Kilkenny Observer 13 March 2026

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

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Inistioge: it’s an ill wind Meetings as residents object to giant energy farm Residents of Inistioge village and surrounding areas have launched a co-ordinated campaign opposing the proposed Curraghmore Wind Farm, warning that the project would cause irreversible harm to the local landscape, biodiversity and community well-being.

The development plans include the construction of eight industrial-scale mega wind turbines, reaching heights of

March to help our homeless on the Big Day The Good Shepherd Centre, Kilkenny, is currently supporting 43 families and 98 children experiencing homelessness, alongside eight young adults aged between 18 and 25 in emergency accommodation across its services.

The organisation, which operates across Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Tipperary, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath, says the figures reflect the growing number of families and young people seeking support as housing pressures continue.

To highlight the issue of child and youth homelessness, the organisation will take part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Kilkenny, where participants will walk in solidarity carrying signs representing the number of children currently experiencing homelessness, under the message ‘No Child Should Be Homeless’.

A high of over 17,000 people are homeless in Ireland, including 5,319 children.

The theme, ‘Together – Le Chéile’, emphasises the role communities play in supporting families having home insecurity.

175 metres. Locals argue that the scale and location of the project make it unsuitable for the rural and heritage-rich setting of Inistioge.

“This is not simply a renewable energy project, it is an industrial facility being placed in the heart of a historic rural community,” said Patrick Croke, spokesperson for Protect Inistioge’s Environment.

“These turbines are incredible

in their size and scale, much taller than the Dublin Spire, and will be among the tallest structures in the country if built, visible for miles and permanently altering our skyline, homes and health. We believe our environment and residents’ quality of life are being put at risk. To even consider placing them in such a peaceful rural setting is simply unbelievable.”

Happy St Patrick’s Day! Oh, hi there!

My name is Mariele Evan Hopkins and my friend Darby O’Gill and I send you greetings for St Patrick’s Day from my hometown in Wayne, NJ. I am four years old. I have a big sister, Madeleine. She’s seven.

My mummy is American. Her ancestors, the McCabes, came to America in the 1800s from Cavan/Monaghan.

My dad is Irish and my grandad is the Editor of your favourite newspaper, The Kilkenny Observer. But my sister and I know that his publisher, Siobhan Moore, is the real boss.

But we say nothing...

Happy St Patrick’s Day. Hugs and stuff, Mariele xxx See Gerry Moran Page 20

Residents cite scientific research indicating that noise from large-scale turbines and shadow flicker can affect mental well-being and disrupt the peace of nearby communities.

• The proposed site is located near sensitive habitats, including bird-nesting and wildlife areas, raising concerns about potential threats to protected species and local biodiversity.

• The development is expect-

ed to significantly impact the scenic and historic character of the area, which is central to local tourism.

•Narrow rural roads are considered unsuitable for the heavy construction traffic required to transport turbine components and other heavy equipment for the proposed wind farm.

• Case studies of residents in close proximity to wind farms

cite a 30–40% decrease in the value of their homes.

Protect Inistioge’s Environment is encouraging residents and supporters to attend a public gathering at Cois Abhann, Inistioge, on Thursday, March 19 at 7.30pm and make their views known.

Talks are ongoing with residents and the developers.

Visit www.protectinistioge.ie

War on Iran: switching the blame as oil costs rocket Donald Trump’s been full of typically bombastic rhetoric as the war in Iran rages on, but there’s one thing that speaks even louder than he does: the price of a barrel of oil.

Words are cheap, but the price of oil is brutally honest and is daily raising the price of oil and petrol for Irish people.

Donald Trump’s claim that the war could be over “soon” will grab headlines. But traders don’t trade on soundbites. They trade on risk. That explains the sudden urgency from the commander-in-chief.

Twoo weeks ago, he warned that the war could last four to six weeks. Now, he’s boasting that it could be over “very soon”.

“Not this week,” he said objectives were “pretty well complete”. He listed battlefield successes – boasting 5,000 targets had been hit.

The US president said he would “live with” the outcome of a report on a strike on a school which saw 110 children die.

But he tried to pin the blame elsewhere. Many countries, including Iran, used Tomahawks, a “generic” weapon.

The UK, Australia, the Netherlands and Japan are the only other countries with Tomahawks. Unless he’s suggesting one of them carried out the strike, he has effectively implicated the US. See also Page 6.

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Brennan: Let’s work with the wisdom of age Ireland must adapt its workplaces to reflect an increasingly age-diverse workforce, Age Friendly Ireland has said, with multigenerational employment at the heart of their message.

Speaking about the recent third annual Age Friendly Ireland Ambassadors’ Day, Nickey Brennan, Age Friendly Ambassador for Kilkenny, said that promoting the importance of age-friendly workplaces and supporting employers to plan for an ageing workforce was more important than ever.

The former Kerry hurler and past president of the GAA was at the annual event, this year hosted by Kerry County Council, which brought together representatives from across the country to examine how employers can respond to Ireland’s changing demographics.

Age Friendly Ireland’s nationwide network of Ambassadors, including Francis Brennan, Geraldine Plunkett, Gavin Duffy, and John Spillane, gathered to discuss the theme of Age Friendly Workplaces and the practical steps needed to support longer working lives.

Brennan said: “As people live longer and healthier lives, many want – and need – to remain in the workplace

for longer.” Age Friendly Ireland said this shift presents a significant opportunity for employers willing to embrace flexibility, inclusive cultures and long-term workforce planning.

Held at the Rose Hotel in Tralee, the event highlighted

insights from Age Friendly Ireland’s Workplace Pathfinder Programme, which brought together businesses, recent retirees and people approaching retirement age to understand what needs to change to support the fastgrowing older population.

These insights include workforce succession planning, phased retirement models, increased pension planning, and addressing harmful stereotypes in the workplace.

A nationwide survey of workers aged 45–65 found flexible working arrange-

ments are the single biggest support needed to enable people to remain in the workplace longer, with 37% of respondents identifying it as a key priority.

Francis Brennan, Irish television personality, former hotelier and Kerry Age

Friendly Ambassador, said: “One of the most important conversations we need to have in Ireland today is about how we value older people in the workplace. Experience, diverse perspectives and resilience are enormous assets to any organisation. Older workers bring insights, stability and real-world knowledge that strengthen multigenerational teams. If we truly want to plan properly for our future as a country, we need to ensure our workplaces reflect our ageing population.”

Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer of Age Friendly Ireland, said: “On Ambassadors’ Day, we want to sincerely thank our Age Friendly Ambassadors across the country for the leadership and visibility they bring to this important movement.

They use their voices and lived experiences to challenge perceptions of ageing and to highlight the opportunities that come with living longer lives.”

Age Friendly Ambassadors are appointed by city and county councils across Ireland to use their platforms to challenge ageism, champion dignity in ageing, and support more connected, active and inclusive ageing across Ireland.

Seniors grants for ‘fixing up’ homes Carrying out improvements to your property can often be essential, but regrettably, they can also prove expensive. Fortunately, there are financial support programmes available to help meet the expense of any vital upgrades you may need to undertake on your home.

One such programme is the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which enables individuals to claim €10,700 towards renovations and enhancements to their property.

The programme chiefly targets those aged 66 and over living in inadequate housing conditions. However, local authorities may broaden eligibility to those under 66 in instances of genuine hardship.

The grant is designed for essential repairs that allow an older person to continue living in their home. Essential repairs can include: structural repairs and improvements to your home, repairing or replacing the roof, upgrading the electrical wiring, installing dry lining, repairing or replacing the windows and doors and providing central heating, water or sanitary services, according to reports on RSVP Live.

Since January 1 of last year, the grant no longer covers

new fossil fuel boilers such as oil or gas boilers.

This means-tested grant is offered for essential work on privately-owned homes. You must either: own the home, or have a right to live in the home where the work will be done.

The maximum grant available is €10,700 or 100% of the work’s cost. This funding can be applied to the complete cost of the work, including VAT. The amount you obtain depends on your gross household income from the preceding tax year, following any disregards and deductions being accounted for.

At present, the maximum grant of 100% is accessible to households with an annual income below €37,500.

This reduces to 30% for those with an annual household income between €62,501 and €75,000.

You can download the application form from gov.ie or your local authority’s website.

Alternatively, you can collect the form directly from your local authority.

Make certain you obtain an updated application from your local authority that it is a form that incorporates any new modifications to the scheme.

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Trump and Micheál: don’t mention the war COMMENT: PAUL HOPKINS

Donald Trump changes his mind on a daily basis, more than he changes his boxers, if we’re to believe those “insider sources”. It’s downright frightening.

He waffles on that he now doesn’t care if a religious leader takes over in Iran and that the bombardment of the Islamic nation by the US and Israel will get “more bigly” before it gets better. The

fallout in Middle East countries is accumulating daily, with all its attending abhorrence. And the hit the global economy is taking.

Is the war about to end, as he suggests? Or maybe not?

Iran appears not to want to back down. And so it goes.

Meanwhile, Russia and China, India too, are laughing on the sidelines while Ireland, in all our neutral glory, is sitting on the fence.

The outbreak of war in Iran has left our Government facing a series of political challenges – how to respond to what is a unilateral assault on Iran, carried out without

Cowgirls! Rachel Walsh (left) and Keelin Walsh from Loreto Secondary School, Co. Kilkenny, recently exhibited at the 2026 Certified Irish Angus Schools’ Competition at Croke Park. The competition, run in association with processor partners ABP and Kepak, challenged students to rear five Irish Angus calves and learn about the care and attention required to produce quality beef for consumers. Five schools that best demonstrate an understanding of the project, along with innovative ideas, will be presented with Irish Angus calves at the National Ploughing Championships in September this year.

any reference to the UN or the boundaries of international law.

The attack appears unprovoked and lacks a clear legal mandate, yet Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee refuses to be drawn, insisting our focus should be on “de-escalation”.

Praise be for President Connolly. The Taoiseach, meantime, appears to be changing his tune by clearly calling the attack a “breach of acceptable international law”.

Micheál Martin has been under pressure not to undertake the traditional St Patrick’s Day visit to the White

House and present Trump with a bowl of shamrock and the blessings and begorrahs of the Irish people.

Speculation has been rife on whether or not Martin will raise Iran, and other issues like the undocumented Irish in America, when he meets Trump in the Oval Office.

Or just sit there as Trump waffles on about leprechauns and his golf resort in Co. Clare.

Those arguing for accepting Trump’s invitation say it is more important now that Ireland reaffirm its bond with the US, which transcends one man who temporarily

lives in the White House at a rocky moment.

Can Martin sit there availing of all those publicity shots and not mention the Middle East? Not allude to the most recently released documents from the Epstein Files, which refer to FBI investigations in 2019 into Trump’s sordid sexual assault on a 13-yearold child in the 1980s?

At best, some see Micheál Martin’s visit as a survival exercise for the Taoiseach: get in, have a friendly chat, and get out unscathed. And our butter and Baileys exports, and our tech and pharma corporate taxes bolstering

our economy, might, hopefully, escape the terror of further tariffs.

Taking a stance, declining to attend, might well be the stuff of moral righteousness, yet in the long run would achieve little other than make Trump even more apoplectic, the outcome of such on our trade relationship with the US an unknown.

More likely, Trump will unveil his shamrock and, with the orange head on him and white pallor, will unashamedly wear our hardwon Tricolour...

See John Ellis Page 16

Sunshine all the way for a safer holiday assurance A long and rainy winter has prompted many Irish families to book package holidays in the sun. Under new EU laws, these holidaymakers will be better protected going forward, according to lead negotiator on the new EU travel rules, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.

The Transport and Tourism MEP has welcomed a raft of new protections for Irish holidaymakers that protect them when they book package holidays. She said the new rules would ensure greater transparency and fairness in the travel industry.

The new EU travel rules give holidaymakers enhanced protections when things go wrong with their package holidays. This includes situations where travel companies go bankrupt, something which impacted thousands of holidaymakers when Thomas Cook collapsed in 2019.

The new EU rules give passengers more rights when it comes to cancellations. Holidaymakers can cancel penalty-free when faced with unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. This includes sudden natural disasters, conflict or public health emergencies. Tour operators are required to have insolvency protection so that, in the unlikely event that they go broke, holidaymakers will be entitled to a refund within six months.

Those same insolvency protection schemes must be sufficient to guarantee not only consumer refunds but also the repatriation of holidaymakers if things go wrong on the package holiday. When a tour operator cancels someone’s package holiday, they are now required to issue a

refund within 14 days. The definition of what constitutes extraordinary circumstances for a cancellation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In practice, this means that if a holiday destination is hit by intense flooding or forest fires and official travel warnings are issued, consumers can cancel their package holiday without incurring costs and should receive a prompt refund. Ní Mhurchú pointed out that this is particularly important given the increasingly erratic weather patterns in parts of Europe leading to flooding, fire and more extreme events.

Among the measures in this revised Package Travel Directive is that holidaymakers who are offered vouchers by way of compensation by travel companies will now have the right to refuse a voucher and opt for a cash refund within 14 days. If a voucher is accepted but not used, its value must be reimbursed at expiry.

Vouchers should be valid for up to 12 months, and transferable or extendable once. Importantly, vouchers must be backed by insolvency protection and usable across all services offered by the organiser, either in full or in instalments.

Holidaymakers can make complaints which must now be acknowledged within 7 days and replied to within 60 days.

The new EU laws require tour operators to provide clearer information on payment methods, passport/visa requirements, accessibility for people with reduced mobility, and termination fees if you cancel.

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Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny

Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny Barrel Yard Sessions are back for St Patrick’s Festival Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny is rolling out the green carpet ahead of and on St Patrick’s Day with live music sessions back by popular demand, including live music immediately after the city’s parade, at the history-steeped Barrel Yard.

The internationally renowned visitor experience and home to

Ireland’s oldest ale is also offering free entry to those named Patrick, Patricia or a variation of our patron saint’s name, to celebrate the national feast day. Entry is subject to availability of tours taking place from March 14 to 17 and is inclusive of terms and conditions*.

Ignacio Peregrina, Manager of

Ignacio Peregrina, Manager Smithwick's Experience

Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny said: “We’re looking forward to a great few days and really starting the new season for 2026 on a high note. Our guided tours are available to book on our website now and we’re also delighted to offer free entry, where available, to adults with a Patrick-related

name, for example Patrick, Paddy, Padraig, Pat, Patricia, and any other derivative. We’ll also accept adults with surnames which derive from a form of Patrick including Patrick, Fitzpatrick, Mulpatrick, etc.” *The free tour offer is valid only for walk-up visits, not for those on pre-booked tours, and is subject to

capacity availability. As it’s a tour of a former brewery site, the offer is also open to over 18s only. Those who believe they qualify must show valid photo identification.

Celebrations with live music at the Kilkenny city centre attraction begin on Saturday, March 14, when highly acclaimed ballad and folk group Abbeyfolk take to the Barrel Yard stage from 5pm. Hailing from Laois, Kilkenny and surrounding counties, Abbeyfolk, led by Kevin Morrin, are known to deliver unforgettable performances.

On Tuesday, March 17th, St Patrick’s Day, the cosy, enclosed venue we will host live music with B&B, immediately after the parade through the city. The lively twopiece band will be playing Irish folk and ballads, mixed with a wide range of crowd favourites to keep everyone entertained from 3.30pm.

This is a change from our original start time, which was to be 5pm.

“It is anticipated that the Barrel Yard Sessions will yet again be a great meeting point and somewhere for people to enjoy free live music and fun before continuing their evening in the surrounding restaurants, hotels and bars,” Ignacio Peregrina added.

A full bar facility is available at The Barrel Yard throughout the entire Festival. All Smithwick’s products are available on tap, as well as low alcohol and nonalcohol options.

Immersive, multi-sensory tours will operate throughout the day, every day during the festival. Prebooking is advised via https:// www.smithwicksexperience.com/ tickets

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

Opinion

The Fact Of The Matter Paul Hopkins

They are the one in 10 we care little about On September 28, 1992, Ireland ratified the UN Convention On The Rights Of The Child which, then just four years in existence, outlined the responsibilities of governments to protect and promote children’s rights through their laws, policies and practice. Ireland’s Child Care Act 1991 was in its infancy and was supposed to transform the powers of health boards to intervene on behalf of children at risk of abuse and/or neglect.

In the intervening decades numerous reports have outlined our shameful failure to challenge cultural and societal norms that too often have left children to fend for themselves against what most of us would be incapable of coping with.

Now, here we are, a quarter of a century later and the fallout of South Kerry CAMHS is still in free-fall; the Government roll-back on cutting SNA numbers has yet to offer

any sort of forward thinking; school places for children with special needs are abysmally not enough – one mother of my knowledge was turned down by 14 schools for a place for her son (4) who has autism.

According to Social Justice Ireland there are 131,764 of our young with special needs, one in 10 of our children.

Additionally, more than 5,300 children, of more than 17,000 homeless people, have no place to call home; unattended immigrant minors have gone missing; bodies of little boys unaccounted for years are dug up in Co. Louth, and Tulsa keeps pointing the finger at everyone else when a child in their care goes missing. And to add insult to injury planning permission has been granted to build apartments at Bessborough, Co. Cork where 900 babies were interred in the decades of Mother & Baby Homes – years of no closure,

despite the Taoiseach’s apology the other day, An Oireachtas health committee heard last week that “one clear entry point for children with mental health needs will be rolled out this summer” in a bid to ensure they are referred to the right support and not automatically sent to CAMHS. Another promise. Meantime, the Ombudsman for Children has criticised reforms around the ­Assessment of Need (AON) process as “tinkering around the edges” despite almost 20,000 children currently waiting for an assessment. Dr Niall Muldoon said it seemed to him that it was “an attempt to spend less resources in this area”.

Moral responsibility is a great buzzword these days, meaning, I guess, that we should know right from wrong, and act accordingly, but there is still so much wrong about how we are treating our children on the

‘fringes’ of Ireland’s society.

As I write, those 5,300 children are still homeless, 10% of all our children live below the poverty line, while many young get their schooling in the 1,600 unsuitable prefab buildings throughout the country and the cost of childcare continues to escalate.

“There are 131,764 of our young with special needs...

I don’t see any joined-up thinking in Government and other agencies when it comes to the housing crisis, the health crisis, the day-in, day-out debilitating struggle of so many.

I don’t see any moral responsibility. The philosopher George Santayana said: “Those who do not learn [from] history are doomed to repeat it.” Here, history lives on with the absence of a willingness to finally, once and for all, help put things right.

God knows, but the money is there, and, given our small population, the needed infrastructure not beyond realisation.

Surely, if we really hold children in the high regard we claim to, we should seek to ensure that society treats all children equally from birth. However, what we need to realise is that only real investment will alleviate the pain and suffering of these children.

Since the foundation of the State we have had a steady stream of conservative politicians implementing a liberal welfare State dominated by subsidiarity, means-tested assistance, and restricted social access.

History tells us that whatever party is in power and whatever the financial state of the country, we have never sought to build an equitable society where children can truly be treated equally. If we are ever to achieve such a society we need to realise that there is a direct connection between the ideologies of the politicians we elect and the society we live in – and the advantages or disadvantages that the children it produces experience.

If we truly wish to cherish our children, the type of society we so sorely need is one based on equality and fairness; a society that prioritises people over money ...

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Bluetongue sparks fertility fear Bluetongue cases detected in herds so far are likely only "the tip of the iceberg” and farmers should "not be misled by the number of cases” identified, a Department of Agriculture vet has said.

Head of the Department's National Disease Control Centre Avril Hobson said it was likely Irish cattle herds and sheep flocks would see

fertility and reproductive problems because of bluetongue.

"I think the whole fertility issue could really have a big impact on our farming system,” she said during a recent IFA-organised webinar on bluetongue.

"Even the herds we have detected are definitely the tip of the iceberg because there weren't any big tell-tale

signs: in the first herd, when we went in and asked what the clinical signs were, there was one lame animal, one cow with a sore eye. Really mild signs. Nothing that you might not see any other year.

"The reality is this is a disease we're going to have to learn to live with.”

Hobson said it was "quite possible” that there were infected pockets within

Ireland. "We have it on the island and it will just continue to spread. That might be lots. It's really difficult to know how much infection we have on the island.

"The other option is that we may have to wait for another plume of infected midges to come over from Britain, but either way, bluetongue is here and it's here to stay.”

Hobson said predict-

ing how severe bluetongue would be in Ireland this year is "really like looking into a crystal ball”, as many variables influence the disease.

She said the peak milk production period and cattle breeding season, from May to October, coincided with warmer temperatures when midges that spread the virus were most active.

Bluetongue can also be

spread transplacentally, meaning infected calves and lambs can be born and spread a new wave of disease.

She confirmed the department would not place movement restrictions on herds or flocks awaiting test results or those that have a positive result.

He said vaccination was a key tool for farmers.

UK rejects under-16 smartphone ban Britain's MPs have rejected a proposed ban on social media for under-16s, with the Commons voting 307 to 173, a majority of 134, against the age limit.

The move could prove similar in Ireland, if only by argument alone.

