SeniorTimes Magazine March/April by SeniorTimes Ireland

Publishing Directors: Brian McCabe, Des Duggan

News Now

Family Carers Ireland announces ‘transformative’ collaboration with Eli Lilly to support family carers nationwide

Family Carers Ireland, the national charity supporting Ireland’s 500,000+ family carers, is collaborating with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly), a global leader in healthcare innovation, to deliver critical supports to family carers across the country. This transformative multi-year initiative includes a financial contribution of €750,000.

Family carers provide vital support in the home to loved ones living with additional needs, chronic illnesses, disabilities, or age-related conditions, often under significant financial, emotional, and physical strain. The funding will enable expanded respite services, activities for carers, and the development of a volunteer program, alongside enhancements to the charity’s IT infrastructure and work to increase awareness of the vital contribution family carers make to Irish society.

As part of the collaboration, Lilly employees across the company’s three Irish sites - manufacturing plants in Kinsale and Limerick and a Global Business Solutions Centre in Little Island, and its commercial team based around the country, will contribute their time and expertise through volunteering, directly supporting FCI’s initiatives and family carers in their local communities.

Family carers across Ireland provide an estimated 19 million hours of unpaid care every week, saving the State approximately €20 billion annually. Despite their indispensable role, many carers continue to grapple with insufficient supports, financial strain, and emotional exhaustion. Family Carers Ireland works to ensure these contributions do not go unnoticed, supporting family carers and young carers through the provision of free emergency care planning, counselling, wellbeing support, crisis management, respite, and peer support groups.

In its 2024 report, The State of Caring, Family Carers Ireland revealed that 72% of carers have never received respite.

Vice President & General Manager Lilly Kinsale; Mike Smith, Vice President & General Manager Lilly GBS.

Additionally, nearly 70% of carers find it difficult to make ends meet, and over a third report that their accommodation does not meet the needs of the person they care for.

Tara Tibbs, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Lilly’s Kinsale manufacturing site, emphasised the significance of this initiative:

‘We are driven by a commitment to make life better—not just through the medicines we create, but by making a genuine difference in the communities we serve.

‘Lilly Ireland is really proud to collaborate with Family Carers Ireland on this initiative, giving us the opportunity to directly support the people who dedicate themselves to caring for their loved ones. We are excited to get stuck in and hopefully enrich the fantastic work Family Carers Ireland already does.’

Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy at Family Carers Ireland, shared her appreciation for the support: "Family carers play an essential role in our society, often providing care at great personal sacrifice. Lilly’s generous support will allow us to improve our services, raise awareness of the challenges carers face’ and offer them opportunities for respite and community engagement."

133 Enforcememt Orders served on Irish food businesses in 2024

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reported that 133 Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses for breaches of food safety legislation in 2024, an increase of 45 per cent on the 92 that were served in 2023. The FSAI outlined the importance of robust food safety management systems and stressed that the legal responsibility lies with food businesses to ensure that they appropriately train staff to produce, serve and sell food that

is safe to eat, and ensure that their premises are clean and adequately pest proofed.

Between 1 January and 31 December 2024, 115 Closure Orders, 16 Prohibition Orders and 2 Improvement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive, sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and inspectors in the Department

of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on food businesses throughout the country. A number of recurring food safety issues identified in food businesses resulted in Enforcement Orders being issued, including a lack of pest control procedures; inadequate regular and thorough cleaning; failure to maintain correct temperatures of foodstuffs; unsuitable food storage facilities; and inadequate staff training in relation to food safety and hygiene.

From left: Dave Riordan, Vice President & General Manager Lilly Limerick; Catherine Cox, Head of Communications & Policy, Family Carers Ireland; Eileen Aherne, National Fundraising Manager, Family Carers Ireland; Tara Tibbs, Senior

Tearful Dad

This heart-thumping moment of pride, brought to you by a timely intervention from our 24/7 Urgent Cardiac Care service.

How to help prevent a stroke or heart attack

Irish Heart Foundation

Medical Director

and

consultant cardiologist,

Dr Angie Brown, reveals the top ten things we should all be doing to protect and nurture our hearts.

Almost every hour, someone in Ireland suffers from a stroke and hundreds more are diagnosed with heart disease.

Irish Heart Foundation Medical Director and consultant cardiologist, Dr Angie Brown, reveals the top ten things we should all be doing to protect and nurture our

Manage your blood pressure

Blood pressure is a measure of the force your heart uses to pump blood around the body.

High blood pressure carries risks for heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, dementia and some forms of blindness.

People over 30 should check their blood pressure every five years or more frequently, depending on the advice of their healthcare practitioner. Get checked before damage is done.

Move more

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do to improve your overall health.

Physical activity can help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol levels and weight, which can also reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Movement can also help to lift mood, reduce stress and improve self-esteem.

Adults should be active at a moderate intensity for at least 2 hours and 30 minutes to 5 hours throughout the week.

Control your cholesterol

Our bodies need a certain amount of cholesterol for normal cell function - a type of fat in our blood produced by the liver.

One of the best ways to prevent cardiovascular disease is to keep your cholesterol at a healthy level.

It is important to get your cholesterol checked especially if a family member has high cholesterol, heart disease or has had a stroke, ask your doctor about this.

Eat for your heart health

A healthy diet can help you be your best weight, reduce high blood pressure and help lower cholesterol levels.

Everyone should aim for a well-balanced, healthy diet, you can refer to the food pyramid to plan your daily food choices.

Quit smoking

One in every two smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease – it is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. For expert help, freephone the National Smokers’ Quitline on 1800 201 203 or visit www.quit.ie

Manage stress

Stress can be positive when it motivates us to get important things done but it can also take its toll when we constantly feel under pressure by too many demands.

The Irish Heart Foundation website offers a number of approaches to help reduce stress, from talking to someone and being active to practising an abdominal breathing technique.

Aim for your best weight

Being at a higher weight means your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can cause wear and tear on your heart and blood-vessel system. Changing your eating habits and increasing physical activity can help you achieve your best weight.

If you are living with overweight, check with your doctor if you have other risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or smoking.

Reduce alcohol consumption

Less than three per cent of Irish adults can correctly identify the HSE low-risk guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Drinking above these guidelines can increase your chance of developing high blood pressure – one of the top risk factors for stroke.

For women, consumption should be much less than the maximum limit of 11 standard drinks a week, while for men consumption should be much less than the maximum limit of 17 standard drinks a week.

Learn CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a simple skill that can help to save your life – and provide you with the tools to save someone else’s. It is a vital link in the chain of survival after a cardiac arrest.

If you have been taught CPR, you are 10 times more likely to respond appropriately in an emergency.

Minister Burke encourages people to get active and improve their physical activity levels in 2025

Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy, Colm Burke, has encouraged people to increase their physical activity levels in 2025. The Minister noted the support provided this year for enhancing the physical health of the people of Ireland, and the wide range of initiatives that are available in our communities. In 2024, the Department of Health allocated €500,000 to 25 local authorities to support the improvement of facilities and access to various river, lake, and sea swimming locations nationwide. Local Sports Partnerships in nearly every county submitted applications for the Healthy Ireland funding. The funds, administered by Sport Ireland on behalf of the Department of Health, are being used to enhance changing facilities, and purchase equipment to assist individuals with disabilities.

anniversary of the beloved green steam engine from the ‘top left-hand corner of Wales’. First introduced to television audiences in 1959, Ivor the Engine has charmed generations with its heartwarming tales and a touch of Welsh magic. Its original wonder has been brought back to life by Candy Jar Books, who have re-published the first ever print edition of Ivor the Engine to mark the train’s commemorative year. Stepping back in time to when the book was first published in 1962, Candy Jar’s beautifully restored edition of Ivor The Engine is available in paperback and hardback, featuring Oliver Postgate’s charming story and Peter Firmin’s enchanting illustrations that have captivated readers for more than six decades.

The Irish Heart Foundation will be conducting free Blood Pressure Checks at the Galway, Sligo, Cork and Limerick 50 Plus Show this year

Why letting your savings sleep in domestic banks is costing you money

The Cost of Sticking with Low-Interest Accounts

Many Irish savers are losing money due to low interest rates on domestic accounts. According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), 87% of Irish savings—around €140 billion—are held in overnight and demand deposit accounts that generate minimal interest. Inflation erodes these savings, leading to negative real returns.

Raisin Bank analysis shows that in 2024, these accounts returned an average AER of just 0.13%. In contrast, European banks accessible via Raisin Bank offer significantly higher interest rates. Savers who explore better options can make their money work harder.

Unlocking Better Savings Opportunities with Raisin Bank

Raisin Bank is an innovative platform giving Irish customers access to competitive rates from trusted European banks. With over 100 savings accounts from more than 20 banks, customers can secure high-yield term deposits with rates up to 2.91% AER (as of February 2025).

For instance, a saver depositing €30,000 in a five-year fixed-term account with German bank Aareal through Raisin Bank could earn €4,350 in interest. Even shorter-term deposits offer strong returns, with six-month fixed-term accounts yielding up to 2.67% AER.

The Growing Trend of Cross-Border Savings

Irish savers are increasingly turning to European banks for better rates. ECB data shows deposits from Irish customers

in euro-zone banks rose from €1.9 billion in 2021 to €3.5 billion in 2024. Fintech platforms like Raisin Bank make it easier to compare rates and move funds across borders.

Key Considerations When Saving Abroad

1. Compare Rates Carefully – Interest rates vary depending on the deposit term and institution. While some overseas options may offer higher returns, domestic banks have been improving their offerings. It’s important to shop around and compare both short-term and long-term savings rates to ensure you’re getting the best return on your money. Demand deposit accounts, in particular, often show significant differences in interest rates, so reviewing your options regularly can help maximise your savings.

2. Understand Tax Implications –Interest earned abroad isn’t subject to automatic DIRT deductions. Instead, customers must report earnings to Revenue and may need to complete forms to avoid double taxation.

3. Watch for Withholding Tax – Some European banks deduct withholding tax. Ireland’s tax agreements help cap the total tax at 33%, but savers must complete necessary forms before maturity.

4. Consider Estate Planning – Overseas accounts may require separate probate proceedings, adding legal costs and delays. Joint accounts can simplify inheritance.

Making the Switch to Higher-Yield Savings

Raisin Bank makes switching to better savings simple, offering a seamless online platform with no fees. Eoghan O’Hara,

Irish financial expert for Raisin Bank, urges savers to be proactive: "Many are still accepting poor rates. If you have savings you won’t need for a while, a term deposit can deliver better returns."

For those ready to maximise their savings, Raisin Bank provides easy access to Europe’s best rates. Visit the website or download the app to get started.

Additional Benefits for Irish Savers

• Trusted Banks – All partner banks comply with the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme, protecting deposits up to €100,000 per bank.

• Seamless Account Management –Compare, open, and manage multiple accounts in one place.

• No Hidden Fees – Raisin Bank accounts have no extra charges, ensuring full interest benefits.

• Flexible Terms – Choose from instant access, short-term, or long-term deposits.

Conclusion

Irish savers no longer need to settle for low returns. With inflation eroding value, securing better rates is crucial. Raisin Bank offers a straightforward way to access high-yield European savings accounts, helping Irish customers grow their money securely and efficiently.

Black Magic

Long time fan of Mary Black, Aubrey Malome charts the celebrated singer’s glittering career as she approaches her 70th birthday

Before the Corrs there were the Blacks, a family of great musical talent with a beautiful lead singer. They all lived and breathed music, breaking into song at the drop of a hat.

Mary is now closing in on seventy, believe it or not. She was born on May 23, 1955, in 69 Charlemont Street, where her father Kevin, a piper, fiddler and mandolin player, had bought a house after coming south from his native Rathlin Island off the coast of Antrim.

He married another music lover, Patty Daly from the Liberties. Patty worked in Rowntree’s chocolate factory. They had five children, Shay, Michael, Mary, Martin and Frances.

Music erupted from every corner of their home when they were growing up. Mary remembers listening to her mother singing folk songs and Irish airs around the house. She also sang in Rowntree’s, propping up the spirits of the other workers on the assembly line with her sweet strains.

Times were hard trying to feed five mouths on a meagre salary. Mary remembers Patty scraping chocolate off her factory apron when she brought it home to clean it in order to be able to give herself and her siblings treats.

Mary’s family originally sang for fun around the house and at parties. Afterwards they performed in pubs and clubs, harmonising beautifully in often unaccompanied numbers. Mary met Joe O’Reilly in 1972 after a football match. They were sitting at opposite sides of a table in a pub when someone cracked a joke. They both laughed. ‘Our eyes met,’ Mary recalls,

‘and ‘Bang.’. From that moment on, she knew something had happened between them. They started going out together soon afterwards, feeling a strong alliance between them. They felt ‘on the same page’ in everything they did, even deciding to give up smoking together.

That’s not to say their romance always ran smoothly. True love rarely does. Joe dated another girlfriend for a while when they were having problems but then they got back together again, to Mary’s relief. They went on to marry and have three children, Danny, Róisín and Conor.

Mary has always said Joe is her best friend as well as her husband. He’s also her manager. His father owned a record label, Dolphin, so they were in harmony – no pun intended – on that as well. With Joe and his brother Paul, Mary started a new company, Dara Records, to launch her career in earnest.

Mary with her son Danny O’Reilly, frontman of The Coronas

She joined a folk band called General Humbert in 1975, touring Europe with them. In 1979 she went to America with her brothers, spending three months busking in New York and the surrounding areas. This was a mad time, she says, totally carefree and not without its drama as they struggled to make ends meet.

In 1982 Mary recorded her first album, simply titled Mary Black. It flew off the shelves. Three years later she teamed up with Declan Sinnott, who’d previously been with the Horse lips, in a partnership that brought out the best in both of them. She was going through a bout of insecurity at the time but after singing The Rose of Allendale with him in one of their first gigs at the National Concert Hall her confidence came flooding back.

‘With Declan on stage beside me,’ she said, ‘it was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The shadows that covered my life in that moment began to recede.’ . Declan went on to form a massive partnership with Mary. They too understood one another’s needs almost clairvoyantly.

As Mary’s career thrived, Frances wasn’t doing well. She had two children outside marriage and developed a drink problem at this time. ‘A young single mother with two kids,’ Mary said, ‘and very little money, she found it difficult to cope. She was also very lonely, and her self-confidence was at rock bottom.’ But Frances dug herself out of a hole. In time she got a singing career up and running. Mary helped her with this as much as she could before Frances started to stand on her own two feet and forge her own style. Their voices were similar, though Frances’ tends to be more fragile, which has its own appeal.

I was a fan of Mary’s from the beginning of her career and went to see her perform any time I could. I forgot to lock the car one night when I was at one of her shows. If memory serves, it was in the Player wills Theatre. There was no radio in the car so I plonked my hi-fi in the back seat and played my Mary Black album all the way to the gig. The concert was brilliant but before I went into the theatre I forgot to lock the car. When I got back to it, the hi-fi was gone.

Some months later I was in the Baggott Inn when I saw Mary chatting to some of her friends. I went up to her and told her my tale of woe, adding, ‘I missed your album more than the hi-fi.’ She said that was a lovely thing to say. I wasn’t just palavering her. It was true. I played that album so much (especially the haunting

Mary started singing with De Dannan now, recording an album with them called now and again. By now Shay and Michael were also recording independently of her, both in America and Europe. At this time Frances also became a more high profile performer, developing her confidence both singing solo and with performers like Kieran Goss to attract audiences and shake off the tag of being #Mary Black’s kid sister.’

Mary left De Dannan in 1986, moving away from sean-no to more pop-oriented material with albums like Without the Fanfare. I remember getting quite indignant about this, especially when she developed a habit of jigging around stages in a way that I thought didn’t suit her, in contrast to the more elegant poses she adopted while singing ballads and folk tunes.

In fact I once wrote a letter to the Hot Press magazine giving out about the fact that I thought she was in danger of turning from Mary Black into Cilla. I think I was over-reacting a bit. Mary has always been able to mix genres without compromising herself. Her album title No Frontiers sums her up well in this regard. I think I just needed time to digest the culture shock of her reinvention of herself.

Anarchy Gordon

Mary has sung with all the greats in her storied career, people like Van Morrison, Mary Chapin Carpenter and legions of others

Mary’s sister Frances who overcame alcoholism before forging a successful singing career herself and then entering politics

Mary’s daughter Roisin has followed her mother into a successful solo singing career

Suaimhneas

(n.) peace, tranquility.

Aimsigh áit nua le do scíth a ligean ar thuras ghearr in Éirinn.

Mary has sung with all the greats in her storied career, people like Van Morrison, Mary Chapin Carpenter and legions of others. She was amazed one day to get a phone call from Joan Baez asking her to collaborate with her on an album. After many phone calls, she finally met Joan in the States and sang with her.

Baez was so moved at Mary’s rendition of Song for Ireland that she actually cried when she heard it. ‘That song has always done well for me,’ Mary says. I’m not surprised. It’s perhaps her most iconic one. Her version of Sonny, which she famously sang with Emmylou Harris and Dolores Keane, is also capable of bringing tears to one’s eyes.

In 1994 Mary recorded one of her most famous albums, A Woman’s Heart, with a host of other female vocalists – Frances, Eleanor McEvoy (who wrote the title song), Máire Brennan and Dolores. It was a phenomenal seller, reaching almost every house in Ireland if the sales statistics were anything to go by. A sequel, A Woman’s Heart 2 came out the following year. Mary also made a movie that year, A Sort of Homecoming. She had to smoke a cigarette for the part. She hadn’t smoked since giving them up with Joe but took the habit up again for the role. ‘I did it for my art!’ she joked.

Mary parted from Declan Sinnott in 1995 after they had creative differences. It was a very hard decision for her to make as they

brought so much to one another’s careers but they are also both very determined about what they want and they saw themselves as going in different directions at that point. Nonetheless, they remain friends.

Mary’s son Danny later went on to become a member of a rock band named The Coronas. One might have imagined he’d change it when Covid - aka the Corona virus – hit, but he didn’t. Róisín also became a singer. Mary tells people, ‘She’s better than me,’ - a true sign of her humility.

She wound down her career in the new millennium. A documentary based on her life, Still Believing, was filmed in 2002. In 2003 she made a live album, which was unusual for her. Two years later she recorded her first studio album in six years, Full Tide. In 2008 she released a compilation album called 25 Years –25 Songs which was like a resumé of her career.

By now Frances was well over her drinking problem. In 2009 she set up a foundation to help addicts called RISE. The name is an acronym for Recovery in a Safe Environment. She later became a politician, being elected to the Seanad in 2016 as an independent candidate.

Mary did her last tour with Róisín in 2014. In the same year her autobiography, Down the Crooked Road, was published. It was a captivating book written with the directness one expected from this lady. Since then she’s continued to sing and make albums, though not with the pace of yore.

Her family life is as important than her career, she tells us now. ‘As a Gemini,’ she says, ‘I’ve always felt my life took two roads so over the years I’ve learned to wear two hats. One is for Mary Black the singer and the other for Mary Black the mother, wife and friend.’

The twin sides of her existence were highlighted in striking fashion one day when she was out washing her windows in a pair of raggy jeans after coming home from a concert in London. A car slowed down outside her house and a man she didn’t know rolled down the window.

‘I don’t believe it,’ he called out, ‘Mary Black! I was at the Royal Albert Hall listening to you last night and today you’re out cleaning windows.’

She shrugged her shoulders and said to him, ‘Ah sure that’s my life for ya.’

Black and white.

Mary with Brendan O’Connor on The Late Late Show

which includes tracks with Joan Baez, Emmy Lou Harris, Liam Clancy and Dolores Keane

Joan Baez was so moved at Mary’s rendition of Song for Ireland that she actually cried when she heard it. ‘That song has always done well for me,’ Mary says.

At ComReg, we provide independent information on your mobile and broadband services.

ComReg stands for the Commission for Communications Regulation. We are an independent public body with powers under law.

We regulate the electronic communications sector, which includes phone, broadband and postal services like An Post.

We try to make sure you are treated fairly by your service provider by:

• Telling you about your consumer rights so that you can make informed decisions.

• Informing you with impartial information and providing helpful tools for you on our website.

• Making sure measures are in place for vulnerable and disabled consumers.

• Ensuring service providers have a user-friendly complaints handling process.

• Helping to find an acceptable solution if you and your service provider can’t directly solve your complaint.

• Monitoring service providers’ practices and how they comply with consumer protection laws and taking enforcement action where required.

What can we help you with?

We deal with a wide range of issues including:

Billing: Have you been overcharged, or charged for a service you did not request? Or, have you been billed for a service that you don’t recognise?

Contracts: Have you received a notice that your bill is increasing? Were you given the wrong price for your contract when you signed-up?

