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A bride dancing with a strawboy

Why did brides throw cake in a sock at old Irish weddings?

Charlotte Ryan speaks to history content creator Ann Marie Duffin about Irish wedding traditions of days gone by, and how they compare to today's practices.

TORONTO, ONTARIO - SEPTEMBER 05: Cillian Murphy attends the premiere of "Steve" during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at Royal Alexandra Theatre on September 05, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

Cillian Murphy looks dapper in custom suit at Toronto Film Fest

Siobhan McSweeney hosting The Traitors

Anne O'Shea on styling Siobhan McSweeney for The Traitors

Photo of smiling friends trying out local street food on their trip

Things to do in Dublin this weekend (September 5-7)

Upset redhead teen girl sitting by window with phone waiting call from boyfriend, feeling sad and depressed woman using smartphone. Social Media depression in teens

'Cruelty dressed up as seduction': What is negging?

Ann and Dee

Home Rescue: Cluttered Clondalkin home transformed in five days

BMW ix3 Neue Klasse on a mountain

BMW launches the first series-produced Neue Klasse model

Senior beautiful woman standing in front of mirror looking in her hair

5 reasons you may be losing your hair and how to prevent it

A photo of Kate Middleton with her hair down and lightly waved

How to transition from brunette to honey blonde like Kate

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10 desserts to make when you want to impress

Home Rescue The Big Fix Pete Finn and Dee Coleman

Home Rescue: Dee Coleman on the joy of making feel-good TV

Two people stand in front of a stone house

Cheap Irish Homes' Tadhg Casey on the "permanence" of old homes

Cheap Irish Homes

OSLO, NORWAY - AUGUST 26: A guest wears grey cape / coat with slits, brown bag, transparent skirt during Oslo Fashion Week on August 26, 2025 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

5 wardrobe staples that will be trending this autumn

bi Sex wears Miu Miu - Karyna Manzhai wears Erdem - Aine O Gorman wears Chloe

Why red, in all shades, is set to be the colour of the season

Back to School

Mother preparing lunch boxes with healthy food and snacks for sons before going to school

Lunchbox inspiration from Lou Robbie

Ahead of children going back to school, Lou Robbie joined Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 to share her tips for keeping kids happy.

A touching moment as a mother helps her daughter get ready for school, embodying care, love, and support. Outdoors, highlighted by warm morning light and a cheerful atmosphere, this image captures family togetherness.

Back to school costs: 10 simple ideas to save money

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How to reset your child's bedtime routine

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Former FBI hostage negotiator's tips for communicating with kids

More Back to School

Deep Dives

A photo of Anna Cullen with mountains behind her

What two weeks of endless daylight in Norway did to me

Travelling through northern Norway in the summer meant Anna Cullen had to surrender to the 'midnight sun', a phenomenon that is both magical and exhausting.

Katie Bryce and Saoirse Monica Jackson

Meet the woman who styled Saoirse Monica Jackson's iconic wedding

Anna Sutcliffe

The TikTok seanchaí preserving and celebrating Ireland's islands

a person holding a hat

Meet the designer creating knitwear based on Irish transport

More Deep Dives

LGBTQ+

L-R Matthew, Noel and Trev sitting on a sofa with RTÉ Radio 1 branding behind them

Out & Proud: Coming out to your children

Listen to Out & Proud, Saturday evenings at 8.30pm on RTÉ Radio 1 and the RTÉ Radio app or anytime, wherever you get your podcasts

Group of friends sitting in a cafe enjoying a hot drinks together. They are talking, sitting at a table with a view in Tynemouth, North East of England. They are two couples, double dating. One of the couples are LGBTQI+.

36 queer-friendly groups and activities around Ireland to join

Jenny Maguire, Zeda, PJ Kirby Galang

"We must become unavoidable": 10 years of the Marriage Referendum

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Hopes for inter-generational queer housing collective in Dublin

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Mental Health

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5 signs your mental health may be suffering

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A psychologist's guide to coping with upsetting news stories

"We're all being coached by someone, whether we realise it or not."

What exactly does a life coach do and are they effective?

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Perinatal experts share the 5 things new mums should talk about

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Counselling psychologist on why you should practice doing nothing

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Dr Pennie: How addiction hijacks the teenage brain

Arwin Sullivan

ShareJoy: Using pre-loved designs to raise funds for a good cause

ShareJoy: Resale site founded by mother in memory of her daughter

More Mental Health

Sustainability

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Your guide to Dublin's thrift shops & salvage yards

Catherine Carton of Dainty Dress Diaries lists her top spots.

Photo credit: Brian McEvoy

Presenter Fionnuala Jay on becoming a sustainable bride

Design Ireland pop-up store at Arnotts

Pop-up shop of Irish design: "I think it's in our DNA to be cool"

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Just one dirty container can mess up your recycling bin

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Personal Finance

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Financial expert's tips on budgeting and 5 ways to save

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Everything you need to know about pension auto-enrolment

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6 ways to save money on your holidays this summer

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Is it better to put money towards an emergency fund or a pension?

a person holding a 'we're open' sign

10 steps to follow when starting your own business

More Personal Finance

Travel

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Fodor's No List: 15 travel destinations to reconsider in 2025

a lighthouse on a cliff by the ocean

Portugal's Wild Algarve: Sun, sea and sand - without the crowds

Photo: Glenn Kelly

A family stay at Roe Valley Resort & a romantic break in Galgorm

Sarah Magliocco on Naoshima Island. Photo: Síofra Carrick

Why you should visit Naoshima Island, the Aran Islands of Japan

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How to pack for your summer holidays

a collage of food on a table

Bread making, Druid knowledge and more in Ireland's Ancient East

View of Lismore Castle

New York Times spotlights Ireland's 'Old World romance'

More Travel

Food

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10 desserts to make when you want to impress

Neven's Ulster Food Tour

Neven's Ulster Food Tour: Fermanagh Eggs Benedict

Raymond Blanc’s Basque-style cheesecake

Raymond Blanc's Basque-style cheesecake recipe

The village of Megève situated in a picturesque wide valley (Simon Garnier)

Discovering the foodie treasures of Megève in the French Alps

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10 delicious breakfasts to batch cook for busy times

Moqueca fish burger

Ixta Belfrage's moqueca fish burger recipe

Mother preparing lunch boxes with healthy food and snacks for sons before going to school

Lunchbox inspiration from Lou Robbie

More Food

On This Week with Volkswagen

More On This Week with Volkswagen

On This Week: Electric Picnic makes its debut

sponsored by Volkswagen

On This Week: Pope Francis pays a visit to Ireland

On This Week: Pope Francis pays a visit to Ireland

sponsored by Volkswagen

On This Week: Phil Lynott immortalised just off Grafton Street

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On This Week: Oasis bring Morning Glory to Cork

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On This Week: Limerick gets its first ever post woman

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On This Week: Greg O'Shea wins fifth series of Love Island

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On This Week: Women 'invade' the Forty Foot

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On This Week: Ryanair launches its first ever route

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On This Week: Taylor Swift blows away Irish audiences

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On This Week: Dublin Pride celebrates 40 years

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On This Week: Chinese Pandas unveiled in Dublin Zoo

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