Kilkenny Observer 19th January 2024

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

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We hit hardest with bug Kilkenny sees the worst with viruses as Covid makes comeback

Kilkenny has been hit the hardest with winter viruses rife as Covid is making a big comeback and hitting Kilkenny and other counties, like Louth, with multiple outbreaks.

Although infection rates per county provide just a snapshot of the real spread of the virus, which is gathering speed across the country, figures

show Covid infections are also high in Wexford, Waterford, Carlow, Cavan, Sligo and Offaly.

Significant spread was also found in Westmeath, Donegal, Tipperary, Limerick and Clare.

At least 1,200 people were ­infected with Covid last week and 459 were in hospital with the virus, although the vast

­ ther majority were treated for o illnesses.

The highest number of new confirmed cases of Covid last week was in the 75 to 84 age group, although this is partly reflective of targeted testing.

The JN.1 variant has taken off here and while it is more easily transmitted, it does not cause more serious disease. How-

ever, unvaccinated vulnerable groups remain at higher risk.

Four flu-related deaths were reported last week, with 1,628 cases diagnosed and 414 patients with the virus ending up in hospital.

The highest rates of flu were reported in Carlow, Donegal, Westmeath, Leitrim, Wexford, Louth, Cavan, and Sligo. Other

counties with high levels were Longford, Waterford, Roscommon and Galway.

GPs who have been treating patients for a range of respiratory illnesses in r­ecent weeks said while people can carry out an antigen test for Covid themselves to find out if they have the virus, it also shares some symptoms with flu.

670,000 now on public wait list

Linda National President of business group

More than 670,000 public patients face a new year stuck on a hospital waiting list, including 1,894 children in need of surgery.

But how soon they are treated depends on which hospital queue they are in.

The end-of-year active hospital waiting lists showed there are 85,755 adults and children facing surgery delays, with over 562,000 in a long line for a first outpatient consultation with a specialist and another 23,619 needing a gastrointestinal scope.

The backlog is as high as 9,565 at Cork University Hospital and 8,818 at Waterford University Hospital.

Kilkenny native and business support specialist Linda Codoul has taken up the role of National President of Network Ireland 2024, following the group’s recent AGM. She succeeds Kildare’s Emma Early Murphy and her aim for this year is to promote the growth of the organisation’s 17 branches around the country.

Ms Codoul spent 10 years working in the banking sector before leaving in 2022 for an administration role with US healthcare company Abbott. She has Master’s in Management, a degree in Finance and qualifications in Project Management and Relationship Manager Support.

She joined Network Ireland in 2017 and was Kilkenny Branch President in 2021. Despite being in lockdown for most of the year, branch membership doubled due to increased direct membership contact.

‘A Step Ahead’ is Ms Codoul’s theme for 2024 and she believes being a member will help give anyone a boost in their career. Established in 1983, Network Ireland now has almost 1,200 members across 17 branches.

Legend Andy Murray dies

Pope surrogacy stance ‘has parents stigmatised’ Irish families who have had children through surrogacy are concerned they will be “stigmatised”, according to sources, following comments made by Pope Francis as reported by The Kilkenny Observer last week.

The Pope had called for a worldwide ban on surrogacy, saying the practice exploited women who carried the children, adding it turned chil-

The Best Comment & Opinion in Kilkenny

dren into “an object of tracking”.

A spokesman for the Catholic church in Ireland said its position on surrogacy was published in 2018 in its Code of Ethical Standards for Healthcare.

In part, it says: “Surrogacy involves a woman in carrying a baby throughout pregnancy and giving birth, only to hand that baby over to the

Issues relating to smell can be more common in people who have Covid, while muscle aches and pains are seen more in flu patients.

The surge in the spread of both viruses, as well as ongoing significant levels of RSV, has left hospital emergency departments struggling to find beds for all patients on trolleys again.

commissioning couple,” it reads. “Even when a direct payment for the child is not involved, the child is usually the subject of a financial agreement and is treated as a product to be delivered as part of that agreement. This is not consistent with the dignity of the person.

“The potential for the exploitation of impoverished women is very real. Catho-

lic healthcare facilities and practitioners should not assist in conception with a view to a surrogacy arrangement.”

The spokesperson said that the Catholic church in Ireland stance “corresponds with what Pope Francis recently said on the subject”.

A bill on surrogacy and assisted human reproduction is moving through the Dail and will give protections to

the rights and safety of children, their parents and others involved in a surrogacy arrangement.

One of the campaigners for the legislation is Rosanna Davison, a former Miss World, who had one of her children by surrogacy. Another highprofile supporter is Senator Mary Seery Kearney, who said she expected it would be passed into law by March.

Kilkenny local performer and publican Andy Murray has died and is being remembered as an “icon who put Kilkenny on the world stage”.

Mr Murray passed away on Monday January 15 surrounded, by his family at Kilkenny Care Centre.

Mr Murray was an artist who loved singing and also ran his own pub, Little Andy’s Bar, on Ormonde Road in Kilkenny City, reputedly the “smallest bar in Kilkenny City”.

The Kilkenny Observer will carry a fuller appreciation of his life and times in next week’s edition.

PAUL HOPKINS

MARIANNE HERON

JOHN ELLIS

GERRY MORAN

Telling it like it is.

And with no holds barred

A straight shooter.

Considerate and wise words

Great advice.

Your money in mind

Quirky take on bright side of life

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

News The designation of Ireland’s largest ever Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds, has been announced by Green Party TD for Carlow Kilkenny and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan.

The new ‘Seas Off Wexford’ SPA, designated under the EU Birds Directive, covers 305,000 hectares of marine waters, making it larger than Co. Wexford itself, and the largest ever SPA designation in the history of the State.

Announcing the new SPA, Minister Noonan said: “The ‘Seas off Wexford’ SPA will provide enhanced protection for about twenty different species of birds, including some of our most iconic and beloved seabirds like the puffin and the great northern gannet. Along with marking the largest SPA in the history of the State, this announcement increases the percentage of protected marine waters around Ireland to just under 10%, in line with our European commitments.

“When I became Minister for Heritage, only 2.3% of Ireland’s marine area was protected. This new SPA designation for Wexford brings that up to 9.4%. That’s a 400% increase, and it makes the 10% target under the EU Biodiversity Strategy very achievable within the current year.

“I’m so pleased to be making this announcement

Now, that’s a story for the birds ...

We now have biggest Special Protection Area for species off east coast

today, as it marks another significant step forward for nature, and particularly for our seabirds. As a Government, we’re working hard to ensure robust biodiversity protections, just as we are working hard to deliver

on our offshore renewable energy objectives. We know that biodiversity action and climate action must go hand in hand, and our delivery of a swift transition to clean, renewable energy must have protection for the natural

world at its heart. This is good news for our renewable journey and good news for nature!”

In the summer of 2023, a vast expanse of more than 230,000 hectares of marine waters in the Irish Sea was

then Ireland’s largest protected area for bird species.

The North-West Irish Sea Special Protection Area (SPA) increases the percentage of Ireland’s marine waters which are protected under the EU Birds and Habitats di-

rectives to more than 9% per cent – and will have implications for any offshore wind farms proposed for the area.

The new Wexford SPA adjoins 12 existing SPAs already designated along the east coast.

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News

121 people died while homeless, says report According to the latest figures available, a total of 121 people who were homeless died in 2020. The figures have just been published by the Health Research Board (HRB).

The figure represents an increase of more than 31% on

the 92 people who died in 2019.

Of those who died, three in four were male, while more than half of the deaths happened in Dublin.

Half of the men who died were aged 42 or younger while half of the women were 36.5

years old or younger. The majority of deaths in the population as a whole are in the 65 and over age bracket.

“Behind each of these numbers is a life lost. The findings of this report highlight the very difficult situation faced by some of the most vulnera-

ble people in our community,” said HRB chief executive Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll.

A large majority (91pc) of those who died had a history of substance use.

Heroin (61%) was the most common drug used, and this followed by cocaine (56%) and

benzodiazepines (36%).

The publication of the figures was welcomed by homeless charity Focus Ireland. However, it acknowledged “significant problems” in comparing 2019 to 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. There was no “rough

sleep” count in the year 2020.

Focus Ireland director of advocacy Mike Allen said: “Eighty three of the deaths in 2020 were of people who were in emergency accommodation, while 23 were among people who were sleeping rough.”

Business trade with UK must be set for new import rules Businesses in Kilkenny trading in goods to the UK need to act now to ensure they’re complying with new UK import rules, local Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan has urged.

Irish businesses must get ready now for new UK import rules starting on January 31 – just under two weeks away, Deputy Phelan said. Many small businesses, particularly those in the craft, food and agri sector across Kilkenny trade regularly with the UK and must be ready.

“If a business exports goods to Great Britain, or across the UK landbridge, these new UK rules will impact them and may require changes to their operations. Businesses need to urgently examine their supply chains, talk to their UK customers as well as their transport

and logistics providers and make the changes necessary to get ready,” he said.

“There are 2 key changes from January 31. All goods being exported to Great Britain will need customs declarations to be lodged in advance.

Agri-food products will also need to be pre-notified and accompanied by an export health certificate, depending on the product.

“These new UK requirements are in addition to the existing EU formalities that apply when exporting goods from the EU. It is important that businesses familiarise themselves with what is required and more information is available at www.gov.ie/ brexit, “ Deputy Phelan said.

These new UK rules will not apply to North-South trade on the island of Ireland.

How AI models can be trained to deceive us Advanced artificial intelligence models can be trained to deceive humans and other AI, a new study has found.

Researchers at AI startup Anthropic tested whether chatbots with humanlevel proficiency, such as its ­ penAI’s Claude system or O ChatGPT, could learn to lie in order to trick people.

They found that not only could they lie, but once the deceptive behaviour was learned, it was impossible to reverse using current AI safety measures.

The Amazon-funded startup created a “sleeper agent” to test the hypothesis, requiring an AI assistant to write harmful computer code when given certain prompts, or to respond in a malicious way after a trigger word.

The researchers warned that there was a “false sense of security” surrounding AI risks due to the inability of current safety protocols to prevent such behaviour.

The results were published in a study, titled “Sleeper agents: Training deceptive LLMs that persist through safety training”.

“We found that adversarial training can teach models to better recognise their backdoor triggers, effectively hiding the unsafe behaviour,” the researchers wrote.

“Our results suggest that, once a model exhibits deceptive behaviour, standard techniques could fail to remove such deception and create a false impression of safety.”

The issue of AI safety has become an increasing concern for both researchers and lawmakers in recent years, with the advent of advanced chatbots like ChatGPT resulting in a renewed focus from regulators. Last November, one year after the release of ChatGPT, the UK held an AI Safety Summit in order to discuss ways risks with the technology can be mitigated.

Why Kilkenny needs a county museum The long-held ambition by many with an interest in the history and archaeology of Kilkenny for a County Museum to house artefacts is being supported by Kilkenny’s Minister for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan TD and his Green Party colleague Councillor Maria Dollard.

Both are of the view that a change in the remit of the Medieval Mile Museum towards a free to enter municipal museum could unlock the potential to put on show many more civic archives, collections from the National Museum, and countless other artefacts in collections around the county.

Minister Noonan has written to both Kilkenny Civic Trust and the CEO of

Kilkenny County Council to ask them to consider the proposal and he has requested a meeting to discuss new possibilities and opportunities for St Marys Church and Graveyard in Kilkenny.

“While the Medieval Mile Museum has been an asset to the city and county, I do feel that it is underperforming due to its inability to be adaptable as a space to house collections, and the pay to enter model. A County Municipal Museum would most likely cost the same in terms of financial support but would be in a position to push for Museum Standards Accreditation and to act as a repository for many fascinating collections that would be of immense benefit to academics and schools, as well

as having a strong tourist offering,” said Minister Noonan.

He also said that the city has not yet realised the real value of St Mary’s, the graveyard, and its connection with the merchant families of Kilkenny, many of whom lived in mansions along High Street, Parliament Street and Patrick Street.

‘There are many fine examples of County Museums across the country. Indeed, we don’t have to go too far to see one such example in Carlow. It houses a wonderful collection and attracts many visitors each year. The graveyard of St Mary’s alone is one of the finest in the country, containing many important funerary monuments that connect the great names of Shee, Archer and Rothe to

their houses in the city. It’s a fascinating story that needs to be told,’ said Minister Noonan.

His colleague Councillor Maria Dollard said that changing the operation of the Medieval Mile Museum towards a County Museum made absolute sense and represented value for money for the local authority who subsidise the museum. ‘I think that there is huge untapped potential in having a museum in the heart of the city that can paint a fuller picture of the story of the city and county. There are so many collections around the county that could find a home in a municipal museum and provide a wonderful resource to schools in particular’ she said.

Fewer cattle supplies will boost 2024 beef prices Fewer cattle supplies and thew easing of the cost-ofliving crisis across Europe are expected to see strong beef prices again this year.

A buoyant beef market has given a significant boost to mart trade in the last month, with prices up over €100/hd in many categories.

Reports from Bord Bia suggest that finished cattle supplies are set to drop by as much as 40,000hd this year on the back of lower numbers of males born in the dairy herd

due to the greater take-up of sexed semen, accounting for a reduction of 68,249hd in male dairy sired calves.

Also, the export of calves increased in 2023 by 36,253hd to a total of 207,915hd. Data provided by Bord Bia to the Farming Independent indicates a lower number of younger cattle in the system.

Up to the end of October, it says there were 84,086 fewer cattle in the 0-24 months age category.

Following a decline of

40,000hd in numbers processed in 2023 to reach 1.78million head, Bord Bia expects there will be a further decline of 30-40,000hd in 2024.

“This also reflects strong momentum recently of live exports to Northern Ireland, along with the relatively high weekly kills over the festive period, which resulted in fewer finished cattle on-farm being carried into the new year,” a Bord Bia spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, similar declines in cattle supplies are predicted across Europe, with the EU beef herd forecast by the EU Commission to decline by a further 1pc in 2024, with reductions likely across several markets, including France, Spain, Italy and Germany. UK supplies are expected to show a small decrease in 2024.

Bord Bia also predicts some relaxation in the cost-of-living crisis in 2024, which could help demand for Irish beef and boost prices.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Opinion

The Fact Of The Matter Paul Hopkins

It can take an age to now plan anything My eldest child, my only daughter, has the uncanny knack of second-guessing me. She recently asked me could I pick her up and drop her to the train station for the city. Her youngest girl would be napping at said time, under the watchful eye of her husband, so Grandad’s services were called upon.

“No problem at all,” I said and she had, after all, given me a week’s notice and a couple of gentle reminders in the intervening week. But here’s the thing: I spent that week mentally going over and over the Friday pick-up and 10 minute drive to the station.

When I say ‘mentally going over’ let me explain.

Here we are another year over and a new one just begun – and I, as are we all, another year older.

There was a time when I was up in the morning,

broke fast, showered and shaved and was out the door in 30 minutes for the hour’s commute to my newspaper in the city. Working away on the next day’s edition, having lunch, doing a bit of window shopping, having a few pints after work, commuting back home, taking my wife out to dinner (occasionally) and then home for a night cap, only to do it all over again the next day. And it was all done on auto-pilot. Never having to, as such, plan it in my head or work out the logistics of the tasks to hand.

That’s being young – and energetic.

‘Mentally going over’ picking up my daughter for the train that Friday I constantly mulled over how long it would take me to get out of bed, have breakfast and shower and dress so as I would not be late for the pick-up. There is no auto-

pilot at play these days. I am old, and I have to plan out almost every action before going into action, as it were.

“I bet, Dad, you spent the whole week thinking about making sure you would pick me up on time,” said my daughter as I dropped her at the station. She smiled.

Hmmm, I thought, she really does know me. Either that or she’s been reading my emails.

It has been widely found that the volume of the brain and/or its weight declines with age at a rate of around 5% a decade after age 40 – yes, 40! – with the actual rate of decline possibly increasing with age particularly over age 70. According to my psychologist friend from Magherafelt, the manner in which this occurs is less clear. The shrinking of the grey matter is reported to stem from neuronal cell death but whether

this is solely responsible or even the primary finding is not entirely clear. The rate of reduction in brain volume may increase with age particularly over 70, although numbers studied are very small. Because of the

And (back then) it was all done on auto-pilot...

individual differences seen in brain development and ageing, mapping structure to function and change because of ageing is a complex task.

All I know, I tell him, is that my brain and memory are still in great nick but act somewhat differently. Like having to mentally plan a forthcoming action, and being less spontaneous.

When you’re young, it’s hard to envisage getting old.

Now, I am here, I hear that train a comin’ and its shrill whistle increasingly stops me in my tracks, momentarily frozen with the fear of, and for, the future. Ultimately, my demise.

Seamus Heaney noted: “Strange, it is a huge nothing that we fear.” Not I, as such, but rather I fear missing out on life.

Today, people in their 60s seem, not necessarily young, just nicely mature. Hope-

fully, wise and empathetic.

The 60s is the new 40s. No, 60s is the 60s. It’s just we are all living longer. But with living longer can come a failing ability to function – not yet, thank God – and an increasing blip on society, on its young members in terms of care and cost.

My father, who lived until he was 80, used to say that life was “sweet no matter what”. He had good health until the end. But the acorn does not always fall that close to the tree and our lifestyles are polar opposites.

As an ardent supporter of euthanasia – the subject back before the Oireacthas – for me, a cheap bottle of vodka under the bed and a handful of sleeping tablets seems preferable to catheters and other paraphernalia.

Thankfully, though, like a good wine, I may be old but I am fine.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

News

Halt called to fertility clinic

After an inspection found a series of critical faults in its laboratory management, training and use of equipment that included using a device for egg collection that was known to be defective, a fertility clinic has been ordered to discontinue its embryo screening procedures

First IVF, in Clane, Co Kildare, was the subject of inspection from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) from June 2022 up to last October after inspection reports in April 2021 and July 2022 found a series of major problems at the clinic.

The revelations have prompted calls for the Gov-

ernment to urgently set up the long-planned regulator for the fertility sector.

Formerly Spanish-owned and trading as Institut Marques Ireland, in January 2021 the Clane-based fertility clinic rebranded as First IVF following a takeover led by doctors Anthony and David Walsh, the founders of Sims

IVF who had sold that business to an Australian firm.

First IVF is one of eight clinics approved for the State's IVF scheme.

An inspection report on First IVF finalised in July 2022 by the HPRA, obtained under Freedom of Information Act, found 35 critical deficiencies in its management and

handling of embryo biopsies.

The report is by far the most serious released by the HPRA since this newspaper began publishing fertility clinic inspection reports completed since 2018.

Critical deficiencies are defined as a "failure which indicates a significant risk that tissues and cells could

or would be harmful to the patient, or a failure which has produced harmful tissues and cells”.

Although there is no regulator for the fertility industry, clinics are required to abide by strict protocols for collecting and storing human tissues under EU regulations that are monitored by the HPRA.

rience.

CEO of Cork-based production company AV3 / Cameo Productions Michael Lynch says they’re excited to embark on Season 2: “Viewers loved Season 1 of ‘Cheap European Homes,’ and I think it made people realise that the dream of relocating to beautiful places in France, Spain, Portugal and more can become a reality at an affordable price. Maggie is already looking forward to meeting a new group of home hunters in Season

2, and can offer invaluable advice in tandem with local experts. It’s a great opportunity for property seekers who dream of a life in the sun.”

The team at ‘Cheap European Homes’ wants to hear from people who are actively looking to relocate abroad and who are willing to move.

High Court finds against Wexford haulage family Family members of Wexford haulage firm Nolan Transport promoted an untrue story about the instability of Irish banks to "mask their true intention” to try to use family pension funds for settling personal debts, according to the High Court.

Mr Justice Denis McDonald made the finding in a 317-page judgment dealing with the outstanding claims by the Nolans against a number of other defendants since the settlement in 2022 of their action against their former solicitor Ciaran Desmond.

A week into the hearing, in May 2022, of the long-running case by the Nolans over the alleged misappropriation of their pension funds, Mr Desmond consented to judgment against him for €6.9m.

There remained, however, cases against other defendants, including Dublin pension adviser John Millett, two of Mr Millett's companies and three men who claimed they were the beneficial owners of the former Nemo Rangers development land in Cork, which the Nolans claimed was bought with €2.8m of their pension funds without their knowledge.

The three men are Paul Kenny, his son Dillon Kenny and nephew Darren Kenny, who said they are owners through an Isle of Man company called Dildar, which owns the Nemo lands. The Kennys and Mr Millett denied the Nolan claims.

The case had been brought on behalf of 13 members of

the Nolan family pension fund by its trustees: Ann, Elizabeth, Richard, Patricia and Sally Nolan and Quest Capital Trustees Ltd. The court heard the central allegation was that in 2013, the Nolan pension money was used in an elaborate scheme involving a Swiss bank account in the name of a Panamanian company as collateral to finance the purchase of investment products to be issued by a number of the third parties in Singapore.

