This was supposed to be a happy family gathering. My granny turned 98 at the end of February. Like most years we travelled to Germany to visit her and celebrate another milestone in her life. I love what Pope Francis says about grandparents: “…because they have the strength and are of the age to carry…
Sweet Treats This trifle is perfect for St Patrick’s Day as it is full of delicious custard, fruit, and of course, Irish whiskey! The beauty of this particular trifle is that you can make everything from scratch yourself if you have the time, or you can buy everything pre-made, skip to Step 3, and simply…
National Spring Clean to kick off in April Registrations are now open for National Spring Clean 2022, which is calling all communities around Ireland to register for Ireland’s largest and longest anti-litter campaign. The National Spring Clean traditionally takes part in the month of April. For the past 23 years 85,000 clean-ups have been organised…
A parent’s perspective Pope Francis’ Lenten message to get off our smartphones and do good for others face-to-face is more relevant than ever. Sitting in our homes glued to the unfolding horror in Ukraine, or checking the constant updates on our phones can almost make us feel like we’re really there. We post up Ukrainian…
Children’s Corner Music is an extremely powerful force in the world. It has the power to make us laugh, cry, become nostalgic, fearful and every emotion under the sun. Very often it is used in film, theatre and more to create a certain mood whether that be tension or levity. National anthems are created to…
Children aged 12-15 to be offered Covid booster dose Children aged 12 to 15 are to be offered a booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine in a bid to reduce infection rates among this age group. The move follows a recommendation by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac), which has been accepted by Minister for Health…
Everyday Philosophy Do we live in a simulation? No, of course not. Would it matter if we did? Of course it would. The great philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein had a particular view of what philosophy was really about. He saw it as a kind of therapy for confusion. Rather than seeking to answer deep questions about…
“I wish it was Tuesday already. Can we please skip the days in between?” It is my daughter’s birthday next week and while her excitement is nearly too much for her to handle, hearing those words nearly creates a knot in my stomach. Skipping a day or two, even a year or two brings back memories…
Marta Osborne Do you have any suggestions for approaching lent with your spouse? I think we’d be more successful if we tried to go through it together. Lent is difficult at the best of times, but it can be especially so if we try to go it alone. As married couples, we’re blessed to have…
Man tests positive for Covid for 14 months straight When Muzaffer Kayasan first caught Covid-19, he thought he was destined to die, as he was already suffering from leukaemia. Fourteen months and 78 straight positive tests later, he is still alive – and still battling to shake off the infection. Mr Kayasan, 56, has Turkey’s…
Maria Byrne
Chai Brady
Ben Conroy