With Dr Catherine Keena
Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist
Look out for ivy flowers, which on any dry day are sure to be covered in bees, wasps, flies and butterflies, as well as moths when they come out in the dark.
Some are attracted by the putrid smell of fairly inconspicuous lime-yellow flowers on the crown of woody stems amid oval untoothed leaves – characteristic of the flowering stage of ivy. Five pointed green petals reflex backwards with the dome in the centre, oozing nectar, at this time of year when nectar is scarce. Ivy is a foodplant of the holly blue butterfly, whose eggs are laid on the flowers.
Love or hate it, ivy is part of our native Irish biodiversity.
Bingo Ladies
Hay stacked and bonnetted
like low fat ladies with no bingo to go to
admired by passing truckers
and the satisfied farmer
closing his field of tied up ladies
Hay saved for a winter of content
cows chewing cud into dairy fullness
fit for human consumption
keeping full baby bellies
asleep through darkest cold
or brightest night
in fields abroad or near the farmer
tills his time so people eat.
Written by
Galway-based poet, playwright and novelist Anthony Ryan
The estimated rise in numbers of people seeking treatment for
cocaine addiction by the year 2026, according to the HSE.
Cillian O'Connor, aged four, has a great love for farming. He has a John Deere gator and works hard on the farm under the watchful eyes of his family. He loves his cows and has a highland cow called Buain Cuain, which means Big Cotton. He went to the Highland show in Edinburgh back in June. / submitted by Leona Leonard, Co Clare
We can feel a lot of pressure even around well-being, that you feel you should be doing yoga or sea swimming – but it’s really about finding balance. We talk a lot about living our best life and the thing is actually that my best life looks very different from somebody else.”
Author and entrepreneur Aoife McElwain on avoid burnout and finding the balance in our lives.
Maria Moynihan chats with Niav Riley, who teaches millinery classes and supplies specialist equipment in this week’s Meet the Maker.
Milliner and educator, Niav Riley.
As we reach the height of Irish apple season, treat time and tea time often involve warm, delicious slices of apple tart, but do you know what my favourite apple treat really is? A baked apple pancake. This recipe came from an old community cookbook in my home place. It takes very few ingredients and it is so light, fluffy and absolutely delicious on its own or with ice cream.
Simply take one egg and separate the yolk from the white. Whisk the egg white until stiff peaks are formed. Mix the yolk with 2tbsp each of sugar and plain flour, then add a splash of vanilla. In a cast iron skillet, sautee a sliced apple in 2tbsp each of sugar and butter.
Fold in the egg whites to the batter then gently scoop the batter over the top of the apples. Bake in a hot oven for 8-10 minutes and enjoy warm.
With Dr Catherine Keena
Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist
Look out for ivy flowers, which on any dry day are sure to be covered in bees, wasps, flies and butterflies, as well as moths when they come out in the dark.
Some are attracted by the putrid smell of fairly inconspicuous lime-yellow flowers on the crown of woody stems amid oval untoothed leaves – characteristic of the flowering stage of ivy. Five pointed green petals reflex backwards with the dome in the centre, oozing nectar, at this time of year when nectar is scarce. Ivy is a foodplant of the holly blue butterfly, whose eggs are laid on the flowers.
Love or hate it, ivy is part of our native Irish biodiversity.
Bingo Ladies
Hay stacked and bonnetted
like low fat ladies with no bingo to go to
admired by passing truckers
and the satisfied farmer
closing his field of tied up ladies
Hay saved for a winter of content
cows chewing cud into dairy fullness
fit for human consumption
keeping full baby bellies
asleep through darkest cold
or brightest night
in fields abroad or near the farmer
tills his time so people eat.
Written by
Galway-based poet, playwright and novelist Anthony Ryan
The estimated rise in numbers of people seeking treatment for
cocaine addiction by the year 2026, according to the HSE.
Cillian O'Connor, aged four, has a great love for farming. He has a John Deere gator and works hard on the farm under the watchful eyes of his family. He loves his cows and has a highland cow called Buain Cuain, which means Big Cotton. He went to the Highland show in Edinburgh back in June. / submitted by Leona Leonard, Co Clare
We can feel a lot of pressure even around well-being, that you feel you should be doing yoga or sea swimming – but it’s really about finding balance. We talk a lot about living our best life and the thing is actually that my best life looks very different from somebody else.”
Author and entrepreneur Aoife McElwain on avoid burnout and finding the balance in our lives.
Maria Moynihan chats with Niav Riley, who teaches millinery classes and supplies specialist equipment in this week’s Meet the Maker.
Milliner and educator, Niav Riley.
As we reach the height of Irish apple season, treat time and tea time often involve warm, delicious slices of apple tart, but do you know what my favourite apple treat really is? A baked apple pancake. This recipe came from an old community cookbook in my home place. It takes very few ingredients and it is so light, fluffy and absolutely delicious on its own or with ice cream.
Simply take one egg and separate the yolk from the white. Whisk the egg white until stiff peaks are formed. Mix the yolk with 2tbsp each of sugar and plain flour, then add a splash of vanilla. In a cast iron skillet, sautee a sliced apple in 2tbsp each of sugar and butter.
Fold in the egg whites to the batter then gently scoop the batter over the top of the apples. Bake in a hot oven for 8-10 minutes and enjoy warm.
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