‘To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower,” wrote the poet William Blake in Auguries of Innocence.

Here are 10 stories collated from myself and my colleagues on the type of information that is held on us: (KD) — Kevin Doyle; (GG) — Gabija Gataveckaite; (AM) — Amy Molloy; (EM) — Eoghan Moloney.

Here are 10 stories collated from myself and my colleagues on the type of information that is held on us: (KD) — Kevin Doyle; (GG) — Gabija Gataveckaite; (AM) — Amy Molloy; (EM) — Eoghan Moloney.

Like most healthcare workers, Lisa observes strict hygiene and mask-wearing.

Sitting in a car for even a short journey can be a difficult undertaking if the old back is bad and the seating isn’t great.

Some things never change and old habits die hard.

As the train curves around the tracks, the mountains grow higher and closer. The valley narrows, with steep limestone rocks on both sides, clusters of pine trees and a rushing river below, which the train runs alongside.

The crossbill is a finch named for the distinctive, crossing tips of its bill. At first glance, it looks like a regular bird with a weird beak, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

Stepping off the plane, a warm rush of hot air pressed against my face. It was a sensation at once exhilarating and calming, and one I hadn’t felt in three years.

If it’s chi-chi shelter you’re after, The Belvedere Terrace is a partially covered plaza on the first-floor courtyard of Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel where fruit-focussed cocktails like the Belvedere Blackberry and Lemongrass Spritz are the order of the day, along with carefully curated sharing boards, seafood platters or the Shelbourne Gateaux of the day. Comfort is guaranteed thanks to cosy banquettes, armchairs and sofas, while trellised arches drip with elaborate floral displays that promise five-star summer. Very tucked away, in a ‘you know if you know’ kind of way. Now you know. theshelbourne.com

When I was in fifth class, we were told the annual Christmas show was going to be different that year. The nativity was out and so was anything overly festive. No baby Jesus, mangers, or men in red suits. Instead, we were paying tribute to the so-called land of the free — a celebration of Americana. The show would feature Disney melodies, children dancing frantically to country and western rootin’-tootin’ show tunes, and characters from beloved TV programmes. Speculation over the cast list was fierce, and discussed at length in the school playground.

Trade unions representing cabin crew of Ryanair plan a strike later in June in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe, increasing disruption for passengers to and from Belgium during a peak holiday weekend and a European Union summit.

This is a story of friendship. And not only friendship. There’s music, philosophy, struggle, hope and photography in the mix too. But none of the rest of it would have come to the attention of people in Ireland but for a friendship forged in a city thousands of kilometres away, the width of an ocean removed from County Wicklow.

Issues around the banking and taxation system, language barriers, public transport, and shared accommodation have all been expressed by Ukrainians who fled to Ireland after the Russian invasion.

Post-pandemic, WFH and all that, I’ve been giving some thought to getting a dog lately, and obviously being a busy journalist, I’ll need one that requires minimal grooming (much like myself), modest but regular exercise (also ditto) and is of a friendly disposition (mostly ditto).

A group of restaurants on the popular holiday island of Mallorca have banned tourists wearing certain clothes associated with “drunken tourism”.

Glynch House, Newbliss, Co Monaghan €1.15m

Albany, 2 Mountain View Road, Killiney, Co Dublin

12 Morehampton Road, Donnybrook

Apartment 6, Hanover Lofts, Dublin 2 €650k

2 St Anne’s Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9

90A St Peter’s Terrace, Howth

Question: I work in a big company where employees are given a lot of autonomy. Micromanaging is frowned upon and, after lockdown, we were given a choice to work from home or come back to the office. Everyone works hard, but one of my colleagues just isn’t pulling his weight.

Former rugby international Dr Brian Spillane has never forgotten the first six seconds of the 12 that one commentator claimed “has been played more often in Ireland than the Angelus.”

Breasty Bay House and Skildren Cottage Address: Malin Head, Co Donegal Asking price: €1.5m Agent: Savills (01) 663 4357

London’s Gatwick Airport is reducing the number of daily flights during its busy summer period to help tackle staffing issues.

