Picture of the week

Heavy Heads - Summer Showers: Winter barley in Killenard Co Laois / Jim Holland Jnr.



Letter to the editor

From left to right, Anne Jennings, Wicklow; Claire O’Keefe Cork Central; Caroline Farrell, Kildare; Geraldine O’Connell, Clare; Maura Canning, Galway IFA; President Michael D Higgins; National Chairperson Farm Family, Alice Doyle, Wexford; Mary Mullane, Limerick; Betty Coughlan, Waterford; Anne O’Connor, North Cork; Teresa Roche Vice-Chair committee, Galway.

Hi Amii,

I emailed the Áras when I was National Chairperson of IFA farm family (committee).

I was delighted to get a phone call from the Áras on Monday June 13 to get invited to the garden party on Wednesday June 15 in Áras an Uachtaráin re “Communities Day” and was allowed to bring 10 people.

I rang the present National Chairperson, Alice Doyle, and seats weren’t long filling up when I mentioned a trip to the Áras.

Regards, Maura Canning



Quote of the week

"That’s because in Ireland, the right to education starts at primary school age. So a preschool or creche are well within their rights to say, ‘No, sorry I can’t take your child’ without there being any repercussions. No, it’s not the ethical thing to do or the moral thing to do but it does happen."

Fiona Ferris, Deputy Chief Executive of AsIAm - Childcare In Ireland



Growing wild

Dog rose roots were supposed to cure the bite of a mad dog. This wild rose of summer, an ancient symbol of love and beauty is part of our native Irish biodiversity.

With Dr Catherine Keena

Teagasc countryside management specialist

Look out for dog rose with its beautiful, fragrant white to deep pink flowers and contrasting cluster of golden stamens in the centre, on green arching branches bearing curved thorns.

Individual flowers open for only a few days, producing pollen but not nectar, closing at night and during rain. A coloured gall develops around cynipid gall-wasp eggs, laid in leaf buds.

Leaf-cutter bees cut circular holes out of the leaves for their nests.

Dog rose roots were supposed to cure the bite of a mad dog. This wild rose of summer, an ancient symbol of love and beauty is part of our native Irish biodiversity.



Home Management Tip

If you have raspberries, strawberries, blueberries or other soft fruit in the garden; save them for winter time. They can be a bit bitter but are still lovely in tarts, crumbles or in the morning cereal or with granola.

Line a tray with greaseproof paper and secure it down with clothes pegs. Arrange the fruit in a single layer and not touching each other.

If you want to retain some sweetness, dredge them with castor sugar. Put the tray into the freezer and freeze them for three or four hours. Don’t leave them for more than a day to avoid freezer burn.

Take out the tray and bag up the solid fruit. This way you can use a small amount of fruit at a time and you can mix the fruits.



€ 50,000

The amount of money available under the Competitive Start Fund Innovation by the spoonful



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