Carlow People 11-25 June 2021

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All smiles as it’s back to business CARLOW continues to smile as it shakes off many of the Covid restrictions amid the reopening of businesses.

Outdoor dining and drinking have returned along with many visitor attractions across the county, with wet pubs expected to open on July 5.

And there was a welcome boost for the hospitality industry with an increase in bookings for hotels and guesthouses.

They are recording reservation levels of 50% for June, 57% for

July and 45% for August.

A survey from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) shows that bookings for the South East are running about 20% higher than the national average which has shown an increase of around 10% in the past month.

A representative of the IHF said the figures were “a welcome morale boost”.

“The domestic market was a real positive last year and we expect home holidays to be very important for the sector again

this year,” they said.

Meanwhile, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises (ISME) is warning that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is acting as “a significant brake” on returning workers in certain sectors of the economy and should be “tapered” faster than currently planned.

Neil McDonnell, the CEO of ISME), said that this is affecting sectors including agriculture, hospitality, beauty services and accommodation adding

that “significant disincentives” to returning to work exist in the €18,000 - €30,000 income bracket and is a “particular issue” for part-time workers.

But the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) dismissed this as “a baseless claim”.

Dr Laura Bambrick of ICTU, said the affected sectors are “disproportionately reliant on cheap migrant labour”, many of whom have gone home.

Continued on page 8

COVID-19 Vaccines

If you’re aged 50 or over, you can get your COVID-19 vaccine at a local pharmacy.

Many local pharmacies are now offering the Janssen singledose COVID-19 vaccine to people aged 50 and over who are not already vaccinated.

The quickest and easiest way to get this single-dose COVID-19 vaccine is to talk to a local pharmacist or check the list of participating pharmacies on hse.ie.

You don’t need to register on hse.ie but you will need to book your appointment with a participating pharmacy.

#ForUsAll For more information visit hse.ie or call 1850 24 1850

FREE

www.carlowpeople.ie t: 059 914 1877 www.carlowpeople.ie

Sophie Mary Clarke (12), Mary Graham (13), Maria Lenny (12) and Allegra McDonald at the launch of the 2021 National Gum Litter Taskforce Campaign. Pic: Jason Clarke

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Work life balance key for workers, survey finds

WORK life balance is now the standout reason candidates will be attracted to a potential new employer, according to a report by recruitment firm HRM. Of the 1,882 people surveyed, nine in ten (97%) say work life balance is influential in their decision.

When deciding on whether to engage in an interview process, seven in ten (72%) said a better work life balance would be top of their agenda. Six in ten (67%) said they would accept an offer if the workplace allowed flexibility and over half (54%) of respondents would like to commute less.

Only one in ten (10%) respondents want to return to their offices or sites full time.

The experience candidates have with an organisation during the hiring process, is the number one factor determining whether they continue with a process with nine in ten (96%) describing it as influential.

In terms of reasons for refusing an offer, six in ten (67%) citied ‘lack of flexibility offered’.

Four in ten (44%) would refuse a job if the company didn’t offer remote working.

June 11-25, 2021

Are we living in the best place in Ireland?

IS this the best place to live in Ireland? If you think so, you could win the title for the county by sharing your views with a national newspaper.

Any city, town, village, or island could be the ‘Best Place to Live in Ireland’.

To claim the title for your homeplace all you have to do is to write a short submission explaining what makes it so special and send it to the Irish Times.

The countrywide competition last took place in 2012, in the midst of the financial crisis and Westport in Co. Mayo was eventually selected as the overall winner.

The Irish Times has relaunched the competition and the initiative will see each nominated location judged on specific criteria, including community spirit, local services, diversity and vibrancy of the local economy.

“Our panel of judges and researchers will scour Ireland for

Eleanor Hurn (age 9) at the launch of The Irish Times Best Place to Live 2021.

Pic: Conor McCabe Photography

its hidden gems and known paradises,” said Conor Goodman, chair of the juding panel.

Joining Conor Goodman on the judging panel will be Mayo County Architect, Simon Wall, Dr Illona Duffy, Monaghan

trict and five suburbs or urban villages.

The villages were: Ardara, Co Donegal; Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary; Eyeries, Co Cork; Fourmilehouse, Co Roscommon, and Portballintrae, Co Antrim.

