Kilkenny Observer 24th February 2023

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Friday 24 February 2023

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EVERY FRIDAY

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Observer €1.3bn aid ‘not enough’ The Government’s €1.3bn cost-of-living package has come under sharp criticism amid claims the supports do not help renters, mortgage holders or workers.

The Coalition’s much anticipated energy crisis bailout for households and businesses was also criticised for not being targeted at those most vulnerable in society.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was forced to defend the tax and

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welfare package as opposition parties and government backbenchers accused the Coalition of being “out of touch” with citizens struggling to pay bills due to record levels of inflation.

The new package included a bonus one-off €100 a child for families, €150 for all welfare recipients and an extension of excise duty cuts on motor fuels before the cuts are phased out.

A litre of petrol will increase by 6c on June 1 and diesel will increase by 5c on the same date. On September 1, these rates will increase by a further 7c for petrol and 5c for diesel.

The rates will then be fully restored on October 31 with a final increase of 8c for petrol, 6 for diesel, and 3c for market gas oil.

The Government controversially extended the 9% Vat rate for the hospitality and tour-

ism industry until the end of the summer while a major expansion of the €1bn Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was also announced.

The scheme will allow companies to claim up to €15,000 a month for electricity and gas bills.

Reduced fees for school transport were also announced, with families being charged €50 a school year per

primary school child and €75 for secondary school pupils with a cap of €125 a year for a family.

Junior and Leaving Cert exam fees will also be waived and the hot school meals scheme is to be extended beyond Deis schools. The 9% Vat rate will also be extended on electricity and gas bills for a few months.

See also Page 10

And a bang on your ear!

AIB responds to Carey critics DJ Carey did not receive any special treatment when he had debts of €9.5m written down to just €60,000, according to the AIB. Mr Carey secured a settlement in 2017 through which he had to pay just 0.63% of the original amount owed to the majority State-owned bank.

RTÉ’s Prime Time revealed how Mr Carey received a 99.37% reduction in his debt of €9,528,411.

Full report, Page 6

Hotel Kilkenny off to New Zealand

It will be back to the Eighties and right up to the moment as some of Ireland’s longest standing trad acts and some of the newest, rising stars make up the headline acts for this year’s 10-year anniversary running of Kilkenny Tradfest. Among the royalty of Irish trad and folk are the Kilfenora Ceili Band, pictured, Stockton’s Wing, Scullion and local heroes Reel to Reel, while the coming generation see Lisa Lambe, Emma Langford and the South East’s new stars Tulua rise to prominence.

While the Marble City will witness more than 90 free unplugged music sessions in the city’s pubs and hotels in the growing Bulmer’s Music Trail, a dozen headline acts will perform in the city’s best venues.

After three years of virtual events, Tourism Ireland’s first in-person sales mission to Australia and New Zealand since before the pandemic took place last week.

Nine tourism companies from Ireland – including Hotel Kilkenny (part of Griffin Group) – joined Tourism Ireland for the ten-day sales blitz which visited Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.

Our poor children More than 180,000 childhoods are clouded by poverty – Budget 2024 needs to be about ending such poverty, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Children under 18 are experiencing the highest rates of consistent poverty and deprivation in Ireland.

Full report Page 10

Full story Page 14

Hotel VAT move will help 250,000 INSIDE

Kilkenny hoteliers have welcomed the Government’s decision to extend the 9% tourism VAT rate and reform the energy support scheme for businesses.

Colm Neville, Chair of the South East branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) said the measures announced

would now give tourism businesses greater certainty as they grapple with the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on Irish consumers and key overseas markets.

“The announcement is a clear recognition by the Government of the challenges facing tourism and hospitality,

Ireland’s largest indigenous employer which currently supports over 250,000 livelihoods.

It will go a long way in helping to sustain the recovery of our industry at a time when businesses and consumers are facing significant economic and financial headwinds.”

“A vibrant tourism industry is one of the most effective ways to spread employment opportunities and prosperity throughout the entire country.”

Mr Neville noted that most European countries apply a reduced rate VAT rate to tourism accommodation: “When

you look at the tourism VAT rates among our key European competitors, it is clear that the 9% rate is the right rate for Ireland. At 9%, Ireland is in line with our European neighbours, in particular those countries where tourism plays a key role in their economy.”

Paul Hopkins.............................................P8 Marianne Heron...................................P12 Clair Whitty..............................................P12 Special Report.......................................P14 Science & Wellbeing..........................P18 Travel & Leisure.....................................P19 Gerry Moran...........................................P20 Gerry Cody..............................................P23 Sport........................................P41, 42 & 43

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News During the St Patrick’s Festival, Kilkenny City and county come alive with pageantry, craic agus ceol. Centred on the St Patrick’s Day Parade but stretching into nearly a weeklong event, visitors can enjoy the thrill of American marching bands, a parade of local colour, creative workshops for all ages and the best in live Irish music. All in a small intimate city that’ll make you feel right at home.

The 2023 festival is a five-day event beginning on March 15. Kicking off on Wednesday with the biggest of the American marching band performances, Purdue All-American Marching Band from Indiana and Mountain West Conference All-Star Band. Thursday sees the opening of the Festival Market, the Big Wheel and the Vintage Carousel on The Parade, Kilkenny City and ends with a fiery family entertainment on John’s Quay.

St Patrick’s Day features the main event, the Parade, and a whole host of performances, street entertainment and fun for all ages across the City. Including live music on the festival stage, festivities in Kilkenny Castle Park, and interactive family shows. On Saturday there are more marching bands, family shows and street entertainment, alongside the carnival rides, festival market and céilí, with festival favourite fireworks sending celebrations into the night. The festival concludes on Mother’s Day, Sunday, March 19 where the main action will be on

It’s craic agus ceol for St Patrick’s Day

The Parade in Kilkenny City, alongside a hurling match in UPMC Nowlan Park and a Duck race on the river Nore.

The centre of the five-day festival the Parade will take place on March 17 at 1.30pm.

Weaving stories through the

streets of Kilkenny, through the ‘Legends and Stories’ theme, local community groups, street entertainers, marching bands, drummers and pageants will entertain the crowds with their own tales for the traditional St Pat-

rick’s Day celebrations.

The Parade route will go from John Street, to Rose Inn Street, The Parade (Review stand), High Street, and finish at the Market Yard. Line the streets and enjoy the pageantry, music and spectacle.

Before and after the Parade the streets of Kilkenny will be full of lively entertainment and activity with live music performances on the Festival Stage, food and crafts at the Festival Market, Street Entertainment and interactive shows for all

the family, carnival rides and special events in Kilkenny Castle Park.

The Kilkenny Observer will have further coverage of the festivities next week.

See Tradfest, Page 14

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DJ Carey: AIB responds Kilkenny hurling star DJ Carey did not receive any special treatment when he had debts of €9.5m written down to just €60,000, the AIB has said.

Mr Carey secured a settlement in 2017 through which he had to pay just 0.63% of the original amount owed to the majority State-owned bank.

RTÉ’s Prime Time revealed how Mr Carey received a 99.37% reduction in his debt of €9,528,411.

However, it is understood

the sale of properties at the K Club in Co Kildare and Mount Juliet in Co Kilkenny also went towards relieving the debt.

Therefore Mr Carey would have received an estimated write-down of about 80% after the sale of the properties and the €60,000 settlement were taken into account.

Politicians are now calling for AIB to appear before the Oireachtas Finance Committee to explain the move.

In an internal memo to staff, AIB’s Managing Director of Retail Banking Jim O’Keefe said that, while he could not comment on individual cases for legal reasons, he wanted to reassure employees “that the bank has a robust governance process for debt resolution and this process was followed”.

“You will have seen commentary in recent days about AIB’s approach to debt write-down and I want-

ed to clarify the matter,” the memo starts.

“Where customers are in financial difficulty, our resolution process is based on their ability to repay, taking account of the customers’ assets and their sustainable income levels.”

Mr O’Keeffe said this approach had ensured the bank had “resolved over 150,000 customer cases over many years in a fair and consistent manner.

“We have found that the vast majority of customers are able to meet the terms of their new arrangement and move on with their personal and business lives,” he said.

It was revealed last week that Mr Carey reached the settlement with AIB in April 2017 and the bank confirmed it had received the settlement funds in April the following year.

The bank had previously secured a High Court judgment

How Gerri’s making a clean sweep of Piltown!

Elizabeth goes for the long jump...

Elizabeth Ndudi, Dundrum South Dublin, [pictured] looks a leading contender for the women’s long jump after her national senior title The DSD star is currently No. 3 in the 2023 world U20 lists. She is with Team Ireland who have been in Spain for the 2023 DNA U20 meet which took place in Madrid on Wednesday, February 22.

Dynamic New Athletics (DNA) is European Athletics initiative which will see six nations compete against each other in a two-hour long team competition.

The match, which took place in Ma-

drid’s Gallur Municipal Sports Centre, featured more than 100 athletes from Ireland, the Czech Republic, France, Britain, Portugal and hosts Spain.

Athletics Ireland views this event as a development event that presents an opportunity for athletes to gain valuable international exposure, while providing a preparation opportunity ahead of the 2023 European U20 Championships which take place in Israel later this year.

A fascinating three-way battle was in store in the women’s 60m with Ireland’s Lucy-May Sleeman (Leevael AC) leading the way having clocked in

at 7.35 competing last month.

Sleeman was up against British sprinter Renee Regis, who won a 100m bronze at last summer’s European Athletics U18 Championships and gold in the medley relay, and Spain’s Elena Guiu, a finalist in the 2022 World U20 100m, and both these women have improved to 7.39 over 60m this year.

Elizabeth Ndudi leapt 6.28m to win the Irish senior national title on Sunday but, once again, Spain could also have a say in the destination of the points in an event where tactics could come into play, having named 2022

European U18 bronze medallist Laura Martinez, who has a best of 6.28m, in their team.

Performance Pathway Manager Jacqui Freyne told The Kilkenny Observer: “This is a great opportunity for the u20 athletes to compete internationally and to continue to build on the foundations laid down by their personal coaches and clubs.

This is a strong team, with a mix of experience and some first-time caps.

We are grateful to European Athletics for affording us this opportunity to compete as one of the six invited countries.”

New €2m Arts funding for Decade of Centenaries The Arts Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media have announced the launch of Art:2023, a major programme of events throughout 2023 and into April 2024 to mark the final phase of the Decade of entenaries. This programme will build on the Art 2016 programme previously supported.

The programme Art: 2023 is an opportunity for artists and

arts organisations to create new and exciting work of ambition and scale while reflecting on the themes of the Decade of Centenaries Programme 20122023.

The amount of funding provided is €2m, which is going towards Open Call and Arts Participation awards, and a further €600,000 going to Next Generation artists. There are 10 projects funded across Open Call and Arts Participation,

and 24 artists will be funded through Next Generation. This is an increase from 2022, when 20 Next Generation artists were funded.

The Chair of the Arts Council, Professor Kevin Rafter, said: “I am personally thrilled to announce the launch of ART:2023, which, in addition to everything else, represents the final stage of our collaboration with the Decade of Centenaries.

Artists have played a crucial role

for the €9.5m, mostly arising from a €7.85m loan secured on the properties at Mount Juliet and the K Club.

Mr Carey had also given personal guarantees of €1.5m.

The settlement agreement also included a so-called “windfall” clause. That meant that if Mr Carey received cash or assets that caused an increase of €50,000 in his net asset value, the money received would have to be paid to AIB.

in Irish life since the foundation of the State. The diverse range of arts organisations and artists involved in ART:2023 will allow for further challenge and interpretation of our collective past and shared futures.”

Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, welcomed the announcement saying: “As we move into the third decade of the new millennium, it is incumbent upon us to think about the future. In line with

our 10-year strategy, Making Great Art Work, the goal of ART:2023 is to support the creation of ambitious artworks that integrate our history into a compelling vision of contemporary Ireland; we’re excited to give a voice to those artists and organisations who are contributing to a new outlook on our society, giving us a glimpse of what our shared future could and should look like.”

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Pat Fitzpatrick recently took time out of his busy schedule to take a trip down to Piltown to meet with Gerri Hickey who is a local champion of the ‘Lets Team Up to Clean Up, Together for Kilkenny’. This environmental initiative, supported by corporate sponsors Tirlán/Glanbia Plc, PRL, Panda, Dawn Meats and John O’Shea Trust, provides Kilkenny County Council with the opportunity to organise the largest clean-up of the county, enabling groups to litter pick their neighbourhoods across the weekend of March 24, 25 and 26.

Cathaoirleach Fitzpatrick said: “Piltown is a hive of activity and this environmental initiative provides an opportunity to encourage community groups with different interests to come out over one weekend to show pride in their local area. The initiative was established to encourage different types of groups to litter pick who in turn will lend a hand to the dozens of development associations and Tidy Towns groups.

“Groups like Keep Piltown Tidy and Ballyragget Tidy Towns greatly appreciate the assistance that these groups will provide.”

Gerri Hickey was delighted to hear that her hard work of promoting the environmental initiative was paying off. “Bernadette Moloney, the council’s campaign co-ordinator informed me this week, that there are 192 groups registered to date, with nine different community groups registered in the Piltown area alone, and considering the size of our community, there is wonderful interest in this unique environmental initiative locally,” she said.

Groups only have a couple of weeks left to register. Community groups, schools, workplaces and sport clubs from all over the city and county who plan to litter pick their neighbourhoods within speed zones of 60km/ph or less are welcome to participate by registering via https://cleanup. kilkenny.ie

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Opinion

The Fact Of OfThe Matter PAUL HOPKINS

Hanging on to life, waiting on a hero A bundle of blonde beauty, aged just five, is carried in careful arms from the rubble of a building razed by the massive earthquake in Hatay, Turkey. She had been lost under the rubble for some 12 days, clinging on to her little life, awaiting salvation.

Of course, her story with a happy ending is not the only story with a happy ending after two quakes struck eastern Turkey and Syria more than a week ago.

A newborn girl was rescued from under a collapsed building in Syria, her mother having given birth while buried alive. She was found with her umbilical cord still tied to her mother. The baby was the only member of her family to survive.

As I write, some 45,000 souls have perished — that figure is expected to double

— and as many again are still buried in the ruins, their fates unknown, windows fading fast.

Syrians feel forgotten. No tents, nod aid, nothing. Not helped by sanctions and the presence of Islamic militias.

What these stories — and those of the rescuers frantically scraping with bare hands, their own lives at risk from after-quakes — show is the remarkable resilience of human nature. That indomitable spirit, that grace if you like, that comes to the fore when we are faced with a crisis of overpowering odds against our favour.

I recall Bahia Bakari, just 14, showed such resilience back in 2009 when she hung on for 13 hours in the sea and in darkness as the sole survivor from an Airbus A310-300 jet from Yemen which crashed into

the Indian Ocean off the Comoros islands, killing all other 152 people on board.

Or, a year later, the story of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for 69 days and lived to tell the tale. It seemed like something straight out of an Edgar Allan Poe horror tale — most of the 19th century American author’s works being based on his morbid and unrelenting fear of such a horrific ordeal. That, too, is the pitiful plight of those in Turkey and Syria still buried alive.

There are numerous lifechanging incidents every day throughout the world that show human resilience at its finest. The first responders at the tragedy in Creeslough, Donegal is such.

How do we account for that resilience?

We come into the world confronted by what phi-

losopher William James — brother of author Henry — famously called “a blooming, buzzing confusion” and we must somehow organise this chaos into a reasonably stable and meaningful personal world which includes a sense of a continuous, yet dynamic, self. And, as Jung so well understood, our ego must deal not only with external challenges but also challenges that come from inside us.

And when the ground literally falls from under your feet, that well of internal strength and resilience has to swell over. It inevitably does, because we humans are intrinsically tough and resilient. The unique evolutionary path we have taken as a species relies predominantly on learning, openness, flexibility, and adaptability. We survive and even thrive in

every conceivable environment on this planet.

How does our psyche withstand such outrageous attacks as war — Ukraine, Syria, Yemen — crime, brutality, and even life-threatening illnesses as with Covid19? What impact do such experiences have on our trust in an orderly and predictable universe, on our security, and our belief in our value as human beings? Why do some souls, like young Muhammet, live through such experiences, with their spirit relatively intact, and others do not?

I don’t know.

I do know this, though: see a people in crisis and you’ll see what they are made of. Just like the people of Ukraine who have shown us human resilience at its most shining example.

Many years ago in Rhodesia

(now Zimbabwe), I covered the story of a Viscount plane shot down from the skies by those opposing minority white rule. A ground-to-air missile felled Air Rhodesia Flight 825 which broke in two and was quickly engulfed in flames. Only five of 56 passengers and five crew survived.

Dentist Cecil McLaren was the hero of the hour as he led a man, two women and five-year-old Tracey Cole, through hostile guerrilla territory for days, begging water from suspicious villagers, and eventually to safety.

At the time I wrote: “Like Rider Haggard’s Allan Quatermain, beleaguered among hostile natives, McLaren possessed and displayed a presence of mind and strength of character.

“And he showed remarkable resilience when ...”

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Ibec welcomes CoL moves

Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, says that the cost-of-living and cost of doing business measures announced by THE Government will support business confidence and activity, and attention must now turn to ensuring the delivery of effective support to viable but vulnerable businesses.

Ibec said that many of the

measures will be welcomed by industry, including amendments to the Temporary Business Energy Supports Scheme (TBESS), and the extension of the 9% VAT for the Experience Economy.

The measures contained within the latest package will also play an important role in containing inflationary pressures which remain elevat-

ed, Ibec Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence Fergal O’Brien said.

“The package from the Government contains many positive measures that will bring much certainty to businesses across the economy.

“It is welcome to see reforms to the TBESS as the previous eligibility criteria and support levels were

too restrictive, leading to poor take up from industry despite there being an ongoing energy affordability crisis.

"The support levels to date have been below that seen in other European countries, so today’s announcement will go some way to addressing the competitive disadvantage many businesses have

faced in recent months," he said.

“It is also positive to see the 9% VAT rate extended for another 6 months. This policy has been instrumental in helping businesses stay afloat and maintaining many jobs across the country.

Removal of this buffer at this time would have put many in the Experience Economy,

particularly SMEs, in jeopardy, and would only have added to inflationary pressures and undermined international competitiveness.

"While business would have preferred to see the 9% VAT rate made a permanent fixture, today’s announcement will provide some relief and certainty," concluded Fergal O'Brien.

180,000 childhoods 'clouded by poverty' More than 180,000 childhoods are clouded by poverty and Budget 2024 needs to be about ending such poverty, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The data shows children under 18 are experiencing the highest rates of consistent poverty and deprivation in Ireland.

Commenting on the latest Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) figures published by the CSO, the Children’s Rights Alliance (CRA) is calling for Budget 2024 to be a budget to end child poverty.

CRA Chief Executive Tanya Ward said; “We know that today, thousands of families across the country are weathering the cost-of-living storm and the findings published today by the CSO put the impact of this crisis

into perspective. It is deeply concerning to see a rise across the board when it comes to the level of child poverty in Ireland in 2022 and it clearly demonstrates the need for Budget 2024 to go further to support children and families most in need.”

The SILC data shows: • 27,382 more children living in consistent poverty: The number of children living in consistent poverty rose from 5.2% in 2021 (61,906), to 7.5% in 2022 (89,288).

