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Issue 36: March 5, 2021

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WOMEN CELEBRATED Marking International Women’s Day March 8th is International Women's Day, a global day annually celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. It is one of the most important days of the year to fundraise for many female-focused

charities. Worldwide, significant activity is witnessed as groups come together to celebrate women's achievements and to rally for women's equality. The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in 1977.

 See pages 2 & 3

Let’s unite for equality

International Women’s Day

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Issue 36 March 5, 2021

International Women’s Day

CELEBRATING WOMEN Do you feel that female representatives bring a different perspective to their role? Most definitely. It's very important to be able to look around the Cork County Council chamber and have diversity, be it in gender, age, race or religion. Females make up half the population, of course there needs to be more women sitting inside the council chamber. It has been male dominated for long enough. What do you think can be done to encourage more women into leadership roles? I don't think it comes as naturally to women to put themselves forward for promotion or leadership roles as it does for a lot of men. For years, leadership roles were almost exclusively filled by men, society didn't expect women to be in leadership roles. This of course is changing, slowly. But you have got to see it to be it, so having strong female role models in leadership is terribly important. Women may need more encouragement to take that step and put their name forward for leadership roles, and we as women should be supporting one another more to do so. What do you think is the biggest issue facing women today? What I see as one of the biggest issues facing women in the workplace is getting the work and family life to balance. What I mean here is to have the career as well as having a family. Whether we like to admit it or not, it's nearly always the mother’s career that has the potential to be compromised when couples have young children and may have childcare issues. Progressing a career and raising a family is a hard balance for

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

International Women’s Day is on March 8. The achievements of women and how far they have come in the fight for their rights within the political, cultural, and social spheres is celebrated.

Councillor Gobnait Moynihan is a member of Cork County Council representing the Blarney/Macroom Municipal District. Gobnait was co-opted onto Cork County Council following her brother Aindrias Moynihan’s election to Dáil Eireann in 2017. In the local elections she was elected to the Cork County Council on the first count.

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Women may need more encouragement to take that step and put their names forward for leadership roles, and we as women should be supporting one another more to do so

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women, as well as the guilt. I think men too suffer from the guilt – of not spending enough time with their children – but men have the luxury of having less expectations on them to stay at home or turn down the promotion. What is the most important piece of advice you would give to anyone thinking of starting a career in politics? Politics is generally perceived as being ruthless, backstabbing and quite deceptive. Being in politics a short few years now, unfortunately I can say that all of the above

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can be true at times. But there is only one way to change this sad situation: Choose to not be that stereotype. Choose to be yourself. Choose to do what you can, and to the best of your ability. Keep ploughing on, and keep raising that bar for yourself. How important is it for women to lift each other up and what does that mean to you? It is very important for women to lift each other up. We as women have enough barriers in front of us, we as women don't need to make life harder for one another. What role do you think men should play in promoting gender equality? It’s everyone’s role to promote gender equality, men and women. On International Women’s Day what is the most important message you would like to communicate to women throughout Duhallow? Have the courage to be the woman you want to be.

Community news

Gardai can help to keep you in touch

Kiskeam Playground is now open

Kanturk Gardai are doing what they can to help vulnerable and elderly members of the Kanturk and wider community stay in touch during the current Covid-19 lockdown. Any person who has no means of contacting family members or friends living away from home or abroad and would like to make video contact with them is welcome to contact Kanturk Garda station. Wherever possible, they will arrange to call to your house and organise a video call for you via a Garda iPad.

Back your club with PLAYGROUND IS NOW OPEN Rebels Bounty 2021 Kiskeam GAA are promoting the Rebels Bounty 2021 which has now been launched with the first draw due to take place on March 25th. The prize fund has risen to €500,000 annually with a massive 30 prizes to be won each month. Prizes range from €150 to €20,000, with the largest prize increasing to €25,000 in April and August annually, and one lucky winner will win €100,000 in December. Tickets remain at €100 to enter the Rebels Bounty draw which can be paid either in full, monthly or by direct debit. Tickets may be purchased directly through our club sellers or on gaacork.ie/rebelsbounty and it is a great opportunity to support your club for just €1.93 a week.

IN THE FRAME

We are delighted to announce that the Kiskeam Community Playground has opened its gates. We will have an official opening ceremony once the restrictions allow. We would like to thank the following groups, and individuals, who helped to make this project a reality: IRD Duhallow who provided €57,200 of grant aid through LEADER; Cork County Council; the Kiskeam Development Association; Kiskeam GAA; Denis Quinn; Micheal Moynihan TD; Cllr Bernard Moynihan; the

construction teams of Mike Cronin, C&C Groundworks, John F O’Connor & Son, Padraig Cronin Blocklaying; the team at Kompan Ireland; Kevin & Siobhan Casey; Julia & John J Murphy and last but not least, the Playground Committee. The Committee's first meeting was held three years ago. Their continuous hard work and effort has produced this wonderful facility within our community. We still plan to hold our fundraising concert once the pandemic is behind us... so hold on to your tickets!

