Features
Dore Optometrist wins Kilkenny Business of the Year 2021
All pix: Danny Lahart Kilkenny’s Business of the Year was unveiled at the Kilkenny Business Awards 2021, held this evening, Saturday 12th March, at the Conference Centre at Lyrath Estate Hotel. (The event was postponed from November due to Covid concern) Dore Optometrist Independent Opticians in Kilkenny for over 30 years. Family run, personalised service …
The Kilkenny Observer, together with our advertisers have teamed up with Cois Nore to raise funds for Kilkenny’s Cancer Support centre
Cois Nore – Kilkenny’s Cancer Support Centre – a local service for local people Cois Nore is Kilkenny’s Cancer Support centre, which provides free confidential support and both professional and voluntary services to people of all ages affected by cancer and their families to enable them to live well with their diagnosis. According to Bill …
Saint Patrick’s Day 1903 in Kilkenny
Cois Céim in association with The Kilkenny Saturday Walkers group, take a look at St Patrick’s Day in 1903 when James O Mara an Irish politician successfully introduced a Bill that made it an official public holiday. Up to this date St Patricks Day was celebrated on the Sunday following March 17th. Bank holidays or …
Kilkenny writer Shortall brings Orphan Disease home to Kilkenny
This April 23rd a new play by Kilkenny-born Catherine Cronin comes to the Watergate Theatre. The one-woman show, Orphan Disease, opened in Zurich, Switzerland last August with the company Close Encounters Theatre (CET). Cronin has been living in Zurich for over twelve years but Kilkenny and Ireland remain close to her heart and her work. …
Dancing queen: Sofia Khodabacksh
Dancing queen: Sofia Khodabacksh from Bennettsbridge who was dancing in Dublin at the Leinister championships recently . Sofia won her slipjig and jig and won the preliminary championships under 13 . Sofia dances for Kilkenny Academy and her teachers are Janine English, Sarah Murphy and Evelyn White. Well done, Sofia!
‘An Unconsidered People’ who laid the foundations for The Celtic Tiger
Catherine Dunne is the author of ten novels, the most recent being The Years That Followed. She has also published one work of non-fiction: a social history of Irish immigrants in London, called An Unconsidered People. Her book gives great insight into the forthcoming production of The Kings of The Kilburn High Road being staged …
A castle destroyed, and the birth of the Marble City
WEEK FIVE Kilkenny is home to the most famous cats in the world. For over two hundred years, people everywhere have heard of the fierce Kilkenny Cats. They are part of our history; part of our DNA. They reflect Kilkenny in all its glorious past, its developing present and exciting future. In week four, local …
Cheltenham Preview
Hot on the heels of our record-breaking success at Red Mills Day, we’re gearing up for the most anticipated National Hunt Racing Festival of the year. We hope you can join us for our upcoming Cheltenham Preview, on March 10th from 4-6pm! Everyone is welcome to this free of charge event taking place at our …
Return journey
As Lake Productions prepare for their run of Jimmy Murphy’s play, The King’s of the Kilburn High Rd, Kilkenny man Pat Griffin kindly agreed to pen a short story to highlight the plight of the Irish emigrant. He bought his ticket and walked to the platform at Paddington Station. There was still some time. He …
Plaque to remember innocent council worker shot dead after a prayer at the Friary
Photos by Pat Shortall The German philosopher Georg Hegel famously said, “The only thing that we learn from history, is that we learn nothing from history”. But history, depending on where it is sourced, can be blemished. Often, stories that were handed down from father to son, or mother to daughter may or may not …
