A Yorkshire man in Galway

Thu, Oct 07, 2010

On October 22 1959 an unusual play opened at the Royal Court theatre, London; a theatre never afraid to be different. It had after all presented John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger* three years previously - a play which rocked the establishment, and transformed English drama for ever. The critics adored it, it played to full houses every night, and it made lots of money for everyone concerned.

John Wilson Croker - the Galwegian who invented conservatism

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

The Tory Party in Britain can count among its leaders Winston Churchill, Harold MacMillan, and Margaret Thatcher, and is now led by the Eton and Oxford educated David Cameron, who hails from Berkshire, a traditional Tory heartland.

Notes for the season

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

Accessories addicts out there know that bags always reflect the fashion of the season. This autumn/winter we are looking at everything from a good mix of sixties style ladylike handbags, to sophisticated seventies inspired totes, to cross-body bags, to satchels.

Castlegar Athletic Club, a brief history

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

The Castlegar Hurling Club ladies’ committee decided to hold a parish sports day on National Children’s Day, Sunday June 8 1975. They enlisted the help of Seán Duffy and Patsy Durnin in the organisation of the event, which turned out to be an outstanding success. As a result, they decided to enter a team of 40 athletes in the County Community Games. Seán Duffy organised training sessions twice a week, a banner and a set of green and white singlets were purchased, and there was great excitement as the big day approached. This excitement reached fever pitch when Ann Fahy won the gold medal in the girls’ under-14 100 metres, and Patricia Grealish brought home a bronze medal in the girls’ under-12 200 metres.

Not everybody liked Lady Gregory

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

I find it hard to imagine that not everyone liked Lady Augusta Gregory of Coole Park. What few readers there are of the Diary, I am told, sigh with exasperation when they see her name appear. They know that I will eulogise endlessly about how her home at Coole became a ‘workshop’ for writers, poets and artists during those exciting days at the beginning of the last century, leading to such remarkable talents as WB Yeats, John M Synge, Sean O’Casey and others to stand as giants on the European literary stage. She was the co-founder of the Abbey Theatre, its director and organiser during its shaky early days. She was a substantial playwright, journal keeper, folklorist, scholar, etc, etc, and, in my opinion, this amazing Galway woman never got the recognition she deserved.

How to wear autumn trends for plus sizes

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

Getting great autumn looks for a plus size can be difficult, and you often end up buying clothes because they fit rather than because they suit you and make you look good. Here are some hot ideas for plus size autumn trends:

David Martin — on your doorstep

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

David Martin, one of the city’s most established and well -respected salons, opened its second Galway city salon at Kingston Road (opposite Joyce’s supermarket) 22 months ago, and what a success it has been.

David Martin provides the ultimate in relaxation while professional hair stylists take care of your tresses. You can enjoy a shiatsu massage while your hair is being shampooed, or why not treat your hair to a personalised treatment and then relax under the new hair spa for 20 minutes — your hair and scalp will be left fully reinvigorated. Treatments are available for €20 extra, appointments are highly recommended to ensure the hair spa is available.

Change is good at the Townhouse Restaurant

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

The Townhouse Restaurant is located over the Townhouse Bar facing the Spanish Arch. It has had a couple of identity changes in the last year or two, and that normally does not bode well. However in this case I think they have come up with a formula that works, funky styling, the menu, food quality, and the prices. The décor is pretty hard to describe, but a cross between random retro and New York funky might be a rough guide. Where there was once the usual suspended spotlights, there is now a collection of every type of retro shade you could imagine and a really clever line of about 20 to 30 Heinz beans tins transformed into downlighters. The tables are definitely sixties and the unusual chairs are eyecatching and pleasantly comfortable. The music is similarly retro and well chosen.

Hi tech fitness for the time poor

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

BodySmart in Barna leads with the Power Plate as its key high tech equipment focus. Developed by NASA to help astronauts regain muscle tone and strengthen bone density after spending time in space without gravity, the device has incredible uses for the rest of us, according to Morgan Pierce, MD of BodySmart.

Galway Bay Half Marathon - what happens next?

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

Months, weeks, days of training have led up to the Galway Bay Half Marathon this weekend where sprightly runners will be togged out and ready to pound the pavements in aid of various charities, to beat personal challenges, or just for fun, but when it’s all over will you be hanging up your trainers?

