After studying Polymer Science at Manchester University in the 1980s I started my first job as a materials and quality manager for a firm in Durham in 1989 My time was spent overseeing projects and looking at how plastics were used within the industry The company set up a group tech centre in Soustons and I was given responsibility for overseeing projects over 15 different countries from that base in 1999 – and I soon found myself going to French lessons again for the first time since school I enjoyed my new role; although there was a lot of travelling The company changed hands a few times over the years and in 2019 I was moved to a new base in Paris I was far from my family and we were not in a position where we wanted to move The job stopped feeling like the right fit for me I was in my late 50s and just a few years away from retirement so decided to try my hand at something new With the mortgage paid off and the children Oliver and Josephine (born 2001) now grown up, I did not need to earn as much and the element of risk was much smaller During my time working in the plastics industry I had seen many recycling and repurposing initiatives Doing this research really opened my eyes to the way we live these days – we are very much a ‘throw-away’ society and the way we live is becoming unsustainable made a difference – and perhaps inspired others too Part of my job in plastics was to keep up with the latest technology in this field and I had learned through my work that although recycling is great it is even better for the environment if we find a way to repurpose and reuse items Read more: From police officer to gardener I began to look at some of the items we had in the house and think how they might be used differently In doing so I realised that many vintage and antique items can be converted into quirky and stylish lamps I began to source items from vide-greniers and brocantes and found that I had a knack for bringing new life to old artefacts I went on an electrical safety course with the Chambre de Métiers in 2019 to ensure my work met the CE safety standards for electrical lamps Then I registered as an auto-entrepreneur and set up my own Facebook page and Etsy shop under the name ‘Upcycled lamps and more.’ I love the challenge of discovering something abandoned and obsolete and bringing out its beauty I have created stylish lamps from items as diverse as old metal mincers I was looking for new ideas and joined the Fablab in Soustons where I learned some basic skills using their laser cutter and engraver before investing in my own small laser engraver.  I now create a variety of items including coasters and name plaques using this technique and often sell to bars and restaurants who love the quirky The same year I was able to join the Interstices sud Aquitaine a non-profit organisation that helps entrepreneurs develop their businesses I am able to use their VAT number and get support with taxes – and I am also covered by their insurance.  The support and knowledge I gained were invaluable – and crucial to helping me widen my scope and sell to businesses as well as individuals I would recommend anyone setting up their own business to check them out.  I expanded my range and opened a new Etsy store: maisonvieillecrafts I decided to try the local Christmas markets I registered for three and did a roaring trade I am aiming to hit them again this year and am already working on my Christmas stock and I am lucky that I have now started to receive my French pension The businesses supplement this and I hope to continue until I receive my UK pension at 67 Seeing first-hand how much plastic was being put onto the market and how little was recycled fuelled my passion for creating reusable items And the satisfaction I get from taking something old and giving it a brand new life is immeasurable This small department on the German border is home to the historic city of Strasbourg We also look at other key French transport acronyms: SNCF https://www.tipperarylive.ie/section/1235/advertise-with-us Keep up to date with the latest news in Tipperary as it happens with TipperaryLive.ie The latest Tipperary news,sport and business from TipperaryLive.ie National - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news What's on - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news sport and business from Tipperary with the team from TipperaryLive.ie sport and motoring as it happens from TipperaryLive.ie Tipperary Live Met Eireann Weather Forecast Deaths - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism Clonmel High School student Matthew Ryan thoroughly enjoyed his trip to France as the recipient of the Clonmel RFC Camida Youth Academy Scholarship Clonmel High School student Matthew Ryan received the Clonmel RFC Camida Youth Academy Scholarship to France this year when he received professional rugby coaching and an immersive cultural experience “In May, I was the recipient of the High School Rugby Scholarship in association with Clonmel RFC’s Camida Youth Academy The scholarship is open to any Transition Year and Fifth Year student playing rugby with the school and Clonmel RFC “I spent ten days at the end of June on one of the Rugby and French Summer Camps in Soustons “I flew from Dublin into Bordeaux and then travelled onwards to the Soustons Sports Centre for ten days There were 60 other boys from schools all around Ireland participating in the camp While a few other boys and I were from Munster “A typical day at the camp started with breakfast at 7.30am This was followed by a tough strength and conditioning session and This was followed by the first of our two rugby sessions in the day Before lunch we would focus on skills and tactics This was the hardest session of the day as the temperature was over thirty degrees “After lunch we would have an activity which included kayaking The late afternoon session revolved around games and mini matches these S&C and rugby sessions were not for the faint hearted but they were a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills and tactics and definitely I came home stronger and fitter as a result I also had a lot of fun and craic along the way Every day we got some time off to experience what Soustons and the surrounding area had to offer This was a great time to unwind and get to know a lot of the other lads on the camp "There were lots of organised trips to the Soustons Market and bull ring bicycle trips to the beach and we also got some surfing lessons lights out at 11.30 or you risked an additional midnight strength and conditioning class for any offender and their roommates “On the second last day a group of Spanish rugby players came to the camp We played a rugby match against them and came out victorious We also played a soccer match against them and it was clear we weren’t there for our soccer skills “On the last day we got a bus out to a neighbouring town where we were set free to go swimming in the sea The waves were large and powerful and watching people surf them was entertaining We also got to explore the shops and markets in the town SEE ALSO: Tipperary girl designs Christmas card to support sick children “Overall it was a fantastic experience and I sincerely thank the High School CBS and Clonmel RFC Camida Youth Academy for such a fantastic opportunity” " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news People in Tipperary Town have been advised to keep their doors locked 5 March at the Halla Na Féile in Cashel In Pictures: Meet the cast of hit play 'The Ferryman' including a 'very well behaved baby' Night of nostalgia at Tipperary Museum with 125 year Clonmel High School reunion Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie Owner of geese and ducks to defend flock in court after neighbour says the animals ‘bother him’ Less than two months after the owner of a French rooster was hauled before a court over its rowdy crowing, the owner of a gaggle of geese and ducks is in the dock over their boisterous quacking. The latest case to ruffle feathers in the French countryside pitted a woman rearing around 50 ducks and geese in her back garden in the south-western Landes region – a duck-breeding bastion – against her newcomer neighbours. Dominique Douthe, 67, lives outside the town of Soustons, about 60km (40 miles) north of the Atlantic resort of Biarritz. She said the row began a little over a year ago when the new neighbours moved into a house across the road. And then he [the husband of the plaintiff couple] arrived and my poultry bothers him.” The mascot of this battle between urban and rural France is a rooster named Maurice whose early-morning crowing so annoyed its neighbours on the island of Oleron that they took the owner to court A court in the western town of Rochefort is set to issue a ruling in that case on Thursday Maurice has received support from all over France through a petition defending his crowing. Supporters have created an “I am Maurice” banner on social media and even the leader of one local authority tweeted his solidarity On Tuesday a court in the south-western town of Dax is scheduled to hear the complaint against Douthe’s ducks and geese told AFP that when they bought the house next to Douthe’s “there were fewer geese and ducks Since then her husband had approached Douthe three or four times to try find a solution who recommended that Douthe move her poultry pen further away from the neighbours’ property and build a wall to muffle the sound – recommendations they say went unheeded In a region famous for its foie gras – a delicacy made from the livers of ducks and geese – the case has got some locals’ backs up “Numerous homes here have a spot for raising poultry,” one woman told AFP A petition in support of “the Hardy ducks,” as they have been dubbed after a the name of a nearby lake