kilkenny reporter - 19 december 2012

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19 2012

Kilkenny Reporterwww.kilkennyreporter.ie T: 056 7795051 E: [email protected]

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19 2012

Kilkenny ReporterT: 056 7795051 E: [email protected]

Yes: Its a cup of cheer at 2m mince pie party

DARRAGHS DATE: Darragh McCullough of RTEs Ear to the Ground has a date here on New Years Day. He is Comer Wellie Race personal-ity. Wellie Special with Chubby Brennan P20

SANTA BEAUTY: A sackful of Santas dressed up for the cancer support Santa Run on Saturday. Spreading good cheer were Niamh Carroll, Lisa Brennan, best dressed, Gillian Ryan and Roseanna Murphy Story and pics P10

CHEERFUL CHAPS: Glanbia chiefs Liam Herlihy and John Moloney enjoy the support of sharehold-ers. And a 2m mince pie party! Story & pics P02

HAPPY CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR TO OUR ADVERTISERS, READERS & FRIENDS. THANK YOU FOR 2012

2 | NEWS KILKENNY REPORTER 19 12 2012

The next edition of your Kilkenny Reporter is on January 2. Have a happy and safe Christmas

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Farmers of courage march toGlanbia glee on full tummies

[email protected]

The giant Gowran Park Marquee Pics: Dylan Vaughan

Glanbia Co-Operative members register at one of 52 Admission desks

19 12 2012 KILKENNY REPORTER ADVERTISEMENT | 3


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19 12 2012 KILKENNY REPORTER NEWS | 15

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Out and about in Urlingford

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Many chapters of glory at the local libraryA LOCAL facility which has served the community for generations continues to ll an important public role in the North Kilkenny town of Urlingford.

The Library was opened in the old courthouse in 1996 after being converted and refurbished. This beautiful building is pre 1840 and is attributable to architect William Francis Caldbeck. Similar buildings are to be seen throughout the country including Callan in Kilkenny and Ballinasloe in Co Galway.

The building is of particular interest in the locality as one of the earliest surviving purpose-built buildings in Urlingford and local people are very proud of it.

Christmas PartyTHE Urlingford Senior Citizens Christmas Party is in Butlers Inn on Friday at 6pm. This is an evening not to be missed. All will enjoy a beautiful four-course meal and there will be a spot prize for everyone in the audience.

And when everyone has dined and perhaps wined, there will be music, song and dance. So why not go along and join

in the fun and if you are from the town or indeed outside it there is no excuse for missing the celebrations as transport will be provided by volunteers. The contacts are Martin 086-0750356 or Butlers Inn 88-31366.

Boxing ClubTHE newly formed boxing club is proving to be a real knockout. It already has 30 enthusiastic

members and training is going strong. Training is every Wednesday and Friday nights in the community hall at 7pm and newcomers are always welcome.

Well done to all who are putting such a great eff ort into training and coaching. It is a great facility for the youth of the area.

For further information contact Pat 087-1263082

or Mary 087-6492949.

January 2THE next Kilkenny Reporter will be published on January 2. We are taking a break for Christmas but look forward to communicating with readers in the New Year. We particularly want to say thank you to Martin Collerton and John Cahill of Butlers Inn who have been so kind and helpful to us in 2012.

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What a beautiful building

Women on Time Out Pic: Pat Fitzgerald

Local women enjoy their Time Out

Take art to your heart: Or simply call in

John Moran won the Stoneyford race in the Santa Run

Santa is on the run ...


In Castlecomer with Chubby Brennan

A blast from the past...Darragh will have his ear to the ground in Comer

DARRAGH McCullough, presenter RTEs popular rural programme Ear to the Ground will preside over events on New Years Day.

Darragh is Deputy Editor of the Farming Independent along with being the longest serving presenter on the hugely popular rural aff airs programme. He also farms in Meath and runs a Mobile Farm to raise awareness among children about where their food comes from. He studied agriculture at Greenmount College, Antrim, and UCD and in his spare time competes in triathlons.

The 33rd Wellie Race is on New Years Day on the streets of Comer. As part of the Gathering 2013 initiative the main event will double up as the rst World Wellie Race Championship.

