Opinion

BY CLAIR WHITTY I was sitting in my garden, on one of the rare fine evenings, when the vibrant colours of a Lavender plant caught my eye. I love the deep purple/violet colour, and if you rub the flowers between your fingers and hold them to your nose, you will be treated to the wonderful …

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON It used to be a fairy godmother who would grant your wishes or a genie who appeared with the rub of a magic lamp. Now it seems, we possess the power ourselves to make the good stuff come true, at least that is the word according to Barry …

THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan Irish folklore is enchanting and educational, with ancient stories like The Salmon Of Knowledge sparking curiosity and discussions. These vibrant tales, passed down generations, breathe life into classrooms, keeping students’ attention rapt. As a student and later as a trainer I found that integrating folklore into lessons invites creativity …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS At the time of going to press, the US Presidential debate on CNN is still some hours away and so I am not in a position to comment on it, other than say it’s bound to be feisty. One thing does stand out, though – the ongoing …

BY JOHN FITZGERALD A shadowy chapter of our past opened up for the Kilkenny Heritage Walkers last weekend when they confronted the mixed legacies of two former industrial schools: St. Joseph’s on the Waterford Road, and St. Patrick’s on the Kells Road. St Patrick’s first saw the light of day in 1879, when the Bishop of Ossory, Dr Moran, acquired …

PART 3 BY JOHN FITZGERALD The Callan Electricity Board Twenty years before the advent of the ESB, Callan already had its own somewhat limited supply of electricity. Local business people, acting with the full sanction of the Town Commissioners, set up the town’s privately run electricity board in 1909. Seamus O’ Brien, in his researches, unearthed the names of the board …

FURTHERMORE  By Gerry Moran This week, dear readers, some phrases, and catchphrases, that we are familiar with – but not with their origin. So, let’s start at home, well sort of – seeing as how many of us are Kilkenny ‘cats’ – here’s one that we all know very well – ‘letting the cat out …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Six months into 2024, there is a growing sense of optimism about the global economy. Energy and food prices have decreased, inflation is gradually easing, and interest rates are falling. The European Central Bank (ECB) cut interest rates by 0.25% earlier this month, with further reductions of about 1.5% expected …