Kilkenny Observer 19th August 2022

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Friday 19 August 2022

Back To School Ensuring children get proper sleep  Special Report, PAGE 14

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Staying Healthy Bad habits affect immune system  Page 18

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Houses: more bad news A slow-down in the construction industry that threatens the pace of future housing supply has worsened through the summer, according to a new industry report.

July’s Construction Sector Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) points to an accelerated decline in Irish construction activity, according to the latest of the regular research from BNP Paribas.

The figures suggest build-

ers are reacting to construction costs and the general economic uncertainty by slowing new projects even as this year’s completions rise.

The index suggests a slowdown across all major construction headings — house-building, commercial and civil engineering.

There’s no sign activity already under way is slowing and employment levels are unchanged, but builders increasingly expect next year

to be less busy than 2022.

That’s especially bad news for housing supply, where output is still well below the level needed to meet annual demand or make up for a decade of undersupply.

Director and head of research at BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland, John McCartney, said a sharper contraction in July versus June reflects several factors, including higher costs hitting the viability of the schemes as well as the high pace of

the first half of the year, which may simply be hard to sustain.

“Based on projects that are already under way, we expect continued strong residential, office and logistics completions through the remainder of 2022. However, continued cost inflation means that new project commencements may struggle to keep up with completions, causing a drag on activity in the longer term,” he said.

One positive note is that, while remaining elevated, input cost inflation has eased, he said.

Meanwhile, tax incentives to encourage renovation could help free up scores of “above the shop” apartments currently idle in town centres, a trade body has said.

The Hardware Association of Ireland is calling for landlords to be given tax breaks to make it viable for them to rent out the properties.

Call 999: we have a crisis A confidential Health Service Executive workforce plan warns of an urgent need to recruit more staff into the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

By 2027, less than 40% of life-threatening calls will be responded to within 19 minutes.

Full report, Page 6

Older folk feeling the price pinch Rising price rises are hitting the spending power of older people like a “tsunami” and are set to force many of them to go without essentials like food, heating, transport and medical costs, Age Action has warned.

It said someone on the full rate contributory state penEVERY FRIDAY

sion of €253.30 a week will face a cumulative €589.48 loss of spending power this year, with the greatest impact on spending likely to occur in the second half of this year.

It wants a €23 rise in the state pension in Budget 2023.

It said many who rely on the pension as their core income

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have the least capacity to make up for the lost income.

“So they will go without essentials like food, heating, transport or medical costs,” said Age Action’s Nat O’Connor.

It said the 9.8pc inflation rate means that €1 at the start of this year will have a pur-

chasing power of just €0.91

by December.

Meanwhile, consumers globally are preparing to hunker down for a long financial squeeze, as the increasing cost of living and geopolitical uncertainties push them to seek financial control amid low economic

confidence, according to the latest EY Future Consumer Index (FCI).

Up to 79% of consumers say their finances are a concern, with 62% expecting living costs to increase even further in the next six months.

Full report, Page 28

Long-Covid is highest in SE Up to 336,000 people in Ireland could potentially have been affected by long-Covid, according to new research, with Carlow having the highest incidence, followed by Wicklow and Wexford Independent TD Denis Naughten says if results from a recent study in The Lancet and data from blood donors were applied here it could mean as many as 336,451 people have been left with a legacy of symptoms..

Full report, Page 10

Richie & Sabrina are engaged!

Kilkenny hurling captain Richie Reid and his long term girlfriend Sabrina Cantwell are engaged. The GAA star popped the question during a romantic holiday around Europe earlier this month.

The Kilkenny man simply said “job done” alongside an emoji of an engagement ring.

Afghanistan one year on The Taliban has marked a year in power with smallscale celebrations by the group’s fighters as Afghanistan struggles with rising poverty, drought, malnutrition and fading hope among women that they will have a decisive role in the country’s future.

Global Brief, Page 22

INSIDE

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GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE TEAM

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News Debit and credit card spending in July was fairly flat, according to Bank of Ireland, with a 1% total monthly fall recorded, as a mixed picture emerged across business sectors. While other age groups mainly decreased their July spending, teenagers are clearly enjoying their summer holidays with a major spending increase of +17% for the month, a trend which was also reflected in June.

There was an uptick in social (+2%) spending throughout July, whilst spending in pubs (+4%), restaurants (+3%) and in fast-food outlets (+1%) all recorded positive figures – having all posted negative spending stats in June.

The improved July weather also saw a spending hike in cinemas of just +5%, a stark drop from June’s cinema spending rise of +25%.

Overall spending in the Retail sector was down 3% in total, with outlay on clothing (-10%) and groceries (-1%) both dropping, but spending on petrol (+5%) rose as forecourt fuel prices levelled off somewhat nationwide. Consumers were also evidently not keen to forego their sweet treats in July, with spending in bakeries (+5%) also rising.

On a regional level the spending patterns were broadly flat, with similar spending levels being recorded in Limerick (-3%), Cork (-2%), Kildare (-1%), Mayo (-1%), Donegal (-1%) and Waterford (-1%). Foreign spending rose in popular Eu-

Teens enjoy summer with major spending ropean hotspots like Croatia (+28%), Portugal (+9%) and Italy (+5%), whilst intense heatwaves in the likes of Cyprus (-13%) and Turkey (-3%) saw a spending drop off in both countries as some holiday makers opted to visit different destinations.

Commenting on July’s spending data, Jilly Clarkin, Head of Customer Journeys & SME Markets at Bank of Ireland, said: “The sun was shining in July and we were doing less shopping and more socialising. However, the spending picture was a

mixed one last month, with some sectors performing well and others flat lining or dropping slightly. This spending restraint was not just in a small number of counties, it was nationwide – and while the overall drop was small, it will be interesting to monitor

over the coming months to determine if it’s becoming a trend.

“For the Irish abroad, Croatia was leading the charge in month on month spending increases in popular holiday destinations.

Another interesting element

in July was that spending among teenagers (13 – 17 year olds) soared, with a notable monthly increase of +17%, which was similar to May and June trends and perhaps reflects a less cautious attitude than the rest of us,” she said.

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News

A 999 ambulance crisis By 2027, less than 40% of life-threatening calls will be responded to within 19 minutes A confidential Health Service Executive workforce plan warns of an urgent need to recruit more staff into the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

The document, seen by RTÉ News, says that at present recruitment efforts are being surpassed by service demands.

It also warns that by 2027, less than 40% of life-threatening calls will be responded to within 19 minutes due to a lack of resources.

Recruitment is currently proving problematic for the NAS, with the workforce plan concluding that the pandemic has led to a “shift in priorities” and contributed to the

“great resignation of healthcare workers”.

In a statement, the Health Service Executive said the NAS currently employs approximately 2,000 staff of which 1,700 work as paramedics “and there has been a 14% increase in demand since 2019 with more people calling 112/999 than ever before”.

It continued: “The Workforce Plan recommends 2,161 additional staff by 2027. In relation to current staff retention NAS can confirm that 70 employees departed the service in the first six months of 2022 when 58 new staff were recruited.”

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Questions provided to Sinn

Féin show a fall in average response times during the first six months of 2022, compared with the first six months of last year.

According to the data, more than 50% of so-called Delta calls, which are life-threatening but cases of non-cardiac related emergencies, were responded to within 19 minutes

last year. However, this fell to 42% for the first six months of this year.

While Echo calls, which are cardiac and respiratory related emergencies, were responded to within 19 minutes 79% of the time in the first six months of last year.

That figure fell to 72% in the first half of 2022.

IN BRIEF Junior Cert face results delay Some Junior Cycle students may not get all of their results because of a row over teachers refusing to attend meetings after normal school hours.

If the dispute is not resolved, pupils will face gaps in the new certificate awarded to show their achievements — the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) — which has replaced the Junior Cert.

The disruption caused by Covid-19 to education and assessment has kept a lid on the row, but it is now reaching crisis point.

40mm floods leave business reeling

Our boys and girls in new blue...

Gardaí are now wearing a new style uniform, having updated their working gear..

This is only the third time in a century that a formal upgrade of the Garda uniform has taken place.

The cap will remains, but changes will include a blue polo-shirt and cargo-style “operational” trousers.

The new uniform consists of a two-tone soft shell jacket, a two-tone waterproof jacket, a garda blue polo shirt, operational trousers and practical base layers.

The new operational uniform was delivered to more than 13,000 uniform members of An Garda Síochána of Garda, Sergeant and Inspec-

tor rank across every Garda region, division, district and in excess of 560 Garda stations nationwide.

This is the first time that the operational uniform, other than the uniform cap, will feature the Garda crest on the operational uniform, and “demonstrates the respect held by An Garda Síochána

for this unique symbol as we enter the second century of policing in Ireland” said a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána The current uniform cap will remain in place “as a unique and distinctive element of the Garda uniform”.

An Garda Síochána has previously updated its uni-

form policy to embrace the wearing of official headwear for religious and cultural reasons and beliefs including Turban, Kufi, Topi, Kippah, or Hijab.

A key finding of the internal Garda Cultural Audit 2018 was a desire from front-line Gardaí for a new, practical operational uniform.

Carbon tax breaks for farmers ‘may be phased out’ Carbon tax breaks for farmers could be phased out under plans outlined in preBudget papers drawn up for the Government.

Since 2012, income tax relief has been provided to farmers in respect to increases in carbon tax on farm diesel worth an esti-

mated €12m a year.

The measure, known as a ‘double deduction’, insulates farmers against the impact of increases in carbon tax on farm diesel since 2012. The Department of Finance recently conducted a review of the relief on foot of lobbying of agricultural

contractors not currently entitled to this relief as they are not carrying on a trade of farming.

The department estimated “very roughly” that the current concession for farmers could cost the Exchequer in the order of €12m a year at current rates of carbon tax.

An extension to farm contractors might potentially add a further €24m annually to the cost.

Notably, the review stated that its primary focus was not to examine if contractors should be entitled to the relief, but rather if the relief should continue at all

in the medium to long term.

It said that. while the review was mindful of current inflationary pressures, it was considered that the longer-term rationale for the measure should not be tied to current challenges arising from higher fuel costs.

Business owners in New Ross have been left counting the cost of flood damage after thunderstorms saw up to 40mm of rain dumped on the Co Wexford town in just one hour on Monday.

More than 40 businesses are understood to have sustained damage in the flash floods.

Roofs on business premises caved in and stock and buildings were damaged in the deluge.

Wexford Fianna Fáil TD James Browne promised supports for hard-hit businesses.

Glanbia shows strong results Glanbia’s financial results for the six month period ended 2 July 2022 show group revenues of €2.8 billion (HY 2021: €2 billion), representing growth of 26.8% constant currency (up 38.5% reported).

The six month period completed the disposal of 40% interest in Glanbia Ireland and acquired Sterling Technology, a US bioactive ingredient company.

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Opinion

The Fact Of OfThe Matter PAUL HOPKINS

Where have all the cowboys gone?

There was a time when you couldn’t walk through the neighbourhood without almost being knocked flat off your feet by children on bikes, trikes and scooters, or young lassies playing beds, kickthe-can or follow-the-leader, or swinging from the nearest lamp-post, or the boys as the sheriff and his deputies galloping off into the next estate or two to go chasing after the ‘baddies’.

Granted it still goes on, but not to the same extent, in that we live now in a different world. A world where some children stay glued to the television or the X-Box or the computer, indoors at play. A world when a stranger is now indeed a stranger and you dare not let your children out of your sight for fear of the consequence.

Soon the children will be well and truly settled back

into school, there is the business of after-school curricula, sports, field trips and the like and by the time little Johnny or Jemima trundles home after a ‘hard day’, playing outside is the last thing on their mind when plonking themselves in front of CBBC seems the easier option.

With the school ‘extras’, which of course are to be welcomed, there lies the danger of play becoming too structured. Its opposite, unstructured playtime, where caution is thrown to the wind, has become an endangered species.

While it’s perfectly okay to value achievement and competition, do we really believe that the more extra-curricular activities our children have, the better off they are?

Ask any parent how their child is doing and

they won’t say: “Great — he or she plays at home five times a week.’’

By over-scheduling our children, not only are we eliminating unstructured playtime, but perhaps we’re setting them up for stress, anxiety, and even, dare I say it, depression. If you asked any adult to schedule in football, swimming, an art class, girl scouts, and a science field trip after their day at work, they would call you crazy.

It is important for parents to place a priority on play and unscheduled time for their children. It can be an unstructured play date where the kids take all the blankets to the back garden to make forts. Or an evening after dark where their friends come with flashlights to play. Or maybe a group that gets together for an afternoon treasure hunt.

The ideas are endless — I

leave those up to your own wonderful imaginations — but what it all comes down to in the end is that children just need time to be children.

They deserve the same joy and freedom of playing that we enjoyed growing up.

This doesn’t mean we should eliminate organised sports and activities from our children’s lives. But we do need to caution ourselves against over-scheduling. We need to be confident in allowing our children to use their imaginations, play their own games, and negotiate their own rules.

This is the joy of play. By definition, play is purposeless and all-consuming. And, most important, it’s fun.

As my psychologist friend from Magherafelt says: “It’s not the kids with skinned knees that I worry about, it’s the ones without a scratch.”

Unstructured playtime is valuable, he says. Children need time to round up their peers, play kick-the-can, or whatever today’s equivalent is, even scrape their knees.

The job of parents is to make unstructured playtime a

‘ Time to give kids a little unstructured play time ...

priority — and be there to supply the Band Aid afterwards.

As for us adults, taking time to play feels like a guilty pleasure — a distraction from ‘real’ work and life.

But, as Dr Stuart Brown illustrates in his thought-provoking book Play (Penguin), play is anything but trivial. It is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition.

In fact, our ability to play throughout all our life is the single most important factor in deter- mining our success and happiness.

Now — out you go and play to your heart’s content.

As for me, well my three children are all grown up.

As are their peers. The street where I live is virtually empty now, devoid of children.

And the silence is deafening.

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News

Long-Covid numbers high in South East, says new study Up to 336,000 people in Ireland could potentially have been affected by longCovid, according to new research, with Carlow having the highest incidence, followed by Wicklow and Wexford No official figures exist in Ireland for how many people have suffered after-effects of Covid-19, but Independent TD Denis Naughten says if results from a recent study in The Lancet and data from blood donors were applied here it could mean as many as 336,451 people have been left with a legacy of symptoms — including fatigue and brain fog.

Based on Mr Naughten's analysis, 100,650 people have suffered from longCovid in Dublin; 34,251 in Cork, 18,245 in Galway; 16,791 in Kildare, 14,317 in Limerick; 14,071 in Meath; 12,093 in Donegal; 10,734 in Louth; and 10,511 in Tipperary.

He said the time has come to treat long-Covid with the same urgency as the initial virus.

"We cannot just sleepwalk into a crisis of chronic illness, which will push people waiting on treatments since before the pandemic even further down already horrendous waiting lists,” he said.

"The numbers are just staggering. By population, Co Carlow has the most patients with long-Covid at 4,750, while their neighbours in Co Wicklow have the lowest incidence by population at 8,636, followed by Co Wexford at 9,023.”

Recently, the British medical journal The Lancet reported a Dutch study that suggested as many as one in eight people who catch the virus can develop longCovid symptoms.

It found that common long-Covid symptoms include chest pain, breathing difficulties, muscle pain,

loss of taste and smell and general fatigue.

Mr Naughten said the research described long-Covid as the next public health disaster in the making which "clearly indicates that the Government must now treat this illness and the patients with it as a matter of utmost priority”.

The HSE has said it recognises the need to provide follow-up support and care for patients experiencing symptoms of Covid-19.

It has developed an interim model of care for longCovid with the aim of providing a national approach to the provision of services and supports for patients.

It recommended the development of eight post-acute clinics and six long-Covid clinics.

"The aim of the post-acute Covid clinics is to ensure that patients who have recovered from the acute phase of Covid-19 are followed up in a timely and appropriate fashion, taking into account factors such as disease severity, likelihood of long-term respiratory symptoms and functional disability,” it said.

Post-acute clinics will be led by respiratory consultants and will provide assessment and ongoing care for patients within "12 weeks of infection”.

Long-Covid clinics are a specialist service for patients with symptoms that develop during or after a Covid-19 infection, continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.

These will be led by infectious disease consultants.

However, the proper level of staff has yet to be recruited.

The HSE said: "In many incidences the designated hospital sites are providing long-Covid and post-acute clinics on an interim basis while awaiting recruitment of full staffing”

The next generation of vaccine An Omicron-specific vaccine developed by Moderna has been approved for use in the UK after trials showed promising results.

The 'next generation' coronavirus booster jab which may only need administering once a year has been approved for use in adults.

Known as mRNA1273.214, the dose is an updated version of the Moderna vaccine which is already in use for first, second and booster doses, and it will be the first dose approved in the UK which targets Omicron and the 2020 strain of the virus.

Now, a new disease alert following heavy rainfall A new disease following the heavy rainfall could be highly contagious. Leptospirosis or Weil's Disease is an infection frequently found both in domestic and wild animals, and can spread to humans through contact with rat or dog urine or foetal fluids from cattle.

Infected urine or contaminated water can be found in sewers, ditches, ponds, canals and slow-flowing rivers and

riverbanks, according to Dr Hraham Fry. Dr Fry, Founder of the Tropical Medical Bureau, said the risk of Leptospirosis in Ireland was "high over the next few days" due to the severe rainfall, following the country’s heat wave.

“Leptospirosis can be spread to humans through freshwater exposure, rivers and lakes, in Ireland. This is frequently as-

sociated with heavy rains after a prolonged dry spell where the water washes infected urine into the rivers and lakes where humans then go swimming,” said Dr Fry. If a person comes into contact with infected urine, the bacteria which causes Leptospirosis can get into the body through cuts and scratches and through the lining of the mouth, throat and eyes.

