Kilkenny Observer 20th October 2023

EVERY FRIDAY

The Kilkenny

Observer FREE EDITION

Friday 20 October 2023

Your Retirement And making sure you have money to enjoy it  John Ellis Page 16

Tel: 056 777 1463 E: sales@kilkennyobserver.ie W: kilkennyobserver.ie

Sweet Dreams Getting a good sleep flying Economy  Page 19

2

kilkennyobserver.ie

Advertisement

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

EVERY FRIDAY

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE TEAM SALES E: sales@kilkennyobserver.ie T: 087 382 0109 or 087 342 1958 EDITOR E: editor@kilkennyobserver.ie SPORTS E: sportseditor@kilkennyobserver.ie

3

kilkennyobserver.ie

10,000 COPIES PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED ACROSS CITY AND COUNTY EVERY WEEK

The Kilkenny

Observer

kilkennyobserver.ie

Our dear little Ireland In 50 years, property prices have risen faster than average pay

The prices of property have risen much faster than average salaries in the last 50 years, and increased at more than three times the rate of inflation, according to a report from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The report, to mark Ireland’s 50 years of EU membership, shows that, although the Irish economy is 10 times the size it was when we joined the com-

munity in 1973, housing is far less affordable for the average person. The average industrial worker needs more than seven times their salary to buy a house today, compared to four-and-a-half times their salary back in 1973. That means the gap has grown by almost two-thirds in 50 years – before taxes, interest rates and inflation are taken into account.

Mortgage rates were well into the double-digits in the 1970s.

However, the Central Bank now restricts the amount of money a homebuyer can borrow to a maximum of four times their gross income.

The CSO data show average residential property prices are now 35 times more expensive than they were in 1973, rising from an average of €9,009

to €318,000. But the average (nominal) industrial wage is only 21 times higher, rising from €38.25 per week in 1973 (£30.12) to €825.01.

Consumer prices have risen tenfold in the last century, the CSO data show.

There is no data on how fast rents have risen in the last 50 years, although Eurostat, the EU’s statistics agency, says

rents in Ireland have risen at about twice the rate of house prices over the last decade and are now twice the EU average.

The CSO data show the share of people renting from local authorities has fallen by half, from 16% of private households 50 years ago to 8% today.

The number of full-time third-level students has skyrocketed in 50 years, and is

Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, has won private backing from President Biden to press ahead with a ground invasion of Gaza, according to accounts of closed-door meetings between the two men.

Meanwhile, Gaza aid could enter as soon as this weekend said President Biden, after agreement from Israel and Egypt.

President Biden, on a visit to Tel Aviv, controversially says the attack on a hospital in the Gaza Strip which killed up to 500 and injured 300 “appears, according to Israeli evidence”, to point to the atrocity being carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad Meanwhile, Egypt has rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land.

The Egyptian people would “protest in their millions... against any displacement of Gaza’s residents to Sinai.

Comment Global Report Page 26

Kilkenny Design, the iconic Irish retailer celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, is thrilled to unveil exquisite images and full details on the muchanticipated Lennon Courtney X Kilkenny Design collection.

This exciting partnership with Lennon Courtney marks a significant milestone for Kilkenny Design as it continues to champion Irish design and embark on a bold global expansion journey.

Full story Page 4

A selection of small businesses based in Paulstown are going to be showcasing their products and services on Sunday, October 22 from 3 – 5 pm in Paulstown Community Hall.

From garden maintenance to kinesiology, cake making to holistic massage, chiropody to carpentry – and much more.

The Best Comment & Opinion in Kilkenny

Towards a new vision for Kilkenny A new vision for Kilkenny City and County will be launched at an event in the Medieval Mile Museum in Kilkenny City on Thursday, October 26. Full Forward Kilkenny 2030 is the culmination of significant consultation and engagement with communities around Kilkenny,

See pending down Page 6 Paul Hopkins Page 8 Special Report Page 22

US backs Israel ground invasion

Kilkenny’s got new designs on you ...

What’s happening in Paulstown

now almost six times higher than it was in 1973.

And the average age for brides and grooms has shot up.

Half a century ago, almost half the population (47%) was under 25. That is now 32%.

including businesses, citizens and interest groups.

Full Forward Kilkenny 2030 is to serve as a guiding principle for what Kilkenny City and County will be like to live, work, and enjoy by the end of the decade.

Full Forward Kilkenny 2030 will support the continued

development of the city and county through seven key pillars: Climate, Community, Jobs, Heritage, Inclusion, Health, and Creativity.

The media attending will have the opportunity to speak with council members and community leaders across the seven

pillars of Full Forward Kilkenny 2030.

A panel discussion will kick off from around 11am, and will include Lar Power (Chief Executive Kilkenny County Council), Mary Fitzgerald (Paralympian), and Edward Hayden (chef and author).

Bedbugs: blotched and bruised!

So, while the Irish were battling bedbugs and the All Blacks in Paris yours truly was battling the ‘invisible enemy’ in the tourist resort of Nerja in Southern Spain.

Nerja, population 25,000, is a charming little town about 30 miles from Malaga.

Gerry Moran Page 20

PAUL HOPKINS

MARIANNE HERON

JOHN ELLIS

GERRY MORAN

Telling it like it is.

And with no holds barred

A straight shooter.

Considerate and wise words

Great advice.

Your money in mind

Quirky take on bright side of life

4

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

News

New Lennon Courtney X Kilkenny Design Kilkenny Design, the iconic Irish retailer celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, is thrilled to unveil exquisite images and full details on the much-anticipated Lennon Courtney X Kilkenny Design collection.

This exciting partnership with Lennon Courtney marks a significant milestone for Kilkenny Design as it continues to champion Irish design and embark on a bold global expansion journey.

The beautiful images were captured by award winning fashion photographer Christian Ammann over a two day shoot in the breathtaking location of Glengarriff Co. Cork. Models Julietta and Noa were styled by Sonya Lennon, Brendan Courtney and Megan Burns Ownbrand senior designer Kilkenny Design, with their hair and make by Christine Lucignano and Michael Doyle.

Lennon Courtney X Kilkenny Design is a vibrant collection which will infuse confidence, colour, and comfort into stylish wardrobes and homes. The collaboration has given birth to a lively lifestyle brand that includes clothing, homewares, and accessories, catering to a wide array of tastes and preferences.

Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney expressed their delighted and excitement on the

launch of the new collaboration saying: “ This is a new chapter in our story and with a new level of design and quality that we are so proud of. We have taken our brand into home and now there is now something for everyone.”

The collection features a stunning array of knitwear, trousers, skirts, dresses, coats, jackets, and special occasion wear. Infused with bold colours and contemporary designs, this collection caters to individuals of all sizes, with options available in XS-XXL (sizes 8-18). The pricing, starting from €15 to €250 The Lennon Courtney x Kilkenny Design accessories and homeware collection: comprises an eclectic mixture of things for your home, from luxurious throws and cushions to wooden decorative serving dishes and whimsical candle holders. Accessories are made from vegan leather with options to suit all styles from purses and card holders to cross body and tote style bags.

The first AW23 Lennon Courtney X Kilkenny Design collection will be available online and in stores nationwide from 9 am on Thursday, October 26. Customers can sign up for exclusive early access at www.kilkennydesign. com, ensuring they are among the first to experience this exciting collaboration.

Death of much loved Kilkenny actor Ann Hurley The death has occurred of Ann Hurley, formerly of Patrick Street Kilkenny.

Ann was very well known in Kilkenny both for her work at St Patricks special school, Special Olympics and of course for her work with Kilkenny theatre..

During her theatre career, Ann performed with such groups as The New Theatre Group, Pan Productions, Watergate Productions, Clubhouse Players, Pan Players and Gaslight Players.

She will be best remembered for such shows as ‘Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf’, ‘The Loves of Cass McGuire’, ‘Sive’ and ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’.

Ann was also a prominent member of Kilkenny Musical Society, Clubhouse Players Gaslight Theatre Group, Pan Productions, with whom she bore the tremendous artistic weight of delivering a one woman show entitled ‘Red Biddy’ and “I Remember it Well”.

INTERNATIONAL STAGE It was not long before Ann’s instinctive grasp on the fundamentals of dramatic performance drew her toward the Director’s Chair. It was a role she blossomed in. In 1987, the Kilkenny native travelled to Sweden and, later, Czechoslovakia to direct “Interview”, a play by Jean Claude Van Itallie.

Her role as director brought her around the globe, to Aruba in 1994 and Korea in 1995 with James McClure’s “One Season’s King” and, a little closer to home, to Wales in 2000 with “Bench at the Edge” by Luigi Januzzi.

She has directed three All Ireland winning one act plays; “Interview” (1986), “PVT Wars” (1992) and “Bench at the Edge” with the Moat

Club Naas (1999).

In 1997, Ann relocated to Naas, Co. Kildare where she took on the position of Regional Director for the Special Olympics’ Leinster Division.

Of course she continued her love of theatre and joined The Moat Club Naas.

She last performed with The Moat Club in the role of Mother Therese, in their production of ‘The Last Days of Judas Iscariot’ by Andy Guirgis.

Full report next week

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

5

kilkennyobserver.ie

Advertisement

6

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

News

ICA angry over meeting call being ignored Members of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) have said that an attempt to hold a vote against its leadership is being ignored.

In July, 65 ICA guilds backed a call for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to consider a motion of no confidence in the national executive board and the chief execu-

tive of the rural organisation.

But the ICA is so far refusing to hold the EGM, despite the fact that it is required to under its own constitution.

Instead, the board has scheduled a separate EGM on November 18 to consider a plan to restructure the ICA. It comes as concerns have been raised that the ICA may

not be viable if membership numbers fall further.

Phillis Roe, an ICA member for more than 40 years, said that she was representing Meath and the 64 other guilds that have been arguing for a vote against the current ICA leadership.

“There is no excuse for ignoring the views of 17% of your

membership,” she said. “I’ve tried all the avenues open to us, and still drawn a blank.

They’re just refusing to acknowledge what we’re doing, even though we have a democratic and constitutional right to do it.

“The constitution allows for the membership to do what we have done.”

Ms Roe is concerned the ICA will continue to delay holding the EGM. “Annoyance and frustration are the major emotions that the membership are feeling.

We’ve done everything that we could, and we’ve done it right. We’ve followed the constitution, and the board has ignored it.”

Ms Roe sent the original request for an EGM to the ICA on July 10. In September, she presented copies of the documents from the 65 guilds to the ICA’s central office in Dublin.

Since then, she has regularly contacted the ICA’s procedures committee but said she often does not receive an acknowledgment.

Social spend down despite Rugby World Cup victories Bank of Ireland debit and credit card spending in September 2023 fell by a total of 8% when compared to the previous month’s outlay, maintaining a trend which has seen September spending fall back by between 6% and 8% throughout 2021, 2022 and 2023. While the back to school period seems to dampen our spending, Irish consumers’ spending in France jumped 9%, no doubt driven by rugby fans.

The latest Bank of Ireland Spending Pulse recorded drops in both social spending (-14%) and in the Retail sector (-7%), as consumers tightened their belts as ‘back to school’ mode kicked back in. Despite Ireland’s matches at the Rugby World Cup becoming appointment viewing, with the clash against the Springboks on September 23 drawing the largest TV audience of the year so far, monthly pub spending was down 19% in total, with outlay in restaurants falling by 17% and in fast-food outlets by 14%.

A similar story emerged internationally, with spending in Greece (-23%), Portugal (-18%), Spain (-13%) and Germany (-11%) all dipping.

There was however a silver lining of sorts when spending in France (+9%) was

analysed, with the hordes of Irish rugby fans contributing to a spending spike as they attended Ireland’s matches in Bordeaux, Nantes and Paris. The regional domestic breakdown was gloomy also, with spending drops of 9% recorded in Donegal, Kildare, Laois, Louth, Mayo and Meath.

Spending amongst the different age groups also plunged in September, with teenagers (-20%) bucking a recent trend where they led the way in the spending stakes. Spending amongst 18 to 25-year-olds fell by 6% as they marked their return to colleges and training courses, the 36 to 45 cohort tightened their belts considerably by posting a 9% drop and outlay among 36 to 45-year-olds fell by 10%.

Jilly Clarkin, Head of Customer Journeys & SME Markets at Bank of Ireland, said: “With memories of the summer holidays receding it was not surprising to see spending decline in certain areas, with travel impacted in particular. Car rental outlay fell by 30%, accommodation spend dropped by 21%, bus travel by 14%, and toll fees by 6%, as many people fell back into their regular routines close to home.”

Relief ... alongside deep anger There is a feeling of absolute relief that the strike action that was due to commence at 8.00am has been suspended by the unions involved, according to a statement from the Disability Federation of Ireland.

A spokesperson said: “Relief, running alongside deep anger and upset that it was let go to this stage. This has implications for our collec-

tive efforts to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). :It is important to also reflect on how things got to this point. I have commented already that there was a particular cruelty in letting disabled people and their families endure the dread of strike action. It should not have come to this.”

Clune named lead role for EU customs reform “The most ambitious and comprehensive reform of the EU Customs Union since its establishment in 1968”.

That is the view of Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune, following her appointment as the lead negotiator for Customs Reform in the European Parliament.

MEP Clune, a member of the European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee, told The Kilkenny Observer: “I am delighted to be working on this new piece

of legislation, revising the European Union’s customs code.

“This reform responds to the current pressures under which EU Customs operates, including a huge increase in trade volumes, especially in e-commerce, a fast-growing number of EU standards that must be checked at the border, and shifting geopolitical realities and crises.

“The measures proposed by the European Commission present a world-

leading, data-driven vision for EU Customs, which will massively simplify customs processes for business, especially for the most trustworthy traders,” she said.

“A key part of the proposal is the set-up of a new EU Customs Authority, which will oversee an EU Customs Data Hub. “With the new proposal, customs data will only need to be submitted to the EU Customs Data Hub, as opposed to the multiple interfaces from the many

separate systems in place across the EU Member States today.”

Ms Clune said this would collectively save Member States, including Ireland, up to €2billion a year in operating costs.

“Embracing the digital transformation, this reform will cut down on cumbersome customs procedures, replacing traditional declarations with a smarter, data-led approach to import supervision,” MEP Clune concluded.

Influencers spread word about Kilkenny Tourism Ireland in London invited a group of popular influencers – with a combined following of around 700,00 followers on Instagram – to visit Kilkenny and Ireland’s Ancient East recently. The influencers captured lots of great content here, to share with their followers and inspire them to choose Kilkenny and Ireland for their next holiday.

The group’s itinerary included visits to Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny, a walk in the grounds of Kilkenny

Castle and a ‘taste and tour’ at Highbank Organic Farm in Cuffesgrange. The influencers had lunch in Zuni and

enjoyed a fine dining experience in the Lady Helen restaurant at Mount Juliet. They also stayed in Mount Juliet.

Meanwhile, 70 tourism companies from Ireland attended Flavours of Ireland 2023 in London last week – including Hotel Kilkenny (part of the Griffin Group). ‘Flavours’ is Tourism Ireland’s annual B2B tourism workshop, where tourism companies from Ireland meet and do business with top global inbound tour operators. * Our photo shows British influencers at Mount Juliet Estate, with Grace Armitage, Tourism Ireland (third right).

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

7

kilkennyobserver.ie

Advertisement

8

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

Opinion

The Fact Of OfThe Matter Paul Hopkins

Home truths about the housing crisis It hasn’t gone away, you know – the housing crisis. Nor is it likely to any time soon. Surely, in the name of all that is sacred, to put a roof over each of our five million plus people – without breaking the bank – should not be beyond the realm of governance and some joined-up thinking.

Mortgages are rocketing. Even interest rates charged on local authority mortgages have risen by up to 0.65 percentage points on fixed rates. This has left some new borrowers unable to secure a big enough loan to buy homes they had a sale agreed on.

The Local Authority Home Loan scheme was introduced to provide State-supported lending to first-time buyers who could not get a mortgage from a private lender because their income was too low.

On mortgages up to 25 years, the interest rate has increased from 3.35% to 4%. For 25-to 30-year mortgages, the rate has increased from 3.45 to 4%.

Mortgages already drawn down are unaffected.

To qualify for the local authority mortgage, single applicants cannot have an annual gross income of more than €70,000.

Joint applicants must earn less than €85,000. However, these council mortgages have a very high rejection rate. More than half of applications to local authorities were rejected last year, figures from the Housing Agency show.

In more (bad) news some of the interest rates being charged by vulture fund servicer Pepper have hit 9%, putting punitive pressure on borrowers. This rate is twice what is available on the market, but people with Pepper are mostly unable to move to another lender.

Elsewhere, the asking price for properties increased by 4% in the third quarter of this year.

A report by MyHome.ie shows a second successive quarter of increases, with buyers paying a 3% premium over asking prices

in September. The annual asking price inflation was 3% in Dublin and 4.9% elsewhere, Kilkenny included. Houses are on the market for an average of €330,000, with in Dublin the average is €425,000, while the average mortgage approved for first-time buyers is at a new high at €298,800, an annual increase of 4 per cent.

Assuming, of course, that you can find a home in the first place. Hence, many adult children are back with mam and dad.

As mortgage rates continue to rise, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has published advice for consumers on how to ensure that they are getting the best rate on their mortgage. The CCPC also provides an independent mortgage comparison tool to make it easier to find the best rates.

The advice is particularly aimed at those mortgage holders on standard variable

rate or fixed rate mortgages which are due to expire in the coming months.

In March 2022, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien confirmed that a referendum on inserting a right to housing in the Constitution could be held as early as 2023. However,

“Even rates charged on local authority mortgages have risen...

one wonders if it’s necessary to enshrine a right to housing in the Constitution to realise the aim of building more homes through the compulsory purchase of land and if a specific right to housing is not necessary to realise this aim, which was the agenda behind the 1973 report known as the Kenny Report.

One of the questions in that report, 50 years ago, was whether the Constitution imposed obstacles to the introduction of laws to regulate the price of building land, or laws to eliminate many of the obstacles to the speedy rollout of major housing projects.

The Kenny Report’s conclusion was that legislation should be introduced to allow local authorities to compulsorily purchase land at existing values plus 25%, with this land being managed by local authorities or later sold onto developers, with the aim of reducing land costs for housing.

The report’s recommendations, for numerous reasons, legal and otherwise, have never seen the light of day.

I have to ask were the Kenny Report to be reactivated, then Minister O’Brien’s referendum would not be necessary and would save time and money.

Anyway, the proposed referendum hasn’t happened. But, sure there is always tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the homeless figure edges towards 13,000 while the dreams of many having their own home have become a nightmare.