Through a series of events, it was claimed, the bulk of their monies was misappropriated, while around €2.8m was allegedly used to buy the Nemo Rangers property.

In his judgment, Mr Justice McDonald dismissed the Nolans' claim against the Millett defendants, other than in relation to the unauthorised disclosure of personal data. He directed Mr Millett to pay to each of the personal plaintiffs €500 in nominal damages in relation to that unauthorised disclosure.

He dismissed all claims against the Kenny defendants and also discharged a 2017 order restraining Dildar Isle of Man from taking any steps to dispose of the Nemo Rangers property.

He also directed that €1.6m that had been paid in to court from the money that remained from the investment scheme can be paid out to the plaintiffs and to any other party who establishes an entitlement to any part.

Fancy a cheap home in Europe?

The production team behind the successful RTÉ show ‘Cheap European Homes’ has put a call out for house hunters seeking a fresh start elsewhere to take part in the second series.

AV3 / Cameo Productions wants to hear from people with interesting and unique stories, who are looking to leave their lives behind and relocate to a dream destination in mainland Europe.

Following a similar format to the hit RTÉ TV show ‘Cheap Irish Homes’, ‘Cheap

European Homes’ sees presenter Maggie Molloy [pictured] enlisting the help of local architects and engineers to select the properties for house hunters around Europe, in countries such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and more.

Participants are also offered advice on planning laws and taxes in these countries.

Every episode in Season 2 will also feature Irish people who have already relocated abroad, and who will share their stories about this expe-

* If you are interested in taking part in the new series, send your details to casting@av3.ie .C losing date for applications is Friday January 26

2025 target for 10,000 apprentices a year The year 2025 is the target for 10,000 apprentices a year A record number of apprentices registered in 2023, with significant numbers registering to join construction trades, according to Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister of State for Further Education

and Skills Niall Collins TD. The ministers also confirmed 17 new apprenticeship programmes are proposed for this year including four in the area of construction, while a further six in areas such as firefighting and paramedics are in development.

The announcement comes as figures show the apprentice-

ship population has increased to 27,470, with a record 8,712 new registrations in 2023. 6,588 of these are in the craft area.

Minister Harris said: “Increasing the number of apprentices and apprenticeships is crucial if we want to meet the targets this Government has set under Housing for All and the Climate Action Plan.

“We know we need thousands more workers in some of our key craft sectors and to help achieve our climate goals.

“The future of this country will be safeguarded by our skilled apprentices so we must put all the tools at the disposal of young people to avail of these opportunities and get trained in areas where

there is need for an increase in workers.

“By 2025 we set the target of 10,000 new apprentices every year and we are very close to reaching that target with close to 9,000 last year.

“We want to make apprenticeships as accessible and available as possible.

“That requires us constantly

altering and changing what we can offer to people. I am really pleased to see some key areas now moving to this way of delivering third level education," he said.

“Importantly, this includes paramedics, social workers, roofing and cladding, and a Level 8 and Masters in Civil Engineering."

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

Homeless: Should charity begin with the Church?

Who would have thought a couple of years ago that our reputation as a friendly nation would be torched not on a bonfire of the vanities but on one of xenophobia and racism?

The burning of the former Torchlight pub in Ringsend and the disused Ross Lakehouse Hotel, Co. Galway, both rumoured to be for housing asylum seekers, are the latest in a series of arson attacks that are crimes which could have ended in tragedy.

How were the individuals responsible, whom Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris termed “thugs and criminals”, to know that there weren’t security guards, caretakers or rough sleepers in the buildings? As it is, the crimes have deprived homeless local people and people fleeing for their lives from other countries of shelter.

Last week there were 480

asylum seekers sleeping on the streets in bitterly cold weather.

Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell warned about the “rhetoric of polarisation” that is “rampant in our society at the moment”. Speaking on RTÉ radio in New Year week the archbishop also cautioned about that “significant disinformation” about the nature and of impact by asylum seekers and migrants.

“When you go down those roads, those actions have consequences that are very serious in terms of the destruction of property and denying the people who are on the streets a home. And what are we doing? We’re excluding them. We’re showing that Ireland is a cold place.

It’s a harsh place, not the land of the thousand welcomes,” he said.

Many families and communities have upheld our reputation for hospitality but how many of those thousands of welcomes have been offered by the church in the shape of accommodation? With enormous wealth, vacant or nearly empty properties in convents and monasteries worth billions, surely the church could lead by example and to open its doors to those fleeing war and persecution?

Roderick O’Gorman’s department have so far had 74,000 of the 103,300 beneficiaries of short term protection (BOTPs) referred to them for accommodation by the State. According a department spokesperson: “Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs,

religious properties, accommodation operated by voluntary bodies and emergency accommodation. While this is not ideal, the priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.”

The intention by the church to offer shelter appears to be there. Last year Archbishop Eamon Martin announced a scoping exercise to look at the actual response was hard to gauge as dioceses, parishes and religious orders operate independently.

The bigger picture shows that two years ago one estimate put the value of churchowned lands with around 800 monastic buildings at €12 billion. Then there are there are the properties independently owned by congregations. Over a century ago there were over 300 convents in Ireland, the population of nuns was at its greatest in

the 60s at more than 13,000.

Since the millennium their numbers have halved from more than 9,000 to more than 4,000 with an average age of 80. Monastic orders have shown a similar decline.

The situation in relation to redress schemes does not suggest that much help with accommodation will be on offer from nuns. The Sisters of Mercy are in negotiations with five other orders with Minister for Children Roderick O’Gorman in relation to the Mother & Baby Institutions Payment Scheme to redress historic abuse. The Sisters of Mercy Congregation is thought to have disposed of more than 45 properties worth a total of €15m in recent years, including a convent sold to the HSE for €2.7m.

This does not include properties sold by the congregation whose proceeds were

then transferred to the State for redress.

The State has received just over €1m in cash from the congregation since 2016. Three years after the controversial report on the mistreatment of women in 14 Mother & Baby homes the congregations’ contribution to the State’s €800 million redress scheme still hasn’t been finalised.

It is sobering that we are the only country in Europe – until recent years – where the population has declined in the last century and three quarters of such due to the effect of the Famine and mass emigration. Almost one million people left for the UK alone between 1920 and 1980 and if our population growth had matched that of the UK our population would be around 30 million.

We need more people, we should welcome them.

Veganuary 2024 CLAIR WHITTY

I can’t believe that we are half way through January already. Have you any plans for changes this year?

I know that reducing meat consumption in January has become a popular thing to do. This can be for ethical reasons or simply because you are feeling stodgy after all the festive eating. Or maybe your digestive system could do with a break from the more difficult to digest meat and dairy proteins that you consumed over the festive season.

One of my colleagues, a carnivore and meat lover, surprised herself when she opted to cook a vegan meal for New Year’s dinner. She settled on a Festive Vegan Roast. What surprised her was that the roast satisfied her need for the meaty texture that she thought vegan food would lack. While not ready to give up the meat yet she says she will incorporate a vegan option once or twice a week. That’s a great starting point and who knows where it will go from

there. Her motivation for trying it was that she was taking supplements to support her health. And in the meantime, eating food that could be associated with inflammation. A vegan diet may help keep inflammation under control.

Inflammation is one of the main drivers of disease in the body.

If you are a true meat lover like my colleague you too could replace one meal per week with a tasty vegan option, you might also be surprised. My default vegan meal is anything made with chick peas. I love chick peas.

They are great for curries, pies, falafel, and can be added to soups for extra texture and protein. Donal Skehan has a delicious mushroom and cauliflower vegan ragu lasagne recipe online.

This is easy to make, tastes great, and looks impressive too. My nephew gave me

a simple recipe for a one pot lentil spaghetti bolognaise, and since then I’ve found variations online.

I love the fact that there is so little washing up too with this meal!

A vegan diet may help support cardiovascular and hormone health. You may see improvements in digestion and blood sugar balance and relief from sinus congestion.

Some even say that it slows the ageing process, now wouldn’t that be fabulous!

Make a start with one meal per week and take it from there, you might be surprised.

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

SPECIAL REPORT

Return to office bites into cost of lunch

Returning to the office is high on the agenda for many organisations. However, while workers are encouraged to spend more time with their colleagues, new research from Ireland’s food saving app Too Good To Go reveals the cost-of-living crisis is acting as a barrier to these ‘in-person connections’.

Nearly one in five (17%) are spending more on food and drink at work than a year ago, and over a fifth (21%) of Irish people are shunning the office to save money on food and drink.

But for those heading into the office, one in 10 (9%) admit to buying lunch every single day and a quarter (26%) note that they are too ‘time poor’ to make lunch at home – which could be significantly increasing our monthly expenditures.

However, when they do come in to the office, some are more dedicated than others, as three in 10 (29%) savvy employees take their lunch into the office daily.

Yet, only a third (32%) take in leftovers, with just over a third (35%) admitting they take in lunch to reduce food waste at home. Instead, Irish workers are more likely to bring in lunch due to financial reasons, with a whopping 61% admitting they take in

lunch to reduce the amount of money they spend.

A quarter of Irish people (24%) believe the food they cook is better than what they can buy elsewhere, and 17% have a partner or spouse that makes lunch for them to take into the office. Sadly, one in seven Irish people (12%) are self-conscious about bringing in leftovers and so avoid doing so. For some, buying lunch at work can be seen as self-care, as over half (52%) of Irish people see it as a treat and others (14%) get bored of eating their leftovers and so tend to buy lunch out.

As we become more accustomed to office culture once again, Too Good To Go reveals the biggest faux pas Irish office workers can make at lunchtime: • Hands off! 62% of Irish people see stealing someone else’s food as socially unacceptable • Something fishy going on… half of Irish people (50%) turn their nose up to those reheating fish in the office • Forgot something? 45% of Irish people see leaving food in the office fridge too long as unacceptable • Causing a stir: A third of us are not a fan of office workers bringing in pungent sandwiches like tuna or egg mayonnaise

SURVEY’S FINDINGS AT A GLANCE • Nearly one in 5 (17%) spend more on food and drink at work in comparison to a year ago • Over a fifth (21%) of Irish people are more likely to work from home to save money on food and drink • And whilst 3 in 10 (29%) bring in their lunch every day when they go into the office, only a third take in leftovers from home (32%) • From stealing food and re-heating fish, Too Good To Go reveals the biggest office lunchtime faux pas • Tupperwars! 27% of Irish workers are against borrowing someone else’s tupperware • Snack attacks – Bringing in boiled eggs offends almost a quarter of us (23%) As people look for ways they can treat themselves midweek without breaking the bank, Jamie Crummie – co-founder of the world’s largest surplus food app Too Good To Go – has put together top tip, “With busy schedules and limited time to take for ourselves, lunch should never feel like a chore. Too Good To Go allows you to treat yourself to your favourite eateries, whilst preventing food waste and without breaking the bank. I’m excited to share how a few simple changes can refresh your 9-5,” says Mr Crummie Operating in Ireland since 2021, Too Good To Go has

marked its two year anniversary here, and allows users to rescue unsold food from retailers and restaurants at a fraction of what it might otherwise cost so it doesn’t go to waste. The app recently announced a major milestone of saving a staggering 500,000 Surprise Bags of food from going to waste in Ireland.

There are 500,000 registered users currently in Ireland and over 1,600 partners big and small across Ireland including Fresh, KC Peaches, SuperValu, Café Nero, Off Beat Donut Co. and other local independent eateries / stores around the country.

Top tips to save €€€ on lunch, all while fighting food waste: Plan ahead so you only buy what you need.

Plan your lunch for the week in advance so you know exactly what you need to buy.

Write a shopping list and then stick to it when you’re in the supermarket - try not to be sucked in by impulse buying. Look to be kitchen savvy in your planning too.

For instance, planning multiple lunches that utilise the same, or parts of the same, ingredient means that you’re not buying a new set of ingredients for every lunch.

Get creative with your leftovers Nowadays, many of us are in the habit of wanting to eat something new every day, but don’t be afraid to get creative with adapting a simple dish. For example, you can change a classic Bolognese sauce into chilli con carne, meat pie or even a lasagne.

This can be a great alternative to buying lunch and cutting down on your weekly spend.

When in doubt, freeze

The oldest trick in the book!

Virtually anything can be frozen if you don’t think you’re going to be able to eat it in time. Batch-cooking lunch meals to keep in the freezer for a later date is a great way to make sure your fresh ingredients can still get used while they’re at their best.

Swap your coffee Small things like getting a coffee before work and during lunch can heavily add up the cost per year.

Instead, take advantage of the coffee and tea making facilities in the office, which is often free. If this is not the case, invest in a travel mug to take coffee in from home to drink in the morning.

Explore your options Food-saving apps like Too Good To Go are a great way to enjoy local cuisine from restaurants, supermarkets, bakeries and more in your office area– all at a lower price, as they are saved from going to waste! *Download Too Good To Go and choose your location to see what variety of food options are available.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Threats by malware and fraudsters on the rise Ever hear of Industroyer? – one of the biggest malware threats to critical infrastructure of countries, or Stuxnet, a computer worm, discovered in June 2010, that was specifically written to take over certain programmable industrial control systems? Neither had I until I was doing some research and read a press release from ESET, a global digital security company, protecting millions of customers and hundreds of thousands of companies worldwide.

We might say we are small fish in this huge sea of internet applications. But we are all using some sort of mobile application to make our world go round and don’t realise it until its not there anymore. We are all invested into some sort of ‘instant communication service’ – the most popular being the apps on iOS and Android devices. Signal has millions of users, Telegram having many millions more, with WhatsApp the undisputed global leader, with an

estimated two billion monthly active users.

That popularity has attracted the scrutiny of ‘threat actors’ keen to find a way to invade your device and for some has ended up costing them and even their employer dearly.

Malicious developers have become proficient over many years at tricking users into downloading their

wares. Such as malicious apps which change your device’s settings and features and slow it down by flooding the device with unwanted advertising, making it difficult to use.

Spyware and ransomware designed to eavesdrop on your conversations, messages and other information and designed to completely lock down your device until a fee is

paid. Premium-rate services which malware may covertly use, racking up huge bills, including corporate cyberattacks designed to steal your work logins or data, with a view to accessing sensitive corporate data or deploying ransomware across a companies network.

According to ESET, if you inadvertently download and install a malicious app on

your phone, it could expose you or your employer to a range of threats including, theft of logins for sensitive accounts, which could be sold to scammers. Theft of sensitive personal data, which could be sold on the dark web to identity fraudsters and theft of banking/financial information, which could be used to plunder your account.

Often, they will produce ‘malicious copycat apps’ designed to mimic legitimate ones. They distribute them via phishing messages in email, text, on social media or the communications app itself, taking you to a scam page and misleading you into installing what you believe to be an official app.

Or they could direct you to legitimate-looking fake apps that may occasionally make it through the strict vetting procedures on the Google Play marketplace or Apple’s iOS platform.

One of the most insidious scams is the deceptive ‘Android loan app’ which

masquerades as a legitimate personal loan service provider, promising you quick and easy access to funds. This is most prevalent during and after the Christmas period. It’s designed to defraud you and gain your personal and financial information.

Despite the challenges posed by these fraudulent apps there are effective steps you can employ to safeguard yourself.

Stick to official app sources, educate yourself by reading negative app reviews, as positive reviews may have been coerced from previous victims and most importantly use a reputable security app.

If you have fallen victim to a fraudulent app report the incident to the Garda Fraud Squad and your bank. If the app was accessed through Google Play, you can seek help from their support teams by reporting the app and requesting the removal of the data. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362622

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Global Report

When it’s a matter of life and death in Uganda Kilkenny native and journalist Miriam Donohoe on her time in Uganda volunteering with a hospice and what draws her to East Africa Miriam Donohoe with Indian nun Sr Franceline who recently opened a hospice in Jinja, three hours from Kampala, and some young people on a visit to Jinja over Christmas

Dr Anne and Miriam Donohoe

Miriam Donohoe with some young hospice patients

I arrived in Uganda on December 11 with a plan to spend two months in Kampala volunteering with a wonderful charity that supports the critically ill and dying, Hospice Africa Uganda, (HAU). To be honest there have been some days since then – especially Christmas morning – that I have woken at 5.30am. to the sound of the call to prayer from the nearby Mosque asking myself: “Why on earth am I here?!”

From my first visit to Uganda in 2016 I was hooked. I had never been to Africa before, and it was a huge culture shock. But I found it mesmerising — the distinctive sweet smells, the dusty roads, the gentle people, and the chaotic traffic. Most of all I was drawn to the huge needs.

What was to be a two-week visit to support Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU) with communications and fundraising advice stretched to almost a year.

My link with HAU came through work I did with the Irish Hospice Foundation back in 2015. Professor Dr Anne Merriman, the founder of Hospice Africa Uganda and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, was visiting Ireland and there was excitement that she was to call into the foundation office in Dublin.

I was expecting to meet a pushy, high-powered charity pioneer, maybe somebody middle-aged. Instead, I met a woman who had just turned 80, who was wearing a traditional, colourful African dress, and who spoke with a very strong Liverpudlian accent.

This was ‘Dr Anne’ as she is fondly called by all.

Over a coffee I learnt her story, how she went to Africa in 1993 to introduce palliative care. She asked me to give her two weeks to visit HAU and to advise on how it could tell the story of its work. Without hesitation I agreed.

I have returned to Uganda most years since 2016, Covid withstanding. Some of those visits involved my work as Communications Manager with the humanitarian aid agency GOAL. I travelled to Kampala last September for the 30th anniversary of Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU). But I felt two weeks was too short and, when I came home, I decided

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Global Report to take the plunge and come back for a longer spell and to spend Christmas and the New Year here.

Dr Anne is frailer now, aged 88, and her hair has turned snow white. But her heart and spirit are as strong as ever. She is using a walker after recently breaking her leg, but she is still very much the HAU figurehead and powerhouse.

Dr Anne has a deep connection with Ireland. She grew up in Liverpool, the daughter of Irish immigrants. At a young age she decided she wanted to go to Africa as a nurse to help suffering children and she joined the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMMs) order in Drogheda when she left school.

She was sent to University College Dublin to train to be a doctor then worked with the Medical Missionaries of Mary in Nigeria until her mid-30s, when she left the order. She held various medical roles around the world afterwards, but always maintained a very strong faith.

In 1993, at the age of 57, when many are contemplating retirement, Dr Anne founded Hospice Africa Uganda, with a vision to introduce palliative care for all in need in Africa.

She was instrumental in having affordable oral liquid morphine introduced into Uganda to control pain. It was a formula Dr Anne developed, for use in the home, when she worked in Singapore. In 1993 only three countries in Africa had palliative care with pain control due to access to morphine. Today that figure is 37.

What I really connect with here is the work of HAU and the huge need for care for the seriously ill. The care is delivered in people’s homes, and the distinctive HAU vehicles are a familiar sight in Kampala, moving around the chaotic city daily to reach the critically sick and dying.

During my time here, I accompany hospice nurses on at least one patient visit a week, and this can be very tough. In Uganda, because the majority of people won’t access treatment for cancer due mainly to the cost, cancers go untreated and by the time a patient is enrolled for home care with HAU they are very ill and in a lot of pain.

This week I joined the hospice team on a home visit to 83-year-old Beatrice Nakiyingi, who lives in a very poor area on the outskirts of Kampala. Beatrice was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, and while it was recommended she get radiotherapy and chemotherapy she never did due to the cost.

Her tumour is now the size of a small football, and last month it became inflamed and started seeping, causing her great pain and discomfort.

A fortnight ago, Nurse Harriet Nalubega cleaned and dressed the wound, and on the return visit this week she was happy with the progress.

On their visits, the hospice teams bring pain relief in the form of bottles of oral liquid morphine. “When the patients

Hospice Africa Uganda patient 83-year-old Beatrice Nakiyingi, who has advanced breast cancer

Miriam Donohoe with a patient in the new hospice in Jinja at Christmas

Nurse Harriet with 65-year-old Hospice Africa Uganda patient Kassim Kiyimgi, on a home visit

Nurse Harriet with breast cancer patient 83-year-old Beatrice Nakiyingi on a Hospice Africa Uganda home visit in Kampala

see us arrive with the morphine, their eyes light up. They know that they will get pain relief for a further week or so, and that life will be more bearable,” Nurse Harriet says.

“This also brings huge comfort to the patient’s families.”

On another visit this week we saw 65-year-old Kassim Kiyimgi who also has breast cancer (breast cancer in men is more common in Uganda than at home) – and again he has had no treatment. He lives in a very small one-room house which is in dreadful condition. There are bed bugs in his mattress, and he has no

one to care for him.

