Kilkenny Observer 23rd December 2022

The wonder of Christmas

Without Christmas Day

where would we make time to count our blessings, to take stock, to renew, to regroup, and to look forward?

If we had no Christmas we would not have the wonderful work that is A Christmas Carol and there’d be no need for those trusted recipes for Christmas cake and mince pies.

Take away Christmas and you displace a whole range

is is the Rudolph the rednosed reindeer story for all children. You can read it yourself or have someone older read it to you

By Shreya Sharma

Once upon a time there were many reindeers at the North Pole, where Santa Claus lived. To deliver toys and gifts to children on Christmas Eve, he chose the eight of the best reindeers to pull his sleigh. His team of reindeers included Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.

Santa Claus fed them magical oats and corns so that they could y high and fast. Santa divided his reindeers into two smaller groups, one with male reindeers and the other with female reindeers. Each one had a di erent personality and interest.

Santa Claus had another little reindeer named Rudolph, the son of Donner and Blitzen. Rudolph had a big, bright red nose and it was not a regular nose at all. Other reindeers laughed at Rudolph, called him names, and never let him join their fun and games. at made Rudolph very lonely and sad.

One day before Christmas, Rudolph went to Santa Claus and asked if he could be on the sleigh team. Santa loved Rudolph very much but pulling the sleigh all over the world was a very hard job. So he advised the little reindeer to stay at home and wait until he grew up.

Overhearing this story, the other reindeers giggled a lot

of mountains and several islands that bear its name.

Imagine a world without a Nativity play performed by doe-eyed school infants, a world without infectious carol singing, without stockings hanging by the hearth, no kissing under the mistletoe, no visiting of graves: a world without Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, no It’s A Wonderful Life, no panto and shouts of

EDITORIAL COMMENT

‘Look about behind you ... ‘ , no baubles, lights or Selection Boxes.

Imagine a world where, not even for just one day in the year, do we strive towards Peace on Earth to all Men of Goodwill. Were there never a Christmas Day, would the much writ-

Children, here’s the real story of Rudolph

ten about truce between German and Allied troops during World War 1 have taken place?

Christmas, for those who are lucky, is a time for giving, a time for receiving well-wishers and a time for a little gastronomic indulgence. No Christmas and

we would not have the joy of the lighted candle to welcome all kind strangers, or the anticipation of opening up presents and yet another pair of knitted socks from your favourite aunt.

And the excitement and wide-eyed wonderment of a child at Christmas as, Teddy to hand, they clamber the stairs to bed to await the coming of Santa Claus. And oh the wonder of it all again

very early next morning when Father Christmas has proved true to his word... Imagine what the year would be without all of that?

After two Christmases past of virtual lockdown, we can breath now. So, enjoy your Christmas. May it be joyful and peaceful.

— The Editor Next edition is out Friday, January 6

and kept making fun of him. ey said that children would scream and cry if they saw his bright red nose glowing. Hearing this, Rudolph became shy. He hid his unique nose in shame and walked back to his home.

On Christmas Eve, a huge snowstorm hit just one hour before Santa Claus set o . e sky turned dark, the wind

blew strongly and the weather became very foggy. “What would happen to Christmas?”

Santa was quite worried. He was afraid that he couldn’t deliver the Christmas gifts to the children in such bad weather.

Santa called on his sleigh team to set o early. But it was so dark that he couldn’t see the road. e sleigh got

stuck in the trees and then hit the rocks. Christmas could be canceled because of the storm, and if it happened, the children would be disappointed.

Suddenly, Santa remembered Rudolph with his bright shiny nose. He thought that the nose was so bright that it could act as a strong light to guide him on his sleigh. Santa

ran to Rudolph and woke him up. e little reindeer was very surprised and delighted when he saw Santa. His nose even glowed more brightly than usual.

Santa asked him to lead the other reindeers pulling his sleigh. en, Rudolph led the sleigh team on that dark night through the harsh wind and thick fog. But the brave little

reindeer still tried his best to y fast. e other reindeers followed Rudolph’s big shiny nose to stay on track. Admiring Rudolph’s bravery, they also tried their best to y faster.

As the sun rose and the fog began to melt away, Santa had already delivered all the Christmas toys to the children all over the world. Santa and the sleigh team were warmly welcomed by everyone when they arrived home. Christmas was saved and Rudolph was the hero of the day.

Santa Claus presented Rudolph with the Medal of Honoor for his bravery. He became the youngest and bravest reindeer to ever join Santa’s sleigh team. From then on, everybody loved Rudolph. e other reindeers never laughed at him and called him funny names again. And Rudolph became very proud of his bright, red nose.

Now, children remember it’s early to bed Christmas Eve... so as Santa Clause can come and visit you and leave you all your young hearts desires

‘Other reindeers laughed at Rudolph, called him names...

How to get enough sleep over Christmas

Christmas is a time that can really interfere with sleep for children (and adults!). e excitement can make it di cult for them to settle down and then this is compounded by a lack of routine that they may be used to.

1) Prioritise napping but in the same breath, you may need to be exible with it. For example, you may need to be at a family gathering in the afternoon that involves travelling during nap time. Allow them to have a longer nap than normal in the morning and then nap in the car on your way there. However, if your child is down to one nap a day explaining to those hosting that you will be arriving a little late.

2) Be prepared for bedtime. If you are out and about visiting family or friends then bring your child’s pyjamas with you. at way when it is time for you to leave you can pop their PJs on and should they fall asleep in the car on the way home, you can transfer them to their cot or bed.

3)

Try to keep meals

regular and nutritious. We all fall into the trap of too much sugar over the Christ-

mas period but for children, this will take the edge o appetite and limit their intake of regular meals. Stick to one treat a day if at all possible or only allow on Christmas Day.

4)  When at home stick to your routine as much as possible. It might be tempting to snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie in the late afternoon and into the evening with

the children however we know that the blue light from the TV and devices has a negative impact on sleep and makes it harder for us to fall asleep. Turn off the TV in the hour before

bedtime and switch to Christmas books or telling your children stories of when you were small at Christmas.

5) Keep your family active . Get out for daily

walks as much as Irish weather will allow! This physical activity will help with tiredness at bedtime – as opposed to lounging around the house all day. Fresh air and time in the outdoors will always help everyone sleep a little better.

6) Make sure to let your child know when bedtime is coming. Remember they are going to be out of routine over Christmas and will lose track of things. In the hour prior to bedtime start to give them little warnings on when bedtime is happening – 30 minutes, 15 minutes, 10 minutes, 5 minutes and then follow through with bedtime.

7) When it comes to Christmas Eve and younger children make it special but also plan. Stick to your normal bedtime that night but starting your bedtime routine a little earlier. Allow them time to leave out their snack for Santa and talk to you about how excited they are about him coming. Keep reminding them that they must go to sleep as Santa does not come while children are awake.

The Fact Of The Matter

PAUL HOPKINS

The Christmas that left

The week before the Christmas of my 17th year school was breaking up. On my walk to my bus home I was joined by Micheál, a boy in the same year as me but not the same class. He lived in a neighbouring estate.

Although at 17 I felt manenough for anything, I still kept Christmas to a traditional pattern, in that I would visit the homes of the lads Christmas morning to share a bottle of Guinness and bid them good joy. Christmas night, however, after the sumptuous feast, I would stay in with my parents and siblings and play a game of Ludo or watch Maureen Potter on the black and white Teilifís Éireann, to a feeding frenzy with my Selection Box.

As we reached the bus stop, I said to Micheál: “If you are doing nothing on

Christmas night, pop over.”

I do not, to this day, know why I said this, as I did not know Micheál that well. He was not a pal, but say it I did. Perhaps, it was my innate sense of the Christmas good will to all men. With me now being a ‘big boy’ of 17, the eldest of three children, my Father had said to me: “Now that you’re almost a man, perhaps on Christmas Day you can have a ball of malt with me, and maybe a cigar if you’d like.” I said: “I’d like that.” And I could see that my readiness to be with him pleased him.

Christmas morning dawned and I awoke with the mother-and-father of a streptococcal throat, something I was occasionally prone to in my youth. Boy, was it bad. My throat was inflamed and so sore and I had a high temperature

and was listless. Getting into the festive spirit was the last thing on my mind, as was the idea of drinking whiskey or smoking a cigar. I was so ill I could not even eat Christmas dinner. I just wanted to go back to bed, but endured for the sake of my parents. (My Father drove me to A&E the next day where a young nurse gave me the needle).

Christmas night, about eight o’clock, I was sitting by the fire in the good room, totally joyless because of my inflamed throat. On the window sill, by the tree, was the traditional lighted candle, its shadow welcoming all here. There was a knock on the hall door. My Mother went to answer it. Momentarily she returned saying: “There is a young man called Micheál at the door, asking for you.” I suddenly remem -

with years of guilt

bered my invitation of a week earlier. Micheál stood at the door, half frozen with the cold, and under each arm he had a six-pack of Guinness. He had come bearing gifts. But before he could utter a word I said to him: “With the best will in the world, I am not inviting you in as I

am very ill and am going to bed.” And I shut the door, literally, in his face. I knew there and then I had done the wrong thing. We never saw each other after that, leaving school finally that summer and going our separate ways.

However, each and every Christmas thereafter I would be overcome with guilt, when I would recall shutting the door in Micheál’s face that night of my 17th year.

Fast forward 40 years and I was at a dinner party where I was introduced to the new man in a friend’s life. It turns out Pat was Micheál’s younger brother, so I told him my story. “Don’t recall the brother ever recounting that tale,” he said.

About six weeks later I bumped into Pat, heading for a drink at a nearby hostelry. “Micheál’s joining

me. He’s down for the night,” said Pat.

Right, says I, here’s my chance to say sorry, ask for forgiveness and rid myself of this terrible guilt that annually envelopes me. So, I followed to the pub some 10 minutes later. Micheál was there, standing at the bar. Forty odd years on I’d have recognised him anywhere.

As I approached him, my hand out, Pat said to him: “This is Paul I was telling you about.”

And he stared at me and without batting an eyelid said: “Not alone do I not remember that story, but I don’t remember you.”

I apologetically turned and left the pub, the winter sun blinding me, thinking, You’re some turkey. All that guilt, all those years...

In memory of Pat Lennon

me

‘You can have a ball of malt, and maybe a cigar...

Our young want to leave us

A large percentage of Irish people under 30 would contemplate heading for another European country, because of the cost of living here, according to new ndings from the Central Statistics O ce (CSO).

e rising cost of living is cited as the main reason for disa ection with the rising costs of living in Ireland, with lack of housing or cost

New Covid variant able to outwit vaccines

A Covid-19 variant, which is believed to be better at getting around people's protection from vaccines and previous infection, now accounts for one in two cases here.

e BQ.1 variant and its o shoots is the rst to topple the BA.5 version of Covid-19 which was dominant here from early summer.

Chief medical o cer Dr Breda Smyth said: " e proportion of BQ.1 variant, including its sub-lineages, represents in excess of 50pc of reported sequenced cases.”

ere has also been a number of cases of the XBB variant, another concerning Omicron spin o and a merger of BJ.1 and BA.2.75.

It comes as new gures show a rise in hospital-acquired Covid-19 cases among patients who were found to have the virus after testing positive in hospital. e hospital-acquired cases rose to 699 in October, up from 329 in August.

e gures, obtained by Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, in a parliamentary response, come as the numbers of patients on trolleys yesterday morning reached a record level for the pandemic as 760 patients waited for a bed.

Separately, of the 8,231 Covid-19-related deaths to December 4 last 2,279 were in nursing homes, according to another response to Mr Tóibín.

Meanwhile, around one in ve people having PCR tests are proving positive.

of renting being a particular bugbear.

e CSO survey found that more than 57% of respondents aged 18 to 29 said ‘they would consider emigrating’ in order to live in a place with a lower cost of living.

But whereas in the past Britain would have been the natural choice for those leaving the country — fol-

lowed by the US and then Australia — other European countries are now often considered preferred destinations, particularly as Britain is beset by what is probably a worse rising cost of living than Ireland.

France is one of the top European destinations for younger Irish people. But a common language still makes a Britain

a valid choice for many of Ireland’s younger people.

e shortage of housing in Ireland remains the single most negative element for those seeking to set up home or start a family.

CSO statistician Aoife O’Neill said: “Di erent age groups had di erent concerns: 45% of those aged over 70 said healthcare was their biggest

concern, whereas those aged 60 to 69 were most likely to cut back on fuel (60%).

“Younger adults were concerned they couldn’t a ord to start a family, with nearly three in 10 (29%) of 18 to 29-yearolds selected this option.

“More than half or 56% of respondents to the ‘Our Lives Our Money’ CSO Pulse Survey said they were very

concerned with the current cost of living. When asked what they are most worried about, 76% said utility costs are of greatest concern. Other areas of concern respondents highlighted from a maximum choice of three include healthcare (30%), no savings or pension (31%), credit card loan (19%), and mortgage/ rent (24%).

Parents save thousands in fees for childcare

Kilkenny parents are set to save thousands of euros a year with a substantial reduction in childcare fees in January when Budget measures take e ect, according to Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan.

Deputy Phelan said many parents were currently receiving noti cations from creches outlining their revised fees from next month which is extremely positive at the present time.

Fuel for thought after €1.5m. investment

There’s a new look Maxol on the Dublin Rd. Kilkenny following a €1.5M investment that has resulted in a bigger, brighter store and what has been heralded as an exciting development for the local community.  The revamped store was launched by Kilkenny Senior Hurling Captain Richie Reid and wellknown TV chef and author Edward Hayden [both pictured here] who battled it out in Maxol Kilkenny’s first-ever Deli Challenge.

The two donned their aprons and got behind the brand new deli counter

to prepare their favourite signature sandwiches, as they competed for the title of Deli Champion.

There could only be one winner and the popular vote went to Richie Reid who reigned supreme with his traditional sandwich of turkey, ham and stuffing on brown bread, topped with cheese and the winning move – toasted.

However, Maxol’s deli experts had special commendation for Edward Hayden who created a spinach wrap filled with spicy chicken, bacon, peppers, sun dried tomatoes

and lettuce and his secret ingredient, chipotle mayo. Both taste sensations proved a big hit and customers can enjoy Richie or Edward’s combos right now from the Maxol Deli in Kilkenny.

Following the redevelopment of the Kilkenny store, the Maxol Deli is one of its key features, offering a wide range of fresh food options to eat in or take away.

Operated by local licensee, Michelle O’Brien Power, significant work at Maxol Kilkenny has resulted in six new employ -

ees and the store doubling in size from 221 Sq.ft to 403 Sq.ft. The extended space includes a new welcoming seating area for 28 customers and more aisle space for grocery essentials, including a wide range of homegrown Irish produce.

In addition to fresh hot and cold deli options, customers can enjoy freshly baked goods and Maxol’s signature ROSA Coffee. There is also a large selection of wines from around the world, as well as a wide range of convenience products.

“From next month, childcare fees will drop by 25%, with an average €1,200 reduction in annual childcare costs for each child. I know of one parent who is set to save €400 per month on fees for his two children who are in creche full time," he said.

Cost-of-living pressures will persist in 2023

A report the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has forecast core in ation in 2023 to be almost as high as this year and has warned of disruptions to Ireland’s exports.

In its quarterly economic commentary for Winter 2022, the think-tank warned of recession risks amongst Ireland’s main trading partners, persistent cost-of-living pressures and core in ation of 7.1% for next year.

Core in ation is the average increase in prices excluding fuel and food, which can uctuate from month to month.

Warrant out for Carey business partner

A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of a former business partner of Catriona Carey after he failed to appear in court for the fourth time in relation to deception charges.

Patrick Maher, who had held the role of secre -

tary in Ms Carey's UK rm Careysfort Asset Estates, was due to appear before Wexford Circuit Court in an unrelated criminal case for sentencing after previously admitting ve charges of deception.

He was accused of four

counts of obtaining monies by deception by preparing false mortgage applications, as well as a further charge of cheating a woman out of her car.

e court was told that Maher was in Dublin and too unwell to attend.

He also failed to appear after stating he su ered a fall at Busáras.

On two other occasions the 55-year-old did not turn up after claiming he had su ered from ill health and stress.

His solicitor said Maher

had su ered a number of strokes in the past year.

Prosecution counsel told the court Maher had not provided medical evidence as to why he could not attend this time and the barrister sought a bench warrant.

