Opinion
When CAT may get the cream of your inheritance
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Inheritance tax also know as Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) is in the papers again. Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter once said: “It is nothing short of State-sanctioned graveside robbery of assets.” Others believe it is not an issue for them, as one client said to me recently, “I have nothing …
Camogie: time to stop skirting the skorts issue
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Sure deck your lower limbs in pants, my sweeting, you look divine as you advance but have you seen yourself retreating? Ogden Nash’s lines are a gentle example of the niggles over female clothing in the fashion war waged ever since women escaped corsets and took to sport. …
The rás for the Áras and I’m rarin’ to go…
Furthermore By Gerry Moran So, I’m thinking of running for the Presidency. And why not – sure every Tom, Dick and Conor are thinking of running. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Monk runs. After all he did a spot of running during the local elections. And what do you know about politics, Gerry? Not a …
The brave new world of the digital euro
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR The European Central Bank (ECB) is developing a ‘digital euro’, a new form of money you could use via your phone or card, much like cash but electronic. The ECB began planning in 2021, started a two-year preparation phase in November 2023, and intends to launch by 2028. It will …
Time to protect women’s spaces – like UK ruling
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Some cities now have pedestrian crossing lights showing the LGBTQ+ sign in green for go and in London, I noticed recently, there are ‘go’ transgender signs on crossings. Since the UK’s Supreme Court ruling last month, though, trans women– men who identify as women – will not have …
Eye for an eye, and nature of forgiveness
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Twenty one years ago this month I was on a flight from Durban to Cape Town. I was on an assignment for the Irish Independent to write an overview on the first 10 years of the rainbow nation, it having thrown off the shackles of apartheid. About …
Zinuflex – Keeping your Joints Moving Freely, Naturally!
BY CLAIR WHITTY Arthritis is a condition that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and inflammation in the joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is caused by wear and tear of the joint cartilage over time. This cartilage gradually breaks down, leading to bone-on-bone friction and pain. It typically affects the knees, hips, …
Black bread and a pinch of tea
BY JOHN FITZGERALD (Part three) As the European war and our own “Emergency” dragged on, an Irish wise-cracker parodied a Vera Lynn song of the time, Bless ’em All, with his commentary on the latest rationing headache: “Bless De Valera and Sean McEntee, they gave us black bread and a half ounce of tea”. McEntee was Ireland’s wartime Minister …
Rationing: Black Bread and a Pinch of Tea…
BY JOHN FITZGERALD (Part two) Apart from black-marketing during the “Emergency”, people resorted to unusual ways of easing the pain of rationing. In Callan, Seamus O’ Brien came across a group of County Council workers on the Clonmel Road who, he learned, had developed a procedure for ensuring that every tea-break would be enjoyable…even if it …
All the world’s a baize, a green baize!
Furthermore By Gerry Moran Things are hotting up on the green baize in Sheffield as I write. The Snooker World Championship final is about to take place in the famous Crucible Theatre which is to snooker what Croke Park is to Gaelic games and what the CYMS Hall was to us young snooker players back …
