carlowpeople highest, most frequent readership in carlow
.ie .ie t: 059 914 1877
November 19, 2019 May 31, 2022
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May 31, 2022
carlowpeople highest, most frequent readership in carlow
.ie .ie t: 059 914 1877
November 19, 2019 May 31, 2022
FREE
12,000 copies
Irish Water cautions over pesticide use IRISH Water has issued a warning for people to be responsible about pesticide use due to their detection in water systems. The utility is urging domestic gardeners, farmers, grounds keepers and other users of pesticide products to consider the environment and whether pesticide use is necessary in the first instance. MCPA is the most commonly detected pesticide in drinking water sources and is present in many herbicide products used to control thistles, docks
and rushes. Farmers and other landholders dealing with the challenge of rushes should note Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) guidance on the sustainable management of rushes. Irish Water is asking users of any herbicide or pesticide products in Carlow to consider the vulnerability of the water supplies to pesticide contamination and the importance of these supplies to the homes and businesses in the community. Andrew Boylan, Irish Water’s
Regional Drinking Water Compliance Specialist, said: “While our consultation with the HSE has concluded that the levels of pesticides that are being detected in drinking water supplies across the country do not represent a threat to public health, it is however undesirable and therefore imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when using herbicides or pesticides and seek out alternatives.” A national group called the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group
(NPDWAG) has been formed to take action to address pesticides and devise and deliver various awareness raising and educational campaigns. This group has members from numerous state bodies and organisations including the EPA, DAFM, Teagasc, Local Authorities and Irish Water. Dr Aidan Moody, DAFM and Chair of the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group, said: “We need the continued engagement of Continued on next page
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Oisín Ó hAonghusa (6) from Gaelscoil Eoghan Uí Thuairisc, Ceatharlach was a winner of a Special Merit Award with this entry in the in the Texaco Children’s Art Competition
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May 31, 2022
news in brief Local Lotto player scoops €94,772 LOTTO players in Carlow are being urged to check their tickets carefully, after a Carlow player won €94,772 in the draw on May 21st. The Carlow player matched five numbers and the bonus in the Saturday night draw, after purchasing their winning Quick Pick ticket at McAssey’s Foodmarket in Ballon, Co Carlow yesterday. The winning numbers from Saturday’s (May 21) draw were: 20, 26, 29, 41, 42, 45 and the bonus was 01. Shop owner Michael McAssey said he was thrilled to get the call from the National Lottery about the prize win.
Farm thefts
Gardaí in Bagenalstown are appealing to the public for help in locating vital farming equipment which has been stolen. A number of expensive John Deere GPS receiver domes were stolen from several tractors in the Moanduff area of Old Leighlin between Thursday May 19th and Saturday May 21st. A John Deere self-propelled sprayer was also stolen, in addition to a monitor from inside the cab. The specialised equipment can only be used by farmers and agricultural contractors.
Stolen car rammed into town shop and More power to Carlow as less batteries are binned set on fire John Dowling (8) from Ard Na Gréine Art Studio, Rathoe was a winner of a Special Merit Award with this entry in the in the Texaco Children’s Art Competition
Carlow consumers recycled the equivalent of 16 AA batteries per person in 2021, above the national average, new figures reveal. Data from WEEE Ireland shows Ireland achieved a 46% battery recycling rate in 2021, reaching its EU directive obligations. Nationally, there was a 16% increase in the amount of batteries recycled by Irish households, in line with increased consumption and
greater usage of batteries in everyday products. The spike in recycling is equivalent to 15 AA batteries saved from landfill per person – an increase of two per person on 2020. Consumers in Carlow were above the national trend, averaging at an equivalent of 16 AA batteries per person which were prevented from entering landfill. “This small increase of two extra AA batteries recycled
Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board Invites applications from suitably qualified persons for the following positions based in the Adult Learning Service – Carlow and Kilkenny
1. ESOL Candidates must have: •
CELT/CELTA/Higher Certificate in Adult Literacy (including TESOL 1 & 2) or equivalent qualification
2. I.T. TUTOR Candidates must have: •
Relevant qualification in IT/IT tutoring
Candidates will also have: •
a qualification in adult literacy/adult education or equivalent and have undertaken literacy and numeracy training
•
experience of tutoring in Adult Education and/or working with young early school leavers
•
experience of delivering accredited courses is desirable
A panel may be created for the filling of other posts within the scheme which may arise. Closing Date: Friday, 6 May 2022 at 12 noon Further details and application forms available from www.kcetb.ie Adult Literacy Service, Kilkenny and Carlow ETB is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. Provision co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. Có-mhaoinithe ag an
AONTAS EORPACH Co-funded by the
EUROPEAN UNION
learning works
per person across Ireland made a huge difference and we are urging everyone in Carlow to recycle at least two more in 2022 – and to stop and think before throwing them in the bin,” said WEEE Ireland CEO, Leo Donovan (pictured). Younger consumers are being urged to stop binning used batteries - as a new survey reveals almost half of 18-34-year-olds are tossing them in the trash.
