Kilkenny Today New Years Sales Edition

kilkennytoday DELIVERED DOOR-TO-DOOR TO HOMES IN THE CITY AREA

INSIDE: FREE

May 28, 2015, t: 01 901t:5556/7, New Year’s Sales, 2018 056 781 7070 info@wicklowvoice.ie e: kilkennytoday@carlowpeople.ie

12,000 COPIES

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t: 056 781 7070 e: kilkennytoday@carlowpeople.ie

kilkennytoday New Year’s Sales Edition 2018

kilkennytoday DELIVERED DOOR-TO-DOOR TO HOMES

INSIDE: FREE

May 28, 2015, t: 01 901 5556/7, New Year’s Sales, 2018 t: 056 781 7070 e: kilkennytoday@carlowpeople.ie info@wicklowvoice.ie e:

IN THE CITY AREA

12,000 COPIES

FREE

t: 056 781 7070 e: kilkennytoday@carlowpeople.ie

Shop local this year Helping business in the comunity helps us all

By Jake Maxwell AS WE count down the days, hours and minutes to New Year, we at Kilkenny Today would like to make one suggestion before the festivities get into full swing...

Shop here at home in County Kilkenny.

Local retailers play a massive part in making festive period such a special time, so they really de-serve our support. For

every €1 you spend with a local independent business, between 50c-70c circulates back into the locality, while shopping online or out-of-town sees only 5c trickle back.

Local businesses not only keep the economy humming, but they also add to the quality of life in our community in so many other ways.

Seeing local businesses thrive also gives you the feeling that you’re part of a vibrant, growing

community, a desirable place in which to live, work and raise a family.

Local businesses are owned and operated by local people, while even the chain stores are managed and run by people who live in our community.

They work here, coach the local sports teams, eat in local restaurants and live just down the street - when you buy in local shops, you’re supporting your neighbours.

Customer service of the kind you thought had disappeared can still be found in the smallest of local businesses. Buying locally is a gift for us all. But we are more than just an economy.

Yes, businnesses are important to fueling a community spirit, but just as important is the society of vibrant people who keep that spirit alive, and that cannot be measured in euros and cents alone.

Happy New Year.

Mary Hoban with her daughters Molly and Maisie visiting the Coca-Cola Truck on The Parade. Image by Rue Photography.

Lots more pix inside

Do you know that 1 in 3 people aged over 65 in Ireland have a significant or disabling hearing loss?

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By employing only BSc level audiologists or better, Blackberry Hearing has really focussed on the customer experience and listens closely to what

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Blackberry Hearing’s audiologists are trained to recognise and provide the best possible hearing solution to people who feel they are missing out on life.

Customers consistently report back on their positive experience with Blackberry Hearing and its life changing impact.

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kilkennytoday New Year’s Sales Edition 2018

news in brief Overcrowding at St Luke’s at crisis level OVERCROWDING at St Luke’s General Hospital has become so bad that patients are being asked people to attend WKHLU *3 RU &DUH'RF LQ WKH ¿UVW instance where possible.

7UROOH\ZDWFK ÂżJXUHV IURP the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that 47 patients were waiting on trolleys and wards last Wednesday, up IURP WKH SUHYLRXV GD\ 1HZV RI RYHUFURZGLQJ IROORZV RQ IURP UHFHQW SURWHVWV by nurses who complained DERXW FRQGLWLRQV IRU VWDŕľľ DQG patients at the hospital.

Cut down the noise LOCAL Fianna FĂĄil TD John McGuinness has asked the 0LQLVWHU IRU 7UDQVSRUW WR ORRN into ways to reduce noise OHYHOV IURP WKH PRWRUZD\ close to Shankill, Paulstown.

He is seeking a survey to be conducted to assess the din IURP WKH WUDŕľśF WKHUH

BUYING? SELLING? t056 781 7070 ekilkennytoday @carlowpeople.ie

Beat That: Niall Power, head of Music, Beat, Busk Off winner Oisin Walsh Agnew, Geraldine Fahey and Ciaran Conroy

Oisin Beats rivals to win â‚Ź1k Busk Off challenge

By Jake Maxwell A <281* PXVLFLDQ IURP Thomastown got a well-deVHUYHG HDUO\ &KULVWPDV JLIW when he was presented with a FKHTXH IRU Âź IRU EHLQJ WRS EXVNHU DW <XOHIHVW Oisin Walsh Agnew (18) EHDW Rŕľľ VWLŕľľ FRPSHWLWLRQ IURP WKH RWKHU ÂżQDOLVWV GXR 'DUUDJK 0DKRQ DQG *HU %UHQQDQ IURP .LONHQQ\ \HDU ROG -RVK 'R\OH IURP &DVWOHGHUPRW LQ Kildare, and duo Jake Doyle and /DXULV 0LOOHUV IURP &DUORZ The competition, run by regional radio station Beat 102 VDZ SUHVHQWHUV WDNH WR WKH VWUHHWV RI .LONHQQ\ RQ 6DWXUGD\ DIWHUQRRQV GXULQJ <XOHIHVW WR ÂżQG WKH 6RXWK (DVWÂśV PRVW

talented buskers.

