Lunch at Ard Bia and New York Opera at the g Hotel

Thu, Feb 24, 2011

I have been confused about the identity of Ard Bia since it moved to the Nimmo’s building at the Spanish Arch. Downstairs I think was called Nimmo’s, and upstairs called Ard Bia, and I was unsure whether there were different kitchens and menus. That confusion is now gone as it is simply called Ard Bia with the downstairs open all day and night and the upstairs opened as needed when extra busy. The menu is the same throughout and now includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon teas, snacks, dinner, and Sunday lunch. It is still a quirky restaurant and while I am no longer a fan of retro pine tables and chairs there is nothing retro about the food. It is modern, and top quality with a modern twist to traditional dishes.

Opera at the g Hotel – bringing the New York Met to Galway

Thu, Feb 24, 2011

I had seen advertisements for dinner and opera at the g Hotel and was not quite sure what the details were until I spoke to the Eye Cinema manager. The Metropolitan Opera in New York (‘The Met’ to those in the know) decided to license a satellite connection with cinemas around the world that had a digital projection capability. The Eye Cinema in Wellpark has the technology to do this, and you can watch a live performance of what is being performed at the matinee in New York. The broadcast is in high definition and is screened here at approximately 6pm, which gives you time to have something to eat beforehand or afterwards. The g Hotel offers packages such as a two course meal and opera ticket for €49 per person, or pink afternoon tea and opera ticket for €55 per person.

VOYA launches Totally Balmy cleansing balm

Thu, Feb 24, 2011

VOYA’s much anticipated new cleansing balm Totally Balmy is set to change cleansing routines. Billed as the ultimate winter cleanser, Totally Balmy’s luxurious organic formulation soothes and cleanses dry, stressed, and tight winter skin.

Self build information evening

Thu, Feb 24, 2011

Staff at McMahon’s Builders are very aware of the current economic climate; with this in mind the company will hold a free information evening in its branch on the Tuam Road on Tuesday March 8 at 6.30pm.

Girls’ guide to eyes

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

The first signs of ageing appear around the eyes, and with that in mind it is a good idea to find a combination of products that work to streamline your efforts and deliver the best results. This week I road tested products in Brown Thomas’ cosmetics hall (the female version of an episode of Top Gear?) under the categories of eye creams, concealers, eye shadows, eyeliners, brushes, and mascara. Below are the ones that I think are just perfect.

An Oscar for Oscars

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

Galway restaurant, Oscar’s Seafood Bistro, has been awarded Bord Bia’s Just Ask! restaurant of the month for February. The restaurant, which was set up by husband and wife Michael O’Meara and Sinead Hughes in 2000. The Just Ask award recognises the restaurant for its dedication to sourcing food from local suppliers and ensuring this information is passed on to customers on their menu.

Make your home more energy efficient with airtight spray foam insulation

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

Airtight Insulation, based in Ballinasloe, installs both open and closed-cell spray foam insulation products. Spray foam insulation provides a higher U-value than any other commonly used insulating product, helps air seal your home, creates a healthier living environment, is environmentally friendly, and can help reduce new construction and existing homes’ heating bills by as much as 50 per cent.

Coping with chronic pain

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

Aiden Kennedy had just moved to Australia in 1987 when a boating accident changed his life forever.

Galway Workhouse

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

The ‘Night of The Big Wind’ on the night of January 6/7, 1839, deprived thousands of people in the Galway area of their homes. Their situation in the depths of winter was more than local charities could cope with. On May 8, the Galway Union was proclaimed to include the city and surrounding townlands to a radius of roughly 10 miles plus the Aran Islands, all of which would be served by a single workhouse in Galway. The first meeting of the Galway Board of Guardians was held in the Courthouse on July 3 of that year.