Flu-like symptoms are common in people with Leptospirosis, including persistent and severe headaches, muscle pains and chills.

In some cases, infected individuals can develop meningitis. In rare cases the disease can develop into the severe form known as Weil's Disease, which can cause liver and kidney failure. This can be fatal in a small number of cases.

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Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

I’ve earned my space in my sunny garden Some of the proposals to solve the housing crisis have been weird and far from wonderful. Like the one where oldies like me would be required to shuffle off into apartments and vacate their hard-won forever homes to make room for others.

No chance in my case, as there’s no way I am going to live stories up where I can’t walk out the front door and into the garden. I have earned my space in the sun.

I could come up with a few daft suggestions to solve the housing crisis myself. How about sending folk up North where property is cheaper?

There they could help with all-Ireland integration by getting familiar with the northern point of view, a change from Sinn Fein pointing a border poll at our heads. Or the State could take over near-empty convents, they can be converted into lovely apartments and

then they really would be mother and baby homes.

Talking of gardens, the idea that really takes the prize dahlia is suggestion recently by developers Glenveagh Properties that gardens should be made smaller – all the better to pack housing units in more densely. The developers claim their so-called blueprint could become a ‘game changer’ by shaving off more than a quarter of the distance between the rears of houses.

Hard to avoid the conclusion that the scheme for “more tightly built streets” would allow developers to pack in more profits.

Perhaps developers don’t have much interest in gardening. I do though, in my patch now the seasonal parade is in full bloom: the hydrangeas are doing their blowsy best and the agapanthus are bursting into balls of sapphire blue. I love my garden it’s a place to enjoy

the changing colours of each season, smell fresh mown grass, hear the dawn chorus in Spring and watch birdlife unfolding. But, claim Glenveagh, part of back gardens are ‘dead space’ and they want to reduce their size by a third.

Now surely people need space? Not necessarily for gardening, although lockdown released many of the inner gardeners in us, but for kids and pets to play, for barbecues, for privacy and a look at any property page will tell you, to extend homes. And just look at all those TV programmes about ways to transform plots into gorgeous places to relax in. if gardens were to be shrunk why couldn’t we have the space somewhere else. isn’t public green space important to us for all kinds of reasons from well-being to mental health?

One of the things that is absent from the whole

Memorial to a worker

BY NED EGAN

Aye, this was the time of year that Jack Phelan loved. The long early morning walk, down past the rushing roaring Clonassy Waterfall, the mists on the familiar fields, the whirl and dash of fallen leaves, drifting and scudding along on their way to oblivion. The odd startled rabbit, fox, or hare, sure to be about their business at dawn, trying to keep skin and bone together, like all of us.

Jack was a big, raw-boned fellow, not a devotee of the glamour presently attached to most things or beings; just an honest lad doing his best to be a good son for a fine Mammy and Daddy. He succeeded in this mission without effort, and without a speck of false pride.

Being a good family man came natural to Jack, God rest him.

Around Mullinavat he was well known as a singer, and a fellow who liked a few pints. But whatever spot he was in of an evening, after his hard slog of a labouring day, Jack would –as they say –‘make a bust’ for the grocery shop, and fill a bag with the goods for ‘The Mammy’, who could depend utterly on him. Many’s the time I saw him

trudging home through the rain and the snow and the dark, the big canvas bag flung over his broad shoulder, ompletely careless of the elements.

He always reminded me of another great ‘battler’, the Kerryman Tom Crean, the man Ernest Shackleton always took on his flimsy boats in his [vain] attempts to reach the South Pole, a century ago. Crean would keep his oar dipped and ploughing on, in even the most savage of conditions, where one minute in the icy water had you dead as a doornail. And no hope of rescue. I knew the Great Southern Ocean – having fished for sharks - on the edge of it. Would I go where Crean went – even with my Caterpillar D6 Marine Diesel–powered boat? No way. Death lies in every squall down that way. Jack Phelan would have been at his best there, as good as Crean, or any man alive When he was was stricken by a life- threatening malady, he bore his misfortune better than a King, and up to the day he went to meet his Maker, did all he could to help the people looking after him.

When eventually Jack made his last sad visit to Mullinavat, the crowd to “See him Off” was enormous – the biggest I’ve ever seen in the peaceful place of rest overlooking the village he’d loved so well in life.

I thought I’d write the

following poem at the time.

His family liked it, and know of this article. To them, it means a good, sound fellow hasn’t been forgotten. You might ask me why I wrote a poem about a humble worker. Far better than to write about some rich numty!

He was a worker, hewed hard timber, carried loads, His back was bent from dawning light to dark, He tramped the early bird-song calling roads, And heard the love-poems of the wakening lark.

When noonday came, he straightened up his frame, And took the rest that he had earned well, And offered all he had - his honest name When on the wind came God’s sweet Angelus bell.

Aye, Jack was of a rare and fading breed, Who take bright honour from their labouring day, No idleness, no taint of tarnished greed, Can turn these honest fellows from their way.

We miss you Jack, each tale and sturdy song, (I heard ‘McAlpine’ send you towards the sky} Now, once again you’re handsome, young, and strong, No doubt you’re in God’s Tavern, way Up High.

The ‘Fusiliers’ rang out in autumn’s chill, As Mother Earth took Jack unto her breast, The throng in silence drifted down the hill, And left a worker to Eternal Rest.

Ned E Disclaimer The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Kilkenny Observer.

debate around housing is how to create better built environments for the future.

The focus is on numbers of units and so we get soulless rows of houses, packed to shoulder together on the same building line or communist era type apartment blocks like the one I pass regularly on the N11, which sits a few feet away from this thundering main traffic artery without a stitch of green around it. How did the building ever get planning permission?

Landscaping and design – which are essential elements of urban planning – get overlooked. We need green spaces with trees and plants for both for environmental and for human reasons. We need our own little rainforest effect, over a lifetime of 100 years a single tree can absorb 1tonne of CO2. Trees cut down pollution, absorb storm water and people do better around

trees, with benefits from from lowered stress to lower blood pressure. Trees and plants provide habitats for all kinds of creatures and nectar for pollinators. Many of the parks and green spaces in our cities were

‘The seasonal parade is in full bloom..

created centuries ago, new urban spaces are rare and we need more of them.

What about important words like proximity and thinking along village lines where nothing is more than a five minutes bike ride or walk away, be it the corner shop or the park and where neighbours can congregate on the green. Some previous planning ideas like garden cities or satellite villages linked to main cities with public transport might merit revival.

Some of the earliest formal gardens were Persian Paradise gardens, enchanting places filled with rills of running water, fruit trees and flowers. Maybe we need a bit more paradise rather than less green space. * Marianne Heron is the author of several books on gardens, including The Hidden Gardens of Ireland, (Gill and Macmillan)

Tips to help ease the symptoms of Fibromyalgia CLAIR WHITTY

Fibromyalgia is condition that I often get asked about. It can be difficult to get diagnosed as you can have a number of symptoms all going on at the same time. The most common symptoms are pain and extreme tiredness. You can feel pain in your neck, back, shoulders, back of head, upper chest and/or thighs. You can feel like you’re going crazy you have pain in so many places.

The pain and stiffness may be accompanied by chronic headaches, insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, poor circulation, allergies, and thyroid problems.

The actual cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. Some theories on it include compromised energy production in the cells of the body. Another contributing factor that can cause pain is a build-up of lactic acid in the muscles which contributes to soreness and pain.

Supplements that may help include: Flexofytol, an extract of turmeric used to reduce inflammation and pain it’s a supplement that Craig in our Kilkenny Store recommends.

He has seen some good results with it. Especially when it’s combined with Biocare Magnesium Malate, which is important for ATP (energy) production. He says that customers

have reported pain reduction and some increase in energy when these are taken regularly.

Davina, Nutritional Therapist in our Wexford store agrees. She has seen very positive results with the use of turmeric and magnesium supplements, one to reduce inflammation and pain and the other to help with energy. Davina would add in Eskimo Omega 3 liquid fish oils too.

For days when you’re feeling short on energy you could add in Solgar B 100 Complex, or One Nutrition CoQ10 both can help energy production. CoQ10 has been shown to be deficient in people with fibromyalgia.

If there is lactic acid build up Lifeplan Montmorency Cherry tablets could help reduce this.

Avoid processed foods and refined carbohydrates, caffeine, alcohol, sugar. Sugar increases fatigue, pain, and disturbs sleep. Food triggers can include nightshade vegetables and

dairy foods. Dairy avoidance may be particularly beneficial.

This is a tough condition to be dealing with. Ultimately it might be one of the times where you sit down with a nutritional therapist for oneto-one advice to help you deal with the symptoms so you can get relief from the pain and the tiredness you are experiencing.

I hope this information helps.

Floradix Liquid Iron is an excellent choice for a quick boost of energy for anyone who needs an energy lift.

Call in and ask Craig to give you a sample to try. Limited stock so don’t delay.

Shop online at www.naturalhealthstore.ie where you’ll be able to take a look at these brands.

Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre Phone: 056 7764538 Email: info@naturalhealthstore.ie

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News

By Erica Hargaden ---------------------Without sleep our bodies simply do not function at their highest level. It supports our overall health and wellbeing.

It protects not only our physical but also our mental health.

Without sleep we are not getting the ability to rest, restore or give our body an opportunity to conduct important processes that only happen during sleep that support our bodies.

In a nutshell sleep, along with healthy eating and exercise, keeps us well.

If we are not sleeping, then we are more likely to make poor food choices and not choose to exercise. Sleep is a very underestimated pillar of health and making it a priority will support your overall health and wellbeing.

This also applies to children.

However, as parents it is our responsibility to guide them on establishing healthy sleep habits, establish respect for sleep and understand the importance of sleep from as early as possible. If we do this then we are bringing our child on the road to long term good health.

Generally, over the summer months we all take a bit of a breather with routine with our children. I know I do, and I am obsessed with good sleep! Bedtime tends to go later, wake up times stop being consistent and boundaries you may have set during term time really become a distant memory. Many parents struggle with how to get their children back into a suitable term time routine after the summer break. This can often lead to medium to longer term sleep struggles that leave everyone feeling frazzled. Here are some tips to help you get back into a routine with sleep with your school going children.

SPECIAL REPORT

begins. It will be an important anchor time as it is important that your child is getting not only the right quantity of sleep but also the best quality sleep to support their growth and development.

Your children and their sleep: back to school expert tips

7. Exercise Encourage outdoor exercise and time as much as possible.

Getting out in sunshine and day light helps to regulate the body clock and sleep associated hormones. The exercise will use up energy but the light exposure will further help with restful restorative sleep.

8. Regular Meal Times Start putting in place regular meal times again. Move back towards a nutritious 3 meals a day schedule and away from the constant grazing. Yes you will absolutely endure whinging for a few days but they’ll soon get back into the swing of it again. There is nothing better than reconnecting with the family at the evening meal and hearing how everyones day has gone.

9. Hydration Is Key The body is mostly made up of water but in our day-today activities we expel a huge amount. Ensuring that we are well hydrated through intake of water helps to balance our overall health. A hydrated child will sleep better at night and perform better at school 10. Make sleep a priority in your family: Lack of consistent consolidated sleep can make children tearful, fretful & lead to mood & behaviour issues. This will impact on their ability to concentrate and focus in school and also lead to a more stressful household. Sleep supports our overall wellbeing and with it life tends to run a little smoother.

1. Bedtime: If bedtime has snuck later and later over the summer months and you’ve not managed to bring it back to a desired term time yet start scaling it back gradually day by day. I suggest doing this by 15 mins every 2 days until you have reached the desired school bedtime.

2. Consistent Wake Up Time: Set a consistent wake up time and stick to it. This does mean actively waking a sleeping child however it will assist them in shifting their body clocks back to term time mode. You can use the guidance of shifting this back gradually like you would with bedtime to help reset things gently. Open their curtains first and flood the room with light – gently wake them and pull back their duvet – tell them I told you to do that because no one enjoys it! Then give them some time to wake while gently reminding them that it is time to wake up.

3. Consistent Bedtime Routine Start to be consistent with the bedtime routine again. Turn off the TV at a designated time (more about this in the next tip). Give time for teeth brushing, face washing & and gen-

eral bedtime prep. Then give time for wind down and reading. Reading time is especially important to a child’s development. It will not only improve their speech and language skills but also fire their imagination. It is also important one and one time with your child to connect after a busy day. For older children allow them up to 30 minutes reading time before lights out. This needs to be considered in your bedtime routine and your desired bedtime (lights out time) for your child.

4. Screen Time I can’t emphasise enough how important this next tip is. Turn off all screens including TVs one hour before bed. Blue light technology and its impact on sleep is being heavily studied at the moment and all signs are pointing to it having a negative impact on sleep and brain

activity. Blue light from these devices inhibit melatonin production, the sleepy hormone, and as such will impact on your child’s ability to settle to sleep easily. Encourage reading, colouring or quiet floor games instead during wind down time so that your child is getting the chance to have the best quality sleep possible.

5.Dark Sleep Environment Ensure that your child’s room is as dark as possible at bedtime.

Darkness is extremely important for sleep as it supports the production of melatonin – the sleepy hormone. Dark evenings have not fully set in yet, thank goodness, so ensuring that your child’s room is dark sends the right signals for sleep. It will support their melatonin production which will help them to get to sleep and stay asleep for longer.

6. How Much Sleep Determine how much sleep your child needs. A child of 6 will need 10-11 hours at night.

Older children of 10+ will re-

quire 8-10 hours. By doing this you will be able to guage what bedtime should be in your home and set out from their where the bedtime routine

Our Special Offer To assist families with back to school sleep challenges Babogue is offering a 50% discount on the Older Child Sleep Series course. Simply use the following discount code Older50 at checkout and save.

Sleep Series Course €59 Newborn 4-6 Months 6-9 Months 9-18 Months Toddler Older Child Sleep Series Bundles from €89 0-6 Months €89 6-18 Months €89 9 months – 3yrs €89 Toddler & Older €89 Newborn – Toddler Years €179 The Complete Sleep Series €219 121 Consultation The Virtual Sleep Solution Package €495

* Established in 2017 as a sleep consultancy service Babogue offers 6 age- appropriate sleep courses to parents who are experiencing challenges with their children’s sleep from Newborn to 10 years of age (known as The Sleep Series). Based in MERITS Innovation Think Space in Naas, Co. Kildare we are excited to bring the Gift of Sleep to thousands more families in Ireland and further afield. *Erica Hargaden is a mother of three, a certified Child Sleep Consultant and member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants, Erica is Cofounder of Babogue and creator of the Sleep Series, a suite of video based online sleep course designed for tired parents who want to improve their children’s sleep. *For more details contact Babogue on Website: www. babogue.com Email: info@babogue.com Tel: (087) 7800164 Facebook: @babogue Instagram: @babogue_sleep

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Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

A closer look at what a Master Trust is Last week we looked at Master Trusts in general. This week we look in more detail through some of the questions we have received.

What is a Master Trust?

A Master Trust is a defined contribution company pension scheme set up under trust. It differs from traditional Defined Contribution pension schemes in that multiple employers all coexist under the one trust deed, hence the term ‘master trust’.

Why Choose a Master Trust?

Companies who choose a Master Trust will enjoy all the benefits of an insurance provider’ pension expertise without the need to appoint their own trustee boards to manage the associated governance and compliance requirements. The Master Trust reduces effort in terms of time and cost while also removing the onerous trustee respon-

sibilities which are increasing significantly due to IORP (Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision) II. You will have a future-proofed employee pension by bringing expertise and dedication to scheme governance.

What is covered under the Master Trust?

The The key benefit of a Master Trust arrangement is that all trustee duties are carried out by a separate legal entity which has a trustee board of directors who are responsible for providing high quality scheme governance. They follow a strict governance framework, and their responsibilities cover the key areas of scheme governance such as: · Reviewing investment performance and the schemes investment strategy. · Monitoring and reviewing the Registered Administrator performance. · Managing the trusts re-

lationships with the Pensions Authority, Revenue, and the Finance Ombudsman. · Putting in place systems to avoid any conflicts.

How are employees’ funds managed in the trust?

Most employees will choose what is called the scheme default investment strategy where the funds are invested based on age and date of retirement. Money is, over time, moved from high risk level funds to lower risk funds as retirement nears, eventually the investment will be in very low risk or cash fund in the last years to shield against sudden market downturns. But for employees who want more involvement in their pension, the Master Trust will have a wide range of investment funds that will meet a varied range of member investment needs.

What technical and legal supports are available?

With ever-changing legislation and a need for improved governance, there will be more demand on you and your business but the Master Trust will ensure you are up to date on all administration, regulatory and governance obligations.

How will my Company interact with the Master Trust?

In the first instance your financial advisor will be the point of contact who will arrange the set-up of the scheme trust. When the scheme is in place most providers have on-line support systems which will be in place to make life easier. These on-line portals put you in control – providing all the information needed to manage the pension scheme, including scheme and payroll management information with ongoing support to HR and payroll teams. They will also oversee the production of investment performance and administration reports.

How will employees needs be managed?

Again your financial adviser will be the first point of contact backed up with on-line systems through which employees will have access to interactive tools, calculators, and archives of relevant documentation allowing access to real time detailed information on all aspects of the pension including performance.

Where do we start?

Contact your financial advisor who will assist in managing the initial scheme installation. On-line meetings can be set up to support and guide you; answering questions as they arise from you and your members. Workplace briefings, either group sessions or one-to one meetings can be arranged with marketing awareness campaigns set up specific to your needs to encourage active participation from employees.

Is there a member number limit attaching to this Master Trust?

So far one provider will set up a scheme for 3 members but some need a minimum of 10.

With all certain conditions will need to be met before set up is approved. It seems though that there will be “wiggle room” on a case by case basis initially.

