wexford
thechronicle
February 08, 2022 t: 0539102441, www.thechronicle.ie
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20,000 copies
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.ie
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February 08, 2022
wexford
thechronicle
February 08, 2022 t: 0539102441, www.thechronicle.ie
FREE
20,000 copies
Life bounces back Pubs and shops report ‘busy few weeks’
as things go back to normal after two years
THE hospitality and retail sectors in towns and villages across Wexford have witnessed a welcome return to business as Covid restrictions eased recently. Punters across the county have made a welcome return to their favourite pubs and restaurants, coming as it did only a few weeks after several venues decided to close up altogether, with little sign of a return to business in sight. Pub and restaurant owners said trading had been ‘very
healthy since the restrictions were lifted late last month. “We’ve been delighted with the the return to trading,” one Wexford Town publican told the Wexford Chronicle. “We’ve been waiting a very long time so everyone, both staff and locals were very happy to be back. “We’ve been very busy since we reopened fully, which is great. People are back sitting at the bar, which is fantastic to see. “Along with the return of our
live music, we couldn’t ask for more.” Retailers have also reported a marked increase in footfall as people return in person to shops in their local areas. Trading for January has been a lot better than it would normally be for this time of the year,” one business owner in Gorey said. “It’s great to see all the familiar faces back again.” The country’s economy is expected to grow for the next
three years as we emerge from the pandemic, the Central Bank has predicted. Consumer spending will play a big part in strong growth, which is expected to average 6.5pc a year until 2024. The bank predicts that an estimated 167,000 jobs wiill be created during this period. There is also good news for workers, as wage rises are set to outpace price increases. Continued on next page
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Una McGinty at the Markie Doyle Memorial Vintage Road Run in Craanford
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€3.2m in cigarettes seized
REVENUE Officers have seized cigarettes with an estimated retail value of €3.2m at Rosslare Europort. A Dutch-registered truck that had disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg, France was stopped by officers, following routine profiling. The search, which was carried out with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile xray scanner, led to the discovery of the illegal cigarettes, over the weekend of 29/30th January. Officers seized a total of 4.3 million cigarettes, which were branded ‘Marine Blue’ and ‘Marine Green’ and have an estimated retail value of €3.2m, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of more that €2.5m. A Bulgarian national in his 40s was questioned and investigations are ongoing. This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and the supply and sale of illegal tobacco products. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on the free phone number 1800 295 295.
February 08, 2022
Save €2.5m on buying a home with Easyfees
Jason Clancy, Managing Director and Founder of Easyfees.ie, with prospective customers at the launch of Easyfees.ie. Wexford property buyers are set to save up to a combined €2.5m in legal and estate agent fees annually through a brand-new service, Easyfees.ie. The new service combines the lowest solicitor and estate agent fees in one package, offering a hasslefree alternative to customers, saving time and money as they go through the propertybuying process. In development for over a
year, the Easyfees.ie team, with its extensive experience and knowledge of the industry, has created an independent panel of local solicitors and agents to bring you the best rates in the market. Following an analysis of the Wexford property market from January-November 2021, Easyfees.ie found 1,903 property transactions were made. Easyfees.ie could have saved customers the following
Looking for grinds? 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.
see our ad on page 13
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Busines back after pandemic Continued from front page
Meanwhile, a new survey from the Central Statistics Office revealed that 90% of those aged between 35 and 44 who could work remotely would like to do so now pandemic restrictions have ended. The CSO’s ‘Our Lives Online Pulse Survey’ also shows that 80% of those in employment have worked remotely at some point since the start of the pandemic. Meanwhile, County Wexford Chamber welcomed the return to near-normal, with Deputy CEO Emma Dunphy praising local businesses. “Through several immensely challenging periods, they have demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting public health. “Their businesses, which are hugely important to the people and strength of our local economies, now have a chance to make their full contribution to their communities and the staff they employ.” However, she added, “the commitment has not been without cost. This must be recognised by Government.”
