Duck — a tasty treat for any occasion

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Duck meat is succulent and full of flavour but all too often only consumed on special occasions. There are many breeds of duck, each with its own distinctive culinary attributes. The Indian runner, Aylesbury, Peking, Norfolk, Long Island, Gressingham, Barbary, Rouen, and mallard are just some of the species of duck available for the table.

At home With La Maison Chic

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Choosing the right floor for your home is a big decision. It will set the tone for the whole interior of your house and is the base for everything else you put in a room.

Bringing it all back home — generations of love for the garden

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

There is an old Irish saying “Briseann an dúchas trí shúile an chait,” which, loosely translated, means you can‘t deny your roots. When the Cunningham brothers were looking back through some old family photographs recently, they came across a picture of their maternal grandmother Else, taken about 1890 in Helsinki when she was a young girl. In the photograph she is in her garden posing with her trusty watering can. Over a century later her descendants are still in the garden. Her picture can be seen in the weekly advertisement for Dangan House Nurseries. Paddy and Peter Cunningham have been partners in business since the mid-1970s, initially selling their produce in the Saturday market before opening the gardens of their home to the public in the early 1980s.

Receiving the gift of life for Christmas

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

When Eoin Madden woke up last Christmas morning he realised he had been given the best present ever.

O’Toole’s house in the Claddagh

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

The house with the chairs outside was O’Toole’s near the top of Rope Walk in the Claddagh. The photograph was taken c1925. It was obviously a fine day because of the chairs being left out for people to sit in the sun. Beside them you can see a washing tub, and on the front of the house to the right, there is some washing hanging out to dry. Occasional geese can be seen sunning themselves. These were typical Claddagh homes before the village was knocked down and rebuilt.

Galway was ready to serve...

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

On the evening that France and Britain declared war on Germany, September 3 1939, the 13,500-ton liner SS Athenia, chartered by the Cunard Line, and bound for Montreal with 1,418 passengers and crew was torpedoed, without warning, 250 miles northwest of Malin Head in the North Atlantic*. The following day the Norwegian vessel, Knute Nelson, was steaming towards Galway with 367 shocked and injured survivors, and asked that the city be prepared to receive them. Other survivors were picked up by British naval vessels and brought elsewhere for treatment, but in total 112 passengers and crew were killed in the attack, 28 of them Americans sailing for home as war was declared in Europe.

The message for Galway to receive survivors was relayed through Malin Head radio which had already heard the distress signals from the Athenia, and witnessed the fearful drama at sea. Galway, initially stunned that it should be involved so soon in a rescue resulting from war at sea, reacted magnificently.

Anthony Ryan’s, a one-hundred-year-old family business

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

Anthony Ryan came to Galway from Craughwell to work as an accountant in Donnellan’s hardware shop at number 16, Shop Street. While he was there a new apprentice named Katherine Morrisson from Drumfin in County Sligo came to work there. They started going out together and later married. They decided to set up their own business and they managed to lease number 18 Shop Street.

St Patrick passed us by, but some magic remains...

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

Another St Patrick’s Day has slipped by, and I am reminded that although there are several wells associated with saints in and around Galway city, St Patrick, on his many journeys around Ireland, notably in Mayo, passed Galway by.

The principal Galway Patrician site is Maam Éan, the only pass through the Maumturk Mountains which stretch from Killary Bay to a north-west inlet of Lough Corrib. Without this pass (a pleasant walk signposted from the main Galway/Clifden road, or from the other side of the mountains, signposted on the Maam Bridge/Leenane road), it was a long way round for drovers and shepherds, travellers and pilgrims.

Alan & Susan’s Pantry, Oranmore

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

I have made passing reference to this super new deli and now that they have had time to source all the goodies it is worth telling you about some of the unusual and great tasting items I have sampled. The word ‘deli’ is a highly abused term over the last few years and there are so many it is hard to tell the good from the bad — indeed a real deli is a distinct rarity and this is certainly the best for many miles around the Oranmore area. It is tucked around the corner from Main Street, Oranmore, facing the astroturf pitch with loads of free parking, even at the front door.

Eggs — a local food for any time

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

With all the talk of an economic meltdown it’s easy to consider locally produced food as a luxury that is for many beyond reach. The truth of the matter is fortunately far different — it’s possible to walk into almost any shop in Galway and find locally produced free range eggs.