warned in a Facebook post on Friday against vilifying newcomers to the countryside as “being unable to integrate and making us lose our soul” it is “absolutely necessary … to preserve the characteristics of the countryside.” retired farmer and mayor of Gajac village in south-west France has proposed a solution to the chorus of complaints against croaking frogs He has asked the government to inscribe them on France’s heritage list Gisborne's Kelsey Teneti in action for the Black Ferns against the United States in the Pacific Four series last year Gisborne’s Kelsey Teneti is in the south of France as reserve cover for the New Zealand women’s sevens team as they build towards the Paris Olympic Games The 21-year-old has been a contracted player with the Black Ferns since 2022 and made her 15s debut that year daughter of Gisborne’s Kelvin and Louise Teneti is regarded as the “understudy” for Black Ferns great Portia Woodman-Wickliffe left with the Black Ferns on Wednesday and the team are now in France “They have gone into a three-week training camp before they move into the Olympic Village,” Louise said The sevens will be based in Soustons in southwest France “Kelsey found out about her Olympics trip on June 21 and was thrilled,” her mum said you go but you might not play unless someone gets hurt it’s a wonderful opportunity for Kelsey – to be part of the best team in the world at the Olympics and at only 21 “We’re all thrilled to have her there and hopefully she will make the playing team for the next Olympics.” an old girl of Lytton High and Hamilton Girls’ High was called in as an injury cover for the Black Ferns squad for the 2022 Pacific Four Series She made her international debut on June 6 that year against Australia at Tauranga she was named in the Black Ferns side to compete in the Pacific Four Series and O’Reilly Cup She was also brought into the New Zealand sevens team for a couple of world series tournaments after an injury to Stacey Waaka She excelled in multiple sports growing up She is likely to be joined in Paris by her Gisborne cousin and judoka Sydnee Andrews The New Zealand Olympic Committee is yet to confirm it but 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Andrews is expected to be named for the Games Alicia Hoskin is competing in the canoe sprint at the Games and fellow Gisborne kayaker Zach Ferkins is a reserve for the men’s crews Gisborne triathlete Tayler Reid missed selection but is in France helping the New Zealand squad prepare .Gisborne teenager Ishtar Mackey-Huriwai will be representing New Zealand in the demonstration sport of Muay Thai The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night the most renowned among living French chefs he showed a strong determination to become a chef He had his first experience in a nearby trattoria where he began by washing dishes and cleaning turkeys This experience didn't discourage him; on the contrary he started an apprenticeship at the Le Pavillon Landais restaurant in Soustons before enrolling at the hotel school in Talence Ducasse left school before obtaining his professional qualification diploma demonstrating a vital urgency that would characterize him throughout his life profoundly shaping him with his ultra-contemporary cuisine characterized by rigor Guérard recommended Ducasse to Roger Vergé at Moulin de Mougins on the French Riviera where he would spend a highly formative year It was here that Ducasse learned the key concepts of his cuisine: simplicity and authenticity Ducasse was at La Terrasse in Juan-les-Pins a tragic plane accident in 1984 forced him to take a long break Despite severe injuries and an extended period of convalescence Ducasse continued to "cook mentally," understanding the importance of delegation the Société des Bains de Mer offered him the position of head chef for all the restaurants at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco including the renowned Le Louis XV restaurant he succeeded in obtaining the restaurant's first Three MICHELIN Stars This achievement made Ducasse one of the few chefs in the world to reach such a milestone Ducasse opened his first restaurant in Paris his business expanded to include 31 restaurants and 2 hotels Ducasse is also a successful entrepreneur and a prolific author with over 100 books to his credit balanced cuisine that respects the environment He advocates for the importance of eating as a social and civic act and for the respect of ingredients firmly believing that good cooking is based on quality ingredients He has also founded Alain Ducasse Education a culinary school that trains future professionals in the culinary industry his vision extends beyond training chefs; he aims to promote food culture which are fundamental principles of his philosophy Ducasse never stops experimenting and innovating he surprised the culinary world by taking on a new challenge: bringing gastronomy to