Journalists

Illustrator Aoife Dooley reveals how autism has given her a unique take on life that inspires Nikita cartoons 

'I knew I wasn't like everyone else. I just didn't know what it was." We all go through stages of feeling like we don't fit in, but for Dubliner Aoife Dooley, it was more than a short-lived phase; it was a life-long hang-up.

Thank you for the costumes - ‘We figured with our clothes, people would remember us even if we finished ninth’ 

There's a time and a place for white over-the-knee boots; ruffled trousers are a flagrant fire hazard and you might want to give the 'Super Trouper' disco poncho a miss for lunch with the in-laws.

Katie Byrne: Bad marriages can cause serious harm to health, so why do people stay in them? 

We've long heard about the benefits of a good marriage - lower cholesterol, better heart health and increased longevity, to name but a few.

'I give thanks that I'm alive because a lot of crazy stuff happened - I mean crazy' - BP Fallon reflects on extraordinary music career 

With his trademark bowler hat and black Converse shoes, BP Fallon looks every inch the rockstar as he poses for photographs in Dublin's Freemasons' Hall.

Jog your memory 

I've lost count of the number of younger people who have told me that their memory isn't what it once was.

How to wear... the trouser suit 

If you've struggled to find a trouser suit that flatters your figure, this is the season to go shopping. For AW18, jackets come in all shapes and sizes: double-breasted, single-breasted, oversized, cropped, peplum and belted…

In high esteem 

Confidence is arguably one of the most important factors that determines success, but there are times when it doesn't come so easily.

Are you addicted to exercise? 

Last year, fitness blogger Erin Thomas - aka 'Queen City Sweat' - took to Instagram to show her followers what happens when a healthy habit metamorphoses into a harmful addiction.

Being thin has its advantages, but there is nothing 'privileged' about counting calories 

Blogger Cora Harrington got everyone talking earlier this week when her Twitter thread on 'thin privilege' went viral. Harrington, editor-in-chief of The Lingerie Addict, believes that thin people enjoy special advantages, and she used her own experiences as a slim woman to illustrate them.

'Once your kids go beyond infanthood, spend time sitting with an arm around them' - Why touch is vital, according to Irish experts 

Every month in Bray, Co Wicklow, a group of between 10 and 20 people come together to hug, snuggle and cuddle.

Grooming the groom - ‘Nowadays, we have men coming in to book a course of facials’ 

As a self-proclaimed ‘California girl’, it was only a matter of time before Meghan Markle introduced Britain's Prince Harry to the joys of kale smoothies.

The Liz Hurley guide to taking flattering swimwear shots 

Another day, another photograph of Liz Hurley in a bikini. The latest shot was taken in the gardens of her Herefordshire mansion and shows her performing a modified starfish pose on a sun lounger (we don't understand it either).

No text please, we're married - Nicole Kidman might be on to something with her marriage rule 

If you've ever texted your partner from another room, you might want to take notice of Nicole Kidman's relationship rule.

Johnny and the cult of cool: Most men grow out of this hellraiser phase but Depp feels inexplicable pressure to live up to the legend 

The brutal Johnny Depp interview in the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine has divided opinion. Some think the journalist took advantage of Depp's delicate mental state; others think the actor was simply the victim of his own ego.

Katie Byrne: The good habits to get you closer to a better work-life ratio 

They say life is a balancing act but I'm beginning to realise that 'act' is the operative work.

How to make your relationship last: Seven commandments for a modern marriage 

Wondering how to keep the candle burning bright in your romantic relationship?

The good marriage guide: Is Jilly Cooper's 'sexist' book on relationships in any way relevant today? 

Almost 50 years ago, Jilly Cooper wrote a guidebook aimed at the recently married. How To Stay Married had advice on sex, rows and in-laws, and even though the author had only been married to her late husband, Leo Cooper, for seven years when she wrote the book, it quickly became a bestseller.

Nips, tucks and fibs: when should you admit to cosmetic surgery? 

Actress Jane Fonda has never denied having plastic surgery but, like many women of her generation, it isn't a topic she likes to talk about.

Holiday mindset 

I'm not looking forward to the day that in-flight WiFi becomes readily, and cheaply, available on airplanes.

Meghan and Harry's Dublin mini-moon: A two-day itinerary for a royal couple's capital trip 

We quivered when he lifted her veil. We swooned when they kissed on the chapel steps. We pored over every tiny detail that emerged from their wedding reception.

Everyday spirituality 

A friend of mine recently described a concert he attended as a "religious experience" so intense that he burst into tears during the finale.