The day we arrived, his 13-year-old grand niece, who was on school holidays, was trying to clean the place, and she had given him tea and dry bread, probably the only meal he was going to get that day. There is no social welfare system here and Kassim has no income. His adult children have abandoned him and he depends on what little neighbours give him to survive.

This is typical of stories I hear here every day.

It is hard to describe to people at home in Ireland the pain and suffering that so

many in Uganda experience due to shambolic and sometimes non-existent health services. Just before Christmas an 11-year-old boy with a massive tumour in the left eye walked into the hospice.

These are things you would never see in Ireland — where, let’s face it, we have a first world health system — as cancers are treated promptly and never let get out of control.

Thanks to the generosity of people at home, including so many in Kilkenny, a significant amount was raised in advance of my current visit and donated to Hospice Africa Ireland, a registered charity in Ireland that supports HAU. But I always carry a float of money which people give to me directly to give to patients who are in dire need. I gave the equivalent of €10 to Kassim this week, a huge amount here in Uganda (to put it in context a home carer or housekeep gets approximately €50 a month in wages).

His eyes lit up and he was so relieved that he would have some money to keep him going for food for a good while.

After a tough day at hospice, I love coming back to Dr Anne’s house where I stay when I am here. The house is full of love and energy. Three

women, who work for Dr Anne (there are always volunteers and supporters coming through staying here visiting hospice), and their children aged from eight to 23 stay in the compound, and we have great fun in the evening time.

Oh, there are also 15 dogs and four cats! So you could say it’s a madhouse.

I look forward to going home on February 8 and seeing my mother Kitty in Goresbridge.

She is 88 – the same as Dr

Anne, and they are both very alike. Strong, resilient and tough women!

But I know once I am home I will start planning my next visit. * You can support the work of Hospice Africa Uganda by donating to Hospice Africa Ireland at https://donorbox.org/ hospice-africa-ireland

ONE OF TEN FROM GORESBRIDGE One of 10 children from Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, Miriam Donohue worked fulltime as a journalist for 27 years. She has worked for most national newspaper titles during her career, and her last 10 years in journalism were with the Irish Times where she held various roles including political reporter, Asia Correspondent, News Editor and Features Editor.

When she left full-time journalism, Miriam worked in PR and Communications. She has held senior Communications Manager roles in the National Lottery, Goal and Trocaire. Last year she set up as a communications consultant and clients include ActionAid Ireland and Bord Iaschaigh Mhara.

Miriam lives between Dublin and Borris and has two children Stephen (34) and Catherine (32). And is the adored grandmother of Penny aged 4!

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Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

The Ten Commandments for us seniors

I received the following ‘Ten Commandments for Seniors’ on my phone last week. Not sure I want to be receiving notifications like this but I guess ‘if the cap fits, wear it’. Also I’m not so sure they’re ‘commandments’ per se but, for what it’s worth, here they are:

1. Talk to yourself. There are times you need expert advice.

2. ‘In style’ are the clothes that still fit you.

3. You don’t need anger management. You need people to stop p***ing you off.

4. The biggest lie you tell yourself is: “I don’t need to write that down. I’ll remember it.”

5. ‘On time’ is when you get there.

6. Duct tape can’t fix stupid but it does muffle the sound.

7. It would be wonderful if we could put ourselves in the dryer for 10 minutes, then come out wrinkle-free and

two sizes smaller.

8. Growing old should have taken longer.

9. Ageing has slowed you down, but it hasn’t shut you up.

10. You still haven’t learned to act your age – and hope you never will.

And one more: ‘One for the road’ means having a pee before you leave the house.

Oh, and further to all of the above, another notification I received, an image of Clint Eastwood [pictured] on a T-shirt and emblazoned across it: “Don’t mess with old people. We didn’t get to this age by being stupid.”

Good on ya, Clint, you head up the posse for us old people. Old people! Never. Us seniors.

Encore Grandpacore!

Re ‘Commandment’ No. 2 above that states: ‘In style’ are the clothes that fit you’.

Not so. Not so at all. At all. At all. No, sir. No way. I am delighted to announce that the

clothes we seniors wear are, if not the height of fashion, definitely fashionable. I know this because of a very interesting article I read in one of the dailies a week or so ago stating that when it comes to fashion, 2024 is apparently the year of the ‘eclectic grandfather’!

This fashion trend is called ‘grandpacore’ and yours truly, and many of my peers, are leading the way (mind you we didn’t know we were leading the way but apparently we are) It seems that many of the younger generation are raiding their grandfathers’ wardrobes. Fashion-wise we are top of the pops, so to speak. Top of the grand-pops, you could say.

Cardigans, scarves (got two for Christmas) and sensible slacks are in vogue now as are roomy trousers, belts (when did belts ever go out of fashion?) and braces if you’re brave and extravert enough to wear them.

I can’t believe this. Actually I can. And here’s why.

I’m a hoarder, right?

And it’s not at all unusual, especially at this time of year, decluttering time and all that, for my good wife to beckon me to our bedroom (oh not for any romantic malarkey, we’re 40 years married for God sake) open my wardrobe, remove a

jacket or pants, and say: “Should it stay or should it go?” That’s not exactly what she might say – she’s not a Clash fan. Nor am I. She simply says: “Stay or go?” This is repeated a number of times with numerous items of my clothing and my reply, much to her annoyance, is almost

always: “Stay.”

And I say ‘stay’ because, as I’ve already confessed, I’m a hoarder and because, as I’ve been telling my better half for years now, it may come back into fashion.

And now I am vindicated.

Now those neutral-shades, roomy trousers (my wife calls them baggy) patterned cardigans, and that herring-bone tweed overcoat I’ve had, and have been protecting from culling, for years, are ‘all the go’ as they say.

Am I chuffed? Am I what?

Did I ever think I’d be a ‘fashion icon’ in my senior years? Mmm! Okay, maybe not an icon but you know what? You never know what’s around the corner. Not least the Fashion Afficionadas’ corner.

Finally, a thought for the day, for the week, for the month, for the year – You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Otherwise you’d be a mug.

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News

Bowie Day - A night of music, magic, and meaning at Ryan's Bar Kilkenny, next Saturday the 20th - Get ready for a night of Bowie magic as “Bowie Day” returns to Ryan's Bar. This special event, organised by Aoife Meagher and Kevin Bruce and hosted at one of Kilkenny's favorite live music venues, aims to raise funds for a crucial cause - Kilkenny Helping the Homeless.

The musicians, fuelled by their passion for David Bowie's iconic legacy, are generously donating their time to create an unforgettable live music experience.

The event is not just a celebration of Bowie's music but also a heartfelt initiative to make a positive impact on our local community.

A Musical Extravaganza for a Worthy Cause The line-up for the evening is nothing short of spectacular, featuring performances by renowned artists such as Pete Holidai and Tony St. Ledger of the Trouble Pilgrims, formerly of the Radiators from Space.

The Oddities will add their unique flair to the stage, and local special guests Tony Cleere, Aoife Meagher, Jan Murphy, Sylvia Knox, and Canice Kenealy promise to make the night truly exceptional.

But Bowie Day is not just about the music; it's about community, compassion, and giving back. All proceeds from this FREE gig will go directly to Kilkenny Helping the Homeless, an organisation committed to supporting those facing homelessness and poverty in our locality.

Supporting Kilkenny Help-

ing the Homeless There will be a raffle on the night with a myriad of exciting Bowie prizes. Attendees can contribute to this noble cause by making donations on the night or conveniently online. Simply scan the QR code provided or visit the GoFundMe page dedicated to Kilkenny Helping the Homeless.

The issue of homelessness is a pressing concern, with reasons ranging from relationship breakdowns to termination notices.

Government statistics often overlook the 'hidden homeless,' those living in shelters, or with friends and family in overcrowded conditions.

Kilkenny Helping the Homeless works tirelessly to provide essential resources such as food, personal items, and household necessities to those in need.

By attending Bowie Day at Ryan's Bar, you're not just enjoying a night of fantastic music; you're contributing to a cause that makes a real

difference in the lives of your neighbours.

Join us this Saturday at 8.30pm for Bowie Day – a

celebration of music, community, and compassion.

Let's come together to support Kilkenny Helping

the Homeless and make a positive impact on the lives of those facing homelessness in our community.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Science & Wellbeing

What the family will look like by 2100

A 65-year-old woman living in 1950 had 41 living relatives in her extended family. By 2100, such a woman is projected to have just 25 living relatives.

Middle-aged adults may come under increasing pressure, forced to care for their children while also caring for their older parents.

The structure of families is projected to radically change by the year 2100, with significant ramifications for societies around the globe, according to a study recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences which explored how the size and structure of families would change by the end of the century.

At the end of this century, humanity’s population growth on Earth is predicted to conclude, ending hundreds of thousands of years of proliferation in which our species evolved from living in scattered, ragtag bands to inhabiting nearly every region of the planet. This grand levelling off at an estimated population of 10.4 bil-

lion will reshape civilisation as we know it.

The future of family life One way all humans will personally experience the seismic shift is in their family lives. In a study recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team of demographers explored how the size and structure of families will change by the end of the century.

To conduct their analysis, the researchers ran a model through the dataset behind the United Nation’s World Population Prospects, the organisation’s official population projections for 237 countries. The model returned estimates for the number and type of relatives that a person could expect to have as an infant, a 35-year-old, and a 65-year-old in the year 1950, today, and 2100.

Globally, the researchers estimated that a 65-year-old woman living in 1950 had 41 living relatives in her extended family. Included in

the tally are great-grandchildren, grandchildren, children, nieces, nephews, first cousins, siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and greatgrandparents. By 2100, such a woman will have just 25 relatives, they found.

This familial decline will play out across the globe, but its magnitude varies depending upon the country.

Take, for example, a 35-yearold woman living in the United States, where the population is projected to reach a high of 370 million in 2080 before edging slightly downward to 366 million in 2100. In 1950, she could expect to have 33 relatives in her extended family.

Today, the average 35-year-old woman has just 24 relatives. In 2100, she will have 18.

The experience of a 65-yearold woman living in China will change even more drastically.

In 1950, she would have had 61 living relatives, including 21 cousins and 15 grandchildren!

Today, an identically aged woman has 49 relatives. And by 2100, a 65-year-old woman

will have just 14 family members!

China is certainly an outlier in the data. Owing to the country’s misguided, decadeslong one-child policy, poor economic growth, high childrearing costs, and almost nonexistent international immigration, China’s population is predicted to decline from 1.4 billion today to below 800 million in 2100.

Such a collapse will force a rethink of China’s current social pact within families. While it’s currently common for adult grandchildren, adult children, siblings, and cousins to look after declining elders, such familial resources will simply not exist in a few decades.

Vertical and horizontal families The societal effects set to strike China will also occur in almost every other country, albeit to lesser degrees. As the researchers describe, families are set to become more “vertical” rather than “horizontal.” In other words, they will be spread out

along the age spectrum, with far fewer cousins and siblings and slightly more great-grandchildren and great-grandparents.

“In Italy, for example, the average age of a grandmother of a 35-year- old woman is expected to increase from 77.9 years in 1950 to 87.7 years in 2095,” the authors wrote.

In the US, dinners and gatherings with extended family, once a staple of American life, are projected to grow increasingly rare, especially considering that family members now live father apart than they used to.

It also means that middleaged adults in most countries will likely come under increasing pressure. Considering that individuals are delaying having kids until later in life, age gaps between generations are rising.

This means that grandparents are far older than they used to be and thus less able to fulfill the childcare role they once did. Now, and in the future, they might even require

care from their adult children at the same time their adult children are raising young kids of their own. This situation could become increasingly untenable for adults in their prime, expected to simultaneously drive a country’s economy while caring for the young and old.

Surveyed in the summer of 2023 about their views on the changing family dynamics, Americans told Pew Research Centre that they think declining fertility will positively impact women’s careers and the environment, but negatively impact Social Security and the economy overall. The authors said that governments may need to help fill the roles once taken on by extended family members: “Our findings support the calls for more investment in childcare and old-age care to alleviate the burden of individuals aging with fewer kinship resources to rely on.”

Childless individuals, and maybe even robots, might be asked to step up.

Pancreatic cancer breakthrough by DCU scientists Patients who develop pancreatic cancer that is resistant to drugs have been given new hope following a breakthrough by Irish scientists.

The scientists at Dublin City ­University (DCU) have found a way to successfully treat

drug-resistant pancreatic cancer cells in laboratory experiments.

They have been able to get around the resistance using a new drug-­delivery technology.

Pancreatic cancer affects

almost 600 people in Ireland each year and it has a low five-year survival rate.

Lead researcher Professor Silvia Giordani, of the School of Chemical Sciences at DCU, discovered a m ­ ethod to more exactly deliver medicines to

pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. This is a cancer cell type known for its aggression and its resistance to treatments.

“Despite a less common occurrence, with four or five cases per 100,000 people,

PDAC poses a significant global challenge due to its typically late diagnosis and poor response to existing therapies,” Prof Giordani said.

“The five-year survival rate is only 8% and it is the fourth

most frequent cause of cancer-related premature mortality.”

The new delivery system is based on “carbon-nano onions” which are tiny spheres made of carbon with several layers, similar to an onion.

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Teacht an Earraigh as Tradfest launches its headline acts

Clare Sands

As we battle through a current cold snap, Tradfest Kilkenny’s organisers have launched the headline acts who will grace the city’s stages and venues on St. Patrick’s weekend this year.

Perennial favourites Hothouse Flowers, John Spillane and Iarla Ó Lionáird will be joined by newcomers including Pádraig Jack, Buíoch, Breaking Trad and Clare Sands.

Festival Committee Chairperson, Brendan Treacy, said they were very excited with this year’s lineup and the fact that tickets are already selling within days of becoming available: ‘Kilkenny Tradfest’s small team have worked really hard in recent months to secure some of the best performers in the traditional music scene in Ireland. Despite the attraction for so many artists to travel abroad for the national festival, we have consistently attracted both long-established acts and relative newcomers who are showing the brightness of the future of traditional and folk music.

We are particularly excited to host the legendary Shaskeen group with Katie Theasby,

celebrating their fifty-third year in the music business. Having been formed in London in 1970, they have released fifteen albums in that time and have featured some of the bestknown names in traditional music over the more than half a century of their time on the road. The band is led by Tom Cussen, along with fellow Clare musicians Eamonn and Clare Cotter, Mary Liddy and Dave Sanders. Connemara box player Patsy McDonagh and Mayo bodhrán player, Johnny Donnellan are joined by London native and Clare-based singer, Katie Theasby, who has been singing on the Irish and English folk scene for decades, including an appearance at Glastonbury festival at just fourteen years of age. The band will perform in the Pembroke Hotel on Saturday 16th March at 7.00 pm.

Hothouse Flowers are always a hit in Kilkenny, since their earliest appearances in the 1980’s. They have close family contacts in the county and always put on a powerful and upbeat performance with numbers from their own back catalogue of over twelve

albums. They also heavily feature their own takes on Irish and international sean-nós and traditional songs and tunes. Their Friday night (15th March gig at 8.30 pm) sees our festival return to the Ormonde Hotel, which has hosted many legendary gigs over the years and there will be plenty room for dancing to the Flowers pulsating beats!

Pádraig Jack from Inis Mór on the Aran Islands has been making waves in the singing scene in recent years and featuring in festival line-ups all over the country and abroad.

The bilingual singer-songwriter broke through with his debut album Making Sand which immediately became RTÉ Radio’s album of the week and earned him nominations in the national folk awards’ Brendan thanked the festival committee and all the members of Kilkenny City Vintners for their hard work putting on the festival so far and said they were looking forward to another great St. Patrick’s weekend with seventy free sessions on the festival’s Bulmers Music Trail.

Kilkenny is definitely where

Breaking Trad

HHF

Buíoch

the musicians want to be for the national holiday and we look forward to seeing so many old friends of the festival getting together for mighty tunes and songs, here in Ireland’s medieval capital.

The festival has put all the tickets for its headline, paid and ticketed events on https://kilkennytradfest. com/tickets/ and will be releasing more information in the coming weeks.

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News

Minister Humphreys unveils €120,553 boost for County Kilkenny's Community and Sports Projects On Friday last, 12th January, Minister for Rural & Community Development, Heather Humphreys, TD, announced a significant €120,553 injection of funds to support a range of community and sports initiatives in County Kilkenny.

This follows the broader national announcement of €6.2 million under the 2023 CLÁR Programme.

The funding, part of the Government's 'Our Rural Future' initiative, underscores a commitment to transforming rural towns and villages into vibrant, sustainable hubs. The projects set to benefit from this support include astro-turf pitches, playgrounds, sensory gardens, walking tracks, nature trails, outdoor performance spaces, and community cafes.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Michael Doyle, T.D., expressed his appreciation, stating, "This funding is a further commitment and investment from the Government in supporting rural Ireland. It is a boost for rural communities and sports facilities

in County Kilkenny, improving the overall quality of life."

The breakdown of the €120,553 grant for County Kilkenny is as follows: Kilkenny County Council supported by Coolagh Community Group: €45,000 Kilkenny County Council Upgrade Public Lighting Muckalee: €24,750 Galmoy Community Hall: €30,015 Windgap Tidy Towns: €20,788 This announcement builds upon the €174,916 grant announced in December 2023 for County Kilkenny under the CLÁR programme. Recipients of this funding included Tullogher Rosbercon GAA Club, Muckalee Football Club, Kilmoganny GAA Club, and St. Martin's GAA Club, Coon.

The funding is set to make a visible impact on the local communities, supporting projects that improve recreational and social spaces. As County Kilkenny continues to thrive, these investments contribute to the long-term development and prosperity of the region.

Kilkenny Library Service announce call out for facilitators Kilkenny Library Service are planning a diverse range of programming for the coming year 2024/2025 We wish to invite submissions from facilitators seeking to join a panel for programming during this time Facilitators for the panel may be chosen to deliver workshops, specialist talks, storytelling, and other tailored events to children, teens, adults, and specialist groups.

These will be delivered in our network of 8 branch libraries throughout Kilkenny County.

We invite proposals for a broad range of one-off events, series of themed talks/ events, or more long-term projects.

We welcome events held through Irish, English and other languages.

Where working with children, compliance is essential with appropriate

legislation with regards to Health and Safety and Children First.

To be considered for the panel please email Aideen.McDonald@ kilkennylibrary.ie for an application form. The application form is also available for download on our website at www.kilkennylibrary.ie/eng/news/ Executive Librarian with Kilkenny Library Service Aideen McDonald says, “This facilitator panel will give us a unique opportunity to tap into the talent within Kilkenny County and surrounding areas. It will enable us to deliver a diverse range of programmes aimed at enhancing the life of our citizens, throughout our library branch network”.

Deadline for expressions of interest: Friday 9th February 2024

Over 300 members of the Irish Defence Forces graduate at South East Technological University More than 300 military officers and enlisted personnel today received their qualifications at the conferring of academic awards on members of the Defence Forces by South East Technological University. The ceremony, which took place at SETU’s Carlow campus is the largest annual military graduation in the State from a higher education institution.

Awards this year range from the Master of Engineering in Ordnance, Munitions, and Explosives Engineering, to bachelor’s degrees and higher certificates in Leadership, Management, and Defence Studies.

At today’s ceremony, President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell, commented, “On behalf of the SETU community, I want to congratulate each and every one of our over 300 graduates from the Defence Forces who are receiving awards today.

A special congratulations to those long-serving and retired members of the Defence Forces who completed programmes via the Recognition of Prior Learning process. I want to commend

L-R Graduates Darragh Callaghan from Wicklow, Alannah Harnan from Athlone, and Tadhg Weadick from Dublin, were pictured at SETU’s conferring ceremonies. They each graduated with a Certificate in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies at the university’s Carlow campus.

Photo Credit: Mary Browne, Brownes Photography

the enormous commitment you have made to engaging in higher education alongside the important work that you carry out in your professional careers.”

Speaking on SETU’s work with the Defence Forces, Prof.

Campbell continued, “Our collaborative partnership with the Defence Forces has grown from strength to strength since it began in 2012. To date, over 2,000 military personnel have received awards from SETU. It is our privilege to play a part

in supporting the educational attainment of Defence Forces members through the exchange of knowledge and academic development.

In April 2023, SETU and the Defence Forces renewed our Memorandum of Agreement,

originally signed in 2012.

The signing was particularly significant as it is the first official agreement between the Defence Forces and our new university. I look forward to working together on future opportunities to grow our

collaboration in line with SETU’s vision for the region, and with the Defence Forces own strategic objectives.”

Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, commented, “I am very proud of all today's deserved recipients. These awards are a culmination of what has been a very challenging and rewarding process for all today's recipients. Lifelong learning is one of the key tenets of a career in the Defence Forces.

