Travel & Leisure

Consider this your o cial piece of advice: Buy your airline tickets for summer travel soon. Fuel prices are going skyward around the world, and soon you’ll have to pay more to y.

As the oil market reorganises and the price of crude hits global heights not seen since 2008, the ai Airlines Association, which represents seven airlines in Southeast Asia, has petitioned its government to grant the authority to levy fuel surcharges for domestic ights in ailand. It’s almost certainly the beginning of an industry trend, and it puts a new urgency on planning your summer travel now.

“People have got to realise that the longer they leave it, the more likely they are to have a fuel surcharge slapped on their airfare,” independent aviation analyst John Grant told the BBC World News.

As the situation in Ukraine deteriorates, the recovery of the tourism industry is threatened not only in Europe but also in Turkey, Southeast Asia, and anywhere else Russian tourists will be unable to go due to economic constraints and other restrictions. at declining demand could result in generally lower base fares, but the increase in the price of oil is bound to o set most of those savings.

Casual customers may not always realise when a fuel surcharge is being levied because it’s usually folded into the multitude of other taxes and surcharges that are tacked on, but a fuel surcharge dramatically a ects the cost of airfare.

For international tickets, fuel surcharges can account for several hundred euro of the nal price. ( ere are ways for customers to determine the precise amount added to an airfare, but it’s complex.)

It won’t matter if you intend to cash in miles and points for your upcoming holiday. Fuel surcharges are also applied to those redemptions.

Given the shadiness of the airline industry, once fuel surcharges are introduced they tend to stick around. In 2008, major carriers came under scrutiny for retaining the extra fees long after the market price of fuel had subsided, and other airlines (including British Airways, which is notorious for its fuel costs) were found to have colluded to illegally x the cost of the surcharge. e widespread arrival of fuel charges for travel in 2022 seems imminent.

In addition to the ai carriers’ request, private charter jet operator Wheels Up has already announced a fuel surcharge will go into e ect April 9, and increases are also bearing down on the container shipping industry.

Fuel costs for ights are the most obvious manifestation of increased oil prices, but the expense could also a ect ground transportation, cruises, and tours.

During the nancial crisis of 2008, many cruise lines imposed fuel surcharges.

At CruiseCritic.com this week, www.frommers.com author Fran Golden asked the heads of the major cruise companies if they intend to levy the charges again. Only Royal Caribbean was able to de nitively rule them out.

Some land-only tour operators, including Globus and the Travel Corporation, told Travel Weekly that their prices for the upcoming travel season have already been negotiated so they don’t expect prices to increase by fuel surcharges — but that security changes depending on the nancial situation of the company you buy your vacation from. e best way to avoid paying fuel surcharges is to buy before they’re imposed.

“We may see price increases a ect future bookings in a similar way to what we experienced back in 2008, so booking now is the best way to lock in the best price,” a vice president for tour operator Collette told Travel Weekly.

Fuel surcharges coming, so book your air ticket soon

As Ukraine deteriorates, tourism industry is threatened... is threatened...

THOUGH a relatively small country, has had an enormous cultural impact on the world. When you think of Scotland, you think of many things: kilted bagpipers, Scotch whiskey, haggis, lamb’s wool clothing, and so on. And although Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, its culture is markedly di erent from its neighbour, England.

Glasgow and Edinburgh are Scotland’s two biggest cities, and any Scotland travel plans should make ample time to explore the craggy alleyways, historic castles, and centuries-old pubs both o er.

ings not to miss in Scotland

* e Royal Botanic Garden, located in Edinburg, was founded in 1670, and has assumed a hugely important role in biodiversity research worldwide. * e Scottish Seabird Centre is much newer—it was opened by Prince Charles in 2000—and houses an abundance of local birds, including pu ns and gannets. Sir David Attenborough has called it one of the Twelve Wildlife fuss for the smoky, peaty whisky is all about.

When to go to Scotland

Scotland’s landscape and climate? ey are unmistakably British, but don’t be fooled. If you travel to Scotland, you should certainly visit the North Sea gently lapping the beautiful coastline, shack up in the mountains buried in snow, or venture into the forests to see the wildlife.

