Latest news with #HolyCommunion
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
This old-school Chinese restaurant is one of our critic's favourite places to eat spring rolls
Inside, it's a soft-lit capsule of longevity symbols, floral wallpaper and red lanterns, an all-are-welcome time-warp of scalloped tablecloths, CorningWare plates and two stunning artworks in lightboxes. This is the oldest surviving Chinese restaurant in Bowral, opened in the mid-1970s and now run by Teresa Wong, a calm presence on the floor. Her husband, Michael, has ruled the kitchen since the last owners figured it was time to retire about 12 months ago. After two visits over a weekend in May, it has become one of my favourite places to eat spring rolls. At lunch, the only sounds come from an air-conditioner, the clang-clang of ladle on wok, and the quiet chat of two boys in suits – fresh from Holy Communion – sharing sizzling lamb with their mother and nan. The prawn toast tastes like prawn toast. The fried rice tastes like fried rice. The black vinegar pork ribs taste like a cinnamon doughnut. Dinner is a more animated affair, largely thanks to a waitress who likes to sing along to You Can Call Me Al. A group of local Rodd & Gunn enthusiasts are on their second bottle of Rockford Basket Press; an old bloke in tracksuit pants inhales some form of curry. Meanwhile, our table is into the xiao long bao dumplings – brothy little belters – and juicy, yielding pot-stickers. At the end of a long carte ranging from '$45 Banquet A' to 'Banana Fritter', there's a small collection of dishes handwritten in Mandarin – a handy go-to, Teresa says, for any Chinese tourists or expats less inclined to split a mixed entree and combination satay. We roll the dice on beef hor fun from this section and the wide noodles come out smoky, savoury and sweet, textured with the crunch of bean sprouts and spring onion. Good one.
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
This old-school Chinese restaurant is one of our critic's favourite places to eat spring rolls
Inside, it's a soft-lit capsule of longevity symbols, floral wallpaper and red lanterns, an all-are-welcome time-warp of scalloped tablecloths, CorningWare plates and two stunning artworks in lightboxes. This is the oldest surviving Chinese restaurant in Bowral, opened in the mid-1970s and now run by Teresa Wong, a calm presence on the floor. Her husband, Michael, has ruled the kitchen since the last owners figured it was time to retire about 12 months ago. After two visits over a weekend in May, it has become one of my favourite places to eat spring rolls. At lunch, the only sounds come from an air-conditioner, the clang-clang of ladle on wok, and the quiet chat of two boys in suits – fresh from Holy Communion – sharing sizzling lamb with their mother and nan. The prawn toast tastes like prawn toast. The fried rice tastes like fried rice. The black vinegar pork ribs taste like a cinnamon doughnut. Dinner is a more animated affair, largely thanks to a waitress who likes to sing along to You Can Call Me Al. A group of local Rodd & Gunn enthusiasts are on their second bottle of Rockford Basket Press; an old bloke in tracksuit pants inhales some form of curry. Meanwhile, our table is into the xiao long bao dumplings – brothy little belters – and juicy, yielding pot-stickers. At the end of a long carte ranging from '$45 Banquet A' to 'Banana Fritter', there's a small collection of dishes handwritten in Mandarin – a handy go-to, Teresa says, for any Chinese tourists or expats less inclined to split a mixed entree and combination satay. We roll the dice on beef hor fun from this section and the wide noodles come out smoky, savoury and sweet, textured with the crunch of bean sprouts and spring onion. Good one.
