Taryn de Vere
Given our population distribution, political debate in this country can often feel Dublin-centric. However, it’s rural issues such as the price of beef and access to transport and hospital care that could end up deciding the result of this weekend’s election, and the make up of the next government. Taryn de Vere, a Her contributor […]
6 years ago
“I hope voters in Ireland can see that their country is unique, crazy, amazing, and ripe for change.” While the majority of us will be heading to the polls on Saturday morning, there are thousands of people living in Ireland who cannot vote. Some are not permanent residents, some don’t have the necessary residency status […]
6 years ago
The end of the bleakest month is in sight at last, but to get you though the final hours we’re looking at ways to find joy every day… Bibi Baskin has had a long and interesting career in the public eye. After becoming the first woman in Ireland to have her own live TV chat […]
6 years ago
“We are cyclical beings living in a linear society” You’ve heard of bendy yoga, sexy yoga and sweaty yoga… but have you ever heard of womb yoga? Officially called Yoga Nidra, it is also is known as the yoga of sleep – meaning you don’t actually have to do any physical movement. Yoga Nidra is now […]
6 years ago
When we were asking around about who comes to mind as a happy person, for our series ‘Joy in January’, Tara Flynn’s name kept coming up. People associate her smiley self with fun – so we spoke with Tara about happiness, Irishness and how to be joyful. Asked to describe herself, Tara Flynn offers up […]
6 years ago
Between dark mornings, diets and a pay day that seems like it’s never going to come, January can be bleak. So, to brighten up your new year we’re looking at ways to find joy every day… Pauline Rohdich was a Garda, a flight attendant and a business woman before she settled on her current career as a […]
6 years ago
Between dark mornings, diets and a pay day that seems like it’s never going to come, January can be bleak. So, to brighten up your new year we’re looking at ways to find joy every day… When I was struggling to articulate what to write as an occupation for my business card, my dear friend suggested I […]
6 years ago
“Breaking years-long habits is not easy work, which is maybe why we leap upon the quick-fix solutions offered by something like a detox tea” Christmas Day wasn’t even over when I saw the first of the ‘inspirational’ New Year adverts for weight loss clinics and “Detox Jan” articles promoting the idea that with just a […]
6 years ago
There’s nothing quite like the healing power of a good hug to boost the mood on a bad day… But would you turn to strangers to get your cuddle quota? In this world of strange job titles, ‘Cuddle Salon Convener’ Randy Ralston has one of the best. Originally from the US, Randy has undertaken training […]
6 years ago
From online abuse to comments in the Dáil, racism has come to the forefront of the national conversation in recent months. But who is suffering and just how prevalent is it? In a new series, Her asks women living in Ireland to tell us about their real life experiences… “When we witness racism, directly or indirectly, each and every single one […]
6 years ago
From online abuse to comments in the Dáil, racism has come to the forefront of the national conversation in recent months. But who is suffering and just how prevalent is it? In a new series, Her asks women living in Ireland to tell us about their real life experiences… “I’ve had insulted hurled at me, I’ve been given that nasty stare, […]
6 years ago
From online abuse to comments in the Dáil, racism has come to the forefront of the national conversation in recent months. But who is suffering and just how prevalent is it? In a new series, Her asks women living in Ireland to tell us about their real life experiences… “I hope it is addressed now while it’s an ember rather than […]
6 years ago
From online abuse to comments in the Dáil, racism has come to the forefront of the national conversation in recent months. But who is suffering and just how prevalent is it? In a new series, Her asks women living in Ireland to tell us about their real life experiences… “No one should want to bleach their hair or hide their skin […]
6 years ago
This week, Irish people’s kindness turned my offer to help two women into helping 5o women. Christmas is an especially difficult time of year for lone parent families living in poverty. Many rely on charities to provide Santa gifts and come Christmas morning there is often no present under the tree for them. Lone parent […]
6 years ago
“It is much easier to have conversations about porn with your kids if you’ve already had open and honest conversations about sex with them.” Porn is back in the news again, with the release of a new study led by Dr Kate Dawson, of the School of Psychology in NUI Galway. Dr Dawson’s research found […]
6 years ago
A global movement called Tech For Good is bringing people together to look at how technology can create positive change in the world. Co-founder of Dublin’s Tech For Good chapter, Máirín Murray spoke with Her about why Ireland needs Tech For Good. “Digital technology is so powerful that we can’t ignore it or wish it […]
6 years ago
It’s said that Irish people are “great at funerals”, but death is something we tend to shy away from talking about before it happens. In a new series, Her meets the people who want to start a wider conversation about death and loss. Here, an Irish woman who founded a line of cremation jewellery shares what […]
6 years ago
It’s said that Irish people are “great at funerals”, but death is something we tend to shy away from talking about before it happens. In a new series, Her meets the people who want to start a wider conversation about death and loss. Here, an Irish Hospice Foundation public engagement officer explains how to create a […]
