September: Club hurling ramps up, debs season and fresh Dunnes drama - Year in Review

The Kilkenny club hurling season ramped up in the month of September as the league competitions reached a climax.

O'Loughlin Gaels gained partial payback on Thomastown for their defeat in the 2024 championship final with a 1-19 to 0-17 victory in the Senior competition on September 14 while James Stephens took home the Intermediate league title after a 1-23 to 0-17 win against Danesfort the previous day.

Club championships also progressed throughout the month as St Martin's dramatically avoided the drop from Intermediate as a 2-11 to 0-15 scoreline in their relegation final condemned St Lachtains to the Junior competition next year.

There was local success at the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo with Peter Lynch from the Kilkenny City Harriers cementing his place as an elite global runner. Lynch finshed the marathon in 24th place in the at the event, building on breaking the Irish record.

Fresh drama in the Ferrybank Shopping Centre saga was provided toward the end of the month as it was revealed that Waterford City and County Council had appealed Kilkenny County Council's approval of the planning application by Dunnes Stores for a large retail unit in the vacant building.

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In another twist however, the objection was deemed invalid by An Coimisiún Pleanála as it wasn't accompanied by the acknowledgement from the planning authority of receipt of the submissions or observations, a key legal requirement.

The gaffe left the Waterford Council red-faced and raised tensions between the two local authorities around the shopping centre development.

Candidates continued on the presidential election campaign trail, but came away from Kilkenny empty handed as the Council declined to nominate a hopeful.

None of the 12 people who appeared on the day were able to sway councillors, an outcome that was mirrored across the country as no one was raised to the ballot via local authorities.

Debs season kicked in to full gear as Kilkenny schools celebrated their time together before looking to the future. Sixth years from all over the county travelled to various spots around the country for one last party together.

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