Majestic Mushera, king of the Boggeragh chain, resplendent in winter white Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Readers are invited to share their photographs with us – the best will feature here. Be sure to caption your image and provide your full name and details of where the photo was taken. Email it to us at: info@discoverduhallow.com

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Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Community news

Banteer/Lyre notes

Donoughmore Macra's monthly meetings are now held on Zoom

Macra zooms into action Macra na Feirme is a social organisation for young people aged 17 to 35, organising events such as sports competitions, agricultural competitions and events, music and the arts, public speaking and debating, educational and upskilling opportunities, community involvement, charity events as well as variety of social events from table quizzes to barbecues to dinner dances. While events and meetings in person have been halted due to lockdowns, clubs have hosted virtual events via Zoom such as cookery classes, mental health talks, social gatherings, games nights, quiz nights and bingo. Many of Macra’s national calendar of competitions have been adapted to run online. From poetry to crafting, stock judging to comedy sketches, there are plenty of activities to get involved in. Closing dates are fast approaching for the radio drama competition and for debating, which for the first time

Members of Freemount Macra meet for a socially distanced walk in Doneraile Park ever has a novice section for first time debaters. The opportunity to engage with peers in the virtual events hosted by Macra has hugely helped young people cope with lockdown. Luckily, here in the IRD Duhallow catchment area, there are no less than eight Macra clubs: Castleisland District, Killarney, Freemount, Banteer, Donoughmore, Aghinagh, Milstreet and Terelton. Contact Macra na Feirme Head Office or one of the clubs close to you via their social media.

Members of Banteer’s Macra club presenting their shoebox appeal to the residents and staff of Millstreet Community Hospital Issue 36 March 5, 2021

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Help is at hand: Banteer Lyre and Districts Community Council and other community members are available to assist the elderly or vulnerable people during lockdown. This help is in the form of picking up shopping, picking up prescriptions etc. Contact numbers for volunteers are as follows: n Rory O’Driscoll 086 2557280 n Rosie Healy-Cronin 087 2227841 n Denis Withers 087 2820001 n Billy Murphy 087 9624858 n Garda Katryn Canty-O’Connor 087 4140531 n Jack Cremin (Duinch) 0874141058 n Sheila O’Donoghue (Knockatuder) 0866837249 n John Buckley 087 3204882 Other volunteers are needed in all areas and from other local community groups. Banteer/Lyre GAA: Club membership for 2021 is €50 for Adult Members, €30 for Social Members and €30 for Juvenile Players. Subs can now be paid to any of our club officers. Win big: The Cork GAA draw for 2021 is now being collected with the first draw in March – prizes of €500,000 with monthly first prizes from €20,000 to €25,000 each month and a December first prize of €100,000. Proceeds help support your local GAA. Contact any club officer. Banteer Sportsfield Draw 2020: We thank all companies, draw supporters and grant support bodies without whom this project would not have been possible. Next draw will start in April. Church news: Mass is livestreamed from Banteer Church, Monday to Saturday, 10 am; Sundays and Holy Days 11.30am; Bank Holidays 11am. Visit www.churchservices.tv/banteer. All three parish churches remain open for private prayer. The Trocaire boxes and the Lenten Station envelopes are available in all churches. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Hannie O’Connor and Nora Breen who died recently. May they rest in peace. Parish appeal: Anyone wishing to contribute to the Parish, please do so as usual expenses must still be paid. Call Fr Winter on 029 56010, 087 6768852 or email banteerparish@gmail.com. Litter pick: Banteer Tidy Towns members spent a lot of their own voluntary time picking litter on all the approach roads over the last few weeks and road users are asked to please not throw your litter out of your car. A number of recent littering offences have been reported. Text alert system: Payments of €10 are now due to cover service for the next couple of years. To ensure that you continue to receive the service, all payments must be made as soon as possible to Denis Withers, John Buckley or Mary Cahill. All on track: Well done to Ianroid Eireann on the upgrade works completed last week at Banteer station railway crossing led by Teddy Collins and his team.

Crossword sponsored by Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk

€20 voucher for use at Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk To be in with a chance to win a €20 voucher from Bob’s Bar & Restaurant in Kanturk for food/drinks, complete the crossword below and post with your name & contact details to: Discover Duhallow Puzzle Competition, James O’Keeffe Institute, Newmarket, Co Cork Or simply scan completed puzzle or take a snap with your phone and email to: info@discoverduhallow.com

WIN! Terms & Conditions: Deadline for submissions is noon on Friday, March 12th, 2021. First correct entry drawn will win a €20 voucher, valid for three months from date of issue, to be redeemed for food / drinks from Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk. No cash alternative. Winner will be named in subsequent issue of Discover Duhallow. No correspondence will be entered into. Voucher to be collected from Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk.

Across 1. Seafarer (7) 4. Attain (5) 7. Catlike mammal (5) 9. Type of rock (7) 10. Respire (7) 11. Gaze (5) 12. Resembling a horse (6) 14. Unit of time (6) 18. Pandemonium (5) 20. Melodious (7) 22. Elusive (7) 23. Fibbing (5) 24. Foe (5) 25. Distinguished (7)

Down 1. Gruesome (7) 2. Variety show (5) 3. Elevated (6) 4. Parts of a ladder (5) 5. Fruit (7) 6. Precipitance (5) 8. Colossus (5) 13. Unwitting (7) 15. Tripod (5) 16. Joy (7) 17. Hinder (6) 18. Pancake (5) 19. Glossy (5) 21. Percussion instrument (5)

Solution: Issue 35, February 19, 2021

Solution in Issue 37, March 19, 2021

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WINNER! Well done to James Lucey, Bounard, Gneeveguilla, Rathmore, Co. Kerry. who wins a €20 voucher from Bob’s Bar & Restaurant, Kanturk!

