Are we actually getting a proper summer this year? It’s hard to believe but apparently there’s a heatwave on the way. Temperatures this week are expected to soar to the high 20s, so we should have the perfect opportunity to work on our tans. But what is the best way to get a natural, healthy colour? Here are a few tips.

1. Clothing. Naturally enough you want to expose as much of your skin as possible to get an even tan, but maybe stop short of nudity in public places. There are laws against that sort of thing.

2. Timing. Try to sunbathe before...

We’re truly blessed to live on such a beautiful island where literally everything is within driving distance. Road trips are a great way of exploring Ireland. It gives you the freedom to come and go as you please and it can be a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with friends or family. Travelling long distances by car does have its pitfalls, though, so here are some tips to help your road trip go as smoothly as possible.

1. Plan your route

Ireland is small but don’t get complacent. Even if you’re certain you know the right way, make use of the GP...

We don’t get too much of it here in Ireland so when the sunshine does eventually arrive, we tend to lose the run of ourselves a bit! We’re experiencing a major heatwave at the moment, certainly by our standards, so it’s tempting to just rush outside and soak up as much as possible before the rain comes back.

While it’s obviously great to get some fine weather, it’s important to remember that the sun can also be harmful. Here are a few tips to help keep you safe this summer.

Sunscreen

This should be an easy one but when the sun hasn’t made an appea...

Irish construction workers who emigrated during the economic downturn are being deterred from returning to Ireland by the high cost of car insurance, a survey has revealed. Over 40% of those polled said the cost of motor insurance is a serious issue.

According to the SCSI/PwC Construction Market Monitor Report for 2018, there is between a 53% and 84% shortfall in the number of construction workers by Ireland at the moment but many of the Irish tradesmen and women currently living abroad say the cost of living is too high at home.

“Reports indicate that ...

In the latest in a series of blog posts aimed at helping and informing young drivers, we look at the thorny issue of fronting. You may have heard the term in the news, but what does it actually mean?

What is fronting?

Fronting is a forbidden car insurance practice whereby an older or experienced driver says that they're the main user of a vehicle driven by a younger or other high-risk motorist. A typical example would be a parent claiming to be the main driver of their child’s car.

Why might someone do this?

It’s no secret that car insurance can...

Between the costly lessons, the stress of the test and trying to sort out insurance, there’s so much for young drivers to deal with. Choosing the right car can be another challenge, but if you get this one step right it could help you with the others. Here are some things to consider when buying your first car.

1. Size

Size definitely matters when it comes to buying your first car. Although you’ll want to invest in something that’s durable and comfortable, smaller vehicles generally cost less to purchase and maintain. It will also cost less to insur...

Young people pay more for their car insurance than older, more experienced drivers. There’s no escaping that. There are, however, certain measures you can take to keep your premium as low as possible.

1. Choose a simple car

Big, powerful SUVs and speedy sports cars may seem attractive but they’re certainly not the right option if you’re a young driver trying to save money on your car insurance. These kinds of vehicles are generally involved in more expensive accidents and they’re also more likely to be stolen, two factors which will undoubtedly drive up...

There are many things that could potentially make you a poor driver and you’re probably aware of most of them already. There are, however, quite a number of surprising factors which significantly decrease your ability to drive safely. Here are some of the more surprising ones.

1. Singing

Easy there, Frank Sinatra. We all enjoy listening to music when we’re in the car but, according to research, singing along to your favourite song could be a major distraction. First of all, fiddling with the radio takes your attention off of where it needs to be: the ro...