• 34,525 more children experiencing deprivation in 2022: The number of children experiencing enforced deprivation rose from 17% in 2021 (202,385), to 19.9% in 2022 (236,910) • 19,048 more children at risk of poverty in 2022: The number of children at risk of poverty rose

from 13.6% in 2021 (161,908), to 15.2% in 2022 (180,956) “One child in poverty is one too many," said Ms Ward. "What we are now seeing is a worrying increase in the number of children being pulled into poverty.

It is simply not right that in a society like Ireland, with the fastest growing economy in Europe, we are seeing more and more children being pushed into hardships.

"Child poverty impacts every aspect of a child’s life. For children living in consistent poverty, this impact can last long into adulthood and right now, one in every five children are living this reality," she said. "Families with the constant worry of how they will keep their house warm and how they will afford to put a dinner on the table.”

First sod turned in plans for new park A sod turning event was held recently, marking the commencement of Phase 1 of the Kilkenny Countryside Park, at Dunmore just outside Kilkenny City.

It took place in the presence of the Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick, Mayor of Kilkenny Municipal District David FitzGerald, Deputy John McGuinness, the members of Kilkenny County Council, invited guests from the Dunmore Community Committee and the Kilkenny GAA County Board.

The project will see the development of a new countryside park on the site of the closed municipal landfill at Dunmore which

occupies an area of circa.

17 acres and is located just 5km north of Kilkenny city centre. The full realisation of the proposed park will include trails for walking, running, cycling and orienteering, along with educational opportunities related to natural heritage and biodiversity enhancement and management.

It is anticipated the park will be attractive to the general public, schools and recreation groups, and those with specific environmental interests such as photography and birdwatching in the context of an amenity which is close to nature.

This initial phase of the project is being funded through the Department of

Rural & Community Development under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme with match funding from Kilkenny County Council.

Cathaoirleach Pat Fitzpatrick said: “The overall ambition is to develop a parkland that will create a regional destination for health and wellbeing, attracting fitness and outdoor enthusiasts of all abilities, nature lovers and educational providers.

Huge thanks to the local Dunmore community and Kilkenny GAA for their support for this project since its conception and to the Council's Management Team for having the foresight to see the potential of the site.”

'Declaration of war' on agri contractors

The latest TAMS 3 announcement by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) is an "outright declaration of war" on all agricultural contractors who provide a professional service to Irish farming, according to the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI).

With the continuing exclusion of agricultural contractors from TAMS 3, DAFM has now targeted the total elimination of the agricultural contracting sector as its priority through a process of stealth by undermining the profitability of the agricultural Contrac-

tor sector, according to FCI. The Association of Farm Contractors in Ireland (FCI), the national association representing Agricultural/Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland, had requested the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD, to include agricultural/farm contractors in the new Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3), details of which were announced yesterday.

“The glaring omission from the TAMS 3 announcement points to the continuing total exclusion of agricultural con-

tractors from the huge financial benefits totalling €370 million, provided for the purchase of a range farm machines, all of which will be directly competing on an unfair basis, with the services provided by agricultural contractors, generations of who have provided professional services to thousands of farms across all counties of Ireland,” said FCI National Chair John Hughes.

“The TAMS 3 scheme as now announced, provides farmers with virtually free machines in order to put Agricultural Contractors out of business," said Mr Hughes.

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Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

How biofuels can play a bigger part in climate We could look more to nature for answers to the climate crisis . But when it comes to the big beasts responsible for carbon emission, we favour solutions in the race to reduce these by 50% by 2050 at the latest There are regular calls to cull cattle numbers to cut agriculture’s 35.4% share, pressure on us all to switch to electric cars (EVs) to reduce transport’s 20.4% share and the ongoing moves to switch to renewable sources like wind and solar powers for the energy and residential sector which together account for 26.3%. Together these three account for nearly three quarters of gasses hastening climate change.

These carbon cures are not without disadvantages. What are farmers to do if they lose their traditional livelihood dependant on cattle? Switch-

ing to EVs is costly, means scrapping existing vehicles, with snags include the short distances per charge, recharging hassles and the fact that batteries using lithium are bad news. Measures like installing solar panels for homes are expensive too.

But here is an alternative we don’t hear enough about: biofuels. These fall into two main categories: first generation biofuels made from food crops to produce ethanol, similar to the stuff we use for recreational drinking and plant oil and cooking oil which are used to make biodiesel and second generation or advanced biofuels made from nonedible biomass such as trees, grasses or agricultural waste.

The good news about advanced biofuels is that they offer a double advantage, helping to reduce CO2 emis-

sions and offering farmers an alternative to raising cattle.

Around two thirds of farms in Ireland are not viable, producing less than the average farm wage and may depend on non-farm income to make ends meet. Growing energy crops like miscanthus, willow or forestry for biomass could bring in better returns than the typical beef. Biomass can be used to produce fuel for transport or for heating in institutions like schools or hospitals or community schemes.

However, a supply chain still needs to be developed so that farmers can be paid for what they produce as they are in other agricultural sectors. “In order to meet our renewable targets, we will require commercial structures which farmers are happy with,” says Barry Caslin, Environment and

Technology advisor with Teagasc. “Biofuels are part of the jigsaw of technologies we can use to reach our targets to reduce emissions.”

Currently we are only scratching the service of what advanced biofuels could do – using just very high grade, easily available feedstocks like used cooking oil. But there is a huge range of viable feedstocks we could be using, and a very wide range of conversion technologies. Basically, any kind of waste plant matter is an excellent feedstock for conversion to advanced biofuel and for existing vehicles. “Biofuels are not new they have been in use for centuries fuelling lamps and stoves Even the first engine, Rudolf’s Diesel, was intended it to be run on peanut oil until petroleum was discovered and commercialised around

one hundred years ago ,” says Dr Stephen Dooley Associate Professor of Energy Science at the School of Physics TCD. “Like petroleum fuels, biofuels have also seen enormous development over the last hundred years. The varieties made with plant oil and used cooking oil are used to make biodiesel, and increasingly sustainable aviation fuel.

Advanced biofuels have the potential to replace or substantially displace petrol and diesel fuel.”

First generation biofuels are part of the part of the climate action plan and are already in use as components of traditional petrofuels. They saved Ireland around 520,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions last year, compared with an estimated 20,000 tonnes of savings from EVs. There are challenges to be overcome before

biofuels can play a bigger part, one is price the end price to consumers as if too expensive it will contribute to energy poverty. There are technological hurdles too if vehicles are to use more biofuel than the current 3-5 % in combination with petrol or diesel and there are supply chain challenges to be solved. Given official willingness and investment though, biofuels have the potential to play a much bigger part in the jigsaw puzzle of renewables and carbon reduction.

EVs are not the only way to go, especially if there is a cleaner, greener route dependant on natural crops.

EVs exhausts cost both our pockets and the environment in their production while the motor industry laughs all the way to the bank.

Sage the kitchen herb for menopausal support CLAIR WHITTY

Sage, the kitchen herb that has been traditionally used to bring you relief for hot flushes and night sweats. Many of you will agree that this is a brilliant herb to help alleviate these menopausal symptoms.

I have seen some research recently to support this use of Sage. The research, which was an 8-week clinical trial on a fresh herbal extract of Sage, Salvia officinalis, investigated the safety and efficacy of the plant. They investigated a one a day dose in women aged between 50 and 65 who had been menopausal for at least 6 months and who all had at least 5 hot flushes per day.

The results showed that from week three onwards there was a reduction of 55% in the number and the intensity of hot flushes compared to 26.9% in the placebo group.

I think it is fantastic that this simple garden herb is getting the research it deserves to prove to everyone that it does work. Symptoms that showed the biggest difference were the reduction of hot flushes, but there were also improvements in physical and mental

exhaustion, sexual problems, and joint and muscular discomfort.

I am delighted that research is showing Sage has a lot more to offer us. Not only does it help regulate these symptoms but research is telling us that it is beneficial for cognitive function too with

many women seeing a reduction in brain fog and mental sluggishness. This is a major problem for many women during the menopause. It seems that fresh Sage extract in studies showed normalisation of the brain waves under stress, meaning that you can be more focussed and in a relaxed state of mind.

If you are looking for an alternative to HRT, or something to take alongside it to help alleviate your symptoms, then consider making Sage part of your journey. It has no hormonal activity and is not oestrogenic. Our most popular brand is A.Vogel Menoforce, we like this because it is one a day tablet, it’s a brand we trust and have worked with for almost 30 years now.

For hot flushes you can take one in the daytime and for night sweats take one in the evening.

Let us know if we can help you on your menopausal journey.

Shop online at www.naturalhealthstore.ie where you’ll be able to take a look at these brands.

Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre Phone: 056 7764538 Email: info@naturalhealthstore.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

News It will be back to the Eighties and right up to the moment as some of Ireland’s longest standing trad acts and some of the newest, rising stars make up the headline acts for this year’s 10-year anniversary running of Kilkenny Tradfest. Among the royalty of Irish trad and folk are Stockton’s Wing, Scullion and local heroes Reel to Reel, while the coming generation see Lisa Lambe, Emma Langford and the Southeast’s new stars Tulua rise to prominence.

While the Marble City will witness more than 90 free unplugged music sessions in the city’s pubs and hotels in the growing Bulmers Music Trail, a dozen headline acts will perform in the city’s best venues.

Beginning on Wednesday, March 15 with the first of the Bulmer’s Music Trail sessions in pubs across the city. The headline action will really kick off with Emma Langford in Cleere’s Theatre on Thursday, March 16 and will finish on Sunday the 19th with young box player Eva Coyle as well as the ever popular Lisa Hannigan in The Set Theatre.

In between, the music fans of the seventies and eighties can dance the night away to the legendary Stockton’s Wing in Hotel Kilkenny, can sing their hearts out with Scullion in the Watergate Theatre and can dance up a storm with the Banner County’s most famous céilí bands.

In the words of the legendary Christy Moore, “There’s ‘The Tulla and the Kilfenora’, with the former coming to the festival for the first time ever, in what promises to be a mega-céilí in the River Court Hotel.

The sedate world of the early harp music with Siobhán Armstrong in Rothe House and rollicking gigs with the returning Bonnymen in Billy Byrnes and the youthful exuberance of Tulua, in two separate Free headline gigs in Pat Crotty’s Paris Texas.

Pat Crotty, Tradfest committee member and Chairperson of Kilkenny Tourism, said that the quality of the headline acts speaks for itself: “From our first Tradfest in 2013, we have always prioritised giving our local and visiting audiences a chance to see the leading stars of trad and folk. Some of the headliners this year are back for their second or third time, proving their popularity with their fans. Some others are coming to us for the first time.

“We look forward to the younger generation discovering the vibrancy of Stockton’s

SPECIAL REPORT

Back to the Eighties and bang up to now

TradFest line-up: main photo, Lisa Lamb and Stockton’s Wing and Emma Longford

Wing that had audiences singing and dancing to one of the truly legendary bands of the eighties and nineties, while multiple award-winning women, Lisa Lambe and Emma Langford bring very exciting and cuttingedge performances to our city,” he said.

“Lisa’s appearance in St. Canice’s Cathedral promises to be particularly special and will focus on the centuries-old traditions of the passing on and sharing of all that makes our music, song, dance and storytelling so truly unique.

“On St Patrick’s day itself, our local legends, Reel to Reel, themselves heav-

ily influenced by Stockton’s Wing, Scullion and Moving Hearts, will entertain the crowds on the festival stage on Lower Patrick Street, while we hope that people can chose to celebrate the Irish Six Nations win on Saturday with a choice of the Bonnymen, Scullion or the Tulla’s céilí band exuberance,” Mr Crotty said.

Kilkenny City Vintners Chairperson Anthony Morrisson believess that Kilkenny will be the place to be on the patron saint’s bank holiday weekend.

“From our multicultural and community celebration of our national day on the streets of our medieval

city, right through to getting to see the clash of Kilkenny and Waterford on Sunday, March 19 in Nowlan Park, while surrounded by the best traditional music available in the country that weekend, we hope to see the city alive and kicking on the long weekend.

“We urge people to buy their tickets early to avoid disappointment and to join in all the fun of celebrating what has now become one of Ireland’s leading music festivals,” he said. * Tickets for all the paid events are now available on www.kilkennytradfest. com

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

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News

The Nore Vision has news!

The board of Nore Vision – Nore River Catchment Trust is delighted to announce the launch of its new website www. norevision.ie on Tuesday 21st February 2023. The new site is part of a project funded by Kilkenny Leader Partnership and the TOMAR Trust. Designer Bill Hollingsworth, OystercatcherTF was appointed to develop a new logo, website and digital communication strategy for the trust. The project also included the design of a new logo and communication strategy. The website has lots of information on projects, upcoming events and a facility for friends to join up.

When it came to the logo, the designer felt the river should play a central part. The river essentially is natural, fluid, creates its own form and shape and, of course, is made from water. We wanted our logo roundel to have the same qualities. We asked Kilkenny artist Michelle McMahon to help. Using water from the river we created a design in watercolour which is: Organic (made by a human being rather than a machine), Fluid (not regular, not structured, multi-layered, at different levels both transparent and opaque), Self-creating (using the guiding hand of the artist, allow the colours to take

created, from which we chose one. We are delighted with the result, delighted that the river itself played its part and feel it reflects the qualities we hoped for. Nore Vision believes fully in collaboration and we are very conscious that we can achieve much more by working with stakeholder, agencies and communities. We are pleased that our ethos of collaboration is reflected in our new logo.

their own form, to bleed into each other and to overlap in layers as the medium takes defines), Made from water (using actual Nore water in a watercolour roundel).

Michelle worked with her woman’s art group and almost a dozen roundel designs were

In other good news, We are hiring!

Nore Vision- NRCT are delighted to announce that we are hiring a temporary Project Assistant (Subject to funding).

A strategic plan for the trust was developed in 2021 and a project leader was appointed in June 2022. Following a very busy and successful 2022, Nore Vision now wants to recruit a Project Assistant to further progress the delivery of their strategy.

Job description and details can be downloaded here Nore River Catchment Trust Project Assistant 2023. Any queries can be emailed to mags@norevision.ie Closing date for applications is 5pm Friday 3rd March.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Once again, let’s look at your possible UK pension I know it’s only a few weeks ago since I wrote about the changes in the UK pension rules but due to the amount of interest it has garnered I think it appropriate to signal the closing date once again.

I have had quite several calls with some subsequent happy people.

As I stated before, if your previously worked in the UK there’s a probability that you are entitled to a UK pension.

This pension is £185.15 a week and if you have paid national insurance contributions you may be able to claim the UK pension when you reach 66. The amount of UK pension you are entitled to is linked to your national insurance record and as you are now living in Ireland you most likely will have breaks in your record.

Currently you can, if you are eligible, and wish to buy back years to be added to you national insurance record up to the April 5, 2023. You can make pay-

ments for the missing years from 2006 but after the April deadline you will only be able to go back six years.

As previously stated to buy back one full year’s national insurance will cost you £824.

This ‘investment’ will add £275 a year to your pension.

If you buy back the years and reach 66, then live a further three years you would get your money back and every year after that would be a profit. If you live to 80, the Irish male life expectancy, the investment return would equal 6.9% on the investment and for a female, who lives to the female life expectancy age of 84, the return increases to 7.6%.

There may have been times that you were not working.

Not to worry, there are other ways you may qualify. If you were, for example, unemployed, ill, a parent or carer, you may have paid voluntary national insurance contributions. If you paid married women’s or widow’s reduced

rate contributions you may also qualify for national insurance credits.

Where do you start? Make that call quickly because since the last article most

calls were “I’ve lost my national insurance number” and “Where do I get my national insurance number”. I have said that you need to go to the online calculator at

gov.uk/check-state-pension or complete the BR19 application that can be downloaded from the website and return it by post.

One problem is you really do need your national insurance number. You cannot progress your query or application without it. If you have forgotten it all is not lost, but time is of the essence.

You will need to call 0044 191 203 7010. This department will help you to get your number. You will need the usual date of birth and your current address. Then the following details for the time you lived there – your UK address, the job/ company you worked for, approximate dates you worked in the UK. If you married in the UK the date of your marriage.

When the department collates this information they can give you your number, but they will not give it to you over the phone only in writing to your home

address. It will take approximately 15 days for this letter to arrive.

When you call the number be prepared to wait to get through. At the time of writing I placed a call for a client and after 1 hour and 17 minutes the called was answered.

When we did get through the person at the end of the phone was very helpful, updated the client’s record and confirmed the number was retrieved and would be sent out by post.

Again, a long wait – over 45 minutes for another client who had most of his details and his national insurance number, but was informed the pension forecast would be sent out the next day by post.

Again remember the rules will change on April 5 so act fast to make sure you’re getting your maximum UK entitlements. The clock is ticking. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362622

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News Science & Wellbeing Who doesn’t like a good cup of coffee to give us enough zest to get up and go. Coffee, in the right amounts, is verifiably good for us. In addition to perking us up whenever needed, it can reduce all-cause mortality and help us live longer , ease inflammation, and lower the risk of diabetes. And now, new research shows us how it might improve our brain structure.

An exploratory populationbased study out of Hamburg, Germany, recently looked at the brains of more than 2,000 people between the ages of 45 and 74. It compared four groups of people who said they regularly drank: Less than 1 cup of coffee per day 1–2 cups of coffee a day 3–4 cups of coffee a day 5–6 cups of coffee a day The study found that people who regularly drank three to four cups of coffee a day had the strongest brain structure when looking at several factors including preserved cortical thickness, which is generally associated with higher intelligence.

The improvement was seen trending upward from those who drank no coffee to those who drank more, progressing at each tier but then levelling out once people hit three to four cups of coffee a day, suggesting a threshold for brain health and cognition benefits.

However, the study design wasn’t perfect. The authors noted that the study was per-

We humans probably look extremely odd to there primates. We are the only species with a general lack of hair, and, yet, for some reason, we have a whole bunch of hair sprouting from random spots on our body, like the on our heads.

Scientists still don’t really understand why that is, but new evidence supports the theory that our scalp hair evolved to help us stay cool.

This built-in sun-guard might seem like an obvious benefit to a generous mop, but science needs hard data.

When a thermal manikin was given a wig of human hair to wear in a climate-controlled chamber, researchers found the manikin did not absorb as much heat as when it was bald.

Researchers tested multiple different types of wigs on the manikin, including ones with straight hair, loose curls, and tight curls.

Ultimately, the wigs all performed in similar ways when under the hot lights of lamps, but tightly curled hair was the best at keeping the manikin cool from the ‘solar’ radiation above.

The initial results suggest that any type of barrier on the top of the head reduces heat gain from the Sun and, in turn, the need to sweat.

The findings suggest that scalp hair evolved in response to our species’ upright

Yes, coffee really is good for you formed on a relatively small and homogenous group.

They also pointed out that those who drank more coffee tended to be healthier and more highly educated to begin with, and these potential

confounding factors could not be ruled out. They also wrote that more research was needed to determine whether decaffeinated coffee has similar effects.

Even so, these initial find-

Keep your cool, with a head full of curls

ings add to a large body of evidence supporting the notion that coffee is good for your brain and overall health.

Coffee has been shown to slow down cognitive decline

and potentially reduce the risks of both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, a 2017 meta-analysis of coffee’s health effects found coffee to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular

disease and cancer, as well as neurological, metabolic, and liver conditions.

Although not all of these studies considered the exact number of cups of coffee, several of them reference the three- to four-cup threshold for optimal benefits.

