Children eat for free with the new Sunday lunch menu at the Harbour Hotel

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

Bring the whole family together for a relaxing Sunday lunch at the Harbour Hotel in the heart of Galway. Enjoy a fabulous four-course lunch for only €19.95 per person, including a glass of Prosecco. Children under 10 years eat for free, and customers can avail of two hours’ free parking.

On the Wine Shelf

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

Olivier Ravoire Côtes du Rhône (All good wine shops, €10.99)

Made from 80 per cent Grenache and a 20 per cent equal mixture of Syrah and Mourvèdre, this is a well-priced bundle from the vineyards around Vacqueyras and Cairanne in the southern Rhône. Rich raspberry fruit on the nose, that follows through on the palate, and along with some spice and pepper give a rugged honesty to a wine that works really well with a roast sirloin dinner or a plate of Roquefort or something a little funky like grilled sardines.

Not so happy customers

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

I have received quite a few emails recently from readers who feel that the standards in many local eating establishments are declining. Service, cleanliness, and food quality are all areas of concern for many. I mentioned this to several people over the holidays and just about everyone exploded with their various negative comments and anecdotes. On a personal note I feel that the once famous Irish welcome is a thing of the past other than in exceptional cases, and it makes me feel very uneasy for our tourism future. This is also true in many shops where you feel like you would need permission to ask a question. Before I put pen to paper I thought about possible reasons for this situation, and it may be that staff are being treated poorly, or perhaps they are under personal hardships, or lack good management, but whatever the reason, it is still no excuse.

Detox with the help of 2,000 years of wisdom

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

Christmas overindulgence can leave you feeling intolerant to certain foods, constipated or irregular, congested, ill, sluggish, and tired. What you need is a good internal cleansing programme to get your system back to its best.

Spend small on insulation, save big on heating costs with EcoSeal

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

“You put a hat on your head and keep your body heat in,” says Claire Nic Grianna from EcoSeal. “Thermal insulation in your roof will do the same for your house.”

If you do not have insulation in your roof, up to 30 per cent of heat could escape, costing you money. Insulating the 50sq m (540sq ft) attic space of a typical house costs around €450 and could save approximately €225 a year (up to 20 per cent of your fuel bill) so it would pay for itself in about two years.

Best face forward

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

The cosmetics hall in Brown Thomas is so over Christmas. Spring and summer vibes are everywhere. Mac, which has found inspiration this time around in heiress and fashion disciple Daphne Guinness, is leaving all that glitters behind and is transitioning with a matte collection of berry and pink tones, though these are not your granny’s berry and pink tones. Far from innocent, this collection is more decadent and dramatic, but balanced to perfection with alabaster flawless skin.

Style Isle

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

Having written about vintage last week, I got to thinking about accessories and how to build up a nice collection of varied pieces for the new season. Accessories, you see, are statements. You can take the simplest of outfits, in any array of colours or styles and by adding a pair of earrings there, a scarf here or a hat, the outfit transforms completely. Whether you like bold pieces, or prefer to stick to jewellery you wear all the time, accessories are something you can have fun with.

New year, new you at Curves

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

Why not re-invent yourself this year with a ‘new you’ at Curves? Let this year be about becoming the best you can be. At Curves you can improve your overall fitness level, tone up, and lose weight, so what are you waiting for?

Curves offers a state of the art personal coaching system called Curves Smart that has been incorporated into the workout to allow you to see how many calories you have burned, what muscles you have worked, and to challenge yourself to reach your personal target. You can burn up to 500 calories with each 30 minute workout. The Curves workout combines cardio and strength training and also offers a successful weight management programme to help you reach your goals.

Taking responsibility for your health this 2012

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

We all resolve to make changes in January. Each year we endeavour to generally take better care of ourselves and our families by resolving to give up smoking, deciding to lose weight, signing up to some exercise classes, or possibly joining a gym.

Plexus Bio Energy brings people back to good health and wellbeing

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

Located at Lismoyle House, Merchants Road, Galway, both Michael O'Gara and Tina Forkan run a full time clinic that they started in 1990. Plexus Bio Energy involves the relocating and balancing of energy blockages throughout the body; these blockages are like electrical currents going through the body which form an electromagnetic field. Therapists can scan and diagnose the energy field and loacte where the blockages are in the body.

Lose weight, detox, and increase vitality in four weeks with the juice therapy and raw food programme

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

Juice therapy and raw food for weight loss is not only a delicious solution to assist you in your weight loss goals, it is also an incredible way to increase your stamina and vitality as well as fight disease and recover from illness faster as you cleanse your body, rebuild blood cells, increase your immunity, alkalise your system, reduce allergies, improve the cardiovascular system and heart health, and increase your over all wellbeing.

Learn the ancient science of Ayurveda in six week introductory course

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

Ayurveda is a system of natural healing, a way of life which treats each and every person in accordance with his or her unique individual constitution. It educates and empowers us on how to take care of our health and wellbeing by getting to know our unique natural physical and psychological make-up and tendencies. By guiding us in making changes in our diet, lifestyle, and regime Ayurveda can help prevent, treat, and remove both disease and symptoms. With a history of more than 5,000 years it stands as the most comprehensive natural health system in the world.

Enhance mind, body and spirit in 2012

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

Explore the workings of your mind, body, and spirit this New Year and set yourself on the fast track to inner peace with a dedicated three day holistic workshop in Co Mayo this month.

Up to seventy per cent off in Standún sale

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

The great winter sale continues at Standún with up to 70 per cent off in all departments.

Successful sales shopping

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

All those tantalizing bargains in the sales can lead to a wardrobe full of clothes that you will probably never wear. Before tackling your shopping trip read my top tips to make the most of the January sales.

Notes for the season

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

New options for a new year

It’s vintage dahhhhling..

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

The last couple of years have seen an upsurge in the popularity of vintage fashion in Ireland. The retro look has reclaimed its spot in the trendy charts thanks to a celeb following including (but not limited to) Alexa Chung and the Olsen twins. But we need to clarify something here. Just because it is old or second hand, does not make it vintage. In a lot of ways it’s an abused term. Whether it is clothing or jewellery, we are unofficially allowed to bestow the term on pieces which are of high quality and are covetable i.e., I own several vintage scarves which I have been collecting over many years from Hermés, Chanel and Gucci (pictured, Gucci scarf from my collection). And no they are not for sale.

Rollercoaster

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

Is your child polite?

New Year get active resolution

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

The New Year is a great time to look to the year ahead and make positive changes, and one such change that many people think of is to get fit and be more active. The Get Ireland Active website (www.getirelandactive.ie) is a great resource for anyone who would like to get more active and is looking for advice and suggestions on where to begin. The website was developed by HSE as a one-stop information source on how to get involved in physical activity.

Burn and bind to beat the bulge

Thu, Jan 05, 2012

Booze, sloth, and endless eating — no wonder Christmas is the worst time for weight gain. With new Slender Dream Slim & Go, wishful New Year shrinking can become a reality. This natural, effective, and easy to use weight-loss supplement boosts the body’s own latent ability to burn and bind fat, while at the same time increasing energy levels and suppressing appetite. And at a recession busting €0.67 per day Slender Dream Slim & Go is one of the best natural value weight loss supplements around.

E-paper

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