A few weeks ago, tickets for the Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon were thrown open to the public, and less than two hours later their website announced that the thousands of available tickets had been allocated.

Fair play to Dara Calleary, who has made it back to cabinet. It was some journey by any standards. ‘Golfgate’ has faded into the past: the front nine of his political career. Now, much more happily for him, starts the back nine.

It was a storm that impacted on the memory and one that is still referred to today; The Night of the Big Wind. The Night of the Big Wind arrived without any warning, on a very large, exceedingly vulnerable and totally unprepared population.

Thousands of miles away, my drowsy wife was none too pleased to be woken up so early by my frantic messages.

It’s a busy time. Hard to keep up with everything.

There's something deliciously perverse about writing an article on minimalism while seated at my magnificently cluttered desk, surrounded by books and folders that threaten to avalanche at any moment, empty coffee cups creating their own abstract ...

The new Programme for Government contains an interesting section about upcoming commemorations. The document lists a series of significant historical anniversaries that arise during the lifetime of the government.

It was one of the best pieces of local journalism I have read in some time. Liam Heffron’s recent piece, ‘the heart of another community has stopped beating’ in these pages on his own village of Moygownagh was magnificent.

Cuala’s success in winning the All-Ireland Senior Club Football title was very well received in Mayo, as they were managed by Louisburgh’s Austin O’Malley.

While the cup of tea seems at first glance to be uniquely Irish, it is in fact, very un-Irish.