Opinion
Learning the hard way: The stick and the leather
BY JOHN FITZGERALD Part 2 Continuing the story of corporal punishment in a County Kilkenny school: previous articles and all subsequent ones can be read on the Kilkenny Observer website… Recalling his school days in Callan Sean Holden had a vivid recollection of one teac her who struck moratl dread into every pupil. “T’was while …
Get ready for Back to School
BY CLAIR WHITTY It’s back to school time already, what a fast year. Many of you will be busy getting school books and uniforms sorted. After a busy summer you might be considering giving yourself and your kids an energy boost before going back to school. Or maybe your concern is how to support their …
Your peace of mind in time of illness
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR In the past, as an employee you had no legal right to receive payment from your employer during periods of sick leave and you had no entitlement to statutory payment during the first three days of a medically certified absence. However, starting in January of this year, a new sick …
Peadar: A man I liked, and loved dearly
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Peadar Malone was laid to rest on the Monday, August 7. I loved Peader. Everyone did as evidenced by the chock-a-block crowd in St Patrick’s Parish church that morning. Standing room only. Not to mention the huge crowd standing outside. Half of the parish was there plus a huge contingent from …
Learning the hard way: The stick and the leather
BY JOHN FITZGERALD Part 1 In 2001 Callan man Sean Holden recalled sitting behind his desk on a typical day at the local CBS all those years before. He listened to the teacher droning on about Irish verbs and tenses as he paced up and down the room. Sean described what happened next: “Suddenly, without …
A dose of Art-ritis and little-pinky-blues!
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran It’s that time of year again, folks, Arts Festival time. And I love it. Our Arts Festival is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year (happy anniversary all). Read some memories of mine from those 50 years elsewhere in this paper. In the meantime here’s a light-hearted piece I penned back in …
Our young see little option to buy a home
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Is it any wonder that young adults are of the opinion that they may be much older before it becomes feasible to purchase their own home – or even will not be able at all in the future. This is borne out in the recent ESRI report with their findings …
Natural solutions for constipation
BY CLAIR WHITTY If you have constipation, it means that you won’t have regular bowel movements. In an ideal world you should have at least one movement a day. Ideally, what goes in should come out within a 24 hour period. Those of you that experience constipation will know how uncomfortable it is. Symptoms of …
Why electricity bills are a big turn-off
AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON Summer time and the livin’ is easy, sang Ella Fitzgerald. It should be easier shouldn’t it with salad days and warm weather, correction, warm wet weather? But if anyone is hoping for an imminent reduction in those distressingly high electricity bills which have done more than their fair share …
A paltry thing, a tattered coat upon a stick
THE FACT OF THE MATTER PAUL HOPKINS My father was forever a young man at heart, with an eye for the ladies and an eclectic taste in contemporary music. And he walked and cycled all his life to frantically appease his fear of annihilation. Not long before he died in his 81st year he said …
