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December 14, 2021
carlowpeople highest, most frequent readership in carlow
.ie .ie t: 059 914 1877
November 19, 2019 December 14, 2021
FREE
12,000 copies
Panto: On no it isn’t going ahead this year ONE of the highlights of the Christmas calendar has sadly been cancelled at the 11th hour, due to the latest Covid-19 restrictions. The long-running Christmas panto by Striking Productions has had to call off its sell-out string of shows at Visual this year, just before the longawaited opening night. ‘Freezin, The Quare Cold Panto’ had sold 2,350 tickets for its seven shows, due to run from 15-19 December — including two matinees — with a cast of
dozens of young performers set to entertain and delight audiences. A dismayed striking Productions artistic director Robert O’Neill described the cancellation as “completely demoralising”, adding the theatre company would now have to fundraise to meet “huge” debts accumulated in production. “In a time when the Taoiseach speaks repeatedly of togetherness, I am disappointed that ultimately the decision
Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine are currently being offered to: • Everyone aged 60 and over • Healthcare workers
was left with me. We couldn’t possibly operate at 50% capacity,” he said. Striking Productions had looked at various options, including changing to an outdoor venue and postponing to another date. However, it had not been possible to reschedule due to the restrictions and timeline of the shows. Mr O’Neill said it would also have been wrong for some parents to be in a situation where they didn’t get to see
their children perform. Mr O’Neill also spoke of his bitter disappointment that talented young performers like six-year-old Emmy Nolan, who was to have made her solo debut, and Siobhan Kavanagh and Grace Guerin, who were to share the role of Queen Elsie, would not have the opportunity to experience a unique, formative moment. “I am also sorry for our audiences. We were providing Continued on page 4
It is very important to take your booster appointment when it is offered.
Why do I need a booster dose?
You will be offered a single booster dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. You can get one of these vaccines even if you already got a different COVID-19 vaccine. You should get your booster dose around 5 months after your last COVID-19 vaccine. If you had COVID-19 since your last vaccine, you should get a booster dose at least 6 months after your positive test.
Your COVID-19 vaccine offers protection against hospitalisation and severe illness from COVID-19, but this protection may weaken over time. Infections and illness in people who are fully vaccinated can happen. • If you are aged 70 or over, you’ll be invited for your booster vaccine by your GP. • If you are aged 60 to 69, you will get a text message from the HSE with a vaccination centre appointment. • Healthcare workers will be invited for their booster vaccine at their workplace or at a HSE vaccination centre.
For more information visit hse.ie or freephone 1800 700 700
A Little Elf at enjoys the County Carlow Festive Family Experience Launch. See full s tory page 13
Right now, COVID-19 cases in the community are high and this increases your risk of coming into contact with the virus.
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What type of vaccine?
What about other groups of people?
People with high-risk health conditions and people aged 50-59 will be invited for their booster next. When it is time for your vaccination you will get a text message from the HSE with a vaccination centre appointment.
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Carlow college is a true star
STAR weavers from Carlow have helped One Million Stars Ireland project the significant milestone of 100,000 stars. Carlow College, St Patrick’s recently became the first third level institution in the country to host an on-campus One Million Stars installation. Each eight-point star represents light, hope and solidarity against violence, while promoting the project’s eight points of healthy love within relationships. Carlow College’s star installation was launched to coincide with this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence global campaign. The One Million Stars Ireland project is an inclusive community arts project, which connects communities across Ireland in solidarity against domestic abuse and all forms of violence. The Amber Women’s Refuge provides emergency refuge accommodation to women and children in Carlow and community-based support at Tullow and Bagnalstown Family Resource Centres. See: www.amberwomensrefuge.ie.
