The Finest Issue 54 by The Finest Magazine

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NENAGH WARRIORS CALL ON COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT CRITICALLY INJURED CLUB FOUNDER While on a family holiday in Poland, Nenagh resident Dariusz Swierkosz suffered a life changing injury. Dariusz had spent many years serving his local community through the work at the Nenagh Warriors club which he co-founded. Members of the local club have come together to ask for help during this difficult time for the Swierkosz family. Turn to page 6 for full details...

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST MICHAEL CARRUTH TO BOX LIVE AT CHARITY EVENT AT RACKET HALL HOTEL

Local boxing coach and promoter Gary Thompson is lining up a whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who of Irish boxing talent for a one of a kind exhibition live at Racket Hall Hotel on Friday March 22nd. Topping the bill is Olympic

Gold Medallist Michael Carruth who will take part in an exhibition bout to raise funds for the charity event. Continued on page 14...

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“The Finest” | Issue Nº 54

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FAMILY RAISING VITAL FUNDS FOR SPECIAL CARE BABY UNIT IN PORTLAOISE

Parents Brian and Sarah hosted a vital fundraiser for a cause very close to their hearts, the Special Care Baby Unit in the Midlands Regional Portlaoise hospital. Sarah Clare and Brian Pearson hosted a coffee day and raffle in Ballaghmore, Borris-inOssory on Saturday January 5. “We would like to express a huge thank you to everyone who supported our fundraiser for the Special Care Baby Unit in Portlaoise hospital last weekend. Whether you bought tickets, came to the house for our coffee day or donated on our Go Fund Me page, we are very grateful. We are delighted to have raised just over €2700 to date but we couldn’t have done it without the support of the local community. We had 35 prizes on our raffle and we would like to particularly say thank you to the sponsors in Roscrea for their prizes; Fundraising for the Special Baby Care Unit is a cause close to Sarah and Brian’s hearts. Two of their little boys, Ben and Alex, were looked after in the unit and both parents described it as ‘amazing’. “We are only privileged to try and help this amazing unit. It is where our boys Ben, now nearly six and Alex now three spent the first four-six weeks of their life there after being born at 32 weeks. “Even though our third child Matt, now 19 months old, was born at 36 weeks we were

lucky that he was healthy enough to stay with me and not go to SCBU. It is very scary and daunting to have a tiny fragile baby born and then to face a unit we knew nothing about. “All the machines, tubes, incubator and the medical terminology but the staff there took us under their wings and guided, supported and helped us so much. “They don’t just give round the clock care to our babies but they are there for the parents too. It is very difficult to go home and leave your baby behind but knowing they are getting the best care and helping hand they require to help them on the road home.

TOM’S FAMILY BUTCHERS

Tomas Loughman of Tom’s Family Butchers in Templemore has not only opened a new high quality local butchers shop on Templemore Main Street, he has also announced the commencement of his loyalty card scheme for local customers. Every customer who calls in to Tom’s Family Butchers and spends €15 will receive a stamp on their loyalty card. Once the loyalty card is complete, Tom will exchange the completed card

for his weekly loyalty deal in store. The deals will rotate and change every week so as to offer local customers variety in their rewards for shopping local. The Finest would like to congratulate Tom Loughman and the Loughman family on the opening of their new business premises and to wish them the very best of luck with their venture.

RACKET HALL HOTEL AWARDED FOUR STAR CLASSIFICATION

Like many others, Sarah thought the Special Care Baby Unit would receive all of their funding from the HSE, but it does not. “We would have presumed that they get all their funding from the HSE but unfortunately not. They are hoping for extra equipment such as cubical screens, heated cots, breast pumps and other items,” she concluded. If anyone would like to support fundraiser the Go Fund Me page is still open and you can find more information by visiting Go Fund Me and searching for Special Care Baby Unit Portlaoise Fundraiser.

Racket Hall Hotel awarded Four Star Classification Champagne corks were popping at Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, following the announcement that it has been awarded Four Stars by Fáilte Ireland, the country’s National Tourism and Development Authority. The delighted hotel owner, Allen Mc Enery, said: “We are over the moon that all our hard work and investment has paid off. The 18-month programme to reach our goal included staff training and refurbishment of our bedrooms, reception rooms, the ballroom and the hotel grounds. This is great news, not just for customers, but also for the team here at Racket Hall Hotel.” Allen continued, “This was a strategic decision to upgrade the hotel to achieve the Four Star

status. It sends a message to our customers about the quality of the product that they can expect at Racket Hall Hotel. However, that is only half the picture. Our staff have been very engaged in an extensive programme of customer service training to ensure the entire visitor experience is a memorable one. Our guests can expect an entirely new level of standards, comfort and service.” Racket Hall Hotel is a member of the prestigious Original Irish Hotel Group and is situated just an hour from Limerick and Dublin off the M7. In addition to its 40 bedrooms, Racket Hall has long been renowned for its quality food service and is also a very popular country music venue. The stunning ballroom can host up to 300 people for weddings and family or corporate functions.

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ST JOSEPH’S OF BORRISOLEIGH TRACTOR DAY

CORK AIRPORT APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF AVIATION BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT with his most recent role as Airline Business Development Manager for Dublin Airport. His new role at Cork Airport will involve overseeing the continued development of partnerships with airlines, tourism partners and business stakeholders, to deliver continued route expansion and positive growth into the future. Speaking on his new role at Cork Airport, Brian said: “I am delighted to join the innovative and dedicated team at Cork Airport as Head of Aviation Business Development. I look forward to utilising my experience and knowledge of business development in the aviation industry to further strengthen route development at Cork Airport.”

Brian Gallagher Brian Gallagher has been appointed as the new Head of Aviation Business Development at Cork Airport. The new appointment comes as Cork Airport, Ireland’s second busiest and best connected international airport, enters its fourth year of consecutive growth, forecasting a 7% increase in passenger numbers for 2019. Brian has more than seven years of experience working in aviation development across DAA,

On Sunday 30th December, the Parent’s Council at St. Joseph’s College organized a hugely successful tractor run and cycle from Bishop Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh. A group of cyclists left the Park at 10am for a 70km spin around North Tipperary before returning to school canteen for refreshments. Our sincere thanks to all who took part. From early in the morning, the tractors started to gather. It was spectacular to watch as over seventy participants left the Park, in a selection of vintage and modern tractors. There was a fantastic atmosphere as many of our students past and present supported the event. Your support is

greatly appreciated. We wish to extend a sincere thank you to everyone for their support in this great event; to all who donated spot prizes and raffle prizes, who bought tickets or came out to support us. To our Parent’s Council for yet again surpassing all expectations with their organization and catering skills. Special thanks must be extended to Rory O’Dwyer and his team of Alan and Andrew Ryan for their expertise and guidance. Your kindness and generosity to our school makes all the difference.

Commenting on the new appointment, Managing Director at Cork Airport Niall MacCarthy said: “We welcome Brian Gallagher as our new Head of Aviation Business Development. We have seen fantastic growth at Cork Airport with passenger numbers consistently on the rise over the last three years, and Brian’s expertise will only strengthen this success. “Over 50 routes are now on offer from Cork Airport across the UK, continental Europe and the east coast of the USA, and we are committed to continue this growth throughout 2019.”

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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR SON?

Cistercian College offers an all-inclusive schooling option to suit every family. First commencing in September 2017 and proving to be a hugely popular choice, Day boarding provides the best of both worlds for those who live within a commutable distance from the College. Students arrive at 8.15am and take part in the full academic and extracurricular program. They return home after supervised study which finishes at 8.00 pm. This provides parents with the assurance that their son is cared for throughout the day, enjoying the balance between the benefits of Boarding School and home life. With seven-day boarding, students are immersed in an educational environment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and this option is suitable and available to all students. It particularly suits those coming from abroad and travelling long distances.

