News
Politics is as low as a snake’s belly
by Jimmy Rhatigan ARGUABLY, our world war against the killer Coronavirus is one of mankind’s greatest challenges since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, a contradiction often referred to as Paradise. It would appear that the politicians of the world in tandem with their medical mates have all guns …
Workhouse Boy Wonder is tailor-made
THE CALLAN Heritage Society has just published a new book. It is titled Memoir of an Irish Pauper. It is a unique book. It is the only known first-hand account written by an inmate of an Irish Workhouse. This is hard to believe considering that well over a million people passed through Irish Workhouses between …
Callan: A goldmine of world class real human brilliance
By Jimmy Rhatigan IS THERE a town or perhaps even a city in Ireland that can boast more or indeed as many famous people as the market town of Callan? We doubt it. Any proposed forensic research may prove otherwise, but at The Kilkenny Observer it is our belief that the native place of a …
Our very own Tombstone City
By Paddy Neary THE ANCIENT Parish Church of St John’s stood probably in the grounds of the old cemetery on the Dublin Road. St Stephen was recognised as the patron of this church in the 18th century. From 1800 on the church was always referred to as St John’s. In the Bishop’s visitation book for …
‘My Eye Candy is as sweet as ever’
By Jimmy Rhatigan MRS MURPHY has fond memories of her school days in the Presentation Convent which was then in James’s Street, near enough to opposite the Christian Brothers Secondary School. As it turned out the latter part of the last par is the key to why her student years were so happy. “We had …
Scandal: ‘Workers ill-treated by FG and FF’
SINN FÉIN TD Kathleen Funchion has expressed frustration and annoyance at words of sympathy and pseudo support for workers’ rights to find this never converts to legislative protection. “If workers could spend words of sympathy they might be able to do something with them, but as it stands words are useless. “The plight of Debenhams …
Drive on to wine, women and song
By Jimmy Rhatigam AS AUCTIONS go, the Fonsie Mealy Autumn Fine Art Sale is up there with the best. The three-day event is at the firm’s Chatsworth Auction Rooms, Chatsworth, Castlecomer on September 28, 29 and 30. The gavel will be busy from 11am each day as 1671 lots go under the hammer for a …
Children love the joy of reading
CHILDREN in a Deis school in Kilkenny will receive a gift package of new books by leading Irish authors as part of an Arts Council initiative to ensure that as many people as possible can experience Culture Night tonight. Encouraging all parents to participate with their children, the government agency for funding and developing the …
Troubadour Paddy dies at 77
VILLAGE man Paddy Purcell who has passed away was a popular raconteur who loved telling a good yarn. He enjoyed relating the tale of how when he was a young boy he played in goal for James Stephens in an U16 hurling final. “It wasn’t one of my better days between the sticks,” he would …
Village Bingo adds drive to cancer care
KILKENNY Relay for Life has told The Observer that The Village Childcare & Community Services Group has generously offered to run its Drive-In Bingo at the Castleinch Venue for Relay for Life Kilkenny. The Irish Cancer Society will benefit from the bingo on Saturday next, September 26 at 7pm. Relay for Life Kilkenny fundraising has …
