Julie Anne Ryan is visiting her father’s hometown and competed in the Medieval Marathon on 13 September which happened to be the anniversary date of her police graduation back in 2006. Julie is a serving frontline police officer in Queensland Australia. Julie comes from a sporting background, her grandad Richard Joseph Ryan, who established R.J. Ryan …

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Brian Hogan leads impressive assembled backroom tea Henry Shefflin has been named as the new manager of the Kilkenny U20 hurlers, in a move that has surprised many on Noreside.  The County Board released a statement on Monday night advising of the appointment: The decision not only to appoint the legendary ten-time All-Ireland winner, but …

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Eight teams remain in race for Tom Walsh Cup BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League/Championship A fantastic weekend of action saw four ‘fallers’ as the senior championship really takes shapes on Noreside. While O’Loughlin’s and Mullinavat lifted the league silverware, Clara and Dicksboro both progressed to the last …

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Bishop Coll is pleased to announce Father Frank Brennan SJ will present a lecture on “From Pope Francis to Pope Leo XVI: an Australian Perspective, on Thursday, 25th September 2025 at 7.30 p.m. in St Patrick’s Parish Centre, Loughboy, Kilkenny. Fr. Frank’s great great grandmother was a native of Muckalee. Fr. Frank is residing at …

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Photos by Tom Beirne At Fr. Jim Murphy’s Retirement Mass in St. Canice’s Church, Kilkenny on 24th August, the congregation was addressed by Catherine Brady on behalf of the Parish Council in the unavoidable absence of its Chairperson, John Shortall, to bid farewell and pass on good wishes to Fr. Jim. Catherine spoke to a …

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Fresh from appearing in the National Theatre with Tommy Tiernan in ‘The Cave’, Cavan native Aaron Monaghan travelled to Graignamanagh in Co. Kilkenny on Sunday 31stAugust where he facilitated a drama workshop on script analysis and physical theatre. Aaron is the artistic director and founder of Livin’ Dred Theatre and ensemble member of Druid Theatre …

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Little bodies need play, not stillness By Judith Ashton Many children have just started school and teachers see a lot of fidgeting. The infants being the “worst offenders”! It’s un-natural for a 3 – 6 year old to sit still for hours when the natural language of the body is movement, feeling and touch; these …

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BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR As two-thirds of retirees currently rely solely on the State pension, Ireland is gearing up for the launch of the ‘My Future Fund’ auto-enrolment scheme on January 1, 2026. This push towards compulsory pension enrolment will help many but it’s not a one-size-fits all. Many of you are wondering how …

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BY CLAIR WHITTY Are you thinking of running a marathon this year? Whether you are a seasoned runner or a beginner, a marathon is a significant goal, so approach it with patience, dedication and a well-rounded plan. A healthy marathon training plan involves following a balanced diet rich in wholefoods, lean proteins and essential fats …

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AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON They say travel broadens the mind. Maybe too, it broadens the perspective on things we might try here in Ireland, or that we could do better. Holidays can be a source of take-away ideas to bring back home. Getting to Dublin Airport is a case in point. Taking …

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