Calm interiors: How to use sensory design to change your overwhelming home into a peaceful spaceA designer came to appreciate the importance of sensory-sensitive environments after seeing her autistic daughter’s experienceThu Oct 17 2024 - 05:00
I was completely numb and couldn’t take it in - I didn’t think I would hear the words, ‘sorry, you have breast cancer’The shock of a cancer diagnosis is not something for which we can prepare, but accepting help is a good startTue Oct 15 2024 - 05:31
Mental health: ‘Although we talk a lot in Ireland, I think we don’t say very much’If you feel sad all the time or stop deriving joy from the things you love, it’s time to seek helpThu Oct 10 2024 - 06:01
‘It was worth all the pain and the disruption’: Transforming a corner house in RathminesIt took two years to get permission to transform this unusual house into a perfect family home, opening it up to the light and cosying it upSun Oct 06 2024 - 05:00
‘I wanted to change my life’: How one businesswoman transformed an old Cork cottage into a B&BGiving up the corporate life and days spent on Zoom have given this Cork woman a new lease of life running a tourism business at BarnahownSun Sept 15 2024 - 05:00
‘After a year of horrendous bullying I avoid almost all social media’As more people question their smartphone use, some are consciously turning their backs on the virtual world in favour of real lifeThu Sept 12 2024 - 06:01
‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous’: Why these teenagers are moving to secondary schools abroadFour Irish students have won scholarships for two years to study the International Baccalaureate in different parts of the globeTue Sept 10 2024 - 07:07
‘I was classed as a geriatric pregnancy which didn’t sit right with me’Two women describe their experiences of becoming mothers again over the age of 35Wed Sept 04 2024 - 06:01
Surviving multiple myeloma: ‘I am taking life by the scruff of the neck’When mother of four and business owner Mags Kirwan was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer, she found solace in family and a positive mental attitudeSat Aug 31 2024 - 05:00
The simple home-maintenance jobs that are ideal to do at this time of the yearWhile Irish summer weather may not be ideal for the beach or a barbeque, it can be just right for taking care of jobs around the houseMon Aug 12 2024 - 05:00
‘They say it was 36 degrees in Barcelona but it feels like 46’: the Irish holidaying in European heatwave‘It has been so hot that my phone overheated and broke,’ says one Irish holidaymaker in south of FranceTue Aug 06 2024 - 11:41
A Dublin family on transforming a dilapidated Victorian building in Portrush: ‘There were a number of problems faced ... but some turned into positive elements’‘They viewed the then derelict property, which looks out on the Atlantic ocean, on a traditionally wet Irish day and fell in love with it’Sun Aug 04 2024 - 05:00
Surf in Portugal, kayaking in Cork, tennis in Tenerife: forget ‘fly and flop’ breaks and embrace learning holidaysWhy not upskill on your summer break? Holidays offer a perfect opportunity to embrace new hobbies, from surfing to perfume creationSat Aug 03 2024 - 05:00
Fear of flying: ‘It’s getting on the flight that is the issue. I’m flying in my head for months beforehand’For people who avoid flying due to aerophobia, a GP, counsellor or therapist could help them start living life to the fullestThu Jul 25 2024 - 06:01
When to cut hedgerows? Road safety concerns pitted against natureRoad Safety Authority argues it should be left to council officials to decide if and when it is necessary to cut back hedges and vergesMon Jul 22 2024 - 06:00
‘We all want to enjoy time in the sun, but it’s important to be careful,’ says mother of woman (33) who died of melanoma‘Neither of us thought that it would be something so serious,’ says Bernie Rice of her late daughter, SharonSat Jul 20 2024 - 06:00
Five-star living: Bring hotel style to your bedroom this summerMove around your furniture, invest in new linens and a mattress, and dim those lights for a five star experienceSun Jun 30 2024 - 06:00
Fostering: ‘The children’s situation is so precarious – while we may not have everything to offer, we offer everything we have’Couple who have been providing foster care for the past 17 years say it can be challenging at times but incredibly rewardingTue Jun 18 2024 - 06:01
‘My rheumatologist told me that it is a common phenomenon for women’s pain to be dismissed or ignored’Emma O’Carroll was misdiagnosed and endured years of pain before being diagnosed with a rare form of arthritisWed May 22 2024 - 05:31
From terraced Howth cottage to light-filled modern home: ‘I’m still walking through each room with a smile on my face’Extending the footprint of the property involved introducing courtyards and boosting energy efficiencySun May 12 2024 - 05:00
‘Treat the outdoors as an extra room’: the simple ways to get your garden ready for summer parties Here’s how to make the most of your outdoor space, by bringing light and colour to your garden and cooking up a storm for guestsSat May 11 2024 - 05:00
‘I don’t think asthma is taken as seriously as it should be’World Asthma Day aims to improve awareness and care around the worldTue May 07 2024 - 05:31
Lessons learned from DIY disasters: ‘We watched YouTube videos ... things didn’t go to plan’While social media may be full of dazzling DIY experts, effortlessly converting flatpack furniture into design gems, the reality, for many of us, is somewhat differentSun May 05 2024 - 09:00
Misadventures in babysitting: ‘We trusted her. Here she was drinking and dancing as our son cried’Parents are advised to lay clear ground rules before hiring a babysitter and to do a paid trial runWed May 01 2024 - 05:31
Bowel cancer in your 30s: ‘I truly know what it means to live and am genuinely loving life’Jane McCoy, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, went to her doctor after weeks of bloating and stomach painsMon Apr 29 2024 - 05:01