When you go to Scotland should depend on what you want to do. Edinburgh tends to become crowded during the tourist season, which starts in April and is over by September. You might expect Scottish weather to be quite cold due to its northern location, but that is not the case—winters are milder due to the warming e ect of the Mid-Atlantic Drift. e weather is best from May through September, although the rainiest days of the year take place in July and August. e eastern coast of Scotland tends to be drier than the west and is also the warmer place to visit, should you desire to lodge near the coastline.

The inside guide to seeing Scotland

When positive action is controlling the controllable

ANDREW MCDONALD HYPNOTHERAPIST

LIVING costs are rising fast and predictions are they will worsen over coming months. is is, at least for the individual, uncontrollable. You can choose to worry about it but sadly any fretting is likely to be futile. at doesn’t mean just getting on with things is the best course to follow. Instead, direct e orts towards positive action which are within your in uence. e rst thing you can do is look at your outgoings. Is there anything you can cut back on or remove entirely? Sometimes performing such a simple exercise can reveal we are paying for something which isn’t really needed. Do you watch the movie or sports channels enough to get value from them? Are you a heavy internet user or could you get away with a more basic plan?

Once you’ve exhausted that avenue, investigate whether you can change utility provider for any or all of your household necessities. It’s not unusual to nd cheaper electricity, gas, oil, television, phone or internet suppliers which can knock hundreds o spending.

Once the term of a utility contract has expired, there are usually no penalties for switching to another company. Even if you are still apparently tied to a contractual period, very often there are clauses whereby you can end these terms immediately when prices rise substantially.

Do your own research when trying to nd the better options. Sometimes companies try to entice you to remain with them, or switch to a favoured alternative, when better deals can be found elsewhere. In these days of fast internet, a quick online search will provide you with sites where you can compare all the offers available in your area at the click of a button. e same is true with retail. Shop around. Prices of the same, or similar, products in one shop can be very di erent to those of another. Here too big savings can be made!

Be a smart consumer. Many of us love a nice co ee in the morning or glass of wine in the evening. Although espresso machines seem a big expense when you buy them, once you have one, you can make your own co ee for a tiny amount of the cost you would spend in a cafe. e same is true of other luxury products like alcohol. Buying from a shop is much cheaper, and there’s usually a much bigger range, than from a pub or restaurant. at doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat yourself from time-to-time but when needs must, the clever shopper looks for alternatives. Making your own lunch saves a lot of money too compared to eating out every day.

Instead of spending time worrying about the uncontrollable, put your e orts into changing what you can. Concerning yourself with things outside your sphere of in uence will end up costing you something far more valuable than money; your health. No amount of nance compensates for that so make protecting it your primary goal!

THE communities of Piltown and Fiddown, close to the Kilkenny-Waterford- Tipperary border, have built their own Fibre-to-thePremises (FTTP) broadband network, having long ,lost faith the National Broadband plan. e plans of the voluntary Broadband 4 Our Community (B4OC) group have become a reality with the connection of the rst homes and businesses in the community to the broadband network. A total of 750 homes and businesses in a 3.4 square kilometre area now have, or will soon have, access to at least 150MB speeds and a future-proofed high-speed broadband service they can a ord. e community-owned, community-driven and managed by B4OC, a locally-based, not-for-pro t company whose volunteers came together following a town hall meeting organised by Piltown Community Enterprise (PCE) three years ago. e local people’s vision of the project and the bene ts to their community both now and into the future, has brought the project alive , making it the rst of its kind in Ireland.

Hundreds of families who struggled with speeds of between 1MB and 6MB also have the bre power they need to work and study from home, to conference call and stream and really enjoy the bene ts of living in rural Ireland.

B4OC’s vision and aim since the project was rst mooted by Kilkenny LEADER Partnership (KLP) back in 2019 was to deliver true, future-proofed highspeed broadband for the community of Piltown and Fiddown, Project Manager Jim O’Brien told local media. e IT graduate, who returned to college in 2018 after a career in construction, lives locally and struggled to remotely access his course materials. He bought a dongle, moved to his garage

IN response to the increasing demands on young people, Jacqui Freyne, Athletics Ireland Performance Pathway Manager, has developed the ‘Performance Pathway Diary’, where young athletes can log both their training and academic commitments.

And South East Olympian omas Barr has given the project his full support, telling young athletes: “Continue working hard and stick at it...”

From her work with athletes over the past number of years ,especially during the pandemic, Jacqui felt there was a need for a resource tool such as diary to help young athletes.