The towns: Skerries, Co Dublin; Clonakilty, Co Cork; Killarney, Co Kerry; Westport, Co Mayo; Greystones, Co Wicklow; Birr, Co Offaly; Carrick-onShannon, Co Leitrim; Abbeyleix, Co Laois, and Athlone, Co Westmeath and Sligo town.

There were five Dublin suburbs: Rathmines, the Glenbeigh Road area in Cabra, Clondalkin, Sandymount and Ranelagh. The four cities were: Cork, Derry, Galway and Waterford, while the Dingle peninsula also features on the list of the final 25.

Anyone can enter by writing a short pitch about their place details at www.irishtimes.com/ bestplace. The closing date for entries is July 25.

based GP and public health commentator, RTE Nationwide presenter Zainab Boladalea and Irish Times journalist and author of ‘A Secret Map of Ireland’ Rosita Boland.

Lynsey Adams, Head of

Marketing for sponsor Randox, said the company was delighted to support ‘Best Places to Live 2021’ The last list in 2012, included five villages, 10 towns, four regional cities, one rural dis-

Hot dogs: don’t let your pets overheat

SeaLife marks world ocean day

With the rise in dog ownership over the past year and with temperatures expected to remain high across the county, Dogs Trust is warning owners of the dangers hotter weather can have for dogs.

Sunny weather is such a treat for most in the country, and due to ongoing travel restrictions, many will be making the most of the glorious sunshine with visits to their local park, beach or enjoying a backyard barbeque.

However, dogs cannot cool themselves down the same way as humans, so the charity is asking dog owners, especially those with young puppies, older dogs, overweight dogs or dogs with flatter faces, to be extra cautious as they are more prone to heatstroke.

Common signs of heatstroke to watch out for include uncoordinated movements or collapse, altered or loss of consciousness, loss of vision, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, coma or bleeding. If heatstroke is suspected, seek veterinary attention immediately.

To mark World Ocean Day on June 8, SEA LIFE Bray Aquariumfilled an empty habitat with plastic waste to demonstrate the reality of what lies within our waters.

World Ocean Day is an international day that aims to increase public interest and awareness in the protection of the ocean and the sustainable management of its resources.

With more than eight million metric tons of plastic dumped into our oceans each year, it is predicted that by 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all the fish in the ocean.

The plastic pollution display

means visitors can get a first-hand glimpse of the full extent of the issue.

“Ocean pollution is one of the biggest environmental issues in the world right now,” General Manager of SEA LIFE Bray Aquarium Pat Ó Súilleabháin (above) said.

“The amount of plastic waste in our waters is constantly rising and there needs to be more awareness of the damage we are doing to our planet. The constant flow of rubbish filling our oceans becomes life threatening and risks damaging the creatures’ habitats.”

June 11-25, 2021

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June 11-25, 2021

ANDY WARHOL

KEITH HARING

PATRICK O’REILLY

BOB QUINN

STEPHEN FORBES

The Holywood International Art & Sculpture Fair

Sat 26 June — Sun 18 July, 2021 At the Culloden Estate & Spa in conjunction with Gormleys Fine Art Let your imagination soar among works by over 150 of the art world’s brightest stars this summer on the shores of Belfast Lough.

SANDRA BELL

Explore the Culloden’s Estate, adorned with extraordinary original artwork from Irish masters and international giants.

Indulge in a glass of bubbly from the Bollinger Champagne Bus, linger over lunch in Cultra Inn or enjoy a Bridgerton Inspired afternoon tea.

Visit hastingshotels.com/artandsoul for more details, or call us on 028 9042 1066

FREE ENTRY

June 11-25, 2021

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June 11-25, 2021

opinion&comment

Let’s raise a glass of fine Burgundy to Mr Bloom

M

Michael Wolsey

It was thoughtless of the Government not to have arranged the return of indoor dining a little earlier, to accommodate Bloomsday. Now anyone planning to go on the June 16 food trail will need to map an outdoor route.

I don’t think that would have pleased Mr Bloom. He was not a man for the great outdoors

and was quite fastidious in his eating habits. He dined well, though.

Nowadays we have a wide

r Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls.

He liked thick giblet soup, nutty gizzards, a stuffed roast heart, liver slices fried with crustcrumbs, fried hencod’s roes. Most of all, he liked grilled mutton kidneys which gave his palate a fine tang of faintly scented urine.

selection of restaurants and food stores throughout Ireland, which we think of as a modern development and, certainly, it is a great improvement on the situation I remember from 50 years ago.

