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Edition 13

From Friday December 06th To Thursday December 19th

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TheCRAICaddicts Creator & Director Darius IVAN Editor Avril HORAN Photography & Design Darius IVAN Miguel MAZA Layout Designer Miguel MAZA Stylist Sunny JUDDY Contributors Dara KELLY Steven McCULLOUGH Rebecca CASSERLY Cara LYONS Rebecca HORGAN Distribution Gearóid O MACHAIN Guaranteed publication of your events photos with our media packages! If you want to secure your place in one of the 5,000 copies of this creative and colourful Craic Magazine, distributed across the city and county every second Friday, please contact: Email info@divmedia.ie or Call us (087) 635 29 33

Welcome to the 13th edition of The Craic in Galway magazine. So have we decided yet if 13 is lucky or unlucky? We are surrounded by Christmas. It’s everywhere. There will be sequins and sparkles for the next few weeks, and that’s just the guys. Whether you are a Christmas humbug or hero, the streets are alive with activity, and there are plenty of events captured in the next few pages that will help you to recapture the magic of the season. It’s not an easy time for some, especially those who have lost loved ones, and this topic is touched upon in our article ‘The Prom and I’. On the other side of the coin, we have a new festive champion with Connemara’s Domhnall O’Confhaola, whose wide-eyed wonder on the Late Late Toy Show brought a smile to even the most cynical when he met his idol, Robbie Keane. As always, we are jam packed full of news, views, events, photos and features, with fashion, history and fitness to boot. And we bring you your daily diary to keep you informed over the next two weeks. You can find us on facebook at thecraicingalway, where we like to be liked, online at www.galway.com and thecraic.ie. We look forward to hearing from you. Don’t worry, we have another Christmas edition coming out on December 20th - but until then we wish you all a Merry Christmas and don’t forget to shop local! Our advertisers are awesome.

Happy Reading Sure it’s all a bit of craic,

Love The Craic Squad.

Featured in TheCRAIC 13 The Prom and I

page 24

Supporting Breast Cancer

page 20

Galway’s Reckless Explorer

page 28

The Three Sopranos

Late Late Star page 34

page 10

Festive Fashion

page 44

LUNARES

at Typical Spanish Tapas Restaurant, WoodQuay, Galway

w i th t h is

Cra ic p a g e

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Friday 6th Dec 2013 • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre. This is a suspense-filled tale of tangled love, misplaced honour and downright skullduggery. • 8pm: Enjoy Christmas by the Hearth with an evening of song, dance and music as Sean Keane and Friends entertain at the Town Hall Theatre.

• 9pm: With his distinctive soulful voice and storytelling songs, Foy Vance will play live at The Roisin Dubh. • 9pm: A GMIT fundraiser takes place at Kellys on Bridge Street, with live music from 3 bands on the night all raising money for an end of year project. Admission €5. • 9:30pm: Catch She’s a Beauty live at the Townhouse Bar with support from craicin’ Galway band My Fellow Sponges.

• 10:30pm: The Republic of Loose will take to the stage at Monroe’s Live. With numerous hits, they have sold out venues from New York to LA and have recorded and performed with many artists including Cerys Matthews, Sinead O’Connor and Shane MacGowan. • 10:30pm: It’s Liquid Friday’s at The Bentley with the best of club classics to start your weekend.

Town Hall Debut for Galway Singer By Avril HORAN he has been inspired by the likes of Martin Sheen, who shared a lecture theatre with her at NUIG, and now Galway girl, Sandra Coﬀey, will make her debut at the Town Hall Studio on Saturday, December 7th at 8:30pm. The Galway native has a dark tone to her voice, yet in an instant can turn on the power. Following the debut of her album, Morning Zoo, she has been nominated for three awards and was recently placed on the long list for the Meteor Choice Music Prize - for the best album in Ireland. It’s a huge honour for the Galway singer, who first began as a classically trained soprano and has sung in Covent Garden, London. But it was her love of David Bowie, Bob Dylan and in particular Amy Winehouse that brought her back to her first love, rock and soul music. “I was absolutely fascinated by

Michael Jackson when I was growing up. We all were in my house and he was our idol. I still listen to his music and watch his videos. I couldn’t get away from wanting to record an album of original material. I love the old school songs from the likes of Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald. I spent a lot of time listening to Amy Winehouse and Fleetwood Mac so I guess their influences have also come through. It will be a chilled out fun gig. The studio space is intimate and it will be relaxed. There will be songs from the album, along with covers that I love to do from Winehouse, Nina Simone, Nora Jones, to Bob Dylan and others,” she says. Tickets are only €8/5 euro and are available through www.tht.ie. Sandra’s album is available in OMG on Shop Street (formerly Zhivago) and in Bell Book and Candle in the Small Crane. For more on Sandra go to www.sandracoﬀey.ie The

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• 8:30pm: New dance company Skytashe Dance Theatre present One Last Drop and Bitter Youth at the Town Hall Studio - telling the tale of shared human experience, addictive personalities, and salvation in self and others.

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Saturday 7th Dec 2013 • 11:30am: Catch the tale of a magic reindeer at the Town Hall Theatre with a screening of Niko 2: Little Brother, Big Brother - winner of the Best Feature for a Children’s Audience 2013 at the Cinemagic Festival. Shows again at 2:30pm. • 12pm: The Moycullen Hurling Club will host their first fun run/ walk from the rocks road beside Moycullen GAA Grounds to raise funds for the club. • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre. • 8pm: Enjoy Christmas by the Hearth for a final evening of song, dance and music as Sean Keane and Friends entertain at the Town Hall Theatre.

CRAICING NEWS!!! By Avril HORAN

Mary Coughlan to Perform Intimate Galway Gig bank holiday weekend, and this has led to the upcoming gig. Needless to say we are thrilled to have Mary perform in dela and diners are really looking forward to the evening” says restaurant manager, Conall O’Ciobhain. Tickets are only €25 per person and there is a pre-show dining option also. Places are limited and pre-booking is required. For further details, log on to www.dela.ie.

One of Ireland’s most renowned vocalists, Mary Coughlan, will perform an intimate gig in dela restaurant on Dominick Street on Wednesday, December 11 at 9:30pm. The talented singer will perform live with her band as part of the restaurant’s ‘winter Wednesdays’ entertainment line-up. “A chance conversation between Margaret Bohan and Mary Coughlan took place over a cup of coffee in dela during the October

• 8pm: Popular band, Bell X 1 will take to the stage at Seapoint, Salthill. • 8pm: Post punk band, Pins, play live at The Roisin Dubh. • 8:30pm: Galway singer Sandra Coﬀey will perform at the Town Hall Studio.

• 9pm: Four Men and a Bass will play at the Townhouse bar. • 10pm: The female fronted band, Lunar Playground, will belt out the tunes at Kellys on Bridge Street.

• 10pm: Check out Súgradh Saturdays at Krcma in Salthill for the best of the ‘80s, ‘90s and ’00s.

