Call for big Kilkenny energy to St Patrick’s Day parade
Photos by Liam Murphy Applications for the St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny parade are now open WITH just seven weeks to join the celebration, St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny is calling on local clubs, communities, charities, performers, cultural organisations, schools and local businesses to come alive and animate the medieval streets of Kilkenny to celebrate Ireland’s national …
Cats pounce to beat Clare in league opener
Mossy the main man as Banner beaten BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Clare 0-21 Kilkenny 0-23 Round 1, Cusack Park, Ennis Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway) Kilkenny ended their losing streak against The Banner with a battling 2-point win in Cusack Park, Ennis, last weekend. With the home side fielding …
Tom Brennan: The People’s Publican!
BY JOHN FITZGERALD Kilkenny mourned the passing of a great publican last week. Tom Brennan, who ran Phelan’s Bar in Parliament Street, had served the tipplers of the city since he began pulling pints there in the 1960s. His many loyal customers underwent a different grieving eight years ago when Tom unexpectedly said goodbye to …
To what extent is Ireland an equal society?
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan As our elected representatives begin the business of the 34th Dail, there will be many references to the past including to the Proclamation of 1916 – a document that states: “The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens.” But to what …
Why we urgently need to get back to assisted dying
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS The Coalition’s Programme for Government is decidedly guarded on many proposals, with much use of the words ‘explore’ and ‘consider’ instead of ‘will’. It is also deafeningly silent on some contentious matters. Such matters, however, aren’t going away any time soon. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted …
Ó hArgáin gives cautious welcome to Gaza ceasefire deal
Labour Party Kilkenny councillor, Seán Ó hArgáin, has given a cautious welcome to the announcement of a ceasefire after the announcement of a deal between the Israeli and Hamas governments. Speaking at the weekly vigil in Kilkenny city, which has taken place ever since the Hamas and Israeli attacks in October 2023, Cllr. Ó hArgáin …
Cats, Clare and Cusack!
League campaign starts with Ennis trip BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Clare vs Kilkenny Round 1, Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway) It’s not even the end of January, but the intercounty hurling scene returns this weekend and this time, it’s not the Walsh Cup, but round …
Credit for Quiet Land goes to a previous generation
Photos by Pat Shortall In the hidden Ireland off the new EU infrastructure of motorway and ring-road, two elderly farmers lean on a fence and talk in the low-key code of near neighbours. The Quiet Land is also a masterclass, served as it is by two actors, Ger Cody and Brendan Corcoran, who’ve accumulated between …
An Enchanting Evening of Celtic and Bulgarian Folk Music with Celtaura
Thomastown Concert Hall is thrilled to present an unforgettable evening of live music featuring the renowned duo, Celtaura. This special concert will take place on Friday, January 31st, showcasing a unique blend of Celtic and Balkan folk traditions that will captivate audiences of all ages. Celtaura, known for their mesmerizing performances and distinctive sound, brings …
Dan Stapleton, a man of many talents
Kilkenny won the first of its thirty six All Ireland Senior Hurling titles in 1904. As happened often in the early days of the G.A.A. the final was not played in the calendar year of ’04 nor indeed in ’05 but rather in June ’06. The final was played in Carrick on Suir on Maurice …
