Features
Dominican Abbey was ideal venue for story of Jesus
A review by Tom Dayton Photos: Ken McGuire During my years studying journalism, there was lots of advice handed out by our tutors. Students were advised on possible scenarios that might come our way. Meeting the apostles of Jesus never came up. So, it came as a surprise when this happened in Kilkenny recently. I …
Memories galore as Pres ladies enjoy reunion
Photos jbs On Friday 12th September, a special occasion took place at the Pembroke Hotel, Patrick St., Kilkenny. It was a reunion of the Presentation Convent Inter-Cert and Leaving Cert class of 1973/75. Over fifty former school pals gathered for the festivities. They travelled from America, Germany, Spain, England, Wales and various counties in Ireland …
Busy 80th anniversary year for Carlow Little Theatre
Carlow Little Theatre Society have announced a busy autumn drama schedule to close out the year, including a One-Act Season in early October, taking a play to the All-Ireland One-Act festival circuit, performing the renowned play Gaslight in the Visual on Oct 16th to 19th, an 80th anniversary, and the launch of a long awaited …
Relic of Saint Carlo Acutis comes to St. Canice’s Catholic Church
St. Canice’s Catholic Church is honored to announce that a first-class relic of Saint Carlo Acutis will be present at the 10am mass on Sunday September 28th. Saint Carlo Acutis (3 May 1991 – 11 October 2006) was an Italian Catholic teenager known for his deep devotion to the Eucharist and his pioneering use of …
Fr. Frank to deliver lecture at St Patricks
Bishop Coll is pleased to announce Father Frank Brennan SJ will present a lecture on “From Pope Francis to Pope Leo XVI: an Australian Perspective, on Thursday, 25th September 2025 at 7.30 p.m. in St Patrick’s Parish Centre, Loughboy, Kilkenny. Fr. Frank’s great great grandmother was a native of Muckalee. Fr. Frank is residing at …
Wonderful memories as Fr Jim bids farewell to St Canice’s
Photos by Tom Beirne At Fr. Jim Murphy’s Retirement Mass in St. Canice’s Church, Kilkenny on 24th August, the congregation was addressed by Catherine Brady on behalf of the Parish Council in the unavoidable absence of its Chairperson, John Shortall, to bid farewell and pass on good wishes to Fr. Jim. Catherine spoke to a …
Graig’ Theatre workshop a success
Fresh from appearing in the National Theatre with Tommy Tiernan in ‘The Cave’, Cavan native Aaron Monaghan travelled to Graignamanagh in Co. Kilkenny on Sunday 31stAugust where he facilitated a drama workshop on script analysis and physical theatre. Aaron is the artistic director and founder of Livin’ Dred Theatre and ensemble member of Druid Theatre …
Celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day in Kilkenny
On 24 August 2025, the heart of Kilkenny was bathed in blue and yellow as more than 300 people assembled on The Parade to commemorate Ukraine’s 34th Independence Day. It was a deeply bittersweet celebration—a vibrant mix of joyful performances and heartfelt reflection that spoke of freedom, resilience, and solidarity. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian …
Kilkenny Bereavement Support: Thirty Five Years of Compassionate Care
For over three decades, Kilkenny Bereavement Support has been a quiet cornerstone of compassion and understanding in the local community and beyond. The voluntary organisation, founded in Kilkenny more than thirty years ago, offers free, confidential support to those experiencing the pain of bereavement. At the heart of the service lies a simple but profound …
The Black Abbey and the drama of religion over eight centuries
Photos by Ken McGuire PM O’Sullivan The Black Abbey, one of Kilkenny’s treasures, possesses a quiet magic. Fr Damian Polly, the current Prior, immediately noticed this quality on his arrival two years ago. “A lot of people get that sense of peacefulness,” he nods. “Even the tourists. They are sort of brought up short by the …