7KH IRXU DFWV ZHUH VHOHFWHG IURP WKH VWUHHWV WR SHUIRUP LQ IURQW RI D SDQHO RI MXGJHV DW WKH 6HW 7KHDWUH LQ WKH ÂżQDO ZKLFK was broadcast live on Beat.

(DFK DFW SHUIRUPHG D Christmas song during their PLQXWH VHW LQ IURQW RI D MXGJLQJ SDQHO FRPSULVLQJ RI 1LDOO 3RZHU +HDG RI 0XVLF Beat), Geraldine Fahey (music promoter) and Ciaran Conroy %XWOHU +RXVH <XOHIHVW

&KDLU RI WKH MXGJLQJ SDQHO 1LDOO 3RZHU VDLG ÂłHDFK RI WKH ÂżQDOLVWV EURXJKW VRPHWKLQJ GLŕľľHUHQW WR WKH ÂżQDO 2LVLQ HGJHG LW EHFDXVH RI KLV LQFUHGLEOH VWDJH presence, his unique voice and KLV FRXUDJH LQ ÂżOOLQJ KDOI RI KLV set with original songs.â&#x20AC;?

Grants of â&#x201A;Ź127k for local groups and outdoor fun

By Jake Maxwell YOUTH groups in Kilkenny DUH WR EHQHÂżW WR WKH WXQH RI RYHU Âź LQ IXQGLQJ 0LQLVWHU IRU &KLOGUHQ DQG <RXWK $ŕľľDLUV Dr Katherine Zappone has announced. And in other good QHZV D JUDQW RI Âź ZDV DOVR DOORFDWHG IRU RXWGRRU UHFreation activities in the county.

The Scheme, administered through the Carlow and Kilkenny Education and Training Board, was developed WR VXSSRUW WKH ZRUN RI volunteers and to provide equipment to local youth clubs and groups. The grants will DVVLVW FOXEV LQ WKH SXUFKDVH RI camping, gaming, sports and audio-visual equipment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What made this scheme unique was that clubs were asked to consult with the young people themselves to ascertain their opinions on what equipment should be applied IRU ´ 0LQLVWHU =DSSRQH VDLG 7KH IROORZLQJ DUH DPRQJ WKH Kilkenny clubs to have received IXQGLQJ WKLV \HDU 7KRPDVWRZQ

A sweet victory for Tom

6FRXWV Âź )RUWJUDQJH 6FRXWV 'DQHVIRUW &XŕľľHVJUDQJH Âź %HQQHWWVEULGJH 6FRXWV Âź .HOOV 6FRXWV Âź ,QLVWLRJH Âź

%DOO\UDJJHWW Âź .LONHQQ\ 6FRXW *URXS Âź

&DVWOHFRPHU <RXWK &DIp Âź &DOODQ )RURLJH <RXWK &OXE Âź

Also receiving grants ZHUH 3DXOVWRZQ Âź

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Johnswell Juvenile Youth *URXS Âź -RKQVZHOO 6HQLRU <RXWK *URXS Âź

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Thomastown No Name Club Âź *LUOV )ULHQGO\ 6RFLHW\ .LONHQQ\ Âź

Meanwhile, a canal advent -ure programme and the GHYHORSPHQW RI PRXQWDLQ ELNH trails at Castlecomer Discovery 3DUN DUH DPRQJ WKH SURMHFWV being considered as Kilkenny LV WR UHFHLYH Âź IURP WKH

Dormant Accounts Fund, Junior Minister, John Paul Phelan, has FRQÂżUPHG $SSOLFDWLRQV IURP WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI 7UDQVSRUW 7RXULVP DQG 6SRUW IRU IXQGLQJ IURP WKH 'RUPDQW $FFRXQWV Fund which will be administered by the Kilkenny Recreation & Sports Partnership.