But at some stage there must have been a regression, for Leopold Bloom ate very well and his menu, even by modern standards, was both varied and exotic.

He plans a breakfast of ham and eggs for Molly but has no eggs, so his thoughts turn to a mutton kidney, fried with butter and a shake of pepper. Better still, he thinks, a pork kidney, from Dlugacz’s, the Polish butcher, in Dorset Street.

For his own lunch, in Davy Byrne’s moral pub, he enjoys a Gorgonzola cheese sandwich and a glass of fine Burgundy.

He reflects that he might also “like a few olives too if they

had them. Italian I prefer. Good glass of burgundy (and a) nice salad, cool as a cucumber, Tom Kernan can dress. Pure olive oil. Milly served me that cutlet with a sprig of parsley. Take one Spanish onion. God made food, the devil the cooks. Devilled crab.”

Bloom is an advertising canvasser, who is paid a commission for placing ads in newspapers. He maintains a middleclass lifestyle on a low income , yet he can afford to drink Burgundy, enjoys devilled crab, and is fussy about his choice of olives.

Since no-one seems to find his eating habits extraordinary, we must assume they were normal enough for Dublin, early in the last century. “Mr Bloom ate his strips of sandwich, fresh clean bread, with relish of disgust, pungent mustard, the feety savour of green cheese. Sips of

his wine soothed his palate. Not logwood that. Tastes fuller this weather with the chill off. “ Later, in the Ormond Hotel, Bloom enjoys slices of liver with mashed potatoes in gravy .

Gerty MacDowell, who excites Bloom with a flash of her knickers, believes the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. If Bloom were her husband, she would treat him to “griddle cakes done to a golden brown hue and Queen Ann’s pudding of delightful creaminess”.

Molly worries about her husband ordering “eggs and tea, Findon haddy and hot buttered toast”.

Findon haddy is a kipper from Scotland. Molly had bought some “lovely fresh plaice” that day and thinks she’ll get a bit more fish tomorrow along with some blancmange and black currant jam but not “those 2lb

pots of mixed plum and apple.”

The range of the food on offer is impressive. Molly hates eels and thinks she might go for cod.

She is sick of “loin chops and leg beef and rib steak and scrag of mutton and calfs pluck” and is planning to join her lover on a picnic where they will have “cold veal and ham mixed sandwiches”.

She fantasises about a course of sardines and bream.

She has a fondness for oysters washed down with stout and likes the “fine salty taste of port and potted meat”.

Having thought about food for much of the day, Bloom ends it in bed with his wife, admiring her breasts, like pears, and the “plump mellow yellow smellow melons of her rump”.

Ah yes, there’s eating and drinking in Bloomsday. And maybe next year we’ll get to do it all indoors again.

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June 11-25, 2021

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All smiles as we go back to business

June 15, 2021 Kathleen Galligan and Margaret Gilna celebrate their 90th birthdays recently with a trip . The pair were born on May 30, 1931 and both married on April 15, 1958 in a twin wedding. Pic: Jason Clarke

Continued from front page

Meanwhile, funding of €25m has been allocated to producers and promoters to help stage festivals and live performances around the country this summer and autumn.

Around 230 organisations will benefit from the scheme including the companies responsible for staging Electric Picnic, Body and Soul, and Indiependence.

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Arts Catherine Martin said the funding will assist in the employment of performers, artists, technicians, creative and performance support staff across the sector.

Recipients of the funding range from small to large venues, producers and promoters.

Around 400 applications were received with funding allocated to 237 organisations.

Over €400,000 was allocated to Body and Soul Ltd for an Equinox event “to showcase exemplary Irish practitioners of music, comedy, spoken-word, set design, cross-pollinating practices, creating new authentic performances”.

Learn to be an online influencer

Aspiring influencers can now study a course to help them launch an online career.

A week-long summer course has been launched at IT Carlow aimed at secondary school students from transition year to sixth year.

The aim is to help them develop their online presence, build a business, launch a fan page or launch a social justice campaign.

The Digital Hustle Summer School has recruited wellknown influencers including Irish TikTok stars Lauren

Whelan and Nia Gall.

The two young women will give students an insight into how they used the app to grow their follower count to hundreds of thousands each.

