Mature Living Connacht

PROMOTING A HEALTHY & POSITIVE LIFESTYLE

July 2014

Never too old toskydive!

Everyday tips forgreat skin

Inspired Plantingat Bloom

Births to mums over 50 soaring

www.matureliving.ie

Published by: IBS Publications LimitedRiverview House, Barrett Street, Ballina, Co. Mayoand Office 3, Unit 7, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo.

Tel/Fax: 071-9154538 / 096-77743Web: www.matureliving.ie • Email: [email protected]

NewsWorld War II eventsrecalled after death ofretired Sligo priestOne on One with MaryO’Hara - The Voice of anangelSix styles of lace to loveStep-by-step, OvercomingDental Phobia &EmbarrassmentTop tips for better sleepand brain healthAn overview of CaptitalAcquisition TaxGardening with LeonieCorneliusAngelscopesAlternative TherapiesThe Bands of ourShowband era Births to mums over 50soaring 7 Summer Health HazardsHouse and HomeHobbiesCompetitionCard making for beginners Best Apps for your BudgetFitnessServices DirectoryDating

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Editorial: Seamus [email protected]: Stephen [email protected] Sales: Lisa [email protected]

The information in Mature Living is carefully researched and believed to be accurate, but the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions. Statements or opinions expressed herein are notnecessary those of the editor or publisher. Advertisements within the publication are not endorsed by the publisher. Neither are any claims made within the advertisements. Before consuming any products mentioned in the

publication readers are advised to consult with their general practitioner or equivalent professional for opinion or advice.

THE countryside is emblazoned inbeautiful sunshine as we go to pressfor our July edition of Mature Living.

With so many FIFA World Cup enthusiastsglued to TV screens countrywide somewould wish the heat wave could be bottleduntil mid-July at the latest.

For those of you who can enjoy it weencourage you to get out and savour thebeauty of the countryside – it’s healthyand good for the economy, too.

Our One-on-One personality, renowned Irish soprano/harpistMary O’Hara, is somebody who appreciates beauty and natureand she spoke to our Catherine Gilmartin from her home onthe Aran Islands where she lives with her husband, Patrick.Achieving national recognition at an early age Mary went onto make an influential contribution to Irish music, but manyaspect of her private life make for interesting reading as well.Throughout her life her strong faith has been central and shethanks God for her excellent health at 78.

When it comes to health we could all look to the Royalfamily for guidance on longevity and readers will beinterested to learn some “secrets” from the oldest reigningBritish monarch, Elizabeth, and her husband, Prince Philip. Inthe same vein we reveal that the number of women over theage of 50 having babies has doubled in the UK in the past fiveyears. We also talk about how to retain flexibility as we getolder.

As it’s summer we give some timely advice on how to enjoyyourself while protecting against some of hazards out there –like sun stroke, dehydration, bug bites and the like, whileproviding complementary tips to achieving great skin.

It’s gardening time, of course, and our award-winninggarden designer Leonie Cornelius features some of the latestplanting trends inspired by Ireland’s top designers andfeatured at this year’s Bloom in the Park. If you live a moresedentary life and have trouble sleeping you might beinterested in looking at our advice to achieve better sleepand brain health.

In a new section we provide an overview of CapitalAcquisitions Tax and we highlight the diverse range of hobbiesthat seniors can opt for. It is the time of year when travelthoughts are foremost and for the more ambitious we featuresome of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites which are of majorcultural and architectural interest.

We have many other articles and features of interest in ourJuly edition. The deadline for our August edition will be 18thJuly and we hope all our readers and advertisers have apleasant and enjoyable summer.

July 2014

LAST MONTH’S COMPETITION WINNERThe winner of last months breakaway to the Lough AllenHotel was Lesley Healey of Breaffy, Ballina.

Seamus Casey - Editor

NewsNews

Mature Living July 2014

NewsNews

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Never too old to jumpfrom a helicopter

FORMER US president George Bush celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandemparachute jump near his summer home in Maine. The 41st president jumped out of ahelicopter while harnessed to a retired member of the army's parachute team. Mr Bush,who can no longer use his legs, could be seen floating to the ground using a red, whiteand blue parachute. RIGHT: ormer first lady Barbara Bush greets her husband and formerU.S. President George H.W. Bush with a kiss after his successful skydive

One of thebiggestconcerns of

the elderly is beingable to afford theirhealth cover policywith about 300,000people havingcancelled due to

the annual prices increases from all 4health insurance companies people arefalling back on the already underpressure public system. Recent figures from the NationalTreatment Purchase Fund show thatthere are approximately 50,000 peopleawaiting inpatient and day caseprocedures so going public isn’t anoption for people who can’t afford towait for procedures. Also you have tobear in mind going the public routeisn’t exactly free unless you’re amedical card holder you will have topay the public hospital levy of €75 pernight up to a maximum stay of 10 daysin any 12 months period, so that’s€750 to stay in hospital for a short tomedium term. So what can people andin particular the elderly do to help tryand keep a hold of their medicalinsurance having paid into it for yearswithout claim and just when they needit most they are being priced out ofthe market?1- Be prepared to take a small excesson your policy, the excess is theamount you will pay for any claim itcan be as little as €75 on beingadmitted to a private hospital or aslarge as €500 depending which planand company you are with and it can

bring down the cost of your annualpremium. There is no excess for publichospital and check with your insurerthat the excess isn’t a daily excess asthat will work out very expensive.2- Get rid of the extras, most peoplewant to be covered for the big medicalemergencies in public hospitals withaccess to private hospitals if needs, ifyour plan covers day to day expensesand you aren’t claiming them bestmove to a hospital only plan, day today expenses would include gettingmoney back for GP visits consultantsetc.3- Ask your health insurance companyfor the corporate plan equivalent(plans that are offered to largecompanies) don’t be put off by thenames of the plans Company Plan etc.these plans are available to all and ina lot of cases have better benefits andcheaper premium than the plansoffered to the general public. Most ofthe older clients I speak to are in thetraditional old Plan B space that mostwere covered on at one stage movingfrom that to a Corporate Plan canmean big savings without reducingyour cover. 4- Look to the newer plans that maylimit your access to the high techhospitals Blackrock, Maher etc. butstill cover you for all public and a lotof other private hospitals. Dependingon where you are in the country youmay never end up using one of thehigh tech hospitals but you are payingfor them with your annual premium.5- Don’t be afraid to split cover whenrenewing a family plan or a plan for a

couple if one member of the couple ismore likely to be using a privatehospital in the coming year they needto be on the correct level of cover butthe other person may consider areduced plan or taking on an increasedexcess to keep costs down.Health cover is a huge concern for theelderly but if you know the rightquestions to ask your provider will beable to help you maintain a decentlevel of cover by trimming off some ofthe fat i.e. benefits, hospitals you maynot be currently using. But as alwayslet the buyer beware there are pitfallswhen changing cover and you mustunderstand the up-grade rule if youreduce your cover and want to go backto a higher level plan you may have towait 2 years if you are under 65 and 5years if you are over 65 for the higherbenefits to kick in. In my experience alot of mature people are still on theold legacy plans and are paying for theprivate room in the private hospitaland by switching plans you may giveyour policy the health check that it islong overdue. Seek out independentadvice speak to your health insurancecompany and use the Health Authoritywebsite www.hia.ie which is a veryuseful guide to comparing plans.Mark Gilmore is a QualifiedFinancial Adviser who owns MoneyTree Financial Services and can becontacted on 087-6788975 or byemail [email protected] Gilmore trading as money treefinancial services is regulated by theCentral Bank of Ireland

Is your Health Insurance Plan Due a Health Check?

Fri 1st August - Mon 4th August 2014OFFICIAL OPENING OF FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY 3rd AUGUST• O’ Carolan Summer School Running from Monday 28th July to Friday 1st August 2014 • Friday Aug 1st 10:00pm Ceili in St. Ronan's Hall - Music by Rise The Dust • Saturday Aug 2nd 10:30am Harp competitions commence. (See special brochure for details) 9:00 pm The Dart, Ceili Band in Concert.. Their previous concert rank. with the very best of all the concerts in Keadue from the last 35 years . Tickets available online.

• Sunday Aug 3rd 2:30pm, Opening of Crafts, Foods & Arts Displays in O'Carolan Heritage Park. (Exhibitors must book in advance) 3:30pm Official Opening of Festival 4:30 pm Return visit of Shebeen for traditional music and song - always a session not to be missed 6:30 pm Music Session - featuring Liam Purcell & Friends 9:00 pm Frankie Gavin & De Danann with Michelle Lally on vocals. Tickets available online

• Monday Aug 4th 11:00 am Visit and laying of wreath at O'Carolan's grave - Kilronan Cemetery 12:00 pm Lecture in Kilronan Castle 3:00 pm Music, Song & Dance with Padraig Sweeney & Lough Allen Ceolteoir 4:00pm Music frorn Rakish (Street Entertainment)

News

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According to Albert Einstein, 'If thebee disappeared off the surfaceof the globe, then man would

have only four years of life left.’ Well,knowledge of pollination andpollinators has moved on a bit. A morerecent UN report states: “The fact isthat of the 100 crop species that

provide 90% of the world’s food, over70 are pollinated by bees”. Either way,it’s a sobering thought to consider howhuman existence on Earth would beeffected by the loss of bees.

Take a constructive approach toit.....Consider a Bee legacy for yourgrandchildren. Many people take up

Beekeeping after retiring. Ifyou’d like to know more contactus at Mill Lane Beekeeping: seead. Or check outwww.irishbeekeeping.ie for infoon local associations all aroundthe country.

There’s a little video made byAge & Opportunity. Search for YouTube then search for Mary McNuttThe Bee Movie for a flavour ofwhat beekeeping has meant tome! The best place to start yourinvestigations is the Federation ofIrish Beekeeping Associations(FIBKA). They have a greatwebsite: www.irishbeekeeping.iethat names all 57 BeekeepingAssociations around the countrywith contact information for themall. If you don’t ‘do’ the internet,they have an excellent magazine:“An Beachaire”. Contact DermotO’Flaherty, Hon. Manager atRosbeg, Westport, Co Mayo Ph:098-26585.

It’s simple to join your localassociation. They usually meetonce a month, often runbeginner’s courses, and run apiarypracticals and you can ask all thequestions you like before youcommit to getting bees yourself.For more information contact usat Mill Lane Beekeeping (see ad).

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RTÉ Radio 1’s flagshipnews programmeMorning Ireland is

taking its bike to thecountry’s high roads andbyroads to bringinteresting unheard stories

and voices to the station’slisteners. The ‘Ireland by bike’series will hear the talesof real people during thesummer as reporter CianMcCormack travels on his

bike for two weeks in Julystopping in towns, villagesand communities fromCork to Donegal along theWild Atlantic Way.

‘Ireland by bike’ willgauge tourism, economicrecovery and the westcoast’s post-storm clean-up, amongst other issues.Cian will travel alone onhis bike - carrying all theequipment he needswithout back-up support -to make daily reports onMorning Ireland fromMonday 7th July to Friday18th July. Listeners will beable to interact with the‘Ireland by bike’ seriesdirectly by emailing:[email protected] or ontwitter: @cian_mccormackor @morningireland.

“If the cycling is goingwell – without anypunctures or withoutmajor breakdowns - I’llcertainly arrive to Mayosometime on Friday, July11th. After that I’ll travelon to Sligo and Donegal. Iexpect to pass throughSligo on Saturday, July12,” Cian said.

“I’m hoping to hearstories from people as Itravel parts of the WildAtlantic Way. I’d like to

hear from people who’veset up new businesses inboth Sligo and Mayo orfrom people who’veturned things around inthose counties,” said Cian.

“As importantly, we’rehoping Mayo and Sligocommunities will tell ustheir stories too – maybethey are running aninteresting local festival orhave something positive totell us. But also, I’minterested in seeing howareas have recovered afterthe heavy winter stormsthat hammered thecountry during thewinter,” Cian added.

“Hopefully, before weget to Mayo and Sligopeople can email us orcontact us on twitter sowe know their stories. Theemail [email protected],”said Cian.

For Morning Ireland,Cian likes to hit the roadto meet and talk to peopleabout the issues thatmatter to them. He hasbroadcast from all overthe country, taking thetemperature of the nationin advance of elections,budgets and otherimportant national events.

Morning Ireland Cian McCormack

RTÉ’s Cian McCormack gets onhis bike for Morning Ireland

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The recent death ofBallinacarrow-born priest, Fr.Gerard Jordan, in England at

the age of 95 has prompted us torepublish an article by Irish Timesjournalist Patsy McGarry in “AnIrishman’s Diary” from thatnewspaper on May 11th, 2010, the70th anniversary of the Britishevacuation of Dunkirk (May 10th). Ittells the remarkable story of themovements of seven seminarians forover three weeks in war-tornBelgium at the early stages of WorldWar II.

From the Irish Times, May 2010:SLIGOMAN Gerard Jordan and six

fellow Sacred Heart seminarianswere studying at the Belgiumnovitiate of Brugelette whenGermany invaded that country 70years ago this week, on May 10th,1940. For them it would mean aremarkable journey through the epicchaos of war.

Despite the outbreak of hostilitiesthe previous September, life in thenovitiate flowed smoothly until thatMay day. But the previous nightGerman forces headed towardsFrance across Belgium, theNetherlands and Luxembourg.Luxembourg was occupied in fivehours, Netherlands in five days.Belgium cried out for help.

On May 15th the novitiate wasevacuated. Gerard Jordan and sixcompanions were taken by lorry tothe French border. Three miles short

of it they hoisted their packs ontheir backs and set off on foot. OnMay 18th they crossed into France.

Lorries, tanks and guns, someFrench, some British, were headingthe opposite way towards the frontwhile long columns of refugees weregoing in the same direction as theseminarians, away from it! Then theGermans attacked. They machine-gunned and bombed the lines ofrefugees. Civilians and Frenchsoldiers huddled in every hollow. TheGermans advanced towards Amienswith hundreds of French prisoners ofwar marching alongside them. Butthe seven seminarians walked onwithout hindrance, hoping to reachCalais and get back to England.

They came upon British forces whowere fighting a delaying action asthey themselves too retreatedsteadily seawards. A young officerfrom Dublin drew by the seminariansin a small army van but had roomonly for three.

The remaining four headed on footfor Dunkirk. French soldiers lay bythe road, asleep, rifles beside them.A fierce air battle raged overhead.Many planes, Allied and enemy, werebeing shot down. The four youngmen slept that night in a shed.

The following morning theyemerged to find the countrysideswarming with German soldiers whiledesperate people, trying to getaway, clogged roads and railwaystations.

The Germans, however, did notinterfere with the civilian populationor the refugees on this occasion.They, too, were headed for Dunkirk.

The seminarians followed theBritish army as it retreated towardsDunkirk. Hearing that it wassurrounded they diverted back toCalais and passed a long line ofGerman tanks halted all along theroad “at ease”.

The German crews sat on theturrets, every man with a bottle ofFrench wine. One soldier, betweengulps, asked who they were andwhere they were going? He offered aswig from his bottle and gave them adrink. He laughed, “we will be goingto England in a few days. Stay hereand come with us.” The seminarianslaughed too, but kept going.

It was dusk when they reachedCalais. British soldiers gave themtea, bread, sausages and 10Woodbines each. The sergeantremarked that he had spare rifles.“Why not take one each and join us”he offered. They laughed off thatinvitation too and crossed “no man’sland” to the British front line atCalais. Attacks from the aircontinued. The British said theyexpected to be made prisoners ofwar. They advised the seminarians toleave before daybreak.

They spent that night in a cellarwith scores of refugees and nextmorning set out for Dunkirk again.There were rumours of a large-scaleevacuation. The British were stillfighting a delaying action.

The Germans seemed to have noidea of the scope of the evacuationand halted their advance from May23rd to 27th. It allowed 338,000Allied soldiers to embark fromDunkirk.

By noon on May 27th the finalaction had begun. The seminarianswere stopped by a German sentryfrom entering Dunkirk. Around itsharbour a ferocious battle was takingplace with the Allies trying to holdback German forces now attackingon all sides.

Thick smoke from a burning oildepot covered the entire area. Thesea was calm as, to and fro,between the shore and the ships outto sea, went hundreds of smallboats, gathering men from thebeaches or picking them out of thewater. On the evening of May 28ththe seminarians heard Belgium hadsurrendered. They decided to returnto Brugelette. En route they metlong lines of German infantryadvancing into France, marchingthree abreast, relaxed, carefree,bareheaded, helmets on their belts,rifles on the sling.

Damaged tanks and gun carriers,great quantities of ammunition,soldiers’ packs and broken rifleswere everywhere. It seemed theywere thrown aside as French soldierstried to escape. Many did not. Theseminarians offered prayers ataround thirty graves, each markedby a rifle stuck in the ground with aFrench helmet on top. They cameacross a detailed supply-trainloaded with rations. They asked theGerman guards is they could havesome and were told to take as muchas they wanted. They did. Therations were French.

They crossed into Belgium atNeuve Eglise on Sunday, June 2nd ,and attended Mass in the villagechurch. On June 6th they arrivedback at Brugelette. They had walkedover 300 miles in 22 days duringwhich they had not slept in a bed oreaten at a table. Their feet were ina bad state. Gerard Jordan stayed onin Belgium throughout the war andwas ordained in Louvain in 1946. Heserved most of his priestly life inEngland where he now lives inretirement. He was 91 lastSeptember.

News

By Patricia Conboy

The bank bailout in2008 imposed aheavy burden on Irish

people. The cost has beenestimated at €8,956 forevery man, woman andchild in the country. Inaddition, the effects ofausterity measures haveprobably been felt by

every family in terms of new taxes and cuts to healthand social protection budgets. Inevitably, asgovernment budgets have tightened, there has beena public debate on the impact of austerity ondifferent sections of the population. When it comesto older people, the debate has often been skewedby an assumption that older people form a uniformgroup and have not suffered as badly as others. Inthis context, there are some points worthhighlighting.

Older people are not all the same. As readersknow, this is a group that differs by age, socio-economic, health and family status. The impact ofausterity measures on older people is influenced bythese factors, and their experience over the life-course. In reality, people’s circumstances changesignificantly as they move from being ‘youngold’(65+) to being ‘old old’(80+).

There are older people who are poor; older peoplewho are on modest incomes; and older people whoare well-off. According to the CSO, in 2011 peopleaged 65 and over had an average gross income of€407.28 per week. However, if we look at howincome is distributed among the over 65s, we seesignificant differences. Those in the lowest 20 percent of income (or quintile) had a gross income of€185.45 per week. The source of 85.6% of theirincome was social transfers (i.e. State Pension &related benefits). No more than 3% of income forpeople in this group came from occupationalpensions. Those in the highest 20 per cent of income(or quintile) had a gross income of €842.14 per week.Social transfers accounted for 37.3% of income in thisgroup and 27% came from occupational pensions.

Inequality in early life carries into old age. Forexample, pension coverage in the working agepopulation is inadequate at roughly 54%. Peoplewithout pension provision will be poorer in later life.Those with inadequate pension provision includelarge numbers of women, low-paid, part-time andcasual workers. People need to have sufficientincome to save for their pension and many cannotafford to do so; or cannot afford to save enough tosecure a decent income. Government promotespension saving through a system of tax reliefs.However these reliefs have consistently favouredhigher income earners (See Adam Larragy (2013), AUniversal Pension for Ireland, Social Justice Irelandfor an analysis of this and other pension issues).

We need to situate people in the context of theirlife-course. When people are younger, typicalchallenges are to get on a career ladder, access amortgage, start a family. As people move into olderold age, they face challenges such as the potentialloss of independence, acquired disability, need forsocial, hospice or nursing home care, loss of largernumbers of family and friends to death.

If we see people in context, recognise andacknowledge the challenges that arise at differentpoints of the life-course, our discussion of the effectsof austerity will be more humane, balanced andnuanced. We may have to wear an economicstraitjacket but we don’t have to ration ourcompassion for each other.

Twitter : @PatriciaConboy1 ;https://www.facebook.com/AgePolicyAnalysis

Older People donot form a uniform group

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World War II events recalled afterdeath of retired Sligo priest

Crockets Award Winning Bar & Restaurant

WHEN visiting the NorthWest this summer yourstay will not be

complete until you haveexperienced the best of whatthis region has to offer and ifyou include Crocket’s on theQuay in Ballina in your itinerary,you will probably be blownaway with the experience. Thisunique and highly-accreditedbar/restaurant andaccommodation provider in sucha scenic setting overlooking theinternationally-famous RiverMoy, encompasses all of what’sgood about the north-westunder one roof.

Situated on the Wild AtlanticWay route, and close toEnniscrone, historic Killala, theCeide Fields, the scenic Errisregion, and central for suchfacilities as fishing, golf,

riding/pony trekking, walkingtours and a whole plethora ofactivities across the region, theunrivalled package on offer atCrockets is well worth checkingout.

The impressive premises hasthree different bars to suit allneeds and tastes and food isserved throughout the premises.All the bars have TV coveragefor sports events and excellentWiFi facilities; the larger ofthese can be themed as a sportsbar or “Retro Disco” nite clubdepending on the occasion.

There is live music atweekends, featuring some ofIreland’s finest bands andsingers with DJs on weekendnights also. The premises alsohas a large all-weather beergarden, complete with plasmascreens and pool tables, idealto watch games or relax withfriends in comfortable andheated (winter) surroundings.

The Pub and Restaurant atCrockets has built up aphenomenal reputation for itsfood and its series of Listings ismost impressive: 2013 and 2014Michelin “Eating out in Pubs”Guide for UK and Ireland, TheBridgestone Guide, the IrishTimes “Ireland’s TopRestaurants” and GeorginaCampbell’s “The Good FoodGuide Book” . Group bookingscan be arranged and various setprice menus on offer. Abeautiful private dining room isalso available for parties of upto 40 persons.

Food is served daily from 4p.m. to 9.30 p.m., Monday toFriday and from 12.30 to 9.30p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Anextensive A La Carte lunchmenu is available Saturday andSunday, with low caloriechoices.

ACCOMMODATION:To complete the Crockets

experience eight en-suite guestrooms are available, with TVsand all modern conveniences.This unique location can beused as a base to explore thebest of what the north-west hasto offer. If you prefer a slowerpace it is ideal as a location tounwind, relax and enjoy a shortbreak in the north-west ofIreland.

CONTACT: 00353 96 75930

For Mature Living readers it iswell worth checking out theoffer on this page, particularlyif you are planning a trip tothis region for the autumn.

For reservations and enquiresabout rates, etc., telephone 00353 96 75930,

or email:[email protected].

Check out their website atwww.crocketsonthequay.ie

Crockets on the QuayAS LISTED IN 2014 MICHELIN “EATING OUT IN PUBS” GUIDE

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Feature by Catherine Gilmartin

Sligonative,Mary,

who nowlives in InisMor, AranIslands, wasborn in1935 into aprivilegedfamily. TheO’Haras go

back several generations; hermother is from another ancientGalway family, Kirwan, one ofthe twelve tribes of Galway.Her mother and father metwhen they were at GalwayUniversity.

In her autobiography Mary,the youngest of four children,felt that her mother had apreference for the eldestdaughter, Joan. They had acompanionship between themthat was not shared by the rest

of the children. Joan and hermother would spend a lot oftime together and would go outleaving Mary and her brotherbehind with the maid. Marythinks her mother was not verymaternal. She always felt aplain Jane as her mother alwaystold her she was pale and it didnot help that she was given hersister’s cast offs to wear, whichdid not suit her; because Joanwas a dark beauty she lookedgood in dark colours so herdresses were mainly black orother dark colours which did notsuit Mary who was fair andalways looked pale in them. InMary’s opinion her motherregarded Joan as an extensionof herself. Apart from all thisMary had a very happychildhood and had a closerelationship with her father andbrother Dermot, who was justover a year older than her.

During Mary’s early years, herfather joined the British Army;he became a British Officer inthe Indian Army and was postedto the North West frontier forfive years; his letters, full ofaffection were really lookedforward to.

In her autobiography Marywrites that from an early ageshe knew there was somethingradically wrong with her

parents’ marriage. In her mindit was a disaster and she used topray that they would separate;her mother was very difficult toget on with. Everyone knewthat Mary sided with her fatherin their interminable conflict,and that if they separated shewould stay with him and Joanwith her mother.

When her father returnedfrom the war the disagreements

began again. Her mother drankheavily for a long time and diedwhen Mary was just seventeen.As she had been at boardingschool she never experienced anadult relationship with hermother, so never got to knowwhat the reasons were behindher becoming an alcoholic andher black depression.

Mary was thirteen when shewas sent to boarding school,

Mary O’HaraThe Voice of an angel

Catherine Gilmartin spoke to Mary O’Hara, an Irish Soprano and Harpist from County Sligo, who has made a groundbreaking contribution to Irish music. Mary hasplayed an influential role in shaping and promoting Irish music throughout the world for decades to come through her recordings, radio, worldwide concert toursand TV appearances.


Sion Hill, next door toBlackrock College in Dublin,where Dermot went. As Joanwas also in Dublin, at the AbbeySchool of Acting, her parentsdecided to move to Dublin, soMary left Sligo.

