Carlow People 02-03-2021

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‘Farewell Tom’ March 2, 2021

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Tributes to trainer of people’s champion Danoli

Tributes has been paid to legendary Carlow trainer Tom Foley, who has passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 74.

Foley, who was based in Bagnalstown, will always be associated with the great Danoli.

The Irish banker at the 1994 Cheltenham Festival, he duly obliged in the Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle under Charlie Swan.

He instantly became ‘The People’s Champion’ and went on to win 17 races, including the 1997 Hennessy Gold Cup

at Leopardstown after a great tussle with Jodami.

The previous year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Call was a further 20 lengths back in third.

Despite his illness Foley was training up to the end and enjoyed a winner when Rebel Gold won the beginners’ chase at his local track Gowran Park on Thyestes Chase day last month.

Foley switched from farming to training after buying an Irish draught horse, later building his own stables.

His first winner was at Tramore in January 1988 when Rua Batric won a handicap hurdle at 6-1.

Willie Mullins was quick to pay tribute to Foley: “He was a gentleman, the salt of the earth. He knew how to train a good horse when he got one. The combination of

COVID-19 vaccinations are underway.

They’re already bringing hope to our communities.

As more people are vaccinated, this should help reduce the harm caused by COVID-19.

If you’re aged 85 or over, you will be offered a free COVID-19 vaccine next. This starts from 15th February 2021, continuing as vaccines are supplied to the HSE. You don’t need to register in advance. As soon as your vaccine is available, your GP will let you know.

After this group, people aged 80 and over, 75 and over, and 70 and over will be offered a vaccine in turn.

All vaccines are tested before they are approved for use in Ireland.

If you have questions about your COVID-19 vaccine, we have answers you can trust on hse.ie Or you can call HSElive on 1850 24 1850

Visit hse.ie

Danoli, Dan O’Neill [owner] and Tom was an extremely popular one and the day he won at Cheltenham will live long in the memory.”

Meanwhile, jockey Charlie Swan added: “Tom was a great man.

“All the time I was riding Danoli we never had one crossed word.

“He was just a complete gentleman.”

Foley is survived by his wife Goretti, daughters Sharon, Adrienne and Goretti, and son Patrick.

Hidden Hearing’s Dolores Mullally at the launch of World Hearing Day which is on March 3 this year. Pic: Julien Behal

COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

March 2, 2021

An online vet for your pet Pestilence

to pests: Now flies are to set invade

PET owners in the county are being invited to a free webinar .

It will go live on Saturday, February 27 at 4pm. Small animal vet, Carol Doyle (pictured) will share her expertise on managing pet weight and well-being.

She will answer many of the commonly asked questions about dog or cat’s

diet, fitness and overall health. Participants are also invited to submit a pet-health question. You can join the webinar by signing up to Operation TransPAWmation, an initiative by Petmania.

Operation TransPAWmation is an eight-week health and wellbeing programme being run online with weekly updates, a food diary, exercise

and diet hints and tips plus weekly health-challenges to complete. Pets owners who compete in the weekly challenge and share their new skills on social media with the hashtag #PetmaniaOT will go into a weekly draw to win a Petmania gift-card.

To sign up for Operation TransPAWmation visit www. petmania.ie

Hoteliers in call for supports

Hotel and guesthouse owners are calling for an urgent review of business and employment supports for the hospitality sector following the announcement that it is unlikely to reopen before mid-summer.

They are also asking the Government to intervene with the banks to ensure that appropriate supports and engagement processes are in place for business owners and their team members until Covid-19 has been suppressed.

“Public health must always be the number one priority and we recognise the difficult balance the Government has to achieve,” a spokesperson said.

“However, if the all-important summer period is being eroded, additional supports are required now to safeguard businesses and the livelihoods they support until society reopens and the sector and wider tourism industry can recover.

“The news resulted in acute frustration and anxiety for many people.

“It wasn’t that long along ago that in the aftermath of the last financial crisis tourism was the number one sector in terms of job creation.”

Just are we are set to get over the Covid-19 pestilence, a warning has been issued to be on the look out for pests - in this case flies.

Rentokil, the pest control provider, is warning the public of the increased threat of flies, following a 19% increase in callouts for the insects over the last three months, when compared to the same period a year ago.

While flies are traditionally a warm-weather pest, cluster flies in particular can become an issue for home or business owners as these pests move inside during the cold-weather months to seek shelter.

