Four in five women in Ireland are not confident of spotting a symptom of ovarian cancer Ireland has one of the highest death rates from ovarian cancer in Europe. New research commissioned by the Irish Network for Gynaecological Oncology (INGO) showed 94% of those surveyed could not name changes to appetite as a symptom of […]

4 years ago

Budgeting should not be a dirty word Welcome to the  final episode in this series of The Mothership, the show that brings the issues that matter most to Irish families, to the table. On this week’s show, we’re talking about how cost of living increases are affecting Irish families. Joining Laura at the table is […]

4 years ago

A conclusion has been drawn to one of most high profile court cases Hollywood has ever seen *Content warning: This article contains reference to sexual abuse and domestic violence.* After a six-week court case, Johnny Depp’s high-profile libel trial against Amber Heard has ended, with the jurors ruling that a 2018 article published in The […]

4 years ago

As Ireland’s population becomes pluralist, does a predominantly Catholic education system make sense? Welcome back to The Mothership; the show that brings the issues that matter most to Irish families, to the table. On this week’s show we’re asking, does religion still have a place in Irish schools? Roughly 88% of Irish schools are still […]

4 years ago

She has a “mom’s house name” and a “dad’s house name”. In what has to be the finest example of NOT putting your child first, a US couple who couldn’t agree on the name of their child have taken the decision to each call her a different name. Choosing a child’s name is really tricky. […]

4 years ago

The individual made 34 complaints per day One person is responsible for nine in 10 of all the complaints made about noise to Dublin airport last year. The complainant made 12,272 reports (an average of 34 per day) to the DAA in 2021, making them personally responsible for raising the total complaints received from 1,500 a year […]

4 years ago

The singer just announced the news on Instagram You read that right, Britney Spears has just announced to her social media followers that she’s expecting a baby with finance Sam Asghari. https://www.instagram.com/p/CcONvpGOelB/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Brit sent rumour mils into overdrive last week, sharing a video of a what appeared to be a pregnant stomach. Excited fans began […]

4 years ago

…be grand, they said. Kids are wonderful. No amount of messing up could outshine the joy they bring. But some days, it’s like they’ve challenged themselves to try… These 11 examples of the little cherubs pushing their parents to the very limit might just make you feel better about your own day… 1. Like this […]

4 years ago

A child being bullied is a traumatic thing for the whole family. Welcome to The Mothership, the show that brings the issues that matter most to Irish families, to the table. On this week’s episode, we’re talking about bullying. What can we as parents do if our child is being picked on or harassed, in […]

4 years ago

Have you spoken to your children about sex yet? We’re back with another episode of The Mothership, the show that brings the issues that matter most to Irish families, to the table. On this week’s episode, we’re talking about creating a sex-positive, period-positive household where no conversation is taboo. We simply couldn’t have this discussion […]

4 years ago

The all-new animated adventure comes to Disney+ on March 25th Fans of Disney’s Ice Age movies are in for a real treat, this March. The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild arrives on Disney+ this week and continues the hilarious escapades of the beloved sub-zero heroes from the wildly successful Ice Age franchise as they […]

4 years ago

We have a long way to go, folks… Much praise has been heaped on Disney Pixar for the period-positive messaging in the latest hit animation, Turning Red. The movie was released on Disney+ this week to critical acclaim, and parents too were impressed with the placement of period pads and tampons. A clever portrayal of […]

4 years ago

Is this the new ‘do you wash your legs?’ Every once and a while, in the middle of an ordinary day, life throws you a complete curveball. While innocently scrolling through Twitter last weekend, I came across something that stopped me on my tracks… It transpires, a lot of people NEVER PUT FOUNDATION ON THEIR […]

4 years ago

The child was also deprived of food and clothing Karen Villec from Stratford, New Jersey opened her front door on March 1st, to find her 13-year-old neighbour begging for help. She was horrified to discover that the girl had a shock-collar hanging from her neck, as she explained: “She was saying ‘Help me, help me! […]

4 years ago

Naming a baby is hard, because you’re also naming a kid, a teenager and a grown-ass adult Struggling to decide on a name for your wee one? Having a hard time agreeing on a final choice with your other half? Naming a baby is tough. It’s (probably) forever and if you believe in nominative determinism, […]

4 years ago

Is there any better feeling than buying your mam something she loves? It might even top playing Santa. We’ve put together a lovely list of Mother’s Day gifts that the mammy figure in your life with really love, and they’re all from great Irish companies. Here we go… First up is this super soft, organic […]

4 years ago

This is beyond frustrating If you breastfed, or supported someone who did, you know the pain of spilling even an ounce of that hard-won nectar. As it’s often been said, you are absolutely allowed to cry over this particular spilt milk. Imagine having to hand over bags of the stuff to a group of bamboozled […]