Whether you’re a regular patron of your neighbourhood coffee shop, a frequenter of the office coffee station, or an avid at-home brewer, this new research suggests the habit is improving your brain structure — and going back for that third or fourth could have an even bigger effect.

Just be sure to cut off your caffeine consumption earlier in the day so you don’t disrupt your sleep (which has negative effects on brain health), and stop sipping if you ever feel jitters, anxiousness, or a racing heart.

Try adding milk to your brew to reap even more health benefits boost of protein.

Other ways to support brain health daily include prioritising sleep, staying active, and learning new things. Incorporating a memory supplement into your routine can also be hugely beneficial, no matter your age. Look for one that features neuroprotective ingredients proven to support cognitive vitality and performance. Here are 16 of the best brain supplements for keeping your memory and overall brain health sharp without having to ever step foot in a coffee shop.

posture and our increasingly large brains.

“The emergence (or retention) of scalp hair may have struck an optimal balance between maximising heat loss across the large surface area of the body and minimising solar heat gain on the small surface area of the scalp, directly over the brain,” researchers write.

“Tightly curled hair may provide an additional reduction in heat influx beyond the capacity of typically straight mammalian hair.”

Tightly curled hair is a trait not seen in any other wild mammal. Clearly, there’s something about the human experience that gives preference to this type of scalp coverage.

For years now, scientists have hypothesised that scalp hair, specifically curly hair, evolved as a thermoregulatory response. But experiments in 1988 found that bald men sweat two to three times more than men with scalp hair. At first, this was used to argue that hairless heads are better off at keeping the head cool.

A more recent study, however, found that bald heads simply absorb more heat, requiring more sweat in turn.

The current experiments are the first to explore how scalp hair affects a person’s overall thermal load, not just a body’s sweating response.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

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Travel & Leisure 1. Pearl’s Social & Billy Club For more than a decade, Pearl’s Social & Billy Club has been a favourite hangout in Bushwick. For the team at Pearl’s, “in New York, our bars are our living rooms,” and this philosophy guides its welcoming vibe, shown in the staff’s hospitality and eagerness to share their extensive knowledge of cocktails and spirits.

The menu at Pearl’s features clever takes on classics, like The Brooklyn Manhattan (with bourbon, rye, Amaro del Capo, and bitters), the Lavender Vesper (with lavender-infused vodka, Lillet Blanc, and Empress gin), and the Pearl’s Mezcal Negroni (with Banhez Joven mezcal, Carpano Antica vermouth, Otto’s Athens vermouth, and Contratto Red bitter). You’ll also find fun beer and shot combos, as well as a variety of zero-proof options, including beer, wine, and cocktails.

The bar’s ultra-casual decor, featuring exposed brick walls, hanging plants, and lots of quirky knickknacks adds to the casual, laid-back atmosphere.

2. Little Branch This West Village speakeasy, formerly known as Little Branch, offers a warm atmosphere, with low ceilings and soft lighting. The bar’s piano frequently welcomes a live jazz trio, bringing a lively feel to the space. LB was founded by the late Sasha Petraske, the legendary New York bartender credited with reviving the city’s cocktail scene with the opening of Milk & Honey in 2000, and maintains his vision and high standards to this day.

Cocktails here are made with care and precision, served by dapper bartenders in chilled glasses with ice cubes cut from large blocks.

In true Prohibition-style, Little Branch is the place to go for foolproof classics, like a Sazerac, an Aviation, or a flawless Margarita. However,

1. Café de la Rotonde Café de la Rotonde has been a staple of Paris’ café and restaurant scene for just over a century. Founded in 1911

by Victor Libion, it was one of the city’s most popular cafés during the interwar period, particularly for artists. As a central spot for the Lost Generation crowd of European intellectuals and American expatriates, La Rotonde was the epicentre of new ideas such as a Dadaism, surrealism, and cubism.

The red and gold interior, which matches the iconic sign out front, still imbues La Rotonde with unique charm, transporting you to another world, to another century, when radical ideas were first introduced over the very same tables.

2. Le Procope Founded by Sicilian chef Procopio Cutò in 1686, Procope was France’s first establishment to call itself a café, serving coffee and

pub fare, and a friendly, unpretentious personality. The signature cocktails at Sweet Afton are creative and fun.

Take the Excuse my French, with gin, pear liqueur, maple, orange bitters, lime, and Prosecco.

Shot aficionados will appreciate options like the Baby Paloma.

The space is outfitted in red bricks and wooden details that make it feel familiar and welcoming and also features an airy space called the Glass House/Garden that is perfect for enjoying a drink or two on a summer evening.

Sweet Afton also serves an excellent weekend brunch, the ideal opportunity to taste its famous burger, which you can customise to taste. The burger is available at dinner, too, alongside shareable options like fried shishito peppers and a roasted kale and artichoke dip.

Five great NYC cocktail bars it’s also the perfect spot for putting your fate in your bartender’s hands — Petraske was famously a fan of the ‘bartender’s choice’, allowing them to concoct a drink that suits your cravings.

3. Raines Law Room The Raines Law, passed in 1896, prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays, except for hotels. At the time, most men worked six-day weeks, so Sundays were their only chance to grab a drink at the

pub. However, many bars found a loophole and started to add small bedrooms to their buildings and apply for hotel licenses. With two locations in the city — one in Chelsea and another in The William Hotel in Midtown — the Raines Law Room pays tribute to classic watering holes.

Both locations invite guests to lounge in velvet chairs and take in the romantic lighting and atmosphere, yet each one features its own cocktail menu, which changes seasonally. At

the Chelsea bar, for example, the latest menu featured sections with titles like Cocktails with a Kick, focused on spicy drinks; Stirred & Strong, featuring spirit-forward creations; and Throwbacks, with drinks for the bar’s early days. At The William, the Orchard Harvest section o!ers drinks that honor apples and spice; while Sailing South o!ers a journey to the tropics.

At both locations, guests can find zero-proof drinks and a Reserve section on the menu,

with cocktails made with limited edition and small production spirits.

For the most curious of patrons, Raines Law Room Cocktail offers cocktail classes, with topics ranging on everything from Mexican spirits to whiskey cocktails.

4. Sweet Afton This cozy Astoria bar is celebrating its first decade of welcoming guests with a selection of craft beer, comforting overlapping.

Flore has barely changed since the 1930s with red banquettes, mahogany furniture, and brass railings still on display. Drinks are still served in signature white and green china that matches the distinctive signage out front.

Five must Parisienne cafes Italian gelatos to the public.

Cutò installed features now standard in European cafés such as chandeliers, mirrors, and marble tables.

Oval portraits and plaques commemorating famous former patrons now adorn the walls, with each room named after historical figures who once graced the

café, including Chopin and Voltaire.

Buy a coffee and then walk around the impressive building, literally following in the footsteps of the great and the good of Parisian society throughout the centuries.

3. Café De Flore Named after a sculpture of

Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, which stands on the Boulevard SaintGermain, Café De Flore opened in 1885, two years after the equally iconic Café Les Deux Magots. For more than 130 years, the two cafés have existed as rivals just 44 metres apart with their eminent clientele

4. Café Les Deux Magots Café Les Deux Magots’ history dates back to 1812, to a novelty and fabric shop – named after contemporary play Les Deux Magots de la Chine. In 1873, the owners moved to the current SaintGermain-des-Prés premises, and in 1884, transformed the business into a café, retaining the name and two titular Mandarin figurines – or magots – prominently perched on the café’s central pillar.

Staying true to its 1930s golden age, the café retains its Art Deco interior with red seating, mahogany tables, wall-length mirrors, and

5. Wiggle Room At first sight, Wiggle Room is a lovely East Village space boasting a long, nicely lit bar and modern sitting areas.

Head to the basement, though, and you’ll encounter an entirely different scene: a room with a disco ball, neon lights, and a crowd dancing the night away to the beats of a live DJ. Wiggle Room’s drinks menu is short and sweet, composed of a selection of wine, beer, and eight seasonal cocktails. House drinks include creations like the Wiggle ‘Tini (with Nordes gin, Ketel One vodka, cherry blossom vermouth, champagne vinegar) and the Slam Dunk Disco (legal mezcal, El Tesoro reposado tequila, Aveze, white miso, banana, apricot), and you can also enjoy a seasonal rotation of cocktails on tap.

Eric Kruvant, Darin Rubell, and Jamie Felber, a trio of New York nightlife pros, are behind Wiggle Room. Previous downtown hotspots by this threesome include Pretty Ricky’s and Mister Paradise. chandeliers. Portraits of eminent former clients now hang on the walls with the two Mandarin figurines still taking pride of place.

5. Café de la Paix Originally intended to serve the Grand-Hôtel de la Paix – later renamed Le Grand-Hôtel – in 1862, Café de la Paix was constructed as part of Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s renovation of Paris (1853-1870). It first garnered attention as the host of the 1867 International Exposition, the second world’s fair. Its prominent location beside the Palais Garnier opera made Café de la Paix one of Paris’ most popular, sought-after spots.

The café has undergone several renovations, most recently in 2003 by state-run architectural firm, Bâtiments de France, following the government declaring the café a monument historique in recognition of its sociohistorical significance.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Alien thoughts and that ET sick-cert!

In Britain staff are phoning their bosses to say they won’t be in work because they’ve been kidnapped by aliens! I swear. At least that’s what it said on the front page of one of the tabloids last week: ‘Can’t Get to Work Chief Ss I’ve Been Abducted by ALIENS!’ And who am I to disagree with a tabloid headline? A huge headline.

Anyway, staff were claiming they were snatched by extraterrestrials and needed time to recover.

Some reckoned that they’d been experimented on by little green men (and why are aliens always little green men — are there no big blue ones out there and furthermore are there no little green women?).

Others claim they were taken away in UFOs. Apparently there’s been a

huge spike in the number of out-of-this-world excuses for not reporting for work. Not quite sure how bosses are reacting to all this ET Sickness but most of them, I imagine, are seeing red over little green men. I know I would.

I mean what head of any organisation would accept such an excuse? And I can just imagine the following scenario: Employee: “Morning, boss, sorry but I can’t make it in today.”

Boss: “Oh, sorry to hear that, are you feeling under the weather?”

Employee: “You could say that. I was abducted by aliens over the weekend and I’m feeling the worse for it.”

Boss: “Aliens, you say?”

Employee: “Aliens, boss, little green men actually.”

Boss: “And, pray tell.

where and how this abduction happened.”

Employee: “I was coming home from the pub Saturday night...”

Boss: “The pub, you say?”

Employee: “My local, boss, I was feeling a bit the worse for wear and flagged down a taxi but, instead of a taxi. this saucer-shaped object swooshed down from the sky, a hatch opened and I was dragged inside.”

Boss: “Indeed. And what happened then? I mean where did they take you?”

Employee: “Don’t know, boss, it was very dark but I think I was breathalysed.”

Boss: “Breathalysed, you say?”

Employee: Well, they made me blow into some strange contraption and then they inserted a lot of tubes into my body.”

Boss: “Really! And into

what parts of your body did they insert these tubes?”

Employee: “I’d rather not say, boss, but I’m still feeling sore. Very sore. I’ve taken a load of Panadol but to no effect. In fact I’m going to my GP this afternoon.”

Boss: “Great idea and you might get a sick cert from him while you’re there.

Oh, and whatever you do don’t tell him what you’ve just told me or it’s not A&E you’ll end up in but the psychiatric ward.”

Employee: “Are you not believing me, boss?”

Boss: “Of course I believe you but I’ll believe you all the more when you drop in the sick-cert, the ET SickCert.”

Now I don’t for one minute believe workers are being kidnapped, abducted, snatched what-

ever, by aliens. That said, I do, however, believe in aliens ie. I believe there are aliens out there. Lots and lots of them. And I believe that based simply on numbers. Consider the fact that there are 100 billion stars in our galaxy alone, ie. the Milky Way, and there are billions of galaxies in the known universe (and there could well be numerous universes!)

To put it another way, there are more stars in the universe than all the grains of sand on all the beaches on earth! And try counting them! Now I’m not a gambling man but I’ll wager that there are millions of life-supporting (intelligent life even) planets orbiting those stars.

And there are two reasons why we haven’t had an actual close encounter with an alien yet:

1. They haven’t developed the technology to travel those massive, mega distances across space to visit earth (just as we haven’t).

2. They may have developed the technology and visited planet earth but took one look at us and said: “Let’s get the hell out of here. This crowd are still killing each other.

They’re dangerous.” And we are. Meanwhile, if they are around, I don’t believe they abduct people, no need, as I have often stood in my back garden late at night, looked at the stars and said: “Aliens, if you’re out there beam me up, take me for a spin around the Solar System (but have me back in time for the Sunday Game).”

Unlike the abducted Brit workers — I’m still waiting!

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

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Global Report In the year since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has gone back to a dark, repressive past. In the last 12 months, Putin’s government has crushed the remnants of Russia’s civil society and presided over his country’s first military mobilisation since World War II. Political opponents are in prison or out of the country. And Putin has made it clear that he seeks to reassert Russia as an empire in which Ukraine has no place as an independent state.

Since February 2022’s invasion, Putin has shrugged off protests and international sanctions. Independent media and human rights groups have been branded as foreign agents or shut down entirely.

Russia is now in an uncertain new phase, and it’s clear there will be no rewind, no return to the status quo, for ordinary citizens.

Rumours are now flying inside the country about another wave of mobilisation.

And in Moscow, signs of elite competition are beginning to emerge, even as some Russians are seeing through the cracks in the wall of state propaganda.

On February 2, Putin paid a visit to the southern Russian city of Volgograd to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory at what was then called Stalingrad, a crucial turning point in what the Russians call the Great Patriotic War. In his speech at a gala concert in Volgograd, Putin made a direct link between the Battle of Stalingrad – the moment when the momentum shifted on the Eastern Front against Nazi Germany – and the war in Ukraine, warning that Russia faced a similar threat from a “collective West” bent on its destruction.

“Those who draw the European countries, including Germany, into a new war with Russia – and all the more irresponsibly declare this as a fait accompli – those who expect to win a victory over Russia

No going back for Putin and Russian people on the battlefield, apparently do not understand that a modern war with Russia will be completely different for them,” he warned.

Invoking Stalingrad was a response to Germany’s decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, something Putin complained was “unbelievable, but true”. But the President’s visit to Volgograd had an element of what wellknown Russian political scientist Kirill Rogov described as the “cosplay” – costume play – that Russia’s ruling class uses to drape their policies in the garments of a heroic past.

Ukrainian officials have been warning for weeks that Russia may be preparing a major new assault, perhaps to coincide with the anniversary

of the 2022 invasion. Back in September, Putin ordered a “partial mobilisation” after a swift and unexpected Ukrainian counteroffensive that chased Russian forces out of the northeastern Kharkiv region and set the stage for Ukraine’s recapture of the southern city of Kherson.

Many of those troops have now gone through the training pipeline, further fuelling speculation that Russia is committed to a manpowerintensive war of attrition.

Observers also note that Russia’s military has been adapting. While Putin never got the victory parade in Kyiv his generals were planning for, he has appointed a new battlefield commander, signaling another change in strategy.

“After the failure of the (2022) blitzkrieg, Russia adapted and placed its bets on a long war, relying on its superior numbers in population, resources, military industry and the size of its territory beyond reach of enemy strikes,” Russian political observer and commentator Alexander Baunov wrote in a recent Telegram post. “This is a war of attrition that can be won without involving too many people … On the strategy of ‘wait them out, add pressure, put the squeeze on.’”

War, however, is fluid and unpredictable.

As Baunov noted, the recent decision by Germany, the United States and other European allies to deliver main battle tanks to Ukraine may

test Putin’s and Russia’s long game.

“A return to rapid warfare with tanks ruins this new strategy that Russia has just set its sights on,” Baunov wrote. “New people may also be needed to hold the front, and this is risky.”

Exactly why this is risky should be clear: The first mobilisation caused major tremors in Russian society.

Hundreds of thousands of Russians voted with their feet. Protests erupted in ethnic minority regions such as Dagestan where police faced off against anti-mobilisation demonstrators in multiple cities.

Russian social media saw a surge of videos and public complaints about the lack of equipment and appalling

conditions for newly mobilised recruits.

Putin was able to weather the unrest with his formidable and well-funded security apparatus, much as he was able to crack down on antiwar protests that broke out right after the February 24 invasion. And in the months that followed mobilisation, Russia made some slow, grinding advances in Ukraine’s Donbas region.

Many of those advances have been led by soldiers of the Wagner Group, a private military company headed by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Many reports on Wagner have focused on the group’s brutal tactics, including human-wave attacks and summary execution for waverers or deserters.

Jimmy Carter, at 98, has gone home to die After a series of short hospital stays, former US President Jimmy Carter at 98 has decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention, according to a statement from the family.

“He has the full support of his family and his medical team,” the statement said.

Jason Carter, a onetime Democratic state senator in Georgia and the former president’s grandson, said he visited Friday with his grandparents and that “they are at peace and – as always – their home is full of love.”

Jimmy Carter became the oldest living US president in history after the passing of George H. Bush, who died in late 2018 at 94. The nation’s 39th president has kept a low

public profile in recent years due to the coronavirus pandemic but has continued to speak out about risks to democracy around the world, a longtime cause of his.

Carter beat brain cancer in 2015 but faced a series of

health scares in 2019, and consequentially underwent surgery to remove pressure on his brain. His bad health forced him to give up his decade-slong tradition of teaching Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church

in his hometown of Plains, Georgia.

A peanut farmer and US Navy lieutenant before going into politics, Carter, a Democrat, eventually served one term as Governor of Georgia and President of the United

States from 1977 to 1981.

The former president is widely revered for his championing of human rights. His brokering of the Camp David Accords in 1978 with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin remains central to his legacy.

In his post-presidency years, Carter founded The Carter Centre along with his wife, Rosalynn, in hopes of advancing world peace and health. The centre has worked to advance democracy by monitoring foreign elections and reducing diseases in developing countries over the years.

Carter himself has been a longtime volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.

He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his ef-

forts to push for peace across the globe.

In 2018, Carter said he received a briefing on North Korea and said he’d be willing to travel to the country on the Trump administration’s behalf. He also wrote Trump a letter on US- China trade relations and spoke with him by phone in April 2019.

While the White House referred to the call as a “very good telephone conversation” and said that Trump “has always liked President Carter,” the relationship deteriorated later that year when the Georgia Democrat called for a full investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and suggested it “would show that Trump didn’t actually win the election in 2016.”

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

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Feature Returning Weather is the latest work from Dublin born, multi-award-winning vocalist and songwriter Christine Tobin.

Celebrated for her versatility and nonconformist musical spirit, Returning Weather imaginatively weaves song, spoken word and a stellar group of musicians from diverse disciplines together, creating a multidimensional sound-world which blends influences from folk, 20th-century art song and jazz. While the live shows expand upon the material with additional spoken word passages and visual effects, the album is a concise collection of nine compositions. It charts a journey which is part homecoming, part memoir, inspired by Christine’s return to Ireland after many years abroad and explores themes of finding home, dwelling and landscape, reconnecting with a cultural background, reshaping a sense of identity and belonging. The songs are set in the countryside around Frenchpark, Boyle and Ballaghadereen. There are many songs of leaving and farewell, this is the music of homecoming and return. She was commissioned to write this evocative new song cycle

by The Dock Arts Centre, with an Arts Council, Music Commissions Award.

