Maybe it’s being truthful or being tactful, maybe it’s constant closeness or lots of space, but whatever the secrets to staying together are, Ireland’s longest-married couples are being invited to add their top tips.

I’M not asking for a fairy godmother, but a granny would be great. Since our much-loved and wanted little daughter arrived, I’ll admit I sometimes long for a cheerful, bustling grandmother to turn up and utter the magic words ‘I’ll take her for half an hour’ — just so I can have a long, leisurely shower or pop out to meet a friend for coffee.

FINANCIAL resources of grandparents – the ‘bank of grandma and granddad’ – is helping many families through tough economic times, the Primate of All-Ireland has said.

A new national association for Catholic grandparents has been launched.