Students go home every three weeks for a long weekend to visit their families. For parents who want all the added benefits of full boarding but don’t live too far away and would like to have their sons home at weekends, five day Boarding is the perfect choice. This flexible boarding option gives students the time they need to dedicate themselves to their studies and activities but gives families the flexibility of bringing their son home each weekend. Those who choose Cistercian College for their son do so for a variety of reasons. Academically, small class sizes and daily supervised study mean that a student can achieve his full potential. In sport, the College campus has 9 playing pitches, tennis courts, ball alleys, a swimming pool, indoor sports hall and a gym. Students have the

opportunity of competing in both the Leinster Schools Rugby and Hurling Championships. There is also the option of representing the school in soccer, golf, equestrian, athletics, and tennis. In extracurricular activities, the College is dedicated to supporting the arts. In addition to being able to study music, students can perform in the annual College Opera, the Christmas Carol service and the Music Gala event each year in the University of Limerick Concert hall. Public speaking, debating, weekend tutorials and study sessions are all important parts of College life. The College also offers an extensive Transition Year programme to students in their 4th year. This is a very popular entry point into Cistercian college and is a perfect introduction into the leaving cert cycle as well as providing an invaluable year in terms of personal development and maturity. Since the foundation of Cistercian College 115 years ago, the philosophy of St. Benedict, which is embedded in the College’s Mission Statement, has ensured that all students can endeavour to develop a strong moral and ethical compass. In doing so, it has helped students develop resilience, compassion and the self-belief and the will to succeed. In the modern abrasive and increasingly

uncertain world these traits have never been more important. For more information contact 0505 23344 or email admissions@ccr.ie

U15 final winners hurling

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NENAGH WARRIORS CALL ON COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT CRITICALLY INJURED CLUB FOUNDER

Dariusz Family Over the last seven years The Finest has featured within its pages the Nenagh Warriors club numerous times. In fact way back in the early days club members would attend the now defunct St Cronan’s Boxing club at the Ashbury Industrial complex in Roscrea. Dariusz Swierkosz founded the Nenagh MMA Warriors club with Waldemar Cichy. The Nenagh MMA Warriors club found a home at the Nenagh Brickfields campus where it operated from for several years. The club took in both adult and juvenile members and worked with them teaching skills in various disciplines of martial arts.

facilities trampolines tragedy struck. Dariusz had an accident and fell in the process crushing his cervical vertebrae. Dariusz is widely known as a very athletic individual who had spent his whole life immersed in sports and sporting activities. As a result of his continuous physical training he was in excellent physical condition and yet through a freak accident at present he is paralyzed from the neck down.

At the time of writing this Dariusz is still in the Intensive Care Unit and is breathing through machine assisted ventilation. There is little or no sign of communication from Dariusz and there is significant swelling and inflammation. It will take Dariusz Swierkosz worked as a manager at the local time for a full assessment of his injuries, it is likely Nenagh Lidl for the last fourteen years. Dariusz is that Dariusz will require round the clock care for married to Justyna Swierkosz and together they the foreseeable future if not the rest of his life. have two children aged four and nine months old. The Nenagh Warriors club members are devastated In recent times Dariusz had taken a step back by the news. Dariusz ran a family orientated martial from training at the Nenagh Warriors club as he arts gym that had become a family over the years. had become a father once again and had been Dariusz had attended many competitive bouts on concentrating on looking after his young family. behalf of the club and had showed true leadership The couple had recently purchased a new home at since the clubs foundation. The wider community the Dromin Village estate in Nenagh. in Nenagh would also hold Dariusz in very high regard as an active member of the community. While on a family break in Poland Dariusz attended a family sports centre with his children. The Nenagh Warriors club have set up an initial While playing with his children on one of the GO Fund Me page to help Dariusz family with

the medical bills which are sure to mount. As loyal members of the club who feel that they are an extended family they will be organizing other events locally to assist the Swierkosz family in their darkest hour. The initial goal of €20,000 was set to try to help with the costs of physiotherapy before other medical costs start to accumulate. The bond between the Polish and Irish community has been strengthened by this terrible event and it goes without saying that the family greatly appreciate the support shown. If you would like to help you can visit the Go Fund Me page by logging on to the internet and typing in www.gofundme.com/du3pcp-support-dariusz

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CORK AIRPORT APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF AVIATION BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Brian Gallagher has been appointed as the new Head of Aviation Business Development at Cork Airport. The new appointment comes as Cork Airport, Ireland’s second busiest and best connected international airport, enters its fourth year of consecutive growth, forecasting a 7% increase in passenger numbers for 2019. Brian has more than seven years of experience working in aviation development across DAA, with his most recent role as Airline Business Development Manager for Dublin Airport. His new role at Cork Airport will involve overseeing the continued development of partnerships with airlines, tourism partners and business stakeholders, to deliver continued route expansion and positive growth into the future. Speaking on his new role at Cork Airport, Brian said: “I am delighted to join the innovative

and dedicated team at Cork Airport as Head of Aviation Business Development. I look forward to utilising my experience and knowledge of business development in the aviation industry to further strengthen route development at Cork Airport.” Commenting on the new appointment, Managing Director at Cork Airport Niall MacCarthy said: “We welcome Brian Gallagher as our new Head of Aviation Business Development. We have seen fantastic growth at Cork Airport with passenger numbers consistently on the rise over the last three years, and Brian’s expertise will only strengthen this success. “Over 50 routes are now on offer from Cork Airport across the UK, continental Europe and the east coast of the USA, and we are committed to continue this growth throughout 2019.”

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GRADUATE IN FURTHER EDUCATION AND BRIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE: ROSCREA COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION

HEALTHCARE SUPERVISORY MANAGEMENT GRADUATES 2018 Now is the time to consider enrolling for courses for next September. Further Education Courses are full-time, one-year (September to May), QQI level 5 and 6 Certified Day-Course. These are focused skills based courses and many graduates progress directly to the workforce or to third level education

after completion. Further Education places are open to all adults who satisfy the course requirements. There are no restrictions on age, prior qualifications or income or employment status to apply. We have a range courses in Business, Healthcare, Nursing, Social

Care, Childcare and Construction which provides students with the skills, confidence, training and advice to help make their dream career possible. Students have many different reasons for applying: – training and a formal qualification need, a new career choice with better employment prospects, improving existing skills, returning to education, re-joining the work force or just starting out on the first course after leaving school. Students who successfully complete the course graduate with both a work qualification and points for college. Our graduates engage in a range of activities after completing their course – both in employment and third level studies. We have links with colleges and career guidance to help our students make good and informed decisions about their future. Students attending third level colleges after completing a QQI course have an enormous advantage: they have gained vital experience during the QQI course and have developed the core skills for further study and in their specialised area. Many students use their QQI qualification to gain part-time jobs while at college, this can be hugely helpful for students financially and for their professional experience. To qualify for a course ideally candidates should have a keen interest in the area of study they wish to pursue, a leaving certificate/equivalent, or relevant experience to enable them to successfully participate in the course. There are supports available for students in our college and we encourage you to speak to us if you are concerned, this will allow us to address any difficulties from the start, to help you succeed.

