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‘Water, water, everywhere and all the boards did shrink, Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink!’ These words from Coleridge’s poem “The Ancient Mariner” come to mind when glancing through the headlines of our news this week. It’s been all about water. We were not on board a ship on Thursday night but coming […]

For those of you who thought a selfie was the local name for the Atlantic Seal its not! What is occupying young peoples attention on their cell phones is themselves! Or rather a picture of themselves which they judge to be sufficiently attractive to merit posting on a social network. Never since Narcissus the hunter, […]

Where has Granny gone Daddy? The answer to the child’s question has engaged thinkers down through the centuries. The empty chair is a stark reminder that its occupant is no longer with us. One young man age 5, after the funeral, explained that they had been putting Granny up to heaven! In a discussion with […]

In a week which produced a lack-lustre budget when the most significant thing seemed to be John O’Shea’s last minute equalising goal against Germany my eye caught sight of an account of a Humanist wedding. I am always delighted to hear that our humanist friends are bucking the trend of simply living together and involving […]

It must be a couple of years since I read the book “I am Malala” and was moved by the courage of this young Pakistani girl who defied the Taliban. The Nobel committee don’t always get it right but in awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to her this week they certainly did. At 17 she […]

In a day of declension from spiritual values in Ireland it is encouraging to learn of our fellow Baptists in the Cork/Kerry region marking their steady growth in their annual celebration which took place the other day. From small beginnings with a couple of churches the work has progressed to neighbouring towns till we now […]

In this case the ombudsman is a woman! None other than our own Emily O’Reilly who presented her annual report this week as the European Ombudsman. She got the job on the back of her proven ability here in Ireland and it looks like she will be re-elected next May for a further 4 year […]

“Nae the noo” or in English “Not for the present!” The Scots have spoken. 0r at least 84% of those eligible have opted to vote and a 55% of voters want to continue the marriage with the rest of the UK. After all the marriage had weathered many a storm in its 300 plus years […]

This was the week the swallows chose to leave us for warmer climes. Not even the present spell of fine weather could persuade them to stay. The migratory instinct was too much – they had to leave. Last Sunday they were massing on the wires that crisscross the 14 acres. The chatter was powerful. They […]