TV & Streaming

Check out this good sci- movie while still on Prime

WRITTEN by Carl Lucas and directed by Gille Klabin, e Wave (2019) on Amazon Prime is a fascinating sci- exploration of psychedelia.

Frank (Justin Long) is a lawyer at an insurance company and a pretty good one at that. He just scored a major coup for his employer, looking through the details of a recently deceased re ghter’s case and nding a loophole to deny a claim that would cost the company millions. is re ghter had a heart condition and was taking medication for it, but bad side e ects made him quit. In the insurance company’s eyes, he might as well have committed suicide.

In 2020, Gille Klabin told Interlocutor magazine that the storyline “is actually based on the writer/producer Carl’s real life cousin,” who died and had their life insurance policy rejected. Klabin described the movie as “partially a vengeful fantasy of the universe xing a moral wrong, but it was also an attempt to humanise and understand the person simply doing their job well.”

Despite winning over his fellow lawyer Je (Donald Faison) and being in line to score points with his boss, Frank’s life seems empty. His wife, Cheryl (Sarah Minnich), loathes him. So he throws caution to the wind and goes out with Je the night before his big meeting with the boss. Which leads to drinks, which leads to meeting Natalie (Katia Winter) and eresa (played by both Jocelyn Montoya and Sheila Vand). Je is instantly smitten with eresa, who calls him out when he tries to defend his job. She accuses him of not believing a word he’s saying, to which Je responds that he doesn’t believe she cares. It’s a fun, irty scene, hampered only by Je ’s inability to get away from his wife’s phone calls. e four make their way to a house party, then quickly become two as Je and Natalie get lost in the crowd. Frank and eresa start having fun on their own, but Frank is cautious about trying drugs until he meets Aeolus (Tommy Flannagan).

Women surround Aeolus, he dresses in elaborate coats, and he has the best drugs. He o ers Frank a bag of cocaine that makes him feel wonderful, and when the chance comes to take a drug that’s ingested through the tip of someone else’s tongue he jumps at the chance to make out with eresa. But before he can really enjoy the high, the drug hits him just like Aeolus promises it would: like a wave.

Frank suddenly nds himself alone and without his wallet. e party is over and he’s covered in household rubbish. eresa isn’t around. No one at all is around. His phone is dead and he has no idea what neighbourhood he’s in. With his big meeting in only a couple of hours, Frank panics and races to beat the clock while also justifying himself to his wife.

Frank eventually makes it to the o ce, where he gets to reveal his big plan for denying a re ghter’s family life insurance. But this drug is making time act weird. He keeps jumping from one location to another, and phone calls with a furious Cheryl con rm that all his money is somehow gone.

Trying to gure out why his life is suddenly falling apart, Frank reconnects with Je and Natalie. e three set about trying to gure out what Frank has taken, which leads them to a drug dealer. But Frank’s reaction to the drug is only increasing, and he keeps jumping in and out of time. e drug dealer doesn’t like this, and things only get weirder from there.

It’s e ectively confusing, but what really makes these sudden changes work is Klabin and VFX supervisor Patrick Lawler’s wonderful visual portrayal of the experience. Not quite cartoony, they show human emotions slowed down and sped up, heightened and damped, as coloors bulge and burst out of every corner. Klabin credits working on “decades of low budget music videos” for pulling o the movie’s unique look.

An unusually personal sci movie asking how willing people are to change their lives, e Wave punches far above its low budget.

Sex Education edges near nal season

NETFLIX’S Sex Education S3 was one of the most highlyanticipated releases of 2021 and gained huge viewership, earning the streamer massive revenue.

Following the success of the third season and the renewal news regarding an upcoming fourth season, fans have been waiting to see what the show has in store. While the show deals with a lot of raunchy yet educational stu that might make a little awkward family binge session, the wide range of characters help heighten the emotional quotient and adds relatability to the show.

Besides Asa Butter eld and Emma Mackey starring as Otis and Maeve, 26-yearold BAFTA-winning actress Aimee Lou Wood also plays the character, Aimee Gibbs.

Despite various misunderstandings with Maeve, she manages to forge a friendship with her, and together they become an iconic duo. In the third season, Aimee has a pet goat and attends therapy with Otis’ mum, Dr. Jean Milburn due to her struggle with intimacy. While Wood, 26, spoke about how she knew “basically nothing” about the fourth season narrative, she is admittedly “confused” about the story arc as the school, now sold to developers as informed in the third season, would now be “gone”. Much to the chagrin of dedicated fans, Wood has emphasised how the show will “have to come to an end” soon”.