On a bald, barbed bramble the perched bird flashed its scarlet breast and turned its flecked red head, moving to shy away on a windswept headland of furze and scrub on a wild Atlantic corner of the Munster coast.

I could not believe it. The car was parked right on the apex of a sharp bend on a busy national road.

Trying to be different in a market full of variety and diversity is a big ask but that’s what the experts are being paid the big money for. Every brand is vying to stand apart.

Inny Strand, Co Kerry

Readers may remember Wineport Lodge as the venue for popular celebrity cooking TV show The Restaurant.

I’ve found a passport that doesn’t involve a stressful application, and a holiday without queues. It won’t whisk you overseas, but it might just bring you a surprising short break here in Ireland.

The Biden administration will drop its pre-departure Covid-19 test requirement for international air travel from 00.01am on Sunday, June 12, according to a senior administration official.

18 Myrtle Street, Broadstone, Dublin 7 €325k

7 Hillcrest Court, Griffith Avenue €349k DNG Phibsboro (01) 830 0989

What is it?

As children grow older, holidays become less about keeping them entertained and safe, and more about preventing their boredom ruining the trip for the rest of the family.

The long-awaited post-lockdown travel boom is rapidly turning into a bust for holidaymakers as Europe's aviation industry struggles to overcome crippling staff shortages and labour strife, forcing airlines to cancel hundreds of flights ahead of the peak summer period.

A few years ago, the loveliness of a sunny Saturday afternoon was cut through with a call from one of my editors. “I just wanted to check in on you,” she said, her voice ominous, low and gravely serious. “Are you okay?”

A car rental company in Northern Ireland has witnessed a 550pc increase in inquiries in the last year, largely driven by tourists looking to save on car hire costs south of the border.

I’m very confused about my mortgage. I am an Ulster Bank customer and on one hand I have been told to do nothing in terms of switching, although I have to move my current account and my overdraft too, but my mortgage rate is 3.1% which was on a fixed rate I think, but I’m not sure if it still is.

Question: I have a savings fund that I’ve kept a secret from my husband. I’ve been adding to it for almost 10 years and I’ve accumulated a significant sum.

‘And each flower and herb on earth’s dark breast/Rose from the dreams of its wintry r est” — Percy Bysshe Shelley, who lived for a time on Grafton Street in Dublin and supported the United Irishmen. He drowned off an Italian beach in 1822 and his friends gathered driftwood to cremate his remains.

Niamh Shaw (53) is an engineer, scientist, writer and space communicator. She is also a former actress and used to be in Fair City. Her big mission in life is to go to space and report back as “an ordinary person”. Last year she became Ireland’s first European Space Agency Champion in recognition of her innovative work as a space educator. Born in Dundalk, she lives between Dublin and France.

Emergency measures introduced at Dublin Airport helped avoid any repeat of flight chaos during the opening of the June bank holiday travel rush - with pressure on airport bosses set to be eased by an 11pc reduction in overall flight numbers for the Saturday departure peak.

If you’re not careful the robots will get you at Bloom! But don’t worry, they’re friendly and only looking out for your health.

Children and adults who are young at heart, were transfixed by the Beauty and The Beast Stage Musical show garden at Bloom today.

Parents looking to teach their children a spot of yoga in the park and allow them to while the time away in an imaginary world were in for a treat today at Bloom.

AS THE school year draws to a close, the annual jamboree known as the school tour sees coaches pulling up to ship excited children off to exotic places like pet farms, bogs and local factories.

Eat it: If you want to discover some of Dublin’s most exciting new chefs, restaurants and street food, just take a look at the D-8TE programme of food takeovers at Roe & Co Distillery. Hosted in its outdoor Power House Garden, the takeovers showcase the best of modern Irish food matched with Roe & Co cocktails as part of the experience. Upcoming events include a Big Fan Chinese restaurant takeover from June 16-July 3, and a Vietnamese-inspired takeover from the Vietnom food truck from August 4-21. The set food menu is priced at €40pp, with a curated cocktail menu, created to pair alongside each dish, an additional €30pp. roeandcowhiskey.com