News Opinion

MICHAEL WOLSEY: Is a broadcaster really worth 10 times more than a nurse?

By Kilkenny Now 27th January 2021 0

RTE paid Ryan Tubridy €495,000 in 2019. A senior staff nurse in a public hospital earns  €48,736 a year. The national broadcaster paid the money to a company called Tuttle Productions for the services of Mr Tubridy, according to figures released last week. In 2019, RTE paid €450,00 to a company called What Next Productions […]

News Opinion

MICHAEL WOLSEY: We will always paint the White House green

By Kilkenny Now 20th January 2021 0

I sometimes wonder if there is an office in the Department of Foreign Affairs charged with finding Irish roots for American presidents. If so, they have made a fine job of it, for Irish links have been discovered for almost every president since World War Two. Kennedy and Reagan were easy, of course. the clues […]

News Opinion

MICHAEL WOLSEY: Why I won’t raise a glass to Pussyfoot Donnelly

By Kilkenny Now 13th January 2021 0

Before America introduced national prohibition in 1920, an anti-drink campaigner by the name of Pussyfoot Johnson attempted to bring it in state by state. If he couldn’t persuade a state’s legislators to order a total ban on the sale of alcohol he would aim for minor restrictions designed to make drinking as unpleasant and difficult […]

News Opinion

MICHAEL WOLSEY: Come back St Patrick, better late than never

By Kilkenny Now 6th January 2021 0

Around this time last year I was enjoying a long weekend in Clare, a Christmas present from my daughters who joined me on the trip. Rumours of a new virus were in the air but the virus itself was mainly confined to China. When we saw some Chinese visitors wearing facemasks – a normal precaution […]

News Opinion

MICHAEL WOLSEY: Why Brexit is a headache that just won’t go away

By Kilkenny Now 30th December 2020 4

The Brexit agreement is signed and sealed and it would be nice to think we could now put the whole stressful process behind us – close the door, turn the key, and leave the Little Englanders to enjoy their fantasy world where Britannia rules the waves and bluebirds fly over the white cliffs of Dover. […]

News Opinion

MICHAEL WOLSEY: The darkest day will soon be behind us

By Kilkenny Now 16th December 2020 0

It has been a long winter. It started last March and has rolled across nine months with scarcely a break, through lockdowns and closures, a lot of stress, some real fears, some unnecessary panic and some terrible heartbreak. But as the poet Shelley reminds us: “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” And now […]

Food & Drink News Opinion

WINE O’CLOCK: Sweets for the Christmas sweet

By Kilkenny Now 11th December 2020 0

I like Christmas pudding but it is usually St Stephen’s Day, or later, before I get to taste it. It is too rich and heavy to enjoy on top of the big festive meal. After turkey, ham and all the trimmings, I have no wish for any more food and I am usually happy to […]

News Opinion Sport

MICHAEL WOLSEY: Warning – this sport can seriously damage your health

By Kilkenny Now 9th December 2020 Post a comment

The late Jack Kyle is regarded by many as the finest athlete ever to play rugby for Ireland. An amazing solo try he scored against France in 1953 inspired the correspondent of The Irish Times to poetry: They seek him here, They seek him there, Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. That paragon of craft and […]

Business News Opinion

MICHAEL WOLSEY: Shops, like puppies, aren’t just for Christmas – use them or lose them

By Kilkenny Now 2nd December 2020 0

The full re-opening of shops this week caused a wave of excitement in many homes. Some people got up at dawn to be first in the queue. And they weren’t queuing for exotic items in luxury stores. Penneys seemed to be the favourite port of call and a lot of the shoppers were buying everyday […]

Food & Drink News Opinion

WINE O’CLOCK: The wine that dares not speak its name

By Kilkenny Now 27th November 2020 0

The grapes for Champagne are picked by hand and always have been since the seventeenth century when the monk, Dom Pérignon, is said to have discovered the wonderful, sparkling drink. Of course they didn’t have much choice back then – that’s how all grapes were picked in seventeenth century France. Today the grapes for most […]