News
What gets us to turn out to the polls on time?
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON We have barely recovered from Trump’s resurrection and now our own General Election is underway. These are different times. The old certainties and party loyalties no longer apply as politics become more volatile. Many voters haven’t yet made up their minds, if the previous election is anything to …
Leinster loses out as Munster dominates hurling All-Star awards
Banner lead the way with 6 of the best BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Munster’s perceived domination of all things hurling was rubber-stamped last Friday evening when all fifteen awards went to the province, with new All-Ireland champions Clare leading the way with six players claiming the PwC sponsored accolades at the star-studded ceremony …
There is always wars, and rumour of wars
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Was there ever a time, I wonder, when there was peace on this planet of ours? I think not and the bickering, the squabbling, the fighting, in my humble opinion, started in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. Here’s how it might have kicked off. Eve: “And what do …
Alternative Protestants and the Spirit of 1798
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan In 1798, the United Irishmen sought independence from British rule. Inspired by the French and American revolutions, they advocated fair voting, religious equality, and equal rights, uniting diverse backgrounds for freedom. Leaders included Theobald Wolfe Tone, Henry Joy McCracken, Lord Edward FitzGerald, James Napper Tandy, and Robert Emmet. However, …
Life is not all about money, is it?
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Escalating energy costs and rising living expenses are placing financial strain on households, driving many to reconsider daily budgets and lifestyle changes. Income disparity continues to drive poverty rates, leaving many households unable to meet basic needs. Housing costs remain inflated, aggravated by a low housing supply and high rent …
Plenty to look forward to this festive season with Yulefest programme announcement
Celebrate Christmas in Kilkenny with Yulefest! With a weekly Christmas Market, live music on the Yulefest Live Music Stage, family entertainment and lots of special events throughout December. Yulefest begins with Santa’s arrival to the city on November 30th, launching the Yulefest Christmas Market, which runs each weekend until December 22nd. Decorated wooden huts, and …
Children falling through cracks of care system
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON The unanswered question in many of our minds is how can a child like Kyran Durnin disappear but the alarm is only sounded two years later? The six-year-old boy who had been attending school in Dundalk was last seen in May/June 2022. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency …
Palimpsest
A permanent public art sculpture by artist Pauline O’Connell in the Mayfair City Library, Kilkenny. As part of The Per Cent for Art Scheme for The Mayfair City Library, Kilkenny, ‘Palimpsest’ (a cultural project that creatively intertwines history, music, literature, sculpture and social engagement) by Kilkenny-based visual artist Pauline O Connell was commissioned in 2024 …
Kilkenny men and women remembered on Armistice day
The Kilkenny Great War Memorial committee will host a commemoration to honour Armistice day this Sunday. The following is a statement received by The Observer from their committee Another year has passed and November is here again. Looking at the memorial in the Peace Park to the over 800 men and women from Kilkenny who …
Why inquiry into how we handled Covid bugs me
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Do I need an inquiry into the State’s handling of Covid-19 for me to understand that I had the rogue microbe inside me three times in two years; that the first six months of lockdown had me virtually alone and certainly petrified because I was among the …
