Waterford Today | Waterford's free weekly newspaper

Creating happiness in hard times

Does happiness come from external factors like money, a contented home and family life, a comfortable environment and a secure future? Or is happiness something that we create from within ourselves? Is it simply our body's constitution that means some people are happier than others? To what extent do negative circumstances make us unhappy? How - and how much - do stress levels affect our happiness? How often do we – should we – feel happy? What stops us from feeling happy? Why can't we always accept ourselves, and if we did, would it make us happier? Why do we sometimes blame others for our own unhappiness and not take responsibility for ourselves? So many questions!

Being happy is one of the best – if not the best – feelings we can ever experience. When we think

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Quality childcare standards apparent in Waterford says report

The emergence in recent years of excellent standards in childcare in Waterford City and County has been identified in a comprehensive Evaluation Report of childminding initiatives in the area.

The HSE, in partnership with the Waterford City and County Childcare Committees since 2002, have supported developments in childminding – citing it as an integral part of the childcare sector. As part of the Childcare Strategy 2007-2010, the HSE and both committees decided to carry out an external evaluation on the work carried out under the National Childminding Initiative.

The Report, the first of its kind in Ireland to be jointly funded by the HSE and local Childcare Committees since the inception of the National Childminding Initiative a number of years ago, was

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Information Day - a first for Ireland

1 in 10 Irish children will suffer from migraine before the age of 18. Many will never be diagnosed.

"My mother told me that I was sick in the car when they took me home from hospital as a new born baby," says life-long migraine sufferer Marie O'Riordan, "Over twenty years later a neurologist told me that this motion sickness I suffered from as a child was in fact migraine."

To increase awareness of migraine in young people the Migraine Association of Ireland [MAI] will hold Ireland's first national Migraine Youth Information Day.

This interactive event will be open to children and teenagers under 18 – their parents and guardians, teachers and health professionals.

"We would encourage children nationwide to attend this event – the first of its kind in Ireland," says Donna Ryan, MAI Information Officer,

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Waterford thanked for supporting people with MS

MS Ireland, the services, research and information society supporting people with MS, is taking the opportunity to say thank you as the society celebrates 50 years of service to the MS community. The first inaugural meeting of MS Ireland took place on February 22nd 1961. This was the beginning of a nationwide volunteer and fundraising effort to provide essential care, therapies and information to those with MS and their families.

The themes for MS Ireland's 50 Years are significantly: Hope, Friendship and Strength. Hope, Friendship and Strength are qualities that form the fabric of society and unite us all through our individual life experiences.

Katie Hourigan, Regional Coordinator of the South East Regional Office for MS Ireland commented: "We are delighted to celebrate 50 Years of supporting people with MS across the country. First and foremost

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Focus Ireland Waterford Launch Four Peaks Challenge which aims to raise €400K to tackle homelessness

Focus Ireland Waterford launched the 12th annual Focus Ireland Four Peaks Challenge recently and urged people in the area to sign up for the event which aims to raise €400K to help combat and prevent homelessness.

The housing and homeless charity is looking to recruit new teams in the area for the challenge this year. Brave participants will climb the highest peak in each of the four provinces this June. Each team raises €4,500 in a bid to support the vital services that work to help many people in Waterford who are homeless to move on in life.

Focus Ireland Waterford Manager, David Niblock said:

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This July 2011, Bóthar, the development aid agency, will organise a 32 county fundraising cycle in support of its work. 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the foundation of Bóthar and the charity that specialise in providing livestock for poor families around the world, have lined up several events to mark the occasion. The event was launched at it starting point in Portumna in Co. Galway recently.

Cycling has really taken off in recent times according to Bóthar Spokesperson, Conor O'Donoghue (Event Road Leader). "More and more people are taking to the roads on bikes these days. Whether because of the Bike to Work scheme or for fitness or the recession, the humble bike has experienced a well deserved revival. Our event is designed to capture and maintain

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Run of the week

This weeks run will get you prepared for the upcoming Splashworld 10k in Tramore. It's a challenging and scenic course and a great run all round. Start at Splashworld, exit onto the main road and take upper branch road to the Vee cafe. Turn right here and all the way up Main street then grab a breather once you get to the top and head out along Priests road. Continue on to Newtown hill and onto Newtown road where another climb awaits up towards Rocketts pub. Just before Rocketts take the road to the left and follow right around past the metal man and down to the Guillamenes. Continue along Cliff road to the roundabout at the bottom of Newtown hill then take Church road all the way to Gallweys hill and you're on the home straight

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Universal Music Ireland is delighted to announce the signing of Jamie Lawson. His fantastic hit single 'Wasn't Expecting That' is set to feature on the forthcoming album out early this Spring. Jamie makes his Waterford debut at The Forum Lounge this Friday 4th March.

