- NEWS
Martin wades into abortion debateAs the Dáil committee hearings continue on the abortion bill, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has waded into the debate saying it is important that Christian believers "be, and seen to be, on the side of life, especially when life is most vulnerable".
Payment cuts see families pay rent shortfallLimits on rent supplement payments set by the Government are forcing thousands of families to make undeclared top-up payments to landlords to secure places to live.
- WORLD
Anger as North Korea launches another missileNorth Korea fired a short-range missile from its east coast, a day after launching three more of these missiles, a South Korean news agency said.
How Star Trek predicted the futureWHEN Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry first dreamed up the concept of a television show based in the unexplored universe of Outer Space in 1964, the world was a very different place.
- BUSINESS
Warnings over future of eurozoneThe eurozone is heading towards a break up unless there are moves towards much closer political and fiscal union, according to chief economist with State Street Global Advisers, Chris Probyn.
Bruton defends corporate tax rateIreland will be able to maintain its current corporation tax code in the face of international pressure to prevent multinational corporations avoid paying their fare share of tax, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said yesterday.
- SPORT
Mayo’s statement of intentGalway 0-11 Mayo 4-16 Five minutes to go in Salthill yesterday and James Horan was still cajoling his men to sew it into Galway.
Wilkinson inspires Toulon to gloryASM Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16 Not for the first time this season, a matchday performance and the result have made a mockery of the statistics.
- LIFESTYLE
What Lenny did nextLENNY Abrahamson has directed three feature films: Adam & Paul, Garage and What Richard Did.
Clothes maketh you madTrying on clothes, said Ewart, produced "sensations which bring deep peace and perfect contentment" to the female mind.
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Breaking stories
Craic is 90 for Ireland’s oldest working woman
Most women her age are thankful they can even get out of bed.
By Stephen Maguire
But Mary Lafferty still puts in a full week’s work at Killybegs Community Hospital in Co Donegal at the age of 90. Despite her generous age, Mary still walks to and from work, preferring to leave her car in the driveway of her home on Conlin Rd in the fishing port.
Once she walks the 15 minutes to the hospital, she has no time to waste with her voluntary role.
As well as helping out with computer classes, Mary also fills her days from 9.30am until 4.30pm giving exercise classes to patients.
Mary’s workmates at the hospital surprised her with a cake and a tea party last Friday as a thank you for more than a decade of help at the centre.
Mary’s actual age had been kept a “national secret” until she had to reveal it last year when she won TV3’s Oldest Working Woman In Ireland Award on the Ireland AM show.
Her friend Kathy Mullen says everyone is inspired by Mary’s zest for life.
“She is an amazing person and an example to all of us. She gets so much out of life because she gives so much to everyone.
“We are so proud of her and we hope she’ll be still as active for many years to come,” said Kathy.
Mary, who worked for many years in the local credit union, had another party yesterday with her family, including her children Nigel, Desmond, and Mary, and grandchildren.
Local TD Thomas Pringle says he is looking forward to getting many more phone calls from Mary, asking why people must give up work at retirement age.
“She is a great woman and calls me regularly,” said Mr Pringle. “I wish her all the best and I’m looking forward to many more phone calls about one thing or the other for many years to come.”
When contacted yesterday Mary would neither confirm nor deny her age, but put her good health down to “keeping on the go all the time”.