Fantasy Football round 30 preview

Tue, Jun 16, 2020

It's back baby! Yes after 100 days without Premier League football, Fantasy managers must get back to their drawing boards as we head into the final nine rounds of 2019/20 season.

A nation holds its... buffet

Thu, Jun 11, 2020

What is a nation if its citizens cannot hang over the buffet station with a hangover? Or stand at the juice machine topping up the glass until just the pips remain. What sort of life awaits if the joy of pub socialising has to be accompanied by the forced consumption of a carvery dinner, which you throw back while looking at your reflection of a perspex screen. What chance have you of getting an extra ball of mash if you are not there yourself, urging the chef, go on, go on, yes....and all the veg. Potatoes, chips, roast and mash please...

If the queuing for the loos involves a traffic light system, will whole hordes of female revellers have to wait for green at the same time to share their opinions, or can you get a group pass? Can anyone get drunk anymore if they have to book a state of advanced tranmsmogrification online three days before?

5 Fun & Productive Activities To Enjoy Together At Home

Tue, Jun 09, 2020

Practising responsible social distancing means spending a great deal of time together at home, maybe only leaving once a week or so for groceries or other necessities. This may sound like a recipe for boredom or even disaster but there is no reason not to make the most of the opportunity everyone has been forced into. Sharing activities not only passes the time in a positive way but it also helps people grow closer together. There are also many useful guides and articles online that can show you how to keep busy while in isolation at home. They include useful tips such as keeping in touch with your friends and family, keeping fit, and organising the perfect home office setup. Whether you are in lockdown with your partner, your children, or your parents, here are some fun activities that you can all enjoy at home together.

Have patience with those re-emerging

Thu, Jun 04, 2020

Imagine if you can, that you have been hibernating in the far end of the chamber at Newgrange all year, wrapped up in the darkness, comfortable with your own forced comfort, and only stirred and woken by the advancing light of that solstice sun making its way like an orange sabre, as if it is setting fire to the dusty floor until it rests at last at your bare foot.

If you are tempted by the warmth of the heat that is suddenly gifted to you, and you follow it back down the chamber from whence it came, you will eventually come to the exterior; and the brightness that will dazzle your eyes will eventually relent and allow you see to see something you have not for a while. You will look around at this strangeness, not knowing what it is you are looking at. With your eyes absorbing rapid light, not knowing who can see you in all your mitheredness and slovenly ways which are part and parcel of the way you have been living for the past while.

Backing the businesses to rebuild your community

Thu, May 28, 2020

I remember someone saying to me some years ago during a brush with mortality, that normality is one of the most underrated aspects of our lives. And how true that is. There is a wonder in surrounding ourselves with those lived experiences and situations that give us comfort and familiarity. In truth, we might bask away a good share of our lives surrounded by the cushion of normality.

What are you going to bring with you into this strange new world?

Thu, May 21, 2020

There are many new faces on the small country roads where I run each morning. People I have never before encountered out discovering the wonder of the countryside, finding the delights that have surrounded them for decades but which they might have never noticed to this extent. How many people have rediscovered the wonder of exercise? Granted it is easy now at this time of the year with the sun shining and the birds belting their little hearts out from every branch... and with less traffic on the roads making it safer for children to discover the wonder of cycling.

The re-opened Galway should have broader lungs

Thu, May 14, 2020

I am a firm believer in the maxim that out of every adversity grows opportunity, a positive reaction from an unforeseen change. And now more than ever, this optimism is needed.

Time for us to back the local businesses that back us

Thu, May 07, 2020

When we think back to when things were simpler. No, I don’t mean February. I mean back in the mists of time when all we knew were the horizons on the edge of our towns and villages. Back then, we did not have a greater knowledge of the world outside. For us, our existence and almost everything we required was lived and available within that small geographic location. Back thing everyone was local, apart from blow-ins to the bank or school who, to be fair, had to be local from somewhere else, and would probably end up our locals (unless forty years later they did something bad and we’d start calling them blow-ins again.)

What you’re feeling is what we’re all feeling

Thu, Apr 30, 2020

There is a scene in the film White Mischief where a permanently-sozzled character Alice de Janze played by Sarah Miles, makes her way to the window on a grand morning and looks out across the African plains, takes in the endless heat and staring at what lies before her, groans and says something along the lines of “Oh God, not another bloody beautiful day.”

