Senior Times Magazine - September/October

Issue 113 September - October 2021

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André Rieu

The Maestro Of The Masses

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Learning from the elders Exclusive extract from Alice Taylor’s latest book Tea for One

Ireland’s sumptuous haunted Castle Hotels How to get spooked in luxury

Window on The Land Wars Striking political paintings of Irish artists

Seasonal short story from Maxi Recalling Roberto and a million memories

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Issue 113 - September - October 2021

Contents

18

77 Western Ways: George Keegan recommends some outstanding churches to visit along the Western Seaboard

44

Golf:

46

Creative writing: Eileen Casey profiles writer Owen Dwyer who has just published his latest book based on the assassination of US President Garfield

50

Wine World:

56

Northern Notes: Debbie Orme reports from the Province

60

Short story: A seasonal tale from Maxi

62

Beauty:

65

Bridge: Guidance and tips from Michael O’Loughlin

71

Dublin Dossier: 34 Pat Keenan reports on happenings in and around the capital

Learning from the elders: Exclusive extracts from Tea for One by Alice Taylor for Senior Times Magazine

74

Be Fraudsmart!: How to avoid the myriad of scams by con artists

Meeting Place: How to meet people from the opposite and same sex

90

News:

2

The maestro of the masses: Thomas Myler charts the life and phenomenal success of ‘Waltz King’ Andre Rieu

5

A window on the Land League: Eamonn Lynskey examines some of Ireland’s notable ‘political’ paintings

10

When a book scandalised a village: Lorna Hogg recounts the controversy surrounding the publication of The Valley of Squinting Windows by Brinsley McNamara

14

Where the spirit moved you: Ireland’s haunted castle hotels where you can get ‘spooked’ in luxury

18

Mary’s Musings: 24 Mary O’Rourke reflects, among other things, on the joy of dining out again, books on Maude Gonne, the Phoenix Park murders and looks forward to the new book by Historian Diarmuid Ferreter

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Senior Times does not necessarily endorse or agree with the views and claims made in articles and advertisements.

Publishing Directors: Brian McCabe, Des Duggan Editorial Director: John Low Advertising: Willie Fallon Design & Production: www.cornerhouse.ie Contributors: Lorna Hogg, Dermot Gilleece, Maretta Dillon, Peter Power, Matthew Hughes, Mairead Robinson, Eileen Casey, Debbie Orme, Connie McEvoy, George Keegan, Michael O’Loughlin and Pat Keenan.

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News Now ‘Ageism made impact of COVID-19 worse on older people’ Older people have expressed the heightened challenges they faced during COVID-19 and called for a post-pandemic focus on regaining their positive role in society according to a new review recently launched.

The review draws together seven leading older persons organisations to capture the experiences of older people during COVID-19, the impact it had on their lives – and what now needs to happen to address this.

Telling It Like It Is was released by the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs (the Alliance), who are working collaboratively to concentrate a shared focus on progressing policy, services and resources with older people.

The analysis explains how many of the events that happened during the COVID-19 crisis affected older people disproportionately including: • Older people died disproportionately.

Frequently their end-of-life wishes were not sought or honoured. Dying with dignity is the hallmark of a decent society.

• Older people were bereaved disproportion ately. Restrictions on funerals, bereavement and consolation caused deep distress that will reverberate for a long time.

• Older people’s independence and deci sion-making was reduced disproportionately.

Life became a series of instructions from others.

• Most older people felt that underlying ageism was heightened – that they were being cancelled.

Sue Shaw said the Alliance was now calling on Government to:

people also want to stay in their own homes and communities until the end of their lives’.

• Take ageism seriously and implement meaningful action to counteract it • Institute a coherent system of supports so that older people can stay in their own homes to the end of life, as that is what most want to do • Appoint a Champion with a cross-Depart mental brief to prioritise older people’s issues.

The Alliance of Age Sector NGOs (the Alliance) represents the collective thinking of seven significant NGOs working in the age sector, uniting their learning from working with the diversity of older people and the issues that they face. The seven member organisations are: Active Retirement Ireland, Age & Opportunity, ALONE, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Irish Hospice Foundation, The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and Third Age.

Looking to the post-pandemic period she said regaining the positive role of older people now needs to be an integrated part of Government planning.

‘What older people want are connection, friendship, dignity, choice and support – ordinary aspects just like everybody else. Most older

Telling It Like It Is is available to download at: https://alzheimer.ie/creating-change/ awareness-raising/alliance-of-age-sectorngos/ Or telephone Ronan Cavanagh, 086 317 9731 ronan@cavanaghcommunications.ie

‘Do it yourself’ wills package A new service launched by MoneyDoctors. ie ‘empowers’ Irish residents to avail of a Wills & Probate - a do-it-yourself service package that

2. Empowers them to authorise their representatives or executors/trices to apply for the Grant of Probate without paying for costly legal support all the info needed is sent in the pack.

1. Allows Irish citizens to draft their own wills ( a word document sent to them – completed on their The package cost €50 plus 23% VAT – a total of own lap tops, or printed off and written in their own € 61.50. For further information, call John Lowe hand-writing ) 087 238 1122 or email jlowe@moneydoctors.ie 2 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

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Carlow’s fertile fields yield tasty discovery trail

Huntingdon Castle, part of the Carlow Garden and Food trail

Artisan food and beverage producers in Carlow have teamed up with a host of heritage ‘big house’ and castle owners to provide tourists with a new offering from ‘the belly of Ireland’.

A new discovery trail has been launched for Irish staycationers which links Carlow’s new wave of artisan food and beverage producers with the county’s mythical heritage.

The Taste In Carlow Discovery Trail is a guide to 26 of the hidden food and beverage gems in the county, from unique producers to food adventures and quirky experiences.

Along with the food and beverage producers, the county celebrates a wide selection of heritage houses with lush gardens to walk, many of which are now quirky and history-soaked restaurants with accommodation.

Download the trail map at tasteincarlow.ie Trail members: Ballykealey House, Blackstairs Eco Trails, Butler's Organic Eggs, Carlow Farmhouse Cheese, Carlow Farmers Market, Coolanowle Foodhall, Corcoran’s Bar, Émile Pâtissier, Gaelic Escargot, Huntington Castle & Gardens, Lennons@VISUAL, Lisnavagh House & Gardens, Malone Fruit Farm, Mulvarra House, Seven Oaks Hotel, Shapla Indian Restaurant, Sha-Roe Bistro, Sunshine Juice, Teach Dolmain, The Good Life Cookery School, The Lord Bagenal Inn, The Mullicháin Café, The Pint Depot, The Step House Hotel, Thrive Cafe and The Woodford Dolmen Hotel.

400 Euro offered to take part in turmeric Study

A new study by Atlantia Clinical Trials will investigate if and how turmeric can boost memory in older people. They are currently seeking 150 people aged from 65-85 to take part in the trials and arfe paying a fee of 400 Euro.

The study will clinically assess the effectiveness of a daily turmeric supplement in boosting cognitive function in older people and will take place over 24 weeks and involves taking a daily turmeric capsule, with four visits to the Atlantia premises in Cork , where free health checks will be undertaken to confirm eligibility.

These include basic measurements of weight, height, BMI, waist-hip ratio and vitals including blood pressure, heart rate and temperature, along with a blood sample.

The Atlantia Cognition Study will investigate the memory health benefits obtained from

consuming the natural turmeric root, which is more commonly recognised as the vibrant yellow spice used in Indian cooking. Turmeric is rich in a compound called curcumin which is an antioxidant meaning that it can protect cells against damage caused by free radicals, and it is also well known for its anti-inflammatory properties which have been long used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. If you are getting older and are worried about memory and mental agility, it’s useful to know what is normal and what is not. As with any changes as we age, the unknown can be daunting - after all our memories are linked to who we are as people, our identity, and our social interactions.

You may find it takes longer than before to learn something new, you occasionally forget a word or a name, and now and then you might misplace an item like keys, wallet or phone and start to feel a little self-conscious about it and wonder if it a normal part of aging or the first sign of more serious memory problems.

Science backed tips to preserve memory capacity include: • Following a healthy diet • Taking regular exercise • Not smoking and keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum • Staying involved in activities that can help both the mind and body.

• Learning a new skill.

• Following a daily routine.

• Planning tasks, making to-do lists, and using calendars and notes.

• Putting your personal possessions in the same place each day.

• Volunteering in the community (where social distancing allows).

• Spend time with friends and family (where social distancing allows).

• Getting enough sleep, generally seven to eight hours each night.

• Keeping cholesterol and blood sugar in check.

• Preventing or controlling high blood pressure.

For more information on the study visit: www.atlantiaclinicaltrials.com or email studies@atlantiafoodtrials.com, or phone: +353 021 430 7442.

Men’s Sheds Launch ‘Your Shed & Dementia’ Manual

The Irish Men’s Sheds Association has launched a new manual Your Shed & Dementia aimed at raising awareness of the condition, as well as offering advice for ‘Shedders’, their families and carers on supporting a member with dementia. Developed in partnership with the HSE’s Dementia: Understand Together campaign and The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the manual offers tools to help Shedders recognise signs of dementia, as well as offering practical communication and listening tips.

400 Dementia Types

There are over 400 types of dementia, with the four most common being Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body disease, vascular dementia and

4 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

frontotemporal dementia. It is also common for people to have more than one type of dementia. Each year more than 11,000 people develop dementia in Ireland – that’s approximately 30 people every day.

Ten Closure Orders served on food businesses in July

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reported that ten Closure Orders and one Improvement Order were served on food businesses during July for breaches of food safety legislation.. The Enforcement Orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Seven Closure Orders was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on: • Spar (Closed Area: Deli Counter), Duff House, 13-15 Summerhill Parade, Dublin 3 • The King Pig Food Stall, 108 Cashel Avenue, Crumlin, Dublin 8 • Monto’s Restaurant, Main Street, Kilmessan, Co. Meath • Riverside Café, Mountnugent, Co. Cavan • Eskimo Pizza and Lam’s, 31 Deansgrange Road, Deansgrange, Co. Dublin • Fredis Pizzeria, 58 Dublin Street, Monaghan • Fredis Takeaway, 3 West Street, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan Three Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on: • Universal Food Store Limited (Closed Area: Butcher counter including coldroom) (butcher shop), Unit 5, Dunnes Stores Shopping Centre, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois • The Burren Atlantic Hotel (Closed Area: Kitchen), Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare • Joud World Food (retailer), 13 O’Connell Street, Waterford One Improvement Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on: • Rico’s, 26 Richmond Street South, Dublin 2 Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in July include; rodent droppings where food, food preparation equipment and food packaging materials were stored; open bins filled with meat and surrounded by flies; food debris and grease on equipment and surfaces; aprons caked with blood and dirt; flies observed on sandwich preparation board; wet and dirty clothes strewn around a kitchen; internal fridges caked in food grime; no traceability information available to verify where food had originated; and inadequate pest control.

Music

o r t s The mae of the masses

Thomas Myler traces the life and extraordinary success of Andre Rieu He’s been called ‘The maestro of the masses’, ‘A weapon of mass happiness’ by the Spectator and simply ‘The Waltz King’ by most other sources but Andre Rieu waves his hands dismissively. ‘All I do is play good music which the fans seem to like and that brings joy to us on stage too,’ he says with a smile. ‘My orchestra is a happy orchestra.’

artiste in the world, outselling the likes of global rock and pop artistes such as U2, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Buble.

In May 2022, after several postponements due to the Covid epidemic, Andre brings his 60-piece Johann Strauss orchestra to Ireland for four concerts – three at the 3 Arena, Dublin and one at the SSE Arena, Belfast.

shows, he has been bringing his blend of music to the masses for over 50 years now so he reckons he must be doing something right. He has given classical music a whole new lease of life Andre claims that music has magical and healing powers. He sees it all the time at his concerts – laughter, kissing, joyful weeping.

He even sees miracles.

The Dutchman has already been named bv the influential US music magazine Billboard as the most successful touring

With an eclectic mix of waltz, classical arias, operatic pieces, popular tunes, evergreen melodies and songs from the

‘You know I’m so proud when I’m on stage and I see all these happy faces,’ he says.

‘That’s what makes me happy. We come

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Music

Wedding day in 1975 with wife Marjorie

The main part of the castle in Maastricht, where André and wife Marjorie live Magnificent Maastricht Andre’s home city where he lives in castle with his wife Marjorie

on stage at 8pm and let’s say at 10.30pm the encore starts. And by then the audience are in the mood and they don’t want to stop. They don’t want to go home, so we do a 45-minute encore. And that’s when people get up from their wheelchairs and throw away their sticks or crutches and say, “Come on, let’s dance.” It gives them so much energy to be happy.

‘People propose to each other all the time at our concerts. I see romantic couples down there when I walk on stage with my violin and start up the music. In the beginning they just sit nicely to each other. Then, after the break, the man will put his arm around the woman, and during the encore there’s nothing but kissing.

‘I look all over the audience. They are caught up in a state of mass hysteria – unrestrained crying, hugging and kissing wherever you look. It’s honestly not staged for the cameras. It’s the truth. I’m still amazed by it after all these years.’

Andre Rieu was born in Maastricht in the Netherlands where he lives with his family in a 15th century castle once owned by a French musketeer.

In his younger days he was a great fan of Tintin, the cartoon character created by the Belgian artist Georges Remi. Working under the penname of Herge, Remi wrote a series of 24 comic books called The Adventures of Tintin which were among the most popular of the 20th century.

‘In one of the comic books, the professor sold his invention, a little U-boat, and bought himself a castle. When I read that, I said to

myself, “That’s what I want, my own castle, and someday I’m going to own one, a real one I can call my own.

‘I used to take piano lessons in an old castle along the riverbank in Maastricht. It’s still the only castle in town and it was old and dark and gloomy, as I remember it. Years later, at the end of the 1990s, my wife Marjorie were strolling along that same riverbank and had another look at that castle.

‘I said to her, “You know, Marjorie, wouldn’t it be so nice to live in that castle, a real castle, and make our real home there. What do you think?” She said, “Fine” but you had better sell a lot more records then.” I did that and eventually we bought it and it’s been our home ever since.

‘I always believed it would happen and it did.

I believe everything you want to happen will happen if you put your mind down to it. I really think that success is down to both

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ambition and optimism. Of course, the real secret is talent but you must never give up.

Giving up is the worst thing you can do.’

Rieu’s fascination with music comes from his father, who was conductor of the local symphony orchestra. Showing early promise, Andre began studying violin at the age of five and developed a love and fascination with classical music.

‘I went to all my father’s concerts up until I was about 16 or 17 so I think I heard all the classical music there is,’ he says. ‘But I only play the music that touches my heart. Perhaps you don’t believe me, or you think it’s a cliché but it’s really true. The music I play, I play it because I like it. That’s the only reason.

And I know that if I like it, it’s most likely that the whole audience will like it too.’

Andre is not without his critics, some accusing him of abandoning his classical background for popular music and pandering to

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Music Music

Celebrating his 70th birthday

the masses. Others say his concerts are more showbusiness rather than anything else with lots of razmatazz, with balloons cascading from the roof and the lady members of the audience dressed in puffy gowns as he performs such pieces like the Blue Danube or the theme from Titanic.

But he will point out it’s a very successful formula. He plays an average of 90 to 100 sold-out concerts a year, has sold over 40 million albums and won more than 500 platinum awards.

A hard worker, Andre always remembers to take a nap before a concert. With several hundred people on his payroll, he is extremely diligent about making sure that his travelling crew is as comfortable as possible.

‘We make sure that everything is right,’ he says. ‘We have three cooks who provide a wide choice of dishes. We also have our own doctor, a personal trainer and a large technical crew who look after all the logistics involved. Members of my family travel with me. They all have their jobs.’

What sort of childhood had he? ‘Very simple, really. Growing up in Maastricht, my father never really had any money, and he had six children to feed. My grandmother lived with us in the same little house so we weren’t rich, anything but. Yet nobody ever said, “Oh

Andre Rieu with Gay Byrne on the RTE TV programme The Meaning of Life

my God, I’m jealous because he or she has more money.” Never.

‘My wife Marjorie is a very wise woman. We say to each other regularly, “We don’t to this for the money. We do it for enjoyment, and the happiness it brings people.” Yes, naturally we’re happy that the money is fine but money isn’t everything. You can be poor and be happy. We don’t live a lavish lifestyle. For me, money represents freedom. Yes, good money comes in but it also goes out. No, money isn’t about fancy cars and luxuries.

It’s about contentment and you have to remember that.’

Andre married Marjorie Kochmann in 1975.

She has been a language teacher and has written compositions. She rarely appears with Andrein public and once said in an interview that she did not want to be defined by her husband. They have two sons Marc and Pierre. The family do all the organisational work. ‘I would be completely lost without them,’ he says. ‘They are my rock and I leave everything down to them.

‘They never miss a thing, not a thing. Tours, concerts at home and abroad, travel arrangements, hotel bookings, television and radio engagements – I could go on.’ Shrugging his shoulders, he explains, ‘All I have to do is to walk on stage and start off.’

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How does Andre, who speaks five different languages, French, German, Italian, Dutch and English, fully relax when he is at home?

‘When you are touring constantly, there’s nothing I like better than just kicking off my shoes and taking things easy,’ he explains.

‘I listen to music, watch television, chat to family and friends and maybe pick up all the gossip. It’s great to be touring, of course, but there’s still no place like home.’

What was Andre’s first job? ‘I remember that day very well. I was a musical student in Maastricht when a local antique dealer who specialised in little antique organs asked me “Can you tune this for me?” I’d never done anything like that before but I managed it and he gave me 25 guilders, which is around €12 or €13. I was so glad as I was saving up for a microscope and suddenly now had enough to buy it. You can imagine how delighted I was.”

Has Andre any plans for retirement?

‘Nothing planned. I love making music so my ambition to go on making people happy through music. I plan to go on performing until I’m 120, and that’s a promise. In any event, Richard Branson has booked me to take my orchestra and play on the moon when he gets his spacecraft up and running. Now that would be something, wouldn’t it? The first orchestra in history to play in outer space.’

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History

r a W d n a L e h Wind ow s on T

Eamonn Lynskey considers the political paintings of Irish artist Henry Jones Thaddeus.

Any painting must be appreciated on its own merits: its artistry, its craft, its impact.

But viewers are often curious to know more about a work that impressed them.

For instance, The Wounded Poacher, a work in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland, needs no knowledge of its background for it to make an immediate impression on the viewer.

There is enough artistry in this painting to evoke sympathy for the poacher’s plight, and its sheer excellence may well compel a viewer to enquire further about the painting and its creator.

The Wounded Poacher moves us to feel that we are actually present in the house where a man has arrived seriously wounded.

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History

With the Eviction canvas we feel we are standing side-by-side with a family in their last-ditch attempt to prevent removal from their home by a combined force of police and landlord’s agents.

The Sheep Pen, one of the painter’s many striking country scenes

Henry Jones Thaddeus (1859-1929) was born in Cork and was something of a prodigy, entering the Cork School of Art when aged just ten years. A painting entitled Renewal of the Lease Refused (private collection) gained him a Taylor Prize in 1878 of £60 a year and was based on an incident in the Land War – a troubled period of agitation in Ireland at that time, arising out of harsh property laws, rural poverty and the cruelty of the landed class towards its tenants. As local historian Liam Kelly writes in The First Fatality of the Land War (published by Abbyset, Cavan 2021) ‘The bad harvests 1877,1878, and 1879 and the depressed prices for agricultural produce exacerbated the situation and meant that the tenant farmers and their families were, in many instances, on the verge of starvation.’

evocation of sympathy for the poacher is further strengthened by the way he is positioned: recumbent and with head thrown back to his left, recalling a work like Andrea Montegna’s Lamentation of Christ (Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan) in which the figure is similarly posed. This positioning imparts a vestigial religious dimension to the poacher’s suffering.

Whether or not Thaddeus consciously meant to refer to a previous painting is not relevant. Works of art often reference other works, intentionally or not, and can invite us into contexts that lie beyond the immediate concerns of the work itself. This after all is the intent of all religious imagery, from the depictions of Christ’s ‘stations of the cross’ to Michelangelo’s great minatory representations of hell.

The Taylor award enabled Thaddeus to go to London. Later, in Paris, he studied at the Academie Julian. He went on to become a prolific portraitist, numbering Popes among his clients (Leo XII and Pius X), which were unusual commissions for a Protestant. He was at the height of his powers when he painted The Wounded Poacher in 1881, displaying a wonderful exactitude of detail and overall professional finish.

This painting depicts a man who has returned from a nocturnal foray, his brace of rabbits and his gun lying on the floor beside him. A successful night’s work? – No. He has taken a bad wound to the shoulder, probably as a result of being caught in the act by a gamekeeper. The woman at his side, surely his wife, is herself a picture within a picture. Her attitude of concentration tells us that she has had to leave her anxieties to one side as she leans to tend him. Her focus on the wound suggests perhaps that this is not the first time she has had to undertake this task, and the simple furnishings of the house suggest a humble cottage where life is lived frugally. It has been a nocturnal expedition of course, as is shown by the wan light of dawn just beginning to light up the tiny window, and the overall darkness of the background throws the figures into sharp relief, as well as underlining the gravity of the situation.

This is an artwork of the highest standard which leaves us in no doubt that we are in the presence of a master who does full justice to a distressful scene. His sympathies clearly lie with the poacher. We feel that the artist wants us to consider that whatever law has been broken by this unfortunate man is an unjust law. As with the earlier Renewal of the Lease Refused this work continues the theme of oppression. The

Here in Thaddeus’s painting, impact on the viewer is immediate and moving, even without much or any knowledge of previous artworks, or even of the turbulent period of Irish History that is the context of The Wounded Poacher.

That context inspired other paintings by Thaddeus. An Eviction, Ireland, Co Galway (private collection) painted in 1889 again takes us back to the Land War raging in 1880s Ireland. The political intent of this painting was widely recognised by critics at the time. Bridget Hourican, in an article in the Dictionary of Irish Biography, points to the profound social conscience at work in paintings like this and she includes the comment from the Liverpool Post newspaper (16 September 1890) that they ‘[helped] to bring the horrors of the social welfare in the sister isle vividly home to English hearts.’

As with The Wounded Poacher, the scene in the Eviction painting is set inside the house, rather than being presented from the outside as is the case in many eviction images. Photos and drawings made at the time usually show the unfortunate family sitting outside their broken home amidst their few possessions. Many of these scenes were posed because of the slow photographic processes of the time. In the main they are rather stiff portrayals of people standing disconsolately in front of their ruined cottages after the inhumane act of eviction.

Thaddeus’s Eviction canvas is different. The viewer is placed inside the house to participate the family’s desperate attempt to fight the eviction.

This instant immersion in the actual event is calculated to give rise to a surge of feeling for the unfortunate family and the hopelessness of their Senior Times l September - Octobert 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 11

History plight. We are in this with them and the evocation of a sense of injustice is overwhelming.

These paintings show that within his busy career as a portraitist of the great and the good, and despite the exalted company in which he moved, Thaddeus understood and sympathised with the condition of the people of his native country who had to endure such extraordinary oppression at the hands of the landed gentry. In his Recollections of a Court Painter (1912) he compares the absentee landlords of Ireland to the wealthy Russian families he met in Florence, whose extravagant lifestyle abroad was at the expense of ‘their peasants and serfs [who] were ground down to the last farthing’. His sympathy for his outrageously treated countrymen was never in doubt, either in paint or in word. ‘I have never learnt the art of sitting on a fence’, he wrote in his Recollections, ‘moreover, being an independent-minded person, that position would not be agreeable to me.’

The Wounded Poacher was painted shortly after Thaddeus arrived in Paris in 1879. It received immediate acclaim and was exhibited at the famous Salon – an extraordinary success for such a young newcomer.

It points to a political dimension to his thinking which ran alongside his principal occupation (and main source of income) as a portrait painter.

Happily, sometimes by choice of subject he could combine both. His sitters included many eminent nationalist figures involved in tackling injustices in Ireland, such as Michael Davitt, William Smith O’Brien and John Redmond. He met Charles Parnell, whom he admired greatly, but a projected portrait did not materialise because, as he explains in his Recollections ‘… the O’Shea divorce proceedings intervened’. What a loss to Ireland’s cause was Parnell. And what a loss to Irish art that portrait that never was!

The Wounded Poacher and An Eviction, Ireland, Co Galway clearly have a polemical edge, but they fall very short of being works of propaganda.

Thaddeus does not preach. He presents the situation as it was, but with an unmistakeable empathy. He leads the viewer to an understanding of the oppressions endured by ordinary people in those difficult times.

These are paintings that reach across the years and allow us entry into a world where ‘defying the law’ was often the equivalent of trying to prevent one’s family from being thrown out on the side of the road – that same set of laws which fifty years earlier had condemned as criminals those who attacked the wagons which carried grain to port for export during the height of the ‘Great Famine’.

Bernard Canavan (b.1944) works document the heartbreak of 1950s Ireland and its haemorrhage of emigration.

As with the paintings of Bernard Canavan (b.1944) in our own time which document the heartbreak of 1950s Ireland and its haemorrhage of emigration, these works by Thaddeus combine both necessary artistic objectivity, deep personal involvement and political observation. The Wounded Poacher moves us to feel that we are actually present in the house where a man has arrived seriously wounded; with the Eviction canvas we feel we are standing side-by-side with a family in their last-ditch attempt to prevent removal from their home by a combined force of police and landlord’s agents. Both paintings are consummate artworks but they are also valuable social documents which can remind us of a time of violent upheaval in Irish history.

