west cork people

www.westcorkpeople.ie & www.westcorkfridayad.ieFebruary 2 – March 1, 2018, Vol XIV, Edition 189 FREE

Old Town Hall, McCurtain Hill, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. E: [email protected] P: 023 8835698

Strictly Come Dancing waltzes into Bantry this March with 32 local volunteers taking to the fl oor to show off their dance moves in aid of St. Finbarr’s Boys National School. Full details in our entertainment section. Pic: Tony O’Donovan

Spring Homespage 37-44

The season for love pages 19-31

West Cork woman saving vultures in NepalOn her three-week

trip to Nepal, Clodagh is assisting

in monitoring, surveying, and providing advice to the vulture safe feeding sites and reintroduction project of captive bred birds to try and begin the restoration of pop-ulations. She is also raising well-needed awareness for the cause!

“Raising awareness is of vital importance at present,” says Clodagh “as recently diclofenac has been licensed

for use in Europe; a tragedy waiting to happen for our European species of vul-tures, and everybody should support the campaign and appeal to politicians to get it banned in the European Union!”

Diclofenac is an anti-in-fl ammatory drug, however there are alternatives on the market that serve the same purpose but are safe for vultures. The late 00s saw the climax of the crisis for Asian vultures, and in Nepal

individuals were collected from the wild to begin a captive breeding pro-gramme, as conservationists predicted their extinction.

A few years ago, relief and celebration came when Diclofenac was banned in Nepal. Even though that was fantastic for the vultures, their population numbers had declined by over 90 per cent in the previous 20 years.

Clodagh Helen is currently in Nepal on behalf of the Birds of Prey Centre at Aillwee to assist in a major re-search programme on vulture conservation.The 24-year-old zoo biologist is one of the handlers at the Birds of Prey Centre in Co Clare.

The use of the veterinary drug Diclofenac has seen a population decline in Asian vultures faster than that of the dodo. As one of the most serious bird conservation issues currently on the planet, with huge consequences for hu-man health, the Birds of Prey Centre at Aillwee has joined global wildlife conservation groups to tackle this issue.

Clodagh, who travelled to Nepal with Conor the Vul-ture, speaks to Mary O’Brien about her work assisting in vulture conservation on the ground in the Himalayan foothills. cont’d on page 3

2 February 2 – March 1

Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin in Clon-akilty has an Early

Intervention Class and Autism Spectrum Disorder Classes

(Aonad Uí Mhuirthile) with exceptional facilities for children with Special Needs. Children from the age of three to 12 years are catered for in

these classes in the school.A cake sale to raise funds

for the ASD classes will take place at the Parish Hall on Western Road in Clonakilty on Sunday, February 18, from 9am-1pm.

There are 24 pupils in the Special Education Classes at present. Children from three to fi ve years attend the Early Intervention Class. Children from Junior Infants to Second Class are catered for in the two junior classrooms while the remainder are catered for in the senior classroom setting.

“We have facilities for 24 children; six in Early Intervention, 12 in the Junior classes and six in the Senior class,” explains School Prin-cipal Pádraig Ó hEachthairn.

“Though we have fantastic facilities within the school we endeavour to provide the children with much-needed additional supports, which all have to be funded by the school itself or by fundrais-ing, which is organised this year by our Parents Associ-ation (Cairde na Scoile). We are very fortunate to have supportive parents within the school who have given very

generously of their time in the past to organise individ-ual fundraisers in support of our ASD classes. This has allowed the school to provide much-needed therapies and activities for the children. During the school year chil-dren benefi t from yoga, music therapy, art therapy, swim-ming and horseriding to name but a few. It also allows the school to purchase specialised equipment and resources that can be very costly.”

Each class has one teacher and two special needs assis-tants with WCCDS providing Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy support.

There is a full range of facilities with an occupational therapy hall, a multi-sensory room, a para-educational room, two quiet rooms and specially designed class-rooms. Each child has his/her own individual workstation. There is also a shower room, changing area and toilet facilities. Outside facilities include a soft play area that is integrated with the Infant classes.

Please come and support this worthy cause.

Feeling powerless to makea difference in the world?

MAKE 2018 THE YEAR YOUDO SOMETHING

Join the Clonakilty Amnesty group and do your bit

rights. Help us

and people

their rights.

with us today on [email protected]

083 866 3212

USE THE FREEDOMS YOU ENJOY TOGIVE A VOICE TO THOSE NOT FREE TO SPEAK OUT

by Clonakilty Amnesty Group

One year ago we highlighted

the imprisonment of Su Changlan in China for her work over many years with rural women, defend-ing their inheritance rights, traffi cking of children, child brides, family planning and violence against women. She

also campaigned on land rights, forced evictions and democracy. For this she was forced to resign her career as a primary school teacher in 2011. She ‘only’ served a three year sentance of a possible 15

and was released in Oc-tober, having endured

appalling condi-tions. One example of the conditions she endured is being in a cell with 60 inmates where

it was impossible to lie down and sleep be-

cause of its size. Another is of delayed and inadequate treatment for her heart and thyroid conditions, which have caused her considerable discomfort and suffering.

However delighted we are about her release, her so-called ‘freedom’ has brought other sinister problems. The day she was released, Su, her husband and her brother were taken to various cities in southwestern China to keep them apart, and were at one stage sent to a ‘communist education’ class. After 12 days of ‘enforced travel and education’, they were brought back home on November 7, and again taken away for several days. Plainclothes police guard their house 24/7 and check the IDs of all her visiting friends and relatives. They also follow Su Changlan and her family wherever they go. Treatment

for her ailments has been interrupted because of these forced absences and her health continues to deteriorate.

We continue to work on her behalf and we hope others would join us. See the advert on this page!

Working for those whose rights are abused is not dif-fi cult. We are not and do not need to be experts in either international or home affairs. We can choose to write as many or as few letters as we wish. Guidance is given on how to write. We do not have to participate in any campaigns that offend our conscience. No-one checks up on us! We are not Political.

Signing petitions online is easy – each signature sends a separate email. Belonging to a group is not essential but is a way of keeping Human Rights alive in our area. Those who just cannot make the time to write or go on-line can contribute by their annual sub-scription, which provides the bulk of money, the life blood, needed for research. We, Su Changlan and many others, need you!

Plight of Su Changlan in China

Local and regional roads in Cork are set for a signifi cant funding in-

jection, with €44 million being allocated to Cork County.

Cork based Fine Gael Sen-ator, Tim Lombard, welcomed the announcement and said: “I was delighted to see Cork re-ceive such funding; it will allow for critical safety improvement works to be carried out through-out the county. “Nearly €30 million has been earmarked for restoration improvement and maintenance works, while another €8.7 million has been allocated as a Discretion-ary Grant for the engineer’s offi ce to put towards the most essential projects. “The extreme weather of a few months past has left our roads in particu-larly bad condition. Today’s funding allocation is a great step towards addressing the issue of rural roads. “Fine Gael in Government is committed to reducing deaths on Irish roads. 2017 saw the lowest number of fatalities on our roads since records began, but we cannot allow complacency to creep in – now is the optimal time to continue this advance. “Our roads are used every day and are essential for connecting people locally.

This funding will be used

to maintain and improve local roads, an essential infrastruc-ture for meeting the growing demands of our expanding economy and population.

Speaking on the announce-ment Minister for Transport Shane Ross said: “I am especially pleased that the 2018 grant allocations include important initiatives in the area of Community Involvement Schemes and Drainage. “While local authorities were able to use general grants for such schemes in recent years, this year ring-fenced funding is being provided. These are two areas where I have very much wanted to take action and I am very glad to be able to do so this year. There needs to be an increased focus on measures to improve the resilience of the road network in the face of climate change.”

€44 million toimprove Cork roads

Clonakilty Gaelscoil bake off for ASD classes

3February 2 – March 1

Subsequently Aillwee sent funds to buy up residual stocks of diclofenac that was being sold illegally on the black market. Aillwee has also provided support for research projects, in partic-ular the one Clodagh is currently visiting, which focuses on the red headed vulture.

“The vultures are so important because they fulfi ll a ‘keystone’ role in our environment;” explains Clodagh “meaning they fi ll a necessary niche. If they disappear the whole ecosystem is in danger of collapse. They are the perfect scav-enger; consuming and destroying diseases such as anthrax, botulism, and rabies. The disappear-ance of them would mean the spread of disease having devastating effects on not only the other animals in the area, but the human population also.”

She continues “Scavengers are always asso-ciated with bad hygiene and impending death! However we have fallen prey to the media’s portrayal of these creatures. Anybody who is in close proximity to animals regularly under-stands they all have a unique personality; and it is also true for the vultures! If you don’t believe me, visit the bird of prey centre at Aillwee to see Dyson the gentle old man, and Henry the bois-terous character who’s full of talk and show!”

Since the present manager James Irons’ visit to Nepal in 2009, Aillwee has been raising funds for vulture conservation initiatives such as establishing vulture safe feeding sites where the birds are provided with diclofenac free meat. In Nepal, there are now seven such sites, and €1 can buy a cow, which up to 200 vultures can have a meal from.

The Birds of Prey Centre at Aillwee opened in 2008 and currently houses over 30 cap-tive born raptors, including vultures, eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls. These birds serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts, giving the public a chance to get an up-close personal experience with a top predator. This memorable opportunity for people allows the centre to pro-vide education and raise awareness and funds for conservation efforts in a way which the visi-tor truly feels connected and is understanding.

Clodagh’s role as a bird handler and trainer requires her to provide the highest standard of care and welfare to the birds at the centre, while ensuring the safety and comfort of the visitor.

“Cleaning and feeding is of course a huge part of my daily role,” she explains “as is providing educational and interactive fl ying demonstra-tions and hawk walks in which I provide the visitor with an unparalleled insight into their

amazing lives. I am privileged at the centre to not only be close to such incredible creatures every day, but to facilitate others in having the opportunity to discover a love for something they never knew existed before visiting!”

Mammals were always Clodagh’s preferred choice to work with, and after working for a short while as a giraffe keeper, she thought big animals were defi nitely for her. However this changed three years ago when her fi rst experi-ence with a trained raptor changed her perspec-tive entirely.

“The more I learn about birds and spend time with them, the more my interest and passion grows for them,” she says.

“Most days, the birds make me laugh. They are endlessly entertaining in their ways and quirks! I once had a raven decided not to back into his aviary after his fl ight, and sat in a near-by tree actually laughing at me all day because he can imitate sounds and human speech.”

Clodagh’s companion on the trip, Conor the vulture, is Irish born and bred. He is visiting his wild cousins, and translating their plea for help to the Irish public!

You can follow Conor and Clodagh’s journey on the Burren Birds of Prey Facebook page.

For more information on the Birds of Prey Centre at Aillwee in Co Clare go to

www.aillweecave.ie

cont’d from page 1...West Cork woman saving vultures in Nepal

Brave Cora, age 20 months, gets up close and personal with one of the birds at the Aillwee Centre in Co. Clare

Clodagh Helen with Conor the vulture


There is something different about the start of this year. There’s a

sense of urgency to 2018 that doesn’t usually kick in until mid-Februrary. January is generally pretty laid back as we, and the land, slowly start waking up after Winter’s big sleep. You can almost hear the landscape yawning as the fi rst daffs start poking their heads out. I really enjoy those lazy, tousle-headed weeks, quietly planning by the fi re with no sense of urgency to do anything about implementing those plans for a few weeks more. I don’t have to make any hard and fast decisions. I took great pleasure in pottering around the garden, imagining what I might plant without committing. Not this year. This year is already full steam ahead. It’s time to make some serious lists.

I spent the fi rst half of Janu-ary in Brussels battling the fl u. I returned, looking forward to a few weeks of gentle cogita-tion, as I planned the coming months. Once I got home, how-ever, it was clear that things had started to get moving while I was away. Spring is hurtling towards us. The grass in the fi elds is lush. The snowdrops are up. The Camelia is in full fl ower and the daffs are not far behind. Imbolc this year will be blooming. Which means that a number of jobs that I thought could be scheduled for March, should probably be done asap. If you don’t get in there and clear stuff now, the job will double by April... To make

matters worse, we are only just starting to get a handle on the devastation left behind by Ophelia back in October. The property still looks like it was zapped by alien spaceships, with trees snapped and trunks everywhere. We need to get some semblance of order out there before the real growth spurt starts, or we’ll have to hack through a jungle of bram-bles to get to the trees. Not to mention the fact that our potato patch is covered in the crown of a giant Scots pine. We can’t dig them up until a tree surgeon clears it. First on the list: clear trees. Second on the list: dig the potatoes. Third: landscape the new big open spaces where the trees used to be.

And it’s not just the garden. The house seems intent on pushing for renovations. Start a new list labelled: House. It’s been a few years of relative calm, but in the past few weeks

the House, with a capital H, has become a major project again. For starters we had the immer-sion start leaking the day before Christmas Eve. I am proud to say that we staved off replacing it until January thanks to my brilliant idea of using adult nappies to temporarily stop the water leaking through the ceiling and into the kitchen. A new tank was put in this week, so that’s the fi rst thing on the House list crossed out!

Water seems to be a major theme to the start of 2018. I have rarely seen the land this wet. Everywhere is sodden. The vegetable patch out the back is muddy. The grass in front of the house feels like a squishy waterlogged sponge. To add to the wetness, our water pipe has sprung a leak. Not a big one, but enough to make us consider upgrading our entire water sys-tem. Ophelia tore through the trees between the well and the pump house. She also made it clear that we need an alterna-tive energy source to pump our well when the electricity goes out – Add planning a new water system, and buying a generator, right under tree clearing and landscape design.

There are other lists of course: the usual Get fi t list, Admin jobs list, Budgeting etc. All are vying for our attention as we emerge from the Winter. Time to wake up! The evenings are just about to get normal again. Let’s hope we are spared any more bad weather. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get cracking...

Mary O’BrienEditor

Sheila MullinsCreative Director

Samira BranchSales Executive

West Cork PeopleOld Town Hall,McCurtain Hill, Clonakilty, Co. Cork.Phone: 023 8835698 or 023 8835696E: [email protected]

ContributorsKate ArbonKaren AustinTony EklofHannah DareTina PiscoRyan EdwardsLouise O’DwyerJohn HosfordJohn BohaneSean CreedonTania PresuttiNoah ChaseShane DalyPauline Murphy

Advertisers Please Note: West Cork People does not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by any error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. We reserve the right to refuse or amend any advertisement, notwithstanding where, when or by whom accepted for publication, more-over we reserve the right to discontinue with the publication of any advertisement previously pub-lished. Please note further that we cannot accept responsibility for one or more incorrect insertion and that no re-publication will be granted in the case of typographical or minor changes which do not detract from the value of the advertisements.

West Cork People

‘B’this denotes that the seller is acting in the

course of a trade, business

or profession

Letter from the EditorGet ready for Spring

AWEST CORK

LIFETina Pisco

Welcome to the February edition of West Cork People,Dark and dreary January is fi nally behind us and we can look forward to the new growth and hope that comes with Spring…bring on the snowdrops and daffodils!February, thanks to Saint Valentine, is also the month associ-ated with courtly love! To celebrate this, we have put together a special Wedding and Valentine’s feature inside this issue. Showcasing top wedding venues and services, as well as featuring lots of helpful advice on everything from building a successful marriage to choosing an engagement ring to fashion trends for this year’s grooms, you’ll fi nd lots to inspire you in your wedding planning journey. We also have interviews with couples from around West Cork who share details of their romantic proposals, wedding plans and hopes for the future.For those of you building or renovating your home, check out our Spring Homes feature, showcasing the excellent choice and value in products and building and interior services in Cork County. West Cork architect Gareth Ryan talks about the impor-tance of considering shelter and screening when designing your home and fi nancial advisor Noel Forde looks at whether using your savings or getting a personal loan or mortgage works out better when renovating your home.As usual, we have lots of interviews, news and events from around West Cork.West Cork girl Clodagh Helen talks about her trip to Nepal and efforts, on behalf of the Birds of Prey Centre in Co Clare, to save the vulture population. History buff Pauline Murphy re-counts the fascinating tale of how Ernest Blythe was arrested in Skibbereen and ‘deported’ from West Cork to Dundalk prison and Life and Business Coach Anna Healy shares some tips on how we can move from feeling browned-off and burnt-out to inspired.For this and lots more, see inside…I hope you enjoy the read,Mary


Fast-track your career into the healthcare profession…work as a phlebotomist!

This April sees the return of Geopace Training to Cork with their two day

phlebotomy training course.An increasing demand for

skilled healthcare professionals has led to a shortage of allied healthcare workers, especially phlebotomists – the skilled healthcare professionals who take your blood. Demand is high within hospitals as well as many clinics and surgeries and offers a golden opportunity for that “longed for” career change! If you have good people skills, good manual dexterity and like the idea of working in a busy hospital or clinic, a phlebotomist job may be just the right job for you!

Many people enter this pro-fession when they are looking for a career change or a fresh start. Phlebotomists often work part time (mornings) but some do work full time as well as weekends and holidays. Blood

samples are usually collected in the mornings and then an-alysed in the Path Labs in the afternoon.

“We train people from all walks of life and all ages” ex-plains Jennie Eagleton, offi ce manager. “We’ve had shop assistants, receptionists, beauti-cians and dental nurses, as well as telesales staff, unemployed, school leavers and the retired,” says Jennie.

Once on the healthcare career ladder ambition often drives people to progress to working in the labs and to other specialised departments. Internal promotion is much easier once you are ‘on the lad-der’ and have some experience.

Many hundreds of Geopace trainees are now working as phlebotomists and a few have even chosen to work abroad where there is often a shortage and growing demand for this specialised skill.

If you like the idea of a career in healthcare then this may be just the job for you! Training takes place over two full days and culminates in the award of a UK nationally recognised and accredited certifi cate. “We practice on artifi cial arms,” says Jennie. “And all our students have a lot of fun learning. We get a

great deal of satisfaction when we later learn that they are working in their local hospital or GP Surgery”.

If you would like to know more about phlebotomy as a career or to book a place on the April course visit Geopace Training’s website at www.geopace.com.

Schull student scoops top invention award at BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition

Young Scientists from Cork Education and Training Boards’

(CETB) Schull Community College left the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS last month with an impressive haul of fi ve awards. The college’s fortunes in this prestigious science competition have gone from strength to strength, with several signifi cant award win-ners in recent years. This year nine students represented the school exhibiting four projects across two categories. With over 2,000 national projects submitted and only 550 chosen to participate in the Exhibi-tion, getting an opportunity to exhibit their work in the fi rst place was no mean feat and staff and students at the Mizen school are immensely proud of their achievements.

Fifth year Schull CC student Fionn Ferreira, from Ballydehob, swept the boards with three awards. Fionn, also a category winner in 2017, won fi rst prize in the Senior Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences category with his project, which addressed the very topical issue of microplastics in our waters. Fionn explored how micro plastics could be removed from water using ferrofl uids and also measured his fi ndings with a homemade spectrometer. Fionn’s unique and innovative approach to this disturbing environmental issue

was further recognised when he was presented with the Intellectual Ventures Insightful Invention Award for effective-ly having the best invention at the Exhibition.

Finally, Fionn was presented with one of the eight Main Awards at the exhibition, the Intel Award. This award is presented to a student for outstanding work in the Tech-nology category and the prize consists of an all expenses trip to the USA where Fionn will represent Ireland at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in May of this year.

Fionn’s classmates, Áine Levis, Joe Arundel McSwee-ney and Niamh Connolly were Highly Commended in the Social and Behavioral cate-gory for their project, which investigated the emotional and physical diffi culties Irish teenagers face due to a lack of sexual education. The group were also presented with a special award, the Higher Edu-cation Authority (HEA) Award for the range and scope of their research.

Schull Community College BTYSE mentor and teacher Ms. Lara Kelly was present-ed with the BT Educator of Excellence Award for her dedication and expertise in guiding students of the college in the Social and Behavioural Sciences category in particular.

Two other Schull groups

displayed their work at the RDS, Transition Years David Walsh and Liadh Pyburn examined the issue of gender and Aoife Nash, Tarah Fleming and Hollie Collins explored the effect of Brexit on students’ educational choices.

The fantastic achievement of this core group of students is testament to the supportive network of teachers, fellow students and parents, along with having an emphasis on all STEM subjects as part of the broad curriculum of subjects available to students at Schull Community College.

For more information on Schull Community College, which operates under the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB), or to enquire about enrolling for the upcoming academic year check out www.schullcommunitycollege.com, or contact the school on 028-28315 or via e-mail at offi [email protected]. To stay updated on the journey of the students of Schull Com-munity College you can follow them on Facebook\schullcom-munitycollege or on Twitter @SchullCollege.

Gavin Denn, VP Operations & General Counsel at Inven-tion Investment Ireland presents the Invention Investment Ireland to Fionn Ferreira, Schull Community College Cork for his project “An investigation into the removal of microplastics from water using ferrofl uids” in the Chemi-cal, Physical & Mathematical Sciences Senior Individual Category at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibi-tion 2018 which took place in the RDS Dublin. Photo Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography

Lily Fitzgerald, Kinsale Community School received the Social and Behavioural Junior Individual 2nd place Award to Cork for her proj-ect ‘A Statistical Analysis of Dental Phobia And Anxiety Prevalence And The Effects They Have On Regular Attendance At The Dentist.’ at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2018 which took place in the RDS Dublin. Photo Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography


Want to become a qualifi ed Transport Manager?

If you want to pursue a career in transport, unlock your potential and gain

a recognised qualifi cation then you need a Certifi cate of Professional Competence (CPC) in Transport Manage-ment. This certifi cate, which is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, qualifi es you as a

Transport Manager and also entitles you to set up a haulage or bus passenger business.

A CPC is also extremely benefi cial for employment opportunities, career ad-vancement, or if you want to up-skill. Subjects covered in the course include: managing a transport business; employ-ment and contract law; health

and safety legislation; fi nancial management; tachograph and hours of driving legislation; national and international doc-umentation, HRM and more.

In preparation for the next exam on June 22, 2018, Tony Hynes of CPC.IE will be running his internationally acclaimed (see testimonials on CPC.IE) Part and Full-Time

courses in centrally located venues – Galway (Connaght Hotel), Limerick (Kilmurry Lodge Hotel), Cork (Vienna Woods Hotel), Athlone (Prince of Wales Hotel) and Dublin (Green Isle Hotel), If you wish to obtain further information please contact 1890-374837; 087-6363003; email [email protected] or visit www.cpc.ie.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTSTreatment Abroad SchemeQ: I know that medical treat-ments available in Ireland can be accessed in other EU countries instead. What if I need a treatment that is not available in Ireland?A: If you are entitled to public health services that are avail-able in Ireland, you can access these services in the Euro-pean Economic Area (EEA) and be repaid the cost under the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive.

If you are a public patient and need treatment that is not available to you in Ireland, you may be able to use the Treat-ment Abroad Scheme to get the treatment in another country in the EEA, or in Switzerland. The Scheme may provide help with your travel fare and, in some cases, the fare for a travelling companion.

You must be referred for treatment abroad by an Irish-based consultant who is treating you as a public patient. You cannot refer yourself or be referred by a GP.

You and the consultant com-plete an application form and include a copy of your referral letter. Your application must be approved by the Health Service Executive (HSE) before you travel or start treatment abroad. You usually get a decision on your application within 15 to 20 working days.

If your application is approved, the HSE will issue a form called E112. This au-thorises treatment abroad so that you do not have to make any payment to the healthcare provider. The treatment you have abroad must be in public healthcare under a registered medical practitioner. It must be in a recognised hospital or other institution that accepts the form E112. If you don’t have the form when you attend at your appointment, you may be charged and not be refunded. Any treatments or consultations that are not pre-approved will not be covered.

The Ombudsman has pro-duced a report that suggests improvements to the application and appeals process. It recom-mends that, by the end of Feb-ruary 2018, the HSE produce a plan and schedule for making the suggested changes.

To apply for the scheme, contact the Treatment Abroad Scheme Offi ce for an appli-cation form. You can get the contact details for your area by calling the HSE Infoline on the Callsave number 1850 24 1850 or online at hse.ie/treatmen-tabroad. Further information is available from the Citizens Information Service below

Maternity LeaveQ: I recently started working in a new job on a part-time basis. I have just learned that I am pregnant – will I be enti-

tled to maternity leave?A: If you are pregnant while in employment, you are entitled to take maternity leave. The entitlement to a basic period of maternity leave from employ-ment applies to all female employees (including casual workers), regardless of how long you have been working for the organisation or the number of hours you work per week. You are also entitled to addi-tional unpaid maternity leave. The Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004 provide your statutory minimum entitlements in relation to maternity at work, including maternity leave.

You are entitled to 26 weeks’ maternity leave together with 16 weeks additional unpaid maternity leave, which begins immediately after the end of maternity leave.

Your entitlement to pay and superannuation (pension payments) during maternity leave depends on the terms of your contract of employment. Employers are not obliged to pay women who are on ma-ternity leave. You may qualify for Maternity Benefi t from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) if you have enough PRSI contributions. However an employee’s contract could provide for additional rights to payment during the leave period, so that, for example, the employee could receive full pay less the amount of Maternity Benefi t payable.

If you have a dispute with your employer about mater-nity leave or if you have been dismissed due to a matter con-nected with your pregnancy or for claiming your rights under maternity leave legislation, you may make a complaint within six months of the dispute or complaint occurring. You must use the online complaint form available on workplacerela-tions.ie. The time limit may be extended for up to a further six months, but only where there is a reasonable cause which prevented the complaint being brought within the normal time limit.

You should apply for Mater-nity Benefi t at least six weeks before your baby’s due date. Apply to the Maternity Benefi t Section of the DEASP.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Service below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by West Cork Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confi dential service to the public. Banty Address: Wolfe Tone Square, Bantry. Weekly outreach, in Clonakilty, Bandon, and Dunmanway. Mac-room Address: South Square, Macroom.Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Infor-mation Phone Service, 0761 07 4000. West Cork Helpline: 0761078390.

Jessica Sweeney, Laura O’Donovan and Fódhla Daly are three Clonakilty

students travelling to Malawi in Africa with the organisation Gorta Self Help Africa this February. The girls are aiming to raise €9,000 for the charity before they leave.

Gorta is Ireland’s longest running international develop-ment organisation. Following a merger with Self Help Africa in July 2014,the organisation op-erates In Ireland as Gorta-Self Help Africa. The focus of the or-ganisation is to help smallholder farmers to grow better crops, learn how to farm, teach them about nutrition and sanitation and to help supply water.

Through its projects, Gorta’s

stated aim is the empowerment of communities to eradicate hunger and poverty, with partic-ular emphasis on food and water security and unrestricted access to secure and environmentally sustainable livelihoods.

Gorta is giving them the chance to live, farm and get an education. Gorta is helping them to grow more nutritious crops while increasing their yield. During their trip, the girls will be visiting various projects and helping to plant and farm food.

Gorta needs donations to buy seeds, farming tools, food, medicine and many other things. Don’t forget the old proverb “Give a man a fi sh and you feed him for a day, show him how to

catch fi sh and you feed him for a lifetime” The girls will be meet-ing thousands of people some young, some old. They will be visiting some local schools in Malawi and helping the children to learn English and Maths. So please support this cause!

Donate to the girls via Go

Fund Me www.gofundme.com/Gorta-Self-Help-Africa or alternatively drop it into the Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty addressed for Gorta Self-Help Africa.

Students aiming to raise funds for Gorta


By Guidance Counsellor Carol McCarthy

As a new year rolls in again, so too does the predictable panic of

parents and school leavers re-garding CAO. While the Cen-tral Applications System caters for the majority of school leav-ers choosing to continue their education, it is worthwhile for many to check out the other available options. Courses ap-plied to through the CAO, for the most part, count academic results only, that is Leaving Certifi cate results converted to ‘CAO points’; however, many of the other avenues open to school leavers consider other aspects, including aptitude and results of interview.

On-the-job qualifi cationsA renewed emphasis is

being placed on the apprentice model of training. This blended learning approach still includes elements of study, but the benefi ts of gaining a qualifi ca-tion ‘on-the-job’ are obvious: earning a salary while training, and no transition to the world of work post-qualifi cation as

you are immersed in the work environment of your career area from day one. The insur-ance industry is one example of a sector that has embraced this approach in recent years.

As well as the traditional craft apprenticeships, a number of occupational apprenticeships have recently been launched, including Accounting Tech-nician, Farriery, Insurance Practice and Commis Chef. Many more are in the process of being developed and intro-duced, including Baker and Software Developer.

Student Contribution Fees apply for the academic portion of an apprenticeship, but are charged on a pro-rata basis and so work out much less than full-time education. This is somewhat offset by the fact that you earn while complet-ing the practical side of the training. See apprenticeship.ie for more.

Additionally, large compa-nies continue to offer appren-ticeships: Aer Lingus - Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering, ESB - Electrician (opened February 1) and Bus Éireann

- Heavy Vehicle Mechanics (opens in March).

Non-CAO collegesFurther Education colleges

offer courses whose entry requirements in the main are basic, and choose instead to put emphasis on the interview process. Many such courses can act as a bridge between Leaving Certifi cate and CAO courses.

Direct application colleges are just that – colleges to which you apply directly rather than through the CAO system. Courses in these colleges are listed in the usual course databases such as Qualifax. As ‘points’ do not apply, this can be a viable option for some stu-dents. For these colleges, check tuition fees and implications for maintenance grants.

Points to consider when making decisions

It is not just about what to study but also how. Pick train-ing and a course and college type that suits your personality and skills. For example, look at the academic-practical ratio; forgetting subject matter, if you have struggled academi-

cally across the board, then it is likely that you are suited to practical training. Similarly, fi nd out about class size as this tends to have a correlation with the amount of individual attention students receive. Keep in mind that initiative and independent work skills will be required for broad academic courses such as Arts degrees in universities which tend to have large intakes.

It is always worthwhile to pay attention to the level of qualifi cation on offer. Where a qualifi cation falls on the National Framework of Qual-ifi cation can infl uence later options including employment opportunities and further study or training.

All in all, when it comes to post-second level options, remember there are many avenues open and that CAO is just one.

Help with the decision-mak-ing process is available in West Cork in an individual private consultation with Guidance Counsellor Carol McCarthy, a qualifi ed member of the Insti-tute of Guidance Counsellors.

Rathbarry National SchoolENROLMENTWed 7th February

from 2pm - 3pmBeidh Fáilte Romhaibh

Tel: 023-8840651 | Email: [email protected]: www.rathbarryns.com

Find us on

If you are unable to attend please contact the school and we would be delighted to meet you at a time that would suit you.

More options than ever before for school leavers

Seven asylum seekers and refugees will receive full scholarships enabling

them to study at University College Cork, which last month was designated Univer-sity of Sanctuary status.

Set to be provided from September 2018, the scholar-ships will cover full fees and tuition, in addition to a number of annual bursaries covering travel and expenses.

UCC’s Sanctuary Status is a marker not just of what has been achieved in UCC, but an indicator of the need for sustained and creative work to support asylum seekers and refugees locally and interna-tionally, according to UCC’s Senior Vice President, Profes-sor Caroline Fennell.

“Universities provide a key space in which to challenge societal assumptions and to support and highlight work aimed at fostering a culture of welcome for asylum seekers and refugees.

“Through the range of ini-tiatives cultivated over many years in UCC, we are dedicat-ed to providing spaces to learn about what sanctuary means, to develop a sustainable cul-

ture of welcome and to share our practices and initiatives with communities and other higher education institutions”.

Cultural and fi nancial barriers to accessing third level education impact heavily on asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland. UCC has joined DCU and UL as universities leading the way in Ireland by being awarded University of Sanctuary status by Places of Sanctuary Ireland.

The University will launch its inaugural Refugee Week next month, with events from February 5 to 9 including a lecture by UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration, Professor Alison Phipps, titled ‘What is Refuge? Who Decides, and How?’ on February 6.

UCC’s President, Professor Patrick O’Shea, will open ‘Blueprints’, an art exhibi-tion by asylum seeker young people at the Glucksman gallery on February 7. ‘Sorry I Drowned’, a fi lm by Studio Kawakeb and Medecins Sans Frontieres will be screened throughout the week at the Glucksman, while Sam Taylor, Director of MSF Ireland, will be part of a public discussion

of the fi lm on February 8.For the past two decades,

many members of UCC staff and student societies have been engaging with local asylum seeker and refugee commu-nities on the challenges they face, and have been bringing the impact of Direct Provision to national and international attention.

UCC lecturers Dr Jacqui O’Riordan and Mike FitzGib-bon, who have campaigned through grassroots organisa-tions for an end to the Direct

Provision system, were pre-sented with UCC Exceptional Citizen Awards recently for their work in supporting asy-lum seeker children and adults living in Direct Provision.

O’Riordan and FitzGibbon have conducted research on living in Direct Provision, and have worked with student societies and the Glucksman to organise activities for children and young people to articulate their stories and gain respite from accommodation centres.

University of Sanctuary UCC launches scholarship scheme for refugees

Karl Kitching, UCC’s Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion pictured at the announcement in Cork.Pic Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

With 2018 being designated ‘Bliain na Gaeilge’, locals in the Cloch na gCoillte area interested in conversing together as Gaeilge can buail le chéile

i dTigh Con and Maura’s gach Déardaoin idir 8 agus 9pm. Beidh fáilte roimh gach duine, agus is cuma cé méid Gaeilge atá agat. Tá an doras oscailte. Téir isteach! (Níl aon costas air). It’s not a class but an informal group of Gaelgóirí who come and go as suits them every Thursday evening. Further details on Facebook group ‘Clonakilty Dia Dhuiters’.

Labhair Gaeilge


Send your pictures of people events in West Cork to West Cork People’s Out and About page:email: [email protected]

OUT & ABOUT IN WEST CORK

Mick Brennan from Ardgroom won €28,000 on the National Lottery Winning Streak Game Show on RTE last month. Pictured is Sinead Kennedy Winning Streak Game Show co-host; Mick Brennan, the winning player; Fergus Roche, Head of Technology, The National Lottery and Marty Whelan co-host. The winning ticket was bought from O’Sullivans Newsagent, Eyeries Village, Beara.Pic: Mac Innes Photography.