4 years ago

If you simply can’t listen to that Bruno song anymore, we have good news… Pixar’s latest outing is skipping cinemas and going straight to Disney+, today. Turning Red tells the story of a teenage girl who magically transforms into a giant red panda every time she gets too excited. Like a super-cute version on the […]

4 years ago

It’s widely believed that you need a language for university entry, however this is not always the case. Across Ireland right now, lots of third and fourth-year students are choosing their Leaving Cert subjects. Guidance Counsellor Aoife Walsh says that while they should choose subjects they like and are likely to succeed in, some subjects […]

4 years ago

“I am going to Ukraine not to die, I am going to help, to protect.” Mykola Krutsyk has lived and worked in Limerick for 20 years, but he is now preparing to travel to Kyiv where his elderly father who is suffering from cancer lives. Brave Krutsyk (53) and a group of his friends will […]

4 years ago

Multiple rape charges have been brought against the woman To most of her neighbors in Englewood, Tennessee, Melissa Blair appeared to be a typical suburban mother, but the 38-year-old spent nearly two years living a secret life that’s now unraveling. Blair is now in prison for multiple rape charges after she allegedly traded “gifts” such […]

4 years ago

“A momentary lapse of judgement” A woman who identified the boys convicted of murdering Ana Kriégel on social media has received a fully suspended sentence. In what was described in court as “a momentary lapse of judgement”, Louise Heaney (49) posted a photograph featuring the two boys on social media, but removed it shortly after. […]

4 years ago

Because one a day just isn’t enough! I love Wordle. It took me a while to come around to it — not because I was one of those grumps who gave out about the results colouring up my Twitter feed, I hasten to add. I just couldn’t stay awake until midnight (hi, toddler) and by […]

4 years ago

Exercise and movement for every body Breathing Space is a ‘wellness space’ on Dublin’s Cork Street that offers inclusive yoga, pilates and breathwork classes. A welcome addition to the wellness scene for people with bigger bodies, Breathing Space’s mission is “to help you cultivate a peaceful relationship with your body through movement, self-compassion and self-care.” […]

4 years ago

Have your children asked you about what’s happening in Ukraine? …Or maybe you’ve had a loss in the family and are wondering how to approach telling your child. On this week’s episode of The Mothership, we’re discussing how to talk to your children about difficult topics like bereavement, trauma and the world events that may […]

4 years ago

“Apparently no-one else has these limits” Ah screen time – a topic so divisive I almost run and hide from my laptop every time we write about it. Ok, slight exaggeration, but you guys have some seriously strong opinions about it. Other people’s opinions are getting to one mother in particular who took to Mumsnet […]

4 years ago

“Just not sure what to think” Do you let your teenagers’ significant others stay the night? It’s a question a lot of parents have to ask themselves at some stage. One mother who is struggling with the decision said: “He’s 17 and a half and she’s 16. They’ve been together about 6 months and she’s […]

4 years ago

“I don’t know what I’m asking really I just needed to vent.” All parents have their struggles, but have you ever looked at a pal’s setup and thought, they don’t know how lucky they are? One mother reached out to the online community to confess her feelings towards her friend who, in her eyes, has […]

4 years ago

A broken system that’s failing providers, educators and families With years-long waiting lists, soaring fees, troubling staff shortages and many facilities closing, the Irish childcare system is in crisis. Joining Laura this week to unpack the many reasons that the system is broken is Elaine Dunne from the Federation for Early Childhood Providers and social […]

4 years ago

How much longer will we see women’s health deprioritised in Ireland? Welcome back to The Mothership. On this episode, we’re talking about the undeniable gender imbalance that exists in many areas of Irish healthcare. Irish people are currently fighting for change in areas like maternity restrictions and the ongoing issue around abortion access but, as […]

4 years ago

Are we sharing too much of our kids online? On this week’s episode of The Mothership we’re asking, how safe are our children in this digital world? What is Instagram for, if not cute pictures of your cat and your kids? But what are the things we need to consider when creating a digital footprint, […]

4 years ago

Have you thought about you’ll react if your child tells you they’re gay or trans? How do we as parents, help our LGBTQI+ kids navigate the process of coming out? And how can we be the best allies and cheerleaders we can be going forward? The Mothership is back and this week, activist and TV […]

4 years ago

Manchester United says it ‘does not condone violence’ after assault allegations Mason Greenwood, 20 from Bradford, has today been accused of assaulting a woman. The player made his debut for Manchester United in 2019 and has since amassed 129 appearances for the club. The allegations, which included video, photographs and a voice note alleging to […]