Competitors are asked to run in their countries colours, their adopted countries colours or national dress.

As usual the 5km fun run in wellies will be preceded by a colourful and witty fancy dress. Thousands ock to Castlecomer to see the events of the previous year being parodied as well as seeing historical events re-enacted.

The parade is broken into six categories, three adult and three children.

Adult and childrens categories include an individual competition, a small group 2-5 section and a large oat section with six or more involved.

Winners in each category

receive a trophy with adult sections receiving a cup and a share of the prize-fund of over 1,300.

Runners up receive trophies. The Wellie Race committee have commissioned a new Seamus Brennan Memorial Trophy for the Large Adult Float section.

World ChampTHE main event sees runners of all shapes and sizes vying

to become World Wellie Race Champion 2013. The mens title is held by John Feehan. He will have his work cut out to retain the title based on the amount of training on the Kiltown Circuit.

Breda Mulcahy is the womens title holder and she too expects strong competition. The race is a handicapped event.

Over the years every age group has won the event. No runners CV is complete without the Wellie Race title. There are trophies for the rst 10 men and women as well as trophies for the rst three veteran men and senior women.

Entry is via sponsorship cards which are available from any committee member or from Bollards Bar, Barrack Street. On the day entries will be taken in the community hall, Kilkenny Street from 11am.

Float parade entry is free but only entries on offi cial forms can be judged. Entry forms are available from the same outlets or online at www.wellierace.com.

Music and craic begins on the Square from 11am. The parade is at 1pm. The Wellie Race starts at 3pm and there will be soup and sandwiches for all participants.

For more information visit www.wellierace.com, like us on Facebook (Castlecomer Wellie Race) or follow us on twitter @ComerWellieRace.

VolunteersTHE committee are looking

for volunteers to help with stewarding, collecting and registration on New Years Day.

WEEK 5: The Sponsorship Card. The weeks are ying by and we are into the nal few weeks of preparation. Sponsorship cards are available from The Lime Tree, The Vaults, ORourkes, Bollards and committee members. There is always a bit of hesitation on what is the best approach to getting the card lled in. Locals know what the event is all about but for those trying to get a card lled in outside Comer there is a lot of explaining.

A what race is sometimes the initial reaction. Then there is the obligatory explanation

of the genesis of the race and what type of charities it supports. Then comes the inevitable question how much do you want?

This question is fraught with diffi culties, pitch too low and your chances of a merit award can evaporate, 1 from the rst person will set the trend and you will have to have 70 mates to achieve the much sought after prize. Pitch too high and you may get blown out of the water.

Consideration should be given to the setting and time when approaching work colleagues for sponsorship, probably not wise to ask in the days leading up to pay day and rst thing in the morning could result in a sharp rebuke.

Years of experience has led me to believe a casual by the way will you sponsor me to run the Wellie Race over morning coff ee will elicit the best response.

If you have a smart phone you can show You Tube clips or images from the day. Encourage them to come on down and witness the day. Follow these simple steps and chairman John Brennan will be presenting you with your merit award at the Last Supper and distribution of funds in March.

Diocesan changesBISHOP Seamus Freeman has appointed Fr Michael Ryan PP, Adm of the Parish of Conahy until a new PP is appointed.

Fr James Dollard has retired as PP. Fr Ryan and Fr Campion are responsible for Masses and Sacraments.

Christmas in ChurchCAROLS by Candlelight, December 23, St Marys, 7pm, featuring Castlecomer Male Voice Choir and local soloists.Christmas Services: Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass is at 7pm Mothel; 9pm St Marys.

Christmas Day: 10am THE Colliery; 11.30am Bilboa.

Local lottosERINS Own 18,150; Golf 14,000; Vaults 900.

Texas Hold EmVENUE is Shortalls, Comer, 9pm, December 21. All are welcome.

Back to the rst wellie race in the world

Wellie personality Darragh McCullough


285 &,7


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A BANK at the Droichead Family Resource Centre in Callan is going backwards to move forward.

Callan Community Savings Bank is being run on the style of the old Penny Bank system,

bringing back another of the tried and tested old traditions.

