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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Driving home for Christmas Garda crackdown as fatalities on roads to rise by 25% this year One of the biggest road safety campaigns for Christmas is to be launched by Gardaí, as fatalities on Irish roads are set to rise by an alarming 25% this year. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has expressed concern over the spiralling death toll, with 170 lives lost in road traffic tragedies so far this year – 33 more

than for the same period last year. That death toll is almost 39% above the rate of fatalities for the first 11 months of 2019. Safety campaigners including PARC road safety group have called for extra Garda resources, renewed road safety promotions and a strengthening of driving

licence enforcement as a national priority. Road Safety Authority (RSA) officials have met with Garda Road Policing Unit officials to discuss the death toll and to determine a response. RSA chairperson Liz O’Donnell said the recent scale of road fatalities was “a cause of serious concern”,

while the Taoiseach insisted on personally chairing a ministerial meeting on road safety initiatives. Mr Varadkar invited Susan Gray of PARC to give a lengthy presentation to key ministers, the RSA, Gardaí, the courts service, the medical bureau of road safety (MBRS) and senior civil servants.

Between January 1 and November 25, a total of 170 people had died on Irish roads. The 170 deaths involved 61 drivers, 41 pedestrians, 33 passengers, four e-scooter drivers or passengers, 24 motorcyclists, six pedal cyclists and one pillion passenger. The top four counties for road deaths are Tipperary,

The Pogues’ MacGowan dies at 65

Beginning to feel a lot like Christmas At the Kilkenny School Project (KSP) in Springfields, are the senior infants eagerly anticipating its annual Winter Fayre on Sunday December 3, from 12 pm to 2 pm. Pictured, top from left are Pixie Trait, Fiadh Brett, Milo Brett, Havishaa Krishnan, and Omar Kazzaz. Bottom from left are Will Roberts and Fionn Morrissey. All are aged six.

Mooncoin’s Jack makes final rally driver award Kilkenny driver Jack Brennan has been shortlisted for the Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year award. Mooncoin’s Brennan has secured a nomination for the Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award for the second year in a row. The 19-year-old secured his nomination after taking Class 5 honours in the Motorsport

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Ireland Junior Rally Series in his Renault Clio Rally 5. Since the conclusion of that championship, he upgraded to a Peugeot 208 Rally 4 and raised eyebrows with a standout performance on the recent Cambrian Rally where he won the Rally 4 class. “I was delighted to get the phone call. It is great to be recognised as one of the top three

Mayo, Galway and Cork. Tipperary – which witnessed two horrific collisions last summer, in Clonmel and Castle – now has Ireland’s highest county death toll, with 16 fatalities so far this year. That is a 230% rise compared to last year when seven people died on roads there.

young drivers in the country,” he told The Kilkenny Observer. “We put in a lot of hard work during the year and all the hard work by the people around me reflects in this nomination.” “We have a nervous few days ahead of us, best of luck to all other nominees too.” The other three finalists are Keelan Grogan (22, Co.

Leitrim), and Craig Rahill (19, Co. Cavan). The winner of the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award will be announced at the Motorsport Ireland Champion of Irish Motorsport Awards in Dublin on Wednesday, December 6 The winner will receive €100,000 worth of support to

contest rallies nationally and internationally in 2024. Coupled with Sport Ireland and Motorsport Ireland’s €50,000 investment, a further €50,000 has been pledged by the Team Ireland Foundation. Both award runners-up will receive support to compete in stage rallies at home and abroad up to an amount of €15,000 each.

The Pogues frontman and songwriter Shane MacGowan has died aged 65, He had been ill for some time. His global hit Fairytale Of New York, recorded with the late Kirsty MacColl, will be forever synonymous with Christmas, iromically just weeks away. In a post on Instagram, MacGowan’s wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, confirmed the news. “I don’t know how to say this so I am just going to say it. Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese. “There’s no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world. “Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people,” she wrote. “You will live in my heart forever.”

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Jingle all the way to Kilkenny this Christmas Experience the magic of Christmas in Kilkenny where a fun-filled programme of festive events await! The festivities swung into action last weekend with the launch of Yulefest Kilkenny 2023, all kicking off with the arrival of Santa Claus on the River Nore to switch on the Christmas lights on Saturday, November 25. Every weekend right up until Saturday, December 23, the Yulefest Christmas Market will be open along The Parade in the city centre and live music will be flowing from the bandstand hosting fantastic local acts. Other festival highlights include the Santa Truck on the Saturday, December 9, Outdoor Movie Night on Thursday, December 14 and the Festive Friday Finale with late market, live music and fireworks on December 22. Check out YulefestKilkenny. ie for the full programme of exciting events. Discover the wide range of Christmas events, gigs and workshops across the county, including: Santa’s Magical Village at Castlecomer Discovery Park (Now - Dec 23) * Christmas Markets at Mountain View Market (Now- Dec 24) *Christmas Light Switch On Ceremony at Lyrath Estate (Now on) *Nore Valley Park Santa

Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa and Mrs Claus arriving at Yulefest Kilkenny PHOTO: Dylan Vaughan

Experience at MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre (Now -Dec 24 ) *Festive Wreath Making Workshop at Rothe House & Garden (Dec 2) *The Marble City Music Fes-

tival at St. John’s Priory (Dec 2 and 3) * Santa Paws dog event at Connolly’s Red Mills Store (Dec 7) * Christmas Tree Festival at St Canice’s Cathedral and

Round Tower (Dec 7- 12) *Christmas Miscellany at Rothe House & Garden (Dec 12) *A Choral Christmas at St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower (Dec 16)

* View our festive stays blog for more information. Planning a Christmas party? Many of Kilkenny’s hotels offer Christmas party packages to tailor to suit your group

for a family reunion, friends night out or work do. The popular Visit Kilkenny Christmas Cook Book is back! The 2023 edition of the cookbook features 17 recipes from local cafés, restaurants, hotels and food producers covering starters, mains, sides and desserts so that you can curate the perfect menu for your Christmas feast. The methods will help you to whip up a storm in the kitchen this festive season and impress all of your dinner guests! Click here to download the Visit Kilkenny Christmas Cook Book. Need to get some Christmas shopping in? Kilkenny is an idyllic spot for shopping with over 400 stores in 1 small city. Shop your favourite high street brands at MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre and Market Cross Shopping Centre - both of which have Christmas events throughout December - and pick up unique trinkets and local craft at independent shops and boutiques. Shop Kilkenny by browsing our Christmas gift guide for gifting inspiration! Christmas in Kilkenny is bigger and brighter than ever, so don’t miss out on the merriment and festivities to be experienaced right across the county this winter! VisitKilkenny.ie #VisitKilkenny #ChristmasInKilkenny

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Consumers to have ‘Right to Repair’ products soon Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan welcomes the historic win, citing the Right to Repair as an inseparable part of a circular economy. The European Parliament has adopted its position on a new “Right to Repair” law, which will empower consumers with stronger rights to have their products to be both re-

pairable and repaired in the near future . The directive will see an obligation for manufacturers to repair their products for a certain period of time, with the prioritisation of repair over replacement in the event of a product defect during the statutory guarantee period. MEPO’Sullivan welcomed this news, having campaigned

successfully with the Greens/ EFA Group in the European Parliament to prevent practices that stand in the way of repair, such as the device no longer working with spare parts not produced by the manufacturer. “The Right to Repair is another win in the fight against throwaway economics; prac-

tices intended to make repairing our appliances difficult with incorporated planned obsolescence. It can be very frustrating to have a product come to the end of its life prematurely with no option to repair it, or where the cost of repair is more than purchasing a new item altogether. “Consumers are long

overdue these protections and it’s high time that companies acted responsibly with the limited resources our planet can provide. The days of ‘sell sell sell’ have to come to an end, manufacturers must prioritise quality, longevity and repairability if we are to work towards a real circular economy,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

The new rules note that repairs should be both accessible and affordable, providing access to inexpensive spare parts and repair instructions. The law will now progress with further negotiations with the European Commission and Council to take place, before it is expected to become law.

Caitríona’s tragic death A Coast Guard volunteer who survived the tragedy that claimed the life of Caitríona Lucas said their boat was struck by a freak wall of water that capsized their boat and tossed the three crew into a sea that was like “a washing machine”. A second Coast Guard volunteer who survived the same tragedy fought back tears as she said that, had fellow volunteer Ms Lucas’ helmet not been ripped off by a freak wave, she might have survived their boat capsizing and been driven into a semi-flooded sea cave. There were emotional scenes as Limerick Coroner John McNamara opened the inquest into the death of Ms Lucas (41) at Kilmallock Courthouse.

Our local Popstars! Transition Year students from Presentation Secondary School and St Kierans College at their last rehearsal before moving into the Watergate for their performance of Popstars: the 90s musical which runs until December 3

Aontu’s first runner Healy outlines his priorities for Co. Kilkenny Vexed issues including housing, healthcare, road safety and water for North Kilkenny formed the main basis of the campaign launch for Aontú LEA candidate Tom Healy. Mr Healy, who lives in Goresbridge, was joined by Aontú leader, Peadar Tóibín and the party’s European Election candidate for Ireland South, Patrick Murphy. A well attended meeting in Castlecomer Community Hall heard Mr Healy list the main areas he would be basing his campaign around. Mr Healy told the assembly: “It is a great honour to be among you as your Aontú can-

didate for the 2024 Local Elections in this area. This is the first time that Aontú has run a candidate in Co. Kilkenny and it will certainly not be the last. Our ambition and my pledge is to work hard for the people of this area and all of North Kilkenny. Kilkenny is worth working for. “These are least seven issues on which I am focusing my campaign in the comping months: The first is housing where a whole young generation that have been locked out of owning a of home for the foreseeable future. Instead of rising homelessness we need an acceleration in the build-

ing of new homes including social and affordable housing. Local authorities need to step up more and lead in this area through emergency measures to secure vacant public properties and unused land owned by public bodies,” he said. “The second priority is road safety. Many people whom I have met on the canvass over the last few weeks have pointed to the hazards of speed, parking and access to safe pathways. Kilkenny County Council has a budget but we need to give much greater priority to safety. There are simple measures that can be undertaken to slow down traffic as well as

to make sure that parking is not creating more risks to human life. “Third is access in a fair, timely and meaningful way to healthcare. We need to up the game in terms of investing in primary healthcare, patient advocacy and better conditions to recruit, retain and train our frontline heroes in the acute hospital system. Mr Healy said the infrastructure for water in Castlecomer is not fit for the 21st century and was a brake on new housing development, business expansion and could be a threat to public health. The council needed to be much more pro-

active, applying pressure at national level as well as directly with Irish Water. “Fifth, we need to tackle the scandal of special needs children who have been ignored, left behind and marginalised by the State. I speak, in particular, about children diagnosed with autism or ADHD. My aim is greater number of ‘sensory’ playgrounds across North Kilkenny. “Seventeen children in Carlow and Kilkenny are waiting on treatment for scoliosis. Eight waiting for more than six months. The scandal of underinvestment in our nation’s children needs to be addressed.”

Poem penned to mark Epilepsy challenge To coincide with Epilepsy Ireland’s ‘45 for Epilepsy: Move & Make a Difference’ challenge, between December 11 to 17, Liam Gleeson of Nenagh, Co. Tipperary penned this poem.Diagnosed with epilepsy 21 years ago but the past 12 years has been seizure-free. Everything Seems

Different, Really Just when you thought you were normal, It occurs right out of the blue, A sudden strike without warning, And not knowing what happens to you. Then you’re found in a different position, Having keeled over onto the floor,

It’s called a life-altering condition, Should it happen to you no more? I guess everything seems different, really, Ever since your first setback occurred, You’re awake after you thought was a minute, Only then do they give you a word.

Please think of your medication early – You’ll tend to forget it too soon, Write it down and then set your alarm, Once forgotten, you’re sure to swoon. The results could be a bruise on the head, Or a graze on the elbow are types,

You may every experience some shaking, But as always, just get on with your life. When others give you some assistance, Make sure to thank them, do tell, What happened to you at that moment, Could happen to them as well.

Positive outlook for farming A more positive outlook is predicted for farmers next year, the Teagasc Economic Outlook for Irish Agriculture conference has heard. The reduction in input prices that emerged in 2023 should persist into 2024, meaning that input costs for 2024 as a whole should be lower than this year. And it’s understood there will be some optimism at today’s conference, with farm incomes expected to increase next year. The outlook for Irish milk prices is positive, with a likely rise expected to be forecast for 2024.

€2.1m. pub had no licence A €2.1m pub and hotel business operated by well-known racehorse owner Conor Clarkson has been trading without a liquor licence, a receiver has claimed. The allegation was made in the High Court as part of a dispute over the appointment of receivers to the assets of the company behind the Powerscourt Arms Country House. Mr Clarkson (59), a property developer who owned 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King, is a director of the firm Bereryscape Limited. The hotel in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, has been used to house Ukrainian refugees under a government contract in recent times

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

Opinion

The Fact Of OfThe Matter Paul Hopkins

Heart of darkness throws light on our well-being Diarist Anne Frank wrote: “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” And she knew about darkness in her short tragic life. We are amidst the darkness in these short, dank days and never-ending nights where many a candle is lit and lights and heating switched on, earlier than we would like – some 166,00 Irish households (23%) are behind with energy bills, according to Senator Lynn Boylan. While many suffer from Seasonal Adjustment Disorder (SAD) – and than can be debilitating – we could always look on the bright side of these dark times. Think snuggling up with a loved one, evenings beside a real fire; stews and homemade soup. A nice brisk walk on a frosty morning. Science tells us that the dark – that ghoulish world occupied in our childhoods by the

walking dead and things that went bump in the night – is a necessary state for both humans and our animal friends. In fact, Nature in all its diversity. Darkness maintains the natural circadian rhythm, so you know when it is night and when it is day. Most animals are much more sensitive than humans and can even sense light that is indistinguishable to the human eye. “Humans have the advantage that we can protect ourselves from light that we perceive to be harmful, for example by darkening our bedrooms. Other animals do not have this possibility,” says Jari Lyytimaki, senior researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute. According to Lyytimaki, bats and the majority of insects, to take one example, are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) or nocturnal creatures. Even a small amount of light can prevent

them from behaving as Nature dictates. The health gurus are continuously telling us that we need on average six to nine hours of sleep a night, and, if you want to sleep as well as possible, you need darkness. According to my psychologist friend from Magherafelt, the quality of sleep is simply better in the dark than in the light. “Melatonin is the main sleep-producing hormone in humans. The body produces it in large quantities only at night and in the dark. Melatonin production is clearly dependent on the amount of light outdoors,” he told me over a hot chocolate the other night. Seemingly, remaining in steady light all the time is not good for us. If you spend long periods of time indoors or stare a lot at the blue light of screens in the evening, the amount of artificial light will remain too even. As a result, your body clock will not

receive vital messages about the time of day, making it more difficult to eventually fall asleep. “It is important for a person’s inner clock that it is dark at night and that there is a lot of light in the morning. Variation in the amount of light keeps the

Snuggling up with a loved one ...

body clock regular, helps you sleep better and improves your mood,” says my psychologist friend. According to research in the US and in Israel, irregular body clocks have been linked to many diseases, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, depression and asthma. That said, the darkness – and as I get older I like it less – is a dwindling, eh, resource. As the amount of artificial light increases in cities and elsewhere, total darkness threatens to disappear from the world. In Ireland in the Sixties only 80% of rural households had electricity – now, the Christmases of the past decades we light up just about anything that moves, concerns for the national grid cast to the wind, not to mention the bills. Darkness is easily misunderstood. It is often considered something scary and bad without us really think-

ing why this is. One research suggests it is important for us to curb our irrational fears about the Bogey Man and to remind ourselves that darkness helps protect the environment and improve human health. The small town where I lay my head, I find the problem is that there is quite a lot of bad lighting that is neither proper light nor proper dark. Driving at night is no longer appealing. The shortest day of the year will pass on December 22. At that point, the Northern hemisphere will be tilted at its furthest point away from the Sun, meaning there will be less than eight hours of daylight in Ireland. It could be worse though. In Barrow, in Alaska, 330 miles north of the Arctic Circle, from November 18 there are 67 days and nights of darkness. I’m certain they have candles...

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Why you should go easy on red wine at Christmas Red wine triggers headaches more than other forms of alcohol, even white wine. In a new study, scientists suggest that the flavonoid compound quercetin could be to blame. They showed that quercetin inhibits a key step in the body's metabolism of alcohol. A clinical trial in humans is already in the works.

It’s not a hangover but neither are those afflicted crazy: Scientific research has shown that red wine does indeed cause headaches more than other forms of alcohol, even white wine. These headaches can arise just a half hour after drinking only a couple of glasses. The curious condition was initially given credence

in a study published in The Lancet back in 1988. Scientists had subjects drink either red wine or vodka (disguised to look the same) — in equivalent amounts and with the same alcohol concentration – and found that the red wine triggered migraines far more often. Thirty-five years later, “red

wine headache” still hasn’t been satisfactorily explained. Researchers have scrutinised various compounds that are uniquely prevalent in red wine, like sulfites and histamines, to see if they might be behind the malady. Alas, controlled studies and indirect evidence have vindicated them. Now, two chemists at the

the flavonoid compound is widely considered to be beneficial, with anti-inflammatory properties. But, as authors Apramita Devi, Morris Levin, and Andrew Waterhouse demonstrate in their paper, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports, quercetin consumed in the presence of alcohol can cause a problem.

€1.15m. for Care Leavers and Traveller, Roma access to college

Elves joins ISPCA as charity partner Non-profit Irish company Elves has announced the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) as its official charity partner. Elves, End-of-Life-Vehicle (ELV) compliance scheme, is a non-profit company set up by vehicle manufacturers to fund the recycling of scrap cars and small vans in Ireland. After several years assisting with collections for the ISPCA at popular events such as the Forever Young Festival, Elves wished to become more involved with Ireland’s largest national animal welfare charity. Pictured are PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe, hosts and on ‘Morning Glory’ on Radio Nova, who recognise the vital role played by the ISPCA in

University of California-Davis and a neurologist specialising in headache from the University of California- San Francisco have proposed a new culprit, and they present some strong early evidence to support their accusation. That culprit is quercetin. Found in all sorts of fruits and vegetables, as well as red wine,

safeguarding the well-being of animals across Ireland. The dynamic duo were on hand to celebrate the official charity partnership. This significant contribution underscores ELVES dedication to fostering a compassionate society and addressing the needs of animals in distress. Pat Kierans, Business Development Manager of Elves,

said: “We look forward to continue supporting the ISPCA and their marvellous hard working and dedicated staff, looking after animals nationwide. We feel this is the right time, especially postcovid with many animals, especially dogs, needing extra care and attention”. Dr Cyril Sullivan, CEO of the ISPCA, said: “Elves' gen-

erous donation will help us make a difference to the animals we rescue from the most appalling situations imaginable, and we look forward to further developing our partnership with Elves in the future. "Every year the ISPCA help, rescue, treat and responsibly rehome tens of thousands of animals nationally."