Service issues: Have you experienced a loss of service or mobile coverage?

Switching: Have you experienced a delay when changing to a new provider? Have you lost your phone number in the process, and you are finding it difficult to get it back?

Premium Rate Services (PRS): Is there a number (for example, 57XXX) on your bill that you don’t recognise? Or having difficulty unsubscribing from a service that continues to charge you?

Postal services: Has an important letter or parcel gone missing and can’t be retrieved?

How can we help you?

Our website

We provide you with independent, impartial advice and information on comreg.ie. We also have useful tools to help you choose mobile and broadband services and providers that best suit your needs. These include:

• Compare Tool: To help you compare the cost of mobile, home phone, broadband and bundled offers, to help you switch and save, visit comreg.ie/compare

• Broadband Checker: To see what fixed broadband network is available in your area, visit comreg.ie/broadbandchecker

• Mobile Coverage Map: To check service providers’ mobile phone coverage at different locations throughout the country, visit comreg.ie/coveragemap

• Premium Rate Checker: To check a Premium Rate Service (PRS) name and number (for example, 57XXX), visit comreg.ie/servicechecker

Our Consumer Care Team

If you have a complaint, we will review it and engage with your service provider on your behalf as long as:

• You have already made a complaint to your service provider; and

• Your complaint has not been resolved after 10 days or more.

The Consumer Care team is available to assist you, or your authorised representative, 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday (excluding public holidays).

Web: comreg.ie for online complaint form and live web chat

Email: consumerline@comreg.ie

Phone: (01) 8049668

Text: COMREG or ASKCOMREG to 51500 to receive a call or text back (standard SMS rates apply)

Irish Sign Language: Irish Sign Language facility is available on request

Text Relay: You can contact ComReg Consumer Care via text relay. For more information visit itrs.ie

Post: Consumer Care Team, ComReg, One Dockland Central, Guild Street, Dublin D01 E4X0

New perspectives on the Irish Civil War

Colette Sheridan on a major record of the conflict and the often-forgotten role of women involved

The Atlas of the Irish Civil War is an impressive, physically heavy and intellectually interesting book, offering new perspectives on this tumultuous period in Ireland’s troubled history. It comprises fifty essays, only four of which are about women in the Civil War. But as a contributor to the book, Trinity College Dublin professor of contemporary Irish History, Lindsey Earner-Byrne points out, the four essays are specifically about women, but women’s activities during the Civil War are referred to throughout the book.

Whether it was as carers to those injured in the Civil War or those acting in intelligence and propaganda, women had a variety of roles. In Lindsey’s essay, The Irish Civil War: Family life, gender and loss, the historian shines a light on matters such as applying for pensions and being judged whether fit or otherwise to receive State aid. For some women widowed in the Irish Civil War, looking for financial aid could be humiliating.

The Military Service Pensions Collection which emerged from the Irish Army Pension Acts from 1923 represented the paperwork of one of the most significant of these early bureaucratic exchanges between State and family, writes

Lindsey. (It was also one of the State’s first welfare initiatives.) Some 180,000 files have been digitised.

‘The pension was actually quite modern,’ says Lindsey. ‘It borrowed a lot from pension schemes elsewhere. The State didn’t just give pensions to those that had been active. There was a separate pension for the dependents. Lots of states didn’t do that. On the face of it, it looks like it’s very clear as to what the rules were. But when you actually look at the files, you can see the way attitudes can scupper applications. A woman might apply. You look at the archive where you first of all see the decision. You’re perplexed as to why she didn’t get it. It’s quite clear her husband was killed as part of his activity in the Civil War. And she has nine children or whatever.

‘Then, when you read the files that came from the guards, the priest and the neighbours, you start to see a narrative around the women. She drinks or she’s getting some income from some other place or there’s a question mark over the way she is raising her children, whether they attend school. These things shouldn’t influence whether she gets the pension, but they do.’

Independent Travel Support

Independent Travel Support (ITS) assists individuals over 18 in traveling confidently and independently on TFI public transport.

In Dublin, ITS is managed by Dublin Bus and operates across Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead, Luas, and DART services in the Greater Dublin Area.

To avail of the service

Phone Dublin Bus at 01 703 3204

Phone Transport for Ireland on LoCall 0818 294 015.

Email: independent.travel@dublinbus.ie

In Cork, Limerick Waterford and Galway ITS is managed by Bus Éireann and Operates on TFI services managed by Irish Rail, Cork Commuter services, Bus Éireann, Dublin Coach, City Direct and Local Link services in the area.

For more information on routes covered and to avail of the service

Phone Transport for Ireland on LoCall 0818 294 015.

Email: independent.travel@buseireann.ie

Customers calling from outside of the Republic of Ireland can telephone +353 1 575 6110

Lindsey cites the unfortunate story of Catherine Byrne. In January 1923, she wrote to the minister for defence to intervene in her case. Her eldest son, Private James Byrne had been shot in County Kerry on October 13, 1922 and died later that night in hospital. He had been buried for over three months before Catherine was officially informed.

Catherine, who had been widowed eleven years previously, had to write to the priest who attended to her son. In his letter, the priest said that James, ‘a most lovable character...gladly forgave those who had so foully done him to death.’ As Lindsey points out, Catherine would have been acutely aware of the biblical reference whereby Jesus forgave those who trespassed against him before being crucified. Was this a way of patronisingly placating the bereft mother?

‘I think people really believed this. These were very devout people. That letter from the priest breaks my heart. Anyone would be moved by it. As somebody who lost a sibling when they were young, I know that the last letter about my brother’s death was something my mother would take to the end.’

James, or ‘Jimmie’ as he was known, was a key support to the widowed Catherine when she was rearing her other three children. While she had worked in a local laundry prior to the death of Jimmie, grief had destroyed her health, and she was unable to work since his death.

Because of this previous employment, she wasn’t considered ‘wholly dependent’ on Jimmie for the purposes of the 1923 legislation. As a result, she didn’t qualify for a pension and only a £60 gratuity was approved. However, on appeal, the army reconsidered and in making its case to the finance department for an increased gratuity, revealed awareness that the grief and trauma of not burying her son had fundamentally broken this woman.

While Catherine’s gratuity was increased to £100, she was not considered eligible for a pension until 1953. (She had re-applied in 1927).

‘Thus, almost thirty years later, Catherine Byrne had to document her loss all over again for another generation of bureaucrats. On this occasion, however, she had to surrender what must have been one of the most precious documents she possessed: a letter written to her sister by the priest, who had given her son the last rites as he lay dying on a road in Kerry.’

Catherine, who must have been impoverished, lived with her sister in later life. She wasn’t able to enjoy her pension as she died a year after receiving it.

As to why there was the heart-breaking delay in informing Catherine of her son’s death, there was a degree of administrative confusion at the time and often people didn’t hear that their relatives were killed for quite some time.

‘In this case, there were so many James Byrnes that there was confusion. It must have been totally traumatic for Catherine.’

On top of the grief was poverty. ‘I was reading something about Ireland today where it said 50% of Irish children would be living below the poverty line if it wasn’t for welfare transfers. It shows how important state structures are.’

Lindsey says that the State that was forming in Ireland was patriarchal and had a clear class bias. ‘This was a State that didn’t trust the working classes, male or female and it had all those misogynistic ideas about women.’

If Jimmie Byrne was just a number whose death wasn’t officially reported for three months, his mother was a long suffering woman who fell prey to the prejudices of bureaucrats and was instead supposed to be consoled by the trope of an all forgiving Jesus on the cross. Hardly likely to put food on the table....

Lindsey Earner-Byrne’s essay concentrates on family gender in the Civil War

Atlas of the Irish Civil War is edited by Helene O’Keeffe, John Crowley, Donal Ó Drisceoil, John Borgonovo and Mike Murphy. Published by Cork University Press.

What the ‘new old’ can teach us?

Lorna Hogg investigates

‘New Oldies’ have worked out that boredom is bad for you – and take steps to avoid it.

How do you intend to spend your ‘New Age’ - as opposed to your ‘Old Age’? Where and how will you live? In this country, with your immediate family? Alternatively, you might opt to try a new lifestyle - travelling, for parts of the year, and time spent in another country, with family or friends. You might, of course, be more than happy to remain at home, following up an inclination or interest for voluntary work, and enjoying your community and grandchildren. You might be able to unleash an interest in giving back to society, rather than travelling, and retirement gives you the chance. All is possible, and open to ‘The New Old’.

So who are the New Old anyway? Essentially, the young of the 1960s. Who better to take a fresh look at the best qualities of the young of those days, still open-minded, experimental and curious. To them, senior years offer a range of possibilities and opportunities – and Irish Seniors are making the most of them. Many have saved up nest-eggs, and feel that at last, retirement brings freedom. They welcome the chance to spend longer periods investigating new destinations, or simply staying with family abroad. These days, from London to Lagos and Sydney to Bahrain – Irish oldies are now crossing the world to `see the family’, now newly situated in exotic parts. Visits can give outstanding opportunities for exploration – and the freedom of retirement means that otherwise outlandishly expensive tickets can become affordable off-peak..

Money, of course, lies at the core of all these possibilities – as well as expectations. For many older people, the wish to visit –and help both children and grandchildren, is matched only by the enjoyment of new and exciting destinations. However, as financiers know, the fewer the financial resources, the greater the need for careful budgeting. Following a hobby or interest can sometimes provide a route. From hiking to historical studies, specialist holidays can be linked in with family stays. Of course, there could be the desire – perhaps decades old, to do exactly what the offspring are enjoying. Travel can also, of course bring and new ideas and opportunities previously unknown to us, including ways of living, and even downsizing.

Also at the core, of course, lies the matter of money. Alongside the wish to help children and grandchildren lives of course, the desire – to finally enjoy the hard earned Good Life. This is where

advice from a trusted expert can help. With careful planning and investment, it can be possible for a `nest egg’ to grow, whilst you also enjoy spending sums which can be replenished.

One major asset, for most of us is, of course, the Family Home. However, many of the New Old may have very different attitudes to it. Some people like to rattle around in much loved memory filled and familiar surroundings – or the much dreamed of countryside peace. Others, however, like the concept of the `retirement downsize’. In fact, they may have dreamed of it for quite some time, usually in a job from which they have received little satisfaction.

However, with older age, any isolated homes can present problems with urgent medical care, often at short notice and at the most inconvenient times, in both transport and travel. There has to be planning to meet the need for access to top quality medical care without the nightmare scenario of a of a cross country taxi ride. Also, retirees can find expensive maintenance to be very trying – not to forget heating bills in larger homes, which may not have modern insulation. Some are prepared to pay them, plus repair bills, feeling it worthwhile to be where they love. Others seize the opportunities brought by retirement to de-clutter, literally `cash in’, and even live in a `base’ rather than a settled family home.

‘The New oldies’ go back to teaching or take up voluntary work, offering their skills and experience to a new generation

Lifestyle

Also another increasingly popular way that The New Old’ save on astronomical heating bills is to spend up to three months in the winter sun in places like Spain. Flights are cheap and many hotels offer rock bottom rates during the months of January, February and March simply to keep their establishments open and retain staff. The cost of living in these places is a fraction of dear old expensive Ireland. You come back invigorated just in time for the warmer weather and no heating bills! Enquire at your local travel agent about long stay winter breaks.

No matter how great the future opportunities, one partner – and it is isn’t always the woman, can hate the prospect of leaving family memories behind. Decluttering can also be painful, with strong emotional reactions. One person’s relief, even zeal from release from endless cleaning and dealing with yellowing papers and old furniture and equipment, can be a partner or relative’s emotional parting from much loved family links and memories. It also has to be taken into account that older years bring the increased necessity of being near at hand to general top quality medical care – and not just for emergencies. However, for an increasing number - the effort is worth it, and we could see increasing versions and numbers of the New Old.

Putting years on yourself with ‘age proofing’

Are you a Long Lifer at heart? Do you enjoy physical activity? - a strong religious faith or philosophy?? - love and companionship in your life?

Do you have a strong sense of purpose in life - plus friendship and companionship, and feel that you’ve only just begun?

The New Old, determined Long Lifers to a man or woman, aim for good health, have regular checks, and see them as investments.

They know that coffee, in normal amounts, is good for cardiovascular and stress disorder. All that stretching keeps you fit and supple for you, as does yoga – and also tucking in to your favourite meal early in the day. Long Lifers are also aware that alcohol and cigarettes are bad for you.

Foodwise, they have learned to enjoy the pleasures of healthy foods -including Tofu, chia seeds, ricotta cheese, leafy greens, dried figs, yoghurt, chick peas, almond milk, oatmeal, broccoli and blueberries are frequently on their menus.

They also have worked out that boredom is bad for you – and take steps to avoid it.

Above all, they accept that nothing lasts forever, and that change, in all areas of life, can be good and welcome.

For ideas and inspiration visit:

www.alone.ie https:over50s.com www.thirdageireland.ie www.ageandopportunity.ie www.goldenireland.ie www.restless.co.uk www.britishseniors.co.uk

The New Old, determined Long Lifers to a man or woman, aim for good health with exercise , have regular checks, and see them as investments.

The much dreamed of countryside peace is one option open to the ‘New Old’.

Iron contributes to the reduction of tiredness and to the normal function of the immune system

• Available in both a liquid and tablet version

• Contains highly absorbable iron gluconate

• Contains Vitamin C to increase iron absorption

• Floradix Liquid iron is suitable for vegetarians

• Floradix Tablets are suitable for vegans

• Suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding

• Free from preservatives

Tony Carroll – a champion for nursing home residents

Colette Sheridan meets Tony Carroll who relates his experiences with nursing homes and lessons to be learned

Loneliness is a big problem in nursing homes, says Tony Carroll, author of a book entitled Cold Porridge, Broken Promises and a Missing Dog. This is a work of creative non-fiction, set in a fictional Irish nursing home, which is an amalgamation of nursing homes that Tony worked in over forty years, visiting residents and advocating for them. He was a member of the multiagency National Advocacy Programme Alliance (NAPA) which was set up following the RTE Prime Time Investigates revelations of abuse at the Leas Cross nursing home in Dublin, broadcast in 2005.

Tony, now retired from the HSE where he worked in the ICT department , continues to work as a pastoral visitor (with a Christian ethos) and as a volunteer community visitor and telephone befriender with ALONE. He says it’s assumed that once you go to live in a nursing home, you have other

people to talk to. ‘That’s true to a point. But one of the problems is that once you go to a nursing home for long term care, you become disconnected from the community in which you lived, with no access to bridge clubs, no access to friends and any of the associations you may have been involved with. It can be difficult to establish relationships in a nursing home. There are people who stay in their rooms all day because they’re afraid of ‘catching dementia.’ That’s a real fear. I know it seems stupid. Then there’s the fear of mixing with ‘older people.’

‘Some people don’t see themselves as old.

There’s also the problem of inappropriate admissions in relation to the under-65s who shouldn’t be there at all. They have very little in common with residents in older age groups. And you have people with physical challenges, such as maybe a speech impediment following a stroke. They wouldn’t be able to communicate.’

With a growing ageing population, there

is, says Tony, always going to be a place for nursing homes. People are going into them later in life. They’re in their eighties and beyond, frail and often with lots of complex conditions. A lot of these people can’t be managed at home.”

What Tony is trying to do is ‘create a community-type approach so that people would have access to that in nursing homes.’

Tony Carroll: trying to create a community-type approach to benefit residents of nursing homes.’

Keeping people at home

The alternative, where possible, is to keep people at home. ‘I think in lots of respects, Covid 19 has been a game changer. It put the spotlight on nursing home care and all the deaths in them because of it. The HSE gets bad press. I think in fairness to it, they got their act together. There’s more integration and more access to expertise now across all nursing homes. And there are supports now in place to keep people in their homes with enhanced community care programmes and multi-disciplinary teams supporting older people at home.’

The Patient Advocacy Service (PAS) is an independent service established by the Department of Health to provide information and support so that people can be helped to make a complaint about the health service.

Tony’s interest in advocating for nursing home residents arose in the 80s when he was visiting his mother in a nursing home. ‘Then my motherin-law was in a nursing home for a long time so I had an association as a visitor. I took early retirement from the health service in 2006 and went back to college to finish a degree I had started in theology and philosophy. Part of the degree programme involved a pastoral placement in some area of social justice. My pastoral placement was in nursing homes, setting up residents’ committees.’

Tony returned to work, in advocacy which ‘was new at the time.’ He worked with NAPA for several years on a voluntary basis. ‘Then I was working in the private nursing home sector for a company that owned a group of nursing homes. Now, I’m doing a project with Nursing Homes Ireland which is the representative body of the private nursing homes operator. It represents most of the voluntary and private nursing home operators. I’m working with them voluntarily, looking at the possibility of rolling out a national befriending service for nursing home residents.’

All the time, Tony comes into contact with residents of nursing homes which have informed his book. The ‘cold porridge’ in the book title is a metaphor for deprivation. Writing about a character that is served up cold porridge every morning, Tony says that in a wider context, he is dealing with the challenges residents face, primarily in relation to deprivation of liberties and the compromises that are made. These come

down to the food they eat, the clothes they wear and the TV programmes they watch.

When it comes to calling out casual abuses, Tony prefers to state that residents might sometimes be ignored, but not deliberately. ‘It could be called neglect or it might be indifference.’

The ‘broken promises’ in his book’s title refer to financial hardships, particularly in relation to anomalies that arise through the Fair Deal scheme. ‘The rate is different for people living in private nursing homes and voluntary ones (run by charities or religious orders) compared with public nursing homes (run by the HSE). Private nursing home operators levy an additional charge for activities and social programmes because Fair Deal doesn’t cover them. It’s a big bugbear. The levy can be €600 to €800 per month. Most of the homes now are part of nursing home chains.’

As for nursing home residential fees, Tony says the average cost is around €1,200 to €1,400 per week with the rates for homes outside urban areas being lower. The Government has ‘committed to looking at Fair Deal rates and to develop a more equitable system for nursing home care.’

Why are nursing homes so expensive?

Why are nursing homes so expensive for individuals? ‘They are an expensive commodity. Staff costs are high and it’s very hard to get staff. There is a divide between public, private and voluntary nursing homes. The public homes tend to charge a higher rate. They argue that it’s because they have lots more staff. Private nursing home operators would say that they have huge costs and overheads.

The overheads are one big factor and the fact that it’s hard to get staff. Also, the cost of medical care is extremely expensive. I suppose that’s because of HIQA (Health Information and Quality

Authority) standards which, thankfully, have raised the bar. Again, that all has to be resourced and funded. And the activities and social programmes and all the other services don’t come free. Then there are the capital costs. In the private nursing home sector, there has been a tendency to consolidate across the sector. Private nursing homes tend to be owned by privately-funded operators and equity funded companies. That has changed the landscape. They are the only ones now who have the resources and the money to be able to fund nursing homes. A lot of (smaller) operators are getting out because they can’t afford it.’

The ‘missing dog’ in the book title refers to the circumstances of a man that Tony has named Quentin. ‘He was a lovely gentleman who went into hospital and was basically locked out from his home. His family didn’t want him back. I came across him when he was discharged into a nursing home. He had no reason to be in a nursing home. He was kind of frail but he used to go out every day. I moved mountains to try to get him back into the community but I didn’t succeed. He had a dog that was missing. I went to dog pounds looking for it. But the dog was probably dead.

‘The salutary lesson to be learned is that we should all be making sure we have an advanced health care directive in place so that we know what our medical and other issues are. The other thing is to have an enduring power of attorney so if the time comes when we can’t make decisions for ourselves, at least we have (our wishes) written down. Nursing home care can be a win/win situation if the person going into one is consulted and involved in the process.’

Cold Porridge, Broken Promises and a Missing Dog by Tony Carroll, is published by Scribe Consulting Services. It costs €20 and can be bought from www. buythebook.ie or from some bookshops. It’s also available from Amazon. All profits go to the ALONE charity.

Smart Retirement Planning: Why Gold Deserves a Place in Your Portfolio

With the record-breaking moves in the gold price in recent years, many people ask, "Can I afford to buy gold?" But given today’s financial uncertainty, the real question should be, "Can I afford not to?"

For those planning for retirement, protecting the value of your savings is just as important as growing them. Inflation, market downturns, and economic uncertainty can erode the wealth you’ve worked so hard to build. That’s why many investors turn to gold—it has long been a trusted store of value, helping to safeguard pensions and savings from financial shocks.

As economic uncertainty continues to challenge investors, those saving for retirement must consider how best to protect their pensions from inflation, financial instability, and market downturns.

Self-directed pension holders, in particular, face unique challenges. While pensions are designed to provide longterm security, it’s essential that they are well-diversified to withstand unforeseen financial shocks.

