Mary Kennedy: ‘I lost that adult relationship with my dad and I’d give anything to have it back’
TV presenter Mary Kennedy on her happy disposition, her late dad and her unusual way of controlling the television volume
Weekend
Stories that appear in the Weekend section of The Irish Times print edition
Ireland’s hedgehogs are counting on public to help out with a prickly problem
Hedgehog Conservation Ireland has been set up to assess population numbers and take action
My search for the stories of gay Belfastmen has taken me to some surprising places
Writing a history of gay Belfast has been an intensely personal and emotional journey
U2’s Adam Clayton and others on their boarding school days: ‘Being separated from the age of 8 was a trauma’
How do famous former boarders view their time at school now?
Ella McSweeney: This killer pet has driven 73 species to extinction, and roams free in Ireland
It may be a beloved pet, but it’s among the most destructive invasive predators in the natural world
Britain was a saviour for Irish migrants. One of those sons will captain England next week
The story of the 1926 census is a snapshot of a society in the middle of demographic trauma
In pictures: Guinness Choir celebrates 75th anniversary
Independent Dublin-based choir brings poet Paula Meehan’s words to life in St Patrick’s Cathedral
‘Free births’ in Ireland: Within three hours Naomi (38) died, leaving behind four kids
Doctors and midwives are concerned about a ‘notable rise’ in medically unassisted home births in the State. Do expectant mothers know the risks?
Women are now being commanded to ‘lift heavy’ in the gym by algorithms
Nothing about floor-shaking music, other people’s sweat and alarming metal contraptions tempts me
William Dalrymple: ‘The Scots and Irish like to be the ones who resisted empire, but we were deeply complicit’
The bestselling author and co-presenter of the Empire podcast has brought the Jaipur Literature Festival to Ireland
The joy of obituaries: Celebrating people who ‘wrinkled the social fabric’
In what feels like a trick of postmodernism, reading New York Times obituaries has become a treat. Writing them is ‘one of the great jobs in journalism’ - and a huge responsibility
‘I love going home to see the horses and to see my parents, obviously’
The RDS Dublin Horse Show director Fiona Sheridan on silently fuming at bad drivers, her cherished childhood pony, and obsessing over details
Photo essay: Skellig Michael reopens for summer visitors to sun, swells and puffins
Huge swells, high winds and lashing rain subside as the first visitors return to Skellig Michael this summer
This pair of centipedes was looking to escape the paparazzi
Your notes and queries for Éanna Ní Lamhna
Marty Whelan: ‘I’d like to be paid more, particularly when I see what other people are on’
The avuncular veteran broadcaster, who is turning 70, on facing some hostility on his return to RTÉ, his moustache, and his ‘threat’ to keep working for as long as he can
Church Island: Lough Gill’s biggest island offers glimpses of Ireland’s literary history
The biggest island on Lough Gill has, over the centuries, been a centre for religious, poetic and agricultural communities
What happens to Bloom’s show gardens when the festival is over?
Finding new homes for plants, trees and other elements of show gardens at Bloom has gained momentum in the last few years
Commemorating the US Declaration of Independence in Donald Trump’s America proves tricky
Present politics seem to explain the discordant interpretations being placed upon the US brief foundational statement
Mark Carney proves Donald Trump can win elections outside his own country
Carney’s unexpected victory in the Canadian election proved the US president is such a political force that he can win elections outside his own country
Emily O’Reilly: My brother’s HIV seemed under control. So why did he die?
Brian had lived through the 1980s epidemic; the 21st century HIV narrative was optimistic, with Aids tamed and everyone expected to live long and healthy lives
Dublin bank holiday traffic and rail restrictions: Full list as major disruption expected
Women’s Mini Marathon among major events planned in Dublin this weekend with temporary road closures in place
I don’t like alcohol. People think I’m a recovering alcoholic and that’s fine by me
I’m not insulted and if it makes others more comfortable to think that’s why I’m not drinking, it’s fine by me
My cat brought this into the house. What is it?
Eye on Nature: Éanna Ní Lamhna answers your queries on lizards, caterpillars, little egrets and more
Rachel Eliza Griffiths: ‘One of the gifts my mother gave me is I’m now not afraid to die’
The US multimedia artist, poet and novelist who is married to Salman Rushdie on her ‘kaleidoscope of quirks’
‘The only surprise is that you’re still cooking it’: There are reasons I stick to cooking just one dish
Storytelling and cooking require similar panache ...
Ireland’s mayflies are ancient creatures - older than dinosaurs by 80 million years
Ella McSweeney: In Ireland, we have about 150 species of mayflies
‘I couldn’t get an Irish passport. I felt I had this identity taken away’
The BBC broadcaster on how Brexit sent her searching for her Irish roots, reporting the Troubles in Belfast, and the ‘joy and privilege’ of hosting Round Britain Quiz
From PCOS to PMOS: How renaming a prevalent women’s disorder will improve countless women’s lives
Renaming common female hormonal disorder should lead to earlier diagnosis and better management of the condition
The year of ‘God’s architect’: divisive Sagrada Família finally nears completion on the centenary of Gaudí’s death
Few cities bear the influence of one architect as brazenly as Barcelona, where Gaudí’s stylistic fingerprints are rarely out of sight
Growing up in care: ‘I remember a lot of people not being allowed to be friends with me in school’
Four young adults who have spent time in Ireland’s care system tell Patrick Freyne about their lives
Why native Irish bluebells are under threat
Our native common bluebell is facing competition from its invading Spanish cousin
Residents, not tourists, are the best way to re-energise our cities
In the middle of an acute housing crisis, is it clever to have most housing stock set aside for Airbnbs and short-term rentals?
In pictures: An EastEnders actor transforms into Judy Garland in Dublin
Musical theatre and EastEnders actor Anna-Jane Casey prepares for her role as Judy Garland in the upcoming stage production Judy – End of the Rainbow
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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