Sadly, though, not a wake-up call for those in power who promise to deliver, as was evidenced in Budget 2024 which failed utterly to seriously tackle the housing crisis.

And, please, don’t get me started about those tax breaks for landlords, or the Help To Buy scheme which is just pushing prices up.

Special Report Page 14

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

9

kilkennyobserver.ie

Advertisement

10

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

News

Single mams and rights of dads Senator Sharon Keogan has questioned Minister of State Neale Richmond as to why a 2014 legislative provision requiring single mothers to name the father of their child when registering their birth has still not been enacted into law.

Senator Keogan told the Minister that Section 6 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 has remained

in legal limbo for 3,240 days, having been passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas on November 27, 2014.

The section introduces new provisions relating to the registration of the father where the parents are not married to one another. The section sets out that the mother, if she attends the registry office alone, is required to name the father of the child, with

limited exceptions applying.

Registration of the father will then be dependent on the man acknowledging paternity of the child.

Speaking in the Seanad, the Independent Senator said: “These are practical and common-sense provisions that were debated and voted in favour of almost nine years ago. They will also allow people in the future to

The costs of being a woman

The cost of the menopause and menstruation were explored recently at a Cork event organised by MEP Grace O’Sullivan. 'The Cost of Being a Woman' took place in the River Lee Hotel in Cork on Saturday, October 14, with attendees gathering from all over Ireland and internationally to attend.

The financial costs of womanhood were explored, along with security and emotional costs in this fullday event. One of the more peculiar parts of the agenda included a self-defence class for women, as part of the wider conversation around security costs.

“I learned a lot myself in that class - I remember as a young woman doing something similar in Tramore and actually being paired up with Katharine Bulbulia, who would later serve as a Senator in Seanad Éireann.

While we were all learning skills in this class for situations that we hope will never happen, a wider conversation about our built infrastructure, and how to deal with less violent but more misogynistic verbal abuse also took place, which was also extremely important and unfortunately necessary in this day and age,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

The concept of Gender

be able to trace their lineage back, more importantly, to get in contact with estranged family if they wish to do so and engender greater certainty in the birth registration system.”

In reply, Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection Deputy Neale Richmond said: “Prior to commencement, a technical error was discovered in the legisla-

In conversation: Louise Jordan and other attendees at The Cost of Being a Woman event

Budgeting and Infrastructure Audits for Women and Girls Safety, as has been proposed in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in Dublin, were noted as progressive practices that decision makers may follow.

Green Party Senators has just launched a motion to make Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) free for those who require it, addressing the significant cost that can be felt by those experiencing the menopause.

“Finally we are addressing the stigma associated with this natural part of a woman’s life, acknowledging both the positives and

negatives of it and having open and honest conversations about our lived experiences. I believe now is also the right time to address the financial cost of it, on the back of other budget initiatives such as free contraception for women under 30 in recent years,” Grace O’Sullivan said.

MEP O’Sullivan recently shared that she had allocated a significant portion of her European Parliament marketing budget on the provision of free sustainable period products merchandise, which are available from her office on Washington Street in Cork City.

tion. This technical error is required to be corrected and this will be achieved in the forthcoming Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill, which … the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, looks forward to bringing to the Oireachtas shortly.”

Senator Sharon Keogan welcomed the news, and impressed upon the Minister the importance of the

swift commencement of the section, stating: “It is important for the fathers out there. This is important legislation to ensure their names go on birth certificates. They have been waiting for this legislation for nine years. The urgency is there for these fathers … not having that name on the birth certificate does not give them the rights that they deserve.”

Kilkenny 'must play its part' with e-waste Households in Kilkenny are being urged to clear out their homes of e-waste and to pay attention to items which are usually overlooked.

A forgotten haul of 25 million toys, vapes, cables, remote controls and USB sticks is lying in landfill sites, homes and sheds across Ireland, global data shows.

The huge collection of broken and unused items is contributing to a mountain of ‘invisible’ e-waste, according to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Its study shows consumers in Ireland generated 11 million kilos of small electronic waste in 2022 – the equivalent of 25million items containing precious and valuable metals which will be lost forever unless they enter Ireland’s recycling system.

Globally, these smaller e-waste items weigh 9 billion kilos and are estimated to contain almost $10 billion in recoverable, essential raw materials.

The figures were released as part of International E-Waste Day which urges consumers to begin a collective clearout of their homes and sheds.

A total of 8.7kg of e-waste was recycled per person in Kilkenny last year – falling short of the national average of 10.03kg per person.

“People in Kilkenny have contributed greatly to e-waste recycling every year, with 879 tonnes of electrical waste collected in the county in 2022, and we want to encourage that trend,” said

Elizabeth O’Reilly, Head of Environmental Compliance & Membership at Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland.

“Invisible e-waste often goes unnoticed due to its nature or appearance, leading us to overlook its recycling and re-use potential.

“We tend to know household electrical products as those we plug in and use regularly. But we don’t realise some battery-powered or wired-in products like a smoke detector or smart thermostat are electrical products because they don't have a plug.

“For every 10 new small electrical products sold in Ireland last year, only four are eventually coming back through our approved e-waste recycling system when they reach end-of-life.”

Ms O’Reilly said consumers in Ireland had performed “exceptionally well” in recycling larger household items such as fridges and washing machines.

“We now need that great effort extended to these forgotten, smaller electronic items,” she said.

“Anything with a plug, battery or cable is free to recycle in local authority sites or participating electrical retailers, and the processing of all this takes place at our recycling partner, KMK Metals in Tullamore, Co Offaly.”

Consumers in Ireland are performing well by recycling larger household items such as fridges and washing machines - but that effort now needs to extend to forgotten, smaller electronic items.

Aware’s free Wellbeing programme now open Aware, Ireland’s leading organisation providing support, education and information services for people impacted by depression, bipolar disorder and related mood conditions today announced that its popular Life Skills Group Programme, Relatives & Friends Programme and Living Well With Bipolar Dis-

order Programme are available to attend in a virtual seminar that will look at unhelpful thoughts, learn new ways of thinking and ultimately begin the journey to a healthier and more confident life.

Developed by the renowned cognitive behaviour therapy specialist (CBT), Dr. Chris

Williams, the programme is specifically designed to help people learn more about how we think and how this can influence our actions in helpfgroup setting. With programmes available Monday-Friday, participants can choose the day and session time that best suits their schedule.

Registration is now open at https://www.aware.ie/programmes/ Taking place in a virtual group setting via Zoom, limited in-person options, Aware’s free Wellbeing Programmes will look at: • Life Skills Group Pro-

gramme to equip people with the tools to cope with the stresses of everyday life - nine hours over six weeks • Relatives & Friends Programme for those supporting a loved one experiencing depression or bipolar disorder six hours over four weeks • Living Well With Bipolar Disorder Programme for

people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder – 12.5 hours over eight weeks • Programmes starting on October 23 (Living Well With Bipolar Programme) and November 6 (all other programmes) • Free to attend, one session per week, registration now open at aware.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

11

Advertisement

12

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

Is it time to resist the temptation of fashion?

It was all very well when you had the 10 Commandments. You knew where you were with the ‘shalt nots’. But today it’s hard not to get caught up in a see-saw between wanting the things you might enjoy in life – like eating steak or taking a holiday abroad –and forgoing them in order not to commit the sin of adding to carbon emissions.

The issue that I admit to getting a bit hung up on is fashion, not surprising perhaps, as, several careers ago, I trained as a fashion designer and I love clothes, and nothing wrong with that per se. At this time of year fashion can be particularly tempting with the new autumn clothes and colours in the shops and the latest designs on show at the various fashion weeks.

But fast fashion in particular is blamed for carbon sins and clothing, footwear and household textiles are the fourth biggest domestic culprits for greenhouse gas emissions after households, transport and food. This is an industry which produces a 100 billion garments a year but only 20% of this production is collected for reuse or recycling, with the rest ending up being incinerated in landfill.

Looked at another way, the rag trade is very big business indeed, creating riches worth $1.7 trillion dollars world-wide and predicted to grow to $3 trillion by 2030, employing over 12% of the world’s workforce. What happens to all those people from machinists to shop assistants if we cut back drastically on clothing and what

happens if we don’t?

In some quarters fashion is taken very seriously indeed by those who hold that high fashion should be celebrated as an art form on a par with painting and sculpture and that it is an expression of contemporary culture, allowing endless opportunities for creativity and self- expression. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York holds the largest archive of fashion in the world and the red carpet Met Gala is the biggest event in the fashion year.

Celebrating fashion greats like Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Karl Lagerfeld, the event raised more than $17m. for the museum last year.

Quite aside from all this, we need to wear clothes, if we resist the lure of fashion and novelty

would we accept having to wear the same identical unisex uniform day after day in a grim utilitarian future? It goes against the way that self-adornment has been part of human expression long before written history. I remember marvelling at an exquisite bonnet made of tiny cowrie shells in the Museum of Prehistory at Eyzies in the Valley of Man in the Dordogne, probably worn by a Palaeolithic fashionista somewhere between two million to 200,000 years ago.

Part of the problem is overconsumption. According to the UN Environment Programme we buy 60% more clothes than we did 15 years ago and keep them for half the time. There are all kinds of suggestions about how we could modify this:

resorting to the circular economy and buying preloved clothes in charity shops – aka thrifting or exchanging them – opting for vintage, up cycling outfits we own, hiring clothing or swapping with each other. There are signs that this approach is catching on especially with the young.

Last year the Irish Charity Retail Report found that 7.3 million garments, worth €43m. were sold in charity shops here, saving the equivalent of 62,230 carbon emissions.

A trawl through by own cupboard showed that a kind of one third principle was at work. About one third were charity shop finds, one third were hand-me-downs, from relatives or friends who had either grown out of or grown tired of them, and

It’s time for a cuppa tea

CLAIR WHITTY

Do you fancy a cup of herbal tea? I talked about Hawthorn tea recently. I am drinking it to support my heart health. It tastes ok, I don’t think you can say that all herbal tea is nice, but they are a great addition to your daily diet. Hawthorn tea is an ideal addition to your healthy heart regime to help maintain normal blood pressure.

I have recently started

drinking Salus Haus Lemon Verbena, which I picked up by accident. I don’t know how as the box is a totally different colour to the Lemon Balm which I normally use. Anyway, I decided to keep it and check out what it is good for. It turns out that it is a good tea to have after dinner as a digestive aid.

And it is a good tea to help calm the mind and the body, and is traditionally used to help relieve stress and nervousness.

That suits me perfectly so it will become a regular.

Another favourite of mine is Lemon Balm, I use the Salus Haus Brand. I like this one

about one third were relatively recent purchases or presents. A few are things I made, harder to do these days as fabric and haberdashery shops have gone the way of the Dodo.

The best of the lot though are treasures, those forever clothes that are special but not especially fashionable; not necessarily classics but pieces that don’t date. Perhaps having more of these in future is the way to go.

Vogue, that arbiter of fashion, suggested that about 100 items of clothing should be enough to get us by (40 was enough to do back in the ‘60s apparently). It sounds like a lot especially given shortage of storage space.

Anyway I am heading for my cupboard to do a clothes count and confront my fashion sins. because I it is helpful to aid relaxation and anxiety. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce anxiety and stress, and to promote sleep.

You will see it in a lot of sleep remedies.

A customer’s favourite is to take one Lemon Balm and one Camomile tea bag in the one cup and leave to sit for five minutes. Drink this about one hour before bed. She told me that it works a treat for her every time she needs to unwind and relax to get a good night’s sleep. Camomile is traditionally used to soothe digestion and has a reputation in helping with sleep. The lady says she has used it on and off for years and it always works, so I thought I would share this tip with you.

This time of year, Pukka Elderberry and Echinacea Tea is a great one to have in the cupboard, this one does taste nice. Elderberry is traditionally used for respiratory support and has antiviral properties; Echinacea too has antiviral properties and is known to help support the normal function of the immune system.

Plants from nature are our best friend. They support and help us through our journey in life.

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

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

13

Advertisement

14

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

News

Dog owners invited to 'Madra Monday' with Singer Jake Carter and Leader Natural Dog Nutrition Proceeds go to Husky Rescue Ireland As part of Savour Kilkenny Food Festival, singer Jake Carter is set to host a special event dedicated to your beloved canine companions.

Taking place on Monday 30th October from 12-3pm at the Parade, Kilkenny, Madra Monday, brought to you by Leader Natural Dog Nutrition, promises to be a must-attend occasion for all dog enthusiasts, where you'll gain valuable insights into dog health, nutrition and behaviour. If you've ever had questions about your furry friend's diet or need advice on caring for a senior dog, Madra Monday is the place to be.

General entry to the event is free.

Madra Monday also features a dog show competition, where you can enter your furry companion for a chance

to win exciting prizes. What's more, the €3 competition entry fee will be donated to Husky Rescue Ireland, a charitable cause that's close to our hearts.

Connolly’s Red Mills Pet Brand Manager, Alicia Coyle, said: “We are delighted to be back with Madra Monday again this year with a fun filled afternoon planned. There will be lots of goodies & tasty treats for all the dogs to try, the Leader Dog Show in aid of Husky Rescue Ireland, a doggy photo booth and a very special rescue meet up with PAWS animal rescue. We’ll also have face painting for children so it’ll be a great event to close out Savour Kilkenny 2023.”

You can pre-register for the dog show and find out more information about the day on www.redmillsstore.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

15

Advertisement

16

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Retirement: looking ahead with optimism Retirement is no longer seen as the end of a productive life but the start of something new. In this era of extended life expectancy and a desire for active, self-defined retirements, it’s crucial to prepare for this new chapter of life.

Today’s retirees could enjoy two to three decades of life after work.

Retirement doesn’t mean sitting idle; it’s a transition to a new phase in your life. This is the time to explore your interests, engage with your community, and pursue the dreams that may have been on hold. It’s an opportunity to join clubs, seek further education, or even turn a hobby into a business. Retirement can be all about realizing your long-cherished ambitions and looking ahead with optimism.

Your health is your true wealth, and maintaining it should be a top priority during retirement. Staying physically active is essential for longevity. Engage with

your doctor to make healthy lifestyle choices; join walking groups, play sports, or embark on fitness adventures. Incorporate suitable weight-bearing activities and maintain a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D for strong bones and a fit, mobile life.

Physical activity not only ensures physical health but also enhances mental wellbeing, helping you stay sharp and engaged in your retirement. Mental activity is just as crucial as physical fitness.

Keep your mind active by doing crosswords, reading books, playing strategy games, or learning new skills. These activities protect against cognitive decline and help reduce the risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Your retirement is an exciting new chapter, and maintaining a positive attitude toward your health and well-being is key to making it a fulfilling one.

Whether you’re a few years or just months away from retirement, it’s essential to

fine-tune your finances. Know what to expect regarding your retirement income. Seek projections from your financial advisor, and consider additional income sources, such

as investments, part-time work, or consultancy. Create a realistic budget to ensure your projected retirement expenses align with your income. If there’s a shortfall, it’s not too

late to bolster your pension pot. Review your investments, assess your risk tolerance, and decide how you intend to use your pension savings.

Deciding how to use your pension pot is a critical aspect of retirement planning. You have the following primary choices: lump sum with an annuity, or approved retirement fund (ARF). A lump sum allows you to take up to 25% of your fund, and you can use it for various purposes, such as paying off a mortgage, home improvements, or travel.

However, be aware of the taxation rules, which vary based on the amount taken.

An annuity guarantees a lifelong income, while an ARF offers flexibility in managing your investments and taxefficient income withdrawal.

Consult your financial advisor to determine the best option for your situation.

The age at which you can access your retirement benefits depends on your specific

retirement plan. Personal pensions allow benefits from age 60, with the flexibility to delay until age 75. Personal Retirement Savings Accounts can be accessed as early as age 50 or 60, while company pension schemes typically align with the company’s retirement age. State entitlements vary by birth year and are available at ages 66, 67, or 68, depending on your birth date.

In conclusion, retirement today is a gateway to an exciting ‘Second Life’. As you embark on this journey, prioritise your health, make informed financial decisions, and choose the right path for funding your retirement.

Embrace this new chapter with open arms, as it’s the beginning of something remarkable. Live your Second Life your way, and make the most of every moment. Your adventure is just beginning! john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362622

Climate Change

– are we all playing our part?

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

17

Advertisement

18

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

News Science & Wellbeing A debate that has been going on for centuries in the world of science and philosophy, a debate that some might call a war.

It revolves around the nature of consciousness and the self, and with recent advances in artificial intelligence, the topic is more relevant than ever.

The central question is: Do we really have an intrinsic, unified “self,” or is it just an illusion created by the brain?

Tied up with this question is another question, one that perhaps has a bit more obvious practical importance.

Do we actually control our thoughts and actions, or are they just outcomes set in stone by an entirely predetermined universe?

Common wisdom says we have a self and that self is the source of our free will, but the subject of the self is riddled with paradoxes. Because the mind has been categorised as something “nonphysical,” its definition alone places the self outside of physical cause-andeffect, and beyond the scope of science.

However, as with many philosophical quandaries that involve the proposal of a thesis and the emergence of a counter-thesis (or antithesis, in the words of Hegel), a synthesis often emerges, reconciling seemingly disparate views into a more coherent and sensible perspective.

The first formal argument for the existence of a self was laid out by the philosopher René Descartes in the 17th century.

With his famous statement, “Cogito, ergo sum” — which roughly translates to, “I think, therefore I am” — Descartes anchored the existence of the self in the act of cognition. For him, the very act of thinking was incontrovertible proof of the existence of the self.

Armed with this proclamation, the father of modern Western philosophy laid out a theory of reality known as substance dualism. This philoso-

You know yourself: are you conscious or what? phy posits that there are two distinct types of “substances” that make up existence: the mental and the physical, which correspond to the mind and the body (and the rest of the physical world). The mind controls the body through intentional thought, and it animates the material system by giving it agency, volition, and free choice.

Everyday experience seems to confirm Descartes’ thesis.

We are not like inanimate objects — we are animated by our desire to pursue goals, driven by our dreams. While the behaviour of a nonliving system is predictable with Newton’s laws, animal behaviour is complex, adaptable, and largely unpredictable. This is most pronounced in hu-

mans due to our awareness of ourselves as conscious entities.

But to understand this stance in isolation from the religious and cultural context of the time would be to overlook a profound piece of the puzzle.

Descartes’ philosophy resonated deeply with Christian theology, because in his framework, the conscious mind is equivalent to the soul or spirit.

The soul not only serves as the seat of consciousness and morality but is also believed to survive physical death. By arguing that the mind was a distinct entity from the physical body, mostly detached from the mechanistic processes of the brain, many saw Descartes’ dualism as providing a philosophical grounding for Christian beliefs about the nature of

the soul.

