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kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
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Locals face property tax hikes as values rise By Kilkenny Today reporter MANY Kilkenny householders ZLOO EH KLW ZLWK D VLJQL¿FDQW hike in their property tax bills this year. /RFDO IDPLOLHV ZLOO SD\ DQ DYHUDJH RI ¼ PRUH EHFDXVH WKH YDOXH RI WKHLU KRPHV KDYH ULVHQ FRQVLGHUDEO\ VLQFH WKH GHHSO\ XQSRSXODU OHY\ ZDV LQWURGXFHG LQ 2FWREHU %DFN WKHQ WKH DYHUDJH YDOXH RI D KRPH LQ .LONHQQ\ ZDV ¼ RQ ZKLFK
KRPHRZQHUV ZRXOG SD\ DQ DQQXDO SURSHUW\ WD[ RI ¼ +RZHYHU ODWHVW GDWD IURP WKH &HQWUDO 6WDWLVWLFV 2൶FH &62 shows these values rose to ¼ E\ 2FWREHU 7KLV PHDQV WKH DYHUDJH .LONHQQ\ householder will now have to IRUN RXW ¼ WR 5HYHQXH ± D ULVH RI ¼ VLQFH WKH SURSHUW\ WD[ ZDV LQWURGXFHG $ VHSDUDWH DQDO\VLV RI WKH ORFDO SURSHUW\ PDUNHWV UHYHDOV WKH YDOXH RI KRPHV DFURVV .LONHQQ\ FLW\ DQG FRXQW\ URVH E\ DQ
DYHUDJH RI PRUH WKDQ ¼ HYHU\ PRQWK LQ 1HZ ¿JXUHV FRQWDLQHG LQ WKH ODWHVW +RXVH 3ULFH 5HSRUW IURP WKH SURSHUW\ ZHEVLWH 'DIW LH UHYHDO WKH DYHUDJH KRPH in Kilkenny is now worth ¼ +RXVH SULFHV LQ .LONHQQ\ JUHZ E\ LQ ZKLFK is above the national average ¿JXUH RI UHFRUGHG IRU WKLV year. While householders will ZHOFRPH WKH ULVH LQ WKH YDOXH RI
WKHLU KRPH PDQ\ ZLOO EH KLW LQ WKH SRFNHW DV WKH\ DUH IRUFHG WR pay higher property taxes. 7KH /RFDO 3URSHUW\ 7D[ /37 LV DVVHVVHG DW SF RI LWV PDUNHW YDOXH ,W LV GHVLJQHG WR IXQG ORFDO VHUYLFHV DQG UHSODFHV GLUHFW H[FKHTXHU IXQGLQJ IRU ORFDO DXWKRULWLHV For properties valued at over ¼ PLOOLRQ WKH ¿UVW ¼ PLOOLRQ LV EDVHG RQ D SF PXOWLSOLHU DQG WKH EDODQFH DW SF Continued on next page
Kay Foley and Hannah Sherwood at The Thomas Hayes Trust Gala Ball, Hotel Kilkenny. Image by Rue Photography. Image by Rue Photography
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kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
news in brief Heroin hidden under car bonnet A MAN and a woman were arrested after Kilkenny gardai seized heroin and cannabis valued at €14,000 hidden under the bonnet of the car they were travelling in. The pair were arrested after gardai from the Thomastown 7UD൶F 8QLW VWRSSHG DQG searched a blue Audi in Ballytobin shortly after 5pm on Friday, January 4. 7KH GULYHU DWWHPSWHG WR ÀHH WKH VFHQH EXW ZDV VXEVHTXHQWO\ captured and arrested along with the female passenger.
€2.5k fund to help small businesses SMALL businesses across Kilkenny city and county can apply for funding to boost their online capabilities as part of a new scheme announced by Minister John Paul Phelan. The Department of Communications backed Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVS) will support small businesses throughout the county who want to develop their e-commerce capabilities by providing training, advice and grant assistance worth up to €2,500.