12 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Henry Jones Thaddeus (1859-1929) was born in Cork and was something of a prodigy, entering the Cork School of Art when aged just ten years.

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Senior Times l July - August 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 13

Literature

When a book scandalised a village Lorna Hogg relates the events surrounding the publication of Valley of Squinting Windows

Delvin, Co Westmeath, birthplace of Brinsley MacNamara

‘They burned my book in the best medieval fashion..’ An intriguing comment by any author. Should we expect startling political revelations, perhaps, or a tale of Mafia style revenge? Neither of these. The Valley of the Squinting Windows’was set in the Ireland of 1918, possibly in Delvin, Co. Westmeath and any politics involved were mainly of the sexual variety. A century later, it is now connected with two stories. The print version tells a tale which may have been inspired by local events.

The second one tells what happened when a community felt cruelly misrepresented in print – by one of their own.

Westmeath born John Weldon (1890 – 1963) took the pen name of Brinsley MacNamara for his first book. He grew up near the small town of Delvin, where the family later moved, when his father John Weldon Snr. became a local school teacher. The young Weldon left Delvin after school, and went to Dublin, where he joined The Abbey Players, and he toured America with them in 1911.

He also started to write, and it has been suggested that the inspiration for his first book, The Valley of the Squinting Windows was based on the real life story of a girl whose

reputation was deliberately ruined - on the advice of a solicitor. Her wealthy admirer took her for a ‘weekend’ in Dublin. She expected to return with a sparkling ring – encircling the correct finger, of course. In fact her lover dumped her on their return home. Everyone there knew of the trip – and she was then branded a prostitute.

The incident tells us much about male/female relationships of the time. The girl, according to contemporary and local judgement, ‘fell’.

She ‘gave in too soon.’ She ‘hadn’t made sure of him’. Women were objectivised in those times, physically and morally. One example is the fact that Brinsley MacNamara coined the phrase ‘beef to the heels like a Mullingar heifer, which admittedly, he used in an agricultural description. However, it entered popular country-speak – and was often disparagingly used in descriptions of women who lacked shapely legs. Women were judged harshly at that time, in terms of looks, weight, shape and breeding potential and also in their behaviour and attitudes. Men, on the other hand, were often too frightened to recognise or acknowledge their true feelings – or with Mother constantly in the picture, act on them.

This provided the story’s background.

14 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

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Literature

Westmeath born John Weldon (1890 – 1963) took the pen name of Brinsley MacNamara for his first book.

Background, of course, was not the only concern. Despite MacNamara’s protestations that the story did not relate to Delvin life, if locals could not recognise their own characters – many could claim to recognise others. Even worse, if they were not immediately identifiable, the roles they played in the book – e.g. postmistress, pub landlord’s wife, etc. allowed for speculation as to which characters has a basis in reality.

The book’s story started some two decades before the main events. Young and beautiful Nan Byrne hoped that her relationship with local wealthy and eligible Henry Shannon, would lead to marriage. She became pregnant, but Henry refused to marry her. She then suffered a miscarriage. Henry married another woman, and Nan left for the UK, and later married Ned Brennan. The couple returned to the town of Garradrimna, in the Irish Midlands – where Ned was quickly told of Nan’s past. He became an alcoholic, and it is suggested, was sometimes violent towards her.

Twenty years later, the couple were still unhappily married, but with a son, John, who was training for the priesthood, but in Garradrimna on a holiday. Nan had earlier attempted Shannon payback, by intercepting letters between Myles Shannon, brother of the now deceased Henry, and a potential wife.

The relationship foundered. Myles Shannon, bitter and enraged, seized his opportunity for revenge, and encouraged a friendship between his nephew Ulick, and Nan’s son John.

Both men became attracted to – and John fell in love with, an English arrival, Rebecca, the new schoolteacher.

When Rebecca became pregnant by Ulick, a letter to him from her was intercepted, and the news spread. The local priest was informed of Rebecca’s pregnancy, and she left Garradrimna in disgrace. John, infuriated by Ulick’s perceived callous rejection of Rebecca, murdered him – just as Nan learnt that Ulick was in fact her own son. Her first baby did not die at birth, as she had been told. He was removed and sold to Henry Shannon, whose wife could not bear a child.

This dramatic storyline was certainly out of touch with the contemporary idealistic image of Irish comely maidens and brave and true warriors, in a newly free Ireland. It is easy to imagine the reaction when the book had its public first reading, apparently on the steps of Clonyn Castle, to expectant and proud Delvin residents.

Some characterisations were particularly cruel – the landlord’s wife, described in the book as the hardest women in the town, due to her childlessness, had in reality lost two children at birth. The postmistress was a gentle soul, appalled by her characterisation as a busybody who steamed open customers’ letters.

It must be said that in an age before television, with few other events to draw interest and attention, such a reaction could be understood, if not accepted. Travel, further education and re-location were not as freely available then as now. There were no real options for many people to leave home and move on after any life setback or disappointment. They had to live

16 Senior Times l September - October l 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

with their mistakes – and bitterness was often a result.

Anger and resentment grew, and the book was famously burned publicly in the town.

The villagers seethed with rage at their portrayal as narrow minded, spiteful and vengeful – and promptly sought vengeance.

There were calls for the removal of Brinsley’s school teacher father. Parents boycotted his school - and eventually John MacNamara Senior had to leave his post. This caused considerable financial hardship to the now ostracised family. He took a court case against the local priest, but lost, and eventually emigrated. Brinsley became an author and playwright. He later married and was also a member of the Board of Directors at the Abbey Theatre, and Registrar of the National Gallery.

Would initial publicity in 1918 simply have faded away, with a wry response of `no comment’ from the locals? The court case merely added to publicity, and stoked both rage and public interest. For a considerable time afterwards, it was considered wise not to mention the book in Delvin.

However, in 2010 it featured in the local Book Fair, with a reading. Life and attitudes have moved on, of course. Such pettiness, meanness and vindictiveness could never exist to-day, in our tolerant times - or could they? Just check out some social media posts before answering that question!

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Travel

Go where the spirit moves you..

Lorna Hogg recommends ‘castle hotels’ where you can be haunted in luxury Irish castles are internationally famed for their history and atmosphere, but of course, there is one other requirement. Every self- respecting castle needs a ghost which can provide memorable hauntings, and for many people, the more blood curdling, the better!

If you have stayed at home for the summer, and are now looking for a luxury break – why not check the superb autumn deals from Ireland’s many romantic castles? We’ve graded them in terms of the `spook factor’ – which ranges from civilised and friendly spirits, up to full-on haunting, attracting international ghost hunters!

Firstly, you need to work out what you are looking for. Do you want the full romantic castle vibe, with luxurious rooms, beautiful grounds and superb food – or prefer a more modern, style, perhaps with golf, or spa facilities? Are you looking for value, and happy in a modern extension? Is your ideal an onsite self- catering lodge, perhaps with friends or family?

Are you happy to go off-season, off-peak, or up-grade to get a luxury room? Are you happy to book well in advance, or go last minute, due to cancellations? Finally, keep checking the website of your chosen hotel, and also hotel booking sites – the latter can be very good for last minute offers.

Markree Castle’s resident spook is a playful little girl named Pippa – who apparently responds well to gifts!

Markree Castle in Co. Sligo, is set near the Wild Atlantic Way, and Yeats Country and is a beautifully restored seventeenth century castle.

On an estate of some 500 acres, and traditional in style, Markree Castle is all about luxury – in decor, food and rooms. Logs blazing in the large fireplace in the Grand Hall set the tone, and it is perfect for romantic, relaxed breaks. The castle’s resident spook is a playful little girl named Pippa – who apparently responds well to gifts! They have a wide range of deals - September midweek stays offer two nights for two guests, sharing in a castle double room, for €400. They also have good self-catering options, at The Pottery Shed.

Tel: 071 0116 7800 www.markreecastle.ie

The Clontarf Castle ghosts match its style - friendly and relaxed.

Clontarf Castle , on Dublin’s Northside, is a centuries old castle dating back to the Vikings. It current style is a mix of Baronial and modern – set against its ancient background. Within a short distance of Dublin city, it attracts wedding parties, but has plenty of choices for all guests, offering comfort, good food – and great value. At time of going to press, autumn deals started from €298, for a two night stay for two people. The Castle ghosts match its style - friendly and relaxed. Guests find that shower heads sometimes mysteriously twist, electronics can play up – and unusual scents can suddenly waft by. .

Tel: (01) 8332321 www.clontarfcastle.ie 18 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Kilkea Castle, Castledermot, Co Kildare is one of the oldest occupied castles in Ireland, dating from the 12th century, when the Earls of Kildare lived here. Its 180 acres surround a family owned luxury castle, offering comfort, and a modern classical style. You can go deluxe in a castle bedroom, chill in a self catering at a cottage, or try a lodge deal. There is a spa, golf is also available, plus tennis, archery and horse riding. Try sumptuous formal dining in The Restaurant, relax in The Bistro, `Grab and Go’ at The Clubhouse – or dine in style in your own suite. Kilkea Castle also offers ghost tours, and at certain times of the year, these include an evening tour.

Ghosts have been noted in the old nursery,where a little girl has been heard laughing. One Earl of Kildare was a practising Wizard – and regularly re-appears! Autumn prices at Kilkea start from €160 B&B per

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Travel

There are two supposedly `haunted’ rooms and the (friendly) robed Monk of Kinnitty makes regular appearance at Kinnity Castle

Castle Leslie, Glaslough, Co, Monaghan. Looking for the complete package - an ancient castle, still inhabited by descendants of the original family, decades of famous visitors - plus a tinge of eccentricity? Castle Leslie is your choice. Dating from the seventeenth century, a chequered history led to its current revival. With a cookery school, equestrian centre, riding and fishing, all set in 1000 acres of glorious countryside, it has something for everyone. On certain days in November, two adults can stay at the luxurious main castle, from €750 for two nights, with dinner on one night. Oher choices include bedrooms in the beautifully restored Lodge, (€300-€310) for a 1 B&B break, two sharing. You could also try the self-catering Old Stables Mews and Cottages. There are several well established ghosts here – including a monk, Lady Constance Leslie, and Norman Leslie, a World War One hero, who died in France, but appeared at the Castle, just before and after his death.

Tel: 047 881000 www.castleleslie.com Ghosts have been noted in the old nursery at Kilkea Castle where a little girl has been heard laughing. There are also organised ghost tours

night in October, in a Carriage Bedroom, and €265 B&B, for an October overnight stay in a Classic Castle bedroom - dinner not included. There is a wide range of deals available, Tel: 059 9145600 www.kilkeacastle.ie Kinnity Castle, Birr, Co. Offaly. An unspoilt and romantic castle, well placed between Dublin and Galway, and near to the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Kinnitty dates from the 1200s. It is welcoming, luxurious - and relaxed. Prices for October breaks include €190 for a 1 night stay in a castle baronial double bedroom stay, with breakfast. There are two supposedly `haunted’ rooms and the (friendly) robed Monk of Kinnitty makes regular appearances! Guests also regularly note mysterious sounds, footsteps and sense of otherworldly presences.

Tel: 057 9137318 www.kinnitycastlehotel.com 20 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

The ghost of one of the former resident of Ballyseedy Castle – Hilda Blennerhassett -- can be seen often . She lived there until her death.

Ballyseedy Castle, Tralee, Co. Kerry, is a beautiful and elegant traditional castle dating from the 1720s. It has been linked with one family - the Blennerhassetts, have lived on the estate since 1590, before building

Resort

Travel

One of the heavily atmospheric – spooky? – lounges at Castle Leslie

their home there The original ground rent was a rose, paid each year, and , unsurprisingly, the scent of roses, quite strong at times, regularly occurs, often out of season. The ghost of one of the residents – Hilda Blennerhassett can be seen often – she lived there until her death. She was last spotted at a window during the first Covid outbreak - in lockdown, of course! There is a variety of really excellent deals and packages this autumn - e.g. 1 night stays for two sharing, in the castle, with dinner, starting from €272. Also - check The Lodge, Ballyseede Castle.

Tel: 066 7125799 www.ballyseedecastle.com

Cabra is also one of Ireland’s most haunted castles. In the 1780s, it was the setting for a real life upstairs –downstairs romance, between a family member and a beautiful servant. Tragically, murder was involved

Cabra Castle, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan has a beautifully styled and romantic atmosphere, and is understandably popular for weddings. It also has a wide range of accommodation choices, from Courtyard Rooms to sumptuous modern classic Castle Rooms. Cabra is also one of Ireland’s most haunted castles. In the 1780s, it was the setting for a real life upstairs –downstairs romance, between a family member and a beautiful servant. Tragically, murder was involved, and various ghostly presences have been noted. A man in military uniform has also been spotted in the hotel corridors. A ghostly carriage pulls into the courtyard in the dead of night, and a baby has been heard crying. There are good value off-peak deals on offer – in October, two adults can have a two nights stay in the castle, with dinner on one evening, from €311 per person.

Tel: 042 9667030 www.cabracastle.com 22 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Serious ghost hunters are frequent guests at Ballygawley Castle – and you can take a Ghost Tour. Hauntings often occur in the castle’s Tower Rooms, which are all small, cosy and highly atmospheric, and reached by a stone spiral staircase.

Ballygally Castle, Larne, Co. Antrim, is ideally placed for trips to the Glens of Antrim, The Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Distillery – for starters. The original 17th century castle tower now has some modern extensions – and a wide range of rooms and deals. They include gourmet mini breaks – the food is excellent here. Ballygally has also been dubbed Northern Ireland’s Most Haunted Hotel - and to make the point, an eerie green mist can sometimes be spotted hanging over it. Serious ghost hunters are frequent guests – and you can take a Ghost Tour.

Hauntings often occur in the castle’s Tower Rooms, which are all small, cosy and highly atmospheric, and reached by a stone spiral staircase.

Discover why and whether Lady Isabella Shaw was left to starve in one room, or jumped/was pushed, from a window – and learn about the mysterious night time voices and noises in the tower. There is a wide range of good value deals, some from under €200 for `Book Early and Save’ offers. Various ` Dine and Stay’ and ` Gourmet Mini Break’ deals, (some including the Castle Rooms), are available for under €300, for 2 adults sharing.

Tel: 0044 28581066 www.hastingshotels.com Prices have been checked at time of going to press but can change.

Check websites or phone to confirm latest offers Haunted Ireland Senior Times podcast If you are interested in ghost spotting, why not get some background and further details about Ireland’s Haunted Castles, on the Senior Times Haunted Ireland podcast. Visit www.seniortimes.ie and click on ‘podcasts’

Mary’s Musings In her latest observations Mary reflects, among other things, on the success of the walk-in vaccination centres, Maude Gonne, Yeats, the pleasures of dining out again, the Phoenix Park Murders while enthusiastically anticipating Diarmuid Ferriter’s new book

With the various lockdowns we’ve had, it has been a long, long time since I was in the inside of a restaurant to eat. Just recently, on the August Bank Holiday Monday, my son Aengus and his wife Lisa and family invited me to have a meal indoors locally. It was in the Glasson Lakehouse in Westmeath, which Tom and Breda Reid had run successfully for so many years. It has now been purchased by Michael McKillen and has since undergone a full transformation, both inside and outside.

Hello to all the readers and contributors of the latest edition of this lovely magazine, Senior Times.

Before we get into the chat together in this column, I want to commend and give full praise to the previous edition of Senior Times, which had author Edna O’Brien on its cover, and inside a wonderful contribution from Eileen Casey on the life, books and times of Edna O’Brien from the beginning up until now, her 91st year. It was a great read and I particularly commend the Irish Ambassador to London who had commissioned, on behalf of the Irish Government, a portrait of Edna O’Brien to commemorate her 90th birthday.

That is well depicted and written about in the July/August edition of Senior Times.

Hasn’t the vaccine take-up in Ireland been wonderful?

In all the age groups, there has been a huge spontaneous uptake of the vaccine. As I compile this column, this week alone the portal for the 12-15 age group is open. Imagine, when that is completed, how it will lead to such a changed environment in Ireland.

Athlone Institute of Technology (soon to be a university – more of that later). I drove up by the college one day to take a look and there was a huge queue waiting in cars on the road and at the roundabout. So well done to the HSE and to those in charge of the strategy behind the vaccine rollout. It has been a truly wonderful feat.

There has been very little vaccine hesitancy here compared with other countries where is apparently so evident.

So, how has the reading been going? I have just finished my two latest books. I just loved the first one, The Fascination of What’s Difficult: A Life of Maud Gonne by Kim Bendheim, the title of which is a quote from a line from the W.B. Yeats poem ‘The Fascination of What’s Difficult’. Maud Gonne was a complex character, and her varied life reflected that. We all know of Yeats’ obsession with her.

The walk-in vaccine centres were a big success. We had one here in Athlone in the

Imagine, he proposed to her four times and she turned him down on each occasion. And then

For so many years I’ve been an avid reader of Edna O’Brien and have followed her career from the very beginning of her early life in Tuamgraney in County Clare and all her adventures and exploits since. Well done to Senior Times on getting such a scoop on Edna in her 91st year.

24 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

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Mary’s Musings

I love Yeats’ poetry, my favourite poem of all being ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’, which is surely the strongest ever verbalisation of the emigrant’s lament I have just finished my two latest books. I just loved the first one, The Fascination of What’s Difficult: A Life of Maud Gonne by Kim Bendheim, the title of which is a quote from a line from the W.B. Yeats poem ‘The Fascination of What’s Difficult’.

he proposed to her daughter Iseult, who took a month to consider the proposal and then turned him down too. Yeats went on to be happily married and to have two children.

Meanwhile, his best-known poems were written when he was full of creative disappointment at Maud Gonne’s refusal of him, which permeated every aspect of his life. I love Yeats’ poetry, my favourite poem of all being ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’, which is surely the strongest ever verbalisation of the emigrant’s lament: I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; When I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

I can strongly recommend this book on Maud Gonne. There is almost a revelation in every page, and it is so truly interesting.

The second book which I got great enjoyment from reading is The Irish Assassins: Conspiracy, Revenge and the Phoenix Park Murders that

The second book which I got great enjoyment from reading is The Irish Assassins: Conspiracy, Revenge and the Phoenix Park Murders that Stunned Victorian England. It is written by Julie Kavanagh and is a full account of the Phoenix Park Murders back in the 1880s.

stunned Victorian England. It is written by Julie Kavanagh and is a full account of the Phoenix Park Murders back in the 1880s. It concerns the murder of Lord Frederick Cavendish, chief secretary for Ireland, and Thomas Burke, the undersecretary, when they were strolling home through the Phoenix Park in Dublin in May 1882.

26 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

The whole story is magnificently written, with its background of the Fenian assassins, the story of Parnell and the Kilmainham Treaty, and most importantly the influence Queen Victoria had in English political life. This is a fine story, really well written, and it is worth getting by hook or by crook, hopefully through your local library.

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Mary’s Musings

Diarmuid Ferriter is about to bringing out his new book titled Between Two Hells: The Irish Civil War. As I’m sure many of the readers of this magazine do, I admire greatly the works of Diarmuid Ferriter, so this should be a book to look out for during the first week of September.

Early in September, Diarmuid Ferriter is bringing out his new book titled Between Two Hells: The Irish Civil War. As I’m sure many of the readers of this magazine do, I admire greatly the works of Diarmuid Ferriter, so this should be a book to look out for during the first week of September.

Since we last spoke together, Ireland has opened up to ‘indoor dining’. Such a grand term for what had been a pretty ordinary experience up until now!

With the various lockdowns we’ve had, it has been a long, long time since I was in the inside of a restaurant to eat. Just recently, on the August Bank Holiday Monday, my son Aengus and his wife Lisa and family invited me to have a meal indoors locally. It was in the Glasson Lakehouse in Westmeath, which Tom and Breda Reid had run successfully for so many years. It has now been purchased by Michael McKillen and has since undergone a full transformation, both inside and outside. I was amazed at the changes that have been brought about. There is an outdoor heated swimming pool presided over by a lifeguard. There is a policy of pets allowed, and all afternoon there were parades of people in their bathrobes up and down to the swimming pool accompanied by their pets.

The indoor dining was a great success. I had completely forgotten the wonderful feeling of having a menu in one hand and a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc in the other hand, and somebody enquiring ‘What would you like to order?’ Bliss, bliss, bliss! It was as good as a holiday, and I felt so enthusiastic about the

outing that we are already planning a repeat visit as soon as possible.

The adults had their Covid passports but the children didn’t need one, and all in all a happy afternoon ensued. I hope many of the readers will have the opportunity of enjoying this savoury interlude.

Earlier in the column, I referred to the Athlone Institute of Technology. This institute, together with Limerick Institute of Technology, has been awarded the title of a Technological University, due to be launched on October 1.

This is great news for Athlone and an outcome that was long-sought and pursued rigorously.

It is of great interest to me because back in 1974, when I was elected to my first step on the electoral ladder, I was on the board of the college. At that time, a member of the Athlone UDC was to be nominated to the board of the then Regional College. I was glad, as a fledgling politician, to be so chosen, and I took up my seat on the board with high hopes and a fair degree of trepidation. I was later appointed chair of the board, the previous chair having gone on to a very fancy job in Dublin. I loved my time on that college board and was so glad to have the experience of working in a whole new environment, particularly one that was infused with ambition with their sights, even then, set on eventually becoming a university.

Throughout the intervening years, even though I had long left it, I retained a great interest in the

28 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

board, particularly during the years when I was Minister for Education. Paddy Cooney of Fine Gael was the Minister for Education before me, and in 2011, both he and I were awarded honorary doctorates from the then Athlone Institute of Technology.

It certainly means a lot to Athlone to have the status of a university town and there is great delight and anticipation for the formal unveiling on October 1. We have been blessed with the first principal/director Dr David Fenton, followed by the indefatigable Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, who has led with gusto and courage the odyssey towards Technological University status.

Space and time have caught up with me again, so I will sign off for now. I look forward to talking with you all again on the next occasion.

Remember, the pandemic is not really gone away, you know, so continue to have care, to keep your distance and to stick to the ordinary protocols which we have so got used to. Better times are coming, but they are not here yet!

e k r ou ’R O y ar M

Slán tamall.

Health

Are you hearing a ringing in your ear?

Here’s how to manage it

Five tips from Neuromod Medical’s expert audiology team to help you manage your tinnitus One common misconception that exists when it comes to tinnitus is that it’s a condition only suffered by older people. In fact, tinnitus can present in people in any age group – even young children. The reason this misconception exists is mainly because tinnitus is more common in older people as it is strongly linked with hearing loss, something that becomes more prevalent in people as they age[i].

Tinnitus can manifest when there is loss of input to the auditory system, which can happen when hearing loss or damage occurs. To compensate for this loss of input to the auditory system, an increase in neural firing occurs in the brain which is mistakenly perceived as sound or tinnitus.

This means that it is important that people of every age look after their hearing as, when it comes to tinnitus, prevention is vital. However, that rings hollow for those who are suffering from “ringing in the ears”. While there is no known cure for tinnitus, there are a number of things you can do to manage it.

1. Get assessed If you are struggling to hear conversations with friends and family or straining to hear what’s being said on the television or radio, then it’s important to get your hearing assessed by an audiologist. This will help them understand the severity of your hearing loss and assess your tinnitus. From here the audiologist will be able to make treatment recommendations which could improve your quality of life.

2. Use a hearing aid if you experience hearing loss If you have hearing loss and it is recommended by your audiologist, a hearing aid can help improve your hearing by amplifying sounds.

Hearing aids can also help reduce tinnitus by giving you more access to environmental sounds. Many people who have tinnitus and a hearing loss become less aware of tinnitus when using a hearing aid.

3. Wear hearing protection This may seem like a no-brainer but it is essential to wear hearing protection if you frequent loud environments, such as concerts or noisy pubs for example. This also includes occupational, social and other activities such as being in proximity of loud cars or motorcycles, shooting, using loud power tools and even mowing the lawn. Hearing 30 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

protection can help prevent hearing loss when exposed to loud noise for prolonged periods of time. It can also prevent further damage if you have any loss of hearing, something that can exacerbate the severity of your tinnitus.

4. Relax This one is easier said than done, right? It’s common to feel anxious or stressed when you first become aware of your tinnitus. Reducing stress is very important to the overall management of your condition.

Implementing exercise and/or relaxation techniques into your daily life can help you feel less stressed and provide some relief from your tinnitus. Things like practicing meditation, mindfulness or taking a walk can be beneficial in reducing tinnitus-related stress.

5. Drown out the tinnitus with other sounds Those who suffer from tinnitus often say it is more noticeable or bothersome in quiet places or at night, when it is likely to be quieter. The use of soothing background sounds can help draw your attention away from your tinnitus. There are many apps that provide sounds including white noise and nature sounds, however you can also use the TV or radio.

These tips could make a difference in helping you to better manage your tinnitus. However, if you are looking for a device that can help to relieve your tinnitus in a sustainable way then perhaps you may be suitable for Lenire. Lenire is a medical device that combines mild electrical pulses to the tongue with sound stimulation to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. It has performed well in large-scale clinical trials involving more than 500 people. In the most recent of these, 80.1% of trial participants who used Lenire as directed reported a reduction in their symptoms[ii] that was sustained for 12 months after the treatment[iii].

