Kilkenny Observer 18th June 2021

EVERY FRIDAY

The Kilkenny

Observer FREE EDITION

Friday 18 June 2021

Our Oscars Morton in line for IFTA gong 

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Your holidays Five great spots for staycation  See page 42

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

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EVERY FRIDAY

The Kilkenny

Observer Your best local paper needs YOU

Your favourite local paper has managed, sometimes with difficulty, to survive the last 15 months of the pandemic. This is largely down to our loyal readers and especially our advertisers who have continued to support us through strange times.

The Kilkenny Observer is now planning to return to weekly publication very soon.

We need your stories, your reports, your club notes, your photos, so we can bring our readers the best local news coverage possible.

If you are in PR, a community worker, a club organiser or just have an interesting story or snippet or photo, please send it to us at editor@kilkennyoberver.ie

Light out of darkness ...

New Mayor Action to prioritise help for business, youth and local mental health services are promised by newly-elected Kilkenny Mayor Andrew McGuinness, as he takes up the chains of office.

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The Butler Gallery Kilkenny ahead of the opening of the Irish premiere of Richard Mosse’s two video installations Incoming and Grid (Moria) which are presented by Butler Gallery during Kilkenny Arts Festival. Pictured in deep thought is Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Picture: Patrick Browne

Covid update

More Covid cash aid now available for small firms

Around 450,000 people who are awaiting a second dose of the AstraZeneca Covid19 vaccine will receive it within the next five weeks, the HSE chief executive has confirmed.

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THE expanded Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid is now open for applications on-line through Kilkenny County Council’s website www.kilkennycoco.ie.

Closing date for this scheme is July 21 Phase 2 of this scheme has been expanded to include those businesses that had previously been ineligible and covers the period April 1 to June 30.

Businesses that are working

John Ellis..............................P16

EVERY FRIDAY

from non-rateable premises are now eligible to apply subject to other eligibility criteria and will receive a grant of €1,000 or €4,000 subject to turnover.

Businesses with a turnover between €20,000 and €49,999 are also now eligible to apply subject to other eligibility criteria and will receive a grant of €1,000.

SBASC gives grants to businesses who are not eligible for the Government’s Covid

The Kilkenny

Observer 1 GARDEN ROW, TOP OF WILLIAM STREET, KILKENNY, CO. KILKENNY R95 X95A

Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), the Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity grant or other direct sectoral grant schemes. This scheme aims to help businesses with their fixed costs, for example, rent, utility bills, security.

If you have received Phase 1 of SBASC you can apply for Phase 2 if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

Chairperson of Kilkenny County Council Andrew

McGuinness, said: “With the economy now moving through phased reopening SBASC Phase 2 will be an important element in supporting small business with fixed costs. The scheme will assist small businesses that are not eligible for CRSS or other sector specific grants and down 75% or more of turnover.

“The scheme has also been extended to include non-rate paying businesses such as

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE TEAM

home offices. I would urge businesses who meet the qualifying criteria to avail of this financial support to assist in their reopening over the coming months”.

Full details of the scheme, Frequently Asked Questions and links to application forms are available on-line at www.kilkennycoco.ie.

Queries can be directed to the SBASC Team by phone on 056-7794209 or by e-mail at sbasc@kilkennycoco.ie

INSIDE Paul Hopkins..........................P8 Biance Rallis.........................P20 Food & Wine.........................P22 Health & Science.................P28 Gerry Cody...........................P30 Picture Special.....................P36 Travel & Leisure..................P42 TV & Streaming..................P43 Sport.................................P50–54

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ACCOUNTS E: accounts@kilkennyobserver.ie T: 056 777 1463

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Have seeds, will grow veggies...

Green fingers: Katelyn McGrath with her pet rabbit and her vegetable patch Photo: Margo McGrath

THE Grow It Forward programme run by Kilkenny County Council Library Service has been going really well since it was launched on March 23 “This has been a hugely beneficial initiative, getting people to grow their own vegetables at home.

Through sharing with neighbours and friends, communities have all gained from the experience and will have lots of produce come harvest time,” Marie Smith, Grow it Forward Ambassador told The Kilkenny Observer.

More than 800 growing kits have been distributed throughout the County, with lots of groups getting involved, Family Resource Centres, Men’s Sheds, Woodstock and City gardens and others.

To encourage more people to get involved in growing vegetables, Energia and Grow It Yourself (GIY) are promoting a Get Ireland Growing Day on Saturday June 19.

This is a day where the people will be encouraged to • Tune into demos on GIY Instagram live to learn from the professionals • Download the GIY app for tips • Share growing pics using #GetIrelandGrowing to win spot prizes • Nominate a Get Ireland

Growing champion to win a cash prize.

See www.getirelandgrowing.ie for more details.

Everyone can get involved and Kilkenny County Council Library Service has great resources to help you on your growing journey.

Eva Holmes has developed a series of informative videos which are very helpful for beginners and available on Youtube channel kilkennycoco.

The library also has a number of useful magazines and books available online also. Check out their new App Libby for the latest magazines with some great resources including Kitchen Garden, Mother Earth News and Amateur Gardening.

For children there is a new magazine, Growing Vegetables Is Fun, with lots of great illustrations that will really appeal to all ages. To date, there has been a big uptake in the books and magazines on offer.

Stay tuned to our social media for details of Get Ireland Growing Day. Ireland AM are also collaborating and will be featuring events and competitions throughout the day. You may be in with a chance to win some great prizes!

Planning permission suffers with pandemic PROPERTY Industry Ireland (PII), the Ibec group for businesses working in the property sector, said that data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed planning permissions in the first quarter of the year were severely hit by restrictions imposed due to Covid19.

PII Director Dr David Duffy said: “The CSO data just published on the low level of planning permissions in Q1 reflects the impact of the lockdown. It highlights the urgent need to accelerate the move towards e-planning and the ability to submit applications digitally.

“More than 2,900 homes were granted planning permission in Q1 under the SHD process. Of these, 50% of the SHD permissions granted are subject to judicial review – substantially delaying the start of building and supply into the market.”

Dr Duffy said PII saw an urgent need to reform the judicial review process to ensure that housing supply could respond to the need for homes. Of the close to 27,000 SHD homes that got planning permission in 2020 around 37% had been subject to judicial review.

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Collagen is also associated with gut health; it can heal the gut, improving symptoms of leaky gut and IBS, and is worth researching if you suffer with Crohn’s disease or colitis. The amino acids in

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New Mayor vows to take urgent action to aid our local businesses ACTION to prioritise help for business, youth and local mental health services are promised by newly-elected Kilkenny Mayor Andrew McGuinness, as he takes up the chains of office.

In his acceptance speech at City Hall, Mayor McGuinness made reference to the significance of the role to his family and the importance of the role historically to Kilkenny, but he insisted he was looking firmly to the future after such a turbulent period.

Accepting the chains of office the Mayor said: “In the last 15 months we have all made great sacrifices professionally and within our own families.

We watched with great sadness as families lost loved ones, businesses shut their doors and people lost their jobs. We entered a period of uncertainty that we have never witnessed before.

“But, with all of that, emerged an unbelievable strength within every community that has given hope and a sense of determination to not only fight our way out of this crisis but to come out of it better and stronger, “ he said.

“There is a newfound determination to improve, to progress and to do better. You can see it within our business community as they reopen and welcome us back through their doors.

“There is a greater appreciation for what we have and a desire to build on it. As we emerge from one of the most difficult periods of our time, you can sense the excitement as we get closer to normality.

“It’s a new chapter for all of us and I believe this will be a year of positivity.

“Unfortunately, some people missed out on a lot more than others and it is our duty to do all we can

to support them. Our local musicians for example, have been left behind in terms of proper Government supports, yet they continue to entertain us all from their own homes.”

The Mayor continued: “I want to take this opportunity to once again call on Minister Catherine Martin to provide proper supports for working musicians who don’t sell tickets or have albums in the charts, but who entertain us in our local pubs, at our weddings and celebrations and who are only a phone call away when they are needed to perform for a local charity or worthy cause.

“They have been forgotten about and left without a clear plan. Many of them are my friends and I know they are suffering from mental health issues as a result of dealing with such uncertainty.

“Our publicans, who are only just starting to reopen, have endured the most difficult period in their existence and they too were left in limbo for far too long.

“I want to commend Anthony Morrissey and the Vintners for their efforts and as Mayor, I will stand with them in that campaign.

“Our young people have missed out on so much in terms of their social lives and their education, they too need our support. Mental Health is quickly emerging as the next big challenge after Covid and we need to be mindful of that and support our young people, in any way we can.

“The pandemic has also brought out the best in people. So many individuals and groups within our local communities have done extraordinary things to make such a diffi-

cult time a little easier for our elderly and most vulnerable.

“During my term as Chairman of Kilkenny County Council I have seen first hand the great deeds that have been carried out by exceptional people throughout our communities. It is my intention to acknowledge that good work over the next 12 months and to let those people know that their efforts have not gone unnoticed.

“As soon as restrictions are lifted, I will open the doors of this building and welcome individuals, community groups, sports organisations, charities and so on, he said.

“I want the office of Mayor to be accessible to everyone.

“As I previously stated, I believe this will be a year of positivity and it has already started – this week we formally opened our new Skate Park and Riverside Garden, the start of an exciting new chapter for the development of Kilkenny City and a taste of great things yet to come as we gradually open the Abbey Quarter.

“Our vaccine programme locally hit a milestone with over 35,000 vaccines now delivered in Kilkenny and the level of Covid related hospitalisations is at its lowest level in over nine months,” he said.

“Kilkenny has done particularly well in terms of keeping our covid cases at one of the lowest levels in the country and the people of both City and County deserve great credit for that. We can finally see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

“I’m looking forward with optimism to the challenges that lie ahead, and I will do my utmost to carry out my duties as Mayor with professionalism, diligence, and a duty of care to the people of Kilkenny City,” Mayor McGuinness said.

Sprinter Phil is new UPMC Ambassador IRISH international sprinter Phil Healy has been selected as a UPMC Ambassador for the next three years. Previously the sponsor of Healy as the UPMC Elite Sport Scholar for Waterford Institute of Technology, UPMC has agreed to partner with her for a further three years as a UPMC Ambassador.

“The relationship between Phil Healy and UPMC has grown significantly over the last several years and we are delighted to be in a position to partner with her,” said David Beirne, Managing Director of UPMC in Ireland. “We are excited to continue our support

of Phil as she continues to compete and represent Ireland on the international stage.”

Commenting on the news today, Phil Healy said: “I am excited to become a UPMC Ambassador for the next three years. We have been partners since my time as a UPMC Elite Sport Scholar in Waterford Institute of Technology. I want to thank them for their support. We share similar values and I look forward to working closely with them as they bring expert care close to home for the communities they serve.”

UPMC are looking to help shape how healthcare is delivered in Ire-

All eyes on our John for IFTA gong and also on local Cartoon Saloon THERE is plenty of local interest in this year’s Irish Film & Television Academy Awards.

The 2021 IFTA nominations have been released, across 25 categories in Film and Drama, ahead of the virtual event which will be broadcast on Virgin Media

One on Sunday July 4.

Kilkenny City man John Morton’s TV series Dead Still has seven nominations in categories of Best Drama, Drama Director, Script Drama, Actor in a Lead Role in a Drama, Editing, Make Up and Hair and Cinematography.

Dead Still follows Brock Blennerhasset, a well regarded photographer in 1880s Ireland who specialises in memorial portraiture in – photographing the recently deceased, not uncommon back then – and he is drawn into a series of murders which

appear to be linked to his work.

It is a six-part Irish-Canadian television drama series, which premiered on May 18, 2020. The series is a co-production between Ireland’s Deadpan Pictures and Canada’s Shaftesbury Films and is written by Morton, from a story

him and Imogen Murphy, and directed by Murphy and Craig David Wallace

land and are fortunate enough to be able to do so. Uniquely Irish but backed by a huge international health system, UPMC is a $23 Billion dollar health care provider, founded in Pittsburgh in the US. It is a not-forprofit organisation where profits are re-invested back into our hospitals With 92,000 employees worldwide, across 45 hospitals and 4,900 physicians, this means that Ireland gets access of the most advanced medical technologies, innovation, research and IT capability for the benefit of Irish patients.

PHOTO: Andres Poveda

Kilkenny based animation studio Cartoon Saloon’s Wolfwalkers has been shortlisted for Best Film, Film Script and Best Director.

And Saoirse Ronan, who spent her childhood in Ardattin, Co Carlow, is down for Actress in a Supporting Role Film for ‘Ammonite’ The fullest of nominations is at https://ifta.ie/awards/nominees_2021/ * What’s streaming right now, Turn to Page 43

Dead Morto

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The Fact Of The Matter PAUL HOPKINS

My Father: like some sort of unsung hero...

I only ever saw my Father cry once. And that was when his own father died and the word came through with a messenger from the local newsagent, the only ones in the area with a phone in those days. And he sat down at the top of the stairs, his face still half-caked in shaving cream, and bawled his eyes out.

I was seven at the time and the sight of my Dad, a big, grown man weeping, unnerved me and puzzled me as to what was this thing called Death that could reduce this man to such babbling behaviour.

Dads in those days were strong and self-assured, went out to work — clean-shaven and on a bicycle — and came back at the end of the day with the bread and bacon and were never given to whimpering, or wailing like my aunts who gathered in my house upon

news of my grandfather’s death.

Such attributes were the remit of women, looking after the sick and dressing the dead and even bringing life into the world, for when my Father was goaded by his brother into telling my grandmother of my expected arrival into this world, the eldest of three, he returned from the scullery, where she was elbow-deep in white flower, his face glowing with embarrassment.

“Well,’’ inquired my Uncle Paddy. “Did you tell her the good news?’’

“I did,’’ said my Father.

“And ...?’’ said my uncle.

“And nothing,’’ said my Father. “She said, ‘Kevin Hopkins, that has nothing to do with you ....’’

I reckon my Father there and then must have resigned himself to being stoic and upstanding thereafter. For it was

only many years later that I saw another side to him.

It was a brief glance, but exquisite. It was the Millennium year, about a week before he died — 21 years ago this month — and he in his 80th year and convalescing with me after his second heart attack.

We sat on an old bench, badly in need of a paint job, looking out to the distant mountains.

It was, perhaps, a chance to mend bridges but, in truth, there were few, if there were ever any, to mend.

There was an eerie but acceptable silence between us for words now offered little consolation for what we both now knew, and doctors concurred, were his last days among us.

And then he turned to me, his eyes still baby-blue in the puckered and pale parchment of his face, and said, matterof-factly: “You know son, I’ve

Diets do not work ANDREW MCDONALD HYPNOTHERAPIST

THE four words in the title above will come like a hammer blow for some and perhaps as a relief for many others. There are a great many reasons why dieting does not result in achieving body goals.

What may be surprising is that a great deal of those reasons are founded in scientific fact, research and evidence.

The first thing to consider is do you really want to lose weight? The second is why? Shedding the pounds and keeping them off are not easy. This doesn’t mean you can’t do it but it does mean you need to know what is driving you. Most people aren’t successful because, deep down, they’re quietly satisfied with how they look. In reality we should be applauding those people. The media likes to portray how being very thin should be an aspiration but very few doctors would concur.

Undoubtedly, being very underweight is equally as risky to health as being very overweight. A little either side, not so much.

Research into why diets fail has a very long history.

Researchers have also studied the stigma attached to being overweight. The scientific truth however is some people were born to be bigger, some smaller, just like with height. In a fight between dieting and nature, there’s only going to be one winner. However, that stigma means people very often begin dieting from a position of low confidence. Not a great, or particularly fair, starting block.

Also, dieting is in its very essence deeply negative.

It is based on denial and a black or white frame of mind when it comes to success or failure. You slip up, you eat something you shouldn’t or you eat too much of something you should eat in a smaller amount and your brain goes into overdrive: “I can’t do this, there’s no point in trying, I’m not going to bother anymore, I’m a failure”. The diet fails.

Denial is also extremely difficult. Imagine day one,

you’re not hungry and you see a chocolate bar which you can or cannot eat depending on your fancy.

Now, on day two, you’re still not hungry and you see a chocolate bar which you absolutely must not eat under any circumstances!

Which day was it easier to walk past the chocolate bar and forget about it? Denial is extremely difficult.

Another reason why diets fail.

Next week we will take a look at things you can do instead of dieting and which have a proven track record of far higher success rates. By all means, if you are one of the lucky few for whom diets work, congratulations, you don’t need to read next week’s article. If you are one of the many who find diets impossible, the secrets that will be revealed in seven days’ time may very well set you on a path to a new life!

always loved you. And I’m proud of you.’’

“I know,’’ I said, “me too ...’’

And we embraced briefly and moved away to avoid the awkward moment.

It was the one and only time I can remember my Father telling me he loved me, let alone that he was proud of me.

But sure, that didn’t matter for I had always known that he did. After all, had he not gone out to work and brought home the bacon, bought me my first watch and my first guitar and introduced me to Dylan and Yeats and Shakespeare and Dickens. Not bad for a guy who left school at 14, as was typical then. He also taught me to shave and had sung Panis Angelicas so beautifully on the day I wed. That and the myriad other things that dads do daily for their children that often go unacknowledged, like some sort of unsung hero.

Strong and self-assured, went out to work ... cleanshaven and on a bicycle...’

”

Love, as he might have said himself, didn’t come into it. It was a deeper thing than that.

And, so after I wed, I went on to have my own three children. And I the different boyo, the New Man. At all the births, always tactile with them, taking them more places and doing more things with them than my Old Man had done with me, seeing as he had been busy bringing home the bacon and being stoic.

And, grown-up and all as they are now, I still give them bear hugs, pandemic permitting, and never lose an opportunity to tell them I love them. I see a lot of my Dad in my youngest son. The gene is assured. I like to think too that I have passed on the two best lessons my Father taught me — respect yourself and respect others, and never be afraid to seek a helping hand in standing like a man.

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97% of LGBTI+ young struggling with anxiety A NATIONAL BeLonG To Youth Services survey has revealed the consequences of the pandemic on the mental health of local LGBTI+ young people.

Perhaps the most startling statistic is that nearly all members of the young LGBTI+ community (97%) are cur-

rently struggling with anxiety, stress or depression.

Other key findings from the survey reveal that during COVID-19: * 63% of LGBTI+ young people are struggling with suicide ideation (2020: 55%). * 50% of LGBTI+ young people are struggling with self-

Work life balance a reason to switch job AS a result of the pandemic, work life balance is now the standout reason candidates will be attracted to a potential new employer, according to a report conducted by search firm HRM. Of the 1,882 people surveyed, nine in ten (97%) respondents said a work life balance is influential in their decision on whether to engage with a new employer.

When deciding on whether to engage in an interview process with a new employer, seven in ten (72%) said a better work life balance would be top of their agenda. Six in ten (67%) said they would accept an offer if the workplace allowed flexibility and over half (54%) of respondents would like to commute less. Only one in ten (10%) respondents want to return to their offices or sites full time.

The experience candidates have with an organisation dur-

ing the hiring process, is the number one factor determining whether they continue with a process with nine in ten (96%) describing it as influential. Main deterrents during a selection phase included 8 in 10 (89%) referring to a lack of rapport with the hiring manager during the hiring process.

In terms of reasons for refusing an offer, six in ten (67%) citied ‘lack of flexibility offered’.

Four in ten (44%) said they would refuse a job if the company didn’t offer any remote working.

Employees have raised the bar on standards of behaviour they expect from their organisations. Seven in ten (78%) said adverse publicity would impact their decision on whether to interview with or join a firm. A public scandal involving a senior executive of a firm would influence six in ten (63%) candidates for the same decision.

harm (2020: 45%). * 83% of young people are feeling acute loneliness throughout the pandemic (2020: 60%). *58% of young people described their mental health as “bad” or “very bad” (2020: 48%).

More than half (56%) of LG-

BTI+ young people surveyed this year in 2021 said they were not fully accepted in their home environment.

Family rejection, feeling unaccepted, and a denial of identity can result in loneliness, stress, anxiety, and more complex mental health challenges.

CEO of BeLonG To Youth

Services, Moninne Griffith, explains that support for LGBTI+ young people, especially now, is integral to positive mental health outcomes.

“The past 12 months have been extremely difficult for LGBTI+ young people, as clear from our research,” she said.

On your skates ...

With the Riverside Garden and Skatepark now completed at the Abbey Quarter, Kilkenny County Council was delighted to announce the official opening of this amenity by the Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council and Mayor of Kilkenny Municipal District on Wednesday, 9th Pictured above are former and Current Elected Members of Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Borough Council.

Opening the door into our National Heritage Week

Court appearances after young locals murdered in Wales and Australia A FUND has been set up to assist the loved-ones of a man who has family in Kilkenny and is believed to have been murdered in Wales.

Police attending a report of a serious assault in Newport recently found Ryan O’Connor unconscious and unresponsive with paramedics subsequently pronouncing him dead.

Five teenagers have been charged with the murder and robbery of the 26-year-old father of one. All have appeared initially before court and were due to reappear.

Mr O’Connor has cousins in Callan who told KCLR News he was “a gem”.

A a Go Fund Me page has been set up.

Elsewhere, two of three men charged with the murder of a Carlow Town native in Australia are due to re-appear in court.

Cian English, who was 19 at the time and originally from Bullock Park, was living in Brisbane when he suffered fatal injuries after falling from a fourth-floor balcony in the early hours of May 23 last year.

It’s understood he was trying to escape being robbed at knifepoint following an apartment party.

Two of the three accused men are due to appear before Southport Magistrates Court with a third male due on September 30.

There are also two female minors who are also charged with the teenager’s murder but a court has yet to be set..

“Levels of self-harm and suicide ideation are rising as LGBTI+ young people experience unique mental health challenges. Many formal and informal safety nets, supports, and services have been unavailable because of lockdowns and increased social isolation.

NATIONAL Heritage Week Culture looms and heritage groups, communities, families and individuals throughout the county are being asked to come on board and celebrate and share heritage for National Heritage Week 2021.

‘Open the door to heritage’ is the message from the Heritage Council as it launches the week, which will run from August 14-22 and has become one of Ireland’s largest cultural events.

The launch was attended by Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD.

