Travelling light -

Thu, Mar 29, 2012

A week on a sun drenched beach or discovering the charms of an exotic far flung paradise? Most of us would like to spend our Easter break this way enjoying a change in routine away from the demands of work or home.

Let’s keep it casual…

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

Despite our internal craving for all things glam, there comes a time when we just want to keep it casual. Our style that is. But there is equilibrium where sparkly meets tracksuit and I call it “smart”. Typically at the weekends, we like to brush off the week, send the suit to the dry cleaners and don our Saturday finest, the most popular being jeans and a top. The definition of casual clothes has evolved over the last number of years as Ireland is now the home to some of the most renowned retailers, both indigenous and international. We can, without fail, style ourselves comfortably and affordably. I had the pleasure of interviewing British fashion legend, Gok Wan last week and we talked of Irish style in general and he thinks we got it sorted. So if Gok thinks we have style, how do we balance the chic with the comfy?

Annual spring sale at Aibheil of Adare

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

The annual spring sale at Aibheil of Adare bridal boutique is the bridal sale not to miss if you are a bride-to-be looking for a stunning wedding dress for less.

Notes for the season

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

Lisa Lane
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Combining comfort and style

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

Shoes are our guilty pleasure. They can finish off an outfit and flatter your shape. The rights shoes are as important as the right outfit. But above all they have to be comfortable. I have never met a woman that didn’t have a dilemma with her shoes at some point — sometimes you can’t walk in them, they hurt your feet, you don’t know what to wear them with, or they are not stylish enough. I spend a lot of my time on my feet, and after experimenting and looking around I was pleased to find shoes that suit me, are comfortable, and look great with my clothes. This week I want to focus on day shoes that combine style and comfort.

Often the comfort of the shoe wins over the style, or vise versa, but some labels have managed to combine both. Also you should really go for what suits you. There is no point going for heels that are too high. Good news — just a one inch heel is enough to give you long, lean, legs without affecting your ability to walk comfortably. The width of the heels should be thick enough to give you balance, but I do not recommend very chunky heels as they tend to be unflattering. A wedge is the easy way to achieve a stylish look, especially if you are not used to walking in heels. Plus they can be worn with everything from a dress to smart trousers to skinnies. A platform sole can also add extra comfort as well as height.

Great spring summer looks at Colette Latchford

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

A visit to Colette Latchford is a shopping experience customers like to repeat.

Cool Pizza Dozzina at the Twelve Bearna

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

When Fergus at the Twelve does anything he tends to go all out and go one better than everybody else, especially if it is something that he really likes, and I reckon he is a secret pizza addict. Most people who want to add a pizza section to an already established restaurant would simply ring up the catering equipment suppliers and get three or four quotes, call the sparks, and job done. Not Fergus, he headed off to Napoli in Italy and met the manufacturers of several pizza ovens. You might wonder how the oven could make a big difference, well in the world of cooking things perfectly, authenticity is everything, from the ingredients to the tools of the trade. This oven is made from material that came from Mount Vesuvius and can be fired by either gas or timber. That makes it pretty authentic in my book.

Delicious new developments in catering from Green Olive

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

It is often said that when one door closes, another one opens, and this certainly rings true for Jacinta and Val Lynam. After the couple were both made redundant by their former employer, they decided it was time to make the leap and start their own business. With Jacinta Lynam’s years of experience in the catering and hospitality industry as a general manager and Val’s passion and enthusiasm for food as a renowned head chef, they decided to merge their business and creative talents and launch an event catering company.

New fitness classes at The Coast Club

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

There is no better time to get active with The Coast Club’s exciting new fitness classes and attractive new rates. If the gym is not for you and you find it hard to motivate yourself on your own then signing up for one of these fitness classes is a super way to have fun, get fit and feel fantastic.

Ten per cent off all year round with the La Maison Chic loyalty card

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

La Maison Chic has launched its loyalty club, offering customers 10 per cent back every time they purchase something in store.

Growing mattresses from nature at Furniture Connexions

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

The Harrison Bed Tailor Collection of eco-friendly natural mattresses from Furniture Connexions are handcrafted and tailored to the highest quality available today, with all natural fillings sourced from the Harrison Spinks farm. Pure new wool from the Harrison flock yields thick, strong, and resilient wool, which is a natural insulator, keeping you warm and confortable while regulating body temperature, proving perfect for mattress technology.

Mike McDonnell joins EuroHome team

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

Mike McDonnell has joined the team at insulation expert provider EuroHome.

Introduction to Kairos therapy at Connemara College of Natural Healing

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

Connemara College of Natural Healing will hold an introductory weekend workshop on Kairos therapy (www.kairostherapy.com) on April 21 and 22. If you like what you learn there is a professional training course starting in May.

Heated Power Yoga to launch more classes this week

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

Celebrating their first year in business, proprietors Ken and Natasha Coffey have announced that Heated Power Yoga is launching four more classes per week in a new venue in Briarhill Business Park from next week. This will bring the schedule of classes to 16 per week across four venues in Galway city and county.

Renowned yoga expert to hold workshop in Galway

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

Dave and Laragh Cunningham of the Yoga Shala are bringing renowned teacher, speaker, and author Max Strom to Ireland to do two weekend workshops, one in Dublin from May 4 to 6, and one in Galway from May 11 to 13.

“This will be the third time that the Yoga Shala has invited Max to come to Ireland,” said the Cunninghams. “He is such an influential voice in contemporary yoga and we are very excited about the workshops that are planned for this visit.”

Twenty-one ways to improve your diet

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

1. Variety is the key to a good diet. Every type of food contains its own unique make-up and may be high in some vitamins or minerals while devoid of others. Only by eating a wide selection of foods can you help ensure you receive all the fuel your body needs.

Old Sickeen

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

This photograph was taken in the early 1940s and shows a happy group of children in Sickeen. The wall at their backs was the boundary wall of St Brendan’s National School. In the background on the left are the backs of houses which fronted on to St Brendan’s Road. They were occupied by the Lillis family, the Lohan family, the Molloys – home of ‘Five Goal Molloy’ aka Sonny, Maurice O’Connell who worked in the post office, Jim Redington who later became Mayor of Galway, and Tom Walsh who was a teacher in St Brendan’s School.

A German sees Galway through rose-coloured glasses?

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

On a wet winter’s day in 1858 Julius Rodenberg stood inside the Royal Hotel in Limerick waiting for the Bianconi ‘Royal Coach’ to Galway. It is the same Julius that I mentioned last week, who was so miserable on a Bianconi coach to Clifden. Between the years 1855 and 1862 he travelled extensively throughout Europe, and wrote numerous travel books. Despite some misgivings at the beginning of his visit to Ireland, he ended up thoroughly enjoying the hardship and its people, writing a successful book: The Island of saints - a Pilgrimage through Ireland, which was immediately translated into English*.

Fran & Jane outlet opens in Galway

Thu, Mar 08, 2012

Leading Irish fashion label Fran & Jane has opened a new shop in the Eyre Square Shopping Centre.

Fran & Jane is renowned for the quality of its materials and attention to detail, and with sizes ranging from 8 to 16 there is something for everyone.

So Parisian at Brown Thomas Galway

Thu, Mar 08, 2012

For all confirmed French style connoisseurs out there, or for those who simply admire that certain je ne sais quoi inherently possessed by the women of Paris, Brown Thomas Galway is bringing the fashion capital to Galway until Sunday March 25.

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