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Esther_McCarthy

Esther N McCarthy

Esther McCarthy is a columnist covering the chaos, comedy and complexities of life for Irish women.

Sad woman complaining alone sitting on a coffee shop terrace

Esther McCarthy: They say you get calmer with age, what a load of rubbish

I’ve decided to embrace the fury.

Sat, 04 Apr, 2026

Unbreakable bond, a woman sharing a tender moment with her dog

Esther McCarthy: Do owners really end up looking like their pets?

I had hoped that by adopting a lurcher, I too would magically become slender and svelte. Alas, the opposite seems to have occurred.

Sat, 28 Mar, 2026

Tired young woman standing at kitchen room

Esther McCarthy: The dirty truth about who does housework

Currently, we have a weekly jobs sheet pinned to the noticeboard. For every job you do, you put your initial next to it. At the end of the week, we tot them up

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

Esther McCarthy: I gave Swedish death cleaning a go — here's what happened

Esther McCarthy: I gave Swedish death cleaning a go — here's what happened

Swedish death cleaning is a gentle, practical decluttering method for the benefit of those you leave behind

Sat, 14 Mar, 2026

Rainy Day Goldendoodle Walk

Esther McCarthy: From Jessie Buckley to dogs in tiny coats, here are my reasons to be cheerful

Four reasons to be cheerful. No, really

Sat, 07 Mar, 2026

Text HRT Replacement Therapy on light box. Menopause, hormone therapy concept. Pink background with alarm clock, exotic leaves,

Esther McCarthy: What I learned at a midlife breakfast

The event is called The Midlife Breakfast, organised by The Pink Ladies, to support breast cancer services at CUH so she’s preaching to the choir

Sat, 28 Feb, 2026

Self confident single woman pointing finger at her reflection in mirror, dancing and felling good

Esther McCarthy: Why midlife is magnificent — brain fog, freedom and the power of no

From brain fog to bold boundaries, midlife brings unexpected freedoms, fierce friendships and a liberating sense of self

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

Teenager stands near wash basin and touches his face

Esther McCarthy: 'Looksmaxxing' is simple but incredibly damaging for our boys

We’ve spent decades trying to free girls from impossible standards - let’s not let social media saddle our beautiful boys with a new set

Sat, 14 Feb, 2026

Three new coaches joining Ireland's Fittest Family in revamped series

Esther McCarthy: British viewers are shocked at the swearing on The Traitors Ireland. Give me a break

Let’s be honest: those c words (I mean c for complainers) are probably just jealous. Because we’re better at it than they are.

Sat, 07 Feb, 2026

Esther N McCarthy: 'Let me explain why we didn’t christen our children'

Esther McCarthy: 'Nostalgia is a nice break from dystopia'

There’s nothing wrong with a soft-focus reminder of a world that felt lighter.

Sat, 31 Jan, 2026