Warning on use of pesticides
continued from front page all stakeholders, working in partnership, make further progress. “Users of pesticides must always consider alternatives in the first instance and if the application of pesticides is considered essential make sure that they follow best practice measures to protect water quality.” Irish Water stresses that minimising pesticide use not only helps to protect water quality but also has wider environmental benefits. For example, leaving areas unsprayed can help native flowering plant species to grow and support a range of insects including bees and other vital pollinators. One-third of Ireland’s bee species are threatened with extinction and by helping the bee population survive and thrive we are also helping to protect our precious water sources. For more information on practical ways to help bees and other pollinators, check out the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan at www.pollinators.ie.
THREE men have been held in connection with a car being reversed at speed into a Carlow town centre tanning shop, causing an extensive fire to the premises and overhead apartments. It came after a planned search of two properties and the three men were subsequently arrested and detained at Garda Stations in Carlow and Kildare. A team of local gardaí were supported by the Armed Support Unit in the searches. Gardaí believe the car was deliberately driven into the premises and set alight. Fire Brigade units from Carlow town and nearby Bagenalstown fire station were called to the scene, at the Bikini Beach tanning salon on Tullow Street shortly before 5am on Tuesday, May 17th. Emergency services managed to safely evacuate the overhead apartments and no-one was injured. There was no-one in the tanning shop at the time of the incident. Tullow St was closed for several hours as a result and a Garda Technical Examination team carried out a detailed analysis of the scene to gather vital evidence. Garda Superintendent Aidan Brennan, speaking on
KCLRFM said: “(The arrests) and detentions are part of the ongoing investigation and the investigations will continue. “Searches of the premises are ongoing. We are taking what happened extremely seriously. We are investing very serious resources into this. We are very anxious to speak to anyone with information about this. “Anybody who lights a fire in an occupied building is entirely reckless as to the safety of the occupants of that building. “It’s a horrendous act. We are going to be intensifying our patrols here around the town in the coming days and weeks in order to prevent any further outbreaks of this nature.” Gda Supt Brennan added that their investigation is centred on the motive, why it took place and why the building was targeted. “There was extensive damage to the shop and the building in general. We alerted all of the residents and everyone was evacuated very quickly and the fire was brought under control by the fire services. Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information or video footage of this incident to come forward. Gardaí can be contacted at Tullow Garda station on 059 915 1222.
A CARLOW punter took just under two hours to turn a €5 investment into a mega fourfigure windfall, after their selections beat the odds at their local BoyleSports shop recently. The anonymous customer struck the wager on four horses running at Ayr and Yarmouth and placed a €5 accumulator on all four winning. The incredible winning streak started with My Astra
in the 3.20 at Ayr at 13/8. Chookie Dunedin quickly followed in the 3.55 at 6/1, while Habanero Star’s win in the 4.52 at Yarmouth at 3/1 left just one more horse standing in the way. Royal Regent duly obliged in the 4.58 back at Ayr at 10/1 and with all four winners in the bag, the lucky punter was able to exchange their betslip for a whopping total of €5,042.50, and all from a fiver stake.
Lucky punter turns €5 into €5k
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opinion&comment
House prices set to fall but here’s the bad news ...
