Personal Profile Matthew Carlson speaks with a lay catechist Although many people may think that their grandparent is the most religious grandparent out there, Colette Furlong may be able to take that award home. Colette, who is the Catechist for the cluster of parishes in Sligo recalls that as a child, her ‘nanna’ was…
Loneliness is rife in modern Ireland, writes Davis Clark It is perhaps the greatest contradiction of our modern age that even as avenues of communication have multiplied, allowing us spend more and more time in contact with others, we seem to feel increasingly isolated and alienated from those around us. A tidal wave of…
Durrow’s scarecrow hay day heyday For those who’ve only seen scarecrows at a distance or in classic movies like the Wizard of Oz, the Durrow Scarecrow Festival is sure to offer an interesting and educational experience. Taking place in Durrow from July 29 to August 6, the festival will host the All-Ireland Scarecrow Championship, in…
Medical Matters Do you keep an eye on your blood pressure? High blood pressure (hypertension) is one the biggest contributors to heart and stroke disease and premature death. While having high cholesterol is often talked about, its negative effect is much less significant than hypertension. Last year saw new guidelines being introduced by several…
Children’s Corner Davis Clark The summer is sure to send many of us to the beach to soak up the sun and cool off. While you’re there, you may stumble across some shells. Collecting shells is a fun and time-honoured activity, and a great way for kids to explore their environment. If they hold…
At Mass on Sunday I found my eye drawn towards a father and his small child, aware of the gentleness and tenderness of the father towards his son. That involved keeping the little adventurer in his seat but in a way that encouraged the boy to keep close to his daddy. The father was a…
Personal Profile Matthew Carlson speaks with environmental activist Orla Farrell Most people on the street don’t think much when they pass a tree. They walk past it without any thought or regard to it. Orla Farrell is not one of those people. In fact, she is one of the directors for an organisation called…
Colm Fitzpatrick asks whether phones should be banned in schools If you had said 40 years ago that someday children will be walking around with small portable electronic devices whereby they could communicate with their peers, create their own personal profiles, and find the answer to any question with just the tap of a…
The amount that our family uses their phones is getting worse. It’s now affecting our relationships. How can we get back on track to having more phone-free time? Sadly this is not an uncommon issue in our interconnected world. Start off by having a phone-free rule that you implement at certain times. Get a…
WMOF 2018 Jane Mellet On Wednesday June 20, in the Loyola Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, many representatives from ecological groups in Ireland attended a presentation to hear about the World Meeting of Families 2018 ‘Our Common Home’ project. This presentation, which I delivered with Dr Lorna Gold of Trócaire, offered an opportunity for those…
Dr Kevin McCarroll
Bairbre Cahill
Colm Fitzpatrick
Wendy Grace