The Enlightenment era, with its emphasis on reason, empiricism, and skepticism of traditional authority, led to challenges not just to specific doctrines, but also to the broader intermingling of science and religion. To many thinkers of the time, the dualistic notions of an immaterial mind or soul seemed to be relics of religious dogma, which had no place in a rational, scientific worldview.

Early skepticism of substance dualism emerged before neuroscience and psychology were even proper fields of study, because the notion of an immaterial mind distinct from the body seemed at odds with the general mechanistic understanding of causality that existed since Newton. According to the concept known as the “causal closure” of the universe, every physical event that happens in the world is determined by prior physical events. If every action, emotion, or thought we experience is predetermined by a set sequence of causes and effects, where is the room for an independent entity called the “self” to truly exist?

Out of this line of reasoning, philosophies that denied the existence of minds emerged known as reductionism, eliminative materialism, and illusionism. These stances suggest that what we perceive as the activity of a conscious self can be completely reduced to material processes in the brain.

This line of reasoning was introduced by the philosopher David Hume centuries ago, but is championed in an empirically updated form by euro-philosophers like Patricia Churchland, Daniel Dennett, and Keith Frankish. Instead, what exists is a bundle of transient experiences, but no core self that binds them.

Eastern philosophy says there is no “self.” Science would seem to agree.

Ultra-processed foods may fuel dementia Not for the first time researchers have concluded that ultraprocessed foods negatively affect one’s health. The most recent study, presented at the 2022 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in San Diego, found if more than 20% of your daily calories come from ultra-processed foods, you may be more likely to experience cognitive decline.

Geriatrics researchers evaluated over 10,000 Brazilian men and women for up to 10 years.

After the study participants went through cognitive testing, the researchers concluded that both men and women who ate the highest amounts of processed foods experienced a 28% faster rate of global cognitive decline and a 25% faster rate of executive function decline.

According to CNN, Dr Claudia Suemoto, one of the study’s

authors, noted that in Brazil, ultra-processed foods make up 25% to 30% of the calories in the average diet.

“We have McDonald’s, Burger King and we eat a lot of chocolate and white bread,” Dr Suemoto said. She also added that calories from ultra-

processed foods make up the following percentages of diets in these Western countries: United States: 58% Ireland and Britain: 56.8% Canada: 48% This could mean consumers in these countries may be at greater risk for cognitive decline with age than Brazil’s

rates.

Compared to processed foods (foods that have added sugar, salt, oil, or other minimal ingredients for processing, like canned tuna or vegetables), ultra- processed foods are created from the extraction of substances. According to

Harvard Health, these extractions come from fats, starches, added sugars, and hydrogenated fats. These foods also likely contain artificial colours and flavours, stabilisers, or other additives to preserve them.

Typically ultra-processed foods are packaged and sometimes shelf-stable such as cookies, cakes, and salty snacks. Frozen meals, soft drinks, hot dogs, and cold cuts also contain a long list of chemical ingredients.

Fast food is also considered ultra-processed, given how these foods are formed using additives and extracted ingredients.

This recent study isn’t the first to make the connection between ultra- processed foods and cognitive decline.

One study published in The Journals of Gerontology earlier this year concluded that con-

sumption of ultra- processed meats, oils and spreads was associated with cognitive decline for older adults with type 2 diabetes. Another study published in Nutrition found that ultra-processed food can negatively affect the gut microbiota, which can encourage the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

Plus, the study also notes that diets higher in fat and simple carbohydrates are associated with neuro-inflammation and reduced cognitive function.

Unfortunately, the brain isn’t the only part of the body affected by ultra- processed foods. Studies show how high caloric intake of ultra-processed foods leads to weakened grip/muscle strength, and increased risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality risk.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

19

kilkennyobserver.ie

Travel & Leisure

All aboard the Deep Blue Express The United Arab Emirates (UAE), ever at the vanguard of innovative infrastructure, has unveiled its audacious plan: An underwater train connecting the bustling metropolis of Dubai with the vibrant city of Mumbai in India has been revealed in a compelling plan by The United Arab Emirates (UAE) While investing in innovative infrastructure and futuristic transportation, a new vision has emerged from the waters.

Think of a vessel gliding seamlessly through the deep blue, offering you a spectacular view of Ocean life, while you are whisked away at astonishing speeds from one city to another – Dubai to the vibrant city of Mumbai in India. While deepsea travel might be daunting to some, for many, it’s a dream turned reality.

James Smith, Founder of the tours and activities booking website Travel Lingual, has put together some tips on how to get the best sleep while flying. “For those who don’t have the luxury of travelling in first class, there are numerous measures you can employ to ensure a good rest even on budget airlines.”

Select Your Seat Wisely Opt for a window seat if possible. This not only gives you a wall to lean on but also prevents disturbance when co-passengers need to use the restroom. Aisle seats, on the other hand, may provide a bit more legroom.

Dress Comfortably Wear loose-fitting clothes made of breathable fabric.

Consider layers to adjust to

D. Ahmed Al Hariri, head of the UAE’s National Advisor Bureau, told news agencies: “This is not just about transport, but an immersive experience.”

A journey spanning 1,200 miles, this underwater magical voyage promises to double up as a conduit for water and oil. And, if the proposed speeds of 600-1000 km/h are realised, we’re looking at a revolutionary leap in intercity transport.

“We first teased this idea in 2018, gauging reactions, and now, it’s on the cusp of materialisation,” Dr Al Hariri said.

However, such a momentous move does come with its set of challenges. The budget for such a colossal enterprise is bound to be massive. Still, considering the potential

economic and touristic gains, it could prove to be a worthy investment.

But is this undertaking UAE’s rreply to Saudi Arabia’s recently announced NEOM project? Known for their penchant for world-class technology, construction, and infrastructure, the UAE might be setting the stage to eclipse Saudi Arabia’s ambitious biocity. NEOM, a $1 trillion bio project, promises a horizontal tower city melding desert and sea in a harmonious design.

Should the underwater train project see completion before NEOM, it could well steal the global limelight.

While the engineering feat of the Channel Tunnel, connecting the UK and France since 1994, was undeniably groundbreaking, the DubaiMumbai train promises a

journey with a difference.

Where the Channel Tunnel offers brick walls, this marine train will tantalise passengers with panoramic see-through windows, making the deep-sea journey a scenic extravaganza.

Riding the ‘Deep Blue Express’ – as some enthusiasts are already dubbing it – would surely be a divergent experience, catapulting it to the top of many travel aficionados’ bucket lists.

Sara Ahmed, a travel blogger based in Dubai, said. “The underwater train isn’t just about getting from point A to B. It’s about relishing the wonders of the marine world. I can already see it being the ultimate unique selling point for Dubai!”

That all said, from the vast expanses of the ocean, issues of pressure and safety to catering to those

How to get the best sleep while flying economy

“Whisked away at astonishing speeds from Dubai to the vibrant city of Mumbai...

cabin temperature changes, and don’t forget warm socks!

Neck Support An ergonomic travel pillow can prevent your head from dropping forward, offering neck support and aiding in better sleep.

Limit Light and Noise Eye masks can block out cabin lights, and noisecancelling headphones or earplugs can help drown out ambient noise.

Stay Hydrated Cabin air can be quite dry.

Drink water before and during the flight, but avoid caffeine and alcohol as they can disrupt your sleep cycle.

Adjust to the Destination Time Zone

with claustrophobia or thalassophobia (fear of large bodies of water), there’s a considerable list of challenges to surmount.

The unveiling of the underwater train project is a testament to human ingenuity and the constant quest for bridging gaps – both literal and metaphorical. Whether it’s fostering stronger ties between two dynamic cities or redefining transportation for the next generation, the vision set forth by the UAE is a clarion call to the future.

As with any endeavour of this magnitude, only time will tell if it successfully navigates the treacherous waters of feasibility, finance, and public acceptance. But one thing is certain – the ‘Deep Blue Express’ has already ignited imaginations worldwide.

If you’re crossing multiple time zones, try to sleep according to your destination’s nighttime. This can help in reducing jet lag.

Limit Screen Time The blue light from screens can interfere with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep.

Consider reading a book or listening to calming music instead.

One Final Tip While these tips can enhance the chances of a comfortable sleep on planes, everyone’s body reacts differently. It’s essential to find what works best for you and create a personalised inflight sleep routine.

20

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Bedbugs, All Blacks and blotched and bruised!

So, while the Irish were battling bedbugs and the All Blacks in Paris yours truly was battling the ‘invisible enemy’ in the tourist resort of Nerja in Southern Spain. Nerja, population 25,000, is a charming little town about 30 miles from Malaga. My wife and I visited Nerja about 25 years ago. We’d never heard of the place but availed of a last-minute deal (one of the few deals we’ve ever chanced upon).

When I returned home and the boys in the pub asked where I’d been I told them: “Nerja”. “Ah, Nerja,” said one of them, “I was at my cousin’s wedding there about a year ago.”

Nerja, which back then we had never heard of, is, apparently, a popular spot with the Irish, not least for Irish couples getting married as there is a beautiful church and pictur-

esque plaza there – ideal for wedding photographs.

Indeed we popped into the church and I lit a candle, or rather I put a euro in the slot but the candle never lit! I also gave a euro to the guy begging outside the door (think Jesus would be happier with that).

Back to bedbugs and the All Blacks – not a pleasant scenario and for sure not a pleasant result. I watched the game in a pub called El Fuego, meaning The Fire; I arrived a bit late and was immediately engulfed by fired-up Irish fans chanting the renowned, clichéd, but wonderful refrain: Olé, Olé, Olé Olé. And for sure there was no shortage of Irish fire in the packed-tothe-rafters bar that night. I settled down with a pint of Cruzcampo, the local brew, to steady the nerves for the onslaught ahead. Come half time, however, the

nerves were far from steady, they were frazzled and the chanting had ceased. In fact there wa an eerie silence hovering over the crowded El Fuego and I could hear myself gulping down my third pint.

Second half and the tension was mounting.

Mounting. Mounting.

Mounting. As the game neared its end the tension was unbearable. One try.

One simple touch of that ball over, or even on, the line and we were in sporting ecstasy. Sporting history. But it wasn’t to be.

Heartbreak. And the fire of enthusiasm, of optimism, in El Fuego turned to ash.

Rugby aside, my wife and I were walking through the streets of Nerja towards a particular restaurant when I was suddenly unsure of where I was. I stopped a lady and graciously asked if we were going in the right

direction. We were. Noticing her Irish accent I asked where she’s from? “Dublin,” she replied.

“I’m from Kilkenny myself ’, “I said. “I know you,” she said and I was totally dumbfounded.

“You’re Gerry Moran,” she said. “I know you from your

“I think Jesus would be happier with that..

voice on Sunday Miscellany.”

She was Orla Hickey who worked in Seville Lodge in Kilkenny for many years, a place where I participated in many an interesting course (not least my premarriage course) A small world for sure.

And boy have I digressed.

Back to the ‘invisible enemy’. I’ve been travelling abroad for more than half a century now and have learned to pack fairly smartly. I spread the clothes I think I’ll need on the bed, then put half of them back in the wardrobe, roll my shorts and t-shirts in the case (saves on space) and place all medicines (which have accumulated over the years) in a ‘compartment’ of their own. Tickets and credit cards accounted for – I am ready to fly, convinced I haven’t forgotten anything. But I have.

And I don’t discover what it is until I wake up the first morning in our hotel – bruised, blotched and almost bloodied. I have been ‘eaten alive’ as my mother used to say by the ‘invisible enemy’ – mosquitoes. The tiny feckers feasted on my fresh, virgin blood all night. The Irish in El Fuego may not have partied but these Spanish mosquitoes partied on this unfortunate Irish man. Now I’m not into tattoos but

by God my arms and legs were rightly tattooed by the pesky mosquitoes.

And so, my first outing in Nerja was to the pharmacy for lotions, potions and sprays which should have been top of my travelling list.

Meanwhile, bedbugs and being beaten by the All Blacks paled into insignificance compared to the Nerja Mosquito Massacre!

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

21

kilkennyobserver.ie

Opinion

The Haunting of the John Locke Inn

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

For almost three decades, the John Locke Inn on Callan’s Green Street achieved notoriety as one of the most haunted houses in Ireland. A number of ghosts, demons, and poltergeists appear to have taken a shine to it.

From at least the early sixties, people calling to, or residing in, the building, were disturbed, mainly at night, by loud rapping noises and an eerie banshee-like wailing.

Jackie Dunne, a talented Jack of all Trades who did occasional work at the inn, had several brushes with the supernatural. One winter evening in 1967, he was hammering nails into a piece of wood in one of the upstairs rooms when he thought he felt something touch the back of his neck. He looked around and there was the figure of a tall man in 19th century clothing. Jackie asked him what he wanted, but the man just smiled and whispered: "Keep working Jackie, your time has not yet come."

With that, the stranger faded from Jackie’s view and disap-

The John Locke Inn had its resident ghost

peared. Jackie ran downstairs to tell people drinking in the bar what he had seen and heard. Some of them laughed, but others felt that there was something not of this world in the house, as reports similar to Jackie’s had been circulating in Callan for years.

The ghost waved at Jackie from the entrance to the building on another occasion as the tradesman passed by on the opposite side of the street. Or so Jackie claimed.

Philip Lynch of Mallardstown had a strange experience at the house in the mid-1970s.

He had just shown a local milkmaid the way to her room upstairs when he heard an unmerciful racket. The noise

seemed to come from the landing. Rushing downstairs, he noticed that a clotheshorse he had seen just half a minute earlier had been overturned and the clothes scattered along every step of the stairway.

"I’ll never forget what I saw that night", the well-known historian told me. He may have witnessed what psychic researchers today call Poltergeist (Noisy Spirit) activity, which involves the abrupt or sometimes violent movement of physical objects by non-physical beings or energy forms.

Drinkers in the bar section downstairs had unnerving encounters with the ghost also, or so it seemed. One seasoned drinker claimed that a glass of whiskey leaped out of his hand and smashed against a wall.

Other men swore that an invisible drinker was draining their glasses before their very eyes.

A visiting salesman claimed that a terrifying demonic entity materialized in front of him at the entrance to an upstairs room that locals associated with the ghost. The salesman, who was heard to shout "Oh, Jesus Mary and Joseph" by people in the bar, told disbelieving revelers that the "thing" he saw had to be the Devil himself or one of his top

Green Street Callan date unknown

demons.

He described a dark figure with black flapping wings and glaring eyes. It smelt of ashes and burnt toast, he swore, and he was convinced that the thing was evil to the core. The whole atmosphere in the room was one of pure terror, he claimed. This man, who said he had never been so afraid in all his life, ordered a double brandy to calm his shattered nerves. Other guests claimed to have witnessed the demon form in the late 1970s.

A succession of proprietors was kept awake at night by persistent rapping and the frightful moaning of disembodied voices. A creature resembling a Leprechaun appeared one night, according to a local guard’s wife who was attending a get-together at the inn. She was on her way back

into the bar from the toilet when; she claimed; a stocky little man dressed in green and wearing a red hat handed her a sprig of shamrock.

She thought this peculiar, as St. Patrick’s Day was long past.

When she thanked him for the gift, he raised his hat and vanished into thin air. Trembling with the fright, she re-entered the bar and told stunned drinkers what she had seen.

At one point, a Catholic priest on holiday from America blessed the house in an effort to persuade the ghost, or ghosts, to leave. The entity seemed to take a break for a while…but then resumed his haunting. The good priest died shortly after blessing the John Locke Inn. Towards the end of inn’s lifespan local wits tried to make light of the haunting;

though even they seemed uncomfortable in the telling of their yarns. According to one joker, the ghost took a break from haunting the inn one day and dropped into a well-known pub in Mill Street.

The startled publican greeted him, frozen to the spot with terror. The ghost said eerily: “I’ll have a pint of ale and a mop, please.”

The John Locke Inn, by then unoccupied, was burned to the ground in the summer of 1980. A group of locals standing on the opposite side of the street outside Finnerty’s Hotel (partly visible on the left in the photograph) thought they could make out the form of a tall, sad-looking grey-haired man in the midst of the billowing smoke, and in the flames that lit up the sky over Green Street.

22

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

News

SPECIAL REPORT Switching your mortgage If you are paying a mortgage, how much you pay back every month depends on: •Your outstanding balance: This is the amount of money you have left to pay • Your mortgage term: This is the length of time until you have fully paid off your mortgage • The interest rate: This is set by your lender or is based on the European Central Bank (ECB) rate if you are on a tracker mortgage.

You can switch your mortgage to another lender or to another mortgage product provided by the same lender.

This could save you money because: • The new mortgage may be at a lower interest rate • The new lender has a special offer, like a ‘cashback’ offer If you are currently on a variable rate, you can switch your mortgage at any time. If you are on a fixed-rate rate, you may have to pay a fee for ending the fixed-rate early.

If you switch to a different lender, you will have to pay legal fees similar to when you first bought your house.

Keeping a roof over your head

Why switch?

You can use the CCPC Money Tools to compare your mortgage repayments with different products and providers. Switching to another mortgage or switching rates with your current mortgage provider could save you money if you move to a lower interest rate or avail of a special offer.

Lower interest rates A lower interest rate will save you money. If you are on a tracker mortgage, you should seek financial advice as while you may be able to get a cheaper rate in the short term, you may lose your right to go back on your tracker rate.

Special offers Many lenders offer special offers such as cashback if you switch your mortgage to them. Cashback and other special offers are tempting, but you should always check that you will make long term savings from switching your mortgage.

How to get a better rate While you may have shopped around and chose the best rate when you took out your mortgage, you might not necessarily still have the best rate available to you. This may be because other lenders are now offering lower rates, or it may be that you now have a lower LTV ratio, a better BER rating or the rates available have changed and you are on a fixed rate mortgage.

Loan-to-value (LTV) ratio The LTV ratio of your mortgage is the amount you owe on your mortgage in relation

Advice from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to how much your home is worth. Lenders generally offer lower rates to borrowers with lower LTV ratios. You will need to get a professional home valuation to apply for a reduced interest rate based on a reduced LTV ratio. There are two reasons why you may have a lower LTV ratio now than when you first took out your mortgage.

• Your house value has increased Your home’s value may have increased since you took out your mortgage and your LTV ration may be lower as a result.

• Your outstanding mortgage has decreased As you pay off your mortgage, your LTV value also decreases. If it has been a few years since you started paying your mortgage, you may be able to get a cheaper rate with your new lower LTV ratio.

Fixed rate mortgage A fixed rate mortgage is when you are on a set interest rate for a set period. If the bank’s interest rates change during this set period, your mortgage will not be affected because your interest rate is fixed.