F
irst the good news: house prices in Ireland will soon start to fall and sky-high rents will be rolled back. Service industries will be able to fill their job vacancies and it will be possible to find an electrician or plumber to work on your home. Now the bad: these developments will be caused by an international recession which will hit Ireland harder than most. House prices will fall because few people will want to buy them; the same process will drive down rents. Unemployment will rise and employers will find it easy to fill vacancies, even at lower levels of pay. The recession will be caused by the phenomenon known as stagflation, where workers are awarded pay increases to compensate for inflationary price hikes. The inflationary cycle, if not broken at an early stage, becomes impossible to control; industrial output falls and the economy stagnates, savings are eroded and anyone on a fixed income is faced with the prospect of penury. Am I certain about these harrowing predictions? Not entirely certain, to be honest. But, unlike almost everyone in Government or Opposition, I have seen it all before. Ireland went down this rocky road in the 1970s and 80s. We are on that path again and I don’t hear anyone shouting ‘stop!’. In the early 1970s Ireland was enjoying a phase of relative prosperity. Industrial output was up, along with exports and wages. Our position was enhanced by impending membership of the then European Economic Community, which we joined in 1973. As a country we were earning more, but also borrowing more. The prospect of European
Michael Wolsey
membership made borrowing easier and Irish governments began to provide better services for our citizens on a ‘live now, pay later’ basis. The economy worked like one of those centrifugal wheels you see at funfairs where everyone sticks to the wall so long as it keeps spinning. When it slows down they all slide off. In 1974 international trade stopped spinning. OPEC, the organisation of Gulf states that supplied most of the West’s oil, imposed an embargo on the US because of its support for Israel in a war with Egypt. The ban extended, in a patchy fashion, to much of Europe, including Ireland. The price of oil doubled , then quadrupled, pushing the cost of almost everything else through the roof. Workers demanded commensurate pay increases, but they were worthless because prices kept rising and even the money they were paid with was losing its value. Because that country does not go in for collective bargaining and has relatively few public service employees, America suffered badly at the time but recovered quickly. In Ireland, where powerful public service unions set the pace, the problem went on for years. Pay demands followed price hikes and were
usually conceded only after costly, disruptive strikes. Before Ireland had escaped the cycle, the world was plunged into a new one, when the Iranian Revolution of 1978 caused another oil shortage. The rate of inflation in Ireland had fallen that year to 7.71% (about what it is now) but leapt to 13.3% the following year and hit 18.15% in 1980. I was then half of a young couple who had just bought a house and our mortgage repayment rate at one stage topped 20%. Many of these factors are in play today. EU backing has allowed our heavily-indebted exchequer to borrow at will and exceptionally low interest rates encouraged the Government to splash the cash in response to the many problems thrown up by the Covid pandemic. True, the Irish economy is much stronger than in 1974 - nevertheless, we are living wildly beyond our means, as we were then. The war in Ukraine has, like the OPEC embargo, led to a fuel shortage and pushed up the price of everything. Unions are responding with inflationary wage demands. Public sector unions are leading the charge and the Government is showing no will to resist them. Irish governments could not resolve the inflation crisis of the 1970s and 80s, that depended on factors beyond our borders. But a lot of the things they did made matters worse. What we need now is a collective will to ride out this crisis. There should be pay rises, of course, but not across-the board rises aimed at matching price hikes. Government aid should be targeted at those who suffer most: people in very low -paid jobs and on social welfare and other fixed incomes. To pay for that, the Government should cut back on every other form
Contact us today to advertise 059 914 1877
of spending that is not immediately necessary. We will all suffer but a short
shock is better than a lingering malaise. For Ireland, the inflation crisis of 1974 lasted more
than a decade. We should learn from our mistakes, not repeat them.