New Galway Station for Unsigned Artists fee,” explains network manager, Theresa Daly. The station will have three staﬀ, a presenter, promoter and publicist, and will stream new music 24 hours a day. There will also be three shows daily dedicated to up and coming talent. For more information log on to galway. ourcityradio.com

Unsigned local bands, singers and comedians will have a new opportunity to gain air play with the launch of Our City Radio, Galway. The idea, which began in America, is spreading across Europe, and Galway is the first city in Ireland to play host to the new station. “If you are unsigned, it is hard to get air play and most stations charge a

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• 9pm: The wonderful Paddy Casey returns to Monroe’s Live.

TheCRAICPhotosBy at Th e KING’S HEAD Darius IVAN

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Sunday 8th Dec 2013 • 12pm: The Galway Bay Jazz band play live at Busker Brownes, Cross Street. • 1pm: A Star for Sebastian fundraiser takes place in the hall behind the Claddagh Church with coﬀee, tea, cakes, games and a special visit from Santa at 6pm. The two year old requires specialised treatment in the US to help him hear, after he was born with Nagar syndrome.

• 1pm: It’s the Carnmore 5k Turkey Trot! Starting at the school road and finishing at Carnmore National School. • 3:30pm: It’s A Wonderful Life will be screened at the Town Hall Theatre by the Galway Film Society. • 6:30pm: Music for Galway brings the fabulous Handels Messiah to St Nicholas Collegiate Church. Acclaimed guest director John Butt leads the Irish Baroque Orchestra. • 8pm: Enjoy live gypsy jazz music by I Saw Stars at Kelly’s on Bridge St. • 8pm: Choice music prize award winner, Gavin James, will entertain at the Roisin Dubh. • 8pm: Popular Galway Tenor, Sean Costello, presents A Viennese Christmas at the Town Hall Theatre. • Midnight: A founding member of Ireland’s most celebrated World Music band Kíla, Rónán Ó Snodaigh, one of Ireland’s best and most innovative bodhrán players and a highly original singer songwriter will play at Monroe’s Live.

The Three Sopranos By Avril HORAN at the opening of the Galway Christmas Market, which helped to calm any jitters before the first night. “It was the calm before the storm!” says musical director, Mairéad Burrell, from Headford. “When it finally comes to that day, after all of the preparation and rehearsals, it’s like having 10 pots on the fire at the one time! The three women have such diﬀerent lifestyles and professions and are such diﬀerent characters. This made it easy to come up with ideas and themes, and we were able to pull them all together for the show. When we meet to rehearse, we have so much fun! Not just during rehearsal, but afterwards when we have tea and cake. For us, this is something new and it’s a dream come true. The last song was ‘The Impossible Dream’ and it spoke to us in many, many ways,” she explains.

ake three talented female Galway singers, stir in one amazing musical director, and from the mix, Bel Canto was brought to life. The three experienced sopranos, Hildegard Naughton, Delia Boyce and Sandra Schalks took to the stage for their debut as a group to a sold out show at An Taibhearc, under the directorship of Mairéad Burrill. With the backing of a ten piece orchestra, they brought the house down with a night of show stopping tunes from the world of film, musicals and opera. And they were helped on their way by Trad on the Prom’s Máirín Fahy, Yvonne Fahy, Chris Kelly and tenor Frank Naughton. Any first night nerves were countered by a pre-performance

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• 1pm: Give a gift and grab a bargain at a charity pre-Christmas gift grab at the Oranmore Community Centre in aid of Voices For Down Syndrome Galway, My Canine Companion and Scoil Mhuire NS.

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Helping

Gleeful Coláiste Lurgan Go Globe Trotting By Avril HORAN to their houses, watched them undertake daily chores and saw how they live their life. There was loads of singing, they were mad for singing over there!” he told The Craic in Galway. Coláiste Lurgan has long been a supporter of the charity, through a ‘Siopa Africa’ tuck shop at the school. As a result, Principal Micheál Ó’Foighil and a number of his staﬀ travelled to Uganda to see the work of Self Help Africa first hand. The eight-strong party from Inverin also included primary teacher Stiofán Ó’Fearail, the singing star of internet sensation ‘Wake Me Up’ and a number of Coláiste Lurgan’s other recordings. His band, Seo Linn, are working on a new single inspired by the Ndeeba Senior Secondary School, Uganda. It is another string to the bow of

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he gleeful Coláiste Lurgan are going global, not just through social media, but by trotting oﬀ to Uganda. Following in the giant footsteps of their YouTube topping version of Avicii’s ‘Wake Me Up’ as gaeilge, footage from their new African adventure will be included in their next release. Local video production company, Tree Light Pictures, accompanied the group as they ventured to Uganda with Self Help Africa. During the week, they spent time with local families to gain experience of life in the area. “We had a chance to see how they live out there,” explains Josef Hrehorow of Tree Light Pictures. “We filmed segments in a local school. We teamed up and went

the Inverin Irish College who are making waves at home and abroad. “There has been a phenomenal commitment by Micheál O’Foghail and his team to the work that Self Help Africa is doing,” says Ronan Scully, Self Help Africa’s Galway based fundraising coordinator. “There is nothing better than seeing the work at first hand, to convince them that their backing is worthwhile, and is making a real diﬀerence to the lives of poor people.” Coláiste Lurgan have raised the bar, not only for themselves, but for the culture of teaching Irish. Two weeks at the gaeltacht is no longer about the odd céilí or two, rather they have stirred the pot and awoken a new way to inspire a love for the language.

The CRAIC at MONROE’S Live PhotosBy Darius IVAN

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Monday 9th Dec 2013 • 7:30pm: Learn all about telescopes as the Galway Astronomy Club presents ‘Telescope Basics; Types, Design and Operations’; presented by Brian McGabhann, co-founder of the Renmore History Society and former curator of the military museum in Renmore Barracks. For more log on to www. galwayastronomyclub.ie • 8pm: Professor Hubert McDermott presents a talk at the Aula Maxima, NUIG on The Dead – The Galway Connection – a free event, registration required. • 8pm: Enjoy A Christmas Carol at the Town Hall Theatre as one of Britain’s leading stage actors Clive Francis returns to reprise his acclaimed Royal Shakespeare performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in a unique adaptation of the Dickens Classic. • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre. • 8pm: There’s nothing like a bit of comedy to cure the Monday blues. Steve Hughes comes to the Roisin Dubh after sell-out shows at the Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand. • 8pm: The Galway language exchange takes place at Kellys bar, where you can practice speaking all sorts of languages in a relaxed environment. • 10pm: The all swingin’ Black Magic Big Band will belt out the tunes at Busker Brownes on Cross Street. A night not to be missed and its free!

Hot Fuss - CRAICing Band of the Edition By Avril HORAN alway band Hot Fuss, have just released their new single ‘Crazy’– a song about modern day relationships, perceptions and deluded dreams. The catching and lively tune was produced by Billy Farrell, who has worked with the likes of Westlife, The Corrs and Ryan Sheridan. It is a step in the right direction for the up and coming Galway four piece, who have worked tirelessly over the

last three years to build up their fan base in venues across the country. The band consists of Gary Sheerin on drums, Brian Whelan on bass and vocals, Jonathan Fallon on lead guitar, keyboards, and vocals and Mark O’Reilly on guitar and vocals. This group of musicians have a genuine love and passion for good music and energetic performances that will have you on your feet, all night long. Crazy is available for download on iTunes.

