35 minute read
Travel & Leisure
PART 1 --------
1. PETRA, JORDAN
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Our list begins with Petra, Jordan. is ancient city is located in a narrow gorge and was built by the Nabataeans more than 2,000 years ago. is historic place became an important stop on the caravan route between Africa and Arabia. Petra was largely abandoned after a major earthquake in 363 CE. However, shepherds used the ruins for shelter for centuries afterwards. Petra is carved into the side of a cli and most of it is still hidden underground. e only entrance is through a narrow gorge, called the Siq, which opens onto the city’s main square, or piazza. Petra was designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1985. It’s now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East. Many movies have been shot at Petra including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, e Mummy Returns and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
2. MACHU PICCHU, PERU
Next up is Machu Picchu, Peru. is Inca city was built around 1500 AD and abandoned just over 100 years later. e site remained unknown to the western world until 1911 when it was discovered by the explorer Hiram Bingham III. It is estimated that there were more than 140 structures at one point in time. ese buildings were constructed using dry-stone walls, with no mortar. Although the purpose of this Inca citadel is unknown, some believe that it was a ceremonial site or the estate of the Inca emperor Pachacuti. Machu Picchu is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
3. THE COLOSSEUM, ROME e Colosseum is one of the
The best places in the world to visit
most iconic historical places in the world. is ancient Roman amphitheatre was completed in 80 AD and is a marvel of engineering. is structure was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD and took over a decade to complete. e Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and other public spectacles. It is estimated that over 500,000 people lost their lives in the Colosseum. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks.
4. ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA
Angkor Wat is an ancient temple complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia that dates back to the 12th century. It was built as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. e site later became a Buddhist temple, but today it is visited by people from all over the world regardless of their religion. Angkor Wat is considered to be one of the most impressive religious monuments in the world and is a must-see for anyone visiting Southeast Asia.
5. THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
e Great Wall of China is an ancient defensive barrier that spans over 13,000 miles. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in China and a must-see for anyone visiting Asia. is series of forti cations was built to protect the northern border of China from invaders. It was constructed in several phases during the Qin dynasty (221 BC to 206 BC) and rebuilt during the Ming dynasty. e wall has been designated one of Unesco’s World Heritage sites since 1987. You can visit this historical site by taking a guided tour or walking around on your own.
6. THE TAJ MAHAL, INDIA
e Taj Mahal is an ancient mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan between 1632-1649 to honour his wife Mumtaz Mahal after her death from childbirth. e elaborate mausoleum was constructed using white marble and precious stones such as jade, sapphire and turquoise. It’s considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and a must-see for any traveller visiting India.
7. THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA, EGYPT
e Pyramids of Giza are some of the oldest and most famous monuments in the world. ese ancient Egyptian pyramids were probably built in the 26th century BC. ey were part of a funerary complex and were constructed as tombs for three pharaohs: Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. e Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Great Pyramid) is the largest and oldest of these pyramids. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one still standing. ere are many mysteries surrounding this structure, such as how the ancient Egyptians were able to move such large stones and how they managed to build the pyramids so precisely.
8. STONEHENGE, ENGLAND
Stonehenge is an ancient stone circle located in Wiltshire, England. It’s one of the most mysterious and popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom. ere are two prehistoric stone circles surrounded by chalk pits known as Aubrey holes. e stones are thought to have been brought here from Wales and Cornwall. e stone circles are thought to have been erected between 3000-2000 BC and their purpose is still unknown to this day. It is thought that astronomical rituals may have taken place here.
9. THE GREAT SPHINX OF GIZA, EGYPT
e Great Sphinx of Giza is an ancient statue that was built between 2500 BC and 2400 BC. It’s located near Cairo in Egypt and is one of the oldest known monumental sculptures from antiquity. e massive structure stands 73 metres high and is thought to have been built for Pharaoh Khafre. Based on a mythological creature, it was carved from one giant piece of stone.