Updates are expected.

is is slightly lower than the 7.9% core in ation that Ireland is estimated to have experienced in the 12 months to the end of 2022.

One of the report’s authors added that, while Ireland would be unlikely to enter a recession next year, the slowdown in our economic growth would be “really considerable”.

A recession is a decline in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for two economic quarters in a row.

As I See It

Marianne Heron

Why there’s no present like time at Christmas

at traditional post-feast question, Howd’ya get over the Christmas?, Covers a multitude of possibilities. It allows for di erent answers all the way from full blown joyful celebrations to ‘Bah humbug’ Scrooge-like replies. And there’s that other cover-all response, Sure you know yourself. Christmas, or the Winter Festival, if you want to be sensitive to other beliefs, means lots of things. A ritual marking the winter solstice which stretches back through antiquity, a Christian celebration for the birth of Christ or a family feast.

And it’s a traditional time for giving. e Romans exchanged gifts at Saturnalia, while Saint Nicholas of Myra was a bringer of gifts and the three wise men carried their o erings

of gold, Frankincense or myrrh.

ere are di erent kinds of giving too, trying to ful l the wishes on Santa’s list, trying to nd that fantastic present for someone special and that whirl of buying gifts for friends and family which makes for retailers’ most pro table time of the year.  And there are other kinds of giving which can get overlooked in the rush to ‘get over’ Christmas, as though it were a hurdle: giving in the widest sense to people beyond the immediate circle of family and friends.

It can be about giving time, care, or money to those in need. Even the thought of that kind of giving can sometimes be hard to contemplate, given the pressures of the cost of managing Christmas.

Giving can be on a huge scale. e EU has promised €18 billion to help meet Ukrainian needs in 2023.

Giving can be to meet need here at home. e Capuchin order in Dublin recently had to call the Gardai to disperse the chaotic queue for tickets for Christmas hampers.

But giving doesn’t necessarily have to cost anything and it doesn’t have to be only at Christmas. It can be as simple as giving some of your time, like calling in to someone who is on their own, nearly a third of older people live on their own in Ireland. As the saying goes there’s no time like the present and there is no present like time.

We are good at that kind of giving in Ireland, over a quarter of the population do voluntary work in

some form or other. And that Biblical saying “It is more blessed to give than to receive” has more than a feel- good factor.

Studies highlight the bene ts of generosity on both our physical and mental health.  Generosity reduces stress, ghts depression, supports physical health, enhances one’s sense of purpose, it is also lengthens lifespan. Not least, it provides an opportunity for social contact and for involvement in something bigger than everyday concerns.

We are a charitable lot in Ireland when it comes to giving to good causes, according to the most recent survey carried out for the charities regulator, over 90pc of Irish people give to a registered charity (these are the regulated charities)

each year with 40% of those surveyed giving over €100.

Top of the list for donations came causes for homeless or refugees. And favourite ways to donate are either through ra es, sponsorship or via bank card. e main motivation for giving was to help those less fortunate or to give back to an organisation which had previous helped the individual involved.

In the middle of caring and catering for everyone else in the festive rush, it’s easy to forget about caring for yourself and making some time for yourself. I will forever be grateful to a nancial advisor who sends out Christmas thoughts to his clients each year.

is particular year he had three pieces of wisdom:

1) Forget about social media and turn o that

mobile. 2) Go for a walk in a beautiful place.

3) Do something you would really like to do. at last piece of advice, given I was on my own, widowed and with family far away, had me stumped, Eventually I decided to go for a Christmas drink in town to experience the festive vibe. A long way to go for just one drink but still…

e favourite watering hole from happier times I chose was mobbed, I was about to abandon the project when a table came free and a lovely man came to join me. An hour and a half later we were still talking and now three years later we are still talking and together every day.

Don’t leave yourself out when it comes to giving this Christmas!

And have a happy one!

Customer feedback

CLAIR WHITTY

We get fantastic feedback from you, our customers, about the products we sell. is helps keep us on our toes to ensure that we keep stocking products that work and could help you feel good. Here are some of your favourites. For joint pain and discomfort our top selling supplement was Solgar 7. Many of you tried it and thankfully it worked for most of you. Because you shared your success with us we were able to spread the word to others. It’s described as the next generation after glucosamine. Solgar wanted to come up with a formula that would be faster acting than similar products on the market. In studies it was shown to improve mobility, sti ness, and to reduce discomfort, in as little as seven days. Now we have lots of feedback from customers telling us that it did just that, plus they told us they can do the things they enjoy again, dancing, walking, cycling, or gardening.

Rosalique 3 in 1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula; we couldn’t keep this fantastic miracle cream on our

shelves. Myself and the girls use it and we all love it. It’s a formula that conceals redness instantly, providing light coverage which leaves your skin looking radiant. It gently treats and protects your skin long term. It’s especially good for redness of the skin, in amed skin, skin prone to rosacea, ageing skin, and uneven skin tone. Plus it has a SPF factor 50 to protect when outside. We like that it doesn’t look like we are wearing loads of makeup and best of all our skin doesn’t look red or blemished. It feels light on the skin too. If you haven’t seen this it is worth taking a look at. Men who su er redness can use it too.

Sleep remains one of the biggest problems that we are asked about. My personal favourite remedy is A.Vogel Dormeasan. at’s because it worked for me. I will admit that it didn’t work overnight, it took several weeks to kick in but once it did, I never looked back. I get to sleep quicker, I stay asleep longer, and I wake up feeling refreshed.

Other popular supplements were Collagen, Vitamin D, and Magnesium. ank you for your continued support and positive feedback throughout the year. May 2023 be a good one for you.

Shop online www.naturalhealthstore.ie

e Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OEC) has published the Economic Survey of Ireland 2022, with a special focus on the health sector.

e survey reviews a country’s structural policies that have the potential to improve the economy’s long-run performance and people’s living standards. e chapter on health provides an independent, expert assessment of the Irish health system. rough evidence and cross-country comparisons, the OECD make policy recommendations to maximise sustainability, eciency, and equity.

e report highlights that the health of people in Ireland has improved signi cantly over the last twenty years with life expectancy now one of the highest in OECD. In addition to acknowledging Ireland’s successful response, in relative terms, to Covid-19, the report spotlights signi cant achievements and promising initiatives, such as the successful measures taken to reduce tobacco use and increasing ve-year survival rates across almost all types of cancer.

Like all other countries’ health systems, Ireland’s health sector faces challenges. Importantly the OECD recommendations on addressing these challenges reinforce the direction of reform that is already under way – including the development of:

• the health system performance assessment (1) tool – a framework that uses a set of indicators, such as life expectancy and number of health professionals, to allow policy makers and members of the public understand how the health service is functioning • a single assessment tool–this allows a single, comprehensive assessment of a person’s health and social care needs to inform decisions such as whether residential care is appropriate • the health information bill–this will allow data to better ow through the system to support patient care and health reform • measures to support the uptake of generic and biosimilar drugs in Ireland (4) - this will allow for greater substitution from branded medication to

SPECIAL REPORT

A lot healthier now but health sector still faces challenges

available low cost alternatives where clinically appropriate • increased investment in data and capital infrastructure – for example to procure an Electronic Health Record system, and modernising hospital buildings • implementation of the Waiting List Action Plan (5) – to reduce waiting times in Ireland

Together with benchmarks on reform in other health services, these initiatives will allow Ireland to better manage challenges that are highlighted in the chapter. For example: • as the population begins to age, strategic planning of long-term care is necessary • data availability is poorer than in some other countries.

is inhibits understanding of how health services are nanced, prevents patient records from being e ciently shared between clinicians, and prevents people from being able to quickly access their own e-health records • pharmaceutical spending is growing rapidly compared to our neighbours • progress on reducing waiting lists has been negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Further key recommendations of the report include: • establishing integrated funding and service delivery of home care with other community-based health, longterm care and social services to ensure those who need those services can easily avail of such support

• implementing the reforms to create the Regional Health Areas (6), which will decentralise some aspects of the health service, and rebalance healthcare delivery across primary, community and long-term care and hospitals • introducing a populationbased resource allocation (7) funding model as planned, which distributes funding according to the needs in a local population, to improve nancial reporting and management and strengthen equity in health outcomes • prioritising the adoption of a unique health identi er (3) and centralising governance and appropriate national health information functions within a single independent body

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly welcomed the publication saying: “Under the Programme for Government and Sláintecare, the Department of Health is committed to delivering the right care at the right place at the right time – signi cant investment and reform is underway to deliver a modern, high quality and e ective patient-centred system.

“I welcome the OECD’s commentary on the performance of the health sector - from the excellent health outcomes of people in Ireland to the success of major health initiatives in recent years,” the minister said.

“However, while we have seen unprecedented investment in capacity and people

in our health service in recent years, we must also ensure e ciency in the delivery of services. We have high costs in the health sector by international standards and in the current economic climate, it is also important for the health sector to deliver value for money.

“ e issues Ireland’s healthcare services faces are shared by many of our OECD peers and learning from the initiatives of other countries is a major bene t of work like this. e OECD provide a broadly positive assessment of the current reform direction, which we will use to further enhance and accelerate these reforms, to deliver an e cient, e ective, patientcentred health service.”

‘Heightened concerns’ over housing a ordability in Ireland

The Government will need to push changes to the planning system as building shortages and a sharp rise in house prices threaten to make accommodation too expensive for many families, according to the major report from the Organisation for Co-operation and Development.

On housing, the OECD wants continuing investments in apprenticeships, calls for a “streamlining” of the planning process and supports setting up a division in the High Court spe -

cifically to rule on planning decisions.

It warns the spike in building cost inflation this year will pose new challenges for the Govern -

ment’s Housing for All programme, which “will take time to deliver significant results,” it says.

“It will be important to prioritise supply-side

measures as policies that stimulate demand further given the existing supplydemand imbalances could increase price pressures in the near term,” the report says.

To ensure sufficient Government spending for the future, it wants the Government to recommit to increase the pension age, a policy it recently dropped.

For climate change, it wants urgent changes to planning for wind turbines and calls for a new focus on encouraging fewer people

to own cars. It also signals out emissions from farming, warning that “achieving methane emission reductions has proven to be difficult and the dairy herd has actually been growing, making the targets even more difficult to reach”.

The report says the Irish economy performed better than some of its OECD peers during the Covid crisis. However, the economy as measured by modified domestic demand will grow by less than 1% next year, as inflation pressures bear

down on consumption.

“Ireland faces challenges to sustain growth and improve well-being over the longer term,” the OECD says.

“To wit, the country’s ambitions to overhaul the health system to improve quality of care and value for money, ensure affordable housing and achieve a just carbon transition. In each area, substantial public spending is potentially needed, and ensuring spending efficiency will be required,” it says.

The biggest change in pensions for many years Your Money & You

Over the latter part of this year, I have been discussing the changes in the pensions landscape due to alterations implemented by the Pensions Authority. is is due to the new IORP II Directive, a comprehensive and wideranging European legislation that seeks to enhance and harmonise governance, risk management and transparency of pension schemes across the European Union.

e directive represents the biggest change in the pensions regulatory landscape in Ireland for many years. Even though we are in Christmas week there are many pension schemes holders who do not yet realise what needs to be done with what we would call “old group pension schemes” in spite of the fact that, in the last number of months, pension providers have been making contact regarding progress in devel-

Local Councillor welcomes landmark Action Plan on Bullying

Councillor

Action Plan on Bullying.

Cineáltas, Action Plan on Bullying: is a landmark new Action Plan to prevent and address bullying in schools. is Action Plan has been developed in collaboration with a diverse Steering Committee and has been informed by the views of children and young people, parents, school sta , Education Partners and individual members of the public.

“Bullying in our schools is an unwelcome and unacceptable reality. is landmark action plan has been informed by children, young people, teachers and parents. It creates a clear pathway to ensuring everyone within our schools and outside our schools can work together to address issues of bullying,” said Cllr McGuinness.

“Schools are vibrant, innovative and most importantly inclusive environments for children and young people to learn

John Ellis

oping solutions that support their customers and are keeping them informed as the way ahead becomes clear.

e problem is there are several complex issues to be dealt with at a very busy time of year. To date the trustees of the a ected schemes are being asked at this stage simply to reply saying that the wish to wind up the scheme.  ‘Winding up the scheme’ is a technical term meaning the a ected plans will still sit on the providers system and will eventually be moved to an appropriate investment vehicle in line with the IORP 11 rules. Why has this happened? We have covered this in the last few months but to recap; in June the Pensions Authority extended the requirement to produce an Annual Report and Audited Accounts to all Pension Schemes even to what we call ‘one-man

schemes’ ie. a pension set up for one employee or director only.

e production of annual reports and audited accounts were to date complied and issued by the insurance provider, Now the responsibility lies with the trustees of the scheme and will be a signi cant additional cost, up to €7,000 in some cases have been mooted, which will have to be borne by the member/ employer who are usually trustees.

en in September the Pensions Authority conrmed that the trustees will not be expected to prepare an annual report and audited accounts provided that the transfer of scheme assets, and the scheme wind up be completed by the end of December 2023 for Group schemes and by end of June 2023 for one-member pensions. To start this process

trustees need to deliver to their pension provider a written form, acommitment to wind up a scheme by December 31.

What has come to light is that there are several contracts that are in what is called a ‘with pro t fund’.

is is a contract that has valuable guarantees in place and any changes could or would signi cantly impact the current and maturity values of the plan should they make changes before the retirement date. One way to overcome this is a policy can be assigned, as is, to the member if the trust is wound up.

Also, some providers are actively engaging with a third-party master trust provider to facilitate the assignment of interested schemes to their master trust.  is option will be available to group schemes with more than one member, either active or not paying premiums, and to group schemes with one member that are actively paying premiums. If this route is taken then there would be no change to the underlying contract and the policy will continue to be administered by their current

provider. e use of Buy Out Bonds or Personal Retirement Savings Accounts can also be considered but you will need to talk with your nancial advisor to decide how to proceed.

To reiterate, letter have been sent out to a ected schemes in the last few months and action must be taken before December 31 con rming to the scheme’s Registered Administrator the intention to wind up the scheme who will in due course update the Pensions Authority.

Finally thanks to all our readers and those who have contacted me over the year to say they have found  my articles a help and I would like to wish all the readers of e Kilkenny Observer a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

john@ellis nancial.ie 086 8362622

Mass Kilkennytimes

Christmas Eve

St Mary’s Cathedral 9.00am

Dominican Black Abbey 10.30am

Dominican Black Abbey 1.05pm

St Mary’s Cathedral 4.00pm

St Mary’s Cathedral 6.00pm

St Canice’s Church 5.30pm

Capuchin Friary 5.40pm

St. John’s Church 6.00pm

Christmas Day

St. John’s Church 8.00am

Castlecomer Church 8.00am

St Mary’s Cathedral 9.00am

St Patrick’s Church 9.30am

Castlecomer Church 9.45am

Johnswell Church 10.00am

St Joseph’s Church Foulkstown 10.00am

St Canice’s Church 10.00am

St Fiacre’s Church 10.30am

and grow. It’s not acceptable that some children and young people are inhibited in this by bullying in their school which should be a safe space,” he said.

Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying provides a collective vision and clear roadmap for how the whole education community and society can work together to prevent and address bullying in our schools. One of the main aims of this Action

Plan is to provide a safe school environment where nobody feels alone and afraid to speak up.

“We need to always ensure children and young people from all backgrounds are protected while at school to be able to learn without being bullied and I do believe that this Action Plan is a positive step in the right direction,” concluded Cllr Andrew McGuinness.

Castlecomer Church 6.00pm

Dominican Black Abbey 6.10pm

Dunmore Church 7.00pm

St Canice’s Church 7.30pm

Tulla Church 7.30pm

Johnswell Church 8.00pm

Ballyragget Church 8.00pm

St John’s Church 9.00pm

St Fiacre’s Church 9.00pm

Capuchin Friary 9.00pm

Dominican Black Abbey 9.00pm

St Patrick’s Church 12.00am

Capuchin Friary 10.30am

Ballyragget Church 10.30am

St Mary’s Cathedral 11.00am

Dunmore Church 11.00am

St. Lachtains Church 11.00am

Castlecomer Church 11.00am

St John’s Church 11.30am

St Canice’s Church 11.30am

St Fiacre’s Church 12.00pm

Capuchin Friary 12.00pm

St Patrick’s Church 12.30pm

St John’s Church (Polish) 1.00pm

‘There are several complex issues to be dealt with...