By this time Mary had won herfirst competition at eight yearsold - Sligo's annual Music andDrama singing competition. Atthe age of 16 she had a radiobroadcast under her belt. Shewent on to perform at EdinburghInternational Fringe Festivalwith the Dublin UniversityPlayers, and appeared on BBC’sQuite Contrary and The EdSullivan Show before starring inher own BBC television series.

At the age of 20, Mary wasintroduced to American poet,Richard Selig, in July, 1955; shefell in love and married him in1956. They moved to theUnited States but sadly Seligdied of Hodgkins disease 15months after their marriage,and Mary continued to tour andrecord for four years.

In 1962, she became aBenedictine nun at StanbrookAbbey in England, where shestayed for 12 years. I asked herif it was loneliness thatprompted her to join the nunsbut she said: “No, I never feltlonely in my life, I love being onmy own, I love the silence, it isone of my biggest loves”. “Thereason I became a nun wasbecause I wanted to get toHeaven quicker to be with myhusband. If I had not been aChristian I would havecommitted suicide”. “It wasalso a way of saying thank youto God for 15 wonderful monthsof happiness”.

For health reasons Mary hadto leave the monastery in 1974and found that her musicalreputation had grown. Shereturned to performing and in amatter of months, she becomeone of the biggest internationalrecording stars Ireland has everproduced.

Former African missionarypriest Pat O’Toole became hermanager and close friend. Tenyears after Pat left thepriesthood they got married in

1985 and have been very happilymarried for the last twenty nineyears. They both have a verystrong faith after havingdevoted much of their lives toGod.

Mary O’Hara thinks highly ofPope Francis and believes hewill make radical changes in theCatholic Church. Her faith is ofthe utmost importance to herand she says that the recentrevelations about the CatholicChurch have not impacted herat all. She went on to say, “Yesthere are sinners in the Church,but look not on our sins but onthe Faith of our Church. Godhas an infinitely loving plan foreach and every one of us. Weall have free will, he just leavesit to us”. She believes inmiracles and quotes StAugustine, 5th Century, “A

miracle is contrary not to naturebut to what is known of nature”

We moved on to the subjectof the harp and her career as amusician, The harp has alwaysbeen a symbol of Ireland and ofIrish music and is still played bymany prominent artistes. WhenMary was interviewed by RussellHarty on TV, (a famous Britishpresenter who has now died),the public response wasoverwhelming and led to apublishers’ bidding war callingfor her to do an autobiography.The title of her first book, anautobiography, The Scent of theRoses, is taken from one of herfavourite songs; her other booksinclude A Celebration of Love,and A Song for Ireland, followedby Travels with my Harp in May2012. Mary retired from singingin 1994, and went on to say:

“Nothing would induce me to goback performing again; that wasmy decision when my voice wasstill at its best. “Since thencircumstances have intervenedand I began to transcribe thesongs and theiraccompaniments. Pat, myhusband, has been printing themon the Sibelius programme. Sofar, we have produced sixvolumes with twelve songs ineach. Each song is accompaniedby a CD, not just of traditionalbut Irish art songs and songsfrom other parts of the world,including France, so it has avery wide range. There is an11th Century French song andother beautiful ones that weresung on television so we wereable to retrieve them.Unfortunately, everything had tostop when Pat got sick. He wasstruck down with a very rareform of cancer that only twopeople in a billion suffer with.We may very well revive ourplans though because I have gotso many songs that people saythey would love to have writtendown”.

Mary says her health isexcellent and she puts this downto a well balanced diet. Sheeats a bit of everything but nottoo much and does not drinkalcohol, “I might have one glassof white wine once in a while!”she laughs, an infectious clearand beautiful sounding laugh –like a young girl, a sound that isa pleasure to listen to and itmakes me laugh too.

Mary goes on to tell me thatshe and her husband used to

split their time between a 17th-century thatched cottage inBerkshire, England and the AranIslands but now live full time onAran which makes her husbandPat extremely happy as he wasborn and raised on the Islandand loves it. They both speakfluent Irish, Pat was brought upon the Island and spoke Irish ashis first language having to learnEnglish when he went to school.Mary is currently writing her 5thbook which is going to be aboutAran and the outsiders whocome here and why they love it.

Mary’s nephew, SebastianBarry, son of her sister, Joan,the actress, who played the roleof Eunice Dunstan in Fair City(she died in 2007), is a wellknown novelist and his currentnovel is based loosely on Mary’sparents, A TemporaryGentleman. His other novel,The Secret Scripture, is beingfilmed this year and is set inSligo. It was based on an Auntand Uncle of Mary in Enniscrone.

Finally, Mary offers this adviceto any young person withambitions for a career in theArts: “I would say that I neverset out to be a professional butonce I agree to do something,whether its polishing the tableor giving a concert, I give it 100plus per cent; I commit myselftotally to it, so if I say yes, I aimfor perfection. We never reachperfection but it is only rightthat we should try. If you aregoing to do something aim forperfection, practice, practice,practice” . . . . and I hear thelovely musical laugh once more.

Mary with her husband, Patrick O’Toole.

Marys sister, Joan O’Hara playing the much loved character Eunice in Fair City

Fashion


Achieving a sophisticatedstyle is easy when addinglace to your look. If you

want to spice up the way youlook in an elegant way, then thetrend to try this season is lace!Lace comes in many patternsand designs, so whatever yourtaste may be you can find anappropriate piece to wear. Lacehas a long history, starting inthe 16th century when it wasused in both fashion and homedécor. Since then, lace has beena staple in almost everycivilization and is a greatfashion fabric to wear. Lacefeatures an open pattern withholes and spacing with uniquepatterns throughout. The fabricis woven together or laced,hence the name. Lace in agarment is a must-have fashionpiece that every woman shouldhave in her closet.In this article we areshowcasing great lace pieces tointroduce you to lace or ifyou’re already a fan, fun andaffordable garbs to get yourhands on!

1) Every Day Lace

Summer is upon us and there’sno better way to wear lace thanon a light-colored dress withfloral pattern. An everydaydress like the To Be Near Youdress by LaceAffair.com is theperfect lace finished dress towear this season, with itsdelicate weave complimentedby its flow-y form. It’s theperfect dress to take you fromday to night all season long.

2) Formal Lace

For a work look with lace go forHollow Out Buttons Back LaceBlouse by ChicNova.com. Thisbright coloured blouse featuresan all over hollow out lacedetail and unique back buttonclosure. The blouse makes for aclassy choice to wear to workwith a pair of pants or workskirt. It can transition easily toa casual weekend look whenpaired with the right pair ofwhite pants or jeans.

3) Lace Accessories

Did you know that there aregreat jewelry finds that achievethe same great fabric lace look?Jewelry with cutout designsmimic the same great detailachieved by lace fabric, so youget that same feminine flairthat makes lace desirable. Agreat way to get lace in jewelryform is with this large Lace CuffBracelet from Emitations.com.The gold tone design features abohemian lace-style cutoutdesign with a faux leathermaterial in blue that adds acool color combination. Thiscuff bracelet can be paired withthe lace options above or wornseparately with other garmentsto create a hint of lace withwhatever you wear.

4) Unconventional Lace

Looking for a new way to wearlace? How about wearing laceon your sleeves?!Nordstrom.com features thisStripe Lace Sleeve Tee, anautical designed lace-sleevedshirt that can be worn everyday. It’s casual enough to wearover jeans and can be dressedup for a night out. The lacesleeve tee is a new and trendyway to create a fashion forwardlook that will send your looksailing high.

5) Comfort Lace

This intricately designedpopover sweater from Loft.comis a favourite for covering upwhen it gets chilly. Petite Lou &Grey Lace Stripe Popover isperfect for summer nights whenyou need a little extra warmth,

but still want to show off alittle lace. This fashionable lacesweater is casual enough tohave handy wherever you go.Not only that, its sassy andsophisticated style looks greaton a variety of women.

6) Show Stopping LaceIf you have a strong love affairwith all things lace, then you’lllove our last pick: this Lace OffIvory Lace Dress fromLuLu’s.com features an all overlace design for those womenwho want to go all out. Thisstylish dress is made of ivory

colored lace in a floral patternthat’s an absolute showstopper.If you’re looking to really wowin your lace, this is the dress foryou. I recommend wearing thisto weddings and special eventsif you really want to work it.The great thing about lace isthat it looks great on women ofall ages and body types. Lace isa must-have for all women andas we’ve just seen, it can easilybe worn for a variety ofoccasions. There are so manylace options available to womenthese days; it’s just a matter offinding the look for you!

Six Styles of Lace to Love

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Feature with Sonya Hamill of Blue Apple Dental - Irish Dentistry’s Dental Practice of the Year 2013

‘Blueapple Dental & Implant Team’ is an award-winning dentalpractice in the village of Belcoo in Co. Fermanagh, run byhusband and wife team, James and Sonya Hamill.

Blueapple carries out all forms of dentistry under one roof, andfocuses on helping people overcome their dental challenges,to re-establish their dental health, comfort and beauty. Theybelieve that there is no-one they can’t help regain their dentalconfidence.

‘Blueapple Dental & Implant Team’ has won multiple awards,including ‘Best New Practice’, ‘Best Young Dentist in the UK &Ireland’, and most recently ‘Best Patient Care in Ireland 2012’.

Blueapple welcomes new patients. Just call 048 66386111 to make an appointment for yourconsultation.

www.blueappledental.com

‘Such encouragement and support I have never experienced before and empowered me to complete the procedure without sedation….My trust inBlueapple across all aspects of my dental experience is always upheld each time I visit the practice. I cannot emphasise enough thetransformation that has occurred in my life in terms of panic and anxiety. ‘ An anxious patient, Sligo.

Could this be you?“I’ve avoided going to thedentist for years. I’m shakingjust speaking to you.”Or this“I’m so embarrassed by myteeth I cover my mouth when Ismile or speak to people.” Or this“I know my teeth are in a badway but I am petrified ofhaving something done aboutthem; just the thought ofsitting in the chair makes mefeel awful.”

Is it time to rid yourself of thefear and embarrassment, andgain back your dental comfortand confidence?

Anxiety about dentistry andyour teeth can have adetrimental impact on youreveryday life. If they havenever experienced it, familyand friends can find it verydifficult to imagine how it canaffect you each day: thediscomfort, the embarrassment,the stress of knowing things aregradually getting worse but notreally knowing what’s going on.If you are ready to take the bullby the horns, just work throughthe following steps.

Step 1: Find a dental practiceyou feel will work for you. Ifyou know of someone who getson well with their dentist, inparticular if they were everanxious, ask them. If possible,look for a practice withexpertise in treating peoplewho are anxious. If they offeranxiety relieving treatments,such as sedation, this is apositive sign. When going byrecommendation, ask for thespecific dentist’s name, ratherthan just the practice, so youknow you’ll be seeing the sameperson.

Step 2: Make the call. Justtake a deep breath and do it.Tell them how you feel, and, ifthey sound like they understandyou, make the appointment. Ifthey don’t, no harm done, makeanother call – this is about you,not them, and you will find theright people. Don’t let anythingput you off.

Step 3: Get into the dentalpractice. If the situation ofbeing in the dental practice is atrigger for you, rather than justthe dentistry, and you feel it’sgoing to be very challenging

that first time, ask them aboutcoming in on an earlier occasionfor a look around, just so youare familiar with where you aregoing, and so you can get abetter sense of whether it’s theright place for you. Somemodern dental practices don’tfeel like dental practices at all,and you may feel morecomfortable in a non-clinicalenvironment like this.

Step 4: Establish the facts. Thatfirst visit with the dentist canbe a big step, but you need tounderstand that there is nothingyou are going to show thedentist they have not seenbefore – regularly. It’s their jobto help people with their teeth;and you are unique and special,but not unusual. The first visitshould usually be just aboutfinding out more and getting toknow each other. The upside?

1. Today you will really knowwhat is happening in yourmouth, rather than what youfear might be going on. 2. Youwill have a set of steps formaking things better, and so youhave the tools in your hands forbanishing your dental demons;you are in control. 3. Today youconquered a metaphoricalmountain!

Step 5: The treatment – step-by-step carry it through.Hopefully you have found adentist who understands theanxiety surrounding thisexperience for you. If so, theywill bear this in mind in theplanning of your treatment –breaking it into stages you arecomfortable with. You haveoptions for minimising theanxiety, including the use ofanxiety relieving medicationswhich will put you into a

temporary state of deeprelaxation. Make sure this isall planned in a way you arehappy with from the beginning,so you have a clear plan to workthrough. By starting withsimple treatments yourconfidence will grow quickly.

Getting on top of your dentalhealth will have many benefits,including some you haven’teven thought of. Poor dentalhealth can impact on youroverall body health, playing arole in other illnesses, so thepositives of becoming dentallyfit will be multifactorial. Manypatients we see in this situationfind that overcoming theirdental anxiety leads to greaterconfidence in other parts oftheir life too. And there is ofcourse no doubting the feelgood factor in having aconfident, healthy smile.

Step-by-step, Overcoming DentalPhobia & Embarrassment

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Health

Are you getting enoughsleep — or maybe toomuch? How long you sleep

each night could determine howquickly your brain ages.

Researchers from the UKfound that middle-aged adultswho slept less than six hourseach night — and more thaneight hours — are more likely toexperience cognitive decline.And this decline in brainfunction is equal to being fourto seven years older,researchers said.

“There is an expectation intoday’s 24-hour-a-day societythat people should be able to fitmore into their lives,” studyauthor Jane Ferrie, fromUniversity College LondonMedical School, told HealthDayNews.

“The whole work/life balancestruggle is causing people totrade in precious sleeping timeto ensure they completeeverything they feel is expectedof them. Our study suggeststhat this may have adverseeffects on their cognitivefunction,” she said.

For the study, which waspublished in Sleep, researcherslooked at the data of 5,431 menand women, aged 45–69, whohad taken place in long-termstudy known as the Whitehall IIstudy. Participants were askedhow many hours on averagethey slept each night and ifthese sleep patterns hadchanged over a five-yearperiod. They were also given abattery of standard tests toevaluate memory, reasoning,vocabulary, global cognitivestatus and verbal fluency.

Women who slept 7 hours pernight had the highest score forevery cognitive measure,followed by those who got 6hours of snooze time, the studyfound. For men, the findingswere slightly different: thosewho reported sleeping six,

seven or eight hours had asimilar cognitive function.

For both men and women,however, getting less than 6hours or more than 8 hours ofsleep each night wereassociated with lower mentalperformance.

While it is widelyacknowledged that sleep isimportant for the brain torestore and revitalize itself, it isstill not understood why sevenhours of sleep is optimal formost people, or why longersleeping seems to bedetrimental, Ferrie said.Other risks of a sleep-deprivedlifestyle

Better brain health is not theonly reason to get a goodnight’s sleep. Not only can sleepdeprivation affect mentalalertness and cognitive abilities,it can have an effect on ourphysical and psychologicalhealth as well. Poor sleep canincrease the risk for obesity anddiseases such as diabetes,experts say. Studies have alsoshown that people with a sleep-deprived lifestyle are lesssatisfied with their lives overall— and getting a good night’ssleep has also been associatedwith better longevity.

9 Tips for better sleep

Set a schedule and stick to it.Go to bed at a set time eachnight and get up at the sametime each morning. Disruptingthis routine may interrupt yourinner ‘circadian clock’ and leadto insomnia. While ‘sleeping in’on weekends may seem like atreat, it can make it harder towake up early on Mondaymorning because it re-sets yoursleep cycles for a laterawakening.

Watch what you eat. The general rule is: Don’t eatfor at least 2-3 hours before

your regular bedtime. Eatingtoo much may make you lesscomfortable when settling downfor bed. It is best to avoid aheavy meal and spicy foods tooclose to bedtime.

Watch what you drink. Avoid drinks that containcaffeine, which acts as astimulant. This includes coffee,chocolate, soft drinks, and non-herbal teas. Alcohol tends tokeep people in lighter stages ofsleep, robbing them of deepand REM sleep. (Smokers alsotend to sleep lightly and oftenwake up early because ofnicotine withdrawal.)

Get regular exercise. Try to exercise 20 to 30 minutesa day. Keep in mind, however,that while daily exercise oftenhelps people sleep, a workout

too soon before bedtime mayactually interfere with sleep. Inaddition to making us morealert, our body temperaturerises during exercise, and takesas much as 6 hours to begin todrop. Since a cooler bodytemperature is associated withthe onset of sleep, it is betterto finish your exercise at least 5to 6 hours before going to bed.

Establish relaxing rituals. Leave the day’s stresses behindwith a warm bath, reading oranother relaxing activity. Avoidarousing activities beforebedtime like working, payingbills, engaging in competitivegames or family problemsolving.

Make your room sleep-friendly. Select your mattress,pillow and bed linens carefullyfor maximum comfort. Maintaina sleep-friendly temperature inthe bedroom, usually between18-21°C (65-70 degrees F).(Extreme temperatures maydisrupt sleep or prevent youfrom falling asleep.) You mayalso wish to consider usingblackout curtains, eyeshades,earplugs, ‘white noise,’humidifiers, fans and otherdevices. Install soft lighting inyour bedroom and bath. Andwhen reading in bed, considerusing a book light.

Try deep breathing. If you have trouble falling to

sleep, try this relaxationexercise: take deep, slowabdominal breaths, and ifpossible, inhale through yournose. Even if your mind is amuddle of thoughts, try to focuson the flow of your breathing,inhaling and exhaling slowly.Count your breaths, and whenyou get to 10 start over again.

Don’t just lie there. Generally it takes about 20-30minutes to fall asleep. If youstill can’t get to sleep, don’tjust lie in bed. Instead tryreading, watching television, orlistening to calming music untilyou feel tired. The anxiety ofbeing unable to fall asleep canactually contribute to yoursleeplessness.

Rise with the sun. If possible, wake up with thesun, or use very bright lights inthe morning. Sunlight helps thebody’s internal biological clockreset itself each day. Sleepexperts recommend exposure toan hour of morning sunlight forpeople having problems fallingasleep.

Finally, see a doctor if yoursleeping problems continue.If you have trouble fallingasleep night after night, or ifyou always feel tired the nextday, then you may have a sleepdisorder and should see aphysician. Most sleep disorderscan be treated effectively.


Smart Sleeping: Top tips for better sleep and brain health

What is flexibility?A simple definition of flexibilityis having the ability to bendwithout breaking. If you areflexible your joints move easilyand without injury. Sound likeyou? Or does this description fityou better?Anything from the joy of dancingand playing sports to simplethings like backing out of yourdriveway or bending to tie yourshoes can be affected by a loss offlexibility.

A Definition Of Flexibility - TheWhole PictureA number of factors influenceflexibility ...

Your Body's AnatomyJoints. Your body has many typesof joints, including ball andsocket (shoulders and hips),hinged (elbows and fingers),modified hinged (knees), andgliding (spine). Each joint has it'sspecific range of motion. Forexample, to get something froma high cupboard your shoulderjoint moves 180 degrees. Yourelbow bends 145 degrees to allowyou to bring food to your mouth.Our daily activites are made ofcombined movements of severaljoints at once.Connective Tissue. Your skin,muscle sheaths, bones, tendons,lagaments and cartilage all con-tain protein. Collagen, a fibrous

connective tissue, makes up 30%of the protein in these tissues. Connective tissue plays a largepart in how flexible you are. It isboth elastic and plastic in it'sability to stretch. Elasticity is theability to return to it's orignalresting length following a dy-namic stretch. Plasticity is theability to assume a new, longerlength following a static stretch.Muscle spindles are locatedWithin the fibers of your muscles.Their job is to monitor changes inmuscle length and respond to itwith increased muscle activity.Static stretching is a good way toavoid activating your musclespindles and gain more flexibility.Golgi Tendon Organs are foundnear the junctions between yourmuscles and tendons. They re-spond to increased muscle ten-sion by creating a relaxationresponse. Activating your golgitendon organs can help improveflexibility.

Your Body's EnvironmentBody temperature. Increasingyour body temperature by exer-cisng or simply sitting in a warmbath for 10 - 15 minutes can helpincrease flexibility.Furniture. The surfaces you lay,sit and work on can help or hin-der proper body alignment andover time change your flexibility.

Your LifestyleExercise. As an adult you haveapproximately 604 skeletal mus-cles and 206 bones. Put simply,you were designed to move. Withevery step you take and everymove you make you're stretchingparts of you body. This helps keepit pliable. How active a life styleyou lead has a large impact onyour flexibility.Functional movements arewhole body movments or multi-joint movements that happen inyour every day life. Rakingleaves, picking things up from thefloor and cleaning your home allinvolve functional movements.

What are the activites you doday after day? And more impor-tantly how do you do them?Proper body mechanics helps tokeep you flexible.Good posturehelps maintain good flexibility.Nutrition. For your connectivetissues to remain healthy and pli-able they need to be well nour-ished. Eat a healthy diet andavoid smoking.Stress causes your muscles totighten. If the stress lasts over along period of time these musclesmay shorten. Learn to deal withstress in healthy ways.

What Causes Us To Lose Flexibil-ity As We Age?No functional definition of flexi-bility would be complete withoutknowing the main reasons womenover 50 become less flexible ...Inactivity. Their are definatechanges occuring in your body asyou age, but ... A lot of the lossof function and flexibility associ-ated with aging is due to beingsedentary.Changes in your connective tis-sues. With passing years our col-lagen fibers tend to stick insteadof gliding easily over each other.As a result our tendons, liga-ments, joints and muscles be-come less flexible. Having aregular stretching program off-sets these problems.Diseases affecting yourmuscles and joints. Os-teoarthritis, osteoporosis,rheumatoid arthritis, fi-bromyalgia and polymyal-gia rheumatica make itpainful to move, oftenleading to a less activelifestyle and increasedstiffness. Injury. whenyour muscles and jointsare injured fibrous nodulesmay form in the connec-tive tissue limiting yourability to move. In addi-tion to stretching, soft tis-sue techniques such asneuromuscular therapy ormyofascial release may

help free the area and restoreflexibility. Unfortunately whenwe decide to get fit, a definitionof flexibility isn't the first thingthat comes to mind. But stayinglimber means having the freedomto move, tiring less easily and de-creasing or eliminating areas ofpain. To make your definition offlexibility functional you need tomake it relevant to you. Answerthese questions for yourself Are you noticing any movementsthat are difficult for you to do?Write them down.What activites would you like todo? What movements do youneed to be able to do easily to dothese things? Can you do them?

Do you have areas of pain or stiff-ness? Make note of them.

How active and limber do youwant to be a year from now? 5years from now? Create a vi-sion for yourself in writing.Once you've answered the ques-tions, compare where you arenow to where you want tobe. Set specific, realistic goalsfor improvement. Goals thatmatter to you. Then build aflexibility routine that meetsyour needs. Be sure to consultyour physician or physical thera-pist if you have back issues, areexperiencing joint pain or haveother medical conditions.


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At 80 years of age this britan got talent contestant had noissues with her flexibility

A Functional Definition Of Flexibility

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Solicitors

CAT is a tax on gifts and inher-itances (benefits) receivedby individuals (beneficiaries)

from other individuals (known asdonors) The calculation of CAT is based onthe following:1. The value of the benefit.2. The relationship between thebeneficiary and the donor.3. Any previous benefits receivedby the beneficiary from thatdonor or any other donor of a sim-ilar relationship. E.g. a gift re-ceived by a sister from a sister.The emphasis is on what the ben-eficiary ( the person receiving thebenefit) receives.Inheritance- is taken on death.Gift- is not so taken. Once the taxable value of a bene-fit is established the CAT payableon that value must be calculated. CAT payable depends on the rela-tionship between the disponerand the beneficiary. It also de-pends on any prior benefits takenfrom any disponer of the same re-lationship.The classes of relationship areknown as groups:GROUP A: If the beneficiary is achild, a minor child of a deceased

child or where a parent inherits anabsolute interest from a child.The definition of a child is verywide and includes; natural,adopted, step child and can ex-tend to foster children. GROUP B: If the beneficiary is alineal ancestor ( ie parent, grand-parent) a lineal descendant otherthan child, brother or sister. It isimportant to note the definitionscontained in the legislation. GROUP C: This applies to anyother category of beneficiary thatdoes not come within the defini-tion of group a or group b. Thisrelates to aunts, uncles, cousinsand strangers in blood. e.g. A benefit received by anephew from an uncle comesunder Group B.A benefit received by an unclefrom a nephew comes underGroup C. Each group has a thresh-old amount. The thresholdamount is the amount belowwhich no tax is payable. Anyamount over the threshold is re-ferred to as the “ taxable excess”.The current thresholds are as fol-lows:

Group Thresholds Applicable for

Capital Acquisitions Tax YEAR Group A (Son/Daughter)(after indexation) Group B(Parent*/Brother/Sister/Niece/Nephew/Grandchild)(after indexation) Group C(Relationship other that at A/B)(after indexation)On or after 06/12/2012€225,000 /€30,150 / €15,075There are certain reliefs whichcan be applied to the taxablevalue of the benefit.There is an exemption applicableto gifts and this is referred to asthe Small Gifts Exemption ( SGE).The current value of the SGE is€3,000.00.The main reliefs claimed are Agri-cultural and Business Relief.;

AGRICULTURAL RELIEF Agricultural Relief: This is a veryimportant relief affecting mostfarms in the country. The relief operates by reducingthe market value of 'agriculturalproperty' by 90%, so that gift or in-heritance tax is calculated on anamount - known as the 'agricul-tural value' - which is substantiallyless than the market value. Ingeneral, the relief applies pro-

vided the beneficiary qualifies asa 'farmer' .Gifts and Inheritances taken on orafter 20th November, 2008 'Agri-cultural property' means:• agricultural land, pasture andwoodland situated in a MemberState of the European Union;• crops, trees and underwoodgrowing thereon;• houses and other farm buildingsappropriate to the property; and• livestock, bloodstock and farmmachinery thereon.