Organised by the West Cork Vintage Ploughing and Threshing Association on the Ford family Farm in Ballinascarthy last August, the Ford 100 Fest was a hugely successful event that raised some €30,000 for a number of local and national charities. Recently, at the Henry Ford & Son offi ce Ltd. in Cork, representatives of the Association and Ciarán McMahon, Chairman and MD of Henry Ford & Son Ltd., presented cheques to the Association’s chosen charities: Temple Street Children’s Hos-pital in Dublin; the Alzheimer’s Unit of Clonakilty Hospital; Cancer Connect; and West Cork Rapid Response. Picture: John Sheehan Photography

Timoleague NS U13 quiz team of Clodagh Holland, Rebe Angel, Hayley McSwee-ney and Dara Ryan came in 1st place in the Annual Credit Union Quiz and move onto the county stage at the start of March. Their U11 team of Clíodhna Keohane, Orla Ryan, Sinéad Walsh and Ben Gerlich represented the school well and were just one point away from placing.

Dr Ann Marie McGinley and Dr Joanne Gaynor from Bandon pictured at the Bon Secours Hospital annual GP STUDY DAY in Maryborough House Hotel, at which over 250 GPs attended from across Munster, making it the biggest event of its kind. Pic: Gerard McCarthy

Trinity College Dublin announces Book of Kells Creative Competition Winners: Pictured from left Breffni Jones, Marketing Director, Trinity Brand Commercial Services; merit winner in the Second-ary School Art category, Lara O’Sullivan, from Scoil Phobail Beara, Castletownbere; and Laureate na nÓg, author and illustrator, PJ Lynch, judge. Pic:Naoise Culhane

Trinity College Dublin announces Book of Kells Creative Competition Winners: Pictured from left Breffni Jones, Marketing Director, Trinity Brand Commercial Services; 2nd Place winner in the Sec-ondary Writing category, Freyja Hellebust from Kinsale Community School ,and Trinity’s Professor Darryl Jones, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and competition judge Pic:Naoise Culhane


[email protected] www.expresskitchens.ieKinsale Road, Turner’s Cross, Cork (021) 496 9010

Clogheen Business Park, Blarney Road,

Cork (021) 422 8800

Open 09:00 - 17:30 Mon to Friday12:00 - 17:30 Saturday

We pay the VAT on

all fitted kitchens or

wardrobes!

SaleNowon

Bid to restore Kinsale SouthDoc services

During a debate in Seanad Eireann Fine Gael Senator, Tim Lombard, restated his belief that the Kinsale SouthDoc

should be reinstalled within the town.Senator Lombard said: “The Kinsale South-

Doc was removed from within the town in 2014, and merged with the Bandon services, due to general reductions in health sector funding. Now, with the continued economic recovery, we have an opportunity to reinstate health services where there is a genuine need.

“Kinsale residents have been campaigning to have the SouthDoc service reinstated in the town, and I fully back their initiative. Kinsale is a thriving, busy town with a vast hinterland and an ever-increasing residential population. It also experiences a huge tourism interchange, particularly during the summer months when

the population of the town quadruples with the sheer volume of visitors.

“Additionally, a 30-plus minute drive to the nearest SouthDoc service is a delicate journey during the dark, icy winter months – especial-ly for Kinsale’s older demographic. Appro-priate proximity to vital health services is a necessity for the Kinsale community.

“A national review of current GP out of hours services is underway, and I have written appeals to both the Minister for Health and the HSE Primary Care Department calling for reinstatement of the Kinsale SouthDoc.

“We must recognise the current and future needs of the Kinsale community and provide the necessary infrastructure to service this vast urban, rural, and tourist population. A South-Doc service in Kinsale is one such necessity.”

Combined total traffi c through the Port of Cork and Bantry Bay

Port Company reached 10.3 million tonnes in 2017, a very good increase of 8.6 per cent compared to 2016. Total imports increased by 6.4pc while exports increased by 12.3pc. The Port of Cork total container volumes through both Tivoli and Ringaskiddy Container Terminals grew by 3.7pc compared to 2016 fi g-ures, with a total of 217,763 TEU’s handled in 2017.

Oil traffi c, predominantly handled through Whitegate Oil Refi nery now owned by Canadian company Irving Oil, saw an increase of two per cent. Trade in dry bulk cargos such as animal feed, fertilisers and cereals saw increases throughout the year.

In 2017, the Port of Cork handled 68 cruise liners bring-ing over 140,000 passengers and crew to the region, while in Bantry Bay fi ve cruise liners visited the harbour, with

MV Prinsendam making her maiden call to Bantry, the fi rst liner to do so in 30 years.

Brendan Keating, Chief Executive said: “We are encouraged by the increase in trade traffi c through the Port of Cork and Bantry Bay Port in 2017. An 8.6pc increase in total trade traffi c shows the positivity in the markets, which were showing a mar-ginal decrease in 2016. We are particularly encouraged by the growth in container traffi c through both Tivoli and Rin-gaskiddy. This increase is a clear indication that consumer markets are beginning to open up with both imports and exports on the rise through Cork.”

He continued: “In 2017 the Port of Cork saw over 34,000 trade vehicles imported through Cork. The trade car market is very important for Cork, however unfortunately we saw some decreases in the volume of cars imported. With regards to tourism, the Port

of Cork had a very positive year with 68 cruise liners calling bringing over 142,000 passengers and crew to visit the Munster region. Further-more, in 2017, for the second year running, Cobh was named the second Best Cruise Destination in the British Isles & Western Europe in the Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards, a further endorsement of our cruise business.’

Commenting on Bantry Bay Port Company, Brendan Keat-ing said: “In August 2017, we successfully completed and opened Bantry Harbour Marina, part of the inner harbour development. This new sheltered harbour facility will be of great benefi t to both commercial and leisure users bringing increased activity to Bantry Harbour and Town. The cruise business has doubled with ten cruise liners expected to call in 2018.”

Port of Cork Company and Bantry Bay Port Company total trade traffi c up 8.6 per cent in 2017

‘Quality’ top hotel for familiesBursting with activities for children, from climbing walls to the pirate ship play-

ground, it is no surprise that once again the Quality Hotel and Leisure Club, Clon-akilty features in Tripadvisor’s Top 25 Hotels for Families.

For the 16th year, TripAdvisor has highlighted the world’s top properties based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from travellers around the globe. In a category with growing and stiff competition, the Quality Hotel ranked 11 out of the 25 winners in the Top 10 Hotels for Families.

The hotel has developed and provided a safe environment for children that is packed with unique kids facilities like the onsite cinema and the aerial trekking course. It has also thought of the small things, like the children’s menu with plenty of healthy options. “2018 is going to be an exciting year for the Quality Hotel,” says David Henry, General Manager. “We want to provide a comfortable space for parents and adults alike and a remodel of the hotel entrance and lobby area is planned for completion in June”. This will make a relaxing and inviting space, so whether you are visiting Clonakilty for business or pleasure, you won’t be short of options at the Quality Hotel.


It is a busy time of year on Irish dairy farms with cows across the country calving

down, as the 2018 milking season rears up.

While the maternity wards are busy, so too are the yards and parlours. After milk quotas were abolished in 2015, many dairy farmers had plans in place to expand their herd and

facilities.Labour was the next big

issue for farmers to tackle. Teagasc’s The People in Dairy Project has estimated that Ireland will need in the region of 6,000 new entrants over the next 10 years to replace retir-ing farmers, as well as to meet the requirements of expanding herds.

There is also a greater requirement for seasonal workers – be it calving and calf rearing at this time of year or at breeding time.

It is well-known that farm-ers work that farmers work some of the longest hours in the week compared to other employment sectors – dairy expansion automatically brings more working hours and there-fore the need for more labour.

Farmers who have not taken on labour yet should take stock of their situation and asses their herd size, workload and current labour effi ciencies.

If you haven’t got extra la-bour on farm and you’re burnt out and exhausted at calving time, then it is a sure sign that

it’s time to get help in.Identify what labour units

you need, it might be it a full-time person or a seasonal worker, and plan for the year ahead.

TAMS IIThe Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) has allowed farmers to invest in upgrading facilities, while also saving money on such investments also.

The maximum grant aid available to a farmer is €32,000 (40pc of an €80,000 investment), while a young trained farmer can avail of a maximum of €48,000 (60pc of an €80,000 investment). There is also more grant aid available if a young trained farmer is in a partnership.

The scheme has a suite of measures, including a Dairy Equipment Scheme and to date, some €11.2m has been paid out to dairy farmers under this scheme to 887 farmers.

The two most popular investments under the scheme are for milk storage and cool-ing (internal bulk tank volume

including auto washer and compressor) and for milk-ing machines (either a new machine or an extension to a farmer’s current set up).

After these two items, in-parlour meal feeding sys-tems in the form of individ-ual cow meal feeders, meal troughs and meal bins, are the most popular items farmers have claimed for.

Milk pricesIn the last number of months, milk prices have remained static with processors holding prices around the 34c/l, ex-cluding VAT, base price.

Milk price recovery took hold in 2016 after dairy mar-kets strengthened following the removal of quotas. Milk prices continued to increase until last year and holding around the 34c/l mark as they continue to do so now.

At the end of January, processors announced that they would be holding milk prices again for December, but issued warnings on prices.

The chairman of Glanbia Ireland, Henry Corbally, said

that current market returns are considerably lower than Glanbia’s milk price, therefore price adjustments would seem inevitable over the coming months.

Meanwhile, LacPatrick’s Andrew McConkey also warned that diffi culties lie ahead in terms of prices.

“We are facing into what is

likely to be a challenging year in terms of milk price with the global market lagging well behind current milk prices.”

Dairygold CEO Jim Woulfe has also stressed that if dairy market returns continue as theyare then average milk prices could face an uphill struggle to stay above 30c/l.

In association with The Irish Farmer’s Journal

FARMINGIN WEST CORK

Amy Forde

Dairy expansion: the labour, TAMS and milk prices people Farming

Kinsale Macra member Jonathan Quinn tri-umphed at the Macra

National Final of Impromp-tu Public Speaking where he claimed First Place. All contestants had to pick a topic out of a hat on stage and talk about it for two minutes with three rounds. Jonathan was challenged with tough topics such as Brexit – though not a bad topic for an accountant; he used his confi dence and knowledge to impress the judges who crowned him champion.

Jonathan Quinn wins National for Kinsale Macra

Pictured at the Macra na Feirme Triace Impromptu Public Speaking competition with Teresa Mackin, Triace Sales Represenative and James Healy, Macra na Feirme Nation-al President is Jonathan Quinn, Kinsale Macra na Feirme.

“Environmental Impact Assessment must be performed

before harvesting of kelp begins in Bantry Bay’ according to Deputy Murphy O’Mahony who was commenting after receiving a parliamentary reply from Minister English, which confi rms that he will meet with the representative group follow-ing their request for a meeting.

“I was informed that Minister Damien English will meet with Bantry Bay – Protect Our Native Kelp Forest, a group of locally affected people shortly.

This is a positive step but he must be open to changing his mind.

“I really do believe that Minister English should sus-pend the licence and allow for a comprehensive engagement with the local community to ensure that their views, opinions and concerns are listened to.

“We want to see local indigenous business thrive and prosper, but it cannot be at the expense of the local environ-ment.

“I am disappointed that Minister English is not minded

to order an Environmental Impact Assessment. While such an assessment is not explicitly required for the Minister to give approval, it would, I believe, show to the local community that he is conscious of their con-cerns and has an open mind.

“Harvesting of kelp should not be allowed to proceed until an EIA is performed. It would be negligence of the highest order to allow Bantry Bay to be damaged,” concluded Murphy O’Mahony.

Harvesting of kelp in Bantry Bay


Clon Special Olympics AGM sees two cheques presented

Clonakilty Special Olympics Club was recently successful in its application for funding under the Equipment Grant Scheme for the to benefi t volunteer led youth activities in clubs and groups. At its recent AGM, local Minister Jim Daly, TD, formally presented the cheque for €3,050 on behalf of Minister Zappone, watched by delighted club members Andrew Buttimer, Wayne O’ Sullivan and Patrick Battersbury, (athletes); Stiofán Ó Broin, (Chairperson); Joan Stapleton, club treasurer accepting the cheque from Minister Jim Daly, TD; Lisa Hodnett, (Secretary); Eileen O’ Sullivan, (athlete) and Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, (PRO). (Photo: Richie Tyndall)

The Clonakilty Special Olympics Clubs AGM was held at O’Dono-

van’s Hotel recently, followed by the post-Christmas party. Two substantial cheques were presented to the club on the night, much to the delight of all – especially the club treasurer! Local Minister Jim Daly, TD, (on behalf of his colleague, Catherine Zappone, TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs), presented a €3,050 cheque, which was a result of a recent applica-tion by the club under the ‘Equipment Grant Scheme’ to her department. This will be ring-fenced by the committee for new club uniforms and equipment for the athletes.

Later on, Mags O’Dono-ghue and her colleagues from the Rosscarbery Christmas Market presented a cheque for €2,600 the proceeds of their pre-Christmas market at the Celtic Ross Hotel.

Outgoing chairperson, Stiofán Ó Broin, extended a céad míle fáilte to all and thanked everyone for their support, dedication and co-operation during the last year. He highlighted the many activities undertaken, which could not have happened without the support of vol-unteers, their families, the coaches and committee and sponsors. As well as the usual training in golf skills and bas-ketball, there were a number of social activities as well which were enjoyed by all.

Secretary Lisa Hodnett in a detailed report also thanked all involved. She said there were great improvements in the skills of athletes in both basketball and golf skills. There was great team-building and comradarie amongst the athletes and she thanked in particular the coaches Maria Kerr and Denis O’ Donovan. She extended an open invita-tion to new athletes to join the club, reminding everyone that the Ireland Games take place in June of this year. This will see the involvement of around 1,600 people in 13 sports, and the Clon club is very proud that Wayne O’Sullivan, Eileen O’Sullivan and Kevin O’ Dwyer have qualifi ed and will represent the club in golf skills.

Treasurer Joan Stapleton presented her report which was healthy but also outlined the need to be always vigilant to ensure a healthy balance to invest in the athletes.

She thanked everyone and welcomed the two cheques presented to the club on the night. She thanked every-one who supported the club fi nancially and through sponsorship over the last year, singling out the two cheques received on the night, Anthony McDermott and his team who raised over €2,000 through his Rings Tournament and Walsh Printers, Clon-akilty.

PRO Cionnaith Ó Súillea-bháin expressed his thanks to the local print, broadcast and internet media organs who print and broadcast press releases and photos he send s them. He also thanked local professional photographers who come along to special events and volunteer their time and talent free of charge. He encouraged everyone to join and promote the clubs Facebook and Twitter pages each of which has 700 – 800 followers.

Denis O’ Donovan, Sports Offi cer and main golf coach, refl ected on the progress of all the athletes over the last year. In golf in particular, there were great strides made and the progression of Wayne, Eileen and Kevin who will compete in the Ireland Games this June was a source of great pride for the club. The end of season golf event at Lisselane Golf Course was a great oc-casion as was the social event after, when all club athletes were presented with certs by Mayor John Loughnan. He pledged that the club will do whatever it could during 2018 to ensure all athletes reach their maximum potential and in particular the three going to the Ireland Games.

The election of offi cers saw all the outgoing returned unanimously, joined by new Asst. Sports Offi cer Seán Ó Duinín and Rose Dempsey re-elected as Athletes Protec-tion Offi cer.

From the fl oor, athletes Andrew Buttimer, Patrick Battersbury and Cal O’Maho-ny thanked everyone for all they do to make club activities so enjoyable and successful for them. Michelle O’Dwyer, on behalf of all the parents, thanked the committee, coaches and all who work as volunteers to make the club such a welcoming and enjoy-able one for the athletes.

With the formalities of the evening concluded, the serious business of the post

Christmas party commenced with music provided by DJ Paul Cullen, and all enjoyed the dancing for the rest of the evening.

See Clonakilty Special Olympics Club Facebook page for more photos and further details.

Spring Agri Promotion1st FEBRUARY - 16th MARCH

www.drinagh.comfacebook.com/drinagh.coop

Aughadown (028) 38113Bantry Hardware (027) 55388Bantry Farm Centre (027) 52172Castletownbere (027) 70003Drinagh Central Hardware (028) 30800

Dunmanway (023) 8856646Kilmeen (023) 8838603Lowertown (028) 28117Skibbereen Hardware (028) 21699

Give your calves the best possible start & feed them Drinagh Coarse CalfBenefits include:

Improved growth rateDevelopment of the rumenReduced weaning set backsHigher milk production in the future

Give yo

BUY 10 BAGS AND GET 1 EXTRA FREE

Score 18% Calf PencilsAn ideal starter feed to encourage intake at an

early age.

Score PP Calf 18% NutsThe complete calf nut that meets all nutritional needs

and drives performance.

Both manufactured from top quality ingredients including soya and maize. Both feeds contain the

‘Greenline’ mineral package, resulting in:Better digestion - Improved immunity

Superior calf health

BUY 10 BAGS AND GET 1 EXTRA FREE

Drinagh Hi-Spec Pre Calver 20kg Bag

Feeding a high quality mineral is a crucial part in planning for the year ahead. It is one of the easiest and most cost effective measures to do in order to get cows on track for a productive, healthy and fertile lactation. Dri-nagh Co-op High Spec Pre-Cal-ver contains an excellent health package, providing all the essen-tial minerals, vitamins and trace elements to meet the require-ments of the cow and calf.

Contact your local branch or sales rep for volume discount on Pre Calver 20kg Bags

Drinagh Supreme Cooked Calf MuesliThe highest quality calf starter available to feed to your baby calvesThis superior blend of the finest ingredients ensures the best possible introduction to solid feed for your calves.

Excellent palatability to stimulate uptake of feed and improve intake levelsEnhanced performanceOptimum rumen develop-mentReduced risk of digestive upsets (Yea-Sacc live yeast included to aid digestion)Fortified with Bioplex trace elements, Vitamin E and B Vitamins

BUY 10 BAGS & GET 1 FREE


We sneaked away at the beginning of January to the Ca-

nary Islands fl ying from Cork to Gran Canaria in search of a little sun-snack.

Gran Canaria isn’t the most beautiful of the islands but Las Palmas, the capital city, is the ninth largest city in Spain and there’s plenty going on there. It also has a beach and I have a thing about cities with beach-es, as they offer my favourite holiday occupations, sea, sand and eating.

We stayed in La Vegueta, the old part of the city where we could walk out and explore the warren of streets that led to plazas and beautiful old buildings. The city has been there for a long time, Christo-pher Columbus anchored there for a while and both Francis Drake and the Dutch tried to plunder the town and although there was damage neither were successful and old town is quite beautiful

It’s possible to gorge on both culture and tapas in this city as the streets are home to plenty of independently run restaurants and bars with mod-ern Spanish menus. The dining spills out onto the streets and

plazas and even in January it’s possible to sit out. We enjoyed many good meals and equally good wine.

I returned home some-what obsessed with a dish of chickpeas and mushrooms that we were served in a little restaurant called Elsanto.

First of all I love beans and chickpeas so I am easily seduced but this combo had an amazing depth of fl avour for such simple ingredients.

This month’s recipe is my take on this dish. I spent some time googling to fi nd the ultimate recipe and this is what I came up with. It’s not quite the same as the one that I ate in Las Palmas – I should have quizzed the chef – maybe I’ll have to go back!

Meanwhile this is a very tasty and nutritious plate of food – just the thing to keep you going in February. I cooked the chickpeas from scratch but if you prefer, use two cans of chickpeas and sub-stitute the chickpea cooking liquid with water or vegetable stock.

Garbanzos y SetasChickpeas and Mushrooms

Ingredients:• 300g chickpeas – soaked in

cold water overnight• 400g mushrooms – I used a

mix• 15g dry porcini• 1 large onion• 1 stem celery• 1 small aubergine• about 200mls milk or al-

mond/oat milk• 1 clove garlic• 250ml reserved chickpea

stock• 150mls olive oil• salt and pepper• parsley

Method:Soak the chickpeas in cold water overnight

Drain the chickpeas, put them in a saucepan and cover with plenty of water. Bring to the boil then cook until they are tender. This can take between 40minutes and an hour and half depending on the age of your chickpea. Drain the chickpeas and reserve the cooking liquor.

Put the porcini into a small bowl and cover with boiling water.

Wash the aubergine, cut into 1cm slices then into a 1cm dice. Put the chopped auber-gine into a bowl and cover with a little milk. Use plant milk – almond, oat etc. if you want the dish to be vegan.

Peel the onion and chop it fi nely.

Heat a large frying pan/skillet, put enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan then add the onions. When the onions begin to sizzle turn the heat to medium. Cut the celery into four pieces lengthwise then dice fi nely. Add to the pan. Season with a little salt. Let the onion and celery cook gently until softened stir in the chopped garlic then lift the au-

bergine from the milk and add to the pan. Stir the aubergine in then continue cooking until the aubergine breaks down. Don’t allow the mix to brown. Drain the porcini, keep the soaking liquid, and chop the porcini. Stir into the pan and cook for a few minutes.

Add the cooked chickpeas, the porcini soaking liquid and about 200mls reserved chickpea liquid. Season with some salt. Bring to the boil then simmer gently for 15 minutes, adding more reserved chickpea liquid as needed. The dish should be wet but not drowning. Chop the parsley and stir in

Chop the fresh mushrooms and fry in a little olive oil until they begin to brown. Season with salt and cracked black pepper.

Serve the chickpeas in bowls with the mushrooms piled on top.

The cooking classes are in full swing. There are still spac-es on The S.E Asian class in March with plenty of recipes to titillate your palate.

Enjoy, Karen

A FLAVOUR OF WEST CORK

RECIPEKaren Austin

people A FLAVOUR OF WEST CORKA simple plate from the sun

Cooking Classes Spring 2018Saturday 10th February VEGAN

Healthy and fun cooking without dairy, meat, nor eggs – there’s a surprising amount of good eating out there. The class will be

gluten free or have alternatives

Saturday 24th March S.E ASIAN Join me for this exciting class, a fusion of Indian, Malay, Chinese

and Thai food. Lots of noodle and rice dishes, fresh salads and seafood.

Saturday 7th April LEBANESE Enjoy the wonderful fresh Mezze, Pilafs and Salads of this

beautiful country and learn how simple they are to put together

Saturday 12th May MEDITERRANEANThis class will have lots of ‘live to be one hundred recipes’ from the south where a plant based diet is widely believed to be the

reason that so many live to an old age. Lots of quick tasty recipes to add to your repertoire

Saturday 9th June SALADS & SUMMER RECIPESLots of fresh ideas and recipes, using seasonal ingredients to make

delicious and nutritious salads and summer meals.

The classes are held at Lettercollum in Timoleague. They begin at 10am and fi nish around 3pm, The cost is €95 and

includes all recipes, tastings and a large lunch22 CONNOLLY STREET, CLONAKILTY, WEST CORK

Tel: 023 8836938 [email protected] www.lettercollum.ie

Stop wasting foodIrish householders on average

throw out €700 worth of food every year. The EPA

recently ran an awareness campaign called ‘Food: Make the Most of It’, highlighting food waste issues and encouraging everyone to make the most of their food.

Odile Le Bolloch from the EPA said, “Many people have resolved to be a little greener this year and tackling your food waste is a good place to start. If every day each of us tries to reduce the amount of waste we dispose of, this has the potential to have a real impact. Our campaign this week includes providing practical tips to make the most of our food. Reducing food waste offers simple and no cost actions that anyone can take. You don’t need to invest in expensive equipment before

you start reaping the benefi ts. Remember, when it comes to re-ducing food waste you can stop throwing your money away!”

Though the individual amounts may seem small, when added up, the total volume of food waste produced in Ireland every year adds up to over one million tonnes. Some of the most common types of food we throw away include meat and fi sh, dairy products, bread, and fruit and vegetables. Stop Food Waste has developed an An A – Z of Foods , a handy resource that provides ingredient specifi c tips to make the most of these common food items that often go to waste. The A-Z of Foods pro-vides information about buying, storing, freezing, cooking and using up foods – from Apples to Yoghurt.

Speaking about the campaign,

Laura Burke, Director General, EPA said, “The EPA is commit-ted to providing leadership and support towards reducing food waste through our Stop Food Waste programme. Stop Food Waste has been raising aware-ness, engaging communities and small businesses and building capacity for food waste preven-tion around the country. Through the Stop Food Waste Challenge, for example, communities are working together to learn and share ideas about reducing food waste. And for food waste that cannot be prevented, Master Composters around the country are trained on all aspects of home composting.”

Led by existing good practice and strong political commitment, people are being encouraged to take action and achieve an Ireland where food is consumed,

not wasted. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD said, “Raising awareness about the common foods that people throw away and the good habits people can adopt to reduce food waste in their homes is important. I am delighted to support the Stop Food Waste awareness week. Reducing food waste has been a key priority for me since coming into offi ce. This campaign urging people to make the most of their food will not only show people how they can reduce their weekly shopping bills, it will have an impact on reducing food waste disposal underpinning our ongoing commitment to reduc-ing household waste.”


people A FLAVOUR OF WEST CORKExploding Tree – purveyor of ‘thought full’ food – launches cocoa husk teaHaving spent 10 years building her ethical food company Clonakilty Chocolate, which specialis-es in handmade Fairtrade chocolate, Allison Rob-erts is branching out with her newest venture – Exploding Tree. The fi rst product to be launched by this off-shoot brand is Cocoa Husk Tea – a Fairtrade loose-leaf tea that is bursting with fl a-vours of buttery roasted chocolate, coconut and soothing spice, and brimming with goodness.

Allison is an impassioned supporter of sustainable local businesses –

wherever in the world they may be. Her medium is chocolate and her message is exploring chocolate as a life-giving food (for the eater and the grow-er) instead of a guilt-laden indulgence. Naturally nutritious and abundant with essential vitamins, minerals and heart healthy cocoa butter, good quality chocolate is the original superfood.

The cocoa beans sourced by Exploding Tree are grown by Fairtrade farming co-oper-ative Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana, West Africa, then shipped to the small but perfectly formed bean-to-bar Clonakilty Choco-late factory.

Hand-processing the beans without the use of chemicals means every part of the bean can be used so nothing is wasted – including the husk. When infused in freshly boiled water, the cocoa husks make a refreshing cup of comforting

and delicious tea!The cacoa tree’s Latin name

‘Theobroma’ literally means ‘Food of the Gods’ and has sustained great empires for millennia. Cocoa husk tea has its roots in the ancient Mayan civilisation where the cacoa bean was celebrated and the tea was used in rituals. The husk contains the same balance of nutrients as the beans, so drinking Exploding Tree Cocoa Husk Tea daily is a quick, easy and delicious way to get essen-tial nutrients into our bodies.

Allison explains, “We have been drinking cocoa husk tea at home for years; I love it fi rst thing in the morning, after a big meal or as an evening wind-down. I always had a hunch that it was full of nutrients; the husk contains so much of the whole bean’s goodness – the same way the skin of any fruit or vegetable contains so much of its goodness.

“I am passionate about re-claiming chocolate as a healthy, guilt-free food and so Cocoa

Husk Tea fi ts the bill. We have been developing it with Limer-ick Institute of Technology and were delighted to fi nd, through their panel surveys, that people love the taste as much as we do. When we received the laborato-ry results of a high nutrient and antioxidant content, our instinct that it was doing us good was confi rmed!”

Cocoa beans are rich in a mineral called Theobromine that acts to give you sustained energy over a long time, and unlike caffeine it is not followed by a crash. The husk also contains heart-healthy cocoa butter and Exploding Tree Cocoa Husk Tea has six-times more Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) than green tea!

“Most importantly it really does taste great,” assures Alli-son. “The fl avours of roasted chocolate, honey and warming spices come through and it is buttery and comforting, like a warm cuddle.”

A visit to Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana infl uenced a shift in the direction of Clonakilty Chocolate, which is now one of only four bean-to-bar producers in Ireland. When chocolate is made from bean-to-bar it means that every step of making choc-olate is done by the chocolate maker.

Allison uses only Fairtrade cocoa beans and ethically sources all the other ingredients

for her chocolate products. She also explores alternative sweeteners, which has led her to using coconut sugar.

“People have become much more conscious about where the cocoa comes from in their chocolate bar but they don’t think about the sugar, and as the second biggest ingredient in chocolate it’s just as important!

“I use coconut sugar from Indonesia. Coconut sugar is much from sustainable than traditional sugar sources as it is the nectar of the coconut tree fl ower. The nectar has to be hand-harvested, and its water content boiled off within hours, leaving no room for exploita-tion by large corporations. It is a perfect product for small co-operative. The fl ower is not removed, the tree is not cut down and so it continues to provide food, shelter and sup-port to the local eco-system.”

Coconut sugar is also dia-betic friendly as it is absorbed slowly to prevent glucose spikes.

“Giving your loved one some of our chocolate or Exploding Tree tea this Valentine’s means you are giving a gift that is made with love, good for their health and has not hurt some-body in its production. It’s the same conversation as the harm done in unethical diamond trading,” says Allison.

Exploding Tree is also now producing bulk cooking choco-late in 200g packs for retail or larger quantities for restaurants etc. Exactly the same as the Clonakilty Chocolate product range but in a rougher form, the cooking chocolate is available in dark, milk, goat’s milk or 100 per cent pure. Call Allison on 085 7574338 for details.

Always experimenting and innovating, Exploding Tree’s next product to launch will be vegan oat milk bars so keep your eyes peeled and your taste buds primed!

Chocolatier Allison Robers


Send your pictures of people events in West Cork to West Cork People’s Out and About page:email: [email protected]

OUT & ABOUT IN WEST CORK

Aldi’s Dunmanway store staff awarded Coaction a €500 grant in recognition of its vital work and contribution within the local community. Pictured were Lorraine Healy, Aldi’s Dunmanway store “Charity Champion”, Denise Cronin, Coaction staff and Reggie Chambers, Chairperson for Coaction. Pic: Dermot Sullivan

Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin TD visiting Mary Graham from Gosling Gifts & Games, Clon-akilty at her stand at Showcase Ireland 2018 at the RDS, Dublin. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography.

Connections of ‘Fair Enough’ who was the winner of the Grade D Pace at the annual Ballygurteen Road Trotting races. Pic Tim Kelleher

Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune congratulates Kinsale Community School students, Lily Gill, Lucy Foley and Emer Heery, who came Highly Commended in their category, Social & Behavioural Sciences, at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition for their Statistical Analysis on the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Cycle to Work Scheme.

The Clonakilty Special Olympics Club recently received correspondence from Dr Katherine Zap-pone, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, that it had been successful in its application for funding under the “Equipment Grant Scheme” for the to benefi t volunteer led youth activities in clubs and groups. At it’s recent AGM , local Minister Jim Daly, TD, formally presented the cheque for €3,050 on behalf of Minister Zappone, watched by delighted club members Andrew Buttimer, Wayne O’ Sullivan and Patrick Battersbury, (athletes); Stiofán Ó Broin, (Chairperson); Joan Sta-pleton, club treasurer accepting the cheque from Minister Jim Daly, TD; Lisa Hodnett, (Secretary); Eileen O’ Sullivan, (athlete) and Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, (PRO). Pic: Richie Tyndall

The Nollaig na mBan night in aid of OvaCare in DeBarra’s Folk Club Clonakilty raised an amazing €8085. The Kingston family would like to say thnaks to everyone who sup-ported the event.


It was a crisp Sunday morning in 1923 when, as mass ended at St John the

Baptist church in Newcestown, a lorry of Free State troops pulled up outside the church gates and rounded up the fi rst few men coming out after mass. These unlucky men were forcibly taken to a nearby road and instructed to remove a roadblock, which had been left there by retreating Anti-Trea-ty IRA fi ghters. During the dismantling, a trigger mine exploded.

Two men died instantly in the explosion, Patrick Murray and Seamus O’Leary, while John Desmond, who was badly injured, died weeks later on February 22 in a Cork City hospital; his remains were buried in Templemartin cemetery. Those that survived but received injuries were John Allen, Denis O’Brien, Tim

Murphy, John Long, Michael Murphy and Patrick Boyle. All were from the parish.

Two years after the tragic event Patrick Boyle applied for compensation but was denied. Boyle, who was from Farr-anthomas Newcestown, had been forcibly taken with the other men from the gates of the parish church and ordered at gunpoint to remove the barri-cade. In a Dail Eireann debate on December 11, 1925 Labour Party TD Daniel Morrissey, who hailed from Tipperary and would later become Minister for Justice in 1951, raised the issue of Boyle’s compensation with the Minister for Finance Ernest Blythe.

Blythe replied that the appli-cation for compensation “had been carefully considered by the compensation committee” but the committee had decided that Mr Boyle and his fellow

injured victims were “mem-bers of the irregular organisa-tion and, as the injuries were not sustained without default on their part, the compensation is denied.”

Considering the men were rounded up as they came out of mass and were unaware of the concealed mine, claims they were to blame for the explo-sion were contrary to fact.

Blythe, who oversaw the de-nial of compensation for all the injured Newcestown men, was himself no stranger to West Cork. While this month marks 95 years since the explo-sion, it also marks 100 years since Blythe was arrested in Skibbereen where he worked as editor of The Southern Star newspaper. The Southern Star was purchased by Sinn Fein in the aftermath of the Easter Rising – one of its sharehold-ers was Michael Collins – and Ernest Blythe was given the editorship of the paper.

One of Blythe’s fi rst acts at the newspaper was to change the type format from Roman to Gaelic Irish. Blythe, who was a native language activist, also introduced more Irish language columns, which during that revolutionary period became one of the most suppressed newspapers in Ireland. The Southern Star breached The Defence of the Realm Act, as did its editor, who had been at

the helm of the paper for only six weeks before the authori-ties decided to eject him from his post.

Blythe had fi rst drawn atten-tion to himself when, shortly after arriving in West Cork, he attended Sunday service at the Bantry Protestant church. As was tradition at the end of service ‘God Save The King’ was played but, while the congregation stood for the an-them, Blythe remained seated. When the service fi nished the local District Inspector, who witnessed Blythe’s ‘disrespect’ in the church, approached him and ordered him to leave Cork. Blythe did leave Bantry but did not leave the county. He went as far as Skibbereen, where weeks later he was arrested for ignoring the order to leave.

In his witness statement from the Bureau of Military History, Blythe recounts his brief time as editor of The Southern Star and the moment he was removed from his job – “After I had been six weeks or so in charge of The Southern Star, I arrived one day at my lodgings for lunch and before I sat down, the local District Inspector, with a body of police, arrived to arrest me for breaching the expulsion order.”

Blythe was taken to Skib-bereen railway station where, as word quickly spread around

the town, a large group of lo-cals had gathered to pour scorn on the police. As Blythe was being placed on board the train bound for Cork a mini riot broke out on the platform. The angry locals tried to rush the police and rescue Blythe and some stone throwing occured.

In his witness statement Bly-the recalls the stone throwing incident – “As the train moved out, some stone throwing began and one of the stones

came through the window and past my ear!”

