Kilkenny Observer 2nd February 2024

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Death Of Ian Bailey It's A Family Affair Doubt continues in Women's council for Yes du Plantier’s murder and Yes on March 8  Marianne Heron, Page 12

 Page 10 & 14

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

EVERY FRIDAY

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We’re in Top 20 towns!

With fast broadband and choice of schools, we beat 30 others Kilkenny has been ranked 20th in the list of towns for a perfect work-life balance. With fast broadband speeds, and a choice of cafes and primary schools, it beat 30 other towns that made the list.

The Work-Life Balance Act 2023 was introduced by the Government last year, so

ahead of the new Code of Practice giving employees new rights, Switcher has revealed the best towns and cities for the perfect work-life balance.

Research compared essentials like broadband speeds, mobile coverage, and access to local amenities like primary schools, GP surgeries,

and major supermarkets. It also looked at factors important for well-being, like green spaces, leisure facilities and cafes, house prices, commuting and crime rate.

With this information, a Work-Life Balance Index was created to rank the best and worst places to juggle work, family and pleasure.

New legislation which gives employees the right to request remote work carer’s leave and other flexible arrangements is expected by the end of the year. With 32% of people working from home at least one day a week during 2022, Ireland’s towns and local economies could also enjoy the benefits of an in-

creasingly flexible workforce.

Some Kilkenny facts from the index: • Average house price: €316,236 • Major supermarkets per 1.000: 0.18 • Leisure centres per 1,000: 0.22

Three dead in local car crash

Sadly, it’s plastics, Grace, plastics ...

Three people have been killed in a road crash in Co Carlow.

The single-vehicle crash occurred just after midnight On Thursday, February 1 in the Leagh area, around 5km from Carlow town on the main road to Wexford.

Two men and a woman, all believed to have been in their 20s, were killed.

A fourth, a man, was taken to St Luke’s Hospital.

Following the spillage of over a billion plastic pellets into the Atlantic Ocean from a container ship in December, MEP Grace O’Sullivan has travelled to Galicia with Greens/EFA colleague MEP Ana Miranda to survey the environmental damage in the area.

The Waterford MEP, who first legislated for the elimination of micro-plastics in beauty products in the Seanad in 2017, is now a lead negotiator in the European Parliament on the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and has set her sights on banishing the production of needless, single use plastic packaging in particular.

Rural home prices outdo Dublin

Our photo shows Ms O’Sullivan holding some of the plastic ‘nurdles’ on a beach in Galicia.

See also Page 18

Our students shortlisted for film awards Students from Kilkenny have made the shortlist for this year’s FÍS Film Awards. The renowned contest which is now in its 18th year, will feature a host of short movies created by primary school children and their teachers across Ireland.

The school from Kilkenny shortlisted for this year’s is Wandesforde National School

The Best Comment & Opinion in Kilkenny

for the movie The Home Front.

The event, hosted by RTÉ’s Sinead Kennedy, is to take place in the Helix, Dublin on February 21.

With more than 1,500 pupils involved, the awards aim to inspire a new generation of budding filmmakers from within the classroom.

From one cohort of students

• Primary schools per 1,000: 0.48 • National & public parks per 1000: 0.22 • Crime rate per 1.000: 66.36 • Average broadband speed: 188 Mbps • Average distance to major routes: 10.80 Km

to another, the award ceremony will be filmed and broadcast by third-level students from the IADT’s National Film School, MA in Broadcast Production for Radio & TV to provide them with hands-on professional and practical experience as they seek to further their skills.

In addition, post-production

of the awards is produced by students on IADT’s BA in Film & TV programme.

This year’s FÍS Awards Ceremony will recognise a wide range of achievements across 20 unique categories. Celebrating all aspects of the filmmaking process, it will include awards for acting, costume design, originality, and story-

telling among others. The wide range of accolades on offer aim to highlight the many different components pupils and teachers must consider when acting as movie directors, producers and screenwriters.

The public can join in by watching the 18th Annual FÍS Film Awards live through fisfilmproject.ie.

Property prices in rural Ireland rose at twice the rate of those in urban areas last year.

A report based on all the entries on the State’s property price register also shows the median price of a residential property rose by €21,000 last year.

Energy-efficient homes are now selling for almost €80,000 more than those with low energy ratings, according to data on property sales compiled by technology company Geowox.

The Moon is slowly shrinking The Moon is gradually shrinking, according to a new study from the University of Maryland, leading to a growing number of landslides that may threaten future astronauts. The Earth’s natural satellite has lost as much as 100 metres in circumference over the last few hundred million years as its core has cooled.

PAUL HOPKINS

MARIANNE HERON

JOHN ELLIS

GERRY MORAN

Telling it like it is.

And with no holds barred

A straight shooter.

Considerate and wise words

Great advice.

Your money in mind

Quirky take on bright side of life

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News

Kilkenny students’ role in online safety Biodiversity Action Plan

Two students from Kilkenny are among more than 140 students from across Ireland who are taking part in the Webwise Safer Internet Day (SID) Ambassador Training Programme.

The peer-led programme equips students with the knowledge and skills to lead their own online safety awareness raising campaign in their schools and local communities.

Megan Doherty and Aoife McGuinness from Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny attended the in-person training day in Dublin, where they received training and support from the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel. The theme for Safer Internet Day 2024, which takes place on Tuesday, February 6, is ‘Tech In Our World’ which explores young people’s views on new and emerging technology, and the changes they would like to see online.

The Webwise Safer Internet Day Ambassador Training Programme gives students the opportunity to take a leading role in promoting a safer, better internet and tackle issues that are important to them including online bullying, misinformation, wellbeing, privacy and rights online.

Safer Internet Day (SID) is an EU wide initiative to promote a safer internet for

launched by Noonan

Safer surfing: at the Webwise Safer Internet Day Ambassador Training Day are, from left Megan Doherty and Aoife McGuinness from Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny

all users, especially young people. It is promoted in Ireland by the Oide Technology in Education and Webwise, with almost 200,000 people taking part in last year’s celebrations.

Webwise is the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre.

Funded by the Department of Education and the Euro-

pean Commission, webwise. ie promotes safer, better Internet use through awareness raising and education initiatives targeting teachers, children, young people and parents. Webwise develops and disseminates resources that help teachers integrate digital citizenship and online safety into teaching and

learning in their schools.

Webwise also provides information, advice, and tools to parents to support their engagement in their children’s online lives. With the help of the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel, Webwise develops youth oriented awareness raising resources and training programmes that

promote digital citizenship and address topics such as online wellbeing, cyberbullying and more. * Find out what you can do, and get free resources, by visiting the Webwise Safer Internet Day Hub at webwise.ie/saferinternetday

Green Party TD for Carlow Kilkenny and Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, has launched ‘Actions for Nature’, Ireland’s new National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP).

The plan – Ireland’s fourth NBAP – contains 194 actions to protect and restore nature across Ireland and is the first biodiversity plan to be underpinned by legislation and backed by the €3.15 billion Climate and Nature Fund announced last year.

Speaking at the launch Minister Noonan said: “In my many years as a councillor in Kilkenny I worked alongside communities, individuals, schools and other organisations who were getting behind the effort to protect and restore nature.

“And in my three and a half years as Minister, travelling the length and breadth of this country, I’ve seen first-hand that passion for nature reflected in communities right across Ireland,” he said.

“With the right support, accountability, and resourcing, I believe we can harness that people power and turn the tide on nature loss. The challenge is enormous, but the imperative to act couldn’t be more urgent.”

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Why business is feeling unwell Businesses in Kilkenny and throughout the South East have said they are concerned that the introduction of a legal obligation for employers to pay for sick leave has led to 70% of retailers – especially smaller firms – experiencing an increase in sick leave taken by workers.

Some companies are com-

plaining that some employees are treating the new benefit as “additional holiday leave”.

The findings came from a Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) survey of 128 retail companies with a combined 3,000 stores.

Under the Sick Leave Act 2022, which came into effect on January 1, 2023, employers

had to pay workers for the first three days of their absence due to illness or injury for the first time.

Before then, employees were not paid for those three days and instead had to claim illness benefit from the Department of Social Protection on the fourth day.

Since the start of this month, employers have to pay for five days’ sick leave, as part of the Government’s plan to raise it to 10 days by 2026.

The statutory sick leave entitlement is paid at 70% of gross earnings, up to a cap of €110 a day. An employee can file a complaint to the Workplace

Relations Commission (WRC) if an employer fails to meet its obligations.

Last year, the WRC ruled in favour of Musgraves after a SuperValu worker who was out sick for four days complained that she was paid for just one day’s sick leave and should have been entitled to statutory

€14.3 million in support pay for the tillage sector Support payments worth €14.3 million to the tillage sector have been announced by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, TD. The €14.3m. support package is comprised of €7.147 million secured for the tillage sector under the Agricultural Reserve fund in 2023, matched with a top-up of a further €7.147 million being made available from the once-off Ukraine-related funding provided in Budget 2024.

Minister McConalogue said: “Tillage growers experienced significant challenges in 2023 with high costs of production, reduced output prices and challenging weather conditions which affected crop yields. Wet weather also affected the harvesting of crops with growers not being able to harvest crops in many areas.

“In light of these challenges, I specifically requested support from the EU Agricultural Reserve for tillage growers and also approved a 100% top-up to the Agricultural Reserve allocation of €7.147 million in National funding which will provide critical support for this important sector.”

The €14.3 million funding is being used to support growers who were unable to harvest their cereal crops last year due to wet weather with the balance of the funding being used as a once-off flat rate payment on the area of oilseed rape, winter and spring barley, wheat, oats and rye declared under the Basic Income Support for Sustain-

ability Scheme (BISS) in 2023.

The Unharvested Crop Loss Support Scheme announced by the Minister in November 2023 will provide support of €1.67 million to 236 applicants who are eligible under the Scheme. The funding available for the one-off flatrate payments is €12.63m and is being paid to over 8,400 growers on the area of oilseed rape, winter and spring barley, wheat, oats and rye declared under the BISS in 2023 subject to a maximum of 100ha per applicant.

The rate of payment per hectare is €50 and the minimum area to be eligible for the flat-rate payment is 5ha.

The Unharvested Crop Support Scheme was announced in November 2023 to support growers who were unable to harvest their cereal crops due to wet weather.

The rate of payment to eligible applicants was €1,000 per hectare. There was a minimum eligible area of 2 hectares and a maximum eligible area of 20 hectares under the scheme.

The once-off flat-rate payment is payable to tillage farmers on the area of oilseed rape, winter and spring barley, wheat, oats and rye declared under their Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) applications in 2023. The rate of payment is €50/ha subject to a maximum of 100ha per applicant. The minimum area to be eligible for the flat-rate payment is 5ha.

sick pay for the first three days.

The REI survey also found that 48% of retailers cannot handle escalating business costs such as sick pay and this month’s increase in the minimum wage.

More than a third are considering price rises, while half are mulling reduced operating hours.

Plating up under the watchful eye of KCETB Tutor Morgan Farrell are Kieran Doyle, Kellys Hotel Rosslare, Marc Leahy of Newpark Hotel and Eoin McMahon of Kellys Hotel Roslare.

Photo: Vicky Comerford

Local culinary talent takes centre stage In a culinary extravaganza set against the picturesque backdrop of The Great Southern Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry, apprentices from Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) are gearing up to exhibit their skills and compete at the Commis Chef Apprenticeship Showcase.

Organised by the Kerry Education and Training Board in collaboration with the Irish Hotel Federation and industry stakeholders, this event serves not just as a competition but as a unique platform to address the pressing hospitality staff

crisis facing the region.

Scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, from 9:30am to 4:30pm, the showcase will witness apprentices from nine Education and Training Boards (ETBs) joining peers from across Ireland in live cookery and display competitions. More than just a culinary showdown, it’s a celebration of local talent and an exploration of how the Commis Chef Apprenticeship can contribute to the growth of businesses in the South East region.

This event comes on the heels of KCETB’s Apprentice Class of 2024 Capstone Culinary event held re-

cently at KCETB Hospitality Academy at Gowran Park. Diners were treated to a seven course tasting menu curated by the Apprentices, inspired by their location in Gowran Park under the watchful eye of their tutor Morgan Farrell.

Representing KCETB at the National Showcase will be five commis chef apprentices who, once the competitions are over will enjoy the highlights of the event including guest speakers Mike Tweedie, Head Chef of the Oak Room, and Eddie Attwell, Head Chef of Eccles Hotel Glengarriff. Tweedie and

Attwell. The speakers will share first-hand how the Commis Chef Apprenticeship played a pivotal role in growing their teams, offering a tangible success story for businesses considering similar initiatives.

In bringing KCETB to the forefront, apprentices, mentors, and educators aim to showcase the region’s commitment to culinary excellence. This event isn’t merely a competition; it’s an opportunity for Kilkenny and Carlow to carve its mark on the culinary map and actively contribute to addressing challenges within the industry.

Lorimat begins 31 years business online only Multi award-winning jewellers Lorimat are moving their entire business online in the coming weeks as they begin their fourth decade in business.

Second generation owner Rita Shanahan says online sales of engagement, wedding and eternity rings now accounts for over three quarters

of their business and that it makes perfect sense to transition with the times, and move the entire business online.

“We celebrated 30 years in business in December and when we reflected on buying patterns and trends, it was clear that we need to move with the times, future-proof and focus our attention on

online sales for the decade to come.

“Our premises on Patrick Street will remain open until the beginning of February and we will be honouring all existing gift vouchers in person and will continue to do so online.

We will be based in Kilkenny and will still be contactable but we just won’t have a store pres-

ence in the city any more after February 2.”

Lorimat was established on Kilkenny’s Kieran Street by Rita’s mother, Teresa Brennan, 30 years ago last year. The Kieran Street retail premises traded for 24 years and was renowned for its traditional gold and silver collections before moving to Patrick Street.

“We’ve evolved the business over time to meet market demands. This is simply the latest evolution or revolution.

You can’t stand still in this business.

“We wouldn’t have lasted the past 30 years if we didn’t move with the times.

“When we moved from Kieran Street to Patrick Street,

we were conscious that we had lost our traditional shop window. We transitioned much of our business online to offer customers a virtual shop window instead. This evolution broadened our shop window even further across even greater shopping lines which included Ireland’s first try on at home offering during Covid.”

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Opinion

The Fact Of The Matter Paul Hopkins

Refugees: we may need an ‘Ireland full-up’ sign As I write, protesters are still outside a hotel in Co Tipperary demonstrating against plans to house international protection applicants. The Department of Integration said 160 beds – some now occupied – were being provided in Racket Hall, in Roscrea, the town’s only hotel. Most residents claim their protest is not about ‘racism’ but rather about lack of consultation and lack of amenities.

Roscrea, for example, has only one dentist.

In Lanesboro, Co. Longford, the owner of a former convent designated to house 85 Ukrainians has pulled out following an attempted arson attack on the premises.

That said, most of the 700 protests the past year have been peaceful, but with 16 cases of attempted arson recorded.

In Carlow a door-to door campaign is attempting to

halt 200 migrants moving into Dublin Road.

Meanwhile, Mayo councillors have passed a motion calling on council staff to cease co-operation with the Department of Integration over the housing of asylumseekers. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has appealed to other councillors not to follow suit.

And John Lannon, CEO of Doras – the body that protects the rights of people from a immigrant backgrounds – has warned public representatives that “fearmongering and excluding people from communities” is not going to help their towns get better services.

The Government, for their part, are to allegedly acquire up to six new accommodation centres — with beds for 3,600 people — and audit existing buildings being used for refugees, as part of efforts to deal with the

crisis. The country’s 200 current accommodation centres, housing 26,000, have been contracted on a capacity basis rather than for individual occupancy.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says there is an “issue” around whether existing centres are being fully used.

He has asked Government departments to come up with possible ‘help’ across the 10 regions which have taken in the most migrants.

GPs may receive more staff, such as locums. Schools could be in line for extra English language teachers, as well as co-ordinators tasked with supporting schools to meet the needs of immigrant children. The provision of additional reserve Gardaí is also on the table as Garda numbers approach 15,000.

Are they flying these recruits back from Dubai and Australia? Seriously?

Meanwhile, Meath’s In-

dependent Senator Sharon Keogan has reiterated her call to make the job of Immigration Consultant a regulated profession, while Emily Hogan from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has labelled Direct Provision “a severe violation of human rights”.

Direct Provision is a considerable concern for a UN committee which concludes that our State “violated a number of rights of asylum seekers”, with the rider that those seeking refuge continue to live in inadequate and poor communal accommodation for extensive periods of time, and are prevented from working. And now, new Ukrainian refugees have 90 days to find their own place to dwell and their welfare is being dramatically cut.

Meanwhile, we have 14,000 Irish people homeless, among them 4,000 children. Nearly a quarter

of a million young people in third level education are seeing the “worst student accommodation crisis” with student unions saying the Government was “warned it was coming but ignored it”.

While we are, as a society, noted for our welcoming nature, every so often, and more often of late, we find ourselves badly wanting when it comes to being the land of Cead Mile Failte.

Racism is a relatively minor reality here.

“Ireland’s immigration policy is based on rules, and they are enforced,” according to the Taoiseach.

He is wrong to claim the rules are enforced. A total of 3,285 people arrived in Dublin Airport without a valid identity document in 2023, 4,968 in 2022. It is an offence under the Immigration Act 2004 for a non-national over 16 (except those from the UK) to land in the State without a valid travel

document. Former Justice Minister Michael McDowell has said that many, justifiably denied international protection, slip under the radar and remain here.

All refugees dream of finding work, of finding a country that will offer them an opportunity to pay their way. Migrants searching for safe havens and opportunities benefit their host nations’ economies within five years of arrival, suggests an analysis of 30 years of data from 15 countries in Western Europe, including Ireland. The study, in Science Advances, finds that soon after a spike in migration, the overall sustainability of the country’s economy improves, contradicting the notion that refugees place an excessive financial burden on a country.

But accommodation – the housing crisis – is the issue here. We just may well have overstretched ourselves.

Climate Change

– are we all playing our part?

WEEK 54

“What may we hope for?”

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Housing charity helped 18,129 in last months of 2023 Advisors in the national housing charity Threshold supported 18,129 individuals in the final three months of 2023. The charity’s Q4 Impact Report highlights the consistent support that Threshold has provided to renters year on year, having supported 18,608 individuals in the same three months in 2022.

The latest report from Threshold shows that advisors responded to more

12,000 queries, answering 9,956 calls and responding to more than 1,500 webchats from October to December last. Some advisors also worked throughout the Christmas period, responding to some 130 queries to help ensure the best possible outcome for private renters.

Between October and December 2023, Threshold prevented a total of 909 households from entering homelessness. This meant

that 1,200 adults and 929 children could stay in their homes or were supported by Threshold to secure alternative housing.

