Health « Thurles Information

History Of Nursery Rhyme “Goosey Goosey Gander”.

“Goosey goosey gander, whither shall I wander?
Upstairs and downstairs and in my lady’s chamber.
There I met an old man who wouldn’t say his prayers,
So I took him by his left leg and threw him down the stairs.
The stairs went crack; he nearly broke his back.
And all the little ducks went, quack, quack, quack.”

The rhyme, in its original form, is rarely, if ever, taught nowadays to young children, given its rather violent and therefore unsuitable content.

It is believed that this rhyme refers to Priest Holes. Strong anti-Catholic sentiment in England had forced practising Catholic families to hide their wayfaring Catholic priests, thus avoiding having them persecuted under the reigns of King Henry VIII; his descendent Edward VI; Queen Elizabeth I, and later under Oliver Cromwell; the latter a senior commander in the Parliamentarian army and thereafter a politician.
Once discovered these wandering priests would be forcibly removed from their place of refuge and in many cases thrown down the stairs, before being further badly treated; hence “all the little ducks went, quack, quack, quack.”

During the reign of Edward VI, “Can’t say his prayers” possibly referred to the banning of prayers in Latin and the insistence on the use of the Church of England’s “Book of Common Prayer”, preached in the English language; sanctioned in the reign of Henry VIII.

Later on, “left leg” became a slang term for members of the Catholic Church during the reign of Edward VI.
Readers in Ireland will be familiar with the term, he/she “kicks with the right foot/leg”, latter referring to members of the Protestant community.

Templemore Library Announce Free ‘Chair Yoga Classes’ As Part Of Positive Ageing Week.

Positive Ageing Week 2022 (PAW) celebrates ageing and the contribution and agency of older people.

Ms Rachael Hoban (Branch Manager – Templemore Library) Reports: –

“Ms Mary Looby, [Latter an accredited Yoga Instructor from Loughmore, Thurles, Co. Tipperary], will be providing 6 weeks of ‘Chair Yoga Classes’ in Templemore Library, Main Street, Templemore; with the first date being Tuesday, September 27th 2022, at 2.00pm, to mark Positive Ageing Week (25 September – 1 October 2022).

**Templemore Library, Co. Tipperary**.
*(Picture R. Hoban)*

These classes are FREE, but spaces are limited, therefore booking is essential, so you are asked to please contact Tel: 0504-32555, to be assured of a place.

Suitable for any fitness level, ‘Chair Yoga’ is a gentle form of yoga that improves flexibility, offers pain relief; while also having low impact on joints.

Please note: After Tuesday, September 27th, all future dates for ‘Chair Yoga Classes’ will take place each Friday morning, at 10:00am“.

Please contact Templemore Library [Tel: 0504-32555] for any further enquiries or to book, thus insuring your place for these highly beneficial, upcoming classes.
Family members are asked to please bring this information to the attention of older people.

Females Aged Between 17 & 25 Years To Avail Of Free Contraception.

All females aged between 17-25 years will be able to avail of free contraception from GPs as and from Wednesday.

In late July of this year (2022) the Minister for Health Mr Stephen Donnelly welcomed the signing into law by President Michael D. Higgins of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act 2022, after it successfully passed all stages of the Dáil and the Seanad, with cross-party support.

However, it will be the decision of individual GP practices to sign up to the scheme. It is not expected that every doctor will do so, as this will depend on the statistical characteristics of surrounding populations attending at each practice, and the ability of doctors to undertake this extra work.

The programme is expected to begin operating with effect from Wednesday next, with young women potentially saving up to and in some cases in excess of two hundred euro each year and will no longer impose a significant barrier to accessibility by those financially dependent on parents or guardians.

This new scheme to be introduced, will cover the full cost of prescription contraception for females, including the cost of necessary consultations with medical professionals to discuss other contraception options, including the fitting or removal of various types of long-acting and reversible contraception.

The scheme will provide a range of contraceptive options including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.

A nationwide publicity campaign is expected to be in operation shortly, which will advise young women on what the package will means for them, and details will also be provided shortly on the Citizen’s Information website, HERE.

Potentially Deadly E Coli Bacteria In Mid-West Region.

The Irish Department of Public Health has confirmed that it is investigating circumstances behind an increase in cases of a potentially-deadly bacteria, known as Verotoxigenic Escherichia Coli (VTEC), in the Mid-West region. Ireland’s mid-west region covers three counties: Tipperary, Limerick, and Clare, latter area with a rising population of some 473,269 or about 10% of Ireland’s total population.

Data published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) for 2022, confirm that there have been more than 20 identified Verotoxigenic E Coli cases in this Mid-West region in the weeks between July 31st to August 27th, same resulting in a number of patients having to be hospitalised.

Verotoxigenic Escherichia Coli, as well as causing severe stomach pains and diarrhoea, can bring about Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), resulting in the breakdown of human red blood cells or kidney failure.
A small number of Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome cases have already been confirmed.

The Department of Public Health warn that between 5% to 10% of Verotoxigenic Escherichia Coli cases, particularly in children under five and in elderly persons, will be become infected by Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome, often requiring kidney dialysis. Some 5% per cent of patients, who develop this serious condition, may also die.

Public Health teams are investigating outbreaks in certain households in rural settings, near farms, and on infected sites with access to private water supplies.

People are being advised to use warm water and soap to wash their hands after preparing and eating food; after toilet use or changing of children’s nappies, and or near farm settings/petting zoos etc. People should also wash raw vegetables before eating, and fully cook all meat; as farm animals can carry VTEC in their bowels and can pass this bacterium to humans from eating undercooked contaminated food and drink.

Verotoxigenic E Coli can also be spread by people infected; such as in household or childcare settings where there is nappy changing or shared toilet facilities.

Over the past 10 years, the Department of Public Health Mid-West has been notified of approximately 1,250 cases of Verotoxigenic E Coli in the Mid-West region, same area having one of the highest rates of E Coli in Ireland.

Holycross Village Market, Saturday Afternoon Next.

Fiona Gleeson, The Village Market, Holycross reports:

“Come and join us this Saturday afternoon, September 3rd, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at ‘The Village Market’, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

This is your community space to meet and enjoy local quality foods, gifts and crafts.

There are lots of spaces to sit and enjoy a hot lunch, coffee and a chat, with delicious home baked treats and fresh in season produce available to purchase.

We will have new and familiar talented crafters and artists at each market, where you can pick up unique crafts, gifts and paintings for all occasions. We have lots of plants and advice for the garden too.
Note: Free parking. Free admission. Live busking.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and thank you for visiting and supporting The Village Market.”