Zoffany paints now available exclusively at La Maison Chic

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

La Maison Chic is offering its customers in exclusivity the range of Zoffany paints. Zoffany has launched 38 new colours selected to complement its new range of fabrics and wallpapers. Twenty-two neutrals, 13 soft colours, and three deep shades work perfectly with recent wallpaper collections. With these additions, the new Zoffany palette comprises 120 colours reflecting the demand for subtlety in tone and the ability to match colour perfectly to the soft furnishings in a scheme. The following finishes are available.

Notes for the Season

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

If you are currently looking in the mirror at skin you just know could be better, and a make-up routine that needs a bit of revamping, you could not have picked a better time to reassess. We are now living in a revolutionary era for skincare and cosmetics, with more and more products delivering exactly what they promise. Box clever! Getting serious about your skincare (you will know when the time comes) involves investing in a few hardworking luxury products like Crème de Mer eye concentrate — it actually quenches and reconditions the delicate eye area while reducing the appearance of dark circles and puffiness, and of course Elizabeth Arden’s Prevage anti ageing serum — packed with powerful antioxidants, it gives great results on wrinkles, age spots, and scarring. The ingredients are powerfully concentrated, and you will find a little goes a long way, there is no need to lash it on. You know what area needs the most help and that is where to invest in a superior product.

With good clear skin to start off, you can think about being brave and replace your full coverage foundation for a tinted moisturiser, in fact a much more youthful look. Bobbi Brown, which recently launched its much anticipated Denim and Rose collection on counter, does a tinted moisturiser in eight real life shades, with an SPF15. Of course if it is a scary thought for you to go the tinted moisturiser route, you might want to have the experts at the counter match your perfect concealer. Finish this look with a pop of pink blush on the apples of the cheeks, and bear in mind the secret weapon of make-up artists worldwide is finishing powder. It sets your make-up for the day and my favourite, Christian Dior’s Capture Totale loose powder, adds luminosity and gives high definition radiance. It is sheer luxury, the Holy Grail of powders.

Sneak preview of autumn winter 2010 trends

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

As summer is coming to an end, more and more of us start thinking about our autumn winter wardrobes.

Eating outside this summer

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

We were having a really good of spell of fine weather this summer up to recently, and hopefully it will return again. So here are a few ideas for simple ways to enjoy outdoor eating.

Dine out at The Dining Room, the new restaurant from The Townhouse

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

The Dining Room, the new restaurant offering from The Townhouse in the heart of the Latin Quarter and just across from the Spanish Arch, represents a new departure for eating out in Galway. Located on the top floor above the bar, the restaurant will operate seven nights a week.

Hone your sporting technique with Galway City Physiotherapy

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

Galway City Physiotherapy is a long-standing practice in the city, which has developed over the years into one of the largest clinics in Connacht with a team of highly experienced chartered physiotherapists with degree and master’s level qualifications.

Bag packing day raises €1,800 for intensive care

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

The bag packing day in SuperValu, Clifden, which was held over the June Bank Holiday weekend, will make a difference in the lives of patients in the intensive care units of University Hospital Galway and the Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.

Hen party organiser

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

Miss Behaviour Events is a new company recently set up as an event organiser for special nights out, including birthday parties, girls’ nights away, reunions, and more.

Restore your qi with Care & Cure

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

Playing sports is a wonderful way to stay in shape and have fun with friends. Whether you are a casual sports player, a weekend warrior, or someone who trains hard every day, acupuncture can be extremely valuable for you.

From the Chinese medical point of view, the body is an energetic collection of functions, not just a mechanical collection of parts. We contain life energy called qi, and a person is said to be in perfect health when this energy is flowing unimpeded and in an adequate amount throughout the entire body. Qi is the basis for the proper functioning of all body processes; it provides structural integrity and stability, physiological efficiency, and the potential for healing. When you sustain an injury, the flow of energy in and around the area becomes disrupted, causing stagnation and pain. This energy stagnation also inhibits the proper circulation of blood and lymph to the area, extending healing times, prolonging swelling and bruising, and increasing the need for pain medications.

Croí boost for heart surgery unit

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

The west of Ireland Cardiac Surgical Centre at University Hospital Galway is pushing the boundaries of clinical information technology, thanks to support from local heart charity Croí which this week presented state-of-the-art portable technology to the medical staff in the unit.

