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Thurles Boxing Club Celebrates with three new County champions The last few years have been tough for boxing clubs in North Tipperary and the Thurles boxing club have found themselves battling to try to keep the doors open as well as training for competitive bouts. Turn to page 28...

BEAST FROM THE EAST

Storm Emma loomed large over Ireland providing the best coverage of snow seen nationally for 36 years. The storm event created a panic not seen since many of us were children back in the early nineteen eighties. The supermarket shelves were cleared of all the essentials two days before the storm really took hold and the storm managed to break the flow of regular life, closing down the schools, shutting many small businesses down for a period of time that they could ill afford. Continued on pages 14 & 15...

THE INAUGURAL CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA GALA BALL

The Cistercian College parents’ association and the past pupil’s union came together to hold the inaugural Cistercian College Gala Ball in the County Arms Hotel, Birr. The event was a

resounding success following on from what has been an extraordinary year in the College’s history. Turn to pages 16 & 17……..

Sport Stars Shine at 20th Annual Regional Sport Stars Awards This year marks the fifth year of attendance by The Finest at the annual regional sport stars awards at Racket Hall country House Hotel in Roscrea. During that time an army of talent has been drawn forth from the local area of the midlands where we find ourselves. Photo feature on pages 21,22 & 23

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SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION… DEMENTIA: UNDERSTAND TOGETHER CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS IT’S TOP 7 DEMENTIA MYTHS Date of issue: immediate

or embarrassed when someone they know is diagnosed with dementia, so often they say and do nothing. It can leave people with dementia and their loved ones feeling alone and isolated within their communities. By highlighting some myths that surround dementia, we hope to build people’s awareness and understanding and to encourage people to talk about their experiences of the condition. We need to bring dementia out of the shadows and into the open to help combat the stigma and isolation people with dementia and their families sometimes experience. By understanding dementia more, we can all take the first step to support people with dementia to continue to live well.”

Approximately 4,000 people, or an average of 11 people every day, develop dementia in Ireland each year, which is caused by different diseases of the brain. Indeed, there are over half a million people here who have had a family member with dementia, yet research shows that many of us do not fully understand the condition. With the number of people living with dementia expected to more than double by 2040, the need for better understanding has never been more important. Against this backdrop, the Dementia: Understand Together campaign, which is part of an ongoing initiative led by the HSE in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Genio, is highlighting its Top 7 Dementia Myths.

Top 7 Dementia Myths

Professor Brian Lawlor, Consultant Psychiatrist and Chair of the Dementia: Understand Together campaign, comments: “Our research revealed that 1 in 2 Irish people know or have known someone with dementia. Despite this, only 1 in 4 people feel they have a good understanding of what dementia is and what it isn’t. This lack of understanding can result in friends and neighbours feeling awkward

1. Myth: There is nothing a person can do to reduce the risk of dementia. Not true. There is growing evidence that by keeping socially engaged and learning new skills or hobbies, as well as exercising often, not smoking, eating healthily, reducing alcohol intake and controlling high blood pressure, can help to lower the risk of dementia. Challenging the brain through crosswords, Sudoku and word searches may also

be helpful in maintaining good brain health and in building cognitive reserve. 2. Myth: Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are the same. Not true. Dementia is an umbrella term to describe a set of symptoms that occur when brain cells stop working properly. Dementia is caused by a number of diseases that damage the nerve cells in the brain. There are at least 400 different types, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease, with others including Lewy body disease and fronto-temporal dementia. Common symptoms may include difficulties with thinking and language, problem-solving and carrying out everyday tasks, as well as issues with memory loss and changes in mood and behaviour. 3. Myth: Dementia is a natural part of aging. Not true. Dementia is not a normal part of getting older. In fact, nine out of ten older people don’t develop dementia, and a lot of people mature into their 80s and 90s without much memory decline. 4. Myth: Only older people develop dementia. Not true. While dementia is more common in people over 65, younger people can develop dementia too. In someone under 65, it is called early or younger onset dementia, where people diagnosed may have a family history of dementia. 5. Myth: Once you develop dementia there is nothing that you can do. Not true. Although there is no cure, there are steps that a person can take to potentially stabilise the course of dementia – at least for a time. These include medical treatment, community supports and practical life changes. Crucially, a diagnosis of dementia, does not mean that people cannot still live well with the condition. 6. Myth: People with dementia can’t understand what’s going on. Not true. Very often a person

with dementia can understand much more than they can express. It is important to communicate directly to the person rather than speaking to their carer or family member. You may just need to give the person time to gather their thoughts before they respond. 7. Myth: Someone with memory loss must have dementia. Not true. Depression, stroke, infections, severe vitamin deficiencies, thyroid abnormalities and even side-effects of medications can cause memory complaints, which could be mistaken for dementia. There is also a certain amount of age-related forgetfulness that we can all experience. If there are concerns, always consult a GP in the first instance. If you are worried that you or a loved one may be experiencing symptoms of dementia, it is a good idea to speak with your GP. You can also contact a dementia advisor by calling Freephone 1800 341 341 or visitingunderstandtogether.ie to find out more. The Dementia: Understand Together campaign is funded by the HSE and The Atlantic Philanthropies, and began in 2015. The campaign website offers a comprehensive information resource on dementia, including a service-finder detailing county-by-county the dementia supports and services available. It also offers a range of training resources for carers, and for businesses and organisations in the retail, transport, public and financial sectors. Support packs, including posters, leaflets and badges, can be ordered also. Simply visit www.understandtogether.ie or Freephone 1800 341 341.

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Trad Radio Ireland

HEART POWER IN A CAPSULE

energy levels decrease, and we are no longer as able-bodied as we used to be. The good news is that with the discovery of coenzyme Q10, we can actually reverse the process to some extent. By taking daily supplements of coenzyme Q10, you can boost the energy turnover in all cells, not just those in the heart muscle.

Healthier and stronger

As you grow older, your heart gradually loses its power. Did you know that this can be corrected with a natural compound called coenzyme Q10? Cardiologists were astonished when they saw the outcome of the Q-Symbio study. When physically compromised heart failure patients with chest pain and breathing difficulty received a daily supplement of coenzyme Q10, amazing things happened. Their risk of dying of heart failure dropped by a baffling 43% (normally, half of the patients die within five years of their diagnosis), heart muscle strength increased tremendously, and so did quality of life.

Trad Radio Ireland is run by Seanie Hogan and Moya Fitzgerald They hail from Tipperary and Kilkenny respectively! Being passionate Irish traditional musicians they moved to Miltown Malbay West Clare and decided to start up their own radio station uniquely dedicated to traditional Irish music and share their passion with the world! That one great idea has now become a reality. Trad Radio Ireland is now broadcasting 24/7 around the world and to date, they have reached thousands of listeners in over 60 countries

Increased energy and well-being

While heart failure patients are challenged, physically speaking, it is quite normal for the heart to lose power with increasing age. As a result of this gradual loss of heart muscle strength, our

Originally discovered by American scientists more than 60 years ago, coenzyme Q10 has been subject to massive exploration. It has been known all along that it plays an important role in heart health, but it was not until a few years ago, when researchers published the results of the Q-Symbio study of heart failure patients, that science fully understood how powerful this compound really is. It actually saves lives.

Rejuvenating the body

What makes it so interesting is that it is essential to all humans. We cannot survive without coenzyme Q10. The body can synthesize it, and we get a certain amount from the food we eat. Our endogenous Q10 production peaks in our early twenties, gradually decreasing from that point onward. Diseases like heart failure put an even larger dent in cellular levels of the compound. Now, with help from supplements, we can compensate for this loss, regardless if it is the agerelated loss of coenzyme Q10 or the more severe loss caused by disease. It may not be the fountain of youth as such, but is certainly gives people the opportunity to restore some of the energy and strength they have lost as part of growing older.

Green Schools Expo RDS

including Senegal, China and the United Arab Emirates. Reasons for the stations success include social media, an easy to navigate website and most recently the creation of a free phone app available in Google Play. But also, it has to do with the enjoyment that many people have listening and engaging with Irish traditional music! While many Irish radio stations have an hour slot once a week, a trad enthusiast is only one click away from hearing their favorite music at any time of the day or night!

“Helping to reduce their carbon footprint”

St Joseph’s Borrisoleigh students Adam Galvin and Josh Younge at the Green schools Expo in the RDS The Green Schools committee from St. Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh attended the green schools Expo in the RDS in Dublin on February 22nd hoping to get ideas on how to make the school more environmentally friendly. There were many informative stands on display as well as optional talks from various environmentalists . Plastic waste was highlighted and our over dependence on plastic and how to dispose of it in a careful manner was one of the main concerns. In Ireland we throw away 100 million standard disposable coffee cups each year, a fact which the students feel we can definitely do something about if we think before we act. There are compostable versions of coffee cups available so it’s just a matter of making

them easier to access. The students were intrigued by the ‘Virtue brush’ which is an environmentally friendly toothbrush with a 100% Bamboo handle and charcoal infused bristles. Climate change was the main theme of the expo with Dr Michael O Mahony telling us that we have only 20 years to get our countries working together to try and slow down our temperature changes and all the effects it is having on our world. There were lots of interesting projects from schools around the country and many organisations trying to get us to become more aware and careful about how we take care of our environment.