The challenge lies in finding assets that provide genuine diversification. In recent years, traditional investments like equities, bonds, and property have become more correlated, meaning they often move in the same direction. This can leave investors exposed when markets decline.

Gold, however, stands apart. Unlike equities and bonds, gold has historically moved in the opposite direction during periods of financial stress, making it a powerful hedge against market volatility. During five of the last seven recessions, gold has performed exceptionally well. Over the past two decades, it has delivered an average annual return of 8%.

The outlook for the Irish economy remains uncertain, with potential global trade tensions and policy shifts in key markets creating concerns for savers and pension holders. Given Ireland’s deep ties to international trade and investment, any disruption could have knock-on effects on financial markets, impacting pension values. In times of uncertainty, many investors seek stability, and historically, gold has played a key role in preserving wealth during periods of economic stress.

The World Gold Council’s analysis supports gold’s role as a strategic diversifier, noting that gold enhances portfolio resilience, improves riskadjusted returns, and provides liquidity when needed most. This is particularly important for retirees who want to preserve their savings while maintaining flexibility.

Liquidity is another key advantage of holding gold. With over $180 billion in gold traded daily, it is one of the most liquid assets in the world—far surpassing many traditional investments favoured by pension providers. This ensures that pension holders can access funds quickly without waiting for buyers.

For Irish pension holders looking to strengthen their financial future, allocating a portion of their pension to gold offers a level of security that is hard to match. Gold acts as both an investment and an insurance policy, providing stability in uncertain times.

But you don’t need a pension to own gold. Many people buy gold and silver as a regular investment, keeping it in secure vaults or at home. Others purchase gold as a gift for family members or as a way to gradually build their holdings through GoldSaver, our convenient gold accumulation plan that starts with as little as €100 a month. Whether you're

looking for long-term wealth protection, a hedge against inflation, or simply a timeless and valuable asset to own, gold and silver offer security and flexibility.

At GoldCore, we have been helping clients protect their savings for over 20 years. We work with a range of pension providers to help individuals easily add investment-grade bulion to their self-directed pensions, and we also help clients buy and store gold and silver outside of their pensions.

If you’re attending the 50 Plus Show in either Dublin, Galway or Cork, visit us at our stand to learn more about how gold and silver can secure your future. Whether you’re new to precious metals or looking to enhance your existing investment strategy, we’ll be happy to answer your questions. We will also have a selection of coins available for purchase on the day.

GoldCore Limited

Level 1, The Chase Carmanhall Road

Sandyford, Dublin D18 Y3X2

IRL +353 (0)1 632 5010

Our Purpose:

Our Services

was founded by James in 2018. InisCare was founded simple belief that happy carers happy customers. We believe quality, reliable and friendly is provided by people who supported by an equally experienced and compassionate management team. mission is to support our carer provide compassionate and care that empowers people to living active and fulfilled lives. choose InisCare to deliver your support. guide gives you information service we offer and how we assistance when you need us We deliver services all over are accredited and by the HSE Homecare Service and members of HCCI (Home Community Care Ireland).

Our Purpose:

To empower people to live the life they want.

Our Mission:

Our Purpose:

Our Services

James was founded happy carers We believe and friendly people who equally compassionate our carer compassionate and empowers people to fulfilled lives. deliver your information and how we you need us services all over and Homecare Service HCCI (Home Ireland).

InisCare was founded by James Magrane in 2018. InisCare was founded from a simple belief that happy carers make happy customers. We believe that high quality, reliable and friendly home care is provided by people who are supported by an equally experienced and compassionate management team.

To empower people to live the life they want.

Our Mission:

To support carers to provide the best possible Customer centred home care.

Our Mission:

Our Motto:

To support carers to provide the best possible Customer centred home care.

Supporting carers supporting Customers.

Our Motto:

To support carers to provide the best possible Customer centred home care.

Our Motto:

At InisCare we provide you with an agreed care plan to ensure that all aspects of your needs are met. The person centered planc identifies the required care and considers your wishes, feelings and choices. It will be reviewed regularly to assess any changing needs and make any changes required to meet your individual needs.

At InisCare we provide you with an agreed care plan to ensure that all aspects of your needs are met. The person centered planc identifies the required care and considers your wishes, feelings and choices. It will reviewed regularly to assess any changing needs and make any changes required to meet your individual needs.

Home Care Support includes

• Personal care

At InisCare we provide you with an agreed care plan to ensure that all aspects of your needs are met. The person centered planc identifies the required care and considers your wishes, feelings and choices. It will reviewed regularly to assess any changing needs and make any changes required to meet your individual needs.

At InisCare we agreed care plan aspects of your The person centered the required care wishes, feelings reviewed regularly changing needs required to meet needs.

Supporting carers supporting Customers.

Our mission is to support our carer team to provide compassionate and friendly care that empowers people to continue living active and fulfilled lives. If you choose InisCare to deliver your care and support.

gives you all the information on what you can expect from service.

Supporting carers supporting Customers.

Our Beliefs:

Supporting carers supporting Customers.

• Everyone is entitled to live independently at home;

Our Beliefs:

• Everyone is entitled to live independently at home;

This short guide gives you information about the service we offer and how we can be of assistance when you need us the most. We deliver services all over Dublin and are accredited and approved by the HSE Homecare Service Providers and members of HCCI (Home and Community Care Ireland).

the information expect from

gives you all the information on what you can expect from service.

Ardle Director: 6577108 mary@iniscare.ie

Our Beliefs:

• People live happier and healthier lives at home, in their own community; and

• Everyone is entitled to live independently at home;

• Bathing, Showering and Washing

Home Care Support includes

• Personal care

Home Care Support

• Personal care

• Dressing / undressing and going bed

• Bathing, Showering and Washing

• Toileting

• Oral care

• Everyone is entitled to live independently at home;

• People live happier and healthier lives at home, in their own community; and

• Bathing, Showering

• Dressing / undressing and going to bed

• Dressing / undressing and going bed

• Dementia Care

• Dressing / bed

• People live happier and healthier lives at home, in their own community; and

• To deliver these two beliefs, all members of the care team must be properly supported and valued.

• Toileting

• Oral care

• Toileting

• People live happier and healthier lives at home, in their own community; and

• To deliver these two beliefs, all members of the care team must be properly supported and valued.

Trust,

Trust, Happiness, Energy, Empowerment and Quality represent our core values, which underpin everything we do.

• Oral care

• To deliver these two beliefs, all members of the care team must be properly supported and valued.

Trust, Happiness, Energy, Empowerment and Quality represent our core values, which underpin everything we do.

This guide gives you all the information you need on what you can expect from our service.

Mary Mc Ardle

Managing Director: 087 6577108

mary@iniscare.ie

Trust, Happiness, Energy, Empowerment and Quality represent our core values, which underpin everything we do.

Happiness, Energy, Empowerment and Quality represent our core values, which underpin everything we do.

• Prescription collection

• Oral care

• Palliative care

• Dementia Care

• Prescription collection

• Toileting

• Oral care

• Dementia Care

• Prescription collection

• Prescription

• Intellectual and physical disability support

• Palliative care

• Shopping and errands

Trust, Happiness, Energy, Empowerment and Quality rep-

Northside :offices: Glasnevin, Santry and Swords Ph. 01 9026920

• Palliative care

• Intellectual and physical disability support

• Shopping and errands

resent our core values, which underpin everything we do.

Northside :offices: Glasnevin, Santry and Swords Ph. 01 9026920

Southside: Offices: Palmerstown, Dun Laoghaire, Dundrum , Tallaght and Harolds Cross. Ph. 01 6169747

• Shopping and errands

• Intellectual support

• Companionship and accompanied outing

• Shopping and errands

• Changing bed linen

• Shopping and

• Companionship and accompanied outing

• Laundry and Ironing

• Companionship and accompanied outing

• Preparing meals

• Changing bed linen

• Companionship outing

• Changing bed linen

• Light Housework

• Laundry and Ironing

Northside :offices: Glasnevin, Santry and Swords Ph. 01 9026920

• Changing bed

• Laundry and Ironing

• Preparing meals

• Laundry and

• Preparing meals

www.iniscare.ie

• Light Housework

Southside: Offices: Palmerstown, Dun Laoghaire, Dundrum , Tallaght and Harolds Cross. Ph. 01 6169747

• Preparing meals

• Light Housework

www.iniscare.ie

• Light Housework www.iniscare.ie

www.iniscare.ie

• Light Housework

www.iniscare.ie

National

Treasures

In the first part of of a two-part review Zoe Devlin celebrates our National Parks

It felt as if I had embibed, not wisely but too well! My legs were wobbling, trying to stand on what seemed like a massive, quaking, vegetation-covered jelly and when I leant on my trek pole for support, it inserted itself at least a metre into the bog, almost pitching me into the soft, mossy ground. This was my first time to walk on blanket bog and it was quite an experience.

It was 2014 and I was lucky enough to be at Ballycroy National Park in County Mayo and seeing for myself what a superb piece of wilderness was being protected by the good offices of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The Head Guide at the time was an extremely knowledgeable, helpful person, Brid Colhoun,

Ireland where we are fortunate enough to have one of the largest examples of this kind of habitat in western Europe.

Let me describe what lay before us: in the distance, forming a magnificent backdrop, were the Nephin Beg mountains and below those a wide and undulating expanse of peatland stretching towards us, a tapestry of colours from a palette of gold, green and brown dotted, here and there with the silvery-white tufts of bog cotton. Pools and small lakes were scattered across the extensive terrain which was strewn with mosses, rushes and sedges. Little streamlike drains wandered across the gently falling bogland, bordered by ground that was home to a few of the rare and tiny plants of Ivy-leaved Bellflower. I have to admit I would never have seen that little blue-flowered treasure had it not been pointed out to me by Brid.

Silvery-white tufts of bog cotton dotted here and there

The bogland is home to the rare Ivy-leaved Bellflower

Ballycroy National Park in County Mayo, a superb piece of wilderness that is being protected by the National Parks and Wildlife Service

Blanket bog is mainly confined to areas where layers of peat have been laid down, gradually, over millennia, and it occurs where rainfall is such that the ground is almost always sodden, causing sphagnum mosses and other plants to decay, amassing on slopes and in pools and, over a long period of time, becoming peat. Not only is this habitat a perfect home for wetland birds but it also acts as a repository for the past, giving glimpses of earlier periods of climate change with an occasional object from prehistory turning up. It also plays a major part in combatting the threat from climate change by collecting and storing carbon.

Ballycroy National Park was established in 1998 and twenty years later it was enlarged to 15,000 hectares and renamed as Wild Nephin National Park. With its dark and unpolluted skies displaying a breathtaking panorama of stars and meteor showers, it received the title of a Gold Tier standard International Dark Sky Park. It is just one of our seven National Parks, each with a unique offering to those seeking to expand their knowledge of our island. Six of these are located along the western seaboard with one in the east of Ireland.

The most northerly park is Glenveagh, a place to lose yourself in, savouring the feeling of timelessness, whether on the walk along its long, glaciated valley or wandering through the undisturbed woodland. Established in 1986 in the heart of County Donegal, this 16,000 hectare park is a place to spend plenty of time in, whether your preference is to visit the castle and its gardens or to thread your way along one of the six waymarked trails. These are graded according to length and are classified from ‘easy’ to ‘strenuous’. I walked the ‘moderate’ Lakeside trail on a warm, muggy day in July, 2010 and found so much to enjoy along its three-and-a-half kilometres. Mostly a level walk, with very little effort I could enjoy the splendid views across Lough Veagh and its little islands, watching the changing light glancing off the water and the cliffs beyond.

Other, more serious walkers, passed me by on their way to the hilltops further on. This walk also crosses the Owencarrow river which is the main watercourse from Lough Veagh towards the sea. I deviated from the trail to wander a little into the woodland and was overjoyed to find, deep down in a very damp, mossy hollow, the very precious Lesser Twayblade. This member of the orchid family is, as its name might suggest, a small plant species, and as I had never come across it until that day you can imagine how thrilled I was to have spotted it. I have to admit that the helpful guides at the Visitor Centre had given me a few pointers as to where I might find it and there were several plants, all waiting to be photographed and added to my website¹. The midges also enjoyed that warm and moist spot and almost drove me to distraction but I managed to get just a few photographs before I made a very hasty exit from nature’s little sauna, muttering dreadful words about those tiny biting insects!

The most northerly park is Glenveagh, a place to lose yourself in

The precious Lesser Twayblade, a member of the orchid family

The invasive rhododendron species, projects for its control are underway

The photographs weren’t wonderful but they are a memory of just one of the fascinating parts of biodiversity to be found in Glenveagh. I briefly glimpsed a Jay, its blue wing flash giving me just enough information to help with an identification. As I sat to gaze at the lake, a bunch of Long-tailed Tits flew together, just like a group of giggly girls, fluttering around, never stopping still, then off they went to delight someone else. I’m told that Golden Eagles and Peregrine Falcons frequently soar, high above the mountains and the lake, and that a small population of Redthroated Divers breeds in this wonderful wilderness, its only Irish breeding location. These diving birds eat a seafood diet of sand eels, shrimps and codling, and on their return from the sea to their nests, their unique call can be heard throughout the glen.

This park also is home to some of our native mammals and in the upper reaches of the mountains, the Irish Hare runs freely, surviving on a diet of grasses and sedges. Further down, are badgers and foxes, both feeding on worms in springtime and in the autumn, their diet is enhanced by the addition of juicy blackberries. The elusive Pine Marten can also be found in the glen along with the animal often mistakenly identified as a weasel – the stoat. Weasels are not found in Ireland but I wonder who remembers the old way to tell them apart? ‘You can weasely tell a

Further down the west coast, Connemara National Park is also home to stoats and its stunning landscape of mountains includes Diamond Hill, Benbaun, Benbrack, Muckanaght, and Bencullagh with its visitor centre located at Letterfrack. This 2,000 hectare park was first opened in 1980 and among the native treasures it has to offer are many beautiful butterflies such as the stunning Painted Lady and two plants more commonly found in Spain and Portugal, St Dabeoc’s heath and St Patrick’s cabbage. There are also a few carnivorous plants, species that live on soil which is impoverished and in order to get the nutrition they need, the plants have evolved some clever mechanisms. The leaves of both sundew and butterwort are covered with sticky blobs and when an insect touches down on a leaf, the poor creature gets stuck fast, special enzymes kick in and draw all of the nutrients from the insect, thus nourishing the plant. The remains of the insect just blow away on the wind.

This park, like Glenveagh, is home to an invasive alien species, rhododendron, a purple-flowered shrub which spreads from Kerry to Donegal and is a mighty problem for farmers and other land owners along the western seaboard. In order to conserve areas of important wet heath and regenerating woodland, one of the projects that Connemara National Park is undertaking is to control this toxic species by cutting and treating it with herbicide.

The stunning Painted Lady butterfly

St Dabeoc’s heath, more commonly found in Spain and Portugal

The Sundew, one of a few carnivorous plants species to be found

St Patrick’s cabbage also more commonly found on the Iberian peninsula

A critically endangered native breed, the Old Irish Goat, is one of the fauna species that you might see on the higher reaches of this park. Having been in Ireland for around 5,000 years it is now only found in this type of habitat, its numbers having reduced by interbreeding with domestic goats. These goats are handsome creatures, clothed with long hair and the males carry most impressive horns. Below their long outer coats, a thick undercoat of cashmere helps to keep them warm in harsh, winter weather.

Deep in the stunning landscape of County Kerry’s Iveragh peninsula lies Killarney National Park, a 10,000 hectare area that includes Ireland’s highest mountain range, the majestic Magillicuddy Reeks. Below these mountains are several lakes, vast areas of woodland and some quite magnificent waterfalls. The park was established in 1932 and includes the renowned lakes as well as Kenmare and Muckross Estate and Bourn Vincent Memorial Park. A visitor centre is located in Killarney House and Gardens where plenty of information is available about the park and its history as well as routes for walking and hiking. The House, itself a splendid building that was donated to the State and renovated in 2016, also hosts an interactive exhibition where the visitor can learn about the flora and fauna of the area.

The Park has been designated a ‘biosphere reserve’, at term that is described by UNESCO as a ‘learning place for sustainable development’, and it has been recognised as such because of the presence of several rare wildflowers. These include the Largeflowered Butterwort – a carnivorous plant with sticky insecttrapping leaves and beautiful purple flowers and Irish Saxifrage, a small, low-growing white-flowered plant that spreads on little cushions of reddish foliage. Blue-eyed Grass, by no means

widespread and well worth looking out for, is another little beauty with small clusters of blue flowers that open in sunshine.

When it comes to fauna, of Ireland’s twenty-six native terrestrial mammals, Killarney National Park is home to twenty. Perhaps the resident herd of Red Deer, our largest native land mammals, is the most interesting. Since the middle of the last century, these creatures have been protected and the herd now numbers over 600. Should you find yourself in Killarney between August and October, this is the time when these animals put on a show known as the Red Deer Rut, when the males literally lock horns with rivals and can be an exciting spectacle, best viewed from a distance.

See the next issue of Senior Times for more about our wonderful parks, Wicklow Mountains National Park, the Burren National Park and the newcomer, Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí.

¹ www.wildflowersofireland.net

The Large-flowered Butterwort – a carnivorous plant with sticky insecttrapping leaves and beautiful purple flowers

The Irish Saxifrage, a small, low-growing white-flowered plant that spreads on little cushions of reddish foliage

Blue-eyed Grass is another little beauty with small clusters of blue flowers that open in sunshine

Bridge

By Michael O’Loughlin

Michael O’Loughlin has enjoyed teaching bridge for over 40 years; his book, “Bridge: Basic Card Play” is available from the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland (01 4929666), price: €10.

Calling all Novices –Intermediates!

by Michael O’Loughlin

Calling all Novices – Intermediates!

High from the Shorter Length, Low from the Longer Length

As declarer with sequential high cards between your hand and dummy’s: if you are leading from the hand with the shorter length, lead the highest card; if you are leading from the hand with the longer length, lead the lowest card. Think L-L: Longest – Lowest.

As declarer with sequen1al high cards between your hand and dummy’s: if you are leading from the hand with the shorter length, lead the highest card; if you are leading from the hand with the longer length, lead the lowest card. Think L-L: Longest – Lowest.

A. North: ♠ K 2

South: ♠ A Q 4

Make sure that the King appears on the first round of the suit. If you are leading from the North hand, lead the King. If you are leading from the South hand lead the 4. If the King does not appear on the first round, it will block the suit on the second round.

C. North: ♣ Q 2

Make sure that the King appears on the ﬁrst round of the suit. If you are leading from the North hand, lead the King. If you are leading from the South hand lead the 4. If the King does not appear on the ﬁrst round, it will block the suit on the second round.

B. North: ♥ K J 6 2

South: ♥ A Q 3

South: ♣ K J 10 4

Make sure that the Queen appears on the ﬁrst round of the suit. Then the King, Jack and Ten on subsequent rounds.

Make sure that the Ace and the Queen appear on the first two rounds of the suit: high from the hand with the fewer cards in the suit.

How should declarer play 3NT on our featured deal, West leading a Diamond? Assuming Clubs split no worse than 4-2, declarer has nine top tricks via four Diamonds and five Clubs. It’s good news that he doesn’t need to touch Hearts, for as soon as he loses the lead, alert defence will switch to Spades, a suit in which declarer is wide open, not having a Spade stopper.

Based on teaching experience this rule is cherished above all others by those new to the game who have not yet developed a true feel for the cards.

Make sure that the Ace and the Queen appear on the ﬁrst two rounds of the suit: high from the hand with the fewer cards in the suit.

Dealer: South

C. North: ♣ Q 2

South: ♣ K J 10 4

Make sure that the Queen appears on the ﬁrst round of the suit. Then the King, Jack and Ten on subsequent rounds.

Based on teaching experience this rule is cherished above all others by those new to the game who have not yet developed a true feel for

Make sure that the Queen appears on the first round of the suit. Then the King, Jack and Ten on subsequent rounds.

Make sure that the Queen appears on the ﬁrst round of the suit. Then the King, Jack and Ten on subsequent rounds.

However, declarer must be careful or he will block the minors. To make life easy for himself he should win the opening lead with dummy’s uQ, high from the hand with shorter length, i.e., fewer Diamonds. Now he can lead the u3 across to his Ace, King and Jack of Diamonds. Next he must tackle the Clubs. He’s in the South hand, so must play high from the shorter hand - the hand with fewer Clubs - by playing the ♣K. If declarer made the mistake of playing the ♣3 first, he would only make a maximum of three tricks in the Club suit, not the five tricks that he needss to make his contract. Try it and see.

Based on teaching experience this rule is cherished above all others by those new to the game who have not yet developed a true feel for the cards.

