Peter Kenny and over 200 other volunteers are braving the chilly waters at Old Bawn Beach in Ballygarrett, Co Wexford this 3 January for the fourth annual ‘Big Splash for Little Heroes’. The fundraiser has already raised over €170,000 to support LauraLynn’s vital work with children needing palliative or complex care. Friends, families, and even nervous first-time dippers come together to show how courage, generosity, and community spirit can turn a simple splash into a life-changing difference. See lauralynn.ie.
Pictured below: Catherine Tully and Aoife Brown during the 2023 ‘Big Splash for Little Heroes’ on Old Bawn Beach. \Jim Campbell
The Hare’s Corner is a beautifully crafted celebration of Ireland’s quiet, hopeful ecological revival. Written by Catherine Cleary and poet Jane Clarke, this inspiring book gathers real-life stories from Burrenbeo participants – farmers, families, schools and community groups – all making small but powerful changes to restore habitats and revive species in both rural and urban areas.
Enchanting illustrations by Jane Carkill and striking photography bring each story to life, inviting readers to reconnect with the wild edges of the world and perhaps create their own ‘hare’s corner.’ It’s named after the tradition of leaving a field margin for wildlife. Available from newisland.ie, €22.95.
The Hare’s Corner available from newisland.ie, €22.95.
Nollaig na mBán is a cherished Irish tradition, celebrating women’s contributions in the quiet days after Christmas. Once a mostly local custom, it is now travelling further afield, with Boston hosting its own Women’s Leadership celebration. This year, the Irish American Partnership is honouring champion boxer Katie Taylor, showing how the spirit of community and female leadership reaches far beyond home.
And with the St Brigid’s Day Festival growing in popularity each year, it seems celebrations centred on women are thriving more than ever.
See irishap.org/events/nollaig-boston-2026.
Katie Taylor with her mother Bridget Taylor. \Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Cork Arts Theatre is gearing up for a special 2026 as it celebrates 50 years with its Re:Directing series. The first production, Infinity by Hannah Moscovitch and directed by Julie Kelleher, runs from 4-14 February and promises an emotional, thought-provoking night out in this much-loved intimate venue. We love seeing local talent shine and this feels like a real treat for the new year. Tickets from €18 at ticketsource.com and more at corkartstheatre.com.
Director Julie Kelleher. \Jean Kearney
SynerChi Kombucha was created in 2012 by company founder Laura Murphy, who has the distinction of being Ireland’s first commercial kombucha brewer. SynerChi’s kombucha, available from €2.75, comes in a range of flavours, from Raspberry & Rosehip to Pear & Matcha and Coconut & Pineapple. Made in Donegal with organic ingredients and live cultures, it’s naturally fizzy, vegan and low in sugar. So if you’re thinking about embracing Dry January or you’re sober curious, this is a nice alternative for a cosy night in, or just a little lift during the day. See full range at synerchi.ie.
SynerChi Kombucha is available from €2.75, nationwide.
Homebeat’s midwinter music and arts weekender, A Sliver of Light, returns to Hotel Doolin from 23-25 January 2026, inviting people to gather on the Clare coast just as the year begins to brighten. Expect three days of live music, DJs, talks and ambient moments, with artists from Ireland, Iceland and Germany, plus a special RTÉ Lyric FM Ambient Orbit broadcast. The fantastic lineup includes David Kitt, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Ana Palindrome, DUG, Méabh McKenna, and many more. Early-tier weekend tickets start at €140 and are on sale now at asliveroflight.ie.
Caoimhin Ó Raghallaigh on the fiddle. \Con-Kelleher.
Winter Time by Carmel Murtagh, Kenagh, Co Longford
The nights draw in,
it’s cold and bleak
The cowshed door
just let a creak
I don my jacket as
it’s getting cold,
That Polly cow should
soon be sold.
The trees are bare, their
leaves have shed
Cattle happily chewing on
their slatted bed.
They chew their
cud so peacefully,
They look content
and so carefree.
The leaves have fallen
from the trees
Our collie dog is
at his ease.
The fields are squelching
beneath my feet,
My sturdy wellies are
hard to beat
I spot a robin and her
mate
As they sit atop the
garden gate!
I sprinkle birdseed
on the feeder,
Their pecking game has
got a leader.
The air is fresh with a steady breeze,
The leaves have fallen
from the trees,
It’s time for breakfast
and a bite to eat,
I now head homewards
to rest my feet.
The inviting aroma of
brown bread baking
assails my nostrils, my
appetite’s awakening.
With a cup of tea and my
home baked bread,
I’m ready to tackle the
white-washed shed.
I thank my maker for good
health from above,
It warms my heart like a
woolly winter glove.