“My department and I are pleased to support this year’s National Heritage Week, which focuses on encouraging the inclusion of as many people as possible in exploring, sharing and enjoying Ireland’s diverse heritage,” he said.

“I especially welcome the heritage newcomers approach taken this year, which is an invitation to those who are new to heritage to get involved.

During lockdowns many of us have had more time to explore our local or personal heritage.

National Heritage Week may be the perfect opportunity to showcase what you have dis-

covered, or to dig deeper and find out more.

“Whatever aspect of heritage is chosen, I wish the very best to all those taking part and look forward to seeing the end results in August,” Minister Noonan said.

The Chairman of the Heritage Council, Michael Parsons, said: “I strongly encourage all project organisers to think meaningfully on how they might include new members of their communities in their projects, and explore aspects of heritage that may have been overlooked in the past.”

Plan for 40 homes finally gets go-ahead A PLAN for family homes rejected by the national planning authority for being “unco-ordinated and piecemeal” has been approved by Kilkenny County Council after changes were made to the plans.

Developer Bluelime Homes has finally been granted permission to build 40 homes on a site at Loughmacask, Lousybush on the Tullaroan Road following a long, drawn out application process.

The local authority originally granted planning permission to Bluelime Homes for 30 three-bedroom houses, six four-bed houses and four five-bed homes in December 2019.

That decision was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála who last September rejected the proposals.

In its ruling, the planning authority said the plan “would result in an unplanned and disorderly approach to the expansion of Kilkenny city”.

Bluelime last month returned to the council with changes to its original plans, replacing three detached houses and two semi-detached houses with six semidetached houses.

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Update on second Covid jab revealed AROUND 450,000 people who are awaiting a second dose of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine will receive it within the next five weeks, the HSE chief executive has confirmed.

Paul Reid this evening confirmed that the wait time for a second AstraZeneca dose is being gradually reduced from 12 weeks to eight following advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).

“We started the process this week of giving people the second dose of AstraZeneca, that we will work through over the next five weeks,” Reid said, speaking to Virgin Media News.

Reid said it is planned that the second doses of AstraZeneca will be completed by July 19.

“So, 450,000 people over the course of the next five weeks will receive their second dose of AstraZeneca,” he said.

“Overall, it’s really important

that people do come forward for their second dose vaccine. You don’t have your fullest protection until you have your second dose vaccine,” Reid added.

The HSE chief said the rollout of the second dose of AstraZeneca would not delay the vaccination rollout for those in younger age cohorts. He also confirmed people who do not wish to receive the second dose of AstraZeneca would not be offered an mRNA vaccine in its place.

Meanwhile, people who are not fully vaccinated and are travelling from Britain to Ireland will have to self-quarantine for 14 days after they arrive, the Cabinet has agreed.

The new travel restrictions take effect immediately. The 14-day self-quarantine is a legal requirement, even if the person has travelled into Ireland via Northern Ireland.

This period can be reduced to 10 days, if they receive two

negative PCR tests taken on day 5 and day 10 after arriving in Ireland. These tests can be availed of free of charge.

Fully vaccinated people who are travelling from Britain to Ireland will still have to selfquarantine for five days, and if they test negative for Covid-19 through PCR testing on their fifth day since their arrival, their quarantine period will end.

It had been expected that fully vaccinated people travelling

Here’s a great opportunity for school leavers

Mother & Babies report ‘a disgrace’ THE report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission cannot stand and must be repudiated, Sinn Fein TD Kathleen Funchion has said.

She warned that the commissioners have treated survivors with “absolute contempt” following their refusal to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Children.

Ms Funchion, who is chair of the Oireachtas Committee, said: “It is clear that the Mother and Baby Homes report cannot stand and must be repudiated. The commissioners’ work has been severely undermined by their recent actions and survivors no longer have confidence in their work.

“Last week I wrote to the commissioners and invited them to come before the committee to answer vital questions about the way in which the report was handled. This followed my previous invitation in January which they had declined.

“As I outlined to the commissioners, it is not unreasonable for survivors to get answers to questions they have about a report which has such profound implications for their lives,” she said.

“I was shocked to hear through media that this invitation has been declined.

“By declining my invitation, the commissioners are missing an opportunity to be open and transparent. I am appalled and disgusted at how survivors have been treated throughout.”

She said the commissioners had treated survivors with absolute contempt instead of the respect they deserve.

“I am appalled and disgusted at how survivors have been treated throughout this process. They came forward and bravely told the truth, often at huge personal cost, because they believed in exposing the reality of what happening in these institutions.”

She said it was now clear that the report could not stand and must be repudiated.

from Britain wouldn’t need to quarantine at all upon arrival in Ireland – however, Cabinet agreed to require them to selfquarantine for at least five days.

At present, passengers arriving here from Britain are requested to quarantine at a home address for 14 days, but can end this self-quarantine with a negative Covid-19 PCR test result after five days. This now only applies to fully vaccinated people from GB.

Honouring our Healthcare Heroes at St Lukes AS part of its ‘Healthcare Heroes’ campaign, Peter Mark recently made a surprise delivery of gift bags to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny to thank the hospital team for its work during COVID-19.

Healthcare Heroes is a nationwide campaign by the renowned hair stylist to show its appreciation

for healthcare workers by donating gift bags with hair and beauty products to local hospitals. Peter Mark has delivered 4,512 bags to local healthcare workers all over Ireland.

The campaign is the brainchild of celebrity stylist Adee Phelan who at the beginning of lockdown in the UK in March 2020 had an idea that

he would like to give something back to the hardworking staff of the NHS. Following on from the success of the campaign in the UK, Adee teamed up with Peter Mark to bring the campaign to Ireland.

Peter O’Rourke, CEO, Peter Mark said the hairdressing group was keen to get involved and provide support

in any way they can. “It has been a challenging year for everyone but in particular the healthcare workers who are working so hard in extremely challenging circumstances. The Healthcare Heroes campaign is our way of showing our appreciation and saying a small thank you to them for everything that they do.”

Delivery of world-class transport infrastructure vital to South-East IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, has said that as the economy gradually reopens and restrictions ease, decades of chronic underinvestment in key infrastructure including transport is threatening to undermine the pros-

pects for economic recovery.

The group is calling on Government to ensure that the National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland (NIFTI) supports the delivery of an enhanced National Development Plan (NDP), un-

derpinned by an ambitious programme of world class public services and infrastructure development.

Ibec Regional Policy Executive George Gill said: “NIFTI can play a central role in ensuring the delivery of an

enhanced ‘NDP Plus’ programme of investment to support better lives and better business in the South-East region. It must ensure transport infrastructure investment supports greater ambition in the revised NDP.”

KILKENNY students have been encouraged to apply for a national accounting technician apprenticeship programme which will create jobs in the region as part of 125 positions nationally.

And local employers have been encouraged to sign up for the scheme to avail of a Government annual base grant per-registered apprentice from early 2022.

The Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship is a funded, workbased learning programme in which locally-placed apprentices earn at least €19,890 a-year.

Applications for the apprenticeship, which will be based in Waterford, Dublin, Wicklow, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Monaghan, are now open.

School leavers, Leaving Cert students, career changers, and mature learners can all apply for the programme through Accounting Technicians Ireland.

The Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship provides a real alternative for school leavers who prefer practical training to a full-time college programme, or those who embarked on a college course and found it did not suit them.

Large firms and smaller practices, as well as industry and the public sector have all embraced the programme.

This is the third year of the National Gallery of Ireland’s participation in the programme, and according to Mary Leane, its head of finance, it is a great way to upskill.

For more details see accountingtechniciansireland. ie.

Some 60,000 students are about to find thier Leaving Cert, a mix of exams and assessment. Their results will be issued on September 3.

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Third school raises concerns on student safety TWO schools in Kilkenny have expressed their safety concerns in a letter to the county council regarding the building of a new school nearby.

In April, Kilkenny CBS, one of the largest schools in the county, made an application to the county council seeking to build a state-of-the-art building on a

greenfield site in Lousybush on the Dunningstown Road.

Funding for the part threestorey, part two-storey 37-classroom school building was approved in October of last year.

However, two schools already in that area, Loreto Secondary School and St Canice’s Co-Educational National School. have

made submissions to the council over the safety of their students.

Both schools have major fears concerning traffic in the area a body of more than 700 more students and 70 staff members would bring to the Grange Road.

Both are calling on the council to make provisions for cycleways, foothpaths, pedestrian

crossings and signage upgrades to ensure the safe delivery of students to all the school.

Other submissions received by the council also make reference to the expected greater volume of traffic in the area and want these issues addressed by the council.

Kilkenny CBS’s planned

37-classroom school building will have a total floor area of 10,564 sqm incorporating support teaching spaces, offices and meeting rooms.

The plans also include provision for a multi-use hall, library, staff rooms and all ancillary accommodation, including photovoltaic panels and green roofs.

Externally, the new school grounds will consist of the provision of six ball courts, outdoor seating and breakout areas, a sensory garden, and a covered tech yard.

A decision on Kilkenny CBS’s application is expected from the local authority by the end of the month.

Business welcomes statutory sick pay Ibec, the organisation that represents Irish business, hasacknowledged the announcement of details by the Tánaiste of the proposed Statutory Sick Pay scheme.

Ibec Director of Employer Relations Maeve McElwee said: “The phased introduction of Statutory Sick Pay, together with a service requirement for eligibility are important factors in the development of this new legislation. However, for many businesses the next 12 months will be a critical trading period and additional costs in 2021 will have a heavy impact for those still recovering from COVID-19 and Brexit impacts.

‘This will also be a significant cost for businesses who have a sick pay scheme in place, eliminating as the Scheme proposes, waiting days and the incorporation of illness benefit in existing policies.”

Employers already have in

the last five years had to absorb the costs of extended parents, parental and paternity as well as enhanced maternity leaves. The move to seven paid sick days in 2023 is set to coincide with the introduction of pensions autoenrolment which will present further significant costs for many employers.

With gender pay gap reporting, the Directive on Work Life Balance to be introduced next year and legislation proposed legislation to give a right to request remote working, greater coordination of the labour market legislative agenda is urgently required.

For businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises the sheer scale of recent and proposed employment regulation is actually driving down opportunities for employers to offer flexibility and significantly driving up costs.

Bualadh Bos for our Clodagh, aged 10 TG4 are celebrating Cruinniú na nÓg 2021 with a new creative series for children entitled ‘Cruthaím’.

Cruthaím highlights the talent of young Irish speakers across the country and in Gaeltacht areas and their unique creative processes.

One young Irish speaker from each county and a representative from the diaspora of Irish speakers showcase their creativity in the series of videos that are broadcast on Cúla4’s YouTube channel.

Representing Kilkenny is Clodagh Ní Cheallacháin who is 10-years-old and from Kilkenny City.

Clodagh loves to run and play football and she also loves to bake cakes.

The series allows young people to be given a voice and a unique opportunity to show what creativity is to them and is being run in partnership with the Creative Ireland Programme of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Knitters unite: Sheila Jordan (left) and Deirdre Southey (from the #KnittedTogether2 project

A community needs to knit together KILKENNY County Council’s Arts Office has launched the Knitted Together 2 project and is calling for people throughout Kilkenny to join in the community project.

Knitted Together 2 aims to foster community spirit and connection across the county, to mitigate against the effects of social isolation throughout the pandemic, whilst creating some beautiful handmade blankets to donate to local charities.

Knitters and crocheters of all abilities are invited to par-

ticipate. If you are a crochetwhizz, knitting master or complete novice everyone can get involved by logging on to www.kilkennyartsoffice. ie to register today. As part of the 2021 project Kilkenny Arts Office has organised a schedule of tutorials with textile artists, Jacqui Kelleher and online get-togethers with artist Carrie Lynam for anyone who wants to chat or to learn from other makers.

The successful 2020 Knitted Together project saw over 180 groups and individuals create

75 of beautiful knitted and crocheted blankets for charities. In the same spirit, this year’s blankets will be donated to Kilkenny based charities and charity shops to help supplement their fundraising which has been affected by the Pandemic.

Kilkenny Arts Office Mary Butler said: “We received thousands of knitted and crocheted squares in 2020 and we were just blown away by the level of engagement and quality of the work in the project. This year we have added

some interactive online tutorials and get-togethers to further connect with our knitters.

“We want to promote a sense of community in Kilkenny and encourage people from every walk of life to pick up their knitting needles or crochet hooks and join in the fun.”

Those who wish to participate can register online on www.kilkennyartsoffice. ie, call 056 7794938 or email Bernadette Roberts, at the Arts Office on bernadette. roberts@kilkennycoco.ie.

750 more home carers in next 18 month IRISH HomeCare will double its workforce by creating 750 new jobs in the next 18 months, after experiencing a “significant surge” in demand for services.

Most of the care roles are being recruited in the east of the

country, with 370 available in Leinster, in particular Kilkenny and Carlow where HomeCare says the demand is currently greatest.

Of the new jobs, 700 will go to flexible home carers who will

work in elderly care, reablement, palliative and specialist support.

Recruitment for the jobs will begin immediately, with HomeCare aiming to double its work force to 1,500 .

The remaining 50 roles are full

time positions which include nurses, tutors, operational managers and supervisors, and other administrative and support staff.

The care roles are being recruited for nationwide with 24 counties in demand.

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Community Group

We are back ! But we need to plan ahead THE sun is shining, heat is back, and we are winning the fight against the pandemic. Our seniors are stepping back into the sunlight and greeting the family and friends in small pods. The restaurants are open for outdoor business and the future is bright.

After a winter of darkness, we can now, hopefully plan for a family summer. We still must be aware that some of our seniors are still nervous to re-engage and we must encourage and offer activities that can reassure everyone is involved in our ‘Build back better’ endeavours. Bingo nights, or one of Twilight’s ambitions is to have a senior’s café. A place where seniors can drop in. The daily newspaper is available, activities of interest devised by the seniors, for the seniors. Access to IT technology training, and free units on site for easy internet access. Our Community Group’s Cultural House does not have the space in its 2000 sq. foot complex. The group have proposed, and are pursuing the possibility of a joint initiative with a local willing business. Unfortunately, our institutions do seem to tell citizens groups ,” This is what you need” rather than asking the end user “what it is you want?”

During the lockdown, the Gran pad / Acorn tablets for seniors to interact online were introduced.

We believe in the introduction of such products and the education of how to use this new technology. The sun maybe shining now but unfortunately it won’t be too long before we are publishing out ‘Get Winter Ready’ campaign. We must raise our hands here and say from the onset of this programme, we believed it was too expensive for our seniors to purchase. €400 a unit is awfully expensive for a household on the state pension.

The European Union are now beginning to realise, or should we say wake up as the penny dropped, that many of the initiatives introduced seem to forget the disposable income of the end user. This is not just with the units in question but the majority of the ‘green deal’ drives.

Let us all buy electric cars, change city buses to electric, change our light bulbs etc. Well, now the commission is beginning to be lobbied and made aware that only the affluent households can take advantage of these initiatives. Therefore, where do all the non-green products end up?, in the less affluent communities and households.

The Gran pad & Acorn Pad , though great products when the powers that be,

or did the manufacture see the seniors as a cash cow and a way to increase a company’s profit, consider the disposal income of most senior’s households . If you have a company pension plus the state pension or a pension at 55 from your stint in the public service, € 400 might now be as expensive for those who have just, the state pension, €243.80 per week. Most of this demographic worked all their life just to make ends meet, keep the family home warm, all fed and to give their children the opportunities they did not have as they just seem to live to work and dreamed of the work life balance now the new buzz word.

The gran pad now as the up-take drops and the initial unit that were purchased at the top rate of €400 have been returned by the seniors who were introduced to them as a pilot are being sent to the Family Resource Centre’s to rent to the users at €25 a month. Will they get out into the community, will the rent be collected, where does the rent go?, back to the purchasing organisation of the initial costs? Or as we fear and highlighted, end up on a shelf, in a box and someone will open the drawer, press, and say, “great name but query stuff that

never worked”.

Can we cut this off at the pass as ‘Big Jake’ John Wayne might say? Think outside the box.

When most of us retire at 66, and not 55 like others, the government give a telephone allowance that now can be used for the mobile phone as the landline is now another luxury taken out of the households due to the rental and VAT costs. Could we introduce a ‘free’ unit on retirement to all our senior citizens, look at the weekly amount and adjust accordingly for the rental cost of the unit? , which includes phone calls on the unit, which is selling point , or, does the purchasers know that internet phone calls are of better quality and can have a landline which includes your TV stations, radio stations, a lot more for the outlay then is been offered at present. All it needs it outside the box thinking. But we must be honest with ourselves, the American Company Consumer Cellular has been using innovative technologies to focus on the caregiving demographic for 26 years and has had a focus on retirees since they started in 1995. If their directors heard that the Irish Government was going to get involved their eyes would light up with $$$ signs. The consultancy group hired to do a feasibility study; its directors will become Ireland’s next Millionaires. In Kilkenny we can all still remember the alleged Fieldcrest fiasco.

With a bit of the use of the grey matter of our college and university graduates, educated by the struggles of the aforementioned, their hard working now retired parents, this is an issue we could solve cheaply, and for the benefit of seniors.

Remember every problem has a solution. If this is an issue that we really want to, we can solve. or maybe buy a standard I Pad for between € 50 to € 150 or laptop for just € 200, get your 6-year-old grandchild to download just apps you want, use what’s app for your phone calls, and, since it was one of your grandchildren that set it up for you , you can still call it your Gran ( Child) Pad.

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Community Group / Finance to achieve this. Funds with a Risk Profile of Type 1 typically hold investments which see little change in value from day to day, such as short-term bank deposits.

Over the long-term, high returns are very unlikely, and the returns may not keep pace with inflation.

Risky business; 7 key points to investing

BY JOHN ELLIS FINANCIAL ADVISOR

WHEN investing, risk relates to the possibility you might get back less than you put in. Like most things in life, no investment is without risk. However, you’ll have your own ideas

about the risk you’re comfortable with.

It’s not only how much risk you’re prepared to take, known as ‘attitude to risk’, but recognising how much you can afford to lose, known as your ‘capacity for loss’.

You might be willing to take great risks, but would losing money leave you in financial difficulty? It’s equally important that you understand your capacity for loss and are

comfortable with it before you choose investments that match your circumstances.

So, how much risk are you prepared to take?

The first step is establishing your attitude to risk by outlining your aims, personal circumstances, and views on risk.

The second step is to use a Risk Profiling Tool(s). These tools ask a number of questions and based on your answers the tool generates one of seven risk

I met an angel in Kilkenny BY: TOLUWANI AKEHOMEN

THE Hub, Cillín Hill, Kilkenny.

I walked into the vaccination centre with some trepidation. I was going in for my first Covid19 vaccination. I had pussyfooted a bit since the portal opened for my age group, apprehensive about registering but also knowing that I was simply postponing the inevitable. Eventually, I bit the bullet, but then I hoped that there would be some delay and I would not be called for a few weeks yet. That wasn’t to be; I received the text message a few days later.

I’m not one to feed on rumours and usually pride myself on being relatively well-informed about matters of interest to me.

However, with Covid-19 and all the various versions of the truth that had been peddled, it’s been difficult to stay focused on one line of perspective or reasoning.

Thus, I went into the vaccination centre with a bit of reluctance and a whole lot of prayers said and faith in God. Little did I know that I was to meet an angel.

My ‘encounter’ with Ronan Tynan (because that’s the most apt word to describe my meeting with this man) appeared to be coincidental, but it was really not. I had never heard of or met Ronan Tynan, but that

day, I felt that God has brought this man my way as an answer to my prayers. He injected me with my vaccine, but I felt no pain. Nothing. I had to ask him, “Is that it?” It was a beautiful experience - I had met an angel in Kilkenny. He had been sent to deal with all my fears with a tremendous show of love and grace, and to vaccinate me.

There was an angel in Cillín Hill.

To those who have met and know Ronan Tynan, he’s the famous, highly talented Irish tenor singer, who’s sang on global stages and in front of presidents. To me, he is one of the kindest, gentlest and most beautiful souls I’ve been blessed to meet. I was truly overwhelmed by his attention to me, his patience, his demonstration of love, his personality and his person. It was only then that I really understood how the woman at the well of Samaria in The Gospel of John Chapter four felt. She met Jesus and wanted to tell her family, friends and entire community about him.

For the next 3 days after my encounter with this phenomenal man, I tweeted, facebooked

Photo credit – Toluwani Akaehomen

and talked about him to anyone who’d care to listen -I had met a doctor like no other. On the fourth day, I discovered who everyone else knew him to be. It really did not make a difference; it still does not. To me, he’s my angel.

It takes very little to make a positive impact in the lives of people in one’s community.

Beyond our differences, on a human-to-human level, we’re all the same. We need and respond the same way to love, kindness and grace, and we all need to be one another’s angel. My life was touched by an angel in Kilkenny.

I hope you meet your own angel everyday, especially in your time of need. Equally importantly, I hope you remember every day that you are someone’s angel.

Professionally, Toluwani Akaehomen is a Leadership, Learning and Inclusion Consultant. She also serves as a volunteer Newscaster and Presenter of Global Voices on Community Radio Kilkenny City and volunteer PR Consultant at Twilight Community Group. Toluwani has lived in Kilkenny for 20 years.

Professionally, Toluwani Akaehomen is a Leadership, Learning and Inclusion Consultant. She also serves as a volunteer Newscaster and Presenter of Global Voices on Community Radio Kilkenny City and volunteer PR Consultant at Twilight Community Group. Toluwani has lived in Kilkenny for 20 years.

profiles to help with your decision making.

Your Financial Broker will then explain the asset classes that match, and you will then be able to make an informed choice.

The seven profiles are as follows 1. If you are a ‘very low risk’ investor, you are not willing to accept any significant risks with your money, accepting the prospect of low returns

2. If you are a ‘low risk’ investor, you are likely to accept limited risks with your money and will want to try to avoid large fluctuations in the value of your investment, accepting the prospect of more modest returns to achieve this. Over the longterm, high returns are unlikely, and the returns may not keep pace with inflation.

3. If you are a ‘low to medium risk’ investor you are likely to accept some risk in return for the potential of higher investment gains over the long-term. You will want to try to avoid large fluctuations in the value of your investment but accept there will be some fluctuation particularly over the short-term.