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Mags Bakehouse Foods for their range of bread, scones, and tarts (See our products page for more information). They operate a fully manual process using Spelt flour, wholemeal flour, pinhead oatmeal and bran, and their bread is handcrafted and baked in a stone-based, deck oven which gives a lovely aroma, flavour, and texture to the products.

Mags’ Bakehouse is a family-run business looked after by husband and wife team Pat and Mags Bergin, at their purpose-built bakery in Nenagh, Co Tipperary. They both grew up in homes where local buttermilk, butter, and fresh eggs, were used on a daily basis to make delicious, homemade bread, and cakes. Mags recognized that there was a significant local demand for traditional baked goods like scones, tarts, and Soda bread. So, with a passion for great quality food, lots of patience, determination, and the delicious family recipes handed down from Mags’ mother and grandmother, the Mags’ Bakehouse was born. Mags and Pat feel a strong sense duty towards their customers and have committed to always being true and honest about their ingredients and process, and to maintain only the highest standards. This commitment to quality has helped them to win multiple awards, including the Blas na hEireann and Great Taste awards from the Guild of Fine

Home made Easter Bounty

HAPPY ALMOST EASTER

do not need special skills to complete this project. The results are stunning, especially when you use a combination of brown and white eggs. This project is an ideal afternoon activity for both you and your children and will prove to be lots of fun.

Ingredients:

Onion skins from twelve onions, use mostly red onions although some yellow onions can also be included for colour variations.

If you are looking for a natural alternative to chocolate eggs or confectionary in general this Easter why not consider a traditional tried and trusted formula for both entertaining the children in your family, but also providing them with a natural superfood that has no additives, chemicals or anything harmful to their diet.

4 & ½ cups of water 3 Tablespoons of white vinegar Twelve large eggs (multiply ingredients list if more eggs are required)

So! Onion skins are all that you need to produce beautiful natural Easter eggs and don’t worry you

1. Soak onion skins in 4 &1/2 cups of water in a medium pot, bring to the boil and simmer for 40-50 mins.

Tip! Eggs need to be at room temperature prior to commencing so that the shells do not crack.

2. Increase temperature and add eggs to the boiling water for 10 – 12 mins, ensuring that the eggs are covered by the water completely. During this time you can turn the eggs with a spoon to ensure an even coverage of colour. 3. When the eggs are done transfer the eggs into a pot of cold water and allow to cool. Once cooled place on a kitchen towel or kitchen paper and dry. 4. Once the eggs are dry and cool enough to touch take a few drops of olive or vegetable oil, dip a paper towel and polish the eggs up. Tip! You can also place pre-boiled eggs into stockings with parsley leaves or any herbs and place them into the onion skin water, leave them to soak for 30 mins to 1 hour to create pretty impressions of the herbs onto the egg shells. One tradition is to exchange the eggs that you create with your neighbours and friends which means you will end up with a beautiful assortment of Easter eggs. Keep the eggs refrigerated for up to one week. Enjoy!

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Imelda’s Kitchen March sure came in like a beast with storm Emma following. Now the snow has left and spring is in the air (again) Imelda’s Kitchen has some delicious delights for you this coming St Patrick’s Day and following on with Easter. Saint Patrick wasn’t one for too much fuss so I’m going with a simple luncheon/dinner for you and the family and friends if you have invited some.

Here I have prepared an Irish Loin of Pork, homemade stuffing, creamed mashed potatoes, carrots and cabbage. A nice apple sauce will be a real treat with this. Strawberries and cream for a dessert.

The Easter Parade.

Design a spring Easter table with a yellow theme. For the centerpiece if you have fallen twigs in the garden why not take them in and give them a dusting. Arrange with daffodils. Decorate with a few speckled eggs, maybe a butterfly or two and of course the bunny rabbit. Small yellow ribbons will give the centerpiece that extra wow effect. After the Easter Egg hunt if there are children in your house, ask them could they spare a few small eggs to lay on the table (excuse the pun) until after lunch/dinner. For the first course a light salad with some hardboiled eggs. The Easter leg of Irish spring lamb is a must. Marinate you lamb with olive oil, salt & pepper, sprigs of rosemary and garlic. Serve with, roast and creamed mashed potatoes, For your dessert, it’s the Easter cake. parsnips, carrots, baked onions and either a nice Make sure you do the Easter Parade when bringing mint sauce for the side and a good gravy. in the cake.

The typical Irish fare is Boiled Bacon, with Cabbage, potatoes and carrots, with a white parsley sauce.

This year why not try something different? For a starter why not go with a small cup of Leek & Potato soup with fresh homemade brown bread. Followed by some stuffed tomatoes.

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OUR LADYS TEMPLEMORE SCHOOL NEWS Chemistry

Siansa Gael Linn

Italian Students

Our traditional Irish music group ‘Glór’ have been very busy this past week rehearsing for the Siansa Gael Linn 2018 competition. The group are through to the next round of the competition and have been choosen to take part in a workshop with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh which takes place between 23rd and 26th of February.

This past weekend we also said goodbye to four of our current international students. Vitteo Bressa, Ludovico Gay, Matilde Solinas and Giorgio Guidi Colombi who have been with us since September of 2017 all retuned to Genoa, Italy at the weekend. Arrivederci e grazie to you all.

Paraic Kenny with 6th yr chemistry students and their teacher ms Kay O’Regan On Wednesday 21st, Paraic Kenny a former student of OLSS gave a presentation to 5th and 6th year chemistry students. Paraic a native of Templemore is now the Director of Gundersen Medical Foundation Kabara Cancer Research institute in University of Wisconsin. He has worked extensively in Breast Cancer

On Thursday our transition year students had the opportunity to take part in a first aid course with first aid consultant Ollie Hayes and John Boland. The students learnt some very valuable lifesaving skills. Transition year girls are now involved in a 6-week spike ball coaching programme. As part

research & presently skin cancer research. Paraic expressed his delight in returning to his alma mater after 24 years. He was thrilled to see such great new labs and wonderful teachers who continue to nurture young minds. Indeed, his final words were regarding our smart and inquisitive students with such bright futures.

Transition year

of the programme the girls are assigned to a local primary school where they will use their skills to coach various groups of primary school pupils. At the end of the six weeks the girls will host a blitz for all the primary schools in Our Lady’s gym.

CAREER GUIDANCE

Our sixth-year students received a presentation on PLC course from Templemore College of Further Education, they also spoke about the progression from PLC to third level.

Junior Ladies Football

Well done to our Junior Ladies football team who are now through to the Munster Ladies Gaelic Junior D final. The girls played against Pobalscoil Trionaide Youghal in the semi-final on Thursday 22nd of February and won on a score line of 2-10 to 2-06. A great win for Our Lady’s secondary school. The girls now play the presentation Castleisland in the final.

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NEWS FROM COLÁISTE PHOBAL ROS CRÉ ALL-IRELAND CAMOGIE JUNIOR D’ SEMI FINAL

subtly educating them about the importance of recycling and reusing waste The girls would really appreciate your support for their project. Voting is simple. Simply go to https://app.junkkouture.com/how-to-vote Find their design ‘Lí Ban’ and vote for them please! You can vote once every 24 hours for a design.

Each day you can vote for as many designs as you like. To help promote your favourite design and to earn more votes for them on Super Friday click ‘SHARE’ below your chosen entry. Get your Facebook or Instagram friends voting too. The Voting Gallery will be sorted from the ‘Most to Least’ votes.

The victorious Coláiste Phobal Camogie team who beat St Marys from Derry in the All Ireland camogie semi-final. All roads lead to St. Cronans GAA field Roscrea on Saturday February 17th for the eagerly awaited All Ireland Post Primary Junior D, camogie semi final. Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré and St. Mary’s College Clady (Derry) were going into battle, with the winners claiming a place in the All Ireland Final on March 10th. Both schools had everything to play for and a titanic game of camogie lay ahead. The conditions on the day were good considering the recent weather. Credit must go to Mark McLaughlin and his grounds team for having the field in excellent condition. There was nothing between these two sides from start to finish. Ciara Sammon opened the scoring for Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré with a well taken free. However, St. Mary’s responded well by attacking the Roscrea defence. The pressure was on Roscrea as St. Mary’s won themselves 3 frees, all put between the posts by the excellent Roisin Gallagher. Coláiste Phobal did not panic. Caoimhe Flannery’s work rate kept the ball up with the Roscrea forward line where Fiona Scully found the back of the net. Ciara Sammon and Caoimhe Flannery also added a point each to the board to ensure Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré went in at half time on a score line 1-3 to 5 points. St. Mary’s came out in the second half with determination. Once again, Roisin Gallagher and Maria Mullan were causing problems for Roscrea. They were rewarded with a well taken goal from Bronagh O’ Neill. Roscrea now found themselves trailing by 2 points. However, the ladies from Coláiste Phobal held strong and did not panic. Orlaith Phelan added her name to the board with a well taken point. 1 point now separated the 2 sides. Coláiste Phobal now needed leaders. Step up Jane Cleary from full back! Jane caught the next 3 balls and drove down the field to deliver the ball into the Roscrea forwards. Ciara Sammon found the back of the net. Coláiste Phobal now found themselves in front. Minutes remained

on the clock. St Mary’s never took the foot of the pedal and continued to pile the pressure on Roscrea. Again, Roisin Gallagher stepped up and scored a superb point from outfield. One point now separated the teams. Referee Alan Doheny finally blew the whistle to the sheer delight of Colaiste Phobal Roscrea. A one point victory was enough to claim an All Ireland spot for Colaiste Phobal Roscrea. Final Score: Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré 2-4, St Mary’s College Clady 1-6. This was a massive test for Coláiste Phobal RosCré and one the girls came through well. We now play Clarin College of Athenry on March 10th in the Junior D’ All-Ireland Final. Sincere thanks to Mark McLaughlin and Roscrea GAA for the use of their facilities. The field and the clubhouse were in excellent condition and are a credit to you all. Massive thanks also to Tara Rowan, Linda Conlon and Caroline Murphy for the refreshments provided before, during and after the match. Also, to the referee, Mr. Alan Doheny and his team of match officials. To Pamela Aiken, Carol Ryan and all who helped at the Gate. To Paula Hendrick, our school secretary, for the match programs.

