Mindful Living Exceptional life events stop us in our tracks and can force us to see the world very differently. That truth takes on a very practical meaning in the economic and social lockdown caused by the coronavirus, Covid-19. In extraordinary times, our everyday, routine, habitual worldview, our underlying, often unquestioned, way of seeing…
How are your Easter Alleluias going? Is it, as Leonard Cohen would say, a holy or a broken Alleluia? It has been strange these weeks since Easter not being able to go to Mass and sing those vibrant, uplifting hymns to proclaim the resurrection. In some ways it feels as if we are still living…
Sweet Treats If you can get your hands on some flour and sugar these days, why not try and create a lemon and poppy seed drizzle traybake? This adaption of a classic Mary Berry recipe is the perfect springtime treat to make with the kids. With all the ingredients going into one bowl together…
Live classes online Gyms have been closed for over a month now. Many of us will have spent hours scouring online for at-home workouts and tutorials and it’s starting to get old. Not being able to interact with a class or get tips on your form can slowly start to take the fun and the…
A parent’s perspective My husband’s uncle died yesterday. He had Down’s syndrome and spent his life surrounded by love, a valuable and cherished member of his family. He enjoyed his simple pleasures like his soft toys, his Star War figures and his cartoons. When my husband and I visited him some weeks ago in…
The sky is a deeper blue than before the pandemic. It is no longer being washed pale by so many aircraft contrails. In Cork, we are on the flightpath from London to New York, so the effect is particularly pronounced. The silence is deeper too, as there are fewer cars and trucks rumbling about. People…
Children’s corner Being around family 24/7 can be pretty tough. Sometimes you just want to go and do something fun outside but that’s unfortunately something that’s not on the cards for a little while at least. However, you can create your own private, cosy space inside your own home with minimal materials. A place…
Cork quizmasters raise over €11k for charities An online quiz set up by two cork natives has raised over €11,500 for charities since lockdown began. Patrick Ahern and Colm Lougheed set up and present a quiz live every Tuesday, it is free to join and they encourage people to donate to a selected charity every…
Ignatian spirituality, being ‘contemplative in action’ and ‘finding God in all things’ has always seemed a very good fit for my life as a busy working woman, a mother,and a laywoman. I never felt that the monastic model fitted well and I would have questioned those who offered it as a model for laypeople. Over…
Everyday Philosophy In this time of pandemic, we are keenly aware of the global scope of the crisis. We’re glued to the news, comparing different rates of infection and containment measures. At the same time, our spheres of immediate concern have shrunk. We are stuck in our houses, and our minds are occupied with…
Bairbre Cahill
Maria Byrne
Ben Conroy