December 14, 2021
Don’t be a turkey — ‘Dogs died trust the thermometer horrendous
deaths’ as they were left to starve
Chef Gareth Mullins recommends using a thermometer for safe cooking this Christmas. AS we get closer to the big day, new research has emerged showing ownership of meat thermometers is increasing — but over threequarters of people (78%) are not aware of the correct temperature to which turkey should be cooked to. To help Ireland cook their turkeys the right way this festive season, safefood is launching its ‘Trust the Meat Thermometer’ campaign to encourage people to use a meat thermometer when cooking turkey, poultry or
any meat product that needs to be cooked all the way through. Gareth Mullins, chef and safefood’s campaign ambassador, explains more about cooking Christmas dinner, heating up leftovers and preventing food waste. Take your turkey out of the oven and pop the thermometer in the thickest part between the leg and breast, he says. When it reaches 75 degrees Celsius it’s cooked and ready to eat. For poultry, like
turkey and chicken and other meats that need to be cooked through, it is important they are cooked until piping hot, with no pink meat and juices running clear. And when it comes to leftovers, Gareth says any food standing at room temperature for more than two hours is high risk and has the potential to make you, your family and friends sick. Otherwise, foods like veg, potatoes, stuffing and meat can all be stored in the fridge for up to three days.
Dismay as panto cancelled
Continued from front page much positivity at a particularly difficult time for everybody,” he said. The only available support currently is for professional pantos with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €300,000, which does not include the Carlow event. Last year, Striking Productions had to cancel its musical and panto, while it has not run Easter and summer camps due to the pandemic. He added: “We will plan to fundraise over the coming months to try and pay our huge debt, but as things are, my enthusiasm is entirely waned. We can’t continue to plan with repeated adversity. It is totally demoralising.” In a statement, Visual said: “As a team, we are very disappointed at last week’s announcement by the government to reduce audiences to indoor live events by 50%. This decision has resulted in the cancellation of many upcoming shows.” “The energy and hard work that goes into bringing this show to the stage cannot be quantified,” it added..
A WOMAN with an address at Tullow, Co Carlow, was disqualified from keeping animals for life, after pleading guilty to 12 offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (AHWA) at Carlow District Court on Thursday 2nd December 2021. In addition to the disqualification, the judge imposed a five month custodial sentence, suspended for one year, and ordered that she pay a total of €1,550 in court and ISPCA costs. I S P C A Inspector Fiona Conlon told the court that she visited a vacant property in Tullow, on Christmas Eve 2019. She described seeing a small rusty coloured terrier running loose and then a shed with its door and windows blocked up and tightly secured. It took Fiona several minutes to remove the blocks and tape holding the door closed in order to gain entry to the shed. Inside she made a grim discovery, the remains of two dead dogs. There was a larger Doberman cross and a white/fawn terrier, both of which Fiona described as bony, gaunt and visibly undernourished. There were empty containers but no food or water present. There was a huge pile of
moulding faeces in the middle of the floor and the stench was horrendous. Inspector Conlon removed the live dog and the two deceased dogs and brought them to a local vet. A post-mortem showed that the deceased dogs were dehydrated and emaciated with no body fat and no food in their stomachs prior to their deaths. Acting on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, William Maher asked Inspector Conlon how she would rate the seriousness of the offences. Inspector Conlon stated that the dogs would have died “horrendous deaths”. She said they had been locked in a shed with no food or water and left there to starve. On passing sentence, Judge Power said that the photographs produced in evidence and the vocal presentation of Inspector Conlon showed the gravity of the suffering the animals endured saying that it was “at the top end of the scale”. He imposed a five month custodial sentence but, taking into account the woman’s guilty plea and the fact that she was a first time offender, he suspended the sentence for 12 months.
Penneys to ‘revitalise’ Carlow in summer
THE multi-million refurbishment of the Penneys site will “revitalise” the Hanover area and give a welcome boost to Carlow town. Primark, the international retailer operating as Penneys in Ireland, announced an opening date of summer 2022 for the refurbished store on Kennedy Avenue. Penneys will move from its current rented unit at Carlow Shopping Centre.
