Mortages could be below 3% by this summer
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Irish mortgage holders have received some welcome news as mortgage rates recorded their largest monthly drop since at least 2017, according to the latest Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) report. In December 2024, the average mortgage rate fell to 3.80%, down from 3.97% in November, marking the lowest level in …
Shirley heads for Thomastown
A packed Billy Byrnes pub on John Street saw over 60 of Kilkenny’s theatre going public come together for the launch of the forthcoming production of Shirley Valentine being staged by Lake Productions. Founding member of the troupe, Emily Kelly praised the work of Clare Gibbs, who plays the role of Shirley and Mary Cradock …
Are we losing the art of a good insult?
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON More than a few feathers have been ruffled recently by name calling. First it was Micheal Martin who called Mary Lou McDonald a liar – he says he didn’t, the word he used meant untruth. Then Donald Trump, in an unprecedented diatribe, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zalensky a …
Team work the key to success for Kilquan Players
Photos by Pat Shortall Kilquan Players have just completed a wonderful comedy in Coon Hall and those who attended can confirm that it was a great nights entertainment. Written by Sam Cree and directed by Benny Mills, the show was a laugh a minute. Bert Cooper and Harold Smileyare in a hospital ward together when …
Natural Remedies for Toddlers
BY CLAIR WHITTY Are you looking for natural solutions for everyday childhood ailments? Sleeping problems are one of the biggest issues we get asked about. BetterYou Goodnight Spray for Kids is a brilliant magnesium body spray that can be gently massaged into the skin at night before bed to help get fall to sleep faster. …
The Tans arrive in Kilkenny
Showdown at Nine-Mile-House BY JOHN FITZGERALD (Part four) One of the best-known military engagements involving the County Kilkenny IRA occurred at Nine-Mile-House, just inside the Tipperary border in the valley of Sliabh-na-mBan. On December 20th, 1920, volunteers of the 7th battalion Flying Column, backed up by Tipperary IRA men, lay in hiding on a hill overlooking a section of the main Kilkenny to Clonmel road. They …
Kilkenny County Council pilots new funding scheme to encourage night time café culture
Kilkenny County Council is piloting a new funding scheme to encourage local cafés in the City to extend their opening hours by offering innovative and cultural events after 6pm. Café Lates is a direct response to feedback from a public survey conducted last year under the Night Time Economy Pilot Initiative which showed that people …
There’s always that shed in the back garden
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS There’s a terrible irony that thousands of homes remain vacant despite a national housing crisis. New figures show that close to 81,000 residential properties were vacant in the final three months of last year. This has barely changed since the same three months in 2023, according to …
Cats seek to quieten Rebel yell!
Lyng will want points from Cork trip BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Round 5 Cork vs Kilkenny Saturday, 5PM, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh Referee: Johnny Murphy There was much anticipation on Noreside about the arrival of Limerick last week, but supporters and players hopes were dashed thanks to a …
The Cock Step of Light
By Dr Joe Kearney Photo of moon by Padraig Comerford She was referring to the extra light in the sky as we move from winter solstice towards spring brightness. She could feel that stirring in the air, something very faint and very subtle but nonetheless tangible. She knew the clockwork belly of the Earth was …