4

thrillers to watch on Netflix

e second adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s 2005 novel, David Fincher’s 2011 thriller e Girl With e Dragon Tattoo is as heady, taut, and explosive as you would expect from the director of Seven and Zodiac. Daniel Craig (Skyfall) stars as Mikael Blomkvist, a disgraced investigative journalist who is hired by a wealthy industrialist to solve the disappearance of his grand- niece over forty years ago. During his investigation of his client’s family Blomkvist is aided by Lisabeth Salander (Rooney Mara), a taciturn hacker and the namesake of the lm. Graphic, intense, frequently gorgeous, and thoroughly engrossing, e Girl With e Dragon Tattoo easily ranks among Fincher’s nest.

Uncut Gems directors Benny and John Safdie’s 2017 crime drama Good Time is anything but. Robert Pattinson stars as Connie Nikas, a small-time criminal forced to scrounge up money to a ord his brother’s bail after a botched bank heist. Connie’s journey is a road to perdition, leading him down the darkest corners of New York City to the seediest depths of its underbelly. e lm is charged with the same manic, all-or- nothing energy that came to de ne the Safdies’ breakout hit, but here, it’s even more fatalistically tragic and perilous.

Martin Scorsese’s ominous psychological thriller Shutter Island proved a colossal critical and commercial success when rst released back in 2010, and the appreciation for the lm’s nuanced visuals and pacing has only continued to endure in the decade since. Leonardo DiCaprio’s turn as Edward ‘Teddy”’Daniels, a U.S. Marshal whose missing persons investigation at the lm’s titular psychiatric facility quickly unravels into a descent into the darkness of his own psyche, ranks among one of the actor’s best, with the character’s nal line transforming what was already an unnerving third act into one of the most chilling and memorable of Scorsese’s entire oeuvre.

Steven Soderbergh’s 2018 psychological horror thriller Unsane stars Claire Foy as Sawyer Valenti, a young woman who is involuntarily committed to a mental institution in what she suspects is an elaborate plot orchestrated by her stalker. Shot entirely on an iPhone 7 Plus, the lm is tense and claustrophobic with visuals composed primarily of close-up shots that place stark emphasis on Foy’s frenzied performance.