Andrew McGuinness has welcomed the launch of a new landmark

Science & Wellbeing

e battle to nd cures for various cancers continues globally, with increasing good news being published daily about ‘breakthroughs’.

e latest good news sees ‘game-changing’ treatment using di erent human immune cells known as natural killer (NK) cells — with dramatic results.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as Keytruda and Opdivo work by unleashing the immune system’s T cells to attack tumour cells. eir introduction a decade ago marked a major advance in cancer therapy, but only 10% to 30% of treated patients experience long-term improvement. In a paper published in e Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI), scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City describe ndings that could bolster the e ectiveness of immune-checkpoint therapy.

Rather than rally T cells against cancer, the Einstein research team used di erent human immune cells known as natural killer (NK) cells—with dramatic results.

“We believe the novel immunotherapy we’ve developed has great potential to move into clinical trials involving various types of cancer,” said study leader Xingxing Zang, M.Med., PhD., the Louis Goldstein Swan Chair in Cancer Research and professor of microbiology & immunology, of oncology, of urology, and of medicine at Einstein and a member of the Cancer erapeutics Programme of the Monte ore Einstein Cancer Centre.

e surfaces of immune cells are studded with receptors known as ‘checkpoint’ proteins, which prevent immune cells from straying beyond their usual targets (pathogen-infected cells and cancer cells). When checkpoint receptors on immune cells bind with proteins expressed by the body’s own normal cells, the interaction puts the brakes on a possible immune-cell attack.

Cancer: new focus on natural killer cells

Diabolically, most types of cancer cells express proteins that bind with checkpoint proteins, tricking immune cells into standing down and not attacking the tumour. New blood test improves prostate cancer screening Prostate cancer antibody drug shows success in dogs Ultrasound scans can now detect and diagnose prostate cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies designed to short-circuit immune-cell/ cancer-cell interactions by blocking either the tumour

proteins or the immune-cell receptors that bind with tumour proteins. With no brakes to impede them, immune cells can attack and destroy cancer cells.

e limited e ectiveness of checkpoint inhibitors prompted Dr Zang and other scientists to look at checkpoint pathways involving NK cells, which — like T cells — play major roles in eliminating unwanted cells. A cancer-cell protein called PVR soon captured their attention.

“We realised that PVR may be a very important protein

that human cancers use to hobble the immune system’s attack,” said Dr. Zang.

PVR protein is usually absent or very scarce in normal tissues but is found in abundance in many types of tumours including colorectal, ovarian, lung, esophageal, head and neck, stomach, and pancreatic cancer as well as myeloid leukemia and melanoma.

Meanwhile, the cancer-cell protein PVR was found to have another “binding partner” on NK cells: KIR2DL5. “We hypothesized that PVR suppresses NK cell activity

not by binding with TIGIT but by binding with the recently recognized KIR2DL5,” said Dr. Zang. To nd out, he and his colleagues synthesised a monoclonal antibody targeting KIR2DL5 and carried out in vitro and in vivo experiments using the antibody.

Einstein has led a patent application for KIR2DL5/ PVR immune checkpoint including antibody drugs and is interested in a partnership to further develop and commercialise the technology.

Dr Zang has previously developed and patented more

than 10 immune checkpoint inhibitors. One of those inhibitors is now being tested in China in phase 2 clinical trials involving several hundred patients with advanced solid cancers (non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, lymphoma) or recurrent/refractory blood cancers (acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes). Another of Dr. Zang’s immune checkpoint inhibitors will be evaluated starting next year in cancer clinical trials.

e co ee market has been dominated the past two centuries by two species: Arabica and Robusta, respectively comprising 55% and 45% of global production. Pricier, sweeter Arabica beans are more typically used in fancier beverages over the more bitter Robusta beans, which pack twice the ca eine. But as the climate changes, a rare species could push these two mainstays to the minority.

As a group of plant scientists from the UK and Uganda described in a comment published ursday in Nature Plants, Co ea liberica, more simply known as Liberica, wasn’t always the relative unknown that it is today. At the dawn of the 20th century, it was the second most traded species, behind the ever popular Arabica.

Robust and high-yielding,

The re-emergence of a cup of Liberica

with resistance to pests and disease as well as an ability to tolerate warmer temperatures, Liberica ourished, particularly in southern Asia.

But it had one glaring drawback that led to its decline into obscurity: it didn’t taste very good.

e avour issues and low quality were largely the result of di culties in post-harvest processing... due to the large size of the fruit, its thick rather tough skin and thick pulp.

But now, a con uence of factors could bring Liberica co ee back, argueably.

Processing methods have vastly improved in the past century, climate change is raising temperatures globally (forcing Arabica growers to relocate to higher elevations), and a new variety of Liberica called Excelsa has come to the forefront which retains the species’ hearty

traits while tasting vastly better.

Excelsa is a mild, smooth, pleasant- avoyred co ee of low to medium acidity and low bitterness... Tasting notes include cocoa nibs, peanut butter, dried fruits, Demerara sugar, and maple syrup... Moreover, Excelsa’s ca eine content and bean size are similar to Arabica’s.

Excelsa co ee is already seeing rapid uptake in Uganda, where more than 200 farms are now growing it. e species is primarily supplanting Robusta, which attracts a lower price compared to Arabica and has been increasingly vulnerable to pests, disease, and drought in the country.

ough Excelsa is proliferating, it has a long way to go before it even comes close to dethroning either Arabica or Robusta co ee.

In Nepal there are places that over ow with unique experiences that encapsulate the spirit and essence of Nepal. ese are arranged in random order and are for the normal traveller and not the ones looking for extreme adventure like climbing Mount Everest.

1. Kathmandu

Kathmandu is not only the political capital of Nepal but also its cultural capital. e rich heritage of Nepal comes alive in its many ancient temples including the famous Pashupatinath temple and Budhanilkantha temple. e unmissable sights in Kathmandu other than the Pashupatinath temple, are Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, and Durbar Square. As you walk in the historic streets of Kathmandu, you are transported to a di erent era, and the best part is that today Kathmandu is literally a city where tradition meets the contemporary way of life.

2. Lumbini

e call of Lumbini can be irresistible and the sole reason why you must visit Nepal once in a lifetime. After all, Lumbini is the birthplace of the Buddha and the most sacred of all places for Buddhists. Buddhism was literally born here and travelled to India and the world from here.

Buddhist Viharas, temples, stupas, and tranquil lakes with oating lotuses seem to sing paeans to the Buddha and create a serene experience in Lumbini. Travel to Lumbini for an experience that will connect you to your inner being. It is a place that exudes spirituality that touches you gently, but e ectively.

3. Patan | Lalitpur

If you want to time travel to a grand era in the history of Nepal, you need to head to Patan also referred to as Lalitpur. It is a veritable treasure trove of heritage architecture and art. An entire

Good reasons to visit Nepal once in a lifetime

city that seems to be caught in a time warp. It is one of the royal cities of Nepal, which draws tourists in droves to marvel at its rich heritage. ere is something stunning awaiting you at every bend in the road in Patan. Temples, palaces, and public utility buildings, all made with elegant woodwork are a feast to the eyes. You can spend hours wandering around the lanes and by-lanes of Patan, losing yourself in its enthralling beauty.

4. Pokhara Pokhara [pictured] is the gateway to the Annapurna ranges and the starting point

of many of the Himalayan treks. e beautiful Phewa lake embellishes the picturesque beauty of the place.

Pokhara is a tranquil place set on the banks of Lake Phewa. e place o ers some spectacular views of the surroundings and one can bask in amazing sunrises and sunsets while boating on the placid waters of the lake.

Pokhara is also a great place for adventure activities like paragliding and white water rafting.

5. Chitwan National Park If the call of the wild is what gives you an adrenaline rush,

the one-horned Rhinoceros awaits your footfalls at the Chitwan National Park, a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nepal. Other than the One-Horned Rhino, you can also nd elephants, tigers, and wild bison in the sanctuary of the Chitwan National Park.

6. Nagarkot Nagarkot is a fairy tale town that nestles picturesquely on the hills. It is a place that is known for breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges. It makes for a splendid getaway from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu as it is just 28 kilometres away. Stunning

sunrises and sunsets are in store for you in Nagarkot. If you are looking to lose yourself in the arms of nature, then Nagarkot awaits your visit.

7. Sagarmatha National Park

If you are dreaming of Mt Everest, you can get visually close to it at the Sagarmatha National Park, which is spread over a massive area of 1,148 square kilometres. e park includes the towering Mt. Everest within it. e other Himalayan peaks in the Sagarmatha National Park include Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam.

e elusive Snow Leopard can be spotted within the National Park, which also o ers scintillating views of the Himalayan ranges.

Nepal is indeed an intoxicating blend of nature, culture, and adventure. ere are so many reasons to visit Nepal once in a lifetime. A visit to this tiny country is guaranteed to leave you with unforgettable memories to cherish for a lifetime. We hope that our reasons to visit Nepal once in a lifetime, have prompted you into action, and you are ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime.

What to Pack in Checked Luggage

Toiletries: No matter how long you’re gone, odds are you’ll need a few toiletries. In your toiletry bag, don’t forget to pack a toothbrush, toothpaste, face and body soap, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, a hairbrush, sunscreen, and any makeup you may want. Don’t forget hair styling tools and products if you use those too.

Take prescription medications and any overthe-counter medicines you may need. If you have space, bring along a small bag of rst-aid items too, including a few bandaids, hand sanitiser, pain relievers, tweezers, and alcohol wipes.

Before you travel, think about every situation you’ll be in during your trip. is will help you determine your footwear needs.

Packing for your next trip

Walking around a city?

Pack comfortable sneakers.

Heading out on the town? Bring dress shoes. Hiking? Sturdy boots for sure. But only bring what you need, as shoes can take up a ton of valuable space.

Bring a pair of socks for

every day of your travels. Roll or fold them and place them into your packed shoes to save space.

Try to avoid the temptation to bring too many “just in case” underwear. Pack one pair for every day you’re gone. With trousers, again,

situation awareness is key.

Going somewhere warm?

Bring a loose pair of slacks.

Cold? Jeans are a great option.

Aim to bring one or two pairs that will match several tops.

If you’re going somewhere warm (lucky you!) make sure to bring at least one pair of

shorts so you don’t overheat.

T-shirts: For warm-weather getaways, t-shirts are king. Bring two or three depending on your vacation length (and don’t worry about being an out`t repeater).

Cold-weather clothes: For colder vacations, make sure to bring warm clothes, including long-sleeve tops, sweaters, or sweatshirts. Wear your jacket, gloves, hat, and scarf on the plane to save valuable luggage space.

What to Pack in Carry-On Luggage

Electronics: Your carry-on bag should include anything you need or want while on a ight. is can include your laptop for work, a cell phone to stay connected, or an e-reader. Just don’t forget to pack the appropriate chargers.

Bring at least two days of

your medications with you to ensure you have access to anything you need should your checked baggage get lost. Have your ticket information handy (including on your mobile phone and a printed copy just in case), along with directions to your accommodation upon landing and any pertinent visa information. Also, bring your passport and another ID for international trips, and a credit card plus a little cash for emergencies.

Face masks may no longer be mandatory on many airlines, but it’s never a bad idea to have one handy just in case you want to add a layer of protection or if it’s required at your destination.

Bring your sunglasses and any other eyewear you need to see (including an extra pair of contacts in a to-go case).

And don’t forget a universal charger...

Furthermore Gerry Moran

At sixes and sevens over the Christmas tree!

Picking a Christmas tree, I often think, is like picking a partner. Some people like their partners tall and thin, others like them short and plump while more like them in between. I’m an inbetween man myself. I like my Christmas tree, not too tall and not too small, but with enough body to hang a few decent decorations on. There’s nothing as bad as a tall, thin tree that you can see through even though every Christmas decoration in the house is hanging on it. And there’s absolutely nothing as bad as a tree that tilts over, and collapses, when you toss a few baubles or a bit of tinsel on it. Most Christmas trees, I notice, have a tendency to tilt, to lean a little. In fact there’s only one thing worse than the trouble and strife of foraging for a decent Christmas tree and that’s watching it tilt over in front

of your eyes, your wife’s eyes, your children’s eyes.

A good half hour you spend getting it to stand to attention and then just when you think it’s straight and steady it casually leans over and your youngest child chirps up: “Hey, dad, the Christmas tree is crooked.”

Now there are two good reasons for ‘crooked’Christmas trees: one, Christmas trees, I believe, by their nature are inclined to favour one side of the room to the other, usually the side with the crackling, log fire. And who could blame them?

The other reason for crooked Christmas trees, and at the risk of incurring the wrath of every feminist from Freshford to Fermanagh, is women. Christmas trees would never lean if it were left to us men. We men know how to make

trees stand up straight. With a saw, some sticks and a few bricks we can make the hardiest Fir tree stand to attention. Granted the sticks and bricks don’t look too aesthetic, don’t look aesthetic at all, but your tree is straight. And will remain so for the duration of the festive season or at least until your neighbour comes around looking for the bricks you borrowed from his backyard that were earmarked for his new extension.

Women, understandably, want something dainty and delicate. They want the Christmas tree placed in the cutest little flowerpot that a geranium would feel claustrophobic in. And, of course, the use of sticks, and bricks, is strictly prohibited.

Is it any wonder then that your average Christmas tree tilts and leans? I mean how

would you like to spend Christmas with your feet planted, if you’ll pardon the pun, in a tiny flowerpot?

Believe me, you wouldn’t be long leaning or tilting or toppling over.

And have I mentioned fairy lights at all? Fairy

lights are the most exasperating, infuriating invention ever. Designed, I’m convinced, to bewitch, bother and bewilder, they are a law unto themselves. Fairy lights will light in the box, they’ll light in your hands, they’ll light just about anywhere except on the tree. And then it starts — that frustrating ritual of tightening every little bulb until you find the one that’s faulty or loose. If you’re lucky. But for the fact that I’m a civilised, polite sort of person. I would tell manufacturers where to shove their fairy lights. And don’t tell me it can’t be done.

If you can get a six-foot Christmas tree to stand in a six-inch flowerpot – you can do anything.

The gift of receiving  “A young man while roaming the desert came across a spring of cool,

crystal-clear water. The water was so pure he filled his canteen to bring some back to his teacher, a tribal elder. After a four-day journey he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student profusely for the water. Later another student tasted the water. He spat it out, said it was tepid and stale.

The student challenged his teacher: “Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?”

The teacher replied: “You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of kindness and nothing could be sweeter.”

Worth remembering perhaps when we open our presents Christmas morning and discover a CD, book (or Rolex watch!) that isn’t quite to our liking!

‘There’s nothing as bad as a tall, thin tree...

Climate livestock cuts ‘won’t be forced’ on farmers

e proposed cuts to livestock numbers in the Climate Action Plan will not be forced on farmers, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has promised.

Minister McConalogue was set to have an action plan for the sector ready for Cabinet, which must outline how agriculture will reduce its emis-

sions over the course of the decade by 25%.

e minister has dismissed speculation that cattle numbers could be cut by 10% under the plan, instead highlighting that the sector has already committed to a 10% reduction in methane by 2030. However, he said this did not directly correlate to a

We may be taxed at 40% to pay for our pension

Employees could have their salaries taxed at 40% to pay for a new universal basic income under proposals examined in a report today.

Research by the ESRI reveals that rolling out a payment worth €1,200 a month a person, regardless of their income, would cost almost €50bn. e report says a universal basic income would be an unconditional payment that is made regularly to everyone over 18 and would be “su cient to live on”.

It would not be meanstested and people would not have to work to get it.

e report says recent policy proposals to a ord such a scheme would mean replacing the lower 20pc rate of tax with the higher 40% rate.

It notes this is put forward in a Green Party plan that would also mean tax credits are scrapped.

Previously it was estimated that an income tax rate of 50% or 60% would be needed under proposals put forward in the 1990s to nance such a scheme. e report says the introduction of a basic income for all would require substantial changes to the tax and welfare system.

It says that a pilot study and more analysis would give further evidence on the wider impact of implementing a full roll-out in Ireland.

“Assuming it is paid to every individual aged over 18 in Ireland, a universal basic income set at 60pc of median income in 2019 equates to a monthly payment of €1,200 a person and would have a gross cost of just under €50bn a year,” says the ESRI report, which was funded by the Low Pay Commission.