• A payment entitlement (withinthe meaning of Council Regulation(EU) No. 1782/2003 of 29 Septem-ber 2003) To qualify for the reliefthe gift or inheritance must con-sist of agricultural property bothat the date of the gift or inheri-tance and at the Valuation Date.The Valuation Date is the date atwhich the property is valued forgift/ inheritance tax purposes.For the purposes of the relief, a'farmer' means: an individual inrespect of whom at least 80% ofhis or her assets, after taking agift or inheritance, consist of agri-cultural property on the valuationdate of the gift or the inheritance.

BUSINESS RELIEF: Business Relief: The purpose ofthis relief has been stated to pre-vent the sale or break ip of familyrun businesses. To qualify for the relief the rele-vant business property must havebeen owned for a continuous pe-riod of 5 years prior to the date ofthe gift or inheritance. However,if the inheritance is taken on thedeath of the disponer the relevantperiod is 2 years prior to the dateof the inheritance.Ownership by the disponer'sspouse, civil partner or by atrustee will count for the purposesof satisfying this requirement.At present the relief is 90 percent. Certain types of businessesare excluded from being relevantbusiness property and are thus ex-cluded from the relief. **The materials contained in thisarticle are provided for generalinformation purposes only and donot constitute or comprise legaladvice on any particular matter.You should not act or refrain fromacting on the basis of any mate-rial contained on in this articlewithout seeking appropriate legalor other professional advice**

An overview of Captital Acquisition Tax (Gift/ Inheritance Tax)

CONOR A. MAGUIRE

SOLICITORSConor A. Maguire BA (ES)

T: 071-9855983 • M: 087-6739454E: [email protected]

skype: conor.maguire31

Lower Main Street, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim

(Sub Office) High Street, Drumshanbo, Co.Leitrim (Tuesdays 4-7pm)

* In contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as apercentage or portion of any award or settlement.

Tel: 094 -9022980 094-9022981

Thomas Street, Castlebar, County Mayo

Email: [email protected]: 094 9022 922

VINCENT DEANE & CO. SOLICITORS

Deerpark Business Centre, Claregalway Road,Oranmore, Co. Galway

Tel: 091-795941 Email: [email protected]

Joan C. O’Brien, B.Comm., LL.B.John Keane, B.Comm., LL.B., Dip. Emp. Law

• Wills & Probate • Property Sales & Purchases• Personal Injury Claims* • Employment Law• Family Law • Court Attendances

Gardening

EJ Menswear celebreates 20 YearsBy RodneyMunn

IN 1994bothFinland and

Sweden votedto join theEuropeanUnion andBrazil werewinners of

the World Cup (for the 4thtime), beating Italy afterpenalties.

In the same World cup Irelandhad beaten Italy 1 - 0 withthat famous goal from Ray

Haughton , and made it to thenext round after a draw withNorway. That same year Irelandwon the Eurovision song contestwith"Rock and Roll Kids" by PaulHarrington and CharlieMcGettigan.

Down beat Dublin in the AllIreland Final by 1:12 to 0:13 atCroke Park, and Boyzonereleased their debut album “Saidand Done”.

However, with all that goingon here at home in Sligo wewitnessed the birth of a businessthat has become a bit of alegend in its own lifetime. Fromhumble beginnings in a smallshop with 400 sq feet to an

outstanding Mensweartreasure house with 10,000 sqfeet over three floors cateringfor all that's needed by anyman at any time of his life.

Eamonn Cunningham hadopened this small shop at thebottom of High Street on the21st of April 1994 featuringjeanswear and casual tops.Essential Jeanswear as it wascalled did good business withsome personal touches such aswrapping every purchase inbrown paper and string,something now missing in thismodern age.

Then as time moved onEamonn moved into a newpremises on Market Cross. Thebusiness is now on two floorswith a suit and formal hiredepartment added on. At thisstage brands like Levis,Wrangler, Firetrap, Sonnetti andMantinique were all leaders andthen Tommy Hilfiger whichbecame a major player on theworld scene.

Then the year of 2002became a pivotal point in thehistory of EJs. Eamonn movedinto the fabulous bank buildingson Gratton Street, with its 100year old architecture andoutstanding frontage. This was abrave move when the world was

rocked by 9/11 and the futurewas uncertain in many ways.However, it was a move thatproved to be an outstandingsuccess, which has establishedEJs as a constant feature and anever evolving business in thesechanging times.EJS has brought the top brands

to Sligo, Ralph Lauren, Gant, GStar, Lyle and Scott Eton shirtand as a result people didn’thave to travel to Dublin to seethe best of ranges from all theleading fashion houses.

Then in 2007 EJs entered theDRAPERS AWARDS and won theCategory for best independentmenswear retailer, Irish and

British shops. This was a trulymemorable occasion in theGrosvenor House Hotel in Londonamongst such illustriouscompany. Since then therehave been more awardsincluding one recently for theformal hire department whichhas gone from strength tostrength. So, 20 years inbusiness is a truly remarkableachievement, especially afterbeing hit with some toughrecessionary years. There havebeen many victims of thesedifficult times including manywell known names in Sligo. It is atestament to the resilient natureof this local businessman and to

the support from the localcommunity that 20 years havepassed and hopefully many moreto come. So keep your eye outfor some special events comingup in the year. Follow us onFacebook if you can. There willbe something special foreveryone. Some say the future iswhat you make it, and that tosome extent is true, and ourfuture also includes the facilityto buy from EJS online whichshould be up and running bySeptember, so keep an eye outfor that too. So, finally, we justwish to say THANK YOU to all ourcustomers and join us incelebrating 20 years.

1994 20142004

Eyecare: What are Floaters?Floaters look like small, dark spots or

strands that appear to float in frontof your eyes. Floaters are very

common and are normally harmless.They are more common if you are shortsighted or as you get older. Some people notice they see flashes oflight. These can be due to movement ofthe gel inside the eye. Very occasionally, flashes or an increasein floaters can be a sign of a retinaldetachment, which needs treating assoon as possible. This is more common

as you get older, or in people who areshort sighted of have had eye surgery. If you get any of the following symptomsand you cannot contact youroptometrist, you should seek urgentattention from an eye casualtydepartment at the hospital. It isimportant that you seek advise promptlyif you have:A sudden increase in floaters,particularly if you notice flashing lightsA new, large floatersA change in floaters or flashing lights

after you have had a direct blow to youreye A shadow spreading across the visionof one of your eyes

What are floaters?Flaoters appear as black spots orsomething that looks like hair or smallpieces of a cobweb. These can be semi-transparent or dark and appear to floatin front of your vision. If you have hadthese for years, your eye and your brainlearn to ignore them. Sometimes thenumber of floaters increases as you getolder. Occasionally an increase infloaters can be a sign of problems insidethe eye. Because they ‘float’ in the jelly of youreye, you will find that if you move youreye to try to look at a floater it willmove away in the direction you moveyour eye. You might only see the floaterif you are staring at a light colouredsurface or at the sky during the day.Some people find that floaters can be anuisance, but most people get used tothem. They rarely cause problems withyour vision.

Why do floaters occur?Some people are born with floaters.Other floaters occur as you get olderwhen the gel in the eye, the vitreoushumour, naturally shrinks. The gelseparates into a watery fluid and wavycollagen fibrils. The fibrils are seen asline-shaped floaters. Sometimes the gelshrinks enough to collapse away the lightsensitive lining at the back of your eye,which is called the retina. Once the gel

has collapsed, some people see a largering-shaped floater.The collapse of the vitreous gel can pullon your retina. If this happens you wouldsee this as flashes of light.Floaters can also be caused by some eyediseases that cause inflammation. This isnot very common.

Who is at risk of floaters?Floaters are more common in peoplewho are short sighted. They mayincrease if you have had an eyeoperation such as cataract surgery, orlaser treatment after cataract surgery.

What might happen if I have floaters?Most of the time floaters are harmless.Sometimes they may be annoying, buttreatment is not advised. Occasionally a sudden increase infloaters - either one or more large onesor a shower of tiny ones – may be a signof more serious eye disease such as aretinal detachment. This is when yourretina pulls away from the back of youreye: it may lead to a sudden increase infloaters and possibly a blank spot orshadow in your vision which does not goaway. This needs immediate attention.If you notice these symptoms you shouldcontact your optometrist straight away.If you cannot do this you should seekurgent attention from an eye casualtydepartment at the hospital. Anophthalmologist, a specialist eye doctor,will need to use eye drops and a speciallight to look inside your eyes to check ifyour retina is damaged.

Iadmit it. I have theShowgarden bug. As a gardendesigner here in Ireland,

Bloom in the Park, the festivalon the June Bank holidayweekend is the most prestigiousplace to exhibit your skills.Bloom, brought to you by BordBia, is Ireland’s answer to theChelsea Flower show and is awonderful celebration ofIreland’s top Garden Design,delicious food and family fun.

I have created showgardens atthe festival in both 2012 and2013 and the competition is atrue challenge with tightschedules, real budgets and allthe stress associated withbuilding a showgarden. Byexhibiting here you are not onlyshowcasing your skills to thepublic but the designer is alsoentering into a seriouscompetition which is judged by apanel of experts in the field,including some Chelsea judges.When the crowds start pouring in

and you feel that you arecreating a little bit of heaven forpeople to enjoy and get inspiredby for their own spaces, youfinally know all the stress hasbeen worth it.

Much like the Chelsea Flowersshow, Bloom visitors go to thefestival to get ideas and to seewhat trends are happening inthe garden world. It’s amazinghow horticulturallyknowledgeable many visitors areat Bloom. Phrases such as “I lovehow you have combined your Irischysographes with your Stipatenuissima” are not uncommonat Bloom and shows that thepublic loving your design is morethan just a fancy.

This year I took a year outfrom building a showgarden anddecided to visit Bloom in thePark to just enjoy it from aspectator and a writer’s point ofview. Though I did have slightwithdrawal symptoms, for mecreating showgardens isaddictive, I did enjoy seeing theinspiring designs immensely.From urban rock star cool to thesubtle natural approach, everystyle and trend was represented.Bloom really has a wealth ofinspiration and design ideas.Here are some of the plantingcombinations and trends thatparticularly appealed to me.

ColourColour was one of the maintrends this year and we had twovery distict schools of thought.Where Kevin Dennis’s best inlarge category gold garden hadlimes green acers juxtaposedwith the bright purples andturquoises of his graffiti andMarion Keogh’s bold and happy

colour splashes were trendingcolour choices. In Chelsea I sawthe Gucci garden exploringcolour in just this way. Theresult was a rewardingcombinations of joyful colour.Fun and elegantly childlike inappeal. However, there was alsoa different colour trend that wasapparent and it was in tune withthe big names at Chelsea thisyear, with minimal pale yellows,whites and greens being themain colour palette. The goldmedal gardens by DeirdrePender, Paul Doyle and AndrewChristopher Dunne were fineexamples of these simplepalleted gardens that spokemore of form, texture and feel,leaving space and depth for theviewer to be drawn in.

AttitudeThere was a definite trend isgardens with a bit of an edge atBloom this year. This years

winning Supergarden by CianHawes used hard industrialGabion walls which werecleverly softened with mossesand alpines. The overall winnerKevin Dennis had some colourfulurban graffiti and spilling paintdetails on his water features.

Spires and Iris As was the case with Chelseathis year, the shape of thetrending plant was a spire shapewith the Iris plant also stronglyfeatured. Foxgloves, both thenative purpurea as well as themuch loved Pam’s Choice as wellas Lupins were featured in many

gardens including Ailish Drake’sLimerick Culture Garden. Spiresof elegant blue Delphiniums andlilac Salvias featured in TimAusten’s inspiring Peopleschoice garden for Barretstownwhile Alan and David ofGardensNow featuredexplosions of colourful Lupinsand Foxgloves for their‘Wellbeing Wetlands’ garden.The choice of Iris ranged froman elegant pale blue scatteredamongst grasses in Paul Doyle’s‘Messenger’ garden while thenative yellow flag Iris lookedvery much at home in DeirdrePenders ‘Idir’ garden.


Inspired Planting @ BLOOMIs colour the trend of the season? Award winning garden designer Leonie Corneliusoutlines the latest planting trends inspired by Ireland’s top designers

Leonie Corneliusis an award winning Garden Designer,Interior Architect and TV presenter.

She is the Mentor for the 2014Supergarden showon RTE1

www.blume.ie

Top soil, Decorativechip, Stone & Gravel

Tel: 087-6111800

Delivered -1 to 10 ton loads20 ton loads are also availableAll materials are delivered on a smalltruck for easy access to tight spaces.

Tipper and flat body hire and muckaway site clearance service also

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Ground Works &House Services

John Has!ngs

CALL: 087-2416533All Work Guaranteed • Fully Insured

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Landscaping & Garden Design• Garden Maintenance

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Telephone Brendan on 085-2197085

BEFORE

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Fishers Water GardensKoi Ponds & Water Gardens

Call For A FREE Quote Tel: 086-1228008www.fisherswatergardens.com

Creation and construction of WaterGardens, Koi Ponds & Waterfalls.

Supply & fitment of The Spiderfilter (Clearwater guaranteed) & Fiberglass premade

ponds,Pond Clean, Reline & Repair Service.

Decking, Water Features, Landscaping &Stone Work.

With over 40 years experience, Sole supplierof The SpiderFilter and Premoulded

fiberglass fish ponds in Ireland Fishers WaterGardens are the only choice when it comes

to water in your garden.

www.robotmower.org Contact Seamus (Na!onwide) for brochure 086-2550801

Contact Adrian (Connacht) on 087-7539315

The GardensLough Key Forest Park, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Tel: 071-9662688 • 086-8235287 • Open 7 Days

All your garden needs catered forLarge selection of shrubs, trees, plants,

hanging baskets, window boxes and summer bedding available.

Brennan Mill & Garden Furniture

Lahardane, Ballina, Co. Mayo • Tel: 096-51345 / 086-8230683

• Garden Sheds • Swings • Arches • Trellis• Kiddie Play House • Garden Decor • Wendy Houses• Sea-Saws • Huge Range Of Items Available

Coney Lane, Ballisodare, Co. Sligo • www.westernpaving.ieContact Myles Sweeney 071-9167633 • Mob: 086-8197898

Western PavingPatio, Driveway and Footpath Specialists

• Free Quotations • Fully insured • Over 30 years Experience • Advice on Design and layout

Concrete- Pattern Imprinted, coloured or plain

Paving- Stone, Brick, Gravel DrivewaysGroundworks - Septic tanks & Percolation,

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reconstructingPlant Hire - Mini Digger, 1 ton Dumper,

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Declan O'Brien Stoneworks

Call 087-1211653 Today for a FREE no hassle quota!on

We are Fully Qualified and deliver quality across a wide range ofproject types. These include all aspects of Stone Masonry &

General Building work in the domes!c & commercial sectors. We cover Leitrim, Connacht and All Surrounding Areas.

Our Guarantee is to provide you with a Professional Service withthe highest quality of workmanship our minimum standard.

Craigville Garden Centre, Sligo Road, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.

Tel: 048-66326004,Open Mon-Sat 9-6, Sun 1-6www.craigvillegardencentre.co.uk

Massive range for all your gerdening needs Hanging Baskets • Shrubs • Bedding Plants• Potted Plants

Craigville Garden Centre& Coffee Shop

Coffee Shop Open to public, enjoy refreshments in our coffee cabin whenyou visit our extensive garden centre.

3x Multipurpose

Compost Only £10

TFG Tree forestry and garden servicesTree surgery and hedge cutting

Professional services at best ratesCall Mark for a no obligation quote

Tel: 086-7387420

Tel. 05793 – 51277Axis Business Park, Clara Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Steel Garden Sheds, Garages & TegkonCustom Steel Buildings

• Galvanised Steel Frame • PVC Coated Cladding - no painting• Variety of Colours • All Sheds come with a non-drip roof• We can supply a wooden or concrete floor.• All sheds erected within 1-3 hours• All sheds come with at least one clear light on the roof.

TEL: 086-240 7844www.candssheds.ie [email protected]

Fiona Faery is an Irish Psychic Medium who unites people regularly with their loved ones in spirit & also offers psychic guidance with her Faery or-acle card readings. She is a regular on Irish radio & has monthly columns in various publications. Fiona is known for her optimistic no-nonsenseapproach to life. She teaches workshops on mediumship and helps 'baby' mediums build their confidence & step into their power. Her spiritual

poetry has found a home on her Facebook page; Fiona Faery where she posts a daily poem. Her poetry is aimed to motivate & empower, asFiona believes in helping people connect with their soul purpose. She reads internationally through her website www.fionafaery.ie

Fiona Faery gives private 1-to-1 sittings at The Sligo Park Hotel on the last weekend of every month. She is also availablefor private consultations or One Question readings on her

website www.fionafaery.ie You can contact Fiona to Book a Private Reading @ 0863736143

Angelscope for July

with Fiona Faery

AriesAngel of Children : The angel if children isguiding you to spend some time with yourown inner child. It's time to make time forlaughter in your life. Contact an old friendor ring a current one and reminisce andcatch up. Do something that would makeyour inner child smile such as buying an icecream or listening to a favourite song.

Things have been to seri-ous around you as of late.Allow the power of joy tofill your heart again as youlet your inner child out toplay. This can also meanan announcement of anarrival in the family.LuckyDay: 15th JulyLucky colour: pink

Taur!sAngel of new beginnings: It's time to turn anew page and begin a new chapter inyour life. You are ready to move from thepast and no longer dwell on old pain andresentment. New people and newopportunities are coming your way. It's time

to rIse your hopes andexpectations.Positivity is veryimportant around youright now. Onlysurround yourself withthose that believe inyou. Know at everyending is also a newbeginning.Lucky Day: 17thLucky colour: Brown

GeminiAngel of retreat : Sometimes we need timealone. This angel advises you that yourthoughts may have become scattered andyour feel unfocused as of late. Spend timealone in nature, gofor a walk, listen tosome music. Youare capable ofmaking this deci-sion on your own.Your intuition onlyspeaks to you inquiet moments. Somake time for thesequiet moments andstart to listen. Lucky Day: 21stLucky colour: blue

CancerAngel of answered prayer: This beautifulangel has entered your spread to let youknow heaven has heard your call.Synchronistic events and people will enteryour life as they are the universes way ofanswering your prayer. Try not to becometo fixed or attached to how it is going tohappen, simply trust thatit will happen. Believe inyour dreams andbelieve in the power ofpositive intentions. Asthe more fate andoptimism you place thequicker your prayer willbe answered! Lucky Day: 29thLucky colour: green

LeoAngel of new love : For those of you thatare single, have faith as love is just aroundthe corner. You may feel guided to gosomewhere new, Take up a new hobby, trya new course. This is the universes way of

giving Cupid ahelping hand. Forthose of you inrelationshipsromance is a veryimportant aspect ofa relationship, havea date night andplan some coupletime. Never forgetlove is the spice oflife. Lucky Day: 11thLucky colour: red

Angel ofenchantmentThis angel guidesyou to stay firm onyour presentcourse. Havecourage in yourconvictions. Youmay need to digyour heels in. Trustyour gut and pressahead. You mayneed to bang veryhard on the door ofopportunity. Takeheart for the universe is listening. Septemberbrings news of success.Lucky Day: 18th Lucky colour: silver

Angel of serenity This angel guides you to seek peace andtranquility. For you may have becomecaught up the drudgery that is life. Taketime to smell the flow-ers, go for a peace-ful walk, listen tosome music. Yoursoul cries out forsome peaceful/rest-ful solitude. It's timeto step back andallow things to hap-pen around you.Take some longawaited me time.Lucky Day: 16thLucky colour: white

Scor"ioAngel of focus: This angel warns you ofbeing over stressed and over worked. Theangel of focus urges you to get your priori-ties in order. No-tice the flowerygarland in herlap, she's to preoccupied withothers worries. It'stime for you tolook inward andfocus on yourown needs. It'stime to cleanhouse, start withyour own! Lucky Day: 24thLucky colour: orange

Sagi#ariousAngel of listening The wonderful arch angel Michael makes hisappearance felt in this card. You are beingguided to speak your truth, you will find the

courage when youseek it, for this angelis powerful ally tohave by your side.Are you also awareof what is being saidaround you? Thisangel encouragesyou to develop yourlistening skills andalso helps you hearwhat is not beingsaid as well...!Lucky Day: 25thLucky colour: navy

Angel of ideas and inspirationThis cherub of inspiration sits on yourshoulders at present giving you eurekamoments. You can either dismiss this or acton it! If you have been feeling stuck in a rutas of late this maybe your guardiansway of helping youbreak free for it. It'stime to trysomething new. Ifyou've been feelingblocked, this angelis also showing youa creative solutionto the currentproblem you face.Lucky Day: 28thLucky colour: jade

AquariusAngel of forgiveness: When you forgive, yourealise the real prisoner had been you allalong. For the prison is anger, pain andresentment. You are not responsible forother peoples issues but you can takeresponsibility in how you choose to handleyour current situation. The more you focuson happiness. No positivity the more youattract people and all manner of events

that attract this in to your life.On the other hand themore you focus on painand betrayal the morepeople and situations ofnegativity will constantlybarge you. It's time to let thepast go and move into ahappier future. Lucky Day:19 Lucky colour: gold

Angel of healing : The angel of healingcomes around you, sending you blessings ofabundance. The healing that is sent isemotional, physical and mental. She is alsosending in a helpful friend or relative whowill provide support and a shoulder to leanon. Angels come in all shapes and sizes andyours are coming in, inthe shape of a trusted,loyal friend. Allowyourself to unburdenyou issues and developa perspective on theissue your currentlyfacingLucky Day: 30thLucky colour: mossgreen

Pisces

Virgo Libra

Capricor$

Alternative Therapies


To make an appointment or for a brief informal discussion with myself directly. You can reach me on 087-8093783 or email

[email protected] or visit my website www.cathysscript.com

Psychic medium andspiritual healer

Robert Ennis • Tel: 086 8079723 • [email protected]

Have you or your family any of thefollowing. Unresolved or recurring illness, Tiredon waking, Arthritis, Allergies, Fatigue, Insomnia, Poormemory, Irritation or Frequent arguments, Headaches,Depression, Cancer, MS, ME, these are common problemsassociated with Geopathic Stress.

theirishhealer.

Are you Sufferingfrom Geopathic

Stress?

www.faithhealer.ieis now attending

ROSCOMMON & BALLAGHADERREENEvery Monday

ALSO HOLDING CLINICS IN COUNTIES SLIGO & LEITRIMAidan is also available at his home every Monday and Thursday at Mohill,

County Leitrim. Aidan has consistent success in the treatment of:Back pain, arthritis pain, skin rashes, digestive problems, colic/reflux, migraine,

warts/verrucas asthma, sinus and many moreClinic times & venues available at www.faithhealer.ie

7th SON FAITH HEALERAIDAN WRYNNE

Mohill, Co Leitrim

Aidan is happy to discuss in confidence any queries you may haveTelephone 071 9631263 / 087 2423405 / Email: [email protected]

Indian Head Massage is a popularmassage treatment which has beenpracticed in India for 1000s of years

and still forms an integral part of thatculture today.

The earliest references to massage inIndia can be found in the Ayurvedictexts. This ancient healthcare systemsuggested that a healthy lifestyle andmassage, used in conjunction with herbsand oils, helped to improve and maintaingood health and wellbeing. In Indianfamilies, the massage is traditionallylearned by young girls from theirmothers and is part of their dailyroutine.

Massage is regularly performed forrelaxation purposes on babies, childrenand at times of celebration, such asweddings.

The Indian Head Massage treatmentitself is traditionally called Champi andwas performed differently for men andwomen.

Treatments for women were originallypracticed to beautify and improve thecondition of their hair and scalp.Different oils such as coconut, sesame,olive, etc, were massaged into the scalpand hair to nourish and invigorate.

The oil was also poured onto the hairand brushed through to the ends tocreate lustre. Although the treatmenthad many physical benefits, it alsocreated a relaxing activity that createdfamily bonding.

The treatment for men consisted of amore invigorating massage, withstimulating oils, to the head and scalp.These treatments were performed by thebarber, who offered them as part of theservice, after cutting the hair.

The skills of the barber weretraditionally passed from father to sonand are still very much part of everydaylife in India today.

The system of Indian Head Massagethat is widely practiced in the West isknown as Champissage. Champissage wasdeveloped and introduced to the West inthe 1970s by a therapist named NarendraMehta.

