Opinion

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Mark, the security man at my local supermarket, says: “It won’t be long now.” Mark is an affable gentleman, and sometimes the only human contact I might have in a day – he and the lovely Nichole at checkout. “Long ‘til when?” I say. “Christmas,” he says. …

BY JOHN FITZGERALD PART ONE The day started unpromisingly, with black clouds threatening to unleash a deluge, but these gradually gave way to a clear blue sky and the balm of warm sunshine- real pattern weather, as the man on the gate put it. There was excitement among pattern committee men and women. Donnacha O’ Dualin, Radio Eireann’s noted folklorist …

THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan It was 1974. I had moved to Dublin where I had a job and got my first flat. I was getting used to Dublin, and particularly its taste for music. Being from the country I regularly got asked “What do you get when you play a country and western …

FURTHERMORE  By Gerry Moran The sum of €5.60. That’s the price of my pint in my local. My ‘poison’ is a pint of Rockshore Lager. If I head out the door, walk twenty yards to my left that pint will cost me €6.10. Should I head up town, about half way up High Street, that …

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON Being asked for directions while holidaying in La Belle France was a surprise. At first, I took it as a compliment, maybe I looked like a Frenchwoman, with that chic, je ne sais quoi air. But non, what made me look like a local was the fact that …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR The Budget introduced changes to the Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) thresholds, marking the first major adjustments in five years. CAT is a tax on gifts and inheritances that many individuals will face on receipt, now exacerbated by the rising property values across Ireland. Thresholds were increased across the three major …

BY JOHN FITZGERALD Before I come to the great Pattern of Coolagh in County Kilkenny, here’s a brief history of Patterns I’ve put together. To understand the appeal of a lovely old tradition that has almost vanished from our modern world, it helps to be aware of the historical background to this peculiarly Irish day-out for the family. …

BY CLAIR WHITTY High cholesterol levels are just one of the risk factors for strokes and heart attacks. Thankfully, in many cases you can reduce cholesterol levels with dietary and lifestyle changes and the addition of one or two supplements. This approach has worked for me in the past, but I have to keep working …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS It is ≠≠1995 and America’s Country Music Association (CMA) for the first time holds its AGM – shindig, more likely – outside the US, in Dublin. The attraction is obvious. Ireland has always been a big fan of Country music but the Garth Brooks phenomenon took it …

BY CLAIR WHITTY Have you come to the point in your life where you are ready to start your family? This is a very exciting time but some of you might be feeling nervous that you won’t get pregnant just because you want to. Don’t stress, there are some things that you can do to …