To put this in context, it says, total spending on all social welfare programmes in 2019 was €20.9bn.

e report looks at other scenarios including a universal basic income equal to 50% of median income, or €1,000 a person, which would cost €41bn.

e cost of a universal income at the current social welfare rate of €208 a week would be €37bn.

For €10bn a year, individuals would end up with a €243 a month payment.

e report lists a number of bene ts from setting up a universal basic income.

ey include an end to the complex administration of means-testing and the stigma associated with welfare payments.

It would give more nancial security, it says and would avoid situations where people are discouraged from taking up paid work due to the risk of losing means-tested welfare payments.

e report says it would give people the nancial freedom to leave insecure or exploitative work for other jobs.

ose on higher incomes would pay more tax at the 40% rate as their total income, including the universal income portion, would be counted.

Among the drawbacks are the fact that it does not “proportionately” target funds to those most in need as everyone gets it regardless of their income.

e report raises concerns that it could lead to some people withdrawing from the labour market.

e report looks at other scenarios including a universal basic income equal to 50% of median income, or €1,000 per person, which would cost €41bn.

e cost of a universal income at the current social welfare rate of €208 a week would be €37bn.

10% reduction in numbers.

“I am committed to delivering on the three pillars of sustainability in agriculture — environmental, societal and crucially, economic.

“ ere will be no measure in the Climate Action Plan that will be forced upon farmers. All measures will be voluntary and aimed at sup-

porting our farmers to continue to produce world-class food while also diversifying incomes streams through tillage, energy generation and forestry,” the minister said.

Measures in the new plan are likely to be centred on the recent reports of high-level dairy and beef industry committees outlined options for

the sector to meet its targets in recent weeks.

Measures

Among the measures were schemes which would pay farmers to reduce livestock numbers, reducing the age at which cattle are slaughtered and signi cant cuts to chemical fertiliser use on farms.

e main farming organisa-

tions all distanced themselves from the groups’ nal report, while Meat Industry Ireland (MII), which represents meat processors, said the inclusion of measures aimed at incentivising a reduction in the suckler cow herd will compromise the economic contribution and viability of the beef sector.

There’s an upturn in tech jobs downturn

Recent global tech sector layo s have hit Ireland’s workforce hard. Prior to these job cuts, the Irish digital sector directly employed more than 270,000 people, as well as creating many more ancillary jobs.

Tech jobs pay an average annual salary of €74,000 in Ireland and cover 11% of the country’s income tax revenues. While gross pay increased across all sectors in 2021 compared with prepandemic levels, tech salaries grew by an impressive 28%, compared with 1% for hospitality workers.

Equipped with superior spending power, these wellpaid tech workers have also been better able to a ord

Ireland’s high rents and house prices – even during the recent housing, energy and cost-of-living crises. Although, these were arguably boosted by the growth of high-paying sectors such as science and technology in the rst place.

University of Galway’s Dr Maeve O’Sullivan, writing for e Conversation, in parts says these jobs often come from foreign rms. e last year broke records for foreign direct investment employment in Ireland.

Multinationals employed more than 300,000 workers, with information and communication rms accounting for 116,192 of those jobs.

Much of this is activity

concentrated in ‘Europe’s Silicon Valley’, the Dublin docklands area that hosts major o ces for many of the world’s largest tech companies including Google’s parent Alphabet, Apple, Meta, Microsoft’s LinkedIn, Stripe and Twitter.

But with just 10 rms accounting for 36% of all the tax paid in the country, Ireland’s economic vulnerability in the face of a global recession and the current tech downturn has caused some concern.

Before these job cuts, however, continued employment growth from multinational rms has left home- grown tech companies – and many other

sectors – with record job vacancies. Indeed, the head of industry body Technology Ireland pointed out recently that indigenous rms have “found it challenging to hire at pace over the last two years”.

Ireland hit a record high for job vacancies right across the economy this year. is means there could be a silver lining to recent layo s by global tech giants, particularly if locally based talent is freed up for indigenous tech rms.

It could also create opportunities for employees that are currently underrepresented in the workforce such as women and older people.

Showcasing our jobs future this Christmas

ere are just a few days to go until Kilkenny County Council, through its Local Enterprise O ce, stages an extensive careers event in Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile Museum showcasing the hundreds of jobs on o er in leading companies located across the city and county.  Christmas is the time of year when thousands of people return to Kilkenny, many of whom might be considering a permanent move home now or in the future if the

right career and lifestyle opportunities were to present themselves.

#careerskilkenny aims to showcase the volume and variety of high-quality jobs on o er in Kilkenny city and county both now and in the future, and highlight the advantages that Kilkenny o ers as a location to live and work.

Financial Services and Life Sciences companies attending the event are seeking to ll up to 600 positions across a wide variety of roles and

include some of the largest employers in Kilkenny such as State Street, VHI, Tirlan, CluneTech and Bank of Ireland.

e event will o er attendees a chance to engage directly with representatives from these companies who will be on hand to answer queries about the roles and opportunities on o er in their companies.

Representatives from the Local Enterprise O ce and Kilkenny County Council will also be in attendance to o er

support and ensure attendees have the opportunity to meet all the participating companies.

e #careerskilkenny event runs from 10.30am to 4pm on Friday, December 30 and there is still an opportunity to register for free through Event Brite.

* For more information on the participating companies and open roles, and to register on Event Brite check out www.careerskilkenny. com

1. Greece: Christmas Trees And Boats

In Greece, decorating Christmas trees and boats has been popular for centuries. e rrst known Christmas tree in Greece was put up by King Otto in 1833 next to a large decorated boat, which families traditionally erected to celebrate men’s return from sea voyages. Today, in cities like Athens and essaloniki, large lit-up boats appear alongside trees.

2.Ethiopia: Christmas Processions

In Ethiopia, people celebrate Christmas, called Ganna or Genna, on January 7 in accordance with the Ethiopian Orthodox Calendar. Mass often begins with a special candlelit procession, in which participants wear a thin white shawl called a Netela and process around the church three times before the service begins. ey don’t typically give gifts during Ganna; it’s a time for church, games and of course, food.

3. Slovakia: Carp For Dinner

All over Central Europe, people enjoy carp for Christmas Eve Dinner, according to NPR. But rather than picking it up from the supermarket, traditionalists let the sh live in the bathtub for a couple of days before preparing and eating it. Legend has it, the scales bring luck and good fortune for the coming year.

5. Japan: KFC For Christmas Dinner

In Japan, celebrating Christmas is still relatively new. It’s only been widely recognised for the past couple of decades, and is typically seen as a time to spread joy and cheer, or even a romantic couple’s day, instead of a religious holiday. Many order KFC for Christmas dinner, or make a reservation at a restaurant instead of cooking a big feast.

6. Poland: People Share A Pre-Dinner Wafer

In Poland, and many Polish communities worldwide, Christmas Eve dinner or (Wigilia) begins with sharing the Oplatek. e paper-thin square wafer is made of our and water has an image of the Nativity on it. Everyone at the table breaks o a piece and shares a holiday greeting before passing it along. Sometimes, even pets get in on the fun.

7. Sweden: St Lucia’s Day

In Sweden, Finland, and Norway, St Lucia’s Day is a special part of the Christmas season that commemorates a woman said to be one of the rst Christian martyrs. Celebrations involve candlelit processions, with the eldest girl in each family dressed up like St. Lucia in white gowns, often wearing a wreath with candles. e girls will also serve the family S-shaped Lucia buns and co ee or mulled wine.

Christmas celebrated around the world

10. Austria: Krampus Hunts For Naughty Children

You thought coal in your stocking was bad? In Austria and Bavaria, St. Nicholas gifts good kids gifts, while Krampus, the half-man, half-goat comes around the drag the bad ones away. In some places, men dress up as the scary character for a Krampuslauf, or ‘Krampus run’ in which they parade through the streets to blow off steam — and scare some kids back into line.

11 Singapore: Serious Light Displays

Singapore’s Orchard Road shopping district buzzes with activity all year round but during the Christmas season, it twinkles with some of the most impressive decorations in the world. Residents also visit Gardens on the Bay for a jaw- dropping Christmas village display. We wouldn’t mind getting stuck in traffic with that kind of view to pass the time.

12.

Switzerland: Kids Get Advent Calendars

Although their popularity has spread in recent years, Advent Calendars are especially big in Switzerland. Some parents make them for their children, while others purchase unique ones tailored to their kids’ interests. They open a new little treat every day, with the biggest one arriving on Christmas Eve.

13.

Australia: Christmas On The Beach

Because Christmas falls during the sweltering summer months in Australia, many residents hit the beach for a barbecue. People might play a rousing game of backyard cricket, according to one Insider writer, and grill up fresh seafood on the barbie. They still sing ‘White Christmas’ but won’t ever see one outside their front door.

14. Iceland: 13 Santa Clauses Place Treats In Shoes

Not only does Iceland celebrate 13 days before Christmas, children also get presents from 13 different Santa Clauses, or Yule Lads. Each of these lads has his own different qualities and they can all be a bit feisty. But if good children place their shoes on the windowsill, the Yule Lads will leave them little gifts. If they haven’t behaved all year, rotten potatoes show up in their Crocs.

Mexico: All-Night Parties With Piñatas

15.

eChristmas

8. Germany: Visiting

Markets

In Germany, you can do your Christmas shopping with a mug of mulled wine in one hand and a bratwurst in the

other at festive outdoor markets. e sprawling seasonal markets pop up all over the country with artisans selling gifts for everyone on your list.

9.

Philippines: Nochebuena And Lights

Filipinos take the Christmas season seriously, with big Nochebuena parties on Christmas Eve. Many will attend Mass,

called Misa de Riso in the evening, and then feast and dance into the wee hours. Decorations often go big too, with the parol, a lighted star lantern, featuring prominently.

In Mexico, as well as many other Latinx and Hispanic countries, families celebrate Nochebuena on Christmas Eve. That includes a huge feast, singing and dancing — and often a piñata for the kids. More religious observers may attend midnight Mass, but it’s always a time for family and togetherness.

Oppressive laws fail to eradicate hurling...

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

e Norman warrior Geoffrey Fitz omas, having been caught in the company of hurlers, and playing the illegal game ( e infamous Statutes of Kilkenny had banned it) was subjected to a grueling “interview” by his captors.

ough willing to confess to his crime, however, Fitz omas was unable, or unwilling, to divulge the names of the native Irish men with whom he had hurled. He pleaded, even after days of torture on the rack and “dancing” on hot coals that the men had never identi ed themselves to him by name.

is may have been the truth, as any hurler in his right mind knew that the authorities were keeping a keen eye on Anglo Normans suspected of hurling sympathies. e only rule to be observed on the hurling eld in those days was Don’t get Caught. e sportsmen would have been acutely aware that Fitz omas risked being lifted by King Edward’s ought Police.

Other prisoners and detainees had to shield their ears from the loud shrieks of pain and panic-stricken terror emitting from Fitzomas’s cell. When torture appeared not to be working, his tormenters resorted to a little gentle persuasion. e rack men exited the scene for a while to allow a wonderfully pleasant fellow with a dandy accent to extract information by kindness.

is charmer promised the fatigued and emotionally shattered prisoner, who was aching all over from his torment, that if he would just scribble out the names of the other hurlers, the court would deal more leniently with him, or there might even be a chance of a pardon.

And throughout his time in detention, prior to the court hearing, he could enjoy the rare privilege of conjugal visits in the dungeon from his wife or girlfriend…if he would only spill the beans on those dreadful stick-and-ball men.

But Geo rey still insisted he knew nothing about the hurlers…their names, whereabouts, anything. e charmer’s uncontaminated smirk turned to a frown. He pranced out of the cell and back in stepped the rack men to give the unlawful sports-

man another stretch. In court, Geo rey gave an undertaking to the judge not to hurl again, claiming that he just couldn’t help himself when he beheld the great skill of the lads out hurling in the elds, meadows, and laneways as he rode his stallion home from work in the evenings. One thing had led to another, and he had fallen under the spell of the strange foreign game.

e judge scowled: “If the law allowed”, he intoned, “I would, without hesitation, be sending you to the gallows. Howsoever, I can tell you now that you will be ogged to within an inch of your miserable life, which grati es me more than you could know or believ.”

e unfortunate Norman thrill-seeker was sentenced to forty lashes and two years imprisonment with hard labour…for hurling! Unfortunately, there was no local media in those days to o er a more complete report of the case.

e Statutes of Kilkenny failed to eradicate hurling, which continued to ourish countrywide. But in 1527 the Galway Statutes reinforced the hurling ban, making it di cult for fans to enjoy what the legislators deemed a violent and war-like pastime.

e sport underwent a revival in the 18th century but experienced a considerable setback in the rst part of the 19th century with famine and mass emigration stalking the land. en, the founding of the GAA in 1884 guaranteed its future as a national sport that had endured the test of time and helped to de ne what it meant to be Irish.

Days of glory lay ahead...

To be continued...

Kilkenny All Ireland champions 1947

Kilkenny All Ireland finalists 1978

Kilkenny minor champions 1950

Kilkenny team 1940

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Daniel Craig and Janelle Monáe in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Photograph: John Wilson/AP

After the deserved success of his Agatha Christie homage Knives Out, it was inevitable that Rian Johnson would bring back Daniel Craig’s private eye Benoit Blanc for another starry whodunnit. Cleverly, Johnson sets the new case at a murder mystery weekend, hosted on his private island by Edward Norton’s Miles Bron, co-founder of a tech company with Janelle Monáe’s Andi. Blanc turns up after receiving an invitation that wasn’t meant for him but soon becomes involved in a real murder investigation.

ere are a host of suspects for him to question, from Kathryn Hahn’s Connecticut politician and Kate Hudson’s leisurewear designer to Dave Bautista’s men’s rights in uencer. And then there’s Andi, who’s not on the best of terms with Miles ... It’s all great fun, with a plot that’s suitably labyrinthine and a cast clearly loving it.

Friday 23 December, Net ix

Shaun the Sheep Movie In the WGCU (Wallace & Gromit Cinematic Universe), Shaun the Sheep is the equivalent of Marvel’s Loki or Star Wars’

Rogue One, a quality spin-o from a much-loved franchise. For his rst big-screen outing – and in similar fashion to the Babe sequel – Shaun nds himself in the Big City after the farmer goes missing. He’s joined by the rest of the ock and Bitzer the dog, and they have to pose as humans while seeking their owner. Aardman’s Heath Robinson approach to both plot and design is, as ever, a delight, and gives the lm a distinctively British feel.

Friday 23 December, 9.55am, BBC One

e Duke e late Roger Michell’s nal drama is an engaging tale of the little man against the system, a kind of modern-day Ealing comedy. Jim Broadbent is a hearty presence as Kempton Bunton, a Newcastle taxi driver whose campaign to exempt pensioners from having to pay the TV licence fee leads him, in 1961, to steal a Goya portrait from London’s National Gallery and ransom it until his demands are met. Helen Mirren plays his exasperated wife Dorothy in a witty, quirky true story.

Christmas Eve, 1.15pm, 10.55pm, Sky Cinema.

Fantastic Beasts: e Secrets of Dumbledore e third in the Wizarding World prequels shifts focus from Eddie Redmayne’s creature-loving Newt to Dumb-

A festive feast of TV and streaming

ledore (Jude Law). With the manipulative dark wizard Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen, replacing Johnny Depp) politicking to destroy the muggle world, Dumbledore recruits an expert team including Newt and his brother eseus (Callum Turner) to stop him. Always visually inventive, director David Yates keeps all the narrative plates spinning in anticipation of further lms, which may or may not be conjured up.

Christmas Day, 12.30pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere

Aladdin

Guy Ritchie’s action- lled take on the Disney animation is revisionist in its casting – with ne actors of mostly Arabic origin – but otherwise hoves to the comedy musical template of the 1992 original. Mena Massoud is a charming Aladdin, the thief with a talent for parkour and pickpocketing, who falls for Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott) and faces o with evil vizier Jafar (Marwan Kenzari). Will Smith has the hardest task – emulating Robin Williams as the Genie – but manages to put his stamp on the part.

