Family fun, bluebells and forest trails
 Getting out into nature is always a welcome activity for the children, particularly in an age where being glued to smartphones or Netflix is becoming all the more common. The whole family could go to Moore Abbey in Kildare for Easter Monday to enjoy a walk, stroll or run…

Love Notes My fiancé and I are getting married in a few months, and while I had assumed we would have a joint bank account once we got married but he has an issue with this, where do we go from here?   How we feel about money is decided by a lot of factors,…

Medical Matters   Music has been used for millenia to raise our spirits. The ancient Greeks recognised that physical and mental well-being could be enhanced by music. Indeed, music was used to improve performance in athletes at the ancient Olympic games. Pythagorus believed that it could soothe ailments of the spirit, body and soul and…

Who let the dogs out? A pet-friendly family fun day will take place on Sunday April 21 in Corkagh Park, Clondalkin in Dublin from 12-3pm. With invitations open to the whole family, including your four-legged friends, there will be a dog friendly walk and free Easter egg hunt on the day. Husky Rescue Ireland (HRI)…

Sweet Treats Laura Anderson   This week’s sweet treat is a timeless classic – its bright yellow colour makes it the perfect centrepiece for your table this Easter. If you’re tight on time the pastry can be made in advance and kept in the fridge for up to three days. Ingredients Makes one 23cm/9in tart.…

Mindful Living Dr Noel Keating   Meditation brings considerable practical benefits to those who take up the practice and persist with it. But it also gives rise to deeper, spiritual fruits – it promotes human flourishing and an attitude of compassion and service to one another and to all of creation. The practical benefits of…

Green Fingers   In April the lion that is March loosens its icy grip on the garden. You need to keep on top of hoeing and weeding. Go through your beds and borders: Remove all the annual weeds now before they get a chance to go to seed. Using a border fork dig up all…

Do not be afraid, learn first aid Keeping the family safe is a number one priority for parents and guardians, and with so many dangers out there, learning first aid could be a skill used on multiple occasions. Family First Aid is a first aid awareness course designed specifically for carers, parents, grandparents or guardians…

Love Notes   We are married three years and in the last year or so my husband has been going out with his friends or work colleagues much more than before. He goes out every Saturday night and usually comes home drunk, really affecting our Sundays as a family because he is hungover and in…

Wifi drive-by Packing your family into the car for a journey is a stressful business. Central to this is keeping your kids, no matter what their age, amused for the duration. So, how do you fend of those salvos of ‘Are we there yet?’ and ‘I’m bored’ when you’ve got offspring who no longer think…