If you are on a fixed rate mortgage you could be paying more on your mortgage than you would if you were on a variable rate mortgage. You could save money by switching, but you may have to pay a fee for leaving the fixed-rate early.

If you are coming towards the end of your fixed term, you need to decide if you should switch to a variable or you may prefer to fix again. You may also consider switching to a fixed or variable rate with another lender. *See www.ccpc.ie

Still a 10-year high in property prices The latest Residential Property Price Index showed that Dublin City house prices fell by 3.8% between June 2022 and 2023, while nationally house prices grew by 2.2% in the same period. This compares to a 14% national increase in June 2022 from June 2021.

Property prices nationally have more than doubled (up 128%) since their low ebb in early 2013. Dublin residential property prices have risen by 124.9% from their February 2012 low, whilst residential property prices in the rest of Ireland are 137.6% higher than at the trough, which was in May 2013.

The south-east of the country is the region which has experienced the highest price increases in the past year, with average house prices up 5.5% there.

The mid-west was next at 5.3% growth in the past 12 months.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

23

kilkennyobserver.ie

Advertisement News John Francis O'Mara

Drunken Mahone

Beth Patterson

Ryan’s Rocktoberfest Goes International At Ryan’s, we’re well known for our commitment to showcasing diverse and exceptional musical talent and this October Bank holiday weekend is no different.

On Thursday evening we’re thrilled to be joined by award-winning Irish American singer/songwriter John Francis O'Mara. Born in Harlem, New

York, John spends most of his time on the road, performing, touring frequently in England, Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland, his family’s ancestral home. You may have caught John the last time he played Ryan’s several years ago, if not, don't miss him this time.

“Think Johnny Cash meets Jeff Buckley” John Francis takes to

the stage at 8pm.

Later, that evening at 9.30 Beth Patterson an Irish folk and Celtic musician and singer, based in New Orleans in the US of A will be joining us. Beth combines traditional Irish, Celtic, and folk ballads with Cajun and progressive rock influences and her own creative songwriting. We’re

blessed to have 2 incredible live artists grace our music boards on the same evening.

Don't miss them.

Continuing our international theme, on Friday night at 10, Drunken Mahone, a French group inspired by the world of the Pogue's, Dropkick Murphy's, Floggin' Mollies and the Clash take to the stage, God

help us all.

On Saturday evening at 7, Barry Whyte makes his Ryans Solo debut with an acoustic Rock set. Hailing from Castle Dermot in Co. Carlow, the guitarist with “Mourning Beloveth didn't have far to travel.

If you're a regular to Ryan’s bar on a Sunday evening, you’ll be no stranger to this man's incredible talent.

Next up on Saturday night at 10pm we have Irish roots rocker, singer songwriter from South Armagh, Ben Reel, and his band. A mix of folk, soul, and reggae. No stranger to these floorboards, an old favourite and good friend of Ryan’s bar. It's been a while since Ben was with us and we’re really looking forward to catching up with him and hearing some tracks from his new album “Come a long way”.

On Sunday at 7, guitarist Enda Duffy and front woman Audrey Fay, otherwise known as RUAH, take to the stage. A 2-piece Folk rock and blues band hailing from north

Dublin, Experienced writers, and musicians their performances are exciting, upbeat, and full of passion! They promise a mixture of covers and originals, you won't be disappointed.

La pièce de résistance. Local lads “The Uptown Band '' are all set to help us party till late this Sunday. With Johann's captivating vocals backed by a powerhouse ensemble of guitar, keyboard, drums, and brass it's going to be a night filled with Soul, Blues and Rock n Roll. There’s few better than Johann and Lads to help bring the curtain down on what has all the makings of another memorable Rocktoberfest Holiday weekend.

Sunday night is Fancy dress so dress to impress; we’ll have lots of prizes for the best costumes on the night.

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok if you want to keep up to date with what's happening at Ryan’s bar, the home of great live music!!

24

News Twilight

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

25

News Twilight

26

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

Comment

COMMENT:

BY MARIANNE HERON

An Israeli father spoke bitterly of his five- year- old child, slain in the attack by Hamas when 1,400 were murdered. He was glad that she was dead rather than among the 200 people taken hostage and facing possible torture by Hamas. ”How could anyone do that to a child?” a friend asked me. ”How can the Israelis bomb innocent civilians in Gaza and cut off food,water and power?”

The terrible outrages of the Israeli / Palestinian conflict leave that ‘how’ unanswerable, except for motivation fuelled by a deadly cocktail of mutual hatred, revenge and fear. Asking ‘why?’ instead brings answers coloured by the long shadow of history and failure by the international community to facilitate peace and justice in one land with two peoples.

Israel/Palestine is small, about a third the size of Ireland, with a population nearing 10 million. It is a beautiful and varied land, comprising fertile plain, highlands and desert. It could be Paradise: home to a shared dream: the realisation of a Jewish homeland with Biblical roots in the highlands of Judea and Samaria and the people of the country known as Palestine since the time of the Crusades.

Instead, it is a place of tragedy and inhuman outrage.

Over a century ago, as Zionism and the demand for an Eretz Israel homeland grew, the first wave of Jewish settlers bought land in Palestine, calling them themselves colonists. Palestine became a British protectorate in 1923 after Middle Eastern borders were redrawn following WW1, later the British handed the partition – rather than creating a federal state – of Palestine over to the UN in 1947.

The following year, 44% of There is a historical context to Palestinian violence, and Palestinians continue to suffer from Israeli repression.

There is, though, no context in which the mass murder of more than 260 revellers at a music rave, or a massacre in a kibbutz, comes close to being justified, let alone provides an occasion for rejoicing.

Nor can the barbarousness of the Hamas attacks be understood as the inevitable product of a history of oppression, still less as an aspect of Palestinian resistance.

These were the acts of an antisemitic, theocratic organisation detached from the moral and political frameworks that guided traditional liberation movements. As with other jihadi groups, terror has become an end in itself.

To suggest that such butchery represents the Palestin-

‘Killing innocents cannot be justified as defence of the Israeli nation’ Mediation must be impartial the territory was given to the Yishuv (Jewish settlers) who then were only one third of the population. More than 700,000 Palestinian Arabs were expelled or fled.

Today Palestinians have just 22% of the country divided between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, three quarters of the total population are Jewish.

Uprisings, war and terror have haunted the country down through subsequent decades culminating in the unspeakable horror of the Hamas attack and the Israeli retaliation as bombs are rained on the civilian population trapped in the densely

populated Gaza strip, over 3,000 have lost their lives.

In so doing Israeli forces are committing war crimes, just as Putin’s armies have been doing in Ukraine. This has been followed by the Israelis by the threat of ground invasion of Gaza and the impossible demand that one million Palestinians move out of the northern Gaza to the south where there is neither shelter nor food.

In a grim future lie fearful possibilities: will the fleeing Palestinians be ethnically cleansed never to return to their homes in Gaza, will the war spread to the Palestinian West Bank, or spread to

neighbouring Lebanon, and will the tinder box of the Middle East ignite if Iran , which supports and funds Hamas, becomes involved?

In the face of such terrible uncertainty and despair over what has already happened it is easy to fall back on the comfort of aphorisms like the Biblical quote from Galatians “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” Given the unchecked erosion of Palestinian human rights under Israeli control where 80% on Gaza depend on foreign aid and over a million on food aid, you need only look at other examples: the Troubles in the North and the overthrow

Historical context no justification for atrocities

ian struggle is to demean the Palestinian people and their battle for freedom and rights,

to view them in the same way as do those Israeli politicians and western commentators

who talk of “animals” and “savages”. There have been Palestinian leaders, and sup-

of Apartheid in South Africa to see the explosive consequences of oppression.

Another saying by Edmund Burke comes to mind, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is when good men do nothing.” Here it is a case not only of doing nothing effective to curb either war crimes, territorial incursions, human right erosion to the point of reducing Palestinians to a state of Apartheid, but also showing one-sided support rather than being impartial in finding a lasting solution to Israeli and Palestinian conflict.

So far there is no hope of resolution to the atrocity of

war, nor effective facilitation by world powers towards peace and justice. Rather the Western powers have been pouring oil on the flames as the US President Joe Biden arrives in Israel guaranteeing financial, military and political support, UK’s Rishi Sunak has declared unequivocal support for Israel and Ursala Von Der Leyen expressed support for Israel by the EU and faced criticism for failing to call on Israel to respect international law.

There is no acknowledgement that killing innocent people and children cannot be justified as defence of the Israeli nation.

porters, who have deplored the depravity of the acts.

Hamas represents a betrayal of Palestinian hopes as well as a threat to Jews.

Condemning Hamas, its policies and actions, is not, though, the same as supporting Israeli policies. Israel has cut off power, water, food and medical supplies to Gaza, begun mass, indiscriminate bombings, and a probable ground invasion. If the stories of Hamas killings are reminiscent of the savagery of Islamic State, the images of the bombing of Gaza recall the destruction of Aleppo in Syria or Bakhmut in Ukraine.

Yet, this collective punishment and killing of civilians has won the backing of Western leaders, who justify it as Israel’s “right to self-defence” against Hamas. But as Daniel Levy, one-time adviser to the former prime minister Ehud

Barak, asked a BBC presenter: “Can someone credibly tell me that when the leadership of a country says ‘We are cutting off food, electricity, water, all supplies, to an entire civilian population’, that they’re targeting militants?”

Israeli leaders themselves leave little doubt. “The emphasis is on damage and not on accuracy,” Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Force, acknowledged. “Right now, one goal: Nakba!”, tweeted the Likud MP Ariel Kallner last week. “A Nakba that will overshadow the Nakba of ’48.” The Nakba, Arabic for “catastrophe”, refers to the expulsion and flight of 700,000 Palestinians after the 1948 Palestine war and the founding of the state of Israel. “Gaza will eventually turn into a city of tents,” a security official told an Israeli reporter. “There will be no buildings.”

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

27

Advertisement

28

Advertisement

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

29

Advertisement

30

Advertisement

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

31

kilkennyobserver.ie

Men of Jadotville’

Tuesday, 24th. October, 2023 is international United Nations Day, celebrated worldwide

Ireland’s ‘Men of Jadotville’ to be honoured by Australia in Sydney Chair of Kilkenny County Council Michael Doyle and Mayor Joe Malone present a certificate to John Dreelan (who was a medic at Jadotville 1961) at City hall, Kilkenny.

Photo: Pat Shortall

On a recent visit to Kilkenny’s City Hall, at the invitation of Mayor Joe Malone, Commandant Leo Quinlan delivered an exhilarating talk on The siege of Jadotville in 1961.

On the night, Mayor Malone said that the story of the heroes of Jadotville were finally being recognised.

This week Leo Quinlan got in touch with The Kilkenny Observer with an update.

Martin O’Connor — the son of Corporal Tom O’Connor, a Siege of Jadotville veteran (Congo, Africa - 1961) — is invited

"A" Company at Jadotville 1961

to lay a wreath in Australia to honour Ireland’s men of Jadotville.

Ambassadors and dignitaries from many countries where United Nations troops served or are serving, together with Australian veterans’ groups, will be in attendance and, for the first time, Ireland, by virtue of the Siege of Jadotville by UN peacekeeping members of the Irish Defence Forces, will be honoured.

It is worth mentioning the ages of the men in the Siege of Jadotville.

• Two mothers of sons fighting in Jadotville on DAY 3 of the battle (Wednesday, 13th. September to Sunday, 17th. September, 1961) collected the Children’s Allowance payments for these sons in the post office back home in Athlone, Ireland.

• These two boys were only 15 years old.

• Approximately 13 of these men in the Siege of Jadotville were only 16 years old — some of them celebrated their 17th, birthdays as Prisoners of War in the Congo, Africa.

• The average age of the men of Jadotville was 18.5 years old.

On DAY 3 of the battle the media reported all the Irish soldiers had been killed in Jadotville, which left families in Ireland mourning their dead for two days.

One media report stated as fact that all 155 Irish soldiers were dead and that all the Irish Army officers had been executed by firing squad.

On DAY 5 it was confirmed that all 155 men were alive, albeit with five men wounded.

These were the 155

boys/men who fought an overwhelming enemy force of some 3,000, led by battle hardened veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and many other conflicts.

These UN peacekeepers from Ireland successfully defended their positions in Jadotville for 5 days and night, until they ran out of ammunition, food and water.

They served as Prisoners of War in Congo for over a month, from Sunday, 17th.

September, being released on Wednesday, 25th. October, 1961.

While Prisoners of War,

Section of the attendance at the Pat Quinlan talk on Jadotville at City Hall Kilkenny.

Photo: Pat Shortall

messages/tape recordings were sent from families in Ireland to their Prisoners of War loved ones being held in Congo, and returning messages/tapes from the men arrived back to the families a few weeks later – all of which provided comfort to families who were anxious about the safety of their men.

Thankfully, in December, 1961 all men of this Irish Company — A Company, 35th. Irish Infantry Battalion, ONUC (United Nations Operation in the Congo) — arrived home safely to Ireland, where civic receptions were held for them in every town and village where they were born and lived.

The men in the Siege of Jadotville were led by Commandant (Major) Pat Quinlan, later Colonel.

The exploits of these men resulted in 34 of them being recommended for medals for leadership and courage - two of those recommended were only 16 years old.

These medals have yet to be awarded and a campaign is ongoing to address this situation.

The downside of this action in Jadotville, Congo is that many veterans suffered what is now recognised as Moral Injury, as a consequence of being ignored and betrayed by higher authority on their return to Ireland.

This situation for many of the men resulted in them suffering from mental anguish, alcohol abuse, broken relationships, depression and, in some cases, suicide.

The after-effects of Jadotville still resonate today among the three generations that have followed from 1961.

This battle, as depicted in books, radio and TV documentaries and a NETFLIX movie, tells the story of the largest battle the Irish Army has been involved in alone against a superior foreign enemy since the formation of the Irish State (1922).

This defensive action is recognised in military circles internationally as the epitome of a perfect perimeter defence, where 155 Irishmen survived attack by a 20 times stronger force without suffering any deaths while inflicting significant fatalities on the opposing force.

32

Advertisement

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

33

34

kilkennyobserver.ie

News

Tree-mendous Christmas Party ideas As the holiday season approaches, it's time to come up with creative work Christmas party ideas for your group.

Are you looking for a more original plan for your office party because you're sick of using the same one every year? Some classic ideas only need a little tweaking for it to be a completely different experience. Your company will look forward to the Christmas party every year thanks to these creative business party ideas.

Holi-Desk Decorating Competition Get your team to decorate each other's desks! Put your staff members in pairs and ask them to decorate each other's workstations for Christmas.

You could also use the secret santa approach and have each employee guess who has decorated their desk. You can provide the team with Christmas wrapping paper, baubles, tinsel, etc or encourage them to bring their own décor to add a little personal touch.

Merry Murder Mystery One of the best small office Christmas party ideas is a murder mystery night. The mischievous fun of espionage can help teams relieve Christmas-related tension and can be a welcome contrast to nonstop holiday enthusiasm.

First, pick a festive mystery, such as a murder at the Christmas dinner party, who killed Santa, or the dead elf on the shelf. Next, tell guests to dress as detectives (trench coat, magnifying glass, pipe) and give each player their assigned role before reading the script. The new Mystery Gang will split up and look for clues, competing to solve the mystery first.

Mistletoe and Cocktails Help staff get in the holiday spirit by mixing up those holiday spirits. Choose a few seasonal drinks first, like gin poinsettia punch, spiked gingerbread eggnog, and peppermint martinis. After that, schedule a barman to show you how to mix the be. This

activity is a shared experience that can strengthen team relationships.

Cracking Christmas Quiz Teams can either write down their answers and submit them or they can be the first team to buzz in with the answer. Players can choose to substitute jingle bells for buzzers to add a more festive feel. Kahoot can also be used to facilitate the game. Make a multiple-choice quiz, which participants will take on their phones after entering the room code. The app automatically calculates the scores.

Including multimedia components is a fun addition. You might ask players to identify holiday-related objects in photographs that have been zoomed in, or you could play audio samples as part of a "name that song" round. The coworkers can engage in friendly rivalry, which promotes team bonding.

Seasonal Scavenger Hunt Participants break up into

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

35

kilkennyobserver.ie

Advertisement teams and compete to finish tasks and solve clues. These games function best when there is a time constraint, usually between twenty minutes to an hour, depending on how long and challenging the hunt is. Give the players a list of tasks to complete or items they must find and instruct them to provide photographic evidence of the tasks completion.

Some prompts include: • Sit on Santa’s lap • Take a picture of a snowflake • Find a bag big enough to be Santa’s sack • Take a picture of an angel • Take a selfie with a Santa look-alike Santa’s Workshop Put a Santa hat on everyone and have them take part in creative gift-making activities like building or decorating a gingerbread house, making Christmas decorations, or adorning ugly Christmas jumpers. Give each event's winning team a small prize to encourage some festive rivalry.

Escape Rooms The goal of these puzzlesolving games is to get players out of a confined room, usually in less than an hour, by solving puzzles, riddles, and looking for hints. You can have an escape room with a Christmas theme for your holiday celebration.Maybe the group has to flee the airport on Christmas Eve, escape the shopping centre after midnight or breaking out of Santa's workshop. The

lyrics to the Twelve Days of Christmas may contain the code to a number lock, a key may be concealed in a Christmas ornament, or the coloured lights may flicker in morse code. Either construct your own escape room or look for a room nearby.

Add surprising twists and unusual games to your annual celebration to make it more memorable and engaging. Your guests will be buzzing with excitement long after the party has ended. Going above and beyond demonstrates to team members that the organisation

values their experience and strives to go above and beyond, which can in turn increase their sense of gratitude and appreciation. You might as well go all out for the Christmas party because it's a fantastic opportunity to use your endof-year budget!

36

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

Advertisement into the workplace come the new year. Christmas parties promote improved communication and a more pleasant atmosphere while giving your staff a chance to socialise in a less formal setting with looser rules than at the office.

Motivation Letting go on an exhausting year might be a terrific approach to let your team decompress before the holidays. It will be quite inspiring to start the new year with a good outlook and a fresh respect for management and the workplace!

Why you should throw a Christmas Party for the team The end of the year is typically associated with the close of business for a Christmas and New Year’s break, what better way to end the year than a workplace Christmas party!

Why have a Christmas party for your staff, you say? Below are the top reasons why each business should throw an end of year bash.

The perfect thank-you Expressing gratitude to your staff for their hard work throughout the year is ideal with a Christmas party. If your

company presents yearly prizes or recognition, it can also serve as an awards ceremony. This is the ideal chance to publicly acknowledge the dedication and hard work your staff has put in over the past 12 months.