Can our existing One-Man Schemes (OMS) be transferred to the new Master Trust?

The general advice is stay put until the way is made clear as to how OMS’s in general are to be governed. Information will be forthcoming from the Pension Authority in the coming months. Should you have further questions or need more in-depth information and analysis of schemes currently in place give us a call. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362633.

Photo by Tom Brett

Birthday 90th Celebrations Party.... Jim Fogarty (Bodalmore) and Family Front L-R Marie, Lizzie, Jim and Mary and Margaret, back L-R Agnes, Bernie, Seamus, Michael, Tommy and Joan

If There Is Water There???....

Well known water Diviner Jim Forgarty at his 90th birthday party at home in Bodalmore, Waterford Road with his wife Mary and nine children.

The couple also have twenty two grandchildren.

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News & Wellbeing Science 1. Anxiety Stress and worry aren’t great germ fighters. Just having anxious thoughts can weaken your immune response in as little as 30 minutes. Constant stress takes an even bigger toll and makes it harder to fend off the flu, herpes, shingles, and other viruses. Talk to your doctor if you can’t shake your worry or if it gets in the way of normal life.

2. Lack of Sleep Not getting enough sleep can make you more likely to catch viruses or germs. And you also may take longer to get better. That’s because your body can’t make as many infection-fighting cells and proteins called antibodies that help defend against illness. Your body releases certain proteins that help the immune system, called cytokines, only during sleep.

Bad habits that suppress your immune system

5. Too Little Fruit ‘n’ Veg These foods may help your body make more of the white blood cells you need to fight off infections. Fresh produce 1. Using Bottles With BPA BPA is short for the chemical bisphenol A. It’s used to make lots of products, including water bottles. But research shows BPA can get into your food and drinks. There’s also concern that too much exposure can lead to birth defects.

More research is needed, but experts think the chemical might also play a role in some health conditions. These include high blood pressure, hormonal imbalance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Opt for water bottles that say they’re BPA-free or made with glass or stainless steel.

2. Believing The Cold Water Myth Cold water doesn’t narrow your blood vessels or make food harder to digest. It’s an easy way to cool down and hydrate when you’re hot. If you have a cold, warm water will help thin your mucus, but that’s about it.

10. Alcohol Just overdoing it once slows your body’s ability to fight germs for up to 24 hours.

Over time, drinking too much blunts your body’s ability repair itself. That may be part of the reason you’re more likely to get illnesses like liver disease, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and certain cancers. If you use alcohol, try to keep it to one drink a day for women and two drinks for men.

11. Grief There is some evidence that sorrow, especially if lasts a long time, can depress your body’s immunity. The effect can linger for 6 months, but may go on longer if your grief is deep or doesn’t ease.

Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional if you need help with a loss or traumatic event.

3. Low Vitamin D You may know you need it for strong bones and healthy blood cells. But vitamin D also helps boost your immune system. You can get it in eggs, fatty fish, and fortified foods like milk and cereal. Sunlight is another key source. The lack of it in Ireland makes Irish people particularly prone to a lack of vitamin D. In the summer, just five-15 minutes of rays on your hands, face, and arms two-three times a week usually is enough. In the winter, you might need a bit more.

4. Certain Medications They include drugs to treat allergies, arthritis, lupus, IBS, and organ transplant. Corticosteroids are one example, as are TNF inhibitors for inflammation and chemotherapy for cancer. Talk with your doctor before you adjust any prescription medication.

germs. Yes, vaping counts, too. And it’s not just the nicotine. Other chemicals in e-liquids seem to suppress your immune response, especially when you inhale them through vaping.

12. Lack Of Exercise Regular aerobic exercise appears to help your body fight illness caused by viruses and bacteria. That’s in part because it helps blood get around your body more efficiently, which means germ-fighting substances get where they need to go.

Scientists continue to study exactly how exercise helps boost your immune system. and nuts and seeds pack a lot of zinc, beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, and E, and other nutrients you need for a healthy body. Plant-based foods also fill you up with fiber, which helps lower your body fat percentage, which can strengthen your immune response.

6. Marijuana Smoke from cannabis can inflame your lungs. If you use

it regularly, you may have the same breathing problems you can get from nicotine cigarettes. That means coughing up coloured mucus called phlegm and a higher chance of lung infections.

7. High-Fat Diet Oils can hinder germ-fighting white blood cells. And high fat diets over time can upset the balance of bacteria in your gut that can help immune re-

sponse. Look for low-fat dairy with no added sugar, along with lean protein like seafood, turkey, and chicken, or lean cuts of beef with any visible fat cut off. Also, being obese seems to make you more likely to get the flu and other infections, like pneumonia.

called T- cells that help fight infection. But being outside brings other benefits, too.

Many plants in the woods make phytoncides and other substances you breathe in that seem to bolster your immune function.

8. Too Little Time Outdoors Sunlight may energise special cells in your immune system

9. Smoking Nicotine from cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or any other source can weaken your body’s ability to fight flesh. Fruit and veggies sliced on the same board used to cut raw meat can also lead to foodborne illness. So can items not stored at the right temperature. Be sure to wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water.

Here’s how you’re drinking water wrongly 3. Adding Sliced Fruit Or Veg It may make your water tastier and more refreshing.

But if you’re not careful, it can also fill it with foodborne illness like salmonella and

E.coli. That’s because when the rind isn’t clean, slicing into it moves bacteria to the

13. No Sex Good news! Weekly intimacy seems to help boost your immune system compared to those who have it less often. Sex raises levels of a germ-fighting substance called Immunoglobulin A, or IgA. But more may not always better. Couples who had sex more than twice a week had lower levels of IgA than those who had no sex at all. helps your body better absorb water-soluble vitamins, too.

4. Not Drinking It With Alcohol Alcoholic drinks are diuretics, which means they trigger your body to make more pee.

And peeing a lot can lead to dehydration. To avoid this, match your drinks one for one: that’s one glass of water for every cup of coffee or alcoholic drink.

6. Adding Anything Artificial It’s fine once in a while, but doing it every day isn’t recommended. Research suggests artificial flavourings and sweeteners may put you at higher risk for type 2 diabetes and cancer. They can also make you feel hungry more often. Try to avoid anything with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, or sucralose. Use lemon, lime, mint, herbs, or cucumbers instead.

But don’t forget to wash them first.

5. Not Downing A Full Glass With Pills Don’t just drink enough to get them down your throat.

Use vitamins and medication as an opportunity to hydrate.

Drinking a full glass of water also helps keep medicine from getting stuck in your esophagus and irritating it. It

7. Not Reaching For It When Tired Feeling fatigued and don’t know why? It could be a sign of dehydration. You don’t have to be sick or exercise hard to get dehydrated. You lose water every day through basic body functions like breathing and pooping.

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Travel & Leisure 1. Hotel les Deux Gares What to expect: Alice in Wonderland vibes with an ideal location near two train stations.

Close to Gare du Nord Designed by British decorator Luke Edward Hall, Hotel les Deux Gares, a new property from the Touriste Group (with three other Paris hotels, and one soon to come in London) is very Alice in Wonderland meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Whether you’re in the bathroom, lobby, hallway or elevator, bright colours and patterns abound — from leopard print and stripes to florals and herringbone.

Located between two of Paris’s main train stations, Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord, it’s ideally situated for truly living like a local.

2.Hotel Paradiso A cinephile’s dream hotel in the 12th arrondisement Cinephiles will love Hotel Paradiso, a film-themed hotel attached to an art-house movie theatre. It’s close to Nation, a major metro hub in the 12th arrondissement, which is home to both Paris’s popular Marche d’Aligre and the Coulée Verte, its answer to the High Line.

The 36 rooms are outfitted with their own projector screen that descends via remote control.

They cover the giant windows either facing the street or the courtyard where a giant mural of Charlie Chaplin was installed by street photographer JR Settle in with one of the hundreds of movies on offer from the privacy of your bed —Twizzlers and salty/sweet popcorn included. There’s also a rooftop bar where, in the summer, screenings are hosted en plein air.

3. Hotel du Sentier Thirty rooms in jewel tones within blocks of the Louvre in the 2nd arrondissement Hotel du Sentier, a 30-room boutique hotel, near the market street Rue Montorgueil in the second arrondissement, is a lovely choice for a sunlit,

Taking A Night Tour In A Tropical Forest Most neotropical forest dwellers are nocturnal, so nighttime tours are offered at rainforest and cloud-forest destinations throughout the country.

Some of the better spots for night tours are Monteverde, Tortuguero, and Drake Bay. Soaking In A Volcanic Hot Spring Costa Rica’s volcanoes have blessed the country with a host of natural hot springs spots. From the opulent grandeur of Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort to the more humble options around Rincon la Vieja to the remote hot river pools at Rio Perdido, mineral-rich, soothing hot pools are waiting to soothe what ails you.

Spotting A Resplendent Quetzal The iridescent colours and

The 7 best new hotels in Paris

stylish stay behind an old Egyptian facade in a central neighbourhood. It also overlooks the heritage-listed arcade Le Passage du Caire.

The colour palette of emerald greens and sapphire blues comes from architect Vincent Bestie and first-time hoteliers Charlotte and Samuel Castro, who injected a chic sense of modernity into the property.

The top-floor suite that faces the passage has its own balcony, while rooms that overlook the small square below get cheerful natural light throughout the day.

4. Hoy Wellness hotel in the former

red light district of the South Pigalle part of the 9th arrondissement.

Franco Mexican Charlotte Gomez de Orozco opened this 22-room hotel at the top of Rue des Martyrs in South Pigalle, the former red light district gone bobo ’hood, with the intent of giving wellness junkies their fix while on holiday. Forget televisions and coffee: Rooms at Hoy come with a ballet barre and charcoal-filtered water.

All-natural toiletries in the bathroom have been crafted in collaboration with ecofriendly cosmetics brand the Naked Shop. In addition to a plant-based café (featuring

corn pancakes stuffed with nut butter and bananas), there are dedicated rooms for reiki and reflexology treatments, plus a yoga studio where hotel guests receive a special rate.

5. Hotel Sookie A mix of modern and vintage in Paris’s top shopping district, The Marais, in the centre of Paris.

Smack dab in the heart of trendy haute Marais, the 31room Hotel Sookie, named for the jazz tune by Grant Green, is a good bet for travellers who want to shop and eat. The property is surrounded by the best of both—from Veja for eco conscious sneakers to Le Mary

at Monteverde Cloud Forest Natural Reserve and the San Gerardo de Dota region.

Celeste for divine devilled eggs.

Inside, designer Dorothée Delaye mixed old and new elements such as vintage finds from flea markets with madeto- measure modern furniture and ceramic light fixtures.

Room sizes vary from ‘spacy’ (the largest at 270 square feet) to ‘simply’ (at only 97 square feet), but each comes with coffee —via Nespresso pods and the Terre de Mars beanbased toiletries.

There’s no breakfast buffet, but a lobby-level café open to the public with à la carte items such as the requisite avocado toast and “sunshine eggs and bacon”with ricotta and pomegranates.

World monkeys—howlers, capuchin, squirrel and spider. Your odds are very good of seeing one or more of them if you visit Cahuita, Monteverde, Tortuguero, Manuel Antonio or the Osa Peninsula.

Getting the most out of Costa Rica

long, flowing tail feathers of this aptly named bird are breathtaking. The rare species is regularly spotted

6. Hotel Ami Cozy (read: tiny) but great value in the 15th arrondissement, south of the Eiffel Tower.

For those who’d rather save on sleeping — but not sacrifice style —this minimalist hotel in the quiet 15th arrondissement on Rive Gauche is ideal, with options starting at just €59 for a 75-square-foot space with a single bed and little else but a night table, lamp, and bathroom. Even the biggest rooms at Hotel Ami are intimate but still welldesigned by architect Gesa Hansen. Some, like 67, even have a view of the nearby Eiffel Tower. All come with the Orso Hotel brand’s own toiletries made in Grasse, featuring a fig/fennel-scented hair and body wash that does the job well for a two-in-one. Soulful reggae tunes play in the lobby/bar area, which is great for co-working or sipping a filter coffee from Paris roaster Lomi. There’s also a charming outdoor courtyard with jasmine flowers growing over terra-cotta tiles.

Touring A Coffee Plantation World-renowned and highly coveted, Costa Rican coffee can be enjoyed at the source all across the country. Peek inside the cup with a coffee tour—they’re offered around the Central Valley, outside Monteverde, and elsewhere.

Meeting Monkeys Costa Rica’s rain and cloud forests are home to four species of New

Help A Hatchling Reach The Sea During various months throughout the year, multiple species of sea turtles arrive on beaches on both coasts of Costa Rica to lay their eggs. After hatching, the baby turtles face enormous odds in reaching the sea in places such as Las Baulas National Marine and Ostional

7. Chouchou In the 9th arrondissement.

More than just a place to spend the night, Chouchou is a self-proclaimed ‘Hotel Bar and Guinguette’ around the corner from the Palais Garnier and Galeries Lafayette. It’s also a destination in its own right come evenings, when it hosts events in the plantfilled atrium. (Think Ricard tastings, Euro Cup screenings, and celebrations for the likes of the annual all- night Fête de la Musique in June.) Those staying over can expect ample space in the 63 rooms, all of which boast a cool marqueelike frame around the beds.

Additional design details include lipstick ‘kisses’ with a different name and date hanging in each room. (Room 406, for example, features ‘Mila imprinted on February 9, 2020.)

National Wildlife Refuge, though volunteers around the country help ensure that they do.

Visit A Feria Usually on Saturdays, a vast network of rural farmers markets comes alive in every part of Costa Rica. There’s a brilliant display of colourful fruits and vegetables, local foods, and often live music.

Some of the more interesting ferias occur in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Guapiles, and San Jose’s Feria Verde de Aranjuez Eating At A Soda Costa Rica’s traditional, ubiquitous, and relatively cheap sodas are simple, family-run restaurants serving local standards.

You’ll find them just about everywhere. Order gallo pinto (rice and beans) for breakfast and try the casado (a mixed plate with your choice of meat) or a gallo (the Costa Rican version of a taco) for lunch or dinner.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Barnstorm, Brettionism and a long-legged bird!

That was the week that was: weather sizzling, town hopping, pubs buzzing and our Arts Festival whipping up a storm – not least the storm in the Castle Park: Shakespeare’s The Tempest, a marvellous spectacle, superbly performed (to standing ovations) by Rough Magic. Over the years I have attended festival productions of Shakespeare in the cold of the evening, even in the rain, and so it was a pleasure to enjoy The Tempest in the unprecedented, Mediterranean-type dusk!

Meanwhile, Barnstorm Theatre, under the auspices of the indomitable Philip Hardy wasn’t blowing up a storm but serving up lunch in the Home Rule Club! Lunch-time theatre.

A new adventure for the company, it was a huge success as the show quickly sold out for its 10-night run.

Such was the demand for tickets that extra performanc-

es were put on and they too sold out in jig-time.

The Quiet Land by Malachy McKenna is a 55 minute twohander revolving around a cagey, cautious ‘chat’ between two old, elderly friends, each living alone in the sticks and the trauma that their isolation brings. As for the performance by Brendan Corcoran (Eamon) and Ger Cody (Nashee, short for Ignatius) it was a tour-de-force. But what else would we expect from two of Kilkenny’s finest, and most outstanding, actors.

Peppered with odd-ish, country humour (Nashee’s granddaughter is on a transmission year in school and when Nashee got tired looking out the window of his house, he went out and looked in).

The Quiet Land is totally engaging and profoundly poignant. I left the performance in tears. Philip Hardy, director of the play told us that The Quiet Land, and lunch time

theatre, will return to the Barn Studio in the Home Rule. Book a immediately when it does.

On a different note, there’s a mantra I recite (to myself) during the festival’s classical music concerts, ie. Don’t Close Your Eyes. The mantra applies to music only which

“Weather sizzling, town hopping, pubs buzzing . .

can be soothing and in my case soporific especially if I’ve partaken of a meal beforehand and a glass, or two, of wine, then the mantra becomes: Don’t DARE Close Your Eyes.

Close my eyes and I’m soon nodding off, my body issuing sudden little jerks that scare the bejaysus out of my neighbour who wonders if he’ll have to perform CPR on me. Should the neighbour be my wife I’ll receive a short, sharp jab to the side which may dislocate a rib or two but I’ll remain wide awake for the duration of the performance!

The mantra most certainly wasn’t needed for Róisín Reimagined, classic sean-nós songs from Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, accompanied by the Irish Chamber Orchestra in St. Canice’s cathedral, truly beautiful nor was it required for Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble in the same venue; accompanied by fiddle-player, Aoife Ní

Bhriain and Kerry sean-nós singer Nell Ní Chróinín (who we can almost claim as our own she being married to a Kilkenny man and domiciled here) it was something special.

Their set: Boyne Water/Cá bhFuil an Solas: a trad-jazz arrangement was stunningly intoxicating and invigorating!

Nor was my mantra needed for the unique and haunting performance of Tchaikovsky’s Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

by Chamber Choir Ireland in the hallowed, 800 year-old Black Abbey, my altar boy alma mater where, as a twelve year old, I sang with gusto ‘Hail Queen of Heaven’ at the May processions. Little did I think that a lifetime later I’d be listening to the sacred music of Tchaikovsky there, sung with gusto by an Irish choir in Russian!

Now we’ve all heard of Impressionism, Expressionism, Cubism (to mention but a few art movements) which

originated on the Continent but let me introduce Brettionism, which originated, not in Paris, but here in Kilkenny.

Brettionism is the creation of local artist Jean Brett who was exhibiting in Ryan’s Bar. Jean likes her work “to stand off the canvass and using modelling pastes, layers her work to give them a textured/tactile look”.

