Spring Time is Ring Time!

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Jewellery expert, Phyllis MacNamara of Cobwebs, Galway tells us a little about the tradition of engagement rings.

Tips to make gardening fun for kids

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

As the weather starts to improve, we hope, it is time to get out in the garden and begin the tidy up from the winter months and sow new seeds and plants to harvest during the summer months.

50 party bag ideas that aren’t sweet treats

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

As parents we are always concerned about healthy eating for example, looking for ways to cut down on sugar and fat in our diets, and those of our kids. Everything in moderation is usually what I aim for, where the children are concerned anyway, as I feel restricting my children’s intake too much leads them to crave more of what is not good for them. Now if only I could practice what I preach.

Parties are the exception, you can offer healthy alternatives but it is ok to have some sweet treats too. If you decide to have party bags to give each child as an added bonus once the party is over, it can be tricky deciding what to fill them with.

Tips for teaching kids about money

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

In our modern age where everything seems to be instant, it is important to teach your kids about money, how to earn it, how to save it and how to spend it….wisely!

The D&I Dramatic Society

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

The Dominican and Ignatian Dramatic Society (known as the D&I) was set up by Fr Peadar Feeney SJ in the late 1950s. Most of the members were past pupils of St Ignatius’ College or The Dominican Convent, Taylor’s Hill. They staged a play every year for several years with any profits accruing going to the two school funds.

Irish - is it time to declare a language emergency?

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

‘Most of us don’t want to speak Irish, but we like to have Irish in our lives’, writes the provocative Desmond Fennell, in one of his concluding essays in his just published autobiography.* ‘We cherish Irish, the surveys show, as a precious part of our national heritage. We are glad there are Gaelscoileanna, a Ráidió na Gaeltachta and a TG4; that the destinations of buses are shown in Irish as well as English, and to hear that there is a magazine of news and comment in Irish on the internet. We would not like everything in Ireland to be in English only’.

Cruise evening with MSC and Fahy Travel Worldchoice

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Are you thinking about cruising but want to hear more? Then go along to Fahy Travel on Friday March 31 from 5pm to 8pm and meet with MSC Cruise Lines. The team at MSC are passionate about combining top quality with the best possible value so you can savour a perfect experience without worrying about the cost. That’s why all their cruises include full board in the Mediterranean fusion cuisine main restaurants, and why they include a huge number of activities on board free of charge, including pool complexes, water slides, and general activities. So MSC cruises are more than good value, they are good sense, making an MSC cruise an unbeatable experience.

Learn the art of beauty make-up, and the intricacies of prosthetics, with the School of Make-up Artistry

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

The International School of Make-up Artistry spans more than 30 years, specialising in make-up artistry. The school's trainers are all highly skilled with many years' experience in the industry and are eager to share their knowledge with all the students.

ESPA a shining gem at the g Hotel

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

The G Hotel is no doubt a true Galway treasure and the ESPA is one of the shining gems in its crown. The ESPA reception is welcoming and exudes that feeling of relaxation and luxury from the second you walk through the doors. I had booked myself in for the Optimal Skin Pro Facial but with ESPA it is much more than just an Facial you are getting, which was amazing but it is the entire treat for your body and mind.

How safe are dermal fillers?

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Thanks to the rise of Instagram culture, where not a day goes by without multiple sightings of a beautifully contoured celebrity or fresh-faced influencer on our screens, we have never been under greater pressure to look our very best. It comes as no surprise, then, that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people looking for an effective anti-ageing treatment that will help restore a youthful appearance to our faces and get rid of those wrinkles that are starting to form.

According to data published by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), last year saw us shunning invasive cosmetic surgery in favour of non-surgical anti-wrinkle injectables and dermal fillers. It could be argued that the decline in cosmetic surgery stems from a greater awareness of the risks involved in surgical procedures, but as with any procedure, there are certain things you need to be aware of and to consider before you opt for dermal fillers.

