BY MICHAEL O’LEARY One of the most exciting weekends of the Racing Year takes place this weekend as the jumps action return to Gowran Park, with a two-day meeting taking place today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday). Along with The action in Gowran Park, Sunday is a huge day with a superb mixed card of Flat …

115

Kilkenny and Carlow County Councils are thrilled to announce the launch of “Living Artfully,” a ground-breaking joint initiative funded by Creative Ireland. This innovative project is designed to enhance Creativity for Health and Wellbeing within our communities. Living Artfully extends an open invitation to service users and staff from Traveller Support Services, Dementia Friendly Services, …

166

Kilkenny County Council are pleased to announce the commencement of construction of a new mixed tenure 42-unit housing scheme at Abbeyhill, Ladywell Street, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. Located in front of the new Primary Care Centre, within walking distance of Thomastown Town Centre this development will transform a 1.24-hectare disused site into a vibrant community, providing …

116

All roads led to Leinster House on the 18th of September where Public Participation Networks (PPNs) from all parts of the country got an opportunity to meet with Deputies and Senators regarding the Budget for 2025. Kilkenny PPN is one of 31 PPNs that have been established in all local authority areas in the State as …

116

BY JOHN FITZGERALD An inspirational story of life, love, loss and survival was revealed at a book launch in Callan on Saturday. The Four Ships, by Kilkenny woman Tanya Mullins, is a non-fiction book that I found as compelling as any novelistic page-turner Tanya has set down her recollection of a three decade phase of her life into which …

615

Relegation beckons for losing side BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny Senior Hurling Relegation Final Glenmore vs James Stephens Tomorrow, 2pm, Thomastown Referee: Owen Beehan There are no more second chances. This is the final roll of the dice for both Glenmore and James Stephens as they meet to see …

212

A Bridge too far for The Sash as major brace seals extra-time win BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny Senior Championship The weekend promised much, four intriguing quarter-final encounters, but a weather warning for Sunday saw that day’s action postponed, leaving Saturday’s two senior tussles as the fair available for …

107

THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan So, there I was, perched on my usual stool in Ted’s Pub, the eternal beacon of warmth on a damp Irish evening. The place was buzzing, as always. The regulars, me included, were scattered about, each with a pint in hand and a tale on the tongue. Ted’s was …

129

FURTHERMORE  By Gerry Moran Straightway let me say that no one, but no one, wants to insult anyone. And no one wants to be insulted. That said – life is no bed of roses or hydrangeas for that matter – s**t happens, insults fly and occasionally we are at the receiving end of those put-downs …

111

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON As the Israelis’ killing fields switch their deadly focus from Gaza to Lebanon and the tinder box of the Middle East region teeters on the brink of conflagration you wonder where is this going to end. As the death toll and injury of innocent civilians mounts by the …

106