7KH WRWDO IXQGLQJ IRU .LONHQQ\ LV Âź Âź FXUUHQW DQG Âź FDSLWDO $PRQJ WKH DUHDV VHW WR EHQHÂżW are Graiguenmanagh, Kilkenny City and Castlecomer. Âł$ QXPEHU RI HOHPHQWV DUH being considered. These include a water-based programme in FRQMXQFWLRQ ZLWK :DWHUZD\V ,UHODQG ZKLFK ZLOO EH WKH ÂżUVW SLORW RI WKH &DQDO $GYHQWXUH Programme in Kilkenny,â&#x20AC;? said John Paul Phelan â&#x20AC;&#x153;Among the other proposals IURP .563 LV WKH GHYHORSPHQW RI 0RXQWDLQ %LNH 7UDLOV LQ &DV tlecomer Discovery Park. It is SURSRVHG WKDW FDSLWDO IXQGLQJ ZLOO JR WRZDUGV WKH SXUFKDVH RI bikes, cycling equipment and VWRUDJH IDFLOLWLHV ´ KH DGGHG

KCVS pupils Jade and Dylan head for Lourdes

By Jake Maxwell LOCAL man Tom Prendergast LV HQMR\LQJ WKH VZHHW WDVWH RI VXFFHVV DIWHU ZLQQLQJ D JOREDO award. %HHNHHSHU 7RP IURP Tullamaine, in Callan, is a world champion in the honey world having won the Hamlin Cup Class 1 category in which MDUV RI KLV KRQH\ ZHUH put to the test at a show in London.

Now living in Clonmel, 7RP LV D PHPEHU RI 7LSSHUDU\ Beekeepersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association.

He keeps bees in both .LONHQQ\ DW &XŕľľHVJUDQJH and Tipperary, and is said to tell his colleagues that the EHHV WUDYHO WR .LONHQQ\ IRU WKH H[WUD Ă&#x20AC;DYRXU Irish beekeepers took the top prizes in several classes at the London show, proving that our honey is up there with the very best in the world.

Kilkenny Community Vocational School pupils Jade Soames and Dylan Homan have been selected to go to Lourdes as Youth Leaders with the Diocese of Ossory. The students must now fundraise â&#x201A;Ź2,500 to go on the trip. The school wishes them all the best in their preparation for Lourdes.

kilkennytoday New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sales Edition 2018

|05

06| news in brief Planning application for Barrow towpath PLANNING applications to Carlow, Kildare and Laois County Councils have been resubmitted by Waterways Ireland for the development of the towpath on the Barrow Navigation.

The plans seek to develop a 115km multi-use shared leisure route on the existing navigation towpath.

The Waterways applications are available to view at the FRXQW\ FRXQFLO RŕľśFHV GXULQJ normal opening hours.

Comic Brendan set to Grace us with jokes IF YOU fear the January Blues keep a date in your new year diary for some cheering up courtesy of comedian Brendan Grace who takes to the stage of the Springhill Court Hotel on Saturday, January 13.

His sense of timing and ability to read an audience is without equal. A brilliant character actor, his â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bottlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; character is legendary and his interpretation of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Irish Weddingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will forever remain a masterpiece.

Brendan now resides in the United States, but still tours here on a regular basis. Tickets, costing â&#x201A;Ź30, are available at the hotel. For more, contact 0567721122 and Ticketmaster.ie.

kilkennytoday New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sales Edition 2018

Number of trainee New show from Barnstorm is in gardai rise by 30 in the Wings...

Kilkenny/Carlow

By Jake Maxwell

By Jake Maxwell THE number of gardai on duty in the Kilkenny/Carlow Garda area has been boosted by the addition of 30 newly attested so far this year, according to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.

The minister was speaking in response to Sinn FĂŠin TD John Brady who asked the Minister for the number of new gardaĂ­ allocated to each Garda division in 2017.

The Government has set a target for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.

In October, it was revealed that Kilkenny/Carlow Garda numbers were 320 across all ranks in the two counties. At the time, that was an all-time high.

Nationwide, Garda numbers taking account of projected retirements, will increase to around 13,500 by year end - a

Increase: Garda numbers have risen in the county net increase of 500 since the end of 2016. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is important to keep in mind that newly attested GardaĂ­ have a further 16 months of practical and class-room based training to complete to receive their BA in Applied Policing,â&#x20AC;?

Minister Flanagan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Commissionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy is to allocate them to specially

designated training stations which have the required training and development structures and resources in place, including trained Garda tutors and access to a permanently appointed supervisory Sergeant who is thoroughly familiar with their responsibilities under the training programme,â&#x20AC;? Mr Flanagan added..

IF YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE still looking for a unique Christmas present for that special child or family, Barnstorm Theatre might just have the perfect solution with tickets now on sale for their newest worldpremiere: Barney Carey Gets His Wings.

This play tells the story of Barney and his dad who, while rooting through an ROG WUXQN ÂżQG PRUH WKDQ they bargained for and a few things that set them wondering: who makes the rules?

What happens if you break the rules? And who is the lady with the beard?

Artistic Director, Philip Hardy, says: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another exciting project for us! Over the past few years we have engaged new artists to create innovative theatre for young audiences and this is no exception. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Both writer Brendan Murray and director Mar-

Show: Barnstorm Theatre tin Drury have a wealth of experience and knowledge of Theatre for Young Audiences â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this will be one to remember!â&#x20AC;?