Galway has a number of egg producers ranging from Galway free range eggs, Corrib eggs, Rockland eggs, and Piggott Pearse and Sons of Gort. Eggs are possibly the ultimate fast food and are considered a nutritionally whole food as all essential nutrients can be found in an egg. A freshly laid hen’s eggs simply boiled for three minutes and served with hot buttered toast is a feast fit for any person and any occasion. Also due to eggs containing a high proportion of protein a simple boiled egg is an excellent way to keep hunger at bay. Interestingly when it comes to boiling an egg the one rule to follow is not to let the egg boil, but rather allow the water simmer in a very gentle way.

Pizza prize for Bistro Bianconi

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

A team from Galway-based pizza company Bistro Bianconi has scooped a coveted award for best non-traditional pizza at the World Pizza Games in Las Vegas.

Thai style chicken with noodles and chilli

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

Thai cookery is in many ways unequalled in producing fine broth type dishes. The use of lime leaf, lemongrass, and coriander which are often enhanced with coconut milk and basil can produce broths with incredible depth and style. Another advantage of poaching foods in a broth is the healthy benefits of this cookery style. Although coconut milk has a high fat content it can easily be substituted by a low fat alternative. Another great thing about Thai food is that once you master the basics of how to balance the various Thai spices and flavours it is easy to alter a dish to include fish and vegetables. Aubergines work very well in Thai cookery. Thai fish sauce or nam pla is essential to achieving an authentic Thai flavour. Don’t be put off by this strong smelling condiment — when used correctly it can make a good dish great. Another handy point when using Thai curry paste — the green paste is the hot one and the red paste is the mild.

This recipe comes courtesy of Oscar’s restaurant. Images courtesy of www.foodandwinephotography.com

Style Counsel

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

With the credit crunch it has become more important to make a full use of your wardrobe. Revamping and recycling your clothes is fast, easy, economical, and fun. You can create unique and original pieces without breaking the bank. You may have a couple of items that are a few seasons old and you are willing to get rid of them. Think of the possibilities you have to transform them onto fabulous new pieces — all you need is a couple of tools, your imagination, and my guidelines.

Clothes you’ll love at Kiss Boutiques

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

Visit Kiss Boutiques for stylish essentials and this season’s musts haves and you'll find something as unique as you, whatever your budget.

Hair removal doesn’t have to be the pits

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

Zap, zap, zap - I’m really beginning to just love that sound, seriously. It is the blissful dulcet tones of hair being removed from my pits and I’m just loving it.

Hair removal doesn’t have to be the pits

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

Zap, zap, zap - I’m really beginning to just love that sound, seriously. It is the blissful dulcet tones of hair being removed from my pits and I’m just loving it.

Expand your home with a conservatory

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

Here are some tips to decorate this new addition to your home. A conservatory is an extension of both your house and garden, so decorate it accordingly.

Your conservatory just needs a little life and something of your personality added to it to make it the welcoming space you desire! Any conventional freestanding conservatory furniture is going to be too bulky to squeeze in, so look to more compact solutions. Most people go down the wicker furniture route, which really add a more exotic and relaxing feel to the room and make a good transition to the garden.

Remembering a ‘mum in a million’

Thu, Mar 19, 2009

When Mary Sweeney died in March 2006 her daughter’s greatest fear was that as time passed she would forget little things about her.

The Glynn Cup, 50 years on

Thu, Mar 12, 2009

Johnny Glynn was only 46 when he died on January 10 1959, midway through his term as president of the Irish Rugby Football Union. He was a director of Glynn’s famous fancy goods and toy shop on William Street (where you could buy tickets for rugby internationals). He was educated at the Bish, played rugby for Galwegians and Connacht (12 caps), became a well known referee, served in various offices including president of his club, and dedicated himself to the advancement of the game of rugby in Connacht. He was a modest man who preferred to work away in the background and demanded only that there be no departure from the spirit of the game, no lapse from the fundamental decency of rugby football.

Two faces lean out of the window...

Thu, Mar 12, 2009

Before the disbandment of the Connaught Rangers in 1922, it was customary on Sunday mornings for the Protestant members of this proud regiment to march in full uniform, with bagpipes and drums, out of Renmore barracks, through the town to attend service at St Nicholas Collegiate Church. It was an exciting spectacle for many of the girls of Galway. They would gather in small groups, or lean from windows, to catch the eye of a handsome soldier. Monsignor Considine would often precede the parade waving at the girls to go away. Pointing up to the girls at the windows (many of them apprentices, who lived above the shops whose trade they were learning), telling them ‘Not to be looking at those Protestant soldiers’. Most girls would quickly hide, and once the monsignor had passed, pop their heads out again.

E-paper

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