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May 31, 2022
Extreme weather signals climate crisis A total of five ‘extreme weather events’ were recorded in Ireland last year, serving as an ominous warning of climate change, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned. This time last year, nine weather stations in seven different counties had one or two absolute droughts — a period of 15 or more consecutive days with less than 0.2mm of rain. Some 14 stations recorded heat-waves, with six stations having heat-waves lasting for 10 days. Even more shockingly for Ireland, two ‘tropical nights’ were reported — a rare event for this island — with temperatures exceeding 20°C. Last autumn also saw the warmest September on record for Ireland, while an unusual extra-tropical cyclone occurred from 26 November, lasting two days, when Storm Arwen brought northerly gales and storm-force 10 winds. December saw the arrival of Storm Barra, a long-lasting wind and rain storm which saw violent storm-force 11 winds
Leah Quish (9) at the launch of Round Up for Ronald McDonald House in Crumlin Hospital. Pic: Andres Poveda
(more than 80km/h). The WMO said that while extreme weather is the “dayto-day face” of climate change, the broken records are “yet another clear sign that human activities are causing planetary scale changes on land, in the
ocean and in the atmosphere, with harmful and long-lasting ramifications for sustainable development and ecosystems”. According to the new report, the last seven years have been the warmest on record, with global warming reaching 1.1
Louise O’Sullivan and Jason O’Neil from Riverdance at the launch of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice with the show, which is celebrating its 25th witha run at the Gaiety Theatre this summer. Pic: Andres Poveda
degrees over pre industrial levels last year. The organisation plans to roll out Early Warning Systems to help all its member countries adapt to climate changes, which will hit even harder over the next five years.
Dog owners: please respect our beaches
WITH summer upon us and people thronging to the beaches, dog owners are being encouraged to ‘leave only paw prints in the sand’ and please pick up after their pets. The UCD Acclimatize Project has now identified dog faeces as one of the greatest causes of water pollution on our beaches, which can result in temporary bathing prohibition notices being issued by local authorities. Testing has allowed local councils to differentiate between human, bird and canine faecal contamination and according to the findings, the dog faeces marker was the most frequently detected and “at times reached very high levels” on beaches. People are more likely to come into contact with dog faeces on beaches during the bathing season, which runs from 1st June to 15th September. Contact with dog faeces can have serious health impacts, including diarrhea and other nasty tummy bugs, and it can even cause blindness in
Number of jobless falls by 3,900
Carmel O’Boyle (82) and Margaret Meldon (85) celebrating National Arts in Nursing Homes Day. Pic: Maxwells
Snap to it as photo competition opens BUDDING photographers and enthusiasts, here is your chance to have your work seen by all as the Clean Coasts 13th annual Love Your Coast photography competition has officially opened for entries. The Love Your Coast competition asks for amateur photographers to capture and celebrate the uniqueness of our coastal communities as well as our waterways, for those who live inland. While Ireland has some of the most spectacular coastlines in the world there is no doubt that the rivers, lakes and waterways also deserve to be photographed
children. Even one dog foul can result in contamination the size of a tennis court. Councils have advised that ultimately, dog owners may face increased restrictions on beach use as well as more frequent patrols by dog wardens in an effort by local authorities to keep our coastal waters clean and safe for use. Bylaws may also be reviewed in an effort to improve bathing water quality. And hefty fines are now looming for offenders who are caught leaving dog poo behind them. The UCD Acclimatize team has released an animated video entitled ‘Leave Only Paw Prints’ illustrating the direct link between dog fouling and poor beach water quality. They want to highlight the potential harm caused by dog mess and encourage pet owners to take responsibility for cleaning up after their dogs. For more information on this initiative, log onto: www. acclimatize.eu/dogs.
in all of their beauty. So photographers are encouraged to pick up their cameras and explore what your county has to offer this summer. Last year, 15 images scored top places in the competition, with Declan Roche’s image from the Wildlife and Underwater category, entitled ‘Let Me Out’ (taken at the Wexford Harbour Quayfront in County Wexford) winning the overall Love Your Coast title for 2021. Photographers have until Monday, 29th August 2022 to enter. For more information, go to: www.cleancoasts.org/ our-initiatives/love-your-coast/
THE numbers on the live register in April have fallen to 177,100, down 3,900 from March. Some 55% of people signing on in April were men, while 45% were women; 9.7% are under 25 years of age, while 90.3% are 25 years of age and over. It comes as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme has now ended and recipients have either transferred to a Jobseeker’s scheme or had their PUP claim closed. A total of 436,056 people on the Live Register were benefitting from the PUP or other supports. Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said the latest figures are very encouraging and reflect the reopening of the economy and the growth in employment. She said numerous employers are seeking to increase their workforce as we move into the summer season, providing jobseekers with opportunities in a broad range of services and other employments.