Christmas Day, 3.10pm, BBC One

Mary Poppins

Emily Blunt did the character proud in Mary Poppins Returns, but the magical nanny will always belong to Julie Andrews. She’s spit spoton as the mysterious visitor who entertains and

educates her two wayward young charges, Jane and Michael Banks, while helping their distant banker father reconnect with them. Dick Van Dyke provides the energy as cockernee chimney sweep Bert, while the songs, by Richard and Robert Sherman, are consistently wonderful – from A Spoonful of Sugar to Chim Chim Cher-ee and, of course, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Stephen’s Day, 2.25pm, BBC One e Mitchells vs the Machines is terri c animated adventure from Michael Rianda and Je Rowe tackles the pleasures and perils of social media. Abbi Jacobson voices the Mitchells’ teenage daughter Katie, a budding lm-maker who struggles to relate to her outdoorsy dad Rick (Danny McBride). It takes a “machine apocalypse” of robot digital assistants, led by Olivia Colman’s bitter smartphone, to bring them back together. Witty and creative, the lm layers colourful emojis and lters over the action, revelling in big tech’s possibilities while warning of its limitless power.

Stephen’s Day, 3.30pm, ITV1

Goodfellas

Martin Scorsese has said he copied the snappy, freewheeling style of the French Nouvelle Vague for his scintillating mob drama. It certainly gives a fresh look to a crime subgenre usually in the shadow of

e Godfather. Ray Liotta stars in the fact-based story of Henry Hill, a teenager drawn into the Brooklyn ma a.

His bosses, Jimmy the Gent (Robert De Niro) and the hair-trigger Tommy (a truly terrifying Joe Pesci), are his gateway to easy money and a ashy lifestyle – but the criminals’ paranoia about betrayal and retribution proves their achilles heel.

Stephen’s Day, 10.15pm, BBC Two

Spirited (Apple TV Plus)

Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell make for an odd couple in this reimagining of -- you guessed it -- A Christmas Carol. Ferrell is the Ghost of Christmas Present, but instead of showing Reynolds’ Scrooge the error of his ways, it’s Present who must reexamine his own past, present and future. Expect big musical numbers and the hit of cheer you’re after from this serviceable bite of Christmas confectionary.

Disenchanted (Disney +) While it’s not strictly a Christmas movie, Disenchanted is a no-brainer to watch over the silly season. It uses the genius idea of turning the pure and loving Giselle into an evil stepmother -- technically she became a stepmother in 2007’s Enchanted. is sequel brings back Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden and Idina Menzel, and adds Maya Rudolph.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Net ix) It’s animated, it’s aimed at all the family and it’s astonishingly good. Guillermo del Toro rarely disappoints and his take on Pinocchio is no exception. More than just a kids’ story, del Toro unfurls a trademark moving gothic fairy tale rooted in what it means to be alive. With signi cant deviations from the story we all know and memorable new creature creations, including skeletal rabbits and an ethereal wood sprite, this version of Pinocchio is perfect for Christmas. Warning: You will shed a tear at least once.

Who Killed Santa? (Net ix) If you haven’t caught the earlier episodes of this comedy gem on Net ix, this might be a good place to start. e semiimprovised show sees celebrities join Will Arnett’s incompetent detective Terry Seattle on a murder investigation — but these guests haven’t seen the script. It’s up to them to track clues and name the murderer in the end. Jason Bateman and Maya Rudolph are along for the ride in the Christmas special — a lovely gift for the holiday.

A Storm For Christmas (Net ix)

How about a Christmas TV show ttingly set closer to the north? is Norwegian limited series follows a group of people stranded at Oslo airport, with the clock counting down to Christmas. Will they make it in time? Will they form unlikely friendships in this time of hardship? Don’t answer these rhetorical questions, just watch the six episodes.

Strange World (Disney +) is rare pure sci- adventure from Disney hits Disney Plus just in time for Christmas. Strange World follows a family of explorers who journey to a monster-crawling world. ere, they investigate the cause of a dying plant, while massaging a few family di erences on the way.

Matilda e Musical (Net ix) Net ix’s Christmas Day o ering doesn’t take place at Christmas, but it has everything you could ask for from a Christmas movie. Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical is based on Tim Minchin’s hit stage musical. Fill your living room with the barnstorming tunes and the classic tale of a young girl (Alisha Weir) using her magical imagination to outwit an evil headmistress (Emma ompson).

BY: KEELA AYRES

Aoibheann already knew exactly how Christmas would play out this year. Granny would join the family dinner and insist on how it didn’t ‘feel like one without her son there’, to which Mam would nod quietly while trying to swallow back her grief along with coarse turkey. She’d be sitting alone at the head of the table when the seat beside her should have him in it.

e twins would fortunately be immune to the silent sadness that drowned the room, left to only question why they couldn’t buy lights to top o the tree they had so proudly decorated. e thought plagued her mind as she made her way through the bundle of chattering students, the air wrapping its icy grip around her as she trailed down the street on her usual route home.

e houses were bathed in the glowing light of Christmas trees, illuminating her frosty street. Aoibheann caught the glimpse of her neighbour’s living room. It was Aidan’s family, frantically attacking their tree with baubles.

Despite herself, she couldn’t stop staring. She felt bitter jealousy consume her as tears escaped and slowly trickled down her face. He deserved to be happy. But so did she. She made an abrupt turn towards her own home, praying he hadn’t seen her.

Mam was at the kitchen table, hiding behind enough layers to make her disappear. Her eyes were cloudy, hiding behind thoughts never said out loud. Ice traced the window panes, as if it was trying to creep in to get them. “Obviously the heat stopped working then?”

Aoibheann asked her. She remained rooted in her chair, nodding guiltly. During the year, their nancial problems only increased while their moods had plummeted . She wrapped her arms around her mother, who could only collapse into exhausted tears. e twins next door pretended not to hear but even the silence in between sobs was too loud.

e dark blanket of night began to wrap itself around the town but the cold was here to stay. After a vapid dinner, Aoibheann dragged herself up to her room before sinking into her duvet. Reality nally began to bear its weight on her shoulders but she let herself succumb to sleep.

A swift thud at the door. Aoibheann shot up her hair in a wild tangle. “What was that?” She chanced a glance out into the street below but it was vastly empty. Inching her way down the wooden stairs, she gently opened the door. On the concrete stairs lay a crimson package topped with a crumpled note; “I

know your family had a hard year but you deserve to have a good Christmas. I’ll always be your shoulder to lean on Aoibheann.” Her smile only grew when she lifted the lid to reveal the handful of gifts laying inside.

A stack of Christmas lights in desperate need of a tree lurked under the small

mountain of ornaments and sweets. ere lay a small envelope with “Give to your mam” in the same loopy letters. But the best surprise was a crystal bauble containing an old photo of her dad inside, grinning at the camera. It was as if someone had reached inside her head to pull out all her dreams. It

was like magic. She bundled the box and dashed into the house, hollering loud enough to wake her family. “everyone, come down the stairs”.

Her mother and the twins came down in a drowsy line, the annoyance from interrupted sleep plain to see.

“Don’t be so loud Aoibheann” wailed Jack, his hair reaching

hedgehog height. Mollie held on to her mother, eyes still heavy from sleep. Aoibheann landed the box with an excited thud. “It was on our step. I heard a thud this morning and I found this. Look inside!” e twins trampled over each other to peer into the mysterious box and erupted into joyful squeals. “Look mam, we can have a perfect tree now!” ey began grabbing sweets by the handful before pausing at the crystal bauble. “Dad?”

Jack and Mollie questioned in unison.

Mam raised a sceptical eyebrow, “What do ye mean?”

Mollie cupped the bauble in her tiny palm to show her.

Mam took it from her grasp and turned it around, nding her husband waving through the frosted glass. Almost like he was waving at her.

She broke into a teary laugh.

“It is him! Back when he still had all of his hair. is must have been before the diagnosis. But who got this photo? I can’t remember when we took it.” Jack and Mollie shrugged at each other, eyes wide with curiosity.

Aoibheann smiled to herself.

She did. e neighbours next door were invited over that year. en she caught a glimpse outside at their miracle worker, wearing a big smile. It was Aidan.

is is Keela’s rst Christmas short story for the Kilkenny Observer, although she has submitted three short stories throughout 2022 in the series ‘ ere is something about Debbie’. Keela is a student at e Presentation secondary school in Kilkenny

“Kilkenny can lead the way in Ireland, and Ireland can lead the way in Europe”.

e words of Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr David FitzGerald at the Town hall meeting recently on Kilkenny’s bid to become Ireland’s rst Carbon Neutral City.

Locals attended the Town hall to discuss tackling Climate Change in Kilkenny.

On the night, Kilkenny County Council Director of Services, Tim Butler spoke about the impact we are already seeing locally that the County Council are tackling on a yearly basis with extreme weather events.

Newly appointed Climate Change Co-ordinator in Kilkenny County Council Dearbhala Ledwidge spoke about the national aim for a Climate resilient biodiversityrich sustainable climate neutral economy by 2050.

‘’It is hugely ambitious plan , leadership has to be shown by everybody, not just the local authority, but every single sector has to show leadership.

ere has to be working collaboration to achieve this and a cultural change right across society, continued Dearbhla.

Journalist and Climate change activist John Gibbons gave a stark analysis of the climate change in his presentation :”this is not a climate change crisis, it is an everything crisis” said John.

Mr Gibbons said that in 1970, he started in CBS in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny bid to become first carbon neutral city

“In that piece of my lifetime more than two thirds of wild animals on earth have disappeared”, continued John.

“Human adaptability is one of our key successes and it also is a critical aw, which we are adapting too much to this rapid change around us. We are adapting so quickly we don’t notice it. is is called a shifting baseline syndrome

and we haven’t noticed the world around us is falling down” said Mr Gibbons.

85% of the locals who attended the meeting said they were alarmed about Climate Change Crisis.

ey expressed a resounding sense of urgency that a cultural change is necessary on tackling this crisis.

As the meeting concluded,

that we are too

‘’Kilkenny can lead the way in Ireland being the rst Carbon Neutral City, and Ireland can lead the way in Europe. e

small to have an impact on this crisis is wrong. Kilkenny being a Carbon Neutral City is an achievable plan, with Right now a lot of ground work is happening with regards to Kilkenny’s carbon emissions, which both Dearbhala and Tim spoke about tonight, but we can do better and we can all have achievable goals to greatly reduce our carbon

emissions. e council is advancing the adaption of climate action plan which will come before the members of Kilkenny County council in early 2023 and then I will bring my proposal for Kilkenny to apply to be Ireland’s rst carbon neutral city. I hope the people of Kilkenny will join us on our bid to be the change.’’. Mayor

Fitzgerald

Mayor of Kilkenny Cllr. David FitzGerald stated he intends bringing his proposal for Kilkenny to apply to be the rst Carbon Neutral City in Ireland before elected members in the New Year.

narrative

Off the coast of Western Australia, our Maniki crew reluctantly save Rednose from rocks and sharks

e ng stupid bastard. Must’ve been him that followed us out the Passage in the dark of the morning. Dickhead.

BY NED EGAN

Part 2

Now, suddenly, he shouted - “tranny o ”. His order was - as it has to be on a boatcomplied with: immediately. We knew he’d picked up something on the Emergency Band - he always kept one ear tuned to it. But on a day like this - who would be out and about? We thought our boat was the only one out on “ e Deep”.

It was quiet in the wheelhouse, apart from the big ones whacking into the beam, like very large heavy slapping steel-mill hammers. But the steady rumble of the Cat motor under our feet was reassuring.

Ted held the ngers up, for continued silence. Whatever he’d heard, it was faint. He’d shoved on the earpiece - we could hear only tiny distant, fading, electronic chatter. He still had the ngers up. en he said: “It sounds like Dutchy. In big strife, down o Cervantes. I just caught himhe’s gone now - battery must be stu ed”. He didn’t actually say “stu ed.”

Nobody said a word. But thoughts motored between brainboxes: ‘Dutchy - the

e dork. What the hell was he doing down there, at this time of day? Why didn’t he pull into Cervantes, and tie up to a safe mooring - even the stern-rail of another hitched boat - and sit things out? Jesus.’

“What do you reckon, lads”? Riggsy asked.

“What the bloody hell’s wrong with the mongrel, anyway”? Culver snarled - knowing well the danger we would all be in, trying to rescue the mug. Four men, wives and children, all at risk because of a clown. Yes, reader - you could say we weren’t best pleased.

“Rope round the prop, I think”, replied Riggsy, and, grimly - “drifting on to the rocks; anchor dragging, no ares. Cervantes boats’ll be all tied up; so nobody’s listening, down that way. All our boats are in too - they’d never get out against the weather now anyway, even if they knew. He’s been calling for an hour. It’s us - or he’s a goner. And his deckie.”

In this case, tradition dictated that Ted ask the crew - we hadn’t signed up as lifesavers. Especially for thickoes.

But before he could put the question, Gary and Jim said “we’re in”. I was the junior on

the boat. But I gave the nod before I was asked. I knew I was out-voted, anyway. So it was easy to play the hero. Truth to be told, I’d have left Dutchy to take his chances with the elements that he’d so stupidly taunted. I’d’ve let the dunce sink or swim.

Truly. Out in a ‘co n box’shing just o the rocks - in the big seas running! No ares - not even a proper radio. But his deckie seemed a sound bloke - although I hadn’t actually spoken to him. So maybe I’d’ve gone, anyway. Maybe.

So, Riggsy said, “OK - hold hard, fellas” - and spun the big wheel, turning us square into the heavy swell coming up the coast from the Southern Ocean. It was only about a thirty degree turn, to take us clear of the rocks behind the island, so we were OK.

Now we were pitching fore and aft, instead of the twisting pin-wheeling we’d been putting up with before. Once the boat was turned into the weather, it wasn’t too bad. Cervantes here we come. Heroes all. Shite.

It wasn’t the greatest day for visibility, a bit of a smoky mist about, and pitch darkness was only an hour and a half away. So the skipper gave the mighty Cat D6 Marine the big shoe, and we were on our way, bashing through the heavy seas,

rather than over them.

Makes our Maniki sound real big, doesn’t it? It was all of forty nine feet. A twenty yards free in football would have been eleven feet longer than it. Not exactly the Queen Mary. Not the Titanic, either, I hoped.

No surface radar on the boats, back then. And radio contact gone. e only position the skipper thought he’d picked up was “north of Cervantes”. At least it wasn’t far to go.

Now we were all staring out the wheelhouse windows, trying to pick out a very small boat in a very big ocean. White horses were charging, spindrift was ying, and we were all thinking of safer ways to make a shilling. ese are normal thoughts for those who feel that the termination of their already-short-enough lives could suddenly be drastically brought forwardby circumstances way out of their control.

Riggsy wasn’t over-familiar with the area, as rival boats used to stay out of each other’s territory. So we were more than hoping that there was no innocent-looking ‘stu ed waves’ in our vicinity. Rocks, that is.

en Snookie gave a shout: “Ten o’clock”! We all immediately focussed on that direction - and Gary was right! ere was the mighty

canoe, with Dutchy hanging on for dear life to that tiny toy mast of his - and waving his shirt - frantically. As well he might.

e big sharp buck teeth of Western Australia were only a hundred yards away, waiting for him. We didn’t have to see those limestone knives to know they were there: the spray and spume told their own lethal story. Broadcast it, actually.

Now a dodgy part: Riggsy had to get between Dutchy and the weather. As I said, fair big seas were running. We had to approach from the stern of his boat, in order to get up beside it, and slightly for’ard of it.

en the skipper would have to use the power of the big Cat, and his skill with the rudder, in order to maintain a stationary position, while Jim Culver assessed the situation, and made a the call. Steely nerves were called for: one wrong move, and we would be back on top of Dutchie, his matchbox sunk, and our prop and rudder stu ed.

en we’d all be in the soup: literally. Goners. And what about the rope around Dutchy’s prop? Did it still have a tangle of knots owering sweetly under the water - waiting to snag our prop?

We all knew those risks. ey were taken. We approached, very

slowly; just enough revs to keep us under way, and keep “feel” on the rudder. e Dutchy was still shouting and panicking. Not that we could hear him, what with the wind, the sea breaking over our bow, the growling of the Cat, and the very nasty very adjacent roaring surf.

But we could see Dutchy’s big daft cake-hole opening and shutting like that of a snapper turtle. And that great big red nose, like a tra c bollard.

Now we were in position, about twenty feet to windward. Skip was juggling the motor and the rudder. Deathly pressure - and him as cool as ice. I was calling the estimated feet between the boats. Snookie was fashioning a bowline and a rope-rescue chair-knot.

