A Week in the Country

With Dr Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist

Look out for yellow flag or wild iris, our only native iris species. They are large dramatic showy yellow flowers with three wide downward-pointing petals and three narrow smaller upward-pointing petals. They grow on tall stalks up to a metre high surrounded by pale green, wide, firm, sword or strap like leaves. The yellow flag iris grows in wet fields, marshes and along watercourses. Rhizomes or underground stems creep underground forming clumps. The flowers are full of nectar available only to bumblebees and larger hoverflies who can reach down. Also called flaggers, the yellow flag iris is one of the positive flowers in ACRES, increasing scores and payments. It is part of our native Irish biodiversity.

The cancer survival rate for people in the wealthiest socio-economic groups after five years stands at 68%. That’s according to the Ireland Country report, launched by the European Cancer Organisation and the Irish Cancer Society earlier this year.

When you don’t know what you’re doing next, it can be daunting and it can be scary. But you just have to keep up the perseverance of it and the hard work. West end musical performer, Claire O’Leary.

Over 30 top musicians are taking part in the biggest outdoor jazz festival in the south east at Johnstown Castle in Wexford this weekend.

The fourth annual Jazz at Johnstown Festival will open with a special concert by the Johnny Taylor Trio on 28 June at 7.30pm.

The second evening headliner on 29 June is The Kevin Lawlor Quartet, who will also launch the new CD, The Island, at 8pm.

A full programme of live jazz, from noon to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday will be hosted at different locations – indoor and outdoor – throughout Johnstown Castle.

The festival has also added a Latin theme to Sunday’s programme with the appearance of the Gustavo de Morais Trio and the Luisa Annibali Quartet: expect beautiful melodies and lively energies.

For more details and admission prices, check out johnstowncastle.ie.

With a prize fund of €4,000, applications are now open for this year’s Rotary Ireland Environment Award.

Third-level students are being encouraged to submit projects on how woodland, forest and wood products can contribute to achieving net zero or carbon neutrality by 2050.

It is open to those studying a wide range of disciplines including architecture, forestry, ecology, engineering, science, horticulture, agriculture or design among others.

Dear editor,

Thank you so much to the ‘Dear Miriam’ column (Irish Country Living, 4 May) for signposting the Irish Hospice Foundation in response to the letter on pet loss. Any bereavement, including pet bereavement, is a subject close to our hearts here.

I thought that your readers might be interested to know that our freephone Bereavement Support Line is there to offer comfort and support for any bereavement (current or past), including the loss of a beloved pet.

Our grief-trained volunteers understand the depth of grief associated with these losses, but we’re still struggling to reach lots of communities. Many of our callers feel so isolated following a loss. Other callers are worried about someone they love who is grieving. They get so much from the service, for the emotional support and comfort it provides.

Some callers call us more than once. For others, it’s a one-off call, but the call may last 30 minutes or up to an hour. The Bereavement Support Line can be reached on: 1800- 807077 from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday. See bereaved.ie for more.

Thank you again for signposting your readers to us. It is very much appreciated.

Catherine Tierney

(Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Clinical Manager)