Lenire is available from Neuromod Medical, based at the Hermitage Medical Clinic in Dublin. Neuromod Medical can assess your tinnitus in-clinic in Dublin or remotely over a video call. Get started today by scheduling a free introductory call at www.neuromodmedical.com or by calling 01 253 1448. [i] Lin FR, Thorpe R, Gordon-Salant S, et al. Hearing loss prevalence and risk factors among older adults in the United States. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2011;66(5):582–590. [ii] As measured by Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) [iii] Conlon et al., Sci. Transl. Med. 12, eabb2830 (2020)

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Health

Therapeutic breakthroughs are on the horizon but first we all should Know Dementia

This September is the 10th anniversary of World Alzheimer’s Month, which is aimed at raising awareness and challenging stigmas associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. World Alzheimer’s Month is organised by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), a global not-for-profit. It says there is a growing urgency for people around the world to ‘Know Dementia’ – and that is the campaign theme for this year.

Right through the month of September, and particularly on September 21, World Alzheimer’s Day, concerned organisations here in Ireland and around the world will be highlighting the challenges facing people living with dementia. They’ll be offering assistance in the form of public information packs, additional services and support and increasing awareness among key stakeholders in a bid to effect real and meaningful progress.

New figures provided by the ADI underscore the growing issue. It says there are more than 50 million people around the world living with dementia, and that someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds. The ADI warns that the number of people living with dementia is predicted to triple by 2050, rising to 152 million.

Know the symptoms Dementia is a collective name for progressive degenerative brain syndromes which affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion.

Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia are the most common types of dementia and are responsible for up to 90% of cases of dementia.

Symptoms indicating possible dementias include loss of memory, difficulty in finding the right words or understanding what people are saying, difficulty in performing previously routine tasks, personality and mood changes.

“Dementia knows no social, economic or geographical boundaries.

Although each person will experience dementia in their own way, eventually those affected are unable to care for themselves and need help with all aspects of daily life. There is currently no cure for dementia, with some limited treatments, focusing attention on the importance of care, information, advice and support,” says the ADI. Know when to seek help Early diagnosis can be critical in achieving more positive health outcomes for those living with dementia, and that is one reason why the focus of this year’s campaign is around diagnosis. Like most diseases, people tend to seek help only when they recognise an issue, and the ADI 32 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

hopes that its efforts to help more people know dementia will encourage more people to seek help if they recognise the signs, either among themselves, or a loved one.

“As we are on the cusp of significant therapeutic breakthroughs that require early diagnosis to be effective, it is becoming increasingly clear that people the world over are not being diagnosed due to lack of specialists, of diagnostic equipment, of resources and due to stigma.

Our 2019 World Alzheimer Report found that 62% of healthcare professionals still incorrectly believe Alzheimer’s and dementia are due to normal ageing!” says the ADI. The ADI wants people to understand that dementia is not a normal part of ageing, so getting a diagnosis can help you take control and plan ahead.

“There is currently no simple test for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. There is research and progress into new biomarkers, which are less invasive and less costly but currently a combination of memory tests and scans are required,” advises the ADI. “Receiving a timely diagnosis of dementia will enable you to gain access to information, resources and support for yourself and those close to you; demystify and destigmatise your condition; maximise your quality of life and benefit from support, and learn about available drug and nondrug therapies that may alleviate symptoms and improve cognition.

“All of which can help with planning for the future and to explaining to your family, friends and colleagues what has changed in your life and how they can help you. Evidence suggests that when people with dementia and their families are well prepared and supported, initial feelings of shock, anger and grief are balanced by a sense of reassurance and empowerment.”

The ADI’s World Alzheimer Report 2021 is also focused on diagnosis, and the organisation is launching it this month.

“We will be looking at the role of government, healthcare professionals, and civil society in diagnosis, highlighting gaps, and shining a light on the experiences of people who are living with dementia and their families,” says the ADI. Know the impact of Covid-19 on dementia Covid-19 has inflicted tragedy across almost every aspect of life, and has been particularly acute for people living with dementia.

Health

1

2

Memory loss

Difficulty performing familiar tasks

3

Problems with language

?

4

Disorientation to time and place

6

Problems keeping track of things

8

Changes in mood and behaviour

www.alzint.org

10

warning signs of dementia 9

Challenges understanding visual and spatial information

?

5

Poor or decreased judgement

7

Misplacing things

10

Shopping list Apple Milk

Withdrawal from work or social activities

If these signs are new, they may be a sign of dementia.

Dementia is not a normal part of ageing.

Speak to your doctor or contact your dementia and Alzheimer association.

“The global pandemic has affected our constituency even more,” says the ADI, which states that more than 25% of deaths from Covid-19 were among people living with dementia.

“Many people living with dementia have experienced cognitive deterioration from lack of social engagement due to social isolation, shielding, distancing and lack of social services,” it says.

“More recently, we have started to look at the impact of long Covid on the brain and there is a genuine concern we may be facing more onset of dementia as a consequence of Covid-19 infection.”

The ADI advises people to do all they can to minimise the impact of Covid-19 on loved ones living with dementia.

“During lockdown and restrictions, it is essential that older people, especially those living with dementia, are not socially excluded.

“During the pandemic, it is imperative that people keep talking about dementia, seeking out information, advice and support.

“Do not wait until after lockdown or restrictions end to speak to your doctor about experiencing symptoms of dementia. Speak to your doctor and contact your national Alzheimer’s or dementia association.

“Use their helplines, websites, social media and online events to stay up to date with advice and information about support.”

Know Dementia with Home Instead Home Instead has long supported organisations which care about people living with dementia , and is a partner organisation of key bodies such as Understand Dementia. This month, we’re supporting the ADI’s campaign, and we are the only home care company involved in the forthcoming World Alzheimer’s Report.

Our Home Care Professionals Academy is a unique training school for our 4,000+ team of CAREGivers across Ireland, who can now access City & Guilds-accredited Dementia Care Training. This is focused on the dignity of the person in receipt of care to ensure they have the best possible care experience.

We are also publishing practical care skills, tips and advice for families caring for a loved one living with dementia, on our website and social media platforms.

“Dementia has unfortunately become a reality for more and more people today. Our CAREGivers are trained to see the world from the client’s point of view, and use strategies that support them in living through moments that can be both painful and joyous,” says Deirdre Donaghy, Head of Brand at Home Instead Ireland.

“It’s practical support and we’re asking communities to understand such behavioural symptoms so we all work together to Know Alzheimer’s and Dementia.”

Learn more at the following websites: Alzheimer’s Disease International – Alzint.org Alzheimer Society of Ireland – Alzheimer.ie Engaging Dementia – EngagingDementia.ie Home Instead – HomeInstead.ie Understand Dementia – UnderstandDementia.ie If you’d like to join the conversation online this month, you can use hashtags such as #WorldAlzMonth, #KnowDementia, #KnowAlzheimers and #WAM2021 Senior Times l September- October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 33

Dublin Dossier Pat Keenan on happenings in and around the capital

Celebrating St James and the Camino in Ailesbury Road

Celebrating St James in the magnificent garden of the Spanish Ambassador to Ireland in Ailesbury Road, Dublin

An invitation to a garden party at the residence of the Spanish Ambassador on Ailesbury Road was hard to resist. It would be my gentle return to social mingling, just as I was beginning to get used to some of the carefree aspects of my anti-social way of living with Covid, a good place to re-engage, and at a suitably urbane level, sipping wine and chatting with the ambassador, no less.

We gathered the day before Spain would celebrate a special Sunday for the Camino de Santiago Holy Year - Xacobeo 2021. Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia, the westernmost region across the top of Spain facing the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic. About 730 miles due north in Dublin they would celebrate too, with a special mass in Saint James's Roman Catholic Church on James Street North.

This year the facade of the church was uniquely illuminated for the occasion. These Holy Years only happen on years when the feast of St.James falls on a Sunday. The next one will be in 2027. Because of the pandemic this Xacobeo holy year will be extended to include 2022.

There is another Dublin connection. His Excellency Ildefonso Castro, the Spanish Ambassador was here with us in the leafy, sun dappled Dublin 4 garden hails from Galicia. He has been Ambassador here since 2018. No stranger here, having worked at the embassy previously for seven years at a different diplomatic level. Previously he has been in Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Paraguay and Sweden.

34 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

The Saint James's Catholic Church link with Camino de Santiago dates back to medieval times. In 1220, St James’s Gate was the starting point for Irish pilgrims on their journey to the shrine of St James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. At that time Dublin was a walled city and the original St James’s Gate guarded the western entrance. It was demolished in 1734 but later gave its name to St. James's Gate Brewery of Guinness fame. St James’s Church keeps its pilgrimage link alive through the Camino Society of Ireland which is based there. The Camino Information Centre is manned by volunteers - all veteran pilgrimage completers. They offer information on the journey and issue the official Pilgrim Passport which will mark your route and will be duly stamped along the way. Visit their site at www.caminosociety.ie/ Then there is the fine house itself, now the residence of the Spanish Ambassador on Ailesbury Road. It was built for the Mitchells, the prominent Dublin wine merchants for over 200 years. William Mitchell came to Ireland from the North of England in the early 1800s and set up a bakery business in Fairview. They later moving to 10 Grafton Street, opening a tea/coffee and confectionery shop - a place where a gentile lady of the time might sit, little finger raised, sipping tea or...perhaps a discreet port served in a dainty teacup.

McDonalds now occupy the spot today, that would be a Big Mac, large fries and a diet coke. In 1887 Mitchell & Son moved to 21 Kildare Street

Dublin Dossier

until 2008 when they sold out and moved to the CHQ Building in the Irish Financial Services Centre.

In 1220, St James’s Gate was the starting point for Irish pilgrims on their journey to the shrine of St James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. At that time Dublin was a walled city and the original St James’s Gate guarded the western entrance. It was demolished in 1734 but later gave its name to St. James's Gate Brewery of Guinness fame.

Mitchells remains the only Irish wine company of its era to be still owned and run by the descendants of the founder. Remember when Grafton Street had so many tea/coffee shops ? Bewleys, Fullers, Robt.Roberts and Mitchells(they closed in the 1950s).

Dublin pizzeria in the top 20 in Europe

James Cirillo in Cirillo’s Pizzeria in Baggot Street Dublin - might even be better than Naples. They have been ranked in the Top 20 of Best European Pizzerias by the prestigious 50 Top Pizza online guide.

Where can you get a pizza made to traditional Vera Pizza Napoletana standards, San Marzano tomatoes, 00 flour dough - slow-proved for 30 hours, fresh mozzarella, and baked in an oak and ash wood fire oven? - and without shelling out for a trip to Naples, birthplace of the pizza. Cirillo’s in Baggot Street Dublin might even better than Naples.

They have been ranked in the Top 20 of Best European Pizzerias by the prestigious 50 Top Pizza online guide. The judges said: ‘the atmosphere is more like that of a pub than a pizzeria, but there is no doubt about the product. The pizza is remarkably like the traditional Neapolitan pizza, well risen and, more importantly, well baked’. The full recipe is of course secret, known only to their head chief Daniele Accardo from Ancona. That's on Italy’s Adriatic coast almost 300 miles west of Naples, hey, nobody's perfect but maybe that's where the 'secret ingredient' comes from. Opened in 2016 by James Cirillo, his dad's Italian from Caserta a city just 20 miles north of Naples and mum's Irish, how could he go wrong? Checkout www.cirillos.ie/ Buon appetito!

Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 35

Dublin Dossier

Two Kerrymen who made their mark on Dublin and beyond..

In the early years of our independence there were vast fortunes to be made in building and running ballrooms here at home and across the water in war-torn Britain. Remarkably two of these future Irish millionaires, possibly billionaires, came from Kilflynn, near Lixnaw in Co Kerry, John J Byrne and Bill Fuller both went to the same national school, shared the same classroom, started as builders and both went on to make massive cash fortunes building and managing ballrooms and with all that began a lifelong rivalry.

John J Byrne began his fortunes with the Galtymore, his famous London ballroom in Cricklewood. The then Taoiseach Sean Lemass coaxed him back to Dublin to build much needed office blocks and apartments. He came back and transformed the Dublin skyline with O'Connell Bridge House, D'Olier House and Townsend House. Today his company The Carlisle Trust is one of the largest suppliers of private office space to the public sector in Dublin with buildings on Parnell Square, D'Olier Street, Townsend Street and Smithfield. The bulk of the shares in Carlisle are held by a Cayman Islands trust since the early 1970s.

Byrne developed a long friendship with Charles J Haughey who served as Taoiseach on three occasions during the years between 1979 and 1992 - some infer they were secret partners. During the 1960s and '70s Byrne had bought over 500 acres of green belt land stretching from the former Baldoyle Raceourse on the coast back toward Kinsealy, where Haughey lived at Abbeville, his historic abode on an estate of approximately 250 acres. Here I must declare a personal interest. I became involved in the Baldoyle Estuary Preservation Society efforts to oppose Byrnes plans. Byrne tried on several occasions during the ‘70s and ‘80s to get planning permission to build houses on these Baldoyle lands, ending in 1984 when his company Endcamp Ltd was refused permission to develop the lands by An Bord Pleanála. His solicitor John Gore-Grimes recalled that Byrne ‘became heartily sick of Baldoyle.’ He sold the lands. During these hearings lobbyist and PR practitioner Frank Dunlop alleged he bribed seven Dublin councillors to vote to rezone the Baldoyle lands, three of them are now dead and the other four receiving corrupt payments from Mr Dunlop. John J Byrne died at the age of 93 in Donnybrook.

The other, the more colourful of the two, Bill Fuller owned 26 ballrooms and a construction company employing over 3,000. His business interests stretched across Ireland, Britain and the United States. He also promoted concerts, Billie Holiday, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Willie Nelson, and organised to get Irish showbands into Las Vegas. A friend who knew him told me that into his 80s he was 'panning for gold' in the Nevada desert, well he did own Eldorado Mining Inc. In Dublin he owned and ran The Crystal Ballrooms, it later became McGonagles nightclub, the Old Shieling Hotel in Raheny and the Town and Country. In Camden Town London today the massive Electric Ballroom is still in the family www.electricballroom.co.uk/. Fuller based himself in Dublin for most of the 1960s and 1970s. During his Old Sheiling days he paid out court bail for many indicted IRA men. One of those was Anthony ‘Dutch’ Doherty who later confessed to the killing of three British soldiers, members of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, lured to their deaths from a Belfast pub in a 'honey trap' sting. This admission subsequently was deemed inadmissible 'because it could not be guaranteed to have been given voluntarily'. He was bailsman again at the age of 84 in Las Vegas where he put up $300,000 bail for Sandy Murphy, a Cheetah's strip club dancer. She with her lover Rick Tabish were convicted of the murder of her boyfriend Ted Binion, owner of The Horseshoe casino. Fuller also paid her $150,000 legal fees. He died eight years later in Santa Monica, California.

36 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

John J Byrne began his fortunes with the Galtymore, his famous London ballroom in Cricklewood. The then Taoiseach Sean Lemass coaxed him back to Dublin to built much needed office blocks and apartments. He came back and transformed the Dublin skyline with O'Connell Bridge House, D'Olier House and Townsend House.

Griolladh..from Bray to Malahide

Jack Brennan and Jacob Long, owners of the Griolladh cheese food trucks

The lockdown has had a sometimes inspirational impact on food retailing too. In a Malahide back garden two enterprising guys, both having worked in the hospitality industry for the over 14 years, worked on an old trailer converting it into the first ‘Griolladh’ grilled cheese food truck.

They now operate in six permanent locations across Dublin, with a staff of 40 and they plan more. To celebrate their first year, Jack Brennan and Jacob Long decided to give something back with a charity walk from Bray across the city to Malahide and managed to raise over €10,000 for Homeless People and the Capuchin Day Centre.

The perfect grilled cheese sandwich is at the heart of the success of Griolladh. Using the most suitable ingredients available, such as Tartine sourdough bread, the team cook and prep all the sandwich elements from scratch, including the meats, sauces and fillings.

Griolladh now operate in Malahide at Moyvil Coast Road; Bray at Beachpark, The Strand; Carrickmines Retail Park; Eatyard at Crossguns and by the time you read this maybe at Phibsboro and Dundrum.

Jacob says: ‘along the way we’ve popped up in more permanent locations such as The Globe, Hop House in Open Gate Brewery and Zanzibar Locke.’

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Health

Look after your bones this World Osteoporosis Day

Osteoporosis is often referred to as the silent disease as it affects the inside of the bone, while on the outside a person can look and feel perfectly fine. It causes bones to become fragile and break more easily. Women are most at risk from osteoporosis, especially those aged over 65. The effects of undiagnosed or untreated osteoporosis can be devastating, therefore the prevention and early detection of this disease is extremely important.

With World Osteoporosis Day taking place on 20th October, we got some advice from Dr Máire Finn who is encouraging women over 65 to prioritise their bone health.

“There are several risk factors that contribute to osteoporosis. Once there is an understanding of what these risk factors are, it makes it easier to identify if there is anything that can be changed to help contribute to healthier bones. Unfortunately, there are some factors that cannot be controlled but by focusing on those that are, there is a chance you could greatly reduce your risk of osteoporosis.”

38 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Dr Máire Finn

“Diet plays a major part in bone health. Calcium and vitamin D are essential parts of a diet for healthy bones. Eating a balanced diet, containing adequate calories, and incorporating items from all food groups, can help bone strength as well as overall health.”

“Exercise is also extremely important to ensure healthy bones, especially weight bearing exercises which can help with bone loss. If possible, undertake an assessment by a chartered physiotherapist, before undertaking any exercise programme. Go for a light walk, use the stairs rather than the lift or escalator. Dancing and other low-impact exercises are also good options provided you have good balance.”

This World Osteoporosis Day I would urge all women over 65 to speak to their GP about osteoporosis or contact the Irish Osteoporosis Society on 01 637 5050.

SHE DOESN’T DESERVE A BREAK…

... or a fracture. Neither do you.

PRIORITISE YOUR BONE HEALTH

Visit www.irishosteoporosis.ie to find out more about osteoporosis

Mary Kennedy ORGANISED BY Charity Reg No 20034191 CHY11987

Job number IE-NPS-0721-00006. Date of Preparation: Aug ‘21.

Bereavement

Irish Hospice Foundation Forum 2021; Are we the same? The art of losing and building back better.

Elizabeth Bishop knew loss and experienced it from an early age. Her father died when she was an infant, and her mother institutionalised when she was five. Later in her life, Elizabeth lost her spouse to suicide.

If there was one thing she was familiar with, it was definitely the feeling of loss. In her poem ‘One Art’, she shares with us how she struggles with loss.

The art of losing isn’t hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.

The art of losing isn’t hard to master.

The poem attempts to convince herself and us that all losses are the same in fact, some things like keys insist on being lost. All losses the poem urges should be treated as equal and manageable. We should ‘just’ get over grief in the same way we get over losing a pen or a watch.

Alas, if only it were that simple….

Our response to loss is the whole point of the poem, how we rank losses against each other, a friendship, a future, which is more important? Loss is universal. Elizabeth Bishop simply wrote about what we all feel. When we grieve, we want to master the art of losing. It’s just not that easy.

Elizabeth Bishop knew that as well as we do.

It is with this poem in mind Irish Hospice Foundation took inspiration for their biannual conference (this year completely online) Forum 2021; Are we the same? The art of losing and building back better.

• • •

Funeral Directors and Disrupters.

Geriatricians and advocates for older people.

Irish Hospice Foundation grief and bereavement experts, including Grief at Work, and the Bereavement Pyramid.

Little did we know on that fateful day in March 2020 what was ahead of us? We did not know the losses we would face as individuals and as a society.

Dying, death and bereavement affect everyone. If you are professional or public, directly affected or curious, come spend some time in generous company to be better prepared (for what is as inevitable as the sunset.).

At Forum 2021 Irish Hospice Foundation will share the stories of people who worked through the pandemic. What did they learn? Where did we thrive? What can we do better? How can we use these lessons to help us build a new future? Forum 2021 will create a safe space for us to examine our relationship with dying, death and bereavement during its 2 days.

Irish Hospice Foundation’s expertise supports people at end of life, in grief and in their professional practice. We provide training, awareness, campaigning, and innovation. We work closely across Government and with services like the HSE and residential care centres to ensure that wherever you are, you deserve a good death.

Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Programme, will open Forum 2021 and will share his reflections on the past eighteen months, what has he learned, what gives him hope and how the world can move forward into recovery.

DATES Tuesday October 5th and Wednesday October 6th Both days are online. Sessions run 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm.

Opportunities for socialising and professional engagement run all day both days.

Here is a quick look at what you can expect from this year’s event: Day 1, Tuesday 5th October will look at the way we care for people at the end of life, what is new, what is innovative, and what every single one of us should know about understanding and planning for end of life.

Day 2, Wednesday 6th October, we concentrate on grief, bereavement, and coping with loss, and we will learn from those who are personally and professionally engaged in these matters.

Speakers will include.

• Dr. Mike Ryan from the World Health Organisation.

• TED Talker, BAFTA nominated author; Kevin Toolis.

• Palliative Care Doctors and End-of-Life Coordinators.

• The Bereaved Dad’s Breakfast Club.

40 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Irish Hospice Foundation has given Senior Times readers a special discount code to buy tickets at a discounted rate of E25 for the two days rather than E35, use this link to buy tickets today using Discount: SENIOR. www.hospicefoundation.ie/forum

More information on Forum 2021 can be found on the Irish Hospice Foundation Website https://hospicefoundation.ie/forum

Registered Charity 20013554

Forum 2021

On Dying, Death & Bereavement

5 & 6 October | Online This interactive two-day conference will offer a safe space to explore and understand dying, death and bereavement from wherever you are.

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Finance

FraudSMART warns consumers to be wary of parcel delivery text scams!

FraudSMART is warning consumers to beware of a text message scam involving customers being contacted via a text message which references an undelivered package and asks for payment often for customs charges.

With COVID-19 leading to an increase in online shopping and home delivery usage along with Brexit and changes in shipping from the UK, scammers are attempting to take advantage of possible consumer confusion.

Key details: Customers are contacted by a text message which mentions outstanding shipping costs and has a link to “Track your package”.

The message links to fraudulent branded phishing sites e.g. An Post or UPS where customers are asked to provide personal information and card details.

FraudSMART Advice • Stop and think! Are you expecting a package?

• Do not respond to unsolicited text / SMS messages.

• Independently validate unsolicited texts. Do not click on links or attachments or use phone numbers given in the text messages as these can be fake.

42 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

• Never give away personal information, bank account details or security details such as your PIN or online password to anyone.

• If you think you have responded to a SMS text message scam, contact your bank immediately.

OVER 50’S MIDWEEK BREAKS Enjoy a midweek break in Tralee, our Over 50’s breaks include Bed/Breakfast & Dinner each evening and complimentary Tea/Coffee & Scones on arrival.

2021

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2 Dinner, B&B 3 Dinner, B&B

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Single Room Supplement

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To book call 066 7199100 or visit www.therosehototel.com The Rose Hotel, Dan Spring Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry. V92 HKA4. Email: reservations@therosehotel.com

Western Ways George Keegan on what’s happening in travel, the arts, food and entertainment along the Western Seaboard

Historic churches worth visiting along The Wild Atlantic Way The Protestant community in Ireland and members of the Roman Catholic Church have seen a sharp decline in numbers attending service or mass during the past number of years for a variety of reasons. This has caused a significant drop in weekly offerings essential for the upkeep of a parish. Churches are now dependent on donations and holding events to raise money for essential restoration works.

The decline in numbers ha s also led to a reduction in the number of dioceses around the country and the closure of some churches belonging to the Church of Ireland. For example next month when the bishop of Tuam, Killala and Anchonry retires no new bishop will be appointed and this diocese will amalgamate with Limerick and Killaloe.

While some of the closed down churches became derelict sites, thankfully quite a few have been turned into either art centres or public libraries. In one instance a church in West Cork was converted into a private home, but continues to be used for worship.

fully this will now change and visitors will again climb to the 1st floor to ring them. St.Anne’s church is one of a small number around Ireland which have retained their original bells. The Tower over 36 metres high has become an important landmark and is visible from many parts of the city. The eight bells were re-cast in 1869 and 1908. Of note inside the church are a Victorian timber barrel vaulted ceiling and 18th Century barley twist communion rail and font from the original church.

are a great attraction for local people and visitors to the town alike. Most of the windows were made at a studio in the North of England during the 1870’s and 1880’s. One of these windows depicts a replica of the famous painting

by English artist Holman Hunt, ‘The Light of the World’, inspired by Christ’s proclamation in St. John’s gospel. During the tourist season regular free evening concerts are held in the church featuring orchestras, choirs and musicians. St. Mary’s is open daily from 9am-8pm.

St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick This cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in the city and is located on the banks of the Shannon. It has become a major tourist attraction in recent years. Originally the Royal Palace of the Kings of Thomond it was given as a gift to the church in 1168. It is thought the present West door may well have been the main entrance to the palace. The present Dean, Very Reverend Niall. J Sloane, points out in a welcome note that St. Mary’s is a place where pilgrim and stranger may enter to seek God’s grace and peace in a broken and fragile world. It is a symbol of faith, hope and love to the city of Limerick. For the Cathedral’s 800th anniversary in the late 1960’s two specially commissioned postage stamps were issued.

Today services are held daily and the church is open to visitors from 9am – 4.45pm.

St Nicholas, Galway City

St Anne’s, Shandon, Cork City

The Collegiate Church of St.Nicholas is the largest medieval parish church in Ireland in continuous use and dates from the early 1300’s.It was dedicated to St.Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of children and seafarers and can be found in what is known as the medieval centre of the city. Taking a tour offers a glimpse into the churches’ fascinating and rich history. The font for baptisms is thought to be over 400 years old. Above the north aisle is a gallery from where there is an entrance into the Belfry.

Sadly the famous bells of this 18th century church in the heart of the city have mostly remained silent because of the pandemic. Hope-

Outside are some statues which include two mermaids, a dragon, an ape and a large lion.