Quay Street Kitchen Christmas Party

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Tuesday 10th Dec 2013 • 10am: If you haven’t yet, pop along to the Galway Continental Christmas market, for a seasonal ambiance, mulled wine (or non alcoholic version!) to get you into the spirit in Eyre Square. • 8pm: Enjoy A Christmas Carol at the Town Hall Theatre as one of Britain’s leading stage actors Clive Francis returns for the final night to reprise his acclaimed Royal Shakespeare performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in a unique adaptation of the Dickens Classic. • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre. • 8pm: Head to Le Petit Rouge on Dominick Street for a salsa night complete with a salsa dance class. Learn new moves before hitting the dance floor to the best of latin beats all night. • 9pm: Catch Fred & James, the ‘Invitable Duo’, live at The Quays, a venue known for its live music. • 9pm: Glor Tire TV Recordings has returned to the Quays Music Hall Late & Live, to record TG4’s popular country ‘n western style talent contest, which will feature nine of Ireland’s top performers, each playing mentor to a diﬀerent contestant, who join the quest to become the winner of Glor Tire. Presented by Aoife Ni Thuairisg

CRAICING NEWS!!! By Avril HORAN

JFK’s Home Movies of Galway Rose, resided. Jean Kennedy Smith recounts “we called Jack out when he came back and said ‘what’s the movie for the weekend?’. He said, ‘I thought you would all want to see my trip to Ireland’ – so we sat and watched and it was fantastic. We loved it, we clapped and everything, it was wonderful”. From the documentary, JFK, A New Perspective.

In our last edition, we looked at the impact of JFK’s visit to Galway as the 50th anniversary of his assassination was mourned around the world. And, it seems, that his trip to Ireland had an equal impact on the American President. As a family tradition, the Kennedy clan would often gather at weekends to screen movies at “the big house on the Cape” where their parents, Joe and

Sleep Out For Galway Simon The Galway Simon Community are holding their annual ‘sleep out’ on December 7th. It

will take place from 7pm-7am at the Christmas Market in the city.

A Christmassy Cinema! They will be screening lots of festive shorts to get you in the seasonal spirit and raising money for charity to boot.

Get ready for Galway’s Little Cinema Christmas, which takes place on Tuesday, December 17th at Kellys on Bridge Street.

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Wednesday11thDec 2013 • 1pm: The Galway ensemble in residence, ConTempo Quartet, will play a free concert at the Clifden Library. • 7pm: Tracy Bruen and band will entertain with a folk and blues set at the Galway Continental Christmas Market in Eyre Square.

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• 8pm: The Roisin Dubh presents yet another outstanding musician, Jake Cleman, a multi-instrumentalist drenched in soulful emotion, style and creative stories. The rock ‘n roll fueled talent has shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder and The Roots to name a few.

• 8pm: Catch live jazz at Le Petit Rouge on Dominick Street for a night of music with your favourite wine. • 9pm: The Quays continues its running of the Glor Tire TV recordings. • 9pm: The Quays play host to trad and folk outfit Caltra, followed by FYC, who specialise in rock ‘n roll, pop, reggae, funk and ska. • 10pm: You ain’t nothing but a hound dog - The Screamin’ Bluecats will rock your blue suede shoes at Garvey’s, Eyre Square. A craicin’ favourite, not to be missed!

A Casino Christmas! CRAIC AD Once inside, you can gamble the night away, and the winner will take all, as a brilliant spot prize will be up for grabs. The greater the number of people in your group, the bigger the prize! It will certainly be a night to remember. Now under new management, the 4 Aces Casino will soon be developing its sports entertainment. You will be able to enjoy late night boxing, rugby league and premier league as it transforms into Galway’s newest sports venue. For more information, contact Jason on 083 3008800 and you can find them on facebook at fouracesgalway.

njoy the glamour of a Christmas party with a diﬀerence at the 4 Aces Casino on Dominick Street. It’s Christmas with a twist as you can relive the days of James Bond’s Casino Royale with your friends and work colleagues. With a large group, the venue can be closed oﬀ just for you, and you can play roulette, blackjack, poker and much more in your own private casino venue. For a set price, you can enjoy finger food and an exciting way to celebrate the festive season with a craicing party at the casino.

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• 8pm: One of Galway’s oldest and most renowned live venues, Seapoint in Salthill, is delighted to announce that the fantastically moving David Gray will be soothing the minds of Galway’s community on his Sounding Out tour. He will be joined by special guest Lisa O’Neill. And I will be there - oh yeah!

Caife agus Bialann Ceadunaithe

Saturday 14th December 1pm

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Dream Idol!

Connemara’s Domhnall Steals the Toy Show By Avril HORAN mara’s Domhnall O’Confhaola, however, was left speechless when he was confronted with his idol, Robbie Keane, and stole this year’s show. Domhnall (8) was busy chatting away to Ryan Tubridy about the fifa 14 computer game and all things soccer. He was drawn into a chat about Robbie, describing him as “a brilliant man at taking the shots” and knew all about “the operation on his achilles” and that “he has been in pain for the last two years”. “If you could say something to him on camera in hospital, what would it be?” Ryan enquired, and just as Domhnall had finished his answer, out walked the man himself on crutches. It was a jaw dropping moment for the young fan and his wide eyed wonder was broadcast to homes around Ireland and across the world. He

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h wasn’t it great. For some of us, the Late Late Toy Show is an annual ritual. Love it or loath it, it’s how we were reared and our inner child simply screams ‘Toy Show!’ as we pour a glass, grab some sweeties and see what’s in vogue this year. I know it’s not for everyone, but my obsession at a young age has continued to adulthood. I am pretty sure I wrote to Gay Byrne when I was 8-years-old to ask him if I could be in the Toy Show audience, where the ‘one for everybody’ was just too much excitement for a young gal to contain. When the RTE envelope arrived at my home I could hardly breathe. I opened it, and it was a pre autographed photo of the revered presenter. Ah well. I was happy enough. Conne-

steadily composed himself and asked questions as though he had been interviewing Robbie for years. Galway was expertly represented, with Arann (9) and Alexandria (6) from Abbeyknockmoy showing oﬀ their newly built cardboard home, the talented David Kennedy (11) sang a beautiful rendition of ‘I dreamed a dream’ from Les Miserables. And as Galway’s Katie Larkin (6) cycled across on a barbie bike, she was introduced by Ryan’s co-host for the evening – a man who’s letter was answered – the ‘middle child syndrome’s’ Fergal Smith. There was no signed photo for Fergal, rather a prestigious slot on the show, after his pleading letter to Tubs went viral on the internet.

How times have changed!‘Til next year.

