Connemara Life 2017

CHEF TIM O’SULLIVAN at

RENVYLE HOUSE GOLFING on the

EMERALD ISLE

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

TYING the KNOT IN CONNEMARA

GMIT LETTERFRACK

2017–2018

¤3.95

SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS

in MOROCCO

ROSLEAGUE MANOR

Resting on the quiet shores of Ballinakill Bay, and beautifully secluded within 30 acres of its own private woodland, Rosleague Manor in Connemara is one of Ireland’s finest regency hotels.

Member of Ireland’s Blue Book Awarded No.9 in Top 25 Small Hotels in Ireland on TripAdvisor CALL OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK AND EXPERIENCE IRELAND TODAY.

info @ rosleague.com

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(+353) 095-41101

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Rosleague.com

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Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland

A B E AU T I F U L 1,000 - AC R E ES TAT E

6-Acre Victorian Walled Garden Restored Rooms in the Abbey Gothic Church History Talks and Guided Tours * Woodland and Lakeshore Walks Award-Winning CafĂŠ and Garden Tea House Craft and Design Shop

*Daily

history talks are available year-round; garden tours are available during the summer months.

+353 95 52001 bookings@kylemoreabbey.com www.kylemoreabbey.com

Ballynahinch Castle Hotel & Estate is set on 450 acres in the heart of Connemara with 48 bedrooms and suites.

Enjoy dinner in the elegant Owenmore Restaurant serving the best of local produce prepared by Pete Durkan and his team.

On-site activities include walking trails, cycling, fly-fishing, hiking, and locally a boat trip from Roundstone to Inishlacken, a deserted island in Roundstone Bay. Voted one of the top ten hotels in the UK and Ireland in the CondÊ Nast Reader’s Choice Awards 2016.

Tel: + 353 95 31006

Email: info@ballynahinch-castle.com

WWW.BALLYNAHINCHCASTLE.COM

CONTENTS

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TRAVELLING THE WEST Galway 2020: Bringing Connemara’s Culture to the World 11 Connemara: A Beauty Like No Other 38

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES Bliss, Euphoria, Unbridled Joy!: Golfing on the Edge of the World 30 Connemara Calendar of Events 2017–2018 36

THE CRAFT OF TRADITION

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The Best of Both Worlds: Économusée Artisan Products 16 Colour is the New Black: Wrapping Up with Ciara Silke Designs 50

HISTORY AND EDUCATION GMIT Letterfrack Soars to New Heights in Morocco 21 Roundstone—The Quintessential Connemara Retreat 26 Connemara Therapeutic Riding—The Legendary Connemara Pony Leads International Mission 54

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A TASTE OF THE EMERALD ISLE Head Chef Tim O’Sullivan and the Renvyle House Dining Experience 46

TYING THE KNOT Jemma Elias and Joe Conneely 58 Monika Malinowska and Peter Buffam 62 Elizabeth Whelan and Jeroen Idema 66

ON THE COVER This shot was taken on the tidal island of Omey during the month of May, while the sea thrift was in full bloom.

This annual spectacle covers the island with a carpet of pink. What made this shot particularly memorable was while I was fumbling around on all fours to get the right composition, there was a fox about ten metres to the right of me. He sat and watched me for a couple of minutes before skulking off.

PHOTO BY Mark

Furniss

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CRE ATI V E TE A M: FOUNDER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LISA BURWELL Lisa@ConnemaraLife.ie FOUNDER / PUBLISHER GERALD BURWELL Gerald@ConnemaraLife.ie

E DITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR JORDAN STAGGS CHIEF COPY EDITOR MARGARET STEVENSON CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ANN CONNEELY, TONY CONNEELY, ZOE COYLE, NICHOLAS GRUNDY, KEVIN HEANUE, NICOLA HEANUE, COLETTE LAFFEY, DERMOT O’DONOVAN

A RT AND PHOTOG RAPHY ART DIRECTOR TRACEY THOMAS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS RINN GARLANGER, LUCY MASHBURN, OLIVIA PIERCE, HANNAH VERMILLION CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS DAVID BULT, TREVOR DUBBER, MARK FURNISS, NICHOLAS GRUNDY, AOIFE HERRIOTT, AL HIGGINS, DAREK NOVAK, ROBERT RIDDELL

ADV ER TI SING , SALES, AND MARKETING OFFICE DIRECTOR SHARON DUANE Sharon@ConnemaraLife.ie MARKETING MANAGER AMANDA CROWLEY Amanda@ConnemaraLife.ie SOCIAL MARKETING MANAGER SUVA ANG-MENDOZA WEB DEVELOPERS MEGHN HILL

Printed by W.G. Baird

PUBLISHED BY

The Grain Store, Suite 1, Clifden, Co. Galway theideaboutique

.com

Contact us at info@theideaboutique.com 85.158.9879 All contents herein are Copyright © 2015 The Idea Boutique, Ltd. (the Publisher). All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Connemara Life is a travel and tourism magazine and is published one time annually. The opinions herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher. The Publisher and its advertisers will not be held responsible for any errors found in this publication. The Publisher is not liable for the accuracy of statements made by its advertisers. Ads that appear in this publication are not intended as offers where prohibited by law. The Publisher is not responsible for photography or artwork submitted by freelance or outside contributors. The Publisher reserves the right to publish any letter addressed to the editor or the Publisher.

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A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

A SWEETER

TASTE OF LIFE Dear Readers, I am proud to take you on a journey through our third edition of Connemara Life. Connemara Life is a luxury travel magazine that showcases the beauty and mystery of Ireland’s adventurous west coast.

Oscar Wilde described Connemara as ‘a savage beauty’ and its brooding lakes, hearty mountains, and windswept bogs certainly give a sense of magnificent isolation.

But Connemara is also home to some of Ireland’s most picturesque fishing villages and second-to-none beaches—with generous stretches of sandy shores surrounded by deep blue seas, as showcased throughout the features in the magazine.

You will find that food tastes sweeter along our portion of the west coast, and you may notice a sounder sleep. It must be the fresh sea air!

Immerse yourself in this unique place by taking some time to enjoy the Connemara air, which is sweet, salty, and invigorating, for this may well be a trip you will never forget. Memories and encounters are what make a journey unique, and I do hope you will have life-changing encounters and lasting memories of your Connemara experience—be it for the first time or as a return visitor.

R–L: Sharon Duane attends Couture at Bellissimo with sister Dympna Coyne.

Photo by Bellissimo Galway

Ireland—It’s the one place on earth that heaven has kissed with melody, mirth, and meadow and mist.

—Irish blessing All in all, to me, Connemara is simply the best place in the world to live, work, rest, and play. I do hope you will fall in love with our piece of paradise—the place we call home.

Enjoy the moments and the adventure!

— Sharon

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In ultimate style and luxury, our tours of Connemara will leave you spellbound.

We offer the highest personal standards in comfort, safety and reliability.

Our driver guides will provide you with a caring, friendly and professional service.

‘Connemara is a savage beauty.’

—Oscar Wilde

Connemara, encircled on three sides by the Wild Atlantic Ocean, is one of the most beautiful areas of Ireland.

Your tour meanders around the most scenic coastal roads in the world, where you will be mesmerised by hidden bays and coves. Travelling inland you’ll experience Connemara’s raw, untouched landscape, so pure and luscious, carpeted in the softness of pink and purple heather, defined by clear rivers and glinting black loughs and embodied by stone walls. Your heart is captured.

Stay in luxurious accommodation.

Dine on the richness of the Connemara larder—land and sea.

Spirit of Ireland Executive Travel Drive, Passion, Determination

www.wildatlanticwaydaytours.com info@spiritofirelandtravel.com www.spiritofirelandtravel.com +353 91 77 8778

RENVYLE HOUSE HOTEL & RESORT

R

envyle House is a family owned, historic country hotel set on a 150 acre estate on the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way first opened in 1883.

Renvyle is an award winning hotel for its dining, service and Irish hospitality. Comfortable lounges with fireside seats and cosy turf fires. Caring members of staff who are delighted to share their knowledge of the area. Our Executive Chef, a Commissioner of Eurotoques, sources local ingredients both from the mountains, farms and the Atlantic at our doorstep. Connemara Hill Lamb, Irish Beef and the freshest Seafood grace our menus daily.

The hotel grounds have many complimentary amenities for guests including a Par 3 Golf Course, a beach, a private freshwater lake for boating, fly-fishing and canoeing. There are two all weather tennis courts, a children’s playground, an outdoor heated swimming pool in the summer months, croquet lawn, woodland walks, kitchen gardens and sites of archaeological interest.

Magic for Vacations ~ Memorable for Weddings ~ Here, the only stress is on relaxation.

renvyle, connemara, co. galway, h91 x8y8, ireland. t: +353 (0)95 46100 | e: info@renvyle.com | W: www.renvyle.com

GALWAY 2020 BR I N GI N G CO NNE M AR A’ S C U LT U R E TO T H E WO R L D STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICHOLAS GRUNDY

IN T H E S E C O ND H A L F O F 2 0 1 6 , G A LWAY CITY AND COUNTY W ERE NA ME D AS I R E L A N D ’ S C A P I TA L OF CULTURE FOR THE YEAR 2020.

To those unfamiliar with the term, each year a few cities around the European Union are designated European Capitals of Culture for a twelve-month period. Just like the Olympics, this tradition also started in Athens, with the Greek capital holding the first title in 1985. In 2020, it is Galway’s turn to receive additional State and EU funding to put on several cultural events with a local, regional, and European focus. As part of County Galway, Connemara is also set to benefit culturally, socially, and economically. The year-long series of events will no doubt further bolster both Connemara and the Galway region as Ireland’s number one travel destination.

Galway wasn’t the only region in Ireland vying for the cultural title either. To come out victorious, a dedicated team put forward exactly why Galway deserved it more than other parts of the country. To anyone who has visited the area, however, it should be obvious. Both city and county are home to a multitude of young, up-and-coming artists and creatives. As a college town, the city is full of fresh, new ideas. This emanates outwards

Above: A heron comes to rest for the evening along the banks of Galway Bay with the Burren in the distance.

