As a culture we permit alcoholics the luxury of euphemisms. We are delighted to indulge our leaders the same way, writes ELAINE BYRNE in the IRISH TIMES June 22 2010
 
ALCOHOLISM IS a deeply engrained cultural phenomenon that we celebrate in Ireland with euphemisms that mask its black destruction.
 
The alcoholism grows into the white elephant in [...]

Enda Kenny brought FG back from the dead but doubts are growing as to whether he has what it takes to win power, writes ELAINE BYRNE in the IRISH TIMES JUNE 15 2010
 
RICHARD BRUTON joined a large Fine Gael contingent to celebrate the marriage of a popular member of the party’s organisation last Friday.
 

As an undertaking family, the mortuary became an extension of our home. Death was normal, writes ELAINE BYRNE in the IRISH TIMES JUNE 8 2010
 
BEFORE WE built our funeral home, we planted potatoes in the top field. Delicately measured rows of hand ploughed drills with seeds waiting to grow. They were then proudly harvested in [...]

Civic society is doing much to break down the Border but our politicians could do an awful lot more, writes ELAINE BYRNE in the IRISH TIMES June 1 2010
 
MARTIN MCGUINNESS was not what I expected at last week’s North/South consultative conference in Farmleigh.
 
The Deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland spoke at length about the rosemary [...]