The company also expects fly callouts to increase over the coming months as weather conditions become warmer.

The main threat which these insects pose is when they spread bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella, and campylobacter, which can lead to a range of illnesses in humans, one of the most common being diarrhoea.

The insects can spread these bacteria to humans when they come into contact with our food.

Richard Faulkner, Advanced Technical Field Consultant for

Rentokil said “Flies can pose the threat of contaminating food or spreading so it is important to ensure that all food in your premises is covered and stored correctly and not left out in the open.

“Additionally, these insects can pose an annoyance when found in swarms as their collective excrement can cause a stench and stain fabrics and walls.

“Additionally, their presence can pose the threat of violating food or hygiene regulations for businesses.

“In terms of guarding against these pests, the most effective methods to employ are fitting fly screens to doors and windows, and utilising an LED fly killer unit, such as the Lumnia LED fly killer !

Rentokil recommends to home or business owners who suspect that they have a fly infestation to identify the source of the infestation as a first step.

The company recommends checking around areas including doors, windows, electrical outlets, eaves, pipes, cable openings, and vents to help to determine if your property has a fly problem.

Smokers urged to kick the habit for good Smokers have been urged to kick the habit for good as health chiefs insist the benefits begin just 20 minutes after stubbing out the last cigarette.

HSE research shows 79% of smokers want to give up and the vast majority (83%) regret starting.

Ash Wednesday, February 17, was National No Smoking Day, prompting renewed efforts to quit - with the added incentive of 20-a-day smokers saving almost €5,000 a year.

“The benefits of quitting happen almost immediately, even 20 minutes after that last

cigarette,” said the Irish Heart Foundation’s Medical Director, Dr Angie Brown.

“Your blood pressure and pulse return to normal, while the risk of heart attack begins to fall just one day later.”

Smoking is a major risk factor in cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.

One in two smokers in Ireland will die of a tobacco-related disease and nearly 6,000 people in this country die each year from the effects of smoking.

Thousands more suffer from smoking-related diseases and second-hand smoking.

February 2, 2021

|03

04|

March 2, 2021

education2021

75% of parents say teachers should get jab

A NEW survey has shown that 75% of parents think teachers should be higher on the prioritisation list for Covid vaccines; while 42% of parents think Norma Foley was to blame over the recent row to reopen schools for children with special needs.

Despite the blow caused by the withdrawal of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) from Leaving Certificate talks, the Department of Education hopes to continue discussions this week over the return of sixth-year students.

Once agreement has been reached, the focus of talks with unions will switch to a phased return for all students at primary and second level.

While the scale of reopening will be guided by public-health advice, there are hopes that a full return to school will be possible over a three-week period in March.

Responding to the impasse, parents voiced their opinions and fears in a survey carried out by iReach.

Some 53% of parents said they disagreed with the medical advice given by the HSE suggesting schools were a safe place to teach.

In the ‘row’ over re-opening schools to support children with special needs, 42% thought Norma Foley was to blame and 36% thought The Department of Education was to blame.

A staggering 75% believed teachers should be higher on

the prioritisation list for Covid vaccines.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly last month said “there are no moves at present” to revisit the priority vaccination groups to move teachers further up the list.

Mr Donnelly said this does not mean it would never happen, but for now the prioritisation would be staying with the first three cohorts — those in long-term residential care, the over 70s and healthcare workers.

Meanwhile, 26% said they would only feel safe to go to pubs and restaurants and other hospitality venues once the majority of the population have been given the Covid-19 vaccine.

Looking for a tutor?

School Is Easy is here to help you Advertorial As we battle to cope with the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 regulations, home-based learning has taken on a new importance.

Many parents who want their children to enjoy the benefits of one-to-one tuition are, nevertheless, nervous about having a stranger in their home or sending young students to a tuition centre.

School is Easy (SIE) can solve that problem.

We can offer one-to-one or group grinds for Primary, Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate school students at a time that works for you and your family.

We offer the following subjects, from Primary to Secondary to Specialist Third Level courses: Irish/Gaelige, English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, German, Spanish, History, Geography, Business Studies, Economics, Design and Technology, Music, and Physical Education .

Going to university and dreading the college exams? No problem, we have skilled and experienced tutors to help every student.

We provide safe, online tutorials that are recorded so that your child can future reference any topic covered.

When you work with SIE, you will get nothing but the best.

