Growing chemical
free flowers in
Drimoleague
Leap author on
�Bringing home the
Bride’ in Ireland
page 41
pages 3 & 4
www.westcorkpeople.ie & www.westcorkfridayad.ie
October 31 – November 28, 2014, Vol X, Edition 150
FREE
Old Town Hall, McCurtain Hill, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. E: [email protected] P/F: 023 8835698
Dr. Jason Van der Velde from West Cork Rapid Response takes a well earned rest at Ahiohill Threshing & Vintage Day in aid of "Jeep for Jason" and
Suicide Aware. Events are stil taking place throughout West Cork to raise €70,000 for a top-of-the-range emergency response vehicle for Jason.
Wind industry calls for new schemes to encourage
energy production by Cork farms and businesses
T
he Irish Wind Energy
Association (IWEA) has called
on the Government to introduce
new schemes that would further
encourage and incentivise the development of wind microgeneration for
Cork farms, businesses and homes,
which the Association maintains could
bring significant benefits to rural communities.
Microgeneration is the production
of energy on a small scale for farms,
businesses or domestic homes. Typical
microgeneration technologies include
Wind Turbines, Solar Photovoltaic,
Hydro Power and Combined Heat and
Power (CHP) with equipment ratings
below 11kW.
Speaking at IWEA’s annual conference in Kilkenny, Caitriona
Diviney, Chief Operations Officer of
IWEA said that electricity costs rank
among the main overheads for farms,
businesses, and homes, and that more
wind microgeneration could help significantly reduce costs, whilst offering
an opportunity to earn additional
income by contributing the surplus
electricity generated to the national
grid.
“When compared to neighbouring
countries such as the UK, the significant potential for wind microgeneration in Ireland, and Cork in particular,
still remains relatively untapped.
Locally generated electricity can be
yet another guaranteed Irish product,
and can give farms, businesses and
homeowners more control over their
own electricity production."
“We believe greater wind microgeneration can lead to more sustainable rural livelihoods and form part of
the solution to reduce Ireland’s overall
carbon emissions."
To encourage the development of
wind microgeneration, Diviney
believes that new schemes should be
put in place to provide greater opportunity to invest in this technology.
“People and businesses are already
successfully availing of microgeneration but there is considerable investment required to develop the technology and the current payback period is
expected to be more than ten years. In
our budget submission to the
Government we have therefore, called
for new schemes, akin to those in
other countries, that could reduce the
pay back period significantly, making
this a much more attractive option.”
The Irish Wind Energy
Association has launched a step-bystep guide aimed at helping people
avail of new microgeneration technology and is available for download on
their website.
The Irish Wind Energy Association
is the national body representing the
wind energy sector in Ireland. IWEA
is committed to promoting the use of
wind energy in Ireland and beyond as
an economically viable and environmentally sound alternative to conventional generation and promotes awareness and understanding of wind power
as the primary renewable energy
resource.
2
October 31 – November 27
Crafts inspired by Wild Atlantic
Way on display at Cork Airport
W
ild Atlantic Way
inspired crafts
went on display
at Cork Airport for two
weeks in October and
included works by several
West Cork artists.
The exhibition was organised by Cork Craft and
Design, whose members
draw inspiration from nature
along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic
Way, informing the selection
of works for this very special
multi-disciplinary exhibition.
Passengers travelling
through Cork Airport had the
opportunity to meet with the
craftspeople and talk about
their work and inspiration.
Exhibits included basketry
pieces, pottery, furniture,
textiles, jewellery, sculpture
and painting.
Exhibiting his fine woodturning skills, Cork Craft
and Designs Chairman, Tony
Farrell said: “We are simply
delighted to have been given
this opportunity to exhibit
here at Cork Airport, one of
T
Paper artist Hilary Nunan from Minane Bridge pictured
at the official opening of the "Crafts from the Wild
Atlantic Way” exhibition by Cork Craft & Design at Cork
Airport.
Pic: Diane Cusack
Cork’s most iconic buildings. Over one hundred
thousand visitors will pass
through the airport over the
next two weeks and we are
thrilled that many of them
will have a chance to see the
high level of craft being produced right here in the Cork
region and all along Ireland
Wild Atlantic Way’.”
Kevin Cullinane, Head of
Communications at Cork
Airport commented:
“The Wild Atlantic Way,
which officially starts right
here on our doorstep at Cork
Airport, provides a wealth of
inspiration. The route around
West Cork has some of the
most breath-taking scenery
anywhere in the world so it’s
easy to see how its beauty
inspired so much creativity,”
he added.
SHANAHAN’S
NURSERIES & GARDEN
CENTRE
ClonakiltyTel. 023-8833398 Fax: 023 8858585
Email: [email protected]
The Nurseries for the Connoisseur
HELPING
TO
Christmas pop-up
shop in Bantry
CREATE BEAUTY
FOR OVER
GARDENS
65YEARS
IN THE
OF IRELAND
The Unique Design of our 3.acre Nursery and Garden Centre has received many compliments
from customers and visitors throughout the many years we have been in business.
в¦Ѓ AUTUMN/WINTER BEDDING now available for
containers and bowls - to give colour from now
until early Spring.
в¦Ѓ Growing CHRISTMAS TREES, large and small, in
containers, to grow along with the family for years
to come.
в¦Ѓ Plant HEATHERS now for Autumn/Winter colour.
Evergreen and hardy. Excellent ground cover and
easy to care for. Ideal for planted containers.
в¦Ѓ FRUIT TREES and FRUIT BUSHES are easy to
grow if you choose the correct variety. No matter
how large or small your garden you will have an
abundant crop of tasty fruit.
в¦Ѓ We have a superb range of HEDGING PLANTS
- many varieties and heights.
Gift Vouchers
Available
Shanahan’s Nurseries (300 Metres from Fernhill House Hotel)
OPEN TUES TO SAT, 9am to 5.30pm (CLOSED FOR LUNCH 1-2pm)
CLOSED Sundays, OPEN Bank Holidays
o add extra interest to
the annual Santaland
and Christmas Bazaar
in Bantry, Our Lady of Mercy
National School will run a
Christmas Pop-up Shop at The
Timberland shop in William
Street from Tuesday,
November 4 to Saturday,
November 8.
From baubles to bells, candles to calendars; stock has
been gathered from around the
country and the school will be
offering beautiful decorations
at discount prices to Bantry
shoppers in the run up to
Christmas.
Following this, on Sunday
November 30, the annual
Santaland and Christmas
Bazaar will take place at the
school from 12-4pm. Much of
the school is transformed into
a winter wonderland. Santa
will hold court in his grotto,
with a gift for each child. Mrs.
Claus will be baking some
goodies in her kitchen (feel
free to help her out) and the
elves will surely be messing in
the snow garden, snowballs at
the ready!
The bottle stall will be
back with a chance to win
hundreds of beverages and
there will also be Christmas
produce and decorations for
sale.
Last year’s winners of the
adult triathlon (darts, pool and
rings) will be back to defend
their crowns (well cups actually, nice ones too) and new
games this year include
Nordic Ski Sprint, Christmas
Chimney Challenge and
Saving Santa with great prizes
on offer.
The tea room will be open
again and organisers are
delighted to welcome Danny
Miles, who will be selling
burgers from The Dingle
Dexter Beef Company with
his own delicious relishes.
Entrance is €5 for children,
including a gift and photo
with Santa, and €2 for adults
including a prize draw ticket.
A fun filled day is promised
for all.
This is a fundraising affair
with staff, parents and friends
of the school all helping out.
The pop-up shop is open
daily from from November 4
to 8, 10am to 6pm – pop in for
a bargain!
�Jeep for Jason’
campaign at full throttle
S
eptember and October
have been very busy
months for the �Jeep for
Jason’ campaign but the
launch date of Sunday,
November 30 in
Ballinascarthy is right on target. The success of the campaign is thanks to the people
of West Cork, who have rallied round this project and
have embraced the need for a
new emergency vehicle for Dr.
Jason Van der Velde.
All sorts of events have
taken place including 5K
walks, threshings, a car wash,
chimney sweeping, concerts,
bag packing, quizzes, bingo
and numerous coffee days. A
number of national and secondary schools also participated in the Uniform Free Day
and cake sales for the very
deserving cause. Dr. Jason
plans on visiting these schools
in the New Year with his new
jeep and will run through how
to make an emergency 999
call. There is still time for
anyone who would like to
hold or organise an event, just
contact Betty (087) 2414787
or Kate (086) 4540981.
The events for November
are as follows:
Saturday, November 1 —
Sharon Hayes Memorial ladies
football match and Family
Fun Day in Dunmanway at
2pm with All-Ireland Ladies
Football team members and
Brendan Martin Cup attending; Afternoon Tea at Sarah
Coules, Rock Haven,
Inchydoney from 12 noon to
6pm, everyone very welcome;
Gina and The Champions play
in Acton’s Hotel, Kinsale,
enjoy a great night's dancing.
Friday November 7 —
Breakfast Morning in Fernhill
House Hotel at 7.30am with
guest speakers TomГЎs
Mulcahy, John Caulfield and
Declan Kidney — this event is
ideal for all sporting clubs in
West Cork to support the �Jeep
for Jason’ project if they
haven't done so already.
Bookings at (086) 3791064.
Sunday November 9 — Coffee
Day at Michael and Elma
O'Neill, Ballinard, Ballineen
from 11am - 8pm; Threshing
Day in Reenascreena.
Wednesday, November 19 –
�Beauty on the Lane’, Beauty,
Fashion and Fun at Monk's
Lane, Timoleague, drinks
reception at 8pm, amazing
spot prizes, goody bags and
prize for the Best Dressed
Lady. Bookings (023) 88
46348.
Saturday, November 22 —
�The Three Tenors’ play in
Inchydoney Hotel at 8pm,
guest Soprano Joanne Walsh,
tickets going fast, for sale in
The Village Store,
Ballinascarthy, Centra
Enniskeane, O'Donovan’s
Hotel and Inchydoney Hotel.
Saturday, November 29 —
Down and Dirty event in
Skibbereen.
Sunday, November 30 — official launch of the �Jeep for
Jason’ in Ballinascarthy.
Everyone is cordially invited
to attend. Come to
Ballinascarthy in the afternoon
and view the jeep, see where
your donation went and meet
Dr. Jason Van der Velde.
Friday, December 5 — Ceilí
MГіr in The Parkway Hotel,
Dunmanway with Michael
Sexton and Band, monster raffle on the night.
October 31 – November 27
A picture paints a
thousand words
Traditionally so-called �strong
farmers’ used to arrange the marriage matches of their sons and
daughters. Instead of inheritance
upon death of a family farm, this
allowed the elders to retire and
have a younger couple take over
while they were still alive. Hard
bargains were struck over dowries,
some involving matchmakers.
Those who rebelled against having
their marriages arranged for them,
resorted to some intriguing alternatives.
As part of her decades of
research into Irish farmhouse furniture, and then into previously little
known paintings that depict rural
marriage, Dr Claudia Kinmonth
W
orking as a furniture
restorer in London
in the 1980s,
Claudia became aware no one
was really researching Irish
furniture. “I was interested in
the history of the items —
whose wedding the furniture
piece was made for and so
on,” says Claudia. She literally
started knocking on doors
around the country (many in
West Cork) searching for items
to research for her book �Irish
Country Furniture, 17001950’.“It was before the Celtic
Tiger so there were rich pickings,” she explains. “Sadly
when Irish homes were modernised, many of these items
were lost — thrown away or
destroyed.”
After publishing the muchacclaimed �Irish Country
Furniture’, Claudia turned her
attention to researching paintings with furniture in them.
Her second book �Irish Rural
Interiors in Art’ offers a fascinating view of many aspects of
Irish rural life from the 18th to
mid 20th century, with illustrations that evoke the hardships
and celebrations of labourers
and farmers. She also draws
on knowledge of material culture to present a social history
of Irish country people.
�Bringing home the Bride’
(1883) by American painter
Howard Helmick is featured in
the book and forms part of
Claudia’s lecture on arranged
marriage in December.
�It’s one of Helmick’s most
interesting paintings, which is
why it’s the title of my talk,”
she says. “It’s a wonderful
painting, full of information.
You can identify all the people
will give an illustrated lecture
telling the story of arranged marriage. The lecture, which is as part
of the Cork Decorative and Fine
Arts Society programme 2014, will
take place at the Clarion Hotel in
Cork City on December 3, starting
at 7.45pm.
Claudia Kinmonth is the author
of two books 'Irish Country
Furniture, 1700-1950' and �Irish
Rural Interiors in Art’. She is also
the co-author of numerous other art
history and furniture history related
publications.
Mary O’Brien visits the awardwinning author and curator at her
home in Leap, West Cork.
in it. For example, the bride is
crossing the threshold for the
first time and the groom’s
father has his hand out for the
money, or dowry.
“As a prospect for marriage
in the late 19th Century, you’d
have a cow, some linen, maybe
a hundred pounds; quite a lot
of money, and there would be
a bargain struck over the deal
of the marriage.”
Helmick had a studio in
Kinsale and Galway.
�Paddy’s Honeymoon’ by
Cork painter William McGrath
tells the story of the typical
Irish farmer getting married.
“He’s painted inside the house,
�Bringing Home the Bride’ 1883 by Howard Helmick,
(1840-1907). Courtesy private collection and Gorry
Gallery, Dublin.
as he doesn’t go away on honeymoon,” explains Claudia.
“The newlyweds are painted
sitting on a settle bed. You can
tell what type of household it
is from details in the painting:
a rosary bead hanging up, the
old granny is by the fire. In the
Dutch tradition, you also have
animals echoing the behavior
of the people of the house.”
“You can understand the
painting through gaining an
understanding of the furniture
and objects in it,” says
Claudia.
continued on page 4
3
4
continued from page 3
Samuel Lover’s illustration
�The Couple Beggar’ depicts
another interesting aspect of
Irish history. In the 19th century, defrocked priests would
marry hard-up couples or couples of different faiths for a
pound or less. “Many couples
didn’t necessarily even have a
ring,” explains Claudia. “The
key was often taken out of the
door and placed on the bride’s
finger during the ceremony.”
Claudia goes on to explain
that there were serious penalties if the ex-priest was caught.
“He could have been hung.”
Interestingly, matchmaking
took place at all sorts of
events, for example at Wakes,
October 31 – November 27
and abduction of women
before marriage was common
in those days. In the words of
one historian “Women were
pawns in an elaborate chess
game.”
“Helmick was very interested in that control of women,”
says Claudia “and he was sympathetic to it.”
A local West Cork painter,
Charles H Cook, from Bandon,
describes the ruination of a
young women in a pub scene
in his painting �St Patrick’s
Day’.
“She’s painted dancing with
a soldier, which she shouldn’t
be doing, as her chances of
marriage are ruined,” says
Claudia. An empty birdcage in
the painting symbolises how
the bird has flown. A glove on
the floor is a symbol of an
abandoned wedding present.
An emigration poster on the
wall describes the young
woman’s only option after her
poor behaviour. “This painting
is literally dripping with symbolism,” says Claudia.
The ballad sheet on the
table in the painting brings
back a particular childhood
memory to Claudia. “During
my childhood in Union Hall,
people’s names were added in
to a ballad if they did anything
wrong,” she says.
A full-time researcher and
author, Claudia is hugely passionate about her work, loving
nothing better than finding an
unresearched painting and
Cork breedersКј heifer wins first prize in
national championships
Pedigree heifer �Ballinakill Holly’, bred by Cork
natives Richard and Fidelma Stanley from Bandon has
been named first prize winner in the Senior Heifer Calf
Class at the 2014 Pedigree Belgian Blue
Championships, sponsored by Zurich Insurance.
The competition is held every year at the National
Ploughing Championships and awards the very best
pedigree Belgian Blue bulls in the country.
Zurich Insurance provides the complete farm insurance solution including cover for Property, Livestock,
Business Interruption, Liability, Agricultural Vehicles,
Personal Accident and Farm Home.
Pictured from left to right are: Fidelma
Stanley, Head of Agri Business for Zurich
Insurance Michael Doyle and President of the
Beef Traders, Belgium.
spending hours deconstructing
it to discover its history.
At present, she is also
working on the second edition
of �Irish Country Furniture’
and is interested in sourcing
any 19th century Irish farmhouse furniture or paintings of
interiors for her research.
Email
[email protected].
Full information on Cork
DFAS and membership details
are available at www.corkdfas.ie, or follow CorkDFAS on
Facebook and Twitter. The
society can be contacted by
email: [email protected]. Nonmembers are also welcome to
individual lectures.
€150,000
investment
fund allocated
as Local
Enterprise
Offices
announce
CorkКјs Young
Entrepreneurs
of the Year
N
ine of Cork’s �Best
Young Entrepreneurs’
were officially
announced at an awards ceremony hosted by Cork’s three
Local Enterprise Offices
(LEOs) on Thursday, October
9 in Vertigo, County Hall. The
nine winners were chosen from
almost 40 young entrepreneurs
who were shortlisted from
almost 150 applicants in the
competition launched this summer by the LEOs in Cork, as
part of a nationwide search to
find �Ireland’s Best Young
Entrepreneur’.
The campaign saw each of
the three LEOs (Cork City,
South Cork, Cork North and
West) encourage Cork’s young
entrepreneurs to enter and be
in with a chance to receive a
portion of the €150,000
investment fund up for grabs.
The competition, which called
for young entrepreneurs aged
30 and under from all over
Cork to �just do it, like’ and
apply, was judged in three distinct categories following the
presentation of their business
plan to judging panels in their
specific region. The three categories were: Best New Idea;
Best Start-up Business; Best
Established Business with New
Add-on.
In the Cork North and West
competition, the Best Start-Up
Business category was won by
Samuel Lover’s 1833 Couple Beggar with door key for
marriage.
James Nagle, Crypto Broker and Darragh McCarthy,
Skibereen pictured at the awards ceremony hosted by the
three Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in Vertigo, County
Hall, where Cork’s �Best Young Entrepreneurs’ were officially announced.
Pic: Darragh Kane.
brothers, James and Peter
Nagle from Rosscarbery for
their business �The Crypto
Broker’, which is one of the
leading Bitcoin brokers in
Ireland and one of the leading
Litecoin brokers in Europe.
With the €20,000 investment
from LEO Cork North and
West, they now plan to establish their own crypto currency
exchange platform and will use
the investment to develop the
exchange platform.
Winner of the Best
Established with new Add-on
category, winning €20,000
investment in her company
was Bandon’s Caroline
Crowley for �CPC
Outsourcing’. Caroline’s company provides tax and accountancy services for firms, mainly
London based but now expanding throughout the UK. She
has invested in high spec IT
infrastructure and systems to
provide a top quality service
for firms who now have the
opportunity to outsource tax
and accountancy services to
Bandon. Caroline plans to
spend the investment on hiring
new people and in marketing
her business in the UK.
Caroline was also named
Young Entrepreneur of the
Year in the LEO Cork North
and West competition.
The next stage of the
national competition will see
all nine Cork winners go forward to represent their LEO in
a regional final in November,
and if successful there, fly the
Cork flag at the national final
to find �Ireland’s Best Young
Entrepreneur’ at the end of the
year.
Michael Hanley, Head of
Local Enterprise, Local
Enterprise Office Cork North
and West said, “The aim of this
initiative was to encourage and
support a culture of entrepreneurship among young people
in Cork, to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice,
and to encourage the establishment and development of new
innovative businesses by
Cork’s young entrepreneurs.”
He continued “We would
like to commend all these
brave young people who have
decided to take the next step in
to making their business dream
a reality, and we wish them all
the very best in their entrepreneurial journey ahead. Best of
luck to the nine Cork winners
who will fly the Cork flag in
the regional final next month;
and who knows, with the Cork
region being heralded as the
entrepreneur’s hub of Ireland,
the overall national winner
could indeed be from Cork.”
Visit www.ibye.ie for more
information on �Ireland’s Best
Young Entrepreneur’.
October 31 – November 27
A Buddhist monkКјs perspective on
mindfulness and mental health
A
jahn Tiradhammo, a
Buddhist Monk of 40
years in the Thai
Forest Tradition, will give a
public lecture at UCC on
Monday, November 10 at
6.15pm.
The development of mindfulness, clear awareness of
bodily sensations and states of
mind has been found to be
beneficial in a variety of contexts from everyday stability
of mind to the treatment of
mental disorders. Some initial
mindfulness helps us to know
what bodily actions, speech
and thought we create.
Sometimes this allows us to
release them or change them if
we find them unpleasant. With
some continuity of mindfulness, we begin to observe the
cause of some of our habitual
actions and reactions.
Knowing just what causes
them gives us the possibility
to be free of them through
working on their fundamental
causes. In this way we can
take responsibility for how we
act and think, and also our
ability to free ourselves from
our negative actions.
Ajahn Tiradhammo is one
of the most senior monks in
the tradition of Ajahn Chah.
He became interested in
Buddhism in his student years
while travelling through Sri
Lanka. He became a monk in
1974 and journeyed through
the northeast of Thailand and
the mountains of Chiang Mai,
visiting many famous forest
meditation masters. In 1982 he
was invited to England to help
with the development of
Buddhism in the West. He is
currently travelling Europe.
He has a strong connection
with Ireland, as he was the
first monk to visit and take
retreats in Belfast during the
troubles in the 1980s.
The Thai Forest Tradition
is a tradition of Buddhist
monasticism within Thai
Theravada Buddhism.
Practitioners inhabit remote
wilderness and forest
dwellings as spiritual practice
training grounds.
The talk will be hosted by
the School of Nursing and
Midwifery in association with
Critical Voices Network
Ireland at Brookfield Health
Sciences Complex, University
College Cork, Room G10. All
are welcome, and no booking
is required.
Enquiries to Harry Gijbels,
School of Nursing and
Midwifery [email protected];
Gerardine Boyle, Art
Therapist, Cork Mental Health
Services
[email protected].
Ajahn Tiradhammo will
also give a silent meditation
weekend retreat at
Oysterhaven, Kinsale from
November 14 to 16. Cost for
retreat is donations with limited places available.
To book retreat email [email protected] or
phone 085 129 5566.
Skibb actor goes back
to the day he was born
S
kibbereen native and
actor Don Wycherley
will feature in �An lá a
Rugadh mé’ on TG4 on
Tuesday, November 4 at 8pm.
Produced by Clonakilty
native Mary Kingston
Graham of Adare
Productions, �An lá a Rugadh
mé’ is a ten-part series of
entertaining half-hour programmes, combining nostalgia, national and International
news and popular culture.
Each episode is a subjective social documentary,
which chronicles a guest presenter, as they sift through the
Irish newspapers, radio and
television archive from the
day they were born.
Born in 1967, by following the lead of a small article
in the paper, Don Wycherley
uncovers a beautiful archive
of photos from the time, as he
follows a story of 'Jim
Pringle’ the photographer.
How did a beautiful couple
end up cutting their wedding
cake with an orangutan?
Watch the episode to find out.
“My father is a historian
so I inherited a love of history
from him,” says Mary
Kingston. “I’m also a big fan
of �Reeling in the Years’, so
taking some favourite Irish
people on a journey to the
past made a great programme.”
Each episode begins with
a visit to the national library
to meet Harry McGee of the
Irish Times. He meets each
celebrity presenter in the
spectacular reading room and
has prepared the newspapers
for them to browse through.
Harry guides the featured
celeb through the events on
their birth date and asks them
to choose three stories to follow up on. It will be up to the
guest presenter to decide
which three stories they like
best. It might be those that
made headlines on that day,
or the smaller news stories
that catches their attention.
The stories can be a complete
mix of heavy news items that
have resonance today or
lighter items that speak more
about the culture, fashion or
trends of the day.
Having picked three stories, the presenter embarks on
an investigative road trip to
meet the people or their direct
descendants directly involved
in the three chosen stories.
Interspersed throughout the
programme are archive packages reminding the viewer of
the big news events of that
year.
At the culmination of the
journey, the presenter returns
to Harry and reveals what
they have discovered and
what they feel the three stories say about the time in
Irish history. They will chat
about the implications, ramifications and impact each of
the stories has had on modern
day Ireland.
Cork singer John Spillane
featured this week and a
repeat will show on Sunday,
November 2 at 7.30pm.
5
6
October 31 – November 27
West Cork student
says volunteering
can change your life
In August 2014, Samantha Shortall (17), a fifth year in
Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty, travelled to
Ghana, in connection with Projects Abroad Ireland, a leading volunteer organisation that has sent over 50,000 volunteers to work in developing countries across the world.
Samantha speaks about her experience and how it changed
her perspective on Africa and overall outlook on life.
A
Trainee accountant from
Bandon recognised in CPA
Ireland Competition
Pictured is Olga Pyrka, Finalist in the CPA Ireland Student
Development Competition with judges Marc O’Dwyer,
Managing Director, Big Red Cloud, CPA Ireland President,
Cormac Fitzgerald, and Alex Fisher, Head of Skills and
Training State Street .
O
lga Pyrka from Bandon
beat off stiff competition from hundreds of
entries to reach the final round
of the CPA Ireland Student
Development Competition in an
effort to win €5,000 bursary
towards her CPA accountancy
studies.
Olga currently works as a
trainee accountant with CPA
firm, PM Cronin and Co
Accountants in Bandon. Olga
worked in the Revenue
Commissioners in Poland for
three and a half years before
she moved to Ireland and it is
an area she wishes to pursue in
Ireland.
Hundreds of hopefuls
entered a CPA Facebook com-
petition with five finalists chosen to present in front of a
panel of expert judges, including CPA Ireland President,
Cormac Fitzgerald, Marc
O’Dwyer, Managing Director,
Big Red Cloud and Alex Fisher,
Head of Skills and Training
State Street. This was the fourth
year of the Student
Development Award, which was
developed to help people realise
their ambition of pursuing a
career in accountancy. Martina
Woodlock from Thurles won
the competition after impressing
the judges with her commitment
to pursuing a career in accountancy after working as a dental
nurse for more than 20 years.
fter months and months of planning
and anticipation, I've concluded that
nothing can prepare you for the
African experience.
As the plane touched the ground, I felt
relieved that the journey I had waited so long
for was about to begin at last. We had landed
in the capital city, Accra. What struck me
whilst walking through the poorly maintained airport was the friendliness of the people: they were all quick to say “Akwaaba”
(meaning welcome), and many smiled as I
passed.
Despite being in West Africa and close to
the equator, there was only a one-hour time
difference, for which I was thankful – we
had already been travelling for over twelve
hours. We headed for the hostel where we
would spend the night. The following day,
we were to make the one-hour drive to
Akuapem Hills, to meet our host family.
There were nine volunteers in my group,
seven girls and two boys — volunteering for
�Care and Community’ and staying with the
Dawson family.
We were immersed in the Ghananian culture on the evening we arrived. We were
taken on a brief tour of the area, trekking up
dirt roads that made the potholes in Ireland
seem non-existent. Eventually, we reached a
gathering of people; young children were
outside scarcely dressed. Their clothes were
dirty, and they shuffled about in bare feet; it
was a surreal sight. Some of the older
women carried buckets on their heads and
others carried babies on their backs. I was
shocked when, as soon as we rounded the
corner, one little girl came running straight
into my arms; she was fascinated by me,
touching my face and hair, whilst giggling
joyously – a language that is universal.
The next morning, we drove in the blistering heat to a nearby town to exchange our
currency. There were people everywhere –
mothers with babies tied to their backs, and
buckets and baskets propped casually on
their head. These were brimming with fish,
bread, plantain, water, and just about anything they could sell. The air was stale –
something over time that I grew accustomed
to – and there were open sewers in the street,
from which the stench was overpowering.
Every child who managed to spot us
shouted “obruni” – meaning white person –
smiling and waving as we passed in the
street. These people lived in inhumane conditions, yet I had never before seen such a
genuinely happy and grateful community.
My placement was at Adom Day-Care
Centre, and as soon as I entered those large
blue gates, I fell in love with the children.
They arrived in the morning, eager to play,
reaching up to us, craving our attention, our
affection and our comfort. My heart melted
every time they called for me: “Auntie!
Auntie!” they would say, before latching
onto my leg or throwing themselves into my
arms. Playing with those children, feeding
them and showing them love and affection
was the most rewarding – and inspiring –
experience. They had so very little, yet, they
did not complain. I never once heard "I'm
hungry" or "I'm tired" in the course of my
stay. One morning, there was a terrible
storm, and though the windows and doors
were poorly fitted and the noise and rain and
sheer darkness were frightening, the children
weren't fazed. They played games and
hugged us and sang – but not one child
cried.
In the evenings, we painted a local nursery school. We first painted the outside and
then the classrooms, office and storage room.
Some of the local children even came in to
help us and watched in amazement as we
worked, entranced by the vibrancy of the
colour. We painted the alphabet and numbers
in each classroom, as well as painting different pictures such as fruit, books and animals.
At the weekend, we drove three hours to
Cape Coast to visit the Cape Coast Castle
and Kakum National Park. We cautiously
shuffled across canopy bridges, which
stretched 350 metres across the treetops and
40 metres above the ground – so it’s safe to
say it tested one’s nerves. I was taken aback
by the views over the treetops; the landscape
I found incredible, as we ventured through
Top: Samantha Shortall with baby
Sally. Bottom: All the children at
Adom Day Care
Cape Coast castle, receiving a detailed history lesson about the colonisation of Ghana.
We trudged through the dungeons heavyhearted in a deeply oppressive silence, frightfully aware of the two hundred slaves shackled in that very room at any one time.
We had various organised activities to
further immerse us in the culture and involve
us in the community: during the second
week we went to the pitch to play with the
local boys’ soccer team. They were all young
children and had no shoes, but I knew they
were going to be twice as fast and skilful as
any of us…and they were. We were lucky
that the teams were mixed between the volunteers and the local team because otherwise
it would have been incredibly ill-matched.
A few days before I left, I gave a packet
of baby wipes that I had for the children to a
mother living next to the Day Care Centre.
She was so grateful that she hugged me —
an emotional moment I will never forget.
With a ten-week-old baby, her husband, her
mother, and her niece living in one room,
this small token meant a lot to her.
I feel as though my entire world perspective has transformed as a result of my trip. I
can't stress enough how rewarding this experience was — there were tears in my eyes
leaving such an amazing country, and I yearn
to go back there. Ghana has matured me
immensely and has made me so grateful for
everything I possess and every opportunity I
receive. Anyone who has ever dreamed of
volunteering, I urge you to do so! You will
not be disappointed.