Family fun in Scotland

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

Scotland is the perfect setting for a summer break with great attractions, tours, and events throughout the season. There are plenty of inspiring holiday ideas available on www.visitscotland.com/perfect

The Dunne brothers busking in Galway

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

Busking is the practice of performing in public places for tips or gratuities. The earliest buskers in Galway were probably singers who would sing on the street, and then knock on doors in the hope of getting money or food. In the early 20th century, Johnny Doran and his family would move around playing in different places, including the races, and then in the evening outside the Imperial Hotel. Paddy Philbin, who later became a dancing master, would dance for him and they drew big crowds. Later came the Reaney brothers who played in various locations in Galway city and county.

The last free Chieftains of Ireland

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

Some weeks ago I wrote that probably the greatest muster of the Irish Gaelic lords that ever gathered on a battlefield took their place on either side at Knockdoe, Co Galway, on August 19 1504. The O’Donnells and the O’Neills, from their great northern fiefdoms, fought for law and order on the side of the Earl of Kildare who successfully imposed the king’s rule on his rebellious and quarrelsome son-in-law the Earl of Clanricard, Ulick de Burgh (Burke) of Claregalway castle. Ulick’s marriage to Kildare’s daughter, and his disregard for her, gave the Earl a personal reason for the battle; but his allies were equally anxious to display their loyalty to King Henry VII, the undisputed king of England after the protracted and bloody Wars of the Roses.

Yet within 30 years, the house of Kildare was in revolt against the crown. The result was that the Earl of Kildare’s grandson, Tomás an tSíoda, was hanged and beheaded in the Tower of London. While at Tyburn his five uncles were partly hanged, cut down, had their intestines drawn from their bodies, thrown into a fire, before finally, and mercifully, hacked into four pieces with an axe. Rebellion against the English crown, much of it calamitous for the people involved, continued sporadically until the Flight of the Earls on September 14 1607, a significant moment in Ireland’s history.

Fifty years of soccer in Mervue

Thu, Jul 22, 2010

In the mid fifties, the corporation began to build the houses that make up what we now know as Old Mervue. Many young families moved to the area, and for the children, the open green areas in from Plunkett Avenue, and between Clarke and McDonagh avenues, became their playgrounds. They played all kinds of games here… Gaelic football, athletics, and especially soccer. It was on these green spaces that many well-known footballers first developed and honed their skills.

Life is absurd - but let’s get involved

Thu, Jul 22, 2010

This year’s Galway Arts festival succeeds yet again in giving some insight into the minds of remarkable artists whose personal magic interprets our world. These include international journalists Niall O’Dowd, John Lancaster, several writers including Bret Easton Ellis, and the renowned theatre and opera director Sir Peter Hall. On Saturday afternoon, the playwright and poet Frank McGuinness teased out some paths through the labyrinthine mind of Ireland’s leading painter Brian Bourke.

Druids Lane restaurant and wine bar, Quay Street

Thu, Jul 22, 2010

Druids Lane restaurant and wine bar has been open at No 9 Quay Street for 11 years now, however the history of the building goes back to 1663. It was originally owned by King Charles II, who on May 1 1663 leased the building for 500 years to the honourable George Duke of Albermarie at a rent of £6 11s 9d (less than €10 per year). I am guessing that the current occupier, Camilla Cutlar, is paying a wee bit more rent in 2010. It is situated just the other side of the lane that borders The Quays bar and is set out much as it would have been when it was a house. The décor is old world and, being practical, I don’t think any other type of ambience would work in a building with that history and architecture.

Brown Thomas raises the fashion stakes for Race Week

Thu, Jul 22, 2010

With Race Week fast approaching Galway fashionistas will be looking for that perfect statement outfit that will see them come out on top in the style stakes.

Birthday bargains at Anatomy

Thu, Jul 22, 2010

Anatomy celebrates its fifth birthday this week, and to celebrate it is offering loyal customers 50 to 70 per cent discount bargains. Anatomy promotes healthy lifestyles and fit bodies. A loyal and discerning clientele has kept it trading successfully and the company continues to bring unique high performance apparel to you.

Anatomy is not just about clothes and products, but about reminding you to take time out for yourself, to seize the day and value what you have. Take a walk, run along the beach, move out of your comfort zone, cycle, take up yoga, relax... whatever it is you enjoy, do it. Move your body and feel better mentally as well as physically, even more so in comfortable, flattering, exercise wear.

Notes for the Season

Thu, Jul 22, 2010

Whether packing for a festival or business trip, taking stock of your wardrobe, and editing ruthlessly, is ultimately a cleansing and worthwhile chore. Every item in your wardrobe should only be there if it is working hard for you, on a regular basis.

Space and colour

Thu, Jul 22, 2010

Colours can dramatically change the way a small room looks. You can easily make it look taller, wider, or bigger depending on what colours you use.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.