Pope Francis’ marriage exhortation is a rich source of advice for families, writes Julie Kavanagh In the coming weeks, many parishes across the country and beyond will begin to host a series of parish conversations as part of their preparations for the World Meeting of Families 2018. This series will give anybody who wants to…
Love Notes My wife died suddenly last year and I am facing my retirement years alone. It seems all my hobbies are for two together. My children and grandchildren visit me at weekends, but my weekdays are long and very lonely. How does a widower in his 60s fill his days? ANSWER: Losing…
A weekend of visual creations For lovers of visual art, Kilkenny Animated is a festival of visual storytelling, hosted by Cartoon Saloon, that will be taking place across a variety of venues around Kilkenny City from February 23-25. Cartoon Saloon are a locally based animation studio who have been nominated twice for Oscars with their…
Monkey see, monkey do. Small children are shaped, more than anything, by example. As life underwent a metamorphosis with the arrival of children, many old habits and hobbies had to go by the wayside. Playing guitar was of the few things that survived into this chaotic new epoch. I found I could continue to play,…
Science of Life We would all like to be productive, to use our time well and to get lots of things done. I know I would – I tend to have a problem with procrastination. But effective techniques to enhance productivity are well known, if only we would use them. Today I will outline…
Sweet Treats Strawberry cheesecake has always been one of my favourite dishes to make. Quick and easy, this no-bake cake would suit anyone looking to try their hand at desserts. This particular cheesecake is light and creamy in texture with bursts of sweetness from the strawberries mixed throughout. Perfect for a Sunday evening dessert,…
There is a psalm that I have loved for many years and even more so since I became a mother. It is psalm 139: “It was you who created my inmost self, and put me together in my mother’s womb; for all these mysteries I thank you: for the wonder of myself, for the wonder…
Céilí, comedy and lots of craic For anyone in the family with a penchant for music or all things Irish, The Gathering Traditional Festival, which is one of the biggest traditional music festivals in the country, is an event worth your attention. The festival has been running for 19 years and takes place in Killarney…
A Parent’s Perspective In the coming weeks and months we’ll be hearing a lot about the Eighth Amendment and the right to life of our smallest human beings. It’ll be a tough time for anyone who puts themselves out there to speak on all the issues involved. I’m a bit of a social media…
New cancer-fighting test is announced In Ireland, an average of 40,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year, so it’s good news that a recently developed blood test is making leaps and bounds in changing the way doctors screen for cancer. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University in the US have developed a test that screens for…
Wendy Grace
William Reville
Bairbre Cahill
Maria Byrne