Franaldo's Kilkenny Kickathon reaches penultimate stage tonight!

Local auctioneer Fran Grincell's annual Kickathon event reaches its penultimate session tonight as the local man kicks a ball against a wall for night 11 of 12 between 6.30pm and 8pm beside the Watergate Theatre.

This year, Fran is raising funds for local charity Cois Nore, building on a successful Kickathon fundraiser for the charity in 2022.

This 2023 event marks a significant period for the cancer service as earlier this month, a campaign to create a state of the art new cancer support centre for Cois Nore on the Waterford Road was launched at the Medieval Mile Museum in Kilkenny City.

Former Chairperson of Cois Nore, Martin Brett, visited Fran to lend his support on Wednesday, December 6.

Mr Brett, a former Mayor of Kilkenny City, holds the charity dear to his heart following his wife's passing from cancer 17 years ago.

Speaking shortly before his late wife's anniversary last month, Mr Brett said: "Cois Nore started because my late wife died of cancer, I suppose we had to have a loss to make a gain."

"Everyday someone, in some house, somewhere in this country is told cancer has visited. Lilac Lodge in Kilkenny hopefully will look after what everyone needs and wants on their cancer journey."

The local Fine Gael councillor thanked volunteers, board members (past and present) and the wider Kilkenny public for getting Cois Nore to where it is and for their goodwill towards the charity.

"Cois Nore has been big part of my life," he said, adding, "my late wife's dream was to fulfill this, she was the inspiration and these services are what she wanted."