How Would You Define Your Ideal TD?

By Justin Kelly

Filip Kalebić, a Masters student in DIT is conducting a study to find out what you consider to be the most important characteristics of your ideal TD? He wants you to have your say. Filip is completing his Masters Degree in Public Affairs and Political Communication.

Does dress sense, accent or physical appearance matter? Do you like your TD out interacting with the public, or working tirelessly behind the scenes?

Filip’s survey delves into the core of what makes constituencies tick, and what makes you and I stand up to vote for our favourite candidate. “This public opinion survey is for the purpose of my thesis. I would very much appreciate any number of responses to help give me a well-rounded and detailed study,” Filip told InOffaly.

To help Filip with his studies, please take five minutes to fill out this survey. All responses are completely anonymous. To contribute, please follow the link below.

FILIP'S SURVEY:

The Public's Perception of TDs - Online Survey

Tullamore Artist To Launch ‘Timescape’ Art Exhibition

Maura Fahy at work in her studio

By Justin Kelly

Tullamore artist Maura Fahy will launch her most recent exhibition of paintings this Friday, April 17 at Áras an Chontae in Tullamore. Entitled ‘Timescape’, the exhibition shed slight on Maura’s exploration of her childhood fascination with the dandelion flower. “It was its shape, softness and its magical ability to disappear in a second that fascinated me,” Maura said.

Speaking ahead of the event, Maura revealed, “The dandelion flower created many playful moments for me as a child; using it as a clock to tell the time and watching it drift away in the wind. When blowing the ‘clocks’ and spreading their life for miles around, I felt that I was actively creating nature.”

Maura has recently started to experiment with the application of various techniques to enhance her paintings: “In the recent past, I’ve spent time experimenting and I hope this will enhance the visual impact of my work in order to express a sense of mystery,” the painter explained. “The use of the dandelion has always featured in my paintings as a final layer, but occasionally I have dedicated paintings to the theme of dandelions”, she added.

“A mystery makes the viewer more curious and invites them to look deeper into the painting,” Maura stated. “Colour has always been a major part of my work. In this series, I plan to develop my use of colour further to give more vibrancy to my pieces. This will, in turn, give more energy and movement to the work and hopefully provoke an emotional response from the viewer,” she concluded.

The exhibition will be officially launched at 6:30pm on Friday, April 17 at Áras an Chontae, Tullamore, by renowned author Geraldine O’Neill. All are welcome to attend.

For more information on Maura Fahy visit www.papillonartstudio.com.

Collection Of Choirs Unite For 'Special' Tullamore Concert

By Justin Kelly

A unique collaboration of young choirs will gather for one special concert at The Church of the Assumption in Tullamore on Sunday, April 26 at 7:30pm. The event, organised by the Association of Irish Choirs in conjunction with Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath, will welcome renowned conductor Greg Beardsell and his Irish Youth Chamber Choir, as well as a number of local school choirs. It will be one of just three performances of its kind taking place nationwide.

Beardsell has worked extensively in Ireland and the UK with the BBC Symphony Chorus, the London Bach Choir and the National Youth Orchestras of Ireland and Ulster. The young choral participants from Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath will get the opportunity to learn from the acclaimed conductor at a series of workshops due to take place prior to the event.

Three Offaly schools will be among the participating choirs on April 26, and they are Rath NS from Birr, Ard Scoil Chiarain, Clara, and Scoil Naomh Cormac of Kilcormac. They will be joined by other school choirs on the night from Athlone and Moate.

Joining these secondary schools and the Irish Youth Chamber Choir in their performance will be the award winning Tullamore Academy Chamber Choir led by Ciaran Brady. “This will be a special opportunity to hear some amazing and inspiring young voices raise the roof in the Midlands,” a statement from the Offaly Arts Office at Offaly County Council read. “It is a concert not to be missed,” it claimed.

Tickets for this unique concert are priced at just €10/€7 and can be ordered on www.uch.ie or 061-331549. They will also be available to purchase at the door on the night. For more information, visit www.aoic.ie

A Look Into The History Of Edenderry With Shoe Company Photograph

Photograph supplied by Fergus McDonnell

Can you name any of the people in this photograph?

The photograph was taken at an Edenderry Shoe Factory employees' dinner at the Eden Inn, Edenderry in 1967.

Edenderry Shoe Company was first opened 80 years ago this year in 1935, and being able to compile a list of the people in this photograph will be a fitting way to mark this anniversary.

If you can name anyone in this photograph, please comment below and specify their position in the picture.

Barry Cowen Selected As General Election Candidate For Fianna Fáil

By Justin Kelly

Barry Cowen has been selected as a General Election candidate following a Fianna Fáil party convention at the Tullamore Court Hotel this evening. The convention was attended by over 250 party members, and was chaired by Cork-North Central TD and Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Health Billy Kelleher.