Jayden Osam and Seoighe Bird at launch of The Eason Spelling Bee in partnership with Today FM - the All-Ireland Final Bee will be held in the RDS in June.Pic: Julien Behal
Collisions alarm residents A MAN was rushed to St Luke’s General Hospital following the second serious road collision at a notorious county Kilkenny accident blackspot in the space of just ¿YH GD\V The latest crash at the cross in Goresbridge occurred at 9am last Tuesday morning as local children were making WKHLU ZD\ WR VFKRRO $ ZKLWH YDQ FROOLGHG ZLWK a local resident’s car at the QRWRULRXV MXQFWLRQ 7KH GULYHU RI WKH FDU ZDV injured in the collision and was taken to St Luke’s by DPEXODQFH
7KH FUDVK RFFXUUHG MXVW ¿YH days after the last collision at the junction when two females, including a pregnant woman, also had to be taken WR 6W /XNH¶V E\ DPEXODQFH The cross in Goresbridge KDV EHHQ WKH VFHQH RI VHYHUDO FUDVKHV LQ UHFHQW \HDUV /DVW 6HSWHPEHU D YHKLFOH ZDV RYHUWXUQHG IROORZLQJ DQRWKHU FROOLVLRQ DW WKH MXQFWLRQ Local residents, including the Labour Party’s General Election candidate for the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency Denis Hynes, KDYH EHHQ FDPSDLJQLQJ IRU years for safety measures to
be put in place at the cross, EXW WKHLU DSSHDOV KDYH IDOOHQ RQ GHDI HDUV 7KH\ DUH XUJLQJ locals to sign a petition calling on local authorities to implement “emergency” safety measures at the site EHIRUH VRPHERG\ LV NLOOHG Mr Hynes said: “All of XV KHUH LQ WKH YLOODJH DQG surrounding area can testify to how dangerous this cross LV “We are currently going around with a petition asking people to sign it for emergency measures to be put in place immediately EHIRUH LW¶V WRR ODWH ´
Property tax set to increase Continued from previous page But since 2015 local authorities have been free to adjust the rate up or down by a maximum of 15pc. In Dublin, three of the four councils have reduced it by 15pc, with Fingal reducing it by 10pc for this year. This means homeowners in these areas pay a lower rate. Conversely, those living in other counties that increased the rate pay more. For example, Waterford City and County Council increased the levy by 2.5pc, Limerick City and County by 7.5pc, Wexford and Laois by 10pc, and Longford by 15pc. Kilkenny County Council charges the standard rate of LPT as set by the Government. Last September local council members voted to keep the rate of property tax unchanged for the second year in a row. Nationally, the average price of a home reached €256,000 in 2018 - up from under €150,000 in 2013. That suggests taxes could go from a national average of €225 to €495
Gang hits two local premises in night of drama A CRIMINAL gang launched a smash-and-grab raid on Kilkenny businesses during an early morning crime spree before making a high-speed getaway. Kilkenny Today has learned the gang were almost caught red-handed by local gardai who were responding to one of the break-ins just as the criminals ZHUH ÀHHLQJ WKH VFHQH RI D second burglary. It is believed the same gang were also behind three earlier near identical break-ins in Durrow, just over the border in Co Laois. The gang, driving a highpowered Grey Audi, targeted the Inver Petrol Station in Johnstown at 3.20am on Sunday, January 6. The windows of the premises were smashed, and the gang PDGH R൵ ZLWK D TXDQWLW\ RI cigarettes and alcohol. 7ZHQW\ ¿YH PLQXWHV ODWHU WKH\ hit the Centra Shop on Main Street, Urlingford. The gang used the same modus operandi as the earlier break-ins: the windows of the premises were broken and
IXUWKHU TXDQWLWLHV RI DOFRKRO DQG cigarettes were stolen. Kilkenny gardai responding to WKH ¿UVW LQFLGHQW WKHQ KDSSHQHG to come across the gang as they ZHUH ÀHHLQJ WKH VFHQH RI WKH Centra heist. A local Garda source said DQ R൶FHU ZKR JRW RXW RI WKH VTXDG FDU WR WU\ DQG LGHQWLI\ WKH suspects was then almost mown down as the gang sped past in the opposite direction. Gardai gave chase, but the gang managed to evade arrest. Gardai later discovered the Grey Audi’s 06 LS registration plates were false and had been stolen from another vehicle outside Portlaoise a few hours earlier. Gardai believe there were three, possibly four, criminals involved in the burglary spree, and that the gang is based in Dublin. They are currently trawling through CCTV footage from the targeted premises in a bid to identify the criminals. Anyone with information regarding the burglaries is urged to contact Castlecomer Garda Station on 056 444 1222.
