Features
COMPETITION WINNER
Congratulations to Ann Marie Thank you to all who entered the draw to win a gift voucher sponsored by The Kilkenny Observer. Congratulation to Anne Marie O’Hara, Station Avenue, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny who won the €200.00 gift voucher for Caulfield’s SuperValu, Loughboy, Co. Kilkenny. The gift voucher was presented to Anne Marie by Lorna Fletcher, …
Anything is possible according to Nicholas Ryan Purcell
Nicholas Ryan Purcell pictured with his recently published book ‘Anything is Possible’ which details his life growing up in Ireland and living with autism. It is a wonderful insight into his life and deals with the trials and tribulations attached to autism. The book, which has received many positive comments, tells his story from childhood to …
Mary Coughlan visits the Irish Wheelchair Association centre
The service users in the IWA have had the privilege of having the ‘Mobile Music Machine’ visit which is a group of the finest musicians from Ireland who played a number of concerts for them over the past 12 months. Covid care concerts were created by Gerald Peregine who plays the cello. The concerts bring …
Nicholas Ryan-Purcell proves that anything is possible as he learns to live with autism
Nicholas Ryan-Purcell was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at thirteen years of age. He was also faced with mental health challenges, brought on by early trauma, which triggered a lengthy depression. Nicholas overcame a series of obstacles to complete his Leaving Certificate and then undertake, and graduate, from a three- year course in TV production at …
Meet Kilkenny Cats from one thousand years of history
We have heard it over and over again. The saying is around since Adam was a boy. ‘Never judge a book by its cover’. It is a saying that has come from the lips of many. Whether it is in relation to love, or purchasing an item, the saying is repeated ad nauseam. It is …
Sheltering from the Storm
This week marks the final week in our series of Christmas Short stories and The Kilkenny Observer is delighted to welcome Patrick Griffin (A re-imagining of the Christmas story) By Patrick Griffin There was no question about the quality of the table in my workshop. “You are an exceptional carver of wood,” my customer said. I …
My mission to discover the truth about Santa
A SEASONAL SHORT STORY BY PAUL HOPKINS I had thought about it for, I guess, the best part of a day, mulled over it, slept on it, my baby brother rabbiting the head off himself in his bed opposite me. My plan was to burrow my way to the back of the huge stand-alone wardrobe …
Star-struck Sadie
Sadie Morris (6), Dublin Road, Kilkenny at the Amber Stars for Yulefest star installation in the Castle Yard. Amber’s One Million Stars Ireland project celebrated its second birthday recently, announcing that star weavers from Kilkenny and across the country have helped the project reach the significant milestone of 100,000 stars.The project, which connects communities across …
Music for all our ears
The vision that inspires Music Generation Kilkenny is the same today as when Music Generation was established almost ten years ago – to break down the barriers that may otherwise prevent children and young people from experiencing the pure joy of making music. This year alone, Music Generation Kilkenny gave that opportunity to 6,000 children …