With the Budget still snapping at our heels, the aim is to help alleviate people from nancial diffi culties particularly at Christmas.

The savings bank operates in the Droichead FRC (kitchen area) every Thursday, 5pm to 6pm. For further information contact Brid Comerford, 056 7755519, Extension 1 or email: [email protected]

Callan goes back to move forwardBankers, from left, Mary Cooke, Bride Bergin, Paul Cody and Brid Comerford Pic:Pat Fitzgerald

AISLING [email protected]

Seniors have greater spending power

Debra ONeill


Book em Tommy: And he did...

:HGQHVGD\ZDV6WHSKHQV'D\IRURYHUHQWKXVLDVWV

SOMEONE SAID book em Tommy. He did.

And he did a brilliant job.The words from Oliver Goldsmiths

The Deserted Village came to mind immediately.

And still they gazed and still the wonder grew, how one small head could carry all he knew.

But retired teacher, author Tommy Lanigan is the rst to admit that he gleaned much of his information from newspapers of old, from the minutes of GAA meetings at James Stephens and from the diaries of one Val Malone, one of the pillars of the Larch eld GAA Club.

Tommy started research at Easter 2009 and the result of years of hard work and writing won the approval of almost 400 Village GAA enthusiasts and friends at the launch of From the Arch to the Pump, a history of James Stephens GAA, at Hotel Kilkenny on Wednesday.

The 444-page book traces the club history from its infancy in 1887 to its coming of age as it celebrated 125 years of promoting Gaelic Games earlier this year.

The compiling of what may become the bible of the game in St Patricks Parish was long and laborious but it didnt take long to get it to local book shops as it was available in the Book Centre, Stone House Books, Newsplus and Dubray Books from early on Thursday morning. A tariff of 20 ensured a good Christmas read.

Tommy trawled through old copies of the Kilkenny People and he read column after column in the now d e f u n c t Kilkenny Journal, a newspaper which provided extensive coverage of GAA. Only God knows how many hours he spent at Kilkenny City Library in his trawling travels.

Word of warningJAMES Stephens is 125 years old this year and members are very proud of the fact that an urban club in a working class area is stronger than ever in an organisat ion that has always been predominently rural and farmer-oriented.

Times have been turbulent, tormented and tremendous, all eras are

documented in the book.The book was launched by GAA President

Liam ONeill who described Stephens as a vibrant club which consisted of people who were hugely proud of their parish and club.

However, he sounded a word of warning. Successful organisations can never aff ord to be complacent, he told an enthusiastic gathering.

It was a keep your feet on the ground message from Mr President, who, no doubt tends to include that little reminder to the GAA family.

The evening marked a milestone for outgoing Co Board chair Paul Kinsella from Coon. It was his last hurrah before handing over the reins. The former St Patricks De La Salle Principal spoke of his connections with Stephens GAA Club over the years and he said he was always conscious of the great relationship which existed between club and parish school.

Tommy Lanigan spoke of the growth of the club. He said he felt privileged to write the history and thanked all who had been so supportive, including a friend who had

done the proof reading.He was pleased

with his eff ort, and was honest to a fault.

I spotted a typo or two, he said.

A blurb on the back cover says that the book traces the origins of the club from a small triangle of houses on Upper Patrick Street, Kilkenny. The area was called The Village. Through bad times and good the club has grown into one of the most famous and successful units in the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Tommy Lanigans promise is delivered in a fascinating read.

The book does exactly what it says on the tin.

[email protected]

Fr Liam Barron, Mullinavat, who has served in St Patricks Parish, with Pierce and Patricia Walsh, Ballyogreek, Mullinavat

Kilkenny Reporter photographer Donal FoleyA badge of honour

All the Presidents Men: Paul Kinsella, Tommy Lanigan and Mayor Sen


President Liam, author Tommy and members of the Walton family

Jim Delahunty and Paddy MaherPresident Liam with Ned Buggy, Dicksboro and Jimmy Walsh, Tullahought, Windgap

Stephens File warriors

Joe Brennan and Seamus Farrell

GAA President Liam ONeill and his wife ine

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JIMMY [email protected]