'A new song for a new year', that was the simple unassuming remark that Jamie Lawson chose to accompany the demo video for the song, when he posted it to Youtube at the start of January. Detailing the birth and growth of a relationship, love and family life with a bittersweet ending that's touched the hearts of thousands, 'Wasn't Expecting That' is the hit that's taken everyone by surprise. The song exploded in popularity following extensive airplay on Today FM, leading to an invitation

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The Van Diemens believe that Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Nick Cave complete "a holy trinity of songwiters" and have created in their honour, the most unique and brilliant tribute show on the current live music circuit. After a standing ovation on their last visit, The Van Diemens return to the intimate surrounds of The Forum Lounge on Saturday 12th March. Doors are 8.30pm and their 2 hour set kicks off at 9pm sharp. Admission €10 on the door, includes entry to the Lounge's late night BoHo Club featuring a live set by the always brilliant Butterfly Band.

The Van Diemens are led by the wonderful baritone of Jack Healy and the guitar of Conor Brady, and are completed by 3 brilliant musicians on double bass, piano and drums, who have played worldwide with Van Morrison, Duke Special and Jerry Fish's

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Roll Up, roll up for a great night of comedy and music at The Forum Lounge this Saturday, 5th March. Ireland's most rock and roll comedian, David O'Doherty, plays an intimate fully seated show (doors 8.30pm) followed by the Lounge's late night BoHo Club, with a live set by The Big Lebowski. Tickets for David are on sale now at Next Door Forum Waterford, 051 871111 & www.forumwaterford.com. If you can't make it early for the comedy, you can still catch The Big Lebowski and BoHo's DJ with doors at 11.30pm and admission just €5 before midnight.

In receiving The Perrier Award at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival, David O'Doherty joined a prestigious list of former winners that includes Dylan Moran and Steve Coogan. He is the author of several books including the recent bestselling "100 Facts About Pandas" and the forthcoming

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Theatre Royal Variety Show is only four weeks away

Excitement is building for this year's Theatre Royal Variety Show. Springtime is here and it's time to remake that connection with the outside world.

This year's Theatre Royal Variety Show is in full rehearsal swing. Patricia Murphy, the show's choreographer, is working the cast hard on some brilliant routines from 42nd Street, The Jersey Boys, Blood Brothers and Chicago.

Billy McCarthy, Toby Hickey and company will take you on an American Song Book trip with the music of Gershwin and Porter. These timeless classic never fail to lift the spirits.

Comedy introduces five brilliant sketches from the Bilberry Goats. This is quickly becoming one of the most accomplished comedy teams in the country featuring Tony Corcoran (main script writer) Davy Sutton, Scol Grant, Brian Power and Juckey Collins.

The female wing of this illustrious

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Waterford Writers' Weekend launches its 2011 programme!

Waterford Writers' Weekend celebrates writing, reading and creativity for all ages. Running over three days, March 18th to 20th 2011, the lively and engaging programme is filled with workshops, readings, book signings, poetry, fiction, entertainment and the long running Seán Dunne Young Writers' Awards as well as events for children and teens.

Come and listen to former Taoiseach Dr. Garret Fitzgerald, RTE's business editor David Murphy, author and columnist Martina Devlin, poets Thomas McCarthy and Leanne O'Sullivan, authors Ed O'Loughlin, Peter Murphy and many others.

"The 2011 programme is reaching out to those who would love to write and be published, but may not have the confidence to do so. Our workshops and choice of speakers reflect this, by providing a wide

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Ireland's largest celebration of books and reading, will take place on Thursday 3 March 2011, celebrating 14 years of encouraging the young and old to share their love of books and reading.  

New for 2011 is a starry campaign for teens and a complementary promotion, World Book Night.  

Over 1 million €1.50 World Book Day Book Tokens will be distributed to school children across the country, thanks to participating booksellers all around Ireland who redeem the tokens at their own expense. National Book Tokens, principal sponsor of World Book Day 2011 also sponsor the tokens.

For children, World Book Day's €1.50 flipbooks are back for a third year; each book contains two new stories by two authors in one book, providing double the fun for readers to enjoy when they redeem their free World Book Day €1.50 Book Token. Philip Reeve,

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Christ Church CathedralSunday 6th March at 12 noon

Tickets €7 / €5 conc. / €12 family - pay on the door

Following the glorious standing ovation and superb reviews for her recital in September 2010, Donna Roche will once again return to Christ Church Cathedral to perform on Sunday 6th March.

Donna is certainly no stranger to Waterford audiences and is in demand both at home and abroad. Having been classically trained since the early age of ten she started her singing career in Waterford at the W.I.T Music School under the tuition of Anne Woodworth. After finishing school Donna continued her studies with Dr. Veronica Dunne at both the Leinster School of Music & Drama and the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. Donna held the title of the Senior Vocal Repertoire Cup at the Fintan O'Carroll Feis in

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Murphy's, The QuayFriday 4Th March Heat 9Podium Vs Solar Taxi Vs Froud

Is this a case of 'save the best for last' we have 3 bands left to battle it out from the 19 who began.

The date is on Friday 4th March at 9pm. It goes without saying to come early as space is limited and this is not to be missed.

PODIUM

Waterford band Podium has gone through some changes over this past year but to their credit it has been worthwhile. Since the various changes there has been quite a stir about this new outfit and from some recent live performances, it is no doubt they are at their strongest yet. Their immense passion is what drives their ambition and this is beginning to pay dividends. In 2010 they embarked on recording their impressive debut EP After The

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