Speaking following his selection Deputy Cowen said: “I am honoured to be chosen once again to represent Fianna Fáil in Offaly for the forthcoming General Election. Fianna Fáil has a proud tradition in Offaly and I look forward to mounting an energetic campaign over the coming months to bring our message to every corner of the county.”

Barry Cowen is the brother of former Taoiseach Brian Cowen and was first elected a TD in the 2011 General Election. He served as the party spokesperson for Social Protection from April 2011 until the summer of 2012 when he was appointed spokesperson for the Environment and Local Government. He continues in that role within the party and the Clara native and former County Councillor will be hopeful of retaining his seat at the next General Election due to be called next year.

“This election will be of fundamental importance to the people of Offaly. Since coming to office the current government has abandoned rural Ireland. It has overseen significant cutbacks to supports that were put in place down through the years to promote growth across Ireland,” Cowen added on Wednesday evening.

“Towns and villages in Offaly are continuing to struggle. Ministers are increasingly clapping themselves on the back for bringing about an economic recovery that people simply are not experiencing in their daily lives. At the same time the government is overseeing the closure of local Garda stations, post offices and other vital community services.”

“Fine Gael and Labour have no plan for the present and no vision for the future. All they are interested in is being returned to government so they can continue with their regressive policy agenda that targets the most vulnerable in our society.”

“We have published a wide range of policy proposals to deal with issues such as mortgage arrears, the promotion of growth in areas such as Offaly and to bring about meaningful political reform.

 Over the coming months Fianna Fáil will be unveiling a comprehensive manifesto that sets out in further detail our vision for a fairer Ireland.”

Deputy Cowen also paid tribute to his competitors in tonight's convention. He commented, “I would also like to pay tribute to Councillor Eddie Fitzpatrick and Councillor Peter Ormond. They have been working hard in the community for many years. I look forward to working with them over the coming months to return an Offaly Fianna Fáil TD to Dáil Éireann”.

Clothing Discovered In Edenderry During Broadford Murder Probe

Silvestras Stoskus

By Justin Kelly

Items of clothing found on a laneway at the Grand Canal in Edenderry, Co. Offaly are being forensically examined today in connection with the murder of 20-year-old Silvestras Stoskus. The man’s body was discovered by a passer-by in a field in the Broadford area of Kildare on Wednesday afternoon. His body was found face down and due to the apparent violent nature of his death, Gardai immediately treated his death as suspicious.

Midlands Correspondent for RTE Ciaran Mullooly reported on radio this morning that Gardai found the clothes in Edenderry while working on a lead linked to Mr Stoskus’s death. Although no official information linking the discovery to the murder investigation has been released by the Gardai, Mullooly said that sources have suggested to him that the Kinnegad resident may have been held against his will in an area not far from Edenderry in the days leading up to his murder.

Mr Stoskus had been missing from his home in Kinnegad since March 8, and his family had been offering a €10,000 reward for information relating to his whereabouts. One line of inquiry being considered by the Gardai is the possibility that the young Lithuanian national had been involved in a dispute over money. He had no criminal convictions but was known to Gardaí for involvement in robberies, assaults and drugs offences. He had been due before the courts on charges prior to his disappearance.

Gardaí say they are not releasing the results of a post mortem examination for operational reasons. They have appealed to anyone who may have seen or spoken to Mr Stoskus between March 8 and March 18 or who may have seen any suspicious activity during that time at either Bun Daire, Kinnegad or Broadford to contact Leixlip Garda Station on 01-6667800, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666111 or any garda station.

Offaly Mother Gives Birth To Quadruplets

By Justin Kelly

An Offaly woman has given birth to quadruplets at Dublin’s Rotunda Hospital, the lifestyle and parenting website HerFamily.ie has reported. The four baby boys were born to Anita and David Kelly from Kilclonfert, Co. Offaly on Saturday, February 28.

The happy big brother

The four boys are said to be doing well, and their aunt Aisling Kelly spoke to HerFamily.ie to express the family’s delight over the new arrivals. Aisling said that all four boys are healthy, and Anita is recovering after the caesarean section delivery. "There has been so many lovely messages from people; it's unreal," the proud aunt told InOffaly on Sunday night.

Aisling also shared the all important names with InOffaly, and the four boys have been called Luke, Charlie, Tom and James. “David and Anita’s 14-month-old son Matthew was delighted to hear the news that he had become a big brother,” Aisling said. A photograph of the quadruplet’s excited older brother displaying his delight at now having enough brothers to field a five-a-side football team was shared with the website.

Incredibly, the babies were conceived naturally, making this delivery a rare occurrence, given that the chances of naturally conceiving quadruplets is 1 in 729,000. Only six per cent of all quadruplets born worldwide are conceived naturally.

Anita and David will now return to Kilclonfert to a happy household of five boys.