How Burnham faces a Herculean task
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON If Andy Burnham wore underpants over his trousers and donned a cape, he could hardly seem more like a superhero in the making… for now. The British PM-to-be has charisma, good looks and an optimistic, easy-going way with him. He even wears heavy horn-rimmed glasses like Christopher Reeve’s …
JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling B League Final 2026
James Stephens 2-17; Danesfort 1-13. John Power at Danesfort GAA Grounds. James Stephens captured the JJ Kavanagh Junior B Hurling League title with a deserved seven-point victory over home side Danesfort on Wednesday evening, producing an impressive all-round display to secure the silverware. The success marked the city club’s second Junior B League triumph in …
What ails publican and punter alike?
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Many of the 3,500 publicans represented by the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) can arguably identify with the horse who walks into a pub and the barman says: “Why the long face?” Understandably so, as their federation tells an Oireachtas Joint Committee that rising costs are contributing …
Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai sponsored Aylward Cup Final 2026
Dunnamaggin 1-24; Rower Inistioge 0-15. John Power at Dunnamaggin GAA Grounds. Playing in their fourth ever Aylward Cup Final, home side Dunnamaggin finally got their hands on the trophy with an impressive and thoroughly deserved twelve-point victory over Rower-Inistioge on Sunday last. Having suffered heartbreak in previous deciders in 1999, 2009 and again in 2023, …
Kilkenny Council Cathaoirleach joins Historic Gathering as all Twelve Cities on the island of Ireland come together for First-Ever Summit of the Cities
Belfast, Northern Ireland – 29th June 2026 In a historic first all twelve cities came together in Belfast today for the first time ever for the inaugural Summit of the Cities. Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny Council represented Kilkenny at the event, where she met with the island’s eleven other Mayors. The event …
Online shopping now packaged with extra tax
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Irish shoppers ordering from sites such as Temu, Shein and many UK retailers are starting to feel the impact of new EU customs rules introducing a €3 charge on many low-value imports from outside the bloc. It marks the end of a system that allowed millions of small parcels to …
The Augustinians were appointed to serve and maintain
This week, The Kilkenny Observer welcomes John Comerford from Kilkenny tours who will bring us on trip to visit various locations in Kilkenny city and county. We hope to bring you a piece of history on the first Friday of each month. To give the full history on each location would take up too many …
The Countdown to Kilkenny’s Music Festival Has Begun…
One of the South East’s most popular summer events is set to return on Sunday, July 12th, as the Kilkenny Country Music Festival brings a star-studded line-up of country music favourites to Gowran Park Racecourse. Running from 1pm to 7pm, the festival promises an afternoon of live music, dancing and family entertainment in the beautiful …
Callan PP chases courting couples…
By John Fitzgerald Last week I recounted how the bells in Callan parish church rang out for all the sad and happy occasions…tolling to remind people of their religious obligations. But other bells rang out an altogether different, less welcome message. They were the ones that jingled on Canon Carrigan’s pony and trap when he …
Sibeko… and his field of dreams
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Watching the climactic moments of the World Cup over the past weeks brings to mind a conversation I once had. “You see one of your good friends do something good and you take your ball home and learn to do it yourself. Next day, you’re back and …
