Opinion
Village of the Monks
BY JOHN FITZGERALD Duiske Abbey stands as a monument to Ireland’s long association with monastic orders. It has the distinction of being the largest Cistercian church in the country and one of the first Gothic structures to appear on the Irish landscape. In recent years, it has become renowned for the quality of its world acclaimed …
Childhood Experiences Impact Health
Childhood maltreatment can have a profound effect on health decades later By Paul Bolger. Chartered Physiotherapist at Nano Physiotherapy, Kilkenny (www.nanophysio.ie). We are so malleable when we are young. We soak up everything around us. While we can all learn and adapt throughout life, babies and children tend to soak up experiences at a supercharged rate. …
TADHG O’CARROLL
BY MICHAEL O’LEARY The Ireland Ladies Rugby Team have been enjoying a renaissance recently with victories against Australia and New Zealand, and part of the backroom set-up is Kilkenny man Tadhg O’Carroll. Tadhg is Physiotherapist to the Irish Team, and his arrival has coincided with a revival in the fortunes of the International Team. Ireland …
Seasonal Affective Disorder
BY CLAIR WHITTY Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is experienced during the darker months of the year due to less hours of sunlight. It is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern and recurs at the same time each year. Common symptoms associated with SAD include: low mood, …
The US Presidential Election: just days out …
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan Just days out from the US Presidential election let’s take a satirical look at what might be happening at the rival campaign headquarters as the votes come in. In the busy offices of opposing campaign teams, the excitement around the election is increasing. Balloons float around, representing high hopes …
Pumpkins, politics, presidents and a poem
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Halloween, pumpkin time, scary time. And am I scared? You bet. I am very scared – but not of ghosts, ghouls or wicked witches. I’m scared of what’s going to happen on Tuesday, November 5 in the US of A. Scared of how the folks over there are going to cast …
Be wary of those online influencers
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR With the explosion of personal finance content on social media, millions worldwide, including those in Ireland, have turned to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook for financial advice. Known as ‘finfluencers’, these influencers provide guidance on everything from budgeting and saving to complex investment strategies. According to research from the …
Jumping the gun on phone pouches isn’t smart
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON My word association with the word pouch used to be Kangaroo, a nice safe pocket for Baby Roo to keep him warm while his mum hops about the place. That was until Norma Foley decided that secondary school pupils should have nice safe pouches for their smartphones to …
US president: you could do worse than flip a coin
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS In the weeks, and now days, leading up to November 5, Kamala Harris has been keeping her words to familiar themes – reducing the costs of medicines, housing and food. “I come from the middle class, and I will never forget where I come from,” she has …
Coolagh Pattern – 1987
BY JOHN FITZGERALD PART TWO Ninety-year old Paddy Norris told Radio Eireann’s Donnacha O’ Dualin at the Coolagh Pattern that he felt he had enjoyed a “good run.” Before cars were invented, he had walked as a boy to patterns in Coolagh from Cruchtabeg. He would save pennies in the weeks leading up the pattern to buy sweets on the happy day. His love of …
