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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 2 July 2021
kilkennyobserver.ie
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World finest craft honour for City KILKENNY has just been designated a World Crafts Council Craft City and Region, one of only four regions to achieve this recognition in Europe. This prestigious internationally recognised award is the result of an application put forward by MADE in Kilkenny, a craft collective of designermakers and Kilkenny County Council. It will greatly enhance Kilkenny’s reputation as a craft destination.
The application, judged by an international panel of jurors, was the result of several months of hard work by MADE in Kilkenny members who had to demonstrate the region’s craft activities in the areas of making, education and training, and exhibition spaces. The World Crafts Council, a non-governmental organisation founded in 1964, aims to strengthen the status of and promote crafts as a vital part of
cultural, social and economic life through their global network of members and affiliates. Welcoming the announcement, Minister Malcolm Noonan T.D, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform said that “Kilkenny has a long tradition of being a centre of craft activity in Ireland with its many craft workshops, home to the Design and Crafts Council Ireland, the National Craft Gallery and Centres of Excel-
lence in Ceramics and Jewellery. “Kilkenny is also well known for other creative sectors including fine-art, animation and its many festivals including music, film, comedy and food. This is great news for Kilkenny and is another prestigious award to add to the long list of awards achieved in recent years”. Kilkenny has long had the reputation for being a centre
fers more speed but it also has additional room at the rear. That means that we can transport adult patients more comfortably and we
also have space for an additional medic on board, if necessary.” The Community Air Ambulance works in tandem
of creativity, and the MADE in Kilkenny collective has actively contributed to this perception over the last decade. The group has striven to bring together the considerable wealth of craft talent found in Kilkenny to a wider audience and to foster excellence in craftsmanship. “MADE in Kilkenny is a multidisciplinary craft group organised and run by its members on a voluntary basis. It’s mission is to promote Kilkenny as
the premier destination in Ireland for authentic hand-made Irish craft of exceptional quality”, according to Gus Mableson of MADE in Kilkenny. Commenting on the designation, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Fidelis Doherty stated that “this designation puts Kilkenny on the international map and recognises the huge work carried out in the craft sector over many years”.
Life-saving medi-copter gets lift-off... THE Irish Community Air Ambulance has taken delivery of a Leonardo 109S helicopter. It is the fastest civilian helicopter in the world and is ideally suited to the provision of a rural Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). The charity heli-med service has responded to almost 1,000 incidents from its base in Rathcoole, Co. Cork since it was established in July 2019. Cardiac arrests account for the most incidents so far this year, followed by road traffic collisions and farming accidents. The new aircraft, which goes into full service from now offers more speed, greater patient comfort and
Sarah snaps it up... CONGRATULATIONS to Media Studies student Sarah Brunel, of Ormonde College of Further Education in Kilkenny, who was shortlisted and runner up in the National Media Student Awards 2021, (The Smedia Awards) for Student Photographer of the Year. Her photographic work examined the news category. Which focused on the lockdown and the inherent restrictions during the pandemic, exploring the play on light and colour. We wish Sarah the very best of luck in her future photography and media career.
it has the capacity to take on more fuel increasing endurance and range. The helicopter can travel up to 300 kilometres an hour. It is capable of flying the length of the country from Mizen to Malin Head in a little over 90 minutes. The same journey would take eight hours by road. Irish Community Air Ambulance Chief Executive Mícheál Sheridan says: “We are often called to the most serious of incidents, in these situations where you’re dealing with a critical patient, the small gains can have the greatest benefit to the patient’s comfort and outcomes. “This new helicopter of-
with the National Ambulance Service and brings patients to the hospital that best suits their life-saving needs. The Mater Hospital
in Dublin and Cork University Hospital (CUH) are the two major centres for the provision of trauma care in Ireland.
In memory of an angel, Béibhinn aged nine A NEW charity has been launched in memory of a young girl who died suddenly in September of last year. The Heart Angel is inspired by nine-year-old Béibhinn O’Connor from Riverstick and Carrigaline in Cork and aims to celebrate and commemorate her life and the lives of other children who have passed away in Ireland. The Heart Angel was launched at Cork City Hall by Cllr. Fergal Dennehy, Deputising for the Lord Mayor and Cllr. Séamus McGrath, Deputising for the County Mayor Béibhinn suffered from a rare congenital heart defect, and died on September 16, 2020 after a routine procedure fol-
lowing open-heart surgery that triggered a fatal cardiac arrest. The Heart Angel charity plans to create beautiful inspiring memory gardens in every county in Ireland and has already begun working with local authorities. The first Heart Angel garden is planned for Carrigaline, Co Cork, a second garden will be created in Cork City next year. A special concert to celebrate Béibhinn’s life will also be held on September 4. Said her mother Irene: “Béibhinn during her short life, inspired everyone around her to ‘Be Kind’. She lived everyday like it was her last and has left behind a powerful legacy of kindness, love and positivity.”
Dead Morto