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Agony Aunt Candy&Cara

Thursday 12th Dec 2013 • 7:30pm: The Corrib Dance Academy brings a unique double bill to the Town Hall Theatre. The Children of Lir will be recreated through ballet while Movie Magic will be presented through the upbeat tempo of modern theatre, tap and jazz dance. • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre. • 8pm: The fantastic ConTempo Quartet, accompanied by harpist Kathleen Loughnane and some surprise guests will get you in the festive mood with their ‘Christmas At Home’ concert at the Mechanics Institute, Middle Street, Galway. Tickets can be purchased on the door and children up the 16 are free. • 9pm: Louise Morrissey, Mick Flavin and Johnny Brady will be taking part in the Glor Tire TV recordings at The Quays. • 9pm: Halves will take to the stage at the Roisin Dubh, having played all of Ireland’s major festivals since their debut in May ’07. • 9pm: Catch Four Men and a Bass at the Townhouse bar and live music venue. • 10:30pm: It’s the iRocks final as the ultimate battle of the bands comes to a rocking conclusion tonight at Monroe’s Live. The winner will walk away with €10k worth of touring and promotional assistance. Sweet. • 11pm: Berlin based House DJ, Wankelmut (no I didn’t make that up) will play a gig at Carbon nightclub.

CRAICing Nights Out

By Cara LYONS

Straight talking from the trailor trash mouth of Southern Belle, Candy, and the more refined Cara from Connemara.

Dear Candy,

I get cravings for cheese all the time especially in the middle of the night. I keep some in my handbag and try to sneak some at my desk at work. It’s all I can think about I’m eating an easy single right now while I’m writing this! My boyfriend says I have a problem and it’s coming between us. He thinks I would pick cheese over him. I don’t want cheese to end my relationship. I eat it while driving, while in bed, I even tried to get my boyfriend to wear some… you know where. I have tried to stop but I just can’t please help!

Candy:

Well hello queen of the freakazoids! You have one of the weirdest obsessions ever! And I’ve been pen pals with guys in prison who have had some really weird ones! I recommend taking a bath in ice, then walking through a mysterious forest in a far oﬀ land naked, where there is wolves and tie some raw steak to your body with rope and then run! If you survive, then get a trusted friend or hire someone to tie you to a chair and dangle a piece of cheese in front of you, while they hit you with sticks, and that should really do something for you.

Cara:

Candy! She’s not a freak! She’s just diﬀerent! I think you have some deep emotional issues and you are trying to fill the void with cheese. It could be that eating cheese comforts you, as you are not receiving something from outside sources. I think you need to seek advice from a medical professional. For more of Candy’s crazy antics catch her and her alter ego from Connemara, Cara Lyons on youtube at Cara’s Good Karma TV. Send us an email with your questions: candy.questions@gmail.com

CRAICing Nights Out

Special

The Pro If the prom in Salthill could talk, did you ever wonder what it might say? I only realised recently that I have a relationship with the prom. It’s far more than just a tourist attraction, or a place to go for a walk. It’s a healer, a friend and sometimes a foe. I don’t walk the prom every day. But I like knowing it’s there. Only recently have I wondered what others are thinking when they too, are on the prom. Yes there are the runners, who in the midst of harsh winds and rain are engaging in “a competitive sport” according to singer songwriter KT Tunstall. I loved that. Something is driving them to kick that wall at high speed, and it’s amazing to watch. There are the couples, who

walk hand in hand, and the friends, usually women, who are there to stretch their legs and have a chin wag about the latest happenings. It comes alive in the summer, with families and young children jumping, skating and scootering along. We can be proud that tourists can watch the beautiful sunrise and sunset over the water, weather permitting, from the shores of Salthill. But in winter, it transforms into something else. We have to wrap up to face the elements. We may be walking in solitude, but there are others who are walking in solitude also, and there is an unspoken companionship in that. Even if I am on my own, usually

by choice, I am not alone. From my observations, I have decided the happiest people are those who are out walking their dog in the autumnal cold. From the canines who are straining with excitement on the lead, the large dogs pulling their owners along, or the small - whose little legs are going ninety to the dozen to keep up and the lazy, who don’t want to move, it is a joy to watch them and their interactions along the way. My entire life history since I came to Galway has been marched out on the prom. The good times and the bad, from my days as an NUIG student to my working life in the city, it knows it all. The break-ups, the make-

om and I ups, the romantic walks, the fights, the sad tales of my parent’s illnesses and deaths, have been unleashed on that yellow brick road. Sometimes it has been my challenge. How far can I jog, how fast can I walk, how fit am I at the moment. And these are the days when it can be my irritating companion. At other times, it is a place of comfort, a place to make sense of my thoughts and try to piece together the muddled jumble that life can throw at you, and has done, over the last seven years.

By Avril HORAN

Photo By Miguel MAZA

That period is significant for me, as it’s when my beloved father passed away after a long and harrowing illness, and without my anchor, my heart went into freefall. At these times, I don’t notice how far I am walking. I am wandering, but in a direction that has already been carved out by the curve of the walkway. It is a source of stability, knowing that if this is all I have achieved in the day, then that in itself is an achievement. I always feel better afterwards, even if it is not a magic

pill or cure. And there are those who, I believed, are simply out for their daily stroll. Now I wonder, are they more like me. Are they too trying to figure something out, come to terms with the loss of a loved one, or simply find comfort with the passing tide. It harbours everyone’s thoughts, and keeps them safe. I often brought my mum up to Salthill, in the hope she would be rejuvenated by the salty air. I hope she found some peace there.

With two parents who have crossed over to the other side, I wonder are they walking with me. I wonder are there thousands of people on the prom, some in this realm and others in the next, all talking and yabbering and helping us on our way. Maybe one day we will all find out! But until then, the prom will keep its secrets. If there is an afterlife, I will probably be there - haunting you all – and handing out ghostly editions of The Craic in Galway!

Friday 13th Dec 2013 • What? It’s Friday the 13th?! Eeep! Well if you are crawling out under the covers you can check out... • 8pm: Brothers Hudson Taylor will play live at the Roisin Dubh, drawing inspiration from folk and pop songs. • 11pm: Nanu Nanu (wasn’t that Morks catchphrase?) and Steve Liriks will perform at Monroe’s Live with their own alien pop and electro pop exciting collaboration. • 7:30pm: The Corrib Dance Academy brings a unique double bill to the Town Hall Theatre. The Children of Lir will be recreated through ballet while Movie Magic will be presented through the upbeat tempo of modern theatre, tap and jazz dance. • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre. • 8pm: For some uplifting comedy, enjoy Shamrocks Are Forever at the Mick Lally Theatre (formerly the Druid Theatre) on Druid Lane. • 10pm: Catch Knightshift at the Quays bar, a lively four piece bringing you a mix of musical genres from rock to pop, country to old school.

• 10:30pm: Rhythm Scene’s Rickie O’ Neill, Jonathan Byrne and Jimmy Moran are taking a break and bowing out with a final gig at Kellys on Bridge Street. • 10:30pm: It’s Liquid Friday’s at The Bentley with the best of club classics to start your weekend.