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ON E OF THE MAIN OBJ E C T I V E S O F T H E G A LWAY 2020 E V E N T S I S TO BR IN G ATTEN TION T O C O N N E MA R A’S I N FLU E N C E N O T J U S T ON IRELAN D AN D EURO P E , B U T O N T H E R E S T O F T H E W O R LD . across the county and throughout Connemara, where tried and true practices merge with modern innovations, whether it be painting or even mussel farming.

Below: Street artist Joe Caslin’s massive portrait on the Galway Museum at the Spanish Arch is from his project Our Nation’s Sons, which encourages young Irish men to speak up about men’s mental health.

Opposite top: An artist at Roundstone painting the harbor with the Twelve Bens mountain range in the distance.

Opposite below: Sculptor Eugene Finnegan helped promote the 2020 bid with his massive sculpture made from found and reclaimed items.

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Perhaps most importantly, the wilderness of Connemara provides Galwegians with the perfect environment for creative contemplation.

It’s no wonder artists from far and wide visit or settle down here amidst its majestic mountains and undulating fields. Rivers meander beneath lazy clouds, a world away from the hustle and bustle of Ireland’s urbanized east coast. Along the jagged shoreline, the ocean offers a pristine expanse of solitude, with small islands harboring a haven to which creatives can escape. Meanwhile back in Galway City, abstract painters, musicians, and sculptors are free to experiment with their own flair in a carefree town. Artistic visionaries can be seen chatting by the rushing canals while fine art photographers tour the laneways imparting their knowledge to keen students.

Having settled here from overseas myself, what I’ve always found most surprising is how Galway and Connemara pack such a powerful cultural punch despite the relatively small population. The region won the 2020 Capital of Culture title as it could easily demonstrate

its dedication towards the arts, as well as the impressive future works it will create with the additional funding. Among the area’s existing creative scene, we see talented street artists such as Finbar 247 and Shane O’Malley and ingenious wood and metal craftsmen Dan Gardner and Eugene Finnegan, as well as countless others. Out west from the city one finds self-styled “Connemartist” Gridge as well, whose rural works have started popping up along country lanes. City and county also see an array of annual events showcasing their creativity. The Clifden Arts Festival and Spiddal Craft Village bring a vibrant atmosphere to Connemara. Each summer the Galway International Arts Festival draws crowds from across Europe. Probably its most impressive spectacle is the Macnas performance troupe, who carry out an invigorating street parade complete with moving floats and costumed stilt-walkers. Their Halloween parade through

the streets of Galway is certainly a sight to behold. It comes complete with a fire-breathing dragon float and street performers casting crimson light down alleyways. In fact, most Americans are unaware that Halloween originated in this very part of Ireland!

While many of the happenings of Galway 2020 will take place in the city, a series of key works and events are slated for Connemara. Three of these aim to bring increased awareness to the region and have as their goal the inclusion of spectators. Middle Island is a performance piece set to commence in the harbor town of Rossaveal. From here, both audience member and actor alike shall set sail for Inis Meáin, the ‘middle’ island of the three Aran Islands. Once arriving at their destination, the line between performer and onlooker will blur, as the crowd will be invited to help tell the story. The tale imparted will be based on the New Testament, chronicling the life of Mary after the passing of her son, Jesus. At its core, the Capital of Culture program intends to solidify the bond between Europe’s diverse lands and their peoples. As such, the performance of Middle Island will also be held on the French island of Corsica, highlighting their shared history. Although more than a thousand miles apart, both islands historically spoke languages from the Celtic family, with Aran Islanders still speaking Gaelic to this day.

Irish artist John Gerrard’s mirrored pavilions are conundrums.

The rectangular structures, as long as football fields, are covered in reflective panels to help them camouflage into their surrounding environments. At the same time, the beautiful reflections of Connemara’s marbled clouds floating past will cause the pavilions to stand out boldly from their surrounds. As the work jumps out of the landscape, it is simultaneously shrouded in a cloak of invisibility. This juxtaposition offers the viewer time for introspection as they wander inside to view the remainder of the exhibition.

Gerrard’s Connemara pavilion is entitled Pelt Work and will be found in the western wilds at a yet-undisclosed location. His pavilions will also feature in displays in Santander, in northern Spain, with plans to exhibit in New York and Texas as well—quite a global reach for something starting off in Connemara!

The most ambitious project tying all of Connemara together during Galway 2020 is the Galway Ghost Train community project. Long since decommissioned, the picturesque Galway to Clifden railway line now lies dormant. However, this fifty-mile tract of land is scheduled to become a smoothly paved cycling ‘greenway’ before 2020. This will offer bike riders and long-distance walkers alike the chance to reconnect with villages throughout the region. To highlight the significance of this historic route through Ireland’s west, Galway Ghost Train will entail a series of performance projects ConnemaraLife.ie

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along the way. Two of the shows will occur at the line’s start and finish points—Clifden and Galway. To properly bring awareness to the importance of Connemara within Ireland, Europe, and the world, the main act will bring together a multitude of runners and cyclists along the former tracks.

These local and international participants will don hightech, remote-controlled LED suits and set off from Galway to Clifden after the sun has set. At specific points along the journey, their glowing garments will help tell various stories about the ghost train of times past as they etch a band of light across the countryside. The night skies will be illuminated, much as they already have by local artist Gridge’s light-based works. This nocturnal adventure will be captured to create a film piece for the rest of the world to enjoy.

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One of the main objectives of the Galway 2020 events is to bring attention to Connemara’s influence not just on Ireland and Europe, but on the rest of the world. Connemara natives have had an impact across the globe, migrating far and wide after the mass exodus resulting from the two potato famines as well as in recent decades. Many actors, musicians, and artists can trace their heritage back to Ireland’s west coast. It is only fitting that the region’s reputation as a cultural hotspot is further cemented and highlighted on the world stage.

For more information, please visit www.Galway2020.ie

Hikers on the Aran Islands admire the view toward the Connemara coastline. Projects such as Middle Island and Galway Ghost Train aim to involve members of local communities as well as Aran Islanders.

PADDY COYNES PUB Tu l l y c r o s s , Re nv yle, Con n emar a, Co. Galway

Paddy Coynes Pub is located in the beautiful village of Tullycross, the heart of Connemara and the Wild Atlantic Way. Dating back to 1811, the pub is a hive of local history and artefacts, a treasure trove of discovery. We are in the perfect location on Renvyle Peninsula for you to enjoy many of the beaches, walks, and attractions of the Wild Atlantic Way. Stay with one of the many local accommodation suppliers and enjoy a relaxing home cooked meal with us. We pride ourselves on our food, using local produce and the freshest of seafood. We are the home of the Connemara Mussel Festival, which takes place in the village each May Bank Holiday.

Call in for a pint of the black stuff, relax by the fire, and stay for the craic!

Winner of Galway Pub of the Year at the Connaught Regional Irish Restaurant Awards 2017

095.43499

www.PaddyCoynesPub.com

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

BY KEVIN HEANUE

For consumers, there is something comforting about global brands that guarantee us standardised products, wherever they are purchased around the world. However, we also increasingly wish to buy ‘authentic’ products, which are associated with particular locations. We want to know the story behind where our food and other products come from, who the people are who grow or make it, and whether it is produced ethically and sustainably. Also, as tourists, more of us are ‘culturally curious’ and want to have the opportunity to experience local heritage in the places to which we travel.

Bringing these two ideas together, wouldn’t it be great if, as a tourist, you could visit authentic artisan producers, learn about the product, meet the artisan, and at the same time, get a genuine insight into local heritage? That is exactly what is happening in Ireland as a result of a multinational project called Craft Reach, led by the Irish semi-state organisation Teagasc (Agriculture and Food Development Authority) and funded by a European Union programme called the Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme.

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The project, which includes partners in eight countries, is based on a successful model developed in Quebec, Canada, over twenty-five years ago where artisan businesses, called Économusées, are supported in developing a cultural tourism dimension to their operations. The closest English translation of this French term is ‘living’ or ‘working’ museum. The term Économusée is copyright protected, and it is a recognised badge of quality which carries the tagline ‘Artisans at Work’.

Ireland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Norway, and Sweden. There are ten of these innovative businesses on the island of Ireland.

Four of them are in the Republic of Ireland: Celtic Roots Studio in Ballinahown, County Westmeath; Connemara Smokehouse in Ballyconneely, County Galway; St Tola Irish Goat Cheese in Ennistymon, County Clare; and Breeogue Pottery in Knocknahur, County Sligo. By mid-2018, there will be two more Économusées in the West of Ireland: a distillery and a craft butcher. There are also six Économusées in Northern Ireland, including a jeweller, a hurley maker, a rapeseed oil producer, a baker, a brewery, and a goat meat farm. Therefore, the Irish network ranges from the Midlands at the heart of the country across to the west, continuing north along the Atlantic coastline and on into Northern Ireland, winding its way through many internationally recognised areas of culture and beauty along the Wild Atlantic Way, a 2,500-kilometre driving route along the west coast of Ireland.

An Économusée is an artisan business that opens its doors to the public to provide a learning and interpretive experience for visitors (see www.economusee.eu).

As of May 2017, a network of eighty Économusées exists internationally, with forty-five based in Canada and thirty-five in seven European countries including

Celtic Roots Studio Économusée specialises in designing and making unique bog wood sculpture and gifts, the Meso range of jewellery, and one-off commissions where the customer is completely involved in the design process with the designer. The craftsmanship is a celebration of a rich Irish heritage

and inspired by the preserved natural beauty found in the surrounding landscape of the Irish midlands.

Helen Conneely, the owner, is rightly very proud of the new tradition that is being created with this ancient bogwood. Irish heritage and culture are a significant influence in the design and crafting of the finished pieces, and Helen has won many awards for both sculpture and jewellery. Her bog wood creations are frequently presented as awards and gifts, nationally and internationally.

