Be a bronze Goddess this summer

Thu, May 26, 2011

I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m busy applying the bronzing powder these days. I don’t allow myself to naturally tan and instead opt for either the bottled tan or powdered version as it’s safer and better for your skin.

David Martin now open seven days

Thu, May 26, 2011

David Martin Hairdressing has announced that its salon at Kingston Road will open seven days a week, including bank holidays. The salon will open on Sundays from 9am to 5pm, making it ideal for anyone with a special occasion or an important night out.

Notes for the season

Thu, May 26, 2011

New to Brown Thomas Galway this week, sleek label Bastyan has a stunning collection. A favourite of fashion stylist Lisa Fitzpatrick (who always walks that sexy yet sophisticated line to perfection), the pieces translate effortlessly from work to play.

An Fulacht Fia restaurant, Ballyvaughan

Thu, May 26, 2011

This is a fairly new purpose built restaurant on the road from Ballyvaughan to Fanore. As you arrive at the T-junction in the village of Ballyvaughan, left will take you to the Ailwee Caves and the Corkscrew Hill, and turning right brings you to Fanore. An Fulacht Fia restaurant is just about a mile out the Fanore road on your left hand side and with fabulous sea views. It is built with lots of stone and blends in perfectly with its surroundings, in fact so much so that you need to keep your eyes peeled to spot the entrance. However once you are in the door there is a beautiful modern dining room with sumptuous dining chairs, good oversized tables, starched white linen, and proper wine glasses, all a good start to an evening.

Go glamping with B&Q

Thu, May 26, 2011

Whatever festival you are planning to camp at this year, make sure you add a little boutique flavour to your pitch. You don’t have to be a celebrity to achieve the boutique look. With a varied range of outdoor and camping accessories B&Q can help you achieve it, whatever your budget.

Galway Textile Printers

Thu, May 12, 2011

Our photograph today, which is courtesy of Pat McPhilbin from Emmett Avenue in Mervue, shows a large factory building which was constructed by Sisk’s (with Jack Lillis in charge) on a site on Sandy Road in the early fifties. It was to house an industry called Galway Textile Printers which was known locally as ‘The Cotton Factory’, and even more colloquially as ‘The Cotton’. There already was a hat factory and a china factory here, but GTP was the first major industry to come to Galway and quickly became one of the biggest employers in the west of Ireland. Some of those who worked there were specialists who were brought in to help set the factory up, but most employees were local.

The blacksmith from Craughwell

Thu, May 12, 2011

The participants in the Galway Rising of April 1916 anticipated their arrest and humiliation. During Easter Week, while the rebels were attacking police stations in parts of east Galway, and threatening an invasion of the town, the RIC was quick to round up all the usual suspects. They were easily recognised. Their public training, and their interruptions of recruitment meetings made them well known to the police. They were loaded into open-top vehicles and paraded ‘for the entertainment of the townsfolk’. Volunteer Frank Hardiman remembered being set upon and beaten by rowdies at a number of places, and pelted with mud by the town’s inhabitants.

The blazer — how to wear it well

Thu, May 12, 2011

A wardrobe essential, the blazer is a versatile and timeless piece that will take you right into the next season. From the boyfriend style to long tuxedo jacket or cropped boxy blazer in black, white, cream, or navy, here are some ways to dress up or down this favourite piece.

Notes for the season

Thu, May 12, 2011

The purpose of any window display is to give a 3D snapshot, for people rushing by, of what the shop has in stock, to give a glimpse of the season’s trends, and of course, in the case of Brown Thomas, to delight.

Creative director of Brown Thomas, John Redmond, along with his team in Dublin painstakingly plot and plan every window for each of the stores. Our own team here in Galway, headed by Niamh Costelloe, then roll them out. The visual teams will be as handy with a hammer as they are with a paint brush. They will build many of the sets you see, dress the mannequins (including hair and make up) and create the natural flow of adjacencies for the labels throughout the store. And they can style a fashion show like no one’s business. To be a window dresser or a visual merchandiser is tricky business. It cannot be taught in a theoretical way. A window dresser must possess the hardest of all combinations — artistic and practical. He or she must have good taste, have a natural eye for balance and colour, and a thorough knowledge of stock. The window dresser is an artist, but the hardest working of all artists. Window dressers set the tone of the entire shop — they display your dreams and suggests a lifestyle, and that is what gets people excited, and it is often what inspires people to buy.

Calling all Salerno past pupils

Thu, May 05, 2011

Bishop Browne invited the Sisters of Jesus and Mary to open a national school in Salthill, and on May 1 1952 Scoil Íde opened in what used to be a small hotel called Dalysfort House, with 43 pupils and three teachers. The numbers grew rapidly, so it was decided to knock the old hotel and build a new school. This was officially opened by the minister for education, Dr Patrick Hillery, in 1962.

