Irish Independent Opinion - Columnists, Analysis, Editorial & Letters

Shoppers at the turning on of the Christmas lights at Bewley’s Café and launching the Bewley’s Christmas Market last weekend. In the past, December 8 was synonymous with 'country folk' travelling to cities to do their Christmas shopping. Photo: Marc O'Sullivan

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Miriam O’Callaghan Opinion Immaculate memories of when ‘country people’ went to town for the big Christmas shop

The season of goodwill is almost upon us, but before that is the day of Original Sin – or rather the lack of. Because today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, when in the Middle East, Anna conceived Mary without it. The feast is still celebrated, albeit secularly, in mainland Europe.

Opinion

Miriam O’Callaghan Opinion Immaculate memories of when ‘country people’ went to town for the big Christmas shop

Drastic action we need to tackle climate change is still missing

Letters to the Editor Opinion Treaty anniversary should be marked by a public holiday

Mary Kenny Opinion How Hazel Lavery played a key role for Ireland behind the scenes of Anglo-Irish Treaty talks

Shannon Watts Opinion Secure gun storage laws can prevent school massacres

John Downing Opinion The euro will mark its 20th birthday by investing in a facelift to soften its image

Andreas Kluth Opinion True impact of school closures won’t be felt for years

Frank Coughlan Opinion The Christmas shop: A little piece of purgatory on Earth

Editorial Opinion Treaty shows that all sides have a right to be heard

Letters to the Editor Opinion To the unvaccinated: this jab could be a lifeline to others

John Daly Opinion Revival of the corner shop would do your heart good

We have dropped our guard and it is just not good enough

Editorial Opinion Children cannot be left to bear the brunt of Covid restrictions

Joy-Tendai Kangere Opinion As a migrant, Christmas is often a time of sadness and missing your family rather than joy

Global vaccine inequity has come home to roost

Why are we shouldering burden of climate action?

As Greens mark 40 years as a party, they can aim to do far more than just survive

Comment

Sinead Ryan Opinion If you want more Lotto winners, put a cap of €5m on the jackpot

Shannon Watts Opinion Secure gun storage laws can prevent school massacres

Mary Kenny Opinion How Hazel Lavery played a key role for Ireland behind the scenes of Anglo-Irish Treaty talks

Miriam O’Callaghan Opinion Immaculate memories of when ‘country people’ went to town for the big Christmas shop

Frank Coughlan Opinion The Christmas shop: A little piece of purgatory on Earth

Andreas Kluth Opinion True impact of school closures won’t be felt for years

John Downing Opinion The euro will mark its 20th birthday by investing in a facelift to soften its image

Anne-Marie Tomchak Opinion We need to get over our bungalow bias and embrace their sustainable potential

Analysis

John Downing Opinion Fear of the Omicron variant is abating but the Delta virus war still poses big threats for everyone

Olaf Scholz: The robotic German pragmatist set to become Europe’s power player

Richard Curran Opinion As hospitality gets knocked back yet again, the challenge is even greater for retailers

John Downing Opinion Difficult days for Boris Johnson as US gets tough over protocol risks – then Macron sticks the boot in

John Downing Opinion EU states’ ‘vax wars’ are heating up as spread of Omicron raises the stakes

Larissa Nolan Opinion A day to remind men of their most admirable attributes

Ian O'Doherty Opinion World leaders pretend as Cop26 fails to deliver

Justin Huggler, Berlin Opinion ‘The Putin whisperer’ Merkel can’t ride to the rescue this time

Letters

Letters to the Editor Opinion Treaty anniversary should be marked by a public holiday

Letters to the Editor Opinion To the unvaccinated: this jab could be a lifeline to others

Letters to the Editor Opinion Justice Minister can’t just decide to ignore our laws

Letters to the Editor Opinion Letter of the week: Boosters are fine, but spare a thought for the poor countries

Letters to the Editor Opinion Time to upgrade modern school ventilation systems instead of relying on opening windows

Luck of the draw when it comes to governing country

Beware the false promise of a meaningful Christmas

We have dropped our guard and it is just not good enough

Editorial

Drastic action we need to tackle climate change is still missing

Editorial Opinion Treaty shows that all sides have a right to be heard

Editorial Opinion Unclear messaging merely heightens public anxiety

Transforming the lives of desperate people

Lessons of past pandemic setbacks to see us through

Patience serves a lot better than panicked reactions

Parents and principals try to make sense of masks issue

Editorial Opinion Children cannot be left to bear the brunt of Covid restrictions