The age limit had been backed by peers earlier this year after growing calls from campaigners, including actor Hugh Grant.

Supporters of the Australianstyle ban said parents are in “an impossible position” over the online harms their children are being exposed to.

Others, including the NSPCC, warned a ban could drive teenagers into unregulated corners of the internet.

MPs voted against the proposed change to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools

Bill, which Conservative former minister Lord Nash brought forward.

However, a ban could still come into effect in the future after the Commons supported a Government bid to give the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Liz Kendall, additional powers.

Education Minister Olivia Bailey told Parliament: “Many parents and campaign groups have called for an outright ban on social media for under-16s.

Others, including children’s charities, have warned that a blanket ban could drive children towards less regulated corners of the internet or leave teenagers unprepared when they do come online.”

Bailey said the British Government’s amendment in lieu would guard against this.

Tell LauraLynn you'd love to ... help fund with their hospice care for children LauraLynn, Ireland’s only Children’s Hospice, is calling on individuals and organisations across Co. Kilkenny to register now for its new 24-Hour Challenge, taking place on the grounds of LauraLynn Hospice in Leopardstown, Dublin, on May 21 and 22.

The 24-Hour Challenge is an evolution of the popular 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge, bringing in more ways to take part.

The fundraising challenge invites supporters to walk, run, cycle or row for a 30minute slot on the grounds of LauraLynn Hospice.

Together, participants will keep treadmills, bikes and rowing machines in continuous motion for a full 24 hours. Participants are encouraged to raise €250 a slot, while companies

and groups can sponsor an entire treadmill for the 24-hour duration at a fundraising target of €12,000.

In 2026 it will cost in excess of €11m to run the hospice service.

Supporters can now book their 30-minute slot at www.lauralynn.ie/24-hourchallenge Pictured at the launch of LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice 24-Hour Challenge, are broadcaster and LauraLynn supporter Lorraine Keane, Mayo GAA star and LauraLynn ambassador Pádraig O’Hora, LauraLynn nurse Kate Hourigan, with Emily Ahearne and her mum Ann, who attend LauraLynn.

PHOTO: Andres Poveda

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Opinion

As I See It Marianne Heron

Women open doors on single home buyers There’s an advert on TV which shows a couple who are first-time buyers looking for a mortgage. Several of the mortgage brokers they contact get their pitch all wrong before one gets it right. But now it seems all of them may be off trend.

There are more single home buyers out there and more of those single buyers are women, going solo as they get their foot on the property ladder. This appears to be a growing situation according to recent reports, where one Dublin property agent Owen O’Reilly found that last year women accounted for 55% of single buyers compared with 53% the previous year.

A sign of changing times maybe, but it’s the kind of statistic which begs questions. Is this a sign that the gender pay gap is finally closing? Or perhaps that the traditional pattern of couples marrying and buying togeth-

er is starting to fade?

This is against a background where many first-time buyers are being priced out of the market and either ending up back home with their parents or else leaving the country in search of affordable homes or rents. House prices are rising exponentially due to lack of supply, with prices expected to rise by 5.3% this year but by as much as 10% in some areas. Intense competition may mean that second-hand homes sell for well over the asking price. The number of homeless have reached record crisis levels with 17,112 in emergency accommodation and increase of 10.6% over previous years.

It has been proposed that the 8,000 workers building the MetroLink could be housed in prefabs, given the housing crisis.(Pity that hasn’t been suggested as a solution for the homeless).

Statistics bear out the

answers to the questions above. The gender pay gap has shrunk down to 3.5% in favour of males, but there is still a shortage of women in senior management and women are still more likely to suffer poverty and deprivation compared to men, according to the CSO. There are fewer wedding bells in Ireland too. In 2023 there were 21,159 opposite and same sex marriages, a drop of 8.7% on the year before and in 2024 the number of marriages fell by 4%. Accord’s marriage service attributes some of the decline to the way that unaffordable house prices are causing couples to delay marriage and home ownership.

First-time buyers are older now and those with good salaries want to escape the rental trap.

Single women buyers seem to be more of a Dublin trend though. Martina Savage,

Provision of grants for private septic tanks Local Fine Gael Councillor John Brennan has called on the Government to change the laws in relation to the provision of grants for the improvement of private septic grants. Under the present guidelines only people who are living in a designated area are entitled for a grant to upgrade their septic tank.

As of 2026, there are three primary grant schemes available in Ireland for septic tank upgrades, offering aid up to €12,000. While the headline figure is significant, the criteria are exceptionally narrow. For the vast majority of Irish homeowners, these grants remain out of reach due to the restrictive way the schemes are designed.

The unfortunate reality is that the current system is not designed for the masses. It is a highly restrictive mechanism intended to satisfy EU water quality legislation rather than assist the typical homeowner with a failing system Cllr. Brennan is asking the department to amend the rules to allow anybody who has a problem and whose septic tank is not working properly to be entitled to draw down the grant. Cllr. Brennan stated that this would be a great help to improve the local environment where damage is caused to our local rivers and streams and ruining water quality.

Provision of a Full Time Community Development Worker for North-East Kilkenny Local Fine Gael Councillor John Brennan has called on the Government to provide funding for the provision

of a full-time community development worker to be based in Castlecomer covering the five parishes of Castlecomer, Coon, Muckalee, Clogh, Moneenroe, Conahy, Ballyragget and Ballyouskill. Cllr. Brennan stated that there is an urgent need to have this position created in north-east Kilkenny to help local community groups access funding opportunities and he has addressed this need to the Government for such a position to be created in the north - east Kilkenny region.

agent and auctioneer with Sherry Fitzgerald McCreery, Kilkenny says couples are the main purchasers there.

“Last Saturday I must have

“It may be their nesting instinct is stronger ...

seen about 40 prospective purchasers and they were all couples,” she said and confirmed the way that second-hand houses sold above the asking price in a county where the average price is €350,000 for secondhand homes. One at that price, new to the market had already had an offer of €355,000 by the end of the first day. “It’s difficult for buyers,” says Martina.

One explanation for the trend in solo women buyers may be that their nesting instinct is stronger, whereas men are likely to wait until they have a partner before thinking about buying a home. ”Women tend to take the lead when selling and buying homes,”says Martina.

“We are seeing more single buyers,” says Ronan Crinion of Move Home estate agents, Dublin, while men are in the majority women are catching up.”Single buyers are focus-

sing on apartments in the city centre with older homes as the second choice in the €400,000 to 500,000 bracket.

Dublin 7 and 8 are greatest areas of growth.”

While percentage of single women are now outnumbering men in the single buyer market which represents about a third of all buyers according to Doddl, on- line mortgage brokers, is small in numbers it’s still a significant change.

Back in the day when I first moved here, the marriage bar, where women in the Civil Service had to leave work when they married, was still in place. It didn’t end until 1973 and married women still had to get their husband’s signature in order to open a bank account until around 1976.

It may be a small step in terms of numbers but it is a giant step for womankind towards equality.

Let your skin glow with Kinvara Irish skincare CLAIR WHITTY Spring is here but your skin may not be feeling springy or fresh after the long winter that we have had. Your skin may have lost its glow. The Irish brand Kinvara skincare could be exactly what you are looking for to freshen your skin.

Their products are natural, plant-powered formulations, cruelty free and vegan. They are well loved by users of the brand with up to 5,000 5-star reviews across their range.

Joanne O’Reilly, founder of Kinvara, has a robust background in science and a passion for health and wellness. But you might be wondering why anyone would call a skincare brand after a small town in the west of Ireland? It is simple. Joanne is originally from Kilkenny, but her inspiration came from when she was living in Kinvara. The beautiful area reminded Joanne that “nature supports us and feeds us, literally and metaphorically.”

The place inspired her to keep Kinvara Skincare “real, pure

and honest.”

Recently Kinvara became the first Irish Skincare brand to have dual languages on their packets with 50-50 Irish and English on their products.

They will be shouting loudly about this soon and you will see the new packaging coming in on the shelves of the shops.

I have seen the full range with the new branding, and it looks amazing. Níl ach cúpla agam, but even so, I felt very proud when I saw the new branding.

Well done Kinvara.

Their Absolute Cleansing Oil is perfect for all skin types and is brilliant for removing makeup, sunscreen, and mascara. It smells amazing and contains Watermelon seed oil, which is high in Omegas. It is a light oil

that sinks easily into your skin, leaving it super smooth, clean and moisturised.

For a glow from a bottle use their hero product the 24HR Rosehip Serum with Aloe Vera. It is a luxurious oil that leaves your skin feeling firm and hydrated and is perfect for all skin types.

Finish with Active Rosehip Day Cream which contains Hyaluronic Acid, perfect for plumping out fine lines and wrinkles, and is gentle on sensitive skin. It works brilliantly as a primer under makeup.

Check out this beautiful Irish Skincare brand from the West of Ireland. Rachel skincare expert will be in store on 26th March to tell you more about the range.

Shop online at www.naturalhealthstore.ie where you’ll be able to take a look at these brands. Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre Phone: 056 7764538 | Email: info@naturalhealthstore.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

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News and Notices

CIAPADH CAORACH – SÉASÚR BHREITH NA NUAN

SÍNTIÚIS PHOLAITIÚLA FÓGRA I LEITH TRÍÚ PÁIRTITHE

Is fadhb mhór é ionsaithe caorach d’fheirmeoirí caorach ag aon am den bhliain, ach is fadhb ollmhór é nuair a tharlaíonn sé le linn shéasúr bhreith na n-uan.

Béarfar thart ar 2.5 milliún uan ar 30,000 feirm caorach sa stát sna seachtainí atá romhainn. Is fiú thart ar €250 milliún an tionscal seo d’Éirinn.

Tá gá go gcloíonn daoine aonair, páirtithe / grúpaí srl., le ceanglais áirithe faoin Acht um Thoghcháin Áitiúla (Síntiúis agus Caiteachas a Nochtadh), 1999 arna leasú nach páirtithe polaitiúla cláraithe iad atá páirteach i ngníomhaíocht pholaitiúil nó stocaireacht a bhaineann le polasaí nó feidhmeanna údarás áitiúil nó comhlacht reachtúil ina bhfuil feidhmeanna dílsithe a bhaineann le rialtas áitiúil. Is “tríú páirtithe” iad na daoine seo de réir na reachtaíochta.

Ba chóir do dhaoine aonair nó eagraíochtaí a cheapann go mbaineann forálacha tríú páirtí leo teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Rannóg Seirbhísí Corparáideach ag 056-7794070 nó seol ríomhphost go corporate@ kilkennycoco.ie

Tarlaíonn ciapadh caorach nuair a théann madraí sa tóir ar chaoirigh, rud a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ina chúis leis na caoirigh a bheith in anacair, iad a bheith gortaithe nó le marú na gcaorach fiú. Is féidir an damáiste a dhéantar ó ionsaí caorach a fheiceáil; is minic a bhíonn na caoirigh fós beo, ach bíonn siad gortaithe go dona agus ní mór iad a chur chun suain.

Déantar damáiste eile nach mbíonn sé chomh héasca céanna é a fheiceáil. Má tá na caoirigh ag súil le huan, is minic a ghinmhilleann siad a n-uain. Tar éis ionsaí, d’fhéadfadh faitíos a bheith ar na caoirigh roimh mhadraí, rud a fhágann an saol an-deacair ar fheirmeoirí caorach mar gur minic a úsáidtear madraí caorach chun caoirigh a sheoladh.

Tá fáil ar threoirlínte do Theastais agus Dearbhuithe Ráitis do Thríú Páirtithe maidir le síntiúis ar ár suíomh gréasáin ag https://kilkennycoco.ie/eng/Your_Council/Disclosure-of-DonationsExpenditure/Third-Party-Political-Donations.html Caithfear Teastais Tríú Páirtí, Dearbhuithe agus Ráitis Reachtúla a chur ar fáil do Chomhairle Contae Chill Chainnigh faoi 31 Márta 2026 ar a dhéanaí.

Ba mhaith le Comhairle Contae Chill Chainnigh na contúirtí a bhaineann le ligean do mhadraí a bheith amuigh i gceantair tuaithe gan mhaoirseacht a chur i gcuimhne do dhaoine. Níor chóir go mbeadh sé mar ábhar iontais d’úinéirí madraí go rachadh peata an teaghlaigh sa tóir ar bheostoc, go ndéanfadh sé ionsaí orthu nó go ndéanfadh sé iad a chiapadh. Má tá do mhadra as radharc agus as smacht, fiú ar feadh tréimhse ghearr ag aon am den lá, d’fhéadfadh sé ionsaí a dhéanamh.

D’fhéadfadh aon chineál madra ionsaí a dhéanamh, dá mbeadh an deis aige.

Ní mór madraí a choinneáil faoi smacht i gcónaí, ar iall más féidir. Tá úinéir an mhadra faoi dhliteanas as aon damáiste a eascraíonn as ionsaí. I gcúinsí áirithe, tá sé dleathach d’fheirmeoirí madraí a scaoileadh, ar an toirt, má tá siad ar a dtailte gan chead. Tabhair aire do do mhadra agus do bheostoc daoine eile agus cabhraigh lena chinntiú nach dtarlóidh teagmhais de chiapadh beostoic i gcontae Chill Chainnigh i mbliana.

SHEEP WORRYING – LAMBING SEASON Sheep attacks are a big issue for sheep farmers at any time of year but it is a huge problem when they happen during the lambing season.

Approximately 2.5 million lambs will be born on 30,000 sheep farms in the state over the coming weeks. The industry is worth approx. €250 million to Ireland.

POLITICAL DONATIONS – NOTICE FOR THIRD PARTIES Individuals, parties/groups etc., other than a registered political party, involved in political activity or other campaigning relating to the policy or functions of a local authority or other statutory body in which are vested functions in relation to local government, must comply with certain requirements under the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations & Expenditure) Act 1999, as amended. Such persons are described in the legislation as “third parties”.

Individuals or organisations who consider that the third-party provisions may apply to them should contact Corporate Services Department at 056-7794070 or email corporate@kilkennycoco.ie Guidelines for Third Parties Statement Declarations & Certificates concerning donations are available on our website at: https://kilkennycoco.ie/eng/Your_Council/Disclosure-of-DonationsExpenditure/Third-Party-Political-Donations.html Third Party Certificates, Statutory Declarations and Statements must be furnished to Kilkenny County Council not later than the 31st March, 2026.

Sheep worrying occurs when dogs chase sheep which can cause distress, injury or even death.

The damage caused from a sheep attack can be visible; often the sheep are still alive, but are badly injured and they need to be put to sleep.

Other damage caused is less visible. If the sheep are in lamb, they often abort their lambs. After an attack, the sheep can become terrified of dogs, which makes life very difficult for sheep farmers as sheep dogs are often used to herd sheep.

Kilkenny County Council wishes to remind people of the dangers of allowing dogs to access rural areas without supervision. Dog owners should not be shocked that the family pet would chase, attack or worry livestock. If your dog is out of your sight and control, for even a short period at any time of the day, it could become involved in an attack.

Any breed of dog, if given the opportunity, can be involved in an attack.

Dogs must be kept under control at all times, preferably on a lead. The dog owner is liable for any damages arising from an attack. In certain circumstances it is legal for farmers to shoot dogs, on sight, if they are trespassing on their lands. Please take care of your dog and the livestock of others and help ensure that no livestock worrying incidents occur in our county this year.

DONATIONS STATEMENTS MEMBERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES Local Elections [Disclosure of Donations & Expenditure] Act, 1999 [as amended] Notice is hereby given that all Political Donations Statements for the year 2025 required by the above Acts have now been received by Kilkenny County Council and are available on our website at www.kilkennycoco.ie.

Mary Mulholland, Director of Services.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

News The campaign to get Phil Hogan elected as the next director general of a UN agency will have little to no involvement from the Government, according to sources within the Coalition.

Two weeks ago, the Cabinet approved the former Fine Gael minister and EU commissioner as its pick to run for the role of director general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The nomination followed an independent selection process, with the final decision kept under tight wraps until ministers were informed of the decision last Tuesday.

Kilkenny native Hogan has been out of the political limelight since 2020, having spent his wilderness years earning hundreds of thousands of euro as a private consultant after he was forced to resign as EU Trade Commissioner in the wake of the Golfgate controversy during the pandemic lockdown.

He resigned over breaches of Covid-19 restrictions in place in Ireland at the time.

In the aftermath of the event, he said he did not break any law but admitted that he “should have been more rigorous” in adhering to the guidelines.

The Kilkenny man said the furore had become “a distraction” to his work at an EU level.

Since then, he has had a lucrative career as a private consultant. In 2023, he declared €1m in annual revenues from his consultancy firm.

According to a report in the Irish Times, Mr Hogan told close confidants at a highend restaurant in Brussels shortly before Christmas that he was eyeing a political comeback.

The Government agreed to an open expressions-ofinterest process, with Hogan beating two other candidates to the nomination, one of whom is understood to be a well-known diplomat.

“The EU hasn’t had this position in 50 years,” a Government source said last week.

“The EU really wants this, and they would see Phil Hogan as a man with a genuine chance of winning it.”

It has been suggested by Government sources that the 65-year-old, on top of having the Government’s backing, has endorsement for his bid at the highest levels of the European Commission.

A return to the political arena is being seen as a redemption of sorts by some within the Government, and Hogan is now being propped up by the two institutions that brought him down — the Irish Government and the European Union.

“Phil has a strong track record of campaigning and knows what is involved in working to get the job,” a coalition source told the

Hogan is back The Kilkenny man has survived a long road but is, effectively, on his own in the run for a top EU post.

Sunday Independent.

They said there was little doubt within the Government that he would get the nomination.

However, several sources said the campaign would be up to Hogan with no direct involvement from the Government, amid suggestions that a failed comeback could prove a costly embarrassment for the Coalition if it were to attach itself to his campaign.

“To be frank, this is not on the Irish Government’s list of domestic requirements,” a source said.

“It was more a case that if we were to give him a ticket to run, the European machine would kick in.”

While two Department of Agriculture staff members will be assigned to assist the campaign, Hogan will be largely on his own and will be expected to cover any

additional personal or campaign-related costs himself as he travels the world pitching for the job.

His nomination has the backing of Government leaders, with a Coalition source saying the fact the process was independent was key before his recommendation was approved.

“It is Phil Hogan’s campaign,” they said.

One person familiar with discussions at a Government and EU level said “if he becomes the sole European candidate, what he will get naturally is a lot of support from the Commission and member states”.

“He will get a ready-made campaign team, with different ministers and different allies.

“But this isn’t a question of Ireland running a major campaign; it’s not like an Irish seat on the United

Nations Security Council.”

The election for the role of FAO head takes place in the summer of 2027.

Mr Hogan and deputy FAO chief and former Italian Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina, who has been put forward by his government, are the two candidates to throw their hats in the ring so far.

The FAO role commands a salary of around €225,000 and is based in Rome.

Hogan’s patrons in the Cabinet seem to have forgiven him for his past sins.

His first mishap occurred in 1995, when he was Minister of State for Finance and budget secrets were leaked from his office to the media.

A civil servant was to blame, but Hogan took responsibility and resigned.

Phil Hogan was quickly forgiven and made chairman of Fine Gael’s Parliamentary

Party at the age of 35.

When Michael Noonan resigned as party leader in 2002, Phil Hogan contested the succession but was unsurprisingly defeated

by Enda Kenny. He soon became a Kenny loyalist, masterminding the defeat of Richard Bruton’s 2010 heave against Kenny.

When Fine Gael returned to office in 2011, Hogan was rewarded by Kenny. First, he secured a Cabinet post as Environment Minister, but in 2014 he landed the bigger prize of European Commissioner for Agriculture.

When Kenny resigned as Taoiseach in 2016, Hogan was careful to keep onside with new Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. In 2019, Varadkar rewarded him with a second term. Hogan became European Commissioner for Trade under Ursula von der Leyen.

While in Europe, Hogan flourished, but he always kept in touch with domestic politics and Fine Gael ministers. He retained close friends in Leinster House, including Independent deputies Michael Lowry and Noel Grealish.

He attended Oireachtas golf outings. In 2020, he attended the infamous Golfgate dinner. Amid claims (later rejected by a judge) that the gathering breached Covid rules, he was forced to step back. Around the same time, he was stopped by a Garda for using his phone while driving.

His explanation of this behaviour irritated not only von der Leyen but, more importantly, his patrons at home. Both Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Taoiseach Micheál Martin asked him to consider his position.

Deserted by his patrons, he resigned. Hogan’s charmed life was seemingly over.

He headed for the private sector, setting up a consultancy firm which had many lucrative clients, including JPMorgan and Vodafone.

For a while he lingered in the political wilderness.

However, his informal strategic advice to Fine Gael ministers continued, as did his animosity towards Varadkar.

After Varadkar resigned in 2024, Hogan emerged from the shadows as an adviser to his successor, Simon Harris.

The new Fine Gael leader clasped him to his bosom, appointing him to an internal party committee to advise on strategy for the 2024 general election.