Comfortable, functional yet stylish: How a busy family turned their eight-year-old house into a place they’re proud to call homeCustomised panelling and little tricks like rechargeable wall lamps and refilling cushions were key to creating a family home with colour and styleSun Apr 28 2024 - 05:00
Deck vs patio: What’s best for making the most of your outside space?Before you decide which to install in your garden, consider cost, sustainability and maintenanceFri Apr 26 2024 - 00:00
‘We wanted it to last for another 100 years’: the families transforming period housesWorking on a listed or period property may be a daunting task, but these homeowners are drawing the benefitsSun Apr 21 2024 - 05:00
‘I wouldn’t wish it on anyone’: What to know and do about shinglesShingles is a painful condition that affects about 10,000 people in Ireland every year. Early recognition may help treatment, and there are calls for the vaccine to be offered for freeWed Apr 17 2024 - 06:31
Mould loves Ireland’s damp climate – what can you do to fight its spread?Damp and mould often seem to appear out of nowhere, and spread with almost wild abandon across walls and ceilingsMon Apr 01 2024 - 05:00
Bipolar disorder: ‘There is still such stigma and ignorance’Stephanie Nolan endured ‘chaos’ in her 20s and 30s but, having been prescribed the right medication, now feels ‘wonderful’Thu Mar 28 2024 - 05:31
Brighten up your home – indoors or outdoors – with a new rugWith prices starting below €50, it does not cost much to update your home with this Newry-based rug makerSat Mar 23 2024 - 05:00
‘We were told he had leukaemia . . . I became his full-time nurse, carer, counsellor, you name it’Louisa McEleney went into ‘fight mode’ upon hearing her son Alex’s diagnosis. Seven years later, he is still undergoing treatment but getting on with his lifeThu Mar 21 2024 - 06:01
‘Low tuition fees, transport is free’: Mastering further education abroadAn increasing number of Irish students are opting to apply to colleges abroadThu Mar 14 2024 - 04:00
‘My husband’s attempts were a disaster’: The women DIYing it for themselvesDon’t wait for someone else to do it – grab your power tools and whip your home into shapeFri Mar 08 2024 - 05:00
‘I felt like I was going to die’: Recovering from early heart failure at the age of 36Mohammed Ladfil, a father of three living in Cork, got ‘another chance at life’ after undergoing a heart transplant in the Mater hospitalThu Feb 29 2024 - 05:31
Home maintenance: the repairs and replacements you’ll face after five, 10, 20 and 30 yearsTo keep your home in check – and prevent everything breaking at once – here’s what the experts suggest you doSat Feb 24 2024 - 05:00
Sea swimming: Numb feet and an adrenaline rush - From ‘going for dips’ to completing the Fastnet swimAdrenaline rush of marathon swimming has brought rich rewards to Brianna JacksonTue Feb 20 2024 - 04:55
Heart transplant: ‘My donor and their family were wonderful angels who gave me the gift of life’Mary Broderick has had a long road to travel from a heart murmur since infancy to receiving a new heart with various other surgeries along the wayMon Feb 19 2024 - 06:01
‘It is our dream home’: one couple’s 15-month labour of love to transform a 1970s houseNolan's maximised their home’s corner location, embracing colour and textures to create warm family spaceSun Feb 04 2024 - 05:00
‘The consultant seemed quite surprised, after looking at my scans, that I was still alive’Alan Markey ended up in hospital after days of worsening back pain and weight lossWed Jan 31 2024 - 05:31
How to make 2024 a year of healthy meaningful change in ways that won’t stress you outWhether you want to quit unhealthy habits, lose weight, do more exercise or a bit of all that, don’t put pressure on yourself to make huge changes instantlyTue Jan 23 2024 - 06:01
Modern dads: ‘Being in the room doesn’t mean much if you’re on your phone’The role of the father has changed dramatically in recent decades. Like mothers, many dads are feeling the pressure of trying to juggle work and family lifeThu Jan 18 2024 - 05:31
Clear your house clutter and clear your mind: how to get rid of stuffInvesting in more effective storage is always a good idea, but getting rid of stuff is also a route to a tidy houseSun Jan 14 2024 - 05:00
Parenting after parting: ‘When we made the quite painful decision to split, we vowed the kids wouldn’t suffer’James says that while he doesn’t envisage that he and his ex-partner will ever be the best of friends, they are now able to be polite to each other in front of their sonThu Jan 11 2024 - 05:31
‘Smart people shop in charity shops’: Save money while refreshing your home this JanuaryIf you want to bring some personality and individuality to your home - and save money - charity shops can be a good optionSat Jan 06 2024 - 05:00
‘I come from an era where, when someone was told they have lung cancer, that was it’Following the shock diagnosis, the mother of three adult daughters was advised that she would need surgery and chemotherapyFri Jan 05 2024 - 05:31
‘When I got really thin, the girls who taunted me wanted to be friends . . . when I went too far, they dropped me again’Anna Gilson tells of her struggle of dealing with anorexia and why the recent trend to include calorie details on restaurant menus is unhelpfulTue Jan 02 2024 - 06:12
‘Sometimes Christmas Day is not a great day at work – sometimes a patient may have had no visitors’Nurse Colin Plunkett has helped to ensure the smooth running of operations at the oncology department in Tullamore hospital over ChristmasMon Dec 25 2023 - 06:01
‘Think Christmas in Aspen’: Bring some festive bling to your dining tableAs well as the usual reds and greens, think about navy place settings, black candles, foraged greenery and disco baubles for some festive dining funSun Dec 10 2023 - 05:00