Meningitis warning after three deaths PEOPLE in Kilkenny have been urged to be vigilant for the symptoms of meningitis after the Health Service Executive +6( FRQ¿UPHG WKUHH SHRSOH have died from the condition in the past four weeks. A total of 11 cases of meningococcal meningitis have EHHQ QRWL¿HG WR WKH +HDOWK Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) since the last week in December. Three of those patients died directly due to the infection, reports have FRQ¿UPHG According to provisional data, GL൵HUHQW VWUDLQV DUH FLUFXODWLQJ and causing disease.
Two separate strains have EHHQ LGHQWL¿HG VLQFH WKH ODVW week in December. All age groups have been D൵HFWHG 7KH FRQ¿UPHG FDVHV LV PRUH WKDQ GRXEOH WKH ¿YH FDVHV of meningococcal meningitis that were reported during the same period last year. Early symptoms of meningitis can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, stomach cramps, cold hands and feet, and a rash. However, health experts have urged people not to wait for a rash to appear before seeking medical help for the condition.
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kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
Local retailers urged to be Age Friendly
news in brief Damien hangs up RTÉ microphone RTÉ South East correspondent Damien Tiernan has left the national broadcaster. Mr Tiernan has reported on almost all of the major news stories in Kilkenny and across the region for more than 20 years. The journalist hung up his RTÉ microphone last week after he accepted one of the packages as part of the exit scheme which was announced by the broadcaster in 2017. Mr Tiernan said he thought “long and hard” about his decision to leave the RTÉ and that he is currently looking “at a number of options”. He was appointed as the South East Correspondent for RTÉ in December 1996.
37% of local learner drivers pass tests KILKENNY learner drivers have the second highest drive test failure rate in the country, QHZ ¿JXUHV UHYHDO The majority of motorists failed their tests across the county between January and October 2018. Just 49% of people who took their test passed – compared to 51% who failed. Kilrush had the lowest pass rate of just 34%. The Co Clare town was followed by Kilkenny on 37%.
Ross Layden, Jemil Saidi, Mathew Douglas of the Trinitones with RTE’s Aine Lawlor at the at the Launch of Give Us A Song Nationwide Campaign for Cancer Research by the Caroline Foundation. Pic: Jason Clarke
Rose Kirsten staying ‘positive’ ROSE of Tralee Kirsten Mate Maher has vowed not to let “nasty” people get her down after gardai investigated an alleged racial attack on her at a Kilkenny chipper. The 21-year-old South Kilkenny woman, who represented Waterford in the Rose of Tralee, is half-Zambian and grew up and attended school in Mullinavat. Shortly after being crowned Rose last August, gardai launched an investigation after two men allegedly
made a verbal attack on Kirsten and her boyfriend in a takeaway on John’s Street after a night out. Kirsten, speaking at the recent launch of the search for the 2019 Rose in Dublin – marking the 60th year of the competition – said she would not dwell on the incident, and instead would “focus on the positives”. “I don’t like to give in to anything. These things happen and it’s just a fact of life – people are nasty, people are always mean and I spoke
about it before the festival. “I suppose if you focus in or dwell on that mean person or that incident that happened, my year would be very negative, whereas all these amazing other things have happened. That’s why I don’t particularly like to dwell on it. “When you focus on the positives – I’ve travelled, I went over to India which really made me realise that although we do have problems over here, we’re very lucky,” she said.
