Opinion

By John Fitzgerald When we think of aristocracy in Ireland, images of oppression, exploitation, and aloofness come to mind. The lords and ladies are thought of as having been born with silver spoons in their mouths. We have a concept of toffs swanning around in their big house and not caring a whit for the …

 FURTHERMORE  By Gerry Moran “Foul language can boost group bonding, raise pain tolerance and increase physical strength….. It also eases stress,” according to The Irish Times, on Monday October 31 last. Boy was I glad to read that. Effin glad even! And why? Because yours truly is prone to peppering his conversations with the F …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR We flagged in an earlier piece that D-day was coming for those who have to move from Ulster Bank but we make mention of it again because, according to Ulster Banks CEO Jane Howard, the bank  intends to move forward with plans to  freeze the accounts of a first wave …

BY CLAIR WHITTY November is Men’s Health Month, a great time to remind you to get your prostate checked. Make an appointment with your doctor today if you have not had a check-up recently. Prevention is better than cure. If you’re getting up several times to pee during the night it could be a sign …

AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON Events of the past weeks remind me of the story of the emperor who had no clothes. In Hans Christian Anderson’s tale, the emperor and his people are told by weavers that they would make him a wonderful suit of clothes. Anyone who could not see these wondrous garments …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER PAUL HOPKINS My father’s sister Maeve was a mere slip of a young woman when she took the boat to an England where ‘no Irish need apply’ and eventually found a job in the British civil service and a flat in Chiswick. She came home every Christmas to my grandmother’s …

By John Fitzgerald The day of reckoning arrived: the launch of the new-look St. Patrick’s band and its treasured corps of Majorettes. On Sunday, December 19th 1971, Thousands of people lined the route to St. Mary’s Cathedral. They awaited the band’s much-heralded arrival at the historic place of worship. Dr. Birch, Bishop of Ossory, was …

 Furthermore  By Gerry Moran Almost 700 years ago, a young woman was dragged though the streets of Kilkenny, publically flogged, tied to a stake and burned to death. It was November 1324 and it was, purportedly, the first ever burning of a ‘witch’ in Ireland. But there was a problem. The wrong woman had been …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR According to the new ‘Looking Forward, Looking Back’ Credit Union survey for October, sentiment has improved as consumers took some comfort from Government measures introduced in the Budget to support household spending. A special question though was asked that focussed on the extent of spending cutbacks being undertaken by Irish …

BY CLAIR WHITTY Ginger and turmeric are two amazing spices, so, what do you get when you put the two together? You get Zincuflex a supplement that combines both to help you deal with pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis. Zincuflex may help to protect joints and help maintain joint mobility. Osteoarthritis is the most …