BY CLAIR WHITTY Are you feeling on edge, stressed, worried, uneasy, or panicky? Sound familiar? There are many reasons why you might feel like this. Maybe you have exams or a driving test coming up soon. You might be waiting on medical tests or surgery. Fear of flying is another cause of fear and overwhelm. …

108

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS An oil crisis back then and embarrassing hairstyles notwithstanding, the 1970s were the good old days. I thought we never had it so good. And it seems I was right. A study suggests our global prosperity peaked in 1978, and it’s been downhill ever since. Governments have …

105

CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton I only take flights if it’s for an extended stay, e.g. a holiday.  I couldn’t  justify jetting off somewhere for a weekend. I remember, years ago, being aghast when a woman told me she was off shopping to New York with friends for a weekend. Before the war …

140

A new initiative helping communities celebrate sustainably has launched in County Kilkenny, introducing a simple but impactful idea: borrow your partyware instead of throwing it away. The “Borrow, Use, Return” pilot scheme provides reusable party packs through selected community groups, making it easy for residents to host birthdays, events and gatherings without relying on single-use …

114

Kilkenny County Council is urging the public to remain vigilant against illegal waste collectors operating across Kilkenny City and County, as part of ongoing efforts to tackle illegal dumping and protect the environment. Unregulated operators offering “cheap” waste collection services are contributing significantly to illegal dumping in rural areas, back roads, laneways, and urban locations. …

112

In March 2026, Muckalee Ladies Gaelic Football Club was honoured at a civic reception hosted by Kilkenny County Council at County Hall in Kilkenny. The event marked a proud and memorable occasion for the club and its supporters, celebrating the team’s outstanding achievement in winning the All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football Championship, a historic first in …

115

Room for improvement at both ends for Lyng’s men BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE So where are we? It’s April already.  Hopefully ‘winter hurling’ is in the rear-view mirror and we can look forward to better weather and better hurling for those in black and amber over the next three months or so.  Now …

124

Mullinavat 2-17; Dicksboro 1-09 Mullinavat advanced to the quarter finals of the 2026 Senior Football Championship with an eleven-point victory over Dicksboro in this lunchtime encounter at Mullinavat GAA Grounds on Sunday last. On a difficult afternoon weather-wise, with a swirling wind and persistent drizzle throughout, conditions made fluent football difficult for both sides. Handling …

116

Ireland’s premier Americana and roots festival returns to Kilkenny from 1–4 May 2026 Kilkenny, Ireland – Ireland’s leading Americana and roots music event, the Smithwick’s Kilkenny Roots Festival, returns for its 28th edition from 1–4 May 2026, bringing an outstanding line-up of international artists from America, Europe and the UK to venues across Kilkenny’s historic city …

126

By Tom Dayton Photos: Ken McGuire Growing up in Clare in the 1980’s, two topics were always up for discussion. Traditional Irish music, and Fairies. Mind you they were never referred to as fairies. Rather, they were addressed as ‘The Good People (An Dea Daoine) for fear of insulting them. The music, whether in Miltown …

115