Working in conjunction with each other, sporting experts such as Olympian and Performance Psychologist Jessie Barr and Head of Performance Life Skills at the Sport Ireland Institute Eoin Rheinisch looked a focused and e cient resource for young people on their journey to becoming se-

Locals do their own online research to launch their own better broadband

and nally got 13MB speeds, up from just 5MB. He said the support from local businesses and the wider community had been incredible.

“KLP and its philanthropic funding partner, the Tomar Trust, supplied technical assistance, planning, training and capital funding to the community to develop and advance the project. After that, the community drove on and did everything else,” said Mr O’Brien.

“Businesses donated bits, gave us other items we needed at cost and dug deep with us. My own father-inlaw is a retired tter and he has been out in the trenches and up poles with me as we built the infrastructure. All of this has been built on private lands and sits into the landscape. We’ve now completed Phase 1 and have a few phases to go now.” e two villages are among approximately 20 similarsized villages and towns in Kilkenny classi ed on an EU standard set over a dozen years ago as having “adequate broadband” and, hence, not included under the National Broadband Plan. But much has changed in what’s regarded as “adequate broadband” since 2010 and the reality on the ground now is far di erent. Locals in the Piltown-Fiddown area were adamant they would not be

Performance diary aims to keep athletes on the right pathway

nior high-performance athletes. e diary is designed to combine all of the commitments facing young athletes from their education to their training in a single space. e diary o ers resources for tracking and analysis of performance to wellness spaces for athletes to have an outlet for their emotional and mental health. roughout each of the tools there is a priority on functional design and visual communication through colour and symbols, designer and past Performance Pathway athlete Emma Prendiville used both her experience and expertise to collate. is is to assist both athletes and their personal coaches to have a holistic view of the athlete’s performance as well as to plan training sessions in harmony with their education commitments.

Alongside following the traditional journal writing aspect of diaries, the Performance Pathway Diary o ers accurate left behind.

“ is is a network in which our community is invested,” B4OC Chairman Brian Doyle, explained. “Given that laying bre-optic cable is expensive, using the future-proofed FTTP model employed by the telecommunications industry was the only way forward.

“Doing it mostly ourselves meant that our costs were greatly reduced. is is a service by the community, for the community which is owned by the community and run in its interest. It is a much leaner development model and operates on a notfor pro t community-owned basis. We even hope to be able to pay a community dividend and the intention is that this money would nance other community projects.” e project received signi cant capital from local businesses as well as attracting a match-funding contribution from the philanthropic trust.

Declan Rice, Kilkenny LEADER Partnership CEO, said: “Community development and ownership of future proofed ‘ bre to the premise’ (FTTP) networks should be as familiar as local ‘group water schemes’, of which there are many hundreds. Installing FTTP networks is not rocket science, in many ways it’s easier than a group water scheme to install.

“While a bre network will require some seed money to get started, and needs wider landowner and community co-operation, as PiltownFiddown has shown, it can be done. e multi-skilled, voluntary board includes Brian Doyle (Chairman), Mary Morgan (Secretary), Jill Dowley (Treasurer), Gerri Hickey (Liaison O cer), Kevin Barry (Vice-Chairman), Paul Walsh, John Murray, Shane Hickey, Vernon Buckley and Pat Quinn.

*Please see www. betterbroadbandforpiltown. com

expert lead information from areas such as recovery and nutrition to injury prevention. Many people including experts such as Ciara McCallion (Sport Ireland Institute Physiotherapist), David Tobin (Sport Ireland Institute Nutritionist), Martina McCarthy (Sport Ireland Institute Senior Strength & Conditioning Consultant) and Emma Saunders (Sport Ireland Institute Performance Life Skills) have all had signi cant contributions to this information and its delivery in the diary.

Unique to the Performance Pathway Diary, is the input from established senior athletes from the realm of athletics such as Phil Healy, Fionnuala McCormack and omas Barr, featured throughout the diary are words of encouragement and advice from these gures such as: “Continue working hard and stick at it” – Olympian omas Barr

TEAM TEAC TOM: Philip O’ Neill on life in the counsellor’s seat

TEAC Tom opened the doors of its rst house in 2015. Located at 15 Ormonde Road there is a safe and welcoming space through the bright blue doors. e team, led by CEO Angela Hayes, is supported by Rory Connellan, Clinical Services Manager and Valerie O’ Sullivan, Marketing Executive. A support team of administrative assistants, volunteer listeners, student counsellors, play therapists and professional counsellors ensures that anyone who contacts Teac Tom gets the help and support that they need. e experienced team supports people with a range of mental health issues, especially those who have been impacted by suicide.

