July: Springsteen, a Celebrity Wedding and All-Ireland Fever - Kilkenny Live

July was a month full of excitement locally, with entertainment and sport dominating the headlines with argubably the biggest revelation of the month coming in its final week.

Rumours spread that Bruce Springsteen was set to make a return visit to UPMC Nowlan Park, over a decade since his last iconic gig at the venue. However, despite much excitement locally, it took a further five months for the Kilkenny concert to be confirmed, with the 'Bosses' return alongside the E-Street Band scheduled for UPMC Nowlan Park in May 2024.

Meanwhile, an extended night-time economy in Kilkenny got closer this month as the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, announced a support package of €800,000 for 12 pilots across the country to support innovative approaches to night-time cultural activities.

Meanwhile, an extended night-time economy in Kilkenny got closer this month as the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, announced a support package of €800,000 for 12 pilots across the country to support innovative approaches to night-time cultural activities.

Relay for Life event returned for its tenth year in July. 24 hours full of joy, sadness and hope brought attendees on a rollercoaster of emotions for cancer survivors, their family members and friends in Kilkenny Rugby Club.

The annual event raised €40,283.78 for the Irish Cancer Society, much to the glee of Patsy Cummins, Chairperson of Kilkenny Relay for Life.

"Cancer affects everyone and everybody has some experience of it, we're there for awareness and support to bring people together," she said.

Despite disappointment on the hurling field in the All-Ireland Final, it was still quite the month to remember for Kilkenny GAA.

On the eve of the biggest game in the hurling calendar, county star Cillian Buckley tied the knot with fiancée Niamh Dowling. The Dicksboro man already has three All-Ireland medals to his name but following his lockdown proposal to Niamh back in September 2020, the couple said their 'I do's' in July. Former team-mate David Herity claimed the 24 hour gap between the two major milestones in Buckley's life wasn't by design, with the senior panelist mistakenly thinking the showpiece match would be played on the same date as 2022.

The excitement and build-up to the All-Ireland Hurling Final also delivered one of the most popular local songs of the year. Kilkenny band 'Burnchurch' (named after their homeland) released their new music video, 'It's Coming Home' in the lead up to the showpiece match.

The group, featuring two brothers and two sisters from the O Casadaigh family showcased the music video to a national audience on RTÉ's 'Up for the Match' the night before the final.

The month also brought excitement to new heights for a Kilkenny woman. Anita Thomas, originally from Hugginstown, was announced as country manager for Emirates in Ireland. Thomas began a 30 year career with Ryanair in 1992, before joining Emirates in 2012 holding a number of positions with the company.