Chess for Children

Chess for children can be great fun and an invaluable learning experience. It can be played in reality against an opponent or virtually on line against the computer. There are many excellent learning sites for those wishing to learn chess at any level including

 Click here to play Kidchess

  Video tuitions are found here: Chess Lessons

On the chessboard, the person who plays the first move that comes into their head will almost certainly lose, said Cronin. “Chess motivates the highly impulsive child to stop and think.”When you play chess, you are going to deal with winning or losing, you’re going to deal with frustration, mistakes and, of course, with challenging emotions,”

In 2012 The European Parliament acknowledged the role chess plays in improving “children’s concentration, patience and persistence” along with their “sense of creativity, intuition, memory, and analytic and decision-making skills”.

Spain and Italy have followed the advice given by the European Commission and introduced chess onto their school curriculums.

Education

Welcome to the Education Section. Here you can post questions about Pre School and Primary school issues and homework problems. In time you will also find links to useful resources and please feel free to add some of your own.

“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity” – Dorothy Parker

The more you learn, the more you want to learn, the more the world becomes more interesting to you, and discovering it becomes more fun.

Click on  the sub menu above for some ideas..

Dundalk FC 2021

2018 to 2020 and Turbulent Seasons at Dundalk FC

 In 2019 the  new season was to  bring new challenges. With the rebuilding season of 2018 behind us, there was hope that we could hold on to our players and add some steel in defense to outpace a rampant Cork City and win the league..  While offers came in for our best players thankfully most decided to remain.

The partnership of Stephen Kenny and coach Vinny Perth obviously played a huge part in their decisions. However the bombshell came on 24th November 2018 with the news that Stephen Kenny was to depart and Vinnie Perth was to take over as manager.

This was the start of what was to eventually become a big decline in the fortunes of Dundalk FC. Although the team managed to win the league in 2019 and five of the squad made it onto the PFAI Team of the year, they were no longer the force that they once were.

The rumored interest from American Investment company Peak six and their retiring Chairman Bill Hullsizer came to fruition and they bought the club. For a time things seemed to improve but after disastrous Champions league performances and managerial discontent, Vinnie Perth left the club. It was becoming apparent that the new owners were losing the respect of the fans and the community.

The life blood of every L.O.I. club is the attachment to their community. While Footballers are earning their living at the game and cannot be faulted for moving on when they consider that the time is right, there is more to a successful club than that.

Dundalk FC has a loyal and devoted fan base that is spread far and wide. The success of the club in recent years has very little to do with Bill Hullsizer or Peak Six.  The success of the club is based on the loyalty and attention to detail by all the players, managers and backroom staff and also of great importance is their love and commitment to the club, to the supporters and to the youth of the town.

It now has to be asked if the owners of the club have the interest and future progress of Dundalk FC at heart. We can but hope that the links between the supporters, the town and the club are not further damaged by destroying what has been there for so long.

By 2020 the discontent continued and Covid 19 arrived. The season was shortened and a very disjointed club finished outside the top two for the first time in 7 years. A new manager Filippo Giovagnoli  was appointed by Peak six, but although friendly and affable, he lacked the required qualifications, however in spite of this, the team managed to win the FAI cup.

In the off season rumors abounded regarding the non retention of players and poor contracts eventually at least six of the once loyal first team squad moved on. There was little information coming from the club. A new general manager Jim Magilton was appointed to try to rescue the situation. The manager Filippo Giovagnoli  returned to his native Italy for a winter break.

Reflecting on Covid 19

Covid 19 /The Corona Virus

On the 15th May 1951 I was born into a world that was so different than what we have today. The second world war had ended 6 years previously and the world was on the crest of  a huge wave of progress and affluence.  I am now approaching my 70th year and the Corona Virus we call Covid 19 has made me question all that I see in this world.

Many of our problems back then were local; many customs and traditions were confined to specific areas, We were controlled by institutions and custom. Global events didn’t overly concern us and most of us had our own ideas about living a contented life.

