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When Books Are Smarter Than AI.

Cashel Library is a very tech savvy and is up to date in this modern age of AI and downloadable books. It is also the place where you can find an old fashioned, newly published book. In fact, Cashel Library is the place where the noted Professor Bernard Goldbach, Digital Transformation Lecturer at the Technological University of the Shannon, was to discover that ‘Books are smarter than Artificial Intelligence’.

Ms Maura Barrett, Branch Librarian in Cashel Library has been working with Transition Year Students since last September on a Women’s History Project. Ms Barrett explains ‘Libraries by and large are matriarchies’ Maura explains, ‘and therefore we feel duty bound to record the deeds of women as HER Story as opposed to what is already recorded in HIS story.

Back Row: Kelsey Gayson, Rhys Coppinger, Professor Mr Bernie Goldbach (TUS), Conor Flanagan.
Front Row – Ms Maura Barrett (Cashel Librarian), Ruby Maher, Rachel Stockil, Eilis O’Keefe, Cillian Farmer
Missing from photo: Jack Dooley.

Mr Seamus Carr, Cashel Community School’s history teacher was wholly supportive, feeling there is an imbalanced and skewed syllabus for Junior and Leaving Certificate.
Mr Carr said, ‘Primarily students are studying the great men of the world and women are being sidelined’. he said. He even cited Nurse Kathleen Farrell who was literally airbrushed out of the 1916 Rising, stating ‘everybody knows about Padraig Pearse, very few people have heard of Kathleen Farrell.’ He was delighted that his TY students were able to be exposed to some women’s history in a non-school, self-directed learning sort of way.

In total, 10 students took part, both male and female. Students conducted some primary research on local women with the view to getting them to think in terms of HER Story as opposed to HIS Story. They explored mythical women, Viking women, medieval women, enlightenment era women and women of 1916 and Cuman na MBan; right up to women of the 21st Century.

All women researched had a link to Co. Tipperary. They then moved onto genealogy and the tools available to students, via the library service, but with a difference. They researched the matrilineal line and this led to some interesting and fascinating discoveries about their personal heritages. Then each student settled on three women each, with which they wished to showcase and set about recording about 1,000 words each, per woman researched.
After Christmas last, Ms Barrett asked Professor Bernie Goldbach of TUS Digital Arts fraternity, if he could possibly show her, a Generation X person, how to podcast their research so that it could be a transferrable action and create content for Tipperary Studies.
Professor Goldbach went one better. He turned up with very high-tech Podcast suites, Ray Ban Meta SMART Glasses and a portable journalist kit, and together with a whole load of free applications (apps), he created alchemy.
He was very taken with the students, the level of their research and their overall enthusiasm.
Professor Goldbach was to discover that the primary research conducted by the teens was smarter than the AI tools. Having reviewed the original research, (asking CHATGPT and Gemini about some of the research findings, consulting Meta to verify some of the images, whilst viewing them through Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses), they discovered that Artificial Intelligence returned inaccurate research results. So, they decided to stick with the study conducted from the books and manuscripts contained within the library service.

The story doesn’t end there, because students did achieve some interesting results. When using artificial intelligence to create content in other formats, they were able to create audio from handwritten documents for example. Spoken audio clips were able to be generated as video clips and machine learning helped to convert handwriting to digital text. Students recorded short audio summaries of their research, using the Spreaker Studio app.

Digital literacies have become an important skill for everyone who wants to join the fast-moving workspace of today. It is important to know that some tools, like AI, will not be fit for every purpose, but increasingly employers do expect Gen Z’s to be au fait with tools that can increase their productivity.

This research was showcased to parents and students and teachers in Cashel Library and the School Principal, Mr Brian Moran, presented them with certificates of recognition. The 21 Audio clips can be found wherever you find your podcasts by playing ‘Tipperary Heritage and Stories.’

Ms Maura Barrett explains, ‘One of the lovely incidental benefits of this Women’s History Project was the extra skills students gained from Professor Goldbach’s expertise’. Ms Barrett said the students not only went away much more historically informed, they also left with greater confidence and the ability to think independently and approach their research from different perspectives.

EPA Highlights Significant Increase In Government Green Procurement.

EPA Highlights Significant Increase In Government Green Procurement, But ICT Sector Lags Behind.

