Media outlets frequently paint a shameful picture of the lives and experiences of Au Pairs as vulnerable workers exploited in a sector that is largely unregulated. HerFamily spoke to 25-year-old Claire* from Dublin, about her experience as an Au Pair in the Canary Islands looking after four-year-old twins. *Claire has chosen to remain anonymous in order […]

10 years ago

Want to get your mum something other than the usual box of Milk Tray and bunch of flowers this Sunday? All out of ideas for something a bit different? Or maybe it’s hubby hint-dropping time for some much needed mama time-out for yourself? Fear not, we’ve done the legwork for you and rounded up the […]

10 years ago

Meet the living dolls. The uncanny resemblance of these toddlers to their non-human doppelganger dolls is one of the funniest things we’ve seen all day. We had to share the weirdness… Obviously, the doll makers didn’t plan on finding an exact human representative of their lump of formed plastic, but hey, the world is a funny […]

10 years ago

This week, yet another gender pay scandal hit the headlines as news broke that Emma Walmsley, the new CEO of pharmaceutical powerhouse GlaxoSmithKline, will be paid 25% less than her male predecessor, Andrew Witty. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word ‘scandal’ as “a circumstance or action that offends propriety or established moral conceptions.” In this […]

10 years ago

Dee McNamara and Jim Haide live in Blessington with their seven-year-old daughter Julianne, who has Down syndrome and has not been seen by a HSE Speech and Language Therapist in over 18 months. Today marks World Down Syndrome Day. Earlier this week, parents Jim Haide and Dee McNamara were pictured outside Leinster House with their seven-year-old daughter […]

10 years ago

We don’t tend to equate our mood with what we put in our mouth, but the mental health impact of an unbalanced diet is very real. Lifestyle, and in particular a balanced diet, is one of the pillars of positive mood and mental health. People with heart problems, diabetes, and other physical illnesses are educated about […]

10 years ago

A BBC School Report survey shows 70% of 11-16 year olds have experienced one or more negative feelings in the last 12 months, ranging from feeling upset and unhappy to feeling anxious, frightened or unsafe. The survey of more than 1,000 students was conducted by ComRes as part of BBC School Report’s annual News Day, […]

10 years ago

A hairdresser has shared a touching professional experience, after she helped a woman with depression to feel good about herself and her appearance. Kate Langman, a hair stylist at the Ulta Beauty Salon, has shared a moving story about a client with depression. The hairdresser posted the story to Love What Matters, a website that encourages people […]

10 years ago

Untreated sleep apnoea in children can harm brain cells tied to cognition and mood. A study comparing children between 7 and 11 years of age who have moderate or severe sleep apnoea to children the same age who slept normally, found significant reductions of grey matter (brain cells involved in movement, memory, emotions, speech, perception, […]

10 years ago

Childhood bullying can be particularly difficult to tackle as it can be subtle in nature and therefore harder for adults to detect. Bullying is (usually) repetitive and bullies typically use a variety of means to scare or establish control over other children. It can range from hurtful statements, to verbal threats, social isolation or rejection. […]

10 years ago

A heartbroken mum has issued a stark warning to parents about the dangers of big bow headbands after her 14-week-old baby girl suffocated while wearing one. Leanne Wilson posted the warning to Facebook on behalf of a friend whose daughter tragically died as a result of a headband slipping over her nose and mouth while she lay sleeping in […]

10 years ago

Almost half (46%) of children point blank refuse to eat their veg, according to a new study of parents. Researchers who surveyed parents about their children’s eating habits have found that a staggering 75% of mums and dads have concerns about their little ones’ fussy eating. A further 52% claimed their child’s refusal to eat healthy […]

10 years ago

A one-year-old boy has tragically died after being found with injuries at a flat in the Finsbury Park area of North London. A girl of the same age remains in a critical condition. Police were called to Wilberforce Road in Finsbury Park on Saturday night and discovered the toddlers who were subsequently rushed to a hospital […]

10 years ago

Thousands of families and young children were forced to queue in the rain for long periods before being turned away from GamerCon yesterday. There were chaotic scenes at Dublin’s Convention Centre yesterday as thousands of families were forced to wait to gain entrance to the gaming convention ‘GamerCon’. After queuing in bad weather conditions for extended periods, […]

10 years ago

A four-year-old girl was seriously injured in a two vehicle crash in Co Clare yesterday morning. The collision took place on the Ennis to Ennistymon road in Clare on Wednesday morning at approximately 9am, the Irish Independent reports. Emergency crews, including three ambulances, two units of the Ennistymon fire brigade, and a paramedic unit attended the […]

10 years ago

A group of high school students in the US have formed a club to ensure no student eats alone at lunchtime. Denis Estimon, a senior student at Boca High in Florida, told CBS News that he founded the ‘We Dine Together’ club based on his own experiences of lunchtime isolation as a Haitian immigrant. With 3,400 of the […]

