Sunday service at The Maldron

Thu, Feb 09, 2017

Is Sunday lunch a thing of the past? It has certainly changed, but it is still a good excuse for friends and family to get together to enjoy a meal and catch up on everyone’s news. It is far more informal than in the past and it doesn’t even need to be strictly at lunchtime — people have much busier lives so it depends on what works best for your family. These days, a Sunday lunch at home is just as likely to be a one-pot dish prepared in advance, a stir-fry, or pulled pork rather than a proper roast. In the summer it can be a barbecue or an al fresco picnic, perhaps with ice-cream and fruit; in the colder months, slow-roast lamb with seasonal vegetables and a hot pudding are the order of the day.

Always a popular way to get the whole family out and sitting around a table to relax, Sunday lunch has moved into a whole new phase. Forget about the carvery lunch of old, what we are seeing more of now is an outing where the venue is chosen so that family members of all ages can get together and enjoy a meal, often at a more reasonable price than is usual at dinner, without the hassle of shopping, cooking and, most importantly of all, washing up. In England there is a long held tradition of the country pub Sunday lunch, while here in Ireland, the tradition has largely become the preserve of the large hotels and country houses.

Casual dining, live music, and cocktails at the g

Thu, Feb 09, 2017

The g Hotel & Spa is one of Galway’s most stylish spaces to sip and savour. It has long been established as a top cocktail destination in the west. Now with head chef Jason O’Neill at the helm, the g is also a popular spot for casual dining each evening with live music at the weekends.

Tips for home renovations

Thu, Feb 09, 2017

If you are planning to renovate your home, follow these tips from Ann Leydon of Upstairs Downstairs, courtesy of St Anthony's & Claddagh Credit Union.

1. Apply for a home renovation loan from St Anthony's Credit Union.

Five star February mid term break at InterContinental Dublin

Thu, Feb 09, 2017

Surprise the family with a luxurious February mid term break at the InterContinental Dublin in Ballsbridge, starting from *€345 per room per night (two adults/two children under 12 years). Relax and let the expert hotel team take care of everything while you enjoy the perfect city escape for the whole family.

Uniworld River Cruise – unsurpassed luxury

Thu, Feb 09, 2017

Uniworld has perfected the art of luxury river cruising – the difference is in the detail.

Skinny Prosecco Comes to Galway

Mon, Feb 06, 2017

Skinny Prosecco is now available at Caprice Cafe, Galway. Hailing from Soligo in Italy's Treviso province, Skinny Prosecco also has less than half the sugar content of a standard glass of normal Prosecco, with the added benefits of being organic and vegan-friendly.

Burren Food Festival to celebrate the best of Irish gin and cheese

Mon, Feb 06, 2017

A celebration of Ireland’s best gin and cheese will be one of the highlights of this year’s Burren Slow Food Festival, which will take place in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, this May.

The importance of chocolate

Mon, Feb 06, 2017

It is a cold February morning as I write this column. The sun is coming out now, but it looks like we may have a cold week ahead. Next weekend is Valentine's, and many hearts can be melted with these lovely chocolate recipes that I have decided to share with you.

How to survive a bad day

Mon, Feb 06, 2017

1. Accept the situation. You may have got out the wrong side of the bed in the morning and from then on everything went against you - you were late for an appointment, missed a vital deadline and messed up on a grand scale at work. Or you lost your temper with your youngest child, had a bout of road rage, or were deeply upset by a caustic comment from a so-called friend. It is all too easy and tempting after a setback to dwell on the incident and maybe even blow it out of proportion. But unless your prolonged reflection offers a positive insight into the situation, a solution, or a way of avoiding further upset, it is not productive. Try to accept life's ups and downs, good days and bad days. Acknowledge what has happened, learn where you went wrong, then move on with the rest of your day/life.

Time to drive

Fri, Feb 03, 2017

Being able to drive is one of the great pleasures in life. You can drive whenever and wherever you like. The feeling of being told that you have passed your test is one that has to be experienced. However, driving skills are earned through the lessons that you take from an instructor so it is vital to select the right driving instructor.

MSC Cruises… the Italian way

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

MSC Cruises is enthusiastic about combining top quality with the best possible value so you can savour a perfect experience without worrying about the cost. That is why all the company's cruises include full board in the ships' Mediterranean fusion cuisine main restaurants, and why it includes a huge number of activities on board free of charge, from pool complexes, water slides and general activities — including quizzes, group games, and competitions, children's and teens' clubs — to the fitness facilities, library, casino, live music, and spectacular evening shows. Plus it offers a wide choice of money-saving packages to help you plan and budget everything in advance, from pampering massage and beauty treatments to drinks, speciality restaurants, shore excursions, and the little extras that make a big difference. So these cruises are more than good value, they are good sense, making an MSC cruise an unbeatable experience.