The Defence Forces values and promotes education opportunities and supports the concept of “life-long learning” whereby personnel are encouraged to up-skill and re-skill continuously so that they can adapt to the complex and changing demands of military deployments and to deliver effective military capability.

Finally, I would like to thank SETU’s President, Professor Veronica Campbell and her dedicated team of academics and administrators for their work in the delivery of high quality education experiences to members of the Defence Forces.”

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News

Climate Change

– are we all playing our part?

WEEK51

“Is anyone looking where we are going?”

Local business awarded ‘Retailer Partner of the Year’ by HP Ireland ElectroCity is delighted to announce that it has been awarded Retail Partner of the Year by HP Ireland at an awards ceremony co-hosted

by Intel at The Ivy in Dublin.

The title was awarded in recognition of ElectroCity’s partnership with HP in Ireland and for its commitment to bring and showcase the latest in technology to its loyal customer base.

The Retail Partner of the Year award from HP Ireland, in partnership with Intel serves as a testament to ElectroCity’s commitment to providing high quality products and exceptional customer service to shoppers across the country.

Speaking about the award Keith McCullagh, area manager at Electrocity said: “We are immensely proud to receive the Retail Partner of the Year award from HP Ireland. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team as well as the loyalty of our valued customers who continue to shop local.”

Established in 1993, Electrocity is a locally owned and family run business with stores in Kilkenny, Carlow and

its newly refurbished flagship store in Waterford and an online store with nationwide delivery at electrocity.ie.

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Opinion

Old time fun and games

Part one

Lower Bridge Street in early 1900s

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

In the opening decades of the twentieth century, Callan people, young and old, had to make their own sports and amusements. In an age devoid of TV, radio, computers, and all the other mod cons we now take for granted, open-air fun was all the rage.

That was in the hours of daylight. Once night fell, people gathered in homely circles around the firesides to share memories, stories, and tall tales.

Through clouds of pipesmoke, wise men spoke shrewd and judicious words that held their listeners spellbound. Wise women were in circulation too, but “the times that were in it” militated against them being over-assertive.

Youngsters filled the four traffic-free streets of the town on a typical day in 1912 without a care in the world.

Automobiles were a new phenomenon in the early years. Once the horse-drawn mail car had departed for Kilkenny at 8 AM, you had the streets to yourself.

The only distraction involving modern means of transportation was provided when Hawe’s gigantic Steam Engine and Thrashing Mill rolled through town, or when one of the Fitzgeralds of Bauntha passed along the street on a County Council

roller.

Peter Roughan, whp penned the weekly Callan Looks Back column for a local paper, remembered how a jovial Mattie Fitzgerald rubbed an oily rag on the faces of young fellows who came too close to the machine.

All over town handball was played: At the big gate in the company yard in Mill Street, and against the gable end of Sgt. Casey’s house down at the pump. In Mill Lane, the handballers played against Lynch’s wall. The carpenter Paddy Holden, Ned Downey, Tommy Holden, and Jimmie Dalton spent much of their childhoods and early teens in Mill Lane.

Fennelly’s forge on the Kilkenny road served as another alley, as did the gable end of Townsend’s house at the Commons, where Jimmy Doheny of Maxtown refereed hundreds- if not thousandsof matches.

In Green Street, Walsh’s mill gate by the Market House (Town Hall), the Workhouse gate, and the Academy building were the sporting venues.

In West Street, the Creamery wall, and Pollard’s timber stores attracted players.

Skipping ropes abounded too…Girls laughed, sang, or recited little rhymes as they skipped in the streets and pathways. And children invented their own games.

A favourite one was “Boers and English”. Large groups of boys divided into rival gangs of Boers and English warriors to engage in pitched

battles on the Moat.

When tactical retreats turned into routs, the lads on the losing side would make a run for it through people’s back gardens in Bridge Street, or into the shadowy heart of the Dark Walk, where the sudden flurry of activity and excitable yelling raised hundreds of shrieking jackdaws from the trees.

Snowball fights dominated the winter fun and games in the street. The safest place to be when the missiles started flying was directly in front of the plate-glass window of the Hotel in Green Street. No one dared incur Mrs. Callanan’s wrath.

The occasional circus in

A Callan football team of the early 1920s

town brought great joy, and the Hurdy Gurdies on the Green fired the imagination of every child.

For older folk, there was always the “Parliament”- as it was called- on Pollard’s Corner at the Cross, where people gathered to exchange gossip and deliberate on all the issues of the day… such as hurling, saving hay, “how to get a woman”, how to satisfy the one you’d already “got”, the weather, the price of sheep, or what the priest meant by his peculiar sermon…

Pollard’s Corner was where you got everything off your chest, and the parliamentary sessions were held seven

days a week: There was no break for holidays and no Summer Recess.

The chatter could be bright and breezy…or dark and foreboding. It depended on what the main topics and concerns happened to be on a given day.

While the men debated, with gravitas and authority, their womenfolk had to be kept at a safe distance, so as not to overhear, or… perish the thought…join the conversations. The ladies huddled into groups of their own to speculate on what the men might be talking about, and to discuss all the town’s comings and goings… real or imagined.

It must be remembered that this was an age in which women were denied the right to vote, among other unfair restrictions they had to put up with. It was a commonly held belief among men at the time that women, as “empty-headed, irrational, chatter-boxes to whom logic is anathema”, to quote one British M.P.- would do immense harm to the country if they “meddled” in politics or achieved any degree of influence in society.

Today, we know this to be untrue, though it’s easy to be wise with the benefit of hindsight.

To be continued...

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Saturday Walkers Club

A forgotten Kilkenny School

The Feinaiglian Boarding School for general education at Nore View, Kilkenny. ( from Old Kilkenny Review 19580)

Home Rule Club and Boat Slip Kilkenny , circa 1920

1864: St Patrick’s Gate, upper Patrick Street, Kilkenny. The Home Rule Club began here

Any student of Kilkenny local through the Library of the history must wonder about R.D.S. and a bust caught his atthe school at Nore View House tention because it represented and it’s whereabouts. Advera man called Gregory Von tisements appeared in the Feinaigle. local Press from 1840 publicisHe got some information on ing this school gave the name Feinaigle and found that the of its headmaster and owner latter had run a very successful who was Dr James St John school in Dublin from about B.A. T.C.D. L.LD. 1811 to 1819, and had taught The school was built for by “Mnemonics”. the purpose for which it was intended, having the river Nore to the front and playing fields at the rear.

A later advertisement described it as the Feinaiglian School at Nore View, Kilkenny.

The question then arose as to where it was situated.?

There were/ are many “Nore Views” in Kilkenny but none big enough for a school.

The dormitory was described as large enough to take twelve boarders.

Natives of Kilkenny were contacted whose ancestors attended the school and were listed as prize winners could not locate it either.

Some years later a Mr. Dobbs sent on information to the Kilkenny Isaac Butt, Archaeological founder of the Society that Home Rule by chance he League in 1873 was passing

The Home Rule Club Kilkenny, photographed in 2023

Further research showed a Dublin location called Aldburgh House as having a school called Luxembourg and run by a Dr. Von Feinaigle.

It was good to know the kind of school a Feinaglian school was, but where was its location?

A Sherman of High Street (1839) directory of Carlow, Kilkenny, and Waterford was rumoured to have an illustration of both Nore View School and Kilkenny Col-

lege.

This Directory was located in the National Library but sadly, though there was an advertisement for the School, the illustration had been removed.

Contact was made with Dr. F.S. Bourke a Kilkennyman and a member of the K.A.S if he had any information of the School or the Directory.

He sent on the Directory immediately and best of all it contained the illustration of the School.

The School occupied the premises of what is now the

The head master Dr. James St. John died in 1873, a white marble slab to his memory is in the North West corner of St. Canice’s Cathedral

Home Rule Club situated on John Quay.

The exterior is exactly as it was in 1839 when T. Shearman issued the Directory. Permission was granted to visit, the rooms were well calculated to hold a school, and the muchvaunted room of the advertisement the Dormitory, 40 feet x 18 feet, is still the same as in its first day. On the top the five windows face the Nore and Kilkenny marble fire places

were in every room and they and the cut stone doorway, all probably the work of Colles of Maddockstown.

On a visit to the club, the Kilkenny Archaeological Society found all traditions and traces of a school had disappeared. It was recalled by a local that the club was originally a school an intriguing and original kind of school, it was with its new fangled Feinaiglian methods.

Built so close to the river Nore as to terrify the parents (no wall then existed) yet there is no record of any accident.

The head master Dr. James St. John died in 1873, and a white marble slab to his memory is in the North West corner of St. Canices Cathedral.

The Old Commercial Club took over the premises in 1892, and in 1907 the Home Rule Club took over from the Commercial Club.

Until then from its inception the Home Rule Club had occupied the Arch House in Patrick Street, now no more.

The Home Rule Club is still in existence and celebrated it’s 125th anniversary. It is the only surviving such Club in Ireland Source: Old Kilkenny Review 1958

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Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

History of the Thyestes Chase This article was written by Michael Doyle, student at Ormonde College of Further Education on work experience with The Kilkenny Observer It’s that time of the year again.

With the last Thursday of January fast approaching, it can only be the Thyestes Chase. A national horseracing event steeped in history; hundreds of racegoers new and old across Ireland attend

Gowran Park for one of the biggest races of the year. The Thyestes Chase is a handicap steeplechase which is ran over 3 miles and 1 furlong (5,029 meters). Sponsored by bloodstock auctioneers Goffs, a maximum of 18 competitors take part in the race, having to jump over 17 fences to win the honors and compete in a prize fund of €100,000. Ahead of the 70th edition of the Thyestes Chase, we look at the rich history of the Thyestes Chase,

To celebrate his rich and short-lived career, the Thyestes trophy was first unveiled by Major Dermot McCalmont at the Kilkenny Show, for a horse race of horses aged 5 years old. A horse owned by Mr. John McEnery of Rossenarra Stud, Kells, and ridden by his son Martin, claimed the trophy. The McEnery family later presented the trophy to Gowran Park for what would be known as the first running of the Thyestes Chase. The first Thyestes Chase was run in 1954. Since then, it’s had many famous winners such as Arkle in 1964, Hedgehunter in 2004, and Numbersixvalverde in 2005, all of whom would go on to win the Aintree Grand National.

how it came to be, and the different types of horse racing.

Where does the Thyestes Chase come from?

The name of the race comes from the racehorse, Thyestes, who was named after the King of Olympia in Greek mythology. Major Vincent McCalmont of Mount Juliet took over the responsibility of breeding Thyestes, with Atty Pearse overseeing his training at Stockbridge,

Wiltshire. While he only ever ran in and won two races, the National Breeders Produce Stakes at Sandown Park (over 5 furlongs), and the Rous Memorial Stakes at Goodwood (over 6 furlongs), this success earned him the rating of being the thirdbest two-year-old in 1930.

Unfortunately, injury curtailed what should have led to further racing victories, then he was moved to Yorkshire, and retired to stud.

Types of Horse Racing Handicap A handicap race is a race where horses face the challenge of being handicapped by carrying different weights supplied by the handicapper, depending on the age, quality, and past performances of the horse.

Better horses carry heavier weights, while other horses carry less weights, in an aim for equal competition. The reasoning behind handicaps is to provide a competitive edge in the race, an interest to see which horse can get the better of their respective handicap, and which horse could take advantage of their lesser handicap. Examples of handicapped races include

the Aintree Grand National and the Melbourne Cup. Steeplechase The steeplechase is a horse race that features fences. The steeplechase first originated in Ireland in the 18th Century, where horseraces would be measured from one church steeple to another, jumping over ditches and other obstacles in between. This would later be known as steeple chasing. Examples of steeplechase races include the Aintree Grand National and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

Flat A well-known form of horseracing, the Flat racing season runs from mid-March to mid-November, with turf being most frequently used for track surfaces in Europe.

The most common distances for flat racing are between five and twelve furlongs (1.0 and 2.4 km). Examples of Flat races include the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Epsom Derby. Other types of horse races include Hurdle racing, Endurance racing, and Harness racing.

In conclusion, The Thyestes Chase is a wonderful race, with a great history. Here’s hoping that the 70th edition of the Thyestes Chase is truly one to remember for jockeys, owners, trainers, punters, and everyone associated with Gowran Park. The odds are on for a great day!

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Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

Winter racing style at Connolly’s Red Mills so you can look best turned out this Thyestes Day

W

e are in full swing into the National Hunt Racing Season, with lots of exciting fixtures to come over the next few months both at home and abroad, and along with the thrill and excitement of jumps racing, the fashion is always in focus in and out of the parade ring.

As one of the foremost fixtures in January, Thyestes Day at Gowran Park has grown from strength to strength in the past few years, with racegoers travelling from all over the country for the ‘Race that stops a county’. With both RTE Sport and Racing TV broadcasting live from the raceday, there’s even more of a reason to dust off the fedoras and get the good coat out, especially on the off chance that one might end up on the telly.

But what does one wear racing in January, or even February or March for that matter? With summer racing dominated by fancy frocks and fascinators, dressing appropriately is key for your winter racing outfits. Whether you’re hitting Gowran for Thyestes Day in January, or Red Mills Day in February, or heading across the water for Cheltenham in March, the likelihood is it’s going to be brass monkeys.

Bear in mind that if you want to really experience the thrill of your horse thundering past the post in first place, you’re going to be outdoors quite a bit. In addition, you’ll be on your feet standing in the one spot in the fresh January air.

Layers are your best friend here.

Whatever your outfit is on the day, the option to peel off a layer as you move from the parade ring to the lounge.

Accessories are a big part of this – think scarves, hats, gloves – all providing an extra bit of warmth that can easily be removed in a jiffy if needed.

For the ladies, our top 3 key pieces would have to be: 1. A long warm dressy coat 2. A stylish but practical pair of boots 3. A hat – ideally in a fedora style We’ve chosen a few of our favourites from Red Mills at Cillin Hill in Kilkenny – rooted in Equine history for their success at feeding some of the world’s most elite racehorses, Red Mills opened their flagship store at Cillin Hill in 2017 and have arguably the finest selection of racing appropriate ladies and menswear in the country. With exclusive brands such as Fairfax & Favor, Schoffel, Le Chameau and Barbour, shoppers travel from up and down the country to browse this unique mix of lifestyle brands.

For the men, things are inevitably more straightforward and we recommend just two essential wardrobe pieces for a day at the track.

1. The trusty overcoat. Tweed is very on point, but wool or wax will also do.

2. A smart hat will keep the rain off and the sun out of your eyes Red Mills have amassed a gorgeous selection of menswear and count some of the top trainers and jockeys around as regular customers. With this in mind we selected our favourites from their menswear, which are racing appropriate and will keep you looking in top form.

t Cristina Barros Women's Long Coat in Red

t King Louie Women's Mary Coat Murphy in Beaujolais Red

u Fairfax & Favor Regina Leather Boots in Mahogany

p Bailey Classic Fedora Hat in Red

p Hicks & Brown Suffolk Fedora in Cinnamon with Pheasant Feather Wrap x Dubarry Women's Sligo Country Boots in Walnut

u Bailey Curtis Fedora Hat In Vintage Blue y Schoffel Men's Oakham Fleece Gilet in Navy

z WG Women's Paddington Long Coat in Coffee

y Schoffel Men's Ptamirgan Classic Coat in Corry Tweed

q Dubarry Men's Urlingford Down Parka Jacket in Ivy

x Dubarry Frontier Fedora Hat in Brown x Schoffel Men's St. Andrews Tweed Sports Jacket in Corry Tweed

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Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

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Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

THYESTES 2024

BY MICHAEL O'LEARY

Next Thursday afternoon on January 25th, Thyestes Day takes place in Gowran Park, and as always a capacity crowd can be expected for one of the most prestigious days of the year.

This year, The Thyestes Chase celebrates it's 70th anniversary since it was first run in 1954, and the race has produced an illustrious roll of honour with horses of the calibre of Arkle(1964) and Flyingbolt (1966) landing the spoils, both trained by Tom Dreaper, while in the Mid 2000s, two subsequent Aintree Grand National winners would emerge victorious courtesy of Hedgehunter(2004) and Numbersixvalverde(2005).

The Willie Mullins trained Carefully Selected landed last years feature in a thriller where a photo finish was required to decide the outcome, and that victory gave the Champion Trainer his 9th Thyestes triumph.

The Clossuton native will be expected to have a strong

hand in this years feature, where he will be attempting to win the race for an unprecedented 10th time.

Willie's 1st win in The Thyestes came in 2000 when Mickos Dream with Jason Titley landed the spoils, and further victories arrived courtesy Further victories followed courtesy of Hedgehunter under David Casey in 2004, before Homer Wells with Davy Condon onboard gave The Champion Trainer his Third Thyestes win in 2007.

From 2012 onwards, The Closutton native began to dominate as he trained the winner of The Gowran feature on 6 occassions between 2012 and 2023.

On His Own gave David Casey his third Thyestes victory in 2012, before repeating the feat two years later in 2014 with Champion jockey Paul Townend on board.

12 months later in 2015, Djakadam with Ruby Walsh onboard defied top weight of 11-10 in thick fog on Heavy Ground to run out a very impressive winner to give Willie his 6th Thyestes success.

Ruby and Willie combined for further Thyestes glory with Invitation Only in 2019, while 12 months later in 2020, Gow-

ran native Danny Mullins was on board Total Recall to give his Uncle an 8th Thyestes Triumph.

Paul Townend was in the saddle as Carefully Selected denied Dunboyne in a photo finish last year, and as stable jockey he will surely be aboard one of the leading fancies for The Champion Trainer.

Willie Mullins (6) and Gordon Elliott(10) are responsible for 16 of the 26 entries, while other entries declared are The Ted Walsh trained Any Second Now who was twice placed in The Aintree Grand National(2021 and 2022) along with 2022 Thyestes winner Longhouse Poet.

Ted Walsh's very first runner as a trainer was actually the winner of The Thyestes Chase in 1991 with Roc De Prince prevailing in a thrilling finish.

The supporting card on Thyestes Day is led by The Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle that has

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Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

produced a number of top class winners over the years.

Among the winners on the Roll of Honour list are 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War of Attrition who won the race in 2010, Twice Cheltenham Festival winner Presenting Percy who won in 2018 and 2019, while the Willie Mullins trained Benie Des Dieux won in 2020 having won The Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2018.

Last years Galmoy Hurdle was won highly impressively

by The Gordon Elliott trained Teahupoo, with Davy Russell having come out of temporary retirement to take over from the injury bound Jack Kennedy, and he is almost

certain to line-up again this year having won The Hattons Grace Hurdle prior to running in Gowran Park last year.

Teahupoo won his second consecutive Hattons Grace Hurdle in early December following an epic finish, and he is a proven Gowran specialist having also won The Red Mills Hurdle in February 2022.

Elsewhere, the action commences with The Langtons Kilkenny Handicap Hurdle followed by The Connolly's Red Mills Ladies Hurdle.

Also on the card, their is a Beginners Steeplechase sponsored by Daly Farrell Chartered Accountants in Friary Street, Kilkenny along

with The Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle in which Gowran Man Jimmy Barcoe Trained Allez Kal to victory in 2019.

The Concluding Bumper will more than likely see Willie and Patrick Mullins have a strongly fancied contender.

Meanwhile, at the launch for The Thyestes meeting, the new state of the art weighing room facilities were officially opened by Willie Mullins along with his Mum Mrs Maureen Mullins,shareholder, and former Director of Gowran Park.

The large, invited attendance were treated to a show around of the facility from

Chairman Joe Connolly and General Manager Eddie Scally, and Thyestes Day will be the first time the new weighing room facilities will be in official use.

Finally, a special moment next Thursday will be the parading of Hewick, The King George winner trained

by John "Shark" Hanlon and that will bring the roof down with a raptorous recepetion following his memorable St. Stephens Day triumph in Kempton.

So much to look forward to next Thursday Afternoon, in what promises to be another wonderful day in one of the most prestigious days on the racing and local calendar.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

L-R Alex Wilson, Eddie Scally, Tony Mullins, Joe Connolly, Mrs. Maureen Mullins, Willie Mullins, Suzanne Eade and Henry Beeby of Goffs

Photos by Amanda Burke Wednesday saw a new dawn at Gowran Park racecourse with the unveiling of their new state of the art weigh room facility which has just been completed by Dunlop Architects and Kilkenny’s Ormonde Construction. The official opening honours were left to Champion Irish Jumps Trainer WP Mullins and his Mom, Mrs. Maureen Mullins, shareholder, and former Director of Gowran Park.

The large, invited attendance were treated to a show around of the facility from Chairman Joe Connolly and General Manager Eddie Scally.

