Thousands of Euro are being burned each day by Waterford householders heating poorly insulated and ventilated homes, according to a leading energy expert.

David McHugh has claimed that conservation is the key to reducing energy bills, which have been further affected by the 40% increase in crude oil prices since mid-August. Waterford households, he warned, can expect to see further increases in the price of petrol, diesel and home heating oil over the winter months.

McHugh has spent over ten years producing, selling and installing heat recovery ventilation systems throughout Ireland. In 2004 he established the Tuam-based ProAir Systems, which is now Ireland's foremost Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) company.

He said that Sustainable Energy Ireland's 'House of Tomorrow' programme and the Government...
Read More »

In the run up to World Diabetes Day the Diabetes Federation of Ireland and sanofi-aventis Ireland are highlighting the findings from an international survey which found that despite rapidly increasing rates of type 2 diabetes and heart disease around the world, the majority of the global population is still unaware of the factors that put them at increased risk of developing these diseases.

The survey, entitled Shape of the Nations looked at 11,327 people across 27 countries including Ireland found that only 17% of the Irish population surveyed were familiar with the term Cardiometabolic Risk – significantly less...
Read More »

Betty Kiely

Can you help? I am trying to trace Betty Kiely born 9th April 1947. If you know the whereabouts or are the person above please phone Gordon on 0044 7964 397144.

Did Aeneas love Dido?

Next illustrated lecture in the Autumn Series for the Classical Association of Ireland, South East Branch, is titled ‘Did Aeneas love Dido?' It will be delivered by Dr. Alexander Thein, Dept. of Classics, University College Dublin, on Wednesday 21st Nov 2007 at 7.30pm. Venue is Room H06, WIT, College St. Campus and the admission (which includes refreshments) is €4, Students €2. Details of the Branch's trip to Cambridge next Easter will be available on the evening.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Alison Burke and Tony Barry of Hazelbourne o...
Read More »

Getting married at an alternative venue

Question: I am planning to get married but don't intend to have the wedding ceremony at a church or registry office. Is it possible to get married elsewhere?

Answer: Up to now wedding ceremonies in Ireland could only take place in churches or registry offices but from November 2007 they can be held at other venues.

If you plan to have a wedding at an alternative venue in Ireland, it will need to be inspected and approved by the Health Service Executive beforehand to ensure that it meets requirements.

You will also need to ensure that a Registrar is available to solemnise the wedding. Anyone solemnising a civil or religious marriage must be on the Register of Solemnisers of Marriage which is maintained by the General Registe...
Read More »

Q. How much could someone accomplish using literally only half a brain? You can probably guess how medica science determined the answer to this one.

A. This situation arises in "hemispherectomy," or surgical removal of the entire right or left hemisphere of the brain. In one such case, says David G. Myers in "Psychology," a 5-year-old boy had severe seizures, causing a deteriorating left hemisphere, which was removed. What hope for the future would such a child have? Amazingly, he later actually scored well above average on intelligence tests, completed college and attended graduate school. At last report he was an executive.

Yet half his skull was filled with nothing but cerebrospinal fluid - functionally it might as well be sawdust. Although paralyzed on the right side, this man testifi...
Read More »

Aries - March 21st - April 20th

Sometimes, when deciding upon a relationship, we need to ask whether we know the other person too well and that very knowingness could get in the way. On the other hand, do we know them at all - another potential stumbling block. At the end of the day, I suppose, it should be about ‘do you like each other enough'? On the basis of that answer you should be able to make a decision.

Taurus - April 21st - May 21st

Sometimes that for which we strive hovers like water before a thirsty man, just beyond our reach and it seems like that for you at the moment. But there is a feeling that your desires will shortly become reality, with the proviso that they are protected. Success in many fields of endeavour is accomplished through co-operation.

...
Read More »

Waterford news - March 1919

Death of Bernadette's Brother: Our readers will be interested to know that Rev. Father Boyle, of Hednesford, Staffordshire, has just had a letter from Madam Souhirous announcing the death, on February 27th of her husband, Jean Marie Bousrious, Bernadette's brother. He was a child of about 7 when the apparition took place.

We are very glad to hear that Butlerstown is organising a strong Sinn Féin Club. Some of the leading men of this outpost of the parish of Trinity Without are at work. More power to them. We will end by leavening the whole parish. Gaels in Waterford will watch with interest developments in this direction.

Last Sunday an aeroplane descended at Belmont, Cappoquin, the occupants having lunch with Lady Keane. the machine was one of a number which loop...
Read More »

Health Information and Quality Authority publish first National Hygiene Services Quality Review

The Hygiene Services Quality Review is the most comprehensive ever undertaken in Ireland and included assessments on service delivery, corporate management, unannounced visits to hospitals by the Authority's assessors and interviews with staff, managers, patients and visitors. The Review sets a new benchmark for hospitals to aim for on behalf of their patients. Individual detailed reports have been provided to each hospital to inform them of areas of strength and areas for further improvement.

Speaking at the publication of the national review, Jon Billings, the Authority's Director of Healthcare Quality said, "It is clear from the review that a lot of good work has been undertaken and positive assessments ...
Read More »

As part of her role as spokesperson for AGA in Ireland this year, Clodagh McKenna has created the following warming recipes for winter which we think you'll enjoy.

And you don't need an AGA to cook them!

Starter:
Gubbeen Bacon and Turnip Soup

Ingredients (Serves 4)
50g butter
1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped
1 potato, peeled and roughly chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 turnip, peeled and roughly chopped
4 streaky slices of smoked bacon, chopped into small pieces
1 litre hot stock (vegetable or chicken)
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over the hot hob. Once the butter has melted add in the smoked bacon, when the bacon is crispy stir in t...
Read More »

The Provence Stove is not only a superb portable heater, it also provides a perfect focal point for any room. It has been specifically designed to blend in with the ambience of traditional homes and will bring a touch of ‘country chic' wherever it is placed.

Combining a traditional stove design with a real flame effect fire to produce an elegant portable heater, the Provence Heaters' wheeled base makes repositioning simple and with a heat output of 3.0kW it is sure to warm any living room, kitchen & conservatory in no time. Operating from a Calor 11.34kg Butane cylinder which means clean, efficient heating, and its traditional design makes this portable heater a beautiful addition to any home.

"Heating a room quickly and efficiently is the main function of any heater, but few do it with the style of ...
Read More »

Some local spiders

Eighty seven different species of spider have now been identified in Waterford. These range in size from as small as 1mm as in the case of the purse or money spiders, to the largest – the Black House Spider that probably lives in your house; but even this is not very large compared to the Bird-eating Spiders found in the tropics (the body is the size of your fist!).

Most people see spiders that occur in the house and garden and these probably include five or six species that are considered to be common animals in Waterford. This fall into three distinct groups – Hunting Spiders that do not build a web but forage at night time for prey and will eat any other spider species that it comes across. These are the ones that are usually found in baths as the sides are too smoot...
Read More »

Bette baths from Shires: A decision with a future

Bette steel / enamel baths and trays are manufactured exclusively from the naturally based raw materials of steel, real glass and water that are available on our planet in almost inexhaustible quantities. Steel / enamel baths and trays are therefore 100% recyclable. Ultra modern production processes enable the steel / enamel material to be transformed into an extremely durable, robust, long-lasting and recyclable product whose surface can only be destroyed by brute force.

Enamel baths – the true warmth only becomes apparent when you get in

In its dry state, enamel sometimes gives you a somewhat "cooler" impression than acrylic at first touch – but what really counts is the heat conductivity.

Having filled a Bette enamel bath ...
Read More »