Features
Texas musicians roll in for 10 days of free shows
Kilkenny is about to play host to over 80 musicians and music lovers from Texas who will roll into town for almost two weeks of live music, kicking off in Billy Byrnes, John Street, on August 28th. Not only will the city be treated to some incredible Texas music, every gig is free! The Texas …
Family gather to plant tree as they remember dad Dick O’Connell
The Kilkenny Observer was privileged to be part of a very emotional gathering on the Golf Links Road last weekend. The O’ Connell family, residents of no 2, gathered en masse, to plant a tree in memory of their recently deceased father, Dick. The ceremony took place on the green area fronting the family home. …
The Iverk Show
We all know that there are some events during the year that are a ‘not to be missed’ day. The Iverk Show is one of those. Held annually on the fourth Saturday of August in the village of Piltown, this agricultural and family show began way back in 1826. The Iverk Show has always been …
Full house at Neighbourhood Hall for Holohan launch of ‘Reflections on a Life’
Photos with thanks to Pat Shortall St Canice’s Neighbourhood hall was the venue for the launch of Davy Holohan’s art exhibition ‘Reflections on a life’. A son of Peig O’ Brien from Greenshill and of Johnstown’s Eddie Holohan, Daithi has a wide and varied CV. Having attended Kilkenny CBS primary and secondary school he made …
KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL – Our Arts Festival 50 years on
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I feel blessed to live in this historic, beautiful, and cultural city of ours. I feel equally blessed that for fifty years, Kilkenny has been hosting a world class Arts Festival (originally known as Arts Week) On this the 50th anniversary of the Festival I …
Author Donal Cadogan delves into the life and times of Alice Kyteler
By Annika Kilkenny “Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through”, Jonathan Swift. Kilkenny author, Donal Cadogan, takes inspiration from his roots in A little book of Alice Kyteler as he delves deep into the darkness that is tied to the unexplainable occurrences of 14th century Ireland. …
KATS present Eclipsed a story of survival
As history and personal accounts inform us, women entered the Magdelene laundries for a variety of reasons. Pregnant women were signed in, women who were deemed too “fast” or a little bit “slow” or even those who were a burden to their families were confined within those walls. Patricia Burke Brogan, the author of the …
Parish bids farewell to Fr. Richard Scriven as he heads for Castlecomer and Clogh
Parishioners of St Mary’s parish Kilkenny gathered at the Chapter House at the Cathedral to bid farewell to Fr Richard Scriven as he prepared to move to his new parish duties in Castlecomer and Clogh. He is a man with many strings to his bow and has contributed enormously to the spiritual and social life …
KATS Theatre present ‘Eclipsed’ 31st August – 2nd September
Edwina Cummins Edwina has been dabbling in the performance world since she was a child running around her yard, putting on one-woman shows to entertain herself when she thought no-one was looking. Despite becoming a thespian in secondary school, she only officially went amateur when she joined the Watergate Theatre Company for their production of …
From the Briary Wood to the Raggedy Bush Judy prepares to launch poetry book
Since the 1980s (and prior to that for all I know) Judy Rhatigan, along with her good friend Theresa O’ Reilly (RIP) were responsible for costuming many of the theatre shows staged at the Friary Hall. When the Pantomime Society was reintroduced to Kilkenny audiences in the early eighties, the Friary hall was packed for …