Blythe was ‘deported’ from Cork and spent the next 12 months in Dundalk jail. Five years later he would reap the rewards of revolution when he became Finance Minister in the Free State government while others, such as those who survived the Newces-town explosion, were not as fortunate.

How Blythe was ‘deported’ from West CorkThis month, 95 years ago, a mine explosion in Newcestown killed three local men and injured many others. Later the Minister for Finance Ernest Blythe would unjustly refuse to grant compensation to those injured. By coincidence, February also marks 100 years since Blythe him-self was arrested in Skibbereen and ‘deported’ from West Cork to Dundalk prison! History buff Pauline Murphy recounts this fascinating period of local history.

Skibbereen student awarded gold medal in businessachievement awards

Darren’s teacher, Mr Donal Murphy, and Darren Seymour of Skibbereen Community School

Skibbereen Student, Dar-ren Seymour of Skibber-een Community School,

has been awarded a gold medal for achieving fi rst place in the country in the 2017 Leaving Certifi cate Business exam.

Darren received his medal at the Business Studies Teach-ers’ Association of Ireland (BSTAI) Business Studies Achievement Awards cere-mony, hosted by Banking &

Payment Federation Ireland (BPFI) at their offi ces in Nas-sau Street, Dublin. The awards recognise the achievements of students in Accounting, Economics and Business at Leaving Certifi cate Level and Business Studies at Junior Certifi cate Level.

The winners, including Darren, were presented by keynote speaker Sinead Grace of A&L Goodbody, who is

also a previous BSTAI winner along with Jonathon Lowey, President of the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) and BSTAI President, Ultan Henry.

Darren’s teacher, Mr Donal Murphy and school Principal, Mr Anton O’Mahony, were also recognised for this out-standing achievement.

€1.8 million Wild Atlantic Way initiative launched to boost British market

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffi n

TD joined Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland recently to launch a new €1.8 million initiative, specially designed to boost tourist numbers from Britain to the Wild Atlantic Way.

A €1.35 million marketing campaign in Britain will be complemented by a Fáilte Ireland €500,000 programme to support businesses along the Wild Atlantic Way to position themselves to benefi t from the campaign, as well as to boost its own marketing campaigns in Northern Ireland.

The ‘Wonders of the Wild Atlantic Way’ campaign will be rolled out by Tourism Ireland in Britain in two phases: phase one will happen in February and March and phase two in September and October. It aims to entice British holidaymakers to visit the Wild Atlantic Way during the off-season months. It will highlight ease of direct access from six British gateway cities

to Cork, Kerry, Shannon, Knock, Donegal and City of Derry airports.

Minister Brendan Griffi n said: “Whilst the performance of the tourism sector in 2017 was exceptionally good, the one negative aspect was the decline in the number of over-seas visitors to Ireland from Britain. It is therefore very encouraging to see marketing initiatives such as this being launched by Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. In terms of inbound visitor numbers, Britain still remains our largest tourism market; therefore it is vital that we continue to strive to make Ireland an attractive destination for British tourists, in light of the uncertainty created by Brexit. I want to compliment the tourism agen-cies on the outstanding success of the Wild Atlantic Way ini-tiative to date, but what’s more encouraging is to see a focus on trying to grow and build on that success, as evidenced by this rural tourism marketing campaign. This is very wel-come news for the economy of

rural Ireland, especially along the western seaboard.”

Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “As our nearest neighbour and one of our top markets for overseas tourism, Britain remains a pri-ority for Tourism Ireland. This new ‘Wonders of the Wild Atlantic Way’ campaign will highlight all the great things to see and do the length of the Wild Atlantic Way and will encourage British holidaymak-ers to come and visit outside of the peak travel season. We are very much aware that Brexit has impacted on consumer confi dence and, in turn, on outbound travel from Britain – including to Ireland. The depreciation of sterling against the euro means that value for money continues to be a key message for us in Britain. An important element of this campaign is the co-operative advertising with airlines fl ying to airports along the Wild At-lantic Way – highlighting good value offers and ease of access,helping to convert interest into business.”


The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life has made a fascinat-

ing collection of early travel and tourism posters, used to promote Ireland in the infancy of the tourism sector here, available to view online for the fi rst time.

The posters form part of the National Folklife Collec-tion and were previously on display at the museum in the exhibition Come Back to Erin: Irish Travel Posters of the 20th Century, which was curated by the late Dr Séamas Mac Philib.

A number of the posters fea-ture images that have become almost iconic representations of a romantic Ireland which

marketers were keen to pro-mote throughout the 1900s.

The National Museum of Ireland collected the posters to help inform the story of Irish folk culture from 1850 to 1950, which is represented

in the Country Life branch in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

Part of the museum’s display addresses the question of romanticising the past as opposed to the reality of life in Ireland in the 19th and 20th century.

The earliest colour posters pertaining to Ireland were produced by British railway companies and the earliest colour lithographic poster in the collection dates to 1908. However, it was largely in the 1920s that advertisers in Great Britain started to capitalise on the potential of poster advertis-ing in particular.

Some tourism companies commissioned well-known artists of the day to create im-ages for their pictorial posters. Belfast artist Paul Henry’s poster scenes became iconic, almost quintessential, images of Ireland.

View of Connemara (1926) and Lough Derg (1927) be-

came bestsellers and brought great popular recognition for Henry.

The largest Irish railway company, Great Southern Rail-ways, was quick to commis-sion well-executed posters in the 1920s also. Its main artist was Walter Till and several of the GSR posters were of re-nowned tourist locations, such as Glendalough, Killarney, Connemara and Killiney in County Dublin.

The images are similar in many cases, featuring upland well-proportioned landscapes, big skies, lakes and coasts. The often archaic and undeveloped nature of society that existed in Ireland at this time and which had serious economic implications is manipulated to represent an Irish Arcadia – the idea being to create an attrac-tive marketing image.

Noel Campbell, Assistant Keeper at the National Muse-um said:

“While obviously beautiful in terms of their artwork, these travel posters demonstrate that independent Ireland was partly responsible for fostering an idyllic and simplistic image of Irish life which we know was far from accurate for many.

“These posters will no doubt be of interest to our home market but also to the Irish diaspora, many of whom left Ireland during the period covered by the posters, and so it was important to make them available for viewing online.”

From the mid-1960s poster art in tourism went into a decline. There was a move away from the commissioning of artists and instead towards the use of colour photographs. Television advertising began to dominate the industry and all of this sounded the end of the high quality pictorial poster.

The travel poster collection can be viewed at www.muse-um.ie/country-life.

International Fairtrade Fortnight (when the public is asked to think

about and support FT prod-ucts when shopping), takes place from February 26 to March 11 this year.

Clonakilty is Ireland’s fi rst Fairtrade town, and will celebrate it’s 15th anniver-sary since being awarded this prestigious status, this September.

In the meantime, the local committee have organised the following during FT Fortnight:-

(1) A short on-street sur-vey carried out randomly by young volunteers during the fortnight – with every partic-ipant entered into a draw for a Fairtrade Hamper.

(2) An online ‘Survey Mon-key’, which will be on their Facebook page also for the duration of FT Fortnight

(3) A talk by a Clon FT committee member to the Darrara Community on Feb-ruary 27 on ‘Trade, Inequal-ity and Poverty’ as part of a ‘Gorta - Self Help Africa’ workshop.

(4) Free workshop on Chocolate-making at the Clonakilty Chocolate premis-es (pre-booking essential).

Further details of all events nearer the date www.face-book.com/ClonakiltyFairtrade

Clonakilty Fairtrade Fortnight

National Museum of Ireland – Country Life shares travel poster collection online

Clonakilty Access Group AGM hears of many frustrations and challenges for people with disabilities in the townThe recent AGM of Clon-

akilty Access Group at O’ Donovan’s Hotel was

attended by 26 people, including many with physical disabilities, their family members and carers, two local County Councillors, a clergyman, people interested in equality and access for all and a visitor from the US and her assistance dog. It was a very energetic and determined meeting but a lot of frustration was vented also.

Originally founded in 1996, the Access Group was re-activat-ed again in 2014 when the plans for the new streetscape was being proposed and the group wrote in a formal four-page sub-mission to Cork County Council as part of the public consultation process, requesting the inclusion of many accessible aspects to the “new town centre” as detailed by the inclusively and accessibility promoted in Universal Design.

There was also an issue around this time (which still remains) of the proliferation of advertising signs, tables and chairs, large pot plants and other items placed on footpaths creating obstacles, impediments and sometimes even danger for wheelchair users, the visual-ly-impaired and others with walking aids. All of these items should by law receive a licence from the council before they are put out in a public place.

As the groundworks of the new Clonakilty town cen-tre streetscape commenced, problems were soon identifi ed

by people with disabilities in the community, and during the initial few months the Access Group met with County Council offi cials on a number of occa-sions to point out issues both before and after they were put in place. Despite this engagement, there was huge disappointment with the fi nal outcome when the contractors left town.

Outgoing chair Elizabeth Walsh reported to the meet-ing that having received little satisfaction and no action from the County Council – even in relation to resolving minor issues on the new streetscape, the Access Group invited two national disability bodies – the NCBI (National Council for the Blind) and IWA (Irish Wheelca-hir Association), to carry out independent accessibility audits of the new streetscape in May 2016. Their subsequent reports confi rmed many of the concerns the Access Group had been highlighting to Council offi cials for well over a year, in relation to issues of accessibility on the “new” completed town centre streetscape.

The IWA and NCBI reports were subsequently sent to the County Council offi cials.

A few months ago, Elizabeth Walsh also met with Finian Mc-Grath, TD, Minister for People with Disabilities on his visit to Clonakilty and they drove around the town centre where the minister saw for himself some of the issues of concern. He has subsequently been in

contact with the Access Group.Many of the attendees at the

AGM outlined the personal chal-lenges that confront them daily in Clonakilty town centre as dis-abled people or family members. Among the issues raised are: Camber of the new footpaths; Gradient of ramps on footpaths in certain areas; Loss of disabled parking spaces; Impractical locations of some of current parking spaces; The illogical locations of council-installed street furniture on footpaths and at crossing points; The continua-tion of unlicensed, illegal signs, furniture, pot plants, etc. placed on footpaths by some business-es; Impractical crossing areas; Access to Library.

As well as being impediments to people being able to access their own town centre, some people told the AGM that they can no longer come into certain areas of the town centre, as they feel they are actually in danger and could be injured.

Elizabeth Walsh, John Phair and Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, members of the outgoing committee, reported on efforts to resolve some of these issues with the council authorities during and since the construction of the new streetscape.

It was emphasised that the group must try in a positive way to get the authorities to amend and change things for the better. To date, successes are minimal. They said while it was great the Clonakilty is a popular destination and has

received many awards – includ-ing ironically for the new urban streetscape, the fact remains that the local authority appears not to be interested so far in taking the concerns and rights of people with disabilities seriously.

Elizabeth Walsh said the group needed a stronger commit-tee going forward to take on the considerable challenge in hand. She also proposed that following Tom Clonan’s ‘Yes, Equality’ campaign, which he started very successfully last August backed by many of Irelands foremost citizens, that the Clonakilty Access Group would now adopt the concept of ‘Yes, Equality’, to demand exactly the same rights and access to Clonakilty public streets and spaces and public buildings as everyone else as equal citizens.

She laid down the challenge that everyone who has a moral compass and who chooses to use it, could work to make Clon-akilty the fi rst ‘Yes Equality’ town. “The start of this must be that people look down their street and realise that people with disabilities are being dis-criminated against in Clonakilty and ask why? “ she said.

Local County Councillors Paul Hayes and John O’Sulli-van both addressed the meeting and promised to work with the Access Group to resolve issues of concern.

The election of the committee resulted as follows: Chairper-son – Elizabeth Walsh; Vice Chairperson – Mary O’ Driscoll;

Secretary – Evie Evans; Asst. Secretary – Jo Caldwell; Treasurer – John Phair; PRO – Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, Committee members Siobhán O’ Regan and Ulrike O’ Beirne.

The new committee will meet regularly and continue to campaign with the council, busi-nesses, and those responsible for public buildings, etc. for positive change, so that everyone can traverse the public spaces of their own town comfortably and safely.

They called on County Coun-cil offi cials to enforce their own byelaws in relation to unlicensed items placed on footpaths by third parties, and also called on the local authority to immediate-ly begin a plan of work to rectify many of the problems, which can be resolved with little effort or expenditure - if the will is there to do it.

Elizabeth Walsh, re-elected Chairperson thanked everyone and said the committee wel-comes new members as well as the public to contact them with relevant issues.

She also said the group will hold one or two public meetings annually to keep the public informed of their work.

Interested people should fol-low the Clonakilty Access Group Facebook and Twitter pages to keep up with developments going forward.


Students from 18 secondary schools across Ireland – including Schull Com-

munity College, Hamilton High School in Bandon, and Bandon Grammer School – alongside visiting students from Spain, gathered in Cork City Hall last month, as Ireland’s largest Mod-el United Nations conference got

underway. Running from Tues-day, January 16 to Friday, Jan-uary 19, 400 students assumed the role of delegates representing countries and Non-Govern-mental Organisations (NGOs), as they entered into a series of fascinating debates on issues of pressing global importance.

This four-day Model United

Nations conference was hosted by Cork Education and Training Board school, Davis College Mallow, and was a student-run simulation of the UN General Assembly. Together students debated resolutions in General Assembly and Special Confer-ence on topics such as pro-moting democracy, combating HIV/AIDS, equal rights, infant mortality rates and disability in society.

This is truly a fantastic learn-ing and developing experience for all those involved, who not only gain from the conference itself, but also spend months

honing their skills researching the issues at hand, writing claus-es, resolutions, speeches and position papers in preparation. Students develop communica-tion and debating skills lobbying and caucusing as they try to con-vince other delegates to co-sub-mit their resolutions. During this conference students also had the opportunity to hear from and interact with key players in the UN such as representatives from embassies to Ireland and special guest and keynote speaker Kieran Clifford, Campaigns and Activism Manager at Amnesty International.

Stories of ‘ordinary’ men and women healing the participants of war and

dealing with its aftermath are rarely noticed or remembered in history. In this regard, the memory of Easter 1916 is no different to any other war. The staff of the hospitals in Dublin, who dealt with the death and destruction as it unfolded daily, rarely have their stories recalled or commemorated. However, in the depths of the archives of the Bureau of Military History, the intrepid researcher can uncover some

of these lesser known tales.In 1950, the BMH recorded

the statement of an unnamed nun, a member of the Commu-nity of the Sisters of Mercy, who worked as a nurse in the Mater Hospital from 1916-1917. Her name is unknown, but her words bring the often forgotten consequence of the Rising, the pain and destruc-tion of human life, to the forefront.

The majority of the staff at the Mater Hospital, where our mystery source was based, seem to have been generally sympathetic to the plight of the Volunteers. Dr. Pat McKenna, who, after learning of the car crash which had killed Volun-teers in Kerry that Easter Sun-day 1916, made sure that the entire hospital staff, especially those working for him knew where his sympathies lay. This sentiment was refl ected in how he and the general staff at the Mater Hospital compassionate-ly treated the injured Volun-teers who were brought in over the course of Easter week.

The witness details the work of Surgeon Alex Blayney, who never once left the hospital for the duration of Easter week. Operating day and night, he was forced to do so with the most rudimentary tools and in terrible conditions, as gas and electricity lines had been cut. Dr. Blayney relied on the light of the sacristy candles to

perform any of his night-time operations, as the patients left their lives in the hands of the ill-equipped team working with unsterilized equipment. The scalpels and stitches they were using could not even be soaked in boiling water as there was nothing to heat it with. Miraculously, during Easter 1916 and the week that followed, none of the patients were reported as having con-tracted sepsis.

Tuesday April 25 was the fi rst day that the Mater Hospital received any of the wounded from the Rising. Nine of these were detained and the rest, deemed as civil-ians, were treated and released. Some of those who died in the caring hands of the hospital staff were Jacob’s factory fore-woman, Margaret Nolan, James Kelly, a school boy who had been shot in the head and John Healy, another schoolboy who had been a member of Na Fianna.

A wounded Volunteer, Pat-rick McCrea, was brought into the hospital on Wednesday. He had minor pellet wounds in his hand and leg, which he had received while fi ghting in the GPO. As he was only slightly wounded, he was given a dispatch to deliver out of the GPO, and was ordered to fi nd shelter and treatment afterwards. McCrea was even-tually transported to the Mater

hidden in a cart of cabbages. However, the ruse failed, as almost immediately upon his arrival, a G Man called McIn-tyre appeared in the hospital. McCrea was swiftly identifi ed and put under constant watch, with McIntyre refusing to leave even for meals. The stu-dent nurses suggested trying to chloroform him, among other things, in an attempt to remove him from McCrea’s door and facilitate the Volunteer’s escape.

Eventually, on May 4, the nursing staff were able to supply an escape route for McCrea. While McIntyre had gone downstairs to the pantry to eat, one of the sisters had stolen the key from the Pathological Department to a door which led onto the street. Meanwhile, a nurse named Maire O’Connor brought McCrea along the corridor, through the morgue and to the exit door. Within less than fi ve minutes of leaving his bedside, McCrea had escaped and vanished into the city. The key

was quietly replaced by the nun, and McIntyre, who had no evidence of who had aided McCrea or how he had es-caped, was left dumbfounded.

On his escape, McCrea was taken to Carnew in the Wicklow Mountains. He had successfully avoided the police and had arisen no suspicions en route. However, the RIC knew of his name and family details. A recently married man, they had threatened to imprison his wife if he did not give himself up. When the local priest came and told him of this, McCrea felt he had no other choice than to present himself to police. He was transferred to Richmond Bar-racks and then interned with many of his fellow Volunteers in Wakefi eld Prison.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the numbers of injured volunteers coming into the hospital increased. As the fi ghting was reaching its climax, fewer of the injured were surviving, with Thursday being the worst day for deaths,

as eight of the nine wounded Volunteers died at the hospital. According to the unnamed nurse, the vast majority of those treated for wartime inju-ry in the Mater were Volunteer soldiers, although most of them had discarded their uni-form before being transferred from their military positions to the hospital.

While the unknown witness merely provides a glimpse into the reality of life for those dealing with the wounded during Easter Week 1916, its effect can be sobering. The death toll and suffering, on all sides, that the Rising brought on the city cannot be forgotten.

“My comrades and I believe we have struck the fi rst suc-cessful blow for freedom, and so sure as we are going out this morning so sure will freedom come as a direct result of our action...In this belief, we die happy.”- Tom Clarke before his execution for his part in the Easter Rising, 1916

The unknown nurse

Shane Daly is a History Graduate from University College Cork, with a BAM in History and an MA in Irish History. He also writes a Political/History Column for the UCC Express.

THE HISTORY CORNER Shane Daly

Appeal from Birdwatch Ireland

“The Heritage Bill is currently at Committee Stage in the Dáil. At some point in the future it will be voted on by TDs and if passed would be an incredibly regressive step

for our breeding birds of hedgerows and upland (mountain) habitats,” says BirdWatch Ireland’s Oonagh Duggan. “Fianna Fáil are still sid-ing with the government on this as are the Independent TDs.

“As it stands now, the Bill would allow roadside hedgecutting in August where the landowners would have the power to decide if a hedgerow was a road safety issue and taking away any regulatory scrutiny afforded in the past by the National parks and Wildlife Ser-vice. It could mean a free-for-all for our roadside hedgerows through-out the existing closed period and seriously impact nesting birds like the red-listed Yellowhammer. The Bill would also allow burning in the mountains in March when birds are setting out territories and starting the breeding activities and also actively nesting in lower ele-vations. This will seriously impact breeding birds which are already threatened with extinction like the Curlew. Over 30,000 people have signed the petition saying no to the Heritage Bill. Catherine Martin TD also of Dublin Rathdown has been very supportive of our efforts.

What’s needed from the branch and our members?• Write a letter, phone, or email the new Minister as soon as possible• Let me know if made contact with the Minister.• Follow up with me on any responses or if you need further info.

Remember always to be professional and not personal in your communications with government offi cials.

Content of the letterWe are not going to provide a written template letter for people to send as this really needs to come from the heart (and we were pre-viously told by TDs and Senators that template letters are put in the bin) but we offer some key points on the legislation we you should make. We would ask members to please write about how important birds, nature, biodiversity, our mountains and hedgerows are import-ant to them.

The Starling murmuration continues to put a show on every evening outside Timoleague. The murmuration hasn’t grown in size but the human audience has, along with the

number of cars. Birdwatch Ireland is therefore asking for volun-teers that live locally to assist Peter Wolstenholme with parking the cars. This will be from 4pm to 5:15pm on any evening that people can help. If you can help, please contact Peter on 087 220 4841.

Starling murmuration

Students from Ireland and Spain unite in biggest Irish conference of its kind

Poppy Cairns, Gemma Keeling, Claire Newman, Reuben Reynolds, Ciara O’Brien, Deirbhle Smith and Orla Baker, all Schull Community College, pictured at the Davis Col-lege Model United Nations in Cork City Hall.


Ballydehob

Accapellabella Community Choir weekly Thursday night singing sessions. These fun, friendly and informal sessions run in an Sanctoir from 8-10 pm and all are welcome. No previous experience is necessary. (083)1425599 Set Dancing Classes for adults in the Community Hall. 8.30pm sharp.Two Rivers steiner based PreSchool. 087 9194082

Ballineen/EnniskeaneSleepy Bunnies Baby and Toddler Group Monday mornings from 10am to 12pm (Term time) at Gort Mhuire Hall, Ball-ineen. Contact 086-3124313 Gaeilge agus Spraoi! Bilingual toddler group (babies-preschool) every Friday from 10am-12pm (Termtime, from 06/10/17) in Ballymoney Hall, Ballineen. €3 per family. Please bring a healthy snack/lunch for your little ones and a drink of water. Úna - 0851759955. Fáilte! All welcome, even if you don’t have any Irish.

Bandon & InnishannonFriday February 2 concert in St Peter’s Church, Bandon starting at 8 p.m. Taking part are Mairéad Casey & Carol Ní Chuimín (trad/harp); Deborah Desmond & Ber Twomey (So-pranos); Students of Cork ETB School of Music and the Glaslinn Choir. All donations go towards the restoration and upkeep of the Allin Institute.Bandon Toastmasters allows members to learn public speaking in a fun, friendly and extremely supportive environment. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 8:15pm in the Munster Arms. Find on facebook.River Rhythms mixed choir every Tues-day, 8-9:30pm downstairs at Innishannon Parish Hall. Contemporary songs, no need to read music, all welcome! Newcestown Comhaltas Music sessions every second Friday night at 8pm. All abilities are catered for. Social dancing classes take place every Friday night, children 7pm and adults 8pm. Singing classes every second Friday night at 7pm. Tel 086 4513914 Gaggin Badminton Club meets every Tuesday from 8:30 - 10pm for social games only - All welcomeFamily Support and Community Well-being 76 South Main Street, Bandon. 023-8868107Get Writing. Stay Writing with Bandon library creative writers. Bandon Library at 10.30am every second Wednesday. bandonwrites.wordpress. com for updates.Innishannon Parent & Toddler group every Wed in the parish hall 10am-12 noon. All welcome. Mother & Toddler Group meetings on Mon. 086 3712626Crossmahon-Bandon Macra na Feirme 087 7498909 See facebook.Innishannon Macra Na Feirme meet 1st Tuesday of every month at Innishan-non Hall at 9pm. 086 3447705.Citizens Information Service every Thurs, 10am - 4pm providing information

& advice c/o St Michael’s Centre, South Main Street, Bandon. No appointment needed.Friends Together, Active Retirement Group meets every Wed at the Parochial Centre, St. Patrick’s Church, Bandon be-tween 2.30pm and 4.30pm. 023 8844827. West Cork Transport Service.Kilbrittain Parent and toddler group meets every Monday in the Parish hall 9.45-11.45, food and drinks provided.Bandon Country Market, Weir Street (opposite Garda Station). Open Fridays 9am-1.30pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm. Bandon Farmers Market every Satur-day morning 9.30-1.30 in post offi ce car park.Bandon Breastfeeding Support Group every Tuesday in Family Support and Community Wellbeing Centre 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Bantry & BearaAre you interested in meeting for a night of Storytelling, Poetry, Music, Song? Monthly.. If interested email [email protected] or leave a message on 089 4195208Bantry Breastfeeding Support Group Meeting every Monday from 10.30am at Bantry Primary Care Centre. Community Singing Group An inclu-sive singing group 7.30-9pm on Monday nights in the Family Resource Centre, Kilbarry Rd. For more info contact Jane on 027 66209Lehanmore Community Centre, Beara Tue Night Music Sessions, from 8pm, bar open, all welcome. Wed Nights, Bingo from 7.30pm. Yoga classes Mon and Thurs, Tel: 027 73911, [email protected] Open Water Swimmers each Wednesday and Saturday at 5.30 pm from the Abbey pier, Bantry for open sea swimming. Wet suits are highly recom-mended. Citizens Information For information and advice on rights and entitlements, call 0761 078390. Bingo - every Sunday night at Bantry Boys Club 8.30pm. Bantry Parent and Toddler Group ages 0-4, meets in the Gaelscoil Hall in Bantry from 9.45 to 11.45 on Mondays exclud-ing Bank holidays and school holidays. 085 1092832.Grow: Suffering from depression, anxi-ety, inability to cope - we’re here to help. Bantry Community Resource Centre, Glengarriff Road. Every Tue 7.30p.m. Drop in or 021 4227750.

ClonakiltyValentines Monster Bingo host-ed by Rathbarry N.S Parent’s As-sociation. Sunday 18th February 3pm @ The Celtic Ross Hotel BIG PRIZES!Shared Voices for Wellness, fun singing for all, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Tues of the month, 7.30-9.30pm, St. David’s Resource Centre, Hospital Grounds. 085 1771436, 086 125 2004.Live Jazz at The Emmet Hotel every Monday night with the Clonakilty Jazz Collective. Free entry, 9.30-11.30pmSet Dancing Classes Clonakilty Hotel every Tuesday at 8:30pm. Adults only, everyone welcome 086 2052312.Clonakilty Badminton Club every Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Community Hall from 8.30pm. Old and

new members we come. Competitive and social badminton.Clonakilty Chess Club now meet every Wednesday in O’Donovan’s Hotel from 8pm. New members welcome. For more information call 087 2165458 (Ken) or 086 4059497 (John).Indoor bowls Ballinascarthy Hall on Tuesday nights at 8.30pm. Open to all ages. Beginners very welcome. For infor-mation call 087 2414787 or 023 8833648.Clonakilty Camera Club meetings take place every fortnight on Wednesdays, at 8pm in O’Donovan’s Hotel, Clonakilty. www.clonakiltycameraclub.net. New members are always welcome from beginners to expert level.Grace Centre, South Square, Clon-akilty, 087 4025911. Providing a range of services and facilities including Friend-ship Club on Monday mornings 10.30am; Keep Fit Monday and Wednesday 6.15pm; Affordable counselling; Mens Breakfast fi rst Saturday of the month at 9.30.am; Womens Brunch - second Sat of the month 10.30am; ICA meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month; Mountain of Fire prayer group meet on Sunday morning 11am.Clonakilty First Responders If you would like to train in C.P.R and defi brilla-tion please contact 087 094 1006 .Clonakilty Lions Club meet on the third Wednesday of month @ 6pm The Emmet Hotel. New members are very welcome. more info contact Ann 087 8206908. Clonakilty Farmer’s Market every Thursday, 10am-2pm O’Donovan’s Hotel, local Food and Craft.The Clonakilty Market, Fridays 9am – 2pm.Clonakilty Friendship Club (for the active retired) Monday morning meetings starting 10.30am. New members wel-come without commitment or obligation. Phone Bernie 087 6929024. Amnesty International meets on the second Mon of every month at 3.30pm at O’Donovan’s Hotel, Clonakilty. Timoleague Parent and Toddler Group every Thurs during school termtime 10.30am to 12.30pm in The Community Centre (the room above the playschool). Parents, Grandparents and Childminders. €3 per family. 086 3451175.Clonakilty Breastfeeding Support: Bumps to Tots- meet third Tuesday of the month from 10.30-12.30 in the Grace Centre. All mums and mums to be wel-come! Contact Claire on 087 2323 623.Meditation every Monday morning 9.15-10.15. Heart centred meditation, drop in, all welcome. By Donation. Call Lisa 087 2244429.Clonakilty Backgammon Club now meets 6pm - 10pm Tues in Casey’s Bar.

Dunmanway & DrimoleagueWest Cork Carers Support Group will hold a meeting for family Carers on Monday Febru-ary 5th from 10.30am – 12.30pm in the new Dunmanway Swim-ming Pool. Join us for a swim, use of the hydrotherapy pool, sauna/steam room, followed by refreshments and a chat. No Charge. Please call 027/53848 to book your place or for further information. All Carers warmly welcome.

Coffee Mornings every Monday (except Bank Holidays) at Drimoleague Meth-odist Hall. 10am to 12pm. Everybody welcome. 087-0533703.Dunmanway Family Resource CentreFor further information phone (023) 8856818.Messages from the Bible, Drimoleague Community Hall, Wednesdays 8-9pm. All welcome 085 1490024.Citizens Information Service every Wednesday, 10am - 1pm providing in-formation & advice at Ross House, Main Street, Dunmanway. No appointment needed.Dunmanway Bridge Club meet Tuesday evenings at the Parkway Hotel at 7.45pm. New members most welcomeContact Ann Bailey 023-8845627Farmers Market every Thurs from 11am-2pm at Healy’s Supervalu carpark.

KinsaleKinsale Voices Acapella Performance Choir, Monday evenings in Café Blue, Blue Haven Hotel from 7.30 till 9.30pm. New members welcome 086-8759949, [email protected] FB:KinsaleV-oices

MacroomFreestyle music session, Goldens bar, Macroom, 1st Wednesday of each month from 8pm, all welcome!Farmer’s Market in Macroom held every Tuesday in the Square in Macroom.The traders sell fresh fruit and veg, home baking, a variety of bread and chese, glu-ten free cakes and bread, clothes, candles, crepes and many more items.Macroom Country Market Tuesdays 11.15 to 1pm in the GAA club house – selling home produced baking, organic vegetables, jams and honey and locally made crafts. Tea and coffee also served. All Welcome.Youthreach, Macroom 026 43733.Citizens Information Centre Infor-mation & Advice on your entitlements. Drop-in to the offi ce at South Square or tel: 0761 078430.Visitor Information Point run by Blarney Macroom Municipal District, in conjunc-tion with Fáilte Ireland, is located in the Town Hall, Macroom providing leafl ets and information on local tourist activities.

Rosscarbery, Leap & GlandoreMyross Community Choir meets every Thursday evening, 7.30-9.30, at Myross Wood House, Leap. Contact Pamela Mar-shall: 028 34395 or 086 1252004.Taizé Ecumenical Evening Prayer Service of Prayer, Song & Contemplation on the First Thursday of every month @ 8pm in Rosscarbery Parish Church (Sac-risty). All most welcome to attend. Please note the earlier time of 8pm for the winter months.Enchant Ladies Choral Group – Mondays in the Church of Ireland Hall in Rosscarbery at 7. 30 p.m. If you like to sing, you are most welcome to join us. Nancy Long 086 3159760West Cork Toastmasters ClubCeltic Ross Hotel, every Saturday morn-ing, except Bank Holidays, 11am - 12.30 pm. Overcome your fear of public speak-ing and become more confi dent! New members welcome. For more information contact John at 0857202808.Meals on Wheels delivered every Wednesday or served in Rosscarbery Social Centre. To book phone Fiona 087

925 6029.Friday Active Retired club, meets every week for activities and lunch, cost is €8. To book phone Fiona 087 925 6029

Schull & GoleenSchull Country Market, Sundays from 10am – 2pm at Pier Road car park. Runs weekly from Easter Sunday till late September. Parent-Toddler & Baby group - every Wednesday morning in Parish Hall from 10.00 to 12ish. All welcome. For more information call Susan on 0860859500.‘The Purpose of Life’ (Revealed through the Scriptures). Free talks each Friday 8pm-9pm, at Schull Harbour Hotel. All welcome. For any further info call Freda: 087 6032577.

SkibbereenSkibbereen Parent & Toddler Group - Tuesday morning 11am to 1pm and Thursday morning 10.30am to 12.30pm. Abbeystrewry Hall, children from birth to pre school.Set and Ceili dancing for adults and teenagers, with Bert and Annie Moran, every Wed at 8.30 pm in the O’Donovan Rossa G.A.A. Pavilion, Skibbereen. 028 23618.Would you like to join us and learn Cúpla Focal Gaeilge? Wednesday Morn-ings 11.30am to 12.30pm, The Centre for Active Empowerment, 57c. Townshend Street. Teacher on hand. Tel: 0874197330 or 0868071478 Donation towards Costs €5The Friday Club Skibbereen Town Hall from 10am to 3pm. open to all free tea/coffee facilities. Speaker every Friday giving information on local services.Singers club every month (fi rst Friday) Corner bar Skibbereen at 10pmTrad Irish music every Saturday night Corner bar Skibbereen at 10pm.Skibbereen Farmers’ Market every Saturday morning 10-1 in the Fair FieldCreative writing group meet on the fi rst and third Saturday of the month at 11am in Skibbereen Library. New members welcome.Aughaville Parent & Todler Group meet every Tuesday 10am – 12noon at Tadhg MacCarthaig GAA Hall, Aughaville. Call Lillian 086 3861565 or Helen 086 1953625.Grow: Suffering from depression, anx-iety, inability to cope. weekly meetings: Thurs 8pm at Myross Wood Retreat House, Leap.Alcoholics Anonymous - Daily meetings in Skibbereen, 087 6114946.Skibbereen Breastfeeding Support Group every other friday each month from 10.30am to 12.30pm, community centre (in Field’s car park)Coffee Mornings: 4th Thursday of the month in in The Methodist Centre, Skibbereen from 10:30am. tel: 028 23655 or 028 22859.Skibbereen Country Market Ab-beystrewery Hall. Every Friday from 11.30am - 2pm.Crafts, Home-baking, plants and gifts.The West Cork Philosophical Society Wednesday evenings, 7-9 pm, West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen. Contact Anne Crossey 085 851 6172

Email events to [email protected] Only non-profi t, community events for this section please.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WEST CORK


Special Feature LOVE IS IN THE AIR

Marriage talk

“Getting married is easy, being married is really

really challenging,” says O’Neill, who divides his time between his practice in Dublin and Eyeries in rural West Cork, where his family roots go back 350 years.