All of our tutors have formal education, classroom experience and a passion for teaching.

For senior subjects we use college and university instructors with a Masters degree.

The choice is yours when it comes to the style of tutoring and our range of subjects is broad.

We don’t use generic tutoring lessons. We customise each programme based on the student’s needs, goals and capacity and we take care to match students with the right tutors.

We are easy to work with. We screen tutors for you. We identify learning deficiencies and we get results .

Our certified tutors will provide an initial assessment, if you need it, to ascertain your child’s requirements.

Call us today on 01 556 3553 to book a consulation.

We will be delighted to match you with a tutor.

See our ad on page 5

SciFest calls for entries from our young boffins Last year’s SciFest Champion, Caomhín O’Leary

STUDENTS interested in science, technology, engineering and maths have been called on to enter Ireland’s most inclusive second level STEM fair programme.

SciFest aims to give students of all abilities and backgrounds the opportunity to develop research, problem solving, critical thinking, and presentation skills.

Since its foundation in 2006, SciFest has grown from a single STEM fair of 170 stu-

dents to 99 STEM fairs with 10,000 students participating around the country.

The winner(s) of the SciFest National Final 2021 will be presented with a trophy and will represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2022 in the USA. At last year’s national final Caoimhín O’Leary, a fifthyear student from Ardscoil na Mara in Tramore, Co

Waterford, was named the SciFest SFI STEM Champion 2020, for the research and development of an innovative video analysis measurement system for rehabilitating patients after joint injury or joint surgery.

Caoimhín will represent Ireland at Regeneron ISEF in May. The deadline for receipt of entry forms is March 23.

For more information, visit: www.scifest.ie

March 2, 2021

|05

06 |

March 2, 2021

opinion&comment

The end is near - but we must stay alert Stephen Donnelly Minister For Health

I

t’s only a few weeks since Annie Lynch (pictured), the first person in the country to be vaccinated and a grandmother of ten, received her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Since then we have seen a rapid escalation in the vaccine rollout with the first of the over 85s being vaccinated last week.

Included in that group was my own grandmother, Fran, who is an astonishing 101-years-old.

Like many people across the country I have not seen her since the pandemic began and I like many others am counting down the days till I will be able to see her again.

I’ve spoken to GPs who say the atmosphere in their surgeries during the rollout has been electric.

Some have told me a day of vaccinating patients have been their best days in medicine.

On a recent visit to a GP surgery I watched one elderly woman break down in sheer relief after she was vaccinated.

I’ve also been told of one case where two elderly brothers who had not seen each other in

nearly a year met by accident as they were both called in by their GP to be vaccinated on the same morning.

In nursing homes, the joyful scenes amongst both the staff and the residents as vaccines are administered was a moment to treasure.

At the start of January I made a point of pushing the rollout of the vaccines in the nursing homes forward by a week because it was literally a matter of life and death.

Most of the country’s nursing homes have now been vaccinated which is a huge relief as they have borne the brunt of this pandemic.

Recently, we’ve announced 37 vaccine centres around the country which is simply another way of adding to our capac-

ity to administer the vaccine.

As well as the vaccine centres our GPs and Pharmacists are centres central players in the rollout.

I know people might feel like the vaccination programme is taking forever but we have one serious constraint- supply.

Unfortunately, we do not control the supply that we get into the country.

But what we do control is how quickly we get it into people’s arms once it is in the country.

And thanks to the unprecedented work done by the HSE in tandem with our frontline healthcare workers we are doing extremely well.

In fact, since the first vaccines started arriving, Ireland has consistently been amongst the best performers in the EU.

After a year of real stress and trauma for the country there is now for the first time real tangible hope on the horizon.

As of February 19, over 340,000 people have received the vaccine as either a first dose or a second dose.

This week the HSE expect to administer over 100,000 vaccines while from April the expectation is we will be able to vaccinate one million people a month.

In fact we are on track to have everyone over 70 vaccinated with both doses by mid-May. And it looks like we can look forward to more vaccines coming on stream.

In the past few days Johnson & Johnson applied to the European Medicines Agency seeking authorisation for its single-dose vaccine.

The EMA is expected to give a decision in mid-March which if approved would be a real ‘game-changer’.

The EU has also signed new contracts with both Moderna and Pfizer which will, it is hoped greatly increase supply.

I would add a note of caution that things can change sometimes without warning but even still there are really positive signs the early supply issues are being fixed.

