Kilkenny Reporter 9th Feb 2011

Evergreen and St Kieran’s talent hits the big time »P2

Hurler scores his very own desert island hat-trick »P7

Teen soccer star signs for Aston Villa

JJ’s year is sorted, and he’ll Brook no argument about it

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 9 2011

Kilkenny ReporterT: 056 7795051 E: [email protected]

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VITALITY AT THE VINTNERS DINNEREimear Coleman, Springhill Court Hotel and Linda Blanchfield, Louis Fitzgerald Group at the Kilkenny Vintners dinner »P4

Pic: Pat Moore PHOTO

2 NEWS KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2011

The two houses in Hebron Park were ablaze within hours of one another. Gardai are appealing for witnesses

Pics: Pat Moore

Two house blazes seen as ‘suspicious’

Premiership club give teen star the ultimate birthday present

JIMMY [email protected]

JIMMY RHATIGANJRHATIGAN@KILKENNYRE-

PORTER.IE

Soccer sensation signs on at Villa Park in two-year deal

Michael battles Salesian captain, Paddy Markey for St Kieran’s, who were unlucky

to lose last year’s Leinster Schools’ Final

Pat Moore

Aston Villa footballer Michael Drennan (how does that sound,

Michael?) celebrates at home with proud parents, David and Lorraine

Pics: Pat Moore

NEWS 309 02 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

Party thirty years in the making...

Clockwise (from top): Carmel Kearns with friends at her birthday party in Lenehan’s; Joan Costigan and Phyllis Byrne; Miriam O’Dwyer, Mags Rigley and Breda Shasby; Audrey O’Brien, O’Brien Glass, Caroline Grincell, Grincell Properties and Vicky Comerford, Park Villa B&B

Pics: Pat Moore




Mixed emotions for our local publicans as Former Chairman of City Vintners praised for ‘stalwart’ contribution

Clockwise(this page, from top): Mayor Martin Brett with Mary Hickey, Niamh Carroll, Ann Hickey and Maura Hickey; William Byrne and Euphrasia Walsh, Billy Byrne’s Pub and Mary Reddin, Maura Harris and Deirdre Twomey, The Ormonde Hotel


VFI party follows farewell to Marble man

Clockwise(this page, from top left): Jane Phelan, Claire Treacy, Maeve Cantwell and Kate Markey; Eimear Coleman, Springhill Court Hotel, Linda Adriano and Alva Kenny, Hotel Kilkenny with Linda Blanchfield, Louis Fitzgerald Group; Patrick Khan and Sinéad Brennan, Murray’s Bar; Pat Carroll, Carroll’s, Ballybought Street and John O’Dwyer, Donohoe Beverages; Deirdre Mooney, Teresa Butler and Teresa King

NEWS6 KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2011

Breda Raggett

I WANT to tell about the Irish Heart Foundation’s campaign to fight heart disease and strokes in women.

‘Go Red for Women’ is a campaign dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and control of heart disease.

Many women believe that it is mostly men who suffer from heart disease. Not so says the Foundation. Women are seven times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease according to Dr. Blaithnead Murtagh, a cardiologist at the Galway Clinic.

Factors such as smoking, being overweight or obese, high blood pressure, diabetes and a family history of cardiac problems, increase the risk.

“Women metabolise nicotine a lot faster than men, so a cigarette will increase a women’s risk. It is the same with diabetes - it also increases a woman’s risk. Another risk factor for women is family history.

A further difficulty is that

in women, the symptoms of a heart attack can be vague and might not be immediately recognised, even by a health professional. A woman may experience nausea, tiredness, shortness of breath, back pain or tightness in the jaw rather than the more familiar crushing pain in the chest.

In a survey among women, only 18% identified heart disease as the main cause of death in females; 60% thought breast cancer was the biggest killer. Around 5,000 women died of cardiovascular disease in Ireland in 2008.

The Irish Heart Foundation (www.irishheart.ie/goredforwomen) lists the following as the key message to follow: Be active, eat a healthy diet, manage your weight, stop smoking, drink less alcohol, enjoy life and learn to relax, have regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks and know your family history.

