Family homes across Ireland have been transformed into makeshift schools, thanks to the coronavirus epidemic. Our own home school has three pupils on the roll, along with an enthusiastic toddler who joins in from time to time. Our daily routine involves having all pupils up and breakfasted by 8 in the morning. This allows them…
Free coding workshop for schoolchildren A three-day free coding workshop, facilitated by the Academy of Code and delivered online through Zoom will take place next week, with tickets available from Friday. It is organised by ‘Work Matters at the Library’ and is part of the South Dublin Creative Campus Programme. The event is for secondary…
Sweet Treats With Eastertide coming to an end on Sunday, if you haven’t made an Easter Simnel Cake yet, you’re definitely missing out – and there’s no time like the present. The name simnel probably comes from the ancient Roman word simila, meaning fine flour. Simple, every day, simnel bread has been made in…
Mindful Living One of the hidden challenges of modern life has to do with the exercise of free will. So many of our attitudes to life and how we habitually live it remain hidden in plain sight. Many people remain blissfully unaware of the extent to which their worldview and their choices in life…
Half the time I couldn’t tell you what day of the week it is. I can’t get my head around the notion that we are at the end of May but I know without doubt that this Sunday is Pentecost. Pentecost crowns Easter, bringing the liturgical season of Easter to a close and powerfully reminding…
Mental health impact of virus can be severe The mental health impacts of Covid-19 may linger after the pandemic is over according to new research. It found some patients hospitalised due to the virus are likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder months or years after they leave hospital. The risks may…
A Parent’s Perspective My daughters all love the film, Pride and Prejudice. Times may have changed, but there’s something timeless and appealing about the spirited Elizabeth Bennet and the dashing, debonair, Mr Darcy. It is the perennial theme of a great love, a story that never grows old, boy meets girl, there are some…
Children’s Corner In these days of lockdown many parents are doing their best to keep their children occupied and up to date with their education. With schools being out of the equation it can be daunting to teach children subjects that may not be a parent’s strong point: like science. However, there are fun…
Entertaining tots with child-friendly apps There is a lot to be said for co-using technology with your children, especially as this gives you the opportunity to influence how they engage with technology. There are several apps that can bring out children’s creative side, or enhance skills such as problem solving, collaborating or communicating with others.…
The newly arrived swallows swoop across the evening sky; happy heralds of summer. They have journeyed from Africa to our eaves, where they will nest for the summer. Our little valley has become rewilded in recent years, with acres of new woods springing up nearby us. Buzzards and falcons now regularly soar overhead. Trout frequent…
Chai Brady
Bairbre Cahill
Maria Byrne