Well, yours truly looked, liked what he saw and is now the proud owner of some Brettionism art! Finally, I picked up a bird below in Thomastown, a long-legged, exotic bird, a heron actually, captured beautifully on camera by Valerie Byrne who exhibited a series of photographs of this ‘Exhibitionist’ as she calls him in her store, Grennan Mill Clothing. The heron regularly perched on Valerie’s back garden wall, posturing, posing almost for the camera, now he’s perched on the wall of my study alongside some Brettionism art!

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

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Global Report The Taliban has marked a year in power with small-scale celebrations by the group’s fighters as Afghanistan struggles with rising poverty, drought, malnutrition and fading hope among women that they will have a decisive role in the country’s future.

Some people fired celebratory gunshots in the air in Kabul and Taliban fighters gathered, waving the group’s black and white flag to mark a year since they marched into the capital after a stunning series of battlefield victories.

“This day is the day of the victory of truth over falsehood and the day of salvation and freedom of the Afghan nation,” said Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement, reported by Reuters news agency.

The country is safer than it was when the hardline Islamist movement was fighting against US-led foreign forces and their Afghan allies, although a local offshoot of Islamic State has carried out several attacks.

Yet that relative security cannot mask the scale of the challenge the Taliban face in setting Afghanistan on a path of economic growth and stability.

There are huge pressures on the economy, caused in large part by the country’s isolation as foreign governments refuse to recognise its rulers.

Development aid upon which the country relied so heavily has been cut as the international community demands that the Taliban respect the rights of Afghans, particularly girls and women whose access to work and education has been curtailed.

Students read during class at a secret school in Kabul The Taliban is demanding that $9 billion in central bank reserves held overseas be returned, but talks with the US face hurdles, including the US demands that a Taliban leader subject to sanctions step down from his position as second in command at the bank.

A year on, and what has changed in Afghanistan

The Taliban returned to power 20 years after they were ousted by US-backed forces The Taliban refuse to cede to these demands, saying that they respect all Afghans’ rights within the framework of their interpretation of Islamic law.

And until there is a major shift in either side’s position, there is no immediate fix in sight for spiralling prices, rising joblessness and hunger that would get

worse as winter sets in.

“We are all heading to darkness and misfortune,” said Amena Arezo, a doctor from southeastern Ghazni province.

“People have no future, especially women.”

Over half in poverty Roughly 25 million Afghans are now living in poverty - well

over half the population and the United Nations estimates that up to 900,000 jobs could be lost this year as the economy stalls.

Fatima, who lives in Herat province in the west of the country, said she had noticed improved security during the past year, but noted with dis-

may that schools for girls had closed and there was a lack of job opportunities for women.

Like many Afghans, she asked that only her first name be used for fear of reprisal.

Jawed, from southern Helmand province, which saw heavy fighting in the past, said security had improved dra-

matically since the Taliban returned to power 20 years after they were ousted by US-backed forces, but also noted rampant inflation.

The last time the Taliban ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s, women could not work, girls were banned from school and strict Islamic law was brutally enforced, including through public executions.

Taliban fighters stand guard after a gathering attended by Afghanistan’s Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund and Minister for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Sheikh Mohammad Khalid at the former presidential palace in Kabul Civil society and independent media have also shrunk, with many of its members leaving the country.

The UN’s mission to Afghanistan said in a recent review the group was limiting dissent by arresting journalists, activists and protesters.

A Taliban spokesman had rejected the UN’s report and said arbitrary arrests were not allowed.

The country’s administration continues to be considered a caretaker government or ‘de facto’ authority with acting ministers, whose decisions can be overturned by the group’s supreme spiritual leader, based in the southern city of Kandahar.

Some constitutional and legal experts say that it is not always clear how the legal and moral Islamic code of Sharia will be interpreted and applied in practice.

“The most obvious problem is there is no uniformity of law,” said Zalmai Nishat, an Afghan constitutional expert who previously worked as a government adviser.

“Now it’s at the whims of the (Taliban) leader in Kandahar and also at the whims of those who are leading on his behalf... that’s the problem, it’s the unpredictability.”

- Reuters Bureau

Celebration, uncertainty and fear grip Kabul “Victory! Freedom, Victory, Freedom!” .... the chants rang out from central Kabul as dozens of Taliban fighters and commanders gathered to mark a year since the group swept into the Afghan capital, ending a long, brutal war and upending the lives of millions.

Cars packed with families slowed to take pictures and video of the scene on Monday. Some drivers honked their horns as they shouted their support; others blasted Quranic recitations. Young men and boys draped in freshly printed Taliban flags joined the crowd, posing for selfies.

“For us, this is a day of liberation,” said Muhammad Zubair Shahab, a 22-yearold Taliban fighter who was among the first units to enter Kabul. “By the grace of God in a single year, we have brought security to Kabul and elimi-

nated corruption,” he said.

The Taliban takeover of Kabul did end more than two decades of war, but it has also shattered lives, gutted an already struggling healthcare system and thrown the country into uncertainty amid harsh crackdowns on

women’s rights and a spiralling economic crisis.

As the crowd in central Kabul grew, young children dressed in stained, threadbare clothing appeared on the sidelines, begging onlookers and members of the Taliban for pocket change. “Please, I

haven’t eaten. I just want to buy once piece of bread,” they said repeatedly, moving through the crowd.

Some of the revellers gave them money; others shooed them away.

The Taliban fighters celebrating on a roundabout

admitted they have seen the Afghan capital slip deeper into poverty during their year in power.

“When you are liberated, you must endure hardship,” Shahab said. He claimed the group has a plan to improve Afghanistan’s economy and that the country will eventually rebound.

“The invaders were never going to improve the economy,” he said, referring to the high levels of poverty that existed in Afghanistan for years during the presence of foreign forces before the Taliban takeover.

“They were just here for their own interests. We are here for the Afghan people,” he said.

Elsewhere in Kabul, Taliban checkpoints blocked roads, effectively preventing any counter-demonstrations and leaving some residents feeling trapped inside their own

homes on the recently declared national holiday.

Groups of women hoping to publicly protest bans on education for girls frantically exchanged messages trying to find a safe place to gather.

A small protest was held indoors after they were unable to assemble outside.

But many women had already decided to remain at home. Some were still recovering from injuries after being beaten in the street by Taliban fighters dispersing a similar protest just days ago. Others feared arrest.

“I am just sitting in my home crying,” a female activist wrote in a message. She requested that her name not be published for fear of Taliban reprisals. “They say this is a freedom day, but for us, this day marks disaster. The situation is only becoming more and more dangerous.”

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Con Downeys legacy as Godfather of Kilkenny soccer is remembered as community joins together for fun day at Waterbarracks Con Downey was associated all his life with the publicly owned and community developed Waterbarracks, The Butts community housing area and Kilkenny schoolboys’ soccer.

Con, one of the founders of Kilkenny’s schoolboys’ soccer league, was remembered this week by local Butts families who attended a Family fun Day and watched a memorial match played out between the ‘auld fellows’ of the old St. Canice’s soccer team against the ‘young lads’ of the recently re-formed team.

At the end of the game the Fr. McGrath Family Resource

Family affair. Enjoying the community day at the Water Barracks: Anna, Olly and Michael Falsey

Centre sponsored ‘Con Downey Perpetual Cup’ was awarded to local man David Clifford.

Davie would have been one of the youngsters who Con famously managed to cram into his little blue Datsunalong with ten or so othersto bring to matches.

Con Downey, a Nonagenerian, passed away on Sunday 28th November.

He was 95 years old. He was the last surviving member of Kilkenny AFC which was formed in 1948 when soccer was reorganised in Kilkenny following World War 2. Con, along with a

Legends of The Butts who were victorious In winning The Con Downey Cup

small group of people such as Jimmy McAlister, Billy Walsh, Johnny Bourke, Paul Fennelly, Marty Buckley and Mick Owens took on the responsibility of organising League soccer in Kilkenny for those ‘feeder’ clubs which formed or reformed after the ‘Emergency’. Con played with his beloved Talbot’s Inch initially and subsequently Green Celtic which had been founded in 1942.

Proud boys, Zach and Jayden

Con and Gertie Downey who gave so much time and effort to the community

THE SEED IS SOWN, THE FLOWER WILL BLOSSOM Like most of the administrators/players of the day, Con served in several posts including refereeing to help out. Con served the League with distinction.

When the League folded due to apathy in 1967-68, Con decided that it was time

At the Butts community fun day: Pax Falsey, Mike Kelly and Sé Nicholson

for a new radical approach to organising local soccer.

What had been considered a disaster by some at the time turned out to be a blessing in disguise? When Con retired from playing he set about both forming and coaching a youth team called Ormonde.

Con sowed the seeds of strengthening the underage side of the game in 1969. Up to that point you had just two grades at Under 16 & Minor/ Youths - U18. The concept of Kilkenny Schoolboys Soccer was born with Con, Brendan Lonergan, Mike Kelly and Eric Wilcox to the fore. The rest was history as the say. Con will always be affectionately known as the ‘Godfather’ of Soccer in Kilkenny…….what a legacy.

Con was never a stickler for the rulebook or red

Chairman Tommy Hackett with Eugene and Eileen Downey

tape, his motto was to let as many children play the game as was physically possible, even it meant 20 a-side games. He was never a fan of the ‘Dublin Brigade’ i.e. officialdom. He always enjoyed bending the rules a little bit to suit the needs of all the kids who wanted to play the game. Birth certificates were expensive to get in those days!!!

CLUB CAPTAIN PAYS WELL DESERVED TRIBUTE TO CON Following the great and exciting game last week, and having to go to penalties to decide on a winner, the ‘old lads’ were declared winners.

St Canice’s club captain, Tommy Hackett, paid tribute to Con before the Cup was presented by Con’s daughter, Eileen.

Speaking at the Waterbarracks Tommy had this to say: - “Not only was Con fondly remembered by local families and players for his lifetime work for schoolboys’ soccer, but people remembered how often he was there on their doorstep to help families when they were struggling.’

Ollie Falsey, former local Butts resident and now a project worker in the Neighbourhood Hall was one of the local soccer club committee organisers of the event that included children’s field races and many other family fun activities.

Ollie thanked local people for turning out and supporting the event and said, “We couldn’t have made this happen but for the generous sponsorship

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Relaxing after the match.. Eddie Clifford Jenny Clifford, Stephen Murphy and Ollie Falsey

Dennis Dowd, Jackie Mulcahy and Willie Mahony

St Canices supporters adding a bit of style to the day

Winners, Michael Clifford, Peter Dowling, Paul Clifford, David Clifford, Shane Kelly

and support we got from so many people and the Butts volunteers, young and old, who made the family day The Kavanaghs…

Mary, Presley and Myles

such a great success.”

Ollie thanked the Fr. McGrath Centre for sponsoring the Con Downey Perpetual Cup and for the treats given out to children at the family event.

Con was also renowned for his charitable work in Kilkenny city and St Canice’s Parish in particular. He helped many struggling families in his native parish in many ways. A founding member of Sunday night Bingo at St Canice’s Hall at the Butt’s Green where he helped to raise thousands for so many local families.

He was also instrumental in setting up St Vincent de Paul house at the Butt’s Green. He played a huge active role in supporting the Fr McGrath Centre which provided so many children’s services to the local community.

And so , not only did Con Downey sow a seed of hope all those years ago but along with members of Con’s family , and hundreds of local people, the Waterbarracks saw Con’s seed blossom.

Speaking to ‘The Kilkenny Observer’, Eileen Downey said it was a great pleasure attending a celebration of community that ticked all the boxes, great people, fun, food and soccer! “It was all the more touching to be invited to represent our dad Con who was all about community spirit, connecting with people and most of all his beloved soccer,” continued Eileen.

Eugene Downey, who also travelled to Kilkenny for the event said that Con would have been in his element in the thick of it all and no doubt shouting from the side-lines as the teams battled it out on the pitch. Having cracked many a ball in the alley close by Eugene continued, “The Waterbarracks and the butts community meant so much to Con, and the family are thankful to everyone who knew dad and who continue to include him and keep his memory alive. Our family cannot begin to express just how much it means to us.” (rumours that Eugene (judge) is threatening to take

Pauline Clowry and Eddie Clifford

Pat , Laura and Siera May

Proud daddy… Tommy Hackett and daughter Ada Grace

a twirl on the pitch next year, are being investigated.

OLLIE PAYS THANKS TO COMMITTEE AND VOLUNTEERS Wrapping up the successful event Mr Falsey offered a special thanks to Mauro from Joe’s Chipper in Dean Street who not only generously sponsored all the burgers, hot dogs and drinks provided to local families but also turned up on the day to cook them himself.”

Ollie also thanked his fellow committee members including Chairman Tommy Hackett, Secretary Jenny Clifford, Peter Dowling, Michael Falsey, Statia Clifford, Oisin Corr, Pax Falsey and Damien Dowling.

He also paid tribute to

volunteers Maruo, Shane Kelly and Lisa and Myles Kavanagh Jnr. Observer note: It would be remiss of The Kilkenny Observer not to pay a special mention to Gertie Downey, Cons wife. There is no doubt that sport and volunteerism dominated the Downey household at Talbots Inch.

Gertie was the force behind Con in his many activities on behalf of the St Canice’s Parish Community and beyond. He played and administered soccer all of his life and Gertie was the one who ran the family home.

She supported him fully in all of his extensive voluntary activities. If Con was Santa to so many Kilkenny children at Christmas time Gertie was Mrs Clause.

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Centenary Mass at Tulla Cemetery, Threecastles Directed by Monsignor Kennedy, PP Freshford, Saturday 6th August 2022 PHOTOS BY TOM BRETT

Relatives remembered.

Very Reverend Monsignor Kennedy extends his blessing to the big attendance at the annual centenary Mass at Tulla Cemetery, Threecastles.

Sections of the big attendance at the Centenary Mass in Tulla Cemetery Threecastles

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Families ‘need more update’ on Lough McCask plan Local families need to know more about the development plan already started in the area through the Lough McCask Area Development Plan and the future impacts it will have on their families and children, according to Stephen Murphy, Director of Services of the Fr McGrath Family Resource Centre.

His remarks came when he

recently congratulated the team committee on the success of the community day and the ‘auld lads’ team who won the game in a penalty shootout against the community’s ‘young lads’ team.

Mr Murphy said: “The remnants of the very old public and local parish and volunteer-driven, socially developed Breagagh River Waterbarracks

playground park has had a special place in the heart of the Butts community and many other Kilkenny families, for many generations.

“This is why it is important for local families to learn more about the massive development plan already started in the area through the Lough McCask Area Development Plan and the future impacts it will have

on their families and children.’

“The County Council have agreed to display the proposed Lough McCask Development Plan in the Neighbourhood Hall in September for the public to view and comment.”

Mr Murphy said he, and the members of his voluntary Management Board, would be meeting and urging county councillors not to miss the op-

portunity to redress the historic effects of some of their urban planning decisions that have adversely affected Butts families for decades.

In the 1970s, Butts families and children lost nearly 30 acres of public green space and a playground that had been developed by the community and parish to the County Council’s proposed Inner Relief Road

Scheme.

Since the loss of the green space and playground that had been developed by the community and parish – and the publicly defeated Inner Relief Road Plan – they have since found their families and their children hemmed in and surrounded by some of Kilkenny’s heaviest lorry freight traffic, with little access to community green space.

Rising costs forces us to tighten grip on finances Consumers globally are preparing to hunker down for a long financial squeeze, as the increasing cost of living and geopolitical uncertainties push them to seek financial control amid low economic confidence, according to the latest EY Future Consumer Index (FCI).

The 10th edition of the global research of 18,000 consumers, conducted between May 18 to June 7 2022, finds that 79% of consumers say their finances are a concern, with 62% expecting their living costs to increase even further over the next six months.

These concerns over personal finances are affecting the majority of all income levels, from low income (87%) middle class (77%) to high income (64%).

With consumer confidence shrinking, the research reveals a significantly pessimistic economic outlook from the Western markets when compared to emerging/ other markets. Many more consumers from the US (54%), UK (65%) Germany (84%) and France (85%) state they believe life will remain the same or worse over the next three years, compared to Brazil (21%), India (24%), Saudi Arabia (37%) and China (38%). With this continued “always-on emergency mindset” adopted

Summer break:

from the pandemic, consumers globally are increasingly focusing on controlling their spending and re-adjusting priorities to maintain their values and lifestyles in the face of disruption.

With living costs spiralling each week, the FCI research shows that consumers are demanding affordability, as more than one in three consumers (35%) say they are worried about having enough money to spend on things other than living expenses.

Consumers are not simply trading down on their essentials to cut costs, but instead are trying new brands (33%) and switching to private label or “owned brands” (21%), ultimately exposing onethird of a brand’s addressable market to risk.

Ivan O’Brien, EY Ireland Consulting Partner, told The Kilkenny Observer: “This year has seen a perfect storm brewing, due to rising interest rates, lower savings, ever increasing energy costs and the return of lockdowns in China that complicate global supply chains.

“Irish Inflation has risen to levels not seen since the 1980s, and as prices continue to rise there is increased pressure placed upon household budgets throughout the country,” she said.

local children enjoying their time away at Tobar na Gaeilge - Campa Samhraidh

Alison and Ryan win the style stakes at Tramore The August Racing Festival at Tramore Races, always a highlight for many on the sports, social and fashion calendars, did not disappoint! The four-day festival was a tremendous success with the weather playing its part in making the races pleasant and enjoyable for all. Saturday evening was style evening when fashion savvy visitors turned out in their droves to compete for the covetable titles of most stylish lady and most stylish gent.

The honours went to Alison Walsh and Ryan Hyland (pictured with their sponsors) who wowed the judges with their impressive looks, and they took home €3,000 in prizes between them.

Four ladies and four gents

were selected as finalists by fashionable celebrity judges Marietta Doran representing Lyrath Estate Hotel and Will Lee from Fitzgerald’s Menswear and all runnersup received a token gift from Blackwater Distillery.

