Weird dreams and disturbed sleep have been frequent complaints during lockdown, so now’s the time to consider your sleep hygiene writes Ruadhán Jones We’ve all heard how important good hygiene is to combat the coronavirus. Even before that, no doubt, the practice of washing your hands after going outside and always brushing your teeth would…
Personal Profile Music and faith are the two passions of Tom Conroy’s life, who believes firmly in St Augustine’s teaching “he who sings, prays twice”. Though as a child, Tom wasn’t too interested in music, it was something that was always in the background. “Music is in my family – all of them play, my…
Living Laudato Si’ Jane Mellett These have been extraordinary months across the world. Slowly and cautiously we are emerging from the Covid-19 restrictions and it is vitally important that we do not get complacent. The virus has not gone away and each of us are responsible for ensuring that we protect ourselves and each other…
We sat huddled by the fire as the rain lashed relentlessly against the windows. My wife was treating one child for mild hypothermia and another for sunburn. We were, of course, on a traditional Irish summer holiday. The most accurate predictor of rainfall in June is the scheduling of the school holidays. It is an…
Medical Matters The search for therapies for Covid-19 has led scientists to explore an array of drugs ranging from expensive anti-virals and anti-inflammatories to anti-malarials (hydroxychloroquine) and even anti-helminthics (use to treat parasitic worms). Despite this, the potential role of something much more simple – ‘vitamin D’ in either helping to prevent infection or reduce…
Getting active at Kilruddery Estate Getting the family outside the house to enjoy fun activities outdoors is certainly on many people’s minds after weeks of lockdown. It can become very easy to fall into a habit of staying in and cocooning from the world. Alive Outside has just launched Family Fun Activities in Killruddery Estate,…
Without a consistent routine, we may be eating more than usual or finding it difficult to think of what to cook writes Ruadhán Jones What’s for dinner, when can we eat, can I have snack now – all these questions have piled on top of us during lockdown. Many are cooking regularly for children and…
Personal Profile Father of six, co-ordinator of Síolta Retreats and co-founder of charity Another Pair of Hands, faith and good works has always been central to Armagh man Bosco McShane. “Faith was always a big part of my life,” Bosco said to The Irish Catholic. “A big influence on my life was Mother Teresa and…
Mindful Living While Thomas Merton may have been the first in our time to open up to a wider audience the ancient tradition of Christian meditation, it was John Main who recovered and simplified the practice for ordinary women and men. Prior to that it was to be found mainly in contemplative monasteries. The practice…
“You don’t get to be Racist and Irish,” Imelda May reminded us in her powerful poem recently. I would be inclined to add that you don’t get to be racist and Christian either but that isn’t always clear. Whether it is Donald Trump wielding a Bible in front of St John’s Episcopal Church or a…
Rory Fitzgerald
Dr Kevin McCarroll
Bairbre Cahill