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has announced the roll-out of €1.15 million to support Care leavers and members of the Traveller and Roma communities access to third level education. The funding, which is being provided through the Dormant Accounts Fund, will be used to pay student accommodation costs for young people in the care of the State. Minister Harris said: “We have been working to help young people in the care of the State access third level education but the issue of accommodation has posed a huge challenge for many. “Many care leavers are made independent at 18 and must navigate the transition from residential care or foster care while simultaneously trying to access further and higher education without family or community support and in the face of significant costs.” “This approach will ensure the costs of accommodation are covered for this cohort of students. It will ensure they have security of accommodation and will not have to worry about the costs.” The plan promotes general access, diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship by offering targeted supports to encour-

age participation from underrepresented groups such as Travellers and young people who have been in state care. One of the plan’s main objectives is “apprenticeship for all”, whereby the apprenticeship population better represents the national population. The plan secures €450,000 to establish the Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme (TAIP). The minister said the department had become increasingly aware of the barriers to accessing apprenticeships for young people leaving State care, who may have experienced disruptions to their education at primary and secondary level owing to the impact of being taken into care and the associated trauma. Additionally, many young care-leavers are made independent at 18 and must navigate the transition from residential care or foster care while simultaneously trying to access further and higher education. Up to €100,000 is being made available for Care Leavers undertaking apprenticeships. The plan targets and supports students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, students with disabilities and students from the Irish Traveller community.

Leased land tax break to be closed down The Government has moved to close a lucrative tax loophole that allowed investors to avail of lucrative tax breaks on leasing land. The first nine months of 2023 saw land values increase by 8.7%, according to the Sherry FitzGerald Agricultural Land Barometer. This is despite a fall in returns from agriculture this year due to poor weather, high input prices, and a decline in

farm gate output prices, particularly in the dairy sector. The weighted average price of an acre of farmland in Ireland, excluding Dublin, stood at €11,783 at the end of September. On a year-to-date basis, prime arable land experienced the most significant price growth, at 9.7%. Price growth was seen across all regions, with Midlands seeing the strongest.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

Time to deal with the menace of right wing extremists The rhetoric about rightwingers here is dismissive. They don’t represent us, we are told, they are motivated by hate, unlike other countries they will never have enough support to have political clout. They seem to merit no more attention that an annoying cloud of gnats. But the riots in Dublin City Centre were a long overdue wake-up call. To borrow a phrase from anti-immigrant protestors: “Enough is enough.” Enough with the softly, softly approach to the of menace of right-wing activists, enough with the head in the sand approach which has ignored the growing threat from the hard right here in Ireland. It’s time to take note of ultra- right activities elsewhere and to see clearly the threat posed to open, democratic society and

the way right wing action readily leads on to domestic terrorism. If reminders are needed, look at the way rioters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in the attempt to overturn the legitimate election of Joe Biden, rallied by Donald Trump and involving white supremacist groups like the Proud Boys. Or remember the attack by Brenton Tarrant, linked to white supremacist and far right ideology, on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in which 51 Muslims were killed on March 15 2019. Maybe it’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of security given the lack of a far-right political base here but elsewhere the far right has become normalised especially in the 2000s, with Marine Le Penns

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National Rally in France, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and the Our Homeland Movement in Hungary, plus the election of hard right politicians like Dutch firebrand Geert Wilders. The threat of terrorism by the extremist right is growing, the Global Terrorism Index found a 320% increase in terrorism by the far right in 2019 while the 2023 Index found that extreme ideology was the motivating factor in a majority of attacks. In Dublin there were two elements to the mayhem: hardcore right-wingers involved in an anti-migrant protest who saw the tragic stabbing of three children and their carer as the blue touch paper for the combustion that followed, and then the disaffected youth ganic Rosehip Oil in many of the Trilogy products to help nourish and replenishing the skin during the winter months. You can use Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil under your Moisturiser to form an extra protective layer. This time of year, you could choose one of the gift sets which are always fantastic value. For example, Trilogy ‘Dewy Skin Trio’’ and Trilogy ‘All About You’ value sets contain a full-size Certified Organic Rosehip Oil and a full-size Rosehip Cream Cleanser designed to Cleanse, Nourish and Boost skin complexion whilst saving your pocket 50% off the retail price. I love the Trilogy’s Body Beautiful Duo Gift Set. It contains Botanical Body Wash and Pure Plant Body Oil, two beautiful products to nourish and hydrate the skin. The body wash is a soap-free, non-drying body wash, perfect for your bath and shower. The Body Oil is an easily absorbed lightweight fragrance free and nourishing oil blend. For dry hands you could choose the Ultra Hydration Hand Cream, another one of my favourites. These gift ideas are an ideal stocking filler, or treat for yourself! 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

looking for trouble who responded to the rallying call from agents provocateurs. The poisonous ideology of extremists is characterised by xenophobia, anti-immigration, racism, sexism, belief in accelerationism (fear that white local populations will be overtaken by immigrants). plus the use of violence aimed at overthrowing Governments. Their recruitment drive is boosted by social media sites that help spread radicalisation and they benefit from international co-operation and planning between other far right activists and groups. The EU is moving on co-operative measures to counter the threat with, stronger surveillance, longer sentencing for offences and crackdown on tech companies to

stop hate speech, closing malign platforms and influencer sites might help too. Dismissing the disaffected youths waiting for trouble or the next call from right activists as thugs and scum is sweeping the problem that we have failed to tackle under the carpet. It’s a problem that won’t be solved with body cams for our guards, borrowed water cannons or a blow from a riot baton – it needs prevention with a multi- faceted intervention. In a sense society has failed them, with the sheer lack eeffective early initiatives, opportunities for involvement in training or apprenticeships and sport to prevent the shameful state that leaves young men in particular alienated. They want something

from life and they are getting it the wrong way attacking frontline workers, looting, setting fire to vehicles, terrorising immigrants who, unlike themselves, want to work. When they have children, those children are at risk of becoming part of a repeating vicious cycle of deprivation and alienation. These are the youths likely to get sucked into the drug scene, either becoming users or addicts or dealing as a means of making a living. Having drug treatment centres brings addicts and dealers to Dublin’s city centre, blights it rather than serving the communities where they are needed. The failure of the alienated to belong is partly our failure too. Paul Hopkins Page 14

Government must do more to protect women and girls from gender based violence BY: DEPUTY KATHLEEN FUNCHION SINN FEIN TD FOR KILKENNY CARLOW Sinn Féin spokesperson on children, Kathleen Funchion TD, has called on the government to do more to meet the needs of victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence. Today marks the start of the International 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, an annual event that calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. Teachta Funchion said: “The recent publication of the Council of Europe GREVIO Committee’s report into Ireland found the State is not meeting its obligation in regard to the provision of legal aid for victim of domestic, sexual and gender based violence (DSGBV). “They called for an expansion of eligibility to existing legal aid particularly for civil proceedings and that it is available as early on at reporting and investigainvestiga

tion stage. The extension of offences for which victims can apply for legal aid was also a key call in their observations. “I would echo calls by NGOs here in Ireland that we must heed GREVIO’s calls around the urgent need for collective and cohesive data collection. We know that levels of domestic, sexual and gender

based violence are growing, however our understanding of this devastating upward trend is limited due to the lack of data. “Ireland must begin the work of comprehensively mapping the nature and extent of violence against women and girls so we are better equipped to prevent and intervene where it is most effective. “The Third National Strategy was welcomed by Sinn Féin, yet eighteen months have passed since its publication and only now is the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Vio Violence Agency Bill 2023 reach reaching amendment stage in the Dáil. Reform is glacial. “Nine counties, including in my own constituency of Carlow are without a refuge, others include: Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon and Sligo. Whilst they do have domestic violence support services, it’s the lack of services for vulnerable women and girls that is stark and completely unac unacceptable.”

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

News

SPECIAL REPORT COMMENT: PAUL HOPKINS

When Dublin frontline workers were dealing with the stabbing of two schoolgirls and their childcare minder and its aftermath, many people started to discuss the unfolding events on social media. Much of the conversation related to the attacker’s nationality and motive. He is in police custody, believed to be Algerian and has lived here 20 years. Anti-immigration rhetoric has been gaining support in recent months – something that was undeniable at violent protests outside Leinster House back in September. Prior to that protest, organisers of the protest used hashtags like #IrelandIsFull and #EnoughIsEnough. Attacking Leo Varadkar’s house and he himself was mentioned online during last week’s events. The senseless and horrific murder of Ashling Murphy in January 2022 was invoked almost immediately to put forward anti-immigrant sentiment, including comments by high-profile figures such as Conor McGregor. To deal with the marauding gangs that attacked Gardaí and shops in the wake of the stabbings, calling for the heads of Drew Harris and Helen McEntee is not the answer. More Gardaí on our streets is the answer and harsher jail time. However, according to Garda sources, policing just isn’t a very attractive career these days – and the most immediate result is a lack of frontline Gardaí to tackle crime on our streets. An Garda Síochána has a total strength of 14,133 – its lowest figure since 2018. The 2022 Budget provided funding to hire an extra 800 but only 116 actually enlisted. The same year, a record 109 Gardaí resigned along

Hatred and mayhem and the rise of the alt-right

with 340 retiring on age or health grounds. It was once considered a well-paid job, but now even a Garda in their sixth year gets a basic salary of €44,875. Imagine trying to get a leg up the property ladder on that. There is, of course, the argument that these marauding gangs – and they are not all young people – feel disenfranchised because of poverty, social disadvantage and/or addictions. That too should be part of the debate. As should our capacity to accommodate refugees, in growing numbers and financially too. However, something else, more sinister, is fuelling this mob mindless actions. The alt-right, from a base of virtually zero a decade ago, has grown to a notable,

albeit still relatively small, political presence here. The combined vote for the far-right here has barely reached 1.3% but in other European countries they do much better. In his book Diverse Republic (Dublin University Press 2022), Bryan Fanning, Professor of Migration and Social Policy at UCD, examines the nature of antipathy to immigration in Ireland and its potential to be politically exploited. He argues Ireland has tended to be more outward-looking and that the North’s conflict gave us a different perspective on ethnic nationalism. “We have the same tendencies as other people, and yet we have a politics without extreme racism. Racism does exist in Irish society, just as in other so-

cieties, and it’s fair to say that Ireland’s institutions don’t serve people of colour or Travellers as well as the white majority.” As a relatively small country, Ireland became very educated and very liberal quite fast. “We didn’t have an industrial revolution in the standard sense, going from farmers to post-industrial in one step,” says Fanning. In England, Hungary and Poland, the far-right claim ownership of what it is to be English, Hungarian or Polish, but Irish people in all our diversity are no longer drawn to the type of Irishness that may have been embodied by de Valera. Our ‘patriotism’ has been built around our healthy economy which goes some way to explaining that youth

feeling of being disenfranchised. In recent months, local community groups across the country – Kilkenny included – have expressed concerns over their area’s capacity to house a sudden influx of hundreds of people and the lack of consultation from the State. But these groups, as a whole, aren’t calling the migrants ‘invaders’. Far-right activists here – and let’s reiterate they are small in number – advocate for an Ireland that is a monocultural nation for white Irish people only. Sadly, they demonstrate these ‘beliefs’ by describing minorities online and elsewhere with dehumanising language, using disinformation to incite tensions. There are a number of

high-profile accounts online that routinely share misinformation about immigration and, at times, very openly discuss their hatred of foreigners – seemingly blaming them for anything that goes wrong in Irish society. Gardaí, politicians and the media are regularly labelled ‘traitors’. Before the Oireachtas we have a new law purporting to banish ‘hate speech’. The Incitement to Hatred Bill 2022 has passed the Dáil and is before the Seanad. No doubt, this was conceived with the best of intentions and may, hopefully – or, indeed inadvertently, may not – go some way to prevent both verbal and physical assaults on people out of a sense of venomous hatred.

Cara battles on for children with special needs Schoolgirl activist Cara Darmody [pictured] wants opposition parties to heap pressure on the Government to fund private assessments for children with special needs waiting for appointments. In May, the Government said it would examine funding of private assessments for these children. But Cara said a “promise” to children, including autis-

tic children, had not been kept and she was asking for the support of the Sinn Féin leader to flag the issue again. Recently, the 13-year-old met Mary Lou McDonald in Leinster House as part of her efforts to keep the topic high on the political agenda. “Mary Lou McDonald seemed serious about the issue,” Cara said. “It seemed she was determined she’d

do it, to bring this up in the Dáil. She told me I was in the right and I wasn’t wrong in any way. She said it must be awful for families (on waiting lists).” As well as asking Ms McDonald to back her on the appointments issue, Cara, who has admitted harbouring political ambitions, asked for support in having a “voice” on a public stage. Earlier this year, Cara, from

Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary, became the youngest person in Ireland to pass Leaving Cert maths – gaining a 97% result. She has become politicised at a young age because of her own family’s experiences. Her brothers Neil (11) and John (6) have autism and significant intellectual disabilities. She has watched as her parents, Mark and

Noelle, have fought hard for their care. Cara also intends to continue lobbying the Government for the Carers’ Allowance payment to be “overhauled completely”. Her father Mark said he was “incredibly proud” of his daughter for her continuous lobbying of politicians to create a fairer system for families and children with disabilities.

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Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Keeping your festive spending in check We all love a present, especially at Christmas, but New Year debt and financial worries we can do without. Sometime we lose the run of ourselves at Christmas and end up with unwanted bills to accompany the chills of January. It can take some households seven months to repay Christmas debts. So what to do? Is it not a bit late at this stage to make changes or save with Christmas only weeks away? Its never too early or late to start planning for Christmas. And yes the sooner you start saving, the better, putting aside what you can afford each month in the run up to Christmas. But even at this late stage there are things you can do. The most important thing is to keep your festive spending in check and within budget. Once you know what you would like to buy or budget for, get realistic! How much can you really

afford to spend? Write everything down to keep yourself on track and don’t forget the hidden cost, like travelling to and from family and friends. Sticking to your budget is just as important as setting it. While you might be tempting to overspend – especially when you’re in the festive spirit – you might regret it in the New Year. That being said, if you do need to borrow a little extra in the form of a loan, make sure you do it responsibly. A loan is ‘not just for Christmas’, so make sure you consider what you’ll use the loan for, what you’re committing to and whether you can afford the repayments – your local Credit Union will be happy to discuss and advise on your needs. The first piece of advice you will receive is, don’t forget to pay your monthly bills – such as your mortgage, rent, gas, electricity and phone contract. Most

employers will pay early in December, so try to pay your regular bills immediately so you don’t spend the money on something else. Then shop around to find the best deals. Being a

shrewd shopper can make a big difference to your Christmas spending. Don’t forget to look out for freebies too. Is there a local ‘swapsie group’ in your area? If so, join as you can make huge

savings with gifts that are in some cases next to or brand new and you will be surprised at what you consider junk will be the exact gift that someone else needs. You don’t have to spend money to have fun. There are plenty of ways you can spend time with your friends and family for free. Check out online listings and the pages of this paper to see what’s going on in your local area. It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement of Christmas when you’re out shopping. But doing some shopping online will make it easier to stick to your list and avoid those tempting impulse buys. Most local retailers have websites so your money need not be going abroad but staying in the local community. Aside from gifts, one of the biggest expenses at Christmas is food. Plan your menu and buy what you need as early as you can so you

don’t have to make any lastminute dashes to potentially more expensive shops. So you didn’t manage to start your Christmas saving as early as you would have liked? Start thinking ahead to next year now and plan what you can save each month. The earlier you start, the less worrying you will do. If you’re concerned about debt or meeting repayments, the important thing is not to hide or ignore it. Talk, discuss your problems with your lender(s)/creditor(s) and usually what you though was an insurmountable problem can be dealt with in a way that will suit all parties. The earlier you address a potential problem, the sooner you can take action to solve it, reducing stress and potentially saving money in the long run. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362622

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News Science & Wellbeing An American medic who didn’t shower for five years has written a book about what he learnt in staying out of the water. For his book, Clean: The New Science of Skin, physician James Hamblin [pictured] didn’t shower for five years. Soap is a relatively simple concoction; you’re mostly paying for marketing and scent, argues the Yale graduate. While hygiene is important, Hamblin argues that we’re cleaning way too much — to the detriment of our health. “Less is better” is not a catchy marketing slogan, but this doctor who didn’t shower for five years thinks there’s a lot of truth to it. A few months ago, James Hamblin made a splash when announcing he hadn’t showered or used much soap in five years. The physician, Yale public health lecturer, and staff writer at The Atlantic experimented on himself as research for his latest book. Hygiene rituals are as old as recorded civilisation. While Muslims and Hindus created elaborate cleaning rituals, European Christians thought bathing increased your chances of falling ill thanks to miasma theory. For centuries, changing your linen shirt supposedly bestowed cleanliness — not soap and water. Many Christians during this era only had one bath in their entire lives: baptism. Though we certainly want to wash more often than once a year, Hamblin points out that many current hygiene and skincare rituals have moved us too far in the opposite direction. In fact, our expensive rituals may be more harmful than helpful. As Hamblin points out, if you spend some time showering and applying products every day, you will devote over two years to grooming-related activities over the course of a centurylong life. In his previous book, If Our Bodies Could Talk, Hamblin investigated numerous body myths. In Clean, he focuses on our largest organ. Skin is an environment unto itself. What follows are six important lessons in his book, ranging from hygiene to greed. 1. Soap might be creating allergies In the quest to protect our children against bacteria, we might inadvertently create lifelong allergies. An uptick in peanut allergies is indicative of this trend. Our skin is the first line of defence against disease, and it knows how to protect itself. The organisms and bacteria that live on our skin are doing important work; the more we wash them away, the more susceptible we become to foreign invaders. Nut allergies might only be one consequence of overwashing. Allergic rhinitis, asthma, and eczema might in part be caused (or provoked) by too many antibacterial soaps (or soap in general). As Hamblin writes: “Soaps and astringents meant to

When James didn’t shower for five years!

make us drier and less oily also remove the sebum on which microbes feed.” 2. Skin is crawling with mites Speaking of foreign invaders, skin science supports an old Buddhist idea: There is no self. As Hamblin puts it, “Self and other is less of a dichotomy than a continuum.”