Ex-garda recruited to resolve national school row
THE former chief superintendent for Co Wexford, John Roche, has been brought in to help with staff issues at Cushinstown National School. It comes after more than 200 people attended a meeting at Cushinstown Church over the crisis, days after Bishop Ger Nash issued a letter warning he may have no option but to close the school. The letter was read out at the meeting, with Bishop Nash warning: “We have a grave situation in our school. Staff relations are at a point where there is no communication between staff, so the school cannot function effectively.” Mr Roche (pictured) will now be meeting with all key parties involved over the coming weeks – having been approached by the Bishop’s House to manage the school – after the resignation of the previous board of management, and failed attempts to install co-managers. Mr Roche, who is also chairperson of St Aidan’s NS in Enniscorthy, will aim to bring matters to a satisfactory resolution, having been given access to files on the issues affecting the school and its pupils.
A Whole School Evaluation has not been ruled out for the school. Bishop Nash took over as interim manager of the school after the last board of management was dissolved and attempts made to establish a new board before Christmas were unsuccessful. In a statement to RTÉ News, the bishop described the situation as “unprecedented” and said he is “actively working to bring about a resolution”. The mixed school has over 200 pupils and 10 classrooms but the ongoing problems have affected morale among staff, parents and students. Bishop Nash said in the letter to parents that while there is “much good work” going on in Cushinstown school, problems remain “and that is not good for pupils, parents and staff”. The school principal, Carol , told the New Ross Standard that the bishop’s letter had “provoked upset in the community” but she had no prior information about its contents when she was asked by the bishop, who is patron of the school, to circulate it to parents. She added there are “ongoing procedures with the school” to address long-running difficulties.
€175,161 boost for Wexford creatives
FUNDING of €175,161 has been allocated to County Wexford for the 2022 Creative Ireland Programme, ‘Creative Communities’. The funding is part of an overall national allocation of €6.6m announced by the Tourism Minister Catherine Martin TD, and Housing Minister Darragh O’ Brien. All 31 local authorities in the country are being allocated money from it. Welcoming the funding,
Wexford TD James Browne said: “Wexford is a hub of cultural activity with a vibrant arts scene, that’s home to the Wexford National Opera House and the Irish National Heritage Park. “This funding will support the Creative Ireland framework that will encourage participation and engagement with the arts by all citizens,” he added. For more information, go to: www.creativeireland.gov.ie/
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February 08, 2022
opinion&comment
A pint, a coffee, a cinema seat ... a few of my favourite things
A
s the old Kitty Kellen song told us, little things mean a lot. And so, having done a bit of shopping, I bought a newspaper and wandered into a pub. I ordered a pint at the bar and exchanged some aimless chatter with the barman while he poured it. Then I took my paper and my pint to the end of the counter where, seated on a comfortable bar stool, I read one and sipped the other. Bliss. It’s not something I would do often. Bars are for socialising, I think. For meeting friends, swapping stories, putting the world to rights. They are places for fun, a nice drink and, increasingly nowadays, for good food. But I could enjoy all these things under Covid restrictions. More or less. Booking a table
Gareth O’Callaghan is to return to radio airwaves on Classic Hits Radio on Saturday 10am- 2pm four years after being diagnosed with a serious neurodegenerative illness. Pic: Andres Poveda
Michael Wolsey
and sitting at it wasn’t a great hardship and I didn’t mind showing a vaccination certificate or wearing a mask on entry. Early closing was a pain in the ass some evenings but suited me fine on others. These things all took a little preparation, a price worth paying for an hour or two in pleasant company, but more trouble
than the pleasure of a quiet drink was worth, even if I knew exactly when and where I wanted to enjoy the solitary pint. It’s just a little luxury but it’s nice to have it back. And next day, when I met a friend in the street, we walked into a café for a cup of coffee. Just like that. We didn’t have to plan it, like a military manoeuvre. She didn’t mind that she had forgotten her mask and I didn’t care that I couldn’t locate the Covid cert on my phone. No fuss, just a coffee. More bliss. Now I have booked tickets for the theatre and, by the time you read this, I will have been at a cinema to watch Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast. Our family has a holiday in the sun on hold for the past two years. Now I’m feeling confident enough to start checking on flights for July. We can’t do much about the big things.