10. THE FORBIDDEN CITY, BEIJING
e Forbidden City was the Imperial Palace of the Chinese emperors from 1420 to 1912. It’s located in central Beijing and is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. ere are 980 buildings and over 8,000 rooms, making it the largest palace complex in the world. In fact, this colossal structure is spread over 7.75 million square feet. is is one of the best preserved wooden buildings in the world, and a must-see for anyone visiting China. As access was barred to most citizens, it was named e Forbidden City. However, it is now a museum and you can visit with a tour guide or explore on your own.
PART 2 NEXT WEEK
The 5 best museums in Paris
1. THE EIFFEL TOWER
e Ei el Tower is very well known and is the most visited monument in the world with it being the rst structure in the world to pass the 200 and 300-meter height mark at 324 meters tall, but this was beaten in 1930. e tower has more than seven million visitors a year with three levels for visitors to explore along with restaurants on the rst and second oor. In total, there are 1665 steps from the bottom to the top of the tower but visitors will usually climb the rst 600 on the rst and second oor and then take a lift to the last oor, which will take around 30-45 minutes.
2. LOUVRE MUSEUM
It is estimated that it would take a person at least 100 days to see all the works of art in the Louvre Museum!
For those who haven’t been there yet, don’t feel overwhelmed by the idea of trying to see everything in the museum in one visit. e best way to visit the @museelouvre for the rst time is to book a guided tour through the museum’s website. e Louvre’s experts are trained to guide you through the museum’s most impressive spaces, giving you fascinating insight into the history of the palace and showing you its famous artworks, including the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo.
Book the guided tour “Welcome to the Louvre” online at: Louvre.fr. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am. Price: €12.
3. PALAIS DE TOKYO
e Palais de Tokyo was built in 1937 and is dedicated to Art and Technology in Modern Life and is currently the largest centre for contemporary art in Europe. It includes everything such as paintings and sculptures as well as gra ti and videos. e site o ers visitor exhibitions, concerts, and performances which are spread over 4 oors. Children can head over to the Little Palais which includes special activities for them. ere are two restaurants here, including Tokyo Eat. ere are also two gardens, educational activities, and a book shop.
4. MUSEE RODIN
Auguste Rodin was a French Sculptor and was considered the founder of modern sculpture. In the heart of Paris, only a few steps away from the Ei el tower is the Musee Rodin, which is an 18th-century mansion and sculpture garden which holds sculptures by Rodin. Surrounded by peaceful and romantic French-style gardens which are a mustsee. e gardens are planted with trees and shrubs and visitors should expect to spend one to two hours here.
5. MUSEE GREVIN
e Musee Grevin is almost like Madame Tussauds, it is a wax museum, featuring over 500 life-like wax gures representing the world’s best-known celebrities especially ones from France. ese include athletes, politicians, singers, and actors such as Christiano Ronaldo and Melanie Cruz. e visit starts in the hall of mirrors and then further along the decorations in the museum takes its visitors to a beautiful sanctuary. In each room, visitors will get to see some of the most important events of the 20th century and tour the country’s history since the middle ages. e museum is open on weekends from 9:30 am to 7 pm.
Repair and Restoration of the Lady Chapel
OPENED in 1857, Saint Mary’s cathedral is undergoing some renovations. Work began in the James’ Street church just before Christmas. e primary work currently is preparation for and installation of a new altar and ambo in the sanctuary. At the same time, the two side chapels – e Lady Chapel and the Chapel of St Joseph – are being cleaned and restored. Initially, all the mosaics of these chapels are being cleaned – literally being washed down. ese mosaics date to the work of Bishop Collier in the early 1930s. Over the years a build-up of dust and smoke have clung to the mosaic, and all have now been cleaned. Repair to the windows has also been necessary. While the windows themselves are in good condition (repair work to the lead in these windows was done in 2011) the reliefs and paintwork needed repair. e reliefs and mouldings have now been cleaned and repainted and ‘gold leaf’ applied to the decorative designs. e altar in the Lady Chapel is original to 1857. St Joseph’s Chapel was erected by Bishop Brownrigg in the 1890s. e marble background (the Reredos) in both altars will be re-erected. Each chapel will be lit with new lighting. is work complements the beautiful centre apse of the Cathedral which was cleaned earlier and has been much admired by parishioners, pilgrims, and visitors alike.
