Magazine

For many, Christmas is a re-entry into the emotional climate of childhood, with all its insecurities, unspoken rules and long-held tensions

The Elf has been on a world tour; selfies in Paris with the Eiffel Tower, lying on Copacabana Beach in Rio

Did you know you can find very fine sparkling wines in England?

Delivering a festive wow factor doesn’t have to involve loads of fiddly effort

Ideally, the cake element here will be made ahead and left overnight in the fridge

A key appeal of this glamorous dessert is that it can be made ahead, at least in part

Simone Gannon’s expert picks for presents that feel personal, even when time is short

The only way I could afford to come back to Dublin is if the Irish Government hired me for a very specific role

From west Cork to Belfast and Athlone to Dublin, these are our restaurant critic’s standout experiences of the year

Move will involve a revamp of Bang, which has been a fixture on the Dublin dining scene since 1999

Is the man bag for function, fashion or just to flash wealth?

Chișinău, surely one of Europe’s least-visited capitals, is a city of wine, warmth and slow beauty. It’s a revelation

Ask Roe: ‘How is it possible to date when you’re terrified that the person across from you is alt-right?’

One of the great reliefs of being with someone for a long time is the freedom to say: what would you like for Christmas?

Moving away means exposure to a new culture, language, work environment and way of life, but there’s always the pull of home

‘Sorcha, you can’t be a bad person, no matter how hord you try’

‘I’m worried it’s going to find its way into my own garden’

History and hazard mingle on a trip that inspires many emotions

How to Drink Better: Depending on the dishes you plan to serve, one of the wines below should sit perfectly on your festive table

The secret to creating a beautifully lush, long-lasting arrangement for your Christmas table, mantelpiece or staircase

It is being widely touted anecdotally as a solution to everything, but experts are wary of prescribing as a quick fix

The Cork actor is having quite the year, with Saipan en route to cinemas and his London role in The Playboy of the Western World

These two slightly alternative main course recipes are simple yet stunning

All the major retailers and independent wine shops have some treasures to offer for the festive period

Key to the success of this dish is a proper meat thermometer

This simple main course can be served in its own roasting tin

The former British supermodel on falling in love, moving to Glendalough Estate and becoming a countess

In my own childhood, my mother held fast to the baffling belief that Santa was merely ‘a nice idea’

Hair, skin, make-up – these seven standout products earned permanent spots in my kit this year

This is the place to go for a cosy evening out in the new year, as long as you choose the right table

Warning: please bear in mind that our food-critic-for-a-day has the taste buds of a junkyard dog and finds almost all food delicious

Instead of leaning into one-night-only sparkle, this year it’s about choosing pieces with lasting appeal

Just two metres long by a metre tall, Zedwell’s capsule ‘rooms’ have just enough space for a mattress

What does a modern-day dinner party look – and taste – like?

How to Drink Better: Decisions on which wine to drink when and with which foods are personal and should be respected

This century the closest we’ve had to a wartime footing in Ireland has been the Covid pandemic - and while it did have a unifying effect for a time, it also seemed to unleash something

Ask Roe: My husband’s family are controlling and he never sticks up for me. I see him as weak and pathetic sometimes

Newly planted tulip and crocus bulbs are desirable to squirrels, but they generally leave most other spring flowering bulbs alone

The author of Nesting on why she couldn’t abandon the novel despite several attempts, finding her confidence as a writer and her children’s excitement at her success

If you love nothing more than decorating your home with barrow-loads of fresh greenery at this time of year, here are the best varieties to plant in Irish gardens