Life & Arts | Business Post

Living the dream: The fantasy holiday destinations of a lifetime

After two years of travel restrictions, many people are packing their bags in anticipation of their first trip abroad in some time, we spoke to a number of well-known faces about their favourite destinations and where they would go if money were no object

‘How had one small thing caused such misery when it had so easy a solution?’ – essay by Rory Gleeson

Irish author Rory Gleeson offers an acute take on one man’s battle with life, laziness and an unstoppable, indestructible bleep . . .

Esther O’Moore Donohoe: I’m only just back from my holidays, give me a break

A first proper holiday in years prompts a desire to undergo some long overdue personal self-improvement . . . but frankly, it can wait for now

‘Ambition or talent? Neither. Tenacity and hard work’ – Aingeala Flannery, journalist and broadcaster

The author of The Amusements on growing up surrounded by newspapers, the uselessness of celebrity and the importance of hard graft

Bucket and spade list: In search of our dream holidays

In search of a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience? Veteran travel writer Isabel Conway takes us on a whirlwind tour of some of the fanciest options for luxury vacations across the globe

‘How had one small thing caused such misery when it had so easy a solution?’ – essay by Rory Gleeson

Irish author Rory Gleeson offers an acute take on one man’s battle with life, laziness and an unstoppable, indestructible bleep . . .

Powerful in its own right, McPherson’s Girl from the North Country confirms Dylan’s genius

Conor McPherson’s musical plumbs the emotional heartbeat and dramatic narrative of Bob Dylan’s songs, and will surely convince sceptics of the works’ literary power

Clare Smyth on her new cookbook, expanding to Australia and being named the world’s best female chef

“Some women weren’t too happy I accepted it, but the most important thing is having a voice,” Smyth tells the Business Post as she prepares to launch a new book which traces her journey to three Michelin stars

The Local Heron by John Kelly

The poem by the broadcaster and writer John Kelly is extracted from Space, his new volume of poetry, published by Dedalus Press

Living the dream: The fantasy holiday destinations of a lifetime

After two years of travel restrictions, many people are packing their bags in anticipation of their first trip abroad in some time, we spoke to a number of well-known faces about their favourite destinations and where they would go if money were no object

‘Don’t overplan, don’t overbook’: Blogger Stephanie Barry Woods’ advice for travelling the globe

Six years ago, the Cork-born entrepreneur and her now husband Tim left their jobs in London to head off around the world. Since then, she’s built an online travel business via Instagram – and had many a life-changing experience along the way

Sponsored Content

Kings of the grill: Barbecue essentials from the Dunnes Stores Simply Better collection

In the second of a partner content series, Gillian Nelis, Food&Wine editor, picks her favourite products from the Dunnes Stores Simply Better summer barbecue range, while wine writer Cathal McBride suggests some wine pairings

Nadine O’Regan: The world is on a mission to persuade us we’re all good at yoga – we’re not

After years of trying, I have to admit that I’m just not a natural at yoga or pilates, so please stop telling me that anyone can do it

Appetite for Distraction

What to watch, listen to and play this week: A transgender story from the 1960s

A one-off documentary follows the life of April Ashley, a model and dancer who was one of the first British people to undergo gender reassignment surgery

Esther O’Moore Donohoe: I’m only just back from my holidays, give me a break

A first proper holiday in years prompts a desire to undergo some long overdue personal self-improvement . . . but frankly, it can wait for now

Design For Life

Have I made the right decision to become a full-time writer?

Dr Michael Keane advises a reader who has left their job after signing a book deal, but now finds their ability to write hampered by self-criticism

Northern Ireland

‘We’re not going anywhere, we’re not going to be cowed’: the North’s battle for reproductive rights rages on

The US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe vs Wade marks a new frontier in the war on abortion rights, but for women in Northern Ireland, the fight had never ended anyway

‘Ambition or talent? Neither. Tenacity and hard work’ – Aingeala Flannery, journalist and broadcaster

The author of The Amusements on growing up surrounded by newspapers, the uselessness of celebrity and the importance of hard graft

Classical Notes

A new Tosca, like 007, is licensed to thrill

Puccini’s opera has divided opinion since its creation in 1900, but a new production at Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is likely to be a feast for the senses

Kildare’s Firecastle offers a top-class selection of cake, quiche and oven-ready meals

Showcasing the best of Irish and international foods to stock your kitchen, this café-restaurant provides a generous, fresh and delicious lunch for a decent price point

Doing the business

Edizemi Onilenla of Mama Shee on bringing African food to Irish supermarket shelves

The entrepreneur has steadily increased her range of products to include ready meals, snacks and freshly prepared meals

The Ballast Seed: A moving memoir of parenthood, depression and the therapeutic power of plants

An unexpected pregnancy and subsequent crisis threw journalist Rosie Kinchen’s life into disarray, from which she emerged after discovering the simple pleasures of horticulture

Ailbhe Reddy reveals her musical inspirations

The Dublin singer-songwriter on the tracks that mean the most to her, from Fiona Apple to Arcade Fire . . . and John Denver

Nitram: Disturbing story behind Australian mass shooting is carried by powerhouse acting

Justin Kurzel’s retelling of the 1996 mass killing in Port Arthur in Tasmania seeks to to explain the inexplicable in simple, human terms