And Culver was yelling to Dutchy. We could see the deckie now. He was green, sick as a dog, and no use to anybody. Jim managed to nd out that there really was a rope round the prop.

en he made a decision that nobody else in the world would make……..

To be Continued

Ned E

Disclaimer e opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not re ect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of e Kilkenny Observer.

Music Generation

21st December 2022 - e Music Generation Kilkenny SING OUT concert, which took place in St Canice’s Cathedral on Monday the 19th of December, was a sold-out success.

Young musicians from Music Generation Kilkenny gave a 90-minute performance of pure musical joy and sent the audience home with all of the warmth and joy of Christmas. ose lucky enough to get tickets were treated to a string performance by young musicians from the Kilkenny School Project strings programme under Music Generation Kilkenny’s musician educator Carl Rochford. Dazzling the audience with their vocals were Mikey, Jessica, Clare, Tara, Julieann and Enya, young singers from the Creative Music Space, in a selection of festive songs including Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, Prince of Peace and Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

200 children from CBS primary, Gaelscoil Osraí, and St. John of God primary took to the stage in the second half of the concert. After six weeks of preparation, in their own classrooms, those individual schools came together on stage in St Canice’s Cathedral on Monday evening and delivered a heart-warming performance – and received a standing ovation for their e orts.

e Dean of St. Canice’s Cathedral, the Reverend Stephen Farrell gave a warm welcome to everyone, and the concert was also attended by KCETB Chief Executive Eileen Curtis, Kilkenny County Council Arts O cer Mary Butler and Music Generation Ireland National Director Rosaleen Molloy who made a special trip from Dublin to watch the performance.

Rosaleen Molloy praised the young music makers, describing their performance as “a real musical treat - emotive, meaningful, authentic and brilliant”.

Music Generation Kilkenny is part of Ireland’s national music education programme initiated by Music Network and co-funded by U2, e Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Skills and local music education partnerships.

e programme seeks to transform the lives of children and young people up to 18 years by creating access to high-quality, a ordable music tuition in their localities. Locally, the programme is led by Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB), in partnership with Kilkenny County Council.

Music Generati

‘Sing Out’ concert a s

on Kilkenny old-out success!

Clay Rooms Kilkenny opened its doors on Colliers Lane, right o the High Street, 1 year ago this January. What happens in Clay Rooms you ask? Well, it is a pottery teaching studio run by 3 potters, ceramic artists and friends who wish to share their passion and love of clay with you. ey run hand building ceramic classes, pottery courses, parties and bespoke get togethers , all involving and focused on clay.

Liselott Olofsson, Aisling McElwain and Niamh Synnotts’ experience with this wonderful medium complements each other perfectly. Each one bringing their unique approaches and talents to the business.

On top of this, Kilkenny has recently been designated by the World Craft Council as a ‘Craft City and Region’, 1 of only 4 designated in Europe. e ladies in Clay Rooms are keenly aware of this important recognition and status for the region, culturally, socially and economically.

“We are proud to take our place among the vast array of craftspeople, craft galleries, training facilities and schools that provide creative experiences and enhance Kilkenny’s reputation as a unique craft destination,” explains Aisling McElwain, whose work can be spotted at the market on the

parade every ursday.

On the ground there is plenty of evidence that Clay Rooms is a warm and welcoming space for people who are curious about ‘having a go’, to people who have some experience working with clay and wish to reignite their interests. ere are a variety of classes on o er on their website to suit everyone.

rowing Tasters run on the weekends and give people the opportunity to try their hand at the potter’s wheel. ey can get to grips with centering the clay and make as many pieces as possible within the 3 hour class. Choose their best which gets red and glazed with a glaze of their choice.

Hand-building project classes

also run on weekends and involve a speci ed outcome culminating in a nished piece which you can decorate and leave for the ladies to re and glaze on site. Previous project classes have involved making a teapot (whole day), mugs, jug and sugar bowl, cake stand, bird bath, garden planter and many more being introduced all the time.

6-week hand-building term: once weekly you can exercise your creative muscles and attend this self-directed class where you come up with the ideas and are guided by tutors to make your visions a reality.

6-week pottery course: this course allows you to expand your pottery experiences. Maybe you’ve tried a throwing taster but want to try turning, nishing, putting on handles, decorating and glazing your work, then this might be for you!

Private parties and special bespoke classes are catered for too so if you have a group of people willing to have a go, Clay Rooms has the experience for you!!

If you are curious to learn more you can follow them on Instagram and Facebook @ ClayRoomsKilkenny Or check out their website clayroomskilkenny.ie to make a booking!

Clay Rooms Kilkenny would like to wish all our students, customers and passers by a very Happy Christmas and a creative New Year!

Student Enterprise Programme comes to MacDonagh Junction for a Special Christmas Market

e Local Enterprise O ce is excited to announce that students from schools all over the county will be participating in a Christmas market over the coming days.

ese talented young entrepreneurs have been working hard over the past year to develop and market their own products and this is their chance to showcase their skills and creativity to the community. From handmade crafts to tasty treats and more, there is sure to be something for everyone at the market.

Cathaoirleach Cllr. Pat Fitzpatrick mentions “supporting the next generation of small business owners is essential for the growth and success of our community, and I am grateful to MacDonagh Junction for their continued support of this initiative.”

e market is a fantastic opportunity for the students to not only sell their goods, but to also gain valuable real-world experience and learn about the ins and outs of running a successful business.

“ e Student Enterprise Programme is a great opportunity for young people in our community to learn about en-

trepreneurship and gain valuable real-world experience. I am proud to see so many talented and ambitious students from our schools participating in this programme and showcasing their skills” according to Aileen McGrath, Acting Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise O ce, Kilkenny County Council. We encourage members of

the community to come out and support these talented young people by checking out their products at the MacDonagh Junction Christmas market.

For more information about the Student Enterprise Programme, please visit our website at localenterprise. ie/kilkenny.

What’s on?

The magic of Christmas in Kilkenny

stand, great food and coffee, and arts and crafts in a stunning location with Kilkenny Castle as a backdrop.

This free-to-visit market is open Tuesday 20th to Friday 23rd December. On the evening of Friday 23rd, a dazzling Yulefest Fireworks Display will take place in the skies above Kilkenny Castle. This creative display of truly spectacular art in the sky will be visible above the Market, where you can watch Peony, Chrysanthemum and Dahlia shells coupled with multi-shot barrages and roman candles light up the skies of the Medieval City!

These high-quality fireworks have been chosen for their vibrant colours and lasting magical effects in a show that has been uniquely designed to give the best possible experience to our Kilkenny audience.

Yulefest Kilkenny is delighted to host an array of local musical talent at the Yulefest Market with performances from choirs, groups and solo artists throughout Christmas week! Each day will see a variety of performances on the Bandstand featuring Ali Comerford, Alchemy,

Music Generation Kilkenny, The Hit Machine, and many more. The victorian-inspired pop-up Bandstand, manufactured in West Cork, is a beautiful addition to the Parade and provides the perfect place for our Yulefest gigs. Expect seasonal cheer, choral arrangements, festive

music and celtic drummers as night falls over the Yulefest Market and twinkling lights dance across Kilkenny Castle.

The Yulefest Market is a boutique, open-air Christmas Market in the heart of historic Kilkenny offering free live music on the Band-

The Yulefest Market sees the return of over 40 stalls to the Parade with a mixture of craft, art and design along with a variety of hearty prepared food options, delicious desserts and artisan food products. At our Market you’ll find local artisans and craftspeople showcasing their wares in beautifullyconstructed wooden chalets, right next to Kilkenny Castle and its parklands. Come along to the Parade to enjoy the festive atmosphere, try some tasty food and explore the stalls where you can buy directly from local makers!

Yulefest Festival Director

Flannery said “Last year was our first year of the Yulefest Market and we’re delighted to see how much it has grown. Traders have reported brisk business and it’s been fantastic to see so many people come into the City to enjoy the festive atmosphere. Businesses and venues across Kilkenny have programmed gorgeous events which all add to the Christmas offering in

Kilkenny, making Kilkenny the perfect destination for Christmas shopping and enjoyment. I’d like to continue to encourage people to shop locally this year and to visit yulefestkilkeny.ie to discover all convivial events. Come and join us this festive season to experience Christmas Magic in Kilkenny!”

Yulefest Kilkenny is programmed, produced and marketed by Kilkenny County Council

Marian

What’s on?

What’s on on?

Foster & Allen’s Irish tour 2022/2023

International Recording artists Foster & Allen look forward to Celebrating over 48 years in the Music Business with their We’ll Meet Again Irish Tour.

Mick & Tony will of course be performing all their Hits like “Bunch Of Thyme” (it was the 40th Anniversary in February 2022 that Foster & Allen appeared on Top Of The Pops performing Bunch Of Thyme), Old Flames, Maggie, After All These Years, We Owe It All To You, Mrs. Brown’s Boys, as well as some of their new recordings from their new album We’ll Meet Again.

The brand new album has been released on 7th October 2022 and from the opening title track, the evergreen ‘We’ll Meet Again’, to their rendition of popular classics such as ‘Grace’, ‘The Cliffs Of Dooneen’, ‘Cotton Fields Back Home’, Foster & Allen are well and truly back in stride.

Foster & Allen aren’t showing any signs of slowing down and their recording and touring commitments prove how popular they remain for their fans who like to hear them at home and

ence.

Mike Denver and Guests in Concert at Hotel Kilkenny

Mike Denver, one of Galway’s favourite sons is riding the crest of a wave. His audience is vast throughout Ireland, North and South, and he is now making inroads in the UK with some sellout concerts in England and Scotland over the past couple of years. Mike’s meteoric rise in popularity culminated with him being voted ‘Entertainer of the Year 2016’ together with No. 1 Album of the Year ‘Cut Loose’ at the ACMA Awards on RTÉ TV. Mike to date has had 15 hit albums and 5 DVD’s.

With his excellent backing band Mike presents a two and a half hour high energy concert which features all his hits including ‘Tommy K’, ‘Wasn’t that a Party’, ‘Galway Girl’, ‘Blown Away’, plus hits from the 60’s and 70’s.

Thursday 19th January 2023 at HOTEL KILKENNY

Special guests with Mike are Philomena Begley and Brendan Shine.

Tickets available at Hotel Kilkenny and on Ticketmaster.

The perfect Christmas gift.

see them in a live experi-

For A Night To Remember

Don’t Miss Foster & Allen’s “We’ll Meet Again” Irish Tour 2022/ 2023.

It was a scene to behold on Wednesday morning when an eclectic mix of people from around the world gathered at Fr. McGrath Centre. e occasion was the end of term Failte Isteach Christmas social. ere was an added air of excitement about the place this year, as it was the rst Christmas gathering since 2019, when due to the Covid Pandemic, such gatherings were restricted.

ere to welcome Mayor David Fitzgerald were Stephen Murphy, Director of Services, Fr. McGrath Centre, Mike Kelly, Chairman of St. Canice’s Community Action, PPN representative, Volunteer Centre and Kilkenny Leader Partnership representatives, students and invited guests.

Addressing the gathering, coordinator eresa Delahunty said: “we are all gathered here together in our common humanity as one family, while at the same time respecting and valuing the diversity of cultures, from Africa, Asia, South America, Eastern and Western Europe. We especially welcome our new Ukrainian Community, who this time last year had no expectation that this Christmas would nd them living on the Island

of Ireland, far away from their homeland and their loved ones. However, due to circumstances outside their control, that is their reality for now”.

eresa continued in a welcoming vein saying: “for us it is always heart-warming to hear our programme makes a di erence to so many people, whether it is a stepping-stone to further education or assisting integration with the local community.” e Fr. McGrath Centre has been a pillar of support over the years and for many a bright light in an otherwise dark world.

She thanked the dedicated group of volunteer tutors who provide conversation and basic English training each Wednesday and Friday morning. ese sessions provide participants with the rudimentary of everyday language, from which they are assisted, if they so wish, to progress to more formal learning with ETB and other such agencies. Fr. McGrath Centre and Failte Isteach is not just a place to learn English, it is also a social meeting space for many who would otherwise be isolated due to barriers of language and di erent culture norms.

In his address, Mayor David Fitzgerald referred to the

central message of Christmas, citing the family who were turned away as there was no room at the Inn. He went on to say that it will not happen in Kilkenny.

“People coming to Kilkenny will not be turned away – there will be room at the Inn made available and they will be welcomed and supported”, the mayor said. He said Kilkenny was an inclusive place to live and that people who come from outside Ireland contribute so much to the fabric of life in the city. “ ey bring us the richness and diversity of their cultures as is highlighted here today”, continued Mayor Fitzgerald He thanked all those who have contributed over the years, especially the Fr. McGrath Centre who have housed the project for more than ten years. He nished by saying said that he was looking forward to sampling some of the culinary delights he saw on his way in, all made by the students themselves.

e morning concluded with music and song, combining Irish traditional, Christmas Carols and a rendition of a Ukrainian Carol followed by social interaction and sampling culinary delights representing the food dishes of the many di erent cultures present.

International gathering for

Photos jbsphotoskilkenny

LOTTO

We have a Winner! Congratulations to Jack O Kee e, who scooped the €6950 jackpot on 13th Dec. Next Weeks jackpot is €1000 plus lots of Lucky Dip prizes, Hampers etc… Be in to win!

CLUB LOTTO

There was no winner of this week’s Club Lotto (Dec 13th). Numbers drawn were 2, 6, 21, 26 Bonus 28. Next Week’s Big Prize will be €15,200 (Dec 20th). Play now at www. oloughlingaels.com/lotto

Promotor Draw: 1. Dick O Connell c/o Damien O’Connell. 2. Ann Massey c/o Eileen Kinchella. 3.Pat Cody c/o Mary Cody. 4. Leo Monagle. 5. The Sunday 6. 6. Jenni er Leahy c/o Ml Nolan. 7. Molly, M.J Cloney c/o Ml Nolan. 8. Andy Comerford c/o online. 9. Edwina Whearty c/o Online. 10. Tony Preston c/o Online. Thank You for your Continued

Support

MASS TIMES

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH

Christmas Eve 6.00pm and 9.00pm. Christmas Day 8.00am, 11.30am. Mass times for following week are at 10.30 am and not 8.00am

DUNMORE

Christmas Eve 7.00pm.

Christmass Day 11.00am

JOHNSWELL

Christmas Eve 7.00pm

Christmas Day 10.00am

BENEMERENTI MEDALS

Two local parishioners received the Benemerenti Medal for long service as sacristans in St.Lachtains Church recently. Biddy Wall and John O’Shea both of Chapel Street, Freshford were presented with their medals and certificates a er mass on the Feast of Christ the King. They have more than seventy years’ service between them.

A similar function took place at Tulla Church on the same weekend when Annette Donegan and her brother Sean Murphy received medals for their work in St.Nicholas’ Church Tulla. The presentation was made by Monsignor Kieron Kennedy as part of the 1400th anniversary commemoration of St.Lachtain.

RETIREMENT

Best wishes are extended to Jim Hayes Threecastles who retired recently as Supervisor of the Freshford /Ballyragget Fas scheme. Jim served as Supervisor of the group for the past 15 years a er replacing the late Michael Butler. A retirement party for family and friends was held recently in Farrell’s Bar. He is wished all the very best in his retirement and many years of health and happiness.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

With the recent switching on of the lights ceremony the village is indeed looking very Christmassy with lights being extended this year. They are lighting all around the village square down to the end of Kilkenny Street, down Church Street to Delaney’s Corner, up Buncrussia Street to the Fire Station and Woodview, is all lit up with a beautiful Christmas tree also down the end of Kilkenny Street. Well done to all involved in erecting the lights and looking a er same. A lovely Christmas tree is lighting at the Square and the crib is also there.

LOOP CAFÉ OPENS

The new Community Café in the village is now open. The Loop Café at Buncrussia Street opened recently and is serving some beautiful homemade food. The Café which is run on a voluntary basis is open Tuesday to Saturday each week from 10am to 4pm, so why not go along for a co ee or a snack and meet your friends for a chat as well as supporting the new local venture.