Connemara Smokehouse Économusée is perched on the water’s edge of the rugged, mystic Connemara with stunning views of the Twelve Bens and the wild Atlantic coast. Family owned and run since 1979, Connemara Smokehouse is one of the oldest in western Ireland, as well as being one of the few remaining smokehouses still specialising in smoking wild Atlantic salmon. The Roberts family personally manage every aspect of the business, from selecting and obtaining the best quality Irish salmon and

seafood, to preparing, smoking, packaging, and delivery. Graham Roberts hand-fillets the fish and has become a fervent and passionate crusader of just how delicious smoked salmon can and should be. All the products are smoked using traditional methods and only natural ingredients, relying on the freshness of the fish, accented with seasonings from nature. Sea salt and beechwood smoke create the perfect flavour and texture in their traditionally smoked products.

Above: Économuseé bogwood class—making a mini sculpture.

Opposite: Freshly smoked salmon straight from the kiln.

St Tola Irish Goat Cheese Économusée produces goat milk cheese, made locally in County Clare since the early 1980s, and is known internationally as one of the premium artisan food products companies in Ireland. On a visit to St Tola you can meet with the artisans, see the animals that provide the raw material for the cheese, and sample

THE IDEA BEHIND THE ÉCONOMUSÉE CONCEPT IS BOTH SIMPLE AND SOPHISTICATED. ConnemaraLife.ie

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Above: Here’s looking at you, kid!

their renowned products. The St Tola herds of goats are reared using sustainable farming methods that are sensitive to the long-term needs of the plants, animals, and humans in the local environment, which is just south of the world-renowned Burren landscape. Cheese maker Siobhan Ni Ghairbhith has developed the business from a local cottage industry to an internationally recognised brand.

The cheese is still hand made in small batches, guaranteeing the artisanal quality of the final product from the farm to the kitchen table.

Breeogue Pottery Économusée is housed within an eighteenth-century barn, which is the perfect setting for the sculptural ceramics and stoneware pottery created on-site. Every day in Sligo there is a different sky and a constantly changing landscape, and this is the location where Grainne McLaughlin and Tom Callery, two uniquely talented artisans, explore various methods of using clay. Tom works from sketches and photographs of riverbanks, bogs, and landscapes, and then he incises these images onto clay forms.

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AN ÉCONOMUSÉE IS AN ARTISAN BUSINESS THAT OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE A LEARNING AND INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCE FOR VISITORS.

He then uses an ancient Japanese glazing technique called raku, which produces an array of rich iridescent colours and hues. Most of Grainne’s work is wheel-thrown, as she enjoys the form and detail produced by this process. She also works in porcelain, enhancing its purity with glazes that melt and fuse together in the firing process, creating new patterns and subtle colours inspired by a fascination and excitement with the wonderful part of the world she lives in.

The idea behind the Économusée concept is both simple and sophisticated.

It is simple in that the Économusées form a tourism-based network or trail,

which, by bringing people to the premises, assists the businesses expand sales and sustain employment. It is sophisticated in that it helps artisan producers develop the capabilities and infrastructure to tap into the burgeoning number of tourists who wish to ‘experience’ local culture and buy authentic local produce. Both processes enable the artisan producer to diversify their core business into the tourism market in response to market signals and, therefore, underpin their profitability. The Économusée model is recognised as different to other food tourism initiatives and networks due to the emphasis it places on providing a distinctive, authentic, interpretive, and educational experience for visitors to the artisan’s premises.

So how does an artisan business become an Économusée? As the term Économusée is copyright protected, and being eligible to be called an Économusée is to be awarded a cultural tourism quality mark, an artisan producer has to go through a rigorous four-stage process. First, the artisan has to fulfil some basic selection criteria regarding the authenticity of the product, turnover, and length of time in existence. Second, the artisan must undertake a feasibility study. The emphasis in the feasibility study is on the ability of the artisan to convert to, and function as, an Économusée. Third, if the feasibility study outcome is positive, the artisan engages in the development phase, which involves putting in place any required infrastructural changes identified in the feasibility study, installing interpretive panels, modifying premises layout, receiving new brochures, and availing of training from the Économusée Network.

Finally, there is usually a relatively high profile launch of the new Économusée. For example, the Canadian ambassador to Ireland opened the Celtic Roots Studio Économusée in March 2011.

Left: Raku pot with hare detail

by Tom Callery.

If you are travelling around Ireland, take the opportunity to visit some of the Économusées in the network. You will get a quality educational experience, be able to buy unique, high-quality, authentic products, talk with craftspeople, and get a profound and meaningful insight into local heritage and culture—all this supported by an international brand.

It seems that we can have the best of both worlds!

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GMIT Letterfrack Morocco

SO A R S TO N E W H E I G H T S I N

Staff and students collaborate with the Eve Branson Foundation in Morocco for knowledge transfer and skills development

By DERMOT O’DONOVAN

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Opening page: Mohamed and Ayoub casting jewellery at TWC Right: Daniel and Mouad hanging shelves in TWC showroom Bottom: GMIT Letterfrack and TWC members enjoying tea in the High Atlas Mountains Below: White Giraffe Stool by Gabriel Hielscher, part of the summer exhibition at GMIT Letterfrack; Photo

by Aoife Herriott

GREEN SAHARA FURNITURE (GSF) American David Bult set up Green Sahara Furniture (GSF) in Casablanca in 2007. GSF design and make bespoke furniture for the domestic market and international clients. GSF have a high ethical operating policy, using reclaimed and sustainable materials and providing employment and training opportunities for the local community. Since 2009, David has been a regular visitor to GMIT’s campus in Letterfrack, delivering lectures on ‘green’ business, product development, and international sales. Since then, five GMIT students have undertaken work placement in his workshop in Casablanca, just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean.

GMIT LETTERFRACK Nestled in the heart of Connemara, adjacent to Connemara National Park, the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology’s campus in Letterfrack offers specialised degree courses in furniture design, wood technology, and teacher education. The campus was designated the National Centre of Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology in 2013 due to its outstanding reputation and the quality of its graduates. In its stateof-the-art campus, students learn and develop skills including design, furniture-making techniques, advanced manufacturing technology, and computer aided design. Despite its remote location on the western seaboard, the campus has a significant network of industry partners in Ireland and overseas, and students undertake a work placement module in a range of companies as part of their learning. Through this work-based education programme, students have the opportunity to work in diverse industries and on projects such as hotel interiors, high-end store design, office and domestic interiors, and even on cruise liners and superyachts!

One company with which the college has collaborated in recent years is Green Sahara Furniture, based in the Moroccan commercial centre of Casablanca.

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Official opening ceremony of TWC in October 2016.

L-R: Dermot O’Donovan, David Monson, Eve Branson, Sir Richard Branson.

Photo by David Bult

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TANSGHART WOODWORK CENTRE (TWC) In recent years, David has been involved in a training centre, the Tansghart Woodwork Centre (TWC), in a remote region in the High Atlas mountain range, south of Marrakesh. This centre is one of a number established with support from the Eve Branson Foundation—a trust founded by Sir Richard Branson’s mother, Eve—providing opportunities for educational enrichment and enterprise for young men from the Berber community in the surrounding villages. The TWC, whose development has been spearheaded by David Bult, has seven trainees who produce a range of wood-based craft items and gifts using both traditional techniques and modern technology.

In October 2016, GMIT Letterfrack Head of Centre Dermot O’Donovan attended the official opening of the TWC. There, discussions took place on how GMIT Letterfrack could provide expertise to support new training, skills development, product development, and design. On that occasion, a memorandum of understanding was signed between GSF and GMIT to chart a path for future knowledge transfer and training needs analysis. Later, in January 2017, GMIT Letterfrack lecturer Paul Leamy, along with students Craig Shanahan and Daniel O’Driscoll, visited the centre in Morocco to begin that educational collaboration.

'The young men at the TWC are carving out a future filled with potential where they can provide for themselves and their families.'

With support provided by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland and GMIT, woodworking tools valued at more than €2,000 were transported with the Irish team. A training programme was delivered focusing on skills development, machine and equipment maintenance, and health and safety, while the students worked on social media, product design, and marketing. As well as work, there was, of course, play. With many keen soccer enthusiasts, there was time for an international soccer match.

Also, amongst the many projects completed, one was the construction of a giant duck made from reclaimed timber! This was in conjunction with the Virgin Limited Edition Give a Flying Duck! campaign and was to be located at the nearby Kasbah Tamadot Hotel. A terrific bond was formed between all parties, and the Berber community, who have a deep-rooted sense of culture and heritage through their rich history, were incredibly generous and welcoming hosts. Paul Leamy summed up the thoughts from the trip: ‘It was a privilege to contribute to such a fantastic project. The young men at the TWC are carving out a future filled with potential where they can provide for themselves and their families. Sharing knowledge and skills is a wonderful way to enhance that process. We were treated incredibly well by all in Morocco from the moment we arrived, and we look forward to developing this relationship into the future to help create further potential in this remote area of the High Atlas mountains.’

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Student Daniel O’Driscoll remarked, ‘This trip was such an eye-opener for me.

It is a fabulous project. What these guys are producing with such basic equipment is incredible. The next time I come back, it will be for much longer.'

GREEN CAMPUS This collaboration forms part of GMIT Letterfrack’s Green Campus Initiative, a programme aimed at embedding sustainability into the curriculum and operations of the campus in Connemara. This is further enforced through GMIT’s work with the Ubuntu network, supported by Irish Aid, which focuses on integrating development education principles into initial teacher education programmes.

For the future, there are plans to develop more formal educational partnerships between GMIT and Tansghart Woodwork Centre, to continue to develop the product range, and to examine access options

'This trip was such an eye-opener for me.

It is a fabulous project. What these guys are producing with such basic equipment is incredible.'

to international markets. One day it is hoped that some of the TWC trainees will be accredited with GMIT Letterfrack awards. Most of all, we can continue to learn from each other and share our stories, cultures, and traditions.

Above: Mohamed, Abdelkbir and Mouad shaping reclaimed timber for the giant duck carving; Photo

by David Bult Opposite top: Paul Leamy working with Houssein, who is developing hand tool skills Opposite bottom: Stools made at the TWC from recycled local timber; Photo by Dermot O'Donovan

Dermot O’Donovan is Head of Centre at GMIT Letterfrack. A summer exhibition of student work entitled Imagination will be open weekdays from June through August at GMIT Letterfrack.