‘More women than men’ die from heart attack and stroke

WANT to tell about in women the symptoms

...but knock on mine, I have a few questions

Politicians, don’t knock on my door says angry Frank...


Politicians take heed: Frank Murphy sends clear message

KEVIN MONAGHANJOURNALISM STUDENT

Pics: Erin Dunne

7NEWS09 02 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

One of the best hotels in Ireland? Lyrath Estate, says Ebookers poll

The five-star Kilkenny hotel was named one of the best in Ireland for value for money

KILKENNY hurling hero, JJ Delaney has revealed that he would love to go on a date with model, actress and TV presenter Kelly Brook. He said he would also love to become fellow Kilkenny senior hurler Tommy Walsh for a day to see what makes him tick.

JJ, the 28-year-old Fenians Club hurler, was speaking during an interview on a new video portal section of Irish-bettingtips.ie.

The six time All-Ireland Senior Hurling champion is the first top Irish sportsperson to be interviewed for the ‘Players Lounge’ section of the sports tipping website.

During the five-minute interview he confesses that if he could go on a date with anyone it would definitely have to be Kelly Brook. “I got her 2011 calendar so I am looking forward to the year ahead,” he grins.

He also discloses who he believes to be the

laziest trainer on the Kilkenny senior hurling team, who the biggest messer is, who takes longest in the shower, who the future stars of Kilkenny hurling are, what three things he would take to a desert island

and what he believes to be the world’s best invention.

He also speaks fondly of ‘80s TV programme Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and admits he always wanted to be the character of Michelangelo. He concludes by telling the story behind his nickname ‘Jeff’.

To see the video for yourself just register with www.irishbettingtips.ie

Our JJ will spend the year with screen sensation Kelly Brook!

AISLING HURLEYKILKENNYREPORTER.IE

‘ Inside Out’ at The Watergate Gallery

SEAN HURLEYKILKENNYREPORTER.IE

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Calander girl: Model, actress and fashion deisgner, Kelly Brook is a favourite of hurler, JJ Delaney


Stars of a noble art —Scenes from Danefort Ploughing Club’s match, which attracted 45 entries, including two women, despite other matches in Wexford and Offaly

Pics: Donal Foley

No sign of Seán but ‘The Plough and the Stars’ was brilliantCream rises to the top at Danefort Club’s tough challenge


€25k boost as businesses aim to encourage entrepreneurs

Michael Fennelly helps launch the scheme


AISLING [email protected]

AISLING [email protected]

Call for the angry, the apathetic and the apolitical to join together

Kilkenny community activist Enya Kennedy is setting up a local branch of ‘Claiming Our Future’, a group devoted to political reform

Workers at Kilkenny City’s Dunnes Stores. Mandate Union chiefs claimed the action was a ‘last resort’, and called on Dunnes’ management to talk to staff before they made changes

Pics: Pat Moore

Workers picket Dunnes after changes to rosters

NEWS 10 KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2011

Fitting title for a life’s work, from a talented and well travelled son

Paula Drohan, Brendan Corcoran, Ned Egan, Gerry Moran, Margaret Murrane at the CD launch in the Priory Bar, Kells;(below): Ned with Noeleen, Joe, Louise and Catherine Anthony

Pics: Donal Foley

Reporter, Adam O’Sullivan is the Kerry-born son of Bernie O’Sullivan. Adam, aged 15 — a student at Coláiste na Sceliga — is on work experience with The Kilkenny Reporter.

Snapper, Cristina Gismondi, aged 18, is a photography student at Waterford College of Further Education.

WHEN THE Reporter took to the streets during the week, we discovered that our young people, aged between 18 and 24, are quite apathetic towards politicians and to elections. Here is what a random selection of young people had to say after we asked if they had any General Election plans:

Jennifer Ryan, Kilkenny City says she will be voting in the general election but is undecided who she will vote for.

Emma Campion, Highpark says she is not sure whether or not she will

vote because she feels ‘all politicians are a bit useless’.

Leanne Butler, Dunmore, Kilkenny says she will be voting for Fianna Fáil.

Breiffini O’Keeffe, Lyrath plans to vote for Ann Phelan of Labour.