High up on the edge of the roof are stone gargoyles depicting horses heads, a manticora (Persian legendary creature), human heads and yet another lion. There have been many famous visitors to the church down the centuries, among them Christopher Columbus in 1477.Sadly there was also a visit from Cromwellian troops following the siege of the city in 1652 who acquired the church as a stable for horses. The troops are thought responsible

On the bright side for anyone travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way there are still many working historic churches worth taking time out to visit. The following are just a few suggestions.

We begin our trip in Cork and travel northwards.

St Mary’s Killarney

St. Mary’s, also known as the ‘Church of the Sloes’, is a lovely parish church in the heart of the town. It’s believed a church has existed in this area since the 1200’s. The vibrant colours and style of the many stained glass windows

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for the state of many carved figures inside the building which are headless and without hands.

Holy Trinity, Westport

the church is said to incorporate a hammer shaped roof and fine pencil type spire rising to 31 metres with 3.7 meter cross on top. The spire and cross were added after the main structure was completed.

The inside contains influences from both the 18th and 19th centuries. The stunning mosaics and murals were crafted in Italy. The large sanctuary is made of Italian marble as is the beautiful pulpit which replaced a sombre dark wooden version. The impressive lectern complete with eagle is brass.

Moving up to Mayo this lovely church was built on a site donated to its parishioners by the Most Noble George John, 3rd Marquess of Sligo in 1868. Together with a businessman William Livingstone funding was supplied for both erecting the building and fitting out the interior.

The original church (1797) is today a ruin in the grounds of Westport House. Architecturally

Sculptures a big attraction at Westport Quay

To complement the rich decoration of the walls are 11 stained glass windows made in Ireland.

One is dedicated to the 3rd marquess of Sligo, another to the memory of the Livingstone family. Two windows close to the organ (still in working order) came from a private church in Belclare outside the town. From 1892-1913 the rector Canon James Owen Hannay was renowned for his knowledge of literature and Irish language. He was a supporter of both Dr. Douglas Hyde 1st President of Ireland and the Gaelic League.

Guided tours on Sundays, but also week days on request. Contact Caroline (087 6425754) for booking and details. Tours usually start inside the grounds of Westport House and are available in both English and French.

New Limerick Greenway opens

In the May/June issue I highlighted an upcoming exhibition of new sculptures which would be placed in the Quay area of Westport. Good to report the idea has been successful attracting hundreds of people daily.

The art works include Kathlyn O’Brien’s’ thoughtful provision of a large pillow which she points out is to pay homage to those chosen by the ocean as their resting place, those who never came back and those fortunate enough to be recovered. Named ‘Resting’ she chose the image of a pillow that is larger than life, and considers it a quiet piece of work where one can rest and be at one with your thoughts, life and mortality.

‘Layers of the Ocean’ by Maeve Curley is the story of seashells which are the exoskeletons of mollusks such as oysters and mussels.

Starting by photographing an oyster shell the artist drew layers of the shell to use for this sculpture. Little by little the shell margins grow, each layer different and beautiful in their own right. These layers create the form of the sculpture. The artist points out in this time of lockdown and social distancing one can identify with a little mollusk in its shell, protected from the wild Atlantic currents and tumbling oceans.

For a length of 40km the newly renovated Greenway through the countryside of west County Limerick was officially opened earlier this summer. This is the latest addition to the network of such greenways which have opened in recent years. It follows along the old railway line which once operated to Tralee in County Kerry and will offer a great rural experience to cyclists, walkers and runners of all abilities. The route which is 3 metres wide has been re-surfaced and links the towns of Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale, passing through other towns and villages. Among the attractions along this Greenway are a Victorian railway tunnel and various ancient castles and abbeys.

There are shops, cafes, restaurants and outlets to rent bicycles on the route.

The Limerick Greenway surface has been specially designed for mobility and is safe and suitable for all ages. Plans are already underway to eventually extend the route as far as Tralee.

The exhibition was organised by Custom House Studios with support of Mayo County Council, South West Mayo Development Company and Mayo Local Action Group for the Transitional LEADER Programme funding.

Support also from Mayo Creative Ireland Community Grant scheme and the Small Local Festivals Funding Scheme 2021 from the Dept. of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media. It will remain in position until end of September.

Senior Times l September- October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 45

Golf

Dermot Gilleece recalls the spectacular victory of the Japanese in the 1957 tournament

Japanese hit Canada Cup headlines on Olympic course Characterised by its challenging narrow fairways, Kasumigaseki –venue for the recent Olympics tournament -- played host to the first major international golf event to be held in Asia, when the Canada Cup, later the World Cup of Golf, was staged there in 1957.

For the superstitious among us, golf in the Tokyo Olympics carried good and bad omens for our participating players. As we have already discovered from the efforts of Ireland’s men and women practitioners, the good stuff remains some way down the line, hopefully in the Paris Olympics of 2024.

The 5ft. 4in Torakichi Nakamura in driving action

The east course at Kasumigaseki gained considerable pre-Olympic popularity through its association with Hideki Matsuyama, who became the first Japanese winner of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National last April. I had learned of a previous distinction for the venue, however, as the author of Harry Bradshaw’s biography, 34 years ago.

As it happened, Kasumigaseki GC played host to the first major international golf event to be held in Asia, when the Canada Cup, later the World Cup of Golf, was staged there in 1957.

Sadly, from an Irish standpoint, it also became the only occasion when our participating competitors were unable to complete their playing commitments.

The Brad and Christy O’Connor Snr came together for the first time in the 1956 Canada

The Japanese pair of Torakichi Nakamura, standing only 5ft 4ins, and Koichi Ono revelled in the conditions and won the 1957 Canada Cup by nine strokes from Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret, representing the US

Cup at Wentworth in Surrey. Given their fine effort in finishing in a share of 10th place behind the legendary American duo of Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, it was entirely predictable that Himself and The Brad were retained for the long trip to Tokyo the following year.

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The Japan staging was described by the celebrated American scribe, Herbert Warren Wind of Sports Illustrated, as ‘the most important international sports event ever held in the Far East.’ We’re told that the Kasumigaseki greens were covered in bales

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The east course at Kasumigaseki gained considerable pre-Olympic popularity through its association with Hideki Matsuyama, who became the first Japanese winner of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National last April.

of straw each night so as to protect the grass for weeks leading into the event. And the surfaces were to become a key factor in a remarkable victory by the home side.

Comprised of coarse, Korai grass which, apparently, grew in every direction, the greens were compared by Wind to the ‘extra rough beard featured in shaving cream commercials.’

The Japanese pair of Torakichi Nakamura, standing only 5ft 4ins, and Koichi Ono revelled in the conditions and won by nine strokes from Snead and Jimmy Demaret, representing the US. South Africa’s Gary Player, who was then only 21, was moved to remark somewhat expansively afterwards: ‘I never saw such putting in my life. Between them, they sank 10 putts of 10 to 20 feet. If Bobby Locke [his fellow countryman noted as a great putter] thinks he can putt, he should see these Japanese.’

It was this experience which prompted Snead to deliver one of the great lines of tournament golf. When asked, on his return to the US, why the Japanese were such good putters, Snead replied: ‘Because they have yet to discover how difficult it is.’

As for his own putting, he tried just about every aid offered him, including prayer. Which probably explains his enthusiasm for a visit to the Vatican suggested by his manager, Fred Corcoran, on a trip to Europe around that time.

‘Coming home, we made the Grand Tour, stopping off in Rome for what Sam called an audition with the late Pope John (XXIII),’ Corcoran recalled. ‘I suggested facetiously that Sam might bring his putter along and have it blessed. I argued that a papal blessing might help steer in some of those six-foot, side-hill putts.

‘Sam was impressed. I remember we were met in the vestry of St Peter's by a monsignor whose eyebrows flitted up into his tonsure when Snead checked in with his clubs. But he turned out to be a 100-shooter himself and he immediately went to confession to Sam about his own putting problems. Sam sighed, picked up his clubs and headed back to the car. 'If you're this close to the Pope and you can't putt,'

Harry Bradshaw, after rounds of 74 and 75 in the 1957 Canada Cup, was taken to hospital with severe nose-bleeds and withdrew from the competition.

he drawled over his shoulder, 'he ain't gonna be able to do anything for me.’

And what of the Irish in Tokyo? Sadly, it was the only time in a distinguished history in the event that O’Connor and The Brad were effectively out of contention from the halfway stage. That was when Bradshaw, after rounds of 74 and 75, was taken to hospital with severe nosebleeds and withdrew from the competition.

O’Connor, however, completed the 72 holes with rounds of 73,72,74,76 and Ireland were placed last of the 30 competing countries.

That was the bad news. Considerably better news would be forthcoming in Mexico City, 13 months later.

In reviewing the 1958 Canada Cup, the great Henry Longhurst wrote a fascinating piece in The Sunday Times. He reported: ‘The journey so far afield as Mexico, leaves many impressions on the mind, not all of them related to the golf, which was strictly the object of the visit. The first is that, having expended the whole of this space a year or so ago to lifting my hat off to Harry Bradshaw, I cannot refrain from briefly doing so again.'

‘Ireland brought the Canada Cup home and Christy O’Connor played a splendid supporting role, but Harry was the hero. I will not harp further on the difficulties of playing golf at high altitudes, but it will hardly be disputed that weight for weight and age for age, they progressively increase. On a course longer than any British championship links and with a strict par of 72, Bradshaw had rounds of 70,70,76 and 70 – and he is 45 and carries 15 stone.'

When others were sinking exhausted in the locker room, he was ready with affable conversation and, as for the fears of dysentery – ‘I drink the water out of the tap. If you’re going to get it, you’ll get it anyway.’

Longhurst went on: ‘A year ago in Tokyo, he had to retire from this tournament through persistent nose-bleeding. I saw him standing cheerfully in the hotel entrance as we left. Only

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three or four people, of whom I was not one, knew that in the intervening days, he had been so near to death that a priest had been called to administer the Last Rites. My colleagues are due shortly to elect a Golfer of the Year who ‘has done most for British golf’. Had they seen him in Mexico, they would look no further than Harry Bradshaw – and never mind what part of Ireland he comes from!’

The Association of Golf Writers took Longhurst’s advice. The Brad was awarded the AGW Trophy for 1958, polling 36 votes against 25 for Peter Alliss and 21 for David Thomas, who had been runner-up to Peter Thomson in the Open Championship at Royal Lytham, earlier that year. Dear Henry had more than compensated for the unkindness of describing The Brad’s swing as ‘agricultural’, years earlier.

Back in Tokyo in October 1957, the Japanese trailed the US by five strokes after the opening round, but went on to delight a partisan gallery of almost 12,000 over the succeeding days.

Their dominance as a pair of former caddies, gained further emphasis when Nakamura won the individual International Trophy by a crushing seven strokes from Player, Snead and Welshman, Thomas, in a share of second place. As Wind reported: ‘Over the four days, their play from tee to green was steady rather than exceptional. Neither is a stylist, or close to it. On his backswing, Nakamura lurches his whole body way around to the right, thrusting his hands into the air as if to grab the rope of a bell in a belfry. Ono has a very flat backswing on which he loosely flips the club open and shut with his wrists. Their driving, while short, was at least as straight and serviceable as any of their rivals’. Their iron play was far from brilliant but it was good.’ You will gather that superlatives were used quite sparingly back then.

Incidentally, the entire tournament was televised in Japan and covered widely in newspapers. All of which did much to promote a boom in Japanese golf, though it still took considerably longer than most observers would have anticipated.

Creative Writing

n o i s s e s b o y l d a e d A

Of his early career Owen Dwer insists, ‘I have been most unsuccessful as a writer, considering how long I’ve been at it and how much effort I’ve put in.’

The Garfield Conspiracy is a remarkable, disturbing portrait of a middle-aged man torn between his carefully constructed life and new adventures which may beckon, in the present and the past, from one of Ireland’s most exciting emerging authors and based on original research into a little-known period in US history.

Eileen Casey talks to Owen Dwyer In the great scheme of things, the best writers often have a knack for turning circumstance to advantage. The Garfield Conspiracy, Owen Dwyer’s new novel, features a protagonist named Richard Todd, a character who also happens to be a writer. Despite his award winning style, Todd is plagued by uncertainty. Are there parallels between Todd and Dwyer? This modest Dubliner makes no false claims regarding his own journey as an author. Of his early career he insists, ‘I have been most unsuccessful as a writer, considering how long I’ve been at it and how much effort I’ve put in.’ Such an honest admission makes a refreshing change from those writers who hit lucky first time out but then fade into obscurity.

In Dwyer’s case, as well as having talent, his discipline and dedication over many years are now paying off.

Senior Times l September- October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 49

Creative Writing

A typical writing day usually begins at 7 am, ‘with a cup of tea and whatever sweet snack I can find.’

‘Year after year, I sent dozens of submissions out into the slush-pile’ Undaunted, Dwyer continued to hone his skills, maintaining then, as now, a regular writing routine.

A typical writing day usually begins at 7 am, ‘with a cup of tea and whatever sweet snack I can find.’ Eventually, he got an introduction to Sean O’Keefe of Liberties Press from another writer who liked his work and following ‘a year or two of keeping in touch, Liberties Press decided to publish my book, Number Games (2019).’ Dwyer earned richly deserved praise; ‘Irish fiction as ‘(The Independent). When it comes to taking a leap of faith, Dwyer also demonstrates grit and determination. Currently, he is exchanging the running of a successful financial services company (he established the company in 1993) for the literary life. Dwyer will retire next year to focus solely on writing.

‘I always have ideas simmering away in my head. I have a notebook I write these into. If the ideas are relating to something I’m presently working on, I’ll record them in red on page 1 of the file, along with character names, timeline and plot.’ Sound practice and one which served him well in the writing of a political thriller themed around the assassination of American President James Garfield.

James Abram Garfield (1831 – 1881) was the 20th president of the United States (inaugurated 2nd November, 1880). Four months into the presidency, Garfield was shot

by an assassin (Charles Guiteau) and died two months later. Garfield was the first (and still the only) sitting house member to be elected.

Dwyer already had an interest in American history when he set out to write a historical novel but what he hadn’t reckoned on was the ‘interweaving with a present-day plot’. He still can’t explain how or why it happened. It’s easy to see however how Garfield the man proves an interesting subject. Born into poverty in a log cabin, he grew up poor in Northeast Ohio.

As well as serving as a member of the Ohio State Senate (1859 – 1861), he also served as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He fought in the battles of Middle Creek, Shiloh and Chickamauga. Plenty of plotting meat on the bone then for a novelist of such prowess as Dwyer. ‘Like most people I knew very little about Garfield. So, I went to the New York Library of Congress, where there is a wealth of primary source material.’ There’s no doubt that when the research bug bites, it bites deep, becoming all absorbing. Which proved to be the case with Dwyer; ‘I read newspaper articles, transcripts from Charles Guiteau’s trial. Interviews, speeches, police and medical reports’.

That said, Garfield and his assassination is not as well documented as Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy. But as any novelist worth their salt will attest, there’s no denying the role that an unexpected or quirky detail can add to an

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already intriguing narrative. In this case it was a guy called Roscoe Conkling who proved to be a catalyst. While in office, Garfield denied Conkling the lucrative post of Collector of the Port of New York, giving the plump appointment to William H. Robertson instead.

The resulting row brought about Conkling’s resignation. Dwyer became curious when he came across Conkling’s name (‘while messing about on Wikipedia’) thinking it strange enough to spark curiosity in him. ‘I had to learn more.

The plot evolved from imagining alternative, plausible versions of the assassination to the accepted ‘lone gunman’ theory. To do this I had to balance the plot against historical evidence.’

No mean feat by any standard. But for an award winning writer (a former ‘winner (2003) as well as a host of other literary prizes; the challenge was more than achievable. As well as finding Conkling’s name of interest, as Dwyer delved deeper, he found parallels between himself and Richard Todd (the writer in The Garfield Conspiracy engaged with writing a book about the assassination). At core, the novel could also be deemed a midlife crisis journey. Todd, although outwardly successful, feels unsure of himself as doubts about his writing abilities plague him. Dwyer admits to finding empathy. ‘I did go through a mid-life crisis, though I didn’t realise what it was until I came out of. A lot of Richard Todd’s sense of futility and confusion was real to me.’

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Creative Writing

James Abram Garfield (1831 – 1881) was the 20th president of the United States (inaugurated 2nd November, 1880). Four months into the presidency, Garfield was shot by an assassin. spinning into new directions. Without giving too much of the plot away, the question comes to mind; if being immersed in other kinds of problem solving (in real life); in trying to make sense of our own crisis; can epiphanies come from any source, large or small? Dwyer agrees that such revelations can occur and that ‘as human creatures we crave significance and problem solving can make us feel relevant.’

Does this happen for Richard? ‘The epiphany for Richard is to be ‘careful what you wish for’.

He doesn’t learn from it though, until it’s too late.’

Todd, while solving mysteries surrounding a President’s murder, appears to be working through personal angst. ‘I think we all want to have a meaning to our lives, and we can lose our sense of relevance in middle-age.

Solving Garfield’s murder became Richard Todd’s mission, while at the same time proves a distraction from reality.’ In Todd’s case, he is assisted by the arrival of Jenny Lambe (a bright, young editor), his life subsequently

Dwyer, as a short story writer, is very familiar with the concept of epiphanies, the bedrock of a solid short story. Because of his success with this very difficult form, how would he describe the difference between novel and short story?

‘A short story is where nothing and everything happens. A short story is more inspiration than perspiration’. The opposite from a novel where there is so much effort involved. More time and commitment are required – a lot more rewriting/rethinking. Clearly, writing a novel demands more from the writer in terms of commitment, dedication. Dwyer didn’t come from a literary background as such although his sister Christine Dwyer Hickey

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is a household name. Her acclaimed novel Tatty (New Island) as chosen as One City, One Book choice, 2020. Tatty is a tour de force, recounting a tale of a family falling apart, through alcoholism, while trying to conform to the ‘cult of respectability’ (Dermot Bolger).

In Dwyer’s view, ‘Christine has written the definitive book about our family’s history. It’s hard to improve on what she has said.’ Having alcoholic parents might leave a legacy of malfunction but Dwyer dispels this notion. ‘Yes, we did have two alcoholic parents who fell apart and neglected us and yes, it was tough.

But our upbringing was a picnic compared to theirs or indeed that of millions of kids in disadvantaged areas all over the world – everything is relative.’ There’s no evidence of bitterness in Dwyer and yet again, he shows empathy for an un-wished for illness; “I never met anyone who paid as high a price for their ‘sins’. Like a lot of alcoholics, they were funny, interesting and talented people. I miss them both.’

In The Garfield Conspiracy, Charles Guiteau (Garfield’s insane assassin) was a cult member. He belonged to ‘The Oneida Community’; the utopian religious sect that

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Creative Writing

coined the term ‘free love’ and had women as sexual mentors in 19th century New York.

How would Dwyer describe this relationship between Guiteau and this cultish community?

‘If Guiteau owed his insanity to anything, it was ‘The Oneida Community’. Very few of us could stand up to the scrutiny and criticism, or the sexual torment he experienced there.

And all in the name of religion – often the case where victimisation is concerned. Cults and organised religion save us the trouble of having to think for ourselves, in my opinion.’ Guiteau, in best villain tradition, proves to be a complex combination of ‘nastiness and vulnerability – he was so abnormal in his time, yet such a product of it.’ Dwyer clearly had little trouble bringing Guiteau to life, to the extent that he had ‘conversations with him in my head – what did he think about this and that/? How did he justify his general behaviour before and after the assassination?’ As it transpires, and no surprise, Dwyer transferred these mental conversations to Richard Todd.

‘The historical piece wasn’t substantial enough for me – I had to get the pain and humour in there. It seemed plausible to me that a man having a breakdown would talk to the voices in his head – it’s when they answer back the real action starts. By using this device, I felt it possible to get to a deeper, more scrutinised truth. It also gave a great opportunity for humour.’ Voices heard by Richard Todd include Garfield himself, his secretary of State James Blaine, Republican Senator Roscoe Conkling, Conkling’s mistress Kate Chase Sprague and the investigating police officer, Detective McElfresh. The question is: Are they helping Richard to solve the mystery surrounding Garfield’s murder – or pushing him further towards the edge?

And that is what the reader of this remarkably adept and intriguing novel must conclude.

As for his personal life, Dwyer is in “a happy place right now. My mortgage is paid and for the first time in my life, I have no financial pressures. ‘ Married to Rita (Galimberti), the couple have five children (two from previous relationships). Adam, the eldest, conceived when Dwyer was seventeen and adopted by a ‘nice couple in Manchester.’ Adam turned up

on his doorstep when he was 19. He’s now 38 and one of the family. Previously married to Susan (for five years), Owen (junior) was the result of that union. ‘My three children with Rita are: Ricardo 21, Laura 19 and Sofia 13. I couldn’t ask for better kids but none of them seem interested in writing at this stage.’ Planning for the future includes the buying of a place in Italy so Rita can be near her Italian parents. But for now, everything is coming together nicely and consolidating their future. Even lockdown proved advantageous for the Dwyer family.

‘We loved it. Our two eldest are college age and were beginning to drift away. We got to enjoy them for another year. We organised everything from cookery lessons to game nights – even Prosecco-fuelled dance outs, hosted by our youngest, Sofia, twelve.’ There are other pleasures too.

Dwyer professes a love for West Clare. ‘The people, the landscape, the sense of space. I lived and worked there as a young man – I’ve nothing but happy memories from that place.’

Movies, cycling, dance outs. Reading of course.

He’s recently discovered Donna Tartt and is ‘amazed at how accomplished her writing is’. The Secret History and The Goldfinch are masterpieces, in Dwyer’s opinion. The Shot

by Pushkin is ‘probably’ his favourite short story. Regarding American writers, he’s a big fan of Bellow, Updike, Roth, Fitzgerald and Toni Morrison. He admits to not knowing ‘what to make of Faulkner or James.’ Sticking to good quality fiction/the classics is part of his prescription for becoming a good writer.

When asked how he would define a good solid piece of writing, the response is enlightening. ‘For me, it’s all about finding the fusion of plot, theme and humour. If what you are writing is making a valid point while entertaining the reader and progressing the plot, that’s solid.’ Curiosity is also part of the package. ‘The history of a character is important to me, what has happened in this person’s past to make them what they are. Would we be any different given their circumstances?’ For now, Owen Dwyer is that rare thing; content. He’s earned the right to be. Life is good for the writer who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Who knows? The

54 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Garfield Conspiracy might even make it onto the big screen. After all, a novel with lots of big personalities and a nice murder mystery at its heart, is very cinematic. Dwyer has no problem envisaging such a prospect; ‘In the 1981 movie based on John Fowles’ novel, ‘, there’s a lovely juxtaposition between the historical and the present – that might work for The Garfield Conspiracy.’ Whatever the future holds, one thing for sure is that Dwyer’s pragmatism and optimism create a compelling formula. As he acknowledges himself; ‘After a long and bloody bare-knuckle fistfight, I’m 56 and have nothing but First World problems.’

The Garfield Conspiracy (Liberties Press)

by Owen Dwyer is available at all good bookshops from September 8, 2021.

Three copies of The Garfield Conspiracy to be won

Senior Times, in association with thee publishers Liberties Press, are offering three copies of The Garfield Conspiracy in this competition. Simply answer this question: Who assassinated President Garfield? Send your answers to: Garfield Competition, Senior Times, PO Box 13216, Rathmines, Dublin 6. Or email: john@slp.ie Deadline for receipt of entries is 31st October 2021. The first three correct entries drawn are the winners.

Lifelong Learning

Forever Young: Ireland’s only facility for lifelong learners launches Renaissance Academy to provide opportunities to develop new skills through socially inclusive, engaging education courses for the over 50’s Renaissance Academy is Ireland’s first-ever university for mature minds.

At Renaissance Academy, we strive to provide a comfortable, social environment for members aged 50 and over to pursue high quality continued learning courses.

Focusing on building a community of likeminded people through a high quality academic and social programme, we want to offer everyone, everywhere the opportunity to learn new skills, languages and hobbies, coupled with enjoyable social events at our state-ofthe-art premises and other prime locations across Dublin. Our flexible memberships cater to either a full year of studies or drop in/drop out courses. We firmly believe life begins at 50, and, at Renaissance Academy we welcome you to join the growing community that hunger for knowledge, excitement, and new friendships.

A ‘gym for the mind’, we are located in Maple House at South County Business Park; a 1-minute walk from the Central Park Luas stop.

We offer over 30 courses that cater for all interests, both academically and socially.

Our classes span across two different divisions: 1. Arts, Humanities and Personal Development

Ulysses Ryan-Flynn head of Education Experience & Mark Conway Managing Director

2. Business and Education.

All of our members are granted full access to all courses in each strand. Some of the many standout courses hosted by the academy include technology, architecture, gardening, design, photography, philosophy, fashion design, yoga, entrepreneurship and politics among others. Home study is also an option, however we prefer members to meet one another in-person and have rolled out a number of health and safety measures to ensure the protection of all involved.

At Renaissance Academy we want to connect like-minded individuals and help combat

isolation. We offer an umbrella course-fee, meaning you can pay for just one course or register for unlimited sessions from just €199 per month, no strings or extra costs attached.

Our members can embrace their autonomy as lifelong learners, choosing the courses of their preference across each strand of learning, Arts, Humanities and Personal Development and Business and Education. With an ‘Ala Carte’ option to pick and choose what you might like to learn and when, developing your own optimal learner experience has never been easier. A simple monthly subscription, our seamless drop in/drop out format provides

learners with flexibility, giving them time to change their learning experience on a daily basis.

