Residents at Sacred Heart Nursing Home in Roscommon town were taken back to earlier days during a visit from Derryglad Folk and Heritage Museum as part of the Community Linkage Project. Old artefacts, music and familiar scents sparked stories of butter-making, turf cutting and life in rural Ireland, with one resident even performing a heartfelt rendition of Danny Boy. The afternoon became a lovely reminder of how powerful shared memories and local history can be.
L-R: Janet Finneran, Bridget Heavey, Mary Gilsenan and Nancy Connaughton./agefriendlyireland
Andrea Mara’s new novel Such a Nice Girl has all the ingredients for a proper page-turner: missing daughters, long-held secrets and friendships beginning to crack under pressure. Set against the aftermath of a luxury wedding, the story follows two mothers trying to work out what really happened when their daughters vanish overnight. Priced at €15.99, it’s the kind of book that’s easy to lose a weekend to. Available at book stores nationwide.
Such a Nice Girl by Andrea Mara.
Dungarvan trad weekend comes alive
Dungarvan comes alive with traditional music from 17-21 June as TuneFest returns with another packed programme of concerts, sessions and outdoor gigs. Headliners include Cherish the Ladies, Danú and Frankie Gavin, alongside late-night pub sessions and free performances in Grattan Square. It’s the kind of festival where music spills out across the town all weekend, with something happening around nearly every corner. A great weekend for music lovers.
See tunefest.ie
Pictured from left to right: Benny McCarthy, Sarah O’Gorman, Ellen McCloskey, Niamh Fennell, Ellen O’Gorman and Donnchadh Gough at TuneFest Dungarvan. \ John Foley
Sunflower days are here again
Hospice Sunflower Days returns from 11-13 June, with on-street collections taking place right across the country in support of local hospice and homecare services. Now in its 36th year, the fundraiser helps provide free care and support for people living with life-limiting illness and their families. Broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan launched this year’s campaign at St Francis Hospice in Dublin. Donations can also be made at sunflowerdays.ie.
Miriam O’Callaghan with Hailey Whelan (7) from Dublin, launching Together for Hospice’s Hospice Sunflower Days 2026 campaign. \ Conor McCabe Photography
Thousands of O’Sullivans and Sullivans are expected to descend on Castletownbere over the June bank holiday weekend for a world record attempt celebrating the famous surname. Organisers hope to beat the current record for the world’s largest same-surname gathering, with music, tours and family events. The official count takes place on Saturday 30 May, with people travelling from as far as Argentina and Arizona to take part.
See osullivanclan.org
The event will be led by Kelly Sullivan, chieftain of the O’Sullivan clan.
Those Corduroy Hills
by William Donaldson, Hollywood, Co Down
So suddenly they
appear in spring,
Those green fields rolled in stripes,
Whatever the purpose
of that be,
An appealing
artistic sight.
Patterns laid in
distinctive lines,
Eye measured equal space,
Undoubted traits
of innate skills,
Not without a degree
of taste.
Then one day I
saw creation,
Red tractor on a
distant hill,
Attending to a
seasonal task,
One more job fulfil.
So could I ever envisage
The farmer’s input thrills,
In going about his
work envelopes,
Those captivating
Corduroy Hills.
Do you have a piece of poetry inspired by the countryside and farming?
Please send in your best work for consideration for the weekly Poetry Corner. We’re looking for short poems that captivate, inspire and reflect the landscapes,
traditions, and culture of rural Ireland in the past or the present. About 200 words or so is the ideal length. Please send your poetry
to icl@farmersjournal.ie or
post to Irish Country Living, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12.
Residents at Sacred Heart Nursing Home in Roscommon town were taken back to earlier days during a visit from Derryglad Folk and Heritage Museum as part of the Community Linkage Project. Old artefacts, music and familiar scents sparked stories of butter-making, turf cutting and life in rural Ireland, with one resident even performing a heartfelt rendition of Danny Boy. The afternoon became a lovely reminder of how powerful shared memories and local history can be.
L-R: Janet Finneran, Bridget Heavey, Mary Gilsenan and Nancy Connaughton./agefriendlyireland
Andrea Mara’s new novel Such a Nice Girl has all the ingredients for a proper page-turner: missing daughters, long-held secrets and friendships beginning to crack under pressure. Set against the aftermath of a luxury wedding, the story follows two mothers trying to work out what really happened when their daughters vanish overnight. Priced at €15.99, it’s the kind of book that’s easy to lose a weekend to. Available at book stores nationwide.
Such a Nice Girl by Andrea Mara.
Dungarvan trad weekend comes alive
Dungarvan comes alive with traditional music from 17-21 June as TuneFest returns with another packed programme of concerts, sessions and outdoor gigs. Headliners include Cherish the Ladies, Danú and Frankie Gavin, alongside late-night pub sessions and free performances in Grattan Square. It’s the kind of festival where music spills out across the town all weekend, with something happening around nearly every corner. A great weekend for music lovers.
See tunefest.ie
Pictured from left to right: Benny McCarthy, Sarah O’Gorman, Ellen McCloskey, Niamh Fennell, Ellen O’Gorman and Donnchadh Gough at TuneFest Dungarvan. \ John Foley
Sunflower days are here again
Hospice Sunflower Days returns from 11-13 June, with on-street collections taking place right across the country in support of local hospice and homecare services. Now in its 36th year, the fundraiser helps provide free care and support for people living with life-limiting illness and their families. Broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan launched this year’s campaign at St Francis Hospice in Dublin. Donations can also be made at sunflowerdays.ie.
Miriam O’Callaghan with Hailey Whelan (7) from Dublin, launching Together for Hospice’s Hospice Sunflower Days 2026 campaign. \ Conor McCabe Photography
Thousands of O’Sullivans and Sullivans are expected to descend on Castletownbere over the June bank holiday weekend for a world record attempt celebrating the famous surname. Organisers hope to beat the current record for the world’s largest same-surname gathering, with music, tours and family events. The official count takes place on Saturday 30 May, with people travelling from as far as Argentina and Arizona to take part.
See osullivanclan.org
The event will be led by Kelly Sullivan, chieftain of the O’Sullivan clan.
Those Corduroy Hills
by William Donaldson, Hollywood, Co Down
So suddenly they
appear in spring,
Those green fields rolled in stripes,
Whatever the purpose
of that be,
An appealing
artistic sight.
Patterns laid in
distinctive lines,
Eye measured equal space,
Undoubted traits
of innate skills,
Not without a degree
of taste.
Then one day I
saw creation,
Red tractor on a
distant hill,
Attending to a
seasonal task,
One more job fulfil.
So could I ever envisage
The farmer’s input thrills,
In going about his
work envelopes,
Those captivating
Corduroy Hills.
Do you have a piece of poetry inspired by the countryside and farming?
Please send in your best work for consideration for the weekly Poetry Corner. We’re looking for short poems that captivate, inspire and reflect the landscapes,
traditions, and culture of rural Ireland in the past or the present. About 200 words or so is the ideal length. Please send your poetry
to icl@farmersjournal.ie or
post to Irish Country Living, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12.
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