Santa paid an early visit to plasterer Jay Clark, his girlfriend Caroline Donoghue, and their ten-month-old Maxie this year – because the terminally ill dad was worried he would not live to see his son’s first Christmas. 41-year-old Jay, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October last year, and his partner Caroline, 37, had lost all hope […]

10 years ago

The Santa Forgot campaign imagines a world where the magic of Christmas has been lost because Santa is living with the effects of dementia and can no longer visit children across the world. Alzheimer’s Research in the UK has launched a touching new Christmas advert that will definitely pull at your heart strings. Narrated by Stephen Fry, the tear-jerking […]

10 years ago

Oscar-winner Glen Hansard has teamed up with The High Hopes Choir to highlight the human faces behind the country’s homeless crisis. The Commitments and Once star paid a special visit to Focus Ireland’s coffee shop in Dublin’s Temple Bar to hear some of the human stories behind the homeless crisis. His visit comes as latest figures […]

10 years ago

“For the first few weeks, she was a very sunny little baby, feeding and sleeping quite easily. We felt so lucky. But now she’s like a different child. She cries so much, most of all in the evening, and nothing I do seems to console her. She really seems to be in such pain, it […]

10 years ago

Dublin singer Imelda May’s time as the queen of rockabilly has come to an end. The single mum-of-one has a whole new look and it has to be said she is lookin’ fierce well altogether! Imelda has wiped the slate clean after going through a tough split from her former guitarist Darrel Higham. The star thanked Dublin hairdresser […]

10 years ago

Everything is awesome! The world’s largest lego store has opened in central London’s Leicester Square. I have three lego nuts at home, who love the blocks and the movie, who would be saucer-eyed at the Danish shop’s new flagship shop. Now the largest lego shop in the world, it boasts exciting new experiences, such as […]

10 years ago

Chocolate cheese is an actual thing now and all my food group dreams have come true. Australian cheesemongers Curds & Whey who have a stall at the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, have just produced ‘Choco 21’ and, I think we can safely say, just won food. The creators describe the delicious concoction as an Italian blue cheese […]

10 years ago

Channel 4’s ‘The Secret Life of Four Year Olds‘ is churning out some of the best tv moments of 2016. If you haven’t seen the brilliant documentary series yet (how? why not!?) then you have missed some of the funniest, not to mention cute, insights into the complex world of the under-fives. Having an almost-four […]

10 years ago

Four-year-old Jessica Whelan, pictured above in a heartbreaking photo taken by her dad Andy, has sadly died. Brave Jessica, who was diagnosed with high-risk stage four neuroblastoma in September 2015, passed away early this morning. Her heartbroken father made the announcement on his Facebook page, writing: “I feel both sadness and relief in informing you […]

10 years ago

With movies such as The Hangover and cheap flights to infamous party cities, the stag party has become an increasingly extravagant and popular phenomenon. But a new study says that many fellas don’t enjoy the parties and just want to go home. Bless! Daniel Briggs, a professor of criminology at Madrid University, and his colleague […]

10 years ago

Today marks UN Universal Children’s Day but what is being done to lift Ireland’s poorest children out of poverty? One Family – Ireland’s organisation for people parenting alone, sharing parenting, and separating – have voiced their concerns on the inequality that exists in Irish society for the one in nine (11 percent) children who live in consistent […]

10 years ago

Singer Adele, with a personal fortune estimated at a mind-blowing £92 million, is reportedly planning a simple registry office wedding. The Londoner was introduced to her partner of five years, Simon Konecki, by Ed Sheeran and the happy couple have a four-year-old son named Angelo. Simon is also dad to a nine-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Simon, […]

10 years ago

Good news if you are over forty and feeling exhausted at work. Apart from the fact that you are twice as much fun as a twenty year old, research by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research has shown that working more than thirty hours a week is detrimental for this age group. It was […]

10 years ago

A fourteen-year-old girl had her final wish to be frozen instead of buried after her death granted by a judge. The young girl, known only as JS, was suffering from a rare form of cancer and died on October 17th. In what is thought to be the first case of its kind in the UK (and […]

10 years ago

A row has erupted between Human Rights Commissioner Emily Logan and Education Minister Richard Bruton over school admission rules. Mr Bruton introduced new legislation to the Dáil yesterday that would preserve an entitlement for schools to hold about 25 percent of their places for sons or daughters of past pupils. But Commissioner Logan has told […]

10 years ago

In Co Down, a two-year-old cockapoo (cocker spaniel/poodle cross) called Teddy has been declared a hero after she saved five-year-old Riley Duffy from an active tumble dryer. Riley, who has Down Syndrome, locked himself inside the dryer while his mum was hoovering. Teddy, immediately sensing danger, began to bark loudly causing mum Gillian to rush downstairs to find […]

10 years ago

Twenty-year-old student nurse Becky Topping from Antrim has been hailed a hero after saving a toddler’s life on Sunday. Becky had nipped out for something to eat with a friend whens she witnessed the young boy turning purple as his mum struggled to get him out of his buggy. She told Belfast Live what happened: “My […]