One of the longest serving counsellors with the team is Philip O’ Neill.

You are a valued and respected member of the team – how did you come to be involved with Teac Tom?

I met Angela in 2008 in Croí Nua, part of the Aislinn Centre. We shared a lot of the same ideas and goals about helping people. We started o in the Friary Hall and it was a learning curve as we didn’t have our own space at the time. We offered free counselling services to people who had been impacted by suicide. e dream was to have a standalone place for Teac Tom and eventually that came to be. I was delighted to have a place to call home. Now we have more than a dozen counsellors.

How did you get into counselling to begin with?

I did my Diploma in Addiction and I loved it. en, as I worked with more families, I felt there was something missing and that was Life Coaching skills. Life coaching is about focus, awareness, problem solving. I wanted to give the kids (in recovery) tools to cope outside once they left a very safe environment and be able to live with family members and be a part of their community. When I was younger, I was always uncomfortable in my own skin, I didn’t trust myself or believe in my own potential. A lot of very nice people helped me along the way, and I wanted to do the same for others.

Trust is obviously a very important part of the counselling relationship. Is that hard for some people?

ousands of people have sat in that chair opposite me, and they have all trusted me to do my job. ere’s no halo over my head, I just trust what I’m doing. When people come to me, they are messed up. ey are like a nervous wreck and many of them are at death’s door. But when they come in, they go through the journey. ey will learn nothing in a session or two, you must follow through in life and commit to the eight sessions, maybe even more. e one thing I ask of them is a verbal contract to promise to keep coming back. Some of them might need to go on and do more sessions and others were OK after a couple of sessions so it varies a lot from person to person.

What advice do you have for people who are worried and how they can mind their own mental health?

We all need a bit of reassurance that life is going to be ok! What I’ve learned over the years is that people always have that innate feeling that they know what is right for them. It’s crucial that people trust that gut feeling. To act on and to do whatever you feel is right and necessary for you. I rely on them to hit the right buttons. People nd their own way around issues once you open the door for them to talk.

How would someone know when the time has come to get professional help?

For some people it isn’t always about counselling, but in a way the process is the same. When you sit with somebody you are counselling them because you’re having a conversation that goes both ways. You are being listened to, you are communicating, and you are o ering a di erence of opinion. It’s a conversation that’s going on. e doctor can be a line of help for that conversation, a person in the community, a family member; whoever it is that you feel you can trust to talk to. en you can make the move to counselling if you feel you want to get more professional support.

What do you love most about your work?

I’m glad to have my quali cations behind me but they don’t tell the full story of whether I’m doing my job well. I abide by the core conditions of counselling; respect, rapport and unconditional regard for another. I hold those close to me and I feel I can never go wrong with a client because I always work with the client’s best interest at heart.

After that it’s the team here. I can talk to Angela and Rory very openly. When I meet a new client, we go on a journey together. I don’t know where it’s going to take either of us, but I delight in every time I meet somebody new. I’m very happy in my work.

Finally, what do you do to look after your own mental health?

I have a great relationship with my wife and kids and that’s where I get a lot of my strength. I pray for my own strength, to be able to get up and be present in the moment and not to miss the beauty of that. I walk. I talk to colleagues, and I put myself out there. I just try to mind myself and be kind. I don’t hold onto things. I don’t believe in holding onto anybody living rent-free in my head, if they are causing me problems, I get rid of them.

Philip holds Diplomas in Cognitive Behavioural erapy and Life Coaching and a Degree in Psychotherapy Counselling. He is accredited by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP).

If you would like further information on our counselling services or to book an appointment, please get in touch with our team.

thethomashayestrust@gmail. com / 056 7796592 / Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @teactom

Tara McCarthy to step down as CEO of Bord Bia

BORD BIA, the Government agency responsible for the promotion of the food, drink, and horticulture industry globally, has announced that its Chief Executive Officer Tara McCarthy (pictured) is to step down from her role later this year. Ms. McCarthy will take up a new position in the private sector in June 2022.

Bord Bia Chairman Dan MacSweeney paid tribute to Ms. McCarthy saying: “On behalf of the Board of Bord Bia, I wish Tara the very best for the future and thank her for her tremendous e orts on behalf of Bord Bia and for her dedication and commitment to our client companies and the food, drink, and horticulture sector.

