Sins, Missioners, and the Blackthorn Stick…
By John Fitzgerald Continuing the story of the days when religion ruled in Callan and Fr. Bob (not his real name) patrolled the district with a blackthorn stick in search of courting couples in the ditches. You can read the previous parts on the Observer website. When the Missioners came to town, they put the …
Br. Colm O’Connell: The Godfather of Kenyan Running
Missionary Patrician Brother, Colm O’Connell, the legendary Irish missionary, and athletics coach known as the “Godfather of Kenyan Running”, recently visited his old colleague and good friend Michael Murphy in Bennettsbridge. Bro. Colm is from Mallow, Co. Cork. He lives in Iten in Kenya and has spent the last 50 years teaching, lecturing, and coaching …
“Loneliness is a serious issue in rural Ireland”, says Kilkenny T.D.
By Tom Dayton As Lake Productions enter the final few weeks before their production of ‘the Quiet Land’ by Irish playwright Malachy McKenna, Tom Dayton for the Kilkenny Observer newspaper contacted Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere a T.D for Carlow Kilkenny and Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Affairs to ask him his thoughts on rural …
Looking for Liam….
Treaty and Tribesmen set from Croker clash BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final Limerick vs Galway Páirc an Chrócaigh, Sunday, 3:30pm So, it’s All-Ireland hurling final time this weekend and the decider pits Munster vs Leinster. Most right-minded people would probably suggest that means the match will be between …
Highview Athletic F.C. celebrate their successful achievements
Huge congratulations to all of the teams and players who recently received their awards for the past season. The presentation was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements, commitment and dedication shown by everyone throughout what has been a truly memorable year for the club. Without doubt, this has been the most successful season we …
Families enjoy National Play Day 2026 in Kilkenny Castle Park
Photo: Patrick Bramley, Ulabstudio Kilkenny County Council’s Community Section, in partnership with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, successfully hosted National Play Day 2026 on Saturday, 4th of July 2026 in the beautiful surroundings of Kilkenny Castle Park. The free family event, delivered in collaboration with the Office of Public Works (OPW), Healthy Ireland, Sonix …
Wake up to your five senses
CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton How much attention do you really give to your incredible five senses? Your sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch? Sight enables our eyes to detect light and interpret it as images, shapes, colours and distance. Hearing enables our ears to detect air vibrations, allowing us to perceive different …
Savings: how to get more for your buck
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR If you’re one of the many households with savings parked in an easy-access account, the past decade has taken a quiet but heavy toll. Over that time, the average demand-deposit account has lost more than 21% of its purchasing power to inflation. That’s not a line on a graph. It’s …
Time to stop carnage caused by e-scooters
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON It would put the heart across you is a pretty graphic saying. Racing heartbeat, breath holding and a prickle of alarm about danger are some of the things that describe it. I had the heart put across me the other day as three young lads careered up the …
Scorched earth… and childhood summers
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS With the on/off heatwave this summer, if you think this is as good as it gets, think again. New research shows that Ireland could reach peak temperatures of up to 45C (113F) within the next 30 years. Prolonged periods of heat above 40C would also bring about …