10 years ago

For any bread addicts who try not to eat too much to maintain a healthy weight or to avoid gluten, we think this little recipe might just change your life.  Brought to you by one of the coolest foodie sites on the planet, Food52 (we’re officially obsessed with their recipes), it’s bread, but not as you know […]

10 years ago

This year for Mother’s Day, you can give your Mum a unique personalised card, illustrated by award winning artist Linda Byrne AND help the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice. It’s win-win. On March 16th, 18th, 19th, 24th and 25th, award-winning artist Linda Byrne will be in Arnotts between 11am and 4pm doing live illustrations on Mother’s Day cards. Linda trained in […]

10 years ago

Women who undergo fertility treatments, but do not get pregnant, have a higher risk of developing long-term heart disease, compared with women who become pregnant. A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has demonstrated a link between failed fertility treatments and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Dr Jacob Udell, the study’s lead […]

10 years ago

A six-year-old Chicago girl begged her mum and dad to feed the homeless instead of spending their money on throwing her a birthday party. Armani Crews, who turned six this month, spent months begging her parents to feed her community’s homeless. Her mum, Artesha, told ABC News that her daughter chose to buy food and put together care […]

10 years ago

One of Dublin’s most famous schools is set to transform itself into a Gaelscoil from next September. Synge Street CBS, one of the country’s most celebrated Christian Brothers Schools and situated in Dublin 8, is going as Gaeilge from September. The famous boys’ school’s board of management has announced that they will also be opening their doors to […]

10 years ago

Whether you remember it vividly or not, I think it’s safe to say that none of us have particularly fond memories of puberty. Hands up who remembers the über excitement of buying your first bra (32AA bless!), or the page-turning wonder of the Girl’s Talk book? Although puberty can mark a happy entry to being […]

10 years ago

Child homelessness increased by 55% from December 2015 to December 2016, despite Government efforts to tackle the housing crisis. The children’s charity Barnardos, who work directly with families caught in the crisis, say that child homelessness in Ireland is increasing at an unfathomable rate. These first-hand accounts of parents and children living in temporary (and totally […]

10 years ago

Well looks like hindsight really is 20/20. A new survey by IllicitEncounters.com has revealed that 59 percent of women regularly fantasise about sex with their ex. Surprisingly, men rank lower coming (heh heh) in with 48 percent. Both sexes agreed that love was the most crucial ingredient in building a memorable encounter. The study also […]

10 years ago

Uh-oh

10 years ago

Prominent pro-life campaigner Katie Ascough has been elected President of the UCD students’ union. The third year Science student won 46% of the student vote in a four-way race to become the university’s union president. Runner-up Philip Weldon came in at 23%, Rebecca Hart at 20%, and Rónán Bartley won 19% of first preference votes. Katie’s father, Tom Ascough, sits on […]

10 years ago

A horrifying and potentially lethal new craze has gone viral on Russian social media. The dangerous new online craze encourages children to secretly turn on the rings of their kitchen hobs, and promises that they will become ‘fire fairies’ if they follow the sinister instructions: “At midnight, when everyone is asleep, get out of your bed […]

10 years ago

Children’s charity Barnardos has launched a new guide for parents on choosing childcare and what to look for in an early years service. Barnardos has launched a new guidebook to help parents choose an early years service for their child. With over 170,000 children attending an early years service in Ireland, the handy guide provides parents with […]

10 years ago

The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered a restaurant to pay a female employee €30,000 after she was sacked within weeks of telling her bosses she was pregnant. Gordon Deegan of the Irish Times reports that the manager of a seafood restaurant was told she had lost her job because “business is business” and to enjoy her […]

10 years ago

A new report from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US has warned that hand sanitisers should be kept away from young children, particularly if they contain alcohol. The newly-published report warns that hand sanitisers, often containing up to 95% ethyl alcohol, are frequently combined with scents that appeal to young children. The […]

10 years ago

Car parking charges continue to financially cripple cancer patients. Despite a petition of over 3,000 signatures and a national campaign last December, no hospital in Ireland has changed its parking pricing policy for cancer patients. The Irish Cancer Society is calling for free or subsidised parking for all cancer patients receiving treatment. In December, a report […]

10 years ago

A study has found that taking paracetamol during pregnancy could affect the fertility of your unborn child. According to The Independent, researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s MRC Centre for Reproductive Health gave a number of pregnant rats both paracetamol and indomethacin. It was discovered that their female offspring had smaller ovaries and fewer eggs […]

10 years ago

Vera Twomey has arrived in Dublin after her second 155 mile walk from Cork to Dublin in a bid to get Health Minister Simon Harris to allow her daughter have access to medicinal cannabis. Vera Twomey has received a warm welcome to Dublin (and some pizza) as she arrived to Dáil Éireann and a crowd of […]

