Columns - Irish Examiner

Denis Lehane

Denis Lehane is Ireland’s favourite farming satire writer (at least according to us!). Known for his unorthodox farming ingenuities and ideas, you never know what adventures our ‘Auld Lehane’ will be up to in Lighten Up.

Lighten Up: Auld Lehane heads to Brussels to fix the CAP

Alas, the CAP fits some heads better than others. That's the way it's always been, writes our Auld Lehane in this week's Lighten Up.

Mon, 09 Nov, 2026

Combine harvester machines working on farm harvesting the crop

Lighten Up: Will flying tractors be next?

While flying upside down has plenty of downsides, with a tractor that can fly upside down our Auld Lehane can see nothing but positives

Mon, 26 Oct, 2026

The herd of Holstein cows races in the barn.

Denis Lehane: Why the National Dairy Show makes me cry

Our Denis says he was born to be a dairy farmer — if only he knew what he knows now, he writes in this week's Lighten Up

Tue, 13 Oct, 2026

10 Budget Proposals for the struggling, aged and love-hungry farmer

With the budget closing in faster than a hungry sow after sniffing out a bucket of slop, our Auld Lehnane has put together 10 sound budget proposals on behalf of struggling, aged and love-hungry farmers.

Mon, 05 Oct, 2026

Denis Lehane: All revved up for the Cork '20' Rally

I would probably go in the vintage class of the Cork '20 Rally, if such a class exists.

Tue, 29 Sep, 2026

Lighten Up: Will Trump head to the ploughing?

With a skilled ploughman guiding President Trump down the furrow, he will feel almost greater than an American President; he will feel like a champion Ploughman, writes our Auld Lehane.

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Grand Ole Opry: OPRY 100 - The Opry Remembers Dolly Parton

Denis Lehane: Saying goodbye to Dolly and hello to the lolly

A group of Irish cattle drovers travel to America to pay their respects to Dolly Parton in this week's Lighten Up

Mon, 07 Sep, 2026

Mark Zuckerberg at G8 in Deauville, France

Auld Lehane's sound farm advice for Zuckerberg

I don't want Mark Zuckerberg coming to me after twelve months saying that the bullocks I encouraged him to buy didn't leave him a bob, writes our Auld Lehane in this week's Lighten Up.

Mon, 31 Aug, 2026

Lighten Up: Auld escorts for the Rose of Tralee

At this year's Rose of Tralee, if you spot any escort looking a little long in the tooth, or perhaps with no teeth at all, rest assured — they are the men recommended by our auld Lehane

Mon, 10 Aug, 2026

Men wearing black shoes, standing in front of the red brick.

Denis Lehane: Men wearing short pants is an epidemic in West Cork this summer. It has to stop

Spotting not one, but three so-called 'cattle men' at the mart wearing short pants was too much for Auld Lehane

Mon, 03 Aug, 2026