In fact, “you” are a collection of organisms and bacteria, including the mite Demodex. A half millimetre in length, these “demon arachnids” are colourless and boast four pairs of legs, which they use to burrow into the skin on our face. Yes, your face, too. While these mites were originally discovered in 1841,

“We’re cleaning way too much — to the detriment of our health...

total, he spent $150 (which included his company website) to launch Brunson + Sterling. He then posted two-ounce jars of Gentleman’s Cream for $200 (on sale from $300!). Hamblin didn’t sell any jars, but that wasn’t the point. At an expo, he noticed oneounce jars of SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic selling for $166, even though that topical acid is no more effective at improving health than eating an orange. Collagen is another hype machine. Drinking collagen does nothing for your skin as it’s broken down by enzymes in your digestive tract. Even so, plenty of companies claim it gives you glowing skin. Even more incredibly, Hamblin didn’t have to report any ingredients to the FDA. He also didn’t need to note its effects or provide evidence of safety. All he had to do was apply for a business license. The FDA can’t even make him (or anyone) recall products. The government’s safety system relies on a code of honor — and there are plenty of businesses that are less than honourable. 5. Disinfectant decoy Do we really need to wipe everything down with Clorox? Probably not, Hamblin suggests. In fact, for Clorox to work, you have to leave it on the surface for about ten minutes. He says, “The product isn’t ‘killing 99.9% of germs’ in the way that anyone actually uses it — a quick wipe-down.” Instead, clean your countertop with soap and water. Besides, regularly killing every “germ” in the environment isn’t the healthiest practice. “Some chronic conditions seem to be fueled by the fact that so many of us are now not being exposed to enough of the world,” Hamblin writes. it wasn’t until 2014 that a group of researchers in North Carolina used DNA sequencing to understand their impact. Though you might recoil at the suggestion, it turns out that these critters potentially act as natural exfoliants. While housing too many of these mites results in skin disease, your face is their home. If not for them, you might even be more susceptible to breakouts and infections. 3. Soap benefited from marketing Soap is chemically simple. Combine fat and alkali to create surfactant molecules. The fat can be animal- or plantbased — three fatty acids and a glycerin molecule create a triglyceride. Combine this mix with potash or lye, apply heat and pressure, and wait for the fatty acids to rush away from the glycerin. Potassium or sodium binds to fatty acids. That’s soap. What you’re paying for are the scent and packaging. In 1790, the first patent in history was approved for an ash processing method that

produced soap. It wasn’t an immediate hit; the balance was off. Too much resulted in a lot of burnt skin. A century passed before companies convinced Americans regular washing was necessary. Thanks to ingenious marketing — we still have radio-inspired ‘soap operas’ today, though barely — soap became a must-have. A luxury became a common good. Marketers convinced the public that everyone should buy a lot of soap. As Hamblin phrases it, “Capitalism sells nothing so effectively as status. And if a little bit was good, a lot would be better.” Soap infected mainstream consciousness. 4. The skincare industry is largely unregulated Hamblin tried another project for this book: He launched a skincare line. One day, he went to Whole Foods and purchased raw ingredients: jojoba oil, collagen, shea butter, and a few other things. After mixing them in his kitchen, he ordered glass jars and labels from Amazon. In

6. Animals smell — and you’re an animal The soap advertisements that kicked off modern marketing relied on one concept: BO. We think of body odor as a given, but that too is an invention. Our feet “smell” thanks to bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, which has potent anti-fungal properties. Shoes weren’t available for most of history, a period in which smelly feet bestowed a strong evolutionary advantage. As Hamblin writes, we didn’t evolve to smell; we evolved in harmony with protective microbes that we just happen to find unpleasant. While a number of players in the wellness and skincare industries likely have good intentions, so much of what is sold is unnecessary, and even damaging. The marketing machine makes us feel incomplete — so we have to buy products that make us feel whole. As Hamlin concludes, evidence-based companies would take an opposite approach to skincare and hygiene: less is more. But that slogan doesn’t sell a lot of soap.

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Travel & Leisure 1.The Round Tower Climb the spiral ramp to the top of this city icon, built in 1642 as an observatory by King Christian IV, and enter the planetarium to learn about ancient and modern astronomy. In summer, little detectives can grab a map and go on a scavenger hunt. The top of the tower also offers views of the long, curving Øresund Bridge that connects Denmark and Sweden. The Round Tower is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. 2. Danish Architecture Centre The focus of this museum — housed in a striking stackedglass building designed by Rem Koolhaas’s Prm, OMA — is Danish innovations in architecture and urban development. But it manages to make this seemingly academic topic engaging for younger visitors. It has large bins of LEGOs to occupy little fingers and big imaginations, and there’s an outdoor play area with trampolines and a climbing tunnel. Inside, get oriented with a giant aerial map of the city streets and canals. The twisting four-story slide designed by Carsten Höller is also sure to elicit screams of delight.

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen, with children

3. Designmuseum Denmark Set in the former Royal Fredericks Hospital, where the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard died in 1855, this museum has four wings that surround a central courtyard — but is manageable in a little more than an hour. The exhibitions showcase midcentury Danish design and art from Arne Jacobsen, Poul Gernes, and Kaare Klint. Kids will love the whimsical Egg chairs, decorative Pop art, and funky lamps.

Garden after seeing the noontime changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace, the fall and winter home of the Danish royal family. To view the family’s treasures, visit the nearby 400-year-old Rosenborg Castle, where their crown jewels and regalia are on display, along with a silver coronation throne.

4. Rosenberg Castle Have a picnic in the King’s

5. Canal Tours See the city’s architectural

America’s longest road and its longest interstate highway both begin in Boston.The route from Boston to Bar Harbour, Maine, will take you through places like Salem, Massachusetts, along with Maine’s largest city and economic capital, Portland [pictured] , and the resort town of Camden. Before you hit the Pine Tree State, you’ll pass through New Hampshire, where you can enjoy a scenic drive along the coast from Hampton Beach to Portsmouth. And, while it might add 40 minutes to your trip, bringing it up to a full 300 miles oneway, Stephen King fans will definitely want to detour at the end to see Bangor, Maine, the inspiration for the fictional town of Derry in the works of one of America’s bestselling authors. Boston ranks as America’s safest city to drive through, so that’s just one more reason why it might be a good

highlights on a cruise through the Inner Harbour. Children will marvel at CopenHill, a waste-to-energy power plant with a ski slope on its roof — covered in siliconcoated fibres that mimic snow — and the Circle Bridge, a pedestrian path made of five round platforms. You might also catch a glimpse of the Little Mermaid statue, one of Copenhagen’s most iconic landmarks, and,

weather permitting, residents swimming in the canals. The promise of horses alone may get children excited about this island in the city’s harbour. Most mornings, teams from the Royal Stables pull carriages in front of Christiansborg Palace, once the seat of the monarchy and now home to the Danish parliament. Nearby you’ll find the Black Diamond, a modern addition to the Royal Library

Hit the road Jack, or Mary or Siobhan starting point for a road trip. Whether you visit the Museum of Fine Arts, walk the Freedom Trail, take in a Red Sox or Celtics game, or just stroll along the waterfront, there’s no end to what you can

do on a visit to Boston. When you hit the road, you’ll be following I-95 much of the way. However, there’s a coastal ferry from Boston to Salem, Massachusetts, so the latter could be done as

a day trip first. Needless to say, all things witch-related can be found in Salem, from the Salem Witch Trials Memorial to the Witch Dungeon Museum, where live reenactments take place.

that faces the Inner Harbor and is clad in black granite. Children will get a kick out of riding the Diamond’s moving walkway up the 80-foot atrium and walking across a bridge to the library to peer into the grand reading room. 6. Coco Hotel After busy days spent sightseeing, it helps to come home to a stylish yet kidfriendly hotel. Voted the top

stay in Scandinavia by readers in T+L’s 2023 World’s Best Awards, this property in the Vesterbro neighbourhood has a fifth-floor family suite with two bedrooms (one of which has twin beds), beanbags, and a bunny lamp. While the little ones get their energy out in the table-tennis lounge, parents can sip wine in the lush courtyard at Café Coco. The family suite at the Coco Hotel sleeps four.

Even a statue of Elizabeth Montgomery from the sitcom “Bewitched” stands in Salem. At Pickering Wharf, you can keep the coastal spirit alive, and at the House of the Seven Gables, you can see a US National Historic Landmark District made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel of the same name. Spend the night in Salem and continue onward to Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Some of the prettiest coastal views can be seen along the NH-1A stretch from Hampton Beach to Portsmouth. Portland, Maine, is a great place to explore the culinary side of the New England coast. You can get your seafood fix at restaurants like the Eventide Oyster Company and the seasonal Portland Lobster Company. Located on Maine Wharf in Portland’s Old Port neighbourhood, Scales has an open kitchen and raw bar where you can

see seafood on ice (and boats cruising by through the windows). Like the Salem Ferry, the Portland Schooner and Casco Bay Lines will both take you out on the water, where you can sail by lighthouses and New England cottages. Back on land, another literary landmark you can check out is poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s house, Portland’s oldest standing brick structure. As one of the five mostvisited U.S. national parks, Acadia National Park offers dramatic views of the rugged Atlantic coastline near Bar Harbor. Here, you can take a drive along the picturesque Park Loop Road or make the winding ascent to the park’s highest peak on Cadillac Summit Road. It’s perhaps the perfect way to culminate your coastal road trip through New England.

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Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

A brief history of theatre in Kilkenny Outside of Dublin, Kilkenny possesses the greatest collection of medieval documents and records in Ireland. One of those documents refers to a dramatic presentation at The Market Cross in Kilkenny’s High St in 1553 when a play entitled ‘God’s Promises’ was performed. The play, written by John Bale, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Ossory, was claimed by some to have been the first play in the English language to have been performed in Ireland. Some 440 years later, in 1993, another ‘dramatic’ event occurred, not far from the same place, when former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, officially opened the Watergate Theatre, in Irishtown. In attendance at the opening were the two, now deceased, bishops of Ossory, the Catholic Bishop Dr Laurence Forristal and Noel Willoughby, Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel & Ossory.

Guest performers on the evening were singer/songwriter Mick Hanley, impressionist Gerry Lavelle and tenor Finbar Wright. The Watergate Theatre took its name from the Water Gate, one of the 13 gates into our 15th century walled city; of those 13 gates only one, Black Freren Gate, close to the Black Abbey, survives. The theatre, with a seating capacity of 320, was constructed on the site of the Savoy cinema which had closed its doors eight years earlier in 1985. The Savoy cinema had now become Kilkenny’s official theatre; this was an interesting reversal of events as back in the 1950s Kilkenny’s official theatre had become a cinema! That theatre, located in Patrick St, and known simply as ‘The Theatre’, opened in October, 1902 thanks to the vision of Captain Otway Cuffe and his sister-in-law Lady Desart whose money funded the enterprise;

capable of seating up to 900 people it was among the top four theatres in the country. The Theatre was used for plays, concerts, operas, pantomimes and lectures. It hosted the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Percy French’s Humorous And Artistic Entertainment to name but a few events. It also served the local amateur drama societies – among them the Ossory Players, St Mary’s Choral Society and the Don Bosco Players. As ‘moving pictures’ became ever more popular in Ireland. the theatre served a dual purpose as theatre and cinema but predominantly as a cinema in the 1950s. The last live theatrical show in The Theatre, known locally as Stallards, was the final night of the 1963 Tops Of The Town competition which was run by the De La Salle Past Pupils’ Union. A short time later, in June 1963, the cinema also closed

and the property (now Zuni’s restaurant) was sold. From the closing of The Theatre in 1963 until the opening of the Watergate Theatre in 1993, a period of 30 years,Kilkenny was without a proper theatre. Thanks,

“Kilkenny is still an excellent place for ‘marriageable daughters..

however, to local authority and Arts Council funding and a dedicated group of fund-raisers, spearheaded by then Mayor Tommy Martin and local thespian Michael ‘Mock’ Lawlor, a first class theatre under the management of Gerry Cody was finally built in Kilkenny. Those 30 years without a proper theatre (the Friary Hall was the go-to venue) were challenging times for theatre-folk in The Marble City. But it hadn’t always been so; for a period of 40 years, from the 1780s until the 1820s, the major social event in Kilkenny was the annual theatre season. During this Golden Age of theatre visiting companies performed in the Tholsel, the Castle and in the courthouse (Grace’s Castle). The Kilkenny Players, gentlemen actors who raised monies for ‘charitable institutions’, founded their own private theatre on The Parade in 1802 which survived for 17 years

and it was there that Thomas Moore, the Bard of Ireland, performed and met his future wife Bessy Dyke. His famous song, ‘The Last Rose of Summer’, was composed, reputedly, in Jenkinstown Castle. The Kilkenny theatre season was one of the highlights of the Irish social calendar with races during the day and balls and concerts in the evenings. It was said that mothers with marriageable daughters found Kilkenny second only to Bath, in England, for finding a suitable husband. Kilkenny, I have no doubt, is still an excellent place for ‘marriageable daughters’ to find a suitable husband. In the meantime the Watergate is celebrating its 30th anniversary and I wish Manager Joanna Cunningham, and her team, another Golden Age of theatre in Kilkenny. See Photo Special on Pages 32 & 33

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

Global Report There are many who will agree that China’s economy has been growing for some time now. Following the implementation of economic reforms in the late 1970s, China’s growth raised and it became a major player in the world economy. A far cry from the days of knickknacks and gimmicky toys for children throughout Ireland and elsewhere were stamped on the back with ‘Made in China’. In August 2023, Ireland exported €737M and imported €877m. from China, resulting in a negative trade balance of €140m. Between August 2022 and August 2023 the exports of Ireland have decreased by €-497m. (-40.3%) from €1.23b. to €737m., while imports decreased by €-701m. (-44.4%) from €1.58b. to €877m. In August 2023, the top exports of Ireland to China were electrical machinery, appliances etc, (€668m.), miscellaneous manufactured articles, (€84.6m.), medicinal and pharmaceutical products (€47.1m.), organic chemicals (€42.9m.), and miscellaneous edible products and preparations (€22.8m.). In August 2023 the top imports of Ireland from China were office machines and automatic data processing, (€143m.), telecommunications and sound recording, reproducing equipment (€126m.), organic chemicals (€107m.), electrical machinery, appliances etc, (€85.7m.), and miscellaneous manufactured articles, (€73.7m.). Due to investments in globalisation, industrialisation, and infrastructure, it has become the world’s secondlargest economy. More than 800 million people have been pulled out of poverty and GDP growth has averaged over 9% annually since China started to open up and reform its economy in Qatar acting as negotiation agent between Israel and Palestine over the realising of of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails, it not the first time this Middle Easter has acted as a go-between, In fact, Qatar has mediated in nearly 10 regional and international portfolios in less than eight years (2008 – 2016), investing its diplomatic and political efforts at the regional and international levels in mediating between factions, entities and countries Id does so with the request of the concerned parties, and without interfering in the internal affairs of others, with a view to achieve a coming-together of views and find sustainable solutions for conflicts and differences. Qatar hosts negotiations between conflicting parties and contributes as a facilitator of dialogue between them. Those efforts result-

barring foreign companies from operating in China) and eventually take control of the world’s markets. China’s innovation and intellectual property policies were the subject of a Section 301 inquiry by the Trump Administration in 2017 because it was believed to be unfavourable to American economic interests. Subsequently, it increased tariffs

by 25% on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods, while China boosted taxes on $110 billion worth of US imports, ranging from 5% to 25%. In 2019, these measures lead to a significant decline in bilateral commerce. President Trump declared on May 10, 2019, that he would consider increasing tariffs on almost all of the Chinese imports that were still in stock. A prolonged trade dispute between the United States and China that could be threatening to the economy of China. The US Congress is very interested in China’s expanding economic strength on the world stage along with the trade and economic policies it upholds, since they have a big impact on the US. Despite being a sizeable and expanding market for American businesses, China’s ongoing shift to a freemarket economy has led to the adoption of economic policies that are considered unfavourable to American interests, such as industrial regulations and the illegal use of intellectual property. It is essential to take into account China’s rise within the larger framework of international relations, which has been shaped by both the collapse of the West and China’s rising. And the world is heading for a trade conflict. During its rise, China has produced several remarkable inventions. In fields like technology, e-commerce, and renewable energy, they have been raising the standard. Businesses like Tencent, Alibaba, and Huawei have had a big impact on the tech sector. In addition to making significant investments in green technologies, China is now the global leader in solar energy production. Seeing their developments and the global effect they’re creating is exciting.

releasing hostages in Syria, ending the presidential vacuum in Lebanon. And,

in addition, Qatar continues to work to toward reconciliation among the Palestinians. The State of Qatar views the consolidation of peace in a comprehensive manner, and not just in the absence of violence. Peace is maintained through reconciliation and justice, and the promotion of human development, especially in the areas of education and public health, the creation of jobs, economic recovery, and the political and economic integration of youth, the defence of human rights and the promotion of social cohesion by rejecting injustice and exclusion. The State of Qatar stresses the importance of the role of the Security Council in its support of mediation and preventive diplomacy that the international community should consolidate, as many conflicts can only be solved through multilateral efforts.

Our dealings with a growing China economy 1978. During the same time period, there have also been major improvements in access to other services, including health and education. Commercial associate of the US. China ranks third in terms of US export markets, is the country’s largest import source, and is the country with which the US trades the most goods. Addition-

ally, China holds the most shares in US Treasury securities among all foreign investors, which supports the country’s debt and reduces interest rates. Through a number of high-profile initiatives, such as ‘Made in China 2025’, a plan announced in 2015 to upgrade and modernise China’s manufacturing in 10 key sectors through exten-

sive government assistance in order to make China a major global player in these sectors, the Chinese government has made innovation a top priority in its economic planning. These actions have, however, heightened worries that China plans to employ industrial strategies to reduce its reliance on foreign technology (including by

Qatar’s long history of being ‘peace negotiator’ ed in many successes that brought about and maintained international peace

and security. Qatari mediation played an important role in reaching Doha

Peace Agreement in Darfur, releasing of Djiboutian prisoners of war in Eretria,

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

Yulefest

Yulefest launches in Kilkenny as hurling legend Jackie Tyrrell turns on Kilkenny’s lights

Kilkenny hurling legend Jackie Tyrrell and his two sons, Harry and Freddie switched on the Christmas lights in Kilkenny and launched Yulefest Kilkenny with the help of Friday nights ‘Late Late Toy Show’ star and Kilkenny local Stevie Mulrooney

Yulefest Kilkenny is open and the countdown to Christmas is well underway as Kilkenny hurling legend Jackie Tyrrell

and his two sons, Harry and Freddie switched on the Christmas lights with the help of Friday nights ‘Late Late Toy

Show’ star Stevie Mulrooney. They lit up the streets of the marble city as they unveiled new Christmas lighting along-

side Santa and Mrs Claus to officially launch Christmas in the city. Kicking off the annual tradition, Santa arrived by boat to Canal Square, before travelling around the city and finishing on The Parade to switch on the Christmas Lights. Led by volunteers from Cycle Kilkenny, local children and their families cycled into town and met Santa Claus at Canal Square before following Santa, in the Kilkenny City Train, around the city on their bikes. The event also marked the beginning of the Yulefest Christmas markets. The markets include local food and craft sellers such as Wired Irish Crafts, Biddy’s Good Luck Horse Shoes, The Phat Cow and Cakeface. Festival Director Marian Flannery said: “This is Kilkenny County Council’s 8th year of Yulefest and we have so much happening in Kilkenny in the run up to Christmas. We will have the Medieval Mile Run on December 1st, theSanta Truck in aid of Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice will arrive in the City on the December 9th and we’ll also have our Yulefest outdoor movie night on December 14th so there’s plenty of events for all the family to enjoy and get involved in.” This year's festival is jampacked and each weekend, the Yulefest Bandstand will showcase live music performances covering a range of

genres and ages. From local community groups, to rising talent and well-established local performers, free to the public performances take place at 12noon, 2pm and 4pm every Saturday and Sunday until December 23rd. Bands featuring on the Yulefest Bandstand include: The New Brass Kings, Code of Behaviour, Burnchurch, The Pinsetters, Harmania choir among many more. The Yulefest Bandstand is located on The Parade in Kilkenny city, alongside the Yulefest Christmas Market. A great free day out for all the family. Visitors to Yulefest will also have the opportunity to take part in a musical workshop with acclaimed drummer Jeremy Hickey of R.S.A.G. This Rhythm Makers event will give participants an opportunity to enjoy a fun, relaxing and creatively stimulating drumming workshop. Taking place every Saturday from the 2nd – 23rd of December, on the Parade in Kilkenny city, these workshops will be broken into three age categories allowing all ages to find their space. 12noon is for 5-7 year olds, 1pm caters for 8-12 year olds and 2pm is for adults. Santa will also be making appearances and hosting festive activities throughout the county during the month of December. For further information on Yulefest, see https://yulefestkilkenny.ie/

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Advertorial

Simon Reilly -

Professional Salon Services now open in Kilkenny City Multi-award winning hair stylist Simon Reilly tells The Kilkenny Observer about his new salon on 87 High Street (above Subway) “I love hair. I love playing with hair. The texture, the movement, the ability to make the person that it’s attached to feel this love and experience how easy it can be! Since I was a teenager, I have always been style conscientious. I have a good eye - I’m very creative and I can add shape, form and depth to hair. I have won awards in bridal, men’s hairdressing and ladies image styles to name but a few. I’ve spent years developing my longlasting cuts. Now at 87 High Street I use hair colour as my paint to create beautiful blondes, brunettes and redheads!” “With over 25 years in this industry, my

passion and enthusiasm for styling hair continues to grow. I’ve worked in Dublin most of my career with top names in the business; Dylan Bradshaw, Peter Mark (St. Stephen’s Green) and Mane Hair Salon. I headed up Wilde Salon in Donnybrook to become ‘the salon’ in Dublin at the time before moving abroad to New York and Brazil. After returning from Brazil, I learned and sifted out the best Brazilian keratin treatments and their renowned balayage. I became more focused on a one-to-one service and became more exclusive in Dublin. I still attend to my clients in Dublin one day a week as they just can’t let me go! I've learned a lot throughout the years,

including how to be patient, to adapt and to grow! Hair is always changing, I need to be changing and growing with it.” “My new salon in Kilkenny, The Hair Lounge, is suited for friends or bridal parties wanting to share the time together whilst having their hair done, very atmospheric at this time of year! Schedule your consultation for Wedding hair, bespoke colour or book your haircut, blow dry or your Christmas party hair today.” “A Simon Reilly Hair Lounge voucher is a very special present to receive from someone, so come visit me at 1st Floor, 87 High Street (above Subway) to purchase a gift voucher this Christmas! I look forward to meeting you!”