Fear and loathing in the towns and villages as rebels divided on continuing the struggle

Thu, May 05, 2011

Following the news of the Rising in Dublin on Easter Monday April 25 1916, Galway was in the grip of rumour and anxiety. The Galway ‘rising’, consisting of about 600 men led by Liam Mellows, but poorly armed, was creating mayhem in the county. Police ( RIC) stations were being attacked, telegraph poles were cut down, and trains were not running. Galway was virtually cut off from news of developments elsewhere. Then panic ensued when on Tuesday a British warship, HMS Gloucester, steamed into the bay and indiscriminately opened fire into the coastline, and further inland. Refugees began to arrive in the town.

Currach racing in Salthill in the 1950s

Thu, Apr 28, 2011

In the early 1950s a group of people got together to come up with ideas for extending the tourist season. They decided to focus on traditional Irish cultural events throughout the country, often with a local flavour, and they called the project An Tóstal. A committee was set up in Galway and they came up with the concept of an All-Ireland Currach Racing Championships. Nothing like this had ever been done before, so it took quite a bit of organisation.

Galway - the most shoneen town in Ireland!

Thu, Apr 28, 2011

On Tuesday April 26 1916, 95 years ago this week, many people in Galway town were gripped by rumour and hysteria. Rebellion in Dublin had been the sole source of conversation the evening before, but now telegraph lines were cut down, no trains were running, and news that rebellion had broken out in Oranmore, Clarinbridge and Athenry, brought events closer to home. All roads out of the town were considered too dangerous to travel. All shops and factories closed. People stood in small groups discussing the situation. There were fears that the rebels were approaching the town.*

Summer day looks ideas

Thu, Apr 21, 2011

I recently attended a fashion show organised by the Clarenbridge Oyster Festival committee at the Marine Institute. First, the originality of the venue astonished me, then the gems of styles that boutiques revealed wonderfully surprised me. Although special occasions outfits were very much featured during the show, stylish and easy to wear day looks dominated the catwalk. The one outfit that stroked my eyes was a light turquoise sequin jacket with an aqua blue shorts and white tee from Galway boutique Daisy – this quirky and elegant number can be worn day to evening.

Layering, fluid material, and neutral shades were strong trend looks on the catwalk. Anything from black harem pants styled with nude satin top, or an interesting grey dress with hood from Squisito boutique, to a cute tulle ballerina skirt with cropped cardigan at Ail Ruin. The neutral trend is better styled with other neutrals, but you can add a splash of colour such as a tangerine handbag.

Summer has arrived with F&B at Meadows and Byrne

Thu, Apr 21, 2011

The overall theme for Spring 2011at Farrell & Brown is cute, flirty and feminine. It’s all about mixing, matching and of course … layering! Expect to find a playful collection full of bold and neutral colours, overloaded with pretty prints. With all the latest trends from cargo pants to check shirts, fashion tees, light-weight cardis and cheeky shorts covered.

Hot debs dresses at Tracy bridal and evening wear

Thu, Apr 21, 2011

For most girls, their debs night is the biggest event of the school year. Shopping for their dress is a rite of passage for every teenager who will want to ensure that she looks and feels fabulous. Tracy bridal and evening wear has been dressing young women for their debs for 21 years and possesses a variety of dresses to suit all tastes.

High tech cooking

Thu, Apr 21, 2011

These days everything seems to be classed as ‘high-tech’ from phones to cars to iPads to games to television on demand. Now the ancient art of cooking has entered an era of research and is producing a food style that is know as molecular gastronomy. Over the centuries cooking has evolved mainly through trial and error, noting carefully what worked and then attempting to replicate it again and again. That is the basis of a recipe and now we have thousands if not millions of recipe books to choose from. However, there has been very little pure research into exactly why certain recipes worked at the molecular level.

Good Friday will be great at the Meyrick

Thu, Apr 21, 2011

This Good Friday seafood lovers can enjoy a speciality fish and seafood menu as part of the Good Friday Agreement, a culinary night in the Hotel Meyrick. The event will take place on Friday April 22 in the appropriately named Oyster Bar & Grill restaurant.

Easter in the Burren-An Fulacht Fia restaurant

Thu, Apr 21, 2011

Now that spring is in the air, why not take a trip to the picturesque village of Ballyvaughan in the heart of the Burren and make the most of the glorious sunshine. An Fulacht Fia Restaurant is a family run restaurant located just outside Ballyvaughan, enjoying superb views of Galway Bay. Emphasis is on locally sourced food which is lovingly prepared by the restaurant’s highly acclaimed chef Irmantas.

The contemporary style dining room is beautifully appointed, elegant yet welcoming and relaxed - catering for all your needs, from a romantic meal for two, to families, groups, conferences, or for that intimate wedding or special occasion (capacity 80 guests).