Opinion

By John Fitzgerald (Part three) Swimming in the King’s River was a much-loved pastime in Callan up to the late seventies. Columnist Peter Roughan remembered the swimmers of his childhood in the town at the turn of the century. And local newspaper correspondent, Seamus O’ Brien chronicled happy days on the river in his own youth, spanning …

BY CLAIR WHITTY Happy New Year to you all, I hope you had a good one. I am not ready for new years resolutions just yet so instead I thought I would look back on what trended in 2025. So, let’s take a look, Magnesium was number one, we couldn’t keep it on our shelves. …

FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran One hundred year from now I wonder what shape our world will be in – that’s if we survive the murder, mayhem and chaos being wrought upon mankind and the planet by that unholy trinity: Trump, Putin and Netanyahu. Meanwhile, here’s what was going on in the world 100 years ago …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Ireland’s long-awaited mandatory workplace pension scheme, My Future Fund, is finally here. But last-minute changes have sparked debate. Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary announced new rules just before Christmas, aiming to prevent employers from dodging the system with low-value in-house pensions. Data protection issues and the financial burden on …

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Back in the day, behind the bike shed was the place for experimentation or secrets. Today it’s in bedrooms, with thumbs working overtime. It was hard enough being a teenager then, picked upon or bullied if you weren’t popular, good at games or attractive enough. Now anyone, anywhere, …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS And so another year is gone, and a new one begun — and where did that time go? Whooosh! Yes, it’s true – the older you get, the quicker time goes. One wonders what 2026 will bring. Ireland sees the 100th anniversary on May 26 of the …

Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny is the perfect festive destination this Christmas and New Year. The award-winning visitor experience is open throughout the holiday season, closed only on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day. Last minute shoppers looking for unique gift options such as personalised, engraved Smithwick’s pint glasses and other branded merchandise will revel …

By John Fitzgerald (Part two) Another absorbing pastime in Callan was card playing. In the early years of the century, the only form of transport for the men who gathered to play “25s” was Shank’s Mare. The game was played both indoors- in homes and pubs- and in the open air. It was common up …

BY CLAIR WHITTY Christmas is not for everyone, I say this every year. But it isn’t for everyone and there are many reasons for this. It might be that your family have grown up and left home and there are no children in the house anymore. It isn’t the same without the young ones, the …

FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran I am a last minute shopper. I have never been one of those organised people who have everything done and dusted a week before the Big Day. Folks who have presents wrapped, firewood stacked, fairy lights checked, turkey prepped and drinks in (that’s if they drink) and are cool, calm and …