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

Opinion

The Magnificent Nine: Callan nuns blaze a trail down under Part three

Mother Mary Clare Dunphy who founded the Paramatta Convent

The Convent of Mercy in Paramatta

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

The nine Callan sisters travelled to Tilbury Docks in England, which they reached on October 11th. Cardinal Moran had turned up to accompany them on their journey to Australia. He met them at the docks. Another top brass cleric and four priests flanked the senior church dignitary as he shook the hand of each nun, praising their commitment to education

and good works. The nuns were heartened to learn that some of the “big knobs” of the Catholic Church would travel with them. The nuns and their distinguished entourage boarded a steamship, the Cuzco. The nine sisters prayed quietly and looked to Heaven for guidance as they set sail towards the new lives that awaited them. It was a long journey. It took almost five weeks for them to reach the Australian coast. The first days of the voyage were the worst: The nuns were afflicted by both homesickness and seasickness. The vessel was tossed on tur-

bulent seas, winds howled, and fierce thunder and lightning storms raged as the steamship progressed slowly with its hallowed passengers. The nuns found it difficult to keep down food and the thought of leaving Callan behind filled them with thoughts of utter desolation. They chatted longingly about the “gas characters” back in Callan: the cheery farmers…the happy tailors…the abbey meadow… with its rolling sward and ancient memorial to the Friars… the laughter of children playing…the old Reverend Mother in her lighter moments…the

hustle and bustle of fair days… the women who gossiped from dawn to dusk…and the barefoot hurlers on the Green who gave townsfolk cause for merriment at weekends. Tears flowed as the full significance of their leave-taking began to sink in. Brooding gave way to prayers, and prayers to further gloom and heartache. To distract them from such morale-dampening ruminations, the Cardinal ordered four masses per day to be celebrated on the steamship. “That should keep their minds off Callan for a while”, he jested, as he sipped a glass of 1850 French claret in

his cabin. And each week he delivered two in-depth Conferences (lectures) on the merits of the Blessed Virgin, emphasising the need for nuns to follow her divine example in their daily lives. The masses and lectures certainly cured the sisters of their homesickness. Consumed by religious fervour, they had little time to let their minds wander back to the Town on the King’s River. But the Cardinal had a pleasant surprise for the nuns. He allowed them to observe an Australian Cricket Team who played on deck in the fine weather. This provided muchneeded divertissement for the heavily indoctrinated women. The steamship stopped off at Naples in Italy, where the nuns received a Papal Benediction. A loud rumbling noise, and what sounded like explosions, startled them that evening. One of them wondered if God was about to punish them all for not paying enough attention to their prayers in the first week of the voyage. But a smiling Italian bishop laughed heartily and informed them that what they heard was nearby Mount Vesuvius erupting. Departing Naples, they continued on their journey. On November 18th, the pioneering Callan nuns caught sight of Australia’s West Coast. At Adelaide, the Dominican sisters gave then fruit and flowers. On November 29th, the Cuzco steamed into Sydney Harbour. The nuns could scarcely believe

what they saw: About thirty boats had come to greet them. Colourful banners fluttered from each vessel and bands played rousing musical scores. The Cardinal stepped into the leading boat. The nuns followed in one of the other vessels. Arriving ashore, Cardinal Moran instructed the Parish Priest of Parramatta, Dean Rigney, to ensure that the convent was suitably furnished for the nuns. In the meantime, they had to stay with the Sisters Of Charity at St. Vincent’s. On December 1st, the Callan group decided that the time was ripe to take up residence in their allocated convent. Unfortunately, the PP had apparently forgotten about his promise to furnish the building. One theory is that his orders from the Cardinal had slipped his mind in the course of a marathon drinking session in three local pubs to mark the arrival of the nuns. But there was also a suspicion that the Dean was prejudiced against the Callan group. The Monte Sisters had just left Parramatta after fourteen years of service to the community. As already stated, the reason for their departure remains a mystery to this day. To be continued... (My book Invaders tells the story of how a small band of men and women stood up to one of the most powerful armies on earth. It’s available in all Kilkenny bookshops and from Amazon).

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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News

Climate Change

Kilkenny County Council adopts the 2024 Budget - €111.1m allocation signals growth and strategic focus on key services Kilkenny County Council today adopted its Budget for 2024. The Budget provides for funding of €111.1m, an increase of 12.5% compared to 2023. The Budget provides funding across the full range of service areas provided by the Council from social housing and road maintenance through to street cleaning, fire, libraries, burial grounds, parks to economic and community development. The level of funding available ensured that the vast majority of expenditure allocations were maintained at 2023 levels and increases were possible in areas such as housing maintenance, housing grants, local roads maintenance, fire services and library services. The Cathaoirleach Cllr. Michael Doyle in welcoming the budget stated: “As Elected Members we are acutely aware that the services we deliver as a Council impact the quality of life of the citizens of Kilkenny. While some difficult decisions had to be made I am pleased to say there are no

cuts to funding next year for the delivery of services and budget increases have been possible in some areas which will have a very positive impact on those services.” The Chief Executive Lar Power and Head of Finance Martin Prendiville outlined the challenges being faced by the Council and while it was possible to avoid expenditure cuts for the coming year, this will not be sustainable into the medium term and additional income sources will be needed to keep pace with the expenditure demands in the provision of an ever-increasing range of services. Mr. Power stated this budget makes provision to tackle areas such as Climate Change and dereliction, and these two areas will require even more funding into the future. The reduction in the commercial rate vacancy strike-off is an important measure in implementing government policy on dereliction. Mr. Power also stated that the Council has a very ambitious capital

programme and significant additional match funding will be required as a number of projects are now being delivered. In proposing the budget Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh stated: “This is a very positive budget for Kilkenny. Expenditure on all our core services has been maintained and increases in areas such as housing maintenance, roads maintenance, libraries and fire services are very welcome. The funding allocated to climate change and town regeneration is also a very positive step forward for the County.” Cllr. Andrew McGuinness in seconding the proposal to adopt the budget said: “The adoption of the annual budget is one of the most important functions we have to carry out and I am delighted that funding in all our service areas has been maintained for 2024 and we continue to make provision for the future development of our City and County. This has been achieved without the necessity to increase commercial rates on businesses”.

– are we all playing our part?

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

St. Canice’s Credit Union

Get ready for a festive season of prizes from St. Canice’s Credit Union

THERE’S €100,000 UP FOR GRABS THIS DECEMBER! As Christmas approaches, St. Canice’s Credit Union has some exciting news to make your December even more magical. The Christmas Draws are back and they’re bigger and better than ever, with a staggering €100,000 in prizes awaiting lucky winners just in time for Christmas.

WHAT’S UP FOR GRABS? • KIA STONIC: Picture yourself cruising into the New Year in a brand new 241 KIA Stonic. One lucky winner will be driving away in this fantastic car. • €5,000 Cash Prize: Who couldn’t use some extra cash for Christmas? We have a generous €5,000 Cash

Prize that could make your Christmas wishes come true. • 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY: Get ready for 12 Days of festive surprises. From December 1st to 12th, we’ll have not one, but two draws each day for €3,000 each. That’s 24 chances to win big this December. All members who have

signed up for the Members’ Monthly Prize draw will be automatically included in the Christmas Draws. This year already, lucky members have won 12 cars and 23 cash prizes, worth a staggering €400,000. HOW TO ENTER To be part of this incredible Members’ Monthly Prize

Draw, all you need to do is become a member (if you aren’t already), sign up and pay the annual entry fee. There are two easy ways to sign up for entry to the draw; • Visit your local branch and fill in a Members’ Monthly Prize Draw form. • Can’t make it into your local branch? No worries, you can download the form from

stcanicescu.ie, complete it and either drop it in, email it or post it to your nearest branch. This draw is open to all members over the age of 18, whether you’re a long-time member or new to St. Canice’s Credit Union. (terms and conditions apply) St. Canice’s Kilkenny Credit Union Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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BY GERRY MORAN

n April, 1993, my brother John, domiciled in Dublin for the last sixty years, popped down to Kilkenny. Over a coffee I asked what he got up to on his visit? ‘Mocky’ he said (‘Mocky’, from the Irish mac, meaning son, which he always called me as he was more of a father to me being almost a decade older) ‘I went into the Savoy Cinema about to open as Kilkenny’s brand new Watergate Theatre and asked if I could take a few photos. I told them I was from Kilkenny and, as a youngster, loved going to the ‘pictures’ in the Savoy. They very kindly allowed to take some snaps.’ What a great idea, I thought, and over the next twenty years or so I regularly dropped into the Watergate Theatre and with the blessing of Gerry Cody, the Manager, Mick Kavanagh (RIP) and other backstage staff I took numerous photos of shows that were being performed there. And so, on this the thirtieth anniversary of the Watergate’s opening, here are some of those photos, a precious record, I like to think, of the early days of the Watergate and all thanks to my ‘Big Brother’, John and the graciousness of Gerry Cody, Mick Kavanagh (RIP), Ben Little (RIP) and many others.

ly opened Kilkenny's Watergate President May Robinson official h Mayor Séamus Pattison(RIP) Theatre, April 1993, pictured wit

The Two Gerries - Sinbad Very 1st performance in the Water gate

All pictures compliments of Gerry Moran

r Cody in Little

Donal O'Brien RIP and Ge

ley (RIP), Gabby (RIP), Nicky Hal

in ts. L-R Seán Dav ar lw Sta te ga er at W (RIP) l 'Mock' Lawlor her and Michae

The Seven Dwarfs

Red Riding Hood - 1996

Ma�

Snow Joe Murray and Brendan Corcoran in White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1996

Breda Phelan, 1993 (RIP)

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D Quigley ley, 1993 (RIP)

Kitty Droh ,1993 (RIP)

n H ley - Da, 1994 (RIP)

Geor Ch dler - Brigadoon, Brigadoon 2003

Eamon Morrissey - T nslati ons, 1993

(RIP) -

na M ah F nk Kel (RIP) d The Mat maker, 1993

Brigid 'Jiggy' Mo n (RIP) d Kitty Brett The Good Old (RIP) Days, 1994

derella, 1994

The Heffern Twins - Cin

See next week's edition of The Kilkenny Observer for more...

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Short stories

'23 The Kilkenny Observer Newspaper is delighted to present our ‘2023 Christmas short story series’. We have invited four writers from Kilkenny to submit a short story over the coming weeks, which we hope you will enjoy. This week we welcome Joseph Kearney

Midnight Bells and Moonlight Blessings

BY DR. JOSEPH KEARNEY

It was Christmas Eve and excitement, an emotion old as the feast itself, robbed me of sleep. I remember lying there, eyes wired and mind racing, impatiently following the slow track of grid-patterned moonlight as it inched along the wall opposite my bed. It was as if the moon, all white as bleached bone, was projecting the sags and wrinkles of its face onto the bruised distemper of the room. The runnels and craters of the uneven wall surface assuming a nighttime significance out of all proportion to its daytime monotony. The house was shrouded and quiet; it settled its bulk and creaked an occasional sigh as if from the weight of loneliness. Outside, ear cocked to the sounds of traffic along the roadway, I could hear the last stragglers and shoppers returning to their homes and travelling in the opposite direction could make out those who were drawn towards midnight Mass in the Big Chapel. Passing cars crunched the face of frozen puddles and, in so doing, rearranged the reflection of the splintered moon beneath the passage of their wheels. This was in a time when the rarity of mechanised transport made it possible to identify and associate engine noises with their car owners and to follow the doings of neighbours without having to raise a head from the pillow. I could differentiate between Morris Minors and Ford Cortinas and between Austins and Hillmans and confidently attribute ownership to each stuttering piston and each rumbling exhaust. I believe I would have remained in bed waiting the inevitable arrival of slumber had the Chapel bells not

The Old Augustinian Friary in Callan known as the Abbey Meadow. Photo:visitcallan.ie

summoned me to them. They seemed to reach out to me through the window. They drew me shivering to the drawn blinds. They made me inscribe a hawed circle of melting breath upon the forest of frosted flowers that bespangled the inside of the windowpane and made me gaze with eyes of wonder upon the miracle of that Christmas Eve night. I looked upwards at the glittering field of stars and instinctively knew that this was a night unlike any other. Those stars elbowed and crowded one another’s brilliance so much that they blinded me with their greatness and in so doing rendered my childish self insignificant. I trembled with cold and awe but remained transfixed. The bells of the Big Chapel intoned to me in long bellowing peals that twined themselves through the town-lands, that bounced across the bogs and that hurled over hedges with such momentous clamour, they awakened the sleeping

dogs. In the far distance I listened to the howls of Mikey Maher’s greyhounds. And on this holy of holy nights when animals are said to be given the power of human speech, it caused them to lift their muzzles to the heavens as they attempted to shepherd the stars into new patterns of divine tapestry. For one brief instant, visible only to the innocent and the pure of

heart, in the weft and weave of this celestial fabric, could be divined the annunciation of the birth of kings. In farm and town and cottage, into the shell of sleeping ears, sang the echoing peals, across the moonlit open spaces, through the tangle of woodlands, into haggards and hay-sheds, up lanes and pot-holed paths, in ditches and dykes and into all our

Approaching The Cross from Green Street, Callan Photo:visitcallan.ie

I looked upwards at the glittering field of stars and instinctively knew that this was a night unlike any other. Photo johnduffyphotography.ie

breathless hearts came the scattering notes of the bells, dropping sweetly as petals of white roses, or like softly falling snowflakes. There was a silvery splash of stardust above my head and I saw, through a hole in the mesh of the world, that the moon was a cracked mirror, as wafer white as a communion host and that the plough had reassembled itself into a

thorny crown that sparkled as diamonds against the indigo night. It was as if the very sky had spread itself wide above the earth, laid out its goodness upon a fold of velvet all the better to display the glory of its gifts for us to see on this Christmas Eve night. Now that boy has become a man who so often forgets more than he remembers, nonetheless, I have carried the light of that particular night inside me like a silver signpost inscribed along the path of memory. It is an image of the purest essence, when for the briefest of moments the world held its innocence; the moon held its breath and across the white frozen fields, the Christmas bells, blasted, bellowed and boomed out their message of joy and the stars spelled out the most wondrous tale of all for a shivering boy too tired and too astonished to sleep. Joseph Kearney is originally a Callan native and a regular voice on RTE’s Sunday Miscellany where he features in their latest anthology. He is a multiaward winning documentary maker and holds a PhD in creative writing from UCD. His latest short story collection The Beekeeper and the River is available from local bookshops, online and directly from the author by contacting 087 2633041.

Green Street,Callan, with the Ignatius Rice statue opposite the Parish Church. Photo:visitcallan.ie

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News LtoR: James Brett, Callan Friary Trust, Fr. Mernagh, Augustinian Order, Fr. Egan, Augustinian Order, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Michael Doyle, Chairperson of Callan/Thomastown Municipal District, Cllr. Deirdre Cullen, Director of Services, Kilkenny County Council, Mary Mullholland and Chief Executive, Kilkenny County Council, Lar Power

Callan Friary handed over to Kilkenny County Council The Augustinian Order formally handed over ownership of the Callan Friary Complex to Kilkenny County Council at an event held on November 22nd. A monastery was originally

constructed on this site in 1471, and the site has been an integral part of the history of both Callan and Ireland from that day to this demonstrating Callan's rich and deep heritage as a vibrant

rural town for centuries. The current Church and under-croft at the centre of the Friary Complex was built in 1819 and funded by local donations from the community.

Fathers Egan and Mernagh representing the Augustinian Order at the event reflected on the contribution of their order and of the people of Callan to both the Friary and the Town. The strong com-

mitment of the Order to supporting the well being of the local community was very apparent and the handover of the property to the local authority will ensure its continued role in public and

community life. Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Michael Doyle speaking at the event acknowledged the role of the Augustinians and various community and voluntary groups in keeping the building open for community use over the last 20 years but welcomed the opportunity now for Kilkenny County Council to bring the property into the next phase of its life. Cllr. Deirdre Cullen, Cathaoirleach of the CallanThomastown Municipal District confirmed the local authority's commitment to the provision of an inclusive and quality space for public services, community events and gatherings as well as welcoming the chance to conserve and refurbish the building to have a long life into the future as a heritage town centre focal point. Director of Services Mary Mulholland explained that at present Kilkenny County Council are working through a process of public consultation and site, environmental and conservation assessment before starting a design and planning process to determine the future uses and refurbishment works for the property. At the end of this process, managed by Annette Fitzpatrick as Town Regeneration Officer, a detailed masterplan for the development of Callan Friary will be in place for delivery in the coming years.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

News

James Kenny RIP Gaza fundraiser run

“Driven determined devoted”

“James possessed an unwavering commitment to excellence and high performance in everything he undertook.” “A dedicated disciplined and hard working player, a gentleman loved by his coaches and team mates.” “Hard work, leadership, dedication, passion for doing what he loved, football and helping others achieve their goals.” “A proud Kilkenny man, a warrior on and off the pitch” “An amazing inspiration, your positive words always motivated everyone to do a little better.” Just some of the comments from around the world as news of James’ passing spread. James Kenny born in Luton on 2nd February 1994. His early years were spent in Luton and Cork before the family moved to Clomantagh, the family home place, in 2001. From there on James’ life was one of

sport, hurling with the Emeralds and football with Freshford Town FC. He played through all age groups with the Emeralds winning league and championship titles along the way up to Intermediate/Junior level. It was on the soccer pitch where it was evident he had a great love and understanding of the game. Freshford Town winning leagues and cups, Kilkenny U16 scoring the winning goal against Wexford FC, Carlow/ Wexford U19 League of Ireland, 2011 Leinster provincial all Ireland champs,Waterford IT A Team colleges All Ireland final, where he got a degree in Sport and business management. Once college was over it was off to Norway where he worked as a personal trainer and football coach in 2014. In 2018 he moved to Sydney, Australia where sport played

a big part by way of hurling for St. Pats GAA. In 2019 following a few months travelling south east Asia he decided to settle in Cambodia where he started work as a PE Teacher in an international school. He joined Coirde Khmer GAA and Rith Phnom Penh FC where he took on player/coach roles and enjoyed success with both. In 2022 illness brought him back home and unfortunately on 12th November 2023 James passed away following a hard battle with colo-rectal cancer. He was predeceased by his grandmother Kathleen and his aunt Louise. He is deeply mourned by his father Jimmy , his stepmother Colette, mother Louise, stepfather Jack, his devoted partner Timz, brother Ollie, sisters Laura, Rebecca,Lily, Emma, stepsisters Kelly, Danielle, Lauren, Shannon, grandfather Ollie, brothers in law, sister in law, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles ,cousins, and extended family and wide circle of friends to whom deepest sympathy is extended James’ months mind mass will take place in Graine Church on 15th December at 7pm. James’ family would like to thank everyone who helped so much during the funeral and the difficult days that followed.