Flaunting his return to favour under Harris, Hogan made a high-profile appearance at the 2024 Fine Gael Ard Fheis. According to the Irish Independent: “Phil Hogan turned heads as he marched into the main hall at the Ard Fheis surrounded by international ambassadors.”

The Kilkenny man was back...

Writing recently, Shane Ross remarked: “Last week, the fallen commissioner cashed his chips. His nomination for a prestigious job at the UN was a brazen promotion of a party favourite to yet another plum position.

“Phil was in luck. Leo was gone. His young protégé, Harris, was in charge of Fine Gael.

He was even luckier that the third group in power, the Regional Group of Independents, is under the thumb of Phil’s old friend, Lowry. The two lads go back more than 30 years,” wrote Ross.

“Lowry was a guest at Hogan’s 50th birthday party in 2010, where Kenny was also present. Hogan was later embarrassed when it emerged that, as environment minister, he had received a lobbying delegation led by Lowry — at the height of the Tipperary TD’s tribunal travails.”

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

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Opinion

Your Money & You John Ellis

Iran: why customers, as always, pay the price In the wake of relentless Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran, the assassination of its leadership, and retaliatory strikes across the Gulf states, the world grapples with a severe energy crisis.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has halted 20 million barrels of daily oil, a fifth of global supply, in a near total shutdown, while Qatar’s suspension of LNG exports from Ras Laffan, since early March, aggravates the chaos.

With more than 150 freighters idling at sea, this blockade has triggered immediate supply shocks, increased freight costs and disrupted global logistics. As the conflict drags on, fears of a prolonged slump loom, with inflation rising as the economy slows.

As a nation we are a net importer of fossil fuels and therefore are exceptionally vulnerable. Oil constitutes more than 50% of the country’s energy consumption, powering 93% of transport. Homes rely heavily on imported gas,

much of it now jeopardised.

European gas prices surged up to 50%+ in recent days, with EU storage at a critically low 30%, well below the five-year average. Germany’s reserves are at 20.5%, increasing volatility. Qatar, supplies a fifth of global LNG and 30% of Europe’s jet fuel via Hormuz routes — hence the rapid

price increases in heating oil, petrol, and diesel that we are experiencing.

Faced with an outcry of “price gouging,” Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke asked the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to investigate.

Burke met suppliers on who pledged full co-operation.

Yet, this appears to be more political manoeuvring than real action. The Government appears to be deferring the present crises to the independent bodies to buy time, hoping the issues fade. Yet, it could have value but look at the CCPC’s response which shows up the limitations.

There is no legal obligation for ‘fair’ pricing, only bans on collusion. Companies can independently hike prices, and, while the investigation may scrutinise wholesale-to-retail trends or evidence of cartel behaviour, profiteering is not illegal!

While there is no evidence of widespread gouging yet, the investigation may expose collusion if it exists, the real fix lies in policy, not just investigation.

At time of writing, the national average for 500 litres of home heating oil has surged more than 60% since the conflict escalated, rocketing from around €503 to €793 - €833+ in under a week (with some

areas exceeding €830). Supplies are tight as some companies are not taking orders for the foreseeable future. Petrol and diesel have crossed over the €2 a litre barrier at many forecourts. Will reductions follow suit as quickly? History suggests not!

This crisis exposes deeper flaws in Ireland’s energy strategy. Household bills remain 40% above late-2021 levels, among Europe’s highest, fuelling arrears. A Government task force on affordability, established last year, has met only three times and issued one interim report. Promises of a comprehensive strategy and a study on wholesale price remain unfulfilled.

There is real pressure now to reinstate universal energy credits.

Longer-term, Ireland’s reliance on volatile imports remains. Offshore wind, touted as a “clean and cheap” solution, will not contribute until 2032-2033, experts warn. Meanwhile, massive

electricity network investments will increase bills, with non-wholesale charges rising.

Gas, still dominant, ties prices to global whims, as seen this week.

Farming faces hidden risks as 30% of global fertilisers depend on Gulf petrochemicals, potentially disrupting harvests, and inflating food costs, overlooked in a techobsessed world.

Ultimately, as a nation we have little control or influence on geopolitics, but we must do what we can. We need to increase renewable energy, minimise upgrade costs, and focus on vulnerable households. As business confidence erodes and everyday costs bite, this conflict reminds us in a “heavy, dirty” economy, energy shocks hitting hardest where preparation lags.

And we the customers as always, pay the price. john@ellisfinancial.ie 086 8362633

Climate Change

– are we all playing our part?

WEEK 159

"What can we do in kilkenny?"

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Tradfest weekend

The countdown to is over. With just two days to go, it’s your last chance to grab tickets and plan an epic Kilkenny Tradfest weekend!

Kilkenny Tradfest celebrates Irish traditional music, promoting local talent and drawing global performers each March The festival begins on Friday, 13th March with an opening trail gig in Doherty’s on Friary Street at 6pm, hosted

by Conor & Alexa. One of the weekend’s most anticipated performances follows at St. Canice’s Cathedral

at 7.30pm, where an exceptional lineup of Iarla Ó Lionáird, Cormac McCarthy and Aoife Ní Bhriain will perform, with special support from The Lady Desart Choir.

The evening continues with another highlight as Clare

Sands and her band take to the stage in Billy Byrne’s at 9pm, bringing their powerful contemporary folk sound to the festival’s opening night.

Saturday, 14th March, Rothe House hosts workshops and

Barrel Yard at 5pm and Two Time Polka who take the stage in Paris Texas at 9.30pm.

Evening concerts: Emma Langford bringing her distinctive blend of traditional and folk music to Cleere’s Theatre at 7pm and MUNDY who performs with Clare Sands a full band in Kyteler’s Inn at 9pm Sunday, 15th March, the festival’s busiest day, features Emma Langford’s songwriting masterclass, Brian Leach and Oisín Quigley at Rothe House, Buíoch at Sullivan’s Taproom, Burnchurch at The Padraig Jack Left Bank, Blackwater Céilí Band at Rivercourt, Pat Carey at Cleere’s, and Séamus performances. Sibéal & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta McDavitt leads Seanclosing at Billy Byrne’s. nós dancing for children On Monday, 16th March, (12 pm) and teens/adults the pace eases slightly but (1 pm). Tommy Lanigan’s the music continues with Bodhrán workshop is at Up She Flew performing at 4.30 pm. Music Trail features Ryan’s Bar at 6pm, while Abbeyfolk performing in The

Cork six-piece BRIARS play a free show at Sullivan’s Taproom at the same time.

The evening concludes with a headline performance from Aran Islands singersongwriter Pádraig Jack and his band in Billy Byrne’s at 9pm.

Finally, St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday 17th March, features a packed Music Trail with performances from Up She Flew, Anthony McCauley, Billy Carrigan, The Savage Jim Breen, Whiskers of Lichen, The Pontiffs, Mick Citern Walsh, Oisín Mac Cinnéide, and many more artists from Kilkenny and across the country. The day’s celebrations culminate after the St. Patrick’s Day Parade with a colourful and energetic performance by Jerry Fish on the festival stage at 4pm.

Nothing left to do now but grab your tickets and enjoy some of the very best entertainment in the land, right here in Kilkenny this St.Patrick’s weekend.

For more info and tickets check out www. kilkennytradfest.com and follow us on social media for news and updates. Bígí Linn!

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Butler Gallery I Took a Hammer in My Hand, Jan McCullough, Installation View

I Took a Hammer in My Hand, Jan McCullough, Installation View

Curl I, II, V, 2026 (From the series Off Cut), I Took a Hammer in My Hand, Jan McCullough, Installation View

Curl I, II, V, 2026 (From the series Off Cut), I Took a Hammer in My Hand, Jan McCullough, Installation View

Photos: Ros Kavanagh.

Courtesy of the artist & Butler Gallery Butler Gallery is pleased to present I Took a Hammer in My Hand, a new installation of photographic works and sculpture by Northern Irelandbased artist Jan McCullough.

Artworks in this exhibition explore the boundaries between amateur and professional; image and object; and photography’s role in looking, learning and representing collaborative labour.

The title of the exhibition is

I Took a Hammer in My Hand

drawn from a DIY handbook, I Took a Hammer in My Hand: The Women’s Build It and Fix It Handbook, published

by Florence Adams in 1973, which is part of the artists’ collection of DIY manuals. The book, equipped with detailed illustrations, provides tips and guides to aid the amateur DIY-er in repairing and fixing everyday domestic issues. It invites readers to learn through looking, an act that for the artist is deeply linked to the creation of the photographic image and the studies inherent to craftsmanship.

The exhibition includes Maquette (2025-26), a new series of framed photographs of hand-built wooden roof models. The models are made by male and female apprentice carpenters working across Ireland, then staged and photographed by the artist in front of handmade backdrops in the workshops and institutions where they were fabricated.

These scaled roof models are the result of a standard learning exercise that encourages the student makers to develop and test a range of complex skills to translate two dimensional

plans into three dimensional space. The Maquette series also alludes to a longer tradition of photographers going into sculptors’ studios and design workshops to stage their maquettes and assist in bringing the objects made with care in these interior testing spaces out into the world.

I Took a Hammer in My Hand also features Off Cut (2026), an assemblage of sculptures that reference wooden offcuts and wood shavings gathered from various workshop floors by the artist, and a sculptural partition draped in pigmented drop cloth

that choreographs the gallery space.

In tandem with Maquette, these works subtly explore the ambiguity of the scaled-up, reframed object. They invite you to navigate them, and the space and works around them, with your bodyand engage with their materiality. Several works in this exhibition were developed

by Jan McCullough following her research residency at Butler Gallery in 2025, during which she became interested in the proximity of the gallery to nearby workshops like Kilkenny Design Workshops.

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Butler Gallery

I Took a Hammer in My Hand, Jan McCullough, Installation View

McCullough had conversations with carpenters, former apprentices, and other makers that led to new collaborations which included sculptures made together with Waterfordbased furniture maker David Carpendale. In addition, a pair of roof models, included in the Maquette series, were based on the distinctive roofs and architecture of the historical model village built for woodworkers and other manual labourers at nearby Talbot’s Inch, which were made by fabricators with a connection to Kilkenny.

I Took a Hammer in My Hand invites us to think about what exists within and outside of the frame and consider that artworks are not made in isolation. Through focusing on the artist’s and fabricators’ acts of building, rebuilding and reframing, the exhibition celebrates overlooked, shared gestures of labour, skill and care that underpin the making process.

The artist Jan McCullough is an artist from Northern Ireland. Her work explores the human acts

I Took a Hammer in My Hand, Jan McCullough, Installation View

of construction , fabrication and DIY, and the communities of interest and place that form around them This exhibition was made possible through the generous support of Arts Council Ireland Project Award, Kilkenny County Council and Creative Ireland.

See Butler Gallery website for information on public programming of events: Reading Room: I Took a Hammer in My Hand taking place from 14th – 21st March, which is programmed in partnership with the Tea

I Took a Hammer in My Hand, Jan McCullough, Installation View

Houses Kilkenny and Artist Talk on 9th April.

The artist wishes to thank the following whose contributions have been integral to the realisation of this exhibition: Rachel Botha, Butler Gallery Team, Ed Dunne, Mark Geraghty, Alissa Kleist, Ruaidhri Lennon, Aaron Priestly, Goretti Priestly, Tyrone Priestly and Tea Houses Kilkenny.

With special thanks to Louise Anson, Artisan Frames Tipperary, ATU Letterfrack, CITB NI, David Oliver Bespoke, Patricia

Duffe, Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute, Meadhbh Gurrin, David Granville, Inspirational Arts Dublin, Kilkenny Archaeological Society, Eamonn Maxwell, Andy McCara, Sarah McCloy, Polly Minett, René Mullin, Orla Murphy, Sean Murphy, NIVAL National Irish Visual Arts Library, Cynthia O’Callaghan, Pat Phillips, QSS Belfast, Jessica Sampson, Ann Tierney and Women’s TEC Belfast.

Jan McCullough I Took a Hammer in My Hand Until May 3, 2026

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Opinion

Furthermore Gerry Moran

Drowning the Shamrock in Barcelona You can’t drown the shamrock in sake. Believe me – I tried. It doesn’t work. I tried it with two American friends, Jack and Diane, in a Sushi Bar in Barcelona many years ago.

I don’t remember the name of the Sushi Bar but what I do remember, however, is raising our little mugs of sake around 10pm. and toasting Saint Patrick.

And then, just as Saint Paul saw the light on the road to Damascus, I saw the light in the Sushi Bar in Barcelona.

“Folks,” I said, “I’ve had my belly-full of raw fish and lukewarm sake, let’s go to an Irish bar.”

After a short taxi drive we found ourselves outside The Quiet Man, which was anything but quiet. In fact it was positively buzzing with young Spaniards, mostly students we reckoned. We couldn’t even get in. The luck of the Irish was with us, however, as just around the corner was a bar

called La Mariella. Now La Mariella had seen better days and, as we peered through the window, Jack, my American friend, flicked through his quite substantial Guide To Barcelona. “The Mariella Bar,” he announced excitedly, “is the only bar in Spain allowed to sell absinthe.”

Absinthe we were familiar with. Oscar Wilde drank it when he was in Paris as did most poets and artists but it was later banned, the guide informed us, as it was considered an hallucinogenic drink that brought madness and ruin to drinkers. However, what was good enough for Oscar Wilde was good enough for me, my wife, and our American friends, so in we went.

The Mariella was every bit as “quaint”, shall we say, inside as out. However, compared to the pseudo-traditional bars of today, the off-green walls, the weather-beaten linoleum and

the brown timber bar gave it an authenticity and charm that were uniquely its own.

This uniqueness was all the more enhanced by the presence of a statue of the Virgin Mary (La Mariella, the Little Mary) perched high on a

ledge in the corner.

The few drinkers at the bar, elderly men for the most part, turned to stare as we entered – they didn’t seem too used to tourists and the demand for absinthe was nonexistent.

Jack marched to the bar and

bravely ordered: “Quatro absinthe.” After a wee tete-a-tete with the barman, he returned to our table with four glasses, a greenish, viscous liquid in their bottom, four spoons, four sugar cubes, four bottles of water and a box of matches.

Already this absinthe, known appropriately, especially for the day that was in it, as the Green Fairy, had a mystique all of its own.

Though never a drinking man, Jack was in his element here in the Mariella Bar in a side-street in Barcelona demonstrating how to imbibe absinthe. He gently laid a spoon across the mouth of his glass, placed a sugar cube on it, struck a match and lit the cube, allowing the sugar to slowly melt. He then carefully poured the water on to the melted sugar allowing both to subside into the absinthe.

We watched the drink slowly change colour from viscous green to a milky, cloudy white.

Jack took a sip. He didn’t hallucinate. He didn’t go mad.

We followed suit.

It tasted like Pernod. Like aniseed. I didn’t particularly like it but I drank it anyway. It was Patrick’s Day after all and if I couldn’t drown the shamrock in sake then I’d surely drown it in absinthe – with the help of a few beers.

La Mariella slowly filled up thanks to the overflow from The Quiet Man and Jack ended up showing anyone who was interested how to drink absinthe. As it happened, I spied a chap in a t-shirt with ‘Tá Gaeilge Agam’ on the back. He was from Waterford, and working over here, I introduced myself and we started spouting the odd cúpla focail over absinthe and beer about iománaiocht (hurling) and An Trá Mór (Tramore) mostly.

Unless I was hallucinating, it was a most memorable way to drown the shamrock.

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Competition winner

COMPETITION WINNER

Congratulations to Jackie Hayes, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny Thank you to everyone who entered the Connolly’s Red Mills Store gift voucher draw, sponsored by The Kilkenny Observer. We were thrilled with the fantastic response and enthusiasm shown for this competition.

Ahmet, proprietor of Flaming Great on Friary Street, kindly drew the winning competition entry form.

Flaming Great serves delicious authentic, traditional Turkish-style fast food that’s definitely worth trying. See Page 11 and get 20% off your online order using the code.

Congratulations to Jackie Walsh, Kildalton Close, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny who was the lucky winner of the €300 gift voucher, a great opportunity to shop from the fabulous fashion range at Connolly’s Red Mills Store, Cillín Hill, Kilkenny.

The gift voucher was presented to Jackie by Siobhan at the office of The Kilkenny Observer.

Happy spending, Jackie,

Ahmet Celebi Jackie Hayes

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

Opinion

Choices Shape Your Future

By Judith Ashton

“Buy less, choose well and make it last!” Vivienne Westwood I’ve been Green all my life.

Repairing, recycling, and environmental awareness have always mattered to me, and I do my part for Gaia, Mother Earth. Today, it is especially important for everyone to adopt sustainable lifestyles if we want to give Mother Earth a chance to survive amid the ongoing climate crisis.

Both my parents fought in WW2. My grandmothers had to “dig for Britain” and grow as much food as they could. Rationing had ended by the time I was born but I grew up with the mantras:” Waste not, want not”, “Make do and mend” and “A stitch in time saves 9!” From an early age I learnt to sew, make my own clothes, darn and mend rather than replace.

I can strip down certain small electrical items and repair. I have an enquiring mind if something stops working. I hate “built in obsolescence”. Several of my domestic appliances are

over 30yrs. They have been repaired not replaced.

I like “slow fashion” which is a conscious approach to clothing. Invest in good quality items made from natural fibres and they will last you longer than fast industrial imported garments. Buy timeless pieces which are produced under good environmental conditions, fair wages and with less waste. Fast fashion, doesn’t last and often pays low wages to people who work in toxic conditions and unsafe factories.

Approx 100 million new garments are made annually and often end up in landfill. Please check out “Atacama desert landfill.”

Be prepared for a shock.

Slow fashion encourages us to consume less and choose quality rather than quantity and to treasure the garments we acquire. It makes us think about how we dress and its impact on our environment.

When I was a kid, I loved nothing more than going to “Jumble sales” and buying second hand clothes.

“Vintage” to me means: silks, satins, crepes, wool, velvets, long dresses and beautiful prints. There were few man-made fabrics like polyester, awful things called “Drip dry shirts” and nylon socks!

If a dress or coat didn’t fit, I took it apart, figured it out and resized it before settling down at my electric Singer sewing machine to reconstruct it. It was an exercise in mindfulness and focus. Nothing worse than not paying attention and finding I had sewn a sleeve in backwards!

There is something wonderful about doing things slowly. We live in a fast world which is like a blur, where everyone is stressed and has no time for what’s really important.

What could you do more slowly and mindfully which could help both

your physical and mental health?

First and most importantly, try breathing slowly and deeply… try 4 x per minute and see how that feels. It’s very possible and you will find that it benefits every system in the body. Try chewing

“Buy less, mend more, cherish what lasts

very slowly instead of swallowing great mouthfuls of food. This can be good for digestive problems.

Take your time as you walk, paying attention to the sounds of birds and observing the subtle details around you.

Compare processed foods to cooking from scratch, chopping and stirring with purpose. A lot of fast food has used a lot of air miles to get here…Expensive and unsustainable! Check food labels. Who needs Chilean avocados in November or strawberries at Christmas?

As my Granny would have said, “Cut your coat according to your cloth!” meaning don’t be overly extravagant or wasteful.

We all need to slow it down…. We’re all going in the same direction and really there’s no rush.

What do we all really “need” as opposed to “want”? We usually have enough, but advertising and social conditioning

make us believe otherwise and encourages constant comparison with others.

There is a deep unease in our society fostered by social media and everything that is forcing us to accelerate. Let’s just slow down, connect to ourselves in meaningful ways, be mindful of all that we have, and be grateful for all that we must love and treasure.

These are no longer the values of a few optimistic hippies but principles that need to be instilled in future generations to ensure continued enjoyment of the bounties of our Great Mother Earth.

She is the mother of all mothers and needs to be loved and cared for. Our lives depend on hers. May Mother Earth, all present and future mothers enjoy a Happy Mother’s Day. Listen to: Jackson Browne’s “Before The Deluge.” www.judithashton .com

International Women’s Day celebrations at Rothe House meaning “abundance” or “the land of plenty”.

Kilkenny County Council Cathaoirleach - Mary Hilda Cavanagh, welcomed everyone to the event.

She commented on how Michelle’s participatory arts practice “reflects a belief in a sustainable, inclusive society that values women, nature, and community”.

She also stated that she was delighted to see so many young women in attendance.

She said that “women are a formidable force of Nature”, and she encouraged them to use the event to consider how they might act as a collective “to help shape a society

that protects and respects our natural world”.

Bernadette Moloney, Kilkenny County Council’s Biodiversity Officer, also spoke at the event, providing an insight into the types of projects which are proposed this year including habitat restoration projects and plans to repeat the Community Biodiversity course which ran last year. Bernadette also spoke on how individual and community action can bring great benefits to biodiversity, and she echoed a call for action to support the Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030.

Visually, the attendees were treated to a display of

some of the environmental participatory art projects that Michelle leads in the local community, including the We are Nature banner and the Brat Bríde Project cloaks – co-created by some 300 women.