space In collaboration with the European Space Agency he developed a menu for astronauts aboard the International Space Station Ducasse announced the end of his collaboration with the Plaza Athénée after 20 years This decision marked the end of an era for the renowned chef who had a significant impact on the culinary scene of the luxurious Parisian hotel the tireless Alain Ducasse prepares to embark on another exciting project announcing the opening of a new restaurant in Rome This will be another step in his journey to spread French culinary culture and his personal cooking philosophy and respect for nature and seasonal products with its rich history and unique culinary tradition represents a fascinating challenge for Ducasse as well as his commitment to elevating dining to new heights It is certain that he will be able to blend refined French cuisine with the authentic flavors of Italian cuisine creating a novel and unforgettable culinary experience for his guests Ducasse sees this new adventure as an opportunity to share his passion for cooking and education contributing to the training of a new generation of chefs and hospitality professionals in Rome The restaurant will become a meeting place where people can discover new flavors and learn about French gastronomic culture Despite all of his achievements and accolades Ducasse remains humble and faithful to his principles He continues to believe in the simplicity and authenticity of dishes It is his life philosophy that he continues to share with his students Do you want to discover the latest news and recipes of the most renowned chefs and restaurants in the world La nostra società utilizza inoltre cookie funzionali per registrare informazioni sulle scelte dell’utente e per consentire una personalizzazione del Sito; ad esempio Questi cookie possono essere installati dalla nostra società o da Terze parti In caso di disabilitazione di questi cookie la qualità e l’esperienza di navigazione potrebbe non essere soddisfacente Questi cookie sono installati da social media per consentire la condivisione dei contenuti del presente Sito Essi sono in grado di monitorare la navigazione compiuta anche in altri siti e creano un profilo dell’utente sulla base dei suoi interessi Ciò potrebbe avere un impatto sul contenuto e messaggi visualizzati sugli altri siti visitati non sarà possibile utilizzare o visualizzare questi strumenti di condivisione per l’installazione e l’uso di tali cookie occorre il consenso dell’utente Per maggiori informazioni consulta la pagna cookies policy New neighbours of smallholding failed in €5,200 claim for lost sleep due to loud birds The ducks on a smallholding in south-west France will live to quack another day In another symbolic story of the disharmony between town and country folk a French court has ruled that the noise from the flock kept by a retired farmer does not warrant them being silenced permanently “The ducks have won,” the birds’ delighted owner “I’m very happy because I didn’t want to slaughter them.” the court did order a sound test to establish whether the quacking from the flock is “abnormal” who moved from the city to Soustons around 430 miles south-west of Paris in the foothills of the Pyrenees in June 2018 had complained that the racket from the 60 ducks and geese kept in the next-door garden was making their life a misery They could not enjoy their garden or sleep with their windows open and they wanted “immediate steps” to reduce the noise and €5,200 (£4,460) in damages The court in the town of Dax decided the birds should not be destroyed but agreed an expert acoustic assessment should be carried out to determine if their noise was abnormal and whether it constituted a breach of the peace “It’s a great relief for Madame Douthe who was very upset by this process The ducks will live and she can continue going about her business as she wishes the flock’s reprieve is likely to be temporary Douthe told reporters she had been raising ducks and geese to make confit for more than 30 years “They’ll still end up as confit but it’ll be me who kills them and nobody else,” she said outside the court The legal ruling came two months after Maurice the rooster was allowed to carry on crowing Maurice from the Île d’Oléron in western France became the country’s most famous cock and a cause célèbre after neighbours lost a two-year legal battle to shut him up after insisting his dawn chorus disturbed their sleep In the Dordogne, a retired couple are at the centre of an ongoing seven-year legal row over the croaking of frogs in their garden pond The couple originally won their case in 2014 but lost on appeal two years later when they were ordered to fill in the pond The frogs were then given a stay of execution after it was discovered there were four protected species among them the case was referred to the Bordeaux appeal court for a final judgment a mayor has refused to