A group of marathon runners from Kilkenny, five men and one woman who are passionate about running will turn their collective energy towards raising €5,000.00 to help the children of Gaza through UNICEF. On December 16th, the six Kilkenny Ultra Marathon runners, with lots of support runners, will attempt to complete 500K, by running around Mount Brandon as many time as they can in twelve hours (14.5km loop with 450 metres of elevation). The six athletes are hoping to see as many people as possible on Brandon on the day but would stress the point that everybody needs to be responsible for their own safety and navigation. Rory, Gerry, Neil, Darren, Dale and Orla have very different “day jobs”, including, Master Glass Blower, IT Specialists, Cabinet Maker, Fitness instructor and teachers. Their aim is to raise €5,000.00 for @unicefireland Gaza Crisis Emergency appeal. All funds raised will go directly to the Emergency Appeal for Gaza. https://www.idonate.ie/ fundraiser/MountainRunnersForGaza Please help the children of Gaza, they’ve far tougher mountains to climb.

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Mayoral News reception Mayor Joe Malone congratulates Ned Egan on his lifetime achievements

BY JOHN FITZGERALD PHOTOS: JACK MOORE

ed Egan recently celebrated his 87th birthday but shows no sign of abating in his literary endeavours, despite battling several ailments. The poet, prose-writer, and composer of numerous haunting ballads got the surprise of his life when he received a last-minute notification that a “little reception” was being organized at Stephen Buck and Marian O’Neill’s multi-award-winning bookshop/ café in William Street. What greeted the bemused octogenarian when he swung open the door of a venue deemed the intellectual hub of city life almost took his breath away: A standing ovation from a large gathering that included Kilkenny’s First Citizen, Mayor Joe Malone, wearing his golden chain of office. The Mayor welcomed Ned to the café, which has in recent months become a home-from-home for the writer. He calls there two or three times a week to meet fellow intellectuals or just to have a chat with Marion or her husband Stephen about the latest news and gossip in Cat City. Ned took several minutes to recover from the big surprise. Seated among friends who had all kept the event a deadly secret for weeks, he was visibly moved when his cousin, the eminent historian Michael Moroney, opened the proceedings. Michael intoned: “We’re here to pay tribute to a remarkable man of letters and music, a man whose contribution to the cultural life of Ireland cannot be overstated. Ned was born into a different Ireland...a time and place tougher than many of us can imagine in the 21st century. “Ned was born in the tiny County Kilkenny village of Baurscoobe in 1936. His school days were among the most challenging of his life, but the brutality of teachers was offset by the half-crown prizes that Ned received for his weekly essays in Primary School. Even the grumpiest of teachers had to defer to this teenager’s way with words. “Like many a young chap in those far-off days, Ned left school early on and shortly thereafter joined the hundreds of thousands of Irishmen and women on the emigrant trail.” Michael recalled how Ned boarded a cattle boat to find employment across the water. He toiled on building sites before joining the army. He saw service in the Middle East which was then, as now, engulfed in war and revolution. He also served in Europe, where he was stationed at NATO military airbases. Ned later emigrated to Australia, where a mining accident cost him an eye and almost his entire vision. But he refused to let adversity deflect him. He rediscovered the innate writing talent that those grumpy teachers had recognized way back in his childhood. Michael Moroney elaborated on how Ned penned his first literary work, a book of poetry, in 1980. Memories of a Leprechaun is a collection of charming tongue-in-cheek odes focusing on aspects of Irish culture and folklore. Around that time he moved back to Ireland where he set up his famed copper etching venture in Callan. The shining beautifully crafted etchings depicted Celtic themes, extolling the heroes and heroines of the Emerald Isle. These found their way into pubs, clubs and hotels across Ireland, and Ned toured the USA with the Wolfe Tonesa promotional drive to introduce Irish Americans to his work. Ned went on to write Tales of Old Ireland and Australia, a collection of memories and

Mayor honours “ A man hailed as “a creative genius” was honoured last week, with the Mayor and a host of the county’s literati and glitterati lining up to pay homage to his stranger-than-fiction life and dazzling achievements

Sean Maher (Organiser of the event) with Ned Egan

reflections of his own adventures in the home country, the Middle East, Britain, and the Land of the Kangaroo. In a remarkable change of style and direction, he wrote the controversial but un-put-down-able Sex and Death: Green

Fiona O’Connell, Journalist with The Irish Independent was delighted to attend Ned’s Mayoral Reception

White and Gold, a novel inspired by that dark, oppressive and censorial “Other Ireland” that was so inimical to creative folk. Ned then took to song-writing, penning dozens of soulful, merry, and story-telling numbers. These included Luke’s Song; a

tribute to the late Luke Kelly of The Dubliners. After Michael Moroney’s spiff, other speakers added their own plaudits and recollections. Anecdotes flowed from longtime friends such as Sean Maher, Walter

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News Mayoral reception

Richard Hurley meets up with Ned again after many years

Stephen Buck, Mayor Joe Malone, Sean Maher and Marian O’Neill. Stephen and Marian, owners of the bookshop/café who hosted the night

“creative genius”

Dunphy, Brian Kelly, Martin O’ Shea, and Catherine Carroll, all paving the way for the long-awaited words of the Mayor himself. Ned interacted brilliantly with the rollicking repartee as the evening progressed. He cast his mind back, musing: “TB, broken bones, re-broken bones, blood poisoning due to poor diet, savagery of teachers, mitching from school at every opportunity, and an unwillingness to learn what I didn’t want to were a few of the impediments I faced…obstacles and dead stops thrown in the face of Academia by nature, society, bad times and my very own cranky self.” He made and lost several fortunes, mainly in the construction business. But the cruelest blow of all was the loss of his beloved daughter, Noreen, when he lived in Australia. Not a day has passed without Ned thinking of Noreen. He was inspired by a love of learning, he says, from an early age. Unfortunately for him, his

Continued >>>

Ned Egan and David White

Ned Egan with Siobhan Moore and Faith O’Neill, The Kilkenny Observer

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Mayoral News reception Ivan Matus, Ned Egan and Maria Csandalovn

Colette O’Dwyer (retired school teacher) greets Ned

>>> Continued teachers felt he was learning all the wrong lessons and that his attitude was “outrageous, totally unacceptable and an appalling example to other pupils.” He explained: “Not wanting my intelligent and musically gifted mother to discover what a wretched scholar I had willingly become, I used to have my schoolbag- a desperate old sacking affair- full of rocks and sticks, in order to give the impression that it was the weighty library of a studious boy. “Yes, they were unprofitable schooldays; viewed from a conventional standpoint, although I left with the ability to read and write. That was inevitable. My mother had most of us reading before we ever went ‘down the road’; this was a mistake really, as I read all the books in the school in the first week, and was bored witless for the next ten years.” Ned said he completed his MA (“Muckin’ About”), before boarding the cattle boat to England. “I slaved and laboured for the all the usual suspects: Wimpey, McAlpine, Tarmac—all the legendary names I used to hear my brothers talk about on holidays home.” Ned recalled how he strove to uphold Western values in the Gulf, Cyprus and Libya. He reflected sadly: “I saw things on those

Ned signs a copy of his book for Marianne Kelly

Martin O’Shea singing “Matt Hyland”

battlefields that I’d prefer to forget, but you never do forget the sights and sounds of war.” In 1962, he was stationed at an air force base in England at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. He recalled: “Nuclear-tipped rockets in East Germany were heartbeats away—our only reassurance was the now almost forgotten Four Minute Warning. That was how long it took doom to travel the few hundred miles to where we were waiting. “Wives and children had to be kissed goodbye on a regular basis. We were at the

Ned Egan and John Fitzgerald

Atom and Hydrogen Bomb Underground Holding Area. It had a fancy name, but old habits die hard, so I still never say what or where. But it was Bomber Command territory. “We never thought Khrushchev—a notoriously tough and legendary Russian General in the war against the Nazis—would buckle when the ships started sailing… We thought we were goners. Five colours on the ‘Tannoy’ Broadcast Code—all except red had been named and howled over the twenty one Victor Bombers lined up for take-off, with engines running—for three days and nights. Two atom bombs each. “Five or six bombers might get clear before the Lad (missile) arrived. And the electromagnetic pulse might down those anyway, as it knocked out electrics and electronics over a vast area. But Khrushchev blinked, and the ships turned back, and the world really didn’t know how close run a thing it all was. They were never told everything. Nor were we. It was the only time my military outfit gave three cheers for a Russian.” Australia was a welcome change of scene for Ned, but he’s never regretted his later decision to return to Ireland. In recent years, he moved from a house in Mullinavat to Kilkenny City. Despite continued visual problems and suffering a stroke, he soldiers on. Among the gathering in the café/bookshop were singers who offered renditions of Ned’s own songs. Olivia Dunne of Kells

Ned’s cousin historian Michael Moroney speaks of Ned’s remarkable life history

excelled on the guitar, and Olivia’s former teacher, Collette Dwyer, now 90 years old, accompanied her on accordion. Seamus Cullen, formerly of the Black Aces showband, was there to perform, as was Liz Kitt, famed for her Kitchen Sessions in JB Burke’s pub in Kilkenny’s John Street. Others sang numbers like the Bansha Teddy Bear that Ned penned decades ago. Marion O’ Neill, herself a critically acclaimed novelist, recited two of Ned’s poems. Ned’s vast repertoire of songs augmented the unique cultural ambience of the café/bookshop. Mayor Joe Malone opened his remarks by lavishing praise on the café bookshop, complimenting Marion on her “singular achievement” in creating such a cavern of intellectual and culinary delights in the heart of the City. He said he’d probably be making further visits to this “wonderful establishment.” The Mayor listed Ned’s lengthy list of achievements and presented him with a piece of Waterford Crystal in recognition of an extraordinary life and “a glowing example of how the human spirit can triumph over adversity.” A lively session followed, with singing, dancing and further recitals of poetry. Someone remarked: “all we’re missing now are the Leprechauns” - a reference to the author’s homage to the Little Folk. Long may Ned continue on his creative journey...

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Dine Me Food & Drink

Come

get everyone to make a wish. STEP 4 Generously butter two 1.2 litre bowls and put a circle of baking parchment in the bottom of each. Pack in the pudding mixture. Cover with a double layer of baking parchment, pleating it to allow for expansion, then tie with string (keep the paper in place with a rubber band while tying). Trim off any excess paper.

With

Classic Christmas pudding

STEP 5 Now stand each bowl on a large sheet of foil and bring the edges up over the top, then put another sheet of foil over the top and bring it down underneath to make a double package (this makes the puddings watertight). Tie with more string, and make a handle for easy lifting in and out of the pan. Watch our video to see how to tie up a pudding correctly.

Prep: 20 mins Cook: 8 hrs Plus 1 hour cooking on the day Serves: 8

A homemade Christmas pudding is easy to make, then it just needs time in the steamer to turn it into a glorious, rich, fruity dessert. A festive classic. Ingredients For the pudding • 50g blanched almonds • 2 large Bramley cooking apples • 200g box candied peel (in large pieces) or all citron if you can find it • 1 whole nutmeg (you’ll use three quarters of it) • 1kg raisins • 140g plain flour • 100g soft fresh white breadcrumbs • 100g light muscovado sugar, crumbled if it looks lumpy • 3 large eggs • 2 tbsp brandy or cognac, plus extra to light the pudding • 250g packet butter, taken straight from the fridge For the brandy and ginger butter • 175g unsalted butter, softened

STEP 6 Boil or oven steam the puddings for 8 hrs, topping up with water as necessary. Remove from the pans and leave to cool overnight. When cold, discard the messy wrappings and re-wrap in new baking parchment, foil and string. Store in a cool, dry place until Christmas.

• grated zest of half an orange • 5 tbsp icing sugar • 4 tbsp brandy or cognac • 2 pieces of stem ginger, finely chopped Method STEP 1 Get everything for the pudding prepared. Chop the almonds coarsely. Peel, core and chop the

cooking apples. Sharpen your knife and chop the candied peel. (You can chop the almonds and apples in a food processor, but the peel must be done by hand.) Grate three quarters of the nutmeg (correct). STEP 2 Mix the almonds, apples, candied peel, nutmeg, raisins, flour, breadcrumbs, light muscovado

Christmas muffins Prep: 20 mins Cook: 25 mins - 30 mins Serves: 12 Make these zesty, spiced muffins ahead of Christmas Day, then begin the festivities by handing them out while everyone opens their gifts under the tree. Ingredients • 125g unsalted butter • 250g self-raising flour • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 200g golden caster sugar • 2 tsp cinnamon • ¼ nutmeg, freshly grated • 150g natural yogurt • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 2 medium eggs • 1 orange, zested and juiced • 150g chocolate (white, milk or dark), chopped • 50g dried cranberries • 50g icing sugar 2 tbsp pearl sugar (optional)

Method STEP 1 Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tray with paper muffin cases. STEP 2 Melt the butter in the microwave or a small pan over a low heat, then set aside to cool for 10 mins. Meanwhile, mix the flour, bicarb, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl with a pinch of salt. STEP 3 Add the yogurt, vanilla and eggs to the cooled butter and mix well. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients along with the orange zest, chocolate and dried cranberries. Mix well until there are no pockets of flour.

STEP 4 Divide the mixture evenly between the paper cases, then bake for 30 mins until risen and golden. Check they’re cooked by inserting a cocktail stick into the centre of one of the muffins (choose one in the centre of the tray). If any wet cake batter clings to the skewer, return to the oven for 5 mins. STEP 5 Remove the muffins from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for at least 10 mins. Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar with enough of the orange juice to make a loose icing. Brush the orange glaze over each muffin, then sprinkle with a little pearl sugar, if using. Leave to cool before eating. Will keep in an airtight container for up to five days, or frozen for up to two months.

sugar, eggs and 2 tbsp brandy or cognac in a large bowl. STEP 3 Holding the butter in its wrapper, grate a quarter of it into the bowl, then stir everything together. Repeat until all the butter is grated, then stir for 3-4 mins – the mixture is ready when it subsides slightly after each stir. Ask the family to stir too, and

STEP 7 To make the brandy butter, cream the butter with the orange zest and icing sugar. Gradually beat in the brandy or cognac and chopped stem ginger. Put in a small bowl, fork the top attractively and put in the fridge to set. The butter will keep for a week in the fridge, or it can be frozen for up to six weeks. STEP 8 On Christmas Day, boil or oven steam for 1 hr. Unwrap and turn out. To flame, warm 3-4 tbsp brandy in a small pan, pour it over the pudding and set light to it.

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5 to watch now on Disney+ 1. Agent Carter

One of Marvel’s many properties now at home on the Disney streaming platform is this Captain America spinoff. Hayley Atwell reprises her role as Peggy Carter, a US secret agent during the aftermath of World War II. While the series was canceled after two seasons on ABC, the period thriller received rave reviews from critics and is a mustwatch for fans of spy dramas, Marvel, or Captain America.

The Jessica Chastain spy thriller storming Netflix Finding terribly made but fun action thrillers that star mostly men as the central characters is not that hard. But there is one film trending on Netflix UK right now that ticks all the boxes and stars some of the most bombastic female talent. The 355 has emerged as a refreshing exception in the male-dominated espionage thriller landscape, especially on Netflix. It’s at the fifth spot on the list of Top 10 films for three consecutive weeks at this point. Directed by Simon Kinberg and penned by Theresa Rebeck and Kinberg, this all- women action spy thriller features an ensemble cast of powerhouse

performers, including Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, Diane Kruger, and Lupita Nyong’o. The film’s story revolves around a group of international spies who have to unite forces in a race against time to prevent a terrorist organisation from plunging the world into chaos and igniting World War III. The title, The 355, pays homage to Agent 355, a female spy during the American Revolution, so the film also manages to blend history with a contemporary tale of espionage. The film is shot at several luxury international locations, which makes it even

easier for the eyes. The story unfolds as the spies race to retrieve a decryption program drive capable of accessing any digital system on Earth, only to discover they’ve been framed for a crime. Chastain spearheaded the project, pitching the idea while collaborating with Kinberg on Dark Phoenix. Speaking about how responsible she felt about the project, she told Collider about the time a stunt landed her in the hospital: “I had to really show up. I had to do everything. I didn’t want to let anyone down. And we were doing a fight scene and I was supposed to hit my head on the ground. It was a marble

ground and I misjudged. “I was in the moment, and I misjudged the distance, and I hit my head on the marble, and I heard a crack that everyone in the room heard.” Chastain portrays CIA officer Mason ‘Mace’ Browne, Cruz is DNI agent Graciela Rivera, and Fan Bingbing plays MSS agent Lin Mi Sheng. Diane Kruger is German BND agent Marie Schmidt and Lupita Nyong’o plays retired MI6 operative Khadijah Adiyeme (pictured]. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics and a lukewarm box office reception, it has gone to thrive where most box office duds go to thrive.

New ‘bone-chilling’ true story a ‘must watch’ If you are not quite in the festive mood enough to stick on a Christmas movie yet, then you may want to try this new ‘bone- chilling series’ on Netflix. If you are a subscriber of the popular streaming platform, and let’s face it who’s not, then you’ll know it can be difficult to know what to put on. Scrolling through each category on Netflix and finding something to watch is never easy, so seeing what others are talking about online is certainly helpful. The current talk of the town is The Railway Men – The Untold Story Of Bhopal 1984, which tells the incredible story of brave railway workers who risk their own lives to help others after a deadly gas leak in the city. An official synopsis for the film reads: “After a deadly gas leaks from a factory in Bho-

pal, brave railway workers risk their lives to save others in the face of an unspeakable disaster.” Released on November 18, The Railway Men – The Untold Story Of Bhopal 1984 is a mini-series consisting of just

four episodes. It stars a myriad of famous Indian actors, including R. Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon and Divyenndu. And it of course tells an important side story to the Bhopal Gas tragedy – the world’s deadliest industrial accident.

