Opinion
For young voters, it doesn’t tick all the boxes
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS The referenda on marriage equality and the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, in the last 10 years, saw young people turn out in their droves, even hastening home from abroad – on borrowed money – to exercise their democratic right. Those referenda outcomes were not a vote …
The weekend back home from college
By Judith Ashton Many anxious parents await their precious offspring’s weekend return home from college with a mixture of trepidation and joy. It’s been their first foray out in the big wide world and you’re dying to know how they survived. It’s a minefield out there and seasoned parents know that the most important thing …
Dial M for Murder. But what for Genocide?
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran You know when you watch a movie, or documentary, that requires your pin number because there may be scenes (usually of a sexual violent nature) that could prove upsetting to some viewers. And you do. And after the credits have rolled the following appears on your screen: ‘If you have been …
Kilkenny goes to War …Against Foot and Mouth
BY JOHN FITZGERALD (Part one) As if rationing and belt-tightening weren’t challenging enough, another headache lay in store for neutral Ireland…twenty- seven months into the war. In the winter of 1941, as the German Army shivered and froze in the snowy wastes of Russia, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease ravaged Irish agriculture. Meat …
Healing and remembrance at old hospital site
BY JOHN FITZGERALD St Canice’s Mental Hospital in Kilkenny closed its doors in 2006, drawing down the curtain on a long history of care for those afflicted by a range of non-physical illnesses. Former residents, and their relatives and loved ones, have mixed memories of the institution. Treatment of the mentally ill has evolved through …
Hair Loss Post Menopause
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 …
How to help kids regulate emotion
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 …
Hungry, lost and looking for a bed
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 …
Budget 2026: Supporting families without overheating Economy
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, …
Have we reached a tipping point?
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 …
