, contact the care manager on 056 7770789 or office@ stmarysdaycarecentre.com Monday-Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. It provides Bingo, Hair Dresser, Chiropody as well as Arts & Crafts among other services.

LENT, EASTER AND TROCAIRE ENVELOPES

A gentle reminder to return your envelopes. Thank you to those who have already done so.

Mother of Fair Love School is looking for a Bus Escort and to form a panel for Bus Escort positions that may arise over the coming months. Please apply with CV to principal@motheroffairlove.ie or by post to The Principal, Mother of Fair Love School, James’s Street, Kilkenny or call the office at 056-7721352 for more information.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Can you spare approx. 1 hour per week? The “Meals on Wheels” service need new volunteers to deliver meals around Kilkenny city. Must be a car driver. If you would like to join our team please ring the Kilkenny Social Services at this number: 056 7721685

ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL, CHAPTER HOUSE BOOKSHOP

St Mary’s Cathedral, Chapter House Bookshop is open on Monday 9.30am till 1.00pm and Tuesday - Friday 9.30am till 5.00pm.

ROTA

Readers Next Weekend 11.00am – G. Cody, Sr. Nuala. Eucharistic Ministers 11.00am R. Neary, K. Moran, M. Walsh. 5.30pm – T. Lawlor, B. Cagney.

PARISH SAFEGUARDING

Your Parish Safeguarding Representatives’ are Betty Cagney and Martina Lawlor Contact: safeguardingstmarys@ossory.ie

JOHNSTOWN...

A huge congratulations to St. Anne’s Camogie Club who emerged winners in the County Feile Roinn C Division 3. They beat Windgap and Danesfort in their first two games and moved on to defeat Tullaroan in the final 4-4 to 2-5. The girls now move on to meet the winners of Wexford in June. Well done to the team and management.

EPILEPSY IRELAND

A word of thanks from Epilepsy Ireland to all who contributed to the recent Church gate collection in Galmoy. The total raised was € 405.00.

CHURCH

The Easter Offerings for the priests support is now due. If you wish to support the Lenten Trocaire Appeal please return your contribution as soon as possible so that the parish total can be returned to Trocaire.

KILKENNY RECREATION /SPORTS PARTNERSHIP

A four week programme began on May 14th in Colaiste Mhuire with three sessions at the school and the final session at Grange Crag Loop Walk. 7.15pm start for women and 8.15pm for men. Suitable for beginners and back to fitness. Social and relaxed way to be active. Classes focus on mobility, flexibility, cardio and weighted exercises. Contact Ciara on 0858782773.

URLINGFORD LIBRARY

Story time for toddler under 6 Friday May 30th at 11am. Three chair yoga classes Friday May 23rd, 30th and June 6th at 2.30pm.Colour me beautiful stylist Johanna Costigan will be in the Library on Wednesday May 28th from 11am to 1pm. Johanna will give advice on everyday makeup, colour analysis, draping demonstra-

Kathleen Whitehead of Bridge Utd who was awarded goal keeper of the Under-10s Blitz

Tom Healy

Hurlng matters - Review

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

SHC – Round 3

Kilkenny 4-25

Offaly 2-16

UPMC Nowlan Park Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)

Having suffered defeats in their previous two outings in Leinster, the last thing Offaly probably wanted was a trip to Noreside that coincided with a first championship appearance of 2025 for the legendary TJ Reid. After 70-odd minutes of action in UPMC Nowlan Park the Shamrocks Ballyhale man had enjoyed his outing, finishing with a personal tally of 2-9, 2-2 of which came from play. At the long whistle, Kilkenny were full value for their 15-point victory. The win for the home side means Offaly’s wait for a provincial win over the Stripey men will extend to 31 years.

Johnny Kelly would have hoped that his side made a positive start in the Marble City, but they quickly found themselves on the back foot and had conceded the first of four majors in the opening few minutes. Stephen Donnelly got the scoreboard moving in the first minute, sending over a nice score before TJ notched the first of his points shortly after from the placed ball. Offaly’s main man, Brian Duignan opened his sides account, courtesy of a free in the 3rd minute. Then came green flag raiser number one for the hosts. Thomastown’s Stephen Donnelly took a fine catch before providing Mossy Keoghan with a golden opportunity to strike for goal, and the Tullaroan sharpshooter did exactly that. TJ tagged on another free, before Brian Duignan got his and his sides second point of the evening.