The Most Stylish Lady, Alison Walsh wore a classic monochrome ensemble and vibrant red lipstick, she also came racing with a unique story behind her stunning look. Wearing a white lace strapless, sweetheart prom style midi dress she caught the eye of fashion judge Marietta Doran very early in the afternoon who commented that Alison ‘was the one to beat’ from the moment the popular stylist spotted her.

The dress was purchased at

Runaway Bride in Wexford and you guessed it, she recently wore it as her evening dress at her wedding! Alison was delighted to get the chance to mix it up, change the accessories and get another chance to wear it again at Tramore Races.

She teamed it with Sophie Hunter black hat and YSL clutch from Brown Thomas.

She won a two-night stay in a deluxe room at the stunning Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny with complimentary breakfast each morning, a sumptuous dinner at the grill on an evening of their choice and a 30-minute spa treatment. She also took home €500 spending money in cash!

Fitzgerald’s Menswear presented the Most Stylish

Gent, Ryan Hyland with a €1,000 voucher and €500 cash. Ryan, who is set to get married in July of next year was over the moon with his win as the iconic local business is renowned for its quality tailoring saying ‘well that’s just amazing, the wedding suits are sorted now and my fiancée actually won her wedding dress online by entering a Facebook competition a while ago.

Ryan wore a striking rust/ brown three-piece suit, starched white shirt and a blue and rust tie all from Next, Belfast and finished the look with classic blue shoes he found online which really added the wow factor that the judges and scouts were looking for in a most stylish gentleman.

Teens missing in separate cases found safe and well A teenage boy missing from his home for over a week has been located.

According to Gardaí, 13-yearold Jimmy Reynolds — de-

scribed as being approximately 6 foot in height with a stocky build, short dark hair and brown eyes -— went missing from his Cappoquin home in Co Water-

ford on August 9.

In a separate case, a teenage girl missing from Co Meath for three days has also been located.

Sixteen-year-old Leila Mur-

ray, 16 years went missing from her Ballinlough home on August 13.

Gardai thanked the public and the media for their assistance.

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Tai Chi and Wellness Academy - 3 year teacher training course Are you interested in developing a rewarding new career path and increasing your health and vitality? The Tai Chi and Wellness Academy is the perfect place to discover and develop new skills. Earn a qualification with meaning.

Tai Chi is a form of movement, which works with the internal energy of the body to bring about healing, grace and beauty. It develops great strength and stamina in the body promoting good physical health and inner peace and calm. It helps to maintain flexibility, balance and groundedness.

Our 3 year Teacher Training Course is tailored to train students in Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Meditation whilst also teaching the key principles and philosophical concepts underlying each of these disciplines. The course empowers students to take responsibility for their positive growth and development in a nurturing and welcoming environment – and provides them with the skills to teach and assist others to do the same.

This course is suited to anyone inspired to teach the Infinite Arts of Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Meditation and to empower and support others to make a positive change in their

lives. So whether you are new to Tai Chi and Chi Kung or have been experiencing the benefits of these healing arts in your own life, gaining certification as a Tai Chi Teacher can be quite transformative at a career level but also at a personal level. The key requirement is having the desire to develop a higher level of wellness and consciousness, and the motivation to teach others and to equip them with this potential for positive growth and freedom.

Our current students come from a range of backgrounds including: the caring professions, fitness instructors, coaches, business professionals, teachers and much more.

Some want to evolve their skills to benefit their current role - others want to develop a completely new skill set to change career or develop an additional career outlet part-time.

This course is an immersive experience – students learn

Tai Chi, Chi Kung and meditation skills that not only offer them career opportunities, but that greatly improve their own well-being and quality of life.

Students spend time learning the theory behind Tai Chi – evolution, impact on the mind, body and spirit, and its potential for opening up the pathway to wellness. They also learn about the body itself – anatomy and physiology – to understand the biomechanics. During the weekend sessions, students get first hand instruction on Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Meditation – enabling them to hone their techniques and develop their skills and confidence.

Groups are kept small and there is plenty of one-to-one support from trainers and experts. The course is facilitated by a team of fully qualified Tai Chi and Chi Kung instructors including Rosaleen Fadden as Course Director. Over the past sixteen years Rosaleen has enjoyed teaching Tai Chi and Chi Kung to many diverse groups of students throughout Ireland, Europe and Asia.

Venue: An Gairdin Beo, Dublin Road, Carlow Call: 087 349 9049 Email: info@taichiandwellnessacademy.com www.taichiandwellnessacademy.com

5 Science-backed benefits of strength training for every athlete at every age EOIN EVERARD

With just one or two sessions per week, you can live a longer, more fulfilling life thanks to strength or Pilates training.

In order to live longer, healthier lives free from illness and damage, people are always looking for ways to slow down the aging process. According to experts, strength training is the key to eternal youth. This is supported by recent studies. Here are five advantages of strength training proven by science that will motivate you to incorporate a few lifting sessions into your normal schedule.

1. Extend your life (literally) Regardless of your age or other health-related circumstances, strength training can extend your life. According to Hamilton Rochel, PhD, Head of the Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group at the University of So Paulo, muscle strength is an independent and powerful predictor of all-cause mortality, meaning that higher overall strength may result in a longer life regardless of any other conditions you may have.

Higher levels of strength are associated with a 14% decreased risk of death from all causes, according to a metaanalysis of almost two million healthy people published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

It all boils down to how much you exercise to make the connection

between strength and lifespan.

According to a review in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, being physically inactive can raise your chance of dying young from a chronic illness by 20 to 30 percent. Low levels of strength also indicate that your everyday movement is probably insufficient or that your exercise is restricted, according to Rochel.

But you’ll appreciate those extra years even more if you keep your strength up with regular exercise.

Think about how frequently you stand up and sit down, walk to different locations, and climb stairs each day.

Life is easier when movement is simple. According to a sizable study that was published in the Cochrane Library, strength training enhances both general function and your capacity to carry out daily tasks like bringing groceries inside the house.

According to Stuart Phillips, PhD, professor of kinesiology and specialist in muscular physiology, “at some time in your life, crucial daily activities will depend on how strong you are.”

Make an investment in strengthening yourself right now to fend off the impacts of aging.

2. Delay Signs of aging When it comes to aging, both physical and mental changes occur throughout time. Studies have found that after the age of 30, muscle mass might decrease by 10% annually, and some have found that cognitive ability also deteriorates with age.

However, you can slow down these changes by beginning strength training or doing muscular work like Pilates as soon as you can so you have a higher set point as muscle

mass diminishes with age. Full-body strength or Pilates training should be a part of your program at least one to two days a week to preserve muscular mass, strength, and power as well as cognitive function and memory, allowing you to think more clearly for longer.

Additionally, starting is never too late. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, older persons, defined as those 65 years of age or older, can experience strength gains of up to 100% after engaging in regular strength training.

3. Control your weight and body composition.

Although your health is more important than the number on the scale, you may manage your weight and shed fat when you incorporate strength or Pilates training into your regimen. Strength training appears to be crucial to your program if you’re attempting to maintain your weight, according to a six-year study involving over 11,000 participants. Participants who engaged in strength training experienced a 30% reduction in their risk of becoming obese.

When trying to shed fat, strength training is also essential. According to Schoenfeld, if you don’t, you’ll actually wind up losing muscle mass, which is bad for your appearance, functionality, or health. An even greater benefit: A recent meta-analysis revealed increasing muscle mass aids in decreasing visceral fat, the body fat that accumulates around your midsection and is associated with chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic disorders.

4. Decrease your chronic disease risk When considering general health, cardio is frequently praised, but Phillips argues that strength training also has special advantages that need consideration.

Strength training is recommended when trying to enhance heart health, according to recent studies.

Incorporating both cardio and strength exercise into your regimen can reduce your chance of developing cardiovascular disorders like heart attacks or strokes, according to a recent study. Another study discovered that only one strength training session per week could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 17%.

Strength training can help lower levels of chronic inflammation, which is connected to cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes when your body is in a lowlevel fight or flight state. Prolonged inflammation can hinder new muscle growth and recuperation, which can lead to the breakdown of muscle tissue. But according to research, strength training can prevent this muscle breakdown and further lower your risk of type 2 diabetes by helping you to develop lean muscle.

5. Reduce risk of injury You’ll have more protection against both small and big injuries, according to studies, if you strengthen the muscles and tendons around your joints. Consider falls as an example.

Falls, or even the fear of falling, can have an impact on a person’s longterm independence. Falls are one of the most prevalent injuries among older persons.

Strength and Pilates exercise can lower your chance of falling by enhancing your balance, flexibility, and coordination. If you’re lifting, you have a lower chance of breaking a bone even if you fall. When working the muscular system with squats and other muscles it also works on improving bone strength and preventing osteoporosis. According to a review article written for Rehabilitation, it also works well for easing the annoying symptoms of osteoarthritis (think: stiffness and discomfort).

The basic line is that strength training can extend your life, keep you at a healthy weight, protect you from illness and injury, and ultimately improve your general health and vigour. Additionally, starting is never too late. The health of every athlete, regardless of age, can be improved with just two to three workouts each week, according to studies and professional opinion. Anyone may easily experience the advantages of strength training straight at home.

One key thing is making sure you are doing exercises correctly and safely.

The BackAware Belt is the first ever technology that gives you feedback on your back position. This allows you to make sure you are doing exercises sagely and target the muscles you are trying to target. To learn more about the BackAware belt visit www. backawarebelt.com .

We are starting back with Pilates this September. If you exercise (walk or run) at least 3 times per week, then this could be a great option for you. Visit www.everardpilates.com/ sportfreetrial to see if you qualify.

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King Kong Company rocks Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre

BY TREVOR MCGRATH Band members donned with gorilla masks, a humanoid security camera, a fist-pumping athletic boxhead, a storm trooper wielding a smoke cannon and a choreographed dancing robot. Where else would you see other than at a King Kong Company gig?

After entertaining the masses at the recent All Together Now and Spraoi festivals in Waterford, King Kong Company rocked the unique the Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre on Saturday night last.

One of the most vibrant, electronic dance bands in Ireland. The songs, the

sounds, the lasers and the lighting are crafted for a live show and the legends of the south-east did not disappoint, delivering a no holds barred set that had all in attendance in the glorious amphitheatre atmosphere transfixed by their sonic boom.

The venue was at full capacity as the band took to the stage and soaring temperatures had the crowd at fever pitch before a single note was played. Once the music started the atmosphere was immediately transform as the usually seated stadium jumped to their feet tossing away any inhibition they were clinging to.

Taking influences from reggae, drum and bass, trance and ska filtering into the unrelenting electronic groove King Kong Company have created a sound that is almost entirely their own.

Every track is a thumping yet melodic feast that is impossible not to dance to.

Over the course of the ninety minute spectacular we were treated to a full hit list including ‘Harvest’ to ‘Forest’ and ‘All Been Done Before’ with Aisling Browne on lead vocals. All of this coupled with Trish Murphy’s multiple eccentric costumes and the frantic projected visuals make

for an experience that unabashedly based around creating an atmosphere as unique as the venue itself. As the evening light began to fade and darkness descended it only helped to intensify the scene culminating with a musical, laser and lights extravaganza with an encore of ‘The Crab’, ‘Zoids/Pol Pot Rock’ and closing a brilliant night with ‘Get Away’.

What an amazing venue Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre is and it’s maintained on a voluntary basis.

Nestled at the foot of the old Ballykeeffe Quarry, Kilmanagh, it brings the unique atmosphere of an

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

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37

Feature

open-air Italian theatre style venue to the quaint Kilkenny countryside.

In the late 1990s, a team of dedicated volunteers recognised a unique potential which was brought to fruition through hard work and in the year 2000 the amphitheatre proudly played host to the first of many performances.

KBK (Kilmanagh, Ballycallan, and Killaloe) Enterprise which runs the Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre was founded in 1986 by a group of local people in order to develop and promote community development. The

Enterprise Group is a company limited by guarantee; having charitable status. Under the organisation rules, no individual may make any profit from the organisation and there is no private gain.

Currently our enterprise group has a board of 10 and membership of fifteen to twenty people.

Expenditure to date amounts to €250,000 of which €200,000 Has been grant aided by various bodies such as the Department of the Arts, Culture & Heritage, B.N.S Leader and Kilkenny County Council.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

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Dine Me Food & Drink

Come

With

Roast puttanesca aubergines with tomato rice & feta Prep: 30 mins Cook: 1 hr and 40 mins Serves: 5

swill out the tomato can. Add the stock cube and return the pan to the heat, stirring to help dissolve the stock. Bring to the boil and carefully pour over the rice mixture in the baking dish. Cover tightly and bake for 1 hr 30 mins until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is golden at the edges.

Enjoy these glorious roast aubergines with tomato rice and feta for a summer supper or al fresco lunch. You could also barbecue the aubergines, if you like.

Ingredients • 3 tbsp olive oil (or use the oil from the sundried tomato jar, below) • 3 medium banana shallots or 1 small red onion, finely chopped • 300g easy-cook long-grain brown rice • 1 tbsp tomato purée • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 5 sundried tomatoes in oil, drained and finely sliced • 400g can chopped tomatoes • 1 vegetable stock cube or 2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder • 3 large aubergines, halved lengthways • 1 tbsp finely chopped oregano, or use 1⁄2 tsp dried oregano • 3 tbsp capers, drained and rinsed • 100g black olives, pitted and chopped • 60g pine nuts, toasted • 30g basil, chopped, plus a few extra leaves to garnish • 200g feta, crumbled • 250g cherry tomatoes, quartered • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar • extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling (optional) • green leafy salad, to serve (optional)

Method STEP 1 Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat and cook the shallots with a pinch of salt for about 8 mins, stirring until softened. Add the rice and tomato purée, stirring to coat the rice in the oil for about 1 min. Tip the mixture into a medium baking dish, about 20 x 30cm, then add the garlic and sundried tomatoes.

STEP 2 Tip the chopped tomatoes and 500ml water into the pan, using some of the water to

STEP 3 Meanwhile, score the cut sides of the aubergine halves in a diamond pattern, being careful not to cut through the skin. Scatter the oregano over the aubergine flesh and season.

Lightly brush or rub with the remaining oil, pushing the seasoning into the cuts. Put the aubergines in a large baking dish or roasting tin, flesh-side up. When the rice has been in the oven for 15 mins, put the aubergines on a lower shelf to bake for 45 mins, covered, then a further 30-35 mins, uncovered, until golden and soft. Remove both dishes from the oven, cover and set aside.

STEP 4 Combine the capers, olives, pine nuts and basil in a bowl. Stir half through the baked rice using a fork to fluff the rice up slightly. Add the feta and cherry tomatoes to the remaining mixture and season with black pepper. Spoon the rice onto a large serving platter and top with the aubergine halves. Spoon the feta mixture over the aubergines, drizzle with the balsamic vinegar and garnish with the extra basil leaves. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil, if you like, and serve with a green leafy salad.

Giant couscous salad with charred veg & tangy pesto Ingredients • 2-3 raw beetroot (320g), peeled and chopped • 3 red onions (320g), cut into wedges • 2 green or orange peppers, deseeded and cubed • 1 tbsp olive oil • 320g cherry tomatoes • 200g wholewheat giant couscous

Prep: 25 mins Cook: 50 mins Serves: 4 The beetroot here is rich in folate, iron, manganese and potassium and a chemical called betalain, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Beetroot is also rich in nitrates, which may help lower blood pressure and improve athletic performance.

For the pesto • 7g fresh coriander, roughly chopped • 15g flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped • 1 garlic clove • 1 green chilli, deseeded • ½ tsp cumin • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 tbsp olive oil • 40g pine nuts, lightly toasted Method STEP 1 Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

In a bowl, toss the beetroot, onions and

Bramble Mix a classic bramble cocktail, essentially a gin sour spiked with an eye-catching shot of blackberry liqueur. We have three twists, too – ideal if you’re entertaining.

Ingredients • 50ml gin • 25ml lemon juice • ¾tbsp sugar syrup • ice cubes • crushed ice • ¾tbsp crème de mure • 1 lemon slice and a blackberry (if in season) to serve Method STEP 1 Shake the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker with a good handful of ice cubes then strain into a rocks glass full of crushed ice. Drizzle the crème de mure over the top so it ‘bleeds’ into the drink. Garnish with the lemon slice and blackberry, if using.

peppers together with the oil, then spread out on a large roasting tray lined with baking paper and roast for 35 mins. Scatter over the cherry tomatoes, then return to the oven for 10 mins more until the tomatoes have softened and the vegetables are tender.

3 TWISTS Fresh fruit bramble This drink is one to make when the hedgerows are groaning with ripe fruit. Start by muddling 6 blackberries in a rocks glass. Add 50ml gin, 25ml lemon juice, 25ml sugar syrup and fill the glass two thirds full with crushed ice. Mix with a long-handled spoon. Top with more crushed ice, a garnish and paper straws.

STEP 2 Meanwhile, cook the couscous following pack instructions, then rinse and drain.

To make the pesto, put the coriander and half the parsley in a bowl with the garlic, chilli, cumin, vinegar, oil and 25g of the pine nuts. Add 2 tbsp water, then blitz with a hand blender until smooth or use a small food processor.

Bramble royale Go glam with your bramble by adding a splash of champagne to the mix. Just make the drink as normal but reduce the amount of crushed ice by about a third to leave room for the fizz.

Then top with 25-50ml of champagne, mix gently, add a bit more crushed ice, garnish and serve.

STEP 3 Toss the roasted veg and chopped parsley through the couscous and pile on the pesto, then scatter with the remaining pine nuts. If you’re following the Healthy Diet Plan, serve half of the salad immediately then chill the rest for another day.

