Opinion
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, …
Herbs for Health
BY CLAIR WHITTY Nature provides us with many plants and herbs that can help provide us with nurturing nutrients to help us deal with a variety of symptoms. This can include herbs to support digestion, immunity, hormone support, and to help relieve anxiety and stress. My favourite brand of herbal remedies is A.Vogel. Alfred Vogel …
Manual Handling Training Needs Updating
Old fashioned, outdated information in manual handling training is at best redundant and at worst harmful By Paul Bolger. Chartered Physiotherapist at Nano Physiotherapy, Kilkenny (www.nanophysio.ie). Recently, my colleagues and I underwent a mandatory manual handling training session. Many thousands of Irish workers must undergo such training every three years. The contents of that training course …
Tale of tails: Dogs and cats in the living room
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan In every living room, dogs and cats create a unique atmosphere with their charming activities. These pets, with their playful behaviour, make ordinary spaces lively and welcoming. Dogs bring energy, while cats move with quiet elegance, together creating an environment of fun and mischief. Imagine a scene where the …
Odette and Mabel: two mighty Kilkenny women
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran This week in honour of International Women’s Day (Saturday, March 8), I proffer profiles of two extraordinary women, one a Kilkenny native who made tennis history, the other made Kilkenny her home and contributed enormously to the cultural and commercial life of our city. Lady Desart In 1881, Ellen Odette Bischoffsheim, …
New pension deal flawed, say some experts
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR The Government’s introduction of the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024 marks a significant step in tackling the pension coverage gap. Under this scheme, employees within specific age and earnings criteria and who do not already have an occupational pension will be automatically enrolled. Contributions will be made by …
St Patrick: hard to tell fact from legend
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON What’s not to like about St Patrick’s day, a national holiday and celebration for the 5th Century missionary who brought Christianity to our island. For me though, Magonus Succatus Patricius, to give the man his christened name, is a bit of a conundrum. For one thing there is …
Do all parents have a favourite child?
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS While every family has their own particular dynamic, researchers have discovered that, in most families, favouritism for a certain child can be a fact. Studies from an American and an Australian university have concluded that a parent, by and large, has a favourite child. The researchers placed …
So, go ahead Clint, and make my night…
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran I remember when television was first launched in this wee country of ours: 1961 – only one channel and in glorious black and white. And always it closed down around 11.30pm. or thereabouts with the playing of the National Anthem. I can still see the Tricolour (in black and white, of …
Mortages could be below 3% by this summer
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Irish mortgage holders have received some welcome news as mortgage rates recorded their largest monthly drop since at least 2017, according to the latest Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) report. In December 2024, the average mortgage rate fell to 3.80%, down from 3.97% in November, marking the lowest level in …