Team bonding This may be the most important reason of all to organise a Christmas party. Reconnecting at the end of the year to talk about how chaotic the year has been can help you bring a smoother workflow back

Planning your Christmas party

It's time to start organising your party for Christmas!

Although arranging a party might be difficult during this time of year, we can help. You can make sure you have everything you need by following this checklist for preparing a memorable Christmas party.

Don’t leave it til the last minute Don't wait to start arranging your party; it can become very stressful to do it at the last minute. You should have started planning (and if not, get right on it!) the Christmas party since it gives you time to reserve a location and vendors before their calendars get full.

Choose a time and date Prior to making major deci-

sions, think about your guests and select a time and day that will work best for them. College students and young adults should not attend a daytime Christmas party; that’s ideal for older individuals who wish to get home or for younger children who must go to bed early. The timing of your event is crucial since it determines its atmosphere and whether it is intended for adults exclusively or families.

Be flexible and start by seeing what's going on around the day you've selected. You may steer clear of dates when people are busy by monitoring social media and interacting with members of your target group.

At this point, changing your date is preferable to scheduling a conflict with another event.

Reflect company values Do the values of your business express positivity and teamwork? A Christmas party is an excellent way to demonstrate your company's ideals to your staff and give them a positive impression of your management and leadership abilities.

When you get so caught up in how busy work is, it’s easy to forget what your workplace stands for. That's why having a Christmas party is the ideal approach to remind your team members of the company values in an enjoyable environment.

Fun! A year of dedication and support is rewarded with a Christmas party. Your staff will be grateful to you for giving them a party, and it will boost mood in the workplace for months to come! I mean, who doesn't enjoy having fun?

Selecting a December date that is earlier puts you ahead of the game and gives you more options for locations.

Pick a venue Venues fill up quickly, so this should be your first priority when organising your Christmas party. Need a place to perform live? A big area designated for dancing?

Think about the size of the area you require as well. You'll need an estimated guest list before you reserve a location to make sure it can accommodate everyone. Guests shouldn't feel crammed in or that there is too much room for the number of guests at the party.

Budget Your guests can still have a fantastic time even if your budget is tight. Determine first if you want to charge admission for your event in order to cover costs. The main culprits of money farming are: • Food and beverages (emphasis on the bevs) • Venue • Decorations • Entertainment • Transport to and from the venue This may all seem like a lot, but it is certainly something that will pay off well in the workplace! Remember - the main priorities are having the craic, sharing a few mince pies, and showing off those new dance moves!

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

37

Advertisement

38

kilkennyobserver.ie

than a boiler that breaks down on a bitterly cold night, which is why experts suggest a service once a year to guarantee efficient operation throughout the winter. To ensure that your boiler runs effectively and safely, it is advised that you have it serviced once every 12 months. Annual boiler servicing not only lowers your energy expenses significantly but also gives you peace of mind that your boiler is safe and efficient.

All set to hibernate?

Tips to make your home winter-ready Next week is when the clocks will change, and without a doubt, winter will be here. By now, the majority of us have probably turned on the heat and begun getting ready for the long, chilly days and much colder nights that lie ahead.

However, if current weather trends indicate anything, we should all make sure to take a

few extra precautions to help save our houses (as well as our heating costs) over the upcoming cold and potentially stormy months.

Insulation Insulating your attic can help you save money on heating costs by keeping out cold air and preventing hot air from escaping. Make sure to seal the

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

space around the attic door and use a can of expanding foam to fill in any minor gaps or difficult-to-reach locations.

Insulate between ceiling joists and wide gaps using rock wool. Sealing draughty external windows, doors, and letterboxes is essential if you want to prevent chilly air from entering your home.

Make sure to seal your exterior doors well. For the area around your windows, use a self-stick window seal that fits your kind of window the best. Additionally, you can use flexible filler to caulk the top and bottom of skirting boards.

Service Your Boiler Nothing is more annoying

Fire Safety It is imperative that we all have our chimneys cleaned by professionals once a year and ensure that our alarm systems are functioning properly. Individuals ought to get it examined and inspected because unswept chimneys can cause a fire. Additionally, it is vital to inspect smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure that they are both operational, have fresh batteries, and are positioned appropriately. Carbon monoxide alarms should be at head height rather than on the ceiling, and many people don't realise that they are impacted and experiencing symptoms for weeks before an alarm that is placed too high goes off.

Clean the Gutters Winter will bring wind and rain, so cleaning up your gutters now will help reduce the chance of damage.

Rainwater will be removed

from the house by having downpipes and gutters that are free-flowing and clear.

Every litre of water a blocked gutter holds is equivalent to a kilogramme in weight, and over time, this can cause gutter bolts to pull away from the structure. When blocked, they can overflow and destroy facia boards, which over time allows water to enter the building and causes dampness. In addition, clogged gutters have a higher propensity to leak, creating unattractive water stains and slick puddles around a house.

Remove Moss Before winter arrives, it's critical to remove moss from the area surrounding the house because damp weather and early evenings can make pathways dangerous. Outside horizontal surfaces covered in moss and algae are not only unsightly, but they can be dangerous due to their slick nature.

Keep Insurance Updated If past winters are any indication, the weather can turn severe, making living challenging due to storms, floods, and a lot of snow.

Making sure all insurance policies are current and appropriate for each person's requirements and property is crucial. Make sure you do all of your house maintenance tasks as winter draws near and make sure you have enough insurance in case something unexpected occurs.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

39

40

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

Tips to stay safe this winter Over the next couple of additions, we will concentrate on certain areas where not just our seniors, but all members of our community can take care in the winter months. Always remember - communities are stronger together.

Take extra care To date our weather has remained mild but even as I write, the temperatures are taking a dip and the nights are getting cooler.

Everyone, especially older or more vulnerable people, should remember to take extra care during a cold spell.

Elderly people should not venture outdoors in severe weather if possible. The public are asked to make a special effort to keep in contact with their neighbours and relatives, particularly those living alone.

Remember: • keep warm, eat well and avoid unnecessary travel • call on elderly relatives and neighbours and ensure they have sufficient supplies of food and of any prescription drugs they may need • ensure that older people

have sufficient fuel supplies to maintain adequate heating in their homes Preventing falls and trips Emergency departments around the country can be busy in severe weather, dealing with sprains and fractures as a result of slips and falls on icy roads and footpaths. While both young and old present to emergency departments as a result of falls on ice, as we get older a fall can result in broken bones, a loss of confidence, loss of mobility and fear of leaving the home. Many falls can be prevented and by making small changes we can reduce the chances of falling. Accidents do happen but many slips, trips and falls are preventable.

During Twilight’s Very Successful seniors ‘PASS’ programme Chief John Collins and his team offered free ‘Fire Safety in the Home’. If you or an elderly parent or relative would like to avail of this service please contact Murty Brennan on 086 325 5840 or 056 781 3105. The Local Community Garda Station will provide a security check on

homes of our seniors to ensure your windows and doors are securely locked. Please do not hesitate to contact Twilight Community Group to arrange these ongoing services of the ‘Protecting and Assisting Senior Services’.

Fall prevention in your home: • Leave a low energy light on at night time, preferably one with a high light output.

• Use a non-slip shower or bath mat.

• Make sure wires or cords, such as from lamps or telephones, do not trail where you walk.

• Arrange furniture so that you can easily move around all your rooms.

• Keep the floors clear from items such as papers and books that could cause you to trip.

• Remove rugs or use non-slip tape or backing so rugs will not slip.

• Consider installing handrails on both sides of the stairs.

I hope you found this information useful and maybe makes us all think more about the hidden dangers we encounter on a daily basis.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

41

42

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

43

kilkennyobserver.ie

Savour Kilkenny Savour Kilkenny Food Festival, now in its 15th year, is thrilled to announce an exciting line-up of events and activities for the whole family. Taking place in Kilkenny city over the October bank holiday weekend from October 27th to October 30th, the festival promises a remarkable culinary journey and a weekend of indulgence, entertainment, and culinary exploration.

This year's festival offers a wide variety of family-friendly events that will keep everyone entertained. From baking demos to cookie decorating workshops and storytelling picnics, there is something for children of all ages to enjoy.

Here are some highlights of the family-friendly events:

• Kids halloween cooking class with the cool food school On Sunday, October 29th at 11 am and 1 pm, children aged 6 and above can join Deirdre from The Cool Food School for a fun and interactive Halloween cooking class.

Come in your costumes, and together, we'll make chocolate apple mummies.

• Teddy bears' picnic & storytime On Friday, October 27th at 4 pm, join the Team at Loughboy Library for a special Savour Kilkenny 'Teddy Bears Picnic & Storytime.'

Children can bring their favourite soft toy and enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes. Colouring and refreshments will also be available.

• On Monday, October 30th, from 12 pm to 4 pm, Madra Monday returns to Savour Kilkenny, featuring special guest MC Jake Carter and brought to you by Leader Natural Dog Nutrition. This event promises a day filled with goodies for your pooch, including tasty treats and nibbles, photobooths, playdates, playgrounds, and pageants. For humans, there will be talks and Q&A sessions with experts on health, nutrition, behaviour, and enrichment, making it a great day out for everyone.

• Cakeface kids halloween baking demo with Laura Gannon On Saturday, October 28th at 10.15 am, Laura Gannon and her helpers will demonstrate how to mix, make, decorate, and have fun with spooky yet sweet Halloween treats.

This interactive session will also include food fun facts and prizes to be won.

• Young Food Producers Market On Saturday, October 28th, from 1 pm to 4 pm, come and taste the best creations from our local post-primary students and young, up-and-coming chefs. This market gives them the chance to shine and be the future stars of our festival and food scene.

Something for the whole family at Savour Kilkenny Food Festival

Savour Kilkenny returns this October Bank Holiday weekend, 28th ñ 31st, with special dining events, an artisan food market, food industry debates, cookery demonstrations, a sustainable hub and workshops for all the family thereís plenty to see, do, and taste!

Pictured: Evie Deegan (4). Visit savourkilkenny.com for information and to book.

Photo by Dylan Vaughan

• Halloween cookie decorating workshop at MacDonagh Junction On Sunday, October 29th, from 1 pm to 4 pm, MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre will host a free Halloween cookie decorating workshop. Let your little ones' creativity run wild at this fun event with no booking required.

• What is Halloween without a pumpkin? Savour Kilkenny Food Festival has partnered with Hughes Farming Pumpkin Patch, located at the Savour Market. On Saturday, October 28th, and Sunday, October 29th, from 11 am to 6 pm, families can pick their last-minute pumpkin from the patch and capture beautiful autumnal family photos.

Savour Food Festival Manager, Marian Flannery, said: “Savour has something for all the family. As well as a yoga brunch, cookery demos, foraging, gardening, biodiversity and candle making workshops, we’ll be showcasing the best in cheese, wine, tapas, beer, tacos and the Parade will be taken over by over 100 artisan food producers and street food vendors from all over Ireland.

We also have lots for children to do over the weekend. We’ll have an animal farm, a juggling and plate spinning workshop as well as stilt walkers, Latvian dancers, face painting and some Halloween treats. You can even bring the dog along as Jake Carter hosts the return of Madra Monday.”

For more information about the festival and the full schedule of events, including dining event tickets, please visit www.savourkilkenny.com or follow us on Instagram @savourkilkenny for updates.

Savour Kilkenny Food Festival takes place this October Bank Holiday weekend, 27th – 30th, with special dining events, a 100 stall food market, cookery demonstrations with top chefs, talks & workshops, and entertainment for all the whole family, there is something for every taste at Savour Kilkenny.

Pictured: Samuel Deegan (9) and Roise Deegan (6). Visit savourkilkenny.com for information and to book.

Photo by Dylan Vaughan

44

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

Food & Drink

Dine Me Come

With

Broccoli cheese with wholemeal pasta and brown breadcrumbs Prep: 10 mins Cook: 1 hr Serves: 4

STEP 1 Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta until al dente – this will take a couple of minutes less than pack instructions. Halfway through the pasta cooking time, add the broccoli to the pan. Drain, then toss the pasta and broccoli in the oil to coat.

STEP 2 While the pasta and broccoli are cooking, bring the milk to a simmer with the bay leaf in a separate pan, then remove from the heat and set aside. Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the flour and whisk together. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for a couple of minutes, stirring often until combined and beginning to stick to the pan.

STEP 3 Whisk in the warm infused milk gradually, making sure there are no lumps, then reduce the heat to low and cook gently for 8-10 mins until the sauce is thickened and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in three-quarters of the cheese, the mustard (you can add more, if you like), nutmeg, plenty of black pepper and some salt.

Remove the bay leaf. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.

Love mac ‘n’ cheese? Try this hearty veggie pasta dish with cheese and breadcrumbs. Adding broccoli and using wholemeal pasta ramps up the flavour and nutrition.

Ingredients • 300g short wholemeal pasta shapes • 800g broccoli (about 3 heads), cut into large florets • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1.2 litres milk • 1 bay leaf, scrunched up a little • 60g butter • 60g plain flour • 200g cheddar, grated • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard • ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg • 60g fresh brown breadcrumbs

STEP 4 Tip the cooked pasta and broccoli into a large baking dish (ours measured 30 x 22cm) and pour over the sauce. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese and the breadcrumbs. Bake for 30-35 mins until golden brown and bubbling.

Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 5 mins before serving.

Hearty vegetable stew with dumplings Prep: 15 mins Cook: 40 mins Serves: 4 Tuck into a bowl of satisfying vegetable stew with dumplings. Ideal on cold wintery nights, serve with mash for hearty comfort food for the whole family.

Ingredients • 25g butter, plus a little extra • 300g chestnut mushrooms, halved • 1 leek, roughly chopped • 2 large carrots, thickly sliced at an angle • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 1 tsp dried thyme • 1 tbsp plain flour • 300ml vegetable stock • 400g can cream of mushroom soup • large handful of parsley, chopped • mash, to serve For the dumplings • 150g self-raising flour, plus extra

for dusting • 70g vegetable suet Method STEP 1 Melt the butter in a deep flameproof casserole over a medium-high heat and fry the mushrooms for 3-4 mins until starting to brown. Reduce the heat to medium and tip in the leeks and carrots, adding another knob of butter if the pan looks dry. Cook for 5 mins until the veg starts to soften, then add the garlic, thyme and a large pinch each of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook for 3-4 mins more to combine.

STEP 2 Stir in the flour, then pour in the stock and stir until combined. Pour in the mushroom soup, stir and bring to a simmer over a low heat.

Check for seasoning, then simmer for another 10 mins while you make the dumplings.

STEP 3 Tip the flour into a bowl with ½ tsp salt. Stir in the suet, then make a well in the centre.

Add 3 tbsp cold water and mix until a dough forms, adding a little more water if needed until the dough is firm but pliable.

Divide into eight equal pieces and roll each one into a ball on a lightly floured surface.

Arrange in an even layer on top of the stew, cover and cook for 20 mins, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid for the last 5 mins of cooking time. Stir in the parsley and serve with mash.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

45

kilkennyobserver.ie

5

Advertisement Advertisement TV & Streaming

to watch if you love The Diplomat 1. The Americans

If The Diplomat was your introduction to the talent that is Keri Russell then, firstly, where have you been? But secondly, make sure you add The Americans to your list.

The star leads the cast along with her real-life partner Matthew Rhys as two Russian spies who pose as Americans to infiltrate the US government.

2. The Night Agent

Netflix to follow The Crown with The Kennedys As The Crown nears the end of its run, Netflix is looking to keep itself in the prestige political series business as Variety reports that the streamer will continue The Crown’s legacy with a similar show about the royals of American politics: The Kennedys.

The series will reportedly be an adaptation of the 2020 book JFK: Coming Of Age In The American Century, 1917-1956, by Fredrik Logevall. This was set to be the first part of a planned twovolume biography of John F. Kennedy.

Spawning decades of an illustrious political career, JFK is one of the most rec-

ognisable faces in American pop culture and history.

Within this first part of the book and reportedly the series, we’d see a focus on Kennedy’s life from birth to his time as the junior US senator from Massachusetts.

Eric Roth is attached to write and executive produce the project. Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping of Chernin Entertainment will also executive produce.

Roth is best known for winning an Academy Award for best-adapted screenplay for Forrest Gump in 1995 but has six other nominations.

His most recent credit includes writing on Mar-

tin Scorsese’s upcoming film Killers Of The Flower Moon which is in cinemas this week and soon to be streaming on Apple TV +.

The Variety report stated that Netflix had taken The Crown as a source of reference for the JFK series. Still, they have not confirmed if it would follow a similar format, which includes casting different actors for different periods.

November 23 this year will mark the 60th anniversary of the assassination of John F Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, less than a year after he had visited Ireland, addressed the Dail and spent time in New Ross, Co Wexford,

home of this Irish ancestors.

He told the Irish people: “I’ll be back in the springtime.” But never did, dying from a bullets allegedly fired by one Lee Harvey Oswald who in turn was shot dead by one Jack Ruby, a Texas nightclub owner.

The Warren Commission took many years looking into JFK’s assassination and concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald had acted alone.

Adances in forensic sciences decades later somewhat refute that theory and there have been long-held conspiracy theories that the Mafia or the CIA or, indeed, the Cubans were behind the president’s killing.

Accused is a thriller of our times Getting a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes is a rare thing and something that has only happened to a handful of Netflix movies.

But there is another that has just joined that heady rank.

Accused is a recent Netflix thriller that is based around the knotty tale of a witch hunt on social media, after a bomb goes off in London.

The movie is directed by someone who has quickly become the king of tension, Philip Barantini. the British director is also behind Boiling Point, which is a oneshot movie starring Stephen Graham as an exasperated chef.

That movie has made its way to TV with a spinoff, while Barantini also

directed the intense The Responder for TV, starring Martin Freeman, and medical thriller Malpractice.

The tension in Accused is on another level, though, and the person at the centre of it all, Harri Bhavsar, is played fantastically by Sex Education’s Chaneil Kular.

Interestingly, he will next be seen on Netflix in Bodies

which also stars Stephen Graham.

Accused a film of our horrible moment, not only in its digital wrapping, but in its grim snapshot of the ever-increasing, easily disseminated hatred and fear that have further warped how people see and treat each other.

Accused is on Netflix now.

Before The Diplomat landed on Netflix, The Night Agent was the political thriller that everyone was talking about. Gabriel Basso leads the cast of this drama which focuses on US night agent Peter Sutherland who finds himself trying to solve a conspiracy at the White House. After receiving a call from Rose (Luciane Buchanan) about her relatives being murdered, Peter and Rose begin to investigate the identity of a mole trying to cause irreparable damage to the country. On Netflix.

