Galleries
The St. John’s dream that became a reality
The Side by Side community group from St John’s parish gathered in the parish centre on Thursday last to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary. The day began with a special mass celebrated by Monsignor Dan Carroll. Joining the celebrations was the Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr. Andrew McGuinness, a regular participant in club activities. Also in …
A doubled life, off and on the stage
PM O’Sullivan Clare Gibbs always had an eye. Just for how things fit together, pattern and mosaic, the sheen of rightness. This gift led the Kilkenny native in various directions, and eventually into theatre, but first she had to be a schoolgirl. There were roads to travel in the paths of taste. The grown woman …
Team work the key to success for Kilquan Players
Photos by Pat Shortall Kilquan Players have just completed a wonderful comedy in Coon Hall and those who attended can confirm that it was a great nights entertainment. Written by Sam Cree and directed by Benny Mills, the show was a laugh a minute. Bert Cooper and Harold Smileyare in a hospital ward together when …
Connolly’s Red Mills Race Day 2025
A resounding success Photographs by Kieran Harnett Connolly’s Red Mills Race Day 2025, held on Saturday, February 15, at Gowran Park, was a resounding success, attracting a large crowd of racing enthusiasts and fashion aficionados. The event featured top-class racing, including the Grade 2 Red Mills Hurdle and the Grade 3 Red Mills Chase, both …
Fun and laughter as thousands flock to ‘Comer Pantomime
Photos by Pat Shortall Well, our country had it all. Storms, power cuts, schools and businesses shut down. To borrow a phrase from Sean O’Casey “The country was in a state of chassis.” Each evening on our TV screens, bad news made its way into our sitting rooms. Some counties suffered more than others – …
Loreto Secondary School – ‘Women in time to come will do much’
Photos :- Tom Beirne The Loreto Secondary School on the Granges Road held an Academic Awards Ceremony for Students and their families who achieved outstanding academic results in the Leaving Certificate, Junior Certificate & Leaving Certificate Applied for the past academic year 2024. The whole School Community event celebrated the 35 Leaving Certificate students who achieved over 550 points …
Credit for Quiet Land goes to a previous generation
Photos by Pat Shortall In the hidden Ireland off the new EU infrastructure of motorway and ring-road, two elderly farmers lean on a fence and talk in the low-key code of near neighbours. The Quiet Land is also a masterclass, served as it is by two actors, Ger Cody and Brendan Corcoran, who’ve accumulated between …
Out with the old and in with the new as St John’s Community celebrate
As they said farewell to 2024, St John’s Community joined together to welcome 2025. The Kilkenny Observer was there to record the occasion.
Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live
By Ger Cody I cannot be certain how many times Milo Hennessy spoke about Epicurus. I would, however, hazard a guess that it didn’t happen too often. Epicurus, a Greek philosopher, was the author of an ethical philosophy of simple pleasure, friendship and retirement. One of the most famous quotes from the bold Epicurus was …
The drama of a Kilkenny life
By PM O’Sullivan Philip Hardy’s life, so productive in his chosen field, turned into a Kilkenny life. His course could have tilted in several other directions. Not away from the world of theatre, not after he left his teens, by which time that passion had begun to rustle and ripen. But certainly along different paths, …
