Opinion
What Transition Year, if anything, teaches us
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS The American humorist and novelist Mark Twain said: “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” He might well have been addressing the 130,000 plus students who earlier this year completed their Junior Cert and who, in 90% of cases, have the option of doing …
Foods to support immunity
BY CLAIR WHITTY Everyday our immune system helps protect us from the host of bacteria, viruses, fungi, toxins, and parasites that bombard us and invade our bodies. As we approach winter many of you will be hoping to ward off these bugs. A healthy diet, moderate exercise, sleep and dealing with stress effectively will help …
6 Tips for better sleep
BY EOIN EVERARD Good sleep is essential for quality of life. We need good sleep for optimal health. Good sleep helps repair and strengthen our muscles. When we sleep we release growth hormone. This is the drug that most cheating athletes use and we produce it naturally! It helps to repair and grow muscles thus …
Darragh Joyce
BY MICHAEL O’LEARY Darragh Joyce has been based down under in Australia since 2016 playing Australian Rules Football, and playing for the Brisbane Lions this season he has been making steady progress within the sport having taken time initally to settle after arriving seven years ago. Darragh had a very successful underage career with Kilkenny …
Fewer raising their glass and holding the hour
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS There has been a startling decline in the number of rural pubs staying open since the Covid pandemic. An average of 114 pubs a year are closing across the country – but this rises to 152 a year since 2019. Rural communities are disproportionately impacted, new …
The days of cash as king is on the cards
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Recently myself and my son-in-law went into a pub near where he lives in Dublin and ordered two pints of Guinness. I handed over my card to pay for the pints. The barman looked at me as if I had two heads: “Cash only,” he said. I waited while the son-in-law …
Looking after your heart
BY CLAIR WHITTY When I think of looking after your heart, I think of both your emotional and your physical heart health. To look after your physical heart health, a healthy diet will help. One that’s rich in oily fish so that you have enough of the essential omega 3 fatty acids to help with …
The Raggedy Bush
BY JOHN FITZGERALD PART TWO Continuing the story of the Raggedy Bush that stands on the Kells Road outside Kilkenny: Another man I spoke to back in 2001 was Billy Reenahan, who confessed to having a soft spot for the bush. He cited the tradition of attaching rags to it to guarantee a safe journey. …
That football kiss – time to embrace equality
AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON Ah kisses! Sometimes there can be nothing more romantic. Remember that iconic picture of a soldier kissing a nurse at the end of World War Two? Or that real tear jerker song as Time Goes By in the film Casablanca, where Sam crooned “A kiss is just a kiss”. …
Mep Clune – the artificial intelligence revolution in healthcare is here
Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South, Deirdre Clune has spoken of the potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to transform the healthcare landscape through enhancing clinical care, reducing the administrative strain on health systems and improving prevention. MEP Clune, a Member of the European Parliament’s Health sub-committee and lead negotiator for the drafting the Artificial …