kill the local cicadas after tourists complained they made too much noise  The caption to the picture of this article was amended on 20 November 2019 because an earlier version wrongly located Soustons in Provence Less than two months after the owner of a French rooster was hauled before a court over his rowdy crowing the owner of a gaggle of geese and ducks is in the dock over their boisterous quacking The latest case to ruffle feathers in the French countryside pits a woman rearing around 50 ducks and geese in her back garden in the southwestern Landes region -- a duck-breeding bastion -- against her newcomer neighbours about 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of the Atlantic resort of Biarritz She told AFP the row began a little over a year ago when the new neighbours moved into a house across the road "And then he (the husband of the plaintiff couple) arrived and my poultry bothers him," she said The case is one of several that have been cast as an attack on the rights of church bells to ring and donkeys to bray throughout rural France The mascot of this battle between urban and rural France is a rooster named Maurice whose early-morning crowing so annoyed his neighbours on the island of Oleron that they took his owner to court a court in the southwestern town of Dax was to hear the complaint against Douthe's cacophonous ducks and geese told AFP that when they bought the house next to Douthe's who recommended that Douthe move her poultry pen further away from the neighbours' property and build a wall to muffle the sound -- recommendations they say went unheeded In a region famous for its foie gras -- a delicacy made from the livers of ducks and geese -- the case has got some locals' backs up "Numerous homes here have a spot for raising poultry," one woman told AFP indignantly: "We are in the Landes after all!" A petition in support of "the Hardy ducks," as they have been dubbed after a the name of a nearby lake Soustons' Mayor Frederique Charpenel warned in a Facebook post on Friday against vilifying newcomers to the countryside as "being unable to integrate and making us lose our soul." to preserve the characteristics of the countryside." A retired farmer who serves as mayor of the village of Gajac in southwest France has proposed a solution to the chorus of complaints against croaking frogs Mayor Bruno Dionis du Sejour has asked the government to inscribe them on France's heritage list please register for free or log in to your account This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Nigel Osborne grew up in the 1980s and fell in love with two of the game’s truly great backlines “I absolutely loved the French way of playing the way, with the piano movers up front and the piano players behind,” says Osborne, who runs the ‘Rugby and French‘ summer camps in the southwest of France “They were the other brilliant attacking backline great passing qualities with guys hitting space Osborne’s formative years left a lasting impression and he is a coach who believes deeply in the importance of giving young players the skills to express themselves and enjoy rugby Having played with Wanderers and Old Wesley Osborne has been coaching for around 20 years with Wanderers Bective and Seapoint – who he guided to three promotions in five enjoyable years – and at schools level with CBC Monkstown since 2006 Osborne worked with Stade Français on a consultancy basis in 2012 and 2013 when his business partner and close friend took over as director of rugby after Michael Cheika’s time in charge ended Dublin-based Osborne travelled over and back to Paris to help Pool-Jones and had an opportunity relocate full-time but says a permanent move to France and into professional coaching wasn’t right for his young family The strong connection to France remains through the Rugby and French camps every summer where boys from the ages of 11 to 18 are coached in the core skills of the game an 11-day camp costing €1,350 per player including flights sailing and more activities in the camps at a facility near Biarritz but the primary focus rugby-wise is on helping young players to fall in love with the skills that Osborne believes should always be at the heart of the sport “We have a philosophy of teaching the skills of the game at a young age to get kids attached to the game,” he explains “It’s like in golf – if you hit a wedge to within two feet of the hole “The same in rugby – a grubber through for your mate a long pass for the fullback to hit the line dropping a goal with your left foot – you get a buzz from that “Also the collective buzz of scoring a great team try or a great team defensive effort – that’s what the game is about I had a desire to imbue people with that too.” Osborne estimates that more than 100 future professional players have attended his summer caps Max Deegan and former England international Alex Corbisiero clubs and parents are