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Keep Well - Local Resources

Some of the local 'Keep Well' initiatives underway in Kilkenny include:

The Kilkenny COVID19 Community Response Forum has a dedicated helpline to assist at risk members of the public in accessing non-emergency and non-medical supports and advice during the current public health emergency. The Covid Helpline hours are now extended and will operate from 8am to 8pm – 7 days a week.

            Phone: 1800 326 522
           Email: covidsupport@kilkennycoco.ie

Kilkenny Library Service offer the following services locally:

The Tonic Graphic

Kilkenny's Well Being Campaign are launching a new programme beginning on KCLR this Thursday after the 6 o’clock news.  It’s called ‘The Tonic’ and is a mixture of songs and interviews chosen to appeal to the older generation.  It’s a part of the wide-ranging ‘Keep Well’ government campaign which aims to support people and communities to mind their physical and mental health over the coming months and is made in collaboration with the Kilkenny Older Person’s Council.  

Presented by John Masterson, the hour-long programme will feature interviews ranging in subject matter from arts, to sport, storytelling, health & wellbeing and personality interviews. It will include features that recall memories and will draw on contributors from all ages and backgrounds with the overall aim that the content serves as a welcome distraction to the often difficult and serious news that dominates the headlines these days.    

To create listener engagement KCLR are encouraging people to text or call the show to share their memories and experiences.  “We plan that ‘The Tonic’ will give the listeners a good dose of entertainment and nostalgia by taking trips down memory lane. During these times when older people bear the brunt of Covid -19 restrictions, ‘The Tonic’ will be just that, a welcome invigoration to the week”, says KCLR Producer Monica Hayes. Meanwhile, Betty Dewberry Chair of the Kilkenny Older Person’s Council encourages listeners that ‘The Tonic’ is “A chance to reminisce about bygone days! Tune in every Thursday evening for an hour of welcome distraction from the challenges we are facing every day now.”

Broadcasting every Thursday for the next 12 weeks ‘The Tonic’ will be available to listen back on the KCLR website and on all podcast platforms.

Week 1 https://kclr96fm.com/the-tonic/

Date: 14th Jan 2021

Paddy Cole, saxophonist with the some of the big showbands, kicks off the first programme in ‘The Tonic’ series, with a lively conversation with presenter John Masterson about his new book ‘The King of the Swingers’. Paddy also chats about his five favourite things. Kilkenny Wedding Celebrant, Noelle Cody regales us with an account of some of the symbols and traditions around weddings while legendary Kilkenny senior hurler, Eddie Kerr talks about the hurling in his day and the changes that have taken place over the years. ‘The Tonic’ is brought to you with thanks toHealthy Ireland, an initiative of the Government of Ireland with funding from the Healthy Ireland Fund and the Sláintecare fund delivered by Pobal. Keep Well

Week 2: https://kclr96fm.com/the-tonic-give-yourself-a-boost-thursday-21st-january-2021/

Date: 22nd of January 2021

Kilkenny Storyteller Jim Maher joins us for a lovely conversation ranging from wren boys to dance boards to his own journey into entertainment, finishing off with a story – ‘The Look Younger Pills’. While Vivian Good of Goods Kilkenny brings us memories of growing up and mentions one of his major influences – Bishop Birch. All this and some nice tunes in between.

Week 3:  https://kclr96fm.com/the-tonic-programme-3-28th-january-2021/

Listen back to 'The Tonic' on KCLR presented by John Masterson. Guests included Daniel O'Donnell who is celebrating 40 years in show business and talks about his musical career and his new single, a duet with David James, called ‘Don’t Take the Good Times for Granted’. Then it’s over to old sayings and poetry with Kilkenny Librarian Majella Byrne. The Tonic is part of the Keep Well campaign with Healthy Ireland and managed locally by Kilkenny County Council and made in collaboration with the Kilkenny Older Person’s Council.

Week 4:  https://kclr96fm.com/the-tonic-programme-4-4th-february-2021/
Memories of the ICA with Ballycallan lady Mary Egan. Kilkenny character Dan Quigley remembered in a song written by Tomás Jackman and a trip down memory lane with some old TV adverts with Kasandra O’Connell from the IFI. The Tonic is part of the Keep Well campaign with Healthy Ireland and managed locally by Kilkenny County Council and made in collaboration with the Kilkenny Older Person’s Council.

Week 5:  https://kclr96fm.com/the-tonic-programme-5-11th-february-2021/
Noel Power and Sonny Cullen, two Kilkenny Showband members join John Masterson for a great chat about the old days traveling all over the country performing in dance halls in the 1960s. Then it’s over to the beat scene and musician John Travers joins us remembering Thin Lizzy gigs and the memorable days of filming ‘Lock-up Your Daughters’. The Tonic is part of the Keep Well campaign with Healthy Ireland and managed locally by Kilkenny County Council and made in collaboration with the Kilkenny Older Person’s Council.

