Good News Corner

This week in Good News...

The 88-Year-Old Who Donates His Daffodils to Friends & Neighbours

In 1968, James O'Halloran from Kilcraggan, Co. Kilkenny, made a trip to 'Harpers' in Waterford City where he bought '300 weight' of daffodil bulbs to plant in the field in front of his house.

At one point, over 1,200 daffodils bloomed there in Spring. He sold the flowers to local florists for a while, but when the daffodil market became more competitive, Mr O'Halloran made the decision to give them away to neighbours and friends instead. Now, every Spring, Kilcraggan locals arrive to pick a bunch from his colourful garden.

Source: Irish Examiner

130km Royal Canal Greenway Officially Launched

The recently-launched Royal Canal Greenway is now the longest greenway in Ireland, passing through the counties Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Longford. The route begins in Maynooth, Co. Kildare and brings you all the way to the River Shannon.

The Royal Canal, which is over 200 years old, had fallen into disrepair after its closure in the 1950s. It reopened for watercraft in 2010, and now thanks to a €12m investment, its surrounds have been made fully accessible to casual walkers and outdoors enthusiasts alike.  

Source: RTE

Missing Cat Returned to Owner After 14 Years

A tomcat from the Isle of Wight called Jess went missing in 2007, after he strayed into a neighbour's garden and later escaped. His owner, who had just moved into the area, wasn't sure if she would ever see her beloved pet again. 

However, the pair were reunited recently after a vet scanned Jess's microchip and was surprised to find the owner's up-to-date contact details. It was revealed that Jess, now 17 years old, had been living on the grounds of an assisted living home for over 14 years. When the facility-runners brought the aging cat to the vet, they discovered that Jess' original owner had continued to update her phone number, which allowed the cat to be returned to his home.

Source: RTE