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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The Cairn Community Games is celebrating its 59th year connecting children through play in this country</p>

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Richard Hogan: Coaches — the heroes in society who guide our children

The young generation need play — and we must salute the people who provide it for them

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Richard Hogan: It took 25 years, but this is a landmark day for families and children

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Richard Hogan: My open letter to America — what a state you are in

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Richard Hogan: A seven-hour road trip where I saw the two sides of Ireland

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Richard Hogan: The fleeting beauty of watching a child growing up before your eyes

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Richard Hogan: Guilt and shame are very Irish and very human emotions

Richard Hogan: All these pathetic manosphere influencers want is views, clicks and shares

Richard Hogan: All these pathetic manosphere influencers want is views, clicks and shares

The Louis Theroux documentary on the manosphere exposes a harsh truth — that these men are ruled solely by algorithms and clicks, says Richard Hogan

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Toy Story 3 ; Year : 2010 USA ; Director : Lee Unkrich ; Animation. Image shot 2010. Exact date unknown.

Richard Hogan: Children get such a buzz when they replace tech with play

Playing with toys and losing yourself in your imagination is not just nice for a child, but actually therapeutic and a significant part of their cognitive development, says Richard Hogan

Thu, 19 Mar, 2026

Richard Hogan: My painful reminder that men need to take self-care seriously

Richard Hogan: My painful reminder that men need to take self-care seriously

A recent injury forced Richard Hogan from the road to the gym... and then on to crutches. It proved a wake-up call for his health

Wed, 04 Mar, 2026

Downtown Boston Massachusetts Skyline

Richard Hogan: A trip to beautiful Boston, just don't tell them you're Irish

It may be viewed as an Irish-American city, but Boston has some elements that are alien to visitors from the Auld Sod

Thu, 26 Feb, 2026

Little boy reading a book in green armchair

Richard Hogan: Tell your children — life is an open book

After years of avoiding them, Richard Hogan eventually fell under the spell of books and says Ireland Reads Day this month is a great opportunity to captivate the next generation

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Exhausted sad teenager resting on the armchair

Richard Hogan: We need to take on Big Tech and let children really be children

Social media platforms plucked our children from real life activities and friendships and imprisoned them in their rooms, Richard Hogan

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

It developer overwork office closeup. Exhausted man project manager rubbing eyes

Richard Hogan: Workplace bullies are always found out — here's how to cope in the meantime

Here's my advice if you find yourself becoming consumed with anxiety and uncertainty when the boss starts to pick on you

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Richard Hogan: New partners, old habits, simmering tensions... families are complicated

Richard Hogan: New partners, old habits, simmering tensions... families are complicated

Things get problematic when we think we have ownership of our adult children. Parents can forget that they did it themselves when they met their partner and had children and moved off into their new world together

Sat, 24 Jan, 2026

Move!

Richard Hogan: Learning to cope with being ‘triggered’

Whenever I see a person in a shop overreacting to the shop assistant that isn’t moving quickly enough, or someone raging in traffic, all I see is the hurt little child that felt unseen or abandoned

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

Mature couple enjoying quality time in their cozy kitchen while sharing laughter and joy

Richard Hogan: What are the likely causes of a waning sex drive?

How we talk to each other during conflict impacts on intimacy. I hear this so often in my clinic

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

Richard Hogan: Hot take — turning 50 isn't so bad when it's with family and friends in West Cork

Richard Hogan: Hot take — turning 50 isn't so bad when it's with family and friends in West Cork

It was one of those days in West Cork where the weather is remarkable. It was 4.30pm when we started the sauna. When we got into the water the sky was the most remarkable colour. The water was freezing, but every time you went back and did the sauna for 15 minutes the water became warmer for some inexplicable reason

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

I can do it

Richard Hogan: Introduce a positive behaviour to help drive out bad ones

We were all loveable when we were born, but not all of us received the love we should have received. We have a very poor relationship with the concept of loving ourselves in this country

Wed, 31 Dec, 2025

Late Late Toy Show

Richard Hogan: We're all the richer for having the Toy Show

The Toy Show is more than a TV show — it illuminates how we are now... and we're in pretty good shape

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Christmas summer with multi-ethnic gays

Richard Hogan: Christmas songs are like time machines — hop in and enjoy the nostalgia

Listening to the soundtrack of my Christmases past...