Vincent O Brien working on the window
Over the years a build-up of dust and smoke have clung
St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny announces Grand Marshall Paralympian Mary Fitzgerald
St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny are delighted to announce that this year’s Grand Marshall for the 2022 City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be Kilkenny Paralympian Mary Fitzgerald. Previous Grand Marshall’s of the Kilkenny Parade have included Vicky Phelan (2019), Bobby Kerr (2018), and Cartoon Saloon Oscar nominated Producers/Directors Tomm Moore and Paul Young (2015). Mary will lead the St. Patrick’s Day Parade through Kilkenny City on ursday 17th of March at 1.30pm. e Parade is the central event in a 6-day jammed-packed festival of events for St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny as it returns to the streets after a 2-year break. Cllr Joe Malone Festival Committee Chairman said “We are delighted to have Mary lead the Parade this year. Last year was a mammoth year for Irish sport with Paralympians and Olympians seeing success in Tokyo. Mary is a proud Kilkenny woman who has already achieved so much in the eld of Para Athletics. We’re excited to cheer her on during this year’s Parade and to continue supporting her in her sporting career”. Mary, who hails from Callan Co. Kilkenny, is a Paralympic athlete who competes in shot put, as well as javelin and discus. Competing since 2010, Mary’s international achievements include winning three gold medals at the 2019 IWAS World Games in Sharjah, UAE, a bronze medal at the 2021 European Para Athletics Championships in Poland and competing at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. In 2021, she realised a dream by competing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in Japan. In tough conditions, Mary nished 6th overall in a very impressive Paralympic debut, and she says this is “only the beginning”. Mary is a member of Gowran Athletic Club in Co. Kilkenny and studies Occupational erapy at University College Cork. Based in the village of Gowran, Gowran Athletics Club competes in a wide variety of events including track and eld. ey have members ranging from 6 to 70+ and work towards every athlete reaching their full potential, whether an amateur or a Paralympian! e club welcome any new members who want to give athletics a go. Speaking about being Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick’s Festival Parade Kilkenny, Mary said “It’s an honour to be asked to be Grand Marshall of this year’s Parade. I have had an exciting few years, but I’m already working towards the next Paralympics in Paris in 2024. It’s exciting to see women’s sport and indeed disability sport going from strength to strength in Ireland, from a participationfocused level all the way up to elite. Para Athletics has been a huge part of my life from a young age and it has given me so many opportunities”. Marian Flannery Festival Director “We’re so thrilled to have Mary as this year’s Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Kilkenny is such a sporting County and Mary has already achieved so much. e Parade is a central part of the festivities here in Kilkenny and we expect 20,000 people on the streets watching the Parade and cheering on Mary as she leads it out. is year’s festival is our biggest one yet with 6 days of events and entertainment around the City and County. We’re relishing the world being open again and weplan to celebrate it”. David Denie e secretary from Gowran AC (previously coach to Mary) athletics said; “I’m delighted to see Mary being recognised in this way. She works so hard and is a great club member. She’s a wonderful ambassador for our club and athletics in Kilkenny and for Para Athletics nationally, and despite only getting started, Mary is already inspiring the next generation of athletes. She’s brilliant! e whole club will be out supporting her on St. Patrick’s day and cheering her on!” e St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny will take place from the 15th - 20th of March 2022. After an extensive virtual event last year, the Kilkenny St. Patrick’s festival is returning to the streets of Kilkenny. e focal point of the festival, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, will take place on ursday 17th March 2022 at 1.30pm in Kilkenny City taking the route of John Street, Rose Inn Street, e Parade, High Street and ending in the Market Yard. Mary will lead the Parade alongside some special guests. Spectators can expect pageantry, music, community and lots of fun and creativity at this year’s festival.
More information about St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny and this year’s programme can be found at www.stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com or on Facebook at @ StPatricksDayKilkenny
Stay fit, stay young with yoga
inking of taking up Yoga this year? Apart from building mental resilience, Yoga is also a great exercise system, tried and tested
over thousands of years.
Start with Good Bones
Yoga is a weight bearing exercise with most of the poses holding your body weight up, in often challenging relationships with gravity. ese types of balancing movements are excellent for building bone density, strength and stability. No class is ever the same and brings refreshing challenges.