Speaking at the official opening was Henry Beeby, Group Chief Executive of Goffs, title sponsors of the Goffs Thyestes Chase day at Gowran Park, who said: “Everyone at Goffs congratulates Eddie Scally and the Board of Directors at Gowran Park on the opening of their magnificent new weigh room. The team at Gowran Park consistently go above and beyond to enhance the race day experience for racegoers, industry professionals and sponsors alike and this excellent new facility is testament to their vision and hard work.

Goffs Thyestes Chase is one of the highlights of our year and marks the start of the inspection period for the market leading Goffs Arkle Sale.

We are delighted to have recently renewed our sponsorship of the iconic race for a further four years and look forward to a fantastic day here at Gowran next week..

Eddie Scally of Gowran Park commented “This is a proud day for all the team here at Gowran to finally get this project over the line and ready for Goffs Thyestes Day 2024. This is phase two of a five phase plan which started with the building of our new entrance area just before covid struck.

It was a pleasure working with the teams from Dunlop’s and Ormonde construction and I must congratulate them on producing what we feel is a weigh room befitting our racecourse. I would like to thank all who contributed to this project from jockeys to valets from stewards to industry professionals and of course our Board of Directors who were always supportive and helpful throughout this process”.

Joe Connolly – Chairman of Gowran Park said “2024 will be a massive year for this racecourse starting with the opening of this weigh room. This project has been in planning for many years, and I would like to thank all who contributed to this in anyway and HRI whose professional & financial support was essential for this project to be completed. Later this year we will be opening the rooftop area of this weigh room which will house our Sponsors & Directors Lounge, this phase is almost complete, and we will host another open evening at one of our flat race days in April.

It has always been the ambition of the board of directors to leave Gowran Park in a better position than when we took up our roles and this is another big step in getting us to our vision for Gowran Park”.

The first use of this new facility in Gowran Park will be on the time honored Goffs Thyestes Chase Day which will be again covered live on RTE & Racing TV. Early bird general admission tickets are still available at www.gowranpark.ie but all hospitality is now sold out.

Courtesy buses will leave from Kilkenny Castle two hours before the first race.

Gowran Park unv of the art new wei WP Mullins, Champion Irish Jumps Trainer

Joe Connolly, Mrs. Maureen Mullins, Willie Mullins

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Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024 Gowran Park, New Weigh Room.

Photo: Vicky Comerford

L-R Pat Fitzpatrick, Larry Power, Mary Hilda Cavanagh, Michael Doyle Cathaoirleach, Eddie Scally and John Hurley

Joe Connolly, Chairman of Gowran Park

eil state igh room Eddie Scally, General Manager of Gowran Park

Henry Beeby, Group Chief Executive of Goffs and Kevin O'Ryan, Gowran Park Racing TV.

Suzanne Eade, Horse Racing Ireland

Mrs. Maureen Mullins

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Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

The physical fitnes EOIN EVERARD

How physically fit must you be to ride a horse? Many an armchair analyst has lamented that a rider wasn't stronger over the final furlong or blamed the jockey when they see their horse fall at the last.

But having enough core strength to be able to balance on a horse for one or more minutes, manage several tonnes of horse power using only your hands, legs, reins, and a whip, then have the necessary strength and stamina to urge the horse forward in the closing phases requires a great degree of physical fitness. Add on top of that that most jockeys will have to repeat this trick up to seven times in the day and you can see it is a big undertaking.

In order to qualify as a jockey you must first pass a series of rigorous fitness tests.

These tests include aerobic fitness tests, such as the beep test, core plank holds (4 minutes is considered 100%), undertaking race-riding conditions on a simulator for again 4 minutes, and doing

muscular holds for your arms and legs such as squats and press ups.

Dr Sarah Jane Cullen, is a Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Science in SETU Waterford and coordinates the jockey research programme in conjunction with The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. She outlines the type of fitness that is needed to be a jockey. "Race riding requires a significant isometric (holding) muscle contraction, primarily in the quadriceps, deltoids, and forearms, with significant support from the core, back, and glute (bum) muscles.

Cullen refers to the pushing and

shoving that takes place at the finish line of a race as "rigorous high-intensity pushing," and jockeys need

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Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

ss of jockeys at Goffs Thyestes Chase to have sufficient explosive muscle to force their mount across the finish line. Cullen

would recommend jockeys running 10 x 30 second hill sprints which will help with the (anaerobic) sprinting fitness that is required at the end of a race.

Weight Management Obviously, weight management is a massive element to being a jockey. This is something every jockey understands from an early age, but they have not been educated on how to do this in a safe and sustainable way.

Educating jockeys about how to manage their weight has been a large focus on the Irish HRC in recent years.

Learning to fall.

An unfortunate part of the job of being a jockey is that falls happen. The Injured Jockeys Fund have been con-

ducting research examining the link between fitness levels and consequence of falling. Research is currently ongoing, but the theory is that having stronger legs and learning how to fall with correct technique may allow jockeys to automatically use these skills and protect themselves when this occupational hazard arrives.

Of course, not all injuries are avoidable but the Injured Jockey’s Fund hope that this may help reduce injuries to a certain extent.

Jockey’s Perspective Riders undergoing some of this cuttingedge sports sciences have commented on the benefits of it. One jockey we talked to discussed how being physically fit improves his mental concentration. “The fitter you are the less tired you are throughout a race and the day, the better decisions you make. The fitter you get,

the slower things seem to happen. I have found that whereas I might have gotten tired in the later races or towards the last furlongs I am now thinking clearer like I do at the start of the racing day”.

Of course the main thing that gets you better as a jockey is riding horses. How-

ever, it is important to look at all aspects that can improve your performance.

So hopefully that gives you a little insight into the fitness of the jockeys you will be watching on your day out. As you are cheering on your horse at this year’s Goffs Thyestes Chase please spare a thought for the jockeys riding that horse and what they have to do to get into their best shape possible.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Goffs Thyestes Chase 2024

How to pick a winner

It can be a difficult task picking a winner at the races. Often race goers will resort to making a selection based simply on the name of a horse or the colour of a jockey’s silks. However, there are many more credible strategies available, to help punters, like the ones listed below from Horse Racing Ireland.

The Paddock You can learn a lot about a horse’s wellbeing based on seeing them in the flesh. At the racecourse a runner’s physical wellbeing, fitness and temperament can be assessed by watching them parading in the paddock before a race. If a horse is sweating or appears agitated, this is generally a bad sign.

A horse who handles the preliminaries well, in a calm and composed manner, will give itself a better chance of performing to the best of its ability and a punter who is wise to that will have a greater chance of picking a winner.

Racecard Form The form numbers on a racecard represent the finishing position of a horse in its most recent races. Numbers alone can be misleading, though, as a horse could have a ‘3’ in its form, but that third-placed finish could have come in a three-runner race. It is important to consider the context of the form.

Racecard Features Letters on the racecard are another important feature to understand when looking at a horse’s profile. The letters ‘C’ and ‘D’ represent course and distance respectively, which help identify horses who have won at that course before or over that distance. ‘CD’ joined together denotes a horse who has won over both the course and distance of the race under consideration.

Other letters on racecard form signify non-completions of horses in races. ‘F’ and ‘U’ represent a horse who has fallen and a rider who has been unseated respectively. ‘S’ means a horse has slipped up and ‘P’ means a horse has been pulled up by its rider.

All numbers and letters on a horse’s recent form figures are worthy of consideration when trying to pick a winner.

The Betting Each horse in a race has a price that determines its theoretical chance of winning, but these prices (odds) can fluctuate.

The price of a horse can either shorten or lengthen (drift) in the betting and these movements are based on the weight of money placed by the betting public. A shortening price suggests the support for a horse is increasing, whereas a drifting price suggests support for a horse is weakening.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

News

Blood bikers deliver yet again Newpark Close family resource centre held a community Christmas afternoon with a very special guest who took time out of his busy schedule to pay a welcome visit to Newpark Close.

The Blood bikes South East got a call for a special pick up and delivery to Newpark Close.

The very dedicated team of volunteers were up for the task of safely delivering Santa

Clause to the families at The Close and safely escorting Santa by the bikers.

The man in the red suit and white beard was met at the centre by members of the community and children from the creche along with the amazing staff at Newpark Close Family Resource Centre.

Founded in 2020, Blood Bikers South East is one of Ireland’s medical transport services.

Serving hospitals and communities across the South East, this free transport service is run by a dedicated group of volunteers and is funded entirely by corporate sponsorship and public donations from om the community.

Bikers include Paul Brierton, Martin Schmidt, Conor Reagan, Vincent Roche, Ronnie Evans, Keith Deacon and Antonio Bove.

Also in attendance was Kilkenny based community Garda Andy Neill.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

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Recruitment

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Food & Drink

Dine Me Come

Non-alcoholic aperitifs

With

Air fryer roast dinner

Prep: 15 mins Cook: 45 mins plus 30 mins soaking Serves: 2

Forget turning on the oven to cook the big Sunday meal – make the main elements in an air fryer. Use a microwave to heat the gravy rather than on the hob.

Ingredients • 2-3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters • 3 tsp vegetable, olive or rapeseed oil • 1 large or 2 small chicken breasts, skin-on • 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into batons • 100g frozen peas • gravy, to serve STEP 1 Soak the potatoes in water for 30 mins, then drain and rinse. Heat the air fryer for 2 mins. Dry the potatoes thoroughly, then put in a bowl, drizzle over 1 tsp of the oil and season with salt and pepper.

Using your hands or a spoon, coat the potatoes in the oil, then put into the air fryer basket, in one layer if possible. Cook for 10 mins at 190C. STEP 2 Meanwhile, coat the chicken in another 1 tsp oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Once the potatoes have been in for 10 mins, move them to the sides and lay the chicken in the centre of the basket. Cook for 10 mins.

STEP 3 Coat the carrots in the remaining oil. After the chicken has cooked for 10 mins, remove it from the basket and add the carrots, mixed in with the potatoes, then move both to the sides and put the chicken back into the centre. Cook for 1015 mins, still at 190C. At this point, the chicken should be cooked –

check by inserting a knife into the thickest part and checking the juices run clear. Alternatively, a meat thermometer should read 70C. If it’s not quite done, cook for a further 5 mins. Remove the chicken and rest it under a piece of tented foil.

STEP 4 Put the peas in a small ovenproof

dish or mug with 2 tbsp water and cover with foil to prevent any moisture escaping. Put in the air fryer basket where the chicken was and cook for a final 10 mins at 190C. The potatoes should be golden and crisp, the carrots tender and the peas warmed through. Slice the chicken breast and serve with the vegetables and gravy.

Quick and easy fish stew Prep: 10 mins Cook: 20 mins - 25 mins Serves: 2 This simple, speedy and healthy onepot is packed with white fish fillets, king prawns, a rich tomato sauce and enough veg to count for 3 of your 5-a-day.

Ingredients • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp fennel seeds • 2 carrots, diced • 2 celery sticks, diced • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 2 leeks, thinly sliced

• 400g can chopped tomatoes • 500ml hot fish stock, heated to a simmer • 2 skinless pollock fillets (about 200g), thawed if frozen, and cut into chunks • 85g raw shelled king prawns Method STEP 1 Heat the oil in a large pan, add the fennel seeds, carrots, celery and garlic, and cook for 5 mins until starting to soften. Tip in the leeks, tomatoes and stock, season and bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 15-20 mins until the vegetables are tender and

the sauce has thickened and reduced slightly.

STEP 2

Add the fish, scatter over the prawns and cook for 2 mins more until lightly cooked. Ladle into bowls and serve with a spoon.

Best herbal aperitif New London Light Aegean Sky: This dark herbal liqueur is made with the help of a team of bar industry stalwarts and plant scientists. It contains active ingredients that are designed to mimic the positive effects of alcohol.

We can’t say we noticed any special feelings but it does have a distinctive taste that majors on malt and liquorice, and chimes well with ginger ale, adding bite and richness. Cost around €22 and available from only selected stores Best for a spritz Bursting with bright citrusy notes, this refreshing aperitif from Salcombe Distilling Co is inspired by the sun-soaked shores of the Mediterranean. Layers of bitter blood orange and bergamot are softened by earthy olive and a lingering herbaceous aroma of rosemary. It works best as a spritz, mixed with a light tonic or non-alcoholic sparkling wine, then served over ice. For those with a sweeter palate, we also recommend Salcombe Distilling Co’s other New London Light aperitif, Midnight Sun, which is infused with a light berry and pine scent.Around €21 deom selected outlets.

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From the makers of Game Of Thrones

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Advertisement Advertisement TV & Streaming

to stream this week on Amazon Prime 1. A Thousand And One

This year’s Sundance Film Festival kicks off in a couple of weeks, and one of the gems from last year’s edition is now available on Prime Video. A Thousand and One follows Teyana Taylor as Inez, who kidnaps her son Terry from the foster care system. The two must find stability and a home in a rapidly changing New York City. With stunning direction from AV Rockwell and an immaculate performance from Taylor, the film is one of the best and deserves to find its audience now it’s available to stream.

2. Nope

Last year Netflix gave us an early glimpse at its new sci-fi series 3 Body Problem via a brief teaser, and the streamer just peeled back the curtain even further as a proper full-length trailer for the upcoming show has been released online.

Based on the novel of the same name by Chinese author Liu Cixin, 3 Body Problem is set to be one of the biggest Netflix shows of the year, and this twoand-a-half-minute-long preview does a fantastic job of raising the hype levels to cosmic levels.

Cixin’s book is a complex mesh of hard sci-fi ideas and timeline shenanigans.

But alongside the layered discussions of quantum physics and scientific principles, there’s also a compelling mystery as an engineer attempts to infilltrate

a secret society of scientists following a string of unexplainable suicides. Things get even more complicated in the follow-up novels The Dark Forest and Death’s End, but the first season of 3 Body Problem will only adapt the first book.

The source material has been labeled “unadaptable” by some readers, so it’s a good job that showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss are well-experienced in bringing beloved novels to the small screen.

The pair were the chief creative force behind HBO’s fantasy juggernaut Game Of Thrones and, while that show did veer over the rails in its later seasons, that was only once Benioff and Weiss had run out of source material and had to go o` book. Fortunately, the 3 Body Problem trilogy is

complete, so this shouldn’t be an issue even if the show is renewed for additional seasons.

The pair are also bringing Alexander Woo along as a co-showrunner, her previous credits include True Blood and The Terror. In front of the camera, 3 Body Problem includes Marvel regular Benedict Wong as well as Star Trek alumni, Rosalind Chao. A few familiar faces from Thrones are also reteaming with Benioff and Weiss as Jonathan Pryce and John Bradley are switching bloody fantasy for mind-bending science fiction.

Netflix is almost certainly betting big on 3 Body Problem this year as it’s believed to be among the most expensive television series ever produced. Executive producer Gao Xiaosgon

claimed during an interview that the eight-episode first season has cost more than $200m to create, which would place it as one of Netflix’s biggest TV show investments yet (although it’s not quite at Stranger Things level).

Some viewers might find the show’s hard sci-fi slant a little off-putting, and Benioff, Weiss and Woo will have had to strike a careful balance between being faithful to the novel and keeping the show accessible for viewers less scientifically minded.

However, if they can pull that off, Netflix could have something really special on its hands with 3 Body Problem.

3 Body Problem is scheduled to arrive on Netflix on March 21

Inside story of the Greatest Night in Pop Most of us remember US for Africa’s 1985 We Are The World performance, spearheaded by the initiative’s big-name musicians including Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan – but what many of us are unaware of is We Are The World ‘s “untold story,” what actually went down behind-thescenes at Henson Studios

to pull the track together.

Netflix‘s The Greatest Night in Pop documentary compiles never-beforeseen archival footage from the 46 musicians behind the song, as well as present-day interviews to provide a firsthand look at the making of the influential performance.

Directed by Bao Nguyen, the doc includes interviews from Richie and Spring-

steen along with Smokey Robinson, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Loggins, Dionne Warwick and Huey Lewis.

Some of the producers and crew members who worked on the 1985 production offer their comments as well.

“The greatest artists of a generation came together to save some lives, but we only had one night to get this right,” Richie opens the trailer, before recounting

writing the song alongside Jackson. “I received this call from Harry Belafonte, and he wanted to do some kind of song for famine relief in Africa – basically what he said was, ‘I need you’.”

The Greatest Night in Pop will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19. The film will arrive on Netflix on January 29.

If you’re looking for a fun epic sci-fi/horror, Jordan Peele has got your back because Nope is available for you to dive into. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer play OJ and Emerald Haywood, siblings who reside in a lonely gulch in inland California where they bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery.

Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott and Steven Yeun also star in this brilliant flick that has a little bit of everything.

3. Role Play

Role Play features Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo in this story about Emma, who has a wonderful husband and two kids in the suburbs of New Jersey and a secret life as an assassin for hire, something that her husband discovers when the couple decide to spice up their marriage with a little role play. January 12

4. Foe

Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal and Aaron Pierre star in Foe, an adaptation of Iain Reid’s novel, which follows Junior and Hen, who farm a secluded piece of land that has been in Junior’s family for generations, but their quiet life is thrown into turmoil when an uninvited stranger shows up at their door with a startling proposal. The film is directed by the Emmy-nominated Garth Davis and written by both Davis and Iain Reid.

5. Marry My Husband

Park Min-young plays timid office worker Kang Ji-won, whose husband and friend are having an affair and who is killed when she confronts them.

She wakes up in the past and, armed with knowledge of the ‘future’, begins to live her life differently in this fastpaced time-travel story

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Sport

Kilkenny Sport Focus Michael O’Leary

Ellen Molloy Back in October, Ellen Molloy made a most welcome return to action following a horrendous year, where she was out of competitive football for more than a year after damaging her cruciate in September 2022.

The unfortunate injury occured while she was playing for her Club Wexford Youths in a National League game against Treaty United, and her absence was a huge blow to The Wexford Club's prospects of winning The League.

However, the injury was a substantial blow to Ellen herself who was out of action - as already mentioned - for more than a year, and the nature of her injury immediately ruled her out of The World Cup last summer in Australia.

It was a crushing blow and it brought a galloping halt to her progression since making her National League debut in 2020.

However, Ellen has put all that disappointment and

heartbreak firmly behind her and she is now focused ahead of the start of the new season with Wexford Youths, while also fully focused no doubt on attempting to force her way into back into The Republic of Ireland Squad under new manager Eileen Gleeson as they hope to qualify for a first European Championship.

Ellen displayed tremendous potential with Thomastown United and Presentation Kilkenny, while in 2018 she scored a superb goal as she Captained Kilkenny to Gaynor Cup success.

In 2020, she was part of The Presentation Kilkenny Team that won The National Senior Cup Final, and her undoubted potential saw her attract the attention of Wexford Youths as she made her Senior debut in the COVID delayed year in 2020.

Ellen made an immediate impact with Wexford Youths,

and on her maiden appearance she scored two goals in their 4-1 win against Bohemians.

She followed that up with another brace against then League Champions Peamount United, before repeating the dose with another brace of goals against Galway United that included a Goal of the Season contender.

As a result of her exploits, she was named Young Player of the Season and named in the Team of the Season.

Also in 2020, Ellen was called up by Vera Pauw into The Republic of Ireland Squad and she made her debut when coming off the bench in the 1-0 defeat against Ukraine as a missed penalty by Katie McCabe cost them a play-off place.

To round off a memorable year in 2020, Ellen was named the winner of The International Goal of the Year at The FAI Intrnational Football Awards following her wonder goal for The Republic of Ireland U-17s against Iceland.

She maintained those high

standards into 2021, where the undoubted highlight was been named Player of the Match as Wexford Youths won The FAI Cup Final 3-1 against Shelbourne.

Another personal highlight in 2021 was scoring 4 goals in a 7-1 demolition of Treaty United, while she was once again named in the team of the season at the 2021 WNL Awards.

2022 was going so well for Ellen with Wexford Youths, and with 16 goals she was playing a central role as they were challenging for League honours until disaster struck.

However, that's all in the past now and with a new season on the horizon, Ellen's return to comptitive action is a massive boost to Wexford Youths, Republic of Ireland and most of all to the player herself.

Her return to action will needless enhance Wexford Youths prospects in the season ahead, and she will be hoping to impress new Republic of Ireland Manager Eileen Gleeson who made an immediate impact in her role as caretaker

manager when taking over from Vera Pauw following last Summer's World Cup. The Irish girls scored 20 goals in the UEFA Nations League in securing promotion to League A where they will now be competing among Europe's best.

Stiffer tests will undoubtedly lie ahead in their quest to qualify for a first Euro's next year in 2025, but The Irish Girls will go into the qualifying campaign full of confidence following their highly successful Nations League that was a joy to watch with their wonderful free flowing attacking football.

