Journalists

Katie Byrne: 'Avoid lovers' spats this festive season by learning how to resolve conflict' 

It's supposed to be the season of goodwill but for those in a long-term relationship, Christmas can also be the season of simmering tension and lovers' spats.

Katie Byrne: 'For all our talk about cutting back and making do, the trappings of Christmas have become more extravagant' 

Winter sun escapes... Family trips to Lapland.... Shopping breaks in New York... There were plenty of clues that this Christmas was going to become a consumerist orgy, which is why the latest forecast from Retail Ireland shouldn't come as that much of a surprise.

Katie Byrne: Don’t let the pressure to be perfect ruin your festive season 

Christmas Day is nearing and the pressure to have a perfect festive season is on.

Bad romance: The dark side of online dating 

John Daly* couldn't get over his luck when he matched with 'Sandra, 28' on Tinder. She was blonde, blue-eyed and beautiful - and unusually eager to progress their online flirtation to a real-world date.

"Going through cancer you have clarity - it is the only thing you focus on" 

In the last year, Dubliner Kay McKeon (39) has trained to be a yoga instructor in India, moved home to Ireland from New Zealand and moved back in with her parents. It is, by anyone's reckoning, a complete life-overhaul - and it was triggered by a life-threatening diagnosis.

'I'm just done being so hard on myself' - Irish professionals embracing the 'Slow Movement' 

We put an awful lot of pressure on ourselves during the self-improvement craze of early January. The 'New Year, New You' mantra drives us to make dramatic lifestyle changes, but it doesn't take us long to realise that starting a diet, joining a gym, taking up a new hobby, giving up alcohol and getting to inbox zero might be just a tad too ambitious.

Katie Byrne: 'January blues? How to spot all those smug folk who are, grrr, #LovingLife in 2019 (and avoid them)' 

The annual exodus to Barbados is upon us, as pictures of sun-kissed, Pilates-honed celebrities wash up on the shores of red-top newspapers around the world. The January holiday to the Caribbean is something of a tradition among celebrities, who seem to prefer the white-sand beaches unspoiled by plebeians.

The eight inevitable stages of St Stephen's Day 

The day after Christmas is a little like the day after a wedding. The gifts have been passed over, the laundry list of rituals and traditions have been ticked off and, after a build-up that seemed to go on forever, we can all begin to properly wind down.

Katie Byrne: 'Are you and your partner Christmas compatible?' 

Lights are twinkling, carollers are singing and chestnuts are roasting. Well, that's the Christmas we'd all like to be having if we weren't sulking with our partners about their pathological inability to find cranberries in the supermarket...

Katie Byrne: Christmas should be a time of celebration, not obligation. Practice saying no, even if it’s only in front of the mirror 

'I have to' is one of those phrases that we hear a lot of during the festive season. 'I have to get a present for my sister-in-law.' 'I have to take the kids ice-skating.' 'I have to do a Christmas lunch with my colleagues.'

Katie Byrne: The ambition trap: why we need to check our priorities and redefine success 

Have you ever felt strangely unmoved after achieving something that you thought you wanted?

Katie Byrne: 'The return of the vajazzle signals the endless pressure to be 'party-ready'' 

Fashion fans have been subjected to quite a few unseemly sights this year: Kim Kardashian in cycling shorts, Balenciaga's interpretation of Crocs and the Instagram-friendly return of logomania, to name just a few.

Katie Byrne: How can we curb binge drinking if we don't understand why we do it? 

In a country that regularly tops binge drinking league tables, there is no shortage of advice for the person who doesn't know the one that is one too many.

Why do we love tear-jerking Christmas 'sadverts'? 

The much-anticipated John Lewis Christmas advert has landed and speculation about Elton John's involvement has proven to be accurate as the ad charts his career right back to childhood and the gift of a piano on Christmas morning.

Katie Byrne: Those who spend their money wisely tend to spend their time wisely too 

As somebody who hasn't quite got to grips with budgeting, I'm always trying to glean pointers from people who are better at balancing the books.

Toxic love: Some relationship red flags should not be ignored 

The term ‘gaslighting’ has become something of a buzzword in recent months — whether it’s a journalist describing the political machinations of President Donald Trump, or a Women’s Aid advocate outlining the insidious tactics used by emotional abusers.

Is the tradition of the unannounced house visit dying in Ireland? 

There are a few of Irish traditions that are taking their last gasps.