We like to focus on keeping people connected and being sociable is a core part of being a member. We bring our members on gallery visits, wine tasting trips and walking tours among others. At Renaissance Academy it’s all about learning new skills and making friends in a comfortable, boutique learning environment.

For more information please visit https://www.renaissanceacademy.ie/

Senior Times l September- October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 55

Drinks World

Gin is still the thing Five years after her article on the growing popularity of Irish craft gin, Mairead Robinson finds that the appeal of this spirit shows no sign of slowing down.

In 2016 I highlighted the growing interest in both making and consuming gin in this country, and the appearance of ‘micro breweries’ producing bespoke botanical recipes that a new generation just could not get enough of. And looking at the market now, five years on, this growing popularity appears to continue to spread out across the generations. No longer just a “G & T with Ice and a Slice” we are now looking at flavoured gins, pink gins and best of all, Gin Cocktails. Of course while the market is now full of Irish craft gin from all over the country, the key to their great taste and marketing appeal is of course the botanicals.

Juniper is the key ingredient in all gins, but local wild and cultivated flowers and spices mark out the gin’s individuality. We are talking about elderflower, cumin, coriander, almonds, rosemary, thyme, rosehip, fuchsia, heather, nutmeg and many other flavours that make up some of these gins. I found recently that while there are many new distilleries all over Ireland, there seems to be a particular concentration at the two ends of the country – Donegal and the South West.

Rebel City Distillery, the first new distillery in Cork city in almost fifty years, has launched its first release, Maharani Gin. The word ‘Maharani’, meaning Queen, is a tribute to revolutionary women everywhere. Rebel City Distillery was founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife Robert and Bhagya alongside Robert’s father Brendan Barrett. Maharani Gin celebrates a fusion of Cork and Kerala cultures, from where Robert and Bhagya respectively come from.

This exotic premium gin is zested with pomelo fruit, and uniquely spiced with cassia and nutmeg-mace, all sourced from a women’s organic farming co-operative in Bhagya’s home state of Kerala, in India. This heady combination results in a gin of truly transcendental taste, a liberation of spirit and spice.

gorgeous pink gin that

is produced by West

Cork Distillers. Pink

Gin is so perfect for

cocktails, so attractive in the glass, that this one which bears his name is a real winner. Infused with twelve botanicals and a blush of pink rose petals, Graham Norton gin is small batch distilled with rosehip, fuchsia petals and gooseberries. It is also produced by West Cork Distillers.

Created by one of Ireland's first female Master Gin Distillers, Deirdre Bohane, each bottle of Garnish Island Gin contains 16 botanicals that are cold infused overnight to release their essential oils. They are then slowly distilled in a pot still, resulting in a full-bodied, aromatic gin that perfectly captures the unique, exotic character of the Island.

Graham Norton who hails from West Cork and has been involved in making wines with Invivo for the last number of years, is now behind a 56 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Photo Gaby Yerden-Unsplash

Starting with Cork, West Cork Distillers has grown in recent years to become one of the largest independent distillers and while West Cork whiskies are what they are mostly known for, they also produce a number of other spirits including a delicious Garnish Island Gin.

Support for cancer research has never been more important Every three minutes, someone in Ireland gets a cancer diagnosis – and this rate of cancer is continuing grow. In the coming ten years we will see over 500,000 new cases of cancer occur in Ireland, making cancer one of the great health challenges of our time.

As we get better at detecting and treating cancers, the number of survivors will also increase significantly. This means that we must continue our efforts together to ensure that anyone dealing with cancer can have the best chance to overcome it and thrive afterwards.

Thanks to advancements in cancer research, cancer is no longer a death sentence. However, there is still much more that must be done.

Support for cancer research has never been more important.

With cancer patients and some survivors considered a higher risk, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought huge changes to their lives with many cocooning, alone in isolation, and others having treatment plans changed. The challenge ahead is significant and those affected by cancer need us now more than ever.

The Irish Cancer Society focuses on research that goes beyond the laboratory, asking new questions and looking for answers that will ultimately save lives and lead to improved treatments. Scientists are always looking for the next breakthrough, the discovery that will make a vital difference to cancer patients and their families.

Many people of Ireland leave a gift in their Will to the Irish Cancer Society as their way of improving cancer treatment and care for generations to come. This will help ensure that patients diagnosed with cancer will

have access to the most cutting edge treatments and the best possible care. Gifts in Wills, no matter what size, lead to enormous steps towards a future without cancer.

“Research is everything. It has made a difference to me and hundreds like me; I wouldn’t have survived without research into new and better treatments. Even if it’s not in my lifetime, there is hope that in the future people won’t have to go through this”.

Stephanie Powell, Breast Cancer Survivor.

For your free information pack please contact Eilis Dwyer on 01 2316 649 or by email on edwyer@irishcancer.ie to find out more about how you can help make cancer a thing of the past for future generations.

I hope that, one day, my grandchildren will ask,

“What WAS cancer?”

You can help make cancer a thing of the past by leaving a gift to the Irish Cancer Society in your Will.

Contact Eilis Dwyer at 01-2316649 or edwyer@irishcancer.ie or speak to your solicitor. www.cancer.ie/legacy

Wine World And moving over to West Kerry, Dingle Gin was one that caught my attention five years ago, and I am delighted to see that this distillery is going from strength to strength. Still using their own hand beaten copper still, they use nine locally grown botanicals and water from their own well two hundred and forty feet deep.

Dingle Gin has received numerous accolades including Best Irish Gin at the Irish Whiskey Awards 2017 and 2018 and the award for World’s Best London Dry Gin and the overall award for World’s Best Gin at the 2019 World Gin Awards.

Originating in Inishowen, Co Donegal, the Muff Liquor Company’s Potato Craft Gin is made

by Laura Bonner, whose grandfather was well-known for the quality of his poitin. Keeping with the four hundred year old family tradition, and branching out to produce a range of spirits including whiskey, vodka and a fabulous gin.

Not so heavy on the juniper, the flavour is more about citrus with flavours of mandarin, lemon, grapefruit, rosemary and a “dollop of Champagne essence to give it a lovely finish on the tongue”. It has won seven gold medals and been voted best gin in Ireland in three competitions, so they are definitely on to a winner.

An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin is described as a love letter to the Donegal coast and is the first gin ever to be distilled in the county. Donegal’s Sliabh Liag Distillers, founded by James and Moira Doherty, use eleven botanicals in their multi-award-winning gin. Six conventional botanicals create a robust base for the gin and five locally harvested varieties of seaweed, carrageen moss, sugar kelp, dulse, channel wrack (Dúlamán in Irish) and the intensely flavoured pepper dulse are used to capture “Draíocht na Farraige” or the magic of sea.

They wait until the full moon and the lowest tides to harvest the Donegal seaweed botanicals. Each single distillation shot from their hand-hammered 500 litre copper still produces just over 600 shots of An Dulaman and once bottled, Moira Doherty, owner and head distiller hand writes every neck label with the batch number and lunar phase for the harvesting of their most elusive seaweed botanical – pepper dulse. Sliabh Liag Distillers now export An Dulaman all around the world.

This time I have chosen just six of my favourite Irish craft gins from the many unique and very successful distilleries that have grown up around the country, not just over the past five years since I last wrote about this phenomenon, but some have been operating for a decade or more. What they have in common is their very unique flavours and their ability to make outstanding cocktails. Check them out – you will be very pleasantly surprised.

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Hopefully you have been following the popular Wine World Podcasts and if so you will have enjoyed our last conversation on Celebrity Wines with Kate Barry from Barry Fitzwilliam who is also the founder of www.winesofthe world.com She has given us a special code for Senior Times readers who would like to purchase some of their wine on line. Just put in the code ST10 and you will receive a 10% discount off your order.

And if the subject of cocktails interests you, we will soon be releasing a podcast all about fabulous gin and whiskey cocktails that you can make at home! Stay with us on www.seniortimes.ie

Northern

By Debbie Orme

Notes

Music

Adrian highlights Carrickfergus’s role in World War 11

Adrian with WW11 tank and in the museum

The rich and varied World War Two history of Carrickfergus is becoming ever more accessible thanks to the Lead The Way walking tours, which are guided by local man, Adrian Hack.

After 30 years behind a desk as a civil servant, Adrian took early retirement and began investigating his father’s role in the Second World War. Adrian was just 18 years old when his father died aged 55, but, as he reached that age, Adrian began researching his dad’s life and, in doing so, unwittingly discovered Carrickfergus had a military history to be proud of.

‘My mother grew up in Holland under German occupation,’ he told Northern Notes, ‘and was always grateful to the allied forces who came and rescued them. After the war, my dad served in the RAF, and it was while based in Holland that a love story blossomed. The conflict that had raged worldwide for six years had created the circumstances to bring together a man from Carrickfergus and a woman from Eindhoven!

‘I remember on my 55th birthday, thinking, ‘I am now one day older than my dad ever got to be’ and how fortunate I was,’ he explained. ‘That's when the interest in finding out about my father's life kicked in.

‘That led me then, into finding out a bit more about the town itself where he grew up, and the history then of the Second World War in the town that I didn't know about. I lived a hundred yards away from the site of a

major tank factory that I didn't even know was there.’

Undertaking research gave Adrian, now 57, an appreciation of how difficult life was during the war, and the part Carrickfergus played in the war effort. The town became home to 800 evacuees, an American soldier base, and a key manufacturing site for tanks. It also helped him connect emotionally to his father and understand the sacrifices people made during that time.

‘Uncovering the history of the town’s past in the 1940s revealed to me how a linen factory was converted to make parachutes, how the iconic US Rangers regiment was formed and the role the town had in sheltering refugees from the Belfast Blitz.

‘Carrickfergus actually has a military history dating back to 1177 when its landmark castle was built by John de Courcy on the northern shore of Belfast Lough, but it’s the part the town and its people played in the Second World War that I’m mainly interested in.

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Northern Notes

By learning more about his father’s life, Adrian has been able to pass his stories down to his own son, introducing him to a grandad he never got the chance to meet, but now knows through the stories Adrian has uncovered.

More than anything else, Adrian wants people alive today to be grateful for the sacrifices of all the people who lived during World War II; parents, grandparents, and great grandparents, who gave up their lives to allow us to take for granted the things we do today.

‘While everyone knows Carrick Castle, not everyone is aware of the vital role the town played during the war, few seem to know that it was home to the US Rangers, one of the key regiments on D-Day, storming 100ft cliffs to seize the Pointe De Hoc battery and all that began in Carrickfergus.

‘Everyone who is alive today has a relative who survived World War II, from members of the armed forces who were jumping out of planes, on the front-line risking life and limb, to their families at home bringing up children and keeping the country moving. With limited technology, they exchanged letters or waited for the dreaded telegram notifying them their loved one was killed in action.

‘In those days, they had to stretch rationed food to last the week, grow vegetables to make ends meet, and make do and mend clothes, passing them down to younger generations. There were regular blackouts, soldiers everywhere and difficult times for everyone, filled with worry and anxiety. Sharing these stories highlights how much we take for granted today.

‘I started recounting the significance of Carrickfergus and the stories of its townsfolk to friends and family,’ he continued, ‘and one suggested that I set up a walking tour to share them with local people and visitors. As a result, Lead the Way guided tours were born.’

‘Many people around the world have family who lived locally, served or were evacuated here during the war, and the tour gives them an insight into what life was like at that time and an emotional connection to relatives who lived in Carrickfergus during wartime.

As well as educating people on Carrickfergus, Adrian hopes his tours inspire people to go back to their relatives and encourage them to tell their stories of times gone by, preserving the memories to be passed on to their own children and grandchildren.

‘I hope that these tours will lift the veil and show how the memories of our friends and families are entwined in our common history and ensure the efforts of those who lived through the Second World War endure, and are acknowledged by future generations.’

60 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Flowerbeds in bloom across the Causeway Coast

Northern Notes

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Richard Holmes and Councillor Michelle Knight McQuillan pictured at one of the NI 100-themed flowerbeds located near the Lodge Road roundabout in Coleraine. Special flowerbeds are in bloom across Causeway Coast and Glens marking the 100th anniversary of Northern Ireland.

The creations are part of a wide-ranging NI 100 programme organised by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council taking place throughout 2021.

The Mayor, Councillor Richard Holmes, recently met with the Chairperson of Council’s NI 100 Working Group, Councillor Michelle Knight-McQuillan, at the site of one of the displays at Lodge Road roundabout in Coleraine.

‘These themed flowerbeds are a beautiful addition to our towns ‘ the Mayor said, ‘and a colourful reminder about the significance of this anniversary as we reflect on 100 years of Northern Ireland.

‘To date, we have launched our ‘Famous Sons and Daughters exhibition, held a creative arts competition, presented bespoke centenary coins and certificates, and distributed small grants to the community. This is just a glimpse of what is happening, with more to follow as the year continues. We are very proud of the varied projects we have put together to mark this historic occasion which will seek to showcase our borough, celebrate our strengths and build on good relations.’

Historic concert for Carrickfergus Castle Carrickfergus Castle will provide the backdrop to a spectacular display of military music, as the Massed Bands of the Army's four Irish Regiments perform together in Northern Ireland for the first time in 35 years.

The evening will feature displays from the bands of the Irish Guards and the Royal Irish Regiment, alongside the pipes and drums of the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Queen's Royal Hussars. There will also be a special performance from a choir of Fijian soldiers who serve in Irish regiments.

The event is being organised in conjunction with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and will take place on 11 September at 7pm.

A small number of tickets will be made available closer to the event, however, it will be live streamed across Council’s online platforms, with the public encouraged to enjoy the showpiece at home. Further information will be released soon.

‘The Irish regiments of the Army have a long and distinguished record of service,’ said Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor William McCaughey, ‘and it is fitting that the bands of those regiments are gathering in Carrickfergus, a town steeped in military history, to perform on this special occasion. ‘There are many historic military and royal links in this area and right across Mid and East Antrim which have added to the rich tapestry of our Borough’s history.

We have maintained a proud and strong military tradition with generations of families from the Borough having served over the years.

‘We are honoured to welcome such talented musicians from our Armed

William McCaughey, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Forces here for such a special way to celebrate what they do, and to remember those who have served in the past. ‘The stunning backdrop of Carrickfergus Castle is the perfect setting for what will no doubt be a perfect celebration and tribute to our Armed Forces.’

‘On behalf of the Colonels of the Irish Regiments, we are delighted to be collaborating with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to deliver a spectacular event of The Massed Bands of the Irish Regiments,’ added Lt Col Simon Baxter, Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment.

‘This will be a truly magnificent and dazzling event involving a number of musical displays from across the four Irish Regiments, the first of its kind in four decades.We are privileged and honoured to be able to showcase our musical talents to the people of Northern Ireland.’

Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 61

Short Story

s s e n e v i g r o F l a u nt

Eve

It was so still in my room that the clock on the mantelpiece was audible. That and the squeak of my pen on Christmas cards were the only sounds. Outside snow was falling and the twinkling tree lights were giving an intermittent rhythm by the lace curtains, underlining my solitude.

The phone rang. The caller’s number was as long as the screen. It was an international call. The answering device kicked in. The voice I heard brought back a million memories.

‘Hi’ the once familiar strong Italian accent strummed like the fingers of a harpist, on my pounding heart. ‘It’s Roberto’

by Maxi

I sang for two weeks in every city and covered many miles in the twelve months I had been contracted to tour. That never bothered Roberto. He would work hard all week, and take an internal flight to see me.

We visited Niagara Falls, adjacent to the river Niagara on the Ontario side and named after the city it shares with New York. Roberto told me how the businessmen of yesteryear harnessed the power of the water for electricity and inexpensive hydro power to develop commerce.

We took a trip to The Blue Mountains where we walked and watched the sunset over snowy hilltops. He took me to see Sault Saint Marie and shared with me the history of the Canadian Indians as we chose delicacies from a smorgasbord. We went to concerts of visiting artists like Leonard Cohen, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett.

Roberto.

‘Ireland’ his ebony eyes looked right into mine ‘that’s in Europe right?’

One eventful evening in Montreal, things became serious. ‘You will give up your career, Sweetie, leave Ireland and marry me’ I stopped in my tracks. ‘Tell your parents, you are starting a new life. Tell your management to release you from your contract. I got people who will help you.’

He had it all planned. There was marriage, a business partnership, raising a family and putting down roots. I told him quietly that I missed my family, and loved music. I was not ready to make the change. He dismissed my reasoning with a wave of his hand. I felt the pull of an invisible chuck chain.

When he left he placed his business card in my hand and on the back I found an invitation to lunch the next day. From that moment we were inseparable. He taught me about Canada the land I had chosen to tour and I taught him about Ireland, the land he had never seen.

I tried several more times to explain but each time he bought me an expensive gift and waved away my objections. The day he presented me with the keys of an apartment owned by him I did the unforgiveable and bolted.

The voice shaved years off my life. Suddenly I was singing on stage in Toronto, Canada, watching a tanned young man take his seat front and centre. I was performing nightly to an appreciative audience. At the interval the promoter introduced us. Roberto was a smart businessman who owned a fashion emporium in the city. He was beautifully mannered and fascinated by my Irish accent.

62 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

The crutches that help the injured to walk

A new generation of nurses, doctors and midwives, trained to care for the most vunerable.

1 in 6 projects are funded by legacies.

A gift in your will can heal and save lives. To request your free brochure with more information please return this coupon, visit msf.ie/legacy, or phone Ruth on 01-2815184.

Yes, please send me a legacy brochure Name: Address: Town:

Registered Number 464033 Charity Number CHY 18196

Photo: Omar Havana, Nepal, 2015

THIS IS YOUR LEGACY.

County: Eircode: Send to: Ruth Hanahoe, MSF, 9 Upper Baggot Street, Freepost F4763, Dublin 4

!

I savoured my freedom on the plane journey to my next engagement and soon got absorbed in the busyness of life in the fast lane.

would he monopolise a relationship and I told him that never again would I shirk the responsibility of confrontation.

It wasn’t until many decades later that I began to understand the hurt my selfish actions had caused. Back home and enjoying a new career out of the limelight, I had met a man who treated me the way I had treated Roberto. That was when the phone call brought me back to the Canadian days. The sapphire stars peered in the window to hear the mixture of accents on the night air.

We talked about Karma, co incidence, serendipitous happenings and atonement. He confessed that I had been his first encounter with an independent lady who loved her parents and her homeland so much. He had been unfamiliar with that phenomenon. We marvelled at how much we think we know when we are young, and how we listen but do not hear. Roberto told me that getting cold feet for marriage at the age of twenty one was no crime and it took time for him to realise it. It took him years to learn that discussion should precede a proposal. The hurtful part for both of us was not communicating when it came to the important joint decisions of life and, in retrospect that would never have been a foundation for marriage.

‘Hi Sweetie’ ‘Roberto’ ‘I am just calling to see if you are okay ’ ‘I am, you?’

‘Yes, I’m good’ ‘How did you find me?’

‘I am a technophobe so I relied on phones, intuition and the universe’ ‘And’ ‘A guy came into my store and when I found out he was Irish I asked him if he knew you. He told me where you work now’.

‘Go on’ ‘I phoned enquiries and they gave me your number.’

‘I am so sorry for the hurt I caused you.’

‘I am so sorry too sweetie’ And so, the conversation finally happened. He told me that never again 64 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

And so we talked on. The absence of light muted the surroundings as we each filled in the events of the past years. We agreed that there is a connection between people, there is a force that tells us what is right and what is wrong and there are only certain people who can totally uproot.

That conversation ended with ‘I forgive you’ being spoken by both of us.

Now, the chuck chain has been replaced by an invisible cord. When we feel the need, either one can tug on it mentally until a connection ensues.

Then, we continue our conversation exactly where we finished it earlier.

Some people are with us even when they are not.

Photos by Julia Larson from Pexels

Short Story

t r a Sm Cosmetics and beauty

science behind today’s skin products

Mairead Robinson highlights new anti-age skin treatments

We have come a long way from the jars of cold cream of fifty years ago when it comes to caring for our skin. The list of ingredients in today’s skin care products can sometimes read like a complicated recipe from the science lab. However research and development over recent years have in fact come up with some very efficacious products which help to keep our skin, youthful, hydrated, plumped and glowing. The two key ingredients that you will hear most about in the battle against skin aging are Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol.

Firstly Hyaluronic acid which has been a trending superstar in the skincare world over the last few years and can be found in products including serums, sheet masks and even injectables. So, what is it? Hyaluronic acid is a sugar found naturally in our skin that holds water and helps keep it hydrated and plump. When used in skincare products like creams and serums, hyaluronic acid brings moisture to the surface of your skin. In a serum it can penetrate into the skin and hydrate it at lower layers which is something that moisturizers can’t do due to the size of their molecules.

It also works as an antioxidant to protect your skin from the free radical damage that can age the skin faster.

It can be confusing to find the right serum that is going to work for your particular skin, so that is why new Smart Response Serum from DERMALOGICA, following on from their popular Skin Hydrating Booster, is so good. With a careful combination of key vitamins and hyaluronic and other acids, this latest serum actually claims to know what your skin actually wants and it promises to sooth, brighten, firm and hydrate – delivering exactly what your skin needs. You can go to www.smartskinresponse.com to see exactly what your skin needs. Cutting edge technology that really works.

Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 65

Cosmetics and beauty

Now Retinol is the gold standard ingredient when it comes to effective skincare. This form of Vitamin A alters the behaviour of skin cells, making them act in a more youthful, collagen-boosted manner. It is regarded by dermatologists as the holy grail of skincare ingredients for its unique and clinically proven ability to visibly improve wrinkles and other key signs of aging by increasing surface skin renewal and restoring skin density and firmness.

However, because of its potency, products containing Retinol can also cause a variety of uncomfortable side effects, including dryness, visible redness and peeling, particularly when you start using it for the first time.

It is best to introduce retinol products into your skincare routine gradually or at varying strengths to build up the skin’s tolerance. KIEHL’S have just introduced their Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum which is formulated in a precise daily-dosage that delivers visible anti-ageing benefits, while minimising the uncomfortable side-effects associated with traditional retinal formulas – even within the first two weeks of use. By administrating powerful ingredients in low and precise dosages, Kiehl’s new serum contains a calibrated dose of retinol that works to steadily promote surface cell turnover. Clinical tests have shown reduced wrinkles, improved firmness and refined texture, with wrinkles looking reduced within four weeks of use.

SKINICAN have produced a very impressive Ageless range that contains two powerful retinol products that are designed to fight the visible signs of ageing. The Level Up System allows you to increase your retinol intake at a pace that suits your skin type for maximum results. Potent Retinol Power Balms dramatically target and reduce the signs of ageing, improving skin tone and texture. Start with Retinol Power Balm Level 1, to introduce retinol in to your daily routine. Apply as part of your night time routine after thorough cleansing and toning. Apply 2 to 3 pumps to clean skin and work in circular movements to the face and neck. Follow with Skinician Advanced Restoring Night Cream. To build up your tolerance, start with level 1 and introduce into your routine gradually, every other night for the first week. Find out more about this powerful range of skincare products at www.skinician.com Available from selected salons nationwide.

66 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Don’t forget your body when it comes to skin care. A good moisturising cream or dry oil is essential for after your shower. NUXE Huile Prodigieuse have launched a new organic dry oil that nourishes the body and hair, as well as your face, in a single step. Enriched with Organic Enter Plum oil and Sesame Oil it infuses your skin with a satin sheen.

Its scent with soothing notes of Neroli nurtures a sensation of serenity!

And NIVEA have launched two new body lotions to moisturise your skin without any greasy residue. Cherry Blossom & Jojoba Oil and Rose & Argan Oil will leave your skin feeling smooth with more than twenty four hours of deep moisture.

As the autumn is coming and the weather is a little chillier, it is never more important to keep up your skincare routine and seek out the products that help to keep your skin glowing.

Health

Maintain immune health and reduce tiredness with 100% Irish company, Phytaphix, World Food Innovation 2021 Winner Phytaphix (pronounced fight a fix) is a brand new, 100% Irish and multiaward nutrition company based on the research and expertise of their founder Dr. Conor Kerley. Dr. Kerley is an Irish doctor of nutrition, award winning nutrition researcher, leading clinician and previously a lecturer in food innovation. Phyt means plant in scientific language and all Phytaphix products are based on natural, plant based ingredients. The first product from Phytaphix is Immune Phix, and was formulated by Dr. Kerley to maintain immune health and reduce tiredness.

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Trust Dr. Kerley earned his degree in human nutrition and dietetics at Trinity College before completing his clinical doctorate with the School of Medicine at UCD with Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown and the National Children Hospital at Tallaght. Kerley then worked at a medical centre in Washington DC before spending time in Australia.

His research has been published in many top medical and scientific journals, leading to numerous national and international awards.

Dr. Kerley’s interest in health and nutrition come from his own diagnosis of multiple sclerosis aged 16 in 2003 and then allergic asthma while working on his doctorate. Both of his conditions are well controlled and without medications – thanks no doubt to his healthy lifestyle.

68 Senior Times l September - October l 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

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e d i w n o i t a N s l e t o H 28 GROUP COACH TOURS Upcoming Tours Scheduled coach tours; Select Hotels have a choice of dates & locations available for our three night coach tours; which include luxury coaching, B&B plus dinner in a Select hotel, day trips to explore scenic locations.

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Three Magic of Mozart podcasts now available!

The three-part Magic of Mozart podcasts in the Senior Times Classical Collection are now available, featuring many of the notable works of and key events in the life of the genius composer.

