The simple home-maintenance jobs that are ideal to do at this time of the year
While 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 house
‘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 France
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’
Surf in Portugal, kayaking in Cork, tennis in Tenerife: forget ‘fly and flop’ breaks and embrace learning holidays
Why not upskill on your summer break? Holidays offer a perfect opportunity to embrace new hobbies, from surfing to perfume creation
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 fullest
When to cut hedgerows? Road safety concerns pitted against nature
Road Safety Authority argues it should be left to council officials to decide if and when it is necessary to cut back hedges and verges
‘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, Sharon
Five-star living: Bring hotel style to your bedroom this summer
Move around your furniture, invest in new linens and a mattress, and dim those lights for a five star experience
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 rewarding
‘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 arthritis
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 efficiency
‘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 guests
‘I don’t think asthma is taken as seriously as it should be’
World Asthma Day aims to improve awareness and care around the world
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 different
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 run