The Irish Times books of the year: Fintan O’Toole’s favourite titles of 2021
Seeking inspiration for a book to read or give as a gift? This selection could help you
Ann Marie Hourihane: ‘Death shows us you can’t manage life’
Hourihane’s new book is a powerful exploration of death, dying and rituals in Ireland
Róisin Ingle: The Gay Byrne I knew – a friend, a mentor, a hero
We are a better, more mature, kinder country now because of Gay Byrne
Why Gay Byrne is Ireland’s greatest broadcaster
He combines a natural genius for broadcasting with ferocious professionalism
Easter Rising shorts to screen at Dublin film festival
After ’16 films include animation telling the story of teenage rebel Vincent Byrne
Sal Khan’s free online school enters the real world
Interview: Sal Khan went from tutoring his cousin to setting up Khan Academy, a not-for-profit online school. He talks about his own education, and expanding his ‘flipped learning’ worldwide
The Sobriety Diaries: What I learned in one month without alcohol
In early May, a ‘normal Irish drinker’ undertook a minor social experiment: to give up drink for a month and write about it. Now it’s over. So is she getting drunk tonight?
No sweetness in bitter war against sugar
Fat has been given a reprieve as sugar gets the blame for everything from heart and liver disease to cancer
Bridget’s children: ‘I can close the door and it’s just me and the kids’
Homeless for much of 2013, this family are overjoyed that they will be spending Christmas in a house of their own
‘Pantomime? It’s harder to learn than Beckett’
Love it or loathe it, panto takes huge effort. For Twink, 38 shows in a fortnight mean there’s no time to lose in the rehearsal room
Nigella wants our love – and Charles Saatchi will use us to hurt her
Forget fraud: Nigella Lawson and her ex are doing battle for custody of the public’s approval
Gay Byrne’s punk radio: 'I’d say we’re down to about 300 doddery old fools'
The Sunday show, a mixture of jazz and giving out, is becoming cult listening, mainly for the darkness of Byrne’s presentation. His subject matter takes in everything from the pope’s fitness and spitting to Pat Kenny’s move
Memories of a mother’s drinking
Valerie Farragher’s alcoholism almost ruined the lives of her family. Now four years sober, she is trying to help other women avoid that terrible fate
Boyzone: ‘A lot of our fans are guys now’
Female desire has driven Boyzone across 20 years, 25 million records and six number ones. They talk about hating Ronan, feeling Stephen’s presence and still wanting to hug Louis
Letters to St Jude
In Whitefriar Street church in Dublin, people write poignant messages about their health, their families and their finances to the patron saint of lost causes
The new Bridget Jones. Pages: 386. Laughs 3. Alcohol units: 0
In the new book, our lovable heroine, now a rich widow with a toy boy, is stretched far too thin by author Helen Fielding
Hurling ourselves at Shane O’Donnell
Within 19 frenzied minutes, a 19-year-old Clare hurler’s life changed forever as sportsman became showbiz star
Umbilical cord banks – a lifeline or an ethical tangle?
A company is encouraging expectant mothers to freeze their babies’ umbilical cords, which are rich in stem cells
The Michael Darragh Macauley magic
Michael Darragh Macauley, hero of Dublin’s All-Ireland victory, credits the influence of his father and teachers – and his obsessive weight-watching – with his success on the pitch
Small change, big difference
Ballinasloe youth workers guide young people with the lightest of touches
Steered away from a life of crime?
The Garda’s youth diversion projects work quietly with children on the cusp of offending, helping them to stay at school and out of custody
The Zara empire: where did it all go right?
Massimo Dutti, Zara’s more conservative and pricier sister, has rented the old HMV building on Grafton Street, and it’s not just the business community that’s fired up
We need to reassess our view of violence by men in the home
Column: Domestic violence exists below the radar and causes no outcry
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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