Dealer: South None Vul

Mastering Bridge with Andrew Robson

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced club player, join the BridgeCast community and access the expertise and insight of a world-renowned player and teacher to improve your bridge game.

https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk/andrew/tips_for_intermediates

BridgeCast is a monthly video subscription service offering Andrew's new Bridge videos either daily or three times a week.

More tips for Intermediate players

https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk/ andrew/tips_for_intermediates/

Free bridge emails

If you wish to receive three times per week free bridge emails which include lessons, videos & quizzes, please email me: michaelolough@yahoo.com

Bridge Getting started: for Absolute beginners

The Bridge Bug

It is often asked, "Why is Contract Bridge so avidly enjoyed by so many people?" This question is usually raised by someone who has never learned the game, but whose interest has been piqued by friends who have been bitten by the "Bridge Bug."

It is not surprising that the game is highly appealing, because it combines so many fascinating features:

SOCIAL

Bridge involves communication and cooperation with your partner and interaction with your opponents. There’s a special camaraderie amongst Bridge players that develops from the social setting and the game’s emphasis on teamwork, ethics and sportsmanship. Social engagement: Bridge is a social game that can help people make new friends and feel part of a community.

SKILFUL

A player who has learned well will win more often than one whose technique is inadequate, for bridge is first and foremost a game of skill. It requires such abilities as reasoning, memory, and planning. Anyone who is willing to invest some time and effort can learn to play, and you need not be an expert to find enjoyment.

CHANCE

On some occasions, you will be dealt powerful cards and will reap the benefits – if you can apply the necessary skill. On less fortunate occasions your opponents will be blessed by the goddess of chance and will hold considerable strength, and you will have to combine your skill with whatever good cards you do possess to try to turn defeat into victory. The interplay of skill and chance is one of the most appealing features of bridge.

THE PERSONAL ELEMENT

Taking into consideration the behaviour patterns of your opponents is yet another intriguing aspect of bridge. For example, some opponents consistently overvalue their cards, and you can let them climb out on a limb and cut it off behind them; others tend to undervalue their cards and should be left strictly alone. Also, the care and understanding of partner is particularly important. In bridge, you have a partner to assist you in the battle against your two opponents and partner's habits must also be kept in mind.

Thus, a close decision would be resolved differently opposite an aggressive partner (who often announces unpossessed strength) than with a conservative partner (who always turns up with something in reserve). Bridge involves "playing the people" as well as playing the cards.

UNIQUENESS

In Bridge, exact situations are virtually never duplicated. The reason for this is that there are no fewer than 53,644,737,765 ,488,792,839,237,440,000 possible deals, so you are most unlikely ever to see the same one occur twice during your lifetime, even if you play every day. Thus, every deal will offer something unique. Certain general principles, however, are useful and their mastery is rewarding.

A LIFELONG PURSUIT

No matter how many years you play, the learning process will never end. Bridge also caters to all physical conditions and disabilities, so players can actively pursue their pastime throughout their entire lives.

STIMULATES THE BRAIN

One of the best ways to practise the “use it or lose it” advice for maintaining mental sharpness. Research has shown that regular bridge playing improves reasoning skills and long and short-term memory. Mental stimulation: Bridge is a mentally challenging game that can help improve memory, logic, reasoning, and concentration.

Playing bridge can be particularly beneficial for older people, who may experience cognitive decline. The game can help keep the brain active and stimulate the immune system. Reduced risk of dementia: Playing bridge may help reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's. It exercises your grey cells, keeping them sharp for years to come.

IMPROVED WELL-BEING

Research has shown that playing bridge can have a positive effect on well-being and mental health. Bridge can teach people to plan, be optimistic, and think ahead.

A BARGAIN

All you need for a Bridge game is a deck of cards and three other people. You can play at your local club, where you’ll enjoy a three-hour session of Bridge for just a small outlay. Without even leaving home you can play on the internet, often for free.

FUN

Of all the reasons to learn the game, the most important is that it’s just fun to play.

First and foremost, people play because they enjoy it. Playing bridge is a fun activity which you can enjoy with friends and family of any age, anywhere in the world. All you need is a pack of cards, a table, and some like-minded people. Bridge players love the mental challenge. Each game played will offer a unique challenge of problems and solutions. Every single deal is different; every deal poses a new problem and the challenge of finding the solution is a great source of enjoyment - even more so if you find the answer!

You can play at your level - if you want to play socially, be more competitive, or try to be the best in the world, there is a bridge game which fits your goals.

As all active brain activity keeps the brain, and as a result, the body, healthy, bridge, along with chess, is at the peak of this form of exercise. This, along with the endorphins released akin to a gambler’s, makes it simultaneously both addictive and healthy.

"Bridge is the most diverting and intelligent card game that the wit of man has so far devised. I would have children taught it as a matter of course, just as they are taught dancing; in the end it will be more useful to them, for you cannot with seemliness continue to dance when you are bald and potbellied; nor, for that matter, can you with satisfaction to yourself or pleasure to your partner continue to play tennis or golf when you are well past middle age. But you can play bridge so long as you can sit up at a table and tell one card from another. In fact, when all else fails - sport, love, ambition - bridge remains a solace and an entertainment."

W. Somerset Maugham

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young."

Henry Ford

Helen Sobell: Film star to bridge master

Helen Sobel was born in 1910 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She did not learn to play bridge until moving to New York and at 16 years of age became a Broadway chorus girl in the Marx Brothers shows, The Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers. There, a fellow dancer taught her Bridge which she took to like a duck to water. She even parlayed her strawberry-blonde good looks into advantage at the bridge table. As Eddie Kantar claims: Helen Sobel seldom, if ever, mis-guessed a queen in a slam contract when she was playing against two men. Her trick was to lift her skirt a little above her knees. It never failed that the one with the queen of spades was too nervous to look around, but the one without the queen always looked.

Sobel was fiercely competitive. For good measure, she sometimes wore sunglasses to tournaments to deceive opponents into regarding her as a dumb blonde.

She was the first female player to represent the United States in a world championship in 1937. That same year, she married Al Sobel, a tournament director for the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL). It was her second marriage (the first being to Jack White), but it would not be her last. Following a

female kibitzer (spectator) who was all but sitting in Charles Goren's lap. When the woman asked Sobel, in the middle of a hand, 'How does it feel to play with an expert?' The best female player in bridge pointed to Goren and said: 'I don't know. Ask him.' The two were never romantically involved, but 20 years of playing bridge together fuelled speculation which Sobel responded to with her natural wit. When her divorce from Al Sobel became public she was besieged by reporters who wanted to know if she and Charles Goren would marry. Helen cracked, "We would in an

I know”, Quizzed as to why she had made a particular bid or play, she would invariably raise her eyebrows and say, “It worked, didn’t it?”

One of her regular partners commented: “She has an artistic approach and an elegant style that is beautiful to watch. She plays for all possibilities with a cold and well-directed determination. She is a keen psychologist as regards both sexes. All she expects of her partner is dependability.”

Another regular partner of hers said: “Don’t let anybody tell you that Helen Sobel is not a first-rate technician. I’ve never seen her make the wrong percentage play and that despite the fact that she may pretend she’s a lousy mathematician. Also, when the long tournament grind is over and the rest of us feel like something the cat dragged in, there sits Helen as fresh as you please…. What stamina”.

She married Stanley Smith, her fourth husband, in 1966. on September 11, 1969 she died in a Detroit hospital at the age of 59 after a long battle with cancer. The monthly ACBL Bulletin remembered her as a player "without a peer among women and very few peers among men. Helen played like a man: it was true. But she also played like a lady."[9]

https://www.andrewrobson.co.uk/andrew/tips_for_intermediates

Unlike Goren, Sobel was not a heavy teacher or promoter of the game. However, she wrote two books, contributed a guest article for a third, and appeared on Goren's television show, "Championship Bridge with Charles Goren" which can still be watched on YouTube. In her later years, she partnered other experts including Oswald Jacoby and continued

Helen was not a keen bridge theorist. She preferred natural bids and was not particularly in favour of conventions. She liked to feel free to come up with a bid or play that made the most sense to her in a particular situation, regardless of

Helen Sobel was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in 1995, when the League established that honour by adding eight names to a list of nine whom The Bridge World had recognized in the 1960s. She was then the only woman among the 17. Her Hall of Fame citation paraphrases and quotes The Bridge World editor and publisher Edgar Kaplan: "Helen's style was frisky and aggressive – so aggressive that some of her male partners were intimidated. These guys felt they were playing in the Mixed Pairs and they were the girl."

"In my lifetime", the citation also quotes Kaplan, "she is the only woman bridge player who was considered the best player in the world. She sure knew how to play a hand."

If you wish to receive three times per week free bridge emails which include lessons, videos & quizzes, please email me:

Don't Ignore the Signs and Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Research from Specsavers reveals a startling 42% of adults currently struggle with their hearing or know a loved one who is. Yet almost a third of adults (28%) claim they have never gone for a routine hearing check.

The research found that one in five people in Ireland mishear what people nearby are saying, while others struggle to hear doorbells (18%) and ringing phones (15%). Almost six in ten (57%) of those struggling with hearing loss claim they have had to ask people to repeat themselves recently, and half (50%) notice themselves turning up the television higher than normal.

Signs of hearing loss are also prevalent when observing loved ones. 70% of people claim they have noticed loved ones, who are struggling with hearing loss, ask people to repeat themselves. Furthermore, 60% notice them turning

up the television higher than normal and just over a third (34%) taking phone calls through the speaker.

Specsavers Audiology Chairperson, Orla Walsh, says: ‘Hearing loss affects so many people in Ireland, and we know that many people struggle for years before they take any action. But there’s no need to put it off any longer, particularly with the expert help and support that’s available from Specsavers.'

‘It is important to get your hearing checked if you notice any changes in your hearing, regardless of your agemost of the time hearing loss happens gradually, making it harder to notice if you’re not hearing as well as you used to. It’s also important to look after and protect your hearing.'

‘The best thing to do is to make sure that you never listen to your music above 60% volume, give your ears regular breaks,

More than 300,000 people suffer with hearing loss in Ireland, yet many continue to ignore the signs and symptoms. Specsavers is encouraging people to act on any concerns and to look out for loved ones who may be struggling.

and when you know you’re going to be surrounded by loud noise make sure to take hearing protection with you. Prevention is always best, so if you do notice any changes in your hearing, make sure you seek expert help as soon as possible.’

With PRSI treatment benefits available, it’s incredibly easy and affordable to get help. Those eligible for the benefit can avail of a free pair of hearing devices up to the value of €1,000 or put their PRSI contribution towards the cost of a more expensive pair at Specsavers. Even with a Medical Card, many will also have PRSI entitlements which would make them eligible for a free pair of hearing devices.

Specsavers is encouraging the nation to prioritise their hearing health and not delay seeking help. A free online hearing check is available at www.specsavers.ie/ hearing/online-hearing-test.

Western Ways

George Keegan on happenings in tourism, history, the arts and food and drink on the Western seaboard

The colourful times of Burren artist Richard Hearns

Richard Hearns was born in Beirut in 1980 during the civil war. He was adopted by an Irish couple Frank and Margaret Hearns and brought to Ireland when just six weeks old. His parents then also adopted Sarah his eldest sister from Bethlehem where Frank had been serving with the United Nations Peace Keeping Force and his second sister Clare who is from Lebanon, was adopted during the time Frank was stationed there.

Richard’s early years were spent in Malahide, County Dublin and he attended secondary school at St. Michaels’s College in Ballsbridge. He says It was during his time there that he first became interested in art. His art teacher gave him great encouragement which he also received later on from his tutors when attending IADT and NCAD.

In 2002 he received his Bachelor of Fine Art Interdisciplinary Digital Media at IADT, then two years later a H Dip in Art, Craft and Design at NCAD. It was during that same year Richard met his wife Boo while they were both taking a holiday on Koh Mak Island in Thailand. Three years later they met again by chance on the same island. They were married in 2009.

While his work may appear to some as quite abstract, he is through his paintings examining his cultural heritages introspectively and he maps the world around him to the surface of a given painting through gesture and colour. His paintings he believes manifest an enriched search for the representation of the idyllic. Some of Richard’s paintings often mirror his height and his energy is channelled through the brush on to the surface of the canvas using the medium of oils.

Over the years he has received many corporate and private commissions, most recently from DCU.

Since 2005 his solo shows have taken place in many cities around the world including London, New York, Paris, Barcelona and Trad Province, Thailand. Last year he presented a major show – The Living Mountain in the Cadogan Gallery, Milan, then towards the end of the year at Sotheby’s New Bond Street Galleries in London and in Dublin. This was as part of an exhibition featuring modern British and Irish art. Over the years he has also taken part in numerous group shows.

Richard Hearns in his studio at Sheshia Cottage in the Burren, County Clare

Richard Hearns with his dog Noodles and The 'Rainbow' series photo credit Eoin Collins

IMMUNE SYSTEM

OXIDATIVE STRESS METABOLISM

HAIR NAILS

SelenoPrecise is one of the most rigorously tested selenium supplements on the market. In the last 35 years it has changed the lives of millions of people in more than 45 countries worldwide.

Selenium contributes to:

Normal function of the immune system, thyroid function, normal spermatogenesis, maintenance of normal hair and nails and the protection of cells from oxidative stress.

SPERM CELLS

Contains the patented SelenoPrecise yeast (organic selenium), which is widely known for its superior bioavailability (89% absorption) and safety records. Pioneers in Nutritional Healthcare

Visit: www.pharmanord.ie to find out more about BioActive SelenoPrecise and our full range of high quality supplements. You can also sign up to our newslettersand stay informed on the latest health headlines.

The planting of the olive tree

Fifteen years ago, Richard and Boo moved to the Burren in County Clare. It took until just three years ago to find what Richard describes as their ‘Forever Home’, which is located in Bellharbour. From the outset they began to establish their perfect home in Sheshia, a 200 years old cottage. Work was started to renovate a former milking parlour into a loft style apartment and a grain store into a purpose -built studio. Next up was the 2-acre site and Richard has so far planted 800 native Irish trees and an orchard. “Here we also planted a 150 year old olive tree. This tree is rooted in the cultures of Lebanon and Palestine and carries a timeless message of resilience, peace and connection. This is a symbol of my Middle Eastern and Phoenician heritage brought into the heart of County Clare”, he told me.

The fourth building to be renovated was Harbour View at 8 Burren Cottages which is located 1.6km from their home place. It’s a 44 years old cottage overlooking the harbour. On a one acre site it has accommodation for six people and is ideal for short term renting, either by family members and friends, or artists and collectors to enable them experience the Burren and gain a deeper insight into his work and the context that surrounds and shapes it.

In future years Richard believes his work here is about fostering a space where creativity, friendship and peace meet and where art and heritage feel woven into the land. “I hope it brings a sense of connection and inclusion, a reminder of how beauty can unite us across cultures and landscapes”, he says.

Richard Hearns comes across as someone who has developed a great philosophy of life, is passionate about his home and especially living within the unique Burren. He is definitely destined to further major success as one of the country’s most accomplished artists.

Richard Hearns with 'KARWAN' photo credit Eoin Collins

Richard Hearns with the 'Time & Tide" series

Get ready to embark on a literary journey like never before!

Listowel Writers' Week 2025 is just around the corner, and we're thrilled to invite you to join us from May 28th to June 1st for an unforgettable celebration of words, wisdom, and wonder

Midway to the Marvel:

As we find ourselves at the mid-way point to the literary festival that is Listowel Writers' Week 2025, the energy is electric, and the anticipation is building for an unforgettable celebration of the written word. We are on the verge of presenting our program at a glance, a curated glimpse into the literary feast that awaits, promising a tapestry of diverse voices, ideas, and creativity.

Diverse Narratives in Competition:

Our competitions continue to be a testament to the rich tapestry of storytelling. The Kerry Group competition has seen a kaleidoscope of entries, each reflecting a unique perspective on the human experience. The Pigott Poetry Prize, a celebration of poetic prowess, has welcomed submissions spanning traditional sonnets to avant-garde verses, showcasing the dynamic nature of contemporary poetry. The Byran McMahon Short Story Award has become a canvas for compelling narratives, delving into the intricacies of life, love, and everything in between. Meanwhile, our Poetry Collections competition has accumulated a treasure trove of lyrical expressions, demonstrating the breadth and depth of poetic exploration.

Open Competitions Until March 10th:

For those yet to contribute their literary gems, our remaining competitions beckon you until the 10th of March. The Single Poem competition invites poets to distill their essence into a singular masterpiece, while the Creative Writing Competition welcomes narratives that push the boundaries of imagination. The Nilsson Heritage Award, a tribute to cultural preservation, awaits submissions that delve into the rich tapestry of history. Young minds are encouraged to participate in the Children's Competitions, offering a platform for budding wordsmiths to showcase their creativity. For detailed guidelines and submission information, visit our website at www.writersweek.ie and be part of this literary journey.

Exciting Program Launch:

In the coming weeks, we eagerly anticipate the launch of our program at a glance—a tantalizing preview of the literary wonders that await you. Brace yourselves for a lineup that will spark your imagination and inspire your literary soul. Stay tuned for this literary revelation as we prepare to unveil the magic that Listowel Writers' Week 2025 has in store.

Embark on the Literary Extravaganza:

Get ready to immerse yourself in a literary journey like never before! From May 28th to June 1st, Listowel Writers' Week will be a feast for the mind, an opportunity to meet literary masters, discover emerging voices, and unleash your creativity.

Exclusive surprises await, promising moments that will make this edition truly extraordinary. Mark your calendars, stay tuned to our socials, or visit www.writersweek.ie for the latest updates for a week that promises to be a literary extravaganza. .

Full programme will be released in April so join our Newsletter / stay tuned online for updates. Join us at Listowel Writers' Week 2025, where words come to life, friendships are forged, and creativity knows no bounds.

Keep a close eye on our socials or find us on www.listowelwritersweek.ie

See you there!

New garden opens in Cong, Co Mayo

Late last year a new garden was formally opened in the village of Cong situated on the North Eastern shore of Lough Corrib along the Mayo/Galway border. It was to commemorate the life of Dr. Kathleen Lynn who was born in Mayo and a former resident of the village. She was best known for her role as Chief Medical Officer with the Irish Citizens army and treating the wounded at City Hall. She also founded St. Ultan’s hospital in 1919 with the help of other women activists.

The impressive garden was created by members of Cong Tidy Towns committee and incorporates large masonry blocks which were originally to be used for the Cong canal in the 19th century.

Strolling around this lovely village you immediately get the impression of the care and attention being given by the local residents. They should take a bow and feel proud, as I feel sure they do, of their efforts. A Heritage Walk has been mapped out containing numbers bringing visitors to the main locations of interest around the village. There is a nature walk too and for film buffs a guided tour of the Quiet Man film locations.

Attractions

Cong Abbey: It is said that on this site was once a church founded by St. Feichin in the 7th century. In the 12th century Cong Abbey was established as an Augustinian Abbey by Turlough O’Connor High King of Ireland. The Abbey is also known as the Royal Abbey of Cong.

The Cross of Cong: The large cross was crafted in Roscommon in the 12th century and was commissioned by King Turlach. It is called the ‘Bacall Gug’ (yellow crozier).

Quiet Man Museum: This museum is an exact replica of the original cottage used when ‘The Quiet Man’ directed by John Ford was filmed in 1951, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. The interior also contains replica furnishings and artifacts used at the time. Its open daily between 10am and 4pm from end of March to end of September. An impressive statue of the two actors stands in the village.

Other landmarks worth checking include a mural created by Congolian Youth Club (beside the Quiet Man statue) and the Harry Clarke stained glass window in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. The local Tourist Office is in a former Courthouse on Abbey Street with a sign over the door reading 1853.

New novella from Mayo writer

Playwright, novelist and screen writer Mick Donnellan has just published his latest novel called Galway Blues, set against the vibrant but shadowy backdrops of Athlone, Ballinrobe and Galway city. His fiction has won many awards both locally and internationally and this is his fifth novel to date. Other titles are El Niño, Fisherman’s Blues, The Dead Soup and The Naked Flame.

Film credits include Tiger Raid which was adopted from his play Radio Luxembourg. The Irish premier took place during last year’s Galway Film fleadh. Mick is currently working on the screen adaptation of Shortcut to Hallelujah with Florence Films. The screenplay is titled ‘Sam’ which is based around the Mayo football team’s gypsy curse that supposedly set as they returned home after being crowned All Ireland champions in 1951. It is set in the present day.

Part of the new garden at Cong

Your Public Services Card

The Public Services Card (PSC) gives you safe and easy access to public services, including travel, revenue, and social welfare services.

Talk to us at The 50 Plus Show in the RDS Dublin, 13 and 14 March at Stand 144. We will be offering a special walk-in service for people who want to apply for, or renew their PSC, including the Free Travel PSC.

