See also

Farmers: ‘reduce cash flow pressure’

IFAC, Ireland’s farming, food and agribusiness specialist professional services rm, is encouraging Kilkenny farmers to prioritise budgeting and cash ow management to mitigate the impact of rising costs and tight pro t margins.

From a nancial perspective, 2021 has been a good year on most Irish farms. Commodity prices are up for milk, beef, lamb and crops. Input prices were relatively stable for the rst nine months and weather conditions for both grass and crops were excellent. Taken together, this combination of factors should result in higher pro ts in 2021 when compared to 2020.

Looking to 2022, while the outlook for dairy, beef, lamb and crop prices is bullish, rising input costs will hit pro t margins. Currently, fertiliser prices have almost doubled when compared to this time last year while feed prices are up by about 20%. Fuel and energy costs are also rising. With tight margins on many farms, good cash ow management will be critical in the coming months.

Ifac estimates that dairy farmers could be facing a potential extra cost of four or ve cent a litre over 2021 (€591 per ha); beef farmers are likely to see input costs increase by €187 per ha over 2021; tillage farmers could face a potential extra cost of €281 per ha over 2021.

Philip O’Connor, Head of Farm Support at IFAC, said: “ e combination of the impact of these cost hikes (potentially impacting pro ts by as much as 50% on dairy farms and 60% on livestock farms) as well as other nancial commitments such as drawings, loan repayments and tax, are likely to lead to cash problems for many farmers.” Now was the time to review cash ow and potentially look at your farm’s existing credit limits and funding options, not next spring if the farm were to run into cash ow issues.

KILKENNY based Mentor Her have been crowned ‘Best New Start’ company at the Connacht & Leinster regional nal of the 2021 InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition. e company fought o tough competition having delivered an investment pitch via video conference in front of an expert judging panel.

Seedcorn is the island’s biggest business competition for innovative new start and early stage businesses in any sector. e winners from each of the four regions will go onto compete in the all-island nal later in the month where the overall ‘Best New Start’ and ‘Best Early Stage’ companies will be announced winning €50,000 each, and ultimately the ‘Overall Winner’ will pocket €100,000 to contribute to their business growth.

Established in June 2020 by Katie Doyle (pictured with her award), Mentor Her is a woman-to-woman mentoring service matching established mentors and ambitious mentees in corporate and entrepreneurial spheres. Commenting on their win, Katie Doyle said: “We’re thrilled to win the ‘Best New Start’ company in the Connacht & Leinster nal and progress to the next round. When lockdown happened in March 2020, many women decided to re-evaluate their lifestyles and professional careers, they needed guidance on what they should do next which is where I got the idea for Mentor Her.

“ e Seedcorn competition has given us the opportunity to focus on the next step in our business journey, getting investment. So far, it has been an excellent exercise in understanding more about our company from an outsider’s point of view.”

Since the competition’s inception in 2003, more than 3,100 companies have been through the programme and nalists have raised in excess of €276m in equity funding, emphasising Seedcorn’s position as the premier competition for high growth startup companies on the island. Congratulating Mentor Her, Connor Sweeney, Seedcorn Programme Manager at InterTradeIreland said: “It’s a great achievement to win the regional nal, the standard of entries from Connacht & Leinster this year has been particularly high. Congratulations to Mentor Her, they demonstrated innovation, con dence and enormous drive – all of which the judges look for when assessing the potential and longevity of a business.”

Katie is sowing the seeds of mentor success

New year will o er new start at WIT

WATERFORD’S Institute of Technology (WIT) is inviting people already looking to the new year for change to attend a virtual open evening in November.

WIT’s Department of Lifelong Learning is running a virtual springboard & part-time winter Open Evening on Tuesday, November 23 from 6.30 to 7.30pm to coincide with its part-time courses opening for applications.

Neil Quinlan, Head of the Department of Lifelong Learning at WIT, advises adults interested in starting college in 2022 to attend the online event to meet WIT subject experts and nd out what the best option is for them.

