News
Tale of tails: Dogs and cats in the living room
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan In every living room, dogs and cats create a unique atmosphere with their charming activities. These pets, with their playful behaviour, make ordinary spaces lively and welcoming. Dogs bring energy, while cats move with quiet elegance, together creating an environment of fun and mischief. Imagine a scene where the …
Odette and Mabel: two mighty Kilkenny women
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran This week in honour of International Women’s Day (Saturday, March 8), I proffer profiles of two extraordinary women, one a Kilkenny native who made tennis history, the other made Kilkenny her home and contributed enormously to the cultural and commercial life of our city. Lady Desart In 1881, Ellen Odette Bischoffsheim, …
New pension deal flawed, say some experts
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR The Government’s introduction of the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024 marks a significant step in tackling the pension coverage gap. Under this scheme, employees within specific age and earnings criteria and who do not already have an occupational pension will be automatically enrolled. Contributions will be made by …
St Patrick: hard to tell fact from legend
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON What’s not to like about St Patrick’s day, a national holiday and celebration for the 5th Century missionary who brought Christianity to our island. For me though, Magonus Succatus Patricius, to give the man his christened name, is a bit of a conundrum. For one thing there is …
Do all parents have a favourite child?
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS While every family has their own particular dynamic, researchers have discovered that, in most families, favouritism for a certain child can be a fact. Studies from an American and an Australian university have concluded that a parent, by and large, has a favourite child. The researchers placed …
So, go ahead Clint, and make my night…
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran I remember when television was first launched in this wee country of ours: 1961 – only one channel and in glorious black and white. And always it closed down around 11.30pm. or thereabouts with the playing of the National Anthem. I can still see the Tricolour (in black and white, of …
Mortages could be below 3% by this summer
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Irish mortgage holders have received some welcome news as mortgage rates recorded their largest monthly drop since at least 2017, according to the latest Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) report. In December 2024, the average mortgage rate fell to 3.80%, down from 3.97% in November, marking the lowest level in …
Shirley heads for Thomastown
A packed Billy Byrnes pub on John Street saw over 60 of Kilkenny’s theatre going public come together for the launch of the forthcoming production of Shirley Valentine being staged by Lake Productions. Founding member of the troupe, Emily Kelly praised the work of Clare Gibbs, who plays the role of Shirley and Mary Cradock …
Are we losing the art of a good insult?
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON More than a few feathers have been ruffled recently by name calling. First it was Micheal Martin who called Mary Lou McDonald a liar – he says he didn’t, the word he used meant untruth. Then Donald Trump, in an unprecedented diatribe, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zalensky a …
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 …