“Tara has made a signi cant contribution to Bord Bia, and the organisation is in a very good place due to her leadership, energy, and drive over the last ve years. e search for a successor to Tara begins immediately and, in the interim, I have full con dence in the leadership team in Bord Bia to continue to successfully execute our new and exciting strategy.”

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said: “I thank Tara McCarthy for her energy, leadership and commitment to Bord Bia and the wider agri-food industry. She has guided the organisation and supported the industry through many challenges, including the impacts of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. Tara has nurtured top talent, as well as building Ireland’s voice in thought leadership on sustainability, with bene ts for the sector as a whole.”

We have got it right when it comes to our remote work

ZOOM has cited Ireland’s Connected Hubs network as a leading international example of how remote working should be promoted to drive regional economic and social development.

Led by the Western Development Commission, Zoom has partnered with Connected Hubs to provide users of 200 plus hubs with access to its suite of tools and services, optimising their ability to connect and collaborate in co-working spaces.

As it works towards onboarding 400 hubs nationwide, Zoom Global Chief Information Of cer Harry Moseley has recognised the Connected Hubs programme as a novel approach in bringing the ambitions and objectives of the Government’s Remote Working Strategy to life.

“Connected Hubs is a prime international example of how remote work can be promoted to drive sustained regional development and economic growth. One fundamental change that I’ve witnessed over the past two years is how work is no longer de ned by being in a certain location at a certain time, but rather by the outcomes and objectives an employee achieves.

“For those who previously felt compelled to move to a major urban setting to develop a career, Connected Hubs o ers a real opportunity for them to return home and breathe life back into the social and economic fabric of Ireland’s regions.

“As the leading peer-to-peer uni ed collaboration platform in Ireland, Zoom aims to empower Connected Hub users to deliver their best work from anywhere. Central to this is ensuring hub users have access to the latest tools and technologies from Zoom, enabling them to drive collaboration, which is seamless, enjoyable, and more productive. It’s incredibly energising to see how the Connect Hubs network is positioning rural and regional Ireland at the heart of innovation and technology change. is approach we believe can and should be replicated in other global jurisdictions and positions Ireland as an early world leader in remote working.”

Zoom’s partnership with Connected Hubs, announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, provides hub users access to a bespoke package of Zoom services at a reduced rate of €10 a month. is includes Meetings and Webinar licences allowing up to 500 attendees to join, which would cost €130 a month if purchased separately. Hub users will also bene t from Zoom Rooms licenses, which are designed to facilitate hybrid meeting spaces, and a suite of other productivity enhancing tools such as Zoom Chat, Zoom Whiteboard and Zoom Apps.

CEO of the Western Development Commission, Tomás Ó Síocháin said: “ e support shown by a global tech company the size of Zoom signals a strong endorsement of the approach we’re taking in promoting remote and exible working across Ireland.

“We see the Connected Hubs programme as an excellent opportunity to rebalance some of the challenges we’ve faced in Ireland’s outlying and rural regions over the years. In doing this, the collaboration with Zoom is an important step for us as we work with hub users to identify their needs and ensure they have access to the right technology options to enjoy the bene ts of remote working,” he said.

“We’re con dent that the Connected Hubs initiative, building on this and similar partnerships, will also help stimulate local economic activity supporting the ambitions set out by the Department of Rural and Community Development in it’s Our Rural Future strategy. At the heart of this is transforming digital connectivity for rural communities and enterprises, ensuring equality of access to digital services and supporting the diversi cation of rural economies and jobs through digital technologies,” said Mr Ó Síocháin.

Boxing clever: Donncha O’Callaghan described the Marble City club as a welcoming club with a great sense of community spirit

€5,000 thrown in the ring for Marble City club

KILKENNY’S Marble City Boxing Club is to receive €5,000 funding under this year’s Texaco Support for Sport initiative hosted and organised by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand.

Under the scheme – similar to that which proved successful last year when the Kilkenny county award was presented to Kilkenny Hockey Club – a fund of €130,000 is made available by Valero for distribution in equal amounts of €5,000 to a successful applicant in each county. e €5,000 will be used to develop the club’s facilities in Roachpond, Kilkenny.

