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Fiona McGarry
Freelance Journalist
Ireland
Writer, broadcaster, lecturer and media trainer.
Ireland
Writer, broadcaster, lecturer and media trainer.
Listen to absolutebog | Explore the largest community of artists, bands, podcasters and creators of music & audio.
Fiona McGarry in Haiti - Report 1 Inequality ingrained in Haitian life The flight from New York to Port-au-Prince reflects many of the inequalities in Haitian society today. Even at the departure gate in JFK, where a tiny number of first-class passengers are whisked aboard the plane, well ahead of the majority of economy travellers, evidence of a deeply segregated society is clear.
Fiona McGarry in Haiti - Report 2 Haitians cling to rural life in Kenscoff mountains Rural Haiti is a place of sharp contrasts. In the village of Kenscoff, 19 km to the south east of the capital Port-au-Prince breath-taking mountain scenery and fertile agricultural soil are scant compensation for a lack of basic services like running water, roads and electricity.
Fr Rick Frechette, NPFS, with some residents of the St Helene Orphanage, Kenscoff, Haiti.
Two young residents of Kay Christine at the St Helene Orphanage, Kenscoff, Haiti.
Plenty of time for fun after school at St Helene, Kenscoff, Haiti.
Fr Rick Frechette, NPFS, assisting in clear-up efforts after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
James Gardiner and Aisling Mitchell of Galway County Library.
The Good Shepherd: Milltown farmer Jarlath Connolly.
Some members of the Clonberne ICA Guild
Some members of the Abbeyknockmoy ICA Guild
Athenry-based children's author, Morag Kelly.
Intergenerational project involving children from Corrandulla NS and residents of Corrandulla Nursing Home.
Fire-walking enthusiasts believe the practice boosts personal power.
It might not feel like it right now, but Spring Summer 2015 is just around that icy corner. While you mightn't be quite ready to throw off the parka, the shops are already filling up with floaty fabrics in pastel shades. According to the Pantone Institute, the new season colours are inspired by "daydreams of simpler times".
The death of Australian author Colleen McCullough has sparked a wave of nostalgia for her best-selling outback tale of forbidden love, The Thorn Birds. Fiona McGarry looks at five of the best in that most maligned of literary genres, the 'bonkbuster'.
The 'Momtourage' - involves kids, roller skates, bikes, buggies, skateboards and a couple of motley canines. In the middle of this energetic bunch is Mom, oblivious to the disapproving stares of the mummy mafia as they point to the 'No Dogs' sign.
The traditional time-out is now seen as something that, at best, just doesn't work, or, at worst, excludes and rejects the child, leading to a vicious cycle of bad behaviour. Psychologist Allison Keating is no fan of the naughty step, and she told Fiona McGarry why.
By the time the Leaving Cert rolls around, the average teen will have clocked up hundreds of hours of homework. And those aren't always happy hours for children or parents - whose knowledge of Gaeilge and trigonometry mightn't be what they used to. "Every child has the potential to do brilliantly in school."
"A lot of people believe that children are born with the ability to concentrate, but they're not. It's like any other skill. The more we practice, the better we get. It's actually a mental muscle. Concentration skills can only be developed by children themselves, but parents can play a huge part in supporting them."
Scarily, research shows an increase in the number of children with early signs of high blood pressure, diabetes and other weight-related conditions. Many parents worry about the fine line between preventing weight problems in kids and creating a complex around food and body issues.
These days most of us are guilty of speed eating on the go. Sometimes it just feels like there aren't enough hours in the day. According to Holistic Nutritionist and Mindful Eating Specialist, Deirdre Kavanagh, time pressures mean we're also likely end up over eating, comfort eating or bingeing.
Most of us have fuzzy feelings of nostalgia over our favourite children's book. Even experts agree (for once) that reading for fun brings kids a wide range of benefits, from vocabulary development to problem-solving. The experience of reading to a young child is a great bonding opportunity and even prenatal reading is having a bit of a moment.
After becoming a mother herself, psychotherapist and author Stella O'Malley decided to call time on the worrying trend of 'over parenting'. High parental anxiety is now an accepted norm, but is resulting in generations of teens and young adults being paralysed by anxiety.
Surveys suggest body image is a major concern for most Irish teens, with anxiety over shape and size beginning ever earlier. Meanwhile, parents worry about the fine line between encouraging health and fitness and instilling body acceptance and confidence.
While family holidays are about bonding and relaxing, the hours spent actually getting to your destination can be stressful. As well as being a professional Travel Counsellor, Cara Hunter is a mum-of-four (including twins) who has travelled extensively with her family. Here are her top tips to avoid travel nightmares: 1.
"We all get stressed," says Psychologist Dr Eddie Murphy. Well known for his practical down-to-earth advice on RTE's Operation Transformation, Dr Murphy strongly advises managing stress before it becomes chronic and toxic. "There's no doubt that families create stress - a lot of this energises us and gets us going.
Often it's down to a lack of dietary fibre. It also tends to strike around the time of toilet training or the start of pre-school or school. Registered dietician Regina Rattigan, MINDI, shares her expertise on preventing constipation.
Is it possible to earn money from home? The short answer is yes. But don't expect to be sitting back sipping lattes while the Euros roll in. It takes time, research and a keen eye for scams. If you have a particular qualification or skill, that's a big help, and most of us have more skills than we know.
The benefits of this ancient practice range from lowering stress to easing illness and the ability to be in the present moment really boosts the parent-child connection. Psychologist and mindfulness expert Alison Bough explained the concept of mindful parenting to Fiona McGarry: I really like Jon Kabat-Zinn's explanation of mindfulness...