However, as was the case throughout the year, tenants seeking support on tenancy terminations remains the dominant query as landlords continue to sell their properties. With more landlords leaving the market than entering it, there are fewer properties available to rent,

which adds to the current challenges facing the rental sector. This is where schemes such as the Tenant-in-Situ are vital in providing longterm secure homes.

Speaking on the report, Threshold’s National Advocacy Manager, Ann-Marie O’Reilly stated: "The latest Impact Report underscores the important role that Threshold plays in providing support to private renters across Ireland and

ensuring that they access the supports that are available to them. While we continue to see a rise in the number of households requiring our services, it is extremely positive and encouraging to see renters seeking advice on their rights and taking action."

The Tenant-in-Situ scheme has proven to be an effective support for renters. This scheme, which allows local authorities to buy homes

Justice offers advice on the referenda set for March 8

The two referenda on March 8 will seek to amend our Constitution to broaden the meaning of what constitutes a family, remove sexist language that refers to women in the home, and to look at the role of carers within such 'families.

Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Justice Marie Baker has said that the idea of durable relationships (ie. what constitutes a family) already exists in cohabitation legislation and EU law.

She said the term, which will be introduced to the Constitution if one of the two referenda pass on March 8, would not be new to lawyers or judges.

Speaking at the launch of the Electoral Commission's first referendum campaign, the judge said: "There have been a few cases in the courts in the last few years, judgments from the Supreme Court and some judgments from the High Court, which have identified the various indicators as to durability in a relationship.

"There are all kinds of things – some of them are subjective and some of them are objective.

"So subjectively, a relationship is durable if committed, if it presents itself as committed, if it means to be committed, if it intends to be committed.

"Its durability can sometimes be how you are treated by other people. Are you invited as a couple to weddings? Do people send Christmas cards to both of

you? These are the indicators of your commitment to each other."

One of the two referenda being held in March could lead to the definition of a family being changed in the Constitution to reflect modern society.

Justice Baker warned voters about misinformation being spread about the referenda and has asked people to question what they were reading on social media.

She said misinformation and disinformation had been a feature in almost every country that had recent elections.

The judge said there had been some "humorous debate" about 'throuples' and polygamy in relation to the referenda, but added that all debate was good ahead of the vote.

She said the Electoral Commission was tasked with setting out "objective, independent and impartial information” about the two referenda.

However, she said that the part of the Electoral Act that would give the commission "real teeth" – and enable it to bring social media companies before the courts. The commission is commencing a countrywide roadshow to highlight the work they are carrying out in advance of the referendums.

In the coming weeks, a booklet on the exact wording and details of voting will be delivered to more than two million homes.

See Special Report Page 14

from landlords who are planning to evict the tenant for the purposes of selling the home and whose tenants are eligible for social housing, is designed to provide long-term security to those renters.

Threshold has recommended that in 2024 the State set an ambitious goal of buying at least half of the suitable rental properties put on the market, in which tenants are subject to a notice of termination.

Mind yourself: Agri Aware Chairman Shay Galvin at the launch of Agri Aware's new Farm Safety programme Safe Farm Futures

Keeping our young safe on the farm Minister of State with responsibility for Farm Safety at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, recently launched Agri Aware’s new farm safety programme called Safe Farm Futures.

The programme will be available to primary schools across the country and aims to educate and raise awareness of the importance of keeping safe on farms.

This farm safety programme aims to deliver a rounded guide to farm safety, ensuring that the work we do on farms is safe by recognising and increas-

ing awareness around the dangers on farms so that we can all farm sustainably and in a safe environment for all.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Agri Aware Chairman Shay Galvin said: “In 2023, 16 deaths occurred in the farming sector which is far too many and already in 2024 we have sadly had another fatality on a farm.

“Educating the next generation on farm safety from a young age is critically important. Farms are a wonderful place to make happy memories, whether it be helping your grandparent or parents on the farm.

“However, as we all know,

there are risks and dangers to one’s health when working on a farm and to ensure the safety of the next generation, educating them on the risks associated with a working farm and ensuring they engage in safe practices is crucial," he said.

“Therefore, we look forward to seeing teachers and students begin their farm safety journey with us in order to create a safer future for everyone involved in the agricultural industry and are excited at bringing further farm safety initiative to schools in the near future.”

The programme has

separate learning plans for junior and senior primary school level students and comprise of three learning plan topics that teachers and their students will engage with - Countryside Care; Animals and You; and Moving Parts: Know Where to Start.

All three topics will be accompanied by a suite of resources including activity lesson plans, webinars and activity sheets.

Schools that complete the programme will be in with a chance of winning prizes of up to €2,000 which will be invested in the students wellbeing and learning.

Ireland may want further moves in ban on vapes Tánaiste Micheál Marin would like to see a ban on disposable vapes in a bid to crack down on the increasing number of young people using the devices.

Mr Martin made the comments after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak set out plans to get rid of disposable

vapes to protect children’s health in an effort to crack down on vaping among children.

Mr Sunak announced the ban, which is expected to apply across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Originally seen as a healthier option for adults who are

addicted to cigarettes, e-cigarettes – or vapes – have grown more popular in recent years, particularly among younger people. According to UK statistics, the number of children using vapes in the past three years has tripled.

The latest figures show 9% of 11 to 15 year-olds across

the UK are using vapes.

“As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children, and so we must act before it becomes endemic,” Mr Sunak said in a statement.

The long-term impacts of vaping are unknown and the

nicotine within them can be highly addictive, so while vaping can be a useful tool to help smokers quit, marketing vapes to children is not acceptable.

The UK’s announcement puts it in line with Germany and France, who have also announced bans on dispos-

able vapes. New Zealand implemented a ban last year.

Ireland announced a ban on the sale of vapes to under18s in December last.

There are also plans to introduce rules around how vapes are marketed, such as the use of colours and flavours.

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Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

Grip of doubt continues in du Plantier’s murder The death of chief suspect Ian Bailey for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier has stirred up a further storm of questions over the unsolved case. Did Ian Bailey get away with murder as Joe Duffy bluntly asked on Live Line following Bailey’s fatal heart attack?

Whatever the answer, if one is finally found as the cold case investigation instigated in 2022 continues, whatever people believe about Bailey’s innocence or guilt, one thing is certain: Bailey’s life has been a curious pantomime for over a quarter of a century, having been snared in a web of suspicion that entangled his life like a shroud.

Bailey and du Plantier could have come straight out of casting for a murder mystery. English journalist

Bailey had the guise of an anti-hero at a powerful 6ft plus with saturnine good looks. French TV producer Toscan du Plantier, beautiful and wealthy, had star quality glamour, factors which together with the ongoing grip of doubt over the truth about the case, fuelled relentless publicity.

So far there have been six books, a podcast series entitled West Cork, two other podcasts, an RTE documentary, a five-part Sky series Murder In The Cottage, produced by Jim Sheridan and Netflix’s Sophie A Murder in West Cork and countless newspaper reports.

I happened to take a home exchange holiday in the remote Toormoore area a few years ago, staying in one of the houses scattered on the hillside where du Plantier bought a holiday

home in 1993. It is a beautiful place but the horror of Sophie’s death with her head battered in by a block in an apparent crime passionelle lingered there.

The village of Schull, where Bailey lived with his partner Jules Thomas until they separated in 2021, was a favourite destination on that holiday: a small community where anonymity wouldn’t have hidden Bailey from sidelong glances or pointing fingers.

Bailey, who was never charged for the murder, was one of the first at the initially unsecured crime scene on a laneway leading to the du Plantier property on the morning of December 23, 1996 after the discovery of Sophie’s body, gathering information in his capacity as a journalist. He was subsequently arrested twice, first in the

following February, and again in January 1998 but released without charge due to lack of evidence.

An analysis of the Garda evidence in 2021 was critical of the Garda findings and these were held not to warrant a prosecution and a further file submitted to the DPP the following year resulted in the same conclusion. Finally, in 2019 a French court found Bailey guilty of Sophie’s murder in absentia and sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment but the Irish High Court refused to extradite him.

In his attempts to clear his name and to throw off the net of suspicion, Bailey fought a series of legal battles, arming himself with a law degree from UCC in 2010. He took a legal action against eight newspapers in 2003 for

linking him to the murder, losing six of them and taking an appeal in the High Court which was dropped in 2007 and taking an action against the State and the Gardaí for wrongful arrest and conspiracy which he lost in 2015.

The action cost him dearly, as he was order to pay costs of between €2-5 million – never mind the toll of ongoing stress.

Despite all the investigations and the court battles the corrosive effect of doubt remains. No conclusive answer has emerged about the murder, though many questions remain unanswered. In what way was the Garda investigation flawed or compromised that caused criticism and didn’t produce enough evidence for prosecution?

What really went on with Marie Farrell who claimed

she saw Bailey on Kealfadda Bridge on the night of Sophie’s murder but later said that the Gardaí had coerced her into making a false statement?

While Bailey’s back story has been investigated, little is known here about Sophie’s background or any factors which might have been a motive for her murder. Why was Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Ireland for only a couple of days before she planned to return to France for Christmas. Was she there to meet someone?

With Sophie’s family claiming that Bailey’s death has robbed them of justice and as the cold case investigation continues, aided by new DNA techniques, the ultimate irony would be if the late Ian Bailey is eventually found to be innocent.

Winter wellness for the little ones Congratulations to Michael Doyle -

Kilkenny student scores top exam marks

CLAIR WHITTY

The kids are not long back to school and already I am seeing lots of infection going around.

Parents are looking for ways to help keep their young ones from missing any school days.

Especially anyone in exam years. I thought you might like a little reminder of some of the natural remedies that may help support their immune system and relieve symptoms.

Vitamin D is a popular choice to support immunity. BetterYou Vitamin D Oral Spray is one of our customer’s favourites as it is easy to administer and is easily absorbed. You can choose from Infants, Junior suitable from age 5, and for teenagers you could choose 1,000IU. For coughs there’s Fortuss Cough Syrup, it contains Manuka Honey, renowned for its anti-microbial properties. It creates a protective layer that adheres to irritated mucosa giving fast relief. You can take it to help relieve a dry cough or a production one. It’s suitable for adults and for children from one year of age.

Elderberry is one of natures’ finest antiviral respiratory plants and is a favourite of mine. Many parents with kids who seem to pick up every re-

spiratory infection going often recommend Elderberry. There are many brands to choose from. For example, Biocare Elderberry Complex which has been especially designed for children. It contains highly concentrated elderberry extract to support their immunity and strengthen their immune system. It also contains vitamin C and Zinc for immune support.

It tastes great and is suitable from age 3. For younger children you could take a look at the Sambucol range.

To relieve a congested nose there’s Otosan Nasal Spray Baby. It soothes irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane, and reduces congestion so that your baby/child can breathe easier and get to sleep faster. This is a bonus for you, because if your kid sleeps

you might get a decent night’s sleep too!

If they have had to take an antibiotic remember to reboost their good gut microbiome with some probiotics. In fact, supporting gut health is a great way to support immunity naturally so topping up now and then throughout the year is a good idea.

These are just some of the natural solutions that may help keep your children healthy this season.

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

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

Michael Doyle scored 100% in all of his Leaving Certificate Applied subjects.

Kilkenny student Michael Doyle has received the Feargal Quinn Award for achieving one of the highest LCA results in the country.

Michael, from St. Mullins, Carlow has attended the School

of the Holy Spirit on the Callan Road for the past number of years and was presented with an engraved plaque and certificate at the LCANA Conference held in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone last Saturday.

Michael graduated from the Kilkenny school in June and received 100% in all subject areas, specialisms, and tasks in his LCA results.

The LCANA 'Feargal Quinn Awards' are presented each year to students who achieve top credits in the Leaving Certificate Applied Examination of that year. The awards are named after Senator Feargal Quinn, who was the first Chairman of the steering committee for the then new Leaving Certificate Applied.

Away from the books, Michael has a keen interest in music and piano and is also an active member of Kilkenny Comhairle na nÓg and the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive.

The award winner is continuing his education in Ormonde College of Further Education where he is studying media.

In a post released on socialmedia, the School of the Holy Spirit expressed their delight and congratulations to their past pupil, stating: "We are so proud of him and wish him well for his future studies! We hope his family enjoy this special day.

"Michael has proven the importance of a varied and rich secondary school curriculum being provided in special schools," they said.

Michael is currently on work experience with The Kilkenny Observer and we would all like to congratulate him and we wish him every success in his future career.

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News

SPECIAL REPORT The National Women’s Council (NWC) has launched its referendum campaign and is asking the public to vote Yes on both referendum questions on March 8.

The NWC says: “Sexist, stereotypical language has no place in our Constitution and is representative of a time when women were treated like second-class citizens. The current definition of family, which only recognises those which exist within the bonds of marriage, is shaming and stigmatising to the countless families who exist outside of marriage, yet are not recognised or protected by our Constitution.”

NWC is calling for a Yes+Yes vote to enshrine equality for women and families into our Constitution.

Speaking upon the launch of the campaign, NWC Director Orla O’Connor said: “A woman’s place is wherever she wants it to be. We are calling today for the sexist, stereotypical reference to women’s place in the home to be removed from the Constitution and replaced with a recognition of the shared responsibility of care.

“Article 41.2 never led to any supports for women to work solely within the home, but underpinned discriminatory practices, such as the marriage bar, and the exclusion of women from many sectors of society.

“Limiting women’s role to the home copper fastened the absence of State support for care inside and outside of the home and the recognition of the role of men. A Yes vote removes this limiting language from our foundational legal document and sends a strong signal to men that they can, and should, play an equal role in looking after their families,” she said.

“A Yes vote also means a strong call on the State to support the provision of that essential care. Government must deliver real, practical action and investment for care such as a public childcare model ,better paid family leave, a universal pension for all, guaranteed access to homecare supports and personal assistance for disabled people.”

Ms O’Connor said we also

Women’s council calls for Yes and Yes on March 8

needed an updated definition of family, so that it reflects the reality and diversity of family life in Ireland today.

“All children and families deserve equal recognition and protection from our Constitution. A Yes vote will recognise and value all families, including but not limited to families based on marriage.”

Catherine Day, Chair of the Irish Citizen’s Assembly on Gender Equality 2019-2021 said: “The Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality made several recommendations for Constitutional change. The citizens voted overwhelmingly to extend the protection of the family beyond the marital family.”

They also recommended deleting article 41.2 (woman in the home) and replacing it by non-gender specific

language obliging the State to take reasonable measures to support care within the home and wider community. “ I cannot speak now for those citizens since the Assembly’s work has finished but I would encourage them, and all our fellow citizens, to vote YES in the upcoming referenda. The proposed wording does not go as far as the Assembly recommended, but it does build on its recommendations and citizens can continue to press for greater support for care in the community,” she said.

Ailbhe Smyth, social justice campaigner said: “Article 41.2 is a relic of a profoundly patriarchal and narrowly catholic view of the world which bears no relation to contemporary Irish society.

Women have spent the best

part of a century protesting and campaigning against a world view in which men occupied the public sphere and women were confined to a life of domesticity.

“We have roundly and successfully rejected that view in social movements, referendums and in our laws.

It does not align with our values and it most certainly does not reflect the realities of women’s lives today. In fact, it never did. The offensive misogyny of Art.42.1 shaped attitudes and behaviours towards women for far too long, and our lives been scarred and restricted as a consequence. We have had to fight tooth and nail for every inch of our equality, and we won’t stop now.

“We are not the Ireland of that dinosauric past, we

are modern Ireland and we believe in equality for women and men; we believe in an Ireland that values care and puts a greater obligation on the State to support that care.

We believe in equality for all families whether or not they are based in marriage. And we can demonstrate that with a Yes Yes vote on March 8.”

Sarah McEntee, lone parent and supporter of a Yes+Yes vote, said: “I’m a lone-parent and I’m supporting a Yes+ Yes vote because I want to be recognised equally in the Constitution, both as a carer and as a family. I have been parenting completely alone for over 14 years, working both inside and outside the home to provide for my children and I feel that Article 41.2 is discriminatory, shaming and stigmatising

against lone parents like myself. I am no less deserving of recognition in the Constitution for the care I provide in the home.

“I feel that the current definition of family is damaging and discriminating against many families who exist outside marriage, including my own. My family and my children deserve equal protection and recognition in the Constitution. We need a Yes+ Yes vote to provide equality for all women, carers, and families.” * The National Women’s Council is the leading national representative organisation for women and women’s groups in Ireland, founded in 1973. They have more than 190 member groups.

January spending shows a New Year, a New You Credit and debit card data for the first two weeks of January reveals that ‘New Year, New You’ spending in gyms and sports clubs shot upwards compared to last January. According to a Bank of Ireland report, many consumers are focusing on fitness and health, with spending on gyms and fitness clubs up 17% and spend on sports clubs (eg.

golf, tennis, football) rising by 40% compared to the same period last year.

However, early January data shows we’re not all punishing ourselves, with social spending up 7% on the first two weeks of last year. Restaurant outlay rose by 9%, fast-food was up 6% and pub spending rose by 4%. It seems that ‘going out was the new staying in’

for many, with off-licence spending declining by 8% during the same period.

Movie-lovers flocked to the cinema, with big-screen spending rising 32% as Irish actors earned international recognition for their performances, and tasty treats provide popular too with spending in sweet shops (+14%) and bakeries (+13%) rising.

Nationwide consumer spending rose by 9% overall compared to 2023, with consumers in Galway (+13%) leading the way in the spending stakes, followed by Longford (+11%), Wicklow (+10%), Kildare (+9%), Kerry (+9%), Mayo (+9%) and Westmeath (+9%).

Jilly Clarkin, Head of Customer Journeys & SME Markets at Bank of Ireland,

told The Kilkenny Observer: “New Year, New You has definitely taken off for many, with a significant year on year spike in spending on gyms and sports clubs. It will be interesting to see if the focus on health and fitness turns out to be a marathon or a sprint, and will those best intentions fall by the wayside as the year progresses?”

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Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

What the rules are governing a carer pension Last week we looked at some of the changes coming down the line for the State pension (contributory). This week we look at the pension for caregivers.

A Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, comprised of 11 members which included representation from workers, employers, civil society, academics, and those with technical and policy expertise.

A comprehensive report followed on October 7, 2021 based on various analyses of population, labour force and expenditure projections with “an examination of international approaches and responses to an extensive consultation process”. This report established among over things that the current State pension system was not sustainable into the future and set out a wide

range of recommendations which included raising the pension age.

The Government decided against raising the pension age which shouldn’t have surprised us with the blow back from society in general.

But it did decide, among other suggestions, to make it possible for carers to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory) when they reach pension age.

This means any period in which they are registered as providing care to an incapacitated person can be included in their pay-related social insurance (PRSI) record. (It is important to note that Long-Term Carers Contributions can only be used for State Pension (Contributory) once you have reached a minimum of 1040 weeks (20 years).