Fiona Morrissey, Muckalee says she will not be voting in the election as she is unsure which party to vote for.

Aisling Eliott, Muckalee says she will be voting for her local TD!

Robbie Purcell, Ballyragget says his intention is to vote for Labour.

Adam Smith, Castlecomber is not interested, and will not be voting.

VOX POPULI

Sinn Féin hit back at FF leader

Cllr Kathleen Funchion


Ned Egan’s beautiful poetry collection launched in Kells


It’s dinner time but farmers still hungry for next shot in costs war


IFA President, John Bryan and his wife, Rena at the Kilkenny branch of the Irish Farmers’ Association, where over 240 members gathered for the annual dinner

Pics: Donal Foley

&CommentOpinion

D N

How times have changed for cosy cartel

EVER TRIED? EVER FAILED?

NO MATTER. TRY AGAIN. FAIL AGAIN.

FAIL BETTER— Samuel Beckett

“AS JUNIOR MINISTER FOR TRADE AND ENTERPRISE,

JOHN MCGUINNESS AIMED HIS CRITICISM AT THE THEN TAOISEACH, BRIAN COWEN,

AND MINISTER FOR TRADE AND ENTERPRISE, MARY COUGHLAN.

THE FACT HE HAS BEEN RECALLED IS A VINDICATION OF THE BRAVE

STAND HE TOOK AND THE FACT HE HAS BEEN RETURNED

TO PRACTICALLY THE SAME PORTFOLIO SPEAKS VOLUMES

FOR HIS ABILITY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE STUPIDITY OF THE ORIGINAL

DECISION TO DEMOTE HIM

John McGuinness vindicated by post

“

JIMMY RHATIGAN

DOWN MEMORY LANE 1309 02 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

Have games consoles and the rise of computers consigned our humble outdoor children’s games to the history books? It’s a sad loss to us all if they have

SEAN HURLEY

Where have all the street games gone?

ASkipping

Tag or Tig

The Cat’s Cradle

Oxo (Noughts and Crosses)

Long gone? From skipping to playing ‘OXO’ with chalk on the street, many a happy hour was passed without so much as a transistor needed. It will be a sad loss if these games are all but gone within a generation or two

BYE, BYE HEELSTHIS coming season it’s all about flat shoes. Everybody from Hollywood actress Michelle Williams to trend setting TV presenter Alexa Chung have been spotted wearing flats or brogues.

This gorgeous pair of panel brogues is due into Accessorize this month. They are from their new Peony collection and should fly off the shelves as they are the perfect pair of shoes to carry you from winter into spring and right through summer.

The ballerina pink laces and flower panels give them just enough of a feminine touch without being too girly and the neutral colour means they will go with just about anything you already have in your wardrobe. Get them while they’re hot!

CLEAN START

LET’S face it, we all hate taking our make up off at the end of a long day. This is especially true after a night out when all we want to do is fall into bed.

Cleansing wipes are the fast option but many just don’t perform as well as you want them to or are too harsh for sensitive skin. This is not the case however with Boots No.7

Quick Thinking 4-in-1 wipes. They are strong enough to remove even the most stubborn eye make up and they leave your skin feeling silky smooth.

So now you have no excuse for panda eyes first thing in the morning!

LITTLE BLACK NUMBERS

RELEASE your inner Dita Von Trease with this pretty boudoir inspired set of lingerie in

classic black and white.

Myla are renowned for offering luxury collections that not only look great but are also very comfortable to wear.

And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner it might just be flirtatious enough to get your other half’s pulse racing, so get hinting now!

Finished with black mesh and delicate embroidery this is definitely a set of undergarments that will make you feel sexy, sophisticated and ever so glamorous. Log onto www.myla.com to see their full range now. The only problem will be choosing your favourite.

COMPLEX ISSUE

A PERFECT complexion is well within your grasp with this nifty little product from Elf Cosmetics. Complexion Perfection is a face

powder that helps create a balanced and radiant complexion that is both fresh and healthy looking.

The lightweight formula evens out skin tone and absorbs any excess oil. It’s a sheer formula so it will not cake make-up and will brighten, mattify and neutralize the skin. Simply blend the powder over the entire

face to brighten and even out the skin tone as well as neutralize any redness.