Course places are available to everyone regardless of income, employment etc. You may qualify for financial support during you course eg. BTEA (Back to Education Allowance) speak to your local DEASP – social welfare office to see if you qualify for BTEA. Medical Card holders, VTOS recipients, SUSI Grant recipients and BTEA recipients all benefit from a reduction in fees. Our advice is to start your enquiries early to find out about your entitlements to financial support as a student. Some financial supports may also be available for childcare if you qualify under BTEA or VTOS, please as us for more information if this could apply to you. We offer great courses locally at a minimal cost, with the student at the centre of the training, students experience a caring environment, with committed and experienced staff, wonderful fellow students and great prospects after finishing their course. To get more information go to www.cpr.ie, or call us and we would be delighted discusses your course queries and the process of securing your place. The application process is simple – apply online at www.cpr.ie – click on the Further Education link or use paper application available in the college. Places are limited so it is advisable to apply early. Courses Start: Wednesday, 11th September 2019 Courses Finish: Thursday, 7th May 2020 Further Education Coordinator: Josephine Nielsen. 0505 23931 /23939 Mobile/Text: 087 19671 29 email: jnielsen@tipperaryetb.ie

ST JOSEPHS OF BORRISOLEIGH MARKET DAY The students of 1st, 2nd and Transition Year held a hugely successful Market Day on Monday 21st January. Students were invited to present their business ideas to their fellow students and a judging panel from Tipperary Student Enterprise Programme.

SEPT were very impressed with the standard of presentation and the ideas. In total seven groups were selected and will represent the school in LIT in March.

Intermediate Qualifiers Woolen Wonders Anna Stapelton and Ruth Bourke

Senior Winners Luxo Cosmetics Victoria Nowak Michaela Shanahan and Rachel O Connell

Intermediate Winner ES Reuse Emer O Donnell and Sarah Ryan

Junior Qualifiers The Motivators Emily Ryan Maria hassett and Taylor Molloy

Junior Qualifiers Premier Hooks Cathal Frend Brian Farrell Pa Brett and David Conway

Intermediate Winner Pop Surprise Breda Ryan Maria Moroney Anna Grace Megan Doran and Carolta Sanchez

Junior Qualifiers The Shucky Duckys Chloe Carroll Aoife Fitzgerald Phoebe Sage Kate Ryan and Cara Fogarty

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SCHOOL NEWS Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore

This January, fifteen TY students and two teachers, Ms Therese Boland and Ms Aileen Cashman, from Our Lady’s Secondary School in Templemore took part in The Hope Foundation’s School Immersion Programme. The Immersion Programme gave Transition and 5th Year students the unique opportunity to travel to Kolkata for one week. They got to visit HOPE projects on an educational and cultural visit and to witness firsthand the work of HOPE and the extremities of life in Kolkata. The fifteen students from Our Lady’s, Ciara O’Brien, Aoife Devlin, Clodagh Bergin, Jack Ryan, Kate Shanahan, Emily Kirwan, Sarah O’Sullivan, Chloe Whelan, Caelainn Luby, Kate Fogarty, Jean Rush, Eva Wallace, Jack Nevin, Chloe Morris and Anna Ryan have spent the last 10 months fundraising for the projects, both together as a

group and individually. They were able to see firsthand the amazing work that volunteers and staff from The Hope Foundation do in over 64 projects it has scattered across a population of 27 million people. The group visited the slums, orphanages, crèches, rehabilitation centres for boys and girls homes, Special needs Centres, Life-Skills Centre and The Hope Foundation Hospital. The group would like to extend its thanks to the Staff and students of Our Lady’s Templemore, the greater Templemore community, parishioners, businesses, sports clubs , organisations and family members who all contributed in so many meaningful ways. The trip while moving was indeed at times upsetting but it allowed the group to witness the amazing work being done by HOPE’s team of professionals. It was a unique experience for our students and many of whom see it as the start of further voluntary work.

TY students known as ‘Never too old, never too young’ are hoping to bridge the generation gap between old and young. They want to give both age groups a feeling of purpose in their lives and to promote a greater understanding and respect between the two generations. As part of the project they have visited the Day Care Centre in Templemore 3 times. On their visits they have sang, played music, spoke with the clients about life growing up in Ireland in the 1960’s and have also passed on some of their IT skills to the clients. Overall the group want to create an atmosphere of fun on their visits. They hope to ensure that knowledge, experiences and traditions are not

OUR LADY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL, TEMPLEMORE Badminton Congratulations to Kyle Whelan, Ned Delaney, Daniel McAlister, Eoin Larkin and Cian Sheedy who came 3rd in Munster in the U14 Boys Badminton Championship held in UL on the 24th of January. A fantastic achievement for four first year boys.

YSI - Never Too Old, Never too Young

TY students in Our Lady’s are very involved in a National Project known as Young Social Innovators. Each of the four TY groups are completing a project where they hope to raise awareness around a particular social issue. As a young innovator they are challenged to look at the world around them and to identify and explore issues affecting them, their friends, their community and wider society. The projects include topics such as Healthy Eating, Mental Health, Deafness and The Old. Under the guidance of their teacher, Ms Sinead Harding, one group of

Debating On Wednesday 23rd, Our Lady’s school debating team took part in the Munster Quarter Final of the UCC Philosophical Schools’ Debating Competition. Sam Devanney as an individual speaker proposed the topic ‘This house would allow prisoners to raise their children behind bars’. While Katie Boyle and Patricia Gleeson opposed the topic that ‘This house would make teachers’ pay contingent upon the performance of their students’. We are delighted with the news that both Katie and Sam are through to the semi-final of the

Munster Final as individuals. Congrats to all of you. A huge thank you to Ms Tara Talbot and Mr Alan Hogan for all their work in preparing the students.

Ladies Football Damian Johnston on behalf of, Templemore LGFC who made a presentation to Ms Patricia Higgins and Mr Paul Fogarty on Tuesday 22nd in recognition of Our Lady’s reaching the Post Primary Schools Senior C Ladies Football Munster Final.

Kolkata On 24th January, fifteen TY students accompanied by Ms Therese Boland and Ms Aileen Cashman, from Our Lady’s Secondary School in Templemore set off on their journey with The Hope Foundation’s School Immersion Programme. The Immersion Programme gives students the unique opportunity to travel to Kolkata, India, for one week and to visit HOPE projects on an educational and cultural visit to witness first-hand the work of HOPE and the extremities of life in Kolkata. While there they will visit residential care homes, schools, slums and hospitals funded by the Hope Foundations. They will return on Thursday 31st of

January. We wish them the very best of luck and look forward to hearing about their amazing trip. The group are pictured here wearing beautiful half zip tops, which have both Our Lady’s school crest and the HOPE logo. A huge thank you to local business man Martin Grey for his help in designing the tops.

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STATE OF THE ART BEAUTY THERAPY DEPARTMENT AT TEMPLEMORE COLLEGE is renowned for its top-class training in Beauty Therapy to internationally recognized Qualifications - CIBTAC and CIDESCO Diplomas. We also offer QQI awards in Beauty Therapy. Students attending Beauty Therapy courses in Templemore College develop the knowledge and competency to become Beauty Therapists, as well as Body Therapists and Electrologists. These skills provide career pathways to beauty salons, hotel spas, leisure centres, and cruise liners. Some of our graduates establish their own beauty therapy business, and others work in sales and retail departments within the beauty therapy Industry. Our enhanced beauty therapy facility ensures

that Templemore College continues to provide excellent education in a modern, ‘cutting edge’ environment so that our students have the best opportunities to get the best out of themselves. Why not visit the College on our Careers Fair on March 6th from 10:00am to 2:00pm, not only our new Beauty Department but all the other education and career-enhancing opportunities we provide for the communities of Tipperary and beyond. For further information regarding our courses and enrolments log onto www.tcfe.ie.

Back row Left to Right Michelle Fogarty, Lyndsey Fennell, Naomi O Shea, Zoe Mckell, Aoife Ryan , Danielle Wolwarans. Front row Left to Right Louise Carey, Micheala Dunne, Amy Buckley & Cecily Wisdom.

