‘The worst mob scene I ever witnessed’ - Alison Healy on the chaotic opening of the Shamrock Hotel in Houston
A Time magazine reporter said the party “combined the most exciting features of a subway rush, Halloween in a madhouse and a circus fire”
An Irish Diary: How James Bond maligned Shannon Airport duty free
Ian Fleming wrote that Bond took a glance at the ‘junk’ in the airport shops including the ‘Brass Leprechauns’
‘I wanted a Japanese feel to the house’: Renovating a 1960s Dublin bungalow
When doing up their three-bed home in Glenageary, Yuuki and John Blakeney were keen to incorporate touches from Yuuki’s homeland
Leaning into love – Alison Healy on St Valentine and Dublin
A city with three Love Lanes, not to mention a Ring Street and a Bride Street
Saoirse Ronan has died only six times, Liam Neeson 31
When it comes to the deaths, or near-deaths, of fictional characters, JR Ewing of Dallas fame must surely be one of the most memorable
From here to Timbuktu – Alison Healy on a byword for the most remote and distant place imaginable
Thanks to globalisation, Timbuktu is not so remote any more
The beat goes on – Alison Healy on Holocaust survivor and musician Saul Dreier
“I am very happy when I play . . . music is life”
Obituaries of the year: Ten notable people on the world stage who died in 2024
Among those who died were Putin critic Alexei Navalny, actor Maggie Smith and criminal OJ Simpson
Tony O’Reilly, Nell McCafferty, Ian Bailey and more: 50 people who died in 2024
The Irish Times’s obituary writers have marked the deaths of more than 110 people this year, from entrepreneurs to musicians to journalists. Here is a selection
Councillor Claus of Alaska – Alison Healy on the other Santa
Elves he can deal with, but trolls are on his naughty list
A rebate Christmas – Alison Healy on the surprising ways people spend their time on the big day
Think of those who were faffing around on the Revenue website last year instead of chopping onions for the stuffing
Revving up the Shamrock – Alison Healy on the car that never quite got motoring
Wilbur Curtis did not have the luck of the Irish as he tried to get his project up and running
Rhyme and reason — Alison Healy on Longfellow’s Wreck of the Hesperus
How did the wreck of an obscure US boat gain such a foothold in our lexicon?
Sharpened pens – Alison Healy on the cattier side of writers
Writers seem to relish eviscerating their fellow artists whenever they get a chance
‘Live in a house before you renovate - you learn so much about how it does or doesn’t function’
A fast-tracked renovation in Dublin’s Dundrum has delivered a warm, inviting and bright family home. And some clever upstyling tips have added a personal touch