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.

Cowboy hat guitar and boots in barn, country music festival live concert or rodeo background

Lighten up: Rock and rolling in West Cork

Summer in West Cork is unbeatable and you simply 'gotta roll with it', writes our Denis in this week's 'Lighten up'

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025

US Premiere of "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (Red Carpet)

Denis Lehane: Dreams of Tom Cruise at Cork Summer Show

Our Denis reckons he's just like Tom Cruise, except for the fancy molars, in this week's Lighten Up

Mon, 02 Jun, 2025

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope

Lighten Up: From Cahirmee to the Conclave, choosing a new Pope is no joke

While I've no doubt the man chosen in the finish will make an excellent pope, he wasn't the fellow I had backed, writes Denis Lehane in this week's Lighten Up

Mon, 12 May, 2025

Lighten Up: The 'mart' of money and auld Lehane's concern

Denis is worried about the price his cattle will make in the mart... but not for the reasons you might think

Mon, 07 Apr, 2025

Lighten Up: 'James Bond' producers look to West Cork

Once the silage is over and the ploughing event has concluded, I'll be ready for the tuxedo and the dry martini, writes Denis Lehane

Mon, 24 Mar, 2025

Lighten Up: A special family connection

Denis reckons he is a 16th cousin once removed of Ireland's patron saint, in this week's Lighten Up.

Mon, 17 Mar, 2025

Denis Lehane: Santa raises his glass to Seamus in Kanturk

Our man Denis catches up with Santa over a pint at one of Bandon's finest establishments

Mon, 16 Dec, 2024

Denis Lehane: Rome's love of the Irish farmer

Denis Lehane reveals the unusual request he got from a lady while sitting outside a restaurant only a stone's throw from the Colosseum

Mon, 25 Nov, 2024

Denis Lehane: I'm Ireland's answer to Kevin Costner

They are anxious to make a movie about my life out here in the rough lands of Kilmichael, with Robert Redford rumoured to star in the epic

Mon, 09 Sep, 2024

Denis Lehane: The Leaving Cert needs to lighten up

With everyone wanting to be the next Tony O'Reilly or Mary Robinson, the Leaving Cert has taken on a life of its own.

Mon, 03 Jun, 2024