Ballyboughal.net

The Village Montessori School

The Village Montessori School is now enrolling, offering a wide range of pre-school activities for children aged from two and  half to five years.

Located in Ballyboughal GAA clubhouse, with private classroom in a secure building offering safe off road parking and lots of outdoor play possibilities.  Each child is given individual instruction on the use of all Montessori equipment in a fun and friendly atmosphere with emphasis on social developement and promotion of independence.

Arts and Crafts are a big part of the Curriculum along with 5 Montessori Modules

1. Practical life
2. Sensorial
3. Language
4. Maths
5. Culture

Give your child a great start to school life.  Open 5 days per week from 9am - 12pm.  Very reasonable rates with holiday and midterm breaks in conjunction with local National School.

Qualified Montessori teacher/ Nursery nurse, registered with the Health Service Executive.

Complies with Childcare regulations, fully insured with genuine Montessori equipment provided.

Call Mary anytime on 01-8433 392 or 086-897 2851 or better still drop in when passing.

Londons calling… so is everyone else!

I’ve been quiet on here lately, still pushing buttons, just not the publish button on this site. I’ve just spent the last 20 minutes writing this post and thought, what about it so what.

Flew to London for Wubud business and got invited by JP to an Eric Clapton concert in the Royal Albert hall in a private booth.  The gig was brilliant, it was also a perfect opportunity to network with some top folks BT.

Last week saw me back in London for the Microsoft Mobile Incubation week, this was killer and really productive, it was great being in the MS camp, got a lot of questions answered about Windows Azure (The new MS Cloud) and also about how other products could be used with Wubud.

Good news is in between the last few weeks of madness I’ve always managed to get back for the Friday night session in O’Connors.

Bloom, I missed Bloom, had actually planned to have a meeting over there with one of the exhibitors but that didn’t happen.  At least my complimentary tickets didn’t go to waste. Had a quick scan over Peters post, seems very in-dept.  I’ll read it tomorrow.

Speaking of quick, I’m currently in the middle of providing some feedback on a new product called Quick.tv - for now all I can say is this is class and what out I’ll blog about this service very soon.

Wubud is nearly ready for Alpha testing… finally will be good to get this out the door so I can talk about it

the bloom in the park ‘09 experience

***To view the original post - click here

The sun is splitting the skies, the Phoenix Park looks spectacluar…. you simply can’t imagine what a show Bloom in the Park has turned out to be.

To only mention the gardens is, maybe, what I should be doing…. but, as a garden builder and designer at Bloom - they are all [seriously] amazing and I simply can’t be pushed to just pick one. Anyone who designs and/ or builds a garden here is a genius in my eyes I will however give an over view of the  entire Bloom experience & some of the interesting people I met on my sabatical

The beautiful Maeve Desmond [International PR for Bord Bia] lets you know what you can expect to see…

If kids entertainment is what you really want…? Go meet the wonderful Orla from Imaginosity. They have an amazing kids interactive garden event [amongst many things] going on just behind the tea rooms at the visitor centre. Go see. Bring the kids you’ll love it…..

More interesting people….. Ever wondered what The Irish Wildlife Trust really do… ?

Of course I met literally hundreds of people that I knew…. here’s a few quick snaps for you to get a gist of what else is going on.

gist of what else is going on.

And last but not least….. do get there early. It’s well worth it…. but, I’m guessing the traffic will be a little crazy-er than the Thursday. That said, it is the All-Ireland of garden shows…

To the big question…. would I go again? 110% absolutely yes. [I'll be back on saturday] I loved every second of it. I got a great chance to speak to the public, the people involved and the traders… One girl sold out of bread in the food stall within 3 hours ?!! Another lady I spoke thought it was great value for money…. others felt it was better laid out this year and that there was more seating…. call it what you like, compliment what you wish… but honestly, the only complaint I heard was that the sun had been shining too much and extra watering would be required in order to have the gardens looking their best for tomorrow