4. If you are a ‘medium risk’ investor, you are likely to accept increased risk in return for the potential of good investment gains over the long-term. You accept there will be significant fluctuations in the value of your investment, particularly over the short-term. However,

you will want to limit the amount of your money held in more risky investments.

5. If you are a ‘medium to high risk’ investor, you are likely to understand that the value of your investment can go down and up sharply with the potential for greater returns over the long term.

6. If you are a ‘high risk’ investor, you are likely to aim for high possible returns and accept higher levels of risk, recognising the value of your investment may fluctuate very sharply, particularly over the short-term.

7. If you are a ‘very high risk’ investor, you are likely to aim for the highest possible returns and accept the highest levels of risk, recognising that the value of your investment may fluctuate very widely, particularly over the short term.

Finally, are you concerned with the current volatility in the markets? Are you about to change your investment strategy? Take some time with your Financial Broker to review and refine your current investment approach rather than making a sudden decision based on fear and anxiety.

Remember, history has shown that the longer you keep your money invested, the greater the possibilities of a positive outcome.

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Cybercrime threat to all: EU must act, says Clune A TOTAL of 32 people in Kilkenny are either homeless or living in emergency accommodation, according to the latest figures.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Monthly Homelessness

Report for April reveals there has been a drop of just one person on the March figures.

Although seemingly remaining stagnant, the latest figures represent a near 50% drop in homelessness since the beginning of the pandemic.

In March 2020 49 people were recorded as being homeless or living in emergency accommodation in Kilkenny.

Nationally, 5,889 people are currently homeless or living in emergency accommodation, one-third of whom are wom-

en according to the report.

At the end of March 2020, 6,552 people were deemed homeless, 663 more than the present figures, representing a 10% decrease.

From 27 last year, a range of Government measures were

introduced to prevent people becoming homeless during the pandemic, including a moratorium on all evictions and a rent freeze. Focus Ireland and many others have long called for such preventative measures to be intro-

duced. in response to the housing crisis over the past several years, but a lack of political will and a fear of unconstitutionality had blocked their introduction on several occasions.

Farmers should look to registered partnership IFAC, Ireland’s farming, food and agribusiness specialist professional services firm, is advising Kilkenny farmers to consider forming a Registered Farm Partnership (RFPs).

RFPs can be a great way to increase succession options, improve profitability, enhance worklife balance, reduce Income tax, obtain 50% stock relief, and avail of a potential double-ceiling on investments that are eligible for the new TAMS II Capital Grant.

Philip O’Connor, Head of Farm Support at ifac said: “Registered Farm Partnership (RFP’s) are a great business structure to allow a business grow and within family entities, they enable the road to succession. They work across all types of farms, from large-scale full-time farm operations to small and part-time farmers. Every farm, regardless of size, is different and RFP’s have the flexibility to work across almost all situations” However, changing your farm structure is a major decision that requires careful planning.

When considering forming an RFP, ifac recommends adopting a three-step approach, as below: STEP 1: Assessment The first step is to assess the business case. Relevant tax, legal, succession and Department of Agriculture factors need to be examined and potential pitfalls identified and resolved. This is a key phase as it ensures that you are entering the partnership for the right reasons and at the right time. There is nothing wrong with postponing a business structure

change if the business case does not make sense or the timing is wrong.

STEP 2: Execution If you decide to go ahead, the second step is getting the paperwork in order so that your partnership documentation can be submitted to the Department of Agriculture’s RFP unit and your new partnership can go ‘live’. Your herd number will need to be moved, a partnership agreement drafted, a tax number obtained and a partnership bank account opened. Herd registration forms must be sent to your local DVO for processing (seek advice on how best to operate multiply herd numbers within an RFP).

STEP 3: Implementation Your accountant will tell you the date that your new structure is trading from. This is when you start using your new partnership bank account for all farm lodgements and purchases. You must inform your customers and suppliers and ensure that invoices are issued using the new partnership name.

To achieve a successful RFP, it is essential that the three steps outlined above are carried out correctly.

Thereafter, the partnership should be reviewed every year and the capital account signed/ agreed upon by all partners.

For advice and assistance, contact your local ifac office where our team can provide more information and guide you through the process.

1.6 million units of illegal meds seized THERE was a huge increase in the seizing of illegal medicines during 2020, according to The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). It announced that its enforcement section detained some 1,610,295 dosage units of falsified and other illegal medicines in 2020, an increase of 58% on 2019.

Our picture shows a portion

of the seized medicines.

The agency said the supply of these products into and within Ireland was illegal and stressed that consumers could have no guarantees about the safety or quality of prescription medicines they were seeking to buy outside of the regulated pharmacy setting.

It reminds the public for their own safety to only purchase

medicines from authorised Irish sources. The national health products regulator also announced today it detained a further 103,000 dosage units of illegal prescription medicines this past week alone as part of its Operation Pangea actions in partnership with Revenue’s Customs Service and An Garda Síochána.

Operation Pangea is an annual

Interpol-coordinated international week of action targeting the online sale of falsified and illegal medicines via illicit online suppliers and/or ecommerce platforms.

In 2020, the most significant categories of illegal products included sedatives (36%), erectile dysfunction medicines (30%), analgesics (9%) and anabolic steroids (6%).

Lidl gets the ok for next new store Brewhouse on target for year’s end LIDL Ireland has been given the go-ahead by Kilkenny County Council for planning permission to build a new store on the site of their existing supermarket on the Waterford Road.

As part of the plans, the German supermarket giant has also been granted permission

to build 13 houses on a site adjoining the supermarket.

The retailer can now go ahead with its plans to build a larger 2,412 sq mts supermarket, consisting of a foodstore, offlicence and storage area on that site.

The development also includes carparking, signage,

landscaping, public lighting, electric vehicle charging points, roof mounted solar panels, a refrigeration and air conditioning plant, and cycle parking.

The decision also grants Lidl permission to construct 13 two-storey, three bed homes on a site next door to the current supermarket.

THE Brewhouse project is expected to be completed over the coming months and open for business by the end of this year.

Work on the development was suspended earlier this year in line with Covid-19 restrictions. With the easing of these restrictions in May, work is continuing on site

and it is expected that the project will be completed before the end of this year, subject to no further restrictions delaying progress.

According to a spokesperson for Kilkenny County Council there could be between 200 and 300 people working in the Brewhouse by the end of the year.

This project includes the development of the Public Realm area of Horse Barrack Lane and the Brewhouse Courtyard, with these projects being part funded by the Urban Regeneration & Development Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.

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South East industries’ needs inspire new degree with data intelligence WIT first with level 8 degree in automation engineering AS industry transitions towards ‘Industry 4.0’ — and there is an increased need for modern automation engineering that incorporates data intelligence — Waterford Institute of Technology’s (WIT) Department of Engineering Technology has developed a new degree to offset a skills shortage.

The nationwide skills demand for automation and control engineers was also emphasised in the Forfas report: ‘Future Skills Requirements of the Manufacturing Sector to 2020’. According to LinkedIn, presently, in Ireland alone, there are more than 2,000 vacancies in the automation engineering sector.

Explains Programme Leader Dominick O’ Brien: “WIT is constantly reviewing the content of the courses we deliver to make sure they are up to date and in line with industry needs and trends. Following honest and open discussions with over a dozen industrial partners, who are engaged with technology across the SouthEast region, it was clear and

Lions clubs lend hand to India crisis LIONS Clubs throughout Ireland have responded to the crisis facing the Indian healthcare system by raising $66,100 as part of a major campaign organised by the Lions Clubs International Foundation.

Lions in Ireland have a long history of providing support when a major disaster strikes.

The recent upsurge of Covid-19 cases in India and an increasing death rate, threatened to overwhelm the Health System.

Lions Clubs International has responded by providing funds, which are enabling Lions Clubs throughout India to purchase and distribute critical medical equipment and supplies for local hospitals and clinics. This has been determined to be the greatest need, as community healthcare systems are being overrun.

Lions Clubs in Ireland and the communities that support their work, had been very generous in responding to this appeal, said Ambassador Kumar expressed his personal appreciation for the support and generosity to the people of Ireland in supporting India during its current Covid -19 crisis.

evident that a dedicated Level 8 programme was needed to address the severe skillset shortage in modern Automation and Control engineering.

“Consequently, this course was developed with, and for, our industrial stakeholders to ensure that the appropriate blending of engineering and computer science is applied in order to provide graduates with the skillset to launch an exciting and sustainable career in modern automation engineering,” said Mr O’ Brien.

WIT is the first institute of technology to launch a Level 8 degree in automation engineering: The Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Automation Engineering in is available on the CAO for 2021 entry, and has been available as one of five options for students on the institute’s common entry engineering degree since September 2020.

Niall Barry, Senior Principal Automation Engineer, Bausch + Lomb, Waterford and WIT graduate told The Kilkenny

Student Gergo Villanyi: ‘I was always been very interested in the behind the scenes of how machines work’

Observer: “Modern automation engineering combines elements of electronic engineering, software, robotics, networking, databases and data intelligence, which are highly sought-after skills in sectors such as the medical device, pharmaceutical, and food industries, and indeed beyond.

“This course offers a strong technical background in these fundamentals, coupled with real-world Industry work experience, and will allow graduates to avail of roles in the Automation/Controls/Vision Engineering space.”

Gergo Villanyi, a past pupil of St Augustine’s College, Dungar-

van, Co Waterford who will be moving into Year 2 of the BEng (Hons) in Automation Engineering in September said:“The main reason I decided to choose the automation engineering branch was because I have always been very interested in the behind the scenes of how machines work, and the

Local Employment Services tender ‘must not put profit over people’ THE Sinn Féin TD for Carfocus on profit over people. low Kilkenny, Kathleen This is unacceptable and Funchion, has called on the must not be allowed to hapGovernment to remove the pen. profit-focused approach set “There had been much out in a tender for the expanconcern that the tender sion of Local Employment would threaten the commuServices (LES). nity-based and not-for-profit The request for tender is ethos of existing open to applications for the services, rollout of a new model of which contracted public employhave ment service in four areas.

This is the first of two tenders. The terms included in the tender have caused significant concern about the quality and future of Local Employment Services.

The issue was raised by Sinn Féin spokesperson on Social Protection Claire Kerrane TD with An Tánaiste in the Dáil earlier this month.

Ms Funchion said: “Having been kept in the dark about the changes to Local Employment Services for so long, we are finally seeing a Request For Tender which encourages a ruthless shift to ‘stop putting ‘ser vices’ profit over people’ w h i c h

been very successful and are well-regarded. The reality is much, much worse and is a serious cause for concern.”

The TD said the ‘payment by results’ model put forward in the tender told us that the Government were looking to implement employment services which focus on quantity over quality.

“Forcing people into a cycle of jobs which are not suitable or sustainable is unacceptable.

“This is not the person-centred approach so successfully fostered by the Local Employment Services and will only result in a focus on profit-driven results which leaves those who need these services behind. What we are seeing p r o posed i s ‘Job-

Path 2.0’,” she said.

“I recognise that the Local Employment Service is sought-after, but the service is currently unavailable in several Counties. While the extension of employment services to areas which do not currently have them is welcome, commercialisation is not the answer. Instead, we propose the scaling up of the existing model of Local Employment Services to ensure continuity of quality and reputation of these services.”

Ms Funchion said people deserved “quality employment services and we know that organisations already working in this area have experience, expertise and ethics at the heart of the work they do”.

She said Sinn Féin were calling on the Minister for Social Protection to withdraw and review this tender immediately.

“Existing local employment services must be protected here in [constituency] and across the state. We will oppose any attempt by the Government to profit from the exploitation of people.”

whole idea of automation and robotics has always fascinated me. I also like to think I have the right mind for it as I have a practical sort of thinking, trying to find what’s most efficient in certain situations.

“Another reason is that I like to think ahead and saw where the future of engineering is; with near fully automated production lines, self-driving vehicles, etc. Automation was the clear choice in my eyes,” The Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Automation Engineering is a new degree option being offered to CAO applicants who choose to study Engineering (Common Entry).

This increases the total number of specialisms to five available under common entry engineering – which gives students time to choose what they would like to specialise in.

Students experience all five options in semester one and at the beginning of semester two choose between the combined Automation, Electrical and Electronic stream or the combined Sustainable Civil and Sustainable Energy stream with the final choice of their exact specialism made from the chosen stream at the end of Semester Two.

Hidden coeliac affecting 16k. men THE Coeliac Society of Ireland has warned that an estimated 16,000 men in Ireland have undiagnosed coeliac disease and are ignoring symptoms that could have major impact on their lives.

The society’s chief executive called on men to see their GP immediately if they have any of the symptoms of coeliac disease. These include abdominal pain, recurring mouth-ulcers, weight-loss, vomiting, diarrhoea and fatigue to name but a few.

Left undiagnosed and untreated, coeliac disease can cause infertility, stunted growth, anaemia, osteoporosis, anxiety, depression and other health problems.

Gill Brennan, CEO of the Coeliac Society of Ireland, said: “Coeliac disease in Ireland is diagnosed twice as frequently in females as it is in males. Research shows there is greater prevalence among women, but even allowing for this, diagnosis among men lags that of women – and a significant reason for low diagnosis of coeliac disease in men is the fact that they are less likely to go to the doctor or have regular health check-ups.”

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

Community Group and mici. I have also had the chance to hear beautiful Romanian folk music.

In August of 2019, my wife and I moved to Kilkenny, where she had previously lived for four years. Through my wife, an active member of the Romanian community in Kilkenny, I have met many Romanians abroad. Coming from New York, where ethic communities are extremely tight-knit, the closeness of the Romanian community in Kilkenny is palpable. As the months went on, I took notice to more and more of the wonderful contributions of the Romanians to Kilkenny.

Kilkenny is home to successful Romanian small businesses, which are growing every year. Notwithstanding the setbacks we have all faced through the COVID Pandemic, Romanian businesses have been thriving in Kilkenny. I love to sit down for dinner at the Grapevine on a Friday night, or grab a quick snack from House of Pretzels when I’m on the go in Market Cross. It is easy to see the positive impact of the Romanian small businesses in Kilkenny.

Although Romanians in Kilkenny may not be living in Romania, they are still able to participate in their home elections, as I witnessed my wife, along with other Romanian citizens, vote at the Pembroke hotel in 2019. This was made possible by the initiative of Marius Morosan, an important representa-

Kilkenny’s Romanian community:

A New Yorkers Perspective

BY BIANCA RALLIS

IN the summer of 2018, on the small Greek island of Skiathos, in a tiny pub called Totem, I met my wife. I can recall her asking me where I was from, to which I replied “New York.” When I posed the same question to her, she told me she was from Transylvania, the land of Dracula. When she learned that I knew Transylvania was part of Romania, she revealed a wide-eyed look of surprise. I

was somewhat familiar with Romania, as a good friend of mine back home is from Ploiesti, though he was born in Brasov.

Not long after meeting my wife, I hopped on a plane to Cluj-Napoca. It was one of several trips I took to Romania. During my travels I was exposed to different aspects of Romanian culture. My first stay in Romania lasted ten days. I helped my motherin-law pick grapes from her garden before crushing them into a large barrel. When I made it back for my second trip, I was able to try some of the wine I helped make. This time I stayed for more than five weeks, and we began by

celebrating New Year’s Eve in Cluj, one of my favourite cities in Romania. We also took trips to Brasov and Sighisoara, where some of the medieval buildings are amongst the oldest I have ever seen.

We even had the chance to attend Celtic Transylvania, a music festival in Beclean.

Speaking with my wife and her friends, I have learned a bit about Romania’s past. I have learned about the day of unification on the first of December 1918 and the Revolution of 1989. I have even heard some stories of the Dacians, the ancestors of the modern Romanian people. I’ve been able to enjoy delicious Romanian cuisine such as sarmale

tive of the Romanian community in Ireland, combined with the efforts of Liviu Iftime and Cornel Potmecu from Kilkenny. However, the polling site in Kilkenny would not have been successful without the help of Martin Brennan, the chairman of the Twilight community group, who found the location and offered the logistic support required.

More and more Romanians are voting abroad, including in Kilkenny. Even the former mayor, Andrew McGuinness, made a visit to the polling site to encourage Romanians in Kilkenny to vote. McGuinness had developed a strong relationship with the Romanian community here, especially after visiting Romania

and participating in the Celtic Transylvania festival more than once.

I would like to thank the Romanian community for the meaningful contributions they bring to Kilkenny and to many cities abroad, including my home, New York. Cultural diversity is an enriching educational experience, and in learning about other cultures we become more open-minded and accepting towards each other, and this is obvious in Kilkenny.

This article is supported by the Romanian Twighlight Community Group Contact: kclw.ro@twighlight.ie

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Food & Drink

Dine Me Come

The best wine websites to browse

With

Summer chicken one-pot Prep: 10 mins Cook: 40 mins Easy Serves 4

A lovely, light dish ideal for al fresco dining INGREDIENTS • 8 chicken thighs • 2 tbsp plain flour • 1 tbsp olive oil • 8 rashers streaky bacon , chopped • 400ml stock • 500g bag baby new potatoes , halved • 200g pack full fat soft cheese • 200g broad beans , podded • 200g sweetcorn (frozen, fresh or from a can) • 200g cherry tomatoes , halved METHOD STEP 1 Dust the chicken in the flour and some seasoning. Heat the oil in a lidded pan and brown the chicken, in batches if needed, then transfer to a plate. Throw in the bacon and fry for 5 mins, until crisp.

STEP 2 Return the chicken to the pan. Add the stock, cover and simmer for 30 mins, adding the potatoes after 10 mins.

STEP 3 Make sure the chicken is cooked and the potatoes are tender, then stir in the cheese, the rest of the vegetables and some seasoning. Simmer for 5 mins more, uncovered, then serve.

RECIPE TIPS Chicken thighs make a good-value alternative to breasts, however, if you prefer the white breast meat, then swap for 4 skinless breasts, and simmer for just 20 mins with the potatoes.

Strawberry cheesecake in just 4 easy steps Prep: 30 mins plus 1 hr and overnight chilling Easy Serves: 12 - 14 Follow our step-by-step recipe for this easy no-cook cheesecake – a delicious summer dessert for all occasions INGREDIENTS • 250g digestive biscuits • 100g butter, melted • 1 vanilla pod • 600g full fat soft cheese • 100g icing sugar • 284ml pot of double cream For the topping • 400g punnet of strawberries, halved • 25g icing sugar METHOD

STEP 1 To make the base, butter and line a 23cm loosebottomed tin with baking parchment.

Put the digestive biscuits in a plastic food bag and crush to crumbs using a rolling pin. Transfer the crumbs to a bowl, then pour over the melted butter. Mix thoroughly until the crumbs are completely coated. Tip them into the prepared tin and press firmly down into the base to create an even layer. Chill in the fridge for 1 hr to set firmly.

STEP 2 Slice the vanilla pod in half lengthways, leaving the tip intact, so that the two halves are still joined.

Holding onto the tip of the pod, scrape out the seeds using the back of a kitchen knife.

STEP 3 Pour the double cream into a bowl and whisk with an electric mixer until it’s just starting to thicken to soft peaks. Place the soft cheese, icing sugar and the vanilla seeds in a separate bowl, then beat for 2 mins with an electric mixer until smooth and starting to thicken, it will get thin and then start to thicken again. Tip in the double cream and fold it into the soft cheese mix. You’re looking for it to be thickened enough to hold its shape when you tip a spoon of it upside down. If it’s not thick

enough, continue to whisk. Spoon onto the biscuit base, starting from the edges and working inwards, making sure that there are no air bubbles. Smooth the top of the cheesecake down with the back of a dessert spoon or spatula. Leave to set in the fridge overnight.

STEP 4 Bring the cheesecake to room temperature about 30 mins before serving. To remove it from the tin, place the base on top of a can, then gradually pull the sides of the tin down. Slip the cake onto a serving plate, removing the lining paper and base. Purée half the strawberries in a blender or food processor with the icing sugar and 1 tsp water, then sieve. Pile the remaining strawberries onto the cake, and pour the purée over the top.

AROUND the world, the average person drinks about one litre of wine a week.

Wine is big money-making business but, in order to have a successful wine business, you need to make sure you have a great website.

Which wine companies are pacing their competitors when it comes to web design and marketing? Here are five of the best wine company websites.

1. CHARBONO Charbono is not one of your typical, traditional websites. Instead, it uses multimedia to tell a story.

The website that sits on one-page feels like a mini-documentary rather than a website. The credits after the video will help give you some more information about the company.

For more information, you will have to scroll through the page, forcing you to interact with the story. It’s like you are being pulled into the narrative.

Websites that require you to scroll down one long page are becoming more and more popular, but Charbono is just one of the first wine websites to do it.

2. COLORADO WINE This US based company is beautiful while also unique. They manage to have a minimalist website design while also giving you all the information you need.

This website has a wood background, and a lot of the designs were customised specifically for this website.

This company wants to make sure that the users have a memorable and pleasing experience on their website.

“The perfect example of a well-executed design.

Colorado Wine’s website is both unique and beautiful, going above and beyond the minimum in its design. The wood background and custom design elements make for an extremely pleasing and memorable experience.”

3. GARDEN CREEK Garden Creek stands out simply because of the beautiful imagery on its site. The pictures are beautiful, but the font also perfectly complements the tone on this website.

The copywriting is also worth noting on this website. The stories are told in the voice of the winemakers, giving it a more personal feel. It feels almost like a narrative told in the form of an interview.

It really makes you feel like you’ve known this company and the owners for a long time.

4. AUSTIN WINERY Another US based site that will pull you in right away with a full-screen picture of the vineyard grounds. This makes for a beautiful backdrop for the rest of the website.

The design is laid out well, and the animations on this website are useful and not distract. The movement while you scroll helps bring the website to life.

5. HALTER RANCH Halter Ranch also incorporates a lot of beautiful pictures on their website as well.

On their main page, it will cycle through photos of the vineyard and different buildings in their company. The buildings are rustic, but the photographer makes it look elegant and classy.

Another great aspect of this website is that it’s easy to use and has a great layout. * We will give five more websites in out next edition.

