News
Wood you believe?
Three workshops facilitated by Fr Jim Cogley As we have just celebrated Easter week, a wonderful opportunity for people of Kilkenny and further afield is about to take place in Callan in County Kilkenny. Fr Jim Cogley will host a wonderful three day course on ‘healing and hope’ at the Edmund Rice centre in Callan …
Asthma in Ireland: A fight for recognition
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan Asthma in Ireland is a silent struggle, often overshadowed in the policy landscape. Despite its prevalence, the Government has yet to formally recognise asthma as a disability, leaving many without the support they desperately need. Politicians, both local and national, ignore the issue. This oversight not only limits access …
Papal bull! Remembering election of Francis
Furthermore By Gerry Moran We don’t normally talk about the Pope in the pub. Soccer, rugby, horses, hurling – yes. But the Pope – no. One night in March 2013, however, was an exception. That night we had a new Pope. It was Wednesday night, the night the Pope was elected, so we were ‘full …
Unravelling the cuts in the mortgage rate
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank (ECB) may sound like welcome news for mortgage holders but for those looking for a new home in Kilkenny and across Ireland it’s not all good. Despite ECB Governor Christine Lagarde’s previous comments that rate reductions might slow, escalating global tensions, …
Wanted: a troubleshooter for children
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON We have an epidemic of gender-based violence, with horrifying reports of violence, coercive control, rape and murder almost on a daily basis. We have an ongoing housing crisis, where the Government seems incapable of providing affordable homes for a generation that are priced out the market. But what …
We’re talking about their generation… GenZ
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Gen Z come in for a lot of flack, unfairly perhaps, being often considered by older generations as timid and privileged. One recent European survey found that 40 per cent of employers prefer not to hire Gen Z workers because they find them to be ill-prepared for …
Tribesmen return to test Cats
Leinster title defence begins with Galway visit BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Leinster Senior Hurling Championship 2025 Round 1 Kilkenny vs Galway UPMC Nowlan Park, Tomorrow @ 3:45pm Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin) What a glorious stretch of weather to welcome the month of April. Tomorrow in UPMC Nowlan Park Kilkenny will try to weather …
At Swim Two Birds: O’Brien’s tale still a gem
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan Back in the bustling 1970s, Dublin was alive with an energy that was just infectious, and it was during this time that folks, like me, stumbled upon Flann O’Brien’s At Swim Two Birds. Tucked away among the city’s famous schools and buzzing bars, this book’s quirky storytelling caught the …
Money makes the world go round. Or does it?
Furthermore Gerry Moran Make no mistake – it’s all about money as evidenced by Trump and his dastardly tariffs and the toll they’re taking on every economy around the world. And I guess we all know the Abba song Money, Money, Money, the chorus of which goes as follows: “Money, money, money, Must be funny, …
Tariffs hit margins, then jobs, then disposable income
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR As US tariffs threaten Ireland’s pharmaceutical, food and drink, and tech sectors, Government and industry leaders warn of economic fallout that could disrupt trade, raise prices, and jeopardise jobs. Speaking recently in Cork ahead of the EU-US trade talks, Ireland’s EU Commissioner Michael McGrath emphasised the urgency of securing a …
