By Paul Bradley Hi Natasha. How has your restaurant, Nonna’s, been going for you since opening in Letterkenny? We just celebrated our first anniversary in Letterkenny, four doors up from our first place here in 2007-2010, Little Italy. It’s been a great year in which we have built up a regular base of lovely customers, […]
Parenting Column: The last thing parents need is snotty judgement from others
Premium
Myself and my husband headed off for not one, but two nights away from the kids to mark our 15th wedding anniversary last weekend. Over the years, we have very occasionally left them in the care of family members while we sneaked away for one night, but this was our first time taking two whole […]
Parenting: Pride isn’t something for us to fear
Letterkenny Pride hosted a coffee morning, bake sale and a thrift fundraiser at the weekend. Their aim was to raise money to help them hold the Letterkenny Pride parade at the end of August. A Pride parade celebrates LGBTQ+ visibility, inclusivity, achievement and of course, pride. I saw on Facebook that they had to move […]
FRESH TAKE: A5 decision fits a pattern of failure, delay and dysfunction
Premium
By Sabrina Sweeney Events in a Belfast courtroom rarely feel relevant to people in Donegal. But the ruling from Mr Justice McAlinden this week, which puts the A5 dual carriageway in jeopardy again, is frustrating at best but fatal at worst. This is the third time in 18 years that plans to transform one of […]
Parenting Column: What to do with the kids now that summer’s here
Premium
School’s out for summer! Like other parents, I won’t miss the lunches, the uniforms, the homework or the morning scramble for the next few months. A slower pace of life awaits most of us as the summer holidays begin for primary school children. For many parents, school closure can create a headache as they juggle […]
Should schools take a back seat when it comes to Communions and Confirmations?
Premium
We’re well and truly in the thick of First Communion season. My own son, Evan, made his First Holy Communion last weekend. We had a fabulous day. The dry weather was a great bonus and everyone was very chilled out. Having celebrated my daughter Lucy’s Communion three years ago, I found it all much more […]
Parenting column: The importance of pelvic floor exercises – especially for mums
Premium
During the recent spell of good weather, I was out messing on the trampoline with the kids. A couple of bounces was all I could manage before my bladder warned me to stop! After you give birth, you do get advised to do your postpartum pelvic floor exercises, but it is something many of us […]
PARENTING COLUMN: Speed at which changes to Leaving Cert are being introduced is alarming
Premium
Over 20 years on, I still have recurring nightmares about my Leaving Cert maths exam. Sometimes, I even have one of those weird dreams where you know it’s a dream but you still have to go through the motions: ‘It’s ok, Louise, it’s just a dream. You’re 41 now and Leaving Cert maths actually went […]
Parenting Column: Mums to be should pack separate bags for the labour and maternity wards
Premium
Each time I was expecting, I relished the thought of packing my hospital bag. It’s one of the most practical – and oddly satisfying – ways to prepare for Baby’s arrival. It felt good to be organised in spite of the uncertainty of the labour ahead. As it turns out, I was lucky to have […]
Parenting Column: Children should be encouraged to learn a musical instrument
Premium
Last weekend, my daughter Lucy performed in An Grianán Theatre as part of Letterkenny Music and Drama’s Junior crew. Their variety show was called Socks Off and included a whole array of singing, dancing and drama sketches. It was fabulous to see the kids shine on stage. Thank you to producer, Fiona McDaid, for all […]