Travel & Leisure

The Italian job - and a deal - as travel reopens

BY FIONN DAVENPORT

GROUP holiday specialist Travel Department welcomed its rst customers back to Italy last week on its Lake Como, Milan and St Moritz tour including the Bernina Express.

Sara Zimmerman, CEO, Travel Department: “We were delighted to welcome our rst customers back to Lake Como this week.

“It’s clear that many of those joining our tour, whether rst timers or returning customers, really welcomed the reassurance of travelling with a trusted tour operator with best in class safety standards.”

Congratulations to the Travel Department – another good sign that travel is on its way back!

To celebrate being back in Italy Travel Department has launched its Italy O er which gives €50pp* o any seven-night or more 2022 holiday to Italy by using the code: VP-ITALY50 when booked before September 30.

Everything is included from ights, accommodation, transfers, and excursions to an expert local guide.

Ryanair, yet again, pulls out of Belfast

BY FIONN DAVENPORT

RYANAIR has announced that it will cease its services from Belfast International Airport and Belfast City in the autumn. This means Ryanair will operate no services from or into Northern Ireland.

The carrier will stop flying to Alicante, Barcelona (Girona), Gdansk, Krakow, London Stansted, Malaga, Malta, Manchester, Milan (Bergamo) and Warsaw from Belfast International on October 30.

Routes from Belfast City to Spain, Portugal and Italy will cease on September 12.

Ryanair had reintroduced services had from Belfast City on June 1 last but strictly on a seasonal basis.

However, a spokesperson for Belfast International Airport was quoted in the Belfast Telegraph as saying: “It is disappointing that Ryanair has now decided to withdraw operations from the entire Northern Ireland market at the end of October, having variously had a presence in all three local airports in recent years.

“It has been a difficult period for aviation and a time when consumers need some stability and faith in the Northern Ireland air transport network.”

The spokesperson admitted the move was expected: “As we have been anticipating such a move, we have been engaging with our existing and other new airlines to provide continuity on the routes to be vacated by Ryanair, and to help sustain employment in the aviation industry at a local level in Northern Ireland.

“To this end, we hope to be able to make announcements regarding fresh route development in the near future.”

The airline terminated its service from City of Derry Airport earlier this summer.

Show racism the red card

KILKENNY’S Twilight Community Group with their strong association with the Football Association of Ireland have been involved in the International Campaign of SHOW RACISM THE RED CARD. Post Covid the Charity held their Integration World Cup with the diaspora of all our New Communities togged out in their nation’s colours to represent their Country. is year the Immigrant Council of Ireland will be the lead organisation on the Show Racism the Red Card programme

In the latest of the series of articles pro ling the new communities in Kilkenny and Ireland, the spotlight is on the Romanians in Ireland. Ovidiu Matiut is the Integration o cer with Spirasi, working to assist immigrants to nd employment. He is also the secretary of the Romanian Community in Ireland. e programme he coordinates runs for six weeks and is made up of an intense three-week English for employment course, two weeks of life skills modules focusing on areas such as employment rights and entitlements, social welfare to work, Irish adult education system, money advice and budgeting and stress management. e sixth week is lled with work preparation skills such as writing C.V. s, cover letters and mock interviews. He is one of the estimated 20-30,000 Romanians living in Ireland.

As secretary of the Romanian Community group, he has seen a lot of changes in Ireland and the status of Romanians in Ireland. Romanians are allowed in Ireland only as visa holders and that is not easy to get. It is a long and very frustrated process and I think less than 50% of applicants will get a visa. e positive aspect for Romanians is that it is possible to have a decent life in Ireland even though the cost is high. Unfortunately, their quali cations are not recognised here so they are not doing work according to their quali cations. Romanians began to move to Ireland initially in small numbers following the collapse of the Ceaucescu regime and as the Irish economy grew so too did the numbers of Romanians moving here. e majority are in Dublin and probably male aged 20-45 years old. ey work in IT, construction, hotel, and catering. When asked do the majority want to stay in Ireland, Ovidiu supposes that Romanians who have had family in Ireland are likely to stay but many others see their future in Romania.

