CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton Exactly a year ago I had a routine DEXA scan to check the density of my bones. I have always had a good diet, am extremely active, have always danced, neither drink nor smoke and was shocked to learn that I had severe Osteoporosis. Big shock! However, there …

This poem, as they say, is inspired by real events but peppered (well peppered) with poetic licence. I wrote the poem for one of Kilkenny’s leading actors (and directors) Mary Craddock. Mary recited it in a seductive French accent wearing a short black mini-sat an event called ‘King of the Castle’. Alice I’m called – …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR We are a nation of savers. We save 12.8% of our disposable income with €168 billion sitting in banks and credit unions, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Yet, more tan half of us earn less than 1% interest, while inflation eats into the true value of our cash …

If you have tried to book a repair job or a service for your car or your central heating boiler you are likely to have to wait weeks if not months. I got given a date in December for the boiler repair and another six weeks ahead with my regular garage to have the car …

I had just turned 13 when my father stopped me in the hallway one day and pointed to the family cat. “See how Topsy has put on weight. That’s because she is going to have kittens. It’s the same with humans. Do you understand?” I nodded, his face flushed… and he moved on. It turned …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Over a beer, my publisher Dave tells me: “I’m still in denial over the end of summer. It’s more than officially autumn, and I feel like I’ve forgotten to do something. There’s this crumpled mental checklist I’ve been trying to unfold, something I’d tossed to the back …