Peach sour The classic ‘sour’ formula that the bramble sticks to is easy to adapt by switching out the liqueur. Try 12.5ml of crème de peche instead of crème de mure – it might not look quite as eye-catching as the bloodshot bramble but it will taste just as delicious.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

Actress Sofia defends ‘racist’ Purple Hearts Actress Sofia Carson (pictured) has offered her take on backlash against her Netflix hit, Purple Hearts, after viewers called out some of the script’s language for being “sexist and racist”.

During an interview with Variety, the 29-year-old actress and the director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum both understood why their new romantic drama earned some criticism.

‘I hope that people understand that in order for characters to grow, they need to be flawed in the beginning. So we very much intentionally created two characters that had been bred to hate each other,’ Elizabeth told the outlet.

She continued: “They are flawed at the beginning and that was intentional.

In order for the red heart and the blue heart to kind of turn purple, you have to have them be kind of extreme.”

Meanwhile, Carson interjected: “Why I fell in love with the movie is that it’s a love story but it’s so much more than that. It’s two hearts, one red, one blue, two worlds apart, who are really raised to hate each other.’

‘Through the power of love, they learn to lead with empathy and compassion and love each other and turn into this beautiful shade of purple. We wanted to represent both sides as accurately as possible,” the Austin & Ally star said.

In the romantic drama, Sofia stars as a singersongwriter who marries a marine, Nicholas Galitzine, 27 in order to get health insurance for her Type 1 dia-

5

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to stream right now on Netflix

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) hasn’t even finished airing its first season on Netflix, and it’s already a runaway winner. Its unique concept: A woman who has autism becomes a lawyer in South Korea, elevated by her brilliant and unexpected ways of approaching cases. An inspiring heroine, Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin) brings extraordinary representation to the screen.

Charming, heartwarming, and as radiant as the sun,

Denmark’s bleaker answer to the West Wing. Borgen (2010—) is the epitome of sophisticated political dramas, chronicling the inspiring fictional underdog story of how, against all odds, Birgitte Nyborg Christensen (Sidse Babett Knudsen) becomes the first female prime minister of Denmark.

Produced by the same company behind The Killing, Borgen is four influential seasons of one woman’s complicated, intricate rise to power. betes. He goes along with the plan to get extra pay to cover his debts “What I think I’ve learned to do as an artist is separate myself from all of that and just listen to what the world is feeling and reacting to with the film,’ she continued. ‘That has been so beautifully overwhelming and so many people have felt seen or are comforted by this movie. That’s all we could want filmmakers and as artists.”

In the film, Carson plays a struggling singer-songwriter named Cassie, who marries a Marine just before he ships out so she can get health insurance to cover her Type 1 diabetes.

Her husband, played by Nicholas Galitzine, 27, agrees to the plan so he can pay off his debts with the extra pay offered to married service members.

Critics are upset about sexist and racist comments made by other characters in the film which has been viewed for more than 100 million hours on Netflix It’s fair to say that Cassie is more liberal than the straight-laced Luke, who grew up in a military family.

The backlash is the result of some sexist and racist comments in the script by secondary characters. One marine makes a toast in which he says: “This one is to life, love and hunting

down some goddamn Arabs, baby!”

While Cassie criticises the racism and storms off, Luke sits by quietly.

Despite some fallout from dialogue described as ‘misogynist’ and ‘bigoted,’ the film has been viewed for more than 100 million hours on the streaming service.

In addition to starring in the film, the Come Back Home singer served as a executive producer on the project.

“Through the power of love, they learn to lead with empathy and compassion and love each other and turn into this beautiful shade of purple.”

Gaiman ‘s okay with Netflix The Sandman’ Despite it being the biggest show in the world, that doesn’t mean that The Sandman has been without its critics. In fact, having spent 30 years with the creation as a beloved companion, some of its closest fans are its most hostile critics.

Even before it was made, writer Neil Gaiman (pictured) had to defend some of the casting. Now, the creator of the classic comic has even issued a full message to fans of the comic who seem to

39

kilkennyobserver.ie

want to take ownership over the series.

On Twitter Gaiman clarified this, stating that the series was “absolutely enjoyable for those of you who haven’t read Sandman. We made it as much for you as for the people who had read Sandman”.

When one fan pointed out that Sandman fans can be very hostile to swan in and merely enjoy the series as though that’s a perfectly normal thing to do (it is),

Gaiman said: “Nobody gets to gatekeep Sandman.”

He continued: “Not as a comic, not in the audible adaptation and definitely not on the TV. There’s no entrance exam, nor should there be. Everyone is welcome.”

This bold message shows that Gaiman isn’t afraid to upset the apple cart and issue a decree to his core audience.

This miniseries from 2020 is based on a memoir and told primarily in Yiddish with painstaking detail. Almost a thriller, Unorthodox follows 19-year-old Esty Shapiro, who escapes her arranged marriage in an ultra-Orthodox community in Brooklyn.

She ends up in Berlin, exploring a new life outside the strict beliefs she grew up in, but her community doesn’t let go that easily. Featuring a stunning performance from Shira Haas, Unorthodox lets you take a step into a relentlessly compelling world.

Nevertheless, with the Netflix show currently snatching the top spot around the world, the comic fans are just going to have to get on with it.

This miniseries from 2017 carves itself firmly into the Western genre, with a female-led cast boasting Merritt Weaver and Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery. With its 1880s New Mexico vistas swirling around it, Godless draws up the violence in a tale that sees an outlaw on the run from his boss seek refuge with an outcast widower. Oh, Jeff Daniels is in this too, if the show wasn’t enticing enough.

One of the best TV shows of 2021 was an animated series. That’s right -- if you’re animationunfriendly, Arcane is the show to change your mind. The actionadventure introduces us to the steampunk world of Piltover and Zaun, two cities grinding on opposing values and fortunes. Then there’s Violet (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell), two sisters torn apart by tragedy and fighting to survive. Arcane is the kind of moving portrait that gets under your skin on a par with Pixar. The characters will draw you to tears.

A must-watch.

40

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

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Feature

Kilkenny’s Holy Wells

Kenny’s Well This gave its name to the neighbourhood stretching from Blackmill to the Borough boundary near Kilcreene. Named in honour of St. Kenny- or Canice- the well has been revered from remotest antiquity.

It can be found in picturesque surroundings at the foot of Croker’s Hill, close to the Bregach River. It is enclosed by an attractively constructed stone roofed little well house that is probably not as old as the well itself. The jambs of the well-

house were made of stones from a different building; most likely the Black Abbey or another 13th century church.

The stonework is inscribed with floriated designs of a style associated with early English Gothic architecture.

Miraculous cures have for centuries been attributed to the well. To avail of a possible cure, you must invoke the name of St. Canice- or Kenny- when you drink its water. People still arrive at Croker’s Hill in large numbers with jugs and other

containers to take away the delicious drinking water that is said to be far healthier than anything you’ll get from your tap.

The old Pagan tales of hags at sacred wells may have influenced or inspired the legend concerning the daughter of a wealthy Kilkenny woman who was attacked at the well by a “wretched and wicked lady.” The assailant tried to strangle the young woman and rob her jewellery.

Then who should appear but Canice himself in all his

glory: The irate patron saint of Kilkenny warned the hag to desist from her violent behaviour or be banished to the lowest depths of Hell.

He didn’t have to say a word, for the greedy lady took to her heels at the sight of the apparition and ran like the wind.

Unfortunately, the saint failed to make similar dramatic appearances on any of the occasions when vandals in the late 20th century damaged the well-house.

Luckily, civic-minded locals repaired the damage, and

restoration work around the well has rendered it one of the most impressive scenic attractions of its kind in Ireland.

A more recent “legend” associated with the well might be taken with a grain of salt, but many wise men and women think there might be something in it: A friendly black and amber cat visits the well-house on occasion and sits himself on a stone altar that stands nearby.

If the cat sits facing the well-house and remains in that position for more than

a minute, it means, according to the legend (or should that be “urban myth?”) that Kilkenny will win the next All-Ireland hurling final.

On the other hand, if the feline pilgrim rolls around with his belly and four paws in the air while facing the well, the Cats could be in trouble at Croke Park.

I have seen this black and amber cat myself while viewing the well and can confirm that he has indeed paid quite a few visits to the spot favoured by St. Kenny.

St. Francis’s Well This was once the largest spring of water in the city.

It was enclosed within St. Francis Abbey, situated on the grounds of the present Smithwick’s Brewery.

Though not considered “holy”, the well gained a countywide reputation for its alleged miraculous cures. Unfortunately, it fell to progress in 1977 when it was completely covered over. I only discovered this latter fact when I called to the brewery enquiring about the well!

Angel’s Well can be found at the end of Abbey Street, opposite the Dominican Convent. Now beautifully restored, it is also known as the Black Abbey Well due to its proximity to that ancient church.

-John Fitzgerald To be continued...

A degree with cop on!

Every generation believes the younger generation are not prepared for the world we live in. But who are we to blame for this phenomenon?

As parents, we have pushed our children to university and tell all the younger generation “You Need degrees to get on in this world”. And yes, our children are so well educated they struggle to boil an egg! The handwriting skills have now been deteriorating every generation. Our current group maybe keyboard wizards but the use of the pen is skill that has been put in to storage. What is the problem with getting a good old trade?

Like becoming a Mechanic, Block layer, Carpenter? It probably doesn’t sound as good at the now dinner parties of the suburbs when telling the Jones’s next door ‘Well My Mary is a qualified surgeon, She hopes to get work in Australia, at the moment she is living at home after uni” sounds for some reason “Micky is ran off his feet day and night as an electrician, Just finished building

provided by ‘Uncle Joe’ the house wife’s second favourite after the real ‘Uncle Gaybo’, issues regarding simple day to day activities such as pulling a pint of the black stuff.

Needless to say, no issue with sinking them on a night out but to produce them for a punter, well as we say of days of yore! ‘That’s another Story’.

The listeners were flabbergasted when he told his captive audience despite all their degrees of education, they his new bungalow” “Ah that’s a shame” comes the reply, “he should have went to uni!”

So why am I talking about this today in our senior’s column? When I was growing up, I spent my summer holidays working as a farm hand to get few pound as it was at the time. My Granny had a small farm where I was thought how to milk cows, sow and nurture vegetable plots and we repaired rather than replaced any items that ‘broke down’ We had the ability to think as we tried to survive and adapt to every situation. My mother’s handwriting was elegant mine not so and now I look at my children and theirs is even less so! Soon the skill of

handwriting we be a forgotten trade like so many others of our youth.

I was very fortunate as I had the great experience of working the bellows in the Forge on the Castlecomer Road just past the entrance to Jenkinstown wood. Maybe I was just lucky or had that sense of adventure and curiosity to learn and build what seems to have been lost today ‘COP ON’ Yes, good auld cop on! We had that in abundance. I was listening to the ‘Talk to Joe’ as he spoke to an elderly gentleman who is the proprietor of one of the largest pubs in Dublin about his new Trainees. He explained to the nation through the airways

needed their mobile phone to calculate change due to the waiting customer whose shocked face was plain to see as he stood rooted to the floor gazing at his what was supposed to be a creamy pint of porter that looked more like a vanilla Sunday from the dessert menu.

Now please don’t get me wrong, some of this generation are top class! We have intergenerational programme where they assist our seniors

with every growing need for IT skills. In return they get an opportunity, they to will have to navigate, the Degree of Life. Yes, this is a degree not available through any university but by learning day to day as they go from cradle to grave the way to make it through all the trials and tribulations what everyday life throws at you. And the best way to deal with these events is with a big sip of Cop on !

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

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Hurling matters

St Canice’s Kilkenny Credit Union Senior Hurling League & Championship Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

As the senior hurling league takes shape, for the first time in almost 25 years, it won’t be Brian Cody running the rule over the club players throughout the county.

That in itself is a very strange statement to type. Sometimes you have to do a doubletake.

A quick check and yes, it is correct. The Emeralds clubman will have a busy end to the last quarter of 2022, as he sets about collating his panel for his first season in charge of the Cats senior team.

Having been entrusted with the development of your younger hurlers, there is no doubt that Lyng will look to add some of the All-Ireland U20 winning team to his panel.

The league will lead nicely into the real business of club championship. While Brian Cody has gone, some things remain constant – Shamrocks Ballyhale thirst for titles. Having been caught by a real suckerpunch against Ballygunner in last season’s All-Ireland club decider, Pat Hoban’s charges will first of all look to make it five county titles in a row, and then build towards the provincial crown.

2022 just happens to be Ballyhale’s 50th anniversary, and it would take a brave punter to bet against the serial winners.

Should they secure a 5th Kilkenny title on the bounce, it would also mean they draw level with Tullaroan on 20 county titles.

There is enough motivation within this club to make this happen. The question will be – who will step up and bring the fight to Ballyhale?

Last year it was O’Loughlin Gaels that challenged Shamrocks for the Tom Walsh Cup. Paddy Deegan and Co. Pushed James O’Connor’s team all the way and led for long periods, but 2d half goals from Adrian Mullen, Joe Cuddihy and Brian Butler turned the tide in the holders favour and saw them triumph by 4-points at the long whistle.

There have already been a couple of rounds played in the league as intercounty players return after their seasonal exertions.

Group A

Clara’s win over Shamrocks Ballyhale certainly raised a few eyebrows as July came to an end. Their meeting in Thomastown saw the Paulstown Road based side claw back a 6-point deficit and win by the bare minimum.

If that wasn’t enough drama, Clara’s next game saw the match recorded as a win to The Sash, but most in attendance had it down as a drawn game. Clara appealed the result & thanks to video evidence; the correct result decision was made and a point each awarded to both sides.

Shamrocks bounced back from the Clara defeat and have recorded wins over bottom-placed Mullinavat and Lisdowney.

They will face Erins own before the end of the month before a mouth-watering clash with Tullaroan in early September.

The Sash came unstuck against winless Mullinavat last weekend, had they have secured victory, Padraig Walsh and Co. Would have joined Clara at the top of Group A. Tullaroan will look to bounce back in their next match against Lisdowney, who have one win to their name thanks to a win over Mullinavat.

Group B

Last season’s league winners, Bennettsbridge are blazing a trail in Group B. The Bridge collected maximum points with wins over The Village and O’Loughlin’s and most recently Dicksboro.

Unbeaten so far, Willie Maher’s charges have an intriguing fixture up next in the shape of newly promoted Glenmore. Nicky Cleere, Liam Blanchfield & Sean Morrissey have been tormenting opposition defences this season and will prove a handful for most teams.

Last weekend’s encounter between O’Loughlin Gael’s and Dicksboro had a little bit of everything. 3 goals, 30 points and 4, yes four sending offs’ at UMPC Nowlan Park!

Andy Gaffney, Bill Sheehan and Liam Moore in fine form for the Palmerstown outfit. Any Comerford’s side lost Mark Bergin & Robbie Buckley to injury in that game, and they will be needed if the Gael’s are to challenge this year.

Glenmore are sitting alongside Dicksboro on 4 points, having taken the scalp of The Village and bottom of the table GraigueBallycallan. The Murphy brothers, Eoin, Alan & Shane were in great form last time out, Shane especially, who hit 3 lovely points from play way out the Thomastown pitch. U20 star Ian Byrne notched two fine goals as they won

out by 5 points on a seriously hot day.

The meeting of League leaders Bennettsbridge and Glenmore in Inistioge

next time out should be a great game and could go a long way to deciding the group winners

Group A

Group B

Shamrocks Ballyhale

Glenmore

Erins Own

Dicksboro

Lisdowney

James Stephens

Mullinavat

O’Loughlin Gaels

Clara,

Bennettsbridge

Tullaroan

Graigue-Ballycallan

St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League Group A #

Team

P

W

L

D

F

A

Pts

1

Bennettsbridge

3

3

0

0

71

49

6

2

Dicksboro

3

2

1

0

75

56

4

3

Glenmore

3

2

1

0

70

76

4

4

O`Loughlin Gaels 3

1

2

0

62

66

2

5

James Stephens 3

1

2

0

58

66

2

6

Graigue Ballycallan

0

3

0

56

79

0

3

St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League Group A #

Team

P

W

L

D

F

A

Pts

1

Clara

3

2

0

1

78

69

5

2

Shamrocks Ballyhale

3

2

1

0

78

64

4

3

Tullaroan

3

1

1

1

66

61

3

4

Lisdowney

3

1

2

0

57

56

2

5

Erins Own

3

1

2

0

53

64

2

6

Mullinavat

3

1

2

0

52

70

2

42

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

kilkennyobserver.ie

Community & GAA Notes

HERITAGE EXHIBITION Heritage week continues until Sunday 21st August in Clara Hall from 12 noon to 8pm each day.

KILKENNY VOLUNTEER CENTRE L’arche Kilkenny are looking for various volunteers with an interest in gardening , culinary skills and general interest in supporting their centres in Callan and Kilmogany .

Irish Wheelchair Association would love to hear from interested volunteers. They are looking for volunteer drivers and volunteers for support in their garden.

Community Radio Kilkenny City would love to hear from any volunteers who would like to join their board. In particular they are in need of a secretary .

Cois Nore are looking for Link Volunteers to help support their service users. Volunteers will support anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis.

Teac Tom are keen to hear from volunteers who would like to be part of their fundraising and events team . This is a great opportunity to put some of those great ideas you have to a good cause !

For more information or to register your interest see www.volunteerkilkenny.ie or call Paula at 0892584946.

GAA Seniors win again Clara senior hurlers put in probably their best display so far this year when seeing off Erin’s Own, Castlecomer in sun baked Muckalee on Saturday. Although Castlecomer opened the scoring with a Buggy pointed free, Clara were quickly into their stride and reeled off a succession of points from Jason Byrne (2), Shane Staunton, Conor O Shea, James Nolan and Liam Ryan as against another pointed free from Jack Buggy for the ‘Comer men.Then just before the weekend heat induced water break Liam Ryan took off on a searing run down the left wing. When it looked like he was running into trouble he tried to slip an off balance handpass inside to Jack Langton. The ball ended up in his own path again, he picked it and continued on his run before slamming it across netminder Sean Buggy for a great individual goal. This left Clara 1-6 to 0-2 ahead and they never looked back.

