10
The Kilkenny Observer Friday 29 July 2022
kilkennyobserver.ie
News
Brain injuries rugby suit A number of former rugby players are taking a case against the IRFU in relation to serious brain injuries sustained during their playing careers. According to the Irish Times, that proceedings are expected to be issued before October, with the case being taken by Dublinbased solicitors Maguire
McClaffey LLP, who specialise in litigation and personal injury law. Manus McClafferty, a senior partner with the firm, confirmed that Irish players are involved but would not state how many. "I won't do that. That’s unwise," he explained. "But I can tell you that proceedings are prepared and will,
probably, be issued, I believe, by the end of September. I have them ready." This legal case against the governing body here in Ireland comes alongside proceedings on behalf of a group of professional and semi-professional players against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union. The
group have been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and other irreversible neurological impairments. The claimants, who include former Wales captain Ryan Jones and England’s 2003 World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson, argue that the sport’s governing bodies were negligent in that they failed to take
Woman finds dead body of missing man in the boot of her rental car A woman driving a rental car discovered a dead boy in the boot when she pulled over to investigate a strange smell. The shocking incident happened in the village of Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny, near the border with Waterford. It’s believed the man who was found dead in the boot of the car was the person who had rented the car immediately before the customer who found the body. The woman who had the distressing experience of unexpectedly finding a corpse in the car she had rented is a local woman from the area in her 20s. The dead man was 40 years old and from Waterford and there had been a Garda appeal for his whereabouts. He had been reported missing almost two weeks before he was tragically found dead in a GoCar rental by the young woman. A source close to the family of the woman who made the sad discovery said: “She picked up the car at one of the GoCar depot spots and had just a short drive out to where she was heading, the village of Mullinavat, I’d say around five miles. “While she was driving she noticed a funny smell, she didn’t know what it was, thought it smelled like gas and thought it might be coming from the car engine when she started the car.
“But it didn’t go away and so she stopped the car when she got to Millivant and that's where she made the shocking discovery, there was the body of a dead man in the boot. “She was stunned, the Gardai were called then and they took it from there.” The Irish Mirror asked Europcar, the parent company of GoCar, if cars were cleaned or valeted between rent-outs, or if the cars were checked to make sure there was nothing left behind by a previous renter. In a statement in reply, the company said: “GoCar is assisting An Garda Síochána with its investigation into the tragic incident that occurred earlier this week in Kilkenny. “We express our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the deceased at this time.” GoCar is a self-service car rental company. The service allows you to rent cars for as little as an hour, using a booking system to reserve the vehicle and in-car technology to unlock the car and drive. There are over 800 GoCar cars and vans available to rent across Ireland in most major towns and cities. The Gardai announced that a missing person appeal for the dead man had been stood down. The original missing persons appeal had been issued on July 8
reasonable action to protect players from permanent injury caused by repetitive concussive and sub-concussive blows. ones, 41, a member of the British and Irish Lions squad on the 2005 tour of New Zealand, revealed his diagnosis with early-onset dementia and probable CTE in an interview with the Sunday
Times earlier this month. He told the newspaper: "I feel like my world is falling apart. "I am really scared because I’ve got three children and three step-children and I want to be a fantastic dad. "I lived 15 years of my life like a superhero and I’m not. I don’t know what the future holds."
Pictured above: at the presentation to Kilkenny’s Marble City Boxing Club members Jack Johnson, Garry Kehoe and Cian Stapleton, at the Texaco Service Station, Talbot’s Inch. With them are Texaco Dealer, John de Loughry (second left) and Valero Area Sales Manager, Niall O’Rourke (second right)
Marble City club boxing clever with funding Kilkenny’s Marble City Boxing Club, County winners in the recent Texaco Support for Sport initiative, has been presented with a cheque for €5,000 which will be used to enhance its facilities. Based in Roachpond, Kilkenny, Marble City Boxing Club caters for individuals from all backgrounds, striving to foster an envi-
ronment in which members can grow and channel their energies in a positive manner. In 2019, the Club was awarded the ‘best boxing club in Leinster’ title, based on the amount of champions it produced in a single championship. Under the scheme – similar to that which proved successful last year when the Kilkenny county award
was presented to Kilkenny Hockey Club – the presentation was made to the Club by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand. Now in its second year, the Texaco Support for Sport initiative sees an annual fund of EUR130,000 set aside for allocation in equal amounts of EUR5,000
to successful applicants chosen on a county-bycounty basis. Overseeing the adjudication process was Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, former Irish rugby international and broadcaster, Donncha O’Callaghan. Entries to the Texaco Support for Sport 2023 initiative will open this autumn.
Photo society hosts its 37th annual show Kilkenny Photographic Society's 37th Annual Exhibition takes place in MacDonagh Junction from August 5 to 14. The exhibition, open daily from 9.30am to 7.00pm, will be officially launched by Mayor David Fitzgerald on Friday, August 5 at 7pm. Light refreshments will be served. After a two year absence, due to Covid, members are keen to exhibit their work
and the exhibition will show the diverse range of styles and creativity of our members. Also on exhibition will be the society’s panels for the SACC and National Club Competitions. Two of the society's members received distinctions during the Covid period. Matt Whitby was awarded his Licentiateship (LIPF) and Bernie Kelly was awarded her Associateship (AIPF)
by the Irish Photographic Federation. Their wonderful panels of prints will also be on display. The Irish Photographic Federation awards distinctions at 3 different levels – Licentiateship, Associateship and Fellowship. The exhibition will appeal to a wide audience: members of the public, local organisations as well as tourists and those with an interest in the arts, culture
and particularly photography. You will see a wide range of photography genres including flora/fauna, travel, landscapes, seascapes, portrait, architecture and street photography. * Learn more about Kilkenny Photographic Society by visiting www.kilknennyphoto.net and www.facebook.com/kilkennyphoto/