On leisure and sport activities Romanians like their satellite TV with Romanian channels. On a local level there are three Romanian football teams, one of which plays in the SARI Brian Kerr League. On the Romanian attitude to GAA, Romanians believes that it is an unusual sport and hence not many Romanians play.

A recent Irish government survey which indicates that racism has declined in Ireland by 20%: “I do not agree what I can say is that the institutionalized racism is very big and as well the immigrants fear of reporting it. As well we cannot neglect the ability of same people to diversify methods of being racist”. Ovidiu Matiut, secretary of the Romanian Community in Ireland, told the immigrant Council of Ireland.

Community Group

Give us a hand to STOP elder abuse!

AT the Kilkenny Older people’s Councils Annual Conference in 2019, one of the topics discussed was the abuse of our elders. To say I was astounded to hear, how it was in icted in many cases by a member of the family while others stood idly by. To comprehend that this could be an ongoing problem in our society of today was of particular concern to the Twilight Community Group. ere has been very limited research on elder abuse, although there is some evidence that suggests it may be nearly as widespread in the community as child abuse. Although attention has increased somewhat in recent years, most research on elder abuse and neglect has focused on incidence, causes, and risk factors in the community. Elderly who live in settings other than their own homes or apartments or those of relatives have received relatively little attention from either the research or policy communities.

As we come to the end o the cycle of our Begin Together programme of our Health and Wellness programme, which was very kindly supported by the Bank of Ireland through the community foundation of Ireland, our Seniors Forum Steering Committee decided to take a closer look at what forms this abuse may take place against elders today. Firstly, we examined what the de nition of the Term elder Abuse.

What is Elder Abuse?

‘’Abuse may be de ned as any act, or failure to act, which results in a breach of a vulnerable person’s human rights, civil liberties, physical and mental integrity, dignity, or general wellbeing, whether intended or through negligence, including sexual relationships or nancial transactions to which the person does not or cannot validly consent, or which are deliberately exploitative. Abuse may take a variety of forms”.

What forms can Elder Abuse take?

ere are several forms of abuse, any, or all of which may be carried out as the result of deliberate intent, negligence, or ignorance. • Psychological abuse • Neglect and acts of omission • Financial or material abuse • Physical abuse • Sexual abuse • Discrimination

Psychological Abuse consider the possibility of psychological abuse if:

• You are made feel afraid in your living accommodation • You are experiencing feelings of hopelessness or helplessness because of the attitude or behaviour of others • You are made feel tearful and agitated

Neglect considers the possibility of neglect if:

• You are not receiving adequate liquids to drink or food to eat • Your clothes are not being washed when required • You are not being provided with appropriate clothing for the weather conditions • You are being denied the aids you need, eg glasses, hearing aid, dentures etc • You are being left alone for long periods when you cannot move about easily or prepare meals without assistance • You are bed/chair bound and you are experiencing signi cant discomfort which is not alleviated when this is brought to someone’s attention

Financial Abuse consider the possibility of nancial abuse if:

• Someone else has access to your accounts without your full permission • You feel pressured to allow someone else access to your accounts • Someone else makes decisions about your money without speaking with you • You feel you have lost all control over your money • Your money is being spent by someone else for things other than your bills, clothes, food, etc. • You feel pressured to give money to someone else

Physical Abuse: consider the possibility of physical abuse if:

• You have been treated roughly, enough to leave marks or bruises • You have been treated violently which caused broken bones, sprains, dislocations, or other injuries • Someone has in icted pain on you

Sexual Abuse; consider the possibility of sexual abuse if:

• Someone has forced you to be intimate with them without your consent • We consider this to be an issue we cannot neglect or ignore. it may be someone you know, it may be your parent or relative, and remember this could be you in a very short few years! • If you are experiencing any of the feelings or e ects outlined above, you may need to speak with your GP, Public Health

Nurse or Safeguarding and

Protection Team or contact the HSE Information line on 1850 24 1850.