October 31 – November 27
West Cork man
honoured for brave act
M
ark O'Mahony from
West Cork was honoured for his act of
courage in a sea rescue at the
prestigious National Bravery
Awards ceremony in Farmleigh
House in Dublin last week.
On May 29, 2013, three men
had to swim to Horse Island near
Ballydehob, after their small vessel sank. They tried to swim the
1.5 km to shore began to get into
difficulties as a result of swirling
currents. Local man Mark
O’Mahony was swimming near
the shore and heard the three
men’s cries for help. After telling
his wife to raise the alarm, he got
into his kayak and reached one of
the swimmers, in spite of a broken paddle, strong tides and gusting winds. Two lifeboats from
Baltimore RNLI soon arrived and
Mr O’Mahony pointed them in
the direction of the other two
swimmers. The three men were
brought to shore and then transferred by Irish Coastguard helicopter to Cork University
Hospital.
There is no doubt that but for
the courageous actions of Mr.
Mark O’Mahony the incident
may have resulted in loss of life.
Mr. O’Mahony displayed considerable courage in the actions he
took. Without his swift actions
the three young men concerned
may well have perished. Mark
O’Mahony was also awarded a
Bronze Medal and Certificate of
Bravery for his efforts.
Ceann Comhairle SeГЎn
Barrett, TD presented 21 awards
in all for outstanding acts of
bravery at a national ceremony in
Farmleigh House on Friday,
October 24.
The honours are awarded by
Comhairle na Mire Gaile – the
Deeds of Bravery Council –
which was established in 1947 to
provide for suitable recognition
by the State of deeds of bravery.
The Council, which is chaired by
the Ceann Comhairle, includes
the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Г‰ireann, the Lord Mayor of Dublin,
the Lord Mayor of Cork, the
Garda Commissioner, the
President of the Association of
City & County Councils and the
Chairman of the Irish Red Cross.
The Council may award
medals in either Gold, Silver or
Bronze categories. Certificates of
recognition may also be awarded.
At the ceremony this afternoon,
two of the medals were Silver
and 13 were Bronze. The Council
hopes that this high profile ceremony will draw deserved attention to the brave actions of the
recipients and heighten awareness of this national awards
scheme generally.
Congratulating all concerned,
Ceann Comhairle SeГЎn Barrett,
TD, said: “Today we celebrate
the actions of 20 very brave people from every corner of the
country, who, through their self-
Mark O’Mahony from
Ballydehob
less acts of courage have helped
other people. In going to the aid
of others at great risk to their
own safety, our award winners
have brought great pride to themselves and their families and
great happiness to the people and
the families of those they have
helped.”
“The Bravery Awards are the
only such awards made by the
Irish State to its citizens. It is fitting that these courageous acts of
bravery are acknowledged and
celebrated, as we have done in
the stunning surroundings of
Farmleigh House today. One cannot fail to be impressed by the
strength of spirit shown by the
recipients of these awards. It is
that strength of spirit that makes
our communities better places in
which to live, that selfless sacrifice and endeavour that lifts us
all and benefits us all. Our recipients have done themselves, their
families, their communities and
their country proud and we thank
them all."
7
8
Letter to the Editor
As chairman of the West Cork Emergency
Services and Friends Charity Cycle for the
last 11 years, I would like to thank everyone
who has supported our event and helped in
any way to make the event successful each
year.
The cycle has raised €417,400 over 11
years and has helped and changed the lives
of many.
It is now time to move on and let someone else run this event and I am delighted
that Fire Officer Cormac Daly and Dan
McCarthy will run the event over the next
few years.
I would like to thank committee members Dick Roycroft, Tony Walsh, George
Lane, Seamus O’Mahony Caroline O'Shea
October 31 – November 27
and Jim Keane who have all worked tirelessly over the years to make the day a successful, safe and enjoyable event, which takes
many months of planning and meetings in
preparation.
Over the last eleven years, people have
travelled from all over Ireland, England,
United States, France, Australia and
Germany to support the cycle. Listed below
are the organisations that have benefitted
over the last 11 years:
2004 — €50,000 Co-Action Skibbereen.
2005 — €24,000 Bantry Hospital CT
Scanner.
2006 — €29,250 Cope Foundation West
Cork; €29,250 Alzheimer’s Unit of
Clonakilty Hospital.
2007 — €21,200 West Cork Multiple
Sclerosis; €21,200 Cork ARC Cancer
Support Group; €6,200 St. Killians School
Bishopstown (School for kids with Dyslexia,
Dyspraxia); €6,200 Skibbereen Community
Play School.
2008 — €22,000 Dzoghen Beara Palliative
Care Centre; €12,000 Dunmanway Hospital;
€2,000 Skibbereen Defib Group; €10,000
Co-Action Dunmanway; €2,000 St.
Esmonds School Mozambique Zambia;
€2,000 Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind;
€6,000 Cystic Fibrosis Ireland; €5,500
Perrott House, Skibbereen for their new garden for the patients (Psychiatric Services).
2009 — €6,500 Fuse Youth Café
Skibbereen; €6,500 Enable Ireland; €6,500
Asthma Society of Ireland; €6,500 Jack and
Jill Foundation; €6,500 Bandon Hyperbaric
Oxygen Chamber; €6,500 Schull Inshore
Rescue Services.
2010 — €5,500 West Cork Rapid Response;
€5,500 Beara Chernobyl Children’s Project;
€5,500 Clonakilty Community Care Centre;
€5,500 West Cork Living Links Suicide
Bereavement Group; €5,500 Bantry Inshore
Rescue Service; €5,500 Worth of Equipment
for ASD Class Skibbereen BNS; €5,500
Muscular Dystrophy Ireland.
2011 — €6,400 Skibbereen Day Care
Centre; €6,400 Motor Neuron Association
of Ireland; €6,400 Dunmanway Youth Café;
€6,400 Palliative Care Bantry Hospital;
€2,500 Holiday Voucher for Sick Child in
West Cork.
2012 — €23,000; €4,100 CLM Clonakilty;
€4,100 Cancer Connect; €4,100
Castletownbere Day Care Centre; €4,100
Feileacain Ireland; €4,100 Cork South West
Autisim; €2,500 holiday voucher for Sick
Child
2013 — €24000; €2,500 Meals and Wheels
Dunmanway; €5,500 Friends of Marymount
Hospice; €5,500 Skibbereen Community
Hospital, Palliative Care Unit; €2,500
Skibbereen Foroige €5,500 CUH Childrens
Ward; €€2,500 holiday voucher for Sick
Child
2014 — €21,500; €6,000 Union Hall RNLI;
€6,000 My Canine Companion; €3,500 CoAction Special Olympics Team; €3,500
Baltimore Community Swimming Pool;
€2,000 Aughadown Community Council;
€500 St Fachtna’s Silver band, Skibbereen
I will look forward to supporting the new
committee. Thanks again for all your support
and help.
Regards Garry Minihane,
Chairman West Cork Emergency Services
and Friends Charity Cycle
Clonakilty Chamber’s
Breakfast Brief proves
a huge success
T
he recent Breakfast
Briefing hosted by
Clonakilty Chamber of
Commerce brought over 100
business people together to listen to Owen O’Brien, Lecturer
and Resident Entrepreneur at
University College Cork and
Walt Hampton, Executive
Director of Summit Success and
founder of the Positive
Leadership Academy.
Owen has created and managed several businesses over 25
years both here and in the UK
and he passed on his Principles
of Entrepreneurship to a rapt
audience. Among the gems of
wisdom he passed on was the
need to be determined to succeed no matter what. “There are
opportunities everywhere, you
just need to get on and do it!”
Owen also told those present not
to be afraid to make a profit for
it is crucial to business success.
This successful entrepreneur
shared the knowledge and experience gained over 25 years of
starting and exiting several suc-
Noel Lawlor, Mayor of Cork County, Cllr Alan Coleman, Mayor
of Clonakilty Colette Twomey, Owen O'Brien and Walt Hampton
cessful businesses and all present were grateful for that.
Walt Hampton captivated the
entire room with his inspirational talk on Time Mastery.
“We are all so busy and we all
want to manage time but time
cannot be managed. People
complain that they don’t have
enough time. The truth is that
we have all the time in the
world. We have the same
amount of time as presidents
and kings. We have all the time
that there is.” Walt showed how
to make the best use of our
time, how to live in the moment
and how to enjoy life. Among
other things, Walt is a high altitude mountaineer, adventure
photographer, blue water sailor,
ultra distance runner, as well, he
is an attorney, best selling
author of The Power Principles
of Time Master: Do Less. Make
More. Have Fun.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Getting back to work
Question: I’ve been on Jobseeker’s
Allowance for a while and there’s nothing available in my old trade. I’d like to
retrain, get some work experience and
maybe even set up a business. Where
can I find out about my options?
Answer: Gettingbacktowork.ie, a new
website from the Citizens Information
Board, has a broad range of information
aimed specifically at people in your situation.
It answers many questions that you
may have on returning to work and provides information that will be useful if
you plan to start a business.
It includes a �My situation’ section,
which covers the path back to work for a
specific situation such as an early school
leaver, a recently unemployed person and
a jobseeker who wishes to retrain, as well
as someone who wants to set up a business.
Topics include: Payments for jobseekers – the main income supports and extra
benefits; The way back to work –
employment schemes to help you back to
work; Education and training to improve
your chances of finding a job; Benefits
and work – supports for people in work
and the benefits you can keep when you
get a job; Starting a job – types of
employment, finding a job, contracts of
employment, signing off social welfare;
Your rights in work – employment rights
and equality at work; Setting up a business – information sources, legal structures, tax and income supports; Money
matters – tax, PRSI, Universal Social
Charge and more.
Gettingbacktowork.ie uses selected
content from citizensinformation.ie. This
new website has been designed to adapt
to different devices like tablets and smartphones, as well as laptops, so you can
access it from anywhere and get the information you need.
Paying the Local
Property Tax
Question: I paid the Local Property Tax
by credit card this time last year. Is it
the same amount for 2015 and how do I
pay?
Answer: Your Local Property Tax
(LPT) is based on the valuation of your
property on 1 May 2013. However, the
rate you pay for 2015 may vary from the
2014 rate, following the introduction of
the local adjustment factor. This means
that the basic LPT rates can be adjusted
up or down by up to 15 per cent in different local authority areas.
Fourteen local authorities have reduced
2015 LPT rates in their areas by up to 15
per cent. You can use Revenue's online
calculator to check how much LPT is
payable in different local authority areas.
As you paid your LPT for 2014 in one
lump sum, you will get a letter from
Revenue (or an email if you are a ROS
customer) telling you whether your local
authority changed the rate for 2015 and
confirming the amount of LPT due. If you
own more than one property, the letter will
confirm the total amount due for all your
properties. It will include your Property
ID and PIN.
When you get this letter you must confirm how you want to pay your 2015 LPT
to Revenue. You can choose to continue to
pay your LPT in the way you paid it in
2014 or you can change your payment
method. You will recall from last year
that, if you pay by credit card, the deduction will be made on the day that the
transaction is completed online.
You must contact Revenue by
November 25, 2014 if you want to switch
to a phased payment method or by
January 7, 2015 if you want to pay in full
in one lump sum. The easiest way to do
this is to use the LPT online system. If
you need help with the online system you
can call the LPT helpline on 1890 200
255.
People who didn’t pay their 2014 LPT
in a lump sum do not get a letter from
Revenue and they do not need to do anything unless they want to change their
payment method. Revenue will apply any
rate reductions automatically. You can get
more information from Revenue.
Further information is available from
Bantry or Macroom Citizens Information
Centre. Information is available online at
citizensinformation.ie and from the
Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761
07 4000. Know Your Rights has been compiled by West Cork Citizens Information
Service, which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Address:
Wolfe Tone Square, Bantry, Co Cork. Tel:
0761 07 8390.
9
October 31 – November 27
Letter from the Editor
The circle of life
I
Mary O’Brien
Editor
Sheila Mullins
Creative
Director
Caitriona
Jardine-Otway
Sales Executive
Eileen Ruddy
West Cork Friday Ad
West Cork People
Old Town Hall,
McCurtain Hill,
Clonakilty, Co. Cork.
Phone: 023 8835698
or 023 8835696
Email: info@
westcorkpeople.ie
www.westcorkpeople.ie
Contributors
Kate Arbon
Karen Austin
Tony Eklof
Hannah Dare
Tina Pisco
Samuel Kingston
Ryan Edwards
Louise O’Dwyer
John Hosford
Anne Crossey
К»BКј
this denotes that the
seller is acting in the
course of a trade,
business
or profession
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, moreover we reserve
the right to discontinue with the publication of any
advertisement previously published. 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
t’s that time again.
Allhallowstide (a word I
only discovered recently)
covers the days between
October 31 and November
2, which in the Christian
faiths, encompasses All
Hallows, All Saints, and All
Souls day. It wasn’t until the
9th century that the Church
dedicated the end of Autumn
as a holy time to pray for
the departed (it became an
obligation in the 12th century), but pre-Christian societies had already earmarked
the occasion. Samhain was
the most important feast day
in ancient Ireland. It marked
the end of the harvest and
the beginning of the �darker
half’ of the year. Halloween,
as we know it, developed
when Irish immigrants
brought their mix of
Christian and Celtic customs
to the New World. In the last
twenty years, I have
watched it come back across
the Atlantic. When my
daughters were small, I
found it near impossible,
and exorbitant, to buy
pumpkins at the end of
October. Last week I saw a
�Pumpkin carving kit’ for
sale in Lidl, and cheap
pumpkins line the aisles of
every supermarket in the
county.
Halloween has always
been one of my favorite holidays. Living in the countryside makes you more in tune
with the seasons and it just
feels right to mark the death
of all that lush greenery we
enjoyed last summer.
Getting my dark side on at
this time of year is as appropriate as gathering mint for
mojitos in July (made with
elderflower cordial!) The
darkness lengthens, the cold
sets in, and the land sleeps.
Let’s face it — it’s a pretty
creepy time. Lighting even
spookier carved pumpkins
and dressing up as the
undead counters the dismay.
Which is why I’m not a big
fan of the �happy’
Halloween costume. Even
the smallest child should get
a chance to look as scary as
possible. That’s what
A
WEST CORK
LIFE
Tina Pisco
Even the smallest child should
get a chance to
look as scary as
possible. That’s
what Halloween
is for. We
remember that
life is short, by
making fun of
death.
Halloween is for. We
remember that life is short,
by making fun of death.
I’m not being morbid.
Death is something that we
all need to get our heads
around and mocking what
we fear to make it less scary
is a Universal human trait.
Halloween allows us to find
comfort in the fact that,
though the world is a scary
place at times, we are still
capable of celebrating.
Urban modern living
hides the messy realities of
death. Raising children in
the countryside makes it
much easier for parents.
Death becomes a part of life.
I remember the first time
that I confronted the subject
of death with my girls. They
were around five and eight
years-old and they came
running into the house
yelling that they had saved a
baby bird. We went out for a
look and found a tiny fledgling trembling on the
ground. As the girls excitedly made plans for building it
a nest and feeding it by
hand, I realised that the bird
wasn’t going to make it. I
was trying to formulate a
way to tell the girls when
the little creature gave a
shuddering twitch and died.
The girls were sad, but
accepted the obvious: the little bird had fallen out of the
nest and was too small to
survive. They were soon as
excited preparing the bird’s
funeral arrangements, as
they had been planning for
its rescue. Over the years we
have had many lovely pet
and �saved animal’ funerals.
Some have been sad and
some have been rather jolly,
but all have helped us to
accept that life and death,
love and loss don’t cancel
each other out. They go
hand in hand.
Speaking of life and
death, love and loss; we
have mourned the loss of
our two beloved cats in the
last year. They were the
longest living cats we�ve
ever had (over ten years)
and were both cruelly cut
down in their prime by a
passing car. This house
needs cats if I don’t want to
be running a rodent breeding
programme over the winter,
and so we now have a brand
new crew. As I write, the big
cat (who arrived last year) is
juggling a dead bird under
the table, trying to attract the
two kittens who are rolling
around in the feathers. Both
were found on the road and
we took them in. I know that
the sound of their tiny paws
stampeding across the floor
like a miniature herd of rhinos will bring a smile to my
face, even on the darkest
day of �darker half’ of the
year.
Welcome to the November edition of West Cork People.
The clocks have moved back, Halloween is nearly behind
us and Christmas is on the way. With dark autumn evenings
comes autumn television, finally there’s something worth
hitting the record button for — from �The Apprentice’ on
BBC 1 to �An Lá a Rugadh Mé’ on TG4 (Clonakilty native
Mary Kingston’s new show) there’s something for everyone.
If you’d prefer to curl up with a good book on a dark
evening, check out our recommended reads in the next edition. Tina Pisco, Louise O’Neill and Mary Kingston have
put together a lovely selection of their favourites to choose
from. A couple of books that I enjoyed getting lost in this
month include �The Miniaturist’ by Jessie Burton and �The
Taxidermist’s Daughter’ by Kate Mosse. Diane Setterfield’s
�Bellman and Black’ was a disappointing second novel
after �The Thirteenth Tale’.
If you’re more of the out-and-about type, winter evenings
are always a great excuse in West Cork for social gatherings. From film clubs (make a note in your diary to catch
�The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window’
showing at Clonakilty Film Club on Tuesday, November
18) to music sessions (Paula Gomez and Stephen Housden
play The High Tide Club in Castletownbere on Saturday,
December 13) to silent retreats with Buddhist monks
(Ajahn Tiradhammo leads a retreat from November 14 to
16 in Oysterhaven, Kinsale), we have lots more events and
occasions inside to keep you entertained.
Huge congratulations are due to the Ballinascarthy organising committee of the �Jeep for Jason’ campaign (who I’m
sure had no time to watch television or read books recently!).
The whole of West Cork has rallied to raise the €70k target to secure an emergency response vehicle to aid Dr
Jason van der Velde’s life-saving volunteer work.
Fundraising events of all shapes and sizes have been and
still are being organised with the target almost reached — a
remarkable achievement that has received national media
coverage. On my way into Clonakilty recently, I couldn’t
believe it when I spotted an entire field of cars at one coffee morning fundraiser.
We published the second part of �A trip down memory
lane’ in the last issue. The article, in which local man
Donie O’Sullivan took a historical tour of Clonakilty, was
met with huge interest in the town. Following on from this,
we have published a vintage calendar of Clonakilty, with
beautiful photographs from the 1940s, 50s and 60, courtesy
of local historican Maurice McCarthy. It will be available
to purchase in local shops and from our office on
McCurtain Hill in Clonakilty.
Enjoy the read
Mary
10
October 31 – November 27
Out and about in West Cork . . .
Mary Coulter from Quartertown, Mallow celebrating her
100 birthday with her with her three daughters Agnes
Wilson (Ballinscarthy), Ellen Wilson (Bandon) and Lelia
Leongson (U.K)
Kevin and Mary Day, owners of EUROSPAR
Dunmanway, pictured with sporting great, Martin O’Neill
at the annual Spar convention in Killarney
Nicola O’Leary from Electric Ireland with children from Ballinspittle National
School, after she presented them with High Vis Vests to make travelling to
school safer. Also included are teacher Kathleen O'Donovan and Principal
Tommy Gunning.
Pic John Sheehan Photography
Pictured at an open day in Clonakilty Agricultural College are Kinsale Community School pupils
Michael O'Brien, Alan Ahern and Jack McCarthy.
Photo O'Gorman Photography.
Pictured at the BIM Seafood Development Centre (SDC) at Clonakilty was Kilmeen National
school 4th class student Orlaith Kirby, winner of the junior SDC seafood competition at Clonakilty
show. As part of her prize Orlaith cooked her Wild Atlantic Seafood pie at the development centre
for all her classmates, Kenneth McCarthy, Principal and class teacher Ann Keohane.
Pic Denis Boyle
Crossmahon Bandon Macra recently held a fundraising quiz in aid of West Cork Rapid Response,
Jeep for Jason where they raised €852.
Pictured with her favourite horse 'Indiana' at Meelin Stud in Bandon was Jane McCarthy with
bridesmaids Eva O'Leary, Nicola O'Driscoll, Noelle Reidy and Nicola O'Driscoll and page boys
Alex O'Leary and Daniel Hurley.
Picture Denis Boyle
Send your pictures of people events in West Cork
to West Cork People’s Out and About page:
email: [email protected]
11
October 31 – November 27
New Zealand
weather forecaster
looks ahead for
West Cork
Ken Ring of www.predictweather.com is author
of the Weather Almanacs for Ireland for 2015.
The following is extracted from his 2014 and
2015 books.
N
ovember for the
Cork region brings
on/off again rain
with stronger winds between
November 12 and 17, but mild
temperatures; with the last
couple of days bringing the
first chance of subzeros for the
season. With precipitation may
come snow or cold rain
around November 22, but
snowfalls, if any, should be
light. For most, the first snow
of the season may be around
the last two days in
November.
December is dull and wet
and with possible snowfalls in
the first week, and around
December 17. Christmas may
see the peppering of white on
hills and roofs beforehand, but
mostly Christmas Day may be
dry but the coldest since the
first week in December. Most
snow in southwest counties
could be in the first half of
December.
January is mostly cold and
unusually dry for the first half.
The first twenty days may see
only very light flurry days but
mostly dry skies, with the
coolest period being around
January 8. After January 20,
the daytime temperatures get
milder, at times even reaching
around 14C. The last week
may bring some heavy rain at
times.
February’s first ten days
are mainly cold and dull, with
about three rain days. The
windiest time of the year may
be in second half of February
and first half March, and that
will be because the highest
tides of the year are in
February and March.
The probability is
that we are not
facing a particularly harsh winter. The brunt of
winter will mainly be the first half
of December, and
during January
up until January
20.
The probability is that we
are not facing a particularly
harsh winter. The brunt of
winter will mainly be the first
half of December, and during
January up until January 20.
Daytime temps should get
back to being regularly over
10C from mid February. Mid
winter may be milder but wetter and windier in the last ten
days of February, developing
into more chances of wintry
weather in the first week of
March, although an absence of
subzeros may bring hail then
rather than snow.
Although the first half of
March brings more precipitation, the coolest mornings may
be in the third week, and only
a couple of subzero minimums
that would be able to produce
snow. Overnight freezing is
mostly gone by March 20 and
over the final 10 days the
region may see only light
showers.
Summer-like dryness and
milder day and overnight temperatures kick in and run from
the second week in April to
the first week in May. The
best time for holidays is June
4 to 12. Put a ring around that
in the calendar as the best
opportunity to take your summer break.
Closeness of perigees (days
of closest earth-moon distance
per month) affects the strength
of the Gulf Stream. In 2013,
the most powerful perigee for
the year, coupled with the
moon at southern declination
in the last week of June,
caused record high sea surface
temperatures early in summer
and as expected brought a heat
wave on 9 July.
But in 2014 the closer
perigees occurred in August
together with a northern declination moon, bringing warmth
and rain, and in September a
southern declination moon
that brought sunshine and settled conditions. In 2015, the
closest perigee will happen
near the end of September and
will accompany a full and
northward trekking moon. As
a result September should be
windy at times, wet and mild.
Overall, 2015 may be a
warmer than average year.
This method of longrange
forecasting looks at trends that
appeared in approximately
equivalent years in the past. If
we average sun and moon
years we arrive at 1957-9 as
being the most similar year in
trends to 2015 (three moon
cycles ago). Other similar
years have been 1988 and
1977.
Weather tends to repeat
each 9-11 years and 1820years, which are an amalgam of lunar and solar factors.
But although the sun's orbit
averages 11 years, there is
fluctuation between 9-14 solar
years to achieve this. There is
often a 36-38-year turnabout,
for instance 1975 saw the
hottest summer in Ulster for
150 years. Other hot summers
have been 1976, 2006 and
1995, which have been multiple years of the lunar and solar
model (1995+11=2006, and
1976+37=2013)
The moon provides the timing
of weather events and the sun
provides amounts of heat and
evaporation, which determine
amounts of rain that fall. Of
the two, the moon is more
reliable, and despite the scepticism of mainstream forecasters, our observation is that
lunar factors constitute 80-85
per cent of weather.
For more detail about what is
coming for each county for
2015, Ken’s almanac is available from his website
www.predictweather.com or
from Amazon.
�Just One’ AGM held
T
he AGM of the
Clonakilty section of the
“Just One” charity,
founded in 2004 by Clonakilty
man Declan Murphy took place
recently.
Along with Declan himself
and a number of local supporters attending, also present were
Suti and Bimal from Just One
in Kathmandu who had accompanied Declan on his recent
fundraising trip home to West
Cork.
Declan outlined the ongoing
work in Kathmandu at the
school he set up and other projects which assist street children
in the Nepalese capital.
Ten years on since it’s
founding the organisation is
held in high esteem. Funds,
made up primarily of donations
from schools in West Cork and
other fundraisers in Ireland, are
healthy but are a constant challenge.
Deputy Mayor Cionnaith Г“
SГєilleabhГЎin represented the
Mayoral Council who had been
invited to the AGM, and
praised the ongoing work in
Nepal, and the Clonakilty committee on their ongoing
fundraising initiatives. He
noted that unlike many better
known charities, the people at
the top of the organisation –
including Declan Murphy himself, are on very modest
salaries and all money collected from the public goes direct-
ly into providing the services
for the children and teenagers
that come to Just One for assistance.
The election of the new
committer resulted as follows:
- Chairperson: Kieran Casey;
Vice Chair: Angela O’ Brien;
Secretary: Eithne Harte; Asst.
Secretary: Marian O’ Leary;
Treasurers: Colin Sutton and
Fionnuala Walsh; PRO:
Cionnaith Г“ SГєilleabhГЎin; Asst.
PRO: Fionnuala Harkin.
Committee Members:
Anthony O' Donovan; Dell
McCarthy; Nina Ahern; Vic
Sprake and Darragh Whooley.
The group would welcome
other people to get involved in
their Fundraising Sub
Committee.
The group may be contacted via their Facebook page:
justonenepal or website
www.just-one.org.
12
October 31 – November 27
Out and about in West Cork . . .
Josephine McCarthy, Judy Naylor, Annabel Adams, Camille Dorney, Patricia Lacey, Rosellen
healy, Monica O'Hara, Alison Ducher (West Cork Singers) pictured at the Live life and sing concert on October 8 at Bantry's Maritime Hotel with choirs Bantry Community Choir, West Cork
Singers, Schull Gospel Choir & Baltimore Community Choir. Pic: Emma Jervis Photography
Anne O'Donovan (Bantry), Phil McCarthy, Lily Murphy and Justine Foster (Bantry Community
Choir) pictured at the Live life and sing concert in the Maritime Hotel. Pic: Emma Jervis
Pictured at the annual Maria Immaculata Community College Dunmanway MICC Student awards
was Evan Murray, who received the 4th year Arts award, with his parents Margarite and Noel and
Eammon Fehily and Fiona NГ­ Charthaigh.
Picture Denis Boyle
Pictured at the annual Maria Immaculata Community College MICC Student awards was Deirdre
O’Brien, who received an award for service to fellow students, with Lisa Kingston and Sandra
Pyka.
Picture Denis Boyle
Colm Cooper on a recent visit to Rossa College in Skibbereen where he did a training session
with the U14 teams.
Mairead Carey of Mercy Heights School, Skibbereen who recently performed with The Vanbrugh
Quartet and Martin Valelly in a music workshop in De Vere Hall UCC.
Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision
Send your pictures of people events in West Cork
to West Cork People’s Out and About page:
email: [email protected]
13
October 31 – November 27
Great choice and care at West Cork Carpets
est Cork Carpets in
Clonakilty has been trading
for over 30 years and is still
continually expanding its range of suppliers, not only to offer more choice to
valued customers but to give a fast and
reliable delivery service from store to
door to floor. One of its new suppliers,
Cormar Carpets, has been voted the
Best Carpet Manufacturer of the Year
2014 in the UK.
West Cork Carpets now stocks
renowned suppliers like Axminster of
Devon, Brintons, Ulster, Ryalux,
Whitestone Weavers and more in store.
Previously customers may have had to
travel to Cork City to source the choice
and quality these suppliers offer; now
the ranges are all available at West
Cork Carpets.
Commercial Flooring: West Cork
Carpets has recently expanded its flooring services and now caters for the
commercial flooring market for retail,
schools, hotels, offices, healthcare etc.
Whether it’s heavy duty vinyl, safety
flooring, industrial carpets or wood
flooring, West Cork Carpets has the
products and fully trained fitters to provide suitable flooring solutions for your
commercial space.
In-house Interior Designer: With
so many different carpet and curtain
samples to choose from in terms of
colours, materials and designs available, it can be difficult to choose the
best carpet for your home. West Cork
Carpets has an in-house interior designer to match these needs.
New Curtains and Blinds Sample
Books (with exciting designs and
W
Here are some tips from West
Cork Carpets sales person and
in-house interior designer
Trevor Perrott BA (Hons)
Int.Design.
colours): Curtains and blinds are a very
important detail in any room, be it the
bedroom, kitchen or living room. They
make can make a room instantly
warmer and more atmospheric and are
a key element in interior design.
The curtain design you choose will
depend on your taste and colour
scheme. There are many wonderful
new curtain and blind designs available
at West Cork Carpets and Curtains,
which are expertly made and hung.
Choose from bright or pastel colours,
pinched pleated or pencil pleated. One
can choose a stylish timber or metal
pole in a variety or designs and colours.
The store stocks leading brands like
Harlequin, Pt Textiles, Clarke &
Clarke, Tipperary Textiles, Luxaflex
blinds, Velux and more. Make your
house your home this winter with new
curtains — hurry now and order to
have them fitted for Christmas.
New premium Irish-made Quality
Beds and Mattresses: West Cork
Carpets is now stocking handcrafted
Irish-made quality beds and mattress
giving customers the choice from pre-
mium quality pocket sprung and memory foam mattress to orthopaedic to
budget ranges for kids and rental.
Come and peruse the new bedding
department for yourself. West Cork
Carpets delivers free throughout West
Cork and will take away your old bed
and mattress at no charge.
