Kate Holmquist -RIP

Weltsmertz

Article below here written by the late Kate Holmquist in 2015
Kate took her own life in Aug 2019.

We should ban the word ‘grand’ before we go mad
Imagine if everyone told each other how they were actually feeling

<snip>

Fann Linn

Who?

dudara

Katie Holmquist was a former Irish Times journalist who was reported missing after last being seen on Saturday evening. The search has been stood down following the finding of a body.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/garda-appeal-for-kate-holmquist-stood-down-after-body-found-1.3977204

spurious

Very sad news.

Dial Hard

Fann Linn wrote:

Who?

Irish Times journalist who's been missing since Saturday and whose body was found at Dollymount earlier. Being reported as a "personal tragedy" which everyone knows the meaning of.

Also, could you not have just Googled her rather than trying to be first in with the edgelord nonsense?

Irishphotodesk

Thoughts are with her family and co workers at this time.

R.I.P.

HeidiHeidi

I remember her as being a fantastic writer and journalist, I think I remember her on radio as well.

Very sad. RIP.

Tell me how

Thoughts with anyone reading this who feels like she did when she felt it was just too hopeless.

It's not easy.
It can change.
You deserve to get better.

Fann Linn

Dial Hard wrote: »

Irish Times journalist who's been missing since Saturday and whose body was found at Dollymount earlier. Being reported as a "personal tragedy" which everyone knows the meaning of.

Also, could you not have just Googled her rather than trying to be first in with the edgelord nonsense?

After reading through your opening post I thought you would have enlightened us initially, instead of diverting people to google.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

A sad tragedy. A decent enough journalist.

What the hell the OP is about defies all attempts to make sense of it.

Dial Hard

Fann Linn wrote:

After reading through your opening post I thought you would have enlightened us initially, instead of diverting people to google.

I'm not the OP.

HeidiHeidi

Paislee Plain Tonic wrote: »

A sad tragedy. A decent enough journalist.

What the hell the OP is about defies all attempts to make sense of it.

I would imagine that's an article by her? That's what I took it to be anyway.

SEPT 23 1989

I hope she found peace

RIP

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

I would imagine that's an article by her? That's what I took it to be anyway.

Of course it is but, without context or explanation, it's jibberish.

InTheShadows

Nobody knows what anyone is really going through. R.I.P.

hatrickpatrick

Dial Hard wrote: »

Irish Times journalist who's been missing since Saturday and whose body was found at Dollymount earlier. Being reported as a "personal tragedy" which everyone knows the meaning of.

Also, could you not have just Googled her rather than trying to be first in with the edgelord nonsense?

In this case it isn't edgelord nonsense, the OP is, to anyone unfamiliar, a random dump of cut and paste newspaper columns without any context at all.

Weltsmertz

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

In this case it isn't edgelord nonsense, the OP is, to anyone unfamiliar, a random dump of cut and paste newspaper columns without any context at all.

Should have made it clearer that it was an article by her. Edited to clarify

FluffyTowel

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

In this case it isn't edgelord nonsense, the OP is, to anyone unfamiliar, a random dump of cut and paste newspaper columns without any context at all.

The title gives it context and, not knowing the writer myself, I managed to figure it out.

It’s a relevant and well written piece to go with a sad story. Might raise some awareness for those who haven’t read it before, and considering the circumstances.

I’ll never get why people want to be the first in just to make an unnecessary argument (not aimed at you there Hatrick).

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

InTheShadows wrote: »

Seriously, like ****ing seriously cop the hell on.

Not fair. I knew who she was, had read her columns many times, and had heard of her death but to anybody unfamiliar with her, or the recent news that she was missing, the OP was a dump of a random article.

odyssey06

Very sad tragedy. At least the body has been recovered and the family have a sense of closure.

chicorytip

Paislee Plain Tonic wrote:

What the hell the OP is about defies all attempts to make sense of it.

HeidiHeidi wrote:

I would imagine that's an article by her? That's what I took it to be anyway.

Yes, those are articles written by Kate Holmquist. I recall reading them myself. I think the OP inadvertently omitted to mention this. She wrote quite openly about her personal experience of depression and anxiety and also of experiencing sexual abuse by her music teacher, I think, during her school/ college years. She came across as a sensitive and perceptive individual in both her writings and in media interviews. It's dreadfully sad.

Dial Hard

hatrickpatrick wrote:

In this case it isn't edgelord nonsense, the OP is, to anyone unfamiliar, a random dump of cut and paste newspaper columns without any context at all.

