Christina Malone Many families all over Ireland have been packing their bags for a staycation. I am one of those and I can’t wait. I finally get to see my family again. One thing that amazed me most when I first came to Ireland (nearly 14 years ago) was the fact that many parish events…
Botanic gardens offer free family tours The National Botanic Gardens is offering free tours, specially designed to engage children as well as grown-ups. While the glasshouses remain closed to the public, the gardens in the 19.5 hectare estate are open to visit. The tour promises visitors will “discover some rare and fascinating plants and hear…
Medical Matters The good weather has seen many of us take to spending a lot of time outdoors, soaking up the sun and enjoying the heat. But it’s also the season to be reminded of the need to protect ourselves from sunburn and heat stroke. This month the HSE launched its ‘Sun Smart’ campaign to…
Irish people are not usually designed for the sunshine. In fact, the stereotypically Irish fair skin evolved so as to enable people to manufacture vitamin D under the murky grey skies of northern Europe. It’s therefore quite a shock to the system when Ireland, without warning, becomes a tropical paradise. We become fish out of…
Laudato Si’ This month, the Vatican highlighted the potential good that the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics can bring about during the ‘Season of Creation’, which starts on the September 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on October 4, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint…
Bringing fun from all around the world to kids The Building Bridges Community Theatre (BBCAT) in Lurgan, Co. Armagh are gearing up to deliver their ‘All Around The World Summer Scheme’ for children. It runs for five days from August 2-6 for children aged 7-11 years old at Market Street in Lurgan. There will be…
Mindful Living Meditation awakens us to the illusion of separateness. When we see only through the ego, everything becomes a competition, a comparison. It is all about ensuring my survival, my security, my salvation. But meditation awakens the heart and gives rise to a more expansive way of seeing. And when that way of seeing…
Christina Malone Three weeks ago, we finally got to celebrate Grace’s First Confession. A week before the clothes were picked and laid out on her bed every day. The excitement was unreal. Grace asked me if I remembered my First Confession. Yes, of course I do. I was about eight years of age and like…
Sweet Treats Banana bread is a staple in any baker’s repertoire and this recipe doesn’t even call for a hand mixer so it’s perfect for beginners. If you don’t even have a loaf tin you could always make mini banana bread muffins, a delicious breakfast treat, just adjust the cooking time down as necessary. A…
ECB moves closer to digital Euro The European Central Bank took the next step towards a “digital euro” last week by launching the project’s exploration phase, but questions remain about potential pitfalls and benefits for euro zone citizens, AFP reported. The move comes as the Covid-19 pandemic has hastened a shift away from cash, and…
Dr Kevin McCarroll
Rory Fitzgerald