Overseeing the judging process was Texaco Support for Sport Ambassador, former Irish rugby international and well-known broadcaster Donncha O’Callaghan. Describing it as “a welcoming club with a great sense of community spirit”, he praised its plan to carry out renovations in order to provide extra space to increase its membership.

Pointing to what he termed “the invaluable contribution” that sports clubs make to the heart of community life in Ireland, James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, congratulated the Marble City club.

“Special to us, and the purpose for which our Texaco Support for Sport initiative was introduced, is the opportunity it presents to ease the nancial pressure on members by providing new and additional funding so often required to help clubs achieve their objectives and play a pivotal and positive role in their communities,” he said. Marble City Boxing Club caters for individuals from all backgrounds, striving to foster an environment in which members can grow and channel their energies in a positive manner. In 2019, the Club was awarded the ‘Best Boxing Club in Leinster’ title, based on the amount of champions it produced in a single championship.

Year-long festival will honour St Lachtain

THE community of the parish of Freshford will commemorate the 1,400th anniversary of their patron saint, Lachtain, with a year long festival of events beginning on Saturday, March 19. e festival will celebrate the Millennium Quater Centenary (MQC) and more than 1,400 years of worship on the site of St Lachtain’s Church of Ireland. e parishioners will gather at 3pm. on Saturday in St Lachtain’s Church of Ireland for a religious service entitled ‘Celebrating Our Shared Christian Heritage’. After the opening of the service, which has been devised by Monsignor Kieron Kennedy,PP and Canon Richard Marsh of the Church of Ireland, there will be a procession to St. Lachtain’s Roman Catholic Church where it will conclude.

Both Bishops of Ossory will attend. Bishop Nulty, acting Bishop of Ossory, will preach at the Church of Ireland and Bishop Burrows will preach at the Roman Catholic Church. ere will be a reception afterwards at Freshford Community Hall.

Events in April include a War of Independence Commemoration on Easter Sunday and Kilkenny Fleadh Cheoil in Freshford on April 23/24.

Great days ahead...

Top tips & fabulous fashion at The Cheltenham Preview evening at Red Mills

What: Cheltenham Preview Evening at the Red Mills Store Where: Red Mills Store, Cillin Hill, Kilkenny Who: KCLR’s Sue Nunn & Matt O’Keefe with panelists Jane Mangan, Paul Hennessy, David Mullins and Eddie Scally.

AVID racing fans and punters hoping for some insider tips gather at the Red Mills Store in Cillin Hill last ursday to welcome a panel of experts for an evening of punditry ahead of this week’s Cheltenham Festival.

KCLR presenters Sue Nunn & Matt O’Keefe chaired the proceedings for an outside broadcast, joined by RTE, ITV & Racing TV broadcaster Jane Mangan, local Cheltenham winning trainer Paul Hennessy former jockey David Mullins, and Gowran Park manager Eddie Scally. e panelists o er their own unique insight into what preparations are involved for the equine and human athletes heading over to the biggest National Hunt festival of the year, and discussed Ireland’s chances as our trainers, jockeys and horses including Honeysuckle, Sir Gerhard, Dysart Dynamo come head to head with our British counterparts in what’s sure to be a thrilling week of unmissable sporting action.

Kilkenny will be well represented across the pond next week with locally trained horses including Heaven Help Us (Paul Hennessy), Put e Kettle On (Henry de Bromhead), Winter Fog (Emmet Mullins), and the highly rated Sir Gerhard and Dysart Dynamo for last year’s Cheltenham Leading Trainer, Willie Mullins.

Guests on the evening also enjoyed a look at the latest ladies and mens fashions from the Red Mills Store, and the new look Red Mills Café which boosts additional seating space and an exciting menu in partnership with celebrated local eatery La Rivista.

Whether you’re looking to have a utter for the week that’s in it, or you want to brush up on your racing knowledge, there’s tips and stories a plenty throughout, and you can listen back now on kclr96fm.com.”

Enquiries to: Ailish Durkin at Red Mills – Ailish.durkin@redmills.ie

Rolling with the Roses at KBowl

Back row : Aoife Kearns, Avril Collins, Caoimhe Carrigan, Clodagh Cassin, Stephanie Lennon, Laura Reynolds, Laura Whelan and Leah Dowling Front row : Elena (KBowl) Emma Kate O Dwyer and Sadhbh Berry .

KBOWL Kilkenny hosted some of this year’s Kilkenny Rose Hopefuls last Saturday, for an evening full of fun, chats, and plenty of Bowling .

