Weekly news from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Cén t-am é? is an interactive book that helps very young children to learn to read the time in a fun and colorful way, and is great whether you’re a regular Irish speaker or you want to teach your child more about the language. The award is supported by Foras na Gaeilge and administered by Oireachtas na Gaeilge.

(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

 

KILKENNY

Mining was on the minds and in the hearts of many who attended the second annual Castlecomer Writers and Arts Festival last weekend. In addition to marking the 40th anniversary of the Deerpark mine closure, there was a sense of mining local gems of creative talent in the form of poets, painters, pottery-makers and others involved in the arts. From Friday to Sunday, the town was abuzz with writing workshops, a rare book sale, open-mic session and children’s activities, and at the heart of the festival were the three nightly performances of In the Blood in the Community Hall.

(Source: The Kilkenny People)

 

LAOIS

A young Timahoe woman Paula Quigley was among ten volunteers who worked with Serve, the development and volunteering organization, on the island of Cebu in Philippines for six weeks during the summer months. Paula was involved with the Badjao Water Tribe school. This project enabled the volunteers to interact with children through fun interactive lesson plans. She also worked with Akap Bata, which is a non-governmental organization that is campaigning for the passing of the anti-child pornography bill through the Philippines’ House of Parliament. Paula assisted in the construction of furniture for the day care centers and in the distribution of meals to young children and worked in the Akap Bata-run primary education facilities.

(Source: The Laois Nationalist)

 

LEITRIM

Nearly 80% of approved claims totaling €6,501,401, made under the Nursing Home Repayment Scheme in Co Leitrim, have been paid out according to figures revealed at the recent meeting of the HSE West. A total of 652 claims were received in Co Leitrim under the repayment scheme, however 252 of these applications (38.7%) were rejected. Offers of repayment were made in nearly 60 per cent of cases and, to date, nearly 80% of payments had been made with the average payment coming in at around €21,177.

(Source: The Leitrim Observer)

 

LIMERICK

A controversial new book on Limerick hurling in which County Board officials are referred to as "scumbags" by a former team manager is to be launched this week by county hurling sponsor JP McManus, who has given millions to the GAA in Limerick. The new book reveals how a post-match drinking session in Charleville by members of the senior hurling panel was the catalyst that led to the end of goalkeeper Joe Quaid's senior hurling career. It also contains trenchant criticism of members of the County Board, most notably by former manager Tom Ryan who derides board members as "scumbags" and former All Star hurler Gary Kirby, who believes the board wanted to get rid of himself and Richie Bennis after the defeat to Kilkenny in the 2007 All Ireland final.

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Nster.com