‘Breast cancer taught me to let go of minor irritations’

Thu, Nov 27, 2008

Ann Harney was 50 years old and in excellent health when she accidentally discovered a lump in her breast one Friday morning in February 2006.

Everything had been going really well for the mother of three grown up children who lives in Knocknacarra.

The making of Alfred The Great

Thu, Nov 27, 2008

In 1968 MGM came to Galway to make a ‘swords and sandals’ epic film called Alfred the Great. A lot of preparatory work had gone into selecting three main locations in Kilchreest, Ross Lake, and Knockma, each of which encompassed 90 acres. A vast amount of money was spent on the exact replication of every aspect of the ninth century it depicted, turning some corners of County Galway into Wessex, including etching a 200-feet long white horse into the hill at Knockma.

The sad leaving of Mary Mally (Malley?)

Thu, Nov 27, 2008

The anger and violence that erupted against the Protestant Irish Church Missions and their schools and orphanages in western Connemara towards the end of the 19th century, makes for harrowing reading today.

Living with ADHD

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Tom Creaven’s life flashed before him after reading a chapter about attention deficit hyperactive disorder in a book sent to him by his sister who was in America.

Early diagnosis - key to helping ADHD sufferers

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Rose Kavanagh of the Irish National Council of ADHD support groups which is based at Ballybane Enterprise Centre, believes the early diagnosis and treatment of ADHD is the key to helping sufferers maximise their potential and “reach for the stars”.

What is ADHD/ADD?

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

A neurol-biological genetic condition, attention deficit hyperactive disorder/ attention deficit d isorder affects up to eight per cent of people. It is far more common in boys.

Good things on offer in Westside

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

I called into Martin Divilly's butcher's shop in Westside and picked out some treats from their quite amazing selection. They have practically every meat type available that you can think of, and of course much of their focus is on providing meat that is prepped and ready for the oven. I sampled some of the stir fries selection and can recommend the Hong Kong stir fry made with round steak, the Piri Piri stir fry made with pork, and the Mexican stir fry made with chicken. Perhaps the handiest way to cook them is to just pop it in the oven for 15/20 minutes and serve.

Get cooking...

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Warm up your winter evenings with this hearty and delicious dish from Oscar’s restaurant.

Mop up free radicals with super juice at Evergreen

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

CherryActive, a tasty new drink which is super-rich in antioxidants, is now available at Evergreen branches in Galway.

Style Counsel

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Q: What are your tips for scarves this winter?

Winter at The Purple House

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

The Purple House in Corrandulla is a wonderful venue for workshops, classes, and therapies. It is 15 minutes from Galway city. This ideal location in a rural setting has a large number of rooms suitable for groups of up to 15 or so. So what's on this winter?

Galway’s newest Cosmetic department opens its doors

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Galwegians are to be offered more choice when they buy their cosmetic and beauty gifts this Christmas with the opening of a new cosmetics department at University Late Night Pharmacy.

Galway boutiques go online

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

You can now browse some of the best boutiques in Galway on www.irishboutiques.com

Great cookware at great prices at www.shopcookware.ie

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Grab some great seasonal bargains at Anthony Ryan’s new dedicated homewares site, www.shopcookware.ie

Environmental building science services in Galway

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Building Science Technologies is a Galway company which offers building energy management consultancy and diagnostic services to both domestic and commercial buildings. The range of services includes building energy ratings, energy audits, building air leakage testing, thermal imaging surveys, and site suitability tests.

Home Ground

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

I think that the autumn colour this year has been particularly beautiful. Trees clothed in their autumn coats are so picturesque. Now that the beauty of autumn is fresh in your mind, plan ahead for next autumn.

Seoda...Seoda...Seoda

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

In 1951 Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann was set up to promote traditional Irish music. The first Galway branch was formed about 1965 and initially they held a committee meeting every week. Then somebody suggested they have a session every week instead, and this they did, in Martin Forde’s Eagle Bar in William Street West. Mind you, the session could not start until Mrs Forde had finished watching The Fugitive on television. These sessions became hugely popular at a time when very few pubs in Galway allowed live traditional music.

Fr Rhatigan strikes a blow for Rome

Thu, Nov 20, 2008

On February 28 1879 a desperate row erupted on peaceful Omey Island, near Cleggan, Connemara. The local curate Fr William Rhatigan burst into the local Protestant schoolhouse, run by the Irish Church Mission Society, saying he was ‘in search of his straying sheep’*. An argument broke out between him and the Rev William Lindsey MacNeice, the schoolmaster. Blows were struck. Who struck the first blow will forever be in dispute. But the evidence of Fr Rhatigan’s temper and strength is testified by the fact that it took the combined efforts of MacNeice, aided by his wife, his daughter Charlotte, his young son John Frederick, and two teachers from Claddaghduff, Messrs Davis and Coursey, to force him backwards out of the schoolhouse.

Immediately the rumour spread that the priest was ‘almost murdered’ by MacNeice and his family. An angry crowd stormed the schoolhouse. Stones and abuse were fired at the building and its occupants.

From crossroads dances to the internet

Thu, Nov 13, 2008

Gerry Cahill was born in Caherlistrane and started playing music from the age of eight..... first the melodeon, then the double row accordion, and later the piano accordion. He was a great admirer of musicians like Will Starr and Jimmy Shand. He soon developed a distinctive style of his own and he was very much in demand at house dances and roadside dances, which were very common at the time.

An unseemly brawl over God and scripture

Thu, Nov 13, 2008

In a week when The Irish Times reports an unseemly brawl between Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks who physically battled over turf and influence in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, revered as the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, I was reminded of the unfortunate battle for the souls of Catholics in the aftermath of the Great Famine. This episode in Connemara’s long history still engenders passionate feelings today. The expression ‘they took the soup’ is still very much alive. At the time the campaign for souls splintered communities, and divided families. In a new book Soupers and Jumpers* Miriam Moffitt reminds us that Catholics and Protestants were convinced that their religion - and only theirs - was the ‘one true faith,’ and that anyone who lived, or more importantly died, outside their particular belief system could not enter heaven. From the middle of the 19th century, the poor of Connemara and the Dublin slums were targeted by the well intentioned Anglican Irish Church Missions.

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