Robed in these bespoke cloaks, participants Eadaoin Walsh, Maria Dollard, Monica Fleming, Freda Murphy and Helen Costelloe brought an element of drama to the event, by embodying some of the Irish goddesses – summer Goddess Éiru, the river Goddess Boann, spring Goddess Brigid, Samhain Goddess the Morrigan and winter Goddess the wise Crone / Cailleach.

Bernadette Moloney, speaking about the Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Plan

Michelle McMahon - Divine Feminine -International Women’s Day

Michelle McMahon delivered an inspirational presentation on her ecofeminism artwork and on the history of Goddess cultures, on International Women’s Day at Rothe House, in collaboration with the Kilkenny Creative Ireland Program and Kilkenny County Council’s Biodiversity Office.

Michelle introduced the enthusiastic attendees to some of the many prehistoric civilisations who worshipped the Great Mother as the source of all life. She also spoke about our own Irish ancestors' deep connection with the Goddesses of the land, such as the Goddess Ériu, who gifted her name to Ireland,

Hannah Cuffe, in the Goddess Eiru Cloak, and Crown of Field Rush and Oat Straw, made by Monica Fleming of Hay Crafts

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Homes & Gardens

Seven steps to a smarter spring clean HOME HACK

What to know before buying a sofa

FURNITURE

wayhomestudio

There is something satisfying about giving the house a proper reset at this time of year. After months of damp days, muddy shoes and closed windows, a spring clean can help a home feel lighter, fresher and much easier to enjoy. The key is not to do everything at once, but to break the job into manageable steps.

1. Make a plan before you begin

Start by walking through the house and noting the areas that need the most attention. It is much easier to stay focused when you work room by room rather than trying to tackle the entire house in one go.

A sofa is one of the biggest purchases in any home, both in terms of cost and impact, so it is worth taking time before making a decision. The right sofa should not only suit your space, but also your lifestyle, your taste and how you actually use the room day to day.

The first step is to measure carefully. It sounds obvious, but many people fall in love with a sofa in a showroom without properly considering

how it will fit at home. Measure the room, check the wall space, and think about how much floor area you want the sofa to take up. It is also worth measuring doorways, hallways and tight corners to avoid deliveryday surprises.

Next, think about how the sofa will be used. In some homes, it is mainly for relaxing in the evening; in others, it has to withstand children, pets, guests and daily wear. That should help guide your choice of size, shape and fabric. A pale

linen sofa may look beautiful, but it may not be the most practical option for a busy family room.

Comfort matters just as much as appearance. A sofa may look stylish, but if the seat is too deep, too firm or too upright, it may not work in everyday life.

If possible, sit on it properly before buying and think about whether it feels supportive as well as comfortable.

Style is important too, but it is often best to think long term.

A classic shape in a neutral

When to give the lawn its first cut

2. Clear clutter first

Before reaching for sprays and cloths, take time to tidy surfaces, put away anything out of place and clear any build-up of papers, clothes or everyday bits and pieces. Cleaning is far easier when a room has been properly cleared.

3. Work from top to bottom

A good rule is to start high and finish low. Dust shelves, picture frames, light fittings and skirting boards before moving on to floors. That way, any dust that falls will be picked up at the end.

4. Refresh fabrics around the home

Curtains, cushion covers, bedding and throws can all hold dust and stale smells over time. Washing what you can instantly helps a room feel cleaner and brighter.

5. Tackle the places you usually avoid

Every home has those easily missed spots - behind the sofa, under the bed, inside kitchen presses or along the tops of doors.

Spring is a good time to deal with those areas that do not always get included in the weekly clean.

6. Let in more light

Cleaning windows, mirrors and glass doors can make a surprising difference. As the days get brighter, sparkling glass helps rooms feel fresher and more open.

7. Finish with the details

Once the main cleaning is done, small finishing touches help everything feel complete. Open the windows, plump the cushions, fold throws neatly and bring in a vase of fresh flowers or greenery.

ArtPhoto_studio

GARDEN NOTES At this time of year, one of the first signs that spring is on the way is the urge to get back out

into the garden and finally mow the lawn. But while it can be tempting to make everything look neat again, it is best not to rush it.

The first cut of the year really depends on the weather rather than the date. If the ground is still very wet or the grass has not properly started growing, it

rawpixel.com

tone is likely to last better than something very trend-led.

Colour can always be brought in through cushions, throws or a rug.

Finally, pay attention to quality. A well-made frame and durable upholstery can make all the difference over time.

Buying a sofa is an investment, and one that should ideally last for years.

In the end, the best sofa is one that balances comfort, practicality and style - and feels just right for the way you live. is better to leave it alone for another little while. Cutting a lawn too early can do more harm than good, especially if the soil is soft underfoot.

Once things have dried out a bit and the grass is clearly growing again, it is usually fine to give it a light trim. Before you start, clear away any twigs, leaves or winter debris that may have gathered on the surface. It is also worth checking that the mower blades are sharp, as a clean cut is much kinder to the grass.

For that first mow, keep the blades set fairly high. There is no need to cut it too short. After a long winter, the lawn will respond much better to a gentle tidy-up than a very close cut.

You can always take it down a little more over the next few weeks as growth picks up.

It is also a good chance to notice any areas that may need attention later on, such as moss, bare patches or spots that have become compacted over winter.

A little patience now usually pays off. Start gently, wait for the right conditions, and the lawn will soon come back into shape for the season ahead.

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Health & Beauty Freepik

10 ways to tackle stress WELL-BEING karlyukav

How AI could help patients living with incurable diseases HEALTH Artificial intelligence is not a cure for incurable disease, but it could become one of medicine’s most useful support tools.

From rare genetic disorders to aggressive cancers and neurodegenerative conditions, AI is increasingly being used to help doctors spot illness earlier, analyse large amounts of data more quickly and match patients with more suitable treatments or clinical trials.

This matters because many conditions remain difficult

to diagnose and even harder to treat. Rare diseases alone affect more than 300 million people worldwide across more than 7,000 conditions, making them a major but often overlooked health challenge.

One of AI’s biggest strengths is pattern recognition. It can sift through scans, genetic data, pathology slides and medical notes far faster than a human working alone, helping clinicians identify warning signs that might otherwise be missed. In rare diseases, this could shorten the long wait many patients face

before getting an accurate diagnosis. In cancers such as glioblastoma, AI is also being explored for prognosis, treatment planning and drug discovery.

AI may also speed up the search for new medicines.

The US Food and Drug Administration says AI and machine learning can help identify biological targets and clarify disease relationships in early drug development.

According to a 2025 openaccess review discussing how AI is being used in rare disease diagnosis and treatment, PubMed Central concluded:

“AI-based methods will lead to substantial improvements in the diagnosis and management of rare diseases.”

Still, experts are clear that AI should support clinicians, not replace them. Questions remain around bias, privacy, transparency and whether algorithms work equally well across different patient groups.

Even so, the direction of travel is clear: while AI may not cure incurable diseases, it could help people get answers sooner, access bettertargeted care and benefit from faster medical research.

Why fibre is good for your brain HEALTH Fibre is best known for helping digestion, but it may also play an important role in brain health. Irish health advice increasingly reflects the idea that what we eat can affect not only our physical wellbeing, but also our mood and mental health.

The HSE says food affects “your brain, your physical health and your mental health”, and recommends wholegrain breads, brown rice and pasta as part of a healthier diet because they contain more fibre than white varieties.

Fibre-rich foods such as wholegrains, fruit, vegetables, beans and pulses help to keep the digestive system healthy, according to the HSE. Adults are generally advised to aim for a diet that includes plenty of these foods as part of an overall balanced eating pattern. Wholemeal and wholegrain choices provide fibre and support digestive health, making them a simple swap in everyday meals.

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The reason fibre may matter for the brain as well as the gut is the connection between the two. The British Nutrition Foundation says there is a communication pathway between the gut and the brain, often called the gut-brain axis. Early studies

suggest that a healthy balance of gut bacteria may affect mental well-being, although more research is still needed.

This is where fibre may help.

Fibre feeds beneficial gut bacteria, helping them thrive.

High-fibre carbohydrates also

break down more slowly, providing the brain with a steadier supply of glucose, which the British Nutrition Foundation says is the brain’s main source of energy. That steadier release may also help with mood and concentration.

If you’re feeling stressed, whether because of work or something in your personal life, the first step is to identify what is causing it.

Ignoring the problem or turning to unhealthy coping habits such as smoking or drinking can often make things worse rather than better.

Managing stress well often comes down to building emotional resilience, feeling more in control, staying connected to other people and trying to keep a positive outlook.

One of the most effective ways to reduce stress is to be active.

Exercise may not remove the source of your stress, but it can help ease emotional intensity, clear your mind and make problems feel more manageable. Taking control where you can also matters. Even small steps can help you feel more empowered and less overwhelmed.

Talking to people you trust can make a big difference, too.

Friends, family and colleagues can offer support, a fresh perspective and sometimes practical solutions. It is also important to make time for yourself. Setting aside regular time to relax, socialise or do something you enjoy can help restore balance.

Challenging yourself in positive ways, such as learning a new skill or taking up a new activity, can build confidence and resilience. At the same time, it helps to avoid relying on alcohol, cigarettes or too much caffeine as a way of coping, as these can create new problems in the long run.

Helping others can also strengthen your own well-being. Small acts of kindness, volunteering or simply doing someone a favour can boost resilience and connection. When work feels overwhelming, try to work smarter by prioritising the tasks that matter most, rather than trying to do everything at once.

Finally, try to focus on the positives in daily life, such as writing down a few things that went well each day. And where a situation cannot be changed, it may help to accept what is outside your control and concentrate instead on what you can do next.

Adapted from “10 stress busters” published by the NHS.

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News

McGuinness welcomes expansion of CLÁR areas in Carlow and Kilkenny Leas Ceann Comhairle and Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow– Kilkenny, John McGuinness, has warmly welcomed the announcement that several additional towns and villages in Carlow and Kilkenny will now be eligible for support under the CLÁR Programme.

The expansion has been confirmed by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, as part of the launch of the CLÁR 2026 Programme, which will see €12 million made available for rural community projects nationwide.

In Kilkenny, the newly designated CLÁR areas include Goresbridge, Freshford, Urlingford, Johnstown, Ballyragget and Castlecomer.

In Carlow, Clonegall, Leighlinbridge, Borris and Hacketstown have also been added to the scheme.

Deputy McGuinness said the announcement represents a significant opportunity for communities across both counties.

“I very much welcome the expansion of the CLÁR programme to include a number of additional towns

and villages across Carlow and Kilkenny. These communities are vibrant and active but, like many rural areas, they face particular challenges when it comes to accessing funding for vital local projects. The inclusion of these areas in the CLÁR programme will open the door to important supports that can make a real difference on the ground.”

For the first time since its establishment, more than one million people now live in areas eligible for CLÁR funding.

Deputy McGuinness said local community groups and organisations in the newly included areas should begin considering projects that could benefit from the funding.

“This programme has consistently delivered tangible improvements for rural communities, funding projects such as playgrounds, sports facilities, walking tracks, community centres and safety improvements. I would strongly encourage community groups in Goresbridge, Freshford, Urlingford, Johnstown, Ballyragget, Castlecomer, Clonegall, Leighlinbridge,

Borris and Hacketstown to engage with their local authorities and explore the opportunities available.”

Under the CLÁR 2026 Programme, funding will be available under three measures: • Measure 1: Development of community facilities and amenities such as sports facilities, youth clubs, playgrounds, sensory gardens, walking tracks and traffic safety measures linked to community facilities.

• Measure 2: Support for community vehicles used for services such as transporting cancer patients, community first responders and Meals on Wheels organisations.

• Measure 3: Tailored funding for offshore island communities under the Our Living Islands initiative.

Deputy McGuinness concluded by encouraging local organisations to make the most of the opportunity.

“Rural communities in Carlow and Kilkenny are proactive and communityfocused, and I have no doubt that the newly designated areas will bring forward strong proposals. I look forward to seeing projects come forward that will strengthen community life and improve services for people across our towns and villages.”

Kilkenny County Council invites residents to Wear Red on International Day of Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Left to right- Olena Kryvulya, Integration Team, Cllr John Coonan, Mayor of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Fiona Deegan, Director of Services, Ruth McEvoy, Integration Team

Friday March 20th is the International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Kilkenny County Council is inviting all residents of County Kilkenny to take part in the Wear Red Day, the signature day of Show Racism the Red Card. This Campaign is the Immigrant Council of Irelands National Day of Celebration of diversity

and inclusion, dedicated to raising awareness about racism and promoting respect and equality.

Show Racism the Red Card programme provides educational resources, workshops, training and awareness-raising activities for primary and secondary schools, youth groups, workplaces and sporting stakeholders nationwide.

By wearing red, the people of Kilkenny can send a strong message that racism has no place in our community. This simple act shows that we welcome diversity, celebrate it, and recognize that our society is stronger and richer because of it.

This initiative is co-funded by the Ireland Against Racism Fund.

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Opinion

The School on the Hill

The old post office in Kilmoganny

Part two

BY JOHN FITZGERALD

In 2000 a marathon reunion was held at Kilmoganny’s School on the Hill. Past pupils had mixed memories of school days. Part One can be read on the Observer website.

Lil Corcoran (O’Gorman) began her education at the school in 1919. She remembered the weekly visit of Canon O’ Keeffe, who tested the class on religion, and the inspector who came to assess pupils on the “three Rs.” She was thrilled on First Communion Day, because it meant getting a new dress.

She and other pupils taunted the Black and Tans in Kilmoganny with rebel songs.

The irate soldiers chased

(Pictured above) Kilmoganny National School 1928.

Front row: P. O’ Neill; A. Walsh, E. Hawe,.

2nd row: P. Foran, P. Walsh, N. Doyle, B. Lee, K. Kearns, A. Hickey, M. Dunne, A. Browne, T. Paddle, B. Cooke, M. Kearns, H. Noonan, M. O’ Brine, C. Donovan, A. O; Brine.

3rd row: A. Moran, B. Feehan, K. Feehan, A. O Shea, D. Cooke, Peg Dunne, A, Power, B. Phelan.

4th row: Peg Power, N. Sullivan, N. O’ Neill, K. Moran, A. Kearns, L. O’ Gorman, B. Moran, J. Cooke, M. Paddle.

5th row: K. Reade, M. Ford, M. Reade, J. Duggan, A. Dempsey, L. Brown, C. Hickey, J. Dempsey.

them through the streets of the village. Lil enjoyed her school experience but was sad that so many of her friends had passed on. Eighty five year old Lil and her eldest sister were all that remained of the family.

Ena Godley, who taught at the school from 1958 to 1961, returned from her native Kerry for the reunion. She had been welcomed with open arms in Kilmoganny from the day she arrived there.

On the morning she drove into the village, she was greeted by Canon O’ Keeffe, an elderly man who liked his

Chapel Street in Kilmoganny in early 20th century

pinch of snuff. She had fond recollections of her stint with a local drama group.

The education system had changed drastically since her teaching days. Most of the changes had been for the better, she agreed, but not all of them. Computers were a great asset, but very few pupils could now master the skill of “mental arithmetic”, which she described as “exercise for the brain.”

There was a lot of praise for Con Harrington. He seemed to have been the popular teacher in the school. Maura Moore joked that she was

lucky because Mr. Harrington felt sorry for her. “In later years”, she recalled, “He told me I looked so frightened all the time he didn’t have the heart to chastise me.”

Dick Cody’s outstanding memory of Mr. Harrington was his sideline business of dairy farming. Pupils could get a break from schoolwork if they volunteered to push ten-gallon churns of separated milk up the steep hill in wheelbarrows. “I’ll never forget the timber barrow with the iron wheel”, he said, “It was tough work, but a welcome departure from the

classroom.”

John O’ Leary was a victim of circumstances when a schoolmate picked up a spider off the floor of the classroom and placed it on a girl’s desk. There was pandemonium, with ink flying all over the room and loud screeches from the girls.

John was blamed for the prank and took his unjust punishment in silence. The real culprit was at the reunion, and STILL showed no remorse for the incident!

Eighty-four year old Jim “The Builder” Walsh recalled a day in the 1920s when he and a group of classmates caught sight of a rainbow.

“We had never seen one before and it fascinated us”, he told me, “so we decided to investigate.

"This amazing band of colour seemed to be somewhere in the direction of Rogerstown. During the lunch break, we set off walking towards it. Then it faded and we had to turn back. The ten of us got six slaps apiece.

And I don’t think the master believed our story."

Anne Flemming had to haul buckets of water up the hill to the school and pull yellow weeds in the evenings. She was also a dab hand at finding Panlans, wild potatoes that grew in the Kilmoganny area.

Even now, her mouth waters when she thinks how they tasted with knobs of butter on them. She brought milk to school in H.P. sauce bottles.

Patsy Hawe remembered a teacher called Mr. Hayden who was a harsh disciplinarian but years ahead of his time. “He talked about splitting the atom decades before it happened”, Patsy claimed.

He allowed no pauses when a pupil was called upon to read aloud from a schoolbook, and he had a “curio diary” to record observations on difficult or eccentric pupils.

When Peggy Daniels went to school, there were no uniforms and in many cases no shoes either. But a Miss Loftus who taught there would sometimes buy a pair of shoes for a child at First Communion time if the family couldn’t afford them.

Paddy Reade still dreams about his teacher, a Miss Millea from Kerry. “She became known by different names as my vocabulary got better”, he revealed.

“I sat in a classroom that was overlooked by a big statue of St. Joseph, though you could hardly see it with all the wild flowers around it. The prayers seemed to last an eternity, and the teacher call on every saint in Heaven to intercede on our behalf”.

There was a roared fire in the classroom, which was fed by sticks and furze bushes collected by the pupils. Paddy could never figure out how Miss Millea could stand so close to the fire without getting burned.

Seamous Kelly and Ned Kirwin of the Millennium Committee were delighted with the success of the reunion.

Ned rounded off the occasion by quoting some lines by Kilmoganny poet, Vincent F. O’ Brien: “… How many times with heavy hearts we scholars climbed the hill, To start our daily labours, our mental powers to drill.

At nine o’ clock each morning, the master called the roll; Response was quite magnificent, well answered on the whole; And then those horrid lessons, a little more each day; And then it came to half past twelve, and it was time to play…”

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St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny 2026 brings boost to local economy

Marching Illini_St. Patrick's Festival Kilkenny

What to expect at St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny 2026 St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny will transform Ireland’s Medieval Capital into a celebration of Irish culture from March 14–17, with more than 80 events planned across the four-day festival featuring a mix of music, heritage, family fun, workshops and community events.

Presented by Kilkenny County Council, the festival brings more than 100,000 visitors into the city centre and a welcome boost of over €4 Million to the local economy at the start of the busy tourist season.

The festivities culminate in the Grand Parade on St Patrick’s Day, under the theme Together - Le Chéile. Leading the procession of theatri-

cal performers, local clubs, stilt-walkers, and dancers is the Grand Marshal, local personality George Candler. 35,000 spectators are expected.

New for 2026 is the Parade Grandstand, a guaranteed seat with prime viewing on Bateman Quay. Ticket holders have the option to join Cllr John Coonan and honoured guests at the Mayor’s

Reception following the Parade at Butler House.

Hot tickets and festival highlights Festival-goers can look forward to a thrilling Fire & Drum Spectacular featuring the incredible Pyro Collective fire show with Jeremy Hickey, best known as a member of R.S.A.G, setting GAA's hallowed ground ablaze at

UPMC Nowlan Park at twilight on Monday, 16th March.

Another much-anticipated event from this year’s programme is Iarla Ó Lionáird, Cormac McCarthy and Aoife Ní Bhriain blending classical, jazz and traditional Irish influences at St Canice’s Cathedral on Friday 13th March. The trio will be joined by the beloved Lady Desart Choir.

The Parade Plaza is once again the heart of the celebration, with a lively festival market, carnival rides and a vintage carousel with pop-up performances throughout the weekend. In a free postparade show, the uniquely entertaining Jerry Fish will bring the festivities to a fitting close on the festival stage on the Parade this St Patrick’s Day. American marching bands return St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny is delighted to confirm that the University of Illinois Marching Illini returns once again this March. Performing for the first time are the Ohio State University Marching Band and Campo Verde High School marching band.

Free public performances will take place at Kilkenny Castle and on the city streets, featuring exhilarating performances and over 1,000 members of the USA marching band, bringing with them the sounds of brass, percussion, and woodwinds.

The programme also explores Ireland’s rich traditions, with bodhrán workshops, sean-nós singing, storytelling sessions, talks on Ireland's national flags, myth and folklore, and guided walking tours through Kilkenny’s medieval streets.

Speaking ahead of the celebrations, the Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr. John Coonan said, “St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny, is one of the most important events in the calendar. Over four days, our city becomes a colourful showcase of Irish culture, creative expression and local spirit.

This year’s programme balances spectacular entertainment with meaningful cultural experiences.

Everything from world-class performances in St Canice’s Cathedral to traditional music, storytelling and heritage events that honour our past.

We look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to experience Kilkenny at its very best this St Patrick’s weekend.”

St Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny runs from March 14–17, 2026, alongside its sister festival Tradfest Kilkenny.

