#abbeyleix

#abbeyleix

Bryan Dobson stated, 'After nearly four decades at RTÉ, I found retirement to be a new chapter, filled with family time and personal projects.'

A remote Donegal parish and its Gaeilgeoir priest became near household names last year when the nation awoke on Easter Monday to learn St Mary's Church in Derrybeg had burnt to the ground overnight.

With the ripple effects of the US-Israeli war on Iran causing the biggest disruption to global travel since the pandemic, staycations are looking like a safer bet for some households.

Irish pubs have roots that go back to 10th-century Viking halls. And although we're talking about going so far back in time that precise dates and details can get a little sketchy, we do know there are a few pubs that opened not too long after that and are still in operation.

The Irish government will give 2,000 artists unrestricted weekly stipends in a program officials described as a "recognition, at government level, of the important role of the arts in Irish society." After a successful three-year pilot, the Irish government made its basic income program for artists permanent. Similar pilots have been launched here in the United States, but they're supported primarily by the nonprofit sector.

I just couldn't live in one of those bland houses, but I didn't have a plan for the interior design here. I simply love colour and I wanted to make the house feel warm and vibrant. The trend for grey and black, or beige and white interiors, has led to a plethora of samey-themed rooms that can look dreary, lack personality, and are unlikely to age well.

When Desmond Courtney bought The Schoolmaster's House in Ireland's horse heartland in 2002, he turned it into a "bachelor pad". The civil engineer did most of the restoration of the property himself, with some help from friends. After nearly two decades of living there alone, a random reunification with his long-lost love Monica (née Barron) transformed his life and his Kildare home.

McDonald's locations in the United States tend to be pretty staid and uniform in design, but head abroad and things start to change. While there are a few American McDonald's that don't feature the traditional golden arches aesthetic, in historic international cities, you'll frequently find the burger chain housed in beautiful old stone and masonry buildings - with only a small McDonald's sign offering any hint of what's inside.

I'm passing through Kilrush on the first bright, blue-skied day after weeks of non-stop rain and it's warm enough to leave the coat in the car and think perhaps there may be a sniff of spring in the air. I hope I'm not being previous. I'm here to check out two places I've been following on Instagram for a while, having never been to this part of west Clare before.

In September 2005, the course of Declan Dunlea's life was altered forever. At the height of the Celtic Tiger, he ran a successful oil and fuel distribution business called Core Fuels. He lived with his family in a beautiful five-bedroom period home overlooking Monkstown Bay in Co Cork, and spent his spare time renovating vintage cars. "After I left school, I started my own business as a coal merchant and did that for 15 years," he said.

There are cheaper rents to be found in Roscommon, Monaghan, Donegal, Leitrim and Cavan. But what about day-to-day costs? It's no secret that Dublin is an expensive place to live. In fact, a 2025 report by Tradingpedia found that it's the fifth most expensive capital city in Europe. But what about the other towns across Ireland? Where can you eke out a cheaper way of life, spending less on everything from your morning coffee to your yoga class?

Despite its proximity to one of London's busiest tourist attractions, its back street location is remarkably quiet and peaceful. Leading off Stafford Place, it was originally, and unsurprisingly, called Stafford Mews, as it was built as stabling for houses on Buckingham Gate, facing the palace. Constructed around 1860, the stables were simple two-storey houses, built initially with stables at the ground and accommodation above.

Portrush has gone up a gear with several new hotels, including this from Marine & Lawn