Opinion

BY CLAIR WHITTY Thinning hair is an extremely distressing thing at any stage of our lives and unfortunately it seems to be a common problem post menopause. As if we haven’t had enough to deal with throughout the menopausal journey. Many women that I have spoken with about hair loss have told me that they …

Little bodies need play, not stillness By Judith Ashton Last week I wrote about kids fidgeting which led me to think how we can help them self -regulate so that they can calm down and learn to relax and relax to learn. I’m not just thinking here about small kids…this concerns teens as well and …

FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Saturday 1.05 a.m. approx. I’m bedding down for the night. I switch off the inside lights, switch on the outside ones and check to see if there are any unsavoury characters lurking in the dark. There aren’t but what I do see is a black cat sitting outside my backdoor. A …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR As we gear up for Budget 2026 on October 7, the government faces a tricky tightrope walk as it tries to support the vulnerable while avoiding overheating an already bubbling economy. It is time to prioritize smart, sustainable changes over flashy giveaways. We’ve enjoyed years of lump-sum payments, tax cuts, …

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON The assassination of right wing commentator Charlie Kirk was described by Utah’s governor Spencer Cox as ‘A watershed moment.’  His words came as a warning to stop, take heed and realise that cataclysmic change is rapidly becoming irreversible. Like Malcom Gladwell’s ‘Tipping Point’, ideas can be like a …

BY JOHN FITZGERALD Fennelly’s of Callan has celebrated the first anniversary of its monthly Open Mic. The brainchild of poet/artist Julia Bohan, it aimed to create a new outlet for creative talent in the district. Over the past year, the old Hearse Room at Fennelly’s, once used to accommodate the dearly departed, has hosted a …

BY JOHN FITZGERALD (Part three) (In his teens, Pat from Callan helped to thin a field of turnips, during the war time “Emergency”, and was distracted by girl also working in the field. You can read Part One on the Observer Website) Taking a break from the thinning, Pat and the girl chatted about their youthful aspirations …

Little bodies need play, not stillness By Judith Ashton Many children have just started school and teachers see a lot of fidgeting. The infants being the “worst offenders”! It’s un-natural for a 3 – 6 year old to sit still for hours when the natural language of the body is movement, feeling and touch; these …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR As two-thirds of retirees currently rely solely on the State pension, Ireland is gearing up for the launch of the ‘My Future Fund’ auto-enrolment scheme on January 1, 2026. This push towards compulsory pension enrolment will help many but it’s not a one-size-fits all. Many of you are wondering how …