Opinion
Happiness … and listening to your heart
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran You know those self-help publications and soppy little books of wise quotations that populate the shelves of our book stores this time of year? Well I love them. I collect them. Not alone do I collect them but friends give them to me – usually as a Christmas present. And God …
That we have lived at all is the miracle
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS It seems like it was only yesterday that I wrote in this column… Where did that year go, with a new one upon us? Now, here I am again, wondering where the last 12 months went. I may not be any the wiser, but I am, unfortunately, …
Recreation in Old Callan
By John Fitzgerald (Part four) Peter Roughan, the local newspaper columnist, wrote a lot about the Waltons…one of the long-established families in Callan. Larry Walton was in America at the time that Peter wrote his weekly Callan Man looks Back column. But Larry’s name never failed to come up in fireside conversations back in his …
Another year of living dangerously
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR As the dust settles on 2025, the Irish economy stands out as one of the brightest spots in a turbulent global landscape. Defying early fears of trouble from US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, the country recorded exceptional growth, record foreign direct investment (FDI), and buoyant corporate tax revenues. Yet …
Natural health trends for 2026
BY CLAIR WHITTY Every year there is a new trend or exciting new product in the natural health world. I wonder what we can expect to see in 2026? I did a little research and it looks like our gut health and digestive wellness will be one of the main areas of health concern and …
Recreation in Old Callan
By John Fitzgerald (Part three) Swimming in the King’s River was a much-loved pastime in Callan up to the late seventies. Columnist Peter Roughan remembered the swimmers of his childhood in the town at the turn of the century. And local newspaper correspondent, Seamus O’ Brien chronicled happy days on the river in his own youth, spanning …
The Winners for 2025 in Natural Health Store
BY CLAIR WHITTY Happy New Year to you all, I hope you had a good one. I am not ready for new years resolutions just yet so instead I thought I would look back on what trended in 2025. So, let’s take a look, Magnesium was number one, we couldn’t keep it on our shelves. …
Mussolini, Houdini and who-done-it?
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran One hundred year from now I wonder what shape our world will be in – that’s if we survive the murder, mayhem and chaos being wrought upon mankind and the planet by that unholy trinity: Trump, Putin and Netanyahu. Meanwhile, here’s what was going on in the world 100 years ago …
Promising better retirement security
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Ireland’s long-awaited mandatory workplace pension scheme, My Future Fund, is finally here. But last-minute changes have sparked debate. Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary announced new rules just before Christmas, aiming to prevent employers from dodging the system with low-value in-house pensions. Data protection issues and the financial burden on …
Teen harm: is a social media ban the answer?
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Back in the day, behind the bike shed was the place for experimentation or secrets. Today it’s in bedrooms, with thumbs working overtime. It was hard enough being a teenager then, picked upon or bullied if you weren’t popular, good at games or attractive enough. Now anyone, anywhere, …
