# column

All time

Voices

Maeve Higgins: This week's Supreme Court case could shape how Ireland deals with climate change for years to come

The Supreme Court is hearing an important appeal by Irish climate activists today and tomorrow.

29.1k

Jun 22nd 2020, 11:21 AM

Voices

'I read, watch movies, listen to music... My life, as a trans woman, is very ordinary indeed'

‘People out there will tell you being transgender is as simple as filling in a form. I can assure you that it is not,’ writes Aoife Martin.

30.0k

Jun 12th 2020, 7:00 AM

Voices

'Racism is the knee on our neck, making it hard to breathe'

Seeing that police man kneeling George Floyd’s neck, that’s an image of what it feels like living in Ireland sometimes, writes anti-racism activist Diane Ihirwe.

28.8k

109

Jun 4th 2020, 7:00 AM

# watching from honduras

Football is a universal language: A Champions League final experience like no other

Emma Duffy remembers watching the 2018 Champions League final while volunteering in Honduras.

3.1k

May 30th 2020, 7:30 AM

Voices

Opinion: 'The HSE should reverse centralisation policy to avoid disastrous waiting lists'

Dr Naveed Abbas argues that peripheral hospitals should return to doing more complex surgeries once this emergency has passed.

17.3k

May 8th 2020, 7:00 AM

# column

The Irish team living and training in Spain

Mark Downey on what it’s like to be based in Majorca for a substantial portion of the year.

4.7k

May 1st 2020, 6:00 AM

# column

'I don't want to waste time and energy on a relationship. It sounds selfish, but it's what I need to do'

Mark Downey on the sacrifices often required in elite sport.

8.6k

Apr 24th 2020, 6:30 AM

# Hope

When will we see a Velodrome in Ireland?

Mark Downey looks at the state of Irish cycling in his latest column.

7.9k

Apr 17th 2020, 7:00 AM

# column

'The first year at times was embarrassing. 'These guys won a World Cup and now they can’t even compete''

Mark Downey recalls the difficult journey that ultimately led to securing a spot at the Olympics.

12.3k

Apr 10th 2020, 8:00 AM

Voices

'Nefarious actors are at the root of Covid-19 fake news - and they are part of dangerous geo-political games'

We have a habit of thinking in Ireland that the likes of Russia, China or the alt-right in the United States have no interest in our country. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case, writes Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher.

42.2k

Apr 7th 2020, 8:04 PM

# column

'Time with mum and dad is time I never really would have got if something like this didn't happen'

Mark Downey on the life of an athlete under lockdown, featuring Fortnite, scones and childhood memories.

4.5k

Apr 3rd 2020, 7:00 AM

# column

Johnny Ward: The Dundalk controversy that has Irish horse racing talking

Events of last Friday, which involved a 1-2 for trainer Denis Hogan, have been referred to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

60.0k

Mar 27th 2020, 9:32 PM

# column

Why not prepping for the Olympics feels a bit like the days when I avoided homework in school

In the first of a series of columns, track cyclist Mark Downey gives his thoughts on Tokyo 2020′s postponement.

2.2k

Mar 27th 2020, 7:00 AM

# column

'We're all missing social contact, gatherings and friends now. Football will be important on our way back'

John O’Sullivan looks at how this unprecedented period will affect Ireland’s top clubs and the people involved.

3.0k

Mar 25th 2020, 1:11 PM

# column

Whatever about the British government, Irish racing can hold its head high

The decision to allow Cheltenham to continue today has been heavily criticised but the HRI has correctly opted to go behind closed doors, writes Johnny Ward.

9.2k

Mar 13th 2020, 2:35 PM

# festival season

Expert view: How you should view these 5 Cheltenham favourites

Donn McClean runs the rule over Altior, Paisley Park, A Plus Tard, Champ and Envoi Allen as race week approaches.

6.7k

Feb 26th 2020, 5:34 PM

Voices

Opinion: It's time to get real about heroin addiction. It's time to decriminalise this drug

Dr Austin O’Carroll says decriminalisation would be a way of taking responsibility for the vicious effects of inequality.

29.0k

Feb 19th 2020, 7:00 AM

# column

Donn McClean: 2020 Grand National wouldn't be the same without Tiger Roll

It would be like the 1978 Grand National without Red Rum, or Grandstand without Des Lynam.

2.3k

Feb 12th 2020, 4:29 PM

Voices

Lise Hand: We might get a female taoiseach but gender balance stays stubbornly skewed

Ireland had six crucial decades when the nation was being shaped where women were absent from the top table of government. But what now?, asks Lise Hand.

28.0k

Feb 11th 2020, 12:02 AM

# ge2020

Lise Hand: 'Nobody wiped the floor with anyone else... except perhaps Miriam O'Callaghan'

A behind-the-scenes look at last night’s RTÉ Leaders’ Debate.

