Opinion
Lasting impact of Africa conquest on Europe today
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan The European conquest of Africa was driven by a mix of motivations. Known as the ‘Scramble for Africa’, European powers like Britain, France, and Belgium divided the continent, neglecting indigenous societies. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 was pivotal, marking Africa’s division without regard for existing cultures. Economic interests topped …
And don’t leave the key in the door…
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR A recent survey of 1,000 Irish homeowners has revealed alarming statistics regarding home security, with nearly one in five experiencing a break-in within the last five years. We are being urged to take proactive steps to protect our properties as the survey highlights both common security measures and risky habits …
Money waste – time to reform our administration
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON The story feels like that line from Frank Sinatra’s song High Hopes – ‘Woops there goes another rubber tree plant’. Not a plant in this case but yet another high profile example of a waste of taxpayers’ money. This time the Arts Council was at fault for wasting …
The dangers lurking for children online – alone
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Four in five primary schoolchildren have unsupervised access to smart devices in their bedrooms, according to a new study. Just a minority said their parents or caregivers could see what they were doing online. New research by Ireland’s online safety charity, CyberSafeKids, highlights a significant lack of …
Pat Delaney: old neighbour, new-found friend
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Pat Delaney passed away on February 4. Pat lived about 400 yards from me. We walked the same lane, Caesar’s Lane, to school, the CBS Primary. And yet our paths never crossed. The reason being, I reckon, was because Pat was that bit younger than me and in a class lower. …
Can Government build way out of housing crisis?
THE LAST WORD The housing crisis in Ireland is a complex tapestry woven from threads of history, policy, and societal change. As I walk through the streets of Kilkenny, I see the echoes of a time when homes were plentiful and affordable. Today, however, the mismatch between supply and demand is stark, leaving many families …
Guarding against your children going online
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Tuesday of this week marked Safer Internet Day. A global initiative that is aimed at highlighting responsible and safe internet use. This year’s theme urged us to “Prepare, Protect, Thrive: Navigating Algorithms and Influencers,” as young people are spending more and more time online than ever before. This presents both …
Trump: the danger of developing fantasies
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Reactions to Donald Trump’s plan to turn the devastated rubble of Gaza into a Riviera playground has been met with a gamut of reactions from bewilderment to outraged condemnation. But I don’t see why anyone should be surprised. Trump is a property developer to his core, being President …
Micheál Brennan: A great educator…
We tend to think of mathematicians and arty folk as being polar opposites. The life of Kilkenny man Micheál Brennan proved otherwise. Micheál, who died last November; was a mathematical wizard; but he had an equal passion for art and culture. Born in 1943, he was a lifelong achiever, early on securing a Mathematics and Statistics BA, followed by an …
Sláinte mhaith! Here’s to being sober-ish …
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS I have had a love/hate relationship with alcohol all my life, ever since, as a 17-year-old, I stepped inside McDaid’s of Harry St – one of Dublin’s infamous literary pubs – and found myself in a sea of old men and poets, lost in old familiar overcoats, …
