Opinion
Do we need a Minister for men?
AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON Every now and then I come across a headline that makes me choke on my muesli. Thanks to an altered news perspective on a visit to the UK the latest one was the suggestion that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak should appoint a Minister for Men. One journalist went to …
In a sentence, pension planning is for life
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR It’s nearly tax return time again. It’s the time when people look at their pensions and what amount they should contribute. For many their pension contribution is determined only by the tax saving they can make. But there’s more than tax relief at stake. You financial situation in later life …
Maybe not all students are suited to college
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS The new Central Applications Office (CAO) figures show that hundreds of extra college places have taken some of the heat out of the points race this year. The CAO has made a record 87,075 offers to 57,980, mainly school-leaver, applicants. More places on offer is not the …
Relieving sinus infections
BY CLAIR WHITTY Sinus infections are a common problem that can happen at any time of the year. This year I have seen more than crop up than usual. The symptoms can be mild to severe, and can range from a runny nose, nasal congestion or extreme facial pain/pressure. Other symptoms you could experience are …
It’s slowly dawning on us – road speed kills
THE FACT OF THE MATTER BY PAUL HOPKINS Irish roads have witnessed an inordinate number of tragedies this summer, to such a degree that Junior Transport Minister Jack Chambers will bring a comprehensive speed-limit review to Cabinet within weeks. The Government hopes this review will make roads safer and reduce deaths and injuries. This year …
Time to cultivate a respect for farmers
AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON My efforts at growing things to eat have not been a success this year. In fact, were we to depend on my crops to survive my patch would be declared a famine area. It wasn’t that the fruit and veg didn’t make an effort to grow – they did …
Getting on with – ‘getting on’, that is
FURTHERMORE By Gerry Moran Hi, my name is Gerry, and I am an ‘elderly person’. I don’t want to be an ‘elderly person’ and I don’t like being an ‘elderly person’. But, time marches on, yours truly is ‘getting on’ and so, it’s an ‘elderly person’ I am. Oh, and there are two pieces of …
I was nearly the victim of a cash scam
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR I was off for a few days last week and on one of the days I received a supposed call from Revolut telling me that there was suspicious activity on my account – A total of €76 has been sent to an account in India, but they had reversed it …
The crowbar and the battering ram
BY JOHN FITZGERALD PART TWO Wellesley Bowes Prendergast of Listerlin was a delebrated horse deal and winner of prizes at agricultural shows, but in his treatment of tenants in the townland of Listerlin, he showed his dark side. In December 1862, he descended like the wrath of Heaven on 36 families who dwelt in cabins …
Should you take Vitamin D
BY CLAIR WHITTY Vitamin D is a popular supplement for all the family. During Covid it became even more so with the government recommending that we take it to help reduce the likelihood of infection. Vitamin D is also important for your bones, teeth, and muscles, and may help regulate mood too. Our body creates …
