You Said It

STAR LETTER

When the Taoiseach announced recently it was necessary to extend restrictions until at least April 5 my heart sank. 

My morning walk in Castletown parklands followed by coffee at the kitchen table, is certainly a nice start to my day.  After months of almost no variation to this routine I felt I was becoming institutionalised and was tempted to make a dash for the coast to fill my lungs with sea air.  Knowing it is best for us to keep doing what is required, I let go of that idea and looked at what I could do to lift my spirits while staying within the guidelines.  I came up with the following plan. 

On Sundays I look at the forecast and identify a day when the weather will be good.  On the morning in question, I wrap up well, get in the car and drive a couple of kilometres in whatever direction I have chosen.  I find a coffee shop and treat myself to a coffee and pastry.  I find a rock or a wall to balance the coffee on and enjoy whatever is going on around me.  Who would have thought that coffee outdoors, standing up, on a chilly spring day would be so appealing!

After that, I walk.  So far, I have found a stretch of the Grand Canal to walk along and a different parkland.  I take a photo of an appealing aspect of the new territory and set it as my WhatsApp profile photo – to the delight of the grandchild who told me recently how to do this! 

 The past year has taken a toll on the nation’s mental health.  I have found this small change to my routine has given me the energy to keep going for another while.  

Margaret Riordan, Kildare

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Inspirational Mum

My 91-year-old mother Nora Cooney from Bullaun, Loughrea, Co. Galway got her Covid vaccine a few weeks ago as she is in the Brampton Home Care in Oranmore Co Galway. I am so proud of her; she is an amazing woman as she had 15 children and has been through so much in her life. I love and buy your magazine every week and I just said my mother is such an inspiration to us all I wanted to write about her. She lost her youngest son and my beautiful brother Peter in November 2019. It was heart-breaking for us all.  He is with us every day in our hearts and souls and is looking down helping us. Just to add your double-issue last week and this week with Mary Byrne and Mary McEvoy has made both your covers so colourful and bright. Both ladies look fantastic. Well Done as always Woman's Way Team. 

Joan Poland, Galway

Mary Kennedy 

What a joy to read Mary Kennedy’s interview in the last issue of Woman’s Way. She really is a role model for women in Ireland, and not just older women. She’s as stylish as she ever was – I just loved her clothes in the accompanying pictures. She’s also fit and healthy, and had an important message on bone health. 

Sadly, a friend of mine suffered a hip fracture at just 67 and it devastated her life. I had no idea before this happened just how important it is to keep tabs on our bone health. Neither did she. It would have made such a difference if she had, because the tragedy is that weakening bones is a condition that can be treated. 

Like Mary, I urge all older women to take this issue seriously. It’s something that you should raise with your doctor on the next visit. Of all the challenges we face when we get older, losing our mobility is just about the worst. I’m a happy and confident 73 and pretty fit for my age. I intend to stay like that for as long as possible. One of my great passions is gardening and I just don’t know what I’d do if I stopped being able to enjoy it. 

Janice McNally, Longford 

Drunken Indiscretion 

I was so taken with last issue’s Dear Mel problem. The letter writer was very stressed after a drunken fumble with her sister-in-law’s boyfriend which her mother-in-law may have witnessed. I can relate so well to this because something similar happened to me. I’m not proud of it but, not long after we married, I had a brief tangle with one of my husband’s cousins at a family wedding. This man was already a heavy drinker even back then, and something of a lady’s man.  

On the drive to the wedding, my husband and I had our first serious row. We were barely talking at the reception and I got stupidly drunk. I was outside having a cigarette when the next thing I know this eejit was moving in on me. I’m not even sure I’d say now I consented. I think these days younger women would call it an assault. Anyway, I was mortified afterwards and blamed myself.   

I’ve never told anyone about it and, aside from writing this letter, I don’t think I ever will. We still sometimes meet the cousin at family events. He’s a very bad drinker now and, every time we see him, he has another poor deluded woman on his arm. I just steer clear of him. 

Name with the editor

Gift of Grandchildren

Last year during the first lockdown when I was feeling a bit down, my dear grandchildren Ciara and Jim wanted to send me something to cheer me up. They decided to send me a subscription to Woman’s Way. It has cheered me up on many a dull day. I look forward to the sound of my magazine dropping on the hall floor every second Tuesday. It’s the gift that goes on and on.

