News
Watercress is easy to grow and super nutritious
By Debby Looney, gardening expert
I have recently rekindled my love of cooking – for years it has been an uninspiring rota of 10 meals, all of which were fairly nutritious and healthy but monotonous. However, recently I have given myself a shake and started taking an interest in cooking again.
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Why am I writing this in a gardening column, you may ask? Two reasons: firstly, I have been asked on a regular basis why I don’t mention fruit and veg so much anymore, and secondly, I am re-appreciating the importance of the afore mentioned fruit and veg. I read somewhere recently that instead on your five-a-day, we now need to consume seven-a-day due to the decrease in soil nutrients as a result of over use. Now, I have found veg growing at home to be time consuming, and, to be honest, if you work full-time, there is only so much you can do. So next spring, I am going to write more about energy and time effective ways of growing your own, and am going to stick with the plan myself too!
In the meantime, to get back to my new found culinary interests, an ingredient I am coming across frequently is watercress. I have been substituting spinach and rocket as I cannot find watercress in any supermarket. It is actually an ingredient which grows wild in most countries, and Ireland is no exception. In fact it grows ‘everywhere’ once you start looking. It grows in slow running water so it can be found in springs, at the edge of rivers and in drains. It is not recommended to use it from the wild as there is a danger of liver fluke. However, I have grown some from seed, and use part of my pond where there is a nice bit of water movement from the pump, and it is growing ‘mad’! It is the most gratifying vegetable I have ever grown. If you do not have a pond or stream, worry not, it can be easily grown in a minimum of soil as long as it never dries out. I am constructing a watercress nursery for myself out of some shallow barrels joined to each other with water butt connectors to my own water butt over-flow – it sounds complicated, but a little bit of engineering versus zero weed picking is worth it! Basically, if you can grow it in a pot which you can stand in a few inches of rain water, you will be able to grow this wonderful greenery!
The nutrient content of watercress is awesome, it contains potassium, protein, magnesium, calcium and vitamin C, and is being sold as a superfood these days. It is peppery, but not too strong, and is ideal in salads and soups – it adds a freshness which spinach cannot compete with. There is a lot of research being done into the benefits of watercress, with astounding implications into its use for ailments from nappy rash right through to cancer.
So, if you grow nothing else, do give this a try. Basically, if you have a pot which you can stand in a few inches of rain water, you will be able to grow this wonderful greenery!
Patient transfer to new hospital to begin on Monday
Following several false starts and long delays, the phased transfer of patients and residents to the new state-of-the-art Killarney Community Nursing Unit on Lewis Road is set to begin on Monday, August 10.
A major stumbling block regarding staff transfers and safe staffing levels was resolved following negotiations under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
With an agreement reached between the HSE and representative unions, including the INMO, SIPTU, and Fórsa, at long last, staff and residents are prepared to move into the new facility.
Welcoming the breakthrough, Councillor Marie Moloney expressed cautious optimism:
“It’s good news that an agreement has been reached with the staff and that transfer of residents and patients can finally take place to the Community Nursing Unit. So many families have been waiting for so long to see their loved ones transfer to this beautiful new facility. Let’s hope there will be no further delays.”
HSE National Director and Integrated Health Area Manager for Kerry, Julie O’Neill, confirmed that the agreement enables the facility to open safely on a phased basis:
“I welcome the agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission, enabling us to proceed with the opening of our new Community Nursing Unit in Killarney. I would like to thank everyone involved in reaching this agreement and acknowledge the constructive engagement of all parties.”
Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry and member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, Michael Cahill TD, also welcomed the news:
“This is very welcome news for older people and their families across Kerry. The new Killarney Community Nursing Unit has been eagerly awaited and I am delighted that agreement has now been reached to allow its phased opening from August 10. I know the delays have been a source of frustration for many families but today’s announcement provides certainty that residents will soon begin moving into this modern, purpose-built facility.”
Deputy Cahill acknowledged the efforts of all parties involved in negotiations, noting:
“I want to thank the HSE, the Workplace Relations Commission and the representative unions, the INMO, SIPTU and Fórsa for their constructive engagement in reaching this agreement. Ensuring safe staffing is essential, and I am pleased that a solution has now been found.”
He added:
“As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, I will continue to work to ensure Kerry receives the healthcare investment and staffing it deserves. The opening of this new unit is a major step forward for residential care in our county, and I look forward to seeing residents welcomed through its doors from August 10.”
Call for plaque at historical burial site
Local history enthusiast Anthony Kerrigan has formally written to Kerry County Council proposing the installation of a commemorative plaque or historical marker at the unmarked Moyeightragh Burial Ground in Killarney, and is calling on Killarney Advertiser readers to back the initiative.
The ancient site is said to be in the vicinity of of Lewis Road and Fitzgerald stadium
The sacred site, registered under Monument Record KE066-068002, sits in the vicinity of Lewis Road and the Fitzgerald Stadium footprint. In his letter to council officials, Kerrigan explained how the landmark faded from view over generations.
“Historical mapping shows that this ancient burial ground was progressively built over and divided following the construction of Lewis Road in the 1850s and subsequent urban developments,” Kerrigan wrote. “While the site is completely invisible on the surface today, it remains a designated archaeological monument where subsurface human remains are protected in situ.”
Kerrigan highlighted that recent discoveries underscore the risk of the location being forgotten entirely, noting how the displacement of significant artefact, such as the 18th-century Margaret Shea grave ledger uncovered nearby during Park Road archaeological testing in 201, illustrates how vulnerable the memory of the site is to the passage of time.
Advocating for a permanent marker near the site, Kerrigan explained the cultural importance of recognising those buried there.
“As a matter of community respect, civic pride, and historical preservation, I believe a modest, non-invasive plaque or information board should be placed nearby,” he stated. He noted that such a marker would serve to honour past generations of Killarney citizens, educate visitors about the town’s shifting landscape, and prevent the total erasure of the designated heritage asset from local consciousness.
Kerrigan pointed out that the proposal aligns directly with the core objectives of the Department’s Community Monuments Fund regarding the enhancement and public accessibility of archaeological monuments. He expressed a desire to coordinate with the Council’s Heritage Office, the Burial Grounds Section, and local history groups like the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society to ensure appropriate text and placement.
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