BY CLAIR WHITTY Some of you will be familiar with the Fabu brand. You may have seen it on the shelf in your local store. Did you know that this is an Irish brand formulated and developed by Laura Dowling? Laura is a scientist and an award-winning pharmacist and is passionate about the healing powers …

100

Soap Box City 2024 is a literary event designed for writers to share their original work in an open mic form during Kilkenny Arts Festival. Kilkenny Writers Anonymous, with the funding and backing of the Arts Office, invite writers of all genres and at all stages of their careers, to join them to read original …

119

Photographs by Vicky Comerford An Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Michael McCarthy, hosted a National Commemoration Day Regional Ceremony yesterday, Sunday, July 14th, at 11:00 a.m. in the historic grounds of Kilkenny Castle. The ceremony paid tribute to all Irishmen and Irishwomen who made the ultimate sacrifice in past wars or while serving with …

109

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS The woman at the checkout says: “It’s not great, is it?” I look at her quizzically. “For July. The weather.” I say: “Oh? Depends.” What is it, this obsession of ours, with the weather? When it’s hot, it’s “very hot, isn’t it”? And when it’s cold wet …

98

Eileen Lanigan retired from Kilkenny Fire & Rescue Service administration section on Saturday 29th June after over 41 years of service. She began her career in April 1983 as a telephone operator in Kilkenny City Fire Station.   Capt. Hugh Corrigan was the Chief Fire Officer at this time.  She was responsible for answering all emergency …

113

Kilkenny County Council and the Creative Ireland team proudly acknowledge the outstanding efforts of all the groups who participated in this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg 2024: A Free Day of Creativity for Young People. Held on Saturday, June 15th, 2024, this vibrant event, part of the Creative Ireland Programme, engaged over 1,534 young people and …

103

Mayor Andrew McGuinness who recently visited Nowlan Park to chat with the under-16 Kilkenny Gaelic footballers on the occasion of the centenary year of James Nowlan’s death, who was a former GAA President and Alderman on Kilkenny County Council. He shared with the young men encouraging words to continuously improve themselves as individuals on and …

99

While an exact ‘cause’ is difficult to find, there are plenty of things that increase our risk of osteoarthritis By Paul Bolger. Chartered Physiotherapist at Nano Physiotherapy, Kilkenny (www.nanophysio.ie). I don’t want to get overly philosophical here, but in life there is never truly one ‘cause’ of anything. Nothing is truly independent, nothing stands alone, separate …

101

National Play Day 2024 organised by Kilkenny County Council Community section in conjunction with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth was held on Saturday 13th July, 2024. The event was hosted by Kilkenny County Council and OPW took place between 11am and 1pm in Kilkenny Castle Park. Thanks to all the families …

116

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR In their recent 2024 Annual Review, the Climate Change Advisory Council has laid out detailed observations and recommendations aimed at transforming the ‘Built Environment Sector’. This sector includes all residential, commercial, and public buildings which continues to be a significant contributor to emissions, primarily due to fossil fuels use for …

105