Narendra, having been bought up inIndia, regularly enjoyed the benefits ofhead massage, but felt that somethingwas missing from the treatments.

The traditional massage does notinclude the face, shoulders, neck, or anybalancing to the chakras (energycentres). Narendra believed that by

including these additional areas in theroutine it would make the treatmentmore holistic and therefore morebeneficial.

What are the benefits of Indian HeadMassage?There are numerous benefits to receivingIndian Head Massage.

One of the main benefits is that it isextremely versatile and can beperformed almost anywhere, seated andover clothing, although massage overclothes does not produce the besteffects. It is also excellent for relievingstress, so for these reasons, it hasbecome a popular treatment that maybe available in waiting areas such assurgeries, clinics, etc, hospices, at workpremises and in the likes of airplanes.

Indian Head Massage is deeply relaxingand can create a feeling of calmness andharmony. It is greatly beneficial forimproving and maintaining reasonablestress levels and for all stress relatedconditions. It has also been found to bemost helpful for treating anxiety and isan alternative massage treatment fornervous people. Indian Head Massage canbe useful for alleviating headaches andimproving insomnia.

The massage consists of a mixture ofdeep, slow movements and rapid, brisk,invigorating strokes. This combination ofmovements relaxes, but also invigoratesand energises the body and mind.Treatment improves localisedcirculation, stimulates nerve endings andrelieves tension and pain from taut,aching muscles.

The natural, moisturising oils such ascoconut, sesame, mustard and almondused in treatment can improve thecondition and appearance of the skin,scalp, and hair. Indian Head Massage canalso be beneficial in cases of alopecia, asthe treatment relives stress, andstimulates blood circulation and nerveendings in the head and scalp.

When is the treatment not suitable?Indian Head Massage is not suitable forpeople who have migraine (currentlysuffering), neck, spinal or recent headinjuries.

If you are being treated for a medicalproblem, or have a skin or scalpcondition, it is advisable to seek advicefrom your medical practitioner beforereceiving Indian Head Massage.

Indian Head Massage

Therapies


ALTERNATIVE HEALTHCARE THERAPY

For more information contact Vincent Murtagh @ [email protected] • www.hiddenmind.ie

• Plexus Bio energy therapy• Kinesiology • Hidden mind corrective

sounds therapy• Relaxation techniques

I can help you find your true self, your gifts, your skills and yourtalents, so that you make a real difference in your business and/orpersonal life .... helping you to free yourself from any 'negativebaggage' and empowering you to achieve this both easily andeffortlessly. Imagine discovering the key that unlocks your fullpotential. - Carol Passemardwww.breakthroughretreat.comE: [email protected]

T: 087-1413026

Stéfan de GuylianAs seen on Irish and International TV

Travel on a Mystical Journey...

Contact Stefan: 087-6108105 • [email protected]

InternationalClairvoyant, Medium & PsychicTarotologistNative American EnergiesPlatform WorkShamanismAvailable for House Parties & Corporate Events

Clinics now available in Swinford & Sligo

7th SON FAITH HEALERMICHAEL O’CONNOR

www.handsonfaithhealing.com

Clinic times & venues available at www.handsonfaithhealing.com

or contact Michael on 087 2301359 for an appointment

ALL CONSULTATIONS ARE IN PRIVATEMichael regularly travels all over Ireland and Northern Ire-land helping to heal people from all sorts of ailments. From

eczema and asthma to stress and back pain; he has seen it all.

Learn to understand and accept your selfHenry Schwab Healing

Evikeens, Boyle, County Roscommon • Tel: 071 96 62114

"tapping with EFT and using modern meridian and energytherapies is the way to go in therapy today.

I am again and again amazed how effective these therapiesare compared with the typical psychotherapy/counselling .

tapping seems to be so much faster and effective without going into thepast in clearing all forms of anxiety, stress, anger, fears and phobias andseems even to work in eliminating allergies like hey fever( it did just that

for myself!).to book an appointment or for any questions , please contact Henry at

071 96 62114 or send an e-mail to [email protected]".

www.henryschwabhealing.com

Aidan is the first natural healer touse thermal imaging to show thetransfer of healing energy from his

hands to the patient during his healingsessions. It is a groundbreakingachievement and it is the first timethat thermal imagining has been usedto show that there is a differencebetween Aidans hands and those ofothers. Aidan states that this willreinforce the belief and trust in the giftof the 7th Son Faith Healer. A video ofthis can be seen on his new websitewww.faithhealer.ie

The new website gives a fullbreakdown of all the conditions whichAidan treats and answers any questionsyou may have in relation to his healinggift. It outlines what you should expectfrom a visit to Aidan, it gives details ofthe venues where he holds weeklyclinics and testimonials from peoplewho have visited Aidan for healing.

Aidan’s gift has been welldocumented over the years and hasachieved extensive television and radiocoverage nationally. He has appeared

on numerous television shows such asKenny Live, Davis, Open House and Earto the Ground as well as many othernewspaper articles which was writtenabout his healing gift. All of these havebeen included on his new websitewww.faithhealer.ie and can be viewedthere.

Aidan understands all of the problemsthat people encounter in their dailylives and provides healing and supportto help them to overcome theirproblems. He has much experiencedealing with the everyday pains andrashes, aches and worries that inflictstoday’s society from the infant to thesenior citizen.

Aidan is currently holding Clinics inRoscommon Town & Ballaghaderreenevery Monday and in Sligo and Bundoranevery Thursday and he is alwaysavailable to discuss, in the strictestconfidence, any problem that peoplemay have. He can be contacted at 0872423405 / 071 9631263 or by email [email protected] to confirmattendance.

Leitrim’s Seventh Son HealerAidan Wrynne AnnouncesLaunch Of New Website

Food and Drink


Put a sweet twist oneggy bread with thisindulgent brunch-

time recipe

Ingredients50g butter6 apricots, halved andstoned200g/8oz caramel sauce(we used Bonne Mamanconfiture de caramel)350g ready-made vanillacustard8 small, thick slicesbrioche or white bread,or 4 large slices, cut di-agonally

MethodMelt 1 tbsp butter in amedium-size frying pan.Put in the apricots, cut-side down, and gently fryfor 2-3 mins. Flip over

and cook for 1 min moreuntil lightly golden. Addthe caramel to the panand melt until saucy – ifit’s still too thick to coatthe fruit, add a splash ofwater. Keep warm.Mix the custard with 4tbsp of water to loosen,then dip in the breadslices, turning to coatthoroughly. Melt half theremaining butter in alarge non-stick fryingpan. Lightly shake offany excess custard mix-ture from half the breadslices and fry in the but-ter for 2 mins each sideuntil golden. Repeat withremaining butter andbread, then serve hotwith the caramel apri-cots.Add walnuts if desired

The omelette is one of themost fundamental dishes inany cook's arsenal, and this

recipe will teach you how to getit right every time

Ingredients3 eggs, as fresh as possible,preferably organic and free-range, room temperature2 knobs unsalted butter1 tsp finely, freshly gratedparmesan (or vegetarianalternative)To cook with herbs2-3 chopped tarragon leaves1 tbsp each snipped chives andchopped chervil or parsleyTo cook with cheese3 rounded tbsp finely gratedGruyère

MethodGet everything ready. Warm a

20cm (measured across the top)non-stick frying pan on amedium heat. Crack the eggsinto a bowl and beat them witha fork so they break up and mix,but not as completely as youwould for scrambled egg. Withthe heat on medium-hot, dropone knob of butter into the pan.It should bubble and sizzle, butnot brown. Season the eggs withthe Parmesan and a little saltand pepper, and pour into thepan.Let the eggs bubble slightly for acouple of seconds, then take awooden fork or spatula andgently draw the mixture in fromthe sides of the pan a fewtimes, so it gathers in folds inthe centre. Leave for a fewseconds, then stir again tolightly combine uncooked eggwith cooked. Leave briefly

again, and when partly cooked,stir a bit faster, stopping whilethere’s some barely cooked eggleft. With the pan flat on theheat, shake it back and forth afew times to settle the mixture.It should slide easily in the panand look soft and moist on top.A quick burst of heat will brownthe underside.Grip the handle underneath. Tiltthe pan down away from youand let the omelette fall to theedge. Fold the side nearest toyou over by a third with yourfork, and keep it rolling over, sothe omelette tips onto a plate –or fold it in half, if that’s easier.For a neat finish, cover theomelette with a piece ofkitchen paper and plump it up abit with your fingers. Rub theother knob of butter over toglaze. Serve immediately.

A Taste of

Food and Drink


Afresh way toserve a salmonfillet. Summery

and light, thisNiçoise is a lovelysummer dish

Ingredients400g baby newpotatoes, halved2 salmon fillets, skinon, (about 140g/5ozeach)small handful blackolive (we likeKalamata)small handfulsundried tomato,chopped1 garlic clove,crushed

juice 1⁄2 lemon1 tbsp olive oil200g green beans

MethodBring half a largesteamer to the boil,tip the potatoes intothe water, then laythe salmon fillets,skin-side down, inthe steamer basket.Cover and cook for6-8 mins until thesalmon is cookedthrough, thenremove and setaside. Continue tocook the potatoesfor another 5-8 minsuntil tender, adding

the beans for thefinal couple ofmins. Drain theveg, then tip into alarge bowl.Add the olives andtomatoes to thepotatoes andbeans, then gentlyflake in chunks ofthe cooked salmon,discarding the skin.Whisk together thegarlic, lemon andoil with someseasoning, andloosen with a fewdrops of water.Pour the dressingover the salad, tosswell, and serve.

The staple vegetarian dish is sprucedup with a citrussy sourdough crust-chunkily chop your courgettes,

onion, peppers and tomatoes for extratexture

Ingredients50g fresh sourdough breadcrumbs3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil3 courgettes, chunkily sliced1 red pepper, cut into chunks1 yellow pepper, cut into chunks1 large onion, very roughly chopped4 ripe plum tomatoes, cut into chunks2 garlic cloves, sliced1 tbsp chopped thyme1 tbsp tomato purée2 tbsp white wine vinegarzest 1 lemon

MethodHeat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. In asmall bowl, toss the breadcrumbs with 2tbsp of the oil and a good sprinkling ofseasoning. Set aside.

Put the courgettes, peppers, onion,tomatoes, garlic, thyme, tomato purée,vinegar and the remaining olive oil in abowl. Season well and toss together.

Tip the vegetables into a roasting tinand spread out in a single layer. Coverwith foil and bake for 20 mins. Removethe foil. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top andbake for another 10 mins or untilgolden. Remove from oven and sprinkleover the lemon zest.

Serve this super-creamy chocolatedessert on its own, or as part of an'assiete' of mini chocolate puddings

Ingredients568ml pot double cream100g Green & Black's white chocolate,broken into pieces1 vanilla pod, split or 1 tsp vanillaextract6 egg yolks2 tbsp golden caster sugar, plus extrafor topping

MethodHeat the cream, chocolate and vanillapod in a pan until the chocolate has

melted. Take off the heat and allow toinfuse for 10 mins, scraping the podseeds into the cream. If using thevanilla extract, add straight away. Heatoven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3.Beat yolks and sugar until pale. stir inthe chocolate cream. Strain into a jugand pour into ramekins. Place in a deeproasting tray and pour boiling waterhalfway up the sides. Bake for 15-20mins until just set with a wobblycentre. Chill in the fridge for at least 4hrs.To serve, sprinkle some sugar on top ofthe brûlées and caramelise with ablowtorch or briefly under a hot grill.Leave caramel to harden, then serve.

Memories

There is little than can be written aboutthe Dubliners which has not alreadybeen recorded by hundreds of other

sources across the globe. They are one ofthe true legends of the Irish entertainmentscene and from their formation in the early1960's, they provided a unique mix of Irishmusic and humour, along with the legendaryexploits of their members.

Led by their rowdy front men, the lateLuke Kelly and Ronnie Drew, the Dublinerstook the Irish folk scene by storm and in theprocess, set the standard for Irish "folk"

music - then and now.The origins of the band are a little fuzzy

as they really started as a loose sessiongroup which got together on the fledglingDublin ballad scene.

The original band was called the RonnieDrew Group. Although every source I canfind on the Internet sites Luke Kelly as anoriginal member of the group with Bob Lynchjoining after Luke left in 1964, on a recentepisode of Reeling In The Years on RTEtelevision, in 1962 the Ronnie Drew Group ispictured performing McAlpine's Fusiliers and

it is Bob Lynch, not Luke Kelly who is withthe group. There is a possibility that thevideo clip was actually from 1964, not 1962.

The Dubliners started out as a four piecewith Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Ciaran Bourkeand Barney McKenna. It was 1962 and Irishfolk or ballad music was just starting tomake a comeback in the pubs in Dublin andaround the country. They were originallyknown as the Ronnie Drew Folk Group, butRonnie did not like the name and Luke Kellysuggested The Dubliners, after the JamesJoyce book of the same name.

Although the Clancy Brothers are oftencited as the first folk act to "break big," theydid so mainly in and from the United States.Meanwhile the Dubliners were hard at worksinging their ballads in the backroom ofPaddy O'Donoghue's pub in Merrion Row. Thesessions were bawdy and the air was heavywith cigarette smoke and Guinness.

In the mid 1960's the Dubliners were partof a handful of groups at the forefront of theIrish folk revival. Folk clubs sprang up allaround Dublin and featured artists like theDubliners, Johnny McEvoy, Jon Ledingham,the Johnstons, Ludlows...the list went onand on. However, it was the Dubliners whopossessed a special blend of story telling,musical skills, personality and bawdiness tomake them unique on the scene. RonnieDrew and Luke Kelly were the driving forcesbehind the group's success and uniquecharacters in their own right.

In 1964 Luke Kelly left the band for a shorttime and the late Bob Lynch was recruited totake his place. John Sheehan also joined theband at that time on fiddle and tin whistle.Luke would return to the band a couple ofyears later and Bob would leave, but JohnSheehan also stayed, making the band a fivepiece. 1967 was the year the band hadtheir big break. Their song, Seven DrunkenNights, released in early 1967 was banned byRTE, but played extensively by the piratestation, Radio Caroline. The end result waschart success in Britain where the songeventually climbed to Number 7 on theBritish Charts in March and was Number 1 inIreland. Suddenly, the Dubliners were majorInternational stars. Their follow up single,All for Me Grog, was not nearly assuccessful, failing to chart in England andreaching Number 10 in Ireland. However,they followed it up with another British

success, Black Velvet Band, which went tonumber 15 in the UK charts in August andNumber four in Ireland. They also releasedan album, Drop of the Hard Stuff, whichwent to number five in the UK charts in Mayof 1967.

Although the band would continue to havechart success at home, these would be theonly charts successes the band had inEngland, but it was enough to put them onthe road to international acclaim. In 1967the band was touring the English Club andballrooms of Ireland regularly and hadstarted to make forays into the Europeanmarket, but had not yet made any attemptsto try their luck in America. In a Spotlightinterview in July, 1967 Luke Kelly said,"We're taking things as they come. America?I'd love a chance to play there and just seehow they'd take to us."

In 1974, an article in Spotlight announcedthat Ronnie Drew had left the band and wasreplaced by Jim McCann who had been withthe band on a temporary basis, followingCiaran Bourke's illness. Jim would stay withthe band until 1979 when he left to againpursue his own solo career. Ciaran remaineda member of the band, but would neverperform with them again and sadly passedaway in 1988.

During the 1980's the band continued totour, record, and have the craic. RonnieDrew would return in 1979 to the band'slineup, but Luke Kelly would be replaced bySean Cannon in 1983. Luke had suffered abrain tumour in 1980 which was removed,and although it was hoped he would make afull recovery, he had to leave the band andsadly passed away less than a year later atage 44. Around the time of Ciaran's death in1988, Eamonn Campbell joined the band as apermanent member.

Since our site covers the Irishentertainment scene from 1955 to basically1985, we finish the Dubliner's feature here.If you are interested in a detail account ofthe band's history since then, there aremany sites on the Internet dedicated to theDubliner's and their 50-plus year history.

The death of Barney McKenna on April 5th,2012 brought to a close a special era in Irishfolk. Barney was the last surviving originalmember of the band and although JohnSheehan has been with the band since 1964,he was not in the original group. Barney,Luke, Ronnie and Ciaran made history andhave now all passed into history, althoughthe Dubliner's live on.

Article and Photos courtesy of Gerry Gallagher www.irish-showbands.comMemories

There were hundreds of them. Irishbands of every size, descriptionand musical genre travelling the

roads and borheens of Ireland. Theytravelled the length and breadth of thecountry from the 1950's through the mid1980's. Although "officially" the termshowband was coined in the late fiftiesand was used to describe bands that

played a wide variety of music andusually included a "show" during thenight, the term was gradually appliedto all the bands that played in the1960's. As the Irish music scenesplintered in the late sixties into pop,country bands, the term was droppedbut we still find it the best overalldescription of the bands of the

"ballroom" era. In the early days,they travelled in whatever they couldfind...bread vans, hearses, and evencars (roof racks and all). In later years,many (if not most) of them travelled inconverted Ford Transit vans (like theone pictured right) that were normallyused for delivery services. After acouple of windows were popped into

the centre panels, a row or two of oldairplane seats were installed and theband was ready to travel "in style."Although style was a matter ofopinion...if you're stuck in the back of avan on a cold and rainy winter's night, itmay seem like "a long way toTipperary," but it's even further toCastletownbere, Co. Cork!

It will be impossible to list all thebands that played the dance halls,ballrooms, marquees, parochial halls,community centres, hotels, and townhalls across Ireland but each month weare planning to feature a band from thewest with the help of Gerry Gallagherand www.irish-showbands.com . Apartfrom a few who enjoy near mythical

status (such as the Royal Showband anda handful of others), most bands cametogether, played for a few years andthen either reinvented themselves,changed their name, or justdisappeared, their members eitherreturning to civilian life, or scatteringto two or three new bands.

For such a small country, it is difficult

to comprehend the sheer number ofbands that the country produced.Almost as hard to imagine, is thenumber of dance halls that once dottedthe countryside, many out in the"middle of nowhere."

Pick up next months issue foranother blast from the blast from theshowband era...

Page 29 Mature Living July 2014

All editorial and photographs are kindly supplied by Gerry Gallagher from www.irish-shownbands.com

Over the years Gerry has built up what can only be describe as the definitive guide to the showband era.

I would like to thank Gerry for allowing us to reproduce thearticles and photos in Mature Living. If you would like to knowmore about your favourite band or who was number one in a

particular year visit www.irish-showbands.com

The Bands of our Showband Era

1. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Kiss Me Quick

2. Dickie Rock & Miami - From the Candy Store3. Dickie Rock & Miami - There's Always Me - (Piccadilly)4. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Bless You 5. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - No More (HMV)6. Butch Moore & Capitol - Down Came the Rain

7. Eileen Reid & Cadets - Fallen Star (Columbia)8. Sean Fagan & Pacific - She Wears My Ring (Pye)9. Dickie Rock & Miami - I'm Yours (Pye)10. Joe Dolan & Drifters - The Answer To Everything 11. Butch Moore & Capitol Showband - Foolin' Time (Pye)12. Eileen Reid & Cadets - I Gave My Wedding Dress Away 13. Pat McGeegan - Hawaiian Wedding Song (Decca)14. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - It's Only Makebelieve 15. Sean Fagan & Pacific - Distant Drums (Pye)

Top singles - 1963/64The Dubliners (1962-present)


Top left clockwise: Luke Kelly, Ciaran Bourke, Barney McKenna, Ronnie Drew and John Sheehan

Dubliners on stage in 1972

Memories

There is little than can be written aboutthe Dubliners which has not alreadybeen recorded by hundreds of other

sources across the globe. They are one ofthe true legends of the Irish entertainmentscene and from their formation in the early1960's, they provided a unique mix of Irishmusic and humour, along with the legendaryexploits of their members.

Led by their rowdy front men, the lateLuke Kelly and Ronnie Drew, the Dublinerstook the Irish folk scene by storm and in theprocess, set the standard for Irish "folk"

music - then and now.The origins of the band are a little fuzzy

as they really started as a loose sessiongroup which got together on the fledglingDublin ballad scene.

The original band was called the RonnieDrew Group. Although every source I canfind on the Internet sites Luke Kelly as anoriginal member of the group with Bob Lynchjoining after Luke left in 1964, on a recentepisode of Reeling In The Years on RTEtelevision, in 1962 the Ronnie Drew Group ispictured performing McAlpine's Fusiliers and

it is Bob Lynch, not Luke Kelly who is withthe group. There is a possibility that thevideo clip was actually from 1964, not 1962.

The Dubliners started out as a four piecewith Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Ciaran Bourkeand Barney McKenna. It was 1962 and Irishfolk or ballad music was just starting tomake a comeback in the pubs in Dublin andaround the country. They were originallyknown as the Ronnie Drew Folk Group, butRonnie did not like the name and Luke Kellysuggested The Dubliners, after the JamesJoyce book of the same name.

Although the Clancy Brothers are oftencited as the first folk act to "break big," theydid so mainly in and from the United States.Meanwhile the Dubliners were hard at worksinging their ballads in the backroom ofPaddy O'Donoghue's pub in Merrion Row. Thesessions were bawdy and the air was heavywith cigarette smoke and Guinness.

In the mid 1960's the Dubliners were partof a handful of groups at the forefront of theIrish folk revival. Folk clubs sprang up allaround Dublin and featured artists like theDubliners, Johnny McEvoy, Jon Ledingham,the Johnstons, Ludlows...the list went onand on. However, it was the Dubliners whopossessed a special blend of story telling,musical skills, personality and bawdiness tomake them unique on the scene. RonnieDrew and Luke Kelly were the driving forcesbehind the group's success and uniquecharacters in their own right.

In 1964 Luke Kelly left the band for a shorttime and the late Bob Lynch was recruited totake his place. John Sheehan also joined theband at that time on fiddle and tin whistle.Luke would return to the band a couple ofyears later and Bob would leave, but JohnSheehan also stayed, making the band a fivepiece. 1967 was the year the band hadtheir big break. Their song, Seven DrunkenNights, released in early 1967 was banned byRTE, but played extensively by the piratestation, Radio Caroline. The end result waschart success in Britain where the songeventually climbed to Number 7 on theBritish Charts in March and was Number 1 inIreland. Suddenly, the Dubliners were majorInternational stars. Their follow up single,All for Me Grog, was not nearly assuccessful, failing to chart in England andreaching Number 10 in Ireland. However,they followed it up with another British

success, Black Velvet Band, which went tonumber 15 in the UK charts in August andNumber four in Ireland. They also releasedan album, Drop of the Hard Stuff, whichwent to number five in the UK charts in Mayof 1967.

Although the band would continue to havechart success at home, these would be theonly charts successes the band had inEngland, but it was enough to put them onthe road to international acclaim. In 1967the band was touring the English Club andballrooms of Ireland regularly and hadstarted to make forays into the Europeanmarket, but had not yet made any attemptsto try their luck in America. In a Spotlightinterview in July, 1967 Luke Kelly said,"We're taking things as they come. America?I'd love a chance to play there and just seehow they'd take to us."

In 1974, an article in Spotlight announcedthat Ronnie Drew had left the band and wasreplaced by Jim McCann who had been withthe band on a temporary basis, followingCiaran Bourke's illness. Jim would stay withthe band until 1979 when he left to againpursue his own solo career. Ciaran remaineda member of the band, but would neverperform with them again and sadly passedaway in 1988.

During the 1980's the band continued totour, record, and have the craic. RonnieDrew would return in 1979 to the band'slineup, but Luke Kelly would be replaced bySean Cannon in 1983. Luke had suffered abrain tumour in 1980 which was removed,and although it was hoped he would make afull recovery, he had to leave the band andsadly passed away less than a year later atage 44. Around the time of Ciaran's death in1988, Eamonn Campbell joined the band as apermanent member.

Since our site covers the Irishentertainment scene from 1955 to basically1985, we finish the Dubliner's feature here.If you are interested in a detail account ofthe band's history since then, there aremany sites on the Internet dedicated to theDubliner's and their 50-plus year history.

The death of Barney McKenna on April 5th,2012 brought to a close a special era in Irishfolk. Barney was the last surviving originalmember of the band and although JohnSheehan has been with the band since 1964,he was not in the original group. Barney,Luke, Ronnie and Ciaran made history andhave now all passed into history, althoughthe Dubliner's live on.

Article and Photos courtesy of Gerry Gallagher www.irish-showbands.comMemories

There were hundreds of them. Irishbands of every size, descriptionand musical genre travelling the

roads and borheens of Ireland. Theytravelled the length and breadth of thecountry from the 1950's through the mid1980's. Although "officially" the termshowband was coined in the late fiftiesand was used to describe bands that

played a wide variety of music andusually included a "show" during thenight, the term was gradually appliedto all the bands that played in the1960's. As the Irish music scenesplintered in the late sixties into pop,country bands, the term was droppedbut we still find it the best overalldescription of the bands of the

"ballroom" era. In the early days,they travelled in whatever they couldfind...bread vans, hearses, and evencars (roof racks and all). In later years,many (if not most) of them travelled inconverted Ford Transit vans (like theone pictured right) that were normallyused for delivery services. After acouple of windows were popped into

the centre panels, a row or two of oldairplane seats were installed and theband was ready to travel "in style."Although style was a matter ofopinion...if you're stuck in the back of avan on a cold and rainy winter's night, itmay seem like "a long way toTipperary," but it's even further toCastletownbere, Co. Cork!

