It is a difficult time for everyone in Ireland but in this humorous essay, Ruth Manning, hopes to lighten the load somewhat with a personal reflection on her journey from Cork to London and back again.

I woke up with a sick child two nights ago, and afterwards, I struggled to get back to sleep. My bedside reading was about the achievements of Nelson Mandela, and it prompted an hour of musing about people.

Our latest Personal Insight submission is a 'A Love Letter to Ireland' from Fiona Cooney, a young Irish expatriate presently living in Vancouver.

Cork father, Daniel Day, recounts how his son's 'against all odds' recovery after a serious brain injury following a cycling accident near Cork airport changed his life forever and renewed his faith that miracles are lurking for everyone even in their darkest hour.

An Irish expatriate and daughter reveals how the dreaded news from home that her mother had died added incredible poignancy to the the last phone call between the two.

Our latest Personal Insight submission is a cautionary tale for men and women alike. Fiona Cooney, a young Irish expatriate presently living in Vancouver, bravely recounts a Christmas Eve celebration which almost cost her her life and which served as a massive wake-up call as regards her relationship with alcohol.

Writing from Zambia last month and having travelled and lived widely in East Africa Cork man, Brian Sexton, reflects on the international language of weather.

Terri Kruschke moved to Cork from America with her family in 2007. In this personal insight Terri reveals her reflections on Christmas and urges everyone to listen to the festive stories of Ireland's new arrivals.

After living in Ireland for 15 years Polish native, Anna Dokurno, reflects on the Irish inability to take a compliment and many of her own countrymen's inability to give them.

Nicholas Lenane reveals how he woke in the middle of the night one night to a flash of inspiration to write about 'the Good news'. This essay is what resulted form that nocturnal reflection.

A mother reflects on the loss of her baby before birth and expresses the hope that such loss will be talked about more openly in the future.

Writer Christina Bernstein reveals how an annual pilgrimage from her London home to Mayo each November allows her to find her ‘Flow’ and recognise the 'Power of ‘Now’.

Ruth Harrison and her husband embarked on a five year IVF journey which resulted in the birth of their precious son Ajay in January 2018. As a message to the one in six Irish couples who have infertility issues Ruth has written this letter to her son.

Galway woman, Marie Hanna Curran, in this 'Personal Insights' submission reveals how her battle with illness has finally allowed her to appreciate the joy of life.

This journey begins in 1969 with the simple but brutal words ... “Fenians Out”.

Irish Examiner readers are being asked to contribute to a new digital initiative on irishexaminer.com called Personal Insights.