Junk Kouture

Congratulations to Niamh Geraghty, Tiffany O Riordan and Fiona Scully who have qualified to The Junk Kouture Regional Finals which will take place in the University Concert Hall Limerick on the 9th of March. Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture is a national contest which encourages young designers in second level education to create striking couture designs and impressive works of wearable art from everyday junk that would normally find its way into the bin. Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture aims to inspire and ignite passion in these teenagers while at the same time

Niamh Geragthy, Tiffany O Riordan and Fiona Scully who will represent Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré in the regional finals of the Junk Kouture Competition.

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Beauty Box.

Sparktacular Spring Make Up Face:

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Base Youngblood Liquid Mineral Foundation Chanel Long Lasting Concealer Dior Forever Compact Charlotte Tilbury Ecstasy Swish & Pop Blusher Chameleon Highlighter Sea Witch

Eyes:

Sleek Makeup Del Mar Limited Edition Ocean Beach Naked 2 Urban Decay Basics Clarins Waterproof Eye Pencil Black Benefit Lash Bad Gal Mascara

Lips:

Inglot Lipstick Matte MUA: Alyona Williams Model: Anastasia

Is the New Year, New You diet proving difficult? Here are 5 diet hacks to help you reduce sugar cravings Embarking on a New Year diet can be both daunting and stressful. As the skinny jeans become tighter and those sugary festive treats are showing a little too much around the middle, January is the time to make some changes! According to research, approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February. This is due to people being unrealistic with their diet choices, causing them to give up with the common saying of ‘the diet will start on Monday!’. But with all that leftover chocolate hanging around, what can be done to reduce those sugar cravings? Over consumption of sugar can lead to serious health problems, affecting weight gain, bone health and blood sugar levels. Nutritionist Kim Pearson has the answer to those inevitable sugar cravings with these five diet hacks:

Take Tribitor

Tribitor is a drinking powder that is 100% natural and has been developed specifically to improve the way the body digests and absorbs foods with a high GI. Tribitor is the only GI reduction supplement that is clinically-proven to reduce glucose and insulin spikes after carbohydrateheavy meals, resulting in the reduction of sugar cravings altogether!

Think Twice

When doing your food shopping, start reading labels to understand what goes in your basket. By

NeoStrata Skin Active Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum

looking at the ingredients list, you will be able to see exactly what is in your favourite food. Often, sugar is hidden in forms of honey, corn syrup or fructose and the higher it is on the list, the more of it the product contains. Just remember, one teaspoon of sugar is equal to four grams! Small Steps Giving up sugar is a long process and it can be difficult to say no. Try gradually implementing the various steps. Don’t beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon, as this can easily turn into an excuse to give up altogether!

Balance Your Gut

Some of the good gut bacteria can cause the body to produce satiation hormones, which is why it is so important to keep in balanced in order to curb the sugar cravings and manage weight. The easiest way to help eliminate bad bacteria in the body is through probiotics that will work as a natural body cleanser.

Stay Fuller for Longer

Protein-rich foods are broken down more slowly and they stay in the stomach longer, making you feel fuller and decreasing your appetite. Make sure you include a portion of protein with each meal including meat, fish, eggs, beans and lentils, nuts and seeds.

How to Consume Tribitor:

Mix one sachet of Tribitor with 1⁄2 glass of water and consume 15 minutes before eating a carbohydrate-rich meal. Do not exceed 2 sachets per day. £25.00 for 30 sachets Stockist: http://www.tribitor. com/uk

Key ingredients: • AminoFilTM penetrates into the skin layers, stimulating collagen and hyaluronic acid production, improving the appearance of deep lines. It works to volumise, plump and firm the skin, promoting a more lifted and sculpted appearance. Containing 1.25%, this is the highest stabilized in any serum. • Gluconolactone is a poly-hydroxy acid found naturally in the skin, promoting youthful skin whilst strengthening the skins matrix, without any irritation. It also reduces oxidative damage and skin sensitivity, whilst enhancing exfoliation for a more even skin tone. • LMW (Low Molecular Weight) Hyaluronic Acid forms a hydrating gel matrix to plump the skin, support the collagen and elastin fibre network and deliver moisture to the skin. The low molecular weight allows the HA to penetrate the epidermis, yet still holding and binding the same amount of moisture in the skin, whilst providing an array of skin health benefits. In a clinical trial, a significant improvement was seen after just 12 weeks of being used twice daily, with a 79% improvement in wrinkles and a 90% improvement of skin brightness and clarity.

New NeoStrata Skin Active Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum is formulated with a proprietary triple complex that volumises and sculpts the skin, reducing the appearance of deep wrinkles, revealing a firmer complexion. Containing three potent, active ingredients including AminoFilTM, Gluconolactone and Hyaluronic Acid, this serum lifts and firms the skin whilst strengthening the skins matrix and providing instant hydration. The ingredients work together to improve skin tone, laxity and texture, delivering a triple-active punch of rejuvenating and energising properties. “Skin Active Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum with AminoFil TM represents a cosmeceutical paradigm shift with a novel molecule designed as a treatment for sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles. Studies show that patients see visible lifting and firming in difficult to treat areas with continued use of this product as part of their daily homecare” - Patricia Farris, MD and leading Price: £79.00 - Launchinig nationwide March 2018 dermatologist and recognised authority on topical Find a stockist: Neostrata.co.uk skincare.

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St. Joseph’s College News

Junk Kouture Congratulations to Emma Grant, Naoise Barrett, Sorcha Fogarty who have qualified for the Southern regional finals of the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture competition. Their piece is called ‘Trashy with a dash of Classy’!!!

Transition Year

Our Transition Year students involved in the AIB Build a Bank challenge went to Athlone on the 7th of February with their bank called Bank – IT (named after the Stephen King novel and movie!!). The team members Antoinette Atik, Hazel Reynolds, Aoife Butler, Alice Buckley and Luke Cooney would like to thank everyone who supported them in their challenge. They would particularly like to thank Ms. Stapleton for supporting them in their competition and Sive from AIB for all her advice. They have fundraised for Billy Goulding raising over €500 to date. Transition Year students tested their driving skills when they visited the Munster Driving School in Mallow. It was a great opportunity for the students to learn the rules of the road in

Congratulations to Emma Grant, Naoise Barrett, Sorcha Fogarty who have qualified for the Southern regional finals of the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture competition. Their piece is called ‘Trashy with a dash of Classy’!!!

safely. The students survived the day without any trauma, the same can’t be said for the handbrakes and clutches in the cars.

Green schools

This year the students have set up a Green Schools Committee with representatives from each year. A group of 30 students visited the RDS on Thursday last to view

JCPA

Last year’s Third Year class are the first group to receive the new Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement Award. This award is part of the new Junior Cycle reforms. Congratulations to all who received their award.

Templemore College

TEMPLEMORE COLLEGE HAIRDRESSING STUDENT CREATES A WINNER! Congratulations to TCFE Hairdressing student Denise Manton who won in the category ‘Fantasy Creation on a Mannequin’ at the recent Schools Hair Competition Ireland. Denise has worked tirelessly over the past number of weeks on her unique creation entitled ‘Midnight Thoughts’. The piece is constructed from hair and cleverly formed into 3D spheres encompassing cool tones. The design itself ‘thinks outside the box’ when it comes to most hair styles. This is the main concept of the competition – it encourages hairdressing students to embrace the potential of hair and to see it as a material that can be constructed in any shape or form. Preparing and working with students on this national competition is part of the hairdressing programme at Templemore College of Further Education. It is a fantastic opportunity for students and valuable experience for them. Well done also to TCFE hairdressing students Evelyn Roberts and Leah Kelly who also competed in the 2018 Schools ‘Hair Competition Ireland’ at St. John’s College, Cork.

Patricia Prout (Hairdressing teacher at TCFE) Thanks to all at St. John’s College Cork for with Denis Manton who won at the recent hosting this competition. TCFE students loved Schools Hair Competition Ireland with her winning piece ‘Midnight Thoughts’. the experience.