Extra.ie
6 days ago
- Health
- Extra.ie
Sunbed salons ‘openly flout ban on youngsters'
One in five tanning salons is accepting minors in 'flagrant breaches' of the law, as cancer charities have warned that children as young as First Communion age are using sunbeds. It comes as new data obtained by points to a negligent attitude to customer health in the tanning industry, with one third of formal salon inspections having been failed in the past two years. Responding to the revelations, the minister responsible for public health this weekend pledged to further examine banning sunbeds, calling the level of non-compliance 'unacceptable'. According to the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014, it is illegal for businesses to allow under-18s to use tanning beds. The UV-emitting machines have been shown to increase the risk of skin cancer after just a single use. One in five tanning salons is accepting minors in 'flagrant breaches' of the law, as cancer charities have warned that children as young as First Communion age are using sunbeds. Pic:According to the Department of Health, the risk of melanoma is increased by 75% when sunbed use starts before the age of 35. The HSE, responsible for enforcing the safety legislation, sends supervised minors to tanning salons for 'test shops' as part of its enforcement strategy. Last year, 11 out of 50 salons subjected to that test allowed minors to buy time on a sunbed, according to figures provided by the HSE. In 2023, nine out of 47 salons tested were prepared to allow a minor to use their business. Bernie Carter, who is assistant director of nursing at the Marie Keating Foundation and leads a schools' programme and skin cancer awareness programme for the charity, said that there is 'definitely' an issue with minors illegally using sunbeds. Ms Carter told Extra: 'I was outside a particular [tanning salon] around Holy Communion time last year. There was a parent who was walking in with a very young child. We had our van parked close by, and that young child did come out looking darker.' The experienced oncology nurse, who contributes to the National Cancer Control Programme, said sunbeds pose a 'huge risk when it comes to skin cancer', and pointed to the approach of Australia, where commercial tanning salons are banned. Steve Dempsey, director of advocacy and communications at the Irish Cancer Society, said regulations around sunbeds 'and a lack of enforcement mean that minors are still accessing sunbeds'. It comes as new data obtained by points to a negligent attitude to customer health in the tanning industry, with one third of formal salon inspections having been failed in the past two years. He told Extra: 'We know this from our own research and from parents who contact us to say their child has used sunbeds in flagrant breaches of the regulations by commercial sunbed operators.' A spokesman for Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, said she is 'deeply concerned by the data from the inspections'. The spokesman told Extra: 'Given the well-documented health risks associated with sunbed use, particularly for young people, this level of non-compliance is unacceptable. 'To address this issue, the minister, under the Programme for Government, has requested that officials in the Department of Health examine a ban on commercial sunbed use in Ireland. 'Additionally, the department will explore further public awareness campaigns to highlight the risks of sunbed use, especially targeting minors and their parents.' The lack of enforcement banning minors from using sunbeds was highlighted by Extra just over two years ago, when we reported just two salons in the entire country had been prosecuted under legislation introduced nine years previously. The HSE this weekend confirmed there have now been 10 prosecutions in total – less than one a year since the legislation was introduced. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has previously called for the banning of sunbeds, as have former health ministers Stephen Donnelly and the now Tánaiste Simon Harris. Pic:Ms Murnane O'Connor has also received representations on the matter from her former constituency colleague and now MEP Kathleen Funchion, and from Laura Warren, a skin cancer survivor and founder of Elite Living Nutrition, whose petition calling for a ban on sunbeds has collected almost 2,000 signatures. Pointing to the latest figures that show skin cancer is the fastest-growing cancer in Ireland, with over 13,000 new cases diagnosed each year, Ms Warren said: 'Melanoma can spread rapidly and is often deadly if not caught early. Banning sunbeds would save thousands of lives and millions in healthcare costs.' Aside from the tests at shops carried out with minors, the HSE conducts 'mystery shops' and formal inspections. Last year, 145 formal inspections out of 492 were non-compliant. In 2023, there were 175 non-compliant inspections from a total of 425. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has previously called for the banning of sunbeds, as have former health ministers Stephen Donnelly and the now Tánaiste Simon Harris.