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news

BEREAVED Sypathies are extended to the Kehoe family on the death of Noel of Clifden House. Noel was Chairman of Clara GAA Club when they won their first senior county final in 1986. He was also the founder of Marble City Boxing Club and was responsible for keeping many the lad and lassie on the straight and narrow over the years. What a legacy to have le ? He was also an absolute gentleman and will be sorely missed. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. CAMOGIE Clara had a large representation in the Leinster Schools Final between Presentation Convent Kilkenny and the Loreto Convent Kilkenny in Callan on Saturday. The game finished in a draw and the two teams will have to do it all over again. The replay hasn’t been fixed yet at time of going to print. Emma Corr was on the Loreto panel while no fewer than seven of the Presentation starting team hailed from Clara - Laoise Nolan, Rachel Whelan, Grace Barcoe, Gráinne Glynn, Emma Shortall and the joint captains Katie and Keara Ryan. The Brickell sisters Niamh and Rachel were also on the panel. Good luck to all in the replay. REGISTRATION GAA Club registration is now in full swing. The process has been much simplified and can be done online through Foireann.ie. Registration has to be completed by players and coaches before return to training and playing. O’LOUGHLIN GAELS CLUB LOTTO There was no winner of this week’s Club Lotto (Jan 18th) Next Week’s Jackpot will be €10,600 (Jan 25th) . Play again at www.oloughlingaels.com/lotto Promotors Draw 1. Mick Cahil c/o Mick Nolan 2. Laura Comerford c/o Peter Dowling 3. Gerry Fitzgerald c/o Neil Loy 4. Mick Nolan 5. Denise Brennan c/o Damien O’Connell 6. Biddy Fogarty c/o Damien O’Connell 7. C Goulding c/o Dan O’Driscoll 8. Padraig O’Neill c/o Online 9. Brian Hogan c/o Online 10. Helen Morrissey c/o Online Thank You for your continued support RENEW MEMBERSHIP NOW All current members are asked to renew their memberships to O’Loughlin Gaels GAA, Camogie and Handball Clubs for 2022 now. Full details and payment options at www.oloughlingaels.com/ membership RETURN TO PLAY We’re gearing up to a Spring return. Registration is available on your Foireann App (Return to Play) and via www.oloughlingaels.com/membership. This year family membership includes boys playing GAA and girls playing Camogie. Families with boys and girls are asked to register via the GAA club Foireann. We need volunteers too: Hurl carriers, mentors, suppliers, first aid , stewards, administrators - if anyone can o er help in anyway please contact GAA Juvenile Chairman Brian Fox 087 998 4853. O’Loughlin Gaels Camogie Club Juvenile Chairwoman Orla Skehan 087 948 9975 Sponsors : Pat Carroll’s, McCarthy’s Eurospar and MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre BAR OPEN Back in full swing! With restrictions li ed and Bar stools reopened,we are delighted to announce the club bar is open for business and back to normal hours - Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm. The only place to discuss and dissect all your club’s news. Looking forward to seeing you all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR Special Birthday wishes go out to the Lord Mayor of Freshford. Well known local man Tom Hayes, Ard Lachtain who is the present Lord Mayor celebrated his birthday at the weekend at a special get together with his friends at Kavanaghs bar. FIONA ON TODAY FM Local girl Fiona Bergin from Cooleshall Freshford featured on a programme on Today fm Sunday morning last. Fiona who is daughter of Willie and Josephine Bergin was reared on the farm at Cooleshall and now works in the theatre in London. She was speaking about her success on Tic Toc. She loves the farm and the animals and set up the site during lockdown and her followers just grew to an unbelievable amount over the months. RECYCLE CHRISTMAS TREES Christmas tree recycling drop o point is the same as previous years with a local one at The Green Freshford and is operational for the past week or two. FROM MALAYSIA Spending Christmas and the New Year with his parents in Freshford is Jason Moriarty. Jason who comes from Woodview Freshford is home on an extended holiday from Malaysia. SYMPATHY Deepest sympathy is extended to Pauline Dawson, Johnstown Road Freshford and all her family on the sudden death last week of her nephew James Dawson late of Castlecomer Road, Ballinakill. James was only in his early thirties was predeceased only two years ago by his dad Shem. Shem and all his family grew up in Freshford before emigrating to the Uk for many years and he and his wife Judy and three sons returned to Ireland a number of years ago and set up home in Co.Laois. The family are widely known and respected in the area. Funeral Mass took place in St.Brigids Church Ballinakill on Friday morning last followed by burial in St.Lachtains Cemetery Freshford. He is deeply mourned by his mother Judy, brothers Jason and Anthony, his daughter Ellie Rose and her mum Marie, aunts, uncles, cousins and a large circle of friends. Sincere sympathy is also expressed to Paul Durnan, Arganey Freshford on the death of his father Michael Durnan late of Beech Park Kilkenny. Funeral mass took place in St.Fiacres Church Loughboy on Friday last followed by burial in Foulkstown Cemetery. NEW CROSSING Local residents are happy to see that the new pedestrian crossing at Kilkenny Street in the village is now fully operational making it safer to people to cross the busy street. PLAYGROUND There has been exciting news for Freshford recently with the announcement that Planning Permission has been granted for the long awaited village playground. Great credit goes to the Committee and their hard work in this regard. SOCCER Freshford Town Junior side were in action at the weekend when they took on Bridge Utd. In an away game and came out winners on a 5-1 scoreline with goals coming from Jack Cleere (2) Ml.Burke, Shane Donnelly and Cathal O’Leary The U9s welcomed the Lions sides from Durrow on Saturday morning last to Freshford where they played three games and everyone got to show o their talents. The training sessions for U8s started back last week a er the Christmas holidays and will continue each Saturday morning from 12noon to 1pm at the Sportfield at Woodview. All boys from 5 to 8 years old are welcome so go along and join up. 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 O icer – Michael Wall on 0868359891 or email him at mwall@macra.ie GAA NEWS Two local hurlers featured on the Kilkenny Senior hurling side which drew with Wexford on Saturday last at Wexford. Darren Brennan played in goal while James Maher also lined out at half back. AGM St Lachtains Gaa club AGM will be held on Friday 4th Feb at 7.30pm at the Clubrooms . All motions should be with the Secretary as soon as possible. LAST MAN STANDING St.Lachtains GAA Committee will once again run a “Last Man Standing” competition for the upcoming National League all details will be given on their Facebook page very soon with names to be given to any of the players or committee. PARISH NEWS Attendance at Masses and indoor settings are now back to full capacity 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. Some Safety measures remain in place which includes wearing of masks, sanitising and full sanitation of the Church a er every celebration Last Sunday marked the beginning of Catholic schools week 2022 and during the week celebrations will be held to mark the contribution that catholic schools primary and post primary make to supporting each other. 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 honour 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 O ice. Please note community notices for the parish newsletter should be le in or emailed to the Parish O ice by 11am on Thursdays. Mass Cards Special printed parish cards are available at the Parish O ice or from Annette at Tulla Church signed by Monsignor Kennedy. You can contact the Parish o ice on 056 8832843 or by email – freshfordd@ ossory.ie. Contact Mongr Kieron Kennedy. COMMUNITY ALERT Freshford/Threecastles Community alert group remind you that the annual text alert scheme membership is now due. It cost just 10euro per phone number and you can pay membership to any committee member. If unsure or for more information please call Jacinta on 0877658671 or Anna on 0858277965 . New members are welcome and the group wish to thank you all for your continued support. 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 and friends. HELP FOR ALL Are you struggling with anxiety or depression or finding life di icult or feeling isolated at this time GROW is there to help you. Their Mental Health support Groups are free and confidential and open to all no referral or booking is needed. For more information on same you can contact Mary on 087 28434 2 If you can’t cope and need support text HELLO to 50808. SAMARITAN - Whatever you’re going through a Samaritan will face it with you – available 24 hours a day 365 days a year – Freephone 1161Alone is available for older people who need support and you can call them on 0818 222024 (8am to 8pm) AMBER KILKENNY WOMENS REFUGE – is available for confidential support relating to domestic violence - call them on 1850 424244 (24/7) or on 056 7771404 or email into@ amberwomensrefuge.ie.