It will be impossible to list all thebands that played the dance halls,ballrooms, marquees, parochial halls,community centres, hotels, and townhalls across Ireland but each month weare planning to feature a band from thewest with the help of Gerry Gallagherand www.irish-showbands.com . Apartfrom a few who enjoy near mythical

status (such as the Royal Showband anda handful of others), most bands cametogether, played for a few years andthen either reinvented themselves,changed their name, or justdisappeared, their members eitherreturning to civilian life, or scatteringto two or three new bands.

For such a small country, it is difficult

to comprehend the sheer number ofbands that the country produced.Almost as hard to imagine, is thenumber of dance halls that once dottedthe countryside, many out in the"middle of nowhere."

Pick up next months issue foranother blast from the blast from theshowband era...


All editorial and photographs are kindly supplied by Gerry Gallagher from www.irish-shownbands.com

Over the years Gerry has built up what can only be describe as the definitive guide to the showband era.

I would like to thank Gerry for allowing us to reproduce thearticles and photos in Mature Living. If you would like to knowmore about your favourite band or who was number one in a

particular year visit www.irish-showbands.com

The Bands of our Showband Era

1. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Kiss Me Quick

2. Dickie Rock & Miami - From the Candy Store3. Dickie Rock & Miami - There's Always Me - (Piccadilly)4. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Bless You 5. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - No More (HMV)6. Butch Moore & Capitol - Down Came the Rain

7. Eileen Reid & Cadets - Fallen Star (Columbia)8. Sean Fagan & Pacific - She Wears My Ring (Pye)9. Dickie Rock & Miami - I'm Yours (Pye)10. Joe Dolan & Drifters - The Answer To Everything 11. Butch Moore & Capitol Showband - Foolin' Time (Pye)12. Eileen Reid & Cadets - I Gave My Wedding Dress Away 13. Pat McGeegan - Hawaiian Wedding Song (Decca)14. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - It's Only Makebelieve 15. Sean Fagan & Pacific - Distant Drums (Pye)

Top singles - 1963/64The Dubliners (1962-present)


Top left clockwise: Luke Kelly, Ciaran Bourke, Barney McKenna, Ronnie Drew and John Sheehan

Dubliners on stage in 1972

Feature

The number of British womenover 50 who are havingbabies has more than

doubled in five years.Every week in the UK around

three children are born to amother in her fifties, the latestfigures show.

The dramatic increase in birthsto older women will deepen fearsover the health of both themothers and their babies.

Older women are more likelyto have miscarriages and ectopicpregnancies while their childrenare more likely to be born withgenetic abnormalities.

Midwives also warn thatbecause older mothers and theiroffspring often require higherlevels of care, extra pressure isput on the NHS.

Health ministers revealed thesharp rise in older mothers in aparliamentary question. In 2012,there were 154 babies born tomothers over the age of 50, upby a third in a year.

The figure has more thandoubled since 2008 when therewere 69 births to women aged 50and over. In 2000 the number was44. The number of births tomothers aged 40 and over hasalso risen, up 13 per cent from26,419 in 2008 to 29,994 in 2012.It means one in 25 are to motherswho have turned 40.

Even someone who has a childaged over the age 35 isconsidered an ‘older mother’ bymedical professionals.

Around 20 per cent of babiesare born to women aged 35 orolder, the highest proportionsince records began in 1938.

At the same time, only 23 percent of births were to womenaged under 25 in 2012, downfrom almost half in the early1970s. In some areas of Britain,including Windsor andMaidenhead, Brighton and EastRenfrewshire, around one in

three mothers was over 35.The trend is the result of

women choosing to concentrateon their careers rather thansettling down to have a family.

Changing medical advice andadvances in IVF treatment alsomean more are willing to riskdelaying having children.

Other women are moving intonew relationships later in life andare choosing to have morechildren with their new partner.

Earlier this year Shamelessactress Tina Malone gave birth todaughter Flame at the age of 50,after travelling to Cyprus for IVFtreatment. In 2007, DesperateHousewives star Marcia Cross had

twin daughters in 2007 at the ageof 44. Louise Silverton, directorfor midwifery at the RoyalCollege of Midwives said: ‘Thereare an increasing numbers ofolder women who are havingbabies and these women tend tohave more complications thanyounger women. ‘This is morepronounced as women havebabies at increasingly greaterages. Older mothers are morelikely to have increased rates ofmiscarriage and ectopicpregnancies and geneticproblems in the child and otherissues such high blood pressure,diabetes and problems with theplacenta.’ Last March a surveyfound almost three-quarters ofpeople do not think womenshould receive IVF to help themconceive beyond their naturalchildbearing years. A quarterbelieve women should stop tryingto bring babies into the worldpast the age of 40. The survey ofmore than 2,000 people acrossthe UK found 31 per cent thinkthe current age limit of 42 for IVFon the NHS is too old. Otherresearch shows that children bornto mums over 40 are healthierand brighter than those ofyounger women.

According to other research theoffspring of older women areless likely to have accidents orneed hospital care and morelikely to have been vaccinatedearly, a study found.

They will also develop abroader vocabulary from a youngage and achieve higher scores inIQ tests in a range of measures upto the age of five. The research,which was presented recently atThe Royal College of Paediatricsand Child Health conference inGlasgow, is a rare piece of goodnews for the rising number ofwomen who are delayingmotherhood.

Previous studies havehighlighted the growing infertilityrates for older women and thegreater risk of them developingdiabetes and pre-eclampsia.

But the latest research appearsto show gains for older mothersonce they have given birth,possibly due to their greaterexperience and maturity.

Researchers at the Institute ofChild Health, University CollegeLondon and Birkbeck College,London, said their findingsshowed older mothers can makebetter parents.

Dr Alastair Sutcliffe, whoworked on the study, saidnegative publicity surroundingthe rise of older mothers wasbased on the physical risks ofpregnancy and childbirth.

He said: ‘We have clearevidence that there are moredesirable outcomes for childrenof older mothers compared withyounger ages. We can reassurethese older women that theirchildren are probably better off.’

The Wellcome Foundation-funded study looked at 1,100children born to womenaged 40 and over,compared with 38,000children born to youngerwomen in Britain. Thechildren’s ages rangedfrom nine months to fiveyears.

Children of oldermothers were less likelyto be in accidents orneed hospital admission,and were no more atrisk of obesity.

Dr Sutcliffe saidolder mothersmight be morerisk-averse,possiblybecause theywere lessactive andunable to runafter theirchildren,but theymay alsobebetterat

spotting and avoiding potentiallyrisky situations.

The research also checked anumber of outcomes linked toparenting skills, including namingvocabulary, picture and shapesidentification and developmentalIQ using established Britishassessment scales.

The findings showed greaterability among children born toolder mothers once social classwas taken into account.

Previous research found threetimes more children born to oldermothers got five GCSEs comparedwith those born to youngerwomen.

Dr Sutcliffe said: ‘We found acontinuum which showed a linkbetween the older ages ofmothers and better outcomes. Itwas the effect of age per se.

‘The big question is why. Oldermothers appear to have goodparenting skills, they may be lessimpulsive, calmer and have morelife experience that better equipsthem for the role. More womenare giving birth at older ages, thisisn’t going to go away, they aredeferring motherhood for manyreasons. ‘The evidence suggeststhat when the enormousdifficulties of pregnancy andbirth are over, they can makebetter mothers,’ he added.

Births to mums over 50 soaring Two sides to the ongoing debate

Below: Marcia Cross, pituredhere in Desperate Housewives,had twin daughters in 2007 atthe age of 44

Shameless actress Tina Malone travelled to Cyprus for IVFtreatment and conceived her daughter, Flame, with donor eggs,giving birth aged 50


Carole Hobson became Britain’s oldest mother of twins at 58 afterconceiving through IVF at an Indian clinic. After four failed IVFattempts in Ukraine and Cyprus, donor embryos were implanted at aclinic in Mumbai. The single mother, now 61, spent more than£20,000 to have children and twins Frieda and Matthew were bornby emergency Caesarean on Christmas Eve 2010. Nine weekspremature and each weighing 3lb 3oz, they spent two months inneo-natal are. The qualified barrister from Kent, said: ‘In Britain weneed to be better at providing for women who want to be motherslater in life. It is an indescribable joy, but it’s non-stop – it is like afull-time job.’

Carole Hobson with her two-year-old twins Freida and Matthew


Feature

When summer fun be-comes unhealthy. Here,what to look out for and

how to protect yourself.

Skin cancerIf caught early, skin cancer isusually treated easily. Exposureto ultraviolet radiation from thesun (or from artificial UV lightsuch as tanning beds) increasesthe risk for developing skin can-cer. Other risk factors include:– Light skin, eyes or hair – Skinthat burns or freckles easily –Unusual moles that are irregularin shape or larger or darkerthan normal moles – A familyhistory of melanomaProtect yourself by having regu-lar skin screenings and wearingthe appropriate sunscreen. Forextra protection, wear a sunhatif you plan to be outdoors for anextended period of time, andkeep in mind the sun’s peakhours are between 10:00 amand 4:00pm.While some experts advocatefor short periods of unprotectedsunlight to help with Vitamin Ddeficiency, the key here is mod-eration: most experts agree youshould not be unprotected formore than 10 or 15 minutes.

Eye damageSunlight can damage not onlyskin, but also your eyes. Long-

term exposure to UV rays cancontribute to eye disease suchas cataracts and age-relatedmacular degeneration. Brightlight can damage your retinaand even cause your eyes to be-come sunburned, a temporarybut often painful conditionknown as photokeratitis. To pro-tect your eyes, be sure to wearsunglasses that filter out 100per cent of UV light, especiallyaround water, which can reflecta tremendous amount of light toyour eyes.

Food poisoningOne of the great traditions ofthe season is cooking and eatingoutdoors, whether on your patioor on a picnic or camping trip.Unfortunately, this can alsomean an increase in food-borneillnesses. The most common cul-prit: letting the food sit outsidein warm temperatures for toolong. For more tips on summerfood safety

Bug bitesNot only are they annoying anditchy, but mosquito bites can beserious if they infect you with adisease like West Nile ormalaria. While the risk of get-ting diseases from mosquitobites is low, the annoyance fac-tor is high indeed. Prevent bitesby avoiding buggy areas when

ever possible and using a goodinsect repellent on your skinand clothing. Choose a productwith about a 10 per cent to 30per cent concentration of DEET,depending on how many hoursof protection you need.For extra protection, wear longpants and sleeves as well assocks, especially during dawnand dusk when mosquitoes areat their peak. To reduce thenumber of mosquitoes aroundyour home, eliminate any stand-ing water that may have col-lected in places such as usedflowerpots. For more informa-tion, visit the Mayo Clinic’swebpage

DehydrationDehydration happens when youlose more fluid than you take in— and as a result, your bodydoesn’t have enough water andother fluids to carry out its nor-mal functions. The summer heatcan cause excessive sweating –especially when being physicallyactive or while exercising —which in turn can lead to dehy-dration.If lost fluids aren’t replenished,the consequences can be seri-ous. While you can usually re-verse mild dehydration byincreasing your intake of fluids,more severe dehydration re-quires immediate medical treat-ment. To prevent dehydration,drink additional water in hot orhumid weather to help loweryour body temperature and re-place lost fluids. Remember:thirst is not always an accurateindicator of dehydration, sodrink plenty even if you’re notfeeling thirsty.

HeatstrokeThe most serious of heat-re-lated problems, heatstrokeoften results from exercise orheavy work in hot environmentscombined with inadequate fluidintake. Because the body’s nor-

mal mechanisms for dealingwith heat (such as sweating andtemperature control) are lost,heatstroke is potentially lifethreatening.The main symptom of heat-stroke is a significantly elevatedbody temperature — generallygreater than 104 F (40 C) — withchanges in mental status rang-ing from personality changes toconfusion and coma. If you sus-pect heatstroke, call 9-1-1 forimmediate medical attention.Other things you can do:– Move the person out of the sunto a cool or air-conditioned spot– Cover the person with dampsheets or by spraying with coolwater− Use a fan or newspaper or in-deed your copy of Mature Livingto direct air onto the person

Poor air qualityThe hazy days of summer maypose health risks, and not onlyfor people with serious condi-tions such as asthma, heart dis-

ease orchronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD). Smog is actu-ally a toxic mix of pollutantsthat, after long-term exposure,can damage lung cells, impairthe immune system and in-crease risk for respiratory infec-tion. Even short-term exposurecan trigger symptoms in healthypeople such as headaches,breathing difficulties, and ex-haustion.So what should you do? Stay in-formed on the air quality inyour area through your localnews or online resources. It isgenerally better to plan outdooractivities early in the morningor later in the evening, sincethe level of pollutants generallyrises with the temperature.Also, if possible, avoid trafficand heavily congested areas, es-pecially during rush hour. Ondays when pollutants are high,it’s better to turn on the airconditioner and close your win-dows.

7 Summer HealthHazards

Round the world UNESCO World Heritage Trip

Start your trip as you mean to go onwith the stunning scenery of theAmerican West. Make your way from

Seattle to San Francisco with on theCamping in Yosemite and Yellowstonetour. Start with a coffee in the originalStarbucks city of Seattle beforeexploring the dizzying mountains and

glaciers of Montana. The geothermalactivity of Yellowstone National Park isnext on the list, with a visit to thestunning 'Grand Prismatic Pool' - a mustsee! Finish with a hike through thespellbinding sequoias of Yosemite andarrive in San Francisco for the view ofthe Golden Gate Bridge.

Enjoy the National Parks of Western America

See the Angkor Wat temples and the ancienthighlights of Vietnam

An overland trip from Bangkok toHanoi would be nothing without avisit to Angkor Wat in Cambodia,

and luckily our Cambodia and Vietnamon a Shoestring does just that. TheAngkor Wat temples are sure to be ahighlight of this round the world trip,with the stone faces of Bayon aparticular favourite. Try and get to thetemples at dawn for the ultimate sunriseover these ancient buildings. Moving intoVietnam, a trail of sites litter the northcoast; from the quaint centre of Hoi Antown to the historical citadel of Hue,just make sure you finish up in Halong

Bay, relaxing on a Chinese junk boat witha cocktail as you watch the sun go down.

Halong Bay

Temple Complexes of Angkor Wat

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are known to be the most impressive cultural,architectural and natural wonders on Earth, in need of both protection andcelebration. Why not take a trip around the world to discover what makes

these sights so unforgettable.

Take the Troubles- away from -

Round-the-world travel is not just forpeople taking a year out fromstudying – adventure travel is

becoming more popular than ever withthe over 50s, as empty nesters begin toenjoy making their own choices and striveto tick off items from their ‘I’ve alwayswanted to…’ list.Whether you aretravelling alone or with others, once youhave bought your ticket the thought oftravelling can suddenly feel verydaunting. Here are some top tips andadvice to help fully prepare you, so thatyou can be confident you’ll have the tripof a lifetime.

Swot up Read as much as you can about yourdestinations, this way you will know moreabout what to expect and how to prepareyourself. It will also mean that you areless likely to miss seeing what you want.Use trusted websites for accurateinformation. For instance, G Adventureshas a travel guide section withinformation for all the popular travellingdestinations, including cultural andhistorical information, places to see, andfestivals and events. It also has practicalinformation worth reviewing on topicssuch as health issues, weatherinformation and pre departurepracticalities. Supplement informationfrom trusted websites with advice fromother travellers where you can directlyask about others’ experiences. Forumscan be great for getting a feel for places,but it is best to double check factualinformation with additional sources.

Make it easy to keep in contact Get yourself and your family Skypeaccounts. Skype is a cheap way to makecalls abroad, and with a webcam you canalso see each other (perfect for showingoff the great tan you’ll have).Bring hard copies of pictures of yourfamily. These are more accessible and willfeel more real than looking at digitalversions online if you happen to missthose you’ve left behind.If you enjoy writing, you may want to setyourself up with ablogging

platform.

Wordpress accounts are easy to set up, orthere are travel specific ones such as TripJournal, Travellers Point or TravelPodwhich allows you to map your journey.While you are at home with easy accessto the internet, play with the design untilyou are happy and let people know theaddress, so as soon as you leave you canbegin recording your experiences.

Choose a photo upload site, like Flickr,so you can upload pictures as you go – itwill not only show everyone what you areup to, but it acts as a good backup shouldanything happen to your camera. You canalso upload photos to Facebook, however,the quality is fairly low so Flickr may be abetter option if you want to print them inthe future.

If you have a planned itinerary, leave acopy at home so friends and relatives canfeel safe knowing where you are. Marktimes when you think contacting themmay be difficult so they don’t worry if youdon’t get in touch for a while. It is also agood idea to leave photocopies of yourpassport and plane tickets with anemergency contact. You should alsoconsider providing your country’s embassywith a copy of your planned itinerary andcontact information.

Get street wise It may sound geeky, but buy a moneypouch. They really come in handy whenyou don’t have a safe place to keep yourmoney. If you can get one that is fairly bigbut you are still able to sleep with, it willbe useful in keeping your valuables safeovernight if the hostel has no locker.Make sure you have different ways ofaccessing money. With most banks youcan withdraw funds no matter where youare in the world, but it is a good idea tohave a back-up way of withdrawingmoney (for instance travellers’ cheques).Keep them in separate places, this way, ifyou lose one, you always have the other.If you do get stranded without money, youcan always have relatives transfer yousome through Western Union, as long asyou have ID with you, so remember tokeep your emergency contact’s detailshandy just in case if you get stuck.

Get company If you are still worried about travelling,surround yourself with like-mindedpeople. Group travel and tours are afantastic way to travel where theorganisation of getting from A to B,arranging accommodation and visitinghighlights is all sorted for you. Manypeople feel much safer travelling ingroups and long-lasting friendships can

often be made with like-mindedtravellers. Research adventure travel

tour operators to find a company thatsuits you and your needs.

ADVENTURE TRAVELLING

Arrive in Peru for your surface sector tripto Santiago on the Southern Divide tour.The climb from the UNESCO WorldHeritage city of Cuzco to Machu Picchumay well leave you breathless - and notjust because of the scenery! Head downsouth through Bolivia following a trail ofsome of the most beautiful colonial and

pre-colonial buildings in South America.Sucre and Potosi in Bolivia are filled withcrumbling cathedrals, basilicas and once-humming silver mines - the perfectintroduction to a stunning country. Finishyour South American adventure bycrossing the Atacama Desert and arrivingin Santiago, the capital city of Chile.

Follow the Andes south through Peru, Bolivia and Peru

Interested? If this trip, or something similar catches your eye give your local travel agent a call.

The Moai of Easter Island really haveto be seen to be believed. This tinyisland in the middle of the Pacific

has 887 of the statues and is a perfectstopover between Chile and New

Zealand. The tiny village of Orongo is also worth avisit as well as the white beach of Ovaheto watch where the bright blue surfcrashes onto the sand.

Marvel at the Moai of Easter Island

Trek the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand

From Auckland it's an easy drivedown to Tongariro National Parkon a tour of the North Island.

The Tongariro Crossing is consideredby many to be the best day walk inthe world. Across the top of severalactive volcanoes with emerald andturquoise lakes, snow-capped peaksand the looming mountain ofNgauruhoe (Mt. Doom to the Lord ofthe Rings fans out there!), this walkis one that you will never forget asyou experience the natural beauty ofNew Zealand's north island. For moreideas on trekking in New Zealand,read Annie's recent blog post.

From Sydney to Cairns - there's anawful lot of land inbetween.Luckily for you, there's also a

wealth of amazing things to see anddo, including a trip to the BlueMountains, just 1.5 hours drive fromSydney. Hire a car or campervan andhead to the Giant Stairway to catch aglimpse of the Three Sisters rocksbefore heading up the shoreline forsome more coastal wonders. FraserIsland and the Great Barrier Reef areunparalleled in their natural beautybut make sure you also head north ofCairns to the wet tropics ofQueensland to paddle among themangroves of the Daintree Rainforest.

Explore the rugged coastline of East Australia

The fantastic journey fromIndia to the foot of theHimalayas (the Delhi to

Kathmandu Adventure) is oneyou won't forget in a hurry.Experience the enigmatic TajMahal in Agra as well as theJantar Mantar in the Pink Cityof Jaipur. Crossing the borderinto Nepal make sure you passthrough Lumbini, thebirthplace of the Lord Buddhaand Chitwan National Park,where the wildlife of Nepal isa fabulous sight. Fromelephants and rhinos to theelusive tiger, Nepal is a quietand colourful country that issure to steal your heart.

Travel overland from India to Nepal

Explores the temples of Japan

From Tokyo, the first stop on aUNESCO tour of Japan is sure tobe Mount Fuji, the snow-capped

scared mountain just outside the city.After admiring (or climbing!) thismagnificent peak, head north to thetemples of Nikko before turning onyour heel and moving south again toKyoto and Himeji-jo, a 17th centurycastle. Pay your respects at theHiroshima Peace Memorial in the southof the country. Finally go back in timein the historic villages of Shirakawa-goand Gokayama where you canexperience the traditional Japaneseway of life. With the Japan Rail Pass itis incredibly easy to get around sothere's no excuse to miss any of theunique UNESCO sites.


Furniture recovering and restoration including covering of chairs, 3 piece suites,headboards, car seats and boat seats.

Hotel and Bar seating, Office furniture and other Contract / Commercial furniture.Repair of sails, tents and other outdoor gear for sports and leisure.

We provide a service of Colour consultancy and Interior advice. We retail upholstery fabrics and essentials. Collection and delivery can

be arranged at a small fee, depending on distance.Boradruma, Snugboro, Castlebar

Tel: 094 9023532 / 086 8350608Open Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm •

Visit us online at www.boradrumaupholstery.ie

House and Home

The latest range of veneer finishes are designed to echo the appearance of living room furniture and therefore blur the lines between your open plan kitchenscheme and your living area. The veneers are available in 13 finishes, including a stone beech finish, four walnut finishes, six oak finishes and two pinefinishes. The kitchen scheme at the bottom of the page, has been created by using the natural walnut colour veneer and contrasting it with graphite grey

cabinets. Like the idea of your kitchen and living space blending seamlessly together? Here are some more schemes for you.

Open plan kitchen schemesMuted, neutral tones are easy to work with andare a great choice for cabinetry as it blendseffortlessly with the living space

Accent colours have been usedhere to define individual zonesand pull the whole schemetogether

The curved corner cabinet createsflow in this open plan scheme andis a great way to subtly direct yourguests out from under your feetand away from the kitchen Knocking down walls to produce one

larger, open plan area is an idealway to transform a cramped, dark

room. Glass screens have been usedhere, to separate the cooking area

from the living space.

Curvy cabinetry adds a sense of flow to thiskitchen. The large island creates a clearzone between the kitchen and dining area

Open Plan Kitchen created byusing the natural walnut colourveneer and contrasting it withgraphite grey cabinets


SKIP HIRESeptic Tank Emptying

Waste Permit No. wwcpo-12-11041Tel: 071-9197777 / 087-2311754

Frank Gallagher, O’Connell Street, Ballymote, Co. Sligo

We also fit Tanks, Percolation Areas,Polishing filters, Pumps etc

EXTERNAL INSULATIONfor Stone and Concrete Homes

Telephone James on : 087-618-0276

Insurance Quotes

Also Lime Plaster

Grants up to €3,600

Drylining€1,800

Before

After


NO PARTNERS NEEDED!Annes Social Dancing Presents

“Fun for fitness, Dancing”Sligo Road, Tubbercurry,

Co. SligoEvery Wednesday Night @

8.30pm

For Moreinformation

ContactAnne on

087-6674561

Glann, Charlestown, Co. Mayo.Phone: 0868330264

Email: thecra"[email protected]"s.com

Aidan Moran Golf Academy

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEKOpen: 11-9 Mon to Fri / 10-6 Sat & Sun

Individual / Group LessonsAidan Moran PGA Golf Professional

Springfield, Castlebar Co.MayoPhone: 086-8652172

Email: [email protected]

Contact: 086 33 08 [email protected]

Malo Duconte is a Yoga Teacher anda Therapist. Her teaching is adapted

to the need of the individual or to the specificity of the group.

Groups & 1-to-1 classes on demands.

Be present, be now, this moment isyour life!

Classes: Sewing, Dressmaking, Patchwork,Quil!ng:

Private classes in my studio or larger groupsat a loca!on near you:

registered tutor with the GalwayRoscommon Educa!on Training Board.

Also Cra" and Baking ac!vi!es for theelderly or mentally disabled in Homes /

Residences

Have you ever wanted topaint in oils?

Would you like to create your own piece of art?Have you ever looked at a pain#ng and thought "I

wish I could do that"?Have you not tried it yet because you think you

have to be ar#s#c or have some experience?If you have answered YES to any of the aboveques#ons then our classes could be for you.