RETAILERS across Kilkenny city and county are being urged to become accredited Age Friendly businesses. According to estimates, some 1.4 million people will be aged 65 and over by 2041 – more WKDQ RQH LQ ¿YH RI WKH WRWDO population. Kilkenny has played an active role in a campaign by Age Friendly Ireland to build ‘age friendly’ societies across Ireland since 2010. This has involved consulting with older adults and developing a countywide strategy and action plan in response to needs LGHQWL¿HG LQ DUHDV OLQNHG WR VRcial inclusion, transportation, housing, employment, community supports, health services and communications amongst others. Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce President Marion Acreman said: “Becoming an Age Friendly business isn’t just the right thing to do - it’s also good for business. “There are over one million people aged 55 plus living and
shopping in Ireland and older customers often have more time to shop, show greater loyalty towards local businesses and typically outspend younger customers”. Ms Acreman has invited all retailers and service businesses across Kilkenny city and county to sign up to the Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme for free. Research shows many simple, and often zero or low-cost practices, can make shopping and doing business generally much easier for older customers. After completing the programme, Age Friendly accredited businesses can display their FHUWL¿FDWLRQ DQG DFFUHGLWDWLRQ window sticker at their business premises. They will also be listed on the agefriendlyireland.ie website. Businesses can sign up to the programme by Thursday, January 31 by contacting Kilkenny Chamber on 056 7752767 or by emailing admin@kilkennychamber.ie.
Two of our TDs tried to fast track tests for drivers TWO local TDs are among a raft of opposition and Government deputies and ministers who have sought to fast-track driving tests for their constituents. Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness and Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion contacted the Road Safety Authority to make representations on behalf of their learner drivers in Kilkenny, according to a report in The Sunday Independent. Learner drivers in Kilkenny and across the country are being forced to endure agonising delays to take their tests. Deputy McGuinness’ Fianna Fáil colleagues, Niamh Smyth, James Browne and Willie O’Dea also made requests on behalf of constituents, as did Deputy Funchion’s fellow Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny. Several senior and junior ministers, including Shane Ross, Michael Creed, Jim Daly, Paul
.HKRH DQG %UHQGDQ *UL൶Q also sought to fast-track drive tests for learner drivers in their constituencies. Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal how an email from a senior politician to the RSA on behalf of someone in their constituency can knock weeks, if not months, R൵ ZDLWLQJ WLPHV In most instances, the RSA responds to the politician with a test date within a couple of weeks of the request at a driving test centre where other motorists could be waiting for as long as seven months. More than 83,000 people are currently waiting for a driving test. However, the RSA has insisted that drivers who contact the authority directly seeking a short notice test or cancellation appointment are “not treated any less favourably” than those who
do so through a politician. An RSA spokesperson said in a statement: “In relation to requests for an urgent driving test, whether from a learner driver or on foot of representations from politicians, we advise that we have a short notice option which ZH ¿OO IURP WKRVH RQ RXU SULRUity list. “It is open to any test candidate to seek an urgent test and our ability to meet these requests depends on capacity at our test centres. “Most short notice tests arise where a scheduled appointment is cancelled and this slot is then assigned to a person on our priority list. “Candidates who contact the RSA directly for a short notice test are not treated any less favourably than those who do so through an elected representative,” the RSA spokesperson added.
kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
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08| news in brief Man hospitalised after brutal assault A MAN was rushed to St Luke’s General Hospital after he was brutally assaulted in the cityFHQWUH The victim was discovered lying on the ground on John Street at around 3am on Saturday, January 5, by gardai ZKR ZHUH SDWUROOLQJ WKH DUHD The man, who is in his 30s, collapsed on the ground after KH ZDV VWUXFN LQ WKH IDFH Emergency services arrived at the scene a short time later and WKH YLFWLP ZDV WDNHQ WR 6W /XNHœV
â‚Ź6.3m roads upgrade KILKENNY has been given a Âź PLOOLRQ URDGV XSJUDGH The funding will be used for improvements to sections of the N24 west of Mooncoin and a safety scheme at the Tower 5RDG 3LOWRZQ )XQGV KDYH also been allocated for the N25 outside Glenmore, which will FRQQHFW WKH 1HZ 5RVV E\SDVV The N76 Callan road will see further improvements, ZLWK Âź PLOOLRQ DOORFDWHG IRU SDYHPHQW LPSURYHPHQWV
CAB’s 20 local targets THE Criminal Assets Bureau is targeting 20 criminals operating WKH .LONHQQ\ &DUORZ DUHD CAB has more than doubled the number of targets on its ERRNV LQ WKH SDVW WZR \HDUV
kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
Nurses strike to hit services at St Luke’s NURSES and midwives at St Luke’s General Hospital and the Carlow-Kilkenny Community Services will strike at the end of WKLV PRQWK Members of the Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation (INMO) in Kilkenny are set to take part in a series of nationwide 24-hour strikes - with the ¿UVW VWULNH VFKHGXOHG IRU -DQXDU\ There will be further 24 hour strikes on February 5 and 7, and then again on February 12, 13 and 14, if the dispute is not UHVROYHG The INMO announced the series of strikes last week in reVSRQVH WR FRQFHUQV DERXW VWD྾LQJ OHYHOV DQG SD\ UDWHV The INMO argues there is a serious shortage of nurses across the health service which is impacting both on patients DQG VWD྾ 7KH XQLRQ LV DOVR FDOOing for a 12% pay increase to bring them into line with other health professionals, to attract DQG UHWDLQ QXUVHV
Jimmy and Mai Corr with Colette and Ger Delaney at The Bee Gees Story, Springhill Court Hotel. Image by Rue Photography Nurses and midwives voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action when they were EDOORWWHG EHIRUH &KULVWPDV Some 95% of those who voted VXSSRUWHG VWULNH DFWLRQ Pickets will be placed outside St Luke’s during the strike acWLRQ LW KDV EHHQ FRQ¿UPHG The INMO has begun liaising with services and management on the arrangements for emer-
gency, life-saving cover during WKH VWULNH As well as St Luke’s Hospital, Carlow Kilkenny Community 6HUYLFHV ZLOO EH D྾HFWHG WKHVH include public health nurses and 5*1V LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ This will be only the second time in the INMO’s 100-year history that its members have WDNHQ QDWLRQDO VWULNH DFWLRQ The last stirke action was in
7KH 3V\FKLDWULF 1XUVHV Organisation has also voted LQ IDYRXU RI LQGXVWULDO DFWLRQ They will refuse to work overtime on 31 January and 1, 5, 6 and 7 February and plan to then escalate their industrial action to full strikes on 12, 13, and 14 )HEUXDU\ The strike action is set to heap further pressure on our beleaguered hospitals, which have
been struggling to cope with WKH ULVLQJ QXPEHU RI ZLQWHU ÀX SDWLHQWV Last Friday a total of 493 patients were treated on trolleys in hospitals across the country, according to the INMO’s trolley DQG ZDUG ZDWFK ¿JXUHV Just seven of these were left waiting for a bed in St Luke’s General Hospital, where the number of patients being treated on trolleys has varied VLQFH WKH EHJLQQLQJ RI WKH \HDU Health Minister Simon Harris , warned the health service is now HQWHULQJ D FKDOOHQJLQJ SHULRG ³7KH ÀX KDV QRZ DUULYHG ´ KH VDLG DGGLQJ WKH VWUDLQ RI ÀX EHing experienced in the country ZDV + 1 RU VZLQH ÀX The minister said pregnant women and those under 65 with pre-existing conditions are most at risk and he urged people in WKHVH FDWHJRULHV WR JHW WKH ÀX YDFFLQH DV VRRQ DV SRVVLEOH Do you stand with the nurses? See page 12
Seventeen declared bankrupt last year
Tony and Sheila Rafter at The Bee Gees Story, Springhill Court Hotel. Image by Rue Photography
City makes Top 10 ‘tidy towns’ league KILKENNY has cleaned up its act yet again – so much so that the city has climbed back into the ‘top 10’ premier league of Ireland’s cleanest towns. 7KH 0DUEOH &LW\ ÂżQLVKHG ninth in a survey of more than 40 towns in the rankings – up seven places from the last Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey last October. The latest anti-litter report noted it was “another excellent result for Kilkennyâ€?, with 80% of local sites graded
in the survey achieving top marks. It singled out the Market Cross Shopping Centre, which is described as a “particularly well presented and clean siteâ€?. The survey also had words of praise for Kilkenny Train Station (“a very well attended siteâ€?), the “excellentâ€? condition of High Street and the “pristineâ€? grounds of Kilkenny Castle. Kilkenny County Council ZHOFRPHG WKH ÂżQGLQJV RI WKH IBAL litter survey.
