Irish Independent Life

17/08/2025

'I like to support local artists working in the county. And I am gifted a lot of pictures. Some of my family have implored me not to leave any of it to them in my will...'

Half doors used to be a common sight in the Irish countryside, and while they were designed for ventilation, an open half door also meant the occupants were at home and welcoming. So, it seems fitting that Noel Cunningham put a half door on his family cottage when he took it over nine years ago. Noe...

17/08/2025

'While I’m a bit taken aback that these teenagers are happy to part with their ubiquitous screens and home comforts to experience life in the Gaeltacht – not too dissimilar to how it was in the 1990s – I’m also not surprised either. The desire to embrace Irish and enjoy simple pleasures – to 'touch grass' – is rife among this cohort'

We missed the booking scrum by 10 minutes – in other words, it was as if we had logged on a day late. Booking a spot in Coláiste Lurgan for summer 2025 began at 3pm on the dot on a rainy afternoon last September.

17/08/2025

The US news network’s silver-haired chief national correspondent on growing up as an Irish-American in blue-collar Boston, covering the scandal-filled years of the Clintons, his daily challenges living with MS – and what he really thinks of the US President.

“Multiple sclerosis sucks,” says John King, CNN’s white-haired, Irish-American oracle on politics for the last 25 years. “The heat is the worst for me. We have had a very hot summer in Washington, and even when I travelled it has been very hot. So, I can’t go outside as much as I would lik...

16/08/2025

Open-plan living has become the norm in so many modern homes - but where do you put the sofa?

Open-plan living has become the norm in so many modern homes — and for good reason. It encourages a more relaxed, sociable way of living, with the kitchen, dining and lounge areas flowing seamlessly together. But it can also present a few design challenges. Without the natural boundaries of walls ...

16/08/2025

Now, as billionaire critics question whether MetroLink should be built in the age of AI, Dublin’s real dilemma is clear: where are the driverless cars?

In 2017, the world’s tech evangelists promised a near future in which fleets of driverless cars would transform cities. Ireland may have been little more than a footnote in these ambitious visions, but Dublin’s policy circles were happy to nod along.

16/08/2025

‘I’m part of the community as much as the postman or the milkman’ – Ireland’s ice-cream vans as beloved as ever despite changing tastes ⬇️

15/08/2025

All of your questions about the service are answered

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15/08/2025

Why are women aged 44 to 59 seeing some of the sharpest rises in weight gain? Is it menopause and hormones or the rush of modern life? And what role do medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro play?

14/08/2025

Our critic enjoys the concise and refreshed menu from Dan Hannigan – but the wine list needs an overhaul

I live close to Angelina’s but, until last week, hadn’t set foot in the restaurant for years because, under the Press Up Group, the food just wasn’t up to scratch.

14/08/2025

We all want our kids to have a smooth transition as they move up a year, but Dr David Coleman says trying to control every element can actually hinder their development

As the new school year looms into view, most parents find themselves somewhere between eager anticipation and low-grade panic.

14/08/2025

SIBO is more common than was previously thought, according to consultant gastroenterologist Professor Barbara Ryan. It's often confused with IBS, and these conditions are treated differently – so how can you tell the difference?

Social media, coupled with Dr Google, has made it easy – too easy – to self-diagnose why one might be feeling below par. Today’s ready availability of a vast array of at-home tests has tapped into the minds and pockets of the worried well, who can now potentially determine everything from thei...

14/08/2025

A countrywide celebration packed with free events, from craft workshops and bug safaris to castle tours and exhibitions

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