Last chance to avail of huge savings in G Furniture winter sale

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

The winter sale at G Furniture and Carpets on the Tuam Road, Galway, must end this Sunday with huge savings across all departments. The company guarantees the best value for money in Galway in carpets and furniture with savings of up to 70 per cent on special sale items and end of line ranges.

Are you worried about developing dementia or Alzheimer’s?

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

Are you worried about developing dementia or Alzheimer’s? Do you struggle with your memory or cognitive function? You are not alone. As the population of Ireland gets older the number of people suffering from cognitive conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s has increased. These diseases not only have a major impact on the individual, but also their families. Recent research has identified genetics and lifestyle as the biggest factors that increase your chances of developing these life changing conditions. Lifestyle factors such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, inactivity, obesity, smoking, and stress all lead to the risk increasing.

Experience the very latest optical and hearing technology at Specsavers Galway stores

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

With the very latest in optical and hearing technology, the team of expert staff at Specsavers Galway stores provide customers with superior professional service in an affordable environment. Store director Noel Meehan and his team of highly trained healthcare professionals place a strong emphasis on continued professional and technological development, to ensure that customers receive the best possible care and advice for all their optical and hearing needs.

Aid fertility with Care Cure Acupuncture

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

There are many reasons why couples have difficulty conceiving – irregular menstruation, hormone imbalance, cold uterus, low sperm count, and stress and anxiety to name a few.

Fix your metabolism and lose two stone in ten weeks

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

Your metabolism is by far the most critical and powerful key to weight loss. It is with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The potential for calorie burn and weight loss is huge. It even controls the results from your diet and exercise. By combining a great metabolism with balanced food and exercise, System 10 brings you the best weight loss plan of all.

The Lazy Wall

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

This photograph was taken looking west from where Seapoint is today. The house in the picture was roughly across the street from the Bon Bon. It was once an RIC barracks and was latterly occupied by Monica Wallace. There was a concrete bench along the wall in front of the house, which was known as “The Lazy Wall”, a place where old and countrified people, known as “The Fámairí”, would relax and chat and gossip. They came not for the views but for the conversations. Many arrived after their crops had been harvested. They usually brought their own food in the form of home-cured bacon, fresh eggs, butter, cooked chickens, and cakes of bread. “You rented a room and you ate yourself.” They would use the family kitchen of the house in which they were staying and consider themselves part of that family for the duration. There was a small bit of beach below the wall where the patrons could bathe or paddle.

The knights ride to the rescue

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

I have written before about the woeful lack of ambulances that serviced the old Central Hospital, especially in the 1930s. That shortage became acute during the war. Because of the severe rationing of petrol, and the unavailability of spare parts, for a long period only two ambulances were available for the whole county. As they were frequently on the road simultaneously there was no reserve vehicle to answer any emergency.

That crisis was relieved somewhat by the founding of the Knights of Malta Ambulance Corps. The Galway unit was the first to be established in Ireland. It was set up by Professor Conor O’Malley in October 1937, and the following year the unit had passed all its medical training. It was now ready to be fitted with its distinctive grey uniform, peaked cap or beret, with its white cross against a red shield badge. Its first public appearance was the Corpus Christi procession in 1939. It was the first time in Ireland a unit of Knights of Malta appeared, and it was regarded with great curiousity. Rather shyly the young volunteers lined up outside the Nurses’ Home, before marching through the town. But they were quickly put to good use attending the sick at Knock and covering GAA matches. During the war, until the Irish Red Cross was formed, it manned first-aid stations at the university and Woodquay. It provided a transport service for the sick, and provided home nursing. It transported TB patients out of the Central Hospital to a temporary sanatorium at Woodlands; and later from there to Merlin Park when that hospital opened a few years later.*

Lough Rea Hotel & Spa named top rated wedding venue in Galway and Connacht for the second year

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

Lough Rea Hotel and Spa has received the coveted award of Top Rated Wedding Venue in Galway and Connacht and finishing in the Top 5 rated Wedding Venues in Ireland. The award, which was presented to the hotel’s wedding team by weddingdates.ie, is based on reviews from couples who have had the pleasure of hosting their weddings in the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa throughout 2016. The hotel are hosting an exclusive wedding event and fashion show on Sunday February 12 from 1-5pm

Sparkling Valentine’s Offer at Caprice

Tue, Jan 31, 2017

Caprice Cafe has come together with new Galway based online jewellery store, Jewelbox.ie, to help spread a little love this Valentine’s Day.

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