Returning to work after maternity leave can create more of 'The Fear' than a lifetime of Sunday nights. Juggling the 9-to-5 (and the politics that go with it) while struggling with guilt, insecurity and baby brain is enough to throw anyone off their game.
Female friendship is tough stuff. Think of the time you sat up all night with your best friend bitching about her waste-of-space boyfriend, only to see them tearfully reunited the next day; the time at your debs when she held your hair back after you'd had too many Tequilas; or the evening you lent her your brand new, ridiculously expensive shoes and she also 'borrowed' your boyfriend.
Do you have a sneaking suspicion you're wasting money when it comes to the weekly grocery shop? Well you're probably right. Getting organised and creating a plan of action are key to keeping a few extra Euro in your purse each week - and they add up quickly.
Watching children play can be one of life's greatest pleasures - and puzzles. Next time you're looking at children chatting excitedly into a 'banana phone' or playing 'battling Barbies', remember that, according to the experts, they're developing their personalities, social skills and getting to grips with the world around them.
It might seem like an everyday issue, but impatience - especially when it's out of control - is kind of a big deal. Traffic, deadlines, horrible bosses. Just some of the things that can push our patience to the limit.
"Sleep at this point is just a concept, something I'm looking forward to investigating in the future." Comedian Amy Poehler's description of the first months of motherhood certainly strikes a chord, but the founder of the Smart Girls campaign (@smrtgrls), which encourages girls and young women to be their authentic selves, also knows the importance of nurturing your own talents and making an impact.
Yoga for children is still fairly new to these shores, but there's no doubt that kids really enjoy it and get all sorts of benefits - from improved concentration to boosted physical strength. Yoga is also an excellent way to deal with anger and frustration, and with a few simple moves, you can actually divert your child away from the dreaded tantrum zone.
They could be down to stress, smoking or (the shame) sleeping in your make-up. However chances are that what you're eating, or not eating, also plays a large part. According to Nutritional Therapist, Ailish Connelly, paying attention to nutrition can make a huge difference to the skin.
Fiona McGarry is a freelance journalist and radio producer. Her radio documentaries have been funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund. She is a regular contributor to The Irish Times and The Irish Daily Mirror and happiest when well caffeinated in front of a good box set.
Families today are more likely to be Modern Family than Brady Bunch (though, they were a 'blended family' decades before the term was trendy). The government is now taking steps to change the law to recognise that families come in all shapes and sizes. Fiona McGarry looks at the Children and Family Relationships Bill.
With all of life's ups and downs, it's tempting to want to wrap children up in cotton wool and protect them from the real world. However, as Positive Psychology expert Jolanta Burke explains, learning to cope with setbacks is an essential way to build resilience - the ability to bounce back, thrive and flourish.
When you're a parent, even the time you spend in the bathroom is no longer your own," says Mind Coach and time management expert, John Byrne. And, there's no doubt that 'me time' can go right out the window when your perfectly organised schedule gets interrupted by an unforeseen toddler tantrum or tummy ache.
Most of us will remember a cringe-inducing 'facts of life' conversation around about the time we started secondary school. But, research suggests that if parents leave those tricky conversations until the early teen years, they're likely to be actively blocked ('Mum, don't be so embarrassing!').
Kids bleeding you dry? Try some of this brilliant advice
If you've just come back to work after a lovely week off with the kids, we're green with envy! That first day back can leave you feeling a bit frazzled however, so here are five ways to ease that 'holiday hangover'. 1. Breathe in, open your inbox.
Disney princesses live in a world of impossible loveliness, handsome princes, happy endings and power ballads. No surprise, then, that millions of little girls adore them and hanker after the glittery merchandise that's part of the Disney dream. But parents and psychologists have raised concerns over messaging on passivity and male control.
Everyone thought Monday was D-Day for registering with Irish Water. Until Minister Alan Kelly 'clarified' that February 2nd was 'not a drop dead date'. No such reprieve for ex-QPR boss Harry Redknapp when the January Transfer Window shut in his face on the same day without a single new signing.
Fiona McGarry is a freelance journalist and radio producer. Her radio documentaries have been funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund. She is a regular contributor to The Irish Times and The Irish Daily Mirror and happiest when well caffeinated in front of a good box set.
From food fads to fussy eating, it's no wonder parents can find themselves stressing about whether their kids are eating the right kinds - and amounts - of food. When every day seems to bring new and conflicting research about what children's diets should contain - from kale chips to quinoa and goji berries to Chia seeds - it's reassuring to know that a 'back to basics' approach is often best.
If a coffee and a cronut are your default antidote to the exhaustion induced by modern parenting, you may need to think again. Our over-reliance on caffeine and sugar can quickly lead to a spiral of low energy and stress. Certified Nutritional Therapist Catherine Kenneally shares her top tips for eating well for more energy.
You know that old cliché about working smarter, not harder? Well, when it comes to work-life balance, it really does make sense. Executive Coach Aoife Killeen has this advice on getting the most from your working day and getting home on time. 1. Make flexible lists "Small tweaks in the workday routine can bring big results.
Fiona McGarry is a freelance journalist and radio producer. Her radio documentaries have been funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund. She is a regular contributor to The Irish Times and The Irish Daily Mirror and happiest when well caffeinated in front of a good box set.
Fiona McGarry is a freelance journalist and radio producer. Her radio documentaries have been funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund. She is a regular contributor to The Irish Times and The Irish Daily Mirror and happiest when well caffeinated in front of a good box set.
Fiona McGarry is a freelance journalist and radio producer. Her radio documentaries have been funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund. She is a regular contributor to The Irish Times and The Irish Daily Mirror and happiest when well caffeinated in front of a good box set.