Rita Arnicar and Kitty Rice

Playing Santa: Super organisers Maura Clifford and Patty Power PICS: NOEL HOYNE


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38 | TOP 10 KILKENNY REPORTER 19 12 2012

DRESS yourself from head to toe with a visit to Woodss Menswear and Barbers, Thomastown. The shop stocks a wide selection of jackets, jeans, shirts and knitwear in casual and formal styles. The shop also supplies school uniforms for ve local schools. While you are kitting

yourself out you can also stop off for a haircut. Relax in front of the TV while your tresses are being cut.Staff are friendly and effi cient and can off er good advice on clothing sizes and styles.Open from Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm. Call 085 1425553 for more details.

Watergate Productions 2013 pantomime Robin Hood runs at The Watergate Theatre from January 6 to 13.Written and directed by Don OConnor, the impressive cast features a variety of local theatre favourites including Fergal Miller as Robin Hood and Olivia Smith as Maid Marian. Derek Dooley will reprise his role as The Dame, while David Heff ernan is the villain, The

Sheriff of Rotting Ham. Cast also includes Liam Conway, Kevin Reade, Helen Byrne, Sean Gaff ney, Delia Lowery, TonyMurray, Dee Gibney, Ciaran Fennelly, Clare Gibbs, Ciaran ONeill, Rebecca Murphy and Alan Hayes. Featuring members of Jesters Stage Academy this laugh-out-

loud pantomime is bursting with music, drama and comedy for all ages. Music direction is by Vincent Crowley and choreography by Marie Cashin. Tickets 15/12 from 056-77 61674 and www.watergatetheatre.com. Shows 8pm nightly and 3pm on both Sundays. Please note there will be no 8pm show on Sunday 13. Tickets 10 for matinees, Sunday and Monday show.

Business of the week

Event of the week

Theatre of the week

Book of the week

13245

Product of the weekTHIS gorgeous Nativity scene from Genesis Fine Arts would make a beautiful centrepiece of festive decoration in any home. It would also make a lovely present for someone special. A

hand-crafted piece, this cold cast bronze nativity scene is beautifully nished. Because of the neutral colours and

its unusual contemporary

design, this best seller is

suitable for any home.

Get yours for 59.95 from the Christmas Shop at Kilkenny Design Centre, The Parade.

TOP

TEN

IN Two Pints by Roddy Doyle two men meet for a pint in a Dublin pub. They chew the fat, set the world to rights, and take the mickey. They talk about their wives, their kids, their kids pets, their football teams and - this

being Ireland in 2011-12 - about the Euro, the crash, the Presidential election, the Queens visit. But these men are not parochial or small-minded; one of them knows where to nd the missing Colonel Gadda

(hes working as a cleaner at Dublin Airport); they worry about Greek debt, the IMF and the bondholders; and they ask each other really important questions like Would you ever let yourself be digitally enhanced?

THE PARADE has been transformed into a magical winter wonderland with brightly decorated cabins housing a variety of traders selling a range of Christmas gifts, seasonal food and stocking llers. Christmas gifts for sale include cashmere hats and scarves, jewellery, childrens handmade wooden toys, wood-turned

lamps, slate creations, PAWS animal rescue calendars and cards and Christmas decorations. There are also traders selling seasonal food including Knockdrinna Cheese and Indulge Bakery.The market is open from 10.30am, Thursday to Sunday with free activities including the Nore Valley Mobile Farm on Saturday,

11am to 4pm and Mrs Claus storytelling in her cabin on Saturday and Sunday. The Christmas Market is also taking part in the St Vincent De Paul Toy Appeal. You can bring unwrapped and new presents with you to the collection point from where the toys will be distributed.

