Instagram inspiration

It’s been an emotional week for Vicky Phelan who travelled to Maryland in the US for a clinical trial that she hopes will prolong her life. It can’t be easy to leave her family, especially her children Amelia and Darragh. Vicky, we are behind you 100% and wish you the best of luck in your treatment. On her travels, Vicky is supporting Irish, wearing a matching headband and wrap from Aimsir made by the talented Donegal designer @edelmacbride. Follow her journey @vickyphelan.

Enter our Local Treasures competition

Now that we’re back in lockdown it’s time to re-launch our local treasures competition. We want to see which areas make your 5km special and are offering the chance to win a beautiful Thalgo Spiruline beauty hamper valued at €250. The luxury skincare brand recently launched their spirulina-enhanced line which aims to help to reduce the general signs of fatigue and skin stress (just in time for calving season).

To enter, simply share a photo of your local treasure (a river walk; a mountain trail; a local beach or monument - whatever is unique in your locality) on our website or on social media using the hashtag #ICLLocalTreasure. Please adhere to Government travel guidelines. Winner will be announced 4 March 2021.

Chef’s tip

It’s a dreary time of year. I find eating intuitively helps get me through a grey and (with lockdown) slightly lonesome January. Contrary to popular belief, January is not the time to lower the caloric intake or go on a juice cleanse. Intuitive eating means realising your cravings are something your body needs. I’ve been craving hot tea, cheese toasties and leftover Christmas biscuits. The perfect cheese toastie, to me, is full of delicious cheddar on thickly sliced batch loaf; generously slathered with butter on both sides before being fried to a golden brown. The key is to cook the toastie on low in a covered pan; slowing browning the outsides while, inside, the cheese becomes molten, gooey perfection.

Photo of the week

Lamb times: Chilling by the fireside on a Saturday evening in Leons Beg, Loughfea, Co Monaghan. \ Yvonne McConnon

Tweet of the week

Number of the week

11.1m

The amount, in euros, the HSE paid out in reimbursements under the Cross Border Directive.

Quote of the Week

From our cover star, Sarah Colgan on the 20x20 campaign.

You realise that just because it’s been done that way for hundreds of years, to accept that’s just the way it is, is so damaging for the generation coming up