Alanna MacNamee | Business Post

Alanna MacNamee

alanna-macnamee

Power to the people: How technology is helping a new generation to tune out

Advances in solar and wind technology and mobile internet have changed the game for the increasing number of people who choose to go off-grid, keen to live a more sustainable and cost-effective life

Unaccustomed as I am: How to make it in public speaking

Celebrities speaking gigs are nothing new – many Victorian-era writers embarked on these events. But you don’t necessarily need to be famous to become part of the speaking circuit. The Business Post asked some experts for tips on the techniques and skills needed to be an effective public speaker

Let it go: In recent years, Ireland’s hoarding habits have worsened, but there is help at hand

For those who have been through a trauma or a life-changing event, accumulating possessions can seem like a comfort at first, but hoarding can often lead to isolation and greater problems

A new generation emigration: Why so many young people no longer see a reason to stay here

Alanna MacNamee finds an air of pessimism among some young people who can only see a bleak future here with rising costs and expensive rents and housing

Cost Of Living Crisis

Budget squeeze: How to make savings when prices are on the rise

This winter, many of us are looking at higher mortgage repayments, rising food costs and increased energy charges, but careful planning and shopping around can achieve significant savings

Method of modern love: The scam romances blighting the dating game

For those seeking to find love online, the landscape of contemporary dating is fraught with potentially ruinous scams that seek to fleece the unwary – and the psychological damage can be considerable

A weight of evidence: how society’s view of obesity is changing

Overweight people have long been criticised for their appearance, but a more enlightened awareness is now emerging

The greening of death: How natural burials help sustain life on Earth

Traditional burials have long been known to be harmful to the environment. But a new wave of eco-friendly ‘end of life’ technologies promises to change all that

How cocaine became Ireland’s drug of choice

Once seen as the recreational drug of the wealthy, cocaine has become a ubiquitous presence among every social and economic group in Ireland – including teenagers – and is ordered via text or social media. What is behind the popularity of the Class A drug?

Climate & Environment

Hometree: A west Clare tree-planting charity that’s growing into a movement

The government has identified afforestation as a key element in the fight against climate change and Hometree, a charity in west Clare, is helping that effort through tree planting and education

My kingdom for a camper van: The women embracing life on the road

In recent years, demand for camper vans has gone through the roof. Those familiar with the industry say it’s mostly women who are buying them, as more and more discover the simple but empowering pleasure of buying an RV. A tight-knit community is growing across Ireland – and they say ‘van life’ is far more than an Instagram fad

Basic income for artists: ‘The idea is great, but the challenge is making sure it is going to the right people’

A pilot scheme to pay 2,000 Irish artists a weekly allowance has been broadly welcomed for the financial security it will afford those lucky enough to get it, but there are others who do feel it will not solve their problems

One more tune: How Ireland’s nightclubs are fighting for survival

Where once we could dance the night away, offices, hotels and apartment blocks are springing up. But can Ireland’s nightclubs and late-night venues make a comeback and have they been given a lifeline by proposed new licensing laws?

All the pieces matter: How Lego is winning adult hearts and minds

As the toy giant opens its first ever Irish store on Grafton Street in Dublin, it’s clearer than ever that its enduring appeal has broadened out far beyond the children’s market

It’s all in the game: The rise and rise of esports

With traditional sports intermittently shutting down during the pandemic, the burgeoning genre of esports – playing video games competitively – has filled the gap for huge numbers of people, and its appeal shows no sign of diminishing

The Great Resignation: Why are so many people quitting their jobs?

As the pandemic grinds on, more and more workers are re-evaluating their employment situations, and in many cases walking away. What does this huge shift in dynamics mean for the future of work?

Domestic enterprise: the workers who keep our homes clean

Whether it’s for the mammy’s boys who wreck the house, the compulsive clutterers or time-pressed professionals, some professional cleaners reflect here on the reality of cleaning other people’s homes