For more information, please visit gov.ie/psc

Brought to you by the Department of Social Protection

A Lifetime Mortgage Provides Real Financial

Choice For Homeowning Over-60s – And

More And More People Are Making That Choice

According to Spry Finance, the sole providers of Lifetime Mortgages and Lifetime Loans in the Irish market, the demand for these later-life lending products grew by 15% in 2024. The growth was driven by factors including increases in the number of loans issued to single females, the number of customers opting for lower-rate ‘Green’ loans for energy efficient homes, and the number of loans issued in Cork and Galway.

Lifetime Mortgages and Lifetime Loans are a way for homeowning over-60s to realise some of the equity in their property (subject to terms and conditions) without having to sell it, relinquish ownership, or move out. No repayments are required – although many customers do make optional repayments –and the loan balance is not repayable until the property is sold, the customer moves into long-term care, or the customer dies.

27% of borrowers used funds from their Spry Lifetime Mortgage to supplement their pension income, just ahead of the 27% who established a cash fund, and the 15% who released equity to fund home improvements. Other uses included mortgage switching (12%), providing a gift or living inheritance to loved ones (11%), paying off unsecured loans (6%), and funding later life care (3%).

The large amount of spending on home improvements was also reflected in last year’s 60% increase in borrowers choosing a Spry Green Lifetime Mortgage, a product where the funds must be used to improve the energy efficiency of the property on which the loan is secured.

Just over a third of those borrowers (36%) met the loan criteria because their home already had a BER cert of B3 or better, while the remaining 64% were eligible because they committed to spending funds on home improvements for energy efficiency purposes.

Lending to single female customers grew 13% to represent >35% of all loans issued, as opposed to 31% in 2023. This was 2.5 times the number of single male borrowers, which decreased from 17% to >14% last year. Borrowing by couples comprised 50% of loans, down from 52% in 2023.

The average amount of equity released from homes by single female customers was €83,000, which was €6,000 more than that of single male borrowers (€77,000), and €20,000 less than couples (€103,000). The median property value for a borrower was €570,000 in Dublin and €370,000 outside the capital.

Another driver of growth was a significant rise in demand for Spry’s equity release products outside Dublin. Loans issued in Cork and Galway grew 29% and 53% respectively in 2024, with average loan values of €100,000 in Cork and €67,000 in Galway. There was a growing trend in Galway of funds being used to provide a living inheritance, and an increase in funds being used for home improvements among Cork customers.

David Brady, Director of Spry Finance, believes that 2024’s growth demonstrates the increasing recognition of Lifetime Mortgages as an important financial planning tool for later life.

Mr Brady said: “The growth in demand reflects growing awareness of our later-life lending product range as a financial planning tool for those aged over 60. It’s clear that many older people in Ireland are asset-rich but cash poor and are considering how best to fund a later life where they live longer and enjoy better health.”

Lifelong Learning and Thriving at DCU: How the Age-Friendly Unit is Empowering Older Adults

On a crisp autumn morning at Dublin City University (DCU), a group of older learners gathers in a bright lecture hall, eager to engage in a discussion about Irish literature. Some have spent decades in the workforce, others are retired educators, and a few simply have a deep love for learning. They share insights, debate ideas, and laugh alongside younger students, proving that education truly has no age limit.

This scene is just one example of the transformative work happening at DCU led by the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Unit, a pioneering initiative designed to ensure that older adults remain intellectually active, socially engaged, and deeply connected to the

academic community.

Breaking Barriers in Education

DCU has long been a trailblazer in fostering inclusive education. In 2012, it became the first university in the world to declare itself Age-Friendly, a move that has since inspired institutions across the globe to rethink how they engage with older learners. The university’s AFU Unit sits at the heart of this movement, offering a range of opportunities that encourage older adults to step back into the world of academia without pressure or constraints.

For many, the opportunity to audit university courses—attending lectures without the worry of exams or

assignments—is a dream come true. Whether it’s philosophy, history, science, or creative writing, DCU opens its doors wide, welcoming older learners to sit in on classes that spark their curiosity.

Others prefer the short courses and workshops designed specifically for them, covering everything from digital literacy to well-being and cultural studies.

“I never thought I’d be back in a university setting at this stage in my life,” says Mary O’Reilly, a retired librarian who now regularly attends history lectures at DCU. “It’s been exhilarating— not just learning new things, but being part of a community again.”

ADULT LEARNING HOLIDAYS IN THE DONEGAL GAELTACHT

Irish Language (all levels), Hill Walking, Archaeology, Environment, History, Literature, Painting, Weaving, Irish music and more…

Book: www.oideasgael.ie

E-mail: oifig@oideasgael.ie Phone: +353 (0)74 97 30 248

GLEANN CHOLM CILLE, CO. DONEGAL

More Than Just Learning: A Social and Cultural Hub

But the Age-Friendly Unit is about much more than just coursework. It’s also a vibrant hub for social connection and intergenerational engagement

Older adults and younger students often come together for mentorship programs, sharing life experiences and professional wisdom. Cultural events such as game nights, book clubs, and musical performances provide a space for connection and creativity.

Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of DCU’s approach is its emphasis on intergenerational learning

The dynamic of older and younger students sharing ideas, perspectives, and knowledge helps break down ageing stereotypes and fosters mutual respect across generations. This is celebrated each year with a week-long series of events marking Global Intergeneration Week, and DCU is proud to be the national lead on behalf of Ireland.

“There’s a richness in learning alongside people who have lived through different eras, experienced history firsthand, and have stories to tell,” says Paul, a thirdyear student who participated in an intergenerational research project. “It makes the classroom experience much deeper and more meaningful.”

Health, Well-being, and Staying Active

Recognising that an active mind is best supported by a healthy body, the Age-Friendly Unit also offers a strong focus on health and well-being. The Active for Life Programme offered by the DCU Sports Centre and mindfulness workshops help keep older adults physically and mentally fit. Seminars on aging, health management, and wellbeing provide valuable knowledge on navigating later life with confidence and vitality.

For many participants, these initiatives have been life changing. “I found a renewed sense of purpose through these programs,” says James, a retired engineer who now volunteers as a DCU Ambassador. “It’s not just about keeping busy—it’s about staying involved, contributing, and feeling like you’re part of something bigger.”

A European First: Erasmus Adult Accreditation

Adding to its growing list of achievements DCU has become the first university in Ireland to receive Erasmus+ Adult Accreditation for its Age-Friendly Unit doors for older learners to international learning experiences, exchange ideas with peers across Europe, and participate in collaborative projects that enhance their educational journey. With access to Erasmusfunded mobility programs, participants will have the opportunity to travel, study, and share knowledge with likeminded individuals in other European universities, further enriching their learning and cultural experience.

to remain connected, curious, and inspired.

Join us at the Taste of DCU on 3rd September 2025 to experience being a student for a day, hear more about the AFU Programme. Visit the website www. dcu.ie/agefriendly for more information.

“This is an incredible step forward,” says Dr Christine O’Kelly, the global lead of DCU’s Age-Friendly initiative. “It means our older learners will have more opportunities than ever before to engage in transformative education, not just locally, but on a European scale.”

A Warm Invitation to Get Involved

Whether you’re a retired professional looking to share your expertise, someone seeking new learning experiences, or simply eager to expand your social circle, DCU’s Age-Friendly University Unit is a welcoming and inclusive space. With flexible learning options, engaging social activities, and countless opportunities to stay active, the university makes it easy for older adults

For those considering taking the leap, Mary O’Reilly has one simple piece of advice: “Just do it. You’ll be amazed at what’s waiting for you.”

At DCU, lifelong learning isn’t just a concept—it’s a way of life.

Friends Fortnight

February 17th to March 1st 2025

Become a member of the Friends today to take part in our annual celebration of the National Collection.

Featuring an incredible line-up of expert guest speakers, Friends Fortnight 2025 will have more in-person lectures, more fascinating talks and tours, and more exclusive online content than ever before.

Join today at www.nationalgallery.ie/friends

(c.1480–1528), The Crossing of the Red Sea, 1521. Photo, National Gallery of Ireland.

Ludovico Mazzolino

Dublin Dossier

Pat Keenan reports on happenings in and around the capital

The real Oval ‘Office’ and other celebrated Dublin Hostelries

It was around twenty years ago that for some reason best known to themselves American Airlines invited a group of Irish journalists decidedly weighted towards provincial newspapers on a press trip to Boston and Chicago, both cities with a large Irish ancestry. I was the only Dub. We flew from Shannon, in the days when there were no trans Atlantic flights from our capital city. On that trip one of those provincial writers rarely went along with the group, preferring to stay on his own, mostly in pubs, where he believed that meeting locals gave him the best source of stories. He told us of meeting so many Irish Americans with tales to tell of their exile experiences and of hopes, perhaps dreams of some day returning to Ireland. He may have been right. Bars and pubs have been used by many writers, some like Flann O'Nolan (pen names - Flann O'Brien and Myles na Gopaleen and more) often was seen writing in The Scotch House, now gone, it used to be on Burgh Quay. Flann also inhabited The Palace Bar on Fleet Street where other Irish Times folk also gathered. I remember regularly seeing late great sports writer Con Houlihan arrive in Hourican's pub in Leeson Street after having been at some

sporting event and sit his milk laced with brandy pint while contemplate his daily sports column in the Evening Press. Sadly Hourican's has also gone. The Irish Press lot mostly went to Mulligans, still there in Poolbeg Street. Other journalists would seek out celebrities and public relations news sources in The Horseshoe Bar in the Shelbourne Hotel or at Scruffy Murphy's pub off Mount Street Lower, now closed to to be replaced by apartments.

I had my own reflective pint recently in The Oval Bar in Middle Abbey Street just round the corner from O'Connell Street and still used by reporters and writer from Independent newspapers now headquartered in Talbot Street. They of course used to be in Independent House just further along the street. The Oval opened in 1820 and enjoyed a long relationship with Independent House which before that was also the site Freeman’s Journal. Reporters, writer and production workers from there would have dropped in to the Oval after the daily editions were put to bed for over two hundred years.

The Oval, Middle Abbey Street, favourite watering hole of journalists and writers

What will happen to me?

The DSPCA’s Pet Guardian Programme is a service available for pet owners nationwide.

peace of mind that

have a plan in place for your pet when you’re gone.

Independent House was sold twenty years ago and still lies boarded up and empty, part of the sad decline of Dublin 1. This magnificent building, rebuilt in 1924 on the site of the original buildings destroyed during the 1916 Rising, the site of newspapers dating way back to 1763.

My reflections with the ghosts of drinkers past had to be narrowed, otherwise it would have been a bit congested. Maybe even Joyce himself sat here researching for Ulysses. The Oval gets a mention in the great book, episode seven 'Aeolus', we have W H Brayden, editor of the Freeman, described by Leopold Bloom as having ‘fat folds of neck’ and Simon Dedalus adding that ‘all his brains are in the nape of his neck.’ Also mentioned, the Freeman's London correspondent Paddy Hooper, who we're told had ‘gone round to the Oval for a drink’ with reporter Jack Hall. Hopper, Joyce suggests, had been one of Molly Bloom’s many casual lovers. Simon Dedalus, more a major figure in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, is also in briefly in Ulysses having a drink in the Oval. Dedalus is said to have been modelled on Joyce's father John Stanislaus.

At the close of The Aeolus episode in Ulysses, there is a short reference the statue of Sir John Gray which is just back around the corner in O’Connell Street. Sir John was a patriot, politician, physician and journalist. In 1841 Sir John Gray and his family became the owners of the Freeman’s Journal and changed the papers stance from being pro British under the previous owner the 'Sham Squire' Francis Higgins to become staunchly Irish nationalist and prime supporters of Charles Stewart Parnell and the Irish Parliamentary Party. Eventually with increased competition of other nationalist papers and witch splits in the Irish Parliamentary Party over Parnell's relationship with Kitty O'Shea, the Freeman's Journal ceased publication in 1924 and merged with the Irish Independent

Independent House was sold twenty years ago and still lies boarded up and empty

At the close of The Aeolus episode in Ulysses, there is a short reference the statue of Sir John Gray which is just back around the corner in O’Connell Street.

ree Nights B&B with Dinner from

€ 3 325pp

Five Nights B&B with Dinner from

Bridge Breaks

€ 4 400pp

Oct 5th-9th, 12th-16th, 19th-23rd Nov 2nd-6th, 10th -14th, 16th-20th, Nov 30th-Dec 4th, Dec 7th-11th.

Four nights B&B with dinner, daily Bridge clinics, afternoon hotel activities. No Single Supplement € 4 490pp

Whist Breaks

€4 400pp

Sept 28th- Oct 2nd Nove 23rd-27th

Four nights B&B with dinner, daily Whist clinics, afternoon hotel activities. No single supplement.

Ennistymon, Co. Clare

Alive Alive O!

Kathleen Farrell, a street trader died in January after more than fifty years selling flowers at the corner of Thomas Street and Meath Street in the Liberties. She was the fifth generation of her family with a market stall here. In the early days there would have been over sixty stalls on Thomas Street. At her funeral in the Augustinian Church on John’s Lane John’s Lane Church singer songwriter Imelda May, herself born and raised in the Liberties, sang 'Molly Malone.' Kathleen's daughter Catherine O'Connor also trades on Thomas Street.

Street trading in the area dates back nearly 300 years to the early 19th century. It extending from Thomas Street, Patrick Street, James' Street and continued on to Kilmainham and Dolphin's Barn.

Dublin's fair city, of course, was not the only city with street traders but can be said to have developed its own reputation made famous by sweet Molly Malone selling 'cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!' by day and who knows what at night. During the 1988 Dublin Millennium celebrations a statue representing Molly Malone was unveiled on Grafton Street by then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ben Briscoe. It had to relocated to its present location in Suffolk Street to make way for Luas tram track-laying.

Depending on what you needed to buy you would pick a street trading location of which there were many. I have fond memories of the Dandelion Markets on St.Stephen's Green, flowers on Grafton Street, and of course Moore Street for vegetables, cabbages,'heads of salad' and wisecracks. Redevelopments have been going on since the 1970s and are still going on! There was Smithfield Horse Fair and the Fruit and Vegetable markets. The Iveagh clothes market is no more. South William Street & Drury Street, now a days so up-market with exclusive Bars and restaurants, was once known as the rag trade district. Now remembered by a 'unique and intimate' bar called The Rag Trader. It was once a textile warehouse.

In the early 1900s the area around Werburgh Street, Chancery Lane and Ship Street was Dublin's ‘Little Italy’ and included familiar names like Forte and Fusco. They were street traders of ice cream carts and some like Giuseppe Cervi would open small cafés an introduce Dubliners the term ‘One and One’ for fish and chips. Dublin’s Italian community gave us Joseph Nannetti from the Tuscan region and slightly better off being the son of an Italian sculptor. Nannetti became a Dublin Lord Mayor in 1906 and being a printer and trade unionist, Nannetti also gets a mention in Episode seven of Joyces Ulysses when Bloom meets him in The Freeman's Journal

The Rag Trader - Stout & Whiskey, worth a visit, is at 39 Drury Street, Dublin 2 Visit their website at: theragtrader.ie. And it's

Imelda May, born and raised in The Liberties, sang Molly Malone at the funeral of street trader Kathleen Farrell

Werburgh Street Church, Werburgh Street. The area was originally known as ‘Little Italy’

Joseph Nannetti becamse Dublin’s Lord Mayor in 1906

GOLDEN BREAK SPECIALS

Escape to the stunning West Cork coastline with our 2 & 3-night Golden Break Specials for guests over 55.

✓ Full Irish Breakfast each morning

✓ Delicious 3-course dinner each evening

✓ Valid Midweek (Sunday – Thursday)

✓ Access to our Leisure Centre with a 19-metre swimming pool, & gym

✓ Free Parking

✓ Nightly entertainment

the Maritime Bar

the charm of Bantry and West Cork, with

Beauty from the bog

Eileen Casey reports on The multi-faceted Shinrone Gown Project inspired the discovery of a dark, woollen dress in a bog near the Offaly village by workmen almost two hundred years ago

Shinrone (Suí an Róin, meaning Roin’s seat/retreat) is a village in County Offaly. It resides in the southernmost part of the country, situated very close to the border with County Tipperary. Connected to Shinrone are notables such as Barack Obama and Arlo Guthrie. It’s also the village where I got married in the Church of Saint Mary, many years ago.

But further back, in the spring of 1843, workmen on a bog outside the village happened upon a dark woollen dress buried in the peat dating from 16th/17th Century. This garment is today considered a unique survivor from this period and of significant importance historically. This dress is currently on display in the National Museum of Ireland where clothing historian Kass McGann, after studying the gown, made a reconstruction. Although the original appears to be dark (possibly from the peat), for the reconstruction McGann used a more vibrant crimson colour which sets off the white shirt-like undergarment.

Artists Rosalind Fanning and Bernie Stapleton also wished to reconstruct The Shinrone Gown (TSG) on terms which would enable students in a local National School to understand how such a gown is put together, using natural dyes and also, introducing sewing and spinning, pleating, dying skills which are still so prized. Seamus Heaney, our much revered national poet, saw bog as a landscape that remembered our past as well as preserving objects. A time capsule as it were. When he read a book called The Bog People by Danish archaeologist P.V. Glob, about Iron Age bodies found in the bog in Northern Europe, their photographs blended in Heaney’s mind with the atrocities of the political violence in Northern Ireland. Interestingly, it was another poet and his poem Bog Dress (Noel McMahon) that formed part of the inspiration for TSG project. It was Monahan’s lifelong dream that the dress be reconstructed and returned to its rightful home in

Shinrone. So… time to meet the artists!

Rosalind Fanning’s early life in London equipped her so well for the creative world she now inhabits. Described by her father as ‘artsy’ and ‘day-dreamy’; yet he wasn’t keen for her to go to art college (a place he deemed to be full of ‘debauchery and sin’). Instead, Rosalind entered the family business of property management at the tender age of 17. She was responsible for overseeing the 100 or so beautifully maintained flats in renovated Victorian houses in South London. Any wonder then she has such a keen eye for colour, texture, sculptural form – indeed, the finer things in life.

Understated and elegant, Rosalind’s creative journey took her to many places, figuratively and geographically. She attended Christie’s education coursesas well as attending The Inchbald School of Design (both London based); the latter’s particular course being ‘Interior Architecture’. She’s worked in London and New York as a Materials and Colour Specialist with three top architects and interior and interior design companies. Her talents extend from creating original, sumptuous interiors, painting (watercolours and oils), co-ordinating colour and fabric - to photography and writing…it would be fair to say Rosalind can turn her hand to many creative pursuits. In collaboration with her journalist husband Derek (also a multifaceted artist), she is the proprietor and curator of The Tin Jug Studio & Gallery, Birr, a soothing retreat where artists can flourish in a nourishing atmosphere, very conducive to the making of art. A writing residency is offered at The Tin Jug on an annual basis, funded by County Offaly Arts. Her beautiful home, Saint Brendan’s, is a

The original Shinrone Gown (Courtesy The National Museum of Ireland)

guesthouse, offering a cosy, feast for the senses stay. Here is a woman who knows all about the importance of place and thankfully, has chosen Birr to settle in. In the early 90s she came back from the States to set up her grandmother’s wonderful doll exhibition, firstly at John’s Hall, Birr during the annual Vintage Week. Since then, she continues to be an active and welcome energy in the creative life of the town.

Bernie Stapleton, equally talented, has lived in County Offaly for over forty years, finding Birr in particular, ‘a warm and welcoming town with friendly people.’ Being of this disposition herself, she fits the town profile very nicely. This talented lady always had a passion for sewing and crafting, initially training as a tailor in the 60s. However, she ‘couldn’t bear being stuck indoors’. Which is why she nowadays ranks walking on the bog among her leisure-time pleasures. She agrees that the bog is alive with sensory delights. ‘There are so many wonderful smells and unique features to discover on the bog’. For an artist with not only a steady hand but a keen eye, Bernie is very much aware of how the bog changes with the time of day and the seasons, offering new sights and experiences with each visit. So, the prospect of being shut indoors for long periods is the reason why she never professionally pursued the highly skilled occupation tailoring is. However, her training has not been wasted. Bernie especially loves making costumes for plays and ‘dressing up’.

One such costume concerns The Child of Prague, a familiar presence (headless preferably) on many window sills. The costume is exquisite. Rosalind worked on the crown and orb while Bernie made the luxury cape. Rosalind and Bernie worked on plays such as Wilde and Sheridan, creating suitable stage apparel, enjoying the partnership immensely. They’ve also co-created entries for Birr’s annual Vintage Week parades. Bernie once made an impressive pig on castors and very large fish which Rosalind added to in order that it blend with a surrounding seascape of mermaids. That ‘glamorous fish’ now hangs in The Tin Jug Studio & Gallery, floating from the ceiling. TSG project could not have fallen into better hands.