6 years ago
It’s said that Irish people are “great at funerals”, but death is something we tend to shy away from talking about before it happens. In a new series, Her meets the people who want to start a wider conversation about death and loss. Here, the woman behind The Grief Geek shares the experiences that led her to […]
6 years ago
It’s said that Irish people are “great at funerals”, but death is something we tend to shy away from talking about before it happens. In a new series, Her meets the people who want to start a wider conversation about death and loss. Here, we find out the story behind behind Limerick’s Death Cafe… “The major rule […]
6 years ago
A riot of of pink, orange, green and red smoke filled the air in the Guildhall square in Derry tonight as several hundred people gathered to celebrate an historic day. The chill winter air did little to dampen the spirits, and people stamped the ground to keep warm while sharing hugs and tissues as tears […]
6 years ago
“Our USP is my kids need to eat” Two weeks ago I launched my online shop, taryndevere.com. I sell handmade or upcycled pieces of wearable art, like headpieces and earrings. Over the years many people have suggested I set up a shop, and every time I would smile and nod as if I was considering it, […]
6 years ago
In the week that marked World Mental Health Day, what role does fashion play in promoting wellbeing? This week, fashion house Gucci debuted its ‘Gucci Changemakers’ initiative, with a series of short films on its Instagram. The films feature young people, including our own Sinéad Burke, who embody “Gucci’s commitment to create lasting social impact in […]
6 years ago
“If the Irish State, acting in our name, continues to deny people access to their own birth information and identity, we are perpetuating a culture of shame and silence.” Republic of Shame is a hard-hitting read. Written by journalist Caelainn Hogan, the just-released book explores Ireland’s history of institutionalising women and children, and unpicks the intersections […]
6 years ago
It’s been a strange few days in Irish politics. On Friday over 10,000 people marched on the streets of Dublin as part of the global Climate Strike. It’s fair to say that many of the protesters were considerably younger than your average Irish politician. The strike was organised by students, and millions of people around […]
6 years ago
Speaking at a publicity event in Clontarf Castle recently, activist Vicky Phelan called for a new Ministerial role to be created – a Minister for Women. Ms Phelan stated that it was her own experience, and that of other women who had confided in her over the last year, that led her to realise that […]
6 years ago
“The beauty in being a woman lies in her power to create and manifest the life she envisions for herself.” Miss Universe Ireland Fionnghuala O’Reilly is passionate about breaking stereotypes. The beauty pageant winner has a day job as regional director of NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge, which she manages working remotely from her home in […]
6 years ago
“It actually felt more liberating the more I used it.” Recently, there was outrage when ads for gyneacologist Dr Jen Gunter’s book The Vagina Bible were removed by Twitter for containing “inappropriate content” – namely the word vagina. Twitter is not alone in being uncomfortable with the word, many of us were taught to use euphemisms […]
6 years ago
“It was only when I started to feel good about myself that I took care of myself.” Many women have a complicated relationship with their body, often starting from a very young age when they become aware of what society considers ‘normal’ and ‘attractive’. In a new series, Her meets a selection of Irish women […]
6 years ago
“I felt trapped inside a failing body.” Many women have a complicated relationship with their body, often starting from a very young age when they become aware of what society considers ‘normal’ and ‘attractive’. In a new series, Her meets a selection of Irish women who have transformed their thinking and learned to love their bodies […]
6 years ago
“I credit Julia Roberts with planting the seed of my rebellion.” Many women have a complicated relationship with their body, often starting from a very young age when they become aware of what society considers ‘normal’ and ‘attractive’. In a new series, Her meets a selection of Irish women who have transformed their thinking and learned […]
6 years ago
Is this really 2019? A tweet promoting Kourtney Kardashian’s new vaginal product, Poosh, caused an internet sensation last week when the word vagina was very specifically not used, and instead called a “hoo ha”. Hoo ha it seems, is an acceptable term for female anatomy when it comes to Twitter. This week the world discovered […]
6 years ago
“This surgery will ensure that my kids grow up with me in their lives.” In 2018, lone parent Claire Malone was awarded the Wexford Person of the Year award for her extraordinary community work. Now, she is the one who needs urgent help. Mum of three Claire is currently in hospital trying to organise funds […]
6 years ago
“I have to see myself as a whole person.” Many women have a complicated relationship with their body, often starting from a very young age when they become aware of what society considers ‘normal’ and ‘attractive’. In a new series, Her meets a selection of Irish women who have transformed their thinking and learned to love […]
6 years ago
“I was tired of hiding it and of lying about it” Many women have a complicated relationship with their body, often starting from a very young age when they become aware of what society considers ‘normal’ and ‘attractive’. In a new series, Her meets a selection of Irish women who have transformed their thinking and learned […]
6 years ago
Early Pride activist Izzy Kamikaze takes us through how the event has changed in Ireland.