Welcoming the news, Carlow County Council cathaoirleach Fintan Phelan said: “It’s a prime site in our town centre and it’s great to see it refurbished and brought back to life. “Over the last number of months, Penneys have started their revamp on Kennedy Avenue. It’s been great to see. It will revitalise that whole Hanover area … one of their flagship stores and employing local people.”
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December 14, 2021
Gardai highlight deaths Switch to an electric car for in road safety campaign that 22-reg DO not drink and drive over the festive period — is the warning from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Siochana as this year’s Christmas and New Year road safety appeal was launched. The focus of this year’s campaign is on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, with research over the last five years showing 83 fatalities and 709 serious injuries over the Christmas and New Year period. This equates to an average of 17 people dead and 142 are seriously injured each year at this time. The statistics also show that almost seven out of 10 deaths were male, while almost two-thirds of serious injuries were male. The time period 4pm to 8pm was highlighted as the highest risk for fatalities on the roads. “While the majority of drivers don’t drink and drive there are still some who persist in this dangerous behaviour,” Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton said. “To anyone who thinks it’s okay to drive after drinking
Leah Quish (9) at the launch of Round Up for Ronald McDonald House in Crumlin Hospital. Pic: Andres Poveda
alcohol, I say you need to understand that if you commit a drink-driving offence you will face disqualification from driving for a minimum of three months. “Think about how a driving ban would impact your daily life. You will no longer be able to drive to work, drive to the gym or drop the kids off to
school.” Deputy Commissioner, Ann Marie McMahon, An Garda Siochana said that 4,453 drivers have been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and 3,333 have been arrested for drug driving this year to date. “This Christmas and New Year, we are appealing to motorists to drive safely and under no circumstances drive
under the influence of alcohol or drugs. “One hundred and twenty people have lost their lives on the roads this year and members of An Garda Síochána have had to deliver this devastating news to their families. “We don’t want to have to deliver this news to your family this Christmas,” she added.
MOTORISTS considering trading in their car for a fancy 22-reg have been urged to seriously consider making the change to an electric vehicle (EV). According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), private cars, running on petrol and diesel, account for around a fifth of Ireland’s total energy use and the related carbon dioxide emissions. EVs are fast becoming the preferred choice for many families and businesses, who want to play their part in urgent national climate action. Declan Meally, Director of Business at SEAI said: “When buying a car some people feel an EV is too expensive until they do the maths on exactly how much they will save in running costs and we urge all consumers to take this into consideration.” Electric cars are more affordable to run with a 74% reduction in annual energy costs and new buyers can
benefit from incentives such as grants and lower VRT rates that reduce the purchase price as well discounts on tolls. Michael Coughlan, from Windsor Bray Motors, has seen an increase in the number of people wanting to find out more about electric vehicles, he added: “Due to increased coverage in the media customers are more curious about EVs and are coming into the showroom to find out more about the car and discuss any concerns they might have. “Once we get them to do a test drive, they don’t want to leave the car.” And Noel Griffin, who lives in County Wicklow, has been driving an EV for two years and he said: “The transition to electric has been seamless. I also like a comfortable car and inside my EV is very comfortable on a long trip.” For more information and to book a test drive with your local dealership visit: www.drivingelectric.ie.
