Society needs to plan for the reality of longer life expectancies and an active older population, writes Catherine McCann We age from the day we are born. Yet when the word ‘ageing’ is used, people assume it refers to the older years. What in fact are the older years? Those who are considered old…
Kilkenny church is a major attraction Would-be historians in the family aren’t the only ones likely to be thrilled by a visit to the former St Mary’s Church in Kilkenny. Now the ultra-modern Medieval Mile Museum, the 13th-Century former church is Kilkenney’s newest visitor attraction, packed with medieval artefacts and treasures, and the starting point…
Ken Gibson tells Colm Fitzpatrick about the myths surrounding leprosy An Irish-born charity is working globally to try and make one of the world’s oldest diseases a thing of the past. Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, often evokes imagery of contamination and bodily disfigurement but the reality of the ailment is very different…
My daughter-in-law and I have never really gotten along. She has recently given birth to our first grandchild and I am desperate to spend time with him but she keeps finding excuses to avoid visits. I’m thinking of saying something to my son, but my husband says it will seem like I’m being critical and…
“Mummy’s always vomiting,” my three-year-old daughter told her preschool teacher merrily, “vomit, vomit, vomit, all day long”. “Oh, is she now?” said her teacher, with a smile and a knowing glance in my direction. The teacher had surmised correctly; there was indeed a baby on the way. However, we didn’t want to tell the children…
Colm Fitzpatrick explores ways to combat seasonal sadness The Christmas holidays are a highlight in almost everybody’s calendars, but the season can be tinged with unexpected feelings of unhappiness and loneliness, with these spilling over or bubbling up in January. The ‘Christmas blues’ or ‘post-holiday depression’ is a phenomenon that can affect anyone, and…
Sweet Treats As we finally digest the large quantities of rich food from December, we can roll our way into January. With empty presses as far as the eye can see, every household needs something easy and delicious to fill the selection box sized hole in tummies. No one can resist a smile as…
Science of life Does addiction to drugs destroy the capacity for free will in the addicts, rendering them incapable of saying ‘no’ to drugs? This question is currently before the High Court of the State of Massachusetts, US, and will be adjudicated on shortly. The specific case in question is that of Julie Eldred,…
Family-friendly museum events Though the holidays are over, the National Gallery of Ireland is offering more occasions for the whole family to have fun and be inventive together. The drop-in session ‘Tearing through nature’ on January 14 from 11.30-3.30 is a creative workshop inspired by Turner’s landscapes, where you can create your own dramatic landscapes…
text + author
Colm Fitzpatrick
Wendy Grace
William Reville