2025 – A Year of Kilkenny – Palestine Solidarity
2025 was a year of action and determination in Kilkenny, as thousands of people demanded that the Irish Government pass the Occupied Territories Act to prohibit the import of goods and services from Palestinian settlements illegally occupied by Israel. After more than two and a half years of devastating bombardment by the Israeli Defence Forces, …
Recreation in Old Callan
By John Fitzgerald (Part three) Swimming in the King’s River was a much-loved pastime in Callan up to the late seventies. Columnist Peter Roughan remembered the swimmers of his childhood in the town at the turn of the century. And local newspaper correspondent, Seamus O’ Brien chronicled happy days on the river in his own youth, spanning …
Another year, another chance
Cats get underway with Walsh Cup clash BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Dioralyte Walsh Cup Westmeath vs Kilkenny Sunday, 1:30pm Breedon Kevin Molloy Park, The Downs Christmas 2025 is now in the rear-view mirror. Our club sides have exited their various championships, and all eyes are now firmly focused on the return of intercounty …
The Winners for 2025 in Natural Health Store
BY CLAIR WHITTY Happy New Year to you all, I hope you had a good one. I am not ready for new years resolutions just yet so instead I thought I would look back on what trended in 2025. So, let’s take a look, Magnesium was number one, we couldn’t keep it on our shelves. …
New Yorkers don’t mince their words as they praise John Street butcher
In today’s world of communication, we probably connect with family and friends more so today than ever before. In the blink of an eye we send emails, tweets and whatsapp messages like there were going out of fashion. However, when it comes to writing a letter, we are not that ‘flaithiúlach’. Although it is not …
William street bookshop hosts launch
Stephen Buck and Marian O’Neil prove that dreams can come through. They opened their own bookshop in 2019, and is nestled in the historic William Street in Kilkenny city. Over the past six years , ‘The Book and coffee shop’ has seen book-launches, plays and recitals. Marian and Stephen have held creative writing classes and …
Cllr Eugene McGuinness appointed Peace Commissioner
Mick McGuinness (Michael J. McGuinness, 1921–2003) was a highly influential former Mayor of Kilkenny, serving seven times. He was a long-standing councillor (County and Borough), and a pivotal figure in local development, known for tourism, the Beer Festival, and for securing the Health Board HQ. Mick was also a Peace Commissioner. And now, his son …
Coffee morning supported the vulnerable
Photos: JBS Kilkenny Helping the Homeless is a registered charity that offers food, clothes, household items and personal items to those in need in Kilkenny and Dublin. They travel up to Dublin every second Saturday with volunteers and distribute food on Grafton Street. Mary Pierce and her husband Brendan said that they usually begin preparing …
Mussolini, Houdini and who-done-it?
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran One hundred year from now I wonder what shape our world will be in – that’s if we survive the murder, mayhem and chaos being wrought upon mankind and the planet by that unholy trinity: Trump, Putin and Netanyahu. Meanwhile, here’s what was going on in the world 100 years ago …
Promising better retirement security
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Ireland’s long-awaited mandatory workplace pension scheme, My Future Fund, is finally here. But last-minute changes have sparked debate. Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary announced new rules just before Christmas, aiming to prevent employers from dodging the system with low-value in-house pensions. Data protection issues and the financial burden on …
