Ever heave a sigh of relief as you wave your partner off in the morning? Do you enjoy the break from him or her during the day while they are out at work? Isn’t it fun in the evenings to exchange stories of your day over the dinner table?

Is this ... read

An ICA member, Anne Carleton, recently introduced me to ‘All In Together Girls’, a booklet of recipes, rhymes and recollections that was written and produced by members of the Cork Federation of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association.

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As we enter the month of August and the days shorten and school holidays race to an end, I’m still waiting to notice a significant difference in early morning traffic. What ever happened to sailing to work once schools were out? And why am I still seeing children u... read

Up to a few short years ago, living in rural Ireland offered a strong sense of security, stability and familiarity where the residents in every locality knew the owners of the farming land around them and could confidently predict who would own and run each and every farm into t... read

Parenting, by its very nature, brings a lifetime of blessings and worries and being told after childbirth that your baby has Down Syndrome brings with it an extra set of concerns. Down Syndrome, or Downs as it’s often shortened to, occurs when a baby is born with an extra ... read

The recession is here and it’s time to tighten our belts and pay the price for the spending spree we’ve enjoyed during Celtic Tiger Ireland. Every newspaper and magazine are warning us of bleak times ahead and encouraging us to prepare for higher taxes, increased ban... read

Mary Malone used to survive in the hustle and bustle of Dublin but gave it all up for the tranquil life of rural Ireland. She tells us why Templemartin, Bandon is better for her family than Baile Atha Cliath…

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‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’

I can remember being asked this question as a little girl and never really having an answer, at least not a passionate response. I cannot recall... read

Every bride dreams of ‘happy ever after’ as she floats down the aisle on her new husband’s arm. But what if the dream ends there and the marriage itself turns into a nightmare? What is the reality of being in a controlling and abusive relationship?

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