Find out more about the project at www.evebransonfoundation.org.uk/ eves-story/my-foundation. To learn more about GMIT Letterfrack, go to www.gmit.ie/letterfrack.

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ROUNDSTONE THE QUINTESSENTIAL CONNEMARA RETREAT

BY ANN CONNEELY

Lying on the western arm of the Bertraghboy Bay in Connemara, County Galway, the village of Roundstone is one of the most scenic in Ireland.

Situated seventy-seven kilometres north-west of Galway City and around eighteen kilometres from Clifden, Roundstone is beautifully set on one of the most spectacular coastal drives overlooking the Atlantic and seÂ?led at the foot of Errisbeg Hill.

Roundstone is steeped in history. The village was founded in the mid-1820s by the celebrated Scottish engineer Alexander Nimmo, who was appointed by the Western District to build harbours, roads, and houses throughout the West of Ireland. In 1826, he bought a ninety-nine-year lease comprising 240 acres in the Roundstone/ Letterdyfe area. He sublet plots of land along the road by the harbour for houses to be built on. Many of the settlers were Scottish fishermen and their families.

Photo by Mark Furniss

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A few built two-story houses with slate roofs, and those people got grants. All others were one-story thatched houses. Alexander Nimmo died at the age of forty-nine on 20 January 1832. The lease of the village was passed on to his brother John. John gave land to the Presbyterians to build their church (the Kirk) in 1840. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs. Martin of Ballinahinch. It was demolished in the 1930s.

In 1835, a Franciscan monastery was established. Today only the bell tower remains, but a very lovely craft centre operates there, making and selling bodhråns, pottery, jewellery, and more. It is well worth a visit. Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church was built in 1832. Saint Mary’s Church of Ireland was built in 1843 and is still in use to this day.

In Roundstone, you will find a busy working harbour where local fishermen return each evening with their catches—anything from lobster to mackerel. When the mackerel are running (in season), they can be fished from the pier. The harbour is always a hive of activity with people pottering around on their boats or setting out to the nearby islands.

TODAY ONLY THE BELL TOWER REMAINS BUT A VERY LOVELY CRAFT CENTRE OPERATES THERE MAKING AND SELLING BODHRĂ NS POTTERY JEWELLERY AND MORE

Roundstone is a haven for artists. Some of the finest pictures for sale today are from various places around Roundstone. Two artists live in the village: one is Yvonne King, a local woman; the other is Belfast-born Rosie McGurrin. Both are very well known. Each year, Rosie hosts the Inishlacken Project, where artists explore the beauty of this island just off our shores. Inishlacken was made famous by the renowned Northern Irish artists Gerard Dillon, James MacIntyre, and Seamus Coleman, who spent a year living amongst the natives, painting, and living the island life.

We have two of the most beautiful beaches—Dog’s Bay and Gurteen.

Dog’s Bay is a horseshoe shape, and has the purest of fine sand, formed exclusively from coral shells, and is very unique. It lies back-to-back with Gurteen Beach, creating a tombolo. Both are very safe for swimming and other water sports such as kayaking, standup paddleboarding, windsurfing, and kite surfing.

For anyone seeking a destination that showcases the quintessential Connemara, Roundstone is the perfect retreat.

ROUNDSTONE EVENTS Some of the most popular events taking place throughout the year:

ROUNDSTONE REGATTA 22–23 July

Roundstone has a variety of first-class restaurants and cafes serving the best of fresh fish and Connemara lamb. In the cafes, some of the finest home baking can be found—and coffee to die for. Two hotels and lots of B & Bs offer accommodations for travellers, but it is always advisable to book in advance to avoid disappointment; July and August can get very busy.

Inishnee is just across the bay from the village but can be reached by car as well as by boat. It is an excellent place for a walk, and while there, please visit Saint Matthew’s graveyard. It is the oldest cemetery in Connemara and contains the ruins of a medieval church and graves dating back to the twelfth century.

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ROUNDSTONE PONY SHOW Sunday, 9 July

ROUNDSTONE DOG SHOW Monday, 7 August

TOUR DE BOG Thursday, 3 August

Above: Roundstone Harbour as seen from Inishnee across the bay; Photo by Robert Riddell Right: Roundstone Pier—a berth shelter for many fishing boats; Photo by Robert Riddell

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BLISS, EUPHORIA, UNBRIDLED JOY! GOLFING ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD B Y T O N Y C O N N E E LY

THE CULMINATION OF BAR COUNTER CHAT— DEVELOPED THROUGH THE VARIOUS PLANNING STAGES AND FINALLY REACHING ITS GLORIOUS CONCLUSION—A FEW DAYS AWAY GOLFING WITH THE BOYS, DECIDING UPON THE WEST, ENCOURAGED IN NO LITTLE WAY BY THE GREAT SOUND BITES EMANATING FROM THE POSITIVITY OF THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY PASSAGE.

Galway Golf Club: a view from the clubhouse to the ninth hole.

So a trek through the Tribes county was decided upon. First port of call was Salthill, just on the outskirts of Galway city, home of Galway Golf Club.

As we approached the clubhouse and looked back over our shoulder onto the Aran Islands, one could not help but think of the auld song ‘Galway Bay’. A warm welcome from club pro, David Mortimer, who incidentally is a two-time winner of the Irish PGA Championship, and we were out onto the fairways.

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Glenlo Abbey Golf Club: a nine-hole championship golf course designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr. Golf lessons on a one-to-one basis with golf professional Gary Madden are both fun and informative and are complemented by the superior facilities of the twenty-one-bay driving range.

Galway is a well-established club, the game having been played here since the late 1800s.

Ryder Cup players Christy O’Connor Senior and Junior both learned their trade here. The par is 70 with every inch of ground used so wisely. A short dogleg par 4 to start, while possibly yielding a birdie or par start can just as easily show a seven or more. Trees, shrubs, elevated greens, and an abundance of beautiful—but testing—wild gorse ensure that the A game is required. As one progresses through the greens and reaches the back nine, the views become breathtaking. Standing on the fourteenth tee box, one is monarch of all they survey. The Burren and the Aran Islands are in the near distance of Galway Bay with the extent of the whole course in the viewfinder.

And immediately in front, a rolling fairway, reminiscent of the American fairways as we watch the weekend competitions of the PGA tour on our TVs. For that split second, you feel 34

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as if you could have Bubba and Mickelson on the tee with you—alas, not so. After a trek of almost six thousand meters, our afternoon was done. With congratulations from ourselves ringing in our ears for choosing such a fine specimen, the nineteenth was our next port of call for a chowder and a pint. Well, if it was good enough for the famed Ryder Cup stars, it was certainly good enough for us.

THE COURSE IS OBVIOUSLY LOVINGLY CARED FOR AND HAS FANTASTIC UNDULATING GREENS, HAVING BEEN DESIGNED BY THE AFOREMENTIONED GREAT CHRISTY JNR. A very short trek found us at our headquarters for the night—the majestic Glenlo Abbey on the west side of Galway city, right on the shores of Lough Corrib. As we drove down the avenue, the building and the lake were right in front of us, with greens and fairways on either side. And the Pullman Restaurant (two of the original Orient Express train carriages) was in our eyeline. A beautiful dinner—and too many pints—but a restful night’s sleep saw us fully charged for the day ahead. Serious stuff, so we had a spell on the driving range and then tackled the testing but idyllic track with water features. Not only the Lough, but throughout the course. The signature hole here is definitely the par 3 two-hundred-yard fourth hole that sits in the middle of the lake. The course is obviously lovingly cared for and has fantastic undulating greens, having been designed by the aforementioned great Christy Jnr. Our next round was in the Gateway to Connemara, just a twenty-kilometre drive to the small town of Oughterard and its gorgeous parkland track. A par of 72 sees the golfer around many treelined but pristine fairways, again with water a feature, none more so than

the par 3 ninth hole, on an elevated tee box to a tricky green lurking behind water. Further is definitely better than short here. Club professional Derek McNamara was on hand to welcome us and even guided us to the very tricky opening par four—up and over the hill.

When playing Oughterard, bring the thinking game—plotting and planning may avoid the trees and shrub plantations. Truly well worth a visit on the golfing getaway.

And on to our final destination. A drive through the wonderfully beautiful wilds of Connemara to Slyne Head and the famed Connemara Golf Links. Driving from Ballyconneely village to the course, one wonders whoever had the foresight to put a golf course almost in the middle of the ocean. As we approach the clubhouse, we can see the lighthouses in the near distance behind the sandy beaches and dunes on our left and the beginning of the course on our right. Once unloaded and welcomed by Dominic in the office, we were delighted to find we had at our disposal a twenty-seven-hole test. We opted for the eighteen-hole championship, and were we delighted. Not a tree in sight, the golfer is

Opposite bottom: Rising majestically from the shore of Lough Corrib and dating back to the eighteenth century, the five-star Glenlo Abbey Hotel is where old-world charm meets contemporary elegance.

Right: The second hole on the C9 at Connemara Championship Golf Links, a 180-yard par 3, with a little water hazard to the left of the green.

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Galway Golf Club: a view to the Burren and Galway Bay adjacent to the fourth green.

TREES, SHRUBS, ELEVATED GREENS, AND AN ABUNDANCE OF BEAUTIFUL—BUT TESTING— WILD GORSE ENSURE THAT THE A GAME IS REQUIRED. 36

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lulled into a silly sense of security. A pulled shot here lands one in the rough. A pushed one there, up a grassy dune. Beautiful rolling fairways, greens tucked away and guarded by many grades of bunkers, elevated greens, and elevated tees, with none more spectacular than the par 5 fourteenth built on what must be the highest point in the area. Golf is forgotten as one has a 360-degree vista from Inishbofin, to Slyne Head, to the Aran Islands, back around the mountains of Connemara and

Mayo, and onto Inishbofin yet again—breathtaking. The course itself is class. The par 3 thirteenth hole must play as one of the best in Europe with my personal favourite, the fourteenth hole built into a hillside. Holes seventeen and eighteen are par fives running in opposite directions to each other, so having had the breeze in our backs on the seventeenth, we faced a severe test back on the eighteenth. That is the beauty of links golf. And the wind does play a factor here—club pro and superintendent Hugh O’Neill regaled us with tales and fables, one in which one of his professional colleagues played a nine iron stitched one morning on the short par 3 third and returned that evening to a different wind and came up short with a five wood. Hugh insists that the professional should remain nameless, at least in print!