SECURITY STEPPED UP FOR TOMMY FLEMING CONCERT The security studies students from Templemore College of Further Education were recently involved in the security operations for the Tommy Fleming concert held in Killaloe, Co. Clare. The students worked exceptionally hard under the supervision of their Co-Ordinator John Butler to bring about a well organised and smooth running event. It was also invaluable experience for the students who are currently studying the full time one year programme in the college. The course involves classroom, fieldwork and work placement education and training. It provides students with the range of practical skills and theoretical knowledge required for

employment in the security industry. Students study modules in legal practice and procedures, door security, guarding skills, criminology, conflict resolution and also complete occupational first aid training. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain a valuable insight into the world of security and guarding. If you are interested in applying for An Garda Siochána then this course may well provide you with the skills and aptitude required to gain access in this field of work. Templemore College is the only dedicated Post Leaving Certificate College in North Tipperary. The College is now a major player in the provision of excellent Further Education services to Tipperary and surrounding counties. If you like to learn more about this course or other courses on offer at Templemore College please check out our website www.tcfe.ie or www.facebook.com/TemplemoreCollege

Left to right – Siobhan Ryan, John Butler (Security Studies Course Co-Ordinator), Tommy Fleming (Performer), Tommy Fitzpatrick, Thomas Mockler, Noel Madden, Bonnie Phelan.

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Lions Club Dinner Dance TEACH NA GRÉINE COMMUNITY HOUSE AND GOSHH (Gender, Orientation, Sexual Health, HIV) have teamed up to bring you a brand-new initiative

The Lions Club of Roscrea are celebrating their 50th Anniversary. This go-ahead club is one of the busiest and most successful in the country. It’s community based projects keep it abreast of the needs of the community and individuals. The Lions are producing a commemorative booklet to coincide with the anniversary and it

will be available on-line shortly together with the previous book 1968-1998. Lots of local faces and memories. On March24th the Lions hold a Charter Dinner Dance at Racket Hall Hotel and tickets are available from any Lion member or go to Redmonds the Photographers Castle St., Roscrea 0505 21936.

GOSHH is working with organisations in Limerick, Tipperary, and Clare to promote HIV and Hepatitis C testing and to encourage people to become aware of their HIV and Hepatitis C status. As part of this initiative GOSHH will be offering rapid Hepatitis C and HIV tests for free in Teach Na Gréine Community House, Glean Glas, Roscrea, on March 28th from 5pm – 9pm. These tests provide immediate results and only require a finger prick of blood; clean, quick, painless, and free. This is the first time this opportunity has been provided in Teach Na Gréine and GOSHH hope to work with many venues throughout the mid-west region in the future to reach as many people as possible. It is estimated that approximately 30% of the 8,000 people living with HIV in Ireland are unaware that they are HIV positive, and approximately 40% of the 20–30,000 people estimated to be living with Hepatitis C are unaware of their status. That means that there are an estimated 28-38,000 people living in Ireland without access to proper medications that can make a definite difference in their lives. There is a cure for Hepatitis C and it is a simple pill, taken once a day for 12 weeks. There is medication that can manage HIV that also prevents further transmission of the virus. All medication is free, regardless of your citizenship status, and testing is simple. Ann Mason, Manager of GOSHH explained how important it is for people to know their HIV status: “These days HIV is a treatable infection and the sooner someone living with HIV accesses treatment, the sooner the medication will reduce their viral load to undetectable. “One of our goals is will be that everybody living in the Mid-West will get to know their HIV status and be aware of sexual health services within their locality.” Susan, who has received the new treatment for Hep C and is now cured, says “In 2012 I was hospitalised with bleeding oesophageal varices & liver cirrhosis. After a few months I was doing better but was then diagnosed with Hep C. I knew nothing about Hepatitis so I thought this was a death sentence; four years later and I’m still here. In March 2015 I finished a three month course of the new Hepatitis C treatment (Sovaldi) and I have been clear of the virus ever since. Hopefully everyone living with Hepatitis will also get this cure”. We would encourage as many people as possible to come along to our information session in Teach Na

Gréine on Tuesday 20th March from 7pm – 9pm to learn more about the virus, the testing process, and the treatments available. It is possible to live for years without knowing you have Hep C or HIV so updating your information is critical to keep yourself and your families healthy.

GOSHH is willing to bring Rapid HIV and Hep C Testing to all venues so if you own a tattoo parlour, a factory, an office, or work in a voluntary or statutory agency and would like to know more about testing in your venue please contact us. To find out more information about tests being provided by GOSHH follow us on Facebook & Twitter, ring 061 314354, email support@goshh.ie or visit www.goshh.ie/test

GOSHH Schedule for Roscrea Tuesday 20th March 2018

19.00 – 21.00 Information workshop on Hepatitis C - Teach Na Greine, Glean Glas, Roscrea Wednesday 28th March 2018 17.00 – 21.00 Free Rapid HIV and Hep C Testing - Teach Na Greine, Glean Glas, Roscrea

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 49

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BEAST FROM THE

EAST

relaxing and enjoying time to spend with loved ones during the rare event. The storm brought out both the best and the worst in people, with many tales of neighbours helping each other, emergency services being stretched way beyond their normal limits. During the few days when the landscape of the town changed completely The Finest decided to head out and capture a few images to remember the event by and to share these memories with the readers. We have also included a small selection of photographs emailed in to us.

The Moneen River

Gleann Glas fun in the snow

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 49

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“The Finest” | Issue Nº 49

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THE INAUGURAL CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA GALA BALL

The Cistercian College parents’ association and the past pupil’s union came together to hold the inaugural Cistercian College Gala Ball in the County Arms Hotel, Birr on Saturday last. The event was a resounding success following on from what has been an extraordinary year in the College’s history. Over the past 12 months student numbers have risen considerably, a new day boarding schooling option has been introduced, the College has seen new managerial appointments and considerable investment has been made and committed for the future. In the recently released secondary school league tables, Cistercian College was ranked as the number one boys’ school in Ireland, where,

remarkably for the ninth year in a row, 100% of students sitting the Leaving Certificate went on to third level education. The Black-Tie event was attended by over 230 guests including, Fr. Kevin from the monastic community, parents, past students, staff members, future parents and friends of the College. Chairperson of the Parents’ Association, Inez Heenan introduced the guest speakers: PPU President, Liam Spooner, new Head of Boarding and former Irish Rugby International, Gary Halpin, Chairman of the Board of Management, Ronnie Culliton and guest speaker, editor of the Farmers Journal, Mrs Mairead Lavery, whose sons and father are past students of the College. Mr Halpin in his speech commended the staff and

students for their hard work and dedication and went on to say that moving to Cistercian College was the best decision he and his wife Carol had ever made.

The Cistercian College Roscrea Parents’ Association would like to thank all who attended and those who provided raffle prizes on the night. The proceeds from the Ball and the Raffle are to be presented to the College to enhance the Health and Fitness facilities for the students. A special mention of appreciation must go to the Loughnane Family and the County Arms Hotel staff who made the event such a memorable occasion for all.

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 49

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“The Finest” | Issue Nº 49

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THURLES ORDER OF MALTA The Thurles Unit of the Order of Malta Ireland was placed on standby at 7am on the Wednesday prior to the arrival of storm Emma and had been on duty 24/7 in their 4x4 ambulance until the following Monday evening. The Joint Voluntary Control Centre was up and running from that moment. The aim of the JVCC is to provide the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Emergency Operations Centre with a single point of contact with the voluntary ambulance sector. This control centre is based in the Order of Malta National Headquarters in Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin. The JVCC is made up of The Irish Red Cross, St. John’s Ireland and Order of Malta Ireland. 3,000 members throughout the country were placed on standby from Wednesday Feb 28th and most had been active from that moment. Captain Adrian Fallon, National Emergency Planning and Communications Officer stated: “It is great to be part of a large community of volunteers who are willing to give their time to assist their colleagues in the Statutory Service and the local communities. This process highlights the excellent working relationship between all parties, both voluntary and statutory, on how we can

come together to plan and prepare for the good of those around the country who need assistance”. Using our high-tech Tetra radio system, Thurles were able to communicate with the JVCC and were able to respond within minutes to the calls. Some of the tasks undertaken by the Thurles Unit in recent days included the transport of the public health nurse in order for her to complete her tasks and transport to and from the A&E. Members, who are all volunteers, also assisted the National Ambulance Service with emergency calls, helping to access areas that ordinary ambulances could not go. “The conditions at times were treacherous and we had to be careful so that we did not end up injured or casualties ourselves,” said Irene O’Loughlin, Officer in Charge. The Order of Malta Thurles Unit is a non-profit organisation and all members are volunteers. Irene said: “All donations we receive go directly into providing first aid and emergency care to the people of Thurles area and beyond.” For more on the work of http://www. orderofmaltaireland.org/ or follow the Order of Malta Ireland Thurles Unit.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS A: PART-TIME WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE PAYMENTS / MARCH 2018 Question I’m working part-time on a low wage. Do I qualify for any social welfare payments?