3. Homeland

The Diplomat’s showrunner is writer and TV producer Debora Cahn who happened to be a writer on Homeland, so it’s no wonder that critics have been highlighting the positive similarities between the two shows.

Claire Danes and Damian Lewis star in the drama which tells the story of a former Marine Corps Sniper who is released after eight years of confinement as a hostage but soon becomes a potential threat to the US government.

4. Scandal

Kerry Washington led the cast of Shonda Rhimes’ Scandal and her part as former White House Communications Director Olivia Pope received wide praise. The show’s plot focuses on Olivia setting up her own professional crisis management firm only to realise that her clients and those around her are harbouring many secrets and lies.

5. Treason

Treason is another political drama from Netflix that landed on the streaming platform at the end of 2022. The limited series stars Charlie Cox who plays the part of a MI6 agent whose future takes a “sharp turn” for the worse after a reunion with a former Russian spy poses questions about his life.

46

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

Community & GAA Notes

CLUB LOTTO Lotto Results 10th October. Numbers drawn - 10, 15, 23.

No Jackpot winner. €30 each to: Rose Mullally, Jack O Keeffe, Dara Cooke, Benny Nolan, David Mulrooney. Thanks to all for your support.

SHIELD FINAL Clara were beaten 5-17 to 4-8 by Thomastown in the Roinn A Minor Shield final on Sunday morning in Dunmore. Played on a beautiful crisp day, the final score doesn’t really reflect the efforts of the Clara boys, who competed really well for a lot of this game. However it must be stated that Thomastown had more pure hurlers than their counterparts and were fully deserving of the victory. Clara are only losing four of this panel for next year and with further improvement better days should beckon.

Davy Barcoe got Clara off the mark right from the throw in and Conor Hoyne soon added a free to double the lead. However three pointed frees by star Thomastown forward Colm Treacy edged the boys in blue ahead. The second of these came from a penalty, which was brilliantly deflected over by Clara netminder Conor Galvin.

Then a schmozzle in front of the Thomastown goal was sorted when Podge Meaney whipped a ground shot to the net and a Conor Hoyne free had Clara a goal up.

Thomastown replied with two pointed frees, Conor Hoyne answered with one before Cian Doherty pounced for a goal to give Thomastown back the lead. Two more Conor Hoyne points (one free) each side of a Thomastown pointed free had the game tied. But Thomastown then struck for an unanswered 1-2 before halftime to take a 2-8 to 1-6 lead into the break. Clara had shot 7 wides to their opponents’ one in this half and would have been disappointed with that.

Thomastown hit the first three points of the second half to gain control and then Colm Treacy struck for two goals to open up a 14 point lead. Conor Hoyne had shipped a heavy knock around this time and had to leave the field of play for a few minutes and Thomastown took full advantage of his absence. Tommy Delaney then goaled and Joe Power added a long range free and after Thomastown replied with a point Eoin Corr struck a brilliant shot from distance to the top corner of the net. The gap was back to eight but any hope of a Clara comeback disappeared when Philip Carrigan picked up a second yellow card. This enabled Thomastown to kick on again and Clara only managed two more scores, both from Davy Barcoe. The last was a terrific free hit with topspin to deceive the Thomastown defence and find the net. It was a valiant effort by the Clara boys but they have made great strides this year and credit must go to the management team of Trevor Cummins, John Carrigan, Chris Bolger and Stephen Quinlan for this.

Team - Conor Galvin, Alex Firbank, Philip Carrigan, John Bergin. Daniel Ryan, Hugh Kelly, Orí Phelan. Conor Hoyne 0-5, 0-4f, Dillon Cummins. Pádraic Meany 1-0, David Barcoe 1-2, 1-0f, Eoin Corr 1-0. Tommy Delaney 1-0, Luke Lawlor, Joe Power 0-1f. Subs used Bill Kealy, Tom Murphy.

KIERANS PANEL Well done to the Clara lads who made the St. Kieran’s senior panel for this year. Harry Boyle, Cian Kelly, Sean Carrigan and Rory Glynn give the club great representation and the best of luck to them as they bid to retain the Croke Cup.

CLUB LOTTO There was no winner of this week’s Club Lotto (October 10th). Numbers Drawn were 11, 14, 15, 21 Bonus 19. Play Now at www.oloughlingaels.com/lotto. Thank you for your continued support Promotors Draw. 1. Joe Canning C/o Paddy Greene. 2.

Brendan McPartland. 3. P Holohan C/o Gerry Buckley. 4.

Richie O’Dwyer C/o Paddy Greene. 5. Sandra Murphy C/o Dan O’ Driscoll. 6. Tony Brannigan C/o Neil Loy. 7. Tasha Webster C/o P Greene. 8. Niall O’Callaghan C/o Online. 9.

Eugene Meagher C/o Online. 10. Susan Kelly C/o Online COUNTY FINAL Well done to our senior hurlers who had a good win over Bennettsbridge to book themselves into the County Final on October 29th. A brace of goals through Owen Wall helped the cause and now it’s all hands on deck as the club gets ready for the big day. We are always looking for volunteers and sponsors so please help in any way that you can. The best of luck to Brian Hogan and all the lads. Thanks to team sponsor Pat Carroll’s for their continued support. Hon the Loughs !!

CAMOGIE NEWS Hard luck to our Intermediate Camogie team who fell short in Sunday’s championship semi-final versus Mooncoin. Losing championships are never easy but credit this bunch for a great year that included a league title. A huge effort was put in by all involved and the results and performances justified their status at the top of the business end of the competition. Lots to build on and we’re sure they will. Thanks to sponsors MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre. Lovely hurling.

U16 AND MINOR CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP A late start for these championship, but the girls are so looking forward to the action. Please support our teams - fixtures due at the weekend had not been posted at time of submission so please keep an eye to the club’s social media.

DEER ON R693 With the annual deer hunting season opened and with thousands of licensed hunters entitled to shoot male animals in areas for which they have permits.

The season opened on September 1st and hunters are allowed to stalk and shoot sika, fallow and muntjac deer species throughout the State. Hunting for male deer is permitted until the end of the year and hunting of female deer opens on 1 November and continues until the end of February.

Local Cllr. Mick McCarthy says a cull is important, wild deer are affecting biodiversity, land management and road safety. And he was referring in particular to the R693 Freshford to Johnstown road where there have been far too many incidents in the past number of years. .

Gavin Costigan, faultless for all five goals conceded, also produced three outstanding saves over the hour. The full backs, Shane Donohoe, Luke Murphy and Diarmuid Cody along with Niall Brassil and Mikey Byrne toiled manfully to stem the flow of scores. As always Cian Kenny gave his all for James Stephens while Willie Spencer and Andy Parsons tried hard to break the Shamrocks dominance in the midfield and half forward line areas of the field. At the final whistle, it has to be acknowledged that it was a disappointing end to a season that promised much more, for all involved.

FITNESS SESSION Fitness sessions Boxing/fitness sessions at Community Hall Freshford. Have you had a diagnoses of Parkinsons; Alzheimers or other neurological condition? If so maybe you are keen to get some level of fitness back or work on you balance or upper body strength? If so, these classes are just what you need. Classes take place each Tuesday from 11am to 12 noon - sessions cost just €10 each and are facilitated by a boxing coach. They will also give you the chance to socialise and meet other people for more information or to sign up please contact Brenda Cooper on 0871369253 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 284342 If you can’t cope and need support text HELLO to 50808.

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

OFF TO NOWLAN PARK All roads lead to Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon next when St.Lachtains Junior hurling side take on Tullogher Rosbercon in the County Final. The Freshford lads booked their place in the final on Saturday last when they overcame a strong Windgap side in the semifinal at Nowlan Park. It was a close game throughout with Freshford lads bagging 4 goals but Windgap kept coming back and the lead changed a few times in the last quarter but the local lads came back to win with two points to spare at the final whistle on a score line of 4-11 to 1-18 to go through to the final on Saturday next at Nowlan Park throw in at 2.45pm. Best of luck to the team and management so get out there and support the lads in their quest for glory.

DON BAKER CONCERT Well known artist Don Baker is coming to town. Don Baker concert takes place in Ionad Lachtin tonight the 20th October beginning at 8pm. Tickets are on sale for €22.50 and can be got through the Eventbrites website or on the door on the night. It promises to be great nights entertainment so why not go along and enjoy the music and support this local event.

AMSTERDAM MARATHON Congratulations and well done to local lady Claire Dermody who completed the Amsterdam Marathon last weekend. Claire notched up yet another marathon and flew round the city in a blazing time of 3hrs and 5 mins.

Well done Claire HOME FROM AUSTRALIA Home from down under on a holiday at present is Paul Guinan from Inch, Freshford and Seamus Hayes from Threecastles. Both Paul and Seamus were prominent members of St.Lachtain’s hurling teams over the years and emigrated to Australia some years ago where they both still play hurling in Perth with Sarsfields winning the final again recently.

JOHN SLATTERY Local peple were shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death last week of John Slattery late of Bridge St., Freshford and formerly Threecastles. Although in failing health for some time nevertheless John’s passing caused widespread shock and sadness. Originally from Gathabawn, John spent many years in the UK before returning to Freshford where he bought, renovated and ran the “The Bridge Inn” for a number of years. He was a member of a well- known family in the locality.

His funeral mass took place in Gathabawn Church on Thursday 12th October, followed by burial in Tigfeaghna Cemetery. He is mourned by his son, daughter, grandchildren, brother, sisters, nephews nieces and family to whom deepest is sympathy is extended.

NEW BIN Cllr. Michael McCarthy was delighted to announce 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.

TIDY TOWNS Well done to all involved in Freshford Tidy Towns who upped their overall marks this year and received ten extra marks. These people are doing Trojan work in the village and surrounds each week and deserve great credit. Keep up the good work and new volunteers are very welcome IONAD LACHTAINS St. Lachtains Church Museum and Arts centre is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30 to 4.30pm.

SOCCER With the soccer season now started back Freshford Town remind parents that Training is being held for boys and girls every Saturday at 9.30am at Wood view. You can contact Eoin or Graham for more info on 087 7672040 or 087 2639770

SENIOR SEMI-FINAL In Sunday’s county senior hurling semi-final in UPMC Nowlan Park, Ballyhale Shamrocks produced a masterclass of hurling skills and determination to outclass the club’s senior hurlers, 5-19 to 0-13 and continue their quest for a record 6th Kilkenny county senior title. From the throw-in the 2022 All-Ireland club champions exerted their authority and by the 15th minute were already leading by 0-07 to 0-01. Over the next 6/7 minutes the The Village staged a short lived revival scoring five points to reduce Ballyhale’s lead to a single point at 0-07 to 0-06. A swift response saw the T.J. Reid inspired club side reel off 1-02 in three minutes, the Adrian Mullen goal in the 33rd minute giving them a 1-10 to 0-07 lead at the break. The 2nd half was all one way traffic as the all powerful Ballyhale men broke through for four more three pointers to claim a facile victory against a completely out of sorts James Stephens team on the day. With the forward division unable to win or hold possession the Village back line was forced to defend an avalanche of attacks over the hour. Goalkeeper

LOTTO: Last week’s numbers were 1 :11 : 14 : 18. There was no winner. This week’s jackpot will be €8,800. The €40 consolation winners were Cian Grace, Edel Aderson, Joan Cody, Ollie Nolan and Fiona Noonan.

GOWRAN AC Some of the senior male athletes have been competing in the National Triathlon Series. Johan Muller, Adrian Cunningham, Paul Flood and James O’Reilly were all part of a team of 6 triathletes taking part in the national series. The Gowran members were the 4 in the top 6 scorers for the Kilkenny team. Johan also finished as the highest scoring Kilkenny triathlete throughout the national series rankings with Adrian finishing right behind in 2nd.

Massive congratulations to Paul Flood who also had a spectacular race in the Barcelona Ironman 2023 recently.

Congratulations also goes to one of our newest senior ladies Monica Freiband O’Reilly who was the 3rd top scoring triathlete for Kilkenny, with the Kilkenny team finishing 4th nationally. Great sporting achievements for all our Gowran AC senior athletes.

Congratulations to Matthew Holland who placed 2nd in the Junior County cross country at St Joseph’s AC. Also congrats to senior members Paul Deegan 5th and Marty Mosely 6th in the O40 category.

GOWRAN PITCH AND PUTT Matchplay weekend in the club was completed at the weekend with Ladies, Gents and Juvenile finals.

The Ladies winner was Stasia Heafey with Chrissie Keating finishing as runner up following a closely fought final.

In the Gents, Christy Purcell put in a strong finish to pip Mark Kirk. Both Christy and Mark played well over the weekend to contest the final.

In the juvenile section, two groups of three started out Saturday and group A produced the drama as all players finished level on points countbacks and a 3 hole playoff was needed to decide who would play in the championship and plate finals.

Tomàs Carroll made it through to face Jack McShane in the final and after a brilliant game Jack sank a two to half the 17th hole to win the match following a brilliant chip for two by Tomàs In the plate section, between Conor Carroll and Eoghan Morrissey 18 holes weren’t enough to separate the boys and 4 extra holes of drama would be needed to find a winner with Eoghan taking the win on the fourth playoff hole.

Following the prize presentation a special presentation was made to all our U16 players who represented the club throughout the year in Regional, Provincial and National competitions. The boys did themselves and the club proud with magnificent standards of play all year and winning prizes at all levels along the way.

A separate presentation was made to Jack McShane from all the members in the club as Jack heads to Spain next week as part of the Irish u16 team. A brilliant achievement for Jack and everyone at the club wishes him the best of luck on the trip GOWRAN PARK GOLF The Inaugural Southeast Junior Championship, known locally as the Harry Cup, was a Resounding Success at Gowran Park Golf Club which brought together the Junior Golfing community in the Southeast for a very special day.

The key highlights were the southeast junior open attracted over 120 enthusiastic Junior golfers from clubs across the country. The Harry Cup is dedicated to Junior, Harry Byrne and will continue to be an annual event in the junior golfing diary played over 18 holes Stableford for boys and girls.

Saidbh Farrell emerged as the champion with our Junior Captain, Timmy Brennan a close second. The event aims to provide a fun and competitive experience in a social and safe environment, fostering camaraderie among young golfers.

Generous sponsors contributed donations, prizes,

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

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

47

kilkennyobserver.ie

Community & GAA Notes refreshments, and goodie bags for the participating Juniors, adding to the excitement of the event.

The event also had a charitable focus, raising over €2000 for a cause close to the hearts of the Byrne family. The funds will benefit the St Peter and Paul Parish in Uganda, supporting drinking water projects.

The organising committee expressed profound gratitude to Gowran Park management, sponsors, and mentors for their invaluable support in making the event possible and enjoyable for all Juniors.

TIDY TOWNS Well done to all involved in this year’s Tidy Town’s competition. Bennettsbridge improved a significant 11 points on last year’s entry! This is mainly due to the volunteers and community workers who have worked tirelessly all year round.

The judges were most impressed with the various projects undertaken by the Bennettsbridge group. In the Tidiness and Litter Control section, “the town and estates were litter-free. There were no signs of litter on approach roads and this reflects well on the on-going litter patrols”.

In the Residential Streets and housing areas, “All houses and gardens were well presented. The Ring, Hillview Road and other estates have well-kept gardens and green areas. Well done on your resumption of the “Best Garden” competition, this will be a chance to reward the efforts being made by so many to keep their gardens colourful and attractive”.

Thanks to all who have helped achieve this in the community.

CHURCH NEWS MASS TIMES NO WEEKDAY MASSES THIS WEEK Weekend Masses.Tullaherin, Saturday 8pm. Bennettsbridge, Sunday 10.30am GATHERING GROUP The weekly meeting of the Gathering Group resumes today, Wednesday with the fourth session of a six week programme of Yoga. Members are really enjoying the yoga which caters for the individuality of each person.

ART GROUP Weekly classes continue each Monday from 2 to 4pm in the Community Centre. Members are experimenting

with various mixed media to determine their focus for the next few months under tutor, Julie Moorhouse. The Annual Christmas Card project will get underway shortly.

BILLY BRADY RIP Sympathy is extended to the Brady family on the death of Billy Brady at his residence on the Danesfort Road.

Billy died suddenly on Friday, 6th October.

He is deeply regretted and will be sadly missed by his loving family, his brothers, Eamon and Noel, nieces and nephews, extended family, relatives, friends and neighbours. Billy was a familiar figure around the village in recent years, particularly since his retirement.

Many family members, friends and neighbours attended at Mercy Side Chapel of the Church of The Assumption, Thomastown for Rosary and prayers. Requiem Mass was celebrated by Rev Mark Condon in St Bennett’s Church, Bennettsbridge. Music was provided by Monika Klejna, Thomastown Folk Choir. Interment took place in the adjoining cemetery.

NOEL POWER RIP The community was saddened by the death of Noel Power, Ballyreddin Lodge and formerly of Kiltealy, Co Wexford. Sympathy is extended to the extended Power family. Noel passed away on October 9th 2023, peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.

Predeceased by his infant son Aidan Michael, his brothers Richard, Fr. Michael, Joseph and Leo, sisters Joan, Sr. Stan, Eithne and niece Emer. Noel is survived by his wife, Eileen, son, Colm and daughters, Clodagh (McIntyre) and Dar-relle (Gaffney). He will be sadly missed by his loving family, daughter-in-law, Dervla and sons-in-law TJ and Alan, his grandchildren, Davin, Marcus, Donovan, Amelie and Aveline, his sisters-inlaw, Emily, Maura and Margaret and their husbands, his nephews and nieces and all his relatives and friends.

Rosary and prayers were recited in Johnston’s Funeral Home where a huge number of family, friends, representatives of the dental profession and golfing colleagues attended to pay their final respects.

Noel’s Funeral Mass was con-celebrated in St Bennett’s Church, Bennettsbridge, by Canon Patrick Duggan, Mons. Tom Norris and Professor Noonan. Outside the church, his golfing friends formed a guard of honour as the cortege departed for burial in Foulkstown Cemetery, Kilkenny.

BORD NA NOG U 13 Roinn B County Champions. Congratulations to

Bridge boys celebrating in the village after their win.

U13S Roinn B County Champions

U13s celebrate in Dunmore

players and management. Well- deserved silverware for a group that has worked extremely hard. They had a solid league campaign coming third on the table in Group A. On to the championship every match was a battle and through skill, determination and self-belief the boys got themselves to the County Final and took the title. A fantastic achievement. They gave it their all on the field for their club. Everyone is unbelievably proud. The club, the parish and their families.

Congratulations to management of, Michael, Declan, Joe and Conor who worked hard throughout the season to get the boys to that county title. Thanks to supporters, parents and sponsors, this wouldn’t have been possible without your help.