Over the past 70 years such progress has been made in so many different fields. Social media and the internet have changed the world that we share beyond all recognition. Our world has become a much smaller place. We suddenly have to live in a global community and we have come to realise that we are all, to a greater or lesser extent, interconnected.

Living in such a global community brings with it much greater challenges. Today everyone on the planet can have their say on any issue they wish. Instantly, opinions and solutions portrayed as “expert” can be presented to the masses as essential.

This freedom has led to great confusion and upheaval and even hysteria. Powerful people have learned how to manipulate these circumstances to their own ends and threaten the values and standards that we once accepted as correct. Many will now insist on their rights while ignoring their obligations.

Our duty of care still includes: protection of our environment, help for dislocated communities, a dignified and sustainable life for all, and adequate care for the sick and less able. We now realise that we are accountable for the welfare of our planet and yet we seem to have forgotten how to live together as a community.

By 2020, many global leaders and governments were driven by economic gain and acquisitions of wealth and status.  – Kindness, Compassion and Love are not on their agenda,   (except when it serves their purpose). Many millions of people were driven by a need to survive in this new world order. Wealth, Power and Influence became the status symbols of success and were being pursued like a run a way train.

Today the catastrophic results of this grab all approach can be seen all around us. Global Poverty is increasing. Health services are underfunded, Suicide rates are rising, Mental Illness is on the increase, Homelessness is rampant in our cities, More and more people are being marginalised, drug use is rife and  war and conflict is widespread, So many people are demanding their rights and yet  ignoring their obligations,

On December 1st 2019 in Hubei province in the city of Wuhan China the world changed forever. The first incidents of what was to become known as Covid 19 presented but was covered up until the virus had spread across China and later across the entire world. While we all await the arrival of a successful vaccine, we struggle to maintain a viable lifestyle. It is becoming clearer by the day that in order to survive we must return to the values that we once held, such as, care for others, generosity, kindness and compassion. We need to reflect on our responsibilities and not on our rights. Personal responsibility is the only way that we will ever defeat this virus. We have a duty to everyone in our global community to do what is right.

It is now more important than ever to stand up for what is right. It is no longer acceptable to keep our heads down and say nothing. We must call out injustice and even, if necessary, go against the populist views presented by those pursuing their own narrow agenda. If we do this with all of our strength we will enter a new and better world when the vaccine arrives.

Hopefully we will all have the courage and strength to do what is needed.

October 2020

 

Super Tasty Burgers

 

Super Tasty Burgers

                                                                                                        For the burger:

  • 10 round cracked black pepper crackers (aldi)
  • 8 sprigs of fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 500 g quality minced beef
  • 2 heaped tablespoons Dijon mustard , optional
  • 1 large free-range egg
  • Salt & Black pepper
  • 2 tblsp tomato sauce
  • 1 Finely chopped medium onion
  • olive oil  or  flour for coating
  • For the dressing:
  • 3 Pickled Gerkins
  • 1tblesp American mustard
  • 1tblsp Caesar salad
  • 1 tblspTomato sauce
  • Some V Finely chopped onion

Method

  1. Wrap the crackers in a tea towel and smash up until fine, breaking up any big bits with your hands, then tip into a large bowl.
  2. Finely chop the onion and parsley (stalks and all), then add to the bowl with the mustard tomato sauce and the minced beef.( save some chopped onion for the sauce)
  3. Crack the egg into the bowl, then add a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
  4. With clean hands, scrunch and mix everything up well. Divide into 6 and pat and mould each piece into a roundish shape, roughly 1cm thick.
  5. Place the burgers onto a plate, sprinkle with flower, then cover and place in the fridge until needed – this will help to firm them up.
  6. To cook the burgers, preheat a large griddle or frying pan for 4 minutes on a high heat, then turn the heat down to medium.
  7. Place the burgers on the griddle or into the pan, then use a spatula to lightly press them down, making sure the burger is in full contact with the pan.
  8. Cook the burgers for 3 or 4 minutes on each side, depending on how you like them – you may need to work in batches.
  9. Dress with lettuce , tomato, red onion and cheese if required.