Answer

It depends on your personal circumstances. Many people work part-time before taking up full-time employment. If you are working part-time you can, in some cases, keep or apply for a partial social welfare payment, or you may qualify for additional supports. If you work over 38 hours in a fortnight and you have children you may be able to claim Working Family Payment (WFP), formerly known as Family Income Supplement or FIS. WFP is a weekly tax-free payment for people on low pay. You may be able to claim a jobseeker’s payment for the days you are not working. You can work part-time for up to three days a week and claim a reduced Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance payment. You may qualify for the Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme if you were getting Jobseeker’s Allowance and find part-time work for less than 24 hours per week. However, one of the main conditions for getting a jobseeker’s payment is that you must be available for work and actively seeking work. This means that you must continue to

look for work on the days you are unemployed. You must also be unemployed for at least four days out of seven consecutive days. If you return to work after a period of unemployment, you may qualify for the Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) which aims to help families move from social welfare into employment. The BTWFD and WFP can be paid together and the BTWFD is not taken into account in the means test for WFP. If you are parenting alone and getting a OneParent Family Payment, you are allowed to earn a certain amount each week and keep your payment. In some cases, people getting disability payments can do some work and keep a social welfare payment. You can get more information on your options from the Citizens Information Service below. Know Your Rights has been compiled by Thurles Citizens Information Centre, 34/35 Croke Street, 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

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS D: FREE CANCER SCREENING PROGRAMMES / MARCH 2018 Question My friend has been offered free screening for cancer. She says it’s a national free screening programme. How can I take part?

Answer

between 25 and 60 and have never had a CervicalCheck smear test, you can simply make an appointment with a GP practice or clinic registered with CervicalCheck. You can find one in your area by visiting cervicalcheck.ie or by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55. A letter of invitation is not needed to make an appointment and attend for a first test.

The National Cancer Screening Service provides free screening programmes to help detect or prevent several types of cancer. BowelScreen – The National Bowel Screening Programme aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage in people who have no symptoms. It offers free screening every two years to men and women aged 60 to 69. If you are in this age group, you can ring BowelScreen on Freephone 1800 45 45 55 to check your details are on the register. If you are on the register, you will receive an invitation to take part in the BowelScreen programme.

BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme invites women to a free mammogram (x-ray of the breast) every two years. The screening has been available to women aged 50 to 64 but is being gradually extended over the next few years to include all women aged 50 to 69. If you have not received an invitation you can check if you are registered by visiting breastcheck.ie or by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55.

CervicalCheck – The National Cervical Screening Programme tests women aged 25 to 60 for changes in the cells of the cervix. Early detection and treatment can prevent cervical cancer. If you are aged

Screening can help prevent or detect cancer at an early stage in people who have no symptoms. If you have any specific concerns or symptoms you should visit your GP (family doctor).

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

BLACK MOULD ON BATHROOM CEILING

install a good quality wall mounted fan, about 6” to10” diameter located fairly high up on your perimeter wall as near to the steam source as possible. Ideally it should be wired to come on automatically when shower in action, probably linked to the light switch. Your electrician will be best able to advise you there. This is NOT a job for amateurs. The wall-mounted unit will necessitate a bit more work but it probably be the better job in the end.

Q Could you give me any advice on treating a bathroom ceiling to eradicate black mould which spreads all over. I use Dettox AntiBacterial Mould & Mildew remover once or twice a year and keep two windows open when having a shower. Also there’s no heat in the room. Do you think a fan would be effective and would you recommend one on the ceiling or wall or would an extractor fan on the windows be best. A.The excess steam is the prime cause of your ceiling problem. The damp ceiling after a shower creates a perfect home for mould spores etc and your fan installation idea is the way to go I would suggest. Yes you can get fans that are mounted right in the windowpane, probably would be the easiest to install. I’d suggest you

A ceiling extractor is not really that practical unless you have a flat roof situation and even then, you’d have to bore a hole in your roof which I would not recommend at all. That could open a whole new can of worms. There you have it as regards the fan situation. To deal with the existing mould etc I would suggest the following: Wash the area thoroughly with a 50:50 bleach / warm water mix taking care of your clothes, skin etc as the bleach can be rough stuff. Re-paint your ceiling etc, and stir in some paint additive called Mold Stop VC175 available from lots of paint stores around the place. A 10ml bottle will treat up to 10 litres of paint. Just follow instructions on package. It works in all paint oil or water based, and I found it to really useful in preventing mould coming back on paintwork irrespective of whether it is woodwork or walls, ceilings etc. Another good solution for mould related problems indoors is to apply a few coats of Insulating paint. Mould Stop and Insulating paint are stocked by most good paint outlets and diy stores.

by George Wesley©

HOW TO TRANSFORM THOSE BORING, DREARY KITCHEN PRESSES, WARDROBES OR TILES ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET. Q Could you give me any advice on treating a bathroom ceiling to eradicate black mould which spreads all over. I use Dettox AntiBacterial Mould & Mildew remover once or twice a year and keep two windows open when having a shower. Also there’s no heat in the room. Do you think a fan would be effective and would you recommend one on the ceiling or wall or would an extractor fan on the windows be best. A.The excess steam is the prime cause of your ceiling problem. The damp ceiling after a shower creates a perfect home for mould spores etc and your fan installation idea is the way to go I would suggest. Yes you can get fans that are mounted right in the windowpane, probably would be the easiest to install. I’d suggest you install a good quality wall mounted fan, about 6” to10” diameter located fairly high up on your perimeter wall as near to the steam source as possible. Ideally it should be wired to come on automatically when shower in action, probably linked to the light switch. Your electrician will be best able to advise you there. This is NOT a job for amateurs. The wall-mounted unit will necessitate a bit more work but it probably be the better job in the end.

by George Wesley©

MY WOODEN WINDOWS ARE ROTTING Dear George, some parts of my casement windows that are next the sills have rotted and as I cannot afford to employ someone to repair them, I would be grateful for advise on how I can deal with this problems. I am considering cutting out all the rotted wood, treating the sound wood with a wood preservative and then filling the gaps with mortar or exterior filler, then painting over it when the filler has dried. I would be grateful for your advice. Can you recommend a wood preservative and a suitable filler? Thanks. I had a problem exactly like that many years ago in my previous home where the windows were made of plain old white deal which isn’t the greatest for that application in my opinion. I did the following which worked a treat, and by the time I left, which was four years later after the ‘fix’, the window problem had not resurfaced. First just remove the old wood that straddles the actual sill, just about ¼” 6mm should do, the idea is to prevent ‘bridging’ for the water on the sill. I wouldn’t gouge out big chunks of the bad timber, just the really ‘punky stuff ’ and leave anything reasonably firm alone. Ideally, dry out the sections of damaged wood completely, if the weather is too bad, consider using a hair dryer as a quick fix to dry the wood out reasonably well. After that, back to my old reliable again, yes, you got it in one… Owatrol oil, that stuff has taken me out of so many holes it’s unreal. Anyway, when the wood has dried out reasonably well, sand down the wood at least up to 6” from the sill to open the pores and get rid of old paint etc. Then start applying as much Owatrol oil into that wood as it will physically take over the course of a few hours. It could take you a few hours of constant applications of the oil to get maximum penetration into the wood. The Owatrol actually expels the damp / moisture from the inside of the soggy wood and takes its place, thereby preventing moisture getting back in again to that section of wood. It is important to keep applying the oil and

not to let it ‘set up’ because that will prevent further oil getting in properly. In other words, when you start applying, keep going; reapply as soon as the oil goes into the wood. When you saturate the wood with the oil, wipe off any excess oil with a cloth. Wait a day or two for the oil to dry and then you are ready to fill the crevices etc with a wood filler. Rawlplug or Polyfilla do various wood fillers. When all the above is done and dry, your wood is ready for painting. Mix about 25% of the Owatrol oil into your undercoat and that will prime the wood and give the paint a good grip at the same time. I believe the above solution will extend the life of those windows by at least 10 years. The products mentioned are available at most good paint & diy outlets. Good luck.

by George Wesley©

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SPORT STARS SHINE AT 20 ANNUAL REGIONAL SPORT STARS AWARDS TH

Bishop Willie Walsh with Guest of Honour John Lonergan and John Lupton present the Camogie Award to Tina Hannon This year marks the fifth year of attendance by The Finest at the annual regional sport stars awards at Racket Hall country House Hotel in Roscrea. During that time an army of talent has been drawn forth from the local area of the midlands where we find ourselves. The scale of the event cannot be underestimated as pointed out in a comment by this year’s guest of honour Mr John Lonergan who heaped praise upon the event organisers and the team of people who once again made a true gala event come to life in recognition of the achievements of sporting personalities young and old. The very fact that Roscrea, a small town at the northern end of Tipperary which is wedged between Laois and Offaly and finds itself isolated in many respects, on Friday February 16th the light shone bright once again as it has done now for twenty years.

The town has changed dramatically during that time as twenty years has seen Ireland go through the heights of a tiger boom down to the depths of a deep depression which lingers while other parts of the country roars back to life. To have maintained and developed an annual event such as the regional sport stars awards is no small task, rather one of meticulous organisation and dedication from those who choose to keep that light shining. The recipients of the awards stand among us as examples of the pursuit of sporting greatness here at a local level. Some came before the audience for the every first time and as Mr John Lonergan pointed out “will be written into local history forever” as the sporting individuals who gained recognition of their community and the respect of their peers.