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Style & Beauty

Ailish Laser and Skincare

Ailish Laser and Skincare celebrated 24 years of keeping Kilkenny beautiful last March. In addition to traditional beauty salon services such as tanning and waxing you will find an expert skincare clinic and a state of the art laser clinic in the heart of Kilkenny City. Laser is the modern alternative to shaving and waxing. Safe and inexpensive, it gives longer lasting results. What’s not to love?

L

aser Hair Removal is a new treatment to many and comes with many questions leaving some people nervous. But it doesn’t need to be that way. “We provide a free laser consultation to ensure that you understand the complete process and how you will get the ultimate results from our state of the art technology.”

The majority of people still shave or use wax because they are unaware that there is a safe alternative which gives longer lasting results so is less expensive long-term. The skilled practitioners at Ailish Laser and Skincare are highly trained in the use of the Candela medical grade laser which is regarded as the gold standard when it comes to laser hair removal. They will be only too happy to advise you on the optimum treatment plans based on your hair and skin type.

Safety is of course a top priority.

Candela Laser has been approved by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) which means that it has been tested and passed by one of the most respected agencies in the world. It is also used by some of the best known and respected clinics in Ireland. At your free laser consultation, the team

will ensure that you understand the complete process and how you will get the ultimate results from the state of the art technology. They will show you how the machine works and how it reduces hair growth. Your individual skin type, hair colour, lifestyle, medication and the importance of wearing an SPF on your skin will all be discussed. This detailed consultation ensures you can be confident knowing you are a suitable person for laser treatment before embarking on this laser treatment journey.

You may wonder how it all works.

Laser energy is delivered through a small handpiece operated by your practitioner. The laser delivers an intense beam of light, which is absorbed by the skin and converted to heat.

The heat is then absorbed by the cells being targeted, inhibiting hair growth, while the surrounding tissue remains unaffected. Skin may be slightly red immediately following the procedure.

This typically lasts from a few minutes to a few hours. The amount of treatments needed depends on your skin and hair type but on average, a minimum of 6 treatments is required. The level of permanency again depends on your skin and hair type, however, the FDA

have approved the GentleLASE as a method of permanent hair removal and with Ailish’s trained team to guide you, it is ensured you will get the optimum results.

If you have concerns around pain levels, most people find a mild discomfort but there is seldom anyone who needs to stop treatment. The Candela GentleLASE, is the latest technology and has an additional cooling device which reduces the sensitivity of the treatment. If you suffer from sensitive skin the experienced team are there to advise you on the best course to take.

Laser is also an extremely effective method of leg vain removal. Leg vein Before

treatment uses a precisely calculated pulse of laser energy, exactly directed to the vessel being treated. This causes the blood inside the vessel to heat up, causing the wall of the vessel to collapse. The vessel is reabsorbed naturally by your white blood cells. The skin surrounding the vessel is not affected by the treatment.

As we age, valves in our leg veins become less efficient, so less blood is pumped back from the legs. This means blood vessels in our legs become larger, darker and more visible. In severe cases, varicose veins may form and may require surgical treatment (vein stripping). Other vessels can be treated by injections (sclerotherapy).

After

Smaller vessels (leg telangiectasias) are often treated by laser, such as the Gentle Nd YAG laser.

IPL is also the treatment of choice for the removal of small red unsightly veins. It uses pulses of light that gently destroy the veins without harming the surface of the skin. The veins are then naturally absorbed by the body leaving little or no trace of their existence.

The experienced team are on hand to advise you on the benefits of IPL and what it can do for you.

Ailish Laser and Skincare also provide amazing treatments to help with the whole range of skin issues such as ageing, redness and congestion, with tailor made programmes using only the best products from the top skincare brands.

To find out more about all treatments available you can visit www. ailishskincare.ie, call 056 7770750 or email hello@ ailishlaser.ie

Style

IN KILKENNY

€50 voucher We are delighted to announce the winner of our Style in Kilkenny Competition Congratulations Linda Kinsella!

You have won a €50 voucher for Elsi Jewellery

Enjoy your prize

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

Style & Beauty

Your Clo d it so good thes never ha

Your clothes never had it so good

Aideen, we offer an alterations service. Colette is on hand to revamp and update your wardrobe by carrying out the smallest alterations, or to shorten and lengthen clothes, repair or replace zips and reduce or expand waistbands!

We can also: • take up / let down, • stitch it / repair it, • new zips or buttons?

• too long / short?

• small rip or tear?

• won’t close?

• patch it • well worth keeping!

WET CLEANING We also use a relatively new system called wet cleaning. Wet

cleaning is one of the newest innovations in garment cleaning.

It is an environmentally friendly, solvent-free “dry-cleaning” that uses no toxic chemicals, as water is the solvent. This advantages of using this method are: It is environmentally friendly.

Prevents shrinking, stretching, or fading.

Is a great alternative to those who are sensitive to dry cleaning solvents.

Is chemical-free.

Makes clothes feel softer and look more vibrant.

Can extend the life of your garments.

As part of our commitment to environmental change within our business, we are

also making an effort to reduce our carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources. By meeting with certain criteria, Drycleanit was audited and certified by Horizon Energy Group making us one of the key sustainable drycleaners in Ireland.

In pursuit of higher standards within the industry, Drycleanit has established itself at a thought leader in garment care. We have in excess of forty years of senior management in industry. Our staff have been trained by SATRA, the UK standards body and our quality management process has achieved ISO9001:2015 certification by NSAI.

The services we provide at Drycleanit are: • General Drycleaning • Specialist Drycleaning • Wetcleaning • Laundry • Ironing • Duvets • Curtains • Suedes & Leathers • Wedding Dresses • Alterations For further information see www.drycleanit.ie or contact one of our locations.

Don’t forget to redeem your voucher on the next page for 10% off all shortenings!

Services Dry Cleaning Bridal Gown Cleaning and Preservation Boxes

Drycleanit is a family run business that was founded in 2003 with the mission of providing customers with high value, exceptional service and convenience for all their garment care needs.

Specialist Cleaning Curtains Suedes and Leathers

Laundry Ironing Duvets

We are located in the Newpark Shopping Centre in Kilkenny and in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow. From laundry and ironing services for everyday clothing and shirts, to dry cleaning formal and business wear, caring for your garments or helping you to Spring Clean

Bed Linen

your home, we are committed to giving you the best after-care possible for your clothes and household fabrics. We even offer an alterations & repairs service to help give your garments and textiles a new lease of life.

In our Newpark store, which is staffed by Micheal, Colette and

Alterations and Repairs

The White Feather ladieswear & holistic shop What was once the Cois Nore charity shop (NOW CLOSED) on Johns Street has been transformed into an oasis of calm, full of pre-loved designer clothes and accessories just waiting to be discovered, along with an impressive range of holistic and natural therapeutic products with locally made candles, soaps, art and crafts .

The White Feather Ladieswear & Holistic Shop was set up by Margaret Egan in December 2020. Mags previously had the White Feather Well-Being Centre in Bennettsbridge which unfortunately closed due to Covid-19 in September 2020.

Mags has created a space where people can enjoy a calming shopping experience, while browsing top quality pre-loved designer clothes, shoes and accessories. Although not a charity shop, some proceeds from sales of ladieswear do help to support three local charitable groups; The Kilkenny Homeless Run, Amber Women’s Refuge and Relay for Life Kilkenny.

Mags welcomes you to come and browse knowing that a purchase of ladieswear will help those in our community.

“Our aim at the White Feather Ladieswear area is to offer top quality designer labels at

affordable prices. We have about 60% brand new stock donated to us as well as pre-loved and vintage wear” The holistic section of the shop is a treasure trove of mindfully sourced products. There is a vast array of incense and sage smudge sticks are also available which can be used to refresh and clear your home from sickness or negative energy. There is also a glittering display of crystals and Mags is always at hand to offer advice on different crystals and the benefits for well-being.

Pendulums are available in a range of stones. Chimes, dream catchers, meditation beads, incense holders, oracle cards and oil burners compliment the selection of books available on topics including angels, mindfulness, yoga and Pilates.

The White Feather truly supports local, ethically sourced, sustainable and natural products. Nore Soaps are gorgeous natural soaps that are made locally and based on the ethos of recycling products that are used every day, but are usually discarded afterwards.

Sami from Outdoors Herbalist supplies the range of healthy

teas that can help with a whole range of digestive, sleep and weight loss issues.

Machado supply men’s grooming products with a focus on high quality, simple and sustainable ingredients. With Father’s day just around the corner, why not pick up a Machado beard oil from The White Feather as a unique gift? Locally made candles are also available.

You might even pick up an art print or piece of craft from a local artist.

Mags encourages any suppliers of suitable products to get in touch; “We are always looking for new people to come on board to sell their products in our shop, so long as they are ethically sourced and sustainable.”

You can have a look at the website www.whitefeatherladies wearandholistics.com to see what items are available. There are also monthly competitions for anyone who spends over €10 with some amazing prizes such as weekends away and pampering beauty treatments.

Be sure to keep an eye on Facebook @whitefeatherladies wearandholistics

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Science & Wellbeing

News

Potato blight that caused our Famine still with us

THE evolution of different strains of the plant pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s, which originally set down roots in the United States before attacking Europe, has been the subject of ongoing research ever since.

Plant pathologists studied the genomes of about 140

pathogen samples — historic and modern — from 37 countries on six continents to track the evolution of differing strains of Phytophthora infestans, a major cause of lateblight disease on potato and tomato plants.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, shows that the historic lineage called FAM-1

was found in nearly threequarters of the samples (73%) and on all six continents.

“FAM-1 was much more widespread than previously assumed, spreading from Europe to Asia and Africa along British colony trade routes,” says Jean Ristaino, professor of plant pathology at North Carolina State Uni-

versity. “The lineage was also found over a span of more than 140 years.”

FAM-1 caused outbreaks of potato late blight in the United States in 1843 and then two years later in Great Britain and Ireland. It was also found in historic samples from Colombia — suggesting a South American origin.

FAM-1 caused massive and debilitating late-blight disease outbreaks in Europe, leaving starvation and migration in its wake. Ristaino theorises that the pathogen arrived in Europe via infected potatoes on South American ships or directly from infected potatoes from the United States.

FAM-1 survived for about 100 years in the United States but then a different strain of the pathogen called US-1 displaced it, Ristaino says.

“US-1 is not a direct descendant of FAM-1, but rather a sister lineage,” he says. “We found US-1 in 27% of samples in the study and they were found much later.”

Even more aggressive strains of the pathogen that originated in Mexico US-1 have since elbowed out US-1.

Winter tomato crops—grown in Mexico and imported into the US—harbour the pathogen, Ristaino says.

The study also suggests that the pathogen spread first in potatoes and then later jumped into tomatoes.

Spread of the pathogen in ripe tomatoes in ships’ holds would have been unlikely, Ristaino says.

The pathogen’s effects aren’t limited to the decimation of Ireland’s potato crop some 175 years ago. Billions are spent worldwide each year in attempts to control the pathogen, Ristaino says.

Potatoes in the developing world are particularly vulnerable as fungicides are less available and often unaffordable.

The US Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service funded the work.

Read all about it! How our brains take in news

Book or digital...which is better for learning?

DURING the pandemic, many schools and colleges intermittently abandoned assignments from printed textbooks and turned instead to digital texts or multimedia coursework.

Writing for the website Futurity, Naomi S. Baron, Professor of Linguistics Emerita, reports that she began studying how electronic communication compares to traditional print when it comes to learning. Is comprehension the same whether a person reads a text onscreen or on

paper? And are listening and viewing content as effective as reading the written word when covering the same material?

The answers to both questions are often “no,” as she discuss in her book ‘How We Read Now’. The reasons relate to a variety of factors, including diminished concentration, an entertainment mindset and a tendency to multitask while consuming digital content.

She says: “When reading

texts of several hundred words or more, learning is generally more successful when it’s on paper rather than on screen. A cascade of research confirms this finding.

“The benefits of print particularly shine through when experimenters move from posing simple tasks – like identifying the main idea in a reading passage – to ones that require mental abstraction – such as drawing inferences from a text. Print reading also improves the likelihood of re-

calling details – like ‘What was the colour of the actor’s hair?’

– and remembering where in a story events occurred – ‘Did the accident happen before or after the political coup?’

“Studies show that both school students and college students assume they’ll get higher scores on a comprehension test if they have done the reading digitally. And yet, they actually score higher when they have read the material in print before being tested, “ she concludes.

HOW people consume news and take actions based on what they read, hear, or see, is different than how human brains process other types of information on a daily basis, according to new research.

While the newspaper industry in a flux, the researchers at the University of Missouri discovered people still actually love reading newspapers.

The researchers believe a newspaper’s physical layout and structure could help curators of digital news platforms enhance their readers’ experiences.

“Many people still love print newspapers, and to an extent, we also see that they like the digital replicas of print newspapers as much as they do the physical version,” says Damon Kiesow, a Professor of Journalism and coauthor of the study.

“But we believe there is more to understanding this notion than just simply habit and experience. We feel newspapers are fulfilling some sort of need in a person’s daily life that is not currently being effectively fulfilled with the digital version,” Kiesow says.

“The contextual clues that help tell readers what stories are important, why they should care about what

stories they are reading and where to locate the news that is most important to them, are being weakened by structures missing in digital news.”

By conducting in-depth interviews with 12 long-time newspaper subscribers, the team was able to identify the following about people who read the print version of papers like: The ability to physically hold something, navigate a newspaper’s defined sections and pages, and create a physical archive of multiple editions for later viewing.

The ability to determine a story’s importance, how pictures and/or graphics are added for contextual purposes, to allow readers to express feelings of possession, and to allow readers to distinguish between different topics of interest.

The print version allows the reader to either actively or passively seek information, and to allow for the discovery of unexpected information.

The researchers now believe print newspapers have moved to digital platforms without first having a proper understanding of how readers use printed ‘contextual clues’ to make sense of the news.

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New poems I

N 2019, ‘The Kilkenny Involvement Centre’ published a book of poems with the wonderful title ‘Poems from a Kilkenny Laneway’.

The ninety page publication features forty poems with contributions from members at the centre as well as work from Kilkenny’s wider writing community.

In conjunction with The Involvement Centre, The Kilkenny Observer newspaper will reproduce these poems over the coming weeks.

The Kilkenny Observer is delighted to promote this project and we hope you enjoy the poems.

Week two sees poems from Frank Callery, Noel Cantwell, and Paul Clifford.

The Black Dog All night I’ve slept with the black dog in my arms Hushing its whimpers, its ravenous growls; Keeping the little vital light out of harm’s Way of the pack that round my soul prowls Continuously and wants to have its way.

At the end of the anchored chain I drag I keep its ambit and my anger tight, Wearying the questions, when the answers flag And the dawn’s trapped within the fangs of night — Hope in my tears is sodden as I pray.

All night in my tired arms the black dog whimpered And I fed it on the anguish of my soul ‘Till at last it slept and dawn at the window simpered; Light touched me to make my being whole A little while, gathered and glad, but it might yet away.

By Frank Callery

Maintain the Status Quo Maintain the Status Quo is the way it has to go!

Damage limitation. Exercise rampage imitation with sexy eyes A reckless diamond glistening reckless rhyming I wishing My pleasant disposition is effervescent Smitten with a chick ‘This Is Britain’ with a click A meadow or a ghetto federal incredible, vegetable, cabbage Ravaged from drug-induced psychosis, a thug The truth is cruel, white fences just putting words Forgotten I love her and her buried treasure While I ever reach forever, will I enter the light of heaven?

She’s in white at our wedding my plight and destined path Unite the dynamite a blast from the past Still writers cheat the past retrospectively seeking the hindsight What cheat the fastened eternal still likened to a white Rasta No let’s go this evening be glad we’re still breathing Despite the works of the demon, you save me New life new meaning spiritual belief Look no further than the truth, repent and change Still hell bent still deranged no heaven sent rewards of good Not until the mark of the cross is where I stand Soon forgiven to live again so be good be great

By Noel Cantwell

The Day In the morning I get out of bed Go to the loo and scratch my head Then a few stretches and a big yawn Getting ready and awakened to face the dawn I stare in the mirror I look at me I’m not the man I used to be Something has changed as I stand there It’s like I don’t know me so I just stare In my head I ask where did I go But I reply verbally I don’t know Now things are worse I talk to myself I take down my toothpaste and brush from the shelf Brushing my teeth I look into my eye Trying to discover where is that young boy That boy is gone, gone as far as he can For he is no more he is now a man I look at this man I see he is sad Remembering the great times as a young boy he had Best times are behind him what will the future bring His searching for God or some spiritual thing I am speaking or I’m writing as two different beings I know it sounds strange but that’s how it seems Two different times, Two times in my life Two different heads and none of them right Aging gracefully or so I’ve been told Doesn’t make much difference if you believe you are old Put the clothes on to go face the day Maybe tomorrow I’ll notice the grey Facing the world don’t look in the past You got to live everyday like it is your last And remember always try to better mankind There’s one little secret always be kind.

By Paul Clifford

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

Feature

For your tomorrow we gave our today!

Men of the16th Infantry Regiment, U.S. wading ashore on Omaha Beach on the morning of 6 June 1944.

During World War II (1939-1945) 156,000 British, US and Canadian forces invaded the coast of Normandy, in Northern France. The D – Day landings, codenamed Operation Overlord, began the invasion of Nazi occupied Europe. The fighting continued until the end of August the same year. It is accepted that the invasion, one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history, broke the control of Nazi Germany and brought an end to war.

WORDS: GERRY CODY PHOTOS: JBSPHOTOS KILKENNY

POIGNANTLY, on June 6th, 2021 members of the ‘Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee’, gathered at MacDonagh Railway Station to honour and remember the Kilkenny men and women

who perished in World War II. DIGNIFIED GATHERING Although Covid restrictions limited numbers, nonetheless, the hour- long ceremony was informative and engaging. Above all, it was a dignified remembrance of those that lost their lives during the conflict.

Proceedings began at 16.00

hours with Master of Ceremonies, John Joe Cullen reciting lines from Orla Parkinson’s poem ‘Armistice Day’.

ECUMENICAL SEVICE Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, and acting Bishop of Ossory, Denis Nulty joined the Right Rev Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel, who read the opening prayers and asked all present

to “remember the fallen and their families.”

Both men took turns with readings and prayers that included Prayers of Intercession, a scripture reading from Ephesians-chapter 6, and The Lord’s Prayer, recited in Irish.

Bishop Nulty declared, “as a nation we will be forever in the debt of those brave soldiers who died at war”.

He finished by quoting John Edmonds famous epitaph in the Kohima war cemetery: “When you go home tell them of us, and say, For your tomorrow - We gave our Today.”

PRAISE AND THANKS FROM COUNCIL CATHAOIRLEACH Caithaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Andrew Mc-

Guinness praised the endeavours of The War Memorial Committee and said the city was proud of the World War II project, the WW I memorial at the Peace Park and the monument to Thomas Woodgate outside the Court House.

“These memorials acknowledge not only an important part of our history, they are also very important to the families of our war dead”, said

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

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Feature

Bishops Denis Nulty and Michael Burrows who offered prayers at the ceremony for soldiers and their families of WW2

Donal Croghan, (Chairman, Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee) Brian Duffy ( Royal British Legion) John Joe Cullen ( Kilkenny committee) and Andrew McGuinness ( Cathaoirleach Kilkenny County Council) picture at the unveiling of the memorial to WW2 men and women.

Mr McGuinness. The Cathaoirleach concluded by thanking the organising committee for their work in researching and recording the war dead, thus ensuring their memory will last forever.

Members of The Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee re-enact a typical departure for war at Mac Donagh railway station. (photo taken pre-Covid)

LEGION REPRESENTATIVE LAUDS GREATER UNDERSTANING The Chairman of the Royal British Legion (Republic of Ireland Division), Mr Brian Duffy outlined the role of the British Legion including the extraordinary legacy of caring for survivors of World Wars and for their families. Mr Duffy recognised that in recent times, a richer understanding of the significant contributions of Irish men and women in both World Wars has grown within Ireland. Mr Duffy continued, “In some places, this has, understandably, led to the desire to memorialise those from their county, and none more

Mr Tony Brennan from Wolfe Tone Street, in Kilkenny, who was at Mac Donagh railway station on June 6th. Tony’s uncle Patrick Walsh died in WWII.

Below: Commandant Larry Scallan, retired, Paddy Horohan and Charlie Parsons who attended the unveiling at Mac Donagh Junction.

so than in Kilkenny. Today, a special group of Kilkenny’s sons and daughters are resurrected from obscurity –citizen soldiers of the ‘Greatest Generation’ who risked everything and eventually gave all in the necessary struggle against Fascism.”

WE HONOUR KILKENNY MEN AND WOMEN The Chairman of the Great War Committee, Donal Croghan paid a heartfelt thanks to all involved with the project. He had special words of praise for the dedicated committee members responsible for ensuring the project was successfully completed. Donal dedicated “this lasting tribute to the sixty- four Kilkenny people that, more than seventy- five years ago, made the ultimate sacrifice”.

In conclusion, Mr Croghan paid tribute to the men and women who served with the

Finbar McCarthy who played the ‘Pipers Lament’ at the unveiling.

Allied Force. “We owe our deepest gratitude to the two hundred Kilkenny men and women, we honour here today.”

WREATHS LAID AS A MARK OF RESPECT In a respectful ceremony, wreaths were placed on behalf of The Great War Memorial Committee, The Royal British Legion (Irish Division), Kilkenny County Council, the Australian Ambassador, the Canadian Army, Mr Paul Johnston, U.K Ambassador to Ireland and Her Excellency, Ms Deike Potzel, Ambassador for the Federal Republic of Germany.

The ceremony was embellished with the music of Piper Finbarr McCarthy (The Piper’s Lament) and by Charlie Parsons who sounded ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’.

Poems, on the day, were recited by Commandant Larry Scallan (retired), John Joe Cullen and Bernie Egan.

Kilkenny author and poet Frank Marshall who attended the WW2 ceremony.

A wish for a military historical walking tour The World War II memorial at MacDonagh Railway station in Kilkenny marks the final project by The Great War Memorial Committee (GWMC).

