A Portlaoise mum has chained herself to the front of the Department of Education in Athlone for a third day, as part of a campaign to keep her son, who has autism, in a specialised school.  Wrapped up against the chilly October weather, Debbie Byrne has once again attached herself to the Department signage, holding […]

11 years ago

It could soon be illegal to slap your child, as Minister for Children, Dr James Reilly seeks Cabinet approval for change to the law that would effectively ban physical punishment. The Minister wants the defence of “reasonable chastisement” removed from Irish law, bringing Ireland into line with much of the rest of Europe. A source close to […]

11 years ago

It’s the iconic toy automobile that probably makes at least one appearance in your baby photos, but now you can drive an adult-sized Little Tykes ‘Cozy Coupe’ that’s 100 per cent roadworthy. The nostalgic red and yellow car, adapted from a Daewoo Matiz, is the brainchild of Oxford’s Attitude Autos, run by brothers Geof and John Bitmead. […]

11 years ago

Remember that slow-cooker you bought to cook healthy soups and stews while you were at work? Well you can also use it to make a giant, decadent pot of chocolate fondue. A simple family dessert (word of warning: this can get messy) this is not a treat for every day, but it is a ton […]

11 years ago

Take The Gravedigger Ghost Tour Dame St., Dublin Hop aboard the creepily customised bus at Dublin’s Dame Street for The Gravedigger Ghost Tour. The stories begin with plague-ravaged Dublin at Trinity College (and an account of plague victims trying to soothe their wounds in the waters of the city’s drinking supplies) before passing Dublin Castle, Christ Church, St […]

11 years ago

A new study has raised hopes for the development of a fast, cheap diagnostic test for autism in children.  The latest research focused on the penlight reflex test, a basic procedure, which involves the doctor shining a light in the patient’s eye. The light causes the pupil to dilate as it adapts, then constrict when […]

11 years ago

Womanhood: it’s a maze of mixed messages.  Whether you’re too fat or too thin, too girly or too much of a tomboy, too quiet or far too outgoing for your own good; there always seems to be someone there to offer some unsolicited ‘advice’ at every juncture. Tired of these conflicting ‘microagressions’ London-based comedian Bisha K. […]

11 years ago

A French court has ruled that a couple cannot name their baby son Prince William. The couple, from Perpignan in the south of the country, argued that naming the child after a member of the British royal family could help him later in life. Luckily France’s civil code allows judges to step in at the naming […]

11 years ago

Ireland’s attitude towards cosmetic procedures is changing, with almost half of respondents in a new survey admitting they would happily try Botox and fillers to stall the ageing process.  The research, conducted by MRNI research on behalf of Therapie Clinic, revealed that 47 per cent of people would consider using the wrinkle-reducing jab to banish crow’s […]

11 years ago

Every employer in the country will be obliged to offer new fathers two weeks statutory paternity leave following the birth of a child, starting in September 2016. The Budget measure, designed to help tackle Ireland’s childcare crisis, will see new dads receive a €460 payment for the leave, which can be taken any time within […]

11 years ago

Baking: it’s an exact science. Add a touch too much baking powder or a smidge less butter than recommended and you’re likely to find yourself staring sadly through the oven window as your creation rises too much or collapses dramatically onto itself. Add to that the pressure to spell those special iced greetings properly and […]

11 years ago

Doctors working on a malaria vaccine for pregnant women have stumbled upon a protein that could potentially cure nine out of ten cancers. While looking into why pregnant women are particularly susceptible to malaria, the teams discovered that the mosquito-borne parasite produces a protein called “VAR2CSA”, which binds to a particular type of sugar molecule found […]

11 years ago

Here’s what you need to know.

11 years ago

Today is set to be a better-than-usual day for Ireland’s squeezed mums and dads, with a ‘mildly expansionary’ budget to be revealed at 3pm.  The family friendly budget is expected to include a €5 increase in child benefit, free pre-school places for all children aged between three and five years and two weeks paid paternity […]

11 years ago

By the age of fifteen, three-quarters of Irish children suffer from dental decay. You might think it’s a little early to take a toothbrush to those tiny first teeth at six months, but experts now believe brushing should begin as soon as the first tooth is visible. Because teeth are susceptible to decay as soon […]

11 years ago

Proud mum Gwyneth Paltrow posted a tribute to her only daughter on Instagram. To mark International Girls Day, the actress and Goop founder (43) uploaded two images of 11-year-old Apple. #girls #InternationalGirlsDay A photo posted by Gwyneth Paltrow (@gwynethpaltrow) on Oct 11, 2015 at 5:48pm PDT She added the following caption: “Today, on #InternationalGirlsDay I […]

11 years ago

She’s been vocal about her struggle to become a mum, so fans everywhere were thrilled when model Chrissy Teigen took to social media last night to announce her pregnancy. The stunning 29-year-old and her superstar husband John Legend shared the news on Instagram, posting an adorable black and white photo of the delighted dad-to-be with […]