  • Of €1.24 billion spend by government departments on contracts in 2023, 82 per cent included green criteria, up from 34 per cent in 2022. There are, however, inconsistencies across sectors.
  • ICT Products & Services contracts included green criteria in only 29 per cent of cases, indicating the need for wider adoption.
  • In contrast, all reported procurement of Food & Catering Services and Heating Equipment, included green criteria, with a total value of €583,447.
  • Eight government departments lacked a formal system for tracking Green Public Procurement (GPP) implementation.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its fourth report on Green Public Procurement (GPP) adoption by government departments. GPP allows public authorities to source goods, services or works that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle while also achieving value for money.

A total spend of €1.24 billion across 18 government departments was reported. Of this, 82 per cent of contracts, valued at €1.02 billion, included green criteria (compared to 34 per cent in 2022).

GPP implementation varied widely across government departments, with the number of contracts incorporating GPP ranging from zero to 100%. There was an inconsistency in application of green criteria across product & services sectors, with high adoption reported for Food & Catering Services and Heating Equipment (100%), but low adoption in contracts for ICT Products & Services (29%).

Launching the report Ms Laura Burke, Director General, said: “This report shows a welcome increase in the use of green public procurement by central government. Full adoption across all government departments is a powerful lever to achieve better economic and environmental value as well as showing leadership in a transition to a greener, more circular economy. The EPA has developed practical guidance to support Government Departments and other public bodies to accelerate green purchasing.”

Tracking of GPP remains an issue to be addressed with eight of the 18 Government Departments lacking a formal system for tracking GPP implementation.

Mr David Flynn, Director, EPA Office of Environmental Sustainability added: “Government, local authorities and other public sector organisations collectively procure over €18 billion worth of goods, services and works. Whilst it is important that GPP is used by government departments, a broader adoption across the entire public sector will ensure that public funds are used effectively and responsibly while reducing the environmental impact of our public services.”

The report ‘Green Public Procurement: Monitoring and Reporting by Government Departments, 2023 Reference Year’ is now available on the EPA website HERE.

Death Of John Gleeson, Formerly Of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Monday 19th May 2025, of Mr John Gleeson, Celbridge, Co. Kildare and formerly of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his parents and brother Michael; Mr Gleeson passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, while in the care of staff at Mater Private Hospital, Dublin.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Jackie (née Bracken), daughters Suzie and Alicia, son Mark, grandchildren Cillian, Cían, Caelan, Luke and Max, sons-in-law Mark and Kavan, daughter-in-law Meghan, brothers Brian, Brendan, Dermot and Ken, sisters Mairéad, Valerie, Barbara and Helen, best friend Gerry, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Gleeson will repose at Cunningham’s Funeral Home, Ardclough Road, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, (Eircode W23 AK13), on Thursday afternoon, May 22nd, from 5:00pm before being received into the Church of St. Patrick, Main Street, Celbridge, Co. Kildare at 7:00pm.
Requiem Mass for Mr Gleeson will be celebrated on Friday morning, May 23rd, at 10:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in Donacomper Cemetery, Celbridge, Co. Kildare.

For those persons who wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Gleeson, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Gleeson and Bracken families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Line Dancing Friday, May 23rd, In Cashel Library.

Ms Maura Barrett, (Cashel Library) reports:

Line Dancing takes place on Friday next, May 23rd in Cashel Library from 11:00am12:00 noon.
It’s a fun way to exercise, socialise, make friends and a great way to finish our Bealtaine events.

Dancing and music is an essential part of self-care and well-being in this busy environment. So do come along and enjoy a great morning.

Remember: Booking Essential to Tel. No. 062-63825 with spaces limited for this FREE Event.

********Dust those boots off and get ready to dance!********

Visitors attending this event can locate the Cashel Library building; situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX).

FSAI Recall Russell Meats Sliced Corned Beef, Sliced Turkey & Roast Beef.

Food Safety Authority recall Russell Meats Sliced Corned Beef, Sliced Turkey and Sliced Roast Beef due to unapproved processing, packaging and labelling.

Alert Summary dated Tuesday, May 20th, 2025.

Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2025.20
Product Identification: Russell Meats Sliced Corned Beef, Russell Meats Sliced Turkey, Russell Meats Roast Beef Sliced.
Batch Code: All batch codes, all use by dates.

Message: All vacuum packed ready-to-eat Russell Meats Sliced Corned Beef, Sliced Turkey and Roast Beef Sliced are being recalled as they were processed, packaged and labelled without approval and were therefore not subject to official controls.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Action Required: Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers:

Wholesalers/Distributors: Same are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retail customers.

Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated products.