Flexibility and Balance
Overly tight muscles occur because we often train in an extremely focused manner, and in sports like running or cycling…performing the same leg actions over and over again. is leads to a shortening of certain muscles, and through Yoga we introduce lengthening, and opposing movements to keep muscles supple and strong. Without this, tight muscles get tight and weak muscles get weaker. Balances are great for improving the functioning of the hip stabilisers which is particularly good for runners, walkers, hurlers, golfers etc
Rounding of the spine
All non-wearing forms of exercise are good but Yoga is unique in its capacity to prevent and reverse the most conspicuous sign of ageing, one that can’t be disguised or transformed cosmetically, the shortening and rounding of the spine. We can spend a fortune on face creams but our spine is what really shows our age. However, our appearance is only secondary. Our posture a ects the health of every system of the body. A healthy spine is essential for the life-sustaining action of the central nervous system, providing a canal for the spinal cord, allowing it to innervate the internal organs and muscles of the body unimpeded.
Trish Hayden, has been teaching Sports Stretch Yoga and 50+ Yoga in Kilkenny and the Watershed for the past 10 years.
New classes start in February. For details, phone 086-3895507, or Facebook YogaToGo with Trish Hayden
Cancer kids ‘need EU access’
IRELAND South MEP Deirdre Clune has marked International Childhood Cancer Day by calling for improved healthcare measures to help patients across the EU. e Fine Gael MEP is a member of the EU Special Committee on Beating Cancer which is behind plans for better access to treatment across member states, which are being discussed at the European Parliament today.
Every year more than 35,0000 children are diagnosed with cancer in Europe, while around 170 children and teenagers under the age of 16 receive a diagnosis in Ireland. Young people are often diagnosed with rare types of the disease which may require highly specialised care. Ms Clune said: “It is best for Europe to adopt a common approach to support the diagnosis and treatment of childhood and rare cancers. is means patients can access the care they need regardless of where they live.
“To allow for better mobility of highly specialised treatment, expertise and equipment, the current Cross-border Healthcare Directive must be strengthened, she told e Kilkenny Observer.
“We want it to be easier for patients, doctors and healthcare professionals to access information about treatment in other member states and have equal access to innovative cancer medications.
“We would also like to see resources allocated to help the development of multicentre clinical trials, especially for cancers with reduced treatment options,” the Ireland South MEP said.
Giving those with needs a hand up to get the job done
SOS Kilkenny has been awarded funding through the Dormant Accounts Fund for Work4Life. Work4Life is a specialist employment service that will guide adults with intellectual disabilities and autism on their path to paid employment.
Work4Life is looking for businesses and organisations who value and promote diversity in the workplace to partner with them and o er opportunities for paid employment, work experience or job tasters to job seekers we support.
A spokesperson told e Kilkenny Observer: “Employing a person with an intellectual disability or autism makes business sense for an organisation and their sta team. Bank of Ireland employs three people supported by SOS Kilkenny, one of whom is Conor Tobin. Conor works for eight hours a week o ering administrative support to Bank of Ireland team leaders.”
When asked if employing a person with an intellectual disability or autism has had a positive impact in Bank of Ireland and on the sta team, Jennifer Murphy of Bank of Ireland, explained: “Having Conor as part of our team over the past six years has been a fantastic experience and we look forward to working with him into the future. Conor is dedicated and diligent in his work, conscientious and thorough in his attitude and he delivers brilliant results for the team. We have developed an excellent relationship and our team has gained invaluable experience in communicating more e ectively, coaching and mentoring and enhancing our people management skills.
“Conor has a great ability to lift our mood and give us a boost when we need it – a skill which is extremely valued – and we are privileged to have him on our team. As an organisation, one of our values is to enable our colleagues to thrive, and working alongside Conor really emphasises this.”
Employing a person with a disability or autism can have a signi cant, positive impact on sta morale and motivation. It will enhance your reputation with both your employees and your customers. It will give your sta the opportunity to improve their communication and mentoring skills and it will add an enthusiastic, skilled person to your team at the times you need it the most.