O’Neill believes there are three core issues that cause problems in relationships – sex, money and housework.

One of the things he emphasises to the couples he counsels, is that a relation-ship is not about equality, it’s about equity. “Equity tells us if you’re better at cooking and I’m better at ironing, we should divide the work that way. The key is never to presume things but engage in conversations about it.

“It’s never happened that a couple has come to see me because they’re arguing about housework. What it comes down to is somebody feeling or being taken for granted, someone in the relationship feeling stressed and poor com-munication, which are always indicative of something else.”

The main challenge for couples says O’Neill is recognising that you are two individuals.

“A good couple allows you to blossom as an individu-al within a couple. Losing yourself comes at a price. Find someone who encourages you to keep fi nding yourself, not someone who encourages you to leave yourself.

Although a prenuptial has no weight in Irish law as yet, O’Neill says it is worth having a conversation. “Perhaps you’ll be surprised at how different your approaches are to saving and common assets and the division of them if it comes to that. Only by having

that conversation do we come to realise what those differenc-es are.

“It’s too easy to get into the love and romance conversa-tion, it’s the other ones that are diffi cult (sex, money, house-work) but a good couple won’t be afraid of them.”

Inlaws are another challenge that most couples come up against. “It’s very important to prioritise your relationship and defi ne that this is your primary ‘family’,” explains O’Neill. “I’m still surprised to meet couples married over 10 years and spending Christmas-es apart with their respective families of origin just because that’s the expectation or obligation or that’s how things are. The two people in the relationship are the two people who should make decisions about it, no one else. Other people have opinions, desires, wants and needs but the deci-sions ultimately belong to the couple.”

“Children of course create another sense of priorities, particularly when they’re little and so dependent on the par-ents but there still needs to be time and space for the couple.

“In many ways I think you’re better parents if you’re strong as a couple. It’s not a hierarchy. If you work together as a team, you’ll be better parents and the children’s lives will be more enjoyable as a result.”

While he counsels there is nothing wrong with couples having differences or disagree-ments, O’Neill emphasises that it is silence between a couple that can do the real damage to a relationship.

“I would say silence and not talking about things has traditionally been the main problem around mental health and wellbeing and around rela-tionship health and wellbeing in Ireland.”

And whilst bad arguing is bad in a relationship, couples will be relieved to hear that good arguing is good!

“You argue well by recog-nising that it’s not about win-ning the argument, it’s about listening to the other person

and them listening to you,” explains O’Neill. “If you want the other person to listen to you, then you need to take re-sponsibility and listen to them. It’s like anything in the history of confl ict – it’s only when you recognise differences that you can move forward.”

According to O’Neill, there is only one thing that kills love and that’s neglect. “Every cou-ple can survive pretty much everything else except neglect. When we feel neglected or when we ourselves neglect our relationship, that’s when we’re moving into a more precarious and permanently damaging space.

“Creating the time and space and communication for each other is so important. Com-munication doesn’t always have to be verbal but watching Netfl ix together or sitting in a room looking at your phone isn’t spending time together. There are a lot of ways in which we think we’re connect-ing in the modern world and we’re really not.

“Something as simple as cleaning a room together or lying down together for 20 minutes can be worth the time and effort,” says O’Neill.

“When you’re planning a wedding or a holiday, or having a child, ask yourself how much am I including the other person in my life, in my evening, in my weekend, in my Christmases? You don’t have to do everything together

Leading relationship expert and psycho-analytic psychotherapist, Dr. Ray O’Neill shares some advice with West Cork cou-ples who are about to tie the knot.

Communication doesn’t always have to be verbal but watching Netfl ix together or sit-ting in a room looking at your phone isn’t spending time together. There are a lot of ways in which we think we’re connecting in the modern world and we’re really not.

cont’d on page 18

thtoe

lotidwb

thatoapOmyefthoarwapwsc

apaeti

yshapwr

nhmittha

ntrpatiin

bwg

nnli

Lasp

aetysIorc

iapeWwrmas

aomhNaiTwiw

clma

ahhoemh

CdbNtasTiwtw


but you can’t afford to neglect each other or be neglected.

“Falling in love is easy! I know it’s troublesome but keeping love and respect alive, and communication going between the two of you – that’s where the real challenge is. A marriage demands and requires more of two human beings than just love or sexual attraction.

“With marriage you’re building something together. It’s the process rather than the result that creates the joy. It’s not about getting married, which any two people can do, it’s about being in a relation-ship and the joy that comes from that.”

And you’re never too old to fi nd that joy in a relationship.

“There was a great piece of research released last year, explains O’Neill “which stated that most couples in their 20s get married after knowing each other between fi ve and seven years, couples in their 30s are together between two and three years, couples in their 40s are

together a year, and in their 50s, it’s usually six months.

“When we get older most people know better what they want. You’ve lived a bit of life, you’ve been bruised a bit and you’re not naïve. Try to fi nd someone who sees your baggage and values it.

“A good couple is better than being single but being single is better than being in a bad couple. Being lonely in a relationship means you have someone for weddings and Christmases and so on but you don’t really have someone at all. It’s all just a visual.

And regarding soul-mates O’Neill says “A true mate to your soul is someone who wants your dreams to come true. They cannot be your dream, that’s too much pressure, but they should be able to facilitate and listen and encourage your dreams…”

Dr Ray O’Neill can be reached through his website www.machna.ie or on 086 8280033.


The language of loveWhat do you get when you mix the passion of a Brazilian woman and the more laidback atti-tude of an Irish man to-gether. It’s a recipe for success if the marriage of Fernanda Schneider and Diarmuid Thoma is anything to go by.

Fernanda (34) and Diar-muid (35) met on a dat-ing website and although

an unplanned pregnancy early in the relationship could have thrown a spanner in the works, the couple found it brought them closer together.

They are now married and live in Bandon with their two small children, Cian (5) and Adam (3).

“It was a shock at the be-ginning, it happened so fast,” says Fernanda “but Diarmuid gave me the emotional support

I needed throughout the preg-nancy.”

Fernanda had worked as a dentist in Brazil before moving to Ireland eight years ago. “My family in Brazil had moved away and I was feeling a bit lonely and disillusioned with my career, so when a friend from college invited me to come to Ireland, I went for it.” For the next two years, Fernan-da worked in a coffee shop in Dublin while travelling some of Europe in her free time.

“A friend suggested I try online dating and I had three dates with different people before fi nding Diarmuid. We started talking on a Wednesday and on Sunday we went for dinner. He went home to Kerry for a few days but came back early, as he was afraid I’d get another date.

“We were seeing each other three times a week but I think because he’s more a lot re-served than I am, I still wasn’t sure about his feelings for me.

“But even before I found out I was pregnant, Diarmuid had said (what I assumed was jokingly) that he wanted to be my husband.”

Around the same time the

couple found out they were expecting a child, Diarmuid was made redundant from his job in Dublin.

“It was a scary time but we got through it together,” says Fernanda. “I moved in with him and in May 2012 we got engaged.”

After a trip to Brazil to visit Fernanda’s family in 2014, she found out she was pregnant with Adam.

“I got my dress fi ve weeks before the wedding,” she says laughing. “I wanted to make sure it fi t my rapidly changing shape.”

In May 2014, the couple exchanged vows and held their reception at the Kenmare

Bay Hotel in Kerry. “It was amazing, so much fun,” says Fernanda. “We couldn’t have asked for more of the venue or the staff. They made every-thing very easy for us.”

They even managed to fi t in a brief honeymoon before Adam was born in September.

Diarmuid now works in Cork and Fernanda has started a small business crocheting baby clothes and blankets and frames, which she sells online (www.cacaucrochet.com) and through Thistleberry, a cooper-ative craft shop in Bandon.

“We’re living since No-vember 2016 and it feels like home,” says Fernanda “we couldn’t be happier.”

Marriage talk ....cont’d from page 17

Wyathtugsoai

ainththth

lisA

gsg

“We started talking (online) on a Wednes-day and on Sunday we went for dinner. He went home to Kerry for a few days but came back early, as he was afraid I’d get another date.”

to5

pwliafi b

thsbrsCda

Otowcypae

Dthm

I n

dtofalomfrcFdDo

odbsadfoea

thbss

ohjom

“(dwwabad

cewjo

gFhe

Ffw

blss

eth

BaFatt

iA

Cabf(ta

vhc

Fernanda Schneider and Diarmuid Thoma on their wedding day in Kerry.


Special Feature LOVE IS IN THE AIRWeddings at the Westlodge – where memories begin…The Westlodge Hotel and

Leisure Centre in Bantry is the ideal wedding

venue for your perfect day. The second phase of renovations has recently begun, marking an exhilarating stage of the hotel’s development; a further 20 new rooms are being refurbished, with an exciting new bridal suite that will be ready for March 2018. Overall there are 60 new Superior Rooms available for your guests at discounted rates.

Located on 26 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens that offer a superb location for wedding photographs, the Westlodge Hotel is at the centre of picturesque West Cork, and a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way.

The main banqueting room, the Seafi eld Suite, can cater for up to 350 seated guests and has a memorable, panoramic view over Bantry Bay. This versatile hotel also offers several other, smaller, function rooms that are suitable for a more intimate wedding and it is also licensed for civil ceremonies. To set the

scene a fairy light backdrop is complimentary for all weddings and the hotel also offers a mar-quee, available at extra cost.

The wedding team appre-ciate that every wedding day needs to be unique and exactly matched to the requirements of the bride and groom. They offer a fl exible range of package options which will allow you to plan your dream day, with packages starting from €43pp.

Babysitting, kid’s activities and supervised kid’s eating area during the meal are just some of the little extras that make a day go smoothly.

Contact The Westlodge today to start planning your dream day by email at [email protected] or call 027-50360. Discounts are currently available for winter and mid-week weddings.

DREAM WEDDINGSAT THE RADISSON BLU HOTEL & SPA, CORK

LIMITED 2018 DATES STILL

AVAILABLE

Why have a White Wedding when you can have one in Blu?

Situated on nine acres with a tree-lined en-trance, Radisson Blu Ho-

tel & Spa, Cork is the perfect synthesis of old and new. Con-veniently located just minutes from Cork city centre, Cork Airport and all major transport routes, the hotel offers a range of wedding packages charac-terised by a fl exibility to suit all tastes, sizes and budgets with an extensive list of extras and all at extremely competi-tive rates.

The elegant and contempo-rary style of new build hotel marries character and charm from 18th century Ditch-ley House with a carpeted sweeping staircase and grand entrance hall. This beauti-ful building along with our croquet lawn, mature trees, and fl owers offers the ideal setting for your wedding photos. Smaller parties can exclusive-ly use Ditchley House while others may choose to host their drinks reception there before moving on to the Great Island Ballroom

A Civil Affair? Spend the whole dayIf you are looking for a unique and different venue for your civil ceremony, catering for all guests numbers and budgets and allowing you to arrange everything for your big day under one roof! Should you wish to have an intimate gath-ering for the ceremony there are a choice of beautiful rooms in Ditchley House. For larger guest numbers you can opt for the reception area of the Great Island Ballroom.

And to top it off, all new bookings for 2018 and 2019 get a free Pampering Party for up to eight people. This includes spa treatments, afternoon tea and bedrooms – a mini hen party to get the celebrations started!

Whatever your dream wed-ding, the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Cork can make it a reality. Big or small, intimate or extravagant, old or new…or a mix of everything. Call on 021 4297000.

vsehedrowsuMarad

bthfoWoa W

thua ohsmarwfo

AwIacgaeuweaigtI

bgfia–c

d&roo0

scaq

cnmthaotop

Bsdod

todw5aw



Stylish transport to get you to the church on timeA team of a very special

sort is offering trans-port for weddings since

2013 – ‘Horsepower in Ire-land’, run by Sandra Schmid, provides a vintage style four-wheeler carriage pulled by two beautiful traditional Irish Cob horses, which can be hired for weddings throughout West Cork.

This could give your wedding day that extra touch; whether it is taking the bride to church, or picking up the happy couple after the cere-mony and transporting them to the wedding reception. Sandra and her four-legged team are also available for carriage rides for family and friends later

in the day, and of course, as a backdrop for the photographer. if you choose this form of transport, you are in for a very special treat with a nostalgic touch!

Horsepower’s services are friendly and professional and will give customers a unique experience, which will be fondly remembered. Horses, Henry and Flora, manage their job in a calm, relaxed and confi dent way. With their strong features and beautiful long manes, dressed in shiny harness and pulling an elegant carriage, they provide a stun-ning backdrop to any special occasion.

In fact, Horsepower Ireland also provides for other special occasions – whether that is a big birthday surprise carriage trip, an exceptional family outing or anniversary, a trip down memory lane, or taking part in local parades and shows with her horses and carriage. Horsepower also provides a horsedrawn hearse service for funerals.

Why not get in touch with Sandra to talk about your in-dividual requirements – she is happy to tailor-make a package for you. You can fi nd more de-tails on www.horsepowerinire-land.com and you can contact Sandra on 087 9389867.

Dating do’s and don’ts advice in ‘First Dates Ireland’ clips on RTÉ Player

The First Dates restaurant is open for business with the third series of

First Dates Ireland on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player in full swing! To help with those fi rst date nerves, RTÉ Player has round-ed up some familiar faces to reveal their fl irting tips and dating ‘do’s and don’ts’ in two short clips available to watch exclusively on RTÉ Player.

Journalist, Amanda Brunker shares what irritates her on a fi rst date while TV/Radio Presenters Stephen Byrne and Bláthnaid Treacy give

their best fl irty look. Find out why TV Presenter and Style Entrepreneur, Darren Kennedy won’t stick around on a date while Social Media Star, James Kavanagh has some stellar advice if the date is hitting a downward spiral. Crystal Swing’s Dervla Burke shares what her mammy taught her about dating while RTÉ 2FM Presenter, Eoghan McDermott has his opinions on personal space. If all that fails, follow the guidance of First Dater, Jeff and just wash the ‘pits and bits’.

Watch the third series of First Dates Ireland on RTÉ2 Tuesdays at 9.30pm and live and on-demand on RTÉ Player along with First Dates Ireland Extras. Go to RTÉ Player after each episode airs on RTÉ2 to discover some popular daters and famous faces such as Ste-phen Byrne, Bláithnaid Treacy and Dermot Bannon sharing their insights on dating and follow a day in the life of our favourite maitre d’ in Mateo’s Day Off available exclusively on RTÉ Player.

Crystal Swing’s Dervla Burke shares what her mammy taught her about dating.

thwEwwKaaSwaPhsthJb

FTaaEedapathfofaDo

inbiftrsto

fwefHthaslohcno

aobtrodpwHhf

SdhftlS


Special Feature LOVE IS IN THE AIRHappiness is the simple things in life

Deirdre and Lau-rie Baynes fi rst met fl eetingly outside Dorchester Prison in Dorset in the early 80s. The couple, who now live in Clonakilty, will celebrate 34 years of marriage at the end of June this year.

“Laurie was with a friend, who I recognised as a

customer of the wholefood shop I was working in at the time,” says Deirdre. “He was very quiet but the less he said the more interested I became,” she says laughing.

A year later, they bumped into each other again, this time at a campaign for nuclear disarmament (CND) fundrais-ing folk evening. Laurie found his voice and by the end of the evening they had talked so much they forgot to cash in their food vouchers. That was February 10, 1984.

Four months later they were married, on June 29.

By August they had bought a house together.

“A lot happened in a year,” they say laughing.

“I didn’t know it was a leap year,” says Deirdre, who after only 10 days of courting asked Laurie if he wanted to make the relationship permanent. “I said ‘do you think we should

get married?’ and he said yes,” she reminisces.

Laurie was 32 and Deirdre was 33 at the time. Both were teachers, Laurie of psychology and Deirdre of art.

“I fi rst came to the UK when I was 18 and trained as a nurse, specialising in psychiatric nursing practice” explains Deirdre. “But I then did a three year teacher training course and became a secondary school art teacher.

Laurie got his degree in psychology as a mature student in his 20s. Psychology and mature students were out of the ordinary at the time.

Both went on to eventually teach for many years at the same College of Further Edu-cation in Poole.

“We would be quite different in personality,” says Deirdre “but we come from similar backgrounds.”

“We come from working class families where education is important,” explains Laurie.

Deirdre grew up in May-fi eld in Cork and shared a bedroom with her sister and grandmother. “It felt like I was staying in a hotel when I fi rst started my training in nursing,” she says laughing.

The wedding was a simple but joyous affair.

Deirdre wore a skirt with mirrors on it for sparkle, which she found in a charity shop. The most expensive part of her outfi t was a pair of leather shoes, which she picked up for

12 pounds.“The night before, we

soaked a load of pulses to make salads with and cooked all our own meats,” she re-members nostalgically.

“We got married in a regis-try offi ce and had the reception in my father’s house after-wards,” says Laurie.

It was the fi rst time both families met.

Later that evening, the couple drove to their friend’s cottage in the country for their wedding night. “They’d creat-ed a four poster bed for us out

of toilet rolls,” says Deirdre laughing.

“We had fi sh and chips for our supper. It was perfect.”

Deirdre (68) and Laurie (67) now live at the top of a hill overlooking Clonakilty and are as happy together as ever.

“I’ve never met anyone as open-minded or as nice as Laurie. I love him more now than when I fi rst met him,” says Deirdre. “He’s non-judge-mental and a very calm, logical and understanding man. He has such an interest in things, which he shares with me. I’m never bored in his company. In fact, I’m a better person because of him.”

“Deirdre is exceptionally generous, kind and outward going…and sometimes a bit bold,” says Laurie mischie-vously.

Separately they pursue their own interests; Deirdre loves to swim and create art, while Laurie plays the piano with passion and has recently become interested in videog-raphy.

Together they share an interest in meeting people, exploring the countryside, archaeology, fi lms, gardening and cooking.

For Laurie and Deirdre, 34 years later, it’s still about enjoying the simple things in life together.

“One of our favourite things to do together is to prepare a picnic and enjoy it – some-times at the side of the road – on a day out exploring our native countryside,” says Deir-dre smiling.

gs

wta

IsnDyas

pimt

tsc

i“b

ci

fibgsss

b

msThs

1

smam

tiw

f

ccwe

ol

o

noa

oLtsmahwnIb

ggbv

tlwwbr

ieaa

3el

tpt–nd


By Aoife O’Mahony, jewellery designer

In my job, I have the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful couples; I

design and make engagement rings, wedding rings and other bespoke jewellery here in West Cork. I meet lots of cou-ples who take their wedding rings very seriously, both as a sign of their bond in marriage, but also as beautiful, inter-esting and meaningful pieces of design in their own right.

Many couples fi nd picking rings from a narrow selection of ready-made ones from the high street to be confi ning, limiting and, ultimately, underwhelming. So they are often pleasantly surprised to fi nd out that bespoke wedding jewellery, that actually rep-resents who they are and the sparkle in their own unique relationship, is available here in West Cork, and is not out of their reach.

It’s a privilege to be asked to be part of a couples special day. You’re part of the big day, but the rings, and what they represent, will last a lifetime, and possibly even be passed on to future genera-

tions, that’s pretty awesome. So for that reason, I advise couples to take some time to consider what they you might like. What will look amazing on your wedding day? What will you be delighted to show off to everyone you meet? And, since good jewellery can last forever, what will contin-ue to bring you joy in 30, 40 or 50 years from now? If you can’t fi nd wedding jewellery that does that for you, it can always be made.

I’ve worked with many couples down through the years and I love hearing their updates when people come back for eternity rings or other meaningful pieces of jewel-lery – honeymoons have been had, homes have been made, babies have been born, and the story continues.

Although I’ve been working from my Skibbereen work-

shop for the last 13 years, I previously lived in Holland, where I underwent my initial technical training and educa-tion in jewellery design and manufacture. Following this training, I worked in jewellery design in both Dublin and GlasgowEdinburgh.

Living in West Cork is special, and sometimes you don’t realise that until you travel elsewhere. It’s the peo-ple, the landscape, environ-ment and history. I’m lucky that many of my customers travel from outside of West Cork. They often make a mini-breakholiday of it. Al-though I’m more than happy to meet couples in Cork city too. Choosing, designing and collecting your wedding jew-

ellery should be a stimulating, rewarding and fun part of the build up to a couple’s big day. I guess that, ultimately, is my aim, to have lots of happy couples wearing jewellery that that delights them.


Carrigaline, Co. Cork. Tel: 021-4852100 Email: [email protected] Web: www.carrigcourt.com

Calling all newly engaged ladies along with their Mums, Sisters & Friends to

join us for our Bridal Brunch.Breakfast Bites & Bubbles with

our compliments.Meet the team and see how we can

make your day perfect.

“Bride-To-Be” BrunchSaturday 17 February

11am/2pm

(T&C apply)

Putting the sparkle in a relationship

Mriohliuofi jeresreinth

toddthlip

tiSccliowoAlauoctha

cyubmlehbth

fr

spwtetimtrdG

sdtrpmthtrCmthtotoc

erebI acth



Grooming the groomDespite the fact that

there are two people involved in getting

married, traditionally and still today, it is all about the BRIDE. I suppose the groom has a much

easier time, after all…a suit is a suit! Yet, there have been some wonderful changes recently, the traditional suit has been somewhat left behind and there is a move toward more colour

or vintage styling. There is a lot more thought put into what ‘he’ will wear now because it’s not just the select few invited to the wedding who will see him decked out; with the tendency

to share ‘I DO’ photos online, the door is now opened to a massive audience. Gorgeous shades of blue have crept in, tweed suits have become pop-ular for winter weddings and I recently spotted the most fab-ulous caramel suit on a groom. Whatever your other half wears on a daily basis, his personal style can now be refl ected in the wedding day fashion.

Black tie is not just for cock-tail parties – it is having a real moment in the wedding world. It is truly wonderful; think gowns and heels, suave and so-phisticated. Elegance swirls all around! Navy has been the ob-vious choice for the groom for a long time. Right now, brighter shades of blue are creeping in, a more fun and very defi nitely younger look...teamed with tan brogues. I do believe that it is checkmate when it comes to check suits. It is the most fun way to dress for your wedding…casual, cheeky and just perfect for a rustic affair. The best thing about this look is that the material can vary in thickness – linen for summer, tweed for winter. So wherever and whenever your wedding is, there is a checked suit that is perfect for the occasion.

Catwalk trends for grooms this season might raise an eye-brow or two with burgundy and deep purple taking over as the major frontrunners. On the right man, these shades look fantastic and certainly boast that extra wow factor. But the three-piece

suit still reigns, it is a traditional yet timeless option that will never go out of fashion. Exud-ing elegance, the three-piece need not be frowned upon as boring. Many grooms are now taking the chance to mix things up by adding a twist to their wedding day outfi t, perhaps by adding a check, tartan or con-trasting colour waistcoat. This is a great look for most men.

Another trend that is emerging is for the best man and groomsmen to dress in the same colour as the groom, but in a slightly different shade. The groom, of course, will kick his accessories and suit a notch above the rest of the group so that he most defi nitely stands out in those all-import-ant photos. Narrow cuts are still on trend and it’s all about single-breasted jackets with narrow lapels. Floral ties are quirky and very photogenic, especially when teamed with a classic grey suit.

Most grooms dare not get involved in anything to do with the wedding dress – brides DO tend to push their agenda on their signifi cant other. While the groom needs to stand out as the ‘man of the day’, he also needs to look like himself and be comfortable in his attire. Let him make certain decisions himself. Brides – don’t be too set in your ways about what you want him to wear...It’s his wed-ding too! How about you pick out some wacky socks for him to wear on the Big Day? A pair

that will make you both laugh? Give him the colour palette that will work with the girls’ dresses and let him off to fi nd his per-fect suit. How refreshing would that be? After all, the groom has no idea what the wedding dress will be like so how about the groom also surprises the bride? Can you hand it all over and trust that he will show up look-ing every bit the perfect groom? Food for thought!

I think that it is such a won-derful thing that I can fi nally write an entire article on a wed-ding suit! Not that terribly long ago, grooms always wore the same thing; they rented formal attire that may or may not have fi tted them very well. It just ‘did the job’ and that was that. Now, there are so many choices, so many different looks and most importantly, there always seems to be a look that will suit the personality of the wearer. Isn’t it great? Better still, the groom now has the option to wear his suit again and you know me...practicality is always high on my list!

Have the best time and don’t get stressed out about anything. Your wedding day will only happen once if you’re lucky, so take a few moments here and there to relish how special a time it is.

IMAGELouise O’DwyerImage Consultant

Save the date for Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa Wedding ShowcaseRecently awarded ‘Best Wedding Venue in Cork’ by WeddingDates.ie, In-chydoney Island Lodge & Spa overlooks two magnifi cent stretches of Blue Flag beach, just outside the pretty heri-tage town of Clonakilty and is a warm, polished and welcoming seaside hotel and a glorious spot for an idyllic wedding celebration.

Between 1pm and 4pm on Sunday, February 25, the friendly and

experienced wedding team

will be on hand to take guests of the showcase through their wedding offerings. Brides and grooms-to-be will be able to view the wedding room, taste some beautiful dishes created by Head Chef Adam Medcalf and his team, and take a look at table decoration options and more. Brown Thomas Cork will also be present on the day, with Jo Malone offering consultations on how to create your own unique fragrance for your special day. Brown Thom-as Cork Menswear Personal Stylists, Patrick McLoughney and Susan McKeon will also be in situ to give advice and tips on how to choose the perfect suit for your wedding day, after all they believe it is just as important as choosing

the bridal dress. In 2017, Inchydoney Island

Lodge & Spa was delighted to unveil the elegant refurbish-ment of the Inchydoney Suite, which has been the venue for many ‘I do’s’ and wedding celebrations throughout the

years. With soft seashore tones of blue and grey, and a relaxed and fresh style throughout, the new look ballroom with its bleached timber, golden touch-es and neutral colour palette brings the stunning seaside scenery indoors.

Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa offers something very unique to couples – the chance to say ‘I do’ outdoors on Inchydoney headland, which offers unparalleled dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean and natural music in the sound of the crashing waves.

As always menus at Inchydoney are full of locally-sourced ingredients, celebrating individuals and businesses in the area who have the same commitment to excellence as this classic seaside gem, and showcasing the fi nest local talents on the plate just as effectively as on the walls, so your guests are sure to be impressed with their superb wedding dinner.

The warmth and hospitality

of the staff at Inchydoney Is-land Lodge & Spa is evident in their weddings – from the mo-ment of enquiry right through your big day, the hotel’s dedicated team of organisers are there with you every step of the way to ensure an impecca-ble and amazing day that you’ll never forget. With a range of wedding packages, tailored to meet the individual needs of each couple, there is something for everyone at Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa.

Why don’t you take a closer look at how Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa and their stunning Inchydoney Suite can make your dream day a reality at their Wedding Showcase on February 25.

w

w

v

b

mwdcyy

btpdj

t

Lumwmc

yoanbebs

&utoInovao

Inlocbhtosthpthss

oltmydatbnwmefI

cIsmaF

eswthsis

olo‘hnthd

syninbtuwati

easiTkagsassnqec

ittttanbLhswdot

thGwafthnwgCtriF

dwdasafi ththmitpitnspm

gYhttht


Good news for newly engaged couples! The team at The Maritime

Hotel is hosting a wedding consultation day on Saturday, February 17.

If you are planning your big day then you are invited to The Maritime between 1pm and 5pm on the 17th to meet the wedding team and view the function suite.

“We have a limited number of dates still available for 2018, including a number of winter wedding dates, which are available at a reduced rate,” explains Helen O’Shea, Wedding and Events Coor-dinator. “These will book up fast and we would encourage anyone planning their wedding for 2019 and 2020 to come along, meet the team and view the hotel.”

Experience all that is won-derful about a Wild Atlantic

Way Wedding – world-re-nowned scenery, fantastic food and the friendliest Cork hospi-tality. The recently redecorated Maritime banqueting suite fea-tures dramatic fl oor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Bantry’s spectacular bay. Head Chef Adrian Biffen and his talented

team will create and deliver an exceptional banquet while Hel-en and her team will help you create and enjoy an incredible wedding celebration.

For further information or to book your personal appoint-ment with the Wedding Team phone 027-54700.


celebrate

Meet your dedicated Wedding Team

[email protected] 021 480 0500

Sunday February 25th, 12:30 – 5pm

Wedding Showcase

FOTA CollectionThe

HOTEL SPA HEALTH CLUB RESIDENCEThe Kingsley, Victoria Cross, Cork, Ireland. www.thekingsley.ie

Find us on

Style and elegance at The Kingsley Wedding ShowcaseBrides and grooms-to-

be dreaming of a chic city wedding will love

what The Kingsley has to offer: Stylish and contemporary inte-riors, sleek design and excellent service right in the heart of the city, making it the ideal wed-ding venue for a discerning duo.

Visit The Kingsley for a wedding afternoon with the experts on Sunday February 25, 2018 from 12.30pm - 5pm, and experience the hotel set up for an elegant city wedding.

The fi nest photographers, stationers, wedding planners, make-up artists, bakers, depart-ment stores, and musicians will gather together and showcase their top services designed to create the perfect wedding day.

Wedding experts on the day will include wedding planners To Have & To Hold and En-chanting Events, Brides of Eire bridal wear, Baker Boy Cakes, Gerard Kearney magician, John Sexton photography, music by Fiona Kennedy, fl orists Flower Power and Wonderous Weddings, videography from

Captured Occasions, Sirus Pro-ductions and Studio Plus Video Productions who will all be on hand to offer advice for future brides and grooms.

The afternoon will also be an opportunity to see the hotel’s ballroom, the classically handsome Deane-Woodward Suite, perfectly appointed for a glamorous big day.

At The Kingsley weddings are delivered with impeccable style and attention-to-detail and

the Wedding Showcase will gather together the fi nest to showcase their top services.

For further news and updates about the upcoming Wedding Showcase at The Kingsley on Sunday, February 25 from 12.30pm – 5pm, visit the website www.thekingsley.ie, follow The Kingsley on Twitter @KingsleyHotel or contact the dedicated wedding team on 021 480 0500 or E: [email protected].

Come meet The Maritime Hotel wedding team at consultation day

HcoF

dM5wfu

o2warraWdfaanfoalth

d

CdPhb

bhhSg

arst

thgsh

abSo1wfo@d0E

WnataMtuwspA

teeecw

bmp


When do I book my wedding hair stylist?Each bride has different prior-ities when it comes to booking their wedding. The no-brainers and fi rst-up would be ceremo-ny location, reception location, wedding band. And rightly so, however, don’t leave it too late to book your wedding hair stylist. The longer you leave it, the less choice you will have. It is not unusual for us wedding hair experts to receive bookings up to two years in advance.

When do I book my hair trial?It is recommended to book your trial up to six months ahead of your nuptials – espe-cially if your hair artist has not met you and worked with your hair before. This allows time to trial again if necessary and gives you the peace of mind that your hair will be perfect on the big day. It also allows for additional hair growth if it’s needed and time to address

the overall condition.It can also be benefi cial to

trial your hair on the same day as your makeup trial if at all possible, so that you can see how the whole look is going to come together.

Some brides book their trial for the day of their hen party. This option may work for you, but do bear in mind that it can take away from that wow moment when you walk up the aisle.

Be sure to ask your stylist how your hair should be prepped for your trial. I personally prefer to work with ‘day old’ hair, as I fi nd the hair is more pliable, holds best and gives a less fl yaway fi nish.

What do I bring to my hair trial?Bring pictures! Both of your dress and of any hairstyles that you have in mind. If they are of styles you’ve had in the past, then all the better! If you have any pictures of styles you dislike this can also help, as it gives your stylist a good idea of what sorts of styles to steer clear of, so you don’t waste time.

If you have a veil and or a headpiece I would recommend you bring it with you to the tri-al so both you and your stylist can see how they will work in with your chosen look.

If you have any reservations about the length or fullness of your hair then I would discuss this with your stylist ahead of the trial if at all possible. It may be necessary/helpful to bring clip-in extensions to your trial to help with issues such as these. If you’ve never tried them or are wary of them, keep an open mind. There are amazing options available out there and any good stylist is

going to make sure they are worked into your own hair seamlessly.

Conditioning tips?Everyone’s hair has different requirements. Some are dry, some coarse, some thick, fi ne, curly, frizzy, limp, oily, combi-nation...you get the idea. Hair-dressers are like hair doctors, and we are there to prescribe to you the right products. If you want your hair to look its best then it should go without saying that you should invest in the best. You will fi nd great hair care in great hair salons. Buying professional hair care isn’t just a ‘gimmick’ nor is it a ‘rip off’. You really do get what you pay for. There is a reason why I only use profes-sional products in my salon...because they do exactly what they say on the tin! Yes they are more expensive and they are also expensive for me to buy in but if I thought I could get the same results with a cheaper brand then you can be sure I’d be using it. My stock bill would be far healthier! Ask your hair stylist what they would prescribe to get your hair ready for its close-up.

If you only invest in one thing, let that be a good conditioning treatment that you can do yourself at home. It is all very well and good to have a treatment done when you get your colour done but the best results come from being consistent! If you make it your weekly ritual you are guaranteed to see and feel the difference. My favourite has to be Redken Extreme Megam-ask, to give your hair strength and softness – it can strengthen your hair by up to 70 per cent, perfect for those brides who are highlighting their hair before the big day.

How long before the ‘I do’s’ should I do my ‘do’?This is another one of those questions whose answer will vary from bride to bride. Some are in love with their hair in the days just after their colour and cut appointment, while others prefer it when it looks more lived in and a little less ‘done’. I usually fi nd that two weeks prior is the sweet spot for most brides. Not just from the aesthetic point of view but also from a practical one. The week of your wedding is going to be one big long to-do list between fi ttings, nails, tan, waxing etc. Do you really want to spend three hours that week

in the hair salon getting your meche done when it could be ticked off your list a week earlier? The choice is yours!

Wedding hair trends for 2018?In my opinion, going with a hairstyle that’s ‘on trend’ for your big day can be a bit of a risk! a) It may look beautiful on that model but it may not necessarily suit you and, b) when you look back on your wedding photos in years to come you don’t want to say “...remember when that style was in fashion...WHAT WAS I THINKING?”

With all of that being said, the current trending wedding hairstyles are soft and ‘airy’. A far cry from the severe hairstyles many of us have been haunted by since our debs...anyone remember the ‘worms’? (Cringe! - Seriously! What were we thinking?)

Go for a style that suits ‘you’! One that frames ‘your’ face perfectly, works with ‘your’ hair texture, suits ‘your’ dress and that is ultimately

timeless. Think styles like Hollywood curls, Chignons, French rolls...these can be adapted and tweaked from clean, smooth, sophisticated lines all the way to tousled and messy. They can be classical or they can have a current edge and they are versatile enough to put your own stamp on them!