Since their inception the GWMC has also erected memorials to Kilkenny men and women involved in World War I at The Peace Park, and a monument to Thomas Woodgate at the Court House. In recent times, the committee remembered the three Kilkenny men who were killed in The Friary Street ambush in 1921.

Speaking at the ceremony, chairman of the committee Donal Croghan said they now will complete their data base and present it to the people of Kilkenny which can be used by future generations for research.

Chatting to The Kilkenny Observer, Mr Croghan said that for himself and his committee it was always a labour of love and they can look back with pride on their achievements.

Asked by The Observer if he had had any wishes for the future, Mr Croghan said he would love to see a Military History Walking Tour of Kilkenny City which would tell the individual stories for future generations to hear.

Due to Covid restrictions, many guests were unable to attend. However, messages of support were sent by The Hon Gary Gray, AO, Australian Ambassador to Ireland, Colonel Andrew Lussier, MSM, CD, Canadian army, and H.E. Paul Johnston , the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Ireland.

Attending the unveiling of the WWII dedication at MacDonagh Railway station on June 6th was Wolfe Tone Street resident Tony Brennan.

Tony told the Kilkenny Observer newspaper that his uncle Patrick Walsh was a private in the Queens Royal Regiment, and he was attending to say a prayer for his uncle and those who died during the war.

Tony went on to explain that his uncle Patrick (although known locally as Sonny) took part in the Invasion of Italy but was shot during active service in Bari and moved to an army field hospital.

Unfortunately, as a German Bomber pane was fleeing from Allied forces, he dumped his own bombs which landed beside the field hospital , killing many of the wounded including Patrick.

Originally from Callan, Patrick Walsh is buried in Bari Military cemetery in Italy.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

Picture special Eamon and Adam Hayes

t u o Ab Out &

WITH

Juris and Ieva Millere

Enjoying the football in the Waterbarracks

Mike and Bella Funchion

Joe and Katen O’Neill

Dannryt Laha

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

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Picture special

George Grimble and Charlotte Laycock Kilkennys Saturday market

Jimmy Hayes

Mary Delaney, Jacintha and Joe Moran

Tommy Hackett, Dave Little and Willie Mahony

A bustling Kieran St

Ciaran and Oisin Doyle

Richie and Ursula Cody

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

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Community & GAA Notes

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news CLARA GAA MEMBERSHIP Reminder, Membership for 2021 is now due. Only Adult members with membership paid by the cut off date of Wednesday 30th June will be eligible to enter any possible draws for Club/ Inter County GAA tickets, All Ireland tickets plus have a vote at the Club AGM. Please follow the guide on the Clara GAA website, how to complete registration using Foireann. Thanks to all who have registered to date. Your fees are a vital lifeline to the running & future development of our Club.

PLAYER INJURY FUND & HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRES. Following recent communication from the GAA we would like to draw your attention to the following.The playing of Gaelic games involves the risk of injury & it is each individual players responsibility to familiarise themselves with the terms & benefits of the GAA injury benefit fund. See Clara GAA website.

• I t is a player injury fund not an insurance.

• I t is in the event that no other cover is available.

• I t is a players responsibility to organise their own insurance cover.

• P layers must be registered members of the Club.

• P layers must follow all return to play protcols, Health Questionnaires.

Failure to comply with the above will lead to a claim being declined & no appeals will be considered. It is therefore vitally important for all our coaches to ‘Create Events’ for all training sessions & games, for all our coaches & players to complete ‘Health Questionnaires’ on the day, before attending & our coaches to ‘Record Attendance’ following each event, all on Foireann.

RETURN TO ACTION GAA action finally resumed on Monday 7th June and Clara interest centred on 2020’s Roinn B county semi final v. St. Martins. When these teams met earlier in the group games it was the boys in red and green who held the upper hand in a keenly contested affair. The Clara lads had some ground to make up but on the evidence of this, they had used their time wisely since.

The astute coaching by Stephen Lawlor, John Carrigan, Tom English and John Brennan has shone through and the improvement in these boys was very evident here. The good work has been carried on with them at U15 level this year by Johnny Shortall, Mark Galvin, Shane Staunton and Dara Glynn, and a lot of these boys have also been training with a very young club minor team, which has also benefitted them greatly.

Despite facing a stiff breeze, these Clara boys held their own from the start of this game. Put under pressure by a huge St. Martins puckout, the full back line of Daniel Murphy, James Cody and Daniel Ryan resolutely defended and offered goalkeeper Sean Cooke great protection. At the end of the first quarter, St. Martins led 0-5 to 0-4. Four of the Martins points had come from frees by their no. 15. By contrast Clara had got 3 of their four from open play, through Niall McCarthy, David Barcoe and Joe Power. The last named player had also nailed a free.

After the water break St. Martins went further ahead with another free from their no. 15 before a speculative Joe Power shot deceived the Martins keeper with the bounce and ended up in the net. Clara were ahead by a point but St. Martins then hit a purple patch and scored 5 of the next 7 points between there and the interval. Indeed

were it not for some brilliant defending by the half back line of Conor Galvin, Hugh Kelly and Philip Carrigan, that lead could have been even greater than the 0-11 to 1-6 halftime score.

Two fabulous David Barcoe points, the second a real peach into a strong breeze had left Clara in a good place with the aid of the elements to come.

When Clara outscored their opponents by eight points to one in the third quarter to turn a two point deficit into a five point lead, this game looked done and dusted. Joe Power and Luke Lawlor led the charge from midfield, with the half forward line of Sean Byrne, Davy Barcoe and Eoin Corr making some surging runs at a beleaguered Martins defence. The full forward line of John Bergin, Bill Kealy and Niall McCarthy worked extremely hard to keep the ball in there whenever it reached them, and left it very difficult for the opposition to get it out of their half. Substitute Padraig Meaney looked the part when introduced also.

To their credit though, St. Martins never gave up, and outscored Clara by 3 points to 1 in the fourth quarter. Indeed the boys in maroon were thankful for a tremendous Sean Cooke save midway through the quarter when the gap was down to four. The Clara boys had understandably tired after their huge efforts and St. Martins bravely pushed them all the way to the finish line. However Clara were definitely the better team and outscored their opponents 1-9 to 0-2 from play in the match.

They have now qualified for the final against Carrickshock and if they can hurl like this again for the full hour they shouldn’t be too far away from a second county U13 title in three years.

Well done to all.

Team - Sean Cooke, Daniel Murphy, James Cody, Daniel Ryan. Conor Galvin, Hugh Kelly, Philip Carrigan. Luke Lawlor 0-1, Joe Power 1-8, 0-5f, 0-1(65). Sean Byrne, David Barcoe 0-3, Eoin Corr 0-2, John Bergin, Bill Kealy, Niall McCarthy 0-1. Sub used Padraig Meaney.

FINAL HEARTBREAK Clara lost the final in heartbreaking fashion in Dunmore on Saturday as the club tried to regain the title they last won in 2018. The game went all the way to penalties and Carrickshock prevailed, when they scored 2 of theirs.

21 yards out facing those small juvenile goalposts is a daunting task. Added to that Carrickshock replaced their regular goalkeeper with the imposing figure of Michael Rohan and the move paid off for them. Clara failed to beat him with the four shots taken. The Clara goalkeeper Sean Cooke, who was a revelation in this championship, could do nothing about the two shots that beat him. He hadn’t been beaten in either semi final or final in general play.

Clara made most of the early running and led 5 pts to 2 at the first water break. Amazingly that three point lead was reduced to 2 by half time, 1 at the second half water break and was all square at the final whistle. Carrickshock were ever game and never gave up the fight. Clara will rue their 18 wides but it is very difficult to score on those smaller posts in a game of this intensity played on a balmy, humid evening.

They also lost a player to a red card when the unfortunate Conor Galvin received his marching orders midway through the third quarter. Conor appeared to be the victim of mistaken identity for his first yellow card but, as selector Matty Murphy pointed out, Carrickshock were due a bit of luck against Clara, having lost a number of big games against them in recent years.

In any case, both teams were back to 15 players for extra time but this time Carrickshock appeared the more

energised, and led 0-15 to 0-14 at the break. Again Clara courageously fought back and forced the game to penalties with a late Joe Power free.

The loss was tough to take but these boys will sample success if they continue to work hard and harness the hurt that they are sure to feel this week. They provided us with great entertainment and were desperately unlucky to come up just short. They returned to Clara afterwards and enjoyed some well deserved food and beverages from team sponsors Freshco.

Team - Sean Cooke, Daniel Murphy, James Cody(captain), Daniel Ryan.

Conor Galvin, Hugh Kelly, Philip Carrigan. Joe Power 0-10, 0-8f, 0-1(65), Luke Lawlor. Eoin Corr, Davy Barcoe 0-3, Sean Byrne. John Bergin 0-1, Bill Kealy 0-1, Niall McCarthy. Subs used Padraic Meaney, Ori Phelan, Tom Boyle.

Also Tom Murphy, Peter Firbank, Lukas Healy.

SENIOR CHALLENGE The new management had their first look at Clara on Saturday as their experimental team lost out to an energetic Lisdowney side on a 3-24 to 5-12 scoreline. The winners were full value for their win and on this evidence could take a few scalps this year. Clara have work to do.

Team - Kevin Nolan, Paddy Bolger, Jack Langton, Tom Ryan. John Murphy, David Langton, Martin o’ Connell. Liam Ryan, Conor Cody, Dara Glynn. Subs used Evan Whearty, Stephen Quinlan, Noel Kehoe.

JUNIOR D The Clara Junior Ds were hosts to Kilmacow on Sat. evening and ended up on the losing side. With the bare 15 players Clara tried hard but were always playing second fiddle to a physical Kilmacow outfit. The final score was 1-16 to 1-12.

Team - Conor Cody, Evan Whearty, Mick McDonald, Padraig Staunton. Brandon Ryan, Paul Murphy, James Dowling.

Alan Coleman, Conor Phelan. Bill Cody, Noel Kehoe, Dara Glynn. Nick O Keeffe, Noelie O Brien, Adam Barcoe.

FOOTBALL Mullinavat were within a whisker of losing their football crown in this pulsating 2020 Senior Football semi final on a miserable wet evening in Mullinavat on Tuesday of last week.

Just 20 miles up the road in Kilkenny not a drop of rain fell, but this game was played in a constant steady drizzle, which didn’t lend itself to good football but the fare on offer belied the conditions.

A game is never won in the first quarter but Mullinavat led by 1-3 to 0-0 at the first water break despite playing into the breeze. Clara had just as much of the play but were very wasteful in this period. A flowing move at the beginning of the second quarter culminated in Kevin Nolan firing an unstoppable shot in off a post and Clara had finally settled. Swapped scores before halftime left Mullinavat in front by 1-4 to 1-1 with the aid of the breeze to come.

Any notion of a stroll in the park for the second half were quickly dispelled when Clara stormed out of the blocks and scored four unanswered points to take the lead by the end of the third quarter. This was all the more impressive because they had lost Ciarán Prendergast and Sean O Shea through injury, and Jack Langton to a black card in that first half. But now they really had the bit between their teeth and with newcomer Alan Coleman settling in very quickly, they were camped in the Mullinavat half for long periods, and probably should

have led by more.

The champions equalised from a rare breakaway but Coleman soon had Clara back in front with a super score as time ticked away. Then disaster struck as some rare hesitancy in a fine Clara defence allowed a Mullinavat player to rise and fist a goal past a helpless Killian Phelan. Clara responded immediately with a pointed free from the ever composed James Nolan, and with time almost up another free by Shiner took this game to extra time.

Clara led at the half time break in extra time by another pointed Shiner free. Then a Mullinavat foray ended with a blistering ground shot to the Clara net. Again James Nolan replied with a free and the bare minimum was between the sides again. With Clara pressing hard for the equaliser, a rather harsh looking free out led to Mullinavat tearing down the field for the final point of the game. The final whistle sounded on the lockout. 3-6 to 1-10 it finished. If ever the old saying that goals win matches held true it was on this occasion. They certainly baled Mullinavat out on this occasion, but they are not going for 4 titles in a row for nothing.

Clara came agonisingly close to pulling off a huge shock and no Clara man on that field could be faulted for effort. It was a really brave and commendable effort and the same commitment should yield plenty of results on the hurling field in the months ahead.

Team - Killian Phelan, Paddy Bolger, David Langton, Dermot Nolan. Liam Ryan, Conor O Shea, Sean O Shea.

Lester Ryan, Jack Langton. Ciarán Prendergast, Kevin Nolan 1-0, Martin O Connell. Chris Bolger, James Nolan 0-8f, Tom Ryan 0-1. Subs used Alan Coleman, Dara Glynn, Brian Nolan, Joe Connolly, Adam Barcoe, Brandon Ryan.

CAMOGIE U14 Camogie - First league match v Piltown was on Wed. 9th June. Like so many others, the girls were delighted to be back playing competitive camogie matches again. And this was a very competitive match! Leaving aside a little rustiness with their touch, both teams provided a great display of determination to give us a very exciting first game. Clara got off to a strong scoring start, but were quickly pegged back after Piltown made a few positional changes. From there on Piltown held a slight advantage throughout with their emphasis on scoring goals. Clara however kept in touch with some fine points. Some astute changes of their own by mentors Eamon Dunne, Padraic Brennan, Aine McDonald and Aoife Glynn helped them regain control. With less than 10 minutes to go Clara had the lead, only to be overtaken again by another Piltown goal. Showing real grit, Clara kept going, scoring their second goal to take a one point lead with time practically up. Both teams fought on to the finish, but Clara held on for the win.

Final score Clara 2-9 (15) Piltown 4-2 (14). A great game from all players and a great return to Camogie. lara team: Ava Kenny, Katie Boyd, Maria Hogan, Caragh Brennan, Onagh Fitzgerald, Sarah Dunne, Ceola Leamy, Pia Langton, Lucy Boyd, Katie O’Connell, Jessica Brennan, Aisling Hayes, Aoibhe Callery, Danica TervitKrueger, Amy Lynch, Faye Morrissey, Aoibheann McDonald, Lucy Kealy, Moya Kelly, Orla Carrigan.

SENIORS IN LEAGUE FINAL Congrats to Mary O Connell and Aisling Curtis who were part of a Kilkenny outfit that had a come from behind victory over Tipperary in Nowlan Park on Sunday. This win set up a final in Croke Park next Sunday night.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS THE LOUGHS COFFEE DOCK Our new coffee dock open this weekend..with speciality coffees served with a smile Cappucino, latté ..and of course a cupán tae.. All money raised in The Lough’s Dock will go to both the GAA and O’Loughlin Gaels Camogie Club Now that’s lovely hurling CLOTHES TO RECYCLE? O’Loughlin Gaels Juvenile Section are Recycling Clothes - Bring your bags of clothes to Juvenile training sessions between now and June 22nd and it will be used to generate cash for equipment for our young players.

Check out in the poster what you can bag..bring it and drop to the collection point and thats it!! Easy peasy..and helps the club.

SUMMER CAMP IS FULLY BOOKED The Eurospar Ireland O’Loughlin Gaels GAA Summer Camp is booked to capacity. There will be no further names taken for our two week Gaelic Games Camp in August (9th to 20th) We’re looking forward to a great two weeks. ..our biggest one yet !! Lovely Hurling HURLING & CAMOGIE The best if luck to all our hurling and comogue teams aswel as their managements for the season ahead.

Games are coming thick and fast so please keep an eye to clubs social media and the kilkenny GAA and camogie websites for all the updated schedules . Hon the Lough’s PADDY VISITS TÚS MAITH NAOÍNRA Bhí lá iontach acu i Tús Maith Naíonra an seactainn seo caite nuair a tháinig cuairteoir speisialta- Paddy Deeganchun labhairt leis na páistí faoi iomàint agus chun beagáinín traenáil a dhéanamh leo. Bhí Múinteoir Claire ag caitheamh geansaí nua Club na nÓg le hurraíocht Eurospar Newpark Shopping Centre Eurospar Ireland ach ansin ba bheag nár loit sí an lá ag aistriù i ngeansaí Chorcaí. Léirigh na páistí a mbuíochas do Paddy ag tabhairt cáca dó a bhí sé thar a bheith sásta leis. Fair play Paddy, Bíonn tú ar fheabhas ag roinnt do chuid ama leis an t-aos óg. Gaeil Uí Lochlainn Abú.

Tús Maith Naíonra - 0879719047 FRESHFORD TOM RETIRES Best wishes are extended to local man Tom McGrath of Inch, Freshford on his recent retirement as Station Master of the Freshford Fire services. Tom has been a member of the local fire services for the past 40 years as was his father before him. He served as a fireman for 10 years then as a driver for another 10years, a sub officer for 12 years and Station officer for the past 8 years. He is wished all the best in his retirement and many years of good health and happiness.

PLAYGROUND There was great news for Freshford Playground recently. The Playground Committee announced that they are to receive a Grant of €125,000 towards their new outdoor activity hub/ playground. The Committee stated that sincere thanks for this goes to Freshford ie, Kilkenny County Council and local Cllr Michael McCarthy for all the hard work and commitment they have put in to date to get them to this stage.

IRISH FARMERS MONTHLY Local girl Anne Marie Butler Walsh was featured recently in this month’s Irish

Farmers monthly. Anne Marie from Cooleshall, Freshford was elected President of the Association recently and she said this was a wonderful opportunity to showcase Agricultural science association and it was great to detail achievements across her Presidency and Conference 2021 plans.

FITNESS CLASSES Fitness classes are resuming outdoors on Mondays and Wednesday evenings catering for all levels of fitness.

Individual and group sessions available also. For further information please contact Tommy on 083 1069291 CAMOGIE NEWS Peggy Dowling Camogie Tournament was held in Pairc Lachtain last week . Four teams took part in the competition. The winning team captained by Grace Cleere and the shield winners were captained by Michelle Killeen who is granddaughter of the late Peggy Dowling.

Presentation was made to the winning captains on the day by camogie stalwart Ann Dalton and Paula Murphy (nee Dowling). A huge thanks was paid to the organisers, mentors, referees and the Dowling family for their generous sponsorship of the trophies and medals. (Photos with this item) On Kilkenny Panel Local St.Lachtains player Lydia Fitzpatrick was part of the Kilkenny Senior Camogie Panel which beat Tipperary on Sunday last in the League Semi-final. Lydia was on the bench but played a big part when introduced the previous week.

TIDY TOWNS NEWS Freshford Tidy Towns launched their Community Action for Biodiversity workshops recently. The highly educational, practical and enjoyable workshops takes place with Eva Holmes and commenced two weeks each Wednesday evenings.

Participants gather in the Millennium Park at 7pm each week. The course will look at suitable pollinator plants for hanging baskets and they will use these skills to plant the village hanging baskets. This course is free to all with all covid procedures in place.

Woodview residents are hosting the next instalment of the Community Action for Biodiversity Workshops with Eva Holmes, Darver House Nursery focusing on biodiversity in residential settings.

WORKS Local Cllr Michael McCarthy is delighted that macadam overlay and associated works have taken place at Clashacrow and Saar Road Freshford also on the LS5010 at Ballinamara. These works will be of huge benefit to the residents and road users. Great credit is due to the Area Engineer and his staff for their efforts.

LOOP WALK The Look walk has now reopened following refurbishment work, some minor tidying is taking place this week.

Thanks is due to the Parks Department \Kilkenny County Council Leader the Contractor and the Land Owner for allowing access.

BAPTISM With baptisms now allowed with a small limited number in attendance.

Congrats to Chloe Fox and her partner Marco whose Baby Vincenzos was baptised recently at St.Lachtains Church, Freshford.

SOCCER NEWS Since the lifting of further restrictions Freshford Town soccer club have all underage teams back in training . The

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Community & GAA Notes U9 s played their first game recently against Spa Utd away from home Well done to all involved and a super performance by the youngsters .

Training for 5-8 year olds has also resumed and continues each Saturday morning at Woodview from 12noon to 1pm. All welcome.

Freshford Junior side have been drawn against Thomastown B in the Cup competition. They are drawn against top of the league side Freebooters A in the McCalmount cup competition.

Another tough encounter.

GAA NEWS St Lachtains Junior B hurlers were in action on Friday evening last when they had a convincing win over St. Martins on their first outing of year at Pairc Lachtain.

Team: J.Campion, M.Burke, (Capt) L.Kennedy J Hickey, C.Rafter, J.Cleere, P Donnelly, M.Farrell, P While, P.Killeen,C O’Leary, B.Hughes, C Leahy, C.Dawson, A.Rafter.

The intermediate side face Danesfort on Thursday evening next at Pairc Lachtain in the first round of the Byrne Cup with throw in at 8pm.

St.Lachtains GAA club held that Drive in Bingo for the past two Sunday afternoon with people delighted to have it back! The popular drive in bingo will take place on Sunday afternoon next, 6th June starting at 2pm sharp with a prize fund of €2,500 on the day. Single book - €10, Double book €20, Children €5 (including Jackpot sheet) Eircode R95T6D8. All at St.Lachtins once again look forward to seeing you there and bring your friends along.

Last man standing -All at St. Lachtains would like to thank everyone for the great support shown in the recent Last Man Standing competition for the national hurling league.

MEMBERSHIP With the start of the GAA year in sight it is very important to have membership paid up. Having membership will mean all will be included into potential draws for upcoming GAA fixtures if crowd limits are brought in as a rule. Membership can be paid to any Committee member.

KINANE & McGREE TOURNAMENTS The annual Philip Kinane Cup and Colin McGree Shield Tournaments were held recently at Pairc Lachtain.

Four teams participated with Jack Dalton’s team, Jamie Denieffe’s team, Colin McGree’s and Cian Donnelly’s all in action. The finals took place on Bank Holiday Monday. The Colin McGree shield final played first saw Jack Daltons team face up to Jamie Denieffes side and saw Jamie’s side take the honours. The Philip Kinane cup final saw Colin McGrees team take on Cian Donnelly’s side with Colin’s side coming out winners. Thanks goes to all the organisers and mentors for their help in the running of the tournaments.