Are Harry and Meghan practising for parenthood with their new pooch? 

Two distinct groups of Royal watcher have emerged in the last month.

Comment: Why do older couples have smaller weddings? Because they have a better sense of what's important in life 

Gwyneth Paltrow and TV producer Brad Falchuk tied the knot last week in an intimate wedding reception at the actress's Hamptons home.

Want to win friends and influence people? Here's the trick, according to researchers at Harvard University 

Want to win friends and influence people? The trick, according to researchers at Harvard University, is to focus on the questions you ask, rather than the statements you make.

Bright ideas: Lateral thinking is a skill that needs to be practised 

It's not often that you hear the expression 'think outside the box' these days.

Katie Byrne: We've been shaming problem drinkers for years - and it doesn't work 

Another day, another health campaign aimed at middle-aged drinkers. The alcopop-drinking teenagers of the 90s are all grown up now, but according to health authorities, their drinking habits haven't become more sensible with age. They've simply replaced the Bacardi Breezer drink promotions in the nightclub for the delights of French wine in the privacy of their sitting rooms.

Reignite the spark 

As months go, September expects an awful lot from us. We're supposed to be rejuvenated after two weeks off, inspired after a stretch in a foreign country and energised enough to return to a regular fitness routine - and maybe even an evening class.

'The moment she actually died, I could feel her leaving her body' - Best-selling author Patricia Scanlan on losing her mother 

How do you have a conversation with someone who is going to die? Do you focus on practical things like legalities and the funeral service? Do you eschew the dreaded d-word in favour of euphemisms that soften the blow? Or do you just pretend it's not happening and talk about the weather instead?

In a class of their own 

With the new school term just around the corner, the annual evening class rush has begun.

Meet Ibiza's Irish guru Trish Whelan who quit her demanding music industry job to teach kundalini yoga 

The end of the season is drawing near in Ibiza as the biggest clubs on the island get ready to go out with a bang… and thousands of seasonal workers prepare to go out with a whimper.

Katie Byrne: High concept, traditional or unisex — what does your baby name say about you? 

Girls creator Lena Dunham gave Twitter an unprecedented glimpse into the inner workings of her mind this week when she posted a list of potential baby names she dreamt up with former flame, the musician Jack Antonoff.

How to avoid the fight club: breaking up without tearing each other apart 

They split almost two years ago but the divorce battle between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is raging on as the former star couple try to get to grips with custody arrangements, child support and the distribution of assets.

'Like a lot of parents I am muddling through' - Irish mum of two on 'futureproofing' children 

Cara and Chris Carter are parents to two children, Sophie (8) and Brandon (4). They live in Rathfarnham, Dublin. Cara is the founder of Cheeky Squeaks, a baby massage and yoga company; cheekysqueaks.ie.

Katie Byrne: There’s a disconnect between scientific fact and wishful thinking when it comes to fertility 

What do you say to a 35-year-old woman who has yet to have children? Absolutely nothing - if the reaction to Carrie Underwood's recent interview is anything to go by.

The love you make... Good relationships require plenty of hard work 

Former World No. 1 tennis player Andre Agassi was recently asked about the secret of his 17-year marriage to fellow sporting great, Steffi Graf. As always, his answer was sincere, thoughtful and refreshingly devoid of dull platitudes.

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.

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.

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.

Girl Code: Is it ever okay to get with a friend’s ex? 

Is it ever okay to get with a friend's ex-partner? That's the question on everyone's lips this week after Ant McPartlin paired off with his personal assistant who, it transpires, was a friend of his estranged wife, Lisa Armstrong.

Chatbots: your new best friend? 

Meet Jen. She's a 38-year-old mum-of-two who knows a thing or two about pregnancy. Morning sickness, melasma, gestational diabetes - she's been there, done that, and she's happy to share her experiences with new mums. Jen is warm, funny and engaging, but there's something that you should know about her. She's not a real person. She's a robot.

Team spirit: Teamwork is more than a buzzword 

Anyone who works in an office environment will know that there are dozens of business buzzwords that have lost all meaning.

Katie Byrne: Would we have more respect for 'Missing Melania' if she was less of a pitiful victim? 

She's alive! After a 24-day 'disappearance', Melania Trump has been found safe and well at a White House event to honour Gold Star families.

Katie Byrne on give and take: There is a time for self-sacrifice but there is also a time for self-care 

I recently attended a cookery course with a longer-than-average meet-and-greet session.

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.