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Duhallow news

Learning celebrated at event IRD Duhallow’s Recognition of Learning Ceremony is an annual event on the calendar, celebrating the many achievements of those who have partaken in lifelong learning programmes in the James O’Keeffe Institute. However, like many other things this year, Covid restrictions meant that it could not be hosted in person, but instead certificates were awarded through an online ceremony. Thursday the 4th of March saw over 650 individuals receive certs at the event which was broadcast on IRD Duhallow’s Youtube channel. IRD Duhallow Chairperson Breeda Moynihan Cronin (pictured right) opened the night’s proceedings congratulating everyone on their outstanding achievements and she noted that, “In times of great stress

or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy and plough your energy into something positive. This ceremony is evidence of that, as we present certificates across a wide range of courses from short one day programmes right up to level 7 degrees. Each and every one of you used the challenge presented by Covid to upskill and further your education and knowledge.” Maura Walsh, CEO of IRD Duhallow (pictured right) acknowledged the programme funders in her closing address. The PEIL programme was funded by the Department of Justice and Equality focused on upskilling women to re-enter the workforce. The LTI programme, which is funded by Cork ETB, saw its first graduates of a Level 5 major award; it was a point of particular pride that many of our

graduates were previously conferred with a Level 4 major award at previous recognition of learning ceremonies and had now gone on to undertake the Level 5. The Dormant Account Carers Programme successfully upskilled carers and to provide support for them in their caring role. SICAP-funded training programmes focused on supporting those who are unemployed to re-enter the workforce and the Skillnet programme funded by the Department of Education and Skills has developed efforts to upskill their workforce to become more resilient in the face of economic challenges presented by Covid-19. The link to the ceremony will remain live over the coming weeks – visit the IRD Duhallow Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/ irdduhallow.

IRD Duhallow bids farewell to ace mentor

Maura Walsh making a presentation to Elfredas Gudonis recently on the day of his retirement. Also pictured are scheme supervisors Don Murphy and Marie Fleming, with Employment Training and Social Inclusion Team Leader Triona Murphy. Issue 36 March 5, 2021

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IRD Duhallow was sorry to lose the services of Elfridas Gudonis following his recent retirement. Elfredas, originally from Vilinius in Lithuania, came to Ireland with his family to make a better life in 2005. Elfredas worked in construction for a number of years, and became employed with IRD Duhallow on a Tús scheme in 2015 for 12 months, and then volunteered for two years, returning on the Tús scheme in 2020 to help restore vintage machinery in our argi museum here at the James O’Keeffe Insitute. Elfredas was a great help especially with the mentoring of the young Tús participants on the project. Everyone at IRD Duhallow wishes him all the best in his retirement.

Job Centre

How to find the right job Here are some steps to help you in the hunt for the perfect job: Assess what’s important to you: Is it work-life balance, a job you are passionate about or good at, to progress in your career, to lead to other jobs, the people you work with, or an important means to an end? Research: Smaller businesses, hospitality and the service industry have been impacted the most by Covid-19 restrictions and might not start hiring until closer to summer. Industries that are still hiring at the moment include healthcare, tech, supermarkets, e-commerce and organisations with remote working positions. To keep up to date with opportunities, you can use apps like JobsIreland, Indeed, jobs.ie, Monster, IrishJobs. Local jobs are advertised through our Job Centre. Update & personalise your CV: Your CV should include a short

By JACKIE KELLY

personal statement; list your education, work experience, achievements and a list of all your relevant skills to match the job you are applying for. Prepare: If you have successfully applied for a job you need to prepare for your interview. Thoroughly re-

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search the company, review the job description, prepare what you will wear, prepare for questions you will be asked and prepare your own questions for the employer. After an interview it can be worth following up with the employer to show your enthusiasm for the position. For support in applying for future roles, please contact Jackie Kelly on 029-60633 or email jackie.kelly@irdduhallow.com  IRD Duhallow’s SICAP-funded Job Centre offers support and guidance to people in relation to CV Preparation, the interview process, career guidance and job seeking. SICAP 2018-2022 is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development with co-funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Vacancies

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Issue 36 March 5, 2021

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Vacancies

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Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Interests

Untamed: a book for our times Glennon Doyle’s Untamed is an unabashed scrutiny of life. With so many of us being at home and our lives slowing down like never before, we have an opportunity to re-evaluate; be it work, home life or our relationships. Doyle’s approach of utilizing narrative form to dismantle structures such as parenting, mental illness, addiction, eating disorders, race, religion, and sexuality (among many more) is why she is already a New York Times bestseller. Her brutal transparency vibrates throughout the text, aided by her ability to guide the reader right along beside her, showing her thought process in simple yet deep and rich anecdotes. The use of the first-person narrative structure also lends an authenticity to the text which leaves no doubt that she is

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

BOOK REVIEW By AINE CURTIN bearing her deepest and darkest thoughts, which grants the reader an experience akin to having one of those unforgettable, hours-long conversations with a true friend. The structure of short chapters permits the reader to go away, put the book down and process the thought presented; something that I found myself doing many times. The heaviness within some of the chapters, sometimes even single paragraphs or sentences, hits hard so this format is undoubtedly necessary.

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Doyle’s unapologetic honesty demonstrates what she desires for the future and present generations; a society in which everyone is allowed to be their authentic and wild self. There appears to be nothing she won’t discuss, nothing is left off of the table. This may be a spoiler, but her previous work was written before her ‘untaming’, her description of freedom. This novel is the explanation of how she overcame the societal structures many of us find ourselves in, how she broke free from just existence and started living. All in all, I believe this read to have been perfect for the times we are in right now. This book felt like a hug from a childhood friend, a cup of tea after a long day, truly food for the soul.

Feature

AIR AMBU Niall O’Sullivan of Dromtariffe

THE DAY THE AIR MEDICS RESCUED ME

ICRR Chief Executive Mícheál Sheridan

Like everyone else, I had always admired the great work that Irish Community Rapid Response were doing. Living in Dromtariffe, we’re only a few miles from the ICRR base in Rathcoole. We’d often see and hear the helicopter passing by on its way to an incident. I never expected that one day I’d need it myself. Last July, I had a serious accident at home. I suffered multiple broken bones and other internal injuries. The ambulance personnel and the ICRR staff who tended to me that day were brilliant. I was transferred from my home to Cork University Hospital in minutes. Having a service like ICRR on our doorstep is fantastic and it is so important that it is maintained.  Following the incident Niall set up a GoFundMe page where €13,370 was raised to support the Air Ambulance.

