For You

A selection of the best human interest reporting, interviews, opinion and lifestyle features.

I spent my maternity leave in a chemo chair. Then I got a letter telling me to go back to work

I finished active treatment on April 30th and got a letter from the Department of Social Protection a week later saying my maternity leave was up. Surely they did not expect this sick, bald woman to return to work now?

By Erica TierneySat May 04 2024 - 06:30

‘We don’t speak, we don’t eat, we don’t do anything together’: Inside an Irish divorce court

The atmosphere is sad and sombre as divorce decrees are granted in marriages ranging from less than six months to more than 30 years

By Mary CarolanSat May 04 2024 - 06:00

Walk-outs, protests and sit-ins: how Gaza conflict is stirring tensions in Irish universities

As police dismantle pro-Palestinian encampments in US universities, the impact of the war is being felt in colleges at home where many students and staff want their institutions to cut ties with Israel

By Carl O'BrienSat May 04 2024 - 06:00

Wild swimming: Seven of the best spots around Ireland

From scenic views to secluded settings, our pick of great places to take a dip

By Maureen McCoySat May 04 2024 - 05:30

That secret to choosing the perfect colour scheme for your home

Consider the light in a room in order to pick the right colour and paint finish

By Sam Wylie-HarrisSat May 04 2024 - 05:00

Here’s some of the best life advice I’ve ever received

Opportunities can come from realising that no one knows what they’re doing a lot of the time

By Brianna ParkinsSat May 04 2024 - 05:00

Woman suing over breast implant removal claims antibiotic delay led to multiple infections

Woman alleges she developed multiple post-operative infections requiring several courses of antibiotics

Fri May 03 2024 - 20:34

Principals under ‘huge’ pressure to deliver free schoolbooks scheme on time

Norma Foley pledges support for school leaders amid complaints of complicated procurement and lack of human resources

By Carl O'BrienFri May 03 2024 - 17:05

Seven days that shook the Government on immigration

Tensions between Dublin and London over immigration are a reminder that politics between Britain and Ireland is more terse and fragile now

By Jack Horgan-JonesFri May 03 2024 - 16:00

‘My life before the crime has gone forever’: Woman was ‘bundled’ into bushes and sexually assaulted while out walking

Joshua Doolan (19) was sentenced to seven years with the final 18 months suspended for the random attack on a 43-year-old woman in her neighbourhood

By Sonya McLean and Eimear DoddFri May 03 2024 - 15:39

Simone Gannon: new fragrances to uplift, inspire and look pretty on the bathroom shelf

Scent-sational offerings inspired by Aran jumpers, summer holidays and universal feelings

By Simone GannonFri May 03 2024 - 06:01

We need to talk about why we’re all so angry

When trust dies, anger is its natural successor. Only by regaining the people’s trust can Ireland recover

By Justine McCarthyFri May 03 2024 - 06:00

Vast majority of anti-immigration posts relating to Wicklow protests came from non-Irish accounts

An analysis on social media traffic showed most posts about Newtownmountkennedy demonstration came from the US

By Conor GallagherFri May 03 2024 - 06:00

I’d never wear my big straw hat on the streets of Dublin. Someone would call me JR Ewing

Emer McLysaght: Irish people have developed the art of slagging down to the finest line between humour and cruelty

By Emer McLysaghtFri May 03 2024 - 06:00

Leona Maguire on the globe-trotting golf circuit: ‘We always joke that we’d make a very good Netflix series’

Cavan golfer has the Olympics and four Majors on her upcoming busy agenda

By Mary HanniganFri May 03 2024 - 06:00

Dua Lipa: Radical Optimism review – Step aside Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, this is the pop album we’ve been waiting for

Album review: As Beyoncé ventures into country and Taylor Swift wallows in another break-up album, Dua Lipa is the star we need right now

By Lauren MurphyFri May 03 2024 - 00:00

Secondary schools relying on parents to prop up finances, says managerial body

Reliance on parental contributions of €30m a year to avoid deficits ‘degrading’ for schools and families

By Carl O'BrienThu May 02 2024 - 20:01

Report identifies police ‘misconduct’ in early stages of investigation into showjumper Katie Simpson’s death

The Policing Board heard that while Ms Simpson was being treated in hospital, a member of the public contacted the police

Thu May 02 2024 - 15:52

Almost two-thirds of Dublin companies losing staff to housing shortage, survey shows

The need to provide somewhere to stay for incoming staff is increasing across sectors including hospitality and care homes

By Emmet MaloneThu May 02 2024 - 14:16

The outlook for interest rate cuts is changing - so should Irish borrowers be worried?