Eileen Gleeson taking over at the helm has given the girls a new lease of life - especially the attacking contingent - and Ellen's ability is most perfectly suited to the new Irish managers style of football.

If she can make an impression with Wexford Youths, she can force her way back into The National Senior Squad and potentially have a part to play in helping The Irish Girls qualify for a first ever Euro's.

That would complete the perfect comeback.

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Community & GAA Notes

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news CLARA CAMOGIE COUNTY FINAL Clara U22s produced a power packed display to overcome Tullaroan last Tuesday night in SETU Carlow. The win set up a county final for the Clara girls against Lisdowney in Lisdowney on Sunday morning.

After Emma Shortall and Keara Ryan opened the scoring with a point apiece the latter put Clara firmly in the driving seat with two quickfire goals. Three more points were added through Lucy Boyd, Keara and Emma before Tullaroan finally got off the mark with a goaled Ciara Dunne penalty, which she had won herself. Two more Keara Ryan placed balls and a Lucy Boyd effort from play cancelled out that goal but Ciara Dunne repeated the trick, from play this time, and she looked a major threat every time she gained possession. Emma Corr and a Tullaroan player exchanged points before the break to leave Clara 2-9 to 2-1 up at halftime.

After Emma Shortall had swapped points with a Tullaroan player early in the second half Clara put this game to bed with an unanswered 2-7, 1-6 for Keara followed by 1-1 for Emma.

They benefited greatly from the quality of the ball coming into them from the likes of Niamh Ward, Gráinne Glynn and Sarah Dunne. Katie Ryan had now switched onto Ciara Dunne and really curbed her influence, while Laoise Nolan and Grace Barcoe were very defiant in defence. In addition to that Rachel Brickell was soundness personified in the goals. To Tullaroan’s credit, they kept battling and conjured up another goal but Clara responded strongly again with two Joanne Comerford goals and it was left to Keara Ryan to close out the scoring with a free. 6-18 to 3-2 was the final score.

Team - Rachel Brickell, Laoise Nolan, Grace Barcoe. Emma Corr 0-1, Katie Ryan, Sarah Dunne. Gráinne Glynn, Niamh Ward.

Joanne Comerford 2-0, Lucy Boyd 0-2. Keara Ryan 3-11, 0-4f, 0-2 x45s, Emma Shortall 1-4.

COUNTY CHAMPIONS In a quick turnaround on Sunday Clara had an easy win over a battling Lisdowney side in the final. On a crisp morning the Clara girls signalled their intent from the off with two Keara Ryan points and an Emma Shortall goal leaving them five points clear with barely two minutes played. Lisdowney opened their account with a pointed free but Emma added a second goal and Keara pointed before Lisdowney got their only other score of the half, a point. From there to the interval it was all Clara and further goals from Lucy Boyd, Emma Shortall and Grace Barcoe helped them to a 5-12 to 0-2 halftime lead.

Lisdowney were now just playing for pride and in fairness to them they were very competitive in the second half. Clara swapped their backs and forwards for this half and captain Katie Ryan helped herself to five of their nine points, the other scores coming from Niamh Ward and Gráinne Glynn, as well as two from Lucy Boyd - one from a penalty which she sportingly put over the bar. Eight of the Clara players got on the scoresheet and the other four were very prominent also. In truth Clara were too strong for this division and there might be some merit in the suggestion that U22 should be made 12 aside across the board and that way teams could be graded in their proper groups. But Clara could only beat what was put in front of them and they duly did that. Well done to the players and to the management team of David Shortall, Jennifer Dillon, Aisling Curtis, Aoife Glynn, Tamsin English and Aine McDonald.

Team - Rachel Brickell, Katie Ryan 0-5, Grace Barcoe 1-0. Laoise Nolan, Sarah Dunne. Emma Corr, Gráinne Glynn 0-1, Niamh Ward 0-2. Keara Ryan 0-6, Joanne Comerford 1-1. Emma Shortall 3-3, Lucy Boyd 1-3, 0-1p. Subs Rachel Whelan and Anna Walpole (both injured).

LEINSTER CHAMPIONS Further Clara success came the way of Emma Corr and Lucy Boyd over the weekend as they lined out for the Loreto, Kilkenny in a winning senior Leinster final on Saturday. The city school defeated Coláiste Abhainn, Callan on a score of 1-17 to 1-6. Emma captained the side from wing back while Lucy lined out at corner forward.

WALKING Clara GAA and “Ireland Lights Up” with Operation Transformation and Irish Life Every Step Counts.

Clara GAA invite the community to join us and walk, jog or run with us on Mondays and Thursday evenings from 7 o’clock until 8. Our first walk was held on Thursday 11th January and we will finish up on Thursday 15th February. The floodlit walking

track is open to non- members at these times and we welcome everyone to come along. Plenty of free parking on-site. Clara GAA members may use the facility at all times and the lights are on up to 10 o’clock each night. Go at your own pace with company. All ages are welcome including accompanied children however NO DOGS on the track please.

Download the My Life app to log all your walks over the 6 weeks and help Clara enter a cash prize draw.

CLUB LOTTO Lotto results 9th January. Numbers drawn - 11, 18, 22. No Jackpot winner. €30 each to Anna Corr, Jack Bolger, Ed Mulrooney, Joe Casey, Olive Greene Pierce.

Thanks for the support.

KILKENNY WIN BIG Kilkenny opened their 2024 campaign with an easy first round Walsh Cup win over neighbours Carlow in Network Dr. Cullen Park on Tuesday of last week. Conor Phelan and John Murphy were once again involved in the backroom while Paul Cody fired over three first half points in a very workmanlike display.

LAST MAN STANDING It’s back for 2024.

Last Man Standing National League 2024. Test your skill, predict a winning team for each round, to win or share the €500 Jackpot. Challenge Family Members, Teammates, Work Colleagues etc... €10 per entry. Click the link on the website to play.

Thanks for your support and best of luck.

O’ LOUGHLIN GAELS CLUB LOTTO There was no winner of club lotto dated Jan 9th. Numbers drawn were 8, 14, 17, 22 bonus 23 Play Now and support our players training fund at www.oloughlingaels.com/lotto Promotors Draw, 1. Kate Nolan c/o Ml Nolan. 2. Rosie Hayes c/o P Greene. 3. Millie Cody c/o Ml Nolan. 4. Aimee Tallis. 5. Caoimhe and Darragh c/o Ml Nolan. 6. Denise Brennan c/o Damien O’Connell. 7. Ollie Lennon c/o Aidan Fogarty. 8. Georgina O’Shea c/o Online.

9. James Kavanagh c/o Online. 10. Ger Foley c/o Online Thank you for supporting O’Loughlin Gaels ALL-IRELAND FINAL The Club All-Ireland Final is on Sunday next and we wish everyone at O’Loughlin Gaels a very enjoyable occasion and let’s hope a favourable result.

Well done to the players and management. Their hard work and dedication has earned them this day of all days at Croke Park. The support mechanism surrounding them includes a hard working club executive led by chairman Johnny Holohan, a host of sponsors including long time supporter and adult teams sponsor Pat Carroll, and a range of services to ensure the team is in the best shape possible. A very special mention to the families and close friends of the players and management, there were sacrifices made during the year and the reward is great.

Enjoy this week and let’s hope we celebrate a victory come Sunday evening. We encourage all in St. John’s Parish to show your support by colour. Anything white and green display it proudly and let the lads see it. It’s a small part to play but it’s an important part that contributes to any success. There will be a caravan of buses leaving St. John’s Park on Sunday at 9:30am.

If you’ve not booked yet you can check availability by contacting Stephen at 086 199 3711. There is a bus running from Pat Carroll’s and tickets for the match are online at www.gaa.ie Get yours, get to Croke park and roar on the Gaels.

Come hell or high water there will be a celebration of our club in the club hall on Sunday. The match will be shown live from 1pm for those who cannot travel, and it will remain open to welcome home our team. ALL ARE WELCOME to show your support for a great endeavour.

AGMs Both the GAA Club and Camogie Club unanimously ratified the ‘One Club’ model at their respective AGMs last week. Both events were well attended and the new ‘one club’ executive for 2024 was voted in as follows : Chairman : Johnny Holohan Vice Chair: Nigel Leydon * Secretary: Joan Galwey Treasurer: Sean Casey

Shout out to Jack Nolan’s best supporters in Glendine Heights! Best of Luck Jack, we’re behind you all the way! Hon the Loughs

PRO: Conor Denieffe * Registrar: Niamh Carroll Hurling Chair: Luke Leydon* Hurling Juvenile Chair: Sheamie Cummins Social: Ruth Comerford Development: Sean Hogan Grounds: Eddie Maher Handball:John Morrissey Camogie Chair: Eoin Lawlor Juv Camogie: Orla Skehan Chairman Johnny Holohan thanked outgoing officers Bryan Skehan (Vice) , Eoin Lawlor (PRO) and Eddie Buckley (Adult Teams) for their contributions to the Club and welcomed their respective incumbents Nigel Leydon, Conor Denieffe and Luke Leydon.

FRFRESHFORD TRIBUTE TO PA DILLON A tribute to local hurling hero Pa Dillon was unveiled in St.Lachtains GAA Clubrooms on Friday evening last by Uachtaran Cumann Luthchleas Gael Larry McCarthy and Club Chairman John Fitzpatrick. The evening was a great a success and a great occasion for the club and the local community.

The event was attended by the Dillon family, friends of Pa’s and many GAA players and officials from the past and the present including Leinster Council Chairman Derek Kent. Former president of the GAA Nicky Brennan and Chairman of Kilkenny GAA Board PJ Kenny. Many of Pa’s former teammates and rivals from Cork and Tipperary also travelled for the unveiling and many great stories were told, a few songs sang and a great catchup was had by all. MC on the night was John Meagher and speakers were John Fitzpatrick Chairman of the Club, former County Board Chairman Ned Quinn, Teresa Dillon and Uachteran Larry McCarthy St Lachtains club thank all their supporters and members who turned up on the night,Committee members of GAA and Camogie clubs who worked tirelessly all week to make the event such a success. A special thanks also goes out to local artist Kevin Buckley of Wood View, Freshford who designed the piece and the Kennedy and Costello families for their contributions.

AGM St.Lachtains GAA Club held their AGM at the Clubrooms with a good crowd in attendance. The following officers were elected for the forthcoming year, Chairman. John Fitzpatrick, Vice Chairman. K Dalton, Secretary.M.Killeen, Ass Secretary. McGree, Treasurer. B.Kavanagh Co.Board delegate. P. White, Junior Board Deleglate. JP Kavanagh, PRO Tommy Kennedy, Child Welfare Officer. P Murphy, DLP. Monica Hickey Bord na nog will hold their AGM at the Clubrooms on Friday night next 19th January.

EVERY STEP COUNTS

The Club will host a community walk in conjunction with the GAA “Healthy Clubs Every step counts challenge 24” on Sunday next 21st January at 6pm. This is a family friendly event and they are encouraging all members of the community both young and old to take par. Keep an eye on social media for details on how to register. Light refreshments will be served afterwards..

CAMOGIE CHAMPS Congratulations and well done to the local girls who were part of Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown camogie panel on Saturday last when they won the Leinster Final on a final score of 2-8 to 0-7 at Heywood, Ballinakill. Emma Daly, Anna Cleere, Caoimhe Hickey, Michelle Killeen, Abi Whitty and Katelyn and Emma O’Connorare who are all members of the panel DEATH Freshford lost another of its senior citizens last week with the death of Mrs. Mary Bergin late of Cooleshall, Freshford at Aut Even hospital Kilkenny. Although advanced in years her death still caused regret and sorrow. She was predeceased by her husband John and was a quiet and good living lady and was well known and respected in the area. Her funeral mass took place in Tulla Church on Friday last followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. She is mourned by her son, daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sons in law, daughter in law, nephews, nieces and extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

AGM Freshford Threecastle Community alert will hold their AGM this Friday evening the 19th January at 7.30pm in the Community hall. All are welcome to attend.

SOCCER NEWS Freshford Town Junior team had a 2-0 victory on Sunday in their away league game with goals from Paul Ryan and Luke Franey.

In the schoolboys section the U13 boys went down 2-0 to Lions on Saturday. The U13 girls were beaten by Thomastown on a 3-0 scoreline while the U15 boys had a good win over Freebooters on a 5-2scoreline with goals from Charlie Kavanagh(2) and D.Ryan, J.Marnell and C Dalton adding one each.

FOROIGE Foroige would like to start a youth club in the Freshford area and they need adult volunteer leaders. A youth club has huge positive benefits to young people in the community and volunteering offers great rewards to the adults involved. For more information please contact Aidan Gleeson on 086 0674485 or Aidan.gleeson@foroige.ie IONAD LACHTAINS St. Lachtains Church Museum and Arts is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 4.30pm.

BRIDGE Freshford bridge club resumed play on 25th September and continues at 7.30pm in Tulla Hall, Threecastles. New members are very welcome. For further information please contact Olive on 087 9257610.

ATHLETIC CLUB Nena Athletics club have launched fit4life in the Freshford area. All abilities are welcome from walkers wanting company to runners training for marathons and everyone in between.

Very experienced leaders are leading a program established

by Athletics Ireland that caters for all experience and abilities.

They meet each Tuesday morning and Wednesday evenings in Freshford GAA club. If you are interested please contact us on nuennaac@gmail.com or call Caoimh on 0874175550 PARISH NEWS Mass is held in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and each Sunday morning at 11am.wiith 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 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. Contact Mongr Kieron Kennedy on that

The Victorious Clara U22 team

Members of the Dillon Family with Uachtaran Cumann Luthchleas Gael Larry McCarthy and Club Chairman John Fitzpatrick

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Community & GAA Notes number or on 087 25235 21 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.

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB MEMBERSHIP Membership officer Mark Noonan reminds members and players that their annual membership fees are now due. The fees can be paid through the GAA approved website Foireann. ie where, having followed the directions to the James Stephens G.A.A. club site the different membership fees are clearly displayed. Members should note that we are no longer using Clubforce for membership registration but will continue to use it for our weekly club lotto.

BIG WIN FOR JIM Congratulations to former club chairman, Jimmy O’Brien for whom Christmas arrived a little late on Tuesday night of last week when his ticket in the Conahy GAA club’s monster draw was drawn from the drum to win him a brand new Hyundai Tucson car. The happy event must be credited to Jimmy’s wife, Eileen who purchased the ticket as a Christmas present for her husband. We wish Jimmy and Eileen many safe and pleasant journeys over the coming years in their attractive new hatchback.

CAMOGIE On Sunday morning in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophain the club’s minor camogie team suffered a comprehensive 1-14 to 1-01 defeat at the hands of Dicksboro in the 2023 Kilkenny minor camogie final. Buoyed by their recent All-Ireland club final camogie victory, and with a number of players eligible for Sunday’s final, the Dicksboro girls’ obvious superior fitness levels over the hour proved too much for the battling James Stephens girls.

WALSH CUP On Tuesday night last the Kilkenny hurlers registered an all too easy 5-22 to 0-09 victory over Carlow in their postponed Walsh Cup fixture on a frost covered SETU Carlow playing surface.

Unfortunately, clubman Cian Kenny was forced to retire in the early minutes of the game with a suspected muscle injury. On a positive note substitute Eoin Guilfoyle was called on early in the second half and contributed positively, finishing to the net in the 43rd minute and assisting with a second goal on his competitive debut. Later in the month Eoin will line out for U.C.D. in the Fitzgibbon Cup in their first round fixture against SETU Carlow in Dublin to be followed with a 2nd.round fixture against U.C.G., days later.

CLUB ALL-IRELAND TITLES Congratulations to the hurlers of Thomastown and TullogherRosbercon on their highly impressive performances when winning the Intermediate and Junior All-Ireland club titles in Croke Park on Saturday evening. With a highly effective open play game, accurate combination play and deadly finishing Tullogher-Rosbercon outplayed their Leeside opponents, St. Catherine’s to claim the All-Ireland Junior club title with a well deserved 2-21 to 1-13 victory.

Adopting similar tactics Thomastown outclassed the Cork champions, Castlelyons with their superior skills to claim the All-Ireland Intermediate club title in style with a commanding 2-23 to 1-13 victory. Much food for thought for Kilkenny bainisteoir, Derek Lyng on foot of these exceptional performances.

The only question to remain is, can O’Loughlin Gaels complete the hat-trick of club titles?

VOLUNTEERING The Kilkenny Volunteer Centre are seeking volunteers for a number of charities and local associations. Among the organisations seeking volunteers is The Butler Gallery to help provide assistance and information to visitors about upcoming exhibitions and events at the gallery.

Also, Alone who run a befriending service for the elderly are in need of volunteers throughout the city and county. The Big Brother, Big Sister group are also seeking volunteers to be matched as mentors for young people they support. It is important to note that training will be provided for all of the above worthy opportunities. For more detailed information contact Kristina at 089 2584946 or log on to info@volunteerkilkenny.ie.

LOTTO Last week’s draw produced the following combination 2, 12, 17, 23. There was no winner. The jackpot for this week’s draw will be €11,400. The €40 consolation winners were Frank and Kay, Aisling Murphy, Aine Colclough, Jim Dollard and Eamon Tyrrell.

GOWRAN GOWRAN PANTO It’s almost time for the cast of Gowran Panto to take to the stage with their production of Snow White and the Several Dwarfs.

Don’t miss out, book now on www.gowranpanto.com or call 089 494 1 494 GOWRAN PARK Delighted to announce that After Dark will be belting out the tunes after racing on Goffs Thyestes Day again this year.

Thursday January 25th 2024.

Early Bird tickets available on www.gowranpark.ie DALTON HOUSE Wednesday Music Night is back. Come along and join in with our local musicians for a sing song. There will be music every Wednesday night from 8pm to 10pm. Enjoy some light refreshments for only €5pp. Hope to see you all there!

GOWRAN AC Gowran AC are delighted to announce details for the STOOK couch to 5km training sessions commenced Thursday 18th January and will run for for 6 weeks. Registration will be in Applegreen, Paulstown from 7pm onwards with training starting at 7.30pm. Entry fee €35 includes 6 week training plan (every Thursday 7.30pm). 5km race day entry, STOOK 10 T-shirt. EVERYONE WELCOME YOUNG IRELANDS AGM 2023 The Young Irelands AGM took place in Dungarvan Hall last Friday night as the years activities were reviewed along with looking forward to plans in place.

The main topic of discussion was Denis Quinlan stepping down as Chairperson, while Ciaran Phelan has stepped down as ViceChairperson but he will remain involved as he is managing The U-14s for the coming season A meeting is hoped to take place in the next few weeks to decide a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.

Young Irelands wish to thank Denis for his sterling work as Chairperson in two different spells, and he will continue to remain involved in the background within the Club.

Also last Friday night, Joe Loughrey from The Healthy Club Committee spoke about a presentation from Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership that took place in Dungarvan in November. It was about understanding disability, barriers to participation and promoting inclusion in setting up this group.

That meeting went very postively, and it’s hoped to develop aspects from that meeting into The Healthy Club Committee in Gowran.

Elsewhere, The details of all management Teams for the season ahead have still to be finalised, but Barry Power and the rest of The Intermediate management Team are back again this season and they will have high hopes for 2024 following victories in The U-19 and U-21 County Finals, while extra determination will be in full force following the heartbreak of last years Intermediate Championship Quarter-Final defeat where they lost out by a point to an injury-time goal against Dunnamaggin.

Gary Farrell makes the step-up to Minor manager having managed the U-13s in recent seasons, and he will be backboned by several of the players involved with him in their back to back U-13s County Final triumphs in 2020 and 2021.

As mentioned, Ciaran Phelan takes over The U-14s while the rest of the management Teams will be finalised in due course.

Election of Officers are as follows: Chairperson: Vacant. Vice-Chairperson: Vacant. Secretary: Christine Preston. Assistant Secretary: Bridie Comerford.

Treasurer: Niall Walsh. Assistant Treasurer: Billy Carroll. PRO: Michael O’Leary. Registrar: Mary Holden. School Liason Officer: Ciaran Phelan. Health and Wellbeing Officer: Melissa Kelly. Safety Officer: Liam Walsh. Irish Officer: Michael Walsh.

Delegates. County Board Delegate: Joe Kavanagh. Junior Board: Johnny Comerford PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOOTBALL FINAL ENDS IN DRAW Gowran National School Gaelic Football Team served up a thriller with St. Canices in The Primary Schools Football Roinn A Final in Freshford last Saturday morning, as the teams finished level (3-2 to 2-5).

The Gowran Boys are attempting to achieve a historic double of winning both The Country Cup and The Roinn A Championship having won both competitions last year. They defended The Country Cup before Christmas with a 1-4 to 0-2 win against Rower-Inistioge in Piltown under floodlights, so the double double dream lives on.

Replay details to be confirmed.