And the best bit is that it only costs €4 plus delivery from www.eyeslipsface.co.uk

SITTING PRETTY

GETTING out and about with kids can be a bit of a challenge. Trying to find a high chair can be an even

bigger one. So, here’s a clever, practical and pocket friendly

solution to get you on the road. The Gro Company Chair Harness is

super easy to use, folds into its own small

carry bag and works with most chairs. Kids love it as it means they can sit on real

chairs just like grown ups and you can relax knowing you never again have to sit through lunch with a squirming toddler on your knee.

They are even small enough to pop into a handbag. Available from The Butterslip on Rose Inn Street.

ROLL ON THE STYLE

IF YOU want to create volume, body or big, bouncy curls in a hurry then ‘The O’ by Cloud

Nine heated rollers might just change your life.

The O is completely revolutionary and

is the most exciting thing to happen in hairdressing

since the GHD. The O uses a state of the art Velcro system that doesn’t pull or snag hair. The rollers slide in and out of the hair with a simple motion. The rollers are heated in a futuristic looking pod and in three seconds they are ready. They are heated to 130 degrees from the core outwards to stop them from burning either hands or the hair. Getting great curls has never been this easy!

POSITIVE ENERGY

TODAY’S fast-paced and stressful climate is putting us under more pressure. We would

all like a little more energy to get through the day, not to mention maintain a balanced state of

mind and mood. Femergy by Better You

is a wonderful naturally sourced supplement that can be taken daily and whenever tiredness strikes.

Unlike many other similar products on the market it is naturally caffeine and sugar-free and uses only wholefood ingredients that are potent yet gentle on the stomach.

As the name suggests it is formulated especially with women in mind but don’t worry they also have a supplement called ‘Menergy’ that is especially for men. Order from www.betteryou.co.uk

DIY PERFECTION

IF YOU have ever had your make-up professionally done for a wedding or special event then you will know how fantastic it made you feel.

Wouldn’t it be great to learn how to do it yourself at home. Many salons, including Bliss Beauty on Rose Inn Street, offer make-up lessons from as little as €40. Bliss use cosmetics from luxury French brand Guerlain, one of the most prestigious cosmetic houses in the world. Make up lessons take 40 minutes and as well as learning the tricks of the trade you will also learn what colours and styles best suit you and how to make the best of your features.

LIVINGWITH AISLING HURLEY [email protected]

KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2010

Kissing goodbye to all those heels

REPORTER WISHLIST THESE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE THINGS

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face ton

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1509 02 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

Revealed: Stars’ secret solution for the perfect body shape, every time

TV3’s Lisa Cannon (top right, with Faye Hurley), who was in Kilkenny for the launch of Bridget Kearney’s (right) Belle Femme boutique. Lisa revealed that stars such as Kate Winslett (left) use control underwear to look fabulous

ARTS & ENTS 16 KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2011

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THE latest addition to St Kieran’s Street, Peaches, is Kilkenny’s newest fashion boutique. In stock are exclusive labels including Saint Tropez, Lipsy, Blush, Soma London and Kate Fearnley to name but a few. With its decor as stylish as its clothes Peaches has quickly become one of Kilkenny’s fashion hot-spots.

If you can’t wait to drop

in, take a sneak-peak of their new spring stock by checking out their facebook page ‘Peaches Boutique’ which offers exclusive pictures as well as all the latest about what’s happening in-store.

Peaches is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. And for added convenience laser and credit cards are accepted over the phone with next day delivery on clothing. Dressing like a fashionista has never been so easy!

DO you dream of becoming the next Susan Boyle or Kings of Leon? If so, the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) in association with Smithwick’s, might have the answer.

The ‘Stars of our Bars’ talent competition is taking place in pubs and bars across Kilkenny.

Following from the success of last year’s competition, which was won by Shona Lanigan

from Kilkenny, ‘Stars of our Bars’ will see acts from all walks of life take part, to be in with a chance to win from the cash prize fund of €50,000.

Participating pubs in Kilkenny include The Rafter Dempsey’s, The Kilford Arms, Larkin’s, The Hogan Stand, The Valley Inn and Andrew Ryan’s.