19 12 2012 KILKENNY REPORTER TOP 10 | 39

Top ten

Food of the Week

Fundraiser of the week

Craftsperson of the week

Exhibition of the week

Gig of the week

68910

7 THE National Craft Gallerys Late Date with Festive Choral Ensemble is at 6.30pm tomorrow, Thursday.Enjoy chorals and a glass of wine in the surrounds of the gallerys current exhibition Out of the Marvellous. The exhibition runs until January 16.Out of the Marvellous is an exhibition of work by some of Irelands foremost makers and poets. Just as the best poetry can create moments of epiphany in the reader, so too can the nest objects stir in the observer feelings of pure emotion and understanding. This show traces the connections between both art forms, through exploring the work of Sonja Landweer, Seamus Heaney, Angela OKelly, Gerard Smyth, Frances Lambe, Joe Hogan, Derek Mahon and others. Opening times Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5.30pm, Sundays 11am-5.30pm; closed Mondays. THE GOAL MILE will be held in Thomastown on Christmas Day. The event is held in over 100 locations throughout the country.It is one of the countrys biggest and longest running fundraising events. To date in Thomastown, they have raised over 50,00 for GOAL. This is a family event and all are welcome. The mile starts at the church gates on Market Street at 12.15pm. The route: leaving church gates, turn left at Ryan & Sons follow along by the Watergarden, up by Centra, turn right at the roundabout, right again at Dublin Road roundabout,

down the hill by Carrolls Bar, turn right at OHaras Bar and around The Square back to the church gates. The event will be held rain, hail or snow and due to health and safety/insurance reasons dogs are not allowed.

KAREN Morgan, Thomastown creates the most beautiful and skilfully hand-thrown porcelain ware. Each piece is individually handmade with great passion and creativity. Her work bridges the gap between function and sculpture. Her highly

functional wares always maintain their sculptural roots, which is what makes them so special. Karens innovative ideas and individual style have won her a number of awards including the House and Home Student Designer of the Year 2006 and the RDS

National Crafts Award 2007. Karens bright and welcoming studio and showroom are open for everyone to visit and see the work being hand-made. Call (056) 7793635 for more details.

JEREMY Hickey brings his one-man party RSAG to Thomastowns The Red Door on Friday. A homecoming for this Kilkenny native it will no doubt be sold out as he rarely plays in such intimate surroundings. It will be the perfect way to kick off Christmas

celebrations. Since his rst album Organic Sampler Jeremy has been entertaining live.

Your eyes will marvel as his stickmanship blurs around his skins and you wont be able to stop your feet from dancing. Moving even more in an electro direction recently every genre of music from New Wave and Afrobeat to Krautrock is covered. His show is always

complemented by Paul Mahons eye popping visuals and comparisons with everyone from Daft Punk to the Gorillaz do not do justice to this master musician. Support is from Mill Rats, the rising stars of the local scene. Tickets: 7.

TAKE the stress out of Christmas baking by ordering your cakes straight from The Fig Tree, High Street. The Fig Tree make, bake and cook all of their food. Order now and collect on Christmas Eve.The order list includes brown bread 3.50, fruit scones 1, jam per jar 3, house dressing 5.50, house chutney 3, fully iced brandied 7 inch Christmas cake 22, plum pudding (1lb) 9, fresh fruit and cream pavlova

(8 portions) 18, cheesecake avoured with fruit or alcohol (10 portions) 24, coffee cake (12 portions) 24, rich chocolate fudge cake 24, carrot cake log (10 portions) 15, rocky road, caramel slices, brownies 2.25. Stuffing and salads can be made to order. Bring your own bowl and they will make you a sherry trie.Hampers can also be made up to suit your pocket. Call 056-7756676.

[email protected]

19 12 2012 KILKENNY REPORTER LIVING | 41

42 | LIVING KILKENNY REPORTER 19 12 2012

19 12 2012 KILKENNY REPORTER LIVING | 43

AS YOU start to head for the party season, often your own relationship is under pressure. The person who seems least receptive to getting into the spirit of it is your nearest and dearest!

Therefore I am dedicating the next few weeks columns to healing your love life. The optimum outcome is that you get to serve a purpose with a free andloving heart. The rst step is to notice how tied up youve been feeling to date. The cause of this is an excessive sense of responsibility. Thoughts like, if I dont make enough money in the next few weeks, Christmas is going to be pretty bleak.Everyone feels like the buck stops with them but actually you are just a channel. If you see yourself as the only means by which a situation can work out, you are cutting yourself off from nearly every resource available. If you see yourself as a channel, though, your job becomes to allow all good things to pass through you. Things like money, love and time.Off er them to everyone you meet, in some shape or form, and receive them from everyone you meet, in some shape or form. Generosity is everywhere, within every interaction; you just

LIVINGWELLby Franc Micklem - [email protected]

Allow yourself to be happy

have to notice it. If you would like personal

or group energy healing

contact Frances at 083 1443978 or visit the website on www.healingbyfranc.com.