MEDAL PRESENTATION NIGHT A Special Medal Presentation Night will take place in Gowran Park on Friday night 9th February. Medals will be presented

by Horse Trainer John “Shark” Hanlon to The U-19 and U-21 County Final winning Teams along with The U-15 B Hurlers.

There will be a 2 course dinner with Music by Paul Brett and Peter Hutchinson.

The “Shark” had his greatest triumph on St. Stephens Day when Hewick snatched a dramatic King George in Kempton and his attendance on the night will be eagerly anticipated. It’s €30 euro on the night and it’s scheduled to start at 7.30pm.

PADDY LANGTON Congratulations to Paddy Langton who made his Kilkenny Senior debut last week, when he came on as a half-time substitute in last week’s landslide Walsh Cup win against Carlow in Netwatch Cullen Park.

Paddy will be hoping to see more action under Derek Lyng in the weeks and months ahead, as Kilkenny begin their National League campaign at home to Wexford on Sunday 4th February.

Indeed, Kilkenny are in action against The Slaneysiders this weekend in The Walsh Cup Semi-Final, while Paddy has experience of playing under the Kilkenny manager as he was part of the Kilkenny Team that won the U-20 All-Ireland Final in 2022.

YOUNG IRELANDS HEALTHY CLUB COMMITTEE The GAA Healthy Clubs “Every Step Counts” in association with Irish Life My Life returns to Young Irelands on Mondays and it started last week with an extremely good turn out.

The Every Step Counts Challenge runs for 6 weeks until Monday 12th February, and The goal of the challenge is to collectively hit 4000KM and be entered into The Provincial Draw.

The more participants on Team Young Irelands, the quicker the 4000KM target will be acheived so everyone is urged to get involved.

MARY BYRNE There was great sadness in Gowran during the week with the

passing of Mary Byrne of Rockfield. Mary was the daughter of Jimmy Byrne who is a well known stalwart and supporter of Young Irelands. Deepest sympathies to all The Byrne family at this difficult time.

ALL-IRELAND CLUB FINALS Young Irelands wish to congratulate Thomastown and Tullogher-Rosbercon on their All-Ireland Final triumphs on Saturday, and wish O’Loughlin Gaels the very best in their All-Ireland Senior Club Final next Sunday.

KILKENNY VOLUNTEER CENTRE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE 1. NCBI Castlecomer under new name - New Vision Ireland New Vision Ireland in Castlecomer - a preloved clothing boutique for all is looking for volunteers with a keen interest in retail/customer service. Contact us info@volunteerkilkenny.ie or phone 089 258 4946 for more info.

2. Lifelink-Stronger Together for Mental Health Lifelink is seeking the support of a communication volunteer to assist in promoting key events and services throughout the year. Support will be provided.

Contact info@volunteerkilkenny.ie or phone 089 258 4946 for more information.

3. An Chead Tine Art Gallery Is looking for a Volunteer Art Gallery Invigilator with an interest in art to showcase the work of local talent with the support of the Gallery Director. Contact info@volunteerkilkenny.ie or phone 089 258 4946 for more information.

4. Butler Gallery Would welcome support from Volunteer Gallery Invigilators to provide assistance and information to visitors about the exhibitions and events in the gallery. Contact info@volunteerkilkenny. ie or phone on 089 258 4946 for more information.

5. Alone Alone who run a Befriending service for elderly people living alone are in need of volunteers in all parts of County Kilkenny.

Volunteers can volunteer in person or on the telephone. For just one hour a week you can make a real difference in someone’s life. Full training will be provided. Contact info@volunteerkilkenny.ie or phone on 089 258 4946 for more information.

6. Big Brother Big Sister Big Brother Big Sister are a looking for adult volunteers to be matched as mentors for the young people they support. Volunteers are needed in all parts of County Kilkenny. Full training is provided and a commitment of one year is required. Contact info@volunteerkilkenny.ie or phone on 089 258 4946 for more information.

We also have lots of other fantastic initiatives happening in our Centre. If you are not registered, please do at www.volunteerkilkenny.ie .Once registered you will be kept up to date.

GRAIGUENAMANAGH GRAIG NOTES To submit news items, club events, announcements etc., can do so by emailing them to graignotes@outlook.com. Deadline is Saturday 6pm.

LOTTO, GAA AND SOCCER Numbers drawn on the 8/01/2024 were 17, 20, 24, 29 . and there was no winner. The following won €30 each Jim Barco , Liam Bolger, Abi Ryan, Terry and Breda Whelan, Nula Walsh., Tickets can be had from any Committee member.

GRAIG TIDY TOWN DRAW Draw held on January 11th 2024 were First Prize €425 went to Ann Butler—Deise Girls, Second Prize €50 Mell Foley, Third Prize €25 Eric Reddy. Draw takes place on Thursdays at 4pm.

CLINIC CLLR. Peter Cleere will have his Clinic on Saturday morning from 9 am at his Office in Main St Graiguenamanagh.

RAMBLING HOUSE The Monthly Rambling House Session is on the second Friday of the month in Newtown Hall, where you can enjoy music and song from local artists and also many from the surrounding district also join in. The next Session is on Friday February 9th at an earlier time of 7.30 pm.

GORESBRIDGE PAULSTOWN BARROW RANGERS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB The club is taking part in the Irish Life Every Steps Counts challenge! The challenge runs until February 12th. It very simple to take part: 1. Download the Irish Life My Life App. 2. Register. 3. Select Challenges under social tab and select Barrow Rangers Camogie Club under Leinster Challenge.

For anyone looking for company while running or walking there is a meet up at Applegreen every Monday and Thursday at 7pm.

LOTTO There was no winner of the first Lotto of the year. For the weekly Lotto online tickets are available at www.lottoraiser.ie/BarrowRangers.

BRIDGE UNITED Next away match to Deen Celtic at 12 midday Sunday 21st January. Results of U13 SFAI Sketchers Trophy: Gorey Rangers 0-1 Bridge Utd. The scorer was Oisin Doyle. This puts Bridge United into the last 32 in Ireland SCOILL BHRIDE Scoil Bhríde N.S, Goresbridge is now accepting enrolments for the 2024/2025 school-year. Parents may contact the school office between 9am and 1pm on 059 9775168 for further information or email the office at office@goresbridgens.ie CHURCH SERVICES Saturday 20th/Sunday 21th January: Mass in Goresbridge at 19.30, 10.00 and in Paulstown at 11.30am.

Sacred Heart Prayer Group meets on Friday 12th after 10am mass in Paulstown.

Legion of Mary meetings are on Thursdays at 3pm in Paulstown.

New members welcome.

Church of Ireland services Sunday 21st: Morning Prayer in Shankill Church Paulstown. Enquiries to the Dean of Leighlin at 087 276 7562.

DANCE FIT Running every Tuesday at 8.30pm in Paulstown Community Hall. See Dance Fit on Facebook to register PAULSTOWN BASKETBALL CLUB New members welcome. Each Saturday from 4pm.

BRIDGE LESSONS Paulstown Bridge Club is commencing lessons in playing Bridge in a relaxed informal setting. Further information available from Mary Quinn 086 1704459 or Mary Purcell 086 1659779 KILCUMNEY PLAYERS This is one for your diary. The Kilcumney Players will present The Seafarer by Conor McPherson on Thursday 8th, Friday 9th and Saturday 10th of February at 8pm in Ionad Dara, Goresbridge.

PAULSTOWN CHURCH CHOIR Have you a talent for singing for playing a musical instrument?

New adult and children members welcome to the Paulstown church choir. Contact the parochial office (059 9775180) FOROIGE Would you like to volunteer with Foróige to support young people in Paulstown. For more information contact Aidan Gleeson (aidan.gleeson@foroige.ie) CUPLA FOCAL Would you like to brush up or practice your Irish over a cup of coffee? All welcome! Weekly Friday chatting in Irish over a cuppa in the Goodly Barrow this Friday 19th January at 11am.

Whether it is a few words or many, it doesn’t matter. Contact Ann on 0857529485 for further information. Fáilte roimh chách.

Goodly Barrow Museum and café (next to the river Barrow in Goresbridge) Open Wednesday to Sunday. A great place to meet up and chat as well as to savour delicious cooking or just a cuppa.

BENNETTSBRIDGE BIRDIE LAWLOR RIP Sympathy is extended to the Skehan, Kennedy, Hayes and Lanigan families on the death of Birdie Lawlor, nee Kennedy, in Luton, London last week. Birdie lived in Ballyreddin for some years prior to moving to Luton. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Tom and daughter Jackie, and is survived by her daughter Carol, nephews and nieces.

Birdie was the last surviving member of a family of six born to Walter and Margaret Kennedy. She was pre-deceased by her sisters, May, Joanie, Mena and brothers, Dan and Paddy. Her brother, Dan Kennedy captained Kilkenny in the 1947 All Ireland when they beat Cork.

STELLA O’REILLY RIP The death occurred recently of Stella O’Reilly, formerly Newhouse, Thomastown in her 95th year, in the loving care of the staff and management of Gowran Abbey Nursing Home.

She was predeceased by her husband John. She will be sadly missed by her nieces, nephews, in-laws Mary and Ray, extended family, neighbours and friends.

Reposal was in the Mercy Side Chapel at the Church of the Assumption, Thomastown, on Monday with Vigil Prayers at 7.30pm. Requiem Mass was celebrated in Thomastown fol-lowed by interment in St Mary’s New Cemetery.

CHURCH NEWS Weekday masses Thursday and Friday 10.30am.

CONFIRMATION Confirmation will be held in St Bennett’s Church on Sunday, 25th March, 2024.

On that weekend there will be an evening mass in Bennettsbridge on the Saturday at 7pm.

OSSORY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES Booking is now open for the 2024 pilgrimage. It will depart from Cork on 22nd May and will fly directly to Lourdes with accommodation available in the hotels La Solitude, Padua, or Agena. As capacity is limited it is strongly advised to book early.

Contact 01-2410800 or info@joewalshtours.ie.

KILKENNY VOLUNTEERING CENTRE Kilkenny Volunteering group have many openings for volunteers in various programmes throughout city and county. info@volunteerkilkenny.ie or phone on 089 258 4946 for more information LOTTO 8th January 2024 No winner of Jackpot. Numbers, 5, 18, 25, 27.

Jackpot now €5,350.00. Consolation Prizes, David Waugh, C/o O’Mahony’s, Rosie, C/o Fr Duggan, Janelle O’Brien, C/o David Power, Cian Dowling, Bennettsbridge, Mary Holden, Thomastown.

GATHERING The weekly gathering was well attended. Members can choose from a number of options including cards and bingo. Sympathy went to member, Moira Hackett on the death of her brother, John Kinsella.

MENS SHED Three new members were welcomed at the first meeting of 2024. A discussion took place in relation to future activities and ideas are being sought from the group. Michael Murphy proposed a vote of sympathy to the Kinsella family on the death of John who had attended the early meetings of the venture. Meetings continue each Wednesday at 2pm and all are welcome.

ART GROUP The Art Group returned this week and plans were discussed for the next few months. Oils, pastels, and collage would seem to be the popular medium this term. Julie Moorhouse, who will be our tutor gave some valuable pointers on the various options available. Thanks as always to the KCETB, for their support for this term.

A vote of sympathy was passed to Elma Kharaghani, on the sad passing of her husband, Mos, a long time and valuable member

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

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

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Community & GAA Notes

East End Ladies had a good away win over Newpark at the weekend of the group.

EAST END NEWS East End Ladies team had a good away win at the weekend, Newpark 1, East End 2.

GAA Tractor and Truck Run 2024 The third annual Bennettsbridge tractor and trailer run in conjunction with Kilkenny / Carlow home care team will take place next Sunday 21st of January. A great day is in store again this year with a raffle taking place. We hope to see a big crowd in attendance. Registration is between 10 and 12pm with the run beginning at 12 pm. Free refreshments available for all registered drivers on the day.

Senior Intercounty Hurling Best wishes to the Bennettsbridge lads and Kilkenny panel who play Wexford in the Walsh Cup next weekend.

Bennettsbridge GAA Healthy Club Join team Bennettsbridge for the Irish life steps challenge 2024.

There is still time to join this year’s challenge. It started on January 8th and ends on February 12th. Simply download the ‘My life app’ and join the chal-lenge. Team Bennettsbridge is registered so please join us to compete our 4,000 km challenge.

Those that have participated before just need to join team Bennettsbridge.

Split the Pot Well done to Carmel Egan who won 163 euro, Doireann Hayes who won 30 euro and to Adam and Cara Treacy who won 20 euro. Thanks again for the continued support.

Membership 2024 This year’s membership can now be paid to registrar Samantha McGarry or to any club committee member. Membership fees are the same as last year. Forty euro for non-playing members, eighty euro for student players and 120 euro for adult players.

JOHNSTOWN MR. JIM RYAN RIP The death has taken place of Jim Ryan, Crosspatrick Village who was in his 96th year. He died peacefully in the loving care of the staff at the Sacred Heart Nursing Home, surrounded by his family. Jim (a native of Upperchurch, Co. Tipperary) worked for many years in the pub trade in Dublin and later bought a pub in Crosspatrick, which he ran with his wife Toni until he retired. He will be sadly missed by his heartbroken wife Toni, adored family Mary, Anne and Tom, sons in law Cyril and Richard, daughter in law Aine, grandchildren Domhnall and Conor, sister Mary (Fogarty), nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Michael’s Church, Crosspatrick, with burial afterwards in the adjoining graveyard.

TABLE QUIZ A table qiiz will be held in “The Crosspatrick” in aid of Crosspatrick Development Saturday, January 20th at 9pm. Adults €10, children €5. Spot prizes on the night. All welcome.

FENIANS HC...

Bingo continuing each Wednesday night in St. Mary’s Hall, including the Split the Pot draw. Envelopes for split the pot in the local shops €2.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE...

There is a Jobs training board at the Centre. Feel free to call and take a look, also help offered with CV’s and cover letters.

ART CLASSES Art classes are commencing from Thursday, January 18th from 10am to 12 noon. Duration of the classes six weeks.

COMPUTER CLASSES Computer classes will commence on Tuesday, February 27th to Tuesday, March 26th 10.30am to 12.30pm. Information 0568838466.

SPA UNITED AFC Weekend results U13 boys SFAI Sketchers National Trophy Spa 1 (Harry Cooke) Park Rangers Waterford 0. This win qualifies the team for the semi finals of the South East Region and the last 32 of Ireland where they travel to play a Cork side Douglas Hall on February 3rd.U15 boys league division 1A Thomastown 3 Spa 1, U15 girls league division 1 Evergreen 2 Spa 0, U13 boys league division 2 Evergreen 6 Spa 1, U13 girls league division 1 Spa 1 Southend 1. Also last week both U11 boys squads travelled to Clover Utd in friendlies.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO. Winning numbers 4,7,12,21, six match threes Ava and Zoe

Power, Paul Quinlan, Damien Delaney, James Carroll, Billy Fitzpatrick, Mary Hughes. Next week’s jackpot €10,900.

GORTNAHOE GLENGOOLE EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Wednesday 10am to 2pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 10am to 1pm Glengoole PARISH COLLECTION 2024 Thanks to all who contributed to the priest collection over the last weekends. You can still contribute this weekend. Also thanks for the weekly collection envelopes for the upkeep of both churches MASS TIMES Parish Pastoral Combination Weekend Mass Times - St. Patrick and Oliver Church Glengoole - Saturday 6pm, Sacred Heart Church Gortnahoe - Sunday 10.30am. Cathedral of the Assumption Thurles - Saturday 7pm, Sunday 9am & 11am. St Josephs and St. Brigid, Bohernanave - Sunday 10am & 7pm, St. Peter in Chains Church Moycarkey - Saturday 6.30pm, St. James Church Two Mile Borris - Sunday 10.30am and Our Lady, St. Kevins Church Littleton - Sunday 12 noon, St. Marys Church Moyne Saturday 7.30pm, Sacred Heart Church Templetuohy - Sunday 11am TUESDAY BRIDGE Bridge is being played each Tuesday night in Gortnahoe Hall at 7.30pm. If you would like to join or find out more information please contact this number 089 4349106 GORTNAHOE BINGO Bingo continues this Saturday evening at the earlier time of 4.00pm with doors opening from 3.00pm and will continue each Saturday evening at the same time. Over €2,660 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game.

SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to the last weekends winner Deirdre O’Keefe, who won €190 in the Split the Pot draw. Envelopes are available at the usual outlets. Split the Pot for the month of January will be in support of St Vincent de Paul. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. Your support would be appreciated ELDERCARE SERVICES Eldercare services through MFRC Glengoole will include the following: meals on wheels deliveries every Tuesday and Thursday, social group every Wednesday 1-3pm,includes soup, dinner and entertainment, laundry service, senior alert scheme for Gortnahoe Glengoole area, dementia cafe 1st Tuesday of each month 11.30-1pm, social group every Tuesday at 11am in the Old School House, The Commons. For further information on any of the above please contact Alice Teehan 052-9157992 MICHAEL LONG RIP The death has occurred of Michael (Mick) Long, Togher Road.

Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny,formerly Gortnahoe, on January 6th. Peacefully surrounded by his loving family in the tender care of nurses and staff at Fennor Care Facility, Urlingford in his 100th. year. Predeceased by his wife Kathleen, and his brothers and sisters Ned, Tom, Peg, Josie and Nancy. Mick will be sadly missed but always remembered by his son Michael, daughter Mary (Hennessy), daughter-in-law Frances, son-in-law John, grandson Jack, sister Mary (Fitzgerald), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. Mick reposed at Doyle’s Funeral home, Urlingford on Tuesday the 9th followed by removal on Wednesday to the Church of the Assumption, Urlingford for Requiem mass. Interment took place afterwards in the Mill Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

BALLYRAGGET BALLYOUSKILL GAA VOLUNTEERS St Patrick’s GAA Ballyragget following on from the AGM in December, we are still looking for volunteers to come forward to take on or share the duties for a number of positions in the club. We need to fill a number of positions for *The Club overall*; -Child Safety Officer -PRO *The Bórd Na NÓg committee*; -Secretary -Treasurer -PRO Filling these important positions will assist the club in organising and overseeing games for players at all levels, particularly for younger members and is vital for the running of the club. We’d ask everyone to give strong consideration to this message and if anyone is interested in one of these positions, (or knows

The medal presentation for the u13 combined team with Fenians took place on Friday night. The team won u13B hurling shield and Huw Lawlor presented the medals someone who may be) please contact club secretary Enda Mooney on 085-1259832 or secretary.stpatricksballyragget. kilkenny@gaa.ie.

PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES Ossory Diocesan 2024 Pilgrimage to Lourdes led by the Bishop of Ossory Most Revrened Niall Coll May 22nd 2024 from €929 per person, direct return flights from Cork to Lourdes, airport transfers, and assistance in Lourdes 5 nights hotel accommodation full board, for information and bookings please contact Joe Walsh Tours 012410800 or email info@joewalshtours.ie.

CONAHY GAA CLUB DEVELOPMENT DRAW Congratulations to the recent winner of the Hyundai Tuscon car in the Conahy Shamrocks GAA Development Draw, Jimmy O’Brien (Kilkenny). Many thanks to everyone in the locality for ensuring that the draw was such a success. All funds raised will now go towards the development of the facilities at the Polo Grounds.

EVERY STEP COUNTS CHALLENGE Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club have just started the “Every Steps Counts 24 Challenge” for club members and parishoners. The challenge began on January 8th and runs to February 12th, with the goal of this challenge to collectively hit 4,000km for the Club to be entered into the provincial draw. To join, participants can download MyLife from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and when downloaded, go to Social > Challenges > MyLife’s Every Step Counts Challenge. Search for “Leinster” and then “Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club”. All support for this initiative would be appreciated.

CLUB LOTTO The numbers drawn in the most recent GAA Club Lotto were 21, 26 and 40. There was no winner of the €1,200 jackpot, so the consolation prize winners were Vincent Healy, Giles Barrett, Mary Coogan, Mona Dooley and Noel and Kathleen Corrigan.

The promoter prize winners were Anne Downey, Kay Phelan and Peter Mulhall. This week’s jackpot now increases to €1,300.

HUGGINSTOWN NEWMARKET STONEYFORD MASS TIMES Aghaviller Parish. Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil - Saturday 20th. at 8.00p.m. Sunday 21st. at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford: Wednesday 17th. at 7.00p.m. Vigil - Saturday 20th. at 6.30p.m.

Saturday 20th. Feast of Saints. Fabian and Sebastian.

Thursday 18th to Thursday 25th. January. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity “You shall love the Lord your God and your neighbour as yourself”.(Luke 10:27) Pray For: Kitty Miller (nee Maher), Owning.