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve signalled US interest rates were staying higher for longer, and the mood in Europe has shifted too, with implications for Irish mortgage holders

By Cliff TaylorThu May 02 2024 - 11:08

Less than a third of girls aged 10-17 report feeling very happy with their lives, study says

Research by University of Galway shows just 33% of boys in same age bracket report similar emotions

By Jade WilsonThu May 02 2024 - 10:27

Sleep and rest are not the same and failure to address both can increase risk of burnout

Rest is the most underused, chemical free, safe and effective alternative therapy available to us, workplace wellbeing expert says

By Olive KeoghThu May 02 2024 - 10:00

An Irishwoman sailing around the world: ‘Only when I’m back in Dublin I notice how I’ve changed’

Settling down scares Kate Ashe-Leonard more than crossing oceans

By Kate Ashe-LeonardThu May 02 2024 - 06:01

Harvey Weinstein’s conviction overturned: is that it for #MeToo?

The movement’s mantra – believe women – was a powerful corrective to a society that was too happy to dismiss their stories. But seven years of hindsight on, we can understand its failings with greater clarity

By Finn McRedmondThu May 02 2024 - 06:00

The Spoiled Heart by Sunjeev Sahota: Brave exploration of class and race from multiple angles

Sunjeev Sahota’s tale of a trade union is politically charged but shifting narrative voice is a flaw

By John BoyneThu May 02 2024 - 04:39

Rents for new tenancies increase twice as fast in areas outside Dublin

The national standardised average rent in new tenancies stood at €1,595 per month in the final months of last year, with fastest growing average rent in Limerick

By Shauna BowersThu May 02 2024 - 01:00

Man jailed for rape after gardaí found videos of him sexually assaulting girlfriend while she slept

Judge says recordings were a ‘gross violation’ of former partner’s privacy and were ‘weaponised’ by accused when he became angry

By Sonya McLeanWed May 01 2024 - 20:41

University Hospital Limerick: Overcrowding persists on morning after team appointed to tackle ED pressures

INMO says 102 patients were on trolleys and in wards awaiting beds on Wednesday, although this was down 21 on the previous morning

By David RaleighWed May 01 2024 - 17:50

Olivia Rodrigo in Dublin review: Watch out Taylor Swift. This bona fide pop superstar is coming for you

Vampire singer is heady mix of raw vulnerability and self-confidence with not a single bum note on display

By Aoife MoriartyWed May 01 2024 - 09:15

Laura Kennedy: It’s hard to put my finger on what’s different about the atmosphere in this gym

I shuffled into the gym that first day, hunched up and embarrassed, feeling puffy and conspicuous in my leggings

By Laura KennedyWed May 01 2024 - 06:01

I’ve been stopped entering a pub and told ‘we don’t rent to Poles’. But Ireland is my home now

Twenty years after EU accession, the Polish migrant community is regarded as too different to be fully included in Irish society, but not different enough to merit additional supports

By Teresa BuczkowskaWed May 01 2024 - 06:00

‘As I opened our bedroom door, there was a neighbour going past. She had blood on her hands’

Sisters recall murder of father Terry McDaid in their home in Belfast in 1988. His case is one of 36 inquests halted by UK government’s controversial Legacy Act

By Seanín GrahamWed May 01 2024 - 06:00

Misadventures in babysitting: ‘We trusted her. Here she was drinking and dancing as our son cried’

Parents are advised to lay clear ground rules before hiring a babysitter and to do a paid trial run

By Arlene HarrisWed May 01 2024 - 05:31

Should we buy a city apartment for now or a house in a commuter town for the future?