In our region if you suspect that some is, or in danger of elder abuse the contact details to report such behaviour is. Ms. Geraldine Sutton, HSE O ces, Dublin Road, Lacken, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

New app makes air travel easier

WITH consumer con dence in travel slowly returning, Aer Lingus has introduced a new digital Travel Support tool digital designed to remove confusion regarding travel restrictions and entry requirements for all Aer Lingus destinations. e interactive tool on aerlingus.com, powered by Sherpa, allows Aer Lingus customers to search destinations and retrieve up-to-date tailored travel information based on their speci c circumstances including vaccination status, return travel and ight connection requirements. Since Ireland’s lifting of the ban on non-essential travel on July 19 last, Aer Lingus gas said it has noted a high volume of queries from customers confused by the entry requirements, restrictions and documentation needed for their journeys. e new Aer Lingus Travel Support tool helps to address these concerns by providing clear information, pulled from multiple o cial sources. Customers can get clarity on the types of Covid-19 tests accepted, age criteria for testing of children and any exemptions that may apply at each destination.

Sherpa began as a source for entry requirements to countries but, with Covid, quickly pivoted. e company was founded in 2015 by two friends Max Tremaine and Ivan Sharko who worked in the tech industry and travelled a lot for work.

Originally focused on visa requirements and such, they’ve quickly grown to become the go-to for Covid requirements and count Expedia, Lufthansa, American Airlines, Condor and British Airways to name just a few, among their partners.

Speaking on the introduction of the tool Dave O’Donovan, Chief Digital and Information O cer at Aer Lingus, said: “We are proud to partner with Sherpa on the integration of this new interactive search tool on aerlingus.com. is tool will help to boost con dence in the travel experience, assuring customers of the steps they need to take to ensure a smooth and seamless journey.”

For more information and for bookings, visit aerlingus.com.

It’s child’s play when it’s play time ...

THE long-awaited opening of the Pil River Park took place the other week, to great welcomes from the local community.

It was a long wait for the community, with construction work delayed by the Covid lockdown, but on weekend afternoon of the o cial opening, there was excitement for children and adults who were checking out the park for the rst time.

Located by the Pil River, and just beside the old Garda Barracks on the Main Street in Piltown, the park is designed to have relaxing, river-side seating, a sensory garden, and lots of play areas for children.

“Congratulations to the hard working committee and all who supported the plans, fundraising and work that went into this lovely, new community facility,”

Anti litter poster winners announced for new community park in south Kilkenny. e park can be enjoyed by all ages, with play areas for children and peaceful, riverside relaxation for others who can sit in the park and listen to the river owing by.

Playground equipment is being installed along with thoughtful planting. As part of the Pil River Park there is a sensory garden which will include a raised ower bed in the shape of a boat, linking the bank and the river.

Teen boys, girls differ greatly over sexual consent, says new survey

NOTICEABLE di erences between how teenage boys and teen girls understand issues concerning sexual activity and consent have emerged in a survey of Irish secondary school pupils.

Among the ndings was that boys were more likely to agree it was acceptable to assume an active or even ‘controlling position” in a sexual encounter. e research also identi ed a number of ‘grey areas’ with acceptance of principles around consent not necessarily translating into practice in real-life situations. e survey of 613 teens, aged 15 to 17 years, in ve schools, provides an insight into how young people think and feel about consent.

Around 2,000 people — students, teachers and parents — contributed to research conducted by the NUI Galway Active Consent team, providing the most complete picture to date of consent communication and how best to respond to meet young people’s needs. e ndings fed directly into the development of a range of resources for use in schools with 15- to 17-year-olds, which are being launched today. e NUI Galway programme will help modernise sex education in schools, with the promised roll-out of an updated curriculum, to include, for the rst time, the topic of consent, still awaited. e survey participants responded to three ‘consent stories’ that explored reactions to someone saying “no” to a partner, to whether a smile constitutes consent and to how males are perceived if they turn down sex.

Findings include: * 93% of girls and 79% of boys agreed that consent is always required for sexual activity, while 18pc of boys were neutral on whether it is always required compared with 6pc of girls. * 62% agreed consent for this activity always needed to be verbal, comprising 67% of girls and 58% of boys. * 60% said non-verbal consent to sexual activity is sometimes OK, with little di erence between the genders. *51% of boys were comfortable with intimate touching with someone they had just met at a party, compared with 7% of girls.

Another wide gap between responses from boys and girls was on the issue of having sexual intercourse with someone they had just met a party, with 35% of boys comfortable, compared with 5% of girls.