Telephone 086-0884972or email [email protected]

Bed and Breakfast with a difference"

The Quay, Ballina, Co. MayoTel: 096-22609 / Mob: 087 2304986Email: [email protected]

Marjorie’s Kitchen offers premium specialised cookingcourses to everyone, and we mean

everyone. This is not a master class for nouvellecuisine, but rather a professional friendly environment

in which to learn and have fun doing so.

Looking for Bed & Breakfast with a difference? Why not enjoy a break Brigown B&B with Mouth-

watering homemade treats on arrival

DISCOVER FUN AND

One in six people inEngland aged over 50 are'socially isolated',

according to a recent report inthe UK.They have few sociallyorientated hobbies, little civicor cultural engagement withsociety, and may have verylimited social networks. The shocking statistic was a keyfinding from a report by theEnglish Longitudinal Study ofAgeing (ELSA), a project thataims to understand theeconomic, social, psychologicaland health concerns of anageing society.

The ELSA research teamshowed that the least wealthyover-fifties suffer the mostsocial isolation, with thewealthier among the same agegroup half as likely to becomesocially isolated, compared tothe least wealthy.

The report suggest thatfocussing public healthintervention efforts on lesswealthy, less healthy older

people and on improving accessto public and private transportfor the over-50’s is likely tohave the greatest impact inalleviating social isolation.

The ELSA project is anextensive research study thatfollows the lives of more than10,000 English peoplethroughout their older age andwhich reveals the complexinter-relationships betweenpersonal finances, socialdetachment and overall healthand well-being. Previousreports from the project haveshown how social engagementand hobbies are closely linkedwith long life and healthyageing. These findings comefrom the fifth report of ELSA,which is led by researchers atUniversity College London(UCL) and which is carried outin partnership with researchersat the Institute for FiscalStudies, the University ofManchester and NatCen SocialResearch.

Those who were recorded as

having a greater enjoyment oflife in wave one were morelikely to still be alive nine to 10years later than were otherparticipants. The differencebetween those who enjoyedlife the most and those whoenjoyed life the least wasmarked, with nearly threetimes more people dying in thelower than greater enjoymentgroup.

Researchers also found thatmeasures of psychological well-being that were taken in2004/05 (wave two) could beused to predict whichpreviously unaffectedindividuals would go on tosuffer disability, reducedwalking speed, impaired self-rated health, and to developcoronary heart disease by thetime they were visited again in2010/11.

ELSA coordinator ProfessorAndrew Steptoe, British HeartFoundation Professor ofPsychology and director of theInstitute of Epidemiology and

Health Care at UCL, said:'These remarkable findingsbecame even more astonishingwhen it became clear that thelink between psychologicalwell-being and long termhealth and survival wasindependent of other factorssuch as age, gender, ethnicity,wealth, education and baselinehealth.'

Women are more likely tobecome detached fromleisure activities than men'Women are more likely tobecome detached from leisureactivities than men, but lesslikely to become detachedfrom social networks; whilewidowed individuals are lesslikely to withdraw from leisureactivities, cultural engagementand, in particular, socialnetworks than those in acouple.'ELSA began in 2002 and visitsvolunteer participants everytwo years. This is the fifthbiennial report.

One in six over-50s are 'socially isolated' with fewhobbies or engagement with society

Giggles Drama School provide drama classes and workshops forindividuals and groups. Their aim is to provide a full range of coursesto cover all interests and abilities. Drama is very popular in Mayo andSligo and they provide regular classes in Kiltimagh: The Town HallTheatre, Swinford: Scoil Muire agus Treasa and in Meelick NationalSchool, and in St Mary’s Community Centre, Curry, Co. Silgo. Gigglesprovide classes for people of all ages to explore drama and the theatrein a fun, safe and creative environment. For adults drama classes aredesigned to enhance creativity, acting technique, theory andexperience in the theatre…What you will learn in class:Drama: A practical introduction to actingskills and exercises, focusing on vocal work, movement, improvisationand script work with a practical performance at the end of the course.Creating a Character: By using acting techniques and improvisation,you will focused on character development. Practical exercises aregiven to understand movement, how the body works, vocal work,creating different accents and objectives and what moves thecharacter. Tel: 087-7929138 for more details.

Giggles Drama School 2014Yoga and Mindfulness Mediation are very ancienttechniques witch nowadays grows in popularity allaround the world for their results in mental andphysical health.Physically it promotes stability, energy, flexibilityand relaxation. Mentally it promotes concentration, balance andtranquillity.Malo teaches a form of Yoga adapted to theuniqueness and needs of the individuals. Helping People to feel better with Yoga is herpassion. Yoga traditionally welcomes all. It can bepractices with excellent results by every one ofwhatever age, physical condition or weight. Being over 60 is a big advantage in termsavailability and life experience. Try a unique and non challenging practice that canchange your life! Contact 086-3308999

Malo

Adult ArtClasses

The Classes are taught by Paul Murray. Formore details call 085-1359642

Classes take place on Wednesday mornings10.30am -12.30pm

The classes cater for beginner andintermediate students. There is no

fixed course as each studentdevelops at their own individual

pace, according to their ability andinterests. Most of the students use

either acrylic or oil paint, butwatercolour and drawing tui!on canalso be provided. Subject ma#er is

an individual choice.


CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS

Strandhill Summerfest4th July - 6th July 2014

Plenty of upcoming workshops, contactÓrfhlaith on: 087 279 9108 or email

[email protected]/summerfest

A weekend of inspiration, encouragement,guidance and liberation for writers andwould-be-writers at every stage in their

journey to self-expression.With Órfhlaith Ní Chonaill, Ted & Annie

Deppe & Joe KearneyDiscover the genius within you

Write with inspirational facilitatorsSafe, supportive environmentFind your unique writing voice

Share and celebrate your writing with othersall at a beautiful seaside location

SocialDancing

For more details call: 086 638 8529

Every Thursday and SundayThe Welcome Inn, Castlebar10pm12.30 with Live Bands

Every TuesdayThe Park Hotel, Kil"magh

10pm12.30 with Live Bands

Admission €8

Glencross Home andGarden Workshop

For further details please visit our websitewww.glencrosshomeandgardenworkshop.com

or call Alis Glencross on 087-3819162

Get the most out of your gardenDevelop or learn new skills to help you around

your homeLearn something completely new!

Workshops covering vegetable and flowergrowing, general gardening skills, sewing andneedle craft, cookery and baking. Whether

you are a complete beginner or would like tofurther develop your skills, we can create the

right workshop for you.

Contact Auriel on [email protected], phone087 2405071 or consult the website

www.seatrails.ie

Looking for things to do in Sligo? Welcome to Seatrails! Try a guided walking

tour or outdoor adventure and discovery tourwith a qualified maritime archaeologist guide.Visit fascinating ancient monuments, stunning

land and seascapes and learn about theunique wilderness that surrounds you.

Seatrails guided walks and tours are for everyone-children, families, school and special

interest groups and retired persons.

Giggles Drama SchoolWe provide Adult drama classes and

workshops for individuals andgroups. We aim to provide a full

range of courses to cover allinterests and abilities. Drama is very

popular in Mayo and Sligo and weprovide regular classes in Kiltimagh,

Swinford, Meelick and CurryTel: 094-9384262 / Mob: 087 7929138

Email: [email protected] www.giggles.ie

Niamh MoffattFitnessFitness Instructor

and PersonalTrainer

Are you bored with you exerciserou!ne? Do you want to lose weight,

feel healthier, boost your energy orhave you a special occasion that you

want to shape up for?

Contact Niamh on: 087-6269999niamhmoffa#[email protected]

www.niamhmoffa#itness.com

Gerard ButlerDo you wanna dance?GB

Tel: 086-8986004Email: [email protected]

Learn to dance withGerard Butler

Group and IndividualClasses starting in

September

• Jive Classes• Set Dancing

• Dance Workshops• Sean Nos Dancing

EXCITING HOBBIESFun And engaging Pastimes

Have you ever wanted to paint in oils?Would you like to learnsome of the techniques?Do you want to createyour own piece of art?Have you ever looked at apainting and thought "Iwish I could do that"?Have you not tried it yetbecause you think youhave to be artistic orhave some experience?If you could be shownhow to paint somethingthat you could exhibitand be proud of, wouldyou be interested?If you have answered

YES to any of the above

questions then theseclasses could be for you. My name is EamonnDowdican and I would liketo welcome you to myday and evening oilpainting classes whichtake place at Grange,CoSligo and The NorthsideCentre, Forthill, Sligo andother local centres mostweeks and weekendsfrom September to June.One of my main aimswhilst conducting theseclasses is to show eachperson how to createtheir own artwork in just

a few short months ofinstruction.The class numbers aredeliberately kept small(between 7 and 9 people)You will find themrelaxed and friendly witheach person catered forin a very supportive andencouraging manner.Beginners as well asthose of you who havepainted before are verywelcome.Contact details are (086)088 4972or [email protected]

As seniors embark on theirnew lifestyle, they soon findthat they have new foundadditional “leisure time” ascompared with while theywere working full time.With this new found “leisuretime” to spare, many seniorsstart to consider newactivities that they can nowembark on and some of theseactivities include taking upsome new hobbies.Traditionally, they can takeup outdoors hobbies like golf,tennis, photography andhiking and indoor hobbies likereading, playing chess andeven bowling.Some of the other “newhobbies” that seniors havetaken up and found veryrewarding include thefollowing:

1. Learning to play thepiano or the guitar.Of course, there are manyother types of musicalinstruments that you choosefrom to learn how to play,

like the harmonica or theviolin, but the guitar and thekeyboards are two of themore popular instrumentsthat many seniors like tolearn how to play. Initialinvestment cost for a guitaror a portable elctronic ogranis fairly low. Remember thefun of picking up this hobby isin the learning process. It ismuch easier than most of usthink and the joy of beingable to play it at your nextfamily or friends get togetheris indeed very rewarding.

2. Learning Magic TricksHave you ever watchedmagicians doing their magictricks and thought to youselfthat one day you too maylearn how to do those tricksyourself. How cool would itbe if you could, at the nextfamily get together, impressall your family membersincluding the grand children ifany, with some amazing cardtricks or coin vanshing tricks. Actually learning the skills of

doing magic tricks can be areally rewarding hobby. Againthe great thing about theinternet is that there are somany sources of informationon the internet for you tocheck out on how you canstart your new hobby oflearning magic tricks.

3. Keep Fit By Learning TaiChi or YogaIn Less Than 10-Minutes PerDay, T’ai Chi or Yoga Can Help You Get Back In Shapeand the best thing is that youcan do it almost anywhere –in the garden, the local parkor even in the comfort of yourown home! Try to find out ifthere are any Tai Chi or Yogaclasses being conducted nearwhre you live and enrol intoone of them today. Besidesbeing a great new hobby, TaiChi or Yoga can provide manygreat benefits including :• Reduce Stress• Increase Muscle Strength• Decrease blood pressuree• Benefit patients with heart

disease• Reduce arthritis and backpain• Prevent depression

• Improve sleepMost people initially considerT’ai Chi and Yoga to be asequence of slow physicalexercises –probably fromimages they saw on televisionand travel programmes –however, there’s a lot moreto T’ai Chi and Yoga than justexercising.

"They say a hobbycan help develop apositive attitude. Apositive attitudemay not solve all ofmy problems, but itWILL annoy enoughpeople to make itworth the effort!"

”


Classes consist of Qigong and Tai Chi which is ashort form of Wu style Tai Chi, it consists of 35

moves. As part of it's health benefits and lineagethis so! moving form of Tai Chi cul"vates the mind

& body with it's medita"ve quali"es.7 Mail Coach Road, Sligo,

CommonsClay CaféPaint Your Own PotteryStudio & Restaurant

www.claycafe.ie • Phone: 094 937 3370E-mail: [email protected]

Lakeside Retail Park, Unit 22, Old BallindineRoad, Claremorris Co. Mayo

Express your creative side, spend quality time withfriends and family, and create a unique item for

themselves or for gifts. Pottery Painting is available7 days a week on a drop-in basis.

Experience something new in the west!"Brigown" Bed & Breakfast began simplythrough a love and passion for cookingand offering great service to travellers.Marjorie Nolan (proprietor & culinaryconnoisseur)'s introduction to the worldof food and home baking stems fromthe simple beginnings of Ireland’slegendary ICA (Irish Countrywomen’sAssociation) and her Mum.Since the business began as a smallhumble offering ‘Marjorie’s Kitchen’has expanded into an innovative andexciting business, offering premiumspecialised cooking courses toeveryone, and we mean everyone. Noexperience is required to join a classwith ‘Marjorie’s Kitchen’ - the novicecook can join in and leave havingaccomplished new skills and great user

friendly recipes which can beincorporated into everyday cooking.This is not a master class for nouvellecuisine, but rather a professionalfriendly environment in which to learnand have fun doing so. If you are aperson who is sure you just can’t cook,then let Marjorie delight you … byproving you wrong! In her famous daycourse you will learn to create:• Mouth Watering Starters• Delicious Soups• Beautiful Breads• Amazing Main Courses• Delightful Desserts, incorporatingfresh natural ingredients withinteresting and creative ideas toinclude in your daily menuPlus ... Marjorie will get your creative

juices flowing, helping you come upwith your own creations

Marjorie’s passion and love of cookingcomes to the fore with this her 4thCookery book, entitled Marjorie’sKitchen, ‘My Recipes for You’. The Bookcontains 324 pages packed withdelicious, creative and easy to followrecipes, using locally sourced producewhen available - guaranteed to whetthe appetites of all food lovers andbeginners alike. A Culinary Bible with aselection of photographs covering 13Sections which includes Start in Style,The Bread Basket, Cakes, Cupcakes,Tray bakes & Bracks, Traditional IrishCooking and Festive Fare, and includesnapkin folding.

Seatrails walking tours

Try a different kind of heritage walk or tour this summerwith Seatrails, Sligo's leading guided walking tourscompany. Seatrails is directed by Maritime ArchaeologistAuriel Robinson who has years of experience working inthe field, underwater and in researching archaeologicalsites. She has a love for the sea and coastal sites. If youwish, Seatrails will organise for you to have theopportunity to include other outdoor adventure activitiessuch as Stand Up Paddling, Kayaking or horse-riding whileyou learn about your surrounding environment whereyour guide will accompany you! The tours are eco-friendly, relaxing, interesting and suit all ages. They areideal for families. Sligo has a fascinating past and youwill be taken to some amazing ancient sites that younever knew existed. Contact Seatrails to book your tourby contacting Auriel on [email protected], phone 0872405071 or consult the website www.seatrails.ie

Fitness TImetableTotal Body Workout (Mon and Fri 13.10 - 13.40)

Mens Circuits (Mon and Fri 13.40-14.10)Tabata Fat Burn (Mon 18.15 - 18.45)

Morning Circuits (Tue and Thur 10.30-11.30)Post Natal Fitness (Wed 10.30 - 11.00)

Core Strength (Tue and Thur 13.10 - 13.40)Boxercise (Wed 18.15 - 18.55)

Pilates (Wed 19.00 - 20.00 and Sat 10.30 - 11.30)Body Burn Bootcamp (Thu 18.15 - 19.15)

Niamh Moffatt Fitness is a state of the art facility located in theBallina Primary Care. Centre complex in Ballina, Co. Mayo. Weoffer group fitness class 6 days per week for people of all fitnesslevels and abailities. Our Tuesday and Thursday morning classesat 10:30am focus on fitness for the Over 50's age group and aregreat value at just €6 per class. Why not try one out - you canget your first class for FREE!! These classes are a great way toget involved in new groups, try a new hobby and get fit andhealthy along the way..

Samaritans Sligo, 3 The Mall, Sligo • Tel: 07191-42011 (Lo-call )1850 609090

CHANGE A LIFE: YOUR OWNSo many people have it in them to be a Samaritans volunteer.To touch another person’s life when it really matters, by helping them directly,or by keeping our branches running, is a rare gift.From the satisfaction of helping someone through a tough time, to learningnew skills or meeting like-minded colleagues, you get a lot back.

Different opportunities on offerA wide range of roles are all vital to keeping our service running.

Apart from listening to people, we're always looking for people with skills in finance, fundraising or IT, for example.

DISCOVER FUN AND EXCITING HOBBIES

Telephone: 061-394033 Or email [email protected] online @ www.redvikingtours.com

Our new hop on/ hop off route can be picked up at any one of 9a"rac#ons in the city. Enjoy the informa#ve commentary with

your friendly driver guide as we show you our city da#ng back tothe arrival of the Vikings in 812. Let us entertain you with thewealth of history and folklore that our lovely city has to offer

while you capture the panoramic views. This is a fun andinforma#ve tour which takes approximately 90 minutes and we

look forward to welcoming you aboard.

FLYING BOAT MUSEUMTHE FOYNES FLYING BOAT & MARITIMEMUSEUM, WHICH IS HOUSED IN THE ORIGINALTERMINAL BUILDING IN FOYNES, RECALLSTHAT NOSTALGIC ERA WHEN FOYNESBECAME THE CENTRE OF THE AVIATIONWORLD FROM 1937 TO 1945.

Our amazing story is told through acomprehensive range of exhibits and graphicillustrations featured throughout the originalTerminal Building including in our authentic1940’s cinema; the Radio and Weather Room -complete with transmitters, receivers and Morsecode equipment; the Brendan O’Reganrestaurant and of course, the only full sizedreplica B314 flying boat.

MARITIME MUSEUMTHE NEW FLOOR OF THE FOYNES MUSEUM IS NOWOPEN! THIS NEW EXHIBIT COVERS THE HISTORYAND PERSONALITY OF THE RIVER SHANNON FROMLIMERICK DOWN TO LOOP HEAD. THE RIVER IS AHUGE FEATURE IN THE HISTORY AND MYTHOLOGYOF IRELAND.

Foynes Flying Boat, & Maritime Museum, Foynes, Co. Limerick • Tel: 069-65416 www.flyingboatmuseum.com

Open March to September • Admission Rates: Adults: €11.00 / Seniors/Students: €9.00 / Children under 14: €6.00 / Children under 5: FREE Family Ticket: €28.00 (2 adults and up to 4 children)

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

We Look forward to welcoming you and assure you of a great

day out for all!

Coffee ShopO'Regan Restaurant is a great

place to enjoy a snack or a lightlunch. Mouth watering food, allcooked in-house, or sample anIrish Coffee in the place it was

invented".

This year, it's all about Limerick, asthe city continues its reign as City ofCulture 2014. Enjoy a packed calen-

dar of events, from theatre to sport,music to literature as Limerick cementsits reputation as a cultural hotspot. Thecounty has so much to offer, from thebeauty of the Shannon region to the pic-turesque charm of Adare, one of Ireland'sprettiest villages. Take a walk along Lim-erick's Garden Trail and relax afterwardsin a cosy pub or restaurant. With activi-ties to suit all ages, Limerick really is theperfect family destination for an excitingholiday this summer.

Horse RacingTo celebrate Independence Day and the4th of July celebrations taking place inLimerick, Limerick Racecourse are holdingan All American Race Meeting on Sunday,6 July starting from 2.30pm06 July 2014 Limerick City, Co. Limerick

Gather by the Feale FestivalFive day summer festival for all the familywith open air concerts, Battle of the DJ's,carnival, tag rugby, craft beer, heritageevents, Viking games, kids art and hob-bies, teen disco and family fun day.Date: 16 July 2014 To 20 July 2014

Twilight Racing at Limerick RacecourseWith horse racing, top class entertain-ment and a sizzling BBQ package, TwilightRacing in Limerick is a must this summer!Date: 25 July 2014Location: Patrickswell, Co. Limerick

Brief ExchangeOutdoor graphic design poster exhibition,featuring work by 35 Irish based design-ers. Each designer wrote a design brief inexchange for another. The results will befound in advertising spaces around thecity. Date: 05 August 2014 To 17 August

Sarsfield's Day Festival WeekendHistorical re-enactment to commemoratePatrick Sarsfield and the heroes of Limer-ick in 1690 and their heroic defence ofthe walled city in repelling William of Or-ange and his army. 08-10 August 2014

World Club Rugby 7sThis August, Thomond Park will host someof the world's biggest clubs includingSaracens, New South Wales Waratahs,Stade Français, Moscow, Auckland, SanFrancisco, South Africa's Blue Bulls & Mun-ster Rugby.Date: 09 August 2014 To 10 August 2014

Limerick & District Canine Club AllBreed Championship Dog ShowA great day out for all the family and fordog lovers!Date: 21 August 2014Location: Adare, Co. Limerick

Limerick ShowAn event for all with horse and ponyshowing and jumping, cattle, sheep,goats, poultry, horticulture, art, craft,photograph and baking, trade stands, dogshow, family entertainment and music.23 & 24 August Patrickswell, Co. Limerick

Limerick - City of Culture 2014


Visitor Attractions / Things to do

Opening Hours: 11:00am-4:00pm, Tuesday-Saturday Admission: €5 adult, €2 student, senior, child.

Email: [email protected] Address: King House, Main Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Phone: 071 966 3242 Website: www.kinghouse.ie

A visit to King House is a truly unique experience...Marvel at the luxury and splendour of what was once

the King family home.Explore the history of King House from its

incarnation as a Connaught Rangers militarybarracks.

Pay a visit to the cold, forbidding jail cells.See our exhibit on Boyle’s own starlet of the silver

screen, Maureen O’Sullivan.Finish your visit with refreshments at Aunty Bee’s,

our award-winning tea room.

Belleek Castle,Ballina’s hiddengem, located in 200

acres of woodland withtrees up to 300 yearsold. Belleek Castle wasbuilt in 1831,commissioned by SirArthur Francis Knox-Gore. The castle wasdesigned by the prolificIrish architect John B.Keanes,.The Knox-Goreslived in Belleek until theearly 1940's.

Marshall Doran, amerchant navy officerand an avid collector offossils and medievalarmour, acquired thethen run-down manorhouse in 1961.

Marshall commencedthe monumental task ofconverting the formermanor house into a finehotel and mediaevaltourist attraction.Visitors would find himswinging hammer andchisel on immense blocksof granite, a redbandanna tied around hishead against theperspiration, holes in histrousers and worn shoeswith toes protruding. Heworked alongside other

stonemasons, and taughthis tradesmen properadze technique, and howto use a drawknife to ageand fashion wood in themediaeval style.

Marshall never lost hislove for the sea. Many ofhis architectural workscarried a nautical theme,frequently blended witha Spanish influence,particularly at Belleek,where he built the“Armada Bar”, modelledon the typical captain’squarters in a SpanishArmada galleon.

The timbers weresalvaged from a Swedishgalleon wrecked atBartra Island in KillalaBay in 1927. Marshall

kept his young son, Paul,on the beach for weeks,cutting and collectinghuge timbers from thegalleon for integrationinto the Armada Bar.Marshall stained them,so as to match oneanother, using acombination of Guinness,cow dung and milk – hisown concoction.

Castle Tours are run ona daily base. You explorethe history of the Castle,learn more about theinterior design and seethe private dining room.You will also get to seethe MediaevalBanqueting hall, thearmoury, the fossil roomand Grace O'Malley's bed.

Belleek Castle: A Cultural Adventureand a piece of Irish Heritage

CASTLEBAR, CO. MAYO

Why choose a Hotel when you can have theLux!r" of a Resor#

2 Night Midweek Break with Breakfast and Dinner on one eveningMat!re Living magazine have teamed up with The Breaff" House Resor# in Castlebar to offer oneluck reader a 2 night midweek break for t%o people, with Breakfast and Dinner on one evening. To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize simply answer the question below and send your answer along with

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Planning a relaxing break away? Then look no f!r#her than Breaff" House Resor#, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. The Resor# isrenowned for its war) welcoming staff and offers an excellent range of onsite facilities which includes our award-winning

Leisure Cent(e, with 20 met(e pool, Sauna and Jacuzzi. Our Breaff" Spa offers a wide-range of pampering Elemist(eat)ents, g!aranteed to indulge the senses whilst relaxing the whole body and mind.

Since last summer, Lisa (64) and her iPadhave been inseparable. “We bought itoriginally to do video calls with the

kids, but it soon replaced my computer”Lisa says and adds “It is quicker to read mynews and check my email, even when I’mwatching TV. But the one thing thatfrustrates me is that it isdesigned for youngsters.I always need my glassesto see all the small textand icons, and don’t getme started on mysmartphone!”

This is familiar storyin many families, but inLisa’s family it took onspecial meaning, as herson Lari (31) took it ashis mission to makesmartphones and tabletseasier to use for peopleof all ages. Workingtogether with an oldfriend from school,Jukka (29) they createda smartphone withbigger icons and simpleroptions that has alreadybeen used by thousandsof people across the World. “We built thisfor our parents, but quickly realised thatpeople across the World also found theirsmartphones equally frustrating to getstarted with” says Lari. “What we do isbring back the common sense in the phonedesign. We let people focus on the thingsthat really matter and put all thecomplicated bits in the background.”

The simpler smartphone only has 6 big

icons on the screen, email, photos,contacts, Google, messages andapplications. “What we found is that manypeople only really want to stay in touchwith friends and family and occasionallylook up information on the internet, so youdon’t really have to make smartphones with

tens or hundreds of blinkingoptions.” says Jukka. “By leavinga lot of things out, we were ableto make text bigger, and thatreally helps for people with lessthan perfect eye-sight.”

