Features
Kilkenny’s Christmas Market continues to woo the crowds
The third weekend of Kilkenny’s Yulefest Christmas continues to draw the crowds to the medieval city centre as the festival enters the advent Christmas shopping season. Dozens of stalls featuring local craft, food and art producers will attract thousands of shoppers this weekend, while they will be entertained by live music on the festival bandstand …
Former Kilkenny great Eddie Keher connects with The Friday Men’s Group at Newpark
Photos by Pat Shortall A very special guest arrived at Newpark Family Resource centre recently. Eddie Keher received an enthusiastic welcome from those present and many hurling stories and matches were recounted. During his hurling career, Keher had become known as the deadliest finisher in the history of the game. He held the record for …
Christmas in a thatched house
THE KILKENNY OBSERVER CHRISTMAS SHORT STORY SERIES CELEBRATING WRITERS IN OUR COMMUNITY ’23 The Kilkenny Observer Newspaper is delighted to present our ‘2023 Christmas short story series’. We have invited four writers from Kilkenny to submit a short story during the Christmas season, which we hope you will enjoy. For this, our third week, we …
Buried with full military honours, Sergeant Michael Walsh is commemorated as family and friends remember
By Ger Cody photos: jbs photoskilkenny Almost a hundred years ago to the day, Sergeant Michael Walsh, at thirty four years of age, was buried at St Rioch’s Graveyard on the Gaol Road in Kilkenny. This was no ordinary burial. Sgt Walsh was returned to Kilkenny from Dublin by train on November 30 in 1923 …
Choirs to perform carol service at St Mary’s Cathedral with special guest Tanya Sewell
A very special evening of music and carols will take place on Sunday 17th at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny. Following on from last years successful concert, the much loved event returns and promises to be bigger and better. This year there is an outstanding line up of performers including St Mary’s Cathedral choir, …
Memories of Christmas in Thomastown
By Joan Cleere My memories of Christmas are mostly happy ones. When I was small I remember watching the local store for weeks beforehand waiting for the toys to be displayed. When the great day arrived the word spread like wildfire and within a short time the big plate glass window of Hoyne’s Hardware Store …
Observation and imagination the key to creating theatre
By Ger Cody Photos: Martin Doyle Back in the 1970’s, many of the amateur drama fraternity in Kilkenny began travelling to Gormanston College to attend the Amateur Drama League (ADL) Summer school. The week long course enthused and engaged participants. ‘Improvisation’, ‘Mime’, and ‘Directing for the future’ were at the heart of the instruction. Banished …
Businesses come up trumps to help light up the City as never before
In a remarkable display of community spirit and collaboration, local businesses in Kilkenny have played an important role in transforming the City’s Christmas lights into a dazzling spectacle for the 2023 Christmas season. Their generous contributions have complemented the substantial funding by Kilkenny County Council, marking the most significant upgrade in festive lighting the City …
Watergate Theatre – 30th Anniversary
Some of the Kilkenny Greats of the Watergate Theatre By Gerry Moran I took photographs of performances in the Watergate Theatre for almost a period of twenty years. With my trusty little camera I took snaps of the good and the great who performed there. One of the best nights I ever had, however, was …
The history and stories of The Butts set for big screen in Kilkenny
By Ger Cody A new film documentary ‘The History and stories of The Butts’ is about to be screened at the ICM cinema in Kilkenny. In olden times this place was the “Middle of Kilkenny” because all the old roadways led straight to it. It was in this square that the military practised archery. It …