THE South East had one of the highest levels of bankruptcies compared to other regions in QHZ ¿JXUHV UHYHDO In Kilkenny there was a total of 17 bankruptcies in the city DQG FRXQW\ ODVW \HDU Kilkenny’s bankruptcy levels were joint twelfth highest in the country in 2018, according to debt analysis experts Stubbs Gazette following an H[DPLQDWLRQ RI WUHQGV ODVW \HDU Our neighbours in Carlow KDG WKH MRLQW ¿IWK KLJKHVW bankruptcy levels, with 21 recorded per every 100,000 SHRSOH LQ WKH VXUYH\ Waterford was fourth highest with 22, while Tipperary came second with 24, just behind Cavan (25) which recorded the largest number of bankruptcies in 2018 per 100,000 people, according to the Stubbs VXUYH\ Some 135 bankruptcies last year occurred in Dublin, but the capital was the fourth lowest for bankruptcies per head of SRSXODWLRQ 7KH VWDWLVWLFV RQ WKH regional spread of judgments and bankruptcies indicate a ODFN RI OHQGLQJ LQ WKHVH UHJLRQV
kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
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kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
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kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
kilkennyinpictures
Alex and Maria Ambrose with Ionut Vana at The Thomas Hayes Trust Gala Ball, Hotel Kilkenny. Image by Rue Photography
Angela Hayes and Kevin Hennessy at The Thomas Hayes Trust Gala Ball, Hotel Kilkenny. Image by Rue Photography
Alex and Maria Ambrose with Ionut Vana at The Thomas Hayes Trust Gala Ball, Hotel Kilkenny. Image by Rue Photography
John and Siobain Quirke celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary, Pembroke Hotel. Image by Rue Photography
Alan and Charlotte Armitage at The Thomas Hayes Trust Gala Ball, Hotel Kilkenny. Image by Rue Photography
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kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
opinion&comment
Do you stand with the nurses?
T
he country’s nurses will be going on strike for a day later this month, on January 30, as they seek a pay increase of 12%. If the dispute is not resolved then the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has further strikes SODQQHG IRU )HEUXDU\ ¿YH GD\V in total at the moment). These strikes will seriously inconvenience the general public, whose taxes pay the sector’s existing wages, not to mention any increases won from the impending industrial action. So, do you stand with the nurses? If you are on social media you will have seen many of your friends and contacts change WKHLU SUR¿OHV LQWR RQH RI WKRVH ‘I stand with the nurses’ themed ones. It’s a free world, especially in the realms of cyberspace, but I don’t like to see this kind of agenda-setting and bandwagon jumping. Before people can even make up their minds on the issue they are automatically corralled into
Brian Quigley
a particular pen. This happened with the recent referendums on Equality and Repeal – people were made to feel like pariahs if they voted against the popular trend (for the record I voted in favour of both but I looked at both sides thoroughly and made up my own mind). Personally, I have an intense dislike of strike action. I don’t like being inconvenienced, whether that’s by my bus not coming due to a transport strike, my street being unprotected by a police strike or whatever. A lot of people are
Two students at this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2019 in the RDS going to be inconvenienced on 30 January. Clinics will be cancelled and wards will be under more pressure than they already are. There should be a better way to settle disputes in 2019 rather than this old-school action. Strikes in the public sector
tend to be carried out by groups who are large in number and have powerful unions behind them. The nurses are certainly a very large group, probably the largest in the health service. As someone in the private sector who doesn’t have that
luxury, I resent having my taxes mugged like that; I’ve worked as hard as anyone to contribute to the recovery, and I’d like to keep my share of it in my wallet for my own family. Nurses are professionals whose salaries could do with being boosted.