And while enjoying Hugh’s company in the clubhouse, one could not help but be distracted by the stunning scenery of the ocean, out onto the islands and rock features, into the hills and mountains, and across the course itself. In a word—stunning.

So with our trip near its conclusion, we were left with a memory of four days of hugely enjoyable golf, on four courses that members should be very proud of. While each was a different test, they were united by the professionalism in which they were managed and maintained, a real tribute to the staff. We are left with a serious quandary—when can we do it all again?

Right: Oughterard Golf Club with views of Lough Corrib. The magnificent eighteenhole championship golf course, situated at the Gateway to Connemara, is a recipient of the Hidden Gem of Connacht Award.

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CONNEMARA CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2017–2018

2017 JULY Connemara Rugby Sevens Tournament

Reek Sunday at Croagh Patrick 30 JULY

The traditional pilgrimage to this holy mountain near Westport stretches back from the Stone Age to present day. Croagh Patrick is renowned for its Patrician Pilgrimage in honour of Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. At the top, there is a modern chapel where Mass is celebrated and confessions are heard.

WWW.CROAGH-PATRICK.COM

30 JUNE–3 JULY

The tournament will start Friday evening and run all day Saturday, with the finals on Sunday. The competition intends to provide some fast-paced rugby and a fun-filled weekend in Clifden, the capital of Connemara. We have a full line-up of entertainment in the festival marquee and pitchside over the weekend.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CONNEMARASEVENS

Roundstone Connemara Pony, Dog and Sheep Show 9 JULY

The Roundstone Pony Show, now in its twelfth year, is held annually on the second Sunday in July.

WWW.ROUNDSTONEEVENTS.COM

Galway International Arts Festival 17–30 JULY

This is one of Europe’s most original, vibrant, and colourful events. The festival, a truly international celebration of the performing and visual arts, takes place in and around Galway City each July.

WWW.GIAF.IE

Women’s Adventure Race 22 JULY

This adventure race, designed by amazing women and for amazing women, takes place in Galway. Down with sweaty, jostling men—this start line is just for the ladies!

WWW.GAELFORCEEVENTS.COM

Claddaghduff Pony Show 29 JULY

So much more than just another pony show, the Claddaghduff Pony Show promises you a fun-filled day packed with activities. The show field in Claddaghduff Village, County Galway, is in an idyllic location that overlooks the spectacular Omey Strand and Omey Island.

CONTACT: LOUISE COYNE 087 7680879

Omey Races 30 JULY

Often referred to as ‘the other Galway Races’, the Omey Races take place annually on the straight at Omey Strand, in Claddaghduff in Connemara.

Re-established as a tradition in 2001, the annual summer races have been attracting greater numbers every year for a beautiful day of sun, sand, sea, and, of course, horse racing. With up to nine races on the card, there are opportunities for young up-and-coming jockeys to hone their skills while providing a great day out for spectators.

WWW.OMEYRACES.COM

Galway Races Summer Festival 31 JULY–6 AUGUST

Ireland’s premier horse-racing festival takes place at Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit, Galway. Adrenalin-pumping action, heart-stopping finishes, and breathtaking fashion are all part of the Galway Races. Situated on the outskirts of Galway City in the West of Ireland, the Galway Race Festivals are renowned worldwide.

WWW.GALWAYRACES.COM

AUGUST Sky Road TV & Film Festival 5 AUGUST

This exciting festival aims to shine a spotlight on the best of Irish film, TV, and new media.

WWW.SKYROADFILMFESTIVAL.IE

Roundstone All-Ireland Dog Show 7 AUGUST

The Roundstone All-Ireland Dog Show, held in August, has become a very popular event. Dogs and handlers from all over Ireland compete for the titles of All-Ireland Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion.

WWW.ROUNDSTONEEVENTS.COM

Omey Dash Triathlon 12 AUGUST

Omey Dash 2017 is a triathlon limited to two hundred entrants, so sign up as soon as possible. The race is open to all individuals and teams in any combination.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OMEYDASH

Connemara 100 12 AND 13 AUGUST

The Connemara 100 on the West Coast of Ireland is run over a measured and certified 100-mile course.

WWW.CONNEMARA100.COM

Glassilaun Watersports Day 13 AUGUST

This fun family day out at Glassilaun Beach in Renvyle features water-based activities, including boat rides, scuba diving, and kayaking, as well as onshore activities.

Connemara Pony Show and Festival 15–20 AUGUST

The Connemara Pony Festival celebrates the world-renowned Connemara pony and is built around the long-running Connemara Pony Show, which takes place each summer in Clifden.

WWW.CPBS.IE

Oughterard Agricultural & Horticultural Show 27 AUGUST

The programme of events includes classes in ponies, horses, cattle, sheep, donkeys, dogs, cats, pets, poultry, and vintage display.

WWW.OUGHTERARDSHOW.COM

SEPTEMBER Galway Races Autumn Meeting 18 AND 19 SEPTEMBER

Ireland’s premier horse-racing festival takes place at Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit, Galway. Adrenalin-pumping action, heart-stopping finishes, and breathtaking fashion are all part of the Galway Races. Situated on the outskirts of Galway City in the West of Ireland, the Galway Race Festivals are renowned worldwide.

WWW.GALWAYTOURISM.IE

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Clifden Arts Festival

Inishbofin Arts Festival

14–24 SEPTEMBER

DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

The longest-running community arts festival in Ireland, Clifden Arts Festival is now in its fortieth year. This year’s programme promises to have something for everyone yet again.

The Inishbofin Arts Festival is a fantastic showcase of the best island-based artists and craftspeople, along with a thoroughly enjoyable contingent of visiting performers. There will be music flowing from every corner, theatre to entertain the dramatically inclined, film screenings, photographic exhibitions, 1916 archival displays, circus workshops, and more!

WWW.CLIFDENARTSWEEK.IE

The Great Fjord Swim 30 SEPTEMBER

Swim Ireland’s only fjord in the deep, clean waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Choose from two distances—750 metres or 2 kilometres.

WWW.GAELFORCEEVENTS.COM

OCTOBER Conamara Sea Week 22–30 OCTOBER

WWW.INISHBOFIN.COM

Conamara Bog Week DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

Conamara Bog Week is a celebration of all that is magical about the Connemara landscape. The festival celebrated its thirtieth birthday in 2014 and has grown to be an excellent and unique festival with something to interest all age groups.

WWW.CEECC.ORG/CONAMARA-BOG-WEEK

The annual Conamara Sea Week takes place in the Quaker village of Letterfrack in north-west Connemara. It is a celebration of the wonderful marine heritage of Connemara.

JUNE

WWW.CEECC.ORG

DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

NOVEMBER

Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival Three days of the best local, national, and international folk and bluegrass music in the unique surroundings of Westport, County Mayo.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/WESTPORTFOLKANDBLUEGRASS

Gaelforce Turf Warrior Challenge

Clifden Lifeboat 10K

4 NOVEMBER

DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

Turf Warrior is a bog-crawling, wall-leaping, rope-swinging, bone-chilling, and extremely fun event.

The inaugural Clifden Lifeboat 10k Race took place on 14 September 2008 to raise funds for the RNLI and the Clifden Lifeboat. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response, it was decided to make this into a yearly fixture. The race is open to all athletes, as well as leisure runners and walkers, and can be entered into individually or as a team.

WWW.GAELFORCEEVENTS.COM

2018

WWW.CLIFDEN10K.COM

Gaelforce West DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

APRIL Clifden Traditional Music Festival 18 APRIL WWW.CLIFDENTRADFEST.COM

Connemara International Marathon 18 APRIL WWW.CONNEMARATHON.COM

MAY

Still the original and the best. This unique event is framed by the magnificent Connemara landscape. Every turn is as breathtaking as the challenge itself.

A sixty-seven-kilometre course spanning two counties takes you from Glassilaun Beach in County Galway to the heritage town of Westport, County Mayo. Trail and mountain running or walking, cycling, and kayaking. The terrain includes mountain scree, bogland, trails, sealed roads, and the majestic waters of Killary Fjord. Connemara, Killary Fjord, Croagh Patrick and Westport—these are only some of the highlights of a route that provides a combination of fundamental challenges and breathtaking views that will test and delight you, regardless of your fitness level or your focus.

WWW.GAELFORCEEVENTS.COM

Inishbofin Yoga Event 2018

Connemara Mussel Festival

DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

MAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Originally established to promote the excellence of the mussels of Killary Harbour, the festival has grown to become a celebration of local people, food, culture, and heritage, and is recognised as the premier food event for Connemara, attracting visitors from near and far. One of the first festivals each year on the Wild Atlantic Way, it showcases the very best Connemara has to offer.

With a great sense of fun and adventure, the three seasoned teachers, who have multiple years of experience in yoga, are all returning to the island for the third year of the festival. Ten workshops are available throughout the week, as are island excursions that include guided walks, horse riding, pottery throwing, and boating. Expect long sunny days, blue skies, white sandy beaches, and a beautiful community of like-minded yogis gathering together on one of Ireland’s most picturesque islands.

WWW.CONNEMARAMUSSELFESTIVAL.COM

WWW.INISHBOFIN.COM

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A Beauty Like No Other

Ireland’s West is a wonder to behold. From the artistry and magic of her centuries-old stone walls that crisscross the rolling green hills to the rocky, untamed shores of the Atlantic, Connemara is a veritable feast for the senses. Let your eyes gaze upon the Twelve Bens framed against the morning sky.

Listen as the waters of the wild ocean meet the shores. Let the smell of a peat fire transport you to Ireland’s storied past.