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Christmas time

Richard Hogan: In my experience, children who get everything come to enjoy nothing

I’m not suggesting we don’t give our kids anything, I’m saying that we should help them to also think about others at this time of immense gift receiving

Wed, 26 Nov, 2025

Teenager Relaxing With Headphones While Holding Smartphone at Home

Richard Hogan: A good enough parenting job is perfectly fine

Of course we will get things wrong, and of course our children will make mistakes. But we have all come to fear mistakes. Terrified we may be getting it wrong.

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

A child using smart phone lying in bed late at night

Richard Hogan: Parents are often unaware how pornography has changed over the years

People who create this incest-themed or violent content understand very well that the more extreme the material is, the more taboo it is, the more people will consume it. They know that dopamine fires when someone views a hardcore image

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

Group of teenage friends sitting on bench using their mobile phones

Richard Hogan: We've a beautiful country but what do we have to offer bored teenagers?

There are very limited options for families and children to connect and enjoy themselves outside of technology. I think we need more investment in the Arts and in family events

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Laughing children in witches costumes.

Richard Hogan: Halloween is a season of magic — and mayhem, if teens can get away with it

I know adolescence is a time of adventure and experimenting, but putting a substance into a brain that is already wired to take risks and make mistakes is not a good idea. Not to mention the health implications

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Charlie Kirk Vigil

Richard Hogan: It’s hard to be positive about humanity in today's world but I refuse to live without hope

On the same day as Charlie Kirk’s death, there was another school shooting in America. There were 100 incidents of school shootings in America in the last year alone: 31 deaths and 96 injuries. We hear little about those deaths

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Playful father entertaining his family during lunch at dining table.

Richard Hogan: Meals without screens feed family bonds

"Children crave connection. We are in the middle of a loneliness epidemic in this country. Loneliness is rooted in a feeling of not mattering to those around you. That is such an important understanding to have as parents."

Thu, 21 Aug, 2025

Richard Hogan: Don't let schadenfreude make you forget there are real people affected

Richard Hogan: Don't let schadenfreude make you forget there are real people affected

Depending on how long an affair has been going on, it can be one of the most psychologically disturbing events a couple can experience. It rocks the very foundation of the relationship, and is the reason why most couples break up

Wed, 23 Jul, 2025

Depressed teenager sitting lonely

Richard Hogan: Teenage girls are the loneliest group in the world — how can we solve this?

When parents sit down with me and ask 'how do we get her off the phone?', the question I have for them is 'if she wasn’t on the phone what would she be doing?'

Thu, 17 Jul, 2025

Richard Hogan: Criticising the IDF's actions is not hate speech — we shouldn't be bullied

Richard Hogan: Criticising the IDF's actions is not hate speech — we shouldn't be bullied

"To criticise the IDF’s attack on innocent aid workers, how they murdered them and subsequently buried their bodies to hide the atrocity, to criticise that does not have anything to do with their religion – it has to do with their actions and wilful denial of human rights."

Thu, 10 Jul, 2025

Richard Hogan: Say 'au revoir' to pornography access for teens

Richard Hogan: Say 'au revoir' to pornography access for teens

I have spoken with many people who have consumed extreme taboo content and they all say the same thing: early exposure to sexual content primed their brain to seek out content that was more extreme

Wed, 11 Jun, 2025

Refer a friend. Social media marketing, referral program. People share information with affiliate referrals and making money. Wo

Richard Hogan: 'You don’t need to wake up and take an ice bath to increase your mental health'

My advice is always very straight forward and simple. What do you do that helps you feel better?

Wed, 04 Jun, 2025

Richard Hogan: Acting on impulse is how teenagers learn

Richard Hogan: Acting on impulse is how teenagers learn

We now know the adolescent brain goes through a new phase of plasticity in which environmental factors can have major lasting effects on cortical circuitry

Wed, 14 May, 2025

Richard Hogan: Kneecap spoke poorly-chosen words but Netanyahu has killed 50,000 Palestinians

Richard Hogan: Kneecap spoke poorly-chosen words but Netanyahu has killed 50,000 Palestinians

A recent UN study found that 70% of Palestinians killed in residential buildings were women and children. Shouldn’t this be the real source of outrage?

