Opinion

By John Fitzgerald (Part Two) As a rule, mariners shunned the North Side of the King’s River, despite the attractive potential berth located at the bottom of the steps at the rear of Mickey Kealy’s house. Boatmen also avoided sailing on the side of the river under Kealy’s hay barn. One possible deterrent, according to …

By John Fitzgerald Cleere’s Theatre in Kilkenny will host the long-awaited launch of poet/songwriter Peter Brabazon’s new CD, a collection of twelve numbers guaranteed to pull at the heartstrings. Among the topnotch musicians joining Peter on the night of May 6th will be the widely acclaimed Waterboys fiddler Steve Wickham The carefully chosen songs will showcase some of the …

BY CLAIR WHITTY Headaches are a common health complaint with many different causes. It can be something simple like dehydration and needing to drink extra water. They can be connected to hormonal imbalance, related to food intolerance, stress or lack of sleep. Dips in blood sugar and not eating regularly can be a cause. Certain …

FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran The pubs of Kilkenny are alive with the sound of music this May Bank Holiday weekend. It’s Roots Festival (one of our most popular festivals) time. Time, folks, for some country and bluegrass, rockabilly, swing and more. And I have to confess that it’s all above me. Or beyond me. Whichever. …

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Isn’t there great comfort in familiar everyday things? But sometimes products change disconcertingly, take on a new format or disappear from the shelves altogether. There have been questions recently around an iconic Irish product. Kerrygold Butter, a favourite at home, seems to have changed I think, so do …

BY CLAIR WHITTY Are you studying for exams and struggling to retain what you are learning? This is a common problem that many students experience. There may be several reasons why this is happening. Start with a healthy diet and include complex carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds. Include meat, fish and dairy if …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS The exceptionally high level of engagement in the national Primary School Survey, with more than 200,000 parents and guardians submitting responses, alongside strong participation from school staff and boards of management, surprised even Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton. This significant response marks an important step in ensuring …

Loneliness, social isolation and the war in the middle East. Everything is connected. We are all inter-dependent and I always think of Edward Norton Lorenz’s “Butterfly Effect” or Chaos Theory. A small action like a butterfly flapping its wings in one place can cause massive eruptions in another part of the world. If a butterfly …

By John Fitzgerald Looking over the Big Bridge in Callan today, you can admire the scenic beauty of the Moat, or the rolling green sward of the historic meadow. But you won’t see a single boat navigating the serene or choppy waters of the King’s River. How different from the scene that would have greeted …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Last week we all woke up to near-empty petrol pumps and businesses on the brink. What began as scattered complaints on social media after the Easter bank holiday exploded into a full-blown national crisis. Fuel depots were blockaded, along with the country’s only oil refinery at Whitegate in Cork. For …