Given the title of the thread, I maintain a quick Google is a far more sensible response than that poster's reply.

eviltwin

Paislee Plain Tonic wrote: »

Not fair. I knew who she was, had read her columns many times, and had heard of her death but to anybody unfamiliar with her, or the recent news that she was missing, the OP was a dump of a random article.

I'd never heard of her. A quick search of her name in the same time it would have taken to write a "who" post gave me the answer but I forgot AH is populated by juveniles these days.

Rubberchikken

ive never heard of her. dint read the irish times. but its very sad when someone thinks suicide is the answer to problems.

but tbh how much would change if people did answer truthfully.
for the most part people just want to hear grand or good or fine and keep going. they dont really want to hear how someone actually is.

Cheshire Cat

Great writer, gone way too soon.
May she rest in peace.

nervous_twitch

Anyone who is feeling the same. <SNIP> What a senseless loss. Thoughts with Kate's family.

One eyed Jack

InTheShadows wrote: »

Nobody knows what anyone is really going through. R.I.P.

We do of course?

Didn’t know the author but their over-wrought efforts to express themselves wouldn’t endear me to have any further interest in their work. If someone says they’re fine, then just take them at their word. It’s not as difficult as the author appears to have found it.

Tell me how

One eyed Jack wrote: »

We do of course?

Didn’t know the author but their over-wrought efforts to express themselves wouldn’t endear me to have any further interest in their work. If someone says they’re fine, then just take them at their word. It’s not as difficult as the author appears to have found it.

They didn't want you to have interest in their 'work'.

Open the other eye.

Weltsmertz

The Irish have a reputation as the friendliest people on Earth. But that's because they maintain a superficial false front. Everyone is grand or fine.
And then we move on to talking about the weather.
But you're right. People don't want to hear anything else here. They are uncomfortable when people open up and show their vunerabilities.
So we don't . Think the question she was asking is whether this fear of openness is healthy or good.

Grand. How's yourself? Threatening rain but grand day we're having so far. What's the forecast for tomorrow.

One eyed Jack

Tell me how wrote: »

They didn't want you to have interest in their 'work'.

Open the other eye.

She was a journalist and writer, of course she wanted people to be interested in her work. It’s generally how journalists and writers pay for their lifestyles. If you find you can relate to her writings, good for you. I couldn’t, that’s all.

Being blind in one eye has fcukall to do with anything, I can still read, I just wouldn’t have any interest in reading her work having read what was on her mind in the article in the opening post. Therefore it’s simply untrue to say that nobody knows what anyone else is going through - the fact is we do, because the author in this case was perfectly capable of expressing herself.

BarryD2

I think most people who are even half informed will have a sense of Kate Holmquist and her writing. Made a good contribution to Irish life and society. Strange that she made it to her early 60s and kept it together all those years, but I guess things must have dipped too low recently. We mostly all have an inalienable right to choose whether to live or die and she chose the latter. I'd respect her decision and may she rest in peace.

ever not always

I wouldn't have a clue who she was, but then I don't read the Times. And in fairness to those asking 'who?' the OP was updated a couple of times with context

splinter65

It’s being already prone to depression and reaching your early 60s and looking into the next ten years and seeing declining health and eyesight and mobility, friends and loved ones getting old too, some possibly dying. That feeling that all your best years are behind you and you didn’t make the best of it.
I meet a lot of people approaching retirement and these are frequent sentiments that I hear but in the main from men.
Women are generally more positive.

One eyed Jack

splinter65 wrote: »

It’s being already prone to depression and reaching your early 60s and looking into the next ten years and seeing declining health and eyesight and mobility, friends and loved ones getting old too, some possibly dying. That feeling that all your best years are behind you and you didn’t make the best of it.
I meet a lot of people approaching retirement and these are frequent sentiments that I hear but in the main from men.
Women are generally more positive.

Yeah it’s an interesting one alright and something that hasn’t gone unnoticed among researchers who suggested in a recently released study that becoming a more secular society we will have to find new ways of addressing issues like maintaining and fostering healthy social networks and social participation for an ever increasing elderly population -


The study noted the social aspect of religious attendance, showing that those who attend mass or other religious services regularly were more likely to have a large social network, which in turn has a positive effect on mental wellbeing.

In a press statement, TILDA researcher Joanna Orr, the project’s lead author, said: “Considering the decline in religious participation, belief and practice in Ireland, it is important to assess how this may affect those who are religious.”

