News
Needed: the art of getting things done
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Getting things done is a very human endeavour. At its best getting, a good job done is an art form, satisfying the doer and benefitting those for whom the job was done. But it doesn’t always work that way. Look at Donald Trump, signing executive orders by the …
Young hearts and their mental health
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Secondary-school aged adolescents in Ireland reported more mental health problems in 2021 – during the pandemic – including an increase in suicide attempts, compared to previous years, according to findings published just before Christmas by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Of the more than …
Kilkenny man’s daughter elected an MP in Australia!
BY JOHN FITZGERALD There are celebrations Noreside and “down under” following the election of Colleen Egan, daughter of the late Kilkenny man, Ned Egan, to the parliament of Western Australia. The Egan clan, and Ned’s cousins the Moroneys, were ecstatic when they learned on Saturday that the Perth-based daughter of the much-loved poet-writer, who died last August, will now serve …
Callan Court: 1861
BY JOHN FITZGERALD (Part One) Callan Court was a lively place in the 19th century, with some decidedly oddball cases keeping the police and local busybodies occupied. Following his retirement, local newspaper correspondent Peter Roughan collected transcripts of old hearings that struck him as being a bit off the wall or amusing. In 1861, we find a few “rare …
Everything you need to know about the Kilkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2025!
Bí Beo, Bí Linn, this year’s Parade theme invites you to come alive and be with us as part of our community as we animate the streets of Kilkenny in celebration of Ireland’s national holiday, St. Patrick’s Day! Showcasing our Irish heritage and the diverse local community with a parade of spectacle, colour and creativity through …
Planting of Crocus bulbs at war memorial proves great initiative
Photos by Danny Lahart The Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee had a desire to improve the envoirns of the memorial to the over 800 Kilkenny men and women who died during the First World War. To this end, the idea to place Crocus bulbs in the raised grass bank was born. This task was enormous …
George Ralph
The Gentleman from Rose Inn Street. Died Saturday 8th February 2025 I first met George about 30 years ago, Then his wife Violet And later on his friend called Joe. This was the man from Rose Inn Street. He had time and a word for everyone, that was the character of the man. …
SHORT STORY ‘THE BIT OF ASHES’
Margaret bustled around the house doing the last minute chores before leaving for work. She cleaned out the grate, lit the fire and loaded the coal bucket. That should do it now, until I get home, she thought to herself. Just then her mother hobbled into the living room. “Don’t forget now, Margaret, today is …
Brave Kilkenny women recalled…
BY JOHN FITZGERALD Some of Ireland’s bravest women have been honoured at a gathering in Kilkenny. The men who fought for Irish freedom are lauded in ballads and epic tales, but the sacrifices of women in the revolutionary era receive far less prominence. You don’t hear too many songs sung in pubs or clubs, or at commemorative outings, …
Heritage and history at the heart of St. Patrick’s celebrations
Photos by Dylan Vaughan Irish culture, history, and heritage will be at the centre of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Festival 2025, with a series of events dedicated to significant historical figures in Kilkenny. Kilkenny recently marked 700 years since the witch trial of Alice Kyteler, the first of its kind in Ireland. The historic event …