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December 14, 2021
70% of adults won’t miss the bar after Covid WHILE so many of us believed we missed hanging out at the bar over the pandemic, it turns out that 70% of Irish adults said they would like pubs and restaurants to continue to offer QR code table ordering technology when Covid-19 restrictions are fully lifted. Almost half of restaurant and takeaway owners have adopted new technologies since the start of the pandemic, according to new research by Irish food ordering software developer Flipdish. And 44% of those businesses invested over €1,500 to keep within the rules. Technology was instrumental for survival during the pandemic as many businesses pivoted online. And the research reveals that consumers are more in favour of restaurants and bars continuing to use such technologies after the pandemic. “After a turbulent few months, the future of the sector is bright and the technology that Flipdish offers will allow restaurant owners to thrive in
a post pandemic world,” said James McCarthy, co-founder of Flipdish. “We are thrilled to see restaurant and takeaway owners implementing QR code table ordering technology which will help combat staff shortages and increase operational efficiency and consumer convenience,” he added. The most popular technology adaptations were website ordering (64%), QR code table ordering technology (57%) and the use of aggregator websites (29%). 79% of restaurant owners will continue to use technology adaptations as they come out the other side of the pandemic. Surprisingly, only 1% of adults aged 18-24 would prefer to order drinks at the bar over Christmas, compared with 9% of those aged 25-34. The most likely age group to order from the bar this Christmas are those aged 35-44 (16%). However, 15% of adults will not go out to socialise at all over the Christmas period.
Rape Crisis Centre has help in 200 languages Survivors of sexual violence who do not speak English as their first language but live in Ireland are now able to seek support and guidance through a multilingual helpline phone service through the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC). The interpretation service is available in over 200 languages including Polish, Lithuanian, Arabic, Farsi and Brazilian Portuguese and will enable people to speak with a counsellor in their native language. While multilingual support was previously available for victims availing of face-to-face counselling and therapy at the centre, it was not on offer to people who called the helpline. Helpline interpreters will come from the UK-based Language Line interpreting company. Callers seeking the help of an interpreter must state the language they speak when they call. They will then be placed on hold while the operator finds an interpreter to facilitate the session. More information on: https://www.drcc.ie or call 1 800 77 8888.
ARE YOU CURRENTLY IN RECEIPT OF
PUP PREPARING TO RETURN TO WORK IN 2022 WOULD LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT OPTIONS FOR FURTHER EDUCATION & TRAINING WITH KILKENNY AND CARLOW ETB? COURSE FULL TIME COURSE PART TIME EMPLOYMENT FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT
WHY NOT CONTACT KILKENNY AND CARLOW ETB’S ADULT GUIDANCE SERVICE! This is a free, confidential and impartial service for adults, where you can make an appointment to meet with an Adult Guidance Counsellor
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December 14, 2021
opinion&comment
Barra: The Tempest or just a storm in an RTÉ cup?
R
TÉ’s newsroom loves a good storm. They have all their r e g i o n a l correspondents out, looking at empty streets or wind-blown beaches and trying, like Dickens’s Fat Boy, to make our flesh creep. The station was derided for its hysterical coverage of Storm Lorenzo, two years ago, when its reporters across the land spent 24 hours warning that Armageddon was approaching and the next 24 telling us that, really, nothing much had happened. That experience didn’t chasten the storm petrels of Montrose. They have been in rehearsal with every small weather event since and they put the whole show on the road for Storm Barra. It was a costume drama, with
Michael Wolsey
intrepid reporters out in padded jackets, hats, scarves, gloves and, in one case, goggles. They predicted a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. But Storm Barra was not The Tempest, more Much Ado About Nothing. Yes, there was some flooding,