Between 2010 and 2016, religious attendance declined slightly among participants, dropping from 91 per cent to 89 per cent in women, and from 89 per cent to 87 per cent in men.

Orr continued: “Maintenance of religious practice for those who are religious, as well as the maintenance and bolstering of social networks and social participation for all in this age group emerge as important.”

Prof Rose Anne Kenny, the principal investigator of TILDA, added: “The importance of continued social engagement and social participation as we age is well established and has been associated with improved health and wellbeing and lower mortality.”

“If religious attendance facilitates older people to maintain a larger social circle with continued social engagement, alternative ways to socialise will be necessary as we develop into a more secular society”, she said.


Elderly Churchgoers Have Better Mental Health, Say Trinity Researchers

Portsalon

Katherine (never before today known publicly as "Kate") Holmquist was an Irish Times columnist until mid-2015, that's 4 years ago. From memory, the majority of her articles related to sex, sexuality, emotion and miscellaneous touchie-feelie stuff which, frankly, wouldn't have been of great interest to me, although I was aware of her byline as I bought/read the IT regularly. I find it wholly acceptable that many Boardsies wouldn't ever have heard of her, either because they're young, because they didn't notice her name above the handful of articles that they may have read, or simply because they and their circle didn't read the IT, which let's remember, has had a circulation of well below 100,000 over the past number of years. (i.e. less than 2% of the population).

Describing her journalism as "a great body of work" is akin to describing Bertie Ahern as a great orator. He wasn't and her journalism wasn't particularly exceptional, indeed it often verged on the mediocre. But her death is tragic for those who knew and loved her and, at this particular time, that's what matters.

Harry Palmr

Any chance of a mod cleaning this thread up.

And yes I wondering who "Kate" Holmquist was for a moment because I only ever saw her name as Katherine and that was years ago when I read newspapers. It was photo search before I went ah yes her. The OP made a mess because they were probably in rush to post, it happens.

Abel Ruiz

TheDativeCase wrote: »

And sure enough we find ourselves debating this pathetic reaction to a person's death rather than paying tribute to their life and work.

How about you do this? Instead of a rant.
Let us just talk about the person and we can all learn about her.

And for everyone that says, google.
Then is there a need for boards at all?
Lets google everything.

Dravokivich

eviltwin wrote: »

I'd never heard of her. A quick search of her name in the same time it would have taken to write a "who" post gave me the answer but I forgot AH is populated by juveniles these days.

Most of the charters on this site ask that you contribute to your opening post instead of just dumping something. It's a discussion forum. You should ideally handle yourself in the same manner as s conversation. When talking amongst friends, do you just name drop and insist if they dont know who you are talking about, they should look them up?

Its bizarre that google should be used in place of open discussion.

Tell me how

Dravokivich wrote: »

Most of the charters on this site ask that you contribute to your opening post instead of just dumping something. It's a discussion forum. You should ideally handle yourself in the same manner as s conversation. When talking amongst friends, do you just name drop and insist if they dont know who you are talking about, they should look them up?

Its bizarre that google should be used in place of open discussion.

Ordinarily, yes, but the 'RIP' in the thread title should have been enough to make people think a little tact would be a good idea.

BarryD2

Portsalon wrote: »

Katherine (never before today known publicly as "Kate") Holmquist was an Irish Times columnist until mid-2015, that's 4 years ago. From memory, the majority of her articles related to sex, sexuality, emotion and miscellaneous touchie-feelie stuff which, frankly, wouldn't have been of great interest to me, although I was aware of her byline as I bought/read the IT regularly. I find it wholly acceptable that many Boardsies wouldn't ever have heard of her, either because they're young, because they didn't notice her name above the handful of articles that they may have read, or simply because they and their circle didn't read the IT, which let's remember, has had a circulation of well below 100,000 over the past number of years. (i.e. less than 2% of the population).

Describing her journalism as "a great body of work" is akin to describing Bertie Ahern as a great orator. He wasn't and her journalism wasn't particularly exceptional, indeed it often verged on the mediocre. But her death is tragic for those who knew and loved her and, at this particular time, that's what matters.

