News
Statement from Bishop Ger Nash
Bishop Ger Nash has been appointed Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Ossory. The following statement, issued by Bishop Ger, has been received by the Kilkenny Observer newspaper. “I have been informed by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Montemayor, that Pope Leo XIV has appointed me Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Ossory, to …
Thomastown Concert Hall to host McPherson’s The Weir
By David O’Brien (Kilkenny Observer) In 2018, a chance meeting between Seamus Quigley from Thomastown Concert Hall and Ger Cody from Lake Productions set the ball rolling for a great theatrical relationship. The week prior to this, Ger Cody and Emily Kelly had met and hatched a plan to form a new theatre company in …
First-class relic of Saint Brigid for annual service
This year’s St Brigid’s Day service, led by the Kilkenny Gospel Choir, will take place on Friday, 31 January (eve of the Feast of St Brigid) in St Fiacre’s Church, Loughboy, Kilkenny, at 7.30 pm. A first-class relic of Saint Brigid will be available on the night for blessing. Saint Brigid, ‘the Mary of the …
The heart of the matter – a quiz
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran I read with great interest last week my fellow columnist Paul Hopkin’s column. Paul (also the Editor of this newspaper) had open heart surgery 15 years ago for a congenital defect which, in midlife, had caught up with him. Next month, Paul, because of wear and tear, will go under the …
Our outlook in global financial markets
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Global financial markets are flashing warning signs, and Ireland, one of the world’s most open economies, is particularly exposed, according to the Central Bank of Ireland’s most recent Financial Stability Review. Governor Gabriel Makhlouf highlighted a worrying disconnect. While equity markets, driven largely by US technology and artificial intelligence (AI) …
Tragedies show up cracks in child protection
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON A friend was in raptures over the film Hamnet, its cinematography, and portrayal of grief. Did she cry? Yes, everyone did, came the reply. Hamnet is a fictionalised version of the loss of Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway’s son (11) to the plague at a time of high child …
Now, breaking up is not so hard to do
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS In the autumn of 1986, my father’s youngest sister, Toni, and her partner, Eric, flew to Indonesia, where Eric filed for a ‘no-contest’ divorce from his wife. He and the love of his life then flew on to New York and married in City Hall, Toni’s brother …
THE WINE CENTRE WIN NOFFLA LEINSTER OFF LICENCE OF THE YEAR 2026!
The National Off-Licence Association (NOFFLA) has announced the winners of its annual Off-Licence of the Year Awards at the ceremony held in Dublin on Monday evening just (26th) – and The Wine Centre, Kilkenny has been crowned Leinster Off-Licence of the Year, 2026 – the 13th time in the last 14 years! NOFFLA was established back …
Kilkenny Library Launches Ambitious Library Development Plan: Creating Vibrant and Sustainable Communities 2025–2029
Kilkenny Library Service is delighted to announce the launch of its new Library Development Plan, Creating Vibrant and Sustainable Communities 2025–2029. This forward-thinking strategy sets out our vision for the coming years, ensuring that libraries remain as dynamic spaces where knowledge, culture, and connection thrive, at the heart of the community. This plan provides a strategic …
Dry January: How to Support Your Liver Naturally After Christmas
BY CLAIR WHITTY After the indulgence of Christmas, many of you may be considering doing Dry January to reset your health. I am going to give it a shot this year, nothing to lose, everything to gain. After weeks of rich foods, sugary treats, and increased alcohol I feel that there has been extra strain …
