Springtime is finally here. A beautiful time of the year, the morning sun rises earlier, brightening our day; the evening light fades later, nature brings new life, young lambs jumping through fields and daffodils in full bloom.

It is with a certain amount of trepidation that one steps in on the preserve of the Western People sports department but the election of a new Uachtaráin of the GAA is a significant and a seldom event, so I feel justified in doing so.

At this time of year, when it seems too late for a big fall of snow, I console myself by remembering that in 1947, the Big Snow fell on February 25. I like snow, you see, and each winter I secretly hope for another such spectacular fall.

The report in this newspaper that Councillors in Ballina have been asking about the possibility of finding extra car spaces at the back of Tesco put me in mind of the differences on this between Dublin and the west.

Sheila Moffatt lives and breathes her work. She founded the Moffatt School of Irish Dancing nearly three decades ago and over the years the school has produced top champion dancers and Sheila is an experienced adjudicator herself. But that’s not all.

I was listening to Micheál Martin on Morning Ireland the other day and I found it hard to contain my incredulity. He was on about his Shared Island project which has a lot to recommend it.

As February's pale light fades, the heralds of Lent have already roused the faithful from winter's lethargy.

It would be gratuitous not to congratulate Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin (SF) and Emma Little-Pengelly of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on their day in the sun.

The Parish Priest was making a few visits shortly after his arrival in his new parish. He landed in to Mrs Kelly and while she had a cake just out of the oven, she had nothing to put on the bread. She found a jar of honey with very little left in it.

Belmullet native Siobhán Leigh has taken a childhood hobby and turned it into a successful business model. Siobhán is the owner of White Rose Creations, a children’s clothing company. She designs and handmakes all the products herself.