If you have cared for someone full-time, you can now apply for these contributions. You can be awarded a Long-Term

Carer’s Contribution on your PRSI record for each week that you provided full-

time care to an incapacitated person.

To qualify, you must have

permanently lived in the State during the period of care (except where EU or a posted worker). You have been aged between 16 or over and under pension age at the time you provided care. You have not been in employment, self-employment, voluntary work, training or education courses which add up to more than 18.5 hours a week during the period of care. You have not been in receipt of a weekly social welfare payment, except for Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance or Carer’s Support Grant.

Normally you must reside with the person being cared for and provide full-time care and attention but in some circumstances you may qualify if you do not reside with the person being cared while providing fulltime care and attention.

The person being cared for must have a disability where they require continual

supervision to avoid danger to themselves or continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with their normal bodily functions and the nature and extent of their disability has been certified in the prescribed manner by a medical practitioner.

The quickest way to apply for Long-Term Carer’s Contributions is online at MyWelfare.ie. You must have a verified MyGovID account to use MyWelfare.ie. Or you can request an application form by contacting Pension Caring Supports- Address: Department of Social Protection, McCarter’s Road, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, F93 CH79. Email then at pensioncaringsupports@ welfare.ie. Phone number:01 471 5898, 0818 690 690. If you are calling from outside of Ireland please call +353 1 471 5898. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362622

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News Science & Wellbeing Plastics are everywhere.

They are built to last, and last they do. A plastic bag can endure for 20 years in the environment, and a disposable nappy, dirty or not, up to 200. There is even plastic on the top of Mount Everest, in the Mariana Trench, in the human placenta, and babies’ poo. And even in the clouds.

These microplastics are so ubiquitous in the environment that some scientists think we should track how they cycle through the global oceans, atmosphere, and soil much in the same way we track carbon and phosphorus.

Through soil, wind, and water, they even get into our food. Scientists have found microplastics in beer, honey, salt and most of the proteins we consume—everything from seafood to sirloin steak and even plant-based meat alternatives. We keep looking for plastics, and we keep finding them in new and surprising places.

Scientists recently found that on average, a litre of bottled water contains around 240,000 detectable plastic fragments— 10 to 100 times greater than previous estimates. Their research, published in the journal PNAS, focused on the tiniest plastic particles — nanoplastics. These particles can cross into the brain, gut, heart, and through the placenta to babies in the womb.

Researchers recently collected 28 samples of liquid from clouds at the top of Mount Tai in eastern China.

They found microplastic fibres — from clothing, packaging, or tyres — in their samples. Lower altitude

Plastic everywhere, even in bottled water

clouds contained more particles.

The older plastic particles, some of which attract elements like lead, oxygen, and mercury, could lead to more cloud development, according to a paper published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

Have you heard of plastistones? That’s the name scien-

tists have given to a new type of sedimentary rock formed when molten plastic from burning trash cools down and fuses with minerals from the environment. These plastitones have now been found in 11 countries on five continents. They can wreak havoc on microbial communities, especially in the ocean, where the rocks may be mis-

taken for algae. They could also reshape the geological record of our planet.

We’re making progress on the circular waste economy by using treated sewage sludge as fertilizer. But that sludge has now been found to be packed with microplastics. A study in the journal Environmental Pollution estimates that the “practice of

spreading sludge on agricultural land could potentially make them one of the largest global reservoirs of microplastic pollution”.

Meanwhile, you might think of the glaciers of Antarctica as some of the last wild and pristine places on Earth. But scientists recently found plastics there for the first time in the remote Collins glacier

on King George Island — probably brought in by gusty winds. Plastics in glaciers and sea ice could increase the rate at which they melt, because plastic absorbs more heat than ice does. “Our results also show that plastic pollution, even if only in small quantities, reaches remote areas with few human settlements,” they write.

The links between democracy and a population’s health The Liberal Democracy Index is produced by the Varieties of Democracy Project at the University of Gothenburg. The index is based on a qualitative and quantitative assessment of elections and suffrage rights; freedom of expression and association; equality before the law; and judicial and legislative constraints on the executive. It is measured in a continuous scale where more democratic regimes obtain higher scores.

As we understand, there is a general correlation: in 2022, the countries with a Liberal Democracy Index of at least 0.7 also enjoyed life expectancy of at least 70 years; and conversely, all countries whose life expectancy was less than 60 years had a Liberal Democracy Index of at most 0.51.

In a recent paper published in The Lancet, a group of researchers looked at data covering 170 countries over the period 1970 to 2015, and they concluded that democracies were better than autocracies at reducing mortality — es-

pecially in those causes of mortality that had not been heavily targeted by foreign aid and required health-care delivery infrastructure.

But of course, correlation is not causation. Does democratisation actually cause improved health outcomes?

Controlled experiments are a popular way to establish causality. If we could randomly pick some countries and make them more democratic, we could then take two groups, use one as a control, and wait 30 years to evaluate the impact of democracy on health. While such an experiment is obviously out of the question, sometimes there are ‘natural experiments’ that enable us to learn about causal relationships following a similar logic.

One such natural experiment was the introduction of electronic voting in Brazil’s complex elections.

Under paper balloting, less educated and poorer voters often made mistakes and so had their votes invalidated.

In 1998, electronic voting

was introduced, but only to municipalities with at least 40,500 registered voters.

By comparing municipalities that were just below and above this arbitrary cutoff, Thomas Fujiwara found that electronic voting dramatically reduced the percentage of invalid votes, and this effectively enfranchised millions of voters, most of whom were less educated and poor.

This enhanced political participation of the poor led, in turn, to increased spending on public healthcare.

Other studies have also found consistent evidence in other contexts. Masayuki Kudamatsu studied the 1990s wave of democratisation in sub-Saharan Africa, and looked at individual-level data for 27,000 mothers who gave birth both before and after the year of democratisation. He found that when multiparty elections produced a new leader infant mortality fell. However, there was no such reduction in infant mortality in countries where the dictator held power.

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Travel & Leisure

Five must-visits in 2024 1. Flow Country, Scotland Listed to potentially be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site this year (a decision is expected in the next six months), the Flow Country, in Sutherland and Caithness in the far north of Scotland, is a half million acre of lochens by the hundred (this is the local term for small lochs), bog and, if scientific estimates are accurate, around 400 million tons of carbon.

Flow (descended from the old Norse word ‘floi’, meaning ‘marshy ground’) is one of the most valuable carbon sinks in Europe and has been developing for the last nine thousand years.

This immense peatland may not be the easiest terrain to navigate but take the milelong Dubh Lochan boardwalk and flagstone trail that crosses over the peat banks, and you’ll get a true flavor of ‘blanket bog’ country; which comes complete with greenshanks, golden plovers and harriers nesting or flying above the carpet of bogbean, sphagnum

A new trend sees airlines trying to add more seats to planes, even if it means retrofitting them like JetBlue have done to stay profitable.

However, like anything in aviation, changes in design and types of passengers have also ushered in the demise of first class.

While demand for first class may be on the wane, business class is booming.

Part of the reason for this is that the offering is better than ever, but it still takes up less space on the airplane.

Continental Airlines created BusinessFirst in 1992, which essentially combined the two classes, and ever since, this practice has been emulated by others.

In 2000, British Airways changed the game again by becoming the first carrier to provide seats in business

moss, asphodel, butterwort and the insect catching sundew.

A decision on whether UNESCO status is expected to come in the next six months.

2. Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa The anonymous account of Vasco da Gama’s 1497 voyage around the southern tip of Africa fails to mention the dramatic, sable and toffeecoloured mesa that we call Table Mountain, possibly due to it being at least partially smothered in the cloud — or the ‘table cloth’ as locals term it today. Today, the mountain remains Cape Town’s signature draw for visitors, who generally take the cable car to the summit, and for locals, who prefer to hike up it on a weekend.

The Platteklip Gorge route is the most direct path to the top, taking only an hour if you’re fit. Be warned, however, that it’s a one-hour that is lung-puncturing tough and liable to leave you sweating

and ravenous by the time you reach the pancake flat peak. It is worth it, though, for those shimmering views out over the meeting point of the Atlantic and the Indian oceans. You’re sure to meet a “dassie” too. These cute, gerbil-sized creatures scurry around the table top and, remarkably, are the closest related relatives to the elephant.

3. Volcanic lava tubes, Tenerife, Canary Islands Far underneath the beaches, golf courses and sun loungers of Tenerife lies a labyrinth of volcanic lava tubes, all created by the eruption≠≠ of the Pico Viejo volcano 27,000 years ago. What is known to locals as the Wind Caves consist of, uniquely, three tiers of tubes, snaking and weaving through the earth.

The network is so fiendishly complicated that maps of the small amounts of the complex that have been accessed look akin to a maze of human veins and blood vessels.

End of the journey for First Class

It’s believed less than 30% of the tubes have yet been discovered, but those that have been walked and crawled through have been found to contain previously unknown species, including entirely white spiders and wingless, eyeless cockroaches.

Visitor numbers are limited to 1,000 a month for the 250-meter stretch of tubes that are open to the public. Even in this tiny section, the tunnels curve, open, narrow and reveal innumerable side alleys and branch lines.

4. Quinkan Country, Queensland, Australia In remotest Queensland, Eastern Australia, the landscape around Cape York and the minuscule settlement of Laura at first seems to contain little but one dirt road, eucalyptus and the occasional black burnt tree trunk. Yet First Nation people have lived in this area for at least 13,000 years. The evidence is everywhere in the form of the paintings they have left on the

sandstone escarpments and plateaus. Now, AI is helping us realise just how much remains to be rediscovered.

In 2022, western Yalanji traditional owners of the land and a Queensland technology consulting firm joined forces to use drones, artificial intelligence and mapping technology to establish if there are any more gallery paintings that have been lost to history.

So far, 15 Quinkan rock art sites not previously known to have existed have been discovered. It seems the wild bush of this remote corner of Australia is far from finished when it comes to revealing its age-old secrets.

5. Great Zimbabwe Constructed a thousand years ago, Great Zimbabwe was one of the very first truly international trading hubs. However, since its rediscovery, archaeologists have been obsessed with attributing its construction to Phoenicians, Babylonians, or, indeed, it seems, almost

anyone except Africans themselves.

Thankfully, the pure weight of scientific evidence shows that Great Zimbabwe’s 32-foot-high stone walls were constructed by Indigenous hands and were home to thousands of people. Situated near gold fields, this was one of the fulcrums of a mercantile network that stretched up the East African coast and over to Arabia, Persia and China.

Nobody is certain why Great Zimbabwe appears to have been abandoned in about 1450. Some assume that it was due to the gold fields becoming exhausted. What is certain is that the prejudice of the colonial era, with its false narrative that the splendour of Great Zimbabwe could possibly have been built by an African community, has long been banished. A thousand years on from its conception, Great Zimbabwe is proof indeed that modern ideas of civilisation, community and commerce are far from being Western creations.

class that could lie flat.

American Airlines plans to offer ‘Flagship Suite’ seats which will include beds that lie flat and doors for privacy to replace first class on international flights.

The type of passenger is also changing on long-haul flights which is another reason behind the change.

While corporations used to buy a significant portion of seats pre-pandemic, now more travellers are buying upgraded seats for leisure purposes instead. For those people, business class suits them much better than first.

It’s not just demand that has affected first class, it is also the type of aircraft that is available. Both Singapore Airlines and Emirates have created mini-apartments for their highest-paying ticket holders in their double-

decker airbuses. However, with A380 jumbo jets barely being produced anymore, an aircraft with only a single deck cannot house this type of luxury within its walls.

The arrangement of first-class cabins is also less flexible; if demand changes then it is more difficult to keep aircraft with these seats profitable than those with other types of premium class. A suite can also cost €120,000 to create and that figure doesn’t include expensive perks like champagne and caviar. This makes profit margins slim for the airline, with multiple charters required to earn each one back.

If a passenger isn’t interested in a service where they’re waited on and served expensive alcohol, then first class isn’t worth it to them.

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Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Farewell ‘old friend’,thank you for the music and positivity ‘Take care, old friend, and regards to Ka.” Those were the last words Billy Murphy shared with me some days before his passing on January 25. We bumped into each other, as we often did, in Supervalu in Loughboy. I don’t recall exactly what we spoke about (Man U, the team we both supported, might have been mentioned) except to say that it was positive and uplifting.

Billy Murphy, as everyone and anyone who knew him, epitomised positivity. Always upbeat, always jovial it was always a pleasure to bump into him. You left feeling all the better for the encounter, regardless of whether it was for five minutes or 15.

And always when we met he’d ask after Ka, my wife Kathleen, who Billy had great affection for, not least because he knew Kathleen’s father well, the late Aussie Murphy, and frequently sang in his pub, the Fox And

Goose, renowned for music back in the day. Indeed when Brendan Grace passed away I bumped into Billy on the Castle Road. ‘Sad, very sad about Brendan,” he said and perhaps for the first time I saw Billy not so much downbeat but not as upbeat as his normal self.

“And here’s what I’m going to tell you, Gerry, I introduced Brendan Grace to the people of Kilkenny.”

“Really,” I asked more than a little curious.

“I introduced him for his first-time appearance in Kilkenny in none other a venue than the Fox And Goose, your good wife’s home place.”

“You’re joking me, Billy,” I said.

“I’m not and this is how I introduced him: ‘Ladies and gentlemen please put your hands together for a wonderful comedian, Brendan Grace, just back from a very successful world tour.’

“World Tour,” I exclaimed.

“Well, not really, Brendan wasn’t that long on the road and I thought it no harm to give him a bit of a build-up.”

We had a good laugh at that. And if there’s one thing Billy Murphy loved – he loved to laugh. And remi-

nisce. About the good old days even though I wasn’t sure that I had participated in any of those good old days that Billy would reminisce about. Just as I was never sure that I was actually an ‘old friend’ of Billy’s until I realised that everyone was

an ‘old friend’ of Billy’s just as Billy was an ‘old friend’ to everyone. And he was.

I had the privilege of performing with Billy in the Watergate Theatre back in 1994. The show was called The Kilkenny Greats and featured Billy, Noel Power, Ollie Kearney, Mike O’Brien, Mary Moore, Patsy O’Dwyer, KB to name but a few and of course Liamy Drennan who has just recently passed away – and I extend my sincere condolences to the Drennan family.

Liamy and Billy performed together, of course, in the Black Aces and the Aces down the years. Billy Murphy loved the stage and was, as they say, a natural.

I really had no business being on stage with all those greats but the great thing about it was that I got to take some great photos including this one of Billy with his signature smile, and one of Liamy which appeared

featured in this paper last December celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Watergate.

And by God but Kilkenny’s musicians have taken a big hit recently: Willie Maher, Andy Murray and now Liamy Drennan and Billy Murphy.

For sure there’ll be no shortage of music in that hallowed venue in the sky.

Billy Murphy loved life, loved his family, and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to his wife, Jill, and his two daughters, Liz and Jane.

And, boy, but Billy was loved as evidenced by the long queues (the longest I’ve ever witnessed) outside Johnston’s Funeral Home last Monday evening. In the cold and drizzling rain we queued, to pay tribute to Billy Murphy, a man we all loved and who loved us in return.

Rest in peace ‘old friend’.

Thank you for the music and your wonderful positivity.

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News

Generous donation to the Kevin Bell Trust in memory of James Barry

Tullahought Gun Club, L-R Back Row: Pat Moore, Ned Cronin, Kevin O'Dea, Sean O'Sullivan, Jim Dalton and John Joe Doran.

L-R Front Row: Catherine Cleere, Walter Barry, Angela Barry, and Michael Cleere

Catherine Cleere, Walter Barry, Angela Barry and Michael Cleere

Tullahought Gun Club held a successful Wild Game Night in Power's Pub Tullahought on Saturday 27th January.

A generous donation was made to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust in memory of James Barry, Kilmoganny by the Tullahought Gun Club.

James's family would like to thank them for choosing this charity and are delighted to present the cheque to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust as it is close to their hearts.

Kilkenny Cats are front and centre weaving tales and presenting legends this St. Patrick’s Day weekend

"St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny 2024 is shaping up to be our biggest St. Patrick’s Festival ever!” according to Festival Director Marian Flannery.

The annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, which has now spread to a multiday event, will take over Kilkenny city from 15th – 18th

March 2024. Building on the success of the last few years the self-titled ‘Big Festival in a Small City’ features it’s biggest programme ever

in 2024! Filling four full days of family fun, the festival will feature 4 visiting American Marching Bands, street theatre, family shows, carnival rides, the Festival Market, live music, walking tours, new fire shows, and lots more. Running alongside Kilkenny Tradfest the City will be animated from morning to night!

The centre of every St. Patrick’s Festival, the Kilkenny City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, will take place on Lá le Pádraig, March 17th at 1.30pm. The theme for this year's Parade is Kilkenny Cats: Tales and Legends. With history and stories from witches and cats to Tudors and castles and present day legends in sports stars, musicians, artists and community leaders. Kilkenny

has it all! The Parade theme invites participants to tap into the tales and present the Kilkenny legends that celebrate their history, culture and stories of Kilkenny.

Participation in the Parade is open to local community groups, organisations, youth performers, and local businesses. With everyone encouraged to get involved! Parade applications are now open on www. stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com Speaking about the Parade Chairperson of Kilkenny St. Patrick’s Day parade, Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr. Joe Malone: “Putting Kilkenny centrestage, the parade will weave tales and showcase legends through the medieval city streets of Kilkenny. With live music, pageantry, and local community groups the Parade is a celebration of Kilkenny, our community and our welcoming culture.

I encourage all community groups, local businesses and organisations to get together and to get involved!

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated

around the world and we’re excited to put on a show to celebrate our Irish heritage, culture and local community here in Kilkenny” The extensive St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny programme is produced by Kilkenny County Council, with additional funding provided

by Fáilte Ireland and sponsors. Speaking about the upcoming festival Kilkenny County Council, Director of Services, Tim Butler said: “With four full days of entertainment for all ages, celebrating Irish music culture and creativity the festival aims to attract families from across the South East along with a growing number of international visitors. Kilkenny is putting itself on the map when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day, thanks to involvement from local businesses and the community with the support of Fáilte Ireland.”

For a full list of events and a preview of what to expect check out www. stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com

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Global Report The United Nations SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres has told the world’s nations that the post-Cold War period is over and the world is moving toward a new multipolar era already marked by the highest level of geopolitical tensions and major power competition in decades.

He warned that these divisions are undermining the cornerstone of the United Nations – having all countries work together to solve global challenges.

The UN chief ticked off a host of challenges — more complex and deadly conflicts, re-emerging concerns about possible nuclear war, growing inequalities within and between countries, widespread terrorism, the climate emergency, mounting distrust in public institutions, and human rights under attack globally “including a pernicious pushback against women’s rights”.

