Kilkenny Observer 26th November 2021

EVERY FRIDAY

The Kilkenny

Observer FREE EDITION

Friday 26 November 2021

Cupid’s Arrow So, does love at first sight really exist?  Marianne Heron page12

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Hail & Hearty The truth about wine, chocolate and coffee  See page 18

EAT. DRINK. SHOP. LOCAL

Put your € where your THE KILFORD ARMS HOTEL JOHN STREET, KILKENNY T: 056-7761018 F: 056-7761128 E: INFO@KILFORDARMS.IE

is this Christmas

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The Kilford has got it all and then some more

‘Enjoy’

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The Kilkenny

Observer We don’t like homework!

AS the Government continues to advise businesses to move to remote working again, new research reveals that employer enthusiasm in Kilkenny and across the country for hybrid working has decreased since the phased reopening of workplaces began in September.

The latest HR Barometer Report from consultants Adare Human Resource Management reveals that only one third of employers (32%), ex-

cluding retail and wholesale sectors, believe hybrid working will benefit their organisation. This compares to over three quarters (76.8%) in their March HR Barometer Report.

The survey also highlights the slow progress being made on addressing diversity and inclusion as well as the ongoing gender pay gap that persists in many workplaces.

Derek McKay, Managing Director,

Adare Human Resource Management, warned that continued inaction on these matters could prove costly for employers in Kilkenny as recruitment and talent acquisition, along with retention, remain businesses’ top priorities (67% and 65%) heading into 2022.

Derek McKay, Managing Director, Adare Human Resource Management, warned that continued inaction on these matters could prove costly for employers in Kilkenny as

recruitment and talent acquisition, along with retention, remain businesses’ top priorities (67% and 65%) heading into 2022.

McKay said: “Our latest barometer highlights some significant HR challenges facing employers nationally, including in Kilkenny, into 2022. However, dealing with them in a timely manner could be of substantial benefit to organisations.

“Obviously, hybrid working won’t

Get weaving this Yule time...

necessarily be a blanket decision for all employers as it suits certain roles and sectors more than others. Unsurprisingly, given the nature of their business, most retail and wholesale employers surveyed across the country (89%) don’t see companywide benefits.

“However, the fall in support from other employers is surprising, especially in the professional services sector where over two thirds of employers expressed reservations.”

Join Amber’s One Million Stars for a star weaving workshop at Butler Gardens for Yulefest. Star weaving kits are provided for each participant. Each eight-point star represents light, hope and solidarity against violence.

Parent + child (parents go free!) and adult workshops are available. Places are limited.

Tuesday, November 30 11am – 12pm Adults workshop Thursday, December 2 4-5pm Parent & Child workshop To book : https:// www.eventbrite. ie/o/yulefestkilkenny36848555863

Pfizer safe for only three months, says study PEOPLE who had the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine are at increased risk of getting infected with the virus as early as three months after their second jab, a new study reveals today.

The Pfizer shot was the main vaccine given to people in Ireland — but booster shots are not being administered until at least five months after a second vaccine.

EVERY FRIDAY

However, a new study from Israel published in the British Medical Journal, involving more than 80,000 people, shows the risk of infection was nearly two-and-a-half times higher after 90 to 119 days.

Professor Luke O’Neill has already called for the over-40s to be given a booster shot within four months of their second vaccine.

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Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer has said that schools, along with other settings, are “less safe” now than they were several months ago.

Dr Ronan Glynn has defended Nphet’s position that schools are “lower risk” environments than other settings and said cases in schools were high because parents and children were not isolating properly.

Speaking on Newstalk’s Pat Kenny Show, Dr Glynn said the country’s public health officials have never claimed that schools are safe. “We’ve said all along that when incidence is really high in the community, then schools are not as safe as they would otherwise be.

Elsewhere, Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, has called on the Government

to continue to deploy financial supports to those companies operating in the Covid economy.

Ibec is specifically calling for the €4 billion contingency fund identified in Budget 2022 to be allocated as soon as necessary and for an extension of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme beyond April 2022.

See Pages 10 & 14

Carlow worse for Covid-19 Carlow, Westmeath, and Louth now have the highest incidence of Covid-19 amid signals people across the country are reining in their socialising. The 14-day incidence is more than 1,700 per 100,000 in the three worsthit counties compared with a national incidence of 1,266.5.

Wicklow, Wexford, and Kildare have the lowest incidence.

Covid Update, Page 14

Farmers’ anger IFA President Tim Cullinan has said the recent ‘Save Irish Farming’ rally sent a strong message to the Government that negotiation with farmers on their future has to take place.

Full report, Page 22

€9.6bn cybercrime The overall cost of cybercrime to the Irish economy in 2020 was €9.6bn, according to the ‘Economic Cost of Cybercrime ‘report published by Grant Thornton.

Full report, Page 26

INSIDE Paul Hopkins...................................P8 Marianne Heron.........................P12 John Ellis .......................................P16 Health & Science ........................P18 Travel & Leisure .........................P19 Gerry Cody ..............P30-31, P42-43 Food & Drink ...............................P46 TV & Streaming .........................P47 Sport ..........................................P52-57

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GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE TEAM

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Christmas gifts budget is €452 ... and we want to buy locally

A REPORT commissioned by Irish digital company Dmac Media has revealed that Leinster Christmas shoppers are tightening their belts this year with a planned average budget of €452.

The study examined the Christmas shopping habits of 1,000 Irish consumers and revealed that the average sum people are planning to spend on Christmas gifts for family and friends this year is €470 A shopper.

This figure is down by €70 on 2020 and will be squeezed

further throughout Leinster.

Munster shoppers plan on spending €490, Dubliners €435, Ulster €495 and Connacht €381 on friends and family’s gifts this year.

This figure is highest among females spending on average €480 compared to male counterparts who plan on spending an average of €451 on gifts this year. 12 per cent of respondents are big spenders, intending on splashing out over €900 on festive gifts in 2021. The majority (39%) of respondents plan to spend

€201-€500 on Christmas gifts for family and friends this year.

Irish consumers want to buy Irish for their Christmas gifts this year. On average 58 per cent of Irish adults are planning on gift shopping with Irish retailers this year. 39 per cent of all adults anticipate spending 70 to 100pc of their Christmas gift shopping with Irish retailers.

36 per cent of Irish men and 42 per cent of Irish women will spend most of their Christmas budget with Irish

retailers. Half (49%) of all adults surveyed said they will not buy from Amazon this Christmas season.

Said Dave McEvoy, Director of Dmac Media: “The lockdown brought us closer together as a people and we are even more aware of how our actions impact those around us. People are spending their money locally because they know it means far more to homegrown retails and ultimately their own community. The results of our survey offer hope to

‘Figure is down by €70 on 2020...

”

Healthy pregnancy CLAIR WHITTY

BEING pregnant is an exciting time with nine months of planning your future life as a mother. During these months your body goes through a lot of changes in order to nurture and grow your baby. Contrary to popular belief you don’t need to ‘eat for 2’ but you do need to increase your intake of vitamins & minerals to meet the requirements for you and your baby. A diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruit, complex carbohydrates, nuts and seeds, eggs, grass-fed and organic meat, and oily fish will help you achieve this.

It takes 3 months for the egg to develop before being released and it takes approximately.

the same amount of time for sperm to develop. It’s wise to prepare for about 3 months before trying to conceive by taking a pre-pregnancy multinutrient.

BetterYou Conceive Oral Spray comes in liquid form and contains all the nutrients necessary to prepare for a successful pregnancy. It’s a raspberry and pomegranateflavoured spray which is designed to deliver scientifically substantiated levels of zinc, selenium, and folic acid, as well as vitamin D3, iron, thiamine, and iodine.

For those who prefer a capsule, NHP have Fertility for Women multinutrient. They also have a Fertility for Men supplement to help with healthier sperm.

Omega 3 is important for both parents. Top up with an Omega oil like Biocare Mega EPA if needed.

local independent retailers online. A smaller spend is going to increase the competition for the gift market.

The retailers that are active in digital marketing are going to win more hearts and minds and get a greater share of the reduced spend for Christmas gifts this year.”

* For more information or to view the full survey, people can log on to https:// dmacmedia.ie/christmasshopping-habits-survey-2021 After 8-12 weeks swap over to a pregnancy supplement. Again, BetterYou have a pill-free liquid option – Pregnancy Daily Oral Spray- natural peppermintflavoured spray has been carefully created with a nonnausea formulation to support a healthy pregnancy and optimise overall wellbeing.

Pregnancy often comes with unwelcome side effects, ranging from nausea in the first trimester to constipation and heartburn later on.

Supplementing with iron is often recommended to avoid deficiency, but often results in constipation. Floradix Liquid iron tonic is a gentle tonic that contains Vitamin C and other nutrients to enhance absorption and is non-constipating. Ginger and vitamin B6 have both been shown to reduce mild nausea during pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses you may experience reflux or digestive problems. Eating a little and often can relieve this. Digestion can be improved by the use of digestive enzymes like Biocare Polyzyme Forte.

Wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy.

Shop online www. naturalhealthstore.ie Phone: 056 7764538 Email: Info@ naturalhealthstore.ie Why not call into see us at Market Cross Shopping Centre, we would love to have a chat. Worried about coming into town? Give us a call or pop us an email.

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‘No scandal’ at TJ’s stag party THERE was “no scandal” at Kilkenny star TJ Reid’s stag party, according to his teammate Adrian Mullen.

TJ, who plays hurling with Adrian on the Kilkenny senior team as well as with local club Ballyhale Shamrocks, celebrated his last days as an

unmarried man with a trip to the famous Cheltenham Racecourse the weekend before last.

Adrian told RSVP Live: “There was a horse from Ballyhale who was racing, who we went to see that horse.

“It was good craic, and no

there were no scandals,” he laughed.

Richie Hogan, Padraig Walsh, Eoin Cody, Paul Murphy and Joey Holden were some of the well-known Kilkenny players who jetted across the Irish Sea to toast TJ before he ties the knot this Thursday.

Meanwhile, TJ’s longtime love Niamh de Brún also enjoyed her hen party in Killarney two weeks earlier with some of her closest friends.

Adrian, 22, said he sadly won’t be able to make it to TJ’s wedding as Ballyhale Shamrocks would be playing

that weekend — although TJ would be doing both!

He told RSVP Live: “I think we’re playing that weekend, it’s unfortunate. So I’ll probably stay away and get the body right for the match.

“TJ is a great club man so he’s going to be playing as well,

Why our Air Ambulance is on mission to light up the skies this Christmas THE Irish Community Air Ambulance is asking supporters and businesses to help it Light Up The Sky and sponsor a star to fund lifesaving missions this Christmas.

Each donation made through the organisation’s website will light a virtual star, supporters can also leave a message for the crew or light a star in honour of a loved one.

The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) is Ireland’s only charity-funded air ambulance. It responds to serious incidents and medical emergencies every day of the year, including Christmas Day, from its base in Rathcoole, Co. Cork.

There were 42 taskings during December 2020, including one on Christmas Day. Crews launched 12 times between Christmas Eve and New Years Eve to counties Cork, Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford costing an estimated €42,000.

Each helicopter mission costs an average of €3,500, all of which has to be raised or donated. The HEMS Air Ambulance has been tasked by the National Ambulance Service to 468 incidents so far in 2021. One in five calls has been to cardiac arrests, followed by road traffic collisions and farming incidents.

CEO of the Irish Community Air Ambulance Micheál Sheridan said: “While many of us will be enjoying Christmas Day with family and friends our crew will be away from theirs and will be available to respond if they are

To the rescue: Adalyn Kenny (7) and Harvey O’Mahony (6) from Dromahane, Mallow, Co Cork helping to launch the appeal along with Donnagh Verling, Chief Pilot with the Air Ambulance Pic: Brian Lougheed

required. Our crew and those working in emergency services work tirelessly throughout the year and Christmas is no exception. The cost to run the charity this year is €2.1 million; the HEMS Air Am-

bulance alone is expected to cost €1.55m this year.

“By buying a star on our website you are helping us to light up the sky and bring hope to people in emergency situations in our communi-

ties this Christmas.”

Chief Pilot Donnagh Verling will be on duty on Christmas Day. “Medical emergencies and other traumas don’t stop because it’s Christmas and neither do we. We’re happy

to give up our Christmas Day if it means that we can bring someone to the hospital that best suits their life-saving needs faster.” * https://communityairambulance.ie

How you could help with Census 2022 THE Central Statistics Office (CSO) is seeking to hire 100 Census Enumerators to deliver and collect census forms to every home in Kilkenny next year.

Enumerators can earn up to €3,200 for working 10 weeks part-time, between February 28 and May 6 next.

Census 2022 will take place on Sunday, April 3. The results

from the Census are vital to planning the future of public services in Kilkenny and across the country. The 100 enumerators will be required to deliver and collect census forms to approximately 34,000 households across the county.

Speaking about the vacant roles, Eileen Murphy, Head of Census Administration said

“A Census Enumerator is a job that really counts. Those who undertake this rewarding position will be providing a valuable service to the people of Kilkenny, by ensuring future policy decisions are made based on their community’s needs.

“The job of Census Enumerator is highly flexible, so a perfect option for many people not

in a position to commit to full time work. Over the ten weeks enumerators will work approximately 22 hours per week and can largely pick their own hours. Each enumerator is responsible for the delivery and collection of around 400 census forms in their local area.”

Ms Murphy said the role of Census Enumerator is best

suited to a people person who enjoys meeting and engaging with new people.

The application process is expected to remain open until December 3. However early applications are recommended.

An online application process opens on November 25 at http://www.census.ie.

even though it’s just a few days after the wedding.”

Niamh has shared a countdown to the wedding on her Insta stories and is already getting glammed up in preparation, enjoying a manicure and a pedicure at Holly Nails Kilkenny.

Mother and Baby Home survivors must receive fair redress THE Sinn Féin TD for Carlow Kilkenny Kathleen Funchion has called on all TDs to back a cross-party motion the party is bringing to the Dáil which would ensure the Mother & Baby Homes redress scheme meets the needs of survivors.

The motion is being debated in the Dáil and would ensure that the needs of survivors are respected in the government’s redress scheme.

Ms Funchion saidtThis would include urgently reviewing issues survivors have identified within the scheme such as time-based criteria, the exclusion of children who were boarded out, access to the enhanced Medical Card and the failure to include some institutions.

The motion also calls on the Government to immediately seek recourse from religious orders and pharmaceutical companies to contribute to the redress scheme.

It has cross-party support among the opposition.

Speaking today, Teachta Funchion said: “Sinn Féin are bringing a cross-party motion before the Dáil that would ensure the redress scheme is changed to meet the needs of Mother and Baby Home survivors.

“It’s time to respect Mother & Baby Homes survivors and their families.

“The scheme is an insult to survivors and totally fails to take into account their needs. This isn’t good enough.

This government has failed survivors time and time again.

This has to stop, “ she said.

“The motion would ensure the government must urgently review the scheme’s timebased criteria, exclusion of children who were boarded out, access to the enhanced Medical Card, proposed payment rates and end the unfair exclusion of some survivors and institutions.”

Ms Funchion said the motion also called on the Government to seek immediate and substantive recourse from religious orders and pharmaceutical companies.

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The Fact Of The Matter PAUL HOPKINS

Trillions of viruses, and those boom-time rats When my younger brother and I were small, before our sister arrived into the world, and we would get one of those many childhood ailments, my mother would send for the doctor, having created a bed downstairs for whoever was laid low, by way of two armchairs facing each other offering a temporary cocoon.

The doctor, O’Dolan by name, would eventually arrive, take a temperature and use his cold stethoscope on us and then say to my mother: “Nothing to worry about here. It’s germs, Mrs Hopkins. Just plenty of ice cream to keep down the temperature. Germs, just germs ...”

And when vaccines were found for those ‘germs’, that were, say, the potentially fatal polio and measles, I remember, a little older by then, running a mile away and hiding down the laneway because I knew Dr O’Dolan was coming to give my brother and me the needle.

And I dreaded needles, though

I’ve long outgrown such illogical fear.

Get this: There are more than a staggering quadrillion quadrillion individual viruses existing on Earth, that’s 10 million to the power of 31 — enough to assign one to every star in our universe 100 million times over.

Viruses infiltrate every aspect of our natural world, in seawater, drifting through the atmosphere and lurking there in minuscule motes of soil.

Generally considered nonliving entities, these micro buggers or pathogens can only replicate with the help of a host, and they are capable of hijacking organisms from every branch of the tree of life — including a multitude of human cells.

Yet, most of the time, we humans manage to live in this virus-filled world relatively free of bug-related illness. The reason has less to do with the human body’s resilience to disease than the biological

quirks of viruses themselves... in short, the little feckers just don’t find us interesting enough to be bothered.