most responsible for those players going on to ‘make it’ in the game but Osborne has always hoped to pass on his grá for the sport “One of the problems with the game today is that kids are giving it up because they don’t actually fall in love with it,” says Osborne “It’s an attritional war to be picked in an academy “The schools system is the best in the world but an awful lot of time you have it so professional so guys get disenfranchised with their rugby “What we try to do in the camp is put kids in situations where they’re making decisions with the ball as many times as they can and also their confidence in their passing “The other thing to recognise is that we do contact work in the tackle and the breakdown because that is a skill that can be improved by anticipating how guys are going to come at you Osborne cites Steven Aboud – formerly of the IRFU and now working with Conor O’Shea in Italy - Roly Meates and the late Australian coach Jake Howard as being among his coaching influences while playing in many different positions himself helped grow his view of the game His philosophy on the game is centred around handing responsibility to the players rather than imposing strict structures and shapes on them given the importance of building the core skills at that age meaning he has loved being involved with CBC Monkstown alongside Ryan Corcoran “The philosophy in Monkstown last year was that we had a group of 44 boys and every one of them would be treated equally “We would play to enjoy the game and we would try and boost self-esteem through the game and give ownership of the team to the team through the course of the year.” Monkstown had plenty of defeats during the season but by the time the Cup campaign came around they simply “got rid of all the moves in the backs,” explains Osborne “That simplicity could only work with passing skills depth and energy – wanting to get on the ball and wanting to support the ball lost in the Cup quarter-finals to Clongowes “We threw away the cones and tackle shields I hope they will all continue to play the game Some very good players just need a little guidance to trust themselves.” Asked why he believes this kind of philosophy is less common in the professional game where rigid structures have become the norm for many clubs and national teams Osborne indicates that the advent of pro coaches changed everything they have to justify the work they’re doing “Whereas coaching should be about empowering people to do it when you’re not there Osborne worries about the amateur rugby mimicking the pro game “The amateur game should be about participation to enjoy their training and be there for the right reasons But Osborne is optimistic that rugby is about to change with the World Cup in view 15-man rugby where front row players can pass and kick expertly as being the way forward Unsurprisingly, he’s a huge fan of the proposed ’50/22′ law trial that looks certain to be brought in post-World Cup “I’ve often thought it would be great to have a Six Nations without coaches the game will change and there will be more expression “We need to give responsibility back to the players.” Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user Create an email alert based on the current article Above: Matthew Ryan receives Clonmel High School’s Rugby Scholarship from Camida’s Paul Condon and Clonmel Rugby Club’s Tom Fennessey Also included are Matthew’s parents Geraldine and Andrew Ryan High School Rugby Coordinator Brendan Mullan and High School rugby coaches Ciaran Burke and Luke Daly This year’s Clonmel High School Rugby Scholarship has been awarded to TY student Matthew Ryan from Ballymacarbry This scholarship is run in conjunction with Camida Youth Academy at Clonmel Rugby Club The aim of the scholarship is to promote rugby in the High School Matthew has played for successive High School rugby teams since First Year and is a member of the Clonmel Under 16 team He will spend ten days in Soustons near Biarritz in the south west of France during the summer and where he will receive professional rugby coaching Matthew received his scholarship at the recent High School Awards Day from Clonmel Rugby Club’s Tom Fennessey and Camida’s Paul Condon Matthew’s parents Geraldine and Andrew were also in attendance The scholarship was established in 2005 and since then High School students have travelled to France each year to participate in a fantastic sporting and cultural experience This year’s scholarship was the first awarded since 2019 Sincere thanks are extended to Camida Youth Academy at Clonmel Rugby Club for supporting such a fantastic initiative and to Paul Condon and Tom Fennessey (both High School past pupils) for presenting Matthew with his scholarship High School Rugby Awards Congratulations to the following students whose contribution to High School rugby was acknowledged at the recent School Awards Day - Under 14Players’ Player of the Year: Patrick Normile.Coaches’ Player of the Year: Conall Morrisson.Most Improved Player of the Year: Olan Doocey Under 15Players’ Player of the Year: Rian Galko.Coaches’ Player of the Year: Mbekezli Masuku.Most Improved Player of the Year: Anthony Fitzgerald Under 16Players’ Player of the Year: Sean Wall.Coaches’ Player of the Year: Sam Maher.Most Improved Player of the Year: Takky Ibrahim Under 19Players’ Player of the Year: Liam Maher.Coaches’ Player of the Year: Ben Masuku.Most Improved Player of the Year: Tom O’Brien Past Pupils’ Visit The High School was delighted to welcome back past pupils Conor Ryan Damien O’Keeffe and Dermot Poyntz from Clonmel Credit Union for the presentation of two new rugby kits for the Junior and Senior rugby teams It was a fantastic occasion to mark the High School’s strong links with the wider Clonmel community Sincere thanks are extended to Clonmel Credit Union for their ongoing support A French court has allowed a group of ducks in the southwest of the country to keep on quacking after complaints from neighbours over their noisy behaviour at least pending a detailed investigation of noise levels The case of the ducks in the southwestern Landes region was the latest in the country to pit traditions of rearing animals against the tastes of newcomers following the well-publicised legal dispute over a rowdy rooster in western France A couple who bought a neighbouring property last year had complained of “significant noise” from the group of around 50 ducks and geese kept the backgarden of Dominique Douthe She told AFP that the ducks had been given a stay of execution by the court in the town of Dax in a decision issued Tuesday evening adding that she was “relieved” by the ruling “There was no proof of any kind of illicit or abnormal trouble,” added her lawyer Philippe Lalanne He said that the judge had ordered an acoustic audit to test noise levels which would be carried out in the first quarter of next year “I have the impression that the judge is giving us with this audit the chance to get together and discuss and find an amicable solution,” he added who insisted that repeated requests to solve the issue had been ignored has sought 150 euros ($165) for each day the noise continued as well as 3,500 euros ($3,870) in damages and 2,000 euros ($2,200) in legal costs The symbol of this battle between urban and rural France emerged as a rooster named Maurice The court in early September upheld the bird’s right to start the day with a cheery cock-a-doodle-doo in what was seen as a triumph for the traditions of rural France Alain Ducasse is a French-born Monégasque chef and restaurateur who has a net worth of $10 million notably Le Louis XV in Monte Carlo and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in London In addition to his work as a chef and restaurateur Ducasse has written cookbooks and opened cooking schools He was educated on a farm in nearby Castel-Sarrazin Ducasse began apprenticeships at the Pavillon Landais restaurant in Soustons and the Bordeaux hotel school Ducasse worked at chef Michel Guérard's restaurant in Eugénie-les-Bains Ducasse began working as an assistant under chef Roger Vergé at the Moulin de Mougins Ducasse landed his first chef's position in 1980 when he began working at L'amandier in Mougins he became head chef at La Terrasse in Juan-les-Pins Ducasse joined the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo Challenged by Prince Rainier III of Monaco to earn three Michelin stars within four years Ducasse did just that when Le Louis XV won three Michelin stars in just under three years The restaurant held its rating for seven consecutive years before losing a star and gaining it back a few times; since 2003 Le Louis XV has consistently been ranked among the best restaurants in the world Ducasse also earned three Michelin stars for Essex House in New York City he opened Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in London which went on to earn three Michelin stars in 2010 This marked the first time he prepared an official meal for a head of state Ducasse also prepared the post-celebration brunch for the following day He has served as the chef at a number of other major events since then Ducasse opened a 12-bedroom country inn in Provence in 1988 called La Bastide de Moustiers He has also had financial interests in other hotels in Provence He has had cooking schools for both the general public in Paris and for ADF chefs serving as a special guest on both the US and Italian versions of the reality cooking competition show "MasterChef." Ducasse became a naturalized citizen of Monaco in 2008 He did this so he could take advantage of the city-state's tax rates Because Monégasque people were disallowed from holding dual citizenship at that time Ducasse had to relinquish his French nationality © 2025 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved