News
Why have poor children in a rich country?
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON The issue of child poverty has been hitting the headlines recently but what lies behind those two words? There are questions that demand answers. Why have the numbers involved increased despite promises made in the last 10 years and why in one of the world’s richest countries 45,000 …
Silence is not always golden!
CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton Very few people seem to be talking about it, but the memory of Covid still looms large for so many who are still living with the trauma of their experiences from that time. Everyone’s professional and personal lives were subject to massive upheavals. Some more than others. There …
Hold the front page! Story may be fake
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS The American essayist Mark Twain noted: “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” Someone else said that tell people something often enough and they begin to believe it. In this age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and so-called …
St John’s bid farewell to Fr Raymond
The St John’s parish community gathered recently in the parish centre to bid a fond farewell to much-loved priest Fr Raymond Dempsey. After four years of dedicated service, the Kilmacow native leaves St John’s to embark on the demanding ministry as chaplain in St Luke’s hospital. A time for gratitude The St John’s parish community is …
Mother Knows Best comes to Gowran
Gowran Little Theatre is thrilled to announce its autumn production, Mother Knows Best, an out-and-out comedy written by the Irish playwright Jimmy Keary. The play runs at Gowran Parish Hall from October 17th to 20th, 2025, and promises audiences an evening of laughter from beginning to end. Directed by the experienced and much-admired Declan Taylor, …
Waterford Road Pedestrian and Cyclist Improvement Scheme Moves to Construction Phase
Kilkenny County Council is delighted to announce that the Waterford Road Pedestrian and Cyclist Improvement Scheme is progressing to construction, following the completion of the detailed design and planning process under Section 38. The project forms part of the wider Active Travel Programme for Kilkenny City and is one of the key radial routes into …
Connolly’s RED MILLS celebrates sponsorship of Comfort Dog Alfie at Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny
On September 24th, Connolly’s RED MILLS visited Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny to officially launch their sponsorship of the school’s much loved comfort dog, Alfie. Alfie has become an integral part of daily life at the school, where his calm presence and affectionate nature have been providing vital emotional support to students and staff alike. From …
Mental Wellbeing Support Naturally
BY CLAIR WHITTY Stress, I think most of us feel stress on a frequent basis. I know I do. Mostly we experience short term stresses from busy lives, and life goes on, no major problem or impact on our health. However, if you experience something that is more traumatic, for example, bereavement, illness, buying or …
Budget 2026 unveils €9.4bn plan, restraint dominates
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Next Tuesday, Oct 7, will tell all for Budget 2026. Meanwhile the air is thick with anticipation and a healthy dose of realism. Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers are set to unveil a €9.4 billion package, split between €7.9 billion in spending and €1.5 billion in tax cuts. Coming …
Kirk: Have we reached a tipping point?
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON The assassination of rightwing commentator Charlie Kirk was described by Utah’s Governor Spencer Cox as “a watershed moment”. His words came as a warning to stop, take heed and realise that cataclysmic change is rapidly becoming irreversible. Like Malcom Gladwell’s Tipping Point, ideas can be like a virus …