“Over Christmas and in early January many people will be thinking about doing a course for personal or professional development. Our open evening is designed for anyone who wants to be prepared in advance for the New Year and nd a course now that they would like to start in January. Part-time/ exible and Springboard courses are ideal for people who want to enhance their employability and promotion prospects.

Short courses staring this January include project management, digital marketing and social media, payroll and computerised accounts, human resource management, and radio broadcasting.

Further information including fees and indicative delivery model for each course is available at www.wit.ie/parttime with applications and payment available online.

Interested people can register for the event at www.wit.ie/parttime. Zoom details for the event will be available on the event page on the afternoon of 23 November.

People with unmet literacy needs can avail of new, free courses

THE Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is encouraging people with unmet literacy needs in Kilkenny and Carlow to avail of free literacy services.

Minister Simon Harris recently published an Adult Literacy for Life – a 10-year adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy strategy. e strategy aims to ensure that every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential.

Minister Harris said: “ is campaign is about reaching out to our fellow citizens, many of whom feel like they have been left behind as the country surges into a technologically complex century.

“We might consider ourselves a modern and educated society, but there are still far too many who feel isolated, and too many who do not know how to learn these vital skills.

“It is not right that there are people in every county, including Carlow and Kilkenny, who dread having to check a bill, read a medical document, go online to access a service, or even send a message over Whatsapp. It is simply not right that too many of these people are afraid to ask for help,’’ the Minister said.

“With this campaign, we are determined to address these problems head on and make Ireland a more inclusive, equitable and, ultimately, a kinder society for everyone.” e Strategy makes a number of commitments including: • Increasing in the number of learners engaging with literacy and language support by 20,000 by expanding the range of courses available over the rst half of the strategy’s lifetime; • Reduce the number of people adults in Ireland with unmet literacy needs, from 18% to 7%. • Reduce the number of adults in Ireland with unmet numeracy needs from 25% to 12%; • Reduce the share of adults in Ireland without basic digital skills from 47% to 20%. ere is a range of services available in your county through the Carlow Kilkenny Education and Training Board, with an adult education provider available on Tullow Road, Carlow and Upper Patrick St, Kilkenny City.

“All you have to do is either phone of drop into your local Education and Training Board, or freephone the National Adult Literacy Agency on 1800 20 20 65,” said the Minister.

Phone lines are open 9.30am – 5pm Monday to Friday or text: ‘LEARN’ to 50050 and they will call you back. ey are free of charge and aim to help people with reading, writing and digital skills.”

For more information on Adult Literacy For Life, please go to www.adultliteracyforlife.ie.

An evening of prayer as Archbishop Dermot returns to Kilkenny

THE former bishop of Ossory, Archbishop Dermot Farrell, returned to the Marble City on Tuesday 11th November. After three years as Bishop of Ossory, Archbishop Dermot was translated to the Archdiocese of Dublin in February 2022.

Last Tuesday was an opportunity to greet our former bishop and acknowledge his time here in Ossory.

On Tuesday afternoon the priests of the diocese greeted Archbishop Dermot in St Kieran’s College. Mgr. Dan Cavanagh spoke on behalf of the priests thanking him for the work and dedication that Archbishop Dermot did during his time in Ossory.

Fr Martin Delaney presented Archbishop Dermot an 11 volume edition of the Dictionary of Irish Biography along with two original texts: Archbishop Patrick Francis Moran’s History of the Archbishops of Dublin and a work of Mgr. Laurence Renehan on the Church History.

Like Moran, Archbishop Farrell was a member of sta in the Irish College, Rome, both became bishops of Ossory and both left to become Archbishops – one in Sydney and the other in Dublin.

Renehen, a native of Gortnahoe, was, like Archbishop Farrell, President of St Patrick’s College Maynooth; like Archbishop Farrell Renehan spent time in Ossory: Farrell in Kilkenny and Renehan at school in Freshford. e archbishop also received a newly published work, What is Man; A Journey through Biblical Anthropology, translated by Fearghus O’Fearghail, PP of Windgap – the other Dr Farrell of Ossory.