And that’s a lot of how we all feel now. Surrounded by weather we would have died for in winter and spring; now having weather what we could potentially die in if we venture out.

Summer hasn't been cancelled — just the way we knew it

Thu, Apr 23, 2020

Galway is a place defined by summer. When we call to mind all that we love about the place, we see blue skies and colourful costumes. We sense the sweet smells of exotic foods cooking in a street kitchen. We hear the strumming of guitars, the banging of drums. We see the advancing battle for space on our streets as visitors flock in their tens of thousands to sample what is wondrous about here when the sun shines.

Summer hasn’t been cancelled — just the way we know it

Thu, Apr 23, 2020

Galway is a place defined by summer. When we call to mind all that we love about the place, we see blue skies and colourful costumes. We sense the sweet smells of exotic foods cooking in a street kitchen. We hear the strumming of guitars, the banging of drums. We see the advancing battle for space on our streets as visitors flock in their tens of thousands to sample what is wondrous about here when the sun shines.

Thanks for letting us serve you all

Thu, Apr 16, 2020

This really isn’t what any of us had planned for this time. Everyone of us had plans for what we would have been doing last weekend, and in the summer ahead. None of us could ever have foreseen just how all of these would be reduced to dust in the interest of the greater good.

Lockdown views: Jacinta O Connor

Sat, Apr 11, 2020

"As a mother of five boys, most of my time is already occupied but not having the usual school runs and strict routine has meant more time for those house projects that I usually ignore. Things likes decluttering wardrobes and finally giving the kitchen cabinets a deep clean.

Lockdown Diary: Matt Cassidy

Thu, Apr 09, 2020

Thursday April 2
"You're walking a high wire above a pit of depression in prison. And as a lot of people will now be discovering, without occupation your mind can go sideways." Those were the words of Carl Cattermole speaking to The Sunday Times (March 29 issue) on how he dealt with being in a 10ft by 6ft cell for 23 and half hours a day in Wormwood Scrubs, Wandsworth, and Pentonville prisons.

Lockdown views: Sarah Perry

Thu, Apr 09, 2020

"I am looking forward to travelling more with family and friends when lockdown is over and restrictions have been lifted. The lockdown has made me realise that life is short and that no one is invincible. I took life and its length, for granted up until this point because of my young age. I've now been shocked back into reality because of this virus.

Lockdown views: Sinead Cassidy

Thu, Apr 09, 2020

"I am looking forward to reunions with loved ones. It’s going to be pretty special when grand-parents get reunited with their much loved grandchildren (my own parents can’t wait to cuddle my son Seán, who they’ve been missing these last few weeks). I feel for older people in our communities during these times who love a bit of company, security, and social interaction. I’m looking forward to seeing families reconnect and out and about again.

Lockdown views: Ken Glennon

Thu, Apr 09, 2020

"Being able to daydream about and plan trips are something I’m looking forward to doing after the lockdown. I was supposed to be in London last week visiting my sister and going to see two shows with her in the West End. A friend and I were considering a visit to Naples and Palermo earlier this year and thought May would be an ideal time to visit. Looking forward to mini adventures abroad with friends and family.

Lockdown views: Aisleen Clarke

Thu, Apr 09, 2020

"I am looking forward to visiting family and friends. I miss my little nephews (aged one and four) and my parents. I’d be hiking up Croagh Patrick in the good weather with my parents and I miss being able to call into them. I’m looking forward to going out on my motorbike, going dancing, hitting the gym, and getting back to my pole dancing classes, and gymnastics.

Lockdown views: Lisa Regan

Thu, Apr 09, 2020

"For me it is the lack of freedom of movement, which I never even considered before. Not being allowed to go and do things I want to do has been a challenge and a massive wake up call to just how lucky we all are living here in Galway.

Lockdown views: Eamonn Fitzgerald

Thu, Apr 09, 2020

"This pandemic hasn’t altered my daily life routines too much. It’s just harder to do my job. I still get up every day and go to work. I still deal with customers, but now at a social distance. I still look forward to my days off.

E-paper

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