It is one of a few of our annual gatherings that the Kilkenny Rose Team, together with MacDonagh Junction and the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel organise for the girls interested in going forward to become the Kilkenny Rose 2022.

It’s a fun journey and we are still accepting applications from other girls out there who are thinking about joining us. So, don’t delay and apply today on www. roseoftralee.ie/apply or contact Kilkenny Rose on social media.

Sarah Dowd, Sarah Lawlor and Ciara Lawlor

Kilkenny’s Business of the Year was unveiled at the Kilkenny Business Awards 2021, held this evening, Saturday 12th March, at the Conference Centre at Lyrath Estate Hotel. ( e event was postponed from November due to Covid concern) Dore Optometrist Independent Opticians in Kilkenny for over 30 years. Family run, personalised service with state of the art equipment, specialising in beautiful eyewear! ere were 450 local business people at the black tie event. 18 category winners, the Presidents Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and then the overall Kilkenny Business of the Year. e evening began with a Champagne reception, four course dinner and dancing. Music was by e Party Girls.

12. Hospitality Excellence Award Mount Juliet Estate

13. Innovation in Business Award Loanitt

14. Investment in Skills Training & Development Award Mint MediSpa

15. Retailer of the Year Award Lily Rose Boutique

16. Small Business of the Year Award Rafter Gastropub

17. Social Media & Digital Marketing Excellence Award Newpark Hotel

18. Technology and eCommerce Excellence Award UPMC Global Technology

Full list of winners below:

1. Best Business Pivot of the Pandemic Award CF Pharma

2. Craft & Design Award K Kajoux Jewels President’s Award

Anna O’Sullivan of Butler Gallery

Lifetime Achievement Award

Xavier McAuli e who built Lyrath Estate

3. Culture Heritage and Tourism Award Shenanigans Walks Overall Business of the Year Award

Dore Optometrist

4. Customer Service Excellence Award UPMC Aut Even

5. Emerging New Business Award Dialize Clothing

6. Employee of the Year Award CF Pharma (Sarah Deegan)

7. Employer of the Year Award Hibernian Hotel

8. Environmental Excellence Award Value Centre

9. Exporter of the Year Award Modubuild

10. Family Business Award Dore Optometrist

Some special guests: • Minister for State for

Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm

Noonan, who gave an address. • Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny

County Council, Councillor

Fidelis Doherty • Mayor of Kilkenny,

Councillor Andrew

McGuinness • Australian Ambassador to

Ireland, Gary Gray

Terry Clune was also attending on behalf of the main event sponsors TransferMate. e charity partner was Amber Women’s Refuge. A sum of €4,685 was raised in aid of the charity| www. amberwomensrefuge.ie e 2022 Kilkenny Business Awards will take place on November 19th, at Lyrath Estate Hotel. For more information visit www. kilkennychamber.ie

Tecki and Edmond Brett with Noreen and Pat Fitzgerald The Flaherty family and Paddy Delaney

Dore Optom etrist wins Kilkenny Bus iness

Robin Maher, Ria Delaney, Gary Condren and Keith Ryan The Healy Family

Miriam Lloyd, Elizabeth Cuddihy, Annalese Du y and Antonia McCluskey Gary Condron, Ollie Walsh and William Murphy

Sharon Quinn, Aidan Quinn, Conor Walsh, Kerri Anne Walsh, Tracey Daly, Caoimhe Quinn and Shane Gallagher Roisin Terry, Alison Muldowney, Lisa Beehan, Daniel Cleary, Keith Doyle, Kevin Dollard

Dore Optom etrist wins Brenda Rowan, Richard Dore, founder of Dore Optometrist, Terry Clune of TransferMate (main sponsors of The Kilkenny Business Awards), Richie Dore, Kay Fitzpatrick, Lauren Beehan and Gráinne Burke. Kilkenny Bus iness of the Year 2021

Patricia, Lucinda and Bernard Flaherty Sta from Fig tree with owners Thomas and Helen Clarke

Pat Brennan, Colin Ahern and David Cahill John, Caroline and Sean Duggan, Hawkeye Falcolnery Margaret Egan, Tom O’Connor, Melanie Seed, Jim Hayden, Mags Whitely and Chris Egan

Mary Graham, Sarah Moore and Jean Murphy representing Amber Womens refuge