Timber Flooring Department:
Laminate flooring is the affordable way
to get the floor you want. And it’s an
easy way, too – the click system means
you can put it in place without any
glue. Durable and good quality, the
range of laminate floors at West Cork
Carpets gives you a choice of styles
and colours so you get the look and
atmosphere you’re looking for. Come
and see the range for yourself.
New Rugs Now in Stock:
Complement the texture of a hardwood
floor or accentuate the ambience of a
colourful carpet with one of the wide
selection of rugs at West Cork Carpets.
Offering a huge range of classic and
contemporary styles to lend personality
to your living space, these rugs will add
beauty to any room.
1. Don’t be tempted to skimp on carpet
underlay to save a few euro. Just as a
building needs a solid foundation, carpeting relies on a layer of padding for
support, strength and a bit of extra cushioning.
Made from rubber or foam materials,
carpet underlay acts as insulation to help
control the temperature of your home,
and it even absorbs sound to protect your
privacy and eliminate neighbour noise.
2. Carpet comes in many styles such as
Twist and Loop Piles, Saxony, Berber
and Woven carpets. These terms apply to
its pile, which is the surface you see,
created from yarn tufts that are either
folded over into loops, cut straight across
or both. While each style has a distinctive look, that shouldn't be your main
consideration. Instead, look at how well
your lifestyle meshes with a particular
carpet style.
Twist and Loop Piles are excellent for
busy areas of the house. Berber carpets
are exceptionally durable and great for
all purpose and give a textured look.
Woven Carpets is one of the finest
carpets creating a prestigious look and
feel but comes with a price tag due to
the premium fibres.
Make the most of any budget by
choosing the best carpet for each room.
For example, stain-resistant products
may be worth the splurge in your busy
family room, but more affordable lowtraffic carpeting may be just fine for
your guest rooms.
Explore different material options
before you buy to balance price and
comfort. Wool represents the very best in
carpet materials but also comes with the
higher price tag. Nylon and other synthetics feel similar to wool but are available at lower prices.
3. The Colour of your carpet is very
important and depends on the how much
daylight the room has and orientation of
the room the size, function, style etc. If
you are doing up the whole room choose
nothing in isolation. Get all your samples
together first for floors, curtains, wallpaper, and look at them together. Don't
jump ahead and buy, for exmple, the
sofa first. You've effectively tied yourself
down and you won't get the result you
want.
4. Live With Your Samples. At West
Cork Carpets, we always allow customers take samples of carpet and curtains home with them so they can live
with them day and night under all lights
and circumstances. Beware also the
effect that the weather today may have
on your decision. "Customers have a
strong tendency to pick dark floors in
summer and light floors in winter. It's
something to be aware of.
5. The quality of your carpet's installation is just as important as the quality of
the carpet itself. A second-rate job can
leave you with obvious seams, lumps,
bumps and other issues, so a shop like
West Cork Carpets that employs their
own fully trained installers is the best
option, as you have come back (an
unlikely event) with both the carpet and
the fitting service.
14
October 31 – November 27
People of West Cork
T
his column marks my
penultimate column for
the West Cork People.
December’s column will unfortunately be my last; I, along
with my colleague Eamonn
Ó’Cualáin, recently secured
funding to make a documentary
so the next few months will be a
busy time for me. My last article
will explore what the documentary is about. In this column, I
want to briefly mention some of
the West Cork historical figures
I didn’t get time to write about.
These are people I’ve either
come across in research or have
been mentioned to me by readers of the column.
Dr. Martin Crofts – from
Timoleague, after attending
Queens University Cork to
obtain a medical degree, he
joined the Indian Medical
Service. His first ten years in
India were with the British
Army as medical surgeon for
the 10th Bengal Lancers. He
was involved in many battles. In
1886, the state of Gwalior was
grieving the death of its
Maharajah Jayajirao Sindhia,
who had made Gwalior the most
advanced city in India. His son
and heir, Maharaja Madhav Rao
Scindia, was ten years-old. As
Gwalior held a strategic position
between north and south India,
the British considered it one of
its most important strongholds
in the country. Dr Crofts was
appointed residency surgeon of
Gwalior and tutor to the new
Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia.
Crofts became close with the
boy and a great respect developed between the pair. Dr Crofts
passed away in 1915 due to
heart disease. In the early 1920s,
the Maharajah financed the
completion of mosaics in memory of his friend. Inside the
beautiful Anglican Church of
Ascension in Timoleague is an
elaborate treasure of Byzantine
style mosaics that envelop the
walls and chancel. On the south
wall, among the Indian flower
designs, is inlaid a tribute to Dr
Crofts.
Patrick Keohane – born in
Courtmacsherry. Keohane is
West Cork’s own version of
Tom Crean. He was a member
of Robert Falcon Scott's
Antarctic expedition of
1910–1913, the Terra Nova
Expedition, a trip Crean also
made. Keohane was part of the
group sent out to find Scott’s
group when they began to fear
the worst. On 12 November
1912, the group found the
frozen bodies of Scott and the
others. To compound this, Scott
was beaten to the Pole by
Norwegian Roald Amundsen.
After his Polar adventures, he
joined the Coast Guard becoming District Officer for the Isle
of Man.
Donn Byrne – was a writer
of considerable fame in the
1920s. He claimed to have been
born in New York but grew up
in Armagh. He was known for
his flights of fancy, his early
works were mediocre but he
soon turned to crafting hero
sagas that became immensely
popularly. Books such as �Blind
Raferty and his Wife Hilaria
(1924)’ and �Hangman’s
House(1926)’ were big sellers.
He became accustomed to a
grand lifestyle with a big house
in the States. He got into money
troubles and he had to sell his
THE
HISTORY
CORNER
Samuel Kingston
Samuel Kingston studied
history at NUI Galway and
has a keen interest in oral
and local history. He is
also interested in the Irish
historical experience
abroad especially in
Canada and South
America. The aim of this
column is to tell the stories
of West Cork people both
famous and forgotten who,
through their lives at home
or abroad, made an impact
on their time.
of eight children. A year later,
her father retired to Drishane,
Castletownsend, County Cork,
where Somerville grew up. In
January 1886, she met her
cousin Violet Martin, and their
literary partnership began the
following year. Their first book,
�An Irish Cousin’, appeared in
1889. In 1898, Edith Somerville
went to paint at the Etaples art
colony, accompanied by Violet
and they profited from their stay
by conceiving together the stories gathered in �Some
Experiences of an Irish RM’ in
the following year. By the time
Violet died in 1915, they had
published fourteen books
together. Her friend's death
stunned Edith, who continued to
write as �Somerville and Ross’,
claiming that they kept in contact through spiritualist sГ©ances.
She was in London still recovering from the shock when the
1916 Insurrection broke out. On
May 9, she wrote a letter to the
�Times’, blaming the British
Government for the state of
affairs in Ireland. She tended
towards Nationalism afterwards
and, an adept musician, at parties specialised in Irish tunes
and Nationalist songs.
Somerville was a devoted
sportswoman, who in 1903 had
become master of the West
Carbery Foxhounds. She was
also active in the suffragist
movement.
American house. He bought
Coolmain Castle outside
Bandon. In June 1928, he was
killed in a car accident in
Kilbrittain, his car had faulty
steering and plunged into a
river. His works are pretty much
forgotten now, but in the 1920s
he was one of the leading popular authors.
Danno O’Mahony
Edith Somerville
Edith Somerville – was an
Irish novelist who wrote in collaboration with her cousin
�Martin Ross’ (Violet Martin)
under the pseudonym
�Somerville and Ross’. Together
they published a series of fourteen stories and novels, the most
popular of which were �The
Real Charlotte’, and �The
Experiences of an Irish RM’,
published in 1899. Somerville
was born on Corfu, where her
father was stationed, the eldest
Her brother Henry Boyle
Townsend Somerville, a retired
RN Vice-Admiral was killed by
the IRA at the family home of
Castle Townsend in 1936. She
died at age 91 in
Castletownshend, County Cork.
Danno O’Mahony – was a
professional wrestler. Born in
Ballydehob, the young
O’Mahony joined the Irish
Army becoming its record holder for the hammer throw. He
came to the attention of Paul
Bowser who wanted an Irish
wrester for the Boston/New
York markets. O'Mahony would
find success becoming the
National Wrestling Association's
World Heavyweight Champion
at one point. His surname was
usually spelled �O'Mahoney’
during his wrestling career. His
signature move was the Irish
Whip, which acquired its name
due to its association with
O'Mahony. His successes unfortunately didn’t last long as rival
promoters double crossed him.
Eventually his career faded.
O'Mahony died in a road accident November 2, 1950, at the
age of 38.
Timothy Jerome
O’Mahony – Born in
Rosscarbery, TJ is considered
the greatest pre-Olympic Irish
athlete. He ranked as the GAA's
Irish champion in the quartermile (400 metres) for three
years (1885, 1887 and 1888)
and as the Irish Amateur
Athletic Association's (IAAA)
national champion in 1886. The
GAA organised a promotional
and fundraising tour of the US
in 1888, Mr O'Mahony became
the star of the show, defeating
all the American champions he
faced. He returned home as the
uncrowned world champion. His
exploits at a gala meet in New
York's Madison Square Garden
made all the US newspapers,
with one American paper
describing him as the 'Steam
Engine' for the manner in which
he defeated all US middle-distance champions.
The Hungerford family –
They were a prominent family
in the Clonakilty/Rosscarbery
area. They owned Inchydoney
house on the island and had the
Cahirmore Estate outside
Rosscarbery. They were very
much of the English landed
class. They originally settled in
Rathbarry with Richard
Hungerford moving to
Inchydoney in 1690. Another
Richard a century later became
unpopular in Clonakilty for his
treatment of the 1798 rebels. He
was commissioned as Captain of
Ibane and Barryroe Infantry of
the Yeomanry. He also built the
present day Inchydoney House
close to the site of the original
house built a century earlier. A
number of the Clonakilty
Hungerfords mark their mark in
Australia; the first to emigrate
was Emanuel Hungerford who
left was Sydney in 1827 at the
age of 42. Thomas Hungerford
(1789 to 1861) established the
Cahirmore estate, which by
1851 covered 2780 acres. Due
to mismanagement, the estate
was practically bankrupt by
1900 mainly due to Henry Jones
Hungerford’s foolish spending.
William Hungerford was a
prominent figure in Clonakilty
during the second half of the
1800s. He lived in what is now
known as Emmet Square and he
owned a number of properties in
the town. Margaret Wolfe
Hungerford married into the
family. It was her second marriage and she was not approved
of by leading Hungerfords so
the family lived in Bandon. To
support the family she took up
writing and is credited with the
saying “Beauty is in the eye of
the beholder”. In 1905, the
Hungerfords attempted to block
all people using a public path
through their estate that lead to
the beach. Mary Hungerford
refused to back down, which
resulted in a group of angry
locals tearing down the gates
and asserting their rights to the
public path. By this time, the
Hungerford family were in
decline. Thomas Henry
Hungerford inherited the estate
but had little interest in it, he
had moved to Canada, all the
other sons also emigrated, mainly to Australia and thus ending
the family’s connections with
the area. Cahirmore House was
burned in 1921 by the local IRA
who believed it was a base for
British soldiers.
Colonel John Warren –
Born in Clonakilty, he moved to
the States as a young man. He
was a US Civil War veteran and
a Fenian. He was involved in
the �Erin’s Hope’ incident in
1867. On 12th of April, 1867, a
party of forty or fifty men,
almost all of whom had been
officers or privates in the service
of the American government,
and had distinguished themselves in the recently concluded
American Civil War left from
New York to Ireland in an
attempt to start a Fenian uprising. Unfortunately for the men
when they arrived in Ireland at
Sligo, nobody was aware of a
Rising occurring. The ship travelled along the coast. They
eventually landed at Dungarvan
and twenty seven of the men
were arrested, three of these
were sentenced to penal servitude, among them was John
Warren who got fifteen years.
Michael Minihan – Michael
was from Castletownsend. He
served as a member of the
British army in the 2nd
Battalion, 24th Regiment (2nd
Warwickshire). He fought at the
battle of Rorke’s Drift between
the British and the Zulu’s in
1878. This battle is retold in the
classic film �Zulu’. Michael was
a private in the army, he didn’t
win any rewards but he is
remembered having fought at
Rorke’s Drift. He later returned
home and passed away in 1891
and is buried in a small graveyard in Castlehaven. I didn’t
realise there was any connections between West Cork and
this battle, so was intrigued
when the story was mentioned
to me by James Walsh, a reader
of the column.
These are just a few figures
from around West Cork who
have been remembered in history. There are many more, every
town and village has their own
historical figures and it’s important that this history is not forgotten.
15
October 31 – November 27
New museum seeks donations of
old furniture and artefacts
T
he Michael Collins
House Museum, housed
in a restored Georgian
house on Emmet Square in
Clonakilty, will tell the story
of Ireland’s struggle for independence from the 1798 rebellion onwards.
The Museum is looking for
donations of furniture relating
to the early part of the twentieth century, circa 1900 – 1910.
The project team would also
be appreciative of any donations of artefacts, letters and
papers relating to the three
main central characters of the
museum — Tadgh an Asna,
O’Donovan Rossa and
Michael Collins.
“The former town Council
of Clonakilty and Cork
County Council have being
acquiring artefacts and papers
to be displayed at the House
and have been fortunate in the
donations they have received
to date, most notably a collection of papers from relatives
of Michael Collins,” said a
council spokesperson.
Born in 1890 near
Woodfield, Clonakilty,
Michael Collins lived at No 7,
Emmet Square with his sister
Margaret, while attending the
national school in Clonakilty.
During this time, Collins
worked as a young reporter at
The West Cork People newspaper, which his sister and her
husband Patrick O’Driscoll
published from No 7. In 1906,
Collins left Clonakilty for a
job in the Post Office in
London.
The house was used as a
private residence up to 1981,
when it was turned into offices
for a solicitors firm. It was
vacant until acquired by
Clonakilty Town Council in
2012.
“The project will restore
the house to former glory and
will give the visitor a view of
what the house was like in its
Georgian splendour.
Conservation work has being
carried out very sympathetically and main body of the
house has now being
restored,” explained the
spokesperson.
The house will also contain
an audio visual room and a
printing room, which will tell
the history of The West Cork
People newspaper.
The Michael Collins House
Museum is part of the continuing redevelopment of Emmet
Square, which acts as an
important axis between the
house and statue of Michael
Collins just off the square.
Particular furniture pieces
of interest include Lighting
and Lamp Shades; Over
Mantel Mirrors; Ornaments
for mantelpiece; China and
delph; China dinner service;
Hanging portraits or landscape
paintings; Grandfather clock;
Hat stand; Hall table; Single
bed with springs and mattress;
Vertical washstand, washbowl
and pitcher; Old school desk
with ink well; Drawing room
furniture (Fireside Chairs,
Chaise Longue, etc.); Old
Books; Newspapers.
If people wish to donate
items on long term loan to the
Museum then please contact
Justin England, email
[email protected],
phone 023 8833380 or Billy
Houlihan phone 086 8515876.
New museum entrance before renovation.
New museum entrance after renovation.
The dining room
The foyer
Town Elders encourage ideation
E
ighteen ideas have been selected from
the initial 64 put forward at the inaugural meeting of Clonakilty’s Town
Elders.
The ideas have been placed into categories,
which include;
Environment Friendly: Cycle Walkway –
Boardwalk – Tidy towns – Water Quality –
Rainwater Harvesting;
Tourism: Seven Day Tourist Office –
Sculpture Trail – Historical Guided Tours, etc;
Festivals: Comedy – Storytelling – Shanty
Singers – Multicultural Days; Facilities for
Bicycles: Urban Bicycle Scheme; Stroller’s
Club: Leisurely Walks (1-1.5hrs) once a fortnight.
There is also a selection of other standalone projects. The ideas will be worked on
over the next 12 months.
The next Town Elders meeting will take
place on November 11 at 7.20pm at
O’Donovan’s Hotel. Make your friends aware
of it and bring them along. If you don’t like
going to meetings but would still like to be
involved in any of the projects, then contact
the group at [email protected].
16
October 31 – November 27
Double win for West Cork Shellfish Sparkling weekend for food lovers
at Kinsale Gourmet Festival
The 38th Kinsale Gourmet Festival on the weekend of October 10-12 created a sparkling weekend
in the Cork seaside resort for food lovers from home and abroad. The event was fully sold out, and
there is already a waiting list to book for next year’s festival, October 9-11, 2015, when tickets
become available.
Artie Clifford (Blas na hÉireann), Ger Lynch (Beara Seafoods), Paul Ward (BIM) at the
Blas na hÉireann Awards in Dingle.
B
eara Seafoods, established by fifth generation local fisherman Ger
Lynch, picked up two accolades
at Blas na hEireann – the Irish
Food Awards.
The company’s delectable
Mussel Bites, developed from a
family recipe, were honoured
with the 2014 BIM Seafood
Innovation Award. The appetising new product also received a
Silver Medal in the prepared
shellfish category for its outstanding taste and texture.
Beara Seafood’s Mussel
Bites are made with sustainably
sourced mussels grown at the
company’s own farm in
Kenmare Bay. Delicately
flavoured with garlic, the
shelled mussels are coated in a
specially developed multigrain
crumb made from oats, rye and
rice. They are quickly frozen,
perfectly capturing their unique
flavour. Beara Seafood Mussel
Bites are naturally low in fat
(1.5g/100g) and have only 152
calories per 100g.
Ger Lynch (Managing
Director of Beara Seafoods)
explained how the family
recipe came about:
“My wife Marian came up
with the recipe when our children were growing up as a way
of making shellfish more
appetising to younger diners.
Ireland is surrounded by some
of the world’s best fishing
grounds, yet because we are not
introduced to the flavours of
seafood at a young age many of
us go through life unaware of
the wonderful range of fish
products on our doorstep.
We worked very closely
with the team at BIM’s Seafood
Development Centre carrying
out R and D and with Bullseye
Food Marketing who helped us
take our product from the
kitchen table all the way to the
supermarket freezer section.”
Beara Seafoods products are
currently available at 17
SuperValu stores, as well as
from local independent retailers
and fishmongers. They are also
listed on the menu at eight Irish
restaurants.
17
October 31 – November 27
people A FLAVOUR OF WEST CORK
�Farm’ combines
intimate surroundings
with elegant food
�F
arm’ restaurant and
wine bar — opening
in the intimate premises of the old Malt House
Granary on Ashe Street at the
end of October — is a new venture for West Cork based husband and wife team, Jason and
Aoife Smith. Both have a strong
background in the food industry
with a great passion for local
produce and traditional cooking
methods. The granary building
has a long association with good
food and �Farm’ aims to continue this relationship, promoting
local Irish cuisine with subtle
hints of French cooking techniques in a friendly and relaxed
casual dining experience.
The couple has been overwhelmed to date with the incredible support and well wishes
from the local community.
Despite a delay in opening due
to a sudden and unexpected family illness, they are looking forward to their new venture with
eager anticipation.
This endeavour is a long time
coming to fruition for Jason and
Aoife. The couple met 15 years
ago when Jason joined the
kitchen in the family run
Rectory Restaurant in Glandore
and they have since been sharing
a history of their own in both
business and family life. "It
means so much to be able to get
back to working together again,"
says Aoife. The hours in catering
can often be long and with a
young family the couple found
they were passing each other by.
When the opportunity presented
itself they were thrilled that the
owners entrusted them with the
responsibility of the lease.
While Aoife was brought up
in the hotel and restaurant business, Jason's culinary career
spans over 20 years. He quietly
acknowledges his incredibly fortunate experiences working with
some of the top chefs in the
industry. It's been a long journey,
starting out at the bottom when,
as a teenager, he spent four years
as an apprentice to Michael
Fleming at Flemings in Tivoli,
Cork. After a short stint in the
Rectory, he then went on to
work for Conrad Gallagher's
Peacock Alley where he worked
alongside Dylan McGrath
(Masterchef Ireland) and Aidan
Byrne (Great British Menu).
Jason then went to London
where he worked at Le
Gavroche (Michel Roux Jr) and
then with the influential Irish
chef Richard Corrigan where
you learn to taste everything.
After a year working at the
famous Aria Restaurant directly
next to the Sydney Opera House,
Australia, in 2005, Jason and
Aoife finally settled back in
Aoife’s home of West Cork.
Aoife has since been with the
Rectory for nine years initially
managing the venue for a few
years alongside Jason. Jason has
been head chef in some of West
Cork’s finest establishments
including The Rectory and
Annie’s of Ballydehob. For the
last four years, Jason went down
the route of contract catering at
Carbery Milk Products in
Ballineen. He has just finished a
season at the ever busy
O'Connors Seafood Restaurant
in Bantry.
Good produce is
half the battle for
good food. We
see 'Farm' as a
showcase for
West Cork produce — to name a
few, Devoy’s
Organic Farm,
Skeaghanore
Duck, Caherbeg
Pork, Clona and a
number of award
winning smokeries.
Both Jason and Aoife have a
healthy respect for the hard work
and discipline required to work
the land and sea. "You do not
have to look far to see why we
named our new venture 'Farm'.
West Cork and county has it all
on the doorstep when it comes to
food. Good produce is half the
battle for good food. We see
'Farm' as a showcase for West
Cork produce — to name a few,
Devoy’s Organic Farm,
Skeaghanore Duck, Caherbeg
Pork, Clona and a number of
award winning smokeries. While
making best efforts to get to as
many suppliers as possible, we'd
love to hear from those we have
not yet made contact with."
"We aim to have seasonal
dinner menus that will change
frequently and also an early
Farm Supper menu running from
5pm to 6.30pm, Wednesday to
Sunday. This value for money
menu will appeal to a wide variety of customers with dishes
ranging from simple flavoursome options to those on a more
adventurous route. Two courses
are €22.50 or a three-course
menu is €27.50. It includes
crisp vegetable and chicken confit spring roll with a spicy dipping sauce or alternatively beef
lasagne with smoked bacon and
ToonsBridge buffalo mozzarella.
The main dinner menu will run
from 5pm to 9.30pm. Mains currently include honey glazed
Skeaghanore duck breast with
crispy leg in a sweet and sour
dressing. Alternatively there is
10oz beef sirloin with garlic butter, bacon and potato rosti or
baked walnut crusted cod with
parsnip sauce. Sunday lunch will
run from 12pm to 3pm with
options from hearty roasts to
lighter fresh fish and chips and
pie dishes.
"We are conscious of the fact
that some of our patrons will
have dietary requirements and
we are also keen to cater to families. Without doubt it's always
helpful to know particular needs
in advance. For coeliacs, we
have gluten free breads like
banana bread, which gives a nice
moist texture. Also a brown soda
alternative rice and maize soda
bread. Most of the dishes will be
coeliac friendly. There is also a
vegetarian and vegan menu
available to choose from. One of
our desserts will include our
warm dairy free banana and
poppy-seed cake with
caramelised banana and dairy
free ice-cream. This is equally
suitable to vegans and pursuers
of delectable low fat treats so no
spinning classes required!"
Having always loved the
premises, minor yet very noticeable decor changes have been
carried out on the restaurant.
The idea was to play off the
beautiful original characteristic
features of the exposed brick
walls and beams using more
bolder wall colours. These
include luxurious petrol blue,
mustard gold flake and warm
reds. They are balanced by large
sophisticated gilt style mirrors to
reflect the lighting and give a
warm and welcoming feel. With
candles and low lighting dotted
around, you can't help but relax
into the cosy setting. Statement
pieces like the electric blue
gramophone and old Imperial
Typewriter on display will take
you back to the days of a bygone
era.
“We hope to do producers
proud and welcome all to hopefully many relaxing and enjoyable experiences. We thank you
all for your support.”
www.farmrestaurant.ie.
023 88 34355.
18
October 31 – November 27
people A FLAVOUR OF WEST CORK
Congratulations to West Cork restaurant
Willie Pa’s, which has just been crowned
Yes Chef Best Restaurant in Munster 2015
History and tradition in a bottle
THE
WINE
BUFF
Tony Eklof
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.
S
ome appreciation of the
long history and tradition associated with
wine and wine making might
help to enhance the enjoyment of your evening glass of
wine. There is archaeological
evidence of wine making in
Georgia in the Caucasus and
in ancient Persia as far back
as 5000 BC. Evidence of a
winery, complete with wine
press, vats and jars has been
uncovered in Armenia, dating
from 4,100 BC. Myths and
stories involving wine abound
in the Bible, in Greek mythology, and in Persian legends.
Wine culture thrived in
Greece and there was even a
God of wine, Dionysus, later
known in Rome as Bacchus.
Did you know that the modern names Dion, Dionne, and
the Russian Deniska are all
derived from Dionysus as is
the popular Cork name
Dennis!
The ancient Phoenecians
with their impressive trade
routes played a major role in
spreading wine technology
throughout the entire
Mediterranean area.
It was during the Roman
Empire that the great wine
producing areas of Italy and
the former Roman provinces
were established.
Wine became a common
part of the Roman diet, (for
men, but not for women!)
During the Middle Ages a
split between north and south
developed whereby in the
south wine drinking became
widespread as the cultivation
of grapes increased, while in
the north the drink of the
common man was more likely
to be beer or ale. It was during this time that many reli-
and witnessed the impressive
official opening of the harvest
by colourfully robed �Jurats’
who gather at the top of a
castle each year for the
�Harvest Proclamation’, a tradition dating back to 1199.
So after considering all
this, a Bordeaux wine dating
back to the glorious vintage
of 1995 doesn’t seem so old
after all. However, I wouldn’t
recommend anything from the
4,100 BC vintage — it is
bound to have gone off.
Email:
[email protected]
Recommendations:
Villa Sparina Gavi di
Gavi, 2012 — Delicious
dry Italian white in an
attractive, distinctive bottle.
€12 on special in
SuperValu, Clonakilty.
gious orders, such as the
Benedictines, the Carthusians
and the Templars became
important producers of wine.
Not surprisingly the old
world wine producing countries pay more heed to tradition than their new world
counterparts. I was fortunate
enough to find myself in
Saint Emilion one Autumn
Mayne de Beauregard,
Bergerac, 2013. — Young,
very drinkable red
Bordeaux type wine from
one of my personal
favourite regions. On offer
in Marks and Spencer,
Cork, around €10.
Winter themed taste of West Cork
T
ake a taste of the most flavoursome
food West Cork has to offer this
November as Inchydoney Island
Lodge & Spa bring back the popular
event with a winter twist on November
14. Inchydoney’s Taste of West Cork
sumptuous seven course tasting menus
will bring guests on a culinary tour of
West Cork as Head Chef Adam Medcalf
showcases the best produce West Cork
has to offer during the colder seasons, as
well as the hotels own artisan produce.
This culinary feast will open foodie’s
eyes to local businesses and produce and
will be refreshingly complemented by
wines from the hotels cellar. With most
ingredients being sourced within a 50km
radius of the hotel, Head Chef Adam
Medcalf’s unique feast will give guests a
true �Taste’ of West Cork. While the menu
is top secret at the moment, previous
menus have included �Inchigeelah Wood
Venison’ — Roasted Loin of Venison
from Inchigeelah Wood, Dunmanway,
caught by Dan McCarthy and served with
a Celeriac Fondant, Homegrown
Rosemary Potato Puree, and a Smoked
Apple Cream; �Smoked Tuna’ — Blue
Fin Tuna Smoked by Shellfish de la Mer,
Dinish Island, Castletownbere with a
Tomato and Chilli Jam and Fresh
Horseradish Cream; �Mulled Apple
Sorbet’ — Apples from O'Dowd’s
Garden, Mulled, PurГ©ed and Frozen with
an Apple and Cinnamon PurГ©e and of
course no West Cork menu would be
complete without �Clonakilty Black pudding & sausages’.
Tickets are €65 and are available at
the hotel reception. Special overnight
accommodation rates are available for
guests who want to make a night of it
with full access to the heated seawater
therapy pool, sauna, steam room and
relaxation areas.
Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa is
located near Clonakilty, West Cork has
been named Ireland’s Leading Spa Resort
three times at the World Travel Awards, in
the Top 10 Hotels in Ireland by the 2013
TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards
and is the perfect place for people who
value time together. For more information
please visit www.inchydoneyisland.com,
www.facebook.com/InchydoneyIsland or
www.twitter.com/inchydoneylodge.
19
October 31 – November 27
people A FLAVOUR OF WEST CORK
The Lebanese experience
RECIPE
Karen Austin
B
eirut is a big busy city
and the traffic is
appalling! Trying to
cross the roads was a bit like
playing �chicken’, making mad
dashes between the cars. The
main highway out of Beirut,
which runs along the coast, is
three lanes wide, but in fact a
lot of the time there are five
lanes in action. Everyone puts
their foot down and goes for it,
honking their horns. Somehow
the lack of road regulation
seems to keep everyone super
alert and we only saw one
prang during our visit and we
did quite a few road trips.
Being alert seems to be the
order of the day, hardly surprising considering that Lebanon is
sandwiched between Syria and
Israel. The people are incredibly
hospitable and optimistic, as
they get on with their daily
lives.
We were made so welcome
by the Lebanese people.
Everyone, from food ambassadors to taxi drivers went out of
their way to ensure we enjoyed
our stay.
It is a very diverse country,
which is in fact only the size of
Co.Cork; although a completely
different shape, metre for metre
it’s pretty similar.
Saturday night in down town
Beirut could be compared to
Saturday night in Temple Bar
with everyone out rocking on
the streets – less alcohol
involved but plenty of singing
and dancing, then go 70kms up
the coast to Tripoli and it’s a
totally different story. Fully
manned tanks, machine guns
and sandbags everywhere and
don’t forget your headscarf,
which considering there are
ladies running round in mini
skirts and high heels in Beirut,
is easily done. I learnt to take
nothing for granted.
The food was always delicious and super fresh. As the
main aim of our trip was food,
we spent a lot of time cooking
and eating.
We hung out at a place
called �Tawlet’ Souk el Tayeb in
Beirut. It’s a food initiative that
was set up by a man called
Kamal Mouzawak, which supports small farmers and local
producers. There’s a weekly
farmers market and also a daily
restaurant where there’s a different cook each day who prepares typical food from his or
her own region.
The daily feast is amazing, a
huge variety of salads, vegetable mezzes, meat, fish and
different grains. The tabbouleh
that we ate is nothing like the
tabbouleh that we make. It’s
pretty much the opposite, comprising 90 per cent fresh herbs
and 10 per cent bulgur.