11 years ago

When he couldn’t find sticking plasters to match the colour of his children’s skin, Toby Meisenhamer decided to do something about it. The dad of six founded Tru Colour Bandages and got to work creating skin-tone matched plasters, launching the company on Amazon with three new shades. “I can’t believe I survived 38 years without […]

11 years ago

As if we didn’t dunk a spoon into the peanut butter jar often enough as it is, soon it could provide us with more than just a sneaky afternoon treat. US food company Steem has developed a caffeinated peanut that boasts as much caffeine as TWO CUPS of coffee per serving. Yep. That’ll do the trick. Thanks […]

11 years ago

It’s probably one of the top ten things you swore you’d never do as a mom, but once you’ve smashed the other nine (no co-sleeping, no baby talk, no dummy), it’s high time you gave in and indulged in a little ‘Mommy and Me’ outfit co-ordination.  Don’t go making it an everyday kind of thing […]

11 years ago

Hoping to get pregnant? Having sex throughout the month instead of focusing on your most fertile days could help you conceive faster, say scientists. New research suggests that women who enjoy regular sex benefit from a boosted immune system, meaning the body is less likely to reject sperm and is thus better prepared to conceive […]

11 years ago

Controversial new research suggests that environmental influences after birth could have a bigger part to play in affecting sexual orientation in boys than previously thought. Scientists now believe they can predict if someone is gay or straight simply by examining their DNA – with up to 70 per cent accuracy. Diet and exercise, stress, exposure […]

11 years ago

Too houseproud to stick a cardboard witch to the front door and call it a day? If thoughts of canned spider webs and plastic headstones fill you with terror, these Pinterest-worthy Halloween home hacks offer a frighteningly fabulous twist on the traditional trappings of the witching hour.  From stark white or dark-as-night pumpkins and spooky […]

11 years ago

Postnatal depression is most commonly associated with women, but now experts are strongly recommending new dads should be screened too.  A new study from Canada’s McGill University suggests that up to 13 per cent of men suffer depression symptoms after the birth of a child. A total of 622 men were involved in the study, […]

11 years ago

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Autumn, that is. Too early for Christmas shopping, too late for summer dieting, October is about long walks in the park, crunchy leaves underfoot, and indulging in a guilt-free grande pumpkin latte en route home. Here’s what to wear on those chilly mornings and cool afternoons: 1. […]

11 years ago

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began stepping up their security in May following the birth of Princess Charlotte, but now the world’s favourite royals have taken safety to the next level, banning all aircraft from flying within 1.5 miles of their country home. Journalists and photographers have previously been warned against invading the couple’s […]

11 years ago

Safety checks are to be carried out at five Irish schools after another school built by the same company was revealed to be a serious fire safety hazard.  Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan told the Irish Examiner that she is “currently arranging” a major safety audit on the schools built by Western Building Systems. The Co. Tyrone […]

11 years ago

Everyone has a word that gives them that ‘fingernails on a chalkboard’ feeling, but according to a new poll, we share more of these pet peeves than you’d imagine.  Apparently there are six words the fairer sex can’t stand, but the worst, according to a survey of 500 women, is the word ‘moist’. Underwear company […]

11 years ago

Devotees claim this trick can break a fever

11 years ago

So let’s get this straight: we’re all for avocado toast, Buddha bowls, oil pulling and yoga on a cliffside at dawn (in theory), but when your life doesn’t revolve around Instagramming kale smoothies, sometimes it’s fun to scoff your weight in garlic chips and cheese. That’s why we’re calling the hilarious Instagram updates by Deliciously […]

11 years ago

It’s been a week of harrowing scenes at the Hungarian-Serbian border, but just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, a truly shocking video has emerged, apparently showing a camerawoman purposely tripping a man carrying a small child.  The camerawoman, who worked for Hungarian news site N1TV, has since been dismissed after a German […]

11 years ago

Professional child minders are finding it “virtually impossible” to compete with unregistered operators who are offering to look after children for less than €10 a day.  That’s according to Bernadette Orbinski Burke, chief executive of Child-minding Ireland, who told the Irish Independent that “informal arrangements” mean qualified, registered minders are losing out to the “black market”. […]

11 years ago

Packed with protein, low in calories and ready in minutes, the boiled egg is a staple meal or snack for the average Irish family.  And while it might have been one of the first foods you learned to cook yourself, it turns out you may have been doing it wrong all these years. For the […]

11 years ago

A twelve-year-old girl has outwitted Einstein and Steven Hawking to ace a test designed to challenge the world’s most brilliant minds.  Lydia Sebastian, from Essex in the UK, achieved the maximum score in Mensa’s Cattell III B test, scoring 162 – the maximum score for students aged under 18 – and finishing the test with minutes […]