Line-up: Christine Tobin voice, Cora Venus Lunny violin & viola, David Power uilleann pipes & whistles, Phil Robson guitar & electronics and Steve Hamilton piano.

During the week , Christine spoke with The Kilkenny Observer newspaper.

“The songs of Returning Weather are inspired by my return to Ireland after many years living abroad. I hadn’t planned, nor had I any idea that I was coming home”, she said .

Christine Tobin grew up in Dublin, later moving to London to attend the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She was an integral part of the London contemporary scene for many years before moving to New York in 2015 where she made a considerable impact on the city’s creative music world. She returned to Ireland in 2020. The forthcoming March 2023 release of ‘Returning Weather’ will be Christine’s twelfth album under her own name. In 2012 she won a BASCA British Composer Award for her settings of poems by WB Yeats, ‘Sailing To Byzantium’. The following year, her arrangements of Leonard Cohen songs won a Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Festival.

In 2014 she was awarded ‘Jazz Vocalist of the Year’ at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Earlier in 2008, she won a BBC Jazz Award for ‘Best Vocalist’. Aside from

Nationwide tour from Christine Tobin includes a visit to the concert hall in Thomastown

her own projects, she has worked and recorded with an array of artists including musicians Django Bates, Billy Hart, Julian Joseph, Kenny Wheeler, Mark Turner, Louis Stewart, Nigel Kennedy, Jean Toussaint, Francesco Turrisi, Ingrid Jensen, poets Paul Muldoon, Eva Salzman, Don Paterson, actor Gabriel Byrne and film director Mike Figgis. She has played at major festivals and venues around the world and in 2021 Martin Hayes invited her to perform at the legendary Masters of Tradition festival at Bantry House. Summer festival appearances in 2022 include Borris Festival of Writing & Ideas and the UK’s Dome Stage at Snape Maltings.

Press praise for previous work “It’s a tribute to the quality of Tobin’s writing that there are no weak spots in this excellent collection…..

There’s a thrilling, dark timbre to Tobin’s voice that moves you like no other…. …a 24-carat voice”.

The Guardian

of accolades bestowed on only a few. This rare and thoroughly personal artist is, a one-off.”

The Irish Times “A masterclass in songcraft.”

BBC Music Magazine “The Voice is a killer”. fRoots Magazine

“What sets her apart is her intensity and the sheer beauty of her voice, a deep soulful thing that she seems to summon from somewhere deep inside…”. Time Out Magazine

“Too humane and humorous to preach, and too intelligent to deliver a formula for life, Christine Tobin is nevertheless fascinated by the pursuit of something that might stand up as The Truth.”

John Fordham Jazz UK

“Tobin has followed a studiously personal path as a singer and songwriter that has won her the kind

As part of her nationwide tour, Christine will play The Concert Hall in Thomastown on March 9th

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

News

Waterford Crystal is shaken but not stirred The company which owns the Waterford Crystal brand paid out a dividend of €12.5m in November 2021, according to new accounts for WWRD Ireland Ltd which show that the company recorded a pre-tax loss of €516,000 in 2020.

This followed revenues more than halving from €16.6m to €8.29m due to the impact of

two-year Covid-19 pandemic.

The pre-tax loss of €516,000 for 2020 followed a pre-tax profit of €10.2m in 2019. In 2020, the firm availed of Government Covid-19 wage supports of €1.69m.

The company operates one of the most visited tourist attractions in Ireland — a combined visitor experience, retail and manufacturing facility at

House of Waterford in Waterford city.

The directors said that Covid19 and consequent Government restrictions “significantly impacted’ the business.

They said that, during the Covid-19 impact on the business, “significant ongoing cost reductions have been achieved” and financial support has been received

through the Government’s Covid-19 wage supports “allowed the company to maintain the majority of its workforce and subsidise its cost base, pending the return to normal levels of activity”.

In response to Covid-19, the company took quick and decisive actions to lessen the negative impact on operations by reducing operating costs and

supporting the e-commerce business, according to the directors.

They said that good progress was made in reducing operating losses.

Numbers employed decreased from 160 to 138 in 2020 with 75 employed in distribution, sales and marketing, 61 in production and two in administration.

New farming group eyes next general election A new Irish farmers’ organisation is to run candidates in the 2025 general election, a public meeting heard recently in Athlone where up to 100 farmers attended the meeting, organised through the online Irish Farm Discussion Group (IFDG).

Donegal farmer Liam McLaughlin urged farmers to stay united and warned that urgent action was needed if many Irish farmers were to survive.

“We are not being represented (by the farming organisations), we wouldn’t be here today if we were being represented. Let’s pull together and try to do something together, because if we don’t, were finished,” he said.

“We need to set up a co-op, we need to set up a purchasers’ group, we need to set up a farming organisation, we need to set up a political party.”

Independent Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath told the meeting that rural Ireland was “under attack from all sides”.

“There is an attack on farming, an attack on rural Ireland and an attack on our values,” he said. “Farming has become a lonely and frightening experience.”

He was critical of the established farming organisations, the mainstream media and the Irish Citizens’ Assembly.

“I have question marks for many of the farming organisations, especially the biggest one,” he said.

“It’s time for the people to rise up and challenge their current politicians.”

Galway farmer Adrian Kelly urged the group to take their concerns to the ballot box instead of the picket line.

“The only way forward is to challenge the government at the ballot box. Irish farming has two years (to be saved), between now and the next election,” he said.

“The ultimate goal of this organisation has to be attack at the ballot box. Otherwise we’re wasting our time.

“The people who traditionally voted for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are sick of them. They are saying that the only thing left to do is vote for Sinn Féin. We need to provide another alternative. We need one candidate in each constituency. This is our last chance saloon, we have nothing to lose.”

The group committed to holding another public meeting in four or five weeks.

Planning sought for 200 homes at Poulgour A planning application has been lodged for more than 200 homes on the outskirts of Kilkenny city.

Cairn Homes Properties Ltd is seeking the go-ahead from the county council for the development at Poulgour, between the Callan Road, Circular Road and Kilmanagh Road.

If approved, it would see the

construction of 210 homes – 130 of them houses with 80 apartments. Also included is a creche, spaces for 450 bikes and 429 vehicles as well as other works.

Submissions are being accepted until the 9rd of March with a decision due from the local authority on the 30th of that month.

Curtains up on new theatre group A new community-based theatre group is being set up in Thomastown and anyone interested is being to see if they have what it takes to walk the boards.

The Thomastown Theatre Group will hold an information evening at the Concert

Hall in Thomastown at 7pm on Wednesday, March 1.

Organiser Mark Duffy said that this would the new group’s second meeting and that all were welcome to come along and take part.

“It’s a new community group that’s open to all,

regardless of experience and we’re hoping no matter what aspect of theatre you’re interested in, that people might drop in,” he said.

“At our first meeting we had actors, a script writer, stage manager and direc-

tors present. We hope to stage all forms of theatre into the future, including one acts, full plays, pantomimes and workshops.”

For more information call or whatsapp Mark on (083) 4745521.

Ifac welcomes funds for farm solar panels Funding for capital investments on farms, in particular funding for solar panels on farms, as part of the new Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3), has been welcomed by Ifac, Ireland’s farming, food and agribusiness specialist professional services firm.

Ifac’s Head of Farm Support, Philip O’Connor said: “This is a very welcome move for Irish farmers. Tranche 1 of

the scheme, set to open next week, will be music to the ears of many of our clients and farmers all across the country who are committed to farming sustainably and eager to take climate action.

“We know this because last week our fifth annual Farm Report, containing the views of 1,160 Irish farmers, revealed that both spiralling input costs and climate action to meet Ireland’s

climate targets are very much front of mind.

“Our report confirmed that more than half (52%) of Irish farmers say the biggest barrier to adopting renewable projects is the level of financial investment required coupled with the low returns, and over half (54%) are concerned about their electricity and gas costs at home,” he said.

Mr O’Connor contin-

ued: “This announcement about this targeted scheme for solar will help to meet the appetite in the farming community for farmer-developed renewable projects and help farmers to proactively tackle rising energy costs and generate their own power.

“It will have a positive long-term impact on the sector overall, rural Ireland and our environment.”

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Red Mills Race Day

The annual Red Mills Race Day at Gowran Park racecourse in Kilkenny All photos

by Kieran Harnett

Sarah Cass Best Dressed Lady

Sarah Cass from Castlekelly was crowned Best Dressed Lady at the Red Mills Race Day at Gowran Park this Saturday. Guest judge, presenter and nutritional coach, Nathalie Lennon had a tough job choosing from all of the stylish entries, and Sarah beat off the competition to win the top prize of a luxurious stay for two including dinner at nearby resort Mount Juliet Estate.

Wearing an electric blue coat from Shrimp London which was a Christmas gift from her mother, a velvet dress from Serendipity boutique in Kilkenny, satin shoes from Arnotts, and a hat from Marc Millenery, Sarah impressed both Nathalie and fellow judge,

Stephen and Grainne Dempsey at the annual Red Mills Race Day at Gowran Park

stylist Marietta Doran with her stunning choice of colour and fabric textures, with a unique mix of velvet, wool, fur, satin and a touch of bling.

Racegoers turned out in their droves to enjoy fashion shows and shopping in the Style Quarter, as well as the impressive line up of premium grade national hunt racing at the Kilkenny racecourse.

Runner up Sandra Hansen from Berlin is a fashion designer whose dress she designed herself was inspired by Grace O’Malley, featuring a print of the Galway coast. Her first time at the races, Sandra was over the moon to come second in the hotly contest-

Katie and Martina Walsh from Carrick on Suir at the annual Red Mills Race Day at Gowran Park

ed competirion. Second runner up Niamh Madden from Mooncoin was the epitomy of comfort and style in her camel ensemble, and was delighted to take third place having come to Gowran as a treat for her boyfriends birthday.

Both ladies won handbags from British label Fairfax & Favor, available exclusively from Red Mills in Kilkenny.

Best dressed gent Bill Comerford is an avid racegoer, originally from Kells in Kilkenny, was shocked and over the moon to have won, in a three piece suit from Daverins of Cashel and a fedora which he added last minute, winning him a voucher for local hotel the Lord Bagenal.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

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Red Mills Race Day

Niamh Madden (Second Runner Up) Bill Comerford (Best dressed Gent) Sarah Cass (Best dressed Lady) and Sandra Hansen (Runner Up)

Jane Mangan, Gareth Connolly and Ailish Durkin at the annual Red Mills Race Day at Gowran Park

Richard, Georgie and Siobhan Connolly at the annual Red Mills Race Day at Gowran Park

John, Esme, Chloe and Kate Connolly at the annual Red Mills Race Day at Gowran Park

Joe & Niamh Connolly at the annual Red Mills Race Day at Gowran Park

Moira O’Toole and Anne Whelan at the annual Red Mills Race Day at Gowran Park

Joanna Hannick and Michelle Thornton at the annual Red Mills Race Day at Gowran Park

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

Opinion

Girl Auction

BY NED EGAN

Part 6 Now the two girls sit in their chilly bedroom. Molly is planning a departure – a permanent one. The pussycat, MeeMee, has to come along: the single-minded small sister Babsie has negotiated that.

But “no more livestock, and total obedience” is the price she has had to pay.

But she’d got her way over the puisín….

They’d watched Paudhaun, the ‘bidder,’ shamble away from the house a short time ago, his lantern quenched, and he heading down the dark lane, potholes dull with the black frost, towards his home, and witchy old scheming mother….. {His shambling gait was not the result of genetics, or an accident. It was due to the Dacent making a skelp at a farm worker youth, who then struck him a mighty blow with the butt-end of a hedging tool – the fearsome ‘slasher’ – and then raced off

to pastures new, leaving the Dacent in a bad way indeed…} “Now that Dacent lutherawn is gone,” said Molly, “and to Hell with him! We’ll have to wait until himself goes to bed, before we make a move. No chance of you getting hold of that idle MeeMee puisín with him below – he’d get suspicious, as her highness might start the usual bawlin’ when she’s taken from behind the fire, and giving those feeble slaps of hers. He’s not bright, but he notices anything that’s unusual, that’s for sure.. So we’d better leave her until we’re ready to go. If he does catch you, say the Mee had been puking all day. That might put him off… You’re no good at fibs, but in the dark, he’ll hardly notice.

“Now, while we’re waiting, Babsie – would you like to see what Santy Claus brought to us last Christmas? It’s stuff that we’re surely going to need….”

At this statement, Babsie started a wee bit of ‘hegging’ – as this put the final seal on one very hard fact: their imminent departure to – where? - was now a certainty.

The forsaking of the only

home she’d ever known was now cold and ice-clear.

That grim reality had closed up on her – and Babsie was suddenly afraid.

‘Cripes!’ she thought, panicking a bit - ‘Out in all that dark! And that oul divil Banshee wan, hanging around the Rushy Bog! And that dirty bloomin’ spirit lad – ‘Tub o’ Guts!’

Jaypers – we’ll be done!’ {Readers – the Tub lad was a well-known local ghost, infamous for gadding about in the guise of a disgusting snotgreen wood and leather firkin of rotten intestines. That was his favourite pose, or repose.} This rather flatulent creepy ghost’s favourite frightening trick was to hop up {legless – so don’t ask me how} in the air, turn his vile bucketty-bod into an obscene squat – and then wallooosh the entire dire contents of his rotten oul transparent belly all over your horrified little self. Not the most pleasant of prospects, for sure… And you frit out of your wits… } Such a vile act was performed specifically to keep you away from his favourite ‘hang-out’ dens. These were mostly adjacent to deep pits

and dykes; so tales about him haunting such dangerous places showed he had a weird attachment to dank murky spots.... The subject of there being a ‘Mrs TOG’ lurking about was never discussed – any more than was a ‘Mr Banshee.’

Being ‘wasted’{?} in such a malodorous fashion wasn’t exactly the most glamorous – or sought after - ‘end-oflife scene.’ And seldom the kind of scenario quoted poetically by Byron or Yeats, when illustrating the sad - but despairingly romantic departure of some beauteous and fragrant lady… In this case, forget the ‘fragrant’…

“Cripes!” thought the Babs – “I’m all over the place – better get my little head together!

Maybe a small request to Mammy would help? No better not trouble her, up in Heaven – where she’s happy.

Better not tell her about things like this – they’d only worry her. Maybe a prayer to Holy God? But I haven’t a lot of practise at that –- we haven’t been chatting much lately, so He’d hardly bother…

“Better stick with the Moller’s plan – whatever it is…

And put our trust in this being All Souls Night.” {All Soul’s being traditionally a time when normal rules of reality could be suspended. When old-time magicry could return for a brief spell, to soothe the spirits of long-gone people who lived in the stone and

dark ages. Our far ancestors} So, her mind made up, she choked back a wee sob, and stuck her firm little chin out.

Molly had been watching the mites changing face, watched the clouds chasing rafts of sunshine, watched the little storms flit across the small tidy features – but had stayed silent.

Now, seeing the chin ‘out’ and well-knowing her small sister’s contrary – but strong - personality – Molly grinned - but behind her hand!

Everything was going to be alright, in that direction.

This was no wilting flower – not this little sis; she’d fight her corner like a bear cub, any day, for any reason. Aye, after all, here was the girl who wouldn’t pray much – but who called out, each and every night, before going asleep: “Goodnight, Mammy, I’ll see you in fifty years orso!…”

This crisis ‘Babsie moment’ – which Molly knew had to come – was now over.

Thinking clear, now, Molly got down on her knees, and clambered half-under the bed. Shebacked out again pulling a double rope – with sticks stretching between them!

‘What the blazes is this yoke?’ thought Babsie! ‘Ah, it looks like a ladder of twine andkippens!’ Yes – right, there, B! It was a rough {very rough} rope ladder – but sturdy enough. Mollythen crawled

back in under the bed again, and dragged out - two heavy woollen capes - andtwo pairs of high-top leather boots.

And didn’t Babs like the cut of those! {A little bit ofvanity – no bad thing in a small girl – was certainly not absent from the Babs.} Last of all, Molly scrambled in out of sight completely, rummaged about, and backed out,pulling a cardboard case.

This latter was already halfpacked. Babsie, even in the faintyellowy glow of the tallow candle, could see her only good dress, laid on the very top.

Though knowing fine well what was going on, she still ‘lost the run of herself’ a bit, andWhimpered “where are you going with my best dress, Moll?”

She got a fairly Arctic stare for that comment… “It’s not just me going, girl” Molly snapped, “we are both leaving this house sometime in the next few hours; forever – I hope, and I’ve no doubt you know it, too. So don’t start your usual chipping and cranking, or asking me any more stupidities.

Just do as I tell you – or we’re both finished……..

To be continued….

Disclaimer The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Kilkenny Observer.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

Opinion Part Three

The Great Kilkenny Floods the traditional concept of Hell.

Families who had never visited a farm in their lives enjoyed mutton, beef, and poultry cost-free when these products of hard-working Gus Carey farmers appeared Manna-like on their doorsteps.

A poor widow woman on the outskirts of the City who worried about being able to make ends meet for her family of six had her prayers answered when a prime bullock and a couple of well-fattened sheep were washed into her back garden.

Many a family dined on

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

Gus Carey remembered the terrible Sunday evening when his world was turned upside down by the flood. He was a child in 1947…scampering about the house, daydreaming about famous hurlers, when he became aware of the watery Blitzkrieg that the skies had launched on Kilkenny.

He wondered why his parents were so anxious, and why loud exclamations of panic were emitting from the streets and the people who lived on either side of his home. Looking out the second storey front window, he perceived the reason for all the commotion: His house had become an island, surrounded by water on all sides.

There were eight in the family, including Gus, and they would have to get out of their house or risk being drowned.

Thankfully, a number of people in the city had boats and these were pressed into service to rescue trapped householders, and, in nonemergency cases, to deliver food to them as in the flood emergency of 1926. William

“flood meat” for weeks after the event, while the unfortunate farmers whose livestock had been so unfairly snatched from their fields and barns had to bear the loss of income.

Barrels washed out of Smithwick’s Brewery at St. Francis Abbey could be seen bobbing up and down on the river and along the submerged streets and pathways. The lucky citizens who managed to “capture” the barrels used many of them for firewood or storage purposes.

(To be continued...)

Johns Street flooded 1947 The Nore at Thomastown early 20th century

(Pierce) Clooney, a postman, was foremost among the boatmen who were greeted as Guardian Angels by stricken householders.

Gus Carey and his family were rescued and taken to Kilkenny Military Barracks where they joined other flood victims who had being rendered temporarily homeless.

They resided in a block known as the married quarters.

For almost a month, these families survived on food rations and were looked after until they could return to their homes.

There was no financial compensation for the vast majority of the City’s flood victims.

Gus recalls that each affected household received two bags of coal from the local authority…to heat their houses after they had cleaned up what

COMPETITION WINNER Congratulations to Maura Hughes

Thank you to all who entered the draw to win a voucher sponsored by The Kilkenny Observer.

Congratulations to Maura Hughes, Bennettsbridge Road, Kilkenny who won the €200 voucher for Nolan’s of Ardnore The gift voucher was presented to Maura by Faith O’Neill, Features and Advertising Consultant with The Kilkenny Observer.

they could of the mess.

Though nobody was drowned in the ’47 flood, it did take its toll of farm livestock. Eye-witnesses around the county described Biblical scenes whereby entire flocks of sheep, herds of cattle, and thousands of chickens were swept along the River Nore to watery graves amid an unearthly chorus of shrieks and howls that called to mind

Climate Change – are we all playing our part?

