Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm meets Charles Dickens

Thu, Dec 27, 2012

This year marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. He was born February 7 1812, and died at only 58 years of age in 1870. His output was so prolific – vast novels with hundreds of characters – and his life was so frenzied, that it seems miraculous that he lived as long as he did.

Apart from his writing, theatricals, travels, and editing magazines, he gave popular public readings from his books which were sell out performances. Audiences came in their thousands, and were disappointed to be turned away.

The amazing 'Brocken Spectre'

Thu, Dec 27, 2012

Early last February local photographer Sean Tomkins found himself walking along a very foggy Atlantic coast in County Clare.

'Galwegians are particularly vindictive'

Thu, Dec 27, 2012

An unflattering picture of Galway in the mid 19th century is recorded here by a German teacher Adolf Helfferich. Earlier this year Eoin Bourke, emeritus professor of German at NUIG, published a very interesting collection of German traveller's views of Ireland from before the 1798 Rising to after the Great Famine (Poor Green Eirin published by Peter Lang and Co).

Remembering Myles Joyce

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

In April 1980, I interviewed Mrs Sarah Lynskey from Bridge Street, on her 100th birthday, for this column. In the course of our conversation, she told me her earliest memory was of “kneeling on the Salmon Weir Bridge with my mother and a lot of Claddagh women praying. I know they were Claddagh women because I can still see the triangles of shawl as they knelt on the bridge. We were praying for a fellow, they were going to hang him the next day. Joyce was his name”. She was talking about Myles Joyce, an innocent man who was to be hanged along with two others for the Maamtrasna murders.

Ten things an Irish woman could not do in 1970

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

What dominated our news and much of our conversations during the 1970s (at least in the early years), was the deteriorating crisis in Northern Ireland. When I think of that decade I remember the initial hope that something would be settled quickly rather than letting it drag on fuelled by appallingly bad political decisions, thuggery, and deeply imbedded hatred. Seamus Heaney remarked that in the early 1970s ‘there was a promise in the air as well as fury and danger’. But in Northern Ireland any nervous sense of hopeful expectation quickly soured; as Heaney recalled: ‘Soon enough it all went rancid.’ In John Montague’s poem The Rough Field, he observes: ‘In the dark streets, firing starts.’

All that glitters

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

In 2001, Mariah Carey was in an awful film called Glitter. Now, thankfully, the must-have party trend for this year (of glitter and all things sparkly), is a lot better than the film, which I believe was not exactly a success at the box office. Adding a hint of shine here and there to your outfit will never be easier as the high street shops and boutiques embrace this look with open arms, and let’s be honest, our eyes tend to be drawn to something shiny. Taking inspiration from a floor length Dolce and Gabbana dress, sequins are really flattering to wear, shorts and minis are the key statement piece and naturally shoes and accessories are where we can have a little fun.

Something special at Silver Wood Jewellery

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Silver Wood Jewellery opened in High Street last July, offering a beautiful array of jewellery for every occasion.

Best foot forward for the Christmas party season at Born Footwear

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

With Christmas around the corner it is time to get your party looks ready. Celebs are rarely seen now unheeled so why not join them with a new pair of heels for the Christmas party season. Stilettos are a timeless tool for every woman’s classic collection. Designed to force you to stand on your tip toes, tense your calf muscles, and push your chest forward, they elongate your legs, making them appear slimmer, and give you a better posture. Born Footwear stocks a range of Bebo stilettos with peep toe and closed toe that would glam up any outfit for nights out this party season. Our range of stilettos start from €49.95 to €59.95 in a variety of colours from silver, gold, black, and nude.

Win a Christmas turkey and ham with Eat Galway

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

To celebrate the run-up to Christmas we have a fantastic prize of an Irish turkey and ham for one lucky reader.

Taxing times, mistletoe and wine...

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

I think it is fair to say that the developing Irish wine market has hit something of a snag. Thanks to the unbalanced and, quite frankly, bizarre new tax on wine, all of our small retailers will have to increase the cost of wine in their shops at various stages between now and the New Year as their duty-paid stock runs out. This means that their customers will see various price increases per bottle, as many of the big supermarkets may very well hold their price, either by losing margin or by negotiating better deals with the big wholesalers. That some wine shops will close is certain, as the difference between what they can offer their customers and the below-cost selling of the supermarkets widens even further.

It is this below cost selling by the multiples that has been blamed as the cause of many of the social problems associated with alcohol. They unfairly use alcohol as a loss leader to build market share in the grocery sector. Yet the loophole still exists that when alcohol is sold below cost price, the retailer is entitled to a refund of the VAT differential, meaning in effect that the Government and taxpayers (that's you and me, folks) are subsidising any large retailers who can afford to sell alcohol below cost price. This is not by any means a fair or level playing field. In the absence of any coherent, balanced, national retail strategy, it is up to us as local people to buy from local businesses who wish to make an honest living by selling quality products to us.

