Weekly News 13th March 2022

14 March 2022

Dunnamaggin Development Group Launch of the ‘Vision for Dunnamaggin’ - Sunday last March 13th the village of Dunnamaggin launched its five year plan a ‘Vision for Dunnamaggin’. The process took a year to complete because as Rosie from Workhouse Union says ‘community development is inclusive and collaborative and takes time to involve everyone and listen to and hear all voices. When there is a pandemic, it takes that little bit longer’. The end product with its recommendations has been worth the wait. ‘The plan itself is very real, implementable and sustainable’ said Declan Rice CEO of KLP. Local councillor Matt Doran agreed with Declan and pledged his support for the next stage – accessing funding for ‘Madges Garden’. Madges Garden will be a pocket park for the village that will have multiple uses - hosting monthly markets, a safe, accessible space for children to play and adults to gather, a sustainable pollen friendly garden and a reimagining of the sheds into an arts space for craft making and performance. None of the events we have run or the process of developing the Vision for Dunnamaggin would have been possible without the support of Kilkenny LEADER Partnership and Kilkenny County Council. Most importantly it would not have been possible without the support of the community and the collaboration with local organisations including the GAA, Ladies Football and the Pat Walsh Committee. This Vision is a resource to be used by all of us to further the development of all the organisations within Dunnamaggin. March 27th 2022 the community gathering from 11.30am to 1pm will be a Cake Sale and Coffee Morning for Ukraine. Please come and support. April 17th - Easter Sunday our first market of the year will take place in Madges Garden alongside the Pat Walsh commemoration.


Kells Handball Club: U14/15 40x20 Team Leinster Champions. Well done to Timmy Corr and Daniel Hayes who were members of the victorious Kilkenny team who defeated Laois in theLeinster final. The other members were Padraig Egan (Windgap), Cian Doherty (Kilfane), Dan McCormack (O Loughlins) James Kenny (Talbots Inch) and Rian Dowling (Talbots Inch). Well done to all and best of luck in the All Ireland series. Well done also to Shauna Hayes and Conor Manogue who last Saturday won all their games in the Leinster Cuman na mBunscol. Shauna won the Girls U13 Singles representing Dunnamaggin N.S and Conor won the Boys U13 Singles representing Gaelscoil. They now move forward to represent Leinster in the National series.


Dunnamaggin GAA: Medal Presentation Dunnamaggin GAA were finally able to hold two well overdue medal presentations on Saturday Night last, now that Covid restrictions have been lifted. The first was held in St.Leonard's Hall Dunnamaggin where the U15 team were presented with their Roinn B Hurling Championship and Feile Division 1 Shield winners medals from last year. Next up were the Minor team from 2020 who were presented with their Roinn B Championship winners medals.Thanks to Michael Cody for presenting the medals and to all who provided and helped with refreshments on the night.
Next up it was the turn of two adult teams to receive their medals in Townsends. The first up were well overdue when the U19 team from 2019 were presented with their Hurling League winners medals.Next up were the Victorious Junior F team who made history last year when the club fielded a third adult team for the first time. Huge credit is due to this group of players and their management team who fulfilled every fixture even when numbers were tight and got the ultimate prize when they were crowned champions in a cracking game against Piltown last year in Hugginstown.


Kilkenny Volunteer Centre - We have lots happening in the centre at the moment. Lots of new volunteer roles on our database
Irish Cancer Society - Daffodil Day March 25th - Volunteers needed to help fundraise.
Callan Community First Responders are looking for volunteers in the local area to train and respond to emergency call outs.
Kilkenny Community Early Years project would love to invite new Board /Trustees to volunteer.
Fr. McGrath Centre in Kilkenny would love the help of a Social Media and communications Volunteer to help reinvigorate their website or online presense to support their activities
St Vincent de Paul are recruiting new Home Visitor Volunteers to support the work that they are doing with local families.
The Mill Centre in Urlingford would love the support of a Volunteer Receptionist volunteer.
Local Lotto Results - from Draw on 7th March 2022. Winning Numbers : 4,8,36 No Winner. Results for Draw for 5 x €30. Alfie b ( Olive Buckley ),Orla Buckley ( Olive Buckley ),Cathal Buckley ( Olive Buckley )Ann marie Mullins ( Aidan Farrell ),Gwen Walah ( Aidan Farrell). Jackpot next week Monday March 14th €6,100. Venue Delaney's Bar Kells at 9pm All welcome.


Power’s Drapery, Callan – open call


Róisin Power Hackett, a visual artist and granddaughter of Seamus and Della Power from Power’s Drapery Shop, Callan, is looking for your help. She is looking for stories and memories about visits to Power’s Drapery shop from people who are or were locally based with the intention of hosting an event in April when the stories will be performed. Email Róisin at roisin_ph@hotmail.com or call 0851273346. Deadline for submissions is 31st March.



Hive Mind – FREE courses that build digital resilience


Hive Mind has created valuable online self-paced courses designed to help us build our digital resilience. Designed with community and voluntary organisations in mind, they improve our critical thinking skills, deepen our understanding of mechanisms behind disinformation and show us how to take control of our exposure online. They teach us ways of using technology to create positive change. Courses can be completed in one hour or less and are free of charge.


Some of their available programmes are:


Digital Campaigning Basics- covers core elements of a ‘people-powered’ campaign – a tool for mobilizing mass audiences to support your causes. Learn practical tools to create your own campaigns.



Open Data for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)– this course equips civil society practitioners with knowledge and skills for data analysis, creating data-based digital campaigns, and bringing about a positive social change.


Registration at https://en.hive-mind.community/trainings



Don’t Mow – Let it Grow (and save petrol!)



A gentle reminder to reduce the number of times you mow your lawn this year. Not only will you save money, and help climate action, you’ll also help our bees, butterflies and other insects which need the nectar from native wildflowers like clover, birdsfoot trefoil and dandelions that grow in our in our lawns. To find out more contact the Heritage Office



New Bursary Scheme for the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2022/2023


The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, recently announced a new bursary scheme, in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy, for the final phase of the Decade of Centenaries. The objective of the bursary scheme is to encourage new local research and local history studies, and a meaningful examination of local, regional, and national events during the Struggle for Independence and Civil War period. Further information/bursary criteria at https://www.ria.ie/decade-centenaries-bursary. Closing date for receipt of applications 5.30pm Wednesday, 27th April 2022.