Katie Byrne on how to watch the British royal wedding 

At 11.59am tomorrow, Meghan Markle will arrive at the west steps of St George's Chapel and give the world the first glimpse of her bridal gown.

Katie Byrne: Guest of dishonour - why we can all relate to Meghan Markle’s guest list saga 

In an EastEnders-worthy will-he-won't-he? turn of events, Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, was last night reported to have backtracked on his plans to miss out on his daughter's wedding.

Katie Byrne: The sudden torrent of mum-shaming seems to be rising in tandem with 'mum guilt' 

"When you judge another," said the late author Earl Nightingale, "you do not define them, you define yourself."

A leading think tank proposes that every Millennial receive an €11K lump sum at 25 years - but is this a good idea? 

Millennials don’t get it easy. They’ve been maligned as the ‘Snowflake Generation’; criticised for their apparent lack of workplace nous and blamed for destroying everything from bricks-and-mortar retail to dinner dates and cursive writing.

Sister act: how to be the perfect in-law 

In less than two weeks, Meghan Markle will walk down the aisle with Prince Harry in what is surely the most anticipated TV event of the year.

'I came through adversity... sports and fitness saved my life' - Footballer Philly McMahon 

I’M barely in the door of the BeDo7 head office when the gaffer makes himself known. There’s a brief stand-off, a once-over and a few cursory sniffs before Hugo the chow-chow succumbs to the rubs and tickles.

Katie Byrne: It's time to get out of your head, and listen to your body 

A friend of mine, a fellow yogi, was recently asked to demonstrate a yoga posture during a class.

Meet the Irish dairy farmer who went to live with Maasai women in Kenya 

Once there, she found the patriarchal culture challenging and the poverty devastating, but the bond she made with the Maasai women is something she'll treasure forever, she tells our reporter.

Abortion in Ireland: How would it work? 

It's less than a month until the Referendum on the Eighth Amendment and uncertainty abounds.

How new mum Kate Middleton was ready for her close-up in less than seven hours 

It was business as usual for Kate Middleton as she stood on the steps of St Mary's Hospital and introduced her third child to the world on Monday evening.

Six ways to keep wedding costs down for guests 

We often hear about the hidden costs of hosting a wedding (cake-cutting, corkage, etc) but less is said about the hidden costs of attending a wedding, especially for certain guests.

Katie Byrne: It's wedding season, and your ticket is non-refundable 

Love is in the air, peonies are in season and gilt-edged invites are beginning to stack up.

House-sharing through the ages 

Francis Brennan has always enjoyed the finer things in life: Egyptian cotton, China tea cups and, as he revealed in a recent interview, living alone. "I've lived on my own now for 55 or so years," said the hotelier and TV personality, "and I have got very used to my own ways."

IBS: Battling the pain and stigma of an irritable bowel 

The tests came back clear. You don't have coeliac disease or gluten-intolerance and there's no evidence of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Katie Byrne: It takes blood, sweat and tears to get a body like Halle’s 

Trying to get fit? You're not trying hard enough, according to Halle Berry who has recently transitioned into an Instagram Fitspo star with an unashamedly militant streak.

Unhappy camper: The seven key signs that you’ve outgrown music festivals 

Festival season gets underway in a few months and tickets are selling like hot cakes.

A perfect storm 

I once spent six months looking for a sofa. Furniture showrooms were searched, custom sofa websites were scanned and, still, I couldn't find anything that hit the hat-trick of comfort, style and value.

Losing weight and saving face 

You cut out the complex carbs. You exercised three times a week. You even took the time to weigh 30g of nuts for your mid-morning snack. But now, months after embarking on the latest fad diet, you've noticed that the weight you lost is slowly, but surely, creeping back on.

Beyoncé, Colin Firth and the new rules for overcoming infidelity 

The once-troubled marriage of Beyoncé and Jay-Z looks like it's stronger than ever after the couple announced that they'll be hitting the road together for a worldwide tour in June.

Katie Byrne: Most of us still don't realise just how good we've got it 

An 'attitude of gratitude' has emerged as the antidote to modern ills in recent years.

12 ways to protect your hearing 

We get our eyes tested, our blood pressure checked and our cholesterol monitored. Our hearing health, on the other hand, is often overlooked.

Dancing with Stardom: Bláthnaid Treacy on carving out a career niche and her prime-time ambitions 

Two distinct camps of people emerged during Snowmageddon. The first group, the forward thinkers, fetched shovels from their sheds and bought enough bread to last a week. The second group, the pleasure seekers, kept themselves busy sending memes, building igloos and turning laundry baskets into DIY sleighs. It's obvious which group Bláthnaid Treacy falls into...

