Croatia: A summer odyssey in a country full of sunny beauty spots
There's a surprising familiarity to the surrounding landscape as our bus meanders through the Croatian countryside.
The rugged, rocky terrain interspersed with greenery calls to mind the Burren, albeit with the addition of olive trees and the occasional groves that make it truly unique.
“It’s a karst landscape,” our guide Andreas confirms, as he explains the similar ways the limestone region has formed and how the stone walls we see protect the soil from erosion – and, more recently, can help manage forest fires, the scars of which we notice throughout the week.
Read the full article written for the Irish Examiner here.
Don O'Hara
Within five minutes sitting down to talk to Don O’Hara in his home in Annascaul, he’s lifting himself from his seat to get something from his desk in the corner of the room: an invite to his birthday party. “As a matter of fact, I’m 37 days short of my 91st birthday, you got yourself an invite to the party!” He tells me this with great pride, his strong Lancashire accent making it all the more friendly. It sounds like his birthday is an occasion he looks forward to. “Every year we usually have a party the Friday before my birthday, god knows how many people turn up and we have a bit of a session!”
Read the full interview written for West Kerry Live here.
Grub's Up: Here's where six chefs and food experts spend their holidays
Pizza on the side of a cliff, lobster rolls overlooking the sea; it’s safe to say there is no shortage of delicious and mouth-watering food options on our island.
Whether it’s a food pilgrimage to west Cork or day trips to the sunny south-east, holidaying in Ireland for many is not only focused on great scenery and beaches but also where you can spend an evening dining on the best of produce in Ireland, pit-stop for a scenic toastie, forget about your schedule over a glass of wine, and decide to move out of the city over a bowl of mussels.
Read the full article written for the Irish Examiner here.
Reflections As We Move Into The Next Phase
About three months ago I made the perfect pot of rice; each grain was fluffy and the distinct holes that formed between the grains were a joy to look at. I had never thought much about the process, but on this occasion, it stood out. My friend and I marvelled at the joy well-cooked rice can bring. I remember that evening well because it was the last time I managed to make it properly. As the country shut down, so did my ability to cook rice.
Read the full personal essay written during Lockdown 2020 here.
It’s been four months and I still miss my weekends with Nana
For the last three years, since I moved back to Dublin, my family and I would take turns spending a weekend with my Nana in Newry. Some weekends I would drive straight up from work on a Friday, others I would arrive on a Saturday morning just in time to bring her to her weekly hair appointment with Winifred, driving her over the windy hill and praying no cars met us from the other direction.
Read the full piece I wrote for Image about the passing of my Nana back in 2018 here.