I hope with all my heart that a new Covid variant won’t spring up to wreck our lives or, worse still, a conflict in eastern Europe. But If these things happen, I won’t be able to stop them. However, I can do things to help preserve the small pleasures I am now rediscovering. I can support the local shops, bars and cafés, the cinemas and theatres that I have too often taken for granted. Even on bad days, I can try to be pleasant to all those people who provided me with vital services over the pandemic months. And I can abide by the few Covid rules that remain. I can take a test if I feel ill and isolate if the result is positive. I can wear a mask in shops and on the bus or train, stand at a social distance in public places, keep my vaccines up to date. Little things. But as Kitty said ...
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February 08, 2022
Dog owners warned as lambing season begins DOG owners have been warned to keep a close eye on their pets as lambing season begins. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys and Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, have reminded dog owners of their responsibilities and the vulnerability of sheep to attacks. The issue is one of grave concern to the farming community and attacks on sheep are happening far too often in the countryside. The latest figures show there were 240 incidents of ‘Livestock Worrying’ in 2020 – with a similar number expected when the 2021 returns are completed. It comes as Ministers Humphreys and McConalogue visited a sheep farm in South West Dublin recently, where they announced the start of an awareness campaign that will run over lambing season. Ms Humphreys said: “Attacks on sheep can have a devastating impact on farmers, their businesses and their families.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, with Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys, sheep farmer Donie Anderson, and Minister of State for Agriculture Martin Heydon
Leah Quish (9) at the launch of Round Up for Ronald McDonald House in Crumlin Hospital. Pic: Andres Poveda
“I’m a dog owner myself and I know the vast majority of dog owners are extremely responsible,” she added. “So I’m appealing to dog owners [today], particularly in rural areas, to please keep your dogs under control and
be vigilant at all times.” The minister added that responsible pet ownership is a priority for her department and advised that all dogs must be microchipped under the law. The ministers reminded anyone concerned about
incidents of animal neglect or cruelty that they can contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine helpline by phone, or on the dedicated email address: 0761 064408 / animalwelfare@agriculture. gov.ie
‘Signing on’ returns to the post offices JOBSEEKERS will have to return to the post office once more to claim their payments, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has said. The move would bring much-needed business back to local post offices, but would also help tackle social welfare fraud, as individuals will have to present at their local post office. The changes will apply initially to all new dole applicants before being extended to other jobseekers in the coming months. When public health restrictions were introduced in 2020, people were given the option of being paid into a bank account. Ms Humphreys said it was an exceptional measure to help contain the spread of the virus and ensure social distancing. She said she had taken her decision “following consultation with An Post and the Irish Postmasters Union.” It would “bring additional footfall to post offices,” as well as helping to combat social
John Shevlin as James Joyce, unveiling two stamps created by An Post to celebrate the centenary of Ulysses. The price of a postage stamp is to increase to €1.25. Pic: Maxwells
Have you time to spare for Aware?
IF your New Year’s resolution is to make a difference to other people’s lives in 2022, maybe you could consider giving some of your time to volunteering with Aware? The national charity — who support people impacted by depression and bipolar disorder — is seeking 50 volunteers for 2022, increasing its volunteer base from 450 to 500, in a bid to bolster supports on offer. The charity saw a significant spike in the number of people reaching out for support over the pandemic, in addition to the huge prevalence of depression in Ireland.