The Secretary-General said Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine has made it even more difficult to address these challenges. And without naming Russia he clearly criticised it, saying if every country fulfilled its obligations under the U.N. Charter – which include respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations – “the right to peace would be guaranteed”.

Guterres presented his grim view of the world in a policy paper outlining his ‘New Agenda for Peace’ to diplomats from the UN’s 193 member states. It is the UN’s attempt to address the new threats, he said.

The UN chief stressed the critical importance of preserving multilateralism, saying: “In our fractured, troubled world, it is incumbent upon states to preserve our universal institution, in which they have a stake.”

“The time to act is not when the divisions and fractures have engulfed us,” he said.

“The time to act is now.”

The original Agenda for Peace was presented by then UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali in 1992 following the break-up of the Soviet Union and the end of its Cold War with the United States. It welcomed the end of “hostility and dis-

Why friendly fire and accidents have killed many Israeli soldiers in Gaza trust” between the superpowers and outlined how the UN could step up its work on preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peace-building.

Richard Gowan, UN Director for the International Crisis Group, said this vision “of an activist, interventionist UN” has been its underlying policy for the past three decades.

But he said Guterres’ ‘New Agenda for Peace’ stressed that “the driving force for a new multilateralism must be diplomacy.”

In an analysis of the new

agenda, Gowan said it focused on what member nations need to do, and on multilateral co-operation in an increasingly fragmented and unequal world “in which Guterres believed that the UN must adapt to facilitating international cooperation, not aim to lead it”.

One of the key areas this proposed new approach was evident was in the SecretaryGeneral’s views on the UN’s far-flung peacekeeping operations, especially following the Security Council’s vote on

June 30 to immediately end its more than 15,000- strong mission in Mali as demanded by the country’s military junta which has brought in mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group to help fight an Islamic insurgency.

Guterres told diplomats that, while peacekeepers had saved millions of lives, “longstanding unresolved conflicts, driven by complex domestic, geopolitical and transnational factors, and a persistent mismatch between mandates and resources, had

exposed its limitations.” Put bluntly, he said, “peacekeeping operations cannot succeed when there is no peace to keep.”

His proposed peace agenda urges nations to move toward “nimble, adaptable” peacekeeping models with exit strategies, and to support “peace enforcement action by regional and sub-regional organisations,” mandated by the Security Council, paid for

by UN member states, and backed by political efforts to promote peace.

“There is no continent in greater need of this new generation of peace enforcement missions than Africa,” Guterres said.

The ‘New Agenda for Peace’ is one of several policy papers the secretary-general is urging all countries to consider before the Summit of the Future he has called in September 2024, where the UN hoped a new vision for the coming years reflecting the world today that preserves multilateralism will be adopted.

Orbán for U-turn on allowing money to Ukraine According to reported EU sources, Budapest is ready to lift its opposition to funding Ukraine ― as negotiations continue on sweeteners that would make it easier for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán [pictured] to climb down.

According to several European diplomats and officials, Orbán is edging closer to accepting a compromise to use money from the Bloc’s budget, even though a deal is likely to fall short of demands he made in the aftermath of last month’s failed summit.

Orbán blocked a €50 billion four-year funding package to the war-torn country in December, a move he was able to make because it needed unanimous support from the EU’s 27 governments, prompting Europe’s leaders to consider breaking with the bloc’s hallowed principle of unity and finding a way to circumvent him.

But, since then, both sides have pulled back from the brink and are now involved in a delicate dedbate over how to get the decision over the line as Orbán and other

leaders meet in Brussels as we go to press.

While there is still no agreement over what concessions to offer Hungary in return, and what it might accept, the EU is now confident that a deal can be done over the next couple of weeks, according to the diplomats and officials who spoke to Politico on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks.

With Orbán entering his 18th year as prime minister, he has become the biggest thorn in the EU’s side, which

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has only served to highlight further. His support for President Vladimir Putin, who he considers a friend, comes on top of years of repeatedly breaking the EU’s democratic norms.

But there’s an emerging sense in Brussels that this time the EU may have called Orbán’s bluff.

“The December summit was a wake-up call,” one EU diplomat said. “Several leaders realised what [Orbán] is really about.”

One reason for this is the

belief that the Hungarian prime minister has run out of road when it comes to holding the EU hostage.

He has often tried to make support for EU causes conditional on the Bloc unfreezing money withheld because of Hungary’s flouting of democratic principles. In December, the Commission unfroze €10.2 billion, after which Orbán approved the Commission opening accession talks with Ukraine – a long process that could see the country one day become an EU member.

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Lady Ellen Cuffe On February 4, The BarnThe Countess celebrated storm venue at The Home the immense contribution Rule Club on John’s Quay of Lady Ellen Cuffe, born will play host to a theatre Ellen Odette Bischoffsheim production detailing in 1857. the contribution This JewLady Desart made by Lady ish woman, Ellen Cuffe daughter of to the city of wealthy Kilkenny. bankMiss ers and Ellen investors, Bischoffmarried sheim was an English the eldest Earl Wildaughter liam Cuffe of a London and came to Jewish banker live in Kilkenny and her marriage in Cuffesgrange. to William, the fourth During her time, Earl of Desart in 1881 was she supported the Gaelic the notable event of the LonLeague and established a sedon season. It was rumoured ries of philanthropic works that the bride to be brought in Kilkenny. a dowry of £15,000 with her, She established a Kilkenny with a similar sum to come Theatre in Patrick St, which on the death of her father. was reputed to have a ‘The Countess’ is being capacity for hundreds of staged in association with patrons. the St. Brigid’s Festival.

She was also instrumental Written and directed by in setting up a library, TalGillian Grattan it has been bot's Inch village, Kilkenny staged twice in Kilkenny Woollen Mills and Wood– once at Desart Hall and workers. more recently at The Home In this production, funded Rule Club. by the Heritage Council, Munster Express theatre Susie Lamb played Lady critic Liam Murphy viewed Ellen and brought a complex the Home Rule production character to vivid life. and wrote the following Ger Cody, who ran the Wareview. tergate Theatre in its initial First theatre review of 2024 years, played the Narrator was on Nollaig na mBan with a measured quality. at Barnstorm theatre on The success of Gillian John’s Quay, Kilkenny Grattan's script was the This was a dramatised conflicting opinions of reading of The Countess, Anglo-Irish benefactors in written and directed by an emerging Nationalist Grattan. country, and despite Lady Grattan runs a diverse Ellen's immense work, was stage school, TADA in often viewed with suspicion, Thomastown, and one of her and one of her houses was plays was optioned by Red burned in the anti-English Kettle Theatre Company besentiments in the early days fore its unfortunate demise. of the Rebellion and War Of Central Arts rescued that Independence. play and staged it in its Lady Ellen did venue up Andy Jordan's not support the Lane to general acclaim.

Suffragette Last year, she was one of movethe resident creatives in ment but Garter Lane's experimental espoused A Little Room. commuHer work-in-progress was nity and later filmed by Luke Corcocoopran into an audience and erative festival-pleasing short film. values.

Gillian Grattan who wrote and directed The Countess

Ger Cody (narrator) and Susie Lamb (Lady Desart) who performed ‘The Countess’ at The Home Rule Club Photo by Pat Shortall

Ellen Cuffe, Countess of Desart

Theatre production celebrates immense contribution of Lady Ellen Cuffe

Kilkenny based actor Delia Lowrey who plays the role of Lady Desart for the St Brigids festival

On my way to the production, I walked over the new footbridge from Dunnes Stores carpark to John's Quay.

This bridge is festooned with padlocks proclaiming couple's undying love. The bridge is dedicated to the memory of Lady Ellen Cuffe.

St. Brigids festival The production of The Countess will be staged on February 4th at 6p.m at the Barnstorm theatre space at The Home Rule Club. The event is part of The St Brigids Music and Arts Festival being held in Kilkenny and will feature such names as Clara Tracey, Conchúr White , Niamh Regan, Paul Noonan , and Aoife Nessa Frances.

The festival will conclude with a closing party at Billy

Byrnes with Monosource who will be joined by DJ’s Neil Flynn and Jellypelt.

One further theatre piece taking to the boards will be a production of ‘Where Old Ghosts Meet’, a celebration of the life and times of Patrick Kavanagh. The piece is adapted and directed by Geoff Rose and performed

by Jimmy Rhatigan.

Full details on the festival at: www.stbrigidsfestival. com

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Opinion

Part three

Old time fun and games

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

Continuing the story of the Callan “Street League” showdowns... The meetings at which match challenges were agreed upon were held at a variety of venues. Peter Roughan gave a few examples: Hickey’s Forge, the back of the Academy, and Jackie Croke’s barn.

When a ball needed mending, Johnny Walsh, the saddler, did the job. He and his apprentice, Martin Woodgate, got to work with the wax and needles and the broken ball looked as good as new next morning.

There were no goal posts when the barefoot hurlers played: Just two bundles of coats and boots piled seven yards apart. This encouraged the teams to go for goals, as it was difficult to be certain if and when the ball had gone over the invisible “bar” that the sportsmen had to imagine protruding upwards from the two piles of coats.

The referee tended to take a lenient view of “rough play”, and there is no recorded instance of anyone ever having been put off the field for fouling.

Peter Roughan explained: “Once the ball was flung in, the ref let them at it. The honour of “Our Street” was at stake, and wallops on the shins and knuckles didn’t count. The lads were out for goals and nothing else. Any referee that sent a man off the pitch would soon lose his job.”

Among the most common pieces of useful advice and commentary shouted by “hurlers on the ditch” at the barefooted players were: “Give ’im the shoulder”…

“Don’t be afraid to snoggle ’im”… “Go home and smother yourself”…“He couldn’t hit the abbey castle.”

The tension could be unbearable at some matches, and the local GP warned anyone of an excitable nature to reconsider attending such games. And of course the untimely intervention of Mahony’s sheep or Jack Walsh’s ass could wreak havoc with the sport, forcing re-plays and occasionally inciting breaches of the peace.

Emigration and the Great War conspired to end the “rules-free” hurling on the Green. Many of the lads who had a whale of a time messing about in those carefree years joined the King’s army and went to France or Belgium to fight for the British … and never came back. Paddy Kenny of West Street was one of them.

In the decades that followed, up to the early sixties, matches between the streets were played, but in a more organized and conventional way, in accordance with GAA rules and guidelines.

The days of the barefoot hurler in Callan were over.

Athletic Prowess at Ballyclovin

On August 30th, 1903, Ballyclovin had its annual sports day in Dan Grady’s field, opposite Dick Grainger’s sandpit. President of the Sports Day event was Willie Tobin of Kylenaskeagh, ably assisted in his tension-racked adjudicating assignment by his right hand man, Mick Walsh of Cappahayden.

The principal action centred around running and biking contests. Judging the bike races were Tobin, Walsh, and John Robinson, a shop assistant at Pollards in Green Street.

Pat Murphy of Redhouse, Joe Butler of Minauns (a brother of Col. William Butler) and Tom O’ Shea of Cappahayden judged the running events.

Assigned to the task of lap keeping were Jack Minogue of Ballyclovin and Tom Tobin of

Owen’s Roe football team.

Back: T. Mackey, W. Holden, J. Croke, M. Hogan, J. Nolan, J. Clarke, T. Leahy (trainer.

Middle: N. Hennessy, R. Burke, M. Burke, P. Lynch, J. Murphy, P. Fitzpatrick, P. Dargan.

Front: J. Mackey, M. Delaney, D. Grainger

Glown. Tom was a clerk in Pat Grainger’s office and a grand uncle of superstar Kilkenny hurler Eddie Keher.

Martin Myles of Westcourt, Jim Holden of Glown, and Paddy Brett, a carpenter, were “call stewards” for the occasion.

Looking back, Peter Roughan wondered what the big attraction was for the lads who participated in the sporting day festival. The apple and sugar stick stands appealed to some, and the prizes to be

won concentrated the minds of other contenders.

Har Murray of Desart scooped first prize in the under-16s race, a watch that would cost him a small fortune to buy. Ned Halley

came in second, and was presented with an alarm clock.

Both watch and clock ticked for more than forty years and served the athletes well throughout their lives...

To be continued...

(More stories of those bygone times can be read in my book Callan in Words and Pictures, which is available from Amazon)

West Street Callan mid 1920s

Ballyline hurling team 1939, after winning Fr. Jack Kennedy’s Tournament.

Back Row: Dan Cahill, Bill Cahill, Fr. J. Kennedy, Jim Walton, Paddy Clancy.

Middle Row: Nick Purcell, John Cahill, Ned Walton, Tom Dooley, “Mouse” Donovan, Ted Woodgate.

Front Row: Peter Dermody, Paddy Somers, Dan Clancy, Haulie Larkin

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SINCE 1866

GOFFS

Goffs Thyestes Day 2024 Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Goff s Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park last Thursday onboard Ain't That A Shame trained by Henry de Bromhead

Thyestes Day 2024

All images: Amanda Burke

G

owran Park were delighted with the 2024 Goffs Thyestes Day with an attendance of just under 9K treated to a great day’s racing. Without question the highlight of the day was the brilliant Rachael Blackmore claiming her first Thyestes Cup after a superb ride on the Henry de Bromhead trained Ain’t That A Shame and it was very clear by the smile on Rachael’s face that this meant an awful lot to a jockey who has done it all.

Southeast trainers were the order of the day with 6 of the 7 races being won by trainers on the locality, WP Mullins with a treble, Henry with a double and J P O Brien winning the bumper. The Après racing again went down a storm with After Dark rocking the party marquee well into the evening. All roads now Daire Kavanagh lead to Connolly’s RED and Kym Mooney MILLS Day on Saturday February 17th.

Amy Collier, Kathy Fitzpatrick, Niamh Kenny and Trish Lawlor

Fergus Healy, Philip Bowe and Noel McGuiness

Richie Keneally Jr, Simon Murphy and Richie Kenneally

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Goffs Thyestes Day 2024

Tom Gavan, Michael Holden, Ger Daly

Enjoying a great day at the Thyestes Chase

Excited punters watch the finishing post in anticipation Mary Whelan from Carlow, Patty Collins from Wicklow and Ned Furlong from Wexford

Roisin Foley, Ciara Walsh and Shannon Fogarty

Eimear and JJ Ring

Siorca O Toole, Yvonne Potter, Meave Phelan and Stephen Kennedy

Maura Egan and Bernie MacDonald

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your bridesmaids or groomsmen trying on the attire and organising the ordering or renting of them.

The Legal Bit In Ireland, you must give at least 3 months’ notice to your registrar or religious celebrant before you have your wedding. It is important to have those discussions with them and confirm the details. It is also important for you to book a pre-marriage course, should it be required by your church or celebrant.

Planning your own wedding This article was written by Michael Doyle, student at Ormonde College of Further Education on work experience with The Kilkenny Observer

W

eddings, how we love them. The exchanging of the vows, exchanging of the wedding rings, the couple’s big step into the future. Friends and family from all over come together to witness the couple’s declaration of true love for one another. But while weddings are a special occasion, there can be a whole load of logisti-

cal planning, to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

And should you choose not to hire a professional wedding planner, planning your own wedding can feel like a logistical nightmare (beside your stag and hen do, should you have one). So, to ease any burdens you might have, we’ve provided a checklist of things for you to consider when going about planning your own wedding day.

Talk To Your Partner After the popping of the question, the first important step is for you to talk and plan with your partner. Listen

to what both of you have to say. What do you/they want?

What’s possible and what’s not? This is crucial for both of you to know what you want, to discuss any compromises, and avoid any late surprises.

If you are in the loop and are understanding of each other, you can overcome any obstacle that might arise when orchestrating your wedding day together. There are many things that you need to consider in these early steps, such as planning a guest list, choosing potential wedding dates, wedding venues and where the ceremony will take place.

Bookings, Orders, and Research There’s no doubt that you and your partner will be busy researching, and booking a wide variety of wedding services, suppliers, and extras, such as entertainment, hair, makeup, photography, florist, décor, the list goes on. These will need to be secured within 6 or 12 months in advance of the wedding, depending on how long you give to prepare for it.

Regarding suits, weddings, and bridesmaid dresses, it’s important to take time to research what’s right for you and your wedding, you and

Invitations and Planning Now you need to spread the word around: You’re getting married! This means you need to write up and customize your wedding invitations. You may feel it necessary to send “Save the Date” cards, especially if it’s taking place during a busy time of the year. Later, you can send RSVP cards to remind them closer to the date. In the weeks leading up to your wedding, you can plan an order of ceremony booklet, table plan, and running order.

Each is important in leaving no stone unturned, and in confirming the details of the day, who sits with who, and the plan for the data, ensuring everyone is aware of the proceedings.

The Honeymoon The magical getaway with your true love, the honeymoon is a wonderful trip, just you and your partner, relax-

ing, doing activities together, not having to answer to work or family commitments. In the months leading up to your honeymoon, you can book your flights and accommodation, ensure passports are up to date, and pack everything you may need before you leave for your paradise.

Day Before the Wedding The day before the wedding, you can do a wedding rehearsal. You can rehearse the running order to go over any uncertainties. Also don’t forget that it’s important to get a good night’s rest before the big day.

Day Of the Wedding Now here’s hoping everything runs smoothly. What could possibly go wrong? It’s better to prepare yourselves for any obstacle or late changes, and devise backups should you need them. Ensure the photographer has the shot list weeks in advance and someone on the day to lean on so they know who the right people for their photos are.

After The Wedding After the wedding, you can return any rentals you may have. Then you can write thank-you notes to guests and vendors. Also, don’t forget to collect your marriage certificate. Afterwards, you can relax, enjoy your honeymoon, and enjoy the rest of your life with your loving partner together.

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The Kilkenny Wedding Singers - over 20 years of vocal experience Deirdre O’Shea (Gannon) and Emma Martin (Hickey) of The Kilkenny Wedding Singers have been performing as a duo at weddings since they were teens in the early noughties. They were highly sought singers in their teenage years and quickly established a presence in Kilkenny performing at church and civil ceremonies around the county.

Both trained under renowned teacher Seamus Brennan (in their early career) who sadly passed away a number of months ago. Emma, a nurse and mum to three, has vocal accomplishments from the Royal Irish Academy and achieved numerous awards for her singing over the years.

Emma also conducted the Beaumont Hospital Staff Choir for a number of years and directed their participation in the workplace choir competitions.

Deirdre, an educator and mum to two, has vocal accomplishments awarded by Trinity College London and has performed both nationally and internationally on stage.

She trained with soprano Dr. Veronica Dunne in 2010. More

Deirdre O'Shea and Emma Martin

recently, Deirdre has returned to singing at a national level performing in The Helix and The National Concert Hall for events led by Gerry Hussey.