‘Fighting FitzGerald’ tests Martin’s humanity

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

In 1835 Harriet Letitia Martin, the daughter of the famous ‘Humanity’ Dick Martin of Ballinahinch castle, Connemara, wrote a book, Canvassing (published by Saunders & Otley, London), which, I imagine, was avidly read in Galway*. It told the story of the last time her father stood for parliament in 1826. He was successful, but a subsequent parliamentary investigation showed that fraud, trickery, bullying, intimidation, and misrepresentation on a vast scale had taken place. His tenants came into Galway from all over Connemara in a variety of disguises and voted repeatedly. He was dismissed from parliament, and consequently faced the wrath of his many creditors. As a member of parliament he enjoyed immunity from prosecution. Now he was thrown to the wolves.....

Guide to lingerie shopping for your shape

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

Properly fitted underwear can be a big help to boost your confidence. Good underwear, especially a good fitted bra, will make you look taller and thinner. Here are some tips to help you find the styles to flatter your shape.

Biodegradable shower gel range from The Body Shop

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

If like me you need all the tricks to wake up out of a zombie-like state in the mornings then this new shower gel range from The Body Shop, which is 100 per cent biodegradable, will help you regain your ‘get up and go’ feeling every time.

There are six refreshing fragrances in the range all priced at a very reasonable €8.50, so not only is it good for the body but also great for the purse. For the past two weeks I have been using the Watermelon & Eucalyptus fragrance shower gel which promises to give your skin some love and nourishment with the watermelon extract and by using rich vitamins A, B, and C. As soon as I opened the flip cap the refreshing scent hit my nose, a great start to sleepy mornings. Only a little squirt is needed on a shower sponge as it lathers up really well so there is no need for extra application of the gel. As I have quite sensitive skin I am always wary about products I use on my skin but this shower gel lives up to the promise of nourishment and being kind to the skin.

Thinking bikini in July? Think laser in February

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

The truth is there has never been a better time to stop the misery of endless shaving, plucking or waxing. They have their benefits, but their effects all remain temporary.

Laser hair removal offers a much more permanent solution and it has never been so affordable with Therapie's sale prices. Laser is attracted to pigment in hair therefore it is generally unsuitable when your skin is tanned. This is why the winter months are ideal to get your course started.

Fleming’s home delivery seafood — twenty five years on

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

I well remember back in 1986 when Gay and Freda Fleming opened their fish shop in Dominick Street. I was a regular customer and it had a great selection even then. After a few years they decided to move into the home delivery business and have been delivering to customers as far away as Dublin ever since.

Enjoy a lighter life with LighterLife

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

The country is in the midst of an obesity crisis, with obesity affecting one in four women and one in five men. According to the National Obesity Forum many of us have a healthy body mass imagination and what we see in the mirror is not an accurate reflection of our true weight. The forum has been urging people to avoid risking their health for the sake of vanity and to get a real measure of their body mass index (BMI).

Weight loss does not have to be so difficult

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

After already trying out 10 different fad diets since your New Year’s resolution began, is there really anything that is going to deliver the promise of achieving a healthier, slimmer, you in just a few weeks?

Natural healing with Plexus bio-energy

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

Bio-energy is a powerful healing technique that is natural and highly effective. It is used to treat a large number of conditions, the most common being digestive disorders, arthritis, back pain, lack of energy, headaches, and stress/anxiety.

Bee Green – professional garment care

Thu, Feb 17, 2011

Bee Green at Briarhill Shopping Centre (next door to KFC) is the first professional garment cleaner in Ireland to offer a revolutionary, safe, environmentally friendly, option for cleaning clothes. The 100 per cent non-toxic cleaning service ensures that your clothes are safely and thoroughly cleaned. Bee Green only uses detergents that are fully bio-degradable, making them good for you, your clothes, the environment, and future generations. And of course the most important point is that it is no more expensive – in fact when you take into account the broader benefits for your safety, it is a positive saving for all.

Holiday style

Thu, Feb 10, 2011

The sky may be dull and grey but there is no need to base your wardrobe on this. Think summer, bright colours and cheery styles.

Scentsational

Thu, Feb 10, 2011

If you plan to treat your man to a luxurious scent this St Valentine’s Day look no further than Armani Black Code.

E-paper

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