CRAICING NEWS!!! By Avril HORAN

Ex Labour TD joins Fianna Fáil Did anyone see that coming? It was the shock political move of the month as Galway East TD and former Labour party chairman, Colm Keaveney, has upped sticks and joined Fianna Fáil. He has been outspoken against the Labour party for some time, lost the whip in 2012 and resigned from the party entirely in June this year. Having sat as in independent TD, he is now in the ranks of the Fianna Fáil brigade alongside constituency colleague, Micheal Kitt. At times of critical political decisions, Deputy Keaveney communicates his intentions on twitter to the masses – in Latin. This time, he quotes the proverb ‘fortune favours the brave’. His move may certainly serve the fortunes of Senator Lorraine

Higgins who now has a clear run if she stands for Labour in the next general election. Commenting on his decision, Deputy Keaveney says he “looks forward to playing my part in Fianna Fáil’s renewal” and “helping to develop new and radical solutions to the challenges our country faces.”

Millions Generated by Galway’s Creative Types! The West of Ireland is home to 2,466 creative industries, ranging from micro enterprises to those who employ hundreds in this growing sector, according to research carried out by NUIG. The Creative Edge Project at the Whitaker Institute shows that the audio visual sector in Galway alone contributed over €72 million to the local economy in 2012, employing over 600 people in highly skilled positions. County Galway hosted 83 festivals and events in 2012 ranging

from local fairs to international events like the Volvo Ocean Race, which brought in over €62 million in expenditure to the Galway city-region. Graduates trained in creative economy pursuits are four times more likely to set up their own business. Their research has shown that the creative sector has positive spillover benefits into other sectors and contributes to social and community development. We wonder will they include The Craic in Galway in next year’s findings! The

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TheCRAIC in ELECTRIC GARDEN PhotosBy Miguel MAZA

Model and Singer Keeps Close to h

By Avril HORAN

For 23-year-old Lisanne Jacob from Roscam, launching her first album, Wanderlust, was more than a milestone for a young singer songwriter. It allowed her the opportunity to give back, as 10% of her sales are donated to Breast Cancer Awareness. It is a cause close to home, as the breast cancer gene BRCA 2 runs in her family. Her songs are about her own life experience, from lost love to heartbreak, and she found it very therapeutic to put her words into melody. In her spare time, she models – as you do! She was recently featured in Italian Vogue online for work with photographer, Lisa Griﬃn, and she has taken part in a photo shoot for a Breast Cancer Awareness charity calendar. Tell me about Breast Cancer Awareness The reason I chose Breast Cancer Awareness is because the breast cancer gene BRCA2 runs in my family. As a result, I was tested for it too, and it turns out I have it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the best news, but I’m thankful that I know about it and happy that I can be under surveillance and get regular checkups. I’m only young, but it’s always good to be aware before it’s too late!

You recently launched your new album I had my album launch in Kelly’s bar and it was really great! There was a good turnout of family, friends, some people I hadn’t met before and even the County Mayor, Liam Carroll, turned up! It was a really fun

night. We started off with the wonderful support act Padraig Jack, who writes such beautiful songs. We had a raffle to support Breast Cancer Awareness. We are giving 10% of album sales towards this charity too. I sang a few tracks off my album ‘Wanderlust’ on the night too.

s Breast Cancer Charity her Heart I got some flowers from Pete Duﬀy - my friend and producer of The Dreams Loft - and a cute little speech oﬀ my mam at the end as well, which was lovely! We ended up hanging out at the beach afterwards. It was so much fun and really beautiful. I feel like it really kick started the album sales and I’ve gained a lot of followers now too. People have been so supportive, it’s fantastic. What’s your style of music? It’s really funny; I never know how to fit myself in a genre. So I just tell people its acoustic/ alternative original music. Technically that’s true! Haha! All my tracks are backed by acoustic guitar and piano played by Pete, except for my track ‘Siren’, which has some strings in there too. I love how it all turned out in the end. I’m already working on new material for a second album. I think it’s gonna have a bit more of a rock vibe though. I’ll make the next album a bit fancier!

my thoughts. It made me feel much more at ease with myself as a person. In the year it took to record and release, I feel like a diﬀerent person now, for the better, and right now I’m focusing on writing more songs on things I like and what makes me feel good about myself.

What influences your writing? Life experience mainly. You can’t really write what you don’t know. With ‘Wanderlust’, it was all about heartbreak, pain and unrequited love. Writing the album was very therapeutic for me. It was like writing in a diary and it was helping me clear

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items, or people, would you bring with you? Ha, this is the most diﬃcult question! Also, it would have to be some people since things are just things! I’d definitely bring Eddie Izzard for hilarity reasons! I’d bring Aaron Paul; as

Do you have time for anything else? I do a lot of modelling. I work with various photographers and makeup artists. I take part in shoots I find either fun or diﬀerent. There’s nothing wrong with looking a bit weird from time to time! I was lucky enough to be featured on Vogue Italia’s website in one recent shoot I did with Lisa Griﬃn Photography and Suzanne Dolan Makeup. Apart from the modelling gig, I also do a lot of working out. I do HIIT [High Intensity-Interval Training], kettle bells and hot yoga every week. I’m always doing one of those, or a combination, every day.

he’s a new addition to the husband list… I’d also bring George R.R. Martin and make him finish the next A Song of Ice and Fire series’ book! I ate those books so far, some seriously amazing writing. Anything else you want to tell the lovely Craic in Galway readers? Check me out and ‘like’ me on Facebook at my pages Lisanne Jacob Music and Lisanne Jacob Model! My album ‘Wanderlust’ is available in Renzo Café on Eyre Street, OMG on Shop Street and Kelly’s Bar on Bridge Street. It will also be available online. I’m also taking part in the Coyote Factor this year, so check out my music page for updates on the next heat I’m partaking in! I’d love to have some more people there to support me! And if I win, as well as winnings for myself, it’ll be another €1,000 towards a charity of my choice, which will be BCA!

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Saturday 14th Dec 2013 • 12pm: Christmas carol singing will take place outside Brown Thomas on Shop Street for Enable Ireland. • 2pm: Discover some Christmas cheer at the Athenry Heritage Centre in the surroundings of St Mary’s Church, with a special winter wonderland. With craft activities, baking, decorations and ecocraft there is lots for children to do amidst gingerbread men, Santa’s elves and a special visit from Mr and Mrs Claus. • 2pm: Enjoy Santa’s Christmas magic at Brigit’s garden, Roscahill, with a world of music stories and candlelight to capture the spirit of the season. Also at 4:30pm.

CRAICING NEWS!!! By Avril HORAN

A Crafty Christmas Market Galway’s newest monthly indoor art and craft market returns on Saturday December 14th at the Roisin Dubh from 1-6pm. The market is a platform for local artists and craftspeople to showcase their talents, with 24 stalls over two floors. Organisers Barry Healy and Sinead Mc Kiernan are both skilled artisans in woodcraft and textiles “We understand how important it is to showcase what is being made in our locality, Galway is a hub of creativity and this market will only add to the city`s ambience.