If you would like to request an employer information pack or discuss o ering an opportunity to a jobseeker we support, please contact employment@soskilkenny. com or on 087-6353895.
e Model School for unique book project
A KILKENNY school is taking part in a childhood reading initiative from Enterprise RentA-Car and Children’s Books Ireland. e initiative will see more than 1,900 copies of Why the Moon Travels by Oein DeBhairduin donated to children at 64 schools across Ireland and was marked by an event in Tralee attended by Minister for Education Norma Foley. In Kilkenny, e Model School will take part. e donation is part of Enterprise’s ROAD (Respect, Opportunity, Achievement and Diversity) Forward programme, which is a $55 million global initiative funded by Enterprise’s philanthropic arm, the Enterprise Holdings Foundation, to promote early childhood development, youth health and wellness, and career and college preparation. rough the ROAD Forward initiative, more than 1,900 sixth class pupils from across Ireland will receive their own copy of Why the Moon Travels, a collection of folk tales rooted in the oral tradition of the Irish Traveller community collected by Oein DeBhairduin and beautifully illustrated by Leanne McDonagh.
Students in Kilkenny are among the rst pupils to receive copies of the book through the programme at a special event attended by Minister Foley.
Enterprise Holdings rst announced its ROAD Forward programme in November 2020 through its philanthropic arm, the Enterprise Holdings Foundation. e $55 million, global initiative focuses on promoting Respect, Opportunity, Achievement and Diversity (ROAD) for youth and families by addressing three areas in need of urgent attention: early childhood development, youth health and wellness, and career and college preparation.
Our local SuperValu in friendly eco move
CAULFIELD’S SuperValu Loughboy and Market Square SuperValu, Kilkenny have introduced circular economy solutions launching a bespoke re ll station of Tru Eco range of eco-friendly household cleaning and laundry products made in Ireland. e Tru Eco range of products is made from plant-based and biodegradable ingredients and each bottle is made from 100% recycled plastic, creating a circular economy product that is reusable, recyclable, and re llable. e range includes an all-purpose cleaner, washing-up liquid, non-bio laundry detergent, and fabric conditioner.
SuperValu shoppers can now bring their empty bottles of Tru Eco household cleaning and laundry products to re ll in-store at a cheaper cost. By re lling, people can reduce their environmental footprint, minimise plastic waste, lower carbon emissions, and save money.
John Burke, Caul elds Loughboy SuperValu Manager, told e Kilkenny Observer: “We are delighted to o er our customers an Irish-made Tru Eco Re ll Station, a simple re ll solution for household cleaning and laundry products that will save them money and protect the environment. e re ll station is easy to use, and we see an uptake from our customers. We make every e ort to bring great choice and value to our customers and to create a greener community.” e SuperValu stores aim to make re lling mainstream to minimise plastic waste.
Russell Walsh, Joint Managing Director, VivaGreen said: “Our Tru Eco range is for those who are mindful about the environmental and health impacts of cleaning products, and who are seeking a safer and kinder way to clean their homes. By buying our products, consumers are supporting a local, eco-friendly, Irish business, and reducing their plastic waste footprint, environmental impact as well as lowering carbon emissions.” *For more information and its full range of eco products visit vivagreen.ie or join the conversation on Instagram @ vivagreen.ie
e Rose of Tralee International Festival returns with a ourish as it heralds an inspiring new era & formally announces e Search for the 2022 Rose of Tralee
THE iconic Rose of Tralee International Festival emerged from a 2-year hiatus over the weekend with a real ourish, as it formally announced inspiring plans for an exciting new era and o cially launched “ e
Search for the 2022 Rose of Tralee”.
Anthony O`Gara, the Executive Chair of the Festival, revealed an exciting plan for the festival to become more accessible at community level with a vision to support voluntary fundraising e orts. Additionally, the relaxed entry requirements were reinforced, making it easier to become a Rose of Tralee, whilst supporting the all-inclusive and diverse nature of the Festival. (See Editor`s notes for Entry Criteria)
Lyn Moloney, Kilkenny Rose Co Ordinator commented
“We at the Kilkenny Rose Centre are inviting all interested girls between 18 and 29 years old to reach out and put themselves forward to enter this year’s Kilkenny Rose selection... As a new initiative we inviting GAA, Camogie Clubs, Societies and local communities to partner with the Kilkenny Rose Centre and participate in local events and in return the Kilkenny Rose Centre will make a generous contribution to the local community or organisation involved .