With over 80 events and 100 free gigs on the trad music trail, organisers are encouraging people to plan ahead and mark this year’s national celebrations in Kilkenny.

Full details are available at www.stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com.

St. Canice’s Credit Union hosts launch of new All-Ireland community impact report Photos: Vicky Comerford New Report shows credit unions contributed €8 million to community causes across Ireland.

St. Canice’s Credit Union welcomed a new national report showing that credit unions across Ireland contributed almost €8 million to community organisations in 2024, with St. Canice’s alone donating almost €1 million locally over the last decade through their Community Connect fund and other initiatives.

The report, For Communities, Not Profit: The Credit Union Impact on the Island of Ireland (February 2026), was launched at the Medieval Mile Museum in Kilkenny, and highlights the financial and social value generated by credit unions through community funds, education bursaries, local sponsorships, and support for voluntary organisations.

Across Ireland, these contributions benefit schools, sports clubs, youth groups, arts organisations, charities, heritage groups,

Robert Troy, TD Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions & Insurance, David Malone, CEO, the Irish League of Credit Unions , John McGuinness, TD Pictured at the launch of the first report, For Communities, Not Profit: The Credit Union Impact on the Island of Ireland (February 2026) are David Malone, CEO, the Irish League of Credit Unions Robert Troy TD Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions & Insurance, Brendan Jenkins, President, the Irish League of Credit Unions Carmel Butler, CEO, St. Canice’s Credit Union

and community health services.

The launch was attended

by Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit

Unions & Insurance Robert Troy, together with Carmel Butler, CEO of St. Canice’s Credit Union, Brendan Jenkins,

President of the Irish League of Credit Unions, and Stephen McLaughlin, Chair of St. Canice’s Credit Union. The event was also

strongly supported by local dignitaries, TDs, councillors and a Community Connect recipients, whose presence reflected both the national importance of the report and the deep impact local impact.

The data gathered for this report demonstrates that when the contributions of

local actions are viewed together, they form part of a much bigger story.

The combined impact of credit unions shows how local commitment can drive national benefit and continue to strengthen social, cultural and economic life both locally and across Ireland.

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Student Enterprise Programme National Finals

Kilkenny students impress at the Student Enterprise Programme County Final Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny have announced that young entrepreneurs from CBC Kilkenny will represent County Kilkenny in this year’s senior category at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals on Thursday 7th May 2026.

Students took part in the County Kilkenny Final on Wednesday 4th March which was held at the Lyrath Estate Hotel. The final event was the culmination of months of hard work in schools across the County where students started and ran mini businesses.

In the Senior Category of the competition the winners were Mini Caddy at CBC Kilkenny - Tom Fenlon, Shane Burke, Dillon Brett, and Adam Trehy.

The winners in the junior and intermediate category went to Colaiste Abhainn Ri in Callan for Recharge’d, a business by Megan Bryan, Ruth Moylan, Keira Lyons, Aimee Hickey and Katie Walsh. Imogen Lawless Greene and Caoimhe O’Shea took home the first prize in the intermediate category for their business Helm Halo.

County Kilkenny has a successful track record in the

student enterprise competition - Michael O’Keefe from St Kieran’s College recently won first place in the intermediate category at Student Enterprise Programme National Finals.

Speaking at the county final, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh congratulated all the students, “We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Kilkenny, with students from 12 local second level schools taking part this year. Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme, and we wish them the very best of luck on Friday 7th, and we will all hope to be there to support them. The skills students learn in this programme, such as business planning, market research, selling and teamwork, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers”.

The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals, taking place in Mullingar on the 7th May. The enterprise education

initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw over 25,000 students from just under 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2025 / 2026. The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Finals.

Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 350,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business. The Student Enterprise Programme also has new range of online resources for 2025 / 2026 at www.

StudentEnterprise.ie, which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.

Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.

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Food & Drink

Brown Butter Colcannon Cakes with Poached Eggs and Herb Cream

From farm to award-winning cuisine KO: What do you think this award says about the work happening behind the scenes every day?

RECIPE

Michelle: As a husband-andwife team, and as a couple who genuinely love what we do, I think it reflects the hard work that goes on behind the scenes - the early mornings on the farm in harsh weather, and the long days spent cooking with our own produce.

It takes a lot of dedication and, like many in the industry, we are also balancing family life, so we are very grateful for the understanding and support of our family.

We are also incredibly grateful for the amazing support from our customers and the local community.

FOOD HEROES

For a St Patrick’s Day dish that feels seasonal and Irish without leaning too heavily on the usual clichés, these brown butter colcannon cakes are a lovely option. They take familiar ingredients - potatoes, kale, spring onions and rich dairy - and turn them into something a little more elegant, but still comforting. They work beautifully for brunch, lunch or a light supper.

Crisp on the outside and soft in the middle, the cakes are topped with poached eggs and a simple herb cream that brings freshness to the plate.

Serves 4 Ingredients: • 700g floury potatoes, peeled • 100g kale, finely shredded • 4 spring onions, finely sliced • 50g butter, plus extra for frying • 100ml cream • 1 tbsp chopped parsley • 1 tsp wholegrain mustard • 2 tbsp crème fraîche • 1 tsp lemon juice • 4 eggs • Sea salt and black pepper Method: • Cook the potatoes in a large pan of salted boiling water until tender. Drain well, then return them to the warm pan for a minute or two to steam dry. Mash until smooth.

• Meanwhile, place the kale in a small pan with a splash of water and cook for two to three minutes until wilted. Drain well and squeeze out any excess moisture. Stir the kale and spring onions through the mashed potato.

• Melt the butter in a small saucepan and cook until it turns a deep golden colour and smells nutty. Fold most of the brown butter into the potato mixture along with half the cream. Season generously with salt and black pepper.

• Shape the mixture into eight small cakes. If you have time, chill them for 20 minutes to help them hold their shape.

• Mix the crème fraîche with the lemon juice, parsley and mustard to make the herb cream.

• Fry the cakes in a little butter over a medium heat for three to four minutes on each side until golden and crisp. Poach the eggs in gently simmering water until cooked to your liking.

• Serve two cakes per person, topped with a poached egg, a spoonful of herb cream and the remaining brown butter.

Fresh from success at the Irish Restaurant Awards regional finals, Dizzy Goat Restaurant, Owning, has been named County Kilkenny’s Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine. We caught up with co-owner Michelle Bright to chat about what the award means, their farm-to-fork ethos and representing Kilkenny on the national stage.

KO: Congratulations on your win. What did it mean to you and your team to hear Dizzy Goat Restaurant announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards?

Michelle: Winning Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine at

the Irish Restaurant Awards meant an awful lot to my husband, Bart Surman, and me, and we are incredibly proud. Our journey from food producers at Dizzy Goat Farm to opening Dizzy Goat Restaurant has not happened overnight. It has been built on long days, late nights and early mornings.

Running a restaurant and farm together takes huge dedication and discipline, and there have been plenty of moments along the way that have tested us. But our belief in what we do - showcasing our own farm produce and supporting fellow local producers - has always been at the heart of it.

It’s not just about cooking; it’s about sourcing great in-

gredients, respecting where they come from and focusing on flavour and nutrition. We are incredibly proud that all of that dedication has been recognised.

KO: For readers who may not know Dizzy Goat yet, what makes it different?

Michelle: From the beginning, our vision was simple: to create honest, contemporary Irish cuisine using the very best ingredients we could produce and source.

Being able to grow and rear our own produce alongside our farm life makes it even more special. Our farm and restaurant are completely connected, and that is something that means a lot to us.

KO: Looking ahead to the All-Ireland final in May, what would it mean to represent Kilkenny on the national stage?

Michelle: Of course, it would be wonderful to win, but honestly, we have never measured our success by awards.

If it happens, it’s a bonus - a lovely nod to what we do every day.

In our eyes, we are already winners. We have the best customers, who inspire us with every visit. We pour our heart and soul into our kitchen and dining room, with our farm-to-fork ethos connecting each plate directly to the land and the season.

The real reward is in the everyday moments - a shared laugh in the kitchen, a guest enjoying the experience or a harvest that turns out just right.

Lyla’s promises a fresh take on dining NEW VENUE Kilkenny’s food scene welcomed a new arrival last week with the opening of Lyla’s, a new 46-seat restaurant and cocktail bar at William Street in the city.

The latest venture from hospitality siblings Michael O’Neill and Bee O’Grady, Lyla’s is the third restaurant from the O’Neill family, whose growing portfolio already includes Mountain View Estate in Ballyhale and Petronella in Kilkenny city.

Named after Michael O’Neill’s daughter, the new restaurant marks another chapter in a family hospitality story that stretches across three generations. Over the years, the O’Neill name has become closely associated with innovation, strong local connections and a warm welcome, with

Mountain View in particular winning national recognition for both food and sustainability.

Lyla’s brings that same approach into a contemporary city-centre setting, with a focus on quality ingredients, style and atmosphere. The kitchen is led by Group Executive Chef Ger Dunne, a Kilkenny native whose food is rooted in seasonality and local sourcing.

The menu is expected to combine modern flavours with an accessible approach, drawing on Irish produce while taking inspiration from international dining trends.

Speaking ahead of the opening, Michael said: “Opening Lyla’s is an important milestone for our family … and represents both our family’s history and its future.” Bee added: “We’re excited to bring something fresh to Ireland’s

Executive Chef Ger Dunne and Head Chef William Boyle of Lyla’s.

Photo: Rachel Taylor

dining scene while continuing our family tradition of warm hospitality.”

The new opening will also include Table Six, a six-seat chef-

led dining experience featuring a bespoke tasting menu, paired drinks and a champagne service for those looking to mark a special occasion.

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What’s On

Your picks for this week TOP SHOWS, BOOKS, MUSIC, GAMES AND MORE - OUR QUICK GUIDE TO WHAT’S WORTH YOUR TIME THIS WEEK What to Watch: Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers looks like ideal family bank holiday fare, mixing sci-fi, laughs and an eco-friendly message. The animated adventure follows animal-lover Mabel, who uses new technology to “hop” into a robotic beaver and communicate with wildlife. With a PG rating and plenty of bright family appeal, it is a strong choice for a cinema trip over the long weekend, especially for younger viewers. Catch it at IMC Cinema.

What to Read: Cathy Kelly’s The Island Retreat is an inviting bank holiday read, whisking readers to Corfu where six guests arrive at a writing retreat hoping to change their lives. At the centre is Rose Talisman, a former TV therapist risking everything on a fresh start. With sunshine, secrets and emotional reckonings, this warm, escapist new novel looks ideal for a long weekend with a cup of tea and a quiet corner.

Project Hail Mary PROJECT HAIL MARY | IMC KILKENNY | SAT, MAR 14 (EARLY SCREENING) THURS, MAR 19 GENERAL RELEASE CINEMA Ryan Gosling blasts back into cinemas this month in Project Hail Mary, a large-scale science fiction adventure based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir, the author of The Martian. Kilkenny audiences can catch early screenings at the IMC from tomorrow, Saturday, March 14, ahead of the film’s wider cinema release on March 19.

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film

stars Gosling as Ryland Grace, a former science teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why he is there. As his memories gradually return, he realises he has been sent on an extraordinary mission: to solve the mystery of a strange substance threatening the Sun and, with it, life on Earth.

Like Weir’s earlier hit The Martian, Project Hail Mary mixes high-concept science with humour, suspense and problem-solving under pres-

sure. Early reviews suggest it leans into both spectacle and emotion, with critics praising Gosling’s performance and the film’s mix of hard science fiction, comedy and heart. Several reviews have also highlighted the story’s unusual alien friendship, which looks set to become one of the film’s biggest talking points.

The supporting cast includes Sandra Hüller, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub and Lionel Boyce, while the film’s scale has been designed

with premium large-format screens in mind, including IMAX. With a running time of around 156 minutes, this is a substantial, ambitious studio release aimed squarely at audiences who like their sci-fi smart, emotional and visually expansive.

For fans of space thrillers, first-contact stories and cinematic spectacle, Project Hail Mary looks set to be one of the season’s biggest releases — a crowd-pleasing blend of brains, jeopardy and interstellar wonder.

Saints, myths and storytelling IRISH MYTHOLOGY & FOLKLORE STORYTELLING | PEMBROKE HOTEL | MARCH 14 | 4.30PM - 5.30PM FOLKLORE Step into the rich world of Irish myth, folklore and storytelling this St Patrick’s Weekend with storyteller Martin Matthews from Co Kilkenny.

Drawing on Irish mythology, folklore and personal narrative, Martin brings audiences on a journey from the ancient world to the present day. His stories explore courage and transformation, exile and belonging and the enduring spirit of a people shaped by story across generations.

Expect an immersive evening of tales from Ireland’s mythic cycles, including stories of the Tuatha Dé Da-

nann, alongside reflections on the life and legacy of Saint Patrick. Through story, Martin looks beyond the familiar symbols of the national celebration to explore the man himself - who Patrick was, the challenges he faced and the ways myth and history have become intertwined in Ireland’s cultural memory.

Martin is an Irish storyteller deeply rooted in place and tradition. His work reflects the landscapes, voices and heritage of Kilkenny, carrying the rhythm of the land into every performance. A stonecutter by trade, Martin also brings a distinctive perspective on Kilkenny’s long connection with stone - its

craft, its history and the stories embedded in the ground beneath our feet.

This special St Patrick’s Weekend event invites audiences to experience folklore as a living, breathing tradition - something shared from voice to voice, generation to generation. It is a chance to step beyond the usual images associated with the celebration and connect more deeply with Ireland’s storytelling heritage.

Whether you have a longstanding love of myth and legend or are simply curious to hear Ireland’s stories told aloud, this promises to be a warm, engaging and thoughtprovoking event.

What to Stream: Netflix thriller War Machine could suit viewers wanting something louder and darker over the bank holiday, with Alan Ritchson leading an Army Ranger training mission that turns into a fight for survival against an otherworldly threat.

It blends military action, scifi spectacle and high-stakes tension. Not one for younger family members, but a pick for older teens and adults seeking an adrenaline-fuelled night in over the holiday weekend, with plenty of suspense.

What to Listen To: Shakira’s Algo Tu, with Colombian singer Beéle, is a breezy, sunlit slice of Latin pop that leans into Caribbean warmth and easy chemistry. Built around a relaxed groove and playful romantic energy, it feels lighter and more effortless than some of her bigger recent singles.

There is enough personality here to keep it memorable, even if it is more mood piece than knockout anthem. A smooth, feel-good addition to her catalogue What to Play: WWE 2K26 keeps the series moving in the right direction, with slicker inring action, a huge roster and plenty for wrestling fans to enjoy. CM Punk leads Showcase, while MyGM and other returning modes add more ways to play. Available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC, it’s lively, accessible and packed with sports-entertainment spectacle, despite some frustrating monetisation choices hanging over the whole package today.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

Peace park

Rebirth and joy as crocus flowers bloom at Peace park A

fter the heavy wet January and February, the rainfall permeates the soil with moisture,and the Crocus flowers spring to life. Often these determined little flowers are poking right through the snow after a spring storm. They seem unfazed by the cold wet elements of winter. They can be seen in full bloom around the Kilkenny Great War Memorial in the Peace Park, on the banks of the river Nore. Coming in colours that vary from white, yellow and different shades of purple, they are little troopers. As one of the first flowers to appear in early spring, they bring inspiration.

Why not visit the memorial to see and enjoy these beautiful pollinator friendly spring flowering Crocus bulbs of which 26,000 were planted a number of years ago. Knowing where to look is like a little treasure find, and a sight that will never fail to impress you. The bounty, once found – never disappoints. With their grass-like leaves, the blooms slowly open to the warming, morning sun.

Crocus flowers coloured, yellow, white, and shades of purple, come and go so quickly. They make their early spring mark briefly and

then they’re gone.

Out for a walk, these pretty yellow ones happened to coincide nicely with Easter.

Early spring flowers such as

crocus are a taste of what’s to come for honey bees. They are lured to the little flowers during the short time they are in bloom.

Thankfully there’s more of the bulbs every year as the bulbs bulk up and more develop below the ground and eventually fill the gaps

between them.

Cheery crocuses are some of the first flowers to pop up in spring. Typically flowering in purple, with lush orange

centres, you can also grow white crocus and yellow crocus varieties, for a more variable colour scheme in the spring garden. They are

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Peace park

available to purchase from September onward so why not plant some in your own garden or green spaces in Kilkenny.

Crocuses are hugely popular with bees, particularly bumblebees, which feast on nectar and cover themselves in pollen after emerging from hibernation. Before establishing a nest, some bumblebees may even sleep in crocus flowers, which close at night.

Generally, crocuses do best in a sunny, open position in well-drained soil. The small corms are particularly easy to plant, too. Over time, crocuses will gradually spread to form colonies that provide marvellous bursts of colour in early spring.

If you’re a fan of early bloomers, then the crocus is the plant for you. For what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in impression.

Resilient and tough, these diminutive flowers will bloom for weeks, even in the harshest of weather. They’re the perfect way to brighten the last gloomy days of winter.

They can be sneaky Crocuses are part of the Iris family (Iridaceae), and like Irises, grow from bulb-like structures called corms.

There are currently more than 80 known varieties. Of these,

the majority bloom in late winter or early spring. But there are a few that flower in late fall.

Measuring in at 3-6 inches, these perennials are indeed tiny. But they’re sneaky.

Just when you think they’re dead, they pop up literally overnight. That’s because, unlike daffodils and tulips,

their flowers emerge at the same time as the foliage.

Crocuses open when the sun shines, but close up at night and in rainy weather.

There’s a rich pollen inside each flower. This is a boon for pollinators looking for a food source when not much else is available.

The great display of crocus’s

is thanks to many groups from Kilkenny including: The Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee, Keep Kilkenny Beautiful, Kilkenny County Council Biodiversity officer, The Volunteer Centre, Michael Street Residents volunteers, and businesses in Kilkenny who supported the project.

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

Loreto Kilkenny Loreto Kilkenny were crowned All Ireland Junior A Camogie Schools Champions after defeating a strong Ursuline Thurles team in Jenkinstown.

This was a 12th title landed at this grade

by Loreto Kilkenny leaving them on top of the roll of Honor.

This win completed an 8th Junior & Senior All Ireland Camogie double for the City school. An achievement also unequalled. Captain & Player of the match Emma Hogan from Dicksboro accepted the Corn Gobnait cup on behalf of the Loreto Junior Camogie panel which was made up of no less than 13 clubs from around Kilkenny.

Loreto Kilkenny All Ireland Junior A Camogie Schools Champions 2026

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Community & GAA Notes

KilkennyGAA clubs and Communitynews CLARA CAMOGIE Hard luck to Emma Shortall who played for Kilkenny on Saturday in Freshford as visiting Cork inflicted the first defeat of the league on the home side. 1-15 to 0-9 was how it ended.

COLLEGES Hurling kingpins St. Kieran’s College qualified for another All Ireland final on Saturday in Rathdowney by virtue of a last gasp win over Nenagh CBS. Trailing by 5 points with 5 minutes of normal time remaining, they produced a stirring comeback with an unanswered 1-5 to stun the Tipperary school.

Captain Davy Barcoe scored an inspirational equaliser when he went to the clouds to grab a puck out before making ground and firing over a superb score. Davy had also scored an earlier point.

Luke Lawlor also scored a peach of a point during that late run after being introduced. Joe Power and Philip Carrigan were also on the bench for the Kilkenny school. They now have a St. Patrick’s Day date with Presentation College Athenry in a Croke Park final.

FOOTBALL Clara qualified for the Intermediate League final on Sunday in Clara by beating Graigue Ballycallan 3-8 to 2-6. They led 1-5 to 1-2 at halftime, the goal coming from a Martin O Connell penalty after the GBC goalkeeper had fouled Brandon Ryan. Indeed, Martin accounted for all of Clara’s first half total.

Further goals from Peter Nolan and Joe Power kept Clara ahead in the second half and they ran out comfortable enough winners in the end.

Team - Rory O Keeffe, Daniel Ryan, David Langton, Zach Lawlor. Shane Staunton, Liam Ryan, Hugh Kelly. Martin O Connell 1-6, Killian Phelan. Dara Glynn, Kevin Nolan, Brandon Ryan. Peter Nolan 1-0, Tom Ryan, Alex McDonald. Subs used Luke Lawlor 0-1, Joe Power 1-1, Paddy Bolger.

CLUB LOTTO The Lotto results for 3rd March were as follows, the numbers drawn were 3, 12 ,18. There was no jackpot winner. The €30 Lucky Dip went to Siobhán O Carroll, Brenda Glynn, Carol McDonald, Stephen Quinlan and Mai Brennan.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS HANDBALL SUCCESS Congratulations to O’Loughlin’s handball member Ollie Morrissey, who won the Under 14 singles All Ireland 40x20 handball championship last weekend in Croke Park. Well, done Ollie. Also well done Cailum Bourke and Liam O’ Brien who gave a great display before just losing out on their title attempt in an epic game on a tie break. The lads have all put in severe commitment and training to reach this level. Well done.