Hilary Carolan. Leitrim

Brighter Days

I was at the local Farmers Market whenI heard this lovely singing coming from a stall near me. She had a beautiful haunting voice and was singing the song Dog Days are Over by Florence + The Machine but I heard the lyrics as The Dark Days are Over:

'love for your mother, love for your father, love for your brother, love for your sister....

the dark days are over

the dark days are over'

I felt quite emotional hearing this and as she finished everyone at the market all broke into applause. It was a shared moment in time when I felt hope and I just wanted to share this lovely moment with you all.

Miriam Gleeson, Dublin

Raise Awareness

Your article ‘Not for Sale’  has to be one of the most eye opening articles in your magazine for some time. Full credit must go to Arlene Harris for bringing this wonderful group, RUHAMA, to  our attention. Sister Eilis Coe is also to be praised for her wonderful work in helping to bring help to these unfortunate people who,through no fault of their own end up in our country being abused. In 30 years time are we all going to pretend that we did not know these terrible atrocities were happening under our noses?  I am sharing this article with as many people as possible and hope to write to some of our leaders, politicians and law enforcers to bring this situation to the fore. It is refreshing to read serious articles like this in a magazine instead of reading silly articles telling us how to wear lipstick!!

Mary Lake (via email)

Supporting and Wearing Green

I really enjoyed your support of Irish brands and wearing green in your fashion segment. I think if Covid and the lockdowns have taught us anything it is to support and buy local. I am making a conscious effort from your previous issue on sustainable fashion to not buy as much clothing but when I do buy going forward, I am going to buy Irish. Many thanks to Norah Casey for highlighting such wonderful Irish brands and stories. I am enjoying Woman’s Way so much the past few issues as it resembles a more Irish and homely feel. Looking forward to the next issue. 

Theresa Martin, Meath

Mum Of The Month

I am enjoying the new segment in your magazine Mum Of The Month. I think Ciara Jones is such a positive and determined woman. I really resonated with what she said about how she was “too busy” prior lockdown. Although this time has not been easy for many families, mine included, I try to find three positives throughout the day to keep me going. Today I am thankful for the brighter evenings, FaceTime with my daughter abroad and my lovely issue of Woman’s Way. I love Mary Kennedy too; she is just brilliant and always looks fabulous. Thank you to the team for providing such a jammed packed issue filled with so much for everyone. I am looking forward to reading about more mothers in the new segment – maybe we could include a dad in there too?

Fiona Whyte, Waterford 

Families Apart

I picked up my copy of Woman’s Way this week and found myself in tears in my car after reading your St. Patrick’s Day section. My daughter Aoife is currently living abroad in Australia and reading this piece brought on a surge of emotion that had me blubbering in my car outside the supermarket! It is very important to acknowledge those of us who no longer live in Ireland and are finding it so hard to get home to their families, especially around our patron saint’s day. This was such a beautiful and emotional idea, and I absolutely adored reading it! Thank you again.

Emma Lennon, Kerry

Online Shopping

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your insightful article on online shopping. I have been on the internet picking up some clothes and other bits more than ever and this particular article was very enlightening - forewarned is forearmed as they say! I spoke about it with friends who also are big fans of Woman’s Way and it made me realise that I am not the only ones spending hours a day on websites shopping for a bargain, and sometimes getting hoodwinked by sites that look like they’re Irish. It also taught me to read the small print, especially about returns. 

Sophie Moriarty, Roscommon

Check Before You Buy

The Shopping Savvy Online article was very informative and helpful in last week’s issue. I am in my seventies and have to still cocoon until I get my vaccine, so I have had to do online shopping. Before reading your article, I was terrified about buying stuff online as I wouldn’t be what my grandchildren call ‘tech savvy’. However, it was great to get an insight into each store and their delivery process and returns. Maybe you could make this a regular feature for us oldies? Many thanks again team, I have been buying Woman’s Way for the past 30 years, it is my favourite magazine.