PARISH NEWS Masses and Church services are one of the restrictions to be lifted recently . During lockdown the church has always been open for private prayer each day. Mass continues in St.Lachtains Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and each Sunday at 11am with a limited number of 50 people. Mass resumed in Tulla church on Saturday evenings at 8pm with numbers limited to 25 due to social distancing requirements. It is however most important that we continue to wear masks, main social distancing and sanitise our hands and it is very important that you do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms

of Covid 19. Freshford Parish website is now live and can be found at www. parishoffreshford.com. They will continue to add content in the coming weeks and if you have any suggestions as always just send an email to the Parish office and thanks to all those who have contributed to date.

NOTICES The parish newsletter continued to be issued each week during the restrictions. The Parish office is open each morning 9.30am to1pm (except Wednesdays).

If you have a community notice you would like included in the weekly newsletter you should submit details of same in person to Freshford Parish office before 1pm on Thursdays or you can email same to Freshford@ossory.ie Mass Cards Special printed parish cards are available at the Parish Office or from Annette at Tulla Church signed by Monsignor Kennedy. You can contact the Parish office on 056 8832843 or by email – freshfordd@ossory. ie. Contact Mongr Kieron Kennedy on that number or on 087 25235 There will be no celebration of First Communion or Confirmation for months to come Children of second class due to receive their first Communion may now have to wait till later in the year.

DICKSBORO UNDER AGE HURLING Great to see Palmerstown and James Park buzzing this evening with our youngest hurlers back in the Boro! Well done everyone involved. Parents are advised to download Clubzap App to follow the Covid Protocols. Please see relevant clubzap groups for training schedules. Senior Hurling The Senior Hurlers had two good competitive challenge games against Father O Neills and Birr as they continued their preparations towards the league in the months ahead. Junior B Hurling The Junior B team played their first game in the league on Thursday night against Barrow Rangers. Our lads were unlucky to loose by a point in the end.

With alot of lads coming up from Minor level from last year, our lads will learn and improve as the season goes. Final score 1-13 to 0-15.

JUNIOR E HURLING The 4th adult team had a very good win against Bennetsbridge in the league on a very warm Sunday in Palmerstown. 1-14 to 0-11. This was the lads first game of the season and did very well to see out the win in very warm conditions. Minor Hurling The Minor team had a very good work out on Bank Holiday Monday against Faughs in Palmerstown. This was a very good workout ahead of the first league game against O Loughlins on Monday in Palmerstown.

CONDOLENCES Last week, we said goodbye to our great friend & clubman Martin Morrissey. Martin has been the heart & soul of Dicksboro GAA for many years.

He has given so much to so many in his time involved in our club. Whether it be coaching teams over the years, helping with grounds development, his trojan work with our club lotto, work as a committee member & chairman or as a supporter, Martin really represented all that was good about the Boro. Martin had time for everyone in the club and went out of his way to make sure he knew everyone from the youngest club members to the oldest, and he always had a kind and supportive word for

all. He was always very supportive on & off the field down through the years to all players of all abilities who were playing for the Boro. He looked out for everyone. Martin & Ann along with Joe & Kitty Phelan, Mick Byrne & Eugene Begley and others would always be present at Boro games across the country including Fèile na Gael weekends. No location was too far to support the Boro youngsters. Martin was one of the driving forces behind the development of the Palmerstown grounds in the late 80’s & we certainly would not have the Dicksboro we have today without his drive and passion.

The huge turnout at the funeral from Dicksboro GAA & Camogie club & Muckalee GAA really showed the respect & fondness everyone had for Martin. He was one of a kind. Thanks for everything you did for us Martin, we will keep the show on the road but Palmerstown just wont be the same without you. R.I.P All in Dicksboro would like to send our condolences to Martins wife Ann & his loving family Catríona, Liam, Enda, Áine, Ciara, Sam & his extended family & many friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis CLUB LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results JUNE 12th 2021 Nos: 6– 20– 22– 25 Jackpot: €3,100– not won Draw Prizes – €50: Declan Gough €25 each john fogarty c/o online €25 each aoife cahill c/o online €25 each margaret claffey c/o deirdre o reilly €25 each molly c /o fiona morrissey Promoters prize - gerry o neill Next week’s (June 17TH) Jackpot – €3,200 We are encouraging every Dicksboro family to support the Clubs Fundraising efforts by signing up to the Club Lotto. https://dicksborogaa.com/ categories/lotto/products MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION Registration is now due and should be in place prior to resumption of play.

This needs to be paid before entering the pitch. https://www.dicksborogaa. com/membership_products SUMMER CAMP SAVE THE DATES DICKSBORO SUMMER CAMP 5 Day Summer Camp open for Boys and Girls.

JULY 26th -30th AUGUST 16th - 20th Come for one week or both.

BOOKING SYSTEM Online https://www. dicksborogaa.com/summer-camp DICKSBORO GAA ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC Dicksboro GAA will host its Annual Golf Classic in the Kilkenny Golf Club on Friday 23st of July 2021.This event has been a very successful event in the past and we are encouraging all members, supporters, former players, and friends of the club to support this fundraising event. Please see below link on how to register https:// dicksborogaa.clubzap.com/product PITCH SIDE BUSINESS ADVERTS Should your business want to arrange an advertising hoarding at our Club grounds click here for details: https:// www.dicksborogaa.com/products For any queries contact any committee member. https://www.dicksborogaa. com/contact (Camogie contact runai Ted Carroll (086) 837 6544) KILMANAGH GRAIGUE BALLYCALLAN ATHLETICS CLUB Our next C25K (Couch to 5 kilometres) starts on July 1st. Get in touch with

any of the enthusiasts and make that commitment today! You won’t regret it. Running for everyone else is at 7pm every Tuesday & Thursday. Wear hi-vis & fill in your covid form please.

BINGO Drive-In Bingo commences in Ballingarry GAA Club grounds on June 25 and every Friday night, henceforth. 8pm start, gates open at 6.30pm. Single Book + 1 Sheet €10. Double Book + 2 Sheets €15. Extra Sheets €3 or 2 for €5. Plus Split The Pot, Over €2,700 to be won.

All Covid guidelines will be followed.

BAPTISMS Until further notice, probably well into July, numbers at baptisms are limited to just 6 people. Please note the days and times for baptism. There has been a change to the Saturday times with the dropping of the 12noon slot.

A minimum of two weeks’ notice is required.

MARY’S MEALS The total collected from Fr. Kelly’s book is €1,590, a tremendous sum, and, when combined with recent proceeds from my own book, as well as donations given to me for Mary’s Meal’s at Easter, we are sending in excess of €2,000 to the project. Mary’s Meals philosophy is simple: By providing a daily meal in a place of learning, they meet the immediate needs of hungry children and encourage them to go to school to gain an education that can, in the future, be their ladder out of poverty. €18.30 is enough to feed a child for a whole school year. Mary’s Meal’s is a non-denominational and non-governmental charity.

FACEMASKS A reminder that facemasks must be worn inside our churches during Masses. This will continue, regardless of whether you are vaccinated or not.

New research shows that you can still spread the new strain of the virus even after inoculation. For everyone’s sake, wear your mask.

SOCCER The winner of the River Rangers Champions League Final Golden Goal Competition was Michelle Dunne, with the 42nd minute, taking home the €150 prize. Well done Michelle and thanks to everyone who purchased tickets.

LEAVING CERT EXAMS Best of luck to all students who are currently sitting their leaving cert exams. It’s been a tough year to be a student but hopefully you will do well and receive the grades you are hoping for.

REMEMBRANCE TREE The whitethorn tree, recently blessed at a memorial Mass for all who have passed away in the last 15 months will be planted in the front lawn in Ballycallan Church grounds. It will stand as a memorial to all who have died. Later in the year we will hold our own memorial service and remember all those from our parish have passed away.

LOCAL LINK BUS SERVICE The Local Link Bus Service from Kilmanagh to Kilkenny continues to operate at 50% capacity every Tuesday.

To book on for this service please call on 1890 424 141 or 056 771 5912 Monday to Friday 09.00 to 16.30pm.

PARISH NEWS Anyone wishing to submit news items, events, announcements etc. can do so by email only to elanigan18@gmail. com. If you have any photos that you would like included, please send as an attachment.

URLINGFORD

BOOKING ANNIVERSARY MASSES While it’s possible to book an anniversary Mass, we request that attendance by family members be kept to a minimum. This is on account of limited numbers allowed at Mass.

They can, of course remain outside and listen on the outdoor speaker.

EMERALDS GAA CLUB Split the pot: The final split the pot draw by the Emeralds GAA Club was Sunday night where Elaine Power won €270.

Well done Elaine!

Nicholas Healy from the Urlingford Arms will hold the draws going forward on Sunday nights in the hotel, time tbc. For the next four weeks, the draw is for the Emeralds Camogie Club.

Get your envelopes in local shops for your chance to share half the pot. Please support.

Mega Bingo: Returned on Sunday at 6pm at Urlingford GAA pitch. Gates open at 5pm. Single books and 1 sheet €10; Double books and 2 sheets €15. Extra jackpot sheet €3 or two for €5.

WEBCAM Kilmanagh church has a webcam fitted and Mass is broadcast every Saturday evening at 6.30pm. Just log onto the parish website and follow the link. We recommend using Google Chrome for the best experience. If you are using a mobile phone with 3G or less you will encounter buffering problems.

EMERALDS URLINGFORD & GRAINE LOTTO Is back!!

June 14 prize fund: €12,100. Jackpot: €10,100.

Draw takes place on Monday, June 14 in the Clubrooms.

Tickets available at usual outlets.

Results next week.

WEEKLY LOTTO RESULTS Graigue Ballycallan GAA & St. Brigid’s Camogie Club lotto results for 07/06/2021 are as follows: Numbers drawn were: 7; 14; 15; 24. Jackpot of€3000 was not won. Next week’s jackpot will be €3200. 3 x lucky dip winners get €50 each – Philomena Butler, Kathleen Blanchfield and John Caldbeck. Seller’s prize goes to Mark Hogan. Draw takes place each Monday at 9pm sharp. Next draw will take place on 14/06/2021.

EMERALDS CAMOGIE CLUB Would like to thank everyone for supporting their Spinathon at the weekend. Thanks to all those who participated in helpling raise funds for the club.

SCRAP METAL The annual Scrap Metal Collection in aid of Naomh Aodhán Community Centre, Kilmanagh will take place on Saturday 10th July & Sunday 11th July.

Thanks, as always, to the Harris Family for the generous use of their yard for this fund raiser.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE The Mill Allotments: The allotments and garden are now open to the public from 9am to 6pm Mon to Fri each week.

Courses: Health Care Level 5: We are now currently recruiting for new learners for the Health Care Level 5 course commencing in September 2021.

Pathway to Employment Course, Level 4: We are also recruiting for the Pathway to Employment Level 4 course which will be commencing in September 2021.

Please contact Sue or Kevin in the Mill Family Resource Centre for more information on these courses and

application forms on 056 8838466.

Community Bank Savings: Savings have recommenced at the centre. Please contact the centre for more information, if required.

SENIOR ALERT If you need to apply for a Personal Alarm, please contact Sue or Josephine on 056 8838466.

COUNSELLING SERVICES Teenagers from age 12 upwards, adult and family low cost counselling services are available at the Mill Family Resource Centre, please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment on 056 8838466.

Services that the Mill FRC provides to the public: Family Support; One to One Support; Drop in I.T. Support computers / laptops & mobile phones; Senior Alert; Community Savings; Room Rental; Social Welfare, HSE, Tax, Garda & Government Forms and advice on completing all forms; Internet Access, Printing & Photocopying; Emailing; Scanning; Typing Service; CV/Cover Letters; Homes for the Elderly.

URLINGFORD COMMUNITY GARDEN Urlingford Community Garden have allotments available if anyone is interested contact the centre, two sizes are available 30x30 for €40 per year and 28x15 for €20 per year.

URLINGFORD LIBRARY Need to print something? You can now connect to Urlingford Library Printers via WiFi and the Internet no matter where you are. Follow the instructions on our Library notice board and collect your prints from the Library. Our opening times are; Tuesday 10-8pm. Wednesday Closed; Thursday 10-5pm, Friday 10-1.30pm. Saturday 10-1.30pm, (Closed Saturday of Bank Holiday Weekends).

OSSORY YOUTH Ossory Youth, the youth service in County Kilkenny, are planning to run a ‘Pop-Up Youth Club’ in Urlingford on Wednesday June 30 to Friday July 2 for 6th class students. This is a three day camp running from 12.30 to 2.30pm on Wednesday and 10am-2pm on the other two days with a mixture of fun activities giving young people a taste of what a weekly youth club would provide. A number of volunteers are needed to support the Ossory Youth staff in running the ‘Pop-Up Youth Club’.

Volunteers will be supported every step of the way by Ossory Youth with Garda Vetting and Child Protection training provided. A typical volunteering commitment in a youth club would be two hours on one evening a week.

If you are interested in volunteering in Urlingford, please contact Patrick Bookle in Ossory Youth at 056 7761200, 087 2129006 or pbookle@ossoryyouth. com.

LOCAL LINK BUS SERVICE The Local Link Bus Service Urlingford area - Urlingford & Galmoy to Kilkenny services continue to operate at 50% capacity every Tuesday.

To book for either of these services please call 1890 424141 or 056 7715912 Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm.

URLINGFORD / GRAINE DEFIBRILLATOR GROUP In case of emergency, call: 085 2726396.

URLINGFORD NEWS Anyone wishing to submit news items, club events, announcements etc can do so by emailing urlingfordnotes@ gmail.com. If you have any photos you wish to include, please forward them to the email address.

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

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Golf

Golf NOTES

Callan Golf Club Ladies Competitions at Callan Golf Club Callan Ladies had a wonderful 3-2 Victory over Mt Juliet in the Intermediate Inter club Competition on Sunday last.

Team: Noelle O’Driscoll Berna Walsh Claire Hendriques Mandy O’Brien Lorraine Donovan 1st Major of 2021 Captain Denis Lawlors Prize to the Ladies was held in lovely sunshine with Rita O’Neill winning the Coveted Prize 2nd Breda Walsh Best Gross Ann Wemyss 3rd Caroline Somers 4th Noelle O’Driscoll 5th Shiela Foster 6th Paulune Duffy Best 36 Rose O’Brien 9 Hole winner Ann Needham.

Juniors Competition was won by Anna O’Brien .

Castlecomer Golf Club It was with great regret that we learned of the passing of former Captain and President Mr Tom Rothwell. Tom was an integral part of our Club for many years, serving

on many committees. We offer our condolences to his wife Gretta, sons Victor, John & Mervyn and all his family. Ar dheis De go raibh an anam.

Congratulations to all winners of our Christmas Draw which was delayed due to restrictions, and we extend appreciation to all members for their continued support. €1000 Gordon Byrne, Marymount, Castlecomer. €500 Sean Mansfield, New Rd, Castlecomer. €250 Eanna Brennan, Ruthstown, Ballyfoyle. €100 Miriam Kelly, Yellow Rd, Castlecomer. €100 Darragh O’ Gorman, 0852703214. €100 Ciaran Brennan, Bleach Road, Dunmore. €100 Margaret Campion, 3 Donaguile, Castlecomer. €100 Seamus Brennan, Bleach Road, Dunmore. €100 Breda Ring, Cashel Downs, Waterford Rd, Kilkenny. €100 Laura Gill, C/O Gerry O’ Neill. €100 Sellers Prize: Gerry Meally.

Ladies: The recent Ladies Competition was kindly sponsored

by Harrington’ s Pharmacy.

Located on The Square in Castlecomer, this establishment has been serving the medical needs of the community for many years. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, the staff of Harrington’s are always able to respond with expert advice. As a club, we are proud to have the valued sponsorship of Harrington’s Pharmacy and we urge our members to support this local business Competition Results: 1st Ita Madigan (39pts) 2nd Emma Walsh (37pts)

3rd Betty Byrne (35pts) 4th Margaret O’ Keeffe (34pts) Well done ladies!

Inter Club Matches will resume on Wednesday June 9th when our Junior Foursomes team play New Ross G.C. On Friday June 11th the Intermediate Ladies will tee it up against Gowran G.C. All Ireland Women’s Fourball June 18th.

Challenge Team V Borris June 22nd Minor Tram V Gowran June 23rd Week 5 of lessons continue with Noel Tuesday and Wednesday.

Men’s Results Midweek Singles 2 & 3 June 2021: 1st James Bergin (9) 42 pts. 2nd Breanainn Buggy (26) 39pts. Best Gross Michael Buggy (-2) 33pts Seniors Golf results: Wed, 2nd June, 2021.

1st - Tommy O Neill (10), Christy Comerford (14), Martin Meally (23), Tony Cooper (29) - 79 points.

2nd - Betty Owens (18), Liam Maddock (20), Marty Connolly (24) 78 points.

3rd - Sean Scanlan (19), Ger Comerford (28), Jean Jackman (38) - 75 points.

34 cards returned and well done to all.

The Club annual fundraising classic takes place this year from Thursday, June 24th – Sunday 27th. This is a 4-person event with a 1st prize of a 3 Night golfing break in Westport for 4. There are many more prizes including seniors, ladies, and a nonGUI prize. €120 per team. Timesheet is now open.

May Medal Singles (Sponsored

by Mulhall Brothers Bespoke Kitchens & Construction) 1st Mark Unwin (10) 69 2nd Bobby Todd (28) 69 3rd Michael Power (25) 69 Best Gross: Oisin O’Brien (-1) 73pts Holmpatrick Cup Fourball (Sponsored by Vinny Dwyer, Butchers) 1st Colin Dunne & Fergal O’Neill 49pts 2nd Ronan Walsh & Breannain Buggy 49pts 3rd Johnny Brennan & Tommy Kealy 49pts Midweek Open Singles 9th &10th June 12, 2021 1st Mark Unwin (9) 41pts 2nd Tom Phelan (19) 40 pts 3rd Evan O’Carroll (20) 38 pts Best Gross: Declan Dooley (2) 34pts Ladies: Topline Phelan’s Hardware kindly sponsored the first Ladies Stoke Competition of the season.

Established in 1955 by Mr. Jack Phelan, the business now employs staff from the immediate surrounding area each one bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the enterprise.

For many years John and Breda Phelan have been closely linked with the local community and have participated in a number of fundraising initiatives including providing sponsorship for Castlecomer Golf Club. We thank them sincerely and wish them continued success going forward.

Competition Results: Kathleen O’ Neill 65 Catrina Meagher 70 Ita Madigan 72 b9 Margaret O’ Keeffee 72

The ladies Junior Foursomes Team enjoyed an impressive victory over New Ross G.C. Managed by Honoria Fogarty both home pairings sealed a win while the away pairing closed the victory on the 18th green. Well done to manager and players.

The Intermediate Team travelled to Gowran G.C. for the first match in the competition . Team Manages Ellen Phelan and LC Patricia Brennan were very pleased with the players’ performance, securing two wins at home and one away.

Congratulations to team and managers.

Friday June 19th the All Ireland Women’s Fourball takes place and Sunday the Junior Cup. Good luck to all involved.

Men’s singles (Sponsored by Buggy Property Partners) 1st Gerry Mealy (16) 43 pts 2nd Shay Kennedy (9) 42 pts 3rd Colum Lynch (8) 41 pts Best Gross: Michael Buggy (-2) 36 pts Senior Results: 12 teams played with a total of 48 players on their outing to Rathdowney, and a very enjoyable days golf was had by all 1st - Tommy O Neill (10), Pat Murtagh (11), John Shore (38), Margie Gannon (29) 89 points 2nd - Tom Mooney (17), Paddy Neary (18), Eamon McEvoy (29), Noreen Kinsella (29) 89 points.

3rd - Shan Butler (17), Jim Hynes (24), Frank Dormer (28), Pat Graham (29), 88 points.

Barton Cup: The Men’s Barton Cup team were unlucky to lose 3 games to 2 to Rathdowney. Thanks to Manager Michael Curry and all the players for their efforts.

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Community Group

Adopt Poland for Euros Robert Lewandowski

AS the euro 2020 takes place a year late, our Polish Community will be cheering on from their armchairs, and hopefully a few of our local bars and restaurants if they have a big outdoor screen, cheering on the home country.

Now when Liverpool, Manchester United a r e playing t h e local inhab-

itants of our cities and counties are clued to the big screens, and now their mobiles, losing blood, sweat and tears cheering on Rashford, Henderson, and all their English idols but! Oh yes! As soon as they put on the white or red shirts, and now even blue, with the three lions across the chest is anyone but England chant.

So Irish men and women, why not support the boys in red POLAND. The Polish community is the largest economic migrant population we have in

Lukasz Fabianski

Ireland and Kilkenny. the King of Polish Soccer, Leaving their home every young Polish boy country to come here wants to be Robert and seek a better Lewandowski. The life for themBayern Munich selves and now striker has been families, we one of the top have now many players in EuPolish/ Irish ropean footfamilies living, ball for many working, and seasons. Last playing sports, Seasons Chamincluding soccer pion league here in Kilkenny. It winners Bayern was Just a few seasons Munich, and year lukasz BcZ ago Newpark FC had a on year winners of the top-class keeper Lukasz BzC German Bundesliga have playing for them winning leagues and Robert to thank for his goal scoring cup competitions in The Kilkenny & ability hitting the net 41 times in just District league.

28 games, As an Irish fan who cheers So, let’s support Poland, get your red Spurs all year long, but now he plays and white Flags out, hang them from for England I hear you say “Harry the windows and cars as we support who ? Golden Boot for 22 goals in 38 our Adopted brothers and sisters. In games”, “Do me a favour” as Roy Red fact, Poland’s first game of the tourmist Keane might say. nament was to take place in the Aviva So, le us adopt Poland for Euro 2020, Stadium. If it had, and the same number and wear the red and white. We are still of Polish were in the Stadium when listening to 1966 and “ They think it’s they played Ireland last, it would have all over … it is now “ when Hurst hits been a ‘HOME’ Game ‘AWAY FROM the hat trick. Imagine, it would another HOME’ 56 years of remember when we were Many of their Players are also European Champions? from across well known to the Irish Public. the Irish Sea, bBut there is a night they West Ham Utd’s Keeper Lukasz do not remind us of, the night Sir Alf Fabianski, Pawel Dawidowicz Ramsey got the sack and the keeper playing for Verona in Serie A Brian Clough was called a clown, in Italy and Midfielder Kamil kept a clean sheet as Poland Knocked Glik also from the Italian England out of the 1974 World Cup, League playing 36 times this Mr Jan Tomaszewsk season for Benevento and EURO 2020 FINAL WEMBLEY hitting the target 2 times.