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News NCBI

NCBI, High Street, Kilkenny introduce a new

vintage collection NCBI, Ireland’s national sight loss agency, mission is to transform the lives of people who are blind or vision impaired. We work with children and adults across the country with a range of programmes all designed to ensure the individual can live life confidently and independently. We have over 130 shops across Ireland. We sell ladies, gents and children’s clothing, shoes, bags and

home wear and all profits made in our shops go back into the charity to help service users who are vision impaired.

Our Kilkenny shop is open since 2016.

We are open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5:30pm.

Vintage Clothing: The demand for vintage clothing has skyrocketed in recent years and it is a trend that is going from

strength to strength.

NCBI Retail already has years of experience in selling top quality, pre-loved clothing and more, so it makes sense to introduce some of the best vintage pieces you will find anywhere. Although most of our stores have some vintage stock, we have now opened dedicated vintage sections in three of our stores.

Our stores on Capel

Street, Dublin, Camden Street, Dublin and Maynooth, Co.Kildare have plenty of pre-90s and 90s classics from brands like Nike, Adidas, Ellesse, Fila, Champion, Wrangler, Levi’s, and more.

To celebrate the launch of our Vintage collection, some of the best pieces will be shared across the NCBI Retail Instagram account, so don’t hesitate to do your window shopping there and then

pop in store to bag your vintage find!.

authenticity to your lifestyle.

Why choose vintage?

When you shop vintage, you prevent tonnes of clothing from going to landfills by supporting sustainable and circular fashion. Vintage offers you a better chance of having a one-of-a-kind outfit.

These dedicated vintage sections also stock vintage accessories and homeware adding

Our goal is to provide NCBI customers with a great bargain while bolstering the services our organisation provides to people who are blind or vision impaired across Ireland, and by introducing our dedicated vintage rails, we are adding another string to our bow to be able to achieve this.

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Food & Drink

Dine Me Come

With

Baked aubergines stuffed with minced lamb

Prep: 20 mins Cook: 50 mins Plus cooling Serves: 4

Try serving this with a simple cucumber raita or tzatziki and a crisp green salad.

Ingredients • 4 small, or 8 baby aubergines • vegetable oil, for frying For the filling • 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling • 1 large onion, finely chopped • 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 1-2 red or green chillies, according to your taste, deseeded and finely chopped • 1 tsp sugar • 2 tbsp each currants and pine nuts • 1 tbsp each ground cinnamon and garam masala • 1 tsp ground turmeric • 225g lean minced lamb • small bunch coriander leaves, finely chopped (leaving some to serve) • 2 tomatoes, sliced • lemon slices, to serve

Method n STEP 1 Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Make the filling: Heat the olive oil in a heavy-based pan, add the onions, garlic and chillies and cook, stirring often, until fragrant.

Add the sugar, currants and pine nuts, and fry until the onions are golden. Stir in the ground spices, season, turn off the heat and leave to cool.

n STEP 2 Tip the lamb into a bowl. Add the cooled onion and spice mixture, then the coriander, and season.

Using your hands, knead the ingredients together until they are well mixed, then set aside. n STEP 3 Cut the aubergines in half, keeping the stalk intact. Heat a thin layer of vegetable oil in the heavy-based pan. Fry the aubergines until

they are soft and golden brown all over, about 6-8 mins. Remove with a slotted spoon and place them side-by-side in a baking dish.

Using a sharp knife, slit each one lengthways down the middle to form a pocket – don’t cut through the ends or the base. Stuff the lamb filling into each one and place 2-3 slices tomato on top of each one. You can prepare the stuffed aubergines to this stage and chill

before cooking, up to a day ahead. n STEP 4 Drizzle a little olive oil over the top, cover the dish with foil and bake for about 40 mins, or until cooked through. Remove from oven and discard foil. Cook again, uncovered, for 10 mins until the tomato has lightly caramelised.

To serve, sprinkle a little chopped coriander over the top and squeeze over lemon slices

Classic lasagne Prep: 20 mins Cook: 1 hr and 40 mins plus 1 hr if making sauces Serves: 6 Prepare this easy homemade lasagne ahead of time and save in the freezer, uncooked, for when you need it during a busy week. Then just bake for an extra 45 minutes.

Ingredients • 2 olive oil, plus a little for the dish • 750g lean beef mince • 90g pack prosciutto • tomato sauce • 200ml hot beef stock • a little grated nutmeg • 300g pack fresh lasagne sheets White sauce • 125g ball mozzarella, torn into thin strips

Method n STEP 1 To make the meat sauce, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a frying

pan and cook 750g lean beef mince in two batches for about 10 mins until browned all over.

n STEP 2 Finely chop 4 slices of prosciutto from a 90g pack, then stir through the meat

mixture. n STEP 3 Pour over 800g passata or half our basic tomato sauce recipe

and 200ml hot beef stock.

Add a little grated nutmeg, then season. n STEP 4 Bring up to the boil, then simmer for 30 mins until the sauce looks rich. n STEP 5 Heat oven to 180C/fan/160C/ gas 4 and lightly oil an ovenproof dish (about 30 x 20cm). n STEP 6 Spoon one third of the meat sauce into the dish, then cover with some fresh lasagne sheets from a 300g pack. Drizzle over roughly 130g ready-made or homemade white sauce. n STEP 7 Repeat until you have 3 layers of pasta. Cover with the remaining 390g white sauce, making sure you can’t see any pasta poking through. n STEP 8 Scatter 125g torn mozzarella over the top. n STEP 9 Arrange the rest of the prosciutto on top. Bake for 45 mins until the top is bubbling and lightly browned.

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5 You looking even better as Season 4 kicks off It takes special skill for an actor to make audiences welcome a murderous stalker back to TV. Sera Gamble’s You returns to Netflix for a fourth season that throws Penn Badgley’s remarkable character into new relationships and complications. The five-episode Part 1 is streaming now, with Part 2 due on March 9.

Not for the first time, You reinvents itself with setting, genre, and cast, Badgley’s surly antihero the sole constant holding everything together. It’s rare that a show can reinvent itself so well and often — You is all but anthology at this point — but Badgley makes it look easy.

After years as the irascible Joe Goldberg, he knows exactly how to react to every twist and guide the audience with his eyes, body language, and menacing voiceover.

Season 4 finds Joe on a coveted European holiday (mostly in the since-divested United Kingdom), in search of his true love Marienne

(Tati Gabrielle), who fled the U. after learning that Joe killed her boyfriend. Somehow — more explanation would either be too much work or too distracting — Joe becomes a professor, giving impassioned lectures about literature and redemption to a rapt audience in a library.

Not for the first time, Joe wants to put his past behind him, but old habits — like spying on the neighbours, particularly the female neighbour when she’s alone with herself — die hard. “No love, no people, just books,” he tells himself before staring baldly through the uncovered windows across the way.

Before long Joe finds himself deeply entrenched in an illustrious but deplorable social circle: London’s hotshot nepo babies, with their rich parents, loyal bodyguards, drugs and booze — as bereft of self awareness as they are flushed with cash. This isn’t the first brush between Joe and the one percent, a tension that’s been boiling

toward hatred since he met the Quinn family in Season 2. One by one, Joe’s shiny new friends start dying at the hands of a mysterious ‘Eat The Rich Killer’ and he finds himself in what he considers the lowest form of literature, one that the devout You audience will lap up greedily: a whodunit.

By now it’s not only acceptable but expected that You fill out its ensemble with disposable two-dimensional characters, a decision that works perhaps because the show never pretends they are anything but.

As always, there’s a woman: Kate (Charlotte Ritchie) — the woman Joe watched through the window. Kate is a self-proclaimed bitch who spurns Joe from the start, responding to his harmless incognito alias with outright hostility that goes against their obvious, screaming chemistry. They enter a somewhat tedious will-they/ won’t-they; Joe doesn’t trust himself to get close to

a woman because they end up dead or hating him (or both), but Kate hides behind arbitrary walls that crumble a little too conveniently around him. Her character’s weakness is cast in sharper light than any other because of her many scenes with Joe, whom Badgley has mastered beyond compare.

Splitting Season 4’s release is a choice that both works and doesn’t. There’s a clear shift at the midpoint that frames these five episodes as buildup and the remaining five as action, climax, and resolution. That’s a relief as the wealthy strangers grow stale around Episode 4, but frustrating because whatever relieves them is still a month away. The whodunit works until it doesn’t — a premise that could not be more welcome in the wake of Glass Onion — which just happens to be the same point at which the season pivots again.

Expect more reinvention in the back half, and in Season 5.

One for the kids ... and grown-up kids While animated family shows have, in the past, included little winks and nods to the adults looking over their children’s shoulders, we’re seeing a new breed of shows that appeal to parents just as much as they appeal to children. And with the release on Disney+ of Marvel’s Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur, that’s never been more apparent. Smart, slick, and vibrant, it’s the kind of series you’ll just keep on watching long after your child leaves the room.

Based on Marvel’s 2015 comic series by the same

name, Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur tells the story of Lunella Lafayette, a brilliant 13-year-old girl who has a penchant for creating all sorts of things in the secret laboratory she built below her family’s apartment.

One day, during her scientific tinkering, Lunella accidentally summons a 10ton red Tryannosaurus Rex from the past into the present. It’s then the dynamic superhero duo of Moon Girl (aka Lunella) and Devil Dinosaur is born.

The series has even more to offer that genuinely makes it a must-watch for

families. For music-heads like myself and my oldest child, it will be impossible not to get sucked in from the start by the series’ killer soundtrack.

Diamond White, who voices Lunella, says: “I’m actually singing the theme song for the show!

And there are a lot of other songs in the show, all executive produced by Raphael Saadiq, which is crazy. He’s incredible.

Almost every villain on the show has a song, and we like to call it ‘Mixtape Moments’ — when Lunella’s fighting a villain, she’ll

break it down to some music.”

It’s the community Lunella loves that really makes her identity sing. There in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, her parents Andria (Sasheer Zamata) and dad James ( Jermaine Fowler) own a roller skating rink. A multigenerational hous ehold, the family also includes grandmother Mimi (Alfre Woodard) and granddad Pops (Gary Anthony Williams).

As Marvel’s first Black teen superheroine, Lunella fights to protect the culture and community that define her.

Advertisement TV & Streaming

movies to watch now on Amazon 1. Beast (2022)

Dr Nate Samuels (Idris Elba) has recently lost his wife and is hoping to reconnect with his two daughters by taking them to South Africa where he first fell in love with their mother.

Joining up with friend Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley), Nate and Martin take the two girls on a tour of the local wildlife reservation and local village. Upon arrival the group finds the village slaughtered, but not by humans. With all evidence pointing to a man-killing lion, the group tries to escape only to come face to face with the creature.

2. Are We Done Yet? (2007)

There is perhaps no modern actor who conveys discomfort in a funnier way than Ice Cube. Nick (Ice Cube) and Suzanne (Nia Long) have decided to give up city life for the suburbs in the hopes of granting their children a better upbringing. The first step in their plan is renovating their home.

Handyman Chuck Mitchell (John C. McGinley) seems to be exactly the guy they’ve been looking for. Affordable, friendly, and knowledgeable, Nick and Suzanne are confident they’ve struck gold with Chuck. Chuck nearly tears down the humble abode as he tries to fix every little detail.

3. Shotgun Wedding (2023)

This romcom a tale of a destination betrothal gone awry. Bride-to-be Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and her hopeful hubby Tom (Josh Duhamel) have planned a perfect tropical wedding.

Too bad their families don’t seem to have gotten the message. With crossfamily bickering ruining the ceremony and nearly canceling the wedding altogether, it will take a miracle to save the love between these two. Said miracle comes in the form of kidnapping ...

4. The King’s Speech (2010)

Twelve Oscar nominations and four wins including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay, as well as two 90-plus ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, should make it clear that The King’s Speech isn’t just good, it’s great! The year is 1939, Nazi Germany is sweeping across Europe, Edward VIII (Guy Pearce) has just abdicated his throne, and George VI (Colin Firth) has been named King of England. With plans to join the war against Hitler, George must prepare for his first publicly broadcast speech.

There’s one small problem – His terrible stutter. Desperate to save her husband from failure, Queen Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) employs Australian- born actor and amateur speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).

5. Nanny (2022)

After Aisha (Anna Diop), an illegal immigrant from Senegal lands a wellpaying job as a nanny for a wealthy New York family, her hopes of bringing her son over to live with her begin to seem like a reality. Her American dream quickly turns into a nightmare though, as others attempt to take advantage of her social position and immigration status. While not your average jump scare thriller, Nanny’s evermounting tension drives home the psychological horror aspects to create a film full of layers and enjoyment.

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Community & GAA Notes

Are you struggling with anxiety or depression or finding life difficult or feeling isolated at this time GROW is there to help you. Their Mental Health support Groups are free and confidential and open to all no referral or booking is needed. For more information on same you can contact Mary on 087 284342 If you can’t cope and need support text HELLO to 50808SAMARITAN - 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.

LOTTO Lotto Results Tuesday 14th Feb. Numbers drawn - 12, 22, 30. No Jackpot winner. €30 each to Kay Doyle, Conor O Shea, Sandra Brennan, Fergus Walsh, Sinead Murphy.

Next weeks Jackpot is €2050. Thanks to all for your support.

RAILYARD RESPECT One item that was missed in last week’s notes was the respect shown

by Railyard GAA club to Clara GAA before the recent senior football game between the sides. I was a late arrival to the game and was only informed during the week about the guard of honour that Railyard gave Clara before the game arising from the passing of James Nolan a few weeks previously. James would have soldiered with a number of the Railyard players in the Kilkenny football jersey over a lot of years and was obviously highly thought of among their group. It was a thoughtful sporting gesture and was greatly appreciated by the Clara club. Well done Railyard.

MULLINAVAT PREVAIL Clara fell to their second defeat of the senior football campaign on Saturday morning in Clara as county champions Mullinavat showed no mercy in dishing out a 4-12 to 0-7 beating to the hosts. Mullinavat needed to win by 17 points or more to overtake the Railyard at the top of the table and so were in no mood to take their foot off the pedal at any stage of the game.

The home side did reasonably well in the first half when playing into a strong breeze. A pointed free by Joe Connolly and two efforts from Chris Bolger and Liam Ryan left Clara only trailing 1-7 to 0-3 at the break. The Mullinavat goal had come from a misdirected kickout when a Clara defender had unluckily slipped and a Mullinavat man had the simple task of placing the ball into an empty net.

The second half began brightly for Clara with John Murphy and Joe Connolly accounting for two of the first three points scored. But from there to the end two Joe Connolly points, one from a free, were all they had to show for their efforts. Mullinavat added 3-5 to their halftime total as they chased scores right to the end.

Team - Alan Coleman, Tom Ryan, David Langton, Sean O Shea. Dara Glynn, Jack Langton, Liam Ryan 0-1. Killian Phelan, John Murphy 0-1.

Chris Bolger 0-1f, Joe Connolly 0-4, 0-2f, Alex McDonald. Harry Boyle, Peter Nolan, Ned Langton. Subs used James Dowling, Sean Carrigan.

MINORS MAKE SEMI The Clara minor footballers had a hard earned victory over Danesfort at home on Sunday morning. The visitors fared best in the first half and were full value for their 1-7 to 0-4 halftime lead. Indeed it would have been more were it not for some brave saves from Clara netminder Padraig Meany. The four Clara points had come from the boots of Luke Lawlor (2), Dillon Cummins and Joe Power from a free. All were fine scores into a stiffish breeze.

Remarkably the first three scores of the second half were all goals for Clara. Strikes from Orí Phelan and Eoin Corr sandwiched a scrambled Joe Power goal and turned this game on its head. When Joe Power and Conor Hoyne pointed to move Clara five clear, it looked like the breeze assisted home team would go on and win comfortably. But Danesfort had other ideas and provided stern resistance to the final whistle. A Conor Hoyne free just before the end gave Clara a four point win, 3-7 to 1-9. It was ten scores each but goals win games and Clara’s purple patch at the start of the second half was crucial.

Tommy Delaney was outstanding for the winners and got good assistance from Daniel Ryan and Tom Murphy in defence. The industrious Conor Hoyne got most help from Joe Power and targetman Luke Lawlor in attack but this was a fair team performance from the home side, who now advance to the Roinn B minor championship semifinal.

Team - Padraig Meany, Daniel Ryan, Philip Carrigan, Tom Murphy. AlexFirbank, Tommy Delaney, Dillon Cummins 0-1. Hugh Kelly, Eoin Corr 1-0. John Bergin, Conor Hoyne 0-2, 0-1f, Joe Power 1-2, 0-1f. Orí Phelan 1-0, Luke Lawlor 0-2, Bill Kealy. Subs Sam Lawlor, Peter Firbank.

SUCCESS FOR STAUNTON Shane Staunton won a much coveted Fitzgibbon medal on Saturday when UL dismantled the challenge of NUIG to retain their title. Shane was actually winning his second one on the bounce but this time he started on a star studded Limerick team that also included Ballyhale men Dean Mason and Darragh Corcoran. The final score was 4-19 to 1-13. Well done Shane!

KIERANS BACK ON TRACK St. Kieran’s bounced back from their Leinster final defeat to Offaly Schools to record a resounding 2-28 to 0-13 win over St. Raphael’s, Loughrea in Nenagh on Saturday. Rory Glynn came on as a second half substitute and notched a point as Kieran’s qualified to meet Harty Cup champions Cashel Community School in the All Ireland semifinal on Saturday 4th March

CLUB LOTTO There was no winner of the club lotto (February 14th). Numbers Drawn were 13, 14, 17, 26 Bonus 15. Next week’s jackpot will be €16,600 ( February 21th). Play now at www.oloughlingaels.com/lotto Promotors Draw. 1. Nina Nolan c/o Eileen Kinchella. 2. M O’Keefe c/o Maurice Nolan 3. Sean Morrissey c/o John Joe Culen. 4. Mary Kearns c/o Damien O’Connell. 6. Keith Walsh c/o Neil Loy. 7. Tanya Cody c/o Mary Cody. 8.

Jennifer Dillon c/o online. 9. Michelle Buckley c/o online. 10. Evan Walsh c/o Online. Thank you for your continued support PLAYER NEWS Congratulations to Oisín Murphy who was part of the Intermediate University of Limerick hurling team that won the higher education AllIreland Championship at the weekend.

Well done to Aoife Shealy who was part of the Loreto Kilkenny Camogie team that won the post primary schools senior All-Ireland at the weekend. Also to Mark Holohan who helped St Kieran’s College senior hurlers advance to the All-Ireland Semi- Final The best of luck to u16 Camogie player Iveta Vasilauskaite as she lines out for Kilkenny u16s in Sundays Leinster Championship v Meath at Castlecomer.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS REGISTRATION Registration for O’Loughlin Gaels GAA and Camogie Clubs can be renewed or commenced online on the Return to Play app now. All players must be registered to train or play.

SQUASH CHAMPS Congratulations and well done once again to young local boy who is proving to be a bright young squash player. Nathan Walsh from Sart,

Nathan Walsh, Freshford came fifth in the national junior open squash championship Freshford took part in the Junior Nationals squash competition last weekend. Nathan finished 5th overall which was a great result for him.

