I read Tom Wall’s book last week and found it to be a very interesting read. Tom spoke about the awfulness of being in Glin Industrial school but to be fair to him he also lifted the mood with some very funny incidents which happened in his time there. It is a book which is well worth reading and holding on to for posterity to remind ourselves of the way life was for all of us pre 1960’s but especially for all the pupils of industrial schools nationwide. It is on sale in all local shops for €15.

This is Halloween week which is turning out to be a much more commercialised affair in recent years. “Back in our day” it was a very simple time; there was the apple and/or coins and a basin of water and bowl of flour game; or we might have a turnip in which a face had been hollowed out and a candle placed within. I notice now that costumes are bought for the children and it is a ghoulish time, more in keeping with pagan customs, which is where the idea came from anyway but was christianised along the way. But the biggest change, in my mind, is that though Halloween is not til this coming Thursday night it has been celebrated last weekend in most areas. Wonder what the next generation again will do?

Well done to Julia O’Rourke, a senior speech and language therapist, formerly of Ballyhahill, who was  presented with Enterprise Ireland-Cleveland Clinic prize by Minister Bruton on Wednesday October 23rd. Julia is the brainchild behind a software reminiscence therapy for sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia called Rempad which has won the Clinical Innovation Award 2013, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland and Cleveland Clinic. Rempad is a new software tool which uses multi-media content to connect carers and residents with memories from the past to enhance the overall wellbeing of nursing home residents suffering from Alzheimer’s.

A lovely exhibition of paintings by Pauline Sharp, Glenbawn, Ballyhahill is being held in Glin library from next Tuesday Nov 5th. Pauline specialises in animals especially horses and her work is greatly admired throughout the world at this stage as her paintings have been sold in all continents through the medium of the internet. We wish her continued success. You can see her work on www.redbubble/people/paulinesharp

Congratulations to Estuary Macra Club for winning the “Best emerging Club of the Year” in Carlow last weekend. Well done to this energetic group who set up the club in the past year or so.