ENGLAND 0 POLAND 1 ? get to the Then of Course there is bookies

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Travel

Five great places to visit on your staycation

WITH the post-lockdown emphasis on staycation, for a small country, we are really spoilt for choice, some of the most iconic sights and incredible landscapes in the world can be found right here!

Ireland is full of natural wonders, friendly locals and is rich in culture and history. Experience the best holiday destinations in Ireland and check

out online website The Travel Department’s selection of the top places to visit in the first of a two-part series 1. Explore The Aran Islands One of the top day trips from Galway and the best place to immerse yourself in the Irish language is possibly the Aran Islands, where Gaeilge is the mother tongue of many locals.

There are three islands that make up The Aran Islands, Inis Oirr, Inis Meain and Inis Mór.

We recommend taking a guided day trip from Galway to Inis Mor, the biggest of The Aran Islands. Make sure to go to Dun Aengus fort, which is perched on the dramatic cliffside and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean; it’s one of many prehistoric sites to visit in Ireland. And if

you’re feeling energetic you can explore Inis Mór by hiring a bike!

2. Walk the beaches of Donegal Donegal has a long and spectacular coastline full of beautiful beaches, some of which often make top ten lists of the best in the world. If you’re looking to go beyond the beaches, we sug-

gest staying in Letterkenny as part of your trip to Donegal; it’s a great gateway to see the ‘Forgotten County’ of Ireland!

3. Experience the Ring of Kerry The best way to see ‘The Kingdom’ in all its glory is to do the Ring of Kerry. On this tourist trail you’ll take in mountains, coastlines, lakes and pass

through charming villages. Although you can do this famous circuit yourself, we feel the best option is to do a guided Ring of Kerry tour, so you can let someone else do all the driving. All you need to is sit back, relax and take in the best sights in Kerry.

4. Learn about Irish Kings at the Rock of Cashel One of the best archaeological sites in Ireland, the Rock of Cashel is an ancient fortress and it’s where the iconic Brian Boru was crowned High King in 990; the only king to unite all of Ireland under his rule. It’s also known as ‘St. Patrick’s Rock’ as the legend goes that Saint Patrick arrived in Cashel in 432 AD and baptised King Aegegus who became Ireland’s first Christian ruler.

5. Trek Croagh Patrick If you’re thinking about a getaway to County Mayo, then you must see or hike Croagh Patrick, one of the top natural sights to see in Ireland. Locals call it ‘The Reek’ and it has been a destination for pilgrims for thousands of years; it’s no wonder it’s considered to be the ‘Holiest Mountain’ in Ireland.

You don’t need to climb to the very top to appreciate its beauty; you can get magnificent views of the Mayo countryside and Clew Bay from any stage on the way up. * We will have five more places to explore in our next edition

Life and death in the Land of Giants Paul Hopkins recalls a trip on the wild side to see life in the raw in Botswana

THERE is only one road into Mashatu in the Northern Tuli terrain of Botswana. They call it the MI: two strips of whitewashed cladding on a bed of red-earth-coloured stones.

It is less than a mile long, not far from where the river bends and the Land of Giants crisscrosses Zimbabwe and South Africa.

On a clear day (and that’s 300-plus days of the year) from the flat mountain top of Mmamagwa Hill, where ancient royalty once dwelt, you can see both neighbours across the borders of the Limpopo river.

Crane your neck and Mozambique gives way to the Indian Ocean.

To traverse this vast private reserve — 72,000 acres — you must follow the elephant paths, trunk roads perhaps, and the zebra crossings and hold tight to the muscles of your nether regions. In this peaceful and democratic country of just 2.25m people, Mashatu is the summation of what defines wilderness: vast open spaces and serene skies, diverse wildlife from the massive to the miniscule, and the tranquillity of it all broken only by birdsong and the calls of the wild.

Here is paradise for the

world’s largest land animal, the elephant — the largest population on any private reserve — tallest mammal the giraffe and largest antelope, the eland. Home too, to the world’s largest bird, the ostrich, and heaviest flying bird, the kori bustard. Add in your obligatory lion and iconic baobab tree, and there be giants!

Day has barely dawned and we are miles from basecamp, fellow traveller Sue and I hovering in the hushed-still hide by the water-hole. Guineafowl, with their funny headgear, arrive by the dozens for their morning libation, and weavers and hornbills and babblers and wagtails too. Storks stroll by, indifferent to the antelopes as diverse as they are plentiful.

All here to quench thirst.

From the hide — a camou-

flaged dug-out in the desert sand that allows you to watch animals unobserved — I stare unflinchingly: a banded mongoose, with its large head and short muscular limbs, scampers across the scorched earth.

A nyala ram with his females and hornless young scarper from the scene.

Then, patience being paramount and paying off, we hear them before we see them, the ground grumbling beneath their collective weight. As if from nowhere, with a slow, graceful but determined gait, the elephants arrive.

Perhaps two dozen: man, woman and child. The bull is proud but a little lost because he knows his is a matriarchal society and the cows are in charge. The mothers slurp insatiably from the hole and

then, their thirst momentarily quenched, encourage their young to dive in. The youngest is just one month old, I am told.

We hold our collective breaths for fear of scaring them away. The continuous banter of the herd, the flapping back and forth of their large ears, the constant, playful motion of their tremendous trunks, and being up so close and personal to these largest and ancient animals, is just awesome.

Mashatu offers the best predator viewing in this blessed land and, over our three-day stay, Sue and I have surreal sightings, again up close, of lions, the pride waiting patiently on open plains to pounce, and a gut-wrenching cheetah kill, with the impala curiously calm, most likely in shock and paralysed with fear.

Then there’s my first sighting, in half a lifetime of coming to sub-Saharan Africa, of that much-maligned creature, the hyena. It really is no laughing matter that this fellow is known solely for being a scavenger, and, of course, his wicked laugh. Yes, hyenas can be dangerous to humans but they are highly, highly intelligent, social animals who, although known as

scavengers, in truth are formidable predators. They can outwit lions, leopards and cheetahs and frequently steal fresh kills from these primary predators.

And I learn on this trip that female hyenas have ‘pseudopenises’ used in domination displays. Talk about gender issues.

Mashatu is on the eastern fringes of the Kalahari Desert so water is its most precious resource. The luxurious camps, being close to water, and in thickets of remarkable vegetation, transport the visitor into an enclave enriched and populated by birds and animals, of which there are so many species and varieties that it would take a wannabe David Attenborough a lifetime of learning to keep up.

Mashatu Lodge (Main Camp), where my dear friend Sue and I stay, is an oasis among the undulating and seemingly endless plains of the wild.

Fourteen luxury suites lie along the camp’s perimeters to allow for absolute privacy and communion with the Botswanan bush and its wondrous inhabitants.

At night, on my decking, in solitude, I listen to the rustlings out there in the darkness made visible under a starry sky, and the strange, yet oddly familiar, sounds of its community, a cacophony that soothes my very soul.

And the words of our own Oscar Wilde come to mind: “I have a strange longing for the great simple things ...”

I shall be back.

GETTING THERE...

Paul Hopkins flew courtesy of Belfast-based Mahlatini (+44 (0)28 9073 6050 / https://www.mahlatini.com) who offer a 3-night safari staying at Mashatu Tent Camp from £2,265pp including flights on Turkish Airlines and car hire. Or fly straight into Mashatu’s Limpopo Valley Airstrip from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo and stay at Mashatu Lodge (Main Camp) from £3,570pp Given the pandemic, prices might have been updated

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TV & Streaming

5

worth a watch on Netflix 1. BARRY

The name Obama is never once uttered in Barry, Vikram Gandhi’s minor-key presidential origin story. Only in the film’s final few minutes does the title character even call himself Barack — and then only in his head, reading a letter to his absent father. The young man we’re watching here — a smart, lonely college kid new to New York, and originally from “Hawaii, Indonesia, Kenya...you name it”— is decades and miles removed from the commander-in-chief he’ll one day become.

2. THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS

Lord Of The Rings prequel animated DIRECTOR Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy proved that it’s hard to make good Lord Of The Rings movies, and Amazon’s Lord Of The Rings TV show is similarly proving that it’s Warner Bros. and New Line have landed on a more economic solution to keeping the Lord Of The Rings brand alive — and it’s one that the Lord Of The Rings brand has already tried in the past. We’re talking about cartoons, with Deadline reporting that New Line and Warner Animation

have announced a new ‘anime title’ called The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim.

Peter Jackson is not currently involved, but Return Of The King screenwriter Philippa Boyens will serve as a consultant and anime director Kenji Kamiyama (he worked on Ultraman and some Ghost In The Shell stuff, specifically Netflix’s SAC_2045 reboot).

The War Of The Rohirrim is based on Helm Hammerhand, King Of Rohan,

who lived some 250 years before the events of the movies, and Deadline says it will “expand the untold story behind the fortress of Helm’s Deep.”

In other words, it’s a prequel about the big castle from that battle scene that everyone liked in The Two Towers 19 years ago. Deadline also describes it as a “companion piece” to the Jackson movies, which seems to mean that it will take place specifically in that universe and not the

book universe (or some amalgamation of the two).

What Deadline does not mention is whether or not there will be any songs in this movie, but come on, if they’re going to do more animated LOTR movies, they’ve got to put some songs in there!

The Rankin/Bass Return Of The King from 1980 had some great songs, and it would be nice for a very small set of fans to throw ‘Where There’s A Whip, There’s A Way’ in there.

Three thrillers to watch out for

THE thriller Trigger Point is high octane stuff from Line Of Duty creator Jed Mercurio focuses on a bomb disposal team, with LOD’s Vicky McClure taking on the role of front line officer Lana Washington. An ex-military operative, Lana is pushed to breaking point when she’s forced to deal with a series of homemade explosives, and she can’t help but become suspicious that the bomber is premeditatedly

targeting her unit.

Is she right, though? And, if so, how will she discover the bomber’s real identity?

The thriller begin filming in London later this year, with its ITV premiere predicted for late 2021/early 2022.

Meantime, starring Suranne Jones, the BBC’s Vigil follows the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board a Trident nu-

clear submarine, prompting DCI Amy Silva to launch an investigation on land and at sea. Unwittingly, though, she soon uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the very heart of Britain’s nuclear deterrent...

This thriller will screen this summer.

Finally, we have The Unlikely Murderer. Based on a true crime case that has intrigued people for more than 34 years, Netflix’s

latest offering explores the assassination of Sweden’s prime minister, Olof Palme, and how Stig Engström, the graphic designer named as Palme’s probable murderer managed to elude justice right up to his death through a combination of audacity, luck and a perplexed police force.

The Netflix series will become available for streaming in the autumn.

With Joel and Ethan Coen it’s hard to imagine breaking their six Western mini-movies into a Netflix “season,” because they complement each other so gracefully.

Set in a beguiling netherworld between unforgiving real-life grimness and heightened talltale pulpiness, the stories range from delightfully mordant musical slapstick starring Tim Blake Nelson to a heartbreaking gutpunch starring Zoe Kazan, to name just two standouts.

3. BLUE RUIN

To call Blue Ruin a ‘revenge thriller’ would be accurate but somehow insufficient. It rarely resembles anything but itself. Much of the singularity can be attributed to the film’s atypical hero, surely one of the year’s great characters.

Actor Macon Blair makes Dwight driven but hapless, locating a lot of sly comedy in his imperfect foray into crime. He is also a lost soul, running on last-ditch desperation.

4. CAM

This is a movie truthfully capturing all the connection, gratification, desperation, and despair of living online come true. A sophisticated thriller, in which a cam girl (Madeline Brewer, making a convincing argument for herself as a bona fide star) discovers that an automated doppelgänger has taken over her channel. There’s a lot to love here. A ruthlessly honest film.

5. THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER

Not enough attention has been paid to The Clovehitch Killer, directed by first- timer Duncan Skiles, from a script by Cop Car co-screenwriter Christopher Ford, starring Dylan McDermott as a beloved small-town scoutmaster who may be a serial rapist and murderer. Lean On Pete’s Charlie Plummer plays the man’s son, in a story that unfolds in three distinct parts, each asking two unsettling questions: What if this seemingly upstanding, conservative Christian community leader is actually a dangerous criminal?

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Summer days

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

DAYS

School’s out for the

Summer

Designer Minds, one of Kilkenny’s favourite Summer Camps, are back!!

With summer holidays just around the corner it’s time to start planning how to make the most of freedom come rain or shine. Banish any threats of boredom and read on for our selection of the best camps, activities and family days out in Kilkenny and the Southeast.

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o you have a child who can’t stop tinkering with technology, loves to design and draw, is a creator and a maker, and loves to learn about nature and how the world works? Designer Minds could be the ideal summer camp which is back in Kilkenny for Summer 2021. The doors of Kilkenny Taekwando Club are also back open with head instructor Guy Jones and team ready to welcome you back for training in fitness, balance, flexibility

and self-defence conducted in the safest of manners and with some very exciting future plans in store. DiDi at Art It runs fantastic summer camps from July onwards where you’re child can learn to paint a masterpiece.

The Art It studio also works on a drop in basis. If you wake up on a Saturday morning and the day is not fit for the beach, drop into Art It with the kids and see what amazing creations you might leave with. Shooting Hoops runs residential or day camps for boys and girls in Kilkenny College,

where campers are encouraged to realise their potential and reach personal goals through expertly lead and skill oriented teaching. Non-Stop Karting is non-stop fun and caters for anyone over the age of five who wants to experience some serious adrenaline-fuelled action.

Secret Valley is a real hidden gem of the Sunny Southeast and has everything from exotic animals to creepy crawlies and pony rides to hands on activities which makes for an amazing day out for all the family to enjoy!

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e’re delighted to have Designer Minds back in Kilkenny this year for three weeks of their interactive Primary Science, Design & Technology Summer Camps. These exciting camps will immerse children in hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Design, and Maths (STEAM) activities, where they grow

their confidence, infuse their passions, develop friendships and have lots of fun!

Designer Minds will be spreading the joy of STEAM in Loreto College Kilkenny on the weeks of July 5th, July 19th and August 9th. If you happen to be staycationing in another county for any of these weeks, then be sure to look out for a Designer Minds camp there too. They run their camps nationwide!

Designer Minds is one of Ireland’s leading STEAM camp providers. They have been featured on TG4, recommended by The Sunday Times, The Irish Times, The Irish Independent, and thousands of parents and children around Ireland.

We checked in with their team to see what they have in store for us this Summer.

“Camps are going to be a world of fun. They will be outdoors where possible, and we’ve got a whole bunch of exciting new topics and activities for the children to enjoy. Topics include Sports Science, Circuit Building, Coding, Robotics, Engineering, Architecture, Team-building, Minecraft and more. It is definitely not a camp to be missed by any fun-loving child!”

“Noah loved the camp. He came home every day excited by what he did. I would strongly recommend the camp for any child with an enquiring mind and curiosity of the world around them” – Ronan, Kilkenny Summer Camp 2019.

With all these super exciting activities lined up, it’s no wonder that camps are selling out so fast. Be sure to secure your place with a €10 deposit soon at www.designerminds. ie/camps. Sibling discounts are available.

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Kilkenny Taekwondo Club The mood at Kilkenny Taekwondo Club is that of excitement after enduring a long lockdown. The club re-opened its doors last week for its students and is now enrolling children and adults at beginner classes to start a new season of training.

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aekwondo, is an educational system in every sense of the word. It focuses on the harmony between body and mind. Since its establishment in Kilkenny in 2003 this Martial Art grew in popularity and has reached its peak with a great number of student base and an exponential expansion nationwide with Clubs in Tipperary, Clare, Limerick, Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin, Meath and Cavan. All clubs are working under the umbrella of Song Moo Kwan, one of the

most traditional Martial Arts in Korea, brought to Ireland by Kilkenny Taekwondo Club back in 2014.

During the lockdown, training was maintained online to keep the student base active during this challenging time.

The recovery is anticipated to be fairly quick. The loss of live training hours had an impact but still the club’s participation in Two online championships had proven very successful. All thanks to the continuation of courses via Zoom and to the enthusiasm of the students to

continue their practice in spite of all the difficulties that online training With World President of Song Moo Kwan Ro Hee Sang in Kilkenny 2019 represents. During this period the the Marshal, Mid-Term break and shall larger families and reward club instructors builder of hold many demonstrations committed members. So if it continued their the Castle, of various styles such as Judo, is fitness, balance, flexibility, formation courses the pride of Karate, Kungfu, Jijutsu with self defence or competitions and qualified to the City. The National and International you are seeking please visit return to indoor fascination championships over three days. through our booking system training safely. with this great The club is located in the and reserve a spot at the level Kilkenny Taekwondo warrior prompted Hebron estate at the Hebron that suits you. www.picktime/ Club is immersed in William The Marshal an interest to create House opposite Playstation. kilkennytaekwondo or surf the City’s great History Cup Medals a Martial Arts It is a spacious and matted through our website www. and in particular in the Festival in Kilkenny space for safe training.The kilkennytaekwondoclub.com persona of the Greatest under the name of William the club is fully equipped with and Facebook. Guy Jones, the Knight that ever lived William Marshal. In fact, last February training materials, kicking Head Instructor, and all his nine Countries participated in mitts and shields with classes colleagues at Song Moo Kwan the First William the Marshall to suit every level of fitness or Ireland wish you a good return Cup (TM) with a total of 117 age. Classes are conducted to fitness with techniques that entries. William the Marshal daily from Monday to Friday keep you fit and safe. Guy will was the champion of more than and there are schemes for answer all your queries at 087500 Tournaments in his time. payment that might suit 8090088.

He made his fame and wealth in battle and in tournaments.

Affiliated to World, European and Song Moo Kwan To honour this great knight Ireland GLC Kilkenny Taekwondo Club will www.kilkennytaekwondoclub.com 15A Hebron House, host a Martial Arts festival in the Hebron Business Park R95FH7P Kilkenny +353878090088 City in his honour. It is expected info@songmookwan.eu Seminar at the Ormond Hotel Kilkenny with Gold Medalist Olympic Champion Dong Min Cha Jan 2020 to take place every winter

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

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Summer days

DAYS

Shooting Hoops Basketball Academy 2021 The #1 Camper-Focused Basketball Camp in Ireland! Applications are now open for this residential or day camp for both girls and boys aged 11 to 18 which will take place at Kilkenny College from July 25th to July 30th 2021. in assigned areas for extra workouts. Players can benefit from this one on one time to focus on personal improvement.

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he goal of the camp is to ensure a positive and enjoyable learning experience for every camper, to provide extensive instruction and to emphasise the importance of team concepts and sportsmanship.

We strive to assist each camper to realise their potential and achieve their personal goals through our programme of skill oriented teaching and individual instruction.

CAMPER WELFARE At our camp, numbers are limited to ensure very high standards of individual care and attention. At Shooting Hoops campers are not merely numbers, we pride ourselves on getting to know each camper and being aware of their individual needs.

Our “Camp Mom” and the administration team work 24 hours a day to make certain every camper is happy.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Shooting Hoops caters for all standards from beginners to more experienced players.

Campers will develop all of the basketball skills – shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding, offence and defence. But at camp, campers learn more than basketball. They learn about discipline, teamwork, self-esteem and the value of hard work.

During the week, their selfconfidence will grow along with their basketball skills.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT Players will learn the fundamentals of individual and team play by station work, drills, 1:1, 2:2, 3:3 and 5:5 games. Players will have a ‘drill for skill’ session every day and work on setting and achieving goals. Emphasis in league games is on improvement and fun, rather than winning.

Individual Instruction is optional.

Our development programme is very intense and comprehensive, but also FUN! During your free time, coaches will be available

STAFF Liam O’Connell is the Academy director. One of the most respected names in Irish Basketball, he emerged from the Neptune coaching stable to coach at National League level for 11 years with Neptune, St. Vincent’s Killarney and North Monastery as well as Coach to Irish Junior mens Team.

As Head Coach Liam steered his teams to National Success winning Mens Premier National League and Cup Titles with St Vincents Killarney, Div 1 Mens National League and Cup Double with North Monastery and U19 National Cup with North Monastery School for the first time in their history. He is a former President of the Irish Basketball Coaches Association and Course Tutor for the Coach Award scheme. He has coached extensively at camps in the USA and received a World Coaches

Association Certificate under Coach Bob Knight. Liam was instrumental in changing the shape of Irish Basketball to the modern format of men’s national League when he was appointed Coach to St. Vincent’s Killarney as they introduced the first American professional players in 1979/80.

Coach Paddy Mullally is one of the countries top coaches and is highly respected throughout Ireland in coaching circles.

His appointment is hugely important for the camp as he brings a wealth of knowledge and vast experience gained over a basketball career spanning a forty year period. The success he has had with his native Athlone B.C. and the Midlands Regional Teams is testament to his outstanding coaching ability.

The academy looks forward to benefiting and learning from the years he has spent in the U.S.A. working with many top level coaches the most notable being the legendary All American Hall of Famer Coach Bob Hurley of St Anthonys New Jersey.

For more information see www.shootinghoopsbasketballacademy.com, phone 087 9363930 or email shootinghoopsacademy@gmail.com

Art It – In everyone there is a creative streak waiting to emerge DiDi’s Walk In Studio for All Ages ART It is a wonderful airy space at MacDonagh Shopping Centre run by artist DiDi Dobree-Wilson that offers a walk-in art experience for all ages. You can have fun decorating an artwork with your child or you can drop him/ her off while you catch up on your shopping.

Children from the age of 5-13 can enjoy the excitement of DiDi’s summer camps. They are always stimulating, educative and fun, and often include other activities such as sewing, cooking, crystal art, string painting and much more. For the 8-13 year children bring a packed lunch for a full day’s entertainment.

Parties at Art It are great craic and are for all ages!

Paint, glitter, gem a piece from a very wide selection of objects, draw a live model, paint pottery, paint a canvas and so much more. Pick what appeals to you, find your

inner child and have fun!

Art It also runs art classes in acrylic and oil painting, first experience classes for the young and fun art Saturday classes during the school term.