10 years ago

The reputation of the ‘Italian Stallion’ is at risk as births in Italy hit an all-time low with 12,000 fewer babies born last year. Italy, a country with a population of 60 million, has announced that births have reached a record low. Figures released for 2016 reveal that births dropped to 474,000, around 12,000 fewer […]

10 years ago

Considering a family foray into the skiing world? France’s L’Alpe d’Huez region gained fame and popularity when it hosted the bobsleigh events of the 1968 Winter Olympics, and remains one of Europe’s premier family-friendly ski destinations. Where Alpe d’Huez is one of seven resorts that make up the Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine (formerly known as Les […]

10 years ago

AIB has launched a series of initiatives including two weeks’ paid paternity leave and a gap initiative for women on maternity leave. To coincide with Diversity and Inclusion Week which began yesterday, AIB announced new targets for female representation at management levels, alongside launching a paid paternity leave plan and other family-friendly policies. The bank […]

10 years ago

A brave Donegal dad has delivered his baby in the backseat of the family car and used his own shoelaces to tie his newborn daughter’s umbilical cord. Mum-of-four Georgina Doherty has told how her husband, Paul, came to the rescue when the couple were forced to pull in to the side of the Main Buncrana […]

10 years ago

Uh-oh. Bad news for tweens in the UK as schools ban the latest must-have hair accessory, the JoJo bow. If you’re a mum or dad to a tween you might recognise the current hair accessory trend that is the JoJo bow. Youngsters in this country have gone nuts for the oversized hair bows that are based […]

10 years ago

Mum, sportswoman and philanthropist, Princess Charlene of Monaco, has opened up about raising her twins who she says are “adorable and inexhaustible.” The 39-year-old royal mum told Paris Match that her two-year old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabrielle, are at a demanding age and sometimes leave her exhausted, “They are at an incredible age […]

10 years ago

Feel like doing something a little bit different today? Why not blow off some steam in our beautiful Irish countryside and roadtrip the heck out of it (you don’t even have to get out of the car!). These gorgeous scenic drives are the perfect solution if you’re stuck for places to go: 1. Blustery Burren […]

10 years ago

I need your help. I need to find this “off switch” people have told me about. The one everyone references when talking about fertility. The button that allows you to “put it to the back of your mind” or even better “forget about it” completely! The magic wand that allows you to get back to […]

10 years ago

The director of Amnesty International Ireland has called on the government to fully investigate alleged human rights abuses, following the discovery of ‘significant’ quantities of human remains in Tuam, Co. Galway. Amnesty director Colm O’Gorman has called on the government to “finally and fully ensure truth and accountability for what happened to women and children” in […]

10 years ago

US police are investigating claims of sexual assault made against That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson. Masterson, who played Steven Hyde on That ’70s Show from 1998 – 2006, is being investigated by LAPD inflation to three separate cases of sexual assault. The 40-year-old actor married model and singer Bijou Phillips in Tipperary in 2011. The couple, who are both Scientologists, have […]

10 years ago

Ah, the island of Majorca – this idyllic Balearic island is one of the most beautiful and often underrated family holiday spots. Think powdery-soft beaches, hidden coves, fun resorts and the stunning capital, Palma.  Here’s our tips for a top-notch family friendly holiday in Majorca: What The majestic Mediterranean island of Majorca offers postcard-perfect scenery from […]

10 years ago

The latest poll on Irish abortion laws has shown more support for the regulation of abortion than repealing the Eighth Amendment. A new Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI opinion poll has revealed that the majority of Irish voters (38%) favour replacing the Eighth Amendment with a more liberal constitutional provision. The opinion poll was conducted on Monday and Tuesday of […]

10 years ago

As the great Irish debate about when Spring actually begins rumbles on (are you in the February or March camp?), little signs of the season are popping up everywhere. Birds are singing, snowdrops are appearing, and the weather is…well the rain is getting warmer. If you feel like you’ve been stuck indoors for months on […]

10 years ago

A team of French researchers have found that children with high levels of pyrethroid, an insecticide commonly found in head lice treatment, are around three times more likely to display abnormal behaviour. Scientists analysed the urine samples of 287 pregnant women and their children’s urine samples six years later, and found a link between pyrethroids and […]

10 years ago

Brought to you by Sky Atlantic As someone who still devours bread crusts in the hope it’ll make her hair curly, I can attest: those little white lies parents tell their children can have a lasting effect.  Why do parents tell their offspring something that isn’t true? Well, the reasons vary from trying to improve […]

10 years ago

Research shows that watching television is negatively associated with early academic skills and drops in school readiness, particularly among low-income children. A study by New York University’s School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, has found that watching television for more than a couple of hours a day is linked to lower school readiness skills […]

10 years ago

Adele has pulled firework displays from her upcoming Australian tour dates after debris from the pyrotechnics fell into her four-year-old son’s eye. The singer kicked off her tour of Oz on Tuesday but was horrified to discover that debris from a firework display ended up in her son Angelo’s eye during a dress rehearsal. The Sun reports that […]

10 years ago