Clara impressively kept the pedal to the metal at the start of the second quarter. Conor O Shea, Liam Ryan, Shane Staunton, Jason Byrne from a free and James Nolan moved them 12 points clear. Comer rallied a small bit and just before the half time whistle Jack Buggy tapped in from close range to leave the half time score at 1-12 to 1-4 in favour of the Clara lads.

Erin’s Own scored the first two points of the second half to close the gap to six and with the help of a diagonal breeze were now hurling with a bit of momentum. Clara didn’t panic however, and quickly rattled off three of their own through Conor O Shea, Chris Bolger and Jason Byrne from a difficult free. Three more ‘Comer points were countered by similar efforts from Liam Ryan and Shiner Nolan, and Clara got to the second water break still 1-17 to 1-10 ahead. Instrumental in this was a super save by Kevin Nolan from a Conor Fogarty close range shot just before the whistle.

The winners only managed two more scores in the last quarter but both were major strikes. First Chris Bolger latched onto a ball and fired a deflected shot to the net to open the fourth quarter scoring and effectively finish the game. Then after ‘Comer had responded with two points Paul Cody fired a rasper to the roof of the net to continue his goal scoring streak. Castlecomer added four more points before the final whistle but the Clara men wound up 3-17 to 1-15 winners. Their workrate in this game was very impressive and if they can build on this they have a decent chance of going directly to a championship quarter final this year.

Team - Kevin Nolan, Bill Carrigan, Sean O Shea, Paddy Ryan.

Shane Staunton 0-2, David Langton, Martin O Connell. Jack Langton, Conor O Shea 0-3. Paul Cody 1-0, Chris Bolger 1-1, Liam Ryan 1-3. James Nolan 0-3, Dara Glynn, Jason Byrne 0-5, 0-4f.

Subs used Conor Cody, Evan Whearty, Tom Ryan, Rory O Keeffe, Joe Connolly.

Big win The Clara Junior Ds made the long journey to Carrigeen on Saturday evening and came away with a big 2-18 to 0-7 victory over the home side, who had also struggled in their first fixture against Mooncoin.

The first half of this was competitive enough with Clara holding an 0-11 to 0-7 lead at halftime but the visitors really put the game to bed in the third quarter, by adding 2-3 while holding their opponents scoreless. Ben Nolan and Ruairí Breen were responsible for the two goals.

The fourth quarter saw Clara add four more points to their tally, while Carrigeen again failed to score and the game petered out to its inevitable conclusion. A good win for the Clara men.

Team - Jack Murphy, John Brennan, Mick McDonald, Jack Carrigan. Thomas Armitage, Dermot Nolan 0-1, James Dowling.

Conor (Curly) Phelan 0-1, Alan Coleman 0-3. Adam Harding 0-2, Rory O Keeffe 0-8, 0-5f, 0-1x 65, Ruairí Breen 1-0. David Mulrooney, Ben Nolan 1-3, Nick O Keeffe. Subs used Paul Murphy and Noelie O Brien URLINGFORD SYMPATHY Sincere sympathy goes to the Tobin family on the sad passing of Margaret Tobin (née English), St Mary’s Avenue, Urlingford, who passed away, peacefully, at St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny on August 10, surrounded by her family.

Predeceased by her husband Sean, daughter Mary and son, baby Martin. Deeply regretted by her adoring family, sons Pat, Micheal, John and Eamon, daughters Helen (Nelo), Bernadette and Frances, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and a wide circle of friends.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

EMERALDS GAA CLUB Mega Bingo: Every Sunday, 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. Please support.

EMERALDS URLINGFORD AND GRAINE LOTTO August 8th prize fund was: €9,000. Jackpot: €7,000. Numbers drawn: 1, 5, 13, 17, bonus no 7. No winner and one match 3 winner: Katie Doheny. Five lucky dips of €20 each: Noelle Fitzgerald, Tricia Brennan, Carol Hickey, Eugene Dollard, Joe Burke.

Promoters prize: M. Peters. Next draw takes place on Monday, August 15 in the Clubrooms. Results next week.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE LTI Pathway to Employment course QQI Level 4: LTI is recruiting for the new programme in the Centre. If anyone is interested in completing this full-time course, please contact us for an expression of interest form. More details can be found on our website www. millfrcurlingford.com BTEI Healthcare Course QQI Level 5 - Begins September 2022: We are currently taking names for the Healthcare QQI Level 5 programme starting September 2022. Please contact us if you are interested in completing this course.

Senior Alert: If you need to apply for a Personal Alarm, please contact Sue or Josephine.

Counselling Services: Our low cost Counselling Services, includes One-to-One, Family & Teens, aged 12 plus. General Counselling: Bereavement, Stress, Anxiety & Depression. Other Counselling Services available: Drug, Substance & Gambling Addictions.

Please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment.

Appeal for Clothes Donations: Any clothes donations would be appreciated in aid of our counselling services. Donations can be left into the Centre, please call before dropping off.

URLINGFORD ARMS SPLIT THE POT This weeks winner of Split the Pot was Tommy Stokes (Gurteen) who won €350. Congrats Tommy! Tickets €2 on sale in participating businesses in town with proceeds this week going to Emeralds Camogie Club, thanks to everyone for their support.

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.

FEILE NA LACHTAIN 2022 The art exhibition continued this week at Ionad Lachtain Heritage Centre. It was open from Wednesday to Friday between 2pm and 4p.m. daily with the usual opening times of 11.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. A number of paintings are still for sale.

On Monday evening last, August 15th, Kilkenny archaeologist Mr. Cóilín Ó Drisceoil delivered a lecture at Ionad Lachtain on “Excavations at St. Lachtain’s Church.” With free Admission.

On Friday evening next, August 19th Mike Cormack’s book of 21st century photographs will be launched at Ionad lachtain beginning at 8.00p.m.

BIRTHDAY GIRL Special birthday wishes go out to local lady Helen Burke of the Mills Freshford who celebrated a very special birthday at the weekend. Helen marked the occasion at a party with family and friends at Kavanagh’s Beer Garden on Saturday night last.

GAA St. Lachtains Intermediate hurling team faced into league championship action on Wednesday (17th August) when they took on Mooncoin at 7.00pm in John Lockes Park Callan.

The Junior F hurlers were out on Sunday afternoon last when they took on Dicksboro at Pairc Lachtain. The game went to extra time and with the teams still deadlocked it then went to penalties to decide. Unfortunately the local lads lost out on penalties after a game played in very tough hot conditions. Thanks to all players and management for their work throughout the year The Junior B side are out against St. Martins on Sunday evening next at 6.30pm in Freshford Camp A GAA camp was held in the GAA Grounds last week from Monday 8th August to 11th for all boys and girls from 6 to 13. With great sunshine for the week the children had a very enjoyable time.

SYMPATHY Sympathy is extended to Eileen Brennan of Bohergloss, Freshford and all her family on the recent death of her father Michael Sullivan late of Kilmagemogue, Kilmeaden, Co.Waterford.

Funeral mass took place on Saturday last at St.Patricks Church, Portlaw following by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

Sympathy is also extended to the McGrath family, Kilkenny Street, Freshford on the death of their uncle Pat McGrath in UK recently.

Burial of his ashes took place in St.Lachtains Cemetery Freshford on Friday last.

SPLIT THE POT The weekly lucky winner of last weeks split the pot draw was Brian Hogan and he won himself the sum of €118. The draw takes place each Wednesday. Tickets are just €2 and the winner gets half of the takings. The draw is held each Wednesday and boxes and envelopes can be found in Kavanagh’s Bar, Mace, O’Shea’s corner shop, Girls& Guys Hairdressers, Oasis Creche, Freshford Creamery, Freshford Butchers and Prague House. Big thanks for all your support.

DEATH The death took place last weekend of Mrs. Kitty Walsh, late of

Knockmannon, Lisdowney. The deceased who was advanced in years was predeceased by her husband Ned and daughter Catriona. Both she and her family were well known and respected in the locality. Removal took place on Monday evening to Lisdowney Church, Funeral Mass took place on Tuesday morning followed by burial in Aharney Cemetery. She is mourned by her son Eamon, sisters, brother, nieces, nephews and extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

PARISH NEWS Mass is held in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and on Sunday morning at 11am.with Mass in Tulla church on Saturday evenings at 7.30pm.

Notices The parish newsletter is available on their website every week and also on the website you are free to pay your dues and make donations or any other contributions and you can find out more about it on the website or feel free to contact Jennifer in the Parish Office. Please note community notices for the parish newsletter should be left in or emailed to the Parish Office by 11am on Thursdays. Parish Office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 1pm.

Mass Cards Special printed parish cards are available at the Parish Office or from Annette at Tulla Church signed by Monsignor Kennedy. You can contact the Parish office on 056 8832843 or by email – freshfordd@ossory.ie.

LOOP CAFE Work is continuing on the Community Cafe a Buncrussia Street.

The premises recently got new windows and front door and has been given a complete revamp with exterior painting a vibrant green colour. It is due to open in the next month or so and great credit is due to the volunteers who have worked so hard to get the work done.

MACRA NA FEIRME Macra na Feirme are looking to establish a new club in the Freshford area. Macra na Feirme is an organisation for young people between the ages of 17 and 35 who are interested in getting involved in sports, travel drama, debating or just want to meet new people and have some fun. To be a member of Macra you must join a Macra club in your area. This will open the door to new fiends and new activities. There are hundreds of clubs across Ireland bursting with activity who always welcome a new face. For more information please contact Training and Development Officer – Michael Wall on 0868359891 or email him at mwall@macra.ie HELP FOR ALL Are you struggling with anxiety or depression or finding life difficult or feeling isolated at this time GROW is there to help you. Their Mental Health support Groups are free and confidential and open to all no referral or booking is needed. For more information on same you can contact Mary on 087 284342 If you can’t cope and need support text HELLO to 50808.

SAMARITAN - Whatever you’re going through a Samaritan will face it with you – available 24 hours a day 365 days a year – Freephone 1161Alone is available for older people who need support and you can call them on 0818 222024 (8am to 8pm) AMBER KILKENNY WOMENS REFUGE – is available for confidential support relating to domestic violence - call them on 1850 424244 (24/7) or on 056 7771404 or email into@amberwomensrefuge.ie.

DUNNAMAGGIN GAA New date for our Annual GAA Golf Classic - The Annual GAA Golf Classic will now take place on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th of September.

KILKENNY VOLUNTEER CENTRE We have lots of new roles for the Autumn. Mind you with the weather we are having it feels like a long summer!

L’arche Kilkenny are looking for various volunteers with an interest in gardening, culinary skills and general interest in supporting their centres in Callan and Kilmogany.

Irish Wheelchair Association would love to hear from interested volunteers. They are looking for volunteer drivers and volunteers for support in their garden.

Community Radio Kilkenny City would love to hear from any volunteers who would like to join their board. In particular they are in need of a secretary.

Cois Nore are looking for Link Volunteers to help support their service users. Volunteers will support anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis.

Teac Tom are keen to hear from volunteers who would like to be part of their fundraising and events team. This is a great opportunity to put some of those great ideas you have to a good cause!

For more information or to register your interest, see www.volunteerkilkenny.ie or call 0892584946 LOCAL LOTTO Results for August 8th - Winning Numbers : 9 , 14 , 28 . No Winner.

Winners of Draw for 5 x € 30 Edel ( Mags Cahill ), Seamus l ( Pete’s Shop ),Aine Lahart ( Larry Costello ),Tom Cahill ( Anne Hickey ),DHC ( DHC ). Jackpot next week August 15th - € 1,600 Venue Dunphy’s Kilmoganny @ 9pm. All welcome KILMOGANNY BRIDGE CLUB The bridge results for 10/08/2022: 1 Jacque Purcell and Josie O’Gorman. 2 Rita Houlihan and Mary Comerford. Bridge is every Wednesday night at 7.30pm in St. Eoghan’s Centre, Kilmoganny.

All welcome.

PPN NEWS We are delighted to inform you that on Saturday 17th September Kilkenny PPN together with Waterford, Carlow, Wexford and Tipperary PPNs will be hosting a South East Region Environ-

mental event in the Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle from 9.30am to 2pm for our members promoting all things sustainable and climate action. Speakers will include Michael Ewing (Environmental scientist & lifelong activist), Eanna ni Lamhna (Irish biologist, Author and Enviromental consultant), Breda Maher (Climate Action Regional Officer), Jeanette O’Brien (Climate Officer Carlow County Council) and Waterford Comhairle na nOg and Comhairle Project Environment. The event will be facilitated by Jen Harris, CEO of Waterford Sustainable Living Initiative. Lunch will be provided in the Pembroke Hotel from 2pm. More information to follow.

FREE Free online 6-week physiotherapy led course for Kilkenny. Arthritis Ireland is running a six week one hour online exercise class led by a chartered physiotherapist through the online Zoom platform for people living with arthritis, fibromyalgia and related condition.

Please note this course is only available to those who are living in Co. Kilkenny. You can register for the course on https://www. eventbrite.ie/e/395119341587 MUSIC IN KILKENNY Thomastown Concert Hall will be used for almost half of the Music in Kilkenny concerts - including Handel’s Messiah with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir Ireland on 18th December. All over events take place in the Parade Tower of Kilkenny Castle with one soirée style performance in the new Rive Gauche series in a venue yet to be confirmed. Online ticket sales have gone live at www.musicinkilkenny.org HERITAGE WEEK Bishop’s Palace guided tours during Heritage Week 2022. This beautiful historic building has been the headquarters of The Heritage Council since 2008 and they will host tours during Heritage Week from 16th -19th Aug (in Irish and English) where you can hear more about its fascinating history. Further details available at https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/guidedtour-of-the-heritage-council-headquarters-the-former-bishopspalace Kilkenny Castle Heritage Week programme OPW Kilkenny Castle will host a programme of events during Heritage Week 2022 with free admission on Saturday 13th August, Sensory Friendly Tours, Architectural Outdoor Guided and Children Friendly Tours. A full listing of their programme is available at https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings?q=kilkenny#listings Water events for Heritage Week (13-21 August) and Water Heritage Day, Sunday 21 AugustThere are events on all around the country next week to celebrate Heritage Week. National Heritage Week 2022 will focus on two themes: sustainable heritage and biodiversity. All events are on www.heritageweek.ie FREE TOURS Free Guided Tours at Butler Gallery Butler Gallery host FREE guided tours every Saturday and Sunday @3pm. Enjoy a friendly and informative introduction to their exhibitions, Permanent Collection and fascinating heritage by their knowledgeable tour guides. For booking details go to https://www.butlergallery.ie/ whats-on/tours-and-groups DUNNAMAGGIN DEVELOPMENT GROUP The next market in Madges Garden takes place the last Sunday of the month August 28th. It’s Vintage themed and as last year we are asking people to dress up in Vintage Style and come along for what will be a great day. See you then. Check out our facebook page Dunnamaggin Community News.

DUNNAMAGGIN LADIES FOOTHBALL CLUB Dunnamaggin Ladies Football Club - FUN! FITNESS! SOCIAL! MOTHERS&OTHER is back every Monday at 8pm in Dunnamaggin! New members are always welcome and there’s no better time to start than now!! Absolutely no experience required and we welcome members from all surrounding parishes!

GOWRAN DEVELOPMENT HERITAGE WEEK AT ST MARYS CHURCH Back by popular demand St Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band free lunchtime concert here on Saturday 20th August, from 1pm to 2pm. Free guided tours afterwards.

A History of St. Mary’s Church Gowran.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of a History of St. Mary’s Church Gowran. The book was published by the Gowran Development Association in 1992 and written by the late Imelda Kehoe. Imelda taught for many years in Gowran National School. She had a great interest in St. Mary’s Church.

COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SCHEME Participants continue to carry out valuable work in Gowran and surrounding areas. Many thanks to those who completed their work on the scheme during the year and to the new participants joining the scheme who continue the good work.

KILKENNY VOLUNTEER CENTRE L’arche Kilkenny are looking for various volunteers with an interest in gardening, culinary skills and general interest in supporting their centres in Callan and Kilmogany .

Irish Wheelchair Association would love to hear from interested volunteers. They are looking for volunteer drivers and volunteers for support in their garden.

Community Radio Kilkenny City would love to hear from any volunteers who would like to join their board. In particular they are in need of a secretary.

Cois Nore are looking for Link Volunteers to help support their service users. Volunteers will support anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis.

Teac Tom are keen to hear from volunteers who would like to be part of their fundraising and events team. This is a great opportunity to put some of those great ideas you have to a good cause!

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

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kilkennyobserver.ie

News Community & GAA Notes For more information or to register your interest see www.volunteerkilkenny.ie or call 0892584946 GOWRAN PITCH AND PUTT Well done to Patrick Robinson on his win in the Fermoy Intermediate Scratch Cup yesterday with a great score of 52 and 44 for a 12 under total.

GOWRAN FESTIVAL OF SPEED The festival is taking place on Sunday, 21st August. Tickets are €15, U12’s are free and are available online, www.gowranpark.ie Camping facilities available from Saturday, fun fair available for children, car exhibitions and more.

SPORTS ROUND UP MICHAEL O’LEARY JULIE’S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN GOAL BLITZ LEADS TEN GOAL GOWRAN TO JUNIOR FINAL Junior Roinn C County Semi-Final. Young Irelands Gowran 10-19.

Piltown 3-4 An awesome individual tally of 7-7 from play by the exceptional Julie Lennon led the way for the Young Irelands Juniors, as they strolled to a staggering 36-point victory over Piltown on a most glorious Summers morning in Gowran last Sunday. Kate Drennan also gave an exceptional five-star display as she scored 2-7 all from play, as all Young Irelands 10-19 tally came from play.