GAA Senior Hurling Semi-Final. Bennettsbridge seniors narrowly failed to make this year’s senior final when they lost out to O’Loughlin Gaels in last Sundays semi-final in Nowlan Park. Goals were the difference as O’Loughlin’s won out on a score of 3-16 to 22 points. Hard luck to all the panel of players and the management team who gave it their all for the season.

Under 13 County Champions.

CLUB SHOP New additions of a training top and shorts have been added to the Bennettsbridge O’Neill’s club shop. To access the full range of club gear simply go to the O’Neill’s website and enter Bennettsbridge in the search box.

SPLIT THE POT The next draw will take place at 6pm in the clubhouse this Friday evening. The competition can also be entered online using club force. Please see the clubs 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.

LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results 12th October 2023.

Nos: 6 17 24 29. Jackpot: €12,650 Not Won Draw Prizes, €50: Jim Manning c/o Online, €25 each Declan OFarrell c/o Online, €25 each Evan Cody c/o P & J Cody, €25 each John McKee c/o Online. Hurlers Co Op Draw Gerald Griffin c/o Tom Beirne. Promotors prize Paddy Maher. Thank you for your continued support JUNIOR HURLING Hard luck to our Junior Hurlers who came up against a strong side in Tullogher Rosbercon on Saturday afternoon in UPMC Nowlan Park. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be our day but we thank the lads hugely and their Management who have had a very strong campaign up along in this Section.

JUNIOR CAMOGIE Congratulations to our Junior Camogie Team who were victorious in the Kilkenny Rivercourt Premier Junior Championship Quarter Final Sunday Morning beating Piltown 2-6 to 0-4. Two quick goals in the second half from Kate Dowling put them in a comfortable lead and from there they drove on. They will now play Graiguenamanagh Saturday 21st at11am in Graiguenamanagh in the County Semi Final. We would love to see a huge crowd there to support the girls. Best of luck to all involved.

SENIOR CAMOGIE Our Senior Camogie Team are heading back to a County Final after a brilliant team performance Saturday afternoon in Thomastown beating a very good Piltown team by 2 points. The girls will now play Windgap in the Michael Lyng Hyundai Motors Senior Championship County Final in Thomastown at 3.30pm Saturday 21st. Let’s get behind these super bunch of ladies and their coaches and support them in numbers in your Maroon and White.

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

48

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

Community & GAA Notes

The little community here at Owning Village have gotten right behind our “Scares near Skough” event, with our staff, volunteers and residents getting into the spirit of the occasion by decorating the whole village, sorting out stalls for the day and just getting into the spooky season in general.

The children in Owning school are currently competing in a colouring competition to win family passes for the event and according to their teachers the level of competitiveness is amazing.

Of course the reason behind this event is a fundraiser for our village, but it has proven to be so much more than that in the way that is has brought young and not so young together in the planning and preparation for it. We hope to see loads of families here on the 31st. The events will run from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. and there will be plenty of refreshments for the adults to enjoy while the young ones carve their pumpkins.

CHURCH NEWS October offerings for the support of the priests are now due. Envelope in the packet.

Money for the October Cathedral Draw will be collected this weekend October 21th/22nd 2023.

BAPTISM Welcome to the faith community baby Conor Brennan, son of Marian and Declan Brennan, Bawnmore who was baptised at St. Kieran’s Church.

TAIZE YOUTH PROGRAMME 2024 A youth trip to Taize in France by Ossory Youth will take place from Sunday June 23rd to June 30th 2024. A week in Taize is an opportunity for reflection and contemplation and a little step back from daily life. It is a week of meeting young people from different countries and cultures where new friendships are made. Tens of thousands of young people will make the trip including 25 from Kilkenny. The programme runs from November to June and is open to transition year, 5th year and leaving cert students. Closing date is Friday October 27th.2023. Information re application forms , cost etc contact Patrick Bookle, Ossory Youth at 0567761200 or 0872129006 or email pbookle@ossoryyouth.com.

CHILDRENS’DISCO Hallowe’en Disco in St. Mary’s Hall on Monday Oct 30th from 3.30pm to 5pm. Fee €3, DJ, dancing and treats.

Dress up if you dare!

SPA UNITED AFC Weekend results Junior League division 3 Spa 5 (Conor Tobin, James Whelan, James Sweeney 2, Paddy Morrissey) St. John’s 1, Youths league division 1A Spa 1 Bridge Utd 6, U16 boys league division 1A Spa 1 Highview Athletic 3, Spa 2 Stoneyford 1, U12 girls league division 1 Spa 5 Bridge Utd 0, SFAI National Trophy U12 boys St. Kevins Two Mile Borris 0 Spa 1 (Harry Cooke).

The U10 boys travelled to Bridge Utd. and both squads had great games against their hosts.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO Winning numbers 3,9,17,26. Two match threes Miranda Stokes and Eamon Cuggy. Thanks for the continued support.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Glengoole Wednesday 11am to 2pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 11am to 1pm 400 CLUB DRAW A sincere thanks to everyone who supported the 400 club draw in support of the Gortnahoe Glengoole parish. The new draw will commence in November and promoters will be contacting all households in the parish to renew their membership for the next 12 months. We look forward to the continued support of our parish.

TABLE QUIZ A table quiz will be held in Mary Willies this Friday 20th of October at 9pm in aid of Gortnahoe Christmas lights.

There will also be a raffle on the night with great prizes.

Your support would be greatly appreciated.

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 FREE LIBRARY A lot of new books have come in to Gortnahoe Community Hall Library. They are free to take home and the library is based inside the main door of the hall.

When the hall is opened anyone can go inside the main door and select a book or books of their choice and they will disturb no one in the hall. This is a Gortnahoe Community Hall initiative and this idea will succeed with the local parish support.

OLD SCHOOL HOUSE If anyone in the Parish has any photographs or paper

clippings of the Old School in Gortnahoe, could they forward them to Richard Dunne in Graigue or phone 0866075281 or email items to richardbdunne@yahoo. co.uk. The Old School House stood on the site where the prayer garden is now situated beside the Church. It is intended to record the history of the School in photograghs and text. Any contribution will be copied and returned to the sender.

GLENGOOLE COMMUNITY CAFE Volunteers are needed to start this provisionally one morning per week as a space for people to meet.

Anyone interested please contact Julie O’Halloran, MFRC, on 087-1008075.

GORTNAHOE BINGO Bingo continues this Saturday night at 7.00pm with doors opening from 6.00pm and will continue each Saturday night at the same time. Over €2,660 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game. We look forward to the many visitors and family members home with their family, it will be a great nights entertainment for all.

SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to last weekend’s winner Nicholas Guilfoyle, Fennor who won €226 in the Split the Pot draw. Envelopes are available at the usual outlets. Split the Pot for the month of October 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 ELDERCARE SERVICE Eldercare services through MFRC Glengoole will include the following: meals on wheels deliveries every Tuesday and Thursday, social group every Wednesday 1-3pm,includes soup, dinner and entertainment, laundry service, senior alert scheme for Gortnahoe Glengoole area, dementia cafe 1st Tuesday of each month 11.30-1pm, social group every Tuesday at 11am in the Old School House, The Commons. For further information on any of the above please contact Alice Teehan 052-9157992 MICHAEL DELANEY RIP The death has occurred of Michael Delaney, Inchorourke, Urlingford, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, October 6th unexpectedly but peacefully at James’ Hospital Dublin.

Predeceased by his parents John and Mary and his brother Kieran. Sadly missed by his loving wife Rose, daughters Mary and Catherine, sons-in-law Philip and Paul, grandchildren Marisa, Chleokate, Tommy, Sèan and Lucas, brothers Paddy and Jack, sister Noreen sisters-in-law Breda and Bernadette, brother-in-law Paddy, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. Michael reposed at Doyle’s Funeral Home, Urlingford last Wednesday evening followed by removal to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe.

Requiem Mass took place last Thursday week followed by interment in Fennor Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

MARGARET CAMPION RIP The death has occurred of Peg (Margaret) Campion (nee Breen), Newtown, Woodsgift, Co. Kilkenny, October 11th, peacefully at home in the company of her loving family in her 98th. year. Predeceased by her husband Alec, daughter Margie (McGlinn), brothers Tom, Jim, Joseph, Séan and Rev. Fr. Pat and sisters Mary and Kitty and sonin-law Tony McGlinn. Sadly missed by her family Sèan, Stephen, Jim, Eddie and Pat, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters Teresa and Essie, brother Stephen, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. Margaret reposed at Doyle’s Funeral Home, Urlingford last Thursday evening. Requiem Mass took place last Friday in St. Patrick’s Church, Graine followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery. May she rest in peace.

CALLING ALL MONTY DONS Do you have an interest in gardening and qualify for the CE scheme? If so we would love to hear from you.

We currently have a couple of positions in Ballyragget.

Please contact. Email: John@ballyraggetareaces.ie Phone:086 3806994. There are opportunities for training to improve your skills.

SALE OF WORK Ballyragget National School will hold a Sale of Work / Cake Sale on Sunday 22nd in the Cannon Malone Hall after mass. All support would be greatly appreciated.

COSTUME PARTY Halloween costume party in Ballyouskill Hall on October 28th from 3-5pm SYMPATHY Sympathies are extended to Phelan Family on the passing of Claire to her sons Tim, Liam and James her daughter Caitriona, daughter in law Fiona sister Helen Murphy Conahy, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

To the Bannon Family on the passing of Tom to his brother Martin his wife Kathy children Mark and Claire,

daughter and son in law, grandchildren nieces nephews and friends.

To the Galvin, Glennon and O Hara families on the passing of Suzanne to her mother Mary, father Packie and all her relatives and friends may they all rest in peace.

GAA St Patrick’s GAA the Under 13 side were victorious in the semifinal over Kilmacow on Sunday. Well done to all.

CHRISTMAS PARTY The annual Christmas Party for the senior citizens will go ahead again this year and fundraising is underway.

There will be a craft, cake sale and coffee morning on November 12th in the Cannon Malone Hall 11.15am to 12.30pm with raffle on the day.

VINTAGE TRACTOR RUN Vintage Tractor Run in aid of the O’Gorman Home, Ballyragget National School and Lourdes Invalid Fund will be held in Ballyouskill on October 29th. (see poster) CAMOGIE The senior camogie girls lost out to Young Irelands the relegation semi-final in the Michael Lyng Motors Senior Championship in Castlecomer on Sunday morning last. The result means that the locals will now face into a relegation final play-off against St. Martin’s this coming weekend, with the loser going down to intermediate level for 2024. Conahy battled hard all through the game, with the Gowran girls’ greater strength and scoring efficiency the major differences between the two teams. The game eventually finished with the score line 3-11 to 1-9 in Young Irelands’ favour.

DEVELOPMENT FUNDRAISER Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club have launched a major development fundraiser, and are seeking the support of everyone in the community to ensure its success. The fundraiser will involve a ticket draw, with the winner receiving a new Hyundai Tucson car or €35,000 in cash.

Tickets for the draw will be €25 each, or three for €65, or five for €100. Tickets have and will continue to be given to club members to sell amongst their friends and relations. A website that will allow the purchase of tickets for the draw is available on www.winahyundaituscon.ie , and the draw will also actively be 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 8, 27 and 33. There was no jackpot winner so the consolation prize winners were Olive Lacey, Eoin Carroll, Noel Deevy, Sarah and Katy Murphy and Emma Mulhall. The promoters’ prize winners were Nora Delaney, Brian Lacey and Julie Jackman. This week’s jackpot now increases to €1,200.

PROGRESSIVE 25’S Progressive 25’s are continuing every Sunday night at 8.00 p.m. in the GAA Clubhouse. All are welcome.

MASS TIMES Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil - Saturday 14th. at 8.00p.m.; Sunday 15th. at 10.00a.m.Stoneyford: Vigil - Saturday 14th. at 6.30p.m.

PRAY FOR Anniversary mass St John Donovan, Lawcus Fields.

Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 21th. October at 8.00p.m.Bill and Nelly Barron, Croan. Mass in Hugginstown Church on Sunday 22nd October at 10.00am.

Remembrance Masses for the Faithful Departed will be celebrated on Saturday 4th.November. In Stoneyford Church at 6.30p.m: In Hugginstown Church at 8.0 p.m.

ROTA Readers. Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Sheila Raggett.

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

Eucharistic Ministers. Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m.

Natalia Smolen. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m.Triaha Barron. Sunday 10.00a.m. Kay Power.

OCTOBER STATIONS The October Station Envelopes 2023 are available at the Church Porch. Your contributions are for the support of the priests of the Parish and the Diocese. Your envelopes 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).

LOTTO Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 2nd. October 2023 Numbers: 02; 16; 07; 22. No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner: €30.00. Winners Mary and Luke Byrne, C/o James Irish, Richie Power, Lawcus. Tammy Williams, C/o Padraig.

Breda Comerford, Carrickmerlin. Angela and Paul Barron, Romansvalley.

SYNOD UPDATE This past week saw the much awaited Synodal gathering start in Rome. Normally reserved to the bishops this synod, at the request of Pope Francis, invited lay faithful, priests and religious from around the world to come together to discern the promptings of the Holy Spirit for the Church today. This is a continuance of the synodal gatherings we had in Ossory and in every Diocese throughout the world. Our ideas are carried there by the Irish delegation. With such a variety of voices from every part of the world it was recognised that at this synod tensions will exist - as each one tries to make their views heard. The Dominican priest Fr Timothy Radcliffe has preached to all gathered in these opening days - he noted, in one of these addresses, that in English we say that “we fall in love but we make friends” reminding those gathered for the synod that difference is ok, variance is to be welcomed and that we won’t fall into agreement, we will have to work to make it happen. We pray for the Synod as the first week concludes, may they make harmony happen.

ST MARYS CATHEDRAL CHAPTER HOUSE BOOKSHOP The Shop is now open five days a week on Mondays from 9:30a.m. to 1:00p.m and on Tuesdays to Fridays from 9:30a.m. to 5:00p.m.In the wide range of products you can find religious gifts for any occasion and a selection of Parish supplies. We have a large variety of Candles, Holy Water Fonts, Crosses, Pictures and Statues of the Saints. You will find a present for Baptism, Communion, Confirmation and many other occasions.

We have now in stock a great choice of Prayer Books, Gospel Reflections and Calendars for the next liturgical year.

FAITH RENEWAL EVENTS AT KNOCK SHRINE ‘What do we know about Jesus?’ Adult Faith Formation Course with Fr Eugene Duffy. Began on 3rd. October but running for 8 weeks on Tuesday evenings at 8.00p.m.

Booking required on Eventbrite (see knockshrine.ie for direct link to book) “Seeing is Believing Reflecting on art as a glimpse of the Sacred” With Dr. Nora Donnelly on Saturday (th and 16th December at 10.30am. With these illustrated lecturesDr. Nora Donnelly hopesto help not only to make some sence of Art but to make new sense by attending to what we see just for its own sake Advent Reconcilation Service on Tuesday 19th December from 8.00pm to 9.00pm in the Chapel of Reconciliation with music provided by Schole Cantorum Bascilicae. Further details about these events as well as others not listed here are available to view on the Knock Shrine.

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

NEWSLETTER If You wish to receive the weekly Newsletter by e-mail, please drop us your e-mail address. The Newsletter is also available on the Stoneyford wewbsite every week (www.stoneyford.ie) All notices for the Newsletter to be dropped in before 5.00pm on Thursdays please.

Contact:- Telephone 0567768693 or E-mail.

ST KIERAN’S HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY Applications are invited for the Vacant Tenancy of a one-bedroom house at St Kieran’s Place, Urlingford. To be eligible to apply you must be on the Kilkenny County Council Housing list. Applications are available from the centre.

COUNSELLING SERVICES Our low cost Counselling Services, includes One-toOne, Adult & Teens. General Counselling: Bereavement, Stress, Anxiety & Depression. Other Counselling Services available: Drug, Substance & Gambling Addictions. Play therapy is now also available. Age 5+. Please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment.

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

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

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.

SAVE THE DATE Friday 1st December we will be having our Christmas Fair. Full details to follow.

ART CLASSES We are running Art Classes every Thursday morning from 10am to 12pm. Places are limited, if you are interested please contact us here at the centre.

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 20 October 2023

49

kilkennyobserver.ie

Sport

Kilkenny Sport Focus Michael O’Leary

Tadhg O'Carroll Tadhg O'Carroll from Kilkenny has been making a living in Scotland over the past two seasons working with Teams in The Scottish League, and having worked with Ross County up until earlier this season, he is currently Head of Medicine at Championship outfit Dunfermline Athletic.

The Son of Billy and Mary O'Carroll, Tadhg made the move to Scotland in The Summer of 2021 where he became The Physiotherapist of Ross County First Team as he spent the next 18 months with The Scottish Premiership Club.

Managed by former Celtic defender Malky Mackay, Ross County enjoyed a successful 2021-2022 season as they finished The League in 6th position.

Ross County were lying in 6th position prior to the split towards the end of the season, and that meant they were playing the likes of Celtic and

Rangers on the season run-in.

Tadhg remained at Ross County until earlier this year, and they endured a difficult season as they had to win a promotion/ relegation play-off final against Partick Thistle to cement their Premier Division status.

Before the end of the season, Tadhg had made the move to Dunfermline Athletic who strolled their way to winning The League One title by 14 points having lost just one game all season.

Dunfermline Athletic are playing their trade in The Scottish Championship, and are currently lying in 6th place in The table.

Tomorrow (Saturday), they host Ayr United at East End Park with a 3pm kick-off.

Away from his Physio committments, Tadhg is a very enthusiastic mountain climber, and back in 2012 while a student in Clongowes College in

Kildare, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa as part of a joint fund-raising venture for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, and The Chernobyl Childrens Fund.

Tadhg played with Kilkenny Rugby Club with their Juvenile Teams, with his Dad Billy centrally involved within The Rugby Club over the years.

Tadhg has made for himself in The Scottish Football League since making the move across The Irish Sea, and he has such an important part to play in helping to deal with the welfare of players particularly of those that are injury concerns.

Kilkenny City and County Bridge results

Ormonde Castle Bridge Club/Rothe Bridge Club Monday Night at 7.15p.m.

