My 17-year-old daughter got her first part time job recently and will be 18 years old soon. In many ways I’m still back a decade ago remembering a daughter who followed me everywhere, thought her mother was the best thing since sliced bread and loved jumping into my bed for a chat and cuddle. Before…
A succession of buses, ferries, trains and planes had led us to the promised land of Cork. At last, we had arrived home from England for the Easter holidays. A blast of unmistakably brisk Atlantic air greeted us as we stepped off the airplane. The breeze that comes in off the English channel at our…
Dr Louise Jane Clarke As a psychologist, I encourage all parents to be mindful of their health to prevent stress and burnout. Although being a new parent is a wonderful experience for many, it can leave some parents vulnerable to exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed. However, finding time to take care of yourself is crucial to preventing parental burnout as…
The Easter holidays have only just finished and already we can look forward to another long weekend. This bank holiday weekend, you’ll be getting ready to celebrate the month of Our Lady. Every year, on the first of May, people around Ireland gather blossoms and other May flowers to place at the altar of Our…
I know it happens but I was still shocked when a friend told me that after 30 years of being together she and her husband had separated. “It had got to the stage where he disliked me as much as I disliked him,” she explained. That’s what shocked me so much I think. There was…
Rhubarb bonds with so many flavours, like rhubarb and custard tart and hard-boiled sweets, or rhubarb and ginger jam. But it’s also fantastic on its own, without interference from other flavours. Rhubarb jelly 2 lbs rhubarb washed and trimmed Juice 2 large oranges and 2 large lemons (or three small to medium lemons) 6 tbsp…
The Easter holidays are nearly over, but there is still plenty of time to have fun and indulge in some Easter crafts before you go back to school – all while appreciating the true meaning of Easter. Rabbits, chicks and lambs are popular animals associated with Easter because they represent new life – particularly lambs…
We often hear that Europe is now in a ‘post-Christian era’ and it is fashionable to attribute Western progress from the Enlightenment onwards to overcoming religious barriers to progress. However, much historical research paints a different picture. Most recently, American sociologist Rodney Stark published a number of books, arguing convincingly that Christianity was directly responsible…
I’m writing this sitting on a plane on the short hop from Southampton to Cork. We’re heading home for Easter. The older kids are behaving miraculously well – for now. Our toddler is asleep on my lap, which explains my ability to type. This same route, but by sea, was a staple for the old…
I am dating someone who is perfect for me ‘on paper’, but I think there is a key ingredient missing. How important is chemistry in a relationship? The first thing to highlight is knowing the difference between infatuation and chemistry. So many people are misled by infatuation, which soon fades away. How many relationships have…
Maria Byrne
Erin Fox
Bairbre Cahill
William Reville
Wendy Grace