kilkenny reporter 23 march 2011

Visit could catapult us to tourism boom »P2

St John’s Juniors are the pride of city parish »P6

US President could cure our sick economy

Brilliant students show a real touch of class in contest

WEDNESDAY MARCH 23 2011

Kilkenny ReporterT: 056 7795051 E: [email protected]

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WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING Diarmuid Meally (8), Sinéad Brennan (11), Áine-Bríd Meally (11) and her brother, Seán (9) from Moneenroe, Castlecomer, enjoying the Kilkenny St Patrick’s Day Parade in Kilkenny City.

Pic: Pat Moore PHOTO

2 NEWS KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2011

JIMMY RHATIGANEDITOR

WHERE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU

GET A BETTER FRIEND THAN

PRESIDENT OBAMA?

“

Mayor Brett at bishop’s tomb

Pic Pat Moore

Danesfort Parish and GAA Lotto

On the air

‘Booters golf classic

Calling CBS students

Barak a real boom for local tourismMayor leads our Presidential campaign

NEWS 323 03 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

Callan shows bottle in inviting President Obama!

(Above) Philly Lynch at Hague’s Lane

Main pic: Philly Lynch at ‘Callan 800’

(Below left) Plaque to commemorate James Hoban

BY JIM [email protected]

Coca Cola could be key to securing historical Obama visit to proud local town


‘Book comes alive in the eyes of children’BY AISLING HURLEY

Peter O’Connor interviewing Minister Phil Hogan

(Above) Author Paula Leyden and Children’s Laureate, Siobhán Parkinson pictured with Siobhán O’Flynn and Virginia Black from the Book Centre.

(Left) Author Paula Leyden signs a copy of the book for Mary Rogers, Glendine Heights.Pics: Pat Moore

Kate Leyden, Johnswell Road daughter of the author with Katie (8) and Michael Malone (11), Johnswell and Virginia Black from the Book Centre. (Left) Author Paula Leyden’s daughter, Christie gave a reading at the launch of Butterlfly Heart.

Young people set up

their own TV studio

5NEWS23 03 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

Ciara will swim her heart out for Ireland

BY AISLING HURLEY

Ciara Trait on her way to Athens 2011 Pic: Pat Moore

Reporter readers can boost local films bid for glory

BY AISLING HURLEY

Dermot Tobin and David Thompson during shooting of the latest episode of Rent A Friend

NEWS6 KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2011

Brilliant young students show a touch of class

Mayor Martin Brett presents Nicholas Mullins (7), St John’s Junior School with his certificate.

Mayor Brett with Phil Curran, Junior Achievement volunteer, Kilkenny County Council, Denise Power, Junior Achievement, Ailish Hogan, teacher, and students Pics: Pat Moore

Aimee Glynn (6), complete with builder’s helmet, signing the visitors book.

BY AISLING HURLEY

‘Happiness could be around every corner’

BY AISLING HURLEY

Grace O’Mahony with her doodle


No room for loafi ng in King Contest says our bread salesman

No loafi ng around, who will be king or queen?

Johnny Barden (right)

BY JIM RHATIGAN

Eddie Walsh


The mums who mollycoddle their sonsBY AISLING HURLEY

Trust and belief unite communities in goodnessBY AISLING HURLEY

A large crowd attended the event. Pic: Pat Moore

Eimear Connery, Jenkinstown with daughter, Aisling (four months)

Dee Gibney, President Women’s Business Network.

County Council Chairwoman Catherine Connery with daughters, Áine and Sinéad, Jenkinstown. Pics: Pat Moore

Ciara Maher (8) and Lauren Scallen (7) of the Evelyn White School of Dancing.

Ashling Wall (11) and Bronagh Doheny (10) of the Evelyn White School of Dancing.