Templemore College management and staff were delighted to launch the Beauty Therapy Department in Templemore College of Further Education had the Grand opening of its new renovated and refurbished Beauty Therapy room. The teachers of the beauty Therapy Department Sinead O Brien, Ann Hurley, Margaret Hurley, Yvonne Maher, Ann- Marie Sweeney and Katrina Ryan were delighted with their newly decorated, state-of-the-art room designed by Nicola Welford,

the College’s Interior Design teacher, and her interior design students. On the day, our Principal Dr Noel Colleran did the honours of cutting the Ribbon. In attendance was expert and specialist Thomaslina from Dermalogica preforming face mapping and professional skincare advice. Students and visitors were offered specialised treatments. It was a fantastic, fun day for all. Templemore College Beauty Department

Principal Dr. Noel Colleran cuts the ribbon to launch the official opening of the newly refurbished beauty salon at Templemore College with course teachers Ann Hurley (left), Sinead O’Brien (right).

Beauty Therapy teacher Ann Hurley, Principal Dr. Noel Colleran, Thomasina Smith (Dermalogica Expert), Beauty Therapy teacher Sinead O’Brien at the official opening of the newly refurbished beauty salon at Templemore College of Further Education.

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CAREERS FAIR IN TEMPLEMORE COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION On Wednesday March 6th 2019 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Templemore College of Further Education is hosting a Careers Fair for young and mature students who are looking for Education, Training, and Employment opportunities in Tipperary and beyond.

Organisations and Services, attending include: Institutes of Technology Universities Apprenticeship and Training Providers Security and Defense Services Enterprise and Recruitment Agencies

Volunteering Organisation Jobs Clubs Disability Employability Skills SUSI Grant Information The event will continue from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Refreshments served throughout the day All Welcome Free admission

left to right TCFE Beauty Therapy students Lyndsey Fennell, Aoife Ryan & Naomi O Shea.

TEMPLEMORE COLLEGE STUDENTS ‘ANIMATED’ BY TRIP

Therese Purcell (Teacher), Jade Beason, Francesca Nicole Baring, Aoife Ryan, Jodie Savage, Amelia Lown

The Advanced Administration & Tourism students from Templemore College of Further Education recently visited Thomond Park in Limerick. These students’ study both Sales and Marketing, Customer Service, Tourism Information & Administration as well as other modules. The purpose of the visit was to gather information on how an organisation such as Munster Rugby promote their organisation and deal with visitors and fans. As well as being the main home venue for Munster games – the building also houses a museum worth a visit. The museum traces the rise of rugby in Munster and Limerick and also has many interactive and displays that challenge the visitor. There is plenty of material and memorabilia from the famous win against the All Blacks in 1978. It is a place that can be enjoyed by all age groups.

Thomond could not survive as just a venue for rugby matches. It hosts many corporate events, parties for various groups, musical events and even the odd wedding. Rosemary the guide for the tour of both the museum and the actual venue was informative and impressive in the way she answered questions and provided an insight into the running of Thomond Park. The students learned a lot from the visit in terms of customer service and how to market an organisation. As a result they will submit projects that link theory with practice. Learning outside the classroom is an integral part of the Advanced Administration & Tourism courses. If you would like to learn more about this programme log onto www.tcfe.ie.

TEMPLEMORE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THOMOND PARK

Therese Purcell (Teacher), Jade Beason, Francesca Nicole Baring, Aoife Ryan, Jodie Savage, Amelia Lown

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OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST MICHAEL CARRUTH TO BOX LIVE AT CHARITY EVENT AT RACKET HALL HOTEL

Paddy Donovan with father Martin Donovan, event promotor Gary Thompson and Edward Donovan Local boxing coach and promoter Gary Thompson is lining up a who’s who of Irish boxing talent for a one of a kind exhibition live at Racket Hall Hotel on Friday March 22nd. Gary, an avid boxing fan, long-time coach and promoter met with The Finest at the proposed venue to announce the upcoming event which features forty of Ireland’s top boxers all at one event. The event is being billed as a charity fundraiser for the Cardiac Responder group in Roscrea town. On the night the event promoter will also be getting a Republic of Ireland boxing jersey signed by all attending boxers to create a unique piece of sports memorabilia that will be auctioned off to help raise funds for the family of Dariusz Swierkosz from the Nenagh Warriors MMA club who was recently involved in a tragic accident. The event will feature a total of twenty bouts of boxing from a pool of junior and senior bouts in what will be a must attend event for true boxing fans. Staying true to his hometown Gary Thompson selected the now Four star Racket

Barry O’Connor

Hall Hotel on the Dublin Road in Roscrea as the venue for what is being billed as ‘The Clash of The Titan’s’. Gary Thompson told The Finest that “Racket Hall Hotel is the perfect venue for the large scale event that we are holding. The hotel offers the required accommodation for the large number of people who will be attending this event, with all of the facilities we require at hand”. Olympic Gold medallist Michael Carruth is topping the bill with an exhibition match planned against Martin ‘Guggy’ Donovan father of two of Irelands Elite young boxers Patrick and Edward Donovan. This will be the first and possibly only time ever that such a large pool of Ireland’s top talent will be found in one venue for an event. Gary Thompson has also announced that the Elite boxing squad from the Irish Army boxing team have confirmed their attendance to compete at the event. The bouts will be judged according to AIBA rules and contenders in attendance will not be visiting for a friendly bout so aprks will fly on the night providing the gold standard of boxing entertainment.

Jack Lawlor

BOXERS CONFIRMED FOR CLASH OF THE TITANS: Michael Carruth Olympic Gold Medallist Martin ‘Guggy’ Donovan 3 –time Munster champion, Irish Champion Patrick Donovan 12 Times Irish Boxing Champion Gabriel Dossen Olympic Galway Top European Champion undefeated in the last two years, World’s Silver medallist Jason Meyers 5 times Irish Champion, European Gold Medallist Edward Donovan 4 times Irish Champion, European Gold Medallist

Jim Donovan 3 times Irish Champion, European Silver medallist Aaron Tompkins Irish Champion Barry O’Connor European Silver & Bronze Medalist Jack Lawlor Monkstown Box Cup Champion 2-time Irish finalist, Dungarvan Box Cup Champion Jason Myers Olympic boxing club champion Gold Medalist Irish Army Boxing Team Members Plus much more to be confirmed at a later date

Jason Myers

Michael Carruth

Accommodation has been made available at the Racket Hall Hotel with 32 rooms available for contenders and supporters travelling in to Roscrea for Fight Night. Tickets will be available at Hotel reception at a cost of €50 which includes entry to the event and also includes a four-course meal, dining will commence at 5.30pm on the night with the first bout taking place at 7pm

sharp. Roscrea will be the host town for what can only be described as a national boxing event, the likes of which has not been seen before. Tickets go on sale on Friday Feb 15th contact Racket Hall Hotel reception to book your ticket or room for this event by calling 0505 21748

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THE MAGPIE SWOOPS IN FOR DARTS EXHIBITION FUNDRAISER AT SEYMOUR’S IN PORTROE IN AID OF ST GABRIEL’S SCHOOL IN LIMERICK

ALL IRELAND GLORY FOR NEW INSTITUTE SNOOKER CLUB Mark Walsh and Tony Seymour made it to the premier section final but the run ended there, whereas the provincial final was snapped up by the B team for the championship section.

