Opinion

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Recently we looked at the landmark announcement from the Government revealing a series of significant changes to the State Pension (Contributory). It promised flexibility and improved benefits for those aged 66 and above. We saw that the most striking development was the decision to maintain the State Pension age at …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Here’s an awesome fact: when the universe was very young — something like a hundredth of a billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second — it underwent an incredible growth spurt. During this burst of expansion, which is known as inflation, the universe grew …

How noticing the good in the world helps us to form healthy habits A CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST’S PERSPECTIVE By Paul Bolger. Nano Physiotherapy www.nanophysio.ie Motivation can be hard to come by – but psychological research shows us that developing a greater awareness of the good around us can be a powerful motivation booster. What We Pay …

The Battle of the Clocks PART ONE BY JOHN FITZGERALD Putting the clocks back or forward by an hour as required is something we take for granted nowadays. But this has not always been the case. In 1956, one town in Ireland was convulsed by a bitter and prolonged dispute about whether clocks should go …

FURTHERMORE  By Gerry Moran It’s that time of year again, folks, Oscar Time. And I genuinely believe it’s only a matter of time before one arrives here in Kilkenny! By no means wishful thinking. Let’s start with our own Cartoon Saloon, nominated a phenomenal five times for an award. FIVE TIMES! An amazing achievement. And …

BY CLAIR WHITTY It is difficult to believe that we are now in March, time is flying by. Normally at this time of year most of you would be getting your energy back and feeling more energised but that is not what I am hearing. Many of you are struggling with energy levels after a …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Depending on which side of the fence you reside, you may consider the Biblical Eve the first mother. If the Greek classics is your bag then Pandora — she of the box of evil spirits you open at your peril — is considered the first, with her …

PART EIGHT BY JOHN FITZGERALD The Obstacle Race at the big 1926 Sporting Day in Callan proved controversial. At first the outcome seemed beyond doubt. Mickey Croke had sprinted across the finishing line. His laces looked impeccably secure, and there was no sign of the spud. (You’ll recall from last week that the winner needed …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Many people feel the squeeze in the first quarter of the year and the Christmas bills can still cast a shadow for some. Add to that continuing inflation and still high energy costs, and it’s more important than ever to break free of bad spending habits and make positive changes. …

BY NED EGAN ‘On Grafton Street in November’  – great lines from Kavanagh’s immortal ‘Raglan Road.’. Now we have a Kilkenny woman on Grafton Street, every weekend of the year  — feeding the homeless, the deprived, the abandoned.  Mary Pierce spends all of every week hunting and searching Kilkenny for any lots of food or …