Opinion

By John Fitzgerald A three-hour feast of storytelling, verse, and historical reminiscence will unfold at Fennelly’s of Callan on August 15th. Historian Philip Lynch will join Joe Kennedy of Callan Heritage and other luminaries to present talks, recite poetry, tell folk tales, and display a collection of vintage local maps. An extensive question and answer …

BY CLAIR WHITTY There’s something special about summer self-care when it’s simple, natural and feels good for both your skin and your wellbeing. We’re delighted to welcome the new Weleda Hair & Body Mists to the Natural Health Store. It’s a gorgeous collection designed to refresh and uplift. They are made with 100% natural fragrances …

I often look at others and wonder what is going on in their lives, and the truth is that no matter how well we know another person, there are always hidden thoughts, emotions, memories and struggles that remain unseen. Human beings carry invisible worlds within them, and because of this, we can never fully know …

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON How much tragedy does it take before action is taken to curb the harm done to victims? It took an outcry over the number of brain-injured children to look at stricter measures to be taken on e-scooters, but these have yet to be implemented. It took the death …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS A drought is generally defined as a prolonged period of abnormally dry weather that can lead to water shortages, crop damage, low river flows or depletion of soil moisture. In Ireland, droughts usually occur in spring and summer when a persistent high-pressure system results in such weather. …

By John Fitzgerald I visited three sites last week that recall the Great Famine in the county. The first was Callan Workhouse, which opened its doors in 1842 but struggled to cope with the influx of starving people when famine struck. It was a model of dehumanizing bureaucracy and the architect had specifically designed it to …

CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE By Judith Ashton We live in a culture that celebrates youth and the latest trends. It’s as though whatever came before has already lost its value. Social media rewards appearance over substance, frivolity over experience and treats ageing not as a natural part of life but as something to resist, conceal …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS As I kicked the ball one more time towards the goal – and missed – I said: “That’s it, lads, I’m off. Top Of The Pops!” And in no time the makeshift pitch on the green was deserted, as we each made our way home. After all, …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR The latest inflation figures brought a small piece of good news. Prices rose by 3.4% in the year to June, easing from the higher rates we’d become used to. That’s welcome on paper, but I doubt many households feel much relief when they’re standing at the supermarket checkout or opening …

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON It’s not often I get embarrassed about what other people do. If they choose to mess up, that’s their own lookout. But when failure to do the right thing brings shame on all of us, then I cringe. At present, I am experiencing serious, multiple cringes over the …