The Irish Community Rapid Response Air Ambulance was tasked to 490 incidents across 13 counties during 2020, which was its first full year in operation. The ICRR Air Ambulance, based in Rathcoole in County Cork, works in tandem with the National Ambulance Service to provide both paramedic support and transport to hospital for seriously ill patients. Figures from the ICRR show that July was the single busiest month, with the Air Ambulance being tasked a total of 59 times. Road traffic accidents account for the most incidents, with a total of 94 taskings throughout the year. Amongst the other incidents responded to were; n 81 cardiac arrests n 74 general trauma calls n 73 general medical calls n 46 farming accidents n 29 falls from heights While Cork, Kerry and Waterford were the counties most likely to need the service, the Air Ambulance also provided support to Counties Tipperary, Clare, Wexford, Limerick, Leitrim, Kildare, Kilkenny, Offaly,

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Roscommon and Galway. ICRR Chief Executive Mícheál Sheridan says, “The statistics show the demand that exists for an Air Ambulance based in the south of the country. The ICRR Air Ambulance is airborne in under four minutes of being tasked by the National Ambulance Service, and is thirty minutes away from most of the areas within its catchment. Dozens of lives have been saved as a result of the hard work of the crew, and care administered in a timely manner to hundreds of others. Ireland needs this service, and this service needs the continuing support of our community fundraisers and corporate supporters”. The ICRR Air Ambulance can bring casualties to the hospital that best suits their lifesaving needs, not just the closest geographically. From the base in North Cork, the ICRR Charity Air Ambulance can put a 25,000km2 area within 30 minutes of emergency medical care. The ICRR Air Ambulance is staffed by advanced paramedics and EMTs from the National Ambulance Service. Director of the National Ambulance

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Feature

ULANCE APPEAL

Pictured above in front of the Air Ambulance helicopter are National Ambulance Service Advanced Paramedics Paul Traynor and James Ward with Irish Community Rapid Response Community Air Ambulance Pilot Tony McAteer Service, Martin Dunne, says, “The ICRR Air Ambulance has been a great addition to our emergency response capacity. Our dispatch teams have the option of either the Aer Corps service from Tullamore, or the ICRR service from North Munster. This provides much needed and timely support to our on-road response teams operating across the country. Equally, the provision of these services ensures that critically ill patients can be brought to emergency trauma centres faster, which improves the likelihood of a successful outcome.” The ICRR Air Ambulance currently has two helicopters at its medical aerodrome in Rathcoole, County Cork, only one of which is operational

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

at any one time, the other acting as a backup. A new, faster helicopter with longer range capacity is due to be delivered later in the year. Mícheál Sheridan says, “We already possess an additional helicopter asset, and we know that there will always be a demand for the

‘

A priority for us in 2021 is to work with other partners to ensure everyone on the island of Ireland is within 30 minutes of an air ambulance service

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service across the country. A priority for us in 2021 is to work with other partners to ensure everyone on the island of Ireland is within 30 minutes of an air ambulance service either provided by ICRR or the Irish Aer Corps.” ICRR recently launched its new ‘Further Faster’ campaign to help raise the €1.5 million needed this year to fund the service and its new Air Ambulance helicopter. The appeal started with its 310,000 steps challenge ‘Marching Through March’ where the public and companies are asked to participate in the challenge and to fundraise. Full details are available at www.icrr.ie

Poetry

THE VARIETY OF SPRING Anois teach an Earraigh Beidh an lá ag dul chun síneadh Is tar éis Féile Bríde Órdaigh mé mo shoil Spring puts a lilt in my step after the dull, dolorous days of winter. Spring awakens a glimmer of hope and happiness in people There is a noticeable stretch in the day The sun heats up and the vegetation begins to gestate. First the snowdrops begin to smile, And daffodils stick up their heads as if testing weather conditions All other vegetation begins the slow process of coming into bloom. Birds of every kind, wild and domesticated get amorous. The male species puts on spectacular displays to attract the opposite gender. In the farm yard the dominant cock gets on top of the highest dunghill and shrieks cock-a-doodle-do to subdue contenders. When the gander mounts one; the other geese scream in exultation, Similarly, the drake and ducks quack – quack – quack. In the wild; first partnerships have been formed And they set about making their nests to breed their young.

g By BR.

MALACHY BUCKLEY

All things bright and beautiful...

Within a few days, calves, lambs and kid goats are frisking around much to the amusement of households.

On the farmyard the madam of the house prepares nests, in boxes, in the fowl house. Some fowl however display independence By preparing their own nests under trees or bushes. Those that escape the foxes appear one fine morning For hens’ breakfast accompanied by a flock of chickens.

The agriculture farmer has to check oil and get ready machinery To plough, harrow, fertilise, sow and plant wheat, oats, barley, beet, potatoes and vegetables To satisfy the needs of nations at home and abroad.

Springtime is twentyfour seven for dairy farmers. From February first cows are delivering their young, day and night. Most births happen without difficulty But many require first aid for breach-births or dropping legs within. Most farmers learn from experience how to cope with these emergencies. In severe cases the veterinary surgeon has to be summoned.

for championships.

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Gardeners are busy tending to the needs of their flowers And ball players are readying themselves All this is accompanied by the orchestral chorus of birdsong With the lead warblers being the blackbird and thrush. From the robin, the wren and the sparrow come forth tweets. The real maestro is the lark in the clear air. Despite the intensive work and busyness of people Spring is the most elevating season of the year. It appears to be the reason for existence In the Northern hemisphere Easter adds Halleluiah to the theme. And the flowers and fauna answer amen.

