Getting motivated can be a challenge at the best of times and while Covid-19 brings many challenges it also brings opportunities. It has never been more important to ensure each one of us gets some daily exercise, even it is 10, 20 or 30 minute walk, the important thing is to start! Setting the smallest of personal goals can be enough to get things moving. Sometimes we defeat ourselves before we even begin through overthinking. The thought of putting on walking gear on a cold

As a lover of history, think it important to acknowledge the centenary of the passing of Corkman and City Mayor, Terence MacSwiney and his fellow hunger strikers in 1920, including Joseph Patrick Murphy. MacSwiney's most famous phrase: "It is not those who inflict the most suffering, but those who endure the most who will triumph", struck a chord with those seeking freedom from colonialism around the world. Photo of Terence MacSwiney courtesy of Matt Loughrey, founder of 'My

For a whole host of reasons it wasn't possible to post much for the last while. Covid-19 has been having quite a dramatic impact on family and employment circumstances. I hope to get a few posts out between now and Christmas on different topics so until then just enjoy this beautiful image of Mt. Errigal (751m) in Co. Donegal, one of my favourite hikes in Ireland - certainly one of the most dramatic mountains I have ever seen. There is a fantastic hostel at the base of the mo

When dealing with challenging or stressful times in our life, it is all the more important to eat well. While a little indulgence every now and again is normal and healthy, over the longer term it is important to improve your nutrition. Helping your physical and mental health begins with nutrition, and the old adage that you are what you are eat holds a lot of truth. I'm definitely not here as a preacher, I have the same struggles as everyone else but small changes like the o

One of the great archipelagos off the southwest coast of Ireland is the Blasket Islands, also known as Na Blascaodaí in the Irish language. The archipelago includes 6 islands: Great Blasket Island (An Bhlascaod Mór), Beginish (Beiginis), Inishnabro (Inis na Bró), Inishvickillane (Inis Mhic Uileáin), Inishtooskert (Inis Tuaisceart), Tearaght Island (An Tiaracht). Each year, my hiking group head to the Great Blasket to hike, swim and camp overnight, taking in the silence of the

A fantastic story circulating online is the large number of Irish people (20,000 so far) who have responded to the call by the Choctaw Nation to support their fellow Native Americans who are suffering from the Covid19 Outbreak. Irish people are responding to the request in memory of the financial aid the Choctaw Nation sent to Ireland during the Great Famine of 1845-1851, which killed well in excess of one million Irish people and displaced a further two million. As of today

Being a carer can be both a rewarding and challenging role, even more so during a global pandemic! The work of a carer is often carried out behind closed doors and therefore doesn't get the attention it deserves. Below are 10 tips To Help Carers as well as links to supportive articles and Youtube videos. The work carers do is of critical importance and these incredibly special people deserve all the support they can get ~ GH 1. Make your mental & physical health a priority as

Michael Collins/Mícheál Ó Coileáin (16 October 1890 – 22 August 1922), packed a huge amount into a very young life. Leaving home at 15, he spent nearly a decade in London, working mostly in the financial services sector. He returned to Ireland just in time for the 1916 Rising in Dublin and served as Joseph Plunkett's aide-de-camp in the GPO. Collins went on to play a prominent role in the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War, a conflict which ultimately ended his extra

Each Friday I will post an image of the week, which will be a photograph I have taken and I'll include a little story to go with it; all designed to keep the spirits up ~ GH This photograph was taken two years ago in Glenmalure Hostel, which is run by An Óige - Irish Youth Hostel Association. The house was previously owned by Maud Gonne and W. B. Yeats often visited and wrote some of his poetry there. We go there every year in order to hike in the Wicklow mountains and we hav

The challenges for parents and families during this unprecedented crisis are hard to understate. This Blog post has collated a few online articles as well as some governmental tips. Hopefully the information below assists those who find themselves in different familial situations. If you have any tips of your own then don't hesitate to contact me at gerardhorgan@gmail.com. Supportive Family Articles Dr Sarahjane Belton from the DCU School of Health & Human Performance has an

The Positive Blog supports the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) and its fundraising arm, the Mercy Foundation. Our #FrontlineHeroes need any support you can give so please donate what you can & assist world class medical professionals working in the heart of Cork City. This is also about family as my sister, Deirdre O'Connor, has worked in the Mercy University Hospital for over 20 years. We are very proud of her commitment and the commitment of all her colleagues to the patien

SIPTU members employed by Cork County Council will assist vulnerable people in the community with tasks such as grocery shopping and the collection of prescriptions as part of a newly established #Covid19 Community Support Programme. SIPTU Organiser, Davey Curtin, said: “Our members in Cork County Council have worked with management to establish this programme. Our members intend to serve their communities to the best of their abilities during the crisis. These are our comm