Ian O'Doherty

Compassion: Activist Gail O’Rorke with a picture of her friend Bernadette Forde, whom she helped. Photo: Gerry Mooney

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion We should give people who are dying in great pain the option to end their suffering

In what will probably become known as the Year of the Covid, 2020 has focused our minds on mortality. It hasn't been pleasant. It hasn't been easy. Many of us are now more conscious of our own eventual departure than we might have been in those simpler days before the pandemic.

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Fillets of jellyfish? Actually, maybe that's not such a bad idea after all

Ah here, did you ever hear of anything as stupid in your life?

Face-off: US President Donald Trump and Democrat challenger Joe Biden go head to head next week

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Biden risks playing into Trump's tiny hands on big fight night

Let's get ready to rumble!

Unrest on the streets: Protesters at an anti-vax protest in Trafalgar Square, London, at the weekend. Photo: Yui Mok

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Another year like this and people will begin to believe the bonkers conspiracy theories

The country may have spent the last few days basking in the warm rays of an Indian summer's sunshine, but seldom has the national mood been so dark and bleak.

Etiquette: Wearing a mask simply means that you don't want to potentially spread the virus to someone else. That's simply being a good neighbour.

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When did trying to stop Covid make you a slave of the State?

For a man of many witticisms, it's funny that my old mate George Byrne is remembered for a one-liner with only two syllables.

You must be joking: Trump, who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, can't even keep peace amongst his own staff

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Peace in our time - Donald Trump style

I think we've all accepted that 2020 is just drunk out of its mind and needs to get its coat and go home. The world has gone completely topsy-turvy since March and if this year was a person, we'd all have a barring order against it.

Quiet pint: John Joe Quinn in McGinn’s Hop House in Woodquay, Galway

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John Joe reminds us to be careful about jumping to conclusions

It was the picture that seemed to paint a thousand words - and none of them good.

Quiet night: ‘Could the death of our traditional and world famous pub culture be one of the changes wrought by this major health crisis?’

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion What if they allowed all of our city pubs to open again - and nobody came?

Let the confusion continue. After numerous rumours about the hastened reopening of so-called "wet pubs", Tánaiste Leo Varadkar appeared to pour some cold water on the idea in front of the media yesterday.

Tied up in knots: Wearing a Jamaican-flag bikini, Adele took to Instagram with the caption: 'Happy what would (normally) be Notting Hill my beloved London'

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion If race-baiters get their own way, we'll all be living in ethnic boxes

Sometimes you just can't win. Ask Adele.

Protest: A Black Lives Matter demonstrator holds a scimitar in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where violent protests have taken place in recent weeks. Photo: Jim Vondruska/Reuters

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion As US descends into mob rule ahead of vote, president will benefit most

As we wave goodbye to a summer we would all rather forget and face into a winter which promises to be memorable for all the wrong reasons, the pre-election mood in the Divided States of America is becoming uglier than ever.

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You know things are weird when Jedward are the voice of reason

Forgive me for mentioning the rapidly approaching winter, but a thought struck me the other day.

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Even when we get back to normality, will we remember what normal was?

I was talking to a friend the other day - yes, I actually do have some - and he admitted that he had no desire to go back to the pub.

Family rift: Kellyanne Conway has quit as Donald Trump’s aide after her teenage daughter’s angry tirade. PHOTO: REUTERS

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Ian O’Doherty Opinion Lecturing Democrats clearly haven't learned the lessons of four years ago

Just when you think things couldn't get even more difficult for Donald Trump, he has now had to accept the resignation of one of his closest advisers, Kellyanne Conway.

The truth is out there: Mulder and Scully in The X-Files

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I want to believe the US is about to tell us the truth about UFOs

Like most reasonably mature and secular people, I don't believe in ghosts.

Many elderly people cocooned over the lockdown

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We're in this together? Try telling that to the over-70s who followed the rules

I was speaking to a neighbour the other day and it's fair to say that she wasn't in the best of form.

Frustration: Video of high jinks at Dublin venue Berlin D2 at the weekend left people across the country incensed. PHOTO: GARETH CHANEY/COLLINS

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Footage from Berlin D2 is a stark reminder that we're not all in this together

Is there something in the water around Dame Lane?

Joe Biden will duel with Donald Trump for the presidency (AP)

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Get the popcorn in - this US election is going to be hilarious

I've often said that politics is too important to take seriously - we need to have a bit of levity amid all the despair.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Photo: REUTERS/Hannah McKay

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Pity poor Harry and Meghan - the world's most oppressed couple

I must admit, I've never paid much attention to the British royal family.

Privacy issues: Harry and Meghan’s search for seclusion has led them to Santa Barbara, a favourite hunting ground for the US paparazzi

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Pity poor Harry and Meghan - the world's most oppressed couple

I must admit, I've never paid much attention to the British royal family.

Covered: A woman wearing a face mask leaves a Starbucks in Belfast Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion The more we rush to get things back to normal, the longer it will take to get there

I took my usual stroll up to the shops on Sunday to buy the newspapers. Halfway up the road, I stopped in my tracks and slapped my forehead in frustration - yet again, I'd left the house without something I needed.

Be careful what you say and do - it will be used against you in 20 years

It's a rare day in Ireland when everyone can agree on something. With John Hume's passing this week, it seemed we had found one of those days.

Pub doors have been locked since March. Photo: REUTERS/Lorraine O'Sullivan/File Photo

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We can wave goodbye to the traditional pub

The decision to delay Monday's planned reopening of 'wet' pubs wasn't much of a surprise. But it was a kick in the teeth for 3,500 establishments that have been shut down since the middle of March. Now many of them will never open their doors again.