Archive - Thieves grab £2,000 in daring raid in Kilkenny (1973)

Thieves who swooped on a Kilkenny guesthouse in the early hours of Tuesday morning got away with a safe containing £2,000 in cash and a number of cheques.

The raid was at Tennypark guesthouse on the Callan Road. The safe contained takings from the Tuesday of Beer Festival week.

Artist Davy Holohan preparing for summer exhibition in Kilkenny

Owner Michael Murphy and his wife slept in a bedroom close by as the raiders dragged the ton weight safe from the hallway.

They never heard a sound.

The safe, which normally took four men to carry, was snatched from the hall and brought out through the back door of the house. Entry was gained through a kitchen window.

The break-in took place between 3 and 5am. It was first discovered by a number of Swedes staying in the guesthouse.

They were rising early at 5.30am, preparing for shift work in a Kilkenny factory.

Gardaí were immediately notified but there was no trace of the thieves.

Investigations are still continuing, but so far there have been no arrests.

Festival crowds smaller - but better
Warm sunshine and a successful brass band parade and afternoon of recitals brought the Kilkenny Beer Festival to a close on Sunday.

Crowds were smaller than in previous years but this, to a large extent, was due to the virtual absence of the undesirable element who tried hard to disrupt the festival in previous years.

“Generally speaking we are very happy with the Festival,” said organising secretary, Ald M McGuinness. “We feel it has overcome the hump. It was quite evident this year that the majority of visitors to the city were family groups who were out for a day’s enjoyment. And they had that enjoyment without interruption. Unhappy incidents were very scarce indeed.”

Rackard’s mixed fortunes
Former Wexford hurling star Nickey Rackard did not find much pleasure at Nowlan Park when his team lost to Cork in the Oireachtas semi-final.

But he was one of the most satisfied men at the match - he had just come from Gowran Park where his horse, Tombrack, had won the Tetratema Cup.

While Mr Rackard did say he had the horse backed he did not say for how much. Whatever he had on the return must have been fairly good for Tombrack was a 20/1 winner.

There was a whisper about him in Kilkenny and a few local punters followed him.