Opinion
Credit unions big step closer to being banks
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR In a groundbreaking move for the Credit Union sector, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has kickstarted the much-anticipated Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Credit Union Amendment Act 2023, signalling a historic transformation for credit unions in Ireland. Celebrated at a special event in the Department of Finance recently, …
When there’s a bit of a spring in our step
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS It’s perhaps an age thing but the last few years I have found the dark and dank of winter sapping what I have left of the will to carry on. That’s probably an exaggeration. That said, I am not alone in finding the short days and long …
STOOK 10 MILE RUN 2024
BY MICHAEL O’LEARY The Stook 10 Mile Run that takes place this coming Sunday (March 3rd) has been a terrific success since it was first held in 2012. Located in Dungarvan between Gowran and Thomastown, The Stook run is open to everyone and has a variety of distances suitable to a persons individual ability. Since …
Woman-wise, what will the referendums mean?
AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON Taoiseach Leo Varadkar promised a while ago to make Ireland a leader in gender equality in all its forms. As a woman I wonder how the referendums that we are being asked to vote on will affect women and whether ‘gender neutrality’ is in our interests. International Women’s Day …
Recalling Button A, Button B and the angst of phoning!
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran I got rather nostalgic last week watching the news and seeing a huge chapter of my life being wheeled away by heavy machinery! The items in question were the P&T’s public phone booths now consigned, not to the scrap heap, but to the recycling heap. And, with them. went a part …
3 Tips to Revive Your Resolution
By Paul Bolger. Nano Physiotherapy If you are like most people, your new year’s resolution (or new habit) is a distant memory. Research shows that most people drop new habits within just a few weeks. Life gets in the way; motivation wanes and best intentions fizzle out. But there is hope. The fact that you tried …
OLD TIME FUN AND GAMES
PART SEVEN BY JOHN FITZGERALD In Peter Roughan’s recollection, 1926 was the best year ever for the West Street Sports event. Anxious to accommodate even bigger numbers of competitors and spectators, Martin Holden approached Pat Pollard to see if the local tycoon would allow his prized paddock on Callan’s western fringe to serve as a …
High Cholesterol? Top Tips to Lower Cholesterol, Naturally!
BY CLAIR WHITTY High cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Shockingly, 4 out of 5 people over 45 years of age have high cholesterol and 2 out of 3 of them are not treated. Usually, there are no symptoms of high cholesterol, so it is good to have your cholesterol checked …
Improving the lot of the Irish consumer
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR A study was carried out recently by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), involving more than 4,500 consumers who were asked to recall incidents from the previous 12 months that had either cost them money, caused stress, or consumed their time. The purposes of the study was to measure …
Knowing the right time to make a move
AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON Knowing when to quit can be a tricky issue. When it comes to retirement the decision is made for many of us. But suppose you aren’t tied by contract or regulation can you judge the right time to let go the reins or make an appropriate change? It’s a …