I went to the kitchen at 8
o’clock each morning to hang
out in the kitchen, help with the
chopping and pick everyone’s
brains. It was an amazing experience and I am so grateful to
all the cooks for their time and
generosity.
Here’s a recipe for a simple
and warming soup.
Lentil Soup with Swiss Chard
and Lemon
Adas bi Hamod
Ingredients:
300g green or brown lentils
2-3 large onions
4-6 cloves garlic
2 tbs olive oil
2 potatoes
1 large carrot
10 chard leaves
1tbs ground coriander
1tsp ground allspice
the juice of 2 lemons
a bunch of fresh coriander,
chopped
Put the lentils into a saucepan
and cover with 2 litres of water.
Bring to the boil then turn the
heat down and simmer for
about 30 minutes.
Peel and dice the potatoes
and carrot. Peel and chop the
onions and garlic.
Wash the chard and strip the
stems from the leaves. Chop the
stems and reserve the leaves.
Heat a frying pan then add
the oil and onions. Cook them
on a medium high heat until
they begin to brown then stir in
the garlic and chopped chard
stems. Cook for a few minutes
then tip into the pot with the
lentils
Stir in the potatoes, carrots,
coriander and allspice then cook
for about fifteen minutes – until
the potatoes and carrots are tender. Season with salt and pepper
Chop the chard leaves into
ribbons and stir into the soup,
cook for a few minutes, until
the leaves have wilted then stir
in the lemon juice.
Take off the heat and check
the seasoning. Stir in the
chopped coriander and serve.
The cooking classes are
now under way. There are still a
couple of places on the Thai
class – lots of zingy dishes on
Saturday, November 8 and the
Winter Warmers - exciting
healthy recipes – on November
22.
The Lebanese class has been
very popular and we now have
a second class on Saturday
November 29
If you are interested or
would like more information
please call to the shop or drop
us an email.
We’re very happy to
announce that the Lettercollum
Cookbook has now been published. It is available in our
shop, The Lettercollum Kitchen
Project in Clonakilty and various bookshops around the country.
We hope you will enjoy it!
Lettercollum Kitchen Project,
22 Connolly Street, Clonakilty;
Email: [email protected];
www.Lettercollum.ie;
Lettercollumkitchenproject.com
(our blog).
SPECIALITY FOOD AND WINE SHOP
�Bakery and takeaway shop with a healthy attitude’
Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am-6pm
Method:
Sort and wash the lentils.
Check there are no small stones.
Karen Austin and Con McLoughlin
22 CONNOLLY STREET, CLONAKILTY, WEST CORK
TEL: 023 8836938 [email protected] www.lettercollum.ie
20
October 31 – November 27
W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G I N W E S T C O R K
SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT
West & North Cork. If you have been affected by a family member's suicide and would
like support do contact us on 085 1562112
or go to www.loinnir.com.
The West Cork Women Against Violence
Project Freephone Helpline, ph 1800
203136, Tue 10am – 4pm, Drop-in Centre
Skibbereen, ph 028 23607, every Friday,
Bantry Office, ph 027 53847, weekdays
10am – 1pm.
Ballydehob
Set Dancing Classes will commence in
Ballydehob Community Hall on Wed 8 Oct
for Adults. New start time of 8.30 sharp.
Beginners welcome. Strictly fun and a
great exercise class.
Xmas singing for Ballydehob
Acapellabella Community Choir warmly
invite you to join them for this coming four
week period in preparing Christmas songs
for the Ballydehob Christmas Craft & Food
Fair which will be held in the Community
Centre on Sunday 30 November. We meet
above Rosie’s Bar on Thursdays from 810pm. All are welcome. Tel: Caz 083
1425599 or email [email protected]
Ballydehob Social Club open to all TuesFri, 9.30-17.30, and for educational activities
at various times. www.ballydehobsocialclub.ie. Volunteers welcome in kitchen and
for workshops and events, contact [email protected].
Two Rivers steiner based Pre- School. For
children aged 2 1/2 to 6 years. Free ECCE
childcare spaces available. Contact Lucy
0879194082
Parent and Toddler and Baby group at
Two Rivers, Ballydehob,meets Friday mornings from 10.00 to 12.00. Come and enjoy
Arts and Crafts, songs and stories, tea, food
and chat with other families. Contact Colette
at 0862649289
Bandon &
Innishannon
Gospel Message at Bandon Rugby Club,
Old Chapel, Bandon. Every Friday 8-9pm.
Everyone welcome. Speakers: David
Tubman & David Delaney 087 2409969.
Family Support & Community Wellbeing
Bandon 76 South Main Street
Social Group Wed 3.30-5pm Cluid Housing
Association Bandon; Men’s Shed Mon 1pm
Wed 11am-3pm Fri 1pm-4pm 087/7127563;
Women’s Group Thurs 11am-1pm €2
086/0253705; Zumba for Beginners Wed
2.30-3.30pm €5; Community Garden
Project Wed 10am-12 087/7519832; Tea
Dance; 1st Friday of Month 11am-1pm
086/0253705; Focus Ireland Advice &
Information on Housing last Thurs of month
10.30am-12md 021/4273646; Free Legal
Aid Clinic third Tue of month, evenings.
087/4146204; Adult Literacy, Mon afternoon
by appointment 086/0253705
Get Writing. Stay Writing with
Bandon library creative writers.
Come along to Bandon Library at
10.30am every second Wednesday
to share work, write something new
or listen to others reading. All are
welcome, especially new faces perhaps contemplating a creative
endeavour for the first time. Check
out bandonwrites.wordpress. com
for updates.
Bandon Jobseekers Resource Centre Call
in to meet our friendly volunteers. 023 88
29710 or email [email protected].
Innishannon Parent & Toddler group
every Wed in the parish hall 10am-12 noon.
All welcome. Mother & Toddler Group
meetings on Mon. 086 3712626
Crossmahon-Bandon Macra na Feirme
contact Claire (secretary) on 087 7498909
See facebook for upcoming events.
Innishannon Macra Na Feirme Meet 1st
Tuesday of every month at Innishannon Hall
at 9pm. 086 3447705.
Citizens Information Service every Thurs,
10am - 4pm providing information & advice
at the Bandon Voluntary Employment
Services office, Weir Street, Bandon. No
appointment needed.
Friends Together, Active Retirement
Group meets every Wed at the Parochial
Centre, St. Patrick’s Church, Bandon
between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. 023 8844827.
West Cork Transport Service.
Kilbrittain Parent and toddler group
meets every Monday in the Parish hall 9.4511.45, food and drinks provided.
Bandon Country Market, Weir Street
(opposite Garda Station). Open Fridays 9am1.30pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm.
Bandon Farmers Market every Saturday
morning 9.30-1.30 in post office car park.
Bandon Tidy Towns. Meets Tuesdays 7pm
Hartes Carpark. Looking for new helpers so
just show up on the night.
Bantry & Beara
Lehanmore 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:
[email protected] for enquiries.
Organico, Bantry, Christmas Affordable
Art Show opens on November 28 at 3.30 in
the Cafe showcasing local artists who have
made really affordable pieces.
On Nov 29 there will be an Affordable craft
fair featuring local artists from 11 to 5.
Bible Meetings, Westlodge Hotel every Wed
8-9pm. Everyone welcome.
Bantry Open Water Swimmers each
Wednesday and Saturday at 5.30 pm from
the Abbey pier, Bantry for open sea swimming. Wet suits are highly recommended.
Bantry Job Seekers Resource Centre,
Open Thursday's 10am-1pm, Old Gaelscoil,
Main St, Bantry, Facebook Jrc Bantry
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, 10.30-12.30, Mon (except bank
and school holidays) upstairs in the
Fellowship building behind Cinemax.
0851092832.
Grow: Suffering from depression, anxiety,
inability to cope - we’re here to help. Bantry
Community Resource Centre, Glengarriff
Road. Every Tue 7.30p.m. Drop in or 021
4227750.
Clonakilty
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.
Clon Casual Chess Club meets every Wed
in O’Donovan’s Bar from 8pm. Players of
all strengths welcome. Any enquiries 087
2165458 (Ken) or 086 2041394 (Denis).
Clonakilty Job Seekers Resource Centre,
First Floor Front, 48 Pearse Street,
Clonakilty. (Tuesdays 10am – 12.30pm,
Thursdays 10am – 12.30pm).
Indoor bowls Ballinascarthy Hall on
Tuesday nights at 8.30pm. Open to all ages.
Beginners very welcome. For information
call 087 2414787 or 023 8833648.
Clonakilty Rainbow Group. Support
Group for people who have or are suffering
Mental Distress. Parish Hall (adjacent to
Catholic church) Clonakilty. Meeting held
on the First and Third Tuesday of every
month beginning 7.30pm sharp with tea and
coffee from 9pm to 9.30pm. Supported by
Cork Mental Health.
Clonakilty Camera Club meetings take
place every fortnight on Wednesdays, at 8.30
pm in O’Donovan’s Hotel, Clonakilty.
www.clonakiltycameraclub.net or ring
Nicholas Cooper on 0851074248.
The Grace Centre Friendship Club – Active
Retirement club Mon 9.15am. Life ring-support group for recovering addicts, Thurs
8pm. Parent & toddler group, Wed 10.30am.
Bumps to tots, third Tue each month,
10.30am. Personal development through creativity, Mon 10.30am. ICA, second Tue of
each month, 7.30pm. Keep fit, Mon & Wed
6.15pm. Men’s breakfast, first Sat of each
month, 9.30am. Womens Group, second Sat
of each month, 10.30am. Prayer & praise
group, Thur 8.30pm. Mountain of fire and
ministries, Sunday service, 11am.
Counselling, everyday by appointment, call
087 2887649 / 086 1058277 / 086 3230805
The Clonakilty First Responders If you
would like to train in C.P.R and defibrillation
please contact 085 7766683.
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 Active Retired Group Monday
morning meetings starting 10.30am. New
members welcome without commitment or
obligation. Phone Paddy: 023 8859673.
Amnesty International meets on the second
Wed of every month at 8pm at O’Donovan’s
Hotel, Clonakilty. For further information
contact Don Pollard, 023 8840010.
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 welcome! Contact
Claire on 087 2323 623.
The Clonakilty Market, Saturdays 9am –
2pm.
Meditation every Monday morning 9.1510.15. Heart centred meditation, drop in, all
welcome. By Donation. Call Lisa 087
2244429.
Clonakilty Grow It Yourself (GIY) group
meet on the 2nd monday of the month in
O'Donovans Hotel in Clonakilty at 8pm.
For more information or to be placed on our
monthly mailing list email
[email protected]
Clonakilty Backgammon Club now meets
6pm - 10pm Tuesdays in Casey’s Bar.
Autumn Activities at Clonakilty Library
Knitting group meets on Tuesday mornings
at 11am. Why not come along and learn a
new craft, develop your skills or just relax
with friendly company over a cup of tea.
New members welcome.
Book Club meets on the last Tuesday of
every month at 12:00pm. This month the
group will be discussing On Canaan’s Side
by Sebastian Barry and She’s Come Undone
by Wally Lamb. New members welcome.
Clonakilty Library’s creative writing group
continues to meet on alternate Thursdays at
11am. The next meeting takes place on
Thursday 16th October.
Dunmanway
& Drimoleague
Durrus
Schull/Goleen
Gospel Message at Durrus Community Hall.
Every Tuesday 8-9pm. Everyone welcome.
Speakers: David Tubman & David Delaney
087 2409969.
Parent-Toddler & Baby group - every
Wednesday morning in Parish Hall from
10.00 to 12ish. All welcome. For more information call Susan on 0860859500.
QUIZ NIGHT GROVE HOUSE
Sun 2nd Nov 8pm, Teams limited to 13
Teams of 4 €25, Nibbles included
Dunmanway Family Resource Centre
Community Garden Thurs 10am-2pm in garden at Tonafora. (023) 8856818; Women’s
Group every Mon at 12noon the Kilbarry
Centre. (085) 8555098; Fitline (Go for Life)
Volunteers needed for Fitline telephone support service for over 55’s to help them get
physically active; Parent & Toddler Tue
from 10.00am -12noon; Breast Feeding
Support Group 1st & 3rd Thurs of every
month. 10:30am-12 noon. (087) 9130816;
Men’s Shed Tue & Thurs from
12noon-7:30pm. (023) 8868 102; Social Day
every Thurs at Older People’s Centre 10:304pm (023) 8868110; Active Retirement
Group every Wed 2:30-4:30 (023) 8845484
Ladybirds every Sat 11am- 12:15pm (087)
6433969; Dunmanway Nutrition Club Tues
nights 7-9pm (086) 1972555; Employment
Services (Formely FГЃS: 2nd & 4th Tue of
every month. Contact Bantry office (027)
50464; EmployAbility Service every Fri
9:30am-4:30pm (086) 8079953.
Citizens Information Service every
Wednesday, 10am - 1pm providing information & 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 welcome
Contact Ann Bailey 023-8845627
Bible Meetings, Parkway Hotel every Fri 89pm. Everyone welcome.
Farmers Market every Thurs from 11am2pm at Healy’s Supervalu carpark.
Kinsale
Kinsale Voices meet weekly on Wednesday
evenings. Relaxed and fun. Contact: 086
8179964 [email protected]
Summer bridge. every Tuesday at 7.30pm
in the Trident hotel. Visitors welcome. There
is no Bridge on Friday morning during the
summer season.
Macroom
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, gluten free cakes
and bread, clothes, candles, crepes and many
more items.
Youthreach, Macroom 026 43733.
Citizens Information Centre Information &
Advice on your entitlements. Drop-in to the
office at South Square or tel: 0761 078430.
Rosscarbery/Leap
Myross Community Choir meets every
Thursday evening, 7.30-9.30, at Myross
Wood House, Leap. Contact Pamela
Marshall: 028 34395 or 086 1252004.
Taize - Come and join in an Ecumenical
Evening Prayer Service of Prayer, Song and
Contemplation on the First Thursday of
every month @ 9pm in Convent Chapel,
Rosscarbery
Enchant Ladies Choral Group. Repertoire
is enjoyable, varied, and light. Rehearsals:
Monday night at 8.p.m. Church of Ireland
Hall, Rosscarbery.
Great fun guaranteed, Quiz Master Tom
McCarthy, Please phone 02828067 to book
In Aid of Schull Community Council.
For over 55’s, Schull Satellite Centre,
Thursdays from 10 am – 4 pm, at Old Boy’s
School, chat, activities, music, bingo, lunch,
cost €10 (includes hot meal). Ring Nuala on
086 3159719.
Skibbereen
The West Cork Philosophical Society
7.30pm in front of a blazing fire on
Wednesdays at Liss Ard House, Skibbereen.
Everyone is welcome, new members and
old. Please contact Anne Crossey on 085
851 6172 to register your place. €5.
Skibbereen Parent & Toddler group is
now closed for the summer holidays! We
will reopen on Tuesday 26th August.
The Skibbereen Jobseeker Resource
Centre Ilen Street (Opposite the Busy Bee).
Tues, Wed and Thurs 10 am - 4 pm. This
service is free .Please phone 028 22711 or
email [email protected]. The Skibbereen
Jobseeker Resource Centre are currently
recruiting new Volunteers. Contact us on
028 22711 or email [email protected].
You can also drop into the centre and have a
chat with us.
The West Cork Philosophical Society held
every second Wednesday at 7.30pm in the
function room at Baby Hannah's,
Skibbereen. €5 pp. Please bring a pen,
paper, and lots of ideas.
Would you like to join us and learn CГєpla
Focal Gaeilge? Wednesday Mornings
11.30am to 12.30pm, The Centre for Active
Empowerment, 57c. Townshend Street
(above Noel Harrington’s Office). Teacher
on hand. Tel: 0874197330 or 0868071478
Donation towards Costs €5
Set dancing for adults and teenagers, with
Bert and Annie Moran every Wednesday at
8.30 pm in the O’Donovan Rossa G.A.A.
Pavilion, Skibbereen. All are welcome. Info.
(028) 28647.
The Friday Club Skibbereen is opened
every Friday at the Skibbereen Town Hall
from 10am to 3pm. The Friday club is a
community initiative which is open to all
free tea/coffee facilities available. There is a
different speaker every Friday giving information on local services.
Singers club every month (first Friday)
Corner bar Skibbereen at 10pm
Trad Irish music every Saturday night
Corner bar Skibbereen at 10pm.
Skibbereen Farmers' Market every
Saturday morning 10-1 in the Fair Field
Creative writing group meet Fri. nights at
West Cork Arts Centre. New members welcome. See westcorkwriters.com
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, anxiety,
inability to cope — Grow weekly meetings:
Thurs 8pm at Myross Wood Retreat House,
Leap.
Alcoholics Anonymous - Daily meetings in
Skibbereen, for more information, Tel 087
6114946.
Skibbereen Breastfeeding Support
Group: La Leche League meetings, 2nd
Thursday of the month in The Methodist
Centre, Skibbreen at 11am. For further
details about our meetings or for breastfeeding help at any time, tel: 028 23655 or 028
22859.
Breastfeeding Coffee Mornings: 4th
Thursday of the month in Skibbereen from
10:30am. tel: 028 23655 or 028 22859.
Email events to
[email protected]
Non-profit, community events
are free of charge.
October 31 – November 27
21
22
October 31 – November 27
West Cork parent develops website to
address children’s cyber safety
A
local parent and IT Specialist
has developed a resource
website of practical cyber
safety tools from growing concern
over his own children's digital safety
and from those voiced by parents of
local school.
The immunizeNet website was
launched last week at Sacred Heart
Secondary School, Clonakilty during
their Parent Information Evening,
exactly a year ago from when this
initiative commenced.
In collaboration with Michel
Colaci, a parent and IT specialist
who attended last year’s evening, a
working group was established
through the Parents Committee (with
the support of the Principal, Ann
Marie Brosnan, and DeputyPrincipal, Brendan Walsh) to address
parents’ concerns regarding their
children’s internet and cyber safety.
The findings from pilot workshops
and a parent survey formed the basis
of the immunizeNet ethos and website, which provides practical tools to
implement up-to-date advice from
easy-to-follow 'step by step' tutorials
— all in one place. It is for the use of
anyone who wishes to ensure the
safety and well-being of children,
digitally and online.
As Michel Colaci, founder and
developer of immunizeNet explains,
“There are lots of headline news stories and awareness initiatives advising parents of the potential risks children are exposed to when using the
internet, social network sites and
apps and they are urged to implement
parental controls, filters etc and to
ensure their child’s social media profiles are private and secure.
The parents we surveyed through
the school initiative are aware, by
and large, of the potential risks and
of the above recommendations but
many feel poorly equipped to implement meaningful, practical measures
and are not often aware of what safety options are available to them with
the various devices, software, social
networks and apps their children are
using.”
Four main areas of concern were:
1. The sheer variety of devices
and ways that children use digital
technology. 2. The frequency by
which trends, apps and software
change. 3. The diversity of potential
risks that children are exposed to. 4.
Time constraints on attending workshops and information often outdated
within months.
immunizeNet has been designed
on the basis of these needs, and in a
unique way information is available
for all the most popular devices, covering a great variety of potential
risks, safety and even well-being
concerns, all in one place. The entire
website content is free, impartial and
independent. Parents will also be
updated about changes and new topics through the sites newsletter and
via social media.
immunizeNet is easy to navigate
and its layout has been especially
designed to cater for any level of user
experience — in a language and easy
to follow 'step by step' format that
doesn't take forever to understand or
implement.
Crucially, with the immunizeNet
site, parents don't have to commit to
lengthy workshops or screen time but
can dip in and out of learning at their
convenience. The tutorials (mostly
two to five minutes videos) and 'how
to' guides can be viewed whenever it
suits them, wherever they happen to
be and from whatever device they are
using. They can pause them, rewind
or replay them — even share with
others.
Left to right: Brendan Walsh, Gerardine Hayes (chairperson, Parents
Association,) Michel Colaci, (parent and website developer) Ann
Marie Brosnan.
“Our goal was simple,” Michel
concludes, “we wanted to provide
parents with the practical tools to put
them back in control of their children’s digital safety and wellbeing.
With immunizeNet this can now be
achieved.
From personal data and identity
protection, content filtering and safety settings all the way to 'screen-time'
controls and volume limits,
immunizeNet is dedicated to helping
parents with their child’s digital safety and well-being — and the next set
of tutorials are already in production!”
View the website at:
www.immunizeNet.com.
Flags fly high in Lisheen National School
A
wonderful occasion
took place at Lisheen
NS in Skibbereen on
September 26, when special
guests Fiona Harrington
(Active Schools) and Shane
O’Driscoll and Gary
O’Donovan (world champion
rowers and former pupils of
Lisheen NS), helped to raise
Junior Entrepreneur and
Active Schools flags. On a
day blessed with brilliant sunshine, staff, pupils, families
and friends gathered to celebrate the rewards of a challenging and inspiring school
year, when the school was
also awarded a plaque for
excellence in Primary Maths
and Science and being finalists in the Walton’s Music for
Schools Competition.
The Junior Entrepreneur
Programme, founded in 2010,
consists of a ten-week, integrated teaching and projectbased approach to the primary
school curriculum. It introduces the pupils to the joys of
entrepreneurship at a time in
their lives when they are full
of imagination and open to
new possibilities. The children
in the senior room developed
a series of �Recipe Postcards’,
as this was the project selected
in a �Dragon’s Den’ type competition between teams in the
class. The cards were then
marketed, with the profits
donated to the Cappagh
National Orthopaedic
Hospital, Dublin. The children
worked together to create a
superb end product, whilst
developing personal skills,
confidence and self-esteem, as
well as having a lot of fun.
The Department of
Education and Skills launched
the Active Schools
Programme in 2009, to recognise and encourage schools
striving to achieve a physically educated and physically
active school community. In
addition to enhancing the
timetabled PE sessions in
school, with new ideas and
equipment, a committee of
pupils in the school contributed to developing a programme of games at break
times including fitness sessions such as �Drop everything and dance’, �Wake up
and shake up’ and �Walk a
mile with a smile’. The programme culminated with the
fun of �Active School Week’
in June, when the children
tried everything from team
games like football and basketball, to Zumba and cГ©ili
dancing and a fun sports day.
Discover Primary Science
and Maths was launched ten
years ago by Science
Foundation Ireland. Although
science is an integral part of
the school curriculum, registering for the DPSM Award
expanded our horizons in this
area. The children took part in
the national Greenwave project, looking for the first signs
of Spring in the locality. They
carried out science experiments within the categories of
�energy and forces’ and �materials’, recording their results
mathematically using
Microsoft Excel. Children
used a variety of instruments
to take weather readings
throughout the school. During
Maths Week �estimation stations were set up, encouraging
children to estimate in the
areas of number and measures.
Then �Science Week’ involved
science experiments demonstrated in the hall — exploding volcanoes and the incredible strength of an eggshell.
The senior class visited the
Lifetime Lab in Cork and took
part in the �Ilen River
Streamscapes’ biodiversity
project and everyone got to
look at the minibeasts, which
can be found in a clean river.
Finally, on a baking hot day in
June, the school tour to
Killarney National Park provided opportunities for scavenger hunts, pond dipping,
catching and releasing insects
and getting up close to wood
mice and voles! It was a busy
year and again, lots of fun,
learning about the extraordinary processes, which are part
of our ordinary lives.
So, once the flags were
flapping against a bright blue
sky, everyone returned to the
hall to launch the new school
website at www.lisheenns.ie
and to enjoy the wonderful
refreshments brought in by the
ever-supportive parents of the
school.
23
October 31 – November 27
people ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
COMPETITION
Beara’s links with Irish mythology
A native of Beara, now living in New Zealand,
author Brian O’Sullivan is passionate about
Irish culture and language and educating the
Irish diaspora on its heritage.
I
n �Beara: Dark Legends’
— the first in a trilogy of
unforgettable Irish
thrillers, he has penned a fascinating mixture of contemporary thriller, Irish culture and
ancient Gaelic lore.
Propulsive, atmospheric and
darkly humorous, Beara: Dark
Legends introduces an Irish
hero like you’ve never seen
before. Nothing you thought
you knew about Ireland will
ever be the same again.
Lured from seclusion,
despite his own misgivings,
Mos is hired to locate the final
resting place of legendary
Irish hero, Fionn Mac
Cumhal. Confronted by a
thousand year old mystery, the
distractions of a beguiling circus performer and a lethal
competitor, Mos must draw on
his unique background and
knowledge of Gaelic lore to
defy his enemies and survive
his own family history in the
Beara peninsula.
“A lot of the influence for
this book came from my
childhood in Beara,” says
Brian. Many of the characters
in the book speak with West
Cork mannerisms and have
the Beara way of saying
things. I’ve intentionally put
all the placenames in Irish, as
I didn’t want it to be too obvious exactly where I was writing about.”
At present, Brian has two
independent series going; the
Beara Trilogy and the Fionn –
Fenian Cycle series. He also
writes short stories.
“Second and third generation Irish can feel a bit lost,”
says Brian. They don’t feel at
home in Australia or New
Zealand for example but they
don’t fit in here in Ireland
because they have an accent
and the culture and rules are
different. That’s a group of
people that I’m particularly
Have a �Wild Atlantic’ Christmas party
at the Westlodge Hotel in Bantry
T
he Westlodge Hotel and
Leisure Centre in
Bantry will hold two
Christmas party nights on both
Friday, December 12 and
Saturday, December 13. Other
dates are also available for
any companies who wish to
book a private party and discounts are available for groups
of over 10 persons.
Why not have a �Wild
Atlantic Night’ with Patrick
Gill and his wonderful staff in
the Westlodge Hotel? Head
Chef Robert Farrell has prepared a sumptuous menu,
which includes such delights
as a Warms Goats Cheese
Tartlet, Darne of Union Hall
Salmon with a Dill Cream
Sauce and for desserts there
are delectable options such as
Tarte au Citron, as well as the
traditional delectable
Traditional Christmas Pudding
with CrГЁme Anglaise. Robert
is also happy to cater for
coeliacs and other special
dietary requirements.
The lobby and bars will
have cosy wood burning log
fires to warm you up on
arrival, as well as a a glass of
mulled wine, or spiced apple
juice and you can enjoy the
winter lights twinkling over
Bantry Bay during a dinner
serving the finest of West
Cork produce.
The Westlodge Hotel is
offering two superb and highly flexible packages; the €59
package includes a four course
meal, overnight B&B accommodation, live band, late bar,
late night DJ, free use of the
leisure centre, free parking
and late checkout.
Alternatively, you can just
book in for the excellent value
four course meal, which also
includes live band, late bar
and late night DJ for only €35
Second edition of Irish Ceramics
published in December
I
rish Ceramics Second
Edition by John Goode
records the most important
contemporary ceramic artists in
Ireland. This edition has been
expanded to include students,
teachers, professionals and
amateur ceramic makers.
The book raises the profile
and exposure of the brilliant
diversity and skills of Irish
Ceramic artists. The works, in
this edition, show qualities that
deserve to be prized, honoured,
and cherished but above all to
be seen and enjoyed.
Irish Ceramics will be available from December 3, 2014.
www.millcovegallery.com
per person.
And don’t forget, there are
discounts for parties of over
10 persons. So if your company has already booked your
office Christmas party, why
not get together with a group
of your friends and go out all
over again!
Booking and enquiries to
027 50360 and
[email protected].
Don't forget that the
Westlodge Hotel is also open
for Little Women's Christmas
on January 6. Entertainment
will be with the Two Mikes
and a sumptuous four-course
meal awaits you. Special
overnight room rates also
available. Why not ring the
Westlodge now and have
something cheerful to look
forward to in the short days of
January!
targeting because you can
bring them back in to the Irish
culture through mythology
and folklore.”
Anyone with an interest in
Irish culture will enjoy Brian’s
books.
Brian writes a regular Irish
folklore blog on his website
www.irishimbasbooks.com/
If you would like to win a
copy of Brian’s book
�Beara: Dark Legends’
answer the following question and email your answer
and name and address to
[email protected] by
November 15.
Where is Brian
O’Sullivan from?
24
October 31 – November 27
October 31 – November 27
25
26
October 31 – November 27
people ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Keyes latest a book of two halves
Review of The Woman Who Stole My Life
by Marian Keyes
The Woman Who Stole My
Life is the new title from international bestseller Marian
Keyes. Two years in the writing, it is due for release at the
start of November.
The story moves back and
forth between four stages of
Stella Sweeney’s life. Her ordinary life in Dublin with her
husband, Ryan, and two teenage
children, Jeffrey and Betsy; a
life-threatening illness which
leads to dramatic changes; a
glamorous move to New York
touring her self-help book; and
an ultimate return to Dublin
where she tries to recover from
recent events. The idea of
karma runs loosely through the
stages as a common theme.
A downside to the story is
that not many of the characters
are very likeable, although that
may be Keyes’ intention. Ryan
is a self-obsessed failed artist,
Jeffery is obnoxious and Betsy
non-descript. Stella herself is
quite whingey, even when good
things are happening to her, and
allows herself to be completely
overshadowed by her ambitious
sister, who she works for in
Dublin, and her personal trainer
in New York.
The first half of the book,
which covers Stella’s illness,
outshines the, mainly New
York-based, second half.
Stella’s frustration during her
recovery from her medical condition is well-written and at this
stage of the book there are still
many questions hanging: such
as how does Stella’s life go
from ordinary to extraordinary,
how does she end up in New
York, and who is the life-stealing woman?
However, after Stella’s
arrival in New York the book
becomes very predictable and
the characters even more dislikeable.
Overall the book is an enjoyable, easy read, full of humour
and unexpectedly racy in parts.
The first half of the book is far
more absorbing though than the
second and I’d have liked to
have seen the karma theme
developed more.
For lots more book reviews and
to keep up-to-date with the latest literary news, become a
member of the Bord GГЎis
Energy online book club bordgaisenergybookclub.ie where
you’ll find great recommendations for hours of entertainment
in a good book!
A new kind of concert
experience on �A
Night in Winter’
T
he Vespetine Quinet is
starting a residency of
collaborative concerts
in Debarra's Clonakilty on the
last Sunday of each month
through the winter.