Some 98% agreed it was okay to say “no, I don’t want to”, but there was divide on whether it was OK to make an assumption about ongoing sex just because they had done it before, with 83% of females saying it was “not OK”, compared with 57% of males.

Being awkward, embarrassed, or being afraid of being judged or ruining the mood emerged as key barriers to consent communication.

Dr Pádraig MacNeela, coleader of the NUI Galway programme, said it responded to calls to support second-level school communities with positive, active consent.

“Our research tells us that young people, parents, and teachers are all looking for practical advice on open communication that is based on mutual respect.”

Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon said: “ e Active Consent programme indicated that we are making progress in confronting what is not only a complicated issue, but an extremely important one for developing positive relationships and reducing sexual harassment.”

School’s makeover plan has 11 rooms for SNA

JOHNSTOWN school Coláiste Mhuire has received funding from the Department of Education & Skills to include the construction of a new general purpose/dining hall, a school library and eleven new special education rooms in a major extension planned for Coláiste Mhuire in Johnstown.

In total, the development at the school will include construction of 12 general classrooms, two of which will replace prefabs at the school. ere will also be 11 new special education rooms, a new home economics room, a new graphics room, two new science labs, a new art room, a new engineering room, a new tech prep area, two new project stores, a new sta room, a general purpose/dining hall and a library.

John Paul Phelan TD said the extension was a signi cant enhancement of the original application approved for the school earlier this year.

Mr Phelan acknowledged the fantastic work of Carlow Kilkenny Education & Training Board, Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh, and the school community, including teachers, students, the board of management and the parents council, for their e orts in advancing the project.

NOW considered one of the greatest hurling players of all time, Henry She in has won 11 All Ireland medals with his beloved Kilkenny, and enjoys success on TV as a sports pundit and commentator.

However, life was not always easy for She in.

Now, in King Henry!, the second book in new children’s series celebrating Irish sporting legends from Paul O’Flynn of RTE, a ctionalised account, about the boy who became the man who won more All-Stars, Hurler of the Year awards and All-Ireland medals than any other.

A tale of our King Henry

Top supplements for kids heading back to school

CLAIR WHITTY

IT’S that time of year again when you’re thinking about getting the kids ready to go back to school. Maybe you’re thinking about what to give them for extra support so that they are ready to face the school year ahead of them. Some of my favourite products for kids heading back into school are Eskimo Oil for Kids, vitamin D, and Revive Active, Junior Revive and Teen Revive for kids and teens, an Irish Brand.

Omega Oils are extremely important for a child’s development especially brain function, vision, and immunity. Most young people don’t eat enough oily foods or oily sh to get enough of these important omega oils. We cannot make these omega oils ourselves so they must be provided either through food and if not, in a good quality supplement.

For example, Eskimo- 3 Kids Omega Oils contain the important DHA needed for brain development. Eskimo 3 Kids contains omega 3-6 and 9, plus vitamin D which we know is important for immunity, mood, and normal bone development. e oil is suitable for children 1–12 years old and can be enjoyed straight from the spoon, or you can add it to your favourite food or smoothie for an omega-3 boost. You can choose Tutti Frutti or Orange avour. ere’s also an orange chewable with omega-3 and vitamin D for the fussier eaters. You can choose Eskimo Brain 369 for young teenagers in exam years. e sooner you start taking omega oils the better especially for exam students.

Support their diet with a good multivitamin, for example Revive Junior is suitable for 4–12-year-olds or Revive Teen for ages 13–18. Both products contain a mix of nutrients including Wellmune® a Beta Glucan from the Kerry Group. is comprehensive formulation supports your child’s immune system, bones, cognitive function, mental performance, and heart. I love that you only have to give it on the school days, you have the weekend o . It has no avour so you can mix it into anything. For example, yoghurt, juice, cereal, or milk.

Support your kids’ diet with extra nutrients in Revive Junior/ Teen and omega oils in Eskimo Kids Omega Oils. is will help give their body the tools it needs to function at optimal levels, giving them a kick start this school year, and hopefully they’ll miss less days from school too.

Why not call in to have a chat with us or check out our online shop for deals, blogs, and recipes.