Seamus is all fired up by Cromwell’s cannon guns

Seamus Lawlor and Johnny Barry with Cromwell’s Cannon

City woman passes away after a long illness

BY JIM RHATIGAN

NEWS 10 KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2011

South Kilkenny unites in drugs and alcohol awareness scheme

JIMMY [email protected]

(Top) The Walsh family (Centre left) Rory Walsh, James Flynn, Sam and Caoimhe Walsh (Centre right) DJ Byrne and Alex Malone (Above) The O’Dwyer family

(Below) The Long family

NEWS 11

‘Hey Taoiseach, don’t leave us kids alone’

BY AISLING HURLEY

ST PATRICK’S DAY IN THE CITY All Photography: Pat Moore PHOTON

EW

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(Above) Tom Gordon Dalton (9), Kells (Right) Michelle O’Connor with daughter Rachel (three) (Below) Billy the K-Bowler and Ellie O’Reilly (8), Lyrath

(Top) Lily Kate Purcell (2), Carlow(Above) Myles Long, Street Theatre was juggling to keep the crowd entertained. All pics Pat Moore

KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2011 12 NEWS

Hunting folk in great form as mystery mare finds new friend!


Johanne Kavanagh, Maria Leahy, Michael and Siobhain Dawson, Lindsy Kavanagh, Aisling White, Amanda Nolan, Eamon Callaghan

Fiona Nash and Siobhain Donoghue

Anne Marie, Rachel, Paul and Catherine Holden, Mary Aylward, Vicki Holden

Susanne and James Staines Brian Murphy and Ciara Hurley Angela and John O’Connor Pics: Donal Foley


Insulation services for Allweather

�

Vintage beauty ran out of juice at Murray’s Pub!


14 ST PATRICK’SDAY IN GRAIGNAMAGH KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2011

All Photography: Donal Foley

15ST PATRICK’S DAY23 03 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

Proud film village puts its children into the picture


Pics: Donal Foley

&CommentOpinion

T W

St Patrick’s Mass Band did us proud

PERSEVERANCE IS FAILING 19 TIMES AND SUCCEEDING

THE 20TH— Julie Andrews

“O’LOUGHLIN’S IS AN

EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE GENERATION GAME IN

ACTION. CLUB TEAMS START AT U6, WHERE TOTS AS YOUNG

AS FOUR SWING A HURLEY OR KICK A FOOTBALL FOR THE FIRST

TIME. IN ALL, THE CLUB BOASTS OVER 40 TEAMS OF HURLERS, FOOTBALLERS AND CAMOGIE

GIRLS IN A STEPS-OF-STAIRS CONVEYOR BELT WHICH ENSURES

THAT GAELIC GAMES WILL ALWAYS BE NURTURED. LONG

MAY THEIR SUCCESS CONTINUE

Proud club sowing the seeds of success

“

JIMMYRHATIGAN

DOWN MEMORY LANE 1723 03 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

The procession has now been virtually relegated to the history books and more’s the pity. It was a wholesome demonstration of people’s faith and beliefs

How the march of time is slowing down

FThe onlookers

Big into processions

To the history books

SEAN HURLEY

On Parade: Scenes from Kilkenny’s St Patrick’s Day Parade, which was a huge success

Pic: Pat Moore

Pics by Donal Foley

LIVINGWITH AISLING HURLEY [email protected]

KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2010

Fabulous Fashion at Mount Juliet

Fantastic fashion, romance and beauty at Mount Juliet

LIVING 1923 03 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

BY ROISIN TRAIT

Mount Juliet Plays Host to a Cruz of Fashion

Pics by Pat Moore

ARTS & ENTS 20 KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2011

TOP

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THE Hurling Depot is now open at Unit 17, The Goods Shed, MacDonagh Junction, Kilkenny. The one-stop shop for all your hurling and football needs, stocks hand crafted hurleys by Dowling Star Hurleys, Murphy Hurleys and O’Keeff e Hurleys.

It also supplies Cooper and Mycro helmets, Cooper and Myrco hurling gloves, Murphy football gloves, offi cial GAA pyjamas and all sizes of

sliotars.Customers are welcome to visit

the shop and try out the hurleys and helmets before purchase.