The Gowran girls dominated from the outset and points from Kate and Ciara Bryan (2) gave them a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after just three minutes, before a Piltown goal in the 5th minute brought them level. 0-3 to 1-0.That goal was as good as it got for Piltown, as the Gowran girls completely dominated afterwards.

Julie Lennon added her first goal, before clever intelligent play

by Nessa Farrell found Kate Drennan who slotted home Young Irelands 1st goal in the 8th minute. 1-4 to 1-0.Julie with a superb effort from play extended Young Irelands lead (1-5 to 1-0) in the 9th minute, before Piltown added a Second goal moments later.

1-5 to 2-0.

Young Irelands added two further goals sandwiched in between a brace of Piltown points as they led 3-5 to 2-2 at the first water break.

Julie grabbed the first of her 7 goals in the 10th minute, before Kate Drennan returned the compliment as she turned provider for Nessa Farrell to finish superbly.The Gowran girls accelerated their dominance further during the Second Quarter as they outscored Piltown 3-4 to 0-1 to lead 6-9 to 2-3 at the interval with further goals from Julie Lennon (2) and Kate Drennan.

The Gowran girls continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over into the Second Half, as they added further points from Kate Drennan, Julie Lennon (2) and the excellent Leah Brennan to stretch the lead further. 6-13 to 2-3.Julie added her 4th goal in the 42nd minute followed by a point two minutes later. 7-14 to 2-3.

Piltown added a third goal in the 46th minute, but Young Irelands finished the closing quarter strongest as they outscored Piltown 3-5 to 0-1 with Julie adding a further three goals.

As already mentioned, Julie Lennon and Kate Drennan led the way with 9-14 between them, while Niamh Walsh was magnificent at full-back with Aine Delahunty, Aisling Fitzpatrick, Marie O’Keeffe and Nessa Farrell doing plenty of good work.Leah Brennan also made a highly valuable contribution with her strong work ethic around the middle third area.

YOUNG IRELANDS TEAM: Amy Lennon (0-1), Orlaith Byrne, Niamh Walsh, Aine Delahunty, Aisling Fitzpatrick, Eimear Naddy, Laura Langton (Captain), Ruth Loughlin, Marie O’Keeffe, Sinead Naddy, Ciara Bryan (0-3), Nessa Farrell (1-0), Julie Lennon (7-7), Kate Drennan (2-7), Leah Brennan (0-1) U-16 GIRLS GAIN LAST GASP DRAW The Young Irelands U-16 Girls gained a last gasp draw against highly fancied Mullinavat in a thrilling contest in the first round of the Championship in Gowran last Wednesday Evening. On a most glorious Summers Evening, the match finished 3-4 apiece on after Mullinavat led 2-2 to 1-1 at the interval, with the Young Irelands goal coming from a long-range effort by Doireann Farrell.

A Brilliant goal from a penalty early in the Second Half by the outstanding Julie Lennon narrowed the deficit to a solitary point (2-2 to 2-1), but Mullinavat responded with consecutive points to stretch the advantage by the end of the third quarter. 2-4 to 2-1.Following the Second Water Break, the Gowran girls kept plugging away, and points from a Julie Lennon free and the tireless working Lucy Coomey left just a point between the Teams entering the final 5 minutes. 2-4 to 2-3.

When Mullinavat scored a fortuitous goal with just a few minutes remaining, they appeared to have secured victory as they led by 4 points. 3-4 to 2-3. However, there was a further twist to follow.Julie with a long-range point narrowed the gap to three points, before an attacking move from Young Irelands deep into stoppage-time saw a goalmouth scramble develop as persistent pressure forced the sliotar over the goaline for the equalising goal.

It was a deserved share of the spoils for Young Irelands who displayed great character and determination throughout. Julie Lennon led the way with an exceptional performance, while Eimear Brennan, Aine Delahunty, Doireann Farrell and Lucy Coomey were highly solid and epitomized the fighting spirit shown throughout.

DISSAPOINTING DEFEAT FOR U 19’ S There was a disappointing defeat for the U-19s who lost 4-16 to 1-16 away to Rower-Inistioge in the Minor Roinn B Championship Quarter-Final last Wednesday Evening.

INTERMEDIATES PLAY NEIGHBOURS THOMASTOWN The Young Irelands Intermediates will get a stern test of their credentials on Saturday Lunchtime(1pm) in Dr Tierney Park, Graiguenamanagh as they play near neighbours and Championship favourites Thomastown.

Young Irelands bounced back from the disappointing loss against Carrickshock with a comprehensive 14-point win against St. Martins in Round 2.However, Thomastown have been very impressive in their two easy victories against Dunnamaggin and Carrickshock and will pose a far greater threat.

Meanwhile, the Juniors are also in action on Sunday at home to St. Patricks Ballyragget in Round 2 of the Junior A Championship with a 1pm throw-in.

DEISE DELIGHT FOR DANNY Gowran Jockey Danny Mullins had a Tramore Festival to remember as he was leading rider over the four-days with five winners including doubles on the opening two-days of the festival.

On Day 1 last Thursday evening, he rode a double for local trainers Richard Donohue and his Dad Tony Mullins.Vischio who was twice a winner on the flat in Gowran Park earlier in the year returned at odds of 10/3 to run out a highly impressive 7 length winner of the featured event of the evening, The Smart Move Properties Handicap Hurdle.The double was complete half an hour later when Danny and Tony combined as Rotten Row caused a shock at 25/1, as the outsider of 6 upset the odds to land The O’Neill’s Bar Rated Novice Hurdle.

On Day 2 last Friday, Danny got the ball rolling in the opening race when on board the John Ryan trained Ferdia to win the EY Steeplechase from the Rachael Blackmore ridden Popong.

They were the only two finishers in a field of just four starters and the double was complete when onboard Mollys Fantasy to give his Dad Tony a 2nd winner in the space of 24 hours. Molly’s Fantasy was highly gambled from an early morning price of 20/1 and returning at starting odds of 9/4 as she landed The Tom Murphy Mercedes Mares Handicap Hurdle.Molly’s Fantasy was back in The Waterford Track on Day three of The Festival last Saturday, but she had to settle for runner-up spot behind the Colin Keane ridden Wojood in the Strand Inn Dunmore Handicap.

Danny confirmed his status as leading jockey of the meeting when partnering 9/4 favourite Golden Sandbanks to win The Heinz Pollmeier Memorial Handicap Steeplechase.

INFLUENTIAL LADY PROVIDES JIMMY AND YVONNE WITH FURTHER TRAMORE GLORY There was further Tramore glory for Jimmy Barcoe and Yvonne Hennessy as Influential Lady with Cathal Landers on board ran out a most decisive 15/2 winner of The Victoria House Tramore Mares Beginners Steeplechase on Sunday.

Influential Lady was 4th turning into the straight, but a big jump at the 2nd last saw her take the lead coming to the final fence and the Mare raced fully clear from the final jump to run out a highly convincing winner.

She returned at 15/2 having been backed from 12/1It was the third Tramore winner for winning connections in 2022 following the victories of Frazel Express at both the April and June Bank Holiday Weekend Meetings.

GOWRAN FEATURE VICTORY FOR GRAIGUENAMANAGH RIDER Meanwhile, Gowran Park staged an eight-race card last Wednesday Evening and Graiguenamanagh Jockey Shane Foley continued his whirlwind run with another big race success hot on the heels of having won the Irish Oaks aboard Magical Lagoon and been the leading Jockey at the recent Galway Festival.

Partnering the Jessica Harrington Trained Paris Peacock in the featured Hurry Harriet Stakes, Shane displayed great determination to get Paris Peacock up in front at the finishing line to just hold off the challenge of the Joseph O’Brien trained Didn’thavemuchtodo with long-time leader Show of Stars back in Third.

Paris Peacock was breaking her Maiden tag having been placed in six of her seven starts and finishing runner-up on five occasions.

CLUB LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results Aug 11th. Nos: 5 11 25 28.

Jackpot: €3650 Not Won Draw Prizes – €50: Michael Deegan c/o Phil Hogan. €25 each Anne Hehir c/o Jimmy McGarry. €25 each Mandy Butler c/o online. €25 each Harry McReery c/o Tommy Hackett Co op draw ticket Orla Neary c/o Ned Buggy. Promotors prize Joe Phelan. New draw €3800 18th August 2022 CLUB RESULTS Senior Hurlers The Senior Hurlers took on O’Loughlins on a warm Saturday afternoon in Nowlan Park. They came out on top defeating O’Loughlins on a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-13.Four sending offs, three goals and plenty of points gave spectators plenty to talk about.

Next up is GraigueBallycallan.

Kilkenny Camogie HomeComing in Palmerstown After a hugely successful homecoming evening on a glorious evening in Palmerstown Dicksboro GAA & Camogie Club would like to express their appreciation to all involved on the night and all the preparations. A big thank you to all parents and supporters who brought along their children to support their heroes.

U15 Roinn A League Winners Huge Congratulations to our 15 Roinn A team and management who claimed the League Title defeating a very good Erin’s Own. The boys showed all their skill on the evening and the hard work they’ve been putting in over the last few weeks. Well done lads lovely hurling.

CONDOLENCES Dicksboro GAA & Camogie Club would like to send their deepest Condolences to the Hogan Family on the recent passing of John Hogan. May he Rest in Peace.

PALMERSTOWN CLUBHOUSE Dicksboro Clubhouse Bar is reopened Thursday from 8.30pm and every Thursday going forward. Thursday nights is Lotto Draw and Cards Night. All are welcome out for a social drink, a chat and if there is interest, a beginners card table. We are offering a particular welcome to our senior citizens members, it’s been a difficult past two years and we would be delighted to see you out to the club for a chat. We have a selection of non-alcoholic beers, barista coffee and all the usuals

U15 Roinn A League Title winning Captain Donncha Hennessy

FR. LORCAN MORAN Undoubtedly our parish community are greatly saddened on the recent death of Fr. Lorcan Moran. Fr. Lorcan was our Sagart Aroon for four years. Despite his underlying health problems he meticulously carried out his priestly ministry with love and devotion. He was very attentive to the sick of our parish. His solemn celebration of the Saturday night and Sunday masses, including his homilies, brought a great sense of joy to the congregation. He was duly transferred to St. John’s Parish, Kilkenny where he ministered until his recent death. His requiem mass was celebrated by Bishop Nulty with many priests from the diocese. Sympathy is expressed to his mother and brothers. Ár dheis Dé go raibh anam dílis.

HAPPY WEDDING St. Molua’s Church in Killaloe was the venue chosen by Emma Boland and Ian Murphy for the celebration of their wedding recently. Fr. Liam Taylor, P.P. was the celebrant. Katie Delaney was Emma’s chief bridesmaid while her bridesmaids were Nicola Butler, Mairead Grace and Sinead O’Neill. Killian Gannon was Ian’s bestman while Adam Kavanagh, Erik Keogh and Ryan Fulton were his groomsmen. Flower girls were Joanna Power and Aisling Power while Sean Power was pageboy. Usher was Conor Power. The readings were superbly read by Peter Boland and Siobhan Power. The prayers of the faithful, which were orientated towards the bride and groom, were read by Shane Ahearne, Breda Byrne, Conor Power, Pat Boland, Helena Fitzgerald and Niamh Boland. The mothers of Emma and Ian, Ann Boland and Siobhan Power presented the offertory gifts at the altar. An appropriate communion reflection was read by Seamus Murphy. The musicians were Deirdre O’Shea and James Rice. We wish Emma and Ian love and peace in their new life together.

KILKENNY VOLUNTEER CENTRE L’Arche Kilkenny are looking for various volunteers with an interest in gardening, culinary skills and general interest in supporting their centres in Callan and Kilmoganny Irish Wheelchair Association would love to hear from interested volunteers. They are looking for volunteer drivers and volunteers for support in their garden.

Community Radio Kilkenny City would love to hear from any volunteers who would like to join their board. In particular they are in need of a secretary.

Cois Nore are looking for Link Volunteers to help support their service users. Volunteers will support anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis.

Teac Tom are keen to hear from volunteers who would like to be part of their fundraising and events team. This is a great opportunity to put some of those great ideas you have to a good cause.

For more information or to register your interest, see www.volunteerkilkenny.ie or call 089 258 4946. Thank you for your continued support.

BALLYCALLAN HISTORY BOOK A very limited number of parish history books are available. This was a recent update of Fr. Holohan’s notes on the parish (1875) and includes an update of parish history and clergy since 1875.

The cost is €10. Contact Fr. Liam Taylor for further details.

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

HUGGINSTOWN/ NEWMARKET/STONEYFORD MASS TIMES Mass Times in Aghaviller Parish: Monday 15th. to Sunday 21st.

August 2022.

Hugginstown Church: Monday 15th. at 10.00a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil. Saturday 20th. at 8.00p.m. Sunday 21st. at 10.00a.m.

Stoneyford Church. Monday at 10.00a.m. Wednesday at 7.00p.m.

Vigil. Saturday 20th. at 6.30p.m.

Saturday 20th. Feast of St. Bernard.

PRAY FOR Anniversary Masses:

Declan Fennelly, Oldtown:Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 13th. August at 6.30p.m.

Maura Broderick, Croan: Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 13th. August at 8.00p.m.

Anniversary Masses next weekend: Jack and Jim Wallace, Stonecarthy: Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 20th. August at 6.30p.m.

Jerry Foran, Monroe: Mass in Hugginstown Church on Sunday 21st. August at 10.00a.m.

Rota for next week-end:20th. and 21st. August 2022. (Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time).

Readers:Stoneyford:Saturday 6.30p.m. Tony Roche.

Hugginstown:Saturday 8.00p.m. Valerie Farrell.Sunday 10.00a.m.

Marie Ryan.

Eucharistic Ministers:Stoneyford:Saturday 6.30p.m. Barbara Smolen. Hugginstown:Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Cuddihy. Sunday 10.00a.m. Ann Power.

LOTTO Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock GAA. ,Draw: Monday 8th.

August 2022 Numbers: 14; 04; 25; 23. No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn:No Jackpot Winner: €30.00 Winners: Gerry Comerford, Mulinbeg;Elaine Crowley, Co. Clare;Neil Conway, Stoneyford;Ger Fennelly, Ballyhale;Kathleen Fennelly.

3 x €15.00 (Sellers):Tommy Hoyne;Mary Raggett; Teresa Fitzgerald.

Next Draw was Monday 15th. August 2022. Results next week.

Next week:Match 3: €500.00; (First 3 Numbers Drawn) Jackpot: €5,300.00. (4 Numbers in any order) MYSTICISM IN AN AGE OF CALAMITY The Priory Institute will hold a two week online Summer School from 15th. to 26th. August. The course includes eight recorded presentations and two on-line zoom discussions and is very flexible as it is delivered entirely online. To find out more and register please contact The Priory Institute, Tallaght Village, D24 W410: or Tel: 01 404 8129: www.prioryinstitute.com ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL GIFT AND BOOKSHOP The Chapter House Bookshop is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30 am-5pm. Situated beside the Cathedral the shop has a wide range of books and bibles, cards and prayer books. The shop has books for Teenagers and Children, including comics and Lego Bibles, traditional picture Bibles, books about Irish and Celtic Saints and Heroes in bilingual versions. Activity and sticker books are also available for the younger age group.

SAFEGUARDING CONTACTS Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Ms. Kathleen Sherry Tel: 087 100 0232 or email: dlp@ossory.ie. Aghaviller Parish Representatives are: Teresa Broderick and Carmel O’Toole

RESULTS Tuesday Aug.9th. 3 Person Team Event Winners Anna O’Brien, Eilish Ahearne, Mandy O’Brien 88pts 9 Hole Winner Deirdre Holden 21pts, Pauline O’Brien 19pts Thursday Senior Ladies 12 Hole 1st. Breda Walsh 27pts. 2nd Ann Hickey 27pts DATE FOR YOUR DIARY AUGUST 24TH 2022 Lady Captain Anne Croke will hold her away day at Faithlegg Golf Club.

Enter your name on the list in Ladies Locker Room. Or give L.C. Anne or Handicap Secretary Noeleen Quinlan a ring to register for what is always a great day when you can show your support for L.C. Anne and her hard working committee.

President Coleman Loughnane’s Prize to the Ladies date has been changed to facilitate the calendar and will now take place on Sept 3rd.2022 The Annual Mount Carmel Classic will take place on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th August. Booking online or ring the clubhouse at 0567725136.

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

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

Motors Classifieds

Classified section To advertise your business in our classified section call in or telephone: 056 777 1463, or email: accounts @kilkennyobserver.ie

NOW OPEN SATURDAY MORNINGS 9.30am to 12.00pm

CAR WASH – 087 2587745 TYRE BREAKDOWN SERVICE

JOEPARSONSGARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES INCLUDE • Hedge cutting • • Grass cutting • • Power washing • • Dry rubbish removal • • Tree pruning •

CONTACT JOE: 086-8587568

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

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Classifieds Motors

Advertise your Legal Notices/Licence Applications with us at The Kilkenny Observer.

Call: 056 7771463 / 086 2395370 or email: sales@kilkennyobserver.ie for extremely competitive rates.

Call 056 7771463 for all your classified advertisements

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Planning Memoriams/Miracle notices prayers

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL I, James Hynes intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Retention Planning Permission to retain extension to the side of existing dwelling house and conservatory to the rear of existing dwelling house and all associated site development works at Station Road, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

TO PUBLISH PLANNING APPLICATION, CONTACT US: Call to our office at: Unit 7 Friary Street Telephone: 056 7771463/086 2395370 Email: sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

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. M.K.

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. M.M.

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.R.

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. U.K.

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. U.K.

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. U.K.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 August 2022