On another positive note, at the time of writing the 14-day

incidence stands at 261.7 compared to 312.1 a week previous.

We are also seeing the number of hospitalisations stabilising and the positivity rate is decreasing.

But cases remain high – this week’s daily rates have been on a par with those seen last April.

The current numbers in hospital are still more than double seen at the peak of the October wave.

The key difference now is the so-called UK variant spreads far more easily, it is sixty per cent mare transmissible, than the variant which was circulating earlier in the pandemic.

In fact 90% of cases in Ireland are the B117 (British) variant.

If it gets into a household we are finding a third of your contacts are likely to test positive Covid-19.

Another red flag is we are noticing the number of close contacts creeping back up We have made huge progress but now is not the time to drop our guard.

The day when we will be through the worst of the pandemic is coming but for now, as difficult as it is, we just need to hold firm.

Until then please follow the public health guidelines as we look forward to a brighter future.

March 2, 2021

| 07

08 | Householders could save €2,000 on energy bills

March 2, 2021

Over 10,000 households in Carlow are missing out on savings of €2,000 in energy costs per year by failing to switch, a survey claims.

Those living in bungalows or detached homes across Ireland can benefit most by trading in their current supplier for a new one, according to the WeSwitchU.ie Index.

The index shows the gap between the cheapest and most expensive plans on the market — with a €2000 annual difference between some dual-fuel plans for these house types.

For semi-detached homes the index reveals savings of €800 for dual-fuel customers (€2,250 versus €1,450 per annum), and €620 for apartment or terracedhouse residents (€1,600 versus €980 per annum).

“Based on average consumption, the index clearly shows that many Carlow households can potentially slice €2,000 off their bills from a premium annual cost of €5,000 to a net cost of €3,000 with the cheapest provider,” said Brendan Halpin, CEO of WeSwitchU.ie.

“There is huge inertia out there when it comes to switching providers.”

Number of empty shop units rises in the county

The commercial vacancy rate in Carlow increased to 13.9% in Q4 2020 according to the latest GeoView Commercial Property Report published by GeoDirectory and EY-DKM .

This was higher than the national average of 13.5%.

Carlow accounted for 1.3% of the State’s total commercial stock of 211,677.

Of the urban areas in Carlow sampled, Muine Bheag (20.3%) had the highest commercial vacancy rate, while Tullow (14.7%) had the lowest 12.1% of commercial units in Carlow were classified as providing Accommodation and Food Services The findings of the report suggest that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the commercial property landscape in Ireland has not yet been fully realised. However, key trends and indicators are beginning to emerge.

An increase in commercial vacancy rates was recorded in 19 counties in Q4 2020 when compared to the corresponding

period in 2019. This included every county in Munster, Ulster and Connacht. Of the five counties to record a decline, all were located in the Leinster region.

Previous GeoView Commercial Property Reports have highlighted a growing

COMMUNITY ARTS AND CULTURE GRANT 2021 Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (ETB) is inviting applications from community providers/groups, for funding through our Community Arts and Culture Grant. The purpose of the Community Arts and Culture Grant is to support local community providers/groups across Kilkenny and Carlow to connect and engage with adult learners through the medium of arts and culture.

This initiative is designed to offer local community providers/groups across Kilkenny and Carlow the opportunity to access funding which will assist them to widen and enhance the participation of adult learners within Further Education and Training, through collective community arts and cultural activities.

This grant is allocated through the Community Education Service of Kilkenny and Carlow ETB. Kilkenny and Carlow ETB’s Community Education Service supports the delivery of a broad range of education programmes, in partnership with community providers/groups.

Commitment towards the promotion and facilitation of lifelong learning, social inclusion and social/personal development in local communities is central to Kilkenny and Carlow ETB’s Community Education Service.

Applicants must demonstrate a track record of engaging and working with adults in the community. For queries and/or application forms and guidelines to support applications please email Amy Deering, Adult Education Office, Kilkenny and Carlow ETB at amy.deering@kcetb.ie.

Completed applications to be returned to: Amy Deering, Adult Education Office, at amy.deering@kcetb.ie.

Closing date for applications: Friday, 19th March 2021 at 4pm.

Late applications will not be considered.

learning works

regional disparity in commercial occupancy rates and this trend appears to be accelerating.

The commercial vacancy rates in Connacht and Ulster were above the national average of 13.5%, while Munster was equal to the national average. In comparison, Leinster (12.3%)

and Leinster, excluding Dublin, (12.7%) recorded vacancy rates below the national average.