We are delighted to have MacDonagh Junction as lead sponsor of the Kilkenny Rose again this year along with Colin Ahearn GM, Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel where our Kilkenny Rose 2022 will take place on April 23rd.”
For Further details please contact the Kilkenny Rose Co Ordinator of Lyn Moloney on 083 4631611 or Kilkennyroseoftralee on all social media platforms. e 2022 Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place from August 19th – August 23rd. e Festival team are presently planning a host of amazing events that traditionally take place in Tralee town during this period, inclusive of lights, parades, family entertainment, street performance and much more.
All Festival details will be revealed in the near future on www.theroseoftralee.ie.
Anthony O`Gara – e Executive Chair of the Festival commented “ e Rose of Tralee International Festival is strongly associated with great Irish women, Irish people and local communities globally. Today, I am delighted to announce that this legacy will continue, as we reveal our inspiring plans for the future. Celebrating our Irish Culture, and the positive contribution that Irish people make at home and abroad is a real privilege and we are most grateful for the incredible support we have received over the last 8 decades. As we look to the future, it is our goal to support the fundraising e orts of local Irish communities and to continue to showcase the incredible contribution of great Irish women globally”
Applications to enter the 2022 Rose of Tralee are now o cially open. Visit. www.therosetralee. ie for details.
Taking onboard the feedback of the Irish Diaspora - the Rose of Tralee Festival are delighted to announce the New Revised Entry Criteria as follows:
Applicants can include
1) AGE: 18 years of age by January 1st, 2022, and will not have reached your 30th birthday on or prior to September 1st, 2022.
2) STATUS: Single / Married or anyone identifying as female is welcome to enter.
3) IRISH DESCENT: Be an Irish citizen or of Irish origin by virtue of one of your ancestors having been born in Ireland. For applicants residing outside the island of Ireland - be living in the region you wish to represent for a minimum of one year and recommend that if selected as the Rose that you will remain resident in this region for the following 12 months
4) HISTORY: Never have previously represented any Centre as a Rose in the Regional Festival or International Rose of Tralee Selection. Be available for Rose Selection events and if selected be available for International Festival events.
5) ENTRY FEE: An entrant sponsorship fee of €300 was required for entrants based in Ireland. is is now reduced to €200. Your local Rose Centre will give you more details. Contact your local International Centre directly for their sponsorship details.
NOTE: For applicants residing outside the island of Ireland - be living in the region you wish to represent for a minimum of one year and recommend that if selected as the Rose that you will remain resident in this region for the following 12 months.
We are delighted to be sponsoring this years Kilkenny Rose again, the spirit of the Rose contest aligns with our ethos of celebrating women and supporting our local community. We look forward to meeting some of the contestants and of course our young Rosebuds in the weeks ahead. Marion Acreman
e new business strategy for the future
NEW research published by Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, shows that 60% of companies in Ireland have increased their attention on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives in their organisation, compared with 12 months ago. e ndings come as part of Ibec’s annual CEO Survey, capturing the perspectives and predictions of CEOs on the major business issues.
Responding to a series of questions on the year ahead and beyond, the ndings provide key insights from business leaders on what they believe the business landscape will look like in 2022 and what this means for business planning.
Commenting on the ESG ndings, Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said: “Over the last number of years there has been a growing movement among Ibec members, and indeed business globally, to consider the impact of their operations, not just in terms of maximising returns but in generating returns in a way which balances economic, environmental, social and governance goals.
“From the survey ndings, we can see the initial e orts in this movement. Within 65% of organisations there is work underway on the prioritisation of ESG across the business, 53% were engaged in preparing for ESG reporting and 53% in developing activities to manage organisations energy use,” he said.
“In addition, 47% of companies stated that employee health and wellbeing is fully embedded within their organisation. Communication on employer values to employees (39%), activities to support local community (37%) and activities to support employee diversity and inclusion (35%) are other key areas where signi cant work has already been completed,” Mr McCoy told e Kilkenny Observer.
