Opinion
Paddy Power – The Bird Man of Skeaugh
BY JOHN FITZGERALD The fictional Dr. Doolittle had the power to talk to the animals. Pure fantasy of course. And the mythical Pied Piper of Hamelin could compel the rats to leave an infested medieval town. But in Callan we had a man who could well be described as Doolittle and the Pied Piper rolled …
Born to be wild, live free
CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton My 34year old son said to me recently, “I think we were the last generation of kids to run free in the countryside….”, He had a good point. We live near the River Nore and when my lads and their pals were at National school, they would go …
It’s time to get your own budget in order
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Last week we reviewed the Budget’s emphasis on fiscal restraint and “strategic priorities” over expansive relief measures. We saw that expenditure will rise by €9.4 billion to €117 billion including plans to offer modest increases to certain sectors of society, such as €10 weekly to core payments like State pensions …
Earning your salt … and the big cheese
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Savour Kilkenny Food Festival, which is getting bigger and better with each passing year, is upon us and I heartily compliment all involved in its planning and presentations. Thank you. The festival really brings the Parade alive and creates a vibrant, colourful, almost carnival-like ambience in our medieval city. With the …
Time to change the way we elect presidents
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON The Presidential race has been a bit like that song: There were 10 green bottles hanging on the wall. What started out with a row of colourful possibilities, some welcome Bob Geldolf to Michael Flatley, others less so Conor McGregor and yer wan with the tasteless handbag, Maria …
Kilkenny goes to war…against Foot and Mouth…
BY JOHN FITZGERALD (Part two) Last week, I recalled how Sean Holden of Callan observed bees disinfecting themselves to comply with Foot and Mouth Disease restrictions…, On a more serious note…the farmers and their families affected, as well as any farm employees on the site of an outbreak had to be quarantined. Little red flags …
Supplements to Help you Focus
BY CLAIR WHITTY Are you looking for something to help your focus? How many times have you heard, seen, or read something, and five minutes later you can’t recall it? It happens a lot for me. I return to the scene of where I first had the thought and it usually comes back to me. …
Safeguards the future, but at what cost now?
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Budget 2026 was revealed by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers on Tuesday. It painted a picture of fiscal restraint wrapped in “strategic priorities”. Gone are the flashy give-aways of €2,000 to €3,000 to the middle earners. Instead, this is a Budget that whispers “not yet” …
One down – and two to go! What next?
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran And so the Big Day looms – Presidential Election Day. Am I excited or what? Let’s just say What. In my entire voting life (more elections than I care to remember) I have never been so unenthused about casting my vote. To be honest I couldn’t care less if I never …
Why have poor children in a rich country?
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON The issue of child poverty has been hitting the headlines recently but what lies behind those two words? There are questions that demand answers. Why have the numbers involved increased despite promises made in the last 10 years and why in one of the world’s richest countries 45,000 …