There is a huge creative community in Galway and few accessible outlets to showcase the work. The response has been amazing so far,” says Sinead, who studied art and design in Galway and has been dedicated to making and promoting craft since. She makes jewellery, textiles and fashion accessories and teaches a wide range of classes and workshops. Barry is a furniture design student in Letterfrack and produces some beautiful mirrors from reclaimed wood to sell at the market.

• 2:30pm: The Corrib Dance Academy will have a matinee performance at the Town Hall Theatre. The Children of Lir will be recreated through ballet while Movie Magic will be presented through the upbeat tempo of modern theatre, tap and jazz dance. Shows again at 7:30pm. • 8pm: The Villagers will play a special gig at Seapoint, Salthill.

• 9pm: Stomping Ground and No Stairway will play at Kelly s bar on Bridge street. • 8pm: Connacht Rugby take on Toulouse in the Heineken Cup at the sports ground.

• 10pm: Check out Súgradh Saturdays at Krcma in Salthill for the best of the ‘80s, ‘90s and ’00s.

New Blog! style posts, trend reports, product reviews, beauty reviews, advertisements and event coverage! To get in touch simply email becboopfashionistaworld@gmail.com Bec Boop will also be hosting giveaways in the New Year to launch the new website so keep your eyes peeled!

Fashion blogger Rebecca Casserly has re-branded her blog and is excited to announce the new website details. Visit www.becboop.com for all previous blog posts and new and fashion and beauty related blog posts. BecBoop.com is a personal blog which features personal

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• 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre.

VOX POP What’s the CRAIC?

Rebecca Cason The craic is walking down the street, walking up on this band playing music with this gorgeous sun peeking over the building. That is the craic in Galway.

John Moran Jessica, Gemma, Rhiona, Niamh Galway is the craic, the 12 pubs of Christmas here in Galway is the craic, Christmas is the best craic!

The craic is good! We are busy, doing Christmas shopping and there is a good buzz around the town.

Gerry Hanley

Kevin Folan

Working in Busker Brownes is always great craic!

Gerry Lydon

The craic can vary in different forms of speech but for me it would be having fun and enjoying yourself. The best craic is Galway city. There is no other place like this.

Michael and James Keane

The craic is great here in Galway today. There’s lots of people around.

Sean McKeever

The craic is starting Saturday now, meeting my mates and god knows where we’ll end up!

The craic is great in Galway, I’m on Quay street here and I’m just coming out from Menlo village to walk around with a few visitors. We are having a great time. The sun is shining.

Breanna & Joanna O’Sullivan, Robin Hey The craic is my daughter Breanna playing on Saturday morning on the street with a banjo player. She want’s to learn the banjo now!

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Sunday 15th Dec 2013 • 12pm: A craft and gift fair takes place at the Menlo Park hotel on the Headford Road, with woodwork, ceramics, stained glass, jewellery, handmade bears and lots more. • 12pm: The Galway Bay Jazz band play live at Busker Brownes, Cross Street. Fantastic brunch time music. • 12:30pm: Enjoy a swingin’ jazz session at the Meyrick Hotel, Eyre Square. • 2pm: Winter Wonderland continues today at the Athenry Heritage Centre in the surroundings of St Mary’s Church. • 2pm: Enjoy Santa’s Christmas magic at Brigit’s garden, Roscahill, with a world of music stories and candlelight to capture the spirit of the season. Also at 4:30pm. • 2:30pm: It’s the final day for the Corrib Dance Academy performance of the Children of Lir and Movie Magic at the Town Hall Theatre. Shows again at 7:30pm. • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre. • 8pm: Comedian Jimmy Carr is coming to Leisureland, Salthill for a night of funny bone tickling. • 9pm: Storyman will play the Galway leg of their tour at Kelly’s. • 9pm: After 15 years, the band Fred is calling it a day and will hold a farewell performance at the Roisin Dubh – their last in Galway.

Founding Fathers and Facebook! By Avril HORAN he Mayor of Menlo Park, California, Peter Ohtaki, discovered ‘the craic’ in Galway on a recent visit to the city. Accompanied by Galway Mayor, Padraig Conneely, he was taken on a historic tour of Menlo village – from the ruins of the castle to the former homestead of the founding fathers of the Californian city - Dennis Oliver and his brother in law DC McGlynn, who emigrated to the US in the 1800s. Over a weekend of events and celebration, Mayor Ohtaki visited Menlo National School, unveiled a plaque at Menlo pier and now proudly wears a gold Claddagh ring presented to him by Dillons. “He loved Galway,” says Mayor Conneely, “and thought it was great craic! We brought him to Neachtains and he couldn’t get over how vibrant the city was at night. He was highly impressed and said ‘we don’t do this at home’. Speaking on the phone, he told his friend he had ‘good craic’ in Galway!” It is not the first time the two

have met, as a pact was signed between the two cities in October. Mayor Conneely visited the American city of Menlo Park, the home of facebook and its creator, Mark Zucherberg. “We had a tour of the facebook premises,” explains Mayor Conneely, “where they have over 5,000 staff. Mark Zucherberg eats with the staff in the canteen and has a very sparse office. There are no paintings on the walls, just a few tables and a concrete floor. We passed by his house too, a very normal house by all accounts, but he recently purchased the properties around him as a security measure at a cost of around $30 million. And he drives to work every day in a Volkswagen golf!”

Paul Doyle Musical Instrument Maker Exhibition at Le Petit Rouge

History

Galway’s Reckless Explorer By Steven MCCULLOUGH at the age of 20, he joined the Austrian army and eventually was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the very regal sounding Prince Regent’s 7th Reuss Regiment of the Hungarian Hussars. He was noted as being a brave soldier, almost to the point of recklessness, with a streak of impulsiveness. By 1848, Burke had grown tired of military life and was discharged at his own request. He returned to Ireland and joined the Irish Constabulary,

military tradition, with Burke’s father and all his siblings having commissions in the British armed forces. Burke followed his father’s footsteps and joined up; however, he did not receive a commission after unexpectedly failing the oﬃcer’s examinations. Not for the last time, Burke’s sense of adventure showed itself now, as he decided to go to Europe with no real purpose in mind. After spending some time in Belgium, he moved to the Austrian Empire, where

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o b e r t O ’ H a r a Burke is one of Ireland’s lesser know explorers, yet he remains important in both Irish and Australian culture. It was in that nation where he forged a tragic, but successful path into the heart of the continent. Born in St Clerans, Galway, in 1821, Burke was one of seven children. The Burkes were Protestant landowners, and had a great

serving in Kildare and Dublin. Adventure was never far from his thoughts though, and in 1853 Burke did what is now something of a rite of passage for young Irish people, he went to Australia. When he landed in Australia, Burke did what he did best and joined the organisation which he felt would give him the most guns; The Victorian Police Force. While initially enthusiastic, Burke was soon disillusioned with the humdrum of daily police work.