Frank Murray presents the principle Patricia Higgins and a representative of Our Lady’s of Templemore with the Outstanding

Bishop Willie Walsh with Tommy Dunne from Guest of Honour John Lonergan presents the Gaelic Toomevara who had been awarded the Contribution Football award to Ciaran McEvoy to Sport award

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Guest of honour John Lonergan presents the Soccer award to Kenny Lee

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 49

Guest of Honour John Lonergan with Donal Monahan and Fergal O Connor of Rosderra Meats and Hall of Fame award recipient

Peter Lupton presents the Team of the Year award to representatives of the Roscrea Minor Hurling club Stephen Carey, Daniel Ryan, Jason Gilmartin, Colman Treacy

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Guest of Honour John Lonergan presents the Youth award to Jack Canning

Guest of Honour John Lonergan presents the Motor Sport award to Nicole Drought

Guest of honour John Lonergan presents the Athletics Award to John Dwyer from the Templemore Athletics club

Guest of Honour John Lonergan presents the award for Rugby to Alan Tynan

Guest of Honour John Lonergan presents the Golf award to Ruth Cryan Wright

Event organiser Marie Tooher with Tommy Dunne and Catriona Fletcher

Margaret Moloney presents the first of three Special awards to Christy Jones from Portlaoise

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HEALTHY SOCIAL LIFE; ZUMBA WITH IRYNA IN ROSCREA.

of fitness and it does not matter which sports you prefer, it is important to choose some form of sport to add into your life which will contain movements especially if those movements are accompanied by music. At my IMFit classes I offer an easy program of fitness movements which suit for every group of muscles in your body, with individual feedback to each student. The most important thing is to start, you need to worry about your health early rather than regretting the consequences of personal laziness later in life. Did you know that Zumba has their Plate by Zumba Nutrition Program? Plate by Zumba is the nutrition program by the organization promoting healthy eating for a healthy lifestyle. As a Zumba Instructor and Plate by Zumba Coach, I can help you reach your nutrition goals using a new, simple and practical method of healthy eating. PLATE by ZUMBA covers a variety of topics that are tailored to your needs:

My greeting to you all, my name is Iryna and I am a Zumba and Fitness instructor here in Roscrea. I provide Zumba and fitness classes for all ages for the individuals who wish to lead a healthy lifestyle and want to stay fit. I provide classes such as; Zumba kids from ages 4-12 split into two categories, Zumba kids Junior 4-6 years and Zumba kids 7-12 years. As well as classes for adults such as; Zumba and IMFit classes.

help with flexibility and burning of calories. Anybody can do Zumba even if they had never done sports before all you need is motivation to try something new. It is a great way to lose weight and have a good time. Zumba has a anti stress effect. Regardless of the difficulty levels in Zumba everyone leaves the room with a feeling of positivity and a charge of energy. A good state of mind is one of the requirements for effective weight loss. Zumba is a lot more fun in comparison to other forms of fitness or sport.

But first let me explain what Zumba really is. It is a unique version of fitness which contains active movements in dance (Latino) and aerobics. It is important that during a Zumba class you are aware that you are dancing and not doing sports. Zumba reduces stress and helps feel more confident in oneself, it sparks enthusiasm and assists through crisis in your life. Zumba fitness is a training regime which is made up of dance moves which

Zumba kids & Zumba kids Jr is a special program made specifically for children. During class there are special forms of sport, dance and games. Zumba kids is fun, active and sporty. If you do not enjoy dance or cannot move actively due to injury or medical reasons but still wish to lead a healthy lifestyle then IMFit class would suit you most. There are many different aspects

Plate by Zumba concept How Food Connects You Essential Plants and Essential Calories categories and charts Healthy strategies when eating out or at the workplace How to Read Labels The Art of Grocery Shopping Fiber and the Glycemic Index Addictive Foods Sugar and the Detox Plan Appetite cravings Weight loss strategies Antioxidants and cancer prevention Sugars and diabetes prevention Anti-inflammatory foods to fight pain Omega-3 for Brain health It is very important to do sports/ fitness and eat healthy since the two combined lead to quicker and more noticable results rather than doing just one of the mentioned. This is what I embody with my students in Roscrea. My relationship with my student is not one of teacher and student but Zumba brings people together into one big family. Zumba helps us spend time together and enjoy each others company even after classes. We had organized a Christmas party at the Roscrea Golf

IMFit

Today we are not going to talk about nutrition. I would like to take a moment to share with you my passion and thoughts about bodybuilding, and why I love this sport so much. We all have different genetics which affect the way we look as well as our body shape, and sometimes people are not always happy with what was given to them by Mother Nature. However, bodybuilding is a tool that can definitely help you to reach your goals and to change your body composition. Did you know that with bodybuilding you can completely change your look? I’m not talking about competition bodybuilding. I’m not trying

Club for all students and I would like to express my thanks to Chef Danny Parker and nutritionist Maria Barnes for making a special healthy menu for us. After the delicious and healthy three course meal we spent three hours dancing Zumba in the same venue. The party was not only for my students in Roscrea but also my students in Cloughjordan, Shinrone, Birr, Clonmore and Templemore. It once again proves that Zumba is one big family since before the classes none of my students knew each other but thanks to Zumba they all made new friends. Also we organized a charity raffle to raise money for North Tipperary Hospice. As well as that in February, my students and I went to Carlow for a Zumba event to help Oliwia walk again. Even students who couldn’t make it to Carlow with us helped by contributing as sponsors for raffle items and gave money to help. My little students had also come with us to show support for this great cause. Everyone enjoyed the event and had a great time. My classes are frequently a place where whole generations of people come together, Mother, Daughter, Granddaughter. I am also in collaboration with an American nutritionist and personal trainer Maria Barnes and together we compose individual food plans for our customers (IMFit program). Healthy eating is better than temporary diet plans which do not lead to permanent change. Healthy diets aren’t always plain. They can be healthy, tasty and cheap. With Maria we organised a Nutrition seminar at La Serenata Cafe on the 10th of March where ones interested could come and listen to lectures about healthy eating and it’s benefits. After the lecture, ones who had attended were presented with healthy desserts which they could try and rate. If your interest has been peaked with what I do then we will be happy to welcome you at our Zumba family, then you can find my classes at Sacred Heart Primary School; Zumba kids Tuesday from 4:30- 5:15 p.m. Zumba kids Jr Tuesday from 5:30- 6 p.m IMFit Wednesday from 7-8 p.m Zumba for adults Friday from 7:30-8:30 p.m For any further information please don’t hesitate to contact me by Phone number: 0873108283 Or visit my Facebook pages: Zumba with Iryna or IMFit

to recruit you to be an athlete, but I want to show you that creating your best body is absolutely possible with bodybuilding. Flat stomach, nice tight round glutes and wellshaped legs, balanced upper body and much more can be accomplished if you will do at least 2 hours of bodybuilding workouts per week! I came into bodybuilding because I was too skinny and didn’t like the shape of my legs. For me, it was a journey that I began at 18 years old and finally I made the body of my dreams! Do you ever want to hear people stop you and giving you a compliment about way you look?! Have you enjoyed to pick an outfit you liked in advertising and felt like it fits better than in the picture So, like I said, I just want to share with you why I see so many benefits of bodybuilding and invite you to join our IMFit page on Facebook where you can get your complimentary bodybuilding workout plan, customized for you and receive videos demonstrating the exercises :)

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TOUGH GAME FOR OFFALY TEAM Offaly team consisting of James Landy, Willie McKenna, Patrick Barrett, Chris O Connor, Keith McNamara, Shane O Hara, Terry Crowe, Billy

Fogarty, Colm Ryan, Mike Holland, Dwayne McEvoy, Stephen Rosney, Trevor English, Aidan Cambell and Billy Keane under Manager Mark

Billy Fogarty

Local man Billy Fogarty became Templemore’s very first Irish International dart thrower back in 2017 and spurred on by his success he threw his hat back into the ring again with Ireland’s finest to bid for another International cap for his country. Billy has gone from strength to strength these last two years travelling all over Ireland and competing against the best throwers in the country, gaining valuable experience along the way. With another successful season put down on the Irish ranking circuit he has placed in the top ten in Ireland once again and will represent Ireland this coming July. Further rewarded for his hard work Billy will also compete in the Winmau World Masters for

the second time this October in the Bridlington Spa in Yorkshire, England where he will compete against throwers from all over the world. Although billy has his sights firmly set on International duty and the World masters he also has a fresh season of Irish rankings to focus on as he aims for Ireland’s top four and a chance to represent his country at the World cup in Turkey in 2019. There are also plans to travel across the water more often this season and compete in the BDO opens where Billy will attempt to stamp his name on the international scene. A successful year down and a darts packed year ahead for the Templemore man as he shows no intentions of slowing down on his mission to reach the top.

Guinan travelled to Ennis on February 24th/25th 2018 to try and retain their 2017 All Ireland title. Saturday Offaly were in a group with Wexford, Wicklow and Longford. First game against Wexford Offaly had a 8-4 win, 2nd game saw them beaten by Wicklow 7-5 and 3rd game they had a 8-4 win over Longford. These results meant they finished 2nd in the group and would play Dublin in the last 16 on Sunday Morning. Dublin came out on top in this game beating Offaly 7-5. This was a very difficult result for Offaly as they had so much more to give and really wanted to fight to keep their title but it just wasn’t to be on this occasion. Offaly will be back bigger and stronger next year. On the bright-side we are very proud that Offaly’s very own James Landy and Shane O Hara made the International team for 2018. Thanks to everyone for their hard work and commitment this season. Leanne Holland Offaly County Secretary.