Students will also meet small business owners who have harnessed social media to develop their unique brands. These people will provide a beginner’s guide to the dos and don’ts of successful online branding.

Teen coffee entrepreneurs Ciara and Aisling from Quirky Coffee will speak

about their journey into the world of digital marketing and brand building while still having fun and strengthening their friendship.

As well as learning from those who have made their name online, students will gain valuable insight into what it means to have a digital identity and how to market to your audience.

Among the topics included in the programme are the psychology of memes, brand building and how to tell your story online.

Planning notices Carlow County Council: We Woodlawn Developments Ltd intend to apply for Planning Permission for the construction of 10 no. dwellings consisting of 3no. Three bed (2-storey) townhouses and 7no. four bed (2-storey) townhouses, connection to existing site services and vehicular access road, provision of landscaping and communal open space, boundary treatment works, and all associated and ancillary development works at Ard Bhile, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow. The planning application may 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 made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks 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: Woodlawn Developments c/o Michael Fitzpatrick Architects MRIAI,

Main Street, Butlersbridge, Co. Cavan. Tel: 049 4365800 Carlow County Council: I, Ken Keenan wish to apply to the above authority for Planning Permission for alteration of existing commercial building to include additional offices and toilets and all site and ancillary works at Torc Candles Ltd., Borris Business Park, Clonegoose, Borris, Co. Carlow R95 H044.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Carlow County

Council, County Buildings, Athy Road, Carlow, during its public opening hours 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application.

The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: CANICE Architects www.canicearchitects.com

Most of us in Carlow back ‘no vaccine no job’ rule

A MAJORITY of workers in Carlow say employers should be able to insist that their staff are vaccinated against Covid 19.

A survey has found that 62% of Carlow people are in favour of employers being required to check vaccine certification before admitting staff to their place of work.

The annual FRS Recruitment Employment Insights Survey also found that more than nine out of every ten people in Carlow would take a job that required them to be vaccinated.

As the country emerges from lockdown, 58% of Carlow workers admitted to being fearful for their job security, equal to the national average.

FRS Recruitment says 91% of Carlow employees are now remote working some or all of the time. Nationally, 85% of employees want to be able to work remotely and 83% of all employers plan on offering more remote working .

95% of Carlow employees expect to receive a pay rise in the next 12 months.

Almost half of people in Carlow (48%) believe the

reopening of the economy has been too slow in 2021.

A total of 3,192 people participated in the survey nationally which was conducted over 12 days in April.

“What comes across in the survey this year is that optimism is returning to the jobs market in Carlow and all around the country,” said Colin Donnery, General Manager of FRS Recruitment.

“People in Carlow have adopted to the change of circumstances created by the pandemic and as we emerge from lockdown they are ready to move forward.

“After a year of lockdown and an understandable reluctance to consider change, we are seeing that both candidates and employers are now keen to see what the market offers.

“With 9 out of 10 employers nationally either currently hiring or planning to start hiring in the next 3 months it shows that confidence is returning to the economy, which is likely to drive extensive job market activity through the remainder of 2021.”

IT Carlow to see its students return

Students and staff at IT Carlow are set for a boost come September with word they will be returning to campus.

The Cabinet has signed off on plans that should see higher education students returning to a full campus life experience from September.

As expected, the plan, published this afternoon, envisages the resumption of lab and classroom based teaching and learning, including tutorials and workshops, as well as the resumption of on-campus noneducational activities and facilities such as sports, bars, canteens, and clubs and societies.

All of these facilities “will operate in line with prevailing general public health advice for

those activities”.

The plan states that the provision of larger scale lectures “is achievable only in a very different public health environment”.

It says it is hoped that, with the benefit of mass vaccination, this environment is achievable in autumn 2021.

It points to modifications to ventilation, and the size / capacity of very large lecture halls as possible measures that might be employed.

However, overall numbers attending on-campus at any given time will continue to be moderated. It is envisaged that research activities, which have been operating at just 25% of normal capacity, will return to full-scale activity.

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June 11-25, 2021

Local school wins debating champs for a second time

Stephanie Doyle, Katie Doyle, Stanislav Ustinov, Dylan O Neill and coach Leon Power of Presentation De La Salle in Bagenalstown A SCHOOL in Carlow has won one of Ireland’s largest and most prestigious debating contests – which went ahead online this year due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Presentation De La Salle in Bagenalstown, Carlow won the Concern Debates Cup in their online final with Bailieborough Community School, Co Cavan.