Sam Creamer with William O’Connor, Patrick Power and Liam Sheedy

James Seymour with Robert Seymour and William O’Connor Darts enthusiasts were treated to a liver performance by the Muster legend William O’Connor at Seymour’s Bar in Portroe on Saturday Feb 2nd. The Magpie swooped in as part of a fundraiser for St Gabriel’s in Dooradoyle in Limerick. The event also featured an attendance by the Tipperary Senior Hurling manager Liam Sheedy to the fundraiser. St Gabriel’s is a special school based in Dooradoyle in Limerick which caters for young people aged 4 to 18years old. The school has 70 amazing children on roll with Complex Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (CLDD) and a variety of additional needs and barriers to learning. All of the young people in attendance are sensory learners and are supported by 14 teachers and 27 SNA’s who engage with a range of volunteers and partners in education. For

Mike Holland with William O’Connor at Seymour’s in Portroe

William O’Connor with Tipperary Senior Hurling Manager Liam Sheedy

some time now the school’s community had acknowledged a gap in their provision, namely in the requirement for a sensory room and an outside sensory play area. A sensory room is a specially designed room which combines a range of stimuli to help learners develop and engage their senses. These can include lights, colours, sounds, sensory soft play objects and aromas all within a safe environment that allows the child using it to explore and interact without risk. A sensory room at St Gabriel’s school would enhance learning and play, following on from this, sensory stimulation can engage different areas of the brain, helping children absorb and retain more information and better meeting the needs of the individual learner. Staff at the school are looking for improvement with balance, movement and spatial orientation as a sensory room can help develop a learners visual processing abilities as well as their fine and gross motor skills facilitating day-today living. The hope is that the provision of a sensory room would allow staff to finally tackle issues with challenging behaviour, as a sensory environment can be highly absorbing, providing a moment of comfort and calm for overactive and distressed individuals, and helping inactive individuals to feel better engaged. The staff at the school have identified a learning space which needs to be reconfigured. The addition of a ceiling hoist, multiple electric points, painting and a glow carpet would also prepare the room to receive the following specialised equipment. The project has been costed at €33,000 which includes the preparation stages, all equipment, installation, training and VAT. The ceiling hoist alone will cost €10,000. The event organisers would like to offer the sincerest thanks to both William O’Connor and Liam Sheedy plus all who attended the event for their generous support.

William O’Connor with Leanne Holland from Offaly Darts

The Nenagh based New Institute Snooker club have a lot to look forward to in 2019 with the recent crowning achievement of their a team as All Ireland Champions. It can only make the local club members grin with pride to think that the best players in Ireland hail from North Tipperary. There were of course more than one team at the Gleneagles Hotel competing on behalf of the Nenagh based club and there was more than one accolade brought home to Nenagh post tournament. Speaking to Tony Seymour over the phone the excitement could hardly be contained as he gave The Finest a run-down of what happened. The year got off to a bumpy start with the Munster Championships where the A team of Tom Gleeson, Mark Gleeson, Brendan O’ Donoghue,

As with any tournament worth its salt there were peaks and troughs, in this case the B team got off to a tough group and lost then bounced back through to the quarter final deciders match and made it through against Cork based club ‘Shooters’ and then went on to defeat Fermoy. The quarter final match was against Youghal’s C team and then on to face the Cork side Crucible’s B team in the semi-finals. The 3-2 result in favour of New Institute’s B side was made all the sweeter with Mark Coonan’s sublime pot on the pink to win the frame and match. The New Institute B team were Patsy Farrell (Capt), Noel Gleeson, Mark Coonan, Martin Kelly, Jake Byrne and Darren Delaney. There was not so much luck during the tournament for the New Institute C team who got through one match and lost three more. The players representing the New institute C team were Jason Burns, Jake Byrne, Kevin Bowman, Tom Forde, Billy Kelly and Michael Healy. The New Institute D team however rallied through their matches and played through to the quarter finals. The D team players were Damian Long, Karl Dunne, Dave Garrett, Ray Lynch, Richie Donnelly and Jake Mc Mahon. Tony Seymour also mentioned on the phone that The New Institute Snooker club are extremely

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 54

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ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, BORRISOLEIGH HURLING NEWS

SCHOOL CAMOGIE TITLE FOR ST JOSEPH’S OF BORRISOLEIGH

Team: Laura Young , Anna Stapleton, Hazel Reynolds, Grainne Mc Loughlin , Emma Galvin, Miriam Murphy(1-0), Sarah Seymour, Aisling Dywer, Ciara Maher(capt), Katie Fitzgerald(0-1), Aoife Dwyer(0-4), Danielle Ryan(0-2) , Aoife Ryan, Caoimhe Carey(2-3) , Ciara Doolan, Cliona O Connell , Mairead Maher ,Emma Doolan, Anna Grace, Cora Kenny, Jane Delaney, Maria Moroney, Louise McGrath Dunne Well done to the hurlers of St. Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh who beat St. Munchin’s Limerick, in the second round of the U15 Munster Championship on Thursday 24th January on the

Astroturf in the University of Limerick. After a tough, physical game the boys won on a scoreline of 3 06 to 1 06.

A FUN FAMILY DAY OUT AND ALL THE LATEST 2019 BIKES, GEAR, ACCESSORIES AND GADGETS … • AMD World Custom Bike Building Competition • World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer – 328mph • Adam Peschel’s 4-Man Stunt Starz Show • Mattie Griffin Stunt Show • Stunt Riding Learning Experience • 1000cc off-road racing sidecars • Irish Mini Bike Racing • MotoX Racing • Ace Cafe Classic Bikes & Scooters Display • Cut Throat Club Barbers • Angels & Demons Stage Show • Barry Sheene’s GP Race Bikes • Joey & Robert Dunlop’s Race Bikes

Know Your Rights: Drink driving offences Question I’ve heard the law around drink driving changed recently. What has changed?

Answer Yes, the law around drink driving has changed. Since 26 October 2018, under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018, drivers who previously got 3 penalty points for certain drink driving offences will now be disqualified from driving for 3 months instead. It is an offence to drive in a public place if the level of alcohol in your blood, breath or urine is above the prescribed alcohol limit. There are different alcohol limits for new drivers and experienced drivers. New drivers are drivers with learner permits or drivers who have held a driving licence for 2 years or less, or people without a valid licence or permit. Drink driving offences can be dealt with through the administrative penalty system or the court

• Road Racing Heroes • And lots more … Visit www.irishmotorbikeshow.com for more information. To be in with a chance of winning simply send in an email to info@thefinest.ie with the word Tickets

1-3 MARCH RDS DUBLIN

system. However, the administrative penalty system only applies in certain cases, for example, where the driver has a valid licence or permit and their alcohol intake is below a certain level. The recent legislation changes the additional penalty for experienced drivers found with the lowest levels of alcohol in their system. These levels are: a) 51mg to 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood b) 68mg to 107mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine c) 23mg to 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath Previously, experienced drivers found with these levels of alcohol would be fined €200, and get an additional penalty of 3 penalty points. Now, these drivers will get the same €200 fine, but will also be disqualified from driving for 3 months. Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below. Know Your Rights has been compiled by Thurles Citizens Information Centre, 2nd Floor, Mall House, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Tel: 0761 07 6510 Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm and Thursday night 7.30pm – 8.30pm. Information is also available online at www. citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000

St. Josephs College Borrisoleigh had an emphatic win over Pres. Mitchelstown in the picturesque setting of Kildorrery in the Munster Intermediate camogie final. Borrisoleigh were first out of the traps with a well taken point from Katie Fitzgerald, followed by one each from Caoimhe Carey and Dannielle Ryan. Mitchelstown eventually settled and scored three points without reply. At this stage, fifteen minutes into the game it looked like it was going to be a very tight encounter but Borrisoleigh were dogged in their tackling with Miriam Murphy to the fore in defence, ably assisted by Anna Stapleton and

Grainne McLoughlin particularly prominent. Mitchelstown faded dramatically in the last ten minutes of the half after goals from Caoimhe Carey and Miriam Murphy. Aoife Dwyer scored some fabulous points, bringing the half time score 2.8 to -3. The second half was very drawn out due to numerous injuries on the Mitchelsown team, they were beginning to miss their captain who had fractured her collar bone playing football the previous evening and morale was beginning to dip. Borrisoleigh remained composed and brought the first Munster title to the school since the All Ireland Junior success ten years ago.