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CYCLING MUNSTER GREAT ROAD ROUTES Dan MacCarthy

‘Droll guidebook adds a human touch that helps the miles roll by.’ ~ Irish Examiner

With routes spanning the province, here is everything you need to explore the highways and byways of Munster – on two wheels. This popular guide has now been updated to include the Waterford Greenway, which officially opened in spring 2017. The route, set

MOVE, TRAIN, NOURISH The Sustainable Way to a Healthier You Dominic Munnelly and Gráinne Parker being. They provide key stretches that will allow you to act as your own physio, regaining your childhood movement pattern so you can get the most out of the clearly illustrated workout plans. Showing that healthy eating doesn’t have to be

against the glorious backdrop of the Comeragh Mountains, runs for 46km along an old railway line between Waterford and Dungarvan, crossing three stunning viaducts and taking in charming villages along the way. Graded cycles along the greenway are outlined, from shorter jaunts to suit families, through challenges for intermediate cyclists, up to a 92km loop of the whole route for the experienced. Each of the routes in the guide is graded by difficulty, from the gentlest, shortest circuits in Cork, through Tipperary, Limerick and Clare, to the thigh-burning Ring of Kerry, and Waterford’s Copper Coast and Grand Vee. Each cycle is prefaced with summary information and illustrated with photos, a custom-drawn map and a gradient graph. You will also learn about the historical sites and natural landmarks you’ll see along the way, as well as getting tips on where to stop for a coffee. Cycle stunning coastal roads on the Wild Atlantic Way. Challenge yourself on mountain passes. Pedal through tranquil woods and lakesides, charming towns and villages. Discover routes to suit all abilities and many hidden gems. Dan MacCarthy, from Skibbereen, County Cork, is a journalist with the Irish Examiner. He has had a longstanding interest in the outdoors, which stretches from a childhood spent sailing at Sherkin Island to trekking in Iceland. In between, he travelled extensively and lived in Madrid, London and The Hague.

Dominic and Gráinne are a husband-and-wife team who understand that, although health and fitness are largely sold to us by younger people, they are not the preserve of the young. Being healthy is fundamental to every stage of life. Their holistic approach integrates all aspects of wellness: mobility, exercise, sleep, nutrition and stress management.

9781848893481 • Price €14.99/£12.99 • Paperback •160pp • 198 x 128 mm • Colour maps, gradient graphs and photos •Cycling/Outdoors

They both bring their own passion, life experience and expertise to this sensible, balanced guide to physical and mental well-

ROSCREA & MOUNTRATH ITOSU KAI KARATE CLUB NEWS

something you do until you fall off the wagon, they teach the fundamentals of good nutrition and provide healthy recipes that will allow the whole family to enjoy tasty food while eating well for life. From improving your sleep to developing resilience to stress, they also share tips for self-care to help you cope in times of pressure and feel calmer every day. This is a book for everyone who wants a complete guide to moving well, training well, and nourishing your body both inside and out. Dominic and Gráinne live in Dublin, where they are passing on their passion for good food and exercise to a growing daughter. Dominic has a degree in Sports Science and has devoted twenty years to getting hundreds of clients of all ages, shapes and abilities fit and healthy. He is widely respected for his compassionate approach and regularly appears on TV and radio. Gráinne, who runs the food blog oliveoilandlemon.ie, spent most of her working life in business consulting, and deeply understands the challenges of juggling a career, motherhood, and health and fitness. She is qualified as a health and wellness coach with the Institute of Health Sciences and has studied at Dublin Cookery School.

BASIC MOBILITY TEST 01

Stand barefoot in comfortable clothes with plenty of space around you

Preparations are underway at the Roscrea & Mountrath Itosu Kai Karate club for a tournament which is taking place in Ballinasloe Co Galway. The club members have been training hard working in the hope of taking home a medal to Roscrea. There will be a grading ceremony coming up soon as some of the white belts in the club are now due to progress upwards providing they pass on the day. Squad training is also moving up a gear with many of the members of the Roscrea & Mountrath Itosui Kai Karate club showing real enthusiasm for the sport and making it in to every available training session. The future of all clubs rest upon

the dedication of both the students who take part and of course the parents who stick by their child’s ongoing training. Sensei Donal Monahan is very pleased with the efforts put in by all of the students and can see some real promise coming through with many of the dedicated members of the club. Karate is a sport that is open to all people from all walks of life. The sport teaches many things including self-defence and self-belief, these are positive benefits that help people throughout life, not only will you find a very welcoming atmosphere within the club, you will also meet local people who share the same interests.

Lower yourself into a seated position, endeavouring to do so with no support

From this position, stand back up

Try not to use your hands, knees, forearms or side of your legs

A study has found that the more often you needed to use your hands and knees the higher your mortality from all causes

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 49

www.thefinest.ie

THURLES BOXING CLUB CELEBRATES WITH THREE NEW COUNTY CHAMPIONS On a brighter note the Thurles boxing clubs most recent announcement is that three young competitors from the heartland of North Tipperary have achieved County champion certificates having been awarded the top medals. Ryan Stone (11) from Templemore, Dale Scully (11) from Templemore and James martin (12) also from Templemore have delivered on five years of hard training to achieve their goals of becoming the Tipperary – Waterford champions. The County champion cert opens up the next level of progression for the young men towards the Munster championships and onwards to their dream of taking part in the All Ireland championships. The Thurles boxing club are also keen to point out the achievements of three other young

competitors at the club Jamie Monaghan (12) from Templemore who made it into the County final in Tramore during February only narrowly missing his title chance. Keelan Graham (14) from Thurles also took part in the competitive bout only to lose out on the county champion title losing to the current Irish champion and finally Hughie Doyle (15) from Thurles who received a walk over gaining him the status of County champion. Two years ago Hughie Doyle won the All Ireland championship and has been boxing from a very young age. Jack Lawlor who is also currently boxing at the Thurles club made it to the All-Ireland final for his second consecutive year in the elite youths section losing this year to Kane Tucker a ten times Irish champion Commonwealth silver medallist. Boxing is a sport that teaches confidence, discipline and respect among its competitors. The Thurles boxing club are grateful for any support or sponsorship that comes their way as it enables the club to continue to provide a fantastic club facility to the youth of North Tipperary.

A group of underage boxers from Templemore at the Thurles Boxing Club The last few years have been tough for boxing clubs in North Tipperary and the Thurles boxing club have found themselves battling to try to keep the doors open as well as training for competitive bouts. Sometimes in the financial world you will see a company make huge losses yet see their stock prices rise dramatically. The Thurles boxing club has seen some stratospheric results over the last number of years with county champions being turned out in double digit figures and

climbing the ranks to dominate through attaining the best club in Waterford and Tipperary title for three consecutive years. As if that was not enough the Thurles boxing club also gained a nomination for best boxing club in Ireland, yet with all of the fanfare the stark reality of the clubs situation is that the Thurles boxing club has had to amalgamate with the Mullinahone boxing club in an attempt to keep the doors open for young athletes in North Tipperary.

IRISH KIDNEY ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISER On Sunday February 18th a darts tournament was held in Tom Maher’s Inn, Templemore to raise money and awareness for the Kidney Association. This tournament was well supported with 40 dart throwers turning up on the day from Templemore, Roscrea and even Kilkenny. The tournament was very well organised by a local man with strong ties to the Kidney Association Myles Mc Morrow who has also been a big part of darts in Templemore for many years. With a brilliant standard of darts thrown all day the business end of the tournament would not disappoint. One darting family in particular turned up this Sunday and dominated the later stages of the tournament, with all three Fogarty brothers alongside Paul Barnevelle of Kilkenny making up the final four of the singles whilst father John Fogarty would team up with local Steven Fennell in the doubles final. The doubles final was played to a great standard with John and Steven narrowly losing out to a great partnership of Thomas Morrissey and Thomas Kennedy. The singles did not let down either with Bodien Fogarty overcoming brother Ian Fogarty and Billy Fogarty overcoming strong Kilkenny contender Paul Barnevelle in two very exciting games full of high scoring and big tonne plus checkouts.

Back Row Paddy Clavin Front Row Ryan Stone with Dale Scully James Martin and Jamie Monaghan

would be Billy who would run out the eventual winner. All in all a good day for the Fogarty pack, but a great day for the Kidney Association with a brilliant €600 raised on the day, and brilliant top darts had by all.

Masive thanks must go to Helen Mc Morrow And so an all family affair was to end the day with and T.J Ryan for all their hard work running the Billy and Bodien facing off in the final, and after tournament and making the day so enjoyable for some more close legs and a hard fought match it all who turned up.

