Bernard O'Shea

Sign in

#Bernard OShea

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The woman writes: 'We’re in our forties. We've had our ups and downs, like any relationship. However, recently my husband has been acting odd, and I don’t know what to do.' Picture: iStock</p>

people

Bernard O'Shea: A frustrated middle-aged wife writes... and I respond

In which our columnist turns Agony Uncle for the day, and addresses a woman's issues with her annoying husband

Bernard O'Shea: Finance, gut health... here are four things I only pretend to understand

Bernard O'Shea: Learning German and the piano... I had such big plans

Bernard O'Shea: Please, I beg you, do not mention Christmas

Bernard O'Shea: DIY, rippling abs... just a few ambitions I’ve abandoned

Bernard O’Shea: Skiing, bathrobes, oat milk: Things my culchie soul abhors

Lost man

Bernard O'Shea: I like to hide from people, is that so wrong?

Somewhere along the way, solitude went from a luxury to a habit

Thu, 24 Sep, 2026

Bernard O'Shea: Modern TV has everything... but I still crave my '80s shows

Bernard O'Shea: Modern TV has everything... but I still crave my '80s shows

MacGyver, ALF, Airwolf, Knight Rider... I look at the world through square-eyed tinted spectacles

Thu, 17 Sep, 2026

Playing under the covers

Bernard O'Shea: My granny's three simple rules for life still work today

One of them was 'Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow' — and of course she was 100% right

Thu, 10 Sep, 2026

Composition with high protein food.

Bernard O'Shea: Help! I have developed a protein anxiety

I can’t eat a chicken breast without wondering if I’m hitting my macros

Thu, 03 Sep, 2026

Little 7 years schoolboy going to school.

Bernard O'Shea: Back-to-school time, but what does it mean for me?

Every September, I convince myself that once the kids are back at school, I’ll finally sort my life out. The problem is, normal life has other plans

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Bernard O'Shea: Potpourri, foot spas... whatever happened to all the things we 'had to have'?

Bernard O'Shea: Potpourri, foot spas... whatever happened to all the things we 'had to have'?

We were once told we couldn’t live without the George Foreman grill, then the air fryer came along

Thu, 20 Aug, 2026

Bernard O'Shea: Now that I have kids, here are five things I owe my parents an apology for

Bernard O'Shea: Now that I have kids, here are five things I owe my parents an apology for

Having my own kids has made me realise my parents weren’t unreasonable at all. I was just an absolute pain in the arse

Thu, 13 Aug, 2026

Bernard O'Shea: I’ve decided to renew my marriage vows… here's my new list of promises

Bernard O'Shea: I’ve decided to renew my marriage vows… here's my new list of promises

After 17 years together, I've finally worked out what my wife actually wants me to promise her

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Woman Scanning Groceries at Self Checkout in Supermarket

Bernard O'Shea: From self-checkouts to QR code menus, why is everything in life so damned complicated?

Modern life is doing my head in, please get rid of this pointless technology, pleads Bernard O'Shea

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Bernard O'Shea: My own Zara 'death pants' moments — three fashion mistakes I'll never live down

Bernard O'Shea: My own Zara 'death pants' moments — three fashion mistakes I'll never live down

Every wardrobe has one item that seemed like a brilliant idea at the time.

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

young businesswoman relaxing sitting in the office

Bernard O'Shea: Why have we turned 'doing nothing' into a guilt trip?

We've convinced ourselves that every spare minute should be productive, but life isn't keeping count

Thu, 16 Jul, 2026

TV Remote Control with Netflix Button

Bernard O'Shea: The Dad Bod Diaries — Forget Looksmaxxing... try Middleagemaxxing

I’ve accepted my fate and dedicated the second half of my life to mastering the things middle-aged men are actually good at

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026

female hands holding phone with mobile wallet for online shoppin

My name is Bernard O’Shea, and I’m addicted to buying stuff online that I don't need

I'm not a shopaholic. Not a collector. I'm just a middle-aged man buying things I didn't know existed five minutes ago... I'm a doom spender

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

Bernard O'Shea: I want England to do well at the World Cup but I fear for Roy Keane if they win it

Bernard O'Shea: I want England to do well at the World Cup but I fear for Roy Keane if they win it

England going out on penalties would suit me just fine

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Person walking in the woods. Speed-hiking shoes closeup.

