Former Kilkenny hurler Jim Treacy has died at the age of 82. Treacy, from Bennettsbridge, captained the Stripy men  to their 1967 All-Ireland triumph over Tipperary. It was a significant victory with the team having lost two of the previous three finals. It also marked a first win over neighbours Tipperary in the final since …

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Two men discover more than they bargained for as they drink and gamble the night away on the last night train from Holyhead. The play follows a chance encounter between two men on a late-night boat train to London. When a mysterious Gypsy woman joins their carriage, what begins as a casual meeting gradually unfolds …

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The winners of Carlow Little Theatre Society’s popular One-Act Playwriting Competition for 2026, sponsored by DigiAbú, were recently announced, with David Keenan of Celbridge winning both the overall Best International Play and the Best Irish Play categories with his exceptional play, The Halo Effect. Now in its sixth year, the competition received submissions from across the …

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CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton The transition into very hot weather feels rather sudden. Last week there was cold air from Siberia and I was well wrapped up against it. This week my body is trying to adapt to extreme heat. It’s very confusing and doesn’t feel right at all. When I was …

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FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Two things I hate. (Only two, Ger? Okay maybe three, now moving rapidly on). Two things I hate: I’m searching for a space in a busy parking lot, I spy one just up ahead but as I’m approaching someone cheekily shoots in before me. Hate that. I curse and swear and …

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BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Summer is here and whether it is sunny or pouring (typical Irish weather!), it is the perfect time to dive into a good book about your finances. You do not need to be a financial expert to enjoy these. They offer straightforward, practical ideas that can really help you get …

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AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Emigration is in our genes. Since 1800 around 10 million people have left Ireland. But once upon a time, people left largely because, without work or hope, they had to. Now leaving is likely to be a choice. Around 65,000 to 69,000 leave Ireland each year, but only …

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THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS A report in front of me says workers fear automation replacing their livelihoods, about the loss of traditional work, and society as a whole is unsettled by the rapid shift. Sound familiar? But this is from the early 1800s during the birth of the Industrial Revolution, when …

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Sarah earns her stripes in Capital win BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Glen Dimplex Senior Camogie Championship Group 2, Round 2, Parnell Park Dublin 1-12 Kilkenny 2-16 Kilkenny made it two from two in Group 2 of this season’s Glen Dimplex Senior Camogie Championship when they travelled to take on the Dubs last Saturday …

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Kilkenny’s early exit confirmed with Dubs defeat BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Leinster GAA Senior Hurling Championship 2026 Dublin 1-26 Kilkenny 0-22 Round 5, Parnell Park And that’s a wrap for the senior hurlers of Kilkenny in 2026, as they bowed out of championship action with another below par performance in the Capital. Dublin …

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