Originally from the land ofNokia, Finland, Lari and Jukkarecently moved their company toDublin to take part in an initiativerun by the National DigitalResearch Centre (NDRC) on CraneStreet. “Ireland is a great place tostart a technology company andwhen most of our customers comefrom either the United States orUnited Kingdom, Dublin is a verycentral location for us.” With thehelp of new Irish contacts, Lariand Jukka have designed a newsimpler smartphone that will beavailable starting December 2014.“We put a lot of care and

attention into the design. It is a simplephone to use, but you will have a fullinternet experience on a big and easy toread 5’’ screen.”says Lari and adds “Ourdream is that people of all ages can benefitfrom smartphones without all the hassle.”

Lari and Jukka call their phone “Zilta.” Itcan be pre-ordered on their websitewww.zilta.co for 149 Euros with postage inIreland included in the price.

Simpler phones for smart people

One of the biggest technologytrends in the 21st century hasbeen so called “smartphones.”

A smartphone is a mobile phone withmore advanced computing andnetworking capability, generally usedto access the Internet in addition tomaking calls.

Anyone commuting regularly on theDART will have noticed thatsmartphones are absolutelyeverywhere these days. Incredible asit sounds, the average person checkstheir smartphone up to 150 times aday. But the use of smartphoneshasn’t been as popular amongseniors. In fact, only a third of over55s had a smartphone in 2013, and

many older people are not as activein using the “applications” that comewith their phones, such as games,applications for watching video orlistening to music.

According to the technology andfinance company Deloitte, peopleover the age of 55 are a driving forceof new smartphone sales indeveloped countries like Ireland andthe United Kingdom. In fact, almost ahalf of seniors already have asmartphone by the end of this year.

Yet Deloitte has observed that onein four over-55s has neverdownloaded an application on theirphone and many buy them only as itis increasingly difficult to find basicmobile phones.

Major technology companies arefinally starting to take notice of the“silver economy.” On certainSamsung smartphones you can nowactivate an “Easy” mode with lessclutter. A Japanese company calledFujitsu has recently launched aspecial phone for seniors in Franceand Doro, a phone companyspecialising in seniors, have alsoreleased their own smartphone. Themost recent company to enter thesector is Dublin-based Zilta, thatdesigns age-friendly simplersmartphones.

Seniors embrace smartphones,but when will smartphonesembrace seniors?

Details have been announcedin relation to the FleadhCheoil na hÉireann

programme, which will takeplace in Sligo later on thisSummer.

From outdoor concerts on theGig Rig with Sligo favouritesDervish to a series of FleadhFusion events presented by MusicGeneration to gala concerts suchas the Boroimhe and De CuellarSuites, Fleadh 2014 promises tobe a superb mix of concerts,sessions, exhibitions, lunchtimereadings & recitals and differenteclectic events which will appealto the broad church of Fleadhvisitors to Sligo this August 10th-17th. Speaking ahead of theofficial Fleadh Cheoil 2014launch on June 21st, Chairpersonof Fleadh Cheoil 2014 BartleyGavin said that “Sligo is open tovisitors from all over the worldthis Summer. We think that theFleadh programme offerssomething for everyone. Themusicians will have scope forplaying music on the streets or inthe pubs, concerts will cater fora wide range of traditional musicfans, and we also want to createa carnival atmosphere in thetown to make sure that everyonewill return home with greatmemories, not just of the Fleadhitself, but of Sligo.” Some of theFleadh highlights includeconcerts, pageants, a Fleadhriver festival, street theatre,lectures and exhibitions,

competitions, street sessions andmuch more besides. And in thisregard, programme directorRhona McGrath says that thefocus will be on returning to theroots of the Fleadh by providingspace and access to musicianswho want to play on the streetsin impromptu sessions, a keypart of the traditional Fleadh.

“Anyone who knows Sligo willbe aware of the great traditionof music in the county. We wantto revisit the theme of therambling house made famous bythe likes of Michael Coleman byencouraging pubs, hotels andrestaurants to open their doorsto musicians, and as the entirecentre of Sligo will be closed totraffic, this means that there willbe plenty of opportunities formusicians to set up on thestreets as well,” she says.

The Fleadh will be bookendedby the Peace III Colmcille streetpageant which takes place onthe opening day of the festival,while the Peace III Carnival willend Fleadh 2014 with aspectacular closing ceremonywhich will take place along thebanks of the Garavogue River,which runs through the centre oftown. During the week, visitorscan take in any number of fringeevents such as workshopscovering many aspects oftraditional Irish music frominstrument making to experttuition, to guided walks andtours of Sligo’s most iconic

historical sites like themegalithic tombs ofCarrowmore, the climb to thetop of Knocknarea and walksaround Sligo Abbey – to name but3 locations that lie on Sligo’sdoorstep – and a large number offamily and youth-focussed eventssuch as the trad disco, youthCéilí and much more.

Then you’ve got thecompetitions. Up to 10,000musicians are expected todescend on Sligo to compete atall levels and in all age groups,

from individual musicians toGrúpaí Ceoil, and one of thehighlights is certain to be theannual All-Ireland Céilí BandCompetition, which takes placeat the Knocknarea Arena onFleadh super-Sunday, a fittingway to close the competitions forthis year.

All in all, it looks like Fleadh2014 will appeal to the hugenumbers of people expected totravel to Sligo this Summer. Andit’s hard to think of a morespectacular setting for the

Fleadh. With blue flag beacheslocated just minutes from thetown centre, golf clubs, ridingstables, walking trails and everyother conceivable outdoorpursuit on Sligo’s doorstep – justtake a look at the FleadhPromotional video to check outsome of the options available -and the Fleadh itself taking placein the shadow of Ben Bulben, oneof Ireland’s most iconicmountains, Sligo looks set to be aspectacular celebration of ourculture and music.

Fleadh Cheoil Programme to have broad appeal

Arts and Crafts

Card Making is a hobby thatis growing in popularity allthe time, and it’s easy to

understand why. It’s simple,inexpensive, requires very fewmaterials, and is great fun.Making your own cards can evenbe good for your bank balance –since you’ll never need to buypricy shop-bought cards again.If you’d like to give card makinga go, but aren’t sure what you’llneed to get started, read on –this article is for you.

The basic materials you’ll needWhen you’re starting out in CardMaking, the best approach is tokeep it nice and simple.The first thing you’ll need issome blank cards to act as abase for your designs. These areusually referred to as ‘cardblanks’, and you’ll be able tofind them in any good craftshop. White A6 card blanks are anice standard size and colour,and suitable for any occasion, soyou’ll probably want to startwith a good quality pack of

these. Next you’ll needsomething to create the maindesign on the front of your card.This can be either an image,some wording, or both, andthere are several ways you canadd this to your card.Rubber stamps are one of thequickest and simplest ways. Astamp and ink pad will help youcreate a beautiful design thatyou can then colour in howeveryou choose.There are a few different typesof rubber stamp, but ‘woodmounted’ stamps are thesimplest to use. They featuredesigns mounted onto a block ofwood, and are ready to usestraight away – you just inkthem up and stamp themstraight onto your card. Youmight like to choose a picturedesign for the front of the card,and a wording stamp to add agreeting inside.And don’t forget your ink padfor stamping. These come in abewildering array of colours, buta small black one is all you’llneed to start with.Next you’ll need some pens,pencils, chalks or paints forcolouring your stamped image.ProMarker pens are extremelypopular for colouring stampedpictures, and very easy to use.Their ink is semi-transparent, soyou can apply them in layersuntil you get the shade you’relooking for, and you can alsoblend colours together – whichmeans one pack will give you

hundreds of potential colours.However, pencils, chalks andpaints can work out a littlecheaper, so go with whateversuits your budget.And finally, if you want to add amessage or a bit more detail tothe front of your card, sheets ofstickers are a great way to do it.You can get sheets of stickerswith assorted messages, as well

as sheets full of prettydecorative items like flourishes,borders, etc. All you do is peelthem off the backing sheet andstick them where you wantthem.And that is really all you’ll needto make your first card. As youdecide to get more involved inyour card making, there areplenty more things you can

experiment with –embellishments, patternedpapers, glitter glues, etc – andthat voyage of discovery is allpart of the fun.But for now, some card blanks, arubber stamp or two, an inkpad, some pens and stickers ismore than enough to create abeautiful card that you can beproud of.

Family History orGenealogy has seen a hugeupsurge in interest in

recent years. It has gone frombeing the preserve of the fewto being almost a nationalpastime for the many. And why

not. Our ability to research ourfamily history has never beengreater, and there is somethingabout these troubled timesthat tends to make us want tolook backwards and to delvemore into our own history. And

even though this upsurge ininterest began in better timeswhen people seemed to havean abundance of time on theirhands and limitless money intheir pockets, this trendcontinues today almost

because of the troubled timesin which we live.

If ever there was an idealtime to research our FamilyHistory, our Third Age seems asgood a time as any to do it. Formany of us, we have more freetime than we are used to.Hopefully the same can be saidof money although the sumsinvolved are not great at all.But it seems an ideal time notonly to reflect on our lives andto discover from whence wecame, but to pass on thatinformation to the nextgeneration so that they toohave a better understanding oftheir own personal history.

For many of us now in ourThird Age, we were not asfortunate as today’s youngergenerations.

Our parents were invariablybusy people, many of themworking five and a half or sixday weeks and some of themholding down part-time jobs aswell. Not only did they nothave the time or the money todelve too deeply into their

family history, the facilities wehave today were not at theirdisposal either.

On top of that, thegenerations that immediatelypreceeded ours had suffered acouple of World Wars. They didnot want to look back becauseit invoked little but badmemories. They only wanted tolook forward to better times.So for many of us today, ourfamily history, or at least suchof it as was known by ourparents, passed with theirpassing. Today however, thingsare different. We have theopportunity and maybe eventhe obligation to teach ourchildren something of our ownfamily history so that they inturn can pass it on to theirchildren in order that theymight have a betterunderstanding of their pastthan we do.

So if you would like to traceyour own ancestry and leave afamily tree and the history ofyour family to your ownchildren, why not start today

Family History & Genealogy

Card Making for Beginners

TravelTechnology


Whether you’re diggingyourself out of debt,saving for a specific goal

or trying to get a better handleon your budget, there’s an appto help you reach your financialgoals. We scoured the internetto see which apps are winningthe most acclaim.

Your Bank’s AppMost major banks, credit card

companies and investmentcompanies now have them andexperts say they’re a goodplace to start. Checkingbalances, making transfers andpaying bills is just thebeginning. You can check onyour investments, find thenearest branch or bank machineand access a variety of othertools such as mortgagecalculators.

Mint.com Personal Finance(free, available from iTunesand Android)

Mint.com is the darling of theonline budgeting world so it’sno surprise that the app hasreceived so much acclaim. Likethe online tool, Mint lets youconnect all of your accounts inone place to track andcategorize your spending, paybills, check your balances anddouble-check your budgetbefore you buy. You can also setup reminders for upcomingpayments and receive lowaccount balance notifications.

The ability to sync youraccount with your smart phone,tablet and computer hasanother bonus: you can goonline to disable the app onyour devices if you lose them.

Easy Envelope Budget Aid(free, iTunes and Android)

Many financial expertsadvocate using envelopes orjars as visual aids to tamespending — but perhaps youwant to go high tech? EEBA letsyou create a budget systemusing up to 20 virtual Envelopesfor regular and irregularexpenses. Then, you recordyour spending and the appkeeps a running total. You cancheck your Envelope balancebefore spending, and there’s noneed to connect your bankaccounts or put yourinformation at risk.

The app can sync withmultiple devices so all membersof the household can work witha common budget. If you’reworried about data loss, theapp automatically backs up dataonline too.

You Need a Budget (€2.99,iTunes and Android)

Widely popular YNAB used to

be for desktops only, but nowyou can extend much of itsfunctionality to your smartphone and tablet too. (You willneed the latest version of thesoftware to use the app,however.) You can check yourbudget and enter transactionson the go, and the app willautomatically sync to yourdesktop when there’s aninternet connection available.

Want to try it before you buy?The YNAB software is availablefor a one-month trial (and costs€40 to purchase) and users candownload a free version of theapp known as YNAB Lite.

Receipts (99c, iTunes)Whether you’re tracking

expenses for work or home, thisapp makes it easy to manage allthose receipts. Using thecamera in your device, the applets you take a picture of thereceipt or bill and enterrelevant details on the spot.Not only will it record the dateand location of yourtransaction, it will add upexpenses in different categoriesas well. Consider the app adigital archive of receipts thatyou can search, print, email andexport to other programs.

If you don’t have an Appleproduct, there are similar appsavailable for other devices aswell — such as Smart ReceiptsPro (98c, Android).

iExpenseIt (€2.99, iTunes)If you’re looking for an

expense tracker that’s morerobust, experts pick this app forthe additional features. Forexample, you can use a varietyof currencies, calculate vehiclemileage, track spending trendsand see how much room youhave left in your budget —among many other reportingfeatures. When you need toclaim expenses, you can exportdata to a CSV or HTML file —complete with a digital copy oryour receipt.

Debt Manager (€1.99, iTunes)This app is one of many that

use the “Debt Snowball”method to help you get yourdebts under control. Simplyenter your loans and paymentinformation, set priorities andstart playing with the numbers.You can try out some differentscenarios — such as a rise ininterest rates or increasing yourpayments, for example.

Debt Manager also lets yousee how much time and interestyou’re saving, plus keeps youmotivated by charting yourprogress.

The app also has tips andinstructions to guide you

through the process, plus it letsyou create customized reportsof your payment history.

IOU Debt Manager (free,iTunes and Android)

Borrowed a few euro from aco-worker to cover lunch, orlent a friend cab fare? This applets you keep track of debts bigand small.

You add a contact or“account” and then enter thedetails of what is owed to youor what you owe to someone.You can keep track of partialpayments, and set up emailreminders.

This app isn’t just aboutmoney — it’s a handy way tokeep track of items as books,tools and movies that youborrow and lend. (You can evenadd a picture.) You can alsonote if you owe someone aphone call or an email, orwhose turn it is to bring food togames night.

Bloomberg (free, iTunes andAndroid)

There are plenty ofpublications offering apps thatlet you track the latest market

data and news affecting themarkets, but this app goes onestep further and helps you trackyour favourite companies andindices over time.

The content isn’t justarticles: listen to interviewswith experts, watch featuredvideos and tune in to the 24/7TV network through yourdevice.

Before you download…These apps are just a few

examples of the hundreds ofoptions available — there’sbound to be somethingavailable that suits both yourdevices and your preferences.Before you buy it or try it,consider:

Does this app meet yourneeds? Developers can pile onthe features, but the best appfor you is one that you’ll use ona regular basis. Read the user reviews, considerthe screen shots and see ifthere are any demos or tutorialsonline.

Is the app available in yourcountry?

Financial apps aren’tnecessarily universal — wefound many popular apps thatweren’t available in Ireland anddidn’t mesh with Irish bankinginstitutions or financialregulations.

Should you pay or not? Many apps have “free” and“pro” or “deluxe” editions. The upgraded versions oftenhave additional features youmay or may not find useful, butthey’re also free from ads.

How secure is the app andhow much person informationare you required to enter?How secure is your device?

Beware of any app asking foryour account passwords — theycould be fraudulent or couldinvalidate any protections youhave through your bank.

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Best Apps for your budget


Feature

Her Majesty QueenElizabeth II, bornElizabeth Alexandra Mary

on April 21, 1926, recentlycelebrated her 88th birthday.The oldest reigning Britishmonarch, along with herhusband Prince Phillip (whoturned 93 on June 10, 2014),have both exceeded the lifeexpectancy for Irish women andmen – which is 83.3 and 78.8respectively, according to thelatest report from StatisticsIreland.

But Dr. Michael Gordon,program director of palliativecare who trained in Scotlandand met the Queen’s mother,feels that nowadays, being inyour 80s is not so old. “I’m ageriatrician and, in my practice,that’s like late adolescence.She’s not 100 yet. Her mother,the Queen Mother, lived to 101,and there’s a pretty goodchance, barring theunexpected, that Elizabeth canget there herself.”

Yet even the best geneticmakeup can be destroyed byexternal environmental factors.

Researchers say we acceleratethe aging process if we smoke,eat poorly, drink heavily, don’texercise and are overstressed.Successful aging, says Gordon,is measured in both quantity ofyears and quality of life — notsimply breathing but retainingvitality and enthusiasm, enoughto make life well worth living.

Here are some of the factorsthat are quite possibly thereasons Queen Elizabethcontinues to enjoy good health.Adopt them to improve yourchances for longevity andhealth. Go ahead — live like theQueen.

Get regular medicalscreenings “The Queen has regular medicalscreenings and access tomedical care that keeps her ingood health. Preventivescreenings for both men andwomen should includemeasurements for bloodpressure, cholesterol and sugar.The results can catch deadly yetavoidable diseases such as heartattacks, stroke and diabetes.

Men may also be advised tohave an annual prostate check,and women, a regular breastexamination, mammogram,pelvic exam and pap test.

Get regular exercise The Brits are big walkers, andso is the Royal Family. They’reknown for their enjoyment oflong walks on the grounds ofBalmoral, where they stayedduring their summer vacations.The Queen Mother and theQueen both were always avidwalkers.” The Queen is alsoknown for her love of horses —she breeds horses and ponies —and horseback riding hasexcellent health benefits.Longevity specialist Dr. VincentDeMarco says that after a gooddiet, exercise offers the mosthealth benefits. “It improvesalmost every measure of healthwe can devise, and there is alot of evidence supporting therelationship between exerciseand longevity.” How muchexercise you need variesaccording to your medical andfitness history and current test

results. Even mild exercise,such as a 30-minute walk a day,can help lower blood pressureand stress levels.

Stay mentally sharp Queen Elizabeth is still afunctioning head of stateinvolved with high-levelmeetings that would keep hermentally acute. Former BritishPrime Minister MargaretThatcher said in her memoirs,“Ministers take their regularmeetings with the Queen veryseriously … they are quietlybusiness-like, and Her Majestybrings to bear a formidablegrasp of current issues andbreadth of experience. She is ina position of leadership and notjust a figurehead for many ofthe foundations she’s involvedwith. There are residences indifferent parts of the country,which allow her to change herenvironments and be [mentally]stimulated by change. TheQueen has also visited theGoogle headquarters in London,indicating an interest in theInternet, and is said to e-mailher grandchildren, too. Anythingthat challenges your mind —staying engaged at work,puzzles, strategy games,reading, dance or music classes,debate and conversation — willkeep you mentally in shape asthe years go by. Use it or loseit.

Manage stress By no means has the Queen hada stress-free reign or an easytime as a parent. Three of herfour children — Charles, Anneand Andrew — had failedmarriages ending in scandal-plagued divorces thatthreatened the very existenceof the Monarchy itself. 1992 wasa year the Queen would dub“Annus horribilis,” capped by adevastating fire at WindsorCastle, destroying pricelessartifacts and reaping a repairbill to the tune of a reported 40million pounds.As the monarch, even thoughshe is not a policy-maker, shehas had more than her share ofissues to deal with — her father,George VI, was not meant to beking and, when her uncle,Edward VIII, abdicated for the

love of Wallis Simpson, herfamily was thrust into thepressure cooker. Aside fromlosing her father, whosuccumbed to lung cancer atwhat we’d now consider arelatively young 56, andconsequently having to take thethrone at 26, she has facedwars — from surviving the Blitz,her family falling victim to theIRA, her son Andrew fighting inthe Falklands, her grandsonHarry serving in Afghanistan andher troops in the much-opposedwar in Iraq to London being aconstant target linked to theWar on Terror — and socialapprobation, perhaps most

notably her country’soutpouring of emotion inresponse to the death of Diana,Princess of Wales, and thesubsequent criticism of whatwas perceived as the Queen’sunfeeling reaction.It’s not just a job where she sitsaround being nice to people.She does live in a stressfulenvironment, but the stressesmay not all be negative,” saysGordon. He explains thatongoing stress in life giveshuman beings creativity,tenacity and interest in life, aslong as it’s not destructivestress.

The Royal Secretsof LongevityHere are some of the factors that are quite possibly the reasons Queen Elizabeth continues to enjoy good health. Adopt them to improve your chances for longevity and health. Go ahead — live like the Queen.

By no means hasthe Queen had a

stress-free reign oran easy time as aparent. Three of

her four children —Charles, Anne and

Andrew — hadfailed marriages

ending in scandal-plagued divorcesthat threatened

the very existenceof the Monarchy

itself.

Feature


Destructive stress leaves youfeeling constantly, personallythreatened. Chronic destructive stressincreases the risk for stroke andheart disease. Researchsuggests that meditation, deepbreathing and chanting arehelpful in reducing stress levels.

Maintain a constant bodyweightThough not known for wearingrevealing fashions, the Queenhas never appeared overweight.According to Dr. Walter Willett,chair of the department ofnutrition at the Harvard Schoolof Public Health, next to notsmoking, staying lean isprobably the most importantthing we can do to stay healthyand live longer. This could alsobe the secret to the slim andtrim Prince Philip’s turning 93while still carrying oneffortlessly. Leanness mattersbecause fat cells producehormones that raise the risk oftype 2 diabetes.

Study after study confirms thatextra weight, especially aroundthe belly, cuts years off yourlife.

Eat a variety of healthy foods The typical British diet, by andlarge, has not been a healthyone because it’s heavy on fatsand carbohydrates but this hascertainly changed There is abetter range of fresh fruits,vegetables and grains moretypical of a Mediterranean dietavailable.” This kind of anti-inflammatory diet has beenlinked with promoting longevityand, as noted in To Set Before aQueen, the cookbook edited byMaureen Owen based on thecookery of Alma McKee, cook tothe Royal Family during the1950s, Queen Elizabethbenefited from meals preparedwith fresh vegetables, game andpoultry provided by the royalestates, long before thebenefits of this kind of dietcame to light. Fish, too, is astaple on the royal menu, withit being served, during McKee’stime, nearly every day. And withher son Charles, Prince ofWales, a long-time leader in theorganic farming movement, theQueen is tapped into eatingwell.“I’m willing to assume that,because of her status, thechoice of foods for her isprobably pretty balanced andwell-prepared,” says Gordon.

Drink a cuppa tea … and barleywater High tea, taken precisely at 5p.m., is a British ritual enjoyedby Her Majesty. “Tea hasnumerous health benefits:antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,anti-cancer, anti–heart disease,”says DeMarco. “Various teashave various benefits. Green teais the most widely studied and

probably the most beneficial.The longest-living persons inFirst World countries come fromJapan. This may be due to twofactors: green tea and fish.”Barley water, usually flavouredwith lemon or other fruit, is apopular British drink and afavourite of the royalhousehold. Owen includedMcKee’s recipe for barley water— 1/2 cup pearl barley, 2 1/2quarts boiling water, twolemons, six oranges and brownsugar to taste — to which theRoyal Family were apparentlyall “addicted.”The Queen has been quoted ascrediting it for her peaches-and-cream complexion. Barley is arich source of soluble and

insoluble fibre; barley water issaid to help support thekidneys, especially in times ofstress, and may be therapeuticfor those who have kidney andbladder ailments. A royalwarrant has been bestowed onthe British soft drink brandRobinsons, makers of barleywater.

Alcohol … in moderation The Queen Mother was oftenthe subject of comedic parodyclaiming she was tipsy fromdrinking whisky. “There is noquestion that in this family,alcohol is part of their normalactivities, and small amounts ofalcohol, unless there is anillness or contraindication withmedication, appear to have abeneficial effect on the heartand brain,” says Gordon.Anecdotally, he recalls a patientwho attributed his longevity —he lived to be 105 — to having anightly shot of Canadian Clubwhisky. Studies show evidencethat having red wine — rich inthe antioxidant resveratrol — inmoderation is good for us.“That’s one of the benefits ofthe Mediterranean diet. Not justfruits and vegetables, but wineas well.

Keep a pet Queen Elizabeth has a speciallove for dogs, especially thePembroke Welsh corgi. In astudy at State University of NewYork, Buffalo, stockbrokers withhigh blood pressure whoadopted a pet showed a 50 percent decrease in blood pressurecompared with their

counterparts without a pet.“Getting a positive responsefrom an animal may make onefeel better and likely has aneffect on the metabolic systemto produce higher levels ofpositive hormones, improvingfeelings of well-being.

Stay connected People who areconnected to those aroundthem — through marriage,friends, a spiritual communityor other networks — tend to livelonger than those without strongties. The Queen has a rich sociallife. She and Prince Philipreached their 60th year ofmarriage in 2007, makingElizabeth the first monarch tocelebrate a diamond weddinganniversary. They’ve had a longlife together, engaged in raisinga family of four children andnow eight grandchildren. The

fact that she’s been with thesame person for all these yearshas provided a very stablerelationship for her. Protect orimprove your emotional healthby staying in touch with friends,family and the greatercommunity.