The origin story of TSG largely rests on speculation, adjudicated by the times in which it lived and was inhabited by a living, breathing woman. Bernie smiles as she recounts how in one of the workshops, an eight old girl summed up this mystery (after careful consideration) saying: ‘The bog holds the answer’. From the mouth of babes comes true wisdom. Both women discount any suggestion of ‘murder’ scenario. There are many possible reasons the gown ended up in the bog i.e. theft by a maidservant seeking to avoid the consequences by concealment might be one such hypothesis?.

The workshops facilitated by Rosalind and Bernie proved to be very successful.

Funded by Creative Ireland, the project, as well as workshops, also engendered public talks and there’s a short film also on YouTube, commissioned by County Offaly Arts. During the workshops, the actual construction of TSG is progressed from pattern to finished garment with emphasis on sewing, focus on blunt sewing needles and stitching with yarn thread. Of course, the size of the stitches themselves are a talking point. Bernie recalls how the adults have to resist the urge to sew delicate, precise stitches, while the kids embrace the large 3/8 inch stitches with enthusiasm. The peg dolls (inspired by TSG project) are more suited to adult hands than the children who, conversely, find the tiny, neat stitches, challenging.

Both Rosalind and Bernie fell in love with the project from the very beginning. They continue to find the whole idea ‘enthralling’. Recreating the past through this garment ‘brings into play the history of the times and asks questions about ownership of the original gown’. Again, both artists reiterate the desire of local poet Noel McMahon to see TSG returned to its home locality, even through reconstruction. Although ownership of the gown is unknown, there are facts surrounding its removal from Shinrone.

The gown was originally sold to an historian elsewhere who then sold it to the Duke of Northumberland for a large sum of money. The duke later returned it to Ireland.

From left, Karen Gray, Bernie Stapelton, Rosalind Fannings and Amanda Peplow

The reconstructed Shinrone Gown

The restoration project really got going thanks to Gerry Murphy, a key member of the Shinrone Heritage Group. Both ladies acclaim him as ‘the main driver’. He was instrumental in securing Creative Ireland funding and his huge energy truly ‘has been the success behind the project coming to fruition’, both ladies agree. Luckily, Gerry Murphy discovered that a local lady knew exactly where the gown had been discovered two centuries ago. Her father had shown her as a child the location. There was no record of what the then farmer and turf cutter discovered… whether there were bones for example?

As Rosalind explains, ‘conjecture can also be called great story telling opportunities!’

As it happened, the gown found in the bog was wonderfully made – tailored to be fashionable of its time – that is with European influence in style, but distinctly Irish. Remarkably, as Rosalind explains further, ‘one detail stands out: the three darts in the bodice’. Experts had epiphanies on these. The reason being ‘clothing was not to be cast off, but constructed of materials to last’. This gown shows that it could be adapted for pregnancies. The darts were gradually let out as the pregnancy term commenced and then, conveniently, stitched up again after the birth. To ensure authenticity, the ladies followed the instructions from The Recreating History pattern, which meant that every inch of the dress was hand-stitched with precision. They devoted themselves to honouring the craftsmanship of our ancestors, expert tailors whose skills they hoped to replicate.

While Bernie loves to walk her dog Olive, on bog land or exploring the sea’s rock pools, foraging for seaweed and other treasures from the bountiful ocean, Rosalind enjoys ‘pootling’. A lover of nature and married to her ‘mountainy’ husband, Rosalind too can often be found on the bog, although not as frequently since their ‘two darling dogs passed last year’. But herself and Derek often walk The Paul’s Lane Loop at Cadamstown.

Both Bernie and Rosalind are avid reading fans. Bernie enjoys works by John Feehan such as ‘Wild Flowers of Ireland’ while Rosalind is an admirer of Tiny Claffey’s wonderful bog photography as shown in one of Tina’s recent publications ‘Portal’ (featured in Senior Times previously). I wondered if a celebrity like Lady Gaga might wear The Shinrone Gown? Bernie thinks she

yet. Cue David Sherlock (1850- 1940), a barrister at law turned industrialist who actually made a suit from peat fibre. Born in Rahan Lodge, Tullamore, he was drawn to all things peat, experimenting with its many uses. By the 1850s peat was the most economical form of energy. It fuelled German trains; in Ireland the Great Southern & Western Railway Company experimented with turf, using it as train fuel (1874) and for smelting iron.

Although Sherlock had financial independence, he lacked business nous and was easily swayed by manufacturing claims. Although his peat suit was not successful (proving too expensive to commercialise and also, too unattractive), he did manage to produce paper, cloth, paint, ink, iodine, tiles, bricks. The one and only time I came across a dress (supposedly) made from natural fibre such as peat was worn by Leah Remini who played Carrie Heffernan in King of

, in an episode which saw husband Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) convert to

Bernie and Rosalind made the pilgrimage to The National Museum (opposite The National Library) to see the original Shinrone Gown. It’s on show in a dark cabinet near the Dowris Hoard – or the half that’s found – discovered in a bog in five alley, Birr. To say the excitement experienced was palpable is an understatement. Both women felt the spirit of the gown surround them…a gown lost for two centuries. It is rather magnificent, by any standards.

The Shinrone Gown Project owes a debt of gratitude to Creative Ireland, County Offaly and to Shinrone Heritage Group for their enthusiastic support. Also acknowledged; Gerry Murphy, filmmaker, Kass McCann, National Museum.

A short film on The Shinrone Gown is available on the link below: www.tiktok.com/@seekthehistoric/ video/7408637454749601057

Bernie Stapleton facilitating the rag doll workshop

Wine World

Super

wines from down under

The celebrated Marlborough Valley wine growing region

Mairead Robinson highlights some excellent wines from New Zealand.

One of my favourite wine trips over the years, was the time I went to New Zealand and drove around both North and South Islands visiting some excellent vineyards and meeting some great people. New Zealand were championing the screwcap over the traditional cork at the time, and while their European counterparts were sceptic, their winemakers were in the main very positive about screwcap closures, even for the red as well as for the white wines. I remember one dinner I was a guest at where all the wine came from screwcaped bottles, and sitting next to a renowned winemaker I remarked how I was not sure it was going to prove so popular in Europe. After all, I told him, we like the ceremony and sound of the pop of the cork. He looked at me with a sympathetic smile and replied – ‘you guys need to get out more!’ I do love the kiwi sense of humour! As with their humour, the New Zealand approach to wine making is pragmatic.

Interestingly, they are not at all new to wine making, as the first vines planted in New Zealand was in 1819, which means that they have been making wine for over 200 years. Of course it is Sauvignon Blanc that they are most renowned for and for many people who love Sauvignon Blanc, they consider that New Zealand’s is by far the best. Why is this so? Basically it all comes down to the unique climate – key when considering ideal wine growing conditions, but also of course the soil diversity and the varied winemaking techniques that combine to create a distinctive sauvignon style with razor-sharp acidity and layers of flavour. Within New Zealand itself, Marlborough is considered the most world-famous region for the production of Sauvignon Blanc which pairs so happily with fresh seafood and the region has diverse landscapes, from valleys of vines to sheltered waterways. It is the largest wine growing region and has the soils and perfect climate for Sauvignon Blanc production.

While without a doubt, the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is worthy of its great reputation, I do feel that sometimes it shadows the other wines that come from this lovely country. You might find it difficult to find anything other than Sauvignon Blanc in the country section of your local supermarket for New Zealand, but I can assure you it is definitely worth checking out some other varities and blends from some of New Zealand’s winemakers.

Vineyard in the beautiful Marlborough Valley

Exceptionally good Riesling

Recently I came across some exceptionally good Riesling, indeed this surpassed much of the Riesling I have enjoyed in Germany. It is a grape variety that is not to everyone’s taste, but this particular Riesling from Nelson is, in my opinion, outstanding. The brand is Heaphy, and as they claim, it reflects the region’s abundance of mineral joy, being alive with floral aromatics, texture and zest. A gorgeous wine, great with food and also as an aperitif on its own. Available from www. wineonline.ie it is definitely worth checking out.

IMC Feb 25 Senior Times.qxp_Layout 1 21/02/2025 12:36 Page 1

And also from Heaphy, I tried a 2023 Chardonnay which come is a hefty 14.5 per cent - high for a Chardonnay – which was absolutely brimming with flavour and body. More about these wines on www.heaphyvineyard.co.nz

And while the two wines above are excellent white wines, it might surprise some to learn that some excellent full bodied ‘meaty’ reds also originate from New Zealand. I recently highlighted a beautiful full bodied Shiraz, called Longview from the Adelaide Hills that is wonderful warming wine to enjoy with meaty meals. It comes in at 14 per cent This wine is available from www.obrienswines.ie And as always check out their monthly special offers if you want to stock up on some favourites when they become available at a great price.

And so it is not just Sauvignon Blanc that the Kiwis are so good at, check out these wines above to discover some other jewels. And incidently, all the wines highlighted here, both white and red, come with screwcap closures!

IRISH MANUSCRIPTS COMMISSION RECENT PUBLICATIONS

A List of the Claims, 1700

edited by C. I. McGrath and

F. Nolan

AList

of the Claims is a highly important record of land ownership at a key moment in Irish history. In 1700 the Act of Resumption voided the majority of William III’s grants of lands and estates made in the 1690s. In a bid to reduce government spending the Act created a Board of Trustees to manage and sell all this property by 25 March 1702. Those whose forfeited estates predated William III and Mary II’s accession were permitted to make a claim to the Trustees to have their lands returned. Over 3,000 claims were received. An abbreviated List of these was printed for use in the Trustees’ Court. Manuscript adjudications were then recorded in the print copies. This modern edition collates adjudications from the 34 surviving printed Lists to provide the first complete record of the Trustees’ adjudications. About fifty manuscript claims, controversially submitted after the deadline of August 1700, are also included. 978-1-906865-88-7, €50, 2024

The letterbook of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork

edited by A. Clarke, B. McGrath, D. Edwards

Thisletterbook covers the period after Cork’s appointment as Lord Justice of Ireland and then as Lord Treasurer. It is composed of mainly unofficial communications on government and business matters to members of the English administration. In his correspondence Cork boasts of the enforcement of measures against Catholic worship and claims credit for the ‘peacetime’ establishment of Ireland. He also discusses private matters such as disputes with former employees, piracy in Munster, the price of clothing, his loan to the King, his marriage and his son’s ‘grand tour’. These letters record a unique period in early seventeenthcentury Irish history, when the New English settler community were able to govern the country without supervision by an English viceroy.

978-1-906865-97-9, €50, 2025

Buy online or order through any good bookshop www.irishmanuscripts.ie

An Iconic West Cork Hotel

Treat Your Senses!

In a place that drinks in the wild Atlantic sea air. With a chef whose food celebrates and elevates all that is fresh and hyper local.

With a spa experience that fuses the restorative powers of the sea with holistic healing for body and soul. With a rich history, connected to literary and political great names.

And a sense of classic, welcoming charm that wraps you in its warm embrace from the moment you arrive. All at the gateway to the beautiful Beara Peninsula, on West Cork’s Wild Atlantic Way.

Treat yourself to a stay at Eccles Hotel and Spa in Glengarriff.

even if a dish reads simply on the menu, it will be a work of art on the plate ”

Lucinda O’Sullivan, Sunday Independent 20% discount when you book a 3-night stay.

Golf

Playing by the book

Dermot Gilleece recounts some controversial incidents in golf which challenged the rules of the game

When the 1946 US Open champion, Lloyd Mangrum, was once called to heel over his ignorance of the Rules of Golf, his testy reaction was: ‘I don't know the traffic regulations of every city I get to either, but I manage to drive through without being arrested.’ While it may have made for a quotable quote, Mangrum's attitude reflected a long-time problem among many of the game's leading players.

They tend to resent the authority of the game’s referees who are accorded the privileged status of always being right, even when they’re wrong. Looking back over rules decisions that I have witnessed through the years, two have stayed with me for contrasting reasons.

The first of them was memorable because of the pompous reaction of an official acknowledging that a mistake had been made, while the other reflected great credit on an individual’s honest humility.

During the second round of the 1999 US Masters, Darren Clarke struggled on the slick slopes of Augusta National's greens on the way to a 78 to miss the half-way cut. Meanwhile Bernhard Langer, with a trusty ‘broom handle’ delivering magic, holed putts ranging in length up to 50 feet, when carding a sparkling round of 66 and a 36-hole total of 142. It hardly seemed fair, but as Jack Nicklaus once remarked, nobody ever said that golf had to be fair.

With a rules official in attendance, he confronted the problem of hitting a cut-up lob-wedge shot, despite having to cope with a pine

cone behind his ball. Langer asked the official if he could remove the cone and was told he could not. But he was permitted to touch it on his backswing.

‘I suspect I moved it,’ he admitted afterwards. To my eyes he most certainly did. Which meant that had Langer taken his action without the permission of an incompetent rules official, he would have been penalised two strokes for a breach of Rule 23-1: ‘Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or touch the same hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty.’

As it happened, the 1985 and ’93 Masters champion made perfect contact with the ball and sent it soaring over pine trees to finish 20 feet from the pin. And the putt went down for a birdie four.

Afterwards, having witnessed the entire situation, I approached Will Nicholson, chairman of the Augusta National Competition Committees, about the matter. ‘We were wrong,’ he said. ‘And it is our style to admit it when we're wrong. But there was no breach of rules by Bernhard in that he did as instructed.’

‘That got me going,’ said Langer of the unexpected birdie, without a hint of embarrassment. And he proceeded to emphasise his well-being by going on to card what has to be described as an outrageous birdie at the ninth, to reach the turn in 33 _ three under par. Stretching his arms upwards in triumph, he responded more excitedly than he has done for many of his tournament triumphs.

Was it a potential victory leap, I asked him afterwards? ‘Definitely not,’ he replied with a smile.’ I only do those when I'm in Ireland.’

Which was a reference to his emotion on capturing the inaugural Smurfit European Open in 1995.

Riding his Masters good fortune, Langer went on to card rounds of 72 and 73 for an aggregate of 287 and a reward of $92,000 for a share of 11th place behind Jose Maria Olazabal.

Wentworth golf course, scene of a controversial, line-of-sight relief ruling in favour of Jack Nicklaus during the World Matchplay Championship

During the 1999 US Masters Bernard Langer asked the official if he could remove the cone and was told he could not. But he was permitted to touch it on his backswing.

Fourteen years earlier, in very different circumstances at Westport GC, I found myself writing about a rules decision which was also incorrect. It happened in the fourth round of the Irish Amateur Close Championship in which Pat Lyons beat Arthur Pierse by 3 and 2. Lyons went on to lose to Declan Branigan who was ultimately beaten by Denis O’Sullivan by one hole in the final.

Those bare facts, however, hide details of a highly controversial happening in which the attending referee, Ivan Dickson, made an incorrect rules decision. In sharp contrast to later events at Augusta, however, Dickson candidly admitted his error and earned considerable kudos for his entire handling of the affair.

The problem arose on the difficult, 455-yard 13th hole where Pierse and Lyons in a level match, both hit good drives. Lyons then carved a 220-yard three-wood second shot towards heavy undergrowth on the right, short of the green. Pierse’s response was to hit a one-iron which finished left of the target.

As Pierse was about to head for the green, Lyons called: ‘I’ll play another one just in case.’ The Nenagh player then struck another three-wood and this time the ball soared perfectly on line, pitched on the front of the green and disappeared into the hole.

When they proceeded to walk up the fairway together, there was no sign of Lyons’s first ball, whereupon he said he was declaring it lost. He then made no attempt to look for it, but Pierse and members of his extended family who were following the match, proceeded to search for it. In the event, they found the ball within what was then a stipulated five minutes (it’s now three minutes), prompting Pierse to tell his opponent that he had to play it.

When Lyons insisted that he had abandoned it, Pierse was equally adamant that he was obliged to play it, saying: ‘You cannot give yourself that option.’

By this stage, a referee was called. He happened to be Dickson, the General Secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland and an acknowledged expert on the rules. But there was a problem. Years later, Dickson told me that when going out on the course to make a

ruling, he neglected to take the Royal and Ancient’s Decision Book with him. Which meant that he effectively worked from memory when dealing with the issue.

After listening to both players, he ruled that Lyons’s provisional ball was in play and that the player had scored a par-four on the hole. So, when Pierse pitched and putted also for a four, the hole was halved.

Dickson said at the time: ‘I had to make a decision and I’m quite prepared to admit that I could be technically wrong. I intend to have the matter clarified by the R and A.’

A week later, Dickson took the unusual step of making a formal announcement on the matter from the GUI. He had no need to contact the R and A, given that the solution was in the Decisions Book, as he suspected. Where he had been wrong was in omitting to specify how Lyons should have brought his provisional ball into play.

He should have physically removed the provisional ball from the hole before his original ball was found. The fact that he didn’t do so, meant that Pierse should have been awarded the hole. As it happened, the pattern of the match then changed dramatically, with Lyons sweeping to victory on the 16th.

Even allowing for the fact that this particular incident has stayed with me for 40 years, exposure on television tends to make indiscretions by professionals far more public and not so easily forgotten. For instance, I can recall another situation in Augusta from about 1990 when, for the purposes of a feature article, a British journalist asked Nicklaus about a ruling a long time previously in the World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth. It concerned controversial, line-of-sight relief which Nicklaus had sought and received.

‘That's a closed book,’ snapped the Bear, with the sort of finality that only he could deliver. For me, however, the Westport case merited reopening, because of the dignified and decent manner in which a pressurised Dickson proceeded to handle it.

Westport golf course, scene of the controversial ruling in the 1981 Irish Close Championship

Jack Nicklaus once remarked, ‘nobody ever said that golf had to be fair’.

“This is the first time I hug you, hold you. You are my everything,” he said.

Miraculous reunion

Exclusive UNICEF report from Gaza - UNICEF reunites a father with his three children.

Abdullah wept as he clutched his 9-month-old son in one arm and cuddled his two older children with the other.

Through tears Abdullah said, "Here I am, my beloveds. Here I am, my everything, my loves".

Abdullah was separated from his pregnant wife and three children after they were forced to evacuate to the south of Gaza.

Tragically, this was only the beginning of his nightmare as his wife, having given birth to their infant son Mohammed, was killed. One of his sons and mother-in-law were also killed during the attack.

Although his daughter Retal, son Yamen and infant son Mohammed - whom he had never held - had survived; they were now living in a war zone without their parents.

Reuniting children with their families

Thankfully, after nine months apart, UNICEF’s social protection team were able to trace them and put in place a

plan to reunite the family. It had taken UNICEF’s staff and their partners attempts to get Abdullah's children back to him. But finally, they'd been successful.

As Abdullah nervously waited to hear if they'd crossed the checkpoint in the barren wasteland dividing northern and southern Gaza, he asked God to, “let their arrival be safe and sound”. Then came the call with the incredible news he'd been praying for; his children had crossed the checkpoint and will soon be with him.

There were scenes of elation when a short time later, the white UN 4x4 pulled up at the agreed location. It was an incredible moment of tearful joy as Abdullah and his three children were reunited and he was finally able to meet his 9-month-old son. Abdullah broke down in tears as he time.

“This is the first time I hug you, hold you. You are my everything,” he said.

Despite the heartbreaking tragedy of losing his wife and one of his sons, Abdullah was overjoyed to have his three precious children back. Thanking UNICEF Spokesperson, Salim Oweis who had driven them from South Gaza, Abdullah said, “May God bless you, protect you and keep you safe”.

© UNICEF/State of Palestine,2024/Eliean,Oweis

Salim Oweis pictured as he drives to the meeting point with the children. Speaking later Salim said “It was a good day, and we hope all children can stay with their parents and can be living happily in a family that loves them. That's what they deserve and that's what we ought to give them”.

Gaza’s Road to Recovery

For 79 years UNICEF has been working in some of the toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children; and continues to be at the frontlines of humanitarian disasters and conflicts.

We have worked for over 40 years in Gaza alongside communities and ministries of government, providing education, child protection, water and vaccine programmes.

As Gaza’s cities and infrastructure are almost entirely destroyed and the

population forced into displacement and aid dependency, UNICEF’s programmes are a lifeline.

The road to recovery for the children in Gaza is a long and arduous one and it will require many years for them to rebuild their lives. UNICEF will continue to be there - but we need your support.

Can you help rewrite a child’s future?

a child’s future with a legacy gift to children

for generations of children to come, so that one day for every child; there is peace, health, opportunity and love.