Nutella, Joyeux, MJ — do inventive baby names lead to playground bullying? 

Yet another couple have been reported to the name police in France - this time for trying to call their baby girl Liam.

'I had a rash on my legs and it turned out to be a rare kidney disease' - Irish woman (29) 

Liz Cusack wasn't especially concerned when she noticed a rash on her legs and arms in 2006. It was probably an allergic reaction to laundry detergent, she surmised. Or maybe it was the stress of the upcoming Leaving Certificate.

Katie Byrne: Escape the cult of busy by working smarter rather than harder 

There was a time - and it wasn't that long ago - when the word 'productivity' was used to describe labour and output.

Katie Byrne: Go full hygge and take a moment to stop and enjoy the show 

The Beast from the East is here and, once again, Irish people are proving that there is no such thing as calm before a storm.

A home away from home - ‘The majority of people said they had something good to offer children’ 

Niamh Bonner always knew she wanted to do something altruistic after she qualified as a nurse. She saw herself volunteering in Africa but the pressure to meet mortgage repayments and the precarious nature of work kept her and her now-husband David closer to home shores.

Picture this... Vision needs action, just as action needs vision 

Actress Gabrielle Union recently revealed that she makes a vision board displaying her dreams, hopes and ambitions, every year.

The hidden epidemic: How Ireland has become addicted to benzodiazepines 

The online market for highly-addictive benzodiazepines is booming, but what effect is it having on our health? Katie Byrne reports on Ireland’s love affair with sedatives

Don't ask twice: the new rules for dating at work 

The cultural shift of the #MeToo movement has made us all sit up and rethink the way we behave in the workplace. Men and women are talking more openly about what constitutes sexual harassment at work (and why a mug emblazoned with 'Office Perv' might not be the best choice of Kris Kindle gift…).

Katie Byrne: Changing your attitude towards money requires asking yourself tough questions 

How much do you earn? It should be a straightforward enough question when we reveal our relationship status on Facebook and our dinner plans on Twitter.

Blades of Glory: from a GAA dynasty to the ice rink 

The typical competitive figure skater tends to follow a certain trajectory. They start when they are very young; they train consistently and relentlessly and they have easy access to a local ice rink that becomes their home from home.

The seven types of Valentine's Day every woman has experienced 

A rose is a rose is a rose, wrote the late Gertrude Stein, but any woman who has lived through enough Valentine’s Days will know that not every rose is created equal.

Modern Life: The seven types of Valentine's Day every woman has experienced 

A rose is a rose is a rose, wrote the late Gertrude Stein, but any woman who has lived through enough Valentine's Days will know that not every rose is created equal.

8 ways to be mindful every day 

Ten years ago, mindfulness was something of a fringe activity promoted by New Age types and yoga practitioners. These days, it's a mainstream movement that is helping an increasing number of people to manage stress and cope with the breakneck speed of modern life.

'I haven't seen the episode yet but it will be hard enough to watch' - Dermot Bannon on Room to Improve bust up with Daniel O'Donnell 

They say a house renovation always costs more than you had budgeted and takes longer than you anticipated.

A long day in January: 7 things that happen during the month that never ends 

Twitter craic merchant NasMaraj caught the mood of the moment last week when he posted a viral tweet about the month that won't go away.

Straining to relate 

Have you ever taken the time to think back upon the decisions you made while under stress, or wondered what role tension may have played in conflicts and disagreements?

Victim or victor? Take responsibility for your own happiness 

The late writer Nora Ephron had plenty of wisdom to impart when she addressed the graduates of private women's college Wellesley, in Boston, in 1996, but one line in particular stood out. "Above all," she said to the women seated in front of her, "be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

Katie Byrne: Does ‘micro-cheating’ legitimise relationship insecurities? 

Did you smile for just a little bit too long at the handsome barista who passed you your coffee this morning? Did you steal a glance at your ex's Facebook page to break the monotony of the long bus journey? Did you forget, for even the briefest of moments, that you shouldn't show interest in anyone other than your beloved?

Today is Blue Monday: The importance of social connection when our spirits are low 

Today is Blue Monday, purportedly the most depressing day of the year, but actually a protracted PR stunt that gained ground through pseudo-science and click-baiting.

Walk the talk - this year's big fitness trend 

We always look for new and novel ways to shift the festive pounds in January, hence the glut of diet books at the top of best-seller lists and the sudden interest in the latest fitness trends.

Making a statement: when fashion designers become social justice crusaders 

How do you stand out at an event where the dress code is all black? That was clearly the question on many minds ahead of Sunday's Golden Globes, where most of the attendees wore black in a show of solidarity with the #MeToo movement.