ROSCREA REGIONAL SPORTS STARS AWARDS ANNOUNCED The Roscrea Regional Sports Stars Awards Committee have announced their 21st Annual Roscrea Regional Sports Stars Award recipients for 2018. Heading the 2018 recipient listing is former Offaly Senior Hurling Stalwart Pat Delaney, who also played with his home club Kinnitty. Pat played for his county in the 1970’s and 1980’s and was in 2001 and 2002 Manager of the Laois Senior Hurling team. The award for Sports Personality goes to Seamus Hennessy of Cloughjordan who in 2018 ran an “Ice Marathon” for charities engaged in suicide prevention. Seamus also played hurling with Tipperary at minor, under 21 and senior level. His Ice Marathon in December 2018 was 26 miles over a glacier on the Antartic and was motivated by his mother’s death by suicide 18 years earlier. The Special Recognition Award this year goes to St. Cronan’s Camogie Club, based in Roscrea who celebrate 25 years in existence with Contribution to Sport award going to Ray Dempsey for his enormous contribution to rugby over many years . The Team of the Year 2018 goes to Coolderry GAA Senior Hurling Team who won the Offaly Senior Hurling title in 2018. The Coolderry Club is Offaly’s most successful Senior Hurling Club having won the County Senior Hurling title for a record 31 times, with their 31st win having taken place in 2018

when they beat Kilcormac Kiloughey in the County Final in Tullamore. The Sports Awards Presentation Dinner Dance takes place in Racket Hall on Friday, 1st March. The other recipients in the announced 2018 Roscrea Regional Sports Star Awards are: Athletics: Templemore Athletic Club - Ladies Sprint Relay team made up of Orla McDonnell, Evelyn Maher, Sandra Gillick, Genevieve Rowland, and Rosita Callinan, Camogie: St. Rynagh’s Camogie Club, Darts: Shane O’Hara, Gaelic Football – Inane Rovers, Golf – Fabian Jones, Handball: Jerome Cahill (Nenagh), Hurling: Kevin Connolly (Coolderry GAA), Paralympic Sports: Damien Breslin (Clareen), Pitch & Putt: Sean Minogue (Nenagh), Soccer Award – Killavilla United – senior team who won the North Tipperary and District League, and Youth Award – Coláiste Phobal Junior Camogie Team. A profile of each of the Award recipients will appear in a later issue of this paper. As stated the Sports Awards Presentation Dinner takes place as stated in the Racket Hall Hotel on Friday, 1st March at 7.30p.m. Music by “Donie O”. Tickets are now available from Marie Tooher at the Roscrea Abbey Community Centre office (Abbey Hall) – Phone 0505 21566.

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€2 MILLION THE TARGET AS PAUL KIMMAGE AND DAUGHTER EVELYN TACKLE SPECIAL CYCLE CHALLENGE IN AID OF IRISH HOSPICE FOUNDATION Sports journalist and former professional cyclist Paul Kimmage is calling on cycling enthusiasts from Tipperary to join him and his daughter Evelyn on the 10th anniversary Cycle for Care in aid of the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) this June. The duo will lead the way across the stunning landscapes of the Costa Verde in Spain from 23-29 June. They will be pedalling for the IHF’s Nurses for Night Care service, which provides care to people in their own homes at the end of life right around the country and the Foundation’s Bereavement Support programme. Speaking at the recent photo call, the Sunday Independent journalist said: “This will be my fifth Cycle Challenge in aid of the Nurses for Night Care service. On all my journeys with the IHF, I have heard many poignant and touching stories from my fellow cyclists about these inspirational nurses and the care they provide at the end of life. Nurses for Night Care allow people to spend their final days at home with their families. The gift of a peaceful and comfortable final chapter for our loved ones is one we all would love to give. In supporting the IHF Cycle Challenge by taking part or through raising funds, we help to make this possible for more and more families.” “I am delighted my daughter Evelyn will be able to join me once again this year. We are encouraging cyclists of all abilities

from Tipperary to join us on this stunning route through northern Spain. It’s a hugely rewarding experience,” said Paul. The Kingspan-sponsored cycle has raised €1.85m for the IHF since it started in 2009 and the target in 2019 is to surpass the €2million euro mark. Over 4,000 families have been cared for by the Nurses for Night Care service with over 11,000 nights of care delivered since it was established. IHF CEO Sharon Foley said: “Over the past ten years, this fantastic event has made a real difference to adults, children and families all over Ireland facing dying, death and bereavement. Thanks to the incredible fundraising by all of our cyclists over the years, people with diseases like dementia, motor neurone disease, advanced respiratory disease, heart failure and end stage kidney disease are able to receive expert care and support at night in their own homes in their final days. Please join us on our 10th anniversary Cycle as we continue to strive to extend this support to more people and families nationwide.” Team Kingspan have participated in all of the IHF Cycles over the years: “We are very proud to support this event and to help the IHF make a real difference to so many people and families all over Ireland. We have no doubt it’s going to be another huge success and hopefully we can pass the two million euro mark raised.” This is a fantastic way to challenge yourself

ROSCREA KARATE CLUB

Keeva receiving her orange belt at a recent grading

At some point in their youth every child should try some form of martial arts. The benefits are numerous and for some it can become a life long interest. Traditional karate originates from the Okinawan islands off Japan, it is a form of self defence that was developed by the Okinawans to help them to defend themselves from outside threats. The art

form was then passed from one generation to the next, what is practised today still holds the same principles and is now thought in almost every country in the world. Karate is something that can be thought to and practised by any age group, it can be an excellent life long companion.

Benefits of karate

• Improves self confidence and mental strenght.

• Teaches a student how to defend themselves and their family. • Helps to improve coordination, fitness and flexibility. • Provides a welcome distraction from the trials and tribulations of modern life. Roscrea Karate club always welcomes new members and is open to anyone who would like to give it a try. Parents can stay for the duration of the class. Juniors class takes place every Wednesday 7pm to 8pm. A teenagers and adult class follows on Wednesdays 8pm to 9.30pm. Call Donal on 0877607063 for more information.

and see the stunning northern coastal region of Spain. Starting in Santallina del Mar, the route will take in beautiful coastal towns, beaches and the dramatic scenery of the Picos de Europe. Our final destination is the historical city of Santiago de Compostela. You will be supported throughout your journey by the IHF team. Flights, accommodation and full board are included and full details can be found at http://www.hospicefoundation.ie/cycle or by calling 01 6793188. Registration closes Friday 16 March.

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ROSCREA RUGBY CLUB, GROWING FOR THE FUTURE!

As a parent raising children in modern society, life can sometimes seem like a bit of a minefield as we constantly try to balance our Children’s activities in terms of what they want to do and what is beneficial and rewarding. We face so many hurdles in our endeavour to provide our children with a safe, healthy and fulfilling life. The lure of video games, tablets and technology as well as the well documented perils for young people online mean that sometimes the dangers can seem out of our control. It has never been more important for parents to be able to offer a healthy, positive alternative. This is where sport can be a perfect antidote to so many of the potential problematic aspects of growing up. It is widely accepted that playing sport is beneficial to a child’s health, confidence, mental strength, resilience and physical development. Team sport has the added benefit of improving a child’s social skills and gives them the uplifting feeling and comradery of being part of a close-knit team who train and play together. Playing Rugby is a perfect example of a sport that offers all this and more. One of the unique advantages of Rugby is that it is a genuine option for children of every shape and size, you only have to watch any game to see the great diversity of body shapes needed. Girls and Boys of all ages can enjoy the sport while reaching their fitness potential and learning valuable lessons that can improve their home, school and social life in an unlimited amount of ways. The coaching team at Roscrea RFC focus on providing a friendly and fun environment for learning and perfecting the basics of the sport. On Sunday mornings at 11am all minis groups train

ROSCREA RUGBY CLUB MINIS • Training and games for Boys u6,u7,u8,u9,u10,u11,u12 levels. • Training and games for Girls u7s. u8,u10,u11,u12 levels. at the club where coaches dedicated to each age grade develop the players skills using fun games to teach the rules of Rugby. As players get older a more focused skill-based training develops with an emphasis on the importance of team work and technique. For any sports organisation to grow and prosper, the quality of the player production line is crucial. The management committee and coaches at Roscrea RFC have committed a huge amount of time and effort into helping age grade Rugby grow at the club. As a result of this huge collective effort the club’s minis section has players at every age training and participating in games and blitzes against other clubs. New players are always welcomed with opened arms at any time of year, parents of all age groups are actively encouraged to stay and watch their child’s development in training. Furthermore, the club is always looking for parents of players to get involved in coaching and helping out behind the scenes and join the Roscrea Rugby Club family!

