Archive - Safe crackers on the rampage in Kilkenny (1974)

A recent spate of safe crackings in Kilkenny is worrying members of the Detective branch in the city.

Already four creameries have been entered and the safes smashed open or tampered with.

Raiders broke into Kilmanagh, Ballybur, Ballyragget and Kells creameries, while Connolly’s Red Mills of Goresbridge was also the target for thieves.

In an effort to curb the safe breakings the Detective Unit appealed to people not to leave big sums of money in safes.

The midnight marauders who broke into Red Mills made off with £12,000 worth of cigarettes but failed to open the safe.

The cigarettes were bundled on to a Mills 10 ton lorry and the raiders fled.

The stolen lorry was found abandoned the day after near Dunlavin, Co Wicklow.

The cigarettes were found packed in eight sacks in an unused house nearby.

KILKENNY AS A UNIVERSITY CITY?

Kilkenny as a university city? Possible or impossible? The notion has received a considerable airing at a special meeting attended by the two Bishops of Ossory and the city’s principal educationalists.

“Perhaps too enormous an undertaking” was the opinion of some. But there was unanimous approval for Kilkenny seeking some form of third level education.

During the meeting many ideas were debated - among them a teacher training college, a veterinary college, an art college and a liberal studies establishment.

The geographical location of Kilkenny was stressed and it was felt that it would be an ideal centre for the South-East for courses for the higher diploma in education.

The nearest place where teachers in the South-East could study for the diploma at present was Maynooth.

After a lengthy discussion it was agreed that a qualified educationalist be invited to Kilkenny to draw up a report on what it might be feasible or attempt in third level education.

“Our historical and cultural associations and our geographical location means Kilkenny would be ideally suited to a third level education project,” said Chamber President Kevin O’Donovan.

“Within a 30 mile radius of Kilkenny there are an estimated 300,000 people - a similar catchment to the Galway area. There is an excellent road system into Kilkenny which could be used for commuting from such places as Carlow, Waterford, New Ross, Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Thurles and Athy.”