The short series begins with the hours leading up to the disaster that killed 70 times more people than Chernobyl. The Railway Men – The Untold Story Of Bhopal 1984 currently sits at a respectable 67 percent Rotten Tomatoes score following its Netflix release. Radhika Menon, from the Decider, penned: “While the series occasionally feels overstuffed by characters, its storytelling heart remains true to honouring the men that saved thousands in Bhopal in 1984.” While Ready Steady Cut’s Jonathon Wilson wrote: “These themes remain prescient since technological advances not only create more ways in which miraculous things can be achieved but also more ways in which things can go calamitously wrong.”

2. Andi Mack

Unlike some of its more highconcept counterparts, Andi Mack is simply about a girl named Andi Mack who is going to middle school with her friends. The foursome at the centre of the antics are Andi (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) Buffy (Sofia Wylie), Jonah (Asher Angel), and Cyrus. The series made headlines when it became the first Disney Channel show to feature an openly gay character. Cyrus’s coming-out scene is the sweetest thing, and you should go watch it right now.

3. Austin & Ally

Ross Lynch stars as Austin, an outgoing performer who skyrockets to fame when he sings a song written by Ally (Laura Marano), the musical other half/ best friend/love interest. Throw in Calum Worthy as Ross’s goofy friend/videographer and our lord and saviour Raini Rodriguez as the group’s manager, and you have the crew.

4. The Beatles: Get Back The Beatles are one of the most successful, iconic, and enduring bands of all time. Well, now Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings fame is here with a three-part documentary series detailing the recording of the band’s final studio album Let It Be (working title Get Back). The documentary uses footage from a previous documentary about the album and is a doc about a doc about the Beatles. It’s packed with music and delves into what it looks like to have four ultra-successful artists come back together to record an album after they’ve already broken up. Fascinating.

5. Cosmos

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson’s stunning overview of evolution and scientific advancement is now yours to stream. With episodes focusing on the big bang, light, astronomy, and electromagnetism, viewers get a crash course in the science that surrounds them, supported by all the graphs, images, and videos needed to make the material accessible. Also, the soundtrack, by Alan Silvestri, is breathtaking and worth appreciating in and of itself.

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Community & GAA Notes

The Clara men that were part of the victorious St Kieran’s Junior team in Nowlan Park. L to R. Hugh Kelly, Philip Carrigan, Luke Lawlor and Captain David Barcoe. SAINTS PREVAIL Well done to the Clara contingent that took part in a high class Leinster Junior Hurling final in Nowlan Park last Wednesday. St. Kieran’s eventually defeated city rivals Kilkenny CBS after extra time to take the cup. Raising that cup was captain David Barcoe of Clara, who lined out at centre back. Joining him in the half back line was Luke Lawlor and both lads hurled really well. Philip Carrigan and Hugh Kelly were also part of a star studded Kierans panel. Meanwhile Pádraic Meany lined out at corner back for the CBS team and did everything in his power for his team’s cause, even scoring a point. It augurs well for the future to have five lads like this exposed to this level of competition. Well done to all. CLUB LOTTO Lotto 21st November, Numbers drawn - 17, 18, 23. No Jackpot winner. €30 each to Benny Nolan, Ciarán and Brian Kehoe, Aisling Curtis, Caoimhe Nolan, Caitriona Corr. Thanks for your support. CLUB LOTTO There was no winner of Club Lotto November 21st. Numbers drawn were 1, 10, 21, 23 Bonus 19. Play now at www.oloughlingaels.com/lotto. Thank you for your continued support Please support our senior hurlers in the AIB Club Leinster Final on Saturday, December 2nd at Croke Park ALL ROADS TO CROKE PARK Congratulations to our Senior Hurling team on reaching the Leinster final, which will be held in Croke Park on Saturday. They will play Na Fianna, located in Glasnevin Dublin. Huge support will be needed to cheer O’ Loughlin Gaels along. Please do your best to attend. Buses will travel from the club Adult: €15, Student: €10, Child: €5. The following is the information received from the Leinster Council regarding tickets: Tickets will be available for purchase from Monday, 27th November 2023 at 2.00pm for the, AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship Final 2023. Naas (KE) v Kilmacud Crokes (DB) at2.15pm AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship Final 2023. O’Loughlin Gaels (KK) v Na Fianna (DB) at 4.05pm. Date: Saturday, 2nd December 2023. Venue, Croke Park Ticket Price, Hogan Stand unreserved seating, Adult: €25.00, Students/Senior Citizens, €20.00 (ID Required on the day for entry), U16’s - €5.00 Ticket T’s & C’s, No Concessions on Student/Senior Citizens tickets. Tickets must be purchased in advance. No ticket sales at the Venue on Match Day so have your ticket purchased in advance and come early. LEINSTER CHAMPION

Congratulations to Conor Holohan who was part of Wednesday’s Leinster Final winning St Kieran’s College Junior team. They beat CBS at Nowlan Park after extra time. Conor will have bragging rights over his club mates from the game’s opposition. Well done to all the O’Loughlins lads who continue to play tip level hurling. JOHNSWELL ORGAN RESTORATION FUNRAISER Johnswell Community is hosting a fundraising benefit concert on Saturday, December 2nd in Johnswell Church to aid in the restoration of its organ @ 7.30 p.m. Sharp. Acts on the night include Castlecomer Male Voice Choir, Billy Carrigan and friends, Tony Coy, Ger Cody and more. A great night of entertainment is promised. Admission is €20. Donations welcome. Fabulous door prizes and raffle on the night full of goodies. For tickets, contact Seán 086 6005511 or James 087 2962039 or any member of Johnswell Community

now due. It cost €10 per phone number- new members are most welcome. Contact any of the following committee members-John Bergin, Jacinta Power, Anna Morrissey, Mick Cormack, Shem O’Donnell. The group wish to thank everyone who has joined for their continued support and they remind people to be vigilant during these dark evenings towards their property and neighbours. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious and report same to Kilkenny Station, teephonel 056-775000 SYMPATHY Sympathy is extended to the Fortune family on the recent death of Eamon Power late of Goatstown Dublin. Eamon was a regular visitor to Freshford over the years and was well known in the village. Funeral mass took place in Church of the Holy Cross, Dundrum followed by Burial in Shanganagh Cemetery. ON STAGE Patrick Rafter well-known violinist and singer and Pianist Fiachra are in concert at John’s Priory, John St Kilkenny next weekend 2nd and 3rd December. Tickets can be got on www.marblecity musicfestival.com GAA St.Lachtains GAA will hold their AGM on Friday evening next the 1st December at 7.30pm at the clubrooms. IONAD LACHTAIN St. Lachtains Church Museum and Arts centre is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 4.30pm. COFFEE MORNING Prague House held their third annual Christmas Coffee morning and Bake sale on Sunday last after Mass, with some delicious homemade goodies alongside a hot cuppa and raffle on the day. Thanks goes out to all those who donated prizes or cakes and all those who supported the fundraiser. SOCCER Freshford town U12’s were in action on Saturday in their home game against Clover United and finished all level on a 3-3scoreline On Sunday the Junior side faced Castlewarren in an away tie and finished on the wrong side of 2-1 scoreline. Jordan Burke scored for Freshford Town. BRIDGE Freshford Bridge Club continues each Monday at 7.30pm in Tulla Hall, Threecastles. New members are very welcome.

Eileen Kinane presenting the cup to winning Captain Ben O’Gorman

For further information please contact Olive on 087 9257610. NEW BINS It is nice to see the arrival of new Belly bin on the green in Freshford village provided by Future Street which he said should be a huge benefit for litter prevention. There are also some new Leaf Bins up around Woodview and on the small green which can be used for compost later on. LOOP CAFE Loop Café is celebrating its first birthday soon and the Café is now open every day from Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4pm. The Loop Café is a wonderful addition to the village full of character and history. So why not go along and meet a friend or try some of their lovely food and support a local community café. They are also looked for volunteers to help out so if you can give little bit of your time please do so. 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 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 087 284 342 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.

KINANE CUP AND MCGREE SHIELD The final of the annual Philip Kinane Cup and Colin McGree Shield tournament was held last week with almost fifty young players taking part. The tournament is run each year in memory of the two young hurlers who died tragically and has grown from strength to strength. The final of the Philip Kinane cup saw Ben O’Gorman’s team beat Cian Dalton’s team in an exciting final. The cup was presented to winning captain Ben by Mrs. Eileen Lenane. The final of the Colin McGree Shield saw Aidan Dowling’s team come out winners over Paddy McCarthy’s team in another exciting encounter and the Shield was presented to Aidan by Liam McGree on behaf of the family. Kinane Cup winners: B.O’Gorman, M.Hickey, F.Martin, P.O’Connor, L.Dermody, I. Carroll, C.Buckley, S.Geraghty, J. Curley, T.Campion, J.Doheny and L.Kelly. Runner up C. Dalton, N.Walsh, J.Bolger, J.Geraghty, M.O’Neill, S.Walsh, R.Dalton, C.Gleeson, J.Nolan, J.Kavanagh, D.Ryall and F.Carroll McGree Sheild winners A.Dowling, J.Marnell, S.Eardley, H.Carroll, B.Looby, F.Condon, A.Dalton, M.Ryan, T.Dalton, S.O’Neill, R.Carroll, B.Nolan and R.Bolger. Runners up – McCarthy, A.Walsh, P.Dermody, J.Kavanagh, L.McCarthy, B.McGree, C.Grant. J.Phelan, C.Grant, J.O’Gorman, R.Grant, F.Cullinane Doyle. CLOTHES COLLECTION St.Lachtain’s National School parents association will hold a clothes collection this week from Monday to next Monday 4th December inclusive from 9am to 3pm each day (excluding the weekend) Accepted are mens womens and childrens clean clothed,paired shoes , handbags,belts, curtains and bed linen. The donation point is St.Lachtains NS Office. Please support. All donations greatly appreciated. COMMUNITY ALERT Freshford/Threecastles Text Alert membership renewal is

Liam McGee presenting McGee Shield to Captain Aidan Dowling

U-21 SEMI-FINAL On Saturday afternoon next the U-21 hurlers will take on defending county champions, Thomastown, in the 2023 county semi-final in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophain with a starting time of 1.30pm. Manager Paddy Butler is hoping that a large gathering of supporters will be in attendance to back the players as they go in search of the title last won by the club in 2002. REUNION NIGHT Excitement is building for Saturday night’s Reunion Night to honour “Mr.Football”, Jim Mulvin’s, influence as manager in guiding the club to six Kilkenny senior football titles in the 1980 and ‘90’s. The night has also been expanded to include the crossover of players involved with the 2000 Kilkenny junior championship winning team and Kilkenny U-21 title winners of 2000 and 2002. Being an integrated club the ground breaking 2002 Kilkenny junior camogie championship winning team will also be included in the celebrations. Organiser, Sheasky Maguire is urging people to come early with a view to starting the night’s proceedings sharp at 8pm as a busy schedule is planned by the committee. No doubt a memorable night of reflection will follow as fabled stories of high catching, vital interceptions and match winning scores will be recalled by footballers, hurlers and camogie players reliving their long lost youth. CAMOGIE The club’s Junior camogie team are fixtured to play the 2023 Kilkenny Junior “C” camogie final against Erin’s Own on Sunday next at a venue and time yet to be announced. As we wish the girls the best of luck we trust they will receive huge support as they aim to crown a busy season with a county title trophy. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS On Saturday afternoon, the club’s nine times All-Ireland medal winner and GAA All-Star Jackie Tyrrell and his sons, two year old Harry and four year old Freddie were honoured by Mayor Joe Malone and Kilkenny County Council with the onerous task of switching on the Christmas light. The festive occasion commenced when Santa arrived by boat at Canal Square escorted by the Kilkenny Civil Defence forces before boarding the City Train for a tour of the streets of the historic Marble City. Followed by an army of escorted young cyclists the tour party eventually entered The Parade to be met by Mayor Joe Malone and the Tyrrell family for the official switching on ceremony of the new spectacular high

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Community & GAA Notes tech illuminations much to the delight of the enthusiastic revellers. The event also marked the official opening of the four week Yulefest festival of family entertainment, country markets and open air concerts leading into the Christmas season.

Our Senior Camogie Team (picture by Billy Culleton)

THANKS FROM STELLA A Sale of Work held in the Community Hall, Bennettsbridge last Sunday after Mass in aid of Stella’s Dancing School was a great success and Stella wishes to thank everyone for their overwhelming support. MENS SHED The Men’s Shed initiative continues to attract a good number each Wednesday. Suggestions for activities are being discussed and will be acted on in the coming weeks. All interested in getting involved are welcome to attend. ART GROUP CHRISTMAS The Christmas Sale mounted by the BB Art group will be held in the Community Centre this Sunday, 3rd December beginning after mass and continuing until 5pm. Members are looking forward to welcoming everyone to this, the first Christmas event organised by the group and it promises to be a festive occasion for all. They are putting together some original art pieces, textile art, prints and handmade cards. Pick up that special Christmas gift from a selection of crafts and decorations. There will be something to suit every budget. Also a reminder that the Christmas card collection is now available in the local shops and sales are brisk. As has been the custom for many years, the local St Vincent De Paul will share in the proceeds. SYMPATHY Sympathy is extended to the family of Catherine Wallace, Kilbline and late of Dublin Formerly from Dublin and a member of the Kearney family, Catherine passed away on 20th November 2023 at her home. Predeceased by her Mam and Dad, sisters, Elizabeth, Julie and Margaret, brothers Christy and Gerry and her late husband Richard (Dixie). Catherine will be sadly missed by her daughters Cathy and Samantha, sons Ritchie, Christopher and Liam, brothers Paddy, Willie, Mick and Joe, sister Helen, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, in-laws, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and friends. Family and friends called to her home on Thursday to pay their final respects. Rosary and prayers were recited. Requiem Mass was celebrated by Canon Pat Dalton, on Friday morning in St. Kieran’s Church, Tullaherin. Family members took part in the Liturgy. Tullaherin Choir sang throughout the ceremony. Interment took place afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. CHURCH NEWS Weekday Masses. Wednesday and Friday Bennettsbridge 10.30am (both days) Weekend Masses. Tullaherin, Saturday 8pm. Bennettsbridge Sunday 10.30am CONFIRMATION IN THE PARISH Confirmation will be held in the parish on Sunday, 25th February, 2024. Each girl or boy who wishes to be confirmed needs to fill out a form of application which must be signed by the parents. Receiving the sacrament of confirmation is an individual choice given to pupils in 5th and 6th Class. Each recipient needs to be serious about the promise to witness to the Catholic Faith. Attendance at mass is an integral part of that witness. On Monday, 11th December, parents or guardians of children requesting Confirmation are invited to attend a meeting in Bennettsbridge School at 7.30pm. Parents will be asked to help with the preparatory masses for confirmation. These masses have been arranged as follows; Sunday, 28th January, Sunday, 4th February and Sunday, 18th February. All confirmation children are expected to attend all these masses. OFFERTORY COLLECTION Parishioners are reminded that the Offertory Collection which had been taken on entry to Mass on Sundays has now reverted to the usual collection system within the church. OSSORY PRIESTS SOCIETY Last weekend, the Church Door collection for the care of priests in the Diocese of Ossory, in infirmity, sickness and old age was held and appreciation goes to all for your contribution. You can still help by handing in your contribution to the sacristry. GATHERING GROUP There was a full attendance last week and members enjoyed a cuppa and chat followed by Cards and Bingo. The date has been confirmed for the Christmas dinner, 13th December. The venue is the Hoban Hotel and numbers will be confirmed in the next few weeks. Members can also look forward to the Annual Flower arranging event with Annemarie Mahon which has been confirmed for 13th December. LOTTO No winner of Jackpot last week. Numbers, 18, 19, 22, 25.. Jackpot now €4, 450.00. Consolation Prizes, Joseph Murphy, Bohergaddy, Richard Comerford, BB, Marie(s)Treacy, Station Road, E. L and P Mahon, Blackwell, Bridget McGuinness, The Ring. CARDS RESULTS 7TH November. First Prize. Mickey Fitzpatrick/Neddie Walsh and Patsy Gibbons/John O’Brien, 11 games each. Table Prize John Drennan/Declan Twomey 14/11/23. Patsy Gibbons/John Brennan. 10 games. 2nd Prize Brian Blackmore/Annie Lehane. Table Prize Frank O’Neill/

Michael Phelan 21/11/23. 1st Prize Vinnie Horgan/Andrew Barcoe 11 games. Frank O’Neill/Michael Phelan 10 games. Table Prize Bridget Cottrell/Pierce Purcell CAMOGIE Thanks to all who supported Bennettsbridge Camogie Club’s Used Clothes Collection last weekend, to raise funds for

Pink Door Joan Cleere

their activities. Monies realised from the clothes collected will be very beneficial for the club. GAA AGM 2023. Bennettsbridge GAA will hold it’s AGM in the clubhouse, tonight Friday, December 1st at 8 pm. All members are encouraged to attend. BÓRD NA N-ÓG AGM

Elma Kharaghani Lockdown Piece

The Bórd na N-Óg AGM for 2023 will take place on Tuesday 5th December at 8 pm in the clubhouse. CHRISTMAS RAFFLE All support greatly appreciated for this year’s Christmas raffle. Tickets are now avail-able from all committee members and from businesses around the village. CLUB SHOP New additions of a training top, shorts and tee shirts have been added to the Bennettsbridge O’Neill#s club shop. To access the full range of club gear simply go to the O Neills website and enter Bennettsbridge in the search box. Ideal gifts for Christmas. SPLIT THE POT The next draw takes place this Friday at 6 pm in the clubhouse. The com-petition can also be entered online using club force. Please see the club’s Facebook page for details of how to enter on line. Envelopes are available in the usual spots around the village. Thanks for the continued support.