Bernard O'Shea: Have you heard of the 'fart walk'? Here are five things to know

A ridiculous name, a viral wellness trend and a surprising amount of science.

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Mens Restroom Sign

Bernard O'Shea — The Dad Bod Diaries: Five things your wee is trying to tell you

We shouldn't be squeamish about urine, because often it is trying to send us a report on our health

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

Girl and weight loss

Bernard O'Shea: The Dad Bod Diaries — My weight has gone up... but at least I've got a plan now

I've spent months waiting for motivation to arrive. It never did. Instead, I discovered five tiny 'Bernard Steps'

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

artisanal baked wholegrain biscuits, stuffed with peanut butter

Bernard O'Shea — The Dad Bod Diaries: Help! This culture of TMI is ruining my BMI

I know enough about weight loss to sit the Leaving Cert in it. And yet I still find myself eating chocolate biscuits at 11 o’clock at night

Thu, 28 May, 2026

Bernard O'Shea: The Dad Bod Diaries — Where has the food of my youth gone?

Bernard O'Shea: The Dad Bod Diaries — Where has the food of my youth gone?

With the likes of the red Bounty and Lilt quietly disappearing from our shelves, I wonder if middle age is really a case of just becoming homesick for the snacks that shaped us

Thu, 21 May, 2026

Venice, Italy

Bernard O'Shea: The Dad Bod Diaries — I went to Venice to find myself. I found pastries

I arrived in Italy determined to stay disciplined in my health regime. Three pistachio pastries later, I realised my relationship with food has far more to do with comfort than hunger

Thu, 14 May, 2026

Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. Boutique Unveiling And Interview With Chief Executive Officer Andy Palmer

Bernard O'Shea: Five things I learned when I went clothes shopping with a 42-inch waist

There are few places more spiritually challenging than a men’s changing room when you’re operating at a 42-inch waist

Thu, 07 May, 2026

listen music with fitness running sports equipment, sneakers

Bernard O’Shea: The Dad Bod Diaries — Five things I’ve learned about procrastination

Here's the ultimate handbook for expertly postponing everything you swear you’ll begin next Monday..., says Bernard O'Shea

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

Mature man with side back pain sitting on couch at home

Bernard O'Shea: My (achievable) list of things you should have done by 50

Fewer milestones, more small, ridiculous moments — my list of 50 things to aim for by the time you hit the half century

Thu, 23 Apr, 2026

Handsome man wearing casual white t-shirt Smiling and laughing hard out loud because funny crazy joke. Happy expression.

Bernard O'Shea — The Dad Bod Diaries: My five-step guide to taking yourself less seriously

Rethinking the dad bod jokes, I’m starting to see that always looking on the light side of life might be the only way forward

Thu, 16 Apr, 2026

Barmans arms pulling a pint of beer

Bernard O'Shea: Now I'm in my 40s, alcohol affects me differently — here's how and why

One glass once meant a good night ahead. Now, in my forties, it signals a difficult week, says Bernard O'Shea

Thu, 09 Apr, 2026

Bernard O'Shea — The Dad Bod Diaries: The food log of a hungry but health-conscious man

Bernard O'Shea — The Dad Bod Diaries: The food log of a hungry but health-conscious man

In the latest chapter of his Dad Bod Diaries, Bernard O'Shea tracks a full day of his eating, his attitude to eating... and thinking about eating

Thu, 02 Apr, 2026

Father leads a little child school boy go hand in hand. Parent and son with backpack behind the back.

Bernard O'Shea — The Dad Bod Diaries: Whisper it, but am I afraid to succeed?

When his youngest stopped holding his hand crossing the road, Bernard O'Shea took it as a chance to explore his inner feelings about his exercise regime, and came to a starkly honest conclusion

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Bernard O'Shea — The Dad Bod Diaries: A trip to Norway changed how I view myself

Bernard O'Shea — The Dad Bod Diaries: A trip to Norway changed how I view myself

We Irish need to adopt a Norwegian approach when it comes to exercise, diet, and wellbeing, says Bernard O'Shea

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

<Discobolo> by Mirone

Bernard O'Shea - The Dad Bod Diaries: It's high time I asked... what IS a 'dad bod'?

