Photographs by Vicky Comerford A big crowd turned out to mark the official reopening of the Lacken Boardwalk on the banks of the River Nore, just downstream from Kilkenny City Centre, on Monday the 17th February 2025. Kilkenny City’s first composite construction boardwalk was officially opened by the Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Michael McCarthy …

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Cats look to build on Wexford win against Kiely’s Limerick BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Kilkenny vs Limerick UPMC Nowlan Park, Sunday, 1:45pm Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork) When the fixtures were released for this seasons Allianz Hurling League Division 1A, many eyes on Noreside would have been drawn to …

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THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan The European conquest of Africa was driven by a mix of motivations. Known as the ‘Scramble for Africa’, European powers like Britain, France, and Belgium divided the continent, neglecting indigenous societies. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 was pivotal, marking Africa’s division without regard for existing cultures. Economic interests topped …

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BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR A recent survey of 1,000 Irish homeowners has revealed alarming statistics regarding home security, with nearly one in five experiencing a break-in within the last five years. We are being urged to take proactive steps to protect our properties as the survey highlights both common security measures and risky habits …

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AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON The story feels like that line from Frank Sinatra’s song High Hopes – ‘Woops there goes another rubber tree plant’. Not a plant in this case but yet another high profile example of a waste of taxpayers’ money. This time the Arts Council was at fault for wasting …

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THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Four in five primary schoolchildren have unsupervised access to smart devices in their bedrooms, according to a new study. Just a minority said their parents or caregivers could see what they were doing online. New research by Ireland’s online safety charity, CyberSafeKids, highlights a significant lack of …

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Photos by Pat Shortall Well, our country had it all. Storms, power cuts, schools and businesses shut down. To borrow a phrase from Sean O’Casey “The country was in a state of chassis.” Each evening on our TV screens, bad news made its way into our sitting rooms. Some counties suffered more than others – …

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Derry playwright Brian Foster says he is delighted at the reception his play, A Miracle in Donegal, received from audiences in both Derry and Letterkenny over the last few years. Not to mention the rave reviews it received from newspaper critics. Foster, who also directed the play, said “In all honesty, I’m stunned at how …

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FURTHERMORE  By Gerry Moran Pat Delaney passed away on February 4. Pat lived about 400 yards from me. We walked the same lane, Caesar’s Lane, to school, the CBS Primary. And yet our paths never crossed. The reason being, I reckon, was because Pat was that bit younger than me and in a class lower. …

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THE LAST WORD The housing crisis in Ireland is a complex tapestry woven from threads of history, policy, and societal change. As I walk through the streets of Kilkenny, I see the echoes of a time when homes were plentiful and affordable. Today, however, the mismatch between supply and demand is stark, leaving many families …

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