7 years ago
While getting engaged is an exciting time, planning an Irish wedding comes with some added difficulties. Sound familiar? You can find yourself managing the expectations of others, especially if you don’t want to have a ‘traditional’ wedding. In a poll we conducted, 54 percent of our readers told us they felt constrained by the expectations of […]
7 years ago
The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland recently released the shocking information that children as young as 10 are being diagnosed with eating disorders in Ireland. We asked Her readers at what age they started to experience body shaming and 92 percent said they were made to feel uncomfortable about their bodies when they were still […]
7 years ago
In March this year, statistics on sexual harassment around the world were released by WIN International. Irish women reported the highest level of sexual harassment in Europe with 32 percent of Irish women between the ages of 18 and 34 saying they had experienced some form of sexual harassment within the previous 12 months. We asked […]
7 years ago
According to three industry insiders, a CV is still an important part of the recruitment process. The job market has changed considerably in recent years but experts maintain that a good CV is still the first step to getting that much-coveted position. Aine Crilly, HR consultant for The HR Elephant, provides career mentoring and crafts […]
7 years ago
In a poll conducted by Her, 72 percent of readers said they would consider having a non-traditional wedding. Three Irish brides-to-be shared their search for the perfect wedding with us and explained why they decided on alternative weddings. Galway couple Amanda and Rodge say they never envisaged having a traditional wedding. Having worked as a florist for […]
7 years ago
While the historic repeal vote in 2018 signalled a changed Ireland, gender inequality remains a major issue. At home, women are still assuming the majority of the caring and household tasks, while in the workforce women earn 14 percent less than their male counterparts. 90 percent of our readers told us that they don’t think […]
7 years ago
Alliance for Choice and musician Isobel Anderson has launched a powerful and moving music video about abortion in Northern Ireland. According to Alliance for Choice, every day four women travel to England while others use abortion pills that have been illegally obtained. After winning the PRS Women Make Music award, Isobel Anderson reached out to […]
7 years ago
Irish photographer Vanessa Ifediora began experimenting with photography while living in Japan. Initially, she used photography as a tool to help her recover from a condition known as Maladaptive Daydreaming. The condition causes intense daydreaming that is highly addictive and almost solely consists of completely imaginary scenarios. It’s frequently triggered by music and normally develops in […]
7 years ago
A trailer for an RTÉ Prime Time programme focusing on transgender issues sparked controversy after it revealed that Graham Linehan would contribute to the show. The programme will explore “the implication of the explosion in the numbers of young people saying they want to change gender.” In the trailer for the show, which is due […]
7 years ago
A fake website has been set up to mimic the H.S.E website that provides information for people seeking abortion services. Repeal campaigner Tanya Cody called the helpline number on the fake website to find out what information was being given to callers. “I told him I was looking for info on where I could get […]
7 years ago
A recent rape case in Cork has brought this topic to the fore. Comments by a Cork barrister defending a 27-year-old man accused of raping a 17-year-old encouraged the jury to view the kind of underwear the alleged victim was wearing as proof that she was “open to meeting someone”. The barrister said: “You have […]
7 years ago
“We were told that our baby had anencephaly at the 12-week scan. It is fatal. No chance of survival.” So began a series of heartbreaking tweets from a woman living in Northern Ireland who live-tweeted having to travel for an abortion over the weekend. “The midwife said we were ‘lucky’ because sometimes these defects […]
7 years ago
Marketing director and co-founder of GirlCrew Áine Mulloy swapped her high-flying job for the back streets of Dublin recently when she volunteered for homeless charity ICHH. Áine says she wasn’t sure what to expect from the experience and felt quite nervous about her own safety prior to volunteering. “You are taking every bit of advice you’ve […]
7 years ago
To find out how women in Ireland feel about the Pope’s visit to Ireland, I reached out to activists around the country. With 500,000 tickets issued, I didn’t anticipate difficulty asking people to chat about the Papal visit but it was significantly harder than expected. Below are excerpts from the interviews I conducted with women […]
7 years ago