He won his first game and unfortunately came up against the No.2 seed in his second game and was beaten 3-1 and with a bit of luck could have went either way. He won his two games on Sunday beating the number 6 seed 3-0 and then beating the number 5 seed by 3-1 in a nail biting game and finishing up 5th overall in the competition. This was a great result for this young lad in his first year playing in tournaments and taking out some of the seeded players above him. Keep it up Nathan.

Congrats also to Pat Morrissey from Ard Lachtains who finished 3rd overall in the over 40s masters in Belfast at the weekend also. This was a great result for Pat who has not played much squash at all this season because of injury.

FITNESS Fitness sessions Boxing/Fitness sessions at Community Hall, Freshford.

Have you had a diagnoses of Parkinsons, Alzheimers or other neurological condition? If so maybe you are keen to get some level of fitness back or work on you balance or upper body strength? If so, these classes are just what you need. Classes take place each Tuesday from 11am to 12 noon. Sessions cost just €10 each and are facilitated by a boxing coach. They will also give you the chance to socialise and meet other people. For more information or to sign up please contact Brenda Cooper on 0871369253 DEATH The death took place last week of Paddy Quirke late of Blackwood, Freshford. The deceased who was advanced in years was widely known and respected in the locality. He was predeceased by his brothers Mikey and Johnny and recently by his twin sister Dell. Funeral mass took place on Thursday morning last in Clontubrid Church followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. He is mourned by his relatives and friends.

COMMUNITY ALERT Freshford /Threecastles Community Alert Group remind people that the annual text Alert deadline is the 28th February. It cost just €10 per phone number for this service and to enroll or pay your fee you can contact any of the following committee members : Shem O’Donnell, John Bergin, Jacinta Power, Anna Morrissey, Mick Cormack Bernadette, Terry Campion and Frances Mullan.

PLAYGROUND Work can be seen to be well underway on the local Playground at Kilkenny Road. Great credit is due to the hard working committee who fought for this amenity over past couple of years. It is hoped that the Playground will be ready for this summer.

CABARET Conahy Vintage Club present a Cabaret in aid of Crumlin Childrens Hospital in Conahy Shamrocks GAA Clubhouse on Friday 3rd March.

Music will be by The Dooley Bros and there will be a special door prize and raffle on the night. You are asked to please support this very worthy cause. Tickets are available from any member of the Conahy Vintage Club or in the clubhouse.

GAA Last Man Standing With the national hurling league back into action St Lachtain’s are running a Last Man Standing competition with fantastic prize of €350 for the winner & €50 for the seller of the winner. It started 4th of February and Entries must be in at 12 noon on the day of the first game each weekend Entries can be given to any player or committee member.

DRUG AWARENESS St Lachtains GA club are delighted to host a drugs awareness night on Monday Feb 27th in the Community Hall at 8pm. There will be guest speakers on the night including Conor Harris, former Limerick hurler Ciaran Carey and members of An Garda Siochana.

All welcome.

PARISH NEW Mass is held in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and each Sunday morning at 11am.wiith Mass in Tulla church on Saturday evenings at 7.30pm.

Notices The parish newsletter is available on their website every week and also on the website you are free to pay your dues and make donations or any other contributions and you can find out more about it on the website or feel free to contact in the Parish Office.

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

Mass Cards Special printed parish cards are available at the Parish Office or from Annette at Tulla Church signed by Monsignor Kennedy. You can contact the Parish office on 056 8832843 or by email – freshfordd@ ossory.ie. Contact Mongr Kieron Kennedy on that number or on 087 25235 21 HELP FOR ALL

CLUB LOTTO LOTTO Results 16th Feb. Nos: 8 22 23 32. Jackpot: €7550 Not Won Draw Prizes – €50: John Gaffney c/o Jim Murphy. €25 each Susan Pollard c/o Online €25 each Ken Maher c/o Online. €25 each Aidan Maher c/o Online Hurlers Co Op Valentin Fazacas c/o Online. Promotors prize Ian Morrissey New weeks draw €7700. Thank you for your continued support.

CLUB REGISTRATION Members can now renew their membership directly through ClubZap for the 2023 season and instalment options are available. The club asks that all members renew their membership as soon as possible and in particular before teams return to training or games over the next number of weeks.

MINOR FOOTBALL Well done to our Minor Footballers who had a good win against O’Loughlins Sunday morning. Very good football and great scores from both sides. Best of luck to the lads going forward.

SCHOOLS CAMOGIE ALL IRELAND Huge Congratulations to our boro girls and Loreto Secondary School who won the All Ireland Senior Colleges Saturday in St Peregrine’s Blanchardstown. We are very proud of the 10 boro girls who are on the Loreto Panel. Well done to Amy Clifford, Rose Kelly, Rachel Dowling, Aisling Browne, Caoimhe Carroll, Izzy Roberts, Tara McGrath, Izzy Egan, Angela Carroll and Isabelle Fahy.

EASTER CAMP Registration now Open for our Easter Camp. Skills and drills and lots of fun. For ages 5-12. €30 1 Child. Discounts for Multiple Children from same family. 10am to 1pm. 3rd, 4th and 5th of April. See ClubZap to secure your booking or go to https:/www.dicksborogaa.com/products CAMOGIE Congratulations to Emma Mulhall, Amy Lawless and Ava McCabe who were part of the Loreto Convent panel who won the All-Ireland PostPrimary Schools camogie final against St. Patrick’s, Maghera (Derry) in Dublin, on Saturday last.

Congratulations also goes to Ruth Phelan who was recently chosen as captain of the Kilkenny Minor Camogie team for 2023. Well done to her on receiving such a great honour for herself and her family.

FOOTBALL The intermediate footballers played host to Carrickshock in Jenkinstown in their latest game in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Intermediate Football League, but were second best to the visitors who won out on a 4-8 to 0-8. Carrickshock were on top from an early stage, scoring two goals in the opening twenty minutes. Conahy tried their hardest to find a response, but the gap was too great to reel in, and Carrickshock were deserving winners. The locals will next take on Rower-Inistioge in Inistioge this coming weekend.

TEAM: Karl Downey, Donal Cass, Padraig Gunner, Philip Cass, Liam Cass, Eoin Carroll, Ciaran Rice, Eoin Cahill, Darren Cuddihy, Adam Dempsey, Dara Dooley, Bill Murphy, Padraic Delaney, Paul Buggy, Tom Rice. Subs: Sean Brennan, Stephen MacNamee, Kieran Brennan.

The minor footballers were in action prior to the intermediate footballers on Sunday morning in Jenkinstown when they faced Bennettsbridge in the Kilkenny Vehicle Centre Roinn C semi-final. Unfortunately, they also were defeated by the visitors, who were a far superior side, despite Conahy hitting some good scores throughout the game.

TEAM: Finn Sherman, Tadhg Hennessy, Conor Hennessy, Billy Rowe, Darragh Horgan, John Kennedy, Killian Lacey, Jack Rhatigan, Patrick Kennedy, Andrew O’Connor, Evan Staunton, Ben Duggan, Tommy Mulhall, Daniel Mooney, Jake Dooley, Brian Phelan, Rory Rhatigan, Adam Morrissey, Neil Webster.

CLUB LOTTO The numbers drawn in the Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club Lotto were 10, 12 and 25. There was no jackpot winner so the consolation prize winners were Alice Nolan, Donna Butler, Rita Healy, Miriam Mulhall and Conor Coogan. The promoters’ prize winners were Nora Delaney, Anne Downey and Larry Bergin. This week’s jackpot now increases to €2,100.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL The members of the Conahy Conference of St Vincent de Paul wish to remind all in the local community that if anybody finds themselves in difficulty, please do not hesitate to contact them on (086) 0519893 in strictest confidence.

Loreto Team Champions

This portrait of Thomastown man, Eamon O’Keeffe, entitled “The Wink” achieved first place in the Kilkenny Photography Competition (Intermediate Section) for Bennettsbridge Photographer, Anne Dowling.

CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to local photographer, Anne Dowling who was awarded First Place in the Kilkenny Photography Intermediate Section (Open Mono competition). Anne’s portrait of local Thomastown man, Eamon O’Keeffe, entitled “The Wink” impressed the judges who gave it their vote.

ROADWORKS Roadworks are commencing Monday 20th February on the N10 between Danesfort and Junction 9 of the M9 and will continue until Friday 3rd March.

Traffic Management including Stop/Go is in place Monday-Friday, 8 am to 6 pm and motorists are advised that delays are to be expected.

CHURCH NEWS LENTEN OFFERINGS Lenten Offerings will be taken up this weekend before all masses.

COLLECTION FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS A collection for victims of the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria was taken up at masses in the parish at the weekend. Thanks to all who supported this very worthwhile cause.

LOTTO No winner of Jackpot last week. Numbers, 5, 10, 19, 28. Jackpot now €5,350.00. Consolation Prizes, Mark Dowling, Hillview, Breda Ryan, Blackwell, May Croke, Woodlawn, Michelle Bolger, Gowran Road, Dolores Fitzpatrick, Annamult Road. Thanks to all who support the Lotto each week, the proceeds benefit, the Parish, The GAA and East End Soccer Club.

PANTO A number of parishioners attended the Gowran Pantomime, Hansel and Gretel, last week and found it highly entertaining. Well done to all the team on a great production. Special shout out to Julie Moorhouse who played a big part in the costume department.

ART GROUP Art classes continue each Monday in the Community Centre. Artists are exploring some new techniques and are enjoying the experience. The group is indebted to the ETB for its continued support.

GATHERING GROUP Mary Williams produced a challenging quiz last week. Gentle chair exercises are proving popular with the group. A number of talks are in the pipeline also a trip to the Danesfort group is being pencilled in for April.

GAA MEMBERSHIP 2023 Membership for 2023 is now been collected by registrar Samantha McGarry or any-committee member. Membership remains the same as last year. 120 for adult players, 80 for student players and 40 euro for non-playing members. Early payment would be most appreciated as the bills for 2023 become due.

INTERCOUNTY HURLING Best wishes to David Blanchfield and the Kilkenny team who play Laois in the third round of the league in Portlaoise next Sunday.

BUY A BRICK CAMPAIGN We are in our fourth year of our buy a brick campaign. Thanks to everyone who has supported so far. Anyone new who wishes to contribute please see BBGAADEV@gmail.com. All contributions go towards club development and repayment of the loan on the club house as quickly as possible.

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Bennettsbridge footballers are in action at junior, minor and under 13 level at the moment. The junior football team played Gowran last Sunday and won by 2-9 to 1-2. The score was level at half time but the ‘Bridge made good use of the breeze in the second half to run out deserved winners. The minors also played well and defeated Conahy away in the championship semi-final last Sunday. They now meet Railyard in the county final. See the Kilkenny GAA website for details of the upcoming fix-tures.

COLLEGE HURLING Well done to Bill Hughes, Timmy Kelly and James Hughes who were part of the St Kieran’s panel that defeated St Raphael’s of Galway in the All Ireland quarter final on Saturday. Hard luck to Jamie Harkin and his Waterford teammates who lost out to University of Limerick in the semi-final of the Fitzgibbon cup.

CPR AND BASIC FIRST AID TRAINING There will be a CPR and First Aid training upstairs in the clubhouse on Saturday March 25th. This is open to the whole community. Places are limited to 10 people and cost is 80 euro per person. If interested please contact Andrea on 087 1226882 to book a place.

STEPS CHALLENGE Thanks to everyone who took part in the My Life steps Challenge over the past few weeks. Bennettsbridge accumulated over 8000 klms in

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News Community & GAA Notes the Challenge. The top three from the club were Claire O’Sullivan, Ann Marie Cullen and Damien Grimes. Well done to everyone and thanks for participating.

SPLIT THE POT The next draw takes place this Friday at 6 pm in the clubhouse.

Envelopes to enter are available around the village. If you want to play online with club force please see the clubs Facebook page for details.

Thanks again for the continued support.

GOWRAN PANTO Congratulations to all the cast and crew on a wonderful week of performances of Hansel and Gretel.

GOWRAN AC Well done to the 43 Gowran AC athletes that took part in the All Ireland Cross Country Intermediate, Masters and Juvenile B championships, hosted by Gowran AC. With 1,400 competitors, fine weather and large crowds cheering on each runner, it made for a great atmosphere to compete in. You should all be incredibly proud of your accomplishments and the effort you put in to represent your club and county. Well done!

Inter Ladies. Katie O Brien, Orla Clear. Inter Men Ray Lahart, Johan Muller, David O Brien, Bill Lahart. Masters Men Mick Kelly, Niall Sheehan, Paul Flood, Paul Deegan, Marty Mosley, Colin Pollock, Matt Ryan, John Coady, Mick Walsh, David Farrell, Marty Kelly Girls U11 Sarah Mulrooney, Emer O’Callaghan, Roisin Moseley, May Timmons, Orla O’Keeffe, Pearl Treacy. Girls U13 Kate Mulrooney, Aoibheann Brennan, Lucy Cunningham, Daisy Coomey, Emily O’Keeffe, Orlaith Carroll. Girls U15 Kate Hayden Boys U11. Tommy Carrigan, Matthew Byrne, Sean Farrell, Ross Hutton, Bobby Coomey, Sean Carroll. Boys U13. MJ Carroll, Michael O’Keeffe, Darragh Carrroll, Rory Treacy, David Carroll. Boys U15 James Kelsey, Tomás Carroll LORETO GIRLS EASE TO ALL-IRELAND GLORY Huge Congratulations to Julie Lennon and Marie O’Keeffe who were part of the Loreto Kilkenny Panel that easily won The Senior Colleges Camogie All-Ireland Final in Blanchardstown on Saturday after they defeated St. Pats Maghera 1-16 to 1-2.

Elsewhere, Steffi and Tiffanie Fitzgerald were part of the Kilkenny Starting Team that lost to Clare 2-7 to 0-11 in the opening round of the National Camogie League in Sixmilebridge with Ciara O’Keeffe among the Substitutes.

Kilkenny will host Galway in Round Two on Saturday Afternoon in UPMC Nowlan Park at 3pm.

NADDY PLAYS PART AS KIERANS RETURN TO WINNING WAYS Padraig Naddy was part of the St. Kierans College starting 15 as they easily brushed aside St. Raphaels, Loughrea 2-28 to 0-13 in The AllIreland Senior Colleges Quarter-Final in Nenagh on Saturday.

The City School were returning to winning ways having lost The Leinster Final and they now have an intriguing All-Ireland Semi-Final clash to look forward to against Cashel Community School of Tipperary. The Cashel School recently won the Harty Cup (Munster Senior Colleges Final) for the first time.

YOUNG IRELANDS GAA CLUB SPORTS PREDICTION COMPETITION 2023 Young Irelands GAA Club are organizing a Sports Prediction Competition for 2023. €1000 worth of prize money with 1st Prize €700, 2nd Prize €200 and 3rd Prize €100.

Entry fee is €10 and all entries to be submitted by Sunday 5th March.

Check out The Young Irelands GAA Club page on Facebook for further information and you will find contact details for the Organising Committee involved.

EMERALDS GAA CLUB Mega Bingo: Every Sunday, 4pm at Urlingford GAA pitch. Gates open at 3pm. Single books and one sheet €10; Double books and two sheets €15. Extra jackpot sheet €3 or two for €5. Please support.

EMERALDS URLINGFORD AND GRAINE LOTTO February 13th prize fund was: €11,600. Jackpot: €9,600. Numbers drawn: 6, 8, 18, 28, bonus no 15. No winner and one match 3 winner: Noel Tierney. Five lucky dips of €20 each: P. Fanning, Isobel Doyle, M. Quinlan, Tom Flaherty, Bridget Barnaville. Promoters prize: Hotel.

EMERALDS CAMOGIE CLUB Emeralds Camogie Club are holding a Paddy Run/Walk on Friday, March 17th (St Patrick’s Day) at 10am. 5k and 10k walk starting at Emeralds GAA Grounds, Urlingford. Chip times; Bespoke medal for all finishers; Prizes for 1st male and female finishers in both distances; Prize for best dressed St Patrick’s Day outfit. 2km Challenge on Walking Track for U13s. Entry fees: 10k - €20; 5k - €15; U16 - €10. Family ticket available. Booking also on runireland.ie.

Registration and number pick-up on the day from 9am. Numbers are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. Refreshments served afterwards in the Clubhouse. For further information, please contact 086 3909400.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE LTI Pathway to Employment course QQI Level 4: LTI is recruiting for the new programme in the Centre commencing shortly. If anyone is interested in completing this full-time course, please contact us for an expression of interest form. More details can be found on our website www.millfrcurlingford.com Defibrillator: Please note that there is a defibrillator located in the Mill Family Resource Centre if and when it may be required.

Senior Alert: If you need to apply for a Personal Alarm, please contact Sue or Josephine.

Counselling Services: Our low cost counselling services, includes oneto-one, family and teens, aged 12+. General Counselling: Bereavement, stress, anxiety and depression. Other counselling services available: Drug, substance and gambling addictions. Play therapy is now also available. Please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment.

Appeal for Clothes Donations: Any clothes donations would be appreciated and are in aid of our counselling services. Donations can be left into the Centre, please call before dropping off. Contact number for the Centre 056 8838466.

SET DANCING In Urlingford Community Centre, every Tuesday at 8.30pm. Dancing to live music with Danny Webster. Sets called by Paddy Martin. Come along for a great night of dancing!

URLINGFORD ARMS SPLIT THE POT This week’s winner of Split the Pot is Sabrina Beehan who will receive €456. Congrats Sabrina. Tickets €2 on sale in participating businesses in town, with proceeds this week going to Urlingford Arms Darts Club, thanks to everyone for their support.

SUPERVISED STUDY In Graine Hall every Saturday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm.

Cost: €5 half day, €8 full day. For enquiries, please contact Siobhan 087 2601490.

URLINGFORD / GRAINE DEFIBRILLATOR GROUP In case of emergency, call: 085 2726396.

URLINGFORD NEWS Anyone wishing to submit news items, club events, announcements etc can do so by emailing urlingfordnotes@gmail.com. If you have any photos you wish to include, please forward them to the email address.

CHURCH NEWS.....

Good wishes to the boys and girls from 5th and 6th classes in Urlingford N.S who are receiving the sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday next February 25th at 11am. The “Ceremony of Light “ will be in Graine Church on Thursday the 23rd at 7.30pm.

OSSORY DIOCESAN COLLECTION A special collection will be taken up in all the churches at the Masses next weekend Feb 25/26th. Money raised will be channelled through Trocaire to help the victims of the Turkey/Syria Earthquake .

MR. MICHAEL GLENDON RIP The death has taken place recently of Michael Glendon, Ballyspellan, Johnstown peacefully at home. Predeceased by his parents Michael and Bridget, his brothers and sisters and grandchildren Nicola and Chloe. Deeply missed by his heartbroken wife Breda, son Michael, daughters Caroline (Phelan), Linda (McEvoy) and Moira (Lonergan), daughter in law Caroline, sons in law Jerry, Pat and Kevin, brother Peter, sisters Bea, Statia, Lily and Peggy, brother in law, sister in law, nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends.

Both the Fenian HC and Spa United AFC expressed condolences to the Glendon Family. Michael was a valued member of the Community, a player back in his day, a loyal supporter since the Fenian Club was founded in 1968, following club teams at all levels over many years.