ST LEONARDS NATIONAL SCHOOL Congratulations to the debating team from St Leonard’s who have qualified for the final of the Concern Debate Competition again this year. Team: Megan, Ena, Croia, Sophie, Hannah and Alana Good luck in the final! We are now taking enrolments for September 2022, please contact the school o ice for an application form, the closing date is February 28th 2022. LOCAL LOTTO Weekly Draw Results for 17th January 2021. Winning Numbers : 17, 31,35. No Winner. Winners of the Draw for 5 x € 30. Mockel (Petes Shop),Mag Flynn (Pauline Flynn),Olive Buckley (Olive Buckley),BEOFS (James Moylan),Breda Smyth (Breda Smyth) Jackpot for Next week (January 24th) €5050. Venue Townsend’s Pub Dunnamaggin at 9pm, All Welcome. CANCER RISK WEBINAR The Irish Cancer Prevention Network is hosting a webinar covering practical steps to reduce our cancer risk on Friday 4th February at 1pm for World Cancer Day. Learn how we can all take action to reduce cancer risk through a series of presentations with a panel of experts. Topics

covered will include: Eating for health, Radon, Skin Protection, Breastfeeding. Know the signs, find cancer early. Register to watch live or receive a link to watch the recorded webinar. To register go to, https://ims.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ X1kXq18bQ2O6eGlSmkglew IRISH GARDEN BIRD SURVEY The Irish Garden Bird Survey continues until the end of February and Birdwatch Ireland are asking members of the public to keep note of the highest number of each bird species visiting their garden every week up until the end of February. We support this great initiative and encourage Kilkenny Citizens to help with this survey. Please send your garden bird records online, by email or by post to Birdwatch Ireland. DUNNAMAGGIN GAA Dunnamaggin GAA Club Juvenile AGM. Please note the Dunnamaggin GAA Club Juvenile AGM will take place Virtualy on Friday 28th January 2022 @8pm. Further details to follow. Thank you.

