Picture of the Week

Born to farm, forced to go to school: Donal Mandy Jr is farm mad but his dad was making sure he was on time for his first day at school recently.

Letter to the Editor

Anne & Amii,

I hope all is well – it’s been a while since you very kindly featured me in January in Irish Country Living, so I said I would touch base with a quick “thank you” and quick update to show what I have been able to do due to all the lovely support I have received for Elephant on the Farm – I have to date sold almost 1,300 copies and I am in over 60 bookshops nationwide as well as 22 county libraries and counting!

Last week my nephew Tommy (to whom the book is dedicated!) and I were able to pop up to Crumlin to make a cash donation of €1,020 and also donate books to the hospital, see photo below with Crumlin rep Aideen!

Also just to note that I am hoping to launch book two Giraffe in the Trees about Gerry the Giraffe who lives in Glendalough in September!!!

With best regards,

Brendan

Tweet of the Week

Money Mentor’s tip

An Post have a new An Post Money app as well as their new current account for seven to 15 year olds – An Post Money Mate. The app is available to all An Post Money customers and will help manage finances. A Mastercard debit card and a special version of the app allows kids and teenagers a digital view of their spending in store and online, and their savings. Grown-ups are able to keep an eye on their child’s spending and put certain limits in place including alerts, freeze the card, jars, set targets for pocket money transfer money and set limits.

An Post Money Mate charges start at €2 per month for current account customers, or €4 per month for non-customers.

Instagram Inspiration

@House_of_Orchard is our newest interiors Instagram crush. Busy mam of two Michelle Meade shares photos of her oh-so country chic home in the midlands. Muted tones, fresh and airy rooms and pretty table settings are her speciality – and who knew cow parsley could make a kitchen look so gorgeous?

Number of the Week

600

The number of different species of seaweed in Ireland

Quote of the Week

From Laura Grant on the National Ploughing Championships:

Everyone is like, “Oh, the Ploughing is cancelled.” I’m like, “No, no, the Ploughing is actually going ahead. It’s the trade stands that are cancelled.” It’s nice to put a bit of emphasis on what started off the whole National Ploughing Championships – the actual ploughing