To listen to these podcast visit www.seniortimes.ie and click on ‘Podcasts’.

Enjoy!

Presented by John Low these podcasts include many of Mozart’s most celebrated works and some which may be new to you.

Competition winners from the last issue and seniortimes.ie 1

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Margot Hennessy, Carlow Damien Leneghan, Skerries Vivien Riordan, Monkstown, Co Dublin Kevin O’Sullivan, Kilcock

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Crossword 112: Four copies of Wildflowers of Ireland

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Doro Smartphones Gerry Brett, Ballincollig, Co Cork, Diarmuid Byrne, Glenageary, Co. Dublin Jim Bardon, Raheny Dublin 5 Doreen Marshall ,Templeogue, Co Dublin Sheila Hannon, Tralee, Co Kerry Orla O Mahony, Dublin 3 Karen Ryan, Knocklyon, Dublin 14 Delores Comaskey, Ennis Co Clare Dee Regan, Rathfarnham Co Dublin Pat Treacy, Nenagh Co Tipperary

Another Another Another example: example: example: The The auction The auction auction has has begun has beg( (You)?

(You)?

Your (You)?

Your partner Your partner partner has has overcalled has overcalled overcalled 1♠ 1and ♠ havehave seen, have seen, you seen, you should you should should bid to bidthe bid to the level to the level ofley Michael O’Loughlin has emptive emptive emptive grounds), grounds), grounds), eveneven with even with virtually with virtually virtua nothn enjoyed teaching bridge for over 40 years;arises: his book, arises: what arises: what dowhat you do you do you when do when doyou when you have you have a ge h “Bridge: Basic Card Play” is available from thespade Contract spade support? spade support? support?

Bridge

Bridge Association of Ireland (01 4929666), price:E10.

Calling all Novices – Intermediates!

by Michael O’Loughlin

The Rule of Three

The Rule of Three: When your partner overcalls, she is promising at least 5 good cards in that suit. Therefore, if you have 3 cards in the suit, this means that your partnership has at least an 8-card fit in that suit. If partner has overcalled at the One level, you can raise to the Two level, knowing your side a guaranteed 8-card fit. When supporting an overcall, bid immediately for the number of tricks that equal the presumed number of cards in that suit held by the partnership. This is called “Raising to the Level of the Fit”: with 8 cards in a suit, contract for 8 tricks, with 9 cards in a suit, contract for 9 tricks, with 10 cards in a suit, contract for 10 tricks, etc.

Exercise: The bidding has gone: North, the dealer, opens 1u; East, your partner, overcalls 1♥ ; South responds 1♠; you are West and hold one of these hands:

♠ 87

♥ QJ 2 (1) u 62

♣ Q97652

Bid 2♥. You do not need 6 points to support an overcall – provided you have the 3 cards to make a known 8-card fit.

(2)

♠ A7 ♥ 862 u 9742 ♣ K972

Bid 2♥. Nor do you need a supporting honour in the Heart suit. Remember partner has 5 decent cards in that suit, including 2 honours.

(3)

♠ 97 ♥ KJ62 u J9742 ♣ 97

Bid 3♥. Holding a known 9-card fit, the best bid, on pre-emptive grounds, is to jump to the 9-trick level. There again, “bidding to the level of the fit”.

(4)

♠ 97 ♥ KJ6 u J97 ♣ AQ987

The The answer The answer answer is toisuse toisuse atoredundant use a redundant a redundant bid,bid, that bt lowest lowest level, lowest level, tolevel, show to show to10+ show 10+ points 10+ points and points and three an th 2♥ 2(opener’s ♥2(opener’s ♥ (opener’s suit)suit) in suit) the in the above in the above auction. above auctio auO ) -♦ 1(1 ♠ ) -♦1-)♠ (2 - 1♣ -♠ (2 ) –♣ - (2 (You)? )♣ – (You)? ) – Th (Yo this this auction: this auction: auction: (1♦(1 Unassuming Unassuming Unassuming CueCue BidCue (UCB).

Bid Bid (UCB).

(UCB).

What What would What would you would you bidyou in bidresponse bid in response in response to your to you to p this this auction: this auction: auction: (1♣(1 ) -♣ 1(1♥ )♣ - 1-)♥ (1 - 1♠ -♥ (1 ) –♠ - (1 (You)? )♠ – (You)? ) – wi (Y Hand A Hand Hand A A Hand B Hand Hand B B

Hand C Hand Hand C C

♠ A Q♠ 6 4A 2Q ♠6 A 4Q 2 64 ♠ 2 8 3♠ 8 3♠ 8 3 ♠ A Q♠ 10A Q ♠10A Q 10 ♥ Q 4♥ 2 Q♥ 4 2 Q 4 2 ♥ Q 9♥ 6 2Q ♥ J 10Q J 10 96Q 2 9 6 2 ♥ Q J♥ 10Q ♥ ♦ Q 4♦ 2 Q 4♦ 2 Q 4 2 ♦ 7 4 ♦ 7 4♦ 7 4 9 710 4 29 7 4 2 ♦ 10 9♦7 10 4 2♦ ♣ J 6♣ J 6♣ J 6 ♣ K 10 ♣8K4 10 ♣ 2 8K410 2 8 4♣ 2 8 7♣ 8 7♣ 8 7

With less than 10 points and support for partner’s suit you raise partner’s suit to the level of the fit, i.e., with 3 cards in partner’s suit(A). your (A).

(A).

2♣.2 (B). .3♥.

(C).

2♣. .2♣ .(B). ♣ (B).

3♥(B). .3 ♥ 3. ♥ (C).. (C).

2♣(C). .2♣2. ♣.

2♣(A). raise to Two of partner’s suit; with 4 cards in partner’s suit your raise to Three of partner’s • Hand (A) is a perfect UCB: 10+ pts and three+ suit; with 5 cards in partner’s suit your raise to Partner can retreat toa2♥ with no game • Hand • hearts.

Hand • (A) Hand is (A) a (A) is perfect a isperfect perfect UCB: UCB: 10+ UCB: 10+ pts10+ an pts Four of partner’s suit. interest or make another (descriptive) bid to ♥ 2with ♥2with ♥ nowith game no game nointe gam i can retreat can retreat retreat to 2to to lookcan for game.

However, with 10+ points and support for (descriptive) (descriptive) (descriptive) bid to bidlook bid to look to forlook game. for game for ga partner’s suit, you want to tell partner that you • With Hand (B) you should bid 3♥ – to the level are not simply making a pre-emptive raise but of the fit, showing four hearts and 0-9 points. have a genuine interest in a game contract.

How do you do this? You convey this informa• Hand (C) may not (quite) have 10 points, but tion by bidding the opener’s suit at the lowest those majors look fabulous, the spade honpossible level. Therefore, after the budding ours sitting over the opposing spade bidder. goes: Upgrade to a UCB. As usual, high card point ranges are guidelines, not fixed rules.

North, the dealer, opens 1u; East, your partner, overcalls 1♥ ; South responds 1♠; with hand (4), you bid 2u, telling your partner that you have 10+ points and 3+ cards in partner’s suit, in this case Hearts. This is called an Unassuming Cue Bid (UCB).

Another example: The auction has begun (1♥) - 1♠ - (Pass) – (You)? Your partner has overcalled 1♠ and you have a fit. As we have seen, you should bid to the level of your spade fit (on pre-emptive grounds), even with virtually nothing.

So the question arises: what do you do when you have a genuinely good hand with spade support?

The answer is to use a redundant bid, that of opener’s suit, at the lowest level, to show 10+ points and three+ cards in support: 2♥ (opener’s suit) in the above auction. Or 2u (opener’s suit) in this auction: (1u) - 1♠ - (2♣) – (You)?

This is termed an Unassuming Cue Bid (UCB).

What would you bid in response to your partner’s 1♥ overcall in this auction: (1♠) - 1♥ - (1♠) – (You)? with these three hands:

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

Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 71

A classic bridge book Bridge

A classic bridge book Victor Mollo's Bridge in the Menagerie is on any list of the all-time top ten books on the game. The stories it contains, originally published in the 1960s in Bridge Magazine and The Bridge World, found a worldwide audience in book form.

Everyone can relate to the characters (the Hideous Hog, the Rueful Rabbit, Oscar the Owl and the rest), the bridge hands are brilliant, and the stories themselves hilarious. This is the book against which all subsequent attempts at bridge humour are measured. Bridge in the Menagerie has been out of print for some time and is reissued now with illustrations by bridge cartoonist Bill Buttle.

Mollo was recognised as "the most entertaining writer of the game" in a poll among players in the 1980s. His books describe entertaining events at a rubber bridge table in "The Griffins Club" (duplicate bridge features only occasionally), involving fictional characters, many of whom are nicknamed after the animals whom they most resemble both physically and psychologically and who caricature common archetypes of real-life bridge players. Mollo often refers to the main characters by their initials. They include: • Hideous Hog (HH), by far the club's best player, but also an insufferable shark who seeks to humiliate opponents for their mistakes. ‘Please, please partner, let me play the hand. I assure you that it’s in your own interest’.

• Rueful Rabbit (RR), a small, timid man who can barely hold his cards together and can't always tell diamonds from hearts but has such incredible luck that even the cards he accidentally drops (several at once, occasionally) become the right ones. ‘One gets used to abuse. It’s waiting for it that is so trying.’

• Secretary Bird, who knows the laws of the game perfectly and insists that they are applied to the letter, always to his own downfall!

An extract to give you a flavour: Most good players are hogs and wish to be declarer which is only to be expected. But they are in honour bound to spare the feelings of their inferiors by preparing their alibis as well as their rebids. When all goes well no awkward questions are asked. But in case of trouble, it is as well to come up with some ready-made remark such as: ‘I wanted the lead to run up to my ace-queen of diamonds’ or ‘I dare not support your hearts with five cards to the king in case it goaded the opponents into bidding spades.’ You do not have to be convincing so long as you are tactful. In short, you owe it to yourself to play the hand whenever possible

and you owe it to partner not to let him see why you do it. I was to discover that the Hog suffered from no such inhibitions. That, no doubt, was the reason for his nickname: ‘the Hideous Hog’.

The characters at the Griffins Club established Mollo's reputation as one of bridge's most inspired and humorous A few word about the writers. Now a fresh generation ofMo readers Victor llo's Briwill dge in the Menageri e is onVictor author himself: – 1987) was any listMollo be able to enjoy the Hideousboo Hog, thethe Rueful of the(1909 ks on all-tim e top ten game. The stories it con tains, ori bridge player, author. ginallyjournalist Rabbit, etc. in Bridge Magazine and a British publishedand in the 1960s The Bri World , foundfor He isdge most famous hisrld"Menagerie" series a wo book form. Everyone wid e aud ien ce in can relate to the cha racter of bridge books, depicting vivid of s (the Hid The hands are hilarious andRue thefulcharacters eouscaricatures Rabbit, Oscar the Ow Ho g, the l and the rest), the brinames with animal mannerisms dge hanand the stories the exceedingly entertaining, particularly ds are themselves hilaplayers bri llia nt, and rious. Thi the boo ofkexciting and against wh subtechnically sequent attempts at through saisseries gluttonous, egomaniacal and ich entertaining all bridge humour are me deals—bridge fables of a. Bri sort. asured brilliant Hideous Hog who pulls off impossible dge in the contracts and employs masterful deception to Mollo was born in St. Petersburg into a wealthy defeat rock-solid slams.

Russian family. When he was eight, the October Revolution occurred and his family Mollo's classic series is an all-time favourite fled Russia, travelling by a purchased train, with among bridge players. The hands are clever forged Red Cross papers, crossing into Finbut it is the storyline that is so appealing. land, then Stockholm, Paris and finally London.

Master player, the Hideous Hog does battle Mollo attended Cordwalles School but at the Unicorn Club against his nemesis the neglected his studies and devoted himself to Rueful Rabbit whose luck always prevails. bridge. As an editor in the European service of Populated with a variety of animal characters the BBC, he began to write books and articles possessing human traits, the book charmed on the game. After retirement in 1969, Mollo everyone and took the bridge world by storm. started to write even more extensively, and Read the entire series. up to his death in 1987 he wrote 30 books and hundreds of articles. He was also active There are plenty of instructional "how to" in developing bridge cruises, mostly in the bridge books - books on how to bid, how to deMediterranean. fend, dummy play, squeezes, and all that. This is NOT one of those books. This is the first in a Mollo's life style was exceptional. He would magnificent series of character-driven bridge play rubber bridge at his club each afternoon, tales. S.J. Simon had some classic books of enjoy a dinner and wine with his wife, whom this type (Why You Lose at Bridge, etc), and he referred to as "The Squirrel", and then work the menagerie books carry on this tradition. all night until 6 am, when he would take a brief sleep. While Mollo occasionally successfully The Hideous Hog (based on Mollo himself), competed in the major duplicate bridge tournathe Rueful Rabbit and the rest are wonderments, winning four national titles, he preferred fully drawn, and the hands are a true delight. rubber bridge. Many of his daily achievements The Hog hates being dummy, and the Rabbit at the rubber bridge table would become elealways gets remarkably lucky breaks. The ments of fictional stories later in the night.

Walrus is a dedicated point-counter, the Secretary Bird is a dutiful and diligent enforcer of the rules of bridge - enforcing the rules invar- The late Victor Mollo was one of the bestloved authors ever to write about bridge. iably backfires on him. Most of the hands have He wrote many excellent how-to books on different options for play, and you'll often see the game (including the classic Card Play radically different results. As Oscar the Owl, Technique, with Nico Gardener) but it is as the main kibitzer says "Curious Hand! Both a humourist, and the author of Bridge in the sides can make 4 hearts". The Hog will snarl Menagerie and its sequels, that he is best bitterly about the Rabbit's lucky break. You'll remembered. see slams misbid on a 3-2 fit - and made!

The Bridge in the Menagerie series started with the book of the same name, originally published in 1965, which had several sequels on the same theme.

72 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

€11.58 on bookdepository.com including delivery or read free online: https://www.bridgeshop.com.au/carepack/Bridge_in_the_Menagerie.pdf

Bridge

Getting started: for absolute beginners in which you have one card); a Balanced Hand has at inmost which you have one(acard); a Balanced Hand at one doubleton doubleton is a suit in has which most one doubleton you have two cards).(a doubleton is a suit in which Decide which partnership is going to be North/South and which have two cards). partnership is going to be East/West. This can be done you by agreement These between the players or my drawing cards. North/South get to sit at theare examples of hands on which you would same table for the duration of the session whereas East/West move to These are of hands on1which you would open theexamples bidding with a bid of No Trump (opening a different table after having played 2 or 3 hands. After a hand has been played it is North’s job to calculate and write in the scoreopen on the score the bidding with a bid of No Trump (opening the bidding means making the1 first positive bid in the sheet. He shows the score to East/West in order to get their agreement.

Sometimes it is necessary for the cards to be shuffled and dealt at the bidding meansismaking the firstbid positive bid“Pass” in the auction – “Pass” not a positive because the beginning of the session. On other occasions the cards have been auction –“No “Pass” is not a positive bid because “Pass” pre-dealt. The Tournament Director will announce whichever is to be the means Bid”): case.

“No Bid”): Each player takes his cards from the correct pocket of means the wallet/board.

K76 ♥A97 ♦Q652 ♣A98.

The wallet/board will have written on it as to which player ♠ is the Dealer.

The Dealer makes the first bid in the Auction. ♠K76 ♥A97 ♦Q652 ♣A98. ♠J76 ♥KQ87 ♦A652 ♣A9.

Since an Ace is better than a King; a King better than a Queen; a Queen ♠cards J76 is:♥KQ87 ♦A652 ♣A9. better than a Jack, to evaluate how good your hand of 13 give Q76 ♥K97Holding ♦K6 ♣A9875. yourself a score of 4 points for any Ace you might have, 3♠ points for any a balanced hand and 12-14 points the correct OPENING BID is King you might have, 2 points for any Queen you might have and 1 point 1NT. ♠Q76 ♥K97 ♦K6 ♣A9875. for ant Jack you might have. 10 is the average number of points that a Bridge is a game of two halves. First you have the Auction also called the Bidding. After the Auction or Bidding is finished, then the play of the cards takes place.

To repeat:

THE ONE NO TRUMP OPENING BID

bridge hand contains. To make the first bid in the auction you need slight- A Balanced Hand: THE ONE TRUMP repeat: ly more than the average because by making a bid youTo are committing does not haveand aNO VOID Holding a balanced hand 12-14 pointsOPENING the correct BID OPENING BID is 1NT. your side to winning the majority of the tricks. When you bid you are does not have a SINGLETON A Balanced Hand: does not have a VOID Holding a balanced hand andTWO 12-14 pointsDOUBLETONS the correct OPENING BID is 1NT. committing your side to winning at least 7 out of the 13 tricks available.

OR MORE not have does not have adoes SINGLETON A Balanced Hand: does not have a VOID To make the first bid in the auction a minimum of 12 points is required. If doesnot not havea SINGLETON TWO OR MORE DOUBLETONS does the Dealer has less than 12 points he says “Pass” and the player onhave his A Balanced Hand: has 4333, 4432 or 5332 shape. left gets a chance to bid. The bidding, like the play, goes does in a clockwise not have TWO OR MORE DOUBLETONS Aauction Balanced or 5332 direction. After a positive bid is followed by three Passes the is Hand: Openhas 1NT4333, with any4432 of these hands shape. over.

A Balanced Hand: has 4333, 4432 or 5332 shape. ♠ QJ76 ♠ 643 ♠ 764 Open 1NT ♥ K987 ♥ KQ6 ♥ K5 The first bid you are going to learn is the bid of 1 No Trump. The bidding with1NT any of ♠ QJ76 ♠ 643 ♠ 764 Open ♦ A93 ♦ J63 ♦ AQT63 is like a code but in this case everybody at the table knows the meaning ♥ K987 ♥ KQ6 ♥ K5 these hands with any of of the code. To start the auction off with a bid of 1 No Trump your hand ♣ K3 ♣ AKJ3 ♣ KT3 ♦ J63 ♦ AQT63 these hands ♦ A93 must fulfil two requirements: ♣ K3 ♣ AKJ3 ♣ KT3 some hands not for a 1NT opening QJ76 ♠ suitable 64 ♠ K76 ♠ 9864 Here are someHere♠ are 1. You must have 12 – 14 High Card Points (abbreviated to HCPs): these ♥ K987 ♥ Q5 ♥ AJ9 ♥ ----hands not ♠ 64 ♠ K76 ♠ ♦9864 Here are some ♠ QJ76 are Ace=4; King=3; Queen=2; Jack=1 and ♦3 ♦ KJ763 ♦ AT52 AK983 suitable for a ♥ K987 ♥ Q5 ♥ AJ9 ♥ hands not ♣ AK73 ♣ AQJ3 ♣ K83 ♣----AQ63 2. You must have what’s called a Balanced Hand. ♦ 3Singleton ♦ KJ763 ♦ AT52 AK983 1NT opening 2 doubletons 15 points ♦Void in hearts suitable for A Balanced Hand has a bit of everything, at least two cards in every suit.a ♣ diamond AK73 ♣ AQJ3 ♣ K83 ♣ AQ63 More precisely a Balanced Hand has one of the following1NT distributions opening Singleton 2 doubletons 15 points Void in hearts (your distribution is the number of cards you have in each suit): 4-3-3-3; diamond 4-4-3-2; 5-3-3-2.

When you bid, you always mentally add 6 to your bid to work out the Another way of looking at it is: a Balanced Hand has no void (a void is a number of tricks you need to win. For example, when you bid 1 No Trump suit in which you have no cards); a Balanced Hand has no singleton (a you are committing your side to winning 1 + 6 tricks, without a trump suit singleton is a suit in which you have one card); a Balanced Hand has at - which means that each suit is of equal value when it comes to the play most one doubleton (a doubleton is a suit in which you have two cards). of the cards: for example, if a diamond is led, then whoever plays the highest diamond wins that trick. When you bid 1 No Trump you will either These are examples of hands on which you would open the bidding with make 7 or more tricks and get a score awarded to your side or you will a bid of 1 No Trump (opening the bidding means making the first positive fail to achieve your target of 7 tricks and in that case your opponents bid in the auction – “Pass” is not a positive bid because “Pass” means will have a certain score awarded to them; when you bid 2 No Trump “No Bid”): you are committing your side to winning 2 + 6 tricks without a trump suit: you will either make 8 or more tricks and get a score awarded to your side or you will fail to achieve your target of 8 tricks and in that case your ♠K76 ♥A97 uQ652 ♣A98. opponents will have a certain score awarded to them; when you bid 3 ♠J76 ♥KQ87 uA652 ♣A9.

No Trump you are committing your side to winning 3 + 6 tricks without a ♠Q76 ♥K97 uK6 ♣A9875. trump suit: you will either make 9 or more tricks and get a score awarded to your side or you will fail to achieve your target of 9 tricks and in that To repeat: case your opponents will have a certain score awarded to them; and so THE ONE NO TRUMP OPENING BID on.

When you bid, you always mentally add 6 to your bid When youout bid,the you alwaysofmentally add 6 toto your to work number tricks you need win.bid For to work out the number of tricks you need to win. For

Senior Times l September- October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 73

e h t m o r f g n Learni s r e d l E

Literature

An exclusive extract from Alice Taylor’s latest book 'Tea for One'

‘Some people are home alone by choice, while others, like myself, evolved into it through a change of circumstances. But no matter how it comes about, living alone has its minuses and its pluses, and as the years go by you strive to get the balance right’.

‘I wonder had GB Shaw the likes of me in mind when he wrote: Youth is wasted on the young.’

My early years in Innishannon were a whirlwind.

Surrounded by small children, running a guesthouse, post office and a busy shop, sometimes with much-loved elderly relatives on board, the days were a stampede of non-stop activity.

My wonderful husband Gabriel began work at 6am and often balanced the books in the small hours, while at the same time being part of every parish organisation. He kept so many balls in the air that one got dizzy just looking on. We also seemed to be endlessly building and extending the business, and the bank manager was forever threatening to pull the mat from under us so we were constantly over-stretched and stressed.

disappear into the mist. Later, sipping a Gaelic coffee, I would watch the moon rise.

Sometimes, back then, I would dream of a day away from it all on a desert island a waiter would magically appear bearing a tray laden with the most gorgeous food, and whip out a starched white linen tablecloth and arrange everything on a low table beside me, and then

During those frantic times an older lady came to stay with us – or, rather, moved into a tiny upstairs apartment which we had ironically christened the ‘West Wing’. She was very elderly (at least to me at the time) and so very posh that we never got to first-name terms;

74 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Or I might dream of a day child-free and money-rich when I would drift through exclusive shops, spoilt for choice, and at midday take time out to dine in a top-class restaurant and enjoy the most delicious lunch, finishing up (again) with a Gaelic coffee (I had just mastered the art of making these, following a recipe on a tea-towel bought in a little shop down our street; Gaelic coffee signified real luxury for me back then). I wonder had GB Shaw the likes of me in mind when he wrote: ‘Youth is wasted on the young.’

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the underlying mechanisms of these active ingredients, it is possible to manufacture high-quality extracts that deliver the exact same amount of active compound with each tablet. Ginkgo-Biloba Pharma Nord represents this new generation of pharmaceutical-standard ginkgo biloba products that have become increasingly popular, namely among the elderly.

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Literature

‘Gabriel and I loved to dance and, on hearing a favourite tune on the radio, would take off in an energising quick-step around the kitchen table’.

such a thing would be akin to calling the Queen of England ‘Lizzy’, and such familiarity could not be condoned. Anyway, her name was unpronounceable to me, so she became Mrs C, though it might more appropriately have been Lady C as she had originated in an aristocratic rookery in the West of Ireland. Having lived a varied and interesting life all over the world, she was a wise old owl and I learned a lot from her, though at first I wondered how she came to be slumming it with the likes of us. ‘The old should surround themselves with the young,’ she informed me, which explained why she had landed herself in our midst.

One day I was running up the stairs dragging a basket of laundry with me while she waited at the top, leaning on her black ebony walking stick before beginning her painfully slow descent. On my arrival at the top she imperiously instructed, in her impeccable Anglo-Irish accent, ‘Alice, my dear, don’t ever grow old. It’s an appalling condition!’ To me at the time her conditions didn’t look half bad! She had successfully mastered the art of making the most of her life, which undoubtedly was now very different to what she had been accustomed to. Choice pieces of her family’s heirlooms had accompanied her into the West Wing, and a Jack Yeats masterpiece, gifted by the artist himself, graced her wall. She regularly wined, dined and played bridge with like-minded friends, while a whiff of cigar smoke and brandy wafted along the corridor and downstairs to us below. At Christmas she went to Harrods to do her shopping. Not a bad life in any man’s language. Certainly not to me at that time.

But now when I wake up in the morning, checking if all my parts are still functioning and

capable of getting me onto the floor, and then how fast they will get me to my required destination, at the same time steadying myself in case I go headfirst into that destination – then I remember her. On top of the same stairs when I grasp the handrail and steady my pace to carefully make my way down in the hope of a safe landing – then I remember, and agree with her. And now in the garden when attempting to lift a heavy pot and my back tells my head that that I have stooped too low – then I remember and salute her. Despite her opinion that old age was appalling, she nevertheless had nurtured the art of coping admirably with it. And though unaware of it at the time, I learned a lot from her. As an old nun at school used to tell us: ‘Sound is heard, but example thunders.’

At that time, Gabriel and I loved to dance and, on hearing a favourite tune on the radio, would take off in an energising quick-step around the kitchen table. Now I grasp the brush handle and do a graceful glide into a slow waltz. My pace has certainly slowed down as life changed over the years, from being part of a large family, to half of a couple, and now a solo player.