CLUB LOTTO There was no winner of O’Loughlin Gaels club lotto dated March 3rd. The numbers drawn were 9, 13, 14 and 22. The bonus number was 24. Play Now at www.oloughlingaels.com The Promotors Draw winners were: 1. Trish Burke c/o E Burke, 2. Michael Kinchella c/o E Kinchella, 3.

Pauline Greene, 4. Niall Cody c/o M Cody, 5. Donal Croghan. 6. John Healy c/o M Nolan. 7. Imelda Kelly c/o D O’Driscoll. 8. Geraldine Morrissey c/o Online.

9. Lisa Brett c/o Online. 10. Robert Nicholl c/o Online. Thank you for your continued support.

PEDAL TO THE SEA The Pedal to the Sea fundraiser takes place on the May Bank Holiday weekend and O’Loughlin Gaels intrepid cyclists continue their preparations for the big ‘Free Wheel’ to Dungarvan! This weekend’s route to oil the chains took the peddlers out to Danesfort, Cuffesgrange and back to John’s Park.

The group continues to raise funds to complete new dressing rooms at the club, so any support is greatly appreciated by clicking here, using the link: https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/oloughlingaelsgaacamogiehand MINOR FOOTBALL O’Loughlin Gaels minor footballers contested the 2026 county final last weekend when they travelled to Kilmacow to play the southern side. They found the Kilmacow side too strong on the day.

TREE PLANTING The Kilkenny Easter Environs group planted a Mountain Ash tree in Lacken Drive last weekend in memory of Mick Dooley. Mick, a former president of

O’Loughlin Gaels Ollie Morrissey receives his All-Ireland medal having won the Under-14 Singles 40x20 national title

the club, is fondly remembered by all in O’Loughlin Gaels. In addition to his work for the club, he was a great supporter of many other community activities, and it was great to see his memory commemorated close to his home last weekend.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP O’Loughlin Gaels GAA and Camogie Club members are reminded that 2026 membership fees are now due. Payment can be made via the www.foireann. ie website. Follow the guidelines to the O’Loughlin Gaels section where the different membership categories and prices are displayed.

NOTES If you wish to have any item included in the St. John’s Parish notes please email it to communications.oloughlingaels.kilkenny@gaa.ie FRESHFORD BIRTHDAY BOY Congratulations to local lad Cathal Bowden, Woodview who celebrated his 21st birthday last weekend. Cathal marked his coming of age at party in Kavanagh’s bar on Saturday night.

GAA St Lachtains u14 footballers had a big win over Graiguenamanagh on Sunday morning last. They now take on Tullogher Rosbercon on Sunday morning next in Tullogher at 10.30 am.

The junior side were given a walk over on Sunday last when they were due to take on Slieverue at Pairc Lachtain.

The senior Camogie game between Kilkenny and Cork took place in Pairc Lachtain on Saturday

afternoon last and the Kilkenny side were defeated on score of 1-15 to 0-9.

SYMPATHY Sympathy is extended to Jim Marnell, Clintstown Road and all his family on the death last week of his sister Kay O’Neill late of Garden Villas, Kilkenny and formerly of Newpark.

Funeral mass took place in St John’s church on Friday morning last followed by burial in Holy Trinity cemetery Paulstown.

SOCCER Freshford town u12 girls had a good win over Bridge Utd at the weekend winning on a 2-1 scoreline with goals from Siun McCarthy and Katie Murphy.

The Juniors side had to concede a walkover to Clover Utd on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile ground works have begun on the field at Woodview and will be ongoing for some time. Residents are asked to keep off the site and especially make sure children are kept away.

SPLIT THE POT The proceeds of split the pot last month went to Threecastles Community Hall and the lucky winners was Cian and Tommy Campion who won €201.

Tickets are just €2 each and can be found in any of local pubs or businesses. So be in to win and support your local clubs.

PILGRIMAGE The Ossory pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place 25th to 30th May. 5 nights from €995 per person. All bookings through Joe Walsh tours on 01 2410800 or online at pilgrimage/group-diocesan-pilgrimages or by post to JWT Harcourt Street Dublin 2.

Assisted pilgrims should contact Fr O’Connor on

0872517766.

OUTREACH CENTRE Cois Nore Outreach Centre visits Ballyragget every Wednesday. It’s located at Dr. Hogan’s rooms, The Square from 11am to 1pm. All those seeking cancer support are very welcome. For appointment phone 0874833941 BRIDGE Freshford Bridge club is held each week in Threecastles Hall 7.30pm. New members are very welcome. Bridge Classes are also being held for anyone interested in learning how to play bridge and you are most welcome to attend these classes.

For further information contact Anne Maria on 087 2271136 if you are interested in joining PARISH NEWS Mass times for Freshford Tullaroan and Ballycallan.

Saturday evening- Killaloe -6pm Tullaroan 730pm.

Sunday – Ballycallan 9.30am Freshford 11am. Killaloe, Tulla and Kilmanagh will share the 6pm Mass on a 1, 2, 3 basis. Weekly masses Monday 9.30am Kilmanagh, Tuesday and Friday –Freshford -9.30am and Thursday –Tullaroan at 9.30am. Confirmation will take place in St Lachtains church on Wednesday 22nd April at 11am RADIO If you wish to listen to live broadcast of mass on Tuesdays, Fridays or Sundays from Freshford Church you can tune in to 105fm on your radio.

NEWSLETTER The parish newsletter is available every week and it is also on the website. Any anniversaries or parish office business or community notices for the parish newsletter can be done by phoning the office during horse of 9.30am to 1.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays or by calling to the office during those hours.

MASS CARDS Mass Cards and Mass Bouquets are available in the Parish office and also from Annette at Tulla.

VISITS Fr. Mark is happy to visit the sick and if you would like to receive a visit from Fr. Mark, you can contact him by phone or through the parish office.

LOOP CAFE The Loop Community Café is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 4pm and is a welcoming hub in the village. They’re always happy to see more people on both sides of the counter, so why not drop in to support your local café, meet a friend, enjoy a chat, and savour some delicious homemade food? Along with great refreshments, The Loop hosts a variety of community activities that bring neighbours together. The café is also seeking volunteers to help keep these services thriving. If you’re interested in getting involved, please call 056883-2650 and ask for Rhiannon.

MABS The Money Advice and Budgeting service is a free confidential and independent money Management and Advice service. MABS assist people in dealing with their existing debt problems who have difficulty paying a mortgage or those facing legal action because of debt. They also provide information and access to Insolvency services including free Debt Relief Advice under the Personal insolvency options.

For more info or for an appointment contact MABS on 0818072610.

JAMES STEPHENS GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB FOOTBALL LEAGUES The senior football league fixture V Railyard was postponed as the Railyard pitch was unplayable due to the recent rain.

Our Junior footballers were beaten by Young Irelands, in Gowran, on Sunday on a scoreline of Young Irelands 2:06, James Stephens 0:04.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE In one of their most disappointing performances in recent years Kilkenny suffered a heavy defeat against a very lively Galway team on Saturday evening in Pearse Stadium, Salthill. Although wind assisted in the first half, Kilkenny trailed by 6 points at half time and faced an uphill battle in the second and never looked like making a serious challenge against the in-form Galway lads. Cian Kenny with 10 points (4 frees) and goalkeeper Aidan Tallis were best for Kilkenny on a day when there were more questions than answers for players and management. Final score, Kilkenny 0-17, Galway 0-35.

Kilkenny’s final league game is against Tipperary on

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

Community & GAA Notes Saturday. 14th. in Semple Stadium. With six weeks to prepare for the first round Leinster championship game against Galway, again in Salthill, we must hope for a return to the form that we expect from a Kilkenny team.

MUSIC Why not join us on Saturday night next, 14th., in Larchfield when the music will be provided by Bench Warrant. All are welcome.

VOLUNTEERING The Kilkenny Volunteer Centre are seeking volunteers to help out as Telephone Support and Befriending Volunteers with Alone. This is a free friendly support and information telephone service for older folk. Also, the Fr. McGrath Resource Centre is seeking volunteers for a Homework club/study for students in 1st-3rd year. For more detailed information on the above services contact Daryna Kolesnyk at the Volunteer Centre via info@volunteerkilkenny. ie.

LOTTO (CRANNCHUR) Na huimhreacha don seachtain seo caite ná 13, 18, 20, 23. Ni raibh aon buaiteoir (No winner). Na mionduaiseanna €40: Pat Drennan, Dinny Lanigan, Tom Maher, Mary Humphries, Paddy Walsh. Go raibh maith agaibh as bhur dtachaiocht. Many thanks for your continuing support.

BENNETTSBRIDGE BUS SHELTERS In recent times, Councillor Deirdre Cullen has been keeping residents informed about several upcoming initiatives designed to improve local amenities and infrastructure in Bennettsbridge. One of the most notable of these is the 2026 Bus Stop Enhancement Scheme, which aims to make public transport more comfortable, accessible, and safer for everyone in the community. These improvements are part of a wider effort to encourage greater use of public transport while also enhancing pedestrian safety and the overall streetscape in the area.

As part of the scheme, two new bus stops with shelters will be installed. These shelters will provide protection from the elements, making it more convenient and comfortable for passengers waiting for buses, particularly during periods of rain or cold weather. The addition of proper seating and covered waiting areas is expected to significantly improve the experience for daily commuters, school students, and older residents who rely on bus services.

Another key feature of the project is the installation of a new raised pedestrian crossing, complete with Belisha beacons. This raised crossing will help slow down traffic and make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the road. The Belisha beacons will increase visibility for drivers, ensuring that the crossing is clearly marked and easily recognised, particularly during darker hours or poor weather conditions.

The scheme will also include localised footpath improvements, helping to ensure that walkways are smoother, more accessible, and safer for all users, including those with mobility difficulties, parents with prams, and children walking to school. In addition, enhanced public lighting will be introduced in certain areas to improve visibility and increase safety for pedestrians during the evening and early morning hours.

Residents are encouraged to review the details of the proposed scheme and share their feedback.

The latest time and date for receipt of comments is 12 noon on the 16th of March. Please note that late submissions will not be accepted, so anyone wishing to contribute should ensure their comments are submitted before the deadline.

LOTTO The lotto on March 2nd produced the following results. There was no winner of the Jackpot. The numbers drawn were 13, 19, 22, 28. The Jackpot is still intact for next week. Consolation Prizes, went to Orla Ryan, Blackwell, Richard Cody, Stroan, Liam Rowe, The Ring, BB Syndicate, B Hutchinson, ℅ Crafted.

ST PATRICK’S DAY IN THE ‘BRIDGE The Traditional Display of Irish Dancing will be held in The Community Hall Bennettsbridge on St Patrick’s Day after mass. Thanks to Stella Carroll and team and Ladies Club for their involvement each year. The Kathleen Conway Memorial Trophy will be presented to the winners of the dancing. The Carlow Kilkenny Homecare will benefit from the proceedings.

MASS TIMES Bennettsbridge Tuesday evenings - 7.30pm. Thursday and Friday 10.30am. Sunday 10 30am Tullaherin Saturday 8pm.

LENTEN STATIONS Thanks to all who have subscribed to the Lenten Stations so far. Subscriptions are still being accepted, and your support is much appreciated by the priests of the parish.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION A Preparation Mass will be held on Sunday; 15th March at 10.30am.

CONFIRMATION NEWS Confirmation Sunday is set for 22nd March at 11am.

As the church will be full for confirmation, regular Sunday mass goers who are not involved in the ceremony are advised that a special mass to facilitate them will be held on Saturday 21st March at 7,30pm.

BRIDGE FILM/ DOC The proposed film on the history of Bennettsbridge and the people who live here is well underway. It is expected that many of the groups in Bennettsbridge will feature in some way in the hour long documentary/film being constructed in the village at the moment.

Tutor Gillian Grattan is being helped by a number of local enthusiasts, and there is much interest in the proceedings. It is expected that sporting history will play a part together with various groups which contribute to village life.

CARDS Results 17th February First Prize Michael Kenneally/ Neddie Walsh and Briab Blackmore/Annie Lehane (12 games). Table Prize Brendan Malone/Eugene Malone.

24th February First Prize Tom Drennan/ Mary Doyle (11 games). Second Prize Siobhan O’Donovan/ Joan O’Gorman (9 games). Table Prize Johno and Maria Reid.

3rd March First Prize Tom Drennan/Robbie Carroll (11 games). Second Prize Rosie Hayes/Paul Gurrie and Martin Clarke/Paul Kenneally (10 games). Table Prize Mickey Fitzpatrick/Neddie Walsh HANDBALL Well, done to Robbie Dobbyn and Conor McCormack representing Bennettsbridge National School who are Leinster Cumann na mBunscoil champions.

They now go forward to the All Ireland series. Well done lads!

ART Classes continue each Monday as artists put together their programme leading up to Kilkenny Arts Week.

GATHERING GROUP An enjoyable morning was spent in Crafted where the ladies were treated to delicious scones with tea and coffee served up by the very friendly and attentive staff.

There was an excellent team performance from East End U 14 girls at the weekend with a fantastic 6–0 win over Highview. Goals from: Ellie Killian 4, Sophie Doran 1, Lucy Fitzgerald 1. A brilliant team display

Robbie Dobbyn & Conor McCormack representing Bennettsbridge National School are Leinster Cumann na mBunscoil Handballchampions

from start to finish. Hard work, great passing, and plenty of energy all over the pitch. The girls finished off the day celebrating Kaia’s birthday.

PRE-OWNED JERSEY SALE A great selection of ¼-zip tops will be available at the East End Pop-Up Pre-Owned Jersey Sale next weekend (13–14 March) during the 24-Hour Walkathon. We’re still looking for donations to help make it even bigger! If you have any sports jerseys, training tops, or team gear from any sport or code, please consider donating. Every item is greatly appreciated.

All proceeds will go towards purchasing our own home grounds, so every donation and purchase really makes a difference.

24 HOUR WALKATON The East End 24 hour Walkaton which takes place this Saturday promises to be a great success. Local businesses have all got on board with sponsorship for the walkers. The event is one of many organised by the Club to help them purchase their own grounds.

CAMOGIE Bennettsbridge Camogie Junior team is hosting

a Quiz Night in O’Donnells Pub on Friday 27th of March at 8pm. Table of four €20. Raffle prizes, food and music on the night. A good night is promised, and your support will be much appreciated.

NATIONAL LEAGUE Hard luck to David Blanchfield and the Kilkenny seniors who were defeated by Galway in the national league in Salthill last Saturday.

MEMBERSHIP 2026 Membership for the coming season is now open and can be paid to any committee member or online via clubspot. For non-playing members the membership remains at 40 euro. Adult players membership is €150 and student players €100. Early payment would be greatly appreciated as the bills for 2026 start to come in.

COLLEGES HURLING AND DEVELOPMENT SQUADS Well done to Eoin Walpole and the St Kieran’s college team who defeated Nenagh in a hard fought All Ireland semi final in Rathdowney on Saturday last.

They now face Athenry in the final in Croke park on St Patrick’s day. We wish the very best of luck to all ‘Bridge players trying out for Kilkenny squads at the moment. Best of luck also to the underage football teams who are getting the season underway in the next couple of weeks. Our under 14 team play Thomastown in the opening round of the under 14 league next Sunday morning.

EASTER CAMP The 2026 Easter Camp will be held from March 30th to April 2nd in the club grounds. Please see the clubs Facebook page for details or contact Cormac Wafer or Enda Morrissey.

SIGNAGE CAMPAIGN Bennettsbridge GAA club continues to promote the Pitch signage campaign. There are still places available and many thanks to all the business owners who have supported so far. If interested, please contact Alan Flynn or Alan Morrissey.

SPLIT THE POT Well, done to Eamon McGrath who won €89, Jamie Harkin €30 and Noel Skehan €20. The draw can also be entered online on the club spot app under fundraising. Thanks again for the support.

GRAIGUENAMANAGH HIGHVIEW ATHLETIC On Saturday all three Highview u/11 teams took to the field in the cup and the shield. Well done to all the lads today three games and three good wins.

The Red team were out first in the shield and played out a classic v East End A, the lads fought from start to finish and came away with a 2-1 win, Goals from Billy Bolger and Evan Ryan. The attitude the Red team have shown is fantastic to watch and they are deservedly top of the table in group A now after the weekend.

East End U 14 girls had a fantastic 6–0 win over Highview at the weekend

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Community & GAA Notes The White team travelled into Freebooters City in the shield and also had a good win to make it two from two and they are also now top of table in Group D, Conditions were tough in Larchfield but they dug deep and eventually the skills came to the fore with a hat trick from Sonny and two from Finn giving them a 5-1 win.

The Blue team were out last v Deen Celtic in the cup and came away with a well deserved 8-1 victory meaning they top the group and go onto the 1/4 finals of the cup. Goals from Neil 3, Sean 3, Caden and Robin.

This also means the Blue team will play premier division football next season which was the aim from the start and it’s a testament to the effort and commitment the lads have shown for the last few seasons. Finally special mention to the three hat trick scorers on the day Neil, Sonny and Sean, fantastic stuff.

DUISKE COLLEGE Day two of Women in Sport Week was one to remember! The day tipped off with an exciting and fiercely competitive basketball match (female staff vs female students), and it certainly delivered! The skill, teamwork, and determination on both sides made for a brilliant game, with fantastic support from the sidelines creating a great atmosphere throughout. A big thank you to Mr. Cuddihy for refereeing the match and keeping the game flowing so smoothly.

That evening, the excitement continued as we travelled to Tallaght Stadium to watch the International Women’s Soccer Team take on France. Seeing elite female athletes perform on the big stage was truly inspiring for our students, and the atmosphere in the stadium was electric. Huge thanks as well to Ms. Hennessy, Ms. Doyle, Ms. Fluskey, and Ms. Flynn for accompanying the trip. The girls had an amazing time.

THIRD YEAR MUSIC WORKSHOP Third year students travelled to the National Concert Hall in Dublin to attend a workshop led by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

Students were treated to an interactive show when the orchestra took them through many of the learning outcomes of the Junior Cycle. They heard each instrument and their families separated, had demonstrations on string techniques such as tremolo, pizzicato and arco. They played music which featured pentatonic scales, ternary form, ostinatos and lots more.

The highlight of the session was a surprise appearance from the amazing Wallis Bird- who performed some of her songs accompanied by the orchestra. What a way to be inspired and see real energetic stage presence the day before their own performance examinations. The trip finished with the obligatory stop at McDonald’s. Thank you to Ms. Reddy for organizing and accompanying the students on the day.

CAMOGIE Only a few days left to purchase your ticket for the GAA National Club Draw and Graiguenamanagh Camogie Club are adding a bonus draw for 1st €200, 2nd €100, 3rd €50 for all who purchase a ticket through the Club. You will also be in with a chance of winning a brand new Toyota Corolla Hybrid Car as 1st prize, exciting weekend packages to the thrilling All-Ireland Finals, a holiday voucher worth €2,500 and many more. Tickets are €15 and can be purchased from any committee member.

LIBRARY The recent photographic contributions supplement the library’s existing Graiguenamanagh Memories Archive. The ongoing “Remembering Graig” initiative encourages members of the public to bring in photos and letters for scanning to the library, ensuring original items are returned immediately.

ST PATRICKS DAY The parade will kick off from the Fairgreen at 12.15pm. If you would like to enter a float you can do so by contacting the staff at the hub.

DUISKE PLAYERS We are changing things up this year with our spring production, we are delighted to be performing 2 One Acts Plays on Thurs 26th, Fri 27th and Sun 29th March in Graignamanagh Abbey Hall.

Both plays are comedies but that is where the similarity ends, the cast are as follows: “Dead Mans Bells” by Meabh de Brun. Eldest, Edel Bolger. Middle, Rebecca Murphy. Youngest, Caroline Cotter “Last Tango in Little Grimley”. Gordon, John Meaney. Bernard, Nathan Dunne. Joyce. Naomi Coady. Margaret, Margaret Whelan.

Peter Prendergast is back in the director’s chair this year and will direct both plays. We look forward to seeing you all on the night.

KILMANAGH CHURCH COMMUNICATION SERVICE There is a new Church Communication Service for the three parishes of Ballycallan, Tullaroan and Freshford. This is run through WhatsApp. Type the following link into your browser to join the service. https://chat.whatsapp.com/CRB2Uaz1lLLI3sv7v3Q 3kf?mode=gi_t The service will share mass times, upcoming anniversaries and any changes to masses that may occur due to funerals etc.

CROSS COUNTRY ALL IRELAND Congratulations to our clubmen Tommy Butler and Charlie McCluskey, who were part of the St Kieran’s College Intermediate Team at the Cross Country AllIreland on Saturday and came away with a bronze medal. Well, done to the lads and their team.

EASTER CAMP The Graigue Ballycallan Camp is back this Easter.

Four fun days of activities including: hurling, camogie, football, music, games, arts and lots more for boys and girls aged 5-13 years. On Wednesday 18th March, there will be a registration evening in Tom Ryall Park from 7pm to 8pm. Contact Darragh Egan on 087 271 64 31 for more information.