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Shock after sudden death of Kilkenny priest whose ‘compassion left an indelible mark on the lives of many'
Msgr Kennedy, who was the Episcopal Vicar for Family and Social Affairs for the diocese and the parish priest for Freshford, died 'unexpectedly but peacefully' at his home on Tuesday, June 10. Born in Dublin, Msgr Kennedy studied for the priesthood in Rome, where he was director of the Irish Holy Year Office after ordination in 1975. Since then, Msgr Kennedy lived in London and St. Canice's Parish in Co Kilkenny, before being appointed parish priest of the parish of Freshford in October of 2018. Before taking up his appointment in the parish of Freshford, Msgr Kennedy had served as president of St. Kieran's College and the Administrator in St. Mary's Cathedral with Bishop Seamus Freeman. Homeless service, The Good Shepherd Centre Kilkenny (GSCK), which Msgr Kennedy helped set up, paid tribute to a man 'whose compassion left an indelible mark on the lives of many'. "The Board, staff and friends of the Good Shepherd Centre Kilkenny (GSCK) would like to pay tribute to Monsignor Kieron Kennedy who sadly passed away suddenly [on Tuesday]. Monsignor Kennedy was a founding board member of the GSCK and Tar Isteach Housing. 'A man whose compassion left an indelible mark on the lives of many, especially those society too often overlooks. His dedication to the homeless was not a matter of duty but of deep, lived commitment to human dignity and social justice. "Through his service on the boards of the Good Shepherd Centre and Tar Isteach Housing, Monsignor Kennedy worked to ensure that those in need had not only shelter, but hope and respect. He believed that every person deserves a place to call home.' Tributes are also pouring in on as the community comes together to remember a man who was a friend to everyone. 'He was a good friend and a very holy priest,' wrote a mourner on 'I was shocked when I received the news of his passing. I will miss him a lot. ADVERTISEMENT "He and the team kept a beautiful church in Freshford. I loved the soft music which he had played constantly in the church in Freshford, it has been a most prayerful place. "Thank God for his smile and few words of welcome at Holy Communion too. He was a good friend to my family as well. May God rest his peaceful soul.' "Monsignor was a lovely man may God bless his soul,' added another mourner. Msgr Kennedy's funeral will arrive at St. Lachtain's Church in Freshford on Saturday, June 14 at 7pm, with his remains reposing in the church overnight. Funeral prayers will take place on Sunday, June 15 at 5.30pm, followed by removal to St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny, arriving for reception prayers at 7pm. Requiem mass will take place on Monday, June 16 at 12 noon with burial afterwards in Foulkstown Cemetery in Co Kilkenny. "Unexpectedly, but peacefully at his residence on Tuesday June 10, 2025,' read his death notice on "Pre-deceased by his parents, Daniel and Mildred. "Monsignor Kieron will be inconsolably missed by his sisters Miriam and Dorothy, his brother Donal, brother-in-law Tim, beloved nieces and nephews Sarah and Daniel, Donal, David and Leah, sister-in-law Shelley, Bishop Niall Coll and Priests and Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Ossory, close family friends Bishop William Crean, Bishop Jim Curry and Monsignor Martin Hayes and Sr. Therese Gillis who have journeyed with him for many years, relatives, neighbours and friends. "I líonta Dé go gcastar sinn.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chemical castration for sex offenders may horrify the masses but I'm delighted
Chemical castration. State I first read the headlines I thought it must surely be a metaphor for Trump's erratic (definitely not erotic) foreign policy. Or perhaps a particularly unpleasant news story from Kazakhstan where they still play blood-drenched polo with a decapitated goat. But no. It's happening here in Britain – a pilot scheme to use chemical castration on sex offenders has been operational in prisons in the south-west of England since 2022. And it will be rolled out to 20 new prisons if Shabana Mahmood, our Justice Secretary, has her way. Hang on, Labour? I should have thought it was more on-brand as a Reform policy, but hey, this Government is performing so many U-turns it's hard to know which direction it's facing at any given time. Other than Brussels. Anyway, when the truth dawned about chemical castration on this sceptred isle (talk about cognitive dissonance), I'm not going to lie: I was torn between horror and elation and a palpable sense of relief that Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who died the same