Some people are home alone by choice, while others, like myself, evolved into it through a change of circumstances. But no matter how it comes about, living alone has its minuses and its pluses, and as the years go by you strive to get the balance right. You slowly grow accustomed to being on your own and you adjust to enjoying your own company and keeping yourself pleasantly occupied.

And then, to really test our mettle and coping skills, along came Covid-19, creeping in like a thief in the night and challenging medical exper-

76 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

tise, the world economy, and the resilience of us all. At first we thought that it would be shortterm and that soon all would be well again.

But then the realisation slowly dawned that this was not just a skirmish but a war, and that we could not afford to get battle-weary because this silent enemy was deadly and persistent, so we would all have to dig deep and nurture longterm coping strategies and greater resilience.

Normally, living alone can be challenging, but there is a much deeper aloneness with Covid as it has cut away our social fabric, and you really miss pleasant outings and the company of friends, and neighbours popping in and out.

And in this new aloneness you are more aware too that this is not the time to slip on a banana skin or topple off a stepladder and end up in A&E. Because not only might there be nobody around to pick up the pieces, there might be nobody around either to provide transport in the event of such a calamity. And hospital was not exactly the place you wanted to be in these times, and, to put the tin hat on it, if you did finish up there you could be isolated for your own safety and not see the familiar face of a visitor for your entire stay. This alerts you to a new need to be more careful in case you come a cropper.

I remember Mrs C more often now and think how wise she was to move in with us because the young certainly do energise and entertain.

She invited our children up to her West Wing (at specified times) to teach them how to play bridge and to put manners on them. I wonder how she would have coped with the different lockdown levels which we seem to be in and out of now like the cuckoo in a cuckoo clock.

Health

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Department for Infectious Diseases, will be responsible for the study’s financial budget and will be working with Kristoffer Skaalum Hansen, who is project physician.

Highly diverse and diffuse symptoms seem to affect some of those struggling with long-term effects of COVID-19 several months after contracting the disease. The diversity of the symptoms is one of the reasons why scientists from the Department of Infectious Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital (AUH) in Denmark have decided to take a closer look at the cellular energy factories – the so-called mitochondria.

It is a so-called cross-over trial with 120 patients suffering from long-term effects of COVID-19. All participants will get both the active preparation and placebo but in alternating time periods. Neither the doctors nor the patients know in advance who will be getting what and when.

A study has just now been initiated where the scientists are investigating if supplements of coenzyme Q10 can help against some of the symptoms that the patients suffer from. Pharma Nord has been asked to supply the active preparations for the study.

All patients will get Q10 at some time during the study It has been surprisingly easy for the team of AUH researchers to find patients for their study. Professor Lars Østergaard, head of the

Pharma Nord has granted the Q10 capsules and the placebo capsules for the entire study, which has been approved by the Danish Medicines Agency.

Special Q10 drug for research purposes Pharma Nord has developed Myoqinon (100 mg capsules) as a special drug to treat heart failure. The preparation is used in scientific studies and is manufactured using Pharma Nord’s patented method that guarantees good bioavailability of the Q10 raw material.

As part of this study, the scientists will be looking at how Q10 affects the mitochondria in the cells and whether an improved energy metabolism can possibly help increase the energy supply to all the body’s organs.

The researchers hope to be able to mitigate some of the long-term effects such as physical and mental fatigue that burden these patients.

Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 77

Literature Pretty well, one would imagine. She was very resourceful and not into complaining. She had the resilience of one who had experienced the ups and downs of life, and she was certainly not obsessed with her own pains and aches, though undoubtedly at her age they must have been part of the package. One day when I enquired why she never complained, she told me, ‘My mother gave me one very valuable bit of advice: “Gundred, she told me, never complain, it destroys yourself and annihilates people.”’ So she never did. She kept herself well occupied and mentally alert with reading, doing crosswords, watching and listening to all kinds of sports on radio and TV, reading The Times daily and keeping up-to-date with world events, and she also had a great interest in what was going on locally, even in the smallest details.

One evening as we chatted while looking down at the pub across the road, an elderly lady and her slightly doddery male companion went in and would be there, we knew, until well after closing time. This odd couple had recently moved in together, which caused Mrs C to wryly comment, ‘What a strange relationship that is, I doubt that she has him for his sexual prowess.’ She had a wicked sense of humour and would often articulate something that one might be thinking but would not like to verbalise.

She always wanted to know what was going on downstairs and in the village. And every night before retiring she indulged herself and enjoyed a large hot whiskey.

The monks living in isolation on Skellig Michael, who have always fascinated me, had no such comforts and one would have to wonder how on earth they survived in that bleak, lonely, desolate place with none of the comforts of life that we have. Did isolation unearth and release creativity and resilience? Could that resilience and creativity lie deep down in the unplumbed depths of us all, I wonder? Is there something to be learned from this strange, weird world into which we had all been thrust? At my stage of life I thought that I had seen it all, but this was a whole new sobering experience. And then, on my eighty-third birthday came a card from my daughter of a formidable-looking lady wearing a ‘don’t mess with me expression’ and arms purposefully folded across a well upholstered bosom, with a quote beneath it from the legendary Bette Davis: ‘Old age ain’t no place for sissies.’ Could this isolation as well as the ageing process be a learning curve?

What I began to learn was that the strategies needed to cope with the isolation of Covid-19 and those needed to cope with living alone and growing older are often fairly similar – being absorbed in doing: painting, reading, creating, gardening and so on. When you no longer run a family or a business or go out to work, these enjoyable pursuits can become your focus.

And isn’t it great to have the time to savour them?

‘The monks living in isolation on Skellig Michael, who have always fascinated me, had no such comforts and one would have to wonder how on earth they survived in that bleak, lonely, desolate place with none of the comforts of life that we have.’

My Beloved Comforter Since its wool left the back of a sheep long before reaching the loom, it had not been touched by water. I had loved it too dearly to chance immersing it in water. But now that hour had come! This was its first dipping, so I reminded myself to be very, very cúramach, as we say in Irish – painstakingly careful. Over many years this garment and I had developed a deep and loving relationship. Not a flash-in-the-pan whirlwind of passion, as sometimes happens with items of a flashier type, but a deep, long-lasting, tried-and-tested friendship. It came into my life at a time when babies and business had stolen away occasions of self-indulgent dalliances through brilliantly lit shops. But an outing to satisfy all these suppressed longings came about annually when, child-free and with two All-Ireland Final tickets in our pockets, Gabriel and I headed for Croke Park, and always detoured to Kilkenny to visit the Design Centre.

This hallowed hall of good-quality creations was the highlight of my weekend – even if Cork were playing in the All-Ireland Final! My love affair with the Kilkenny Design Centre shone like a diamond in an otherwise mundane life. First came the delightful sighting of the beautiful city, then the walk along the atmospheric streets and finally the door of the Design Centre where the whiff of wool, tweed, linen and leather blended with the aroma of good food floating down from the upstairs realm of culinary delights. This was a new kind of shopping experience in Ireland at that time.

Even before putting a hand on any item in this glorious Aladdin’s cave of temptation, the anticipated thrill of doing so danced in the mind.

All around were shelves laden with the best of Irish crafts: pottery, glassware, table mats, oven gloves, aprons, shawls, rainwear and all kinds of everything.

One year, while I was savouring this delightful display, a tall, arrogant, strident red rooster

78 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

caught my eye. From his perch on high he seemed to be crowing down at me: I’d look great on top of your kitchen press. And so he would. Instant decision! ‘Big Bird, you are coming home to Cork with me.’ At the time we were transforming our kitchen from the boring, industrial, built-in necessities of a guesthouse kitchen to the more interesting requirements of a family home. With this changeover had come a restored tall oak kitchen press, the top of which would be the ideal perch for this Big Bird. It was made for him. But was I tempting fate? Because the next day Cork were about to take on Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Final and could buying this imperious Kilkenny Big Bird be tempting fate? Could he be symbolic of the victorious Kilkenny manager striding across the turf of Croke Park flushed with post-match success? But superstitious forebodings were stifled, and this magnificent male was kidnapped from his high shelf and on his way to a Cork homecoming. He was in the bag, whatever about the match. In subsequent years after All-Ireland Finals, this haughty bird was often eyed balefully when Kilkenny had caused us to sip the bitter taste of defeat by snatching our MacCarthy Cup! But he was soon forgiven because, despite the inflicted humiliation, one had to be impressed by his admirable stance and sense of superiority.

But of all the items purchased in the Design Centre over the years, the one that outshone all others was this much-loved jacket, now about to be immersed for the first time in sudsy water. It’s hard to explain how it escaped so long without an immersion. Maybe I was influenced by an old weaver of wool who said: ‘Wash your jumper, shear your sheep.’ Was it too risky to wash it at this stage? But surely natural fibre has the innate ability to encounter and survive the struggles of life, and still look good? Indeed, this jacket had survived remarkably well, but now, a bit like myself, it was a subdued shadow of its former self. This

Nurse Ellen – What it’s like working on the Frontline

A year on, living with COVID-19, and our work at the Irish Blue Cross is as challenging and crucial as ever. As I write we are currently on lockdown level 5. This means we are down to skeleton staff to maintain COVID-19 protocols and ensure client and staff safety.

I enjoy Medical Nursing. Part of my job includes dentals, of which we are seeing increasing numbers. Our most common cases are older pets with badly infected and rotten teeth; this can affect their entire system from the infection in their mouth.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is to see an elderly dog walk out The Irish Blue Cross clinic doors post-dental treatment, full of life and energy! The thing we hear most commonly from owners is, “They’re like a puppy again!” It gives me great job satisfaction to make an older pet so much more comfortable in their twilight years!

Cuddles from patients like Ziggy (pictured centre, above), remind me why I love my job at the Irish Blue Cross so much. Knowing our work is vitally important to the thousands of patients we treat, together with our amazing team of vets, nurses, and volunteers, provides me with all the motivation to keep working and helping as many patients as possible.

Please, help the pets who need our support, by giving us yours.

Donate what you can.

Pets are close to your heart. And ours. Help Support our vital work.

Pets are amazing. They offer companionship, encourage exercise, promote responsibility and help with mental health issues. A lot of them are also very cute.

The Irish Blue Cross is here for the pets that are there for you. Since 1945 we have been offering low cost veterinary support to the people who need it most. Today we operate a network of ten mobile veterinary clinics across Dublin, as well as our clinic in Inchicore.

Each year we get thousands of visits to our clinics from families who would not otherwise be able to afford veterinary care. We do not turn them away, because our mission is to help everyone who needs our services.

Some of our services: We promote responsible pet ownership through neutering, microchipping, and vaccination programs. We also provide free talks to schools and youth groups on request. Our horse ambulance service is on standby at race meetings and big equestrian events in Ireland.

We appreciate your donation, however much you can give.

If you decide to go online, you can make a once-off, or a regular monthly donation securely at www.bluecross.ie and you can read more about the pets we help! You can also call one of our team on 01-416 3032 to make donation over the phone.

Have you considered leaving a legacy?

Remembering the Irish Blue Cross in your will is a kind and generous gesture. It costs you nothing in your lifetime but your kindness makes a difference forever. Once loved ones are looked after in your will, consider how else you can help. Let your love for pets live on as part of your legacy, and help safeguard the future of the Irish Blue Cross. To find out more, speak in strictest confidence with Paul at the Irish Blue Cross, on (01) 4163032 or email legacy@bluecross.ie.

15A Goldenbridge Industrial Estate, Inchicore, Dublin 8 T:+353 1 4163032 E: fundraising@bluecross.ie www.bluecross.ie

Pets Need Our Help, So We Need Yours

Senior Times l July - August 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 79

‘My love affair with the Kilkenny Design Centre shone like a diamond in an otherwise mundane life’.

was to be expected after almost half a century of sheltering me from the chills of life.

On first sighting in the shop, it was reclining gracefully in a glass cabinet where it looked as if a rainbow had filtered in. The colour combination was of a wildflower meadow blended with a bog in bloom. A sighting to render one speechless. I approached the cabinet in awe, sensing that this was a rare moment to be savoured. When the profusion of delicately blended colours was raised out of its gilded cage, the creamy white of the mountain-sheep wool came into focus between the magical colours of the rainbow. It felt like thistledown. It was lined with delicate blue silk and each bone button bore a raised, hand-painted wildflower.

It looked divine, felt heavenly and was simply irresistible. Taking a deep breath, my eye sought the price tag, and admittedly I did gasp a little.

But when you are a seldom shopper, you feel justified in an occasional big splurge. And now, long after the price was forgotten, the quality of this beautiful creation was still appreciated. In its early years, as with all costly, classy acquisitions, it was treated with the utmost respect and worn only when the need to impress presented itself. Then, gradually, its outings were increased and it accompanied me to late-night concerts where a chill could creep in. It came to the rescue for night feeds, too, when its comforting arms encompassed both mother and child. Then it travelled to matches when maternal side-line support was required in sometimes bleak and chilly surroundings.

And, eventually, it came to book signings where it could be draped over a chair and then drafted into action if one were parked too close to a draughty door. And, eventually, it came out to the garden where on late-night meanderings

you were wrapped in its comforting arms. Its most recent resting place was in a little press by the Aga which is the warming cupboard for outdoor woolly socks, hats and gloves. Here it would absorb a gentle heat, and later, when reading or watching TV, I would welcome its woolly warmth.

But this morning the fates and Covid tempted me and before being returned to its usual little bolt-hole this old friend got an appraising look – and a snap decision was made that a warm bath was required. But first it was laid out on the kitchen table for a pre-op inspection. The lining had developed frayed edges and in places departed from the main body and I wondered would my sewing skills stretch to replacement.

I am no seamstress, but in lockdown anything is possible. But, apart from the lining, it was in fine nick, with all the original buttons still holding their own. I felt like hugging it in appreciation and singing a serenade.

So I buttoned up my old friend, gave it a warm parting hug and turned on the taps in the large Belfast sink. Under the gushing water I poured in a shower of washing powder, slushing it around into a frothy, sudsy, warm bath. On first immersion the water went murky brown, and the next immersion was slightly less so. It took four such baths before the water eventually flowed clear. Then two deep rinses and finally into a tray it went to be carried to the spin drier, into which it landed with a heavy, sodden slosh.

A few minutes later out it came, pounds lighter and glowing with new life.

As I laid it out on the table to soothe its rumpled weave, a tag, previously invisible, came alive: ‘Síocháin’, hand-loomed in County Wicklow,

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Ireland. What a pity that the name of the artist and date of creation was not included because this, indeed, was a long-standing monument to the quality of Irish farming, design and creation.

Extract from Tea for One by Alice Taylor, in bookshops from 4th October 2021, published

by The O’Brien Press

Five copies of Tea for One to be won!

Senior Times, in association with the publishers, The O’Brien Press, are offering five copies of Tea for One – two in this competition and three in the crossword at the end of the magazine.

To enter here simply answer this question: What was the name of Alice Taylor’s husband? Send your answer to Alice Taylor Competition, Senior Times, PO Box No 13215, Rathmines, Dublin 6. Or email to: john@slp.ie The firstfivecorrect answer drawn are the winners. Deadline for receipt of entries is October 20th 2021.

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Fitness & Wellbeing

Power of Pilates Pilates can do so much more than slim your waistline. Once you gain a little confidence, you will start noticing all the other benefits that pilates brings. In the beginning, it may seem a little intense but remember, the body is only starting to remember how to move. As you get fitter and stronger, you will really start to notice a huge difference in flexibility, posture, mood and overall body awareness.

A regular, personalised Pilates routine will benefit many aspects of your life: STRESS MANAGEMENT People love hearing about the endorphins they get from exercise.

Exercise such as Pilates reduces levels of the body's stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. It enhances the production of endorphins and chemicals in the brain that are the body's natural painkillers and mood lifters. Reducing stress increases an individual's productivity at work and reduces the number of days they take off.

That’s why a lot of businesses have introduced exercise into the work place. Reducing stress improves sleep and reduces irritability, anxiety and depression.

WEIGHT LOSS Pilates is helpful for losing weight and maintaining your shape. It can increase metabolism, or how many calories you burn in a day. It can also help maintain and increase lean body mass, which also helps increase calorie burn. Even a small amount of weight loss will have health benefits, such as improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugars. A lot of my clients get healthy comments from the doctors at their yearly check-ups—just a simple, regular Pilates routine really helps them.

POSTURE Proper Posture improves spine health! Sitting and standing with proper alignment improves blood flow, helps keep your nerves and blood vessels healthy and supports your muscles, ligaments and tendons.

People who make a habit of using correct posture are less likely to experience related back and neck pain. I always tell clients it’s nice to put the health of your body into your own hands and to not start or completely depend on physiotherapists, physical therapists or chiropractors to heal or sort you out. Yes, injuries from life are possible, but the more you are aware of how you hold yourself and how your body feels, the better and more quickly you will be able to recover.

MUSCLE TONE We all want to look and feel our best! Toning your muscles reduces fat and bodyweight, helping our clothes fit better and making our movements easier and stronger. Weight loss benefits the heart, joints and skeletal system.

BETTER SLEEP When exercise becomes a regular part of your routine, sleep patterns significantly improve, especially if you don’t train too late in the day.

Exercise increases time spent in deep sleep. This helps to boost immune function, support cardiac health and control stress and anxiety.

"Pilates is a method of exercise that consists of low impact flexibility and muscular strength and endurance movements. Pilates emphasis proper postural alignment, core strength and muscle balance. Anyone young or old can participate in a Pilates class and the benefits are endless. I offer classes online and one to one’s at home or in the office. " Mind ourselves no matter what our age ..

Ann Marie Murray is a personal trainer/Pilates and yoga instructor. She says she starts most of daily classes off with a chat and a smile. She says "It’s a natural thing for me. I’ve always been social. Pre-pandemic, I’d love to dress up for a night out with friends. I’d organize coffee dates and country walks. And I never work out without my lipstick."

"People are my joy. I’m grateful my career as it allows me to be surrounded by them. Pre-pandemic, I enjoyed the socialization of group exercise. New friends would gather for my Pilates-based classes, share a few laughs and get back to life after class. But now, during lockdown, these pre-squat chats are vital, a lifeblood of community that brings

us together in a way we so desperately need. Between lockdowns, in the warmer months, I held socially-distant classes outdoors. While the location was different, the feeling remained. We gathered for company, for fun and for our well-being. As lockdowns became more prevalent and serious, my classes had to adjust as well. It was a new experience for most to participate in an online live class. But for some of my students, it was the boost of community and fitness they desperately needed."

"I see so many people now who have perhaps gained a little bit of weight, are feeling down or simply have lost the enthusiasm for movement this winter. Increased isolation and lack of normal routines are real challenges. One of my students, Marie, was looking for help during the first lockdown last March. At the time, newly-married Marie’s work in dance, performance and art came to a halt. The pandemic would stall her career, wellbeing and fitness routine for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021. With a lot of extra time on her hands, Marie came across my Pilates classes outside at Kilkea castle. Always being very busy with her career she never had time to explore other hobbies and she was always curious about Pilates. She decided to give it a go and fell in love with it straight away and is still coming to me twice a week online a year later."

“Starting Pilates was one of the best decisions I ever made. It pushes you to be fitter, stronger and more mentally in shape too. Now is your chance to start something that will become a life passion,” Marie said. Like Marie, many of my students have never tried Pilates before. But you don’t need to be a professional dancer to participate. I’ve worked with everyone from Olympians to regular people with regular jobs and demands who simply want better quality of life. My method works for all fitness levels because each exercise can be tailor fit to each person’s needs. My passion is helping all ages and abilities to live a fuller, healthier life. I know the hardest part for most is to gain the confidence to start something so new and alien to them. However, once you decide to give it a try you won’t regret it."

"To aid my goal of spreading the Pilates love to even more people, I spent part of lockdown co-authoring a Pilates-based wellness journal with a friend. We formed our own little community over email and WhatsApp chats, filling each other in on the day-to- day while pouring over edits and manuscripts. As we put the finishing touches on our work, we hope that it will eventually help people incorporate wellness into their everyday lives. Because one day this pandemic will pass. And I don’t want people to wait until then to start caring for themselves."

"I am inspired by the people I meet every day. All the ladies and gentlemen who train with me turn up when they are tired, sad, busy and stressed. They form a group that supports each other to get them through their class. Each week they get stronger mentally and physically, and they help each other to do it. It is a joy to watch."

Ann Marie is now back mobile visiting private homes for personal training and also back teaching outside at Kilkea castle. Classes are also staying online for people to access them anywhere anytime. Beginners and intermediate classes are available online. All are welcome.

Annmarie Murray 0876253840 www.Am-fitness.ie anmmurray@yahoo.co.uk Instagram: anmmurray.

UN: Hunger levels highest in countries affected by climate extremes

This land was once filled with crops, but five years of poor rainfall has left it barren.

U

N warns gains made in ending hunger and malnutrition are being eroded by intense climate extremes.

Worldwide, droughts and floods have more than doubled since the early 1990’s with Africa particularly badly affected.

Climate change has an increasingly destructive impact on people living in already vulnerable communities. Such as those in Niger, Western Africa where 80% of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods. And where this year 2.7 million people are now projected to urgently need food if they are to survive.

Since 1968 Irish charity Concern Worldwide has worked around the world helping alleviate hunger caused by natural or manmade disasters. Over this period, climate change has become one of the key drivers of hunger.

Concern not only supplies emergency food, they continue to provide sustainable solutions to vulnerable communities – so they’re able to feed themselves long into the future.

To fund its work, one of Concern’s most vital funding sources – on which it absolutely depends – are gifts in the Wills of its supporters.

These gifts ensure Concern will always be there for people in need of a helping hand.

What Concern’s help looks like In Niger life is a constant struggle for survival which becomes almost impossible during the annual ‘hunger gap’.

Causing untold suffering, the annual hunger gap runs from April to September – with people spending almost half their year struggling to stay alive.

It’s a desperate period where food from the last harvest has run out and it will be months until more is available.

During this time, normal life grinds to a halt. Children leave education to help with agricultural chores at home.

Adults travel anywhere to earn even the smallest amount to support their families.

And Covid-19 has further exacerbated an already dreadful situation. Local markets have less food to sell so prices have risen. And there’s a shortage of seeds for next season’s crops – the pandemic’s deadly effects will be felt next year too.

Vulnerable families, who already have little to eat, are in grave danger.

But thanks to gifts in Wills, Concern is providing food for families in desperate need. And equipping communities to support themselves long into the future.

This is achieved by provid-

ing drought-resistant seeds – proven to yield more food – along with the the tools and training needed to adopt climate-smart techniques.

Chawada Aboubacar is a mother of five. Her family own a small piece of land where they grow the grain, millet. When it runs out between harvests, it used to be a struggle to provide the food they needed to survive.

Chawada’s can feed themselves this year. And have the knowledge and skills to produce enough food to eat every year from now on.

Be part of a world without hunger Won’t you help Concern fight poverty and hunger – to end it in some of the world’s poorest communities – by leaving a life changing gift in your Will?

To discover more about how this transforms and saves lives, please request your complimentary copy of Concern’s legacy booklet.

It shows how legacies are helping the world’s poorest people and answers many questions people have about leaving a gift in their Will.

It also explains how to start With Concern worker the process.

Mounkaîla’s help, Chawada Of course requesting your can now grow food to help free booklet does not oblige her family survive. you to leave a gift, or do anyBut thanks to support thing else. from Concern, she now has a thriving kitchen garden and To receive your free, grows a variety of vegetables. no obligation booklet This will provide nutritious food for her family this year and for years to come. Keeping her children safe from hunger so they can thrive.

“We will start eating cabbage, carrot and lettuce in one month and then the onion in about six weeks. This – in complete garden helps me and my confidence – please family. It makes me happy.” contact Concern’s – Chawada Aboubacar Legacy Manager, By passing on the skills Siobhán O’Connor. she has gained to her chilCall 01 417 8020, dren, Chawada is ensuring email siobhan.oconnor they will be self-sufficient in @concern.net, or visit the future; able to provide www.concern.net/gift for both their own families and the wider community – helping to pull everyone out of poverty.

Thanks to generous people leaving gifts in their Wills to Concern, families like Photo: Apsatou Bagaya / Concern Worldwide.

Photo: Apsatou Bagaya / Concern Worldwide.

Hunger worst in countries with agricultural systems highly sensitive to climate change.

Silver Stream Healthcare Group Promotion

Home from home

Silver Stream Nursing Home, Nenagh

Mairead Robinson meets Silver Stream CEO, Tom Finn, to hear about the latest developments in their nursing home care While I start from the premise that nobody wants to live in a nursing home, I come to realise that for many of us this can be not only a relief but also a very welcome phase in our lives. In recent times there has been more emphasis on keeping people in their own homes for as long as possible, and certainly none of us would argue with that. We all want to stay in our homes surrounded by family, neighbours and the familiar area while enjoying a good degree of independence. But there does come a time in many people’s lives when due to physical or mental issues, this option is no longer possible and nursing home care is required. This can bring great relief not just to the person themselves, but also to their families when the safety and well-being of their relative is assured.

For the many of us who will spend time in a nursing home, it is very encouraging to learn of the developments in the sector where there is no longer a fear of being locked away from our previous lives, maybe heavily medicated and perhaps also all but forgotten about. That is very much an outdated view, and certainly not one that is borne out after my discussion recently with the CEO of Silver Stream Healthcare Group, Tom Finn.