Evening Prayer was celebrated in St Patrick’ Church at which a large crowd of people from all over the diocese gathered to meet Archbishop Farrell. Many who attended had worked with the Bishop Dermot when he was bishop, serving on committees, pastoral teams and parishes.

All were welcomed to St Kieran’s College for a cup of tea.

THIS WEEK, in our look at the recently published book of poetry and prose by e Kilkenny Involvement Centre and e Recovery College, we feature the work of Noel Cantwell, Eoin Co ey and Gerry Cody . anks to T.A.S.K and jbs for photos.

Much More Than Words

If ever a book deserved the award for ‘ e Perfect Title’ surely that accolade must go to a new compilation of poetry Much More an Words. Indeed its very title describes comprehensively the diversity of the treasures to be discovered within its covers. is volume of carefully crafted poems, interspersed with prose and enhanced with well-chosen images, is the second collection produced by e Involvement Centre Kilkenny and the rst in a joint venture with e Recovery College. e Kilkenny Observer Newspaper is delighted to promote the work of e Involvement Centre and e Recovery College, and so, will publish a selection of their work over the coming months. ‘Much More Than Words’ can

be purchased at the following Kilkenny outlets: Bargain Books, The Butterslip Khans Bookshop, James’ Street & The Book Centre, High Street. Price: €10

Noel Cantwell

A Dominion of Opinion

Cut out the middleman With a ridiculous plan Incredulous interpretation Many of us observe the nation e word is hatred and defamation Pay for it, perception Adverse correction, the mad thirst Rejection, thinking and deduce Drinking let loose Dynamic problematic I vanish the problem is the project, Envisage, a rendition, can I get permission, Listen, only the in nite, can roam like an intricate Web of designs, remember the crimes, this is justice, Nonplussed with an opinion, rendition, mission, listen, oughts wraths, can’t be brought, lyrical onslaught, Stick on another nought, Can’t be caught Silence the talk.

Noel Cantwell

Eoin Co ey

Waking up from a Dream

Lost in translation at’s where it is It’s like coming out of slumber land It’s like the hidden hand e start of it now Because who knows Where this trail will end Or where it will begin Walking through this dream Today I saw the sun Felt the heat of it After a deep slumber In the unconscious mind Residing in A spinning orb e earth Or is it? Please explain Who knows Words can be deeply understood Stand over the knowledge As realities manipulated Where’s the next turn e o cer in the sky knows Good orderly direction Not the opposite In this spiritual realm A pedestrianised street Left, right, or sideways e signs are all there e multitude of symbols In its essence Still within the depths Of this façade

Eoin Co ey

Ger Cody

e Art of Knowing

We met at Temple Bar On the rst Friday of every month Twenty or so theatre practitioners To discuss all things artistic. Some may have taken their role to the extreme Saw themselves as ‘Che Guevaras’ of the arts world Promoting what they thought was best for the Irish audience And what was necessary for the country to see We sat in an Outdoor Café e clientele, all knowing their place in life Armed with up to date Apple iPads and mobile phones For fear they may not have all the answers to hand. I am reminded of the salmon born in cool freshwater Fighting for territory and digging his nest Wearing himself out on the gravel at will eventually mark his death after spawning. Sitting at the Film Institute Discussing topics that seem irrelevant I empathise with the salmon as he digs his ‘redds’ As I too feel this delving has little relevance. Across from the restaurant e café of Focus Ireland opens its doors. e homeless and destitute gather. I see a tired Sr. Stan mingle with the unwanted. All of us on Eustace Street in Dublin Some discussing Beckett, Arts Grants, and the latest novels. Others o their heads on a substance bought in a laneway Paid for from money scavenged at the Luas stop at Abbey street. You attempt to gure out How the world is so di erent‒ All of us on the same street, yet miles apart. Sometimes it is di cult to know on what side of the street you belong.

Ger Cody