A magical oceans lab Many people get put off by science, resolving that the subject is either boring or only fit for geniuses to study. However, science is something we should all be exploring and trying to understand. Marine and environmental science is at the forefront of our current affairs with the plastic pollution of…
Category: Family & Faith
Vanish a coin… and make it appear behind someone’s ear!
Children’s Corner Magicians are probably most well known for the trick in which they make a coin vanish, only for it to reappear behind a spectator’s ear. It’s a funny piece of conjuring and usually elicits a roar of laughter from the audience if performed correctly. Believe it or not, there’s a whole branch of…
Family News and Events
Starting on a high note Marking their silver jubilee, the 25th Festival of Youth Orchestras will see young musicians from across Ireland gather in the National Concert Hall next month. Presented by the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras, the festival is the annual celebration of youth orchestras in Ireland, and their members, with a diverse…
Faith in the Family
I was walking through the carpark into the supermarket when she waved at me and said hello. Well actually it was more like “ello” which is fair enough as she was only about 18 months old, sitting in the trolley while her mum packed bags of groceries into the boot of the car. “Ello” she called…
Breaking down political philosophy
Everyday Philosophy An important distinction in political philosophy is that between substantive and procedural questions. If I have a substantive problem with an action, it’s because of the moral rights or wrongs of the action itself or its results. Imagine the government raised the top rate of income tax. If I were to criticise that…
Giving pollinators a helping hand
Green Fingers We as humans are very dependent on tiny insects called pollinators. We need them because they pollinate most of the fruits and vegetables that make up our diet. Pollination occurs when pollen is moved within flowers or carried from one flower to another by insects. The transfer of pollen between flowers of the…
Family News and Events
Through the looking glass Lewis Carroll’s works will be reimagined this January as the Sligo Hospital Musical Society presents their 23rd annual pantomime. This band of talented HSE employees has donated almost €200,000 to local Sligo charities from show proceeds. This year brings their first ever pantomime sequel following on from the successful 2014 Alice…
Dad’s Diary
I was working at home when the call came. A shake in the teacher’s voice told me that this was no ordinary playground fall. She said my son had fallen badly while playing football and that “he couldn’t see afterwards” and was complaining of headaches, as well as cuts to his arms and legs. I drove…
Dangers of unchecked high blood pressure
Medical Matters Have you had your blood pressure checked recently? Well, measurement of blood pressure, as we all know, is a fundamental part of the routine clinical examination – and for good reason. This is because high blood pressure or hypertension is for the most part a silent condition which, over time, may have far-reaching…
Vegan chocolate chip cookies – a tasty treat for ‘Veganuary’
Sweet Treats This January many of us in an effort to consume fewer animal products will be attempting so-called ‘Veganuary’. However, this doesn’t mean sacrificing your favourite treats. These cookies are as good as any regular version, crispy on the edges, soft and chewy inside. Don’t be panicked by any of the ingredients, coconut…


Colm Fitzpatrick

Bairbre Cahill
Ben Conroy
Paul Gargan


Dr Kevin McCarroll