The All-Ireland champions - captain Stephanie Doyle, Katie Doyle, Dylan O’Neill, Stanislav Ustinov, and team researcher Adam Zielinkski - successfully argued against

the motion that “cuts to overseas aid, proposed by the British Government, are unjustifiable and counterproductive.”

“We are extremely proud of this amazing team,” said Presentation De La Salle teacher and debates team mentor, Leon Power, who has mentored the schools debating teams since 2015 when they last won the competition.

“They have a natural flair for debating and it was a privilege to see them grow over the year. True champions.”

Concern Debates was created by the Irish humanitarian organisation, Concern Worldwide, in 1984 to encourage further debate and awareness of global issues and to improve the level of debating skills amongst young people.

Over 50,000 students have taken part in Concern Debates since the competition began and some of its well-known past participants include Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, RTÉ’s Claire Byrne and Virgin Media One’s Karen Koster.

No place like home if you seek the sun CARLOW is one of the most sunny places in Ireland and the county is thirsd in the sunshine league, being beaten to first place by our sunny neighbour, Wexford.

The Sunny South East really lives up to its name, for Waterford comes second in the league, compiled by Legacy Communications, an independent brand marketing agency.

It shows Wexford with 1,600 hours of sunshine in a year, 160 more than our neighbour Wicklow to the east and 40 more than Carlow.

Less predicatably, fourth and fith places go to Longford (1,520 hours) and Cavan (1,440 hours).

The research paints a gloomy picture of the west. Mayo gets the least sunshine (1,059 hours),

just ahead of Roscommon, Leitrim and Galway. Carlow enjoys more sunshine than most of our neighbours in Britain.

Our 1,540 hours compare with 1,400 for London, Brmingham and Manchester but loses to Blackpool (1,567), while

Brighton is a long way ahead on 1,900 hours.

Glasgow is on a gloomy 1,203 hours.

The Legacy Communications research shows that southern Europe is in a league of its own.

Rome sees an annual 2,500 hours of sunshine, Lisbon 2,799, Madrid 2,910 and Valetta in Malta tops them all with 2,957 hours.

But the good news for Carlow’s tourist industry is that, for a sunny staycation, there’s no place like home.

“Whether you fancy a relaxing staycation, an al fresco meal or a cheeky outdoor gin/ pint, it’s clear that heading to Carlow will increase your chances of getting some Vitamin D,” says Micheál Brennan, Head of Search at Legacy Communications.

learning works

ONLINE SKILLS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE BUILD YOUR CAPACITY, BE CONNECTED AND BECOME COMPUTER CONFIDENT Would you like to learn more about the internet and learn how to access and use websites which are now part of everyday life?

FREE part-time courses will be offered onsite in Carlow.

Adults interested in participating in this short course will have an option to start in June, August, September, October, November or December 2021. n

Beginners Programme 16 hours part-time over a two-week period

n

Intermediate Programme 8 hours part-time over a one-week period For further information, please contact: Tara Kelly in the Adult Learning Service, Kilkenny and Carlow ETB, Tel: 059 9135 544 or Email: info@carlowadultlearningcentre.ie All onsite programme delivery will be in line with COVID-19 public health and safety guidelines.

Provision co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

Có-mhaoinithe ag an

AONTAS EORPACH Co-funded by the

EUROPEAN UNION

European Union Investing in your future European Social Fund

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

A number of Kilkenny and Carlow ETB Further Education and Training programmes are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

10 | WILDLIFE

with Justin Ivory

A Good Year for the Roses

Rose-coloured Starling on June 3 (Photo Justin Ivory) We are not talking flowers here but birds that are even more stunning than the bloom.

Over the last two weeks Ireland has seen an invasion of Rose-coloured Starlings (Pastor roseus) with sightings of birds in 11 counties so far. I was delighted to catch up with a group of three at my local patch in Kilcoole on June 3.

The same size and shape as our Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Rose-coloured Starlings have a pink body with glossy black head, wings and tail, pinkish beak, and pale orange legs.

These birds breed in easternmost Europe and south Asia, and winter in India and tropical Asia.

They are prone to periodic irruptions where relatively large numbers migrate well beyond their normal range and end-up in western Europe, the UK and Ireland.