She is also a member of the Lady Desart Choir in Kilkenny.

Deirdre and Emma along with pianist James Rice welcome bookings for couples getting married in 2024 and 2025. They can provide bespoke packages with one or two singers

A lifetime ahead of

wedding bliss

tailored to the needs of each individual couple. Church and civil ceremony options are available, including travel outside of the county.

For more information, including video footage of performances. Follow the Kilkenny Wedding Singers on Facebook and Instagram @ kilkennyweddingsingers. For enquiries emailkilkennyweddingsingers@yahoo.com

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Choosing the perfect

wedding songs

M

usic is a powerful element that sets the mood and atmosphere of your wedding day.

From the ceremony to the reception, selecting the right wedding songs is essential for creating lasting memories.

Top 30 wedding songs

Setting the tone The ceremony is a deeply personal and meaningful part of your wedding day. Choose songs that evoke emotion and capture the essence of your love story. Consider a soft and romantic song for the bridal entrance, such as "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri or "Marry Me" by Train. For the exchange of vows, heartfelt ballads like "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers or "At Last" by Etta James can create a magical atmosphere.

And for the bridal exit, celebrate your union with an uplifting tune like "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" by Stevie Wonder or "All You Need is Love" by The Beatles.

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran All of Me – John Legend At Last – Etta James Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers A Thousand Years – Christina Perri Can't Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley Marry You – Bruno Mars Unforgettable – Nat King Cole I Don't Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith Perfect – Ed Sheeran I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston Make You Feel My Love – Adele Everything – Michael Bublé Your Song – Elton John Stand by Me – Ben E. King How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) – Marvin Gaye Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne Can't Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen Iris – Goo Goo Dolls I Just Called to Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder You're Still the One – Shania Twain Better Together – Jack Johnson I Say a Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin I Won't Give Up – Jason Mraz

Embracing romance Your first dance as a married couple is a cherished moment. Select a song that represents your love and relationship. Classic choices like "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole or "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley exude timeless romance. If you prefer a modern touch, consider "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran or "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman soundtrack. Don't be afraid to choose a song that has personal significance to you as a couple. Remember, this is your moment to shine and create a memory that will last a lifetime.

Keeping the party going The reception is all about celebration and having a great time with your guests. Create a playlist that includes a mix of genres and eras to cater to everyone's tastes. Start with energetic and upbeat songs to get everyone on the dance floor, such as "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars or "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston. Incorporate classic hits like "Dancing Queen" by ABBA or "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey to keep the energy high. For a romantic touch, include crowd favourites like "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton or "Amazed" by Lonestar.

Choosing the perfect wedding songs is a wonderful opportunity to infuse your special day with music that reflects your love and personalities. From the ceremony to the reception, each song can create magical moments and lasting memories.

Check out our wedding song list, but remember, it’s just a starting point. You can customise it to suit your personal preferences and the overall theme of your wedding.

Enjoy the process of selecting the songs that resonate with you and create a memorable soundtrack for your special day.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

It’s a family affair: First Communion party ideas If you’re hosting a Communion Party, this Spring follow our tips for success…

I

T might seem a fair way off, but the month of May and the traditional First Holy Communions will be here before you know it.

It’s a time for celebration and family and an increasingly popular way to mark the occasion is to hold a Communion Party. But it’s a trend that often piles pressure and extra costs on parents to entertain visiting relatives.

If you wish to go down this route, you have two options; host a party in your own home, or head to a restaurant for a family meal.

For parties in the home, your best option is to hire a caterer to look after the food.

It’s easy to underestimate how busy you’ll be in the lead up

to the special day and the last thing you need is the stress of making countless dishes.

Find a caterer to suit your needs and tastes. Confirm exact numbers with relatives and keep the caterer informed about the party size. Choose a simple menu with popular choices that everyone will enjoy. If you get the caterer to cover the main dishes, you can easily bulk it up with a few home-prepared salads and bread rolls.

Alternatively, if your guests are close friends and relatives, consider asking them to help out by bringing a dish. A couple of lasagnes and pasta salads can act as staples and you can add shop bought sliced meats, vegetables and deli coleslaws etc. Kids will be

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just as happy with the party reliable of cocktail sausages, wedges and chicken tenders.

If it is not possible or practical to host guests in your home, contact your local hotel or restaurants to pick a cost friendly option. Most places will be glad to accommodate you and many offer set menus If the weather permits and you are inviting many children, a bouncy castle is always a welcome addition to a party. Being Ireland, though, it’s a good idea to have a couple of indoor tricks up your sleeve. How about a children’s magician?

And it wouldn’t hurt to have a supply of family-friendly DVDs and games consoles, for older siblings and relatives.

Keep the party celebrations childfocused. It’s all about them after all

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Noka Aesthetics Rebuilding your skin

Noka Aesthetics & Health is an award winning advanced skin and medical aesthetics clinic based in Castlecomer, Co.Kilkenny, who have recently opened their second location in Ballymount, Dublin.

Noka boasts very experienced doctors, nurses and dermal therapists who specialise in all skin conditions on the face and body using medical grade skincare and technology.

An example of some of the conditions that they treat are teenage acne, rosacea, melasma, hyper pigmentation, scarring on the face and body and stretch marks. They provide extra services such as skin lesion removal, facial red vein removal, anti ageing treatments as well as specialised treatments for alopecia and hair thinning.

Noka Aesthetics & Health pride themselves in their Dermapen skin needling treatment, being one of the few establishments providing this service in Ireland. Dermapen 4 is a medical needling device that creates microchannels at controlled depths in your skin.

This process triggers the skin's natural wound healing response, promoting collagen and elastin production. Clinically, it’s employed for purposes such as scar revision, anti ageing, tightening and pigmentation, but it can be altered to your specific skin concerns.

For the month of February only, Noka Aesthetics & Health are offering 20% off Dermapen skin needling treatment, with the usual price being €180. This is an offer that cannot be missed, so call today on 085 837 2849 or email nokaclinic@gmail.com

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

The fit Make sure your boy's communion suit is the right size for him. Ensure you check the measurements before making a purchase to aid with that. You can identify locations where the suit needs to be adjusted by checking the fitting, and you can then make the required changes. The chest is the most important measurement to get accurate; practically all other measurements can be changed.

Finding the perfect Communion suit

F

inding and fitting a suit is much simpler when it comes to guys over girls; but, what about boys? For many of these young boys doing their First Holy Communion, this is their first time wearing a suit, so picking the perfect suit that he will like and be comfortable in is essential.

Skin tone One thing that many people actually tend to overlook is the entire colour component. Boys' communion suits should be chosen with care for the wearer's skin tone, just like men's suits. If your boy has fair skin, he will look great in a blue shaded suit.

Try to keep the fabric colours deeper if he has a darker complexion. You should experiment with other hues like brown, dark green, and navy blue. Just make sure that the Church approves of different colours.

Where and when Upon considering your intended location, you will be able to appreciate the importance of caution and simplicity when it comes to Communion suits. Less is generally more when it comes to these clothes. Take into account the day's weather forecast as well; a colder day can do with the addition of a heavier waistcoat.

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Sleeves You have to exercise caution when it comes to sleeves. The sleeve of the blazer should ideally be long enough to shave the handcuffs. Don't feel obligated to purchase a blazer that covers your arms excessively. Additionally, make sure there's enough room for your shirt's sleeves to peek through when you wear it underneath the blazer—I mean, that's the entire purpose of the sleeves.

Don’t have it too tight Remember that this is not a tracksuit - this is a formal suit. Give your boy plenty of room to move around.

This advice is especially relevant to attendees at hectic, crowded events. It's likely that you'll be moving about a lot, so make sure his Communion outfit gives him ample room to move about comfortably. After all, his comfort on the day is key!

Say “yes” to the Communion dress

Y

our little one may find her First Communion a little intimidating, particularly if she is unsure of where to begin when it comes to choosing the appropriate attire. Thankfully, with this useful guide to get you started, we have done some of the legwork for you.

Be prepared First and foremost, make sure you give yourself enough time to get ready for the approaching Communion.

Putting everything off until the last minute can lead to a lot of issues and needless worry. Also, it's important to give yourself plenty of time before Communion season because many dresses sell out rapidly, and then you’re left in a pickle.

Do some research on all the bridal and occasion wear boutiques in your area, then start going to try on various dress styles to see whether or not they're appropriate.

Remember to ask any queries you may have of the dress fitters and store staff while you're there. Establishing a budget will help you with all of your decision-making.

Comfort It is imperative to emphasise this. The day is going to be long, so she needs to be wearing comfortable clothing.

Make sure she has enough

For instance, some churches might insist that you wear a dress with sleeves, while others could be less stringent about these specifics. It’s a common norm that a child's dress must fall below the knee at their First Communion. The best bet is to double check with your priest.

When making your decision, also consider her body type.

For instance, a shorter dress would be a smart choice if she is a petite and short girl so as not to make her appear tiny. In the end, what matters is that she likes what she is wearing and is at ease in it.

While some girls adore dressing up, others would prefer to run around in a pair of trackies. Both of you can be kept happy if you take into account her unique sense of style. room to move around in the dress and that the fabric doesn’t irritate her skin. Additionally, take into account the specific month's weather and temperature. Will it be hot or cold? When choosing fabrics and lengths, keep this in mind. Cotton and satin are fantastic choices for summer clothing since they keep you comfortable in hot temperatures.

Style First, find out if the church has any regulations or guidelines regarding attire.

Accessories and footwear Once more, certain churches might favour a simple appearance, but this is an option if you want to give your girl's costume additional detail. Accessories such as headbands, boleros, gloves, and tiaras are available. Hair accessories are a terrific way to give her hair a sophisticated touch, and if the weather turns colder, a bolero is a wise choice for a traditional cover-up.

Finally, footwear. When she wears dressy shoes all day, comfort, fit, and quality are essential!

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Food & Drink

Dine Me Come

Spaghetti puttanesca

Two great red wine sauces

With

Prep: 15 mins Cook: 20 mins Serves: 4

Cook up this classic sauce in one pan, then toss with spaghetti for a simple midweek meal. It’s budget-friendly too, making it a great meal for the family.

Shallot & red wine sauce Prep: 5 mins Cook: 30 mins Serves: 4 This classic French sauce from Gordon Ramsay is just perfect with a rib-eye steak.

Ingredients • 3 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, finely chopped • 2 large garlic cloves, crushed • ½ tsp chilli flakes (optional) • 400g can chopped tomatoes • 5 anchovy fillets, finely chopped • 120g pitted black olives • 2 tbsp capers, drained • 300g dried spaghetti • ½ small bunch of parsley, finely chopped

Ingredients • 250g shallot, sliced • 4 tbsp olive oil • 1 garlic clove, lightly crushed • sprig rosemary • 5 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 400ml red wine • 400ml beef stock or brown chicken stock, preferably homemade • knob of butter

Method STEP 1 Heat the oil in a non-stick pan over a medium-low heat. Add the onion along with a generous pinch of salt and fry for 10 mins, or until soft. Add the garlic and chilli, if using, and cook for a further minute.

Method STEP 1 Sauté 250g sliced shallots in a medium saucepan with 4 tbsp olive oil over a high heat for about 3 mins until lightly browned, stirring often.

STEP 2 Season with ground black

STEP 2 Stir the tomatoes, anchovies, olives and capers into the onion, bring to a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered, for 15 mins. Season to taste.

pepper and add 1 lightly crushed garlic clove and a sprig of rosemary.

STEP 3 Continue cooking for a further 3 mins, stirring often to prevent the shallots burning.

STEP 4 Pour in 5 tbsp balsamic vinegar and cook until evaporated away to a syrup, then pour in 400ml red wine and cook until reduced by two thirds.

STEP 5 Pour in 400ml beef or brown chicken stock and bring to the boil.

STEP 6 Turn down the heat and simmer until reduced by two-thirds again, to around 250ml. Remove the garlic and rosemary.

STEP 7 Add a little salt to taste and finally ‘monte’ (whisk) in a knob of butter. Add any juices from the steaks just before serving.

STEP 3 Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Cook the spaghetti following pack instructions, then drain and toss with the sauce and parsley.

One-pan nachos with black beans Prep: 15 mins Cook: 15 mins Serves: 4-6 Enjoy this colourful sharing dish with nachos, black beans, salsa, avocado and melted cheese. Everyone will enjoy digging into it straight from the pan.

Ingredients • 175g yellow or blue tortilla chips • 200g fresh tomato salsa • 150g medium cheddar, grated • 1 red pepper, quartered, cored and finely chopped • 400g can black beans, drained • 1 avocado, diced • soured cream, to serve Method STEP 1 Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

Arrange the tortilla chips over twothirds of the tray, spoon most of the salsa on top and scatter over half of the cheese.

STEP 2 Mix the remaining salsa with the red pepper and beans, and tip onto the empty third of the tray. Scatter over the rest of the cheese. Bake for 10-15

mins or until the cheese has melted.

Scatter the avocado over the beans and add dollops of the soured cream to serve.

Red wine jus Prep: 5 mins Cook: 30 mins Serves: 6 to 8 Create a red wine jus to serve alongside beef dishes. A classic French sauce made with red wine, port and shallots, it’s an ideal topping for steak.

Ingredients • 2 tsp olive oil • 2 shallots, finely chopped • 175ml port • 175ml red wine • 1 rosemary sprig • 1 bay leaf • 800ml beef stock • 2 tbsp butter • pinch sugar

Method STEP 1 Put the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and fry the shallots until golden and caramelised, about 10 mins.

STEP 2 Add the port, wine and herbs and simmer for 10 mins, or until reduced by half.

STEP 3 Pour in the stock and continue to cook until reduced by half again, then strain, discarding the shallots and herbs.

STEP 4 Transfer the sauce into a new pan and bring to the boil.

Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, then season to taste.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

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for the new series, with many hailing the drama as the “best” show on TV. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one person wrote: “#Griselda THE BEST THING IVE watched for ages. Yes @ netflix GREAT performances. I love that you show the woman behind the drugs. Excellent.

Binged all episodes,” while another penned: “Sofia Vergara is amazing in @ netflix #griselda I can’t stop watching all of this in one go! Best TV show in a long time!!”

Many viewers called

for Sofia to win an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Griselda. “This show is complex and brutal. I feel @SofiaVergara will win her first Emmy with this incredible performance.

Bravo,” wrote one person, while another agreed, adding: “Finished watching #Griselda on Netflix.

Congrats to @SofiaVergara for a powerful acting role as it’s her best to date. She deserves an Emmy for this role and I hope she gets it as she went out of her comfort zone and did a great job on the show.”

Set in 1970s-80s Miami,

the next step to scrapping its Basic ad-free plan in countries where Netflix with ads is available.

Netflix has said is that it is looking to “retire” the adfree Basic plan, starting with the UK Ireland and Canada in the second quarter of 2024.

Netflix has also confirmed that anyone still on a Basic subscription plan will have to switch to another Netflix tier. Your ad-free options are the about €14.99 Standard tier or the €21.99 Premium tier, and either option is essentially another price hike.

Netflix has been quick to specify that the Standard tier does come with perks not available to Basic subscribers — regardless of whether you choose the adsupported or ad-free option.

There’s Full HD resolution and the option to watch two streams simultaneously, but is that worth those extra euro a month?

Maybe if you made that choice independently, rather than because Netflix gave you no choice.

It is interesting to see how Netflix’s view on advertising has changed the past

1. Take Care Of Maya

2. King the Land

The 16-episode King the Land is a swoon-worthy romantic comedy in which the heir to a luxury hotel conglomerate meets a young woman who’s a hotelier — and who’s known for her million-dollar smile, which the rich heir can’t stand. The hotelier, by the way, is Yoona, a former of the K-pop group Girl’s Generation who very much does have a million-dollar smile.

3. See You In My 19th Life Blanco’s lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helps her expertly navigate between business and family.

Sofia Vergara leads the cast, starring alongside Alberto Guerra (Narcos: Mexico), Martín Rodríguez, Juliana Aidén Martinez (The Blacklist), Vanessa Ferlito (NCIS: New Orleans) and Christian Tappan (Snowfall).

In real life, Griselda was killed by two mystery assailants outside a butcher’s shop in 2012 after being released from a 20-year prison sentence.

Netflix in rethink about ads for basic plan As if Netflix wasn’t getting expensive enough, the streamer has now confirmed that it will be “retiring” the Basic ad-free tier.

Essentially raising the cost of being able to watch Netflix content without being subjected to commercials.

Which is kind of funny, considering how Netflix pushed back against the idea of advertising on its platform for so long.

Netflix confirmed this change to shareholders and executives during its latest earnings call. Essentially the streaming service is taking

good ones to stream on Netflix When 10-year-old Maya Kowalski was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in 2016, nothing could have prepared her or her family for what they were about to go through.

As the medical team tried to understand her rare illness, they began to question the basic truths that bound the Kowalskis together. Suddenly, Maya was in state custody — despite two parents who were desperate to bring their daughter home.

Without giving too much away, listening to the Kowalski family tell their story in their own words might just change the way you look at children’s healthcare forever.

Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara in epic narco drama Griselda Netflix viewers have taken to social media to give their verdict on the streaming platform’s gritty new miniseries, Griselda, which stars Sofia Vergara as reallife crime boss Griselda Blanco, a businesswoman turned notorious cocaine trafficker dubbed ‘The Godmother’ of Miami’s drug empire in the 1970s.

The six-part series is a fictionalised telling of how Griselda’s “lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm” allowed her to become a key figure in the violent Miami drug wars.

Viewers were full of praise

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few years. Especially since co-founder and former-CEO Reed Hastings insisted the company had no interest in the ads business as recently as 2020.

I guess increasing competition (and new leadership) will do that to a company.

Especially when they realised just how valuable customers viewing ads actually were. More financially valuable than subscribers on the ad-free Standard plan according to Netflix’s earnings call.

It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out.

Just when I think Netflix K-drama releases have squeezed all of the creativity they can out of romantic storylines, along comes something fresh and original.

As far as the plot goes, a young girl who can reincarnate has the ability to remember all of her past lives. An accident kills her as she’s on life #18, and when she gets started on her 19th life, she decides to reconnect with the young man she fell in love with during her prior life. The young man, though, still pines for the girl he remembers and lost — not the reincarnated version in an all-new body today.

4. Break Point — Part 2

From the team that also brought us F1: Drive to Survive, Break Point follows a group of some of the best tennis players both on and off the court as they compete in Grand Slams and tournaments all over the world.

Some of them are tennis legends approaching the twilight of their careers, while others are part of a new generation eager to claim the spotlight. Break Point follows these players over the course of a year, and includes everything from devastating heartbreak to triumphant victories.