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May 31, 2022
GraduatecelebrationsatCarlowCollege
Top, Academic procession of Carlow College academics, above left, Carlow College graduates celebrate, above left, Chinazom Faith Jayne Eloji and Brooklyn Hyland O’Keeffe, right, Clodagh Lawlor and Cliona Edwards, left, Claire Cunningham and Jacob Cunningham, far right, Karmel Knipprath
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May 31, 2022
Walk in the ... farm for Peter
A noveL farm walk with the focus on how sustainable investments can deliver greater farm efficiencies, took place recently on Peter Brophy’s farm in Paulstown, Co Carlow, in conjunction with Teagasc and Bank of Ireland. A large gathering from the local agricommunity joined in on the day. Peter’s dairy farm was converted in 2017 from a 100 suckler cow herd to a springcalving 160 cow dairy herd. Peter, who took over the running of the farm from his mother, has made a number of investments since making the decision to convert to dairy. He has maintained a clear focus on breeding the best cows, and growing the best grass to produce the best quality milk. The conversion of the farm to dairy included the construction of a 14-unit modern milking parlour, which was subsequently extended to 20 units in 2019. It has reaped dividends for Peter, who claimed the runner-up prize in the Grassland Farmer of the Year Awards in 2021. Peter holds a Masters degree in Economics and Maths and every investment is done to improve efficiencies and provide a better work-life balance.
Call to the bar! Earn a degree while you work Carlow publicans have been urged to sign up to the first ever apprenticeship to train a new generation of bar managers. The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) and Griffith College, Dublin, with the support of Solas, the state agency for further education, have joined forces to reverse the pub sector’s post-Covid struggle to retain staff. It comes as a Fáilte Ireland survey indicated that as many as nine out of 10 hospitality businesses have problems recruiting staff, with many employers linking the shortage to a lack of training. VFI Chief Executive, Paul Clancy, says the apprenticeship, available through Griffith College, will be critical to addressing the issue. “At a time when staff recruitment is cited as the number one issue for the hospitality business, this degree will play a vital role in retaining key personnel,” he said. The Bar Manager Apprenticeship Degree is a work-based learning programme
First-year bar manager apprentice Emma Hanley
in which apprentices will be able to work, earn and learn to become fully-qualified bar managers. First-year Bar Manager Apprentice Emma Hanley (23), said she was attracted by being able to work and learn at
the same time. “I have always enjoyed working in a bar and the apprenticeship has given me a real insight into my chosen career,” said Emma. “The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland’s Bar Manager Apprenticeship Degree is very
well structured, allowing me learn in-depth about the trade, whilst putting the practical elements to use and earning at the same time. “It is a great way to learn and you gain great insight,” she added.
Ray of sunshine Looking for grinds? for local juicer
School Is Easy is here to help you
Advertorial As we battle to cope with the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 regulations, home-based learning has taken on a new importance. Many parents who want their children to enjoy the benefits of one-to-one tuition are, nevertheless, nervous about having a stranger in their home or sending young students to a tuition centre. School is Easy (SIE) can solve that problem. We can offer one-to-one or group grinds for Primary, Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate school students at a time that works for you and your family. We offer the following subjects, from Primary to Secondary to Specialist Third Level courses: Irish/Gaelige, English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, German, Spanish, History, Geography, Business Studies, Economics, Design and Technology, Music, and Physical Education . Going to university and dreading the college exams? No problem, we have skilled and experienced tutors to help every student.
We provide safe, online tutorials that are recorded so that your child can future reference any topic covered. When you work with SIE, you will get nothing but the best. All of our tutors have formal education, classroom experience and a passion for teaching. For senior subjects we use college and university instructors with a Masters degree. The choice is yours when it comes to the style of tutoring and our range of subjects is broad. We don’t use generic tutoring lessons. We customise each programme based on the student’s needs, goals and capacity and we take care to match students with the right tutors. We are easy to work with. We screen tutors for you. We identify learning deficiencies and we get results . Our certified tutors will provide an initial assessment, if you need it, to ascertain your child’s requirements. Call us today on 01 556 3553 to book a consulation. We will be delighted to match you with a tutor.
