The re-introduction of the wolf to Ireland is probably not high on anyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions.

Most days, when I am either sitting at home or out on the hills, I hear the distant murmur of Rescue 118, the rescue helicopter based at Sligo Airport near Strandhill.

Mags Downey-Martin goes about her business with a quiet efficiency but don’t let that fool you into thinking she isn’t a busy lady.

In matters of identity, Rome has long played a dual role - as the capital of the worldly empire in ancient times and the centre of spiritual authority in the Catholic era.

I’m not too sure who counted them (or how it was done) but apparently 60,000 swearwords were broadcast in Britain last year.

Ann Cresham is 77 years young and has a vibrancy that would put some people decades younger to shame. She is an integral part of Castlebar Tidy Towns and Castlebar Tourist Office and has no intention of slowing down.

Over the last few months, I have been writing a series of articles on what we can learn from leaders in different sectors about how to build a better West of Ireland.

For the first column of another new year, let’s take a subject of some importance: has religion a future? The doubters used to say that when science had explained all the mysteries of the world and when we were all millionaires, that we’d no longer ...

As we approach the New Year, we are all presented with the opportunity to make ourselves into better people. A chance to start slowly and build to a great achievement… and maybe this year we will.

As we reach the end of the Decade of Centenaries, CONOR McGUIRE reflects on Mayo’s journey since political independence.