Front page right


Big turnout for Small Firms' boss sticky icon

By: 
Jim Rhatigan
PATRICIA Callan, director of the Small Firms’ Association was lunch guest of Kilkenny Women’s Business Network on Monday.

 

Ms Callan spoke about the actions that firms need to take to survive the recession. Over 40, including three men, attended the Rivercourt Hotel.

 

Ms Dee Gibney, President of the Kilkenny Women’s Business Network, also spoke.

Elizabeth holds Keyes to Cathedral success sticky icon

ST Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, was among nine finalists in the Fáilte Ireland Tourism Business Challenge to be recognised at a recent awards ceremony in Dublin. Elizabeth Keyes of St Canice’s Cathedral was presented with the award

Launched in 2009, the Tourism Business Challenge invited individual businesses involved in the Fáilte Ireland Tourism Learning Networks to put forward innovative ideas they had implemented in response to economic challenges faced last year and to outline the immediate and positive impact these have had on their business performance.

Congratulating the finalists, Colm Breheny, Manager Professional Development with Fáilte Ireland, said that all had demonstrated how

Women go ahead with parade plans! sticky icon

ABOUT 20 women will set a headline in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Kilkenny.

Members of the 5 to 6 Project, they have been creating dramatic headresses using natural materials including

Two tier health leads to more tears! sticky icon

IRELAND'S two-tier health system is the main impediment to public confidence in the health service. This is according to Cllr Michael O'Brien who recently attended a meeting of the Health Services Executive (HSE) Forum in Cork.

 

Speaking at the meeting he said that he agreed with the positive intention of the HSE to reconfigure acute services only on what is in the best interests of the patient. He said that the best politicians

he ever met were in the medical profession, who, he alleged, tended to close ranks when it suited themselves.

All Set for Can't Pay? Won't Pay? sticky icon

AFTER THE success of Accidental Death Of An Anarchist in December, Devious Theatre are following it up with the next instalment of their Dario Fo Season, Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!

Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay! was written by the Nobel Prize winning playwright in 1974 after he became inspired by the self reduction
movement which saw working class Italian women take what they wanted from supermarkets only paying what they could afford. Another one of his trademark political farces, this play saw Fo tackling issues of inflation, unemployment, worker’s strikes and union interference, once more tied up in the framework of a wild, slapstick comedy.

Anything goes as drama club performs sticky icon

HAVING spent the last eight months ensconced in The Barn perfecting their acting and directing skills, Barnstorm’s Adult Drama Club are putting the final touches to their latest offering 'Anything…But Peig', which will hit the stage later this month.

Kilkenny Youths/Junior Soccer Fixtures sticky icon

Kilkenny Youths/Junior Soccer Fixtures March 13, 14 and 17

Saturday 13th

Leinster Youths Cup

FC Carlow v Freebooters, 2.30.

Rafter Dempsey’s Youths, Division 1

Thomastown United v Evergreen ‘A’, 2.30.

Division 2

Evergreen ‘B’ v Highview Athletic, 2.30.

Sunday, 14th

St Canice’s Credit Union Premier Division

Newpark v Evergreen 45, 11am.

AC Kilkenny ‘A’ v Evergreen ‘A’, 11am.

DKS Hardware, Division 1

Clontubrid school is small but big in ideas sticky icon

A KILKENNY school is leading the way when it comes to preparing its students for life in the 21st century by educating them for jobs that do not yet exist!

Scoil Naomh Fiachra in Freshford has a reputation for being one of the most innovative schools in the country. Now the national school has been chosen as one of 30 schools worldwide to take part in a groundbreaking Microsofts Pathfinder Programme.

Gateway Committee reactivated sticky icon

THE Gateway Implementation Committee, set up to progress plans for the South East under the national programme, has been reactivated. This is according to Cllr Tomás Breathnach who said he has got the agreement of Kilkenny County Council on the matter.
The committee that was set up in 2007 is made up of representatives on Kilkenny County Council, Waterford City Council and Waterford County Council. However they have not met for almost a year.

According to Cllr Breathnach increased cooperation at a regional level among the local authorities would better progress issues for the

Cars are moving again! sticky icon

A REPORT  from the Society of Irish Motor Industry indicates that new car sales  surged by nearly 40% last month on the same month last year.

“While the figures were starting from a very low base this is really good news for such a hard pressed industry," Deputy John McGuinness told Kilkenny Alive

“I was delighted when the Minister for Finance announced the scrappage scheme that would allow those participating to avail of VRT relief of up to €1,500 per new car purchased when trading in cars 10 years or older While the amount may seem small, it is proving to be a positive incentive

“Over 10,000 jobs had been lost in the car sales sector and this practical measure is obviously having a positive impact.”