Any other tips?HAIR COLOUR IS KEYPlan ahead to get your hair colour right! If you are think-ing of changing your current colour before the big day, don’t wait until the last minute. Sometimes what seems like the most subtle of changes can turn out to a work in progress. The condition of your hair right now may not allow that change and you may have to undertake a care regime before you can change shades.

While I wouldn’t recom-mend that brunettes suddenly go switching to a full head of highlights, I do fi nd that a few subtle caramel pieces can real-ly bring detail and dimension

to an upstyle or lend some beachy texture to a boho down style – if that’s your thing.

For blondes I recom-mend plenty of conditioning treatments for that bleach processed hair, which will help combat frizz on the day and give a more glossy fi nish to whichever style you choose. And for those who are fi ghting the brass – a bespoke salon glossing service or toner to make your hair more creamy and luxurious.

CHOOSING A STYLEDon’t try to force your hair to do something it doesn’t want to do. If you want your hair to be down and curly for your wedding day, but it’s naturally poker straight and usually doesn’t hold a curl, don’t expect your hair stylist to work miracles. Everyone’s hair has limits. Remember, this style needs to last a minimum of 12 hours! No easy task when you’re dealing with tempera-mental Irish weather.

Special Feature LOVE IS IN THE AIRWedding hair ‘dos’ Wedding Hair Specialist, Donna O’Neill of Pin-Up Hair advises brides-to-

be on hair ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ and answers some important questions in the run-up to the big day. With over a decade in the hair industry and strong foundations from her beginnings at Peter Mark, from trainee all the way to Colour Degree Specialist and Salon Manager, Donna has become one of Cork’s most popular wedding hair artists in her current solo venture at ‘Pin-Up Hair’. Though the salon is based in Innishannon here in West Cork, Donna offers a mobile service to coif the tresses of brides lucky enough to make it into her bridal hair diary.

cont’d on page 27

th

traphc

foTbcma

hpp‘disg

WtrBdthaphdgocti

hyacw

aythoIttoysutrkath

gws

CErescndatoybsinhBisawresbthaabgcsubAwh

thcyIthythbitgdbaaypab

inmbe

W2Inhyrionwwc“wT

thhAhbd‘wW

‘yfa‘yd

tiHFaclimoatoth

AHPcincdSthtuTricuy

mghsly

tobs

mtrpcgwAthgma

CDdtotowpdemlin1ym


Special Feature LOVE

Wedding Showcase Sunday 22nd October 2017 1-4pm

Rosscarbery, West Cork • [email protected] • www.celticrosshotel.comMain wedding photo taken on Warren Beach, Rosscarbery

Sunday 22nd October 2017 1-4pm

Wedding Showcase Sunday 4th March 2018 | 1-4pm

Featuring Triona McCarthy

ACCESSORIESIt’s not always necessary to blow the budget on a hair accessory. In fact sometimes a style won’t need any at all. Take into consideration the level of detail in your dress, whether you are also wearing a veil, if the veil has a lace trim, if your hairstyle is intricate - the devil is in the detail but sometimes you can have too much detail!

You can pick up some beautiful pieces in department stores like Dunnes, M&S and even Pennys. Another idea is to take some broken jewellery like a necklace and work it into your hairstyle or perhaps an heirloom piece that’s been in your family – this can be your something old!

For something defi nitive-ly more bridal, if you have a particular type of bead to match up or detail to pick up from your dress, then perhaps

it’s best to look to your bridal store, or failing that, the treasure trove that is Azure on George’s Quay in Cork.

For the vintage bride, Lucy from Bella Bleu on South Mall has a fabulous selection of one-of-a-kind hair accessories, birdcages, satin gloves and shoes to die for!

If you want something custom made, check out Alice Halliday who specialises is ethically-made and sustainable headpieces and crowns.

THE UNVEILINGIf you are wearing a veil, make sure your bridemaids know how to put it in and take it out without making a mess. Your stylist will usually put it in for you but make sure your bridesmaids have a demo in the event that someone steps on the veil or it falls out.

Have some emergency hair supplies in your emergency kit

and make sure your brides-maids have it at the ready – hairpins, hairspray and a comb!

Email your bridal enquiries to [email protected].

A step by step guide for glowing brides

With 25 years experience in the beauty industry,

Deborah Cortimiglia of Fenice Skincare and Beauty Clinic in Clonakilty has granted the beauty wishes of more brides than she can count, but she still sees them as her very special customers.

With her daughter Roberta, also a highly trained therapist, Deborah has devised Bridal and Wedding Party packag-es in her glamorous, private and professional salon that will have you and your girls looking your absolute best, including facials, nails, lashes, tan and more. There are also fun Hen Party packages on offer.

But to get your skin in tip-top shape for the big day Deborah recommends you seriously start looking after it up to six months beforehand, to provide a smooth and dewy canvas for makeup and tan…as well as helping you to forget the stresses and strains that are inevitably part of the planning process.

Deborah’s bridal beauty and skincare checklist:Six months to W-Day:• Book a consultation with

your beauty expert to choose the best package to suit your needs

• Begin your skincare regime at home

• Have a few sessions of professional facials or a microdermabrasion/peel

• Have an eyebrow consulta-tion to discuss the different options available (Microblad-ing, Fusion Brow, HD Brow, reshape)

Two Months to W-Day:• Patch test and try your spray

tan to be sure you are happy with the results

• Patch test and try your lash extensions

• Choose your nail style and book a trial

• Choose your makeup look and book a trial

Two Weeks to W-Day:• Enjoy your fi nal intensive

facial• Schedule your wax appoint-

ment• Start to regularly exfoliate

your body

One Week to W-Day:• Treat yourself to a massage

for relaxation• Enjoy a gentle facial• Deep exfoliate your body• Have your full SPA pedicure• Wax• Have your eyebrow shape

and tint• Have your eyelashes tinted

One or two days to go:• Get your spray tan• Have a gentle Oxygen/hy-

drating facial• Get your nails done• Get your eyelash extensions

On your special day:• Moisturise• Make up and glow!

Fenice BeautyUnit 8A Faxbridge, Clonakilty 023 8833984 / 087 3670893www.fenicebeautyacademy.ie

Wedding hair ‘dos’ ....cont’d from page 26

One-of-a-kind accessories from Bella Bleu in Cork.

itbtrG

fhobs

cHeh

TIshoYinbtho

s

am–c

t

Ofr

tiDsutocathinp

DaS•

•

•

•

T•

•

•

•

T•

•

•

O•

•••••

•

O••

••

O••

FU0w

d k b id


Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us. These days it is celebrated,

as a day of cards, chocolates, wine and perhaps a special dinner. But what of its ori-gins? Well, the one thing that can be said with certainty is that the evolution of Valen-tine’s Day is shrouded in myth and mystery.

Consider this extract from the New York Times as far back as 1853.

‘It is one of those mysteri-ous historical or antiquarian problems, which are doomed never to be solved, as to what the unhappy Saint Valentine had to do with February 14, and all its symbols and para-phernalia of Cupids, hearts, and love-letters.’

The confusion starts when we ask who exactly was Saint Valentine? It appears we are celebrating two differ-ent Saints who became a composite character over the centuries, Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni. Relics

of the former are found at the Carmelite Church, Whitefriar Street, Dublin.

There are many legends surrounding Saint Valentine including that he wore a ring of amethyst with an engrav-ing of Cupid, even in Roman times a symbol of love. Ame-thyst subsequently became the birthstone of February. Some historians trace the connection of Valentine’s and romantic love to the poets Chaucer, John Donne and Shakespeare.

In England, the introduction of the postage stamp in En-gland in 1840 led to a reduc-tion of postage expense and a huge boost to the practice of sending Valentine’s cards anonymously. In the United States, the fi rst mass-produced cards can be traced to one Esther Howland of Worcester Massachusetts (my home State!) who from 1847 sold ‘elaborate creations of real lace, ribbons, and colorful pictures.’

From these humble and mysterious beginnings what is undeniable is that modern Valentine’s Day is a big deal. It is estimated that Americans alone spend something close to 19 billion on candy, fl ow-ers, cards, and fancy dinners. And the wine to go with the fancy dinner? Well, I love this quote from Hugh Johnson, ‘With very special bottles the wine guides the choice of food rather than the other way around.’

RecommendationsTwo very contrasting reds.

If you like soft, light, wine with hints of cherry – Les Co-teaux des Anges, Bourgogne, Pinot Noir, 2013, 12.5 per cent. SuperValu, Clonakilty only, on special at €8. Great value.

Much more full-bodied, Visan, L’Enclave Nord, ‘La Souco’, from the Southern Rhone. 2015, best drunk young. 13.5 pc. On special in Dunnes Stores at €12, excel-lent value.

Expression Lim-oux, (white). 13%, Chardonnay from the Languedoc, very classy, attracting rave reviews in the press. LIDL, €14.99.


Tony Eklof, originally from New England, has settled in Clonakilty after a career as a librarian at University College Dublin. His knowledge and passion for wine has been inspired by frequent visits to the wine growing regions of the continent, particularly Italy and France.

THE WINE BUFF

Tony Eklof

Valentine’s winesLove in technicolourLisa Helen from Lyre and Dan O’Callaghan, Schull worked together in the Quality Hotel and Park Cinema in Clonakilty for two years before going from work colleagues to something more!

Seven years on and Lisa (28) and Dan (32) are getting married in May

this year in Kilgarriffe Church Clonakilty with the reception at the MacDonald Kinsale Hotel & Spa in Kinsale.

Lisa works as a technical specialist in MSD Brinny and Dan is the manager of the Clonakilty Park Cinema.

During Lisa’s PhD studies she had the opportunity to go to the US to present her research. “It was the perfect opportunity for Dan and his brother to come along for a holiday while I was working!” says Lisa laughing.

On the very last night of their 10-day trip, the couple walked across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. “The scenery was amazing but Dan decided to make it a little more memo-rable by getting down on one knee as we both posed for our picture to be taken (by my boss!),” she explains.

The whole event was cap-tured on camera. “It’s so lovely to have these photos now. The absolute shock and joy was overwhelming at the time,” she says.

“I eventually rang home to tell my parents (using my boss’s phone as he had free in-ternational calls) at 12pm Irish time. They were overjoyed but had been waiting 10 days for the phone call.”

Dan had asked Lisa’s parents for permission to marry her before heading to the States, so needless to say, leaving the proposal until the last evening of the trip led to some appre-hension back home.

After that, the good news spread very quickly around

West Cork and the house was full of family to welcome them home as a newly engaged couple just 24 hours later.

The couple decided on the McDonald Hotel in Kinsale as their venue, as they loved

the setting, everything was included in the package per head and it was somewhere a little different.

They are planning to do ‘A Taste of West Cork’ for their guests straight after the

service before heading to the reception. “This will include many local products, keep people from going hungry and will provide us with some time to take some photos in Clonakilty before we head to our reception,” says Lisa. “We also believe it’s important to support local and be proud of the fabulous products that come from this area.”

“Lisa is very organised,” says Dan “but we are both still quite laidback about wedding planning and are really enjoy-ing it, as we have had a year and a half to plan it.”

They are both in agreement that the most enjoyable part of the experience so far has been the half day spa treatments they received complimentary, as part of their wedding package with the MacDonald Kinsale Hotel.”

And the most stressful part…”Finalising the guest list and staying below the maxi-mum numbers for the hotel!”

There have been no dis-agreements so far and although Dan is always consulted before any decision is made, defi nite-ly Lisa has done most of the work!

The bridesmaids are Lisa’s two sisters, Tania and Clodagh, and her fi rst cousin Michelle, who is also one of her best friends. Lisa is bridesmaid for Michelle in July too, so a busy but exciting year ahead!

Although Lisa will not be making a speech on the wed-ding day, the couple do plan on writing Dan’s speech together.

Following the wedding they are planning on fl ying to Tulum, Mexico for eight nights in a fi ve-star all-inclusive hotel followed by a nine-day adven-ture in Costa Rica. “We’re so excited about the honeymoon,” says Lisa.

After that they plan on spending lots of time together, doing some travelling and sim-ply enjoying married life. “We plan on tackling everything life throws at us as a team and loving and supporting each other for the rest of our lives,” says Lisa with feeling.

Celebrate this Valentine’s Day in aid of Cancer Research

Celebrate Valentine’s Day this year in aid of Cancer Research at the annual Breakthrough Cancer Research Valentine’s Ball on Saturday, February 10 in Fota Island

Resort, Fota Island. Funds raised at the black tie event, now in its 28th year, go directly to cancer research.

The evening, which is one of the Breakthrough’s signature fundraising events, will be hosted by broadcaster Jonathan Healy,

with musical entertainment from the Pat Fitz Band and comedian Joe Rooney. It promises to be full of entertainment, dancing, and gourmet dining with exceptional goodie bags and fantastic prizes to be won on the night.

Tickets cost €145 per person and can be purchased by calling 021 422 6655, emailing [email protected], or visiting our online shop at www.breakthroughcancerresearch.ie

wJgto

0v

Wfuhc

Ma

tihl

‘t

srmpatCoasoc

sqpia

ttttapK

pam

aDalw

tawfMb

mdw

tTiftes

sdppllos


Marguerite O’Sullivan from Ballinascarthy and James O’Brien, Clonakilty got married on April 21, 2017 in Timoleague church with their wedding reception held after-wards in the beautiful Fernhill House Hotel in Clonakilty.

Marguerite (32), a special needs teacher and James

(28), a trainee accountant, met through Marguerite’s sister.

“We just clicked and there was a lot of Facebook mes-sages back and forth, before we eventually got together,” explains Marguerite.

The couple were together six years before James popped the question in July 2015.

“We spent a weekend in Galway, which I will never forget,” says Marguerite. “We were lucky enough to meet John C Reilly and it’s where my best friend proposed.

“The proposal was very casual, which I loved; James got down on one knee in our bedroom and I said yes! He was very calm the whole weekend and I never suspect-

ed a thing. And now Galway holds a special place in my heart.”

Marguerite and James chose Fernhill House Hotel as their wedding venue, as it ticked all the boxes for them.

“We both adore the beau-tiful gardens, the marquee, and not to mention the service and food at Fernhill, which is second-to-none. We were so lucky that on the day we got married, the sun was shining, so it made the marquee and garden experience even more magical for us. The profes-sionalism of dealing with the staff and the O’Neill family at Fernhill made it such a stress-free experience for us, which meant a lot. “

Marguerite and James put a lot of planning into making their day stand out from the crowd. “There was a lot of DIY behind the scenes,” explains Marguerite. “James constructed a giant Jenga puzzle for the guests to enjoy outside the marquee. We made all our own table cen-trepieces and put a lot of work ourselves into decorating the venue. We had a gin and tonic drinks reception, which went down a treat with many of the guests! And we also surprised our guests with singing wait-ers after the meal!”

The couple found the week leading up the wedding to be the most enjoyable part of the wedding planning experience. “All the fi ner details were pieced together and we fi nally saw what our centrepieces would look like,” explains Marguerite. “I would also have to say one of the most

enjoyable parts for me was picking out my dress.”

And as most couples will attest to, the most stressful part was doing up the invite list and waiting for RSVPs!

For both Marguerite and James, the favourite part of the day was arriving at the marquee in Fernhill, seeing all their friends and family enjoying themselves out in the gardens and being able to spend time chatting and laughing with them.

Sensibly the couple decided to give themselves something to look forward to after the anticlimax that can come after a wedding celebration. They waited until July to go on honeymoon to the USA. “It was the trip of a lifetime… we visited San Francisco, Hawaii, Chicago, and Washington DC,” says Marguerite.

And for the future… “I suppose we’d like to end up like one of the couples on a Disney Rom Com, ‘happily ever after’,” says Marguerite laughing.

Marguerite and James’s advice/tips for other cou-ples about to tie the knot? Enjoy every moment even the planning stage as it all goes so fast; Know what you want and see if you can picture your ideas in the venue you choose; Go and listen to dif-ferent bands, and music you like; Think outside the box, do what makes you and your partner happy; Make use of Pinterest.

And remember as the famous quote goes, “you don’t love someone for their looks or their clothes, or for

their fancy car but because they sing a song only you can hear”.

Special Feature LOVE IS IN THE AIRWhen you marry your best friend

“wswe

st

GfwJm

cgbww

pomtovddgoe

ltw“pswMh

ep

apl

Jtmaettl

ttaawhwvCD

slDel

apEpsaycfldpP

fdl

tth


people Health & Lifestyle

We all know good oral hygiene is very important, and yet

it is so often the last thing that we think of until just before we have to go to the Dentist. When we were children we always went to a Dentist in Clonakilty, so it was a day out, and for some unknown reason, although we were generally only allowed sugar once a week, we would always be taken for apple pie afterwards. Perhaps as a result of that pie, I don’t have any fear of visiting the Dentist – but it’s still an ex-perience I try to limit as much as possible. So this month I decided to explore some of the new – and some of the the traditional – natural approaches to oral hygiene, including char-coal toothpaste, oil pulling and sweets and chewing gum that is actually good for your teeth!

One easy way to start taking care of your teeth better is to change your toothpaste to a natural toothpaste. What you are looking for is a toothpaste that does not contain chemicals like Fluoride, SLS, triclosan, chlorhexidine, or the synthet-ic sweetener saccharin. The theory is that too many harsh chemicals upset the delicate balance of benefi cial bacteria in the mouth.

In Organico we are nearly all using a new ‘Blackwood’ charcoal-based toothpaste

by Splat, which is incredibly popular because it makes your teeth feel so clean, and it takes away stains like magic! We’ve also found that even people who have sensitive teeth fi nd it reduces their sensitivity. The company say: Charcoal, the in-gredient that gives Blackwood its black colour, whitens, ab-sorbs smells and removes stains to leave teeth feeling fresh and clean. Juniper extract promotes gum health. The toothpaste signifi cantly and safely whitens teeth, fi ghts plaque buildup and maintains long-lasting fresh breath. We say – try it for yourself, you’ll suddenly fi nd you look forward to brushing your teeth!

Another popular natural approach to oral hygiene is called Oil Pulling. This is an Ayurvedic practice whereby you hold a small amount of oil (raw coconut oil and virgin sesame oil are both used) in your mouth for a period of fi ve to 20 minutes and then spit it out; anecdotally people report an improvement in bad breath, a whitening effect on teeth, and research shows it can help to reduce harmful bacteria and plaque buildup. Plaque accumulates along the base of your teeth, becoming home to harmful bacteria. The bacteria can produce toxins that irritate your gums, causing infl amma-tion and bleeding (otherwise known as gingivitis). Because oil is ‘sticky’, if you keep swishing it around your mouth for long enough it can help to pull bacteria out of those hard to reach places. How to try oil pulling:• First thing in the morning,

before brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth out, measure one tablespoon of virgin cold-pressed sesame, coconut, sunfl ower or olive oil (sesame and coconut are the most reputed).

• Swish this oil around in your mouth, letting it pass over your tongue, your gums and all your teeth. Try your best to move it ‘between’ each tooth, for a full 20 minutes. I

usually do this while I have my shower and get dressed.

• The oil will turn white and frothy. Don’t gargle it or you’ll risk swallowing it. When the 20 minutes is up, spit it all out (not down the sink or the toilet though – your plumber won’t approve!)

• Brush your teeth as normal.• Repeat daily for a minimum

of 30 daysMany natural dental care

products are now using small amounts of Xylitol, which is a naturally occurring sugar that can be found in fruits and vegetables, because (unlike most other sugars!) it has been shown to improve dental health. As far as I understand it, tooth decay happens when bac-teria in the mouth consume the sugar we eat. The sugar gives bacteria in the mouth energy, which allows them to create a very acidic environment that starts to soften the enamel on our teeth and cause decay. Xylitol interrupts this cycle, as is does not break down like sugar and in turn does not feed bacteria. It also prevents bacte-ria from sticking to teeth. Inter-rupting this ‘acid attack’ (which can go on for half an hour after you eat something containing sugar – which would include foods containing natural sugars such as fruit and milk, as well as sweets) is very signifi cant in protecting teeth from decay. In Organico we have toothpastes, mouthwashes, chewing gums, sweets, and mouthwashes for dry mouth, mostly from the company called Spry. Do read the precautions carefully though – Xylitol is not good for dogs and if humans consume large amounts it can act like a mild laxative.

Something I learned while researching this article was that drinking Green Tea can be benefi cial to your oral health. Green tea contains complex compounds called ‘catechins’ that can fi ght infl ammation and actually help to control bacteri-al infections. For example, one Japanese study found that men

who drink green tea regularly have less occurrence of peri-odontal disease, as compared to infrequent tree drinkers. And another Japanese study showed that for both men and women, drinking one or more cups of tea per day was correlated with less tooth loss later in life. More research is needed here but drinking green tea once or twice a day certainly seems like a good idea if you want to improve your dental health.

Eating raw fruits and vege-tables such as celery, carrots, apples and other low-acid, fi bre rich foods is very helpful for your teeth. These water-rich fruits and veggies act by stimu-lating saliva production, which keeps oral bacteria in check. They also have a scrubbing effect, literally cleansing the surface of your teeth as you eat, working to brush the bacteria away. Chewing these foods will disturb and dislodge newly formed dental plaque, prevent-ing it from ever forming.

And fi nally, something as simple as drinking water can make a huge difference to your oral health. Drinking water right after you eat is an inex-pensive, readily available way to rinse your mouth, it removes leftover particles of food and stimulates saliva production. Skip the lemon though, as its acidic nature will help cause cavities. Sports drinks, ‘enriched’ with both acid and sugar, are even more danger-ous. Can’t give up fl avored water? Try adding some fresh mint leaves, which do much less damage.

And if you are interested in Zero Waste? Why not try a Bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one. And come and shop in the Zero Waste Zone we are opening next door to Organico – we are going to have all the basic organic foodstuffs in bulk containers, as well as cleaning products, personal care and lots more.

See you soon!

HEALTHHannah Dare

Organico Bantry

Skibbereen Glow Run 2018The 2018 Glow Run will take place on Friday February 16

at 8pm with a start at the Eldon Hotel carpark on Bridge Street, Skibbereen. The proceeds of the 2018 Glow Run

will be donated to COPE Foundation Skibbereen and to the ‘Bring James Deasy Home’ fund.

James was involved in a freak accident at his home in Union Hall in March 2017 and sustained life-changing injuries. After multiple operations and months of rehabilitation, in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire and Bantry Hospital, plans are being made to enable James to return to his own house

and wife Ann; but there is a lot of work to be done before this dream can become a reality.

As usual this is a non-competitive fun event and is not timed. It is always a great night out for all the family, from the very young to the not so very young. There will be music in the Eldon Hotel post run.

To register log on to the Facebook page and follow the link.Enquiries to Cian O’Mahony 086 3992562 or Garry Minihane

086 8328394.

and

istop

0

A natural approach to oral health

bpteaawitcgitstocgsteafyyy

acAyosytooaaatoaayhcytikosfptoH•

•

•

••

paatvmbhttsbwvsoXasbrrcysfsapOmsftrtdlm

rtbGctaaJ

whotoathdowMbtwliim

taariyfrlakTeswawfoin

smoriptolesSitc‘esowmle

inBpino–bcpm


By Eoin Roe,Chiropractic

This is a subject that I have been giving a lot of thought to lately, as

I am continuing to fi nd many patients lacking in nutrition and this is affecting their health. My original position was that as long as we had a healthy balanced diet all the nutrition we required would be contained in that food. So what has changed?

Well one of the big things is the signifi cant decline in nutrient values of fruit and vegetables since the 1930s, in some cases up to 40 per cent less (Davis D., 2005). The other is the change in the west-ern diet to exclude good fats from the diet and the increase in processed carbohydrate foods and sugars.

Whether we like it or not your granny was right – ‘eat

your veg’ was good advice – it is where we get most of the minerals and nutrition that helps our bodies to function properly for example calci-um, magnesium, iodine, iron, vitamin B, vitamin C and fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

So if you don’t eat vege-tables or good fats, you are going to struggle to get the correct nutrition that you need. Even if you are eating a well-balanced diet you may not be able to get enough of certain nutrients, because the nutrient value of todays food is not as good as it should be.

So back to my original question, should we be taking supplements? And it would have to be a yes, when we need them. But which ones?

The two supplements that research has shown to be bene-fi cial are Omega 3 and Vitamin D3. Omega 3 can help with cognitive function and help to slow cognitive decline, it is an anti-infl ammatory and is good for cardiovascular health. Vitamin D3 is normally ac-quired by exposure to sunlight, you do get small amounts in your food but you will never be able to get enough from food sources alone. Vitamin D is important in maintaining bone health and Vitamin D

defi ciency is associated with numerous chronic diseases including autoimmune condi-tions, cardiovascular disease and dementia.

Everyone would benefi t from taking an omega 3 and vitamin D3 supplement. These are readily available from all chemists and heath food stores, who will be able to guide you to a good source of these essential nutrients. By following the manufacturers guidelines these are perfectly safe to take and if you are allergic to fi sh or are vegan you can get a suitable form of Omega 3 made from algae.

Omega 3 and Vitamin D3 are not the whole story, there are many other essential minerals and vitamins we need such as calcium, magnesium, iron, iodine etc., which can cause problems. I will talk more about these in the next article.

The last point I would like to make about supplements is that the quality is import-ant. We need to be taking supplements that are as close to the natural food source as possible. This makes them more digestible and ready for our body to use.

Eoin Roe is a chiropractor and afferent input specialist work-ing in Skibbereen, Douglas and Kinsale. Please call 087 9582362 for an appointment.

References:Davis DR. (2005) Declining Fruit and Vegetable Nutrient Composition: What is the Evidence? Journal of Horticultural Science. February 2009 vol. 44 no. 1 15-19.

Important note: If you are taking blood thinning medica-tion please check with your GP as to the suitability of taking an Omega 3 supplement.

Should we be taking supplements?yismhpuvsK

tagcnancnn

qshn

rfi DctoisgVqyybfDb

dnintia

fvTfftoofgsayO

aamsircma

toiastopmo

Eaia9

RDaWH2

Ittaa

people Health & LifestyleNew Information Pack for bereaved parents launched in BantryAnam Cara has launched

a new resource aimed at supporting bereaved

parents in the early days after the death of their son or daugh-ter. The launch took place at the Maritime Hotel, Bantry on January 23.

More than 20 organisations from across West Cork were at the launch and received copies of the new pack, which con-tains seven booklets on differ-ent themes related to parental grief, such as A Dad’s Grief, A Mother’s Grief, Coping with the Sudden Death of My Child and Supporting My Family.

The local groups represented included An Garda Síochana, the HSE, Tusla (the Family Support Agency), An Garda Síochána local funeral direc-tors and clergy. Ella Ferriter, Assistant Director of Public Health Nursing in West Cork, helped to launch the pack.

Founded in 2008, Anam Cara has two groups, which meet every month in Cork and West Cork. In early February,

Information Evenings will be held in both venues: in the Maritime Hotel in Bantry on February 6 and in the Clayton Hotel (formerly Silver Springs), Cork on February 7.

The groups afford bereaved parents a safe and comfortable setting where they can meet other bereaved parents. Anam Cara is open to all bereaved mothers and fathers, regardless of the age or circumstances of

their child’s death, or whether the death was recent or not.

Launching the resource pack, Anam Cara CEO Sharon Vard said: “It is so important to ensure that any parent who is suffering the terrible and unimaginable ordeal of losing a child knows that Anam Cara is here to help. Our packs are a powerful resource for any fam-ily experiencing the death of a child, irrespective of whether

the child was a baby or a grown adult. Newly bereaved parents need others to put this information in to their hands at the earliest stage of their bereavement journey. They are very fragile in the fi rst few months and may not have the energy to pick up the phone or actively look for help.

“Newly bereaved parents and families need the support of those who have suffered a similar experience and learned

to cope again, they need reas-surance that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that they too will be able to emerge from the depths of despair and start living and enjoying life again.”

Anam Cara is urging all frontline professionals who come into contact with newly bereaved parents to get in touch with them to request a delivery of free information packs. In this way they will always have the information

on hand to give to newly bereaved parents when they need it most. Bereaved parents or their friends or family are also encouraged to get in touch to request a pack. This can be done by emailing [email protected] or calling Anam Cara’s Information Line on 085 2888 888.

For more information see anamcara.ie or call their Infor-mation Line on 085 2888 888.

Guest Speakers Alve Bevan, Professional Facilitator with Anam Cara, Catherine Holdroyd, Volunteer Parent at Anam Cara and Ella Fer-riter, Assistant Director of Public Health Nursing HSE, at the launch of the Anam Cara Information pack for bereaved parents, held in the Maritime Hotel, Bantry. Pic Tony McElhinney

InbthoCS

psoCmo

thth

pVtoisuaispilc

thgpinabamea

aos

GPwHarPaCbthP

tosewthli

frcbtodpa

obnoatobaC0

am


A major discussion on gender equality and Ireland’s approach to

empowering women, part of the Irish Aid-funded Project Us, took place at St Peter’s in Cork on January 25.

With the #MeToo campaign shining a global spotlight on the issues facing women today, the event aimed to facilitate an exchange of ideas on what gender equality will look like in 2030 and turn these into actions

that will spark change. “Gender inequality is a

universal problem across the globe and it’s vital that we use the current momentum around the issue to drive real change and make an impact on people’s lives,” said Sarah Martin, Di-rector Of Communications with aid agency Concern Worldwide, which is running the campaign.

Attendees were split into smaller groups to discuss key questions around gender equal-ity, which is one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Gender inequality is evident in every sector of modern life and the SDGs aim to achieve stronger leadership and repre-sentation for women, equal dis-

tribution of domestic work and the elimination of gender-based violence.

Less than one-third of senior and middle-management positions are currently held by women, with female workers receiving an average of 77 per cent of the salaries of their male counterparts.

A survey across 89 coun-tries also found that one in fi ve women aged between 15 and 49 years of age had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner over a 12-month period, while 47 per cent of female homicide victims were intentionally killed by an intimate partner or family member.

In the developing world,

child marriage and female genital mutilation continue to be widespread practices, with at least 200 million women and girls having endured FGM.

Gender equality is one of 17 goals that the Irish government and 192 other governments have promised to deliver as part of the SDGs, alongside climate action and zero hunger.

Speaking before the event Sarah Martin commented, “The Irish government, communities and individuals have a major role to play in making gender equality a reality, both in Ire-land and abroad. We are hoping that Project Us will empower the public to have their say and contribute to a more positive future for everyone.”

Interestingly, a group of students from Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty visited the Seanad recently to address the issue with Tanaiste Simon Coveney as part of the Concern Debates series.

In addition to lively discus-sion, an innovative 360-de-gree video telling the story of 24-year-old South Sudanese refugee Nyakoun was also be screened at the Project Us event.


CREATE YOUR FOR 2018 WORKSHOP

Vision BoardSunday 11th

February 2pm to 5pm

at Fernhill House Hotel ,

Clonakilty

Cost €35 includes all materials, Tea/Coffee & Lots of GiveawaysTo book a place on this powerful Workshop : call Anne or Juliana Today on 066-7181855 or 087-2915343

Focus on what you really wantA vision board is a powerful

tool used to help clarify and maintain focus on

specifi c dreams and goals that you would like to attract into your life; you display images and words that represent whatever you want to be, do or have in your life.

Join Anne and Juliana in

Fernhill House Hotel on Sunday, February 11 for an up-lifting, positive and fun workshop where you get the opportunity to create a vision board of the goals and dreams you would like to attract into your life for 2018.

To book a place call Anne or Juliana on 066-7181855.

Eye exams ‘as essential as a regular trip to the dentist’Having an eye test at least every two years is as essential

as regular trips to the Dentist, say optical experts. Adults and their children should ‘pledge to have an eye test’ every

two years to ensure they protect their vision as part of their normal health routine.

That’s the message of the Healthy Eyes campaign which took place in January, led by the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI) and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) Ireland.

Healthy Eyes encourages everyone who has not had their eyes checked in the past two years to visit their local optical practice for an examination.

To support Healthy Eyes Awareness Week, the AOI and FODO Ireland are encouraging people to post a photograph of themselves on social media using the hashtag #EyePledge and holding the Healthy Eyes pledge card, which can be downloaded at www.

healthy-eyes.ie.Further information and additional electronic resources can be

found on the Healthy Eyes website at www.healthy-eyes.ie and via the campaign’s Twitter page @healthyeyes2018.

AOI Chief Executive Offi cer, Sean McCrave, said: “Having an eye test at least once every two years is just as essential as a regular trip to the dentist to check that you or your children are in good health. An eye exam is not just to determine if you need glasses or contact lenses, it is a vital health check that can lead to the preven-tion of serious eye conditions.

“There is an increasing prevalence of sight-related problems due to an ageing population, and what is most important is early diag-nosis. An Optometrist is ideally-placed to provide the care which people need, be it reassurance, fi tting glasses or contact lenses, treat-ment of routine conditions, or monitoring of an existing condition.”

FODO Ireland Executive Chair, Garvan Mulligan, said: “Our

research shows that over half of people in Ireland have not had an eye exam in the last two years, which is the recommended period between check-ups. If at any stage people notice changes in the appearance of the eye, pain or discomfort they should see their local optical practice without delay. Children should also have an eye exam at least once every two years. Poor vision impacts on children’s leaning in school, but this can be easily avoided through timely diagnosis.”

It was estimated that in 2010, 224,832 people in Ireland were suffering from visual impairment and this is expected rise to 271,996 by 2020 – a 21 per cent increase. The economic cost of blindness and visual impairment in the Republic of Ireland was estimated at €2.1bn in 2010 and is expected to rise to €2.7bn by 2020, and yet 50 per cent of visual impairment can be corrected if diagnosed and treated promptly.

See better with ZEISS lenses at Kenneally OpticiansA healthy diet, regular ex-

ercise, frequent check-ups – it’s only natural

that we want the best for our health. However, many people underestimate the importance of

protecting their eye health. During everyday situations

we may gradually begin to realise that our eyes are not functioning as before, such as when reading a book, during long hours at the computer or when distant objects can't be seen clearly. However, there are critical situations, when poor vision can become a real risk, such as while driving. Carl Zeiss Vision knows about these problems and can apply over 170 years’ worth of optics experience to optimise vision in every situation.

The prerequisite for this: regular eye tests. Your local opticians is fi rst stop in ensuring your eye health.