From ancient Greece to present day, the classic male form has changed shape. So what exactly does a 'dad bod' look like, asks Bernard O'Shea

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

sliced traditional irish soda bread on a wooden board

Bernard O’Shea: The Dad Bod Diaries Week 10 — Bread and me... it's complicated

In my 20s, bread was fuel. I could eat it with abandon. Now, at 46, the same bread appears to behave differently

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026

Deep learning infographic of artificial neural network neurons and robot

Bernard O’Shea: The Dad Bod Diaries Week 9 — dopamine, daydreams and deadlifts

My social media feed promises transformation in 47 'easy' steps, says Bernard O'Shea, as he continues his fitness regime

Thu, 26 Feb, 2026

Strength workout concept. Active mature man doing squats at home, exercising in living room, panorama, free space

Bernard O'Shea: The Dad Bod Diaries, Week 8 — discovering the humbling power of squats

'I hate them. Unfortunately, they may be the key to longevity,' explains Bernard O'Shea as he continues his exercise regime

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Asian lady holding hamburger and French fries to eat in car, dangerous and risk an accident.

Bernard O’Shea: The Dad Bod Diaries Week 7 — When tiredness masquerades as failure

A week of burgers, caffeine and broken sleep reminded me falling off the wagon isn’t the danger — exhaustion is

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Mature man in cafe using laptop

Dad Bod Diaries Week 6: Five things I’ve learned about coffee, fitness, and moderation

There was a period of my life when coffee wasn't a drink — it was a strategy

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Exhausted male athlete feeling tired after sports class in a gym.

The only plank in the gym who can’t get a grip: The Dad Bod Diaries Week 4

I’ve spent years avoiding weights in favour of cardio, but a plank I couldn’t hold and a grip I couldn’t trust revealed midlife fitness isn’t about looking good — it’s about holding on

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

kitchen man healthy morning mature breakfast active fitness juice orange drink fresh fruit organic refreshment drinking glass nu

The Dad Bod Diaries — Week 3: Life is what happens after a rake of pints

There’s a specific lie we tell ourselves in middle age... and it usually arrives disguised as optimism

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

Taking sweet bun in the shop

The Dad Bod Diaries: After 8pm, I would gnaw through a baguette like a man escaping captivity

I’ve imposed a strict post-6pm food ban, because the real battle happens at night

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

Bernard O’Shea: Five things I’ve learned about celebrity pet cloning

Bernard O’Shea: Five things I’ve learned about celebrity pet cloning

It’s only a matter of time before some Hollywood A-lister introduces their new dog with the line: 'You might remember her from such past lives as… herself'

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

Bernard O'Shea: Four things I learned about the 6-7 meme

Bernard O'Shea: Four things I learned about the 6-7 meme

Turns out modern parenting is mostly pretending you understand slang while Googling under the table

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Bernard O'Shea: Five things I wish I’d known in my 30s (but only learned in my 40s)

Bernard O'Shea: Five things I wish I’d known in my 30s (but only learned in my 40s)

Turns out your 40s are just your 30s with less cartilage and more back pain

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Fashionable street couple

Bernard O'Shea: Five things I learned about the 'quiet luxury' craze

'Quiet luxury' is the new way to show you’re rich without looking like you’re rich

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Ireland fans celebrate after Troy Parrott goal 16/11/2025

Five things my kids have learned going to Ireland soccer matches this year

If loyalty depended on winning, every child in Ireland would support France or Argentina. Loyalty is choosing to keep showing up — even when the results don’t. It’s understanding that sometimes the journey home is quieter than the journey in, and that’s okay

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025

cheerful santa man hold exotic fruit. healthy gift. bearded man healthy eating. merry christmas. happy new year. xmas gifts and

Bernard O'Shea: 5 things to do in November for a head start on your New Year’s weight loss

Every year, I make the same promise: January is when I will sort myself out.

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

Bernard O'Shea: Five things I've learned about middle-aged friendship maintenance

Bernard O'Shea: Five things I've learned about middle-aged friendship maintenance

Here are the key things I’ve learned about keeping friendships not just alive, but quietly thriving, in the middle-aged jungle

Thu, 06 Nov, 2025