The All-Ireland Final will take place in May where a panel of judges, including Tom Dunne will select the overall national winner.

HEAVEN is for Real, by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who, during emergency surgery, slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room.

Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes how “reaaally big” God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit “shoots down power” from heaven to help us.

THE legendary Bosco is set to make a nostalgic appearance in Kilkenny’s Watergate Theatre this coming Sunday as part of The Paula Lambert Puppet Theatre’s production of ‘Sleeping Beauty’.

The flame haired and incredibly chatty puppet will also be joined by Hansel and Gretel and a whole host of popular characters.

Sleeping Beauty is a beautifully produced show with large puppets, colourful sets and exquisite lighting. It is suitable for children up to ten

years of age.The Paula Lambert Puppet

Theatre is widely recognised as the premier touring puppet theatre company in Ireland. Founder and main puppeteer Paula is daughter of the late Eugene Lambert of all time family favourite ‘Wanderly Wagon’.

Admission is €10 and performances will be held at 2pm and 4pm so make sure you get your tickets now!

WE are all familiar with the genius of the iPhone. We may not however be as familiar with the astounding applications available for the iPhone, iTouch and iPad. Nike offers one of the leading apps in health and fitness with their new Nike Training Club.

Including over 60 custom-built workouts, dynamic drills with full audio-guidance and exclusive rewards for training milestones, it’s like having your very own personal trainer on demand.

To keep you motivated, set your workout to albums and playlists from your own music library and track your workout history.

Product of the week

isfwwh

Sfct

Book of the week

Pub of the week

4

Shop of the week

Theatre of the week

ARTS & ENTS 1709 02 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

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10

HOMEMADE, at Unit 3 in The Goods Shed at MacDonagh Junction, is a lovely family-friendly restaurant with a growing reputation for fresh, great food.

They use locally produced ingredients as much as possible — including eggs, flour, ham and apples — and place a huge emphasis on seasonal products. The restaurant is a wonderful place to relax in homely surroundings and enjoy a delicious Badger & Dodo coffee.

There’s plenty happening there throughout the week including a mother and toddler coffee morning every Tuesday morning from 10am to 12 noon and a social senior group at 10.30am on Monday mornings.

Gluten free bread and cakes are available to order as well as occasion and celebration cakes and desserts.

So, if you want value for money along with great customer service you need look no further.

ARE you an artist that has been inspired by Chernobyl? ‘Voices from Chornobyl’ are looking for artists of all types to help share their art and help spread awareness of the 25th anniversary of the disaster this coming April.

Any and all art will be considered for incorporation into the project’s lobby designs, website and campaigns.

The group is looking for photography, painting, music,

dance, theatre or anything that will help generate interest and awareness about Chernobyl.

Voices from Chornobyl began

with readings in 2005 when an ensemble of artists presented the stories of Chernobyl to benefit children’s charities. In 2008, they teamed with the UK Chernobyl charities and plan for readings around the world in April 2011, commemorating the 25th year after the disaster.

Log onto http://voicesfromchornobyl.wordpress.com/ for more details of how to submit your work.

TODAY FM’s Shave or Dye campaign began in 2010 and saw the likes of Ray D’Arcy, Ian Dempsey, Matt Cooper, Paul McLoone and Ray Foley shave or dye their hair and in turn asked listeners to do the same.

The reaction was nothing short of phenomenal with the length and breadth of the country getting involved. Together, they raised over €800,000 for the Irish Cancer Society.

This year Today FM’s Shave or

Dye 2011 is bigger, brighter and balder than ever! Ray D’Arcy, not content with just shaving or dyeing, will attempt to break a world record to shave the most heads in one hour in one place on February 18. If you would like to take part, please see www.todayfm.com/shaveordye.

According to the National Cancer Registry of Ireland new cancer cases are expected to reach over

40,000 by the year 2020. That’s why Today FM need your help (and head) more than ever.

MICK Hanly makes a rare solo appearance, at the Hole In The Wall, Kilkenny on Saturday, February 19. Mick has been around the block more times than most and has tried on a variety of hats in search of his own voice.