The staff at the shop are very knowledgeable and friendly and can off er great advice if you are not sure of the best product for your needs or are shopping for a present for someone who is into sport.

The Hurling Depot is open seven days a week. Call 086 8965401 for more details.

KATTY Hunts Kitchen in Ferrybank is a 200 year old pub, serving quality food and drink. Renowned for providing real old traditional Irish food, people come from miles around for their house specials of ribs, crubeens, colcannon and roast chicken.

The bar regularly hosts live bands and parties are also catered for in their function room. Irish and international sporting events are shown on

TVs in the bar so customers can be sure they won’t miss any big matches.

The pub and restaurant is family friendly and supplies baby changing facilities, highchairs and wheelchair access.

Customers can cosy up in front of an open fi re during winter and when the weather is pleasant they can take advantage of the lovely beer garden.

The pub also operates an off licence which is ideal if you want to stock up on your way home.

‘STARTED Early, Took My Dog’ by Kate Atkinson begins with a day like any other for security chief Tracy Waterhouse, until she makes a shocking impulse purchase. That one moment of madness is all it takes for Tracy’s humdrum world to be turned upside down, the tedium of everyday life replaced by fear and danger at every turn.

Witnesses to Tracy’s outrageous exchange in the Merrion Centre in Leeds are Tilly, an elderly actress teetering on the brink of her own disaster and Jackson Brodie who has returned to his home county in search of someone else’s roots.

Kate Atkinson dovetails and counterpoints her plots with Dickensian brilliance.

‘WILD Harvest’ opens at the Watergate Theatre tomorrow (Tuesday) and tuns until Saturday.

Written by Ken Bourke and set on a smallholding, the play exposes the powerlessness of a group of young men and traces what happens when they begin to meddle with the past and kick back against the rules that are supposed to contain them.

The story unfolds against the backdrop of forced emigration as 1980s Ireland suff ers the horrors of depression.

As Colm Taggart (John Morton) continues to mourn his parents, life on the family farm with uncle Larry (David O’Rourke) becomes more and more tense. as the gulf between the two men widens.

The talented cast includes David O’Rourke, Nicola Keating, John Morton, Ken McGuire, Dave Thompson, Alan Butler and Sean Hackett. Director is Ger Cody.

Shows: 8pm. Tickets: €16/€12.50. Call (056) 7761674 for more details.

IS your car looking a bit dull at the moment? Why not spruce it up with a set of carlashes. Yes, you heard correctly, eyelashes for your headlights!

Carlashes were invented in the US but have been selling like crazy all over the world since they were launched last Autumn. They come in a number of sizes depending on what car you drive and you can even glam them up with crystal eyeliner and accents.

Pink carlashes were recently added to the range and next product to be launched will be lips. Log onto www.carlashes.com to order yours.

Product of the week

Book of the week

Pub of the week

4

Shop of the week

Theatre of the week

ARTS & ENTS 2123 03 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

Top ten 687

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THE Blackberry Cafe on Market Street, Thomastown provides a traditional atmosphere complete with fresh, home-made baking and principally organic and locally sourced ingredients and produce.

Originally an old shoemaker’s shop, it has been lovingly and extensively restored, retaining its eighteenth century frontage and its characteristic large Georgian panelled windows that are now painted a fresh tea green and adorned with a magnifi cent

sculptural blackberry. The bright, airy interior has a

comfortable minimal style, with a custom-made, hand-built counter displaying mouth-watering freshly baked cakes, tarts and scones.

Choose from homemade soup, sandwiches, salads, quiches, a wide selection of homebaking, fresh ground coff ee and a variety of teas and herbal infusions.

Open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm and Saturday 10.30am - 5.30 pm

THE Irish Craft Portfolio 2011 exhibition at the National Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny runs until Wednesday, May 11.