Wed, 07 May, 2025

Richard Hogan: We need to wake up to what is happening with our boys

Richard Hogan: We need to wake up to what is happening with our boys

We are watching the greatest experiment ever perpetrated on adolescence and childhood right in front of our eyes

Wed, 26 Mar, 2025

Book, reading and grandmother with children for learning, language development and English education in living room sofa. Senior

Richard Hogan: Grandparents can become collateral damage in a broken relationship

I receive so many letters and phone calls from grandparents looking for advice on how to reconnect with their grandchildren after their child has separated from their partner

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Children sitting on windowsill, playing online games on mobile phones and ignoring each other

Richard Hogan: A primary school child has no business with a smartphone

The minute a child gets a smartphone they will disappear into them. Not phoning anyone, but connected to Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Discord etc. The child that once played, or sat downstairs and chatted with you, will now be up in their bedroom alone, illuminated by blue light and connected to everything the world has to offer; good, bad, and the very ugly

Wed, 27 Nov, 2024

Richard Hogan: The technological and logistical magic of Santa

Richard Hogan: Why was Alex McCartney able to use Snapchat in his deplorable actions?

We need sophisticated digital literacy in schools as a matter of urgency. We also have to hold Snapchat and all the other social media platforms to account

Wed, 06 Nov, 2024

Adult content button through reading glasses.

Richard Hogan: Urgent need to address the type of pornography our children have access to

Pornography today promotes violence against women: our boys are being fed harmful material telling them that girls like to have consent taken from them

Thu, 24 Oct, 2024

Red squirrel forage ahead of winter as their numbers decline

Richard Collins: Research on red squirrels and leprosy links

The disease spreads through physical contact and there has been only one leprosy case identified in Ireland in more than 70 years

Thu, 16 May, 2024

Richard Collins: Woodpeckers turning up in every Irish county now — have you spotted any?

Richard Collins: Woodpeckers turning up in every Irish county now — have you spotted any?

There are 44 names for the green woodpecker in England alone, including 'yaffle'... which is inspired by its loud call

Thu, 30 Nov, 2023

Richard Hogan: The culture of violence against women in Ireland — how do we deal with it?

Richard Hogan: The culture of violence against women in Ireland — how do we deal with it?

As a society, we have to look at the messages we give our children — there seems to be absolutely zero political will to prevent our children from viewing women being tied up, dominated, choked, spat on, consent taken from them and beaten

Wed, 15 Nov, 2023

Long-form video

Richard Hogan: What is the deal with voice notes? Is monologue the new dialogue?

Do we no longer care for conversation with people? We have things to say and by God, we don’t need others getting in the way of saying it.

Wed, 20 Sep, 2023

Richard Hogan: There's lots to relate to in the Barbie film — for all of us

Richard Hogan: There's lots to relate to in the Barbie film — for all of us

It’s just good fun with a serious message running at its core

Wed, 09 Aug, 2023

Businessman push impossible wording to possible wording on top of mountain with sunlight. Positive mindset concept.

Richard Hogan: Are you caught living a label that no longer has anything to do with who you are?

In my experience, one of the main causes of low mood is knowing who you were meant to be and not knowing how to be that person

Wed, 12 Jul, 2023

Winner

Richard Hogan: Key tips to build your confidence if you suffer with self-doubt

Why is it some people are more confident than others? Why do some people suffer with self-doubt, while others stride shoulders back, carefree?

Wed, 01 Mar, 2023

Enoch Burke at Wilson's Hospital School

S Richard Hogan: In the frenzy around Enoch Burke, has anyone considered the child?

I work with families who are supporting their child while they transition. How is the child at the centre of this processing the storm all around them?

Thu, 02 Feb, 2023

Richard Hogan: Navigating the minefield of family dynamics

Richard Hogan: Navigating the minefield of family dynamics

"Sometimes we can really question our levels of merriment: ‘I don’t have the Christmas feeling this year’ or ‘it doesn’t feel like Christmas at all’."

Thu, 22 Dec, 2022

Elementary age girl being bullied at school.

Richard Hogan: How do you help your child who's being bullied?

Every fibre in your being wants to confront that bully and sort them out so they think twice about messing with your child

Wed, 05 Oct, 2022

Female Gamer playing esports

Richard Hogan: Why you need to get rules in place for kids' screen time

Boundaries are a gift, you can have them without being a dictator

Wed, 21 Sep, 2022