Starting his career on the folk circuit in the seventies he made a couple of folk albums for the Mulligan label, before turning his hand to song writing and fronting ‘Moving Hearts’ for a spell in the early eighties.

He formed his own band, ‘Rusty Old Halo’, and released the album ‘Still Not Cured’ on WEA in 1987. After a series of albums for the now defunct ‘Round Tower’ label, Hanly established his own song writing style, which he has been honing to good effect since.

Catch Mick live in the intimate surrounds of Kilkenny’s finest new venue, The Hole In The Wall, 17 High Street, Kilkenny. Tickets, €20, are available from Rollercoaster Records, St Kieran’s Street.

CASTLECOMER Discovery Park is where crafts, nature, history and adventure all meet in one place. The centre offers something for the whole family. The six kilometre park boasts mixed woodland on the banks of the River Deen, two rainbow trout angling lakes as well as art and craft shops.

In particular, why not try the nature trails which will add a sense of exploration

to your walk. At only €10 for the Nature Trail Card it is the ideal family outing as the idea is to use questions and puzzles to encourage families to explore and appreciate the woodlands.

As if that wasn’t enough to encourage you to try it out, each family to complete a trail wins a prize- which should keep every-body interested. Finish off your Sunday with one of the many delicious treats offered at the on-site Jarrow Café.

Something for Sunday

Restaurant of the week

40 000 b th

9

Exhibition of the week

Gig of the week

Fundraiser of the week

ARTS & ENTS 18 KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2011

Monday 7 Frankie Gavin & De Dannan, The Set @ 8pmAfter Dark, Matt the Miller’s @ 10pm Trad Night, Cleere’s, Parliament Street, 9pm

Tuesday 8Cellar Sessions, Matt the Miller’s @ 8.30pm The Kilkennys, Paris Texas @ 9pm Kiwi Paddy, The Field @ 9pm

Wednesday 9Movie Night, Billy Byrne’s @ 8.30pm Open Mic Nite, Ryan’s @ 9pm

Thursday 10Singer/song writer Wayne Brennan, Cleere’s, Parliament Street @ 9.30pm Psycho Spaghetti 2, Watergate Theatre @ 11.20am Pete Fagan and BandMatt the Miller’s @ 10pm Na Fianna, Lanigan’s @ 9pm Trad Nite, Ryan’s @ 9pm

Friday 11Divil the Bit, Lanigan’s @ 9pm Comedian Jarlath Regan, Cleere’s, Parliament Street @ 8pm The Town Criers, Face the Flux and KATED, Cleere’s, Parliament Street @ 9.30pm

Saturday 12Caruso and the Quake, Watergate Theatre @ 8pm

Sunday 13The O’Dwyer Brothers, Kyteler’s Inn @ 6pm The Kilkennys, Lanigan’s @ 9pm The Barflies, The Pumphouse @ 9pm

Monday 14Valentines Night Dinner – Music by Memphis Cats with 12 piece band & D, in aid of the Carlow-Kilkenny Home Care Team (tickets €30), Langton’s @ 8pm The Briars, The Field @ 9pm Traditional Night, Cleere’s, Parliament Street, 9pm

FEBRUARY7-14

Gig Guidewith Ciara Gilbert

Devious Theatre’s dark new comedy will be revolutionary

SEAN [email protected]

Counihan at CastleSEAN HURLEY

KILKENNYREPORTER.IE

Rehersals for John Morton’s ‘Scratcher’,

playing at Dublin’s Project Arts Centre,

February 17, 7pm

ARTS & ENTS 1909 02 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

FILM THE FIGHTERDirector David O’Russell

IF you are a fan of boxing movies then you are in for a treat with this film which punches well

above its weight thanks to a believable setting and some superb acting.

It tells the story of Micky Ward the titular fighter who struggles to emerge from the shadow of his brother and trainer Dicky. The latter was once a ‘contender’ who knocked Sugar Ray down and still lives off this glorious moment stoned off his brain in the crack houses of Lowell.

Their mother meanwhile turns a blind eye to his behaviour, worshipping him while neglecting Micky and destroying his career with poor choices. Into this mix comes Charlene (Amy Adams) his new girlfriend who rescues him from his imploding family and helps him get a shot at the big time.