Visual acuity can change signifi cantly during the course of a year, as can the particular demands placed on an individ-ual's eyes. This makes frequent eye tests important for ensuring your eyes can function with precision and can meet the chal-lenges of everyday life, safely and comfortably. Did you know that we perceive 80 per cent of our environment with our eyes? Therefore, ensuring your eyes

are functioning optimally will not only ensure better vision, but also improved quality of life.

A visit to Kenneally Opti-cians, with practices in Bantry and Skibbereen, guarantees you the very best in vision care, eye-health advice and choice of eye care products. The practice chooses lens products by ZEISS, a leader in preci-sion optics since 1846, Mary Kenneally adds: “when it comes to precision optical products ZEISS is generally accepted as offering unrivalled quality”.

Advances in spectacle lens manufacturing mean that to-day’s lenses can deliver greater quality of vision and more visu-

al comfort than ever before, In addition, your unique require-ments and visual behaviour will be taken into account, to ensure your ZEISS lenses deliver perfect vision.

Both practices also stock a vast selection of frames, with designer brands that include Furla, Kate Spade Maui Jim, Bolle, Silhoette and many, many more. These are all com-petitively priced, while stock is regularly updated to suit ever-changing fashion.

So whether you’ve never worn spectacles before, or your current pair is simply no longer up to the challenge, visit Ken-neally Opticians today.

Gender equality under the spotlight for Cork event

h

ft

ethct

tnpm

reebaloecti

feba€5tr

sodueyplatoT

anbli

catheopbsKtoZo

mdq

aambyp

vdFBmpise

wcun

thu

p

r

th

ugththalireaw

sqit

trthv

spwrcc

trw4pb1cwam

cgbag

gahoa

SIarelaththcf


West Cork Campus of the Cork College of Commerce

Meet the tutors

Tour of Campus

Local transport links for students

Path to further study or that ideal job

Make a new start

Courses relevant to local job

opportunities

Meet the students

Coffee Morning

http://westcorkcampus.corkcollegeofcommerce.ie/

Online Applications can be made through the website

For more information & a copy of our prospectus, please contact us.

Telephone: 028-21644 Coordinator: Máire O’Sullivan

[email protected] or [email protected]

OPEN DAYWednesday, March 14th

10am to 3pm

QQI DAY COURSES COMMENCING SEPTEMBER 2018

@westcorkcampus

QQI Level 5

Art

Community Care

Creative Craft for Enterprise

eBusiness

Early Childhood Care

& Education

Graphic Design

Healthcare

Horticulture

Cooking & Hospitality

Engineering Technology

Food Business & Marketing

Tourism with Event Management

QQI Level 6

Business

NEW!

NEW!

people Health & LifestyleWest Cork Campus in Skibbereen offers a broad range of relevant coursesThe West Cork Cam-

pus in Skibbereen is going from strength to

strength, as a dedicated further education college, providing a broad range of relevant courses for the community in West Cork. There are thirteen courses on offer this coming September, all QQI accredit-ed and quality assured. The college has close links with local employers to ensure that the education and training provision is in keeping with job opportunities in the West Cork region.

The college maintains a close relationship with local employers, particularly through its Work Experience programme, an integral part of every course at the West Cork Campus. The college cooperates with employers, providing graduates with relevant placements, creating links and opportunities for employment. Students benefi t from placement, as an essential part of their learning; and are provided with unique insights into working in a business or with a service provider relevant to their own particular area of study.

‘Industrial Engagement’ is a formal process where em-ployers are invited to critique a particular course; the course will in turn provide graduates as potential future employ-ees. The ‘Food Business and Marketing’ course was recently reviewed by representatives of JJ Field & Co, Glenilen Farm and Skeaghanore Duck. Ruth Field, Alan and Valerie Kingston and Helena Hickey took time out of their busy schedules to assist the college in selecting relevant modules for this programme.

In addition, the QQI Level 5 and 6 educational qualifi -cations are ideal for anybody who is considering higher edu-cation (HETAC Level 7 or 8).

Each of our offered courses is linked to relevant third level courses, in both Universities and Institutes of Technology, through the Cork College of Commerce Links System.

Students are supported and encouraged to progress in their studies; availing of individ-ual career guidance appoint-ments, college visits/speakers, specialised workshops in the preparation of college applica-tions, job/college interviews, and so on.

The college is very proud of the supportive environment of the West Cork Campus: experienced tutors; excellent resources, including up-to-date technology and a Student Support Service for those with particular educational needs.

There are a number of new programmes on offer this September including:

The Community Care course is designed to equip the students to work effectively in the community area to provide personal assistance under the ‘assisted living’ model. It fa-cilitates the student to develop a wide range of skills and specialized knowledge to pre-pare them for work in caring/community areas. The role of the personal assistant is to help a person with a disability live independently.

The Graphic Design course is a form of design, which cov-ers a wide range of areas, from design for fl yers; packaging adverts, posters and magazines to designing for on screen graphics such as website design and graphics. Graphic designers learn a number of skills such as digital photog-raphy and using type (typog-raphy) and often use computer design programmes such as Adobe Photoshop. Students are encouraged to develop their own creativity though a variety of media.

These new programmes, along with the established courses at QQI Level 5 and 6, offer post-leaving cert students, mature students and individuals, who want to make a career change or pursue further study, a wide range of options.

Students at the West Cork Campus can avail of Local Link transport connections to and from the college from surrounding towns.

Further information is avail-able on the website westcork-campus.corkcollegeofcom-merce.ie. The prospectus and further information are avail-able by contacting 028 21644 or emailing [email protected] or Máire O’Sullivan (coordinator) [email protected].

Clockwise from top left are students in Level 5 Art, Hospitality, Healthcare and Engineering.

New podcast series explores how we learn101: The Ways We Learn, a new 10 episode free podcast series, exploring how people learn new things, was launched recently at UCD. Science Foundation Ireland is supporting this series through its Discover Programme,

Like many countries, Ireland is going through a period of reform in its education sector. From pre-school to university, questions are being asked about traditional methods of learning. Approaches such as rote-learning are failing students.

The aim of the 101: The Ways We Learn podcast, produced by Bureau, is to inform the national conversation in this area by connecting big educational ideas with everyday occurrences like learning to cycle.

In each episode hosts, physicist, Dr Share Bergin, UCD School of Education and volcanologist, Dr Jane Chadwick, formerly Education Manager, Science Gallery Dublin, follow different people as they are guided by a teacher to learn something new – from swimming to cycling, from coding to cooking and from activism to graphic design – and explore the learning process from many differing perspectives.

Among those taking part in the series are; Dr David McKeown, UCD School of Mechanical and Materials En-gineering, who learns how to draw cartoons from Dr Maria Boyle, a researcher and creator of Twisted Doodles; Lynn Scarff, Science Gallery Director, who learns how to code from EU Digital Girl of the Year 2015, Niamh Scanlon and secondary school students who learn about activism and social justice with Christina Meehan from Concern Worldwide.

The fi rst two episodes of the free podcast series, each of which is approximately 30 minutes long, are avail-able now via www.101thepodcast.com.

ElicathC

esumsptia

ooerdSp

pS

csthp‘caspcthain

isedatogddsrrdAeoo

ac6sinafo

CLtos

acmfaoc(c

C


Just like any pill though you have to take the right dose! The WHO and the

Get Ireland Active www.getire-landactive.ie guidelines both advise that adults should en-gage in cardiovascular exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week, so ‘most days’ usually means fi ve, but as I advise my patients “Any day you wake up and you are breathing, you should exercise, only if you are not breathing, you get the day off !

An active lifestyle with moderate amounts of aerobic activity and similar amounts of

resistance training should be encouraged not only for phys-ical health but also because of the almost certain benefi ts for brain health. Check out www.hellobrain.ie, which explains why regular exercise is ben-efi cial to keeping your brain in good health. Exercise also creates a ‘feel good’ feeling and overall general wellness.

HSE Physios are very keen to promote the value of regular exercise for everybody. Many people unfortunately reduce their exercise levels as they get older, usually based on a fear that they are ‘too old to exer-

cise’. This is just not true, you are never to old to exercise, and certainly never too old to reap the benefi ts of including exercise in your daily routine. Whatever your fi tness, it is time to speed up so as to slow down the ageing process. It can be a bit daunting to get going but once you have embraced and felt the benefi ts you will be wondering why you didn’t start sooner! You could start out with a daily walk; wrap up, put on good shoes and start walk-ing, going a bit more each day as your body gets used to doing what it does best – moving!

HSE Physios know very well that many people enjoy exercising in a group, rather than home alone. Cork Sports Partnership, the HSE Health Promotion and Improvement Department and the HSE Phys-ios have worked together to develop a class called ‘Staying Fit For The Future with Better Balance Better Bones’, which is designed specifi cally to im-prove participants muscle and bone strength and also their balance. In September last year six programmes were launched in Cork with over 80 people attending the sessions over the eight weeks. It was a huge success and we are continuing these programmes for 2018.

This programme is for adults who walk unaided and want to remain strong and steady on their feet as they get older. The enjoyable sessions will include a warm up and exercises which are targeted at improving participants balance ability and reactions and their muscle and bone strength. Staying Fit For the Future Classes are sched-uled to take place at venues

across Cork city and county from January 2018 in: Skib-bereen on Tuesday afternoons in the Sports Centre from 3 til 4pm, and in Durrus on Tues-days from 11am til 12pm.

Everyone of every age can benefi t from being active. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease or osteoarthritis or if you have symptoms such as chest pain or pressure, dizziness or joint pain, talk to your GP before you increase your activity levels however most health conditions are helped by being physically active so start today, whatever your age, 38 or 83, for your healthy future!


LIFE LESSONSAnna Healy

Anna Healy is a life and business coach based in West Cork. She is available for consultations by appointment. Phone Anna on 087-2427848www.annahealy.ie

While speaking to a friend recently, she told me that

she knew a lot of professional mothers who are feeling burnt out, browned off and crying out to try something new but not sure how to take the next step. This statement caused me to refl ect, why has this happened? How did we get to here? How is it that so many competent people, experienced profes-sionals have lost their way?

Becoming a parent is a life changing experience; your identity changes, your responsibility increases and your attention is diverted. Your focus shifts from your needs

to the needs of others. A lot of the decisions made are for the benefi t of the children or the family and there is a chance that you can get lost in the middle of it all.

But this state of frustration doesn’t have to be all because of the kids; as we grow through different stages of our lives it is normal to have a desire to try different things and to expand our horizon.

So how do you get back on track? How can you move from browned off to inspired?

Get to know yourself again, fi nd out what is important to you – you might fi nd that what was important to you in the

past is no longer top of the list. What are three things that I

am proud of right now? What three things add to your hap-piness? What are three things that I am grateful for?

Review you personal plans; get some clarity about where you are and where you want to be. Here are a few questions to get you thinking:

If I won the lotto in the morning what would I do? What is the one thing that I would like to change about my life? Visualise where you would like to be in a year’s time, what would it feel like?

Once you are clearer about your goal, opportunities start

cropping up in places that you would never have thought of.

Do something for you, just you. You have spent the majority of your time doing things for other people, allow yourself a little bit of time to focus on what you would like to do. This doesn’t have to be expensive or interfere greatly with the routine of the day – if the children are in school why not attend a class locally, such as fi tness class, education or wellness. If you like to read, try the library.

Don’t discount everything that you have done in the past, you are an older wiser better version of yourself right now,

you have gained so much knowledge and experience in the past, which will help you achieve your next goal. Make a list of what you are good at and keep adding to them as younotice things.

Being burned out or brownedoff is not the end for you, it is asign that you are ready for the next stage of your life, you are ready to break through and takethe next step to the future of your dreams.

“Our passions are the true phoenixes; when the old one is burnt out, a new one arises from its ashes” Johann Wolf-gang Van Goethe

Finding your way from burnt out to inspired

Staying fi t for the future with Better Balance Better Bones

There is overwhelming evidence that participating in regular exercise is one of the best measures you can take to ensure that you maintain your health as you go through life. It also keeps you strong as you get older, so that people can remain independent and active as they mature and ripen, knowing that their body is fi t and strong.

Regular exercise really is the ‘Miracle Pill’ that can signifi cantly reduce the incidence of Diabetes, Car-diovascular Disease, Falls, Depression and Dementia, Breast and colon cancer; and even if regular exercise didn’t cure you of all these regular exercise will help you to sleep better, get out and about, keep you strong and steady on your feet and generally feeling a whole lot better says HSE Physiotherapist Liz O’Sullivan.

New online system to apply for a medical cardThe HSE has launched a new National Medical Card online service, www.medicalcard.ie. This new service enables people to apply online for a Medical Card quickly and easily using a user-friendly step-by-step process.

The new online system guides you through each step of the application process. Applicants can submit all supporting documentation digitally, including photographs of relevant material. If the HSE needs to contact you about your application, they can email instead of writing to you.

When you have submitted your fi nancial details as part of the online application, the HSE will tell you straight away if you qualify for a medical card. Your GP then will be able to accept you onto their panel via the online system. A complete application will be processed in 15 working days.

ttbftm

dodido

tb

fiyw

p

atpt

gybg

mWwmwt

y

cw

jmtyftewtnawt

tyv

yktaaan

osnrty

pifg

reicthbhweinca

toepthoth

caareWtidbbawswoinaw

wethPPDiodFBipbbsinathsth

wrtheaaprbthu

afbin4d

bysosopylecpwf


The architectural principle around the use of shelter and screening have

a number of characteristics, which affect the design of a house on a site or extension/renovation of a house. The prevailing wind in Ireland is south westerly, which affects the protection of a house in its exposure to the natural environ-ment. Trees, walls and planting can all play a part in minimising the effect of this on a house. Shelter and screening also have a number of different infl uences on the immediate environment of a house with both the solar gain within a house and privacy for the occupants of a property being impacted.

The prevailing wind being from a south westerly direction would naturally suggest that one should erect trees, walls and planting in this orientated direc-tion from the house. Similar to the principles examined in the last column in this series there are varying abilities to control its impact on a house within the rural or urban settings. Trees have signifi cant benefi t for sheltering a house from the wind but, which maybe easier to plant in a rural context, as if they are planted too close to a house they negatively impact on the solar gain, which can be achieved in a house by shading it from the sun. The recom-mended distance for planting a tree away from a house would be between 60m and 20m for a 15m high tree and for it not

to have a negative impact on the mid-range angle of the sun in Ireland during the year. There is also a difference in the advantages for solar gain in a dwelling depending on whether one uses deciduous or conifer trees with the former allowing sun light through the branches when they loose their leaves in the winter and the sun is at a lower angle in the sky. The inclusion of the impact of trees on a dwelling is not always a major concern for those work-ing on the design of a house or renovation/extension of a house especially those in the urban context as the buildings there can have their own constructed screening and shelters by other buildings and walls. In the rural context it should be considered in the design as it will impact the enjoyment of living in a house and within the curtilage of a house.

What can be more of a concern in towns or cities is the element of privacy, which can be achieved by using shelter and screening such as walls and hedgerows. As referred to in the last column of this series hedge-row planting and walls can be used to great advantage to allow for the proper orientation of a house and the rooms within it.

Hedgerows in comparison to the length of time that one is going to live in a house do not take long to grow and can be more pleasant on the public side of a house than a block wall and will provide enough privacy with the right selection of plants which can grow to the appropriate height. The orientation of living spaces is more important in my opinion as one cannot change the direction or angle of sun-light reaching the earth while one is easily able to grow plants or build a wall.

I sight my grandparents farm house in its vernacular architectural style again as an example of both using horticul-tural and man-made features in the manner described above. At this house there are trees planted between 20m and 30m in a south westerly direction away and in line with both the south and west walls of the house in the exact direction of the prevailing wind and which therefore provide shelter for the house and its occupants. The house has also got a lovely feature of an external room with a wall at approximately 4m from the southern face of the house running parallel to the house, approximately 1.1m high, with a gate at both ends which provides a perfect exter-nal enclosed courtyard space for external family activities. The builders of this house may have had a couple of other consid-erations when building this external room as the level of the ground is lower outside of it but it provides a perfect private space which although not in an urban context separates the farm from the dwelling for privacy.

The next column in this series will follow on from the refer-ence to the shadow created by trees and other buildings around a house, affecting the solar gain in the house, by looking at different types and sizes of windows or doors and the affect the direction in which they are orientated on the building has on their selection.

Special Feature SPRING HOMES

ARCHITECTURE 101

Gareth RyanRyan Architectural Design

Gareth Ryan (MCIAT) is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists. Contact him at 023 8821807 or 087 7444568.

Shelter and screening

The inclusion of the impact of trees on a dwelling is not al-ways a major concern for those working on the design of a house especially those in the urban context ....in a rural context it should be considered in the design as it will impact the enjoyment of living in a house.

tothsuTadotrsuwina inominreeccscbcinthho

cebahlaroufoh

Tidwfteurbdti

Hletolophprichspothlioo

faaetuthApinasohthththTfew4ththhwnebheethbspufr

wetragawthoo


On the face of it, the question in the headline of this article seems

to be very simple, with an equally simple answer. Deposit interest rates are at an all time low currently rates on instant access deposit accounts vary from between 0.15 per cent pa to 0.30 per cent per annum, some accounts may be paying less than this and some paying nothing at all.

On the other hand, personal loan rates can vary from 6.3 per cent pa to 8.5 per cent pa and mortgage rates vary from 2.75 per cent to 4.60 per cent per an-num. So, on the face of it seems silly to borrow money from the bank and pay them much more in interest than they are paying you for your savings.

There we are, a simple answer to a simple question. If only things were that simple. Before deciding to use your savings you need to ask your-self a few questions:

1. What was I saving this money for? Were you saving for your chil-dren’s education? Or to help pay for a deposit on a house or help with wedding expenses or were you just saving so as you could have a nest egg to help boost your retirement income?

2. If I use this money now what effect will it have on any or all of the above?If you use this money now will you have time to build up enough savings to pay for col-lege fees and accommodation.

3. What happens in an emer-gency?Perhaps the most important question is if you use up all your savings to pay for the ren-ovations, will you have enough money left for a rainy-day emergency?

Taking all of the above into consideration, if you have suffi cient funds in place, you will have enough to provide for a rainy-day emergency should it occur, so in that case it makes perfect sense to use your sav-ings to pay for your renovation or extension.

However, if using your savings will leave you with in-suffi cient funds to take care of events, as they arise in the fu-ture, you should look at, getting a personal loan or mortgage.

Getting a personal loan is probably the easiest way of getting the funds you need quickly, however it can be quite expensive.

Remortgaging or getting a further advance on your current mortgage is the cheapest way of raising funds for your reno-vation or extension.

There are a number of criteria which you must fulfi ll when you apply for a mortgage, which I will outline below.

You can apply for a mortgage in two ways:• Directly to the lender (banks,

building societies, certain credit unions and retail credit fi rms who are not banks or building societies) – in this case, you will deal directly with the lender

• Through mortgage interme-diary (broker) – in this case, your intermediary will apply to all the lenders on your be-half and will also deal directly with the lender for you.

What documents do you need to apply?• Photo ID: such as a valid

passport or driving licence• Proof of your current address:

such as a household bill in your name

• Proof of your income: your latest P60 and at least three recent salary slips

• Evidence of how you manage your money: bring current account and loan account statements for the previous 12 months

• Don’t panic and take the fi rst mortgage you are offered. Apply to a number of lenders and if you are offered more than one mortgage, compare the rates carefully. Keep your eyes open for better offers from other lenders. If you use a mortgage intermediary they will help explain the different terms on each mortgage offer.

• Don’t be seduced by ‘free-bies’, like free legal expenses or discounted insurance with-out looking at the mortgage as a whole. Introductory and fi rst-time buyer packages can save you money in the short term but remember to consider the long-term costs when the ‘introductory rate’ runs out

What is your application based on?When you apply for a mort-gage, a lender will look at:• Your income – lenders will

look at your annual income and some may take bonuses or overtime into account. Some lenders may factor in rental income if you plan to rent out spare rooms

• Your age and number of years left until you retire, this determines the term of your mortgage. Normally lenders will only allow mortgages to run to normal retirement age 65.

• Outstanding loans – if you have other loans, this may reduce the amount of money you can borrow or you may fi nd it diffi cult to get a mort-gage

• Outgoings – in addition to any loan repayments, lenders

will look at any fi nancial commitments you have, such as childcare costs

• Savings – this shows you have an ability to save and have built up enough money to pay for your deposit and other expense

• Credit Record – this shows the repayments you have made on any loans you have. If you have missed repay-ments in the past, it may make it more diffi cult for you to get a mortgage

• The value of your house – thisis the market value of your house this will determine if you have suffi cient equity available in your property to get a mortgage.

• The amount you need to borrow

• Whether you are borrowing on your own or with someone else

The interest rate shown on your mortgage loan approval is not necessarily the rate you willpay. Usually, the interest rate for your mortgage will be set only on the day that the money is actually lent to you

Keep a copy of all correspon-dence and documentation from your lender in a safe place

Shop around for mortgage protection and home insurance. Brokers and lenders cannot link services. This means they cannot offer you a mortgage or a certain interest rate on condition that you deal with a particular estate agent, solicitor or buy a particular mortgage protection product. Your lender can insist that you have mortgage protection insurance in place, but you don’t have to buy it from them.

Whether you are using your savings, getting a personal loan or applying for a mortgage the most important thing is to get Financial Advice. You can fi nd a Financial Advisor near you bylogging onto www.brokersireland.ie.


Noel Forde T/A Forde Financial Services in Bantry and Gmac Financial in Castletownbere is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Call 027 55610.

MIND YOUR EUROSNoel Forde

Should I use my savings or get a personal loan or mortgage to extend or renovate my home?

3gPqyome

cswaitpino

ssetua

pgqe

fmov

cww

Yin•

•

Wt•

•

•

•

•

•

WbWg•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

ynpfoi

dy

pBlcocpoplmib

somFalw



YES!At Bantry Credit Union, we like to say Yes!

It’s why we exist. It’s why we approve 97% of all loan applications.

We also like to keep things simple and transparent, with no hidden nasties.

What you see is what you get!

So whether it’s a new car or just car repairs, an attic conversion or just a bit of DIY,

an engagement ring or maybe a wedding, we are here to help you.

bantrycu.ie

Call into us in Bantry or Castletownbere,phone us at (027) 50535 or 70633,or email us at [email protected].

Bantry Credit Union Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Four out of 10 of us can’t wire a plug!A nationwide survey in

2017 found that four out of 10 Irish adults

couldn’t wire a plug! Perhaps less surprising was the fi nding that four times more men than women believe they are DIY experts (12 per cent compared to three per cent).

But maybe that fi nding should be taken with a pinch of salt when you consider another one of the survey’s fi ndings says Finbarr O’Shea, Manag-er of Bantry Cedit Union. A quarter of people admitted to having to call in the experts to fi nish a DIY job they had start-ed – and men were twice as guilty as women of throwing in the towel (or trowel!) – 30 per cent compared to 15 per cent.

The survey was conducted by market research company iReach on behalf of the Irish League of Credit Unions. It examined Irish adults’ attitudes to home improvements and DIY skills levels, as well as mortgages.

Most popular home improvementsThe survey found that lay-ing down new carpets and fl ooring is the most popular home improvement, with 42 per cent reporting they were upgrading their homes in this way. Installing new heating or insulation systems followed

closely behind, at 38 per cent. Fitting new windows or doors was the third most popular home upgrade at 23 per cent. The area of their homes most people are unhappy with, and want to change, is the kitchen (21 per cent), followed by the bathroom (18 per cent) and living room (16 per cent).

Irish people in general are keen to improve their homes. The survey found that 65 per cent of respondents had carried out some home improvements in the past three years. And nearly 20 per cent of people want to extend their homes, either by an attic or garage conversion or a built-on extension.

Funding home improvements The survey also found that one-third of people wanted to do some home improve-ments but couldn’t afford to do so. That’s where your local credit union comes in. Home improvement loans have always been a mainstay of credit union lending. In 2017 a quarter of all loans issued by Bantry Credit Union were for home improvements. This ranged from a few hundred euro for a bit of DIY up to €60,000 for major renovations and extensions.

The fact that you are reading this piece suggests that you

might be thinking about doing some home improvements. The weather is picking up, the economy is picking up, and maybe your home could do with a bit of perking up! If so, you will fi nd your local credit union ready to lend a helping hand.

Bantry Credit Union recently ran a competition to mark the opening of the new SuperValu store in Bantry. There were two prizes of €100 each in Bantry Business Association vouchers. The draw was confi ned to staff members of one of the following four businesses who are also members of Bantry Credit Union: O’Keeffe’s SuperValu, Murphy & O’Connor, Biggs Catering and G.W. Biggs Oil. The photo shows the winners Evita Moloney (Kealkil) and Mary Beam-ish (Dromore) receiving their winning prizes from Bantry Credit Union Manager Finbarr O’Shea, in the company of Jim O’Keeffe of SuperValu. (Photo: Adrian Cronin)

Letters: Animals face a housing crisisDear Editor, Companion animals also need housing. A strand of Ireland’s housing crisis in that receives no coverage is how many landlords refuse to rent their property to tenants that have a companion animal.

As well as this, landlords are using the ‘fur and feather’ excuse to evict tenants even when the rent is paid on time and no damage is being doing to the property.

Having a companion animal has so many benefi ts to a person’s emotional and mental health. For a landlord to deny a person’s right to live with a dog or a cat or any other fur and feather companion could be straying into a breach of human rights.

Landlords are equating animal behaviour with human behaviour with thoughts that a companion animal is going to have all night barking parties with copious amounts of dog

biscuits fl ying everywhere.A companion animal causes

little or no damage to a prop-erty. Any damage, which is always unintentional, can eas-ily be fi xed and in the scheme of things is no different from a human causing damage.

Presently many companion animal owners face a Greek mythology state of between Scylla and Charybdis.

Trying to secure a tenancy sees landlords asking prospec-tive tenants to decide between a roof over their heads or giving up the love of a family member.

Heartbreaking as it is, many are deciding to rehome their

companion animals. Faced with landlord intransigence the breakup of a family unit is an unpleasant reality within our housing market.

Legislation that outlaws discrimination should be amended to outlaw discrimi-nation of a person who has a companion animal when they apply for a tenancy.

Refusing a tenancy just because some members of a family unit wear skin, fur or feather is akin to the worse examples of human discrim-ination.

Never forget that without companion animals a house is just a building with walls and fl oors. A family home is only created when those of wet nose or beak or fi n are in it.

Yours,John TierneyWaterford Animal Concern157 Larchville, Church RoadWaterford

b

lieailoh

amS

stiagm

a

cowthisou

diamnacoap

befafeexin

cojufl ocrno

YoJoW15W

cFwhTpw(bli

kTcoinnwece

FiTotomdcimacabfre€a

th

msTemwyuh

BotwvoBOsisCJ


Special Feature SPRING HOMESBetter Energy Warmer Homes Scheme broadened to include families in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance

West Cork Devel-opment Partner-ship is accepting

applications for the Warmer Homes Scheme 2018. The scheme, which has been in operation in West Cork since 2008 and covers most parts of Cork and South Kerry, is for the installation of attic and cavity wall insula-tion, and the service is free of charge for all eligible households. The criteria for the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme has broad-ened this year to include families in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allow-ance..

What is the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme? The BEWHS aims to improve the energy effi cien-cy and comfort of homes occupied by low-income households. Since the scheme began in West Cork, over 3,000 houses have been insulated.

What are the services you can avail of? Attic Insulation – The WCDP supply and install up to 12 inches of insulation into at-tics at ceiling level, together with insulating the water tanks and pipework in the attic. They also draught proof timber doors where possi-ble, and provide a cyclinder lagging jacket and four low energy light bulbs as part of the package.

Cavity Wall Insulation – Cavity walls are pumped with cavity bead insulation and glue. The holes are then sealed and pointed on com-pletion.

Energy Advice – The WCDP offer advice to the householder on how else they might reduce their energy consumption and save money.

To be eligible for the scheme, you must own your own home, it must be built before 2006, and you must be in receipt of one of the

following: Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme; Job seekers allow-ance for over six months, with a child under the age of seven years; Family income supplement; One parent family payment; Domiciliary care allowance.

To apply for the scheme or for any queries please ring 02752266 or email fi [email protected]. For further informa-tion please see the website www.wcdp.ie/warmer-homes or visit the Facebook page.

West Cork Development Partnership also offers the Kingspan Home Incentive Scheme with Grants of up to €923 towards Attic and Cavity Wall Insulation. All homeowners, including landlords, whose homes were built and occupied before 2006 can apply. Please contact the offi ce on 027 52266 for more details. SEAI registered contractor I.D. no 16256

Construction industry creates 50,000 jobs since 2013Over 50,000 jobs have been created in the construction industry since the lowest point of the recession in 2013. CSO fi gures indicate that industry has hired approximately 1000 people per month in this period. It is expected that 1 in 16 people in the economy will be employed in construction by 2019 as the in-dustry enters a sustained growth phase.

Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation, Heather Humphreys T.D. said: “I welcome this news and that the industry is entering a sustained growth phase. It also builds on the positive announcement from the CSO that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January 2018 was 6.1pc, down from 6.2pc in December 2017, and a peak of 15.1pc in February 2012. The construction sector has an important role to play in the continued recovery of the economy, and I look forward to engaging with the sector in my new role as Minister.”


By Marguerite LynchBranch Manager, Bank of Ireland Clonakilty, Skibbereen & Bantry

The housing situation has made the headlines a lot in 2017, every-

one is aware of the mismatch between demand and sup-ply and the pressure this is putting on house prices and rents. Unsurprisingly people are expecting house prices to increase and data from Bank of Ireland’s Economic Pulse

report outlined that four in fi ve survey respondents expect that prices will rise in the next 12 months, with two in fi ve antic-ipating gains in excess of fi ve per cent. Another interesting fi nd is that fi rms in Dublin, the rest of Leinster and Munster, are also concerned about housing and actually call it out as the number one priority area for investment to support the regional economy and the business environment.

There is good news for First Time Buyers as the Central Bank’s mortgage limits have eased, with a change to the Loan-to-Value limit from January 2017, making it easier to obtain a mortgage. The property value threshold of €220,000 for First Time Buyers is removed, and First Time Buyers can now apply for a mortgage up to 90 per cent Loan-to-Value, regardless of the value of the property. Also the new Government ‘Help to Buy’ incentive helps First Time Buyers with their deposit by means of a rebate of

Income Tax paid over the four tax years prior to purchase/build. This rebate is fi ve per cent of the purchase price, up to €400,000 (or the valuation if a self-build). This rebate is capped at €20,000. This new scheme is available to all First Time Buyers buying a ‘new build’ property or (building a home) to live in, who take out a mortgage of at least 70 per cent of the value of the prop-erty. The scheme runs until December 31, 2019. Applica-tions can be completed via the revenue website revenue.ie.

At Bank of Ireland, we understand the challenges facing First Time Buyers, so we are here to help fi rstly by supporting you save for your deposit – with a specially designed Mortgage Saver Account. This account offers a €2,000 bonus, please log on to the Bank of Ireland website to see full Terms & Conditions. https://personalbanking.banko-fi reland.com/save-and-invest/savings/mortgagesaver/.

I would strongly advise any-

body thinking of purchasing a property to sit with any of our qualifi ed Mortgage Specialists and we will support by giving guidance and advice through the early stages of your mortgage journey. We are also offering three per cent of your mortgage back in cash , two per cent of your new mortgage back as cash up front, and as a special ‘thank you’, we will give you an additional one per cent of your mortgage back in cash in fi ve years’ time (sub-ject to meeting the conditions of the mortgage). https://per-sonalbanking.bankofi reland.com/borrow/mortgages/cam-paigns/cashback-plus/

We all recognise how busy life can be; whether you are a First Time Buyer, a House Mover or a Switcher Mort-gage customer, applying for a mortgage has never been easier – we offer you the process to apply for a mortgage in any of our local branches, over the

phone or online. During the process you can talk to us via Skype or Facetime, or via our webchat service.

Contact Bank of Ireland now and we will be with you

through your journey from saving for your deposit to completing your application, and right through the life of your Mortgage. ‘For small steps, for big steps, for life’

Feature SPRING HOMES

Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank trading as Bank of Ireland Mortgages and The Mortgage Store is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Lending criteria, terms and conditions apply. The lender is Bank of Ireland Mortgages. Mortgage approval is subject to assessment of suitability and affordability. We require property and life insurance. 3% Cashback available to First Time Buyers, Movers and Switchers who draw down a new mortgage by 30 June 2018. 2% Cashback on draw down of a new mortgage. 1% bonus in 5 years subject to meeting the conditions of the mortgage. Over 18s only. Maximum loan is generally 3.5 times gross annual income and 80% of the property value (90% of the property value for First Time Buyers). A typical mortgage of €100,000 over 20 years with 240 monthly instalments costs €615.79 per month at 4.2% variable (Annual Percentage Rate of Charge (APRC) 4.3%). APRC includes €150 valuation fee and mortgage charge of €175 paid to the Property Registration Authority. The total amount you pay is €148,114.60. A 1% interest rate rise would increase monthly repayments by €54.02 per month. The cost of your monthly repayments may increase.

Warning: If you do not keep up your repayments you may lose your home.

Warning: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect

your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit in the future.

Michael DeasyClonakilty/Skibbereen/Bantry

0870957581

Your mortgage journeyrspmipfirahoatb

TBeLJeToBTfcoA‘Fd

ItbctifcsTbhaceDtir

ufwsddA€thshfi s

bpqagthmompbagccjeoscp

liaMgm–ao

ppSw

n

thsacoanyost



Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Declan Hurley has turned

the sod on a new development of social housing at Cuan Barra, Kilmore, Ballingeary between the approved housing body Coiste Tithe Uibh Laoire Teo and Droumleigh Construc-tion Limited.

The development will see

the construction of three houses providing long-term accommodation. Cork County Council is the sanctioning authority for the project and assisted in securing funding to the value of €623,545 from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government through the Capital Assistance Scheme

(CAS).In welcoming the develop-

ment, Mayor Hurley praised the relationship between Cork County Council and Coiste Tithe Uibh Laoire Teo, “Today we celebrate the result of a long-standing relationship be-tween the Council and commu-nity-driven organisations such as Coiste Tithe Uibh Laoire Teo. This is a relationship that recognises the needs of people in communities and crucially provides a response to these needs.”

Coiste Tithe Uibh Laoire Teo is a non-profi t organisation located in the Gaeltacht village of Ballingeary in the parish of Uibh Laoire. It has developed a purpose-built community centre (Cuan Barra), a child-care facility and playground (Spraoi na Laoi) along with

social housing and a rural transport bus. These facilities are used regularly for a diverserange of activities to improve the lives of local people. Coiste Tithe Uibh Laoire Teo were awarded overall winner of Community and Voluntary Group at the 2014 Annual Mayor’s Community Awards.