shoes, 20 camp beds, 50 buckets, weapons and, of course, brandy. Initial going was good, and the party encountered few problems. Burke, however, felt that the pace was far too slow, and the reckless side of him once again came to the fore. He began to cast oﬀ supplies to allow faster travel, and while it did work, four members of the party perished from scurvy because all the lime had been left behind. It was at this point that the expedition suﬀered a fatal setback. One of Burke’s most competent officers resigned, seeing

from its conception, critics had argued that the whole event was pointless and had no real directive. Never the less, after some heavy canvassing, Burke was elected to be leader of the exploring party in 1860. Several attempts had been attempted to explore inner Australia, all had ended in failure. Burke was not deterred, but prepared well for the epic journey ahead of him. His team of 19 men were equipped with food for two years, 28 horse and wagons, 24 camels, six tons of firewood, 80 pairs of

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Once again the reckless free spirit cast about looking for an adventure. He attempted to gain an oﬃcer commission so he could fight in the Crimean War (18531856) but it ended before he was granted the commission. On the cusp of turning 40, with little money to his name, Burke decided that leading an expedition through the heart of Australia would be how he finally made his mark on the world. The expedition was to go from Melbourne, through the centre of the continent, to the north coast and back. Right

that the expedition was doomed. Burke replaced him with the party’s surveyor, William John Willis. Against all advice, Burke now split his forces, taking Willis and an advanced party to rush for the coast, while his main force would wait at the base camp at Cooper’s Creek. What followed was a tragedy of errors and poor timing. Burke, Willis and another man named King, left the rest of the advanced party at Camp LXV and went on to the coast alone. The weather was fine and the ground was easy going. Burke

History

find no sign of Burke, Willis or King and now felt that they had confirmation of their deaths. The whole party returned to Cooper’s Creek and then went back to Melbourne. Burke and his small company realised that the terrain to Mount Hopeless was too inhospitable and, in a last ditch eﬀort, made a desperate drive for Cooper’s Creek, which was now deserted. Exhausted and with no pack animals left, the three men had no choice but to wait for rescue that did not come. Willis was the first to go, and then Burke died of starvation and exposure on

staggered into Camp LXV, starving, in rags and barely able to walk, though they had successfully made it to the coast. Distraught at just having missed their companions, they considered following them, but it was felt that they had no hope of making the 400 mile journey in their current condition. Instead they made for the settlement at Mount Hopeless, a mere 150 mile away. At Cooper’s Creek it was decided that most of the party should return to Camp LXV to discover if Burke was still alive. Alas, they could

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made a serious error though, despite having ponies, he insisted on using them only as pack animals and walked the 1500 miles on foot. The rest of the advanced party at Camp LXV waited for four months and did not understand how it was taking so long for Burke to return. On 21st April 1861, believing Burke had perished, they packed up and marched back to the main camp of Cooper’s Creek, leaving a note of their intentions if Burke did manage to make it back. Only hours after their team’s departure, Burke, Willis and King

28 June, 1861. He was 41 and a long way from the rolling hills of Galway. The Burke-Willis expedition is considered by many to be a near total disaster. King was saved by Aboriginals and was the only member of the group to make it to the north coast and back to Melbourne. At the final count the expedition cost over £60,000 and the lives of seven men, yet it did achieve all its goals. All records claim that Burke was a reckless man who demanded death or glory. In the end he received both.

TheCRAIC in HALO PhotosBy Miguel MAZA

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Monday 16th Dec 2013 • 1pm: The Con Tempo quartet will liven up Galway City Hall on College Road with one hour of free Christmas carols and fun with their host, Arts Oﬃcer, James Harrold and admission is free.

CRAICING NEWS!!! By Darius IVAN

• 6pm: Con Tempo will also perform some holiday classics at the Galway University Hospital to bring some Christmas cheer. • 6pm: If you are feeling stressed out by Christmas fever, learn powerful techniques for mind, body and soul at the Wholistic House of Healing on Buttermilk walk. Classes €10 facilitated by Nicole Lordan. • 8pm: If you are still not in the spirit, enjoy Christmas Crooners at the Town Hall Theatre, bringing back the magic of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre.

A wreath is placed in Eyre Square by Mayor Padraig Conneely to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JKF. The JFK monument, created by Galway artist Albert O’Toole, is now back in its rightful place.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny switches on the lights to open the Galway Christmas Market.

• 8pm: The Galway language exchange takes place at Kellys bar, where you can practice speaking all sorts of languages in a relaxed environment. • 10pm: The all swingin’ Black Magic Big Band will belt out the tunes at Busker Brownes on Cross Street. A night not to be missed and its free! • 10:45pm: Grab those headphones - its Silent Disco Monday at The Roisin Dubh – so good they do it twice in one week!

Senator Hildegard Naughton donned a robe of a diﬀerent kind with her singing performance as part of Bel Canto at An Taibhearc.

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• Get your listing highlighted here for just €20, or include an image for €40. Highlight your event and make it stand out.

The Oughterard community came together for I’m Local, Get Me Out Of Here!, a fundraising event where they slept out on the streets, in the cold, for St Vincent De Paul.

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Tuesday 17th Dec 2013 • 7pm: Online Marketing in Galway presents a special Christmas Meet-Up with John Smyth from MicksGarage.com at the Harbour Hotel. Starting out at google for three years, John is now at the forefront of a marketing campaign that has helped Micks Garage to sell products to over 70 countries worldwide. • 7pm: Enjoy a night of traditional, contemporary and Christmas music in aid of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI) at St Nicholas Collegiate Church featuring a very special performance by the Smyth Family with Jimmy Higgins and Mary McPartlan. • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre. • 8pm: Head to Le Petit Rouge on Dominick Street for a salsa night complete with a salsa dance class. Learn new moves before hitting the dance floor to the best of latin beats all night. • 8:30pm: The Galway Actors Workshop presents Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas at the Town Hall Studio, a play that displays the colourful dreams and secret lives of the inhabitants of a small Welsh town, over the course of a single day. Directed by Sarah O’Toole. • 9pm: The West Coast Big Band will bring Christmas Swing to Massimo with popular tunes and older swing favourites featuring music from Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, George Gerschwin , Benny Goodman and lots more. • 10:45pm: Grab those headphones - its Silent Disco Tuesday at The Roisin Dubh. It’s dancing with a diﬀerence!

CRAICING NEWS!!! By Avril HORAN

Boost for Talented Textiles Students

Stitching Show in Dublin’s RDS, the definitive exhibition for lovers of textiles in Ireland, and Katie Moore from Foxford, Co Mayo, was chosen to work at London Fashion Week after winning an internship with international Irish designer John Rocha.

Two final year GMIT Textiles students have been given a huge career boost after taking part in two prestigious shows in Dublin and London recently. Student Amy Brannigan from Ballinstaig, Kilcolgan, Co Galway, was invited to exhibit her work at The Knitting and

Santa for Sunni-Mae Christmas fun with face painters, games and treats; with Santa paying a special visit to hear all Christmas wishes. As this event is in aid of The Sunni-Mae Trust, Yourells is asking that a small donation be made to the very deserving charity. If you would like to attend, RSVP to info@yourells. com before Friday, December 7th with your name and number of children that will be attending.