The seven counties with the highest commercial vacancy rates were all located along the west coast of Ireland, with almost one-in-five commercial properties vacant in Sligo

(19.9%), the highest in the country.

With the exception of Kildare (14.4%), all counties in the Greater Dublin Area registered commercial vacancy rates lower than the national average, with Meath (10.1%) recording the lowest rate. In the capital itself, the vacancy rate fell marginally by 0.1pp to 11.9%.

Using the classification of commercial property which are allocated a NACE* code, GeoDirectory can provide an analysis of broad economic sectors to identify trends in property usage.

The data shows that in Q4 2020 there were 2,011 fewer Retail and Wholesale address points in Ireland when compared to the previous year.

Kerry (24.3.%), Clare (20.6%), Donegal (19.3%), Leitrim (18.7%) and Mayo (17.9%) were the counties with the highest proportion of Accommodation and Food Service units, relative to the overall county commercial stock.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and/or experienced persons to form a panel of tutors in the Further Education and Training Service within Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board:

FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING TUTOR PANEL REF: 2021FEB179

Application form and further details are available on our website: www.kcetb.ie.

Completed application forms should be submitted no later than 12 noon on Monday, 1 March 2021.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Shortlisting will apply.

Kilkenny and Carlow ETB is an equal opportunities employer.

Co-funded by the

European Union

CARLOW COUNTY COUNCIL I Mark Phelan intend applying to the above authority for Permission to Construct a New Grain/Straw & Machinery Store, Concrete Aprons and all associated works to my existing Farmyard area located at Maplestown – Rathvilly – Co Carlow.

The planning application may

An Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority, Civic Offices, Athy Road, Carlow, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks

learning works

beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Mark Phelan

| 09

March 2, 2021

IT Carlow to be jab hub in Covid battle IT Carlow is set to be used as a Covid Vaccination Centre.

The Seven Oaks Hotel was origianlly named as a location but after much confusion, it was withdrawn.

There are to be 37 Covid-19 vaccination centres around the country, with at least one in each county.

The centres are based on population density and will have different opening times.

Meanwhile, the Minster for Health has said he expects one million vaccines to be administered per month from April.

Writng in this newspaper (see page 14), Stephen Donnelly said: “After a year of real stress and trauma for the country there is now for the first time real tangible hope on the horizon.”

The minister also announced an update to the Vaccine Allocation Strategy.

“Our Covid-19 Vaccination Programme has always been

60% say mental health impacted

Almost six in 10 people feel their mental health and wellbeing has been negatively impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

That’s according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which published some of the results of the fifth round of their ‘Social impact of Covid-19 Survey’.

The CSO survey shows that nearly three-quarters (74.4%) of those aged 18-34 reported that their mental health has suffered significantly during the pandemic. Less than a third (32.4%) over the age of 70 said they felt the same.

Women were more likely to report that their mental health and wellbeing has been negatively affected.

More than six in 10 (62.4%) women said their mental health was impacted compared to just over half of men (51.7%).

More than two in five (41.7%) of people who responded described their overall life satisfaction as “low” – the highest percentage who said this during in any of the CSO’s surveys to date.

built on fairness and to ensure that those with the highest risk of severe disease and death were prioritised for vaccines when supplies were limited,” he said.

People aged between 16 and 69 who are at very high risk of developing severe Covid-19 have been moved up the list.

People aged 65 and older who live in long-term care facilities and frontline healthcare workers have already been vaccinated under the first two stages of the strategy announced on December 8 last year.

Under stage three, Ireland is currently vaccinating people aged 70 and older, starting with those aged 85 and older.

The provisional vaccine groups that were announced in December would have seen other healthcare workers vaccinated next, followed by people aged 65-69, key workers, and then people aged 18-64 with

certain medical conditions.

However, the updated strategy changes the allocation of vaccines in these stages.

The new fourth stage of the roll-out, which comes into effect after all those over the age of 70 are vaccinated, will see vaccines going to people aged 16 and 69 who are considered at very high risk of developing severe Covid-19.

This includes people in this age group who are severely immunocompromised, obese above a certain BMI, have uncontrolled diabetes, undergoing certain treatments for cancer, and/or are living with certain chronic illnesses.

