Opinion
James Stephens The Kilkenny man who founded the Fenians
BY JOHN FITZGERALD Part 2 Continuing the story of James Stephens…the American Fenians became disenchanted with him. It was another of those splits that have bedeviled Irish republicanism through the ages. Oblivious of the fact that it was dissension and infighting within the Fenian movement in the U.S. that had delayed arms shipments for the …
Why the attack by Hamas was perfectly timed
COMMENT: PAUL HOPKINS As the onslought between Israel and Palestine continues, Israel is facing rising domestic political division, growing violence in the West Bank and delicate negotiations among Israel, Saudi Arabia and the US. The slaughter of Israelis at a festival by Palestine’s Hamas seems deliberately timely. Hamas claims it was taking revenge for a …
Euthanasia debate needs some serious thought
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Swiss organisation Dignitas has called on Ireland to change the law on assisted dying – a debate growing here since 2018. Dignitas, which supports voluntary assisted dying, told a recent hearing of the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying, set up last January, that it had 100 Irish …
Autumn, season of mists; moderate AND mangy questions!
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Right then, a wee quiz to shake up the brain cells before they, along with the hedgehogs, go into hibernation for the winter. Fifty questions. Quiz rating: 25 – 30 Fair. 30 – 40 Good. 40 – 45 Very Good. 45 plus – Excellent. You’re definitely a bright, very bright, spark. …
Art, heavenly music, and women of distinction…
BY JOHN FITZGERALD September witnessed a countywide flowering of arts and culture. The finest of singers, artists and topnotch lecturers once again highlighted Kilkenny’s primacy, and irresistible attraction, as a creative hub. I went along to some of these. First, I stepped into Callan’s Church of the Assumption to listen to the Cois Nore Choir; …
James Stephens The Kilkenny man who founded the Fenians
BY JOHN FITZGERALD PART ONE One of those wounded in the infamous Ballingarry skirmish was a young Kilkenny man, James Stephens. Born and educated in the Marble City, Stephens was a railways civil engineer when he joined the ill-fated Young Ireland movement. After the abortive uprising, he fled to France with another activist, John O’Mahony, …
‘What is the stars, Gerry? What is the stars?’
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran “Space, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the star ship Enterprise, its five-year mission to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.” This introduction began every episode of the original Star Trek series which I …
Budget must look to rising childcare costs
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR The Irish economy has overcome a raft of challenges it faced in the past three years. May 2023 saw a reduction in the unemployment rate to 3.8%, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of 4.8% recorded in February 2020. Recent data for May 2023 indicates an impressive surge in tax receipts, reaching …
CAMHS utterly failing children and young people across Carlow and Kilkenny
KATHLEEN FUNCHION Sinn Fein TD for Kilkenny Carlow Sinn Féin spokesperson for children and TD for Carlow Kilkenny, Kathleen Funchion, has called for better supports for young people and children trying to access CAMHS in Carlow and Kilkenny. Deputy Funchion was speaking on the astronomical rise in referral refusals across the region, with a staggering …
Are you talking about the menopause?
BY CLAIR WHITTY October is menopause awareness month and at Natural Health Store we have been talking to women about the menopause for years. It is a natural conversation for us to have every day so I was surprised to realise how many women are not talking to each other about it. When I look …