The play will be performed at the Watergate Theatre from February 21-24, with a family show on Saturday, February 24 and the school performances are from Wednesday to Friday (school showsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tickets will go on sale on January 10).

Familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 33-year wait for answers is a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nightmareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Kilkenny firms get least aid

By Jake Maxwell

KILKENNY ranked among the lowest when it comes to companies being awarded IDA grant aid, it has been revealed.

Companies in the county received allocations of â&#x201A;Ź350,000 in 2015 and â&#x201A;Ź440,000 last year.

7KH ÂżJXUHV KDYH HPHUJHG following a question asked by Sinn FĂŠinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maurice Quinlivan of Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys for the amount of grant aid awarded by the IDA in each of the years 2013 to 2016, inclusive, and to date in 2017, by county.

The years 2013 and 2014 saw no grant aid paid to Kilkenny based companies by the IDA. Wicklow-based companies received â&#x201A;Ź159,372; Longford â&#x201A;Ź169,542; Monaghan â&#x201A;Ź200,000 DQG 2ŕľľDO\ Âź :DWHUIRUG received almost â&#x201A;Ź11million and Carlow over â&#x201A;Ź1million.

Minister Humphreys said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grants paid in a particular year are not necessarily linked to either the investments won or the jobs created in that 12-month period. [They] are generally drawn down over the lifetime of a project which is normally over a period of three WR ÂżYH \HDUV ´

THE FAMILY of Kilkenny murder victim Marie Tierney have made a Christmas appeal to anyone with information about her death to come forward.

Marie was murdered 33 years ago. She was last seen on October 21, 1984 and she was reported missing the following day.

Her body was discovered in a ditch two months later, on December 21, along the Bleach Road just outside Kilkenny. She had been strangled.

Speaking to Crimecall on RTĂ&#x2030; One, Marieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister Breda spoke poignantly about the impact of her sisterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death on all the family all these years later.

Mother-of-two Marie, who was 34, was described as being â&#x20AC;&#x153;devoted to her childrenâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no such thing as the perfect parent but she was as close as you could get,â&#x20AC;? said Breda, adding that the search for her body and the ongoing for her killer had put a huge strain on the family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a nightmare. One day you would say sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alive and the next day youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re distraught again...you know sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not.â&#x20AC;?

Appeal: Marie Tierney The family made a televised appeal on Crimecall, asking for information about Marieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Somebody out there knows what happened that night.

Come forward and say it now.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too late to do the right thing,â&#x20AC;? Marieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister-in-law, Brigid told Crimecall.

Garda have asked anyone with information to contact Crimecall on 1800 40 50 60 or Kilkenny Garda Station on (056) 777 5000.

By Jake Maxwell

|07

kilkennytoday New Year’s Sales Edition 2018

kilkennyinpictures

Moira Rowe, Sarah Cleere and Claire Long at the newly opened Brogan’s Bar. Image by Rue Photography

Fiona Seaver, Clara Eustace, Nicola Ryan, Colette Ruth, Olive Harney, Una Lennon at the newly opened Brogan’s Bar. Image

by Rue Photography

Peter Kavanagh, Aisling Buckley, Sarah Aylward, John Morgan at the newly opened Brogan’s Bar. Image by Rue Photography

Logan Jones and Catherine Doyle visiting the Coca-Cola Truck on The Parade. Image by Rue Photography

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kilkennytoday New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sales Edition 2018

kilkennytoday New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sales Edition 2018

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10 |

kilkennytoday New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sales Edition 2018

opinion&comment

Dog poo? Rub ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; nose in it

M

any years ago, when B e r t i e Ahern was Taoiseach, I was visiting my wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents in Drumcondra, right in the heart of Bertieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home constituency of Dublin Central.

It was the summer and there were local elections on. A group of people from the road were outside talking in the evening sun when Bertie himself arrived on the scene, canvassing with one of the local hopefuls.

After some small talk Bertie asked the assembled group if anyone had any local issues that they wanted to raise. Someone commented on the amount of dog litter that was on the pavements, and asked Bertie if he could do something about it. He said he would (and was true to his word and did).

My wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister was home from the US at the time, along with her American partner, and they were part of the assembled group. My brother-in-law had only recently learned about

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;DOG LITTER IS DISGUSTING. ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A HEALTH HAZARD, ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Brian Quigley Bertie, and that as Taoiseach he was actually the equivalent of the US President. I saw the look of increasing incredulity on his face as George W. Bushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (US President at the time) opposite number wandered down the road to chat to the residents, and then was tackled about dog litter!

It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the case that back then in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;boomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; years people were doing so well economically that all they had to worry about was an issue like dog litter. Far from it. Dog litter has been a problem through good times and bad, recoveries and recessions, for generations.

Dog litter is disgusting. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a health hazard, especially to

Caught in the act: A pet dog doing its business on a green area young children. Toxocara canis, or dog roundworm, is a parasite that lives in the faeces of infected dogs.