Michael was a founding member of Spa United and his tireless work in the early years helped to shape a lot of what the club is today. Michael’s grandsons Cathal and Fionn and his granddaughter Erin Rose are part of the present day club. Representatives from the above clubs as well as the former Athletic club, the Sportsfield Committee and the Camogie clubs formed a guard of honour to accompany Michael on his journey to the Church for Requiem Mass and his burial in St. Kieran’s Cemetery.

Rest easy Michael, you will always be remembered in Johnstown.

FENIANS HC.....

Fenians HC hosted the All Ireland Colleges Camogie Final between St. Declan’s School, Kilmacthomas and Ardscoil Mhuire Ballinasloe.

SPA UNITED AFC.....

Weekend results U 17 boys league Division 1A Spa 1 Freebooters 3, U 16 boys league Division 1A Spa 2 Evergreen 0, U 14 girls league Division 1 Bridge Utd 4 Spa 3, U14 girls league Division 2 Spa 0 Highview Athletic 2, U12 boys league Division 1 Freebooters 1 Spa 3, U12 boys league Division 2A Stoneyford 0 Spa 4. U8’s also were in action against Clover Utd. and played some excellent football and scored great goals.

CHURCH NOTES Eucharistic Adoration will continue Wednesday in Glengoole church from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and on this Thursday in Gortnahoe Church from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p,m. All are welcome to come and spend even 5 or 10 minutes in quiet prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

Family Mass. March family mass will be on Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th of March.

Cashel and Emly, Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. The annual pilgrimage will take place from the 17th - 22nd June 2023, anyone interested in the Parish please contact the Parish council for further information.

TUESDAY BRIDGE Bridge is being played each Tuesday night in Gortnahoe Hall at 7.30pm.

If you would like to join or find out more information please contact this number 089 4349106 GORTNAHOE BINGO Bingo continues each Saturday night in Gortnahoe Hall. The hall committee are delighted that the return to the hall is proving successful with a full attendance last Saturday night, the prize money of over €2,660 is a huge attraction. Bingo continues this Saturday at 7.00pm with doors opening from 6.00pm and will continue each Saturday night at the same time. Over €2,660 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game. Parish support would be appreciated.

SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to Sally Kelly from Grange, who won €176 in last Sunday’s draw. Envelopes are available at the usual outlets. Split the Pot from this week on will be in support of the Gortnahoe Community Playgroup. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. Your support would be appreciated SIMON GUILFOYLE RIP The death took place of Simon (Sam) Guilfoyle, Fennor,Urlingford, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on February 11th. Predeceased by his parents Michael and Josephine and sister Nelly (Barry) and sister-in-law Kathleen. Simon is deeply regretted by his loving sons Conor, Noel, Colm and Aidan, brother Pat, brother-in-law Bill, nieces, nephews, relatives and a wide circle of friends. He reposed at Doyle’s Funeral Home Urlingford last Wednesday evening. Removal took place to the Church of the Sacred Heart Gortnahoe arriving for Requiem Mass.

Burial took place in Two-mile-Borris Cemetery. May he Rest in Peace.

ANNIE CAHILL RIP The death took place of Annie Cahill (nee Cormack), Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on February 15th. Predeceased by her husband Mick, brothers Jimmy and Eddie, sisters Josie, Peg and Maureen.

Annie is deeply regretted by her loving family Walter, Eamonn, Gerard, Michael, Mary, P.J., Kevin and Patrica, daughters-in-law, grandchildren Caoimhe, Iona, Ross, Jack, Orla and Michael, sisters Bridget, Sr Theresa and Kitty, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and a wide circle of friends. She reposed at Doyle’s Funeral Home, Urlingford last Thursday evening followed by removal on Friday morning to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe for Requiem mass. Burial took place afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. May she Rest in Peace.

WILLIAM DOHENY RIP The death took place of William Doheny, Sydney, Australia and formerly of Graigue, Gortnahoe. Predeceased by his wife Phyllis, his father and mother, Richard and Mary, his brothers Michael, John, Father Richard and Ned, sisters Sister Catherine, Theresa, Mary, Sister Angela and Nora.

William is deeply regretted by his sons, daughters and grandchildren, his sister-in-law Sarah, neices, nephews and many friends. Burial took place in Sydney. May he rest in Peace.

ENROLMENT....

For infants and all classes for September 2023. For information and forms contact Johnstown on 0568831611 or email johnstownns@

gmail.com and for Crosspatrick on 0568831753 or email office@crosspatrickns.com.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO Lotto winning numbers 7,10,24,26. Four match three Lorraine Kenny, Padraig Sweeney, James Fogarty and Gerard Drennan. Next weeks jackpot €19,500.

MARGARET (MAGS) CODY RIP The death of Mags Cody, Kilbraghan, Kilmanagh has filled the hearts of her family, her parish community and indeed far beyond its environs, with sorrow. Mags was a popular and gentle lady totally dedicated to her husband Tom, children Kirsten, Tara and Will, with whom we offer our sincere sympathy. Her profession was a beautician which undoubtedly brought her in contact with many people. The attendance on both occasions of her obsequies bore witness to the sympathy and the heartfelt sorrow all had for Mags, her family, relations and friends. Her requiem mass was celebrated by Fr. Liam Taylor in Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Kilmanagh. Her children Kirsten and Will read reflections regarding their mother. Her burial took place in St. Marys Cemetery, Ballykeeffe. May her gentle soul rest in the peace of the Lord.

WINDFARM MEETING A public meeting will be held in Ballycallan Hall at 8pm on Tuesday 28th February. This meeting will be an open forum to discuss the proposed windfarm between Kilmanagh and Tullaroan. All are welcome to attend.

COMMUNITY ALERT BKK community alert is €10 Euros - payable by the end of March. Pay your membership fee to any of the following committee members Gerry Ryan (garage), Padraic Flaherty, Bridget Brennan, Danny Butler, Eamonn Phelan, Johnny Dermody. Only paid up members will get text alerts.

DEFIBRILLATORS We have updated our 3 defibrillators in the parish and they are now fully charged and ready if they are ever needed. We are now looking for people to do defibrillator training. This training will take place on Tuesday 7th March from 7pm-9pm in Ballycallan hall. This training has been funded by ETB. If you would like to attend please text or ring Annette. If you already have this training course and are interested in having your name added to our list of trained personal please forward you name and number to Annette Wall on 086 835 3993. Thank you for your continued support.

MOMOGIE St. Brigid’s are setting up momogie this season. This is where all you mammy and chums can come along one night a week for a bit of noncompetitive camogie. Dust off those hurling boots and get that helmet polished. Registration must be completed before end of February 2023, this can be done via the new Foireann App (download from App store and allow notifications, log-in as last year). There is a section under membership called Momogie and it’s only €35 for the year. Great way to keep fit and have a bit of crack too. If you have any difficulty with Foireann contact Mary Dalton on (087) 992 6260.

ALTAR SERVERS So far, one young person expressed an interest in serving and no doubt, he’ would make a great server. Unfortunately one’s not enough and parental input is required. The questions remain the same: Is there an interest among young people to serve? (We don’t have very many attending Mass). Are parents willing to commit to Garda vetting and a full days training in order to supervise and organise a rota? If you think your child might be interested, and you’re willing to help, then get in touch.

RESILIENCE CARE Support Workers required for 2 x 4 bed Residential Houses in Tullaroan.

Full time, part time and relief contracts available. You can send your CV to careers@resilience.ie .Visit our website at www.resilience.ie to view their work.

LOURDES 2023 Trip to Lourdes will take place from 23rd to 28th May 2023. Hotel Agena€879 per person sharing or Hotel Solitude / Padoue - €899 per person sharing. Return bus journey to\from Dublin airport from Loughboy shopping centre car park. Direct flight from Dublin to Lourdes. Transfer on arrival to hotel in Lourdes. 5 nights’ hotel accommodation.

Breakfast, lunch & dinner each day. Pilgrims contribution for daily use of the shrine is also included in the fare. Transfer from hotel to Lourdes Airport. Direct flight from Lourdes to Dublin. 1 x 20kg check-in bag & 1 x small cabin bag. Full religious programme facilitated by the Diocese of Ossory. Bookings are subject to the terms and conditions available on JWT website. Contact niamh@jwttravel.ie or 01-685 2244 or www. joewalshtours.ie.

ANNUAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF ABUSE This day of prayer take place next Friday, 24th February. Our Mass at 10am in Kilmanagh will offer prayers for this intention and a ‘Candle of Atonement’ will burn in each of our churches throughout the day. You are welcome to join us in prayer for this intention.

CLOGHOGE MONTESSORI Cloghoge Montessori in Ballycallan Hall is now enrolling for September 2023. Limited ECCE places available. Beautiful indoor and outdoor environment. Open Mon to Fri 9am to 12pm. Contact: Carmel Everard 086-3768305.

RIVER RANGERS SOCCER NEWS RESULTS Saturday 18th February : Under 14 League Division 2 : River Rangers - 2 Evergreen Dynamo’s -2 The U14’s drew 2 - 2 with Evergreen. Rangers were well on top in the first half but couldn’t get the goal they deserved so they went in 0-0 at half time. Rangers dominated the start of the second half but it was Evergreen who scored first from a counter attack. The lads didn’t drop the heads, they equalised straight away through a well taken goal from Rory Buckley. The lads got the second goal from Dean Smith but Evergreen equalised in the last seconds of the game. The boys worked really hard today and they deserved more for their efforts.

Team: Donnacha Kenny, Dara Barut, Tom Brennan, Darragh Burke, Billy Ronan, Rory Buckley, Dean Smith, David Holland, Ethan Russell, Sean O’Dea, Conor Egan, Nathan Power, Luke Hayes, Martin Wall.

Sunday 19th February Junior Division 2 League : Stoneyford United - 2 River Rangers A - 3 Team: Tommy Manogue, Willie Brennan, Charlie Cleere, Shane Murphy, James Gleeson, Darragh Egan, Billy O’Neill, Tom Dunphy, Scott Lawlor, Stephen Keoghan, Jack Walton, Dylan Lanigan, Ben Young, Willie O’Neill, Vinny Dunne.

Junior Division 3 Emerald Tiles League : Newpark - 5 River Rangers B -2 Rangers started well in this fixture against a Newpark side that have beaten them the last two fixtures. Some great defending and good

honest performances from everyone. A penalty 10 minutes in was well saved by Rangers’ keeper but the rebound fell kindly for a tap in. Rangers at times were on top and gave Newpark problems and something to think about as defensively were very sound with Murt Doheny and Cathal Dermody leading the charge. Ben Hayes had it well organised and pushed when needed too. Patrick Foley and Ben Young played really well and made it hard for Newpark to break through. An injury to Cathal Dermody made Rangers make a few changes which did not dampen spirits but more drove them on. At half-time the score was 1-0. Second half was always going to be hard keep up the momentum but they did. Philly Doheny up front on his own did great work pressing and worked very hard. Supported by Dean and Jake O’Brien they covered every blade of grass to try to get back into it. Newpark kept pressing and got their reward scoring a second. Soon after they made it 3-0.Rangers kept plugging away as tired as they were and pulled one back with Ben Hayes finishing a fine header delivered by Brian Kearney.

Brian was fantastic in midfield and worked really hard. Soon after still pressing and good chasing from Kieran Dowling pressured Newpark into a mistake and a snap shot from Jack Fitzpatrick was well finished to make it 4-2. Billy Dowling was excellent in midfield along with Brian Kearney and created and broke down a lot of attacks. Newpark finished the game with another goal but this performance did not deserve the result 5-2 and is very positive going forward . Well done to all involved.

Team: Keith Coffey, Pat Foley, Martin Doheny, Cathal Dermody, Ben Young, Ben Hayes, Jake O’Brien, Billy Dowling, Philly Doheny, Dean O’Brien, Brian Kearney, Finn Lanigan, Jack Fitzpatrick, Kieran Dowling, Peter Murphy.

FIXTURES Saturday 25 February: Under 15 St Canices Credit Union Division 1A. Thomastown United Ath v River Rangers in United Park Thomastown at 11:00 Sunday 26 February; Junior Division 2 League River Rangers A v Castlewarren Celtic in Clonard Park at 14:00. Junior Division 3 Emerald Tiles League. East End United v River Rangers B in Bennettsbridge at 11:00.

Under 13 League Division 1. Evergreen Boys v River Rangers in Kells Road Astro Pitch at 11:00 KILMANAGH NOTES Anyone wishing to submit news items, events, announcements etc. can do so by email only to elanigan18@gmail.com. If you have any photos that you would like included, please send as an attachment HUGGINSTOWN NEWMARKET STONEYFORD MASS TIMES Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m.

Wednesday at 7.30p.m. Vigil - Saturday 25th. at 8.00p.m. Sunday 26th. at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford. Wednesday 22nd. at 7.00p.m. Vigil - Saturday 24th. at 6.30p.m.; Mass Times. Stoneyford Church at 7.00p.m. Hugginstown Church at 7.30p.m.

GUIDELINES FOR LENTEN PENANCE Abstaining from meat or some other food on Fridays. Abstaining from alcoholic drink or smoking. Making a special effort at involvement in Family Prayer. Visit to the Blessed Sacrament. Making the Stations of the Cross. Helping the poor, the sick, the old or lonely.

PRAY FOR Joan McBride, Sheepstown. Michael Morrissey, Lawcus Fields, Stoneyford ANNIVERSARY MASSES Fr. Christy Dwyer, Croan. Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 25th. at 8.00p.m James and Ellie Dalton, Boolyglass. Mass in Hugginstown Church on Sunday 26th.

February at 10.00a.m.

ROTA Rota for next week-end: 25th. and 26th. February 2023. (First Sunday of Lent) Readers: Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Parents. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Catherine Dwyer. Sunday 10.00a.m. Parents.

Eucharistic Ministers. Stoneyford. Saturday 6.30p.m. Pat Kenny. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Cahill. Sunday 10.00a.m. Ruth Crowley.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PREPARATION All children and families are invited to attend the weekend Masses during Lent as part of this preparation. Parents will be involved in the Readings and the Communion Reflection while the children will be involved in the Prayers of the Faithful and the Offertory Gifts.

Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 25th. February at 6.30p.m.

Mass in Hugginstown Church on Sunday 26th. February at 10.00a.m.

NEWMARKET SCHOOL The School is now taking enrolments for September 2023 and for AfterSchool Care.

Please contact 089 257 2031 or mbrennan@newmarketns.ie LOTTO AGHAVILLER PARISH AND CARRICKSHOCK GAA Lotto: - Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 13th.

February 2023 Numbers: 21; 11; 16; 14. No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn. No Jackpot Winner: 5 x €30.00. Winners:Fred Malzard, Stoneyford; Joe and Niamh Nolan, Newmarket; George Power, Hugginstown, Emily Carroll, Harristown, Jimmy Sheehan, Stonecarthy; 3 x €15.00 (Sellers): Eilish Rohan, Jimmy Walsh, Teresa Fitzgerald; OSSARY PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2023 Lourdes Pilgrimage will take place from May 23rd. to 28th. this year.

Accommodation in the Agena, Solitude and Padoue Hotels. Price includes return bus journey to/from Loughboy Shopping Centre Car Park to Dublin Airport. Return flights from Dublin to Lourdes; Transfer to/from Airport to Hotel; Full board and hotel accommodation for the 5 nights.

For further information and bookings contact niamh@jwttravel.ie or Phone 01 685 2244 MONORE SCHOOL Monore School is now taking Enrolments for September 2023. Please phone 056 776 8931 or email school on snmoinruadh@gmail.com for an Enrolment Form.

GROUNDPERSON (CE SCHEME) The Community Employment Scheme is looking to recruit a Groundperson for the area around Hugginstown and Newmarket. Duties to include: General Up-Keep and Cleaning of Community Areas, Walkways, Graveyards and Flower Beds, Cutting Grass, Hedge Cutting and Litter Removal.

If you are interested, Please contact the Supervisor, Paul Kealy, Tel. 087 958 2709. at St. Canice’s Community Employment Training CLG. Eligibility to participate on CE Scheme is generally linked to those who are 21 years or over and in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare Payment for over one year or more.

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

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kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

Community & GAA Notes

Dog POO bags scattered around Fair Green NO POO RESPECT Sadly some people have very little respect for our community and parks. Last week during the mid-term break the dog poo dispensers were vandalised on the Fair Green and the bags were all taken from the dispenser and were thrown all around the ground, into nearby trees and even thrown onto and tied to a nearby resident’s car.

Some also littered the ground outside of the Fair Green on Green Lane. What was the logic in this really? Recently the Callan Tidy Town replanted and put in new trees around the 1916 memorial also on the Fair Green and they hope this time they will be left alone to grow and be admired.

CENTENARY TALK To mark the Centenary of the Civil War, a lecture entitled “Conscience and Conspiracy in Callan, December. 1922” will be given in the Conference Room at Edmund Rice Heritage Centre, Westcourt. March 3rd at 7.30. Speaker Niamh Hassett, Cashel. E5 entry. All welcome, This is organised by Callan Heritage Society.

SIMPLE SCHOOL TIMES; SCHOOL STORIES In recent years numerous essays from the Ducas Website has been published in a number of weekly publications throughout the country, so as part of this column from time to time we will extract some of the childhood essays from schools around Callan, Windgap, Dunnamaggin and Kells. Staring this week we have stories which were originally published by Ailish Glendon from Goodwinsgardens Dunnamaggin in the late 1930’s. Ailish was a really imaginative essay writer and her stories are a wonderful look back in time HOMEMADE TOYS There are many people which are able to make some toys and strings from flowers. A flower chain can be made from daisies, and girls are very fond of making them. A great bunch of daisies are gathered first which are got in the green fertile fields at all month’s of the year. Then little split is made in the first daisy and the next one is put in through it, and by keeping on doing this a nice long pretty daisy chain can be made. Some girls can make a necklace with the hips that are left after the wild roses which grow on ditches in the beautiful Summer. When the roses wither little red hips are left, and those are picked and holes are make through them and then some thread is pulled through them. When all those are in on the thread it can be tied and a necklace is made. Almost all boys can make tops from thread-spools They get some spool and they skin it until a spear is on it and they put a nail in the top of it. Boys always delight in making snares for rabbits and they are very easily made. First they get six or seven little thin wires about a foot long and they twist them together. They make a sort of loop on the wire and they tie it to some stake which is put standing in the ground then they set it. There is a flower called the dandelion and when it withers the stalk is left and some girls pick those and make curls from them.

MY HOME DISTRICT The townsland which I am living in is called Goodwinsgardens and it is in the parish of Dunnamaggin. There are about fourteen families in this townland, and there are roughly sixty three people in it. The families which are most common in this district are Barry’s and Duncan’s and all the houses are slated mostly, but there are two thatched.

Goodwinsgarden is supposed to have got its name by a man named Goodwin who had a modern garden there some two hundred years ago. There is a man in this district named Patrick Barry who is over the age of seventy years. Patrick Barry lives on the left side of Dunnamaggin road. He is a farmer and there is a little avenue leading to his dwelling house.

This man knows many old stories but he cannot speak Irish, in English he tells his stories.

There were more houses in Goodwinsgarden long ago,

there are three which are now in ruins, one on the left side of the Callan road which was called Glendon’s this is only three quarters of a mile from historic Kells. There is another on the right side of the Callan road which is almost opposite Glendon’s called Millea’s. The last being beside my home, and this house was owned long ago by John O Brien who lived by himself. HIs house being on the right side of of the Dunnamaggin road, about a mile from Kells. The land in this district is very good and there is also a wood called Newtown wood by the side of the King’s River which flows Callan through Goodwinsgarden There is another little river called the Glory which joins the King’s River at Goodwinsgarden bridge.