Do go. Do enjoy. Do let me know what you think after. My opinion 5/5. Well deserved. Take a bow Bord Bia. Bulaidh Bós Mór

Related Posts:

• how to bloom in the park
• show gardening - behind the scenes
• looking back on bloom 2008
• looking back on bloom 2007

Nifti buses now sprayed silver

I was going down the road and noticed that the Nifti bus is now silver. Has anyone else noticed?
I think they look great

fáilte go dtí enrico’s iasc & sceallóg

enrico's fish and chips

rumour [?] has it there was once a chip van used to park outside the public house in Ballyboughal….. aparently that all ended when some grown men with a sense of humour unhitched it from the vehicle towing it and wheeled it down the road

However their were crazy scenes last night when for the first time in the history of Ballyboughal, the first ever fish & chip shop opened…. play the video…

This time it’s in a building….. Last night Enrico’s opened. A real fish & chip shop. Nice guys too. It has to be said that any person who starts a new business deserves congratulations, a good hand shake and best wishes. To come to a rural [?] town like Ballyboughal…. one might suggest a standing ovation?!! Particularly when one is reliant upon passing trade so to speak. All I can say is well done mate.

I met Enrico [and his father] briefly last night… it was pouring rain, the shop ws supposed to open at 5pm… the usual opening day ‘if it can go wrong it will go wrong’ took place but… it will be perfect for tonight. Nice guy, nice people. And to think only this time last year… the only thing open in Ballyboughal was the petrol station.

Drop by, say hello, sample the produce [it's good] and wish the lads all the best.

bulaidh bós mór lads

corrigans mates tell peter to f*** off

to read the original post click here…

to see richard’s mate tell peter donegan to f*** off - scroll to the bottom.

...all the way to the bank

Richard Corrigan called a press conference today. All of the media who were invited to Richards restaurant were asked to sign a waiver as it was to be recorded for his television programme….. Corrigans city silly farm In a flawed variation of Jamie Olivers School Dinners taking on the Prime Minister, Corrigan has decided to call for the abolition of Bord Bia ….eh?

Recently, Richard Corrigan has turned to the big screen on RTE to do a ’show’, Corrigans City Farm; a documentary propaganda routine more than inspiration and a lifestyle model moronically and rediculously achieved, for the cameras. Niall Harbisons post will speak to what Bord Bia have done for Ireland from a food point of view. [my qualifications are horticultural rather than culinery]

In this cartoon version of reality, hens were introduced, to be held for four weeks. Also a chicken coup ‘home’ that cost thousands… It would have been cheaper to buy an already organic farmed one. FACT. In the first weeks of the show an amazing amount of machinery was used to clear the site…. costing [more] thousands. I know even building my own coup, raised beds etc… it will take time to ‘balance the books’ so to speak financially. But it is not about money. It is a lifestyle. Not say Richard Corrigan. And how on Gods earth would he know…? As the old theory goes, ‘you can’t just tell people to plant their annuals when they don’t know what annuals are’, is unknown to Corrigan. One needs to explain how to grow one seed first….

I’ve had my grievances with semi states. We all have. Minor, they may have been over trees or a garden design… they were solved. Not in the public eye. Mono é mono. As gentlemen should do. But when money and fame are concerned, maybe the gentleman is entitled to sell his soul…

The Press Release:

Richard Corrigan Calls For The Abolition Of Bord Bia

Bentleys Townhouse Dublin, Ireland: 8th of May 2009: Leading Irish chef Richard Corrigan today called for the abolition of Bord Bia or at the very least a radical rethink of how the body promotes Irish food in Ireland. The current situation, he believes, is highly unsatisfactory in that Bord Bia is prevented under EU law from promoting exclusively Irish produce in the domestic market through the Quality Assurance Scheme. This means that the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme can apply to produce from any EU country and is therefore deeply flawed.