CLUB LOTTO Dicksboro GAA Club LOTTO Results JAN 17th. Nos: 8–15– 26– 31 Jackpot: €7,300 not won Draw Prizes – €50: Jenny Kearns c/o Dicksboro. €25 each Five Girls c/o Joe Phelan. €25 each Cillian Breathnach c/o Online €25 each Brian Murphy c/o Online Co-op draw ticket Deirdre Beirne c/o Tom Beirne .Promotors prize Timmy Hackett. New weeks draw 7,450 25Th of jan 2022 CAMOGIE FINAL The very best of luck to the Dicksboro Senior Camogie Team and Management, who play Oullart the Ballagh on Sunday in the Leinster Senior Camogie Club Championship Final. CLUB REGISTER 2022 We are delighted to announce that Registration for Dicksboro GAA and Camogie Club for 2022 is now open. There are a number of ways for existing and new members to register with the club . Click on the link below ( For existing members enter your e mail address to retrieve all details from last year’s registration process ) Go to the membership page on Clubs App and sign up https://dicksborogaa.com/membership_signup

Gowran Development 2021, In Gowran 2021, the unwanted sequel to 2020, started with a familiar storyline and it was a slow start in Gowran due to lockdowns but by March we were itching to get out and about to tidy up our beautiful village for the summer months ahead. So, over two weekends in late March and early April a team of over 40 local volunteers, divided in pods, combed the highways and byways in, around and approaching Gowran to pick rubbish. Who would have imagined they would fill three trailers loads (about 1.5 tonnes in total) of rubbish in the ditches within 500 meters of the village green! More’s the pity, we’re certain the scene is replicated in every village and town across the country. The month of May saw a young local lad (Brogan McAviney) start a fundraiser to raise much needed funds for Pieta House. The challenge he set himself was an eyewatering 100Km outdoor river swim in rivers around Kilkenny over the month of May,and he did it with gusto despite the rough weather, raising over €8000 for his chosen charity. Surely an inspiration to us all and great to see the future is safe and in good hands. Christian Eriksen’s near fatal cardiac arrest opened people’s eyes to the risks of heart failure and it both kick-started and added momentum to a campaign to obtain defibrillators for the communities of Gowran and Dungarvan. A group of local social (slightly mad) runners took up the mantle and set themselves the challenge to run a half marathon around the roads of Gowran and Dungarvan to raise the funds needed. They set themselves the target of raising €5000, enough to purchase two top quality defibrillators, but the entire community and local businesses rallied behind the cause, helping to smash the target and resulting in more than €9000 been raised. A special thanks must go to Eamon Nolan of CTB Recycling and Anthony Coomey of Kearney, Roche, and McGuinn Solicitors for their very kind donations. One defibrillator has been installed in Dungarvan villages thanks to Joe Bollard and the other was installed in Gowran in Hennessey’s Garage forecourt with thanks to Pat & Eileen Hennessy and Cathal Fitzgerald. In addition, the local GAA club (Young Irelands) decided to mount their own defibrillator on the external wall of the club meaning the villages of Gowran and Dungarvan now have three defibrillators available to them to be used if needed. ON THE SPORTING FRONT HORSE RACING 2021 was a busy year in Gowran for horse racing fans. Although COVID restrictions were in place for several meetings throughout the year, nonetheless the management, sta and horse racing connections were on hand to provide a wonderful year’s racing. 2022 promises to be even better with 18 meetings taking place at one of Ireland’s most popular horse racing venues. On Thursday 27th January the new season begins with the biggest event of the year. The Go ’s Thyestes Day – National Hunt. A limited number of tickets have been on sale for this event. Hopefully COVID restrictions will allow those who are lucky enough to have purchased tickets to attend. In the month of May alone three meetings will be held. Two evening meetings and one day meeting taking advantage of the long bright summer evenings. This promises to be a very exciting year for horse racing in Gowran. The year just passed finished on a high when Tornado Flyer caused a major upset in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St. Stephen’s Day. The shock 28/1 winner was ridden by local Gowran jockey, Danny Mullins from Wateree Stud and trained by his uncle Willie. The horse won by nine lengths. CHELTENHAN 2021 AND GOWRAN CONNECTIONS Earlier in the year in March, Danny also recorded his first Cheltenham winner on board Flooring Porter in the Stayers’ Hurdle. The 12/1 winner