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Ann Marie Hourihane

Ann Marie Hourihane

Ann Marie Hourihane is a journalist and author. Her column in the Irish Times casts a wry look at all aspects of Irish life, from the prevalence of breast cleavage, to the expanding waistlines of our paramilitaries, to issuing her own advice to recently appointed - and British - managing editor of RTE news and current affairs. Who was delighted to receive it, as you can imagine. Ann Marie Hourihane believes in every day life, as opposed to headlines. Just as she was unpersuaded by the cheerleading that went on during the boom, so she now believes that Irish people are not all together weighed down by financial catastrophe. Although she thinks the world is mad, she thinks that -most- people are sane. This philosophy is the basis of her Monday column, which she likes to call social commentary in her flightier moments.

One of the pavilions at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. Photograph: Tim P Whitby/Getty
Everything is very far from rosy in the garden

Gardeners are only emerging from hibernation as the flower shows begin

Parents of baby boy who died want others to learn from their experiences

“Ariel Castro was living as the most anonymous, regular kind of guy . . . he had constructed a cunning disguise which no person or institution could have hoped to penetrate.” Photograph: Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s office via Getty Images
We need to reassess our view of violence by men in the home

Column: Domestic violence exists below the radar and causes no outcry

Veteran BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall admitted indecently assaulting 13 girls, the youngest aged nine.
The dark reality behind television images from our childhood

“Why is it in poor taste – as implied by several correspondents to this newspaper – to associate Praveen Halappanavar’s suffering with that of the relatives of other patients in the same hospital system? It is only logical to do so.” Photograph: Julien Behal/PA Wire
Hospital patients’ relatives are also victims of our shoddy health system

Most of the solutions to relatives’ problems are heartbreakingly simple

Caring hands: Kara Madden looks after her son, who has schizophrenia. Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision
Losing patience with an unhealthy system

The Irish health system is maddening not only for patients but for their relatives, who must withstand poor communication, bafflin(...)

Praveen Halappanavar outside Galway County Hall after the jury in his wife Savita’s inquest returned a unanimous verdict of death by medical misadventure. “If I had known I would have followed them up myself,” he said of his wife’s blood results. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA Wire
A medical conspiracy against the public

The people not surprised by Praveen Halappanavar’s suffering are the relatives of hospital patients all over the country

Margaret Thatcher’s funeral is already controversial in Britain, and it’s not due to take place until Wednesday. Photograph: PA Wire
Ireland gained from Thatcher rule, as did Sinn Féin

Former British prime minister changed Republic more than contemporary taoisigh did

Why we still cannot handle the truth

'A dislike of reality also certainly helps with maintaining our alcohol consumption, thank goodness'

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