Plenty of training, check, signed up for the marathon, check, get down for registration tomorrow and Saturday morning at Elverys Sports in Galway Retail Park, check, and ready to go for the 10k and half marathon, check, but wait, what happens after? If you find yourself pondering this question well think of it this way, should you really let all that hard work and preparation go to waste? It would be shame.

Acupuncture as a treatment for pain relief

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

Acupuncture is a Chinese therapy that works miracles for different diseases, especially for relief of acute pain. According to traditional Chinese medical theory, there are energy pathways called meridians that flow through your body. A blockage of these pathways results in health related issues. When needles are inserted in the areas which influence the energy flow through the meridians this relieves the pain.

Learn the twelve commandments of love

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

Are you blessed with a lifelong loving intimate relationship? Sadly few of us are. Professor Harvey Wasserman, MD and director of the Galway Healing Road Psychotherapy Clinic, estimates that at most 10 per cent of committed relationships are excellent, 20 per cent are good, and the rest are in various states of numbness or misery. Professor Wasserman believes there are 12 commandments for happiness.

Turning our life around

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

Dr Eva Orsmond, who has become a household name, is probably best known for her role as RTE’s hugely popular Operation Transformation diet and nutrition expert. The programme sees a group of people put on a rigid diet and exercise programme in a bid to lose weight. But behind the scenes, Dr Eva’s battle to re-educate people on health fitness is changing hundreds of people’s lives every day.

2010 — a good vintage for fabrics

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

Pierre Frey 75th birthday
For 75 years family firm Pierre Frey has maintained its independence and inventiveness in textiles. The company, which celebrates is 75th anniversary this year, is known for its unlimited palette, joyous colours, and artistic patterns. In that respect nothing has changed in the three generations since the firm was established on January 1 1935. Furnishing fabric is not a fickle fashion. People choose a fabric because they like it and want to live with it for years. It is not a caprice; it is a choice and the reflection of a culture. That is why Pierre Frey looks at the past, the present, and the future, drawing inspiration from everything, Indian and Ottoman, silk or cotton damask, cloth woven with metal threads.

Successful parenting

Thu, Sep 30, 2010

Parents want to do the best for their children. They shower them with love and attention and worry when they are unwell or unhappy.

Tackling tiredness

Thu, Sep 23, 2010

When you wake up in the morning do you wish you could stay in bed? Do you feel tired and weary with little appetite for a new day?

The Malt House Restaurant

Thu, Sep 23, 2010

The Malt House Restaurant has always had a great reputation for serving good food consistently over a great many years. Just over a year ago the restaurant transformed itself into a slightly different, less formal, dining room and focused on creating a menu using the very best of local ingredients. It even has very large pictures of some of its suppliers on the walls, which gives an indication of how seriously the company takes finding the best produce. I called in on a very wet Thursday at 7pm and there were quite a few tables filled with diners. It seems to attract a cross section of tourists, locals, and parties out for the night. While somewhat less formal than before, the service is as polished as ever, and throughout the night it was impressive to watch all the tables being looked after in an efficient, but not pushy, manner. Service is not something to be overlooked when choosing a restaurant for a night out. There is nothing worse than to have an otherwise good meal spoiled by poor service; however I think that recently the standard of service generally has improved in restaurants.

Steak Steaks with plum sauce

Thu, Sep 23, 2010

A delicious recipe from www.bordbia.ie
Ingredients

Turning our life around

Thu, Sep 23, 2010

Dr Eva Orsmond, who has become a household name, is probably best known for her role as RTE’s hugely popular Operation Transformation diet and nutrition expert. The programme sees a group of people put on a rigid diet and exercise programme in a bid to lose weight. But behind the scenes, Dr Eva’s battle to re-educate people on health fitness is changing hundreds of people’s lives every day.

New season, new you

Thu, Sep 23, 2010

As the summer has come to a close, for most of us we are left with good memories of our holidays and the not-so-good extra holiday weight. All the overeating and partying has left us feeling sluggish and our skinny jeans are a little too snug. However there is a solution.

Xipisan™ weight loss programme is a revolutionary slimming aid supplement which is available through pharmacies nationwide and is dedicated to help you combat those stubborn pounds in a safe and healthy manner without causing the body any undue stress.

E-paper

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