Acupuncture to assist fertility

Thu, Jun 30, 2011

Acupuncture is one of the fertility treatments being sought by a growing number of women who are not able to get pregnant using more conventional methods.

The truth about weight loss

Thu, Jun 30, 2011

With System 10
There is only one correct way to lose weight and that is by speeding up your metabolism. When you do this you burn more fat every hour, 24 hours a day. Nothing beats that for weight loss.

Control your hayfever

Thu, Jun 30, 2011

Atishoo! Atishoo! Your eyes are streaming, your nose is running and you are constantly reaching for tissues.

Family holidays at Ballykisteen Hotel and Golf Resort, Co Tipperary

Thu, Jun 30, 2011

Set in the shadow of the Galtee Mountains, Ballykisteen Hotel and Golf Resort is adjacent to the renowned Tipperary Racecourse, Limerick Junction railway station, and the famous Rock of Cashel which Queen Elizabeth visited on her trip to Tipperary.

Pádraic Ó Conaire, prince of storytellers

Thu, Jun 30, 2011

“A short walk on the gravelled path and I was before the man I had come to see. There was a great peace about him as he sat there, leg crossed upon leg, hat rakish on his head, mute in the sculptured dignity of stone. Ever since I had learned the Gaelic, I had loved him, this strange man of dreams whose friends were the birds and the furry people of the wood, the wind and the small white stars.

Fish - Not regarded as real food during the Great Famine

Thu, Jun 30, 2011

Week II

Our Lady’s Boys’ Club, a Galway gem

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

This photo of a happy group of Boys Club lads was taken in the mid fifties and includes Paddy O’Connell, Dominick Curran, Seanie Flaherty, Joe Walsh, --- Harty, Tommy Gannon, Dessy Fitzpatrick, Michael Burke, Tom Cunningham, Bartley Hynes, Tony Conboy (taking the shot), Sean McNamara, Gerry Ryan, Willie Golding, Colie Rushe, William McDonagh, Peter Folan, Leo Creane, Francis Walsh, Danny Collins, Jackie Molloy, Dominick Geary, and Paddy McDonagh.

Hundreds of thousands starved while the sea teemed with fish

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Reading William Henry’s book Famine - Galway’s Darkest Days*, I was struck yet again by the fact that while thousands of people died of starvation in the west of Ireland, when whole communities abandoned their homes in a desperate search for food, our seas were boiling with fish. The author tells us that in Galway at the beginning of the Great Famine in 1845 the Claddagh fishermen fiercely protected their fishing rights in the Bay, which they regarded as their exclusive property. But as the famine dragged on to the end of the decade the Claddagh fishermen had no means left for catching fish. They had pawned their boats and fishing equipment for food. The historian Cecil Woodham-Smith in her classic account of the Great Famine**, tells us that on January 9 1847, ‘all boats were drawn up to the quay wall, stripped to the bare poles, not a sign of tackle or sail remaining....not a fish was to be had in the town, not a boat was at sea.’

Vintage fashion for all your summer occasions

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Vintage fashion has been hugely popular for the last two years, especially since the TV drama Mad Men featuring actresses wearing fabulous sixties inspired clothing. At last month’s Punchestown racing festival one of the best dressed lady finalists wore an Audrey Hepburn inspired outfit.

Discover a new career in hairdressing

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

The College of Hairdressing Connaught has just launched its new courses for 2011 at Kiltartan House, Galway, and at its satellite centre in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Due to the economic downturn students are now finding it harder to get jobs in hairdressing salons. To counteract this, the College of Hairdressing Connaught will now offer a part-time City & Guilds course to be held evenings and Mondays. This gives everybody the opportunity to gain a City & Guilds Level 2 certificate on a part-time basis and emphasises the importance of gaining qualifications in their chosen career. This course would also be suitable for those who meet the Back to Education Allowance criteria.

Enjoy some luxury at Be A Diva

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Be A Diva is a tranquil paradise in the heart of Galway city, located just seconds from Shop Street and offering a complete range of luxurious and pampering facials and body massage treatments.

Free shopping shuttle lets Galway shoppers enjoy Zara and H&M at Athlone Towncentre

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Big brand shopping has never been closer to Galway with the new M6 motorway connecting the city with Athlone. The introduction of this route has opened up a whole new shopping experience to fashionistas in the west with big brand names like Zara and H&M now less than 40 minutes from Galway city. Athlone Towncentre has now made it even more convenient with its new shopping shuttle bus initiative, a complimentary service for Galway shoppers which will run next Saturday June 25.