Mary Wilde,Kildare

Saoirse Ruane 

As a mother of an eight-year-old myself,  the story about Saoirse Ruane really touched me. I was blown away by her strength and bravery which was inspiring especially for a child of that age. As I sat down to read it, I could not stop looking over at my own daughter.  I felt such a great deal of empathy for Saoirse and her mum. Together they are doing such great work by telling her story whilst also fundraising for a number of charities. I thought the piece continued to spread the message and raise awareness. It was an emotional experience for me reading it as a mother and even brought a tear to my eye. I think it was a welcomed piece and a source of inspiration for many families who may be going through difficult times to know that there are people who understand and can offer support. It took me back to her first appearance on the Late Late Toy Show and I felt the same emotion I did when we first heard from Saoirse. 

Lisa Meldon, Longford 

I am a regular reader of Woman’s Way and particularly love the fashion and beauty sections. They have been a godsend during lockdown when salons, beauticians and hairdressers have been closed. Like many women around the country, lockdown has not been the kindest to my hair and my home attempts of trying to achieve a salon look have not been the most successful to say the least. Picking up your magazine I was thrilled to see Dylan Bradshaw dealing with oily hair - it is such a huge problem for me. I am now following his advice and have reduced the number of times I shampoo my hair - and his product recommendations were great. I am constantly passing on your advice to my friends when they comment on my hair now and they are so impressed. Looking forward to seeing what other tips you guys come up with and what new products you recommend. 

Beth Moriarity, Mayo 

Shampoo Bars 

Going greener in 2021 is a pledge I made to myself back in January, so I was delighted to read your article about shampoo bars! They are such an easy, everyday swap and eco-friendly to boot. I was so excited to try out the Nuddy Daily Shine Treatment Shampoo bar which I can tell you did not disappoint. The smell made me feel like I was on holidays and my hair had a great shine for days! I’ve been bleaching my hair for the last 20 years, so I was curious to see if it would dry out my locks, but it worked out great!

I also bought the Arona solid perfume in the scent Calming Lavender. It is gorgeous and you wouldn’t believe the number of compliments I’ve been getting every day on my lockdown walks. I can’t wait to try the Delicate Rose scent too. Even though I made the change for the environment, it will be so handy to travel with the Arona solid perfume! I won’t have to worry about liquid amounts or travel size sprays again! I’m officially a convert to shampoo bars and solid perfume! 

Lily O’Neill, Galway

When I Win The Lotto

I came across your When Win The Lotto piece in last week’s issue. If I won, the lotto I would buy a sunny villa in Spain and spend all my days out in the sun, reading Woman’s Way and drinking all the grapes! The aspirational page is really inspiring me to start believing that better days are coming and to dream big. Who knows, I may just win the lotto. I bought a ticket for the EuroMillions when buying this week’s issue, wish me luck!

Catriona Lambe, Mayo

Ryan Tubridy

I heard Ryan talk about Woman’s Way on his radio show, he talked about how much was inside the magazine, even referred to it as a guide to lockdown. I think you should put Ryan on the cover, he is very handsome and has been a great rock to us every Friday night keeping us entertained and informed on The Late Late Show. I am a big fan of both Ryan and Woman’s Way.

Sadie Curtin, Carlow

Better Days Ahead

Yesterday evening was the first evening since the first Lockdown that I sat outside and enjoyed looking at the orange lit sky and had a cuppa. The weather and winter nights have been tough for me, as I am sure they have been for many others, and I was so glad to finally see spring make a return. I am excited to hear the bird’s sing and for the longer evenings, so I get out and get walking. I definitely think that lockdown is coming to an end soon, we need to hang in there. This new season has given me some hope and clarity.

Susan Browne, Cork

Dognapping

I pick up my copy of Woman’s Way fortnightly and have been loving the latest issues. I was unaware of the dognapping situation and have taken necessary precautions to prevent this from happening to me and my two lovely dogs in the future. This was such a clever article to feature in the magazine. I am sure this issue was all over the internet but I feel as though not many people my age have access to the internet, or choose not to use it. And so, it was really great to learn about this important issue in Woman’s Way.

Sheila Martin, Cork

Retire Easy

I thoroughly enjoyed this week’s issue of the magazine. As I ease into autumn of my life I was intrigued to read your early retirement article. It was truly fantastic. I felt quite enlightened after sifting through it. I even took some notes in a notebook! Another great work from the ladies at Woman’s Way!

Eimear Furey, Clare