A saintly nun takes her leave…
BY JOHN FITZGERALD Callan has said goodbye to a saintly nun who was also an exceptionally gifted teacher and author. Sr. Assumpta Saunders was for decades a leading light at the Convent of Mercy in Callan. She passed to a better world at the age of one-hundred on October 19th while in the care of Waterford …
Osteoporosis and dancing till dawn…
CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton Exactly a year ago I had a routine DEXA scan to check the density of my bones. I have always had a good diet, am extremely active, have always danced, neither drink nor smoke and was shocked to learn that I had severe Osteoporosis. Big shock! However, there …
Alice. Who the f*** was Alice? Here’s who…
This poem, as they say, is inspired by real events but peppered (well peppered) with poetic licence. I wrote the poem for one of Kilkenny’s leading actors (and directors) Mary Craddock. Mary recited it in a seductive French accent wearing a short black mini-sat an event called ‘King of the Castle’. Alice I’m called – …
Why our fear is costing us dear
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR We are a nation of savers. We save 12.8% of our disposable income with €168 billion sitting in banks and credit unions, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Yet, more tan half of us earn less than 1% interest, while inflation eats into the true value of our cash …
Apprenticeships – why not earn and learn?
If you have tried to book a repair job or a service for your car or your central heating boiler you are likely to have to wait weeks if not months. I got given a date in December for the boiler repair and another six weeks ahead with my regular garage to have the car …
Keeping an eye on your child online
I had just turned 13 when my father stopped me in the hallway one day and pointed to the family cat. “See how Topsy has put on weight. That’s because she is going to have kittens. It’s the same with humans. Do you understand?” I nodded, his face flushed… and he moved on. It turned …
Kilkenny Science Festival November 8 to 16
Booking now open for extensive programme of free and ticketed events focused on adults, schools and community groups Kilkenny Science Festival is back from November 8 to 16 and it’s bigger and better than ever, coordinators at CALMAST, the South East Technological University’s STEM engagement centre, have promised. This year’s extensive programme of free and …
Kilkenny County Council Library Service joins forces with Cahill Truck Bodies on next-generation mobile library
Kilkenny Library Service are delighted to have signed a contract with Cahill Truck bodies, a 3rd generation family business based in Graiguenamanagh, for the purchase of a brand-new mobile library vehicle. This exciting development marks a significant investment in bringing library services directly to communities, schools, creches, and nursing homes across Kilkenny City and County. This …
Now comes the winter of our discontent
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Over a beer, my publisher Dave tells me: “I’m still in denial over the end of summer. It’s more than officially autumn, and I feel like I’ve forgotten to do something. There’s this crumpled mental checklist I’ve been trying to unfold, something I’d tossed to the back …
Cycling through a storm, Phil raises hope for CF
Phil Cody and his colleagues embraced the formidable challenge of cycling from Malin Head to Mizen Head, aiming to raise vital funds for people living with cystic fibrosis in Ireland. Scheduled from Thursday, 11th September to Sunday, 14th September 2025, the event was designed as a four-day journey across the entire length of the country—a …
