Unwavering commitment sees Mike receive Lifetime Achievement Award
By Ger Cody Last June, Mike Kelly turned 80. In July, at the St Canice’s Neighbourhood Hall on the Butts Green, Mike was treated to a surprise birthday party. It was organised by a group of young men and women from the Arts sector who wanted to thank Mike for all he had done for …
What if at Christmas
The Kilkenny Observer Newspaper is delighted to present our ‘2025 Christmas short story series’. We invited five Kilkenny based writers to submit a short story or poems each week, which we hope you will enjoy. This is the Observers fifth year promoting creative writing in the community. Week four sees the work of Bob McLoughlin. …
Twenty-Fives for Turkeys, a memory to forget
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran I love a game of cards. Twenty-Fives to be precise. I can’t, however, remember the last time I played nor do I know where you’d find a game going on these days. Time was when card-playing was quite popular – in pubs, note. Not in fancy lounges with exotic drinks and piped …
Pensions: why no one size fits all
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR In years past retirement meant one thing – handing over your pension pot to an insurance company in exchange for an annuity which is a guaranteed income for the rest of your life. That changed in the 1990s with the arrival of Approved Retirement Funds (ARFs), and today retirees face …
How the BBC betrayed Princess Diana
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Ingrid Bergman once said: “Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better.” The star of Casablanca died in 1982 at the age of 67, relatively young by today’s standards. Today we – the fortunate ones, that …
Let’s Celebrate Natural Beauty Not Cosmetics for Kids!
CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton Great… just in time for Christmas! Make up for kids as young are 4. Another gullible market to exploit!! Do kids need make up? Definitely not. Why are companies creating it? Profits of course. This is such an uncomfortable issue with many ramifications for mind, body and spirit. …
O’LOUGHLIN GAELS HISTORY LAUNCH
Tuesday night, 16th December promises to be a big night for O’Loughlin Gaels as the club launches its history “Under One Banner”. Written by the club’s PRO, Conor Denieffe, the book tells the story of O’Loughlin Gaels Club from its formation in 1969 to the present day, 2025. It details the many games, the scores, …
CALLUM CLAIMS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
Graignamanagh’s Callum Barron (19), representing Kilkenny City Harriers, delivered an outstanding performance to claim the national title in the Novice Men’s 6000m at the Cross Country Championships in Abbotstown, Dublin. Battling a demanding and mud-soaked course, Barron faced an added setback when he lost one of his running spikes mid-race. Despite the difficulty, he maintained …
Made in Kilkenny Opens 16th Annual Christmas Pop-Up Shop in New Location on The Parade
Made in Kilkenny is delighted to announce the opening of its 16th annual Christmas Pop-Up Shop, taking place this year in a brand-new location — the former KBC Bank building on The Parade, right in the heart of Kilkenny city. The shop will open daily from Saturday, 29th November until Christmas Eve, from 10am to …
The 17-year-old living inside this old man
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Ingrid Bergman once said: “Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better.” The star of Casablanca died in 1982 at the age of 67, relatively young by today’s standards. Today we – the fortunate ones, …