Shop online at www. naturalhealthstore.ie Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre, Kilkenny Email: info@ naturalhealthstore.ie

New poems

IN 2019, ‘ e Kilkenny Involvement Centre’ published a book of poems with the wonderful title ‘Poems from a Kilkenny Laneway’. e ninety page publication features forty poems with contributions from members at the centre as well as work from Kilkenny’s wider writing community.

In conjunction with e Involvement Centre, e Kilkenny Observer newspaper will reproduce these poems over the coming weeks. e Kilkenny Observer is delighted to promote this project and we hope you enjoy the poems.

Week eight sees poems from Joe Murray, Gerry Moran and Se Nicholson

His Eyes are Lowered

His eyes are lowered, seldom he looks up. His hands are clasped around his ragged knees. He gazes at the grubby paper cup Which trembles in the sti autumnal breeze. Some idling passers-by will look his way And some will even drop a coin or two. ey look at him with eyes that seem to say ank Christ I have a better life than you. ank Jesus for my partner, house and kid, My job, my car, my healthcare and my gym. ey revel in the comfort of the quid, en on they walk and think no more of him. His eyes don’t lift to look at them, because It breaks his heart to see what he once was.

Joe Murray

To Be, Or Not To Be

To be, or not to be..... An actor..... at is the question. Now here is the answer: You must be a chancer A ‘Jack of all Trades’ A singer, a dancer A leading man A fool, a messer A dame, ugly sister In short: a cross-dresser One night you’re a priest e next night a pimp You must talk with a twang Walk with a gimp No stage is too big No hall too small You must cry when called upon Shut up, shout or bawl. e skin, of course Must be made of leather To tread the boards In brass-monkey weather To bear the barbs Of outrageous critics To nd family & friends First-class, free tickets. You need fortitude, courage Just to go on To play Shakespeare in Skeough To an audience of one! Last but not least Be your act good or bad Best asset of all Is to be.....stone mad!

Gerry Moran

Together Male and Female

He was con dent, tall and attractive, the world at his feet, she was a planet of beauty that shone. He took her by the hand, they were aged 13.

I was outside looking in, they knew I was an alien, they were on another planet, with green elds, everyone there had laughing, con dent heads and wore the right clothes. ey knew they were the best looking specimens on the planet.

When they moved, it seemed they had practiced for years e ortlessly, saying to me: “I know you can’t”, and when they kissed the planet blocked the sun. He was the Master of the Universe.

I thought I was one of them! But no, it was only a dream, I could never be.

en one day on earth I met someone who didn’t care if I was a gladiator. I became the Master of the Universe I knew then I was always Master of my Universe.

Sé Nicholson

Final rehearsal with cast and crew of Lake Productions for the production of ‘War of the Worlds’

Sheelagh Lynch: An appreciation

IREMEMBER a production of ‘ e Field’ in e Club House Hotel, during the early 90’s. Smithwick’s Brewery employee Tom Halpin played the role of the Bull McCabe.

In the dramatic pub scene, where McCabe demanded the silence of the village on events that were about to unfold, Halpin came into his own.

Fearsome and powerful, he delivered his lines with gusto.

From my seat in the third row, I could see that disaster was about to unfold. A creaking at on stage right was about to collapse.

Tom spotted the problem and positioned his shoulder at the wall, ensuring the set stayed intact. From there, he delivered his nal lines.

Class. Exactly what you would expect from Tom. e Boy Scouts motto - Bí Ullamh, may also be applied where thespians gather, for they must be alert, and they must always be prepared.

Many curtain calls after that night, a long sojourn at the Watergate eatre was to throw up its own ‘Halpin’ moments.

Our Watergate Productions team staged over fty in- house shows, which featured some of Kilkenny’s nest actors, directors, lighting designers and set designers. After every successful show; the actors received the applause and plaudits. Fair enough.

However, if the truth be told, without the stage crew nothing would happen. e stage manager, for example, is the very cornerstone of any production and it is often their acumen and foresight that ensures a show does not cross the thin line that separates a successful production from a disaster.

Without the stage manager, an actor may as well whistle Dixie.

We were blessed to have had in our corner Mick Kavanagh (another Smithwick’s Brewery man) who stage managed most of our shows.

Pantomime or theatre, like a good second in boxing, Mick was always on hand.

He was assisted on many occasions by a Rioch’s man Aidan Doheny. Today, Aidan is employed as a full time professional in this area.

