I leave Locatelli for another day, and as I drive the hour to Shirley’s, I think about David. Technology has made cancelling plans a cinch. It is frictionless, yet there is a real cost to these lost plans. Sure, we can catch up online, but these interactions rarely come close to being in the presence of another person. The more time we spend alone and online, the greater the loss of meaningful connection with our friends and wider communities.

Source: The Irish Times February 08, 2026 15:01 UTC