44 | LIVING KILKENNY REPORTER 19 12 2012

19 12 2012 KILKENNY REPORTER ARTS & ENTS | 45

46 | ARTS & ENTS KILKENNY REPORTER 19 12 2012


FILM Seven PsychopathsDirector Martin McDonagh

Martin McDonagh follows his excellent debut In Bruges with this clever clever crime comedy which though funny is totally empty.

The title of the movie is revealed through this twisty plot about a screenwriter in L.A. who becomes embroiled in low rent gangster hijinks. Colin Farrell is joined by a whos who of indie actors like Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, Tom Waits and Harry Dean Stanton. His block to nish his script called Seven Psychopaths allows McDonagh to play post modernist games with the audience about the nature of storytelling and Hollywood clichs.

What is sadly missing is a character that we actually care about. Walken and Waits come closest but everyone else is so despicable and underwritten that it doesnt really matters what happens to them. It also feels like the type

of movie whose time has gone. In the 90s there was a whole plethora of these hip capers after Pulp Fiction and Lock,Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. This adds little or nothing to the formula of cynical humour and extreme violence.

One thing Martin McDonagh really gets wrong too is the prosaic photography which at times veers on bad TV and the production design which is equally bland. Like his hero David Mamet he is singularly bereft of any visual style and there is not a single image that will stay with you. His direction of actors is also pretty weak . Farrell seems to have completely forgotten how to emote and just squints his way through the movie in a very one note turn. My personal hatred for Sam Rockwell was not abated by his mannered turn which I found completely unwatcheable.

This is in the end a very average Friday night video rental. I would point you in the direction of Shane Blacks superb Kiss Kiss Bang Bang if you are looking for a lm about screenwriters mixing it with gangsters. That slick hilarious ick has much more charm and style than this rather shallow farce. - DARRAGH BYRNE

RENOWNED Kilkenny guitarist Mark Anthony McGrath will host ukulele lessons for adults commencing in mid-January.

The ukulele has had a tremendous resurgence in popularity in recent times exempli ed by groups such as The Ukelele orchestra of Great Britain and the West Cork Ukelele Orchestra.

The ukelele is probably the most accessible, aff ordable and fun of all instruments and can be easily learnt by complete beginners or by those with experience of other instruments, Mark told The Reporter. Its a total pleasure to pluck or strum a few tunes on a ukulele after labouring over a 13-string guitar on which Ive been performing concerts of late.

During the sessions Mark will teach both song accompaniments and instrumental techniques and hopes to combine beginners and more advanced players in the Uke in the Wall Band, who will perform an end of term concert in The Hole in the Wall.

Mark has had a busy 12 months, performing concerts in Belgium, France, Scotland and throughout Ireland. His latest album Champagne and Onions was described as a masterpiece in last Decembers edition of Irish Music Magazine and he is currently working on an album of 13-string guitar music, for release in 2013.

A ukulele would make the perfect Christmas gift and would just about t in a good sized sock, explained Mark. Instruments can be purchased from as little as 30 from Essaness Music or Brodericks Music Warehouse in Kilkenny and some will also be available at the rst lesson, he said.

Classes will be held on Thursday evenings in the Hole in the Wall, High Street.

Anybody interested in the Uke in the Wall ukulele school should contact Mark at 085-7132946 or through his website markanthonymcgrath.com.

Fancy learning the ukulele?

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19 12 2012 KILKENNY REPORTER CLASSIFIED | 53

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19 12 2012 KILKENNY REPORTER NEWS | 55

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19 12 2012 KILKENNY REPORTER MOTORS | 57

58 | MOTORS KILKENNY REPORTER 19 12 2012

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60 | SPORT KILKENNY REPORTER 19 12 2012

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