Opinion
The scrambler riders who dice with death
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS The 18-year-old man behind the horrific death of Grace Lynch, just 16, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and will be back before the courts in May, presumably for sentencing. I say man, because that’s what he legally is – old enough to vote, to go into a …
The Holy Ground once more…
By John Fitzgerald Undaunted by the weather, the Kilkenny Heritage Walkers continue to explore the historic and archaeological treasures of the county. A recent trek took them into the parish of Ballycallan for an annual walk that has become something of a pilgrimage. St. Brigid’s Well is always worth a visit, but especially around the …
The Lovely Love Language of Letters
CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton When did you last receive a handwritten letter? Are you sending any love letters or cards this Valentine’s Day? My nephew Liam, lives with his Danish family in Copenhagen and on Dec 30th 2025 the Danish postal service ceased letter delivery and became the first country to proclaim …
Omega-3 Fish Oils: Small Fats With Big Health Benefits
BY CLAIR WHITTY Omega-3 essential fatty acids play an important role in everyday health. The two key forms, EPA and DHA, contribute to the normal function of the heart, brain and vision, while also supporting overall wellbeing. Because the body cannot produce EPA or DHA on its own, they must be obtained from food sources …
On Valentine’s, remembering my first kiss
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran To tell of my first kiss is to tell of miracles, devotion to our Blessed Lady and the advent of The Top 10 on Radio Eireann. It was the early Sixties and I was all of 12. A group of us boys were huddled together in an old, galvanised shed in …
Blending the old with the new makes cents
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Last week, we explored gold’s enduring appeal as the world’s oldest safe-haven asset. From ancient Egypt’s ‘Flesh Of The Gods’ to its modern role in diversified portfolios, gold has shone through crises, hitting record highs around €4,200 – €4,300 an ounce amid geopolitical tensions, inflation fears, and central bank buying. …
Trust your eyes not other’s lies
CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton “I promise to tell The Truth and nothing but The Truth…” This oath been used for centuries in legal situations and means that the person has lawfully sworn to tell the truth. Once sworn, any mistruths are regarded as perjury, a serious crime with significant penalties, including prison …
St. Mary’s of Callan: A restored gateway to the past
By John Fitzgerald Part of a County Kilkenny town’s heritage might have been lost forever but a timely intervention. St Mary’s Church, a 13th century Gothic style building in Green Street, Callan, is a major national monument in the town and among the most notable of its kind in Ireland. It dates to about the …
Natural digestive support
BY CLAIR WHITTY A healthy gut is one of the most important parts of our health that we need to look after. Thankfully it is now widely recognised as the foundation of good health. And is something that I am very happy to see being talked about. There are many things that can impact on …
Get priorities right for rural resettlement
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON If Ireland was placed on a weighing scale it would be demographically unbalanced enough to tip us off into the Irish Sea. A whopping 40% of the population are on the East Coast, with over 28% in Dublin. A minority live in smaller communities and the rest in …
