Opinion
The Poet Ryan hears confessions
BY JOHN FITZGERALD Last week I recounted how the Callan PP Dr. Doyle took a tough line against the buying and selling of sins. Far more serious, from a theological and doctrinal point of view, than sin swapping was the conduct of the Poet Ryan, who in the war years took to hearing confessions in …
When love is a many splendored thing
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Love may not be in the air (Valentine’s Day still some weekss away) but it most certainly was in the papers last Sunday. First up there was the legendary Gaelic football manager, Mick O’Dwyer, who proclaimed to be ‘madly in love’, so ‘madly in love’ in fact that he married his …
A fragmented world feeling the pinch
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR The World Economic Forum finished last week and there is a plethora of reports available on their website on the theme of ‘co-operation in a fragmented world’. The reports show how the world today is at, they say, “a critical inflection point” and the sheer number of ongoing crises calls …
Going Vegan for 2023
BY CLAIR WHITTY Did you consider following a vegan diet for January? How did it go? Are you planning on sticking with it? Lots of people feel much healthier and resolve health issues while following a vegan diet. This is partially because dairy products and processed meats may be associated with gut health problems, imbalanced …
Let’s mobilise the dynamic new old age
AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON Not often in these post-Brexit times that I advocate taking a leaf out of the Brits’ book. But here’s a good idea; PM Ritchie Sunack wants to encourage older workers back into the work force as it emerges that thousands of early retirements are holding back economic recovery. Offers …
My name’s Paul: I am an online shopping addict
THE FACT OF THE MATTER PAUL HOPKINS Back in the early Noughties on one of my trips to Africa I came across a book by the writer Christopher Hope, known for his controversial works dealing with racism and politics in his native South Africa. My Mother’s Lovers was the first of his novels I read. …
Girl Auction
BY NED EGAN Part 1 It was about seventy-five years ago, sitting beside the fire in old Baurscoobe, in the County of Kilkenny, that I heard this story of ‘The Girl Auction’, or ‘Fair’. This story is laced with more truth than merriment. In this particular ‘girl auction’ story, there was only the one bidder… …
Clampdown on Sin-Swapping in Callan
By John Fitzgerald Religion was a stricter business in past times that it is today, as Callan folk were reminded yet again in May 1944 when the Rev. Dr Doyle took over as parish priest in the town. A Cuffsgrange man, Dr. Doyle was a strong believer in clerical and monetary competence. He was conscious …
Fuel for thought but the outlook is brighter
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR With inflation increases, interest rate hikes and the continuing energy crisis, 2022 was a tough year for many of our readers. Areas that affects us all are the cost of electricity/gas and petrol/diesel. Late last year the cost of energy began to fall, but the cost of gas, for example, is …
Predictions past, present and to come
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran January is not just the month for resolutions, new beginnings and sales; it is also the month for predictions — predictions for the year ahead and beyond. Old Moore’s Almanac has been making predictions for the past 259 years (and who could have predicted such longevity for such a small magazine) …
