The Kilkenny People’s My Kilkenny Life features members of the cast and crew of The Plough and the Stars at the Watergate Theatre.
Peter Healy, who plays the parts of Tommy the Barman and Corporal Stoddart, featured on November 10th
What’s your idea of a perfect day, or a perfect weekend, out in Kilkenny?
Any of the many festival weekends. There are many to choose from but personally I love the Cat Laughs and the Rhythm and Roots weekends. Great talent is always brought here to Kilkenny for our entertainment (thanks to Kilkenny, I discovered Milton Jones) and there is always a fantastic atmosphere around the city during festivals.
Who has made the greatest contribution to Kilkenny in your lifetime — and why?
As I’m not originally from Kilkenny I wouldn’t have as much knowledge of people who have made an impact but I feel that the hurling team have definitely made the biggest contribution since I’ve been visiting and living in Kilkenny. The passion, the pride, the colours, the homecomings, the banter – it’s great to see and be a part of.
What’s your first Kilkenny memory?
Visiting Kilkenny to attend Nowlan Park with my Dad. I don’t remember much of the game as I was very young, only about 9, but it was a great day – full of excitement coming down on the train with all the other Dublin fans.
What’s your favourite part of the county?
Well, as my wife is from Kilfane, I could get in trouble by mentioning any other part of Kilkenny, but in fairness, I do love it. I’ve spent many days there, walking around the woods, visiting the old church and the statue of The Long man, visiting the pub of the same name, and Kilfane House.
What about a favourite local walk or view?
I know it’s cliche but you can’t beat the Castle Park on a sunny day! Throw in a nice ice cream from van on the road and I’m happy.
What do you think gives Kilkenny its unique identity?
The people! Ye are so friendly and welcoming. There is always a great buzz around the city – it’s a small city with a big heart.
What’s the biggest challenge facing the county today?
Same as all around the country unfortunately – homelessness; there are too many people living on the streets, and this has become a bigger issue in Kilkenny in recent years.
If you had the power to change one thing in, or about Kilkenny, what would it be?
Because I work with children I would really like to see more amenities for children and young people in Kilkenny.
Delia Larkin Ní Lowery, who plays the part of Rosie, featured on November 3rd
What’s your idea of a perfect day, or a perfect weekend, out in Kilkenny?
A perfect day for me in Kilkenny would invariably start with the sun shining, I’d pop in to Café Le Coco on Patrick Street for one of their fabulous scones and a matcha latte with almond milk and sit up on the parade, where I can watch the morning hustle and bustle. People on their way to work, tourists strolling down from the castle, with their eyes taking in the architecture of the town, something I think we forget to do – look up. The quirkiness and history of the town is above eye-level. Over the course of my perfect day I’d probably take a stroll along the canal, sit in the Castle Park and bask in the sunny day or have a gander in some of my favourite shops. I love to catch up with my friends over lunch, another favourite haunt for me is the Pennyfeather Café on High street, at one of the windows of course, oh, how I love to people-watch! The end to my perfect day would be to head to a trad session in Cleere’s pub, sitting beside the fire, to either listen or join in.
Who has made the greatest contribution to Kilkenny in your lifetime — and why?
I think the Heritage Council has made the biggest contribution. For example, recently with the county council released a book titled, “Meitheal na bPáirceanna. The Kilkenny Field Name Recording Project” with over 7,000 old field names across 190 townlands in County Kilkenny; names such as Peg’s Well, The Faha, The Church Meadow, and Ciarsúir which tell us about long forgotten people, their lives, their work and the places they lived in around this county. They are consistently working behind the scenes to bring all the interesting historical facts and finds around county Kilkenny into the public eye.
What’s your first Kilkenny memory?
Being in Kyteler’s Inn on a Friday night, listening to The Kilkennys, the place was absolutely jammers and that’s where I officially spoke to my now-husband for the first time.
