SINN FÉIN TD Kathleen Funchion has expressed frustration and annoyance at words of sympathy and pseudo support for workers’ rights to find this never converts to legislative protection. “If workers could spend words of sympathy they might be able to do something with them, but as it stands words are useless. “The plight of Debenhams …

By Jimmy Rhatigam AS AUCTIONS go, the Fonsie Mealy Autumn Fine Art Sale is up there with the best. The three-day event is at the firm’s Chatsworth Auction Rooms, Chatsworth, Castlecomer on September 28, 29 and 30. The gavel will be busy from 11am each day as 1671 lots go under the hammer for a …

CHILDREN in a Deis school in Kilkenny will receive a gift package of new books by leading Irish authors as part of an Arts Council initiative to ensure that as many people as possible can experience Culture Night tonight. Encouraging all parents to participate with their children, the government agency for funding and developing the …

VILLAGE man Paddy Purcell who has passed away was a popular raconteur who loved telling a good yarn. He enjoyed relating the tale of how when he was a young boy he played in goal for James Stephens in an U16 hurling final. “It wasn’t one of my better days between the sticks,” he would …

KILKENNY Relay for Life has told The Observer that The Village Childcare & Community Services Group has generously offered to run its Drive-In Bingo at the Castleinch Venue for Relay for Life Kilkenny. The Irish Cancer Society will benefit from the bingo on Saturday next, September 26 at 7pm. Relay for Life Kilkenny fundraising has …

FOR THE sixth successive year in a row, bananas are top of the list for Irish parents when it comes to choosing a snack food for their baby or toddler. That is according to a National Parenting Product Awards competition. Based in large part on a survey conducted by Millward Brown amongst parents and experts, …

HE WAS a mere boy, albeit a lonely lad in a grip of fear and uncertainty. He was a child pauper home alone after his dad died and his mother and siblings headed to the US where his mum re-married. He was staring down a dark tunnel. But with a resilience that can spark miracles, …

By Jimmy Rhatigan OUR forefathers and mothers who now occupy a beautiful place titled God’s Garden are badly in need of a short back and sides. Local bishops, mayors of our city and eminent brothers in writing, Michael and John Banim are among those resting in peace at the Old St John’s Cemetery on the …

A MAN of honour who gave unselfishly of himself to our city for almost 20 years is now in need of our help and support. As a friend I enjoyed many hours in the company of Norman Lynas and his wife Nicola and as a popular and caring clergyman, I believe many will now want …

THAT a proud son of Castlecomer loves his mother with a combination of passion and loyalty hardly makes him unique. As is the wont of millions of young boys around the world, he has a special relationship with his mum. But perhaps what makes James Gerrard Saunders, popularly Jimmy, so special is his fantastic relationship …