Savour the bountiful seafood, caught fresh each day. Let your hands brush along the wild heather on a winding back road.

Connemara’s beauty may become your muse, as it has for countless authors, poets, and artists through the centuries.

Eyrephort at sunset; Photo by Mark Furniss Photography

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When the skies are ink above us and the sea runs white with foam In a cot in Connemara there’s a wife and wee one praying To the One who walked the waters once, to send us safely home.

— Francis Fahy, ‘The Queen of Connemara’

Puffins can be seen on their Inishturk nesting ground from April to the end of July; Photo

by Mark Furniss Photography

Rossadillisk—one of the most picturesque piers in Connemara; Photo

by Mark Furniss Photography

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The tidal island of Omey while the sea thrift was in full bloom; Photo by Mark Furniss Photography

Inishturk Signal Tower, which was built around 1805, is located at the highest point of the island; Photo

by Mark Furniss Photography

May the Irish hills caress you.

May her lakes and rivers bless you.

May the luck of the Irish enfold you.

May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

— Irish Blessing ConnemaraLife.ie

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July evening at Roundstone Harbour; Photo

by Robert Riddell

Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible.

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Silky clouds kiss the tops of the Bens behind Lettergesh Beach; Photo by Trevor Dubber

They say the clouds are lower in Ireland.

I say Ireland is closer to Heaven.

— Michael Vatis

At the day’s end on Errislannan pebble beach; Photo

by Mark Furniss Photography

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Nádhúra Design FURNITURE Nádhúra offers a range of handcrafted, customisable furniture and homeware products, designed and made in Ireland.

INTERIORS We provide interior architecture, design and fit-out consultation, and paired with technical expertise, allows us to deliver unique spaces.

SERVICES We specialise in product engineering, industry related BIM and project management services for local, national and international projects.

Nádhúra Design | Unit 2 Ballybrit Upper Industrial Estate Monivea Road | Co. Galway | H91 F381 +353 (0)91 745599 | www.nadhura.ie

The ideal location to stay and explore Inishbofin, The Beach offers you bed and breakfast, beachside bar, restaurant, and adventure centre. An EcoTourism Ireland certified property offering responsibly sourced local food and beverages with sustainable certified adventure activities, live entertainment, and sweeping views of the Wild Atlantic Way like no other.

www.TheBeach.ie | +353 95 45829 | info@thebeach.ie Inishbofin Island, Connemara, Co. Galway

H EAD CHEF

Tim O’Sullivan AND THE RENVYLE HOUSE DINING EXPERIENCE

By ZOE COYLE

Renvyle House Hotel and Resort is a fourstar, family-owned, historic country house resort. It first opened as a hotel in 1883 and is spectacularly located on a 150-acre estate on the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way in Connemara.

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Renvyle House Hotel and Resort on the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way in Connemara

T

he hotel grounds include a private freshwater lake, a par 3 golf course, a beach, woodlands, gardens, and numerous activities on-site, including tennis, croquet, an outdoor heated swimming pool (open during summer months), fly fishing, canoeing, shore angling, and more. There is a huge emphasis on kind and welcoming hospitality and on food.

Over the years, the Renvyle House Hotel and its Roisin Dubh Restaurant have won many awards, including Best Customer Service and Best Chef. However, the staff are most proud of awards received for Irish hospitality, as the team at Renvyle extend a warm welcome to each and every guest.

Since his appointment as head chef at Renvyle House Hotel, Tim O’Sullivan has been in his own quiet way a driving force in Ireland’s food revolution. Over his years at Renvyle, Tim has been a participant in the New Irish Cuisine movement, a stalwart supporter of local produce, and a trainer and mentor to young chefs, including Conrad Gallagher, who worked at Renvyle for eighteen months.

A native of Killarney, Tim trained as a chef at the Killarney Great Southern Hotel under Noel Gamil and Jimmy Freeman. He worked in Hotel Europe, Killarney, before moving to Dublin where he gained experience in the Doyle Montrose and Spa Hotel, Lucan. Three years in Bartra House, Ballina, as sous chef preceded his appointment as head chef at Renvyle House.

Tim’s sureness of purpose in marrying traditional and contemporary has served Renvyle well in guiding an excellent kitchen team of nine chefs through a culinary minefield of fast-changing trends. Tim’s background of classic Irish and European cooking has blended happily with newer trends to produce dishes that show New Irish Cuisine at its best. Alongside old favourites that have earned a permanent place on the menu, such as roast rack of Connemara lamb, modern classics appear in dishes like seared scallops and spring onion champ, black pudding, and fresh beetroot and sweet chili butter.

Mr Tim O’Sullivan, Executive Chef at Roisin Dubh Restaurant at Renvyle House Hotel.

A commissioner of Euro-Toques Ireland, Tim is dedicated to the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients such as fish, Connemara beef and lamb, game, and the finest vegetables. His menus always reflect this commitment.

Renvyle House Hotel & Resort. Here, the only stress is on relaxation.

Tel: +353 (0)95 464100 | Email: info@renvyle.com | Web: www.renvyle.com ConnemaraLife.ie

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RECIPES

Renvyle House Hotel & Resort Signature Wild Atlantic Way Dish Connemara rack of lamb; Newport black pudding stuffing; mustard and herb crust; rosemary jus; Atlantic lobster; melon and cucumber salsa; tomato and spinach fondue.

LAMB AND LOBSTER IN GR E DI E NTS: 2 racks of lamb, oven ready (1 kilogram)

METHOD: • Bring 5 litres salted water to boil for the lobsters.

2 lobsters (2 kilograms)

•

Heat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Heat a large griddle pan; season the lamb with salt and pepper. Seal the lamb on both sides; add a little rosemary and place in a roasting tin in a hot oven for 12 minutes or until cooked as you like it.

•

To finish the lamb, coat the outside surface with a mixture of mustard, the remaining crumbs, and the herbs. Finish under a hot grill for 2 minutes until crisp and brown; keep warm.

•

Place the lobsters in boiling water and simmer for 10–12 minutes.

Remove the lobster and keep warm. When ready to serve, split the lobsters in half and remove the heads, leaving the meat in the tails. Remove the meat from the claws by crushing the shells.

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon chopped herbs (parsley, thyme, mint) 200 grams bread crumbs 2 dessertspoons chopped rosemary 2 shallots, diced 2 fresh tomatoes, diced 2 cloves of garlic, chopped 50 millilitres cream 100 grams spinach 50 grams black pudding 30 grams white onion, diced 2 tablespoons lemon juice 150 grams butter 50 grams spring onion, chopped 3 tablespoons sugar 150 millilitres olive oil 1 red chili, diced 50 grams melon, diced 50 grams cucumber, diced 50 millilitres red wine 100 millilitres lamb stock 1 tablespoon redcurrant jelly 10 grams coriander leaves, chopped Salt and black pepper

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TOMATO AND SPINACH FONDUE

LAMB JUS

MET H OD: • Heat a pan and add oil, shallots, and garlic; cook for 2–3 minutes.

I N GR E D I E N TS : 50 millilitres red wine 100 millilitres lamb stock 1 tablespoon redcurrant jelly Chopped rosemary

• Add spinach, tomato, butter, and lemon juice; simmer for 2 minutes.

MELON AND CUCUMBER SALSA

ME THOD : • Heat the pan, add red wine and lamb stock, and reduce by a third.

IN GR E DI E NTS: 50 grams melon, diced 50 grams cucumber, diced Red chili, diced 50 grams spring onion 10 grams coriander leaves, chopped 1 lemon juice 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons sugar

• Add redcurrant jelly and chopped rosemary.

TO S E RV E : On one end of a large plate, place the black pudding stuffing, lamb, and rosemary jus. On the other end of the plate, place the tomato fondue, lobster, and cucumber and melon salsa. Garnish with wild herbs.

Bon appétit!

MET H OD: Mix all together

HERB CRUST IN GR E DI E NTS: 1 tablespoon mixed herbs (rosemary, thyme, parsley, chives) 30 grams bread crumbs Salt and pepper MET H OD: Blend all together in a blender.

BLACK PUDDING STUFFING IN GR E DI E NTS: 75–100 grams butter 30 grams white onion, diced 50 grams black pudding 100 grams bread crumbs 1 teaspoon mixed chopped herbs (rosemary, thyme) MET H OD: • Melt the butter in a pot; add herbs and onion.

• Cook for 3 minutes.

• Add black pudding and bread crumbs; cook for 2–3 minutes.

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Colour is the New Black WRAPPING UP WITH CIARA SILKE DESIGNS

BY SUVA ANG-MENDOZA PHOTOGRAPHY BY AL HIGGINS

Sometimes destiny is written in the stars; at other times, it’s written in a name. That seems to be the case for Ireland’s latest luxury silk scarf designer from Galway, Ciara Silke, whose surname fittingly corresponds with the traditional fabric of the accessory. One look and feel of these gorgeous silk twill scarves and it’s clear that she’s mastered the art of luxury.

Left: Flourishing Garden in berry, peach, and white.

Opposite left: Lily Ladder in hot pink, black, and white.

90 x 90cm Opposite right: Bláth Poipín in raspberry, lilac, and peach. 90 x 90cm

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ver the past few years, luxury silk scarves have played a lesser role in fashion, unlike other embellishing accessories such as jewels and headpieces. However, Ciara Silke is changing the way we incorporate the accessory into our wardrobes, bringing it to the forefront of our dressing routine. Not only has she enhanced the appeal of the traditional fashion piece, but she’s also sparked innovative solutions as to how to drape a scarf around the body.

No longer a simple neck piece or a bit of colour to be tied around a handbag, the scarf becomes a main focal point of your wardrobe, thanks to Ciara’s creative solution (which can be found on her brand’s Instagram account at @CiaraSilke).

For her, it’s all about that colourful pop that adds the perfect touch of style and allure. Her scarves are the perfect introduction to bring colour and patterns into your wardrobe, no matter the season.