It also includes people aged between 16 and 69 with certain chronic neurological conditions, certain inherited metabolic diseases, Down Syndrome, and sickle cell disease.

Trocaire donations at risk

Connla (7) and Liadh Fallon (5) at the launch of Trócaire’s annual Lenten Appeal with cutouts of children previously featured on a Trócaire Lent boxes - siblings Alex (7) and Joy Faith (6 ) featured in 2020 are from Kenya and Maya (10) featured in 2019 is a Syrian refugee. Pic: Mark Stedman Trócaire has warned that up to one-third of its annual donations have been put at risk after Covid-19 restrictions severely curtailed the distribution of Trócaire boxes this Lent.

The charity’s Lenten Appeal launched this week but social and travel restrictions, including school closures and the suspension of Masses, means that for the first time in almost 50 years many homes will be without Trócaire boxes this year.

While boxes are available to be picked-up at churches, there are up to 50% fewer

boxes in circulation.

Trócaire has asked supporters to pick-up Trócaire boxes from their local church if it is safe to do so, but otherwise to make their annual donation online at trocaire.org.

Trócaire raises approximately €8m each Lent, which amounts to roughly one-third of its annual donations.

“Supporters who are unable to get a box this year can still support our life-saving work by donating online at trocaire.org,” Trócaire CEO Caoimhe de Barra said:

“Lent is the engine that keeps our programmes going throughout the year.

“The people of the county always rally behind our campaign. While this year will be different, we hope the public will continue to support our life-saving work overseas.

“Our campaign this year focuses on people who are trapped in long-running wars, such as those affecting places such as South Sudan and Somalia. Generations of people in these countries have been forced to live through conflict. “

10 | WILDLIFE

with Justin Ivory

Wild Water

Marsh Marigold – a perfect plant for your pond (Photo Justin Ivory) One of the best things you can do for wildlife in your garden is to put in a pond.

The good news is you do not need a large garden or lots of space. Neither does it have to be a major or costly undertaking. Something as simple as rectangular basing or other waterproof container can make a perfect little pond submerged in the ground and filled with rainwater, some rocks, and native aquatic plants. In no time at all your mini-pond will soon attract frogs, newts, dragonflies, damselflies, and a whole horde of water mini-beasts. It will also provide a source of water for birds and mammals to drink and bathe in.

Ponds can be installed at any time of the year, but winter and early spring is the perfect time as you won’t have to wait long before the wildlife and biodiversity starts to appear.

As the saying goes – ‘Build it and they will come!’.

How do you build your minipond? Here are some simple steps: 1. Choose location. A position with some sunlight and shade is perfect.

2. Dig a hole to accommodate your container.

Remove sharp stones/objects from the bottom of the hole to prevent the container being punctured.

3. Add rocks and gravel to the bottom of the container to provide hiding places. Also use bricks, stones, bits of wood etc. to create a stepped/sloped effect so that birds can safely access the water without the risk of falling into deep water and drowning.

4. Next add some plants.

Oxygenating plants are essential. It is best to use native species. Hornwort and Watermilfoil are recommended.

Include two or three native marginal plants around the edge to give perches and cover to wildlife. Plants such as water forget-me-not, lesser spearwort and marsh marigold are good choices.

5. Fill up your pond with rainwater.

March 2, 2021

ninenottomiss book of the week

tv show of the week

HOROSCOPES

reality TV of the week

32 words for field

by Manchán Magan

Neven’s Irish Seafood Trails RTEPlayer,

meat eater new season Netflix

WE didn’t manage to beat the Inuit’s 50 words for snow, but Manchán Magan has done well to find 32 words for field in Irish. And for those among us whose connections not only with our language but with our rich and diverse ancient past have been severed, this is an eye-opening read. Magan does not set out to expose people’s ignorance — though again, he does that rather well — but rather tries to rekindle a passion for our language and heritage and in the hopes that we fall in love with it once more. And this he does rather well too. A book bristling with an eccentric infatuation that is impossible not to admire.

If you missed the final episode of this series, you can catch up on an exhausted Neven, who has managed to make meals out of fish that most people have never even heard of, as he heads off on a culinary road trip, visiting a Japanese restaurant in Co Galway and a food truck in Dunmore East, Co Waterford. He wraps up the series at Krem Gelateria in Co Mayo, where he meets the founder Graham Byrne, who explains how he creates new gelato recipes, and settles once and for all the difference between gelato and ice cream.

Anyone?