Curated by Yvonna Demczynska of Flow Gallery in London, her selection emphasises the links to nature and landscape present within much of the work, focusing on colours and forms that create a tranquil and contemplative environment.Each craftsperson profi led in Irish Craft Portfolio is a professional

maker with a track record for creating innovative and unique objects. Visitors are encourage to interact with the makers, learn more about their work and enjoy the richness and vibrancy of contemporary Irish craft.

Irish Craft Portfolio is a programme that was established by the Crafts Council of Ireland in 2005, to promote and develop contemporary Irish craft of international exhibition standard.

AISLINN Adolescent Addiction Centre in Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny off ers skilled and extensive drug counselling and treatments to young people (15-21 years old), whose lives have been aff ected by alcohol, drugs and gambling. They also assist families by off ering an addiction awareness programme

and a respite/therapy for both parents and families.

To help the centre raise much needed funds why not join them on the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon, Dublin on Bank Holiday Monday,

June 6. To register please visit http://www.fl orawomens minimarathon.ie/ and to support the Aislinn Centre please contact Caitriona on (056) 8833777 or

email [email protected]. The Aislinn Centre will provide sponsorship cards and t-shirts for the event. They will also provide a bus from Ballyragget via Kilkenny for those involved

IF you haven’t bought your ticket for the ‘Drive-By Truckers’ gig during The Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Festival, what are you waiting for?

These guys are hauling into town for one night only on Sunday, May 1 and tickets are selling fast. Drive-By Truckers are an alternative country/Southern rock band based in Athens, Georgia in the US. Noteworthy for their three guitars line-up,

Drive-By Truckers are often associated with the Southern rock movement of the ‘70s and jam bands but are too cerebral and irreverent to sit squarely in either genre. Their lyrics often revolve around the working class trying to survive in economically-depressed small towns of the South.

Make sure you don’t miss out. Tickets from Rollercoater Records, St Kieran’s Street or The Set Theatre.

COUNTRY Quads in nearby Borris, Co Carlow off ers a fun day out for all the family from the age of eight and upwards.

The quad course is suitable for all age groups. While you tackle the tougher, rougher parts of the track, the kids can stay on the easier areas.

Weather is not a problem - in fact tackling the trails in the rain is even more fun and Country Quads will provide all the safety gear you need.

They also off er clay pigeon shooting which is a fun and highly addictive sport. You don’t need any experience; Country Quads will supply everything you need and their qualifi ed instructors will teach you the basic skills.

Their newest off ering is a shooting cinema which is a simulated rifl e and shotgun experience that recreates the actual experience of shooting. Beginners and those experienced in shooting will enjoy it. Call (059) 9724624 for more.

Something for Sunday

Restaurant of the week

9

Exhibition of the week

Gig of the week

Fundraiser of the week

ARTS & ENTS 22 KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2011

Stephen Young is on the way to Cleere’s

STEPHEN YOUNG’S first appeared on the music scene in late 2008 was when the release of his debut EP: ‘A Boat Called Lottery’, garnered vast critical acclaim.

This prompted Young to take his songs to a broader audience, as he put together a troupe of musicians called The Union to form his band and to set about recording an LP.

Described as a visionary ricochet for the times we

live in (The Daily Star), it is Young’s capacity to deliver a song with pounding heartfelt retrospect that sets him apart from his luminaries.

The singer joined forces with producers Gavin Glass, Tommy O’Sullivan and engineer Stephen O’Brien to complete his debut album. The album’s title is ‘Wilderness Machine’.

Young has been hailed as the one to watch in 2011, and Young & The Union’s debut single Coke & Rum

can be heard on radio stations across the country.

With the album due out March 25 – available from all good record stores – the band are taking the album on the road with an extensive nationwide tour. Accompanied by their Cello and Violin string section, they deliver a show that is simply not to be missed.

Stephen and The Union will be in Cleere’s, Parliament Street on March 26.Admission €8.

Matt Berry (Jackson), Rebecca Murphy (Emily) and Kevin Reade (John) in Kilkenny Musical Society’s ‘The Hired Man’ which opens at the Watergate Theatre on April 3.