5. King Of Clones

King Of Clones tells the story of the most notorious scientist from South Korea, charting his path from a groundbreaking human cloning researcher to his ultimate downfall. Working with a colleague, the pair announced jointly in 2004 the successful cloning of the human embryo — pointing to its potential to cure some diseases. A pointed debate about bioethics and reproductive cloning quickly followed.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

Sport

Kilkenny Sport Focus Michael O’Leary

Garry Kehoe Marble City Boxing Club head coach Garry Kehoe has made remarkable progress through the coaching ranks in recent years, and 2023 was a year to remember for Garry as he was coach for Team Ireland that won gold medals in both The European Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Championships along with The World Junior Championships.

The Marble City Club have enjoyed whirlwind success over the past three years with 11 National titles, and that included Jack Johnson's recent Gold Medal which he won in The National under-age Championships. As mentioned 2023 was a year to remember for Garry.

In August, at The European Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Championships in Maribor, Slovenia, he helped deliver Team Ireland's best ever finish in the overall medals table, finishing as the third best team

for Coaching Team Ireland to European and World Championship glory was just reward for his coaching progression, in particular the growth of The Marble City Boxing League that brought about Boxers from around Ireland but also Cross-Channel.

A testament to how successful the League has been is that several fighters who have participated have gone on to become All-Ireland Champions, while several fighters involved have gone on to win Medals at European and World Championships.

One of those fighters who won a National title was Jack Johnson who recently won The

with three gold, one silver and seven bronze medals, while he was also Coach with The Ireland Team that returned home from the World Junior Championships in Yerevan, Armenia with two World Champions and a World bronze medalist.

The Marble City Club have gone from strength to strength in recent years particularly under Garry's leadership, as they have enjoyed All-Ireland glory while the Club have had several representatives for Ireland across the various International competitions.

Different generations of the Kehoe family have been involved since the club was founded in 1992, including Garry's grandfather Noel Kehoe who was a founding member of the club and a wonderful stalwart in boxing circles.

Garry has also become a well known figure in boxing circles not just locally, and his reward

The posture myth

U-18 60KG competition the hardest way possible. Jack won 5 fights on his way to winning the gold medal, and he was adding to the U-16 title he won last year having suffered a lot of heartbreak in Semi-Finals and Finals prior to that.

He will now represent Ireland for The first time at The European Youths in April, while also heading into The High Performance Unit in Dublin.

Garry Kehoe's influence both within The Marble City Club and Team Ireland has been phenomenal, and he will unquestionably have a major role to play in the success of Boxing in Ireland into the future.

A chartered physiotherapist’s take on a misunderstood topic

BY PAUL BOLGER

Chartered Physiotherapist

We have had it wrong this whole time. Posture is not that important for back health. Yes, it's a good idea to sit tall with your shoulders back at a job interview, and sometimes brief changes in posture can give temporary relief from pain. But for long-term back health, focusing on posture is like trying to tidy your home without stepping in the front door – you are missing the point completely.

So, slouch back and relax while you read on – safe in the knowledge that you are doing no harm to your back.

Most people (even most physiotherapists) still believe that there is such a thing as an “ideal” posture.

Our misunderstanding started a long time ago...

The Ancient Greeks Weren’t Always Right The ancient Greeks believed that posture was linked to divinity and virtue – and we still see this today with people being told, “sit up straight!”, “shoulders back!”. This idea seeped

into the medical world, influencing how we treat those in pain.

In more recent history, scientists have placed spines (removed from dead pigs) into specialised equipment.

They would bend, twist, contort and compress these spines repeatedly (literally thousands of times) - all in an effort to better understand what our own spines can tolerate.

Other researchers have used intricate computer programmes to measure the forces flowing through our backs as we move.

What have we discovered from this research? Spines are extremely strong and robust. When it comes to posture there is no consensus – no agreement that any “perfect” posture exists.

Slouching Teens Don’t Get More Neck Pain More recently, a brilliant study compared postures amongst over 1,000 teenagers. Whether they were regular slouchers, upright sitters or anything in-between, the teens were no more likely to suffer from neck pain.

Interestingly, the researchers returned

5-years later to see if posture affected future risk of pain (would all that slouching catch up on them?). The result – no difference. In fact, the only teens who were a bit more likely to suffer from neck pain 5 years later were the girls who sat bolt upright with a straight back.

So, what to do about all of this?

Your Best Posture is Your Next Posture We know that a variety of postures and regular movement is important for back health. A few things we can all do is: • Change posture as guided by comfort levels - slouch, sit straight, bend, twist – and know that our backs are made to move.

• Get up and move often (every 20-30 mins throughout the day).

• Leading a healthy life helps to keep your back healthy.

If you, or anyone you love, needs help and guidance in dealing with pain, then working with a chartered physiotherapist who empowers you to take charge of your body is a great place to start. www.nanophysio.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

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Community & GAA Notes

Kilkenny GAA clubs and Community news CLARA CLUB LOTTO Lotto results 23rd January, Numbers drawn, 3, 11, 13. No Jackpot winner. €30 each to, Ger Comerford, Elaine Murphy, Oliver Langton, Billy O Dwyer, Joe O Dwyer.

Thanks for your support.

LAST GASP WIN Clara began their 2024 Senior Football league campaign with a last gasp win over Kilmoganny in Clara on Saturday afternoon. It was a real nip and tuck affair and there was never more than a point between the teams until Sean O Shea broke the deadlock with a goal from the last attack of the game to give Clara a 1-5 to 0-5 victory.

After Kilmoganny had taken an early lead with a free Liam Ryan kicked a good equaliser when he carefully steadied himself and split the posts. In a difficult cross field wind scores were hard to come by and after Martin O Connell had edged Clara in front the visiting team replied with a point to leave the half time score a meagre 0-2 apiece.

Kilmoganny drew first blood in the second half but Jack Langton equalised with a left footed kick. The next score fell to Martin O Connell and was a real beauty but Kilmoganny evened things up again with a free. It was around this time that the visitors lost a player to a black card for a foul on a rampaging Paddy Bolger. It was good to see Paddy back in the Clara colours after a long injury absence.

After Martin O Connell had regained the lead for Clara with a deflected point, Michael Cody scored an outrageous equaliser into the breeze from the sideline. It looked destined to finish level but when a Kevin Nolan effort for a point dropped short substitute Sean O Shea soared high and got his fist to it perfectly to beat the Kilmoganny keeper. Remarkably Sean was back in the country only a few hours when he did a “Conor Glass” on it to give Clara the spoils. How fitting that it happened on the first anniversary of the death of James Nolan, perhaps Clara’s greatest ever footballer!

Team - Rory O Keeffe, James Dowling, David Langton, Paddy Bolger. Liam Ryan 0-1, Conor O Shea, Dara Glynn.

Alan Coleman, Jack Langton 0-1. Cian Kelly, Kevin Nolan, Ned Langton. Tom Ryan, Sean Carrigan, Martin O Connell 0-3. Subs Sean O Shea 1-0, Alex McDonald, Tommy Delaney, Zach Lawlor.

SAINTS PREVAIL St. Kieran’s College dethroned last year’s Leinster champions Offaly Schools in Rathdowney on Tuesday of last week to set up a mouth watering Leinster final clash with cross city rivals Kilkenny CBS. Rory Glynn lined out for “The College” while Harry Boyle, Sean Carrigan, Cian Kelly and David Barcoe were all togged out. Good luck to all of them in that final.

ANNIVERSARY MASS Huge crowds gathered in Clara on Sunday morning for the first anniversary mass of James “Shiner” Nolan. There were even hundreds outside the church on a cold windy morning in a show of solidarity with the Nolan family as the popular James was remembered by the people of Clara.

FRESHFORD WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Special congratulations go out to a couple in the village who celebrated a very special wedding anniversary last week. Anthony and Mary Purcell of Ard Lachtain, Freshford celebrated 55 years of marriage. The happy couple marked their Emerald wedding anniversary with their family and grandchildren and are wished many more years of married life together.

PADDYS BIRTHDAY Birthday wishes go out to popular well-known local character, Paddy Butler, Clashacrow, who celebrated his birthday last weekend. Paddy celebrated with his friends at a party in Farrell’s Bar on Saturday night last and he even blew out the candles on the cake.

GAA Every step counts The Clubs community walk in conjunction with the GAA“Healthy Clubs Every Step Counts” challenge was a huge success on Sunday evening last with a large turnout.

Thanks to all who turned out on the evening and they will have a community walk for all the family every Tuesday evening in Pairc lachtain at 7pm. Keep an eye out on their socials for details on how to register your steps.

Club membership Membership is now due for 2024 and there are various options available for the year. You can contact any committee member or see the Club page for details. Bord na nOg AGM Bord na nog held their AGM on Friday night last in the Clubrooms with a good crowd in attendance.

The following officers were elected for the forthcoming season. Chairperson – Kevin Dalton, Secretary – I.

Kennedy, Treasurer – Dawlish Registrar – K Dalton, BNF Rep – D.Walsh, Coach Co-ordinator – K. McCarthy, CPO - P.Dowling, ASAP, B Whitty.

DEGREE Congratulations and well done to local man Brendan Bowden who has just completed the Bachelor of Fire Engineering degree and also won best Fire Engineer project.

Brendan is a member of Freshford Fire Fighters and runs a Woodturning and Furniture Restoring business in the village.

CAMOGIE Well done to the local girls who were part of Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown Senior camogie panel who were defeated by Magherafelt in the all Ireland C semi final played at Johnstown on Saturday last. The panel included Emma Daly, Anna Cleere, Caoimhe Hickey, Michelle Killeen, Abi Whitty and Katelyn and Emma O’Connor.

SYMPATHY Sympathy is extended to Joe Crosby, Ballyroe, Freshford and all his famly on the death last week of his brother Chris Crosby late of Clarecastle, Co.Clare. Funeral mass took place on Friday last in Clarecastle Church followed by burial in Clarehill Cemetery.

SOCCER NEWS Freshford Town had a number of teams in action at the weekend. In the underage section the U13 boys went down 4-3 to Highview after a great effort. The Freshford goals came from Tom Dalton, Jamie Kavanagh and Patrick O’Connor. The U15 boys had a good win over Paulstown coming out winners on a 3-2 scoreline. Charlie Kavanagh scored twice with Jack Marnell getting the other goal.

Meanwhile the girls had a great win over Clover Utd coming out winners by 5-1 with Olivia Marnell hitting the net four times and Kate Hickey getting the other one.

The Junior side were out on Sunday morning and had a 2-1 win over River Rangers with the goals coming from Shane Donnelly and Cathal O Leary.

BRIDGE Freshford bridge club resumed play on Monday next 25th September and continues each Mat 7.30pm in Tulla Hall, Threecastles. New members are very welcome.

For further information please contact Olive on 087 9257610.

COMMUNITY ALERT Freshford Threecastle Community alert held their AGM recently in the Community hall. The following officers were elected for the forthcoming year. Chairperson. John Bergin, Secretary, Jacinta Power. Treasurer, Michaell Cormack, PRO, Anna Morrissey.

The Freshford Community Alert annual fee is now due and you are asked to please pay same by 1st Feburary as they will be removing unpaid members after this date.

Envelopes are available from Community members and new members are very welcome to join up.

IONAD LACHTAINS St. Lachtains Church Museum and Arts is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 4.30pm.

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

Notices The parish newsletter is available on their website every week and also on the website you are free to pay your dues and make donations or any other contributions and you can find out more about it on the website or feel free to contact in the Parish Office. Please note community notices for the parish newsletter should be left in or emailed to the Parish Office by 11am on Thursdays. Parish office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 1pm.

Mass Cards Special printed parish cards are available at the Parish Office or from Annette at Tulla Church signed by Monsignor Kennedy. You can contact the Parish office on 056 8832843 or by email – freshfordd@ossory.ie. Contact Mongr Kieron Kennedy on that number or on 087 25235 21 HELP FOR ALL Are you struggling with anxiety or depression or finding life difficult or feeling isolated at this time GROW is there to help you. Their Mental Health support Groups are free and confidential and open to all no referral or booking is needed. For more information on same you can contact Mary on 087 284342 If you can’t cope and need support text HELLO to 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.

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB JOHN O’NEILL TRIBUTE At Wednesday night’s first management meeting of the year, postponed from the previous week as a mark of respect to the late John O’Neill, a fulsome tribute for his years of committed service to the club, promoting the weekly lotto over 30 years, organising holiday breaks for the social club, managing the Christmas savings club for years and many other club fundraisers over the decades was paid by his Lotto sub-committee colleague Tom Keane which was appreciated by the membership with a warm round of applause. John will be missed.

SENIOR FOOTBALL On Saturday next the senior footballers will “Kick Start” their season with a 2nd round fixture in the 2024 Kilkenny senior football league against O’Loughlin Gaels at 1.30pm in Pairc Sheamuis Stiophain. On the following Saturday the footballers will travel to Tullogher-Rosbercon to play the home club in a 3rd round fixture. Hoping to finally bridge a sixteen year gap since the club’s last senior football championship success in 2008, the panel has been undertaking weekly fitness sessions to help with their ambitious target.

NIGHT AT THE DOGS The Finance Committee has booked a family friendly “Night at The Dogs” fundraiser at Kilkenny Greyhound Track for Friday night, 19th April starting at 7.30pm.

Organiser Richie Manogue states that on the night there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy a fun packed evening including “owning” a dog for the night, raffle prizes and a super prize for one lucky attendee with a purchased ticket for the event. Tickets cost €10 for adults with free entry for accompanying children. Contact Richie at 087 2573697 for further information.

MEMBERSHIP Registrar Mark Noonan reminds members and supporters that their annual membership fees are due. Fees can be paid online through the http://www.foireann.ie site where on scrolling to the James Stephens site the different membership fees are displayed.

CAMOGIE Struggling to knock off the winter cobwebs the Kilkenny intermediate camogie team slipped to a 0-14 to 1-08 defeat to Galway in the first round of the 2024 Div 2B National camogie league in windswept Kinvara on Saturday last.

Nevertheless, the three club players, Hannah Scott, Anna Doheny and Aoife Cantwell battled valiantly on a team that struggled from the throw-in to match the pace of their free scoring Galway opponents.

V. De PAUL THANKS The St.Patrick’s Parish Conference of the St. Vincent De Paul Society would like to thank all who donated most generously during the Christmas period and also throughout the year 2023. The parish conference greatly appreciates the financial donations (including anonymous), various voucher types, food, and funds from fundraisers etc. that were received over the festive season. Our thanks to the staff, the parents council and pupils from St. Patrick’s De La Salle school for the items collected from their Christmas Hamper Appeal. Again, thank you all so very much, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Members of St. Patrick’s Conference Society of the St. Vincent De Paul.

STROKE SUPPORT Lynda Colgan of the Kilkenny Stroke Support Group advises that the group will be holding a meeting on Friday afternoon, 2nd February from 2.30 to 4 pm in The Orchard Bar function room. The gathering is, as always, open to all and especially stroke survivors and carers. Contact Lynda at 085 7331522 for further details.

LOTTO Last week’s numbers were 5, 11, 18, 24. There was no winner. This week’s jackpot increases to €11,800. The €40 consolation winners were Triona Cullen, Conor Keane, Thomas Nugent, John Kenna and Brian Dunlop.

GOWRAN GOWRAN PARK Free Red Mills Days Tickets available for a limited time.

Race day takes place on 17th February. Check out Gowranpark.ie for further details.

GOWRAN PANTO Special offer. Family Tickets for the latest panto Snow White and the Several Dwarfs are now available for just €40 for a family of 2 (2 adults and 2 children under 12). Don’t miss out. Tickets are selling fast so book your seats now on https://www.gowranpanto.com/tickets Offer applies to shows on Tues Feb 13 and Wed Feb 14 only.

GOWRAN AC Registration now open for STOOK 2024 which is taking place on Sunday, 3rd March https://eventmaster.ie/event/ vvQjTPoSb4 GOWRAN ON THE MOVE

With Community Finance Ireland’s help, Gowran on the Move are poised to open a new one-of-a-kind, inclusive outdoor hub in late Spring 2024!

The project is designed to bring community, wellness, and inclusivity to the area. It will feature a 300-metre walking/ running track, multi-use courts (tennis, basketball, and football), and an inclusive playscape for all ages and abilities.

It will deliver a space that prioritises safety and inclusivity, catering to people of all ages and abilities, as well as fostering community engagement and strengthening social bonds by providing a space for people to gather, play, and connect, encouraging physical activity, contributing to overall health and wellbeing.

Support their GofundMe page at https://www.gofundme. com/f/gowran-hub-fundraiser?utm_campaign=p_ cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=chat&utm_source=whatsApp&fbclid=IwAR0joEnvkH6FtXB0Tr5Rm8nD8rhNUtBlI xf0wroA41o8I3mZkh5Ln69_kSk GRAIGUENAMANAGH GRAIG NOTES To submit news items, club events, announcements etc you can do so by emailing them to graignotes@outlook. com. Deadline is Saturday 6pm.

LOTTO. GAA AND SOCCER Numbers drawn on the 22/01/2024 were, 2. 13, 22, 23. and there was no winner.

The following won €30 each Louise Walsh, Ted Kinsella, Kay and Eamon Doyle, Yvone McCabe, Eleanor Doyle.

Tickets are available from any Committee member.

GRAIG TIDY TOWN DRAW Winners for Draw on January 25th 2024 were First Prize €434 to Harry Hickey, Second Prize €50, Mick Kirwan, Third Prize €25 Daisy and Lily Barron. Draw takes place at on Thursdays at 4pm.

CLINIC Cllr. Peter Cleere will hold his Clinic on Saturday morning from 9 am at his Office in Main St, Graiguenamanagh.

RAMBLING HOUSE The Monthly Rambling House Session is on the second Friday of the month in Newtown Hall, where you can enjoy music and song from local artists and also many from the surrounding district’s also join in. The next Session is on Friday February 9th at 7;30 pm.

CONFIRMATION Confirmation Dates for Graiguenamanagh Parish for 2024 are Skeaughvosteen Church on Sunday May 19th at 9.30 am, and followed at Duiske Abbey Church Graiguenamanagh at 11am.

SAINT FIACRE PILGRIMAGE The Annual Pilgrim in honour of St Fiacre takes place at his Church ruins and Holywell at Ullard, Graiguenamanagh, on February Thursday 8th 2024 GRAIGUENAMANAGH LIBRARY NEWS Irish Classes with Mícheál Ó Máirtín beginning on Wednesday 7th February 11:00am to 1:00pm for 5 weeks.

Spaces are limited and booking is essential.

Email: graiguenamanagh@kilkennylibrary.ie or call 056 779417 Advanced Chess Class. Join us for an advanced chess class at Graiguenamanagh Library with Ruairí from Red Chess on Thursday 15th February from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Suitable for experienced chess players, aged 9 and upwards.

