News
Unravelling the cuts in the mortgage rate
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank (ECB) may sound like welcome news for mortgage holders but for those looking for a new home in Kilkenny and across Ireland it’s not all good. Despite ECB Governor Christine Lagarde’s previous comments that rate reductions might slow, escalating global tensions, …
Wanted: a troubleshooter for children
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON We have an epidemic of gender-based violence, with horrifying reports of violence, coercive control, rape and murder almost on a daily basis. We have an ongoing housing crisis, where the Government seems incapable of providing affordable homes for a generation that are priced out the market. But what …
We’re talking about their generation… GenZ
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Gen Z come in for a lot of flack, unfairly perhaps, being often considered by older generations as timid and privileged. One recent European survey found that 40 per cent of employers prefer not to hire Gen Z workers because they find them to be ill-prepared for …
Tribesmen return to test Cats
Leinster title defence begins with Galway visit BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE Leinster Senior Hurling Championship 2025 Round 1 Kilkenny vs Galway UPMC Nowlan Park, Tomorrow @ 3:45pm Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin) What a glorious stretch of weather to welcome the month of April. Tomorrow in UPMC Nowlan Park Kilkenny will try to weather …
At Swim Two Birds: O’Brien’s tale still a gem
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan Back in the bustling 1970s, Dublin was alive with an energy that was just infectious, and it was during this time that folks, like me, stumbled upon Flann O’Brien’s At Swim Two Birds. Tucked away among the city’s famous schools and buzzing bars, this book’s quirky storytelling caught the …
Money makes the world go round. Or does it?
Furthermore Gerry Moran Make no mistake – it’s all about money as evidenced by Trump and his dastardly tariffs and the toll they’re taking on every economy around the world. And I guess we all know the Abba song Money, Money, Money, the chorus of which goes as follows: “Money, money, money, Must be funny, …
Tariffs hit margins, then jobs, then disposable income
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR As US tariffs threaten Ireland’s pharmaceutical, food and drink, and tech sectors, Government and industry leaders warn of economic fallout that could disrupt trade, raise prices, and jeopardise jobs. Speaking recently in Cork ahead of the EU-US trade talks, Ireland’s EU Commissioner Michael McGrath emphasised the urgency of securing a …
As tariffs yoyo can we avoid being Trumpled on?
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON A new verb has joined my vocabulary: it’s to Trumple. In a sense it’s a close relation of to trample, meaning to tread on and flatten things – powerful elephants, are very good at this. Trumpling is something unique to Donald Trump’s behaviour towards the world and I …
Growing old disgracefully … with some grace please
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Here’s something that may surprise you. The average age of people in Ireland now is 39 — and a half. That’s because most are now middle-aged. The bad news is that, according to, yet another, survey, people who are middle-aged — for the purpose of this exercise …
How to Manage Stress Naturally – No Pills Needed!
BY CLAIR WHITTY Stress, unfortunately, is a huge factor causing many problems for people of all ages, especially for students, parents, and teachers at exam time. It can affect your physical, emotional, cognitive health as well as influence your behaviour in less than savoury ways. Sometimes you may not even realise that the headache, migraine, …