was trained by trainer Gavin Cromwell and owned by the Flooring Porter syndicate from the Roscommon Galway border area. Danny had ridden in Cheltenham many times just missing out on the winner’s prize. His parents Mags and Tony are well known local horse trainers. Danny had success in the 2020 Thyestes Chase at Gowran winning on Total Recall for his uncle Willie. Another Gowran Trainer, Paul Hennessy celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in the Cotswolds with his first win in Cheltenham in the Coral Cup with the 33/1 winner Heaven Help Us, expertly ridden by Richard Condon. One of two horses which Paul owns. Paul has had many great days on the Greyhound track winning the Irish, English, and Scottish Derby’s. Some of the great dogs he trained were. Jaytee Jet, The Late Late Show and Quarter to Five. Put The Kettle On, ridden by Aidan Coleman, winner of the Champion Chase was another horse with local interest. The horse was bred locally by the Butlersgrove Stud and came in a 17/2 winner for Henry de Bromhead to complete a great week for Henry. GREAT SPORTING WEEK FOR GOWRAN IN MID SUMMER In mid-summer Danny’s dad Tony Mullins travelled from his stables in Wateree to the great racing festival in Royal Ascot England with the grey mare Princess Zoe. The mare trained by Tony finished second in the Gold Cup on the Thursday. Tony had concerns that the ground may not have been so enough, but the mare arrived safely home at 9-00am the following Friday morning to join her friends in the paddock happily showing no a ere ects. Ridden by Joey Sheridan, the horse was sent o at 28-1, a fine each way bet for anyone that backed the horse. Another great grey horse with Gowran connections was Nicolaus Silver who won the Aintree Grand National in 1961 at one stage trained at the Kirwan stables just outside Gowran. CAMOGIE Many games were played throughout the year. Great thanks are due to all the o icials, mentors, parents and of course the players themselves for taking part and providing great entertainment whilst observing COVID restrictions and above all keeping everybody safe in these di icult times. In June, Young Irelands Camogie Club were well represented in the camogie league final against Galway held in Croke Park. Ste i Fitzgerald, her sister Ti anie, and Ciara O Keefe were all members of the victorious Kilkenny team. Two minutes into injury time, Ste i scored a wonderful point from play followed by a great pass to Mary O Connell who put the ball over the bar to secure the victory for Kilkenny. The senior camogie team progressed to the Senior Championship quarter-final but lost out to a stronger Clara team by a score of 4-12 to 3-5. Young Irelands U14 camogie team finished the year in October with a County Final win over a gallant Tullogher. 25 YEARS ON In a normal year, Young Irelands would have celebrated the great success which the club achieved in 1996 by winning their first ever Senior County Final defeating James Stephens in the final replay by 3-09 to 2-10. Celebrations will be on hold for another day. Fund Raising - was di icult again this year. Through the great e orts of all involved, the club continues to generate income to maintain grounds and keep all activities going. The lotto was again a great success and continues to provide a great source of income. The YI Golf Classic was well supported as were other regular fundraising events. The Club are very grateful for all the support throughout 2021. While it would have been nice to see further development of the Castle Ellis facilities, prudent management of finances was essential to maintain current infrastructure and manage the finances of the club. Everybody can be assured that the club will fully develop all facilities over time with the help of supporters and the community. Young Irelands Intermediates played what was arguably their best performance of the year, to defeat John Lockes of Callan. In di icult playing conditions in Ballyhale, Gowran played exceptional hurling in the Michael Lyng Motors Intermediate Championship Relegation Final which earns them the right to play at Intermediate level again next year. The final score was Young Irelands Gowran 3-13; John Lockes Callan 1-7 Underage was once again the highlight of the year with the Monday evening underage a great success. Underage coaching began over 25 years ago in the old pitch and has gone on from strength to strength. Gowran won both the U13 A1 League and Championship double. There was great sadness in November as Young Irelands, the community of Gowran, family and friends, mourned the sad loss of Harry Byrne R.I.P. Harry had a great love for his local club, the GAA and sport in general. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h’anam dílis