Get an appy sambo — McCambridge’s launches app to ease lunchtime rush

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

McCambridge’s on Shop Street is a name that is synonymous with Galway and great food in the west. One of the city’s busiest deli counters is making life a little bit easier for customers with the launch of its new app. The McCambridge’s app allows customers to order and pay for their soup and or sandwiches and then simply visit the store to collect. It also offers an extensive range of accompaniments such as drinks and fruit.

Rawky — the perfect blend of nature’s goodness

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Laurence Bolger is a husband, new dad, sports enthusiast, and food lover. After years of working in the food industry in Ireland and the Middle East, he was increasingly conscious of what was going into his own body. Yet with work and other commitments taking over every waking hour, he still found himself choosing quick and unhealthy options.

An effort to introduce healthy meals brought huge improvements to his overall health and energy levels, but for those in-between times — mid-mornings, late afternoons, after exercise, hunger cravings — he struggled to find truly healthy snacks. So he decided to make his own, and after lots of research and experimentation, the first Rawky bars were born.

A fine pickle at Hungry Bear

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Practically any food that can be battered and thrown into a deep fryer ends up with a cult following at some point. Fried pickles have been particularly prevalent in sports bars and restaurants in America over the past several years, the sweet, sour, and crunchy snack has roots only dating back to the 1960s. The first known printed fried pickle recipe was in the Oakland Tribune on November 19, 1962, for “French fried pickles”. That recipe called for using sweet pickle slices and pancake mix, yuck! The restaurant with the most verifiable claim over the invention of the fried pickle is the Duchess Drive-In, Arkansas, which put them on the menu in 1963. The inventor of the snack was restaurant owner Bernell “Fatman” Austin, whose restaurant was located directly across from a pickle factory. It seems he had some hamburger dill pickle chips, threw them in catfish batter, and charged 10 cents for a basket of 10, they took off like crazy.

Tile store in Oranmore – Spellman TBW really is a one-stop shop

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Spellman Tiles Bathrooms and Wood Flooring in Oranmore invites people to visit its showroom where they can view a wide range of wall and floor tiles, bathroom suites, and shower enclosures as well as a wide range of solid, engineered, and laminate flooring.

If you are renovating or building it can be very daunting, but at Spellman TBW you will find everything under one roof. Why not make an appointment with Sean, who with almost 30 years’ experience in tile and bathroom design can talk you through your plans and work with you to keep within your budget.

Bringing the outdoors indoors this spring

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

What better time than spring to think about letting some light into your home? The long, bright days ahead offer the perfect opportunity to think about some simple ways to freshen up your living space by bringing the outdoors indoors.

Colourfence — the ultimate garden fence

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

The holy grail of fencing is transforming gardens across the UK and Ireland. It may do "exactly what it says on the tin" but let's face it, treating a timber fence can never be called fun.

In fact owning a timber fence is not much fun either with costly, time consuming, maintenance and repairs almost every year. The alternative to timber fencing, that goes up and stays up, Colourfence fencing solutions are made from innovative Colourbond steel. This fencing is virtually maintenance free — just give it an occasional wash down with water to keep it looking as good as new, so you never need to pick up that paintbrush again.

Leading retail chain celebrates forty years in business

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Leading independent paint retailer, Pat McDonnell Paints, is celebrating 40 years in business.

Irish kitchens home to €500 million worth of unused gadgets

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Nearly half a billion euro worth of unused kitchen gadgets are taking up space in our cupboards, according to new research by Deliveroo.

True colours

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

After a dark winter, refreshing summer colours herald the season ahead. Designers have moved away from neutral shades and have experimented with bolder, fresher tones, including primary brights, pastels and acidic hues.

Time for a lick of paint

Wed, Mar 15, 2017

We are heading for mid April now and with the days are lasting a bit longer and the weather is improving (slightly). It is fair to say people are in a lot better fettle and in the mood for spring cleaning. And what better way to spruce up your home than a lick of paint and a bit of decorating.

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