Thoughts for 2026 Image of the two faced Roman god Janus   I hope you have all recovered from the Christmas festivities and New Year celebrations as we head into a brand-new year with the welcome stretch in the day. My grandmother told us annually about the cock’s step or céim an choilligh, of 4 minutes extended daylight from the winter solstice on December 21 st.  The myth that there was a stretch of 4 minutes each day in daylight hours was not quite accurate. Ac

Photo by Mick O Callaghan of the back cover of Cinderella 2026 programme  We attended the annual Panto in Gorey Little Theatre last Monday January 12th. Before our attendance we had heard only positive comments about it from family and friends. We arrived early and were really impressed with the courtesy of the front of house people, welcoming us, selling raffle tickets, and showing us to our seats. We read through the programme and familiarised ourselves with the cast. As

The Rambler  Rambles Through the Year 2025 Photo Courtown Woods by Mick O Callaghan At my age of 78 years, I have acquired a certain perspective on life and living,. I have lived long enough to know that every year is exceptional. Looking back on the year just gone, I find myself agreeing,2025 was an exceptional year remembered for war and disasters. The world continued its uneasy balancing act. Wars already underway in Ukraine and Gaza did not conclude, and new tensions appe

Carols at Christmas time I was in Tesco, Gorey on Thursday 12 th  December to listen to Loreto Primary school pupils singing Christmas carols. This heralded the start of the Christmas season for me. They sang Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, the 12 days of Christmas and many more. They sang them all beautifully with cheery smiles on their faces while collecting for the Jack and Jill charity. We sang along with them. It was most enjoyable and a fitting start to th