Once of the strange things about this film is that there is not much actual boxing

shown. Since both ‘Rocky’ and ‘Raging Bull’ have used up all the techniques to capture the brutality of the ring David O’Russell decides wisely to concentrate on the human drama. It is essentially a portrait of working class life in modern America.

Influenced in no small way by ‘The Wire’ it focuses on how a community operates and it takes an almost documentary approach to showing the way people in this world survive. The opening scene where Dicky introduces a TV crew around his neighbourhood signals that we will see the harsh society that surrounds boxing as much as the bloody ropes.

If this sounds a little worthy then not to worry- Christian Bale is here to enliven every frame he is in. This is his command performance. Not just doing his usual method trick of losing an unhealthy amount of weight, he also captures the bug-eyed mania of a crack addict brilliantly with wild body language and broad grimaces. Bravely eschewing the dictum that ‘less in more’ in screen acting here, he pushes

himself to the limits of his craft.

Mark Wahlberg in contrast tries to underplay his part allowing Bale to do all the heavy lifting so he can quietly shine. He is however a little too subtle and neither

he nor Amy Adams really register. Melissa Leo on the other hand plays the mother with all the gusto of a character actress who has waited her whole life for this juicy part.

There are a few lapses in

taste on David O’Russell’s part that prevents this from being a classic- namely the Ward sisters. These are extreme caricatures who wander sulkily around the movie with bad hair and worse accents berating

Micky’s new girlfriend who they see as a threat to their parasitic lifestyle. Perhaps they are a throwback to the quirky comedies like ‘Flirting With Disaster’ and ‘I Heart Huckabees’ in Russell’s career but they are totally at odds with realism elsewhere in the film.

Also he should have pushed the visceral nature of the boxing in the latter scenes but coyly pulls away to reaction shots ringside rather than showing the savagery within. It’s at these times in the film that you wonder what Darren Aronofsky would have done with this material which he has slated.

All in all a brave jab at a hackneyed genre. The casting of Bale and Leo elevates proceedings to another level which hopefully will be rewarded on Oscar night. They deserve recognition for their courage in going over the top and landing on their feet. In much the same way as Dicky when jumping out the crack house window so his mother won’t know about his drug problem they could have easily ended up in the dumpster.

— BY DARRAGH BYRNE

Welcome platform for our writers

Vision of the future is an inspiration

Heather Brett will edit the next issue of Kilkenny Poetry Broadsheet

T

20 KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2011MOTORS

Positive outlook: Alan Nolan, Director General SIMI with Sean Staunton, Executive Manager, Balbriggan Credit Union and Chris Fleming, of SIMI’s Independent Dealers Committee. The welcome increase in market activity is due in no small part to the Government’s Scrappage Scheme offering drivers big incentives to purchase

€30M INCREASE IN SALES DRIVES RECOVERYMotor Industry’s outlook is positive as sales rise by 29% in January, protecting local jobs

MOTORS 2109 02 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

22 KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2011MOTORS

MOTORS 2309 02 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

24 CLASSIFIED KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2011

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SPORT 26 KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2011

Fountain of young

EDWARDMCEVOY

Catering for nearly 400 children in its schoolboy scheme, Evergreen has the best of talent - on and off the pitch

E

SPORT 2709 02 2011 KILKENNY REPORTER

talent leaves others ‘Green

For more information about Evergreen Schoolboys: [email protected] Chairman - Peter Henebry: mobile 080868230050Schoolboy Chairman – Mark Brennan: mobile 086 3868025

NEWS KILKENNY REPORTER 09 02 2011 28

‘Autumn Fire’ burns in Coon!

Loughboy

Graignamanagh

Calling all over 55s

Thrills, entertainment and fear in great ‘Republic of Reading’

Anna McDonald, Molly O’Shea, Margaret McGrath and Betty Brennan making St Bridget’s crosses in Castlecomer Library. Author Philip Pullman, who has railed against proposed closures

Kilkenny Reporter 9th Feb 2011

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Transcript of Kilkenny Reporter 9th Feb 2011