Aware has now put out an urgent call for people who have empathy, compassion and just three hours a week to assist with three key services: the Support Line, which operates 365 days a year; virtual or in-person Support and Self-care Groups; and the Life Skills online education programme. The organisation is seeking volunteers to work on services remotely from their own home, as well as in locations around the country. For more on Aware and volunteering, see aware.ie/ get-involved/volunteering/ or #WeAreAware.
welfare fraud, she said. “It also has another advantage in terms of people have to come in and present. We have heard media reports and we know of instances where people were collecting their payment and weren’t actually in the country,” she added. It comes as gardaí are investigating the death of a man in Carlow town, whose body was brought into a post office by two men who are alleged to have tried to claim his pension before they were confronted by staff. Peadar Doyle (66) was dressed up and carried into a Carlow post office by the men before staff became concerned for his welfare and realised he was deceased. Debbie Byrne, Managing Director of An Post, welcomed the move. “This is a perfect example of the practical benefit of using the post office network in the provision of Government services to local communities,” she said.
Reminder over hedge cutting as spring nears
THE National Parks & Wildlife Service is reminding the public the cutting, burning or other destruction of “vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch” between 1st March and 31st August is prohibited. Hedgerows provide botanical diversity as well as food and shelter for animals, most notably birds. They also act as corridors connecting habitats. Untrimmed, thorny hedges are favoured by birds, but birds may nest in any hedge. It is an offence to wilfully destroy, injure, or mutilate the eggs or nest of a wild bird or to wilfully disturb a wild bird on or near a nest containing eggs or un-flown young birds at any time of the year. The service has appealed to the public to report any hedgecutting offences to your local NPWS office (www.npws.ie/ contact-us) or your local Garda station. Since enforcement staff might not be able to respond immediately, you should take a note of the date and time, vehicle registration numbers involved, as well as photographs where possible.
February 08, 2022
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February 08, 2022
It’s a green light for St Patrick’s parade THE organisers of Wexford’s St Patrick’s Day Parade — which was one of the first events in the county to fall victim to pandemic restrictions almost two years ago — have now confirmed that the event is to return this year. The Wexford parade is the oldest St Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland, and has only ever been cancelled on a few occasions since the very first one, back in 1904. Now, Wexford secretary of the parade committee, John Fowler, says that the wait is finally nearly over. “I’ve just been onto the District Manager and the council has taken the decision that all parades can go ahead,” he said. “We’re delighted, although we’ll be under pressure now with just seven weeks notice to plan. “We’ll certainly do something though and make it the very best parade we can.” Mr Fowler stated that marching bands had already been provisionally sounded out and were ready to make a return
Davy Lynch celebrating his 70th Birthday with daughter Kelly Anne Kearns, and Katie and Daniel in Billy Kelly’s Lounge in Wexford Town to Wexford and the difficulty would now lie in organising groups to take part in the parade just seven weeks out. “We will do the very best we can in a short period of time,” he said. “It will be lovely to have something to look forward to and something for the children to enjoy again in particular.”
Any groups interested in taking part in this year’s parade are asked to get in touch via the website wexfordparade. com or contact John Fowler on 0879522795 as quickly as possible. It comes as Ireland will have an extra bank holiday this year in recognition of the lives lost to
Covid-19 during the pandemic. The bonus public holiday will be part of a national commemoration as well as to mark a day of remembrance for those who died from the coronavirus since March 2020. It was announced that the additional bank holiday will fall on March 18 this year.