Still, as the ongoing Covid19 pandemic clearly demonstrates, outbreaks of new human viruses do happen — and they aren’t as unexpected as they might seem.

To better forecast and prevent outbreaks, scientists are homing in on the traits that may explain why some viruses, and not others, can make the hop into us humans. Some mutate more frequently, perhaps easing their spread into new hosts, while others are helped along by human encounters with animals that provide opportunities for that jump.

Most new infectious illnesses enter the human population the same way the coronavirus has done: as a zoonosis, or a disease that infects people by way of an animal. Mammals and birds alone are thought to host up to 1.7 million undis-

covered types of virus. Bacteria, fungi, and parasites can also pass from animals to people, but these pathogens can typically reproduce without infecting human hosts.

To make a successful transition from one species to another, a virus must clear a series of biological hurdles.

The pathogen has to exit one animal and come into contact with another, then establish an infection in the second host.

This is known as a ‘spillover event’. After the virus has set up shop in a new host, it then needs to spread to other members of that species. And so it goes.

Exact numbers are hard to estimate, but the vast majority of animal-to-human spillovers likely result in dead-end infections that never progress past the first individual, according to virologists at Stanford University.

Bats and rodents are considered high-risk when it comes

to passing on viruses to us humans — a source for diseases that can hop over to little old us, and sometimes lead to epidemics.

Some scientists have even argued that the animals have certain traits that increase the likelihood of moving from

‘More than a quadrillion quadrillion viruses on Earth..

”

animal to people, and that they should be monitored more closely as a result.

However, new analysis suggests that bats and rodents are ‘unexceptional’ in their propensity to host viruses that infect humans.

Looking at the largest databases of viruses and hosts across several species of mammal and bird, researchers from Scotland have found that the number of bat and rodent viruses that have infected people is proportionate to the number of species contained in those groups, according to ecologists at the University of Glasgow.

But not everyone agrees.

As bats harbour several viruses that cause severe disease in people, including rabies, Ebola and severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV) it makes sense that they — along with rodents — are the focus of most viral-detection efforts.

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EU travel chiefs’ dire warnings over Covid travel THE World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the European Travel Commission (ETC) have warned that the imposition of new travel restrictions this winter would be devastating to EU economies – and still wouldn’t do anything to reduce transmission rates.

The WTTC and ETC, supported by a number of key travel stakeholders, have

urged EU Member States to align their responses to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation and avoid imposing any limits to the freedom of movement across Europe.

The organisations say the sector cannot afford inconsistent and ever-changing national responses, and a joint EU approach is the only solution to saving the struggling

Travel & Tourism sector in Europe.

Restrictions not effective The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is now acknowledging that EU travel restrictions have not had a significant impact on reducing virus transmission, hospitalisations or deaths.

WTTC and ETC stress that

measures aiming at restricting border crossing would not have any health benefits but could result in a huge economic impact to the region.

According to latest WTTC research, up to 900,000 jobs are at risk across the EU’s Travel & Tourism sector this year if travel restrictions are reimposed this winter.

Furthermore, governments

across the EU could see up to €35 billion wiped from the sector’s contribution to the economy before the end of 2021 if severe travel restrictions come back into force.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “We urgently need to restore the confidence to travel and not create more uncertainty.

“The vaccination rollout

across the EU is among the best in the world with 65% of the population now fully vaccinated. We cannot afford to let all the hard-earned progress made this year to be reversed. This will have catastrophic consequences for jobs and livelihoods.”

See EU movers on travel, Page 14

Vicky: ‘just let me have Christmas with my kids’ CERVICAL smear campaigner Vicky Phelan has said she didn’t believe she’d “see Christmas” only a month ago, following her decision to stop chemotherapy.

Ms Phelan (pictured), who has been a vocal campaigner for hundreds of women who were affected by the cervical check scandal, said she was receiving end-oflife ‘palliative care’, and told The Late Late Show that she would rather her children have memories with her over the coming weeks, even if it means a shorter time spent with them.

“If I go sooner, so be it,” the Mooncoin native told host Ryan Tubridy.

“Four weeks ago, I didn’t think I’d see Christmas.

That’s how real this is for me at this stage, like I spoke

to my oncologist when I made the decision not to have any more chemotherapy, I mean, I think he was hoping I’d have a few more sessions.

“And I just said, no, I’m not doing this to my kids. I’m not doing this to myself at this stage.”

Ms Phelan said she did have a “quality of life” at present, following her decision to stop palliative chemotherapy, and said she had been bolstered in her hopes to spend her remaining time with her children, 16-year-old Amelia and 10-year-old Darragh.

“I would rather my children have memories of doing stuff with me and if I go sooner, so be it.”

Ms Phelan explained that she received a message from one woman in particular which has stuck with her.

“She told me she was 10 when her mother died, so the same age as what my son is now. All I have are memories of my mother, are her being thrown in bed, sick and suffering and she said I think what you’re doing is so brave.

“She said I would rather have had a shorter time with my mother but more quality and I just think, you know, those kinds of messages to me really validate what I’m doing.

“For me, it’s the right thing, and I know it’s not for everybody, but for me, I just think no, I would rather my children have memories of doing stuff with me and if I go sooner, so be it.”

Phelan was instrumental in exposing the cervical check controversy, after launching a High Court case against a US laboratory over incorrect smear test results from 2011.

How going back to college landed tech man Richard his dream job A KILKENNY man who has started out in his dream career thanks to an innovative online computing conversion course from Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) recommends a return to education for any adults keen to change career.

Former St Kieran’s College student Richard Whitney, from Stoneyford, and who has just finished the twoyear programme in 2020,

had long held an interest in technology.

“After I finished school, I enrolled in an IT course at WIT. Unfortunately, due to life and family circumstances I was unable to complete the course. I had hoped to resume my education but as the years went by it became harder and harder to return to education.

“I already knew I liked computer science from the

time spent on my previous course. I began looking at what options were available to me and discovered that the HDip in Computer Science offered at WIT suited my needs perfectly,” he said.

The two-year part-time course is heavily subsidised through Springboard+.

“The lectures and learning material are delivered completely online so this

allowed me to continue working full time while doing the course. I was particularly drawn to the sixmonth work placement at the end of the course.

Richard Whitney did his six-month work placement with CGM Inc, a software development company in Waterford, and was fortunate to be offered a permanent position upon completion.

Parties ‘should support Bill’ for peat’s sake IFA President Tim Cullinan has welcomed the Bill to recommence the harvesting of horticultural peat.

The Bill seeks to introduce a single step system for the licensing of horticultural peat harvesting. It will be instrumental in easing the pressure

on the horticulture industry.

He acknowledged the efforts of Senator Regina Doherty and Senator Robbie Gallagher in bringing it forward.

IFA Hardy Nursery Chairman Val Farrell said that, as it stood, the future of the horticulture sector was in jeopardy as the

industry was left with no alternative but to import peat from the Baltic regions for the domestic market.

“Importing peat will have lasting consequences for the sector. Already, it has resulted in hugely increased costs. This in turn will have a real impact

on the competitiveness of Ireland’s sustainable horticulture sector,” he said.

Mr Farrell said that, along with the carbon footprint associated with transport, this Baltic peat can shrink at twice the rate of Irish peat, thus emitting more carbon.

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Opinion

Does Cupid’s arrow work in love at first sight?

AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON

FUNNY the way a sentence in a book can jump out at you and start a whole train of thought. Lara Marlowe’s newly published memoir Love In A Time Of War, recounting her years with war correspondent Robert Fisk is a case in point for me.

“I fell in love with Robert Fisk in the office of the Syrian Information Minister on a cold December morning in 1983,” the second chapter of her book begins. Just like that Lara knew; it was a classic example of love at first sight, a coup de foudre, or lightening flash.

It’s not something that happens to everyone when it comes to romance. I remember asking the question: “Do you believe in love at first sight ?” in a psychology tutorial where I was a student and half of those present in the small class immediately affirmed that, not only did they believe in Cupid’s arrow but, that they had experienced that mutual electrifying glance and in some cases it had led on to courtship and marriage.

The other half of the class were adamant that love was something that grew slowly as you got to know the person involved, a better approach they believed and the accepted way affection should follow in an arranged marriage. How, they wondered, could you know instantly that this was the one?

That dart of love can be life changing. Prince Harry apparently knew when he first set eyes on Meghan Markle that she was the one for him and look what that has led to. Some people dismiss the phenomenon as lust at first sight. Harry’s brother Prince William (look how long it took him to propose to Kate Middleton) evidently belongs to the gradualist school of thought. He tried to persuade his brother to wait until he got over his infatuation.

Lara Marlowe pushed aside the feelings that flared between herself and Fisk on that December day and later married another Robert, only to find that it was a mistake to ignore the prompting of love at first sight. It was to be four years before she and Fisk lived together.

I side with Harry and Lara: there are far too many examples in fact and fiction for the lightning strike of love not to be true. “Whoever

loved that loved not at first sight,” Phoebe declares in Shakespeare’s As You Like It. After all, it also happened to me and that first glance between us, in Langan’s Brasserie in London where I was on a Press trip, led to 40 happy years together with my late husband.

It seems that there must be more to love at first sight

than physical attraction, just fancying someone isn’t enough to explain the life changing effect of being smitten in this way. And there is, I have heard people say that they experience an instant sense of recognition when they see their love interest. The explanation behind this is that they do an instinctive psychological

read out of the person they have just encountered which matches their needs.

More prosaically the effect is also down to brain chemicals, as neurones fire into action. Science explains falling in love as a series of neurochemical reactions in which the brains reward system, fuelled by the pleasure neurotransmit-

ter dopamine, prompts the individual to seek closeness with the object of their affection, a reaction which can apparently happen instantaneously. One could say that we are physiologically programmed to fall head over heels in love. But the notion of a cherub-like Cupid firing arrows at hapless humans sounds more romantic.

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COVID UPDATE GOVERNMENTS within the European Union have kicked off a debate today about how long vaccines are effective against Covid-19 and whether evidence of a booster dose will be required to maintain free travel across the bloc as cases spike.

The executive European Commission is due to present a proposal to co-ordinate free movement using Covid-19 passes, after Austria became the first country in western Europe to reimpose a lockdown since vaccines were rolled out.

EU co-ordination on the passes, showing if a holder is fully vaccinated or has a recent negative test or recovery from infection, has allowed an easing of curbs on cross-border travel.

The passes, typically viewed on mobile devices, are issued by individual countries, but are recognised for travel across the bloc. They are now increasingly being deployed in many EU countries for access to indoor areas such as bars or theatres.

Greece has proposed that people should in future only be able to travel freely if they have received a second or third dose in the previous six months and that booster doses should be added to the information shown in EU passes.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said it was vital the 27 EU states agreed a common standard. His country would normally receive about 200,000 workers a day from neighbouring countries.

“We can’t have different systems in Luxembourg and in Greece, or in Germany or France. It would be against the interests of the European citizens. They demand that of us and it can be done,” he told reporters before a meeting of EU counterparts in Brussels.

Irish European Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne echoed the view that the EU digital Covid passes, launched in July, needed to continue to facilitate free movement.

German European Affairs Minister Michael Roth said booster doses were now “the order of the day”, pointing to scientific studies that show they really bolster immunity.

“A digital vaccination certificate is of paramount importance, but it must be based on

EU leaders in big think-in on booster jab and travel scientific knowledge,” he said.

The Netherlands has started transporting Covid-19 patients across the border to Germany to ease pressure on Dutch hospitals struggling to deal with a surge in coronavirus cases.

A patient was transferred by ambulance from Rotterdam to a hospital in Bochum, some 240km east this morning and another would follow later in the day, health authorities said.

The number of Covid-19 patients in Dutch hospitals has risen to its highest level since May in recent weeks and is expected to increase further as infections jump to record levels.

German hospitals in total have offered 20 beds for patients from the Netherlands, after treating dozens during previous waves of the pandemic.

Plans by the Dutch government to impose further curbs to contain the virus prompted three nights of rioting and more than 170 arrests in cities cross the country.

Plans include limiting access to many public places to people who have been vaccinated or have recently recovered from Covid-19 but it remains unclear whether the government will find a majority for them to become law.

As of time of going to Press, 470 of a total 1,050 intensive care beds in the Netherlands were being used for Covid-19 patients and hospitals are already scaling back regular care, including cancer treatments and heart operations, to secure enough room for coronavirus cases.

Germany’s health minister has called for further restrictions to contain a “dramatic” surge in coronavirus cases as the country’s infection rate hit a record high and the United States advised against travel there.

The seven-day incidence rate — the number of people per 100,000 to be infected in the last week — has hit 399.8, up from 386.5 on the previous

day, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed.

Health Minister Jens Spahn called for more public spaces to be restricted to those who were vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid-19 and also had a negative test, in a bid to contain Germany’s fourth wave.

‘A proposal to co-ordinate free movement using Covid-19 passes..

Mr Spahn did not rule out lockdowns, although he said this would be decided region by region. Some regions such as the hard-hit Saxony and Bavaria are already taking measures such as cancelling Christmas markets.

“The situation is not only serious, in some regions in Germany it is now dramatic,” Mr Spahn told German Radio. “We are having to move patients around as the intensive care units are full and that doesn’t just affect Covid-19 patients.”

With Germany grappling with concerns about supply of the Pfizer/BioNTech, the company brought forward the delivery of one million doses originally planned for December, Mr Spahn told health ministry officials, according to two government sources.

That would enable it to deliver 3 million instead of 2 million doses next week as people rush to get booster shots and appointments at vaccine centres are booked out.

Whether it would affect the total number of vaccines assigned to Germany for the rest of the year remained to be decided, the sources said.

The surge in cases in Germany, and in neighbouring Denmark, prompted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to advise against travel to the two countries, raising its travel recommendation to “Level Four: Very High”.

The number of weekly registered deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales has passed a thousand for the first time in eight months, figures show.

There were 1,020 deaths registered in the week ending November 12 where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Covid-19 accounted for around one in 12 of all deaths registered over the seven-day period. The number is up 3% from the previous week, when 995 deaths were registered.

‘Don’t use antigen if showing symptoms’ THE Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan has urged people with symptoms of Covid-19 not to take antigen tests. Anyone with symptoms of the virus should instead isolate and book a PCR test online or through their GP.

His warning came ahead of a Cabinet meeting, at which ministers were widely expected to sign off on plans to subsidise antigen tests.

But in his statement, he said: “A ‘negative’ antigen test result does not mean that you

don’t have Covid-19 and you will still need to continue isolating and get a PCR test.”

“Unfortunately, our data suggests that the majority of people who are using antigen tests at present are symptomatic and that of those, the

majority who get a ‘negative’ result are incorrectly assuming that this means they no longer have to self-isolate or get a PCR test — potentially placing many others at risk of Covid-19.

“You should only consider

using an antigen test if you have NO symptoms of the disease and only as a further additional tool, along with all of the other public health measures, to effectively combat Covid-19.

“If this antigen test is ‘posi-

tive’ then you need to selfisolate and arrange a PCR test. If the antigen test is ‘negative’, you may still have the virus, and, therefore, you should continue to adhere to all other public health measures,” Mr Holohan said.

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News Your Money

The role of a pension scheme trustee

BY JOHN ELLIS FINANCIAL ADVISOR

THE earth did not move, there were no signs in the night sky when IORP II was put into Irish law in April this year.

IORP II stands for Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision. This legislation is going to have a very significant impact on you if you are a trustee of an occupational pension scheme.

A trustee, usually a director of the company, is someone who had agreed to ‘be in charge’ of a pension scheme.

Up until now many people who are trustees of a scheme when asked had no idea what their exact obligations were.

Most Direectors/trustees are hardworking, trustworthy and capable people trying to keep their business on the road. They are interested in their employees and want to help them by setting up and in many cases contributing to a pension on their behalf.

IORP II was brought in to make sure that all trustees of all schemes regardless of size know and prove they fulfilling the obligations of a trustee.

IORP II is designed to provide

better protection through enhanced governance and risk management. Provide clear, relevant, and more consistent communication about the pension scheme and ensure that trustees have the necessary powers and credentials to supervise schemes.

Article 19 of the law states that trustees must make sure “all new scheme’s assets are predominantly invested in regulated markets. Direct property investments will be restricted, and borrowing can only be used for liquidity purposes and only on a temporary basis (this will affect some scheme’s ability to borrow for direct property)”. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues must be considered when making investments and Trustees have a duty of care to manage the scheme’s assets prudently.

Trustees must establish and maintain effective risk management, internal audit and, appoint a key function holder for each.

This person must not carry out any other key function within the company, but depending on the size, nature, scale and complexity of the scheme trustees can allow the person carrying out a key function for the employer to also carry out that function for the trustees, once appropriate

conflict of interest protocols are in place.