When Mick died, it was di cult to know who would replace him.

Enter Sheelagh Lynch, stage left. If ever a person was suited to theatre work, it was Sheelagh. She took to it like the proverbial duck to water. It was if she had served a long apprenticeship and earned a bachelor’s degree in Stage Management & Technical eatre.

From the beginning Sheelagh was calm, authoritative and con dent. She settled, quickly. Her commitment, dedication and leadership qualities central to her work ethic.

Later, with Lake Productions, Sheelagh ourished. She displayed patience and panache as she stage-

Cast and backstage crew of ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’, Performed by Moonlight Players: Sheelagh Lynch, (Stage Manager) Brendan McGuire (Technical) Gerry Cody ( Director) James Nolan, Maggie Cooney, Frances Sweeney and Sean Hackett

managed such shows as ‘Trad’, ‘After Sarah Miles’ (both staged at Cleere’s eatre) and ‘War of the Worlds’ performed at the Set eatre in John Street.

Sheelagh also stage managed ‘ e Odd Couple’, staged by Gowran Little eatre group. Other shows she worked with in various capacities included Jesters, KMS, and Stonyford Stage School.

Her last production was ‘ e Beauty Queen of Leenane’ with -Moonlight Players, staged in omastown.

For Sheelagh this may have been a new venue and a new group, but the challenge was welcomed. Unsurprisingly she triumphed.

Moonlight Players learned much from Sheelagh as they bene ted from her astute guidance and her understanding. Her stage management excelled and was integral to the success of the endeavour.

ere was a lot more to Sheelagh than the theatre. But she was circumspect and divulged little of her home life or of her other interests. Casual conversations elicited the fact that she was a literate and a well- read woman.

It is what one would expect from a woman from ‘ e Continent’ and a past pupil of ‘ e Lake’ school.

I would not be surprised to discover that she was a woman who dabbled in writing. Nor would I be surprised if a search of a wardrobe in her house discovered a treasure of short stories or poetry with her copyright stamp on them. She had that way about her.

As a colleague and as a friend she was pleasant, funny, kind, understanding and empathetic.

Her family and home were sacrosanct and remained a private domain.

For now, we are thankful to have shared part of Sheelagh’s life journey and we are grateful that this talented lady was a major part of the amateur theatre scene in Kilkenny.

Sheelagh’s contribution to Lake Productions was enormous. She was one of our rst members and was always willing to support and promote. Her body of work has enriched the theatre world and is widely appreciated.

Prior to her death, Sheelagh had a lot of groundwork completed on a forthcoming production of ‘ e Kings of the Kilburn High Road’.

Alas, she will not see it staged.

On Sunday the news of Sheelagh’s passing devastated our close- knit community. As we attempt to comprehend the enormity of Sheelagh’s passing we feel lost and alone. Our hearts are broken. One of our gallant band has, prematurely, exited stage left. Su ce to say we will miss her, greatly. Be at peace sweet kind and gentle lady. As the hearse left St Johns Church, a guard of honour was formed by members of the Kilkenny theatre fraternity. Later, e sta of the Clubhouse Hotel formed a guard of honour at the entrance to St Kieran’s cemetery.

Sheelagh also stage managed ‘ e Odd Couple’, staged by Other shows she worked with in various capacities included Jesters, KMS, and Stonyford Stage School.

Her last production was ‘ e Moonlight Players, staged in om

For Sheelagh this may have been prisingly she triumphed.

Moonlight Players learned much understanding. Her stage management excelled theatre scene in Kilkenny.

Sheelagh’s contribution to Lake Productions was enormous. She was one of our rst members and was always willing to support and promote. Her body of work has enriched the theatre world and is widely appreciated.

Prior to her death, Sheelagh had a lot of groundwork completed on a forthcoming production of ‘ e Kings of the Kilburn High Road’.

Alas, she will not see it staged.

On Sunday the news of Sheelagh’s passing devastated our close- knit community. As we attempt to com prehend the enormity of Sheel agh’s passing we feel lost and alone. Our hearts are broken. One of our gallant band has, prematurely, exited stage left. Su ce to say we will miss her, greatly. Be at peace sweet kind and gentle lady. As the hearse left St Johns Church, a guard of honour was formed by members of the Kilkenny theatre fraternity. Later, e sta of the Clubhouse Hotel formed a guard of honour at the entrance to St Kieran’s cemetery.