It can be transmitted to humans, especially children and young adults, causing liver, heart and eye problems,

amongst others.

Too much dog litter therefore adds up to a sizeable health risk to the human population.

Part of the problem, since the latest recession hit, has been the amount of stray dogs.

People abandoning dogs for various reasons, not being able WR DŕľľRUG WR NHHS WKHP EHLQJ one. Cuts to the number of dog wardens employed to round up the strays. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only a part of the problem. The biggest elePHQW WR WKH LVVXH LV WKH VHOÂżVKness and inconsideration of a small minority of dog owners, who refuse to do their civic duty and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pick upâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; after their canine charges.

Owning a dog is a responsibility. A dog brings great reward

WR D IDPLO\ DQG RŕľľHUV ORYH DQG DŕľľHFWLRQ ZLWKRXW DVNLQJ IRU anything in return except to be exercised, fed and watered. It would seem to me to be a basic thing to do to go out prepared to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pick upâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; when bringing your dog for a walk.

I simply canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand the mentality that some people have whereby they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care about others and allow their dogs to litter in public and do nothing about it.

Imagine if a somewhere like the promenade in Bray got a UHSXWDWLRQ IRU EHLQJ D PLQHÂżHOG of dog mess.

Dubliners and people from IDUWKHU DÂżHOG ZRXOG VWRS FRPing to visit for an afternoon stroll.

There would be a knock-on HŕľľHFW WR UHVWDXUDQWV VKRSV pubs and other businesses in the WRZQ (YHU\RQH ZRXOG VXŕľľHU Pride in your locality is a basic thing we teach our children.

Adults should not be let set a bad example, and punishments for those caught allowing dogs to litter the streets without picking up cannot be severe enough in my opinion.

|11

kilkennytoday New Year’s Sales Edition 2018

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€8,250 €5,950 €5,950 €5,250 €9,500 €5,950 €4,250 €4,250 €7,750

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€5,950 €2,950 €3,950 €3,950 €2,950 €3,950 €2,950 €2,950 €1,500 €2,500 €1,500 €1,500 €1,500 €1,500 €1,500 €2,500 €1,500 €1,500 €1,500 ..............................................................................................................................................

12 | kilkennytoday New Year’s Sales Edition 2018

'(02 6$/(

€79 €50 €57 €55 €21 €62 €51 €49 €27 €42 €36 €32 €28 €28 €27 €36 €34 €27 €27

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kilkennytoday New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sales Edition 2018

historywithadifference

with Dave Lawlor

The day America nuked Spain

I

t was January 17, 1966, and Jose Molinero was teaching class in his elementary school in the village of Palomares, on Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s southeast coast, when he noticed huge pieces of blazing metal falling from the sky.

A planeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landing gear smashed into the ground just 80 yards away. He immediately ordered his pupils to stay indoors.

One little girl later described KRZ WKH VN\ ZDV ÂľUDLQLQJ ÂżUHÂś Others witnessed the debris, too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I looked up and saw this KXJH EDOO RI ÂżUH IDOOLQJ WKURXJK the sky. The two planes were breaking into pieces,â&#x20AC;? local man Manolo Gonzales later told Public Radio International.

Plane crashes are rare enough, mid-air collisions even more so, but this was even rarer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and far more dangerousâ&#x20AC;Ś this was the day an American B-52 bomber and its refuelling plane collided causing four nuclear bombs to fall on Spain.

Each of these bombs was one hundred times more powerful than the one which had destroyed Hiroshima.

Octogenarian Pedro de la

Torre was standing with his great-nephews when one of the bombs fell and exploded in front of him.

Thankfully, the blast was from the bombâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regular payload â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the nuclear part of the device had not been armed, otherwise Pedro, his family and much of the south-east of Spain would have been vaporised.

3DORPDUHV D VOHHS\ ÂżVKLQJ village of 2,000 residents who prided themselves on the tomatoes grown in the area, now had 500 acres of land showered with three kilos of highly radioactive plutonium.

Seven airmen were killed in the accident. They were part of Operation Chrome Dome, a Cold War mission in which ERPEHUV ZHUH Ă&#x20AC;RZQ KRXUV a-day in a roundtrip between America and Italy 7KH WRS VHFUHW Ă&#x20AC;LJKWV ZHUH WR HQVXUH WKH 86 KDG ÂżUVW VWULNH and retaliation capabilities in the event of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union.

'XH WR WKH OHQJWK\ Ă&#x20AC;LJKW WKH B-52 had to be refuelled four times in mid-air. It was during one of these refuelling operations that disaster struck. The

Locals inspect debris from the plane collision

bomber pilot overshot the long refuelling nozzle, which stuck the B-52 so hard that one of the ZLQJV ZDV ULSSHG Rŕľľ The 30,0000 gallons of fuel in the tanker ignited, incinerating its four-man crew, while four of the B-52 crew bailed out â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which left the small problem of four hydrogen bombs plummeting towards the Spanish regions of Andalucia.

