Opinion
Time to reflect on what masculinity means
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON The contradictory statements during Nikita Hand’s civil case against Conor McGregor brought to light the differences that can sometimes exist between men and women around sexual activity. During the trial Ms Hand claimed that she had said she didn’t want to have sex, whereas Mr McGregor claims that …
Christmas brings forth the big questions in life
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Yer Man at the bar says: “We won’t feel it now ‘til Christmas. The evenings have well gone back and that Hallowe’en nonsense is over. And then, be japes … are you ready for it”? “For what?” I ask. “The end of the world, no less,” he …
The Clonygarra Murder – Eviction ends in tragedy
BY JOHN FITZGERALD PART TWO Continuing the story of events surrounding the murder of Callan man, Patrick Devereux, in 1828, and the hanging of two men convicted of the crime, a tragedy that stills cast a shadow over the town. You can read part one on the Kilkenny Observer website) The local magistrate was Francis Despard of Killaghy Castle, Mullinahone. On September 27th, he …
The Perfect Christmas Gift
BY CLAIR WHITTY Are you looking for the perfect gift? We have a beautiful selection of top brand bodycare gift sets including Burts Bees, Tisserand, Trilogy, Urtekram, and Weleda. Take a look at Trilogy’s Jet Set Gift Set, ideal for the person who is always on the move. It contains a trio of skincare essentials …
A reflection on Dungan’s Land Is All That Matters
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan I approached Land Is All That Matters by Myles Dungan with interest and eagerness. Knowing Dungan’s work, I anticipated a book full of historical details and insights. The title hinted at exploring how important land has been in Irish history, which captured my attention. Dungan [pictured] writes that “land …
Mugshots and my missed chance to run
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Make no mistake, politics is a mugs game. And if you don’t believe me take one look at all those mugs, as in mugshots, staring at us from every pole in every parish in the city and county. And may I say, lest anyone think I’m being sarcastic, lads, and lassies …
Why election give-aways won’t bring happiness
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR As we inch closer to a General Election, one thing is clear: we would be forgiven for thinking that the political landscape is been transformed into a giant cash bazaar. With billions from the Apple tax case and Budget 2025’s pre-Christmas giveaways, every party is playing Santa early. But is …
Christmas creep arrives long before Santy
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Fancy tucking into turkey and mince pies for a summer holiday treat? I don’t, but that’s the way retail is going. If you want to start a lively conversation, ask when the earliest signs of Xmasitis – an infectious disease affecting your wallet – appeared. This year a …
Getting the job done in just four days
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Since the pandemic, there has been an increasing call globally for a four-day working week and a growing consensus it could prove more productive for businesses and better suited to employees’ life/work balance. Countries that already have a four-day week are Iceland, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Lithuania …
Recovering from Childhood Experiences
It is possible for adults who suffered from childhood maltreatment to reduce the impacts on their health and wellbeing By Paul Bolger. Chartered Physiotherapist at Nano Physiotherapy, Kilkenny (www.nanophysio.ie). Experiencing serious maltreatment in childhood increases our risk of developing health conditions later in life. However, a nourishing environment, loving carers and positive experiences help to counterbalance …
