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GLANBIA Co-operative Society members need to be “ruled by their heads rather than their hearts” and must be furnished with an independent, forensic analysis of the state of its Irish operations before a decision is made on any buy-out, Fine Gael Senator, John Paul Phelan, has urged.

 

THE PROPOSAL by Glanbia Co-Op to purchase the Irish business of Glanbia Plc has been described as a “welcome development” by Kilkenny IFA President John Bryan.

“The move holds out the prospect of outright farmer ownership of Ireland's largest milk pool as well as much greater direct farmer control of the Irish dairy industry, facilitating greater consolidation and cost efficiency”, he said this morning (Wednesday).

Mr Bryan said he and Dairy Chairman Kevin Kiersey would be meeting with Glanbia tomorrow (Thursday) morning to review the details of the negotiations and their implications for farmers both within Glanbia and nationally.

TOP CLASS Kilkenny musician and entertainer John Travers will be among the stars when The Audio All-Stars play Kyteler’s Inn on Friday, March 26.

John has been on the music scene since he was a young boy. He started with The Fifth Degree, played for several big bands, played in Switzerland and gigged with some of the top musicians in the world.

He is originally from Fatima Place and will be remembered as a huge supporter of Emfa, later Kilkenny City, in their fledgling days at Buckley Park.

LORETO Convent, Kilkenny, is battling to add a national hockey title to the recently won camogie crown.

 

The senior girls’ team from the Kilkenny City school has just won the South Eastern Final and now faces a group play-off for the Kate Russell All-Ireland Cup.

 

TRIBUTES were paid to founder and Artistic Director of Young Irish Film Makers, Mike Kelly, at this month's meeting of Kilkenny Borough Council.

Cllr Seán Ó hArgáin pointed out that Tomm Moore, Director of Oscar nominated film 'The Secret of Kells' and fellow Cartoon Salooners Ross Stewart and Ross Murray were former members of the youth organisation. "They wouldn't be here today without the help of Mike Kelly. He deserves as much praise as Cartoon Saloon," he said.

Cllr Betty Manning agreed and added: "Mike Kelly has been working with young people in Kilkenny for a very long time. So many young people started their careers with Mike."

Aiden Harte, Director of Cartoon Saloon's TV series Skunk Fu! is also a former member of Young Irish Film Makers.

IT WAS wonderfully apt that a CD of traditional Irish music should be launched in a pub called Irish’s in Kilmacow, Co Kilkenny.

 

Sin é is a treat of music and song by Mursheen and Sean Chairde. It is a 19-track CD that has many favourites, including Rose of Allendale, Isle of Innisfree, Cliffs of Doneen, The Rose of Mooncoin and, naturally, Mursheen Durkin.

 

Locals turned up in big numbers for the launch by the popular quartet who play a mix of musical instruments and sing some superb ear pleasing harmony.

THURSDAY wasn’t a good day for the primary school girls’ Gaelic football team in the Carrickshock area of South Kilkenny.

 

The local girls were determined to put on a good show against the visiting Gaelscoil from Kilkenny City but it was the city girls who proved the stronger.

 

The Carrickshock side has some very young players but despite being outclassed by Gaelscoil on the day, they put their hearts and souls into the game and did their parish proud.

St Kieran’s College 0, Salesians, Celbridge 2

CONCEDING a goal after only five minutes, St Kieran’s College had to fight an uphill battle against a physically stronger and more mature Salesians of Celbridge, at Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore today, Wednesday.

 

DESPITE the best efforts of dedicated staff in Carlow-Kilkenny hospitals, many people are suffering and are in pain as they await critical tests and surgical procedures.

That was the 'sad message' of Senator John Paul Phelan at a Fine Gael public meeting on healthcare in Kilkenny, last night (Monday).