TABLE QUIZ Naomh Aodhan Active Ladies Group will hold a Table Quiz in Ryan’s Pub, Kilmanagh on Friday 20th March at 8:30pm. Table of 4 for €20. Lone quizzers also welcome €5 per entry. A raffle will be held on the night with some great prizes. Gerry Dunne will have his usual eclectic mix of questions. All are welcome.

MINING MUSEUM The Mining Museum is open every Tuesday from 10am-12 noon in The Commons Old School, E41 HE40. Visit any Tuesday or to arrange a visit at another time contact Liam at 052 9154480.

OLD SCHOOL BOYS There is a weekly gathering of men, of varying vintage, in Naomh Aodhán Community Centre, Kilmanagh. Join them for a cuppa and a chat, each Friday morning from 10am to 12 noon.

ACTIVE LADIES GROUP Active Ladies Group meet each Monday evening from 7pm to 9pm in Naomh Aodhan Community Centre, Kilmanagh. If you wish to join the group or need any further details, please contact 086 373 99 83 or come along any Monday evening. For the next six weeks we will be having a Tai Chi session.

If you are interested in joining, please contact 086 373 99 83.

LOTTO RESULTS Results for 2nd March. Numbers drawn were 6; 11; 25; 26. There was no winner. Lucky Dip winners were James O’Connor Jnr, John Harrison and Patrick Hayes. Sellers prizes went to Philly Heafey and Bill Ryan.

SOCCER RESULTS U16 Schoolboys League – Southend Utd 6, River Rangers 2. U14 Schoolboys League – River Rangers 2, Clover Utd 2. K and DL Div 2: River Rangers 4, Southend Utd 1 SOCCER FIXTURES Saturday, March 14th – U17 Schoolboys League – Callan Utd v River Rangers.U13 Schoolboys League – River Rangers v Lions. Sunday March 15th – K & DL Div Two: River Rangers v St. Johns KILMANAGH NOTES Anyone wishing to submit news items, events, announcements etc. can do so by email only to elanigan18@gmail.com. If you have any photos that you would like included, please send as an attachment.

GORESBRIDGE PAULSTOWN Tom Healy

ACTIVE RETIREMENT The Active Retirement group are meeting next on Thursday 19th March at 11am in the Community Hall, Paulstown.

AUCTION SALES (GORESBRIDGE) The next auction will take place on April 20th.

Suitable items are now accepted. Contact Martin on 087 2569496 or email goresbridgeantiques@

gmail.com BARROW RANGERS In the lotto of 3rd March, the Match 3 winners were (€33 each): Mary Lawlor, Joseph Lawlor and Liam Dowling.

BRIDGE UNITED Last week’s draw yielded €20, each, for Pat Lennon,

Keith Lennon, Nicola Skelton, Marcus Finnegan, Peter Murphy and Veia Connick. To win a special women’s signed Irish goalkeeper’s jersey for fund raising for this club contact Claire on 085 7453605.

CHURCH SERVICES/EVENTS Mass times: Goresbridge, Saturday 7.30pm, Sunday 10am; Paulstown: Sunday 11.30am. Weekday Masses: Goresbridge at 10am on Monday and Wednesday; Paulstown – Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 10am. Inner Healing retreat including Mass will take place from 5.30pm on Thursday, 12th March at Paulstown church.

Morning prayer (Church of Ireland) at 10.00am this Sunday in Shankill (Paulstown).

TALKING THE TALK Cupla Focal is an Irish language conversation circle that meets every Friday in the Goodly Barrow Cafe.

It offers a relaxed, friendly space to practice speaking Irish, build confidence, and connect with others interested in the language, from beginners to fluent speakers, through casual conversation and shared learning.

KILCUMNEY PLAYERS The kilcumney Players would like to thank the audiences that came out to see our black comedy Arsenic and Old Lace in Goresbridge recently. Your support is very much appreciated.

MENS SHED The next meetings will be on Tuesday 24th March at 11am in in the cabin by the Paulstown Community Hal (R95 NY93). New members welcome.

SPLIT THE POT In aid of Goresbridge Rural Development is also online. Simply scan the QR code or go to lottoraiser. ie The results of the lotto draw for 1st March were: 1 Ollie Maher (€100) 2. Seán Maher (€20) and 3.

Theresa Huston (€20).

ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE The St Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 3.30pm in Goresbridge on St Patrick’s Day. All floats can gather at 2pm in Tirlan yard.

STROKE SUPPORT Meetings of both the Kilkenny and the Carlow Stroke Support Groups are open to Stroke survivors and carers. The Carlow meeting takes place every second Friday of the month in St Dympna’s Hospital, Carlow from 2pm to 4pm. For further information text/call Lynda 087 7814697.

BALLYRAGGET BALLYOUSKIL Our Bally Belle is through to the Final of Dancing with the stars having danced a classic fun filled Charleston followed by a Beyoncé inspired Samba she is through to the final and everyone in the parish is beyond excited and proud of her. Wishing Katelyn and Leonardo the very best in the final everyone is extremely proud of them both. Text Katelyn to 53125 on Sunday evening.

CLOTHES COLLECTION A clothes collection will take place in Gathabawn National School on Saturday 14th and Saturday 21st March, at the school, from 10am to 4pm.

We welcome donations of clothes, paired shoes, handbags, hats, and soft toys. A donation from this collection will go to LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.

SYMPATHIES Sympathies are extended to the family of Dermot McDermott of Castle Street and late of Shercock in Cavan to his wife Carmel children John, Gráinne and David grandchildren Paddy, Fionn and Donnacha, son-in-law Padraig, daughter-in-law Joanne, brothers Patsy, Albert and Paul, sisters Evelyn, Carmel, Anne and Brigid, his aunt Maggie, brothersin-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family and his wide circle of friends. May he rest in peace.

Sympathies are also extended to the family of Marty Butler, Moate Road, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny and An Post, in his 93rd year. To his loving family, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, great grand nieces, great grand nephews, extended family and friends. May he rest in peace.

CHARITY TABLE QUIZ A charity table quiz in aid of Ballyragget Development Association and Tidy Towns will take place on Saturday 14th March at 7.30pm in Majors. The cost is €20 per team of four. There will be a raffle on the night, followed by music from Billy White. All proceeds will go towards local enhancement actions within the town. All support would be greatly appreciated.

KILMACOW TABLE QUIZ The last table quiz in this season of the monthly series in the Fox’s Den will be held at 8.00pm on Monday, 30th March in aid of the Marian Hall. The cost per table of four is €20. All support welcome.

KILMACOW SPRING CLEAN The Annual Spring Clean will be held in Kilmacow on Sunday, 19th April. All support will be appreciated.

COIS NORE CHOIR Mooncoin Parish will host the Cois Nore Choir in aid of Mooncoin Cancer Support Group in the Church of the Assumption at 8.00pm on Friday, 27th March.

All welcome.

LEADER/ TOMAR FUNDING Kilmacow Community Complex has recently been awarded funding of €227,000 for an exciting Community Smart Green Hub Project. The funding is made up of €151,302 from County Kilkenny Leader Partnership and €75,651 from TOMAR, a trust which invests in sustainable communities. Kilmacow Community Complex will need to raise €25,000 of match funding. This particular project will have a number of features making it a very positive development for everyone in the Community. The project will need to be completed, and all monies drawn down by November this year. Work will be commencing in the coming months.

KILMACOW LOTTO The winning numbers in last week’s lotto were 1, 6, 11 and 24. There were five Match 3 winners. The Jackpot for next Thursday night is €3,900.

PLAYGROUND A new basket swing will be provided at Kilmacow Community Playground in the coming weeks.

MULLINAVAT OUR LADY OF LOURDES LOTTO Our Lady of Lourdes, Rosbercon, will launch its new lotto on Thursday, 19th March. Each week there will be a jackpot prize and, if it is not won, there will be a guaranteed €20 weekly winner. For the first four weeks there will be spot prizes kindly donated by local businesses. Please see the QR Code on the School’s webpage.

AMENITY GRANT Kilkenny County Council is inviting applications from community groups for projects under its Amenity Grant Scheme ’26. Completed application forms should be returned by Friday, 27th March to Amenity Grant Scheme, Parks Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny or by e-mail to amenitygrants@kilkennycoco.ie.

Please contact Sinéad on 056 779 4441 for further information.

MULLINAVAT 2-16; KILMOGANNY 0-9 Mullinavat secured a deserved victory over their South Kilkenny neighbours Kilmoganny on a pleasant Friday evening under the lights in Mullinavat in the JJ Kavanagh Kilkenny Senior Football League.

The conditions were ideal for Gaelic football, and both sides began the game with plenty of energy.

Despite a lively opening, however, clear-cut goal chances proved difficult to convert. Each team created opportunities during the first half but some wayward finishing and determined defending meant the green flags remained untroubled before the break. Mullinavat gradually found their rhythm and edged ahead on the scoreboard through a series of well-taken points. Kilmoganny responded with scores of their own to keep the contest competitive throughout the opening period. By half-time the home side held a narrow advantage, leading 0-8 to 0-6 after an evenly contested first thirty minutes.

Kilmoganny made a positive start to the second half and quickly reduced the deficit to the minimum when James Logue pointed early after the restart.

At that stage the visitors looked capable of pushing on and making a real contest of the game. However, Mullinavat soon seized control with a decisive spell of scoring. Over the next fifteen minutes the Vegas lads produced an unanswered 1-5 that effectively settled the outcome. Ger Malone opened the sequence with a well-struck point before his brother Michael followed with three impressive scores from play. The key moment arrived when Ian Duggan found the net and added a point soon after, stretching Mullinavat’s lead into a commanding margin.

With confidence growing, Mullinavat continued to press forward in the closing stages. They added a further 1-3 before the final whistle, with Brian Phelan finishing to the net for their second goal of the evening. To their credit, Kilmoganny battled to the end, but Mullinavat’s strong second-half performance ensured a comfortable and deserved win.

Mullinavat Scorers: Michael Malone (0-8, 4 frees), Brian Phelan (1-1), Ian Duggan (1-1), Ian Mansfield (0-2), Eoin Dempsey (0-2), Robin Davis, Ger Malone (0-1 each).

Kilmoganny Scorers: James Logue (0-3 frees), Ray Cody, Denis Walsh, Paul Kirwan, Darragh O’Keeffe,

We Wewelcome welcomeall allGAA GAAClub Cluband andCommunity Communitynotes notesfor forpublication publicationin inThe TheKilkenny KilkennyObserver Observeremail emailto tosales@kilkennyobserver.ie sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

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Community & GAA Notes

In control

Looking for options

Receiving a pass

Setting up an attack

Tim Doherty, David Moore (0-1 each).

Mullinavat: Killian Dunphy, Shane Kelly, Simon Aylward, Sean Fitzpatrick, Paudie Gahan, Ger Malone, John Walsh, James Culleton, Thomas Aylward, Eoin Dempsey, Mick Malone, Ian Duggan, Ian Mansfield, Brian Phelan, Robin Davis. Substitutes: Padraig Dempsey for Eoin Dempsey, Stephen O’Shea for Robin David, Patrick Walshe for Ian Mansfield, Cian McDonnell Kilmoganny: Jason Doherty, Eoin Shiel, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Jimmy O’Neill, Dylan Crehan, Mick Cody, Ian Walsh, Ray Cody, decided to take O’Keeffe, Paul Kirwan, Denis Walshe, Tim Doherty, David Moore, John Fitzpatrick, James Logue. Substitutes: Alex Moore, Cathal Buckley, Sean Carroll.

Referee: Kevin Joyce (Emeralds).

SOUTH KILKENNY HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Society’s speaker marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of Fianna Fáil was the grandson of its founder, Eamon de Valera. Despite describing himself as an ‘unlikely choice’ for delivering the lecture, the reaction afterwards suggested otherwise. Éamon Ó Cuív told the large gathering that as early

as 1923, when de Valera published the election manifesto, it was clear that he was moving towards peace following the end of the Civil War and embarking on a new political journey. He went on to say that the ‘crunch point’ came following the Boundary Commission Report, which confirmed the border as being the six counties. De Valera felt side-lined, and in 1926 went to the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis with a motion calling for elected members to be allowed take their seats in the Dáil if the Oath of Allegiance was removed. However, the motion was defeated by 223 to 218.

De Valera left Sinn Fein, bringing along many of the major players, and formed Fianna Fáil.

Among the big names he brought with him were Countess Markiewicz (who chaired the first meeting held in the La Scala on 16th May), P.J. Rutledge, Sean T O’Kelly, Sean Lemass, Gerry Boland, Sean McEntee and James Ryan. There were 6 women on the original Committee of 15 – Countess Markiewicz, Margaret Pearse, Kathleen Clarke, Dorothy McArdle, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington and Linda Kearns.

In the first General Election in which Fianna Fáil

participated, it won 44 of the 153 seats and received 26% of the first preference votes cast. Sinn Féin won 5 seats and 3.61%. Fianna Fáil embarked on a campaign to get 75,000 signatures to hold a referendum to abolish the Oath of Allegiance. However, an ‘unfortunate and wrong event took place’ when Kevin O’Higgins was assassinated on July 10th, 1927, on his way to Mass. As a result of the assassination, the government introduced a number of bills including one to abolish Article 48 of the Constitution. This put an end to Fianna Fáil’s attempt to remove the Oath of Allegiance.

In the second General Election of 1927 Fianna Fáil received 35% support and 57 seats and embarked on a campaign to set up the party grassroots organisation, with an emphasis on ‘policy dictated by the grassroots.

In the 1932 General Election Fianna Fáil won 72 seats, 5 short of an overall majority, and formed a minority government with the support of the Labour Party and James Dillon, who later became leader of Fine Gael. Mr Ó Cuív paid tribute to the outgoing Cumann na nGaedheal government, led

by William Cosgrave, for the peaceful handover

of power, saying that this ‘peaceful transition has served us well’.

During the Q&A which followed, Mr Ó Cuív commented further on the origins and early years of Fianna Fáil and answered questions about events outside the remit of the lecture. He also answered questions and commented on his own time in politics.

ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN The annual spring clean of the village and approach roads into Mullinavat and Bigwood will be held, weather permitting, on Saturday, 21st March. All offers of help welcome.

FERRYBANK COMMUNITY EVENT GRANT SCHEME The closing date for applications for the Community Event Grant Scheme is today Friday, 13th March.

EASTER EGG HUNT Ferrybank Neighbourhood Park will host an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, 28th March. As in previous years the Egg Hunt promises to be a fun-filled event.

We welcome all GAA Club and Community notes for publication in The Kilkenny Observer email to sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

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Community & GAA Notes JOHNSTOWN COLAISTE MHUIRE The transition students from Colaiste Mhuire are presenting a show “ The 80’s show” in St. Kieran’s Hall, Johnstown from Tuesday 24th to Friday 27th March at 7.30pm, (doors open 7pm). Tickets €15 adults and € 10 children and are available at the school. The students and teachers have been working hard for weeks on this production and your support would be very much appreciated.

CLOTHES COLLECTION A Clothes Collection in aid of Gathabawn N.S. will be held at the school on Saturday March 14th and Saturday March 21st from 10am to 4pm. All donations greatly appreciated.

FENIANS H.C. There is positive news for the community in Johnstown and surrounds with the commencement of the walkway and lights in the sports field on the Rathdowney Road. This will prove to be a great advantage to walkers as some of the local roads are proving too dangerous for walking.

MR. MARTIN FITZPATRICK (RIP) The death has taken place at Sacred Heart Nursing Home of Martin Fitzpatrick, (locally known as “Chuck”) Foulkscourt and Donoughmore. Predeceased by his parents John and Maura, he will be sadly missed by his brothers John, Paddy and Joe, sisters Nuala and Patricia, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, extended family, neighbours and many friends. Mass was celebrated in St. Kieran’s Church with burial in St. Kieran’s Cemetery.

MISS ANN DELANEY(RIP) DUBLIN Ann formally from Glashare, Johnstown died recently. Predeceased by her parents John and Catherine, brothers Liam and Pat, sister in law Mary Anne, brother in law Tony, she will be missed by her sister Josie, brothers John and Con, sister in law Martha, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, relations and friends. Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Galmoy with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

SPA UNITED AFC Results for the week, Junior league division 1 Tullaroan 3 Spa 0, U16 boys league division 1A Freebooters 3 Spa 1, U14 boys league division 1A Spa 3 Evergreen 2, U14 boys league division 2 Spa 0 Bridge 3, U14 girls league division 1 Spa 0 Lions 0.

Also, this week the U13 girls travelled to play Lions in a friendly and the U8’s and U10 boys hosted Southend in their games.

SPA DEVELOPMENT/FENIANS LOTTO The Winning numbers for this week’s draw were 4,6,18,30. There was no jackpot winner and one match three Brendan and Nora O’Gorman.

MILL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE The Mill Family Resource Centre continues to provide a wide range of supports, services, and activities for individuals and families within the local community. The Centre is a welcoming and inclusive space, offering opportunities for learning, wellbeing, and social connection for people of all ages.

One of the upcoming opportunities available is the Local Training Initiative (L.T.I.) Programme. This free L.T.I. course will be starting soon and includes Driving Theory and Driving Lessons, providing participants with valuable life skills that can support employment and independence. Anyone interested in applying is encouraged to call into the Centre or make contact directly for further details and application information.

The Centre also offers weekly Maths Grinds, which are currently taking place on-site. These grinds are suitable for students preparing for the Junior Certificate as well as 5th year students and provide additional support to help build confidence and understanding in mathematics. Parents and students seeking more information are invited to contact the Centre for times, availability, and fees.

A variety of essential community services are available through the Mill Family Resource Centre. These include the provision of Senior Alert Alarms, which offer peace of mind and safety for older members of the community, as well as clothes donations for those in need. The Centre also facilitates a Youth Club, community allotments, and the Cois Nore Advice Clinic, ensuring access to practical advice and supports close to home.

Counselling services are available for both adults and teenagers, offering a confidential and supportive environment. Counselling supports include bereavement counselling, addiction support, and general counselling, helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with professional guidance. In addition, Play Therapy is available for young people

aged 4 years and over, providing a child-centred approach to emotional wellbeing and development.

The Centre’s Active Retirement Group meets every Thursday from 2pm to 4pm. This group offers a relaxed and social setting where members can enjoy activities, conversation, and companionship.

New members are always welcome, and the group continues to grow as a valued part of the Centre’s weekly programme.

The Youth Club has now returned and takes place every Wednesday from 5pm to 6.30pm. It is open to boys and girls aged 8 to 12 years, and new members are always encouraged to join. The club provides a safe, fun, and supervised space for young people to socialise, take part in activities, and build friendships. For further details, please contact Sue at the Centre.

Community gardening is also supported through the Centre’s allotments, with free beds available in the polytunnels for anyone interested in growing their own produce. The cost is just €15 per year, making it an affordable and rewarding activity.

Those interested should get in touch with the Centre.

Finally, there is an open invitation to any men interested in setting up a Men’s Shed in the area.

This initiative would provide a valuable social and practical outlet, and anyone interested is asked to contact Sue at the Mill Family Resource Centre on 056 883 8466.

For more information on any of the services or activities available, please contact the Centre directly.

You should call in it’s fantastic.

UPCOMING FREE COURSES 2026 The following new courses are starting in September, Part time SNA course, Childcare, Computer QQ1 Level 4 Modules. Office Administration, Payroll QQI level 5. You can contact the centre for further information on these courses.

Foxtrot, Waltz, Quickstep and Line Dance. Group lessons, no partner needed. Every Thursday at 8.30pm. €10, pay as you go. Contact Sally 087 7931308 IN OUR HANDS “Preserving Thurles Cathedral” fundraising campaign to support the re-roofing project by donating towards the cost of the slates. Brochures in Church porches.

PILATES WITH RUTH Pilate classes continue in Glengoole Hall every Monday at 6.30pm. €10 pay as you go. To book, message 0872049418, Instagram @pilates_ruth. Bring mat and water.

GORTNAHOE BINGO A special St. Patricks weekend bingo will be held this Saturday evening 14th March at 4.00pm with doors opening from 3.00pm. Over €4,100 in prize money on offer including a special €500 game and a St. Patricks weekend special game for €800. There will be Split the Pot on the day. It would be great if some extra people come from the parish to give their support. It will be a great afternoon’s entertainment for all on the bank holiday weekend.

TUESDAY BRIDGE Bridge is being played each Tuesday night in Gortnahoe Hall at 7.30pm. If you would like to join or find out more information, please contact this number 089 434910.

SPLIT THE POT Congratulations to Barry O’Reilly, Moyglass who won €152 in the Split the Pot draw last Sunday.

Barry bought his Split the Pot in Hogans, Grange.

Envelopes are available in Cahill’s Gortnahoe, Hogans Grange, Mary Willie’s, Gortnahoe Hall and any member of the committee, you can also Revolut to 0876777220. Split the Pot for March is in aid of the Prayer Garden beside Gortnahoe church. The draw takes place each Sunday at 12pm in Gortnahoe Hall.

Your support would be appreciated.

