News
Some random memories of mine from 2024
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Let’s start with the little old lady in Dunnes Stores car park who politely asked if I could spare 20 cents to release a trolley. “But trolleys require a euro,” I said. “Twenty cents works,” she informed me. She was right. What’s this they say – you learn something new every …
New Year And All Year Resolutions
CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton Happy New Year to one and all. New Year always feels like a time for new beginnings and resolutions, and like most I start off with great intentions. This year I’m asking myself, how can I contribute to making the world and my community a better place? How …
MASS TIMES
KILKENNY CITY PASTORAL AREA Christmas Eve – Tuesday, 24th December 5.30 p.m. St Canice’s Church 5.30 p.m. St Fiacre’s Church 6.00 p.m. St John’s Church St Mary’s Cathedral 6.10 p.m. Black Abbey 7.00 p.m. Church of Most Holy Trinity – Dunmore 7.30 p.m. St Canice’s Church St Patrick’s Church 8.00 p.m. Church of …
The best Christmases of my life
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Some years back, a Fr Ronan Drury, the then Editor of The Furrow, made contact wondering if I would write a piece on how Christmas was different for me having recently retired from the teaching profession. The Furrow is a monthly journal for the contemporary church and enjoys an international reputation …
Of Gods and Men, and a monastery in North Africa
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan Picture this: It’s the 1990s and there’s this monastery in North Africa where eight French monks live among their Muslim neighbours. Everything’s peaceful until one day, things go sideways when a violent extremist group makes its presence known, and suddenly everyone’s on edge. The monks hit a crossroads — …
A selection of books for the festive season
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Reading is among the greatest gifts given to Mankind. Here is a selection of books that not only make for excellent presents but also offer valuable insights and a few laughs. Money: A Story of Humanity by David McWilliams This is an accessible and entertaining account following the history of …
Time to untie the knot of social pain
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Only the lonely Know the way I feel tonight Only the lonely Know this feeling ain’t right. Roy Orbison’s lyrics touch on the loneliness conundrum. You can feel perfectly fine alone – and a third of over 65s in Ireland live alone – without feeling lonely. But if …
Why you should make Christmas Day matter
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS In an age where we are increasingly cynical, the thinking goes that Christmas is at best a hijacked pagan orgy, that of Saturnalia, and at worst a humongous hybrid of religious conditioning and monetary manipulation. Given the excesses in both celebration and in spending — for those …
Freshford crush Easkey to reach Junior final
Farrell’s men set for January Croker decider BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE AIB Club Junior Hurling Championship Semi Final 2024 St Lactains 3-15 Easkey 0-13 Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, Referee: Niall Malone (Clare) St Lachtain’s are Croker bound after seeing off the stubborn challenge of Sligo side Easkey in Ballinasloe last Sunday. In real winter …
BY JOHN FITZGERALD (Part two) Continuing the story of the magnificent St. Mary’s cathedral that dominates the skyline around Kilkenny… There’s an intriguing story behind a Madonna that stands outside the cathedral, but still within the grounds…a lonely but compelling figure that draws thousands of visitors annually to behold its heavenly visage. This six-and-a-half foot life-size …