Graigue Ballycallan’s Billy Ryan, who had a very productive evening, hit two lovely points, either side of a tidy score from Stephen Donnelly. The Cats then collected their second goal to really pull clear of The Faithful County. Bennettsbridge’s David Blanchfield launched one of his trademark deliveries into the heart of the visitors defence. As a couple of defenders rose to deal with the attack, the sliotar broke kindly for ‘aul hand’ TJ Reid who made no mistake in striking a fierce low shot beyond Durrow clubman, Mark Troy. Thirteen minutes gone in the round three encounter and Kilkenny held a 9-point lead. The Leinster champions built on the second major with a third point of the evening from the lively Billy Ryan. Offaly kept plugging away and showed good fight in recording the next three scores, thanks to a free from Duignan and two lovely efforts from play from Dan Bourke and Charlie Mitchell. Unfortunately for the travelling side, Kilkenny added points from TJ and Dicksboro’s Harry Shine, before Durrow’s Dan

Reid returns and inspires Cats in Offaly rout

Dub’s up next for ‘six seeking’ stripey men

Ravenhill sent over a nice point. With 26minutes on the clock, TJ rifled over another placed ball effort which Johnny Kelly’s charges responded to with a lovely point from pacey Belmont player Oisin Kelly. The Cats stepped on the gas ahead of the interval and added points from impressive Thomastown duo Stephen and John Donnelly to add to another free from Mr. Reid. The home side were then forced into a change, with Harry Shine departing and being replaced by Adrian Mullen on 33 minutes. Brian Duignan added another brace of placed balls ahead of a nice score from The Village’s Cian Kenny. The final two scores of a fruitful opening period for the home side were taken

Leinster

Billy Ryan gets his shot away as Colin Spain attempts to Block

John Donnelly and Charlie Mitchell Clash

by captain, John Donnelly to leave the halftime score at UPMC Nowlan Park, 2-16 to 0-11 in favour of the black and amber.

The second half started a little scrappily, with some uncharacteristic wides from the home side. Indeed, the first score after the interval came some five minutes in, when Adrian Mullen collected a long high pass from Tommy Walsh before racing clear of the Offaly defence and dispatching his shot beyond the helpless Mark Troy to push the Cats lead out to 14 points. The lively Oisin

Mighty Reid. The Faithful County did register a score, Tubber’s Donal Shirley striking over a great score from centre back. Some wayward shooting followed, resulting in a total of seven second half wides for Kilkenny. When accuracy resumed, it was TJ striking his sides 4th major of the game that was the next score, with about 14 minutes of normal time remaining. Sensing his playing time might be almost up, Reid rifled over his 9th point of the evening, before leaving to hearty applause from the majority of the crowd in attendance within UPMC Nowlan Park to be replaced by Galmoy’s

Brian Duignan added two more placed balls to his personal tally, one either side of the latest Kilkenny change which saw Mossy depart and Fionn Mackessy coming on for the final ten minutes. The Kerry native’s impact was instant as he struck over a cracking score, less than three minutes from entering the field of play. Billy Ryan fired over his 4th of the game before the most impressive of the Offaly attacking unit, Oisin Kelly beat Cats netminder Eoin Murphy for the second time, again showing a blistering turn of pace to race away from the Kilkenny defence before finishing in style. Kilkenny skipper

John Donnelly struck his team’s last point before Donal Shirley sent over a booming effort to complete the scoring on Noreside. Final score, Kilkenny 4-25, Offaly 2-16.

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 2-9 (0-7f), B Ryan 0-4, J Donnelly 0-4, M Keoghan 1-0, S Donnelly 0-3, A Mullen 1-0, C Kenny 0-3 (0-2f), H Shine 0-1, F Mackessy 0-1. Scorers for Offaly: B Duignan 0-8f, O Kelly 2-1, C Mitchell 0-3, D Bourke 0-2, D Shirley 0-2.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, M Carey, P Deegan; C Kenny, J Molloy; B Ryan, J Donnelly, H Shine; S Donnelly, TJ Reid, M Keoghan. SUBS: A Mullen for Shine (33), K Doyle for Blanchfield (49), L Hogan for S Donnelly (51), B Drennan for Reid (59), F Mackessy for Keoghan (61).

OFFALY: M Troy; B Conneely, C Burke, J Mahon; J Sampson, D Shirley, R Ravenhill; C King, C Spain; K Sampson, D Bourke, O Kelly; D Ravenhill, B Duignan, C Mitchell.

SUBS: E Burke for D Ravenhill (44), D Nally for R Ravenhill (48), S Bourke for J Sampson (48), P Cantwell for Conneely (58), B Kavanagh for Mahon (62).

Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)

SHERRY SAYS...

3 from 3 for Derek Lyng’s Kilkenny outfit. No less than he and Gaels on Noreside would have expected. TJ’s return to provincial championship action resulted in a masterclass from the master. Good to get minutes into the 7-time All-Star’s legs ahead of bigger clashes this summer. Billy Ryan and captain John Donnelly were also in decent nick against the Faithful County, sending over some nice scores.

