Tragedies show up cracks in child protection
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON A friend was in raptures over the film Hamnet, its cinematography, and portrayal of grief. Did she cry? Yes, everyone did, came the reply. Hamnet is a fictionalised version of the loss of Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway’s son (11) to the plague at a time of high child …
Now, breaking up is not so hard to do
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS In the autumn of 1986, my father’s youngest sister, Toni, and her partner, Eric, flew to Indonesia, where Eric filed for a ‘no-contest’ divorce from his wife. He and the love of his life then flew on to New York and married in City Hall, Toni’s brother …
THE WINE CENTRE WIN NOFFLA LEINSTER OFF LICENCE OF THE YEAR 2026!
The National Off-Licence Association (NOFFLA) has announced the winners of its annual Off-Licence of the Year Awards at the ceremony held in Dublin on Monday evening just (26th) – and The Wine Centre, Kilkenny has been crowned Leinster Off-Licence of the Year, 2026 – the 13th time in the last 14 years! NOFFLA was established back …
Kilkenny Library Launches Ambitious Library Development Plan: Creating Vibrant and Sustainable Communities 2025–2029
Kilkenny Library Service is delighted to announce the launch of its new Library Development Plan, Creating Vibrant and Sustainable Communities 2025–2029. This forward-thinking strategy sets out our vision for the coming years, ensuring that libraries remain as dynamic spaces where knowledge, culture, and connection thrive, at the heart of the community. This plan provides a strategic …
Dry January: How to Support Your Liver Naturally After Christmas
BY CLAIR WHITTY After the indulgence of Christmas, many of you may be considering doing Dry January to reset your health. I am going to give it a shot this year, nothing to lose, everything to gain. After weeks of rich foods, sugary treats, and increased alcohol I feel that there has been extra strain …
Cats see-off Dowling’s stubborn Lilywhites to claim Shield victory
Offaly in focus, as league begins on Noreside BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Dioralyte Leinster Walsh Shield Final Kilkenny 1-20 Kildare 2-13 John Locke Park, Callan Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly) There was a sizeable crowd in Callan last Sunday as Kildare travelled to Noreside for the 2026 Dioralyte Leinster Walsh Shield Final. The …
The Great War Widows of Walkin Street and Goose Hill, County Kilkenny
The Great War Widows of Walkin Street and Goose Hill, County Kilkenny (working title) is a forthcoming publication that will document the human cost of the First World War on two Kilkenny streets. Research on the lives of the widows and families left behind is underway. Over 150 soldiers who served in the Great War …
Re-Empowering Death Conversations
CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton Talking about sex does not make you pregnant! Talking about death does not kill you! Talking about such things is empowering and need not be taboo… so let’s start such conversations sooner than later. I’m a great believer in talking and learning as much as possible about the …
OcuHealth wins VentureLaunch 2025 as SETU–UCD partnership advances new eye treatment
OcuHealth, an emerging eye therapeutics start-up led by South East Technological University (SETU) in collaboration with University College Dublin (UCD), has been announced as the overall winner of this year’s VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme. The award recognises the significant commercial potential of OcuHealth’s breakthrough approach to treating eye disease and marks an important milestone for the …
“Saved by the Hand of God”
By John Fitzgerald (Part One) Along with the horrors of war, we hear the occasional feel-good stories…of narrow escapes and heart-stopping brushes with death A County Kilkenny woman, the late Kathleen Aylward, told me of how divine intervention saved her from the wrath of the German Air Force during World War 2. In July 2002, …
