Musings, ramblings and thought provoking articles from our team of talented writers - all views expressed are their own!
Ireland has a particularly high youth suicide rate. Out of the European countries, it has the highest suicide rate in females 0-19 years old and the second highest in males 0-19 years old. So it’s especially important that Ireland work on improving its mental health services for young people to prevent suicide and to help […]
There are so many great things from the 1990’s. Most people would agree. We had grunge, interesting fashion and most of all, we had great, cheesy television. The 1990’s made a mark for coming up with ingenious ideas and programs. (Reference Twin Peaks or the X-Files) However, one thing this decade did much of and […]
In the run up to Ireland’s marriage equality referendum earlier this year, we heard a lot of debate about “traditional marriage.” But those pushing for “traditional marriage” weren’t interested in what really constituted Ireland’s tradition of marriage, and one of Ireland’s Lughnasa traditions shows how very differently our ancestors viewed marriage. In fact, a few […]
Fall is coming up. Right now, we have the few, simple days left of summer. We can absorb and relax into this time before the leaves begin to turn and the warmth gives way to cooler temps. Which reminds me, most girls like to stock up on a few necessities before the seasons change so they can […]
The New York Times did a piece on thirty-six hours in Dublin. In their video, the Times got visually stunning shots of the city. They also spoke to many local business owners who gave their own insights into what Dublin was like and how they try to impart an impact with their establishments. See […]
So, Ireland is having a problem with school patronage. Currently, about 90 percent of state-funded primary schools are controlled by the Catholic Church. By “controlled by,” I mean that the Church decides admissions policies, who to hire to teach and administrate, and, perhaps most worryingly, the curriculum. Last year (and, unfortunately, several other times), the U.N. noted […]
The tiny house movement is becoming a big thing in many places, including this wee island. The same dynamics are at play in Ireland as elsewhere. Post-Celtic tiger Ireland faces not a shortage of housing, but a shortage of affordable, available housing at the same time unemployment and the cost of living are quite high. […]
For Irish descendants living outside of the republic, there exists an opportunity to get a dose of fresh, Irish culture without having to go very far. The city of Chicago has a unique Irish Heritage Center which was once an elementary school. It’s conversion into a base for Irish culture has helped it to take on an […]
I’ll be the first to say I have heard of Irish stereotypes for as long as I can remember. I guess what mostly entered my consciousness was that Irish people were shorter, red-haired and friendly. So far, this is not offensive but, it does give a generalization or a stereotype of what people might think of […]
This week, Ireland passed a law that allows transgender men and women to change their legal gender to match their gender identity as they see fit, instead of it being determined (invasively) by the state or a doctor. It becomes only the third European country to do this, after Denmark (2014) and Malta (April 2015). […]