FRESHFORD CONNECTIONS

Sinead Diver a native of Co. Mayo produced the fastest ever marathon time by an Irish woman recently and she has Freshford connections. Sinead had a brilliant run of 2.21.34 in Valencia almost a minute faster than Catherina McKiernan’s long standing record set back in 1998. She represented Australia in the Olympics. Sinead is daughter in law of Patrick and Ann Cullinane, Kilkenny Street, Freshford and Limerick

DOWN UNDER

Best wishes are extended to local girls Zoe Crosby of Nuenna Court and Siobhan Colclough of Garnamanagh who le recently for Australia. The girls are wished all the best in their travels

ST VINCENT DE PAUL

The annual Christmas collection for the St. Vincent de Paul Society was taken up recently and Thanks to all those who gave so generously. If you missed out on the opportunity to make a contribution you can make a donation in the blue SVP envelope provided to each household recently by An Post. These envelopes can be le anytime in the parish collection box in the porch at Freshford Church or in the collection basket at Tulla Church. The Vincent de Paul society provide a great service and help families and older people around the Christmas period and throughout the year

GAA NEWS

St Lachtains Gaa club AGM was held last week at the Clubrooms.

SOCCER

All Junior games and schoolboys games in the KDL were cancelled last weekend due to the weather and pitch condition. There will be no games over the Christmas period but will recommence in the new year. The annual St. Stephens day soccer game will take place this year at Woodview a er a lapse of a couple of years.

DAY CARE CENTRE

The Freshford day care centre group are travelling to Newpark this Wednesday for their annual Christmas party

SPLIT THE POT

The lucky winners of Split the pot draw recently was Peter O’Hara who won €132. The draw takes place each Friday. Tickets are just €2 and the winner gets half of the takings. Boxes and envelopes can be found in Kavanaghs Bar, Mace, O’Shea’s corner shop, Girls& Guys Hairdressers, Oasis Creche, Freshford Creamery, Freshford Butchers and Prague House. The committee thank all for their continued support and ask people to continue to support this fund raising draw.

PARISH NEWS

Mass is held in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and on Sunday morning at 11am.with Mass in Tulla church on Saturday evenings at 7.30pm. Christmas vigil mass will be held on Saturday evening as usual in Tulla Church at 7.30pm with Mass on Christmas morning in Freshford church at 11am. The Parish choir will perform Christmas Carols before Mass on Christmas day.

CALENDER

The o icial launch of the civil war calendar took place in the Club House Hotel Kilkenny on 29th November. The calendar was launched by renowned Kilkenny historian Jim Maher with a presentation by Calendar author Jim Hayes from Threecastles. Jim Maher stated in his address that the Kilkenny Civil War 100th anniversary calendar was an informative document detailing a number of events that took place in and around Kilkenny during the tragic Civil war. The calendar covers large parts of the Civil war in Kilkenny City and County. It includes some great stories and photographs of local IRA volunteers

who lost their lives during the tragic period of our history. It also includes photos and stories of the local women of Cumann na mBan from this period. The calendar was produced by local man Jim Hayes and was hailed by Jim Maher a very fine publication that would be of educational benefit to any Kilkenny home or classroom. It is for sale in the Kilkenny City book shops, O’Sheas shop Freshford, Siobhan’s Hair Dressers, Londis and Railway garage Castlecomer, McGraths shop Ballyragget and in many other outlets across the county.

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 O ice. Please note community notices for the parish newsletter should be le in or emailed to the Parish O ice by 11am on Thursdays. Parish o ice hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 1pm.

Mass Cards

Special printed parish cards are available at the Parish O ice or from Annette at Tulla Church signed by Monsignor Kennedy. You can contact the Parish o ice 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 di icult 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.

LOCAL LOTTO

Local Lotto Results for December 12th: Winning numbers : 16, 25, 29 No Winner.

Winners of Draw for 5 x €30. Pat Flynn (Pauline Flynn),Eddie Ryan (Bobs Shop). Tom O Brien (Malachy Hogan),John Phelan (Jim McCormack),Liz McCarthy (Joan Phelan)

Jackpot next week € 4,300 (December 19th) If Jackpot not won, then Drawfor 5 x € 100. Venue Dunphy’s Bar @ 9pm. All Welcome.

KILMOGANNY BRIDGE CLUB

The bridge results for 30/11/2022: 1 Josie O’Gorman and Philip Brennan. B/G Kitty Meagher and Mary Comerford 2 Catherine Meagher and Helan Lanigan. Bridge is every Wednesday night at 7.30pm in St. Eoghans Centre, Kilmoganny. All welcome.

GOWRAN PARISH FAMILY CANDLE OF FAITH

Our Faith is handed on from our parents. This passing on is symbolised by parents receiving the Baptismal Candle

which has been lit from the Paschal Candle. For the masses on Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning and New Year Day, which are major family expressions of ‘the faith’ families are invited to have ‘their family candle’ lighting on the altars of our parish churches at these masses as symbols (lights) of the passing on of the faith and of that faith burning brightly among us. A Candle is available for any family that wants one but details for the label for the candle needs to be handed in through the sacristies or the Parochial house. A donation of €5 for the faith candle and the candle can be collected for keeps sake a er masses on Sunday 1st January 2023.

The prepared ‘family candles of faith’ will be placed on the side altars of both our churches to be lit for each of the masses on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the New Year.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES

Christmas Eve, Dungarvan 6pm. Gowran 8pm Christmas Morning, Dungarvan 9am. Gowran 10.30am Please note the earlier Christmas morning, the traditional earlier mass time in Gowran.

MASS TIMES

Aghaviller Parish: Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m.

Christmas Eve Hugginstown 7.00p.m. Stoneyford 5.30p.m.; Christmas Day Hugginstown 11.00a.m. Stoneyford 10.00a.m.

HOLY COMMUNION

Visitation with Holy Communion will take place at the usual times on Friday 23th. Please let us know if you would like to receive Holy Communion in your home for Christmas or at any other time.

PRAY FOR Mick Kelly, Castlemorris, Kathleen Cahill, Smithstown, Thomastown.

ROTA

Rota for next week-end: 24th. and 25th. December 2022 . (Christmas Day)

Readers: Stoneyford: Saturday 5.30p.m. Children. Sunday 10.00a.m. Sheila Raggett.

Hugginstown: Saturday 7.00p.m. Children; Sunday 11.00a.m. Noreen Kenneally.

Eucharistic Ministers. Stoneyford: Saturday 5.30p.m. Pat Kenny.Sunday 10.00a.m. Natalia Smolen. Hugginstown: Saturday 7.00p.m. Teresa Broderick. Sunday 11.00a.m. Lillian Carr.

Family Christmas Masses. There will be a Family Mass for Young Families, Parents and Children on Christmas Eve Saturday 24th. December in Stoneyford Church at 5.30p.m. In Hugginstown Church at 7.00p.m. Many of the children will be taking an active part in these celebrations. They will be involved with the Choirs, Readings, Prayers, Gi s, Servers etc. All children are invited to bring a little gi for other children who are in need. We ask parents to come with their children and to join in the singing of the Christmas Carols and to celebrate as family.

CHRISTMAS OFFERING

Envelopes for your Christmas O erings 2022 may be collected in the Church Porch, and your contributions may be handed in during the coming weeks: or you may donate directly – Use IBAN: IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 (BIC: AIBKIE2D). Many thanks for all your support and contributions during the past year. Roman Catholic Diocese and Parishes of Ossory – Registered Charity No. 20015831

BE SAFE THIS CHRISTMAS

If you are leaving your home even for a short time, do lock all external doors and windows. Make sure all candles and naked lights are out before you leave or before you retire to bed. Be extra careful on the roads during the Christmas season and do show care for others. Safe Driving! With the ‘Text Alert’ in operation please be vigilant and always be aware there is always Garda help close at hand.

ORDINATION

Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Niall Coll, a priest of the Diocese of Raphoe, to be the next Bishop of Ossory. He will be ordained as Bishop on Sunday 22nd. January 2023 at 3.00p.m. in St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny.

LOTTO

Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A.

Draw: Monday 12th. December 2022 Numbers: 27; 31; 09; 23.No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner. 5 x €30.00 Winners: Gerry Comerford, c/o James Irish; Liam Barron, Sheepstown; Anna Cahill, Knocktopher; Natashia Silke, c/o Mary Doyle; Ann Power, Stoneyford. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers): Mary Carroll, Mary Doyle, James Irish. Next week: Match 3: €500.00; (First 3 Numbers Drawn) Jackpot: €5,400.00. (4 Numbers)

THE CHAPTER HOUSE BOOKSHOP

The Chapter House Bookshop at St. Mary’s Cathedral, will be open 5 Days a week (Monday to Friday) until Christmas. The Shop has a great selection of Nativity Cribs, Christmas Cards, Calendars and Diaries for 2023, also a wide selection of Bibles, Liturgical and spiritual Books. The Bookshop also has a wide selection of Mass Cards and Religious Gi s.

Our O’Loughlin Gaels Camogie Club u16s and u14s Kilkenny Camogie Winners at Saturday evenings’ Medals Presentation. Thanks to Kilkenny GAA stars Mikey Butler and Paddy Deegan who helped with the presentation. Thanks also to sponsors MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre and Tomás Keogh Pharmacy who helped towards commemorative jerseys for our u16s Champions. Well done to all the players, parents, and coaches .. lovely hurling

Monsignor Kennedy with recipients of Medals for service to Lachtains Church

Camogie Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Camogie Championship

Final

Clonduff 0-12

There was to be no silver lining for James Stephens Camog’s as their All-Ireland Intermediate journey ended in defeat to a stronger and more experienced Clonduff side at Croke Park last Saturday.

John Scott’s young charges gave everything on a bitterly cold day at headquarters, and despite a terrific individual performance from AllIreland winner Sophie O’Dwyer, The Village ladies came-up 3 points short in the final. Back-boned by the Carr sisters, Fionnuala and Sarah-Louise, Clonduff were worthy winners at the long whistle.

The game started a little scrappy with both sides failing to get the upper hand during some early nervous exchanges. The Down and Ulster champions opened the scoring in the 5th minute courtesy of corner-forward Paula O’Hagan who slotted over a free from about 46 metres out, following a foul by inter-county star, Michelle Teehan.

Semi-final star Sarah-Louise Graffin who notched 6-points in their extra-time win over Clanmaurice, got the first of 3 quality scores ten minutes into Saturday’s final, having taken a magnificent catch from a long puck-out, showing great strength to turn her marker before splitting the posts. Sarah’s sister, Fionnuala Carr was getting on lots of ball and sending in some quality deliveries to the James Stephens back-line and these were causing lots of panic and uncertainty in The Village defence.

James Stephens got the score board moving in the 15th minute after Michelle Teehan was fouled. Once the midfielder had received some treatment, Sophie O’Dwyer struck over the placed ball from right on half-way. A wonderful and much-needed score for the Kilkenny side.

The next three scores would come from Clonduff. The first, another quality effort from Graffin from way out on the left side, pure quality.

The second came from Paula O’Hagan, steady and reliable from the placed ball. The final score of the Yella’s burst came from Ceallagh Byrne, a late inclusion to the starting line-up.

The Village needed something to kick-start their final before it was too late, and it came in the 25th minute. Another of the countycontingent, Niamh Deely sent in a searching delivery towards the Clonduff goal. The Down side’s goalkeeper, Katie McGilligan failed to take a clean catch and the sliotar spilled to the on-running Sophie O’Dwyer, who slid in and finished

Village fall to Carr driven Yella’s in Croker final

Down’s

too strong

Stephens

James Stephens 1-6

Sarah-Louise Graffin

All photos: INPHO

to the net to raise the cheers of the travelling James Stephens supporters. The Kilkenny and Leinster champions now trailed by the bare minimum, 0-5 to 1-1. The raising of the green flag appeared to revitalise The Village as they looked far more competitive afterwards. John Scott’s team were causing Clonduff a few more problems with ballin-hand and when Niamh Deely attempted to burst through the Yella’s defence, her run was halted illegally by veteran centre-back Fionnuala Carr, who required some treatment after her indiscretion.

Sophie O’Dwyer stepped forward and sent over the equalising score from the free, as somehow her side reached the short whistle on level terms, 0-5 to 1-2.

There’s no doubt that John Scott would have been the happier of the two managers at the interval following his sides slow start to the game, and the fact that only one player had troubled the score board in the opening period. His opposite number, Kieran McGourty will have been scratching his head and wondering how his Clonduff side had allowed The Village to get back into the contest.

McGourty had clearly got his message across during the halftime break, as his side came out with a spring in their step for the second period. Just three minutes into the half, trusty free-take Paula O’Hagan popped over one from play and third of the game. Just a couple of minutes later the same player added a free following a surging run from wing-forward Cassie Fitzpatrick.

James Stephens scoring machine Sophie O’Dwyer continued her crusade with a cracking long range free, before Player of the Match, Sarah-Louise Graffin collected another accurate puck-out from Katie McGilligan and dispatched her shot between The Village posts. The Kilkenny side’s No.6, Emma Gaffney then saw yellow for pulling back Graffin as she tried to prevent the danger-woman breaking through The Village defence. Paula O’Hagan made no mistake from the resulting free as Clonduff opened up a 3-point lead with some 42 minutes on the clock.

won a free which Sophie O’Dwyer pointed and after the latter’s next effort had dropped short, some good re-cycling saw the sliotar worked to Niamh Deely who fired over a nice point to somehow reduce the gap to just one point, despite what appeared to be the Ulster side’s dominance. The Village’s Aoife Cantwell was the adjudged to have over-carried when trying to break-out of defence and Paula O’Hagan punished this by popping over the free.

Clonduff midfielder Isabella O’Hare then struck over a lovely point to make it a 3-point game with some ten minutes remaining. The nerves began to kick-in for both sides as play became a little scrappier again, this clearly suited the Ulster side as they had built a lead that they appeared confident in defending.

Then in the 58th minute, James Stephens came so close to raising a second green flag of the day, in similar circumstances to their first. Another long ball into the Clonduff defence was batted away by keeper McGilligan, but Sophie O’Dwyer’s rebound shot went agonisingly wide of the post. Referee Cathal McAllister then awarded James Stephens a free just beyond the ‘D’ but in Sophie O’Dwyer’s desire to retrieve the sliotar quickly, she pushed a Clonduff player and the decision was overturned and O’Dwyer saw yellow for her efforts.

O’Dwyer made amends with just 90 seconds remaining when she slotted over her 5th free of the game to reduce the deficit to 2 points.

However, Clonduff wing-back Katie Morgan powered forward before striking over a fine point to leave a goal between the sides. The long whistle then sounded, it was agony for The Village, but ecstasy for Clonduff. Final score, Clonduff 0-12, James Stephens 1-6.

CLONDUFF SCORERS: P O’Hagan 0-6(5fs); SL Graffin 0-3; C Byrne, I O’Hare, K Morgan 0-1 each

JAMES STEPHENS SCORERS: S O’Dwyer 1-5 (0-5fs); N Deely 0-1 CLONDUFF: K McGilligan; E Rafferty, J Boden (captain), N Murray; C Kearney, F Carr, K Morgan; I O’Hare, C McGilligan; C Fitzpatrick, O Gribben, B Fitzpatrick; P O’Hagan (0-7, 5 frees), C Byrne, SL Graffin. Subs: O McCusker for O Gribben (18-22), O McCusker for N Murray (36), C Cowan for O Gribben (46), A Morgan for O McCusker (60+2)

JAMES STEPHENS: L McGrath; M Burke, E Gafney, H Larkin; E Manogue, A Cantwell, H Scott; M Teehan, A Doheny; S O’Dwyer, N Deely (captain), N Butler; C Delaney, R Leahy, E Smith.

Subs: C Moran for N Butler (HT), T McGuire for C Moran (60)

REFEREE: C McAllister (Cork)

>> SHERRY SAYS...

The

For

These

Jenna Boden lifts the cup!

Emma Gaffney pulls back Sarah-Louise Graffin

John Scott’s youthful Village side bid for All-Ireland glory fell just short last weekend. Despite a wonderful 1-5 from the very talented Sophie O’Dwyer, James Stephens fell to a more experienced and cuter Clonduff outfit. While the likes of Niamh Deely and Michelle Teehan tried to influence proceedings, The Down side were physically stronger and had a more even blend of youth and experience.

Kieran McGourty’s side possess leaders and aul heads in The Carr sister’s, Fionnuala and Sarah-Louise (Graffin) and Paula O’Hagan. These 3 talented camog’s all hail from sporting families, with big football backgrounds. The Carr’s are daughters of Down All-Ireland winner Ross, while Paula is the wife of Down defender and former captain Darren O’Hagan.

ladies from Mourne were just better in all areas, and this comes from experience. In Graffin and O’Hagan, they have two real quality forwards.