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Artist in the frame

EARLY EXPOSURE Teenage photographer JULIA TRZESICKA lives in Kanturk Julia Trzesicka, 17, has been taking spectacular photographs for the past four years – she was the youngest person in Ireland to be certified by the Irish Photographic Federation as a Licentiatship holder, gaining her distinction in 2018 at the tender age of 14. Born in Poland, Julia moved to Ireland with her family at the age of three. She lives in Kanturk and is in Transition Year at Colaiste Treasa Secondary School. Julia inherited her passion for photography from her parents, both of whom are successful wedding photographers. “I became interested in photography when I started to watch my Dad take photos of other people and edit his images. I found it so cool how he did everything and so I would ask him lots of questions. That’s when I really started taking an interest in the magic of photography,” says Julia, who is a member of the Mallow Camera Club. “After taking my first few photographs and editing them, I realised that I had potential and that I had a love for photography. “Portrait and nature photography interest me the most but I like all types of photography as I find everything around me inspiring. “I honestly don’t have any fixed plans for the future yet as Covid-19 has really impacted on my life but at this stage I don’t think I am planning to make photography my full time career as I prefer it to be a hobby of mine, or maybe a part-time thing. My other interests are music, painting and technology.”

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Julia, left, and just a few of her photos

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Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Vet Corner

Be alert for heart issues in pets Heart disease affects approximately 10% of all dogs and cats. Although I still enjoy doing GP vet work, I am a veterinary cardiologist at heart (pardon the pun!), and I’m passionate about improving the diagnosis and treatment of pets with heart disease. However, I worry that many pets are suffering on, with their disease undetected and unmanaged, because many of the signs of heart disease might just be written off by some people as ‘signs of old age’. Heart disease can also occur in young animals who might be born with an abnormal heart. These days there are fantastic treatments for heart disease available, and it’s not the death sentence it once was years ago. Warning signs your pet might be suffering for heart disease include

g By JANE PIGOTT GP vet & Consultant Veterinary Cardiologist

reduced activity or slowing down on walks, breathlessness or a cough, or even more dramatic occurrences such as faints or collapse episodes. Your vet might notice a heart murmur or an irregular heartbeat. Heart disease is serious, and needs to be diagnosed and managed carefully to achieve a happy, comfortable life for the pet involved. Treatment of heart disease is imperative to avoid suffering and achieve a good quality of life for the pet long-term, however a ‘one size fits all’ approach to treatment does not work very well because heart disease comes in many guises. It

can be due to problems with the valves of the heart which keep blood flowing in the right direction through the system, malfunction of the heart muscle or even electrical disturbances within the heart causing an irregular heartbeat. Heart disease is variable, therefore finding the correct treatment plan requires careful diagnosis by a cardiologist using a variety of tools, such as X-ray, heart ultrasound scan (Echo), and sometimes a little backpack worn by the patient for a day to detect irregular heartbeats called a Holter monitor! If you feel you pet might be showing signs of heart disease, visit you vet for an appointment. Referral to a veterinary cardiologist such as myself is available by speaking to your primary care vet.

Agriculture by Michael O'Connor Project Scientist, Blue Dot Catchments EIP at IRD Duhallow Clg

Project seeking Meelin farmers Sixty-eight farmers have joined the Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments Project since the project’s inception in 2019. The project is reviewing expressions of interest and is looking for more farmers to join the project in 2021. In particular, the project is looking for farmers north of Meelin with lands adjacent to the Rivers (and tributaries of the Rivers) Allow, Dalua or Glashwee (for example, those with land in Rowls or Meelin). This is a €1.46 million, five-year (2019-2023) EIP-Agri project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. By pioneering a results-based payment scheme that reflects actions taken by landowners to protect and restore the freshwater environment, the project works alongside farmers and financially

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

rewards them for their efforts. Participants are offered a range of measures tailored specifically to their farm. These measures fall under four headings: Habitat Retention; Biodiversity; Buffer; and Nutrient/Sediment Management. To be considered for the project,

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farmers must select measures under at least two of these headings. Examples include maintaining a wet grassland as a habitat retention measure; installing Dipper nest boxes for biodiversity; fencing a watercourse as a buffer measure; and establishing an in-drain sediment pond for nutrient/ sediment management. Farmers may also apply for additional measures. Additional measures implemented in 2020 included works on farm roadways, riverbank restoration, and piping and infilling of trackside drains. If you are interested in joining the project, download an expression of interest form from www.irdduhallow. com/environment/duhallow-eip); or call 029-60633.

Health

HAY FEVER SEASON HAS RETURNED Hay fever season is with us again. Hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen in the air. The symptoms are unpleasant and ongoing which makes daily life unpleasant for sufferers, especially those with asthma. Prevent contact with pollen: Stay indoors if you can. If you are not able to stay indoors, using a barrier approach is the preferred choice for many people. Close-fitting sunglasses can help. Hay Max is a barrier balm that is applied to the nostrils to keep pollen out, it's natural and suitable for anyone to use. Preventative stinging nettle treatments: Stinging nettles are traditionally used to combat hay fever; some people deliberately sting themselves with them as a treatment. Fortunately there are easier ways to get the benefits.