Katie Byrne: Why do women who are childless by circumstance feel compelled to take the road less travelled? 

If you're one of the unfortunate women trying to buy Cystopurin today, you've probably discovered by now that your local pharmacy is out of stock.

Shall we Dance? Deirdre O'Kane and Tomás O'Leary on their plans to win Dancing with the Stars 

Comedian and actress Deirdre O'Kane didn't have to think twice when she was asked to take part in the second season of RTÉ's Dancing with the Stars. Her answer was an emphatic and unequivocal no. Not now, not ever. No, no and no.

'I will start a morning ritual... that includes rashers' - A rebel’s eight-step guide to New Year’s resolutions 

And so it's almost time to atone for our festive sins by drawing up the annual list of unachievable New Year's resolutions.

Thinking of embarking on a 2018 fitness plan? Think twice before you tell the world 

In a week's time, Christmas will be over and we'll all be thinking towards our New Year's resolutions. A few days later and our social media feeds will be clogged up with the digital manifestos of friends and family members announcing their personal goals and plans to join Crossfit.

Christmas survival guide 

The most wonderful time of the year can also throw up all sorts of health hazards and seasonal stressors. We've rounded up a group of well-being experts to find out how to enjoy a happy - and healthy - Christmas.

Taking stock: It's important to look back at the year just gone before you can look ahead 

It's around this time of the year that companies start rolling out their employee performance appraisals. These one-on-one reviews can be daunting, but most employees that are managed well will agree that they are practical and, for the most part, helpful.

'Regifting is absolutely no problem' - experts' etiquette tips for Christmas 

Do you need to invite the neighbours? What should you give the host? And how do you clear everyone out when you're ready for bed? We asked some of Ireland's seasoned party animals to share their wisdom...

How will Disney portray modern fathers now they have pledged to do away with dad stereotypes? 

Do you know those bumbling dads who inadvertently put red socks into the white wash, and unwittingly dress their children in Halloween costumes?

Katie Byrne: An enjoyable Christmas is possible if we know how happiness really works 

Christmas is supposed to be the season of goodwill and cheer, but as the singer Kesha recently pointed out in an essay for TIME magazine, it doesn't always have that effect.

Katie Byrne: What presents NOT to buy - Seven gifts guaranteed to hit a bum note 

What not to buy for your... mum

Well-being: Steeped in tradition 

Every family has their own time-honoured Christmas traditions. Some go sea swimming on Christmas morning; some don't get out of their pyjamas for the entire day.

Don't listen to Meghan's blind date advice 

Meghan Markle said she had just one question for the friend who set her up with Prince Harry: "Is he nice?"

Katie Byrne: Meghan Markle will shake up the Royal Family, but not in the way we may think 

The engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has been billed as a game-changing, ground-breaking shift for the Royal Family.

Working to ease the pain of passing 

Losing a loved one is never easy, but the pioneering Hospice Friendly Hospitals programme, now in its 10th year, makes it a little easier to bear. Those coping with the loss of a loved one tend not to remember the finer details of the hospital experience; yet they never forget if their loved one's last days weren't handled with the respect and reverence they deserved.

Your cheating heart: can a relationship survive an affair? 

Can a couple ever overcome an infidelity? That was the question on everyone's lips when The Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood and his wife Alexandra announced their separation after 20 years of marriage.

15 ways to maintain your skin's vitality 

The term 'anti-ageing' is slowly falling out of favour in the beauty industry. US-based magazine Allure recently banned the term from its pages. Meanwhile, there is an emerging trend towards products that promote vitality rather than youth, and a change of shift from 'defying' ageing, to accepting it as a natural process.

Jealousy, reframed 

Sometimes, when trying to overcome all-consuming emotions, it helps to reframe them... or at least peel away the layers to examine what's underneath.

Can a bra-holder help you navigate the age of uncertainty? 

What should canny investors put their money into next year? Cryptocurrencies? Lithium stocks? Property in Bucharest?

Sowing seeds: Tend to the garden that is your mind 

When we think of the self-development movement, our thoughts usually turn to the current crop of oratorical grandstanders who pound up and down convention centre stages, evangelising into detachable microphones.

Katie Byrne: At Christmas, it's the little things that send you over the edge, from the wonky tree to the in-laws 

The world is divided into two types of people: those who giddily tune into Christmas FM on November 28 of each year; and those who lose the will to live when they hear Mariah Carey explaining that she doesn't want a lot for Christmas for the third time that day.

This is one of the most requested books in US prison libraries 

Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power isn't a book that you want to be seen reading in public. It's not just because the book's bright red cover and flagrant title will attract attention, rather because the controversial content divides opinion.