Anniversary Masses next weekend, Eamon O’Neill, Knockdrinna. Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 20th. January at 6.30p.m.

ROTA Rota for this week-end. (Third Sunday in Ordinary Time) Readers, Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m. Tony Roche. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Tommy Murphy. Sunday 10.00a.m.

Deirdre O’Shea Eucharistic Ministers, Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m. Barbara Smolen. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Cuddihy.

Sunday 10.00a.m. Lillian Carr SAFEGUARDING CONTACTS Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Ms. Ailish Higgins Tel: 087 100 0232. Aghaviller Parish Representatives are: Deirdre Rohan and Catherina Roche.

CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS Many thanks for your very generous contributions for the Christmas Offerings and for your support throughout the past year. To donate directly.) For Aghaviller Parish Funds: Use IBAN: IE74 AIBK 9330 9000 0610 47 (BIC: AIBKIE2D) For the support of the Clergy: Use IBAN: IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 BIC: AIBKIE2D).

All Parish Property and Accounts are registered under the (Diocese of Ossory, Reg. Charity No. 20015831) CONFIRMATION 2024

Confirmation will be celebrated for Aghaviller Parish in Hugginstown Church on Thursday 22nd. February at 11.00a.m.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION For Stoneyford School on Sunday 12th. May in Stoneyford Church at 11.00a.m.

For Monroe/Newmarket Schools on Sunday 19th. May in Hugginstown Church at 11.00a.m.

SOUTH KILKENNY HISTORICAL SOCIETY A Lecture on “Water Diviner Experiments in Ireland, 1891 and 1899” will be given by Brian White on Friday 19th. January 2024 at 8.00p.m in Mullinavat Parish Hall (opposite St. Beacon’s Church). This lecture will include the input of Mr Jones, Mullinabro, Kilmacow/Ferrybank in the experiments.

OSSARY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES The Annual Ossory Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024 is now available to book!

The departure will take place on 22nd. May 2024 from Cork Airport; flying direct to Lourdes with accommodation available in the hotels La Solitude, Padoue or Agena. With capacity being limited this year, it is strongly advised that pilgrims wishing to travel to Lourdes book as soon as possible. Should you require any additional information on the pilgrimage, please do not hesitate to contact 01 241 0800 or info@joewalshtours.ie. For Assisted Pilgrims please contact Fr. Anthony O’Connor 087 251 7766 or maoc50@me.com LOTTO Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 8th. January 2024. Numbers: 21; 14; 29; 08. No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner: 5 x €30.00 Winners. Teresa Fitzgerald, Hugginstown; David Ivory, c/o P. Crowley; Trish Power, Hugginstown. Teresa Long, Stoneyford, Seamus Murphy, Lismatigue.

3 x €15.00 (Sellers). Teresa Fitzgerald, Pat Dwyer, Padraig Crowley.

CARRICKSHOCK GAA The A.G.M. will be held on Friday, January 19th. at 7.30pm in Hugginstown Club Rooms. All club members invited to attend.

Nomination Forms are available from Committee members and must be returned by Tuesday 16th. January.

The Club invites all to join ‘2024 Light up Ireland’ every Wednesday at 7.30p.m. at the “Waterboys Walkway” Hugginstown: Walk and Chat; all are very welcome.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE COUNSELLING SERVICES Our low cost Counselling Services, includes One-to-One, Adult, Teens and Children’s Play Therapy. Counselling Provided: Bereavement, Stress, Anxiety and Depression, Drug and Substance and Gambling Addictions. Play therapy is now also available.

Age 5 years and upwards. Please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment.

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

DEFRIBRILLATOR Please note that there is a defibrillator located in the Mill Family Resource Centre if and when it may be required.

CLOTHES DONATIONS Any clothes donations would be greatly appreciated in aid of our counselling/play therapy services. Donations can be left into the Centre, please call before dropping off.

JOBS TRAINING BOARD We have a Jobs Board here at the Centre, feel free to call in and take a look, we also offer help and support with CV’s and cover letters if required.

Art Classes will be commencing from Thursday January 18th here in the centre from 10am-12pm. Duration of course is 6 weeks.

Computer classes will be commencing here in the centre from 10.30am-12.30pm from Tuesday the 27th February- Tuesday March 26th. Duration of course is 5 weeks.

For further information please contact us here at the Centre on 056-8838466

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

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Hurlng matters - Preview

Sport

Owen Wall can revel in Croker

Mark Bergin will defend from the front

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

AIB All –Ireland Senior Hurling Club Championship Final Sunday, 1:30pm, Páirc an Chrócaigh, Referee: Sean Stack (Extra Time if necessary)

O’Loughlin Gaels Vs St Thomas’ When O’Loughlin Gaels run out at Croker on Sunday afternoon, they will know that they are just one win from greatness and being crowned All-Ireland senior hurling champions. Standing in their way will be the challenge of Galway champions St Thomas’, a formidable opponent to say the least. It has the makings of a great contest and one that the Kilkenny champions will have been prepping for since they reached the decider following a titanic tussle with Ruairí Óg Cushendall in Pairc Tailteann last month.

That narrowest of victories over the Ulster champions will no doubt stand to Brian Hogan’s outfit in the heat of battle at headquarters this weekend. The Loughs have shown on several occasions this season that they will battle to the long whistle and do what it takes to get over the line, and while their management and supporters might like things to be a little more comfortable on Sunday, this decider could go right to the wire.

The St John’s Park side have more miles in the legs as they approach Sunday’s final, having navigated a tricky Kilkenny campaign that saw them take the scalp of Shamrocks Ballyhale by the bare minimum, to claim the county title. Before gaining the chance to pit their wits against the most successful team in club hurling, there were two hard-fought battles with both Mullinavat (2-point win) and Bennettsbridge (3-point win). As Gaels will tell you, there’s nothing easy won on Noreside.

Having claimed the Tom Walsh for the 5th time, O’Loughlin’s entered the provincial arena to go in search of a third Leinster title. First up for Brian Hogan’s charges was a trip to Netwatch Cullen Park to take on Carlow side, Mount Leinster Rangers. This was probably the most straight forward of all their games to date as they punished MLR’s rustiness and inactivity to win by 9-points. The quarter-final win set up an intriguing clash with the Faithful County’s finest, Kilcormac– Killoughey, again another road trip, this time to Glenisk O’Connor Park.

The Offaly side put in a decent shift but fell five points short as they sought to halt the Loughs train.

This semi-final victory saw the Mark Bergin led side head into the O’Neill Cup decider to tackle Dublin champs, Na Fianna. The Men from the Captial were in their first ever provincial final and had eyes on Leinster glory, and in truth it was a game that ebbed and

flowed in both directions with only 1-point separating the sides at the long whistle. Mark Bergin was in tremendous form hitting 0-11, while Paddy Deegan’s radar was certainly in, the county man hitting 0-5 from play in a storming display at Croke Park. Once again, the battling qualities of Hogan’s men was on show for all to see as O’Loughlin’s earned provincial title number three and their first since 2010.

A pre-Christmas cracker with Ruairí Óg Cushendall in Pairc Tailteann followed. Despite the phenomenal efforts of an Antrim great in Neil McManus, a Sean Bolger major and a stunning late effort from tight to the sideline from rising star David Fogarty saw the Kilkenny men secure a berth in the All-Ireland decider for just the second time in their history. Their first visit to Croker for the biggest game in club hurling ended in a sickening defeat to Clarinbridge of Galway. Let’s hope there’s a little revenge brewing as they go head-tohead with another Connacht outfit on Sunday. Captain Mark Bergin is a survivor of that St Patrick’s Day final at headquarters and notched 0-6 as his side were eclipsed by a stunning performance from player-of-thematch, Mark Kerins which saw the westerner’s home by 12 points in the end. Loughs netminder, Stephen Murphy will hope to banish that painful defeat and stand firm in the face of a quality St Thomas’s attacking unit.

Kenneth Burke’s team have been around the block themselves and are one of Galway’s chief protagonists on the hurling front. Having claimed a maiden All-Ireland title in 2013 with a 2-point victory over KilcormacKilloughey, the Toms have suffered much hurling heartbreak in the intervening years, none more so that when a magical stroke of the hurl from TJ Reid in Semple stadium in the 2022 semi-final broke the hearts of the Peterswell-KilchreestCastledaly men.

The Burke-backed Toms completed a 6-in-a-row of county titles back in late October when they outfought Turloughmore to claim the title in Pearse Stadium. There were just the six Burke’s on playing duty that day, plus manager Kenneth directing operations from the sideline. Star man that day was Éanna Burke who notched 2-2. That victory which matched their opponents’ feats of the 1960’s and due to the continued absence of a Connacht senior hurling championship, saw the red and blue-clad side advance to an AllIreland semi-final, where they would

Croker glory beckons for O’Loughlin’s!

St Thomas’ out to stop Noreside’s finest in decider take-on the much-vaunted Munster champions, Ballygunner.

2017 All-Ireland winning Galway captain, David Burke gave his side a boost by being able to start the game as the veteran had battled back from a nasty cruciate injury to play a small cameo in the win over Turloughmore, but had plenty of time in between that win, and the last-four clash with Darragh

O’Sullivan’s Waterford kingpins. If their county title was hard-won, the encounter with the bookie’s favourites for the national title went the distance – and then some!

Penalties were required to separate the two sides, and it was the South Galway outfit that came out the right side of that particular Lottery.

The star of the show in O’Moore Park that day was Conor Cooney

who hit 0-14 of his side’s 1-23. The stalwart Galway attacking gem was almost flawless from the placed ball, some of which were in poor enough conditions.

O’Loughlin’s will know that if they cough up easy free’s that Cooney will more than likely punish them.

Eanna Burke’s potential battle with Huw Lawlor could be a real humdinger. Eanna will be one of

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

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Hurling matters - Preview

Paddy Deegan can rule the roost from ‘6’

shackling Owen Wall at the Jones’s Road venue. His full-back and very experienced leader, Fintan Burke did a decent job on Ballygunner’s Kevin Mahony in the semi-final win and you can bet that he will guard the square with his life. In the halfback line, Shane Cooney and Cathal Burke will look to keep things tight and drive their side forward when possible. The return to action of David Burke is definitely a huge plus for the Toms and Cian Loy and Jack Nolan will need to match the physicality that will come their way on Sunday.

For Brian Hogan’s side, his county men, Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Paddy Deegan and Conor Heary are vital cogs in the O’Loughlin’s machine. Each of these classy Defensive duo Mikey Butler and Huw Lawlor

David Fogarty will contain and contribute

the biggest threats to Brian Hogan’s hopes of seeing his captain lift the Tommy Moore Cup on Sunday afternoon. Burke’s dovetailing with Conor Cooney, swapping from the edge of the square to the centreforward position is something that seems to really suit and work for this group of Tribesmen.

Cian Mahony is a tight marker who could be given the job of

hurlers has contributed massively to their side’s success so far this season.

Heary in particular, has served notice to county manager Derek Lyng of his outstanding abilities and all-action work-rate. The half-back trio of Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy and David Fogarty have excelled in this campaign. While defensively strong, their talent really lights up when crossing the halfway line and joining the attacking menace in front of them. These three Loughs will make their men work equally as hard tracking them as the other way round!

Owen Wall and Sean Bolger have caused havoc in many previous games this season, and while not always top of the scoring charts, their tireless work-rate and space creation allows others to profit. The same can be said of Eoin O’Shea and Paddy Butler, the latter who was sprung from the bench against Cushendall last time out.

The Hebron Road sides ability to influence things from their bench is a great asset at this level. Luke Hogan, Conor Kelly and the likes of Jamie Ryan can all influence matters when fresh legs are called for. Indeed, Luke Hogan caused lots of problems for the opposition defenders in the semi-final.

Mark Bergin and Stephen Murphy are proud clubmen and will be determined to right the wrongs of that 2011 defeat on Sunday. Let’s hope Hogans heroes are returning to Noreside clutching the Tommy Moore Cup and continuing Kilkenny’s dominance in club hurling. ‘Hon the Loughs.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

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Hurling matters - Review

Two down...One t Coleman O Sullivan Receives the Junior All Ireland Trophy from GAA President Larry Mc Carthy

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Kilkenny clubs secured two thirds of the National titles available at Croke Park last Saturday when Tullogher Rosbercon & Thomastown claimed the junior and intermediate titles respectively. Scenes of joyous celebration followed each teams victory as players and supporters headed back to Noreside with silverware and huge smiles on their faces. O’Loughlin Gaels will hope to make it a hat-trick this weekend.

allowed Marty Murphy to bat the ball to the back of the net in the 3rd minute.

A survivor of Tullogher’s last final outing at headquarters then cemented his side’s authority on affairs in the 15th minute.

Walter Walsh took a trademark catch before sprinting clear of all around him before striking an unstoppable shot past Eoin Davis in the St Catherines goal. Placed ball specialist Cian O’Donoghue struck a stunning eight points in the opening period as the Kilkenny side went

Tullogher Rosbercon 2-21 St Catherine’s 1-13 First up at the iconic Jones’ Road venue was Michael Doyle’s Tullogher Rosbercon who put in a sensational opening half performance to dismantle any hopes that their opponents, St Catherines of Cork might have had pre-match. After just nine minutes of action, the Kilkenny and Leinster champions were seven points clear thanks to some well taken points and a well worked move that

Tullogher Team with the cup

into the break with an 11-point lead.

Predictably, Tullogher eased up a little in the second half and as a result their opponents were a little more competitive in the second period, but the Noresiders more powerful and skillful attributes saw them maintain their interval lead when the long whistle sounded.

Final score, Tullogher Rosbercon 2-21, St Catherine’s 1-13.

Tullogher Rosbercon: Davy Walsh; Richard Gill, Donncha O’Connor, Sean Murray; Lar Murphy, Pat

Hartley, Cathal Mooney; Jamie Lyng, Colman O’Sullivan (0-01); Marty Murphy (1-01), Walter Walsh (1-03), Jason Shiely (0-01); Danny Glennon (0-01), Conor Hennessy (0-04), Cian O’Donoghue (0-10, 0-05fs, 0-01 65, 0-01 s/l).

Subs: Michael Handrick for Shiely (42), Stephen Lawlor for Mooney (57), Niall O’Shea for Gill (59), Tony Conway for Murray (60), Brian Walsh for Murphy (62).

St Catherine’s: Eoin Davis (0-04, 0-04fs); Liam O’Connor, Eoghan O’Riordan, Fionn O’Connell;

Kieran Neville, Oisin Fitzgerald (0-01), Kian O’Donoghue (0-01); Kyle Wallace (0-01), Shane Cotter; Sean O’Donoghue (0-03, 0-03fs), Rory Galvin (1-01), William Leamy; Brian Mulcahy (0-01), Eoin Condon, Matthew Mulcahy.

Subs: Conor Hegarty (0-01) for Neville (ht), Eoin Wallace for O’Connor (ht), Gearoid O’Brien for Leamy (ht), Kevin Barry for Matthew Mulcahy (46), Nathan Sheehan for Brian Mulcahy (52).

Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)

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Hurling matters - Review

o go!

Tullogher & Thomastown claim titles in Croker!

Stephen Donnelly lifts the cup

Thomastown 2-23 Castlelyons 0-13 As Noel Doherty’s charges ran out onto the hallowed turf of Croke Park, they did so to a cheering Tullogher Rosbercon, who had stayed on the pitch to welcome their fellow Marble City men to the arena. Thomastown had blitzed all before them in securing both the Kilkenny and Leinster titles, and they showed little mercy in dispatching Cork’s Castlelyons, running out 16-point winners.

Captain fantastic Stephen Donnelly led the way for the boys in blue notching a cracking 2-3, something that will stay with him forever.

Stephen was in good company and not the only Donnelly doing damage, Robbie excelled as per usual, finishing with a tally of 0-9, while Cats star John struck four lovely points.

The Cork side were clearly worried about Thomastown cutting loose and employed a sweeper from the first whistle. While it may worked to a degree, The Kilkenny side had five points on the board courtesy of Donnelly’s John and Robbie, before St Castlelyons got the scoreboard moving in the 14th minute.

Some wayward shooting by the Noresiders in the opening period, where they registered seven wides allowed Noel Furlong’s side to come back into the game to trail by just two points at one stage, but a flurry of scores before the short whistle saw Thomastown take five-point lead into the interval.

Stephen Donnelly’s first major arrived after the restart, and it was a well-worked effort. John Donnelly Thomastown Team celebrates

went on a typical powerful run before giving a perfect pass to his captain who rifled to the net, much to the delight of the Thomastown faithful.

The Kilkenny side’s conditioning was clear for all to see, and they struck six unanswered points by the 47th minute and truth be told, they were never in real danger at

headquarters. The skipper’s second major came a few minutes from full-time as he reacted quickest after Robbie’s effort was blocked. The only surprise was possibly Tucker

not getting on the scoresheet, but the cup was won and many years of hurt, put to bed with a fitting end to a fantastic season. Senior sides beware – Thomastown are coming.

Thomastown: Diarmuid Galway; Peter Connellan, Jay Burke, Ned Kirwan; Brian Staunton, Eddie Donnelly (0-01), Zach Bay Hammond; Peter McDonald (001), Jonjo Farrell (0-02); Robbie Donnelly (0-09, 0-05f, 0-02 65), Luke Connellan (0-02), John Donnelly (0-04); Thomas O’Hanrahan, Jack Holden (0-01), Stephen Donnelly (2-03).

Subs: Dylan Waugh for Holden 52, David Prendergast for O’Hanrahan 59, Richard O’Hara for Kirwan 59, Alex Cass for Luke Connellan 61, Brian O’Hanrahan for Bay Hammond 61.

Castlelyons: Jack Barry; Jamie O’Leary, Colm Barry, Dara Spillane; Niall O’Leary (0-02), Colm Spillane (0-02), Leo Sexton; Alan Fenton (007, 0-02 65, 0-04f), James Kearney; Barry Murphy (0-01), Keith O’Leary, Leon Doocey; David Morrison, Anthony Spillane, Oscar Hallihan (0-01).

Subs: Colm McCarthy for Doocey 12, Shane Moroney for J O’Leary 49, Brian O’Donovan for Hallihan 53, Ronan Fenton for Morrison 53, Rob Feeney for K O’Leary 57.

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Matt Quinlan, Bridget Quinlan wish to apply to above authority for permission for the following at No. 1 Nuncio Road, Kilkenny. (a) Provision of new vehicular entrance from Public Road (b) Associated Works The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Matt Quinlan, Bridget Quinlan

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Shay Properties Ltd. hereby intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission for works to the existing out-buildings and the area outside the Waterbarracks entrance at Kilcreene Lodge, Kilcreene, Co. Kilkenny.

The development site is located within the curtilage of a Protected Structure ‘Kilcreene Lodge’ Ref B117 and NIAH Ref. 12401927. The alterations will consist of the demolition of one no. out building, extension and alterations to two outbuildings, the construction of three stables and one new outbuilding. Upgrade works are also proposed to the area outside the entrance at the Waterbarracks to include, new bollards, kerbing and resurfacing the roadway and all associated site development and ancillary works.

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

Signed: Brian Dunlop Architects Ltd. www.briandunloparchitects.com

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

ANN HAWE 10TH ANNIVERSARY

JERRY ENGLISH PAULINE ENGLISH 2ND ANNIVERSARY 17TH ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of our loving mother and grandmother Ann Hawe who died on 24th January 2014 R.I.P

In loving memory of Jerry and Pauline, Cypress Avenue, Kilkenny.

Memories Of You Mum It’s been the hardest thing to lose you You meant so much to me But you are in my heart Mum And that’s where you’ll always be I know that Heaven called you But I wish you could have stayed At least the memories I have of you They will never fade I did not want to lose you But you did not go alone Because a part of me went with you When Heaven called you home

Jerry whose 2nd Anniversary occurs January 17th and Pauline whose 17th Anniversary occurs January 26th.

We hold you both close within our hearts And there you shall remain To walk with us throughout our lives Until we meet again Sadly missed by their daughters Paula and Liz, sons John and Ken, daughters in law, sons in law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Never more than a thought away Much loved and missed everyday Rest in Peace Mam and Dad

St. Anthony Prayer

O Holy St. Anthony gentlest of Saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers.

Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request).

O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms. The gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen M.R.

St. Anthony Prayer

O Holy St. Anthony gentlest of Saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers.

Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request).

O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms. The gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen M.R.

So just remember one thing We are not apart You are with me in my memories And my broken heart Miss you always from your loving daughters, Margaret, Breda, Chrissy, Jean, Frances, Marie and Anne (RIP) your sons, Noel, John and Martin your grandchildren and great grandchildren nieces and nephews.

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. P.OD.

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. C.W.

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.B.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

News Classifieds Motors

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

087 2587745

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 19 January 2024