Victim’s relief as her abuser loses appeal A WOMAN who was raped 20 times by her sister’s partner when she was a schoolgirl has told of her relief after her tormentor’s appeal against his conviction was dismissed. John Giltrap (61), of Termonbarry, Hospital Hill, Bunclody, Co Wexford, had pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of raping Caroline Kavanagh at various locations in Bunclody, between December 1978 and March 1982. In December, 2020, however, a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Kilkenny found him guilty on 20 of the charges and he was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment on each count, with the judge ordering the terms to run concurrently. Ms Kavanagh was aged between 10 and 15 when the offences took place. Giltrap later appealed the conviction on the grounds that the verdict of the jury following the eight-day trial was “perverse” and was “contrary to the weight
of evidence”. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions said the jury had carefully considered the evidence before them before returning the guilty verdict. The Court of Appeal has now dismissed the appeal, with the court hearing that the judge “had no hesitation in rejecting the appeal”. The judge added there “was no evidence to suggest any speculation on behalf of the jury” when the appellant was originally convicted of the rape charges. Speaking outside court, Ms Kavanagh said she was happy Giltrap lost the appeal. “We will have to see what happens now,” she added, referring to plans by Giltrap’s lawyers to appeal the length of sentence. The court also hear that the complainant wanted to waive her right not to be named during proceedings. Responding, the judge said that was a matter for Ms Kavanagh.
1,678 new domains registered
Ian Porter is all smiles at the Markie Doyle Memorial Vintage Road Run in Craanford in Aid of North Wexford Hospice Homecare
Number of HAP rental homes falls ONLY 11% of rental properties available last December accepted the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), according to Simon Communities of Ireland. The latest ‘Locked Out’ report by Simon shows that while the number of rental properties has increased, there has been a fall in availability on the HAP scheme. Of 1,349 properties available in December, just 148, or 11%, fell into HAP categories. This is a 22% drop on the number available in October 2021 and “a drastic 83% less than the 906 available in June 2021”. Head of Policy and Communications at the Simon Communities of Ireland Wayne
Stanley said the organisation looked at HAP in the report as it is a way for many people to leave homelessness. The fall to 148 properties available to people on HAP is incredibly worrying, Mr Stanley said, because it further shows that the affordability crisis in the country’s housing system is “acute”. He added that local authorities outside of the Dublin region need more discretion around the payment, and the payment should be increased. While it is a significant amount of money paid to people, it is not enough to offset the costs of the high rents in the market, he added.
A TOTAL of 1,678 new .ie domains were registered in Wexford in 2021 — a growth of 10.9% on pre-pandemic figures. Two of the most frequently used .ie domain keywords were home and furniture, as business moved to online stores in direct response to locked-down economy. The 2021 .IE Domain Profile Report, which explores and analyses the .ie database, shows that 36,875 new .ie domains were registered in Leinster and 57,530 on the island of Ireland, making 2021 the second-best year on record for new .ie domain registrations. Businesses in Wexford and across Ireland are investing in new websites, integrating e-commerce technology, and making use of productivityenhancing tools all year round, the report found. At the end of December 2021, the .ie domain accounted for 52.6% of all top-level domains hosted in Ireland — an increase of 1.6 percentage points compared with the same month in 2020. In comparison, .com accounted for 30.8% of all domains, followed by .uk (7.6%) and .eu (2.3%).
February 08, 2022
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February 08, 2022
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February 08, 2022
WILDLIFE
ninenottomiss
Screaming Banshees
podcast of the week book of the week
with Justin Ivory
Red Fox mating season (Photo Justin Ivory) It is a dark, still, winter’s night as I pull up outside my house. As I make my way towards the front door a blood-curdling scream rents the night air. Is it a banshee bringing omens of death, or has some unfortunate soul just been brutally attacked? This is a sound that can freeze the blood of those who have never heard it before. Luckily, I am well familiar with it and it is one of my favourite sounds in the natural world. It is the cries of a Red Fox. Relatively taciturn for most of the year, between December and February they turn the dial up to 11. This is fox mating season. Red foxes make a variety of sounds during this period barks, howls, squeals and screams. A distinctive triple bark is used to locate each other in the dark. The banshee like wails and blood-curdling screams are typically made by the vixens, but will also be made by the dog foxes. Vixens are in heat for approximately 3 weeks during the mating season, but only fertile about 3 days of those 3 weeks. Before mating there is a period of ‘wooing’ which involves scent marking and the shrieking/screaming vocalisations. The dog and vixen will mate various times over this period. It can be quite bizarre to see them mating as they look like they are stuck together bumto-bum! This is called a tie, or copulatory lock. It is perfectly normal, so don’t be tempted to disturb them or intervene, they don’t need help! So after this period of weird noises and strange sexual positions, the vixen with any luck will become pregnant. Gestation is typically around 52/53 days and cubs are typically born in March and April. The cubs are blind and deaf at birth. They have chocolate brown fur and startling blue eyes. They emerge from the ‘earth’ after about 3 or 4 weeks.