Now Trustees must collectively have adequate qualifications, knowledge, and experience with at least one trustee having trustee experience in two of the previous three years. Similar requirements apply to directors of a sole cor-

porate trustee.

Trustees must now put in place effective governance and internal controls. Trustees must have adequate qualifications, knowledge, and experience and provide evidence of how they satisfy this requirement. They are appointed to maintain effective risk man-

agement, internal audit and actuarial functions and must provide evidence that they have adequate qualifications, knowledge, and experience.

The same person cannot carry out each role.

Trustees must have written policies for each of the key functions, and these must be

reviewed every three years with a risk identification and assessment framework being established and carried out every three years. An annual compliance return must be submitted to the pensions authority each year and pension benefit statements and annual reports must be provided each year to members in line with the directive’s requirements Many Directors currently have neither the time, inclination nor skills set to meet these onerous requirements. So, what can be done to become compliant?

All new schemes are no longer set up appointing the principal employer as trustee but the provider use in-house companies or partner with other trustee service companies offering this to new and existing clients.

Other trustees of schemes are transferring trusteeship to Professional Trustee Companies who for an annual fee will ensure the laws are met.

This must be made a priority by all current trustees, even the one-man schemes.

Your first port of call is your Financial Advisor who will advise you on the way forward and arrange the appropriate means to make you and your scheme compliant.

John@ellisfinancial.ie 086 826263

Alcoholism – destruction in a bottle ANDREW MCDONALD HYPNOTHERAPIST

ALCOHOLISM wrecks everything. It rips families apart, devastates health, ruins bank balances and ultimately, if not overcome, kills. Problems with the demon drink are as old as alcohol itself. So, most probably, are methods for beating them.

In days gone by, punishments for inebriation were draconian. Drunks in medieval times were put in the stocks to be ridiculed by passers-by. Even as recently as the 1700s, someone who had overdrunk could expect to be thrown into a lock up for the night. Many people might not know of the connection between this fact and Premier League football. Have a look at the logos of the teams. One of them has such a keep as its centrepiece. The building still stands a short five minute drive from the club’s home ground.

Fortunately, we have moved on from those times. Whilst being drunk and disorderly is liable to

land you a night in a cell, it’s likely to be a lot more comfortable, and less humiliating, than the locations described above. Moreover, alcoholism is now seen more and more as an illness rather than a personal failing. Many, maybe most, people who struggle with booze actually wish they didn’t but don’t know how to stop. The medical world is becoming increasingly attuned to this fact.

There is, however, a lack of awareness of a treatment for alcoholism which is very much available in Ireland. This is also coupled with a lack of belief in it, perhaps unsurprisingly given it sounds absolutely counterintuitive, the idea being akin to fighting fire with fire. However, there is very solid research which demonstrates very high success rates.

Known as The Sinclair Method, it involves taking a tablet, nalmefene (in some other countries, including America where popularity is growing more quickly, naltrexone is used) a couple of hours before drinking. You read that right... before drinking.

Nalmefene, or naltrexone, works by blocking

the reward paths in your brain. This means the rush a problem drinker gets from consuming alcohol doesn’t hit them. Without this, the urge to drink more decreases because there is no longer any positive reinforcement. Put bluntly, drinking beer, wine or spirits becomes akin to drinking water, a mineral or juice. It quenches thirst but you’re no longer driven to consume more to get the same euphoria. Over time, the mind learns to break the association between alcohol and getting buzzed.

Like all other treatments, a medical practitioner, rather than a newspaper article, is the place to go for good advice on what might suit an individual. Every problem drinker’s situation is different and what might work for one, may not work for another. Alcoholics Anonymous, medications like campral, counselling, SMART Recovery and rehab centres are all viable alternatives. No treatment is a miracle cure and all need expert support and guidance from properly qualified experts. Above all, if you’re struggling, talk to a medic and get the help that you deserve!

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Science & Wellbeing In 1903, the Wright brothers showed the world the first sustained flight. In less than 60 years, Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space and orbited the Earth, writes Jonny Thomson on BigThink.com In 1993, Tim Berners-Lee made public the source code for the ‘World Wide Web’. Thirty years later, everything from our fridges to our watches are plugged in.

In 1953, Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, and Francis Crick discovered the doublehelix of DNA. Within 50 years, we mapped the human genome. Twenty years later, we are using CRISPR to edit DNA. In 1992, Gary Kasparov laughed at how embarrassing his computer chess opponent was. Within five years, he was beaten by one.

Technology has a habit of running away from us. When a breakthrough occurs or a floodgate opens, explosive, exponential growth often follows.

And, according to futurologist Ray Kurzweil, we are only an historical moment away from ‘The Singularity’.

The Singularity, for Kurzweil, is defined as “a future period during which the pace of technological change will be so rapid, its impact so deep, that human life will be irreversibly transformed”. The idea is that discovery and progress will “explode with unexpected fury”. We often fail to appreciate what “exponential growth” actually means and how rapidly it brings about change. For instance, if we were to double the processing power of a computer every year, within seven of these “doublings,” our computers’ power would have increased 128-fold.

There are more innovators and scientists today, and they have more efficient tools and methods. The conclusion that Kurzweil draws is that technological advancement is “now doubling every decade” (though he fails to cite a source for that). According to him, we are only a few decades from the point when things really take off — when we enter a breathtakingly abrupt, and completely transformed, new world.

For some, this Singularity will be a utopia.

AI: Are we hurtling towards a point of no return?

‘Human life will be irreversibly transformed...

Futurologists are pointing to the exponential rate of technological progress and conclude that we are rapidly approaching a revolutionary turning point in our evolution For others, it will be a Terminator-style nightmare. Kurzweil is certainly of the former.

Kurzweil sees the weakness in our human frailty, or what he calls “1.0 biological bodies”.

Yes, we have Rembrandt, Newton, and Saint- Saëns, but it is also true that “much human thought is derivative, petty, and circumscribed”. Which is why the Singularity cannot come fast enough. It is time to ditch

these lumbering flesh-sacs of violent barbarity.

The next epoch Kurzweil sees the universe in terms of six great ‘epochs’.

They begin with physics and chemistry in creating the universe. Then, carbon-based compounds became more and more intricate, until life emerged. Eventually, intelligence evolved, as did the human brain, which then allowed

us to create greater and greater technology.

And so, we arrive at “our” epochal moment. The next great leap for the universe will be when humans and technology merge. This does not mean using Google Maps to find your way home; it means that our very biology will become enmeshed with the technology we create. It is the age of bionics. As such, the

machines we make will allow us to “transcend the human brain’s limitations of a mere hundred trillion extremely slow connections” and overcome “age-old human problems and vastly amplify creativity”.

It will be a transcendent, next-stage humanity with silicon in our brains and titanium in our bodies.

Whether this means an evil,

god-like elite enslaving us all or some omni-pleasant idyll, Kurzweil is (uncharacteristically) unsure.

How likely is all this? What cold water might there be to throw on it?

The first idea to challenge is how likely it is that technology will progress in a way that will lead to either general artificial intelligence or sophisticated bionic enhancements to our own minds. Most of Kurzweil’s estimates (as well as those of other futurologists like Eliezer Yudkowsky) are built on previous and existing hardware developments.

But, as philosopher David Chalmers argues” “The biggest bottleneck on the path to AI is software, not hardware.”

Having a mind, or general human intelligence, involves all manner of complicated (and unknown) neuroscientific and philosophical questions, so “hardware extrapolation is not a good guide here”. Having a mind is a different kind of step altogether; it is not like doubling flash drive memory size.

Second, there is no necessary reason that there will be exponential growth of the kind futurologists depend on. Past technological advances do not guarantee similar future advances. There is also the law of ‘diminishing returns’. It could be that even though we have more collective intelligence working more efficiently, we still get less out of it.

Apple, today, is the richest company in the world with the finest minds in computer science working for them. Yet, it is plainly obvious that the most recent iDevices seem less exciting or innovative than their previous renditions.

Take heart, when it comes to chocs, coffee and wine DARK chocolate is a ‘joy’ when it comes to keeping your heart healthy, coffee is likely protective, but wine is at best ‘neutral’, according to one of the world’s leading cardiologists.

As editor of the European Heart Journal for more than a decade, Prof Thomas Lüscher led a team that sifted through 3,200 manuscripts from scientists and doctors every year. Only a fraction – those deemed “truly novel” and backed up with “solid data” – would be selected for publication.

After stepping down from

his role in charge of the world’s top cardiovascular medicine journal, Lüscher has given his verdict on one of the most frequently asked heart health research questions: are wine, chocolate and coffee good or bad for you?

Writing in the European Heart Journal, Lüscher, a consultant cardiologist and director of research, education and development at the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, says the answer is “more complex than a simple yes or no”.

Lüscher also cautions

that the evidence should be considered “seriously”, given the large numbers of people worldwide that regularly enjoy a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or a piece of chocolate.

There are pros and cons to each of them, he suggests, and these can differ depending on how often and how much of each is consumed, as well as by whom.

“Are wine, chocolate, coffee forbidden joys? Well, wine is truly a joy but at best neutral when consumed in moderation.

“Chocolate is a joy for our CV [cardiovascular] system, if

consumed in dark, bitter form. And coffee? It wakes us up, less so if you drink it regularly, and at that dose of up to four cups a day, might even be protective.”

Now Luscher mainly enjoys one or two glasses at the weekend.

Prof Tim Chico, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and honorary consultant cardiologist at the University ofSheffield, said he agreed with “that the evidence suggests coffee and chocolate are associated with a slightly lower risk of heart diseases, while alcohol is not”.

Prof Paul Leeson, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford, said: “When I see patients in the cardiology clinic they often assume wine, chocolate and coffee are going to be bad for them.

There is obvious relief when you tell them this may not be the case.

“This scientific-based finding by a respected European senior cardiologist presents a very balanced, evidencebased assessment of the associations between these three elements of life and heart disease.”

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Travel & Leisure 1. ROYAL COUNTY DOWN, CO DOWN ROYAK County Down Golf Club, in Newcastle, Co Down, is one of the oldest in Ireland as it first opened in 1889. Royal County Down has two 18-hole courses, the Championship Links and the Annesley Links.

The Championship Links is the flagship course at Royal County Down. Settled in the Murlough Nature Reserve, throughout the course you’ll notice some remarkably picturesque scenery.

If you’re into your photography, make sure to bring your camera for the famous ninth hole on the championship course – one of the most photographed holes in the golf world, thanks to its extraordinary backdrop.

Don’t let the stunning views at Royal County distract you from the difficultly of the course. It is known to be one of the least forgiving and most challenging courses in Ireland.

2. ROYAL PORTRUSH, CO ANTRIM Royal Portrush Golf Club is another stunning golf course in Northern Ireland. On the beautiful Dunluce Road in Antrim.

Royal Portrush has two great golf courses, the Valley Links and the Dunluce Links.

The Dunluce Links is the main golf course at Portrush, as it’s so challenging and well respected in the golf community that it was given the honour of hosting the 1951 Open Championshop.

The Open Championship is set to return to the golf course in 2025, and the course is only getting more difficult in preparation. With the addition of new bunkers, tee boxes and greens, there’s no better spot to get a taste of how the pros play.

5 best link courses in Ireland Links courses in Ireland are, perhaps, some of the oldest and well-respected courses in the history of the golfing community.

Travel2ireland decided to put a list together of the best five you can play on home turf 3. PORTMARNOCK GOLF LINKS, CO DUBLIN Portmarnock is our first Republic of Ireland representative on the list, and what a great place to start. Portmarnock golf links are one of the more famous courses in Ireland based on the Strand Road in Portmarnock.

Portmarnock would be less aggressive than our previous two entries so if you are new

to links courses and want a special experience, this is a great option for great value.

The golf links also rewrote their history recently.

Previously having a strict men members-only policy, a vote was determined to now allow female members – a great step forward for the club.

4. BALTRAY, CO LOUTH County Louth Golf Club – better known as Baltray

– is a very well-known and prestigious golf course based in the historic Boyne Valley.

Just 45 minutes drive from Dublin Airport, Baltray is a favourite for golfers from all over.

When playing Baltray nothing unique stands out, it is as classic a links course as you can imagine. One thing you will struggle with though is the greens. Bring your lucky putter because these greens are some

of the most difficult in Ireland.

Putts for par will make shivers run down your spine.

5. LAHINCH GOLF CLUB, CO CLARE Lahinch golf links is another beautiful course in the West of Ireland, found near the town of Ennis in County Clare. Lahinch is not massively well-known but deserves a mention as the course is fantastic.

Lahinch wouldn’t be

considered a very difficult course overall but definitely has its challenging moments.

If you are a beginner you can still give this course a go and if you are down to single digits, you may be shocked at some of the surprising challenges you encounter during your round.

This is a great course overall with some beautiful scenery around with great photo opportunities.

Life after the pandemic: the best cities to move to YOU don’t need us to tell you that the past couple of years have been tough. But if they’ve left you with a strong and persistent urge to make a massive life change, we can help you out with some ideas.

Like, which of the world’s vibrant and exciting cities you should move to next, for example.

With things looking up for 2022 but a flexible WFH approach likely to stay put, you might be in the ideal position to up sticks and move somewhere totally new. If that’s you, these are the cities you should consider starting a new life in next year.

The Greek capital, Athens, takes the top spot in a new poll by packaging retailer RAJA. To come up with the ranking, a group of experts analysed data across ten factors including employment rate, cost of living, safety and healthcare. Athens clinched first place thanks to its high employment rate, affordable

great weather and some pretty exquisite national dishes. We’re packing our bags already.

rent and – most importantly – the incredibly cheap beer.

Sounds like the ideal place to

relocate to.

Next up is Austin in Texas, where experts say the quality

of life is great. The city is packed with green spaces – so if you’re outdoorsy, this is the

one for you. Then, in third, there’s Barcelona, which has cheap booze, good healthcare,

Here is the Top 10 in full: 1. Athens 2. Austin 3. Barcelona 4. Berlin 5. Cape Town 6. Chiang Mai 7. Christchurch 8. Copenhagen 9. Delhi 10. Dubai And when it comes to where not to start a new life in 2022?

Last year, a list of more than 15,000 expats were polled by InterNations to create this year’s Expat City Ranking.

They said you should swerve places like Rome, Paris and Dublin, mainly because of the cities’ high living costs.

Point taken. They sure are nice places to go on holiday, though.

Either way, a change of scenery... here we come!

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New Cat on the Trail for Christmas Learning to prioritise what is really relevant in life “The Swedes have a word: ‘dostadning’ which translates as ‘death cleaning’, and it is all about decluttering now, so that others are not burdened by doing it after we

Author Judith Ashton…”important to address the physical, emotional and and spiritual aspects of life”.

have died.

This practice makes it easier for our loved ones later.”

A striking yet simultaneously thought provoking truth that has a profound impact as you read Judith Ashton’s new book, “Be Prepared”.

The recently published book gives a fresh perspective on death and its positive aspects.

A Fluency in language It is clear that the author possesses a strong sense of self, which is evident through her comfortable discussion of stereotypically burdensome subjects of conversation.

This fluency in language paired with confident expression creates a tone of tranquillity which one would believe was the author’s initial objective. This ability to comfort people

Front cover of Judith Ashton’s book ‘Be Prepared’.

Photo by Ashley –Batz-Betm

in situations that display themselves as onerous may stem from her background as a body-psychotherapist, and massage and meditation teacher.

Add to that her experience in speaking on death and

dying at the 1st Scandinavian Conference and in teaching medical staff the significance of touch in palliative care, has advanced her capabilities in embracing what is inescapable through a gentle yet direct manner.

A NEW cat is about to join the trail for the hugely successful Kilkenny Cat Walk. The special edition sculpture has been specially created for Kilkenny Yulefest and will be unveiled at The Parade on Saturday December 4th It will be on display in the window of ‘The Kilkenny Art Gallery’ at 25 Patrick Street.

The new addition is a truly family affair, designed and painted by a Kilkenny father and daughters team, each bringing their different styles of painting to the project: Brock Butler has been exhibiting in Kilkenny for many years and has also shown in Dublin, Galway, Belfast, Edinburgh and London as well as at various arts festivals and international art fairs. He has three times been awarded Government per cent for art commissions. Collectors of his work include financier Dermot Desmond and Senator David Norris, and he is also included in numerous hotel collections around the country.

Jade Butler has been emerging in recent years as a name to watch in the art world.

Graduating from West Wales School of the Arts in 2010, her current work is primarily contemporary still life in oils.

Her work has been selected for the prestigious annual exhibition of The Royal Hibernian Academy, as well as The Royal Ulster Academy and The Royal Scottish Academy. Her paintings are held in private collections in Europe and America

and several public collections including the Office of Public Works N.I. Both Brock and Jade have paintings included in the forthcoming Butler Gallery fundraising auction at Lyrath Estate on November 26th.