ANYONE who happened to champion the illfated ‘Veganuary’ campaign should look away now. Hiding might also be a good idea, as Steve Rinella — who describes himself as an outdoorsman, author and conservationist — is back to put food on his table and this time has his eye on mule deer, duck, wild turkey (not the bourbon), bear and moose, among anything else that crosses his path. The must-watch show for adventure lovers and hunting fanatics has been a huge success and is a bit of a blow for the vegan movement. But somehow ‘Veggie Eater’ doesn’t have the same ring to it.

family day of the week RECIPE of the week

series of the week

AriesStick to practical priorities with shared finances.

Ignore chaos, confusion and distractions. Secure the ground taken.

TaurusDon’t make assumptions about your partner. If you want to know something, ask. Keep an open mind.

You can get the inside story.

GeminiThe workload may seem intense. Focus carefully on the job at hand to reduce technical error. Stay in communication.

CancerRomance could flower, despite unexpected changes.

Look for opportunities for fun and find them. Enjoy excellent company.

LeoCompute expenses and monitor in real time to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Changes could disrupt the schedule.

ask about ireland www.askaboutireland.ie IF you have been driven around the bend and back again by the ‘home schooling’ scam, then fear not. We have the best answer yet to all those questions that kids ask and parents ignore, either because they genuinely don’t know or genuinely could not be bothered trying to formulate a comprehensible answer.

Askabout Ireland, in fairness does limit things to Ireland generally, but will get you half-way there most mornings. It is subdivided into age groups for school children, so you can easily filter the content and it’s not just limited to the school curriculum.

album of the week

february weeknight dinners www.delish.com/cooking/g26113854/februarydinners-recipes/ ie

Behind Her Eyes Netflix

DON’T you just love it when you find a cookery website with a section titled ‘Weeknight Dinners for February’, in February?

Because not only is February the most lost of all lost months, but in the second month of stage 3 lockdown, the ideas for dinner section of the kitchen is seriously depleted.

Feel free to pick through these finger-licking (has that phrase been banned now with the pandemic?) dishes yourself, but our favourite was the Crock-Pot Cube Steak cooked in a slow cooker and served up with mash.

SURE to be watched closely by Dad, Bono, Memphis Eve Sunny Day Hewson (did we get all that right?) stars in this domestic thriller which has been pulling in some top reviews.

It centres on Louise (Simona Brown) a mother who has made her son her world since her husband walked out. When she begins an affair with her new boss David (Tom Bateman) she’s drawn into an unlikely friendship with his wife Adele (Eve Hewson) and things go . . . well, the promo clip shows Adele, who appears to have a black eye, in the kitchen chopping little herbs with a big knife. That’s all we’re saying.

activity of the week

podcast of the week

VirgoUse your power responsibly.

Hold yourself to high standards. Keep your promises, standards and word. Integrity makes things work.

LibraDig into unexpected revelations. New facts dispel old fears. Study the latest developments. Present your findings to your network.

ScorpioTry a gentle approach with domestic matters. Someone in your family could use extra loving. List the problems to solve.

Sagittarius-

Step back and let a controversy sail on by. Clear out clutter. Clean your room.

Offer advice only if asked.

Plan for what’s ahead.

CapricornDon’t make assumptions or expensive promises. Confer with allies to get the inside scoop. Inspire others to succeed.

Now sit back and wait for the wildlife to come!

john carpenter Lost Themes III: Alive After Death

redline book festival www.redlinebookfestival.ie

desert island discs www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr ok.xml

With time you may get lots of tadpoles (Photo Justin Ivory)

ALTHOUGH he is renowned for some of the best horror movies of all time, John Carpenter in the early days had no budget for a composer so had to come up with soundtracks himself. He has been responsible for much of the horror genre’s most striking soundtrack work — as he said himself, fear is a multisensory experience. Lost Themes III embraces horror imagery with tracks like ‘Dripping Blood’, ‘Vampire’s Touch’, ‘The Dead Walk’, and ‘Carpathian Darkness’’ so you know what you’re getting.

Between the Red Lines is a spin-off series of events from the Red Line Book Festival, and brings you a brand-new programme of Irish voices. The programme is brought to you by organisers of The Red Line Book Festival and South Dublin Libraries and Arts. Events will take place over seven days, online, to coincide with the Ireland Reads campaign —- a new national day to celebrate reading.