Freedom Julie Moorhouse

CLUB LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results 23rd November 2023. Nos: 8 19 20 27. Jackpot: €13, 550 Not Won Draw Prizes, €50: Ada and Tommy c/o Tommy Hackett . €25 each Grace and Eve c/o P Grace. €25 each Ronan Cahill c/o Online. €25 each Canice Kelly c/o Paddy Maher Hurlers Co Op Draw Dermot Moloney c/o Paddy Maher. Promotors prize Brian Fitzpatrick We encourage all Dicksboro Families to sign up and play weekly for €2 per draw and we thank everyone who is currently doing so. U21’s Our u21’s played Dunnamaggin in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Championship Semi Final Sunday 26th November. A solid and dominant team performance saw the lads overcome Dunnamaggin on a scoreline of 7-15 to 0-8. We now look forward to a County Final in a couple of weeks where they will play either Thomastown or James Stephens. We wish the lads and their Management Team the very best of luck. CAMOGIE AIB All Ireland Club Championship Camogie Semi Final Our Senior Camogie Team look forward to an All Ireland Semi Final this Saturday 2nd December at 2pm in Ashbourne GAA Grounds where they will meet the Ulster Champions Loughgiel Shamrocks. This is an incredible achievement for this team , their Mentors and our Club. The girls deserve nothing less than all our support so let’s fill the sidelines in the Maroon and White and plenty of noise!! A supporters Bus will depart Palmerstown at 11am Saturday morning please see ClubZap or contact Jason to book your seat. We wish everyone involved the very best and the whole Club are behind you. Boro Abú CHURCH NEWS There will be an Advent Penitential Service in the Church of the Assumption, Urlingford for the three parishes on Tuesday December 5th at 7.30pm. An hour of prayer, reflection and music will be held in St. Kieran’s Church, Johnstown on Sunday December 10th and 17th at 3pm in preparation for Christmas. A Christmas Carol Service will be held in Urlingford Church on Sunday December 10th at 7.30pm. All are welcome. Envelopes for the Graine/Urlingford sacristans Christmas Collection and for the Cemetery caretaker in Crosspatrick are available in the porches of the three churches. ST. VINCENT de PAUL A church door collection in Galmoy Church on Sunday December 3rd and in Urlingford and Graine on 9th and 10th December. KNITTING AND CRAFT FAIR Friday December 1st is the day everybody has been waiting for, as a Knitting and Craft Fair is being held in the Mill

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

Community & GAA Notes Family Resource Centre, Urlingford from 11am to 1pm. All beautiful hand crafted gifts available. FESTIVAL OF LIGHT The annual turning on of the Christmas lights in Johnstown will take place on Saturday evening December 9th from 5.30pm.The children will gather in the Church car park at 5.30pm and will be able to dance to the D J and his Christmas music, after which they will parade with lights to the Square. At 6pm the village lights will be turned on with special recognition to all the carers in the community. Remembrance rosettes for the parishioners who died during the year will be placed on the tree by the families. The defining moment for the children will be meeting Santa at St. Mary’s Hall. A collection given to Santa will be in aid of The Childrens’Hospital, Temple Street. All are most welcome on the evening. THANKS The Town Team would like to thank the Fenian Hurling Club and especially Marguerite and her helpers at Bingo, who kindly donated the proceeds of the split the pot for four weeks to aid the expense of the Christmas lights. FENIAN HC Congratulations and well done to the U21 team who won the Roinn D County Final by defeating Tullaroan in Ballyragget on Saturday. The club AGM will be held on Sat Dec. 2nd in the Clubhouse. 500 CLUB DRAW Results for November.1 Frank Murphy (Kevin Murphy), 2. Rachel Dermody (Marguerite Dermody), 3. Helen Staples (Ml. Quinlan ), 4. Mary McCabe (Mary McCabe), 5 Oliver Moriarty (Peter Norton.) Next draw is on Deccember 30th. SPA UNITED AFC... Weekend results. Junior League division 2 Spa 0 Evergreen 4, U12 boys SFAI National Trophy Spa 0 Dungarvan 2, U16 boys league division 1A Freebooters 1 Spa 1, U15 boys league division 1A Spa 0 Highview 1, U14 boys league division 1A Deen Celtic 1 Spa 6, U14 boys league division 2 Spa 2 Freebooters 0, U12 boys league division 2 Spa 1 Evergreen 1, U12 girls league division 1 Spa 3 Thomastown 0. Also in action were the U8’s who had great games against Thomastown, the U10 boys who were at home v Freebooters and the U11 boys who travelled to play Freebooters. SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO.. Winning numbers 12,15,22,24 five match threes Martin Quinlan, Selina and Mary Murphy, Lauren Dermody, Noel Dermody and Tom Garrett. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Glengoole Wednesday 10am to 2pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 10am to 1pm GORTNAHOE COMMUNITY HALL CHRISTMAS DRAW The Hall Committee has decided not to hold their Annual Sale of Work this year, instead they have decided like last year to hold a Christmas Draw. The draw will take place on Sunday 17th December in Gortnahoe Hall. Further details of prizes and the distribution of tickets will follow in the coming weeks. The Christmas Draw is an important fundraiser for the upkeep of the Community Hall. 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. The feedback for the earlier start of 4pm was very well received last weekend. SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to last weekend’s winner Maria Dooley, Gortnahoe, who won €209 in the Split the Pot draw. Envelopes are available at the usual outlets. Split the Pot for the month of December will be in support of The Gortnahoe Christmas lights. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. Your support would be appreciated CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Glengoole Community Group are organising a Christmas festival this weekend 1st and 2nd of December. On Friday 1st December there will be a music night in Brennans. On Saturday 2nd December the events organised are as follows: Slievardagh Blooms Wreath making in the Hall, bookings on 086 8946995. Christmas lights will be turned on at 6.45pm after mass with Santa arriving at 7pm. Christmas fair and crafts in the hall until 9pm followed by Monster raffle in Brennans. 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 & 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 BALLYRAGGET YULEFEST Christmas in Ballyragget starts next weekend with the Christmas Wreath Workshop with Lynda from Petals ‘n

Blooms - Thomastown - part of the Ballyragget Yulefest Weekend Join us on Friday, 1st December, 7pm at Ballyragget Community Hall. All materials are provided, and festive treats await, ensuring a delightful evening of wreathmaking magic! Contact Catherine at 0857403812 to secure your spot for this festivworkshop! Extra details and info available here https://yulefestkilkenny.ie/events/ballyragget-wreathmaking-class/ On Saturday December 2nd the Christmas Market takes place in the CYMS Hall from 12 noon to 5pm followed by the arrival of Santa and the switching on of the Christmas lights. Friday December 8th there will be a Remembrance Carol Service in St Patrick’s Church at 7pm featuring Castlecomer Male Voice Choir and Vocum Daru PARTY TIME Senior Citizens party will be held on Tuesday 12th December. Top class Christmas dinner, music and dancing, refreshments and a free raffle. Bus from the Square to and from Durrow on the day. Names to Ballyragget Credit Union. Parishioners €20. Guests from outside the parish €30 please put your names down in the Credit Union. Many thanks to everyone who supported and bought tickets for the hamper raffle and to SuperValu for their support. TABLE QUIZ Ballyouskill Community Hall will hold a table quiz in the Wheel Inn on December 1st. Starting at 9pm. Tables of four at €40. GRANGE WINTER WONDERLAND Grange Winter Wonderland will switch on the Christmas Lights on December 2nd. This year’s chosen charity is the Irish Motor Neurone Society. GAA GAA club members are also asked to note that the Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club AGM will take place on Friday, December 1st at 8.00 p.m. in the GAA Clubhouse. All members are invited to attend. DEVELOPMENT FUNDRAISER Community members are asked to continue to support the Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club’s Development fundraiser draw. Tickets for the draw will be €25 each, or three for €65, or five for €100, with the winner with the winner receiving a new Hyundai Tucson car or €35,000 in cash. Tickets are available from promoters locally, and a website that will allow the purchase of tickets for the draw is available on www.winahyundaituscon.ie. The draw is also actively being promoted on social media platforms. All support would be greatly appreciated for what will be a development to benefit both young and old in the community. CLUB LOTTO The numbers drawn in the Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club Lotto were 4, 22 and 31. There was no jackpot winner so the consolation prize winners were Siobhan Hennessy, Seamie and Siobhan Healy, Eileen Lennon (Gragara), Matty Brennan and Tom and Marian Murphy. The promoters’ prize winners were Toddy Lacey, Mona Dooley and Seamus Óg Brennan. ELLEN (NELLIE) DUNPHY The death has occurred of Mrs. Ellen Dunphy, late of Dairyhill. Nellie, as she was affectionally known to all, was in her 96th year. She was a popular member of our parish community who was always ready and willing to lend a hand to a celebration or event that took place. An avid whist player she seldom or ever missed a whist drive which took place, not alone in Kilmanagh, but at other venues as well. Undoubtedly the care and attention she gave to her husband Jimmy, her children John, Elizabeth, Rose, Ellen,

Anne and David was a great source of joy and fulfilment to her. The large attendance on both occasions of her funeral bore testimony to the love which her family and friends had for her. Her requiem mass was celebrated in St. Molua’s Church, Killaloe by Fr. Liam Taylor, P.P. The chief participants were members of her family. The eulogy was given by her grandson James depicting the life of his granny and the love and devotion she gave to all. Her burial took place in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ballykeeffe. Sincere sympathy is expressed to her family, friends and all who knew her. BRIDIE SUNDERLAND The death has occurred of Mrs. Bridie Sunderland, Circular Road, Kilkenny. Bridie was born and raised in Ballyfrunk and was a member of the Purcell family before she married. She spent her childhood and youth in Ballycallan. She is predeceased by her husband Patrick, sisters Mary, Margaret, Rose and Nancy brothers John, T.D. and Kieran. Sympathy is expressed to her surviving brothers Fr. Denis, Tommy and Eddie, daughters Mary and Anne, grandchildren Tom and Emma, immediate family and friends. Her requiem mass was celebrated in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny with burial afterwards in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ballykeeffe. PAT BRENNAN Sympathy is expressed to the Robinson family, Graigue, Kilmanagh on the death of Pat Brennan, Newtown, Nurney, Co. Carlow. Pat was husband of Josie Robinson and father of Patrick. He is pre-deceased by his children Gerard, Tommy and John. Requiem mass was celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church, Newtown with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. TABLE QUIZ River Rangers will hold a Table Quiz in Ryan’s, Kilmanagh on Friday December 1st at 9.15pm. The proceeds of this night will go towards the purchase of new First Aid Kits for all River Rangers teams. Quizman will be Gerry Dunne. The legendary “Know your Local Yokel” questions will make a welcome return. €20 per team of 4 plus raffle on the night. Lone quizzers are also welcome, teams always need an extra brain. Great fun assured, all are welcome. SENIOR CITIZENS Senior citizens Christmas Afternoon Tea will take place in Naomh Aodhan Community Centre (Old School), Kilmanagh on 17th December from 3 – 6pm. A great afternoon’s entertainment is guaranteed. If anyone requires a lift to this event, please contact Gabriel Wall on 086 600 9972. CHRISTMAS ACORN It’s that time of year again when we need to start compiling the Annual Christmas Acorn. If there are any items you would like us to research and include in this festive edition, please let me know at the email address below. If you have any photographs, articles or news that you want us to include please let me know as soon as possible. MARY’S MEALS CHRISTMAS GIFTS CAMPAIGN With the cost of living crisis, times are that bit harder for us all. The Global School Feeding Movement, Mary’s Meals, have launched their Christmas Gifts Campaign - giving gifts that have a real and tangible impact on those in need. From as little as €5.50, which will provide 50 meals for children in their place of education, we can play our part in changing the lives of those most in need. Visit marysmeals.ie to download a gift today or call 01-8535163 or 089-4339592. WORKS AT BALLYKEEFFE CEMETERY We have carried out repairs to the grotto in Ballykeeffe cemetery which was in need of pointing. We have also filled in the back of the grotto to stop a few individuals throwing rubbish behind it and creating a mess. This work is paid for from the annual Cemetery Mass. A reminder to people to please take home any withered wreaths and waste from your graves. It’s not fair expecting others to do that for you. LIGHTS IN BALLYCALLAN On Monday, December 4th, we hope to begin work on upgrading the interior and exterior lights in Ballycallan Church. This is quite a challenge given the height of the church and will possibly take about two weeks. During that time, the church will be closed to the public. KILMANAGH NOTES Anyone wishing to submit news items, events, announcements etc. can do so by email only to elanigan18@gmail. com. If you have any photos that you would like included, please send as an attachment. OWNING HOUSE On Sunday next our annual Christmas dinner will take place for our residents, committee and volunteers. Always a bubbly, festive occasion this year promises to be no different with plenty of food, music and good cheer on the day. On December the 14th our annual coffee morning will be held, this year we will be holding it in conjunction with our Christmas draw. The prizes on offer on the morning include €300 cash for first prize, as well as tickets to events such as Nathan Carter, The Fureys, Winterval and the Kilmeaden Railway to name but a few. Some tickets are still available for the raffle from committee members, or just call into our shop any day and our volunteers will be there to look after you. There are also separate prizes on the day for those attending. With loads of events planned for the coming twelve months including garden parties, Irish Nights and gold classics, please keep an eye on local media and on social media for what we are planning next. H MASS TIMES

Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil - Saturday 2nd. at 8.00p.m. Sunday 3rd. at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford, Wednesday and Friday at 7.00p.m. Vigil Saturday 2nd at 6.30p.m. Friday 1st. First Friday, Home Visitation with Holy Communion will take place as usual on Friday. Please let us know if you would like to receive Holy Communion in your home on First Fridays or at any other time. PRAY FOR Months Mind Mass, Eileen Henebry, Mylerstown. Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 2nd. December at 8.00p.m. Anniversary Masses next weekend; Michael Murphy, Stoneyford. Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 2nd. December at 6.30p.m. ROTA Readers: Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Sheila Raggett. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Valerie Farrell. Sunday 10.00a.m. Mary Foran. Eucharistic Ministers: Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Pat Kenny. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Teresa Broderick. Sunday 10.00a.m. Ruth Crowley. New Rota available for Hugginstown Church, Please collect in Sacristy LOTTO Lotto: Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 20th. November 2023 Numbers: 08; 25; 24; 13. No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner: €30.00. Winners: Eamon Irish, Knocktopher; Cathal and Thomas Sweeney, Boolyglass. Tommy Phelan, Gowran; Noel Aylward, Boolyglass; Anne Healy, Keatingstown. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers), James Irish; Ann Power; Pauline Doyle. NOVEMBER OFFERING 2023 November Offerings Envelopes 2023 are available at the Church Porch. Your contribution can be left into the Collection Boxes at the Churches or you may donate directly – Use IBAN: IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 (BIC: AIBKIE2D). SOUTH KILKENNY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ‘Decade of Centenaries Conference’ on Saturday, 2nd. December 2023. Official opening by Dr. Martin Mansergh at 10.00a.m. Panel Discussion 1: Reflections on the Decade of Centenaries 2012 - 2023 Panel Discussion 2: How will a future generation reflect on us one hundred years from now? Venue: Rhu Glenn Hotel, Slieverue. All welcome – free admission. PRIORY INSTITUTE TALLAGH Online Advent Retreat. The Priory Institute is delighted to offer a free of charge online retreat ‘Reflecting on the Sunday Gospels of Advent’. Visit our website prioryinstitute.com or click on this link to register. To find out more contact: Frances O’Loughlin, The Priory Institute, Tallaght Village, D24 W410 TOTUS TUUS MAGAZINE This is a Catholic magazine, full of articles from Irish priests and laity, which aims to highlight the beauty and joy of our faith. It is going into its seventh year and is run by donations. If you haven’t come across ‘Totus Tuus’ Magazine and would like a free copy please contact Fiona Kiely on 086 876 0058. STONEYFORD CHRISTMAS CRAFT AND FOOD FAIR December 3rd. sees the return of Stoneyford’s Christmas Fair, between 12.00Noon and 5.00p.m. There will be lots of local crafters selling beautiful Christmas decorations and cards: local food businesses selling mouthwatering treats, as well as a cafe, outdoor barbecue and fish chowder food van! There will be kids’ crafts upstairs and we are even expecting a visit from the man himself, Santa! It will be a day out for all the family, with something for everyone and will finish with the turning on of the Christmas tree lights. Don’t miss it. KNITTING AND CRAFT Knitting and Craft Fair (Everything Handmade) Friday, 1st December we will be having our Christmas Fair and Raffle here in the Mill Family Resource Centre, Main Street Urlingford, E41 E1W, from 11.00am to 1.00pm. All welcome. Raffle tickets on sale here in the centre €2 per strip, €5 for three strips. 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. DEFIBRILLATOR Please note that there is a defibrillator located in the Mill Family Resource Centre if and when it may be required. APPEAL FOR 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. Contact number for the Centre 056-8838466

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

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Sport

Kilkenny Sport Focus Michael O’Leary

Maria Godden

Maria Godden from Callan is making plenty of waves in the water with her exploits in the swimming pool, and next week she will be in Bucharest, Romania as part of the Irish Team to compete in the European Shortcourse Championships from 6th10th December. The Callan native has been making great strides in recent years, and in February (early 2024) she will be the first from Kilkenny Swimming Club to compete at a World Championships as she will represent Ireland in Doha in Qatar. Maria's specialist event is

she will compete against Europe and the Worlds best. She is coached in Limerick by John Szaranek and with a 50 metre pool located in The National Centre, she gets to experience top class coaching combined with the best facilities available. Maria has been busy on The International stage this year having competed in The European U-23 Championships in Dublin in August, where she performed extremely well having qualified for all three finals that she Swam in. The UL student has enjoyed plenty of success to date, and last year at The Nationals she won 4 Gold Medals to confirm her undoubted talent. A hat-trick of her Gold Medals came in the backstroke events over 50 metres, 100 and 200 metres, while also winning Gold in The 400 metre freestyle event. With her continous and constant improvements, the skys the limit for Maria ahead of a massive few months. Wishing her all the very best in her adventures.

the backstroke, and she won Double Gold in both the 100 and 200 metres at the AllIreland Championships in qualifying for the Worlds and Europeans. Maria will Swim in both events in both The Worlds and Europeans, while she will possibly be involved as part of the Relay panel in the Romanian Capital. She trains in The National Centre at The University of Limerick where she is studying but still represents Kilkenny Swimming Club, and their is whirlwind excitement ahead of her adventures over the next few months where

Kilkenny City and County Bridge results Ormonde Castle Bridge Club – Monday Nights Results 27th November 1st Prize Margaret Knowles/ Richie McEvoy 2nd Prize Canice Corr/ Michael Lanigan 3rd Prize Ber Manogue/ Frances Mullan Rothe Bridge Club – Monday Nights Results Monday 20th November 1st Prize Josephine O’Reilly/ Siobhan Roberts 2nd Prize Peter Ryan/Pat Hickey 3rd Prize Christine Leonowicz/Martha Langton 4th Prize Hugh DonnellySwift/Colette O’Neill Club 17 – Tuesday Mornings Results Tuesday 21st November 1st Prize Brian Keane/Mary Walsh 2nd Prize Christine Leonowicz/Linda Darlington 3rd Prize Catherine Brady/ Paul Brady Kilkenny Bridge Club – Tuesday Nights

Results Tuesday 28th November 1st Prize Ellen Dowling/ Maria Troy 2nd Prize Therese Pender/ Mags Mc Quillan 3rd Prize Maura O Mahony/ Teresa Dunne Christmas Prizes will be played on December 12th Kilkenny Bridge Congress held its first live Congress since covid last week end in the beautiful surroundings of Hotel Kilkenny. A lot of people from afar travelled to play and enjoyed their week end of bridge and facilities of the hotel. Results Congress Pairs 1st Prize Tom Gorey, Karel deRaeymaeker 2nd Prize 2. Gordon Lessells/ Paul Barrett 3rd Prize 3. Neil Breheny/ Rosaleen Glasheen 4th Prize 1st Session Phil Harnett/Michael Rowan 5th Prize 2nd Session Adrienne Purdy/Martin Purdy

3rd Prize Ellen Dowling/ Mary Kearney Open Pairs – Saturday afternoon North/South 1st Prize Kathy Monks/Nora Kelly 2nd Prize Michelle Culliton/ Geraldine Walsh 3rd Prize Kevin Kennedy/ Maire Fennin East West 1st Prize James Casey/Ciara NiFiathartaigh 2nd Prize Joan Holden/ Maura Holden 3rd Prize Sheila Walsh/ Margaret Murphy