Katie Byrne: Mick Jagger’s new girlfriend is 52 years his junior, but still old enough to know better 

Groucho Marx once opined that "a man's only as old as the woman he feels".

'Look to women that are intelligent and talented - don't look to the Kardashians, for God's sake!' - Imelda May talks women, music, and break-ups 

Artists who don’t like to be interviewed generally fall into one of two camps. The first group subjects the interviewer to monosyllabic answers, silences that seem to go on for days and an occasional weary sigh, just for effect. The second camp are much more obliging. They may not...

Welcome to the one-year-old club 

We all knew a bouncy castle and a piñata wasn't going to cut the mustard when Asahd Tuck Khaled, the son of American hip-hop producer DJ Khaled, celebrated his first birthday.

Katie Byrne: When we focus on urging victims to come forward, we lose sight of the perpetrator’s enablers 

The actress Minka Kelly apologised for staying silent when she became one of the growing group of women to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct via her Instagram account last week.

PCOS sufferer (37) on joy of getting pregnant after IVF journey that lasted six years 

While Alison Collins always knew she wanted to have children, she never expected to be weighing up her fertility options as a single woman in her early twenties.

Staying power: Perseverance is cultivated in small steps 

I've always been of the opinion that people tend to give up just before the final hurdle, but it was only recently that I began to wonder if this applied to small, daily tasks as much as it applies to big, far-reaching goals.

Reply now? It's Friday afternoon 

According to a recent survey, the average full-time UK office worker is only productive for 2 hours and 53 minutes of the work day.

There's one thing missing from today's models - and it's why they'll never be super 

The word iconic is overused, yet it's the only word that can describe the moment fashion designer Gianni Versace sent Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford down the runway to the soundtrack of George Michael's 'Freedom' in 1991.

Katie Byrne: In the real world, women like Huma Abedin overcome break-up heartache through reinvention 

Nancy Dell'Olio - remember her? Put on her highest heels and famously declared that she felt "fantastico" when it emerged that her boyfriend, Sven-Goran Eriksson, had an affair with fellow Swede Ulrika Jonsson.

Katie Byrne: 'Parents believe childless people are oblivious to life's pressures' 

It can be difficult to converse with one of my friends - a father of four - when I call him.

Just say feck it to the 'lagom' lifestyle 

In case you missed the memo, the Danish lifestyle concept of hygge is so last year. This is partly because our attempts at pronouncing it sounded like a drunken interpretation of the haka, but mostly because it was supplanted by the Swedish concept of lagom, which was in turn overtaken by the Japanese ethos of ikigai.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Happily every after...or disaster in waiting? 

Downton Abbey fans may remember the moment when Dowager Countess Violet Grantham turned to rival matriarch Martha Levinson, and sneered: "You Americans never understand the importance of tradition."

Meet the GAA power couples 

There was a lot to love about Dublin’s victory in the Ladies’ All-Ireland football final on Sunday, but two moments in particular warmed our hearts: Paul Flynn congratulating fiancée Fiona Hudson, and Dean Rock congratulating girlfriend Niamh McEvoy.

Queen Bey syndrome: why do some women make us feel less than perfect? 

It's strange that the team behind Lady Gaga's recently-released Netflix documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two, decided to leave one of the most tantalising vignettes until the very end.

Passion and purpose 

There are hundreds of books on the self-development shelf promising to help you find your life purpose, - identify your true calling and discover the work you were born to do.

Millennials: 'Their overconfidence at work can look delusional' 

What kind of employees do millennials make, and how is the working world adapting to meet their needs? A recruitment director, a career coach and a career management consultant weigh in.

Quelle horreur! What happens when French women do get fat? 

Thanks to author Mireille Guiliano, there is a widely-accepted belief that French women don't get fat. Our Gallic counterparts, she explained in her bestselling book, can eat pains au chocolat for breakfast and still fit into their Isabel Marant skinnies, and enjoy crusty white bread at lunch without falling into a carb-induced food coma at their desk an hour later.

Pooching grey matter to the test 

When James and Laura McIlvenna's Labrador chewed apart their wedding album during his early biting phase, the couple didn't growl or snap.

Want to lose a few pounds? Drop the diet and bio-hack your body instead 

After years of venture-capital schmoozing, elevator pitching and product evangelising, Silicon Valley techies tend to develop a technologically advanced capacity for hyperbole and hogwash.

Living a lie: Our capacity for self-deception is staggering 

We are often told that there are two types of deception: white lies, which are small, trifling and sometimes necessary; and black lies, which are sophisticated, complex and sometimes devastating.