Therefore buying Bord Bia quality approved products does NOT ensure the following:

* That the products are Irish

* That the products are GMO-free

* That the interests of Irish farmers and consumers are a priority

“I believe that the promotion of Irish food abroad and the promotion of Irish food at home should be separated. I would like to call for at least a radical overhaul of Bord Bia’s role in order to preserve and create Irish jobs, to empower Irish consumers, to support Irish farmers and to see tax payers’ money spent constructively”, said Richard Corrigan. “Ireland has a unique capacity to produce the safest and highest quality food in Europe instead we are sailing in the opposite direction,” he said.

Valerie Keating, Director
GK Events and PR

If Bord Bia is abolished, what happens the landscape contractors, the nurseymen, the Quality Programmes for this sector. What happens when the sterling competes with the euro and mushroom growers are almost closed down…. when embargoes of irish beef are put in place… when pork and other scares are internationally held… and when no garden designer had a chance in Ireland, ever, though it may well be criticised, Bloom did come along… but then the PR is working according the print media ?

This sees him trying to teach people how to deal with the credit crunch in an innovative manner by bringing back the idea of allotments in Cork and showing viewers how to become self-sufficient by growing their own fruit and vegetables.

UPDATE:

and of course Richard has got his friend in the Irish Times:

Taking a quick look at the blogosphere on this news story, I am astonished at the number of lazy, ill-informed hotheads who claim that Corrigan’s press conference today was a publicity stunt for his Dublin restaurant (which, as it happens, is conspicuously successful). If you want a taste of this nonsense, have a look here.

I wonder if Tom can confirm then if Richard Corrigans farm is GM free and/ or organic in its entirety and reality? Or is Tom just jumping on the Simon Palmer bandwagon. Maybe Peter Mulryan of RTE would like to comment on this matter?

UPDATE:

The following is a series of emails between genetics & biotechnology PhD Student Shane Morris of UCC and RTE. In a comical turn of events, the legal department of RTE are the only aid to Mr. Morris and more importantly Richard Corrigans Farm cannot guarantee that the Cork farms are organic.

From: Shane Morris
To: Mulryan Peter
Cc: Complaints Review ; Goan Cathal
Subject: GM food and Corrigan’s City Farm
Sent: Sun 03/05/2009 01:23

Dear Peter,

I am just wondering if you could confirm if you are producing the Corrigan’s City Farm episodes relating to GM food?

I only ask as there are suggestions made that you are far from neutral on the issue of GM food as outlined on the Irish Seed Savers website http://www.irishseedsavers.ie/article.php?artid=686 as it states you have even purchased GM-free signs for your property. I hope the forthcoming episodes won’t be yet another case of RTE crucifying science and good journalistic values.

I look forward to viewing your episodes on GM foods.

Kindest regards,
Shane

—————————————————————————————–

From: “Mulryan Peter” <Peter.Mulryan@rte.ie>
To: Shane Morris
Subject: RE: GM food and Corrigan’s City Farm
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 10:06:42 +0100

Hi Shane,

Thanks for the email. I am the Series Producer of Corrigan’s City Farm and therefore am across all programmes. My personal feelings on GM are neither here nor there, my job is to produce a TV show. Richard Corrigan has very strong opinions on GM and they are already in the public domain, but I can assure you I would never make a programme that crucified science for the sake of ratings.

Yes we have organised No GM signs for both our allotments as they are being run on an organic basis, a decision reached by both groups, not imposed by RTE. This is a campaigning show and you can expect plenty of robust debate on a whole range of issues between now and the end of the series.

Many thanks,
Peter Mulryan.
———————————————————————————-

From: Shane Morris
To: “Mulryan Peter” <Peter.Mulryan@rte.ie>
Subject: RE: GM food and Corrigan’s City Farm
Date: Tue, 05 May 2009 11:35:54 +0100

Thanks for the reply Peter.