Mayor Hurley went on to say, “This development will allow older people to live in their own homes for as long as possible and enjoy a high quality of life through estab-lished connections with the community.”

Building is expected to be completed before the end of the year with the properties available for older people in need of social housing from Cork County Council’s Hous-ing list.

Sod is turned at social housing development in Ballingeary

Specialist service ensured with Burkes of Bantry

Burkes of Bantry is a family run business specialising in window

blinds and soft furnishings. What sets the business apart is its service – from onsite con-sultations and sales experience in its showroom through to professional fi tting and after sales service.

Burkes are Luxafl ex® Inspiration dealers. When it comes to blinds, the Luxafl ex® brand is the recognised market leader. One of their newest innovations is the motorised roller blind system.

Motorised blinds With Luxafl ex® you can discover automation options for all types of interior blinds. WireFree™ (battery) or mains powered options offer different benefi ts and price points. You can also choose from a large selection of control options, including handsets, wall switches, timers or sensors. No matter what your preferred solution may be, Luxafl ex® guarantees ease of use, reli-ability and quality.

Comfort and privacy with the push of a button Whether you have tall win-dows, wide or heavy blinds, you can operate them remote-ly. Unsightly hanging chains, cords and rods are gone.

Motorised operation makes

your blinds look better for longer. Electric blinds run more smoothly, making them last much longer. Luxafl ex® motorised blinds enables sim-ple operation at the touch of a button, or automated control via a timer or sensor. They are also perfectly compatible with leading smart home solutions like Lutron and Crestron.

Enhances child safety by eliminating the need for pull cords Normal blinds can have hang-ing cords which could harm children as they play. Luxaf-lex® motorised blinds are safe to install wherever your little ones will explore.

Home SecurityAutomate your blinds to make your house look occupied, even if you’re away.

The option to control your blinds via a timer enables you to always give the impression that someone is home. Even weather-controlled operation is possible, thanks to the solar, wind and temperature sensors!

For further information or to book an appointment contact Riona or Carol in Burkes’ Blind and Curtain Department on 027 54313, emailcurtainfl [email protected], www.burkesbantry.ie, or fi nd on Facebook.

Choosing blind colours to control temperatureYou may not know it, but colours can affect the tem-perature of things. Take for example the colour of your car and its interior. Darker colour vehicles, with dark interiors, are usually far hotter to get into on a warm day than a lighter colour car. This is because dark colours absorb and attract heat while lighter colours will not – and white, for instance, will actually refl ect the heat. This is also why summer clothing tends to come in light shades rather than the darker co-lours of autumn and winter.

With this in mind it makes sense to choose the colour of décor, such as blinds, in your home accordingly. With our northern climate, choosing rich, warm colours is ideal for somewhere like the sitting room, where you spend more time in the colder months. Blinds in deep reds, purples, browns and black will make the room feel warmer and will attract sun during the short daylight hours, trapping the heat generated.

If you want to have a ‘cool’ pristine feeling in rooms that you use more in the summer, like a porch or conservatory, then lighter pale colours – white, greens, yellows and blues – are perfect.

thaCaattPLt

(

mtCTwltnaT

startCwoGM

sataqlc

ctanCi



Able and willing to make your home more accessibleThe team at Able

Healthcare Ltd offer a wealth of professional

experience, as well as a total commitment to the needs of their customers. They have completed hundreds of bath-room conversions and stairlift installations throughout the country to the satisfaction of individual clients and council building inspection teams alike.

Among the many services they offer is the installation of their Harmony Through Floor Lift. This service is especially advantageous to those of limit-ed mobility who would rather not feel restricted to the ground fl oor of their home, or have to resort to moving to a bungalow or ground fl oor fl at; it helps one regain the freedom of their home by travelling between fl oors smoothly, quietly and, most importantly, safely. The

installation of a through fl oor lift is straightforward and the expert installers at Able Health-care will keep disruption to a minimum.

Following the initial survey and decision to proceed, any necessary preparatory work will be undertaken and then the lift will be fi tted in less than two days. As space is always limited, Able has employed an ingenious car design and inte-gral ramp so that the Harmony wheelchair lift is only fraction-ally larger on the outside than it is on the inside.

The team also provide a di-verse range of housing adapta-tions including: concrete ramps and steel handrails; doorway widening; canopies; PVC window and door replacement; garage conversions; electrical and heating upgrades, etc. They also meet all insurance and tax

requirements of the various councils for any grant applica-tions. Quotations and consulta-tions for the above are free of charge and no-obligation.

Able Healthcare Ltd have been specialising in level access bathrooms for the last 15 years and have accrued invaluable experience in the fi eld, experience that ensures that the customer gets exactly what they need to a high standard whilst complying with all Occupational Therapy guidelines.

Never failing to go the extra mile to ensure that each cus-tomer’s experience with them is a positive one, they are more than happy to provide many referrals they’ve received from satisfi ed customers so don’t be afraid to ask to read them. Tel: 1890 253332.

Power up your radiatorsHave you been ignoring lukewarm radiators for years because you fear the expense and mess of sorting the problem? Did you even know that the culprit is probably a sinister black sludge that is lurking through your system and clogging up your rads? Along with a loss of heat, clogged radiators mean boilers have to run a lot longer to heat the home, burning a lot more fuel and possi-bly even burning out with the effort.

Local plumbers John Keane and Micheál Quirke frequently get calls from customers complaining that radiators do not heat as well as they used to, whilst others have cold spots. As a result they have joined forces to provide West Cork with a power fl ushing service that clears the offending sludge without the need to remove radiators. No mess and a heating system that feels like new? It’s time to get fl ushing!

The black sludge that causes so many prob-lems is a mixture of

iron oxide (rust) and dirt in the water of your central heat-ing system, compounded by constant heating and cooling of the system. Over time it builds up in the boiler and radiators – any system over 10 years old is likely to be affected – and drastically reduces the effi ciency of the whole system. Previously a plumber would have to remove each radiator from the wall and manually fl ush out the sludge – an ardu-ous and dirty job.

Power fl ushing on the other hand is the process of mechan-ically fl ushing the system from start to fi nish using a combi-nation of descaling chemicals and a fl ushing pump.

A descaling chemical is put into the system a number of weeks prior to the actual fl ush, which begins attacking and breaking down the sludge. Next is the system fl ush; a high pressure pump is attached

to the system and each rad is fl ushed individually at a pres-sure of 1 bar and a fl ow rate of 150 litres a min – this blasts the sludge out of each rad and restores it to peak effi ciency.

John explains that, “in some cases we have restored radiator effi ciency to fi rst-day levels, even on 30-year-old systems. After the powerfl ush we fi t a magnetic fi lter on the pipe-work; this is basically a giant magnet that comes in a brass housing. Because the iron oxide sludge will stick to the magnet, in the future it can be removed by easily turning off

two valves and cleaning the fi l-ter, which we generally do on an annual boiler service. This keeps the sludge build-up to a minimum and helps maintain maximum effi ciency going forward.”

“The biggest issue en-countered in older central heating systems is a lack of maintenance,” adds Micheál. “It is recommended that every heating system should be power fl ushed and dosed with a corrosion inhibitor (chem-icals put into the system to minimise corrosion of system components) every fi ve years

but very few are unfortunately. System effi ciency is reduced year-on-year as the sludge builds up but power fl ushing is quick and good value for money. You’ll feel a massive difference straight away.”

John Keane and Micheál Quirke are experts in power fl ushing systems and up-grading oil and gas boilers to condensing models, along with upgrading heating controls. They have many years experience and lots of satisfi ed customers. They also work through the SEAI grant system. Call Micheál on 086 8688200 or John on 087 2932048 with any queries.

Iron oxide sludge from a radiator. Most systems over 10 years old are affected to some degree.

tofl s1thr

ceeAmwmhomr

twteakmmf

chm“hpaicmc

bSybimd

Qfl gtowcysag02

ilecm

anwltligwai

vtawwgaa

rcttc

ba1ifi twswg

mtitrsa1


Whether you’re looking to update your home or

starting from the ground up, where you shop can make all he difference. Burke Interi-

ors in Bandon is conveniently ocated in the same 12,000 sq

ft showroom as Walls and un-der the direction of local man David Burke has a reputation for exceptional quality and honest professional advice. Alongside Walls, which spe-cialises in Komandor Sliding and Walk In Wardrobes, Burke Interiors offers out-

standing choice with kitch-ens, bespoke furniture suites, bedding, carpets and fl ooring and window blinds, making it possible to co-ordinate a full house fi t, in one day, under one roof. With the help of friendly and knowledgeable fl oor staff, you really can’t go wrong.

The beautiful and compre-hensive kitchen collection at Burke Interiors is available in a diverse range of materi-als, fi nishes, colours and styles. From contemporary to classic, with the range of

designs of offer, you’re sure to fi nd something special to complete your home. Modern

kitchens on display feature seamless, linear designs to achieve a chic living space whilst ornate details and elegant features set the tradi-tional kitchen apart.

Mix various materials, accessories and colours to achieve a kitchen that is stunningly stylish, individual and affordable.

Go for a matte kitchen to achieve a silky, durable and blemish free fi nish or try gloss for a mirror-like fi nish that will complement any space it occupies.

If rustic is more to your taste, then the oak chunky, shaker style frame will no doubt be a favourite.

There is also a selection of pull-out storage units, appliances and worktops (in-cluding granite and quartz) to fi nish the room to perfection.

Whatever your taste or needs, Burke Interiors will help you design a classic or contemporary kitchen around your fi nancial plan and project manage the job until completion.

For your living room, Burke Interiors works closely with interior designers and sources from top European manufacturers to ensure that a stunning collection of be-spoke fabric suites are avail-able to customers. With cosy carpets and beautiful lighting features to coordinate with, you’ll be inspired to create a living space that everyone wants to relax in.

And when it comes to comfortable beds, look no further. Burke Interiors stocks 100 per cent Irish-made mattresses at all price points, allowing customers to try before they buy in order to fi nd the one most suited to their needs. Odearest, King Koil and The Natural Sleep Company are just a few of the leading quality brands in stock.

“Nothing is too much trouble,” says owner David Burke sincerely. “Our cus-tomers know they can rely on us for honest advice and a high quality product and service. We rely on repeat business and referrals and will do our utmost to meet the needs of our customers.”

Burke Interiors is located at Old Chapel in Bandon. Call 023 88 52488 to arrange a viewing outside of normal working hours.


Burke Interiors in Bandon is home to the beststenbeanpohoonfrfl w

heBa alstto

dtc

kseaw

tsd

oacfi

nhcypc

Bwsomaspacfeyaw

cfust


people Arts & Entertainment

Everyman Spring/Summer programme announcedAt the end of 2017, the

Everyman refreshed their artistic policy to better

refl ect the work they had been do-ing, and the vision for where they were headed. The theatre’s 2018 programme of events, announced today, encapsulates those ideas perfectly:

“We put the audience fi rst and support artists in every way we can. We produce theatre of the best possible quality and work with partners to produce exciting and innovative theatre and opera. We host a diverse range of top quality productions, maintaining tradition, breaking new ground,” says Artis-tic Director, Julie Kelleher.

The 2018 Spring/Summer Programme is studded with glittering highlights and includes premium theatre events such as Druid’s Waiting For Godot and the Everyman’s production of Martin McDonagh’s The Lonesome West. The Everyman are backing extraordinary artists and superb new work too, with the world premiere stage adaptation of Louise O’Neill’s award-win-ning novel Asking For It, which they’re producing with top Irish producers, Landmark, and taking it to the stage of the national theatre, The Abbey, in late 2018, and the world premiere staging of John O’Brien’s brand new opera The Nightingale and the Rose. The Everyman are bringing these, and other fantastic productions, like Kevin Barry’s critically acclaimed Autumn Royal, to a wider national audience through touring, whilst continuing to provide audiences in Cork with the very best of theatre, opera, live music and stand-up comedy.

Seán Kelly, Executive Director of the theatre said: “2018 is going to be one of the most important years in the Everyman’s long history. Our programme will scale new heights. We are producing two world premieres, a four-week summer production and two national tours. Our audienc-es have more quality shows to choose from than ever before. The Everyman has never been in better

shape and we have never been more ambitious, or confi dent, in our future.”

The programme is the culmination of several years of ambition, vision and hard work. And it is only the beginning. It is a statement of intent. This level of top quality producing should be happening consistently in Cork. It can only happen with continued support from the Arts Council, from local authority partners, from partners in the business commu-nity, and more crucially than ever before, from the audience.

Julie Kelleher concluded: “We do it because the audience deserves to be rewarded with the best we can give them. We do it because we feel so strongly that Irish, and particularly Cork-based talent, deserves an audience.”

Upcoming highlights:Gare St Lazare and the Everyman present HOW IT IS: PART ONE (World Premiere) – Gare St Laza-re, Everyman Artists in Residence since 2015, present a radical and innovative re-imagining of the Everyman stage and auditorium as a performance space, using the complex and enigmatic text of Beckett’s last full-length novel. In a production where nothing is quite what it seems, this world premiere is a chance to see Beck-ett and the Everyman like you’ve never seen them before.

The Everyman and Kevin Barry present AUTUMN ROYAL by Kevin Barry – A revival and national tour of the critically acclaimed stage play, following a sold out run in 2017. Set on the north side of Cork city, this play is about life and death, love and hate, hysterical dependency, jealou-sy, rage, horror, and homicidal notions – or, in other words, it’s a play about a family.

Landmark Productions and The Everyman in association with The Abbey Theatre and Cork Midsummer Festival present the world premiere of ASKING FOR IT by Louise O’Neill, a stage adaptation by Meadhbh McHugh in a collaboration with Annabelle

Comyn, co-commissioned by the Abbey Theatre. Asking For It is a new stage adaptation of Louise O’Neill’s devastating novel, directed by Annabelle Comyn, which shines an unfl inching light on the experience of a young woman whose life is changed for-ever by a horrifi c act of violence. The world premiere will take place at the Everyman, followed by The Abbey in late 2018.

The Everyman presents THE LONESOME WEST by Martin McDonagh – The Everyman presents a brand new production of this modern Irish classic. The third play in McDonagh’s smash hit Leenane Trilogy, The Lone-some West, is that fi nest brand of black comedy that will make you laugh when you really shouldn’t. The story of two feuding bachelor brothers and attempts to civilise them by the despairing local priest, and his devoted sidekick Girleen.

The Everyman and John O’Brien present THE NIGHTIN-GALE AND THE ROSE (World Premiere) from the short story by Oscar Wilde, Music by John O’Brien, Libretto by John O’Brien and Eadaoin O’Donoghue – See this stunning new opera based on Oscar Wilde’s timeless short story, The Nightingale and the Rose. Since hosting the world premiere concert performance of John O’Brien’s beautiful new work, the Everyman has dreamt of giving this much-loved story its world premiere stage production. John’s collaborations with The Everyman have resulted in operatic treats such as Faust, Der Vampyr, (both nominated for Best Opera – Irish Times Theatre Awards) Orpheus, and Pagliacci (winner Best Opera – Irish Times Theatre Awards). Cork audiences will be in for a treat in October 2018, followed by the show touring to Dublin and Limerick.

Other notable productions in-clude The Gardener presented by The Everyman and Graffi ti The-atre Company, Lobby Promotions with The Songs of Joni Mitchell

featuring Clare O’Mahony and her Band, Decadent Theatre Com-pany’s production of Frank Mc-Guinness’ Someone to Watch Over Me and Landmark’s production of a new play from Mark O’Rowe, The Approach, featuring three of Ireland’s leading actors, Cathy Belton, Derbhle Crotty and Aisling O’Sullivan. The much-loved Everyman Sunday Songbook will bring the songs of Doris Day to the Everyman audience and in April, London Classic Theatre bring Noel Coward’s Private Lives to the stage. Fishamble, the new play company present Maz

and Bricks by Eva O’Connor and Pan Pan, bring a comedy about a drama therapy class in an imaginary prison, The Importance of Nothing.

Patrick Talbot Productions brings a series of six very different offerings to the Everyman stage as part of this programme, including the fi rst ever Cork concert by Frankie Gavin and his new band, with his special guest Jimmy Crowley. One of Ireland’s best loved actors, Des Keogh appears in John B Keane’s Love Hungry Farmer and Irene Kelleher will appear in her own critically

acclaimed play, Mary and Me. Driving out the Vermin is the title of a very special evening on St Patrick’s Night when author Conal Creedon will be joined by Kevin Barry, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, and singer Martina Stafford. The Star-gazers will appear on March 18th and Eleanor Shanley on April 20.

See www.everymancork.com for full details of the Everyman Spring/Summer Programme. Tick-ets are available from the website, or from the box offi ce, telephone 021 4501 673.

Paint a mug for Marymount!

Cré Pottery Studio in Skibbereen is West Cork’s fi rst ‘Paint Your

Own Pottery’ studio. Owned and run by Sophie Miall and Suzanne O’Connor, it opened for business in March 2017, and has since brought a lot of creative joy to the area.

To mark their fi rst anniver-sary Sophie and Suzanne will hold a fundraising event for Marymount Hospice in Cork on Sunday, March 3. Suzanne and her family recently lost their mother, Toni McDermott from Leap, to cancer; they received huge support from

Marymount during Toni’s illness and this fundraiser is a way to give back to the charity that has supported them and so many other families that have been affected by cancer in West Cork.

So how will it work? On Saturday, March 3, Cré Pottery will host ‘Paint a Mug for Ma-rymount!’ where Suzanne and Sophie would like to get 100 mugs painted by you! Each mug costs €10 and 100 per cent of the money raised will be donated – 100 mugs equals €1000!

Anyone who wishes to

donate their mug back can do so – all mugs donated will be delivered to Marymount Hos-pice for use in their facility. Donation buckets will also be in the studio for all of that week for anyone wishing to donate in this way.

Painting will take place all day and night from 10am. Af-ter 6pm is an adult only zone with ‘Bring Your Own Bottle’ to add to the fun.

Phone 028 22913 to book a spot to Paint a Mug for Mary-mount!

MilwthmbW

SwrSmmcb€

dsdpDbwd

dtewto

sm

shmo

caAatohcsufrpnb

“dbbIrta

UGp(WresiinEacBInqpen

Bbnaanahsynp

TTMwITain

CAaOdwoweTaA

LMpothhsblaTbthpG

OGPbOathOTScOEthpchsnTa–CtrbL

cTaw

fehpGMaTIrBOEbthAbLn

aaaimo

bopthFwCloinFa

aDoPCBsga

fSeo0


Bantry takes to the fl oorIt’s time to slip on your

dancing shoes, as Strictly Come Dancing waltzes

into Bantry this March with 32 local volunteers taking to the fl oor to show off their dance moves in aid of St. Finbarr’s Boys National School.

Brian Gleeson, newly appointed Principal at St. Finbarr’s Boys N.S. together with the Parents Association, took up the challenge of rais-ing funds and what better way to do it than a razzle-dazzle Strictly Come Dancing event. Such was the overwhelming response from the public, that

this event will now be spread over three show stopping nights.

The contestants are already following a demanding training schedule, under the direction of dance instructor Michelle Naughton. As they prepare for the performance of a lifetime, which will include spectacular group routines as well as dazzling couple danc-es. “I’m really enjoying work-ing with the Bantry group, they are so eager to learn and have made great progress already”, said Michelle.

Local Councillor Danny

Collins, a key member of the organising committee said “Strictly is a fi rst for Bantry and I’m delighted to be involved in this fundraiser. All dancers must be commended for participating and giving up their time to raise funds for St Finbarr’s School. It is great to see such comradery between the 32 dancers”.

A glitzy red carpet launch took place on January 26 at The Westlodge Hotel, com-pared by local duo Richard Harrington and Georoid O’Leary. Each couple was revealed, along with the style

of dance they will perform. The judges include local dance teachers Theresa O’Donoghue and Josie McAuliffe, along with Independent TD Michael Collins and the current Miss Bantry, Katie Murphy. Organ-isers were especially excited to announce, Kerry GAA legend and winner of RTE’s Dancing with the Stars 2017, Aidan O’Mahony has been confi rmed as one of the judges for the Grand Final.

The Battle of the Ballroom kicks off at The Westlodge Hotel, Bantry, with the fi rst semi-fi nal on Friday March

9, followed by a second semi-fi nal on Saturday March 10. Audience members can support their favourite couple by buying votes. The couples with the most votes, com-bined with judges scores will advance to the grand fi nal on Sunday March 18 at The Westlodge Hotel. Successful couples will dance their socks off once more to impress the judges and audience at the fi nal but only one couple will be crowned Strictly Come Dancing Winners 2018.

Event co-ordinator, Sandra Maybury said “Strictly

fever has certainly taken over Bantry and the response we have received for this event has been amazing. The dancers involved form part of a really fantastic line up and all shows promise to delight audiences with lifts, tricks, glitz and glamour.

School principal, Brian Gleeson, thanked the parents association and all the team involved in organising this event. He paid special tribute to the dancers for their com-mitment and also to the num-ber of local businesses who have supported the school.


CocoPG 105 minsDirector: Lee Unkrich, Adrian MolinaStarring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal

Plot: Aspiring musician Mi-guel, confronted with his fam-ily’s ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to fi nd his great-great-grandfa-ther, a legendary singer.Review: Coco is the latest in the long line of Pixar movies and is another brilliant piece of storytelling. Based around the Mexican festival of Dia De

los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the visual interpretation of the incredible day is absolutely stunning, from the decoration in the real world to the neon stylised land of the dead. The story is beautiful and is not only educational to anyone who doesn’t understand or hasn’t heard of the festival but also extremely heartwarming and to a little extent, calming. The characters are vibrant and colourful and despite their nature are non-threatening and not scary meaning it should be okay for a younger audience, although because of the subject

matter it may raise some ques-tions that you should prepare yourself to answer.

The vocal work from the actors is amazing and pitch perfect for every character and every song, which is just another great part that makes this whole movie enjoyable. It is sad in places again because of the nature of the fi lm but by the end you will feel uplifted and glad that you have seen what I believe will be one of the best movies (not just in animation) of the year. Go and watch this with the whole family and enjoy Pixar’s imag-initive storytelling at its fi nest. **** 4 Stars

Catch these and all the latest fi lms at Ireland’s number one best value cinema Park Cine-ma Clonakilty and second best value cinema Cinemax Bantry.

What to watch in February:Pick of the month:The Shape of WaterAn other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forver when sheand co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classifi ed experiment.

Black PantherT’Challa, the new ruler of the advanced kingdom of Wakan-da, must defend his land from being torn apart by enemies from outside and inside the country.

FILMRYAN’S REVIEWS

Ryan Edwards

***** 5 stars “Take my money and show me again!”**** 4 stars “I’ll see that again when it comes out to buy”*** 3 stars “I’ll buy it and watch it when it’s in the bargain bin”** 2 stars “I may watch it again sometime”* 1 star “This is why I’m glad for memory loss”No star “Don’t even bother”

Two shining stars of traditional music share a stageKilmurry Historical and

Archaeological and Ar-chaeological Association

(KHAA) proudly presents two stars of traditional music, Seán Ó Sé and Peadar Ó Riada, in concert on Saturday, February 17 at 8pm in Ovens. Lifelong friends and regular musical collabora-tors, Seán and Peadar, will be joined on the night by Castletown Kinneigh Choir and Newcestown Comhaltas. It is a rare occasion for Cork music fans to see so much talent perform on one stage; it will be a great night of music and storytelling in Ovens just off the main Cork-Macroom road near Ballincollig.

Seán Ó Sé, the man known as ‘The Pocar’, is a native of Bantry while Peadar Ó Riada is a native of Cúil Aodha (near Macroom).

Both Seán and Peadar were born into Irish speaking families and immersed in traditional music, song and story telling.

Seán has been regarded rightly as a great singer and one of the most enduring talents of the traditional music scene in Cork with a career spanning decades. He worked with the late great Seán O’Riada (Peadar’s father) early in his career. He has gone on to work with other luminaries of the traditional music scene such as Donal Lunny and Dermot O’Brien. He has toured in Ameri-ca, the UK, Russia and Cuba.

Peadar Ó Riada is probably best known for his work with the choir Cór Cúil Aodha but he is also a composer of tradition-al music for fi lm and dance as well as a world class composer

of choral music. He is a fi ne pianist and a well-regarded radio presenter. Just a few of his recent achievements include Gradam Ceoil TG4 Composer and Grad-am an Oireachtais. Peadar’s main interest is traditional, ancient and spiritual music. He is following in his father’s footsteps as a mu-sical leader in traditional music on the Cork stage.

The two musicians have collaborated in previous gigs and recording in Michael Cole-man’s gurteeen, Co. Sligo and St. Brendans Church, Bantry. The proceeds of this upcoming concert will help with the running of the voluntary museum and community centre in Kilmurry. Tickets €20 from Mary at 087 6568110 or eventbrite.ie.

The Rossmore Variety Show, a fundraiser for Kilmeen and Kilbree GAA Club, was a sell-out success in January. The show was the brainchild of Nora Scannell (director), ably assisted by Claire Collins (assistant director). Community spirit is evidently alive and well in Rossmore as over 100 people were included in the cast, with another 12 people helping out backstage.

Tw(icB

inimso

amtrwHSeoosuOc

bthisaw

oppaCaisiso

crmSTcocT6

thon

ftrdMpasweinthha

Co“aindfthFsth

tTpHOr

oTtawCBitlDAcf

kHs

9s1sbwbaoWcojfibD

M

fowedaaag

Gaietmbh


Cork comedian Chris Kent presents his fi fth solo show, Moving On at the Everyman on Friday February 16. Returning with his charming and surreal style, Chris has

a new perspective on life. Having moved to the UK and recently becoming a dad for the fi rst time, adult life is leaving him more confused than ever…

“Original hilarious material… Among the best acts I’ve seen” The Mirror

Win a pair of tickets to Chris Kent on Friday February 16 at 8pm, at the Everyman. To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is email your name, address and phone number with Chris Kent in the subject line to [email protected]. Entries must be in by Tuesday Feburary 13.

On January 20, Atlantic Radio Ireland, a new online community

radio channel, aired its fi rst live broadcast. As part of the proceeding, a public gig was hosted in O’Donovan’s Hotel, Clonakilty giving people a chance to witness the event up close or to tune in from at home.

The event stood as a good measure of what’s to come, in-troducing many of the stations’ new presenters and a plethora of musical guests, all light-heartedly conducted by Barry O’Mahony, the stations newly appointed manager, who on the night quipped about receiving good luck emails from listeners in Boston, Dubai and even as far away as Dunmanway!

The West Cork station fi lls a gap left by the recently-depart-ed and much-loved Clonline Radio, with many of the orig-inal members returning to the

helm and featuring a dynamic and growing bill of presenters and contributors from all over west Cork.

So I caught up with Barry to fi nd out the story so far and the important role he hopes the station will play within the community.

Barry’s fi rst involvement with online radio happened when his cousin Greg Mulcahy signed him up to do a program without his knowledge. As part of a project led by Baltimore social experimentalist Sheila Broderick, during her residen-cy in the Clon Community Art centre, where she set up a temporary community radio station, Sheila pulled in as many people as she could from around the community to real-ise the project coined Clonline Radio,

“Clonline Radio was formed out of the Arts Centre, a very simple set up, just a couple of microphones, a little mixing desk and a laptop, and to be honest that’s all we still really use.”

Barry and Greg put together an ad-hoc morning breakfast chat show and others contrib-uted broad ranging shows too; the weekend ended being a big success, bringing in many varied people together to create something together. So they decided to continue the project for the time being, as Barry mentions below.

“We decided that we’d run the station just every Saturday and the rest of the week, when there was nothing else on. For the fi rst week that went fi ne, a couple people listened in and it was getting good feedback and everyone was kind of up for do-ing a second Saturday but this time we forgot to switch off

the server so it kept looping all week long; but as a result way more people tuned in. So we thought, okay there’s something going on here. People were lis-tening and then people started making requests for podcasts, so we started uploading those to the website too and then the project just kind of started getting bigger and bigger, more people were contributing and it was very exciting.”

Having clearly enjoyed the experience, Barry dove head-fi rst into online radio, making several more shows, joining the management team and even de-signing the website. But despite this, all good things must come to an end, as Barry explains.

“It was all very experimental and there was never any kind of structure or anybody in charge. The only offi cial thing was the location – Dan Guiney, our production manager had the studio and the gear so his studio became the base. But other then that nobody really knew who was in charge of what.

The station never really ran itself; it had just been people like Dan donating his gear,

and myself and Mick Holly paying the web fees. It got to the point where it had kind of come to a natural conclusion, so we decided to close the book on the project, to analyse everything and see was it worth trying again and to see if there was thing we could do better. So we did that August last year, which was when Atlantic Radio Ireland was born.”

“When people traditionally think of community radio, they think of local affairs, that is community radio, as we’d all expect it to be – someone doing the weekly report from Dri-moleague, promoting the Tidy Towns litter collection and the under 12s soccer match, –we do defi nitely want to cover that base but there is also commu-nity in a different sense...Com-munity in my eyes is people with a common interest coming together.

Let’s say you love free jazz music, or you’re an adult who loves building things with Lego, if you live in a major city there’s probably a bar or a club or a shop near you that you can get a taxi or a subway to where you will meet up with all the

other people who are into that stuff. In West Cork because it’s not a very densely populated area there are pockets of inter-est around the place that don’t have a single focal point, espe-cially if something is a little bit leftfi eld. But more often then not you don’t have to travel to New York to fi nd someone else interested in your niche.

If you live in Castletown-bere, there’s probably not much of a free jazz scene but maybe there’s someone in Caheragh who’s also big into jazz and you know what there’s probably someone in Kilbrittain too, you just don’t have the opportunity to meet each other, but if just one of those people sent us an email saying I’m really into free jazz and is there any chance of us getting a show about it, then as long as you’re

willing to help out with it we can make that show. Then the guy in Caheragh goes ‘oh great there’s actually a show that relates the thing I’m interested in’ and he starts tuning in, the woman from Kilbrittain dis-covers it and tells her friends. If those people began emailing in and texting, sure all of a sudden you’ve formed a community – a community that wouldn’t have existed for geographical reasons. Because of the Inter-net, our station has the potential to reach the entire world and we can create communities.”

Atlantic Radio Ireland is a not-for-profi t, communi-ty-based radio and they’re always on the prowl for new volunteers to join their growing team. You can fi nd out more via their website www.atlanticra-dio.ie.


Friday 2 February 9.30pmDAITHÍ

DeBarras Folk Club, Clonakilty

Saturday 10 February 8pmANNA MITCHELL & MARIE DANIELLE

Levis Corner House, Ballydehob

Friday 23 February 8pmJOIN ME IN THE PINES

Connolly’s of Leap

Sunday 25 February 8pmWYVERN LINGO

Connolly’s of Leap

For full lis ngs and more music content visit www.ambiguousfi ddle.com

Launch of Atlantic Radio Ireland

MUSICSean Phair

Sean Phair is a music fan and video professional; he hides behind the moniker Ambiguous Fiddle.

Donal O’Driscoll & Barry O’Mahony

haanw

toththc

wwsiwosoBcyAtestmarisR

osimdhu

achuthbvsodfom

thaththcweinti

thwmthgtemstothgpw

efi smsthto

asTlopsbthw

itli

D

apthcsobetrwSwIr

ththcethmTudbnmwto

mloLthogy

osnaehclnNi

bmmCjptobsraa

wcgtriwctay–hrntw

atavttd

COMPETITIONWin tickets to Chris Kent’s brand new comedy show at the Everyman

Mystical Mandelas Exhibition

On February 9, local artist Eleanor Murray will have

an exhibition of Mandalas, as a fundraiser for Doctors without Borders, Medicine

Sans Frontieres, at the Clonakilty Community Arts Centre.

Eleanor is well known for her charitable work, as a long-standing worker in The Children’s Project in Spiller’s Lane, Clonakilty.

“Six months ago I was watching the news when an item came on about the Ro-hingya refugees fl eeing to Bangladesh and how much medical and humanitarian aid was needed. It really moved me and I felt a need to do something to help,” explains Eleanor. “I had

painted some Mandalas be-fore and I came up with the idea of having an exhibition of paintings, that would raise money for the charity and also raise awareness of the charity’s work.”

Eleanor has created over 40 different pieces in a dazzling array of colours and sizes.

Mystical Mandalas prom-ises to be an enjoyable and rewarding exhibition.

Please show your support for this very important resource.

SCC

faTS

wihBmamte

pfiorat

4da

ir

fr


Aries: Satisfaction comes when you have a sense of belonging to the people you associate with, and know that they also appreciate you. This is a time when you might be thinking more about how your ideals fi t in with the people around you. You must realise that you

often become quite attached to pet projects and have some diffi -culty letting go of the reins when other people need to take over. Use this opportunity to make a positive move towards openness and you may discover a talent for working with people in groups, especially if this involves caring or humanitarian projects.

Taurus: You make important emotional bonds to people you work with, and you may fi nd yourself playing a much more signifi cant role. Being out in public view is also likely as you’re especially able to appreciate what is wanted now. Remember though, it

could be wise to develop a certain emotional detachment, so that you feel less vulnerable. You want to get ahead and be appreciated and now is the time to dream your wildest dreams and take the risk of following them. Remember that everything you achieve has to be imagined by you fi rst.

Gemini: You are hungry for understanding and insight now, and are keen to read or study a great deal to attain further knowledge or wisdom. It’s a great time for planning, dreaming up new schemes, or rearranging the way you look at things. Patterns you

set up now do not need to be perfected until later, so you can work with a vague outline until you’ve got the basic plan established. Don’t be surprised if you fi nd an opportunity to travel or link with foreign cultures, as there are valuable exchanges to be had. You have much to learn over the next few months.

Cancer: One of your greatest talents is your ability to tune in to the deepest emotional signals in other peo-ple. If you can face your inner emotional fears now, you’ll help guide others through theirs. You have the courage to be honest with yourself which allows oth-

ers to be honest about their failings also. You’ll be appreciated for the genuine support. Start this next phase with the determination to throw out some old worn out ways and unproductive thinking. This is a time of renewal for you so be prepared for some real transfor-mation.

Leo: Your enormous receptivity to the problems and needs of others gives you a listening job. You can give support and nourishment to those that need it. But you can also be to quick to meet the demands of others, so take care not to become drained by these

emotional contacts. You may discover you’ve made too many com-promises for the sake of emotional peace. Try to fi nd the balance in your most important relationships. You can be very sincere when you want to be but it has to go both ways or you’ll have reason to feel resentful.