Although the conventional ordinance in two bombs exploded, neither did much harm.

Their detonations caused a

small amount of plutonium to be distributed, but this was carried away form the village on a strong breeze. Most of the radioactive release occurred deep below ground when the ordinance exploded. Of the other bombs, one fell in a dried river bed and the other into the sea.

US military with one of the recovered hydrogen bombs ,Q MXVW KRXUV WKUHH RI WKH bombs were located and removed. The fourth would take 11 weeks to recover as it was 2,500ft deep in the Mediterra-

nean. It was a miraculous escape for the villagers and the entire country. The citizens of Palomares have been subject to annual health checks ever since, which are funded by the Spanish government and the United States. A small percentage of villagers (5%) show traces of plutonium in their bodies, but the amount is said to be well below danger levels.

However, it was only in October 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; almost 50 years later â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that America agreed to help ÂżQLVK WKH FOHDQ XS SURFHVV $OO contaminated soil from the area is to be disposed of at a site in the United States.

Europe was spared a dreadful catastrophe that day 50 years ago, but there have been other near misses when it comes to nuclear bombs.

In 1957, a bomb fell from a B-36 and landed in Albuquerue.

It never detonated, and a cow was the only victim in that mishap.

The following year there was a mid-air collisoin over Georgia EHWZHHQ D % DQG DQ ) MHW 7KH % ÂśV QXFOHDU ERPE ZDV jettisoned into the Savannah River, but it has never been re-

covered, which might make you WKLQN WZLFH DERXW RUGHULQJ ÂżVK in a Georgia restaurant.

In January 1961, a B-52 crashed at Yuba City, in California, but its nuclear bombs never detonated.

The luckiest escape, though, was in January of 1961, when a B-52 broke apart over North Carolina.

Two hydrogen bombs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; each 260 times the strength of the Hiroshima device â&#x20AC;&#x201C; fell to earth.

One of them went into detonation sequence â&#x20AC;&#x201C; only a faulty switch saved America from self-made nuclear Armageddon.

These days we look to countries like Iran and North Korea, or to terror organisations like Islamic State as being the possible source of nuclear catastrophe, but as weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen above, when it comes to nuclear weapons not even those who have WKHLU ÂżQJHU RQ WKH WULJJHU DUH safe from disaster.

Blind luck has managed to keep catastrophe at bay so far, but one can only wonder how long before there is another accident like that at Palomares, but one which doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have such a fortunate outcome.

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WILDLIFE

ninenottomiss

with Justin Ivory

BOOK of the week

Christmastime, Mistletoe and Wine…

TV SHOW of the week

FILM of the week

HOROSCOPES

AH YES, we are all familiar with the Christmas song made famous by Sir Cliff, but what is mistletoe and why is it associated with Christmas?

The Mistletoe (Viscum album), is a semi-parasitic shrub. It contains chlorophyll but relies on other plants for water and nutrients which are extracted by sending suckers into the host stem.

It grows on a wide variety of deciduous trees and thus is much more conspicuous in winter, with its tangle of evergreen leaves and poisonous, white berries forming balls up to 1m across high up in trees.

This is probably to avoid being eaten by animals and to be closer to the light, although early Christians believed that mistletoe was banished to the tops of trees when Jesus was crucified on a cross made from an apple tree on which it was growing.

The name mistletoe comes from the Anglo-Saxon words “mistel” meaning dung and “tan” meaning twig. This most likely comes from the fact that birds eat the white berries and the sticky seeds are expelled through the birds’ faeces onto the host tree branches/twigs where they begin to grow.

Mistletoe has separate male and female plants. The male has golden flowers in the spring and the female white berries in the winter. Given that the white berries form between inverted V-shaped sprigs, it is not hard to see where the associations of mistletoe with fertility came from.

Women would tie a sprig of mistletoe around their wrist or waist to improve their chances of bearing a child!

As for kissing under the mistletoe - Norse myth has it that when Loki killed her son Baldur with a dart made from mistletoe, the goddess Frigg shed tears that became the white berries and decreed she would place a kiss on all passing underneath it.

Happy new year to all of you!

THE SECRET LIFE OF ASHELY BROWN

By George Fitzgerald

CAN’T STOP DANCING WITH THE STARS RTÉ, Coming Soon

MOLLY’S GAME Out January 1

Ashley Brown’s home is a Dublin’s leafy suburbs. Her perfect place of pillow clutching dreams in her universe of books that is her norm. A thousand dreams pass in the night but she holds fast on one, to find Mr Right. Her second is to secure a job in London’s publishing world. George Fitzgerald’s latest offering, The Secret Life of Ashley Brown has been described as beautifully written, engaging, a very compelling story of a young woman’s life that is built on romantic visions of finding someone born out of the books she reads. The book is available in selected stores and online.