Peter Kenny and over 200 other volunteers are braving the chilly waters at Old Bawn Beach in Ballygarrett, Co Wexford this 3 January for the fourth annual ‘Big Splash for Little Heroes’. The fundraiser has already raised over €170,000 to support LauraLynn’s vital work with children needing palliative or complex care. Friends, families, and even nervous first-time dippers come together to show how courage, generosity, and community spirit can turn a simple splash into a life-changing difference. See lauralynn.ie.
Pictured below: Catherine Tully and Aoife Brown during the 2023 ‘Big Splash for Little Heroes’ on Old Bawn Beach. \Jim Campbell
The Hare’s Corner is a beautifully crafted celebration of Ireland’s quiet, hopeful ecological revival. Written by Catherine Cleary and poet Jane Clarke, this inspiring book gathers real-life stories from Burrenbeo participants – farmers, families, schools and community groups – all making small but powerful changes to restore habitats and revive species in both rural and urban areas.
Enchanting illustrations by Jane Carkill and striking photography bring each story to life, inviting readers to reconnect with the wild edges of the world and perhaps create their own ‘hare’s corner.’ It’s named after the tradition of leaving a field margin for wildlife. Available from newisland.ie, €22.95.
The Hare’s Corner available from newisland.ie, €22.95.
Nollaig na mBán is a cherished Irish tradition, celebrating women’s contributions in the quiet days after Christmas. Once a mostly local custom, it is now travelling further afield, with Boston hosting its own Women’s Leadership celebration. This year, the Irish American Partnership is honouring champion boxer Katie Taylor, showing how the spirit of community and female leadership reaches far beyond home.
And with the St Brigid’s Day Festival growing in popularity each year, it seems celebrations centred on women are thriving more than ever.
See irishap.org/events/nollaig-boston-2026.
Katie Taylor with her mother Bridget Taylor. \Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Cork Arts Theatre is gearing up for a special 2026 as it celebrates 50 years with its Re:Directing series. The first production, Infinity by Hannah Moscovitch and directed by Julie Kelleher, runs from 4-14 February and promises an emotional, thought-provoking night out in this much-loved intimate venue. We love seeing local talent shine and this feels like a real treat for the new year. Tickets from €18 at ticketsource.com and more at corkartstheatre.com.
Director Julie Kelleher. \Jean Kearney
SynerChi Kombucha was created in 2012 by company founder Laura Murphy, who has the distinction of being Ireland’s first commercial kombucha brewer. SynerChi’s kombucha, available from €2.75, comes in a range of flavours, from Raspberry & Rosehip to Pear & Matcha and Coconut & Pineapple. Made in Donegal with organic ingredients and live cultures, it’s naturally fizzy, vegan and low in sugar. So if you’re thinking about embracing Dry January or you’re sober curious, this is a nice alternative for a cosy night in, or just a little lift during the day. See full range at synerchi.ie.
SynerChi Kombucha is available from €2.75, nationwide.
Homebeat’s midwinter music and arts weekender, A Sliver of Light, returns to Hotel Doolin from 23-25 January 2026, inviting people to gather on the Clare coast just as the year begins to brighten. Expect three days of live music, DJs, talks and ambient moments, with artists from Ireland, Iceland and Germany, plus a special RTÉ Lyric FM Ambient Orbit broadcast. The fantastic lineup includes David Kitt, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Ana Palindrome, DUG, Méabh McKenna, and many more. Early-tier weekend tickets start at €140 and are on sale now at asliveroflight.ie.
Caoimhin Ó Raghallaigh on the fiddle. \Con-Kelleher.
Winter Time by Carmel Murtagh, Kenagh, Co Longford
The nights draw in,
it’s cold and bleak
The cowshed door
just let a creak
I don my jacket as
it’s getting cold,
That Polly cow should
soon be sold.
The trees are bare, their
leaves have shed
Cattle happily chewing on
their slatted bed.
They chew their
cud so peacefully,
They look content
and so carefree.
The leaves have fallen
from the trees
Our collie dog is
at his ease.
The fields are squelching
beneath my feet,
My sturdy wellies are
hard to beat
I spot a robin and her
mate
As they sit atop the
garden gate!
I sprinkle birdseed
on the feeder,
Their pecking game has
got a leader.
The air is fresh with a steady breeze,
The leaves have fallen
from the trees,
It’s time for breakfast
and a bite to eat,
I now head homewards
to rest my feet.
The inviting aroma of
brown bread baking
assails my nostrils, my
appetite’s awakening.
With a cup of tea and my
home baked bread,
I’m ready to tackle the
white-washed shed.
I thank my maker for good
health from above,
It warms my heart like a
woolly winter glove.
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