which was unpleasant for the people caught in it, and powercuts, which caused disruption in several areas. And there were, as always when the weather turns bad, sad stories of individual tragedies. But overall, Storm Barra brought nothing unpredictable for Ireland in December, just a couple of wet and windy days. Even the determined newshounds of RTE had difficulty trying to present it as anything more than a storm in a tea cup. Radio had a reporter on Dun Laoghaire pier whose main revelation was that a rainbow had been seen in the sky over Dublin. Biblical legend has it that a rainbow was shown to Noah as a sign that the Great Flood was over. Even RTE would not go so far as to make that comparison. Its man in Dun Laoghaire confined himself to the cryptic
observation that in one direction he could see dark clouds over Bray and, in the other, blue skies above Malahide - a contrast that could as easily be observed in June as in December. The BBC was much less excited about Storm Barra, confining it to a minor slot on most of its bulletins. But it delivered a discussion in which a dubious link was made between Barra and the wider problems of global warming and climate change. It is tempting to conflate the issues but the link cannot be proven. No matter how bad the weather may be, records nearly always reveal a time when it was worse. And in many cases that time was long before Arctic ice had shown the slightest sign of melting or any problem had been detected with the rain forests. Carbon emissions may have
encouraged Storms Barra and Lorenzo. But were they also to blame for Hurricane Charlie that crashed like a wrecking ball through much of the country in 1986, bringing death and destruction? Maybe they were. But what about Hurricane Debbie, in 1961, which ripped up trees, knocked down walls and killed 18 people in Ireland? Nobody had even heard of global warming back then. Nor is it likely that the burning of fossil fuels contributed to Ireland’s most infamous storm on the Night of the Big Wind. That cyclone, which came blasting in on January 6, 1839, left hundreds dead and thousands homeless. It blew down the chimney of Kilkenny’s new gas works and leveled all the buildings nearby. And it is hard to see how human activity can be blamed
for the savage weather in the 1740s. It was a period when unprecedented amounts of rain were accompanied by storms and extreme frosts. In Ireland it led to a famine that is estimated to have killed almost 40% of the population, a proportionately bigger disaster than the Great Famine a century later. Don’t get me wrong. I think we should stop polluting our planet with plastic. I think we should stop poisoning the atmosphere with carbon fumes. And I think we should reduce our reliance on fossil fuels which, other considerations apart, will eventually be used up. All these actions are very desirable but I am not sure that they will reverse the course of climate change, because the climate has always been changing. They certainly won’t bring an end to storms - or alarmist reporting from RTÉ.
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December 14, 2021
WILDLIFE
ninenottomiss
Mamma Mia!
TV of the week
with Justin Ivory
It’s December and officially winter and with it comes an influx of visitors from Scandinavia. Sporting spiky hairdos, heavy eye-makeup and some flashy outer-ware between them, these tourists could well be a raggle-taggle bunch of punks, goths and new romantics! So, who are they and why are they here? They are wild foragers and they are here to feast on our food. In this case they are wild foragers of the feathered and non-humankind, so have a perfect right to stuff themselves on mother nature’s larder. This mobile marauding club consists of a trio of members – Fieldfare, Redwing and Waxwing.
book of the week
HOROSCOPES
movie of the week
walk the line Virgin Media 1, Sunday December 12, 9.00pm
the pawnbroker’s reward Declan O’Rourke
the power of the dog Netflix
WALK The Line is described as a “brand new high octane musical game show format” that comes from Simon Cowell’s Syco company and Lifted Entertainment, the team behind both I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Love Island. Oh God . . . anyway, hosted by Maya Jama, with judges Gary Barlow, Craig David, Dawn French and Alesha Dixon, in each episode, acts will perform to win the audience vote, but they will then be faced with a tough decision. They can Cash Out of the competition for £10,000 or Walk The Line and compete again against another batch of hopefuls.
DECLAN O’Rourke’s award-winning album, Chronicles of the Great Irish Famine, was released to critical acclaim in 2017. It illuminated an extraordinary series of eyewitness accounts, including the story of Pádraig and Cáit ua Buachalla. Four years on, in Declan’s meticulously researched literary debut, the story of the ua Buachalla family is woven into a powerful, multilayered work showing us the famine as it happened through the lens of a single town – Macroom, Co. Cork – and its environs.
