Opinion

PART 2 CALLAN NUNS BLAZE A TRAIL DOWN UNDER BY JOHN FITZGERALD In a letter to the Callan Convent of Mercy shortly after his meeting with the nuns, Cardinal Moran outlined the plans he had drawn up for the nine who had volunteered for the Paramatta mission: “…They will first of all have the primary …

BY MICHAEL O’LEARY The National Hunt Season is in full swing now, and the biggest weekend of the season so far takes place with Two Grade 1s down for decision in Punchestown. It’s a Two-Day meeting at The Kildare Track with Racing tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday, with two of Willie Mullins star performers from last …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS It is one of the enduring images of modern history, when two bullets from an assassin’s rifle hit President John F Kennedy in the head and throat as his open motorcade drove through Dallas, Texas. First Lady Jackie Kennedy cradling his head, the blown-away brain bleeding into …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Black Friday and CyberMonday are here, and with the Christmas lights appearing in our streets and shops retailers begin to entice us into the Christmas spirit early, yet consumers say they are tightening their belts, with almost two in three planning to cut their Christmas spending this year. This “Bah …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR The recent release of Exchequer figures for the period ending October paints a multi-facet picture of Ireland’s economic landscape. While overall tax revenues have grown, there are concerns about the third consecutive monthly decline in corporation tax receipts. The figures reveal that tax revenues for the first 10 months of …

AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON Where are we? Where are we going? Are we nearly there? When it comes to how we are progressing on our journey as a society, it seems to me that, in these days of fake news and 50 shades of views on social media, now more than ever we …

PART 1 Callan nuns blaze a trail down under BY JOHN FITZGERALD Callan’s Convent of Mercy is best known for its glittering academic achievements. For decades these have equalled and in many cases eclipsed those of many schools in Ireland. Aside from the odd case of a pupil escaping through a skylight or window to …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS My only daughter when aged about 16 would repeatedly say to me: “Ah, Dad you have to watch Friends. It’s the best thing ever. Even the boys love it.” Knowing, vaguely, it was a comedy about young people hanging out and not doing much else, I figured …

BY CLAIR WHITTY Let’s talk men’s health: Movember is a global fundraiser that encourages men to look after their health. You will see a lot of men with moustaches this month in support of this initiative. Let’s encourage the men in our life to take action on their health. I think most of us know …

FURTHERMORE  By Gerry Moran Hardly a day goes by when I don’t find myself walking down the Parade. Or is it up the Parade? And is there a difference, I’m wondering? I guess if you’re walking from the Castle towards High Street you’re walking down the Parade as there is a bit of a downward …