Aisling Hurley

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.

TRIBUTES were paid to founder and Artistic Director of Young Irish Film Makers, Mike Kelly, at this month's meeting of Kilkenny Borough Council.

Cllr Seán Ó hArgáin pointed out that Tomm Moore, Director of Oscar nominated film 'The Secret of Kells' and fellow Cartoon Salooners Ross Stewart and Ross Murray were former members of the youth organisation. "They wouldn't be here today without the help of Mike Kelly. He deserves as much praise as Cartoon Saloon," he said.

Cllr Betty Manning agreed and added: "Mike Kelly has been working with young people in Kilkenny for a very long time. So many young people started their careers with Mike."

Aiden Harte, Director of Cartoon Saloon's TV series Skunk Fu! is also a former member of Young Irish Film Makers.

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.

THE thorny subject of a possible borough boundary extension in Kilkenny reared its head again at this month's meeting of Kilkenny County Council.

During previous discussions on the borough boundary members of both local authorities in Kilkenny have expressed strong opinions on the matter.

However, all members have agreed to meet on March 1 for a briefing meeting that will lay out all the issues involved.

County Manager Joe Crockett warned members that the meeting would not involve debate on the subject. "The purpose of the meeting is to provide information in a neutral setting. You can then reflect on it and come to your own views," he said.

KILKENNY has won many hurling All-Ireland finals over the years. The county has now shown that it is also an All-Ireland champion when it comes to responding to a weather crisis.

When the recent cold snap hit Kilkenny, the community and statutory response to the catastrophe was way beyond what anybody had expected.

This is according to Kilkenny Mayor Malcolm Noonan who made the suggestion at this month's meeting of Kilkenny Borough Council.

He was speaking in response to an appeal by Cllr Seán Ó hArgáin that

local shops make a better effort to improve the appearance of their shopfronts during construction work.

PUNK rock legend, Tommy Ramone, is set to play Kilkenny in May as part of the Smithwicks Rhythm and Roots festival.
Tommy is the only surviving original member of the Ramones - a band that enjoys cult status among music lovers all over the world.

The renowned musician, producer and manager is set to play the festval with his band 'Uncle Monk'. Described as an indie-acoustic duo, Uncle Monk consists of Tommy on vocals, mandolin, guitar, banjo and dobro and Claudia Tienan (formerly of The Simplistics) on vocals, guitar and bass.

Labradoodles hit the headlines last year when US President Barrack Obama considered buying one for his daughter's Malia and Natasha. Since then, everybody wants one.

The litter of eight chocolate coloured puppies are the offspring of pedigree Poodle Fudge owned by Castlecomer furniture restorer Selina Gittens and pedigree Labrador Django which belongs to Jerry Fish of 'Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club' and formerly of 'An Emotional Fish'.

The six-week old puppies are the first litter of labradoodles born to mum Fudge who, her her owner says,  is delighted with her new brood.

FIRST it was floods, then it was ice, then snow but now it is water shortages that are affecting local communities.

As the big thaw sets in water supplies around the county are coming under extra pressure as burst pipes and mains leaks begin to take affect.

Due to excessive water usage over the past few days, water supplies will be cut off in a number of areas and housing estates in South Kilkenny from 10pm tonight (Tuesday) until 7am tomorrow.