SET in Montana, shot in New Zealandm, this brooding western of sorts focuses on masculinity in crisis. Think a far more intense Brokeback Mountain. Benedict Cumberbatch is excellent as a domineering rancher who responds with mocking cruelty when his brother brings home a new wife and her son, until the unexpected comes to pass. What you thought was merely a haunting movie and a masterpiece of character study, suddenly feels like a thriller, because The Power of the Dog ending comes with a plot twist that will leave you guessing . . . and Googling.
stream of the week
self help of the week
idea of the week
TaurusChange is inevitable. Believe you can prosper. It’s easier to finish old projects now. Generosity looks good on you. GeminiConnect with neighbors, friends and community groups. Contribute to a team effort. A goal may seem distant or blocked. CancerKeep your wits about you to handle a mess at work. Take charge for the results you want. The action is behind the scenes. LeoYour travels and studies could include traffic, obstacles or barriers to advancement. Keep calm and carry on.
Fieldfare (Photo Justin Ivory) The Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is a large, colourful thrush, like our Mistle Thrush in size, shape and behavior. They particularly like to feed on Hawthorn berries.
Redwing (Photo Andreas Trepte www.phot-natur.net) The Redwing (Turdus iliacus) is also a member of the thrush family. Smaller than our Song Thrush, they have a very distinctive creamy stripe above the eye (supercilium) and orange-red flank/underwing markings. They roam across the countryside feeding in fields and hedgerows and only venture into gardens in the coldest of weather.
AriesTravel could interfere with personal routines, although new views inspire. Avoid expensive missteps. Consider long-term dreams and ambitions.
wrath of man Amazon Prime
hidden forces Anne Traynor
Just like you campaign www.blossomireland.ie
AFTER an ambush on one of its armoured cars, Los Angeles-based Fortico Securities hires a mysterious new employee, Patrick Hill (Jason Statham), who becomes known simply as “H.” As he learns the ropes from partner Bullet (Holt McCallany), H initially appears to be the quiet type, simply there to do a job and earn a living. But when he and Bullet become the targets of an attempted robbery, H’s formidable skills are revealed. Not only is he an expert marksman who’s equally adept at hand-to-hand combat, H is fearless, ruthless and lethal. Not the best of Guy Richie’s films but a decent caper all the same.
IF you’re looking for a sign, this is it. Hidden Forces is an accessible book that answers the questions we all have about the forces around us that affect us every day of our lives.If you want to learn about the universal forces that connect us all, this book is for you. If you’re interested in chakras and how to work with them to heal yourself, this book is for you. If you want to know how astrology and tarot can help you understand your ‘self’ and your life, this book is for you.Hidden Forces will take you out of dark places into the light of understanding.
‘Just Like You’ is a campaign developed by Blossom Ireland, with the goal of raising awareness around the intellectual disability (ID) community, highlighting the lack of accessibility for people with ID. Blossom Ireland has developed and implemented Ireland’s first fully-accessible e-learning platform for this group and have begun to employ graduates of programmes in the organisation. What has been discovered through the Blossom Ireland programmes is that with tailored supports for people with ID, there is no limit to what can be achieved.
album of the week
day out of the week
watch of the week
VirgoRely on trusted teammates. Do the homework behind a financial decision. Consider costs and consequences. Collaborate and adapt. LibraSupport your partner and be supported. Resolve a challenge, navigate a change or overcome an obstacle together. ScorpioSlow down to avoid missteps or accidents. Resist impulsive moves and clean up messes immediately. Focus on physical health and activities. Sagittarius-
Romantic ideals and fantasies may not match the current reality. Things don’t go as planned. Prioritize love. CapricornFamily comes first. Expect messes, chaos or disruption at your house. Don’t divulge secrets. Keep your objective in mind.
Waxwing (Photo Justin Ivory) Last, but not least, is the Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulous) who get their name from the bright red tips on some of their secondary feathers that is reminiscent of wax seals used on letters in bygone times. They have a fondness for red berries, particularly those of the Rowan tree, quite a few of which can be found in urban and suburban areas.
tears of hercules Rod Stewart
to be irish programme 2021 www.tobeIrish.ie
honey boy Netflix
WAIT, is this the same . . . yes, the very same Do ya think I’m sexy lad, Rod the Mod . . . but was he not crooning his way through the American Songbook last we heard from him? Indeed, and very successfully too. But now, on what is his 32nd studio album, he has decided to pick up the pen himself and write his own material, in what one reviewer described as “alternately baffling, absurd, sweet, and endearing” . . . A Herculean effort then? Quite. It would bring you tears. But you got to still love him.