ATHLETICS Gowran Athletics Club had a very successful year despite restrictions that Covid 19 brought. Many athletic events were cancelled or postponed however Gowran AC had some great success whenever events did go ahead. At local, regional, and national levels Gowran AC athletes had some outstanding performances. Some highlights would include: Cross Country Billy Coogan’s selection for the Irish Schools team that travelled to Scotland where he placed 6th. Bronze Club Team U12 boys with Evan Ryan, Darragh Carroll, Robert Coogan and Aaron Carrigan in the All-Ireland Cross Country. At the Cross-Country Relays this year the U12 boys came 3rd place with Aaron Carrigan, Milo Geraghty, David Carroll & Aidan Corrigan. The U14 Boys also came 3rd with Joe Hayes, Conor Carroll, Tomas Carroll, and Evan Ryan. Matthew Holland’s 6th place finish in the All-Ireland U19 Cross Country in Gowran The performances of Ruth Kennedy in taking 4th place in the Leinster Novice Cross-Country in Kilmacow in October and 5th in the Leinster Intermediate in Dunboyne in January 1st and 2nd individual performances of Niall Sheehan and Dean Rowe in the County 10k in Rosbercon leading the club team to County glory Up and coming female stars at the County Cross Country include May Timmins who impressed by winning the U9 and U10 races, Emily O’Kee e 1st U11 girls, Abigail Hunt 3rd U11, Kate Hayden 2nd in U13, Lucy Coomey 3rd in U15. Track and Field Billy Coogan’s performances in the Steeplechase in Leinster and All-Irelands bringing home gold Odhran Prendergast (U13) coming 2nd in Leinster in the 80m Sprint and the Long Jump. He went on to finish 2nd in the All Irelands in the Sprint. Tomás Carroll (U13) performance winning the Leinster High Jump and coming 2nd in the All Irelands. Dunne At Leinster Level, Rachel Du winning the sprint, Aoibhlinn Steger 3rd in the High Jump, Darragh 3rd in the 200m. Peter Dunne’s ongoing improvement in pole vault placing 3rd in Leinster Gowran have a strong representative of throwing athletes who won medals at Leinster Level including James Kelsey, Noah Denie e, Charlie Ryan, Evan Ryan, Hazel, Coogan, Rachel Gardiner, Anna Brennan and Orlaith Brennan. Events included the Javelin, Turbo, Shot Putt, Discus, and Hammer. Cillian Dunne winning the County 800m at the age of 17. The winning of the overall club in the County Track and Field Shield 2021 Our Paralympian Mary Fitzgerald participated in the delayed Tokyo Olympic 2020 games in September 2021. She represented Ireland in the F40 Shot Putt. Building on an outstanding season where she continually threw personal bests and won a bronze medal at the World Para Athletics European Championships in Bydgoszcz, she finished 6th in a hugely competitive Olympic final. Mary is a wonderful ambassador for the club. The club which trains locally continues to grow in strength with new senior and juvenile members joining regularly. We are an integral part of the community. One of our key events which went ahead this year was the Stook 10 mile which went ahead for the ninth time in November. One of the highlights of 2021 was Gowran AC hosting of the All-Ireland Cross-Country event at Gowran Racecourse Park in early December. This was a huge national event, which had an attendance in the region of 7,000 with 2,500 athletes taking part. This event has been applauded by many far & wide in the athletics world. We expect Gowran Athletics Club to continue to develop & excel in the sporting life of the Gowran Community. SPOOKTACULAR As the autumn leaves began to fall, and minds turned to the long dark nights ahead with the thought of brightening them up with Christmas lights around the village green over the festive season. To raise cash and to help bring the community back together again in an outdoor and safe setting, the abomination that is Spooktacular was born! Wind and rain threatened to kill the event before it had even come to life, but the organisers took a last-minute gamble and went ahead as planned. The event drew a crowd from across Gowran and its hinterlands for the ghoulish spectacle much to the joy of young and old alike. The inclement weather only added to the nightmarish atmosphere SHARE THE LOAD RELAY IN AID OF SOLAS Early on Saturday December 11th forty-three runners, joggers and walkers descended on Gowran to run a relay marathon (26miles or 42km in teams of 4 or 5) in aid of SOLAS Cancer Support Centre. €1379 was raised for the ExWell programme by the Support Centre. This programme will help support people going through cancer, sharing the benefits of exercise as medicine for good health and recovery from serious illness. Christmas Lights: With the money raised from Spooktacular and a grant of €450 with thanks from Yulefest Kilkenny the community purchased more lights and accessories to add to the yuletide festive atmosphere within our beautiful village. As we look forward to 2022, plans are already underway to help our community not just survive but thrive together and to make the coming years bigger and brighter for us all. Happy New Year to all from all of us in Gowran! If you’d like to be kept informed of what’s happening in Gowran or if you’d like to get involved in our plans for Gowran into the future, please reach out to us on our Facebook page @ gowrandevelopment.