GORTNAHOE GLENGOOLE

CONAHY

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Glengoole Wednesday 10am to 1pm, Gortnahoe Thursday 10am to 1pm. The rosary is recited before Mass in Glengoole every Saturday evening.

TROCAIRE BOXES Trocaire boxes are available in the Church porches.

The Trocaire Theme for this year is: “Strength and Honour are her Clothing” and the box features a three-generational family in rural Rwanda. Through their story, we are invited to reflect on the Gospel call to justice, resilience and care for our common home, and to connect faith with action in response to the climate crisis and its impact on vulnerable communities.

FUNERAL MINISTRY TRAINING The final round of Funeral Ministry training will be available in Tipperary Town on March 18th. Anyone from any parish in the diocese who would like to avail of this opportunity to train for this ministry are invited to let their local parish priest know and for registration. Venue has yet to be decided as this will depend on numbers attending.

CASHEL AND EMLY ARCHDIOCESAN The pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from June 12th, (five nights) led by Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly.

For information and booking contact Joe Walsh Tours @ 01 2410800. Assisted pilgrims contact Fr Joe Tynan, 087 2225445, New Helpers contact Jacqueline 089 4913351. Email lourdespilgrimage@ cashel-emly.ie DAFFODIL DAY The Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Day is on Friday March 20th.Volunteers are needed for 2 hours at various stations in shopping centres in Thurles town. Please contact Bernie on 086 3848898 or Dan on 083 096 2812.

BALLYSLOE MUSIC NIGHTS Ballysloe Monthly Music Nights in Hogan’s starting St. Patrick’s weekend, Saturday, 14th March with music by The In-Laws. Admission €5. Bally Breakfast on Sunday 15th March from 10am till 12.30pm, all are welcome.

ANAM CARA Anam Cara: Monthly Parent Support Evening for bereaved parents on Wednesday, 18th March at 7.30pm in the Horse and Jockey Hotel. Free event open to all bereaved parents. Enquiries 01 4045378 or info@anamcara.ie COME AND SEE DAY In Pallottine Centre, Thurles on Sat. 11th April 11, am to 4.30pm (including Eucharist). A day to explore Priesthood, talks, time for prayer and answering your questions. Booking through National Vocations Office. Contact carol.king@vocations.ie DANCE CLASSES Dance Classes Step it out with Sally—Learn to Jive,

FOOTBALL The senior footballers made the short journey to Canon Kearns Park to play Erin’s Own in their latest game in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Senior Football League on Sunday afternoon last. After a battling performance, the locals picked up their first victory in the league, winning by a single point, 1-10 to 0-12. Conahy led by 0-5 to 0-2 at half time but the home side fought back well in the second half to take the lead. However, in the final minute, Brian Rossiter managed to score a late goal for Conahy to snatch a dramatic win. The locals are next in action against Glenmore, with the date and time of the game to be confirmed at the time of writing.

TEAM: Karl Downey, Ciaran Rice, Padraig Gunner, Conor Hennessy, Darragh Horgan, Eoin Carroll, Harry O’Mahony, Eoin Cahill, John Kennedy, Bill Murphy, James Bergin, Sean Brennan, Billy Mulhall, Brian Rossiter, Mark Gunner. Subs.: Paul Buggy, Darren Cuddihy, Paddy Mullan, Tommy Mulhall, Frank Gunner.

GAA AND CAMOGIE CLUB MEMBERSHIP 2026 Membership for Conahy Shamrocks GAA & Camogie Club is now available to purchase via Clubzap or via the club’s website www.conahyshamrocks.com . The various membership rates are also outlined in both locations. Club members, particularly players, are encouraged to pay membership fees in a timely manner.

GAA CLUB LOTTO The numbers drawn in the most recent GAA Lotto draw were 8, 16 and 28. There was no winner of the €3,900 jackpot so the consolation prize winners of €30 each were Anne Healy, Seamus and Marie Delaney, Sean Lawlor, Kieran Costello and Jimmy Tierney. The promoter prize winners were Kay Phelan, Helen Cahill and Nora Delaney. Many thanks to everyone who continues to support the GAA Club Lotto.

CASTLECOMER LIBRARY EVENTS Storytime as Gaeilge - On Saturday, March 14th at 11.30 a.m., celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge with a family Storytime as Gaeilge Ná bí buartha - tar ar an lá.

Intergenerational Chess Workshop - Ruairí from Red King Chess is coming to Castlecomer Library on Saturday March 28th at 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. for an Introduction to Chess workshop. This workshop is part of our initiative focused on creating a vibrant intergenerational chess club in Castlecomer, and as such both children and adults are welcome to this first workshop! Contact Castlecomer Library on (056) 444 0561 or at castlecomer@kilkennylibrary. ie to book your space. Parents will need to stay with children under the age of 12 in the library but are also more than welcome to take part in the session.

NEWMARKET HUGGINSTOWN STONEYFORD ALL SAINTS PASTORAL AREA Parishes - Aghaviller; Ballyhale; Mullinavat. Priests in the Pastoral Area: Sean O’Connor (Ballyhale) Parish Priest of the three Parishes in the Pastoral Area). Telephone 056 776 6696 or 086 389 5911: Email: rsoc1973@gmail.com. Liam Cassin (Hugginstown). Telephone 087 231 2354: Email: liamcassin@ossory.ie. Liam Barron (Mullinavat). Telephone 087 272 2824: Email: mullinavat@ossory.ie. Peter Hoyne (Newmarket - Retired). Telephone 056 776 8678 or 086 373 8492 MASS TIMES Hugginstown: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m. Vigil - Saturday at 8.00p.m.; Sunday 15th. at 10.00a.m. Stoneyford: Vigil - Saturday at 6.30p.m.

PRAY FOR Anniversary Mass: Patrick and Stasia Fitzpatrick, Coolmore. Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 14th. March at 8.00p.m.

SAFEGUARDING CONTACTS Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Fintan Fanning. Tel: 085 802 1633. Aghaviller Parish Representatives are Deirdre Rohan and Catherina Roche.

FIRST PENANCE 2026.

For Stoneyford School on Wednesday 18th. March in Stoneyford Church at 7.00p.m.

SERVICE OF HEALING: Service of Healing and Penitential Service will be celebrated in preparation for Easter during Masses on the weekend Saturday 21st. March in Stoneyford and Hugginstown Churches and on Sunday 22nd.

March in Hugginstown Church PASTORAL AREA PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK Fr Sean O Connor will lead the Pilgrimage to Knock on Saturday July 11th. and returning Sunday July 12th. Further details will follow later.

LENTEN STATION COLLECTION: Envelopes for the Lenten Station Contribution are available in the Church. Your contribution is for the support of the priests of the Parish and the Diocese.

(To donate directly.) Use IBAN: IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 (BIC: AIBKIE2D). All Parish Property and Accounts are registered under the (Diocese of Ossory, Reg. Charity No. 20015831) ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT: (LENTEN PROGRAMME) During Lent we invite you to reflect on some questions that touch on our faith. The Adult Faith Development Group in the Diocese has invited expert speakers to help us reflect on these questions.

Please join us for these two short evenings.

Guns and Policing - Enforcement or Fear - led by Prof Tobias Wriright, former police office in USA, in St Kieran’s College Monday 16th. March at 7.00p.m.

TRÓCAIRE: Every year during Lent, Trócaire asks for your help to fund lifesaving programmes around the world.

Please collect a Trócaire Box which is available in Church Porch. You can contribute Online at www.trocaire.org or By Phone: 1850 408 408. The contents of each and every Trócaire Box, no matter how small, come together to make a significant difference.

ROTA (FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT) Readers: Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Tom King.

Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Catherine Dwyer; Sunday10. 00a.m Mary Foran. Eucharistic Ministers: Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Pat Kenny. Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Cahill. Sunday 10.00a.m. Ruth Foran.

OSSORY PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2026: Pilgrimage will take place this year from May 25th. to May 30th.Early booking is advisable as space is limited. All bookings should be made through Joe Walsh Tours by calling 01 2410 800 or by post to JWT, 89 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2. Special Assisted/ Sick Pilgrims who would like to travel should apply to Anna Colleton at a.colleton@cbskilkenney.ie.

Acceptance for travel with the special section for the sick is subject to the approval of the Pilgrimage Medical Board.

LOTTO Aghaviller Parish and Carrickshock G. A. A. Draw: Monday 2nd. March 2026 Numbers: 03; 25; 20; 14. No Winner of First 3 Numbers Drawn: No Jackpot Winner. €30.00. Winners: Lucy and Lisa McBride, Hugginstown; Maureen Kenneally, Cotterstown; Valerie Farrer, Boolyglass; Eamon Barden, Danesfort; Siobhan Mackey, “On-Line”. 3 x €15.00 (Sellers): Padraic Crowley; Pat Power; Catherine Duggan.

We welcome all GAA Club and Community notes for publication in The Kilkenny Observer email to sales@kilkennyobserver.ie

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Hurlng matters - Review

Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A Galway 0-35 Kilkenny 0-17 Pearse Stadium, Salthill “From the get-go we were flat, totally unacceptable from our side, not good enough, very disappointed.”

The words of Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng after we watched his side dismantled by Galway in Pearse Stadium last Saturday evening. The Noresiders Bainisteoir stated that the Cats had prepared well and despite this being the 3rd week on the bounce for both sides, that was no excuse for the performance of those in black and amber. “We’d no energy, were too passive, I’m responsible for that and it wasn’t good enough.” Plenty of honesty from the boss, but he knows that despite having his term at the helm extended last summer, the pressure is very much mounting.

The Emeralds clubman has another eight days to have his team primed for a crucial clash with Tipperary in FBD Semple Stadium, and things won’t be easy won in Thurles either.

A little further down the line, Lyng will revisit Salthill in five weeks’ time in the Leinster Championship.

The meager return of 0-17 was never going to be enough to secure victory out west, especially when Galway had two players in Aaron Niland and Cathal Mannion whose combined scoring was greater than Kilkenny’s total. The Tribesmen opted to play against the breeze in the opening half, and the decision proved fruitful as they had six points to spare at the interval. The Westerners came out of the traps quickly, Tom Monaghan setting up Cathal Mannion for the first of his six points of the evening inside the opening 20 seconds of play.

The Cats best player on a horrible evening in Salthill, Cian Kenny got the visitors going moments later, but Craughwell’s powerful Tom Monaghan replied for Micheál Donoghue’s charges. Captain Darragh Corcoran then found Eoin Cody in acres of space, and the Shamrocks man raced towards the ‘D’ before popping over the first of his two points in the west.

Clarinbridge’s Aaron Niland then took over proceedings, registering the games next four scores, three from placed balls and a tidy effort from play to push his sides lead to four points early on in Pearse Stadium.

Kilkenny responded with two on the bounce, a

Relegation in view as Cats crushed by Galway Thurles battle with Tipp could decide Kilkenny fate

Under Pressure - Derek Lyng

free from The Village’s Cian Kenny and the second of former skipper Eoin Cody’s tally. Young Aaron Niland notched his fifth of the game just ahead of a lovely strike from O’Loughlin’s Jordan Molloy, but once again the hosts reeled off three quickfire scores to maintain their dominance in Salthill, a brace from Ahascragh Fohenagh’s Cathal Mannion and a lovely effort from their top scorer on the night, Aaron Niland.

Dicksboro’s Liam Moore

then pointed to reduce the lead to four again, but the next two scores came from the maroon-clad side, another placed ball from Niland and a quality point from Rory Burke.

James Stephen’s star, Cian Kenny popped over two fine points from play, to make it a double score game and that was when the Kilkenny management made their first change of the league clash, John Donnelly replacing clubmate, Luke Connellan as the travelling side sought to change the direction of momentum in the first half. Clarinbridge’s Niland added two more scores to his rising tally and the Tribesmen pushed their lead out to seven points on 31 minutes when Tom Monaghan rifled over. The first half scoring was completed by a Cian Kenny placed ball to leave those in black and amber trailing by six at the interval.

The Kilkenny management team would have been scratching their heads during the break, and the scratching no doubt continued for the remainder of the game. Another

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Hurling matters - Review Eoin Cody may benefit from the return of TJ & Adrian#

Jordan Molloy and David Blanchfield - two of themany Cats that struggled out west

change for the Noresiders saw Emeralds Killian Doyle come in for Shamrocks Niall Shortall. A fast start would have been needed from the Cats to get a foothold in the game, but the exact opposite happened, as Micheál Donoghue’s team rubberstamped their authority on the game by blitzing the sluggish Cats when play resumed. Player of the Match Cathal Mannion, Aaron Niland and Loughrea’s Tiernan Killeen added points for the Supermacs sponsored side before Oranmore-Maree’s Rory Burke showed great skill, converting a sideline cut to leave ten points between the sides after 40 minutes of the round 5 clash.

The Cats did register, but unfortunately it was the names of two of their players into Colm Lyons’ book, Liam Moore and Paddy Deegan. Mullagh wing back Ronan Glennon then got on the scoresheet before Aaron Niland’s second and third efforts of the half were struck. With his side now trailing by a whopping 13 points,

Cian Kenny was the Cats only positive in Salthill

manager Lyng sent on Richie Reid in place of recently booked Paddy Deegan. Thomastown’s John Donnelly got his sides second score of the half and the third followed quicky, thanks to an effort from Conahy’s Tom Phelan. A bad night got a little worse for Kilkenny when Young Ireland’s Mikey Carey left the field with a possible hamstring injury and was replaced

by Glenmore’s Shane Murphy.

Cian Kenny struck over a lovely point with 20 minutes remaining to reduce the gap to ten points, but the impressive Cathal Mannion fired over for The Tribesmen as they maintained complete dominance on proceedings. Cats’ top scorer Kenny converted another placed ball, but majors scores would have been needed to make any impression on the scoreboard for Lyng’s outfit.

Micheál Donoghue then made a double change, Conor Cooney and Jason Rabbitte replacing Darragh Neary and Tom Monaghan.

Kilkenny shuffled their pack again, Glenmore’s Ian Byrne coming in for Jordan Molloy. Sharpshooter Aaron Niland tagged on another free which Cian Kenny replied to, but another blast of scores from the home side courtesy of former captain Conor Whelan, two from Rory Burke and one apiece for Cathal Mannion and TJ Brennan extended Galway’s lead to a massive 15 points with inside the final ten minutes in Pearse Stadium. A double change from Micheál Donoghue saw Evan Niland and Oisin Lohan enter the fray in place of Rory Burke and the sensational Aaron Niland. Another Mannion got on the scoresheet, this time defender Padraic splitting the posts, while sub Lohan fired over shortly after being introduced.

With time thankfully running out,

Cian Kenny struck over another free, but Galway subs Rabbitte and Niland got in on the scoring act to allow their side to go 19 points clear with two minutes of normal time remaining. Dicksboro’s Liam Moore and the Cats saving grace, Cian Kenny tagged on two further scores for the visitors, but St Thomas’ Conor Cooney struck the last point in injury time for the Westerners as mercifully Colm Lyons sounded the long whistle. Full time in Pearse Stadium, Galway 0-35, Kilkenny 0-17.

Kilkenny Scorers: Cian Kenny 0-10 (4fs); Eoin Cody and Liam Moore 0-2 each; Jordan Molloy, John Donnelly and Tom Phelan 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Rory Garrett, Mikey Carey, Ivan Bolger; David Blanchfield, Darragh Corcoran (captain), Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Liam Moore, Eoin Cody, Luke Connellan; Niall Shortall, Martin Keoghan, Tom Phelan.

Scorers for Galway: Aaron Niland 0-13 (9fs, 165), Cathal Mannion 0-6, Rory Burke 0-4 (1sl); Tom Monaghan and Conor Whelan 0-2 each; Tiernan Killeen, Ronan Glennon, TJ Brennan, Padraic Mannion, Jason Rabbitte, Evan Niland, Conor Cooney and Oisín Lohan 0-1 each.

Galway: Darach Fahy; Joshua Ryan, Cillian Trayers, Kieran Hanrahan; Ronan Glennon, Padraic Mannion, Darren Morrissey; Cian Daniels, Tiernan Killeen; Darragh Neary, Cathal Mannion, Rory Burke; Thomas Monaghan, Conor Whelan, Aaron Niland.

Subs: Jason Rabbitte for Monaghan (53), Conor Cooney for Neary (53), TJ Brennan for Morrissey (59), Evan Niland for Burke (62), Oisín Lohan for Aaron Niland (63).

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

Planning notices

Planning notices KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

Ballytobin Single Turbine ART Generation Limited intends to submit a planning application to Kilkenny County Council in the near future for the development of a Single Turbine & associated infrastructure in the townland of Ballytobin & Ballyhall, Co. Kilkenny. The turbine will be located in the townland of Ballytobin, and the associated infrastructure including an access track and substation, will be located in the townlands of Ballytobin & Ballyhall.

A dedicated project website has been created to provide further detail on the proposed development and to inform the local community about the Community Benefit Fund proposed as part of the development.

For more information, please visit www.ballytobinsingleturbine.com or contact our Community Liaison Officer by email at ballytobin.liaison@gmail.com.

Once submitted, the planning application documents and drawings will be available from Kilkenny County Council.

We, CHMK Partnership, hereby intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Planning Permission for the construction of a single storey extension comprising of an ensuite and laundry room to the rear of the existing Guesthouse, connection to existing services and all associated site works at The Laurels B&B Guesthouse, Circular Road, Kilkenny R95 CX40.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Brendan Moore Architects, 38 St. Kieran’s Street, Kilkenny, 087 4120718.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Mary Mulhare and Enda Mooney, intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Permission to construct a part twostorey/part single-storey dwelling house, with detached garage, wastewater treatment system, bored well and all associated site works at Ballyoskill, Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m. 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL We, Keith Doran and Suzanne Coyle intend to apply for permission for the construction of a two-story dwelling with garage, site entrance, new wastewater treatment system and percolation, with all associated site works at Newpark, Windgap, Co. Kilkenny. This application will substitute the previous planning consent 24/60627 associated with this site.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9.00am to 1.00 pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm Monday to Friday. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL I, Alex Ambrosie intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Retention Planning Permission to retain existing shed to the side of dwelling house and all associated site development works at 45 The Orchard, Golf Links Road, Kilkenny R95 H2W8.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL I, Patrick Stokes, hereby intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for Retention Permission for a single storey chalet type dwelling, hardcore area, driveway, connection to existing services and all associated site works at Ballyrobin, Ferrybank, Co. Kilkenny, X91 H7W6.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Brendan Moore Architects, 38 St. Kieran’s Street, Kilkenny, 087 4120718.

EVERY FRIDAY

The Kilkenny

Observer

We, Beauscandle Limited, hereby intend to apply to Kilkenny County Council for (1) Retention Permission, to retain indefinitely an existing Assembly/Sports Hall building, associated car parking and hardstanding areas, foul and surface water drainage connections and all associated works and (2) Planning permission for a change of use of the existing Assembly/ Sports Hall building from private amenity to public use at The St. Patrick’s Centre, Reviewfields, Kells Road, Kilkenny R95 AF38. The development consists of works within the curtilage of two structures which are recorded on National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH Ref. No. 12401904 and 12401918).

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission. Signed: Brendan Moore Architects, 38 St. Kieran’s Street, Kilkenny, 087 4120718.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL I, Micheal Moloney wish to apply to the above authority on behalf of Paul and Bernie Madigan for full planning permission to carry out a change of use of dwelling to short term letting and all associated works at Graigue, Windgap, Co. Kilkenny.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL Planning Permission is sought by William Connolly and Sons Unlimited Company for development at Clash McGrath, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny. The proposed development will consist of: (1) The construction of an extension (circa 3,140sq.m.) to the north-west of the existing animal food production and warehouse structure permitted under the grant of planning permissions ref no. 20-455, 18-544, 10-183, and 04-1699 (max. height 28m), including the raising of part of the existing roof to a height of 17m, unloading canopy, machinery tower, and intake area to accommodate an alternative and extended animal feed manufacturing facility and additional warehousing; (2) the construction of a cooling air exhaust stack (height 35m); (3) the provision of a new canopy to the north-east-facing elevation; (4) the continuation of the access road to serve the development; and (5) the demolition of the existing ESB substation and the construction of a new relocated ESB substation.

Other works as part of the development will also include landscaping, drainage works, and all associated site development works necessary to facilitate the proposed development.

A Natura Impact Statement has been submitted with the application.

The planning application and Natura Impact Statement may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, during its public opening hours 9 a.m.- 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the planning application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Gittens Murray Architects Ltd., No. 5 William Street, Kilkenny.

Tel No: 056-7753933.

Web: www.gmarch.net.

CONTACT OFFICE: 056 7771463/087 3820109 OR EMAIL: SALES@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

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Memoriams / Miracle Prayers

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. H.H.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.M.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. N.D.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. S.M.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. B.H.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. C.P.

The Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours.

This time I ask you this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted.

Never been known to fail.

Must promise publication of prayer. M.B.

46

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

Classifieds

Classified section To advertise your business in our classified section call in or telephone: 056 777 1463, or email: accounts @kilkennyobserver.ie

The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026

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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 13th March 2026