Want to be on telly? Now is your chance.

Applications are now open to be a part of the studio audience for Can’t Stop Dancing! This is your chance to see how the magic happens behind the scenes of Dancing with the Stars Ireland!Can’t Stop Dancing is a preview show for DWTS. Recorded in the same studio- you will get to see the set, props, professional dancers and celebrities live in action!! It’s more glitz, more glamour and more fun! Don’t miss this opportunity- availability is limited!!

For more information and how you can be on the show, please visit: www.rte.ie

Molly’s Game is a crime drama film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. It is the true story of Molly Bloom a beautiful, young, Olympicclass skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons.

Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe.

ACTIVITY of the week

TREAT of the week

CONCERT of the week

ARIES- This week is an 8 Review budgets, spreadsheets and numbers to revise plans for family priorities. Monitor savings.

Get advice from someone experienced.

TAURUS- This week is a 9 Collaborate with a partner to magnify the impact of \RXU H൵RUWV ,QYHVW LQ D shared dream. Consider all possibilities.

GEMINI- This week is an 8 The workload intensity rises. Get the whole gang to help out. Creative partnerships produce brilliant solutions.

CANCER- This week is an 8 Follow your heart, especially today. Your luck goes the distance. Choose your path carefully, and put your talents to work.

LEO- This week is a 7 Look at things from another’s view. Listen to what your family wants, and let them know they’ve been heard.

NORE VALLEY CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE Beside Red Mills at Cillín , www.norevalleypark.com

MOCHA’S VINTAGE TEA ROOM RESTAURANT Gash House Lane,. Kilkenny

The Nore Valley Park Christmas Experience promises festive fun for all the family, from mischievous elves and the animals of the nativity, to a delightful magical baking session with Mrs Claus, and of course a personal encounter with Santa himself and some of his deer. Complimentary teas and coffees are provided at the Red Mills Café for all ticket holders.

Step into the past at Mocha’s Vintage Tea Room Restaurant, on Gas House Lane in Kilkenny City. Charming surroundings and French vintage décor offer a relaxing ambiance to enjoy a freshly made breakfast with Irish free range eggs, or a healthy lunch, or something more substantial.. Freshly prepared dishes offer a varied menu for all tastes and dietary needs. Come and absorb the elegant surroundings and friendly service.

HISTORY of the week

BROWSE of the week

CHRISTMAS CONCERT FOR RAY OF SUNSHINE FOUNDATION The Orchard House, New Orchard Road, Kilkenny on Saturday, December 23, at 8pm.

Limited seating – tickets cost €10.

A Christmas fundraiser concert with local musician in aid of The Ray of Sunshine Foundation brings volunteers from all over Ireland to the poorest of the poor in underdeveloped countries having special regard for the plight of children particularly in their educational needs. They undertake building projects such as schools to empower children through education and give them

CRAFT of the week

VIRGO- This week is an 8 Get your mind around a groundbreaking idea.

Consider another view philosophically. Prioritize obligations to make space for new possibilities.

LIBRA- This week is a 9 3UR¿WDEOH YHQWXUHV UHTXLUH your attention. Cajole someone into paying up.

Follow through on what you said you’d deliver.

SCORPIO- This week is a 9 You can do more than you thought. Discover more options than you knew about. Pursue an enticing opportunity that grows a personal passion project.

SAGITTARIUS- This week is a 6

You’re especially sensitive and intuitive. Keep your feet on the ground. Wait for better conditions, rather than risk slipping backwards.

KILKENNY FAMINE EXPERIENCE MacDonagh Junction, Kilkenny City Free admission https://kilkennyfamineexperience.com/ The Famine Experience is, a free, self-guided, audio visual tour that will recall the human story of the Kilkenny famine inmates around the buildings of the former famine Workhouse (now Workhouse Square, MacDonagh Junction). Visit Workhouse Square to see the old structure merged with modern award winning architecture and visit the memorial garden at Goods Shed Square.

PARADE PLAZE FESTIVITIES Parade Plaze Runs until Decembrer 31, 12-9pm Artisan food producers will be on hand to ensure your little elves are well fed with Christmas treats and artisan delights, scenting the air with apple and cinnamon, mulled spices and hot chocolate. Pick up a beautiful foodie gift for your loved ones or wander amongst the festive huts soaking up the atmosphere of this most magical season.

MADE IN KILKENNY CHRISTMAS POP-UP SHOP 76 John Street Runs until December 24.

10-6pm, Suns 12-6pm Treat yourself and the special people in your life to something really special this Christmas.