Week 6: https://kclr96fm.com/the-tonic-programme-6-18th-february-2021/
On The Tonic this evening, presented by John Masterson, we cover exercise in the form of resistance bands, grip balls and massage balls with Seamus Nugent from the Kilkenny Sports and Recreational Partnership. Memories of the High Street from the 1960s and 70s with Yvonne O’ Dwyer who lived above a shop on the High Street and stories from the Schools Collection with Karyn Deegan, Branch Manager with Castlecomer Library. The Tonic is brought to you as part of the Keep Well campaign with Healthy Ireland and managed locally by Healthy Kilkenny, Kilkenny County Council and made in collaboration with the Kilkenny Older Person’s Council.

Week 7: https://kclr96fm.com/the-tonic-programme-7-25th-february-2021/
Sean Doherty from Galmoy GAA Club and Liam Tyrell James Stephen’s GAA Club join John Masterson for a look back on some of the changes in hurling over the years, from the introduction of the parish rules, to clubs buying their own pitches to memories of trips to Dublin to see the All Irelands. Then a profile interview with Ani Mollereau a sculptor from Kilkenny who talks about some of her favourite things on her shelf. The Tonic is brought to you as part of the Keep Well campaign in collaboration with Kilkenny County Council and the Kilkenny Older Person’s Council

My Home Place’ made in collaboration with the Heritage Office in Kilkenny County Council

My Home Place Graphic
‘My Home Place’ made in collaboration with the Heritage Office in Kilkenny County Council as part of the Keep Well campaign, an initiative of the Government of Ireland, Healthy Ireland & Sláintecare.

'My Home Place' - a series of 10 programmes featuring memories of times gon by and includes accounts of cultural events and nostalgic anecdotes that captures the importance of our local heritage.

The accompanying drawings to each of the recordings have been made by students attending art class at OssoryYouth Kilkenny who drew them in response to the imagery they heard in each of the pieces.

Week 1
My Home Place - Week 1 Ossory Youth Art
Programme 1 - Donal Sheridan
Tea chests used as playpens, aprons made from big sugar bags and an insight into the previous owners of the Ennisnag Lounge & Grocery Store are just some of the stories told by public Donal Sheridan in this the first programme in the 'My Home Place' series.
Podcast:https://kclr96fm.com/documentary/my-home-place/?fbclid=IwAR2cfDlo9lDr-e7gyqcLxWEFjTzgCvS0lfXLI-8HIDS0LMGrIvCVsyJa7io

Week 2

Mary Cradock is a well-known actor and director who has been a part of numerous productions in the Watergate Theatre over the past 25 years. In the following piece, as part of the ‘My Home Place’ series, she recalls the smells of baking coming from Crotty’s bakery, the pyramids of peas in the grocery shop on the High Street, the Kilkenny Beer Festival and Perk’s Funfair amongst other things. My Home Place a part of the Keep Well campaign, managed locally by Kilkenny County Council, and is being made in collaboration with the Heritage Office and Ossory Youth, whose team of young artists, under the tutelage of Youth Artist Joanne Moore are listening to the interviews and creating drawings from the imagery they hear in the piece. Keep Well with Healthy Ireland
https://soundcloud.com/kclr96fm/my-home-place-mary-cradock

Week 3
Growing up on a farm and the first few years as a schoolteacher in Slieverue are some of the memories recalled in this piece with Jim Walsh. Jim Walsh is a former science teacher who worked at the Slieverue Vocational School, he is also the author of a few historical books. My Home Place is a part of the Keep Well campaign, managed locally by Kilkenny County Council, and is being made in collaboration with the Heritage Office and Ossory Youth, whose team of young artists, under the tutelage of Youth Worker Joanne Moore are listening to the interviews and creating drawings from the imagery. Keep Well is an initiative of the Government of Ireland, Healthy Ireland & Slaintecare.

https://kclr96fm.com/documentary/jim-walsh/?fbclid=IwAR3n4ZvPdZFS8yLDefEsKf5lIXsDdzXbl3Hy1RUUeMZj65o4me1jQOZGM5E

Week 4
On week four of #MyHomePlace We go to Galmoy and meet Sean Doherty who is an electrician and well-known MC at GAA and other events. Sean remembers his schooldays and paints a picture of Galmoy back in the 50s and 60s when the dance halls were busy, and electricity was being introduced into the area. My Home Place is a part of the Keep Well campaign, managed locally by Kilkenny County Council, and is being made in collaboration with the Heritage Office and Ossory Youth, whose team of young artists, under the tutelage of Youth Worker Joanne Moore are listening to the interviews and creating drawings from the imagery they hear in the piece.

Link to Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/kclr96fm/my-home-place-sean-doherty



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