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A LOCAL juice producer, Sunshine Juice from Tinryland, Park, Co Carlow, will be among those featured at this year’s prestigious food village at the Bord Bia Bloom’ in the Phoenix Park. Sunshine Juice — the makers of ‘Walshe’s Really Fresh’ and ‘Veg Out’ brands — was founded by Paul Walshe in 1998 and has grown to 50 employees. Sunshine Juice will join 80 other artisan producers at the Food Village at the festival, over five days, from June 2-6. Tara McCarthy, Bord Bia CEO said: “Bord Bia is delighted to
return to the Phoenix Park for our annual showcase of the best of Irish gardening, horticulture, food and drink. “It’s great to once again bring together the many talented people who are a part of Bord Bia Bloom, from garden designers and growers; to food producers, conservationists, chefs, musicians and artists. The Food Village is set to be a hive of activity, with more than 80 food and drink producers — and for those who work up a thirst and juice might not be enough, there is always the Bloom Inn for top craft brews!
Better ways for Seniors
CARLOW’S seniors are being called on to join Ireland’s first-ever dedicated fitness challenge for older people. Led by Siel Bleu Ireland, a not-for-profit social enterprise which provides life-enhancing exercise programmes to older people, the ‘30 Days to Better Ways’ campaign was launched with assistance from GAA legend and Gaelic football pundit,
Pat Spillane. The 30-day online challenge, which runs from June 1st-30th, encourages older people in Carlow to see the difference 30 days of regular exercise and activity can make to their lives and well-being, with 150 minutes of physical activity a week recommended. To register for the ‘30 Days to Better Ways’ challenge and more information, please visit www.sielbleu.ie.
Coming to the aid of Africa
A CARLOW clergyman and Christian Aid supporter is celebrating the success of communities in Zimbabwe overcoming drought, hunger and extreme poverty to earn their own living, following the support received during Christian Aid Week. Rev Kevin Ronne — a Church of Ireland rector in Bagenalstown — helped promote Christian Aid Week to highlight the agency’s work in eastern Zimbabwe, which has helped 27,000 people cope with poor rainfall made worse by rising temperatures caused by climate change. Across Carlow over Christian Aid Week (May 7-15), people have fundraised and donated to support Christian Aid’s work, and Christian Aid Ireland Chief Executive Rosamond Bennett was grateful for making the week a success: “This success is made possible by the generosity of our supporters and with their continued help this Christian Aid Week,” he said. If you wish to donate, go to: www.christianaid.ie
€100 fuel allowance ‘is not enough’
THE additional €100 payment to Fuel Allowance recipients, brought in this month, was slammed as “not enough’ by Sinn Féin TD for Carlow Kilkenny Kathleen Funchion. “Any additional measure to support households in Carlow is welcome at this time, but the announced payment will only provide relief to a very limited number of households,” she said. “Many workers and families in Carlow are seriously struggling to make ends meet, and they are excluded from receiving an additional payment for energy costs. Yet again there are no measures to support these households, despite soaring household energy costs affecting homes everywhere. “This call is reiterated by the Society of St Vincent de Paul who, like us, do not agree that the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is enough. My office in Bagenalstown, Carlow is inundated with constituents who are really struggling to make ends meet . . . they desperately need help with the most basic necessities,” she added.
May 31, 2022
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May 31, 2022
VANgoghexhibition
Images from Van Gogh – An Immersive Journey in the RDS, Dublin which runs until August - the immersive art experience is the first digital art experience of its kind to ever open in Ireland
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May 31, 2022
ninenottomiss book review book of the week tv show of the week with Audrey Bracken @fable_books
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield Miri thinks she has got her wife back, when Leah finally returns after a deep sea mission that ended in catastrophe. It soon becomes clear, though, that Leah may have come back wrong. To have the woman she loves back should mean a return to normal life, but Miri can feel Leah slipping from her grasp. Published by Pan Macmillan, this is the deliciously strange debut novel from the critically acclaimed author of salt slow. Our Wives Under the Sea is a story of falling in love, loss, grief and what life there is in the deep, deep sea… At its heart, Our Wives Under the Sea is a tender love story that straddles two worlds. With evocative and lyrical prose, Armfield has spun a fantastic tale positively soaked with eerie atmosphere. An ominous feeling pervades the novel with Armfield deftly weaving both Miri and Leah’s points of view skilfully throughout. Miri’s perspective is grounded in the everyday, whereas Leah’s is told in a series of dreamlike, claustrophobic flashbacks of her time trapped in a submarine at the bottom of the sea. The mysterious Centre for Marine Inquiry looms in the shadows; a malevolent and unnerving presence throughout. Armfield shows great skill and dexterity in sketching her characters, managing to convey a lot with little. The exchanges between Miri and her mother, although not part of the main action, are pitch perfect and their strained relationship injects a little humour. Not for those who aren’t willing to engage in a little suspension of disbelief, but a sublimely beautiful book that moves inexorably towards an inevitable, perfect end. This spectacularly disturbing book will crawl under your skin and linger for a long time to come.