HOROSCOPES
tV of the week
dancing with the stars www.rte.ie/radio/podcasts/
the irish difference Fergal Tobin (out February 18)
Finné (season 4) Wednesdays in February, 9.30pm, TG4
IF the dancin’ isn’t enough for you, then you can always peel off the dancin’ shes and join the likes of Lottie Ryan, Lyra and Brian Dowling. Fans of Dancing with the Stars Ireland have even more reasons to follow the journey of their favourite celebrities and their professional partners to see who will lift the glitter ball trophy. New podcast episodes come out every Monday and Thursday after h the show on RTÉ One every Sunday at 6.30pm. Pictured is Grainne Seoige with partner John Nolan dancing to the tune With You I’m Born Again. Indeed. .
FOR hundreds of years, the islands and their constituent tribes that make up the British Isles have lived next door to each other in a manner that, over time, suggested some movement towards political union. It was an uneven, stop-start business and it worked better in some places than in others. Still, England, Wales and Scotland have hung together through thick and thin . And, for a long time, it seemed that something similar might have been said about the smaller island to the west . . . In a witty narrative, historian Fergal Tobin looks into our past.
Filmed over 12 months by Galway’s Tua Films and presented by RTE’s courts correspondent, Orla O’Donnell, Finné is a warts and all re-telling of riveting first-person testimonies. Finné delves deep and narrow in to one person’s story rather than giving a general overview of these events that made the news over the past 40 years. Here, we recount intimate stories of triumphs and traumas, of Davids and Goliaths, of dogged resilience and human frailties. Previous seasons were awarded the Human Rights Justice Media Award and the Best series at the Celtic Media Festival. Pictured: Lisa Lawlor, who was orphaned as a baby following the Stardust fire.
film of the week
art of the week
stream of the week
AriesHousehold issues require attention. Obligations vie with new tasks for your time. Secrets get revealed. Find efficiencies. Clean a mess and savor the results. TaurusGet into a learning phase. Find reliable information despite propaganda or false theories. Communicate with trusted sources. GeminiMonitor finances. Expenses could be larger than expected. Cut extras and frills. Consider long-term impacts of purchases. CancerDon’t let bad news or difficult circumstances get you down. Ignore lies and rumors. Talk with people you love and trust. LeoPeace and quiet soothe your spirit. Noise and confusion abound; settle into a sanctuary. Review recent events and allow time to process. Nurture yourself.
The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window Netflix
scream 2022 Cinemas Nationwide
bray camera club exhibition www.signalartscentre.ie
SAM Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) is drawn back to Woodsboro (of course she is but you still have to ask why?) when her estranged sister Tara (Jenna Ortega) is attacked by someone wearing the Ghostface mask. Together with her boyfriend Richie (Jack Quaid), Sam faces dark secrets from her past and a new terror stalking everyone connected to the Woodsboro Massacre of 1996, including Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox), and Dewey Riley (David Arquette). With its references to the original, 2022’s Scream is trying to please old and new fans — and does just that.
BRAY Camera Club celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2021 and are delighted to announce an exhibition of their members’ photographs in the Signal Arts Centre, running daily for the first two weeks of February. The club has provided the local community with a welcoming forum for photographers of every ability and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, they have remained stalwart in their drive to celebrate and share their passion for photography with a busy schedule of online activities and social interaction.