A TALK on the ‘Medieval Stone Carvings of Co Kilkenny’ will be held by Graignamanagh Historical Society on Friday, March 25.Guest speaker will be Mr Joseph M Feeley Emeritus Lecturer Engineering, IT Carlow. The talk will begin at 8pm in Graignamanagh Library. All are welcome. Admission is €3 to non members.

LIAM Ó Maonlaí has confirmed he will play a very special intimate gig at the Hole In The Wall, Kilkenny on Thursday. Liam Ó Maonlaí is an outstanding performer with an unbelievable stage presence. In Ennis in 1985 he and Fiachna O’Braonain, with the enchanting presence of Maria Doyle Kennedy (appearing April 9 at HITW) won a music award called Gradam Shlogadh. This sowed the seed for the beginning of Hothouse Flowers, which went on to be one of Ireland’s most successful rock bands, releasing seven albums. Liam has remained faithful to his traditional roots throughout the years. “Traditional music does not belong to me. I belong to it. The same as the land,” he said.

ARTS & ENTS

FILM The Company MenDirector John Wells

HOLLYWOOD has its first stab at directly addressing the recession in this big hearted but

rather clunky drama that tries to catch the zeitgeist.

It tells of three executives in a shipping company who are all made redundant during the present financial crisis. It shows them coming to terms with their new situation and adapting their expectations while learning how to cope with the public impact on their private lives. Wives, children and mistresses are dragged into play while working class values are contrasted with the corporate culture.

The reason that this pedestrian film is worth watching is the cast - Tommy Lee Jones as the senior executive projects a whole lifetime of weariness with one flicker of his hangdog eyes. Chris Cooper who as always is dependable but here really gets inside the part of a lifer company man who cannot deal with not having a permanent job.

The real surprise turns are Ben Affleck and Kevin Costner, two actors who have often coasted on their looks. Here they ignite as a

pair of feuding brother-in-laws on either side of the white/blue collar divide. Ben Affleck reminds us that before his slick parts in action movies he was a South Boston boy in ‘Good Will Hunting.’ Costner underplays brilliantly and steals the show as a grouchy builder.

However the unfortunate thing about this movie is that John Wells is directing for the first time after years of being a TV producer and writer. There is lots of unedited dialogue which expound his rather obvious ideas and not a single moment of artistic flair. The only thing that saves it is Roger Deakins, the Coen Brothers cinematographer who captures this glossy world and its opposite perfectly. A much better take however on this subject matter both visually and intellectually was the recent Oscar winning ‘Inside Job.’

There are plenty of insights into the horrors of unemployment and it will really hit home with many audience members who have lost their jobs. The reason in the end it fails is that it is hard to care for these wealthy characters no matter how sympathetically they are drawn. I couldn’t imagine people on the dole in this country rushing to see a film that told a kindly version of the story within Fianna Fail/Anglo Irish.

— DARRAGH BYRNE.

2323 03 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

MOTORS 24 KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2011

CABINET SEASON OF...Morrissey Motors Unveil new Peugeot 508 in Kilkenny

Peugeot 508PRICES €11,000 - €12,500 OTRINSURANCE GROUP 2CO2 EMISSIONS 89g/kmPERFORMANCE0-60mph 17 seconds / Max Speed 85mphFUEL CONSUMPTION67.3mpg (combined)STANDARD SAFETY FEATURESTwin airbags, ABS, ESPPictured at the Peugeot 508 Dealer Launch are from left to right: Des Cannon, Peugeot Sales &

Marketing Director and Kevin Morrissey, Dealer Principal at Morrissey Motors, Kilkenny

25MOTORS23 03 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

MOTORS 26 KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2011

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KILKENNY REPORTER 23 03 2011 28 ADVERTISEMENT

23 03 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER 29PETS

IT REALLY IS ADOGS LIFE

Happy Paws Hotel

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kilkenny reporter 23 march 2011

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