First of all the group, Silver Stream itself was bought over by Dutch private equity firm Waterland in July 2019. They currently have seven nursing homes within the group located in Dublin, Wicklow, Meath and Tipperary. Tom came on board in January of this year, an extremely difficult time for the sector as the third wave of Covid hit the country.

However Tom stresses that their homes had the resources to deal with the situation, and once the second vaccine was administered, the numbers dropped and life for everybody vastly improved. His remit now is to grow the company, and to increase bed numbers from three hundred and fifty, to one thousand. These will be spread throughout the country, and will incorporate existing facilities together with new 86 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Tom Finn (centre) and his management team after winning their award at the Public Service Awards builds. Indeed, it is a daunting prospect in these times when many other companies are looking to buy into the sector, but it is one that Tom is very happy to take on.

Home from Home is very much the model that Tom is focussed on, and while each of the nursing homes within the group has its own identity and personality, the ethos is firmly on the care of the residents, their health, happiness and wellbeing. He has begun refurbishing aspects of the homes, and his “resident first” approach extends to encouraging each new person who moves in, together with their families, to choose the décor and paint colour of their room. In this way the resident can stamp their personality on their new home and make it their own. It also helps to make the move less traumatic for those who find the change mentally difficult or disorienting.

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Senior Times l January/February 2020 l www.seniortimes.ie 63

Will you make a lasting difference today?

When you write a will, you can look after your family and loved ones. If you include Irish Hospice Foundation, you can reach out to families in a crucial time of need.

A gift in your will is a meaningful way to help us ensure no-one faces death and bereavement without the care and support they need.

Email clare.martin@hospicefoundation.ie or call 01 679 3188

Registered Charity 20013554

hospicefoundation.ie

Silver Stream Healthcare Group Promotion

The Croft Nursing Home “I am fascinated by the science when it comes to care for the elderly” Tom insists, when our conversation turns to the difficult subject of dementia. He is very sensitive when it comes to how the progression of this disease can affect the person who suffers with this condition, from the early diagnosis to a progressed condition. “It is very distressing for a person to learn that this is an illness they are facing, and also for their families too” he says, and so with the care of dementia suffers in Silver Stream nursing homes his focus is to make the sufferer as comfortable as possible in their new environment. This is done in conversation with their families and with the input from new residents to accommodate their preferences and needs. He is undertaking further refurbishments at the homes to this end by taking out lino and blinds and installing more modern and contemporary décor including anti-microbial carpets and curtains.

So what attracted him to this role, particularly at a time that is so very challenging for the sector? Tom grew up on a farm in Carlow and having studied both general and psychiatric nursing here, he took the opportunity to work in the US. He told me how excited he was as a young graduate to take up the opportunity to work and experience life stateside. He subsequently spent 12 years working on the front line in Los Angeles, where working in the ER he was at the centre of many dramatic events, including caring for those caught up in the violent Rodney King riots in 1992. He ran a laser eye-surgery firm for a while, and became CEO of a group of three companies called Pacific Oaks Medical Group. They ran all of the HIV wards in LA with about 4,000 HIV patients. They delivered anti-retroviral drugs that were so important in tackling Aids. Following that he was involved in developing the HPV vaccine, something which he is very proud of.

As part of modernizing the nursing homes, Tom is aware of how animals and children can enhance the lives of many residents, and he is also keen to incorporate music and singing into their daily lives. Depending on the location of each home, there may be chickens or horses in the grounds, or a crèche next door. All of these things help to engage residents with life as it continues around them. Ideally each resident will have lived in the area previously, have family living nearby or even may have grown up close by and so the neighbourhood is familiar.

He also told me of his stint in Saudi where he took on a medical diagnostics project. When Covid first hit, he was unable to travel home and unfortunately his father passed away during that time. So subsequently, after all his travels and varied roles within the medical world, when the opportunity came up to take on Silver Stream, he was delighted to return home to Ireland to take it on. He has long had an interest in care of the elderly, and while there are many groups buying up nursing homes in Ireland, he is delighted to be fronting Silver Stream as they embark on increasing their capacity three fold.

Residential care has changed fundamentally over the past number of years, and with people staying in their own homes for longer, they generally come to a nursing home later in life. These days up to eightyfive percent of residents in nursing homes are suffering from some degree of dementia. As we return to this topic, we discuss research trialling AI systems which can diagnose dementia after one brain scan. The system works by comparing brain scans of people who suspect they might have dementia, with those who have already been diagnosed. If early intervention treatments can kick in, it will slow down the progression of the disease. Tom reiterates how keenly interested he is on the ongoing research and development in the treatment of dementia. “I want the science of elderly care to be at the centre of everything we do”, he explains. He is following the latest findings in this area and is keen to incorporate every little change and improvement in Silver Stream Homes to enhance the lives of the residents.

88 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

“We are looking at existing homes with between fifty and one hundred beds. This allows for a more intimate type of nursing environment, which is what we are all about”. While the company will grow throughout the country with further nursing homes coming under the Silver Stream umbrella, the ethos of Home from Home will be to the forefront of each and every one of them. And for a sport-loving CEO who likes nothing better than to watch a game with one of his ninety year old residents, also a sport enthusiast, it is clear that Tom Finn himself knows exactly what Home from Home feels like.

CONTACT DETAILS: Silver Stream Healthcare Group, Ratoath, Co Meath, A85 YW73 Tel: (01) 826 4265. Email: admin@silverstrem.ie

Finance

Lifetime Loans are Back In January 2021 Spry Finance re-introduced Lifetime loans to the Irish market. A Lifetime Loan is a mortgage loan secured against your home and designed to last the rest of your life. There are no regular repayments to be made and the loan only becomes repayable after you pass away, cease to reside in your home, or sell it.

This financial option hasn’t been available in Ireland for several years, and there are more people aged 60 or over than ever before, so Spry Finance are seeing significant pent-up demand from homeowners – even more than they had anticipated.

Why are people considering Lifetime Loans?

Once you hit a certain age, a traditional mortgage no longer becomes an option for you, so it’s understandable that people are eager to investigate a new financial avenue – in a limited market.

Older homeowners are often ‘asset-rich’ but ‘cash-poor’ and would not have access to a traditional re-mortgage product due to their age. A Lifetime Loan enables them to borrow against the value of their home while still retaining 100% ownership of it and without having to move out of it.

How much can you borrow?

The amount you can borrow depends on your age and the value of your home (for example, a maximum of 25% of the property value at age 70) and the interest rate is fixed for life. Fixed interest rate Lifetime Loans give borrowers total certainty on what the future loan balance will be and are common-place and the norm in the UK, where over £4 billion worth of these loans are taken out each year.

Pros and cons The key benefit of a Lifetime Loan is that it gives you access to the value of your home without having to move out of it. Because no monthly repayments are required, you don’t have to have a certain minimum income to qualify. The interest rate is fixed for life, so you have certainty about what the loan balance will grow to over time. A ‘no negative equity guarantee’ is included which means you will never owe more than the value of your home.

On the flip side, the most important thing to understand is that because you are not making any repayments along the way, interest is added to your loan (compound interest) which means the loan balance grows in size until it is repaid. The future value of your equity in your home, available for you or for your inheritors, will be significantly less than if you never took out a Lifetime Loan.

Cautious approach Lifetime Loans are not for everyone, and while many wouldn’t choose one, they are appropriate in the right situations. In simple terms, they need to be viewed as a long-term solution to solve a long-term issue.

This could include making one’s house more comfortable for the next 10-20 years or to clear off mortgage or other debt that can’t be solved any other way.

All applicants for a Lifetime Loan must first complete a mandatory consultation process with Spry Finance, to ascertain if a Lifetime Loan is suitable for their needs and to ensure that they have received and understood all the necessary information on how the product works.

Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 89

Meeting Place NOTE: When replying to advertisements give only your telephone number and/ or email address. Do not give your postal address.

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90 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

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REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W16 NORTH COUNTRY DUBLIN LADY (originally from the country) early 60s and blessed with a youthful appearance. WLTM man late 50s/ early 60s with GSOH who is interested in the arts, golf, travelling, dining in and out, for friendship and who knows where that might take us.

Must be young at heart.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W17 KILDARE LADY ,70, SLIM, 5ft 3in, medium build, youthful appearance, no ties, NS, SD GSOH, chatty, fashionable, easy going. Interests include current affairs, nature, love the outdoors, driving, days out, weekends away in Ireland. WLTM gent late 60s-early 70s for friendship, possible relationship. Willing to travel to meet up.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER W18 GALWAY LADY, DIVORCED, GROWN UP FAMILY, looks younger, 5ft 6in tall, medium build, NS, SD, GSOH. Interests include most kinds of music, reading, walking, conversation, animal welfare, gardening, WLTM man, preferably 55-65, with similar interests for friendship and possible relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER D7 LONELY NORTH MIDLANDS GENTLEMAN, late sixties, NS, SD loves nature, cycling, walking, music, gardening, touring Ireland, eating out, weekends away. WLTM pleasant, romantic lady for friendship and relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER D1 WEXFORD LADY LIVES IN DUBLIN, EARLY 60s (look younger). Take a chance and contact this lovely lady with a kind and generous nature and GSOH. Many interests, including golf, cycling, cooking, music, theatre, cinema, walk in the country and on the beach. Each day brings new adventures so join me and share those great moments. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER D2 SOUTH EAST MALE, 60s, retired, no ties, well read, very romantic and understanding. Like music, walking holistic lifestyle. WLTM unattached lady for meaningful relationship.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER D3 POST COVID ROMANCE. Single Dublin gent 60s WLTM lady. ‘I am healthy with a wicked sense of humour and nice lifestyle. If you are a lady who enjoys champagne/strawberries and the craic then perhaps summer romance is in the air.’ REPLY TO BOX NUMBER D4 DUBLIN ROMANTIC LADY LATE 60s widow WLTM bachelor or widower 63-73. Interest include gardening, walking good music and reading. REPLY TO BOX NUMBER D5 DUBLIN MALE 60s SEEKS male travelling companion 50-70 for holiday to Thailand when its safe to travel. Enjoy the lovely weather,

beautiful beaches, fantastic food, great nightlife and gorgeous, friendly ladies.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER D6 SHY GAY DONEGAL MALE, 56, seeks men of similar age and up to 70 for meetings, fun times and weekends away, dinner, walks etc.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER C1 MIDLANDS SINGLE MAN, 63, average height, slim, presentable and solvent, usual interests.

Given the usual travel restrictions I would like to hear from a lady under 60 from anywhere in Ireland who has an easy-going manner for phone chats etc.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER C2 DUBLIN LADY LATE 60s RETIRED NURSE, separated, NS, SD, WLTM youthful gentleman 60-70. I am slim, petite and have always looked much younger. Interests include oil painting singing (choral), reading, history, science and the arts. Also interested in spiritual tradition and have travelled widely.

REPLY TO BOX NUMBER C3

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 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 31st October 2021.

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).

Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 91

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Three copies of Alice Taylor’s latest book Tea for One to be won!

Senior Times, in association with the publishers, The O’Brien Press, are offering three copies of Alice Taylor’s latest book Tea for One in this issue’s crossword competition. Alice Taylor writes: ‘My early years in Innishannon were a whirlwind. Surrounded by small children, running a guesthouse, post office and a busy shop, sometimes with much-loved elderly relatives on board, the days were a stampede of non-stop activity.

My wonderful husband Gabriel began work at 6am and often balanced the books in the small hours, while at the same time being part of every parish organisation. He kept so many balls in the air that one got dizzy just looking on. We also seemed to be endlessly building and extending the business, and the bank manager was forever threatening to pull the mat from under us so we were constantly over-stretched and stressed’.

Name: ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Senior Times would like to send you details of special offers, competitions, future features etc.

Please tick this box if you do not wish to receive this information.

Email:......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

92 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

Send your entry to: Crossword Competition, Senior Times, PO Box 13215, Rathmines, Dublin 6 Deadline for recept of entries is 31st October 2021 . The first three correct entries drawn are the winners.

Senior Times l July - August 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 79

Crossword Crossword History

Number 113 by Zoë Devlin

ACROSS

DOWN

1 4 7 11 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 29 31 33 34 39 40 42 46 48 49 52 54 55 56 60 61 63 64 67 68 69 73 75 76 80 82 84 85 90 91 92 94 95 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107

2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 27 28 30 32 35 36 37 38 39 41 43 44 45 47 50 51 53 57 58 59 62 63 65 66 70 71 72 74 77 78 79 81 83 86 87 88 89 90 93 96 97 98

Largest continent (4) European republic, renowned for wine & garlic (6) Lifting devices or long-necked birds (6) Brown with a reddish tinge (6) Humorous play on words (3) Number of strokes for each hole in golf (3) French Post-impressionist painter Paul ___ (7) Children’s storyteller, ___ Dahl (5) Irish fashion designer, ___ Gilbert (5) Short conversation or confab (4) Give over or relinquish (4) Find the solutions to a crossword (5) Diminutive or extremely small (4) Take a secret or brief look (4) Suburb on isthmus between Howth & mainland (6) Dublin playwright of ‘The Hostage’, Brendan ___ (5) Those in religious orders before final vows (7) Minister of religion (6) One of the Knights of the Round Table (8) Sparkling beverage or a map change? (9) Short-tailed rodents with large cheeks (8) White wine found in a hard canyon? (10) Author of ‘The Great Hunger’ ___ Woodham-Smith (5) Dogs trained to bring back game (10) Creator of George Smiley, John __ ___ (2,5) Songs from operas for a solo voice (5) Edible berries trodden to produce wine (6) Professional Irish boxer, ___ Taylor (5) Raise a glass or crisp bread? (5) Dry red wine originally from Bordeaux (6) Begin (5) Lady ___ Gregory, co-founder of Abbey Theatre (7) Branch of mathematics (10) Striped African equine (5) Discuss pros and cons of an issue (10) Taken into custody (8) Daily publication on folded sheets (9) White-yellow, strong-scented edible roots (8) Sibling but not your brother (6) Person whose job is to eject troublemakers (7) American opera singer, soprano ___ Fleming (5) Manservants or gentlemen’s gentlemen (6) Pa is in this Italian city, by the leaning tower! (4) Louts .. boorish fools (4) George Eliot wrote of ‘___ Marner’ (5) Was Cain’s brother able or not? (4) St Columba founded an abbey on this island (4) ‘My Fair Lady’ character, ___ Doolittle (5) Public square or mall (5) Spanish tenor, ___ Domingo (7) Oh Yes! Yoko was married to John Lennon! (3) Chop wood or terminate funding (3) Blue jeans (6) Sampled a flavour by mouth (6) Loch Ness monster (6) Former name for Thailand (4)

Winner of silver in Sydney, ___ O’Sullivan (5) Vipers who live in spas? (4) Group of volcanic islands in North Atlantic (6) Yes angel! Its an island to NW of Wales (8) Sofa or settee (5) Portuguese footballer who can do La Rondo? (7) Orange wins for these Scandinavians (10) American TV sci-fi series .. the final frontier! (4,4) Small mammal such as dormouse or rat (6) Swift whirling motion - while you’re on your pins! (4) Component, factor or most favourable environment (7) Aromatic substances such as nutmeg (6) Visitor who stays at one’s home (5) Seven consecutive days (4) Little inlet (4) Low part of musical range or fish? (4) Do a tango in this monarchy in south Pacific (5) Dull, persistent pain (4) Defy or stand firm to one’s sister? (6) Horizontal surface in a bar or shop (7) City in northern France famed for cathedral (6) Retired boxer, ___ McGuigan (5) Venue or place of a meeting (6) Imitating uncritically (5) Opposing military forces (7) Person medically trained to cope with epic drama! (9) Decade between sixties and eighties (9) Singer/actress of ‘Calamity Jane’ ___ Day (5) She sang ‘Anyone who had a heart’ ___ Black (5) Canoe that reads the same, forwards or backwards (5) Bishop’s staff (7) Debate or contend (5) Provincial capital of Nova Scotia (7) Cud-chewing mammals such as Bactrians (6) Settlers’ journeys by ox wagon (5) A watercourse for a master? (6) Mixtures of vegetables eaten mainly in summer (6) Person such as a freedom fighter (5) Possessing life (5) They’re weekdays - Ash or Spy? (10) Elaborate outdoor festival (4) Canal and city in Egypt (4) Fair City or Corrie? (4) Unvarying and changeless (8) Irish-born choreographer/dancer, Dame Ninette __ ___ (2,6) Michelangelo painted the ceiling of this chapel (7) One celestial body obscuring another (7) Moved along on ice (6) Field on which a university is built (6) Annual Academy Award or Mr Wilde? (5) Old grey donkey in Winnie-the-Pooh (6) Writer such as Seamus Heaney (4) Longest river in France (5) First African-American US President (5) Can you get bail on this Indonesian island? (4) Hero of books and TV series, ___ Poldark (4) Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie 93

Finance

The Intricacies of Those Golden Years

Are children entitled to an inheritance?

Should you feel obligated to leave an inheritance to your children?

Or should those in retirement use their hard-earned money and assets to secure their own wellbeing and enjoy the latter years of life to the fullest?

In a recent IReach market research study for Spry Finance 1,000 adults throughout the country were asked their views on this somewhat emotive topic. Tellingly, it turns out that we do not expect parents to have to struggle financially or forego a more comfortable life, in order to set aside enough money or assets for an inheritance.

The most common view (48% of respondents) is that parents should leave an inheritance to their children if they can, but not if this would compromise their parents’ well-being or lifestyle. However almost as many people (44% of respondents) think that parents shouldn’t feel obligated to leave any inheritance at all and should instead prioritise their own retirement. Just 8% of the Irish public believe that parents should absolutely leave as much as possible to their children, even if this means making sacrifices in older years.

downsizing as a “logical” option or a natural progression. Of course for some people moving to a small property is absolutely the right choice – but again, everyone’s situation is different and feedback from Spry Finance customers indicates that most people don’t appreciate any sense of obligation or pressure being levelled at their door when it comes to “moving on” from homes and communities they have lived in for 20, 30 or 40+ years.

Home Improvements and Clearing Debt – Lifetime Loans put to good use

The survey also indicates that adult children are actually less likely than their parents to hold the view that there is an obligation to leave an inheritance. More people under 55 (46%) than over 55 (40%) say those in retirement shouldn’t feel obligated to leave something to their children.

This may come as a surprising insight for older parents who may be wondering what exactly their children expect from them financially in the years to come.

When it comes to big life choices there’s no one size fits all approach – every family dynamic will differ, as will people’s financial situations. But it’s encouraging to see that the wellbeing of their parents as opposed to what they might receive in the future is the dominant priority.

Do retirees want to move house?

There has been recent commentary on the notion that older people should be encouraged to “downsize” to a smaller home in order to “free up” homes for a younger generation. Ultimately, this does not appear to be what people of this age want however, at least according to a separate Behaviour & Attitudes research study, also conducted for Spry Finance. The report found that over 60s feel very strongly about remaining in their own homes and retaining full ownership of it. When asked to rank the benefits of a Lifetime Loan (see page 89), the two benefits deemed most important by far were, ‘The right to stay in your home as long as you live or as long as you want’ and ‘You are not selling your home – you remain the owner’.

Feedback from Spry Finance customers confirms that those considering a Lifetime Loan have little interest in down-sizing. Perhaps in some instances more sensitivity should be shown by those proposing 94 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

The most popular uses for Lifetime Loans include home improvements to make houses more comfortable and energy efficient, paying off a mortgage balance or other debts to free up monthly cash flow, and reasonable lifestyle expenses. These are generally once-off expenses that may be a challenge to fund solely from a retirees’ existing pension income.

These are some real-life examples (the names have been changed) which illustrate just how life-changing Lifetime Loans can be in the right circumstances: · Tony & Pauline are a married couple in their seventies with a house worth €300,000. They borrowed €65,000 to carry out home improvements to make their house more efficient. Now the radiators and windows have been replaced and the kitchen and bathrooms have been updated. · Terry & Emer are a married couple in their late sixties with a house valued at €500,000. They were paying an interest-only mortgage of €82,000 with 2 years to run and no assets to enable them to make the final “bullet payment”. They refinanced with a Lifetime Loan which allowed them to repay the bank and also free up some capital so they have some financial cushion on which they can fall back on. · Anne & Donal, both aged 75 with a house worth €420,000 borrowed €90,000 for a variety of purposes. €40,000 was used for insulating the house and a new boiler, €10,000 for fixtures and fittings,€30,000 as gifts to their two children and the remaining €10,000 as a nest egg which they never had before. · Kay & Pat are married couple in their late sixties with a house valued at €450,000. They had an existing mortgage with one of the main banks and a personal loan with another, both of which were in arrears. The Lifetime Loan enabled them to clear these debts and release some additional funds for home improvements.

Senior

€40 for 8 issues delivered to your door

Crafts

Connie McEvoy shows how to The spider had finished her project produce two cards for autumn While I querulously ponder what if’s

Elderberry and skimmia - themed embroidery projects NEEDLEWEAVING Insert a large headed pin at the corner position (at the tip of the petal or leave) and then bring the pin to the front of the fabric and immediately to the back to secure the pin in place

Bring the thread through at A and insert at B, taking the thread round the back of the pin head and bring out at C

SKIMMIA

Take the thread around the back of the pin head for a second time and then insert needle ELDERBERRIES under one vertical thread over the middle one John I had to retype and theunder textthe asthird it would notthread be legible one. Pull the through tightly.

Continue weaving the needle in and out when reproduced andofwill also take up less space. the vertical threads until they have all been not be legible it would the text as retype John I had to covere.

On completion of the needle weaving Also stick heading on take the two drawings; the thread to the back and the work and uced and will also take up less space. when reprodsecure.

SKIMMIAAlso stick heading on the two drawings;

Friday April 23rd 2021 was a beautiful warm and x 5.5cms, varied oddments of green stranded ELDERBERRIES sunny spring day here in Tubbertoby, Co Louth.

MIA cotton ( 2 strands) used through-out for needleSKIM During the afternoon I decided to work on the woven leaves and stem which is worked as the Skimmia stem, a few lazy daisy stitches first of two embroidered projects that were RIES RBERfor ELDE intended for submission for the September/ can be used at intervals underneath the woven October issue of Senior Times designed with picots plus some wine straight stitches near the an autumn theme in mind. Having furnished berries. 1 green Anchor gift card GCS008 –oval myself with all necessary materials and aperture + envelope and self-adhesive mount board, 1 not pack be of black Trimit seed beads and equipment my back porch seemed to beckon John I had to retype the text as it would legible as an ideal workshop/studio and after getting some fine wadding. when reproduced willworking alsothetake up less space. comfortably seated thereand I started I have included stem outlines plus diagram for needle-woven leaves of the elderberry sprig. woven picots, happy stitching and keep well.

Also stick heading on the two drawings; Needle-woven bars and picots are a decorative way of adding an extra degree of texture to Requirements for the second card worked SKIMMIA embroidered projects instead of using padding a small sprig of Skimmia methods, according to my family elders as they ELDERBERRIES taught me the beauty of Mountmellick work White cotton fabric, 15x10cm, oddments years ago and I was happily making progress of green stranded cotton (2 strands) used text as itthat would not for be alegible for needle-woven leaves, afternoon while before noticing throughout a spider that seemed equally happy also Terracotta (2 strands) for stem worked in Stem l also take up less space. working on a project in my porch. So we both stitch overcast. continued working (social distance rules were two drawings; strictly adhered to of course). On reflection I 1 packet of seed beads (red), Crewel can clearly recall times when things weren’t embroidery needle size 8, Tapestry needle plus going according to Grandma Kavanagh’s liking pins for needle- weaving, a beading needle, needle-wise while quilting or embroidering, she fine wadding to fit, plus a pencil and scissors, would hold the needle to eye level and utter in some fabric glue and a Card 1x3 fold aperture a frustrated voice- ‘You’re only a needle pulling 6.5x6.5cm red. thread and you’re going to go where I want you to go!’ All must have been going to plan for the Draw the sprig stem outline lightly onto fabric spider as she never stopped until the web was using the pencil, work 2 rows of stem stitch finished, obviously her motto was ‘don’t give in opposite directions and cover these with up ‘till it’s over’ –no tools to cause moments of overcast stitch. frustration.

Work the woven picots in leaf formation at will in greens of your choice along the worked stem, Requirements for the Elderberry card: 1 piece of even-weave fabric measuring 10cm lastly add the beads as small clusters of berries.

96 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie

These designs are very free-I like to paint with thread and needles a lot.

Wash the finished project in tepid suds, roll in a towel and press on several layers of towelling.

Fix the wadding to the back of finished work, trim to fit, carefully glue the inside aperture section of the card, fit centrally over the worked Skimmia and complete the assembly of the card by gluing and fixing the section of the card that is to cover the back of the project in place.

Although my elderberry project took a few more afternoons to complete including the beadwork I couldn’t go to bed on the night of April 23rd until I had penned these few lines titled A Spider.

A Spider

By Connie McEvoy I’ve been watching a spider this evening Sat here in my porch needle-weaving She’s weaving a web in the corner With an abundance of patience and skill Can’t help but gaze in amazement As it’s being fixed right under my sill Exquisitely woven gossamer No tool, chart or shuttle’s in sight I need fabric, thread and needles while weaving Plus specs to aid my eyesight Now weaving together one hour Our mind’s eye designed our motifs The spider had finished her project While I querulously ponder what if ’s...

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Life has many stages. Enjoy every one.

A lifetime loan could help.

Get expert guidance from Spry Finance. spryfinance.ie | (01) 5822 580 Over 60s only. Product eligibility criteria apply. Seniors Money Mortgages (Ireland) DAC trading as Spry Finance and Seniors Money is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.