Congress Team of Four 1st Prize Paschal Browne/ John Power/Trevor Phelan/ Tina Nolan 2nd Prize Paul Barrett/ Gordon Lessells/John O’Connor/Denis Sheehan Intermediate A Team 1st Prize Ian Kingston/Maura King/Gerry McCarthy/ Eleanor Callanan Intermediate A Pairs 1st Prize Teresa Cowman/ Mary O’Donoghue 2nd Prize 2. Declan Harte/ Margaret McCarthy 3rd Prize 3. Margaret Aylward/Margaret McDonald 4th Prize 1st Session Michael Doyle/Helena Murphy 5th Prize 2nd Session Phyllis Carew/Camilla McLoughlin Intermediate B Pairs 1st Prize Tom Roche/Joan Peppard 2nd Prize Liam Barry/James Casey 3rd Prize Deirdre Power/Ann Giffney Mixed Pairs 1st Prize Grainne Dunne/ Gerry Kelly

Open Pairs – Saturday Night 1st Prize Mary Timoney/ Capta Healy 2nd Prize Kathleen Cassidy/ Carmel Gleeson 3rd Prize Marion Kilbride/ Margaret Knowles

Winners of Congress Pairs at Kilkenny Bridge Congress. Lto R: Tom Gorey Kilkenny, Gorden Lessells President Contract Bridge Association of Ireland, Karel de Raeymaeker Dublin

2nd Prize Martin Purdy/ Adrienne Purdy 3rd Prize Patricia McCormack/David Cope Gala Pairs North/South 1st Prize Mary Lonergan/ Bridie O’Reilly

2nd Prize Hugh Donnelly Swift/Colette O’Neill 3rd Prize Maurice Quinn/ Virginia Pye East West 1st Prize Bridie Hogan/ Mairin UiRuanai 2nd Prize Gordon Lessells/ Jim Stokes

Open Pairs – Sunday Morning 1st Prize Grace Corcoran/ Anne Kinsella 2nd Prize Mary Timoney/ Capta Healy 3rd Prize Declan Harte/ Margaret McCarthy Open Pairs – Sunday Afternoon 1st Prize Marion Kilbride/ Margaret Knowles 2nd Prize Breda O’Donnell/ Eileen Ryan 3rd Prize Mary Fawsitt/Ann Brennan

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

Hurlng matters - Review

Sport

Paddy Deegan Swept up brilliantly in Tullamore

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Leinster GAA AIB Senior Club Hurling Championship Semi-Final Glenisk O Connor Park, Tullamore, Referee: Sean Stack

Kilcormac-Killoughey 0-12 O`Loughlin Gaels 0-17 O’Loughlin Gaels sealed their place in this year’s Leinster GAA AIB Senior Club Hurling Championship Final with a hard-fought 5-point win over Offaly champions KilcormacKilloughey in Tullamore last weekend. Brian Hogan’s charges will now make the trip to Croker tomorrow to tackle the undoubted challenge of Dublin’s Na Fianna as they seek to secure the provincial crown. The home side started brightly and drew Loughs keeper Stephen Murphy into a smart stop in the opening stages which he did well to divert behind for a ‘65. Centre-back Cillian Kiely converted the ‘65 to give his side an early lead, but this was to be one of only three scores registered in the opening period by the Offaly champions. O’Loughlin’s were on level terms within a minute, also from a placed ball courtesy of captain Mark Bergin who sent over a lovely free after a robust challenge on full-forward Paddy Butler. Bergin added a second point soon after, punishing K-K’s foul on the all-action Conor Heary. Kilcormac-Killoughey who appeared to be going long at every opportunity, then sent another searching ball into the Loughs defence. Conor Mahon appeared to get a flick on the sliotar which sent it in the direction of James Gorman, who picked up possession before firing over his shoulder to bring his side level. Play was a little scrappy at times as both sides tried to get to grips with the heavy ground underfoot at O’Connor Park, and this led to some physical exchanges when perhaps in summer things would have been a little more free flowing. OLG then took the lead again after Mark Bergin gave a lovely little pass to the supporting Cian Loy and the midfielder duly split the posts with a fine effort. The Kilkenny champions strong running from deep positions was reaping dividends and when Eoin O’Shea was halted illegally, Mark Bergin made no mistake from the placed ball to make it a double score lead after 13 minutes. O’Shea then got on the scoresheet himself after some great play involving Owen Wall and Conor Heary. The Loughs skipper then fired over his third effort

Loughs 1st half blitz seals Croker date! County men to the fore as OLG make Leinster final of the day after Dublin whistler Sean Stack penalised a K-K player for a throw ball. Sean Bolger then showed good determination and movement to create a score for himself having been fouled, but a good advantage by referee Stack saw the corner forward rifle over. Owen Wall, who had been making lots of intelligent runs early in the game then got his name on the score sheet with a classy effort from the left sideline to extend the visitors lead to six points with ten minutes remaining in the opening period.

K-K’s rising star, Adam Screeney then found a little space, having been well shackled by All-Star County corner-back Mikey Butler for most of the previous twenty minutes, but was bottled up by Jordan Molloy who saw yellow for his troubles, when the home support was hoping for perhaps a black card, but that would have been a tad harsh. Screeney punished the wing-back’s indiscretion and in doing so, notched his first point of the game. The Noresiders restored their 6-point lead in the 23rd minute when

full-forward Paddy Butler benefited from his team battling hard before unleashing a lovely shot from out on the left under the stand. Everything was going right for Brian Hogan’s outfit and things got better a minute later when Owen Wall got his second score of the provincial semi-final having taken a clever pass from Eoin O’Shea. Mikey Butler then ventured forward on two occasions only to see both his efforts tail wide, but the defender was still smiling! The remaining action in the first half saw Kilcormac-Killoughey

players pick up yellow cards, first up was the frustrated figure of James Gorman for a wild slap across the legs of his marker, Huw Lawlor, while Cillian Kiely’s shoulder into Conor Heary’s chest also resulted in a booking. O’Loughlin’s went into the interval with a commanding seven-point lead in Tullamore on a scoreline of Kilcormac-Killoughey 0-3, OLG 0-10. K-K manager Shane Hand and his backroom team would have been disappointed to have given such an interval lead to their opponents

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Hurling matters - Review was stopped in his tracks by Jordan Molloy. Mitchell then got in on the scoring act soon after when he struck over one of the points of the game to make it a two-score game. From the next puck-out, Loughs number 5 David Fogarty ran onto the loose ball before composing himself to strike a fine score from out on the right. You could sense that Kilcormac-Killoughey had been told to push-up more on OLG and bring a little more physicality to proceedings as they were hunting in packs and putting Hogan’s men under much more pressure than during the first half. The next passage of play highlighted this subtle, but effective change in tact. Jordan Molloy was in possession of the sliotar but was being harried by a couple of K-K players and while I thought the wingback was being fouled, referee Stack though differently and awarded the free to the Offaly side which Adam Screeney popped over. Brian Hogan then made his second change which saw Like Hogan replace Eoin O’Shea as the Kilkenny side sought to add more of

Huw Lawlor was a towering presence against K-K

and must have read the riot act to his charges as they had a little more spring in their step in the third quarter. Both sides chose to make a change at the break, The Loughs replaced Paddy Butler with Conor Kelly and K-K sent on Cathal Kiely for Leigh Kavanagh. From the throw-in the Offaly side attacked, and Jack Screeney rifled over a long-range effort to stir his teammates and supporters. The younger Screeney, Adam then split the opposition posts with a placed ball effort after Charlie Mitchell

a physical presence to the forward line. OLG midfielder and first-half point scorer, Cian Loy then became the latest recipient of a yellow card for a naughty flick of the hurl to the hand of Damien Kilmartin. K-K used this break in play to send on Peter Geraghty for the largely ineffective James Gorman, for what might be his last senior outing for his club. Other than one early score, the veteran No.14 got no change out of the towering and commanding presence of the finest full back in the country, Huw Lawlor. Adam Screeney then fired over the resulting long range free as the K-K supporters came alive and started to believe that their side was well and truly in the contest. That belief was cemented further when the lively Charlie Mitchell fired over a cracking effort from out on the left to reduce the deficit to just two points with about 17 minutes remaining at O’Connor Park. Kilkenny’s finest were in danger of seeing their interval lead wiped out, but like all good sides do, they steadied themselves and got the scoreboard moving again. Not to

Conor Heary put in a serious shift in the semi final win

be outdone by his fellow wingman, Jordan Molloy showed a nice turn of pace and some delightful stick work before sending over a classy point. The Lough’s built on this with another quickfire score, this time from Seanie Bolger who combined nicely with the roving Owen Wall before striking over. Sub Conor Kelly was then blown up for a foul close to the KilcormacKilloughey ‘65. Cillian Kiely, who despite having missed his last couple of efforts stepped up and dissected the Loughs posts with a monstrous effort. Another booking arrived in the 55th minute, this time for K-K half back Jordan Quinn following his challenge on Cian Loy. Captain Mark Bergin put some uncharacteristic misses out of his mind to get back in the groove and added to his personal tally. With just two scores separating these county champions, things became a little frantic again, with hits going in here and there and possession being coughed up by both sides as the nerves appeared to kick in. The impressive Charlie Mitchell then pointed for the Offaly champs before Adam Screeney converted another placed ball, this time after Tony Forristal was blown for a throw ball as the gap was back to two points as the game approached additional time of which there was to 5 minutes of. From this point on, O’Loughlin Gaels managed the game brilliantly. The exceptional Paddy Deegan sent a long pass into Owen Wall which he gathered well before trying to shake off his marker. Wall’s strength and determination was rewarded with a free which Mark Bergin sent over to leave a goal between the sides.

County panelist Conor Heary who had put in a deadly shift in Tullamore then showed great skill and awareness to flick the ball over his opponents before collecting it and driving forward before striking the point that effectively ended the Kilcormac-Killoughey challenge. In the closing seconds, Owen Wall found Mark Bergin in space about 50 metres out and fittingly it was the Loughs captain that delivered the final score to send his beloved club to the provincial decider in Croker tomorrow. Final Score from Glenisk O Connor Park, Tullamore, Kilcormac-Killoughey 0-12 O`Loughlin Gaels 0-17. Kilcormac-Killoughey: Conor Slevin; Brecon Kavanagh, Oisín Mahon, Tom Spain; Enda Grogan, Cillian Kiely (0-02, 0-01 65, 0-01 free), Jordan Quinn; Colin Spain, Damien Kilmartin; Jack Screeney (001), Conor Mahon, Leigh Kavanagh; Charlie Mitchell (0-03), James Gorman (0-01), Adam Screeney (005 frees). Subs: Cathal Kiely for L Kavanagh (half-time), Peter Geraghty for Gorman (42), Thomas Geraghty for Kilmartin (57), Ter Guinan for J Screeney (60+2). O’Loughlin Gaels: Stephen Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tony Forristal; David Fogarty (0-01), Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy (0-01); Jack Nolan, Cian Loy (0-01); Conor Heary (0-01), Mark Bergin (0-06, 0-05 frees), Eoin O’Shea (0-01); Seán Bolger (0-02), Paddy Butler (0-01), Owen Wall (0-02). Subs: Conor Kelly for P Butler (halftime), Luke Hogan for O’Shea (38), Jamie Ryan for J Nolan (58). Referee: Seán Stack (Dublin)

• As predicted it was triple joy for Kilkenny sides last weekend. At Intermediate level, Thomastown continued their march to provincial glory with a crushing19point demolition of Meath side Kildalkey at Páirc Tailteann. Leading by 15 points at the short whistle, Noel Doherty’s men were always in control and will now face Wicklow champions, Bray Emmets in the final at Echelon Park, Aughrim next Saturday. • Our Junior champions, Tullogher Rosbercon ensured that there would be Noreside involvement at all three levels in the provincial deciders by beating Wexford’s Craanford Fr. O’Regans by 5 points in their semi-final clash at Enniscorthy. Walter Walsh & Co will meet Carrig & Riverstown in the junior decider, also on Saturday next.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Hurlng matters - Preview

Sport BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Leinster GAA AIB Senior Club Hurling Championship Final O’Loughlin Gaels Vs Na Fianna 4:05pm Tomorrow, Páirc an Chrócaigh Referee: Caymon Flynn

Gaels seek Leinster crown at Croker!

O’Loughlin Gaels will run out at Croke Park tomorrow knowing that they are possibly only 60 minutes away from being crowned kings of Leinster hurling for 2023. Standing in their way will be Dublin’s Na Fianna who will also fancy their chances of taking the provincial title in a year when the usual suspects Shamrocks Ballyhale are not involved in the deciding clash for the O’Neill Cup. The south Kilkenny club’s continual dominance in the province was brought to a shuddering halt when the Loughs defeated Pat Hoban’s men in the county final at UPMC Nowlan Park. Brian Hogan’s men were fully deserving of the win over TJ Reid and Co and have shown that they are a side to be reckoned with on their own merits. Paddy Deegan who notched the winner to dethrone Shamrocks alluded to it when speaking with the media after their win over Kilcormac-Killoughey, suggesting that OLG had possibly been overlooked as Kilkenny contenders as many thought it would be a straight shootout between Shamrocks and Dicksboro. Since claiming the Tom Walsh Cup, O’Loughlin’s have entered the provincial arena and have been quietly efficient in disposing of Mount Leinster Rangers and more recently Shane Hand’s Offaly champions. One of the most pleasing aspects of their semi-final win was the fact that OLG had nine different scorers against K-K. While Mark Bergin again topped the scoring charts with 0-7, he had great support from others around him, in fact all six starting forwards registered scores and manager Hogan will know a similar statistic will be needed when they take to the Croker turf tomorrow. As has been the norm this season, wingbacks David Fogarty and Jordan Molloy notched scores Captain Fantastic - Mark Bergin also and the Dublin

Na Fianna stands in way of Loughs provincial dreams

Defensive duo - Mikey Butler and Huw Lawlor

side will no doubt be preparing for the attacking threat that this Loughs defensive line provides. The middle third area will again be key to which of the finalists can

get a stranglehold and provide the necessary platform to their attacking resources to do their thing. Cian Loy and Jack Nolan’s partnership has been blossoming all season and the

Loughs supporters will hope they have another big game left in the tank that can see the St Johns Park side claim a third Leinster title. They won’t have it all their own way mind

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Hurling matters - Preview Jordan Molloy’s ability to mix defence with attack is key for the Loughs

were all in magnificent form in the semi-final win in Tullamore and the ‘fab four’ will look to repeat this against Na Fianna. Paddy Deegan swept up so much ball against Kilcormac-Killoughey and drove his side forward at every opportunity, while All-Stars Mikey Butler and Huw Lawlor were supremely commanding in dealing with the Offaly sides attacking threats in young Adam Screeney and James Gorman. We could potentially see Mikey picking up Colin Currie who is one of the players that has really stood up for Na Fianna in the absence of their talisman, county star Donal Burke who has missed the entire campaign with a nasty hamstring injury. Huw Lawlor will patrol and protect the square and hope to ensure a quiet afternoon for keeper Stephen Murphy behind him.

Stick it to me! Conor Heary is a class act for OLG

you, as Brian Ryan and Peter Feeney will give as good as they get, and Ryan in particular likes to trouble the scoreboard. O’Loughlin’s county contingent

The Currie brothers are key to Na Fianna’s attacking threat, and both will be tough opponents for the Loughs defence. Colin has notched 0-17 in the two Leinster games to date and has good accuracy from the placed ball. Alongside the Currie’s, Na Fianna has the very lively AJ Murphy and Ciaran Stacey in a dangerous forward unit. Let’s also remember that the Dublin champions took down the mighty Naas in the semi-final. At the back, former All-Star Liam Rushe normally occupies the ‘6’ role and you will generally find dual star Conor McHugh in the last line leading by example. Diarmuid Clerkin and Burke’s, Kevin and Sean will look to restrict the influence of Owen Wall, Sean Bolger and Conor Heary. The Mobhi Road side’s manager, Niall Ó Ceallacháin will have been trying to hatch a plan to limit Conor Heary’s role at headquarters. Heary has been instrumental in everything that has been good about this O’Loughlin Gaels side. The Kilkenny panelist’s stats must be off the wall, as he appears to cover every blade of grass in all games. It’s not just hard work and determination that marks him out as a serious operator, Heary has the skill and hurling intelligence to go alongside his other attributes. His point against K-K in the semifinal was beautiful. Brian Hogan will know that this Na Fianna side poses a real threat to the Loughs ambitions for remaining in competitive action early next year, but the Noresiders will not be found wanting physically as Paddy Deegan pointed out, Mickey Commerford will have them in good nick for tomorrow’s final and what might transpire in 2024 if successful. Tomorrow will be a magnificent occasion for everyone connected with O’Loughlin Gaels and hopefully the city side can claim the O’Neill Cup and enjoy the Christmas period with one eye on an All-Ireland semi-final. Hon’ the Loughs!

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Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, James Delaney and Fiona Nolan intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission to build an extension to existing dwelling house, alterations and renovations and all associated site development works at Conahy, Ballragget, Co. Kilkenny R95 N5W9. 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.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We Craig and Jennifer Doyle wish to apply to Kilkenny County Council for full planning permission to construct a new dwelling and domestic garage on existing brownfield site and all associated site works at Kilmurry, Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning Permission is sought for change of use of existing residential dwelling to veterinary clinic to include single storey extension to the rear and 2-storey extension to the side and front to include a residential apartment on the first floor. Alterations to the existing residential structure, new replacement waste water treatment system, car parking, widened road entrance, boundary treatment, signage, landscaping including all ancillary and associated works at Birchfield, Waterford Road, Kilkenny. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission. Applicant: Village Veterinary

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

PATRICIA (TRISH) MAHER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND MONTHS MIND Patricia (Trish) Maher Canverstown,Tullaroan, Co. Kilkenny Died on 3rd November 2023 The family of Trish Maher would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who sympathised with us on our sad loss. Thanks to everyone who sent mass cards and messages of sympathy, those who phoned or left a message or tributes on line, and thanks to all who called to our home. Thanks to all who attended the funeral mass and burial, from near and far. Our sincere gratitude to our friends and neighbours, your support will never be forgotten and has been a great comfort to us all. Our thanks to all the staff in the Nore ward at St Luke’s hospital, Kilkenny and we would also like to thank Mac Eneaney’s Chemist for all their kindness over the years. A special word of gratitude to Fr. Pat Guilfoyle and Fr. Liam Taylor for celebrating Trish’s funeral mass and burial and also a special thanks to all that helped in the Church for Trish’s mass. A world of thanks to Tommy Dermody, Molloy’s Funeral Directors for his outstanding professionalism, kindness and patience in his guidance and assistance with the funeral arrangements during our time of sadness. We would also like to thank Edward Hughes for live streaming the funeral service. Thanks to those who prepared the grave for Trish, thanks to Joe Pollard. As it would be impossible to thank individually all those whose kindness has brought such comfort to us, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deepest gratitude and as a token of our sincere appreciation. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for your intentions. Trish’s Months Mind Mass will be celebrated in The Church of The Assumption, Tullaroan on Saturday, 2nd December at 7.30pm.

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. T.T.

The Miracle Prayer

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023

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Classifieds Motors

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 01 December 2023