I have heard Richard’s factless opinions on GM in the past which are without doubt a crucifion of the science on the matter. I have never seen him interview or talk to a
scientist on the matter….maybe if you wanted to do something ‘new’ for an RTE program you should have Richard invite a biotech scientist to the allotment…..just an idea…..

just as a point of interest, will the allotments be certified organic?…..might be hard to prove no disallowed chemical use on the land in the past 3 years as required under organic rules (or even within the last year as is the case in special circumstances)

Kindest regards,
Shane

———————————————————————————–

From: Shane Morris
Sent: 06 May 2009 23:33
To: Complaints Review ; Shane Morris
Cc: Crowley Colm; Mulryan Peter
Subject: RE: GM food and Corrigan’s City Farm

Dear Nina,

Thank you for your reply and for CCing Mr. Crowley. For your information, I enclose below an email (and my follow up reply) that I received from Mr. Mulryan, the series producer for Corrigans City Farm. It seems Mr. Mulryan is content to have Mr. Corrigan express his “opinions” on a scientific matter during a publicly funded RTE “campaigning” television production without any balance brought to bear.

I find this very strange especially as one of the UK’s most famous sustainable food/farming advocates, Jimmy Doherty of BBC2’s Jimmys Farm, last year did a production which examined the issue of GM food in a manner that attempted to move past simple “option” and examine the evidence in hand.(see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7745726.stm)

If even Jimmy Doherty who, as he himself has put it, has made a name for himself pandering to “the traditional, free range, farm… that wholesome thing,” (i.e. the purely aesthetic end of Britain’s food interest) can produce a balanced and thoughtful piece on GM why then can’t Mr.Corrigan et al?

Of course, there is great delight that this show is being filmed in Cork and it is wished the best of luck. However, it would be even more delightful if the suggestion made to Mr. Mulryan of having a scientist chat with Mr. Corrigan as part of the GM segment of the production be acted upon.

Thank you again for your reply and your time on this matter.

Kindest regards,
Shane

ps a review of Jimmy Doherty’s program can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2008/nov
/26/gm-foods-horizon-jimmy-doherty >

———————————————————————

From: “Mulryan Peter” <Peter.Mulryan@rte.ie>
To: Professor O’ Connor UCC
Cc: Shane Morris, “Crowley Colm”
<Colm.Crowley@rte.ie>
Subject: FW: GM food and Corrigan’s City Farm
Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 10:55:39 +0100

Dear Professor O’Connor,

I am growing more and more concerned about a series of emails I am receiving from, a Shane Morris. They come from a UCC student account and Mr Morris appears to be a Phd student of yours. Could you clarify if this is a personal campaign being run by Mr Morris, or is this from your department?

There is a system within RTE and within the Broadcasting Complaints Commission to facilitate members of the public who wish to complain about a programme that has been transmitted, however there isn’t and there can’t be a way for people to comment on programmes that haven’t even been made yet.

Writing a series of mails to the producer of a show, which have been sent to the Director General, is not how the process works and could be seen as intimidation.

Many thanks for the time and I look forward to your
response.

Peter Mulryan
Series Producer
——————————————————————————————————–

From: Shane Morris
Sent: 07 May 2009 13:04
To: Mulryan Peter; Professor O’Connor UCC
Cc: Shane Morris; Crowley Colm
Subject: Re: FW: GM food and Corrigan’s City Farm

Dear Peter,

I am sorry you seem to have taken offense at my interest in an RTE production. Please note there is no “campaign”, personal or otherwise, nor even a complaint.

As a member of the public who has had previous correspondence with Mr.Goan and others within RTE on the handling of scientific matters by RTE I felt it worthwhile
to keep them informed.

As outlined previously I wish you and RTE the best of luck with what I hope will be an informed and useful production for the Irish public.

Kindest regards,
Shane
———————————————————————————————————-

From: “Mulryan Peter” <Peter.Mulryan@rte.ie>
To: Shane Morris
Subject: RE: FW: GM food and Corrigan’s City Farm
Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 13:19:35 +0100

From now on and as a matter of course your emails will be forwarded unread to the RTE legal department.

Peter Mulryan

UPDATE:
and it seems anyone who isn’t a friend of richard is a ‘newsos or a snapper’ or simply just knows nothing……….. says Ernie Whalley of ForknCork. It’s not begrudgery Erin… it’s logic. As Tom suggests… be careful your blog doesn’t become ‘a taste of nonsense’ .