Connemara Coast Hotel, Furbo announces new bilingual menu

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

An bhfuil ocras ort? Fancy something tasty for lunch like steig chaoldroma, or perhaps a trinsuir de bhia mara, fresh from Galway Bay?

B&Q survey finds the Irish are tops for home improvement and gardening

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

A Europe-wide survey by the owners of B&Q Ireland indicates that a large proportion of Irish homeowners spend money on home improvement, and that, along with the UK, Ireland is the country where homeowners are most likely to carry out internal and external painting and decorating themselves.

While the assumption might be that home improvement will add value to the property, the majority of those in the Irish survey group said they made improvements simply to ‘refresh the home’, with ‘more home-based entertaining’, and ‘leisure activities’ also cited.

Gift somebody a pain-free Christmas

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Nobody wants to be in pain for Christmas, especially while others are busy celebrating the season. So why not demonstrate goodwill by giving a Care Cure acupuncture and Chinese medicine gift voucher?

Galway Chest Clinic to run another Breathe Freely programme in January

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Following the success of its first Breathe Freely programme for COPD and lung fibrosis sufferers, the Galway Chest Clinic has announced that it will run another programme in January 2013. The programme is designed to improve the quality of life for people with chronic lung diseases, many of whom suffer from considerable shortness of breath when carrying out simple daily tasks despite maximum medical therapy. The British and Irish Thoracic Societies have stated that all patients with lung diseases whose lifestyle is adversely affected by chronic breathlessness would benefit from such a course.

Facing down fear

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Many of us carry fears within us. Fear of the dark, fear of failure, fear of losing our jobs, our homes, our lifestyle, our loved ones.

The Bish, one hundred and fifty years

Thu, Dec 06, 2012

On this day one hundred and fifty years ago, St. Joseph’s Secondary School formally opened. It represented a triumph for Dr McEvilly, Bishop of Galway, who had worked tirelessly to get the Patrician Brothers to Galway to add to the educational facilities for Catholic boys in the city. Indeed the bishop’s association with the school was such that it became known as ‘The Bish’. Others regarded it as a seminary for preparing boys for the priesthood and so it was also known colloquially as ‘The Sem’.

Reeling back the years....

Thu, Dec 06, 2012

I get both embarrassed and amused, in an hysterical sort of a way, reading back over the recent social history of poor Cathleen Ní Houlihan. Particularly when it touches on anything sexual. It is surprising that any of us were born at all, such was the misery caused at the mention that anyone might be enjoying a healthy sexual relationship with a partner. The impression was given that everyone who had sexual contact outside marriage was not only in a state of serious sin, but that they were some kind of social pariah, to be scorned and driven away from normal society. Even sex within marriage could be shaky. It really was a subject that could not be discussed in public at all without inviting legions of self-righteous men and women out on the streets proclaiming well-meaning but ill-informed opinion.

Tackling the accessory issues ahead of the Christmas nights out

Thu, Dec 06, 2012

To amend the words from the famous musical Annie, ‘you’re never fully dressed without accessories’. Every ensemble poses the accessories debate. From tights to shoes to scarves, indecision over these articles can leave your head in a frenzy of confusion so as the party season looms quicker with the passing days it is essential to be prepared when it comes to decorating your going out attire. Below is a consise guide on how to vamp up your outfits.

The tights

On the Wine Shelf...

Thu, Dec 06, 2012

Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Independents €14.99)

On the Cookery Book Shelf …

Thu, Dec 06, 2012

Over the last number of years, Paula Wolfert has made a name for herself as an author with a penchant for Mediterranean cuisine and this publication will only enhance that growing reputation.

Clearly written with a modicum of fuss, The Food of Morocco (Bloomsbury, €35) is a lavish overview of a cuisine that’s becoming increasingly popular with lots of insightful tips and personal anecdotes. From the start Wolfert sets out her take on Morocco with the help of a map illustrating the essentials of Moroccan cooking before going on to lay out her views on tagines, preserved lemons, olives, argan oil and amlou, spices, herbs and aromatics, honey and fragrant waters and ten tips for preparing Moroccan food, among other basics. The other chapters are divided into those on salads, breads and pastries; eggs, butter, buttermilk and cheese; soups; couscous; fish; poultry; meats; bean and vegetable dishes; desserts; and drinks. The best of the recipes include those for fresh tomato and caper salad; orange and grated radish salad with orange-flower water; aubergine zaalouk; Marrakech flat bread stuffed with meat; bastila with seafood, spinach and noodles; Tangier street bread; goats’ cheese with honey filling; couscous with lamb, pumpkins; carrots chickpeas and raisins; tagra of fresh sardines with pepper oil charmoula; sautéed prawns casa pepe; chicken with caramelised quinces and toasted walnuts; lamb tagine with baby spinach with lemon and olives; tangia; potato pancakes; dessert couscous with pomegranates; and ‘the snake’ (M’Hanncha). Overall, this is a beautifully photographed big blockbuster of a cookery book with lots of ideas for entertaining anyone interested in North African cuisine in the run-up to Christmas, or as an antidote to turkey and ham in the weeks after the festivities.

E-paper

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