55.2k

111

Feb 5th 2020, 11:10 AM

Voices

The Irish For: Was Dracula's name inspired by Gaeilge? Probably not, but coincidence can be lovely

There are plenty of linguistic similarities between Irish and other languages.

14.6k

Feb 2nd 2020, 8:30 AM

# column

Donn McClean: So many questions ahead of fascinating weekend at Dublin Racing Festival

Will it be Chacun Pour Soi or A Plus Tard?

2.5k

Feb 1st 2020, 12:44 PM

Voices

Lise Hand: Most voters in the real world don’t give a monkey's if Leo Varadkar smoked hash

The bleak first week of the election campaign meant any moment of lighter drama was welcomed by all, writes Lise Hand.

20.9k

Jan 26th 2020, 7:00 AM

# column

Honeysuckle growing stronger with De Bromhead set to dominate Dublin festival

Donn McClean lamented the mare’s absence from Cheltenham, but expects to see it shine again next week.

2.8k

Jan 22nd 2020, 10:18 AM

# column

Young Limerick jockey McNamara enjoying hot streak

Having claimed a first win for his father in 2018, Conor has had sustained success with Gavin Cromwell of late, writes Donn McClean.

4.9k

Jan 16th 2020, 11:21 AM

Voices

The Irish For: Toss a Word to Your Witcher, O'Language of Plenty

Viewers of Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’ will recognise some Gaeilge, writes Darach Ó Séaghdha.

30.3k

Jan 12th 2020, 8:30 AM

Voices

Anti-abortion protests at hospitals: How have other countries handled them and what's the way forward here?

The problem with drawing up legislation on exclusion zones is that there are competing rights involved, writes lecturer in constitutional law Dr Laura Cahillane.

27.5k

181

Jan 11th 2020, 1:00 PM

Voices

The Irish For: The word 'dote' was used in Britain before it came to Ireland - and that's ok

Word usage is like a conga line at a wedding – nobody thinks the person at the front is an artistic visionary, but the second and third people to join in create the legitimacy for others to attach themselves

27.6k

Jan 5th 2020, 11:00 AM

Voices

From the Garden: Looks aren't everything - consider growing celeriac in this year's veg patch

It is a delicious vegetable included in mashed potato or even grated raw.

9.7k

Jan 4th 2020, 1:00 PM

# column

Johnny Ward: Cheltenham should be careful what it wishes for with five-day debate

Our columnist on the prospect of change for the March racing showpiece.

4.9k

Jan 3rd 2020, 2:51 PM

Voices

From the Garden: Growing tired of leftover turkey? Put it in a pie

It’s time to start thinking about next year’s garden as 2020 creeps ever-closer.

13.6k

Dec 28th 2019, 12:45 PM

# column

Johnny Ward: Bull roars to dramatic victory in festive Leopardstown test

There was a memorable soundtrack as Jack Kennedy took the main prize on Day 2 of the Christmas Festival.

4.3k

Dec 27th 2019, 6:45 PM

# column

Johnny Ward: Racing in Limerick, Faugheen captures hearts at Leopardstown

Our columnist reports from the first day of the Christmas Festival.

4.1k

Dec 26th 2019, 5:38 PM

Voices

Saoirse McHugh: Planting trees is one area where we can't wait for the government to come around

Mayo seems to have had a particularly savage spate of tree felling recently, writes Saoirse McHugh.

17.9k

Dec 22nd 2019, 8:30 PM

Voices

The Irish For: I'm getting tired of the same Christmas pop hits - here are some alternatives

What harm if we learn some words as Gaeilge along the way?

12.2k

Dec 22nd 2019, 8:30 AM

Voices

From the Garden: Get over your squeamishness - manure is gold dust for your veg patch

In other news, here’s a recipe for some creamy Brussels sprouts to posh up your Christmas dinner.

10.7k

Dec 21st 2019, 2:00 PM

# column

Johnny Ward: All-weather track in Tipperary could see Dundalk suffer greatly

There is clamour for a second all-weather track among trainers in Ireland, but Tipperary is not the answer.

11.4k

Dec 20th 2019, 2:09 PM

Voices

The Irish For: Cabbage in bed and fruit in a sock - a few lost rituals to help find a suitor

Here are some traditions described in an Irish poem that claim to help find a suitor.

19.3k

Dec 15th 2019, 8:30 AM

Voices

From the Garden: Eat your (locally grown) vegetables this Christmas

There is always a price to cheap food, writes Michael Kelly.

10.8k

Dec 14th 2019, 1:00 PM

Voices

Katy Hayward: The very basis on which Northern Ireland was created has been ripped up by the election

Northern Ireland has elected a group of MPs more moderate and more diverse than the parliament they are entering, writes Katy Hayward.

39.7k

Dec 14th 2019, 12:06 PM