Blaise Butler is an illustrator and sculptor. Using her middle name Pandora, her work can be seen on Instagram as blaisepandoraart. She most recently exhibited her sculptures at The Secret Garden Exhibition during Kilkenny Arts Festival 2021.

Having lived for several years in Australia, where she expanded her artistic range, working for some time with a studio of tattoo artists - she has now returned to Kilkenny and has also returned to Art School to extend her skills even further, studying ceramics at Grennan Mill.

The Yulefest cat promises to be a glamorous feline appropriate to the season.

After its launch on December 4th it will be on display at the gallery in Patrick Street until Easter.

For further information contact Marian Flannery on 083 8722444 Note: In October The Kilkenny Civic trust launched The Kilkenny Catwalk Trail with 21 cat sculptures, painted by some of the elite of Kilkenny’s artists such as Francis Tansey, Eamon Colman, Bernie Kiely, Blaise Smith and Elizabeth Cope.

They are currently located at various locations around the city. More information is available at www.kilkennycatwalk.ie

A Mix Of Logic And Emotion The author’s intelligent approach to death lies in the basis of both logic and emotion.

She states that death, like birth, is part of life.

“Without death there would be no life, and without life there would be no death”.

One would believe that this statement allows us to ponder on the occurrence that displays itself as the terror of departure from life, and why we tend to avoid the potential openness in exchange of views with respect to this topic.

We, as inquisitive social beings, speak so loosely and with freedom on various subject matters.

inevitable is actually quite refreshing.

One has to admire her ability in embracing this stage in the cycle of life that most people run from.

Furthermore, her buoyancy in stance towards this topic becomes increasingly empowering, as opposed to discouraging.

Some points which come to the fore are, Amend fractures in relationships; Declutter your life, both literally and metaphorically; Spread kindness in a world where areas are vacant in possession of love; and lastly, stay true to oneself.

Best For All To Be Prepared Frequently, in keeping, that these matters are of routine, and avoid displaying unfamiliar outcomes to which we do not have plausible answers.

In the book Judith Ashton is attempting, and succeeding, in breaking this societal construct by encouraging discussion of death and that it is okay, if not better, to be prepared for its arrival.

Once we move past the stage of acceptance, we can enter into the stage of preparation.

As people with knowledge and experience in life continuously being obtained, the authors optimistically infused outlook on this mundane discussion of the

A Matter of Communication The principle messages that are being exercised through the book collectively link back to simple communication.

Whether this form of communication is through a “letter to my nearest and dearest”, “putting legal affairs in order” or “wishes for immediately after death”.

Life isn’t about where we began or the final destination, it’s about the journey we experience in between.

And death is not an occasion to be mourned but a celebration to be embraced.

Judith Ashton’s new book ‘Be Prepared’, is both interesting and thought provoking and contains some fascinating stories from clients and friends.

Available to purchase on line at www.beprepared.ie

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‘Use caution’ when buying from UK during online sales NOVEMBER 26 is Black Friday which will bring a raft of bargains for Irish consumers but with the UK no longer part of the EU there are now significant changes for consumer rights when buying from retailers in the UK, and not just on Black Friday.

Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune has urged shoppers to be

very aware when shopping online in the Black Friday and the New Year sales. Changes are also in place when it comes to sending parcels to the UK so it is vital consumers are aware of the new rules.

Ms Clune, a member of the European Parliament Committee on Internal Market and

Consumer Affairs, said: “Black Friday can be very beneficial for those looking for a bargain but things are very different now for shoppers when it comes to buying from the UK. There are also changes when it comes to sending parcels to the UK so it is so important to be aware of the changes so that shoppers are not

hit with unforeseen extra charges. Consumers need to be mindful that additional charges such as custom duties or vat may now apply to goods purchased from the UK. “When a consumer shops online from a business in the EU, they have strong consumer rights under EU consumer pro-

tection legislation. However consumers no longer automatically have these rights when buying from a UK based business,” she told The Kilkenny Observer.

“I would urge shoppers to find out where the business they are buying from is located. It is not enough that the website has a

.ie domain name or that prices are in euro as the business could still be located in the UK. It is important, if in doubt to check the T&Cs on the website for their physical location.” * For more information check out ccpc.ie which is the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Govt ‘has to heed strong message’ of our farmers IFA President Tim Cullinan has said the recent ‘Save Irish Farming’ rally in Dublin sent a strong message to the Government that negotiation with farmers on their future has to take place.

He was speaking after a convoy of tractors and farm machinery travelled from the Irish Farm Centre to Merrion Square.

“Due to Covid restrictions, we had to modify our event from a farm family rally to a convoy of vehicles. Farmers drove from every corner of the country,” he said.

“Farm families are genuinely concerned about their future. Equally, there is deep frustration that every policy of this Government, including their proposed National Strategic Plan for the next CAP, is designed to reduce production. Farmers are being asked to do more and more for less,” he said.

Mr Cullinan said proper engagement with farm lead-

ers was needed to negotiate a farm-level plan that farmers can implement. To date, nothing had been forthcoming from the Government.

Minister McConalogue could not continue to avoid the views of farmers before he finalises plans next month.S The IFA President said farmers were very conscious of the climate challenge, and they want to play their part. But this Government had no plan. Farmers were being talked at, rather than talked to. “The Government needs to provide more funding, including a properly-funded Common Agricultural Policy, to ensure that farmers can take on the climate challenge while remaining viable,” he said.

“Currently, only 30% of farmers in Ireland are viable, and the Government’s policies will make more family farms unviable,” he said.

WHERE FARMING STANDS ....

• Outside of Dublin and the mid-east region, the sector provides between 10% and 14% of employment. The agri-food sector makes a significant contribution to employment in rural and coastal areas in particular.

• The average herd size in Ireland is 70 cattle.

• The Irish climate and land are ideally suited to our grass-based production system. Ireland’s milk is the most carbon-efficient in the European Union and the 5th most efficient in beef (source: EU Joint Research Centre).

• Irish dairy herds graze open pastures for an average of 240 days of the year, enjoying a diet that’s 95%* grass and grass-based forage.

• Irish beef herds graze open pastures for an average of 233 days of the year, enjoying a diet that’s 95%* grass and grass-based forage.

• There are significant scientific developments happening in farming to reduce methane output per animal and other emissions.

• The contribution of biochemical methane (from cattle) to global warming is also being reviewed at international level.

World Children’s Day: Our Darragh (12) on life after his major scoliosis surgery KILKENNY native Darragh Cahill (12) joined seven other young speakers at the recent Child Talks 2021, an annual event hosted by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office to mark World Children’s Day. Following a devastating 18 months for children and young people, Child Talks 2021 gave children an opportunity to have their say on the impact the pandemic has had on their mental health,

Direct Provision, scoliosis, gender equality, climate change and a range of other issues.

Darragh (pictured) took to the stage at the RDS in Dublin to talk about what happens to a soccer loving young boy living with scoliosis after he finally undergoes the long awaited surgery that changes his life for the better. The event will be streamed live on www.oco.ie.

In keeping with this year’s theme, children aged 10 to 17 shared their ‘Hopes For The Future’ and called on those

in positions of power, to listen and to learn from what they have to say.

Dr Niall Muldoon, the Ombudsman for Children said: “Children have been through so much since March 2020 – they have missed out, fallen behind and taken the blame.

“The theme of this year’s Child Talks is My Hopes for the Future and it is inspiring to hear how our young people are dealing with chal-

lenges and looking forward.

“This year’s speakers brought so much hope and positivity highlighting the strength of our young people.”

Child Talks 2021 was presented by former speakers Katherine Amusan (17) and Oisin Putt (19) and was watched by students across the country.

Other speakers included Angelica Foley (17) from Wicklow who told

a story about fast fashion and how she struggled to find a way to make a personal difference in the face of such a huge global issue.

Franny Raven (16), also from Wicklow, told about her daily struggle with people that led to her leaving school early. However during lockdown, a passion for animals inspired her to reach out, make friends and reconnect with the world again.

“The farming and food sector employs 300,000 people across the country, and we contributed €13bn in exports in 2020. We will not be ignored or pushed aside,” said the IFA President.

The reality was that if food was not produced in Ireland, it would be produced in countries with a higher carbon footprint such as Brazil, where it was reported this week that 13,235 square kilometres of rainforest were cleared in 2020/2021.”

“Farming is a business activity, and farmers will not stay at it unless they can make a profit and make a living for their families,” he said.

Fair now cancelled IN the interests of health and safety, L’Arche community has cancelled their Christmas Fair.

Tickets for the raffle and all the usual fair items can be purchased from the L’Arche Christmas Shop (open seven days a week from this weekend onwards 10am-2pm) located by the main building in Green Lane, Callan, Co Kilkenny, R95FP27; in the Garden Stall beside Moorfield House, in Kilmoganny (across from Garda Station) and in the Pop-up Shop that will open later in December.

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Much More Than Words THIS WEEK, in our look at the recently published book of poetry and prose by The Kilkenny Involvement Centre and The Recovery College, we feature the work of Mai Dormer, Fin Dowling and Suzy Duffy. Thanks to T.A.S.K and Ed Murphy for photos.

If ever a book deserved the award for ‘The Perfect Title’ surely that accolade must go to a new compilation of poetry Much More Than Words.

Indeed its very title describes comprehensively the diversity of the treasures to be discovered within its covers.

This volume of carefully crafted poems, interspersed with prose and enhanced with well-chosen

Mai Dormer

images, is the second collection produced by The Involvement Centre Kilkenny and the first in a joint venture with The Recovery College.

The Kilkenny Observer Newspaper is delighted to promote the work of The Involvement Centre and The Recovery College, and so, will publish a selection of their work over the coming months.

Fin Dowling

‘Much More Than Words’ can be purchased at the following Kilkenny outlets: Bargain Books, The Butterslip Khans Bookshop, James’ Street & The Book Centre, High Street.

Price: €10

Suzy Duffy

Saints of my Time

Rome, Home, Poem

Today I am in Charge

I walk a lime tree avenue Stand by graves of loved ones Whisper a prayer Follow the sound of the church bell Bless myself with holy water Go to the same seat as always Mooch in pocket or purse Light candles of petition Images of another era float my mind Women head scarfed and shawled Placing their worries before the Sacred Heart and Our Lady Rosary beads thumbed and colour faded Prayer books worn from used prayer In the silence of this sacred space I glimpse the saints of my time

I saw him late, stood still by some cold river Shoes too wet to remove Removing would freshen the state A state starved to improve The moon held exactly where it had to, Hung still in the darkness, as it sat in the water It’s steady gaze indifferent, He was obliged to apathy just the same

I am stronger than I used to be, I would hide in the shadows, Hoping people would not see, Little old me.

Now I am in more control, I am determined Not to lose control, To step out of balance, This is a no.

Today I am in charge of my life, I have less stress and strife, I am more confident today, I can look you in the eye, I am not afraid, To openly say, What is on my mind today.

Mai Dormer

Starved of softened passion, that kind fire, He searched in the second hand droplets And wondered if anyone thought he expressed that light, As the Moon expressed the hidden Sun Far too late for such a thought Far too early to know the answer Regardless, The light wouldn’t be his own, nor the river’s, nor the moon’s Perhaps he knew that And on a final meander towards his mew He wondered if the heat had escaped him, Or the cold slipped through.

Far too late for such a thought, but he thought he knew For he had long since felt his innocence Drowned By some inevitable tide Not quite blood dimmed No cruel, slouching hide But a slow ebbing of association, A lack of honourable conviction.

Fin Dowling

Photo: Ed Murphy

Suzy Duffy

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Cybercrime costing us €9.6bn RESEARCH by Grant Thornton Ireland has revealed the overall cost of cybercrime to the Irish economy in 2020 to be €9.6bn. The ‘Economic Cost of Cybercrime ‘report published

by Grant Thornton’s cyber security team estimates the direct and indirect costs incurred due to cyber-attacks against businesses, individuals, and government.

The 2020 research builds on Grant Thornton Ireland’s 2014 report which noted an overall cost to the economy of €630 million due to cybercrime, a figure which has exponentially increased in the latest data.

Phishing and ransomware attacks, along with credit and debit card fraud, and operational technology focused attacks have all increased sig-

nificantly in recent years with ransomware attacks, in which cybercriminals demand payment for the release of compromised materials, by far the most significant form of cybercrime noted in 2020.

Ransomware attacks alone and the cost of remedying such attacks reached over €2bn in 2020. The €2bn cost of ransomware attacks in 2020 estimates

the direct costs associated with these events ie. ransoms paid, as well as indirect costs such as infrastructure and IT bills and reputational damages incurred through public discussion and media coverage.

The report also notes a 100% increase in computer viruses and a 20% increase in phishing attacks. This comes as credit and debit card fraud also increased,

leading to losses of €12m.

Head of Cyber Security Services at Grant Thornton Ireland Mike Harris said: “Cybercriminals are innovative and opportunistic. This means we also need to be innovative in how we mitigate against potential cyber-attack risks. Ransomware attacks, for example, were once targeted mainly at consumers but we now know businesses,

Expert foodies: from left, Callum Priest (Gold and Best in Class Irish Pork, Bronze in the open Mystery Basket event), Ben Roche Silver in the Open Pasta,Tony Barry Lecturer and mentor, Stuart Dunne Maher (Silver in the Irish Pork), Liam Coad (Silver in the Organic Butchery, Bronze in the Mystery Basket event)

It’s food for though as four local WIT students take Chef Ireland awards FOUR students from the BA (Hons) in Culinary Arts at Waterford Institute of Technology have won Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals at Chef Ireland 2021.

The Chef Ireland National Culinary Competitions, which take place every two years, for three days in No-

vember, as part of CATEX 2021 in the RDS, Dublin.

The four second year students are from across the south east and across a range of areas of expertise..

• Callum Priest, a native of Tramore, Co Waterford won three accolades: Both Gold and Best in Class Irish

Pork, and Bronze in the open Mystery Basket event.

• Ben Roche, from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford won Silver in the Open Pasta category.

• Stuart Dunne Maher from Kilkenny city brought home Silver in the Irish Pork category.

• Liam Coad, from Waterford

received two medals: Silver in the Organic Butchery and Bronze in the Mystery Basket event.

Tony Barry, lecturer and mentor expressed his pride in the success of the students.

“I am delighted once again for our students to have had success at Chef Ireland. All

four are second year students, and the commitment they have to their culinary skills in what has been a difficult year for all students, is to be admired. Bringing home a medal from such an event where participants are being observed live, by judges, is no easy feat.”

Marquez’s comic tale coming onstage at Watergate GABRIEL García Márquez’s darkly comic tale, ‘A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings’, is coming to the stage for children and adults to share at the WatergAte on December 2 and 3.

The new show will be directed

by Dan Colley and is co-produced by the Riverbank Arts

Centre and by Matthew Smyth In a kitchen, in a theatre, two storytellers and their audience find something remarkable — a very old man with enormous wings. The wise neighbour woman tells us he’s an angel.

The priest says he’s an imposter.

Something different

Pilgrims flock to see him, hoping to be healed by him, hoping for a gawp. They leave with something different than what they expected.

This hit show, directed by Dan Colley and starring Genevieve Hulme-Beaman and Manus Halligan, is being brought back

to life after back-to-back sellout runs at Riverbank, Project Arts Centre and the Abbey Theatre at the end of 2019.

At the moment the show is touring 13 different venues nationwide and the tour ends in Kilkenny in what promises to be a magnificent performance. An

Are Lingus threat to pull out of Heathrow THE International Airlines Group (IAG) would consider cutting flights at Heathrow if the airport goes ahead with its proposal to increase landing fees.

IAG chief Luis Gallego told the Airlines 2021 conference in London that “if the rise in landing

charges goes ahead, I know IAG will not be alone in reconsidering our airlines’ use of Heathrow.”

IAG airlines – including British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia – make up roughly 50% of all flights in and out of Britain’s largest airport.

Heathrow wants to raise landing fees by a massive 90% – –from £19.36 to £37.63 – in the next five years in an effort to offset the huge losses that resulted from the pandemic shutdown.

Heathrow says it has suffered losses of £2 billion in 2020 alone.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will allow the airport to raise the cap on airport charges by up to 76%.

In February 2021, IAG argued that Heathrow had already paid out £4 billion in dividends to its shareholders.

extensive international tour is planned in 2022 and 2023.

Adapted from Gabriel García Márquez’s Un señor muy viejo con unas alas enormes, this tale of magical realism is brought to the stage in search of its beautiful, strange, emotional richness.

Fund grants now open for Kilkennyx Grants are now available for Kilkenny communities to deliver water, biodiversity, and climate action initiatives, with the Community Water Development Fund now open for 2022.

organisations and governments are the main targets for these types of crimes.”