4 years ago

Gardai say the investigation is ongoing Gardaí in Balbriggan confirmed the discovery of human remains on Lambay Island, off the coast of north county Dublin. An investigation has commenced following discovery which was made on Thursday evening by staff working on the island. The remains have been removed to the Dublin City Morgue where a […]

4 years ago

The forecast isn’t the best, lads If you’re making plans for this weekend, keep in mind that Ireland is set for a wet and windy one. Met Eireann has forecast winds to reach gale force on Saturday and temperatures will plummet to below freezing. The drop in temperatures will lead to ice and fog, with […]

4 years ago

Bernadette was last seen in the Donabate area A renewed appeal has been issued for help to find Bernadette Connolly, 45 who has been missing from Swords since Friday 7th January. Bernadette was last seen in the Donabate area and  is described as being 5′ 6″ tall, of slim build, with hazel eyes and long […]

4 years ago

“Before all this started we had a normal, healthy 4-year-old.” When Texan couple Josy and Dustin Baker’s 4-year-old daughter Lylah suddenly became so sick she could no longer walk, had no idea why. Lylah contracted a rare bacterial infection known as melioidosis, from a common household item and has been fighting off her illness ever […]

4 years ago

When will I get to stop writing these pieces? The whole country is in shock, after news broke of Ashling Murphy’s cruel murder yesterday. She was running along the canal bank in Tullamore, when she was attacked and killed. Ashling was 22 years old; a young teacher with her whole life stretched out ahead of […]

4 years ago

“It’s important for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of diabetes” Children who have recovered from Covid-19 appear to be at “significantly increased risk” of developing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have established. The researchers made the discovery by examining insurance claim […]

5 years ago

“I was a victim of diet culture, but I allowed myself to become a part of the problem” It’s January, but for the first time since I can remember, I’m not on a new year diet. And I’m not alone — there’s a widespread and welcome pushback against the usual post-Christmas flagellation, buoyed by body […]

5 years ago

“Why is it likely I’ll have to send him to a Catholic school, when it goes against so much of what I’m fundamentally about?” I remember vividly the only time I was ever taught about sex, at school. It was during a biology lesson in 1st year at my Catholic convent high school. I should […]

5 years ago

It’s probably not what you think If you’ve ever forgot to pop a swim nappy on your little one before their swimming lesson, you’ll know a regular nappy quickly blows up like a balloon. Of course, not using a nappy under their togs in a public pool is a no-no, for obvious reasons. But here’s […]

5 years ago

“You deserve your own love and kindness” Cliona Byrne is a body positive parenting coach who works with mothers who struggle with their body image. She helps them to like their own bods, so they can raise their kids to be body confident too. Addressing the nation’s mams with her infectious enthusiasm, she says: “I […]

5 years ago

A viral TikTok challenge has taken the life of a child. 10-year-old Nyla Anderson from Chester, Pennsylvania took part in the Blackout Challenge when she saw it on the social app. The Blackout Challenge dares participants to hold their breath until they pass out. The challenge predates social media but has found a resurgence on […]

5 years ago

How do we raise our children to love their bodies and have a healthy relationship with food? Welcome back to The Mothership; Ireland’s first parenting panel show. Each week, we bring the issues that matter most to Irish families to the table. Episode 3 is all about raising kids to love their bodies and have […]

5 years ago

It’s nearly time… aprons at the ready! Christmas is THIS WEEK. Sorry, how did that happen exactly? It flies in every year, but Christmas 2021 seemed to arrive immediately after August?! If you’re anything like me, you’re starting to prep the dinner already. The BBC food website practically has steam coming out of it. Pinterest […]

5 years ago

It should come as no surprise that mams don’t want kitchenware Unless it’s a pastel KitchenAid, best not buy your mam/wife/sister-in-law anything for her kitchen, this year. The top 10 gifts mothers would most like to receive this year have been revealed after a survey by gifting company, Moonpig. (You’re singing the jingle now, aren’t […]

5 years ago

How would it feel if you had no legal rights whatsoever to your biological children? Introducing, The Mothership; Ireland’s first parenting panel show, brought to you by HerFamily. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing the issues that matter most to Irish familes to the table. On this week’s episode we’re asking, how would it […]

5 years ago

I knew there’d be mess, but I wasn’t prepared for this. Last night, as I made my way across my bathroom in the dark, I felt something on the floor. I stopped and put my bare toes on its cold shape. Is that… a potato? I stretched to switch on the light above the bathroom […]

5 years ago

“Some of my favourite Christmas memories are of my family decorating the house with the Christmas tunes blaring” Christmas can be an expensive time. Gifts, social occasions and an array of temping events and festive experiences are all calling out for your hard-earned cash and may leave you feeling overwhelmed. Of course, there are plenty […]

5 years ago