HOROSCOPES
film of the week
What Eden Did Next by Sheila O’Flanagan ey
conversations with friends RTE1, 9.35pm, Wednesday June 1
firestarter Cinemas nationwide
ANOTHER recommended beach read from this best-selliing author. Eden found perfect love with Andy but how it ended was shocking. For the five years since, her little daughter Lila — and Eden’s secret letters to Andy — have been all she needed. And Andy’s family like it that way. Rafe wants nothing more than to start a new life back home in Ireland. It’s time for him to turn the page on his own tragedy. And every woman in the neighbourhood is ready to help a single dad settle in. When Eden and Rafe meet, it seems that everyone has a good reason for thinking their tentative relationship is a bad idea . . .
AS Frances and Nick grow closer things become tense between Bobbi and Frances, as Bobbi senses a change in her friend. A visit from Melissa’s agent raises tensions in the villa. Meanwhile, back in Ireland, tensions remain unresolved with Bobbi, while Frances visits her mother, but a bout of terrible pain leads her to be rushed to hospital. If none of this makes any sense to you, then you have either chosen to ignore one of the biggest TV dramas in recent years, or, like some of drab and miserable characters in the series, couldn’t really be arsed either way.
IN Firestarter, Zac Efron must protect his pyrokinetic daughter once the government discover her secret powers . . .say what? Pyrokinesis, it’s one of the more unusual superpowers. And in Blumhouse’s re-imagining of Stephen King’s Firestarter novel, Charlie McGee (Ryan-Kiera Armstrong) is born with the super-power, but her father Andy (Zac Efron) taught her how to quell her power. This works until Charlie turns 11, and suddenly her power is getting harder and harder to contain and as you can imagine, all Hell breaks loose.
stream of the week
RECIPE of the week
album of the week
Aries- This week is a 7 Do the groundwork to realize a vision. Strategize and review priorities. Postpone travels, and take care of business behind the scenes. Taurus- This week is an 8 Friends help out. Collaborate on the structural and logistical details. Make sure you’ve handled the basics before elaborating. Gemini- This week is an 8 Navigate a professional challenge by focusing on organization, discipline and coordinated action. Work completed now can have long-term benefit. Cancer- This week is an 8 You can get what you need to take a trip. An older person makes an interesting proposition. Don’t overlook what loved ones need. Leo- This week is an 8 Investments made now can have long-term benefit. Strengthen by reinforcing foundations and supports.
night sky Amazon Prime MARRIED couple Franklin (J.K Simmons) and Irene (Sissy Spacek) York are growing old together, living a seemingly quiet life. However, they share a secret: their back yard contains a portal to another planet. Thus we become witness to a mystery the couple have been trying to get to the bottom of for yonks. While the two leading starrs — excuse the pun — carry this interesting plot well, Night Sky is essentially built around a decent idea for a 100-minute movie, which it then stretches to eight hours and may prove a little plodding for some.
charity of the week
summer meatballs www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/summermeatballs-spaghetti
We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong Sharon Van Etten
EVERYONE loves a meatball. So what’s the difference between a summer meatball and a winter meatball? Not a lot, really, apart from summer vegetables throw in to green it up a little — in this case, courgettes. The pork mince is also mixed with garlic and fennel which combine wonderfully with the courgettes. Toss the pasta and meatballs with the courgette ribbons in the pan with a ladleful of pasta water and add a good dash lemon juice and a scatter of parmesan.
