Columnists
35 things we learned in the Coronavirus pandemic – 3 minute read … now...
With the world almost entirely shut down and unrecognisable from what it was just a couple of short weeks ago, John Whelan has put...
Fr Paddy: This will call for great resilience of mind and heart
My friends, while the name of the virus we are struggling to control is known as COVID 19 – the entire experience that we...
John F Headen: Coal carriers, draught horses and bartering for beer money
Up until the late 1950s a common sight in the Castlecomer Coalfield area of Kilkenny, Carlow and Laois were the carmen or coal carriers...
Fr Paddy: Spiritual Nuggets of Hope in difficult times
This is a particularly tough time in human history where the new coronavirus has many people worried, unsure as to how to act and...
Pat Critchley: Remembering the Portlaoise Fire Brigade from back in the day
This Pat Critchley piece first appeared in his book 'Hungry Hill' in 2008
The members of the Fire Brigade are unsung heroes of our community.
Dad...
John F Headen: Bullseyes and Buttermilk, Biddy Bolton’s measuring method, day-old chicks, fresh herrings,...
Local historian John F Headen is contributing a series of articles to LaoisToday - and in this week's piece he remembers his time as...
Bronwyn Cuddy: ‘Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life’ – Fernando Pessoa
"What can she/he do in order to improve their grade?" is the most commonly asked question at parent-teacher meetings and this is a fact...
John F Headen: Timahoe’s Volunteer Band and their trouble with The Black and Tans
Local historian John F Headen is contributing a series of articles to LaoisToday - and in this week's piece he tells the famous story...
Fr Paddy: Blessed Carlo Acutis … Patron of the Internet
I am greatly taken by the life story of Carlo Acutis, a young, talented and deeply spiritual teenager whose life story is a real...
John F Headen: Hobnail boots, dubbin and Gannon’s Chemist shop
John F Headen from Timahoe is well-versed in local history and times gone by. In the first of his columns for LaoisToday, he writes...
Fr Paddy: Lent … A time to pause and maybe a time to lighten...
Last Wednesday we began Lent, the season of reflection that leads us towards the three days of the Triduum, with Easter Sunday falling on...
Fr Paddy: ‘If you do no good to others, you do nothing great’
Lent begins on Wednesday 26th February. Christians around the world mark the beginning of Lent with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. This ancient day...
Fr Paddy: Don’t judge others before you know them
A 24 year old boy looking out the train window shouted … ‘Dad, look the trees are going behind!’
Dad smiled and a young couple...
Fr Paddy: Healthcare is first and foremost a relationship of trust
This Tuesday, February 11, is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and also World day of Prayer for the Sick.
Behind many hall-doors in...
Fr Paddy: If Fr Peter McVerry were Taoiseach …
Prime Time Extra on RTE television invited Peter McVerry SJ to tell the nation what he would do in his first 100 days if...
Fr Paddy: The World has changed and so must the Church
The following article was recently penned by Fr. Brendan Hoban. It’s a very honest reflection from a man who is almost 50 years ordained...
Fr Paddy: Eight-year-old’s explanation of God
A second class student in primary school recently wrote the following wisdom………
One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace...
Fr Paddy: The Two Popes – an inspirational movie
Belief is central to identity and we live our lives based on our systems of beliefs.
Faith, particularly organised religion, demands a faith that...
Fr Paddy: Happy 2020 – it’s always an opportunity to begin again
It’s hard to believe we are almost ready to begin another new year, the rituals of celebrating a new year is an ancient one....
Fr Paddy: Christmas is a time to get real
I was struck by a headline on a national newspaper recently that read, “A nation yearns for meaning at Christmas”. ...
Peavoy Financial Planning: Year end focus for company directors
Good forward planning means SME owners should look at all their options for extracting profits from their business in a tax efficient manner.
Better known as...
Fr Paddy: Let the light shine
Once upon a time there was a man who looked upon Christmas as a lot of humbug. He wasn’t a Scrooge. He was a...
John Whelan: Fine Gael now at the mercy of Murphy’s Law
Murphy’s Law states that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Add in to that mix Verona Murphy, Eoghan Murphy and Dara Murphy and...
Fr Paddy: The gift of generosity this Christmas
Generosity is a wonderful gift. To have a big heart is a blessing that is to be open and compassionate in love to the...
Fr Paddy: Advent – A time to open doors
This week we begin the liturgical season of advent.
A hope filled few weeks, when we prepare to welcome, yet again, the light and peace...
Pat Critchley: Paddy and the Giant and being hit by a bullock
This is an extract from Pat Critchley’s latest book Bruno – a collection of stories, yarns and poems – that is being published this week.
The Giant drank Guinness,...
Fr Paddy: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Jesus couldn’t do much for the man on the cross…his own hands were nailed.
He couldn’t take him off, but he gave him more than...
Pat Critchley: The importance of humour, enthusiasm and appreciating what you have
This is an extract from Pat Critchley's latest book Bruno - a collection of stories, yarns and poems - that is being published later this...
Bronwyn Cuddy: Move over Disco Queens, Vsco Girls are here!
Our occasional columnist Bronwyn Cuddy writes this week about bizarre Vsco Girls craze.
Stereotypes are nothing new.
We’ve all fallen foul of the ‘in-thing’ at some...
Fr Paddy: The Problem of Direct Provision
Fintan O’ Toole (Irish Times) recently wrote: “In 1992, the concept of limbo - a place for the souls of infants who died before...
