Remembering the great Kilkenny Hug Fest of 2012! Reporter: news@kilkennypeople.ie A flashback to the 2012 Hug Fest with then-Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan with Aoibhín Murphy, Rosemary Collier and John McGuinness TD Picture: Pat Moore '); '); The inscription on the greeting cards reads: ‘The average person needs 300 hugs each month to remain healthy, happy and secure’ and inside, in my friend’s handwriting: ‘Good luck with that, Gerry. Stay safe.’ Good luck indeed. 300 hugs a month! Not a hope in hell. Three hugs a month in this climate and one is doing well. And then I remembered giving, and getting, almost 30 hugs in the space of one hour, all of nine years ago.