Irish designer Ciara makes it easy to sport scarves in an insouciant and modern way, whether draped, gathered, or tied. For her, it’s all about that colourful pop that adds the perfect touch of style and allure. Her scarves are the perfect introduction to bring colour and patterns into your wardrobe, no matter the season. To Ciara, ‘Colour speaks all languages.’

Subliminal bliss is the perfect description of Ciara’s collection. Gathering inspiration from the surroundings at her studio in the West of Ireland, her products have become masterpieces unto themselves. The eye-catching and colourful designs are prime examples of what happens when fashion and art intertwine.

Ciara developed her passion for print and colour in textiles as she attended art classes held in Galway by artist Vicki Crowley, who is known for painting on silk. ‘Crowley greatly influenced me—she was a huge inspiration,’ she recalls. That inspiration stuck with her so much so that she later completed a degree in textiles at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), and went on to work for the global luxury brand Diane von Furstenberg in New York in both the print and the accessories departments.

Not long after that she returned home to teach art in Castlebar, County Mayo, all the while setting up her own fashion label during her spare ConnemaraLife.ie

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Left: Criss Cross Fleur in black and white silk twill. 200 x 60cm Middle: Flourishing Garden in lilac, copper, and cream.

90 x 90cm Right: African Iris in baby blue, black, and white. 90 x 90cm

Ciara developed her passion for print and colour in textiles as she attended art classes held in Galway by artist Vicki Crowley. time, which took off without a hitch. Within two years, the designer silk scarves have seen a significant growth in sales, rising by 10 per cent. As a result, she made the decision to leave education and go full-time and head-on into her rising new career as a self-proclaimed designer.

Good thing too, because it’s already been a fast and wild climb up the fashion ladder for Ciara. She has a range of her collection stocked in Kildare Village, the Helen McAlinden boutique in Dublin, and the Pall Center in Luxembourg, among others, and she’s securing stockists in Britain and scaling her business to the United States, the Middle East, and Paris.

Left scarf is Bláth Poipín in midnight blue, red, and black; right scarf is Swamp Rose in pink and red with black polka dots. Both are 90 x 90cm.

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Not only has she been focusing on expanding her label, but she has also been preoccupied with showcasing her designs in trade shows, such as Design Ireland and Scoop International at the Saatchi Gallery, London, as well as preparing for her first few awards shows. In just two years since the birth of her brand, Ciara has been nominated for Irish Accessory Designer of the Year at 2016 Kerry Fashion Week and was recognized as Highly Commended in the Design Ireland category at the Design & Crafts Council Ireland Showcase 2017.

Now you can take a little piece of Ciara’s artwork home and incorporate it into your style; just shop her collection at www.CiaraSilke.com. But look fast—her prints sell faster than one can wrap them.

Come Join us in the heart of Connemara

Hotel Self Catering Bar & Restaurant Leisure Centre & Spa Theatre & Conference Museum Courtyard Shopping Clifden Station House Hotel is the perfect base for exploring the West Coast of Ireland.

Whether your interests are hill walking, golf, horse riding, watersports, or ishing you can experience them all within 30 minutes of the hotel!

So come take a deep breath of the Bracing Air & Charming Scenery and immerse yourself in this special place

www.clifdenstationhouse.com 095 21699

Connemara Therapeutic Riding The Legendary Connemara Pony Leads International Mission

By Nicola Heanue and Colette Laffey Photography courtesy of Connemara Therapeutic Riding

In 2015 Connemara Therapeutic Riding (CTR) saw the realisation of a dream—the establishment of a permanent therapeutic riding service for Connemara. We have been working towards this for the past few years, and we are finally here! But the reality is way beyond our expectations.

Connemara is home to the most pristine landscape of mountains, bogland, and lakes set on the brink of the Atlantic Ocean, and it is located along the Wild Atlantic Way—a breathtaking scenic route in County Galway along the west coast of Ireland. It is these very conditions that have given birth to the Connemara pony and its renowned sure-footedness, intelligence, and patience.

his final year project. This beautiful piece of art takes pride of place on the trail. Forum Connemara was successful in receiving a year of government funding to employ an animator/co-coordinator to manage and grow the service.

But Connemara also faces challenges as its peripheral location, weak infrastructure, and narrow economic base lead to low levels of employment opportunity. This makes it even harder to ensure that everyone in the community has an equal chance at a high quality of life.

But while all this progress is fantastic, the real magic for those of us with a commitment to this project is seeing the riders flourish from their experience of the service. For each participant, therapeutic riding brings something different to their lives. For one little girl, it is an afternoon spent in the company of her father and the various animals (aside from the ponies) that live at Errislannan.

The ability to ride to places on horseback that would be physically impossible for her

Our local disability support group, Paving the Way, took a leap of faith and approached the Connemara Pony Breeders Society to assist them in securing European funding with the support of Forum Connemara, our local community development company, to train therapeutic riding coaches. CTR commenced operations at Errislannan Manor Equestrian Centre in July 2015 by hosting taster sessions for all the members of Paving the Way and interested families.

A group of our supporters, including parents, coaches, and leaders, attended the annual Clifden Connemara Pony Show to promote our service and raise some much-needed funds. We went on that summer despite some poor weather to deliver sessions weekly, continuing into the winter months. Other work included the creation of our logo, which the coaches and many of the riders now wear with pride on polo shirts and hoodies.

Progress in 2016 included the decision to undertake a large fundraiser to help the service expand. The ‘Pony Poo Lottery’, which was a novel idea from one of the committee, was held in the Connemara Pony Breeders Society showgrounds in Clifden on 1 May 2016. These funds have facilitated the creation of an all-weather surface sensory trail in Errislannan. Furthermore, John Dooley—a final-year student of GMIT Letterfrack National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology, created a sensory station as part of

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By its very nature, therapeutic riding works on many levels to support children and adults with a variety of physical, cognitive, emotional, and developmental needs. It is recognised worldwide as an aid to improving and promoting educational skills, as well as being a healthy and fun activity, and can be described as ‘physiotherapy on horseback’. otherwise is the ultimate freedom. For one teenager, it’s riding alongside his little sister, enjoying an activity together and learning along the way. One of our riders attends during school hours along with his SNA (special needs assistant). For him, it is a new way of learning without the anxieties that a classroom can create. As he mounts that pony, it’s incredible to see him relax and engage with the world and the people around him. His giggles are infectious as he has a trot or two, and it would melt the hardest of hearts.

There’s the girl that shows her parents every Monday morning using sign language that she is looking forward to riding after school that day. She waves them goodbye as she heads off on her pony; this is the highlight of her week. There are the two little boys, brothers, who ride out together, like cowboys. One chatters along the way, the other quiet and at peace with the world.

Below: All smiles in the arena from the TR coaches, volunteers, riders, and ponies.

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By its very nature, therapeutic riding works on many levels to support children and adults with a variety of physical, cognitive, emotional, and developmental needs. It is recognised worldwide as an aid to improving and promoting educational skills, as well as being a healthy and fun activity, and can be described as ‘physiotherapy on horseback’.

We welcomed a fellow therapeutic riding project, 4STEPS, from Maryland, USA, in the summer of 2016. They were overwhelmed by the very essence of all Errislannan Manor has to offer—not just the services to the participants but also the sense of respite felt by everyone in the beautiful gardens and scenery. A visiting professor of social work in Lourdes University, Ohio, will bring students to volunteer and carry out academic research on the benefits of the project this summer. All this will culminate in the presentation of their findings to HETI (Horses in Education and Training International) in 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. CTR has hosted almost four hundred TR sessions since its launch in 2015, and all of this was made possible by the hard work and dedication of the voluntary committee and dozens of volunteers. Without this outstanding community support, this service could not continue to thrive. Their ongoing efforts have led to the facilitating of local primary school special education classes on a weekly basis.

Our plans for 2017 include the development of a unique tourism package where we will receive visitors from overseas to our service.

This exciting venture will mean we can offer tailor-made therapeutic riding sessions to holiday makers with disabilities who may not normally be able to access such services.

Many of the riders reap the rewards of improved social, communication, and language skills. The various sensory input while out on the trail also assists in improving balance, coordination, and self-esteem.

The amazing thing is it is not just the riders who are benefitting.

Parents are seeing the benefits too, not just in the developing skills of their children, but also in having ‘time to just sit and be’ as one mother so nicely put it.

One could say that there is a felt sense—an ethereal quality—to the therapeutic riding experience for all in the beautiful surroundings of Errislannan Manor and stables. As their sons and daughters are safe and happy with the coaches, the parents have a stroll in the gardens, sit and read a book, or just relax on a bench watching the world (and several chickens!) go by. For the parents, it’s also the joy of seeing their children happy, learning, and in several cases, enjoying an activity with a sibling. Right from the inception of this project, we wanted to create a socially inclusive service, where all the family is welcome.

We have succeeded! Perhaps the highest compliment CTR can be paid is from a mother who said, ‘this is the one place in the world where I feel my children are truly accepted’.

The coaches and volunteers experience benefits also. They are getting to meet and know the unique families and individuals involved in this project. They are seeing the results of their input, as week by week the riders are developing new skills and forging relationships with both the ponies and the coaching teams. They see the smiles on the faces, the trust in the eyes, the laughter, the fun, and the feel of that little hand in theirs as the children put their trust in them.

They’ve seen the tears in the parents’ eyes, the pride as a mother hears a new word, or a father witnesses the new stronger bond between siblings.

And what of the staff and the Brooks family of Errislannan?

Connemara Therapeutic Riding has enjoyed their warm and generous hospitality as they share their magical location with us and delight in our success. They are seeing a whole new life being breathed into their beautiful surroundings, a new group of the community enjoying the indescribable beauty of Errislannan, and a genuinely inclusive and unique project developing in their midst. And they must be feeling an overwhelming sense of pride when they see their Connemara ponies bringing such joy to so many lives. We should all be proud of our very special native horse who is lending itself perfectly to this new role. Without any specialized training, these ponies are proving to be the perfect therapy pony—calm and placid, seeming to innately understand what is required of them.

If you would like to learn more or support our service in any way, please feel free to get in touch at connemaratr@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook for regular updates.

