Opinion
Tourism: time for the road less travelled
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON You can have too much of a good thing. I’ll never forget my dismay on returning to Florence decades after my first visit, to find the streets congealed with crowds and queues for entrance to everything from galleries to churches. It’s the kind of experience which made me …
Inclusivity rules: are they fair to women boxers?
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON There have been more than a few heated arguments over the women’s boxing controversy that erupted at the Olympics. How would you feel if a woman boxer was seriously injured in a contest with someone who has unfair competitive masculine attributes? – I was asked by someone looking …
A wake-up call: the hidden impact of space litter
THE LAST WORD By Pat Coughlan My love for the environment did not start when I saved a forlorn bird trapped in a plastic six-pack ring, although I would have liked to claim it but one night, while stargazing with a mug of hot cocoa, I wondered: “What about up there?” Driven by curiosity, I …
Here is the news: you are being misinformed
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Once, we had lies, damn lies – and statistics. Now, we have Fake News – and misinformation. ‘Fake news’ is closely associated with politics and that can unhelpfully narrow the focus of the issue. ‘False information’ is preferable, as it can refer to disinformation covering topics such …
When Hollywood came to town…
BY JOHN FITZGERALD (PART TWO) Continuing the story of those magical “Breakfast on Pluto” days in Callan…twenty years ago this month… Tullamaine graveyard was another filming location. It might not have been deemed suitable as a venue but for a noteworthy restoration project that rescued this ancient burial site from a forest of weeds and bushes back …
What is Constipation?
BY CLAIR WHITTY Constipation is a common digestive problem. Most of you who experience this will be familiar with the bloating and the digestive discomfort associated with it. It can affect your mood, and cause sluggishness and tiredness. Ideally you should have a bowel movement at least once a day, but experts suggest three times …
Counting up the cost of moving house
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR As house prices continue to soar, cash-strapped buyers will want to keep any moving costs to a minimum. For a family moving into a typical three-bedroomed home, it could cost around €12,000 on average to move and, with additional costs like solicitors fees, surveys and valuation fees, removal costs, stamp …
Words you should never speak out loud
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Came upon the following on Facebook recently. Found it interesting. Very interesting. So interesting I thought that I might share it with you. Make of it what you will but there’s some good, very good, advice contained in it (at least I think so) 1. Don’t always speak your mind in …
And the Olympic runner who drove to victory …
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Competition has long been a part of our culture. From a simple game of bowls to an All Ireland or FA Cup Final and everywhere in between, there is competition. It’s part of what we are, the need to be top dog. The prize for the winner …
Time to come clean about history of abuse
AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON It all seems so very long ago now. Divorcee Annie Murphy’s ill-starred love affair with Bishop Eamon Casey, 20 years her senior, began in 1974. It’s disclosure and the existence of their son Peter, 18 years later led to Casey’s resignation and flight to Chile. The saga rocked …