The past year has demonstrated huge changes and rapid digital transformation for Irish businesses and their employees across the country which cybercriminals saw as an opportunity to attack. businesses, organisations and agencies in the midst of this transformation.

‘Serious’ burglary assault puts man in hospital A BURGLAR broke into a house in Kilkenny city and seriously assaulted a resident in their own home.

The shocking incident occurred at a house in the city at around 8pm on the night. The man, believed to be in his 60s, has been hospitalised.

Gardai have appealed to the public to assist their investigation into the aggravated burglary.

They have urged drivers who used the Golf Links Road, Johnswell Road, the Ring Road and the N10 link road to the motorway between 8pom and midnight on Monday November 22 who may have dashcam footage to contact Kilkenny Garda Station on 056 777 5000.

Meanwhile, An Garda Siochana relaunched Operation Thor on October 1, 2021, the operation actively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through ‘coordinated crime prevention’.

This year marks the seventh winter phase of Operation Thor.

An Gardai released their top tips to keep your house safe and secure during the winter season.

Lock up, light up and keep your house safe from burglars this winter by securing all doors and windows. And light up your home, by using timer switches when out.

Green light for 23 new homes mix Canview Ltd have been granted planning permission for the completion of the existing Togher Way residential development in Urlingford.

Plans for Togher Way include the provision of 23 new houses consisting of: 3 x 2-bed singlestorey detached houses; 10 x 3-bed two-storey semi-detached houses; and 3 x 4-bed two-storey detached houses

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Feature The WW1 memorial at The Peace Park in Kilkenny. (photo courtesy of The Cobh Animation team)

Kilkenny Voices from the Western Front, Gives Insight into The ‘Great War’

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Feature

Rev.Edward Dowling.

Against the wishes of his superior, Bishop Abraham Brownrigg he volunteered to serve as a Roman Catholic chaplain in the British army

Pte. Anthny Brennan was just sixteen years of age when he enlisted

edited by the same authors, Niall Brannigan and John Kirwan was launched.

Niall’s grandfather Lt. Col. Joseph Brannigan, a County Monaghan man served all his working life in the Irish army retiring in 1958 or 1959.

His grandmother was Nellie Kirwan, the authors father’s oldest sister.

Here we have three primary documents written by three native born Kilkenny men, one of whom did not survive the war. Of the two survivors only one managed to live

Christopher PriorWandesforde who wrote a series of letters to his parents and siblings at Castlecomer House, from 1915 until his death in June 1917

I

n 2012 Kilkenny Families in the Great War was launched in Kilkenny. The book documented the careers of nearly 3000 men and women of Kilkenny city and county who were involved in the ‘war to end all wars’.

It had taken the authors seventeen years to do the research. No other Irish county has such an easily accessible record under one cover. Partly as a result, two Great War memorials

The cover of the recently launched book ‘Kilkenny Voices From The Western Front’

now exist in the city.

One in the Peace Park lists all those who died in battle while the second at MacDonagh Junction lists all the known participants.

Kilkenny Voices On the 11th November , during the commemoration service in the Peace Park, Kilkenny Voices from the Western Front,

out his life in his native place.

The book opens with an overview of the three men’s lives.

Private Anthony Brennan was from the High Street area of the city. His widowed mother had a boarding house and newsagents business between what is now Walls Man’s shop and the Harp Bar. Tony, as he was known, was just sixteen years of age when, without his mother’s permission, he enlisted.

Mrs Brennan subsequently protested at the enlistment of her teenage son through her local MP. The matter was raised by the same MP in the House of Commons and assurances were given to Mrs. Brennan by the War Office that her young son would not see active service at the Front until he had reached his eighteenth birthday. Within a year of his enlistment Tony saw active service against the Germans in France.

Return to Kilkenny City After the war he returned briefly to Kilkenny city where he participated for a time on a training course for veterans run at Talbot’s Inch by Ellen, Lady Desart. Subsequently he emigrated to the London area where he got a job in the English civil service.

He wrote his ‘memoir’ many years after the fighting had ceased. A copy of the memoir was presented to the Imperial War Museum by his second wife who survived him.

Grandchildren survive in England.

Edward Ned Dowling The second man of the

Kilkenny trio was the Rev. Edward ‘Ned’ Dowling, whose diary is the second document, was the son of two Slieverue National School teachers.

At the time war broke out in August 1914 he was on the teaching staff at St. Kieran’s College.

Against the wishes of his superior, Bishop Abraham Brownrigg he volunteered to serve as a Roman Catholic chaplain in the British army.

The British army at the time was desperately short of catholic chaplains.

His diary was kept for the early part of his service.

It was a document never meant to see the light of day as he left instructions at his death that all his papers were to be destroyed.

By chance this diary was overlooked and was found many years after the ‘Colonel’s’ death

by Archdeacon Sean O’ Doherty, who was then serving as curate in Ballycallan.

A Series of Letters Lt. Christopher PriorWandesforde is the author of the third document presented in this book. This document is in fact a whole series of letters which he wrote to his parents and siblings at Castlecomer House, from 1915 until his death in June 1917.

After their son’s death, his parents carefully annotated the letters and preserved them in the family archive.

It includes the last letter written by Christopher to his mother which arrived a few days after the family received the dreaded telegram from the War Office notifying them of their son’s death.

Geoffrey and Peter PriorWandesforde, with the active encouragement of their first cousin Desmond Townshend, all nephews of Christopher, presented the collection to Kilkenny Archives Ltd, some years back.

Irish Great War Sources Tony Brennan, Ned Dowling and Christopher Prior-Wandesforde’s writings are rare enough Irish Great War primary sources. The documents give us some hint of what the Irish men and women who served during the ‘Great War’ endured for over four years.

Brennan’s and Dowling’s documents also tell us something of their subsequent lives.

Brennan became a successful English civil servant while Dowling returned to his priestly duties in Ossory.

Only three hundred copies are available for circulation through the local bookshops.

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Community Community Group

Discover Poland’s UNESCO-listed cultural and natural wonders!

POLAND boasts 16 UNESCO World Heritage sites, of which fifteen, including the 13th-century Teutonic castle in Malbork,

which is a twinned City of Kilkenny since 2017, and the historic centres of Kraków, Toruń, Warsaw and Zamość, are

cultural, and one – the beautiful Białowieża Forest.

We have spoken before about the largest red brick castle in

the world in Malbork and the wonderful square in the city of Kraków so this week we would like to bring your atten-

tion to the natural beauty of the Białowieża Forest.

The Białowieża Forest, located on the border between Poland and Belarus, an area of the country now in the news as we see Migrants gathering on the boarder as they try to get into Europe through Poland. Thousands of refugees and migrants from the Middle East and Africa have been stranded in dense forest along the border between Poland and Belarus for weeks.

There have been reports that Polish border guards are not allowing people to cross over the border from Belarus into Poland, but when they try to re-enter Belarus, they are also not allowed back in by Belarusian border guards. How has humanity come to this? Where, humans are used as Pawns in political fights and ambitions.

The Białowieża Forest is what remains of the lowland primeval forest that once stretched across the European Plain, from the Atlantic Coast to the Ural. Much of it has been undisturbed for centuries, which is why it is an exceptional habitat of flora and fauna, including 25% of the world’s population of the European bison, the continent’s largest land mammal, and many other endangered species.

In the context of the fastapproaching harshness of a Polish winter, the Wieliczka Salt Mine near Kraków is one of Poland’s coolest UNESCO sites in the summer! imagine the low temperatures it will reach

as the snow and frost is 820 steps above. The mine, inscribed in the original 1978 UNESCO World Heritage List, is a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers, all chiselled out in rock salt. Its history dates to the thirteenth century.

Poland welcomes the youngest visitors with many attractions.

European Fairy-tale Capital is in Pacanów, Poland! The modern facility resembling sand pies is a magic place where you can meet the Little Prince, see the pea that meant a sleepless night, and set off on a journey by train which goes through the Mouse Hole and … flies into space! Apart from Polish fairy-tale heroes like Matołek the Billy-goat, who discovered a Fairy-tale Land in Pacanów, children may enjoy the Bedtime Cartoons Museum in Rzeszów and watch Polish animation for children.

Poles love science centres which allow youngsters experience science through experiment. There are several across Poland like: Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, Science and Technology Centre EC1 in Lodz, Experiment Science Centre in Gdynia, Hewelianum Center in Gdańsk, Mill of Knowledge Innovation Centre in Torun, Garden of Experiments in Cracow or Water Knowledge Centre Hydropolis in Wrocław.

Poland is a place you should certainly keep in mind when looking for a place for all the family to enjoy.

accept the suzerainty of foreign countries such as Hungary and Turkey, this being the price paid for maintaining autonomy.

The beginning of the 20th century finds the Romanian people in a permanent struggle for union. Romania’s development and the progress of Romanian society allowed Romanians to hope for the liberation of the last occupied territories and for the restoration of the union of all Romanians in the CarpathoDanubian-Pontic area.

“Long live united Romania” These words spoken from the heart and with all the innocence of a child, resounded at the dawn of December 1st, 1918, a cold winter day and remained in the national consciousness over the years that have passed since then.

December 1st is declared a Bank Holiday. Every year, on the occasion of the National Day, public events and manifestations take place in the biggest cities of the country,

to which everyone has access.

Alba Iulia (the city where the union treaty was signed) is the main centre of attraction for residents from all over the country, but also for tourists from outside Romania. 1 December 1918 Boulevard in Alba Iulia hosts every year a spectacular military parade.

The National Day is also a culinary holiday, with plenty of traditional products, and Romanians gather for a glass of wine, boiled brandy, and cured meat and beans. Since December 1, children wear folk costumes and celebrate National Day with celebrations at schools and kindergartens in the country, singing the national anthem. The national flag is hoisted in all state institutions in the country, but also in the homes of patriotic Romanians. The National Day is marked by patriotism, being organized military parades, wreath-laying ceremonies and wreaths at the monuments of heroes, concerts, outdoor folk music and traditional dances, in which Romanians from all over participate. The Romanian military on a mission in the theatres of operations annually organizes specific events dedicated to the National Day of Romania. The national flag is flown aboard military sea and river vessels. And the evening ends everywhere with spectacular fireworks.

Community Group

Long live united Romania

BY Livia Iftime DECEMBER 1st is Romania’s national day, a day established by law in 1990 after the fall of

the communist regime, a day that has great importance in the souls of Romanians, because it was the day when all territories inhabited by Romanians

united into one forming Grate Romania as it is known today all over the world.

Romania’s history has been a turbulent one over the

centuries. Over the centuries on the current territory of Romania there were three Romanian provinces that for political and military reasons had to

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A book of Kilkenny memories for Christmas reading THE book can be best described as both a Family and Social History pertaining to a local Family resident in the Kilkenny area for over two hundred and fifty years, with strong associations in St. Canice’s Parish, Goose Hill, and the Butts area. of the city.

The Author’s Grandfather James Bourke, the founder of “ Worth Will Tell Drapery Shop” in High Street is the main progenitor of the Bourke family, linking the Pre-Famine line to the present generation. The story begins in the border area of Tipperary and Kilkenny, tracing the family origins from Farranrory, Ballingarry, during Penal times to Kilkenny in preFamine times, and onwards through the Victorian era, the Great War and the War of Independence, to the start of WW 2. The account of the Emergency of 1939-1945 also gives some details of Kilkenny’s involvement in preparation for war, then seen as a real threat nationally.

Part 2 of the book consists of many vivid memories of the author’s own story, from post WW 2 Kilkenny, up to

the present time. The many Topics included, are Schooling, Religion, Education, Health, Work, and Emigration, Sport, Stage, and pastimes. Official organisations such as the FCA, and Civil Defence, are also highlighted, giving some accounts of their history and development locally. The text is also supple-

mented with photographs pertaining to the many different topics. The book subject matter will be familiar to many Kilkenny residents of a certain age, and also of special interest to those students of both pre-Victorian and more recent social history.

Noel J Bourke - 087 2601189

Community Group

Lend a helping hand this Winter

THIS week the government launched their get winter ready programme. We recently highlighted what we thought was important for our seniors and at Twilight Community group we believe we can never have enough information when it comes to our safety.

So, we have decided, as the temperature dropped over the last few days, we would use this week’s column as a little reminder of what we should be aware of.

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

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

Keep warm, eat well, and avoid unnecessary travel and we must never forget to call on elderly relatives and neighbours and ensure they have sufficient supplies of food and any prescription drugs they may need, also ensure that older people have sufficient

fuel supplies to maintain adequate heating in their homes.

Advice on medication As you get older you may need to change the dose of your medicines – check with your doctor. Some medicines or combinations of medicines may make you feel faint or light-headed which could lead to a fall. Consider wearing a personal alarm so that family or neighbours are alerted if you fall. Eat regular hot meals and drink plenty of fluids, this will keep you warm and will give you energy to keep active.

Medical equipment If you must use medical equipment or a powered mobility device every day, please make sure that you always have access to a power supply. Ensure that you are on the vulnerable customer register for the energy companies and Irish Water.

If you have an assistance dog, be sure to keep them warm as well. Be sure to always have a blanket for the animal to rest on. Keep the animal indoors as much as possible.

People with disabilities

should plan for the possibility that winter weather may disrupt homecare services. In icy weather, wear well-fitted shoes with non-slip soles if you have to go out but try to limit walking outside during the cold weather. If you use a mobility device make sure it can grip an icy surface and if you have a ramp make sure it is well gritted in icy weather.

Stay in contact If you have a mobile phone that you can use, make sure it has a charge and bring it with you when you are going out.

You should consider wearing a personal alarm so that family or neighbours are alerted if you fall. If you have a fall, even a minor one, make sure you can visit your doctor for a check-up.

In winter it can be difficult for everyone to get about and conduct day to day activities. It is even more difficult for older people and other vulnerable people. So please remember how important it is to look out for our seniors both relatives and friends, for one day you will that senior who will need a helping hand

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About Out &

WITH

Danny Lahart

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Feature

Archbishop John Ireland - son of Burnchurch, civil war hero, defender of the poor and ecclesiastical tornado (Compiled by Cois Céim and The Kilkenny Saturday Walkers Club in association with The Kilkenny Observer Newspaper)

J

OHN Ireland was born 11th September 1838, in Burnchurch Co. Kilkenny.

The eldest son of two and four daughters of Richard and Judith (nee Naughton) Ireland. His family emigrated to the United States in 1848 and eventually moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1852.

At an early age he indicated his wish for the priesthood, coming to the attention of his Bishop, Joseph Cretin who obtained his parent’s permission, sent John to a seminary in France for study , and he was ordained in December 1861 by fellow Kilkenny man Bishop Grace in Saint Paul.

BRAVERY IN THE LINE OF DUTY The outbreak of the

American Civil War saw him enlist in the Union Army, and he became chaplain to the Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. On the field he won an enduring reputation for piety and courage.

At the battle of Corinth in October he distributed ammunition to soldiers despite the obvious danger to himself.

He returned to St. Paul and was assigned to the Cathedral Parish. When Grace retired in 1884, Ireland succeeded him and became Archbishop in 1888.

At a time when most Irish Catholics were staunch Democrats, Ireland was known for being close to the Republican Party.

The influence of his personality made Ireland a commanding

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

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kilkennyobserver.ie

Feature Archbishop John Ireland, Patriot Statesman and Priest of Christ

A Celtic Cross was unveiled in his memory, in Burnchurch, Kilkenny in 1966

LOYALTY TO AMERICA In his book “The Church and Modern Society” published in 1896 , he wrote that “we owe it to the Church to make plain our Americanism, our loyalty to America.

In no other land is there given to Catholics the freedom of action and the opportunity for work given to them in America.”

His optimism was grounded on the rapid growth of the Church which had 2,000,000 members when he arrived in the country (1848) and 12,000,000 by the end of the Century.

When he died, his own Archdiocese had a Catholic population of 1,000,000 and

figure in many important movements, especially total abstinence, for colonization in the Northwest, and modern education.

He worked with non Catholics and was recognised by them as a leader of the modernizing Catholics.

CALLED FOR RACIAL EQUALITY Ireland called for racial equality at a time in the U.S. when the concept was considered extreme.

On the 5th May 1890 he gave a sermon at St Augustine’s Church in Washington D.C. to a congregation that included several public officials. His sermon concluded with the statement “The colour line must go, the line will be drawn at personal merit.”

It was reported that the bold and outspoken stand of the Archbishop caused a sensation throughout America. He was also ahead of his time in recognising the equality of white and black people, but saw native Americans as “wards of the state” He was known to have an aggressive personality and by one account to be an ecclesiastical tornado, but he refused people to kiss his ring and insisted on being addressed as Archbishop rather than” Your Grace.”

HELPED CATHOLICS FROM SLUMS Disturbed by reports that Catholic emigrants in Eastern cities were suffering from social and economic hardship, Ireland and fellow Bishop Spalding founded the Irish Catholic Colonization Association.