Learn more on unicef.ie/legacy

Having taken care of your loved ones, please consider including a gift in your Will. You can help rewrite their future. Your legacy gift will build a better future

Legacy Information Pack & Will Planner

Complete the form below to receive a free, no-obligation legacy information pack which includes a Will Planner.

FREEPOST (no stamp required) to:

Pauline Murphy, Legacy Gifts Manager, UNICEF Ireland, 33 Lower Ormond Quay, FREEPOST F407, Dublin 1, D01 R283

For every child, a future.

If you are meeting your solicitor to include a gift to UNICEF in your Will, the details you will need are as follows:

UNICEF Ireland: Registered Charity Number: 20008727 Revenue Number: CHY NO. 5616 Registered Offices: 33 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

I am considering leaving UNICEF a gift in my Will. Please send me a Goodwill Legacy Guide and Will Planner.

Name:

Eircode:

My Email:

Address:

County:

My Phone Number:

I would like to receive updates on how my support has helped children and information on other ways to help: If you prefer not to be contacted by post in the future, please contact us at info@unicef.ie Visit unicef.ie/about/privacy-policy for information about UNICEF’s data management practices. Phone Email

Please don’t hesitate to contact us to speak in confidence.

Two-year-old Nifal laughs at the camera when we visited recently to see her family, who now has access to clean water.

[Please detach form]

Five top tips to boost your finances after 50

Hitting the Big 5 – 0 means more than just a big birthday party.

It also should mean having a long hard look at your finances as you enter a new stage in life. How can you boost your pension? And your health cover? And can we make the most of our mortgage.

There are also some surprising opportunities to avail of loopholes in life cover – while making the most of recent tax changes to pass on as much of our estates as possible to our loved-ones.

Here’s are five tips on how to make the most of your money after 50:

1. Maximise your health insurance

Older people get a cracking deal on health insurance compared to younger folk.That’s because eighty-year-olds are likely to claim ten times as much as twenty somethings - yet we all pay the same for their cover.

So it pays to bump up your cover and be on the best plan you can afford. Older people tend not to switch health cover plans and end up paying thousands of euros per couple more than they need to.

But there’s no need to be afraid of switching cover. Legislation ensures we can switch to another plan with the same level of cover without losing out.

“If you are switching to an equivalent plan and you have served all your waiting periods, you will be on cover

immediately on joining. You cannot be restricted for any pre-existing conditions or pending medical treatment,” says Dermot Goode, Health Insurance expert with Healthcover.ie, a Lockton company. But if you are switching policies to a policy with higher cover, a two year waiting period may be applied – but crucially this is only in relation to any higher benefit on the new policy.

Dermot advises: “We advise not to autorenew policies, as doing so could cost up to 25% more for less cover. Shop around, disclose your budget and specific requirements, and challenge insurers to match or improve your current plan.”

A new insurer – Level Health – also offers lower prices.

Level Health has a suite of four simple policies that are much easier to navigate than the 350+ number of plans on the market. A big issue for older people is how insurers are reducing cover for

cardiac, joint and eye procedures. Only a handful of mid-range plans –mostly with Laya – still provide full cover for joint, eye and cardiac procedures that mainly impact older people for around €2k.

And even these increasingly have reduced levels of cover and higher excesses.

Simply Connect (€1991.83) and Simply Connect Plus (€2,144), for example, were priced at around €1200 a few years ago.

Level Health has co-payments for joint and eye procedures in private hospitals, which are lower than other providers for this level of cover on its B and C plans.

“Those who want private hospital cover for major cardiac surgeries in the hightech hospitals (Blackrock Clinic and Mater Private Dublin), should consider the new (Level Health) Plan C,” says Dermot Goode.

Cruise Direct from Ireland in 2025/26

This costs €1,378 per adult and has a very low excess of €75 per claim. But for private cover in all hospitals and no excesses or co-payments on hi tech procedures, then Plan D (€2,535) provides full cover.

That seems expensive, but as Dermot points out, “many other plans in the market” that cover private accommodation in the likes of Blackrock Clinic & Mater Private Dublin are priced above €5k. However, Level Health’s outpatient or day-to-day cover (for routine expenses) may not be as comprehensive as other market offerings.

Another way to boost your health cover is to consider a cash plan. Schemes such as the Hospital Saturday Fund (HSF) are a good option for those who can’t afford cover, or for older people who want addon insurance.

“I like these plans,” says Dermot, “and I think a lot of people just don't know they even exist.”

These plans have a range of options where you get paid a set sum per day spent in hospital or to help cover certain medical bills.

It doesn’t comprehensively cover your bills but it’s far better than no cover and can also be used to compensate for shortfalls in other policies.

“It's not health insurance - nor a substitute for it - but these plans are brilliant in terms of what they do.”

“They cover outpatient expenses like GPs, consultants, physiotherapy. The benefits are incredible and these are notfor-profit organizations.”

“I would recommend any individual who has no health cover to check out the One Scheme Direct Three.

This scheme costs €565 per year – (€47 a month) – and provides €75-a-night hospital cover – or per day for day case surgery. Dental and optical benefits are covered at 100% up to €450 and you get up to €20 per GP visit.

You also get up to €300 for other things like physiotherapy and osteopathy.

2. Pump up your pension

You can steer surprisingly high levels of income into your pension as you get older and get relief at the higher income tax rate.

Age-related percentage limit for tax relief on pension contributions

route requires careful consideration and advice, but it is a useful way to access extra cash in retirement if you need it. Spry Finance are the only company providing these type of loans currently.

4. An Post puts its stamp on life cover

An Post have a form of very basic life insurance that could work out relatively cheaply for older people if they have underlying health conditions.

Premiums for its funeral policies start €15 per month over ages ranging from 50 to 75.

It also pays to make sure your PRSI contributions are up to speed. You can easily request a statement by signing up for a MyGovID account.

Irish people who worked in the UK also currently have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to avail of a generous offer to top up their UK pensions. But time is running out…

The UK government has set an April 5th deadline for people who qualify for a pension there to buy up to 18 years of State Pension contributions at a very cheap rate. If you lived and worked in the UK for three years, you can qualify.

“Many of those who returned to Ireland after working in the UK forget the pension entitlements they left behind. For those who qualify, this is a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to secure a UK pension potentially worth up to €280,000 over a typical 20-year retirement,” said John Ring, Operations Director of XtraPension.

3. Make the most of your mortgage Equity release – or lifetime - mortgages enable older people to access the value of their property without having to move out or sell their home.

You do have to pay interest and this will mount up over the period of the loan, thereby eating into the value of your estate.

You can also take out a lifetime loan on a rental property or holiday home. Whether you want to go down this

A 50-year-old paying €20 a month, for example, would get cover of €16,430 after two years of payments.

But you can also get cover up to €30k by paying the maximum premium of €30 a month.

Whether this is good value or not depends on your circumstances. IF you have serious medical conditions that would rule out normal life cover, then An Post’s deal is definitely worth it as there are no medical queries, check-ups or reports involved.

5.Where there’s a will…

There was a lot of fuss about the recent increase in inheritance tax thresholds. The threshold for gifts and inheritances from parents to children has risen from €335,000 to €400,000.

But to make the most of these thresholds, you need to get estate planning advice, draw up a will and distribute your estate tax-efficiently. Doing so will potentially save far more money than the recent, much-discussed, changes!

JOIN THE GAA MUSEUM’S

SeniorMondaysSquad

Every Monday, Seniors can discover the heart and home of Gaelic Games with these exclusive offers designed for your pocket, as well as your passion! Both tours include admission to the GAA Museum.

Croke Park Stadium Tour

Our friendly and knowledgeable tour guides will take you through the fascinating story of Croke Park stadium, the home of Gaelic Games. This guided tour will bring you through the dressing rooms, media centre, corporate levels, and of course, pitch-side!

Kellogg’s Skyline Tour

Are you ready for a 17-storey high? This Dublin City tour highlights all of the capital’s main landmarks while giving you an insight into its heartfelt history, all from the rooftop of Croke Park Stadium! For more information and booking, visit crokepark.ie/seniors or call 01 819 2321

Lucerne, one of the first excursions and a memorable one

River Travel Rewards

George Keegan enjoyed a river cruise through Germany and Switzerland

At the outset I must admit I am a big fan of river cruises, so when Riviera Travel offered me the opportunity to join up with a group of like-minded tourists to sail along the Rhine and enjoy the local gastronomy on the way I had no hesitation in accepting.

The starting point was Basle in Switzerland from where we travelled to Cologne on the very impressive MS Geoffrey Chaucer, a trip lasting 7 nights and 8 days. The Gastronomy of Switzerland and the Rhine is one of the new themed cruises which the company has added to their 2025 and 2026 programmes.

The package includes return flights from Ireland, all transfers, full board dining, the services of a travel cruise director and concierge, plus free drinks package.

This stylish and elegant ship was built in 2019. It has a crew of 44 and there were 167 guests on board for our trip. All members of the crew were courteous and extremely professional. In the lounge and restaurants areas there was continual banter between staff and guests, adding to the overall ambiance on board during the cruise. A river cruise, especially when travelling solo, is certainly the perfect setting for making new friends.

Facilities include panoramic observation lounge, a sun deck (complete with replicas of old fashioned deck chairs), swimming pool, spa/treatment centre,

The luxuriously appointed MS Geoffrey Chaucer

boutique shop and a hairdresser. The dress code on board is casual during daytime and smart casual in the evenings with a request not to wear jeans at dinner time. The main restaurant offers both waiter and self- service dining. For alternative dining the Riverview Bistro complete with open kitchen is a good option, but a table must be booked in advance. I thought all the food served on board from day one to be exceptional.

My cabin was spacious with comfortable bed, excellent shower room facilities, air conditioning and a table with two chairs beside the sliding glass window, giving the opportunity to completely relax gliding along this wonderful river. Suites on the Diamond & Ruby decks contain ‘French Balconies’, bringing the wildlife on the banks even closer. A lift service is available between all three internal decks but a short flight of stairs must be taken to gain access to the sun deck.

Nightly entertainment was presented by the highly talented Artur the resident musician throughout the cruise. On some evenings other entertainers came

on board including a superb Spanish violinist. Another evening was set aside for a fun music quiz.

Guests may leave the ship on their own at any port should they so wish. The only stipulation being to always scan the cabin key at a special point beside reception before leaving and again on your return.

Every evening the programme for the following day is left in your cabin or you can attend a presentation in the main lounge describing the next destination with details of that day’s excursion. Members of the crew join with guests on outings. On the coach as well as walking tours a commentary is given describing places of historical and cultural interest.

Cruise highlights

There were many highlights on this particular cruise but space does not allow for detailed description of each of them. However the following, listed in no particular order, deserve special mention.

OUR DOCTORS SAVE LIVES.

The lives we save start with the gifts you leave

Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international humanitarian organisation providing medical care in more than 70 countries. From our paediatric nurses to our logisticians, we are experts at working in fast-moving and highlyinsecure environments, like Ukraine, Yemen and Gaza.

1 in 6 MSF projects is funded by gifts in wills

Gifts left to us in wills play a vital role in making sure we have the funds we need to deliver emergency medical care to wherever in the world it is needed.

By leaving a gift in your will to MSF, you can ensure that our financial independence – which enables us to provide medical aid where and when it is needed most –will continue.

Lucerne: One of the first excursions and a memorable one walking around this beautiful city which is situated in central Switzerland, a German speaking Canton.The city contains lots of attractions especially the historic Old Town. First stop is always the famous Chapel Bridge and Water Tower. The covered foot bridge across the river Reuss was originally constructed in 1360 and the Water Tower is even older. Next up is usually the Lion Monument commemorating Swiss guards killed during the French Revolution and carved out of a wall of sandstone rock, above a small pond. If Swiss chocolate is your thing then Lucerne is definitely the place to purchase some.

Stanserhorn: Without doubt the highlight of the trip for me. We began our assent on the funicular railway dating from 1893 then transferring to the Cabrio aerial cableway, launched in 2012. The cable car has an inside deck with outside one on top (it was inside for me !) At the end of our journey we arrived at a large revolving restaurant where we had lunch consisting of a local dish called ălplermagronen. It was served with cream from Stans (small town at bottom of the mountain), cheese from Nidwalden accompanied by Swiss apple sauce and presented at the table in a large Edelweiss pot.

Afterwards I climbed a little higher on foot and was lucky enough to see a marmot at close quarters. These large ground squirrels inhabit the Alps. The views on what was a sunny day high up on the mountain (which reaches 1898 metres) were really spectacular.

Rhine Gorge: One of the most scenic parts of the cruise is travelling through this Gorge which is a World Heritage Site. Along this part of the river the best place to be is on the sun deck to view the almost vertical vineyards, ruins of old castles, the famous Lorley Rock standing 132 metres high on the right bank and the large impressive Marksburg Castle, a Medieval fortress.

Doktorenhof Vinegar Distillery: The excursion into the city of Speyer includes spending some time in a vinegar distillery. It was a real eye opener because I was not aware so many different vinegars exist. The visit included a fascinating tour of the darkened cellar area where the vinegar is fermenting

in huge casks (similar to a wine cellar). We were then told the history of vinegar down the ages including way back then during Roman times when it was consumed as an energy drink called Posca ! This was followed by a tasting session of 5 special vinegars used as either an aperitif, a digestif, in cooking and for salads, plus one used for mind and body. I found the visit both educational and really enjoyable.

Titisee: A coach brought us through the Black Forest to the picturesque small German spa town of Titisee, situated on the lake of the same name and part of a community known as Titisee-Neustadt. A lovely spot to just stroll around and take a peek inside the numerous shops selling souvenirs, cuckoo clocks, craft shops and cafes. Boat trips are available around the lake. It was here I had my large piece of Black Forest Gateaux (which was delicious).

Cologne Chocolate Museum: all things must come to an end and the excursion to the Schokoladen Museum was on the final day of the trip. If you are a chocoholic this is the place for you. Learn all about the history of cocoa from its beginnings in Central America to the present day. As you walk around the building you can view artisan chocolatiers busy at work with the centre piece, a chocolate fountain standing 3 metres high continuously being filled with 200 kg of fresh Lindt chocolate. Yum !

River cruise specialist Riveria Travel

Last year Riviera Travel celebrated 40 years in the business of travel. The story began when Michael Wright decided

to erect and rent five canvas tents in the South of France in 1981 (where the name Riviera was born). As the season was short he decided three years later to begin operating a coach tour of Paris. From that point onwards expansion after expansion took place. In 2009 he took, what was then considered a brave step, into river cruising. In 2015 the company established its presence in Ireland.

Itinerary for 2025/2026

A new sister ship to Riviera Radiance (which launches this year) will be the 178 guest Riviera Resplendence both of which were designed to qualify for the Gold Standard in Green Awards programme for shipping. This sets out independently verified standards in safety and environmental performance. New itineraries include a selection of more specially themed cruises including Gastronomy on the Danube, Seine and Rhine, plus a Gardens & Natural Beauty trip also along the Rhine. Finally, it has also been announced that the company will be adding Mekong river cruises to the Irish market during 2026. There will be 19 departure dates across two 12-day voyages between January and December.

Note: If you intending to travel direct from Ireland there are two dates during 2025 and one in 2026. Dates for this year are 23rd May and 4th July. During this year the cost includes a superior drinks package of an unlimited selection of alcoholic and non- alcoholic drinks during lunch and again from 6pm till midnight each day. In 2026 this offer will become All Inclusive meaning from 10am until midnight. Full information on all Riviera Travel cruise packages at www.rivieratravel.ie

Apart from the breathtaking cathedral, Cologne has numerous attractions such as the Cologne Chocolate Museum:

Sunshine Breaks at Sunset Beach Club

The perfect remedy for the Winter blues!

If you could do with a break from the cold, why not plan a trip to the Costa del Sol, where daytime temperatures reach 18º or above on most days, and rainy days are few and far between? With regular flights to Málaga from Dubin, there is no easier place to get to, and Sunset Beach Club is just a 15 minute taxi ride from the airport.

Our studio-apartments have everything you need for a comfortable stay, and our outstanding services and facilities offer something for everyone! Make sure to try out our fabulous buffet breakfast in the Oasis Restaurant, an al fresco lunch at La Terraza, and a cocktail at the Panorama Bar! If you are feeling adventurous, you can book a day trip through our onsite Leisure Desk, who can also provide a wealth of information about what to do nearby. There is plenty to discover, such as local markets, Benalmádena Marina, take a trip on the cable car, visit Mijas village or the city of Málaga… or you can simply relax on your terrace or by the pool!

Treat yourself to a stay in one of our newly refurbished Prime Studio-Apartments!

The painters and decorators have been bustling away quietly over the last few weeks, and all of our Prime Studio-apartments have now been completely refurbished and are ready for our guests to enjoy.

As you can see in the photos below, these apartments look stunning with new sofas, soft furnishings, and terrace furniture. And if you’re looking for guaranteed sea views, then this is the ideal choice for you!

Plans are in place to carry out similar upgrades to all room types over the next two Winter seasons, so that they will be completed by 2027, when we will be celebrating our 40th Anniversary. Keep your eye on our website for future details!

For more information, or to book your Winter Sun Holiday, visit sunsetbeachclub.com.

*All details and services are subject to change without notice. We hope to see you soon!

Refurbishment of our Prime Studio-apartments has now been completed!

Sunset Beach Club forms part of the IRISH HOTEL GROUP FBD HOTELS AND RESORTS, and enjoys an unbeatable location on the seafront of Benalmádena Costa, just 15 minutes from Málaga airport. Popular for its friendly ambience and outstanding facilities, Sunset Beach Club combines the services of a resort hotel with the convenience of apartment-style accommodation (all rooms have a kitchenette and lounge area).

FLEXIBLE

ACCOMMODATION: Choose from a selection of studio-apartments with one bedroom, two bedroomed apartments or open-plan suites.

BOARD OPTIONS: You can book Self-Catering, Bed & Breakfast or Half-Board. Half Board buffet dinners include a selection of popular dishes plus a different international theme corner each night. If you don’t wish to join breakfast/dinner every day, you can also pay for these meals each time directly in the Oasis Restaurant. À la carte menu is available in La Terraza restaurant, with live music some evenings.

Four copies of A Writing Life to be won

Senior Times, in association with the publisher PP Publications, is offering four copiess of A Writing Life by Aubrey Malone as the prizes in this issue’s crossword competition. Aubrey Malone, who is the author of numerous books and is a frequent contributor to Senior Times, quotes from his poetry for linking the the various episodes of his life in this memoir. He charts his journey from Ballina to Dublin and beyond. As the title indicates, the book focuses mainly on his books and how they came to be written. Aubrey Malone studied English and philosophy at UCD. He was a primary schoolteacher for many years before devoting himself to writing.

Name:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Send your entry to Senior Times Crossword Competition, Senior Times, PO Box 13215, Rathmines, Dublin 6.