Good to see Adrian Mullen back in action again, while Fionan Mackessy is looking every inch Cats player when called into action. A quiet evening for Mossy, just a goal to his name! After a trio of provincial wins, Kilkenny will welcome joint group leaders, Dublin to UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday (3pm Throw-in). If Derek Lyng can mastermind a fourth win of this Leinster campaign, a final berth will be secured. The Cats finish the round robin stage with a trip to Chadwicks Wexford Park a week later. It could well be that the winner of Dublin vs Galway on the last weekend of May will be our opponents in the quest for six provincial titles on the trot. It’s shaping up nicely.

Cian Kenny and Charlie Mitchell in a tussle for possession

Stephen Donnelly Goes Past Jason Sampson to set up Goal for Martin Keoghan

Planning notices

Planning notices

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Jack & Joline Wang, are applying for planning permission for partial change of use of existing shop to restaurant and takeaway. Front of building to remain as shop with new signage to front elevation and all associated site works at Kellymount, Paulstown, Co. Kilkenny R95 AV88.

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, (059 9725684).

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Patrick Croke, am applying for planning permission for a single storey dwelling with treatment plant and soil polishing filter, borehole and entrance and all associated site works at Corluddy, Carrigeen, 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, (059 9725684).

KILKENNY

COUNTY COUNCIL

SIGNIFICANT FURTHER INFORMATION/ REVISED PLANS

(Planning Register Reference No. 24/60278) - Planning Permission is sought by Penny Pudding Limited for development at the corner of Pennyfeather Lane and Pudding Lane, Kilkenny. The proposed site is within the City Centre Architectural Conservation Area and NIAH Ref No. KK019-026212 is within the application site. The development will consist of: (a) clearance works on a 0.059ha site including the demolition of the existing restaurant building; (b) the construction of a sixstorey hotel with setback 4th-floor level and plant room at the 5th-floor level, comprising 67no. ensuite bedrooms, hotel foyer/ reception, bar and restaurant facilities, staff facilities, and hotel service facilities; (c) vehicle set-down areas off Pudding Lane and Pennyfeather Lane; (d) 12 no. bicycle parking spaces; and (e) landscaping, drainage works; and all associated site development works to facilitate the development.

Significant Further Information/Revised Plans has/have been furnished to the Planning Authority in respect of this proposed development, and is/are available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the Offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours of 9:00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the Planning Authority within a period of 2 weeks from the date of receipt of the revised public notices. A submission or observation must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of €20, except in the case of a person or body who has already made a submission or observation and such submission or observation will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Gittens Murray Architects Ltd., No. 5 William Street, Kilkenny. Tel No: 056-7753933. Web: www.gmarch.net.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning Permission is sought for the renovation and single storey rear extension with garden store renovations to the back garden to include demolition of the existing single storey rear extension and lean-to shed. The proposed works are to include all ancillary and associated services and is located at 24 Talbotsinch Village, Freshford Road, Kilkenny which is a Protected Structure with reference C217 and is located in the Talbotsinch Architectural Conservation Area. The works to the existing dwelling includes the repair of the existing original windows, roof repairs, the inclusion of a new shower room to the first floor, removal of a rear window to provide link to the proposed extension. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

Applicant: Grace Kearney and Joseph O’Neill.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Mark Simpson and Karen Jones, are applying for permission for the erection of a dwelling house, connection to local water and sewerage schemes and all associated site works at Curraghscarteen, Tullaroan, 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).

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Micheal Moloney wish to apply to the above authority on behalf of Denise Treacy for full planning permission to construct a dormer dwelling, garage, entrance, wastewater treatment system, borehole, soakpits and all other associated site works at Raheen, Dunnamaggin, Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Caroline and Michael Botha intend to apply for retention permission for development at this site situated at Crowbally, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny.

The development consists of A) retention permission for a domestic garage and B) retention permission for minor elevational changes to the main dwelling from that which was originally granted in application number 00384.

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

Further Information/Revised Plans:

PJ Phelan representing the estate of Dominic Phelan has submitted significant further information to planning application 2560047 which consisted of:

1. Retention Planning permission for the material change of use of an outbuilding

To an extension to existing dwelling

2. Full Planning permission to upgrade existing wastewater system to current EPA Guidelines and all other associated works at Kilmanahin, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny

The significant further information includes for:

Retention permission of the material change of use of the outbuilding to a family annex extension to existing dwelling

The decommissioning of the existing septic tank as part of the upgrades to the wastewater system

Significant Further Information/Revised Plans has/have been furnished to the Planning Authority in respect of this proposed development, and is/are available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the Offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours of 9:00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the Planning Authority within a period of 2 weeks from the date of receipt of the revised public notices. A submission or observation must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of €20, except in the case of a person or body who has already made a submission or observation and such submission or observation will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.