WRITTEN in the lockdown, this homerecorded (sixth) album sees her work her way through her roles as a parent and musician, and battle her demons. The pandemic arrived with bad timing for the musician, who had uprooted her life and moved to Los Angeles – she’d lived in New York for 15 years – when she found herself stuck indoors like the rest of us. The 10 songs on We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong land quite hard and may not be summer listening, but like her best work, they take on the meanings that her listeners always need.
wine of the week
wine of the week
Virgo- This week is an 8 Collaborate with your partner to realize a shared dream. Strengthen infrastructure. Find an inspiration that sings for both of you. Libra- This week is an 8 Keep your fitness goals. Disciplined action builds long-term strength and health. Demands for your attention abound. Scorpio- This week is an 8 Keep practicing to improve your game. Focus on technique, and learn through repetition. Get coaching from a trusted expert. Sagittarius- This week is an 8
Make repairs and renovations. Coordinate with your family for shared priorities. Get creative.
dungarvan pride festival Saturday, June 18th
dirtbirds — no filter Friday, June 3, www.theatrero
Dungarvan’s first ever PRIDE Festival will take place in Walton Park, Dungarvan. A celebration of LGBTQ+ people and culture, the event boasts a fun and exciting programme filled with music, food, family fun, magic and drag! Emilene Stafford, one of the committee’s co-chairs, is looking forward to Dungarvan’s inaugural PRIDE Festival. “While the day is about celebrating LGBTQ+ people, it is a day to be enjoyed and celebrated by everyone.” Picutred: Kerrie Bedell, proprietor of Ballot Flowers and John Gomes-Rea Dungarvan Pride
IN a world where women are expected to have the patience of mother Teresa, the arse of Jennifer Lopez, the social media profile of Kim Kardashian and the BMI of Elle McPherson the pressure is relentless. Dirtbirds the comedy duo and internet sensation present their hilarious new show ‘No Filters’ which takes a close look at the barrage of bull we are subjected to on a daily basis and reminds us that despite what we’re told there is no such thing as perfect.
Côtes du Rhône Villages 2020, Lidl — €8.50 www.lidl.ie IF FRANCE is your dream destination and you can’t make it there this summer, then the words Côtes du Rhône will no doubt come to in mind, as it is a staple wine in restaurants and on supermarket shelves. Easy-drinking, food-friendly wines that don’t cost a packet, this little gem from Lidl is described as a medium- to full-bodied wine, with soft rounded strawberry fruits – this would go down well with beef or lamb stews, or baked Mediterranean veg.
Capricorn- This week is an 8 Capture brilliant ideas as they inspire you. Intellectual discovery provides a thrill. What you uncover now has long-term implications. Aquarius-This week is a 9 Abundance is available. Gather up more than you spend for a positive balance. Make agreements, and sign contracts. Pisces- This week is a 9 Take ground with a personal project. What you do now can have long-term benefit. Provide the leadership to take it to a new level.
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May 31, 2022
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May 31, 2022
COVID-19 Vaccines
IS IT TIME FOR YOUR BOOST? If you’re aged 65 or older, or you have a weak immune system, you can get your second COVID-19 booster vaccine from a HSE vaccination centre or a participating GP or pharmacy. How do I get my booster? You can choose to: • contact a participating GP or pharmacy • book an appointment at a HSE vaccination centre on hse.ie • call our team in HSELive on 1800 700 700 Why get my booster? Without it, you’re most at risk of serious illness if you get COVID-19.
When should I get my booster? Get your second booster at least four months after your first booster. You can check the date of your last booster on your digital COVID cert. If you’ve had COVID-19 since you got your last COVID-19 vaccine, wait four months. What if I haven’t had my first booster yet? If you haven’t had your first booster yet, you can make an appointment at a HSE vaccination centre on hse.ie
#ForUsAll For more information or to book an appointment, visit hse.ie or call our team in HSELive 1800 700 700
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May 31, 2022
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May 31, 2022
We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by
Evening Her 01/05/1939
Dublin Evening Mail, 29/05/1934
Irish Press 09/05/1946
Freemans Jrn ……22/05/1868
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carlowpeople.ie May 31, 2022