By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE A Vogel Urticalcin Stinging Nettle Complex is a great product and also beneficial for the bones, skin and hair. Terranova Nova's Quercetin Nettle Complex contains nettle leaf, turmeric root quercetin and elderflower and helps fight hay fever. It has natural antihistamine properties and is particularly useful if there are respiratory symptoms. Treating symptoms: Depending on your symptoms, there are several good treatments to opt for. Omega 7, Sea Buckthorn Capsules are anti-inflammatory and

can help combat streaming nose and eyes. If you have congestion or blocked sinuses, Viridian's Horseradish and Garlic Complex can help clear it quickly and safely. Or try Pollinosan, a homeopathic treatment which removes the toxins associated with the allergy such as histamines and acts preventatively as well. Acupressure: The Hay Band is a great drug-free solution for adults and children. The plastic stud on the inside of the band applies pressure and stimulates the LI-11 (or QuiChi) pressure point to relieve the symptoms of allergies including hay fever. It's a low cost solution that many people have found to be effective. g New Leaf has shops in Kanturk and Charleville. See www.newleafonline.ie

Back to school support for kids Whilst we have celebrated that Covid has not generally affected children physically with serious complications, it has really impacted their mental health. This must be the focus for everyone moving forward to help children transition back to the new normal. Anxiety and worry will present itself differently in children compared to adults. Anxious parents often make anxious children and anxious children often make parents anxious. If you are an anxious parent then you will have great insight into your child’s difficulties, and you may even know helpful strategies that you can now share with your child. Many children do not have the maturity or language to articulate thoughts and feelings so stress can often present itself with physical

By KATE MURPHY Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist

signs and symptoms such as tummy aches. This is similar for adults who may be prone to headaches when they are stressed. You may see a change in your child’s behaviour such as them lashing out, becoming withdrawn or more attached and clingy to you. If you feel your child may be struggling it is really important to have open chats, cuddles and provide them with a safe space to experience their emotions. Ask your child directly if they are worried about Covid and going back to school. If they are able to share their worries with you, provide reassurance to them.

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Explain to them that it is OK for them to feel worried and lots of people feel like they do too. Feelings of anxiety and worry can often be scary for children when they are experiencing them for the first time so it is vital we normalise these feelings. Many children’s anxiety levels are higher while schools are shut, however we know that the transition back to school can be stressful for many young people too. If your child typically struggles with transitions, ensure you are speaking positively about this return. Protect your child from any negative discussions about the reopening of schools on the radio, television etc. Remember, we have done this before, we’ll do it again but hopefully this is the first step of many on the way back to normality.

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Health

Managing your mood By ALICE O’BRIEN Psychiatric nurse Mental health balance and wellbeing are a priority for us all, but never more so than now. During these uncertain Covid times it can be easy, even automatic to only focus on factors that are outside our control – things like lockdowns, 5km limits and daily numbers. We might feel or believe that we can control the actions of others or even the moods and choices that other people make. It would be much more helpful for us to focus on the factors that are within our own control, like our own actions, our own attitude and outlook, where we get information from and our own routine and habits. Using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques can help us to find ways to improve or even boost our mental health and well-being. These techniques can help us to understand the link between what we are thinking, how we are feeling and how we react to those thoughts and feelings. How we react and respond to a situation has very little to do with the situation itself but has everything to do with how we perceive the situation on a personal level. Our thoughts play a big part in how we view our reality. Thoughts can be helpful or unhelpful. Unhelpful thoughts occur when we focus on the negative aspect of the situation we are in. Unhelpful thoughts can in turn lead to unhelpful emotions. When this happens it can be difficult to change our focus to more positive areas in our lives. Some tips to get through these times and focus more on the positives can include bringing some balance into our lives. n Achievement: It is important to

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Going for a walk is still something we can take pleasure in during lockdown feel a sense of achievement in our daily routine. Achievement can come in many forms, like our jobs, but it is important to notice other areas of achievement in our daily lives like maintaining our homes or gardens, going for a daily walk. While home-schooling can be stressful, it can also bring a sense of achievement. n Pleasure: If we focus only on our achievements we cannot obtain the healthy balance we need for good mental wellbeing. We need to focus on the aspects of our lives that bring us pleasure. Make sure to include activities like watching a movie, having a cuppa or reading a good book into your daily routine to bring some relaxation and enjoyment. n Connections: Now more than ever it is vital to maintain our connections to our loved ones. We might feel isolated and alone if we are apart from our families physically so it is important to keep up the virtual connection, phone a friend, meet a neighbour for a

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socially distanced walk or join a zoom class. Remember, we might feel that everything that we enjoyed has been cancelled, things like going shopping, being able to go for a drink or to a coffee shop or having a night out. But are those the things that sustained us? Are those the things that really nurtured us? Chats with friends are not cancelled, talking to our neighbours is not cancelled, getting out to the great outdoors is not cancelled, baking a cake is not cancelled and having a nice coffee is not cancelled even if you are having it at home with the dog. g Alice O’Brien is a registered psychiatric nurse with 25 years’ experience in mental health. She has a MSc in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy and works with the Advanced Recovery Kanturk (ARK) Mental Health Team as a clinical nurse specialist. Follow cbt_for_all on Instagram to view more CBT information promoted by Alice.

Gardening tips by Rachel Budd, Horticulturist at IRD Duhallow Community Garden

GROWING TOMATOES I’m sure that every windowsill in Duhallow is full of young tomato plants bursting out of their pots and ready to be moved out to their new home, whether that is a tunnel, greenhouse or patio. It is really important to get the timing right for moving on young plants. Tomatoes are very resilient but to get the most from them we don’t want to give them any unnecessary shocks. It will be May before you can think about moving your plants out into their final position. The risk of frost needs to be long gone, and ideally the temperature should not drop below 10 degrees. This unfortunately is unrealistic in an Irish summer, but tomatoes are very susceptible to temperature. A frost will kill the plants, but temperatures below 10 degrees stop growth and can lead to poor root growth. Be sure to harden off your plants thoroughly. This means moving them out during the day, and back in at night for a few days, to acclimatise them to their new conditions. Once they are ready to be planted out, usually once the first flowers have set, they can be planted into good rich soil in a tunnel or into large, bucket-sized containers. You are expecting a lot from your tomato plants, so fill containers with a very good compost, or a mix of well-rotted manure and good top soil and don’t forget drainage holes. Most tomatoes grow as cordons. This is a training method which involves growing one main stem and training it upwards on a pole or string. Tomatoes don’t naturally climb, so they will have to be wound round the string or tied to a pole. In the wild, tomato plants grow along the ground, and send up shoots to the light wherever there is space between other plants.