Tiger Prawns With Sweet And Sour Red Onion Stir-Fry

Tiger Prawns With Sweet And Sour Red Onion Stir-Fry

Ingredients and Method

            You will need :

Ingredients
  • Groundnut oil – 1 tablespoon
  • Red onion – 2 medium, peeled and sliced into half moon slices
  • Shaosing rice wine – 1 tablespoon, or dry sherry
  • Soft brown sugar – 1 teaspoon
  • Chinkiang black rice vinegar – 1 tablespoon
  • Fresno chilli – 1 green, or Jalapeno chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
  • Tiger prawn – 150g large pre-cooked
  • Low sodium light soy sauce – 1 tablespoon
  • Toasted sesame seeds – some

STEPS

  • Prepare the onions. Slice them into half moon slices. Prepare the green chilli, deseed and finely chop.
  • Heat a wok over high heat and when wok starts to smoke, add thegroundnut oil. Give the oil a swirl and then add the red onions and cook stirring for 2 minutes until they start to turn golden brown at the edges. Then add the Shaosing rice wine, the brown sugar and the vinegar and toss cooking for 1 minute. Then add in the green chilli pieces and then toss together cooking for 30 seconds.
  • Finally add in the cooked Tiger Prawns and toss all the ingredients. Then add 1 tablespoon of low sodium light soy sauce. Then take it off the heat and add a small sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately with steamed Jasmine rice or brown rice.

Umami Miso Ribs

Umami Miso Ribs

Ingredients
  • Pork spare rib – 500g / 1.1 lb, 2 inches in length
  • Vegetable oil – 500ml / 2.11 cups, for deep-frying
For the marinade
  • Garlic – 2 tbsp minced
  • Miso paste – 2 tbsp
  • Ginger – 1 tbsp, grated
  • Low sodium light soy sauce – 2 tbsp
  • Honey – 2 tbsp
  • Dark soy sauce – 1 tsp
For the coating
  • Cornflour – 100ml / 0.42 cup
  • Salt – ½ tsp
  • Black pepper – ½ tsp cracked
For the garnish
  • Japanese chilli pepper seasoning – ½ tsp
  • Red chilli – sliced
  • Spring onion –

STEPS

  • Make the marinade by mixing together the garlic, ginger, miso paste, soy sauces and honey together. Add the pork ribs and allow to marinade for at least one hour, or overnight if you have time.
  • For the coating, combine the corn flour with salt and pepper. Add this to the marinated ribs and mix lightly.
  • Heat the oil in a wok over a moderate heat, and when hot, fry the ribs in two batches until the coating is crisp and the meat tender, this should take around 4-5 minutes per batch. Remove from the pan, drain on absorbent paper and serve sprinkled with the Japanese chilli pepper and garnish with red chillies and spring onions.

Spaghetti Bolognese

Spaghetti  Bolognese

  1. Spaghetti 50g per person
  2. Mince Steak (round) 500g
  3. Onion x 1
  4. Garlic cloves x 2
  5. Mushrooms 300g
  6. Paprika x 1tsp
  7. Fresh / dried Basil x 1 tsp
  8. Fresh / dried oregano x 1 tsp
  9. Tomato puree x 2 tbls
  10. Tin chopped tomato x 1
  11. Mango Chutney x 1 tbls
  12. Olive Oil x 2 tbls
  13. Small cube of butter.
  14. Black Pepper to flavour
  15. Grated Parmesan cheese.