Santa will be visiting the city to help young Sunni Mae Morrison (5) from Claregalway as she continues her battle against the rare childhood cancer, neuroblastoma. On Monday, December 9th, he will pop in to Yourells Hair Salon on Eyre Street as they host their annual Christmas children’s evening - where youngsters can get their hair trimmed for the festive season for free – and it’s all in aid of The Sunni-Mae Trust. From 5-7pm, children can enjoy two hours of

NUIG is ‘Appy! that helps Leaving Certificate students to calculate their points before the results have been released. It has been downloaded 6,000 times since its launch in August.

NUI, Galway has become the first third level institution to win a prestigious Appy Award. They took home a bronze award in the ‘Best Educational App’ with iPoints - a free app

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The CRAIC at THEPhotosBy STOCK EXCHANGE Darius IVAN

To join your business to the galway.com community,

email us at joinus@galway.com!

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Wednesday18thDec 2013 • 8pm: Enjoy jazz live at Le Petit Rouge on Dominick Street for a night of music with your favourite wine and nibbles. • 8pm; Enjoy a night of storytelling and improv with Moth and Butterfly at the Townhouse. • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre. • 8pm: Country Fest takes place at the Loughrea Hotel and Spa with Mike Denver & Band, Michael English, Gloria, Marc Roberts, Brendan Shine, Johnny Brady and Jim Devine. • 8:30pm: The Galway Actors Workshop presents Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas for their final night at the Town Hall Studio, a play that brings to life the famous poem through the lives of the inhabitants of a small Welsh town over the course of a single day. Directed by Sarah O’Toole. • 10pm: Don’t forget those blue suede shoes as the fantastic rockabilly band, the Screamin’ Bluecats will have you shake, rattle and roll at Garavans, Eyre Square. • 10pm: The Original Rudeboys will take their tour to Galway at Monroe’s Live, having recently completed their oﬃcial video for ‘Never Gonna Walk Away’. This acoustic hip hop band from Dublin gained success in 2011 with their single ‘Stars In My Eyes’. • 11pm: The Converse All Stars will take their mash up of dirty blues, old school funk and soulful rock to the stage at the Roisin Dubh.

CRAICING FASHION!!! Christmas Party Style Solutions

By Rebecca CASSERLY

Now that the party season is in full swing, it is time to start thinking about what you will wear to the oﬃce Christmas party. I’ve found this great outfit in Born Clothing, who are opening a brand new store in Eyre Square on December 6th, where Suzanne Jackson from So Sue Me will be on hand to give style advice from 12-3pm and there will be discounts too on the day. This outfit is perfect for the party season, with sequin and sparkles, what more could you want! Modelled by the lovely Miss Galway, Laura Fox, it is available in any of their stores in Newtownsmith, the Galway Shopping Centre and Eglington Street – and their new store also!

Skirt: €39.95 Top: €9.95 Heels: €39.95 Necklace: €25

Skin Therapy By Rebecca HORGAN During the cold months of November and December your skin takes quite a beating! In the same way that you protect your skin during hot summer days, you must protect it during a cold winter. Here are my tips on how to best take care of your skin. - cleanse, tone and moisturise are always important, but make sure you find space for them during the winter. It’s best to do this routine in the

morning before you apply your makeup and at night when you remove your makeup. - Chapstick will save your lips and help prevent them from chapping always carry one with you. - Last but not least, drink plenty of water. If you want good, healthy skin on the outside you have to supply it the right vitamins and hydration. For more beauty info, go to rebeccahorgan.com

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Thursday 19th Dec 2013 • 6:30pm: The final Over the Edge open reading of the year takes place at the Galway City Library, Augustine Street for literary lovers. All welcome and the event is free. • 7:30pm: Join Brigit’s Garden, Roscahill for a winter solstice celebration. This special turning point of the year will be celebrated with an evening of candle-lighting, meditation and intentions. Facilitated by Moya Roddy, there will be refreshments and the guideline donation is €10. • 8pm: Popular Galway crooner, Frank Naughton, will sing his heart out at the Town Hall Theatre and will be joined by The Three Sopranos. • 8pm: The Stay Golden Night 1; And So I Watch You From Afar; Tvvins; Zenon Field will celebrate the success of their latest album at the Roisin Dubh. • 8pm: Transition year students will show their musical talents at the Clifden Community School. • 8pm: The magical Druid Theatre Company continues their run of The Colleen Bawn at the Black Box Theatre. • 8pm: Enjoy an evening of greyhound racing at the Galway Greyhound Stadium.

CRAICING HEALTH!!! By Dara KELLY

“The pause between beats is part of the rhythm” - Dara Kelly My winter hobby is samba drumming. It’s a curious mix of physical and almost meditative activity. We stand in a circle, and pound out rhythms under the expert guidance of the group leader. After learning our parts for a new “groove”, we play them in unison, practising for 5 or 10 minutes at a time. It’s challenging to sustain keeping time, listening to my own beats, and not the other drummers. But there are a few minutes when it’s automatic, eﬀortless and deep-

ly satisfying to be part of a unified whole, making music. These moments are like a primitive meditation, when the mind is stilled and the soul is nourished by the heartbeat of repetitive rhythm. Where the pauses between beats are vital to the overall sound. Likewise in life: winter is a time to rest, recover and re-evaluate. In the run up to year’s end, the self-imposed deadline of Christmas and the stress we place on ourselves in our pursuit of perfection, don’t forget to pause.

“Tá an sos chomh tábhachtach leis an mbuille” Drumadóireacht ar stíl samba an caitheamh aimsire atá agam don Gheimhreadh. Meascán de ghníomhaíocht fuinniúil agus machnamh atá ann. Seasaimid i gciorcal, druma á chaitheamh againn ar chrios agus bualaimid rithim faoi stiúir an cheannaire. Bímid ag cleachtadh ar feadh 5 nó 10 nóiméad ag an am. Bíonn sé deacair an rithim a choimeád, gan ligean do na drumadóirí eile cur isteach orm. Ach bíonn cúpla nóiméad ann nuair a bhíonn na

maidí ag imeacht agus an rithim á coimeád gan stró. Is rud iontach é ceol a chruthú mar chuid de ghrúpa. Déanann ceol na ndrumaí an intinn a cheansú agus an croí a ardú. Agus bíonn an sos idir na buillí mar chuid thábhachtach den fhuaim iomlán. Mar sin leis an saol freisin. Ní mór dúinn sos a thógáil sa Gheimhreadh agus machnamh a dhéanamh ar a bhfuil ar siúl againn ag deireadh na bliana seo, agus ar a bhfuil uainn amach anseo.

• 9pm: Catch Four Men and a Bass at the Townhouse bar and live music venue.

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ARÍS! Affirmative Rituals, Irresistible Success

dara.n.kelly@gmail.com

The

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• 9pm: A night that will leave you in stitches, The Ginger Beard Christmas, takes place at Kellys bar.

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