Opinion
Charles Bronson, The Junkman, and The Ragman
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran I watched a documentary about the actor Charles Bronson (1921-2003) on television recently. Bronson, known for his granite features and brawny physique, was the archetypical screen tough guy. And I loved him. Loved him in The Mechanic (1972) and Death Wish (1974) remakes of which featured Jason Statham, another archetypical screen …
Dame Alice and the Witch Hunters
BY JOHN FITZGERALD PART TWO Bishop Ledrede may or may not have believed the long list of allegations against Alice. But there was something else he disliked about her. She was an independent spirit who was never afraid to express an opinion or contradict church teaching. She questioned the Church’s doctrines and had a liberal …
Your credit ‘score’ will affect getting a loan
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Do you know what your credit score is and how it applies to you? Have you been refused a loan recently and as far as you are concerned you are a good bet? The refusal is probably due to your ‘credit score’. Credit scores are an essential part of financial …
Natural solution for hay fever
BY CLAIR WHITTY Runny nose, streaming eyes, and intense sneezing, sound familiar? These are common symptoms of hay fever. You could have itchy nose, eyes, and throat too. Hay fever is an allergic reaction associated with pollen. The summer months are worse, especially once the grass cutting starts. Unfortunately, some of you may experience symptoms …
Should home be a classroom of the future?
AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON Home schooling got kicked centre stage recently following critical comment from Tanaiste Micheal Martin, a former teacher “I am not a great fan of home schooling, I think kids need to socialise. I just find the whole thing disquieting,” he said. Not surprisingly heated discussion followed on the airwaves. …
That chapter in Ireland that was book banning
THE FACT OF THE MATTER PAUL HOPKINS I was a young Catholic boy on the verge of, as was said then, manhood when I discovered the word ‘taut’ hooked to a flimsy item of underclothing in one of the James Bond thrillers the Uncle Harry had given my father. And then there was the time …
Put your own mask on first
BY EOIN EVERARD I wrote this article on a flight out to the European Championships in Holland. One thing that strikes me is that during the safety demonstration they always stress the importance of putting on your own mask first before attending to others. Now they are not suggesting that for no reason! They know …
GIRL AUCTION
BY NED EGAN Part 12 His teeth now chattered, and – in the chill of this frigid night – a river of sweat broke from his pores – and then his nerve went, completely. Falling to his knees, he started jabbering words that Molly could only barely understand. Some sounded like “your mother” others like …
Here’s Lucey!
BY JOHN FITZGERALD A week after his father’s death (on D-Day: June 6th 1944) Michael Byrne sat the Intermediate Cert exam, which he passed, in spite of the grief that overwhelmed him. He fared less well two years later with the Leaving Cert. Illness prevented him from studying for the exam and he had to …
Down at the Co-op
BY JOHN FITZGERALD Callan Co-op has thrived since the day it was set up following a Town Hall meeting in March 1899. It began taking milk from farmers within hours of opening for business. In 1905, Tim Lucy took over as Manager. He hitched a lift to Callan on an ass and cart, dusted himself …