Book Essential - Email: graiguenamanagh@kilkennylibrary. ie or call 056 779417 GORESBRIDGE PAULSTOWN DEFIBRILLATOR AEDs are a crucial aid in enabling individuals to survive an Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest. A unit is located outside Maher’s Shop in Goresbridge as well as inside the Ionad Dara community hall in Goresbridge.

BARROW RANGERS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB The club is taking part in the Irish Life Every Steps Counts challenge! The challenge runs until February 12th. It very simple to take part. 1. Download the Irish Life My Life App 2. Register. 3. Select Challenges under social tab and select Barrow Rangers Camogie Club under Leinster Challenge.

For anyone looking for company while running or walking there is a meet up at Applegreen every Monday and Thursday at 7pm.

Next jackpot is on Tuesday 30th January and is worth €4,500. For the weekly Lotto online tickets are available at www.lottoraiser.ie/BarrowRangers BRIDGE UNITED The last man/woman standing competition is back, starting on 17th February. To enter contact Jim on 086 3841726. €10 per entrant.

The Premier Division match took place on Sunday 28th with 3:2 win for Clover United v Bridge United.

Bridge scores by Conor English (2) and Nicholas Llanas (1).

ENROLEMENT

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

Community & GAA Notes

Cast of THE SEAFARER by Conor McPherson in GORESBRIDGE From left: Paul Behan(Richard), Nathan Dunne(Ivan), Paul Daly(Sharky), Joe Meaney(Nicky) and John Whitely(Mr. Lockhart) Scoil Bhríde N.S, Goresbridge is now accepting enrolments for the 2024/2025 school-year. Parents may contact the school office between 9am and 1pm on 059 9775168 for further information or email the office at office@goresbridgens.ie Applications for admission to Scoil Bhríde, Paulstown may be made up to Tuesday 6th February. See website https:// www.paulstownns.ie/home CHURCH SERVICES Saturday 3rd / Sunday 4th February: Mass in Goresbridge at 19.30, 10.00 and in Paulstown at 11.30am.

Sacred Heart Prayer Group meets on Fridays after 10am mass in Paulstown.

Legion of Mary Thursdays meetings take place at 3pm in Paulstown. New members welcome.

Church of Ireland services Sunday 4th, Holy Communion at 11.30am in Shankill Church, Paulstown. Enquiries to the Dean of Leighlin at 087 276 7562.

DANCE FIT Running every Tuesday at 8.30pm in Paulstown Community Hall. Contact Stephanie Lennon on ‘Dance Fit’ on Facebook or instragram where you can sign up via Google forms link. Cost is €8 per class.

YOGA CLASSES In aid of Danny’s MS Fund begins on Monday 12th February at 7pm in the Community Hall in Paulstown and continues for 5 weeks. €50 for the course. Contact: Emma Flavin 083 0464823 BRIDGE LESSONS Paulstown Bridge Club is holding lessons in playing bridge in a relaxed informal setting. Further information available from Mary Quinn 086 1704459 or Mary Purcell 086 1659779 PIONEER NEWS The Carlow Regional Dinner dance with band (Theresa and the Stars) takes place on Thursday 25th February in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow. Tickets are at €30. Information from Eileen at 086 1664471.

TAR ISTEACH The shop is openly daily Monday to Saturday in the mornings. Funds go towards local development. Good quality clothes and bric-a-brac are accepted.

COMPUTER AND PHOTOGRAPY CLASSES Computer classes take place every Wednesday from 10am in Ionad Dara in Goresbridge. The course caters for basic computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Publisher plus support on use of smart phones and tablets. Course participants may build on typing skills as well as learn how to prepare accounts or design creative cards and booklets. Photography skills are included as a related part of the course and may be taken separately. The courses, which are free of charge, are sponsored by Kilkenny Carlow Education and Training Board for all Digital Literacy and basic literacy needs. More information from Carmel or Thomas at 056 7763149.

THE SEAFARER Kilcumney Players are looking forward to presenting THE SEAFARER by Conor McPherson on Thursday 8th, Friday 9th and Saturday 10th February 2024 at Ionad Dara in Goresbridge. Doors open from 7:15. The play is a 2006 play

by Irish playwright Conor McPherson. It is set on Christmas Eve, 2006 in Baldoyle, a coastal suburb north of Dublin city.

Be advised that the play contains strong language! The production team has been working away on sets, decoration, props, furniture, costumes, lighting, sound, publicity and all other aspects of the presentation.

In the Goresbridge production, the central part of Sharky Harkin will be played by Paul Daly with Paul Behan in the role of his cantankerous brother Richard Harkin. Their long-time family friend Ivan Curry will be played by Graignamanagh man Nathan Dunne while Joe Meaney takes on the part of Nicky Giblin. To complete the cast, John Whitely will portray the enigmatic Mr. Lockhart.

The backroom team in Goresbridge has been very busy.

The set was built by Johnny Doran and Gerry Kavanagh.

Finousa Hanlon is in charge of props, costumes and make-up and is doing an outstanding job as always. Stage Manager Yvonne Devitor has been planning and organising all the production details along with Ann Lennon. Zoe Joyce will be in charge of Sound and Lighting again after doing a sterling job since she joined the group in 2022.

Mags Whitely and Margaret Coady are taking a break from acting this year and will be very busy working backstage.

Other members of Kilcumney Players will help with Front of House, Box Office and other duties. The Seafarer is directed by Mary Meaney.

Kilcumney Players look forward to the usual great support from the local community and hope that everybody will enjoy the play as much as they have. Tickets cost €12 for Adults and Concessions are €8.

PAULSTOWN CHURCH CHOIR Have you a talent for singing for playing a musical instrument? New adult and children members welcome to the Paulstown church choir. Contact the parochial office (059 9775180) FOROIGE Would you like to volunteer with Foróige to support young people in Paulstown For more information contact Aidan Gleeson (aidan.gleeson@foroige.ie) CUPLA FOCAL Would you like to brush up or practice your Irish over a cup of coffee? All welcome! Weekly Friday chatting in Irish over a cuppa in the Goodly Barrow this Friday 2nd February at 11am. Whether it is a few words or many, it doesn’t matter.

Contact Ann on 085 7529485 for further information. Fáilte roimh chách.

GOODLY BARROW MUSEUM AND CAFE Open Wednesday to Sunday. A great place to meet up and chat as well as to savour delicious cooking or just a cuppa (next to the river Barrow in Goresbridge) BENNETTSBRIDGE AWARD FOR ERIC The David Shaw Smith Legacy Award recipient for 2023 is master craftsman, Eric Philips.

Eric is from Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny, where he leads a design and build work-shop that merges contemporary designs with traditional craftsmanship. Specialising in crafting high-quality interiors and furniture for both residential and commercial spaces, Eric’s creations are a testament to his dedication to his craft. His preferred medium is wood, which he often combines with elements such as steel, glass, and lighting to produce stunning

and functional pieces. Not only does he possess an artistic flair, but he is also committed to sustainability by sourcing wood from FSC certified suppliers and local wood providers, ensuring that his work is as environmentally conscious as it is beautiful.

The David Shaw Smith Legacy Award 2023 was developed

by DCCI to honour the legacy of David Shaw Smith, the legendary Irish filmmaker. It has been created to recognise that Irish craft is driven by heritage and creativity. It will support and acknowledge the achievements of key master craftspeople in the creative development of their craft each year. The award has a value of €5,000 and each recipient is awarded an engraved glass cylindrical, created by Rory Leadbetter, Master Glass Blower in Jerpoint Glass.

CHURCH NEWS Weekday masses this week. Thursday and Friday 10.30am.

ST BLAISE BLESSING OF THROATS Bennettsbridge. Friday morning 10.30am mass and Blessing of Throats Tullaherin. Saturday night 8pm, Mass and Blessing of Throats CONFIRMATION Confirmation will be held in St Bennett’s Church on Sunday, 25th February, 2024. On that weekend, to facilitate those who are not directly involved in the confirmation, there will be an evening mass in Bennettsbridge on Saturday, 24th February at 7pm.

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION MASSES On Sunday last, the first of three preparation masses for children who will make their confirmation was held. There was a full attendance. Celebrant was Fr Pat Dalton and children and parents were involved in the liturgy. Music was provided by Billy Molloy and Deirdre O’Brien.

OSSORY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES Booking is now open for the 2024 pilgrimage. It will depart from Cork on 22nd May and will fly directly to Lourdes with accommodation available in the hotels La Solitude, Padua, or Agena. As capacity is limited it is strongly advised to book early. Contact 01-2410800 or info@joewalshtours.ie.

LOTTO 22nd January, No winner of Jackpot. Numbers, 3,11,16, 19.

Jackpot now €5,650.00 Consolation Prizes, Áine Grace, Killarney, Angela Barrett, c/o Crotty’s, Peggy Walpole, Station Road, BB Syndicate, Ava Dollard, Kilfane.

ART GROUP Weekly art sessions continue each Monday. Artists are committed to producing work with a view to having an exhibition during Kilkenny Arts Week. Tutor, Julie Moorhouse is once again on board to offer her expertise and enthusiasm to the project. The support of the KCETB is also acknowledged. During the next few months a theme will be finalised which will showcase the various work of each artist.

GATHERING GROUP The Gathering Group continues to attract a full attendance each week and the usual chat, chair exercises, cards and bingo fit the bill nicely for the two hour sessions. Last week two Garda representatives paid a visit to the club. A very useful and informative talk was given, covering many

Group taken at the presentation of David Shaw Smith Award to Eric Philips. Rory Leadbetter, Jerpoint Glass, Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design and Crafts Council Ireland; Laura Kane, DCCI, Eric Philips, Kathleen Leadbetter, Jerpoint Glass, Daniel Shaw Smith

aspects of security. They gave advice on dealing with scams and answered questions from the floor.

MENS SHED Men from the community and beyond have been enjoying their weekly meetings with the newly formed Mens Shed group. The hall provides a warm and welcoming space for the men. The provision of a Darts Board and Rings Board together with card games occupies much of the time and several other options are in the pipeline. Continuing on Wednesdays at 2pm. All are welcome!

SYMPATHY Sympathy is extended to Margaret O’Donnell, Main Street and the extended family on the death of Margaret’s mother, Bridget (Bridie) Davis, née Gorey, Tinvaun, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny.

Bridget died in her 96th year, at her residence, surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, 21st January 2024. She was pre-deceased by her husband Paddy, and her brothers James, Neddy, Denis and Joe. She is survived by her son, Jim, daughter Margaret, daughter-in-law Helen, son-in-law Derek, grandchildren Jack, Tom, Padraig and Charlotte, brothers Donie and Thomas, sisters-in-law Kitty and Mary, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Funeral Prayers were recited in Molloy’s Funeral Home, followed by removal to the Carmelite Church, Knocktopher. Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Carmelite Church with burial afterwards in Kilree Cemetery.

SYMPATHY Sympathy is also extended to Brendan O’Connor, on the death of his mother, Breda O’ Connor, Elderfield, Castletown, Co. Laois. She was predeceased by her husband Eamon and was mother of, Brendan, Eamon, John, Gerard, Aodh and Aonghus. Deeply regretted by her family, sister Kitty, brother, Fr Liam, her eight grandchildren, daughters and son in law, nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbours and friends.

Family and friends came in large numbers to her home in Elderfield. The remains were removed to St Edmund’s Church, Castletown where Requiem Mass was celebrated.

Burial took place in St Fintan’s Cemetery, Mountrath.

CAMOGIE The Bennettsbridge Camogie junior team will be hosting a Quiz night in O’Donnell’s Bar on Friday 9th February. Teams of 4 - €20 per team. Finger food, DJ and raffle prizes on the night. Please support the camogie girls!

GAA National Hurling League.

Best of luck to the Bennettsbridge lads and the Kilkenny team who play Wexford in Nowlan Park next Sunday in the opening round of the league.

Junior Football Bennettsbridge junior football team defeated Slieverue in round one of the league in Bennettsbridge on Sunday last on a score line of 4-6 to 4 points. The lads play Young Irelands away this Saturday at 1.30 in round two.

CLUB SPOT The club has adopted a new app for all GAA business going forward, replacing Clubforce. We ask as many people as possible to download this new club spot app. Details are on the club’s Facebook page. This is a great way to communicate club business. membership, split the pot etc. All club business can be done on this so it is vital that people download the app as soon as possible.

MEDAL PRESENTATION A great crowd attended the 2023 medal presentation in the clubhouse last Saturday night. Our own David Blanchfield and Billy Ryan did the honours, presenting the medals to our minor football winners, under 15 double winners, Féile shield winners, our under 13 B championship winners and to our under 13 13 a side shield winners. Well done to all involved. Thanks to all who helped on the night.

DRUG INFORMATION NIGHT All our young players, coaches and parents are asked to attend this very important meeting in the clubhouse on Monday night February 5th at 7.30. Guest speaker will be Conor Harris, former Kildare footballer. This is part of the healthy club programme and is very worthwhile in the current climate so we urge as many as possibly to attend on the night STEP CHALLENGE Bennettsbridge GAA Healthy Club. Join team Bennettsbridge for the Irish life step challenge 2024.There is still time to join this year. The challenge started on January 8th and ends on February 12th. Simply download the ‘My life app’ to join the challenge. Team Bennettsbridge is registered so please join us to complete our 4,000 km challenge.

Those that have participated before just need to join team Bennettsbridge. Keep up the good work for the remaining couple of weeks.

MEMBERSHIP 2024 This year’s membership can now be paid to registrar Samantha McGarry or to any club committee member.

Membership fees are the same as last year. Forty euro for non-playing members, eighty euro for student players and 120 euro for adult players.

SPLIT THE POT The next draw takes place this Friday 2nd February at 6 pm in the clubhouse, postponed from last Friday night. Thanks to all for the continued support.

CLUB SHOP New items have been added to the Bennettsbridge club

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

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Community & GAA Notes gear selection online. Simply put Bennettsbridge in the search box on the O’Neill’s website to view the items.

JOHNSTOWN MR. THOMAS MURPHY RIP The death has taken place, peacefully, at Fennor Hill Care Facility, Urlingford of Thomas Murphy, Sevensisters, Johnstown. Predeceased by his parents John and Mary, he will be sadly missed by his brothers John and Martin, sisters Mary (Nolan) and Bernie, sister in law Mary, brother in law Billy, nieces, nephews, extended family, cousins, neighbours and friends. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Kieran’s Church, followed by burial in St. Kieran’s Cemetery, Johnstown.

COLLECTION A collection for the sacristan at St. Kieran’s Church, Johnstown is now due. Envelopes for same are in the Church porch.

ST. KIERAN’S COMMUNITY HALL 500 CLUB DRAW Results for January. 1 Amber Quinlan, (Ml. Quinlan), 2 Carmel Sutcliff (Kevin Murphy), 3 Maggie Peters (Marguerite Dermody) 4 Henry Nolan (Vincent Morrissey, 5 Holly Nicholson (Evelyn Sweeney).

As this was the last draw many thanks to the promoters and to all who supported. All proceeds to the Hall upkeep.

SPA UNITED AFC Weekend results..U15 girls league division 1 Spa 1 Bridge Utd 1, U15 boys league division 1A Freebooters 1 Spa 1, U13 boys league division 1 Spa 0 Deen Celtic 0. Also in action this week were the U8’s who travelled to play Clover Utd., the U9’s made the long trip to play Highview Athletic and the U11 girls played host to Evergreen with all squads playing brilliantly in windy conditions.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO Winning numbers 6,9,19,27, three match threes Martin Murphy, Paddy Murphy and Kathleen Webster.

GORTNAHOE GLENGOOLE Glengoole Wednesday 10am to 2pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 10am to 1pm MONTHLY FAMILY MASS The next family mass will take place in both churches this weekend of February (3rd/4th). All would be welcome to join the choir with a practice half an hour before each Mass.

ALTAR SERVERS A recruitment drive to re-introduce altar servers for both churches took place in the three parish schools during the past week. Any primary school pupils who attend a school outside of the parish and who wish to serve in either churches are asked to contact Fr Walton after Mass or at his house during the coming week.

FEAST OF ST BLAISE Blessing of throats will take place in Glengoole church today Friday 2nd February at 6pm mass.

TUESDAY BRIDGE Bridge is being played each Tuesday night in Gortnahoe Hall at 7.30pm. If you would like to join or find out more information please contact this number 089 4349106 GORTNAHOE BINGO Bingo continues this Saturday evening at the earlier time of 4.00pm with doors opening from 3.00pm and will continue each Saturday evening at the same time. Over €2,660 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game.

SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to the last weekends winner Jack Webster, Gortnahoe, who won €181 in the Split the Pot draw.

Envelopes are available at the usual outlets, you can also Revolut to 0876777220. Split the Pot for the month of February will be in support of the Prayer Garden beside Gortnahoe Church. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall. Your support would be appreciated 400 CLUB DRAW The results for January 2024, 1st Prize €200 Margaret McCormack, Poynestown, 2nd Prize, Mick and Noreen Dooley, St. Anne’s Terrace. Other prize winners were, Michael Walshe, Gortnahoe, John Lanigan, Urard, Elizabeth Kennedy, Lanespark, Pauline Morris, Cooldine, Gerry Kavanagh, Grange, Brendan and Maeve Maher, Littlefield, Adrienne Brolan, Graigaheesha and William Joe and Fiona Stapleton, Ballysloe. Promoters Prize Winner, Sarah Cormack.

CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to Jimmy Meighan who received a presentation from Martin Bourke, Chairman of the Mid-Tipperary GAA in recognition of his long service as Gatechecker with the Division at the recent Md-Tipperary GAA Awards night. This is a very well deserved award to Jimmy for his service to the GAA down through the years both at club and county level. Jimmy is also very active in the local community especially on the Gortnahoe Community Hall committee and many Church organisations and other committees.

BALLYRAGGET BALLYOUSKILL ST PATRICK’S GAA There was a medal presentation for last year’s hurling

success in the Paddy Cahill Cup and the Junior Football championship last Saturday night, the medals were presented by Kilkenny Football manager Christy Walsh.

LOTTO Results of this week’s lotto: 2, 5, 21, 27. There were no winners of this week’s jackpot. To enter Monday’s draw, you can play online: bit.ly/stpatricksgaalotto Alternatively, you can play by purchasing a ticket from one of our sellers.

Thank you for your continued support!

PITCH REPAIRS Repair works on the goalmouths on the main pitch were completed at the weekend as part of our investment in club facilities. The goalmouths have been fitted with a hybrid turf system that will hopefully leave us with an elite playing surface for all our goalkeepers. As a result, the goal areas on the main pitch will be unavailable until the end of February.

SYMPATHY Sincerest sympathy is sent to the family of Tom McConnell, Oldtown to his daughters Grace, Claire, and Frances his sons in law Tony and Jack, sister Eileen, grandchildren Christopher, Dylan, Callum, Isabella and Conor, extended family and friends May he rest in peace.