Not that it's important but I'm sure I heard her interviewed on radio as Kate Holmquist?? And was this her Twitter account? https://twitter.com/kateholmquist?lang=en

padd b1975

Portsalon wrote: »

Katherine (never before today known publicly as "Kate") Holmquist was an Irish Times columnist until mid-2015, that's 4 years ago. From memory, the majority of her articles related to sex, sexuality, emotion and miscellaneous touchie-feelie stuff which, frankly, wouldn't have been of great interest to me, although I was aware of her byline as I bought/read the IT regularly. I find it wholly acceptable that many Boardsies wouldn't ever have heard of her, either because they're young, because they didn't notice her name above the handful of articles that they may have read, or simply because they and their circle didn't read the IT, which let's remember, has had a circulation of well below 100,000 over the past number of years. (i.e. less than 2% of the population).

Describing her journalism as "a great body of work" is akin to describing Bertie Ahern as a great orator. He wasn't and her journalism wasn't particularly exceptional, indeed it often verged on the mediocre. But her death is tragic for those who knew and loved her and, at this particular time, that's what matters.

Well said.

partyguinness

A permanent solution to a temporary problem. Very sad.

gormdubhgorm

Weltsmertz wrote: »

Article below here written by the late Kate Holmquist in 2015
Kate took her own life in Aug 2019.



<snip>

Ah, I was wondering what was the 'Personal Tragedy' they were referring to in the journal.

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/newsireland/tributes-paid-to-late-irish-times-journalist-kate-holmquist/ar-AAFpWcm?li=BBr5KbJ&ocid=mailsignout

It was very vague.
Is the word suicide not allowed to be used anymore?

Kind of ironic when you think that Holmquist wanted people to be straight talking.

partyguinness

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Ah, I was wondering what was the 'Personal Tragedy' they were referring to in the journal.

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/newsireland/tributes-paid-to-late-irish-times-journalist-kate-holmquist/ar-AAFpWcm?li=BBr5KbJ&ocid=mailsignout

It was very vague.
Is the word suicide not allowed to be used anymore?

Kind of ironic when you think that Holmquist wanted people to be straight talking.

I guess someone is trying to be less brutal about it.

It's like my parents when someone local is terminally ill:

"Mary is very sick. I mean she is very sick."

I have learnt that basically means she is on her last legs and death is imminent. Maybe it's an Irish thing to sort of be less blunt.

gormdubhgorm

Dial Hard wrote: »

Being reported as a "personal tragedy" which everyone knows the meaning of.

Well I didn't know the meaning of it that could mean anything.
It is why I ended up here.
I always remember seeing her name in the paper as a young fella thinking that is a funny name.
Learned it was of Swedish origin after seeing those Swedish soccer players like Blomquist etc.

She was obviously more of a glass half empty person, rather than a glass half full person.

If more people looked on the bright side of things and said ah sure 'it could be worse' less of this type of stuff would be happening.
That is my take on it anyway.

gormdubhgorm

partyguinness wrote: »

I guess someone is trying to be less brutal about it.

It's like my parents when someone local is terminally ill:

"Mary is very sick. I mean she is very sick."

I have learnt that basically means she is on her last legs and death is imminent. Maybe it's an Irish thing to sort of be less blunt.

I suppose there is a code to it.
'Taken to the bed' is another country one.

Anyway now I will have to go looking up articles the woman has written, to see did she write many good articles.

partyguinness

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

I suppose there is a code to it.
'Taken to the bed' is another country one.

Anyway now I will have to go looking up articles the woman has written, to see did she write many good articles.

Yes, 'taken to the bed'. That is one I've heard a few times. Basically means depressed in my part of the country.

Sadly, I heard my father use it a few times when growing up when chatting about one of his life long friends who did actually end up take his own life about 10 years ago.

gormdubhgorm

I just searched Katie Holmquist in a search engine

An article entitled by Holmquist entitled 'Just be Happy' came up near the top.

https://www.image.ie/life/from-the-archive-just-be-happy-by-kate-holmquist-155271


Now it sounds more like a 'cry for help' rather than sensible advice?
I don't know what to make of it now at all.

Now it smacks of 'do as I say' not 'do as I do'.
It seems she was a bit of an over thinker.

mariaalice

Is it unusual for someone in their sixties to kill themselves? it alway seems a younger person issue but maybe not?

GoneHome

mariaalice wrote: »

Is it unusual for someone in their sixties to kill themselves? it alway seems a younger person issue but maybe not?

And for a woman in her sixties to do it is even more unusual

Radio5

mariaalice wrote: »

Is it unusual for someone in their sixties to kill themselves? it alway seems a younger person issue but maybe not?

Not that unusual. Have heard of 2 people of that age group in the 2 weeks. Did not know either personally.

I live in a rural enough part of Ireland and they were within a 20 mile radius of me.