The MADE in Kilkenny pop-up shop has become part of the tradition for Christmas shopping in Kilkenny City. A treasure trove of exquisite gift ideas with something to suit all pockets, you’ll surely find something here to suit everybody on your list.

CAPRICORN- This week is an 8 Follow hunches and intuition. You don’t have to start from scratch. Look at ZKDW \RX KDYH GL൵HUHQWO\ AQUARIUS-This week is a 9 Go for the big prize.

Assume authority with a career opportunity, and go further than expected.

PISCES- This week is an 8 Relax and enjoy the scenery.

Adapt the itinerary as you go along. Advance your educational agenda through research, study and exploration.

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kilkennytoday New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sales Edition 2018

insideback

What will 2018 bring for hurlers?

B

rian Cody has been written R൵ EHIRUH RQO\ to bounce back, win yet more silverware and cement HYHQ IXUWKHU his already rock-solid claim as being the greatest hurling PDQDJHU LI QRW WKH JUHDWHVW *$$ PDQDJHU RI DQ\ FRGH RI all time.

7KHUH ZHUH FDOOV IRU %ULDQ WR be replaced this autumn. He remains in charge. This was the correct decision and the County %RDUG DUH WR EH FRPPHQGHG IRU LW %ULDQ &RG\ KLPVHOI ZLOO know when it is time to go, just like Sir Alex Ferguson knew when it was time to depart the 2OG 7UD൵RUG KRW VHDW Kilkenny may well win the All Ireland in 2018. What would the critics say then? They possibly wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t win, but that shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily be seen as the sigQDO IRU &RG\ WR GHSDUW ,W ZLOO EH about whether there has been an improvement, some signs that a new team with All Ireland poWHQWLDO LV WDNLQJ VKDSH ,I WKLV LV the case, then it will be because RI %ULDQ &RG\ DQG %ULDQ &RG\

Rita Lovas, Zalan, Balazs and Nerina Lesznek visiting the Coca-Cola Truck on The Parade. Image by Rue Photography

Brian Quigley should stay on even beyond WR WU\ WR ¿QLVK WKH MRE RI reclaiming the All Ireland.

This year was disappointing.

Not just the All Ireland, with WKH ORVV WR :H[IRUG LQ -XQH LQ WKH /HLQVWHU VHPL ¿QDO IROORZHG E\ WKH H[WUD WLPH GHIHDW WR :DWHUIRUG LQ WKH TXDOL¿HUV 7KH $Olianz National Hurling League Division 1A campaign was PLGGOH RI WKH URDG WRR ZLWK WKH VLGH ¿QLVKLQJ IRXUWK RI VL[ DQG losing their opening two games WR :DWHUIRUG DQG &ODUH EHIRUH improving and beating Cork, drawing with the eventual champions Tipperary and beating a relegation-bound Dublin.

6R LW DOO NLFNV R൵ DJDLQ RQ -DQXDU\ &RG\ D PDQDJHU , DGPLUH HQRUPRXVO\ FDQ¶W DI-

IRUG DQRWKHU \HDU OLNH ODVW \HDU There has to be improvement. I KRSH ± IRU KLV DQG IRU .LONHQnyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that he achieves it.

All eyes on the Six Nations

Having hosted three wins out RI WKUHH JDPHV SOD\HG LQ WKH $XWXPQ ,QWHUQDWLRQDOV DJDLQVW 6RXWK $IULFD )LML DQG $UJHQWLQD VSULQJ ZLOO

VHH ,UHODQG DW KRPH IRU WKUHH RI WKHLU ¿YH 1DW:HVW 6L[ 1Dtions games.

The autumn wins augured ZHOO IRU WKH 6L[ 1DWLRQV

DQG WKH IDFW WKDW ZH KDYH WKH H[tra home game this year should lead to an increase in expectation that we can wrest the title IURP FXUUHQW KROGHUV (QJODQG The three Aviva games are consecutive â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in rounds two, WKUHH DQG IRXU :H RSHQ RXU DFFRXQW DZD\ WR )UDQFH D GL൶FXOW JDPH EXW UHYHQJH IRU ORVLQJ RXW LQ WKH KRVWLQJ ULJKWV IRU WKH 2023 Rugby World Cup could EH D IDFWRU DQG WKH ¿UVW JDPH LV RIWHQ WKH EHVW WLPH WR SOD\ )UDQFH DQ\ZD\ $IWHU WKH WULS to Paris we decamp to Dublin WR KRVW ,WDO\ :DOHV DQG ¿QDOO\ 6FRWODQG ,I ZH DUH VWLOO LQ WKH PL[ E\ WKH WLPH RI RXU ¿QDO game â&#x20AC;&#x201C; away to England â&#x20AC;&#x201C; then WKDW ZLOO PDNH IRU VRPH FOLPD[ to the series!

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kilkennytoday New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sales Edition 2018