10 years ago

Searching for a baby name?  When it comes to deciding whether your little offspring will be honoured with an old-fashioned name (Rosie, Emily, Arthur), a hipster name (Xavier, Harper, Flynn) or maybe a good solid name (James, Sarah, David), chances are you and your partner will not agree on every single one. So, for anyone due a […]

10 years ago

A huge earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 and depth of 16km has struck the Canterbury region of New Zealand.  Damage has been reported in locations across the country and the quake was strongest in Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Taranaki, Hamilton and Auckland. The earthquake occurred just after midnight and the country’s Civil Defence […]

10 years ago

Missing Callan woman Jo Jo (Josephine) Dullard is to be remembered at a ceremony in Kilkenny Castle this afternoon. The 21-year-old went missing 21 years ago on the 9th of November while travelling home from Dublin. She was last seen making a phonecall from a phonebox in Moone, Co Kildare. A short time later a […]

10 years ago

Conor McGregor has finally confirmed that he is going to be a daddy! Although the rumour mill has been in hyperdrive in recent weeks that long-term partner Dee Devlin was expecting, the UFC star only confirmed the news at his post-fight press conference last night. Conor McGregor confirms that he is expecting a baby […]

10 years ago

Austrian police have said that a newborn baby died yesterday after being abandoned by its mother in a toilet bin at Vienna airport. A cleaner found the baby inside a plastic bag in the early hours of yesterday morning after hearing its cries. A police spokesman said that the emergency services rushed the infant to […]

10 years ago

Health Minister Simon Harris has told of his frustration as an Irish couple live tweeted their journey to Liverpool to terminate a pregnancy with fatal foetal abnormalities. Speaking yesterday, Harris admitted: “this greatly saddens and frustrates me that women and their partners find themselves in this situation in this country” The husband and wife, tweeting […]

10 years ago

Adare-based photographer PJ Corbett, who specialises in newborn photography, captured this unique image of quadruplets, triplets, and twins who were all recently born at the University Maternity Hospital in Limerick. Staff at the busy maternity hospital’s neonatal unit say it is the first time they have looked after so many multiples at once. Lisa Fenton and […]

10 years ago

Shocking exit polls released by NBC News have shown that women voted for Donald Trump to be the 45th President of the United States. Although 73 percent of all female voters surveyed in the exit poll stated that they were “bothered” by Trump’s reported treatment of women, Hillary Clinton has failed to win the support of […]

10 years ago

Former Xposé host and mum-of-three, Aisling O’Loughlin, isn’t holding back and has criticised claims that the show’s new-format has boosted ratings by nearly 40%. The Clare-born journalist co-hosted the popular entertainment show from its launch in 2007 before being controversially axed, allegedly while she was on maternity leave. Presenters Lisa Cannon and Peter O’Riordan were […]

10 years ago

The U.S. presidential elections have officially just been upstaged by bigger news; Toblerones have changed shape and people are NOT happy. Judging by the angry individuals taking to social media to protest the changes, the message is clear – you can mess with world politics but do not mess with our chocolate. Mondelez International, the makers […]

10 years ago

New research, recently published in the Paediatric Research journal, has found that baby girls may be better able to cope with the stresses of being in the womb and labour than baby boys. The Spanish study collected blood samples from fifty-six mothers (at the beginning and end of labour) and from their babies (umbilical cord […]

10 years ago

Today marks the end of the most bonkers presidential election in the history of the United States. It won’t be long before we know if it will be former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or The Donald (shudder) in charge of one of the most powerful countries in the world. At this point, there’s very […]

10 years ago

Brad and Angelina have reached a custody agreement with regards to their six children, who range in age from eight to fifteen. A statement released by Jolie’s representative yesterday has revealed that Angelina will continue to have sole custody of the children, with Brad having “therapeutic visits”. The actors apparently reached agreement over a week […]

10 years ago

Hundreds of secondary schools around the country will not re-open today after the mid-term break due to strike action. With around a quarter of a million students affected by the ongoing pay dispute, talks between teachers and the Department of Education appear to be at a deadlock. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Education Minister […]

10 years ago

A small new study has revealed that a smear test in early pregnancy could flag genetic disorders earlier than ever. With current prenatal screening methods more invasive, this new research has revealed that a quick sample of cervical cells taken as early as five weeks could reveal genetic abnormalities. The study, published this week in […]

10 years ago

Science has just added more weight (see what I did there?) to the argument that Dad Bods are better. Professor Richard Bribiescas, in his book ‘How Men Age: What Evolution Reveals About Male Health And Mortality’, has found evidence that squidgy bellies, love handles, and general cuddliness are more attractive to women. The Professor’s research also […]

10 years ago

Researchers from the Irish Obstetrics Services in conjunction with Trinity College Dublin have released the findings of their latest study, demonstrating that one in six pregnant women in Ireland is at probable risk of depression. The Well Before Birth study, which was carried out by the Irish Obstetric Services and the TCD REDEEM research group between January […]