It is believed these irruptions are linked to changes in the populations of their favourite food-source locusts and grasshoppers.

These irruptions are happening more regularly and appear to be linked with warmer, calmer, more settled late-spring conditions across the continent, conditions that are become more regular because of climate change.

There were irruptions in 2018 and again in 2020 and now 2021 is seeing another such irruption.

The other change that is being seen is that typically these birds usually show up singly, but there are more occurrences of multi-individual sightings starting to come through such as the three birds seen at Kilcoole, Wicklow and Donegal this June, and several sightings of two birds together.

The record number of Rose-coloured Starlings seen together in Ireland was five back in 2002.

The species has also slowly been expanding its range and has started colonising parts of Bulgaria and Romania since 2000.

In 2020 Rose-coloured Starlings bred in France for the first time after 20 pairs settled in a colony in the Alpes-deHaute-Provence region, with 15 pairs having active nests.

Maybe in the future if they start visiting Ireland in larger groups the same could happen here.

June 11-25, 2021

ninenottomiss book of the week

TV of the week

HOROSCOPES

film of the week

someone has to die for this Derek Molyneux and Darren Kelly

tracks and trails Friday June 18, 7.00pm (RTE 1)

The blair witch project Netflix now

AUTHORS Derek Molyneux and Darren Kelly have created vivid accounts of violence that parts of this book are not for the faint-hearted, with graphic depictions to convey the brutal ferocity of these tumultuous times. The book draws the reader into the final frenetic months of Dublin’s War of Independence.

The events of Bloody Sunday are written in uncompromising, unflinching, and unprecedented detail. The authors retrace the footsteps of IRA assassination units through the streets of Dublin, describing in gory detail the horrors inflicted on the homes they invaded. You have been warned.

TRACKS & Trails is back for a 9th series and is bursting with beautiful hikes, walks and cycles on newly developed and lesser travelled routes on the island of Ireland. In this new series the presenters are challenged to cover a lot of ground on foot or by bike and in some cases scale some steep yet very rewarding trails on hills and mountains, meandering peaceful paths getting away from it all. This week, Pól O Conghaile explores Co Wexford, beginning in Ferrycarrig and tracing a route that is full of stories spanning more than 10,000 years of Ireland’s history.

WHEN this first came out back in 1999, it was a revolutionary movie which spawned myriad projects based on ‘found footage’. But it’s still hard to beat the original which is now available on Netflix. It’s October 21, 1994, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams hike into Maryland’s Black Hills Forest to shoot a documentary film on a local legend, The Blair Witch. They were never heard from again. One year later, their footage was found. The Blair Witch Project is their legacy. Try showing this to your kids who weren’t even born when it first came out and see if they get scared. Nah.

wine of the week

buy of the week

doc of the week

AriesAnother can get through where you can’t. Connect and ask around. Take advantage of a romantic lucky twist.

TaurusPool resources to improve your family’s living conditions. Prioritize practicalities. You can get what you need.

GeminiFind solutions in your networks. Connect to exchange ideas. Edit a fantasy down to a realistic plan.

CancerCosts may be higher than expected; income could rise too. Set a juicy goal, and go for it. You’re creative and efficient. Track the results.

LeoAs you gain strength, you gain options. Stay on solid ground. Illusions or fantasies could distract from the job at hand.

breaking boundaries Netflix now

Delheim Pinotage RosE O’Briens, €13.95

faux stone fire pit aldi.ie

WITH staycations the best that most of us can hope for this summer, it’s essential to stock up on some warm weather wine and chilled rosé is unbeatable. It’s not all about France either.

The rest of the wine world also produces, fresh, fruit-filled roses in all sorts of different styles. We have gone for this beautifully scented rose with fresh, juicy, ripe fruits, good acidity and a finish that is dry but never bitter. if anyone knows about sipping wine outdoors, it has to be the South Africans, so off you go and throw a bottle in with the ribs and chicken wings . . . just joking. Tender chicken breasts and fine steaks only.

WITH Father’s Day nearing, we have scoured the shelves for the best items that fall outside the usual wine, beer and socks gift bracket and have come up with this: the perennial father pleaser, the (Faux) Stone Fire Pit from Aldi. This is back on sale this year for €59.99 so he can enjoy the warmth of a real wood fire (with the beer). It is light, durable and simple to assemble and has a fire bowl and chrome plated cooking grill, so you can keep out there all day. Only snag is it goes on sale on Sunday June 20th, so make sure he’s still asleep while you sneak out early to get it.