OUR HOLY WELLS There is a holy well in this parish called St. Leonard’s Well.

This well is situated in Mr. Walsh’s field of Dunnamaggin which is near the Dunnamaggin bridge. This well is visited by people on the second or third Sunday in November and there are prayers said there by the people who visit it.

There were many people cured at this well and it is said that people got cured from sore eyes. Saint Leonard is connected with this well. There is another holy well on the townsland of Ladyswell, which is situated in Bride’s field.

Every year on the 15th of August the people go there.

The well derives its name because Our Blessed Lady was supposed to have appeared there hundreds of years ago.

When the people are coming to this well they bring towels and they wash themselves and try to get the bloodstones.

The reason why they look for the bloodstones is because there was a priest once killed at this well. This well is covered in with black-thorned bushes and almost all the leaves are stained red. All the people drink this water and they bring a little of it home. It is said that many people got some of this water and put it down on the fire but they could not boil it. There is another holy well near Somer’s which is a mile from Callan and which is called St. James’s well and every year on the 31st of July the people visit it. There is a holy well in Kilree which is situated on the right side of the Kilree road beside Mr. Dalton’s house called St Bridget’s well. It is said that once upon a time a woman washed clothes with this water and the well dried up. The priest said mass there and ever since the water is in the well.

MICK LOOBY AND HIS ASS An Essay written by John Bergin, who was a pupil in the late 1930’s at Scoil Na mBráthar Calainn. I’ts humorous as well as perhaps a little sad. The written grammar may not be perfect but it was written by a child in the spoken dialect at the time and the story is excellent. Hope you enjoy.

There lived in Scaugh Callan a rag and bone merchant, named Micky an Biddy Looby, Micky was very witty and every one liked to meet him to him cracking jokes, even the Parish Priest would go out of his way to meet Mick Looby, to hear some of his jokes, Mick was very fond of a pint when he would get it for twopence and would indulge very heavy, when he would sell some of his rags and bones, Biddy used always be complaining him to the Parish Priest and the Police, Father says Biddy, where will I get money for oats for the ass and food for Mickey, when he spends all he is earning on drink. Mick was coming home drunk to confirm Biddy’s complaints and Mick met the Parish Priest, drunk again Looby says the priest, so am I father you promised me to give up the drink Looby, I will never drink another sup says Mick, a few evenings afterwards he met Mick going home and he had a can containing too gallons of bear. What have you in the can asked the priest, only a couple of gallons of beer for

Planting of trees and shrubs at 1916 Memorial Garden on the Fair Green the men sawing the hay are you going any of it yourself Looby, ah I will father a little sup, now throw out your own share of that says the priest, I can’t father because mine is on the bottom, Mick said he would make good, and he went steady for a few days he bought a half-pigs head, and rolled it up in the Local Paper he met the Priest and he asked Mick what he had under his arm, “I have the Kilkenny People and wait till I show you the supplement, he opened the paper and took out the have-pigs head, int that a fine supplement is going with the paper this week Father”.Mrs Looby is delighted to see such a change in Mick, now we will have to get down to business says Biddy, we will have to get some oats for the Winter, I may tell you theirs a bad winter coming. Mick kept good for a start as Biddy used tell him to stop in bed and I’ll feed the ass, Biddy in a way was far worse then Mick, instead of buying oats for the ass, she used go in to the tap room, so the poor ass suffered as he got nothing to eat and when Mick would take him out the country he was not able to travel and Mick would say the Litany of courses along with giving him a terrible beating with the stick. When Mick would come home, he would ask Biddy, did ye give any oats to the ass this morning ah be gor I did, I gave him a half stone of oats and have a half stone for him now. I will feed him myself to night says Mick, go in our that and ate your supper after your hard days work and trust me to feed the ass, I wouldn’t trust you as far as I would throw ye anyway Mick went in and ate his supper and the poor ass got nothing, he said he would set a trap for Biddy in the morning as he wanted to find why the ass was not able to do a mile an hour, with all the feeding he was getting when Biddy got up in the morning she told Mick to stop in bed she would bring him in his breakfast as there is a long day in front of you, she gave Mick his breakfast and she went out to the stable and tied the asses tail to the manger and called out Mick, “Come out! Come out! and you will see an asses tail where his head should be.

Mick found out Biddy and they had a terrible row, she reported him to the police and Mick was summoned and

was brought to justice, Biddy giving evidence told the Magistrate that Mick used to beat her, and accused her of eating the asses oats, the Magistrate addressing Mick why he used to ill treat his wife, if you only knew her your honour said Mick, why what sort of a charicter is she said the Magistred, she bad and inclined to be worse, Mick got seven days in prison. juring Micks time in prison, cheef warder got to know him and that he was witty and the warder had a little dog that used to follow coins, and this dog he swallowed a half-penny and he was terribley anoyed about it and he had an interview with Mick to know how he would get the half-penny from the dog, ah that is no trouble says Mick, whey says the warder can you cure him, begor I can says Mick easy, you ge a halfounce of butter sir and roll another half-penny in it, and make the dog swallow it, and what will I do then says the warder, go gently to the little dogs tail, rise it up and ask for two half-pennys for a penny please. The warder was mad and put Mick on bread and water for the rest of his time in prison, he was not satisfied with that, he brought his misses up to tantelise Mick, after he getting his small alounce of bread and water, they asked Mick to throw the dog a little bit, Mick caught the dog and threw him as far as he could saying will I throw him another little bit, oh yeh beast says the warder and his wife I ment you to throw him a little bit of bread. Mick comes home and finds out poor Biddy is ill and confined to bed and after a short illness went of in trans. Mick thinking she was dead coffined her, and got six men to carry he to the Cemetery, approaching the grave was a large tree when they were going under this tree they struck the led and it off and Biddy sat up and said Oh! Lawsy! Me! Micky was terribly disappointed having to bring back Biddy again but it was not long as she took ill and died very shortly. Mick coffined her and brought her of again and called the six men together and told them for Gods sake to keep away from the tree, so Biddy was put down in the grave and Mickey wept with joy and that was the end of Mickey and Biddy.

Brother Rice Centre and homestead where the Centenary talk will take place on March 3rd

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

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Camogie

Bannerwomen pounce to tame Cats in opener Dowling will demand more in Galway clash

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Very Camogie League Division 1A TEG Cusack Park, Ennis Clare 2-7 Kilkenny 0-11 All-Ireland champions Kilkenny will host reigning league champions Galway tomorrow, knowing that they will need to up their game following a surprising first round loss to Clare last weekend.

As the cliché goes, goals win games, and this certainly proved the case in Ennis last Sunday when The Bannerwomen came out 2-point winners against Brian Dowling’s charges. The Kilkenny manager will no doubt put his team through their paces this week, in advance of the westerners, who also fell at the first hurdle to the Tipperary ladies.

Perhaps this is a sign that the gap between the counties is closing.

John Carmody’s side got off to a flyer and had 1-1 on the score board before the Cats got off the mark. A

point from the talented Chloe Morey, was quickly followed by a fortuitous goal courtesy of Caoimhe Carmody’s whose early long-distance effort deceived Kilkenny’s All-Star netminder Aoife Norris.

Player of the year, Miriam Walsh slotted over a nice point to settle the visitors’ nerves, but goal scorer Carmody rifled over a fine point to restore Clare’s early 4-point lead. The next score would also come from the home side, this time corner forward Ziyan Spillane raising a flag. With 14 minutes on the clock, Windgap’s Denise Gaule popped over a free to move Kilkenny onto 2 points, but again the hosts hit back with a well taken score from centre-forward Lorna McNamara.

Michaela Kenneally registered the Stripeywomen’s 3rd point of the day on 18 minutes, and the game got a little scrappy until Clare fullback Clare Hehir got the first score some seven minutes later. The everreliable Denise Gaule rifled over her second free of the game just before the short whistle sounded, leaving the score at the break, Clare 1-5, Kilkenny 0-4.

Brian Dowling must have let his side know that the opening 30 minutes wasn’t acceptable, as the All-Ireland champions had more spring int their step in the opening stages of the second period.

Dicksboro’s Aoife Prendergast got the first score when play resumed and this was followed by further Cats scores from Denise Gaule and Miriam Walsh, who notched a brace each to leave the Noresiders with a 1-point lead after just five minutes of second half action. Another hiatus

in scoring followed, and this lull was broken with a point from Clare midfielder, Caoimhe Kelly half-way through the second period.

The Bannerwomen then pounced for their second major, this time from No.14 Aine O’Loughlin which gave the home side a 3-point lead.

Cats boss Brian Dowling made a double change, replacing Grace Walsh and Sophie O’Dwyer with Lisdowney’s Claire Phelan and young Thomastown star, Sarah Barcoe.

Piltown’s Katie Power then split the posts to reduce the gap, but the home side then controlled the game

>> SHERRY SAYS..

Not the start that the players or management would have wanted, but better to get that performance out of the system now. Round one of the league done and dusted, the last week spent preparing for the visit of league champions Galway. Brian Dowling will know that if his side hurl like they did in Ennis, it could be a long afternoon at UPMC Nowlan Park against the Tribeswomen.

Kilkenny had the wind in the second half and clawed back the half-time deficit and actually took the lead but failed to kick-on and secure the win they wanted. We must remember that it’s only February, but like their hurling counterparts, condensed season’s leaves little room for error.

As the match fitness and sharpness improves, we will then hopefully see the true quality and form from our senior camogs.

Miriam Walsh We need to talk about the 2023 PwC Camogie All-Stars tour. It was announced last week that the tour would take place between 19th & 25th May in Calgary, Alberta. According to the provisional dates for championship fixtures, that would leave just around one week for players to prepare for the biggest competition. This year’s tour see’s AllStars from both 2021 and 2022 heading to Canada, with some TEN Kilkenny players eligible to travel. The GPA has contacted the Camogie Association to seek alternative dates and hopefully common sense will prevail. Players shouldn’t feel that they have to choose between the All-Star trip and inter-county championship preparation.

Happy Captain!

Congratulations to Loreto Kilkenny on their fantastic All-Ireland title last weekend. The girls claimed a record equaling EIGHT All-Ireland title as they proved much too strong for Derry side St Pat’s Maghera.

Loreto had an impressive 14-ppints to spare over their Ulster opponents at the final whistle, with Dicksboro’s Amy Clifford hitting 1-5 in her side’s final victory.

The Kilkenny side had ten different scorers on the day, while only Carla Collins registered for the beaten finalists.

As mentioned, that’s an 8th national title, meaning Loreto have now drawn level with St Raphael’s Loughrea, and no doubt will be keen to go one better next year.

Denise Gaule

Aoife Norris

during another lull in scoring. Two more scores came in additional time, one from goal scorer Aine O’Loughlin and the other from Cats substitute Sarah Barcoe. When the long whistle sounded the home side had deservedly taken the spoils on a scoreline of Clare 2-7, Kilkenny 0-11.

Loreto - All-Ireland champions again!

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kilkennyobserver.ie

Hurling matters - Review

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Dillon Quirke Foundation Hurling Challenge FBD Semple Stadium Kilkenny 4-20 Tipperary 0-25 The result was nowhere near as important as the cause in FBD Semple Stadium last weekend as Tipperary and Kilkenny locked horns again, this time in aid of the the Dillon Quirke Foundation.

Derek Lyng’s panel ran out comfortable winners in front of more than 4,000 spectators as the Cats went ‘goal crazy’ in the hurling challenge event.

The Dillon Quirke Foundation was established by the Quirke family in memory of Dillon Quirke, the former Tipperary player who died after collapsing during a game with his club Clonoulty-Rossmore last August. The foundation was set up to raise awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) and intends to screen all young GAA and camogie players over 12 years of age.

One of the stars of the show for Kilkenny was young Gearoid Dunne, who took full advantage of his starting berth, finishing the game with an impressive 3-1 as Cats hit an impressive 4-20. While only a challenge game, there’s no doubt that notching a hat-trick of goals won’t have gone unnoticed by his manager.

Both teams fielded much-changed sides from their recent Allianz league encounter when Tipp ran out worthy winners, but for Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng he will no doubt have been pleased with Gearoid Dunne’s return and the contributions of Paddy Mullen, Conor Fogarty and Mossy Keoghan.

One worry for the Noresiders, will be Billy Ryan’s early withdrawal through injury. The Graigue Ballycallan forward was replaced by Conahy’s Tom Phelan who put in a lively performance and finished the day with 0-2.

The Cats had three majors on the board in the opening 22 minutes, all three from Tullaroan players, two from Dunne and one from Mossy Keoghan. By the time Mossy goaled, Kilkenny had already racked up 3-8 to Tipp’s 0-5.

The hosts finished the opening period strongly, with Mark

Sash to the FOUR as Cats claim Dillon Quirke Cup Gearoid Dunne stars in challenge event Derek Lyng will want the points in Laois

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

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kilkennyobserver.ie

Hurling matters - Review The Sash’s Dunne.

The Premier County then raised the effort a little and notched five more points in less than ten minutes, but Kilkenny were comfortably ahead at the long whistle on a scoreline of Tipperary 0-25, Kilkenny 4-20.

Gearoid Dunne hit 3-1 against Tipp

Kehoe looking very sharp and notching four points, but Liam Cahill’s men still trailed the Cats by 8 points at the short whistle.

Tipperary strengthened their line-up during the interval, and this showed in the opening period of the second half as they reeled –off five

on the bounce to reduce the deficit to just three points after 10 minutes of action. The visitors replied with a scoring burst of their own, hitting 1-4 in just over five minutes. This burst included a third major from

Kilkenny Scorers: G Dunne (3-1), M Keoghan (1-3), J Bergin (0-3, 3fs), P Deegan, T Phelan, C Kenny (0-2 each); B Ryan, C Delaney, J Donnelly, D Brennan P Walsh, P Mullen, S Murphy (0-1 each).

Tipperary Scorers: M Kehoe (0-7), S Ryan (0-4,4fs), Jack Ryan (0-3,3fs), K O Kelly (0-3), R Maher (0-2,2fs), C O Dwyer, E Connolly, P Creedon, P Maher, Johnny Ryan, N McGrath (0-1 each).

Kilkenny: E Murphy; C Delaney, P Walsh, D Dunne; C Heary, D Blanchfield, H Lawlor; C Fogarty, P Mullen (Capt.); P Deegan, J Donnelly, B Ryan; J Bergin, M Keoghan, G Dunne.

Subs: T Phelan for B Ryan (10mins) W Walsh for Donnelly, E Shefflin for Heary, R Corcoran for Fogarty, D O Neill for Lawlor, N Brennan for Deegan (all halftime), C Kenny for Bergin (44mins), A Tallis for Murphy (48mins), P Moylan for P Walsh (52mins), S Murphy for Delaney (53mins), P Cody for Keoghan (53mins), Bergin for Mullen (53mins).

Tipperary: B Hogan; C McCarthy, E Heffernan, J Quigley; G Ryan, P Campion, S Neville; J Campion, C O Dwyer; J Fogarty, G Kelly, C O Kelly; P Creedon, M Kehoe, Jack Ryan.

Subs: S Ryan for G Kelly (26mins), E Connolly for Neville (29mins), R Maher for P Campion (h/t), P Maher for Jack Ryan (38mins), S Kennedy for O Dwyer (39mins), D McCormack for J Campion (43mins), N McGrath for Creedon (55mins), S Callanan for K O Kelly (67mins), C Stakelum for McCarthy (69mins).

Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary)

>> SHERRY SAYS..

A great day for a great cause in FBD Semple Stadium. The Dillon Quirke Foundation was the ultimate winner on a day when these two great counties celebrated the life of a promising young hurler who we lost last year. Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) has claimed far too many lives in recent times and the Quirke family’s foundation will hopefully raise funds to ensure our players get the necessary screening to help prevent these tragic deaths.

For Kilkenny, the performance of young Gearoid Dunne will have been very encouraging. A hat-trick of goals will give the player and his manager plenty to ponder as the National League heats up. Mossy loves a goal and got another. Something in the Tullaroan air obviously.

With a bit of luck, Billy Ryan’s injury won’t be too bad. Tom Phelan did well when introduced and will be pushing hard in the coming weeks.

A little road trip to Laois this weekend as the Allianz League resumes. We need to secure the points and I expect the Cats to provide plenty of problems for Willie Maher’s men. Hopefully we will see some minutes for Gearoid Dunne and possibly Paddy Mullen, who did well in the Dillion Quirke game also.

Congratulations to the Kilkenny lads who secured another Fitzgibbon Cup title for UL recently. Dean Mason, Daragh Corcoran, Shane Staunton, and Ian Byrne all played their part in UL’s victory and for Dean & Darragh, it capped a brilliant start to 2023, following on the back of Shamrocks Ballyhale All-Ireland senior title last month. I’m sure both Shamrocks players will be pushing to make Derek Lyng’s panel over the next couple of years.

Dean Mason helped UL to Fitzgibbon glory

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

Motors Classifieds

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

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Classifieds Motors

OFFICE SPACE TO LET Commercial office unit(s) to let on Friary Street, Kilkenny City.

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Telephone Tony: 086-8303155

HAVE YOUR ADVERTISEMENT SEEN AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS FOR 2023 CONTACT US AT 056 7771463 FOR EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE RATES OR EMAIL sales@kilkennyobserver.ie OR CALL TO SEE US AT UNIT 7, FRIARY STREET, KILKENNY WE ARE OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9.30AM TO 5.30PM ALSO OPEN DURING LUNCHTIME.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023

Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Paddy and Caoimhe Prendergast intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission to build a two storey dwelling house, garage, new entrance, private bore well, wastewater effluent treatment system and percolation area and all associated site development works at Bishopslough, Newtown, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

I intend to apply to the above Authority for Permission to extend existing Garage and carry out associated site works on, my land at Rathealy, Tullaroan, Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed:- Ian Dowling

I, Micheal Moloney wish to apply to the above authority on behalf of Sarah and Justin Fox for permission consequent on the grant of outline planning permission Ref No: 21/810 to construct a dwelling, garage, entrance, wastewater treatment system, borehole, soakpits and all other associated site works at Baunlusk, Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Further Information/Revised Plans: Kieran and Laura Conway have submitted significant further information to planning application 22/202 which consisted of full planning permission to demolish existing dwelling and construct a replacement dwelling with part commercial office, domestic garage and all other associated site works at Cherryville, Main St. Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny. The significant further information includes for the removal of the domestic garage and the provision of a single storey granny flat extension to floor plans and other additional further information.

Significant Further Information/Revised Plans has/have been furnished to the Planning Authority in respect of this proposed development, and is/are available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the Offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours of 9:00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the Planning Authority within a period of 2 weeks from the date of receipt of the revised public notices. A submission or observation must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of €20, except in the case of a person or body who has already made a submission or observation and such submission or observation will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

056 777 1463

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

The Blessed Virgin (never known to fail).

O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful vine, Splendour of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, O Star of the sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to grant my request. (Please state request). There are none that can withstand your power. O show me herein you are my Mother. I place this cause in your hands (three times). Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine. Amen.This prayer must be said for three days and after this the request will be granted. This prayer must be published immediately. M.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.M.BL.

St. Anthony Prayer,

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

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

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

The gratitude of my heart will ever be yours.

Amen M.R.

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.P.L.

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.E.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.P.L.

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.H.D.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 February 2023