Property Clinic: We are first-time buyers and plan to grow our family in the next three to five years

By Ed CareyWed May 01 2024 - 05:30

Coercive control and stalking laws may not cover use of electronic tagging devices, Seanad told

Use of items like Apple AirTags in British abuse cases rose by 317% in past five years with little to suggest statistics would be different in Ireland, Senator says

By Marie O'HalloranTue Apr 30 2024 - 20:43

University Hospital Limerick overcrowding to be focus of new health services support team

Work to begin immediately on devising actions designed to ease crowding and pressures in hospital and HSE’s Mid West region

By Shauna BowersTue Apr 30 2024 - 17:54

Almost 200 people die each year from cancer associated with HPV, report finds

The finding is included in a report on HPV cancers from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland

By Shauna BowersTue Apr 30 2024 - 06:00

‘Students are struggling in ways we haven’t seen before’

A new ESRI study on voluntary secondary schools sheds new light on the enduring impact of the pandemic on students

By Carl O'BrienTue Apr 30 2024 - 06:00

Hot school meals: A close look at the ingredients list is not pretty. This is industrial food

While aimed at child health and rolled out impressively fast, school food merits better use of public money by the Government

By Ruth HegartyTue Apr 30 2024 - 05:45

Clampdown on influencers means #collab won’t cut it anymore

Close to two-thirds of influencers targeted in EU-wide campaign as consumers ramp up complaints about social media posts that don’t come clean

By Bernice HarrisonTue Apr 30 2024 - 05:00

Is Dublin still an option for first-time buyers?

People who grew up in the capital used to be able to live within reach of family, but for many that ship has sailed

By Joanne HuntMon Apr 29 2024 - 06:00

‘Fionn is fluent in Irish. It would be a shame to lose it.’ The boy who can’t access a secondary Gaelscoil

Advocates of Irish-medium education criticise Department of Education over second-level shortage

By Éanna Ó CaollaíMon Apr 29 2024 - 06:00

I am that deeply suspect Irish creature, a mother of an only child. It was by choice

A 2023 study of parental regret found a strong correlation between these feelings and parental burnout

By Rachel O'DwyerMon Apr 29 2024 - 06:00

Poll analysis: Housing and immigration are making the headlines, but other topics are becoming more prominent

After peaking at 24% in January, mentions of immigration have declined month-on-month, falling to 12% in the latest poll

By Damian LoscherMon Apr 29 2024 - 06:00

Supermarket ‘yellow pack’ was once ridiculed. Now Irish consumers love own brand. Here’s why it makes sense

Pricewatch: Driven by cost-of-living concerns and better produce, Irish shoppers are embracing own-brand

By Conor PopeMon Apr 29 2024 - 06:00

‘I could rent an apartment, but why?’ The teenager who lives on Germany’s high-speed trains

Lasse Stolley has become a minor celebrity thanks to his unusual life aboard the country’s train network

By Derek ScallySun Apr 28 2024 - 08:11

I took the ‘easy way out’ and gave birth by Caesarean. And yes, it was easier

Caesarean births can be easier, safer and as spiritually meaningful as any homebirth. So why do we act like some vital part of motherhood is missed when the birth canal is bypassed?

By Clare MoriartySun Apr 28 2024 - 07:05

Here is an experiment. If you know a child under 14, ask them if they know what skibidi toilet is

Catherine Prasifka: Talking to someone who isn’t online about the internet is like talking to an alien. Or worse, it’s like realising you are the alien

By Catherine PrasifkaSun Apr 28 2024 - 06:00

I’m a man in my 30s. I want to date women casually but don’t want to hurt anyone

Ask Roe: Even after going on multiple dates, I still feel like I haven’t found the person for me

By Roe McDermottSun Apr 28 2024 - 05:00

Ozempic changed the lives of obesity patients. And then we had to stop prescribing it

Patients are being denied access to a potentially life-saving obesity treatment

By Francis FinucaneSat Apr 27 2024 - 07:03

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