Section 1 1st Prize…….. Eileen Fox/ Kathleen Hogan 2nd Prize…...... Richie McEvoy/Hilda Richardson 3rd Prize…….. Joan Murphy/ Catherine Lynch Section 2 1st Prize…….. Peter Ryan/Pat Hickey 2nd Prize…..... Marion Kilbride/Ellen Dowling 3rd Prize…….. Margaret

Knowles/Sheila O’Mahony 1st Prize…….. Ellen Dowling/ Margaret Knowles 2nd Prize…..... Frances Walsh/Tommy Walsh 3rd Prize…….. Richard McEvoy/Miriam Martin 4th Prize…….. Marguerite Walsh/Hilda Richardson Results 2nd October 1st Prize…….. Hilda Richardson/Marguerite Walsh 2nd Prize…..... Brigid Smee/ Annette Kelly 3rd Prize…….. Maura

2nd Prize…...... Ann Treacy/Marie Drea 3rd Prize……...Liam Holohan/Brigid Holohan Abbey Bridge Club – Tuesday Nights Results 3rd October 1st Prize…….. Brian Keane/ Eamon Daly 2nd Prize…...... Mary M Murphy/Roseanne Brennan 3rd Prize……... Mary Saunders/Mary Cunningham Results 10th October 1st Prize…….. Mary Morris/ Catherine Philpott 2nd Prize…...... Noreen Bergin/Catherine Lynch

Holden/Joan Holden 4th Prize…….. Margaret Knowles/Margaret Tynan

Kilkenny Bridge Club – Tuesday Night Results 10th October 1st Prize…….. Peter Ryan/Liz Jennings 2nd Prize…...... Melanie O Briain/Sheila Ryan 3rd Prize…….. Angela Carroll/Anne O Neill

Results 9th October 1st Prize…….. Margaret Knowles/Sheila O’Mahony 2nd Prize…..... Ellen Dowling/Richie McEvoy 3rd Prize…….. Marguerite Walsh/Hilda Richardson

Bridge every Tuesday evening . New members most welcome.

Contact Secretary 086.6050075 . Please be seated by 7:15pm

Club 17 – Tuesday Morning - 10.15 a.m.

New members welcome Results 3rd October 1st Prize…….. Mary O’Reilly/ Margaret Mullins

Confederation 350 Bridge Club – Wednesday Nights Results 11th October 1st Prize…….. Maura Coady/ Margaret Walsh 2nd Prize…......Therese

Pender/Mags McQuillan 3rd Prize…….. Ann Lennon/ Loretto O'Driscoll 4th Prize…….. Mary Fawsitt/ Anne Brennan.

Nore Bridge Club – Thursday Nights Results 28th September 1st Prize…….. Sheila Ryan/ Maria Troy 2nd Prize…...... Catherine Dore/Helen Tynan Results 5th October 1st Prize…….. Annette Kelly/ Ann Brennan 2nd Prize…...... Margaret Knowles/Ellen Dowling 3rd Prize…….. Angela Carroll/ Catherine McGoff Improvers Classes Improvers classes beginning early October.

Further information Phone Margaret 086 838 7702 Any club in Kilkenny City or County that want their bridge club results included please email them to marion. kilbride@gmail.com before lunchtime Tuesdays the latest. Any results received after that will be included in the following week.

Club 17 – Tuesday Morning - 10.15 a.m.

Results October 3rd 1. .Mary O’Reilly/Margaret Mullins 2. Ann Treacy/Marie Drea 3. Liam Holohan/Brigid Holohan

New members welcome.

Game commences 10.15am.

Confederation 350 Bridge Club – Wednesday Nights Results 11th October 1st Maura Coady & Margaret Walsh; 2nd Therese Pender & Mags McQuillan; 3rd Ann Lennon & Loretto O'Driscoll; 4th Mary Fawsitt & Anne Brennan.

Nore Bridge Club – Thursday Nights Results 28th September 1.

Sheila ryan/Maria Troy 2.

Catherine Dore/ Helen Tynan Results 5th October 1. Annette Kelly/Ann Brennan 2. Margaret Knowles/Ellen Dowling 3. Angela Carroll/Catherine McGoff Improvers Classes Improvers classes beginning early October.

Further information Phone Margaret 086 838 7702 Any club in Kilkenny City or County that want their bridge club results included please email them to marion. kilbride@gmail.com before lunchtime Tuesdays the latest. Any results received after that will be included in the following week.

50

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

Hurlng matters - Review

Sport

St Canice’s Credit Union Kilken Eoin Kenneally Tries to kick the ball away from Willie spencer

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Semi-Final Shamrocks Ballyhale 5-19 James Stephens 0-14 UPMC Nowlan Park Referee: Patrick O’Reilly Shamrocks Ballyhale will meet O’Loughlin Gaels in this year’s St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship after putting James Stephens to the sword in the second of the semi-finals double-header at UPMC Nowlan Park last weekend.

At the long whistle there was an impressive 20 points between the sides as Pat Hoban’s men gave another reminder of their undoubted ability and undeniable hunger as they continue the quest for a sixth consecutive county title. The South Kilkenny side hit five majors in their rout of Brian Cody’s Village outfit as they made light work of their city opponents and will once again go into the decider as favourites to retain the Tom Walsh Cup. When referee Patrick O’Reilly got matters underway, it was The Village who struck first, thanks to a point from the returning Cian Kenny in the opening seconds. The response from Shamrocks was to hit seven scores on the bounce over the next 14 minutes to gain a commanding sixpoint lead in the last four encounter.

Adrian Mullen got the Shamrocks first score of the game moments after Kenny’s strike and added another a few minutes later to add to points from Eoin Cody, Liam Barron, Eoin Kenneally, Niall Shortall and a placed ball from TJ Reid. To their credit, The Village responded brilliantly and hit six of their own without reply, A brace each from Eoin Guilfoyle and Ross Whelan and a couple of nice points, including one from Niall Brassil to leave the sides level as the opening period entered added time. Hoban’s men finished the half strongly, hitting the final four scores before the short whistle, including the first of five majors from coming from the hugely impressive Adrian Mullen. The sides went into the changing rooms on a scoreline of Shamrocks Ballyhale 1-10, James Stephens 0-7.

When the second half started, the champions showed no signs of taking their foot off the gas and tagged on 3 points before they struck the second of their majors, this time TJ Reid breaching The Village net to increase the Shamrocks lead to some 11 points. Brian Cody’s team were struggling to cope and gain any meaningful foothold in the game.

The city side did manage to notch the next three scores with nice efforts from Niall Brassil, Andy Parsons and Luke Scanlon. With 43 minutes on the clock, The Village found themselves eight points in arrears.

Paddy Mullen and Liam Barron registered points for Pat Hoban’s side

Shamrocks on song in Village rout Holders quest for 6 continues before the travelling Colin Fennelly rifled past Gavin Costigan in the James Stephens goal for goal number 3. That was well and truly the insurance score for the All-Ireland club champions, if one was needed.

A bitterly disappointing performance for The Village would only see them add three further points to their total while Shamrocks would show more clinical finishing to add 2-4 to an eye-catching scoring display.

Colin Fennelly showed no signs of jetlag as he helped himself to a second goal of the game while Adrian Mullen, TJ Reid and Niall Shortall split the posts for nice scores before Eoin Cody raised the final green flag in the 57th minute.

Substitute Stephen Barron struck the final point for Shamrocks before Cian Kenny completed the game’s scoring with a point in added time.

Thankfully, from a Village point of view, referee Patrick O’Reilly brought matters to a close with the scoreboard reading, Shamrocks Ballyhale 5-19, James Stephens 0-14.

Shamrocks: Dean Mason; Dara Mason, Darragh Corcoran, Killian Corcoran; Evan Shefflin, Richie Reid, Paddy Mullen; Conor Walsh, Liam Barron; Adrian Mullen, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody; Eoin Kenneally, Colin Fennelly, Niall Shortall.

Subs: Eoin Reid for Fennelly 52 mins, Brian Butler for Walsh 53 mins, Mark Aylward for L Barron 58 mins, Stephen Barron for Shortall 58 mins.

Adrian Mullen bears down on Goal as Mikey Byrne tries to stop him

Shamrocks: TJ Reid (1-6, 2f), Colin Fennelly (2-0), Adrian Mullen (13), Eoin Cody (1-1), Niall Shortall, Eoin Kenneally, Liam Barron, Paddy Mullen (0-2 each), Stephen Barron (0-1)

James Stephens: Eoin Guilfoyle (0-4, four frees), Niall Brassil (0-2, 2f), Cian Kenny (0-2, 1 free), Andy Parsons, Luke Scanlon (0-2 each), Stephen Manogue (0-1, free), Ross Whelan (0-1)

James Stephens: Gavin Costigan; Shane Donohoe, Luke Murphy, Mikey Byrne; Niall Delaney, Niall Brassil, Diarmuid Cody; Luke Scanlon, Willie Spencer; Sean Manogue, Tadhg O’Dwyer, Andy Parsons; Ross Whelan, Cian Kenny, Eoin Guilfoyle.

Subs: Stephen Manogue for Whelan 41 mins, Ethan Butler for Guilfoyle 42 mins, Liam Rafter for Sean Manogue 48 mins.

Referee: Patrick O’Reilly

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

51

kilkennyobserver.ie

Hurling matters - Review

ny Senior Hurling Championship 2023 Semi-Final O’Loughlin Gaels 3-16 Bennettsbridge 0-22 UPMC Nowlan Park Referee: Conor Everard O’Loughlin Gaels ability to find the net, ultimately proved the difference in the first of this season’s semi-final ties at UPMC Nowlan Park as they ran out 3-point winners over a gallant Bennettsbridge side, who came up just short against Brian Hogan’s men.

Three majors over the hour from the lively Owen Wall (2) and sub Conor Kelly sets up a cracking clash with holders Shamrocks Ballyhale that they will go into with confidence following this display. Tim Dooley will rue the loss of key player and midfielder Kevin Blanchfield whose semi-final ended after only 20 minutes as he was replaced by Shane Byrne.

The game started quicky, two scores early doors, the Bridge’s David Blanchfield pointing; but crucially, O’Loughlin’s Owen Wall striking the first of his two majors, much to the delight of the city club’s supporters.

Jason Cleere popped over a fine score before one of the impressive young stars of Brian Hogan’s team, Jordan Molloy split the posts with a cracking point. County star, David Blanchfield notched his second of the day on 6 minutes, but the opposition fired over a quality score of their own via Conor Heary.

Bennettsbridge then appeared to find their rhythm and registered the next four points, a trio for placed balls from the reliable Nicky Cleere and another lovely effort from David Blanchfield to put them two points ahead. Another of the county contingent on show, Paddy Deegan then got on the scoresheet for the St Johns Park side before Nicky Cleere popped over another free. Then came the serious blow to Tim Dooley’s charges chances, midfielder Kevin Blanchfield leaving proceedings and being replaced by Shane Byrne on twenty minutes.

Conor Heary then notched his second point of the game and O’Loughlin’s built on this with two further scores from Mark Bergin to nudge them ahead, but only briefly as Hugh O’Neill rifled over for the Bridge to deadlock matters. Number 14 for the city side, Paddy Butler then tagged on a point before wing-back James Hughes levelled proceedings once again. There was time for one further score before the interval and it came from the hurl of young David Fogarty who ensured his O’Loughlin’s side would go into the break with a narrow lead, 1-8 to 0-10.

When play resumed, the sides swapped scores, both placed ball efforts from Nicky Cleere and Mark Bergin. The impressive David Fogarty pounced for his second point of the day before Sean Morrissey struck back for the Bridge. Mark Bergin fired over a lovely score from play, but Tim Dooley’s men struck back with points from Nicky Cleere (f) and a sweet point from sub Jack Campion as the sides could not be separated.

Mark Bergin’s influence on the match was growing and he pointed from play in the 41st minute but again the Bridge hit back with

Gaels prevail to reach decider!

Majors make the difference in beating the ‘Bridge scores from Nicky Cleere (f) and centre-back Bill Hughes to retake the lead. Jordan Molloy then saw his way into referee Conor Everard’s book and Nicky Cleere pointed the resulting free to push their lead to 2 points with about 13 minutes remaining. Mark Bergin then slotted over two placed balls in a row to restore parity at UPMC Nowlan Park.

The O’Loughlin’s management team then made a change with Paddy Butler being replaced by Conor Kelly, a move that would prove very fruitful in the remaining minutes of the game. Another Paddy, county man Deegan then sent over a cracking point before sub Conor Kelly beat Enda Cleere to raise his sides second green flag of the day.

With the gap now four points, Bennettsbridge needed a response, and they struck the next 3 scores, two

Mark Bergin and Conor Murphy keeping their eye on the ball

from Nicky Cleere and a second of the day from midfielder Hugh O’Neill to leave just the bare minimum between the sides. Then came major number 3 for O’Loughlin’s, courtesy of Owen Wall as the game entered added time. Bridge midfielder O’Neill then notched his 3rd point of the game before Conor Kelly made

Owen Wall Gets the Better of Bill Hughes

it a two-score game with a well taken score. The goal the Bridge so badly needed, didn’t come, Nicky Cleere popped over his 11th score of the day, but their race was run. Final score at UPMC Nowlan Park, O’Loughlin Gaels 3-16, Bennettsbridge 0-22.

Tony Forristal, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler; David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy; Jack Nolan, Cian Loy; Mark Bergin, Eoin O’Shea, Conor Heary; Owen Wall, Paddy Butler, Sean Bolger.

O’Loughlin Gaels: Mark Bergin (0-8, 4 frees), Owen Wall (2-0), Conor Kelly (1-1), David Fogarty and Conor Heary (0-2 each), Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy and Paddy Butler (0-1 each)

Bennettsbridge: Enda Cleere; Timmy Kelly, Enda Morrissey, Daniel Murphy; Conor Murphy, Bill Hughes, James Hughes; Hugh O’Neill, Kevin Blanchfield; Nicky Cleere, David Blanchfield, Willy Murphy; Jason Cleere, Liam Blanchfield, Sean Morrissey.

Bennettsbridge: Nicky Cleere (0-11, 9 frees and 2 ‘65’s), David Blanchfield (0-3), Hugh O’Neill (0-2), Jason Cleere, Sean Morrissey, Bill Hughes, James Hughes, Daniel Murphy and Jack Campion (0-1 each) O’Loughlin Gaels: Stephen Murphy;

Subs: Ronan Buckley for Nolan 51 mins, Conor Kelly for Butler 52 mins, Jamie Ryan for Loy 59 mins.

Subs: Shane Byrne for K Blanchfield 19 mins, Jack Campion for W Murphy h/t, Kevin Blanchfield for J Cleere 54 mins.

Referee: Conor Everard

52

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

Classifieds Motors

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

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

CONTACT JOE: 086-8587568

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

53

Classifieds Motors

54

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning permission is sought by Sam and Mairead Brennan to construct a storey and a half dwelling, domestic garage, wastewater treatment system and polishing filter, new well borehole, vehicular entrance, landscaping and all associated siteworks at Ruthstown, Ballyfoyle, 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.

I, Patrick Holden intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission to build an extension to the rear of existing dwelling house and all associated site development works at Friars Hill, Callan, Co. Kilkenny R95 E2F5 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 by Ciaran Murphy and Shauna Power to construct a new two storey dwelling house, new single storey detached garage, new vehicular site entrance, new proprietary sewage treatment system and percolation area, new borehole well and all associated site development works at Kilree, Stoneyford, 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 by Cathal Dempsey to construct a new single story dwelling house and a new entrance driveway, provision of a new sewage treatment plant , borewell & percolation area and all associated site developments works at Baile an Chnoic Beag, Ballyknockbeg,Ballinacooley, Mullinavat, County 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.

Signed: Gittens Murray Architects Ltd., No. 5 William Street, Kilkenny. Tel No: 056-7753933. web:www.gmarch.net

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL Significant Further Information / Revised Plans have been furnished to the Planning Authority in respect of Planning Reference 23/156, Permission sought by Roger Beeken for works to 6 Chapel Avenue, Patrick Street.

No change to the existing building footprint at ground floor level with internal modifications and raise the roof structure by 1.5m reusing the timber trusses and slates to provide living and bedroom accommodation at first floor level, including the removal of the external oil fired boiler, tank and stores to be replaced by roof mounted solar / photovoltaic panels for ventilation power and heating. The residence is located in the Patrick Street Architectural Conservation Area and adjoins Butler House Protected Structure reference B148. The application is to include all ancillary and associated works.

The Significant Further Information includes a modified design which omits raising the roof and provides a proposed 36sqm single storey extension within the existing courtyard garden linking to the existing residence below the eaves and surrounding boundary walls. 3no existing stores of approximately 10sqm are to be demolished with a fourth store incorporated into the extension. The existing building remains with the current ground floor layout (including garage, study, lounge with ensuite bedroom included). The existing first floor bedroom and stores are to be modified into a main bedroom and bathroom with mezzanine with removal of the floor above the lounge. The existingand proposed rooflights are to be velux heritage style with photovoltaic panels located on the south elevation facing the courtyard and all are available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the Offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours of 9:00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the Planning Authority within a period of 2 weeks from the date of receipt of the revised public notices. A submission or observation must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of €20, except in the case of a person or body who has already made a submission or observation and such submission or observation 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.

Planning permission sought for single storey extension to rear of existing crèche, alterations to existing premises to facilitate works and ancillary related works at 1 Fr. Campion Place, Dundaryark, Danesfort.

Applicant: Danesfort Childcare Facility Ltd. 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.

Architects: BLUETT & O’DONOGHUE www.boda.ie

I, Stephen Quinlan, am applying for permission for erection of a dwelling house, installation of a treatment system and percolation area and all associated site works at Flagmount North, 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 p.m. and 2 p.m. - 4 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.

Signed: Byrne & McCabe Design Ltd, Architecture and Engineering Services (059 9725684).

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL APPLICATION TO KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL FOR A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Articles 7 and 8 of the Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007 that Eddie O’Keeffe on behalf of Wills Bros Ltd. of Ballylahan Bridge, Foxford, Co. Mayo, intends to apply for a Certificate of Registration at Garrynarea, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny for a deposition area for surplus fill material (inert soil and subsoil) on a 2.41 Hectare site of agricultural land, setback three fields from the regional road L1038. The application for a Certificate of Registration will be made to Kilkenny County Council within 10 working days of the date of this notice.

The Classes of Activity at the site, as specified in the; Fourth Schedule of the Waste Management Act, 1996-2008, is as follows; R10: Land treatment resulting in benefit to agriculture or ecological improvement.

And, Part II of the Third Schedule of the Waste Management (Facility Permit & Registrations) Regulations 2007 (as amended), is as follows; Class 5: Recovery of excavation or dredge spoil, comprising natural materials of clay, silt, sand, gravel or stone and which comes within the meaning of inert waste, through deposition for the purposes of the improvement or development of land and the total quantity of waste recovered at the site shall not exceed 25,000 tonnes.

A copy of the application for the Certificate of Registration will as soon as is practicable after receipt by the Local Authority, be available for inspection or purchase at the principal office at Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023

kilkennyobserver.ie

55

Motors

56

Advertisement

kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 October 2023