Derval O'Rourke: Storing up Vitamin D in the Grand Stretch - plus an easy BBQ chicken recipe

"There’s an imperceptible shift in my energy levels, which makes getting up in the morning and staying active in the evenings not seem like such a hardship anymore."

Derval O'Rourke: the spring sunshine is here

The spring equinox happened on March 20. It symbolises the start of springtime in the northern hemisphere. What this really means for us in Ireland is that from now on, the days will only be getting longer and brighter and the nights will be getting shorter. I’m sure you have heard someone say this, or said this phrase yourself, at least once over the last couple of weeks: “Ah, there’s a grand auld stretch in the evening”.

This change in the days and nights is one of my favourite things about living in Ireland. While I love the cosiness and the warmth that the dark winter days bring, I always look forward to the bright days that represent an endless amount of opportunity and adventure for the coming summer days.