 

Method:

  1. Place spaghetti into large saucepan with cold water and boil until soft.
  2. Finely chop onion and garlic, sauté in saucepan with olive oil.
  3. Brown the mince on hot frying pan and set aside.
  4. Add paprika, to garlic and onion and stir.
  5. Add tin tomato and tomato puree, basil & oregano to onion and garlic.
  6. Add the browned mince.
  7. Stir in Chutney
  8. Fry up the sliced mushrooms in butter and fold into the saucepan.
  9. Rinse off spaghetti with boiling water and add small amount of olive oil before serving.
  10. Sprinkle dish with Parmesan and black pepper, dress with fresh basil.

Thai Prawn Stir-Fry

Thai Prawn Stir-Fry

You will need :

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 1/2 tbsp torn fresh mint leaves
  • 75g torn fresh basil leaves
  • 200g cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 jalapeno chilli, thinly sliced into rounds
  • 1 medium yellow pepper, seeded, cut in 2.5cm dice
  • 1/2 medium red onion, cut in 2.5cm dice
  • 450g large prawns, peeled and deveined
  • 1/2 to 1 tsp red chilli flakes
  • 1 tbsp grated, peeled, fresh ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 3 tbsp groundnut oil
  • 1 1/2 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 2 tsp Southeast Asian fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp water
  • Serving suggestion: Jasmine rice

Method:

1) In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, water, fish sauce, and sugar; set aside.

2) Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and chilli flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

3) Add the prawns and stir-fry until pink but still translucent in the middle, about 2 minutes. Transfer the prawns to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon. Add the onion, pepper, and chilli to the skillet, and stir-fry until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

4) Return the prawns to the pan along with the soy sauce mixture. Bring to a boil, and stir-fry until the sauce glazes the prawns, about 1 minute more. Add the tomatoes and stir until coated with sauce, about 15 seconds. Remove pan from the heat, stir in the basil, mint, and lime juice. Transfer to a serving dish, serve immediately.

Spiced Lamb Chops With Onion & Coriander Salad

Spiced Lamb Chops With Onion & Coriander Salad

 

 

 

 

Ingredients and Method

            You will need :

For the lamb rib chops
  • Lamb rib chops – 4
  • Shaosing rice wine – 2 tablespoons, dry sherry or
  • Coriander – 2 teaspoons, ground
  • Ground cumin – 1 teaspoon
  • Turmeric – ¼ teaspoon, ground
  • Dried chilli flakes – ½ teaspoon
  • Sea salt – 1 large pinch
  • Black pepper – 1 large pinch, cracked
  • Groundnut oil – 1 tablespoon
For the salad
  • White onion – 3 small white, peeled and sliced ½ moon slices
  • Lemon – 1, cut into a third and save rest for squeezing
  • Cold water – 500ml
  • Sea salt – 2 large pinches
  • Black pepper – 2 large pinches
  • Soft brown sugar – 2 pinches
  • Low sodium light soy sauce – 1 tablespoon
  • Coriander leaves and stems – 1 small bunch, finely chopped

STEPS

  • Prepare the onions. Slice and peel 3 small onions and cut them in half and then cut them thinly into nice crescent shaped pieces. Place them in a bowl of cold water. Squeeze a third of a lemon, and place in the bowl with the onions. (This will help get rid of the spicy raw bite of the onion and sweeten them up).
  • Next make the spiced paste for the lamb rib chops. Pour the Shaosing rice wine over the ribs and this will enhance the natural sweetness of the meat. Then add the ground coriander.
  • Heat a wok over high heat until smoking, and add two tablespoons of groundnut oil. Place the lamb rib chops into the peanut oil. Pour the rest of the spice marinade over the lamb. The lamb doesn’t take long to cook at all about 1 minute on each side for rare-medium and 2 minutes each side for medium-well. Turn off the heat. Keep it in the wok to cook on the other side.
  • Drain the onions well and place into another bowl. Dress it with the remaining lemon. Season with 2 large pinches of sea salt, black pepper and soft brown sugar and add 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce. Finely chop a small handful of coriander with the roots and add it to the onions and toss to mix well.
  • Transfer the lamb chops to a small serving plate and dress with juices from the wok. Transfer a serving of the salad to a bowl and serve together immediately.