Style Counsel

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Q: What are your tips for scarves this winter?

Winter at The Purple House

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

The Purple House in Corrandulla is a wonderful venue for workshops, classes, and therapies. It is 15 minutes from Galway city. This ideal location in a rural setting has a large number of rooms suitable for groups of up to 15 or so. So what's on this winter?

Galway’s newest Cosmetic department opens its doors

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Galwegians are to be offered more choice when they buy their cosmetic and beauty gifts this Christmas with the opening of a new cosmetics department at University Late Night Pharmacy.

Galway boutiques go online

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

You can now browse some of the best boutiques in Galway on www.irishboutiques.com

The Irish Boutiques website offers the most comprehensive list of chic boutiques in the country, including top Galway boutiques such as Okinara (Moycullen), Kiss boutiques (Athenry and Tuam), Pia (Loughrea), Squisito (Clarinbridge), Ail Ruin ( Clarinbridge), Demora Boutique, The Galway Hat Shop, and Sugar Pink Boutique.

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.

Seoda...Seoda...Seoda

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

In 1951 Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann was set up to promote traditional Irish music. The first Galway branch was formed about 1965 and initially they held a committee meeting every week. Then somebody suggested they have a session every week instead, and this they did, in Martin Forde’s Eagle Bar in William Street West. Mind you, the session could not start until Mrs Forde had finished watching The Fugitive on television. These sessions became hugely popular at a time when very few pubs in Galway allowed live traditional music.

Fr Rhatigan strikes a blow for Rome

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

On February 28 1879 a desperate row erupted on peaceful Omey Island, near Cleggan, Connemara. The local curate Fr William Rhatigan burst into the local Protestant schoolhouse, run by the Irish Church Mission Society, saying he was ‘in search of his straying sheep’*. An argument broke out between him and the Rev William Lindsey MacNeice, the schoolmaster. Blows were struck. Who struck the first blow will forever be in dispute. But the evidence of Fr Rhatigan’s temper and strength is testified by the fact that it took the combined efforts of MacNeice, aided by his wife, his daughter Charlotte, his young son John Frederick, and two teachers from Claddaghduff, Messrs Davis and Coursey, to force him backwards out of the schoolhouse.

Immediately the rumour spread that the priest was ‘almost murdered’ by MacNeice and his family. An angry crowd stormed the schoolhouse. Stones and abuse were fired at the building and its occupants.

From crossroads dances to the internet

Thu, Nov 13, 2008

Gerry Cahill was born in Caherlistrane and started playing music from the age of eight..... first the melodeon, then the double row accordion, and later the piano accordion. He was a great admirer of musicians like Will Starr and Jimmy Shand. He soon developed a distinctive style of his own and he was very much in demand at house dances and roadside dances, which were very common at the time.

An unseemly brawl over God and scripture

Thu, Nov 13, 2008

In a week when The Irish Times reports an unseemly brawl between Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks who physically battled over turf and influence in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, revered as the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, I was reminded of the unfortunate battle for the souls of Catholics in the aftermath of the Great Famine. This episode in Connemara’s long history still engenders passionate feelings today. The expression ‘they took the soup’ is still very much alive. At the time the campaign for souls splintered communities, and divided families. In a new book Soupers and Jumpers* Miriam Moffitt reminds us that Catholics and Protestants were convinced that their religion - and only theirs - was the ‘one true faith,’ and that anyone who lived, or more importantly died, outside their particular belief system could not enter heaven. From the middle of the 19th century, the poor of Connemara and the Dublin slums were targeted by the well intentioned Anglican Irish Church Missions.

Accessorise it

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Are you a fashionista who is struggling with getting used to being a recessionista? Are you eager to get more from your wardrobe now that you have to tighten your belt because of the economic downturn?

Getting shirty

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

The blouse is a staple item in every woman’s winter wardrobe this season. The bigger, the better so choose the voluminous version and then wear it with wide leg trousers to create show stopping style in an instant.

Firm up your skin

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Is your skin looking the worse for wear as winter begins to bite? If so, the new Frankincense Vitamin A/C/E Revitalising Body Cream from REN (€45) may change all that.

This revitalising multi active body cream promises to leave skin hydrated and healthy. The makers say high levels of pro vitamin A from beta carotene and vitamin C from Calabrian oranges boost collagen formation and improve cell turnover to help restore skin elasticity and improve firmness.

Debenhams up to 25 per cent off event

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Don’t miss out this season on the Debenhams’ up to 25 per cent off event. Save up to 25 per cent off *everything, including exclusive designers at Debenhams, from Wednesday November 19 to Friday November 21.

Style Counsel

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Q: I recently bought a grey suit for work. I would like to be able to wear it for casual occasions. Could you advice me? Regards, David.

Energie Fitness shortlisted for award

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Congratulations to Regina and the team at Energie Fitness for Women, Galway, who were nominated at the Annual Energie Fitness Evolution awards in Birmingham for Club of the Year (Energie Fitness for Women).

Energie Fitness shortlisted for award

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Congratulations to Regina and the team at Energie Fitness for Women, Galway, who were nominated at the Annual Energie Fitness Evolution awards in Birmingham for Club of the Year (Energie Fitness for Women).

Lunch on a Budget

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Prices of houses are falling, prices of cars and vans are being slashed, and there are sales and special offers everywhere, so why are we not seeing any drops in the price of food to go? For ages I have felt that €4.40+ for a regular sandwich is outrageous and in these times of belt tightening many people do not have that kind of money to spend on what is only a snack.

Warm Asian tuna salad with pickled ginger and fresh coriander, served with sushi rice

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

This delicious salad comes from Kylemore as part of its Healthy Heart Month promotion. Fresh tuna is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, offering a boost to heart health as well as improving concentration and memory.

E-paper

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