Festival voices this year include Marita Conlon McKenna, Lisa Harding, journalist and writer, Manchán Mangan.

We all know the format by now: celebrities choose eight songs, a book and a luxury to take with them to a desert island. First broadcast in 1942, more than 3,000 episodes have been recorded and last year it was voted ‘Best radio programme of all time’. Given desert islands are not an option at this point in time, this is comfort listening at its finest and you’d be surprised who you might find choosing the discs. (Pictured is current host Laurene Laverne).

AquariusA professional goal is within sight. Focus and winning is a distinct possibility. Get your team on your side.

Prepare for a test.

PiscesA travel or study opportunity is worth investigating. Find out what’s involved. Look for answers to tough questions.

Contribute to a greater cause.

March 2, 2021

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March 2, 2021

opinion&comment

Sick saga of the world’s most expensive hospital

W

hen the idea of a new national children’s hospital was first mooted I was the father of young girls.

I sincerely hoped our family would never need its services but I was pleased, nevertheless, to learn of the plan, since the hospitals that catered for children were outdated and difficult to reach.

My daughters have children of their own now, two of them in their late teens, and still the hospital has not been built.

Two of those outdated hospitals continue to function in Dublin, providing a wonderful service against the odds. The third, in Harcourt Street, closed its doors in 1998, and transferred some of its services to Tallaght.

Michael Wolsey

If the opportunity had been taken then to base the entire National Children’s Hospital in Tallaght it would have been up and running years ago, in a location easily reached by road and public transport.

Instead, our planners and politicians continued to argue over the perfect site for their grandiose project before choosing a location beside the existing St James’s Hospital. It is more

central (for Dublin) than Tallaght, but that creates its own problems since traffic in the area can be very slow-moving.

It is well served by public transport - but that’s not much use to the parents of very sick children who are unlikely to be waiting for a tram or a train to get them to hospital.

In any case, the location has, as yet, no practical relevance since the hospital has not been built. Latest projections say it will not open until 2024. Since no other forecasts have proved correct, I have no confidence that this date will be achieved.

One thing I feel entirely confident about is that the final cost will be even greater than the €2bn now suggested. In fact I’m pretty sure the real costs already exceed €2bn since millions of euro have been wasted on consultants’ reports and draft planning applications which are not included in the reckoning.

Most histories of this sorry saga say it began in 1993 when a report from the Royal College of Physicians called for a new hospital.

But a decade before that there was talk of rebuilding and extending Crumlin Children’s Hospital. When that proved impractical, a developer offered land, free of charge, for a purpose-built replacement somewhere off the Nass dual carriageway. He even offered to build the structure without charge so long as he was allowed to put up a private hospital on the same site.

This offer was rejected as in some way unethical and, since then, at least three other offers of free sites have been rejected one at Swords, on the northside of Dublin, one at Sillogue, near Ballymun, and a third at the old Phoenix Park racecourse.

Having rejected the opportunity for a free hospital - a free

building, at least - politicians across several governments embarked on a process which will give us one of the most expensive hospitals in the world.

Let me put some context on this. In 1995 Albert Reynolds, then Taoiseach, came back from Brussels with €8 billion for regional development. It was the largest single sum Ireland had ever seen and it revolutionised the country. It built roads, improved telecommunications and financed a huge amount of new infrastructure. It paid for the birth of the Celtic Tiger.

Albert was a shrewd businessman who knew the value of every cent. His successors, who do not, have contrived to spend a quarter of that magnificent sum on just one hospital - and the final bill isn’t in yet.

When work began on the St James’s site, that bill was put at some €900m, so it has more than doubled in five years.

The Chief Executive of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, David Gunning, told an Oireachtas committee that 700 claims by contractors for unbudgeted costs have been lodged, amounting to €300m.

Mr Gunning said this was an inordinately high number of claims but they were being “robustly defended”. That is not encouraging. If new legal costs are to be added to all the other expenses we may yet come to regard €2bn as a bargain basement figure.

The bill keeps rising, the timeline keeps expanding, and the same gallant, outdated hospitals keep protecting our children.

Thankfully, I never needed a children’s hospital for my daughters. I hope they can say the same about their children for I have no faith that the new hospital will be there to serve them.

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March 2, 2021

We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by

Freemans Jrn 10/02/1872

Freemans Jrn 18/02/1853

Irish Ind 4/02/1933

Irish Press 28/02/1934

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carlowpeople.ie March 2, 2021