11 years ago

A devastated couple have launched a public appeal for information after discovering their baby does not share their DNA. Briton Richard Cushworth and his wife Mercedes Casanellas, who live in the United States, had travelled to Mercedes’ native El Salvador so she could give birth there. Now they believe their obstretrician-gyneocologist, Dr Alejandra Guidos, who has […]

11 years ago

Caterpillar cakes and cocktail sausages are usually the order of the day, but one Cork Mum used her children’s birthday party as a chance to have some real artistic family fun…. by recreating the house from the Pixar movie Up.  Audrey Lenihan, mum to Olivia (6) and twins Emilie and Aidan (4), wowed her guests by […]

11 years ago

Pregnant women are being urged to get themselves vaccinated against whooping cough after a significant surge in cases in Britain.  Figures show an increase of 24 per cent in cases of the illness, which can be fatal for newborn babies. Highly contagious, it can also lead to complications such as pneumonia and brain damage. Just over […]

11 years ago

At forty six years-old, he’s one of Hollywood’s most popular heart throbs, but it seems Hugh Jackman was breaking hearts long before he made his big screen debut.  The Wolverine star thrilled fans by sharing an adorable photograph of himself as a chubby-cheeked baby on Instagram. Holding an apple and proudly wearing a paper crown […]

11 years ago

Television presenter Cat Deeley had some exciting news for her Twitter followers last night.  The model, actress, singer and So You Think You Can Dance host and Irish hubby Patrick Kielty (44) are adding ‘parent’ to their lengthy CVs. Exciting news…. Paddy and I are so happy to be expecting our first child in the Spring….. […]

11 years ago

We all have days when our crowning glory resembles a crown of thorns.  When the frizz won’t dissipate; when the lengths are limp; when 45 bobby pins and a turban can’t control your ‘do and there’s no time to wash, condition and start again. No need to burst into tears. In these situations, it’s always good […]

11 years ago

Their first child has earned more than one of our involuntary ‘squees’ with his ridiculous cuteness, and now McBusted’s Tom Fletcher and his wife Giovanna have announced that another little star is about to be born.  The musician (30) took to Youtube to announce the happy news, with a typically funny and suspense-filled clip featuring […]

11 years ago

A US website has come under fire for selling a range of realistic props designed to help women appear pregnant.  Fakeababy.com has hit the headlines after a teenage girl used various accessories purchased from the site to convince her family and her boyfriend that she was pregnant with triplets. The 16-year-old, from Michigan, bought a […]

11 years ago

Some frosty morning in the very near future, you will meet a friend for coffee. She will be wearing a fabulous faux fur trimmed parka, or a belted robe coat in cosy camel. You will immediately ask after her jacket and she will tell you, with a pitying smile, that she bought it months ago, […]

11 years ago

Three sisters gave birth within hours of each other at Mayo General Hospital yesterday… and a fourth sister is due to make it a foursome in the nursery today.   The family, from Cloonfad on the Mayo-Roscommon border, weren’t expecting their babies to be born so close together, but the fun started when Mairead Fitzpatrick gave […]

11 years ago

Tullamore native Claire Barnwell and her fiancée Vicente live in Alicante, Spain, with their children Eve (9) and Luka (1).  So, why Spain? “I moved to Spain four years ago when my daughter started getting very ill in Ireland. She has cystic fibrosis, which is a long-term illness. In Ireland she had been extremely ill […]

11 years ago

It was a hoax. When a beautiful young French woman took to Youtube to launch a search for the handsome father of her unborn baby, the story made headlines all over the world. But today we can reveal that the story was part of a clever marketing ploy to put the beachside Australian town of […]

11 years ago

There were emotional scenes at Shannon Airport this morning as Aisling Brady McCarthy, the nanny cleared of murdering one-year-old Rehma Sabir, arrived back in Ireland after being deported from the US.  Brady McCarthy and her sister landed at 6.15am  on the Aer Lingus flight EI134 from Boston. The Cavan woman (37) was escorted through the terminal […]

11 years ago

We’ve all had it: that gnawing feeling you’ve forgotten something… something important.  For one young mum however, the feeling turned into a very real nightmare, when she realised she’d left her two-month-old baby boy at the supermarket after popping in to pick up treats for her nephew’s birthday party. Twenty-seven-year-old mum of four, Cherish Peterson […]

11 years ago

A French woman has taken to Facebook and Youtube in an attempt to find the Australian one-night stand she believes is the father of her unborn child.  Twenty-six-year-old Parisian Natalie Amyot spent the last night of her Aussie vacation in Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, where she met a handsome stranger in O’Malley’s Irish Bar. The pair […]

11 years ago

Two new vaccines are to be offered to 70,000 children in Ireland next year.  The first jab would protect children against a killer strain of meningitis, while the second would guard against rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children. England has already become the first country in the world to offer […]

11 years ago