DANCE CLASSES Dance classes in the function room of the Chearog on Thursday nights at 8pm with Conor and Tom, jive, swing, ballroom and more. There is a €5 charge CONAHY GAA MEMBERSHIP GAA Club Membership for 2024 is now due and can be paid online via the club’s Clubforce platform over the coming weeks. Alternatively, a number of membership collection nights will be held in the GAA Clubhouse over the coming weeks, with dates to be announced very soon.

Please check the club’s social media for the various rates of membership available and club players in particular are reminded that membership must be paid prior to starting training and the playing of matches to ensure appropriate injury cover.

GAA Bórd na nÓg membership for 2024 is also due for all under-age players at this time. The cost is €50 per player and can also be paid via Clubforce prior to the start of training.

FOOTBALL Muckalee proved too strong for the intermediate footballers in the first on field action of the year when they faced each other in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Intermediate Football League in Muckalee on Saturday night last.

The home side were quickly out of the blocks with two early goals, though Conahy did respond well with some good scores. Muckalee led by 2-4 to 0-5 at half time, and increased their lead early in the second half with two further goals. It was one sided from there until the finish, as the home side won out by 5-11 to 0-6. Conahy will travel to Glenmore for their next outing on this Saturday afternoon at 1.30.

TEAM: Paul Buggy, Padraig Gunner, Davy Healy, Liam Cass, Edmond Delaney, Donal Cass, Philip Cass, Darragh Hennessy, Karl Downey, Steven McNamee, Eoin Cahill, Billy Mulhall, Bill Murphy, Darragh Dooley, Paddy Mullan, Darren Cuddihy, J.P. Gamble, Ciaran Rice, Harry O’Mahony, Conor Hennessy.

EVERY STEP COUNTS CHALLENGE Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club have just started the “Every Steps Counts 24 Challenge” for club members and parishoners. The challenge began on January 8th and runs to February 12th, with the goal of this challenge to collectively hit 4,000km for the Club to be entered into the provincial draw. To join, participants can download MyLife from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and when downloaded, go to Social > Challenges > MyLife’s Every Step Counts Challenge. Search for “Leinster” and then “Conahy Shamrocks GAA Club”. All support for this initiative would be appreciated.

CLUB LOTTO The numbers drawn in the most recent GAA Club Lotto were 8, 33 and 34. There was no winner of the €1,400 jackpot, so the consolation prize winners were Aisling Maher, Ann Kenny, Lucy Butler, Mary O’Mahony, Sheila Og and Mary Ann Kenny. The promoter prize winners were Margaret Buggy, Helen Cahill and Anne Downey.

KILMANAGH LIAM O’HALLORAN The death of Liam O’Halloran, late of Green Lane, Callan, Westcourt and Killaloe has brought many memories of a very popular and loving personality. He was born in Killaloe in 1933 where he spent his childhood and youth.

On his marriage to Maura Murphy of Ballycallan they lived at Westcourt where Liam pursued his profession of farming. He was a loyal member of various organisations.

A gifted whist player, he attended many whist drives which took place at different venues including Kilmanagh. His chief pastime was painting, some of which were presented as offertory gifts during his requiem mass. A loyal member of Callan parish, he attended every celebration which took place from time to time. A large attendance attended his obsequies on both occasions. His son, Fr. Philip, celebrated

his requiem mass. The co-celebrants were members of the Mill Hill missionary society, Fr. William Dalton, P.P. Callan, Fr. Liam Taylor, P.P. Ballycallan, Fr. Liam Cassin, P.P. Hugginstown and Fr. Richard Scriven, P.P. Castlecomer. Liam is predeceased by his wife Maura and son Pat. We extend our sympathy to sons Mark, Fr. Philip (Mill Hill Missionary), Willie and Tom; daughters Veronica, Siobhan and Fiona; brothers Tomas and Francis; sisters Carmel and Joan, sisters in law Chrissie O’Halloran and Nora Murphy, brothers in law John Martin and Joe O’Brien, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Ar dheis Dè go raibh a anam Dílis.

MOUNT CARMEL JANUARY DRAW The results of the January draw for Mount Carmel were €200 Elaine Cahill, Ballyline, €100 Olivia Coppinger, Kilkenny. €30 each to Norma Heron-Grace Callan, Olive Phelan Gowran, Mick Mullally C/O Mick Maher, Anna Corr Bawnlusk, George and Lorraine Foley Callan, Bridget Comerford Ballycallan, Eileen O Halloran Callan, Phil and Anna Kennedy Physicianstown and Lucillia O Reilly Loughboy. Promoters’ prizes €15 each to Patty McGuire, Mona Lyons and Frank McKenna. Thank you to all our subscribers, promoters and all who help to run the draw.

ST. BRIGID The feast of Saint Brigid is celebrated next Thursday 1st February. This year is the 1,500 year of the death of St. Brigid. Her feast day is a special day in Ireland. Saint Brigid was famous for her hospitality, charity, and care of the sick.

Her father wanted her to marry but she wanted to consecrate her life to God. Like Saint Patrick, Brigid used nature to teach about Jesus. She made a cross from rushes and this custom has prevailed in Ireland. St. Brigid’s crosses are to be seen in houses throughout the world. This prayer can be said to Saint Brigid to bless The Crosses. ‘May God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless these crosses, the places where they are kept and everyone who sees them. Amen.’

ST. BRIGID’S PATTERN After our Mass in Ballycallan next weekend, we will travel to St. Brigid’s Cemetery in Ballycallan (The Pound), pray the rosary and bless the graves. If you would like to join us for this event, you are most welcome to do so.

ST. BLAISE Next Saturday is the feast of St. Blaise, venerated for his healing abilities, particularly illness of the throat. After our weekend Masses, anyone who would like to receive the blessing of St. Blasé is welcome to do so.

PARISH LOTTO Results for 22/01/24. Numbers drawn were 4; 7; 8; 25.

There was no winner. Lucky Dip Winners of €50 each were Maeve McAleer, Billy Butler Jnr and St. Brigid’s Camogie Club. Sellers prizes went to Gearoid Cleere and Teresa Corcoran. Next draw will take place on 29/01/24 at 8 pm.

SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY Next Sunday, Safeguarding Sunday, is a time for the Diocese of Ossory to remind our parish communities and wider society that protecting children and vulnerable people is at the heart of the Christian message. It is an opportunity for all the parishes to pray as one and to acknowledge the dedication of all church personnel and volunteers who serve in the ministry of Safeguarding across the Diocese. During the celebration of the Safeguarding Sunday liturgy, we will also renew our commitment to the pastoral care of victims and survivors of abuse, as well as their families. The Ossory Safeguarding Newsletter is available at the back of our churches this weekend.

Contact details for safeguarding services and reps are printed opposite.

HOLY HOUR Holy Hour will take place each Wednesday from 7-8pm in Kilmanagh Church. Prayer, music and quiet time with God. All are welcome.

KILMANAGH NOTES Anyone wishing to submit news items, events, announcements etc. can do so by email only to elanigan18@gmail. com. If you have any photos that you would like included, please send as an attachment.

HUGGINGSTOWN NEWMARKET STONEYFORD MASS TIMES Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil - Saturday 3rd. at 8.00p.m.; Sunday 4th. at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford, Wednesday and Friday at 7.00p.m.Vigil, Saturday 3rd at 6.30p.m.

Friday 2nd. Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord. Blessing of Candles: Candles to be used in the Churches during the year will be blessed during Mass in Hugginstown Church on Friday 2nd. at 9.30a.m. Candles will be blessed during Mass in Stoneyford Church on Friday 2nd. at 7.00p.m.

Church Candles, (or Donations for Candles), may be left into the Church Sacristies.

Firday 2nd.Feburary First Friday, Visitation with Holy Communion will take place as usual on Friday. Please let us know if you would like to receive Holy Communion in your home for the First Fridays or at any other time.

Saturday 3rd. Feast of St. Blaise, Blessing of Throats will take place after Masses on Saturday and Sunday.

PRAY FOR Bridie Davis, Tinvaun, Stoneyford who died during the week Anniversary Masses, Nellie Dunphy and Ned Millea, Kyleva:

Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 3rd. at 8.00p.m.

Richard Aylward, Boolyglass: Mass in Hugginstown Church on Sunday 4th. at 10.00p.m.

ROTA Rota for next week-end: 3rd. and 4th. February, (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time). Readers: Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m. Catherina Roche. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Deirdre Rohan. Sunday 10.00a.m.

Mary Carroll. Eucharistic Ministers. Stoneyford, Saturday 6.30p.m. Natalia Smolen. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m.

Trisha Barron. Sunday 10.00a.m. Ann Power CONFIRMATION 2024 Confirmation will be celebrated for Aghaviller Parish in Hugginstown Church on Thursday 22nd. February at 11.00a.m.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2024 For Stoneyford School on Sunday 12th. May in Stoneyford Church at 11.00a.m.

For Monroe/Newmarket Schools on Sunday 19th. May in Hugginstown Church at 11.00a.m.

PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE? Weekend Residential courses available. 26th. to 28th. April and 20th. to 22nd. September 2024. Details: www.grasta. org or at info@grasta.org STUDY THEOLOGY ONLINE The Priory Institute provides online Theology courses to degree level. Attend Saturday lectures in Tallaght or from the comfort of your own home. Register before February 14th. Find out more on our website, prioryinstitute.com.

Go here to see a 2 minute introductory film Prioryinstitute. com OSSORY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES The Annual Ossory Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024 is now available to book!

The departure will take place on 22nd. May 2024 from Cork Airport; flying direct to Lourdes with accommodation available in the hotels La Solitude, Padoue or Agena.

With capacity being limited this year, it is strongly advised that pilgrims wishing to travel to Lourdes book as soon as possible. Should you require any additional information on the pilgrimage, please do not hesitate to contact 01 241 0800 or info@joewalshtours.ie. For Assisted Pilgrims please contact Fr. Anthony O’Connor 087 251 7766 or maoc50@me.com LOTTO Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 22nd. January 2024 Numbers: 02; 13; 26; 19. No Winner First 3 Numbers Drawn: No Jackpot Winner: 5 x €30.00 Winners: Lucy and Lisa McBride, Hugginstown; Ann Power, Lawcus; Jackie and Eanna Martin, Ballinteskin; Daniel Irish, Hugginstown, Aine and Niall Rohan, Cork. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers): Eilis Rohan; John Power; James Irish.

CARRICKSHOCK The Club invites all to join ‘2024 Light up Ireland’ every Wednesday at 7.30p.m. at the “Waterboys Walkway” Hugginstown: Walk and Chat; All are very welcome.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE COUNSELLING SERVICES Our low cost Counselling Services, includes One-to-One, Adult, Teens and Children’s Play Therapy. Counselling Provided. Bereavement, Stress, Anxiety and Depression, Drug and Substance and Gambling Addictions. Play therapy, Play Therapy is now available for children aged 5 and upwards. Please contact Sue for more information or to make an appointment.

SENIOR ALERT If you need to apply for a Personal Alarm, please contact Sue or Josephine.

DEFIBRILLATOR Please note that there is a defibrillator located in the Mill Family Resource Centre if and when it may be required.

APPEAL FOR CLOTHES DONATION Any clothes donations would be greatly appreciated in aid of our counselling/play therapy services. Donations can be left into the Centre, please call before dropping off.

JOBS TRAINING BOARD We have a Jobs Board here at the Centre, feel free to call in and take a look, we also offer help and support with CV’s and cover letters if required.

ART CLASSES Art Classes have been ongoing since Thursday January 18th in the centre from 10am-12pm. Duration of course is 6 weeks.

COMPUTER CLASSES Computer classes will be commencing here in the centre from 10.30am-12.30pm from Tuesday the 27th FebruaryTuesday March 26th. Duration of course is 5 weeks.

For further information please contact us here at the Centre on 056-8838466

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

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

Hurlng matters - Preview

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Allianz National Hurling League

• UPMC Nowlan Park, • Sunday 4th February Kilkenny vs Wexford

The 2024 Allianz National Hurling League gets underway for Kilkenny on Sunday, with Walsh Cup winners Wexford first up for Derek Lyng’s side at UPMC Nowlan Park (throw-in 1:45pm). It will be the second meeting of the Leinster rivals in a matter of weeks, with the visitors running out winners in the pre-season competition semi-final in Callan.

The Cats should be boosted by the return of some familiar faces, including the O’Loughlin Gaels contingent over the coming weeks, but as expected Shamrocks TJ Reid will not be rushed into league action at present. The manager was keen to point that out during the recent media event to announce the continued sponsorship of Kilkenny GAA by Avonmore owners Tirlán.

“With TJ, it’s something we will have to manage, it’s a fluid situation”.

“TJ is back training away; we’ll have to manage his minutes as the year goes on. As we move into March and April, we will see him at some stage but when you are looking at it, championship will be the priority there” added the Emeralds clubman.

In terms of the O’Loughlin Gaels players, Lyng is unlikely to do a

‘Mickey Harte’ and throw Messrs.

Lawlor, Butler and Deegan straight back into the fold against Wexford.

“We have a few lads there a long time and have a good bit of hurling done this year and the last 12 months have been pretty intense in getting to two All-Ireland finals, unfortunately losing both. That takes its toll as well.

They’ll need a little bit of a break.

We’ll have to manage that in the next few weeks.

“It’s a bit of a balancing act at the minute, the first few games we have a number of new fellas on the panel so it’s about managing who we play and who we rest.”

With the pre-season competition out of the way, all focus turns to the Allianz League campaign and the visit of Wexford. Having come up just short against the Yellowbellies in Callan, the Kilkenny faithful will be hoping to see their side emerge victorious on Sunday.

With the announcement last week that Paddy Deegan will captain the men in black and amber this season, some might be hoping that the affable schoolteacher will lead the Cats out at county headquarters, but we’ll need to wait and see what the final line-up is.

Lyng’s panel have had a couple of games under their belt so far, a huge win over Carlow followed by that defeat to this weekend’s opponents.

The manager will look to run his eye over some players during this Allianz campaign but will hope to have a settled panel before the latter stages of the competition, with trips to Clare and Waterford rounding off the group stages.

Last time out, Erin’s Own stalwart, Connor Delaney captained the side from full-back and one which was a mixture of youth and experience.

The Blanchfield’s of Bennettsbridge joined a small number of families

Cats welcome for league ope Richie Reid at the Allianz League’s launch

Eoin Cody finds his way blocked as hes heading towards goal

Lyng seeking hom

Derek Lyng

that have had three brothers on the team and given the form that they showed during the club season, we might see more of the trio over the next couple of months.

Conditions in Callan were atrocious to say the least, but Wexford got over the line by the narrowest of margins, despite finishing the encounter with 13 men. The Model County were 6-points up at the short whistle, but the Noresiders roared back and thanks to a later Billy Ryan goal, it set up a tense and tight finish, but Keith Rossiter’s charges held on for the win.

In the victory over neighbours Carlow, the cats had good performances from the likes of Billy Ryan (1-4), Billy Drennan (0-

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

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Hurling matters - Preview

Yellowbellies ner

e comforts & Walsh Cup revenge 7), Liam Blanchfield (1-1) and Clara’s Paul Cody (0-3) as they cantered to a very easy win against Tom Mullally’s side. That will probably be the easiest game Lyng’s men will have this season and they know that this year the league is not just for playing, as this season’s finishing positions will dictate the structure of next year’s Allianz leagues.

Shamrocks players, Adrian Mullen, Richie Reid and former captain Eoin Cody should be available earlier than usual, having had some downtime over the winter period for the first time in ages. That may actually benefit the Cats as the season builds.

The Kilkenny management team will have been keeping a close eye on the club scene since last

John Donnelly & Martin Keoghan will hope to start on Sunday

August, and the county has had a tremendous season at all levels, claiming two out of three national titles. Thomastown’s John Donnelly and Tullogher Rosbercon’s Walter Walsh, will be full of confidence when they rejoin the panel, having helped secure All-Ireland titles for their sides. Former U20 star, Peter McDonald got a start in Callan, while the impressive Stephen Donnelly and Zach Bay Hammond were in the squad also.

The one player that I hope does see some minutes during the league is David Fogarty. The Loughs wingback had an unbelievable season with his club and notched some incredible scores on their remarkable journey that ended in defeat to St Thomas’ of Galway.

Keith Rossiter’s side claimed the Walsh Cup with an 8-point win over Henry Shefflin’s experimental Galway side in a match held at Netwatch Cullen Park. Spearheading Wexford’s quest for silverware was the supremely talented Lee Chin.

The Faythe Harriers clubman has been out of action since his club made an early exit from the club championship, but showed no signs of rustiness as he finished the game with 0-9, including four from play as they gained revenge for last year’s defeat to the same opposition.

James Byrne and rising star’s Corey Byrne Dunbar and Cian Byrne hit a combined total of 0-8 as they ran out comfortable winners. I would expect to see much more of Corey and Cian over the next few weeks, especially as Wexford are missing the likes of Conor McDonald, Rory Billy Drennan

O’Connor, Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Liam Og McGovern. Keith Rossiter will be hoping to get some of these talents back in the fold sooner rather than later.

Oylegate-Genbrien’s Aaron Duggan has been the netminder of late, and his fellow clubman, Demien Reck could anchor the defensive unit from the centre-back position.

Ferns St Aidan’s Niall Murphy, who was black carded late on in Callan is likely to occupy on of the cornerback roles, while another of the U-20 cohort, Eoin Ryan has also been impressing at the back. St Martin’s Jack O’Connor and Naomh Eanna’s Cathal Dunbar are players that have troubled Kilkenny in the past and both will be hoping to get the call this weekend.

The Model County faithful will be hoping that former U-20 boss Rossiter can help stabilise things and improve the consistency of the Slaneysiders over the next couple of years, and the manager has a decent backroom team in place to achieve just that. Former Offaly hurler David Franks is heading up the coaching side of things and is very much respected in coaching circles, having been involved with the All-Ireland winning Ballygunner side.

There should be a decent crowd in attendance at UPMC Nowlan Park and I think another close affair could be in store this Sunday. Derek Lyng’s side will need to step up and meet what is sure to be a tough, physical encounter with plenty of fire to lay down a marker before they make the difficult trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh next weekend.

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Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Kilkenny & Carlow Education and Training Board, hereby intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for planning permission to demolish part of existing front wall to create a new pedestrian entrance along with all associated site and ancillary works at Kilkenny & Carlow Education and Training Board, Lower New Street, Kilkenny, R95 KF53.

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 Authority, 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) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Brian Dunlop Architects Ltd.

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

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.L&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. H.H.

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.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.D.

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. 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. M.B.

The Miracle Prayer

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

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

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

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

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.B.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

Classifieds Motors

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

087 2587745

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024

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Classifieds Motors

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 02 February 2024