• Special social events for players during the year. • Training from September to April. • Garda vetted and IRFU approved coaches. • New players always welcomed. • Training at Roscrea Rugby Club every Sunday at 11am. • Parents are encouraged to stay and watch training. Contact Keith on 0872937887 for more details or call down to the club any Sunday morning to experience minis rugby in action!

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HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DPF FILTER REQUIRES CLEANING Diesel cars are hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons with article after article about dirty diesel UK imports flooding the Irish market. Although diesel as a fuel presents a cheaper cost to use, the effects on the wider environment have become apparent and are a cause for concern as after all it is only the air that we all breathe. The more recent diesel cars are fitted with what is called a “DPF’ or Diesel particulate Filter within the exhaust system. The job of the DPF filter is to lower the amount of Co2 in line with now strict emissions regulations. The DPF filter acts as a trap for soot that the car produces when in use. The soot that is produced by the vehicle running is then burnt off at a high temperature leaving behind ash. If your vehicle is doing some decent long distance motorway driving the exhaust will generate high enough temperatures to burn off excess soot and ash, but if you are only doing short school runs or tipping around town, soot and ash may collect in your filter causing a number of issues. The saving on diesel as a fuel is based on long distance journey’s, like that of a sales rep. The technology is designed to operate based on long distance journeys that will produce the required high temperatures in the exhaust to clear out the system. The regeneration process will activate during such long trips and will

clear any blockages that may have built up. Some of the problems that motorists that have a blocked DPF filter include a noticeable loss of power to the engine, this may trigger a sensor and a DPF light should activate on your dashboard. You may notice an excessive amount of smoke being generated by the vehicle or perhaps a strong smell of diesel. If you fail to act on the warning signs you could be in for big trouble and a very expensive replacement bill. Back in November of 2018 I found myself in that exact situation when the diesel car that I am currently driving went into shutdown. After consulting with a Roscrea based mechanic an appointment was set up at Portlaoise Turbo Services who offer a patented flash DPF cleaning service. The offending DPF unit was removed from the car and was sent over to Portlaoise for cleaning. The service took two hours from the time it was dropped in and once the cleaning was completed I was provided with a video link showing the unit being cleaned. The cost of the cleaning was €150 including VAT and after being refit to the car luckily there have been no issues since. It is worth pointing out that prior to having the DPF filter cleaned that I was given a clear verbal warning that the procedure may cause the combs within the filter to collapse as the integrity may have worn due to blockage. The cleaning rejuvenated the DPF filter saving me €1,850 on a replacement….. happy days!

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057 86 20514 Unit 1, Cranport, Clonminam Business Park, Portlaoise, R32 TX24

VAL’S CARWASH PROMOTES NEW LOYALTY CARD SCHEME Now is the right time to head out and get the car washed an valeted as local motorists think of trading up their car to a new or younger model. Val at the increasingly popular Val’s Carwash on the Dublin Road in Nenagh has been on to let us know that they have created a new loyalty card scheme for their loyal customer base. Some valets don’t bother to reward their paying customers, but not Val and the lads. Every time you wash your car at Val’s Carwash you will receive a stamp, save up eight stamps and the ninth car wash is free of charge. The little things add up to big sense in keeping customers not only loyal, but local. So if you want to be rewarded for your custom, head down to Val’s Carwash located just across from The Abbey Court Hotel and grab yourself some loyalty from a local business that cares about its customers.

MOTORSPORT IRELAND RALLY ACADEMY Motorsport Ireland is delighted to announce the launch of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy. The academy is being established to provide promising young drivers with a pathway from the junior rallying ranks through to competing at World Rally Championship (WRC) level. Those eligible to enter the high-performance academy will initially be chosen from the Billy Coleman Award nominees, and will be joined by Winners of the J1000, J1600 and R2 Junior classes of rallying. Drivers and navigators who are selected will undergo a rigorous training programme to develop their skills and discipline and move them up through the various competitive classes in Irish rallying through to the highest levels of the sport internationally. Leo Hassett, the CEO of Motorsport Ireland, said: “This new initiative is focused on creating a structured development programme for young Irish rally drivers and co-drivers and is designed to prepare them to compete on the world stage. It also adds value to the current Billy Coleman award system, which recognises our junior drivers competing in all classes of rally vehicles. All academy drivers and co-drivers will participate in a series of coaching events throughout the year which will include driving and co-driving theory, and practice on both sealed and loose surfaces, as well as fitness and

media training.” Initial funding for this initiative has come through the Team Ireland Foundation as a result of support from John Coyne. John, now resident in California, is a former Irish National (1977) and Irish Tarmac (1982) rally champion. He also has championship wins to his name in Malaysia (Group N-1999) and California (Open-2016). A mechanical engineering graduate of UCD, John retired in 2013 from the CEO position at Western Digital, one of the world’s top digital storage companies, having worked for the company for some 30 years. Since his retirement, John has returned to rally in Ireland and abroad using both his 1982 Irish Tarmac Championship winning Talbot Sunbeam Lotus and a Porsche 997 R-GT, which has proved to be a real crowd favourite. Speaking about the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, John said: “The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy is a great opportunity for me to give back to a sport that has provided me with so many great experiences over the years. I’m delighted to be involved with supporting this initiative to identify and nurture our young motorsport talent and help them progress and represent Ireland competitively on the world stage. I look forward to watching some of them competing in the WRC in the years ahead! I’d particularly like

to thank Sean McHugh, Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award Co-Ordinator for his leadership, enthusiasm and hard work in proposing and developing the details of the new Rally Academy program.” The Team Ireland Motorsport initiative is now in its third year and this new rally-focused program will enhance its ability to recognise and support a larger group of talented young Irish drivers and co-drivers in the coming years. John Naylor, President of Motorsport Ireland, said: “This is an exciting time for up and coming rally talent in Ireland. With this additional funding, we can do so much more for our young drivers. Team Ireland has been funded up to now by John Campion of CJJ Holdings in the USA and it is great to welcome John Coyne on board as a major contributor. It is encouraging to see people such as John Campion and John Coyne giving back so much to our sport and hopefully it will encourage others to come on board as well.” Sean McHugh, Co-Ordinator of the Billy Coleman Award, said: “This donation will allow us to build on the success of the award over the

last 20 years and facilitate an expansion of the project to get talented drivers into a training programme at a much younger age. We now can expand the level of support to the overall winner and runners up.”