What’s your favourite part of the county — and why?
I love Inistoige, the scenic beauty of the village is fab, so quaint.
Do you have a favourite local writer or author?
I like Helena Duggan’s books. For children they’re quite inspiring and they encourage kids to enter into the magic of their imagination.
What about a favourite local walk — or view?
The view from St. Canice’s round tower is amazing, once your legs have stopped shaking and you’ve regained composure.
What do you think gives Kilkenny its unique identity?
It’s unique in the way it has tried to hold on to its original features, from the foundations of the old city walls, to the various churches and “slips”, to the fact that the major High Street shops one always sees in every town are not a prominent feature on our main street. Kilkenny has attempted to maintain a façade of old shop fronts that once were.
What’s the biggest challenge facing the county today?
To adapt without becoming too modern, to keep our small businesses thriving and to not make things too difficult for them. We all want things to be slick and modern but ultimately, people enjoy our county and towns not being like everywhere else, to remain original.
If you had the power to change one thing in, or about Kilkenny, what would it be?
Ooh – it’s hard to pick just one. I would like to see St Francis Abbey’s old brewery site transformed into a park with riverside walk, playground, skatepark and picnic area. The abbey itself would be a beautiful, historic feature in the middle of it all. It would be a lovely attraction within the city and an added feature to the medieval mile.
On October 27th, the Kilkenny People featured Cathy Hogan, Company Administrator
and PRO at Barnstorm Theatre Company
What’s your idea of a perfect day, or a perfect weekend, out in Kilkenny?
I love the river walk to Bennettsbridge for lunch at Nicholas Mosse Pottery.
Who has made the greatest contribution to Kilkenny in your lifetime — and why?
I know I’m not the first to say it but Councillor Malcolm Noonan’s involvement with all the causes that I believe in, is inspiring.
What’s your first Kilkenny memory?
My mother taking two or three of us to primary school in The Butts on her Honda 50 (until the Gardaí asked her to stop).
What’s your favourite part of the county — and why?
I grew up in Banim Terrace on the Freshford Road so, The Meadows was our ‘playground’ and I still adore a walk to the weir and beyond. I also worked on the opera festival in Wexford and travelled there via Inistiogue by motorbike every winter and spring over the last three years – that route is breathtakingly beautiful, as is Woodstock Park. I lived in a cottage in Annamult, outside Bennettsbridge a few years ago and loved being in a quiet valley surrounded by woods and wildlife.
Do you have a favourite local writer or author?
Hubert Butler’s, born at Maiden Hall, Bennettsbridge, near the cottage where I lived. His writing and his life were extraordinary, my favourite reads being The Eggman and the Fairies and The Invader Wore Slippers.
What about a favourite local walk — or view?
Castlecomer Discover Park in any season, with lunch at Jarrow Café
What do you think gives Kilkenny its unique identity?
For its size, Kilkenny is packed with more than its fair share of history, heritage and culture. Someone will visit the castle and discover the crafts, another will arrive for a Hen Party and fall in love with the medieval buildings, or arrive to catch a one-off music or comedy show and happen upon the upcoming food or film festival. There is just enough going on in the city to keep anyone content for most of the year, with accessibility to Dublin and other hubs to satisfy those looking for different or more.
What’s the biggest challenge facing the county today?
I hope that the city gets the development of the Creative Quarter right. There is massive potential to get this stunningly right, or very wrong. What goes into the space will determine the direction in which we go in the future. I just hope that it will live up to its creative name, and with my heart in the arts and culture, and my career in Barnstorm, I must say that it would make the ideal place for a new children’s theatre and creative centre!
If you had the power to change one thing in, or about Kilkenny, what would it be?
Since I can’t improve the weather or bring us closer to the coast, I would make High Street a one-way street, or even pedestrianised. I love to stroll around a village or city that has a relaxed centre at its heart, where old and young can walk and chat, sip a tea or wine outdoors.