Athlone Towncentre, which is located in the heart of Athlone and just two minutes from Exit 10 on the M6, offers more than 60 stores conveniently located under one roof. The centre features major international fashion powerhouses including Zara, H&M, River Island, M&S, Next, Coast, Promod, and many more together with the best of homegrown brands.

Eyeshadow is having a moment

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Having watched some of the best make-up artists in Brown Thomas work for years, when it comes to eyeshadow, the mantra is always the same: blend, blend, blend. Start off by covering the eye area with a good primer, such as MAC’s painterly, the closest to human skin colour you will ever find. This covers all the imperfections and gives the shadow something to stick to. If you have oily lids you will love this product. Then, using a good brush (I like MAC 217) swirl the make-up around, tap the excess off, and then really work that brush so that no hard lines are visible. Remember not to use the darkest colour too close to the brow bone, unless you are in drag. Then not only is it OK, but appropriate.

I adore looking at someone getting a makeover in the cosmetic hall, and I particularly adore a bit of theatre from the make-up artists themselves (you know who you are). That vigorous tap of the brush, that serious expression as they assess their canvas, I mean face, all adds to the drama, all the while ad-libbing a few helpful tips while smoothing and correcting and polishing, adeptly making the asymmetrical symmetrical.

McGinns on the Quay, Dock Road, Galway

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Last week I visited McGinns on the Docks (previously Sheridan’s) to see what the new owners are serving in that lovely room upstairs overlooking the dockside area. The first thing I noticed is that it is now also an exhibition area and currently features some stunning limited edition framed photos by Joe Geoghegan of scenes from the Volvo Ocean Race. They are quite spectacular, well framed and mounted. In fact from any small viewing distance they look like paintings. There is also an exhibition by six local Galway photographers downstairs. I understand this will be a venue for further exhibitions.

Peanut butter is good for you

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

I have read many articles expounding the benefits of peanut butter; an ounce will give you 10 per cent of your daily folic acid requirements, it has a low glycemic index (ie, it releases its energy slowly in to your body), it is good for keeping blood pressure low, it has got high protein levels, and generally a good all around food. Most of the brands I have seen are from multinationals but recently I spotted one in Enjoy delicatessen in Moycullen called Glór. It is made by hand in Killarney, the nuts are roasted then ground by hand, and depending on whether you have the plain one, a chocolate chip, or the peanut butter and honey, these are the only additions — no stabilisers or additives. A jar of the peanut butter with chocolate chip disappeared very quickly in my house and the fact that it is Irish made makes it a no-brainer, especially as a quick-to-prepare snack for active kids.

Ardrahan Saturday country market

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Each Saturday between 11am and 2pm at the rear of Joyce’s pub in Ardrahan is the venue of the newest farmers’ market. It is in a lovely garden area with loads of parking. On sale are breads, cakes, vegetables, preserves, fish, crafts, and expected next week is a meat stall. I wish them all the best and hope you can visit regularly.

Galway volunteers urged to sign up for Build It Week in Haiti

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Irish NGO Haven, and George Hook, will visit Galway tomorrow (Friday) in an effort to recruit volunteers for the organisation’s Build It Week in Haiti. This will be the last time the event takes place in its current format.

A future vision for stroke rehab

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

A new concept in stroke rehab has been created by two local chartered physiotherapists, Karen Roberts and Daniel Szoska, who share 30 years’ experience in delivering neurological rehabilitation.

Roberts and Szoska have had great success in using the proven Bobath/neural development training (NDT) conceptual approach to treating those with stroke. The approach is based on our ability to re-learn old and incorporate new surrounding information. Our capacity to learn, to facilitate useable function and get rid of unwanted function, is called plasticity and is an important aspect of our development. The greater our plasticity, the more successful our rehabilitation.

Erase the years with revolutionary new treatment, micro-needling

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

The treatment of choice of Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie and Demi Moore, medical micro-needling, has just been made available at Therapie Clinic. This is a revolutionary treatment which has the incredible ability to naturally stimulate elastin and collagen production in the skin. It smoothes and tightens the skin, treats fine lines and wrinkles, and is also excellent in the reduction of acne, surgical scars, and even cellulite.

Micro-needling is a pain-free treatment that can be carried out on lax skin or wrinkles of the face, upper lip lines, neck, décolletage, arms, abdomen, buttocks, and legs. It works by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, the key ingredients we need to keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay.

Grasp the nettle and get some first aid for bites and stings

Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Whether you are taking in a music festival or simply taking out the weeds this summer, you will need some first aid for insect bites and stings from wasps and nettles.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.