The Village, there’s no doubt that playing senior camogie in the county next season will only bring this talented bunch of players on.

ladies can hold their heads high and look forward to next season knowing that they are very much on the right track. The future is certainly bright for this group of Village ladies. Congratulations to Clonduff, worthy champions.

Hurling matters Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final

Shamrocks Ballyhale 1-16 Ballygunner 0-16

It goes around, it comes around. Shamrocks Ballyhale defeated reigning All-Ireland club champions Ballygunner to setup a nal clash with Ulster champions and St omas’s conqueror’s, Dunloy in around a months’ time.

Despite the best e orts of Gunner’s goalkeeper, Stephen O’Keefe who made a string of outstanding saves, TJ Reid’s second penalty attempt of the afternoon proved the di erence at the long whistle and ensured that Harry Ruddle’s late, late show in February’s nal was not going to be repeated.

Shamrocks were 3-points to the good inside the opening 2 minutes, thanks to a pair of frees from TJ Reid and a ne long-range point from Joe Cuddihy. Ballygunner got the scoreboard moving in the 3rd minute, when Kevin Mahony found Dessie Hutchinson with a lovely pass, before the latter turned inside and red over a nice point.

Na Seamroga were dealt an early blow when Darren Mullen went down and had to be replaced by Brian Butler, but that change didn’t happen before Conor Sheahan struck over a monster score from inside his own half. From the puckout TJ took a ne catch and as he made for the opposition goal, he was halted illegally by Ronan Power. TJ popped over the placed ball, but the Munster champions responded with another booming score, this time from wing-back Power, to leave it a one-point game after 7 minutes.

e opening exchanges had been a little frantic, but Pat Hoban’s men showed their steely intent when Paddy Mullen put in a ne robust challenge on Peter Hogan, underneath the stand of the same name, referee Liam Gordon deemed it a foul, but it was a gentle reminder to the Waterford side that Shamrocks were physically up to the battle. From the next passage of play Ballygunner worked the ball out of their defence well and sent a lovely diagonal ball to the evermoving Dessie Hutchinson, who for the second time beat Joey Holden to the ball before slotting over a ne point.

e Kilkenny champions rst goal chance arrived on 10 minutes, when Eoin Cody battled well and managed to pick out Joey Cuddihy, who in turn picked out the clever run from Adrian Mullen. Mullen from a tight angle struck a bullet of a shot, which Stephen O’Keefe managed to stop, but Colin Fennelly

Shamrocks sink ‘Gunner in epic tussle

was alert as ever and batted over the rebound, which after a little intervention from Hawk Eye was rightly awarded as a point as Shamrocks Ballyhale nudged ahead.

From the next puck-out, Joey Cuddihy took possession and moved forward before delivering a pass inside. Cuddihy immediately reached for his hamstring and dropped to the Croker turf. His day was done and the unlucky forward was replaced by young Niall Shortall. Pauric Mahony then sent over along-range free to bring the game to deadlock once again.

Ballygunner took the lead for the rst time in the 15th minute when another lovely pass from the roving Kevin Mahony found rising star Patrick Fitzgerald who got the better of Killian Corcoran before dispatching a ne point between the posts. From Dean Mason’s restart, Pauric Mahony was sharper to the ball than Evan She in and once he had sliotar in hand, he red over another score for the

Waterford side, to increase their lead to two points.

e Leinster champions responded with 3 scores on the bounce, including a ne point from Adrian Mullen who was expertly picked out by Richie Reid, before splitting the posts. Evan She in then took a mighty catch before delivering a pin-point pass to Paddy Mullen who ri ed over a cracking point from half-way. en on 21 minutes, a long ball in towards Colin Fennelly caused panic in the Ballygunner defence. e No.14

managed to ick the sliotar in the direction of Eoin Cody who picked up possession before being fouled.

TJ popped over the placed ball to edge his side ahead.

A long restart from Stephen O’Keefe found its way to young Patrick Fitzgerald who left Killian Corcoran on the ground before o -loading to Pauric Mahony who struck over a sweet point from close to the sideline. Ballygunner were then awarded a very soft free when Joey Holden was wrongly adjudged to have fouled Kevin Mahony.

Replays showed that the last man to lift Liam McCarthy for the Cats had dispossessed Mahony with skill. Kevin’s brother Pauric slotted over the place ball to put the Gunner one up. at soon became two, when Fitzgerald out-foxed Brian Butler before sending over his second ne point of the game.

Some persistence from Eoin Cody resulted in a ‘65 which TJ Reid ri ed over with ease. Kevin Mahony then got on the ball again, this time laying o a nice pass to Mikey Mahony who pointed from out

TJ Reid Attempts to hook Conor Sheehan

Adrian MullenShamrocks engine

Eoin Cody Heading for goal

wide to restore the Munster club’s 2-point lead.

Veteran Waterford keeper O’Keefe was then called into action again, when after some lovely build-up

involving Darragh Corcoran and Niall Shortall saw the latter pass to Adrian Mullen who’s goal bound shot was somehow thwarted by SOK. A truly unbelievable save, his second of the day.

Returning captain, Ronan Corcoran then showed great strength and determination to get away from his man before splitting the posts from out underneath the Cusack Stand. Eoin Kenneally then got in on the scoring having won the sliotar well before jinking his way past a few defenders and popping the ball over the bar to level matters right on the short whistle, eleven points apiece. When the second period got underway, you could sense the nervous tension and energy all over the Croke Park pitch. e Waterford side hit a couple of bad wides early on as the challenges going in were meaty as both sides attempted to assert their physical authority. Eoin Kenneally saw yellow for a challenge on Ronan Power, before Adrian Mullen was blown-up for a foul on the Ballygunner full-forward and Pauric Mahony popped over the free to nudge the Gunner ahead.

Eoin Cody then got his rst point of the day from out wide to raise the Shamrocks voices in the stands. Joey Holden then won a couple of important battles against Dessie Hutchinson, a sign that the veteran full-back was coming out on top in that particular tussle. Pauric Mahony then struck another free wide of the Kilkenny men’s posts and then from Dean Mason’s accurate restart, Eoin Cody took a TJ-like catch before striking over a beautiful point for his second of the day to push Pat Hoban’s charges one ahead in the 42nd minute.

Philip Mahony then saw yellow for a foul on Colin Fennelly and TJ red over the placed ball to push the Leinster sides lead to two. Dessie Hutchinson then beat Darragh Corcoran before splitting Dean Mason’s posts with a sweet score.

Goalkeeper O’Keefe then pulledo another save right out of the top-drawer when he de ected Evan She in’s e ort away from the danger zone, after some nifty stick work from Eoin Cody. It appeared SOK was having another one of those days, nothing was going to get past him.

en came the start of the Shamrocks luck changing. TJ picked up the sliotar and found Colin Fennelly with a nice hand-pass. e man-mountain headed for goal and has crudely stopped in his tracks when Philip Mahony dragged him to the

ground. PENALTY SHAMROCKS BALLYHALE! Surely a second yellow for the Ballygunner No.6? Referee Gordon deemed the penalty enough punishment, Philip got away with one. TJ stepped up and struck a erce shot to O’Keefe’s right, but somehow the Waterford man managed to prevent the sliotar hitting the net! Drama of the highest order! e Ballygunner supporters roared with a combination of delight and relief. You sensed they felt it was to be their day again against their great rivals.

e Munster side went on the attack, but Richie Reid, Joey Holden and Darragh Corcoran combined to send the ball deep into Ballygunner territory. Ronan Corcoran set the wheels in motion, TJ and Colin Fennelly exchanged passes which enabled TJ to head for goal and just as he was about to strike, He was clipped by Shane O’Sullivan. PENALTY SHAMROCKS BALLYALE, yellow for O’Sullivan.

Never one to shy away from responsibility, TJ placed the sliotar carefully before going through his normal routine. Up he stepped and this time his bullet strike was a little lower and rattled the Ballygunner net! Shamrocks 1-14, Ballygunner 0-13, almost 49 minutes played. is was the biggest lead of the clash, and you sensed the importance of the green ag raising.

e All-Ireland champions needed a response. Dessie Hutchinson, who had spent most of the 2nd half out the eld in an attempt to nd space and avoid the clutches of Joey Holden played a one-two with substitute Billy O’Keefe and struck a rasping shot across the Shamrocks goal, but Dean Mason showed his class by icking the sliotar away for a ‘65. Pauric Mahony struck the placed ball, But Mason plucked the sliotar from just above the bar. Small margins.

As the contest heated up again, Adrian Mullen who was operating in a deeper mid eld role in the second period won the ball close to the sideline before being fouled and upending the linesman! Mullen’s reaction was an indication of the Shamrocks mindset. A vital possession won. ey weren’t going to be caught today. TJ majestically stepped up and struck the free between the Ballygunner posts from near half-way. Pat Hoban’s men led by ve.

e Munster-men got their rst score in almost 10 minutes when Kevin Mahony side-stepped Paddy Mullen before sending over a quality point. Darragh O’Sullivan knew his team were in a spot of bother and reacted by replacing young starlet Fitzgerald with February’s hero Harry Ruddle. A penny for Pat Hoban’s thoughts at this moment.

A Ballygunner sideline cut was then worked short by Dessie Hutchinson, who took the return pass before ri ing over. Just a goal between the rivals with about 4minutes of normal time remaining.

Eoin Cody then claimed another spectacular catch ahead of Shane O’Sullivan, before the Ballygunner defender fouled the livewire forward. Like Adrian Mullen minutes earlier, Cody’s reaction was a sign of the importance of

retaining the sliotar. TJ sent over the free. 3 minutes of injury time was the message across the PA system.

e last score of the game was to be from the soon to be former AllIreland club champions. Pauric Mahony red over after Darragh Corcoran was blown for a foul on Conor Sheahan.

With the allotted injury time played, Ballygunner had one last chance to send the sliotar in and around the house. Philip Mahony sent the ball in and Adrian Mullen broke it down and emerged with the sliotar. Referee Liam Gordon sounded the long whistle. Shamrocks had won by 3, they had taken down the champions, but more importantly, they had secured their place in the club decider in January. Full time score from Croker, Shamrocks Ballyhale 1-16, Ballygunner 0-16.

Scorers for Ballyhale Shamrocks: TJ Reid 1-8 (1-0 pen, 7fs, 165), Eoin Cody 0-2, Paddy Mullen, Ronan Corcoran, Adrian Mullen, Eoin Kenneally, Colin Fennelly, and Joey

Cuddihy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-6 (4fs), Dessie Hutchinson 0-4, Patrick Fitzgerald 0-2, Kevin Mahony, Ronan Power, Mikey Mahony, and Conor Sheahan 0-1 each.

Ballyhale Shamrocks: Dean Mason; Darren Mullen, Joey Holden, Killian Corcoran; Evan She in, Richie Reid, Darragh Corcoran; Ronan Corcoran, Paddy Mullen; Adrian Mullen, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody; Eoin Kenneally, Colin Fennelly, Joey Cuddihy.

Subs: Brian Butler for D Mullen (6), Niall Shortall for Cuddihy (13), Conor Walsh for Kenneally (60+2).

Ballygunner: Stephen O’Kee e; Ian Kenny, Barry Coughlan, Tadhg Foley; Shane O’Sullivan, Philip Mahony, Ronan Power; Conor Sheahan, Paddy Leavey; Peter Hogan, Pauric Mahony, Mikey Mahony; Patrick Fitzgerald, Dessie Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony.

Subs: Billy O’Kee e for M Mahony (49), Harry Ruddle for Fitzgerald (55).

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).

>> SHERRY SAYS...

What a way to finish their 50th year as a club. Not just any club, but the most decorated hurling club of all-time. By God, Pat Hoban’s panel thoroughly deserved their semi-final victory over near neighbours and rivals Ballygunner.

From the outset it was clear to see that this team had already decided that they weren’t going to suffer at the Munster champions hands two seasons running. Paddy Mullen’s challenge on Peter Hogan on the sideline, tremendous, a real statement of intent. Not today Mr. Ruddle & Co.

This win was built on the defensive solidity of Shamrocks team. Losing possibly your best man-marker in the opening 5 minutes was a huge blow. Exit stage Darren Mullen, enter Brian Butler. Players with different attributes, but worthy of the jersey. The fact that the spine of Joey Holden and Richie Reid was so strong, provided the Kilkenny men the necessary platform to play ‘their’ hurling.

Joey Holden in particular showed just how much of a miss to his club he will be when he hits Central & South America after January’s decider. Holden was immense.

Next to depart the stage was Joey Cuddihy, almost certainly a hamstring injury, let’s hope time’s a great healer. Entering the fray was young Niall Shortall, who showed glimpses of his undoubted talent.

Adrian Mullen’s switch in the second half to the engine room proved genius. Jesus, that lad has some engine on him, and is the perfect partner in crime for his brother Paddy.

TJ and Eoin Cody put on displays worthy of silverware, but as manager Hoban said afterwards, ‘no trophies were handed out today’.

January’s showpiece against Antrim’s Dunloy will be another puzzle for Shamrocks to solve. Dunloy have nothing to lose. That can be a dangerous component. Shamrocks Ballyhale will put the work in over Christmas & New Year and be ready for the challenge of the Ulstermen. One more Croker trip for this extraordinary team. Merry Christmas Shamrocks!

Dessie Hutchinson tries to get away from Joey Holden

Pat Hoban & his backroom team will plan for Dunloy

Planning notices

COUNCIL

1ST ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of James, Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny whose anniversary occurs at this time.

Sadly missed by James’ heartbroken parents Angela and Walter, his beloved sister Catherine, brother-in-law Michael and adored nephews Barry and Gavin

Memoriam Mass will be held in St. Eoghan’s Church, Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny at 2.30pm on December 29th 2022

50TH ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of Patrick, late of 1 Lorreto Avenue, Kilkenny whose 50th anniversary occurs on this date

In loving memory of Patrick, late of 1 Lorreto Avenue, Kilkenny whose 50th anniversary occurs on this date.

Love in death makes us see What love in life should always be Your happy nature and kindly ways Leave golden memories of happy days

Never selfish, always kind These are the memories you left behind Simple words, but very true We will always love and remember you.

Dominic, Breda and girls

JOHANNA (HANNAH) BYRNE 5TH ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of my dear grandmother Johanna (Hannah) Byrne), late of 23 Parnell Street, Kilkenny who gained her angel wings Christmas Day 2017.

Although I cannot see you I feel your presence near I will hold you close in memory Till I drop my very last tear.

So sleep now with the angels And let your golden heart rest Although our hearts are broken We know GOD took the best.

So dance beyond those golden gates And join your loving mum I’ll see you when I’m sleeping And pray for you to come.

And although this pain is painful And I really don’t want to let you go I’ll wait for death to take me, Nan So we can together one day glow.

Until that day, I’ll close my eyes And see your smiling face I’ll lock you up inside my heart Until we again embrace. So rest now, my beautiful Nan I’ll never forget how much you have done So until my hand meets yours again Sleep now in the sun.

LOVE YOU ALWAYS NAN YOUR GRANDSON JOSEPH XXX

JOHANNA (HANNAH) BYRNE 5TH ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of my Mother Johanna Byrne, late of 23 Parnell Street, Kilkenny who passed away on December 25th 2017.

Although you sleep in heaven now You’re not that far away My heart is full of memories And you’re with me everyday

You lived your life with meaning And with a smile upon your face A world that was full of happiness Is now am empty place

People say that only time Will heal a broken heart But just like you and me mam It has been torn apart

I know you are at peace now In a place where you are free Meet me at the pearly gates When Heaven calls for me

Loved always by your son Noel and daughter-in-law Marian XXX

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. M.R.

St. Anthony Prayer,

O Holy St. Anthony gentlest of Saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers.

Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request).

O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms. The gratitude of my heart will ever be yours.

Amen M.M.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. A.ON.

“Too well loved to ever be forgotten”

GERALDINE RYAN PAUL RYAN

Greenfields, Freshford Road, Kilkenny

Always loved and much missed Anne, Fran, Phil, Richard, Martin and grandchildren.

JAMES BARRY

PATRICK YOUNG

RICHARD RYAN

JOSEPHINE RYAN

REMEMBERING AT CHRISTMAS R.I.P

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.K.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.M.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. A.B.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. B.H.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. A.S.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. B.M.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.M.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer.T.S.