BREAKING Boundaries follows the scientific journey of world-renowned scientist Professor Johan Rockstrom. It tells the story of the most important scientific discovery of our time — that humanity has pushed Earth beyond the boundaries that have kept our planet stable for 10,000 years, since the dawn of civilisation.

You may have had enough doom and gloom to last a lifetime, but lifetime might be a lot shorter than it used to be if we keep going the way we are going, is the take-home message from this latest lecture on Netflix. Once you’ve had your vaccine, take to the couch and hope for the best . . .

album of the week

charity of the week

podcast of the week

VirgoKeep a low profile. Postpone travel or overstimulating environments. Review recent events, and make practical plans for what’s ahead.

LibraBenefits arise through teamwork and cooperation.

You can always include another into your circle of friends.

ScorpioWork takes priority. You’re unraveling a challenge.

Gather information, and tap into hidden assets. Get support from your team.

Sagittarius-

Make plans to get away.

You’re especially inventive and creative. Get inspired by another’s adventure. Get outside to feel the wind and sun.

CapricornBrainstorm with your partner or team for lucrative ideas. Ask questions. Relax and listen. A brilliant insight shatters an illusion.

crowded house Dreamers are Waiting IT’S been over a decade since we last heard from the beloved band, but that time hasn’t dulled their infectious spirit or keen ear for melodies, courtesy of Neil Finn, who is now aged 63. His son Elroy is now with him on drums, his other son Liam is on guitar and backing vocals, so it’s a family affair. . . without brother Tim, obviously. You won’t find anything approaching Don’t Dream It’s Over here, or anything that sounds much like the Crowded House Generation X grew up with. But then, we all have to grow up.

focus ireland: carrauntoohill focusireland.ie/get-involved/fundraisingevents/carrauntoohil/ IF climbing Ireland’s highest peak has always been on the wishlist but never got the guts to try, then your moment has come — with the help of Kerry’s finest guides. You can also help raise funds for the staff at Focus Ireland, who do so much good work for the homeless. The event takes place on August 29 and the target for fundraising is €400, with a €50 registration fee. There is an option to stay overnight, but that won’t be round for long.

brexit republic www.rte.ie/news/brexit-republic WE didn’t want it in the first place and we never wanted to hear about it again. But it’s back, like it or not. On the latest instalment, Europe Editor Tony Connelly, London Correspondent Sean Whelan and Deputy Foreign Editor Colm Ó Mongáin discuss Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney’s meeting with UK Chief Negotiator David Frost and DUP leader Edwin Poots’s meeting in Dublin with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Chances of reaching a breakthrough are not high . . . oh dear.

AquariusGet creative with your partner. Make plans for the future. Romance is a distinct possibility. Collaborate and have fun.

PiscesPrioritize your health, work and fitness. Physical action gets results. Discover solutions in conversation.

Get support from a coach, trainer or doctor.

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June 11-25, 2021

IT CARLOW WEXFORD CAMPUS: WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR NAME…

Located in the heart of Wexford town, IT Carlow Wexford Campus provides accessible, affordable, third-level education, resulting in a pool of talented graduates.

T

he campus was established in 1995 with a mission to respond to the academic, economic and cultural needs of the region, and has grown through collaboration, innovation and connectivity to become an integral part of the fabric of County Wexford.

IT Carlow Wexford Campus currently offers 15 full-time CAO courses, from higher certificate to honours degree levels. Its suite of course offerings reflects the importance of tourism, the arts, agriculture, business and the growing tech sector in Wexford.

The quality of courses offered and the positive student experience are what continue to attract learners to IT Carlow Wexford Campus. The teaching and administrative staff know the students by name and the campus is renowned among students and alumni for its family-like atmosphere.

The various campus clubs and

societies also offer opportunities for students to make new friends and settle into college life, alongside a dedicated Student Services team, supported by the Access Officer and Centre for Teaching and Learning.

Reflecting on her experience of studying at IT Carlow Wexford Campus, Fani Gal, a second year BSc in Tourism and Event Management student, said, “All our lecturers know us by name. I feel the lecturers provide more attention and help for each individual. They care about you. You are part of a big family in a calm and friendly environment, but you can also enjoy college life”.