UPDATE:

I just received this from Ernie Whalley via twitter.

........?

he’s a gardener gett him out of here….

to read the original post - click here

In 2008  I and a group of over 100 people [2,000 in total] on a gardening team went to south africa with the niall mellon township trust to build gardens. My 2008 story is here [click it.... go on... click it]!!

This year I need to raise some dosh. money. spondulas… go on stuff some dollars in an envelope and send it to ballyboughal play the video above first.

I have a few ideas. But nothing really organised. I could use your brains, your hands, your thoughts, your old crap and your ideas…… not stuff you don’t want  like the vase that Auntie Mary bought you for your wedding that *he’s* always hated….If you can’t gimme diddly well then…. eh?

I’m up for a challenge…. I will do it…. dare me, go on I dare you. Dare me to do something….. I’m really cheap *and* I’m damn good value for money

groovy track on this song by the way….

demands 21 demands

been a while since I saw these guys play live…. I thought there were more songs of theirs on youtube….. ? But I only found 2….

It’s only 2 seasons ago that the boys took the entire country by storm [and for those of you who have never heard them], ladys and gentlemen may I [re] introduce 21 demands

Cracking song, cracking band….. enjoy!

and of course there was this….

some nose on yer man from the EPA

view the original post is over on this blog…

can you 'smell' the logic epa ...?

Firstly, I am not a big fan of landfills. Full stop. No-one wants them on their doorstep. But - but, everyone ‘on the doorstep’ uses them. A fair point? I think so. To the matter in hand…

I got a press release [read it in full here] to my mailbox that Clare County Council had received a *Non-Compliance Order From the EPA* regarding odour issues at its Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduffbeg, near Inagh in County Clare.

The report relates to out-of-hours odour surveys carried out by an EPA inspector, who was based in the vicinity of the landfill from 31 January to 4 February 2009.

[who] …reported an odour, which he described as “moderate and impersistent” on 14 out of the 54 occasions. The EPA definition of a moderate odour is one that is ‘’easily detectable while walking and breathing normally, possibly offensive’’.

I emailed the PR company who drafted the release. They put me in touch with Clare County Councils Director of Service Ger Dollard. A nice guy. Here’s our conversation:

I emailed the PR firm first:

A Chara Mark

I was wondering if Clare County Coucil may be able to give details reagrding the ‘odour patrol’ - what exactly is an odour patrol ?

many thanks

Peter,

Your query below refers.

An odour patrol relates to staff representatives not working at the landfill driving a predetermined route on a regular basis to assess any odour issues at pre determined points.

The HSE also undertakes a separate odour patrol on a fortnightly basis whereby staff from the HSE drive around the general area and make a determination whether or not odour is evident at any particular location.

Hope this addresses your query.

Regards,

Gerard Dollard

Director of Service

A Chara Ger,

thank you for replying to my mail. For someone who knows little about this, do do they use specific equipment or is it just a sense of smell?

many thanks

Just a sense of smell. Staff not involved in the site are used so that it is a “fresh” perspective.

Eventually Ger called me. And so it seems The EPA’s specialist equipment for measuring smells is the nose they were born with. You heard me correctly… I know for example with aeroplanes we can measure noise levels. But your nose

o’connors saturday music night…

playing O' Connors

Saturday night music in O’Connors? Yes you heard it here first….

A two piece band….? Mother of God what is the world coming to…?!!

Yes the boys called Paddy Go Easy will play in the left hand side - the lounge in the pub this Saturday.

Will this be every week…. ? My guess is - if it works out for the lads who run the pub. But… I don’t know to be very honest. One has to give a bulaidh bós to the lads in Connors for making the effort…?

It may not be U2 - but it’s something more than you had there last Saturday…. And if you don’t like that you can also ’see’ if you can get a game of darts [or hoops] in the snug - that’s if ‘Richard Gere McGill’ will give you a game

What do you think?