Columnists
Home Columnists
Martina Mulhall: CAO week – Decisions, deadlines and new beginnings
Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers offers one-to-one or small group career advice, in-person or online, to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
Follow on Instagram for...
Fr Paddy: Monsignor John Byrne – 25 years as Parish Priest of Portlaoise
Often in life, we only get the opportunity to speak well of someone we highly regard and respect, after they have physically gone from...
Martina Mulhall: From boyband to boardroom – The unstoppable journey of Damien Bowe
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Fr Paddy: The Good Samaritan and what story Jesus might tell us today…
It was a lawyer who asked Jesus in the Gospel, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ He was probably expecting a definition that would determine the...
Martina Mulhall: Meet the adopted Laois man who has made a massive impact on...
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Martina Mulhall: Leaving Cert results 2025 – What you need to know!
The long wait for Leaving Cert results is almost over as results are released on Friday, August 22.
It is important to know what to...
Fr Paddy: When did you last say your prayers?
When did you last say your prayers? This question makes all kinds of presumptions. Not least that people don’t pray.
Or that prayer has any...
Martina Mulhall: From rucks to rounds – Meet the Laois doctor in Ireland’s second...
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Martina Mulhall: Traineeships – alternative pathways series Part 3
Over the past two articles in this series, we’ve looked at Post Leaving Cert (PLC) courses and Apprenticeships as strong alternatives to the CAO...
Fr Paddy: Saint John Henry Newman – Doctor of The Church
Pope Leo XIV has declared Saint John Henry Newman a 'Doctor' of the church, bestowing one of the Catholic Church’s highest honours on the...
Martina Mulhall: ‘Trust your vision’ – Heidi Higgins on building a career in Irish...
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Fr Paddy: ‘Gratitude is a wonderful mindset and way of lifethat sustains a positive...
The month of August traditionally marks the beginning of autumn. For the Celtic people, this time of year was filled with festivity, engaging in...
Martina Mulhall: Sound career moves – How Ann-Marie Kelly became a force in Irish...
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Martina Mulhall: Alternative career pathways for Leaving Cert students Part 2 – Apprenticeships
Every year more and more Leaving Cert students look beyond the traditional CAO route to pursue their career ambitions.
Factors such as the points-race, cost...
Fr Paddy: Harvest time – ‘May we celebrate that the rich diversity that is...
Time and seasons come and go; so far 2025 seems to have moved very quickly, it's hard to believe, this week we begin the...
Martina Mulhall: Crafting career success – Ballykilcavan’s David Walsh-Kemmis on beer, bravery and big...
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Fr Paddy: Our health is our wealth – the story of Saint Camillus
Our health is our wealth. Health of body and peace of mind are indeed rich blessings that many long for.
Western culture, continues to value...
Martina Mulhall: Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins on her career as an electrician and her...
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Martina Mulhall: Alternative career pathways for Leaving Cert students
Every year more and more Leaving Cert students look beyond the traditional CAO route to pursue their career ambitions.
Factors such as the points-race, cost...
Fr Paddy: Remembering Brother Kevin … A living Saint
In a statement announcing Br Kevin’s death on July 2, at Mount Desert Nursing Home in Cork, the Capuchins said he was known throughout...
Martina Mulhall: Laois sporting legend Sue Ramsbottom on her fascinating career in the Irish...
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Fr Paddy: ‘The happiest people don’t have the best of everything – they just...
It was disappointing to read that tourists visiting our beautiful island has greatly reduced in recent times. Ireland has benefited hugely from tourism, especially...
Martina Mulhall: A chat with world renowned performance coach Patrick Harding
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Fr Paddy: Society without a moral compass quickly disregards the integrity of all human...
A moral compass offers direction informed by values. Christianity is a wonderful moral compass based on gospel values of faith, hope and love.
I found...
Martina Mulhall: A chat with award winning poet, publisher, writer, broadcaster and poetry film...
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Leaving Cert Diary: At long last – I have joined the ranks of those...
Aoife Fitzpatrick is a Leaving Cert student in Scoil Chríost Rí in Portlaoise. From Cullenagh, near Ballyroan, she is hoping to study Global Media...
Martina Mulhall: Springboard+: Free and Subsidised Third-level Courses
Every year hundreds of people miss out on the opportunity to avail of free or heavily subsidised third-level courses run under the Springboard+ scheme.
These...
Fr Paddy: A prayer for the Summer Solstice – the brightest days of the...
These weeks many cemetery masses take place in every parish across the country. I really like these occasions when family and communities unite in...
Martina Mulhall: Sitting down with renowned animator, director and writer – Seamus Malone
In this careers series, Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers, speaks with high-profile figures across a range of industries to explore the stories behind their...
Fr Paddy: Spirit of God, Loving and free, Spirit of God, flow through me
Time moves by too quickly; soon we arrive at the longest day of the year - June 21.
These long bright days I pray will...