MINISTER Colm Brophy (pictured with Colm Brophy, cellist Patrick Dexter and Delia Ioana Tudor (7)), has announced details of To Be Irish At Christmas 2021. The 16-day programme which runs from December 8-23 celebrates the special connections between the Irish at home and abroad in the run-up to Christmas despite the Covid pandemic. It will feature over 140 in-person, hybrid, and online events from all across the world. Its aim is to engage with our 70 million-strong diaspora and their family and friends.
THERE is so much to this story based actor Shia Laboeuf’s life. As a kid, he lived with his father on the road during the filming of Even Stevens and other roles. His dad was a war veteran who went to bikers’ AA meetings and who had a brief acting career himself. He was so full of anger that Laboeuf suffered from PTSD, but which he was able to perceive in a fascinating way. This is an incredible movie on emotionally abusive parent-child relationships. Starring Laboeuf as his father and Lucas Hedges as current-day Laboeuf.
AquariusShare the news and clear up any miscommunications immediately. A controversy could have a silver lining. Keep your tone polite and respectful. PiscesDon’t spend your income before you get it. Look for hidden opportunities in a chaotic situation. Monitor cash flow carefully to avoid shortfalls.
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December 14, 2021
Over 2,000 fill the streets for Christmas countdown
OVER two thousand revellers turned out recently for the ‘Carlow County – A Festive Family Experience Music & Fireworks Showcase Event’ in the Town Hall car park in Carlow Town. The event included the turning on of the lights live on Facebook by Santa Claus and Wibbly Wobbly Wendy. “We were delighted to be able to host this event and to welcome local live music groups and performers in what delivered in a wonderful way a positive start to the festive season for all attending and watching online,” a spokeperson for Carlow County Council said. “We know how much local people love coming to see their friends or loved ones perform and giving them support and Carlow County Council was delighted to be able to facilitate this event,” they added. People began gathering at 3.45pm before the lights were switched on at 5pm. The crowd was then treated to the greatest Christmas and festive hits by a variety of local acts including Backline. This was followed by a fireworks display, which illuminated the sky over the River Barrow in a magical display of colour. KCLR was on hand, as was the team at Carlow Santa rings in the festivities as crowds gather at the Town Hall, in Carlow.
Revellers were treated to a magnificent fireworks display, following the turning on of the Christmas lights in Carlow.
Fire Services. But the evening went smoothly and peacefully. The mayor was joined by Deputy Murnane O’Connor and Cllr Fintan Phelan, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council together on stage with Santa and Wendy for the fireworks countdown as the evening came to a close.
Nursing homes to get festive music treat
NURSING homes throughout Co Carlow are about to embrace the Christmas spirit with a host of live performances planned. Mary Coughlan, Orla Fallon and The Wild Turkeys are among the singers and musicians performing as part of Mobile Music Machine (MMM) ‘Covid care concerts’ to nursing homes around the county. Carlow Arts Service recently welcomed a second phase of funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of €143,000 through the Local Live Performance Fund, put in place to support the live performance sector through the pandemic. The Mobile Music Machine, led by Gerald Peregrine, will bring music and dancing to 29 Carlow care homes throughout December. This Christmas series will mark the third visit of MMM, organised by Carlow County Council Arts Service. For a full list of events, see: www.carlowliveandlocal.ie
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December 14, 2021
We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by
Irish Press 24/12/1937 Irish Press 22/12/1934
Freemans Jrn 26/12/1846
Sunday Press 10/12/1978
Irish Press 23/12/1936
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carlowpeople.ie December 14, 2021