Virgo: Emotional problems can arise at work because of some over sensitivity and unconscious overreac-tion. Be aware of where you feel your own security is threatened by change and adapt before it happens. You’ll fi nd yourself working on behalf of others now.

You want to be at your best and give your all to improving con-ditions, either at work or some other important area of your life. Consider which long term projects will give you the greatest sense of personal achievement but ensure that your mind body and spirit are also being looked after.

Libra: There is no time like the present when it comes to having fun, entertaining friends or relax-ing with a loved one. Romance in all its forms is demanding to be indulged. Your tendency to yearn for the security of love and intimacy is at a peak and

you might fi nd yourself trying to match reality to your fantasy but with disappointing results. Begin with a fl ourish but remember that lasting satisfaction comes from creative achievements of all kinds and can also be found in simple pleasures. Whatever you do make sure you have plenty of time to daydream between social events.

Scorpio: The bonds to the past may seem stronger at the moment. There is plenty of opportunity to recon-sider people and places that have been important in your past. Fundamental security is a major preoccu-pation for you now. You’ll be thinking of ways that

you can bring something of your past experiences into the future. You function best when there is peace on the home front, but you might fi nd yourself distracted by family worries or be concerned with matters of the home, land or property. Start this month with expressing some of those deep inner tensions that you’ve allowed to build up.

Sagittarius: When you communicate, you’ll fi nd you do so with feeling and conviction. You have a compelling persuasive aura about you now and you are well suited to situations where communication is essential. It may be your job to sort the wheat from

the chaff and dispel confusion over certain matters. This is no time to be taking it easy because your skills are required in many areas and friends and neighbours will benefi t from your knowledge. Remember to maintain a good pace and you’ll have a lot to be grateful for if you are prepared to be generous in sharing yourself.

Capricorn: You have a strong appreciation of what has value, and what doesn’t. You can achieve content-ment by providing for the basic needs of others now. The threat of economic insecurity can mean that you are staying longer than necessary in an unsatisfactory

work situation. Wise decisions are based on knowing what is right for you, not by always playing it safe. Remember that the talents and abilities you have built up over the years are your security and if you put them to good use you will fi nd the stability you’re reaching for.

Aquarius: Trust and intimacy are primary concerns right now and you might have cause to test the bonds with the people closest to you. Emotions and personal attachments are central issues in your life now, but are you the one stretching their limits? You want to have

the chance to make some kind of statement about who you are and what sets you apart from others rather than what you share in com-mon. Start with an identity reality check. Be sure you know who you are fi rst and then get out there and let everyone else know.

Pisces: At this time you have a deep longing to seek refuge in something which transcends everyday life. This may manifest itself in creative, musical or artistic work, which enables you to merge your spirit with the greater ocean of the collective spirit. You

do not function well in a social whirl and need to take time out to appreciate your talents away from distractions. This is a time of reorganising yourself on a subtle level and it’ll take a while to become aware of the changes. Begin this month slowly with plenty of time to delve into that impressive imaginative resource that is your inner world.


Kate Arbon is an astrologer, writer and spiritual teacher. Living in West Cork for over 20 years she gives personal consultations locally and internationally using traditional natal and Horary astrology. email: astro@katearbon www.katearbon.com

ASTROLOGYKate Arbon

February Star SignsThe month of January ended under the shadow of a total Lunar eclipse on January 31. An eclipse happens when the earth lines up with the Sun and Moon. If the Sun is on the op-posite side to the Sun we know it’s Full Moon because the full light of the Sun falls onto the face of the Moon, at the eclipse the shadow of the earth can be seen across the Moon. This event represents a time when changes can occur, there is a pause in the normal fl ow, and things can take a direc-tion that we hadn’t expected or wouldn’t follow the usual or logical progression. At the Full Moon we see the ending of a cycle, as it culminates to a fullness, and then the way is prepared for the next cycle. This can be a turning point

that isn’t recognised fully at the time, but you may look back in months or years and see that your life took off in a new direction, as you began to leave your old life behind.

The Leo Full Moon and Aquarius Sun combination puts the emphasis on using our personal authority or charisma in the most appropriate way. Because Venus is right there with the Sun, this eclipse brings a powerful feminine expression into our awareness. Events that take place during the next several months will echo this theme with female leadership or feminine roles changing.

February 1 is recognised as St Brigid’s day and the festival of Imbolc. The actual cross quarter day, which represents

the fi rst day of Spring, is on February 3 and marks the half way point in the Sun’s prog-ress between Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox in March.

The next major focal point this month is the Solar eclipse on February 15 when the Moon passes between the earth and Sun and blots out the Sun’s light for a short while, though only partially this time. This is the New Moon phase when we can’t see the Moon because it’s not illuminated by the Sun from the earth’s view-ing position. This New Moon signifi es the start of the new Lunar year and the Chinese New Year of the Dog .

With the Sun Moon com-bination in Aquarius there is a future orientated message

coming to us. Because the communication planet Mer-cury, whilst making a positive connection to the off beat planet Uranus, is also included in the mix, it adds to the gen-eral tone of this Solar Eclipse. Expect new and exciting ideas to break through, especially if you have the common good in mind and are anticipating ways to be more inclusive. With a diffi cult square aspect from Jupiter the worst we may encounter are some examples of overly enthusiastic ‘bright ideas’ or see some people on the world stage getting carried away with social reforms or major programs based on new ideologies. This is a time to fo-cus on being original and take innovative steps, make plans and let your inspiration fl ow.

Venus connecting positively with Saturn, the traditional rul-er of Aquarius, makes this is a good moment to consolidate your relationships and consid-er some serious commitment to those things, or people that you value most. How well these plans and projects go in the longer term will become more apparent as the eclipse season progresses and when we have the second round in July. Conscious intent is extra powerful now so turn up the creative volume and keep the intuition highly tuned as you set your course towards the future of your dreams.

New Moon is at 28° Aquarius on February 15 at 9.07pm. There is no Full Moon this Month.

A i S i f i h h f Vi E i l bl i k b A i T d i i i

ttbsnl

AppiBwbeEtelc

Soq

tFwraM

toMeStTwbtisLN

ba

ccccpineEtyinwWfeoidthamidcina

VweayetoyththmswJpcinsfu

AaM


Noah Chase stud-ied horticulture at the Eden Project in Corn-wall, England. He now co-manages a family run nursery, Deelish Garden Centre in Skibbereen, specialising in rare, un-usual and edible plants. His passion is sustainable gardening, useful plants and care of the environ-ment.

As the days get longer and hopefully dryer, we start to plan and

dream of what we would like to grow in the season ahead. One of my favorite vegeta-bles to grow are Potatoes aka Spuds!

For the amount of space and work invested, potatoes have to be one of the best choices to grow in your garden. If the ground is in its fi rst year of being used to grow vegatables, between your own digging and the growth of the tubers, the soil structure will greatly increase, making lighter work for the following season.

Let’s have a look at the main types of seed potatoes, as sometimes this can cause some confusion. Basically they are put in diffrent groups depend-ing on how long from planting to your plate!First earlies:• Plant early to mid March. • 10-12 weeks to mature. • Less chance of blight but

smaller harvest.Second earlies:• Plant mid March to early

April. • 12- 14 weeks to mature.• Small chance of blight. • Good selection • Medium harvest.Main crop:• Plant in April. • 18-22 weeks to mature.• More chance of blight. • Large harvest

The above is a general guide but will vary depending on weather conditions and how late into the season you get frosts. If the new shoots will get blackened by a late frost the crop may not recover. As a general rule, I try and plant out around St. Patrick’s Day. There are literally hundreds of varieties to choose from and this really comes down to personal taste, in any case it’s important to buy seed potatoes as these are guarenteed to be certifi ed virus free.

ChittingSeed potatoes, particularly earlies and second earlies, benefi t from ‘chitting’ prior to being planted. This process encourages strong shoots to sprout over several weeks to encourage faster growth and heavier crops once they’re in the ground.

From late January/February, chit your seed potatoes by setting them out in seed trays, shallow boxes or empty egg cartons in a cool, bright, frost free position to allow them to sprout. You will notice that the immature ‘chits’ are all at one end (called the rose end). Place the rose end upwards. Sturdy ‘chits’ will form and should grow 1” in length. Be careful not to let them get any longer, as they can break when planting out, slowing down the growth. Main crops don’t necessarily need to be chitted.

Planting outOnce you are happy with your chitted seed potatoes and the weather seems right, you are ready to plant! The soil should be freshly dug over and weed free. The traditional way is to dig a narrow trench 12cm (5”) deep. This can be lined with compost or even grass chippings for a better crop. As potatoes are hungry growers, I also add Greenvale pellets (a mix of chicken pellets and seaweed dust) to trench at this stage. If possible a mulch of well-rotted manure topped with seaweed would be even better. The see tubers are spaced 30cm (12in) apart for earlies and 37 cm (15in) apart for maincrop varieties in rows 60cm (24in) apart for earlies and 75 cm (30in) apart for maincrop.

There are other ways of growing if you do not have a large garden, or any garden at all! Small crops of potatoes can be grown in large, deep containers (rubble sacks and stacked tyres also work) and this is a good way of getting an early batch of new potatoes.

Line the bottom 15 cm (6in) of the container with potting compost and plant the seed potato just below this. As the new stems start growing keep adding compost until the con-tainer is full.

AftercareIt is important to earth up pota-to crops, as the shoots emerge above ground, to protect them from frosts which blacken the shoots and delay production. Simply draw some soil over the top of the shoots to cover them again.

If there is a chance of a late frost, cover the new shoots with a garden fl eece or straw. Remove when the threat of frost has passed.

First earlies and second ear-lies in particular require plenty of water during prolonged dry weather especially when tubers are starting to form. This is also a good time to feed with an organic liquid concentrate. This will strengthen the plants against disease and improve yields.

When the stems reach a height of 23cm (9in) above ground they should be earthed up again to prevent tubers near to the soil surface from turning green.

Weed out any unwanted plants along the trenches through the season (if the po-tatoes are growing well, there wont be many).

HarvestingLifting times will vary depend-ing on the growing season, weather conditions at harvest time and the size of tuber you want. Start to harvest fi rst earlies as ‘new potatoes’ when the plants begin to fl ower, ap-proximately 10-12 weeks from planting. Tubers will generally become larger the longer their growing period.

Maincrop varieties are usu-ally left for at least two weeks after the leaves and stems have withered, to allow the skins to set. Cut down the stems with

secateurs to just above soil level as the leaves wither and yellow, or if they show signs of blight. After harvesting, leave the tubers on the soil surface for a few hours to dry and cure the skin. Once dry store them in paper or hessian sacks in a dark, cool but frost free place. Avoid storing in polythene bags as potatoes will ‘sweat’ and rot.

Common problemsPotato blight: This is the most common disease in our wet, warm summers. The initial symptoms are a rapidly spread-ing brown watery rot, affecting the leaves and stems. Tubers can be affected too, and have a reddish-brown decay below the skin, fi rm at fi rst but soon developing into a soft rot.

Remedy: Spray potato crops with a protective fungicide even before signs of blight become apparent. Copper sul-phate is used as a preventative, not a cure. Add 50g Bluestone (copper sulphate) to 2 litres of hot water. In a separate container add 60g of washing soda to 3 litres of hot water. After half an hour, mix the two liquids and spray directly onto the potatoes, making sure to spray under the leaves as well. Do not spray if raining as the mixture will not stick. Use a watering can in the absence of a sprayer and ensure to clean it thoroughly after use. This fi ve litre mixture is enough for 20 square metres. Begin spraying this potato blight treatment from about June, particularly when periods of wet weather are forecast and spray again after a few weeks to protect any new growth. We have also had great feedback from gar-deners spraying with horsetail concentrate.

Horsetail concentrate recipe: mix half a cup of dried horsetail leaves in fi ve litres of water, bring it to the boil and simmer for half an hour. Cool, strain and bottle. It should keep for a month

This year, I plan to trial homeopathic remedies, Carbo Veg and Silica, in water dilute as a plant spray (based on positive results from gardeners who have tried this).

If plants become infected they should be removed and destroyed. Where potato crops have already developed tubers then these can be saved by cutting away the foliage and stems. Leave the soil undis-turbed for two-three weeks to kill off any lingering spores so that they don’t infect the crop when it is lifted.

Always try and grow pota-toes on new ground or rotate every year if possible for the same reason.Potato blackleg: Potato blackleg is a common bacterial disease which causes black rotting at the stem base.

people Gardening

Pick your potato

cont’d on page 50

bwlfgtaoToapiac

CSebteseht

csscfstoPSsclptn

POcwrbft(wcpI(sswwbsef6am

glaccsta

Locpnat

AItafsStt

fwRf

lowaaaTay

hgutg

pttw

HLiwtwetppbg

aaws

slyolsassfp‘

CPcwsitcatd

webpn(ocsAltsDmwatlstfwaaahdc

rhwssk

hVapw

tdhtcstktw

tesPbdr


Jobs for the monthPrepare and dig vegetable seedbeds, as soon as ground and weather conditions allow. Add in generous amounts of well rotten farmyard or stable manure and if this isn’t avail-able use well composted garden compost or Gee-up.

Buy seed potatoes ensuring they are from certifi ed sources.

Put early varieties sprouting.Net vegetable crops against

pigeon attack, especially late but important crops of Purple Sprouting Brocolli, Kale, Spring Cabbage, Spring cauli-fl ower. These are vital crops in the vital ‘hungry gap’ period.

Protect blossom of early fl owering fruit such as apricots and peaches. Cover with frost protection fl eece overnight or with sacking. Remember to remove the protection in the morning to allow insects access to facilitate pollination.

Prune winter fl owering shrubs that have fi nished fl owering.

Sow early vegetables in a heated, frost-free place. Check reverse of the seed packet for recommended temperatures and growing tips. Temperature is very important to the successful germination of seeds. Just hav-ing seeds under cover doesn’t guarantee success, as tem-peratures can fl uctuate widely especially during frosty nights or periods of cold weather. Use clean trays and pots and fresh compost when sowing.

Lawns: If weather and soil conditions allow, prepare the ground for lawn sowing in April. Remove any persistent, perennial weeds. Ensure you have adequate drainage in place.

If there is a consistent water-logging problem, this should be resolved before a new lawn is sown.

Snowdrops: February is the month to see Snowdrops. There are many Snowdrop events and open days throughout the country. You will fi nd up-dated openings on the gardening pag-es of the national newspapers, The Irish Garden magazine and from some of the local Flower and Garden Clubs. A magnif-

icent display of Snowdrops awaits visitors to the grounds of Blarney Castle. Snowdrops may be moved in ‘the green’ after fl owering.

Don’t miss some of the magnifi cent displays around the country of these welcome harbingers of spring!

Fruit Garden: Continue plant-ing of fruit trees and bushes when soil and weather condi-tions permit. Mulch gooseber-ries, currants, raspberries and loganberries with well-com-posted manure or compost. Complete formative pruning of apples and pears.

Prune established autumn cropping raspberries. Tip sum-mer fruiting raspberries. Cut down newly planted raspberry canes to 22-30cm (9-12”).

Hand-pollinate early fl ower-ing fruit. Use an artist’s brush to pollinate.

Summer fl owering bulbs Dahlias, Begonias, Gladioli and Nerines have arrived in garden centres and shops now. When choosing, check that the bulbs are sound and don’t have any mould or rotten pieces on the bulb. Begonias and Dahlias can be started into growth under cover. Pot up into wooden trays, pots or containers. Use moistened peat or potting com-post. Summer fl owering bulbs may be planted outdoors when all risk of frost is past in May or early June.

Hedging: Continue planting of hedging during February where soil and weather conditions per-mit. Hedges have a vital role to play in the garden and are gen-erally one of the fi rst features to be planted in a new garden. Hedges provide vital shelter, defi ne property boundaries and provide screening and privacy from neighbours or passers-by. They provide a backdrop to the more ornamental planting in the garden. Hedges provide a habitat for wildlife.

What hedge you will choose will be governed by personal choice but your site and its degree of exposure or proxim-ity to the coast will be a very infl uential factor.

Heavy, clay soils – choose Berberis darwinnii – evergreen, thorny with attractive profusion of orange fl owers in spring.

Ilex aquifolium – native, common holly – a very attrac-tive native hedge, evergreen with attractive winterberries. Looks well on its own or mixed with a native hedge to give some evergreen interest in the winter with hedges such as beech or whitethorn.

Potentilla fruticosa can be used as an informal, decidu-ous hedge. Potentillas come in a wide variety of colours

including red, orange, yellow, white, salmon, primrose yellow.They are hardy, free-fl owering – often fl owering from early summer well into late autumn. Potentillas are tolerant of coastal exposure and are best insunny, well-drained positions, as they will not tolerate dense shade. They reach a height of 60cm-1metre.

Ribes sanguineum – fl ower-ing currant, hardy, deciduous.

Flowering currant provides a profusion of fl ower early in the year. They are hardy and are tolerant of coastal exposure.

Hedges for Rural Areas Beech, whitethorn, blackthorn and hornbeam are all suitable ingood, well-drained soil.

Whitethorn and blackthorn are particularly suitable for planting around farms where they will provide a good stock-proof hedge. They will of course provide an excellent habitat for wildlife and birds. Beech and hornbeam are best in more inland locations where good drainage is available

Hedges for exposed coastal situations • Elaegnus ebbingei-evergreen.• Griselinia littoralis-evergreen.• Fuchsia riccartonii – decid-

uous, very much part of the landscape of South-west Ireland.

• Rosa rugosa – hardy, tough, wind-resistant, disease-free rose. Plant 45-60cm.apart.

• Hippophae rhamnoides – sea buckthorn.New hedges, especially by

the coast, will benefi t from the shelter of a windbreak netting securely attached to strong, sound posts or stakes.

people Gardening

GARDENINGJohn Hosford

The Weekend Garden Centre

Gardening in February

Initial infections cause stunted growth and yellowing stems. If tubers form, the fl esh may be grey or brown and rotten.

Remedy: Blackleg generally infects individual plants rather than entire crops and does not spread between plants or persist in the soil. Remove and destroy any infected plants, improve soil drainage and plant blackleg resistant potato varieties.Potato scab: This disease causes raised scab-like lesions on the potato surface. It does not affect the taste of the potato, and is easily removed on peeling.

Remedy: Common Scab on potatoes is best controlled by improving poor soil conditions with the addition of organic matter and by keeping potato crops well watered throughout the growing season. Use any infected tubers fi rst and do not store them.

Eelworm: Initially, crops display patches of poor growth and affected plants may show chlorosis and wilting, with poor top growth. These symptoms develop from the ground upwards. Heavily infested plants die premature-ly and yield a poor crop of under-sized tubers.

Remedy: There are no pesticides available to home gardeners which will con-trol eelworms, and so crop rotation should be used to avoid spreading the pest and to reduce infestations. Some varieties are more resistant.Slugs: Slugs cause damage to both the foliage and to the developing potato tubers. Damage is fairly obvious as the culprits are easily identifi ed by the silvery slime trails that

are left around the plant foliage and on the soil surface.

Remedy: There are a multi-tude of ways to kill or remove slugs and snails including homemade remedies such as beer traps. Use eco friendly slug pellets or you can try nematodes or copper barriers.

Below are some of our most popular varieties. Just like the gardeners who grow them , there are lots to choose from and each has their own qualites!First earliesArran pilot: Old fashion favor-ite. Scab resistant. Good boiler.Colleen: Uniform tubers. Good disease resistance. Duke of York: Tasty yellow fl esh. Good roasting potato.Orla: Great for boiling. Stores well.

Sharpes express: Used for boiling salads and chipping.Second earliesBritish queens: Loved all over Ireland! Catriona: Excellent fl avor. Big tubers.Charlotte: Popular salad vari-ety. Boils well.Kestrel: Early and high yield-ing. Slug resistant.Nicola: Buttery fl avor. My favourite!Main cropCara: Baking and boiling potato. Eelworm resistant.Desiree: Most popular red. Drought resistant.Kerr’s pink: Pink skin. Great all rounder.Pink fi r apple: Unusual shape. Nutty fl avor.Setanta: Blight resistance. Floury red.

Sarpo Potatoes Bred for their resistance to blight. High yielding. Excel-lent storage. Main crop. Not to everyone’s taste! Sarpo mira: Highest blight resistance. Floury.Blue Danube: Blue skin white fl esh.Great roasted.Axona: Red skin. Baking, roasting chipping and mash.

So, as you can see there are lots of varieties to choose from. All that’s left to do is to pick the varities that would suit your taste.

Wishing you all the best with the growing season ahead and remember gardening dosen’t have to cost the earth!

Pick your potato

....cont’d from page 49

inthnpdimpvPconpo

Edashwsyginlyu

pgtrroatovStodDthb

aa

tushbsn

mlithfrqFAitCdDfl Ow

SbSBIrCtuCeKinNfMCpDDKaPNSF

SBbleeSrBfl Ar

afps

wad

P

pbSSfl th

fl ap

icaoma

mthh

FinwtirlopCa

cmdc

into

SDNccambbctrmpmao

HhsmpetoHdpfTmthh

wcditin

Btho

ctiwLwswb

uoin

inwT–sPcsas6

in

pyto

HBag

apthsohBing

Hc•••

•

•

thsss


people Sport & Fitness

Keeping those resolutions

Are you still working towards your New Year resolutions here,

a month into the New Year? If you are, I commend you, but this month’s column is not for you. I’m concentrating on giv-ing advice to those who are on the edge of slipping back into old habits, those who giving

up already and the few who wrote with questions about the January piece.

I’ll start with the latter, as the question and answer trans-lates into the trouble of making new habits. One of the best questions I’ve received was very simple and straightfor-ward: ‘I found your Fat Blaster article very interesting. How do I start?’

The simplest answer would be: ‘Get dumbbells and start today’. Which was also part of my answer, but I realised a more elaborate answer might help with starting and keeping the resolution, rather than just start. Because the reality is, most of us would like to do something that improves our health in some form or another, but most of us are also very comfort-seeking creatures of habit, who will give ourselves excuses to avoid any type of discomfort. And physical training is, unfortunately, for a lot of people connected to discomfort.

So for me, a proper advice on how to start includes a ‘continuity’ plan. Think about how this program can fi t into your everyday life. How many days a week will you commit

to training? Is the number realistic? Do you have physical space, time and equipment to do this? To tackle and explore questions like these can help you set out for success in the long run, rather than a fast start and fast burnout. One thing my life with training has taught me, is that burnout happens even for the best of us. Taking on too much in the beginning can be taxing after a while, so success is both being realistic on how much effort you can put into a change and to push through the inevitable periods of not seeing the point or not wanting to do it – and do it anyway.

So how do you avoid burning out and push through the un-inspired, un-motivated periods? * Make a Realistic plan. Be

honest with yourself on how much time and how many days you can realistically train per week. It minimise the chances of burning out before you get started.

* Allow yourself easy days. Es-pecially on a program like the nine minutes, which requires high intensity, it’s easy to overdo. I gave myself a week

to get into things before look-ing at numbers. I also allow a week or more to reach a higher number or easier days if needs be. While you want to see results (working with high intensity), you also want to continue with the program. So fi nd a balance between intensity and not beating yourself if you’re having a hard day. Too many negative thoughts spoil the journey and make it easier to quit.

*Have the longterm goal on your mind, but the short goal (the daily/ part of weekly training) at hand. For the spe-cifi c nine-minute challenge, it is only Nine minutes of your day, so on days you don’t feel like it, tell yourself it’s doable (because it is) and see it as a part of the big goal, whether this is weightloss, building muscles or just increasing your wellbeing.A lesson I had to learn

myself is that more does not always equate better. Rather than pushing hard every single time or doing double work and getting fed up with everything after a while, it’s better to keep it simple, letting yourself have an ‘easy’ day from time to time

and to keep going. I just saw a TED talk the

other day about what factors prolong life expectancy and physical training was only number seven out of a list of 10. Quitting smoking and drinking was respectively number three and four. But the two top scores had nothing to do with the usual ‘Health barometers’. Close family (and friends) ties and societal integration were clear winners. So there’s something to be said about putting too much empha-sis onto the holy grail of train-ing. You can be in great shape, but if you have no one to laugh with, to share experiences with and talk to, you might not be so happy after all.

However training is not just about health benefi ts. Moving and using your body is, at least for me, more a way of life, a mental state that adds to the

happiness of being and feeling alive, which again translates into being a better person to others. It’s easier to fi ll some-one else’s cup, when your own is full.

For myself, I’ve been fol-lowing my own medicine since the start of the new year for nine minutes a day and I have to say, I’m pretty chuffed with the results considering they come from a very small time investment. In the next column,I’ll go more into details about my process and planning – and I’ll come up with short alternatives to the nine-minute fat blaster.

But for now, I hope this little guide has inspired you to keep your resolution or reframed your goals and planning into realistic, achievable ones. Fill your cup, so you can easier help fi ll others.

DIY FITNESSTania Presutti

Danish freelance journalist and fi tness professional Tania Presutti, who now resides in Clonakilty, delivers a series of effi cient DIY fi tness exercises you can do at home.

Local sailors up for the Volvo Sailor of the Year awards

Early bird registration now open for the 2018 Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon

The Volvo Irish Sailing Awards are taking place in Dublin on Friday, February 9 and several local sailors are nominated for awards including: Micheal O’Suillebhain

of Kinsale Yacht Club, nominated for the Volvo Sailor of the Year category; Crookhaven Harbour Sailing Club is one of only three nominations for the Volvo Irish Sailing Training Centre of the Year, and winner of the Southern region; Brian Leonard of Baltimore Sailing Club has been nominated for the Volvo Irish Sailing Senior Instructor of the Year, and is also the winner of the Southern region.

Almost 8,000 participants, 54,000 safety pins, 55,000 bottles of water, two Guinness World Records, and 540 volunteers…it could only be the Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon. Last year this his-toric race moved from its traditional June Bank Holiday Monday to Sunday. This date change contributed to what was one of the most successful race days to date.

Now in its 12th year, the Marathon is an internationally rec-ognised marathon welcoming participants from home and abroad, with certifi cation from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). This marathon is a qualifying race for other marathons, such as the Boston City Marathon.

Register or fi nd out more at www.corkcitymarathon.ie.

E l bi d i t til il f hf

AwotSs

owFm

uwJ

thlanqvwaI

btoomhthsmshbcheotrad

o‘hyd

torsdqyloalimeocsopthowa

bthp*

*

*

mathtgaita

a

oppnodnttb(iSasibwah

aafm

haiooi

ltnttciImaaf

gyyryh


Keith was recognised for his driving prowess when he won the

Manley Memorial Cup recent-ly. The West Cork man was delighted to accept the 2017 Irish International Driver of the Year award, which is voted for by members of the Irish Motorsport Press. Keith ac-cepted his prize at a glittering awards ceremony held in the Mansion House. “It was a nice award to win. It was a great honour and great recognition as all motorsport disciplines are up for the award. It was a great accolade to win.”

Keith and his co-driver Mikie Galvin claimed the 2017 British Rally Championship in dramatic fashion. The title showdown went to the very last round in the Isle of Man. Keith and Mike won the rally by 0.1 of a second which pro-pelled them to a stunning one point win over their nearest rivals. Keith was thrilled to emerge victorious for the fourth time at the British Rally Championships. The dramatic fi nale made it even sweeter for the modest racing enthusiast. “It was defi nitely the toughest one yet, which probably made

it the most rewarding. It is up there with winning my fi rst British Rally Championship as one of the highlights. Going into the last day victory was out of my hands and it wasn’t looking very promising. Luck-ily a few things went right for me on the last day and we just about won a dramatic race. It went all the way to the wire. We just got over the line by the smallest of margins. It was a sweet victory and it took a while for it all to sink it. There was a bit of disbelief initially when I found out I won, it was a great feeling however.”

Keith’s recent success in the British Rally Championship enabled him to equal driving great Roger Clark’s impressive haul of four championship titles. Should Keith decide to enter this year’s British Rally Championships once again, he will be keen to target the historic fi ve championships titles garnered by rally legend Jimmy McRae.

“It was great to match Roger Clark’s record. It would be nice to match Jimmy’s historic haul of fi ve championship titles, but I’m not sure yet if I will be competing in the British Rally Championships later this year.”

Success in the 2017 British Rally Championship conclud-ed another very successful season for the Ballylickey native. Keith reserved his best performances for the latter part

of the rally season, which ul-timately propelled him to vic-tory in the biggest stage of all. “It was a great year especially the fi nish. I was disappointed with the start to the season, but I’m happy we were able to turn it around. Winning the British Rally Championship was a great win to fi nish the 2017 rally season.”

The ambitious rally driver is still in the process of fi nalising his plans and drives for the current year. His consistently excellent performances in recent years have led to strong and repeated calls for Keith to compete at the World Rally Championship. “I have no defi nite plans yet. I will just

have to wait and see what deals we can get together.”

Following his success in the British Rally Championship, Keith was afforded a heroes welcome upon his return to Kealkil. The ace driver was de-lighted to celebrate his success amongst his proud friends, family and neighbours. “It was really nice to have a night like that locally, especially as I have had had great support locally through the years.”

Pursing a career in rally driving requires a lot of time, commitment and especially a big fi nancial investment due to the expensive nature of the sport. Keith is indebted to his many sponsors for the pivotal

role they have played in his successful sporting career. “It can be a very diffi cult sport to compete in, but I have been very lucky with sponsors such as Tria (West Cork Oil), Cre-min Coaches and M O’Brien Plant Hire. Rallying takes up a lot of my time, but it is not a full time job for me. I work full time in our business in Ballylickey.”

Keith, who is 31-years-old, fi rst took up rally driving at the tender age of 16. Rally driving was always a popular sport within his family. Keith was happy to follow in the family tradition. “I competed in rallying fi rst when I was 16-years old; I was a navigator

for my uncle for a couple of events before I started driving when I was 17. It was through my uncle and father that I got involved. I have always been around the sport. It is a great sport to pursue. You have to be very focused and be able to hold good concentration for long periods of time. If you lose either it can result in an accident. Luckily, I’ve never been too seriously injured in an accident.”

Keith would love to com-pete in the WRC in the fore-seeable future. Keith acknowl-edges that the fi nance require to compete in the World Rally Championship could thwart his ambitions. “I would love to get the opportunity to compete in the World Rally Champion-ship some day. However you need to be able to fund the fi rst couple of years there so that the main teams will see you. It is a big problem as I don’t think I will ever be able to get the funding together to put myself out there.”

The West Cork rally star can content himself with the fact he has established himself as one of the best Irish rally driv-ers to have emerged in recent years, while his haul of four British Championship Titles has fi rmly enshrined his name in the history books forever.

SPORTJohn Bohane

people Sport & FitnessCronin’s name enshrined in rallying history books

West Cork rally driver Keith Cronin has enjoyed a superb sporting career. The Ballylickey driving star enjoyed a mem-orable season in 2017, which culminated in Keith and his co-driver Mikie Galvin claiming the British Rally Champi-onship, the decisive fi nal stage, which was held in the Isle of Man last September by a mere 0.1 second and one point ahead

of their nearest challengers. Keith’s latest success at the Brit-ish Rally Championship was the fourth time in his illustrious driving career he had captured the prestigious British Rally Championship. John Bohane catches with the sports star, as he looks back on his glorious driving career and shares his hopes for the future.

Rosscarbery Mullet smashes old record in National Angling Report

West Cork is a hugely popular angling destination for

many visitors, from home and abroad, and Rosscarbery, in particular, has come into sharp focus with the publication of a new offi cial report which logs the largest fi sh of various spe-cies which have been caught all over Ireland.

The Irish Specimen Fish Committee Report 2017, which has just been published, records that Rosscarbery was the location where Dublin angler, Ian Mulligan, broke the Golden Grey Mullet record, which was established as re-cently as 2014. Mulligan’s re-cord-breaking Mullet weighed 1.29 kg and was caught in Rosscarbery on July 4, 2017.

The Irish Specimen Fish Committee (ISFC) recently ratifi ed this new Irish record fi sh.

Furthermore, Rosscarbery was the location where Amy O’Brien from Cork caught a 0.94 kg Golden Grey Mullet on September 1, 2017, which resulted in her winning the Dr AEJ Went Award for Young Specimen Angler of the Year. Dr Arthur Went, a noted fi sh-eries biologist and one of the two founder members of the ISFC, nominated this award which is for the best specimen of the year (based on the high-est percentage of the specimen weight) taken by an angler aged 13 years or younger.

Such notable catches are sure to bring Rosscarbery, and

the wider West Cork region, to the attention of anglers all over Ireland, and beyond, as they plan their 2018 calendars, with notable catches in Clonakilty, Union Hall and Kinsale also featuring prominently in the new report. In recent years Rosscarbery, in particular, has featured regularly for catches of large mullet.

The Irish Specimen Fish Committee, which is supported by Inland Fisheries Ireland, is an independent all-Ireland voluntary body, which verifi es and records the capture of large fi sh caught on rod by an-glers in freshwater and marine waters.

As well as the new record, detailed information on 422 specimen fi sh (large fi sh)

taken by anglers from venues throughout Ireland in 2017, comprising many different spe-cies, is detailed in the report. The main species were smaller shark species like Smooth hound and Spurdog and, in freshwater, Carp dominated. All fi sh were caught, weighed, measured and released.

The Irish Specimen Fish Committee report is available on the ISFC website www.irish-trophy-fi sh.com or from the Inland Fisheries Ireland website www.fi sheriesireland.ie/. Hard copies of the report are available from Inland Fish-eries Ireland offi ces nationally.

The ISFC Awards Day, when anglers will be presented with their awards and certifi -cates, will be held on Feb-

ruary 17, 2018 in Dublin (in conjunction with Irish Angling Show weekend: www.marame-dia.ie/irish-angling-expo).

R b M ll t h ld d i N ti l A li R tIan Mulligan from Dublin with his record breaking Rosscarbery Mullet.

Crfi

wO0orASDetwIwoewa

s

ththIpnUfnRfo

Cbivalgw

ds

tthccTshfAm

Coirthwiae

wwc

rcSd

IwR

itthBoinoloilmawWthawwwa

BeghtieChhtiJi

CnhtiifBla

Resenp

otito“IthwbtoBw2

sthcuexreantoCd

hd

BKwKliamfawliI lo

dcobtospm

rosucacovasmPa a fuB

fi thdspwfain1

evwminarspbehololoacbean

peseedtoChigeinshnecothItththm

coheoneryeBhin

west cork people

Documents