This organisation bought

600 priests.

In 1900 President McKinley sent Ireland to Paris as ‘an eminent representative of American patriotism and eloquence’ to present a statue of the Marquis de Lafayette to the French Nation on behalf of the American Government.

He received an honorary doctorate from Yale University, a rare honour for an Irishman or a Catholic bishop. His fellow recipients included President Roosevelt and Mark Twain.

In 1891 Ireland refused to accept the clerical credentials of Byzantine Rite Ruthenian, a Catholic priest Alexis Toth, citing the decree, that married priests of the Eastern Catholic Churches were not permitted to function in the Catholic Church in the United States.

Ireland forbade Toth to minister to his own

Rev John Ireland…The outbreak of the American Civil War saw him enlist in the Union Army, and he became chaplain to the Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

land in rural areas and settled and helped Irish Catholics from the slums.

The land had been cleared of its native Sioux following the Dakota war of 1862.Working with the Minnesota state government and the Western Railroads he brought more than 4,000 Catholic families and settled them on 400,000 acres.

In 1880 he assisted several hundred people from Connemara to emigrate to Minnesota, but unfortunately they arrived at the wrong time of the year and had to be assisted by the Freemasons, an organisation the Catholic Church condemned on many points. In the debate that followed the emigrants being Gaelic speakers could not voice their opinions of Ireland’s criticism of accepting the Freemason’s support during the harsh winter.

Despite the controversy Ireland found jobs for the men and helped their families settle in the Eastern area of St. Paul that became known as the “Connemara Patch”.

At the battle of Corinth, Ireland distributed ammunition to soldiers despite the obvious danger to himself

parishioners despite the fact that Toth had jurisdiction from his own Bishop.

Toth went on to lead thousands of Ruthenian Catholics out of the Roman Communion and into what would be eventually become the Orthodox Church in America. Marvin O’ Connell , the author of a biography on Ireland, summarized the situation by stating that if Ireland’s advocacy of the Blacks displayed him, Ireland at his best, his belligerence toward the Uniates showed him at his Bull headed worst.

Ireland was also involved in efforts to expel non Latin Church Catholic clergy from the United States.

LEFT HIS MARK ON EDUCATION Ireland is remembered in America for helping to found the Catholic University of America.

He founded Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary, and De L Salle High School in October 1900 through a personal gift of $25,000.

Fourteen years later he purchased nearby property for the expanding Christian Brothers school.

In 1904 he secured land for the building of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, on Summit Hill, the highest point in downtown St. Paul.

He also commissioned the construction of the almost equally large Church of St. Mary in the neighbouring city of Minneapolis, which later became the first Basilica in the U.S.A. in 1926.

John Ireland Boulevard a St. Paul street that runs from the Cathedral to the Minnesota State Capitol was named in his honour in 1961 through the encouragement of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

After his death on September 25th 1918, Cardinal Gibbons Archbishop of Baltimore described Ireland as the man who contributed perhaps more than any other to the harmony that exists between the Constitution of the Church and the Constitution of the United States. A Celtic Cross was unveiled in his memory, in Burnchurch, Kilkenny in 1966.

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Dine Me

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

Food & Drink

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With

Preparation and cooking time

Prep: 1 hr and 30 mins Cook: 1 hr and 45 mins Or 40-50 mins if baking the pastry a day ahead Serves: 6 to 8 You can’t go wrong with a classic lemon meringue pie, and this easy recipe is particularly good.

INGREDIENTS For the pastry • 175g plain flour • 100g cold butter, cut in small pieces • 1 tbsp icing sugar • 1 egg yolk

Ultimate lemon meringue pie

For the filling • 2 level tbsp cornflour • 100g golden caster sugar • 2 large lemons, zested • 125ml fresh lemon juice (from 2-3 lemons) • 1 small orange, juiced • 85g butter, cut into pieces • 3 egg yolks and 1 whole egg

STEP 5 Once the mixture bubbles, remove from the heat and beat in the butter until melted. Beat the egg yolks (save white for meringue) and the whole egg together, stir into the pan and return to a medium heat. Keep stirring vigorously for a few minutes, until the mixture thickens and plops from the spoon. (It will bubble, but doesn’t curdle.) Take off the heat and set aside while you make the meringue.

STEP 6 Put the egg whites in a large bowl. Whisk to soft peaks, then add 100g of the golden caster sugar a spoonful at a time, whisking between each addition without overbeating.

Whisk in the cornflour, then add the remaining 100g of sugar as before until smooth and thick.

For the meringue • 4 egg whites, room temperature • 200g golden caster sugar • 2 tsp cornflour Method STEP 1 For the pastry, put the plain flour, butter, icing sugar, egg yolk (save the white for the meringue) and 1 tbsp cold water into a food processor.

Pulse until the mix starts to bind – make sure the mix is not overworked.

STEP 2 Tip the pastry onto a lightly floured surface, gather together until smooth, then roll out and line a 23 x 2.5cm loose-bottom fluted flan tin. Trim and neaten the edges. Press pastry into the flutes. The pastry is quite rich, so don’t worry if it cracks, just press it back together. Prick the base with a fork, line with foil, shiny side down, and chill for 30 mins-1 hr (or overnight).

STEP 4 While the pastry bakes, prepare the filling. Mix the cornflour, golden caster sugar and lemon zest in a medium saucepan.

Strain and stir in the lemon juice gradually. Make the orange juice up to 200ml with water and strain into the pan. Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and smooth.

STEP 7 Quickly reheat the filling and pour it into the pastry case.

Immediately put spoonfuls of meringue around the edge of the filling (if you start in the middle, the meringue may sink), then spread so it just touches the pastry (this will anchor it and help stop it sliding). Pile the rest into the centre, spreading so it touches the surface of the hot filling (and starts to cook), then give it all a swirl.

STEP 3 Put a baking sheet in the oven and heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake the pastry case ‘blind’ (filled with dry beans) for 15 mins,

then remove the foil and bake a further 5-8 mins until the pastry is pale golden and cooked. Set aside. Can be done a day ahead. Lower the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.

STEP 8 Return to the oven for 18-20 mins until the meringue is crisp and slightly coloured. Let the pie sit in the tin for 30 mins, then remove and leave for at least another 30 mins-1 hr before slicing. Eat the same day.

Candy cane

cocktails

CANDY CANE COCKTAIL

Create this oh-so-pretty gin cocktail using our homemade candy cane vodka. Perfect for a Christmas tipple, garnish it with a mini candy cane for extra cheer.

Ingredients • 50ml gin • 25ml lemon juice • 25ml candy cane vodka (see ‘goes well with’, below) or crème de menthe few drops of Angostura bitters ice Method STEP 1 Pour the gin, lemon juice, vodka or crème de menthe and Angostura bitters into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels very cold.

STEP 2 Double-strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a mini candy cane, if you like (see tip, below).

Recipe tip Garnish with a candy cane, or combine 1 crushed candy cane with a pinch of sea salt flakes, tip onto a shallow plate and dip the dampened rim of the glass into the mixture to decorate. Pour in the cocktail and serve immediately.

CANDY CANE VODKA

Vodka-loving friend at Christmastime. Serve chilled asis or use in a cocktail, such as our candy cane cocktail.

Ingredients • 150g candy canes • 500ml vodka Method STEP 1 Snap the candy canes into small pieces, about 2cm in length. Tip into a large jug or jar and pour over the vodka so they’re covered.

STEP 2 Cover and chill for at least 3-5 hrs, or until the sweets have dissolved (there may be a little bit of candy cane left, but most should have dissolved). Strain and pour into clean bottles through a strainer or sieve, using a funnel to help you. Will keep chilled for a week. Serve chilled as a liqueur or in a cocktail (see ‘goes well with’, below).

CHRISTMAS PUDDING GIN

Enjoy all the flavours of the festive season in a glass.

This gin is lovely paired with your Christmas Day dessert or decanted into bottles to give as gifts.

Ingredients • 600ml gin • 1⁄2 cinnamon stick • 3 cloves • 4 allspice berries • 1⁄2 tsp coriander seeds • 50ml amaretto • 50ml brandy • 1⁄2 vanilla pod • 10 sultanas • 2 dried figs or dates • 1 strip of lemon zest • 1 strip of orange zest • 25g dark brown soft sugar Method STEP 1 Put all the ingredients in a large, clean jar. Swirl to dissolve the sugar, then leave to infuse for 24-48 hrs in a cool, dark place.

STEP 2 Strain the infused gin into a jug through a fine sieve or coffee filter, then pour into one large clean bottle or several small ones if giving as gifts. Will keep for a few weeks at room temperature or longer chilled.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

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TV & Streaming

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more you can watch if you liked Bosch

Looking for another wayward law enforcement agent in a strong city setting?

Showtime’s City On A Hill is a gritty crime show set in early 1990s Boston that’s similar in tone to Bosch, but with a more antagonistic relationship between its two main characters. Kevin Bacon plays a corrupt FBI agent who uses his power for his own gains, and Aldis Hodge plays the assistant district attorney who reluctantly teams up with him in the first season to put away some armored truck robbers. As their relationship deepens, so do the suspicions. Like Bosch, City on a Hill has throwback cop show vibes. On Sky box-sets.

How Cillian nearly missed Peaky role STEVEN Knight’s 2013 Netflix series Peaky Blinders changed the course of British crime dramas forever more. Moody and dark, the show chronicles the escapades of the Black Country gang, infamous for their notoriety and tendency to stash dangerous razor blades in their peaked caps.

It follows the character of the handsome and eloquent Thomas Shelby — played by the wonderful Cillian Murphy — who is ambitious, cunning and shrewd as he tries to reach

the top. However, Murphy has revealed how he had to persuade the creator, Knight, to cast him in the role instead of the latter’s “first choice who was actually the famous English actor Jason Statham, typecast for playing the Machiavellian anti-hero in riveting action-thrillers.

Statham is known for his roles in films like The Expendables, Furious 7, Snatch, The Transporter, Collateral, The Bank Job and more.

In a recent interview with

The Guardian, Murphy revealed how he auditioned for the role of the iconic Thomas Shelby and how tenacious he had been in convincing the creator to give him the opportunity to play Shelby on-screen. “There was a bit of convincing needed,” Murphy recalled.

“Initially, there may have been some doubts about whether I had the requisite physicality, which I understand. I’m not the most physically imposing individual.”

In 2020, Knight had openly revealed how he was bent upon casting Statham in the role. “I met them both in LA to talk about the role and opted for Jason. One of the reasons was because physically in the room Jason is Jason,” he said.

Talking about Murphy, he said that although Murphy was no Tommy, the actor’s text about his desire to “transform himself” intrigued him. Knight said, “If you meet him in the street he is a totally different human being.”

Tom Hanks’ favourite own movies AS one of the most well-liked celebrities in all of Hollywood cinema, Tom Hanks is well known for his loveable personality illustrated by roles in such films as Forrest Gump, Toy Story, Cast Away and The Green Mile from author Stephen King.

Having enjoyed 41 flourishing years in the industry, Hanks has provided audiences with a consistent string of compelling characters and stories.

Speaking to The Bill Sim-

mons Podcast, Hanks recently revealed the three films that he has enjoyed working on the most throughout his career, with some of his choices serving up a surprise. Before he started his rundown he also clarified that these films included his favourite personal experiences and did not have any reflection on the final quality of the film itself.

His first choice was the Wachowski sisters’ sprawling sci-fi Cloud Atlas, also starring the likes of Halle Berry, Hugo

Weaving, Bae Doona, Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant and Susan Sarandon. Describing Cloud Atlas as a film, “shot on a hope and a dream and nothing but a circle of love,” Hanks said: “That was the first time I’d ever shot extensively in Germany and I was surrounded by history.”

The actor’s second choice was Cast Away from Robert Zemeckis, a film that saw Tom Hanks make friends with a volleyball whilst descending into madness on a desert island.

“We just had bold adventures when making that movie,” reported the actor, adding, “We were out in the middle of the ocean trying to grab shots. We were out in Fiji and my whole family was with me...Nothing but adventures every single day”.

The baseball movie A League Of Their Own is the final of Tom Hanks’ choices, including the film simply because he was able to play the sport throughout the whole duration of the film’s production.

You’ll look at the dusty landscape of Wyoming in Longmire and think, “This is like Bosch?” But Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor) and Harry Bosch both reign supreme over their own turf in similar ways. Also based on a series of books (these are from author Craig Johnson), Longmire follows a sheriff who does things his way because it’s the right way while also dealing with a murky past that may or may not involve some murder.

Sound familiar? But most of Longmire is about cracking cases unique to the area, which includes the tension between whites and Native Americans, drug runners, and more. Six seasons are on Netflix, so this will occupy some time.

Like Harry Bosch, the titular character of this Showtime drama has some major problems both in and out of his work. Unlike Bosch, Ray Donovan (Liev Schreiber) isn’t a cop; he’s a fixer for Hollywood’s elite, meaning that if you have the money, he’ll make your troubles -whether they be dead prostitutes in your bed or a blackmailer threatening to out your sexuality -- disappear. The show is also set in the underbelly of Los Angeles, and it really feels like Ray Donovan and Bosch could exist in the same universe.

Time to write the crossover episode. On Sky box-sets.

The British crime drama Luther is famous for bringing Idris Elba into the spotlight he deserves. Like Bosch, Luther is dark, but Luther takes it another step further by pitting John Luther against a series-long antagonist in Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), who becomes more than a mouse in their game of cat-and-mouse.

And, because it’s British, seasons will be shorter than even Bosch’s 10-episode seasons; over five seasons, Luther has racked up only 20 episodes on Sky.

If you’ve watched Bosch but have somehow missed out on watching The Wire, then please don’t talk to me until you have. The Wire is considered one of the greatest shows of all time, showing an unfiltered, raw side of police work that’s reminiscent of Bosch’s take on the boys in blue. But The Wire spends as much time on the other side of the law as it does the cops, following the intricate web of Baltimore’s criminal gangs to create a Dickensian tapestry of an entire ecosystem. Plus, Bosch’s Lance Reddick and Jamie Hector both got their break in The Wire in major roles. On Sky box-sets.

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Community & GAA Notes

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news

SENIOR FOOTBALL Clara made the long trip south to Mooncoin on Tuesday of last week to play the home team in the quarter final of the 2021 Senior football championship. They came away with a 1-8 to 1-2 victory over a team that was still suffering the after effects of their Junior hurling county final celebrations.

The first quarter was a scoreless one and Mooncoin remained without a score up to halftime. Liam Ryan opened Clara’s account and further points by Alan Coleman and Joe Connolly from a free had Clara 0-3 to 0-0 up at the interval.

When Tom Ryan, Kevin Nolan (2) and Joe Connolly from another free tacked on four more unanswered points in the third quarter, this game looked over. Moreover Kevin’s second point was from a penalty, which was deflected over by the Mooncoin goalkeeper. Then suddenly Mooncoin awoke from their slumber and scored a quick 1-2 to leave just two points between the teams. Clara, having owned the ball for most of the contest, were suddenly under pressure but their response was impressive and a point by Tom Ryan followed by a Peter Nolan goal closed out the scoring. Clara’s reward was a home semi final clash with five in a row seeking champions Mullinavat.

Team - Brian Prendergast, Dara Glynn, David Langton, Paul Murphy. James Casey, Conor O Shea, Liam Ryan 0-1. Ciarán Prendergast, Alan Coleman 0-1. Joe Connolly 0-2f, Kevin Nolan 0-2, Jack Langton. Brandon Ryan, Tom Ryan 0-2, Sean O Shea. Subs used Bill Cody, Peter Nolan 1-0, Lester Ryan.

MULLINAVAT MARCH ON Then on Sunday morning, Mullinavat made the trip northwards to face Clara in the semi final. Clara opened brightly and led by two points to no score after eight minutes, courtesy of a Kevin Nolan free and a Liam Ryan effort. Then a second yellow card dished out to midfielder Ciarán Prendergast left Clara at a numerical disadvantage and it was always going to be a big ask from there. Mullinavat slowly took over and a penalty goal just before halftime left them 1-5 to 0-2 ahead.

The second half was all Mullinavat and Clara only

added two further points, one in each quarter from Tom Ryan and an Alan Coleman free. The five in a row chasing Southerners scored regularly and ran out easy 2-14 to 0-4 winners. Clara tried hard but were no match for a well drilled outfit. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable campaign for the Clara lads and credit to the management of David and Pat Mulrooney for their efforts.

Team - Brian Prendergast, Dara Glynn, David Langton, Paul Murphy. Liam Ryan, Conor O Shea, James Casey.

Ciarán Prendergast, Alan Coleman. Lester Ryan, Kevin Nolan, Jack Langton. Joe Connolly, Tom Ryan, Peter Molloy. Subs used Bill Cody, Brandon Ryan.

