It’s fair to say that there have traditionally been a few areas where Ireland could have done with a bit of help from outside experts. First of all, we really could have done with some style advice. As a milk-skinned, mousy-haired people, we need all the help we can get, even if we are a [...]
Dr John Wallace looks at the spectacular but short-lived political career of Donogh O’Malley —the Minister who introduced free secondary education to Ireland in the 1960s. Donogh O’Malley died suddenly, aged 47, on 10 March 1968. Historian Roy Foster regards him as perhaps the most energetic and charismatic Minister for Education that Ireland has ever [...]
Giovanni Morelli writes about the importance of mood, food and context in our appreciation of wine and alerts us to some good-value bottles for summer that are on offer at the moment. It’s nice to know that the wine correspondent of the International Herald Tribune, Eric Asimov, agrees with my claim in the 25 April [...]
Berna Cox on the phenomena that is the Irish First Communion – particularly for girls – and how the day has become much more than a religious celebration for everyone involved. The various months of the year have particular associations for me. When I think about March, I immediately think of the change to summertime; [...]
Conor White takes a closer look at the investment value of alternative assets, which are driven by factors not directly related to the business cycle and which could potentially produce a positive return in a negative market. Recent turbulence in global stock markets has left many investors nursing losses in their investment portfolios. With sentiment [...]
Berna Cox sings the praises of her long-awaited mobile broadband connection after spending years wandering around lost in the technology wilderness. For the last couple of weeks, there’s been a little smile playing around the corners of my mouth at all times. Sometimes, it even spills over into a broad grin accompanied by a whoop [...]
Greg Baxter recounts a recent trip to Riga – and he won’t be representing the Latvian tourist agency any time soon. Don’t be fooled by Riga’s erstwhile nickname – the ‘Paris of the Baltics’. It’s more like the Liverpool of the Baltics. Which is not to say anything impolite about Riga or Liverpool, only that [...]
Mary Anne Kenny takes a quick tour around the country to see what’s on offer at some of the festivals being held later this summer – whether the sun makes a guest appearance or not After the washout that was last summer, Fáilte Ireland, the national tourist board, really has to ‘put the big egg [...]
Nollaig Rowan recalls her days as a student in Bruges and is glad that a recent film has not revealed to the wider world her favourite places in the Belgian town. Posters for the film In Bruges carry a footnote. It says: “It’s in Belgium.” And this is part of the fun of the film. [...]
Greg Baxter says that as summer approaches once again, our barbecue efforts are doomed to failure because we have such abysmal weather, we use the wrong grills and we always cremate our burgers and steaks. There’s nothing so anti-climactic in the world as the Irish barbecue season. It seems to end before it ever began, [...]
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