year the trial started, probably wasn't briefed on the particulars. Horror because are we not civilised people who invented warm beer and, um, Empire? A nation of cricket grounds and old maids bicycling to Holy Communion? Elation because those rain-coated pervs will never again flash our beloved spinsters once they're singing falsetto in the schola cantorum. (Yes, I know castrati were operated on pre-puberty to preserve their treble pitch but I just wanted to mention they were typically dosed with opium, laid in a hot bath and had their tiny little testes either crushed by hand, twisted or snipped to sever the blood supply.) So in light of that procedure, how could anyone possibly object to sexual-suppression chemicals being given to convicted sex offenders? These would be administered by injection, implant or orally. Believe me, there are worse ways. I grew up among Irish farming folk and I can't unsee the things I witnessed. Back in the late 1970s, 'Burdizzos' were the thing; essentially a pair of large metal pliers that were clamped round a young bullock's scrotum to crushing point as the farmer counted to 20. On each side. You were supposed to hear a discernible crunch but it was hard to hear anything over the distraught creature's anguished bellow. After release, it went back to amiably eating grass. All sorted. Forever. Chemical castration for prisoners? A breeze! It's not even permanent. Unfortunately. Now, I am quite sure there are Dear Readers out there crossing their legs who are also really very cross at my upbeat tone. I will, of course, be accused by various chaps of sexism for my attitude towards emasculation. To them I say this: any woman, which is to say the vast majority, who has been sexually assaulted will have a very different perspective on the sanctity of a man's genitalia. Figures from Rape Crisis show that in England and Wales 71,227 rapes were reported to police in 2024. The same year, charges were brought in just 2.7 per cent of those cases – that's fewer than three of every 100 rapes recorded. It is a deeply depressing fact of modern life that rape is so commonplace and the treatment of victims by our justice system so demeaning that five out of six women who are raped don't report it – that's an additional 356,135 women every year. Sisters, mothers, daughters. Every one of my girlfriends will openly say they know someone who has been raped (for a troubling number that 'someone' is themselves), so how can it be that not a single one of their husbands and partners knows anyone who has committed rape? Sarah Everard, a talented, shining 33-year-old, was kidnapped, raped and murdered by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens in 2021. Long before he committed this heinous crime he was nicknamed 'the rapist' by colleagues. Because they thought it was funny. A shocking number of men joke about sexual depravity. In 2022, the Met had to deny the force was plagued by misogyny after an official report revealed shocking details of police officers sharing 'banter' about hitting and raping women. And these are just the men tasked with protecting us. So forgive me – or don't, I'm honestly not that bothered – for applauding the prospect of chemical castration for sex offenders and paedophiles. The pilot scheme currently under way is voluntary but, looking ahead, Mahmood will apparently consider overhauling medical laws in order to compel sex offenders to take libido-supressing drugs. I do have concerns, primarily about the way this treatment has been linked to the early release of prisoners in order to free up spaces in our overcrowded jails. The idea that simply taking medication would allow serious sex offenders to walk free early and spend less time behind bars is absolutely unacceptable. The Justice for Victims campaign group has already voiced its concern that proper efforts have not been made to place the needs of victims and families at the heart of sentencing policy. Another complicating factor is that rape can be a crime of anger and control; any sexual gratification is purely secondary, something that must be taken into account on a case by case basis. This then is a policy we will need to keep a close eye on. But in the meantime, in the public spirit of London 2012 Games Makers who happily herded the crowds or indeed the lockdown snitches who dobbed in their friends and neighbours during Covid, I'd be more than happy to volunteer for chemical castration duties. Just pass me the pills, the syringe or implants and I'll do the rest. And just in case there's trouble, I'll bring along a Burdizzo. A bit rusty, admittedly, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to hear the crunch… Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