“While much work remains, these are encouraging early signs and we look forward to working closely with business to further strengthen and develop their ESG ambitions.” Mr McCoy said the top ve key challenges identi ed by CEOs were: • Availability of speci c skills/ talent (60%) • Input cost in ation (56%) • Labour cost pressures (52%) • Maintaining pro t margins (50%) • Supply chain disruption (39%)
Bank issues warning on new style of fraud
THE Bank of Ireland is advising businesses to be on increased alert against fraudsters during the current period of change, as many companies reopen their workplaces and employees adapt to new hybrid work practices. Bank of Ireland has recorded a marked increase in reported cases of ‘invoice redirection’ in the weeks since Government work from home advice was lifted, as fraudsters have used this period of change to capitalise on vulnerability.
Invoice redirection fraud is where fraudsters pretend to be a supplier or service provider in order to trick employees into changing bank account payee details. A common tactic is to tell the business that their bank account details have changed and for all payments to be sent to a new account, controlled by the fraudster.
What to look out for: • Fraudsters may write to a company’s nance or payments department either on forged headed paper or by email, pretending to be a supplier. • Typically, they will say that their account details have changed. • e payee account may be located either in Ireland or overseas. • e fraudster may ask an employee to send a pending payment to the new account or to ensure that all future payments are sent to the new account.
Edel McDermott, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland, told e Kilkenny Observer: “We know that fraudsters thrive in periods of change or uncertainty for business, where attention may be focused on other priorities. While the winding down of pandemic restrictions and the return to workplaces is positive news, after two years of remote working, this period will bring considerable change to many companies. Companies and their suppliers may be working in di erent ways, with team changes or the introduction of new processes and procedures.
“Business email fraud at any time has the potential to have a devastating impact on business. Training sta on the warning signs and verbally checking requests with a known contact will help safeguard business against avoidable losses. We are urging businesses not to drop their guard against email scams.”
Bank of Ireland’s advice to business: • Be skeptical of urgent requests that do not follow typical company procedures and policies. • Establish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising all payments. • Consider how your business issues and accepts payment instructions. Email is NOT considered a secure means of communication unless encrypted. • Always verify that the email is from the real sender before making any payment. • Under no circumstances should contact details contained in the email or attachments be relied upon to verify the request. • Notify the Bank immediately if you receive a suspicious email relating to payments or if you think you have been the victim of fraud. • Visit /security-zone/protectyour-business/ for examples of business fraud and for advice on how to protect your business.
Discover the magic between the overs
LIBRARIES throughout Kilkenny are taking part in Ireland Reads a campaign to get the whole country reading this month in the lead up to a national day of reading on Friday, February 25.
Irish libraries have teamed up with publishers, booksellers, authors and others for the campaign, which is part of the government’s Healthy Ireland programme and aims to celebrate reading and all the bene ts it can have for wellbeing and enjoyment. e campaign is asking everyone to ‘squeeze in a read’ on Ireland Reads Day, Friday, February 25. e pledge to read can be made at www.irelandreads. ie where you can also see how much time has been pledged by the Irish public so far and sign up for reading reminders. e website also o ers book recommendations suited to a person’s interests and the time they have available. ere are more than 1,500 recommendations from librarians all around the country for all interests and reading levels. Campaign partners and libraries all over the country will be running ‘Ireland Reads’ initiatives and events throughout February in the build up to Friday, February 25. Among the events are: • Sta Recommended Reads Podcast
Join library sta Majella and Karyn, as they discuss sta recommendations on our new podcast series. is will be at 8pm on Facebook and on kilkennylibrary.ie • Bibliotherapy and Poetry therapy with Geraldine Campbell
Geraldine will give a short introduction to bibliotherapy and poetry therapy, explaining how these can be used for a therapeutic e ect. is will take place 9pm on Facebook and at kilkennylibrary.ie • Storytimes, crafts, and book recommendations for children ese will be available online. • Design your own bookmark
We will have specially printed bookmarks available in each of our libraries for children to pick up and design and colour. As part of the Little Libraries initiative, bookmarks will be sent out to all participating Early Learning centres in Kilkenny. “We hope Kilkenny readers of all ages will join readers all over Ireland by reading for pure enjoyment on Ireland Reads Day”, said County Librarian, Josephine Coyne. “So sign up, take the pledge on Irelandreads.ie and enjoy some guilt free reading time for yourself and the family!” * Find out more and take the pledge by going to www.irelandreads.ie or visiting Kilkennylibrary.ie for more information and updates.