Help others — help yourself Volunteering and sharing withothers can be gratifying andmeaningful. Charity work isquite important to QueenElizabeth, patron of more than600 organizations. During herGolden Jubilee in 2002, sheasked that people wishing tocommemorate the occasionmake a donation to one of herfavourite charities: Barnardo’s,Cruse Bereavement Care, I CAN(which helps children withspeech and languagedifficulties), the RoyalAgricultural BenevolentInstitution or the Soldiers,Sailors, Airmen and FamiliesAssociation. “The Queen isdoing it [as much] for herselfbecause it’s really good forher,” says Gordon. “The look onthe faces of the recipients can’thelp but make her feel good andfeeling good is a good thing.”

Have a spiritual focus Aside from her official religiousrole as supreme governor of theAnglican Church of England,Queen Elizabeth is said toregularly attend services. In her2000 Royal Christmas Message tothe Commonwealth, she said,“To many of us, our beliefs areof fundamental importance. Forme, the teachings of Christ andmy own personal accountabilitybefore God provide a frameworkin which I try to lead my life.”Organized religions “are apositive influence when theyhelp give meaning to life, allowpeople to look at the world in apositive way and to forgive theweaknesses of their fellowman,” adds Gordon, “but thiscan also be done withoutorganized religion. If you look atspirituality as something thatdrives you to do good, right andmoral things, then that’s also apositive influence.”

“There is noquestion that in

this family, alcoholis part of their

normal activities,and small amountsof alcohol, unlessthere is an illness

or contraindicationwith medication,appear to have abeneficial effecton the heart and

brain,”

Prince Philip, 93

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother lived to the age of 101

Breakaways

Ashort drive along the SouthEast coast will bring you toDun Laoghaire, where over-

looking the bay you will find theRoyal Marine Hotel. Steeped inhistory, and a favorite with thelocals, this landmark hotel is animpressive sight on the DunLaoghaire skyline. A hotel hasstood here since 1828. Manycelebrities, and even royaltyhave passed through its doorsover the decades. In 2004 thismagnificent old building closedfor restoration, a painstakinglabour of love by the presentowners.

Situated in an elevated site on4 acres overlooking Dublin Bay,the hotel has stunning views thaton a clear day stretch as far awayas Howth; and yet is still only ashort journey from down-townDublin. The original hotel hasbeen extensively but sympatheti-cally renovated with precise at-tention to detail.

And it is just this same atten-tion to detail, we extend to youas our guest – whether overnightor simply joining us for a drink inour bar or dining in our restau-rant.

The large bay windows and highceilings of the Bay Lounge high-light the grandeur and historicfeel that is central to the hotelstyle. Lavishly furnished it is acomfortable and ideal venue tomeet friends and family for cof-fee, lunch or perhaps to enjoythe age-old tradition of afternoontea whilst overlooking the gar-dens, with spectacular views ofthe harbour. Our resident pianistcompletes the ambience everySaturday afternoon.

Or perhaps dine in relaxedstyle in our Dún Bistro where thedelights of the Restaurant arematched only by the professionalfriendly service and stunningviews over the harbour. Servingan Early Bird Menu, Table d’hote

and a la Carte Menus.Try out lively Hardy’s Bar for a

local drink (named after the fa-mous actors and world famouspartners Laurel & Hardy whostayed in the original Royal Ma-rine Hotel). Food served everyday until 10pm. Live music everySaturday night.

The Pier Health Club offersstate-of-the-art cardio and resist-ance equipment, free weightarea and a luxury 18 metre swim-ming pool. We are proud to offerour members a spacious, relaxedand welcoming environment inwhich to exercise. Or simply re-treat into the hushed tranquillityof the sansanaSpa (the only FailtéIreland ‘comprehensive’ spa inDublin) and choose pamperingdelights from our extensive treat-ment menu.

With so much to choose from,what better way to spend a dayor so than at the beautifully re-stored Royal Marine Hotel…

...With so much to choose from, what better way to spend aday or so than at the beautiful Royal Marine Hotel…

Active Retirement Breaks 2014

Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal • Tel: 074-9721014Email: [email protected]

www.abbeyhoteldonegal.com

July & Aug!st2 Nights B&B & 2 Dinners - €1493 Nights B&B & 3 Dinners - €2094 Nights B&B & 4 Dinners - €259We are happy to assist in the planning of your

trip and can plan an itinerary to suit yourneeds showcasing all that our wonderful area

has to offer.Prices are Midweek Sunday to ThursdaySubject to availability / Selected Dates

The Abbey Hotel is locatedon the main square of thebeautiful coastal town of

Donegal. The small harbourtown lies at the heart of Co.Donegal making it the idealplace to explorer the northwest. The superior 3-star Hotelis right next to Donegal Castle,Donegal Bay Waterbus, Craftvillage, Donegal railway andheritage centre, and a shortdistance from Salthill gardens, 2blue flag beaches and some ofDonegal’s top walking and hikingtrails.

Comfortable bedrooms eachfeature a flat-screen TV,telephone and individual privatebathroom. Most rooms alsooverlook Donegal Bay and the

River Eske.The award winning Market

House restaurant has a menu ofexcellent international cuisine.Guests can dine in a room fullof character, and drink fromthe wide selection of wines.

The Eas Dun Bar, with itsunique 2-tier interior design,offers regular liveentertainment and musicalmost every night of the year.Guests have complimentary useof the leisure centre facilitiesnext door, including a pool, spabath, steam room and gym.

During your visit hotel offerscomplementary parking, freeWi-Fi in all rooms throughoutthe hotel and a voucher ofTea/Coffee and scone. No

single room supplementThursday to Sunday. Forweekend rates please contactreception.

Other entertainment packagesavailable September 5-7th Country MusicWeekend: Johnny Brady, JimmyBuckley, Stephen Smyth, MichaelEnglish and Mike Denver.August 3rd Nathan Carter live inconcertAugust 4th John McNicholl live inconcertAugust 22-24th Taste Of DonegalFood Festival

NB: For prices ,information onfacilities and attractions visitwww.Abbeyhoteldonegal.com

Active Retirement breaks in thebeautiful costal town of Donegal

The Villa Rose Hotel is a 4 Star, family owned,boutique spa hotel located in the town centreof Ballybofey, Co Donegal.

Situated between Letterkenny & Donegal Town it isan ideal base from which to experience all thatDonegal and the North West of Ireland have to offer.

The hotel comprises 57 beautifully appointedbedrooms, contemporary in design with the emphasison absolute comfort acting as a home away fromhome. All bedrooms are ensuite and include safe,tea/coffee making facilities, complimentary bottledwater, plasma screen tv & complimentary wi-fi.

Avail of free parking and complimentarynewspapers each morning. Facilities include Fara’sRestaurant & Wine Bar for a delicious meal in modernand elegant surroundings,

The Forge Bar with live light entertainment, The ‘Wee’ Bar serving lunch, bar food & specialty

coffees overlooking Ballybofey’s bustling main street& The V Spa for pampering & relaxation.

The Villa Rose offer a wide range of holidays forthe 50+ market including Ballroom & SequenceDancing and 50+ Active Breaks including a range of

optional entertainment & activities to partake induring your stay. Whether you are looking for arelaxing break away or for an exciting trip with thepossibility of meeting like minded friends then theVilla Rose is the destination for you. Contact LeonaMcGee – dedicated 50+ Events Marketing Co-ordinator at the Villa Rose for full details

Active Breaks at The Villa Rose Boutique Hotel and V-Spa

4 Star, Family Owned, Town Centre hotelReservations: 074-9132266

Ballybofey, Co Donegal Email: [email protected] • www.villarose.ie

Donegal SummerGolden Breaks

3 B&B + 2 Dinners - €139pps/€159 single2B&B + 2 Dinners - €109pps/€139 single

Offers valid Sunday - Thursday, Dinner consistsof 2-courses, Complimentary tea/coffee on arrival, Complimentary spa thermal session20% Discount Vouchers for McElhinney’s

Department StoreVariety of walking trails nearby

Contact us for a 50+ Active Breaks BrochureCompetitive Group Rates Available

Ballroom Dancing for Pleasure Week September 21st – 24th, Oct 27th – 30th

Breakaways

Page 42 Mature Living February 2014

Why choose a Hotel when you canhave the Luxury of a ResortPlanning a relaxing break away, the ideal location

is Breaffy House Resort which is located in theheart of Co. Mayo. Set on 90 acres of gardens

and rolling woodland. The House dates back to1890, retaining some of its original Country Houseatmosphere whilst offering all of the luxury of amodern day hotel. The Resort is renowned for itswarm welcoming staff with an excellent range offacilities. The Resort includes Spa, Leisure Centrewith 20 metre pool, Sauna and Jacuzzi. The Resortoffers deluxe rooms which include a range of suites,superior, standard rooms with all the facilities thatyour guests would require – direct dial telephone,multichannel colour T.V., radio, hairdryer, trouserpress and tea/coffee making facilities.

This year we have put together an amazing offer of4 nights Dinner B&B and 5th night B&B FREE whenyou book our Golden Breaks package. This offerincludes 3 course dinner each night in the MulberryRestaurant and breakfast each morning, along with5th Night Bed & Breakfast free. Transfers can be

arranged from local bus and train stations based onminimum numbers. Complimentary on site parkingshould you wish to drive. We have chosen a selectionof arrival dates each month which means we canprovide in-house activities such as wine tasting, tabletennis, bowling, grow your own garden and potterypainting. This is the ideal location to explore Mayo.The Hotel is just 20 mins away from the scenic townof Westport. All guests have complimentary use ofthe swimming pool, sauna, seam room, Jacuzzi, andgym. You may also take part in one of our manyclasses, which include Aqua Aerobics, Over 55’sworkout and the increasing popular Zumba. If youfancy some pampering, enjoy some time out inBreaffy Spa. Which offers a range of facial, body andmassage treatments to leave you feeling relaxed andrejuvenated. Enjoy a hearty breakfast at leisurebetween 7:30am –10:30am each morning and Dinnereach between 6:30pm – 8:45pm. The Mulberry Barserves food for 12-9pm each day for snacks, lightbites and main courses.

To Book: Call us now on 094 90 22033 or email [email protected] Bookings on line

www.breaffyhouseresort.com

4 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast€199 pp5th Night B&B FREEOffer Available Selected Dates Only – Call for Details

Escape to Breaffy House Resort to Relax, Unwind and Revive

INCLUDES:Full complimentary daily and

nightly entertainment program Transfers local Bus & Train Station Use of the leisure centre facilities

Celebrating 50 years in business at theDromhall Hotel this year the Randles Familyhope we will have the opportunity to

welcome you to stay. Choose from the 4*Dromhall Hotel or enjoy the atmosphere which aManor House can offer with a stay at the RandlesHotel. Within easy walking distance of the TownCentre, with private on-site parking these hotelsoffer 1st class facilities complimented by thegenuine welcome of family run hotels. Enjoy avariety of restaurants and bars including the

award winning Kayne’s Bistro. All our guestsenjoy complimentary access to our Leisure Cluband for pure indulgence a visit to our Zen DaySpa is an absolute must. This location providesfor superb mountain views and easy access to allthe main tourist attractions. We are happy toarrange transfers, day trips or activities such asgolf, jaunting car rides or boat trips. We alsooffer Wheelchair and Interconnecting Rooms aswell as being pet friendly. We are happy to tailormake special package for longer stays or quotefor groups wishing to travel together.

Free parking, Wi-Fi and daily newspaperWe look forward to welcoming you to stay with us

3 nights Dinner/Bed & Breakfast

May/June & September - €199ppsJuly & August - €219pps

Put Spring in your Step with Randles& Dromhall Hotels, Killarney

One of the best places to base a home holiday or aweek-end break is, undoubtedly, the Lough AllenHotel in County Leitrim. Situated on the shores of

Lough Allen, only 14 km from the bustling town ofCarrick on Shannon, it is only a short walk to the townof Drumshanbo.

The hotel has offerings to compare with the tophotels in Ireland and also has the stunning Leitrimcountryside. Spa treatments, leisure centre and asumptuous candlelight dinner are all part of what’s onoffer for an unforgettable break. A family re-union can

be rounded off with a lavish evening mealIt is an ideal wedding venue or conference centre.

The central location of the hotel in Leitrim facilitatestours and visits to the surrounding unspoiledcountryside. The location facilitates visits to the manynearby lakes that comprise the Leitrim countryside andshopping in nearby Sligo or Enniskillen A visit to LoughAllen hotel & Spa in Drumshanbo is a must and there arepackages to suit any budget.

Visit the stunning Leitrim countryside

2 Nights B&B for 2 people Only €99Available Sun-Thur Only...€49.50pps

Please mention Mature Living Leinster when booking

Mid Week 2 Nights B&B Offer

Drumshanbo • Co Leitrim www.loughallenhotel.com

To Book Call 071-9640100 or [email protected]

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Choose RHS Home Services - World Class,Quality Homecare in Your Community

For Your Free No Obliga"on Consulta"on Call Us Now:Roscommon: 09066-25988Galway: 091 388785 Mayo: 09493 82156www.rhshomeservices.ie

Why se#le for a franchise when you can choosea local, proven homecare service?

• Home Help • Light Housekeeping• Care of the Elderly • Overnight Care

• Meal Prepara"on• Personal Care• Companionship • Respite Care

• Full dealer service facilities• Full Mechanical Repairs• Star Diagnostic Service

MERCEDES SERVICETEL: 086-0563130

Get the same serviceas your main

dealer at a fraction ofthe price!

Keane’s Garage

Urlaur, Killkelly, Co, Mayo Tel: 094-9649006 - www.keanesgarage.com

Sell Your Clutter!Take the Hassle out of selling your

unwanted furniture bric-a-brac,White goods or just about anything

Call us on 086 0203631 for details orcall into our shop In Ballaghaderreen

(Opposite The Post Office )

No constant phone calls or strangers callingto your home just call us at

YE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP where we will sell them for you on a

commission basis (we only charge 18%)

Doni FeeneyPainting &Decorating

GET A FREE QUOTE CALL 086 2461115

From single rooms to complete house or commercialrefurbishments we have it covered so if you requireProfessional and Efficient pain"ng and decora"ng

come to Doni Feeney Pain"ng and Decora"ng today!

PADRAIG BURKE Funeral Directors

Rosebank, Attyrory, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim

Tel: 087-9385571 / 071-9621343email: [email protected]

WE ARE THERE FOR YOU TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN FUNERAL

CARE WHEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY NEED IT MOST.

All Services ProvidedAuthorised Representative of Horizon Funeral Planning

Roll-R-Doors, Derryhillagh, Castlehill, Ballina, Co. MayoTel: 096-51382 • Mob: 086-1650132

[email protected] • www.rollrdoors.ie

Roll-R-Doors offer a full range of Domestic and IndustrialGarage Doors and Accessories. Specialising in both

replacement and removal of old doors with new garagedoors and installation of new garage doors, Give Roll-R-Doors a call on 086 165 0132 to see what we can do for

your projects needs.

Services Directory

SLIGO OIL SERVICES085-1459-300

Did you know that your boiler could becosting you extra money?

Did you know that even having 3mm deposit ofsoot on the inside of your boiler will increase oil

costs by over 8% (ref: OFTEC)

Sligo Oil Services Professional OFTEC Boiler Service Can Save You Money

We will optomise your Boiler for Maximum efficiency with reduced fuelcosts, Carry out a full Carbon Monoxide audit to ensure Family

Safety is a priority. A New Oil Nozzle fitted and we supply you with a Full detailed printout (from the latest Anton Flue Gas Analysis equipment)

GIBLIN STONE...everlastingChoosing a memorial

for a loved one is avery personal thing.

Quality • Experience• Service

GRANITE COUNTERS& FIREPLACES IN MARBLE, GRANITE

ALSO AVAILABLE, CALL US TODAYFOR DETAILS

Church Street, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo Phone: James 087 9061833

• Brian 086 1957788

www.giblinstone.com

TERRYS STOVES SLIGO

PHONE: 087-2066910 / 071-9197925www.terrysstoves.com

[email protected]

Buying a Stove???Talk to Terry first• Free Survey Available• Solid Fuel Stoves• Gas Fires

WARNING!!!Upto 80% of Heat Generated by anOpen Fire and almost 20% of Heatfrom your Central Hea!ng System

escapes up an open Chimney!Prevent this wastage!

CHIMNEY REPAIRS IRELAND

Tel : Office 1800 283067 / 087-7997671www.chimneyrepairs.ie

• 20 year guarantee • 25 years experience• Relining and rebuilding• Smoke and soot problems solved• Free estimates• Free assistance with

insurance claimsGulladoo Centre, Cornafest, Co. Leitrim

Tel: 049-4339605 Mob: 086-8638842Email: [email protected]

"Our mission is to provide a dedicated centre ofexcellence delivering a quality client centred approach

with compassion and dignity while respecting the valuesand beliefs of all our clients"

Who can come to the Centre?Anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else's

alcohol, gambling or substance use. A doctor's referral is notnecessary.

What does treatment envolve?We offer a 4 week programme. Addiction is a life threatening

condition which can be effectively treated through timelyintervention. We know that although recovery is a difficult

and complex process - change is achievable with the help ofhighly trained professional staff and with feedback from other

recovering addicts, and those concerned about recovery.

ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE

G. KilpatrickWindows & Conservatories

• uPVC Windows & Doors• PVC Fascia & Guttering• Free Quotation

No Obligation• Quality and Reliability

Guaranteed

T: 074-9142557 M: 087-6779595

INSTALLERS OF BIRDIE COMB - NO MORE NESTS IN YOUR ROOF

WE REPAIR: HINGES, DOOR LOCKS, LETTERBOXES, PVC GUTTERING

SEAMUS GALLAGHER MEMORIAL CARDS

We provide a service which we hope can be of benefit toyou when choosing a Memorial card, Bookmark, WalletCard which reflects the life of a loved one. At a timewhen it is so difficult to choose a card, prayer,photograph etc, we willcall with you personally,if you so wish, to advise& help you make theright decision. We can be contacted atany time by calling0872448642

Large selection ofheadstonesCleaning & restorationInscriptions & Chippings

Tel: 0872448642

SEAMUS GALLAGHERHEADSTONES

HEADSTONESM. Carney, Frenchpark

ALL KINDS OFSTONEWORK

AVAILABLE

Headstones manufactured to your specifica!on

Contact Michael on 086-8090641094-9870409

Headstonescleaned and

names added

Feature ArticleServices Directory

• Water Analysis• Water Filtration• Water Softening• Well Drilling• Pump Supplied and Fitted• Rain Water Collection & Purification• Sewage Treatment Systems

IN THE BUSINESS FOR OVER 25 YEARS

Email: [email protected]: www.waterteck.com

Phone: 086-8072249 071-9658976

Furniture recovering and restoration including covering of chairs, 3 piece suites,headboards, car seats and boat seats.

Hotel and Bar seating, Office furniture and other Contract / Commercial furniture.Repair of sails, tents and other outdoor gear for sports and leisure.

We provide a service of Colour consultancy and Interior advice.

We retail upholstery fabrics and essentials. Collection and delivery can be arranged at a small fee,

depending on distance.Boradruma, Snugboro, Castlebar • Tel: 094 9023532 / 086 8350608

Open Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm Visit us online at www.boradrumaupholstery.ie

Rehabilitation Cent!e specialising inthe t!eat"ent of alcohol, dr#gs, gambling and other dependencies.

Addic!on Treatment Centre

Call in confidence: 094"9256888Email: hopehouse#eircom.net

www.hopehouse.ie

Hope House... “where recover$ begins”

Foxford, Co. Mayo

MICHAEL KEAVNEYTarcmacadam & Tarspraying Specialists

ALL TYPES OF PLANT HIRE

Turlough, Castlebar, Co. Mayo094-902-3853 / 086-250-3230

Pavior Machine HireTipper Lorry

Hire

8 and 6 Wheel

QUALITY GRAVEL STONEALL AT VERY COMPETITIVE PRICES!

PADRAIC CRYANSTONE WORK

Call Padraic on (086) 2867950 todayfor a FREE no hassle quota!on

Based in Roscommon, Padraic Cryan Stone & BlockworkServices is an Irish company with over 16 years experience inthe Irish Construc!on Industry that prides itself on exceedingcustomer expecta!ons and delivering all work on budget and

within the agreed !meframe.

We provide General Building work from Restora!ons to NewBuilds, and Stoneworks and are happy to meet you at your

convenience and provide you with a quota!on.

Mullagh, Killsallagh, Westport, Co. MayoTel: 098-23886 • Mobile: 087-6708306

[email protected] • www.aistearfurniture.com

Aistear Furniture Makers of Bespoke Furniture & Quality Kitchens

CAMPERVAN CONVERTERS

Profesionaly converted campervans donewith all light weight ply wood and full

insula!on and top of the range appliances. Can be converted to any style or any van.

HEAR Ltd.2014HEARING CLINICGerard Feeney BSC, MSHAA, MISHAA, MIHS

Hearing Aid Consulta!on will a"end:

Matt O’Flaherty Chemists, William Street,Galway. Tel: 091- 556664

Mc Sharry's Pharmacy, Golden Island,Athlone, Co. Westmeath Tel: 090-6474799

Hayes & Hayes Pharmacy, St. Brendans Street, Portumna. Tel: 090-9741025

Stauntons Pharmacy, Main Street, CastlebarTel: 094-9024045

Appointment NecessaryFREE HEARING TEST, CONSULTATION AND ADVICE

Latest Digital Technology Available.PRSI Grants of up to 50% per aid may apply.

Repairs to all makes of hearing aids.

MALE 50’SNorth Mayo (Newport) kind, car-ing, sincere, likes cooking, walk-ing, swimming, people,conversation, seeks a femaile forfriendship and companionshipReplies in a stamped envelope tobox number 1050 at the usual ad-dress.

IRISH LADY 50’Swould like to hear from artist -single, any age, anywhere, forfirendship and companionship.

Replies in a stamped envelope tobox number 1040 at the usual ad-dress.

SINGLE SINCERE LADYLate 40’s - Interested in meetinga kind and loving male forfriendship / relationship. Noseperated or divorced.Replies in a stamped envelope tobox number 1044 at the usual ad-dress.

SLIGO LADY 50 BUT LOOKS 10YEARS YOUNGERWould like to meet nice, re-spectable, loving, genuine, hon-est man for fun and dancing andsee what happens.Replies in a stamped envelope tobox number 1023 at the usual ad-dress.

SHY SLIGO LADYlakes cinema, concerts and DVDS,Music etc. Would like to hearfrom a Gent 60+ with similar in-

terests for a friendship maybeleading to a relationship Repliesin a stamped envelope to boxnumber 998 at the usual address.

SLIGO LADY SEEKING MALELate 50’s, likes music, dancing,walking and travel. N/S, S/D,profrssional l;ady, loving, caring,and honest. Interested in friend-ship maybe leading to a relation-ship. Replies in a stampedenvelope to box number at theusual address.

GENTLEMAN WIDOWER 54 yrs. Landscape gardenerW.L.T.M. female professional,not married. In the northwest forfriendship and craic. 6ft 1', blue

eyes, hair salt & pepper. Lookingfor lady 40 -47yrs. Longtime relationship. Replies in a stampedenvelope to box number 975 atthe usual address.

FREE DATING*

CLASSIFIEDTHE FOLLOWING DETAILS AREFOR OFFICE USE ONLY ANDWILL NOT BE PUBLISHED.These details MUST be com-pleted for all adverts

NAME:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE NUMBER:

WRITE YOUR ADVERT HERE:

(MAX 30 WORDS) - *Phone numbers will not be included in these adverts.

Post the completed form to Mature Living Magazine, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. SligoSTRICTLY PRIVATE ADVERTISERS ONLY - BUSINESSES CAN CALL 071-9154538 AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY SALES REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT OUR EXCELLENT RATES.

• Rollers • Tracks • Hinges • Door Realignment • Locks • Multilocking systems etcOver 20 years experience servicing Irish windowsand doors. Fully insured

GLASS PARTS ETC REPLACEDBrendan Gormley: 071-9183860 / 087-2562669

Expert patio door repairs!Aluminium & PVC Repairs

To windows, doors and patio doors

Services Directory

Suitable for:• People with limited mobility• People who have had hip surgery• People with back aches

For details of your local stockist Phone Noel: 087-9896948

We also Provide an emergency glass repair service

"Our Glass Balustrades will stop the ColdAtlantic Breeze ensuring that only Your

Wine Remains Chilled.

Glass & Metal are Pre-sprayedwith 6k Protective Coatingwhich means very low Maintenance for you!

Glass is 8mm toughenedSafety Glass

Far Finisklin Road, Co. Sligo

Tel: 071-91 61924Email: [email protected]

www.sligoglass.com

Prices from €200/linear

meterCall us today for a

FREEquotation

"pride in our work"

Irish owned & operated.


DATING CLASSIFIEDS

All applicants are individually matched

by me - Call Jane on 087-3345116

Email [email protected]

WEST OF IRELANDWINDOWS &

DOORS SERVICING

Repairs to all makes of Windows & Doors, Fogged

Units, Hinges & HandlesReplaced.

Tel: 087-3542249

AQUA WINDOWCLEANING

Call John: 087-6124715Also: Power Washing, Moss Removal

and Fungus Removal

Pure Filtered WaterNo Ladders UsedWindows, Doors

Front & BackAll Frames from €20

Gutters, Downpipes,Fascias, Windows &

Doors from €60

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Mature Living Connacht

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