Billy Jean Doheny, a recent BA (Hons) Visual Communications and Design graduate commented, “The design studios are state-of-the-art and have all the latest software and equipment we need. I love the diversity of the course modules too; aside from the core de-

sign learning, there’s a strong emphasis on business and web technologies”.

While students benefit from the positive atmosphere on the Wexford Campus, and access to the latest technology, they also have excellent opportunities to build connections through work experience and networking with industry.

Every year, IT Carlow Wexford Campus engages with over 100 organisations, including community groups, voluntary agencies, youth groups, businesses, statutory organisations and the health, cultural and arts sectors.

More than 3,700 students have graduated from IT Carlow Wexford Campus since it opened its doors in 1995.

A welcomed and consistent compliment from graduands on graduation day is how they could not have achieved their dream of a degree without IT Carlow Wexford Campus.

Level 8 CW078 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sustainable Farm Management and Agribusiness CW028 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care CW068 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Professional Social Care CW018 Bachelor of Business (Honours) CW058 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Tourism and Event Management CW048 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Creative Computing and Digital Innovation CW088 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Visual Communications and Design CW038 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Art Level 6/7 CW027 Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Farm Management and Agribusiness CW037 Bachelor of Business CW006 Higher Certificate in Business CW077 Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Event Management CW087 Bachelor of Science in Creative Computing and Digital Innovation CW047 Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications and Design CW057 Bachelor of Arts in Art

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June 11-25, 2021

opinion&comment

Address player welfare now

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he horrific scenes on June 12 in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen involving Christian Eriksen were probably the last moments of his elite soccer career; thankfully they were not the last moments of his life.

Fabrice Muamba survived a similar brush with death, but Marc-Vivien Foe and others didn’t.

The Eriksen incident brings into sharp focus the issue of player welfare in soccer.

There are parallels to be drawn with stars of other professional sports.

Yes, players earn vast sums of money. But what good is being rich if you haven’t got your health, which is your real wealth.

There was a brief clip in some of the footage from Saturday of Kasper Schmeichel, the Leicester City and Denmark goalkeeper, consoling Eriksen’s partner.

Presumably at that moment they feared the worst.

You can see some traumatic

stuff as an elite soccer player.

I remember Schmeichel running to the scene of the helicopter crash at the King Power Stadium in 2018 which claimed the lives of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the Leicester City owner, and his entourage.

Schmeichel’s dad Peter vomited on the pitch during a game between Manchester United and Coventry City in 1996 on seeing the injury to Coventry’s Dave Busst; the compound fracture to both the tibia and fibula of his right leg remains the worst injury in Premier League history.

Should the game between Finland and Denmark have been concluded on Saturday? No, it certainly should not have.

The game should have been abandoned and slotted in elsewhere in the schedule.

What pressure was there from the ‘powers that be’ and sponsors to have the game concluded?

We will find out in time, but it is the same kind of pressure that saw Brazil players forced to play the 1998 World Cup final against France after wit-

nessing Ronaldo (the first one) suffer a convulsive fit in the dressing room (not surprisingly,

Brazil lost). Euro 2020 is being played in 2021 because rather than write off the tournament

the ‘powers that be’ insisted it must be staged.

The players had to conclude

the 2019-20 season in difficult circumstances, go straight through a full 2020-21 programme and now rock up for Euro 2020 (2021).

Then it will be back into the 2021-22 season, then the 2022 World Cup. It’s too much.

The issue of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (the heart condition that causes the heart to stop suddenly during intense physical exercise) isn’t the only one for soccer to address.

Add in the issue of a higher incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s amongst retired players from years of heading the football, not to mention the gambling and other addiction issues.

Soccer players only have a short career.

The riches they earn are no good to them if they can’t live a full and healthy life after the game.

As for the fans, I’m guess I’m not alone in saying I could live with less football if it meant healthier and safer players.

- Brian Quigley

June 11-25, 2021

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June 11-25, 2021

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June 11-25, 2021

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

Evening Her 2/06/1939

Irish Press 20/06/1986

Irish Ind, 15/06/1935

Freemans Jrn 01/06/1867

Irish Press 12/06/1935

Freemans Jrn 19/06/1841

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carlowpeople.ie June 11-25, 2021