From your friends in From your friends in Lake Productions Lake Productions

Backstage crew of ‘Steel Magnolias’, staged at The Watergate Theatre. Clare Lynch, Dee Gibney, Sheelagh Lynch and Siobhán Cody

For Sheelagh –

e Stage Manager

She always arrived at the rst rehearsal With script and pencil. Any director would wish that the actors script Had received the same attention as hers. Pencil notes scribbled over di erent scenes, Question marks on lines she needed clari ed. A red pen showed her confusion with a line. Her customary net bag full of possible props that would be needed “Never too early to start,” she would say. A somewhat late arrival to the world of theatre I remember her delight When she learned something new. Like the day we told her about e Ghost light on the stage Tradition dictated that this light Remained on when the theatre went to black, is helped to light the way for the ghosts that are said To inhabit virtually every theatre. As stage manager she excelled. Props in the same place each nightNothing left to chance You knew as you broke the leg from side stage To enter the world of imagination She had your back. e nod she gave that said get ready, e thumbs up as you re-emerged Letting you know you did a good job When the curtain came down. As actors retired to Tom’s for a few libations She would be found on stage preparing for the next night Props in place. Check. Stage ready. Check. Lights out. Check. Ghost light on. Check Now she joins the list for whom that light is lit. We think of her and smile. (Jbs)

Gone but not forgotten

POLAND and Ireland have many fighting legends. Down through Irish mythology we have Queen Maebh the ‘Warrior Queen’ from Connaught, ‘An Dearg Doom’ and of course the hurling legend Setanta. As we moved in to the modern era of Irish History, we have the heroes of 1916. Michal Collins, Padraic Pearse and Eamon De Valera who became our president. Poland has their heroes too. The following is a brief account of the Warsaw Uprising and this year’s celebrations At 5 pm, August 1, 2021, the usually busy streets of Warsaw and other Polish cities and towns came to a solemn standstill – a moment of stillness and silence amplified only by the air raid sirens marking the 77th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising – the battle fought by Warsaw citizens for their beloved city, for Poland, Europe and universal human dignity.

Crowds also gathered at the Roman Dmowski Roundabout in central Warsaw. People, families, children, flying flags and observing the moment of silence. In various districts of Warsaw, veterans of the Warsaw Uprising and public persons pay tribute to those who died fighting arms in hands that memorable Summer of 1944. 77 years after day zero of the Warsaw Uprising, the veteran members of the Home Army (AK) told the young generations not to call them heroes but rather follow their example as it would serve them well

Karol Nawrocki, head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) told the gathering that “it is important today to talk about the Warsaw Uprising in a broad context and remember that the reaction of its participants was, in fact, a reaction to five years of the horrifying occupation — the murdering of Polish women, Polish children, Polish intelligentsia.”

The Warsaw Uprising broke out 77 years ago, on August 1, 1944. In the “W” hour, over 40,000, mainly young residents of Warsaw, attacked the Germans occupying the Polish capital.

It was initially intended to last only a few days but more than two months of fierce fighting ensued. The Warsaw Rising was the largest armed offensive of any underground resistance in German-occupied Europe. It was led by the Polish Underground State’s resistance movement, the Home Army.

After 63 days of fighting, running low on ammunition and food supplies, and not supported by the Soviet Red Army present on the Right bank of the Vistula river, the Rising ended with the insurgents’ surrender on October 2.

In the end, approximately 200,000 insurgents and civilians lost their lives, and by the time the Nazi German forces withdrew from Warsaw in January 1945, around 85 percent of the city’s infrastructure had been completely levelled and barely six percent of Warsaw’s pre-war population remained in the city.

Like the heroes of Ireland’s history of conflict with the British Empire, the Poland’s conflict with Communism, may be all gone to their graves for the cause they believe in. Gone But

not forgotten.

Warsaw Le : Capitulation of Polish insurgents Warsaw Uprising, Oct 1944

was, in fact, a reaction to five years of the horrify ing occupa tion — the murdering of Polish women, Polish children, Polish intelli