They do an amazing job and one of the ways for society to reward that is by paying them a salary they deserve. A bigger salary will also attract more people into a profession that has shortages of numbers. I’d certainly be pleased to see one of own children choose a career in nursing; there are plenty of opportunities for career paths and development. If we give all the nurses a 12% increase though, will it represent value for money for the taxpayer? The money that an acrossthe-board increase would cost won’t reduce waiting lists or create more beds. So would the money be better spent tacking issues like that? It has to be said too that if the nurses get what they want then LW FRXOG RSHQ WKH ÀRRGJDWHV IRU copycat action by other groups who have similar unionised power to extract their demands IURP WKH JRYHUQPHQW¶V FR൵HUV (and the taxpaying public’s wallets). We will watch with keen interest how this all plays out.
kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
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kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
WILDLIFE with Justin Ivory
BOOK of the week
Trees R Us
TV SHOW of the week
FILM of the week
HOROSCOPES
Plant a tree for the Planet (Photo Justin Ivory) HAPPY New Year everybody! As we leave 2018 behind and enter into 2019 I guess the big stories of last year that will continue to run into this year are the two massive issues of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss. There are certainly no bigger or more important issues facing us at this moment in time, and they are probably the two biggest and most important issues that humanity have ever had to face. The future of humanity and all species, even the future of the planet as we currently know it is now hanging in the balance. My apologies if that is not the most cheerful welcome to a new year you are ever likely to receive! It can be hard not to feel overwhelmed and powerless in the face of such complex and far-reaching issues and if we are to dig ourselves out of this situation it will need unprecedented and co-ordinated action from governments and big business across the globe. Don’t despair though, there are lots of actions that we can take as individuals or in our local communities which if replicated nationally and globally could have huge positive impacts on both these issues. One such action which I am proposing everybody adopt as a New Year resolution is to plant more trees. If each family planted 1 native tree for each member of their household and if each school planted one native tree for each pupil in the coming year that would be one small step that would help mitigate against carbon emissions and help biodiversity at the same time. There are lots of other small actions we can take which I highlighted in a column a couple of months ago. Of course given the hugely complex nature of the factors driving climate change and biodiversity loss the solutions are also complex and never simple....but some action is better than doing nothing at all.
BIRD BOX by Josh Malerman
HOW TO BE GOOD WITH MONEY RTE1, Thursdays 8.30pm
STAN & OLLIE ROI rating: PG
NOW A MAJOR FILM IF YOU’VE SEEN WHAT’S OUT THERE. IT’S ALREADY TOO LATE Malorie raises the children the only way she can: indoors, with the doors locked, the curtains closed, and mattresses nailed over the windows. The children sleep in the bedroom across the hall, but soon she will have to wake them and blindfold them. Today they will risk everything. Today they will leave the house. Josh Malerman’s Bird Box is a terrifying psychological thriller that will haunt you long after reading.
New series. How you manage, spend and invest your money can have a profound impact on your life. But recent research found that only one in four Irish people claim to be “financially savvy�. Eoin McGee presents this show aiming to help viewers look after their finances. He begins by advising Mary Anne Stokes and Mustafa Cezaroglulari, who are expecting their second child and want to know if Mary Anne can afford to spend more than her allocated six months maternity leave at home with the new arrival.
Laurel and Hardy, the world’s greatest comedy team, face an uncertain future as their golden era of Hollywood films remain long behind them. The pair attempt to reignite their film careers as they embark on what becomes their swan song - a grueling theatre tour of post-war Britain. Diminished by age, the duo set out to reconnect with their adoring fans by touring variety halls in Britain in 1953. The shows become an instant hit, but Stan and Ollie can’t quite shake the past as long-buried tension and Hardy’s failing health start to threaten their precious partnership.
