Home Ground

Thu, Dec 18, 2008

I know that Christmas, not gardening, is on your mind at the moment but a little gardening is a guaranteed way of working off the turkey and Christmas pudding. I know that the winter weather is not always enticing but we must look for the positives and try to forget, or at least ignore, the negatives.

Beat stress this Christmas

Thu, Dec 18, 2008

1. If you are one of those people who has left all your Chrismas preparations until the last minute, do not fret. Begin by compiling a “To Do” list. Include everything from sending Christmas cards and buying gifts to grocery shopping, cleaning the house, cooking Christmas dinner and visiting friends and relations.

A Christmas gift that reduces your carbon footprint

Thu, Dec 11, 2008

We are all being encouraged to reduce our carbon emissions — the much publicised change.ie website lets us calculate our carbon number and gives advice on how to reduce it. As Christmas approaches, the gifts we buy often further add to our carbon footprint as much carbon has been produced during their manufacture while their packaging, often a large component of the gift, also has to be disposed of.

The giving of a tree as a Christmas gift produces the opposite effect. A tree uses carbon as it grows, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. If you give a tree as a present you will be reducing carbon emissions. Throughout its life an average tree will remove 12.5kg of carbon dioxide a year once mature. Over its lifetime one tree will offset five return air trips from Dublin to London.

Get roasting

Thu, Dec 11, 2008

Treat your turkey to one of these great roasting pans, available at Anthony Ryan’s home store and online at Anthony Ryan’s dedicated homeware site, www.shopcookware.ie

Home Ground

Thu, Dec 11, 2008

Now to state the obvious, another week over and another week nearer to Christmas. I hope that you have enjoyed some days outdoors, and by that I mean in the garden and not walking up and down the main shopping streets. The shopping can wait but the garden cannot.

Home Ground

Thu, Dec 04, 2008

The easiest type of gardening for this time of year is what I term armchair gardening. Easy work this might be, but vital nonetheless.

John Rocha to showcase Waterford Crystal range at Fallers

Thu, Dec 04, 2008

Fallers Jewellers will welcome internationally renowned fashion, jewellery, and crystal designer John Rocha to its Galway store tomorrow (Friday). John Rocha will be in store from 5pm to 7pm where he will showcase his distinctive Waterford Crystal range and he will personally sign any gifts from the range purchased on the night.

Stock up for Christmas at JPK Garden Centre

Thu, Dec 04, 2008

The JPK Garden Centre Christmas shop is now open on the N17 two miles on the Tuam side of Claregalway. JPK has a large range of Christmas trees in stock at unbeatable prices. The shop also has a wide range of wreaths, table arrangements and decorations.

The shop features a range of Christmas gift ideas at excellent value and you can also purchase gift vouchers at the counter or by phone. Fresh flower arrangements are made to order to ensure the best quality so remember to order in time to ensure delivery. The centre also has a wide range of playhouses, slides, and swings in stock. The selection of pots and plants is very popular and mixed pots can be made up while you wait.

Deck the halls with Woodie’s

Thu, Nov 27, 2008

Christmas decorations provide the perfect opportunity to add a bit of colour and fun to the home. Woodie’s DIY has a huge range of Christmas decorations in stock.

Home Ground

Thu, Nov 27, 2008

I am not a lover of the cold weather believe me, and I often dream of warmer climes, but dreaming is all it can be for the moment, so I strongly suggest that you invest in a pair of thermals and brave the winter elements in the garden with me.

Great cookware at great prices at www.shopcookware.ie

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Grab some great seasonal bargains at Anthony Ryan’s new dedicated homewares site, www.shopcookware.ie

Environmental building science services in Galway

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Building Science Technologies is a Galway company which offers building energy management consultancy and diagnostic services to both domestic and commercial buildings. The range of services includes building energy ratings, energy audits, building air leakage testing, thermal imaging surveys, and site suitability tests.

Home Ground

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

I think that the autumn colour this year has been particularly beautiful. Trees clothed in their autumn coats are so picturesque. Now that the beauty of autumn is fresh in your mind, plan ahead for next autumn.

This year I feel that cherry trees seem to be more colourful than in other years. We often fault them because their flowering period in spring is so short, but I feel that they more than repay us by providing such colour in the form of their russet coloured leaves at this time of year. Other trees that really stunned me with their beauty this year were sweet gums (Liquidambar) chestnuts, birch, and beech. Consider planting trees for autumn effect in your garden so that you can benefit by them from next year onwards.

Bring your home to life with Western Postform

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

In the current economic climate and with the house market becoming increasingly competitive, there has never been a better time to update and invest in your home. Whether you have bought a new home and want to give it a little personal charm, are selling your home and feel it needs that extra something to make it shine, or if you just feel like it is time for an update, bring your home to life with Western Postform, the Galway based company that offers top quality kitchens and bedrooms at prices that won’t be beaten.

Taps that run like Clock Work

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

If your bathing routine requires precision, the efficiency of the new wall mounted Clock Work collection from Ritmonio is sure to tick all your boxes.

home ground

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Since I spoke to you last week I hope that you have been busy gardening and enjoying all that the autumn/early winter has to offer in the garden. Remember that gardening should be hobby and not a chore.

The wind has rattled a lot of trees and shrubs this year so there is quite a lot of cleaning up to be done out there. A little bit like clearing up after the party has ended and the guests have gone home, if you like. Once fed and watered, they have left and you have to roll up your sleeves and sort out the debris. Think of the good times and enjoyment that the garden has given you all summer (a bit like the fun at the party) while you are out there in the cold, raking and sweeping.

home ground

Thu, Oct 30, 2008

The gardening year is moving along nicely and hopefully you have been keeping busy, gardening that is!

I am glad to see that the edible garden is coming back into fashion. Much of the new found interest in vegetable and fruit gardening is no doubt due to our keen regard for health and environmental issues and of course the mounting cost of the weekly shopping. We are what we eat.

An Fuarán Moycullen, for all your house and home needs

Thu, Oct 30, 2008

Looking for the perfect newly built home to tastefully decorate, or looking to tastefully decorate an existing home? Then why not visit An Fuarán in Moycullen village. An Fuarán has everything and more to offer customers who are interested in the house and home.

B&Q Galway celebrates successful first year

Thu, Oct 23, 2008

October 25 2007 saw the eagerly anticipated opening of Galway’s newest and largest home improvement store when B&Q opened its doors at the Gateway Retail Park in Rahoon.

gardening with Anne McKeon

Thu, Oct 23, 2008

Well here we are again with another week’s gardening over and a busy week in prospect. I hope that you have been taking advantage of the intermittent spells of good weather because I feel that so much useful gardening work can be done in the autumn winter period. If you get it right at this time of year you can save yourself a lot of hardship in the spring.

E-paper

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