10 years ago

The rumour mill has gone into Kardashian-overdrive once again about Khloe’s suspected pregnancy. The 32-year-old is reported to be expecting a baby with her 25-year-old boyfriend, NBA star Tristan Thompson. If the whispers are true Tristan is set for a busy time as his ex-girlfriend Jordan Craig is also expecting his baby. Jordan, a model, has […]

10 years ago

A Japanese woman in her mid-thirties is being treated for severe burns after farting during gynaecological surgery.  In what has been labelled a freak sequence of events, the woman passed wind while having cervical laser surgery in Tokyo Medical University Hospital. The noxious gas, in turn, ignited the surgical laser and set fire to the […]

10 years ago

Did you know that over 73,000 people in Ireland have Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory skin condition. The most common form is plaque psoriasis, characterised by red, thickened, scaly patches, which generally affect the knees, elbows, and scalp, and can sometimes be painful. The exact cause of psoriasis is still not completely understood, but both the immune system and genetics are […]

10 years ago

Fancy diving into November with a baby and me swimming class? To celebrate the first-ever National Baby Swimming Week for Ireland which runs from Monday 31 October, we have teamed up with the good folks over at Water Babies to give one HerFamily reader a free baby and me swimming course and photo shoot worth up […]

10 years ago

Fancy winning a luxurious weekend away with your significant other? Of course you do!  We’ve teamed up with Ribena Minis to give you the chance to win an overnight stay at the stunning Monart Destination Spa in Wexford up to the value of €250. Voted Ireland’s best destination spa for four years running, Monart is well known […]

10 years ago

Super short baby names are having a moment. According to Nameberry, increasing numbers of parents are opting for monikers with 3 letters or less for their new arrivals. “Mini names are having a moment,” the website revealed. “It’s a minimalist approach to naming children, and a stylish one, too.” It added: “Mia and Ava rank […]

10 years ago

Supporting your partner’s decision to breastfeed and giving her lots of encouragement especially in the early days is so important. Research has shown women are more likely to keep breastfeeding if they have a supportive partner. We chatted to Ciara Butler, IBCLC, Vice President, Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland to get her top tips on […]

10 years ago

Ah, working mamas. It’s just not easy. If ever the phrase ‘You’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t’ applies, it’s to this bunch of superheroes. Because, GUILT. First of all. And second of all, TIME. Guilt is always by your side; time is not. When you have to get kids to school each day and […]

10 years ago

Joking about the possibility of twins or triplets is one of those silly things we do. Your friend might find out that she is pregnant for the third or fourth time and is swearing that ‘this is the last time I’m doing this!’, and you of course have to get a little nudge in about […]

10 years ago

Would you like to go to a gorgeous breakfast and help a worthy cause at the same time? Of course, you would. The Cheerios Childline Breakfast Week is back from Monday 17th – Sunday 23rd October, and we’re asking as many of our readers as possible to come together, hold a breakfast and raise much-needed funds […]

10 years ago

The beautiful meanings of these first names will always be a wonderful conversation-starter. A survey commissioned by Coca-Cola of 1,800 people across eight European countries revealed that 87% of Irish people consider their names to be very important in their lives. Take a peek at the top 20 legendary Irish-themed baby names and make sure your child has a name […]

10 years ago

If you’re in need of a big, teethy grin, just have a look at these beautiful photographs of these smiling little babas in dreamlike slumbers. Thanks to Bumpsbabesandbeyond for lifting our moods today, is there anything cuter than a smiling newborn? (even if it might be wind!). Who new sleeping was such good craic?

10 years ago

People tend to give babies all sorts of baby names when they’re young but one Mumsnet user is really annoyed by one title in particular. Reader Mimicat44 sparked quite the debate when she revealed that she doesn’t like the term “Little Man” because of the “stereotypically masculine” connotations it has. In her post -which was called […]

10 years ago

Sponsored by TUC. How does a night away sound right about now? Like a dream come true…. we hear you. Just imagine a night out as a couple, and a glorious lie-in with NO kids…. To celebrate TUC’s variety of four different flavours, TUC is kindly giving away two tickets to see Al Porter at Vicar Street, […]

10 years ago

Growing up a child in Ireland is a very particular thing. Culturally, we have so much to pull from in terms of memory-building for our children including sports, language, music, history and folklore. Our children get to hear and learn about Fionn agus Na Fionna, Gaelic football, The Giant’s Causeway, The Dubliners, Riverdance, why batch […]

10 years ago

The nesting instinct is a brilliant burst of energy that many mums-to-be experience near the end of pregnancy. Are you heavily pregnant and suddenly overcome by an urge to ‘deep clean’ stuff? Or are you experiencing a heightened interest in alphabetising the spice rack? Maybe you’ve found yourself cleaning the grouting in the bathroom with […]

10 years ago