DESIGN PLATFORM Labels at Design Platform include Eva Kayan, InWear, Lilith, Amazing Woman Jeans, No2moro, Isabel de Pedro and more.

Station House Courtyard Clifden, Co. Galway +353 95 21526 designplatform.clifden@gmail.com

J E M M A E L I A S and J O E C O N N E E L Y 2 5 AUG UST 2 01 6 Errisbeg House Photography by Aoife Herriott

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Connemara is one of those magical places that once you’ve visited, you want to come back again and again.

I was lucky enough to meet Joseph, whose hometown is picturesque Roundstone, and after eight years together, living and working between Sydney, Australia, and Roundstone, we knew that when we were to marry, it would be in Ireland, specifically in Roundstone. That was not just because of wanting all our Irish family and friends to share the day with us, but also due to the ambiance, the people, and the landscapes, which we knew would make it a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our overseas guests, too. We had already picked Errisbeg House as the ideal place for the wedding. We would walk past it almost daily when we lived in Roundstone—with its beautiful grounds and the house itself as a backdrop, it was an easy decision. As important as the house and grounds were to the planning, Richard de Stacpoole—the owner of Errisbeg and a dear family friend of the Conneelys—has boundless energy and is unflappable. Since we were 17,000 kilometres away, Richard was on board from day one to ensure that our wedding went off without a hitch, acting as our local liaison when we were unable. We worked with all local vendors and suppliers to keep everything within the community, and we pulled in favours left, right, and centre—we have the best friends and family! We decided on a civil ceremony in the garden; Joe and his sister Orla made a beautiful A-frame, under which we exchanged vows. In true Connemara style, birch saplings were cut from the family home’s driveway and jigged together with bunting and flowers to make the perfect setting for a country wedding. We were incredibly blessed with the weather ... there must have been a Child of Prague out the night before in every garden in the county, as the sun was beating down! The reception was held in a ConnemaraLife.ie

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We worked with all local vendors and suppliers to keep everything within the community, and we pulled in favours left, right, and centre— we have the best friends and family!

• VE N DO RS: Flowers (including bride’s floral head wreath): Connemara Florist – Clifden, Pamela McCullough Interfaith Minister: Geraldine Bown Videography: Pat Coyne, Renvyle Cake: Noleen O’Neill (Joes sister) Catering: Green Olive Catering by Jacinta Lynam Shuttle Bus: Peader Og Hair: Clare Allman, Toni and Guy, Maastricht

decorated marquee in the grounds of Errisbeg, so the ceremony led straight into canapés and champagne during a quick photo session in the garden, with the reception immediately following. The food was fabulous, the band phenomenal, the speeches funny and short.

The momentum just kept building, and we all danced the night away!

Our thanks to all of those who made ours the perfect wedding!

Makeup: Colleen Allman McGrath – MAC specialist, Galway Location: Errisbeg House

MUSIC: Ceremony: Ceili Band – Meadhbh O’Neill, Seamus Flaherty, Kevin Holmes, and Grace King Reception: Converse Allstars DJ: Tristan Heanue

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Monica Malinowska and Peter Buffam 27 June 2016 Ballynahinch Castle P hotograPhy

by

a oife h erriott ConnemaraLife.ie

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ur families live in two different countries, and to avoid the stress of trying to bring everybody together, we decided on a runaway wedding. We chose to tie the knot in Ireland, a land of outstanding beauty, mysterious Celtic history, great music, and romance too!

County Galway is my favourite—a truly magical and enchanting place.

For me, it is the soul of Ireland.

I began my quest for the perfect venue with a Google search. It was love at first sight—Ballynahinch Castle Hotel! The former home of the pirate queen, leader, and skilled politician Grace O’Malley, this magnificent haven is wrapped in the arms of the Twelve Bens, dressed in lush woodlands, and admires its own reflection in the tranquil Owenmore River.

I emailed Martina Kearney, the wedding coordinator at Ballynahinch, to enquire about accommodating an intimate wedding, and after receiving

her reply of confirmation within twenty minutes, I knew our plans would be in safe hands.

We stayed three nights in an elegant and tastefully decorated room overlooking the river. Gazing at its slowly flowing waters helped to calm our last-minute nerves on the day of the ceremony. The ceremony took place in the elegant Hunts Room, and to make it more special, we decided on the Unity Candle Ceremony, to symbolize two lives being joined together as one.

The beauty of Ballynahinch is that it looks great in every season, and on a rainy day you can relish the views from indoors as well. You feel exceptional walking around the castle in a wedding gown, yet you don’t feel out of place in muddy wellingtons from a morning stroll around the gardens. It is truly a home away from home—only, a nicer one!

SPecial thankS Photography: Aoife Herriott www.aoifeherriottphotography.com Makeup: Caroline Coyne www.carolinecoynemakeup.ie Lash extensions: Eszter from Lushluv by M www.lashluvby.com Cake: Hazel Mountain Chocolate www.hazelmountainchocolate.com Flowers: Local supermarket—decorated by the bride ConnemaraLife.ie

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Elizabeth Whelan Jeroen Idema 8 August 2016 Christ Church Clifden Reception at Connemara Sands Hotel, Ballyconneely Photography by Darek Novak

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Jeroen and I chose the Connemara Sands for several reasons—one being that the location has a spectacular view of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. Jeroen and I stayed two nights at the Connemara Sands the Christmas before our wedding and met with Niall Dalton, the hotel manager, and the hotel’s owners, Dean Gibson and Kathy McCallion.

Niall was a pleasure to work with, as he answered correspondence quickly and efficiently. Nothing was ever a problem, and everything seemed possible. The planning of our wedding reception turned out to be very enjoyable and completely stress-free. Jeroen and I loved the dining room and the reception areas, and Niall and Dean helped us to devise a delightful menu for our guests. When the special day arrived, Niall and his team were as good as their word, and the whole event was perfectly managed. I could not praise the owners and staff of the Connemara Sands highly enough for their warm welcome and attention to detail. Following the banquet, we enjoyed a refreshing and exhilarating walk with our guests on the beach under a sunny August afternoon sky, and my nieces and I got to paddle and splash about in the sea. What a delightful way to bring the first part of our wedding day to a close!

I introduced Jeroen to Connemara a few years ago, and he instantly fell in love with it. Like me, he thought it was the perfect place for our wedding.

Though Jeroen and I had been living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for the past six years, we picked Connemara to host our wedding. For several years, Clifden was my home, where I taught primary school and sang in my church choir—the very same choir that sang at our wedding. I introduced Jeroen to Connemara a few years ago, and he instantly fell in love with it. Like me, he thought it was the perfect place for our wedding.

Choir at Ceremony: Cantairi Conamara Choir Singers: Friends of Elizabeth who are also members of the newly formed Clifden choral group, Séidiú Choir Director: Mr Aodán McGlynn Harpist and Sean Nós Singer: Seamus O’Fhláthartha Violin: Caoimhe O’Fhláthartha (of An Aird Mhóir, Cill Chiaráin in Connemara) Hair Styling: Damian in Hedz Makeup: Megan Burke and Michelle Barry of the Wellness and Relaxation Centre at Abbeyglen Castle Hotel.

THE QUAY HOUSE

THE QUAY HOUSE, BUILT IN 1818, IS ONE OF CLIFDEN’S OLDEST BUILDINGS. The Foyle family have been innkeepers in Connemara for a hundred years, and the house boasts a wonderful collection of Georgian furniture and interesting artwork. Come see why The Quay House is a two-time winner of the Georgina Campbell Irish Breakfast Award and a winner of the Georgina Campbell Guesthouse of the Year.

Spacious, attractive, quirky and comfortable, The Quay House overlooks Clifden Harbour and is just a short walk from the town centre. Throw a pebble into the Atlantic from your bedroom balcony. reservations@thequayhouse.com

•

(+353) 95-21369

•

Beach Road, Clifden, Co. Galway

www.TheQuayHouse.com Member of Hidden Ireland

NEW! Visit the Blue Quay Bed and Breakfast just two minutes away.

BlueQuayRooms.com

of clifden

We are a lifestyle store in the heart of Connemara stocking traditional and contemporary fashions, footwear, and knitwear. Our brands are handpicked by us and exclusive to the region. We pride ourselves in our commitment to a personal shopping experience with you, the shopper, leaving us with a smile and happy memories.

M A R K E T S T R E E T, C L I F D E N , C O . G A LW AY

(095) 21282

hehirs.com

+353 (0)95 21039 | Lower Market Street, Clifden, Co. Galway | www.Stanleys.ie Open Monday–Saturday 10am–6pm | Sundays seasonally 11am–5pm

MAGEE

JOHN HANLEY

IRELANDSEYE

S

tanleys store, family run since 1824, is located at the bottom of Market Street in the picturesque town of Clifden in Connemara, Co. Galway. Stanleys proudly stocks only the finest quality Irish knitwear by Ireland’s Eye, Aran Woollen Mills, Aran Crafts, and Studio Donegal alongside beautiful woollen scarves, rugs, and throws by John Hanly and Foxford. Large collections of general menswear, ladieswear, footwear, and a special department dedicated to outdoor clothing and walking boots may also be found in-store. We

ARAN CRAFTS

invite you to visit our store to discover our many sought after brands including Magee Tweed Jackets, Tilley Hats, Barbour Wax Jackets, and Dubarry Boots.

Once a traditional drapery store, Stanleys has maintained its originality and authenticity whilst also providing a contemporary style to its store, with a keen eye for Irish and European design and fashion. Why not visit this family store and see for yourself; for local and visitor alike, there is something for everyone at Stanleys!

OTHER BRANDS STOCKED INCLUDE: FOOTWEAR: ECCO, LEGERO, TOMS, DUBARRY, HUNTER BOOTS, CONVERSE, VANS, CROCS, FIT-FLOPS OUTDOORS: MERRELL, KEEN, COLUMBIA, BERGANS, SALOMON, HELLY HANSEN, PÁRAMO, AIGLE, HANWAG LADIESWEAR AND MENSWEAR: BUGATTI, PURE, ARMOR LUX, JOULES, NOBLE WILDE