Training at the Thurles boxing Club Facility

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 49

www.thefinest.ie

Volkswagen Golf The model that invented the segment continues to be its most enduring player. The name has been around since the mid 70’s and the brand continues to be practically the generic term for fun, practical and affordable motoring with a little ‘aspiration’ cherry on top. Despite their recent emission scandal difficulties, the customer continues to see VW in general and the Golf in particular as the living definition of sophistication in a small package. More than 33 million Golfs have been sold since 1974 and the latest version does the brand proud. It’s not particularly cheap but residual values are strong and consumers are prepared to pay for a quality product they understand and desire. It looks great and while one or two rivals can better the interior capacity figures, there is little to fault the latest Golf. Seven different trim levels and a bewildering

The 1.4 petrol is good for 121bhp while at the other end of the spectrum, the 150bhp 2.0 diesel is a fine car with the popular DSG transmission. The 2017 refresh has tweaked the styling and offered some impressive new optional technology in the infotainment system but essentially what you are getting is the same old superbly excellent Golf. It’s also one of the safest cars around with a comfortable five EuroNCAP stars producing some of the best numbers around. Best version: Comfortline 1.0 tsi 110bhp Price Range: €20,895 to €32,795 EuroNCAP safety rating: 5-star; 94% adult, 89% child, 65% pedestrian, 81% safety assist.

helped garner significant increases in interior space, while upgrades to the fit and finish make this a very pleasant vehicle to spend time in, particularly for rear seat passengers. 452 litres of boot space will solve most luggage requirements while an impressively frugal diesel motor demands less fuel than most, and in time honoured fashion, Toyota offers plenty of interior bells and whistles as standard or just above base model.

The 11th edition of the Corolla retains many of the qualities that make buyers return again and again to the model. Body rot is long since a thing of the past for these machines and the latest incarnation of the breed carries the small crown confidently. A longer wheelbase and a packaging rethink have

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

array of engine-trim combinations mean there is something for everyone here. The 1.0 turbo petrol engine puts out a reasonable 110bhp which is more than adequate for most needs.

TOYOTA COROLLA

Saloons might not be the cutting edge of automotive fashion in the days of SUV’s and Crossovers but the Corolla has a fiercely loyal following with good reason. More than 44 million automobiles bearing the Corolla moniker have been acquired and cherished since the model first saw the light of day in 1966.

There are three trim levels with air con and cruise control standard on the Terra model, while the 7” touch screen and the Toyota’s Safety Sense package is available on the Luna and Sol grades. There are three motors: 1.4 diesel, 1.3 petrol and 1.6 petrol. Diesels aren’t quite as a la mode as they were but the 1.4 is as penny pinching as they get and that suits the average Corolla buyer just nicely thank you. Best version: Luna 1.4D Price range: €22,250 to €27,350 EuroNCAP safety rating: 5-star;94% adult,82% child,67% pedestrian, 66% safety assist

There is something very special about owning an Alfa Romeo. The experience can be like joining a unique club where everyone is friendly, enthusiastic and regularly compares notes with one another. Wash and polish it, and service it accordingly and you will always get a fair price when it comes to selling it. With styling cues from future Alfa Romeo models, including Giulia, this facelifted Giulietta features a number of exterior and interior changes that both refresh the model and allow greater levels of customisation. With a coupé-like appearance because of its concealed rear door handles, this Alfa will always get the most appreciative looks when its either driving towards one or reversed into a parking space facing out. Inside, new interior upholsteries, dashboard and door panel finishes and Uconnect LIVE SERVICES ARE INTRODUCED ACROSS THE

RANGE. With 1.4 petrol and 1.6 diesel engines available along with Alfa’s latest 2.0 litre JTD diesel which provides a glorious drive with 150 willing bhp on tap. Mated to a tight but precise six-speed gearbox, this front-wheel-drive hatchback blends outstanding performance with economy figures that had us double-checking the maths. Alfa claims combined fuel returns of 5.0l/100km (56.5mpg) for the Giulietta. Taking full advantage of the cars good performance, the Alfa returned on average of 5.9l/100km(47mpg). The car relayed the surefootedness and handling ability one would expect from this Italian carmaker. Best version: 2.0JTD Price Range: €21,950 to €25,321 EuroNCAP safety rating: 5-star; 97% adult, 85% child, 63% pedestrian, 86% safety assist.

Mercedes C Class Coupe It’s their most important model and Mercedes have pulled out all the stops to get on terms with BMW and Audi in this most contentious of segments. Offering refinement and luxury more readily associated with E Class and even S Class, the fifth iteration of the model that first appeared to replace the 190 back in the early 1990’s is dripping with refinement and wonder. Superbly understated styling combine with comfort and spec that will test their rivals. The driving experience benefits from taking up the option of air suspension while running costs have been considerably reduced with the latest version, lower emissions helping create a claimed 20% efficiency improvement over the previous model.

It’s a strong package and while some of its rivals may have a little more poise out on the road, there is the benefits offered by comfort and cheaper running costs will attract plenty of willing buyers. The range has recently been complemented with the addition of the C Class Coupe and Cabriolet offering Mercedes further clout in a busy segment. The C Class is not cheap, but then the three pointed star rarely is, and the spec both standard and optional, is segment leading. Best version: C220D Price range: €35,850 to €54,690 EuroNCAP safety rating: 5-star; 92% adult, 84% child, 77% pedestrian, 70% safety assist

“The Finest” | Issue Nº 49

www.thefinest.ie

TOYOTA AVENSIS TOURING SPORT RENAULT MEGANE GRAND COUPÉ If choice is what you want, Renault are only too willing to oblige. The new Megane comes in a bewildering array of variants with four basic trim levels in eleven different models, with two sizes of diesel engines and manual as well as automatic transmission on offer. The four pillars of the model run from the basic Expression through Dynamique and Dynamique S Nav and topping out at the Signature version. With a coupé style silhouette, the Megane looks pretty from whatever angle it’s viewed and has the remarkable feature of a huge boot(550 litres, 20 bigger than the Fluence) without compromising its aesthetic appeal.

A remarkable feature of the Irish car market is how reluctant we are to buy estate cars. In the UK , for example, estate car variants are usually the best-selling variant of many models, whereas if 10% buy an estate here, that’s the maximum. In the past you could argue that estates were not handsome cars, being add-on derivatives to the saloon or hatch, but today they are custom designed and generally look great.

Conceived, designed and developed in tandem with the new Megane that was launched in June 2016, the Grand coupé measures 4.63 metres in length, 1.81 metres wide and has a claimed record size wheelbase of 2.71 metres, 42mm greater than the hatchback. The Grand Coupé shares many styling features with its five door sibling, including its lighting signature, which is visible night and day. The generous level of space inside is surrounded by soft-touch, quality materials and tasteful design.

There is no arguing but that the estate is more practical- you can fit an awful lot more stuff in and we all have more stuff than ever. Toyota Avensis has been selling very well since the latest version was released and among that mix is the stylish estate- called the Touring sport. It is really getting traction as a great all-rounder. The Toyota Avensis has been designed to offer significant improvements in five key areas: Styling, Safety, Sensory Quality and Comfort, Equipment and Value for Money and Driving Pleasure and Running Costs. Both the saloon and Touring Sports versions of the current Avensis have new, more prestigious and dynamic exterior designs. The front of the vehicle is a bold interpretation of Toyota’s trademark design language, with a smaller more aggressively styled upper grille which anchors new headlamp clusters and extends the overall vehicle length by 40mm.

The lower grille encompasses a gloss blackpainted bumper centre and has been significantly enlarged, pushing the fog lamps to the extremities of the vehicle, emphasising vehicle width. The new elegant profile is further enhanced by a choice of new 16” and 17” alloy wheel designs. The Avensis safety systems have been comprehensively revised to offer customers lower fuel consumption,CO2 emissions and cost of ownership. The four strong engine range features two new 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre diesel engines as well as 1.6litre and 1.8 litre petrol engines.

Besides the Signatures leather seating, excellent full LED headlights, larger wheels, hands-free boot opening and an electro-chrome rear view mirror over that of the equipment found on other versions, it’s this cars technology which really steals the show. Available from Dynamique trim upwards, R-Link is a control centre that manages the various functions, including multimedia, navigation, telephone, radio, multi-sense and driving aids(ADAS). A multi-sense button on the centre console provides direct access to these functions via

the R-Link 2 display as well as to five different predefined driving settings which also adjust the engine sound: neutral, sport, comfort, perso and eco. There is generous cabin storage space and lovely user friendliness. The Grand Coupé also benefits from the latest drive aid(ADAS) technology now found in Renault’s high-end models. Functions include adaptive cruise control, active emergency breaking system, lane departure warning, safe distance warning, over-speed prevention with traffic sign recognition, blind spot warning, tiredness detection warning, rear-view camera, automatic dipped and main beam headlights, front, rear and side parking sensors and easy park assist. This new Renault shows just how far family saloons have come as far as technology is concerned. The top model represents a lot of value for a substantial car that’s priced less than €30,000. Powered by the larger 1.6 litre 130bhp engine rather than the more common 1.5 litre 110bhp unit, the 20 extra horses give the Grand Coupé a bit more get up and go. Falling into the A3 tax band (€190), the car proved remarkably economical. Most of the time we averaged 4.7 litres/100km (59mpg). Mated to the firm’s six-speed gear box, the long clutch travel became a bit of a nit-pick initially. Best version: Dci110 EDC Auto Price range: €21,990 to €28,490