Part 2

Now is the perfect time to have your tomato plants growing in pots indoors

‘

Be sure to harden off your plants thoroughly. This means moving them out during the day and back in at night for a few days, to acclimatise them to their new conditions

’

This is no good to us as we want to keep the fruit off the ground to prevent damage from slugs and moulds and we need to give the fruit as much light as possible. Your tomato plants will keep producing side shoots. These grow from the main stem where the leaves are attached. It is important to remove these shoots. If you don’t you will end up with a very wild tomato plant with very little fruit. If we want to get pounds of juicy tasty tomatoes from our plants, we need to concentrate their resources into optimum fruit production. By removing the side

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shoots we are encouraging each truss of flowers forming up the main stem to produce fruit. We are also reducing foliage which allows greater air movement to reduce the build-up of moulds and mildews, and maximising sunlight for ripening the fruit. Consistent watering is very important for tomato plants. In a tunnel or greenhouse it is best to water in the evening to reduce evaporation. Remember, the water needs to reach the roots, so don’t water the leaves. Too much water leads to watery, tasteless fruits, and not enough, or uneven watering can lead to bitter-tasting fruit or no fruit production at all. Although this might all sound a bit complicated, tomatoes are a very rewarding plant to grow, and you learn a lot from them. They are very resilient and grow very fast, so they are forgiving of a few mistakes. Come back for Part 3 and we will look at harvesting your fruit, and any problems you might face along the way. Happy growing.

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Duhallow news

EXPATS OF DUHALLOW

Eimear Guiney: From Banteer to Dubai Tell us a little bit about where in the world you live... I am currently living in Dubai, UAE. I spent two years in Abu Dhabi and decided to experience the Dubai lifestyle in 2018. Dubai is certainly well known for its indulgent and glamorous lifestyle. We are very fortunate to have an extensive Irish community in the UAE and it feels like home away from home. What made you choose your current location? I wanted the best of both worlds; to travel and continue teaching, so the UAE was a win-win. UAE is a wonderful base to travel from and this was the main reason my fiancee Daniel Roche and I decided to move abroad originally. We have certainly made the most of our location and have been to many places we would never have considered before moving here. How does it differ from life in Duhallow? From Duhallow to Dubai there's certainly a vast difference. I am currently living on the 35th floor of a building in the heart of Dubai city – it's a long way from Duarigle, Newmarket for sure! The most obvious difference would definitely be the weather; 99.9% of the time it's the same; clear blue skies and sunshine. People actually get excited when it rains here and I've seen kids in school run outside to dance in it as it's so unfamiliar to them. They'd have a great time if they came to Ireland! Of course the culture here, is another big difference with it being a Muslim country. I feel there are a lot of misconceptions as to what's allowed and not allowed here in Dubai. However, as a country it is certainly becoming a lot more open-minded than what has been perceived.

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Eimear Guiney, pictured centre with her fiancee Daniel Roche, in Dubai, UAE What do you like about where you are now? The sense of adventure and the availability of outdoor activities. We try and make the most of the beautiful weather and explore what's around us as much as possible. I am also very lucky to have met so many wonderful friends both from Ireland and other parts of the world too. What sports / societies / activities were you a part of in Duhallow? Before moving to the UAE I was a member of The Glen Theatre Drama Group in Banteer. I was a member of Comhaltas Branch in Rockchapel and also a member of Freemount Macra as well as a board member of IRD Duhallow. Would you recommend Dubai as a good place to live and what has been the highlight of your time there? Absolutely! The majority of people who move to the UAE never regret it. The experiences you have and life-long friends you make are irreplaceable. I would have two highlights from my time here. Firstly, getting engaged to Daniel

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in November 2019 and secondly, fundraising for and being involved with Team Ireland during the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi. Daniel and I were part of a committee that hosted a Lip Sync Battle and raised a total of €50,000 for this very worthy cause. What kinds of activities do you participate in where you live now? When I was in Abu Dhabi I was a member of Na Fianna GAA club; dusted off the football boots. I was also secretary of Abu Dhabi Irish Society before moving to Dubai. Has Covid put many restrictions on daily life in Dubai? Currently we are very lucky. There are some restrictions in place regarding social distancing, the wearing of masks and capacity allowed in places. However, no facilities and services have been closed. Do you see yourself ever returning to Ireland? 100 percent! Although we are having a fantastic experience here in Dubai there really is no place like home and we will be happy to return in the not so distant future.

Kids’ Corner

FEATHER-FRIENDLY FUN

Get busy with your children by helping them to make a healthy, bespoke birdfeeder. Although winter feeding benefits birds most, food shortages can occur at any time of the year. By feeding all year round, you'll give them a better chance to survive food shortages whenever they may occur. Bird watching is a great way to get children away from screens, inspiring a love of nature as well as encouraging stillness and a sense of calmness in young people. Why don’t you print out pictures of the most common garden birds and see if you can all identify what feathered friends are visiting your feeders? The children in the IRD Duhallow Afterschools got to work making simple home-made bird feeders this week using pipe cleaners, Cheerios, dried and fresh fruit, which are now hanging from trees around the James O’Keeffe complex. Veterinarians have approved whole-grain cereals such as Cheerios for birds, as long as you feed the cereal in moderation. Because Cheerios is low in sugar, made of whole grains and contains no artificial colors or sweeteners, it is an acceptable bird treat. We also found that threading Cheerios onto pipe-cleaners was a great way of practising our fine motor skills!