The first four entries drawn are the winners. Deadline for receipt of entries is 25th April 2025

Crossword

ACROSS

1 Tangy salad plant or firework? (6)

4 Sections of drama or serial (8)

9 Author of ‘Long Island’ ___ Toibin (4)

11 Works such as ‘Brooklyn’ & ‘Room’ (6)

17 Close to Guinness Brewery, an area in Dublin 8 (7)

18 Songbirds or carefree episodes (5)

19 Short trips taken to perform tasks (7)

20 Trim or clip back a plant (5)

21 Aromatic seed, source of spice (6)

22 They enter religious orders with no vices! (7)

23 Is there a loop around this small body of water? (4)

24 Language spoken in Moscow (7)

27 Manufacturing plant (7)

29 You could stew at this compass point! (4)

30 Bestowing an honour - maybe a drawing? (8)

31 Evergreen tree - sounds like a female sheep! (3)

36 Excuses or says sorry (10)

38 Leading ladies such as Saoirse Ronan (9)

40 Formula for cooking something (6)

44 Paris cathedral to meander in! (5-4)

45 They pursue a study or create art as a pastime (8)

47 Do lice snap the large pouched bills of these seabirds? (8)

49 Joan ___, U.S. singer, songwriter and activist (4)

50 Small dogs, such as Jack Russells (8)

51 Celestial bodies or prominent performers (5)

52 Conical tents used by Native Americans (7)

54 Yellow mixture of eggs & milk, goes with jelly (7)

57 Wipe out, delete (5)

59 Otto von ___, statesman who united Germany (8)

61 Networks, either computer or spider related (4)

64 Is Sir inept at being unused & immaculately clean? (8)

65 Workplace where large ocean-going vessels are made (8)

66 Silvery metallic element used in drink cans (9)

69 Groups of singers, often in churches (6)

70 Apartment located at top of building (9)

72 They’re trained to give emergency medical treatment (10)

75 You may eat this sweet potato! (3)

77 Practice prior to performance (8)

78 Creator of ‘Dracula’, ___ Stoker (4)

79 Fed lavishly at a banquet (7)

85 Italian composer of baroque music, ___ Vivaldi (7)

86 Exclude or leave out (4)

87 French composer, Leo ___, who loved edibles! (7)

88 Sherlock Holmes friend, Dr ___ (6)

92 Flee to get married secretly (5)

93 Inspect or check out carefully (7)

94 Capt. Kirk’s ‘Final Frontier’ (5)

95 Fictional woodcutter of Arabian Nights (3,4)

96 24th April 1916 saw the Easter ___ begin (6)

97 Marries (4)

98 Australian bushranger & outlaw (3,5)

99 Innate ability in some field - latent perhaps? (6)

Turn away from sin & do penance (6)

Small extraterrestrial body, travels around sun (5)

3 Dive ten times to see it is obvious! (7)

Soft place to lay one’s head (6)

Small fish, they’re usually canned in an SAS diner? (8)

Last course of a meal, usually sweet (7)

Food such as Irish ___, found in the west! (4)

Members of Irish Defence Forces, quite a solar crop! (9)

In a landslide, you can rent from these women! (10)

Be against, resist strongly (6)

Skilful at eluding capture (7)

Do these beer mugs come in sets? (6)

Place where animals are housed for exhibition (3)

Wife of a tsar, quite an artisan! (7)

Annoy or pester (8)

Persons who shoe horses (8)

One of 12 disciples chosen by Christ (7)

Cord of twisted fibres or a good story (4)

If it ever riles you, enjoy these noisy festivities! (9)

One who has ceased active working (7)

Periodic counts of population (8)

37 Tidal island on western edge of Connemara (4)

39 Scram! Packs in tightly (5)

I rate this as feeling anger! (5)

Did an earl hang in this Dublin 6 village? (8)

43 Gusto or relish (4)

Rock band, Queen, sang ‘Bohemian ___‘ (8)

Capital of Pakistan, place for bad salami! (9)

Knapsack or haversack (8)

53 Field covered with grass for grazing (7)

Town and county associated with W B Yeats (5)

Declare something to be untrue (4)

Shackleton was one, travelled to Antarctica (8)

59 Boasts (5)

60 11th-13th century expeditions to Holy Land (8)

62 Impressive built structure (7)

63 Merlot or Chardonnay for instance (4)

67 Covering to conceal the face (4)

68 Repaint a house e’er Redcoat might come! (10)

71 Frightens greatly (9)

73 Would a deb love this, her dearest! (7)

Pilot or plot a path - in a vintage vehicle! (8)

Writers such as John McGahern or John Banville (7)

78 Less bed and worthy of veneration! (7)

80 Endurance - staying power (7)

Progression of working or professional life (6)

82 Advanced student gaining working experience (6)

83 Wheat or rice, for example (6)

84 Baby (6)

Large theatre platform - to be acted upon (5)

90 Blood vessel (4)

Prohibit (3)

WaterfordWonders

Mairead Robinson explores the multitude attractions of Waterford City and County

Like many of us, a holiday at home – now known as a ‘staycation’ – is increasingly attractive as opposed to the prospect of delays, baggage restrictions, endless queues and organizing passports and boarding passes. Leaving aside the weather, I feel that a holiday at home is a much more attractive option when looking for a break, a treat, a family adventure or indeed a solo experience. And I have always held that the standard of hotels in this country is often far superior to many popular holiday destinations.

Along with some of the best known parts of Ireland, I have recently discovered and enjoyed some of the many attractions that Waterford – both city and county – have to offer. And this includes treats for the children, the whole family and indeed couples and groups of friends. So lets start with the smallies – ever a fan of granny/grandchild adventures, there is lots to choose from here. From the amazing Escape Room at Lismore Heritage Centre for starters. This is so much fun that kids of all ages will love it, and I must admit the adults too!

Another fun activity for the children is the Suir Valley Railway in Kilmeaden where the young ones especially will love

the colourful heritage train. The forty minute journey is a wonderful way to enjoy the area in comfort. And from Lismore and Kilmeaden, it is back to the city for the really exciting Viking Experience. The EPIC walking tour of the city includes access to the award-winning Waterford Treasures Museums.

The tour of the Viking Triangle visits six national monuments that date from 1190 to 1783. It is an all weather guided tour that really does appeal to and fascinate all the family, from the kids to the history buffs and everybody in between. Of course as well as Vikings, the city is also famous for Waterford Crystal, and the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre is certainly worth a visit. But for all the family, particularly those who love gardens, those at Mount Congreve are really spectacular, and definitely worth a visit.

What is extra exciting for us foodies, is the addition of JeanBaptiste Dubois as the Head Chef. Jean-Baptiste has a deep passion for sustainable cooking and he is looking forward to making the most of everything grown in the Mount Congreve Gardens.

Always worth a visit, Mount Congreve Gardens

A recent addition to the city’s attractions, The Waterford Clock Museum is proving very popular

CLASSICAL MUSIC WITH NAXOS

“Naxos is part of every music lover’s life” – Gramophone

FOLK TALES, VOL. 2

2ND VOLUME NOW AVAILABLE Gerald Peregrine, Antony Ingham

But back to the gardens - right now carpets of snowdrops and crocuses sit around the feet of the great oaks at the bell gate lawn and winter flowering plants such as Daphnes, Sarococcas and Mahonias also offer a beautiful fragrance all around the house and down the fragrant walk. Already early Camellias are out in the upper woods and the main path will soon be followed by the magnolias along the river walk. Rhododendrons are already out and about now the entire garden will be a blaze of spring colours. And so we have the most beautiful gardens and wonderful food prepared using all the vegetables grown in the gardens.

Another really exciting aspect of the opening of Mount Congreve Gardens is the really beautiful new forest accommodation with the opening of the unique eco-cabins and their exclusive hot tubs which are now in situ and also the gate lodges situated across Mount Congreve Gardens. www.mountcongreve.com

The restoration of the Georgian Glasshouse is also scheduled for this summer. The eco-cabins are perfect for a romantic getaway, especially for those who really like to get back to nature. But they are also wonderfully exciting for the children, who adore the idea of camping – all be it with warmth and comfort! In fact, we reckon the eco-cabins are among the best accommodation on offer in Waterford, and certainly the most fun.

Having said that, for those who want to stay in the city and visit all the treasures of this Viking city including the Bishops Palace, Irish Museum of Time, the Medieval Museum and the Irish Silver Museum – not forgetting the fabulous Wake Museum and the King of the Vikings award-winning Virtual Reality Adventure – we found the very best place to stay for your visit is the lovely Granville Hotel - www.granvillehotel.ie It is situated right in the centre of Ireland’s oldest city, complimentary parking across the road, and everything is within walking distance.

And finally, after loving Mount Congreve gardens, a spin out to the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens outside Tramore is highly recommended. The gardens reflect the life and extensive wanderings of Irish/Greek writer Patrick Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) who grew up in Ireland, and whose life’s journey embraced several parts of the world. The gardens pay homage to the fame he attained in Japan through his incomparable literary descriptions of the people, customs and culture of Japan.

Without doubt, if you have not visited Waterford before, you will be charmed by how much there is to see and enjoy there, and like ourselves, you will wonder how it was that you never visited Ireland’s oldest city before!

Mount Congreve House & Gardens

Rhododendrons will be a blaze of spring colours

Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens

King of the Vikings

Adventure

Granville Hotel

Meeting Place

PROFESSIONAL LADY, TALL, SINGLE, RC WLTM a single gent 5ft 11-6ft with good dress sense for social outings . Many interests including world travel, concerts, reading, theatre, cinema, cooking, animals, charity work, current affairs, swimming, ballroom dancing , A big plus if you can dance. Must be of a generous nature and have a car.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A1

LADY, 69, VERY YOUNG AT HEART living in Dubli.Originally from Meath. NS, SD, Very witty. I would like to meet a nice guy who is interested in movies, plays, concerts, travel home and abroad, walks, swimming, dining out and relaxing . Yippee!

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A2

MID WEST WIDOW, caring, a good listener having a positive outlook, enjoying travel, gardening, art, current affairs, armchair sports and socialising.. WLTM a good natured, kind happy and interesting good humoured NS gent in 70s for developing friendship and companionship and shared activities.

REPLYY TO BOX NUNBER A3

SOUTH EAST GENUINE, SINCERE LADY, 70s, ND, NS, slim, kind, loving and caring, pleasant personality/ Interests include cooking, music, entertainment, dining out, travelling and sight seeing. WLTM catholic gent 70 - 75 with similar interests for companionship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A4

KEEN PHOTOGRAPHER WLTM those with similar interest in photography for meetings, outings etc.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A5

SEMI-RETIRED BUSINESSMAN 70s living in the Midlands. Tall, slim and of good appearance. Very kind and generous. Interests include most type of music, dancing, cycling and walking, eating out and short breaks. WLTM lady with similar interests.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A6

LADY 69 young at heart living in Dublin but originally from Meath. WLTM a nicer guy who is interested in movies, concerts, travel home and abroad, walking, swimming, dining out and relaxing.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A7

DUBLIN PROFESSIONAL GENT EARLY

70s. GSOH, NS, SD medium height, neat appearance. Interests include ,music, social dancing, travel home and abroad, current affairs, reading, theatre, cinema, eating out and sport. WLTM lady 65-with similar interests and zest for life.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A8

NB: When replying to advertisements give only your phone number and/or your email address. Do not give your postal address!

NORTH CO DUBLIN BASED LADY slim, 5ft 4in WLTM a superbly compatible gentleman. My interests are varied but include walking, dancing, reading, classical and 60S music, travel. Someone well educated and with a GSOH to boot would be appreciated. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A9

KILDARE MAN MID 7Os fit and slim and good appearance W;TM a lady 65-75 to share music, dancing and eating out

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A10

NORTH DUBLIN WOMAN LATE 60s

WLTM social gent. All my life I have been involved in sport, playing coaching etc. I play golf now. Major rugby fan, Have worked and still work as movie extra and sometimes appear in ads. Love to dance when the knees allow Moderate drinker, but like a G&T. The ball is in your court now. Cheers! REPLY TO BOX NUMBER A11

RETIRED GENT living in D4 and a Dubliner, by birth, born in 1954. I worked for the UK and EU civil service in a professional inspection role throughout my career. My interests are various including keeping fit, going for a pint (moderately), dancing. I can play golf also. I read a fair bit too.WLTM lady of similar age and with similar interests for socialising and perhaps a relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER U3

DUBLIN MALE, SEPARATED. 72

YEARS YOUNG. Young at heart, slim built and fairly fit, NS SD. Good conversationist, neat appearance, GSOH. Like the great outdoors, country walks and weekends away, Interests include traditional and classical music and fine dining. WLTM a nice lady with similar tastes and zest for life who would like some male company. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER U4

DUBLIN FEMALE EARLY 60s, ND seeking new genuine companions either sex. Interests include cinema, theatre, music and outings. Friendly GSOH.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER P1

CORK MALE 60s seeking female companion. Interest include walking, cycling, yoga and dancing . Also I enjoy concerts, film theatre and dancing. Enjoy cooking healthy food at home and eating out and the odd drink or two. Would like to share my interests with a suitable female.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER P2

MID WEST RETIRED PROFESSIONAL LADY, slim and active with a wide range of interests including walking, travel, current affairs, cultural events, WLTM sincere

gentleman of similar disposition. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER P3

MIDLANDS WIDOW EARLY 70s Down to earth with good witty sense of humour, WLTM smart, humble gentleman/ companion who likes good chats, laughs, coffee, music and culture. Preferably Midlands area or near abouts.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER P4

RETIRED TIPPERARY-BASED BUSINESSWOMAN, 70s, seeks male companion. Interests include travel at home and abroad, good conversation, reading and gardening. WLTM male with similar interests for relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER P5

CORK LADY 70 WLTM sincere gentleman with a good sense of humour for socialising, theatre, dancing, travel, theatre etc. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER P7.

SINCERE KIND MIDLANDS WIDOW WLTM a warm-hearted, educated gentleman, preferably a widower, for coffee and chats. I’ve a GSOH and am a good listener. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER P8

MID-ATLANTIC WAY PROFESSIONAL LADY, NS, 60s WLTM LADIES of similar age for coffee, outings, dance classes, music events, sun holidays etc.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER P9

KEEP IT COUNTRY. LADY, sincere, NS. Interests include ceili music, a little gardening, reading etc. WLTM gent 65-72 for companionship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER P10

GENTLEMAN EARLY 70’s in Clare/ Galway area. GSOH. NS. Interests include social dancing, hiking, sport, cinema and travel. Separated for many years. WLTM genuine lady with similar interests and a ‘can do’ attitude. Age range 65-75.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER L1

RETIRED? ENJOY TRAVEL? And would like to meet new female travelling companions, particularly from Mid-West general area? Let's meet, connect in a small group and share travel ideas and plans. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER L2

PROFESSIONAL, FIT AND ATTRACTIVE LADY (widow 65yrs), Dublin- based, Enjoys travel, sailing, dining out etc GSOH. WLTM single sincere gentleman for friendship.REPLY TO BOX NUMBER L3

SOUTH EAST LADY 64 WLTM sincere, kind, good humoured gentleman around same age group. Interests include music,

cinema, walking, dancing and holidays at home and abroad. Own car. NS SD GSOH. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER L4

SOUTH DUBLIN BASED PROFESSIONAL man, 72, NS, SD GSOH, fairly tall, medium build, good appearance. Interests include various types of music, ballroom dancing, walking, theatre, cinema, current affairs, reading, gardening, eating out travel at home and abroad. Outgoing, kind and loving personality. Happy to exchange recent photos. WLTM lady 65-75 to share some of those interests. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER L5

NORTH EAST BASED gent, early 70s. NS SD WLTM lady of similar age from anywhere in Ireland for friendship to share days and evenings out. Interests include theatre, cinema, music and concerts. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER L6

DUBLIN LADY 70s WLTM gent in his early 70s to share times together. I am a keen gardener, love walking and am a keen armchair rugby fan! Love travel here and abroad. Maybe be really adventurous and go to Vietnam, a beautiful country and people. I have three grown up children who have all flown the nest.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER L7

NORTH LEINSTER DIVORCED LADY, early 60’s WLTM a guy who looks after his appearance and health. My interests are golf, hiking, travel, all the arts and current affairs. I love to eat out and share food with another. NS , SD with a GSOH and a zest for life . Live in the now, tomorrow is just a promise. So get in touch, he who hesitates is lost. Cliches yes but both very true!

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X1

IS IT POSSIBLE THERE EXISTS an educated lady who would like to meet a southside Dublin gent, 70s, so that they can be happy together and help one and other. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X2

SINCERE 70s WIDOW WLTM sincere man from Cavan, Meath or Monaghan. NS interested all types of music and current affairs REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X3

LONGFORD GENT 70s NS SD GSOH and of good appearance. Interests include C&W music, traditional music, theatre, eating out and travel. WLTM a lady 65-70 from the north midlands.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X4

FIT ATTRACTIVE DUBLIN LADY,73, originally from Kerry. Interested in healthy lifestyle, keeping fit, long country walks. Love music, concerts, cinema etc. seeking a companion with whom I can share some of my interests hoping it may lead to longterm committed relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X5

ARE YOU SINGLE LIVING ALONE and in your 60s? We are two single people (male and female) with the idea of living independently in our own apartment in a large house, possibly in Dublin 6. If this idea has appeal to you or you would like to know more and have interests in the arts we would love to hear from you.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X6

SEPERATED MUNSTER MALE, 50s, considered attractive WLTM lady for relationship from Cork, Kerry, Munster area. ALA. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X7

PROFESSIONAL MIDLANDS LADY 5ft 8in, 64, with many interests. Widely travelled. Would like to hear from tall gents 60-72 for relationship/travel/holidays, outings. ALA.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X8

LIVING IN DUBLIN?

Interests music dancing reading walking cinema theatre travel eating out? Would like to meet gent for friendship and hopefully relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X11

TAKE A CHANCE ON ME.

Gentleman early 70’s. GSOH. Good conversationalist. Good craic, NS. Interests include dancing, walking, all kinds of Sport, cinema and holidays (especially to the sun). Separated for many years. WLTM lady with similar interests and a zest for life

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER X12

DUBLIN WIDOW 69, NS, SD, GSOH WLTM a gentleman from Dublin or surrounding areas. Interests include the arts, current affairs, dining out, travel abroad and home. Would love to hear from you if you share some of these interests. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER C1

LEINSTER MAN, 70s kind, sincere, GSOH. Many interest including travel, gardening, outdoors, cinema, computers, reading sports. WLTM lady of similar age and interests.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER C2

SOUTH DUBLIN RETIRED

PROFESSIONAL GENT, 72, NS, SD, GSOH, fairly tall, GOOD APPEARANCE. Separated for many year. Own house and car. Interests include music, dancing, reading, current affairs, good conversation, sports, cinema, theatre gardening, eating out, travel home and abroad. Kind, outgoing and pleasant personality. WLTM lady 65-75 to share some of these interests.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER M1

GENUINE, SINCERE LADY, retired nurse WLTM genuine sincere, romantic gent who would share some of my interests which include piano, muusic, countryside, theatre,

eating out, travel etc.. Age 60-70. Dublin and surrounding areas.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER M2

NEW YEAR AND NEW ADVENTURES and a wish for shared laughter, developing friendship and companionship while enjoying mutual interests and our beautiful nature both at home and abroad. WLTM an interesting caring gent with a GSOH who is in his mid 70s and has a zest for life. Preferably a NS. I live in Munster, am sincere and considerate having broad based and varied interests. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER F6

TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT

If you are interested in meeting someone of the opposite or same sex, send your advertisement, with four stamps (which is the average reply rate) enclosed in the envelope, to:

Meeting Place, Senior Times, PO Box 13215, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Or email: john@slp.ie

NOTE: When submitting advertisements ensure you include your surname as well as your christian name.

IMPORTANT

Ensure you give your approximate age and the area you live, noting your interests. The advertisement should not be more than 60 words.

If you are replying to the advertisement via Senior Time’s email, ensure you include your postal address for those not on the Net. (Only Senior Times will have these details).

Deadline for receipt of advertisements for the next issue is April 22nd 2025.

TO REPLY TO AN ADVERTISEMENT

Each reply to an advertisement should be enclosed in a plain, stamped envelope, with the box number marked in pencil so that it can be erased before being forwarded to the advertiser. Send these envelopes in a covering envelope to the address , above, so that we can forward them to the advertiser. There is no limit to the amount of advertisements to which you can reply, provided each one is contained in a plain, stamped envelope. Ensure you give your approximate age and the area you live.

For those submitting their advertisements by email ensure that you also supply Senior Times with your postal address so that we can post replies from those who have replied by post. (Only Senior Times will have your postal address).

Crafts

Connie McEvoy remembers a trip to Lourdes and the emerald jewel she bought there

Brooching the subject

During the early days of May 2009 my Husband Mickey and I went on the annual Armagh Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes and were booked into La Solitude hotel for the 5 day duration as usual having been there on many occasions when Mickey volunteered to help invalids in wheelchairs to attend ceremonies. Sadly on this occasion Mickey himself was suffering from Melanoma and seriously ill himself, he passed to his eternal reward on August 6th 2009 aged 74 years.

The weather in Lourdes can be very cold in May and we always noticed the snow covered Pyrenees as we landed at the airport and in fields as we travelled by bus to Lourdes, a trip to Gavarni was included where shepherds were seen taking new born lambs to shelter from snow falls. I always came prepared for the weather and was wearing a Navy 30% wool coat that was purchased in the January sales at the A Wear branch shop, Town Centre in Drogheda.

As Mickey was now an invalid himself he was given a moped/bike that was charged each night in the hotel and

at the Grotto we headed for the market where he knew most of the stall owners and enjoyed some craic with them.

On the Thursday morning as we were returning for lunch we stopped to chat with an elderly antique shop owner that we knew, he was holding a tray of old brooches on one hand and picked a sterling silver one to show Mickey. He then informed us that he had sold the shop as none of his family wanted to work there and the new owner wanted vacant possession on Saturday morning. He went on to inform us that it was embellished with an emerald and asked for payment of five Euros if he was permitted to pin it on the collar of my Navy coat. This was done to everyone’s satisfaction at the shop counter and as we were about to leave he handed me a small red paper bag that contained 17 beautiful old picture postcards as a farewell gift.

My Navy coat still sporting the brooch makes an annual appearance when frost and snow is forecast and on January 7th as I put the crib back in the attic I noticed the red paper bag and postcards sitting on top of a collection of old buttons in a small suitcase and decided that some Senior Times readers might enjoy seeing some of them as much as I enjoyed the memory of that day in Lourdes.