U13s WIN The Clara U13 footballers had a very good win over Glenmore at home on Sunday morning. This puts them through to the semi final of the championship. 3-6 to 2-6 was how it finished. Well done boys!

Team - Matthew Cooke, Ollie Butler, Lucas Healy, Liam Treacy. Sam Corr, Peter Firbank, Sam Lawlor. Padraic Meany 1-2, Dara Leamy 1-1.

Ruairí Bowden Mullin, Aidan O Connell, Michael Meany.

Ciarán Gibbons 1-3, Orí Phelan, Darragh Kenny. Sub Jim Carrigan.

CAMOGIE Well done to the three Clara girls who were nominated for the Kilkenny Senior club team of the year recently. Sisters Rebecca and Aisling Nolan were nominated as defenders while Mary O Connell was nominated in the forward line.

Voting for that team is open to the public on the Camogie website.

U22s BOW OUT St. Brigids Ballycallan had a richly deserved 1-13 to 2-6 win at home to Clara on Sunday in the quarter final of the championship. This competition was increased to U22 this year because last years championship didn’t take place due to covid.

Brigids hit the ground running and after Peig Carrigan had equalised their opening score they kicked on and led 1-3 to 0-1 at the water break.

The second quarter was more of the same with a Keara Ryan free all that Clara had to show for their efforts. The interval arrived with the Ballycallan girls 1-7 to 0-2 ahead. Several of the Clara girls had been sick in bed all week and the

lack of energy was evident in their play. They had also had a number of first half wides which didn’t help their cause.

Now facing the strong breeze, it would have been very easy for these Clara lassies to hang their heads and give up, but this group have never done that and true to form, they carried the fight to St. Brigids for the second half. A goal each from Emma Shortall and Katie Ryan helped cut the deficit to a very respectable four points before the end. However when the final whistle sounded it had to be said that Brigids were the better team here and the curtain came down on a long season for a lot of these Clara girls. Well done to them for their never say die attitude and well done also to the management of Mícheál Nolan and John Murphy, who was absent here through illness.

Team - Lucy Cody, Anna Walpole, Rachel Whelan 0-1f, Grace Barcoe. Gráinne Glynn, Laoise Nolan, Katie Ryan 1-1, 0-1f. Keara Ryan 0-3, 0-2f, Rebecca Nolan. Emma Shortall 1-0, Niamh Ward, Maria Shortall. Peig Carrigan 0-1, Margaret O Connell, Aoife Treacy. Sub Niamh Brickell.

for our u15s who lost out to James Stephens in a very competitive County Final at St. Johns Park on Sunday morning. Unlucky not to get a few big scores but a huge effort again as is to be expected from this group.

Well done to their team mate Jack Johnson however who couldn’t play today’s game due to a boxing commitment in England coming away with the Gold Medal in the 52kg category representing Marble City Boxing Club .

Also on Sunday the O’Loughlin Gaels Camogie Club u22s got their championship off to a flyer with an emphatic win over Ballyhale. Their next round will be at St. Johns Park on Sunday morning. All the details on the clubs social media.

Next Saturday we look to

our u21 hurlers when they play Dicksboro in the hurling championship in Palmerstown at 1:30pm. Be there to support our teams.

Sponsors: Pat Robert Carroll McCarthy Eurospar Ireland MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre A.G.Ms The GAA Club Annual General Meeting has been scheduled to take place on the 8th of December at 7:30pm.

The Camogie Club A.G.M takes place at 8pm on December 6th.

CHRISTMAS FAIR The annual Christmas Fair organised by Ionad Lachtain Church Arts and Heritage Centre returns next weekend to the Square Freshford on

Sunday next 28th November .The usual gifts including knitted toys and garments, origami, art and woodwork will be on sale. Locally produced soaps, cards and local literature including Friggers Alley and “In Slips , the history of the coursing in Freshford will also be available.

You are asked to please support the event.

DEATH The death took place last week at Tinnypark Nursing Home of Mrs Anne Gormley (nee O’Keeffe). She was predeceased several years earlier by her late husband Eugene. The deceased who was in her 90s was originally from Inistioge County Kilkenny and spent many years in Dublin before retiring back to Freshford. She was a resident in the local St.Catherines

CLUB LOTTO There was no winner of this week’s Club Lotto (Nov 16th) Numbers Drawn were 1, 8, 15, 24 Bonus 17 Next Week’s Jackpot will be €8,600 (Nov 23rd) www. oloughlingaels.com/lotto Promotors Draw : 1. Paddy Hayes c/o Paddy Greene 2. Anita Corcoran c/o Anne Cullen 3. Veronica Power c/o Esther Maher 4. Johnny Walsh c/o Neil Loy 5. Tommy & Imelda Galvin c/o Mary Deegan 6. Stephen Sheridan c/o Neil Loy 7. Denise Brennan c/o Damien O’Connell 8. Kevin McGarry c/o Online 9. Marina Tyrrell c/o Online 10. Sandra Rochford c/o Online Thank you for your continued support Please play again www.perfectoprint.ie TEAM NEWS A couple of results the weekends’s action.

Well done to our intermediate Footballers who won their championship game over Blacks & Whites with a 6 point advantage, keeping sponsors Pat Carroll’s of Ballybought Street very happy.

Unfortunately it wasn’t to be

Katie Bourke (C), Emma Dalton, Caoimhe Nolan, Isabel Carroll, Muireann Flynn, Madison Walsh, Aoife Garry, Gabriella Dermody, Aoibh Carroll

Ciara hickey (C), Sarah Hickey, Mia Phelan, Holly Hughes, Chloe Gleeson, Lucy Dalton, Kate Walsh, Eimear Murphy, Ella McGree, Kate Dalton.(injured)

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

News Community & GAA Notes

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news

Caitlin Dermody (C), Aoibhinn McCarthy, Aillie Gibbons, Nessa Gibbons, Abigeal O’KaneFaith Long, Phoebe Long, Olivia Marnell, Caoilinn O’Rouoke, Kathie Ryan

Ciara Hickey receiving the cup from Mrs Sheila Dowling Killeen

Ruby Campion receiving the shield from mrs. Sheila Dowling Killeen

Private Nursing Home until its closure in 2017 when she moved to Tinnypark. She is sister of former postmistress Ms.Kay Julian, Kilkenny Street.

Her funeral mass took place in St.Lachtains Church Freshford on Thursday morning last followed by burial in Bohernabreena Cemetery, Dublin. She is mourned by her sisters Kay and Nora, her brothers John and Philip, sisters in law, nephews, nieces and extended family to whom sincere sympathy is extended.

KINNANE CUP AND MCGREE SHIELD The annual Kinane and McGree Memorial tournament finals took place on Sunday last. The competitions are run each year in the memory of the two young lads, Philip Kinnane and Colin McGree who both died tragically at a young age. The pre-liminary rounds of the competitions were held on Sunday 7th with the finals played on Sunday last. The final of the Colin McGree tournament saw Bobby Darcy’s side take on Tadhg Bolger’s team with Bobby’s team coming out winners. In the final of the Philip Kinnane Cup Cian O’Connor’s team took on Liam Kenny Landers side with Cians team finished up winners.

The Colin McGree trophy was presented to the winning captain Bobby by Shane McGree and the Kinnane Cup was presented to the winning captain Cian by Eoin Dalton, Chairman of Bord na nOg. The organising committee wish to thank special John Guinan

for refereeing both finals on the day. Also thanks to the McGree and Kinnane families for their continue suppot in these fantastic underage competitions. Big thanks also to the mentors and players for their fantastic work throughout the year and they look forward to see you all in 2022.

WINNING TEAM – KINANE CUP: C.O’Connor(capt), C.Kavanagh, J.Walsh, N.Walsh, J.Marnell, S.Gray, P.Dermody A.Dalton, J.Geraghty F.Condon.

Runners Up : L. Kenny Landers (Capt) P.Brennan, M.Hickey, B. O’Gorman, S.Eardley, H.Carroll, M.O’Neill, B.Looby, L.Dermody Winning Team – MCGREE SHIELD : B.Darcy (Capt) , D.Ryan, P.McCarthy, A.Walsh, P.O’Connor, J.Bolger, B.McGree, L.McCarthy, T.Dalton Runners up- T.Bolger (Capt) S.Looby, T.O’Kane, C.Dalton, J.Dermody, J.Kavanagh, F.Martin, I.Carroll S.Walsh BAPTISM Congratulations to the proud parents of Baby Michael Owen Morrissey, Clashacrow Freshford who was baptised at St.Lachtains Church on Sunday afternoon last. Owen and Majella have two other children.

DAY CARE CENTRE Freshford Day care centre reopened recently and will continue each Wednesday at 2pm in the GAA Club rooms. The Centre has been closed since the start of the pandemic. It is hoped to see all the former members return and new members are also very welcome both male and female. You will get a cup of tea and have a chat and a game of bingo. The Day care centre was greatly missed by the people during the pandemic and so it is great to see it back open.

BIRTHDAY Special birthday wishes go out to local lad Padraig Donnelly of Ballylarkin who celebrated a very special birthday last weekend Padraig who is an ardent member of St.Lachtains Hurling teams since his underage schoolboys days reached the big 21.

SOCCER Freshford Town had number of underage teams in action at the weekend . The U13 boys took on Deen Celtic and came out winners on a 4-2 scoreline with goals from Jack Marnell (2) Charlie Kavanagh

and Michael Hicky. The U15 boys played Stoneyford and Freshford came out winning 4-1. Cian Donnelly hit the net twice for Freshford Town with Michael Bergin getting two more.. Well done also to the U9s and U11 boys and girls with some super work put in again and some fine goals scored by all age groups. Keep up the good work.

U8s The training sessions for U8s will resume on Saturday next at the Sportsfield at Woodview from 12noon to 1pm with Gary in charge as usual. All boys from 5 to 8 years old are welcome so go along and join up.

SQUASH The Connacht Masters over 40s was held in Galway Lawn Tennis Squash and Badminton Club recently with some local men taking part. Pat Morrissey Ard Lachtain winning the final.

Pat played 3 games over Friday and Saturday and beat Colin Trais from Westwood 3-0 and then beat Nigel Peyton from Fitzwilliam 3-1 and then went on to beat Neil Pollock from Ulster 3-0 in the final. There was a great turn out, the biggest masters tournament with over 90 men and women entered. Another local man Noel Walsh from Sart Freshford playing in the 0ver 45s was unlucky to be narrowly beaten.

CAMOGIE The annual Peggy Dowling memorial tournament took place recently with a big turnout. The final saw Ciara Hickeys team claim the Cup and the presentation was made by Sheila Dowling Killeen to Ciara. Sheila also presented the Shield to winning captain Ruby Campion. Well done to all who took part and all the mentors and organisers.

As always, the tournament produced an excellent standard of camogie skills by all players, with everyone working so hard, and fighting to the final whistle. The Cup final was won by Ciara Hickey’s team in an excellent contest against Caitlin Dermody’s team, and the Shield Final was won by Ruby Campion’s team after a hard-fought battle against Katie Burke’s team.

Thank you to the Dowling family and to all our club volunteers over both

weekends – especially our referees, umpires, and mentors.

IONAD LACHAIN St.Lachtains Church Museum and Arts Centre is open each Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 4.30pm on Saturdays and from 12.30pm to 4.30pm on Sundays. New display cabinets have been installed and filled with a host of interesting artefacts and some beautiful craftwork is also on sale. So why not drop in and see for yourself MACRA NA FEIRME Macra na Feirme are looking to establish a new club in the Freshford area. Macra na Feirme is an organisation for young people between the ages of 17 and 35 who are interested in getting involved in sports, travel drama, debating or just want to meet new people and have some fun. To be a member of Macra you must join a Macra club in your area. This will open the door to new fiends and new activities. There are hundreds of clubs across Ireland bursting with activity who always welcome a new face. For more information please contact Training and Development Officer – Michael Wall on 0868359891 or email him at mwall@macra.ie .GAA NEWS Dog night – A great crowd turned up recently at Kilkenny Greyhound stadium for the benefit night hosted by St.Lactains GAA Club. As part of the night there was a raffle which was greatly supported and the lucky winners were: 1st prize- Jack Hickey 2nd prize- Podge Sweeney, 3rd prize- Joan Grace , 4th prizeLucy Cody and 5th prizeRohan Keaghy.The Committee wish to thank all those who supported the event.

WALKING GROUP A walking group has started and will continue on Thursday evening leaving the GAA clubrooms at 8pm All new members regardless of fitness levels are most welcome. It is open to all and everyone is encouraged to bring a friend along .

SPEEDY RECOVERY Best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to local man Brian Kavanagh, Buncrussia Street Freshford from all his friends in Freshford and at St.Lachtains GAA Club. Brian is recovering from surgery at

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News Community & GAA Notes St.Vincents Hospital Dublin and missed the big final recently. Brian has been a hard working committee member of the local club for many years.

PARISH NEWS With attendance at Masses almost back to normal Mass in the Parish Church each Wednesday morning at 9.30am and on Sunday morning at 11am.wiith Mass in Tulla church on Saturday evenings at 8pm. While the obligation to attend Sunday mass is still suspended you are encouraged to return. At this time all safety measures remain in place which includes wearing of masks, social distancing and hand sanitising and full sanitation of the Church after every celebration The restoration of the Stations of the Cross in the Church continues with ten now completed and just four more to go . In order to continue the work you are invited to sponsor one of the stations maybe with your family or a group of your friends. The sponsors will be included in a special roll of honor displayed in the church as a lasting legacy. For further information re same you are asked to please contact Monsignor Kennedy 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 Jennifer 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.

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

COMMUNITY ALERT With winter upon us now and the dark evenings and long nights you are reminded to take care of yourself and take care of your elderly neighbours or friends. Make sure get out if you can during daylight and get some exercise HELP FOR ALL Are you struggling with anxiety or depression or finding life difficult or feeling isolated at this time GROW is there to help you. Their Mental Health support Groups are free and confidential and open to all no referral or booking is needed.

For more information on same you can contact Mary on 087 284342If you cant cope and need support text HELLO to 50808.SAMARITAN Whatever you’re going through a Samaritan will face it with you – available 24 hours a day 365 days a year – Freephone 1161Alone is available for older people who need support and you can call them on 0818 222024 (8am to 8pm) AMBER KILKENNY WOMENS REFUGE – is available for confidential support relating to domestic violence - call

them on 1850 424244 (24/7) or on 056 7771404 or email into@ amberwomensrefuge.ie.

DUNNAMAGGIN GAA The November Development fund lotto syndicate Draw Winners are:- €100 Frankie Hughes, €100 Willie Kearney Snr, €50 Aaron Donherty, €50 Declan Donoghue.

DUNNAMAGGIN LOCAL LOTTO Local Lotto: Winning Numbers : 16,25,36. No winner.

Winners, Draw for 5 x € 30 ,William Barry(Mags Cahill ), Shane Cahill (Mags Cahill ),Karen Kirwan(Kathleen Kirwan ), Margaret Sheridan ( Joe Sheridan ), Sinead ( Kathleen Kirwan ) Jackpot next Week November 22nd € 3,700. Venue: Delaney’s Bar in Kells at 9pm. Everyone Welcome.

BINGO Bingo on Saturday nights in St Eoghans Centre Kilmoganny suspended until further notice.

CHRISTMAS FAIR The Dunnamaggin Development Group are hosting their third Christmas Fair on December 5th from 11.30am to 4pm. We are planning an extra special fair for Christmas, so watch this space We still have outdoor spaces available for traders, if you would like to join us on our fun festive day please message the facebook page Dunnamaggin Community News for more information.

ONLINE TRAINING FREE online training sessions for PPN members!

Over the next month Kilkenny PPN are offering the following

four FREE trainings to member groups via ZOOM. The online trainings are being delivered by trainers from the Carmichael Centre in Dublin.

Board Roles & Responsibilities - Tuesday, 30th Nov, 6pm to 9pm by Marian Barnard New Options for Funding Thursday, 2nd Dec, 6pm to 8pm by Liam Scollan Charities Governance Code - Tuesday, 7th Dec, 6pm to 8.30pm by Marian Barnard For more information and to register contact Kilkenny PPN at pppnkilkenny@ kilkennycoco.ie or call 056 7794255/087 2677281.

AMBER WAVING WORKSHOPS AT YULEFEST Join Amber’s One Million Stars for a star weaving workshop at Butler Gardens for Yulefest.

Learn how to weave an eight pointed Christmas star in a fun and supportive environment.

Star weaving kits are provided for each participant.

Each eight-point star represents light, hope and solidarity against violence. Tie your woven star to the LOVE star installation or on one of the star spangled Yulefest Christmas trees in the Castle Yard and help Amber reach the goal of One Million Stars to End Violence in Ireland.