CONCERT of the week
TRIP of the week
CENTRE of the week
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FOSTER AND ALLEN Watergate Theatre. Thursday, January 24th T : 056 776 1674 E : info@watergatetheatre.com
DUNMORE CAVE Mothel, Ballyfoyle, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny, T : 056 776 7726 E : dunmorecaves@opw.ie
MARKET CROSS SHOPPING CENTRE Coffee House Lane, Kilkenny T : 056 775 2666 E : admin@marketcross.ie
International recording artists Foster & Allen are celebrating over 40 years together in the music business. Their style and easy listening sound remains as fresh and exciting as ever. They are looking forward to playing at The Watergate Theatre where they will perform all their hits, including ‘Bunch Of Thyme’, ‘Maggie’, ‘After All These Years’ and ‘Old Flames’ as well as some of their recent recordings such as ‘Burning Bridges’, ‘Galway Girl’, ‘We Owe It All To You’, ‘A Hug’ and also songs from their new album release “Putting On The Style� released in September 2018
History and geology blend at Dunmore Cave to give an interesting and unique situation. Consisting of a series of chambers formed over millions of years, the cave contains some of the finest calcite formations found in any Irish cave. The cave has been known to man for many centuries and is first mentioned in the 9th century Irish Triads. The most interesting reference however, comes from the Annals which tells of a Viking massacre at the cave in the year 928 A.D. Guided Tours: Duration: 1 hour. The cave is inaccessible for wheelchair users.
Market Cross Shopping Centre is situated in the heart of Kilkenny city and growing from strength to strength. The centre boasts some of the best known branded shops and retail outlets in Ireland, including Supervalu, Heatons, and Penneys, to name but a few. This a partially outdoor shopping centre with a design to suit the medieval streets of Kilkenny. It is surrounded by the most popular and award winning restaurants and hotels, not to forget to mention that they are in the centre of all the local amenites, banks, tourist office, bars and theatres.
GIG of the week
EXHIBITION of the week
TRIP of the week
THE NATIONAL REPTILE ZOO Demesne Road, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny T : 056 7726757 E : info@nationalreptilezoo.ie
SEAN KEANE SPITTING IMAGE: EVA O’LEARY Watergate Theatre. 19th January Butler Gallery, The Castle. T : 056 7761106 T : 056 776 1674 E : info@watergatetheatre.com 12 January - 3 March 2019
Come and meet some of the world’s rarest and most unusual animals! The National Reptile Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of these amazing creatures and their habitats, and we want you to experience why we’re so passionate about them! Open 10am to 6pm, seven days a week, year round, with over 50 exhibits, Animal Encounter Zone, Tropical Walk-through Habitat, indoor and outdoor Picnic Area, Snack Bar, Souvenir Shop and Soft Play Area, When it comes to looking for things to do, the Reptile Zoo is the obvious answer!
SeĂĄn Keane, who plays Watergate in Kilkenny on Saturday night next, recently released his 11th solo album ‘Gratitude’ accompanied by the RTE Concert Orchestra. He will be mixing some of the new songs with the classics like ‘Isle of Hope Isle of Tears’, ‘Galway to Graceland’, ‘Fields of Gold’ during the night. Sean will be joined by Pat Coyne on Guitar and Fergus Feely on Mandocello. Join SeĂĄn and the lads for a great night of music where SeĂĄn plays up to five instruments on stage during the night.
Eva O’Leary is an artist with a distinctive vision of contemporary society, which results in work that is reflective, challenging and always compelling. The Butler Gallery is delighted to present an exhibition by New York based photographer, her first in Ireland. This exhibition includes previously unseen work from her award-winning series ‘Spitting Image’, portraits of American girls, photographed through a two-way mirror as they respond to their own reflection. Open Daily/Free Admission.
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kilkennytoday January 17, 2019
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056 7722221 hello@lowrysmodernliving.ie www.lowrysmodernliving.ie
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am-6pm Sunday/Bank Holidays 2pm-6pm Location: Parnell Street, Kilkenny, Eircode R95 Y008
NOW OPEN SUNDAYS 2pm-6pm
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kilkennytoday January 17, 2019