John Coyne Competing in 2018 image by Kevin O’Driscoll

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HONDA CIVIC DIESEL Honda just might have something to say about the impending death of diesel. If any diesel’s are about to meet that fate, it should be the older and dirtier versions that have the high NOx and CO2 emissions and which have been imported here in abundance. Sure, fuel economy in modern petrol engines has improved, while hybrid and electric automotive technology has come on in leaps and bounds but, as yet, substitutes for those travelling long distances are slow to present themselves. The new Honda Civic diesel is claimed to return 3.5l/100km (80.4mpg) in real world updated test conditions. Until other power sources meet the low running costs of diesel, there will always be a demand for it. Car manufacturing plants and design studios have the best scientists and engineers working on making diesels cleaner. This Honda is proof of the advances that are being achieved. Honda’s new 1.6 litre engine is one of the first to be officially tested through the Real Driving Emission procedure to validate NOx and particulate emission levels. The new Civic’s powertrain has a NOx storage converter system with a high processing density which enables faster conversion. This and the fact that CO2 emissions are down to 93g/km says it all. Capable of producing 118bhp and covering 0-100km/h in 9.8 seconds, Honda claims the diesel has a top speed of 201km/h. This comprehensively revised engine, connected to a

wonderfully precise six-speed gear box, produces maximum torque of 330Nm at 2,000rpm. We recorded an easy average on one journey of 4.2l/100km(67mpg). Making the most of the performance from our Premium test model (Other trims: Smart, Smart Plus Pack and Premium Plus Pack) which also had an adaptive damper system, economy only dropped to 5.8l/100km(48mpg). We liked the modern, sporty styling, high-tech cabin and overall excellent build quality of this 10th generation Honda Civic and there are many other aspects of the car that would encourage me to recommend it. While the Premium is dressed for the ball-leather seats, larger 17” alloys, glass roof-it’s Honda’s generosity that really impresses with Honda Sensing Technology fitted to all models. Collision mitigating braking system, forward collision warning, lane keep assist system, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, intelligent speed limiter, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition- all come as standard throughout the range. It’s a dizzying array of capability and it doesn’t come at the expense of a real driver’s experience. The remarkably capable 1.0 litre turbo engine is a willing workhorse while the 1.5 litre motor is a further refined lump that offers a driving experience always on the sporty side. The much anticipated third string to the bow,

Toyota C-HR

Toyota’s new aggressively styled ‘Coupé High Rider’ is already a winner with the Irish public, ranking among the top ten best selling cars in the country. With a Toyota Hybrid , you’re in electric mode up to 50% of the time you drive, and as its selfcharging, you never have to plug it in. The C-HR provides an interesting alternative to the hugely successful RAV 4 model that had been the staple of their SUV output for so long. Sleek coupé styling matched to ease of entry and a high driving position is increasingly a combination that is winning favour with car buyers and Toyota’s latest offering is a confident statement that marries good looks with the right technology to take Toyota into the next decade in the segment. Based on the new TNGA platform which it shares

with the latest Prius, it’s no surprise that Hybrid technology is comfortably integrated into the package. Supplied in Ireland with two engine choices, the 1.8 litre Hybrid (CVT) Auto offers class leading low CO2 emissions and is likely to be more popular than the 1.2T Petrol Manual option. All cars will come with Toyota’s ‘Safety Sense’ package, which includes a lane departure warning system with steering control, road-sign recognition, adaptive cruise control and a precollision system with pedestrian warning. The Toyota C-HR is also available with a trade in booster worth up to €3,000. Best version: 1.8 Hybrid CVT Auto Luna Sport Price Range: €26,895 to €33,700 EuroNCAP safety rating: 5-star adults 95%; children 77%; pedestrian 76%; safety assist 78%

the diesel engine, arrived last year and has added a superbly refined motor to an impressively engineered line-up. Sleek looks, tight handling and a sporty feel that play to the marques sporting heritage make the all-new Honda civic a real player in the hatchback market but it’s the suite of safety features in the latest offering that make it stand out from the crowd.

For 2019 Honda are offering a 3.9% apr finance or a free service pack or one year’s free motor tax. Best version: GT Pack 1.6 Diesel Smart Plus Price Range: €24,250 to €32,550 EuroNCAP safety rating: 5-star; 92% adult, 75% child, 75% pedestrian, 88% safety assist Test Drive the new Honda Civic at John Adams Honda, Main Honda Dealers , Portlaoise

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ALFA ROMEO STELVIO This car is a big deal for Alfa Romeo. When you think of it in terms of driving dynamics and cornering agility, it wouldn’t usually be an SUV that pops into mind. So it’s a bold move for a manufacturer to name their first ever SUV after one of the most famous driving roads in the world. Bold move because the twisting alpine hairpins of the ‘Strada Statale 38’ are often better associated with Italy’s more exotic supercar fraternity and certainly not a big, cumbersome crossover. Following hot on the footsteps of the mighty Giulia saloon, Alfa Romeo have now unveiled its first ever SUV, the all-new Alfa Romeo Stelvio, with prices starting from €47,295.

Photo courtesy of Agnelli Motor Park Model featured Alfa Romeo Stelvio Special 2.0 Petrol AWD 280HP

Featuring perfect 50/50 weight distribution, Alfa Romeo Q4 all-wheel drive architecture, best in class power-to-weight ratios and innovative engine and driver technologies, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio embodies everything a true Alfa Romeo should. Not only that but the Alfa Romeo Stelvio can boast at being the lightest mid-sized SUV in the sector thanks to its lightweight body structure and carbon fibre drive shaft, coming in at just 1,604kg for the 2.2 litre diesel 180hp RWD and up to 1,660kg for the 2.0 litre petrol 280hp Q4 AWD, only adding an extra 56kg for the all-wheel-drive system(AWD).

Irish drivers will be able to choose between two engine versions-2.2 litre 210hp dieselQ4 AWD and 2.0 litre 280hp petrol Q4 AWD – combined with an ZF eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. It’s also available to order with a 2.2 litre diesel engine, producing 180hp and available in both Q4 all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive, and a 2.0 litre petrol engine, with 200hp and Q4 allwheel-drive. The 2.0 litre 280hp petrol Q4 AWD engine offers best in class acceleration, going from 0-100km in just 5.7 seconds and onto a top speed of 230kmh, while returning 7.0l/100km (40.4mpg)* on the combined cycle and emitting just 161g/ km* Co2. The 2.2 litre 210hp diesel Q4 AWD meanwhile, gives out 127g/km* Co2 and returns 4.8l/100km (58.9mpg)* on the combined cycle, while still registering a top speed of 215kmh and accelerating from 0-100kmh in 6.6 seconds. Four trim levels are available including Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Super, Speciale and an exclusive 2017 Milano Edizione trim. Best version: Stelvio 2.2JTD 210hp AWD Price range: €52,795 to €118,795 EuroNCAP safety rating: Five – star, adult 97%, children 84%, pedestrian 71%, safety assist 60%

CITROEN C4 SPACETOURER reversing straight back. The rear benefits from three individual, full size, adult seats which can be tilted or fore-and aft adjusted for increased flexibility and comfort. Citroen have some excellent value on offer for 191 with prices from €233 a month, €3,000 savings through their scrappage scheme, 3 years servicing and 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. Best Version: Feel Exclusive 1.2 Puretech Price Range: €25,695 to €32,510 EuroNCAP Safety Rating: 5-star, 86% adult, 88% child, 68% pedestrian, 81% safety assist

This is arguably the best looking car in its class which is not bad for a machine that started life as the Xsara Picasso. The Picasso name has been replaced by Space Tourer and it’s appropriate nomenclature for a model which, while it weighs 140kg less than its predecessor and is more compact on the outside, continues to offer a benchmark interior space and class leading boot capacity.

The sleeker, more dynamic styling is complemented by a clean, modern front end with slim LED daytime running lights set high above new hi-tech headlights. Alongside keyless entry and start, a programmable electric tailgate and a reversing camera displayed on the H screen, the new C4 Space Tourer also features a range of optional

innovations to make driving easier and more enjoyable. These include 360 degree vision, an exclusive feature in the segment that uses four cameras to give the driver a birds eye view; rear view or panoramic front view through the integrated 12 inch screen; and PARK ASSIST, which provides automatic assistance when manoeuvring into a tight space, whether parallel parking or