To check us out you can either call DiDi at 086 3085270, Facebook us at Art It Kilkenny, Instagram us at artitkilkenny, website us at www.artit.ie or look DiDi up at www.contemporaryartandpaintings.com.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

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Non-Stop Fun at Non-Stop Karting Located on Cleaboy Road, Waterford City just a 40 minute drive from Kilkenny City, Non-Stop Karting caters for anyone over the age of 5 who wants to experience some serious adrenaline-fuelled fun!

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ith Summer holidays fast approaching, many families are searching for things to do, even on a rainy day. Enter Non-Stop Karting, Waterford – an ideal family day out. NSK stands for Non-Stop Karting and is an indoor Go-Kart track founded in 2017. Since our inception in Waterford we have found that the demand for Indoor Go-Karting in Waterford is extremely high, probably because it is something that the entire family can enjoy together, that can be used for teambuilding purposes, staff days out as well as being used for the race fanatics and speed demons who want a competitive environment to boost their driving skills in.

WHAT CAN I DO AT NON-STOP KARTING? Everyone starts the Go Karting Session (mandatory) with one of our instructors and will be instructed regarding the rules and use of the Go Kart Track in the pre-drive briefing.

Drivers are then taken to the drivers’ only area where they are given the correct sized race overalls to protect themselves and their clothing, Go Karting

Gloves and finally given one of our professional Go Karting Helmets. Once drivers are clear on the rules and dressed for the occasion, they are taken to the pit lane of the Go Kart Track to be shown how to operate the Go Kart itself. For safety purposes, we always ensure that one of our race officials are on the track at all times keeping watch for any possible dangers and to help avoid possible collisions.

Standard racing for the best times is ideal for families and less competitive drivers who would like to enjoy the buzz of a Go Karting session. This is the perfect option for young families and children who cannot drive but would like to experience the thrill of the karts using our Twin Seat Karts. The Twin Seat Karts also allows us to provide services to students with disabilities who would like to enjoy the adrenaline kick as well.

For the more competitive individuals, we offer the Grand Prix which is a race format, where you begin by doing up to 10 practice laps before then competing for 16 qualifying laps which will determine what your starting position will be in the race. We then go on to set up

a 45 Lap race which is where the Grand Prix really begins with trophies for the top three places. The team endurance race is an ideal team building exercise where groups are split into teams that race against each other, the team with the most laps at the end of the endurance race is the winner. This really is the perfect team-building event for the larger groups.

We often get feedback from first-time users of the track saying it is very fast and enjoyable and then looking to book in for a second session straight away. Like any adrenaline-fuelled activity Go Karting with us can become quite addictive. Don’t say we didn’t warn ye!

You can look us up on Facebook @nonstopkarting and Instagram @nonstop_karting.

To book your day out at Non-Stop Karting Waterford you can call 083 8565037 and ask for Gary, email at nonstopkarting@ gmail.com or alternatively visit the Non-Stop Karting Waterford website at www.

NonStopKarting.ie and visit the Contact Us page to have one of our team call you back to book your session or answer your queries.

Secret Valley Wildlife Park

Come and enjoy a day out in the Sunny Southeast and experience wildlife from all around the world

S

ecret Valley Wildlife Park is located on fourteen acres with over 40 species from farm animal favourites to exotics. We have implemented new regulations for the safety of our visitors, staff and animals. Upon arrival you will receive feed for the baby goats, Llamas and Alpacas. Get up close with Toby the Tortoise as he walks around the park and animal encounters shed.

Our one way system brings you

around the paddocks to the ponies, capybara, ring-tailed lemurs, capuchin monkeys, and Rhesus macaques. The animal encounters shed homes the meerkats, prairie dogs, bunnies, reptiles, macaws, our raccoon and much more! Visit the old farmyard where our pigs, donkeys, goats and Shetland ponies live. Our outdoor play area, obstacle course and picnic area, located by the farmyard remain open and sanitized daily. The Quad Train runs

all day long and takes you on a seven minute during all around the farm through the paddocks, the farmyard, down by the pond and the hawthorn lane. This is an additional €2 a head. Our coffee shop, The Hungry Tortoise, offers a menu of speciality sandwiches and hot food. Why not get a gormet McCabes Coffee and enjoy in our picnic area beside the peddle tractor park. We also sell all our furry favourites in a teddy from our gift store. Other merchandise also available.

Visit our Instagram and Facebook for daily updates on our animals @ secretvalleywildlifepark. You can buy and book tickets on our website secretvalley.ie. Booking is essential. Adults €10 Children €9 and family rates available see website for more. Group bookings and birthday parties available call 0872050069 or 0539244023. We are constantly growing and expanding with lots of new and exciting features to come. Watch this space!!

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Camogie news

Sport Croker Final awaits against old foes Galway

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

KILKENNY Camogs displayed tremendous spirt and resilience in defeating Tipperary, to set up a tantalizing league final clash with Galway next Sunday at headquarters.

This was a clash of epic proportions, with no quarter given by either side as the game ebbed and flowed.

Denise Gaule opened the scoring after just 41 seconds from a free, and further scores followed from Katie Nolan and a wonderful point on the run from Piltown’s Aoife Doyle.

All seemed to be flowing nicely for Brian Dowling’s team, but Tipperary star Cáit Devane had other ideas, recording a personal tally of 0-8 in the first half, with four of these scores coming from play. Given that Devane was being marshalled by one of the game’s best markers in Davina Tobin, made her performance even greater.

Tipperary reached the first water break 0-4 to 0-3 ahead, and when play resumed, they took total control of the semifinal. Everything was going right for Bill Mullaney’s charges, with Devane at the centre of all that was good.

Then against the run of play, the cats hit back. Tipperary defender Aoife McGrath fouled Gaule who had managed to find rare open space. From the resulting penalty, deadly Denise struck to the net to give her team hope. Further scores from Devane and Emer McGrath left the Premier County ahead on a score line of 0-11 to 1-3.

The cats needed to regroup, and following a much-needed half-time team talk, Kilkenny emerged re-energized and began to move through the gears, hitting the first three scores of the second period.

The best of these was a wonderful score from Clara’s Mary O’Connell - tight to the right sideline.

The Cats were purring. You could sense that the reigning All-Ireland Champions hadn’t somehow just taken that title.

They Stood tall, dug deep and kept to their playing principles.

Tipp’s main threat, Cáit Devane was roaming in a much deeper role as they attempted to weather the Kilkenny storm.

Despite a couple of further scores from Gaule, a brace from

Kilkenny Manager Brian Dowling and Denise Gaule

Cats leave it late to topple Tipp Kilkenny’s Miriam Walsh and Julieanne Bourke of Tipperary

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Camogie news Kilkenny’s Niamh Deely

Tipperary’s Nicole Walsh is tackled

by Mirian Bambrick and Meighan Farrell of Kilkenny

Kilkenny St. Martin’s Katie Nolan scores a goal

Devane ensured the away side held a five-point lead by the 54th minute.

When Dowling needing someone to deliver – they did. Gaule struck a powerful shot from around the 20 metre line, which All-Star keeper Áine Slattery saw cannon off her fingers into the net. The gap was now just two points, but the impressive Devane’s fifth point from play edged Tipp three ahead.

From the resulting puckout St Martin’s Katie Nolan raised the green flag with a well struck low shot to bring the team’s level.

Tipp would not lie down – they edged ahead twice more, only to see the magnificent Gaule

Kilkenny’s Michelle Teehan breaks away from Tipperary’s Clodagh McIntyre

peg them back on both occasions.

Champions don’t shy away from battle, and it was the ‘wonder of Windgap’ that expertly converted two more frees to see Kilkenny over the line. Croker awaits.

Kilkenny: E Kavanagh, M Teehan, D Tobin, M Bambrick, K Doyle, M Farrell, G Walsh, N Deely, L Fitzpatrick, K Nolan (102), M O’Connell (0-01), M Kenneally, A Doyle (0-01), M Walsh, D Gaule (2-08, 8f, 1pen).

Subs: L Murphy for Fitzpatrick (ht), S Fitzgerald for Kenneally (43), S Crowley for A Doyle (51), A Prendergast for G Walsh (52)

>> SHERRY SAYS...

FOLLOWING the Hurler’s defeat on Saturday, the Kilkenny faithful needed some Sunday cheer. And boy did Brian Dowling’s champions deliver at Nowlan Park. Following their victory over Limerick, the cat’s supremo said “We were lucky – but we’ll take it” He may echo those sentiments again following this pulsating encounter with Tipp.

Tipperary brought championship intensity to town.

They were dominating physically across all areas of the pitch. Cáit Devane is an outstanding camog, but guess what – we have the ‘Wonder of Windgap’.

Denise Gaule is unnervingly immense. Finishing her day’s work with 2-8 was undoubtably the basis of this semi-final win. But this whole panel stand shoulder to shoulder with her. Don’t forget Katie Power has still to return.

Following this epic battle, the manager will want his troops to recover & take stock of the problems posed

by Tipp, ahead of the league final against last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists, Galway.

This league final will serve as a warm-up to a championship meeting between the same sides and both camps may look to put down a marker in this fixture.

Under the lights at Croker, possibly five thousand lucky fans. Camogie is back.

The west’s awake, hopefully it will be to the sound of Kilkenny celebrations on Sunday night.

Kilkenny’s Denise Gaule scores a goal

CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW MADE FOR CAMOGS The draws for the business end of the year were made last Sunday evening – no doubting the standout tie at Senior level – a repeat of the last 2 All-Ireland Finals with the Cats set to face-off against fellow league finalists Galway.

Our Intermediate ladies will face ties against the Saffrons, Kildare & the rebel county.

All-Ireland Senior Championship Draw: Group 1: Tipperary, Wexford, Limerick, Offaly; Group 2: Cork, Waterford, Dublin, Down; Group 3: Galway, Kilkenny, Westmeath, Clare.

All-Ireland Intermediate Championship: Group 1: Meath, Dublin, Galway, Carlow; Group 2: Antrim, Kildare, Kilkenny, Cork; Group 3: Laois, Kerry, Derry, Tipperary.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

Hurling Matters

Sport All thoughts now turn to championship opener

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

BRIAN Cody took his charges to Cusack Park last Saturday in a bid to finish their Allianz League campaign unbeaten.

However, a spirited and sharper performance by Clare saw the Banner County edge to a four-point win. This meant Clare’s remarkable run of results over Kilkenny in the National League continues, with the Cats failing to get over the Munster side in the last six seasons of the competition.

With top spot in Division 1B already secure, perhaps Kilkenny minds were not as focused as normal – and Brian Lohan’s men took advantage of this, racing into a 2-6 to 0-5 lead, thanks largely to two Tony Kelly goals. Clare’s sizzling start

appeared to shock the cats into action and they rallied as the half wore on, scoring nine of the last twelve points to trail by the minimum on the short whistle, 2-9 to 0-14.

Cody’s plans were not helped, losing both captain Adrian Mullen & the returning Walter Walsh to injury before half-time. It was the towering forward Walsh’s first appearance of 2021, and no doubt he would have been hoping to play at least fifty minutes on his return.

Captain Mullen had notched three points before his departure, and this will have given his manager much encouragement with Championship Hurling on the horizon.

The managers words must have inspired the Nore-siders, as they fought hard to lead by one point by the second water break, 0-21 to 2-14.

However, a further two-goal salvo from the Banner men in the space of just 30 seconds, courtesy of Reidy & Shanagher left Kilkenny with

Goals galo as Banner Cats run

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Hurling Matters

too much to do. Despite a gritty comeback and bringing the game level in the 67th minute, further scores from the Clare bench saw them pull ahead to claim a deserved four-point win. The game was played at a championship level of intensity and was undoubtably Kilkenny’s biggest test of 2021, however, they will be disappointed to have come up short against the Banner.

Tribesmen at the double?

Four wins from four games had guaranteed that Kilkenny would top Group B, irrespective of the defeat to Clare. With Galway topping Division 1A with victory over Cork, ahead of a probable

Leinster championship meeting with Kilkenny, this will now double as the League final should the sides meet later this summer.

KILKENNY: E. Murphy; T. Walsh, H. Lawlor, P. Deegan; D. Corcoran, P. Walsh, C. Browne; R. Reid (0-3), R. Leahy (0-1); A. Mullen (0-3), W. Walsh (0-1), B. Ryan (0-2); J. Bergin, TJ Reid (0-9 7’fs 2 65’s), E. Cody (0-4). Subs: M. Carey (0-1) for Mullen 33mins M. Keoghan (1-0) for W. Walsh 35mins C. Wallace for T. Walsh, D. Blanchfield (0-1) for Leahy and N. Brassil for Ryan all h-t L. Blanchfield for Bergin 59mins C. Buckley for R. Reid 63mins

>> SHERRY SAYS...........

re end

IT’S a long way from Clare to here... Defeat at Cusack Park was not expected. Four wins from four games had been the perfect path to the last group game, but an also in-form Clare had different ideas about how things would end.

Brian Lohan’s men had suffered defeat to Antrim earlier in the campaign, but having then secured three back-to-back wins, they took to the pitch in Ennis with a certain confidence, if not a swagger.

As with the other league fixtures, Brian Cody chose to again shuffle the deck, giving more minutes to players, ahead of what he hopes to be a long hot summer.

It was great to see the return of Walter Walsh – his presence around the edge of the square could be vital in games – especially if the opposition doubles up on TJ. Another encouraging sign was the three-point haul of this year’s captain Adrian Mullen. While both Walter & Adrian left the field before the short whistle, due to injury, both are expected to be available when the cats travel to Portlaoise on July 3rd for their Leinster Championship opener.

In the games to date, the manager has managed to get many players game time – anyone that hasn’t seen much time will have been largely due to injury.

What the cats have done through the league, is show a couple of different ways of playing – building out from the back – players in each line getting a touch before the sliotar reaches the scoring zone. The other way is delivering the sliotar from back to front quickly for scores. Both methods achieve the end result – scores, but no doubt the debate will rage across not only the county, but all hurling country as to the merits and or attractiveness of it all!

It will take a minor miracle for our championship opposition not to be Wexford – Unless Laois’s league campaign was some sort of ‘buff’, we can safely say Davy will be plotting to end our summer early.

There’s no doubt that Wexford are better than they showed last time out at Nowlan Park –but if Cody can keep his cats ticking over until they take to the O’Moore Park pitch, the Kilkenny faithful will be confident of a possible Leinster Final date with Galway – which will also double as the league final. The season starts now.

As the league draws to a close a special mention to the Saffrons of Antrim. The Ulstermen finished a very respectable 4th, ahead of both Dublin & Laois. Victory over Clare & a draw against Davy’s boys, two undoubted highlights of a successful campaign.

Darren Gleeson is certainly working is magic in the Glen’s!

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

Sport

Eoin Everard becomes the first man from Kilkenny to break 14 minutes for the 5000m TELL US ABOUT THE JOURNEY OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS TO BREAK 14 MINUTES? Well, it started on the back foot slightly as I picked up a hip injury at the end of the running season 3 years ago. This took about 10 weeks to rehabilitate and left me with not great fitness! I remember my coach asking me why I had not done a running workout based on the times he saw. I had to inform him that I had done the session but that

RUNNING 13:58 seconds for the event this summer, Eoin, who was already Kilkenny’s first sub 4-minute miler, moved up distances to try to achieve this mark nearly 3 years ago.

The Kilkenny Observer caught up with Eoin to discuss the achievement.

WHEN DID YOU START OUT TO TRY BREAK 14 MINUTES FOR THE 5000M? About 3 years ago, I had been running 1500 metres and onemile events and I felt I had achieved everything I wanted in those events. I had a pb of 14 minutes 15 seconds so I

thought it would be great to be able to run sub 14 minutes for 5K as it would really add to sub 4 minutes for the mile and sub 3:40 for the 1500m.

Low back pain and its cause EOIN EVERARD

LOW back pain for many of us is somewhat of a middle age problem. Lots of sufferers begin to seek physio care in their 30’s and 40’s and wonder how it all happened. Perhaps it was a sneeze, a long drive, or gardening in the yard that set the pain off. But you were always able to do these things before without so much as a chirp from your low back. And now things are different.

Even job stress can add to back pain.

So how come your back seems so weak, when it was so strong before? What changed? Not much in fact. The reality is that back problems begin during our youth. With advances in MRI technology we can study changes in the disks of the back to see when these injuries first occur. Spinal degeneration begins to occur at age 10, provided some trauma has occurred, such as from competitive

sports or simply goofing off as a child. Rarely is significant pain involved and the child seems to shake off the injury with little future consequence.

But having back pain is not the same as a having a back problem, such as a sprain of the disk. When the pain subsides, it does not always mean that symmetrical motion of the joint is restored and the vertebrae are now back in their normal position... but the pain may be much less.

Our bodies have a tremendous capacity to heal on their own without any type of doctor helping out.

Mother Nature and innate intelligence is the best doctor. But sometimes recovery and return to full and optimum health is incomplete.

Over time the effects of gravity and daily stresses, cause the joint to become more injured until something as simple as making the bed causes excruciating pain. But was it really the bed making?

Probably not because this is something you’ve done every day of your life. A thorough examination by

a chartered physiotherapist prior to the onset of pain could have perhaps discovered one of these “silent” injuries. But most people wait until the pain happens before seeking help.

It’s important to be checked after a trauma, even in young children.

Properly diagnosing the extent of injury is the first step to getting you the care you may need. The pain often goes away quickly and we often think the problem has also completely healed.

Getting regular checkups to make sure the motions of your spine are fluid and symmetrical is one potential way to avoid bigger problems down the road.

We can also advise you on preventive strategies to minimize the risk of injury, such as proper lifting techniques.

Email everardpilates@ gmail.com to get our free book Secrets to a Healthy Spine or for more information about back Pilates and availing of a free trial. Visit everardpilates.com/ backfreetrial.

was as quick as I could go at the time! So, it was a very slow build up initially. Obviously, being from the shorter events I had to increase my endurance a lot which takes time. Doing a lot more tempo or threshold running (running at about 80% intensity for 30 minutes for example), longer runs and longer workouts. That summer I had a few rough 5000m races where I did not run great but I always finished them. I never wanted to get in the habit of dropping out. Eventually, it went a lot better, and I very nearly ran sub 14 ending up with 14.00.

ful I could break 14 minutes for 5k but unfortunately Covid struck. That meant that there were no races for me so while I stayed training hard it was another year gone where you could try break the barrier. It was tough also as the running track was not available for the majority of the build-up.

Also, there are so few races on this year. Basically, I had one chance to break it as there were no other 5k races scheduled apart from nationals which can be slow usually. It was a bit of pressure but I generally do best when there is a bit of pressure.

HOW DID IT FEEL GETTING SO CLOSE? That was great and terrible! Great in that I had improved a lot but terrible that I was so close and had not done it. I was conscious of the fact that I was getting into my mid thirties and to get into the right shape, stay healthy and get the right race gets harder.

HOW DID IT FEEL FINALLY BREAKING THE SUB 14-MINUTE BARRIER AFTER ALL THAT TIME? Massive relief!! As I said it was basically the only chance to do it and having been so close in 2018 and then not getting a chance in 2019, I was just delighted. The conditions were good, and I had to lead the last 1200m but having been so close and not doing it really drove me on to achieve it this time. Sometimes coming up short is the best thing to happen as it motivates you and makes the success even sweeter.

HOW DID COVID AND ALL THE LOCKDOWNS EFFECT YOUR TRAINING? Well, I went into 2018/19 hope-

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 18 June 2021

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Motors Classifieds

Classified section To advertise your business in our classified section call in or telephone: 056 777 1463, or email: accounts @kilkennyobserver.ie

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CAR WASH – 056 7726289 TYRE BREAKDOWN SERVICE

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

PAUL RYAN BIRTHDAY REMEMBERANCE & 22ND ANNIVERSARY

The Miracle Prayer

R.I.P

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.B

The Miracle Prayer

The Miracle Prayer

In Loving memory of Paul Ryan, 10 Greenfields, Freshford Road, Kilkenny.

You remain in our hearts always Paul Missed and much loved Phil, Fran, Martin, Anne, Richard and his many friends.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. J.M

JUDY MOORE 4TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of Judy, late of St. Anthony’s, College Road, Kilkenny whose anniversary occurs at this time.

“Words of Comfort” Feel no guilt in laughter I know how much you care Feel no sorrow in a smile That I’m not here to share You cannot grieve forever I would not want you to I’d hope that you would carry on The way you always do So talk about the good times And the ways you showed you care The days we spent together All the happiness we shared Let the memories surround you A word someone may say Will suddenly re-capture A time, an hour, a day That brings me back as clearly As though I was still here And fills you with the feeling That I am always near For if you keep those moments We will never be apart And I will live forever Locked safe within your heart Sadly missed, never forgotten Your loving family

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. JCB

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.M

Beloved St. Clare,

by your trust in God’s providence, obtain help for all the poor and needy; by your love for the Infant Jesus, obtain the protection of our families; by your love for Jesus crucified, obtain for us courage in every trial; by your love for Jesus in the Eucharist, obtain our request……….. by your attentiveness to the Holy Spirit, obtain for us the grace of prayer and devotion; by your likeness to Mary our Mother, obtain peace in our hearts our homes and our world.

Amen. A.ON

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Memoriams/Miracle prayers

News Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL Westcourt Healthcare Limited intends to apply for planning permission for the development of a two storey extension to the rear of existing Primary Healthcare Centre( originally granted under planning reference 18-107) with all associated site developments and ancillary works at Newtown, Lady’s Well Street, Thomastown, County 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 wr-107iting 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: Gittens Murray Architects Ltd., No. 5 William Street, Kilkenny. Tel No: 056-7753933. web:www.gmarch.net

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL Planning Permission is sought by Lisa & Paul Eyre for a proposed new single storey extension to the rear of the existing dwelling, conversion of attic space to new bedroom / ensuite / wardrobe space including new dormer windows & roof lights; with modifications to the internal layout, associated elevational changes and all associated site development works at No. 4 Ardilea, Castlecomer Rd., Kilkenny. R95 V2T9.

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

Signed: Anthony O’Hara MRIAI Architect, aohdesign studio, Ahraney, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny. Tel No: 087 9416501

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