Parent + child (parents go free!) and Adult workshops available. Places are limited.

Tuesday 30/11 11am – 12pm Adults workshop (over 18s) Orangerie at Butler House & Garden TICKETS AT : https://www. eventbrite.ie/e/amberstars-for-yulefest-weavingworkshops-adult-workshopsover-18s-tickets-208594631157 Thursday 02/12 4-5pm Parent & Child workshop.

Orangerie in Butler House & Garden.

TICKETS AT : https:// www.eventbrite.ie/e/ amber-stars-for-yulefestweaving-workshopstickets-208709023307 KILKENNY YULE FEST 2021 Kilkenny is going to be twinkling with atmosphere this Christmas with Yulefest events across the City and County providing entertainment for all ages and highlighting Kilkenny shops, businesses and experiences. With a programme that includes winter markets, outdoor movies, pop-up parks, Santa visits, live music, and fireworks; kilkenny county Council is welcoming everyone to come celebrate ‘Christmas in Kilkenny’! Yulefest will launch on November 27th with Santa’s epic eco arrival across Kilkenny City, starting at 2pm at the Canal Square. Check out the full programme on www. yulefestkilkenny.ie

DEVELOPMENT DRAW. Just 2 Weeks to the Draw!

Tickets available from any committee member, team mentors and others.

The Club really appreciates everyone who has agreed to sell tickets again this year.

We encourage all of the Dicksboro Community to try and support when asked.

This fundraiser supported the Ball Wall and Pitch Drainage Projects over the past 2 years With your support we hope to continue with development plans and we are aiming for further facilities and pitch upgrades for 2022, more

details coming soon.

CLUB BAR The Clubhouse Bar has re-opened and cards continue in the club on Thursday evenings.

The Committee have been busy, the lights are on and the shelves are stacked.

Vaccination Certs required and table service will be in place.

All are welcome.

COFFEE DOCK Our new coffee machine was up & running in our clubhouse coffee dock area on saturday mornings.

CLUB LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results November 17th Nos: 22–18– 23– 1.

Jackpot: €5400– not won Draw Prizes – €50: Anne Foley c/o online €25 each Lisa Hanrick c/o online. €25 each Tony Preston c/o F and E Morrissey €25 each Davie Kenny c/o T and J Knox €25 each Gemma Murray c/o online Promotors Prize Ned Buggy Next weeks draw 5500 November 25th SENIOR FOOTBALL Our Senior Football team were beaten in the Semi Final on Friday Night in Thomastown v Thomastown after extra time.

Hard luck to all involved.

U19 HURLERS Our Under 19 hurler A and B teams were in semi final and final action this week against Mooncoin and Graiguenamagh and Thomastown. Winning the county final on Sunday in Nowlan Park. Well done to all involved.

Dicksboro U19 County Champions 2021

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

Hurling matters

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

A SUNNY UPMC Nowlan Park was the venue last Sunday for the Permanent TSB U19 A Hurling Championship final between Dicksboro and Thomastown.

Going into the game, Michael Walsh’s charges were heavily fancied to take the honours, and they duly obliged with an 11-point victory over their opponents.

To be fair, the score line was probably a little harsh on Thomastown, who kept in touch with the ‘Boro right up to the final quarter, but goals proved to be their undoing.

Thomastown got off to a good start, when midfielder and captain, Peter McDonald pointed early on from a placed ball, and the impressive No.9 would go onto be his teams star performer on the day. It appeared that the game plan was based largely on getting McDonald on the ball at every opportunity.

The response from Dicksboro was emphatic. On 5 minutes, and after some great team play, the ball arrived with centre-forward Liam Moore, who batted the ball to the net, leaving keeper Luke McNena helpless, as he raised the first of three green flags for his side.

County minor star and captain Harry Shine then opened his account from a placed ball with almost 7minutes on the clock, to give his side a one-point lead. That man McDonald then equalised with a lovely score from play. Dicksboro midfielder, James Carroll, who was heavily involved throughout proceedings then popped over a well-worked score on 11 minutes, to restore his team’s lead, before Thomastown’s only scorer in the game so far, McDonald was adjudged to have been fouled by his marker, and a free was awarded, which – yes you guessed it, he slotted between the posts.

‘Boro midfielder, James Carroll then picked up the ball nicely, before arrowing a lovely pass to his cornerforward, Cillian Hackett, who pointed from a tight angle to register a lovely score. The Maroon & whites wasted no time in troubling the umpires again, when Liam Moore popped over a well-struck point, despite coming under serious pressure from the Thomastown defence, and appearing to have little space to get his effort away. The next Dicksboro attack, almost resulted in a second goal, had it not been for the alertness of Thomastown keeper

McNena. Harry Shine, collected the ball close to the end line, before heading towards goal, only to be thwarted by the netminder.

Shine didn’t dwell on the miss, and on 16 minutes he converted another free, to leave the ‘Boro up by 3 at the first water break, 1-5 to 0-5.

When play resumed, Peter McDonald showed that he was in fact human, when he missed from a placed ball.

Soon after McDonald strode forward before off-loading to wing-back Naoise Dempsey, who with the wind behind him, struck from far-out the pitch, only to see his speculative effort drift wide.

Thomastown then nearly hit the net, but were denied by a good save from ‘Boro keeper, Brian Minogue. Luckily for the attacking side, referee Cahill was playing a good advantage, and despite the save, pulled the play back and awarded the free, which McDonald scored from, to reduce the deficit to just two points.

Despite playing against a very strong wind, Harry Shine then pointed from a long-range free, before his full-forward Nick Doheny pointed, following superb build-up play from his fellow Dicksboro forwards. From the resulting puck-out, Peter McDonald ran onto the breaking ball before striking a stunning effort left-handed which was well-received by the Thomastown supporters in attendance. Shine then pointed from another free, some 50 yards out, before his nemesis McDonald did likewise as the first period entered stoppage time.

There would still be time for one more score from Thomastown, when centreforward Luke Connellan fired over a lovely point to leave just 2-points between the sides at the short whistle, the ‘Boro 1-8, Thomastown 0-9.

The second half was only a minute old when Shine took a nice pass from James Carroll, but pulled his effort just wide of the post. Nick Doheny then played a lovely ball to Eoin Dalton, who duly slotted between the posts for the first score of the second period. The next goal chance came shortly afterwards.

Liam Moore who had been getting on lots of ball in the first half, collected the ball before heading straight down the middle of the pitch towards goal. When he got to the 21-yard line, he unleashed a pile-driver of a shot, which smashed against the crossbar and rebounded to safety.

Thomastown, now playing against the wind, got their first score of the half when McDonald and their only other scorer, Luke Connellan exchanged passes, to allow the former to point from

Goals galore as Dicksboro claim silverware

Harry helps ‘Boro SHINE!

All pix: Danny Lahart

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Hurling matters about 50 yards out on the left-hand side. Six minutes into the half, Dicksboro defender Liam Treacy was pulled-up for a tug on the attacker’s arm, and McDonald punished the indiscretion by pointing the placed ball.

Michael Walsh then looked to his bench to freshen things up, Sean Maher replaced Eoin Dalton and would make some telling contributions in the remainder of the final.

Naoise Dempsey stands firm

Luke Connellan strikes the ball

Rise & Shine - Harry claims the catch

Dicksboro then moved the ball through the lines before passing to Aaron Murphy, who struck a beautiful worked point.

It appeared that Dicksboro were now employing a 2-man full-forward line, leaving just Cillian Hackett and Aaron Murphy inside. The hard-working Nick Doheny along with Liam Moore and Harry Shine were all roaming from much deeper positions and getting on plenty of possessions.

After some carless play in the Thomastown defence, substitute Sean Maher pounced on the loose ball and pointed, leaving the ‘Boro 3-points ahead, 1-11 to 0-11. From the next play, referee Cahill awarded a free to Thomastown, which Peter McDonald stood over, a long way from the Dicksboro posts. To his credit, he had the distance, but unfortunately not the accuracy and his effort went behind and wide, as the whistle sounded for the second water break.

The Dicksboro mentors must have had some inspiring words for their CONTINUED >>>

Thomastown clear their lines

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

Hurling matters Dicksboro post-match

The jubilant ‘Boro team

... CONTINUED

players, as they would go on to outscore their opponents 2-6 to 0-3 during the final period. Aaron Murphy got on the ball and stuck a nice pass to Sean Maher, who notched his second score his entering the fray. The deadly Harry Shine then effortlessly popped over another free, to extend his sides lead to 5 points, 1-13 to 0-11.

Thomastown appeared to be finding it even more difficult against the wind, to manufacture scoring opportunities, compared to the ‘Boro in the first half.

Some nice play between Luke Connellan and Zach Bay Hammond, ended with

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Hurling matters Captain & goal scorer Aaron Murphy lifts the cup

the latter striking over a wellworked point, but almost immediately, Dicksboro hit back. Substitute Mikey Raggett played a nice pass to Liam Moore, who struck a great point.

If the 5-point lead wasn’t enough, Dicksboro made sure shortly afterwards.

On 52 minutes, influential midfielder James Carroll picked up the ball before hitting his corner-forward, Cillian Hackett with a lovely pass. Hackett worked his way along the end line, before picking out Aaron Murphy who finished to the net from close range, to extinguish any remaining faint hopes of Thomastown glory. The man that started the move for the

‘Boro’s second goal, James Carroll, then got on the score board when he collected a pass from Hackett, before pointing.

The ‘Boro were rampant.

Another goal chance came, this time it fell to Cillian Hackett, who saw his goalbound effort blocked and put behind for a ‘65, which Shine struck over. Peter McDonald continued his one-man battle and struck from another placed ball. It was goals that his side needed, but the Dicksboro defence, led by Niall Rowe and Stevie Dermody continued to stand firm as they had done throughout the game.

Dicksboro final point would come from substitute, Mikey

Raggett, their 17th of the game. Thomastown were then awarded a free, which captain, Peter McDonald attempted to goal from, but his fierce effort was deflected over by keeper Minogue.

Harry Shine then put the icing on the cake, when he picked up a loose ball before rifling past Luke McNena for his side’s third major of the day. The hard-working Naoise Dempsey then took a nice pass on the run before registering the final score of the game.

The long whistle then sounded; Michael Walsh’s team were U19 County Champions.

Final Score: Dicksboro 3-17, Thomastown 0-15.

>> SHERRY SAYS...

This is a mighty fine Dicksboro team. Harry Shine and Liam Moore will take many of the plaudits, but for me, it was maybe lesser-known names that caught the eye in their sides win over a gallant Thomastown outfit.

Under the watchful eye of their No.3, Niall Rowe, the Dicksboro defence gave away very little to the opposition. For me, the performance of corner-back, Stevie Dermody was phenomenal. I lost count of the number of balls he won over the course of the game.

The half-back line of Charlie Nolan, Tom Carroll and the hugely talented Timmy Clifford controlled proceedings. This allowed midfielder James Carroll to get on lots of ball and pick some great passes to the danger men inside. Cillian Hackett was a constant menace throughout.

Some of this panel will be involved in the county U20’s panel next season, and that can only bode well for Mr. Lyng & Co. A word on the performance of Thomastown captain and midfielder, Peter McDonald. This young man has all the qualities to be a future senior star. His placed ball accuracy was exceptional. His drive and ability to get up and down the pitch was great. He never gave up. He will have a big role to play in getting his club into the senior ranks again.

Comhghairdeas Dicksboro. A well-deserved victory.

LAST WEEK WE CARRIED A MATCH REPORT ON THE SENIOR CAMOGIE COUNTY FINAL. THE REPORT WAS WRITTEN BY AOIFE LANIGAN & EDITED BY OUR SPORTS EDITOR. APOLOGIES FOR ANY CONFUSION CAUSED.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

Hurling matters - Picture special

Sport Permanent TSB U19 B Hurling Championship Final Erins Own 3-8 Bennettsbridge 0-13 @ UPMC NOWLAN PARK, Sunday 21st November

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

ERINS Own defeated a gallant Bennettsbridge side in the curtainraiser to the A grade final Goals win games, and this was certainly the case on an autumnal day at county headquarters.

Star of the show was unquestionably Erins Own full-forward, Jamie Maher, who notched a hat-trick of goals to seal a glorious win for JD Harding’s Castlecomer side.

Bennettsbridge took to the field without joint captains and twins, Daniel & Harry Murphy, and this would prove to be a huge loss for Patrick O’Neill’s team.

Player-of-the-match Maher was undoubtably the difference between the two teams, and there isn’t a full-back in the county that will fancy marking the bustling No.14 next season!

Comhghairdeas Erins Own!!

Maher’s majors seal ‘Comer victory

All pix: Danny Lahart

Shane Coogan on the stretch

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Hurling matters - Picture special

Jamie the King of the castle with final hat-trick

‘Bridge full-back Joe Hughes clears his lines under pressure from Tommy Coogan

Get a grip!

Captain Ashley Kerr leads the celebrations

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

Motors Classifieds

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

NOW OPEN SATURDAY MORNINGS 9.30am to 12.00pm

CAR WASH – 056 7726289 TYRE BREAKDOWN SERVICE

DENTAL NURSE WANTED

EXPERIENCE PREFERABLE BUT NOT ESSENTIAL AS FULL TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED.

EXCELLENT RENUMERATION AND SUPPORT FOR THE IDEAL CANDIDATE, EMAIL:

DENTALNURSEKILKENNY@GMAIL.COM

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Classifieds Motors

RECRUITMENT

JOB DETAILS: • Job category: Healthcare Assistant • Company: Drakelands House Nursing Home, Drakelands, Kilkenny R95 YR02 • Job Location: Drakelands Kilkenny • Start Immediately • Contract Type: Permanent – Full-time • Positions: 8 • Experience: 2 years’ experience in a caring environment preferable • Qualification: Diploma in nursing • Salary: €27,000 Per Annum • Hours: 39 Per Week Send C.V.: anne@drakelandshouse.com Applicants will be required to work as part of a team of healthcare assistants, under the direction of nursing team, and to provide person-cantered care to meet the needs of our Residents. Our holistic approach to the care of our Residents is centered on the fulfilment of the needs of the individual whilst maintaining their dignity, privacy and independence in a comfortable and homely setting

Glass & Glazing Services Advertise Window + Door Repairs Units, Hinges, Locks Repaired or Replaced your Legal Mirrors Cut Toughened Glass/Security Glass Notices/Licence All Domestic & Commercial work undertaken Applications with Call Jerry 0894976758 jerharding66@gmail.com us at The Kilkenny Observer.

Call: 056 7771463 / 086 2395370 or email: sales@kilkennyobserver.ie for extremely competitive rates.

Call 056 7771463 for all your classified advertisements.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021

News

Memoriams/Miracle Planning notices prayers

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL Planning Permission is sought by Paul Walsh and Joanne Bergin to construct a two storey dormer style dwelling house, detached single storey garage, new proprietary sewage treatment system and percolation area, new vehicular site entrance and all associated site development works at Grange, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny.

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

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL I ,Padraic Rafter,intend to apply to above authority for Permission for the following at Tower Road,Jenkinstown Co.Kilkenny (a)Erection of Dwelling House (b)Erection of Garage (c)Installation of New Waste Treatment System (d)Water Supply from new borehole (e) New entrance from Public Road (f)Associated Works The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL We, Michael & Edward & Michael Jnr. O’ Keeffe, intend to apply to the above Authority for Permission for the construction of a cattle underpass, slatted effluent tank and all associated site works at Kilree, Stoneyford , Co. Kilkenny.

This application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during office hours i.e. 9.00 a.m to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Padraic Rafter

TO PUBLISH PLANNING APPLICATION, CONTACT US: Call to our office at: Unit 7 Friary Street Telephone: 056 7771463/086 2395370 Email: sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

TO PLACE YOUR NOTICE IN THE KILKENNY OBSERVER IN MEMORIAM DEATH NOTICE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCES OFFICE AT UNIT 7, FRIARY STREET (Straight across from the Friary Church)

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. R.K

The Miracle Prayer

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

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

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

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

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.M

The Miracle Prayer

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

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

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

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

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. A.S

CALL TO US AT THE OFFICE AT ANY TIME Monday – Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm (We are open during lunchtime) Bring the picture and the verse, we can scan the picture and return it to you while you are at the office.

EMAIL TO accounts@kilkennyobserver.ie Email the picture and the verse to us accounts@kilkennyobserver.ie and include your telephone number.

We will call you to confirm and you can pay by card over the phone.

BY PHONE 056 7771463 You can also place your notice by phone.

We can take the verse from you over the phone and the picture can be sent by WhatsApp. PLEASE NOTE All pictures and verses will be held on file for future years

The Miracle Prayer

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

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

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

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

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. A.ON

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.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. P.K

Deadline 5.00pm on Wednesdays for Friday’s newspaper

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kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 26 November 2021