Features
Loreto Kilkenny International Day 2025
Photography by Mr. Tom Beirne On 8 April 2025, Loreto Secondary School Kilkenny held their annual International Day to celebrate the vast diversity of cultures and ethnicities representing the student body. The day was a huge success, with over 185 students from various ethnicities taking part in the event, and show-off their culture with pride. …
Duiske Players to stage Wanted – One Body!
The well-known and much loved Duiske Players Drama Group are currently in rehearsals for this year’s production of Raymond Dyer’s Wanted – One Body!, which takes place on Thursday – Saturday, May 1st-3rd under the capable direction of group newcomer Joanne Hennessy. This play was last produced by the group 20 years ago and they …
Getting married in Ireland: What you need to know
Getting married is one of the most significant milestones in a person’s life. However, in Ireland, there are specific legal requirements and procedures that must be followed to ensure that your marriage is legally recognised. This week, The Kilkenny Observer takes a closer look at the requirement of getting married with a particular focus on …
Wood you believe?
Three workshops facilitated by Fr Jim Cogley As we have just celebrated Easter week, a wonderful opportunity for people of Kilkenny and further afield is about to take place in Callan in County Kilkenny. Fr Jim Cogley will host a wonderful three day course on ‘healing and hope’ at the Edmund Rice centre in Callan …
The Coolagh story and the game of cards
By Barrie Henriques Forty-seven years ago the ‘Coolagh boys’ decided that it would be a good idea to revive the dormant Pattern that had been so much a part of the Coolagh community for a very long time. Local community activist, James Neill (pronounced Nail), was very much central to the idea. He was also …
Bishop calls for courage in face of pressure
Bishop Niall Coll of Ossory has emphasised the importance of speaking the truth with love and courage in today’s world, urging people to be faithful to their own values in the face of the pressures of life today. In his homily for St Patrick’s Day in St Mary’s Cathedral, Bishop Coll pointed to the emptiness …
Gina is voted personal trainer of the year
When Gina Prónay-Zakar attended the Kilkenny-Carlow Customer Excellence Awards at Mount Wolseley Hotel in the Personal Trainer of the Year category, she thought little of leaving the venue as a winner. But that is exactly what happened. To say she was thrilled would be an understatement. We will return to the awards night. 40th birthday …
Gibbs triumphs as Shirley Valentine
By Tom Dayton On Friday March 14th, I attended a production of Shirley Valentine at The Concert Hall in Thomastown. This is my fourth production in a row by Lake Productions to attend, having previously seen The Kings of the Kilburn High Road, Moll, and Da. Each production so far has brought an air of …
Davis wins fifth international competition
Carlow Little Theatre Society were delighted to announce the winners of their fifth annual International One-Act Playwriting Competition earlier this month, which once again attracted a large number of submissions from Ireland and all around the world. After yet another extremely close contest this year, their independent adjudicators declared the winning results in the following …
How Graiguenamanagh is a vibrant town
Written by Michael Doyle Graiguenamanagh is a town in County Kilkenny situated 30 minutes from Kilkenny City, near the River Barrow at the foot of Brandon Hill. It has a population of over 1,500 and is considered to be one of the most beautiful areas in the southeast of Ireland. Graiguenamanagh is home to the …