COMEDY-THRILLER? Drama-comedy? Romcom-thriller? Who really knows. And after watching this parody, you may even ask yourself, was that a parody? But at eight episodes, there is a lot to get through to reach that point. And if this review sounds very rambling and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, then that is exactly how you will feel watching it. But to sum up: After splitting from her husband following their daughter’s tragic death, Anna (Kristen Bell) doesn’t have much going on. She spends her days drinking . . . ah yes, there’s an idea.
album of the week
charity of the week
show of the week
VirgoSupport friends and be supported through a community change. A situation may appear bleak. Share and resources. LibraKeep deadlines and promises. Manage responsibilities despite challenges or distractions. Reward yourself with extra rest and recreation later. ScorpioMonitor conditions before getting on the road. Study current events, traffic and weather. Slow for barriers and obstacles. Sagittarius-
Review financial obligations and budgeted expenses. Keep balances positive by adjusting. More is not always better.
maverick sabre Don’t Forget to Look Up IT’S 10 years ago that this Wexford-born (well, he moved from London to new Ross when he was four years old, so . . . ) artist released his debut album and quickly became a rising star. Michael Stafford aka Maverick Sabre released two successful albums before pursuing the independent route. Once again, these are fantastic pop songs, displaying a sophisticated level of musical versatility that always come out tops thanks to the star’s immaculate voice.
denim day for alzheimer society www.alzheimer.ie
Gareth O’Callaghan show Classic Hits, Saturdays
TWO times ‘Dancing with the Stars’ winner, performer and choreographer Pasquale La Rocca is calling on members of the public to support The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s (The ASI) annual nationwide Denim Day for Dementia fundraising campaign, on Friday, March 4th to raise funds for vital dementia supports and services. The new ambassador for The ASI is asking everyone from around Ireland to don their denims and donate just €2 to support the 64,000 people living with dementia and their carers. Mark the diaries!
MUCH- loved broadcaster Gareth O’Callaghan has announced his return to the airwaves with Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio. The legendary broadcaster returns to radio with an exciting new show on Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio: ‘Gareth O’Callaghan At The Weekend’ which will air Saturday mornings 10am to 2pm and will feature a blend of classic hits, presented in his own inimitable style. Gareth O’Callaghan Is a household name for Irish listeners and will bring his wealth of musical knowledge to the fore every Saturday.
CapricornNegotiate to refine plans with your partner. Choose privacy over publicity. Speak your truth and listen to another’s. AquariusBalance increased demand with existing energy and resources. Slow to avoid accident or injury. It could seem like everyone wants your attention. Rest. PiscesStay sensitive to another’s feelings. Avoid spontaneous outbursts. Apologize when appropriate. Patiently consider solutions.
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February 08, 2022
education2022
Bid for hybrid Leaving Cert all set to fail A recent survey carried out by the Irish Second Level Students’ Union found that 68% of Leaving Cert students want a hybrid State exam model this year. But it looks like the Government is set to disregard those calls and revert instead to written exams. It is expected there will be more choice throughout subjects so students can demonstrate what they have covered across two disrupted years of education. The Government said on that the students would not be disadvantaged by recent grade inflation, arguing that grade profile will be maintained at the same level as last year. It is believed that it is impossible to run a hybrid model without Junior Cert data for one
in four Leaving Cert students, as students were unable to sit the Junior exam due to the pandemic. The Government had planned to use school profiling in 2020 when Leaving Cert exams were first replaced by a system based on teachers’ estimates. However, it dropped the plan following opposition claims this could penalise students attending school in disadvantaged areas. While additional choice in questions in the forthcoming State exams were announced last August, officials have been exploring ways of going further due to the level of Covid-related disruption which has occurred since. Students have repeatedly called for another hybrid Leaving Cert on the basis that many have experienced significant
disruption to their studies due to the pandemic. At the beginning of this academic year it was announced that adjustments were made in exam papers and in curriculum to provide for the fact that this year’s exam students missed school in 5th Year - from January to the middle of March - as they were learning from home. They will see more choices in questions in exam papers, for example in the Irish oral, where there will be only 10 Sraith Pictiúr instead of 20. A hybrid Leaving Cert exam was available to the class of 2021, where students were offered accredited grades or also had the option of sitting an exam. They were then awarded the highest grade from whichever option they chose.
