Saddle up for Down Syndrome Kilkenny set to raise vital funds for local services A local family and parent-led voluntary group, Down Syndrome Kilkenny, has launched its inaugural charity cycle to raise vital funds needed to provide local services across Kilkenny. The cycling event, Saddle Up for Down Syndrome Kilkenny will be held on Sunday, …

106

St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated all around the world last weekend, but there was nothing quite like celebrating it in Kilkenny in the heart of Ireland’s ancient east. With its medieval streets and a 900 year old castle, the city filled with warmth, culture, heritage and fun from March 15th to 18th. Kilkenny was entertained with one of its biggest, most animated festivals ever …

98

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON From where I sit at home watching goldfinches feeding on Niger seed and a queen bumblebee searching for the first dandelion flowers, nature restoration sounds great. The same thing goes for Eurocrats, concerned about climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainability but, like me, they are far removed from …

96

BY JOHN FITZGERALD Before the band struck up in the City, and as choirs rehearsed their renditions of” Hail Glorious St. Patrick”, the dedicated Kilkenny Heritage Walkers were setting out on their by now almost traditional tour of St Patrick’s Parish, which contains a wealth of historic and architectural gems. Guided by Paddy Neary, a …

157

Tickets now on sale for Marble City Music Festival. Friday 17th to Sunday 19th May in St. Mary’s Cathedral Kilkenny. Following a sell out 2023 festival, Marble City Music Festival returns for 3 spectacular concerts in Kilkenny this May 17th – 19th. Kilkenny man and world renowned violinist, Patrick Rafter teams up with some of …

100

IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, CLOGH WRITERS GROUP LAUNCHED ‘WHERE I AM’, A COLLECTION OF POETRY AND PROSE FROM ELEVEN DIFFERENT WRITERS. AS CO-ORDINATOR OF THE WRITERS GROUP JANE MEALLY SAID: “WHERE I AM” IS A PUBLICATION WHERE EACH WRITER COMMUNICATES THEIR PASSION TO THE READER.” Having attended the launch in Clogh, The Kilkenny Observer Newspaper was quite taken with not only …

100

Self-compassion helps us to form healthy habits  A CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST’S PERSPECTIVE By Paul Bolger. Nano Physiotherapy www.nanophysio.ie Here are two different approaches to life – which one do you think is more likely to lead to healthy habits and fulfilment? 1. I strive for perfection. I am very strict with myself. I’m not satisfied unless my …

97

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS My father was wont to say that “life is great, but the best part of life is being young”. He hated ageing – most of us, if we’re honest, do – and, though he kept himself in good shape, by cycling, swimming and walking into his 80s, …

96

FURTHERMORE  By Gerry Moran I sometimes read the newspaper backwards ie. from back to front!  In fact I often read the newspaper from back to front. And why?  Because of sport. Sport frequently features on the back pages of many papers and typical male that I am I resort to reading the sports results first. …

99

Appearances by the hugely talented Lady Desart Choir as well as performances from Dancewise and the River Nore Music Academy weren’t the only notable aspects of St. Patrick’s weekend 2024 at Kilkenny’s MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre. The many visitors to one of the South East’s top retail locations couldn’t miss the striking imagery of ancient …

109