Helen O’Callaghan on the need to be open about serious illness.

Dr Melissa Jones is a research officer at Fighting Blindness and All Ireland Scholar.

NOW that we’re hurtling towards December 25, there’s no escape, writes Tric Kearney.

Patricia Pierce’s clay creations offer a little piece of our modern culture to nostalgic emigrants, writes Margaret Jennings.

ONE of the country’s best-known stylists, Cathy O’Connor is on a mission, writes Esther McCarthy.

Irene Feighan talks to Ireland and Leinster star Johnny Sexton about his health habits.

It was blast-off for one boy’s development after happening to watch a rocket launch. Now he’s got his very own space doll, writes Áilín Quinlan

Dietitian Aoife Hearne on the importance of letting your children decide when enough food is enough

WITH age often comes a growing sense of responsibility towards the planet, particularly when grandchildren arrive.

How do you respond to your partner’s grumpiness when your both in the house all day long? Margaret Jennings talks to relationship experts

Why don’t we treat sleep as importantly as exercise and diet? Getting enough is essential, writes Áilín Quinlan

Irene Feighan meets marathon runner Lizzie Lee.

Low-cost golf and a growing list of health benefits put the sport back in the spotlight, writes Kevin Markham.

LAST weekend, yer man and I took a night off parenting and headed to West Cork. As we raced out the drive, the sun shone and unbelievably continued to do so for the two days.

Our new columnist opens up on his frustrations with the health system. He talks with Helen O’Callaghan.

Louise McSharry found the loss of her eyebrows and eyelashes the most difficult part of her Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis, writes Margaret Jennings

We test out eight new free-from pastas.

Working longer hours does not mean working more productively, says a management professor who argues that doing fewer tasks equals better results. He talks to Marjorie Brennan.

Joan Browne is homecare manager, Home and Away Care, Cork/West Cork

Operation Transformation’s Aoife Hearne offers tips on how to get through the bouts of morning — and all-day — sickness

Suzi Godson offers more advice...

Natural Cycles is the first app certified as a form of birth control. Is it effective, asks Sharon Ní Chonchúir

Tara Stewart talks to Irene Feighan about her health and life.

WATCHING television the other night I tuned into RTÉ’s We Won The Lotto. Who hasn’t dreamed about what it must be like to not have to worry about money?

Margaret Jennings talks to a scholar who has opened her sculpture garden to the public as a place to rest and reflect Tuning into our senses as we age

HURLING manager Derek McGrath once described Jamie Barron as a “free spirit”. On reflection, it’s a description the top player agrees with.

The limitations and frustrations of those with sight and hearing problems can now be better understood thanks to a virtual reality headset, says Margaret Jennings

Just because Kourtney Kardashian does it, doesn’t mean you should too. Attachment parenting, and bed sharing in particular has its critics, writes Sharon Ní Chonchúir 

Helen O’Callaghan reports on how pupils need support 

TODAY is December 1 and like it or not Christmas is coming. 

Child-friendly characters and superb artwork combine to ensure there are loads of books on offer for younger children this festive season, writes Mary Arrigan

Dr Anna Clarke,  health promotion and research manager for Diabetes Ireland, tells us about her working day. 

When emulating the 50-plus fashion mavens it’s not just their style you should adopt, but their attitude too, says Carolyn Moore

HO ho ho, Santa stacked the food shelves early this year, with tempting treats in place for nearly a month now. Some are already reaching their sell-by dates, so read labels if buying and hiding away for Christmas Day.

Q: My husband is obsessed with his mobile phone and has it in his hand almost every waking moment. Recently things have become even worse and he picks it up as soon as we have finished having sex. He has even reached out to check it a few times during the act. I’m furious. How can I make him see that his behaviour is unreasonable?”

Psychotherapist Thomas Moore talks to Liz Connor about the richness that can come with getting older

WITH his professional rugby career behind him due to serious injury, Luke Fitzgerald is now free to enjoy more of the simple pleasures of life, including the occasional drink.

From the affordable to the extravagant, this year’s festive beauty crackers are better than ever, says Katie Wright

A new film could inspire parents to truly celebrate difference and so head off bullying, writes Helen O’Callaghan

Suzi Godson offers sex advice to readers. 

Suzanne Garvey talks us through a typical day in her job in the Beacon Hospital