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CAO applications to IT Carlow on the cusp of making history Leaving Certificate students who choose IT Carlow on this month’s CAO application will make history by becoming the very first intake of first years to the south east’s technological university (TU), due to be established by 1st May. It is a momentous and exciting time for students from across the region who will soon be in a position to achieve a university degree while living at, or near, home following the imminent transformation of IT Carlow and WIT into a unitary multi-campus university. “Our new university has strong foundations developed over five decades and we look forward to the new national and international opportunities that lie ahead for us as a unitary multi-campus university and to welcoming the first cohort of first year students to our university in September”, commented Dr Patricia Mulcahy, the president of IT Carlow. IT Carlow is no stranger to achieving milestones. The institute received an international vote of confidence last year when it was ranked in the top five of sixteen Irish universities under the 2021 U-Multirank World University Rankings - the only institute of technology ranked in the top five. This followed a benchmarking process across almost 2,000 universities from almost 100 countries. Such an endorsement reflects the incredible choice of courses at IT Carlow, coupled with its modern facilities. The college offers a huge choice of courses for third-level students, with more than 80
full-time programmes of study to honours degree level, and over 30 taught postgraduate programmes to masters degree level, accessible across its three campuses in Carlow, Wexford and Wicklow. New courses introduced by IT Carlow this year include ordinary and honours degree courses in robotics and automated systems, biomedical electronics, design, early childhood education and care, and sports management and coaching. They join a roster of renowned niche degree courses in areas such as brewing and distilling, cybercrime and IT security, digital marketing with analytics, sustainable farm management and agribusiness, and computing in interactive digital art and design. These modern, industry-ready programmes of study sit alongside reputable traditional courses at IT Carlow across engineering, science, humanities and computing. It light of this, it is hardly surprising that graduates of IT Carlow enjoy an employment rate of 93% at graduation, rising to 96% within six months of graduating – well above the national average. Over the last six years, IT Carlow has carried out a €150million capital investment programme that has delivered first-class lecture facilities, technology support, sports amenities, student services, a dedicated research & development facility and an aerospace centre to ensure an outstanding learning experience for students. The institute continues to deliver on this physical mas-
ter plan with the recent completion of a new sports pavilion to complement its 31-acre South Sports Campus. A four-story 6,100m² advanced science building has been granted planning on the seven-acre former VEC school site to the north end of its Carlow campus. Students who choose IT Carlow also receive the best student support and services available, are afforded the opportunity to receive academic and or sports scholarships, and enjoy a sense of community where lecturers know them by name. Molly Scott, a high-performance Irish international athlete, completed her honours degree in Law at IT Carlow while receiving support with training and rehabilitation as an elite scholar. Speaking about her experience, Molly commented, “I loved my time at IT Carlow. Balancing study and sport was made easier because of the support and understanding I received from the staff. They were a great source of encouragement and made be believe in my potential career wise, and facilitated me continuing with my athletics. I made lifelong friends and really felt at home there. I am delighted to be an IT Carlow alumnus and would like to support others who are interested in competing in sport professionally while studying.” Following her studies at IT Carlow, Molly passed the Barrister–at–Law entrance examination and is currently studying at King’s Inns.
Visit www.itcarlow.ie
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We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by
Irish Ind 12/01/1952
Evening Her 9/01/1926
Freemans Jrn 03/01/1862
Freemans Jrn 27/01/1834
Evening Her 12/01/1938
Freemans Jrn 31/01/1834
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thechronicle.ie February 08, 2022