Wexford couple staying ‘at home’ in Ukraine
TWO Irish citizens have said they will remain in their “home of Ukraine” despite Department of Foreign A airs instructions to leave, as threats of a Russian invasion loom heavily.
Paul Niland and Bradley Stafford from Wexford have stated their plans to stay in Ukraine, where they have both lived for some time, despite the security update to Irish citizens asking they “depart immediately… due to the increased threat of military activity”.
Mr Sta ord, a photographer, is married to a Ukrainian woman and has moved from their home in Kiev 300km away to stay with his mother-in-law in the city of Lina.
“At the end of the day, this is my home. is is my wife’s home,” Mr Sta ord told the Irish Independent.
Mr Sta ord, who is married to Anastasiia, said he found out about the alert for Irish citizens to leave Ukraine during a phone call with his sister.
“She just called me out of the blue and said: ‘Have you heard the news?’ And at that point I hadn’t,” Mr Sta ord said.
“I was out with my wife having a meal and then I checked my email and there had been an email come in from the (Irish) Embassy, saying that they updated their travel status to the country and furthermore, they were advising all citizens to leave as soon as possible, by any means.
“For the time being, we’re staying put.
“We actually left Kiev about a week ago. We’ve come to my mother-in-law’s house in a small city known as Lina.
“We took the decision to leave about a week ago, because my wife was getting very worried about reports she was reading in the news about the potential for con ict in and around the Kiev area, which had been almost unimaginable.”
Mr Sta ord told RTÉ Radio 1 that people in Ukraine “are a lot more worried” currently than they had been in recent weeks and months about the prospect of a Russian invasion.
Founding member of Lake Productions Emily Kelly (le ) pictured with Brid McEvoy who launched the company in 2018 Lake Productions presented the hilarious Mark Doherty play ‘Trad’ in Cleeres Theatre with the cast of Joe Murray, Derek Dooley and Mike Kelly.
Michael Hayes in a scene from ‘A er Sarah Miles’ by Michael Hiliard Mulcahy which was directed by Mary Cradock at Cleeres Theatre.
Lake Productions take plunge with the Kings of Kilburn
FOUNDED in 2018, Lake Productions are currently rehearsing for a production of Jimmy Murphy’s play ‘ e Kings of the Kilburn High Road’ is show was rst staged by the Red Kettle eatre company at Garter Lane Arts Centre in Waterford in 2000
It is fair to say that it was received with great acclaim, and still has that artistic punch twenty years later.
Lake productions has already built an attractive CV of work which includes stage shows, radio plays and the production of two wonderful poetry books in conjunction with e Involvement Centre and e Recovery College.
Pre-Covid, the company produced ‘Trad’ by Mark Doherty and ‘After Sarah Miles’ by Michael Hiliard Mulcahy.
Artistic director of Lake Productions Emily Kelly said that although rehearsal were just kicking o , the power of the play is already evident.
According to Emily, the play is very special, dealing as it does with emigration from Ireland and to an extent the lost Irish. is play tells the story of a group of middle aged Irishmen. e men had moved over to England, dreaming of making their fortunes .
Now as older men, they toast the death of an old friend. ey rethink their decisions that brought them to England as they think of home. Secrets unfold and consequences ensue as the day goes on. e Kings of the Kilburn High road opens at e Concert hall in omastown in March for six performances and the cast includes Michael Hayes, Eoghan Fingleton, Alan Grant , Declan Taylor and Derek Dooley.
Backstage crew includes Clare Gibbs as Stage manager, Siobhán Hegarty (set), and Brendan McGuire (Lighting). e play is directed by Ger Cody e production will run at e Concert Hall in omastown from March 17.
Cast members of ‘Intercultural Miscellany’, a show produced by Lake Productions and staged at St Canace’s Hall.