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Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Sport

Duhallow Sports Greats Q & A 1. What/who inspired you to become a sportsperson in your field? The one thing that inspired me to become a GAA player would be the love of the game. From an early age I always loved playing with my friends and loved watching every GAA game on TV with my family. My Mom is originally from Kerry and supports them. This always caused excitement in our family whenever Cork played Kerry. 2. What was the moment that you knew you were on the right track? I would say at the end of 2019 when I got a chance to reflect on what had happened in my career, by starting with Newmarket, CIT Freshers and Cork 20s in goals and from where I had originally started at the start of that year. 3. What is your greatest strength? Being composed and collected during games. As a keeper, it’s very important to have these strengths. Being composed helps me keep a level head and concentrate on every ball. 4. What is your greatest sporting achievement? Winning the All Ireland U20 football Championship in 2019. From the start of the championship not many people believed we could even win the Munster but we ended up winning the Munster and All Ireland. It’s a moment I will never forget. It’s something I dreamt of doing since I was a kid. 5. What is your greatest personal achievement? Making the panel and starting for the U20 Cork Footballers in 2019 would be my greatest personal achievement to this day. I got noticed by the manager of the Cork 20s (Keith Ricken) after I played fresher Football with CIT. After a few months of training with Cork 20s then I was hoping just to make the panel as they were only picking three keepers and the competition

Issue 36 March 5, 2021

Josh O'Keeffe, aged 21, lives in Newmarket Co. Cork. He plays football and hurling with his club, Newmarket. He is also currently playing football with CIT where he is on a football scholarship. He first started playing for Cork U20s footballers in 2019 when he was called up after playing with his college CIT. He has earned an

was tough. The manager had faith in me and started me in the first championship game against Waterford and that gave me the confidence to perform the way I did that game and for the whole competition. I was also involved again in 2020 with the Cork 20s but unfortunately didn’t manage to win anything. 6. What was the greatest challenge you faced in your career and how did you overcome it? In the All Ireland final in 2019, there was only 10 minutes gone roughly and I conceded a very easy goal. After it happened Sean Meehan, my teammate, ran half of the pitch just to tell me to forget

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JOSH O’KEEFFE All-Ireland and Munster U20s football medal finals in 2019 by starting in goals for them. In that year he was named one of the top 20 players in the football Championship. He also played in last year’s U20s team in 2020, making the team again. about it. We ended up winning the next kick out and I pushed on from there. 7. Who supported you the most in your career? My parents (Martin and Joan) of course. From the beginning, my Mom drove and collected me from every training and watched every game since I was U6 and still does. My Dad always played in the garden with me when I was younger practicing and taking shots in goals on me, that’s where my love for being a keeper began. 8. Any advice for young players just starting out? Make sure to enjoy it and believe you can accomplish anything even if no one else believes it. Work as hard as you can. 9. What do you do outside of sports? I do enjoy going to the pub locally and up in Cork for a good few drinks. More than likely after that I will go to the Hi land, that’s before Covid and the restrictions had happened. I definitely miss it like many of us I’d say. Outside of sport I do enjoy going to the gym also. 10. What are your goals now? Over the next year or two, my main goal is to win a county Football Championship with Newmarket. It would be a dream to, as it is where I started playing since I was six. Playing with Newmarket and this club has helped me become the player I am today. Another goal I have is to become a Cork Senior footballer over the next few years.

Twohigs of Kanturk Twohigs & Abbeyfeale 1 WE E K ONLYth 4th - 10 MARCH

IRISH

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33% IRISH

IRISH

SuperVa alu Onion Nett 1kg was as 59c

SuperValu Lemon Net 3pce was €1.10

SuperValu a Swede Loose 1pce 1pc was 85c

79c

49c

Each

Each SuperV SuperValu Carrot & Parsnip Tray 500g - 98c/kg was 99c

SuperValu Round Cabbage 1pce was 99c

Fyffes Gold d Supersweett Pineapple e 1pce 1pc was 99c

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SuperV SuperValu Green Apple Apple Bag 8pce 8pc was €1.49

€7 E AC H

€8 €4.10 EA EACH CH SuperValu Signature Tastes Pizza Range 530g - 570g, €7.74/kg - €7.19/kg

MON T E MAR R E SE R VA C A B E R N E T S A U VI G NON / S A U V I G NON B L A N C 75 cl w as €1 4.99 s a ve € 7. 99 , ED EN L O D G E S T EL L EN B O S C H C AB E R N E T S A U VI G NON / OL I FAN T S R I VE R VA L L E Y S A U VI G NON B L AN C / PA AR L SH I R A Z 75 cl w as €15.99 s a ve € 8 . 99

3 FO R

99c E AC H

SuperValu Jaffa Cakes 300g - €3.30/kg, SuperValu Chocolate Chip Cookies 225g - €4.40/kg

€30 €1.89

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€1.50

SuperValu Kiddies Organics Raisins 168g - €8.93/kg

Pampers Jumbo Plus Nappies Selected Range (Details In-store or Online)

Offers valid from Friday 5th March - Wed dnesday 17th March 2021, unless otherwise stated. Prices correct at time of going to print. Offers available in participating ting sstores only, while stocks last*. Customer quotas tas may ma apply. Enjoy alcohol responsibly.