Remembering our first Christmas card
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran The first Christmas card to come through our letterbox every year was from Jane – Jane O’Malley, married for 30 years to one of Ireland’s most renowned artists – Tony O’Malley who passed away in 2003. Jane, a highly-regarded artist in her own right, died 30 years later, in 2023. My …
No place like having a front door of your own
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Throughout the election campaign we have had the political parties vying with each other to solve the No.1 issue on the doorsteps. Each party is promising to build more houses whether the number is 30,000 or 50,000 a year. Their mechanisms for bringing houses within reach of buyers …
The little children Santa Claus forgot
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Ireland-born babies will be spending their first Christmas in homeless accommodation, as the country faces the “worst homeless crisis in living memory,” according to Focus Ireland, who says there are now more than 4,600 children nationwide without abode. There are some 10,000+ adults homeless. The worrying thing about …
The Cajun people: like the Irish, up for the craic
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan When I first heard about the Cajun people, it was like discovering a hidden gem, much like stumbling upon a book in a Kilkenny bookshop that you just can’t put down. These people are the descendants of French-speaking Acadian refugees who made their way from Canada to the swamps …
Challenging times, and acute awareness of mortality was genesis for poetry book
By Ger Cody Photos Pat Shortall “Let us all unite to ensure that our library becomes not just a building of books, but a mighty engine for the uplifting and enlightenment of this beloved country. I appeal to the people of Kilkenny: may you recognise the potential of this building and its treasury of knowledge. …
Return of The Quiet Land for St Brigid’s Festival
Rural Ireland today! Two elderly small farmers who have witnessed much change in their community meet between their adjoining farms. An age-old ritual of small talk, farming news, sporting yarns is now peppered with uncertainty and fear. Eamon and Nashee are men of heart, of humour, of hardness but now they are faced with some …
Election regrets, goals in Wales & Winter blues
Further More By Gerry Moran I didn’t vote in the election. I didn’t vote because I couldn’t. I was out of the country. And did I think when booking my flight that it would clash with the General Election? I did not. And when I realised that I would forfeit my vote did I change …
When painting and creativity sparks joy in your life
This week, The Kilkenny Observer newspaper took a trip to Fennelly’s of Callan. Apart from being a fine spot for a meal, our mission on the day was to meet a gentleman by the name of Anthony Donohoe. Anthony lives near Callan and for the last number of years his love for painting has grown. …
Smart Health Investment
Investing in support services makes economic sense, our whole society will benefit By Paul Bolger. Chartered Physiotherapist at Nano Physiotherapy, Kilkenny (www.nanophysio.ie). Over the past several weeks I have outlined how childhood maltreatment results in a greater risk of long-term health conditions. On the level of basic human decency, offering support and help to those children and …
Keeping safe of the Christmas scammers
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR As Christmas approaches, we are getting ready and buying the presents, but we need to be very careful as it is the most lucrative period for scammers. They are more active during this period than at any other time of the year. Understanding how these scams work and taking appropriate …