Made up of five West Cork
musicians (including two
composing members), the
quintet was born last winter
as an idea by violinist Justin
Grounds to gather some
friends and play some sparse
and wintery minimalist music
by Icelandic composer Olafur
Arnalds and Estonian Arvo
Pärt. They put on a series of
house concerts, gathering
friends in houses in West
Cork, sharing warm food and
wine and playing their programme. Word soon got out
and the quintet was invited to
play to a sold out audiences at
Glebe Gardens, Lissard
House for the Skibbereen Arts
Festival, and most recently at
the Ballydehob Arts Festival.
In July, they hosted a
unique concert in De Barra's,
collaborating with acclaimed
local composer Clodagh
Simonds of Fovea Hex, melding their soulful live strings
and piano in new arrangements of her pieces.
Now they are embarking on
a continuation of this theme
— hosting a series called 'A
Night of Winter' in DeBarra's
pub in Clonakilty, beginning
on November 30 with special
guests from the UK, Farewell
J.R. The aim is to create a
new kind of concert experience, crossing genres of early
classical and baroque music
with modern bands and
artists, all in a cozy intimate
setting on a Sunday evening
— the perfect way to get
through the winter. Other
artists joining the quintet over
the series include Dublin band
Nanu Nanu, Choice Music
Prize winner Adrian Crowley
and iconic vocalist Maria
Doyle Kennedy.
More information can be
found at facebook.com/
vespertinequintet.
Two West Cork schools nominated for short films
A
hiohill National
School, Enniskeane
and Barryroe National
School, Bandon have both
been nominated for an award
at the upcoming FГЌS Film
Festival. The West Cork
schools are amongst 22 others
that have been chosen from
over 100 entries received from
all over the country. RTÉ’s
Sinead Kennedy and Eoghan
McDermott will host the event
in the Helix on November 4,
2014.
Ahiohill National School has
been nominated for its film
�Pre Celtic Desertserges’ while
Barryroe National School has
picked up a nomination for its
film �Souterrain Time Travel’.
The FГЌS Film Festival,
which is a Department of
Education and Skills initiative,
is this year celebrating its 10th
year and a total of 24 awards
will be handed out at the prestigious event. This year, due to
the high calibre of entries, 13
schools will also receive a
highly commended award
including West Cork’s:
Together National School,
Dunmanway; Scoil
Chaitigheirn, Eyeries, Beara;
Scoil MhaoilГ­osa, Knockvilla,
Innishannon.
To enter the festival, primary
schools across the country
were asked to devise a five-
minute long film on a subject
of their choice. The film had to
be produced by the children
and their teachers and entries
are judged on imagination and
creativity, the originality of the
story, excellence in set design,
costume design, film direction
and production as well as the
use of sound, acting and cinematography. Those that use
special techniques such as animation or special effects will
be awarded extra points.
Awards will be made in a
wide variety of categories
including Comedy, Acting,
Storytelling, Adaptation,
Animation, Special Effects,
Direction, Costume, Editing,
Production, Cinematography,
Sound, Public Safety, Best
Newcomer, Best Junior Class
Production and Historical
Adaptation, among others.
The FГЌS methodology
empowers teachers and children to explore the medium of
film and digital media in the
primary curriculum. FГЌS helps
develop many different areas
of the primary curriculum and
in particular develops active
learning, creative thinking, language, imagination, collaborative learning and problem solving skills as well as giving
children hands-on experience
of using technology as part of
the film making process.
27
October 31 – November 27
people ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Bandon Art Group exhibits in aid of St Vincent de Paul
A
coffee morning followed by an exhibition
of new work by
Bandon Art Group in aid of the
Bandon branch of St Vincent
De Paul will take place at the
Mary Rose CafГ© in Bandon on
Friday, November 21, from
10am-12pm.
Now in its 21st year, Bandon
Art Group held its first exhibition in Bandon Credit Union in
July 1993, as part of Bandon
Week celebrations; its members
first met in 1991 at classes held
by local artist Colette Mills in
St Brogan's School.
Initially the group met in the
home of Lynda and Rev Arthur
Minion, the then curate to
Bandon Union of Parishes.
Members continued meeting
there until the Town Hall
became available to rent in
January 1994. Later the group
moved again to their present
home in the Parish Centre
behind St Patrick's Church.
Currently there are fourteen
members of Bandon Art Group,
although almost fifty members
have passed through its doors
since 1993. Four of the founding members, Freda Roycroft,
Evelyn Draper, Vera Hegarty
and Agnes Deasy are still
members of the group.
The members meet once a
week to paint together. From
time to time, well-known local
artists are invited to talk about
their work, do demonstrations
or run workshops and the
group also visits local galleries
and exhibitions, all of which
provides members with chal-
L-R: Evelyn Draper, Marianne Stuckey, Marian Murphy,
Agnes Deasy, Angela Brewer, Rosemary Barton,
Freda Roycroft, Trish Canniffe,В Valerie Canty, Gwenda Forde,
Yvonne Ryves and Sue Jacob.
lenges as artists.
Members work in a range of
mediums including oil, acrylic,
watercolour, silk painting,
mixed media, charcoal, pencils
and watercolour pencils, pastels
and even ceramics.
Bandon Art Group holds regular exhibitions in Bandon and
has exhibited in the Library, the
Gateway Hall at the Methodist
Church, the Blue Geranium
Cafe at Hosford's Garden
Centre, the Riverview
Shopping Centre and Mary
Rose Cafe. They also take part
in Bandon Engage Arts Festival
and Kinsale Arts Week.
Over the years, through their
exhibitions, the group has
raised money for a number of
charities including: RNLI, the
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind,
the Bandon Soroptomists, ACT
Cancer, the Chernobyl
Children's Project (Bandon
Branch), B.H.O.C, the Bandon
Playground Action Group,
Marymount Hospice, Bandon
Community Hospital, St Mary's
Church Restoration Fund, St
Michael's Care Centre and
Bandon branch of St Vincent
De Paul.
Soap opera in Castletownbere
T
here’s a creative buzz
simmering around North
Road in Castletownbere,
where the lives of ordinary
people are being immortalised
through film. �The North
Roaders’ is a new, exciting
soap opera developed by local
drama specialist Amy
O’Sullivan in collaboration
with adults with intellectual
disabilities using the services
at CoAction Beara. The Soap
explores the lives of fictitious
everyday people who live and
work in the North Road area in
Castletownbere.
“We have some very interesting story lines,” says Amy.
“We explore family relationships, teenage bullying, the
effects of the recession on
businesses, and there’s also a
spicy drug dealing story that
unfolds over the episodes. We
have a drama group at
CoAction Beara, and all the
characters and story lines are
developed in partnership with
the people in this group.
There’s been a lot of careful
planning along with lots of
rehearsal and plenty of retakes
during filming, and we’re all
very proud of the episodes we
have filmed so far. We’ve even
composed our own theme tune
to go with the soap opera, and
our actors are getting to know
their characters so well that
often the lines between fiction
and reality become blurred.”
Barry Power plays bad boy
John Bower in the soap. He
likes fast cars and women, but
his job in the local jam factory
doesn’t support his lavish
lifestyle, so he’s always looking for ways to make quick
easy money, which ultimately
gets him into a lot of trouble.
“The best thing about (the
soap) is being together with
friends and everyone having
parts and then watching on the
screen after,” says Barry.
Helen O’Neill plays Tina
Watts, a 16-year-old student at
North Road community college. She is a quiet girl, who is
bullied by her best friend, but
her loyal personality means
that she sticks by her no matter
what. “It’s good craic,” says
Helen.”It’s fun being someone
else for a while”.
Conor McAtasney, manager
at Coaction Beara has been
watching from the sidelines, as
the soap opera develops.
“Everybody loves a good soap
opera – Fair City, Coronation
Street, Eastenders. When the
people receiving supports from
CoAction were offered the
opportunity to do drama classes, a mini soap was the first
thing they wanted to do. I just
hope the dramas remain on
screen!”
The group are planning to
air the soap on their very own
YouTube channel �The North
Roaders’, where members of
the public can tune in monthly
for their soap fix. However, to
celebrate the launch of their
very first episode they are
hosting a red carpet event at
Berehaven Holiday Resort on
Tuesday, November 4 at
7.30pm. At this exciting event
the cast and community of
Coaction Beara along with
locals and media will enjoy a
champagne reception followed
by the first three episodes of
The North Roaders.
If you are interested in
attending this event, please
contact Amy O’Sullivan on
087 2121675 to reserve your
seat.
28
October 31 – November 27
people ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Decadent Chocolate Truffles handcrafted by
Clonakilty Chocolate - Available at Clonakilty
Market in a variety of flavours including Christmas
specials Hot Cocoa, Cinnamon & Spice and Hot
Whiskey. Boxed priced from €7.50 to €20.
10% off when you mention West Cork People!
Already started
Christmas gift
buying? Here are
a few ideas from
local shops in
West Cork.
Watch out for our full
Editor’s Choice Gift Guide
in next month’s issue!
Kerastase Gift Sets
from €38
The Jagged Edge
Salon, Clonakilty
Stripe elephant, handmade in Clonakilty, €25
www.littlegreendot.ie
Sterlino Milano necklace with
interchangable discs €70-€100
Twomey's Jewellers,
Dunmanway
Choice of 300 different gifts.
COMPETITIONS
Triskel hosts rising star
Elenor McEvoy Performs
of English folksong
new work at Triskel
Fresh from the release of his
much anticipated second
album, Mercury Prize nominated folk artist Sam Lee comes to
Triskel Christchurch on
November 28 at 8pm for one
show only.
Sam Lee burst onto the
music scene in 2012 with his
aptly named debut album,
�Ground of its Own’. This startlingly original work comprised
of songs learned first-hand
from the Gypsy Traveller community. The recording was a
musical manifesto, reflecting
the unusual artistic journey
Sam has taken so far.
Hailed as “The rising star of
traditional English folksong”
by The Daily Telegraph and
“One of the most promising
folk singers to emerge from the
London scene this decade” by
The Independent, London born
Sam’s first encounter with folk
songs came nearly 10 years
ago. After discovering his naturally gifted voice, he was compelled to abandon working as a
trained visual artist to embark
on a journey into the old songs
of The British Isles.
Undertaking a four year
apprenticeship under the legendary, late Scottish Traveller
Stanley Robertson – last of the
great ballad singers, Sam
quickly learned a vast repertoire of songs and an ancient,
idiosyncratic Traveller singing
craft.
Tickets € 17/€15 (early
bird) www.triskelartscentre.ie
021 4272022.
West Cork People has
a pair of tickets to see
this show in Triskel
Christchurch on
November 28 at 8pm.
To be in with a chance of
winning answer the following question with your
name, address and daytime
phone number on a postcard
to West Cork People, Old
Town Hall, McCurtain Hill,
Clonakilty by Nov 20.
Which genre of
singing does Sam
perform?
Eleanor McEvoy performs
from her new album on
Saturday, November 29 at
Triskel Christchurch. Ireland’s
internationally acclaimed
singer-songwriter released her
latest album �STUFF’ on the
Moscodisc label on May 12
this year.
The collection is the result
of a purposeful mission by the
Wexford-based singer to find
and release the �stuff’ the fans
wanted but couldn’t find.
Eleanor says, “After I’d
tracked down single mixes,
audiophile tracks and songs I’d
written and performed on other
artists records, the project soon
took on a life of its own, with
more tracks recorded and
everything re-mastered. The
album named itself STUFF. ”
An eleven-track miscellany,
Stuff’s tell tales of unrequited
love, lust and eloquent
farewell; a heady brew of
caustic observation laced with
wit and wry self-deprecation
typical of multi-instrumentalist
McEvoy, all delivered in the
Irish star’s rich, lilting voice.
She has been described by Joe
Duffy as “The Woman who
gave her Heart to the Nation”
Eleanor’s performances are
intimate, emotional, uplifting
affairs in which she explores
soul, love and humour, using
own compositions and interpretations from other songbooks, with her unique voice
and beautiful playing.
Tickets €18 www.triskelartscentre.ie 021 4272022.
West Cork People has
a pair of tickets to see
this show in Triskel
Christchurch on
November 29 at 8pm.
To be in with a chance of
winning answer the following question with your
name, address and daytime
phone number on a postcard
to West Cork People, Old
Town Hall, McCurtain Hill,
Clonakilty by September 18.
What is the name of
Mary McEvoy’s new
album?
29
October 31 – November 27
people ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Outstanding girls only weekend in West Cork raises €12,500 for charity
fun in glorious sun drenched
Rosscarbery”. Helen also
thanked the generous raffle
prizes donated and activities
providers and suppliers who
freely gave of their time and
products to support the weekend. She continued “this weekend is a highlight for the Hotel
each year. The management
and staff of the Hotel are honoured that we can organise and
host this event while raising
funds for the Irish Cancer
Society and creating awareness
about cancer and the impor-
T
he annual Girls Just
Wanna Have Fun weekend took place at the
Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery
recently as part of the Irish
Cancer Society Paint It Pink
fundraising campaign to fight
breast cancer. Now in its seventh year, this weekend
brought 150 women together
from throughout Ireland to help
the Irish Cancer Society fund
breast cancer research, support
and services.
Helen Wycherley owner of
the Celtic Ross Hotel was
overwhelmed with the success
of the weekend — “We cannot
believe that together we have
raised €12,500 for Action
Breast Cancer. The weekend
was fantastic! All these women
came together with their
mums, daughters, sisters,
friends and supported our
weekend while having lots of
Julia Whelan, Dungourney,
Olivia Tanner, Fermoy and
Jennifer O'Keeffe-Smith,
Killeagh at the 7th annual
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Weekend in the Celtic Ross.
Pic Darragh Kane
tance of looking after ourselves
and each other”.
The women were pampered
and spoiled all weekend. They
enjoyed a host of activities
from Pilates, yoga, beauty
treatments, bingo, aqua aerobics, pedal boating, gelish nail
bar and hair and make up with
The Salon Shop and much
more. There was something for
everyone to enjoy and take part
in. They were treated to a
magic and mentalist show by
Liam Sheehan and were wooed
by the sweet tunes of Dan
Twomey, contestant on The
Voice of Ireland!
One of the highlights of the
three-day event was a cookery
demonstration with chef
Clodagh McKenna. Clodagh
brought her passion and enthusiasm for food to the weekend.
Using ingredients purchased in
West Cork, she cooked a Pesto
They can sing, they can play, they can write...
I
t’s unseemly to talk negatively about the recently
departed, and 2013 was a
nice enough year as years go,
but for music? Some end of
year polls put Arcade Fire at
the top of the album charts,
and, like the year itself, it was a
nice enough album as albums
go. But it was no Solid Air,
Houses of the Holy, Aladdin
Sane, Tubular Bells, Berlin, not
even a Goodbye Yellow Brick
Road and certainly not a
Darkside of the Moon; now
that was a good year for music.
But as I said, years do come
and go, with their own character to themselves, their own
personality. 1989 was a standout year, the summer of love
(rave), unfortunately I wasn’t
there, not in a psychotic way
but plain and simply physically,
I was in the jungle listening to
the Blues, I came late to that
party, but…Pixies, Stone
Roses, Nirvana, Nenah Cherry
and so much other stuff that
was hot at the time.
My own personal favourite
was 1995, for many reasons.
The weather was hot, there
were weddings and 30th birthday parties, Feile came to Parc
Ui Caoimhe that year, but the
music…Ok, Portishead’s
Dummy and Massive Attack’s
Protection were technically
1994 but it was 1995 when
they took off, alongside
Leftfield’s Leftism, Tricky’s
Maxinquaye, Paul Weller’s
Stanley Road, Radiohead’s The
Bends, and the concept of
Britpop, with Elastica, The
Verve, Supergrass, Pulp, not to
mention the big two, was born
and was still new enough to be
interesting and even of some
quality, oh the joy and innocence of it all. ’95 changed the
game.
But this year, 2014, what a
year this is for Irish music.
There’s a lot more going on
than the space on these pages
will allow me to cover. There is
also always quality stuff being
played live that doesn’t have
the luxury of a label to promote
it. I bumped into John Spillane
on Patrick Street carrying a few
posters to announce the arrival
of his latest, out now. Daithi
seems to have cracked it with
his album �In Flight’ going
down very well with the critics.
The year began with The
Gloaming, an international selling trad album, the like of
which we haven’t seen since
trad went out of fashion.
Virtual local, Mick Flannery’s
done one, Imelda May’s done
another. Kerbdog are having
another go at what eluded them
the first time. There are the
undervalued stalwarts like We
Cut Corners, Delorentos and
Riptide Movement, overvalued
stalwarts like The Script. James
Vincent McMorrow’s album
has pressed the United States’
button. Can we claim Aphex
Twin as one of ours; I know we
can’t claim Johnny Marr.
It gets better — Hozier!
Hozier is so hot right now that
it would be naГЇve to guess
where this might go. He can
play, he can sing, he can write,
he has put in the time and he’s
got presence. It’s not so much
that he’s making a scene outside of Ireland but that they
MUSIC
Mark Holland
Hunky Dory Music Shop
Spillers Lane, Clonakilty
know he exists; it looks like it’s
in his hands. But Sinead, dead
and buried as a creative force,
has slapped us all in the face
with the best thing she has
Ricotta Tart, Fennel Rosemary
and Garlic Marinated Lamb
Chops with Honey Roasted
Plums and finished her demo
with a Winter Berry Tiramisu.
All the women attending sampled tastings from her menu as
prepared by the Hotel’s
Executive Head Chef Graeme
Campbell and his team.
done in two decades, and it’s a
pleasure, X. This is heading in
one direction only, and it hurts,
but U2…the only thing worse
than people talking about
you…I take my hat off! They
are relevant, cutting edge,
pushing the boat even. But the
songs are good, and they can
play them. They nailed it on
Graham Norton’s show two
weeks ago, and if you are interested look it up. The second,
acoustic song on the couch was
set up to look unscripted and
spontaneous, I’m sure they
can’t fart without a soundcheck, but I’m not going to
begrudge, that would be too
Irish, and I think this album is
going to grow and grow.
And 2014 isn’t done yet.
Hunky Dory stocks a huge
range of instruments, accessories, CDs and vinyl. Contact
Mark on 023 8834982 or pop
in to have a listen.
30
October 31 – November 27
people ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Model Fest to be held for first time in Cork
A
first for Cork, on
Sunday November 23
there will be a Model
Diecast, Diorama and Toy
Show at the Cork Airport
International Hotel. Organised
by Mike Murphy of Murphy’s
Gala shop in Innishannon,
together with his daughter
Aoife and son Fionn, admission is only €5 for adults and
free for children under 14, with
all profits going to Marymount
Hospice. Mike is a model
enthusiast, with a Collector
Toys shop himself and he and
Aoife have put together a fantastic show for all the family to
enjoy.
The Model Fest will cover a
wide area of model diecast;
cars, tractors, trucks, buses,
military vehicles, trains, dolls
and doll’s houses, as well as
boat model making and diorama's of farm layouts, quarry
scenes and truck displays.
Exhibitors are travelling
from all over Ireland to display
their own unique collections.
The following is just a small
sample of what will be on
show on the day:
• A unique collection of livestock trucks from all over
Ireland, UK and Europe these will include many
scratch build models.
• An obsolete collection of
vintage British farm models
from the 1960s, 70s and 80s
– all in original boxed condition. This will bring back
many happy memories to
people now �matured’.
• Local people who scratch
model boats will display
their recent builds
and will be
delighted to
talk to peo-
1/50 scale
A Volvo FH with curtainsider from Trunwit, Bandon.
ple about the art of model
building.
• In the Diorama section,
there will be exhibitors
who have built
model farm
layouts, with
both modern and vintage
scenes, as well as quarry
scenes and model truck layouts.
• For railway enthusiasts there
will be model train layouts
to take in.
• A display of remote control
trucks and military vehicles
will provide huge excitement.
The Model Fest is open to
the public from 10.30am to
5pm and will provide hours of
entertainment for all the family, young and old. For
enquiries, please contact Mike
on 087 2355379.
Above: This Hennessy Scania
113 with a 20ft Bell container is
a retro model from the early 90s
and along with the farm diorama above will be on display at
Model Fest on November 23.
Halloween
Events around West Cork
Banshees in Bantry
Bantry Bay Lions’ Halloween fundraising
dinner at O'Connor’s Seafood
Restaurant on Friday, October
31, from 7pm.
Underage fancy dress and
disco at Bantry Boy’s Club
on Friday, October 31, from
7.30-10pm, organised by
Bantry Basketball Club.
Creepy
Clonakilty
Halloween Parade & Disco,
held jointly between Clonakilty &
District Lions’ Club and Clonakilty
Community Arts Centre, Friday, October 31. Leaving
from the Community Hall at 5pm.
Skullduggery in Schull
A special three-day exhibition will take place at the
Blue House Gallery in Schull to celebrate Halloween.
The official opening is on Friday, October 3, 6-8pm,
where it may be possible to �taste blood’ or at least red
wine and meet some of the artists concerned. The Show
will be open only until November 2.
Bloodcurdling Baltimore
Glebe Gardens in Baltimore presents 'Trail Of The
Lost Souls' — a Halloween experience that has never been ventured before. On the evenings
of October 30, 31 and
November 1, the veil
between this world and the
afterlife is at its thinnest.
Doors will open from
5:30pm until 6:30pm for
a family friendly
Halloween. This earlier
walk is a new attraction
for this year aimed at
young children and their
families, full of entertainment. Children cost €5 and a
family ticket is €15.
From 7pm to 11pm, you will experience the lost souls around the gardens on a trail of
terror. Intrigue, thrills and suspense waits around every
corner. Tickets are €10 (€50 for a group of six), strictly
over 12-years-old.
Book in advance for priority tickets. Drinks and food
served all evening. For more information contact The
Glebe Gardens 028 20579, email
[email protected] orwww.facebook.com/glebegardenscafe.
31
October 31 – November 27
Halloween
The Day of the Dead
In Mexico, on the �Dia de Muertos’ or �the Day of the Dead,’
Cempasuchitl flowers can be found everywhere. The celebration takes
place on October 31, November 1 and November 2, in connection with the
triduum of Allhallowtide: All Hallows' Eve, Hallowmas, and All Souls’
Day. Francisco Robello, a Mexican native, now living in Timoleague,
West Cork, tells us more about this Mexican holiday that coincides with
�Samhain’ or the more modern named Halloween in Ireland.
T
he bright orange glow of
the Cempasuchitl petals
reflects on to large papermache skeletons; they adorn
candy skulls made from castsugar and chocolate, and they
frame �Dead Man’s Bread’ on
the family table. The
Cempasuchitl are tied into
flower-chains, displayed in large
pots or laid on the ground
alongside lit candles like a golden rug around �ofrendas’ (altars
to the dead). The native
Mexican word for the marigold
hides an important meaning:
�Cempasuchitl’ or �CempoalXochitl’ means �Flower of
Twenty’ — some say it’s
because of its 20 petals. The
flower was the ideogram for the
number twenty; and twenty was
a special number to the Mexica
— known in Europe as
�Aztecs.’ Twenty was the base
of their arithmetic and calendar
systems. �20’ was to them, what
�10’ is to us today.
The Mexican �Flower of
Twenty’ or �Cempasuchitl’ was
believed to contain the very heat
and light of the sun inside each
crown of orange and yellow
petals. The light inside the
Cempasuchitl was believed to
be visible to the departed, and
— on the Day of the Dead — it
would illuminate the way back
to their former earthly abode.
Once there, the deceased would
find her (or his) picture alongside images of dancing skeletons all dressed up for the ball.
Some say that, “Mexicans
like to mock death.” Well, we
certainly choose to laugh at life,
especially when the only other
option is to cry; and even when
things are good, it sometimes
seems that earthly existence is
but a long awkward moment.
Aztecs had not only one, but
two �gods of the dead,’ —
�Mictlantecuhtli’ and his wife
�Mictecacíhuatl’. After being
welcomed by the lovely couple,
the souls of the recently-expired
found out their fate. Those who
died of natural causes could
make themselves at home in the
underworld, those who drowned
became part of an eternal
�Waterworld,’ and lastly; a temporary heaven inside the sun
awaited men who died in battle
and women who died while giving birth.
These dead men and women
could then return to earth in the
shape of the flower-drinking
hummingbird, a sacred animal.
The Spanish had never seen a
hummingbird until they came to
the �New World.’ They marvelled at the bird and called it:
�the flying jewel’. They captured as many as they could,
and sent their colourful feathered skins to Europe, creating
an unsustainable demand for
more skins and causing the
death of many millions of these
birds.
So, it was back to square one
for the brave reincarnated souls.
It seems in Mexico that life is
always spilling into death and
death is always splashing back
onto life. On the Day of the
Dead, this thin boundary
between life and death becomes
even fainter, as the departed
souls of relatives are thought to
be closer to the living than on
any other day of the year.
Even though the
Cempasuchitl will light the way
for the visiting spirits, some
families are eager to save the
deceased the trouble of the journey back, and so they venture
into the �Panteones’
(Graveyards) not only with
Cempasuchitl flowers and candles but with food, guitars and
even Tequila.
Mexicans could easily use the
modern Spanish word �cementerios’ for graveyards; but they
choose to use the older word:
�Panteones,’ maybe because in
its Greek root, the word means:
�all the gods’, as in �the more
the merrier’. To keep things
Catholic, �Diosito’ (the God) his
son Jesus, the Virgin of
Guadalupe, and the lesser saints
are also invited to the Day of
the Dead party.
During this eclectic graveyard
picnic, people will lovingly decorate their dead relatives’ graves
and then sit down to chat to
them or amongst themselves for
hours on end. As night sets,
they’ll light up a small constellation of candles and listen to
the sounds of rosary prayers
blend in with the chords and
singing of Mariachi music. A
bottle might get passed around
while children eat candy and
play on the burial ground of relatives they never met.
The sugar skulls children
bite in to are decorated with
common first-names like
�Maria’ or �Francisco;’ or popular sayings like: “Como te ves,
me vi, y como me ves, te
verás…” (The way you look
now, I once did, and as I look
now, so will you). This is supposed to be Mexicans �laughing
at death’ as the cliché goes.
In distant times, the appalling
practice of human sacrifice
helped an elitist Aztec theocracy
keep millions of souls under
control and was of such a scale
that it horrified even the bloodsoaked, iron-hearted conquistadores from across the sea.
Since those days, them and
others have continued the mass
sacrifice, disguised as
�Conquista,’ �Colonia,’
�Independencia,’ �Manifest
Destiny,’ �Revolución,’ and
mass emigration.
Present-day Mexico is still
no place to laugh at death. In
the grip of a drug war imposed
upon the people by local drug
cartels, the Mexican government and the international
demand for drugs; life is cheap,
crazy cheap; but death is always
expensive; and no one laughs at
the price.
In the country of sugar skulls
and sun-containing flowers, it
makes sense that death be life’s
shackled shadow, as near to it as
night is to day; and so when you
can taste the sunset just around
the corner, you can only pray
for sweet dreams and a free
hummingbird’s paradise.
On the Day of the Dead we
remind ourselves not only that
death is not the end, but also
that being crazy and carefree
right now is essential to maintaining sanity; because we’re all
headed towards that candle-lit
night; when children will play
above ground asking about who
we were, making our surviving
relatives airbrush our frowns
and growls out of anecdotes and
stories about us, and our days
on earth.
In a typically Mexican circular way, the Day of the Dead
also suggests a forgotten life
before birth; life in Mexico is
desperately and comically
flawed but it’s also mysterious
and constantly renewing itself.
As I ponder on the meaning
of the Cempasuchil flower, it’s
sad that while growing up over
there I didn’t actually know the
true meaning of its name. In
everyday life in Mexico City,
the only remnants of the native
language of the Aztecs survive
in the names of neighbourhoods
and of the surrounding mountains, or as a part of a wider
�Mexican history’ class in
schools. Growing up in Mexico,
the �Nahuatl’ language was
almost a foreign language to my
generation; even more so than
the English that has opened
doors for me throughout my
life. Things are changing, and
that’s why, the �Day of the
Dead’ itself is having to fight
off its own death these days.
A mighty rival illegally
crossed the border southbound a
few decades ago. Armed with
spiderman costumes, minichocolate bars and carved
pumpkins, Halloween �trick or
treating’ is always gaining
ground against the traditions of
displaying the Cempasuchitl, of
eating sugar skulls and of leaving �Dead Man’s Bread’ crumbs
on the great-grandparents’ plot.
How interesting that
Halloween comes from the Irish
�Samhain,’ the autumnal festival
during which the doors into the
world of the dead were considered to be open for a while.
teenagers in Temperance hall
from 8pm, and Mangoween 2
(www.msmfestivals.com) offering spooky visuals and sounds
in the Lord Kingsale (Back
Venue) DJ Fake Rolex and DJ
Flipside Selekta, Gerry B, DcDj
providing world beats and
Halloween classics. Come in
Fancy Dress, win prizes, play
Halloween games until 9pm.
Witches and ghouls lead parade in Kinsale
F
riday, October 31 will see
children, parents, performers and the local
community begin to gather from
3.30pm in the town park near
the new play park, in time for
the spectacular Halloween
parade, which starts at 4pm.
Dancing, storytelling and other
performances will take place at
the short quay from 5-7pm. This
year, Monsieur Gusto from
PassГ©partout will return to walk
tall in the parade, leading the
newly created witch and ghoul.
Ken Parker, a community arts
legend throughout Ireland for
many years, and founder member of the parade organising
team, has come out of a period
of retirement to create these two
new additions, and this is just a
taste of the spectacular plans for
2015.
After moving to Kinsale in
2003, Rosita Kingston began the
parade in 2005 with a view to
providing a safe space for children to enjoy this much loved
holiday event and give a focus
to a day when the local community can come out and have fun
together. “Kinsale gives so
much to the visitor being such a
popular tourist destination, but
this event is where you meet
your neighbours,” Rosita
explains. The local business
owners are very supportive of
the event; handing out sweets to
the passing children, and sponsoring performers and prizes; in
fact all of the funding comes
from donations by the local
community. “There are special
gifts for the best dressed participants on the day, and plenty of
sweet treats for everyone. We
are already making plans for the
tenth anniversary in 2015, but
for this year’s event, the scary
witches and ghouls are 15 feet
tall, and the fire show by Will
Flannigan and Kinsale drumming circle led by Jonathon
Barlow will keep the entertainment going at the end of the
parade in the short quay,” says
organiser Yvonne Coughlan.
Stall holders from the local
farmers market will make sure
everyone can buy a hot drink
and something tasty to eat. Ruth
Gill, Hilary McCarthy, and Peter
McSweeney are among the
community volunteers making
sure all are well and happy and
nicely scared this Halloween.
Transition Town Kinsale organisers Jeannie Timoney and
Klaus Harvey, as well as actors
from the local FEC, will ensure
a great time is had by all.
There are several evening
events to keep the festivities
going, with bands for the
32
October 31 – November 27
Star Signs
ASTRO AUNT
Kate Arbon
Astrologer
Kate Arbon is an astrologer and
spiritual teacher. Living in West
Cork for the last 10 years, she gives
personal consultations and teaches
astrology and intuitive guidance
classes.email [email protected].
www.katearbon.com.
As we approach the Full Moon
phase this month it may be possible to detect some of the shifts
and changes that occurred over
the last couple of weeks and
especially since the recent New
Moon eclipse in Scorpio. Deep
undercurrents of transformation
can be seen as subtle ripples, or
felt as tumultuous waves of revelation or recognition, as it
becomes impossible to conceal
the reality or truth in many different areas of life.
There may be the sense that,
despite the everyday challenges
and ongoing difficulties, a corner has been turned and the
road ahead looks like it holds a
promise of something much
more positive.
The Sun in Scorpio during
the first three weeks of the
month, keeps the focus on
bringing the uncomfortable,
unspeakable or unsavoury elements in our society out into
the open for scrutiny and purging.
With the Full Moon in steadfast Taurus this month, our
emotions can now stabilise, as
we consolidate the lessons
we've had to learn about ourselves and how we relate to
others over the last few months.
It's truly possible to experience
some peace and acceptance during this phase.
The Sun's journey is currently closely accompanied by
Venus so there are gifts to be
found amongst the ashes of the
Phoenix, (another symbol of
Scorpio), as the developments
of the last several years reveal
the potential for a creative and
positive version of the future.
November and early December
lead us into the last, of seven
difficult square angles between
Uranus and Pluto, which has
been the signature planetary
theme since 2012.
Aries: You have a strong appreciation of what has value, and
what doesn't. You get some satisfaction and sense of achievement from providing for the
basic needs of yourself and others. Feelings
of economic insecurity can find you staying
longer than necessary in an unsatisfactory
work situation. Wise decisions are based on
knowing what is right for you and not on
always playing it safe. Remember that the
talents and abilities you've built up over the
years are your security and if you put them to
good use you will find the stability you’re
reaching for.
Taurus: Emotions and personal
attachments are central issues in
your life now, though it may be
that you are the one stretching
the 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 common.
Trust and intimacy are primary concerns right
now and you might have cause to test the
bonds with the people closest to you. Start
with an identity reality check. Be sure you
know who you are first and then get out there
and let everyone else know.
Gemini: At this time you have a
deep longing to seek refuge in
something, which transcends
everyday life. Perhaps this will
manifest itself in creative, musical or artistic work. Give time to whatever
enables you to merge with something greater
than your personal self. You won’t function
well in the social whirl during this Full Moon
so 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 awhile to become aware of the changes.
Begin this phase slowly with plenty of time
to delve into that impressive imaginative
resource that is your inner world.
Cancer: Satisfaction comes
when you have a sense of
belonging to the people you
work with, and knowing that
they also appreciate you. This
Full Moon you might be thinking more about
how your ideals fit in with the people around
you. You may have become quite attached to
personal projects and have some difficulty
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.
The fiery planet Mars has
now entered the earth sign
Capricorn and this brings all
kinds of structures and establishments under review once
more as it joins with Pluto on
November 10. As Mars moves
forward, it makes a challenging
square angle to disruptive
Uranus on November 13. Mars
takes two years to come full circle and the last time he was in
this area of the Zodiac was
November 2012. Many of the
institutions, governments, corporations or social systems that
were in the spotlight then could
find it hard to survive this peri-
Leo: If you’re not already striking out to fulfill your ambitions
then now is the time to make
plans for your future. Getting
yourself some recognition for
what you do well takes on extra significance
during this Full Moon. You may find yourself
playing a much more significant role, even
being out in the public eye 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 up your wildest dreams and take the
risk of following them.
Virgo: During this Full Moon
travel, higher learning, study
and spiritual matters can occupy your mind. You are hungry
for understanding and will seek
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 establish now do not
need to be perfected until later, so you can
stick to generalities until you've got the basic
plan established. Don’t be surprised if you
find an opportunity to link with foreign cultures as there are valuable exchanges to be
had. You have much to learn over the next
few months.
Libra: Use your ability to tune
in to the deepest emotional signals in other people during this
Full Moon. 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 encourages others to be honest about
their failings too and you’ll be appreciated
for the 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 transformation.
Scorpio: Personal and professional partnerships need your
attention now. Try to find the
balance in your most important
relationships during this Full
Moon phase. You may make too many compromises for the sake of emotional peace.
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. An increased receptivity
to the influence, problems and needs of others inclines you to a listening job in which
you can give support and nourishment.
od intact.
In the midst of this testing
planetary dynamic the benevolent Venus joins with the �time
lord’ Saturn in Scorpio on
November 12. As unstable
structures are undermined those
relationships and core values
that have been tested, but held
up well, should benefit from the
renewed vows and reinforced
resolve to follow through with
something of true worth now.
The next Full Moon is at
15В° Taurus on November 6 at
10:23pm and the New Moon
is at 1В° Sagittarius on
November 22 at 8:51pm
Sagittarius: Emotional problems can arise at work because
of some over-sensitivity and
unconscious overreaction. Be
aware of where you feel threatened by change and adapt before it happens.
You’ll find yourself working on behalf of
others now and wanting to be at your best
and give your all for to improving conditions,
either at work or some other important area
of your life. Consider which longterm projects will give you the greatest sense of personal achievement and know that your mind
body and spirit are being looked after.
Capricorn: There is no time
like the present when it comes
to having fun, entertaining
friends or relaxing 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 find yourself trying
to match reality to your fantasy with disappointing results. Begin with a flourish but
remember that a more lasting satisfaction
comes from creative achievements of all
kinds and can be found in simpler pursuits.
Whatever you do make sure you have plenty
of time to daydream between social events.
Aquarius: The bonds to the
past may seem stronger at the
moment. There is plenty of
opportunity to reconsider people and places that have been
important in your past. Fundamental security
is a major preoccupation for you especially
now and 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
find yourself distracted by family worries or
be concerned with matters of the home, land
or property. Start to express some of those
deep inner tensions that you’ve allowed to
build up.
Pisces: When you communicate, you’ll find 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 benefit 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.
33
October 31 – November 27
people ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Quirky is the theme for
November’s Film Club
D
uring October,
Clonakilty Film Club
screened a film that
moved the audience to either a
heavy-hearted silence or full on
tears as the credits rolled. The
Golden Dream will stay with
many viewers for a long time to
come but, as the Film Club
likes to show variety,
November’s films are of a different genre; two uplifting films
that will lighten your heart on a
dark winter’s night.
Her – November 4
Directed by Spike Jonze with
Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams,
Scarlett Johnasson just some of
the big names starring, �Her’ is
set in Los Angeles in the slight
future. The film follows
Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a
complex, soulful man who
makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other
people.
Heartbroken after the end of
a long relationship, he becomes
intrigued with a new, advanced
operating system, which prom-
ises to be an intuitive and
unique entity in its own right.
Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet �Samantha’, a bright,
female voice (Scarlett
Johansson) who is insightful,
sensitive and surprisingly funny.
As her needs and desires grow,
in tandem with his own, their
friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other.
The 100-Year-Old
Man Who Climbed
Out The Window
And Disappeared –
Nov 18
Jonas Jonasson’s witty, feelgood international best-seller
�The 100-Year-Old Man Who
Climbed Out The Window And
Disappeared’ gave pleasure to
millions and proved that it is
never too late to let a little
adventure in your life. The
eagerly awaited screen version
stars Robert Gustafson as the
Zelig-like Allan Karlsson who
quietly escapes from the cele-
Her
brations for his one hundredth
birthday and takes to the road.
Little misunderstandings and
unfortunate coincidences soon
find him in possession of a suitcase of cash and being hotly
pursued by crooks and criminals. It’s hardly going to trouble
a man who played a vital role in
making the atomic bomb, has
known several world leaders
and participated in some of the
key events of the last century.
An outrageous delight.
Other films this season:
Dec 2 - 20 Feet from Stardom
(TBC)
***** 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”
RYAN’S REVIEWS
Ryan Edwards
Film
Fury
15a 134mins
Director: David Ayer
Starring: Brad Pitt, Shia
Labeouf, Logan Lerman
Plot: As the Allies make their
final push in the European
Theatre, a battle-hardened army
sergeant named Wardaddy commands a Sherman tank and fiveman crew on a deadly mission
behind enemy lines. Out-numbered, out-gunned, and with a
rookie soldier thrust into their
platoon, Wardaddy and his men
face overwhelming odds in their
heroic attempts to strike at the
heart of Nazi Germany.
Review: It's April 1945 and
inside the last surviving tank in a
graveyard full of metal carnage
is Don �WarDaddy’ Collier (Brad
Pitt), the commander of an
American Sherman tank with his
crew Boyd Swan (Shia Labeouf)
and Grady Travis (Jon Bernthal).
The tank crew head to a check-
point where they will receive the
next mission, as well as a new
tank member Norman Ellison
(Logan Lerman) after the loss of
their previous front gunner.
Norman is originally from the
messenger services and has no
battle experience, but that doesn't
stop him from being quickly
forced into a situation he really
isn't ready for. From mission to
mission, Norman struggles with
the realities of war; all the while
WarDaddy is just trying to get
every member of his tank home.
The crew of the Fury along with
a couple of other tanks are sent
to guard a crossroads, which
could prove a turning point for
the allies because if the German
squad heading that way make it
to the supply train, the forces
could be seriously hindered.
With so much on the line, can
the crew of the Fury do what is
needed or will it all be for nothing? The film is brilliantly presented very much in the same
vain as films such as Saving
Private Ryan before it — from
it's gritty display of field battle
and general living to it's dark and
grey visual tones. Brad Pitt is
brilliant again and easily carries
the film through, but with a good
supporting cast, it really is easy
to watch. Due to its subject mat-
The 100 Year Old Man..
ter, it’s not a film for everyone; I
really enjoyed it but I do like war
films. **** 4 Stars
Horns
16 120mins
Director: Alexandre Aja
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Juno
Temple, Heather Graham
Plot: In the aftermath of his girlfriend's mysterious death, a
young man awakens to find
strange horns sprouting from his
temples.
Review: A beautiful relationship
blossoms from childhood to
adulthood for Ig Perrish (Daniel
Radcliffe) and Merrin Williams
(Juno Temple) but after one fateful night, their lives and everyone around them changes inexplicably. Ig struggles with daily
life — hounded by the media
and hated by pretty much everyone he knows, as well as
strangers. As a distraction, he
drinks heavily and takes drugs to
dull his feelings. After one
drunken night, he awakes to find
that he is growing horns and that
they have a certain control over
others. With this newfound ability, as well as a need to recall
what happened that night, Ig sets
about finding the truth and
uncovering what has been hidden
all along. This has a brilliantly
refreshing storyline, even though
you would have come across certain aspects in other films; it is a
culmination of different ideas
and portrayed and filmed fantastically. It's not a massive blockbuster film that will make millions but it is easily one of the
best films of this year. Daniel
Radcliffe is on great form again
showing just how diverse he can
be and I think easily leaving
behind the mask of previous
characters. With a good supporting cast from his love played by
Juno Temple to David Morse as
Merrin's father Dale Williams,
there really is no shortage in
quality.
For anyone who wants a
good Halloween movie without
the unnecessary gore or blatant
jump moments, this is perfect,
and to everyone else that just
wants a great movie with an
intelligent story and great acting
you can't really go wrong with
this. As I said, it's no blockbuster, but easily one of my
favourites of the year.
**** 4 Stars
Sacks to Will Arnett as comic
Teenage Mutant
relief Vernon Fenwick — albeit,
sure his character
Ninja Turtles The GrandI'mBudapest
Hotel was mod12a 101mins
Director: Jonathan Liebsman
Starring: Megan Fox, William
Fichtner, Will Arnett
Plot: When a kingpin �Shredder’
threatens New York City, a news
reporter finds a group of mutants
that allay as the Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles to unravel
Shredder's plan.
Review: The heroes in a half
shell are back and with a massive
bang, as they wipe out an entire
crew of foot clan. But who are
these mysterious vigilantes hitting back at a crime syndicate
run by the fearsome crime boss
who goes by the name of the
Shredder, and what are their end
goals. Only one person is up to
finding out and that is intrepid
reporter April O'Neil (Megan
Fox); after getting herself into a
troublesome situation, she is rescued by the foursome, which
leads to as many problems, as it
solves. The film has a pretty
standard storyline of good vs bad
and heroism or greed, depending
on which side you are on, so it's
nothing you wouldn't have seen
before. The CGI — which, being
a film about giant ninja turtles
you can expect a lot of — is
great; there seems to be no
imperfections or badly created
CGI. It has a good cast in general
— from William Fichtner as Eric
elled on Jonah Hill's character
from Megamind. Even with all
that, it really is not a great film.
It pains me to say that because I
love the Turtles and have done
since I was a child brought up
with the 80's cartoon and films,
but maybe that's the problem! It
does have the standard story
that's easy to comprehend and
very good CGI throughout and it
has its funny moments, as well
as its heartfelt moments. So, for
older fans of the series I don't
think the opinion will be too far
off of mine, but for the younger
generation, I can't see any reason
why this isn’t a movie to be
enjoyed. I hate to use the term,
but I do think this is a typical
Marmite film — you'll either
love it or hate it, but regardless,
you need to watch it at least
once. ** 2 Stars
For all the latest movie news and
reviews find me on twitter
@ryansfilmreviews or Facebook
Ryan's Film Review
Why not catch these and all
the latest films at Ireland's
number one best value cinema
Park Cinema Clonakilty and
second best value cinema
Cinemax Bantry
34
October 31 – November 27
people HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
Pets and ponies arrive in Dunmanway
P
ets and Ponies newly
opened in Dunmanway
boasts a wide selection
of pet and equine supplies, as
well as equestrian clothing.
Proprietor Gemma Dale
opened Bantry Pet and Equine
five years ago, growing and
changing the business all the
time to meet the needs of her
customers.
The new shop in
Dunmanway is another step
forward for the local businesswoman who now employs
four part-time staff between
the Bantry and Dunmanway
stores.
Gemma breeds rabbits,
guinea pigs and hamsters and
can source budgies, canaries
and finches from a local
breeder. Coldwater and tropical fish are also available in
the shop with a range of
aquariums and accessories on
display.
“We can source other pets
on request,” says Gemma.
Pets and Ponies stocks
everything from rabbit to reptile supplies. There is a smallholder range of non-GM food
available for chickens, high
quality brands of dog food
including Royal Canin and
James Wellbeloved to name a
few and bird lovers will also
be delighted with the reasonably priced food for our wild
feathered friends.
On the Equine side, as well
as supplements and grooming
aids, there is an excellent
range of riding wear in-store,
from hats to boots and bits to
bridles. Pets and Ponies carries Zilco racing equipment,
Harry Hall hats and Shires
Equestrian.
As well as being professionally trained, the staff members
at both shops are all pet
lovers. “We’re more likely to
remember the name of the pet
than the pet owner,” says
Gemma smiling.
For all your pet needs, visit
Pets and Ponies on Main
Street in Dunmanway or
Bantry Pet and Equine, The
Square, Bantry. Phone: 086
820 8230. Follow on
Facebook.
A special open day will take
place at Pets and Ponies in
Dunmanway on November 14,
with special guests, the animal
Left: The new Pets & Ponies shop in Main Street,
Dunmaway. Above: Gemma with one of her furry friends.
roadshow bringing an owl,
snakes, maybe hedgehogs, tortoises etc. It promises to be a
fun and hands-on day, starting
at 1pm. All are welcome. 10
per cent off everything in
store.
Franc steers a
fantastic night of
fashion in Rathbarry
T
he Fashion
Extravaganza at
Dunmore House
Hotel on October 9 — a
fundraising event for
Rathbarry School
Development Fund — was a
roaring success.
The evening commenced
at 7pm with a Cheese and
Wine Reception sponsored
by Eugene and Catriona
Scally, Supervalu Clonakilty.
Everyone had a chance to
browse through the display
stands while mingling with
special guest Peter Kelly aka
renowned wedding planner
�Franc’. Local models took
to the catwalk to showcase
in style a sample of the
Autumn Winter Collection
from 23 local shops and
Left: Franc with Colette Twomey, Sponsor of Best Dressed
Lady.В Top: Joe Hodnett, Anne Kearns (Principal), Franc and
Deirdre Hodnett. Bottom: Ellen Jennings (left) and Alexandra
Flood, models at the fashion extravaganza.
boutiques.
Franc thanked the organising committee headed up by
Joseph Hodnett, who did
such a superb job in organising the event; you would
think a team of professionals
had been contracted.
Eight lucky ladies were
chosen as finalists for the
Best Dressed Lady
Competition kindly sponsored by Colette Twomey,
Clonakilty Blackpudding Co.
The finalists were brought
on to the catwalk where
Franc conducted a brief
interview, after which Cork’s
All-Ireland camogie Star
Hazel O’Regan took the
honours. The organisers had
a special word of thanks to
Franc, who not only attended
the event, but also visited
the school on Thursday
afternoon much to the
delight of the children. And
of course a huge thank you
for Carol, Annmarie and all
the staff of Dunmore House
Hotel for their advice and
support in organising this
event and indeed all the
sponsors who were acknowledged on the night.
35
October 31 – November 27
people HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
Herbal First-Aid
Meadowsweet has an
anodyne action (pain
reliever), as it contains
naturally-occuring
Salicylic Acid; Aspirin
used to be made from it.
Based in Ballydehob, Jacqueline Kilbryde is a practicingherbalist with over 25 years experience. She is a
memberof the National Institute Of Medical
Herbalists, the oldest body of professional herbalists
in Europe (established1864) and a member of the Irish
Register Of Chinese Herbal Medicine.
M
ost homes will have
an array of medicine
for use in the home
cabinet, ready for unexpected
accidents, such as burns, cuts,
scrapes and infections. Herbal
first-aid medicines are extremely effective and useful to have to
hand for such emergencies. Here
are a few examples.
Burns/Sunburn: Burns are
commonplace in the home and
there are many herbs that are
excellent for use here; notably
the Aloe Vera Plant, and every
home should have one! These
are easy to grow and do well on
a partially sunny windowsill.
They do not like to be over
watered and will grow to a large
plant if maintained well. The
leaves are full of a soft sticky,
slimy substances called
mucilage, which has an immedi-
ate soothing action via its antiinflammatory effect, relieving
redness, swelling and pain
caused by burns and sunburn.
Pick a large leaf and open it.
Press out the mucilage and
apply directly onto the affected
area. Other useful herbs include
Plantain leaf /Ribwort,
Calendula and Comfrey. All
three plants can be made into a
salve or ointment to be stored
for future use.
A salve/ointment is made by
steeping the plant in, for example, sunflower or olive oil, for
two to three weeks and left on a
sunny windowsill or by infusing
the herb in oil, which is heated
for extraction. The oil is then
strained and heated and beeswax
melted into it. As it cools the
mixture hardens and can be kept
in a container for use to be
applied directly onto the skin.
Cuts and Bruises: There are
so many wound healers in
herbal medicine — it’s a long
list. Primarily we have Comfrey,
an excellent herb for any type of
cut or bruise, as it heals broken
skin and bruising. Calendula is
another great choice along with
Witch Hazel bark and St John’s
Wort.
A secondary complication of
cuts is infection. To disinfect
cuts, as well as heal them, use
Calendula, Golden Seal root, St
John’s Wort, Fennel, Myrrh and
Garlic (before the discovery of
antibiotics, garlic was used
widely to treat and to prevent
infection). An infusion may be
made with one or a combination
of these herbs and used as a
wash for the cut. To make an
infusion, steep the herbs of
choice in a cup of boiling water
for around 20 minutes. The infusion is then strained and the liquid used. Alternatively the herbs
here can be made up into an
ointment or cream, to be applied
topically to the affected area as
needed.
A recommendation here is to
grow these herbs in your garden.
They are all very easy to germinate and grow and are perennial.
Staunching bleeding: Many
of our native hedgerow herbs
are excellent anti-haemorrhagics/styptics. The herb of choice
here is Yarrow, another is
Tormentil root; another is Nettle
leaf. These can be picked fresh
and dried and stored in airtight
containers for that time when
needed. An infusion or a decoction is then made and poured
directly on to the wound, to
arrest bleeding.
Witchhazel bark or leaf or
Oak bark is also excellent.
Interestingly, powder of
Cayenne pepper was used to
staunch bleeding wounds.
Insect Repellant: The best
choice here is the essential oils,
combined with a mixture of
water and alcohol and kept in a
spray- pump bottle. Essential
oils of choice are Citronella,
Eucalyptus, Peppermint,
Lavender, Lemon Grass... all
have pleasant aromas but are
noxious to insects. One native
herb, which is hugely overlooked, is Bog-Myrtle (Myrica
gale). The flowers contain a
strong essential/volatile oil,
which repels troublesome
insects, especially midges.
Insect bites: Poultices or
ointments of Ribwort and
Comfrey will soothe and heal
the bite, as will Aloe Vera.
Headache and Muscle
Aches: Meadowsweet has an
anodyne action (pain reliever),
as it contains naturally-occuring
Salicylic Acid. It is also antiinflammatory, thereby making it
suitable for aches and pains in
the joints and muscles.
Aspirin was manufactured
Seek out the good
UNDER THE
BODHI TREE
Philosophy Corner
Anne Crossey
Anne Crossey is a painter living in
West Cork. She has a primary
Degree in Philosophy, a Masters
in Western Esotericism, and a
Masters in Philosophy, specialising in Psychoanalytic Theory
(T.C.D.) She is founder of the West
Cork Philosophical Society, which
is currently meeting weekly at Liss
Ard House, Skibbereen. Email:
[email protected]
Continuing with Frederick
Copleston’s �History of
Philosophy: Volume 1’, we
move on from the Milesian
School to another Ionian
philosopher — Pythagoras.
Everybody has heard of
Pythagoras and most will know
the theorem named after him;
still very few know anything
about the man himself. This is
quite surprising when you consider that the foundations of just
about everything we call
�knowledge’ can be traced to his
teachings. Bertrand Russell, in
his �A History of Western
Philosophy’, said �It is to this
gentleman that we owe pure
mathematics’, and that �the
influence of Pythagoras on
Plato, Aristotle, and others was
so great that he should be considered the most influential of all
Western philosophers’.
Indeed, the world is even
indebted to him for the word
�philosopher’. Others had called
themselves �wise’ (sophos), but
Pythagoras was the first to call
himself �a philosopher’, literally
�a lover of wisdom’. For
Pythagoras and his followers,
philosophy was not just an intellectual pursuit but a way of life,
a practice aimed at manifesting a
world of peace, based on principles of universal brotherhood.
Control of the mind, heart, and
mouth were central to
Pythagorean training, and later
tradition reports that those who
wanted to join his academy had
to observe a five-year preliminary silence. This was partly due
to their belief that, �There is no
word or action but that has its
echo in Eternity’. They also
believed in reincarnation — that
the Soul experiences many lives
and that Time eventually recurs.
Pythagoras was born at Sidon
in Phoenicia, c. 570 B.C.E. and
grew up on the island of Samos.
Also at this time the Buddha
was born in India, and
Confucius and Lao Tse were
born in China, making this possibly the single most significant
intellectual period in human history. Pythagoras didn’t write any
books himself so we have to rely
on second hand sources for
information about his life, which
causes controversy amongst
scholars, but references by
Xenophanes (570–475 B.C.E.)
and Heraclitus (500 B.C.E.)
show that he was a famous figure already in the late sixth and
early fifth centuries B.C.E.
Briefly stated, the doctrine of
the Pythagoreans was that all
things are number. It is believed
that he discovered the numerical
ratios, or intervals of the musical
scale and held the Soul to be
strung like an instrument
resounding either harmonically
or in discord. His philosophy is
from Meadowsweet and the
White Willow bark, as both
herbs contain appreciable
amounts of Salicyclic acid.
Feverfew leaf is also used in
headache.
Sore Throats: A gargle of
Sage leaf and Marigold flowers
in combination both have an
antiseptic and anti-inflammatory
action on the throat and alleviate
soreness of inflamed tonsils, as
well as infection. Both plants
are easy to grow and can be
used fresh or dried. Make an
infusion of the leaf and flowers,
strain and gargle with the liquid.
Upset stomach: Ginger can
be taken in capsule form to allay
nausea and vomiting.
Chamomile flowers and Lemon
Balm are two other excellent
choices. Fennel is used also to
stop cramps and griping in the
gut. Slippery Elm in capsule or
powder form protects and heals
an irritated stomach lining.
All the above herbs can also
be used to stop acute cases of
diarrhoea along with the use of
Tormentil and Agrimony. These
last two herbs are extremely
astringent and stop excessive
secretions.
based on ambitions of universal
harmony among men.
Pythagoras said that all men
might be classified as either
lovers of wisdom, lovers of
honor, or lovers of gain.
“Remind yourself,” he said,
“that all men assert wisdom as
the greatest good, yet few strenuously seek out that good.” The
letter �Y’, or Upsilon, is known
as Pythagoras' letter for this reason- because Pythagoreans used
it as a symbol of the path of
virtue or vice. His advice to
those faced with a decision is
simple: “Do not even think of
doing what ought not to be done
for it is better to suffer, than to
do wrong.” Perhaps if we all
took Pythagoras’ advice the
world might be a softer and
much saner place for all.
Anne Crossey is a painter living in West Cork. She is founder
of the West Cork Philosophical
Society, which is currently meeting weekly at Liss Ard House,
Skibbereen.
36
October 31 – November 27
people HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
Cork Care and Companion Agency celebrates
10 years of serving the community
I
n 2003, Nuala Sikorski's
heart went out to a widow,
who, after the passing of
her husband, moved around
from one bed and breakfast to
another in West Cork because
she couldn't face living at home
on her own. Nuala decided to
set up the Cork Care and
Companion Agency after establishing that there were a great
number of individuals in the
Cork area needing care and
companionship in their own
home.
The personalised home care
agency, which has been in
operation since 2004, has provided care and assistance to
clients from as young as 18months up to the grand old age
of 99-years. A former nurse for
the mentally ill, Nuala favours
a holistic approach, providing
spiritual and mental, as well as
physical care. Nuala's approach
and her empathy for her clients
means that many people who
may have lost their confidence,
perhaps through illness or some
form of trauma, begin to
rebuild their belief in them-
selves, gaining a renewed sense
of independence and purpose in
life. The agency not only provides care for the elderly, other
services provided include
accompanying people on holidays who would not be able to
travel alone and also care for
people with disabilities and
special needs.
The specialist agency services range from a two-hour callout to live-in home care 24
hours, seven days a week. The
agency aides, who are on hand
to meet all needs, from companionship and help with
household chores to day-to-day
activities like bathing and
dressing, are available to live in
and in most cases become an
extended family member.
Great care is taken when
selecting the right carer for
each post. As well as taking in
the practical needs of the client,
attention is also given to the
personality of both parties. A
kind soul, Nuala believes that
it's important to connect with
people from the heart. "I have
met with some of the most
wonderful people, both carers
and clients, that this world has
produced," she says.
Nuala originally trained as a
nurse for the mentally ill. She
also holds a Diploma in
Personal Development and
served as a facilitator for the
study of Metaphysics for
almost ten years. She is an
associate member of the British
Association for Counselling.
Nuala would love to help
more parents through the
agency. "We do sleepovers and
get great satisfaction caring for
children and giving parents a
break," she says. The Cork
Care and Companion Agency
works alongside other care
providers and is always willing
to give respite backup for existing carers.
Nuala would also like to take
this opportunity to thank her
clients and her dedicated team
both past and present for their
dedication and supports over
the past 10 years.
For more information call
028 34898, www.corkcareandcompanionagency.com.
Valuable information pack for Carers launched
T
he launch of a new information pack, which gives
an overview of the supports and services available to
Carers in West Cork, was welcomed by Carers last month. The
pack — a joint initiative by West
Cork Citizens Information
Service and West Cork Carers
Support Group — is a valuable
resource for the many people
who provide care for family
members, neighbours or friends
who are sick or infirm. It is also
a good example of local agencies
working together to pool
resources and expertise for the
benefit of the local community.
“I wish that this pack had
been available five years ago
when my mother became ill and
we had to provide full-time care
for her. It would have helped me
access the supports and services
I needed,” was the response of
one client at the Citizens
Information Service, who went
on to recommend that “it should
be made available to every new
Carer from the beginning”.
The reality is that at some
point most of us will either give
or receive care. It is a role that
we may inherit along with other
family responsibilities or one
that can be thrust upon us as a
result of unexpected illness or an
accident. Whichever the case, it
is important that we have knowledge about the supports and
services available.
Information about income
supports, HSE supports, housing
grants and tax credits as well as
important information about the
different stages of caring, managing medications and ways that
the Carer can look after their
own health and well-being are
all included in this pack.
The pack, which is free, is
available from West Cork
Citizens Information Service,
Wolfe Tone Square, Bantry, Tel:
L-R: Anne O'Donovan, Manager West Cork Citizens Information
Service, Pat Moynihan, Chair, West Cork Citizens Information
Service, Louise Casey, Chair West Cork Carers Support Group,
Sally Back, Co-ordinator West Cork Carers Support Group
0761 07 8390 and West Cork
Carers Support Group, Bridge
Street, Bantry, Tel: 027 53848.
West Cork Carers Support
Group provided a wide range of
services and supports aimed at
improving the quality of life of
Carers. The group is open to all
Carers, whether they care for a
family member, friend or neighbour. Supports are provided to
Carers of older persons, to
Carers of children or adults with
a long-term illness or physical or
intellectual disability and to
Carers of persons experiencing
mental distress. It is funded and
supported by the HSE.
Don’t over-do extra-curricular activities
There is a great incentive to
engage children in groups and
clubs to pursue new activities;
however, parents should also
make provision for plenty of
unstructured playtime.
Play is one of the major
avenues to learning for young
children. Unstructured play gives
them the opportunity to explore
their world and interact with other
children without adult intervention and direction.
So, while extra-curricular
activities do have something positive to offer, parents should be
wary of overloading their children’s timetable.
Criteria to consider when
choosing an extra-curricular
activit: Extra-curricular activities
are not merely a way to allow
parents more time at work. Your
child may be losing out by having
to attend activities they don’t particularly enjoy or may feel they
are missing out on precious time
with you.
Beware of choosing overtly
educational activities, as you may
be putting too much pressure on
your child to achieve. If children
feel they need to constantly
improve their performance in any
particular area, it may adversely
affect their self-esteem.
Scheduling their free time with
too many challenging activities
may be counter-productive and
leave them feeling exhausted,
unmotivated and disinterested.
Choose an activity in which
your child has expressed a genuine interest. Bear in mind the
child may lose interest after a few
sessions, and you will need to
decide whether or not to encourage them to continue. It is important to avoid the situation of
allowing your child to give up too
easily, but you need to balance
this with their enjoyment and
interest in the activity.
Getting the best from the
activity: Rate your child’s interests above your aspirations. If you
are keen for your child to pursue
a certain activity yet they have no
interest, find a compromise. If
your child hates sport, consider an
alternative such as drama, where
physical activity is still involved.
Limit activities: If a child is
constantly attending classes, they
may become tired, stressed or disinterested over time. A huge body
of research tells us that children
learn most from play.
Through play, they learn coordination, social rules, problem
solving and exploration of the
physical world.
Coordinate with your child’s
friends: Nothing beats having a
friend come along to help settle
those initial nerves. Children
often get more enjoyment out of
an activity if they can share it
with a friend. It is also practical
to share travel to and from activities with other parents.
Do your research: Ask about
supervision, experience of staff,
safety precautions, and so on.
Question the activity organiser to
ensure your child will be properly
cared for in your absence.
Be on time: Timekeeping may
be even more important than
school – whereas schoolteachers
will usually wait with children
whose parents or carers are late
picking them up, you may not be
afforded this facility with out-ofschool activities.
Offer to help: For your child,
having you so close and part of
their activity may be comforting –
and you get to share in an activity
your child enjoys.
For more information, visit
www.RollerCoaster.ie - Ireland’s
No.1 Website for Pregnancy &
Parenting.
37
October 31 – November 27
people HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
Bargain lovers flock to Jenny Feather
M
aureen O’Sullivan,
proprietor of
Clonakilty’s latest
fashion store �Jenny Feather’
has spent her entire career in
fashion retail of some kind or
another – or the �rag trade’, as
she laughingly calls it. Whether
as a buyer, window dresser or
sales assistant, Maureen has an
eye for the “beauty in
everything; what to add
or take away to give it
new life.” This is a talent she displays in her
ever-changing window — imaginatively
combining items from
nature and bric-a-brac
with clothing from the
shop to create an eyecatching display.
Jenny Feather
(named after Maureen’s
daughter Jennifer who had
trouble
pronouncing her
name
when a
toddler) is
a pre-loved
boutique for
ladies, gents
and kids, packed with new
or nearly-new items from
some of the biggest names in
fashion at knock-down prices;
just take a look at these bargains – Ralph Lauren sweater
€8, Lambswool Marks &
Spencer cardigan €6.50,
Vintage Avoca tweed
suit €15, Remus Suit
€20, vintage
Aquascutum
jacket €50.
And the
bargains
don’t stop
there –
shelves
are
stuffed
with
bags,
belts,
boots,
shoes,
scarfs and
accessories
to complement
your outfit.
This is a particularly good
shop for
men’s attire,
as you’ll find
brands such as
Lacoste,
Tommy
Hilfiger and
Gant with shirts by Louis
Copeland, Wrangler and Polo
by Ralph Lauren. For partygoers, Maureen has just this week
taken a delivery of formal and
debs dresses to add some
sparkle to Christmas.
With �rag trade’ contacts in
the UK and Europe, Maureen
gets weekly deliveries, so
there’s always fresh
stock to browse
through in your
lunch-hour. She
also keeps her ear
to the ground for
hotel refurbishment
sales and has regular consignments
of ex-hotel laundry
– currently she’s
stocking freshly
laundered bed
throws, which are
excellent quality
and only €15 for
a large throw and
€5 for a small.
There’s a
great satisfaction in knowing
you are giving a pre-loved item
a new lease of life. Maureen
has been interested in recycling
and upstyling for years. As
well as previously working as a
Regional Development
Manager for Gorta Shops,
she was responsible for
marketing at the SMILE
Resource Exchange,
a free service for
businesses that
encourages the
exchanging of
resources between its
members in order to
save money and reduce
waste going to landfill.
Maureen has had
a great start to
doing business in
Clonakilty, welcoming a stream
of bargain hunters
through the door
every day since
she opened,
“I’m loving having my own shop
and the excitement of
finding pieces that I
know will be snapped
up by wily fashion
hunters!” she
says. “I’m also
overwhelmed by the warm
welcome and good wishes I’ve
had from other businesses in
the town. There’s such a great
vibe here of positivity. It’s an
extremely open and friendly
place and I’m thrilled to be
here.”
Jenny Feather, No 16 Ashe
Street, Clonakilty is open MonSat 10am-6pm.
38
October 31 – November 27
people HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
It’s tea time
HEALTH
Hannah Dare
Organico Bantry
S
The Beauty Corner
Christmas
Limited
Edition Gift
The SkinCeuticals limited
edition Christmas Gift box
contains one AGE Interrupter
and one complimentary
Retexturing Activator (15ml)
in a beautifully wrapped
SkinCeuticals box. For a list
of Irish stockists visit
www.skinceuticals.co.uk.
The SkinCeuticals skincare
philosophy is built on an effective regime containing three
fundamental elements:
Prevention, Correction and
Protection. The SkinCeuticals
product range is built around
these principles. Designed to
ometimes, after I have
been under the weather,
I find I change a �bad’
habit or two pretty easily. I
might take it as an opportunity to give up tea or coffee or
sugar, for example. Mostly
when I have a cold or the flu
I feel like being strict with
myself until I feel better,
which normally means eating
well and getting lots of rest.
At the end of this period I
find I have often had an
unintentional mini detox.
This means I come out the
other end feeling stronger
and purer! As you will know
if you have ever tried to give
it up or cut it back, caffeine
is a very addictive drug, so
any excuse to take a break is
a good idea. And once you
are over the headaches and
the taste for builder’s tea has
receded, it’s an ideal time to
add to your tea cupboard as
your taste buds will really be
able to appreciate the subtle
flavours of herbal teas.
Firstly, everyone should
experiment with making tea
from fresh garden herbs.
Mint is an obvious choice,
but if you have or know
someone who has lemon verbena or lemon balm growing
nearby then try these out!
Also, never forget that ginger
tea is a miracle for easing
stomach cramps and nausea;
use one chamomile tea bag
and add three or four slices
of fresh ginger and some
fresh lemon juice for a super
tummy tea. You can top the
ginger slices up with hot
water over and over.
I find the quality of bagged
herbal teas can vary hugely,
and the quality really affects
the taste and your enjoyment
of the tea. So, look for a
good quality brand, preferably organic (who wants a
load of chemicals in their
tea?). Here are a few…
Pukka is a relatively new
tea company based in the UK
but with strong Indian influence. The company uses a lot
of spices, but in very subtle
ways. The green teas are
excellent (try the new
Supreme Matcha Green —
it’s not Matcha, as I mention
it below, but rather a whole
leaf tea bag containing a
variety of different green
teas. What I really like about
it is that it doesn't seem to go
bitter like some other green
teas do; I have even forgotten
the bag in the mug and it was
still nice five minutes later.
Other Pukka favourites to
try are: Three Fennel, Three
Mint, Echinacea and
Elderberry, Vanilla Chai,
Manuka Honey and Lemon,
and Tulsi, which is also
known as Holy Basil in
Ayurvedic Medicine. It is
said to help with concentration and mental agility sounds good doesn’t it!
Luckily it also tastes great.
To be honest — the whole
Pukka range tastes great!
Yogi is another great range
of Herbal Teas — also formulated on Ayurvedic principles and hence use a lot of
cinnamon and liquorice; their
Lemon and Ginger is one of
the most popular, but they
also do a delicious Detox and
a very soothing Bedtime tea.
In Organico CafГ©, we also
have a range of high quality
organic loose leaf herbal teas
we some nice loose leaf tea
pots and little boxes of bags
to make your own tea bag,
spoons to measure the perfect
cup and a range of different
strainers also. We have both
black and green loose organic teas, as well as fruity and
plain herbs including Sleepy
Mint, which is a lovely
soothing blend of chamomile
and mint. One of my
favorites is Roman Provence
Rooibos - Luxury rooibos,
rosehip, rose petals, lavender,
dried currants, dried elderberries, natural flavors. Each
cup takes you on a romantic
journey through the south of
France…perfect for a chilly
winter evening in West cork!
I must talk about Rooibos
for a moment; it is such a
wonderful tea. In some
African countries it is the
main tea that is drunk, and as
it can be taken with milk we
often suggest it as a way of
cutting down on �tea tea’. It
comes with a vanilla flavour,
earl grey, chai, as a green
rooibos, and probably others
I can’t remember right now!
If you haven’t yet tried it you
really should, it’s delicious.
And, naturally enough, it’s
healthy too!
A good alternative to coffee is Macachino, made from
raw cacao, raw maca and
coconut sugar. Produced by
the Irish raw foods company
Iswari, based in Kinsale,
Macachino is a good energy
booster, and it tastes good
made with water and a milk
of your choice (just like coffee really!) and has all of the
health benefits of maca too.
A similar sounding drink is
Matcha (finely powdered
green tea), which is a huge
hit in Organico Cafe. Matcha
is made from very high quality green tea, which is then
�matcharised’ by a powerful
machine and ground to a
very fine powder, which
looks at first like powdered
paint. Made traditionally
with simply hot water, it can
be quite strong tasting and
might only appeal to hardened Green Tea drinkers, but
made with hot milk and
honey...mmm! Matchchino!
Come and try one in
Organico Cafe if you aren’t
sure — it’s a good idea to try
before you buy, as quality
Matcha doesn’t come cheap.
However, it is even more
packed with both energy and
antioxidants than regular
green tea is, so at least you
can skip some supplements
that morning to offset the
cost — what you do need
however to make a good cup
of matcha is a whisk. You
can use a small electric one,
or a special bambu hand
whisk. We do normally stock
them and will have them
back in again soon.
For these and many more
delicious and healthy teas
call in to your local healthfood shop or come over to
Bantry and sample our range
in Organico Café; it’s possible we have the biggest range
in West Cork!
Stroke support group to launch in Bantry
help prevent future skin damage through the use of a topical
antioxidant, protect healthy
skin from UV rays and help
correct the appearance of existing damage, SkinCeuticals is
committed to advanced skincare products that are backed
by science.
A new Stroke Support group
for stroke survivors and their
families living in West Cork is
being launched in Westlodge
Hotel, Bantry on Thursday,
November 6h at 7pm.
Admission is free and all with
an interest in stroke are welcome.
The information session
will be useful for patients, relatives and health care workers. Keynote presentations
will come from Dr Brian
Carey, the Irish Heart
Foundation and members of
the Stroke Care team from
Bantry General Hospital.
Annually, hundreds of
patients present to hospitals
West Cork post stroke. Stroke
support groups can play an
invaluable role — offering
guidance, support, physical
therapies, as well as a social
outlet for stroke patients to
come together and share their
stories.
The key features of Stroke
Support Groups are to:
Provide help, information and
a social outlet for stroke survivors, their families and
friends; Enable survivors to
share experiences that can be
vital in dealing with the
effects of stroke; Develops
empowerment and control for
stroke survivors; Improves
coping skills and adjustment
to life after Stroke; Helps
reduce depression, stress and
anxiety.
The West Cork stroke support group is a HSE and Irish
Heart Foundation initiative.
Membership is free and is
open to anyone who has had a
stroke and his or her family,
friends and carers.
For more information contact Emma-Jane at [email protected] or call 01
6346925.
39
October 31 – November 27
people HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
Health and Wellness day in Bantry
A
Health and Wellness
Day will take place at
the Westlodge Hotel
in Bantry from 12-5pm on
November 2. Entry is free of
charge.
�Your Health is your
Wealth’ is a phrase many people have become familiar with
in recent years, as pressures in
personal and professional lives
increased. These pressures, as
they build up, will find the
weakest spot in the body to
come out. Pressures can affect
your health profoundly leading to the development of
emotional and psychological
issues, as well as physical
symptoms.
We are a nation that, at
times, will keep going until
breaking point, but what if we
could prevent this from happening by taking charge of our
health? Complementary therapies are health options that can
help heal mind and body
working in conjunction with
conventional healthcare.
As we move into the winter
season, we become more
aware of our health, and of the
effects that the dark evenings
may have on us. There are
many ways of protecting your
health and maintaining balanced energy levels during the
coming months with good
nutrition, exercise, physical
therapies, crystals, reiki, meditation, sound therapy and so
much more.
There are many health pro-
fessionals available to help
with your health but it can
often be difficult to find and
connect with the right one for
you. This Health and Wellness
day is about showing the therapists that are available to
help, and the therapies they
provide. The day is free for
you to pop in and meet up to
thirty different therapists, buy
nutritional products, sample
crystals and energy work, try
out Shiatsu, sound therapy and
meditation.
To heal takes courage and
will come through a combination of both physical and
emotional work.
Complementary therapies
work on an ongoing basis
towards keeping you in good
health at all times.
There will be four Free
Health Talks from 2-5pm:
2:15pm — April Danann on
�The Conscious Body,
Medical Intuition and Health’;
3pm — Angelica Healy and
Paola Vais; 3:45pm —
Berenice Davey, Meditation
(20mins); 4:15pm — Julie
Reed on �Cell signalling and
how the body heals itself’.
More information can be
found on www.healthandwellnessdays.com. If you are a
therapist who would like to be
involved in the day please
contact Joyce on 087 9510554
or email joycestherapies@
gmail.com.
€30,000 raised by Clonakilty Charity Cycle 2014
T
he Clonakilty Charity
Cycle, which in the
past two years raised
over €67,000 for Cancer
Connect and Co Action, was
held on Saturday, September
13, 2014 and was officially
started by popular commentator Paudie Palmer, former
Kerry Minor Footballer. Four
hundred and forty nine
cyclists took part in the cycle
in brilliant sunshine with over
€30,000 again raised this
year. The Committee would
like to sincerely thank all
sponsors, communities,
cyclist’s and the public in
general for their help and
support in raising such a fantastic sum of money for the
charities. This year the charities supported are Cancer
Connect, Co Action,
Marymount Hospice, justone, West Cork Rapid
Response and Clonakilty
Special Olympics.
The cheque presentation
night will take place at
Clonakilty GAA Complex at
Ahamilla on Friday, October
31 with light refreshments
and all are welcome.
Paudie Palmer, Colette Twomey and Monsignor O’Driscoll
ADVERTORIAL | Batemans Footwear
Butter soft leather boots from Gabor
The new Autumn 2014
range of boots and shoes by
Gabor has just landed in
Batemans Footwear in
Clonakilty and Bandon.
This German brand has a
long history of making
beautifully supple leather
footwear, having been
founded by Bernhard and
Joachim Gabor in 1949
when they exchanged their
father’s pocket watch for
their first sewing machine.
In the 60 years since the
company has made over
230 million pairs of shoes.
Batemans’ selection of
Gabor boots is wide ranging, from quilted effect
ankle boots to knee-highs
with buckles, and every
style inbetween. Available
in butter soft brown and
black leather with sturdy
stitching and soles, these
boots will see you through
years of wet, wintry weather.
40
October 31 – November 27
people HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
Embrace chance
T
IMAGE
Louise O’Dwyer
Image Consultant
he official dictionary
definition of 'serendipity'
is the occurrence and
development of events by
chance, in a happy and beneficial way — in other words �a
pleasant surprise’! I firmly
believe that embracing
serendipity and also the sometimes 'not-so-good' things that
happen is the key to having a
peaceful life. I keep hearing
words like 'dreaded' and 'looming' and 'pressure' and then
'Christmas' or 'ageing' in the
next breath and it has made me
realise how many of us live in
fear of tomorrow or pain from
yesterday and sadly, how few
of us actually live in �today’.
Christmas I will deal with later.
Yes, ageing is not always fun,
but it is a true privilege. Having
worked with clients of all ages,
the more mature category will
always say that it is easier to
get older if you are happy
doing something meaningful
and the only way you can do
that is to �define your passion’.
Have you found your passion
in life? Maybe you have found
someone to be passionate with
but the two are worlds apart!
Have you ever taken the time
to reflect and let your mind
explore the concept? Or do you
spend more time moaning
about how much you hate what
you are actually doing? You are
never too old to ask yourself
�What do I want to be when I
grow up?’ Look at all the people who sign up for personal
development courses because
they find life a struggle and
wonder why it comes so easy
to others. It's not that it comes
easy to anybody; some out
there just know that they are
continually in a phase of development and it begins when you
take the time to have the first
vision of who you can be.
When you identify that, you
become self-motivating and it
is in those moments of inspiration comes great change. I
believe that success is really
defined as peace.
Of course I am very well
aware of how life can often
burn us out, or indeed people
can, but look at what some of
the celebrities have to put up
with and they have to contend
with the added downfall of
their lives being so public. I
know that I might be coming
on very heavy with all of this
but in order to live a full life
you need to feel absolutely
great about yourself — the
looking good part will follow.
We are a nation of critics and
gossipers and for the most part
we are guilty of bystander apathy. While I definitely promote
constructive criticism, the other
kind (and you know very well
what I mean) is despicable and
every so often I am reminded
of those very witty words
'when you are pointing the finger at someone, three fingers
are pointing back at you'. Is it
any wonder that so many
women suffer from low selfesteem or lack of confidence?
So when you are thinking about
your New Year resolutions over
the next while try to incorporate this into your special one
— stop judging yourself, rating
yourself, being critical or hopeless and start inspiring yourself
and watch the benefits unfold.
Look at your life as your own
personal development movie
script. When you look at others,
all that you see is one scene in
their movie, yes, it might look
like they are on top of things,
but that’s all it is — one scene,
so let go of comparing yourself
to everyone else and �stay in
your own movie’.
Getting back to Christmas,
I'm saddened by the fact that
rather than bring a smile to
everyone’s face, most women
see it as a terrifically pressurised time. Will you all just
go away and get over yourselves! What is wrong with
you? Christmas is magical and
it is your responsibility to enjoy
it! If you don't have money to
buy a load of presents for people be creative or most importantly, be generous with your
time, that is the best present of
all. Spend the holiday season
with people you are comfortable with, stop pleasing everyone for a quiet life and follow
your heart to a Christmas dinner table wherever! People are
already asking me about any
new gift ideas that I might have
to share. How about this —
have you heard of the waterproof company called 'WE DO
SAFE AND DRY' — if you
haven't Google it. We live in a
country where it could rain for
over 200 of the 365 days in the
year, yet most houses are illequipped with rain gear. I love
this company because it does
what it says — 100 per cent
waterproof gear while also
being highly visible with the
added touch of a bit of funkiness. Just take a look at the
kids’ waders or the camouflage
thigh waders. �We Do Safe and
Dry’ should be on everyone’s
present list this year because
it's a practical gift and we are
living in times where practicality is of the utmost importance.
Hats are making a big splash
at the moment and I love them
— what a way to create a signature style. Have you ever had
a hat made just for you? Well,
Elizabeth Christina Design is
exactly where you need to go
to have a bespoke headpiece
created lovingly for you.
Owner Tina Coyne, Kinsalebased, won best milliner of
2014. Tina has the incredible
gift of combining high fashion
trends with traditional millinery
methods, the result — a unique
piece that evokes elegance and
style. This is a wonderful idea
for a gift for someone who
All welcome at Baby and Me Fair
The Baby and Me Fair will be
happening at the Celtic Ross
Hotel, Rosscarbery on Sunday
November 30 between 2pm and
6pm. This fantastic event has
free entry for anyone who is
planning a baby, already pregnant or has just become new
parents or grandparents. It will
also be a great afternoon out for
the whole family in the beautiful setting of Rosscarbery!
Present will be retailers, birth
professionals, midwives, therapists and others talking on a
range of services from
Breastfeeding Support to
Homeopathy, Reflexology,
Pregnancy yoga, Baby Yoga,
Baby Massage, Midwifery services, Antenatal and Postnatal
support, education and other
topics.
The fair is being hosted by
Sarah Pettit-Mee, founder of
Baby and Me, a support service
for parents-to-be, which provides education, support and
resources through individualised
programmes for each parent
having a new baby.
Sarah, a mother of 6, is a
qualified Midwife, Certified
Infant Massage Instructor and is
a Neighbourhood
Midwife(Neighbourhood
Midwives Ireland) based near
Clonakilty. She is hoping to
open a Baby and Me Wellness
Centre in the near future where
pregnant women and their partners can avail of such services
showcased at this fair but under
one roof with the help of other
qualified professionals.
Please visit
www.babyandme.ie, phone
0863312368 or email
[email protected] for further
information or see Facebook.
Any donations received on
the day will go to the 'Jeep for
Jason' fundraising appeal for
West Cork rapid Response.
Kinsale-based Elizabeth
Christina Design won best
milliner of 2014.
deserves a real treat and the
price is very acceptable — Tina
will work with your budget. Go
on, spoil yourself rotten or
spoil someone else rotten, life
is short!
Be gentle and kind to yourself, stop worrying, paint your
toe nails, take some quiet time,
inspire yourself, give himself
more than a cuddle and �stay in
your own movie’!
Bantry
Bay Lions
Club Diary
On Monday, September 29, the
Bantry Bay Lions made a presentation of a cheque for €500
to Ms. Dympna Daly, Principal
of Our Lady of Mercy School
for the Special Needs Unit. This
amount was fundraised at the
Lions’ Garden fete, kindly hosted by Nora Lynch and family at
her home in July. Ms Daly
thanked the Lions and explained
that the school receives some
funding from Central
Government for each of the six
children attending the Unit, but
that the dedicated Unit was built
entirely from money raised in
the community. Much of the
special equipment, such as
hoists and equipment for the
quiet room was also funded
from generous donations.
The Bantry Bay Lions Club
will present the Community
Awards in conjunction with
their Charter Night Dinner and
Dance at 7.30pm on November
14 at the Westlodge Hotel,
Bantry. Tickets are €35 and can
be purchased in advance from
Marion Rouse at 086-2416508.
41
October 31 – November 27
people HOME & GARDEN
Ruby puts the heart into flowers
Many of us don’t give a thought to where our
cut flowers come from. In fact, most are grown
in countries where little pesticide regulation
exists, encouraging the use of potentially dangerous chemicals. A 2007 study by the
International Labour Rights Fund (ILRF) found
that 66 per cent of Colombian and Ecuadorian
flower workers suffer from work-related health
problems.
D
own at Bumblebee
Farm, near
Drimoleague, there is
plenty of food for the birds,
caterpillars and hedgehogs that
make it their home. It’s an idyllic haven of biodiversity and
beauty in the heart of West
Cork. Fascinated by the wildlife
that visits their garden, Mags
Riordan and her husband
Stephen Davies are real nature
lovers. “I won’t dig over a bed
if I know there are elephant
moth hawk caterpillars in it,”
says Mags laughing. Their
biggest bane this summer has
been the Tortrix moth, which
invaded the tunnels at
Bumblebee Farm.
Although pests like the
Tortrix moth are left alone and
nature is given free rein at
Bumblebee Farm, Mags and
Stephen still manage to produce
a breathtaking array of seasonal
blooms. “We’re never bored, I
love the fact that everything
changes with the season,” says
Mags.
In Spring, there are over 25
varieties of daffodil and narcissus, as well as hyacinths, tulips,
irises, primula, freesia,
anenomes and brightly coloured
ranunculus. Sweet william in all
its scented glory arrives in April
followed by the first roses, alliums, libertia, nepata, centauria
and ragged robin. alstroemeria
and calendula play a part all
year round. Mags plants a number of iris bulbs in spring to be
ready for cutting in July.
Delphiniums make their grand
entrance in May with the annual
Mallow Lavatera not far behind.
Mixed Cosmos have a splendid
display of blooms right through
from April to November. “One
my favourites has to be godetia,” says Mags. Its common
name is satinflower; it bears the
most beautiful, satiny pink or
white flowers for weeks in summer and grows to 2ft.” Of
course, in late summer and
autumn, dahlias take centre
stage. But coming in to the
Christmas season, as well as all
the clearing and planting work
to be done in the garden, Mags
is busy drying blooms like
hydrangas, which will dress
Christmas wreaths and garlands; and collecting cones and
foliage.
Although pests like
the Tortrix moth are
left alone and nature
is given free rein at
Bumblebee Farm,
Mags and Stephen
still manage to produce a breathtaking
array of seasonal
blooms.
As well as selling her own
creations, Mags really enjoys
teaching others “how to create
something beautiful from
what’s around”. She is running
a series of Autumn/Winter
Locally grown flowers have similar advantages to locally produced food. As well as being
free from dangerous chemicals, they are for
instance, fresher, so have a longer vase life and
most will have a better scent.
Mary O’Brien meets Mags Riordan of Ruby
Harte Floral Design, who is passionate about
growing flowers free from chemicals.
Flower Arranging Workshops
where you can learn how to create a wonderful seasonal hand
tied bouquet that can be adapted
as a table centrepiece.
Christmas workshops will take
place at Bumblebee Farm on
Thursday, December 4, from 79pm, costing €35 and Saturday,
December 6, from 11-4pm,
costing €65. Make and take
home your own beautiful
Christmas wreaths and arrangements.
A professionally trained
florist, Mags is renowned for
her romantic wedding bouquets,
ranging from Cottage Garden’
style to �Vintage’ to �Bohemian’
to �Contemporary Chic’ — of
course all chemical free. There
is an excellent selection of wedding flower photographs for
interested parties to peruse on
the Ruby Harte Floral Design
page on Facebook.
Mags will give a free onehour flower arranging demonstration at Organico in Bantry
on November 22 at 11.30am.
Ruby Harte Floral Design is
at Mahon Point market every
Thursday and Mag’s beautiful
flower bouquets, priced from
€5 up, are also currently available to buy in West Cork at
Organico CafГ© in Bantry.
Ruby Harte Floral Design,
Bumble Bee Farm, Leitry
Upper, Castledonovan
Drimoleague. For more information call 086 8251380 or 028
32892. [email protected].
www.rubyharte.com.
A professionally trained florist, Mags is renowned for her
romantic wedding bouquets (top and centre left).
42
October 31 – November 27
people HOME & GARDEN
Plant fruit trees in November
N
ovember is a good
month to plant trees,
shrubs, hedging and
of course fruit trees.
Throughout the month, continue raking up fallen leaves
and transfer them to a compost heap to provide valuable compost for the garden
next year. Japanese
knotweed will be going dormant now but do familiarise
yourself with it. The weed
has has been getting a lot of
attention recently with Kerry
County Council embarking
on a control/eradication programme. An increased
amount of information has
been posted up on the
Internet recently including
on Cork County Councils
website where there is an
informative pdf available to
download. Other websites
covering the topic include –
www.invasivespeciesireland.c
om and www.rhs.org.uk/
advice/japaneseknotweed.
Don’t dispose of knotweed
in landfill sites or skips and
don’t cut it back, as the
smallest piece will grow and
spread.
Fruit Trees: Growing
your own fruit is well worthwhile; it can be both decorative, as well as highly useful. Growing your own fruit
means you are not restricted
to only what is available in
the shops. It also means you
control the input to your
fruit crop. If you garden is
small, you can utilise walls,
fences, arches and pergolas
and incorporate fruit as an
ornamental feature.
When choosing a site for
fruit trees and bushes, avoid
exposed positions and if
your site is exposed, do
strongly consider planting a
Gardening
John Hosford
natural or artificial windbreak. Ideally if you are
growing tree fruit such as
apples, pears, plums or cherries, do make provision for a
windbreak of 4-5m high
(13ft-16ft-6”). It is important to make provision
against strong or cold winds,
which can damage and distort growth, inhibit the
movement of pollinating
insects and blow fruit to the
ground (frequently prematurely). The best kind of
shelter surrounds the plot on
all four sides creating a
favourable microclimate;
just make sure it does not
cast too much shade or create a frost pocket and
Where a new shelter is to
be provided it should be
sited on the side towards the
prevailing wind-and also to
the north and east in cold
areas and exposed sites to
give protection from cold
winds particularly at flowering time. The height of the
fence is relative to the shelter it gives.
A windbreak provides
effective shelter roughly
equivalent to twenty times
its height on the leeward
side; although the further the
plants are away, the less they
benefit from it. Bear in mind
Coxs Orange Pippin
if choosing a hedge that the
spread of the roots is roughly equivalent to the height of
the hedge/windbreak, therefore the taller the windbreak
the further the fruit trees or
bushes should be kept back.
Frost in late spring is
probably the greatest hazard
to successful fruit growing.
Fruit plants are relatively
hardy while dormant, but
once they start to grow in
spring, they are extremely
vulnerable to frost damage.
The more forward the
plants are in growth the
greater the danger. Frost
damage occurs in many
forms such as scorching and
sometimes complete destruction of the young growth.
Blossom and fruitlet drop
becomes apparent a day or
two after the frost.
Preventing Frost
Damage: The degree and
success of frost protection
depends to a large extent on
the ingenuity, focus and preparedness of the grower.
Cover the plants during the
duration of the frost but
remove the covers when the
frost is over. Fan/espalier
trained fruit may easily be
covered with Hessian or
sacking at critical flowering
time; secure the protection
before nightfall and removing it during the day once
frost has disappeared. Avoid
frost pockets if at all possible when choosing a site for
fruit trees.
Planning a Fruit
Garden: Most fruit plants
represent a long-term investment; once planted they
should be there for a very
long time. It is important
therefore that they are properly sited and correctly
spaced from the start. Avoid
any site, which has previously grown fruit trees. Choose
a sunny, well-drained position avoiding frost pockets
and check lime and fertiliser
levels. Plant the smallest
fruit plants at the south end
of the plot and the tallest at
the north so that each
receives a fair share of light
and sun. This means planting gooseberries on the
south side, currants and cane
fruit such as raspberries in
the middle and the tallest
tree fruit on the north —
these include apples, pears,
plums and cherries.
Strawberries are a short-term
crop and require soil rotation
— normally renewed every
three years.
Apples are a most worthwhile crop to grow but do
check out that you have
varieties that are compatible
pollinators prior to planting.
An average household
should plant six or eight
trees to provide a reasonable
level of self-sufficiency.
Choose varieties with a long
storage life. Generally most
people will include two or
three cookers in a collection
—usually one early cooker
and two or more late varieties with a long storage life.
RECOMMENDED APPLE
VARIETIES:
Bramley’s Seedling (the most
popular cooking variety):
Introduced between 18091813. Very vigorous, spreading variety. Harvest late
October /early November.
Season of use-November to
February. PollinatorsDiscovery, Grenadier, James
Grieve, Cox’s Orange
Pippin.
Coxs Orange Pippin: attractive, richly flavoured dessert
apple. Raised in about 1825.
Pollinators - Discovery,
James Grieve, Grenadier.
Season of use - November to
January. Choose a good,
well- drained soil.
Discovery: Raised in about
1949. Attractive well-rounded, second early dessert
apple. Pick mid August.
Season - mid August to mid
September. Pollinators Cox’s Orange Pippin, James
Grieve.
Grenadier: Early cooker.
Introduced in 1875. Pickmid August. Season –
August and September.
Pollinators – Cox’s Orange
Pippin, Discovery, James
Grieve.
James Grieve: Raised by
James Grieve in Edinburgh,
Scotland. First recorded in
1893. Well-known, wellflavoured, second early
dessert apple. Good pollinator for Cox’s Orange Pippin.
Pick - early September.
Season - early September to
mid October. Spreading
round-headed tree.
Pollinators - Discovery,
Coxs Orange Pippin,
Grenadier.
FSAI advises caution on
consuming wild mushrooms
T
he Food Safety
Authority of Ireland
(FSAI) strongly advises
people not to eat any part of a
mushroom found in the wild
without first seeking the
advice of an expert mushroom
forager. It warns of the serious
risks posed by poisonous
mushrooms and, in particular
the need for parents and
guardians to ensure children
do not consume wild mushrooms that may be growing in
gardens or fields.
The warning coincides
with the start of the foraging
season and an increase in
enquiries to the National
Poisons Information Centre of
Ireland in relation to wild
mushroom consumption. In
2013, 19 cases of poisoning
related to wild mushrooms
were notified to the Centre,
involving seven adults and
twelve children. To date this
year, 18 cases have been notified, involving seven adults
and eleven children. All of the
children had accidently eaten
wild mushrooms.
43
October 31 – November 27
people HOME & GARDEN
Stop food waste and compost
by Justine Sweeney
L
ast month Clonakilty
Grow It Yourself (GIY)
group had the pleasure of
hosting a meeting with Donal
O'Leary from www.stopfoodwaste.ie. Donal came to educate
us about composting and began
by explaining the disadvantages
of dumping food waste into
landfill sites; the smells; the
vermin and the production of
methane gas. Methane is a poisonous, explosive gas, which is
extremely detrimental to the
atmosphere. It is created when
food waste is dumped in a heap,
which oxygen cannot penetrate,
and therefore the waste cannot
begin to decompose.
Donal pointed out that a
scandalous amount of food
waste is from �wonky’ vegetables, which never make it to
supermarket shelves due to consumer demand for perfection.
Also to blame is over-purchasing during a weekly shop,
encouraged by offers such as
�buy one get one free’.
Shockingly, we throw away
about a third of our food purchases – if we were just more
careful in what we buy, we
could save a lot of money and
help save the environment.
Next Donal went on to
explain how a forest floor
ecosystem works; it requires no
bags of fertiliser because the
forest feeds itself. Bacteria and
fungi help to decompose fallen
leaves, wood and any dead animal or insect life that finds
itself on the forest floor, which
becomes food for all the forest’s
plant life. In our gardens we can
get �good’ bacteria and fungi to
work on our behalf by giving
these living organisms three
things – food, air and water.
In composting, the food element required comes from
green and brown waste. The
greens are wet and soft;
uncooked vegetable scraps;
grass cuttings; garden plants
etc. The browns come from
trees; sawdust, wood chips,
paper, cardboard etc.
A moisture/air balance must
be kept once these materials are
mixed. If there is too much
moisture and not enough air the
compost bin will get smelly and
anaerobic. This is because the
greens are so high in proportion
to the browns that they exclude
the air. More brown material
will need to be added to incorporate more air, along with
some forking and turning. If the
heap is slow to decompose and
too dry then you will need to
add more green material. Cover
the compost with carpet, tarpaulin or plastic to warm the heap
and stop rainwater washing
away nutrients. Working silently away in the heap should be
woodlice, worms, centipedes
and beetles; all burrowing
through the heap allowing air to
penetrate, thus helping the heap
to decompose.
Several weeks to several
months later you will have dark
crumbly material that smells
like soil. Due to its microbial
action this material will benefit
the plants it is spread around
and improve soil texture.
How amazing that we have
taken the problems of house-
Storing pumpkins and squash
By Michael Kelly, GIY Ireland
Y
ou can pick and eat pumpkin and squashes
straight away fresh from the plant, but to
store them for the winter, the fruit needs to
develop a tough outer skin.
It can be hard to know when they are ready to
pick and it’s an important decision. Pick it too early
and the fruit may lack flavour. Leave it too long and
the first frost will turn them to mush. A good rule of
thumb is to wait until they have developed a deep
rich colour, the skins are hard and the leaves have
died back. Leave about 10cm of stalk on the fruit,
and then leave it for a further two weeks to �cure’
somewhere dry and sunny – I leave mine on the shelf
in the potting shed.
Once cured, store your squashes and pumpkins in
a dry place, with a temperature around 15 degrees. I
find the top of our dresser in the kitchen is ideal.
Don’t stack them on top of each other, as they can rot
where their skins meet – you want lots of air circulating around them. Kept like this they should keep for
four to six months (keep an eye on them). The longer
you can keep them the better because they are an
incredible treat in the depths of winter – slicing in to
a vibrant orange pumpkin is a great antidote to the
grey, cold winter garden.
Two prime West Cork investments sold
above the reserve at auction
A
n exciting combination
of prime residential and
commercial investments
across the county of Cork went
under the hammer for a total of
€2,400,000 at the Allsop Space
Auction recently.
Urban and city commercial
and residential developments
attracted huge interest and
recorded the biggest sales of the
day.
In West Cork, a prime residential investment, 4, 6, 7, 9 An
Clachan, Kilcrohane Village,
Sheep's Head, Kilcrohane sold
for €240, 000, well above the
reserve of €200,000.
Units 1-4 at Western Road,
Clonakilty had a price reserve
range set at €150,000 –
€190,000 and sold for
€265,000. The property is
arranged over ground floor only
to provide a former garage forecourt and four office units. It
comprises a former garage
building, which has been converted and sub-divided to provide four self-contained commercial units. The building
extends to a net floor area of
approximately 403.4 sq. m
(4,343 sq. ft). The property is on
a site of approx. 0.14 hectares
(0.35 acres) with road frontage
of approx. 35m to the Western
road. .
Robert Hoban, Director of
Auctions at Allsop Space commented after the auction: “We
are very pleased with the results
of today’s auction. Big premiums were achieved on all of the
€1m plus properties leading to
a belief that the expiry of the
Capital Gains Tax at the end of
December this year had a significant impact on sale prices.
Allsop Space expect our
December auction to be potentially bigger than this, which
will provide an outlet to both
buyers and sellers to complete
transactions before the expiry of
the CGT.”
“It is encouraging to see
such a healthy appetite in both
residential and commercial sectors. The divide between urban
and rural properties was evident
again with the bigger premiums
being achieved in the cities.
Rural properties were running at
approx. 25 per cent over reserve
prices compared to 40 per cent
for city properties.”
hold waste and transformed it
into something so valuable.
To find out which composting system will work best for
you and further details on what
can be composted, a very
informative booklet can be
downloaded from www.stopfoodwaste.ie.
The next GIY meeting will
take place in O'Donovan’s
Hotel in Clonakilty at 8pm on
Monday, November 10. Our
guest speaker will be Barry
Shanahan from Shanahan’s
Garden Centre and Nurseries in
Clonakilty. Barry will talk on
the subject of “Growing fruit
trees in West Cork”. All welcome to attend.
44
October 31 – November 27
people HOME & GARDEN
WEST CORK
PROPERTY RENTALS
Tree inspired
023 8831992 Mobile 086 2454823
3 & 4 Bedroomed
Property Urgently Required
RENTAL PROPERTY
OF THE MONTH
Churchill,
Enniskeane
There are many points to consider when planting trees,
their overall shape, position, contrast, juxtaposition etc
By Grant Jenkins, The Tree
Company.
O
n the radio the other
day, I heard how
some US companies
are giving up to ten thousand
dollars to their employees to
select the desk and chair of
their own choice for their
office. This creates a positive
comfortable work environment encouraging feelings of
value, personal aesthetic and
loyalty, which in turn results
in positive productivity.
How we construct the
spaces where we spend most
of our time is incredibly
important to our holistic
sense of wellbeing. This careful consideration should be
given to all our living spaces
including our gardens, roadsides, streets, towns, parks
etc. We all benefit, for example, from well-managed street
trees, which break up the hard
concrete surfaces in a city or
town, an office window might
be the only place some of us
experience the changing
colours of the seasons and
walking beneath a green
canopy is a wonderful sensory experience of sight, sound
and smell we mostly take for
granted.
Last winter the high winds
and storms changed some of
our landscapes and brought
down many trees. This now
gives us a great opportunity
to recreate and �consider’
some of these spaces, to
improve and enjoy new environments. Most of the trees
which blew down here in
West Cork were dense
crowned coniferous (evergreens), some planted too
close together, some on shallow soil, some with disease,
some simply due to poor or
no maintenance, deciduous
trees suffered for these reasons too but on the whole it
was the cypresses, spruces
and pines, which were hardest
hit. From now until March is
the planting season and time
to replace these losses with
perhaps more prudent species
of trees and shrubs, keeping
in mind how different trees
and shrubs will fulfill our
prescribed hopes for outcomes. There are many points
to consider, their overall
shape, position, contrast, juxtaposition, sound, seasonal
colour, height, flower, fruit,
smell, context, use, maintenance, hardiness etc. We are
all very visually aware and
information rich these days
and with some of our modernity there are some crass values and shallow ideals whereby we are encouraged to
indulge in quick fixes and
short term returns, but living
alongside nature, with trees,
is one of the core fundamental sensory pleasures that can
make us, as humans, happy;
planting trees is great example that demonstrates to our
children how to invest and
value the quality of lives of
future generations.
As architects and designers strive to create �happy
buildings’, we can all have a
hand in developing and
experimenting in our gardens
and townscapes to create
beautiful, interesting, inspirational, diverse outdoor living
spaces and vistas to enhance
our own very personal sense
of positivity. Happy planting
everyone!
If you need any further
information regarding this
article or indeed any other
tree matters please get in
touch with us at The Tree
Company, Ballydehob, Co
Cork or email us at
[email protected] or
call our office on 028 37630.
4 Bed Detached
Property, Oil Fire
Central Heating plus
Solid Fuel Open
Fireplace. Fully
Furnished with all
modern conveniences. Available
Mid September for
Long Term Rental.
Offer in the region of
€550 p.c.m. Viewing
Strictly by
Appointment. Final
Viewings Now
New Properties
Urgently
Required in
Clonakilty
Town Centre Or
Surrounding
Areas
• 3 & 4 Bedroomed
Homes Urgently
Required for Family
- Excellent
References Supplied
3 or 4 Bedroomed
Property Urgently for
Family in Ardfield or
Rathbarry Area. References supplied,
please contact immediately to arrange
appointment to view
if you have a property that might suit.
Inchydoney
Island,
Clonakilty
2 Bed Apartment
Overlooking the Blue
Flag Beaches of
Inchydoney, Gold
Shield Electric
Central Heating.
Fully Furnished with
all modern conveniences. Sea Views.
Available Mid
September for Winter
Rental Price Subject
to Offer.
Professional Letting
of Long & Short Term Properties
Individual & Group Schemes
Reservations, Accounting,
Sales & Marketing
IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY TO RENT
WHY NOT CONTACT US
Joseph Hodnett t/a West Cork Property Rentals
Tel:/Fax: 023 8831992 Mobile: 086 2454823
Email: [email protected]
www.westcork
propertyrentals.com
45
October 31 – November 27
people HOME & GARDEN
Try tropical green for a busy playroom Walk your
Gloss Milk White will give
your skirting boards and
doors a beautifully smooth
finish and complement your
colour choice on the walls
perfectly.
As you have young children, good storage is crucial
to make sure the room stays
a space you can all actually
use. Storage boxes and units
come in all shapes, sizes and
colours these days so I
would recommend investing
in some that suit your needs.
This way everything can
have its place and you can
keep the room clutter-free.
Personalised coat hooks
for each of your little ones
are great features to add to
the porch and will encourage
them to take part in tiding
up.
I hope this helps and
happy decorating!
Move or Make Over
By Neville Knott
In association with Crown Paints
Hi Neville, we have a playroom that leads out into a
tiled back porch area
where we keep coats, shoes,
umbrellas and so on. With
three young children, there
is always someone coming
and going so this is a hightraffic spot. The room is
for the kids but I still want
it to be somewhere nice to
come into but I’m having
trouble getting it right. Any
advice on colour or design
would be great. Thanks!
It sounds like you’ve a lot to
consider and the space needs
to fulfil a few different roles
making it difficult to settle
on a single theme. A space
such as this needs to be inviting and relaxing yet youthful
and playful for your children.
Bringing a sense of colour
and exuberance to the space
will allow you to do this.
Some of my favourite
colours include Crown
Easyclean Olive Tropics,
Bubble Bath and Dream
Boat. These colours will
bring instant life to the space
and make it somewhere both
you and your kids can enjoy.
These wonderful Easyclean
shades come with
Stainguard, which means
they are scrubbable and per-
fect for busy family rooms.
Make sure not to forget
about the ceiling, skirting
boards and doors. Giving
these a new coat of paint will
make such a difference to the
room. Crown Solo Satin
Stone White or Quick Dry
way to fit
in Bantry
A five-week programme for
people looking to get fit and
healthy through walking is
commencing in the Boys’ Club,
Bantry on November 1. The
programme will run for five
Saturday mornings between
10am and 11am.
The fleetFEET Programme
will show you how to improve
your physical fitness (aerobic
fitness, flexibility and muscle
strength) through walking. It
will teach you the techniques of
stridewalking, powerwalking
and also introduce you to the
use of step counters, heart rate
monitors and fitness walking.
This programme is ideal for
beginners looking to get active
in a fun and supportive way. If
you are interested in attending
please contact The Cork Sports
Partnership on 086 7947922 or
email [email protected].
46
October 31 – November 27
people HOME & GARDEN
TRADES & SERVICES — CLASSIFIEDS
Call 023 8835696 / 8835698
Next paper published on Nov 28
Book your Advertising Now
Special Discounts available for a series of adverts
A visit to Shanahan’s Nurseries,
Clonakilty is invited
Tel. / Fax: 023-8833398
CHIMNEY
CLEANING
We have a superb selection of trees and shrubs,
all in large containers
for planting throughout the Year.
Lovely stock of Roses, Alpines
Herbaceous and Bedding Plants.
Brush & Hoover
PHONE: Michael
023-8840003
087-6553195
Fully Insured
Get
your
business
noticed!
47
October 31 – November 27
people SPORT & FITNESS
Finance needed to manufacture
land sailing car in West Cork
L
iving by the sea in
Castlefreke, Clonakilty,
Kieran Coffey, a
design engineer and water
sports fanatic has been
inspired by his surroundings
and his life long passion for
wind and water sports to create a land based wind-thrill
experience in KazeCar.
Kieran has been windsurfing, surfing, and sailing for
many years and his design
combines his passion for wind
sports with the excitement of
land sailing at high speed.
KazeCar is a land sailing
car using the power of the
wind through a windsail
attached to a uniquely
designed aluminium body.
This design combines the
excitement of motor sports
with the thrill of windsurfing.
Over time, Kieran has been
testing and perfecting his
design and is delighted to be
at the stage where he is ready
to manufacture this product
and bring it to an international
market.
He has enjoyed testing
KazeCar on the many beautiful beaches in West Cork —
the perfect beach with the
right wind conditions combine
to give an amazing wind
sports experience. Whether
you are in the driver’s seat or
observing from a distance,
KazeCar is one to watch.
Kieran is launching a
worldwide fundraising campaign through the international
IndieGoGo Crowdfunding platform on November 3, 2014, to
finance the manufacture of
KazeCar here in West Cork.
Crowdfunding is a very
popular platform for the very
effective raising of the necessary funds for bringing new
and exciting business and
design ideas to fruition. In
these times of recession, it is
amazing how successful
crowdfunding is in helping to
get a business idea off the
ground. It has been excellent
support for many Irish businesses, as well as artists and
musicians and entrepreneurs
all across Ireland.
There are some fantastic
rewards on offer for support of
KazeCar in this crowdfunding
campaign. Find out more on
November 3 at
www.indiegogo.com. For
more details on the campaign,
and updates on progress check
out Kazecar on FaceBook.
Watch out for a glimpse of
KazeCar on a West Cork
beach near you soon!
Pic: Dermot O'Mahony
Great day out for Kilmeen at U10 Football Blitz Finale
U10 Football
The U10 footballers travelled
to Skibbereen on Saturday
morning, October 25 to take
part in the final football blitz
of the season. These blitzes
are a wonderful opportunity
for children to develop their
football skills in a fun, noncompetitive environment. The
skills and confidence of all
these young players have
developed substantially over
the past few months. On
Saturday, the U10’s played
Tadhg McCarthaigh, Clann na
Gael and Dohenys. They were
delighted to receive medals
from Thomas Clancy at the
end of the blitz.
Team: Micheal Keohane,
George Cannon, Oisin
O’Sullivan, Conor O’Sullivan,
Neil O’Sullivan, Sinead
O’Sullivan, Mary Murphy,
Caoimhe Murphy, Orlaith
Kirby, Kate O’Donovan and
Joe Bailey.
part in the �Mini Sevens’
Sciath na Scol semi-finals in
Newcestown on Tuesday,
October 21. The local team
performed exceptionally well
and lost out in the final to
Newcestown by a very narrow
margin. They can look forward with confidence to the
remaining school competitions
and all of the team should be
very proud of their efforts.
School Skills Programme
As part of the �U Can’ skills
programme, three pupils from
Kilmeen NS travelled to
Skibbereeen on Wednesday,
October 22 to take part in this
inter-school competition. All
players displayed a diverse
range of skills. The Kilmeen
boys were unlucky to lose out
by just one point and come
second. Congratulations to
Jack Murphy, Cian Murphy
and Paul Lyons on this great
achievement.
Mini Sevens Sciath na Scol
Kilmeen National School took
Kilmeen NS Sciath na Scol team 2014 with recent Minor County Champs
Joe and Annette Cashman
at the Santa Ponsa Swim in
Mayorca.
A
Kilmeen NS
team taking
part in School
Skills Comp
221014 in
Skibbereen
Bike it around Skibbereen and Ballydehob
S
kibbereen and
Ballydehob Cycling
Club is inviting people
to join them as a guest for up
to two cycles or to enjoy all
cycles by becoming a club
member. The club meets at
Skibbereen Heritage Centre
every Sunday morning, with
routes to suit all.
Those used to a slightly
faster pace, over 20km or
more, will enjoy weekly 9am
cycles whilst the 11am cycles
are of varied pace and distance. Routes are decided on
the day.
West Cork
swimmer
wins bronze
in Mayorca
Planned Sunday 11am
cycles for the rest of 2014 are:
Moderate Pace Cycles (12km
to 25km) November 9 and 23,
December 7; Gentle Pace
Cycles (10km to 20km) –
November 2 and 30.
Family Cycles (6km to
16km) –November 16,
December 14.
Christmas Cycle for all –
December 21 (also December
28, if met with demand).
The club is affiliated to
Cycling Ireland and is supported by the Corks Sports
Partnership.
Membership is €20 for the
remainder of 2014 and just
€40 in January for the full
year of 2015.
To join the club or for
more information, email
[email protected] or phone
087 9242222 / 087 7589716.
t the 30th Annual
Santa Ponsa Swim in
Mayorca last
September, Timoleague native
and Clonakilty resident Joe
Cashman took home a Bronze
medal, finishing third in the
Senior Grade.
Joe's wife Annette, son
Colin and daughter Joanne
were among the four hundred
other swimmers who took part
in the 2km swim, which is
one of the highlights of an
age-old fiesta in the region.
A week later, Joe won
another Bronze medal in his
Age Group at the 20th Annual
Sandycove Island Challenge,
which was organised by the
Cork Masters Swimming Club
and Cork Lions Club.
48
October 31 – November 27
people SPORT & FITNESS
Clon AFC News
T
he AFC First team
advanced to the second
round of the Munster
Junior Cup facing strong opposition MSL side Ringmahon
Rangers. A first half played in
blustery conditions found the
AFC in difficulty to maintain
possession allowing the visitors
to be the dominant force for the
majority of the half. Superb
defending from the AFC back
four, distinctly from solid centre
pairing Dave McCarthy and
Shane Buttimer, meant
Ringmahon were unable to gain
any decided penetration, in fact
it was AFC who had the more
creative chances, most notably
when Oliver McCreesh latched
onto a delightful ball played by
Jacub Kiminiak between a disciplined Ringmahon defensive
line, the Ringmahon keeper
advanced quickly to narrow the
angle and made a superb save
from point blank range to complete the defensive resistance.
With renewed vigour, AFC
emerged for the second half
with quicker and more precise
passing and began to dominate
in all areas of the pitch, the visitors began to wilt under the
pressure of breathtaking combination play from both Jacub
Kiminiak and Paudi Horan at
the centre of attacking play
motivating the AFCs muchimproved ambition. Once once
again they were involved again
in putting Ollie McCreesh oneon-one with the keeper, but this
battle of wits favoured
Ringmahon again with another
brilliant save from close range.
With AFC completely on top, it
seemed a comfortable win was
the only outcome, but as usual
AF” did not make things easy,
as they conceded late against the
run of play; keeper Mike
Sullivan, who was an assured
presence throughout in the AFC
goal, made a superb initial save
but was unable to keep out the
rebound, which fell kindly to an
oncoming Ringmahon player.
The AFC took control in the
final stages gaining the reward
of a final minute equaliser.
Outstanding play, again involv-
ing Jacub Kiminiak laying the
ball off to Paudi Horan to finish
with a chic left foot strike perfectly placed in the corner of the
goal, taking the game to extra
time. The AFCs authority oozed
onward and took the lead when,
the omnipresent Jacub Kimiank
assisted Ian O’Driscoll to a
well-timed run and he made no
mistake with a first time shot
past the advancing keeper. The
AFC was soon ahead two goals;
persistence from substitute
Gearoid Calnan and the hesitancy of the Ringmahon defence
allowed him advantage to finish
well, despite a bouncing ball
and narrow angle, into the bottom left hand corner giving the
AFC a well-deserved victory at
3-1. On a day when everyone in
the team won their own individual battle, it was Jacub Kiminiak
who was undoubtedly best AFC
player as his composure and
vision created numerous
chances enabling the AFC to
capitalise.
AFC Development Squad
found themselves heading away
to Durrus; early on in the game
the D.S. pressured the ball and
kept good possession, enabling
an early lead through hard
working Rhuben O’Hea, the
D.S., continued to link adding a
second from the dexterous,
Colm Footman. Unfortunately
Durrus pulled one back just on
the break.
In a frantic and often heated
second half both teams were
gunning for the win and it was
Durrus, who made the most of
their opportunities and equalised
on the hour. It was end to end
for the remainder as both teams
had opportunities, Durrus finally
broke the deadlock in added
time, AFC D.S showed grit and
determination throughout, and
can count themselves unfortu-
With renewed
vigour, AFC
emerged for the
second half with
quicker and more
precise passing
and began to
dominate in all
areas of the pitch
nate not to have at least gained a
point in a five-goal thriller.
Clonakilty AFC U-18s
earned their first point in the
league this season against
Riverside Athletic. It should of
been so much better as they
took the lead three times, however, were almost pegged back
immediately on each occasion.
Clonakilty took the lead just
before halftime with Ryan
Doonan slotting into the bottom
left hand corner from 15 yards
after great work down the left
from Ferdia McCarthy.
Within five minutes of the
restart, Riverside were level
when some sloppy defending
gifted the Riverside a goal.
Clonakailty recovered well after
this setback and played some of
their best football of the season.
Martin Connolly and Ryan
Doonan were instrumental in all
of Clonakilty's good play and it
was Martin who put Clonakilty
2-1 up midway the half, with a
flowing move down the right he
burst past a couple of defenders
into the penalty area and he
unleashed a superb right foot
rocket beating the keeper at the
near post.
Again Riverside levelled,
converting a penalty, after the
Clonakilty keeper Carlan Ellis,
deserted by his defence, brought
down the forward just inside the
penalty area. Playing with the
more positive play and passing,
Clonakilty looked most likely to
finish with a flourish of goals
for the remainder of the match
and missed numerous presented
chances. In the final minute,
Ryan Doonan looked to have
won the game for Clonakilty
when he put them 3-2 up from
the penalty spot after Liam
O’Connor was denied a scoring
chance upended by the
Riverside defence. However,
there was to be a sting in the
tail, as a long hopeful ball
caught the Clonakilty defence
flat-footed enabling the
Riverside forward through one
on one and he calmly slotted
past Carlan Ellis to rescue a
point for the home side. Martin
Connolly was best on the day
for Clonakilty and he capped an
inspirational performance with a
stunning goal.
Clonakilty AFC U-14s went
through to the next round of the
SFAI U-14 Cup with an emphatic victory over
CorkSchoolBoysLeague side
Tramore Athletic. Clonakilty led
4-0 at halftime with goals from
Dean Harte 2, Brian White and
Darragh Holland. Clonakilty
continued their scoring exploits
in the second half with Dean
Harte scoring two more, to take
his tally to four, two from Craig
McDermott and one from
Cillian Keane. Best for
Clonakilty was Cathal Sheehy
who was involved in all
Clonakilty's impressive play.
Next best was Joe Edmead who
was involved in the creation and
assisting of six of Clon's goals.
Tramore Athletic U-14s 1
Clonakilty AFC U-14s 9.
Online surf shop makes waves
N
ow open in Clogheen
Business Park in
Clonakilty, bigsurfshop.com is a specialist watersports equipment shop, run by
multiple Irish windsurfing
champion Pearse Geaney.
A resident of the Bandon /
Clonakilty area since 2002,
Pearse started bigsurf online in
2009. He tells how it all started
after returning from Maui,
Hawaii, where he enjoyed sharing the infamous Ho’okipa
beach park break with some of
the world’s best-known windsurfers and surfers.
“Maui for me was the �holy
grail’ of windsurf trips…it still
is for many windsurfers the
world over, no matter how
many times you go.” Ever since
learning to windsurf on a family
camping holiday in Ballylicky
back in 1991, Maui was always
the �go to’ destination for watersports enthusiasts explains
Pearse
Having started racing with
the Irish Windsurf Team when
he was 15, and competing internationally as a semi pro rider in
later years, Pearse needed high
performance components to be
in with any chance of winning.
“Anybody can windsurf at 2530 knots in a straight line, but
to have your board speed just
two knots faster than the rider
alongside you, takes a lot of
time spent tuning your equipment. At that level of competi-
tion, it’s like motor racing — if
you don’t have the equipment
or your setup is wrong, you’re
not going to lead to the first
gybe mark.”
A lot of riders at the time
were buying from European
retailers as they had the experience to know what to stock and
the customer base to support
them. “Irish surf shops could
only ever dip their toes in this
of equipment, says Pearse
“which is totally understandable
— stocking 30 different sizes of
racing fins, at €250 each, for
five customers in the whole of
Ireland, is high risk! I took on
those risks — I made mistakes,
but I learnt from it.”
According to Pearse this is
where bigsurf excels. “We have
the products, the experience and
the know-how to get riders to
whatever level they want to get
to in their watersports, be they a
windsurfer, surfer, kiteboarder,
stand-up paddler, bodyboarder
or kayaker. We don’t just sell
products, we test, develop and
then feed back to the design loft
or shaping rooms to make the
products better.
“I’m super lucky to be able
to call Clonakilty home, but to
be able to run bigsurfshop.com
in the surfing hub of West Cork
is nothing but a dream come
through. Drop in and say hello
sometime — or else we’ll see
you on the water soon!”
Fantastic experience at European level for Bandon athletes
T
wenty-five junior athletes from Bandon AC
travelled to Leiria in
Portugal to compete in the
European Junior Club Track
and Field Competition in
September. The women’s team
consisted of Laura McSweeney
(captain), Helena Murphy,
Fiona Duggan, Aisling Everard,
Emma Young, Sinead
Caulfield, Erin Kingston, Ella
Nicholson, Aisling Kelly and
Fiona Everard.
The men’s team consisted of
Colin Kingston (captain),
Thomas McCarthy, Jake Inglis,
Promise Okafor, Davide
Mazzali, Scott Gibson, James
French, Daniel Hathaway,
Daniel O'Sullivan, Christopher
Anaba, Franck Djiosta, Gavin
Hicks, Matthew Draper, Gerard
Crowley and Fiachra
Harrington.
All athletes competed very
well on the day and had some
great results, including two
firsts, four thirds, and a number
of personal bests.
At the end of the day when
all the points were added up,
the men’s team finished in seventh place and the women’s
team finished in eighth place,
with both teams within touching distance of the teams ahead
of them.
Well done to all the athletes
involved; some of them under-
took events, which they would
not normally be competing in
just to help the team. Well done
also to the coaches and officials
who got them there and back
safely. A massive thank you to
all who helped with the
fundraising for this trip and to
the sponsors, in particular
Bandon Credit Union and also
to Siemens who very kindly
sponsored the gear, which was
worn with pride by the athletes.
This was a fantastic experience for the athletes and they
are determined to work hard to
ensure qualification to this
event again in the future.
Full results and more photos
on www.bandonac.org.

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