A good sign for B&Bs sticky icon

A NEW brand and classification scheme for the bed and breakfast sector is being introduced by Fáilte Ireland at a series of workshops around the country.

The workshops, designed to familiarise operators with the new Bed and Breakfast strategy, include the introduction of a new B&B brand, underpinned by

Hurlers gear up for big cycle sticky icon

By: 
Sean Hurley
HURLING greats, past and present, and some of Ireland's top handballers were at the O'Neill Centre in Kilkenny this (Tuesday) morning to announce the final details of a major cycle event.

The entire 30-strong squad for last year's three-in-a-row All-Ireland hurling win are expected to be in the line-up for a 12 stage cycle spectacular around the city on March 6, in aid of Enable Ireland.

The Cats pedalling team will include current stars such as Henry Shefflin, Derek Lyng and Tommy Walsh, as well as former giants of the game DJ Carey, Joe Hennessy and Noel Skehan.

'Bridge hopes down the Swanee! sticky icon

U11'A': Freebooters 6, Bridge United 1
 
THE 11As got off to a great start against Bridge United when Edward Moylan scored from an Evan Swan corner kick after four minutes. James Mullally added a second before half time when he drove the ball home from outside the area.

Mullinavat represent Kilkenny Macra sticky icon

A TEAM from Mullinavat in South Kilkenny represented Kilkenny Macra in the Macra na Feirme Kerrygold Club Question Time competition.

The competition was won by Monasterevin Macra from Kildare. The quiz was held in Macroom, County Cork.

Mullinavat, from left, Tommy Dolan, vice-president Macra, Bill Walsh, Seamus Farrell, Imelda Kinsella, Maureen Holden and Declan Kelleher, stock manager, Irish Dairy Board (sponsor).

Kilkenny village sets fundraising record sticky icon

By: 
Sean Hurley
THE PEOPLE of a village on the Kilkenny/Laois border have become the biggest fundraisers in Ireland for the Third World charity Vita.

Volunteers from Ballyouskill in the parish of Ballyragget, who formed the Friends of Father Kevin Doheny group last year, have already raised over €20,000.

Kilkenny film scoops two major awards sticky icon

OSCAR nominated animation company Cartoon Saloon picked up two awards at the Irish Films and Television Academy (IFTA) awards ceremony.

The Kilkenny company was nominated in three categories of the prestigious awards.

Graignamanagh man Tomm Moore was named the 2010 Irish Film Board Rising Star and his film 'The Secret of Kells' took home the award for Best Animation.

Cartoon Saloon also won an IFTA in 2008 for their TV series Skunk Fu!.

Hopes are now high that they will bring home an Oscar from the upcoming Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 7.

Homes abandoned in South Kilkenny sticky icon

ORDINARY people are feeling the impact of the recession through loss of jobs, reductions in their take home pay, worry about their ability to meet financial bills, the cutback in public services and concern for their children’s futures.

This is according to former Ceann Comhairle and Labour Party TD Seamus Pattison who was speaking at the annual meeting of the Mooncoin branch of the Labour Party.

He said that it was unfortunate that the current debate on economic policy had become fractious with the private sector turning on the public service rather than showing the sense of communal solidarity that the Labour Party represented.

Councillors' pledge to local residents sticky icon

By: 
Jim Rhatigan
TWO local councillors have delivered a list of good news to residents of a Kilkenny City area.

Following representations on behalf of the people of Riverside Drive/Bishops Meadows, Councillors Joe Reidy and Andrew McGuinness have told the residents that the following works will be carried out this year:

Traffic calming measures to be provided throughout the estate.

President Mary leads ICA centenary celebrations sticky icon

By: 
Jim Rhatigan

CELEBRATIONS to mark 100 years of the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) started at City Hall, Kilkenny last night, Tuesday, and will continue for the next 12 months.

 

The 21 guilds of the association in Kilkenny City and County were represented as Mayor Malcolm Noonan hosted a civic reception to mark a century of wonderful community work by the ICA women of Ireland.

 

Has anybody seen Tom? sticky icon

By: 
Jim Rhatigan
A TOM cat has been missing from his home on the periphery of Kilkenny City for a week.

For the five-month old, home is at Seville Grove, Callan Road.

Owner Kay McMillan is anxious to get him back. Contact number is 085-7065687.