What does 2023 have in store for us all? It’s time to read the tea leaves - Kilkenny Live

We’re three weeks into January now and many people will already have abandoned their new year’s resolutions — or alternatively, perhaps you are enjoying your new career, new life, and healthy diet/exercise regime. The best of luck to you.

It’s also a time of year where we look ahead and try to predict or prepare for what may come, and what 2023 may hold for Kilkenny, for Ireland, and the world at large.

Will prosperity abound or does a recession loom? Will the Government survive? Will Liam MacCarthy be back Noreside? The experts are divided, but let’s have a look at the tea leaves and take a punt at it.

We might begin by turning to that estimable publication and part of the Irish cultural fabric, Old Moore’s Almanac. The magazine has now been going for 259 years and is well known for its predictions and soothsaying.

Old Moore has made a couple of big, bold prophecies this year, which if they are realised, are going to involve a fair bit of upheaval for us all.

Number one here would be that 2023 will be remembered globally as ‘the great reset’ — warning of energy crises, famine and supply issues. It reckons there will be not just a recession, but a ‘total reordering’ of the world and how finances work, and a banking crisis across the world to boot.

The Almanac reckons Joe Biden will be the worst-ever US President. There’s bad health news down the line for King Charles and Vladimir Putin, while Kim Jong Un had better not start any long books. That advice might go for all of us with solar flares on the way and a disease released from the ice caps on the cards — not to mention the threat of World War III breaking out in March.

The good news, though, is we are due a scorcher of a summer, and gene modifications to restore youth are on the way.

Other predictions are somewhat less alarming and definitely within the realms of possibility. Housing in Ireland will still be a hot topic for sure. Political upheaval in the UK? That’s a gimme. School shooting in America? Business as usual. Civil unrest and government corruption in Africa? We’ve heard that one before.

Moving away from the Almanac, there are a couple of other possible trends coming down the tracks, under similar categories.

Economy: The cost of living may well continue to rise. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, energy prices over the past year among other things have led to considerable uncertainty, and some prominent economists are predicting a looming recession. Will current high levels of employment last? Many service industry businesses are struggling to get staff despite big hiring drives.

Recent months have seen thousands of layoffs in the tech sector as the digital giants downsized globally. The clock ran out on some of the major Crypto currencies and things like NFTs, with investors being wiped out almost overnight. Old Moore reckons Crypto is here to stay, but confidence is definitely shaken.

Housing: Last year saw prices get closer than ever to the Celtic Tiger zenith, but now, there is some thinking in real estate circles that a ceiling may have been reached on house prices.

The latest myhome.ie report suggests a fall in prices in the final quarter of last year, while Real Estate Alliance said prices stagnated as a result of cost of living increase and the interest rate hikes.  The same REA survey suggests the price of the average three-bed semi in County Kilkenny is expected to fall by 3% over the next 12 months.

Healthcare: You would be a very brave individual to bet on any major reforms of the health service and an end to the long waiting lists and disgraceful overcrowding in Irish hospitals. Last year was the worst-ever for overcrowding at St Luke’s. As in previous years, the situation will improve as we exit the winter, and maybe things won’t be quite as bad as 2022, but it’s hard to see any dramatic change.

Sport: It’s a new era for Kilkenny hurling as Derek Lyng prepares to lead the Cats into the championship. Old Moore’s Almanac won’t countenance anyone but Limerick coming up trumps yet again, but only a fool would write off Kilkenny.On the camogie front, there’s a definite confidence among those in the know that the O’Duffy Cup can and will be retained.
Will the Irish rugby team finally manage to get past the quarter final stage and go all the way for Webb Ellis glory?Old Moore has gone for France here, and I’m not so sure on this one either, unfortunately.

That’s about as far as my crystal ball will take me this early in the year. Don’t ask me for the lotto numbers, but keep an eye out for me at Gowran next week if you’re stuck for a tip.